35 Best Anime Series of All Time, Ranked

Anime has become one of the fastest-growing forms of entertainment, drawing global audiences with its creativity and animation. Picking the very best is difficult given the medium's breadth, so this compilation aims to bring together a diverse selection of standout series.

The ranked list uses a wide set of criteria: writing, story, animation, cultural impact, influence, legacy, fan opinion, critical acclaim and how well a show represents the medium. The goal is to balance popular favorites with works that have shaped anime over time.

Highlights include Satoshi Kon's Paranoia Agent, which turns a mysterious attack on an overworked toy designer into a citywide panic and examines idol culture, work toxicity and the urge to escape; March Comes in Like a Lion, a moving depiction of a teenage professional shogi player confronting loneliness and mental illness; and Vinland Saga, whose revenge-driven first season gives way to a complex character study.

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