Countless great anime has continued to grow year after year, new fans in bunches have scoured the internet for lists of the greatest series ever created, and are met with many of the same recommendations each time. However, when shows are consistently celebrated, it's easy to become skeptical.

Sometimes it can seem a series has no way to live up to its own larger-than-life reputation, and in many cases, that can be true. However, there are a select few series that truly do live up to the hype, and have inspired a great number of stories to follow. Other series have had incredible runs, just to stumble at the finish line and sour fans on everything that came before. Therefore, when it comes to series that live up to the hype, those which have already ended are most suitable to be rated.

8 Mob Psycho 100

Directed by Yuzuru Tachikawa, Animated by Bones (2016 - 2022)

A supernatural action comedy series, Mob Psycho 100 is based on the original web manga series by One, best known for his other immensely popular work, One Punch Man. Following main protagonist Mob, who has incredibly powerful psychic abilities, Mob Psycho 100 takes viewers on a comedic yet emotional journey that will fill them with joy, sorrow, make them laugh, and leave them inspired.

Despite his appearance, Mob is a surprisingly endearing protagonist, who wants little more than simple pleasures and a normal life. However, due to the uncontrollable, vast power that lies within him, Mob is forced to live day by day while suppressing his emotions. The anime's final act is as close to perfect as it gets, touching on themes of isolation and self-acceptance as Mob slowly learns to come to grips with all parts of himself. Clocking in at a relatively concise 37 episodes, there's little reason for fans of shōnen action to skip Mob Psycho 100.

7 Clannad

Directed by Tatsuya Ishihara, Animated by Kyoto Animation (2007 - 2009)

It is a rite of age for all newer anime fans to bawl their eyes out to a Jun Maeda series, and Clannad is often the one to get the job done. Based on the visual novel of the same name, Clannad spends the majority of its first half as a relatively inconspicuous harem rom-com series that occasionally tugs on viewers' heartstrings. The second season, titled Clannad After Story, then proceeds to rip the hearts straight from its viewers' chests and stomp all over them.

One of the most emotionally taxing, yet undeniably beautiful and ultimately wholesome stories in all of anime, Clannad is an unforgettable experience for nearly all who have watched it. Unlike most anime that falls under the romance genre, the series sticks with its main couple long after their high school days have ended, into marriage and eventually parenthood, and does not hesitate to showcase both the beauty and tragedy that comes along with family. Any anime fan, whether they enjoy romance and drama or not, should give Clannad a try.

6 Attack on Titan

Directed by Tetsuro Araki, Masashi Koizuka, Yuichiro Hayashi, Jun Shishido, Animated by Wit Studio & MAPPA (2013 - 2023)

Attack on Titan has been one of the biggest names in the global anime and manga community for over a decade, and not without reason. Having finally concluded in 2025 with the theatrical film, Attack on Titan: The Last Attack, the series has defined a generation of anime fans while being one of the founding of the 'anime is cool now' movement of the 2010s. The rise and fall of protagonist Eren Yeager has demanded the attention of audiences from the moment Attack on Titan's first episode premiered, until its finale 10 years later.

From its unforgettable cast to its visually striking titans, Attack on Titan is a grim, yet perfect entry point for anime fans to dip their toes into stories that get a bit darker than those in the average shōnen action series. Culminating in a final season that was a multiple-year affair when airing, the series' conclusion has received praise for building upon the manga's somewhat divisive ending.

5 Cowboy Bebop

Directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, Animated by Sunrise (1997 - 1998)

There's little to be said about Cowboy Bebop that hasn't already been said. The iconic space western series is a classic by every metric, and has remained influential on creators and fans alike for the better part of three decades. Visually stunning and brimming with style in every frame, Cowboy Bebop is one of the most celebrated anime series of all-time, even if it isn't nearly as popular in Japan as it is in the west.

What lies at the heart of Cowboy Bebop, underneath its beautiful visuals, soundtrack, and nostalgic '90s aesthetic, is a cast of morally gray, yet instantly likable characters who contend with their own deeply human struggles. By the time viewers reach the anime's largely ambiguous ending, they have bonded with and become attached to these characters, led by the charismatic brooding protagonist, Spike Spiegel. Cowboy Bebop is one of those series that seems nearly too widely acclaimed to live up to its reputation, but it most certainly does in every aspect.

4 Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Directed by Akiyuki Shinbo, Yukihiro Miyamoto, Animated by Shaft (2011)

Puella Magi Madoka Magica is one of the most deceiving anime series ever. d as a magical girl show with cute, unimposing characters plastered all over its promotional material, Madoka Magica is a psychological thriller that will leave you rooting for its main character to stay far away from the dark reality magical girls must endure. The anime has received near-universal acclaim since premiering in 2011, and is undeniably worth the hype for its thrilling narrative and cast of introspective, likable characters.

Beginning as one might expect based on its own advertising, Madoka Magica is unassuming in its earliest sections, before the titular protagonist meets the mysterious cat-like creature Kyubey. From there, the series spirals into darker themes while featuring experimental visuals ahead of their time. Madoka Magica permanently altered the magical girl subgenre in the years since its release, and continues to shock unexpecting viewers nearly 15 years later. Only 12 episodes in length, fans of any genre would do themselves a service by watching the series.

3 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Directed by Hiroo Maruyama, Noritomo Yonai, Ryo Oyama, Nobuyuki Kurashige, Animated by Bones (2009 - 2010)

Anime adaptations can suffer from a wide variety of issues. Budget and time restraints can lead to an unpolished product, while an inexperienced or underpowered staff can lead to an underwhelming adaptation. Sometimes, an anime runs out of source material to cover, and ventures off into its own original telling of a story that differs from the original creator's intent. Such was the case with 2003's Fullmetal Alchemist. In 2009, however, the series returned in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.

Created in an attempt to faithfully adapt Hiromu Arakawa's original manga, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood aired to near universal acclaim, and remains one of the most popular anime series ever, nearly 16 years after its initial release. More than anything else, the series is ed for its ending, which consistently ranks among the greatest in anime history. Touching on themes of loss, redemption, and family, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a highly emotional and ultimately uplifting story which stays with viewers long after they've watched the final episode.

2 Neon Genesis Evangelion

Directed by Hideaki Anno, Animated by Gainax (1995 - 1996)

Like Cowboy Bebop, there is little left to be said about Neon Genesis Evangelion. The apocalyptic psychological drama disguised as a monster-of-the-week mecha series remains one of the most popular and successful anime franchises in history. Aside from its iconic cast, of which many served as the prototypes of several currently popular character archetypes, its mechs and Angels are as instantly recognizable as any of anime's most well-known heroes and villains.

Defined by its action in the series' early stages, Evangelion slowly evolves into a psychological study of its main characters, exploring the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer while delivering visuals that come off as downright Lynchian at times. Evangelion's reputation precedes it, and its unwillingness to stick with any one ending has only added to its legend over the years. At its core, however, the series and its many films to follow are a hopeful reminder that people have the right to live and try to connect with others.

1 Steins;Gate

Directed by Hiroshi Hamasaki, Takuya Sato, Tomoki Kobayashi, Animated by White Fox (2011)

There are fewer more ambitious plot devices than time travel. One wrong turn, and a story can collapse under the very rules it unknowingly set for itself somewhere long before any potential wrong turn came into sight. Steins;Gate not only tells an impressively cohesive time travel story, but also manages to deliver a harrowing emotional experience in the process. Keeping its audience glued to the screen with an unrelenting barrage of mystery and suspense in its final third, very few anime series can rival the immersion Steins;Gate brings to the table.

Its concise 24-episode run makes it incredibly tempting for any viewer to binge the entire show in one go, while its narrative nearly forces them to do so. Steins;Gate has frequented 'best anime' lists since coming to an end in 2011, and is most deserving of the hype surrounding it. If there's even anyone out there who hasn't seen or heard of the series, they'd be better off giving it a watch as soon as possible.