Animeis an ever-evolving art form, and it’s constantly drawing viewers in with its boundless creativity and genre-blending narratives. As a medium, it defies conventional storytelling and delivers stories that are both epic and intimate. Each season is ripe with fresh stories and innovative visuals to surpass what came before and set the stage for what comes next.
But what exactly contributes to an anime’s enduring popularity? From the extraordinary level of skill to the exploration of the complex human condition, the best anime series right now have created a blend of art and emotion that is hard to rival. In this list, we take a look at 10 of the most popular anime currently dominating the industry. These includeadrenaline-pumping shōnen giantsas well as emotionally rich fantasy dramas.
10’Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End' (2023)
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Years after the four powerful members of the hero’s party defeated the Demon King and restored peace in the world, the elven mage Frieren embarks on a bittersweet journey to discover herself. Considering how human life is only fleeting in comparison to her thousand-year-long lifespan, Frieren realizes that she must understand humanity better instead of taking her friends and companions for granted.
A Story About Self-Discovery
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s Endhas a deeply contemplative tone, and itexplores the existential questionsof what it means to live and love for someone who’s immortal. The series has a slow pace and a tender narrative, which is backed by stunning visuals and rich character development. As we witness Frieren’s transformation from a detached mage to a being who cannot help but cherish little moments in life, it’s the most beautiful experience ever.
9’Oshi no Ko Season 2' (2024)
Oshi No Ko
Oshi no Kocontinues to explore the dark and complex world of the entertainment industry in Season 2, which focuses on the lives of Aqua and Ruby Hoshino, the reincarnated children of a famous pop idol. Except this time, Aqua and Kana Arima, along with Aqua’s girlfriend, Akane Kurokawa, have landed coveted roles in a stage adaptation of a popular manga. The differences between the original world and the play create conflict and reveal secrets.
The Steep Price of Fame
Oshi no KoSeason 2 not only builds on the success of its predecessor by developing the characters further, but also infuses a long-form murder mystery into the mix. It combines drama and conflict, dynamic pacing and unexpected plot twists, and the most engaging narratives to keep things interesting. What’s best is that the season takes a deep dive into the strenuous process of a manga-to-stage-play adaptation by converting character perspectives, which is exceptional and enlightening.
8’Classroom of the Elite III' (2024)
Classroom of the Elite
In the prestigious, utopia-like Koudo Ikusei Senior High School, students have all sorts of opportunities to pursue their ambitions as long as they achieve good results, which directly affects their spot in classes A through D. Season 3 finds Ryūen’s group being demoted to Class D and Ayanokōji’s group promoted to Class A. It does not change much, but kick-starts a lot of competition leading up to the Special Exam.
Warfare Within a Classroom
Despite being set against the backdrop of a school, the ever-shifting landscape ofClassroom of the Elite IIIleaves a lot of room to introduce alliances, betrayals, and high-stakes academic competitions. And the ultimate prize? To shape the very future of the students and the school. The aesthetic of the series is marked by a minimalist style to complement the cerebral nature of the narrative, but the latest season is popular because of how it handles themes of privilege and trauma.
The 15 Coziest Anime to Put You in a Good Mood
Some anime really give the viewer a warm, cozy feeling inside. Sometimes, that’s the whole point!
7’Blue Lock' (2022)
A sports animeripe with intense psychological thrillerelements,Blue Locktakes place in the aftermath of Japan’s disappointing performance in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. To measure up the loss, the Japan Football Union creates a revolutionary program with the aim of cultivating the world’s greatest striker. This requires 300 high school forwards to be placed in a prison-like facility, where they train and develop their skills. Yoichi Isagi is one of the U-18 strikers selected for the program.
Reinvents the Sports Anime Genre
Taking a bold and often violent approach towards the genre,Blue Lockis an entirely character-driven anime. Sure, the action and psychological drama takes the wheel in certain arcs, but the main focus is on each character’s relentless pursuit of individual greatness. The unique premise poses various challenges and competitions, the pulsating soundtrack creates a dramatic tone, and the vibrant animation brings soccer battles to exhilarating life, making Blue Lock one of the most talked-about series right now.
6’Kaiju No. 8' (2024)
Kaiju No. 8
Kafka Hibino and Mina Ashiro are childhood friends with dreams of joining the Defense Force to protect humanity from colossal, monstrous kaiju. But these aspirations seem out of reach for 32-year-old Kafka, who works as a kaiju cleaner, disposing of the remains after battles. Everything changes when Kafka’s encounter with a beast grants him the ability to transform into a kaiju himself. Now, he must navigate his dual identity and strive to join Mina, who is already a celebrated Defense Force officer.
Kaiju Action Meets Personal Growth
Kaiju No. 8brings monster mayhem and personal drama to the screen in an innovative manner, blending action, fantasy, and sci-fi elements. Directed by Shigeyuki Miya and Tomomi Kamiya and adapted from the manga series written and illustrated by Naoya Matsumoto, itsubverts traditional kaiju narrativesby placing an ordinary protagonist in the middle of the action. The animation, punctuated by breathtaking set pieces and incredible monster designs, elevates Kafka’s struggle to reconcile his dual identities.
5’The Apothecary Diaries' (2023)
The Apothecary Diaries
Set in a fictional country inspired by Imperial China,The Apothecary Diariesfollows a young woman named Maomao, who finds her world turned upside down when she’s plucked from her ordinary existence and sold to the Imperial Palace as a servant. She tries really hard to keep her extensive knowledge of medicine hidden, but when the emperor’s infant children show symptoms of a mysterious illness, she uses her intellect to diagnose and heal them.
Murder Mystery with a Touch of Medicine
Across two seasons of political intrigue and medical mystery, the anime thrusts its protagonist into a treacherous world of danger and deception as she tries to maintain her curious and eccentric personality. It’s fascinating to watch the detailed exploration of traditional medicinal practices and the art of diagnoses because the series pays so much attention to historical accuracy and meticulous world-building that you’re invested in how the story unfolds from start to finish.
4’Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc' (2024)
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - To the Hashira Training
Demon Slayeris one of the most popular anime series of recent years. It tells the story of Tanjiro Kamado, who watches her entire family being murdered by demons and her sister Nezuko turning into a demon herself. Driven by revenge, he joins the Demon Slayer Corps. TheDemon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arcis an exciting continuation of Tanjiro’s story. He undergoes rigorous training under the guidance of the elite Demon Slayer Corps members, known as the Hashira, to fight the terrifying forces of demon Muzan and defeat the Demon leader once and for all.
The Most Thrilling Arc
The season stands as a massive achievement in the world of anime because it takes a deep dive into the specially-designed training camp and breathtaking montages while preparing Tanjiro and the Hashira for an impending battle. The visuals, the fight choreography, and the profound growth of the protagonists is something fans have come to adore. The powerful soundtrack by Yuki Kajiura and Go Shiina amplifies the viewing experience. The season will be followed by theInfinity Castlemovie trilogy in 2025.
3’Dr. Stone' (2019)
Dr. Stonebegins with a mysterious flash of light turning humanity to stone. Several millennia later, high-schooler Taiju comes to life and finds himself in a post-apocalyptic landscape devoid of civilization. He’s driven by a thirst for knowledge and a burning desire to rebuild society through science, so Taiju teams up with the only living human he encounters, science-loving Senkuu. Meanwhile, they try to discover the reason behind the petrification event.
Fusion of Science and Adventure
Directed by Shinya Iino and produced by TMS Entertainment,Dr. Stonestands out with its ability to combine adventure, comedy, and science fiction. It takes an educational approach to storytelling and explains scientific facts in an entertaining way. The protagonists, Taiju and Senku, are refreshingly nuanced and compelling as reluctant heroes. The animation is simple, but the premise creates a palpable sense of urgency that eventually grows on you.
10 Perfect Anime Series With No Bad Episodes
These are anime that don’t just deliver good episodes – they deliver nothing but good episodes, start to finish.
2’Dandadan' (2024)
Dandadanexploded in popularity when it premiered in 2024and now fans cannot wait for the second season to drop this summer. It follows the adventures of Momo Ayase, a popular high schooler who saves a classmate, Ken Takakura, from getting bullied. They’re polar opposites – Momo believes in ghosts but not aliens and Ken believes in aliens but not ghosts – but they embark on various adventures and encounter everything from aliens to spirits.
Bizarre Yet Engaging
Unlike other shonen anime,Dandadanrefuses to be complex; it turns the entire focus on delivering entertainment in the form of unexpected encounters, jaw-dropping battles, and uncovering hidden secrets. It takes a plain high-school rom-com premise and enriches it by giving the characters a series of adventures to comb their way through. The humor is intense, the premise is bizarre, the horror elements are quite scary, and the animation is gorgeous.
1’Solo Leveling' (2024)
Solo Leveling
Easily one of the most popular Isekai anime of 2024,Solo Levelingis set in a world where certain individuals with supernatural abilities are selected to become “Hunters” and venture into mysterious dungeons to battle deadly monsters. Sung Jin-woo is a hunter who finds himself at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Deemed the weakest of all, his life takes a wild turn when he’s bestowed with the unique ability to level up in strength with every victory.
Worth the Hype
Blending the best aspects ofthe isekai genre and modern fantasy, this one delivers one thrilling narrative arc after another. As Jin-woo battles deadly rivals and navigates his newfound strengths, he is also drawn towards a sinister plot that threatens to disrupt the balance between the human world and the supernatural world. Produced by A-1 Pictures, the anime brings Chugong’s popular web novel to life using a moody aesthetic, dramatic arcs, and epic action sequences.
