Typically the country with the biggest contribution to this list is Japan and it’s onslaught of anime that is now being featured with English dubs on streamers like Hulu, Netflix, Crunchyroll, and others. The mistake most magazines make, however, is they call anything with the anime aesthetic an “anime” and this simply is not true. For starters, if we were to post an additional ten series on this list, you absolutely would’ve seen entries that LOOK like anime from South Korea (aka manwha) and China (donghua), however, anime influences can also be seen in content deriving from France,the United States, Canada, and even Latin America. Not all of this is anime, it’s “animation”, and we have a separate list for dramatic examples here. For adult animation coming from different countries, check out our new list below.
12) Chainsaw Man
Network: Crunchyroll
A man and his chainsaw pup have violently slashed their way into my heart like the butter that Denji so covets for himself. Butter, jam and dreaming of the finer things in life that are not confined to a shed serve as a hopeful innate desire to hunt down devils for the mafia, but more than that, to dream. He is a man of beautiful simplicity in longing for a woman, something that is easy to relate to.
11) Spy X Family
Network: Crunchyroll
You won’t find a show that blends humor, action, and (hopefully) romance as well as this one.
10) Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnated
Network: Crunchyroll
I wait with bated breath for the much anticipated second season coming in 2023.
9) Attack on Titan
Network: Crunchyroll
I feel like the main purpose of a review is to decide whether you should watch something or not. You look to someone else to see if it’s worth the watch. If that is all you’re coming to this review for then let me make it simple for you. You NEED to watch this, if you are an anime fan at all Attack on Titan has become required viewing in my opinion. To be fair if you watched the previous seasons then you are probably going to be watching this one. I truly feel this show is an anime classic and I am glad I get to watch it as it comes out. The only negative I have to say is that it stopped. Well… and it is a little bit frustrating that the final season is going to ultimately have three parts when all is said and done. Who knows they might extend it further?
8) Sonny Boy
Network: Crunchyroll
I think the biggest thing I am going to take from Sonny Boy is how trippy it was coupled with the fun and simple animation style they used.
7)Blue Lock
Network: Crunchyroll
This is the most jam-packed season of anime I have seen in a while but believe me when I say Blue Lock deserves a spot on your watchlist.
6) Odd Taxi
Network: Crunchyroll
There isn’t a ton of action in Odd Taxi. So what makes it so great? The dialogue is expertly written, the plot is paced perfectly, and every character is important. There’s a reason for everyone and they all are connected in one way or another. The characters are so great that they’re most of the reason to watch the show in the first place. But dialogue and characters can only go so far if the voice actors can’t bring them to life. I love Mike McFarland but to the best of my knowledge, this is his first lead role. It definitely shouldn’t be though because he does fantastic as Odokawa. I watched the sub during the summer last year and I thought a dub might be hard to pull off with this one but everyone and I mean EVERYONE brings their A-game. There wasn’t really anything lost in translation from what I could tell.
5) My Hero Academia
Network: Crunchyroll
This is My Hero Academia, you know what to expect at this point.
4) The Duke of Death and His Maid
Network: Crunchyroll
I urge all of you to watch this anime because despite the dark subject matter you expect going in you actually get one of the best and most wholesome shows of the year.
3) Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War
Network: Hulu
After a decade since the last episode aired Bleach makes a return and it is more than a welcome one. As much as I love the original series I’m almost tempted to beg for a remake in this style because the animation was so sharp and crisp. But I am just grateful that we get this series and will hopefully get it finished after so long.
2) Dr. Stone
Network: Crunchyroll
Not only does this episode prime you for the season but it introduces a new character. Senku and his kingdom use science to do some pretty impressive and amazing things that I don’t want to spoil here. So, please just do me a favor and make sure you watch this. Especially if you are going to watch the new season, I can’t say with absolute certainty but something tells me that this special will be required viewing.
1) Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan
Network: Crunchyroll
I really hope there is a second season but unlike some other shows, I don’t think this necessarily needs one. It comes in has a lot of fun and leaves before its overstayed its welcome. So I think a second season would have to bring a lot to the table to be justified. As it stands all of Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan is out and you can binge it all. Which I highly suggest you do!