For a medium as diverse and wide-spanning as Anime, it can be difficult ranking the best anime series of all time. Looking at the wide range of metrics fans use to judge the quality of any individual anime makes the ranking even tougher.

Though no metric is necessarily wrong, ultimately things such as animation quality, industry impact, direction, atmosphere, and consistency can quantify how to rank each anime. Unfortunately, that last point disqualifies some notable fan favorites. Though Naruto and Bleach are both incredible series, their abundance of poor filler eliminates them from ranking. It also wouldn't be fair to count any currently ongoing series. While One Piece, Spy x Family, Ranking of Kings, and Kaguya-Sama are all masterpieces in their own right, it's impossible to rank them without knowing their endings.

50 Summer Time Rendering

Animated By OLM, Based On The Manga By Yasuki Tanaka

There are many amazing series that go under the radar, but it is criminal just how underhyped Summertime Rendering was when it aired. With many series taking a shot at the time travel plot line, this series does it extremely well and with a unique twist. Shinpei Ajiro returns to his island hometown to attend the funeral of his childhood friend Ushio, and what was supposed to be a calm burial turns out to be a conspiracy by centuries-old supernatural creatures after Ajiro senses something amiss with Ushio's death.

Although the plot was so amazing that even Hideo Kojima praised it numerous times, it wouldn't have been possible without the incredible visuals, action sequences, and superb animation from the studio behind Berserk and more. This binge-able 24-episode series is sure to engross viewers, not only because it has one of the best and most shocking first episodes, but also because it has a wholesome ending that beautifully wraps up everything.

49 My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU

Animated By Brain's Base, Based On The Light Novel By Watari Wataru And Ponkan

What started out as a hilarious comedy series gradually devolved into a fantastic tale of high school seniors weaving life, family, college, and relationships. More commonly known as Oregairu, the narcissistic Hikigaya Hachiman is coerced into ing the Service Club by his concerned teacher, a club that takes requests from students and helps them out. There, he meets the only other member, the equally narcissistic and arrogant Yukonishita Yukinon, and the two clash ideologically and differ in their methods for helping others. Thus, they start their journey of lending a hand to others while also figuring themselves out and improving as a person.

While the art style and visuals dramatically change after the first season, the heart of the series is ever so present, maintaining its hearty and funny dialogue while also taking a mature path of storytelling. The story also tackles everyday high school topics such as bullying, love, the dilemma of university, family, and more, being a great depiction of youth that will undoubtedly take viewers back to school days.

48 Gintama

Animated By Sunrise, Based On The Manga By Hideaki Sorachi

Is it a samurai series, a sci-fi tale, a gag comedy, or a battle shonen? Gintama takes all these elements and mashes them into one, delivering a hilarious and intense series that stands as one of Japan's most beloved series. The series follows Gintoki, a former samurai in an Edo Japan invaded and ruled by aliens known as the Amanto. Together with Kagura and Shinpachi, the trio performs many odd jobs to make ends meet, taking them on hilarious adventures that are as wild as one can imagine. From being involved in a terror plot to helping out convicts, Gintama is one of the funniest anime ever.

This series has a lighthearted tone, but it can quickly transition to intense battles, particularly in story arcs like Farewell Shinsengumi and Shogun Assassination, which are top-tier in the battle shonen genre. Fans should pay close attention to the comedy episodes, as the creator, Sorachi, often references and incorporates interesting scenes from these episodes into the overarching story arcs. While Gintama does lose the amazing humor as the series progresses, the series maintains a high level of wit in the gags, and combined with the excellent cast and action, it is a staple shonen series that earned its status.

47 Code Geass

Original Anime Series Created By Gorō Taniguchi & Ichirō Ōkouchi, Animated By Sunrise

One of the most popular mecha series, this Studio Sunrise hit was an amazing ride from start to end, not only having one of the best first episodes but also one of the best and most unforgettable endings. Lelouch Lamperouge, a high school boy, is roped into a terror plot by Japanese freedom fighters to liberate their home from Brittania, the global superpower. On the verge of death, the brilliant tactician is granted the divine visual power known as Geass, and thus, he starts his struggle to exact revenge on Brittania, the country that he was once a prince of, and tore apart his family.

The series features an amazing display of war, genocide, oppression, and imperialism, making Lelouch's intense battle all the more engaging. The mecha aspect is also done well, with the varying Knightmare Frames being one of the best features of the series. The deception, politics, and tactics of Code Geass make it a fantastic political thriller that takes advantage of its supernatural and battle shonen classification, making it an anime to .

46 Haikyuu!!

Animated By Production IG, Based On The Manga By Haruichi Furudate

Despite volleyball being a fairly niche sport globally, Haikyuu!! secured a huge fanbase in Japan and around the world for its excellent cast that engaged people long enough to learn the rules of a new sport. The character development and dynamics are superb, to say the least, and even characters who would otherwise have been sidelined get meaningful arcs to warrant a fanbase. The series is so dedicated to its characters that it shows the professional careers of the players' lives, something that is rare in sports manga.

The sports aspect of Haikyuu!! is exhilarating too, not only making the game of volleyball as exciting as possible but also making it easy to understand and giving the match stakes through the emotions of the athletes. With exciting games, an amazing cast, and incredible animation, Haikyuu!! is a phenomenon in the world of sports series and deserves praise for its influence in making the sport more popular.

45 Azumanga Daioh

Animated By J.C. Staff, Based On The Manga By Kiyohiko Azuma

Slice-of-life is an important genre in anime, and few have captured the genre's appeal quite like Azumanga Daioh. Ostensibly a comedy, the series follows six high school girls over the course of three years. While hijinks and antics are an important part of the series, what really makes Azumanga Daioh so foundational is just how cozy it is. The main cast are distinct characters who bounce off each other in fun ways. The result is a series that makes viewers feel like they're hanging out with friends.

Unfortunately, if Azumanga Daioh has one central flaw, it's the lone male character, the teacher Mr. Kimura. The jokes about him being attracted to high school girls were already not great when the anime and manga first released, but have only grown more uncomfortable as the years go on. Still, it speaks to Azumanga Daioh's quality that Mr. Kimura's presence is a flaw many fans are more than willing to overlook.

44 Attack On Titan

Animated By WIT & MAPPA, Based On The Manga Created By Hajime Isayama

After a decade, Attack On Titan's anime wrapped up and cemented the series' status as an all-time great. The anime series starts with an undeniable sense of mystery, as the wild premise automatically invites so many questions. Though anime starting with a series of overarching large questions is quite common, it's rare to see all those mysteries answered in such a thorough and satisfying manner as they are in Attack On Titan. That might well be in the base of the Attack On Titan manga, but the anime also helps clarify a few points that actually enhance the overall experience.

Attack On Titan may also rank among the 2010's most influential anime. Shonen has always had a darker undercurrent to it, especially with creators like Go Nagai. However, dark shonen definitely saw a renaissance after the runaway success of Attack On Titan. Mega-hit manga and anime like Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man certainly owe a debt of gratitude to Attack On Titan.

43 Violet Evergarden

Animated By Kyoto Animation, Based On The Light Novel By Kana Akatsuki & Akiko Takase

Kyoto Animation is one of the most beloved anime studios in the world, and with visual masterpieces like Violet Evergarden, it's easy to see why. Violet Evergarden tells a rather simple story about a child soldier attempting to reclaim her identity after the end of the war and the loss of the only person who cared about her. The titular heroine ends up working as an Auto-Memory Doll, someone who transcribes letters. Through this straightforward premise, the series tackles a variety of emotional topics with its mostly episodic structure.

For all of the strengths of Violet Evergarden's story though, it's the look and sound of the series which earns it such high marks. Despite the grounded premise, Violet Evergarden is nothing short of decadent with its art style and music. The animation is fluid and captures small movements well while the score is swelling, capturing every scene's emotions perfectly. The result is one of the best-animated anime series of all time.

42 The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

Animated By Kyoto Animation, Based On The Light Novel Series By Nagaru Tanigawa & Noizi Ito

On the exact opposite end of the Kyoto Animation spectrum from Violet Evergarden is The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Haruhi became infamous in the late 2000's and early 2010's for absolutely dominating anime fandom, and though some fans may have gone overboard, the series and its titular star live up to the hype. One of the most powerful anime characters ever, Haruhi is an incredibly compelling character.

More than just one interesting lead though, Haruhi is a bold and ambitious show. The events are told out of order, there are 8 episodes that basically just repeat themselves, and the overall tone is just wild. While fans may grumble about the infamous Endless Eight, it's still a move that feels suitably Haruhi.

41 Fist of the North Star

Animated By Toei Animation, Based on the Manga Created By Buronson & Tetsuo Hara

Running from 1984 to 1987, Toei Animation's Fist of the North Star is a series whose influence is wide-reaching. Fist of the North Star is about a martial artist named Kenshiro who fights against the warlords and bandits who have risen in the wake of a nuclear apocalypse.

Perhaps the definitive anime of the 1980s, Fist of the North Star ushered in a new era of gritty and violent anime that defined the medium for more than a decade. The series' legacy can still be felt today, as it's not only been referenced by countless other anime and manga, it served as an inspiration for masterpieces like Berserk and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. As if its legacy wasn't enough, Fist of the North Star is just a blood-pumping good time even outside of its historical context.