Ranking Every Anime I've Ever Watched (as of 2024)

A Christmas Special

Dec 25, 2024

Merry Christmas! Today I’m doing a special double feature, make sure you don’t miss my ranking of every fantasy book I’ve ever read!

This post is already going to be super long, so I won’t waste too much time in the introduction. You know what this is about. I will be ranking every anime I’ve watched from “garbage” to “peak” according to how much I enjoyed. I’m going to include explanations for my rankings, but there are a lot that I don’t think need to be explained. You are free to disagree, but don’t be rude about it. Let’s get started.

First, I’m going to quickly cover all the shows that I started but didn’t finish. For the sake of brevity and fairness, I will only include shows that I watched at least 3 episodes of. I will be classifying the shows I didn’t finish in three categories: Dropped-Negative, meaning that I disliked the show and I have no intentions to give it another chance; Dropped-Neutral, for shows that I have no strong feelings about; and On Hold, for the ones that I stopped watching but have plans to continue at some point.

Dropped-Negative:

Sword Art Online. I watched season 1 way back in the day, but the sexual assault and the incest weirded me out so I didn't continue, and I’ve since grown to hate the Kirito archetype of male protagonists. I love the first opening tho, LiSA never misses.
Fire Force. I’m willing to forgive some fanservice for the sake of cool fights, but this was too much for me.

Dropped-Neutral:

The Vampire Dies in No Time. Funny, but nothing to write home about.
Bungo Stray Dogs. Nice concept but the incest annoyed me and I didn’t have much interest to begin with.
Somali to Mori no Kamisama.
Ao Haru Ride.
Gate.
Dororo.
Kiznaiver. I have tried to watch this 3 times and for some reason I never finish it.
Nina the Starry Bride. I think I set my expectations too high and got disappointed, nothing against the show it just wasn’t what I wanted.
Your Lie in April. Looks fine, a little too melodramatic for me.
Otome Youkai Zakuro. The only memorable part about this show is that the main guy reminds me of Tamaki from Ouran High School Host Club.
Cells at Work! Code Black.
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury. I liked it, but I lost interest in season 2. Cool Utena references tho!
Tokyo Mew Mew New. It was cute, but I’m not the biggest fan of magical girl shows.
Shugo Chara!
Mashle. Most of the jokes didn’t quite land for me. The second opening is a banger though.

On-Hold:

Monster. I watched like 10 or so episodes and I know this is going to be one of my all time favorites, I just haven’t been on the right mood to watch this.
Neon Genesis Evangelion. I know I have to finish this at some point, it’s kind of insane that I still haven’t watched the whole thing, I just can’t get past the first couple episodes. Someday I will!

Okay, now we can get to the actual ranking.

Tier 1 - Absolute Garbage.

I’m pretty good at telling when I’m not going to like something, so it’s rare for me to completely dislike a show. That’s why the only show that made it this far down in the list is Wonder Egg Priority, because the first half tricked me into thinking it was good. I thought this was going to be the new Madoka Magica. This was the biggest betrayal of my life, I could write a whole essay about why it sucks but I don’t want to waste more time on this show than I already have. I’m never going to forgive CloverWorks.

Tier 2 - Terrible.

On the topic of CloverWorks…

The Promised Neverland is the only one on this tier. It’s really funny to me that this studio released season 2 of TPN alongside Wonder Egg Priority, so maybe there was something in the air during January 2021. If I were to rank season 1 on its own it would be pretty high up, but the way this went down really soured me on the whole thing.

Tier 3 - Bad.

AnoHana. Let’s be real, this show isn’t good, it’s just the nostalgia. There’s a lot of weird stuff in here, and I tried rewatching it recently and couldn’t get past the first episode. Yes, it’s a tear jerker, but anything can make you sad with the right music.
Kyoukai no Kanata. This was dumb. I just don’t see the appeal of most KyoAni shows.
Demon Slayer. Someone already made a video essay explaining why this series sucks so I won’t waste my time here. Go watch that. I only keep up with this show because the animation is incredible and I’m not immune to epic fight scenes.
Tokyo Revengers. I’m still invested in this series despite how stupid it is and the terrible animation, that’s how you know season 1 was good. It’s been downhill ever since, but it’s entertaining in it’s own stupid way.

Tier 4 - Mid.

Kenichi the Mightiest Disciple.
Another. This is just trashy horror, I kind of like it but I can’t possibly rank it higher. This show did so much for edgy kids.
The Devil is a Part-Timer. This would have been higher if they hadn’t brought it back for a second season. They really should have let the show remain a beloved classic, the second season was nowhere near as funny and I dislike the direction the story takes regarding the romance subplot.
Uzumaki. Not as bad as everyone says, but also not as good as it could have been.
Komi Can’t Communicate.
Blood Blockade Battlefront. I love that everyone has seen the outro of this show without watching the show itself. The animation and the character design are so cool.
Wind Breaker.
Horimiya. Remember when this show tried to convince us that a girl being a perfect housewife was some sort of weird secret that she was embarrassed about? Anyway, cute romcom.
Cells at Work!
NegaPosi Angler. The creators made a lot of unique artistic choices, and not all of those choices were good, in particular the CGI fishes.
Black Clover. We all have at least one Shonen series that is objectively mid, but we still love a lot. That’s Black Clover for me. The female characters are surprisingly good, and I think the setting is fun, it’s a shame that it also has incest jokes and so much fanservice.
Carole & Tuesday. It’s hilarious that not only is this set in the same universe as Cowboy Bebop, it also has a whole plot line about a female version of Trump learning to be a good person through the power of pop music.
Little Witch Academia.
The Elusive Samurai. Carried by the animation.
Hell’s Paradise. The first season was alright, I see the potential, but the show hasn’t really surprised me yet. I do hope the next season is better, whenever that happens.
The Great Pretender. The last arc is kind of weird, but other than it was alright. I need all the Cosmere fans reading this to go look at a picture of Laurent Thierry, he looks exactly like what I picture Kelsier to look like.
My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom. I’m not a fan of the Isekai genre, but this show is hilarious. Cool bi rep!
Blue Period. Nice take on the hard work vs. talent conflict, I like stories that focus on the relationship between art and artist. I also like the Queer themes.
Ranking of Kings. It’s an adorable show with a nice message about disability, unfortunately it promotes certain political views that are hard to ignore once you are aware of them.

Tier 5 - Good.

Death Note. Really loses steam after L dies, but still fun and undeniably iconic. Aesthetically speaking, this show is immaculate.
Toradora.
Noragami. The female lead is wonderful, and I like the character dynamics.
Yuri!! On Ice.
Shadows House. Very underrated fantasy/mystery show. It has a creepy premise that is balanced out with a whimsical tone, and the characters are really charming. It’s funny that CloverWorks did this right after screwing up The Promised Neverland, it almost makes me want to forgive them.
Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song. One of my favorite stories about AI and about the relationship between an artist and their craft.
The Case Study of Vanitas. A fun supernatural adventure with a mix of Gothic and Steampunk aesthetics, I love the world building and the subtle horror. They are doing vampires right.
Lovely Complex.
Spy x Family.
A Sign of Affection.
Kaiju no. 8. Solid action with a couple interesting twists on the genre, the fights are epic.
Revue Starlight. This is like Revolutionary Girl Utena… if it was a cute show about theater kids… that fight each other in an underground ring. And there’s a talking giraffe. I love weird anime.
Violet Evergarden.
My Hero Academia. Nothing revolutionary, but overall quite good at what it does, and I think the world is very creative. It misses the mark when it comes to social commentary, especially regarding domestic violence, but ultimately the story is more interested in Deku’s coming of age and I like his character arc and his relationship with his friends. The fights are great and not just because of the animation, I like how the powers are utilized.
One Punch Man.
Golden Kamuy. This show gives you massive whiplash and it works. Sometimes it’s dark and gritty, sometimes it’s a found family comedy, and sometimes it’s about connecting with other cultures through food. It’s bizarre, and it leans into it.
Delicious in Dungeon. The worldbuilding is amazing. I’m excited to see how the story develops, but for now I think it was pretty good at getting you invested. It’s not that deep, but it’s good fantasy.

Tier 6 - Great.

Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun. The Tomoda scene is enough justification.
Akatsuki no Yona.
Bocchi the Rock! The jokes are funny, but what really elevates this show is the animation. They didn’t have to go that hard, but I’m glad they did.
Kaguya-sama: Love is War.
Fate/Zero. I just love Fate. The Gilgamesh vs. Iskandar fight is so epic.
Chainsaw Man.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. One of the best of the genre for sure, but I do think it’s a little overrated, in particular when it comes to the political messages of the show. It’s weird that the show directly addresses that the State Alchemists should be put to trial as war criminals, but then they never circle back to this. Everything else is as close as perfect as you can get tho.
Jujutsu Kaisen. “You think JJK is as good as FMA:B?” As a whole? Not at all. But I’m trying to focus on the anime and keep my feelings on the manga out of this, and I think it’s fair to say that the arcs that have been adapted so far are great and the anime brings the fights to iconic status. As the show progresses you can be certain that it will go down a little.
Keep your hands off Eizouken!
Odd Taxi. Nobody is ready for that final twist.
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean. I have read parts 1 through 3, but I’ve only watched the anime for part 6. If that makes you mad, you will be even more upset to know that I actually watched Stone Ocean before reading the manga. I think people overstimate how hard it is to understand JoJo, it’s weird for sure but if you spend enough time in anime spaces you will pick up the basic lore by osmosis and I didn’t struggle to follow Stone Ocean at all. Reading part 3 made me appreciate the tragedy of Jolyne’s character even more, but on its own Stone Ocean is still amazing. I will watch and/or the other parts at some point, but I doubt I will like them as much as part 6.
The Apothecary Diaries. I love detective stories and well-written female characters.
Frieren.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.
Skip and Loafer. This is probably influenced by my love for the manga, but even season 1 alone is an amazing slice-of-life show with deep characterization. It just got renewed for a second season and once that comes out this show is totally going up, because the next arc in the manga… absolute cinema, is all I’m going to say.

Tier 7 - Peak.

Maho Shoujo Madoka Magica.
Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works. Yes, I do think UBW is better than Zero. Rin is my favorite Fate character, and I think the Archer storyline is the most compelling part of Fate, at least of what I’ve seen.
Re:Zero—Starting Life in Another World From Zero. Subaru’s incel behavior is on purpose, and he’s supposed to be unlikeable at the beginning, his character arc is amazing and I love how his relationship with women evolves. Also, the worldbuilding is great, and I like the horror moments.
Death Parade.
Kimi ni Todoke. Beautiful romance story with deep character development, I love how the show focuses on self-worth and communication.
Barakamon. Besides being a great slice-of-life comedy, this show has a beautiful story about finding inspiration and exploring your craft as an artist.
Hunter x Hunter (2011). You know it’s peak.
Pluto.

Tier 8 - Personal Favorites.

I’m not saying these shows all have the same level of quality, just that they are all very close to my heart. Some of these are undoubtedly better than the others, and some I could rank lower, but all of them are deeply meaningful to me in their own ways.

Ouran High School Host Club. I’m aware of the problematic parts, I have rewatched this multiple times over the years and I know lots of things didn’t age well. It’s still a great romcom, and I think the way the show treats gender expression is very interesting and nuanced, despite its occasional pitfalls. It’s an iconic show that is a product of its time.
Mob Pyscho 100. This is a life-changing story that makes you appreciate life in new ways while also being hilarious and full of hype action moments. Just like Mob, this show contains multitudes.
Cowboy Bebop. This is a classic for a reason. I think Cowboy Bebop makes great use of its episodic format, and the subtle character development throughout the show makes the final episodes hit extremely hard. It only gets better on rewatch.
One Piece. I have made it quite clear how I feel about One Piece. To me, this is peak Shonen. From the worldbuilding to the character development, every aspect of this series is perfect. This show is reinventing the romantic ideals for the modern age.
Naruto/Naruto Shippuden. I will always be the first person to criticize this series. The female characters are terrible, the world building is broken and full of retcons, there’s an underlying fascist message, and the Kaguya stuff is ridiculous. It’s also one of the most influential anime of all time, and nobody can deny that. Naruto is what got me into anime, and it has a special place in my heart because of that, I also think the highs are so high that they compensate for the epic lows.
Ping Pong: The Animation. I have said that I deeply enjoy stories about art and the relationship between an artist and their craft, and while sports and art are not exactly the same (or are they?), the way this show explores the characters’ love for the game really resonated with me as an artist. Not only that, but it’s also a great coming-of-age narrative that focuses on friendship and the effect our friends have in our lives, which I adore.
Sonny Boy. I think a lot of people either try to make this show deeper than it is, or they try to dismiss the show as “fake deep”, and I think both are partially right. Sonny Boy has a lot of weird stuff that doesn’t really mean anything, but those weird moments serve a function. They are there to create a specific atmosphere. But the show does have things to say, and it’s worthwhile to analyze and pick apart at the symbolism of certain episodes. This is a very intimate coming-of-age story that lightly touches on a variety of topics without trying to explain the meaning of life, it’s just about these teenagers finding themselves, and it’s deeply moving for what it is.
Revolutionary Girl Utena. I have written two Utena essays, my love and admiration for this show is well-known at this point. This is a masterpiece that forces you to engage with the narrative on a deeper level, you can’t consume this show passively.
Vinland Saga. Another life-changing story. If someone says they didn’t like the second season, you know they didn’t get anything from this show. It’s so powerful to see Thorfinn’s journey of losing himself to his vengeance and then finding a new reason to live thanks to the kindness of those around him. This is one of the best anti-war stories I’ve ever seen.
The Heike Story. Beautiful animation, watching this felt like reading poetry, and that’s the effect they are going for. It’s a tragic story of human hubris, so of course I love it.

I was going to do a separate post ranking anime movies, but I don’t want to flood your inbox so I’m leaving it here.

Terrible: Ocean Waves.

Bad: There’s nothing here. That’s how big the gap between Ocean Waves and everything else is.

Mid:

A Silent Voice.
Belle.
Arriety.
From Up on Poppy Hill.
Mary and the Witch’s Flower.

Good:

Your Name.
Ponyo.
One Piece: Film Red.
The Cat Returns.
Kaguya-sama: The First Kiss That Never Ends.
Black Clover: The Sword of the Wizard King.
Naruto: The Last.
Castle in the Sky.

Great:

Akira.
Weathering With You.
The Wind Rises.
My Neighbor Totoro.
The Tale of Kaguya.
Big Fish and Begonia.
Jujutsu Kaisen 0.
Fate/Stay Night: Heaven’s Feel Trilogy.

Peak:

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust.
Kiki’s Delivery Service.
Ghost in the Shell.
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.
Princess Mononoke.
Spirited Away.

Personal Favorites:

Adolescence of Utena.
Whisper of the Heart.
Porco Rosso.
Howl’s Moving Castle.
The Boy and the Heron.

Now we are officially done. I had a lot of fun making this, it gave me an opportunity to talk about shows that I wouldn’t talk about otherwise on here. Feel free to let me know your thoughts in the comments, what shows do you think I should have ranked differently? What are your favorite shows and movies?

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