Anime has been a part of my life since 1997 and I've never looked back, sure it's got some awkward and uncomfortable things about it, but it's something I cherish near and dear to my heart. Let's not beat around the bush and get to the list.
10. Cowboy Bebop
You know it’s a good list when I start with one of the all time greats. Lasting only twenty six episodes, Cowboy Bebop is a masterclass in making sure every episode is worth it. Spike, Jet, Faye, and Ed are all household names within the anime community for good reason and that’s because they’re all likable and iconic, and let’s not forget that soundtrack and legendary intro which is just perfect. It also has one of the greatest dubs for any anime that still holds up today.
9. Mob Psycho 100
At first Mob Psycho 100 looks to be the normal anime series, but it quickly morphs into one of the greatest shows about self-love and self-improvement. The show doesn’t work without Shigeo and Reigen, with the former learning to better himself and push past his personal demons all the while dealing with being a teenage boy, and the latter dealing with the consequences of being a con-man. As much as it’s Shigeo’s story, the show wouldn’t be as beloved without Reigen’s journey as well. It’s not the typical anime with a big, bad final boss, because the final boss for both are basically themselves, and I love this anime for that.
8. Cardcaptor Sakura
Talk about a comfy as fuck series, you’ll also notice that most of the entries on this list have great intros as well. One of the most famous shows of the Magical Girl genre, Cardcaptor Sakura is about Sakura Kinomoto releasing the Clow Cards and having to get them back while dealing with everyday life shenanigans. It’s just loads of fun and so comfy you feel like you’re sitting on a cloud and then fall through the cloud.
7. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Easily the darkest show on this list, because you know, it’s about war, Brotherhood does a fantastic job showing the horrors of war, how nobody benefits unless you’re a literal fucking monster, and the cycle of neverending violence. Watching the stories of Ed, Al, Winry, Mustang, Hawkeye, Maes, Scar, and so many others play out in the story, no one is spared from the cold, harsh reality of life, paying off with one of the greatest endings to a show I’ve ever seen. Also, fuck Shou Tucker, all my homies hate Shou Tucker, fuck Shou Tucker forever.
If we go by the manga, this is the most recent series on this list. A series that started during the superhero boom of the 2010s, My Hero Academia grabbed my attention by the second episode and never looked back. So many great characters to root for and hate, mostly for the right reasons, I think My Hero Academia is one of the very best examples of why we love superheroes as a society. Plus All Might is the best, I love him very much, he is just the very best.
5. Yu-Gi-Oh
What do you get when you combine Ancient Egypt with trading card games? Turns out, fucking nonsense! This will always be a special series because it's the first one I bought the entire manga for. Yu-Gi-Oh always felt like an abridged series before the concept of an abridged series was even a thing. Whether it was the manga/Season 0 craziness, or Duelist Kingdom and Battle City, Yu-Gi-Oh became a favorite while becoming one of the best card games in the world. It’s a series that while the original has long ended, still endures with new characters and stories, but the original will always be my favorite.
4. FLCL
The most unique series on this list, only six episodes of the original series but what a fucking fantastic six episodes. It’s weird because I believe the best age to watch this is when your around the same age as Naoto, it’s a huge coming of age story for Naoto with Haruko being not just the catalyst for all the chaos that happens in the show, but also Naoto’s puberty and growing up into a teen. It’s balls to the walls crazy and absolutely a must watch.
3. InuYasha
This was a big one for me growing up, not only did it have a great cast of characters, not only was it shockingly violent and gory at times, and boy howdy was it, but it also had a great romance story. In fact, I’ll go on and say that this has probably the best love triangle I’ve ever seen, that’s not saying much since so many others are fucking terrible, but I digress. InuYasha is also home to one of my all time favorite dubs in anime, check that out when you can, but also it just looks gorgeous. The digital animation still holds up, don't get me wrong, but that hand drawn cel animation is still the stuff of legends.
2. Sailor Moon
Anyone who’s known me long enough, or seen my tastes in anime knows exactly what the last two on this list will be, it’s the least kept secret of this list. It’s no secret that I adore Sailor Moon as a series, with the 90’s anime being my personal favorite. A great cast of characters with some of the most iconic transformations in anime history, looks gorgeous to this day, amazing soundtrack, there’s little wonder as to why this is not only the most famous Magical Girl series, but one of the most iconic anime of all time. And I want to point out that this was a deconstruction of the genre, unlike Madoka like some people think, with the manga and parts of both the 90s anime and Crystal, being much darker than the previous magical girl shows that came before it. Paving the way for future shows of the genre, Sailor Moon is a magical trailblazer.
1. Dragon Ball
I’m not exaggerating when I say that Dragon Ball has had more of an impact on my life than any anime ever. I mean what else is there to say about the most famous anime in the world, Akira Toriyama’s masterpiece not only changed my life, but changed the world with the story of Son Goku. So many iconic moments to choose from that has reshaped anime today, from the Goku/Vegeta clash to the Super Saiyan reveal, to Gohan’s shining moment against Cell, Dragon Ball is the series that has been the cornerstone of anime to me, and as we celebrate the 40th Anniversary this year, Dragon Ball shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
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