Top 10 Best Anime Series Of The 2010s

Top 10 Anime Series Of The 2010s

We may have entered a golden age of anime…but what’s the best we’ve seen so far? Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Anime Series of the 2010s.

For this list, we’ll be looking at the very best from 2010 to, well... now! With a steady flow of streaming services, the list of anime available in the U.S. is constantly growing, giving us the biggest selection we’ve ever seen. In fact, we can now watch series shortly after they air in Japan. What a time to be alive!

#10: “Parasyte - the maxim-” (2014-15)

Nothing says alien invasion like a symbiotic spear through the chest. When Shinichi Izumi falls victim to an alien infection, he must learn to work with his new parasitic partner in order to take down the invading threat - A task that becomes far more traumatic than it originally sounds. Seeing our hero struggle through the agonies of his new life and protecting the ones he cares for, we can all agree that where Parasyte truly excels is in its powerful dichotomy between love and horror.

#9: “Seven Deadly Sins” (2014-)

The second anime to be licensed by Netflix asks the question: who do you turn to when your once trusted Holy Knights betray you? The Seven Deadly Sins! The irony isn’t lost on us here, and we’re sure it’s not lost on Princess Elizabeth, either, as she sets off to find the now disbanded group. The Seven Deadly Sins were part of the Holy Knights, but are now wanted criminals thanks to a series of rumours. Fortunately, our princess manages to find the former leader of the group, and he’s willing to bring the ol’ band back.

#8: “Haikyuu!” (2014-)

You know how sometimes you’re watching a volleyball game and you suddenly burst out crying? …No? Well that’s what this series does to you! You care about Hinata losing his first tournament. You want him to win beside his rival, Kageyama. You want Karasuno to become the best damn team in Japan. And don’t even get us started on the heart-pounding matches. Haikyuu has managed to transcend the sports anime genre and become something of a phenomenon. But, It’s just volleyball... right?

#7: “Puella Magi Madoka Magica” (2011)

You can’t do a 2010s list without highlighting the series that made us all look at themagical girl genre in a depressingly new light. Madoka Magica appeared to be your standard magical girl adventure full of stunning transformations, cute girls, beautiful animation, cool fights, and an adorable mascot who was kind enough to grant wishes. But it didn’t take long to see just how twisted the series was, and soon we were all curling up in the corner while cursing Kyubey’s name. To this day, saying the word “contract” puts anime fans on edge.

#6: “Attack On Titan” (2013-)

On that day, humanity received a grim reminder: anime can get pretty intense. This is one of those series you should probably watch in one sitting, because much like ripping off a band-aid, it’s best to get the pain out the way in one fell swoop. The titans are as destructive as they are scary, and watching the cast fight to survive always gets us sweating. The best -- or worst -- part is that the series makes you feel for everyone, even side characters with very little screen time tug at your heartstrings. Humanity will win eventually... Well, Hopefully.

#5: “Hunter X Hunter” (2011-14)

After introducing us to a delinquent Spirit Detective, Yoshihiro Togashi moved on to hunting... sort of. We were first introduced to Gon and his quest to become a Hunter in 1999, but we only got part of the story. This -- understandably -- left fans unsatisfied, and while there were OVAs to try and fill in the gaps, it still wasn’t enough. Enter the 2011 remake, which did a complete overhaul of the series and started from square one with stellar animation and a closer adaptation of the manga. Studios, take note: this is how you do a remake.

#4: “One Punch Man” (2015-)

We’re used to series where the main character is trying to be the strongest... but what happens after you’ve reached your maximum potential? After three years of vigorous training and hair loss, Saitama is able to defeat enemies in one punch. But now that he’s achieved this goal he has no idea what to do with himself. Maybe he’ll register to become a hero, gain a cyborg sidekick, deal with a colorful cast of characters and crazy monsters... or something? As long as he makes the supermarket sale on time, nothing else matters.

#3: “Fate/Zero” (2011-12)

While there was a Fate/Stay Night anime back in 2006, Fate/Zero is what really made us fans of the franchise and set the stage for future titles. Set 10 years prior to Fate/Stay Night, the stage is set for the battle to obtain the Holy Grail, an item that grants the victor any wish they desire. This series features a cast of interesting, well-developed characters, each with their own motivations for wanting the grail, and each with fantastical abilities captured in brilliantly choreographed fight scenes. It’s hard to believe that something this epic started as a hentai game.

#2: “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” Series (2012-)

Do you even pose? Probably not nearly as glamorously as the cast of this series, but it’s those over-the-top antics combined with the stylized animation that make this series so memorable. That, and the fact that the title tells you everything you need to know. There’s always a guy named JoJo, and he’s on a bizarre adventure. Technically speaking, his entire family line has some rather bizarre adventures. It must stem from being a Joestar... or it could be Dio’s fault. We’re kidding, we all know Dio did nothing wrong.

Before we get to our number one pick, here’s some honorable mentions to add to your queue:

“Psycho Pass” (2012-14)

“Durarara!!” (2010-16)

“ERASED” (2016)

#1: “Steins;Gate” (2011)

Time travel isn’t the easiest phenomenon to tackle, but this anime series manages to capture it perfectly. Sure, the power sounds great in theory, but can be confusing, and painful, to deal with, especially if you’re trying to save someone you care about. That’s the feeling we get as we watch self-proclaimed mad scientist, Rintaro Okabe, travel back multiple times in an attempt to save someone close to him. Watching him go from eccentric to desperate is quite the dizzying ride, but you’re rooting for him to succeed... no matter how much it hurts.