For those who don’t know, anime is the name given to the types of cartoons produced in Japan, and it is constantly mistaken as a simple genre of animation, when in fact it is the medium, as it presents several types, such as children, horror, romance, comedy, adventure, erotic, fiction, etc…
From the mid-1980s onwards, anime took over outside Japan and became the cultural “power” it is today. Among its various titles, we have world successes such as Dragon Ball, Naruto, Knights of the Zodiac, Sakura Card Captor, Digimon, Sailor Moon, Yu Yu Hakusho, Pokémon, Death Note, and countless others.
Because of their rapid popularization in the contemporary world, anime today is one of the most-watched things among youth, and among adults as well. It usually originates from their respective manga, which is a type of Japanese comic books, where their main method of reading is backwards, leaving many readers unaccustomed.
But do you know which categories are the most viewed ones? Or which ones are the best animes of today? If you want to know more, and understand this world, as well as finding out which anime you should watch today, read this article right below.
Top 6 Japanese Animes of Today
If it hadn’t been reduced to just 6, this list would be huge. Some do not even need to be mentioned because they are already well known, even though they can be loved or hated, such as Naruto, Kakegorui, Devilman Crybaby, TenSura, FullMetal Alchemist Brotherhood, among others. So, without further ado, let’s go through the list.
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Attack on Titan
The anime released in 2013 was quite implied for having cleaner and lighter features compared to normal anime. It has charismatic characters, its universe is fascinating, and it is considered to be a masterpiece, by many viewers.
From Wit Studio, this show has a somewhat political plot in which soldiers need to fight titans, with unexpected twists, making Eren’s adventures a sensation among anime fans of this decade.
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Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
It was launched in 2016, in Japan, however, it only went to the continental world in 2019. It is considered a marvel to behold, and full of memes, the anime is of the shonen category. It tells the story of the young Tanjiro Kamado who lost practically his entire family, leaving only his sister, after an attack by demons in his village.
Although his sister remains alive, he was transformed into a demon, managing to keep his emotions and human thoughts and to avenge himself and prevent other people from going through the same event, Tanjiro decides to become a demon hunter, taking his sister on this adventure.
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One-Punch Man
Certainly, one of the most successful anime of this decade, featuring charismatic characters and struggles full of emotion, the anime also ends up making fun of all the clichés of possible shonen anime.
“One-Punch Man” shows the day-to-day life of the boy Saitama, the most powerful man in the world, defeating all his enemies with one punch. However, without an equal opponent, he finds himself too unmotivated to continue living.
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Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Being considered of the genre Mahou shoujo (magical girls), it shows the sometimes very cruel consequences of making a pact with a mythical being, in exchange for the power to carry out your wishes.
In this anime, Madoka Kaname and her friend Sayaka Miki meet a small and seemingly harmless creature, called Kyubei, who tells them that she can fulfill any wish they have if they make a contract with him and become magical girls. It’s the kind of anime where nothing is what it looks like.
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Hunter x Hunter
Owning the same servant of the iconic anime, Yu Yu Hakusho, Hunter x Hunter is a great example of quality “fighting shonen”, where he presents characters that we can relate to easily, as well as techniques of insane battles and breathtaking fights.
Even from 2011, this anime deserves to be included in this list, it shows Gon Freecs’ journey to becoming a Hunter, who are extremely skilled people that hunt for treasure and live on adventures. Together with his friends Leorio, Killua, and Kurapika, Gon will discover the mystery surrounding his father’s disappearance and will face death head-on in increasingly difficult battles.
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Boku no Hero Academia (My Hero Academia)
Undoubtedly one of the biggest successes of today is the anime Boku no Hero, or My Hero Academia in the west. It is considered, by many, as the “new Naruto”, as it also has its apprentices overcoming their limits and getting involved in adventures, but its main theme goes far beyond that.
The story takes place in a world where the majority of the population has some kind of superpower. However, the protagonist of the drama, Midoriya Izuku, was a young man who had no individuality, yet had a heart that deeply admired superheroes, including the greatest of them all, the symbol of peace, the powerful All Might. After witnessing the young Midoriya’s moral fiber, All Might chooses him as his successor, passing on his power to him.
Search More, Read Manga, and Watch Countless Others!
There are several other animes spread over the internet, and if you still have difficulties finding your favorite genre, we recommend that you watch at least 1 of the 4 most famous genres, however, the most popular are always those in the Shonen category.
We cannot forget that even the oldest animes have an absurd quality, and are still very dear, so maybe, start with them! Watch several, and try again. Manga is also here for those who like to know more about the history of anime, which ends up being very interesting, like in the anime “Nanatsu no Taizai”. Remember, enjoy the anime you are watching, and have a lot of fun. Thanks for reading!