Action anime has a foundation that is so intense that it has swiftly seized a place in the hearts of anime fans. All of these well-known anime have captivating artwork and original plots.
It was far more difficult to build this list. Not only because there was such a large variety to pick from, but also because I was aware from the beginning that I would be skipping several shows that many people hold in high regard.
Because of this, I sincerely hope that some of you will read the following sentence before scrolling down the list in order to see what has been left out and become unhappy.
This medium bears the highest importance in our hearts and cannot be replaced, whether it does so by making us laugh or cry.
However, there are some anime series that we like over others in the enormous pool that the industry has to offer.
Some shows give us the feeling of privilege for being able to have such a wonderful experience, breaking our hearts worse than a truck. And that anime is different for everyone of us. Each person has a different series that has particularly touched them.
1. Carole & Tuesday
The musical staging portion, which is Carole & Tuesday’s main focus, dominates the competition. That, in my opinion, is what matters the most; if the staging, whether vocal, musical, or visual, are poor, the suspended state of confusion is shattered.
The entire scene is ruined when Minmei performs in SDF Macross with a derp face or when the vocalists in Million Doll don’t merit the listeners’ stunned looks.
That is not to say Carole & Tuesday doesn’t have the same issues, but it is it maintains a semblance of amazement in its audience’s comments and does so under the pretext of a trashy attractiveness contest helps to mask the problem.
There is one enormous issue I must address: Carole & Tuesday chooses to focus on a huge tale rather than merely the music.
The show falters when it comes to carrying out that narrative. This shouldn’t be unsettling for a Watanabe production because the two most recent ones I watched—Sakamichi no Apollon and Zankyou no Terror—both battled to tie together their beginnings and endings and failed to recreate their original greatness.
Watanabe invented the concept of average middle halves; however, if you, please give a show 24 episodes, the gap between the beginning and the conclusion is doubled.
It’s the examination of Watanabe’s storytelling skills. I adore the gorgeous characters, gorgeous music, gorgeous shot compositions, and gorgeous thoughts woven throughout the story.
Though beauty is merely that. Neither personality nor interesting statements are made by beauty. Although I adore beauty, it has its limits. It takes practice and improvement to reach perfection. You travel down a confusing path filled with possible stops before arriving at a single desired site. Regrettably, Tuesday and Carole became stranded on the way.
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2. Megalo Box
The plot thus far centers on “Gearless” Joe, who lost his title as Megalonia’s champion and returned to fighting in the underworld as Nomad.
We are given brief snippets of what has transpired in the seven years following the events of Joe’s encounter alongside Yuri as he moves from ring to ring. Joe has become out of touch with someone, along with his pal Sachio and ex-coach Nanbu.
As the episode discusses issues of repentance, substance abuse, and immigration, Joe is now going through a mental struggle.
The latter comes in the form of a member of an immigrant group as the Casa, whom Joe finds himself assisting in saving the territory they call home—this time having any equipment once more, not even gloves for fighting.
Joe temporarily assumes the job of coach for Chief, an immigrant. Although it’s fun to watch the bouts, some particular choreography should be better.
Despite this tiny flaw, the fantastic soundtrack in Megalo Box more than makes up for it.
Rap music accentuates the urban ghetto feeling I felt anytime when the program centered on slum dwellings and the other people struggling to get involved in their own lives, hip-hop melodies that made you feel like I was witnessing The Boondocks.
Similar to Junk Dog’s own mentality of wanting to compete against formidable foes and prevail, the spirit of the show is sincere and unadulterated. His motivation is unadulterated.
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3. Dorohedoro
The Magic Realm, where sorcerers who wield magic by emitting black smoke reside, and a grimy industrial location known as “the hole” are where most of Dorohedoro takes place.
By conjuring portal-like doors with their power, sorcerers are able to go from the power Realm into the Hole.
At the beginning of the series, it becomes obvious that sorcerers have been visiting the Hole and applying their magic to studies on humanity for practice and for some time.
Kaiman, a human from the Hole who one day awakens with a lizard head and severe amnesia and no recollection of his prior meeting or of the sorcerer who put an incantation on him, is introduced in the opening pages of Dorohedoro.
From this point on, Dorohedoro’s story becomes much richer and more intricate, incorporating a sizable cast of protagonists and numerous intertwining plotlines. Despite it all, the narrative is driven forward by the mystery surrounding Kaiman’s past and true identity.
The series becomes much darker, existential, and surreal as it is revealed that “Kaiman” actually consists of a blend of several different people, the end of volume 10 (about chapter 60).
Questions get addressed in Dorohedoro in a way that typically only leads to additional questions, in a slow-burning way that is sure to please fans of deep puzzles and novelists who have enjoyed working on projects for a long time.
Of course, the Dorohedoro manga is the subject of our discussion today rather than the anime. And a significant, if not the most important, factor in what makes the series so compelling and appealing involves the beautiful artwork.
Hayashida only uses black and white, and his distinctively gritty, lo-fi aesthetic adds to the series’ desolate, almost post-apocalyptic feel.
Although the “dirty” appearance, Hayashida still manages to render her illustrations in a way that is precise and elaborate at times, with a style that recalls those of Hyung Min-Woo’s work on Priest or the art from Frank Miller’s Sin City. Particularly striking are the Dorohedoro frescoes that display the Hole’s scenery and intimate battles.
Also Read: Top Strongest Characters in Dorohedoro – Ranked
4. Children of the Whales
Children of the Whales recounts the lives of the Mud Whale’s marked people, who essentially die young but possess cool telekinetic abilities (called Thymia). There are some unmarked people who age, but because there aren’t many of them, most people are still young.
The mayor of a city is one of the unguarded, and together with the other unmarked, they form an advisory council to make for the community in which they live.
Due to their short lifespans, those who are marked are not on the council; therefore, the unmarked, who have life experience, make decisions for them. They travel around aboard a ship termed the Mud Whale that plows through a sand sea as it wishes.
Children of the Whales is unbelievably ambitious. I’m familiar with the genre because I read utopian young adult books a lot growing up. There are personalities, eye-catching aesthetics, expositional narrative, and an universe to discover.
I had intended to write a brief review of this show, calling it a solid idea that needed to be developed, but I’m a writer in the first place, so why not explore deeper?
My main issue with this program is that, at least in the anime, it doesn’t go into great detail about the topics. You have probably already taken in a lot from reading that summary in its entirety.
Thymia? Emotional strength? Who are marked and unmarked? Lykos, who is he? Where did she originate? Are there many islands that the Mud Whale encounters? Has someone from the outside visited their spacecraft before? How are individuals marked? Do they have a birthmark?
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5. Drifting Dragons
The story’s narrative is straightforward: it tracked the actions of the drakes living aboard the dirigible Quin Zaza. In essence, drakes are dragon hunters. These dragons are hunted in the celestial realm and traded for goods like meat.
On the Quin Zaza, there were roughly a dozen characters, but just four of them received the greatest attention. Except for Lee, the financial advisor, whose name is simple, I can’t even recall the other characters’ names.
Takita is a rookie dragon who resembles the game’s primary female lead.
The protagonist is Mika, the malevolent master draker who is always ravenous and impetuous. Vanabelle, a mute but magnificent female supporting role, and Giraud, a youthful but responsible male secondary character, are also present.
Everyone else simply merges into the lead draker, cook, mechanical worker, captain, co-captain, and the additional drawers. A Day in the Life of the Quin Zaza team is sort of the first episode’s theme.
They slay a dragon before docking to market their goods. The crew of the Zaza is virtually homeless and lives off their meager earnings because the ship is not authorized by authorities in charge of dragon hunting.
When a dragon appears, they flip out and urge Mika, Takita, Vana (Colleen O’Shaughnessey), and the other heroes to take it down because they are despised by the landlubber normies.
The pregnant female of the last dragon they killed appears from the cloud, revealing exactly what occurs, setting off a perilous journey in which crazy Mika senses the demonic being’s emotions and peers into its unsettling nest of mouths.
With easily, the pilot creates a convincing universe and captures our attention with its huge, imposing fauna, which is adorned with (presumably tasty?) bioluminescent extensions and suggests a certain amount of intelligence.
Additionally, these creatures are undoubtedly marinated in acidic soy sauces and exotic tales. Strangely, no villain is shown, and the absence of one might be preferable for the show.
Also Read: Drifting Dragons Anime English Dub: Voice Actor Cast
6. Ultraman
A good start for the first series to properly establish itself as a distinct continuity from everything that came before.
The Earth Defense Force, which has so far expressed the greatest level of concern, immediately established the Biological Defensive Guard after unusual lights and writing began to appear in the sky.
As one of the more aggressive Ultramen, Jonias’ merger with Hikari forced Hikari into it by taking control of his body when humans disregarded his warnings.
An advantage animation has through live action is that the climax includes four creatures instead of just one, two, or three.
Simply put, the Orb story is about a journey to accept oneself for who they really are. But that would’ve been a terrible way to sum up the entire story.
The focus of the Ultra series now centers on an online research organization rather than some abomination task force hunting down monsters (get acquainted with hearing that every time I have to cover other recent shows).
They identify as the “Something Search People” and discuss supernatural happenings in their society. The gigantic beasts of this realm hold their greatest fascination. Even in danger of their lives, the three seek to record any monster sightings they can. Another solid, if slightly average, episode.
The crew is appropriately irritated by the scientist Dr. Nishiki, who was hired to assist with the research of disappearing woods (an incident that also occurred in Africa).
He is also hypocritical because he is an environmentalist but has a private aircraft. The demonic parent angle is entertaining, but it concludes with a somewhat depressing tone.
Although it is explained that Jonias can only use the power on benign creatures towards the climax, this at least keeps the finale from being completely depressing. Nothing extraordinary, but enough to appreciate.
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7. Levius
The universe in which Levius is set is an alternate past in which the events of Universe War One were different, and the development of steam technology had a significant global impact.
It is an insightful essay on the nature of conflict, chaos, humanity, and life, but one that is drenched in ugliness and bloodshed.
There isn’t much new here because we’ve seen similar over-the-top compulsive characters before. However, the excellent story, pacing, and illustration work compensate for the absence of inventiveness.
At the end of a catastrophic battle decided by superior steam cybernetics, little Levius was left missing his arm while his mother was still in a coma. In his dream, he participated in MMR (mechanical martial arts) contests and encountered his mother once more there.
A big break, nevertheless, sets him against a terrifying MMR adversary who has a direct connection to the horrible accident that took away him his mother and a limb.
There are a lot of shocking trigger situations that highlight the worst aspects of human depravity through repetitive and casual brutality. There are undoubtedly several ways a prisoner might be mistreated in a society where certain parts of you can remain alive perpetually.
Being accompanied by graphics makes the intended ugliness all the more horrific. There is physical and psychological torture being used, and it borders too closely on trauma-explicit material to be appropriate as a central plot device.
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8. Japan Sinks
The famous catastrophic novel Nippon Chinbotsu (Japan Sinks) has been updated in the anime series Japan Sinks 2020. This book has already inspired two real-life films with the same title and the parody “Everybody Sinks Except Japan.”
This time, it’s back as a 10-episode anime series that intentionally treats its leading ladies cruelly in order to up its suspense factor. It prompted me to wonder when routine characters passing away simply stop being significant.
The Muto family has a typical day as they would any other.
Father Koichiro is a member of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic construction crew (well, hasn’t that joke held up nicely since it was first published). Mother Mari is returning to Japan from abroad aboard an aircraft.
After school, Son Go plays game consoles at home while Ayumu, the main character’s older daughter, practices track and field at school.
Just a few minutes in, a small seismic strike abruptly and strongly.
Go gets hurt at home, Ayumu catches up in class, Koichiro is left swaying from scaffolding, and Mari’s plane decides to blow an engine and plummet into a body of water for no apparent reason.
Two additional characters, family friends Nanami and Harou, are present with them. Nanami is still looking for her mother, while Harou has lost him and is by himself.
As they learn that some of Japan is sinking, they leave together with the village’s survivors. They learn about this from social media videos rather than the mainstream media.
Kite, a YouTuber who is busy recording aerial footage of the destruction, is one of those sources of information.
Soon after, the people there and our group make the decision to part ways as well as go for the shore in search of safety by boarding a ship.
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9. BNA: Brand New Animal
Michiru Kagemori was a typical teenage girl until she unexpectedly transformed into a beast man. Beast men, which are essentially furriers, are superhuman animals with the capacity to pass for humans while still having a beast form.
As a result of the widespread prejudice towards beast men among humans, Michiru faces the risk of being murdered when she turns into one.
She then makes the decision to look for safety in Anima City, a location wherever only beast men can live in freedom.
Michiru has to deal with the fact that everybody else in Anima Manchester City just does not want to tolerate beast men. I am not sure what to say about the series, but it is really awesome.
That was all I truly needed from the event considering the whole Coved situation—it made me grin and feel good. I thought Trigger’s usage of fluid animation was incredibly fascinating and unusual, even for them. The show has a blobby feeling, which doesn’t seem all that nice when I describe it that way, but in actuality greatly enhanced the atmosphere of the program.
The narrative is also rather entertaining. It does stumble in a few spots, which I believe is largely due to the fact that there were only 12 episodes of the show.
The second half of the series might have been enhanced with a few more episodes. You can empathize with the beast men, and through Michiru, you can also empathize with humanity, despite each group’s shortcomings.
As Well As the music is really amazing. The beginning and conclusion serve as contrasts. Each episode’s beginning, “Ready To,” sets the mood for the rest of the show, and its closing, “Night Running,” gives it a sharp finale.
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10. Cagaster of an Insect Cage
The anime is set in an environment where some people have begun to change into enormous insects. This idea sounds a little strange at first, but I quickly got used to it and could suspend my disbelief.
This series is pretty grim, with enough blood and bug/human slaughter to make it inappropriate for youngsters, but it has a decent balance of action, drama, comedy, and romance.
One of the series’ highlights and a factor in my decision to watch the second episode are the superb visuals. The one-on-one battle scenes are exceptionally artful in their use of numerous multimedia effects and overall direction. CG is used successfully in some areas and really improves the action-packed scenes.
Because of the frequent terminology referring to politics or warfare, the level of Japanese employed in this series was fairly high.
Some of the characters seemed to relish speaking in an overly theatrical manner and using flowery language, especially toward the end.
I made the decision to watch with Japanese subtitles the majority of the time, and I would advise you to do the same if, like me, you are better at reading than hearing.
I believe there is less value in attempting it without subtitles considering many of the more challenging vocabularies are not frequently used in ordinary discourse.
However, it is perfectly acceptable to watch it with English subtitles if you are not studying Japanese. A few of the main causes I primarily quit watching anime is that it seems like many current shows exploit established tropes from previous anime and follow a formula. “Cagaster of an Insect Cage” is no exception; in a few instances, it brought back pleasant memories of an individual anime. Several of the plot twists, in my opinion, were corny or foreseeably foreseeable. But overall, it was a well-made film with great images, likable characters, a smooth pace, and a satisfying conclusion.
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11. The Way of the Househusband
Tatsu was the yakuza organization’s boss in Shinzaki. Everyone feared him since he was commonly referred to as the “Immortal Dragon.” However, he eventually gave up that lifestyle to follow the path of the home husband.
He’s completely changed for the better! But while a guy can be separated from the yakuza, the yakuza cannot be fully removed from the man.
The series’ humor does not come from Tatsu’s mistakes in his current position as a house husband. Instead, he is dominating.
The issue is that while Tatsu works hard to create the ideal home that will accommodate his hard-working career-woman and otaku wife Miku and their cat Gin, the average people in the area believe he is murdering other objects or people.
Because he still has a gangster-like appearance and speech pattern despite focusing on household duties and finding deals.
I should point out how superb and consistent Oono-sensei’s illustrations are in quality. Everything is carefully rendered and simple to follow, from the environment to the attire to the frequently occurring fights Tatsu gets into.
The contrast between Tatsu’s sincere intentions and the opinions of everyone around him provides most of the humor, and the character’s facial expressions do a fantastic job of capturing the tension Tatsu incites wherever he goes.
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12. Trese
As much as I like fluffy, cheery, and adorable programs, I equally like the enigmatic and eerie; Trese fits the description. Even more so when it is based on Filipino folklore, the tales I was told as a child keep me in line and keep me from getting lost.
It was fascinating to observe how various animals, such as the aswang, tikbalang, and tiyanak, were reimagined with conversation and emotions rather than being restricted to their role as jump frightening protagonists in horror movies.
The narrative is episodic, with the initial chapters serving as standalone and introducing us to Alexandra Trese’s universe. The development of a plot bringing the several cases together then begins in the latter part.
The series’ flashbacks to Alexandra’s early years and what transpired between her parents make up a significant section of the plot.
This kind of storytelling doesn’t appeal to me because it’s difficult to strike a satisfactory equilibrium between the past and present.
The show’s clear definition of who is good or bad was another issue I had with it. The Tiyanak episode and Nuno’s plotting were two very good twists, but overall, the course of things seemed a little predictable.
Politicians, celebrities, Datu Talagbusao, and children who were abandoned were used as examples of terrible people, whereas Captain Guerrero and Captain Guerrero were used as an example of good people.
And while it appears that Trese wanted to draw attention to current problems facing the Philippines (such as dishonesty, the drug war, impoverishment, etc.), the viewpoint was too biased.
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13. Eden of the East
The opening scene of Eden of the East features an amnesic naked man beyond the White House with a mobile phone and a gun (it doesn’t matter which gun).
Amnesia right off the bat. Though she begins as the major character, the heroine’s role in the plot gradually diminishes to the point where you start to ponder why her scenes are important to important events.
The game where a select few people receive phones carrying ten billion yen and a voice assistant that will do any request as long as it falls within a set of ambiguous guidelines is the important event I’m referring to.
Even from that brief description, it is clear that the plot is chaotic, but this contributed to one of the few redeeming qualities of the program: the confusing plot gave the first half of the series a sense of mystery.
However, poor explanations of riddles can destroy a good mystery, and Eden of the East’s excellence suffers as a result. The instant they stated the game’s purpose, I knew the conclusion would be a cop-out.
Even after two films that could have been made for one if the writer and director had known everything about sequencing or how to craft satisfying endings, Eden of the East failed to impress me in this instance.
The main character of the anime is another component about which I’m still undecided. Takizawa is the most erratic primary character I have ever seen in an anime, and I’m not sure if that’s a good or negative thing.
It makes him appear like a complete jerk every time he dumps them when combined with his charisma, which attracts people to him.
On the other hand, once you recognize this trait and the innocent manner in which the secondary characters respond to it, it actually ends up being amusing without intending to be. The finale was certainly intended to be emotional and heartbreaking, but I couldn’t help but chuckle at it.
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14. Yasuke
During my initial viewing, I assumed the format would be something analogous to that of one of Netflix’s other animation originals, Castlevania.
I also assumed that the brief first season would be devoted to acquiring to know the characters and the universe that their bodies live in, although we don’t get any of that.
Even though the title character appears in practically every scene, we never really get to spend time with him. The fact that Yasuke’s story is told by way of flashbacks, on top of the fact that a great deal of the development of his personality appears to have occurred years in the past.
Way beyond the boundaries of the handful of nightmares that are used to his story causes a disconnect between his story and the main plot of the show, which in theory is fine, but the rationale for that disconnect ruins things.
As a result, there is little to no incentive for the spectator to care approximately Yasuke, compared to people who are close to him, whom we learn even less about.
Although we haven’t seen a lot of The Daimyo yet, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing because they gradually appear more frequently as the episodes go on, they have been established as the main antagonist of the story.
The fact that the show introduced us to a new enemy and his gang of thugs is the problem. Apparently, there is some old rumor that claims Saki has abilities (which she does), and this new opponent, Abraham, a Catholic priest, is searching for her as a means to take over the Church.
Also Read: Netflix’s Yasuke Review: An Action-Filled Anime With Lackluster Characters
15. High-Rise Invasion
The 16-year-old victim, Yuri Honjou, quakes in panic as she flees the assailant wearing a mask after witnessing a man’s skull having been sliced in half with an axe.
However, she quickly learns that she is trapped in a demolished building because all of the entrances are oddly closed. Yuri goes to the balcony in a last-ditch effort to find ways of getting out.
But there she discovers a lifeless world surrounded by high skyscrapers. Despite feeling helpless and Yuri keeps searching for her brother despite knowing he, too, is trapped in this strange dimension.
However, she immediately learns that there are other masked assassins in the area who are anxious to terrify their newly identified prisoners and sate their most vile urges.
Viewers follow Yuri as he battles a variety of psychotic mask-wearing killers and occasionally unmasked victims of despair or insanity. Fortunately, not everyone is antagonistic, although Yuri does not immediately become friends with them.
She gains more knowledge about her predicament, the masks, and some concept of the reason why she and numerous other people were inexplicably transported to this hillside world as the anime progresses.
As long as viewers can withstand the graphic violence and are cool with basic ecchi sweetness, High-Rise Invasion is an excellent popcorn movie anime.
Other supporting characters and criminals are hit or miss, but the main protagonists and significant side characters are cool. Both the presentation and Yuri X Mayuko are beautiful. This is again another “manga lure” presentation, which is my only complaint.
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16. Dota: Dragon’s Blood
Dragon’s Blood, which is based on the MOBA video game Dota 2, is a series exploring equilibrium, possibility, and the always-shifting reality that exists within the limitless enclaves of existence.
When the earth was created, its life was divided among numerous spirits that have taken on the form of dragons.
The beings they are and the potential they contain are transformed by a force that wants to change existence in accordance with their own agenda.
A Dragon Hunter becomes entangled in this quest and is compelled to interact with areas of creation that they would not have otherwise noticed.
The innocent princess of the Moon is also at the epicenter of this existential struggle between opposing primordial forces. Regarding the villains, I really appreciated them.
Although the primary antagonist is a relatively easy evil force seeking to enslave those in charge of creation and the existence within the boundaries of their objectives.
There is merit alone and excitement within the strategy they construct to methodically destroy the restrictions of their freedom in order to rebuild an entirely new level with them outside.
The root cause of the primary antagonist’s evil would be intriguing to learn more about, but within the setting of this DOTA, evil existing in its current form is perfectly acceptable.
The Invoker and Selemene, however, are the most intriguing antagonists in the story since they are more than just adversaries.
They are people with personalities that go beyond labels. Characters create an intensely captivating narrative with the themes of tragedy, love, and pride at the center of their character arcs. They both exist in a chaotic environment, but they have more individualized goals than widespread annihilation. I found the trip Selemene took in season 2 to be interesting, particularly the extent to which her voraciousness with a certain want led to insanity. I felt torn and reflective as her humanity and “divinity” came together.
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17. Healer Girl
The novel spends as much time on the patients as it does on the girls and the instruction they receive under the watchful guidance of Karasuma Ria and other experts. One of my favorite storylines features Kana, Reimi, and Hibiki trying to pass their C-rank exam but failing.
Given their development since then and growing familiarity with their skills, the lesson learned in this situation has already been covered in previous episodes, but it is still important to reiterate. Yes, they have gotten better, but they have also witnessed each other’s growth and made unhelpful comparisons to themselves.
Many people would like how Reimi’s hair starts to resemble the changes in our lives that we all go through.
Since the beginning, Healer Girl’s art and designs for characters have been strong, and even seemingly unimportant details like a hairdo have significance.
She had long hair like her idol Karasuma, but she made a shift by cutting it short after admitting her weaknesses and talents.
She explains the significance of change and its transience to others around her when they show shock and grief at the loss.
She’ll get her hair back. She, too, will develop further both personally and as an expert healer. Change only becomes a huge deal when we make it one. I
wasn’t sure whether the story would turn out as the initial attraction of the singing wore off, and the remainder of the day was devoted to their academics and practical training.
Would they all receive degrees and relocate to new cities? Would the story conclude with everyone back together at Karasuma Clinic, carrying on with their work until life called them elsewhere?
We ultimately had a mix of both, first with brief residencies apart from other people, then working alongside Kana as she was traveling back to her home.
Also Read: When To Expect Healer Girl Season 2?
18. Altered Carbon: Reserved
The historic finding of Noah’s Ark on Mt. Ararat marks the start of the narrative. Given that Noah’s Ark is substantially bigger than the biblical depiction and is constructed of unidentified material, it appears that it is more than just a massive seagoing ship.
In actuality, the Ark is a massive technical marvel with the extraordinary ability to influence even the very continuation of life on Earth.
The United States of America and a covert group known as ARCAM are both interested in acquiring Ark. As we rapidly get to know the lead, top ARCAM agent Yu Ominae, we’re rooting for ARCAM in this movie.
Despite having the appearance of a typical high school student, Yu is what is known as a “Spriggan” (thus the title) and has athletic prowess unmatched by the average person.
Whenever a person among his classmates vanishes and later reappears carrying explosives and the ominous phrase, “Noah will be your grave,” he finds out about the recent discovery of the Ark. Yu responds without delay and immediately departs for Turkey and Mount Ararat.
Additionally, there is hardly any character development. The one alternative is Yu, whose past is portrayed in a number of flashbacks in order to explain how he grew to be such a proficient and lethal operative.
We first encounter fellow Spriggan Jean Jacques Mondo about halfway through the narrative. He has a handy shotgun and lightning-fast reflexes.
Two researchers, the kind-hearted old Dr. Miesal and his catatonic aide Margaret, are also on ARCAM’s side. Colonel MacDougall, a brilliant psychic and the result of perverse genetic research, is the leader of the adversaries.
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19. Bright: Samurai Soul
In movies, a human and an orc join forces to save a little elf girl who has been abducted by an evil inferno who intends to use her as a wand to resurrect the dark lord. I just gave away the whole plot of 2017’s Bright to anyone who has already watched the film.
Yes, they practically copy everything from the main conflict to the twist ending and everything that transpires between the two protagonists.
The setting isn’t contemporary America; rather, it’s Japan. I’m not clear why the production needed a writer unless perhaps it was to meet union requirements.
Considering each frame of hand-drawn anime requires so much labor, we are accustomed to accepting many shortcuts.
Animating the actors (which they performed with motion capture) and adjusting the camera’s angle to get a good shot make up the majority of the labor for a CG movie (especially with assets).
Much less justification exists for the surroundings to resemble video game elements from more than 20 years ago.
Bright: Samurai Soul accomplished the unthinkable; it kind of made me want to rematch Bright.
Back in 2017, I thought Bright was totally acceptable—not as a movie I would brag to friends about seeing, but as one that was entertaining sufficient to justify the time I invested in its world. I undoubtedly felt differently about it than the majority of other cinema critics.
Samurai Soul sounds somewhat of an insult to those watching since it is essentially the same movie that was released four years prior, only with inferior visuals and a two-century time jump.
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20. Kabaneri Of The Iron Fortress
A monster that can only be vanquished by penetrating its iron-coated heart emerges when the world is in the midst of an industrial revolution.
The monster may produce hostile and ghastly entities known as Kabane by biting humans and transmitting infection.
To defend themselves from these monsters, people-built observatories on the island of Hinomoto, located to the far east.
With the aid of the Hayajiro steam-powered locomotive, people could enter the railway platform and move goods through them.
In order to battle the creatures, Ikoma, a young man who works in the Aragane station and aids in the construction of Hayajiro, makes his own weapon, the Tsuranukizutsu.
Ikoma, an adolescent steam smith who sacrificed his sister a few years ago and swore to exact revenge in her honor, is the main character of the novel. He develops a brand-new weapon known as the “piercing gun” that is designed to penetrate through the Kabane’s heart cage.
Ikoma seizes the opportunity to test the weapon as soon as the Kabane ultimately gains control of Aragane Station.
Ikoma is bitten, but it is successful. By stopping the virus from entering his brain, he can transform into a Kabaneri, a human/Kabane hybrid.
After being bitten through an outbreak in his hometown, Ikoma, a mechanic for the titular train “the Iron Fortress,” manages to choke themselves rather nonchalantly in order to prevent the Kabane from becoming infected from achieving his mind.
With that, he transforms into a mix of a human and a Kabane known as a “Kabaneri.” Oh, and it turns out that he is not alone; Mumei, a different traveler on the Iron Fortress at the moment, is a Kabaneri.
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21. My Little Monster
Shizuku Mizutani doesn’t care about her classmates and is solely concerned with her grades. She meets Haru Yoshida, a violent disturbance who quit attending school after engaging in a fight shortly before the school year, and this encounter causes her icy perspective on life to start to warm.
Though he is very similar to her in that, he lacks friends and also has little understanding of human nature. Shizuku is shocked when, upon meeting her, he declares that she will be his buddy and quickly admits his emotions for her.
Please don’t be misled by the series’ name. There are no magical or fantastical themes in My Little Monster. The nickname “Little Monster” alludes to Haru’s violent outbursts and inherently hostile conduct, which become apparent when Haru interacts with other people. Despite his propensity for violence, calling him a “monster” is a bit harsh.
The audience quickly learns that, despite his flaws, Haru is mostly an innocent, carefree youngster who is eager to develop relationships with friends.
His personality, on the other hand, could never be called “little.” The series’ summary follows the tried-and-true format of a romantic comedy.
A boy and a girl seem to be completely different, but they become friends over an apparently unimportant event. Hilarity and shenanigans follow. What then would distinguish a series like this?
After watching Your Lie in April, I felt like I could need a chuckle, so that was an important consideration in my decision to watch, but I also believed that this episode had the possibility for some intriguing character development.
I was interested in seeing how Shizuku and Haru’s highly odd emotional states would interact and what situations would finally cause them to become friends.
Also Read: Isekai Monster Breeder Chapter 80: Will The Story Continue?
22. High School DxD
When a lady he doesn’t know asks him out on a date, Hyoudou Issei, an average high school student who may be a little perverse, is overjoyed. Issei is unfortunate because that woman is a Fallen Angel that wants to murder him since he has a Hidden Gear secreted inside of him.
He is both somewhat and majorly surprised to find himself seated next to Rias Gremory, the brave student of his school, the following day after being certain of his own death. Issei had recently been screened to join the Gremory clan, a member of the three final major Demon clans, though he was unconscious of it.
The plot of High School DxD isn’t extremely deep, as you may probably assume. However, if you’re looking for a fun action/adventure/comedy romp that doesn’t overthink its actions, this series is for you.
There is a lot of fan service, so guys, take that as a warning, but it isn’t so blatantly overt that it detracted from my enjoyment of the program. Instead, it is greatly eclipsed by other, more interesting elements.
In fact, considering High School DxD is geared more toward adults, it can create absurd scenarios and crack jokes that comparable anime absolutely can’t.
The plot itself is also really intriguing and unlike anything I’ve read before. While I have noted that it felt strange, it was somewhat reassuring that every single one of the three main factions was depicted as wholly bad.
Even though the characters’ Gears are varied and interesting, the idea that certain people have Sacred Gears inserted from birth was also quite innovative, but it isn’t utilized to its fullest extent.
The “the stronger your will, the stronger you become” theme is a tad overused, despite the fact that the action itself is entertaining to watch and the outcome of each battle isn’t always clear. However, I believe I can overlook that given the series’ generally laid-back atmosphere.
Also Read: Best Anime To Watch In 2022 If You Liked High School DxD
23. The Irregular At Magic High School
A magician’s existence in the world of illusions is filled with talent-based competition against others from the time they first join high school. There are two-course groups at First High, where the tale takes place.
The students in Course 1’s Blooming class are magically gifted and hope to one day become magicians. The students in the “Weeds” class in Course 2 belong to those without magical prowess.
Prejudice is a common weed in Blooms. This is frequently juxtaposed with the animosity certain wizards have against Muggles in the Harry Potter books.
We meet the two main characters of the novel after the history lesson. Additionally, they appear on the book’s cover.
Despite receiving the best mark on the admission exam, Miyuki complains about Tatsuya’s placement at the beginning of Chapter 1. The most ideal of the two is Miyuki Shiba.
She has a good appearance, good academics, and strong magical abilities. She is a member of the Blooms. Her terrible brother problem with her older brother Tatsuya is her one and only weakness.
Many people criticize Tatsuya for being overpowering and frequently claim that he is a second Kirito. Tatsuya, however, does not think of himself as being as magnificent as Kirito does. He frequently asserts that Miyuki is the best due to her magical abilities.
Along with our core duo, a few more characters end up becoming friends. Although their lifestyles aren’t completely explored in the first volume, some character exchanges are amusing.
Tatsuya also attends the school’s student council; therefore, he is currently interacting with lots of women.
Also Read: 35 Best Magic Anime Series That You Should Watch
24. Seraph Of The End
There was a sudden crisis in our regular world. Presumably, an unidentified sickness killed everyone above the age of 13.
The youngsters were either slaughtered or taken in as their livestock at the same time that vampires and other monsters emerged from the shadows.
We follow Yuichiro Hyakuya’s quest to exterminate all vampires in this universe while he is imprisoned in their capital city.
He tries to flee one day with his new family. His friend Mika comes up with a solution, but it doesn’t work.
They arrive to find one of the vampires impatiently awaiting them, killing almost everyone, and Mika forces Yuichiro to flee by himself.
Guren, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Japanese Imperial Demon Army, discovers him and offers him a means of putting an end to the vampires.
In Owari, no Seraph, also known as Seraph of the End, a young boy seeks vengeance against the vampires who killed his family. This story is just another example of how it has been done before.
It’s a fairly monotonous and cliché tale about humanity versus vampires. Having said that, the plot is generally fascinating and is carried by the characters; however, we’ll talk about that later.
They are the ones battling their way through a post-apocalyptic world populated by monsters and vampires with little humankind surviving.
Noble demons are constantly demonstrated to be miles superior to humans and a force that must be reckoned with.
However, there are more magical creatures in this program besides vampires. The other is Cursed Gears and Monsters. Monsters need no introduction; these enormous animals are killing people left and right.
However, cursed gears are weapons that have devils locked inside of them. They range from weak demons and weapons to the deadliest of them all, the Black Demon Series.
Because the demons aren’t interested in sharing their power and instead want to seize control of the user and go wild, the characters who are on the human side are forced to fight a tug-of-war battle throughout the majority of the entire series.
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25. Akame Ga Kill
Each Night Raid member wields one of the “Imperial Arms,” objects produced through alchemy and components of the phantasmagorical Danger Beasts Tatsumi, a boxer, journeys to the Parliament with his two boyhood friends in search of a way to generate income to aid his struggling village.
After being separated from his friends due to an armed criminal attack, Tatsumi makes an unsuccessful attempt to enlist in the army and is duped out of his money.
Although they initially offer to help him, the noble household that takes him in later prepares to kill and torture him, just like they did with the other citizens and dozens of other individuals.
Tatsumi is rescued by the assassin group Night Raid and accepted into their ranks. Members are led by erstwhile emperors’ military leader Najenda and comprise the string-manipulating Lubbock, the swordswoman Akame, the hardened warrior Bulat, the sniper Mine, the monstrous fighting Leone, and more.
Sheele is a young woman who carries a large set of scissors.
Night Raid is also a part of the revolutionary forces gathering to overthrow Prime Minister Honest, who utilizes the young monarchy for his and the men’s own advantage while plunging the rest of the nation into poverty and strife.
More than 900 years ago. There were 48 of these things produced, and nearly half of them would have been lost to time.
These things include everything from weaponry like swords and guns to more practical things like an ornamental box and Armor, in addition to organic beings like a canine shape-shifters and formidable warriors.
Also Read: Akame Ga Kill Manga Ending: Akame’s New Journey
26. Another
The narrative centers on a cursed 3-3 (third year, third class) classroom at Yomi North Elementary School in Yomiyama District.
According to the legend, Yomiyama Misaki, a popular student who was actually a boy but was referred to as she in the tale, passed away in 1972.
His death had such an impact on the class that students 3-3 pretended the boy had never passed away. The entire class was stunned to discover that one of the pupils who passed away was also in the class photo during graduation.
The anime opened with its main protagonist, Sakakibara Koichi, being treated in a hospital for a lung condition called pneumothorax alongside his aunt Reiko and her grandmother.
He misses a month or more of class because of his illness. Tomohiko Kazami, Sakuragi Yukari, and an interestingly called post in command of preventative measures, the tsundere Akazawa Izumi, all three class representatives, visited him in the hospital.
Misaki Mei was a classmate of his when he eventually got to school, but weirdly, she was neglected in the classroom.
For the initial episode or two, the other students were in an “I ought to reveal you something, maybe not” frame of mind, and Koichi’s interest increased as he began to interact with Mei.
Mei, being a strange girl, made the issue more ambiguous and raised Koichi’s level of curiosity instead of clarifying what was going on.
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27. The Quintessential Quintuplets
After Futaro gets over his sickness, he starts doing his best to continue teaching the Nakano quintuplets. But the quintuplets’ conflicting emotions keep them from studying, and Futaro wastes as frequently time attempting to bring them together as he does try to instruct them.
He ultimately resigns from his position in accordance with the demands of the father of the quintuplets after failing to deliver results and assist the girls in surviving their most recent examinations.
The quintuplets leave in protest, determined to show that they are capable of passing their tests. Futaro begins his efforts to comprehend the quintuplets in the meantime.
Who is now vying with another person with the expectation that Futaro will feel the same way about them? This all comes to a head during the class trip to Kyoto, where the girls start doing amazing things to spend time with Futaro while coping with the possibility that the winner would have a different relationship with the other four.
After the school trip, the five sisters are worn out because Miku, in the climactic showdown, says that her family is her top priority.
The Quintessential Quintuplets, Futaro is focused and completely committed to his studies, but working with the Nakano quintuplets caused him to undergo a dramatic transformation.
Until he entered their lives, Ichika, Nino, Miku, Yotsuba, and Itsuki each thought of themselves as one-fifth of a whole, more similar than different.
Futaro, on the other hand, has always regarded each of the Nakano sisters as an autonomous person with her own unique beliefs, intents, and desires and attempts to impress upon them.
While his first goals were just to gain enough insight into everyone so he could capitalize on unique qualities to coach them effectively and make a living, he gradually came to feel a sincere desire to see every one of them his clients flourish.
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28. 5 Centimeters Per Second
While Akari was preparing herself ready to get married to another man in 2008, Takaki relocated to Tokyo and began working as a software programmer.
Takaki becomes depressed and eventually leaves his job since he can’t begin a satisfying relationship. Akari finds the letter written to Takaki while looking through her old possessions.
Takaki and Akari each give their own version of what transpired during their earlier run-in with the snow, and they each express the wish to view cherry blossoms together once more.
One day, Takaki and Akari are strolling along when they unexpectedly cross paths at the train crossing where they had chosen to enjoy the blossoming cherry trees together just thirteen years before, shortly after Akari’s hasty transfer to Tochigi.
Miyuki considered her potential future as she fixed her attention on the blank white notepad in front of her. If all goes well, she’ll be attending an exclusive institution senior high school that is only 40 minutes away by rail, passing her final examinations while donning a new uniform, and she’ll probably rejoin the basketball club.
She might go out with a couple of boys and work part-time. Miyuki planned to enroll in college after finishing high school.
Miyuki was traveling to the station by way of a side street that ran between two structures. She comes to a stop and looks around to see the town obscured by the blue sky.
Miyuki reflected, “I doubt I’ll be able to talk to others about what I observed yesterday. On this vast planet, it is difficult for me to evacuate any indication of my existence. It has been bugging me for a while; I’m not sure why.
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29. Tokyo Revengers
Despite spending a considerable amount of time apart from her, he simply continues with his routine. He ponders her and their shared past.
He gets forced onto the platforms at the commuter rail station. The moment before being run over by a train, he finds himself unexpectedly 12 years in the past.
He encounters Hinata again there and is moved to defend her. This is how Tokyo Revengers’ narrative starts.
Takemichi had the chance to Hanagaki Takemichi, a 26-year-old man, leads a simple existence devoid of any respect.
Even children don’t respect him because he lives in an old residence, and his manager, who is more youthful than he is, treats him like a fool. He often apologizes due to his attitude.
However, he did not always have it so tough. Twelve years ago, things were better in his life. He had a girlfriend and nice friends.
Alter the past and stop future events from ever occurring after Hinata passed away in 2017. From here, the narrative only continues getting better.
Even minor characters received adequate attention because it was largely character-driven. The plot is driven by their decisions and intentions in unexpected manners that render things seem natural.
Takemichi was quite clear about what he needed to do in the past. These appeared to be straightforward goals, but they were actually fraught with difficulties.
Consider his lack of knowledge as an example; while being from the future, he knows little about what actually transpired, and the little information he does obtain through police records is rarely enough.
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30. Horimiya
The protagonist of the novel is Kyouko Hori, a student who is everyone’s hero for her grace, intelligence, and beauty.
But who would have guessed that this teenage girl possesses a secret side? While their parents were out at work, she took care of her younger brother almost like a father.
Hori actually doesn’t have as much time for social life as most teenagers do because she is both a housekeeper and a caregiver for her brother.
A few days ago, she met Izumi Miyamura, who appears nerdy and may be an Otaku but hides his true identity outside of school because he has numerous pierces and tattoos, giving the impression that he is a troublemaker.
Shounen manga series Hori-san to Miyamura-kun (also known as Horimiya) is written by HERO and portrayed by Hagiwara Daisuke. The two main protagonists in the story, Hori and Miyamura, share a secret side of life with one another, and the series mostly focuses on their daily lives.
It is admirable to observe how they entirely create trust with one another despite having an erratic relationship that they manage to keep hidden from other people. This manga may appear at first glance to be a normal comedy of romance with playful yet humorous misunderstandings between youthful lovers.
The artwork’s simplicity appeals to me. Although it doesn’t provide the characters with any details akin to those in Shoujo, everything is kept neat and appealing for the readers.
A clear panel structure has been noticed, and I appreciate how each page turns resulting in a worthwhile discussion.
I suppose that rather than only giving life to the characters’ idol-like appearances, Hagiwara-san and HERO collaborated more on how the tale would best capture the interest of the readers.
Also, Read 10 Best Moments of Hori and Miyamura in ‘Horimiya’
31. Bungo Stray Dogs
The cast of Bungou Stray Dogs is rather limited and consists primarily of characters from the Armed Detective Agency, the Marina Mafia, and a few other episodic characters.
The fact that each character’s name makes some reference to a famous writer or poet—the majority of the references coming from contemporary Japanese literature—may be the most important aspect of the show’s cast.
The show frequently emphasizes the connections between authors and characters, and various characters frequently display traits or behaviors that are connected with the authors to differing degrees.
Nakajima Atsushi (Uemura Yuto) is kicked out of the orphanage that has been his home for his whole life due to a recent run of inexplicable incidents involving a huge white tiger.
Atsushi, who is now homeless and impoverished, comes across a stranger who is drowning and saves him from a river that is close by.
The man in question turns proved to be Dazai Osamu (Miyano Mamoru), who is also looking for the white tiger that put Atsushi in trouble with his girlfriend.
After the initial introductory segments, the show develops in a relatively episodic manner, with Atushi trying to find his position within the agency while collaborating with one of the several detectives who work there to solve various crimes and mysteries.
There isn’t much of a central plot, but the Port Mafia’s desire to kidnap and sell Atsushi is a repeating theme in the majority of the episodes.
The featured mysteries aren’t very compelling, and the stand-alone episodes aren’t that exciting either because the solutions frequently appeared foreseen or fortuitous.
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32. Kono Oto Tomare
Takezo Kurata, the Koto club’s lone existing member, tries to enlist new members. Sadly, high school students no longer like listening to classical Japanese music.
In Chika Kudo, a “juvenile nuisance” who is adamant about establishing the group, he finds an intriguing candidate. Soon after, they bring on musical prodigy Satowa Hozuki, and their odd alliance feeds the desire to compete at the national level.
I was really intrigued by the series, by Chika’s story in particular. Although he may appear to be a roughneck at first glance, he is unquestionably one of the series’ best characters.
It was both amazing and painful to witness his sincerity and desire to contact his grandfather.
Every scene featuring Chika and his ojisan, the elderly man’s steadfast belief in his cherished grandson, and the deep affection they both had for the koto made me cry uncontrollably.
Chika has the capacity to connect with people on a heart level despite his past. Despite his straightforward perspective, he is a strong judge of character and values his friendships.
He is modest and won’t hesitate to admit his faults. I adore the fact that, despite his talent, he is not regarded as a genius and that his perseverance and passion propelled him to success. Naturally, I adore his chemistry with Hozuki, a supreme tsundere.
Also Read: Kono Oto Tomare Season 3: When Is It Coming?
33. Tiger & Bunny
It might sound strange, but I’ve discovered that occasionally a show pertains along that’s just written well. Such anime has a peculiar characteristics that I find hard to describe, but they give me a feeling of fullness or completeness that is actually quite fulfilling.
Despite a few minor flaws, Tiger and Bunny offer a delightful and engaging experience because of its lively and interesting cast, as well as its wonderfully original concept.
NEXT is the name given to a tiny group of people who live in the contemporary Stern Bild City. The strongest of these people can develop into Heroes, commercialization champions of justice whose aim is to attract the attention of their business partners on network television as much as it is to tackle crime.
These people have a variety of particular skills. One such seasoned Hero, Kaburagi Kotetsu, more commonly known as Wild Tiger, is paired up with Barnaby Brooks Jr., a newcomer to the scene, when his assisting company fails.
With Barnaby’s ambition to gain Hero Awards and the weathered Kotetsu’s desire to assist the population in any manner probable, the two may find themselves spending the majority of their time going in each other’s way.
With images of cape-wearing vigilantes with vibrant brand logos painted on their clothing, Tiger and Bunny instantaneously transports you to its unusual environment and drives home the reality of corporate justice (and they’re from actual companies!).
Special acronyms, TV interviews, and even a Hero whose sole objective is to be visible in the background of as many TV shots as possible in order to showcase his sponsors all contribute to the series’ remarkable portrayal of this crucial element.
The struggle between the media’s quest for publicity and the desire for the unhindered pursuit of righteousness, alongside other topics, is the cherry on top.
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34. Ergo Proxy
This show slightly deceives you into not immediately focusing on Vincent. It first focuses primarily on Re-L and Iggy, who are part of her AutoReiv entourage.
Most people have AutoReivs assigned to them in some fashion. They can be friends, entertainers, caregivers, doctors, work assistants, and a variety of other roles.
Although many of them are blatantly mechanical entities, others, like companion AutoReivs, are made specially to resemble humans in terms of both appearance and behavior.
They do not have souls; therefore, despite their remarkable technological ability to resemble people, they cannot truly be considered human. The gradual demise of humanity is imminent.
Living on the planet has proven to be nearly impossible due to its barren wasteland and toxic environment. Cities were built beneath shielding domes in order to preserve humanity.
In one such city, Romdeau, only those qualifying of being “fellow citizens” were permitted to dwell there, while immigrants from other places made every effort to obtain citizenship.
Re-l Mayer, a top investigator for the Intelligence Bureau, notices that an immigrant from the city of Vladimir named Vincent Law appeared to have problems following him everywhere.
She finds out about the existence of a weird species called a proxy while looking into him and the mysterious cogito infection that is afflicting the city’s AutoReivs. What does it have to do with Vincent, the cogito, the virus, and the very foundation of humanity?
