Top 50 Best Adventure Anime Of All Time

 

Shounen anime, as we all know, is undoubtedly the most popular genre of anime. And what is a good shounen without some hint of brilliant adventure? The journey of the hero as he braves enemies and grows through numerous adventures is one of the most common yet popular anime tropes.

 

Even in the case of genres other than shounen, most popular shows in the history of anime have some form of adventure or the other. Therefore, one can confidently deduce that the adventure motif is essential to anime culture.

 

Nothing gets the audience on the edge of their seats like the thrill of a brilliant adventure, maybe that is why this theme has become a classic and almost synonymous with popularity in the anime world.

 

Given below is a list of the best adventure anime of all time that will take you through a thrilling journey.

 

 

 

1. Naruto

 

 

One of the most popular anime to have ever been released, there is hardly an anime fan who hasn’t heard the word Naruto. It is an epic tale of growth following the life and adventures of protagonist Naruto Uzumaki.

 

It is divided into 2 separate parts – Naruto and Naruto Shippuden. The first part deals with the adventures of a younger Naruto and Shippuden deals with the life of a slightly older Naruto, i.e. him in his teenage years.

 

Naruto is an orphan who dreams of becoming Hokage someday. Initially shunned by the village for being the bearer of the Nine-Tailed Fox, Naruto takes on a journey towards growth and immense strength that will take him closer to his goal.

 

It is filled with epic battles and heartfelt friendships. It tells the story of an underdog protagonist who emerges to be a great hero. The animation is based on Masashi Kishimoto’s manga series by the same name.

 

The anime first started airing on 3rd October 2002 and both its parts have a combined total of 720 episodes.

 

 

 

2. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

 

 

This anime follows the adventures of a young boy and his younger brother who are on a quest to find a philosopher’s stone so that they can undo a grave mistake they made as children.

 

These two siblings – Edward and Alphonse Elric – use alchemy to try and bring back their dead mother with the help of a philosopher’s stone. Since bringing back the dead is a taboo in alchemy, they had to face severe consequences.

 

As a price for their taboo act, Edward lost an arm and a leg while his younger brother Alphonse lost his entire body. Edward somehow managed to preserve his younger brother’s soul by infusing it with a suit of armor, which became his new body.

 

After some time, both brothers become State Alchemists and face numerous battles and challenges as they continue on their quest to regain their bodies. The anime started airing on 5th April 2009 and has a total of 64 episodes and 4 OVAs.

 

It’s based on the Fullmetal Alchemist manga series by Hiromu Arakawa.

 

 

 

3. Attack on Titan

 

 

One of the most popular anime of this decade, Attack on Titan follows the deadly adventures of protagonist Eren as he ventures out to seek vengeance against those who massacred his homeland and were responsible for his mother’s death.

 

After joining the Survey Corps and attaining the powers of the Founding Titan, Eren must learn to properly use and control his new powers in order to achieve his initial goal.

 

In the course of the anime, we see Eren organically grow mature and develop into one of the most popular protagonists in anime history. The anime is still ongoing and currently has a total of 87 released episodes.

 

It is based on Hajime Isayama’s manga and first started airing on 7th April 2013.

 

 

 

4. Black Clover

 

 

Black Clover takes us to a fictional world where everyone is blessed with some degree of mana or magic. However, the one exception to this is a young boy named Asta.

 

Asta was born with absolutely no mana and was ridiculed for it since childhood. However, despite his disadvantages, he secretly harbors a great dream which is to become the great Magic Emperor – the strongest mage in the nation.

 

Without any magic, Asta’s chances of achieving his dream are quite bleak until he is chosen by a 5-leafed clover grimoire. With the power granted to him by his grimoire, Asta finally has a chance of attaining his dream.

 

He joins the Black Bulls Guild under captain Yami and takes part in numerous magical adventures along with his new allies. Based on Yuki Tabata’s Black Clover manga, the anime began airing on 3rd October 2017.

 

It has a total of 170 episodes spread across 4 seasons.

 

 

5. The Seven Deadly Sins

 

 

Seven Deadly Sins shows the adventures of princess Elizabeth along with a group of knights called the Seven Deadly Sins who disbanded after being wrongly accused of treason. To save her kingdom and family from the true perpetrator of treason, princess Elizabeth seeks the help of Meliodas (the leader of the Seven Deadly Sins) to go on a quest to find the rest of the group and re-unite them to save the kingdom of Britannia from grave danger.

 

Thus the princess and Meliodas set out on their quest to reunite the scattered members of the Seven Deadly Sins. However, their troubles do not end after achieving their aim.

 

They are soon to face greater dangers than any of them could have fathomed. The series is separated into 5 parts and has a total of 100 episodes. It is based on the manga series, of the same name, written by Nakaba Suzuki and it first started airing on 5th October 2014.

 

 

6. One Piece

 

 

One Piece is an epic tale that focuses on the adventures of a pirate named Monkey D. Luffy who sets out on a long and arduous journey to achieve his aim of becoming the Pirate King someday.

 

At the beginning of the story, we see Luffy on a quest to find the legendary treasure named “One Piece”. He is inspired to go on his quest by his childhood hero – a pirate named Red-Haired Shanks.

 

He is adamant about finding the mythical “One Piece” as it will finally allow him to achieve his long-harbored wish of becoming the Pirate King. In the course of his journey, Luffy meets numerous foes and allies and takes part in some marvelously challenging fights.

 

The anime is currently still ongoing and has released a total of 1025 episodes. It began airing on 20th October 1999 and the story is based on Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece manga.

 

 

7. Hunter x Hunter

 

 

Hunter x Hunter follows the adventures of young protagonist Gon as he goes on a journey to become a successful hunter so that he might learn more about his father who abandoned him in his childhood.

 

Gon’s father Ging is known as a legendary hunter and Gon has inherited some of his father’s sharpest traits. At the young age of 12, he sets out to take part in the Hunter Exam.

 

Here he meets his closest allies and also faces some of the harshest challenges. However, things get even messier after the hunter exam ends and Gon’s life as a hunter begins.

 

The plot is neatly divided into 9 story arcs and we see Gon face and overcome dire challenges in each of them. With each battle, he grows stronger and more mature.

 

There are 2 versions of Hunter x Hunter – the one released in 1999 and the other released in 2011. The latter is more popular with a total of 148 episodes.

 

It is based on the Hunter x Hunter manga by Yoshihiro Togashi.

 

 

8. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

 

 

Even though Jojo’s Bizarre adventure started airing in the year 2012, its manga was already a popular hit back when it was released in 1987. Just like the name suggests, it is a tale of a Bizarre adventure focusing on members of the Joestar family.

 

The Joestars were known to be blessed with special psychic powers but the descendants of this family never lead an easy life. Each of the seasons of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure deals with a new descendant of the Joestar family and the Bizarre adventure he or she takes part in.

 

The anime has a total of 153 episodes spread across its 5 seasons. The story of the anime is based on Hirohiko Araki’s popular manga by the same name which, to date, has sold over 120 million copies.

 

 

9. Fairy Tail

 

 

Fairy Tail follows the story of protagonist Natsu and his comrades as they go on grand magical adventures. The story is set in the magical land of Magnolia. Those people who can use magic or other supernatural powers register themselves as a part of a magical guild and take on various missions in exchange for cash.

 

Natsu belongs to one such guild called Fairy Tail. Fairy Tail is not like any other guild, they are a rowdy bunch of troublemakers, but this guild also houses some of the most powerful and capable individuals.

 

Through the story of fairy Tail, we get a peek into their dynamic lives and follow Natsu and his other guild members on their various missions and watch them overcome numerous great challenges and powerful foes.

 

Based on the Fairy Tail manga series by Hiro Mashima, the anime has a total of 328 episodes released to date, spread across 8 seasons. It also has 2 separate movies.

 

The anime first began airing on 12th October 2009.

 

 

10. Overlord

 

 

This is a game world adventure where certain unforeseen occurrences take place in the realm of virtual reality. When the Yggdrasil game was first released, it became a huge hit amongst gamers because of its enhanced interactive nature.

 

Although, after 12 long years, the game servers are about to be shut down. The protagonist Momonga, however, decides to stay in the game’s virtual realm until the servers get shut down.

 

He also requested a gathering of the last few remaining players but only one showed up. However, in the end, the servers did not close down. Momonga was instead transported to a new reality where his true form was his game’s characters and all the NPCs in the game had come alive.

 

Thus, he goes on a quest to find the reason behind this strange occurrence. Based on Kugane Maruyama’s light novel series, Overlord first aired on 7th July 2015 and has a total of 4 seasons.

 

The first 3 seasons have 13 episodes each and the final one has 3 episodes.

 

 

11. Inuyasha

 

 

Inuyasha is a brilliant historical adventure that is as filled with action as it is with comedy along with an engaging plot. The story begins when a girl named Kagome falls down a well and is pulled by a demon to the Sengoku period of Japan’s feudal era.

 

Transported far back into history, Kagome finds herself constantly chased by demons because of the Shikon jewel that she carries. In one such encounter with the demons, the Shikon jewel gets shattered and scattered far and wide.

 

Now Kagome along with a dog demon called Inuyasha must set out on a dangerous adventure to recover these jewel shards lest they fall in the wrong hands. On the way, they meet some allies and many foes but their quest must continue until the jewel is recovered.

 

The story of this anime is adapted from the Inuyasha manga series written and illustrated by Japanese manga artist Rumiko Takahashi. It has a total of 193 episodes spread across 7 different seasons.

 

 

12. Dragon Ball

 

 

The series Dragon Ball follows the life and adventures of Son Goku as we see him develop from being a happy-go-lucky child to the strongest fighter in the universe. We see Goku not only grow up but also become a grandfather in this epic show that chronicles his entire life.

 

The main plot of the show follows Goku on his adventure to collect the seven dragon balls. Once collected, these balls can grant their owner any one wish. In the process of collecting these dragon balls, we see numerous legendary battles and twists.

 

Goku, in his journey, meets numerous allies and builds his family while also facing some of the strongest threats and villains in the universe. The anime is based on the famous Dragon Ball manga series written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama.

 

The first episode of the show aired back on 26th April 1989. Since then it has released a total of 153 episodes.

 

 

13. Demon Slayer

 

 

Demon Slayer climbed up the popularity ladder almost immediately after its release. It shows the adventures of a young boy who is set on an impossible journey to turn his demon sister back into a human.

 

Tanjiro originally led a quaint and peaceful life with his mother and siblings until his entire family was murdered in a demon attack while he was away. His sister survived, but she was no longer human, she had been turned into a demon.

 

Tanjiro sets out to find a cure for his sister’s situation and to achieve his aim, trains extremely hard to become a competent member of the demon slayer Corps. Demon Slayer is an ongoing anime and currently has 2 seasons and 1 movie.

 

The first season has 26 episodes, the movie is a continuation of the first season and the plot is picked up from the end of the movie in the second full season called the Entertainment District Arc, which has a total of 11 episodes.

 

It started airing on 6th April 2019 and is based on the Demon Slayer manga by Kyoharu Gotouge.

 

 

14. Bleach

 

 

Bleach is one of the most popular shonen anime of all time. It tells the story of protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki and his adventures as a soul reaper. Initially born as a human, Ichigo gets turned into a soul reaper when another reaper named Rukia lends him her power.

 

Although this transfer of power was essential to save their lives which were then under attack, it also complicates things for Ichigo. As a soul reaper, he must take on new enemies and fight new battles as he slowly learns to adjust to his new life.

 

Bleach is mostly known for its amazing fight scenes, brilliant characterization, and engaging plot that slowly shows the protagonist’s growth toward slowly becoming a hero worthy of one of the most popular shonen in the anime world.

 

The anime is based on Noriaki Kubo’s well-known manga series of the same name. It started airing on 5th October 2004 and has a total of 366 episodes spread across 16 seasons.

 

 

15. My Hero Academia 

 

 

My Hero Academia is a thrilling anime series set in a world where superpowers, known as “Quirks,” are commonplace. The story revolves around Izuku Midoriya, a young boy born without a Quirk, who dreams of becoming a hero.

 

When he encounters his idol, the legendary hero All Might, Izuku is granted a Quirk and enrols in the prestigious U. A. High School, where aspiring heroes are trained.

 

Alongside his classmates, Izuku faces formidable villains and challenges, honing his abilities and discovering the true meaning of heroism. With its dynamic characters, exhilarating battles, and themes of friendship, perseverance, and self-discovery, My Hero Academia delivers an action-packed and inspiring anime experience.

 

 

16. Noragami

 

 

Noragami is the story of an inferior God, Yato, who goes on a quest to amass more followers for himself and has at least one shrine dedicated to his name with the aid of a middle school girl named Hiyori.

 

Yato does not enjoy much popularity as a God. Even though he is the self-proclaimed “Delivery God”, he ends up doing odd jobs all day for a payment as low as 5 yen.

 

He is so unpopular as a God that there is not even a single shrine dedicated to him. Disappointed with Yato’s incompetence, his weapon partner deserts him. However, things take a turn for the better when he comes across a middle school girl named Hiyori.

 

She might be Yato’s one chance to achieve his goals. The anime is based on the Noragami manga series, written and illustrated by Adachitoka. It started airing on 5th January 2014 and has 2 complete seasons with 12 episodes in the first and 13 in the second.

 

 

17. Rising of the Shield Hero

 

 

The kingdom of Melromarc periodically summons 4 ordinary men from earth to take on the role of a Hero. These heroes are supposed to protect the kingdom from the Waves of Catastrophe.

 

One day, a simple otaku named Naofumi becomes cursed with the responsibilities of a Shield Hero who is supposed to guard the kingdom on Melromarc. However, the journey is not easy for him as he is continuously ridiculed for his meek demeanor and poor skills.

 

However, a series of unfortunate events lead to poor Naofumi being maltreated and discriminated against by the people of Melromarc. Filled with agony and distrust, Naofumi embarks on the quest to improve and strengthen himself.

 

This anime is another grand Isekai adventure tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The anime is based on a light novel series written by Aneko Yusagi and illustrated by Seira Minami.

 

It began airing on 9th January 2019 and has a total of 2 seasons. The first season has 25 episodes and the second one has 13.

 

 

18. Yu Yu Hakusho

 

 

Yu Yu Hakusho follows the adventures of a 14-year-old former delinquent who curiously gets a second chance at life after his death. While alive, the protagonist Yuusuke Urameshi lived his life as a delinquent.

 

Due to his careless activities, he was looking forward to quite a dull future with no positive prospects. However, one day, he performs a very good deed that is completely out of character for him.

 

He jumps in front of a moving car to save the life of a young boy and ends up dying in the process. Due to the excessively selfless and noble nature of his final deed, the authorities in charge of the spirit realm decide to give Yuusuke a second chance.

 

To regain his life, Yuusuke must complete a series of tasks assigned to him and help fight evil presences on Earth in the role of a Spirit Detective. The anime is based on the Yu Yu Hakusho manga written and illustrated by mangaka Yoshihiro Togashi.

 

It is quite an old anime and first aired on 10th October 1992. It has a total of 112 episodes spread across 4 seasons.

 

 

19. Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic

 

 

Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic tells the tale of an epic adventure that two boys – Aladdin and Alibaba set on, filled with dangers, mystery, and magic. In the world of this anime, Magi are powerful magical beings who are burdened with choosing rulers, guiding them to victory in the magical “Dungeons” and helping them acquire the powers of the mythical Djinns that reside within.

 

They are also charged with supervising their chosen ruler during their rule. Alibaba, one day, happens to meet the wandering magi Aladdin. Witnessing his amazing powers and ability to summon a Djinn, Alibaba asks him to join him as the magi’s magic will help him conquer the Dungeons.

 

Thus begins the adventurous tale of 2 young boys as they set out on their dungeon-capturing expedition. The plot of this anime is based on the fantasy adventure manga series authored by Shinobu Ohtaka.

 

The series has 2 seasons with 25 episodes each and first aired on 7th October 2012.

 

 

20. Akame Ga Kill

 

 

Akame Ga Kill tells the adventurous story of protagonist Tatsumi who joins a group of assassins called the Night Raid but for a noble cause. Night Raid was formed to be a covert group of assassins whose prime goal is to lead a revolution to overthrow a corrupt minister taking advantage of the child emperor’s innocence.

 

The lack of proper leadership has sunk the empire into poverty and ruin which is exactly what the assassins of Night Raid are fighting to resolve. Tatsumi initially embarked on his own journey whose aim was to help his impoverished hometown.

 

However, he was won over by the ideals and goal of the Night Raid and ends up joining them. He must now be prepared to fight the Empire and face powerful enemies to help fulfil Night Raid’s ultimate goal.

 

The plot of Akame Ga Kill is based on a Japanese manga series written by Takahiro and illustrated by Tetsuya Tashiro. The anime first premiered on July 7th, 2014, and released a total of 24 episodes.

 

 

21. No Game, No Life

 

 

This anime is another epic Isekai adventure involving other worlds. In the story of No Game No Life, the main characters- Sora and Shiro get transported to another world called Disboard.

 

On Earth, the siblings’ Sora and Shiro are highly accomplished gamers who go by the name “Blank”. Upon clicking on a message from an unknown user, they get transported to the world of Disboard.

 

Of the sixteen sentient races that reside in Disboard, Imanity is the lowest and consists of humans. After their transportation to Disboard Sora and Shiro are taken to the last remaining kingdom of Imanity – Elkia.

 

There begins their adventure of helping a princess regain her own kingdom while also aiming to become rulers of the new realm. The story of this anime is based on a Japanese light novel series by artist Yu Kamiya.

 

It is a rather short series with only 12 episodes and it first aired on 9th April 2014.

 

 

22. Dragon Ball Super

 

 

Another release from the Dragon Ball franchise, Dragon Ball Super gained amazing popularity soon after its release. Though Dragon Ball Super catches the most attention for its brilliant fight scenes, it is also an adventurous tale of Goku and his allies taking on another extremely powerful foe who threatens peace.

 

The story takes place during peaceful times, right after the defeat of the villain Majin Buu. However, peace does not last long as the God of Destruction Beerus is the next foe to face.

 

Beerus sees a prophecy where he dies in the hands of a powerful being, more precisely a Super Saiyan. This causes him to go in search of the aforementioned Super Saiyan as Goku and his allies must gear up for the strongest enemy they have ever faced.

 

The anime first aired on 5th July 2015. Akira Toriyama along with artist Toyotarou was responsible for the story of Dragon Ball Super which currently has a total of 131 episodes.

 

 

23. Log Horizon

 

 

Log Horizon tells a brilliant story of adventure and politics in a fantasy game world. The primary premise is somewhat similar to the story of SAO. Here too unwilling gamers get trapped in a virtual game world.

 

After the release of an update by an MMORPG game named Elder Tale, the players found they were unable to log out. The protagonist of this tale is a veteran gamer named Shiroe.

 

Though initially shocked and confused, Shiroe soon regains control and begins exploring this new game world. Luckily he gains 2 allies soon – Naotsugu and Akatsuki. Being a master strategist, Shiroe engages in smart negotiations and does his best to bring peace to the virtual city of Akihabara.

 

The anime Log Horizon is based on a Japanese novel series written by Mamare Touno and illustrated by Kazuhiro Hara. The show first aired on 5th October 2013. It has 3 total seasons, the first 2 seasons have 25 episodes each and the final one has a total of 13 seasons.

 

 

24. Yona of the Dawn

 

 

Yona of the Dawn tells a brilliant story of a naive princess’ journey toward maturity. The story begins in the kingdom of Kouka. The kingdom is blessed with a beautiful and innocent princess who brings joy to everyone who comes across her.

 

However, happiness does not last long. Soon a heinous act of treason forces the princess to flee her own kingdom. The Princess, Yona, thus sets on a journey toward power and maturity so that one day she can take back the kingdom that was forcibly taken from her.

 

No longer just a naïve princess, the only person she has by her side is her childhood friend and bodyguard Son Hak. The anime is based on the Yona of the Dawn manga series written by Mizuho Kusanagi and first aired on 7th October 2014.

 

It has a single season with 24 episodes and 3 additional OVAs.

 

 

25. Rurouni Kenshin

 

 

Rurouni Kenshin shows an assassin’s journey toward redemption. The story is set in the Meiji Era of Japan, around the time of the Japanese Civil War. The anime is also often referred to by its alternate title Samurai X.

 

The main character of the story is a samurai named Himura Kenshin. After having taken multiple lives during his time as an assassin from the Bakumatsu, Himura eventually decided to change his way of life completely.

 

From being a former assassin, he turned into a noble samurai. He became a wandering swordsman who dedicated himself solely to protecting the people of Japan. During his travels, Kenshin stumbles across a martial arts school where he makes new acquaintances.

 

The story has been adapted from the Rurouni Kenshin manga series, written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki. The anime was first aired on 25th August 2012. It has a total of three seasons; the first season has 27 episodes; the second one has 35, and the third season has a total of 33 episodes.

 

 

26. Pokemon

 

 

One of the most popular works of animation ever created, there is hardly any person who has not heard of the name Pokemon. Unlike most anime, Pokemon is not based on any manga or light novel series; it is based on a game by the name of “Pocket Monsters”.

 

It is undeniable that it is probably one of the longest anime adventures that we have seen on screen but its brilliance lies in the fact that it remains memorable to this date.

 

In Pokemon, we see the story of a young boy named Ash Ketchum who dreams of becoming a Pokemon master someday. On his quest, he meets some close friends and numerous rivals whom he must defeat in Pokemon Battles.

 

The series started airing in 1997 and is still ongoing. The series currently has over 1000 episodes.

 

 

27. Cowboy Bebop

 

 

This anime tells an epic sci-fi adventure story, spread across galaxies. The plot essentially focuses on a duo of bounty hunters who travel around in their spaceship named Bebop to fight crime and bring criminals to justice.

 

The anime is set in 2071, a future where humanity has expanded across galaxies and human civilization can be found on multiple different planets. However, these human societies on different planets are plagued by all kinds of criminals.

 

Therefore, there has also been a rise in the number of bounty hunters who put such criminals to justice. The protagonist Spike and his companion Jet Black are two bounty hunters who make a living out of capturing and putting criminals to justice.

 

In their lawful adventure across space, they encounter numerous new allies and are faced with various difficult choices. Hajime Yatate is the author behind the story of this brilliant anime that first aired on 3rd April 1998.

 

The anime has one season with a total of 26 episodes.

 

 

28. Samurai Champloo

 

 

Another historical anime, Samurai Champloo explores the adventures of two rogue swordsmen and a young waitress in the Edo period of Japan. The trio meets in an eating establishment where the waitress Fuu was being harassed by a group of samurai.

 

She is saved by two swordsmen – Mugen and Jin. When Mugen observes Jin’s fighting skills, he is impressed and attacks him, considering him to be a worthy opponent. Their confrontation ultimately leads to the death of the magistrate’s son.

 

To pay for their crime, both Mugen and Jin are sentenced to death. However, Fuu somehow manages to rescue them on the condition that they will help her in her search for a samurai who smells of sunflowers.

 

This anime is based on a manga by Masaru Gotsubo and first aired on television on 14th May 2005. The anime only has a single season consisting of 26 episodes.

 

 

29. Parasyte: The Maxim

 

 

The story of this anime takes us to a dystopian scenario where a race of aliens called Parasytes has invaded the Earth. Just like any parasitic creature, these alien life forms take over their human hosts by entering through openings on their bodies such as ears or nose.

 

The same was about to happen to protagonist Shinichi Izumi when a Parasyte tried to crawl inside him through his ears. But he was somehow saved because he was wearing headphones.

 

Nevertheless, the Parasyte still managed to take over his right arm. However, Shinichi somehow managed to keep it out of its brain and thus both organisms retained their separate personalities.

 

Initially a disadvantageous situation, Shinichi soon realizes that his fusion with the Parasyte might aid his survival in this new, dystopian world. The anime is based on a science-fiction and horror manga by Hitoshi Iwaaki and first aired on October 9th, 2014.

 

It has a single season with 24 episodes.

 

 

30. Howl’s Moving Castle

 

 

One of the most popular movies from the Studio Ghibli franchise, Howl’s Moving Castle first aired on 20th November 2004 and has a total runtime of 1 hour and 59 minutes.

 

It explores the adventurous story of a wizard and his beloved in a world fraught with magic, witches, and curses. One of the main characters, Sophie, initially leads quite a dull life.

 

However, it takes a drastic turn when she encounters a young wizard named Howl. Howl is not only a capable wizard but also lives in a magical, moving castle. As Sophie and Howl grow closer, they begin to develop feelings for each other.

 

However, the jealousy of an evil witch gets in their way. Upset with the budding relationship that was forming between Howl and Sophie, the witch puts a curse on Sophie that makes her age prematurely.

 

Howl must now find a way to reverse the witch’s curse and return Sophie to her former youthful state.

 

 

31. Mushi-shi

 

 

The anime Mushi-shi is based on an award-winning Japanese manga by the same name and its author and illustrator is Yuki Urushibara. It is a curious anime with a unique plotline.

 

It explores the existence of certain creatures called the ‘Mushi’ in the fantastical world of anime. These Mushi do not display any specific goal or purpose in life but are capable of emulating certain aspects and phenomena of the natural world such as – plants, rainbows, diseases, etc.

 

Since the Mushi’s existence is not widespread knowledge, hardly any concrete information is available about them. However, this does not stop the protagonist Ginko. Ginko has dedicated his life to uncovering the meaning behind and significance of these life forms.

 

He travels around the world and his adventures often include helping people with certain supernatural, Mushi-related problems while he continues his research on them. The anime first aired on 22nd October 2005 and has a total of 2 seasons.

 

The first season consists of 26 episodes and the second is shorter with a total of 20 episodes.

 

 

32. Gurren Lagann

 

 

In the world of Gurren Lagann, humanity is no longer allowed to exist on the surface of the Earth. Under the rule of the being called Spiral King, the majority of the human race has been forced to live in isolated subterranean villages.

 

The story focuses on the journey of 2 young boys, Simon and Kamina, who were born in a subterranean village. Kamina is a free-spirited fiery personality whereas Simon is more on the timid side.

 

One day these boys are able to uncover an ancient war relic with which they fend off a surprise attack from the surface aided by a fiery redhead named Yoko Littner.

 

Simon and Kamina are finally able to reach the surface where they set off on a deadly adventure alongside Yoko. The trio explores the surface wastelands trying to save the remaining humans left there from the terror of the gunmen.

 

This popular mecha anime has been animated by Gainax Studio and co-produced by Aniplex and Konami. The story of this show has been written by Kazuki Nakashima and its illustrations were done by Kotaro Mori.

 

It first aired on 1st April 2007 and has a single season with a total of 27 episodes.

 

 

33. Claymore

 

 

The story of Claymore takes place in a world threatened by demonic creatures called the Youma. One of the main characters of this anime, Raki, faces an immense tragedy when his entire family is killed by the Youma but he is saved just in the nick of time by a Claymore by the name of Clare.

 

Claymores are a unique species of half-human, half-yoma characters who have supposedly been created for the sole purpose of exterminating the Yoma. Even though Raki’s life is saved, his troubles do not end.

 

He is banished from home and with nowhere else to go, he settles on following Clare on her journey. The main plot of the anime revolves around this curious duo travelling from town to town, exterminating the deadly Youma.

 

In the course of their noble adventure, we get to learn more about Clare, her organization, her fellow warriors, and her strong desire for vengeance against one particular Yoma. The anime is based on the Claymore manga series, written and illustrated by Norihiro Yagi.

 

It first aired on 3rd April 2007 and has a single season with a total of 26 episodes.

 

 

34. Sword Art Online

 

 

Adapted from a Japanese light novel series by Reki Kawahara, the story of Sword Art Online takes place in a virtual game world. In the world of Sword Art Online, an innovative invention called the NerveGear granted all gamers the luxury of a completely immersive gaming experience where they could physically be a part of the game’s virtual world.

 

Sword Art Online or SAO is initially just a video game that takes its gamers to the beautiful medieval world of Aincrad where imagination has no limits. However, things soon turn ugly when thousands of gamers are forcefully trapped in this virtual world as the log-out option is suddenly removed by the game’s creators.

 

Those trapped only have a single way to escape – they must defeat all the challenging 100 levels within the game and emerge as the final victor. Another fearful twist is the fact that death within the game would mean death in real life too.

 

SAO first aired on television on 7th July 2012. The anime has 3 seasons of uneven length. The first season has 25 episodes, the second has 24, and the third season is the longest with a total of 47 episodes.

 

 

35. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation

 

 

A 34-year-old shut-in who is filled with sorrow and social failure is given a second shot at life in Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation.

 

He is reincarnated as Rudeus Greyrat in a mystical realm. Rudeus, an adult with a child’s body and mentality, is faced with the difficulties of beginning afresh despite his wealth of knowledge and experience.

 

The idea investigates themes of second chances, self-improvement, and atonement. Rudeus, troubled by his previous transgressions, makes an effort to atone for them in this new existence.

 

He navigates his new world’s complex social dynamics and magical complexities while wrestling with his own weaknesses.

 

 

36. Kino no Tabi: The Beautiful World

 

 

Kino no Tabi is a truly adventurous story with a 15-year-old protagonist named Kino who is a traveller and explorer at heart. Whenever she is bogged down by heavy thoughts, Kino finds solace in travelling.

 

The story of this anime follows Kino’s adventures through strange and beautiful lands as she comes across the various types of people that live there. She only has one rule; she must never stay in a single place for more than three days.

 

Kino is accompanied by a sentient bicycle named Hermes who accompanies her through all the sorrows and hardships that she faces in her adventure of exploring different lands. Though courteous with a cute and pleasing appearance, Kino is far from being helpless.

 

She carries with her two trusty handguns and will not shy away from even killing someone if they try to get in her way. Kino no Tabi first aired on 8th April 2003 and is based on Keiichi Sigsawa’s light novel series.

 

It is a short anime and has a total of 13 episodes.

 

 

37. Kiki’s Delivery Service

 

 

Kiki’s Delivery Service shows the adventures of a young, 13-year-old witch, named Kiki that begins after she moves into a seaside town. It is her village’s tradition that whenever a young witch turns 13, they must go settle in another city to finish their witches’ studies.

 

However, she is not alone, she is accompanied by her talking cat Jiji. In this new seaside town, after learning to fully ride on her broomstick, Kiki opens up a delivery service.

 

By making use of her flying ability, Kiki is able to become an independent member of the community. However, her peace is soon threatened when she suddenly loses her magical powers one day because of her growing self-doubt.

 

Kiki must find a way to trust and have faith in herself again so that she can regain her magical abilities. The animated film Kiki’s Delivery Service has been brought to us by the famous Ghibli studio and the man responsible for it is none other than the renowned Hayao Miyazaki.

 

The film’s total runtime is 1 hour and 42 minutes. One of the oldest anime on our list, this show first aired on 29th July 1989.

 

 

38. Soul Eater

 

 

The story of Soul Eater is set in a fantastical world where Shinigamis, along with their human-hybrid partners, aims to attain the level of the Death Scythe. In the prestigious Death Weapon Meister Academy, headed by Lord Death himself, all students must aim to raise proper Death Scythes so that they can be wielded as a weapon in the favor of the Shinigami race.

 

The human hybrids that the Shinigamis get paired with have the unique ability to change themselves into demon weapons. To make these hybrid humans into proper Death Scythes, they must be allowed to consume the soul of 99 evil beings along with the soul of a witch.

 

Though it is hard to pick the main character in this story as there are 3 main duos whose adventures we can observe and enjoy, a lot of focus is put on the character of Soul Eater Evans.

 

Evans is a fiery Demon Scythe who wishes to become a Death Scythe one day with the help of his meek and honest master Maka Albarn. Soul Eater first aired on 7th April 2008 and the anime is based on Atsushi Okubo’s Soul Eater manga series.

 

The series has a single season with a total of 51 episodes.

 

 

39. Sword Story

 

 

Sword Story is a historical adventure anime that is set in the Edo era of Japan. It follows the adventures of a unique swordsman who doesn’t use a sword and his female companion who is out on an important mission to collect the twelve “Deviant Blades”.

 

Though he fights without a sword, Sichika is a formidable fighter. He is a practitioner of the most unique sword style among the various types of sword styles prevalent in the Edo era.

 

It is called the Kyotouryuu style and Sichika is the seventh head of the Kyoutouryuu school of sword art. Even with the formidable Sichika accompanying Togame, their journey is not an easy one.

 

They meet numerous strong and power-hungry enemies on the way to achieving their goal. The story of this anime is based on the Japanese light novel series by author Nisio Isin.

 

The adaptation of this anime, under White Fox, started airing on January 25th, 2010. The anime, to date, has a single season with a total of 12 episodes.

 

 

40. Dororo

 

 

Dororo is a captivating anime that takes viewers on a dark and compelling journey through feudal Japan. The story centres around Hyakkimaru, a young warrior who embarks on a quest to reclaim his stolen body parts, which were sacrificed to demons by his own father.

 

Accompanied by the resourceful thief, Dororo, Hyakkimaru battles supernatural creatures while uncovering the truth about his past. Fueled by revenge and the desire for redemption, the duo traverses a world filled with moral ambiguity, exploring themes of identity, humanity, and the consequences of one’s choices.

 

With its atmospheric setting, intense action, and deep character development, Dororo offers a haunting and thought-provoking anime experience.

 

 

41. Fate/Zero

 

 

Another one from the Fate franchise, the story of Fate/Zero takes place about a decade before the story of Fate/Stay Night. The protagonist of this series is Shirou Emiya’s guardian and foster father Kiritsugu Emiya.

 

Set in the city of Fuyuki, in this anime we see the events of the 4th Holy Grail War unfold. Kiritsugu Emiya is shown in a more violent light here.

 

He is hired as a representative of the Einzbern family to participate in the war as the family was desperate for a victory after being defeated thrice. Kiritsugu practices his skills in the Einzbern stronghold.

 

The war is a deadly event where Kiritsugu must find a way to win against 6 formidable opponents and emerge victorious. The Fate/Zero anime first aired on October 1st, 2011, and continued till June 23rd, 2012.

 

Created by Gen Urobuchi, this anime has a total of two seasons. The first one contains 13 episodes and the second season has a total of 12 episodes.

 

 

42. KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!

 

 

Shut-in gamer Kazuma Satou dies tragically following an awkward accident. He is offered a second chance in a fictional realm resembling an MMORPG by Aqua, a hot-headed but useless goddess, who revives him.

 

He considers this to be the perfect chance to fulfil his childhood gaming dreams. But when Kazuma has to include the incompetent goddess Aqua, the pyromaniacal archwizard Megumin with anxiety problems, and the masochistic crusader Darkness who prefers suffering to triumph, his dream swiftly turns into a nightmare.

 

With this dysfunctional gang accompanying him, Kazuma’s purported epic quest turns into a hilarious battle for survival against creditors, monsters, and the absurd antics of his own party members.

 

 

43. Fate/Stay Night

 

 

Part of the famous Fate series, the story of Fate/Stay Night follows the adventures of protagonist Shirou Emiya who is forced to enter a dangerous tournament known as the Fifth Holy Grail War.

 

Shirou, orphaned by his family’s death in a mysterious inferno, is saved by Kiritsugu Emiya who teaches him about magic and justice. Shirou thus grows up to be a man with an extremely strong sense of justice which his school friends often took advantage of by assigning him their own chores.

 

One day, while fulfilling such a chore of cleaning the school, Shirou unwillingly becomes a part of the battle between two magical beings known as servants. To save himself from being targeted by one of the servants, he had to summon his own servant – a swordswoman named Saber.

 

These sudden and supernatural events led to his participation in the Fifth Holy Grail War; the prize of winning which is getting the opportunity to get one’s wishes granted by the Holy Grail.

 

Another fairly old release, this anime first aired on 30th January 2004. It is based on the manga by Kinoko Nasu and has a total of 24 episodes.

 

 

44. Bungo Stray Dogs

 

 

Bungo Stray Dogs is a unique anime set in modern-day Japan. It follows the story of protagonist Atsushi who was found on the brink of attempting suicide by Dazai and Kunikida and convinced by them to join the Armed Detective Agency.

 

This agency consisted of individuals with supernatural powers and took up cases that were too difficult and dangerous for the army or the police to handle. The anime shows the main character’s growth through numerous battles and successive adventures as he learns more about himself and the other unique members of the agency.

 

The names of the characters in the anime are all based on real people, mainly authors. The anime in general has a whimsical and fun nature despite its dark and serious plot that can easily move its audience.

 

The anime first came out on 7th April 2016. Its story has been based on the manga series written by Kafka Asagiri. It has 3 seasons in total. The first and the third season have a total of 13 episodes while the second season has 12 episodes.

 

 

45. D. Gray-man

 

 

The story of D. Gray-man is set in a fictional 19th century where the race of humans is facing the immense threat of The Earl of Millennium who plans to destroy the whole of humanity using his army of Akumas.

 

The protagonist, Allen Walker, joins an organization called the Black Order whose main aim is to counter the Earl’s destructive plan. As an exorcist of the Black Order, Allen and his comrades fight numerous deadly battles and become part of thrilling adventures as they fight off the Earl’s vicious army.

 

The anime has been adapted from the manga D. Gray-man, written and illustrated by Japanese manga artist Katsura Hoshino. The anime was officially aired on television on 3rd October 2006.

 

The anime has a total of 2 seasons. The first season airs episodes 1 to 51 and the second season is a direct continuation airing episodes 52 to 103.

 

 

46. Made in Abyss

 

 

Made in Abyss follows the adventure of protagonist Riko through the “Abyss” to uncover its many secrets and possibly find her mother. The “Abyss” in this anime refers to an unexplored place on Earth in the depths of which lie numerous mysteries along with fascinating magical creatures.

 

The adventurers who dare to delve into the Abyss to explore its many mysteries are called “Delvers”. Riko’s mom was one such delver. The orphan, Riko, has always been extremely interested in the various mysteries that lay hidden in the Abyss.

 

With a friendly robot along her side, whom she met while exploring one of the caves, Riko too takes a journey through the Abyss to see its mysteries with her own eyes.

 

Based on the manga written and illustrated by Japanese manga artist Akihito Tsukushi, this anime first aired on 7th July 2017. It has 2 seasons and 3 separate films. The first season has a total of 13 episodes, the second season is very short with a total of 3 episodes only.

 

 

47. Berserk

 

 

Berserk follows protagonist Guts as he embarks on an epic adventure fraught with deadly danger. Once a part of the mercenary group called the “Band of Hawk”, Guts was betrayed by the leader of this very group with whom he was close allies.

 

Consumed by his relentless greed for power the leader of the “Band of Hawk”, Griffith, sacrificed his followers to attain the power of the God Hand and fulfill his desire of ruling a kingdom of his own.

 

Even though Guts was able to escape the “Eclipse’ ritual of Griffith, he was not completely spared. He and his lover Casca were branded with a mark that attracted evil, restless spirits, or other similarly ghastly entities.

 

Guts, therefore, was forced to set out on a dangerous adventure to find a way to defeat Griffith while also battling the malevolent forces attracted by his curse mark. The anime was first aired on television on 27th October 2016.

 

It was adapted from the Japanese manga by Kentaro Miura. The anime has 2 complete seasons with a total of 12 episodes in each season.

 

 

48. Spice and Wolf

 

 

Spice and Wolf is set in a time that appears similar to the Middle Ages in Europe. It follows the adventures of a peddler named Kraft Lawrence and a pagan deity called Holo as they both seek each other’s help to attain their goals.

 

Holo is known to be the deity of harvest but when the town she was in charge of became self-sufficient, she felt like she was no longer needed and convinced Lawrence to take her to her homeland in the North, Yoitsu.

 

Lawrence agrees to take her in exchange for her help with his business. Initially, a deity with a good understanding of people, Holo is a great help to Lawrence’s business.

 

But as her nature is more and more revealed, numerous troubles follow. The anime has been adapted from a Japanese light novel series with the same name. It was written by Isuna Hasekura and illustrated by artist Ju Ayakura.

 

The anime first came out on 10th July 2006. It has 2 complete seasons. The first season has 13 episodes, the second season has 12, and an extra episode, in the beginning, termed Episode 0. It also has 2 additional ‘specials’ episodes.

 

 

49. Dr. Stone

 

 

Dr. Stone is an epic sci-fi fantasy adventure that is both a source of entertainment and learning. The story begins with a mysterious flash petrifying every living creature on Earth and turning them to stone.

 

Humanity stayed in that state for years until protagonist Senku is finally revived and finds himself in a world where all traces of human civilization has completely eroded. He must now find a way to un-petrify and revive the others and find out the mystery behind the flash that turned all living things to stone.

 

The anime follows Senku as he used his brilliant scientific mind to rebuild some of the greatest human inventions and survive this new and harsh world. This anime has been adapted from a Japanese manga series written by Riichiro Inagaki and its story has been illustrated by a South Korean artist named Bolchi.

 

The anime first aired on television on 5th July 2019. To date, it has a total of 2 seasons. The first season has 24 episodes and the second season is much shorter with a total of 11 episodes only.

 

 

50. Vinland Saga

 

 

Vinland Saga is set in the age of the mighty Vikings. However, it is not just any conventional Viking revenge story, the plot of this anime is filled with unconventional twists.

 

It is a story of a historical adventure that follows the life of protagonist Thorfinn. Thorfinn lives in an age where the world is fraught with wars and the Vikings act as mercenaries of war who join whichever side they please so that they can make a maximum profit off of the waging war.

 

However, Thorfinn has other plans. Even though he is caught in-between violent wars, his one true goal remains to find his father’s assassin and avenge his death. This epic adventure anime first aired on 8th July 2019.

 

It is based on the manga written and illustrated by Makoto Yukimura. Currently, the anime has a single season with a total of 24 episodes.