The Best Anime of Each Genre
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VOICE OVER: Ashley Bowman
WRITTEN BY: Jonathan Alexander
They're the best at what they do! Join Ashley as we look over the best anime that exemplify their respective genre, including the likes of "Frieren: Beyond Journey's End", "One Piece", "Cowboy Bebop", and more!
Script written by Jonathan Alexander
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the absolute best anime to watch of any genre.
Grab your gloves and put up your dukes, this is one boxing anime that’s not to be missed. Whether you're a sports fan or not, everyone can appreciate Hajime’s journey from a scrawny weakling into a fisticuffs champ. It's the definition of empowering. Although, the thrilling tournaments, emotional training arcs, and outstanding fight choreography don’t hurt, either. Those elements turn “Hajime no Ippo” into the pinnacle of what a sports anime can, and should be. Plus, when you add up all the sequels, “Hajime no Ippo” can keep you entertained in the ring for a good, long while.
What happens when you mix a space opera with a spaghetti western? The answer is, of course, “Cowboy Bebop.” Boasting quirky characters and style for days, Spike Spiegel’s intergalactic adventures are a must-watch for any fans of science fiction. Or westerns. Or, really, good stories at all. Without giving too much away, “Cowboy Bebop” toys with genre conventions to craft a unique narrative that’s as engaging as it is inspiring. That’s not to say it doesn’t have its fair share of tragedy, though. No matter if you’re checking it out for the spaceships or the bounty hunts, “Cowboy Bebop” is a show you won’t forget.
In a meet-cute for the ages, Kaguya and Miyuki fall head over heels for each other as part of the student council. The catch? They’re both too prideful to admit it, leading to a series of elaborate schemes to make the other confess. In a nutshell, that’s “Kaguya-Sama” for you, a romance that throws all pretenses to the side in favor of a fresh, funny, and engaging take on love stories. It'll leave you swooning, laughing, crying, and then swooning all over again, usually in the span of a single episode. Even if happily ever after is a ways off, the journey is still totally worth a watch.
Reverting into a kid’s body is bound to cause a few issues with daily life. Doubly so if you’re trying to solve crimes. But, that’s just par for the course in “Detective Conan.” Despite his youthful look, Conan takes it upon himself to crack any case he comes across. And he’s pretty good at it, too. Over the course of a thousand episodes and counting, Conan’s cracked codes, tracked down killers, and figured out all kinds of cold cases. “Detective Conan” is the kind of cozy, reliable mystery that never gets old, and it has a decade-spanning legacy to prove it.
If you’re looking for all things scary, “Higurashi” is the show for you. Chronicling a series of mass murders across various timelines and universes, it’s pretty much the de-facto horror anime at this point. After all, it’s got just about everything; supernatural folklore, slasher-inspired death scenes, and a nail-biting mystery that always keeps you coming back for more. It’s one hell of a frightful binge, especially because, like any good horror villain, “Higurashi” always comes back for a sequel. With light novels, manga, and alternate realities galore, diehard horror fans will never run out of “Higurashi’s violent mayhem. Trust us, that’s a good thing.
Elven mage Frieren and her team of adventurers scoured the land, vanquished the Demon King, and restored peace to the world. And that’s just the first episode. Half a century later, Frieren faces the reality of remaining youthful while her human companions pass on, and decides to reunite with them at the resting place of souls. As you can probably surmise, “Beyond Journey’s End” is a uniquely heartfelt spin on the genre that prioritizes emotional beats over flashy action. Though, don’t worry, there’s still plenty of that, too. “Frieren” only uses magic to explore its characters, not overshadow them, which is exactly why it’s fantasy at its finest.
The words “grounded character piece” and “time-traveling microwave” don’t sound like they should go together. But, that’s what makes this anime something special. Despite the high-concept premise, “Steins;Gate” is far more interested in exploring the human experience than delivering any kind of soapy plot twist. Sure, there’s a whole lot of cliffhangers and mysteries, but they always serve to question a person’s character, trauma, or moral compass. You know you’re in good hands when an anime makes interpersonal relationships more interesting than literal time travel. It doesn’t matter if it’s reheated or not, “Steins;Gate” is definitely worth adding to your watchlist.
The pitch here is pretty straightforward; Gintoki Sakata is a freelancer who works odd-jobs to scrape by. Oh, and the world is inhabited by aliens. Just go with it, “Gintama’s” much better that way. Really, trying to describe the show at all is kind of a fool’s errand. It’s a gut-busting sitcom one episode, a loving parody the next, and a cutthroat action shounen after that. The only thing you can count on is that “Gintama” will have you laughing till you cry. It doesn’t sound like it should work, but the show’s good-spirited sense of humor and bottomless well of ideas has kept it an anime cornerstone for good reason.
Setting sail with Monkey D. Luffy is never a bad idea. In pursuit of the titular treasure known as the One Piece, he and the Straw Hat Pirates have traversed just about everything you’d ever want from an adventure series. They’ve found new biomes, met memorable characters, and done more than their fair share of fighting, too. But, above all that, there’s a real sense of worldbuilding and community in “One Piece” that makes it all feel like part of one, long journey. Also, who doesn’t love hanging out with Luffy? As long as he’s steering this ship, there’s never a bad time to come aboard.
It doesn’t take a Philosopher’s Stone to realize that best-in-class animation leads to best-in-class fight scenes. Just look at “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.” The impeccable production values sell the weight and scale of each pulse-pounding conflict like none other. Thanks to the show’s fully-realized combat system, the action never lets up, and never gets stale, either. If anything, it’s addictively rewatchable. Add in a fantastic narrative full of twists, turns, and alchemic action, and it's no wonder “Brotherhood” is considered one of the greats. There’s a lot of high-stakes battle anime out there, but “Fullmetal Alchemist” is just in another league.
What’s your go-to anime genre? Let us know in the comments below!
Best Anime of Each Genre
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the absolute best anime to watch of any genre.
“Hajime no Ippo” franchise (2000-02; 2009; 2013-14)
SportsGrab your gloves and put up your dukes, this is one boxing anime that’s not to be missed. Whether you're a sports fan or not, everyone can appreciate Hajime’s journey from a scrawny weakling into a fisticuffs champ. It's the definition of empowering. Although, the thrilling tournaments, emotional training arcs, and outstanding fight choreography don’t hurt, either. Those elements turn “Hajime no Ippo” into the pinnacle of what a sports anime can, and should be. Plus, when you add up all the sequels, “Hajime no Ippo” can keep you entertained in the ring for a good, long while.
“Cowboy Bebop” (1998-99)
Sci-FiWhat happens when you mix a space opera with a spaghetti western? The answer is, of course, “Cowboy Bebop.” Boasting quirky characters and style for days, Spike Spiegel’s intergalactic adventures are a must-watch for any fans of science fiction. Or westerns. Or, really, good stories at all. Without giving too much away, “Cowboy Bebop” toys with genre conventions to craft a unique narrative that’s as engaging as it is inspiring. That’s not to say it doesn’t have its fair share of tragedy, though. No matter if you’re checking it out for the spaceships or the bounty hunts, “Cowboy Bebop” is a show you won’t forget.
“Kaguya-sama: Love Is War” (2019-22)
RomanceIn a meet-cute for the ages, Kaguya and Miyuki fall head over heels for each other as part of the student council. The catch? They’re both too prideful to admit it, leading to a series of elaborate schemes to make the other confess. In a nutshell, that’s “Kaguya-Sama” for you, a romance that throws all pretenses to the side in favor of a fresh, funny, and engaging take on love stories. It'll leave you swooning, laughing, crying, and then swooning all over again, usually in the span of a single episode. Even if happily ever after is a ways off, the journey is still totally worth a watch.
"Detective Conan" (1996-)
MysteryReverting into a kid’s body is bound to cause a few issues with daily life. Doubly so if you’re trying to solve crimes. But, that’s just par for the course in “Detective Conan.” Despite his youthful look, Conan takes it upon himself to crack any case he comes across. And he’s pretty good at it, too. Over the course of a thousand episodes and counting, Conan’s cracked codes, tracked down killers, and figured out all kinds of cold cases. “Detective Conan” is the kind of cozy, reliable mystery that never gets old, and it has a decade-spanning legacy to prove it.
“Higurashi When They Cry” series (2006-21)
HorrorIf you’re looking for all things scary, “Higurashi” is the show for you. Chronicling a series of mass murders across various timelines and universes, it’s pretty much the de-facto horror anime at this point. After all, it’s got just about everything; supernatural folklore, slasher-inspired death scenes, and a nail-biting mystery that always keeps you coming back for more. It’s one hell of a frightful binge, especially because, like any good horror villain, “Higurashi” always comes back for a sequel. With light novels, manga, and alternate realities galore, diehard horror fans will never run out of “Higurashi’s violent mayhem. Trust us, that’s a good thing.
“Frieren: Beyond Journey's End” (2023-)
FantasyElven mage Frieren and her team of adventurers scoured the land, vanquished the Demon King, and restored peace to the world. And that’s just the first episode. Half a century later, Frieren faces the reality of remaining youthful while her human companions pass on, and decides to reunite with them at the resting place of souls. As you can probably surmise, “Beyond Journey’s End” is a uniquely heartfelt spin on the genre that prioritizes emotional beats over flashy action. Though, don’t worry, there’s still plenty of that, too. “Frieren” only uses magic to explore its characters, not overshadow them, which is exactly why it’s fantasy at its finest.
“Steins;Gate” (2011)
DramaThe words “grounded character piece” and “time-traveling microwave” don’t sound like they should go together. But, that’s what makes this anime something special. Despite the high-concept premise, “Steins;Gate” is far more interested in exploring the human experience than delivering any kind of soapy plot twist. Sure, there’s a whole lot of cliffhangers and mysteries, but they always serve to question a person’s character, trauma, or moral compass. You know you’re in good hands when an anime makes interpersonal relationships more interesting than literal time travel. It doesn’t matter if it’s reheated or not, “Steins;Gate” is definitely worth adding to your watchlist.
“Gintama” (2006-18)
ComedyThe pitch here is pretty straightforward; Gintoki Sakata is a freelancer who works odd-jobs to scrape by. Oh, and the world is inhabited by aliens. Just go with it, “Gintama’s” much better that way. Really, trying to describe the show at all is kind of a fool’s errand. It’s a gut-busting sitcom one episode, a loving parody the next, and a cutthroat action shounen after that. The only thing you can count on is that “Gintama” will have you laughing till you cry. It doesn’t sound like it should work, but the show’s good-spirited sense of humor and bottomless well of ideas has kept it an anime cornerstone for good reason.
“One Piece” (1999-)
AdventureSetting sail with Monkey D. Luffy is never a bad idea. In pursuit of the titular treasure known as the One Piece, he and the Straw Hat Pirates have traversed just about everything you’d ever want from an adventure series. They’ve found new biomes, met memorable characters, and done more than their fair share of fighting, too. But, above all that, there’s a real sense of worldbuilding and community in “One Piece” that makes it all feel like part of one, long journey. Also, who doesn’t love hanging out with Luffy? As long as he’s steering this ship, there’s never a bad time to come aboard.
“Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood” (2009-10)
ActionIt doesn’t take a Philosopher’s Stone to realize that best-in-class animation leads to best-in-class fight scenes. Just look at “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.” The impeccable production values sell the weight and scale of each pulse-pounding conflict like none other. Thanks to the show’s fully-realized combat system, the action never lets up, and never gets stale, either. If anything, it’s addictively rewatchable. Add in a fantastic narrative full of twists, turns, and alchemic action, and it's no wonder “Brotherhood” is considered one of the greats. There’s a lot of high-stakes battle anime out there, but “Fullmetal Alchemist” is just in another league.
What’s your go-to anime genre? Let us know in the comments below!
