Best Anime Series to Watch in 2026: Top 20 Shows for Beginners and Fans

Anime has grown from a niche interest to one of the dominant entertainment categories in global streaming, with Crunchyroll, Netflix, and other platforms investing billions in both acquiring established franchises and producing original series. The breadth and quality of anime available in 2026 is extraordinary — encompassing deeply emotional character dramas, world-class action animation, thought-provoking science fiction, horror that rivals the best live-action offerings, and comedies that can be as clever and laugh-out-loud funny as anything produced in any medium.

Whether you are discovering anime for the first time and want guidance on where to start, or are an established fan looking for recommendations beyond the mainstream hits you have already seen, this guide of 20 exceptional series provides an accessible, genuinely useful roadmap to the best of the medium. Each entry includes a brief synopsis, why it is worth watching, and the ideal type of viewer it suits best.

Best Anime for Absolute Beginners

If you are new to anime and not sure where to start, these series offer the most accessible entry points — either through familiar genre conventions, universal storytelling that does not require prior anime knowledge, or exceptional production quality that immediately demonstrates the medium’s potential.

1. Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin)

Attack on Titan remains the single best entry point into anime for Western viewers because its premise — humanity surviving behind enormous walls to escape Titan giants who devour humans — reads like premium fantasy drama from the first episode. The series delivers genuine shock, grief, moral complexity, and geopolitical depth on a scale that rivals the best dramatic television of any kind. The final season’s revelations recontextualize everything that came before in ways that reward rewatching the entire series. Available on Crunchyroll and Funimation. 4 seasons, completed.

2. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Consistently ranked as one of the greatest anime series ever made, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood follows two brothers who attempt to resurrect their dead mother using alchemy, pay a terrible price, and are drawn into a conspiracy threatening millions of lives. The series achieves extraordinary balance: simultaneously funny and heartbreaking, action-packed and philosophically rich, with one of anime’s most satisfying conclusions. An ideal gateway series for viewers who value plot payoff and emotional character development. 64 episodes, completed. Available on Crunchyroll and Netflix.

3. Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba)

Demon Slayer is arguably the most visually spectacular anime series ever produced. Studio Ufotable’s animation quality — particularly during action sequences — genuinely exceeds most theatrical animated films in technical achievement. The story of a kind-hearted boy becoming a demon slayer to save his demonized sister is emotionally accessible, and the supporting cast is uniformly beloved by audiences worldwide. For viewers drawn to anime primarily by its visual potential, Demon Slayer is the perfect showcase. Ongoing, Season 4. Available on Crunchyroll.

4. My Hero Academia (Boku no Hero Academia)

Set in a world where most people possess superpowers called Quirks and professional heroes are celebrity figures, My Hero Academia follows a powerless boy who inherits the greatest hero’s ability and enters the most prestigious hero training school. The series functions as a deeply felt love letter to the superhero genre with its own rich ensemble of characters, emotional storytelling, and thrillingly choreographed superpowered battles. An excellent choice for Marvel and DC fans. Available on Crunchyroll.

Best Ongoing Anime Series in 2026

These series are actively airing new episodes or returning for highly anticipated seasons in 2026, offering the added excitement of real-time community discussion and episode-by-episode anticipation.

5. Jujutsu Kaisen

MAPPA Studio’s flagship series continues to raise the technical ceiling of action animation with each new arc. Following Yuji Itadori after he swallows a cursed finger and becomes host to the most powerful curse in history, the series combines visceral, inventive battle sequences with surprisingly deep character work and a willingness to inflict genuine consequences on its cast. Season 2’s Shibuya Incident arc set a new benchmark for shonen adaptations. Season 3 ongoing in 2026. Available on Crunchyroll.

6. Solo Leveling

One of 2024’s most-watched premiere anime series based on the Korean web novel, Solo Leveling follows Sung Jinwoo — humanity’s weakest hunter in a world where people battle dungeon monsters — who begins leveling up with no apparent ceiling after a mysterious accident. The power fantasy premise is executed with exceptional production quality and an addictive momentum that has made it one of the most discussed series among new anime viewers. Season 2 ongoing in 2026. Available on Crunchyroll.

7. Shangri-La Frontier

For gaming enthusiasts, Shangri-La Frontier follows a gamer obsessed with trash games who enters the acclaimed VR title Shangri-La Frontier and discovers a unique quest line no other player has found. The series understands gaming culture from the inside and builds genuine narrative tension through a series of inventive boss encounters. Available on Crunchyroll.

Best Completed Anime Series to Binge

For viewers who prefer to binge complete series without waiting for weekly episodes, these completed masterworks offer uninterrupted viewing experiences.

8. Vinland Saga

Based on Makoto Yukimura’s manga, Vinland Saga follows the son of a legendary Viking warrior seeking vengeance across two dramatically contrasting seasons — the first a brutal exploration of violence and the warrior myth, the second a radical pivot to a pacifist meditation on the true meaning of strength. Those who commit to the full journey find it one of anime’s most profound philosophical narratives. Available on Prime Video and Crunchyroll.

9. Spy x Family

A spy who must form a fake family — adopting a child who is secretly a telepath and marrying a woman who is secretly an assassin — to maintain cover on a critical mission. Spy x Family is one of the most purely enjoyable anime series in recent years: warm, funny, with an irresistibly charming central trio and spectacular action sequences. Family-friendly enough for almost any viewer while sophisticated enough to delight adults. Available on Crunchyroll.

10. Hunter x Hunter (2011)

Yoshihiro Togashi’s masterwork follows Gon Freecss as he enters the Hunter world to find his absent father. The Chimera Ant arc is frequently cited as the greatest extended arc in shonen history — an extraordinary piece of storytelling that deconstructs the entire premise of the genre. 148 episodes. Available on Crunchyroll and Netflix.

11. Steins;Gate

A self-described mad scientist discovers he can send messages to the past and becomes entangled in a time travel conspiracy with devastating personal consequences. Steins;Gate starts deliberately before building to an emotionally devastating second half that has made it one of the most beloved science fiction stories in any medium. Mandatory viewing for complex, emotionally intelligent science fiction fans. Available on Crunchyroll.

12. Cowboy Bebop

The 1998 masterpiece that introduced countless Western viewers to anime is available in HD on Netflix and remains as thrillingly innovative as ever. Space bounty hunters, jazz soundtracks, genre-blending standalone episodes, and one of the most beautifully composed conclusions in any television series. Essential viewing if you have never seen it. Available on Netflix.

Best Dark and Mature Anime Series

13. Monster

A Japanese surgeon in Germany saves the life of a young boy who grows up to become a serial killer — and must then hunt him across Europe. Monster is deliberately paced psychological thriller storytelling in the manner of classic crime novels, with moral seriousness and narrative complexity rarely attempted in any television medium. Available on Netflix.

14. Made in Abyss

Children descending into an enormous, mysterious underground chasm filled with wondrous and terrifying creatures, where ascending causes increasing physical and psychological damage. Made in Abyss is the rare series that matches extreme emotional darkness with genuine wonder and world-building depth. Available on Amazon Prime Video and HIDIVE.

15. Neon Genesis Evangelion

Anno Hideaki’s 1995 masterpiece of psychological science fiction — giant mecha piloted by traumatized teenagers to fight apocalyptic angels — remains one of the most influential and discussed anime productions in the medium’s history. Deeply weird, intensely personal, and genuinely challenging. Available on Netflix with a new English dub.

Best Comedy Anime Series

16. Kaguya-sama: Love is War

Two genius student council members, each too proud to confess their feelings first, engage in elaborate psychological warfare to make the other confess. One of anime’s most consistently funny series, delivering laugh-out-loud comedy in every episode alongside surprisingly genuine emotional development in its later seasons. Available on Crunchyroll.

17. Konosuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World

A parody of the transported-to-another-world fantasy genre, Konosuba follows an unlucky protagonist and a dysfunctional party of misfits through escalatingly absurd adventures. One of the funniest and most quotable anime comedies ever made, Season 3 brought the series back to widespread acclaim in 2024. Available on Crunchyroll.

Best Emotional and Slice-of-Life Anime

18. A Silent Voice (Koe no Katachi)

This Kyoto Animation film (available on Netflix) about a former bully seeking redemption from the deaf girl he tormented in elementary school is one of the most emotionally intelligent and beautifully animated films in the medium. A profound exploration of guilt, forgiveness, disability, and human connection that stands alongside the greatest works of any animated studio.

19. Violet Evergarden

Set in a post-war world, a former child soldier turned letter-writing Auto Memory Doll learns to understand human emotion through the letters she writes for others. One of the most visually gorgeous anime series ever produced (Kyoto Animation at its absolute peak) with episodes that have become some of the most emotionally discussed in the medium’s history. Available on Netflix.

20. Your Lie in April (Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso)

A former piano prodigy who lost the ability to hear his own playing after his mother’s death is drawn back to music by a free-spirited violinist. Your Lie in April is precisely as emotionally devastating as its reputation suggests, pairing exceptional musical performance animation with a story that builds to one of the most heartbreaking conclusions in anime. Available on Netflix and Crunchyroll.

Building Your Anime Watch List

With 20 excellent series across a full range of genres, tones, and commitment levels, the best approach is to identify two or three that match your existing entertainment preferences and start there. Action fans should begin with Attack on Titan and Jujutsu Kaisen. Science fiction fans should prioritize Steins;Gate and Neon Genesis Evangelion. Emotional drama enthusiasts should start with Your Lie in April or Violet Evergarden. Viewers who want an accessible all-rounder that demonstrates the broadest range of what anime can achieve should start with Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood — the single best starting point for any new viewer. Whichever series you choose, the medium’s best work will reward your investment with storytelling, artistry, and emotional resonance that stands alongside the finest entertainment produced in any format worldwide.

Conclusion

Anime in 2026 offers some of the most ambitious, emotionally engaging, and visually spectacular storytelling available in any entertainment medium. The 20 series in this guide represent the breadth of what the form achieves at its best. Whether you are watching your first anime or searching for your next obsession, this list provides a starting point that will reward your time and attention many times over.