Top 20 Anime Series That Are Great to Binge Watch

Was Zootopia not dark enough for you? Have you been dying to seen anthropomorphic animals deal with matters of social prejudice, class warfare, inner demons and all the trouble that comes from “who slept with who?” If so, then Legoshi and Haru’s struggle as they try to cope in a world that’s turned against them should be right up your alley. With painful parallels to real-life, watching the animosity build between carnivores and herbivores will have you on the edge all throughout.

Granted, it would take you a whole year of solid binging if you wanted to cover the Fate verse in its entirety. Another if you tried to actually map it out and comprehend it. That being said, Zero is still a series that needs to be experienced by newcomers, providing a window into the Holy Grail War and all of its fantastical action. As seven Masters prepare for the chance to claim the wish-granting grail for themselves, each summons a hero of eons past to act as their Servant, leading to literal clashes of ages. Throw in the Urobutcher’s signature penchant for depressing character outcomes and…yeah, sturdy yourself for this one.

Taking a gamble on this anime is easy, since the titular loser’s desperate fight to get out of financial hell isn’t only engrossing, but it’s sure to make you feel much better about your own life choices. After unknowingly taking on mountains of debt, Kaiji is left with no choice but to partake in a set of do or die bets, where losing could not only extend his money issues, but also cost him is life. Even if he is a hapless nobody who never learns his lesson, you’ll be holding onto your breath, and your bank balance, right up until the end!

In dire need of that superhero itch but looking for something a little different? How about a laidback guy who wears a cape for fun…and can destroy anything with but a single punch. With unparalleled strength that’s yet to be matched, Saitama’s navigation though the Hero Association isn’t only loaded with satire and jabs at the genre but boasts some of the hypest battles ever animated. Even if the second season was something of a step back, nothing can take the shine off watching that blistering first season back to back, especially that god-tier finale against Boros!

It’s simple mathematics really – bloodthirsty action anime + tournament settings = a damn good time. Even with its 3DCGI skin, this bare-knuckle brawler of a show proved itself to be one of the most macho and entertaining series of last year, mainly due to the sheer badassery of Ohma and his demonic loans. With a wide cast of fighters, relentless fist fights and some solid heart behind it, this is certainly not one to disregard among Netflix’s growing catalogue!

Up for some popcorn fantasy that will dazzle and delight you with its unit of sinfully fun characters? You’d need look no further than Meliodas and his gang of misfit vices as they defend the kingdom from corrupt knights, demons, and occasionally each other. If you’re still not sold, then we highly recommend you do yourself a favour and take a gander at Escanor bringing the sunshine to the likes of the Ten Commandments. If he and his moustache don’t have you sold, then nothing will!

Just because you’re binging anime doesn’t mean you have to come out of it feeling elated, sometimes it just leaves you as a depressed husk with a hatred for all humanity. Case and point, this reimagining of the dark and tormented anti-hero who knows how to bring the pain just as much as he does how turn on the water works. Following his sudden transformation into a demon hybrid, Akira seeks to defend his loved ones from hell’s invading forces…only for things to spiral out of control into a miasma of suffering, hatred and the unmistakable truth that mankind are assholes.

Don’t lose your way and don’t stop watching this show! Chronicling the frantic fights of Ryuko Matoi and her talking sailor uniform as she endeavours to find out who murdered her father, the way in which this show balances crazy concepts, crazier battles with a surprising amount of character depth is pure Trigger. The visuals are striking, Satsuki and Ryuko are some of the best female characters in modern memory, and the caliber of the fights against the likes of the Elite Four and Ragyo are liable to make your jaw drop. These girls got it going on in every category!

Burning onto the scene with the delightful wackiness one could expect from the creator of Soul Eater, Shinra and Company 8’s ongoing battle to halt the spread of Human Combustion didn’t only boast the stunning fights expected of David Productions, but also a rather profound mystery in regards to the truth surrounding this new society built on pyrokinesis and a sun-obsessed religion. Come for the flaming footwork, stay for Shinra’s struggle against the omnipotent influence of the Evangelist and his deep-rooted control over the new world order.

A golden oldie with one hell of a legacy, the adventures of Seiya and his fellow Zodiac Knights has all the retro anime goodness you could want. From bloody tournaments, stunning visuals and tonnes of drama, you can practically feel the 80s in each scene. And hey, it’s found itself a place on Netflix with a really solid new dub, so there’s never been a better time to hop on the galactic bandwagon and give it a watch!

We’d be remiss to not mention the now legendary series that has come to define a whole generation of anime lovers, and with the outside world currently being dominated by an enemy Stand, you owe it to yourself to catch up on the generational battles of the Joestar lineage. From Jonathan’s introductory clash with future vampiric nemesis Dio, all the way to gang-star god Giorno hurtling the insidious mafioso boss Diavalo into a death loop, we guarantee you a transformative experience, one that will undoubtedly submerge you in the never-ending phenomenon that is a “JoJo reference.”

Embracing while simultaneously redefining the quirks that we adore about the superhero genre, the ever-expanding heroic exploits of Class-1-A has dominated the anime landscape as of late, and for a damn good reason. From Deku’s continuing rise from powerless fanboy to the world’s next greatest hero, the intricacies and social failings of a society saturated with caped crusaders, all the way to the incredible bouts between the champions of tomorrow and the morally flawed yet compelling League of Villains, this show continues to ramp up the reasons why we adore it with each new season.

Hungry for more DB goodness but you’re a little bit tired of watching Z? Well, for the five of you that haven’t watched its awesome sequel series (no, not GT) then now’s the time to knuckle down and nosedive into the multiverse madness that is Super! It’s got everything you love from the original, including one hell of a tournament arc, Goku surpassing his limits and attaining a form even greater than anyone can believe, and of course, Vegeta being Vegeta. Honestly, the Tournament of Power alone is worth the price of admission!

Take a collection of charming young girls, throw in a dabble of magic and a cute mascot, mix together with the Urobutcher’s borderline sadistic storytelling sensibilities, and what do you get? A series that changed the magical girl genre forever. With its series of sinister twists juxtaposed by incredible action sequences, this beautiful-looking spiral into depression is well worth investing your time into. Watching innocence be shattered by the cruelties of real-world consequences has never been so entertaining!

This is the sci-fi spectacle that at the time set the entire anime scene ablaze. How best to describe this show? Over the top, basically. A whole lot of shirtless awesomeness, unrelenting machismo, and mecha battles that tower over all others in terms of scope. If your idea of a good time involves two giant robots punching each other on top of whole galaxies, then Team Dai-Gurren has a place for you!

Lelouch vs Britannia set out to overthrow the empire that had subjugated and divided its citizens, and in doing so, he created one of the true anime greats. It’s got mecha, it’s got political conspiracy, supernatural mind controlling eyeballs, and a lead whose morality becomes greyer with each passing episode. There’s no doubt about it, this is one you’re going to have to binge in a single sitting, given the sheer amount of twists, heart-breaking deaths and cliff hangers it throws at you. What else would you expect from Zero?

By far the definitive occult detective thriller of our time, few can hope to have as much of a resounding effect as Light Yagami and L’s battle of wits had on the anime community. With one seeking to rid the world of evil through the murderous power of a Death God’s notebook, and the other determined to stop his killing spree, this series is packed to the brim with ingenius plotting, sublime character studies, and the ever-present quandary of who truly is in the right? It holds up just as well as it did back then, so you’d best watch it before Light jots your name down…

Ask anyone what anime is the epitome of hype these days, and without question they’ll answer the slash-tastic serenade that is humanity’s battle against the giants with a taste for human flesh. The brutal fights against the Titans would already be enough of a sell, but when you layer it with a maturing narrative that delves into the evils both within and outside the walls, the bloody descent of its cast as the ongoing conflict shreds their souls, and basically everything that Levi does, its easy to see how it managed to soar high above its station as one of the modern greats.

Well, if you’re planning to binge for the long haul, then there’s no oneanime to indulge your time with than Gon, Killua and the rest of the Hunters. Every arc in this show is a shounen epic onto itself, interwoven with great world building, one of the best power systems ever devised, and of course, some seriously kick ass fights. While it certainly knows how to pace itself and explore the mindsets and motivations of is colossal cast, when it comes to the action, it doesn’t stop until the dial reaches eleven. Nothing screams epic quite like a demon kitty getting his face punched in by an enraged Gon with the slickest hair do.

So, you’re looking for the full anime package? You want a series with plenty of girth to its episode runtime but low on padding? An engrossing story with an equally satisfying conclusion? Plenty of out of this world battles filled with anime logic but that also adheres to the world it’s built-up? A lead character whose endearing nature is only matched by his anger over his height? The Elrics got you covered. From Ed and Al’s hunt for the Philosopher’s Stone, the mystery surrounding their heritage, the fights against the Homonculi, the intrinsic plotting, that final showdown with Father – we could go on, but you’d be better off starting it up right now so you can enjoy it yourself!