Top 20 Best Anime of the Decade
That's right people, we're tackling the big one – counting down the truly exceptional anime that has come out between 2010 and 2019, just as we're on the cusp of reaching the new year. Keep in mind this list is purely subjective given the monstrous amount of series out there, so be sure to comment your own choices below. Also we won't be including any anime movies, otherwise Your Name would be on this list!
Top 20 Anime of the Decade
Magical girls, shonen epics and JoJo – what an amazing ten years it’s been! Welcome to WatchMojo and today we are counting down our picks for the Top 20 Anime of the Decade.
That’s right people, we’re tackling the big one – counting down the truly exceptional anime that has come out between 2010 and 2019, just as we’re on the cusp of reaching the new year. Keep in mind this list is purely subjective given the monstrous amount of series out there, so be sure to comment your own choices below. Also we won’t be including any anime movies, otherwise Your Name would be on this list!
#20: “Kill la Kill” (2013-14)
Top 10 Hardest to Kill Anime Characters
As if Trigger weren’t going to make the cut! Sewing together the narrative madness the studio is known for along with fluid visuals, a blistering soundtrack and some delectably enjoyable ecchi, Ryuko’s mission to avenge her father with her talking sailor uniform and giant scissor blade is a true feast for the eyes, one that still manages to inject a great deal of care, warmth and development into its cast, especially when it comes to its two leading ladies. So, don’t lose your way, remember all clothing is evil and make sure you swear fealty to best girl Satsuki while you’re at it.
#19: “Psycho-Pass” (2012-13)
Is the price of all-encompassing safety truly worth it? Does mandatory happiness equal a brighter, better society? Welcome to the future, one run by the Sibyl System – where your very emotions are continually monitored, where any discrepancies could lead to your imprisonment or possible death. Turns out even a so-called paradise like this requires the arm of the law to help root out those whose Crime Coefficient exceed Sibyl’s diagnostics, leading the likes of lone wolf Enforcer Kogami and fresh-faced Detective Akane to hunt down those who are unable to cope in the new world order, all the while having to deal with the very real prospect that society itself might have changed for the worse.
#18: “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” (2019)
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Slicing its way onto the scene and breathing new life into the shounen genre in the process, Tanjiro’s desperate quest to save his sister from her hellish fate turned out to be lightning in a bottle. Of course, with such a likeable set of swordsmen and the almighty animation talents of UFOtable at the helm, it’s not hard to see why. Following his family’s demise and his sibling’s sudden transformation, Tanjiro finds himself joining the ranks of the Demon Slayer Corp; protecting innocents from harm while also seeking out a way to reverse Nezuko’s monstrous condition. Between the incredible action sequences and everything that Inosuke does, this has the potential to become a modern classic.
#17: “Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn” (2010-14)
Top 10 Mobile Suits From The Gundam Franchise
To say the Gundam franchise has exploded over the last ten years would be a gross understatement. From AGE, Build Fighters, Thunderbolt, The Origin, all the way to Iron-Blooded Orphans, there’s been no shortage of Mobile Suits battling it out as of late. Alas, our pick has to go to Banagher and the Unicorn Gundam, not only for the scale of the space battles and the beauty of its crisp visuals, but because it feels like a true successor to the original Mobile Suit Gundam series. The terrible nature of war, the numerous and grizzly death scenes that plague both sides, they even have their own literal Char clone!
#16: “Devilman Crybaby” (2018)
Between Ping Pong: The Animation and The Tatami Galaxy, there was a lot to choose from as far as Masaaki Yuasa’s canon of work. While both of those titles are exquisite examples of anime that incorporate style and substance in equal measure, we’re of the opinion that his best outing was his personal take on Go Nagai’s apocalyptically enthralling magnum opus. After being forcibly transformed from meek beanpole to demon hybrid, Akira decides to massacre the monsters that would seek to harm humans…only to soon discover that humanity itself is the biggest monster of them all. Prepare yourself, this one doesn’t hold back on shock value!
#15: “Erased” (2016)
A murder mystery, time travel, and one man’s desire to save his childhood friends from the cruellest of fates. Yeah, this one took every feel we had and crushed them. Following on from the revelation that he can transport himself into the body of his younger self, Satoru endeavours to change history and prevent his classmates from being abducted and killed by a serial kidnapper. While the expertly woven whodunit will keep you guessing right up until that soul-stealing reveal, Satoru’s determination to protect Kayo not only from her future demise but also her traumatic family life will leave you in tatters!
#14: “Made in Abyss” (2017)
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It’s the fantasy that managed to break the mould with its premise while also captivating us with its transition from light-hearted adventure to the direst of survival stories. In order to find her missing mother, a young cave raider named Riko partners up with amnesiac-stricken cyborg Reg as they venture into the colossal chasm known as the Abyss, only to find the nightmares within are more than either of them bargained for. Between the unbalanced inhabitants, variety of monsters lurking in each level and the fact that neither of our young leads have any kind of plot armour, this one will grab you by the throat and refuse to let go.
#13: “Violet Evergarden” (2018)
With but a typewriter and a lingering curiosity to uncover the meaning behind the words “I love you,” Ms Evergarden managed to enrapture us completely. Following the end of her career as a tool of war, as well as the loss of her beloved commander, Violet finds herself thrown into the role of Auto Memory Doll; a ghost writer with the sole purpose of taking a client’s suppressed feelings and beautifully articulating them onto paper. Through her interactions with her new co-workers and clients, we’re not only treated to some truly beautiful stories, but also get to see Violet regain her humanity piece by piece, and oh what a joy it is to behold!
#12: “March Comes in Like a Lion” (2016-18)
Ha, and you thought you were just going to get a show about some guy playing shogi, but instead got a masterclass in character study, an exploration of grief, maturity and how the connections we make between people are sometimes all we need to finally free ourselves from sorrow. In the aftermath of his family’s death, teenager Rei shelters himself from the world by throwing himself into shogi, crippled by his emotional turmoil, at least until he finds himself unwittingly fostering new relationships with his classmates as well as the three Kawamoto sisters, whose kindness slowly but surely manage to ease him through his trauma.
#11: “Mob Psycho 100” (2016-19)
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He’s the nicest guy you’ll ever meet, who just wants to find some friends. Oh, and he’s also an esper that can devastate everything if his emotions ever reach one hundred percent. That’s Mob’s life for you, one divided between trying to better himself socially while also helping his con-man friend Reigan deal with any wayward spirits that try to pick a fight. While the psychically charged battles are practically mind-bending at times with their presentation, what makes this series strike such a chord is Mob’s interactions with those around him, and that even when facing evil esper organisations, he’ll always strive to find a peaceful solution. Bless this cinnamon roll and his god-tier telekinesis.
#10: “Haikyu” (2014-)
There had to be a sports series on here somewhere, and while we were spoiled for choice given the genre’s numerous gems, we had to give it up to the boys from Karasuno High’s Volley Ball Club, who managed to spike their way into our hearts thanks to its endearing cast of young hopefuls, gorgeous animation, and the fact they managed to make something like volleyball and turn it into a breath-taking spectacle. Watching Hinata and Kageyama push themselves to become better athletes, that final show down with Shiratorizawa, all of it will turn you into a rabid fan by the end, cheering on the flightless crows as they make their mark!
#9: “My Hero Academia” (2016-)
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It’s the juggernaut that continues to deconstruct while paying homage to the clichés that make superheroes so beloved by many. Set in a world where the majority of the population are imbued with otherworldly abilities, it falls to the once Quirkless Midoriya to rise up the challenge as the world’s next greatest hero. Between the student hijinks of Class 1-A, commentary on hero society as a whole, the clashes with the League of Villains as well as the beautifully woven character development, there’s a reason why each new season of this show continues to be a seasonal event. Plus Ultra!
#8: “Puella Magi Madoka Magica” (2011)
There have been many who have tried to twist and subvert the magical girl genre, and while there have been a few valiant attempts, none have come close to measuring up to the hauntingly beautiful tale conjured up by master of broken feels Gen Urobutchi. While a chance encounter with an adorable wish-maker sounds like the chance the shy Madoka and her friends have been looking for, they soon learn that there are consequences for living out a fantasy life, and that even the purest of intentions can be corrupted. It’s a true game-changer, one that isn’t afraid to shatter any and all preconceptions, no matter how much misery it brings our colourful heroines.
#7: “Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju” (2016-17)
Something of a cultural phenomenon that managed to shake up the anime scene with its potent drama, bittersweet characterisation, and skilful narrative accessibility to the ancient art of Rakugo storytelling, we can’t do enough justice as to just how unique, fulfilling and wonderfully recognised this series is. After a former yakuza serves his time, he sets out into the world in order to become a Rakugo performer, now under the strained tutelage of a rather unwilling master practitioner. Fuelled by the conflict both on and off stage, this one truly is something special.
#6: “One-Punch Man” (2015)
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Say what you will about the rather lacklustre reception of season two, the strongest hero’s original outing was pretty much hype incarnate. Focusing on the antics of a caped crusader with the strength to decimate any villain with but a single swipe of his fist, this series managed to balance crazy action sequences, absurd hilarity, as well as the tricky tightrope that is maintaining tension in spite of the fact we all know there’s nothing in the cosmos that can stop Saitama and his doomsday knuckle-sandwich. Take every anime convention you think you know and prepare for it to get smashed to pieces with just one punch!
#5: “Fate/Zero” (2011-12)
The Urobutcher strikes again, only this time he’s taken the already savage nature of the Fate-verse and somehow managed to push it to the very apex of dark and depressing. Taking place during the Fourth Holy Grail War, this prequel once again illustrates the many fantastical battles between various human masters and their servants summoned from ages past. While the fight scenes are true spectacle thanks to UFOtable’s god-tier animation, Zero’s relentless exploration into the worst that mankind has to offer will undoubtedly stain your soul by the end. Why must you make us suffer with your genius Urobuchi?!
#4: “Steins;Gate” (2011)
As far as sci-fi epics go, few have ever come close to matching this show’s calibre, wit and world-building. Upon the realization that he can send texts back to the past via a microwave, Rintaro and his gaggle of colleagues, misfits and legendary best girl Kurisu think they’ve cracked the greatest scientific discovery of all time. And they have. And now they’re going to pay for it. Whether its mysterious corporations gunning for their lives or trying to find a way to beat death through time-jumps, the way the narratives spirals, contorts and ultimately resolves easily earned it the mantle of one of modern anime’s greatest.
#3: “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” series (2012-)
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From Phantom Blood to Golden Wind, from Jonathan’s diamond chin all the way to Giorno’s accompanying piano, JoJo-mania has managed to infiltrate every corner of the anime scene in the mere blink of an eye, and we couldn’t be happier. With each series chronicling the tragedies and triumphs of the Joestar bloodline, every iteration has brought its own unique flare, settling, and fabulous dress-sense. Whether you’re all about Joseph and his outlandish sense of comic timing, Jotaro and his penchant for punches or Josuke and his divine hair-do, there’s truly a JoJo experience out there for everyone.
#2: “Attack on Titan” (2013-)
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What started off as a brutal and uncompromising dark fantasy has since propelled itself to legendary status, all thanks to its medley of visceral action, fascinating premise, and gradual narrative maturity. With humanity close to extinction due to the endless hunger of giant cannibalistic creatures known as Titans, it falls to a small corp to slay the beasts and slowly reclaim mankind’s grip on the world…at least until they discover that there’s just as much danger behind the walls. After all, humans that are willing to take their sacrilegious secrets to the grave are deadlier than any Titan. Look, once you see Levi strut his stuff, you’re going to be hooked either way!
Before we reveal the greatest anime of the decade, here are few honourable mentions that still demand to be viewed.
“Vinland Saga” (2019)
“Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World” (2016)
“Parasyte” (2014-15)
“Dragon Ball Super” (2015-18)
“A Place Further than the Universe” (2018)
“Your Lie in April” (2014-15)
“The Seven Deadly Sins” (2014-)
#1: “Hunter x Hunter” (2011-14)
It might come across as your average, light-hearted shounen at first glance, but as any fan knows, Gon’s goal to become a Hunter and find his father is utterly exceptional in just about everything it does. The character progression of its leads, the intricacies of the Power System, the way it approaches each story arc and flips every convention on its head, the scale of the fights, how each villain is the furthest thing from generic, and perhaps most importantly – how it managed to elevate Gon punching a humanoid cat’s face to the anime equivalent of a Renaissance painting. Honestly, our biggest complaint is we may never see a sequel series even if we wait another decade!
