The broad and diverse world of anime has fascinating storylines that have captivated fans worldwide. These anime shows have surpassed entertainment with stunning animation and thought-provoking tales that leave a lasting impression.
Depending on the preferences of viewers, great to-watch anime might range from lighthearted to dramatic to romantic. This carefully picked selection includes several genres with unique stories. All the stories in these anime are masterpieces, full of adventure and touching tales of friendship that are certain to grip viewers from start to finish. Relax and watch these 15 excellent anime selections.
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15 Anime To Watch With Good Story
1. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
“Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood” is an anime adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa’s manga. The Studio Bones-produced series premiered in 2009. Alchemists may change matter in the story’s imaginary universe. The story follows Amestris brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric.
Elric brothers tried to revive their mother using alchemy as children, which ended tragically. Edward loses a limb, and Alphonse loses his body in the failed effort. Edward uses alchemy to bind Alphonse’s soul to armor but loses his right arm.
The brothers search for the Philosopher’s Stone, a mythological item that boosts alchemists’ strength and circumvents the principles of comparable exchange to heal themselves. Their road is full of peril, exploration, and terrible mysteries about their planet.
As they meet many individuals and enemies, the Elric brothers get involved in a huge scheme. Along the road, they face past misdeeds, war’s cruelty, and power and sacrifice moral problems.
“Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood” is one of the most adored and highly praised anime series due to its well-rounded character development and emotional depth. Its global popularity makes it a must-watch for anime fans and newbies.
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2. Steins;Gate
The highly acclaimed and mind-bending anime series “Steins;Gate” is based on the visual novel by 5pb. and Nitroplus. The 2011 science fiction and thriller series has become a classic.
Rintarou Okabe, a self-proclaimed crazy scientist, conducts a tiny research facility in Akihabara, Tokyo, with his buddies Mayuri Shiina and Itaru “Daru” Hashida. Okabe accidentally finds a “time leap” phenomenon by sending text messages to the past using a modified microwave and smartphone.
Okabe and his buddies unexpectedly find a more frightening revelation while they study time travel. They accidentally create a time machine that can transmit messages back in time, causing intricate temporal anomalies and unforeseen effects.
The tale takes an exciting turn when Okabe understands that changing the past might influence the present and his loved ones’ life. He fights strange groups and their evil objectives as he navigates the complex timelines and contradictions.
In “Steins;Gate,” time, causality, and the ethics of altering the past are explored. Okabe confronts heartbreaking decisions that may alter destiny and history as he suffers the repercussions of his actions.
“Steins;Gate” has sophisticated and mind-bending story twists where every detail and choice has major consequences. The intriguing and dramatic series keeps fans glued to the screen.
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3. Attack on Titan
“Attack on Titan,” or “Shingeki no Kyojin” in Japanese, is a popular and highly praised anime based on Hajime Isayama’s manga. The anime’s fierce action, dark themes, and convoluted narrative have made it a worldwide hit since its 2013 debut.
Titans, huge humanoid beings, are destroying mankind and threatening extinction. Titans are guarding humanity’s final stronghold and prey on people without explanation. Maria, Rose, and Sina, three massive concentric walls, are where humanity’s last survivors reside to survive.
Eren Yeager, his adopted sister Mikasa Ackerman, and their childhood buddy Armin Arlert want to explore the world beyond the gates and destroy the Titans. However, a massive Titan penetrates Maria’s outermost wall, enabling a swarm of Titans to attack and wreck the city.
Eren, Mikasa, and Armin join the military and join the Scout Regiment, a special division that goes beyond the walls to regain lost land and unearth the Titans’ secrets after the tragic occurrence. They combat the Titans and their world’s secrets as they train and fight with other recruits.
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4. Death Note
The clever 17-year-old Japanese student Light Yagami and the cruel god of death, Ryuk, believe their worlds are corrupt. Ryuk throws his Death Note into humanity for fun. Light finds it and laughs at its first rule: the person whose name is on this note dies. Light’s desire is too overwhelming, and he writes a felon’s name, strangely committing his first murder.
Light, as Kira, follows his terrible sense of justice to destroy the world of evil-doers despite his scary godlike strength. Light’s brilliance challenges L’s, turning the great quest for Kira into a furious war of wits that can only stop when one of them dies.
5. Hunter x Hunter
“Hunter x Hunter” is a popular and highly praised anime based on Yoshihiro Togashi’s manga. The plot follows 12-year-old Gon Freecss, who trains to become a Hunter. Hunters are skilled and knowledgeable, enabling them to find rare riches, explore unexplored territory, and catch deadly criminals.
The urge to discover his renowned Hunter father, Ging Freecss, drives Gon to become a Hunter. Gon is determined and hopeful as he faces a difficult test that evaluates his physical, intellectual, and moral qualities.
Gon meets various wannabe Hunters with different ambitions and origins. Killua Zoldyck, an assassin from a notorious killing family, Kurapika, a spiteful man seeking revenge for his tribe, and Leorio Paradinight, a medical student aspiring to be a doctor, are his companions.
The protagonists in “Hunter x Hunter” face dangerous conflicts, surprising alliances, and moral challenges as they embark on exhilarating journeys.
Uniquely, “Hunter x Hunter” introduces a wide and elaborately developed environment where Nen, a strong and diversified energy system, drives fights and character development. The strategic and creative use of Nen adds depth and complexity to conflicts, testing brains and cunning as well as power.
The anime’s focus on character development enhances the tale by showing viewers each protagonist’s personal progress. The emotional impact of their encounters and connections keeps spectators engaged in their travels.
6. Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
Sunrise’s “Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion” is a highly regarded anime series authored by Ichirō Ōkouchi and directed by Gorō Taniguchi.
In an alternative dimension, the Holy Britannian Empire has overrun Japan and renamed it Area 11. Britannia oppresses and discriminates against the Elevens, Japanese people.
The story follows Lelouch Lamperouge, a clever and charming young prince of Britannia. After seeing his mother’s murder and Nunnally’s paralysis, Lelouch resolves to destroy Britannia and build a peaceful world for his sister.
Lelouch meets a strange female called C.C., who gives him Geass the power to force everyone to obey him. With this newfound strength, Lelouch becomes “Zero” and leads “The Black Knights.”
Lelouch leads a brave and cunning operation to defeat Britain and free Japan as Zero. He orchestrates large-scale rebellions and political upheavals using his tactical acumen and manipulative talents while hiding his actual identity from allies and adversaries.
Lelouch navigates rebellion and justice throughout the series, facing several moral difficulties. His actions influence not just his friends but also the planet. Political intrigue, violent mecha fights, and complex character dynamics define “Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion.”
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7. One Piece
One Piece is a popular Japanese manga and anime about Monkey D. Luffy, a young kid who becomes rubbery after eating a devil’s fruit. He searches for “One Piece” with the Straw Hat Pirates on the Grand Line. Other pirates, bounty hunters, revolutionary armies, and savages combat them along the route.
After surviving a horrific whirlpool at sea in a barrel, carefree Monkey D. Luffy boards a pirate ship. Despite his innocent appearance, he is not to be underestimated.
Luffy, a pirate unmatched in the fight, relentlessly chases the One Piece treasure and the King of Pirates title. Before his death, Gol D. Roger, the King of Pirates, revealed the presence of his treasure and challenged everyone to find it. Since then, many formidable pirates have braved dangerous seas seeking One Piece but never returned.
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8. Cowboy Bebop
Shinichirō Watanabe’s “Cowboy Bebop” is a highly regarded and renowned anime series. The anime masterpiece, which aired in 1998, is legendary.
In the distant future, “Cowboy Bebop” follows bounty hunters who travel the cosmos to find criminals and fugitives. The primary character is Spike Spiegel, a relaxed, talented ex-hitman with a murky history.
Jet Black, a gruff and experienced ex-detective; Faye Valentine, a seductive and elusive con artist; Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivrusky IV, a quirky and competent hacker; and Ein, a smart corgi, join him.
The crew takes on bounty after bounty in a cosmos full of unique cultures, people, and conflicts aboard their starship, the Bebop. As the series develops, each individual reveals their past and demons.
“Cowboy Bebop”‘s jazz-inspired music by Yoko Kanno matches the series’ sleek and genre-blending story. The anime expertly merges sci-fi, noir, Western, and space opera to create a future and nostalgic universe.
Besides its action-packed bounty-hunting missions, the series explores its protagonists’ internal issues and emotional baggage. Loneliness, redemption, and significance give the series substance beyond its action-packed surface.
This masterpiece has shaped the anime industry and continues to enchant new audiences. Its history and position as a masterpiece have made it one of the finest anime series ever.
9. Neon Genesis Evangelion
Hello, Anno’s “Neon Genesis Evangelion” was a breakthrough and significant anime series produced by Gainax. After airing in 1995, it became a cultural phenomenon that shaped the anime industry and popular culture.
A group of youths are recruited by the clandestine organization NERV to operate huge biomechanical robots called Evangelions in a post-apocalyptic world. These massive mechs are humanity’s only defense against Angels, horrific monsters who seek to annihilate the Earth.
Shinji Ikari, the protagonist, is a shy, timid youngster alienated from his father, NERV leader Gendo Ikari. Shinji’s special skills force him to operate the Eva Unit-01 despite his initial reluctance. In the series, Shinji must face his anxieties and vulnerabilities while fighting the powerful Angels.
The story of “Neon Genesis Evangelion” explores complicated issues of existentialism, psychology, and the human condition. The series depicts human frailty and the search for identity and belonging via its characters’ psychological traumas and emotional battles. “Neon Genesis Evangelion” deconstructs the mecha genre and examines the emotional toll of operating enormous robots on its youthful heroes.
10. My Hero Academia
“My Hero Academia,” also known as “Boku no Hero Academia” in Japanese, is a popular anime based on Kohei Horikoshi’s manga. Superpowers, called “Quirks,” are ubiquitous in the story’s setting. On this planet, most people have superpowers like shape-shifting, telekinesis, or elemental manipulation.
Since childhood, the ambitious middle schooler Izuku Midoriy has desired to be a hero. Izuku’s unfortunate fate makes him admire and note heroes whenever he can. Izuku encounters All Might, his favorite hero after his persistence pays off.
Throughout the series, Izuku confronts challenges and connects with his students and mentors, each with their own Quirks and goals. The anime covers friendship, heroism, self-discovery, and power responsibilities.
As Izuku becomes a hero, he faces powerful adversaries who test his determination and society’s harmony. Battles between heroes and villains make the tale exciting and compelling.
11. Sword Art Online
In the near future, virtual reality gaming will be sophisticated and immersive. As an enthusiastic gamer, Kirito joyfully joins “Sword Art Online” (SAO), the latest and most anticipated virtual reality MMORPG.
Kirito and thousands of other gamers realize they cannot log out. The game’s designer, Akihiko Kayaba, says they’re locked in SAO and must reach the 100th level and face the final monster to leave. Dying in the game meant dying in real life, making their virtual experience life-or-death.
As Kirito starts his dangerous mission to clear the game and liberate himself and the other players, he meets other players, notably the skilled swordswoman Asuna, and they create friendships and alliances to survive SAO.
The “Sword Art Online” story smoothly integrates action, adventure, romance, and fantasy. The anime addresses virtual reality, gaming’s influence on real life, and virtual world emotional ties. It also explores the psychological implications of being stuck in a life-or-death game and the characters’ development in this perilous and strange environment.
“Sword Art Online” explores different virtual reality games and character connections outside the SAO storyline. Kirito faces new obstacles and enemies, and his personal relationships with other players enhance his trip.
Despite its rich virtual environment and fascinating narratives, “Sword Art Online” has been criticized for its narrative choices and character arcs. However, its effect on the virtual reality genres and its dedicated audience has made it a famous anime series.
12. Naruto
Masashi Kishimoto’s manga “Naruto” is a renowned anime series. From Konohagakure’s Hidden Leaf Village, Naruto Uzumaki is a motivated young ninja. Naruto wants to be the village’s strongest ninja and Hokage. Naruto’s trip is difficult since he hosts the Nine-Tailed Fox, a strong and evil beast that assaulted the village years ago.
Naruto is strong and hopeful despite the Nine-Tails’ bigotry and loneliness, desperate to show his value and receive peer respect. Team 7 under Kakashi Hatake is formed after he meets youthful ninjas Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno.
As Naruto and his friends practice and complete tasks, they face great enemies and discover hidden plots that threaten the village. The series explores friendship, endurance, sacrifice, and dreams.
In addition to its combat and ninja missions, “Naruto” is noted for its character growth and emotional depth. Each character, especially Naruto, grows and changes over the series, making them realistic and lovable.
Naruto’s journey involves the whole ninja world, resulting in epic battles and complex politics. The anime also examines war’s effects, genuine power, and the human heart.
One of the most influential anime series of all time, “Naruto,” has left a lasting influence. It continues to inspire new anime lovers worldwide and is loved by all ages.
13. Violet Evergarden
The narrative takes place after the war when science created realistic humanoid automatons called “Auto Memories Dolls.” These dolls help individuals by turning their thoughts and feelings into beautiful notes.
Violet Evergarden, a stoic former child soldier reared for battle, is the series’ protagonist. Violet becomes an Auto Memories Doll after the war to comprehend Major Gilbert Bougainvillea’s last words.
Violet discovers human emotions and the power of speech as a Doll. Her interactions with customers and others help her explore her feelings and desires, leading to tremendous personal development.
The joyful and heartbreaking stories of love, sorrow, and human relationships in each “Violet Evergarden” episode are standalone.
As the story develops, Violet explores her background and the individuals she’s met. Her search to grasp Major Gilbert’s “I love you,” expressed before departure, is the series’ core and emotional topic.
Also Read: Violet Evergarden Watch Order Guide
14. Madoka Magica
Madoka Kaname, a gentle, average middle school girl, meets Homura Akemi, a strange transfer student. Homura advises Madoka not to contract with Kyubey, a mysterious monster, since being a magical girl is dangerous.
Kyubey grants any request in return for becoming a magical girl and battling Witches. Mami Tomoe, Madoka’s friend and magical girl, teaches her about magic and its duties.
As Madoka considers her request and the consequences of being a magical girl, she spirals into sorrow and sacrifice. Homura, who appears to know various histories, zealously protects Madoka and tries to stop her from signing the contract.
The story of “Madoka Magica” explores the effects of desires, sacrifice, and the evil side of the magical girl archetype. The series explores the psychological toll that fighting Witches takes on the magical girls and subverts traditional expectations of the genre, offering a more mature and complex storyline.
15. Vinland Saga
Thorfinn grew up hearing legends of old sailors who had traversed the ocean to Vinland. It is warm and fertile, without the necessity for warfare, unlike the freezing town in Iceland where he was born or his current existence as a mercenary. War is now his home.
Although his father said, “Nobody has enemies but you. There is no one to injure. “Thorfinn grew up to realize this was false.
The English-Danish war worsens each year. Viking mercenaries enjoy killing since it’s common. Allying with either side will drastically change the balance of power, and the Vikings are happy to create a name for themselves and capture treasures. Thorfinn must avenge his father by killing Askeladd in the mayhem. The only utopia for Vikings seemed to be conflict and death.
