Top 10 Anime Moments You'll Remember for the Rest of Your Life

“Cowboy Bebop” (1998)

Throughout the Bebop crew's many adventures, Spike presents himself as an unshakably cool and smooth operator that keeps people at a distance. While flashes of vulnerability are peppered throughout the series, Spike is not truly whole until he meets with Julia in the two-part finale, a reunion that does not last long. "Cowboy Bebop" ends on an action-packed but somber note, as Spike and Vicious clash for the final time. Spike goes out with a figurative bang, a tragic act that would go on to spark many debates regarding the bounty hunter's fate.

“Attack On Titan” (2013-)

This series started creating unforgettable moments right from the very start. The show's final season begins by switching focus to Marley, a nation that declares war against Paradis Island, a statement that earns an instant response from Eren. As the climax for one of the tensest episodes of the series, Eren crashes Willy Tybur's speech by transforming into the Attack Titan, taking out a building filled with civilians in the process. In many ways, the entire show had been building up to this moment, a scene that shows just how far the characters and the anime had come since the first episode, for better or worse.

“The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya” (2010)

As the conclusion to the anime adaptation of "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya," "Disappearance" highlights the best elements of the series, particularly Kyon and Nagato. In a movie filled with nothing but great scenes, the sequence that concludes with Kyon finally admitting that the world is more fun with Haruhi stands out as being extra special. A character-defining moment for Kyon that matches introspective discourse with powerful visual storytelling, this sequence is the perfect reward for surviving the "Endless Eight Arc.”. "Haruhi" is an important anime and Kyon's choice illustrates why.

“Digimon Adventure” (1999-2000)

The late '90s was quite the time to be getting into anime. "Digimon Adventure" had a pretty dark edge for a kids' show, and it produced plenty of awesome moments because of it. As the anime's first major arc came to a close, the Digidestined found themselves overwhelmed by Devimon, inspiring Patamon to finally digivolve into Angemon. Backed by great music, this whole sequence manages to be triumphant, bittersweet, and foreboding. "Digimon Season One" is one of those anime that left an everlasting stamp on a generation, and moments like this are the reason why.

“Hunter x Hunter” (2011-14)

In the span of roughly 40 episodes, "Hunter x Hunter" transforms a stereotypical shonen final boss into a sympathetic, multi-layered character. With the massive battle long done, a dying Meruem's final moments are spent playing Gungi with Komugi, the person responsible for the chimera's growth. This entire episode is a tearjerker, but the ending really sticks the knife in. Although "Hunter x Hunter" had been setting itself apart from other battle shonen series for quite a while, this scene represents the pinnacle of the anime's willingness to defy conventions and subvert expectations.

“Neon Genesis Evangelion” (1995-96)

"Evangelion" is anything but a bog-standard mecha anime, and EVA-01 losing its mind showcases that splendidly. While not the first time an EVA gets to cut loose, 01 entering berserk mode against Zeruel is a defining moment in the series, if not anime in general. The music, visuals, and that scream; everything about this scene is a work of terrifying art, one that involves the hero's mecha literally devouring the enemy. The equivalent scene in "Evangelion: 2.0" is also quite spectacular, but the original is just on a whole other level.

“Berserk” (1997-98)

Putting aside the opening episode, 1997's "Berserk" primarily adapts "The Golden Age Arc,” which focuses on Guts' bond with the Band of the Hawks and its leader Griffith. While gritty and complex, nothing that happens in the series can prepare someone for the final episode. A horrifying event that just keeps on getting worse, The Eclipse is soul-crushing and incredibly difficult to watch, although looking away is also not an option. The original anime didn't earn a second season, so this hell was the last many people saw of Guts, Casca, and Griffith at the time.

“One Piece” (1999-)

A punch felt around the world, both in "One Piece's" universe and out of it. The "Sabaody Archipelago Arc" places a direct light on the lopsided social class balance in Oda’s world, culminating in an auction where an arrogant Celestial Dragon buys one merfolk and tries to kill another. When Luffy finally snaps and sends Charlos flying, the scene is fully earned and simply satisfying. Not only is the moment itself unforgettable, but it also leads to long-lasting consequences that greatly change the lives of the Straw Hats’ trajectory.

“Pokemon” (1997-)

The "Pokemon" anime was inescapable during the late '90s, and the show wasn't just endless battles, Pikachu being adorable, and Team Rocket protecting the world from devastation. "Bye Bye Butterfree" marked a big development in the series as it saw Ash bid goodbye to the titular Pokemon, which was a first for the anime. Teaching kids about letting go of their pets, "Pokemon" did not underplay the emotional toll this type of experience can have on a person. Over the years, "Pokemon" has accumulated more than a thousand episodes, but few scenes tug at the heartstrings quite as effectively as Butterfree's farewell.

“Dragon Ball Z” (1989-96)

Some scenes transcend anime, and "Dragon Ball Z" is responsible for probably around half of them. Akira Toriyama's series served as an entry point into anime for plenty of people, and the show was always fantastic at making crucial moments feel truly epic. Fueled by a myth and triggered by a string of painful deaths at the hands of Frieza, Goku finally let out a rageful scream and became a legend. "Dragon Ball" would go on to have roughly a million more transformations, but Goku going Super Saiyan for the first time cannot be beaten on a purely iconic level.