15 Best Anime Series From the Past 5 Years, Ranked (2024)

The explosion of anime to be a major source of entertainment for mainstream audiences in the 21st century has been one of the most rewarding sensations to take hold in recent decades. The early 2010s in particular saw a significant increase in the Japanese storytelling medium with series like Attack on Titan, One Piece, Dragon Ball, and One Punch Man reaching the peak of their powers, becoming landmark hits for the genre which enticed millions of new fans.

One of the most exceptional things about the outburst in popularity though is how it was harnessed, with animation studios producing more and more great series to keep audiences invested in the genre's stories and style. While some of the defining classics of anime have now finished up, there are many more recent series that have taken up the mantle and enhanced the genre's legacy in recent years.

15 'The Promised Neverland' (2019 - 2021)

Directed by Mamoru Kanbe

As dark as it is compelling, The Promised Neverland takes place in a world where humans and “demons” have entered into an agreement that sees both species live in peace so long as the demons have access to human farms. When a young orphan and her friends learn the horrific truth behind their idyllic home, they escape the farm on a quest to secure the freedom of every child like them, inciting mass change and finding unlikely allies in the process.

The series launched with a captivating first season that deftly balanced child-like adventure with the harsh and brutal reality of the world the kids inhabit. While the two following seasons weren’t quite able to capitalize on Season 1’s excellence, The Promised Neverland still stands as an intriguing anime series from recent years, and even received an impressive live-action adaptation as well.

14 'Dr. Stone' (2019 - )

Directed by Shinya Iino and Shūhei Matsushita

An imaginative sci-fi anime based on the manga of the same name by Riichiro Inagaki, Dr. Stone is as intriguing as it is creative as a futuristic story that became an instant hit with fans and critics. Set thousands of years in the future, it follows a scientific genius who awakens to a world where humanity has inexplicably been petrified for millennia. Eager to rebuild civilization, he and his friend set out to undo the catastrophe while fighting with a rival clan of survivors.

Thriving with a spellbinding first season, Dr. Stone was considered by many – including Crunchyroll and IGN – to be among the best anime series of the 2010s despite having just one season released to that point in time. It currently consists of 57 episodes across three seasons, though a fourth and final season has been announced.

13 'Spy x Family' (2022 - )

Directed by Kazuhiro Furuhashi and Takahiro Harada

Already one of the best anime shows of the 2020s, Spy x Family has amassed a huge fanbase and widespread critical acclaim as a stylistic yet compelling series that thrives on every level. Based on the manga of the same name by Tatsuya Endo, it focuses on a master spy who assembles a family for cover as he looks into a political figure. Unbeknownst to him, however, his mock wife is actually an expert assassin and his daughter harbors telepathic abilities.

The series has a deft balance of comedy, action, spy thrills, and intriguing character arcs to be an immersive and ambitious show that juggles tone and genre with impeccable skill. A third season of the series was recently announced, while an anime feature film based on Spy x Family was released late in 2023, earning high praise and performing admirably at the worldwide box office.

Spy x Family

TV-14ActionComedyAnime

Release Date April 9, 2022 Creator Tatsuya Endo Cast Takuya Eguchi , Atsumi Tanezaki , Saori Hayami , Megan Shipman Seasons 2

Watch on Hulu

12 'Ranking of Kings' (2021 - 2022)

Directed by Yōsuke Hatta and Makoto Fuchigami

One of anime’s greatest strengths is its ability to realize and ground fantasy realms while still telling incredible, character-driven stories. Ranking of Kings is a perfect example of this, set in a world where each nation’s king is ranked based on the prosperity of their lands, the strength of their warriors, and the might of the kings themselves. Born deaf and mute, and dubbed “The Useless Prince”, young Bojji suffers jeers even from his own people, but everything changes when he befriends a survivor of an expunged assassin clan who understands him.

Over the course of 23 episodes, the series won over a plethora of fans with its heartwarming yet adventurous and exciting story and its engrossing fantasy setting. While the main series consists of just the one season, a spin-off show, Ranking of Kings: The Treasure Chest of Courage, aired in 2023 and an anime film has been announced.

Watch on Crunchyroll

11 'Fruits Basket' (2019 - 2021)

Directed by Yoshihide Ibata

Beginning life as a manga series from Natsuki Takaya in 1998, Fruits Basket has been a sneakily popular title in Japanese entertainment throughout the 21st century. Along with the manga series being released until 2006, there was also a one-season anime series released in 2001 to widespread acclaim. However, it received another screen anime adaptation that first aired in 2019 and went on to consist of three seasons covering all 23 volumes of Takaya’s original manga.

The fantasy series follows a poor teenage girl who is taken in by the Sohma family. When she learns of the family’s curse that sees them transform into the animals of the Chinese zodiac, she sets out to help free them. Celebrated for its faithfulness to the manga, Fruits Basket mixes its fantasy allure with coming-of-age drama, teenage romance, and some hard-hitting mental health elements to be a powerful and emotionally rewarding series, and one of the best anime shows in recent years.

Fruits Basket

TV-14AnimeComedyDrama Where to Watch

10 '86: Eighty-Six' (2021 - 2022)

Directed by Toshimasa Ishii

Launching in 2021 and releasing 24 episodes over two courses, 86: Eighty-Six was a futuristic sci-fi action series depicting a large-scale war between two feuding nations. As stated by the Republic of San Mongolia, they are fighting an ethical war with the Giadian Empire as they use unmanned drones in combat, but their claims are lies as the robots are piloted by social undesirables known as “Eighty-sixers.”

The story revolves around a compassionate commanding officer tasked with overseeing the operations of the elite Spearhead squadron, forming a complex relationship with the unit’s brilliant leader as he fights on with his own mysterious motive. Based on the light novel series of the same name, it became a revered hit boasting an impressive score on the anime streaming service Crunchyroll.

Watch on Crunchyroll

9 'Dorohedoro' (2020)

Directed by Yuichiro Hayashi

As an amalgamation of science-fiction, post-apocalyptic drama, and dark fantasy, Dorohedoro excelled as a compelling and imaginative drama laced with bleak intrigue. Set in a favela-like town known as Hole, it follows an amnesiac, reptilian-headed man who works with an accomplice to recollect his past while a clan of sorcerers uses the city’s citizens to experiment with dark magic.

The premise alone was enthralling, but the hellish style of the city and the show’s ultra-violence and crude humor made it an engaging and surprisingly accessible show given its off-kilter ideas. The underrated miniseries was comprised of 12 episodes which were released in 2020.

Watch on Netflix

8 'Odd Taxi' (2021)

Directed by Baku Kinoshita

A playful mixture of crime noir, fantasy, mystery thriller, and comedy, Odd Taxi was an arresting dose of high-value entertainment when it was released in 2021. The must-watch one-season series follows a walrus cab driver in Tokyo who, through conversations with his passengers, begins to unravel a sprawling mystery that leads to him being pursued by the yakuza as well as the police.

It was received by fans as a refreshing anime series that perfectly balanced its penchant for witty comedy and visual style with its poignant meditation on its more harrowing themes. The fact that it also happens to be one of the best depictions of anthropomorphic characters in both style and approach was just an added bonus which made the series that much more compelling.

Odd Taxi

TV-14 Release Date April 6, 2021 Creator(s) Kazuya Konomoto , Takeichi Abaraya Cast Mike McFarland , Lauren Landa , Daman Mills , Lucien Dodge , Amanda Lee , Jenny Yokobori , Kayli Mills , Brandon McInnis , SungWon Cho Seasons 1 Main Genre Animation

Watch on Crunchyroll

7 'Vinland Saga' (2019 - 2023)

Directed by Shūhei Yabuta

Vinland Saga follows Thorfinn, a young boy who lost his father to pirate Askeladd. After witnessing his father’s death, Thorfinn decides to follow Askeladd to one day defeat him in a warrior’s duel to avenge his father.

This anime follows the manga of the same name, and does so successfully, venturing from the lighthearted territory into a much darker and oftentimes emotional one. The theme of vengeance is at the forefront of the anime, as viewers will undoubtedly hope for Thorfinn's success as his transformative story arc progresses throughout the series.

Vinland Saga

TV-MAAnimeActionAdventure Where to Watch

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Release Date July 6, 2019 Cast Yûto Uemura , Mike Haimoto , Shinya Takahashi , Alejandro Saab , Hiroki Gotô , Aleks Le , Kaiji Tang , Michael C. Pizzuto Seasons 2

6 'Lookism' (2022)

Directed by Kwang Il Han

Lookism is a Korean anime based on a webtoon. Hyeong Seok is an average high schooler with one significant problem: he is constantly bullied and picked on for his appearance which many consider unsightly. Then one day, after spending a day in a new town, he wakes up in the middle of the night in a completely different body.

Now with a fresh face, he learns that he has a second chance to make something of himself with the new advantage of the attractive body he has control over. Lookism focuses on the themes of bias and bullying due to one’s outward appearance; even though Hyeong Seok is unattractive in his real body, people are attracted to the real him in his fake body and give him a chance. Any fan of K-drama adaptations may enjoy this unique entry in the genre.

Watch on Netflix

5 'Cyberpunk Edgerunners' (2022)

Directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi

David is a young delinquent attending a special academy to climb his way up into the corporate world and out of poverty. However, after getting into an argument with his mother about dropping out, they are caught in the middle of gunfire while driving in the street. The accident leaves David alone and his mother dead. Then he meets the eccentric Lucy, changing his life completely.

Unfolding within the world of Cyberpunk 2077, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners speaks heavily on the topics of inequality and the violence that stems from it. It’s a dark series with heavy topics that are not commonly seen in a lot of anime, making this a standout all on its own with its interesting yet complicated tech in a futuristic setting.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

TV-MAAnimationActionAdventure Sci-Fi

Release Date September 13, 2022 Cast Aoi Yuki , Kenichiro Ohashi , Kenjiro Tsuda , Kazuhiko Inoue Seasons 1

Watch on Netflix

4 'Wonder Egg Priority' (2021)

Directed by Shin Wakabayashi and Yūta Yamazaki

Wonder Egg Priority is an interesting anime from the very start, with a distinct premise that'll have viewers immediately hooked. It begins with an obscure egg that Ai Ohto receives one day. Upon breaking it in a dream, Ai realizes that she has to save the people who are hatched from the egg, which she hopes will eventually save her best friend who passed away.

Although lighthearted oftentimes, Wonder Egg Priority deals with heavy topics of harassment and suicide, which does not, by any means, make it an easy watch for the average viewer. Still, the obscurity of the anime makes it worth the watch as it engages the viewer almost immediately.

Watch on Crunchyroll

3 'Jujutsu Kaisen' (2020 - 2023)

Directed by Sunghoo Park and Shōta Goshozono

Yuji Itadori is a normal high school student in a supernatural-themed club. But one day, he encounters Megumi who is in search of a cursed object otherwise known as Sukuna’s finger. However, as Megumi faces impossible odds against an enemy, Yuji devours the finger to help him and thus joins the jujutsu sorcerers.

Jujutsu Kaisen is one of those anime shows that diverts expectations but does so successfully. Not to mention, it has strong female characters that prove their worth is equal to that of the men in the show (with some of Jujutsu Kaisen's best fights), and the premise itself of Itadori having to devour more body parts of Sukuna is all the more interesting, as this means that the main character will have to eventually be executed.

Jujutsu Kaisen

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Release Date October 2, 2020 Cast Junya Enoki , Yuma Uchida , Yuichi Nakamura , Adam McArthur , Asami Seto Seasons 3

2 'Demon Slayer' (2019 - 2023)

Directed by Haruo Sotozaki

Demon Slayer follows Tanjiro as he hunts down demons to protect the innocent lives of villagers and to find Muzan, the demon who slaughtered his family. There are plenty of demon slayers out in the world, but the difference between Tanjiro and the rest is that his sister has been turned into a demon, and he is determined that he can turn her back into a human.

This show is another visually stunning anime with a fun cast of characters. The best part of Demon Slayer is its emotionally gripping scenes, as many characters have lost loved ones to demons. It makes it even more satisfying as Tanjiro releases the demons’ suffering souls as he chases down Muzan.

Demon Slayer

TV-MAAnimeActionAdventure

Release Date January 21, 2021 Cast Natsuki Hanae , Zach Aguilar , Abby Trott , Yoshitsugu Matsuoka Seasons 4

Watch on Netflix

1 'Chainsaw Man' (2022)

Directed by Ryū Nakayama and Makoto Nakazono

Chainsaw Man follows teenager Denji who gains the powers of the chainsaw devil after being attacked, unleashing a strong and terrifying energy that he has to master. He is then recruited by Makima to join Public Safety as a Devil Hunter.

Although Chainsaw Man has yet to release a second season, the first season introduces such a wide variety of interesting and unique characters that it's hard not to fall in love with the cast, which is the most enjoyable part of this show. Both funny and dark at the same time, the bloody and bonkers Chainsaw Man is never exhausting or heavy in content, allowing for a fun and entertaining watch.

Chainsaw Man

TV-MAAnimeActionAdventure Where to Watch

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Release Date October 11, 2022 Cast Kikunosuke Toya , Suzie Yeung , Ryan Colt Levy , Tomori Kusunoki Seasons 1

NEXT: The Most Popular Anime Series for Beginners to Watch

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