There is a wide variety of anime genres for all tastes, from gore, shojo, shonen, seinen or yaoi, but all anime fans agree that there are essential series.
Whether because of their history, characters or because they marked the lives of a whole generation of otakus, the anime that you will see below are basic, and any otaku that feels proud of being one must have seen them, at least once.
Some of these animes are available on platforms such as Netflix, Crunchyroll or Funimation, but others can be enjoyed on different cable services or even on broadcast television.
Here we present the 10 most important anime series that every otaku should know.
#1 Ranma ½
The teacher Rumiko Takahashi has a wide catalog of very popular anime, such as Urusei Yatsura O Inuyasha, but this time we decided to highlight Ranma ½.
For many it is the quintessential sitcom of anime, as its characters, romances and entanglements captivated an entire generation.
Ranma is a martial artist with a serious curse, every time cold water touches him, he becomes a girl, and can only return to normal with hot water.
Mr. Saotome and Mr. Tendo decided their children would be engaged in marriage, and because of that promise Ranma and Akane become a couple.
From that, several of Ranma’s fiancees and boys who love Akane will intervene to prevent love from being born between them.
#2 Dragon Ball Z
The anime wouldn’t be the same without Goku’s epic fights against some of the most powerful villains in the universe.
Akira Toriyama managed to build a story that has gone around the world and that has influenced hundreds of animators and mangakas.
Dragon Ball Z It has video games, movies, manga, toys, clothing, and other promotional items, and thanks to its new sequels, Goku’s story is far from over.
#3 Sailor Moon
And Dragon Ball Z is shonen series number 1, Sailor Moon is without a doubt the best anime shojo / magical girl ever.
Like Goku’s anime, its influence on other works of the genre is undeniable, as Serena and her friends paved the way for other magical girls.
Magic, romance, drama and friendship are some of the central themes of Sailor Moon, and after a couple of decades of its premiere it still has an exclusive place in the hearts of all its fans.
#4 Neon Genesis Evangelion
For many, it is in the exclusive top 3 of the best anime in history, even though some fans did not understand its ending very well.
It is set in a post-apocalyptic Japan, where kaijus known as angels cause enormous damage every certain period of time.
To defend humanity from these attacks, the NERV organization created the EVAS, giant robots with the strength necessary to stop them.
Shiji Ikari is one of the children chosen to pilot one of those EVAS, but contrary to what it seems, it is not so exciting or easy to do it, and Shinji has good reasons to refuse.
To this day, Evangelion It is one of the most complex anime of all, since it manages to use the Judeo-Christian mythology as never before seen.
#5 Pokémon
Pokémon is not only an incredibly popular anime, it is also one of the best-selling video game franchises in history, a comic book series, and a myriad of toys and clothing that are selling like hotcakes around the world.
Even those who are not fans of anime or video games have heard of Pokémon or Pikachu, the mascot of the series.
After more than 20 seasons, Ash Ketchum continues to travel the world with the goal of becoming a Pokémon master, and it seems his journey is far from over.
#6 Cowboy Bebop
With excellent animation, a captivating plot and an electrifying soundtrack, they are some of the weapons with which Cowboy Bebop claimed his place on this list.
He is largely responsible for making western fans discover that there are more anime than just Dragon Ball, and maybe a little higher.
The animation of the series is elegant and smooth, but its soundtrack consisting of blues and jazz, is on another level.
#7 Naruto
The adventures of Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura came at the right time to try to compete for the throne of shonen that he had left Dragon Ball Z.
Friendship and determination are the central themes of this series, but that does not mean that it leaves the action aside, on the contrary, it gives us some of the best fight scenes in many years.
Naruto is one of the best-developed protagonists in anime, as he went from being a spoiled child who just wanted to get attention, to becoming a shinobi responsible for saving the ninja world.
#8 Fullmetal Alchemist
The construction of the world and characters Fullmetal Alchemist is one of the best anime. Despite its sad central story, optimism and action dominate this series.
The Elric brothers are notable alchemists, but in attempting to revive their mother, they break one of the most important taboos in alchemy: human transmutation.
Stripped of their bodies, Edward and Alphonse Elric must travel the country in search of the philosopher’s stone, a substance that will help them regain their life.
#9 One Piece
With worldwide popularity levels higher than those of Dragon Ball, some fans consider that One Piece it is the most important anime of all time.
Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Sanji, Usopp, Chopper, Nico Robin, Franky, Brook and Jimbe are the Straw Hat Pirates, and together they will travel the Grand Line to find the One Piece, the most important treasure in the world.
For more than 900 episodes, the Straw Hat Pirates have fought the navy, fishmen, and all manner of enemies for Luffy to become the king of the pirates.
#10 Attack on Titan
The world is a nightmare. Humanity, on the brink of extinction, hides behind giant walls, while a small group of soldiers face the titans, 50-meter giants who seek humans to exterminate them.
While it might seem like a simple concept, actually in the world of Attack on Titan nothing is what it seems, as secrets, conspiracies and intrigue are just around the corner.
Do you know other animes that are unmissable for all otaku? Share them in the comments.
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