Top 10 Anime of the Year (So Far)

It’s official: the Armed Detective Agency is finally back in business. This time, though, they aren’t just solving any old paranormal crime. No, they’re proving their own innocence after being framed for murder. If it sounds darker, that’s because it is. Season four of “Bungo Stray Dogs” tackles the most ambitious serialized narrative the series has ever seen, and that means embracing the grittiness like never before. But, when paired with deeper characterization for supporting players like Ranpo and Fukuzawa, the show remains a howling good time. Based on how the season left off, it’s clear that this is just the opening act of a thrilling new chapter for Atsushi and the others.

Things may not be holly and jolly for Takemichi anymore, but it sure is entertaining to watch. The new season picks up right where it left off with everyone’s favorite time-traveler realizing the timeline is more screwed up than ever before. You know the drill: gang fights, character growth, and time-traveling shenanigans ensue. Basically, “Christmas Showdown” is everything that made “Tokyo Revengers” a hit in the first place. And it accomplishes that in half the episodes, too. But, that’s the benefit of building off an excellent foundation: there’s nowhere to go but up. Thankfully, watching Takemichi overcome his limitations yet again was the perfect gift under the anime Christmas Tree.

The original “Trigun” is a pretty high bar to meet, but against all odds, “Stampede” somersaulted over it with plenty of style. This reimagined take on Vash’s journey is exactly what a reboot should be. It honors the story that came before while still forging its own reason to exist. Though, it doesn’t hurt that “Trigun Stampede” is a tour-de-force of CG animation. The fluid fight scenes make Vash and the others look cooler than they ever have before, and that’s no easy task. Whether you're a longtime fan or coming in fresh, it’s hard to go wrong accompanying Vash the Stampede for another ride

All you need to know here is that Mash is probably the only student at Easton Academy without any magic. Thankfully, what he lacks in witchcraft he makes up for with raw muscle mass. The ingenious premise flips the script on the classic magical-boarding school series with excellent results. Most of that comes from the fact that “Mashle” completely commits to the bit. It never passes up the chance at a joke, especially when Mash himself is involved. Seeing him brute-force his way through spellbinding situations just never gets old. While Mash doesn’t have any magic, his show still enchants in all the right ways.

This is the type of show where you come for the mysteries, and stay for the characters. To start, the central question of how the world fell apart drives the opening episodes to some genuinely jaw-dropping places. But, none of them would matter without the careful development of its leads, Maru and Kiruko. Both separately, and as a unit. Rather than indulging in empty plot twists, “Heavenly Delusion” examines its characters' relationships to each other, their gender, and the world. It’s not often you get to say that a romance is the best part of an apocalyptic mystery. But, “Heavenly Delusion” spent thirteen fantastic episodes proving why it’s the exception.

This show is a cross between a buddy-cop comedy and a bloody actioner, and yes, it’s as awesome as it sounds. It follows the deadpan shinobi, Gabimaru, who has to find the Elixir of Immortality to waive his death sentence. But, he isn’t alone. The straight-laced Sagiri joins him to make sure he stays in line. That’s the gist of the plot, and really, the whole setup is just an excuse for a series of slick action scenes. We’re not complaining, though. The series keeps your heart-rate so high that you won’t even realize an episode’s over until the credits start rolling. If this is what the journey’s like, here’s hoping they never find the Elixir.

Three seasons deep, and watching a demon’s head fly off is still as epic as ever. Particularly when it's coming from two new Hashira. The proper introduction of Mitsuri and Muichiro brought some much-needed new energy to the season. But, at the end of the day, this story arc belongs to Tanjiro and Nezuko. Their fights with Hatengu are the kind of explosive spectacles that “Demon Slayer” is known for. It all culminates in a final episode that should come with a box of tissues. All in all, the “Swordsmith Village arc” is “Demon Slayer” doing what “Demon Slayer” does best, and you can’t ask for anything better than that.

Take our word for it; this is a show you want to go into knowing as little as possible. But, if you still need some convincing, “Oshi no Ko” has a reincarnated surgeon, a murdered idol, and a kid hellbent on vengeance. And that’s just the first episode. From there, it grows into a pulse-pounding thriller exploring the dark underbelly of the idol world. “Oshi no Ko” spins all its themes and characters with a finesse that’s just plain satisfying to watch. Amid it all, it even finds time to deliver some hard-hitting emotional beats, too. This is one performance you’ll never want to end.

After ten years as the certified titan of the anime industry, the series’ penultimate chapter is finally here - and it did not disappoint. The staggering sense of scale really hammers home the fact that this ragtag gang of rebels is going to stop the Rumbling, or die trying. Because of that, this hour-long special will leave you exhilarated, then misty-eyed, then out of breath, and then exhilarated all over again. This is the kind of grand culmination few shows get, and even fewer can pull off. But, if the finale can match even half of this special’s quality, then “Attack on Titan” will go out on one hell of a high note.



Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“The Dangers in My Heart” (2023-)

Attempted Murder and Heartwarming Romance Are Both on the Curriculum in This School


“Buddy Daddies” (2023-)

This Found Family Has Two Dads, One Daughter, and a Whole Lot of Heart


“Skip & Loafer” (2023-)

This Is a High-School Romance Done Right


“Dr. Stone: New World” (2019-)

There’s a New World, New Inventions, and New Reasons to Keep Watching

For all intents and purposes, the violent and action-packed “Vinland Saga” ended with the first season. In its place, the show shifted its focus inward on Thorfinn’s psyche, and the outcome is an utterly captivating portrait of grief, trauma, and finding the will to live. While not without a few bloody brawls, the show keeps returning to those core tenets again and again. Each time, finding new insights to explore. In lesser hands, this methodical story arc could have easily been disregarded as a boring character piece. But, this season handles its subject matter with so much care, that it single handedly turns “Vinland Saga” from a great show into a masterful one.