The 50 Anime You Should Watch Before You Die
Anime
Avoided a bit of the really obvious ones (The Big 3 and Death Note) and some that were really similar to something already present on this list. These are anime I recommend you not miss out on in your lifetime.
Movie, 1988,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:9
This is the film that changed everything. Should be all I have to say.
TV, 2013,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:8
The moment you expand your horizons to accept the rotoscope animation you will be met with a deeply personal and engaging story.
ONA, 2020,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:8
One of the greats from the budding Chinese animation scene if you want to watch something other than Japanimation. One of the few series with supernatural entities that get fleshed out and are not tacky attempts at worldbuilding.
TV, 2008,
24 eps
Me:-
Author:10
The tale of an immortal being blamed for the gradual yet ensured destruction of the entire world around him. You may be wondering how you make a story around an immortal have stakes. Well, you make them suffer... a lot...
TV, 1998,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Watanabe's Opus. As normie as you can get but also as essential as you can get. Never failed to excel in every category it ever took a stab at.
TV, 2019,
24 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Both an excellent character drama, and an action filled swordy-boy demon slaying fest. Also, it serves as a great introduction to Tezuka's vast body of work.
TV, 2003,
51 eps
Me:-
Author:7
What is canon here blows what was glossed over in Brotherhood out of the water.
TV, 2004,
24 eps
Me:-
Author:9
A half decent adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo would be reason enough to watch. This is far above that, all while putting its own spin on it.
OVA, 1988,
110 eps
Me:-
Author:9
If you got the time to spare, then do it. Getting to see this grand epic unfold really is worth it. If you ever plan to take the pre-nineties plunge, then start here.
TV, 1978,
113 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Kino's Journey through outer space. Every episode you wind up somewhere new. Interestingly, this is one of the longest shows with this semi-episodic story structure, so you really get to live alongside these characters.
TV, 2006,
201 eps
Me:-
Author:6
Has everything you might end up loving from the comedy, characters, and the serious story arcs. I will not let my feelings downplay its staying power because what I did like is worth defending.
TV, 2020,
23 eps
Me:-
Author:9
One of the few times a series has always left me guessing what was on the horizon. Never quite knew just where the story and scams were going to go.
TV, 2009,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:7
High fantasy staple devoid of the isekai trappings if you want something different.
TV, 2007,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Kaiji is the best of its ilk because there are actually stakes to the gambling. Also, there are surprisingly realistic implications of gambling's effect on human nature on display here.
TV, 2000,
75 eps
Me:-
Author:9
If your favorite part of an anime fight are the hand-to-hand scenes, then, seriously watch this. Ippo's career is one of the greatest rides in anime.
TV, 2000,
25 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Amazingly poignant period piece given the recent Covid epidemic. Heavily slept on Tezuka adaptation.
TV, 1999,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Child soldiers and human traffickers fighting over the dwindling water supply. You have now been convinced.
TV, 2012,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Often imitated, but nothing has replicated what makes this series endure so long in the community. Incredible battles, humor, and characters. Has anything you could want if you give it a chance.
TV, 2002,
45 eps
Me:-
Author:8
This Isekai setting actually doesn't get wasted like so many others and serves as the backdrop for top notch worldbuilding.
TV, 1999,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:9
An awesome music comedy anime with a highly relatable main character you feel for as his emotional states and arcs get fleshed out. The OP alone will convince you.
Movie, 2013,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:9
My favorite of studio Ghibli's films. If you're interested in seeing one for the first time or your next one to watch, then look no further. Just inoffensive and wholesome.
TV, 2006,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:8
For my money, the best Horror Romance anime we have. Also, a Yuasa series not shoved down your throat.
TV, 1997,
25 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Get into Berserk any way you can. If it must be through amime, then this is by far your best option. Daily f Berserk 2016 PSA reminder.
Movie, 1995,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:9
A case study of the age-old question "How much of your humanity can you give up, and still be considered human?". Obviously, a theme that aged like wine given every advance in technology makes this film ever the more poignant.
TV, 2022,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:8
A josei ghostbusting story with extremely personal tales regarding the lingering effects that death may have on the living.
TV, 2017,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Most realistic romance series I have seen. People tend to act like this more than the lie we have all been sold.
Movie, 1979,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:8
You should watch Lupin III. You should start here. Incredibly fun series with plenty more if you get hooked. That is my Ted Talk.
ONA, 2018,
15 eps
Me:-
Author:8
The best historical piece from the Chinese side of the pond with a flair for the mythos thrown in. I'd recommend this series as a jumping off point into this sector of the animation medium.
TV, 2016,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Mob Psycho 100 is an anime that has so much under its very pretty exterior and beautifully animated fights. Anything you are looking for in anime from characters, dramatic stakes, and even humor are here in spades.
TV, 2007,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:10
The best of traditional Horror anime. Great Horror isn't scary, it is horrifying. Devoid of the lame as Hell song and dance associated with the genre. This really is the exception if there ever was one.
TV, 2004,
74 eps
Me:-
Author:10
This is the King of long-form storytelling in the medium. A masterclass of moral dilemmas and character development. Also sporting the greatest clash between protagonist and antagonist possibly ever.
TV, 2006,
47 eps
Me:-
Author:8
If on the fence with Shoujo, start here. The dramatic elements are handled really well, and you get a sense of the journey of their struggles due to the length. Also, the ost is awesome.
Movie, 1998,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:10
Themes ever more relevant today as the line between the interaction of you and other people's perceptions of "you" become ever more distant and blurred.
TV, 2010,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:9
This is a hard watch due to the graphic and explicit material but if that doesn't bother you then by all means watch the extremely messed up prison lives of these young men. It is an ugly side of the system that is all too real and is on full display here.
Movie, 2009,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:8
Gorgeous labor of love. Watch it for the visuals if for nothing else.
OVA, 1999,
4 eps
Me:-
Author:9
If you can separate the art from the artist, then you can ironically experience the greatest redemption arc in anime.
TV, 2016,
120 eps
Me:-
Author:6
In my opinion, as someone who tends to dislike most comedy anime, this is my clear exception.
TV, 2010,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:9
A character ensemble about a ragtag group of almost virtuous ronin robbers/smugglers/kidnappers. Very good depiction of people being driven to poor actions through bleak circumstances.
TV, 2007,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:9
A tale of atonement centered around in my opinion, the greatest fleshed out female lead in the medium. Yes, even better than your waifu.
TV, 1998,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Honestly, everyone should see this just to see their own response to it. I have always described it feeling like a fusion of OK Computer the album with Alice in Wonderland. If that makes sense?
TV, 2007,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:9
This is the goriest feeling anime that did not feel cheesy or lame while doing it. MADHOUSE PLEASE! Finish this...
TV, 2013,
25 eps
Me:-
Author:9
This is the new best anime to start with. While watching it, I was waiting for it to "get bad" and it never did. It lived up to the monumental reputation of excellence and overcame the supposed downfall of quality. Watch it, you will love it.
TV, 2016,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:8
They surprisingly made all the rakugo very entertaining. The voice actors sell their performances like their lives depend on it.
TV, 2011,
24 eps
Me:-
Author:10
A story let alone a thriller completely written around time travel and they did not mess it up. Like how?
TV, 1978,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:9
If you do not care too much about anime looking "old" then you can enjoy the best adaptation of The Treasure Island. Yes, that includes Treasure Planet though that is awesome too.
TV, 1999,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:9
This is "Melting Pot" the anime. They literally tossed everything but the kitchen sink into this completely unique experience from any other anime.
TV, 2023,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:8
More of a focused space western than Bebop and similar enough to where if you like one, then you will probably like the other. Also, Vash... just Vash... Also, I find the narrative of this series more compelling than the 1998 adaptation.
Movie, 2000,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:9
Rule of cool is strong with this one. Great introduction to cel animation. Also, it has Vampires when they are not lame as Hell.
TV, 2019,
24 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Badass Viking revenge thriller turns into one of the most introspective character dramas in the medium. All the while, the worldbuilding and scope just far expand, to become a grander epic of something so much bigger than Thorfinn's tale.
TV, 1992,
112 eps
Me:-
Author:8
You have probably seen HxH already, so you should definitely see this too. I actually preferred this series till the rushed Three Kings Saga.
