10 Essential Anime Shows That Belong on Every Fan's Bucket List
Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck is a writer for Collider. He grew up creating lists, stories, and worlds, which led to his love of anime and video games. He attended Sheridan College where he earned an Honours Bachelor of Game Design. Lucas and his group won 1st place for technical innovation at LevelUp Toronto 2023, and he was also an intern for the Oakville Film Festival of Arts.
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Everybody has things they want to do before they die, whether that be skydiving or being on TV. However, plenty of fans have less-than-grand aspirations; instead, they would rather enjoy the comforts of their own home and experience some of the greatest stories in history, and anime is a fun place to start, with shows such as Naruto and Demon Slayer establishing themselves as iconic franchises.
For any veteran or new anime fans, the most essential shows stay the same, and that is why this list will feature the essential anime series that should be on everyone’s bucket list. Based on aspects such as variety, writing, animation, influence, originality, staying power, critical acclaim, fan opinion, and overall quality, every fan must watch these anime.
10 'Haikyuu!' (2014–Present)
This list will feature a variety of series, new and old, and from different genres, including sports. Haikyuu follows Hinata, an undersized player with big aspirations. But in his first year, he must first learn how to work together with an arrogant teammate if he wants the team to succeed.
Haikyuu is one of the most essential sports anime of all time. Sure, there may be more influential and classic options, but this series defines everything that a sports anime should be, becoming essential in the meantime. Haikyuu is exhilarating and has a touching character focus, giving the best of both worlds that creates a must-watch anime.
9 'Frieren: Beyond Journey's End' (2023–Present)
As mentioned, this list will include some modern anime, and it doesn’t get much newer than Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, which came out in 2023. Years after the demon king's defeat, Frieren and her new party of pupils set off on a nostalgic adventure to the land of the dead in order to say unsaid words to her former party members.
As the newest anime on this list, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End has already established itself as a modern classic that can compete with the best. It proves anime doesn’t need to be flashy, but that the side quests are just as engaging and well-written. However, it doesn’t slack on the animation or action, delivering a modern experience that everyone must experience.
8 'The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya' (2006–2010)
Not all of these anime are popular nowadays, but that doesn’t get rid of their influence, such as The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Kon just wants an ordinary school life; unfortunately for him, it is anything but. His entire club is either made up of aliens, psychics, or other strange people that make his life hell.
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya did have a notoriously bad ending, but in some ways that makes it more iconic and a badge of honor for all of those who actually went through it. It is a classic anime experience that defined much of the era and anime culture during that time. That alone should make it a bucket list anime, but if not, then fans should watch it for the memes to make sure it doesn't become a forgotten anime series.
7 'One Piece' (1999–Present)
Anime can be known for their long-running series, and there aren’t many longer shows than One Piece. Monkey D. Luffy wants to become King of the Pirates, but in order to do so, he must first form a crew and build a reputation for himself. He does this by sailing the seas and taking down anyone who gets in his way, whether that be Marines or pirates.
Watching One Piece is almost a rite of passage among anime fans nowadays, especially because of its surge in popularity. However, One Piece isn’t just a popular anime; it also boasts some of the most creative characters and plot points in the medium. Not to mention, the worldbuilding and political themes create a magnificent series that everyone should at least watch a bit of.
6 'Death Note' (2006–2007)
The 2000s were home to some of the most essential anime of all time, and Death Note is the most synonymous with this era. When Light finds a notebook that can kill anyone, he uses it to create a new world free of crime, with himself as god. However, the world's greatest detective is on the case to stop his murder spree and uncover the truth.
A lot of fans will agree that the latter half of Death Note wasn’t the best, but that doesn’t detract from the first half, which is some of the most engaging content in anime history. It is the most riveting game of cat and mouse, opening up fascinating plot points and shocking developments that ended up in history.
Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Survival Quiz Which Sci-Fi World Would You Survive? The Matrix · Mad Max · Blade Runner · Dune · Star Wars
Five universes. Five completely different ways the future went wrong — or sideways, or up in flames. Only one of them is the world your instincts were built for. Eight questions will figure out which dystopia, galaxy, or desert wasteland you'd actually make it out of alive.
💊The Matrix
🔥Mad Max
🌧️Blade Runner
🏜️Dune
🚀Star Wars
01
You sense something is deeply wrong with the world around you. What do you do? The first instinct is often the truest one.
02
In a world of scarcity, what resource do you guard most fiercely? What we protect reveals what we believe survival actually requires.
03
What kind of threat keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you're honest about what you're actually afraid of.
04
How do you deal with authority you don't trust? Every dystopia has a power structure. Your approach to it determines everything.
05
Which environment could you actually endure long-term? Survival isn't just tactical — it's physical, psychological, and very much about where you are.
06
Who do you want in your corner when things fall apart? The company you keep is the clearest signal of who you actually are.
07
Where do you draw the line — if you draw one at all? Every survivor eventually faces a moment that tests what they're actually made of.
08
What would actually make survival worth it? Staying alive is one thing. Having a reason to is another.
Your Fate Has Been Calculated You'd Survive In…
Your answers point to the world your instincts were built for. This is the universe your temperament, your survival instincts, and your particular brand of stubbornness were made for.
The Matrix
You took the red pill a long time ago — probably before anyone offered it to you. You're a systems thinker who can't help but notice the seams in things.
- You're drawn to understanding how the system works before figuring out how to break it.
- You'd find the Resistance, or it would find you — your instinct for spotting constructed realities is the machines' worst nightmare.
- You function best when you have access to information and the freedom to act on it.
- The Matrix built an airtight prison. You'd be the one probing the walls for the door.
Mad Max
The wasteland doesn't reward the clever or the well-connected — it rewards those who are hard to kill and harder to break. That's you.
- You don't need comfort, community, or a cause larger than the next horizon.
- You need a vehicle, a clear threat, and enough fuel to outrun it — and you're good at all three.
- You are unsentimental enough to survive that world, and decent enough — just barely — to be something more than another raider.
- In the wasteland, that distinction is everything.
Blade Runner
You'd survive here because you know how to exist in moral grey areas without losing yourself completely.
- You read people accurately, keep your circle small, and ask the questions others prefer not to answer.
- In a city where humanity is a legal designation rather than a feeling, you hold onto something that keeps you functional.
- You're not a hero. But you're not lost, either.
- In Blade Runner's world, that distinction is everything.
Dune
Arrakis is the most hostile environment in the known universe — and you are precisely the kind of person it rewards.
- Patience, discipline, and political awareness are your core strengths — and on Arrakis, they're survival tools.
- You understand that the long game matters more than any single victory.
- Others come to Dune and are consumed by it. You'd learn its logic and earn its respect.
- In time, you wouldn't just survive Arrakis — you'd begin to reshape it.
Star Wars
The galaxy far, far away is vast, loud, and in a constant state of violent political upheaval — and you wouldn't have it any other way.
- You find meaning in being part of something larger than yourself — a cause, a crew, a rebellion.
- You'd gravitate toward the Rebellion, or the fringes, or whatever pocket of the galaxy still believes the Empire's grip can be broken.
- You fight — not because you have to, but because standing aside isn't something you're capable of.
- In Star Wars, that willingness is what makes all the difference.
5 'Neon Genesis Evangelion' (1995–1996)
One of the most defining anime genres is mecha, and while there are a lot of great ones, the most essential is Neon Genesis Evangelion. With the world facing another apocalyptic event, the only hope for humanity lies in the hands of Shinji and other mentally disturbed teenagers to fight against Angel-like aliens.
This deconstruction of the genre is one of the most successful and compelling, creating a one-of-a-kind story that established itself as a landmark of the medium. Neon Genesis Evangelion may be different, but it is that experimental nature that is why it should be on every anime fan's bucket list to experience someday.
4 'Cowboy Bebop' (1998–1999)
Shinichiro Watanabe is one of the greatest anime directors of all time, so it is only natural that some of his series should be on everyone’s bucket list, like his magnum opus, Cowboy Bebop. Spike Spiegel and his group of bounty hunters clean up the galaxy, but when his dark past resurfaces, he must face it head-on or risk losing his friends.
Cowboy Bebop is one of the most unique anime series of all time, blending themes of jazz, noir, kung fu, and sci-fi. The animation is some of the best ever, especially for the 1990s. More than that, it proved to the West that anime can be mature and thought-provoking, a sentiment that still exists, which proves why it was so influential.
The best anime of all time is heavily up for debate, but one of the strongest contenders is Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Edward and Alphonse are brothers who lose parts or all of their bodies in a taboo experiment. When they go on an adventure to find the philosopher’s stone, all they uncover is a government conspiracy that threatens to consume the world.
As one of the greatest anime shows of all time, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a bucket list show for all types of fans. This is especially true since it had a little bit of everything for everyone, from action to drama, romance, comedy, and mystery. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood has one of the greatest casts in anime and brilliantly uses them throughout the story.
2 'Dragon Ball Z' (1989–1996)
The most influential anime are always the older ones, and a true classic and influential series is Dragon Ball Z. Goku has made a home on Earth, and despite his laid-back nature, he will do anything to protect it from those who wish to destroy it, which includes Frieza, Vegeta, Cell, and Majin Buu.
Dragon Ball Z was the inspiration for countless anime, a lot of which fans have probably seen. So it seems right that they should watch the anime that influenced those series. As one of the most important anime of all time, it should be a bucket list watch for the influence and historical value alone.
1 'Attack on Titan' (2013–2023)
Its ending may have soured a lot of fans, but its legacy is still intact as a legendary anime series. Attack on Titan follows Eren after his village is destroyed by the Titans. Vowing revenge, he suddenly gets the ability to turn into a Titan. With his newfound power, Eren leads humanity outside the walls to face their real enemy and finally be free.
For many, Attack on Titan got them into anime, and it is certainly an important show that influenced the culture during the 2010s. More than that, Attack on Titan features one of the most compelling plots in the medium, using its mystery and shocking plot twists to create an unrivaled narrative. There are so many anime that fans need to watch, but Attack on Titan is an essential entry on anyone’s bucket list.
KioskNews shows a cleaned-up reading view extracted from the publisher’s page — the original always lives on their site, not ours.