Top 25 Most Popular Angel Anime Of All Time

Neon Genesis Evangelion stands as one of the most iconic anime series, renowned for its intense psychological drama, supernatural elements, and apocalyptic themes.

First released on October 4, 1995, the series was directed by Hideaki Anno. The story centers on Shinji Ikari, a teenage boy recruited by his estranged father, Gendo, to join a covert organization called Nerv.

Nerv tasks Shinji with piloting a biomechanical robot known as an Evangelion, whose purpose is to defend humanity by battling against mysterious entities called Angels.

Beyond its compelling depiction of angels and epic battles, Evangelion is celebrated for its rich characterization, intricate plot, striking design, and lasting influence on the anime industry.

Originally titled The Haibanes of Old Home, Haibane Renmei premiered in 2002 on Animax Asia, directed by Tomokazu Tokoro. The anime adapts a manga series written by Yoshitoshi ABe, who also penned the script for the show.

The story centers on a nameless girl who descends from the sky and finds herself in a mysterious, unfamiliar world where no one recognizes her. This enigmatic land is home to angelic beings called Ash Wings, who coexist peacefully with the town's human residents.

The girl is soon given the name Rakka. As she grows, she develops wings and a halo, officially becoming one of the Ash Wings. The narrative delves deeper as Rakka discovers that life in this strange place is not as simple as it first appeared.

Haibane Renmei is known for its slow pacing, which may not appeal to everyone. However, its profound philosophical themes set it apart, making the series special and memorable for many viewers.

While Dragon Ball is best known for its blend of fantasy, adventure, and martial arts, many overlook its unique take on angelic figures in later story arcs. 

Angel themes enter the story with the introduction of Whis, the angelic attendant and martial arts master to Beerus, the God of Destruction. Whis embodies classic angelic traits, including calmness, politeness, and immense power, alongside a humorous obsession with food. 

Though the series initially focuses on Goku—a seemingly ordinary boy engaged in extraordinary quests—these angelic characters gradually assume pivotal roles, especially in Dragon Ball Super. 

As the narrative evolves, the significance of angels grows, making them an appealing and dynamic aspect for fans, and adding another engaging layer to the Dragon Ball universe. 

As its name suggests, Angel Beats! masterfully weaves angelic themes with a touch of fantasy. From main characters like Kanade Tachibana to a vibrant supporting cast, the series is deeply rooted in its ethereal motifs throughout.

The story unfolds in a high school situated in the afterlife—a limbo for those who have endured significant trauma or hardship in their previous lives. This unique setting adds depth and intrigue to the narrative.

To move forward, these souls must confront and overcome their past struggles in order to be reincarnated. The plot centers on Yuzuru Otonashi, a boy suffering from amnesia who suddenly finds himself in this mysterious afterlife school.

Otonashi awakens with no memories of his previous life and is quickly approached by Yuri Nakamura, drawing him into the world’s deeper mysteries. Their journey explores themes of acceptance, friendship, and redemption.

This heartfelt series deserves more recognition within the anime community. If you haven't experienced Angel Beats! yet, it's time to discover the beauty and emotional depth it brings to the genre.

"Kobato." is an enchanting anime that first aired on October 6, 2009, with the English adaptation broadcast on the Anime Network. The series centers on the charming and innocent Kobato, and offers viewers a heartwarming journey through her extraordinary mission.

Directed by Mitsuyuki Masuhara and written by Yukiyoshi Ohkawa and Sumisawa Yokote, the story follows Kobato, a kind-hearted girl who must fill a magical bottle with the healed hearts of those she helps. She faces the additional challenge of completing this task within a specific timeframe.

Throughout her journey, Kobato is accompanied by Ioryogi, a spirited companion in the form of a talking dog. Ioryogi assists her as part of a penance he must serve for misdeeds committed in the spiritual realm.

Guided by Ioryogi's wisdom, Kobato strives to heal others, not only helping those in need but also granting Ioryogi a chance to reclaim his true form and reunite with his friends. Their story beautifully blends magical elements, heartfelt emotion, and lessons about compassion.

"Sailor Moon" is a beloved anime that embodies the magical girl genre, centering on the character Usagi Tsukino. As the series progresses, Usagi often takes on an angelic appearance, especially during her transformations, evoking a celestial aura that adds to her charm.

Despite the angelic themes, Usagi’s costume with wings sometimes creates challenges for her, showcasing her humanity alongside her powers. The story follows Usagi, an ordinary middle school student who discovers her destiny as a Sailor Soldier.

She gains incredible powers, soon joining forces with other Sailor Soldiers to protect Earth from dangerous villains. Beyond the battles, the series delves into Usagi’s personal growth, exploring her journey from an emotional teenager to a responsible leader.

"Sailor Moon" has had a lasting impact on the anime world, standing as a must-watch classic that continues to inspire. While newer audiences may not be as familiar with its legacy, it remains a timeless story worthy of rediscovery.

Released in October 2010, Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt is a dynamic action-comedy anime following the chaotic adventures of the Anarchy sisters, Panty and Stocking.

Once angels, they were cast out of heaven due to their misbehavior and now reside in Daten City, a unique realm situated between Heaven and Hell that functions much like purgatory.

Seeking refuge under the guidance of Garterbelt, the sisters are tasked with eliminating Ghosts and evil spirits. Using their supernatural ability to transform lingerie into powerful weapons, they take on these bizarre missions.

As they successfully defeat these entities, they earn Heaven Coins—the currency that gives them a chance to buy their way back home and regain their place in heaven.

Directed by Shigehito Takayanagi, "The World God Only Knows" expertly blends comedy, harem, and supernatural elements alongside a compelling dose of romance. The story centers on Keima Katsuragi, a high schooler obsessed with the world of 2D dating sims and digital girlfriends.

Keima's life takes an unexpected turn when he replies to a mysterious email, unwittingly binding himself to a contract with Elsie, a demon from hell.

Now forced to help Elsie recapture wayward souls that have escaped from the underworld, Keima must win the hearts of real-life girls to fill the voids left by these souls—a task he dreads as much as he finds it unfamiliar.

Failure isn't an option; if Keima can't fulfill his mission, a magical collar around his neck threatens to end his life in a deadly explosion.

With a MyAnimeList score of 7.63, 'Shingeki no Bahamut: Genesis' stands out for its captivating story and dynamic blend of adventure, fantasy, mythology, and action themes.

The story is set a thousand years in the past, when an ancient dragon named Bahamut threatened to destroy the land of Mistarcia.

Mistarcia is a unique world where gods and demons coexist with humanity. To protect their realm, both factions joined forces to seal Bahamut, splitting the key to his prison between them to ensure he could never escape again.

The narrative then moves to the present, following Favaro, whose ordinary life plunges into chaos after meeting a mysterious woman carrying the key that could once again bring about the world's destruction.

"Gabriel DropOut" premiered on January 9th, 2017, featuring 12 episodes. Directed by Masahiko Ohta and written by Takashi Aoshima, this comedic series quickly gained popularity for its fresh take on the angel genre.

The anime is available through the English network Animax Asia. Its story revolves around angels who, after nearly finishing school in heaven, are sent to Earth to learn firsthand about humanity.

These angels are tasked with guiding humans toward the right path to achieve true angel status. The central character, Gabriel White, stands out as one of the top angels in her class.

However, after arriving on Earth, Gabriel becomes hooked on video games, transforming into a hilariously lazy slacker instead of fulfilling her duties.

The narrative also introduces colorful characters like Vignette April, Satanichia McDowell, Raphiel Ainsworth, and others—fellow celestial beings who join Gabriel on Earth, each with their own quirks and reasons for being there.

High School DxD stands out as one of the most entertaining angel-themed dramas, skillfully blending comedy with supernatural elements.

This popular anime is adapted from a light novel series by Ichiei Ishibumi, which originally ran from September 2008 to March 2018.

The story follows Issei Hyodo, a high school student at Kuoh Academy with dreams of becoming a harem king. His life takes a tragic turn when his very first date, a fallen angel, kills him unexpectedly.

Issei is then revived by Rias Gremory, a devil princess, who makes him her servant in exchange for his second chance at life. As he serves Rias and her family, a complex and intriguing relationship develops between them, bringing both risk and excitement to the story.

This connection dramatically impacts Issei and entangles him with both fallen angels and devils. Renowned for its engaging storyline and unique cultural influence, High School DxD delivers much more than just supernatural battles.

Although the show’s appeal goes far beyond its angelic themes, it is a must-watch for anyone seeking a rich and multifaceted narrative with plenty of thrilling twists.

Directed by Gorō Taniguchi, Maria the Virgin Witch delivers a delightful blend of comedy and historical fantasy, fitting perfectly with the angelic themes of this list.

Set during France’s tumultuous Hundred Years’ War, the story follows Maria, renowned as one of the most powerful witches of her time.

Amid the chaos, Maria uses her remarkable powers to influence battles, aiming to preserve peace and help those most in need.

Though she earns the gratitude of villagers and even church members, Maria also endures mockery for her virginity.

The plot deepens when the Archangel Michael appears, objecting to Maria’s involvement in human conflicts and imposing strict conditions on her powers.

It is eventually revealed that if Maria loses her virginity, she will be stripped of her magic—prompting the angel Ezekiel to keep close watch and pass judgment on her actions.

Combining action, science fiction, and supernatural elements, Daughters of Mnemosyne seamlessly integrates angelic themes into its storyline. Premiering on February 3, 2008, the series was directed by Shigeru Ueda and written by Hiroshi Ōnogi.

The narrative centers around Rin Asogi, who operates a private investigation agency. Her cases are diverse, ranging from tracking down rare stamps to locating missing pets.

Despite her attempts to lead an ordinary life, Rin is repeatedly drawn into unusual situations that uncover parts of her mysterious past—and her puzzling immortality.

With a perfect blend of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and suspenseful action, this anime delivers a gripping and mysterious experience for viewers.

Also known as Lost Property of the Sky, this anime is based on the manga of the same name, written and illustrated by Suu Minazuki.

The story follows Tomoki Sakurai, a mischievous and often perverted teen who longs for a quiet, peaceful life. What makes this series truly angelic is Tomoki's recurring dream of meeting an angel—an event that changes everything.

One day, something mysteriously falls from the sky: a beautiful, winged girl named Ikaros appears, hailing from the unknown world of Synapse.

Ikaros proclaims herself as Tomoki’s servant, and soon after, even more angelic beings descend to Earth, turning Tomoki’s search for peace upside down.

Despite the chaos, Tomoki finds unexpected joy in the magical and often comical situations brought by the angels as they confront forces threatening the world.

Genesis of Aquarion is a thrilling mecha anime series that premiered in 2005. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the story centers on humanity's struggle against the Shadow Angels—mysterious beings intent on eradicating the last remnants of civilization.

The narrative follows a courageous group of young pilots with the unique ability to control the legendary mecha, Aquarion. As they band together, they must confront their personal destinies while harnessing the forces of love and unity to unlock Aquarion’s true power and defend humanity’s future.

Blending exhilarating mecha combat, rich mythology, and emotional themes of love and fate, "Genesis of Aquarion" offers an engaging and visually spectacular experience for fans of the genre.

D.N.Angel is an exhilarating action-adventure anime that follows the unexpected journey of Daisuke Niwa, an ordinary teenager whose life takes a dramatic turn on his 14th birthday. A mysterious phenomenon completely upends his world and sets the stage for extraordinary challenges.

Struggling with his feelings for his longtime crush, Daisuke attempts to confess but is thwarted by a bizarre twist: whenever he thinks about her, he transforms into the infamous phantom thief, Dark Mousy.

To protect himself and those around him, Daisuke keeps his dual identity a secret, doing everything he can to avoid being caught by the authorities. His only hope for returning to normal lies in earning the affection of the girl he loves.

Beyond its captivating romance, D.N.Angel stands out for its unique angelic theme and memorable cast of characters, including Sue Mitama, Chidori Hyappo, Manami, and more.

True to its title, 'Ayashi no Ceres' delves into celestial and supernatural themes. Also known as 'The Mystery of Ceres,' this anime was directed by Hajime Kamegaki and written by Yukiyoshi Ōhashi, weaving a story rich in myth and drama.

The story centers around Aya, who discovers on her 16th birthday that she is the reincarnation of Ceres, a powerful ancient celestial maiden. This revelation sets her on a journey filled with both wonder and peril.

Aya’s twin brother, Aki, is the reincarnation of Mikagi, Ceres' mortal husband. To protect Aki, Aya must search for the lost celestial robe while fending off family members who exploit Ceres' powers for their own gain. The series explores themes of destiny, sacrifice, and the enduring bonds between siblings.

Premiering on April 7, 2022 and produced by Broccoli, 'Pita Ten' beautifully blends elements of fantasy, romance, and comedy.

This anime follows the story of Kotaro, challenging traditional notions of angels by featuring mischievous characters such as Shia and Misha.

Kotaro is an ordinary boy focused on his studies, yet he manages to enjoy life alongside his friends.

Unexpectedly, his life takes a turn when a lively girl named Misha arrives at his doorstep, eager to become his friend.

Misha is an angel whose behavior is far from perfect, shaking up Kotaro's world in unexpected ways. Alongside them, characters like Koboshi, Takashi, and the devilish angel Shia embark on various adventures and face challenges throughout the series.

Blending classic angelic themes with elements of mystery, fantasy, and the supernatural, this anime offers a captivating look into the hidden side of city life.

Among the best in the angel-anime genre, the story follows rookie civil servant Arata Miyako, who is assigned to the Nighttime Regional Relations Department.

Arata is transferred to a prominent Tokyo branch to investigate unusual supernatural or paranormal occurrences.

Gifted with a rare ability known as the Ears of Sand, Miyako can understand languages of nonhuman beings—entities known as Anothers—allowing him to forge unique connections with the city's hidden residents.

Steel Angel Kurumi is an action-packed comedy anime that first aired on October 5, 1999, spanning 24 episodes. Its success led to a second season, which premiered on April 12, 2001.

The story follows a young boy named Nakahito Kagura. His adventure begins when his classmates dare him to enter the mysterious home of a reputed mad scientist.

Inside, Nakahito discovers a lifelike doll. At that moment, the house comes under attack from the Japanese Army, throwing him into chaos.

During the attack, the doll falls onto Nakahito, resulting in an accidental kiss. This unintended moment awakens the doll as Kurumi, a steel angel who quickly becomes the target of a mysterious military pursuit.

A dark comedy called Bludgeoning Angel Dokuro-chan is based on a light novel written by Masaki Okayu. The story is of a boy named Sakura Kusakabe and an angel called Dokuro.

Like most of the other angels, Dokuro also uses her magical power to turn humans into animals. She is more like a sadistic person who loves to see people in trouble and torture them.

Due to her sadistic nature, she always carries a spiked metal bat to beat people to death. However, the same bat was used by her to revive these dead people into life.

The protagonist Sakura is one of these people who is getting killed and come back to life again and again by Dokuro.

Apart from Dokura, many other angels are planning to kill him but without any intention to revive him.

An anime with the theme of a slice of life and supernatural comedies is what A Centaur's Life is.

It came under the writer Touko Machida on 9 July 2017 among audiences with diversity in characters. The story takes place in a world that is different from what we are living in today because of evolution.

It has resulted in many mythological creatures like demons, centaurs, satyrs, mermaids, and many more that are taking the space of humans in society.

The protagonist of A Centaur's Life is Himeno Kimihara, a centaur. The story deals with daily life among her family and friends.

Apart from her, other characters like Gokuraku, Manami, Naraku, and Akechi go in the story around the lead.

Under the pen of Mari Okada and the direction of Kazuhiro Ochi, Angel Tales was released on 4 October 2001 followed by the second season on 6 March 2003.

This anime fits well under the theme of angels because of angelic characters like Mika (a rabbit angel), Yuki (a snake angel), Ayumi (a turtle angel), Kurumi (a hamster angel), and many more.

It is about Gorō Mutsumi, a man of no luck, whose life changes when he meets a fortune teller who informs him about his future and does a unique kind of spell on his cell phone that gives him allowance for his guardian angels to appear in reality.

These Guardian Angels came from a different world with reincarnation in animals who once were taken care of by Gorō.

Now, these Angels or animals want to show their gratitude in different forms by protecting him.

Saint Beast: Seijuu Kourin-hen is a fantasy anime series that aired in 2005. The story is set in a heavenly realm known as the Saint Beast world, where divine beings known as Holy Beasts reside.

However, a great disturbance occurs when the Seal of the Underworld is broken, causing chaos and threatening the balance between good and evil. The series follows the adventures of a group of young Saint Beasts as they strive to restore peace and harmony to their world.

With themes of friendship, loyalty, and overcoming adversity, "Saint Beast: Seijuu Kourin-hen" combines action, drama, and supernatural elements. The series showcases the unique powers and personalities of the characters, highlighting their growth and development throughout their quest.

With its visually appealing animation and intriguing storyline, the anime offers an engaging experience for fans of fantasy and adventure genres.

Based on a novel named Colorful by Eto Mori, the anime was released on 21 August 2010 under the direction of Keiichi Hara.

It is a fantasy drama that has the theme of rebirth, inhabiting, life hardships, and most importantly, the angels.

The story is about the ordinary struggles of humans and the way they handle situations that take too long to solve.

It is about a soul that gets into the body of a victim name Makoto, a 14-year-old kid who committed suicide.

He saw the world as black and white but forgot that it has different shades of different colors. The soul is there to get into the existence of Makoto and solves two mysteries: (1) What led Makoto to commit suicide? (2) What were the sins he committed in his previous life?

As the story goes on the answers reveal, however, the time of soul in the body of Makoto started running out.