There’s only so much anime one can take. Now a significant part of modern entertainment, the art of anime dates back to 1917 with early surviving works like Namakura Gatana. Since then, it has evolved in every possible way. Storylines have gone from episodic adventures to sprawling overarching arcs, characters have become more nuanced, and the themes have changed with the trends and societal concerns of each passing generation.
Anime wouldn’t be what it is today without its distinct art style. Inspired by the textured, hand-painted look of traditional Japanese art before evolving through computer animation and digital techniques, it’s the perfect combination of East and West. Over the last 30 years, there have been countless great anime, but only a chosen few deserve a spot in your rotation. From an underdog sports story to a ruthless yet charming murderer, here are the most perfect anime of the last 30 years, ranked.
10
‘Detective Conan’ (1996–Present)
Image via TMS Entertainment
After being forced to ingest a mysterious poison, brilliant teenage detective Shinichi Kudo (Kappei Yamaguchi) awakens in the body of a young child. Adopting the alias Conan Edogawa (Minami Takayama), he secretly continues solving baffling murder cases while searching for the shadowy organization responsible for his condition. In between going to elementary school and protecting his identity, he’s got murders, thefts, and conspiracies to solve.
Detective Conan combines the mysteries of Sherlock Holmes with the comical ingenuity of Scooby-Doo. Whether it’s an art heist or a murder on a luxury liner, every case is grounded in strong logic and reasoning. But with the perspective of a young man trapped in a boy’s body, the crime-solving gets even more creative, as Conan has the advantage of being underestimated because of his physical age.
9
‘Haikyu!!’ (2014–2020)
Image via Crunchyroll
Inspired by the legendary volleyball player known as the “Little Giant,” undersized Shoyo Hinata (Ayumu Murase) dreams of reaching the top despite his height. After suffering a crushing defeat at the hands of prodigy Tobio Kageyama (Kaito Ishikawa), Hinata vows revenge—only to discover they’re now teammates at Karasuno High. The two must put their egos aside, especially if they’re going to compete for national glory.
Haikyu!! is about volleyball, but it’s also an anime about a bunch of underdogs who share the same vision. But before they can call themselves a team, audiences watch them go through the wringer first. It’s through playing volleyball together that they learn more about life on the court than in the classroom, transforming from boyish teens to serious athletes.
8
‘Death Note’ (2006–2007)
<source media="(max-width: 1023px)" data-srcset="https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Death-Note.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2" srcset="https://static0.colliderimages.com/wor…
Sticks and stones hurt your bones, but in Death Note, pen and paper literally kill you. After chancing upon a supernatural notebook capable of killing anyone whose name is written inside it, high school student Light Yagami (Mamoru Miyano) sets out to rid the world of criminals. However, his unchecked vendetta doesn’t go unnoticed by the mysterious detective L (Kappei Yamaguchi).
There’s something intriguingly blasphemous about playing a god. Light is the textbook example of “the ends justify the means,” and Death Note challenges the notion of whether true good is only possible through dictatorial means. Though the second half of the anime had a drop in quality, Death Note remains a philosophical trip about mortality.
7
‘One Piece’ (1999–Present)
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
Here you can find the original article ; the photos and images used in our article also come from this source . We are not their authors ; they have been used solely for informational purposes with proper attribution to their original source . [/nospin]
[INPUT_HTML_END]
…
…
…
…
Here you can find the original article ; the photos and images used in our article also come from this source . We are not their authors ; they have been used solely for informational purposes with proper attribution to their original source . [/nospin]
[INPUT_HTML_END]
…
…
Here you can find the original article ; the photos and images used in our article also come from this source . We are not their authors ; they have been used solely for informational purposes with proper attribution to their original source . [/nospin]
[INPUT_HTML_END]
Here you can find the original article ; the photos and images used in our article also come from this source . We are not their authors ; they have been used solely for informational purposes with proper attribution to their original source . [/nospin]
[INPUT_HTML_END]
