Every year, several anime shows premiere. While some become successful, others tend to be less remembered. People have their perspectives, so choosing the best anime of all time is pretty tricky. Several criteria come into play, which can be confusing for the audience. People cannot compare anime like Naruto and Haikyu because they are unique.
Naruto is of the shonen genre and based on adventure, drama, and ninja, and Haikyu is a sports-based anime that will cause the audience to experience an adrenaline rush. To end the heated debate about the best anime of all time, IMDb started a poll on the top anime TV series. The top five will greatly upset the Dragon Ball and the Big Three fans.
5. One Piece (1999- )
One Piece is one of the greatest anime ever and has been running for over 24 years. Created by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece is about a teenager named Monkey D. Luffy who wants to be the King of Pirates. One Piece had 472 votes and is the only anime out of the Big Three to find a place on IMDb’s top anime list. It has one of the most incredible story buildings and has entered the Final Saga after wrapping up the Wano Arc. The manga has sold over 500 million copies. One Piece has a rating of 8.9 on IMDb.
Also Read: Eiichiro Oda May Have Failed to Unlock the True Potential of 1 Villain from One Piece
4. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009-2010)
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is written by Hiromu Arakawa. To date, it is one of the best-written anime. Two brothers tried to revive their mother by using Alchemy. But the plan backfired when the experiment went horribly wrong; the elder brother lost his left leg and right arm, and the younger brother lost his body, with his soul having been put in a metal armor. With 906 votes to its name, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is fourth on this list. It has a rating of 9.1 on IMDb.
3. Cowboy Bebop (1998-1999)
Cowboy Bebop is one of the most popular anime of the 1990s. Hajime Yatate’s anime follows the neo-noir and space western genres. The anime has also been adapted into a live adaptation by Netflix. The 26-episode anime is set in 2071 and focuses on the life of a space bounty hunter and his comrades who capture criminals. Cowboy Bebop has received 976 votes and earned a place in the top three. It has an 8.9 rating on IMDb.
2. Death Note (2006-2007)
Death Note ranks second on the top anime list with 1,040. It was created by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. The story focuses on a high school boy named Light Yagami, who finds a mysterious notebook that has the power to kill anyone whose name is written in it. With that power, Light wishes to change the whole world. Death Note, too, has a rating of 8.9 on IMDb. This thriller show is found in everyone’s top ten list.
1. Attack on Titan (2013-2023)
When Attack on Titan began, everyone thought it to be a revenge story of Eren avenging his mother. But as the story progressed, it delivered one twist after another. After a decade of entertainment, Attack on Titan Finale premiered on November 5, 2023, and people experienced one of the greatest stories ever. Hajime Isayama’s magnum opus tops the top anime list with 1,045 votes. It has an IMDb rating of 9.1.
Notable Mentions
There are several anime series that have worldwide popularity but just barely made it to the top five. Yoshihiro Togashi’s Hunter x Hunter comes in sixth with 345 votes. At seventh is one of the greatest anime of all time, Dragon Ball Z. Neon Genesis Evangelion, Steins Gate and Code Geass take up the 8th, 9th and 10th places, respectively. Anime like Naruto, Bleach, Haikyu, Jujutsu Kaisen, etc., did not even make the list.
