A classic of the medium through and through, Cowboy Bebop merges an irresistible sense of style with nuanced characters, smooth animation and an unforgettable soundtrack to create one of anime's very best offerings.
Meticulously animated and thematically engrossing, Akira is a complex, riveting and relentless sci-fi epic that rightfully earned its legacy as a landmark in animation.
Psycho-Pass: The Movie is a solid return to form for the Psycho-Pass franchise with its thoughtful writing and rich world-building, even if it ultimately doesn't shake up the central narrative in a noticeable way.
Psycho-Pass 2 is not without its moments of brilliance, but a condensed, undercooked story and horrid characterization for the main characters make this season a pale shadow of its acclaimed predecessor, with very little value on its own.
Attack on Titan S3 gloriously delivers on all fronts, with an intriguing story that plays itself out fantastically and never forgets its characters' humanity, and a vivid presentation of frenetic action and somber beauty that puts most of its peers to shame.
Fun and charming, SAO Alternative: Gun Gale Online is an addicting spin-off of the decisive Sword Art Online series with an engaging—if simple—story, entertaining protagonists and long-desired world-building for a neglected setting.
It stumbles out of the gate and doesn't quite make the landing, but SSSS.Gridman's ability to balance campy action and touching character drama make it a worthwhile watch nonetheless.
Armed with a sharp script that explores its characters' moral boundaries and slick animation by Production I.G., Psycho-Pass is a stylish and intelligent crime thriller like nothing else.
Bright, quirky and charming, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is an addicting and rewarding series that always delivers on its fun characters and meticulous world-building, even if its story is lacks some actual weight.
Rather than just using tired old character tropes, Kaguya-Sama wraps them up in a fun, silly premise before adding creative animation and quirky, affable personalities to deliver an effective and satisfying comedy.
Slick, absorbing and intelligent, The Promised Neverland is an excellent thriller boasting an eerie atmosphere and an addicting story filled with multi-layered characters, and it rightfully reigns as the best horror anime in a very long while.
Ambitious and passionate to a tragic fault, Hand Shakers is the unfortunate end result of an experimental series brought down by its lackluster story and disastrous presentation.
With its charming KyoAni aesthetics and heartwarming characters, Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid is a mostly entertaining slice-of-life series with relatable themes and cute - if inconsistent - humor.
Boasting sharp visuals, gorgeous songs and an emotionally intense story, Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale may be far from perfect, but it is stands as a great example of a series determined to constantly improve itself.
Sword Art Online II is held back by familiar problems in both its writing and execution, but the high-flying action and focus on strong characterization nudge the franchise towards the right direction.
A polarizing title with as many fans as detractors, Sword Art Online is powered by stunning visuals and an immersive setting, but bland leads, subpar writing and rushed pacing drag the series down to mediocrity.
Fun, hyperactive and boasting eye-popping animation, Little Witch Academia may not tell the smartest story around, but its endless supply of imagination, sense of adventure and attaching characters are almost peerless in the medium.
Exploding with colorful characters, superb comedic sense and a surprising amount of emotional depth, Zombie Land Saga is a joyous and loving parody of the idol genre that anyone can get into, and it fully deserves of its status as the most popular anime of 2018.
A highly popular and controversial anime series, Goblin Slayer offers a thrilling fantasy ride with its phenomenal protagonist and his lovable party members, although it could definitely use some more flair and passion for its overall presentation.
Underneath its lackluster visuals, Bokurano hides a powerful narrative about sacrifice and the naivety of youth that blends both sorrow and hope in a masterful manner that cements itself as a classic of the anime medium.
Persona 4: The Animation is surprisingly competent and entertaining in its execution, thanks to its affable characters and a high dose of fun. But at times it isn't hard to see that it struggles to cover up its video game heritage.
Dead Apple brings together the characters of Bungo Stray Dogs for an action-packed adventure filled with thrills and great character dynamics between its leads, but its narrative ends up being too complex and ambitious for its own good.
A visual marvel armed with an enthralling and addicting narrative, Unlimited Blade Works is a unique and engaging series that makes its source material and prequel proud, even if some of its story and character bits aren't as polished as its production values.
Elegant, sophisticated and mature, Fate/Zero masterfully builds upon Fate/Stay Night's concept with an intelligent script and spectacular visuals in ways that far surpass its predecessor and allow it to reign as a modern classic of fantasy anime.
Fate/Stay Night is a fascinating series held back by numerous directional and production-related faults, but thanks to its unique and ambitious concept and gorgeous score, it maintains itself as a great introduction into the 'Fate' franchise.
Slow beginning aside, Violet Evergarden is a modern classic that takes emotionally profound stories and human characters before wrapping them in an unforgettable series powered by jaw-dropping visuals and a haunting soundtrack.
Three seasons in and My Hero Academia remains one of the most engaging and entertaining shounen anime in recent years, and not even its slow beginning can deter from the third season's intense story arcs and characters.
Bold and unashamed of its vibrant violence and sexuality, Devilman Crybaby is not for everyone, but those who will choose to check it out will experience a surprisingly complex and thoughtful work with wild aesthetics and merciless execution.
Re:Zero is an intriguing and captivating series that utilizes its time altering element to a great effect, though its main narrative definitely needs some clarity and direction if it wants to be more than mere entertainment.
It has some minor issues, but Nekomonogatari is a wonderfully-written prequel to the Monogatari series that brings together the brisk pacing of Bakemonogatari and the top-notch production values of Nisemonogatari.
Nisemonogatari gathers the lovable characters, witty script and vibrant visuals Bakemonogatari was known for, alongside several new and welcome additions, but it's undeniable that this season is not quite as brilliant as its predecessor was.
It may not be the most straight-forward series, but Bakemonogatari excels at unique, colorful visuals and compelling characters, alongside one of the best scripts executed in the medium that cements it as a high-caliber work.
Darling in the Franxx has some genuinely likable protagonists
With its second season, KonoSuba doesn't shake up its formula much, but thanks to more consistent comedic moments and the usual chemistry of its leads, it provides a hilariously entertaining second round.
While it lacks a hefty budget and is disappointingly short, KonoSuba is a gleefully silly yet endearing parody on Isekai anime with its lively characters and hilarious scenarios.
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress starts off promising enough and is aided by top-notch production values, but its characters are hollowed and its plot quickly devolves into a messy, compressed and uninspired story.
Though it lacks the bombastic direction of season 1's Tetsuro Araki, the second season of Attack on Titan delivers an enthralling story and a slew of well-written characters in a refreshing sense of pace.
Not to be undone by its sheer popularity and hype, Attack on Titan is an addicting anime that packs a dark, engrossing story and jaw-dropping action sequences, though it doesn't always keep a consistent level of quality.
Visually groundbreaking and narratively immersive, Land of the Lustrous is a unique and lavish anime with a charming lead and masterful storytelling that raises the bar significantly for CGI animation.
Its questionable direction and sudden tone swings can be jarring and frustrating, but Bungo Stray Dogs benefits strongly from colorful characters and sheer entertainment value.
Beneath its innocent appearance, Made in Abyss hides a progressively bittersweet story, tangled in a rich and unforgivable setting, and powered by beautiful music and visuals.
Intriguing themes, rich characterization and high production values help make My Hero Academia S2 into one of the most effective and well-executed shounen series in a while.
Though it is merely a prelude to a much larger story, My Hero Academia's first season makes for a solid debut, with relatable leads, frenetic action, and a big heart.