Far too many anime fans are intimately acquainted with the heartbreak of an unsatisfying ending. Whether caused by the issue of catching up to source material too quickly, making unwanted changes to the source material, or outright cancelation, investing in an anime’s story that doesn’t get the ending it deserves is a major letdown.
As the industry grows worldwide, fewer anime fans are being subjected to the routine heartbreak of a bad ending thanks to dedicated studios committing themselves to telling stories in full. More great anime are fitted with proper endings than ever, giving both newcomers and seasoned fans alike the perfect excuse to binge a beloved anime from start to finish on their favorite streaming platforms.
10
My Hero Academia’s Legendary Run Finally Ends in 2025
My Hero Academia is one of the biggest names in this season’s anime lineup, because in a sea of disappointing shows, it’s acting as a much-needed anchor. MHA has a total of eight seasons and several side-story movies. With My Hero Academia’s Final Season currently airing, only 2 more episodes remain before the entire franchise reaches its conclusion.
As one of the biggest names in new-gen shonen anime, My Hero Academia’s finale is a bittersweet moment for all fans. My Hero Academia portrays the story of Izuku “Deku” Midoriya, a powerless anomaly in a world where everyone is born with an ability called a Quirk. Deku’s journey becomes extraordinary when he unexpectedly inherits something truly precious, setting him on the path to becoming the world’s greatest hero.
My Hero Academia poster for the anime series
Release Date
April 2, 2016
Network
TBS, MBS, Nippon TV
Daiki Yamashita
Izuku Midoriya (voice)
Kaito Ishikawa
Manga Fukidashi (voice)
9
Kuroko’s Basketball’s Full Story is a Heartwarming Sports Anime
Tetsuya Kuroko from Kuroko’s Basketball dunking the ballImage via Production I.G
Kuroko’s Basketball is a gem of a sports anime that successfully mixes shonen anime tropes with the exhilarating thrill of competitive sports. Kuroko’s Basketball has three easy-to-follow seasons depicting the main storyline and a movie that covers a tournament taking place in the future after a timeskip. There’s even a special episode of Kuroko’s Basketball that shows Kuroko’s past when he was still with his old team.
Kuroko’s Basketball is about two high schoolers who take on very different roles on the basketball court and come together to play and change the course of their basketball career. This exhilarating sports anime showcases some extremely well-written high-stakes matches that keep Kuroko’s Basketball fans on the edge of their seats. Kuroko’s Basketball is also relatively shorter than other sports giants, like Haikyuu!! or Major, meaning that binging this hidden gem takes hardly any time and is well worth the investment.
8
Mob Psycho 100 Understands the Value of Normalcy
Mob Psycho 100 opening showing Mob’s dark formImage via Studio Bones
Mob Psycho 100 spans three seasons, and the main story wraps up with one of the best anime endings of all time by the end. Mob Psycho 100 comes from the same creator as One-Punch Man, and while both share a similar comedic tone, Mob Psycho 100 truly shines as the better anime thanks to its exceptional production quality.
The story of Mob Psycho 100 follows a naive boy called Shigeo, or “Mob,” who might not look very threatening, but is one of the most powerful beings in his universe. If he wanted to, he could destroy everything. However, thankfully, Mob’s kind heart makes him go to great lengths to control his incredible power. With only 37 episodes, fans can binge all of Mob Psycho 100 in a single day.
Release Date
2016 – 2022
Network
Tokyo MX
Setsuo Ito
Shigeo ‘Mob’ Kageyama (voice)
Takahiro Sakurai
Arataka Reigen (voice)
7
Attack On Titan’s Winding Story is Confusing to Watch
Colossal Titan prepares to kick the wall in Attack on TitanImage via Wit Studio
Attack on Titan has been adapted in both series and movie formats, making the watch order a bit confusing. The Attack on Titan anime has a straightforward Season 1 and 2, but Seasons 3 and 4 are split into two parts each. After that, there is a TV special made up of two one-hour episodes titled Attack on Titan: The Final Season – The Final Chapters.
Apart from these, there are also some OVAs like Attack on Titan: No Regrets and Attack on Titan OAD that either focus on different characters from the franchise or depict a separate timeline. All these successfully capture the brutal world of Attack on Titan, where one boy’s quest for freedom rewrites humanity’s history. This is the story of Eren Yeager’s fight against the Titans, who forced humanity into walled cities, leaving people with no choice but to survive like caged animals.
One of the characters from Attack on Titan is holding their weapons as a town burns in front of them and a titan looms over a wall on the anime’s poster.Image via Wit Studio
Release Date
2013 – 2023-00-00
6
Naruto’s Iconic Ninja Anime is Over 700 Episodes Long
Naruto Uzumaki bares his teeth with Kurama’s chakra around him.Image by studio Pierrot.
Naruto is hands down one of the longest-running shonen anime, with a sprawling number of movies accompanying its main series. The original Naruto anime series spans 220 episodes, while its sequel, Naruto: Shippuden, includes a hefty 500 episodes. The Naruto franchise also features several side stories depicted in films, and Naruto Uzumaki’s story continues in Boruto, which is the story of Naruto’s son.
Yet, as far as Naruto’s tale is concerned, the entire series is already widely available and gives a proper conclusion to one of the greatest hero’s journeys ever written. The story follows Naruto, an aspiring ninja who may lack the natural talent of his peers, but whose unwavering dedication sets him apart. Naruto’s story is that of inspiration and sheer will that has turned many casual watchers into seasoned anime fans.
Naruto Uzumaki has his arms behind his head and is grinning as Sakura Haruno and Sasuke Uchiha sit on either side of him and the Third Hokage, Kakashi Hatake and Iruka Umino stand in the background on the Naruto poster.Image by CBR
Release Date
2002 – 2007-00-00
Showrunner
Masashi Kishimoto
Ed and Al Elric stand in front of the moon in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Episode 1Image via Studio Bones
The Fullmetal Alchemist franchise has an interesting account, as there are two versions of this anime that exist for fans to watch. Both the 2003 and 2009 versions start similarly, but the 2003 version goes off in an entirely different direction midway, straying far from the storyline of the manga since it wasn’t yet complete at that point.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is the most faithful adaptation of its source material, with 64 episodes, followed by a non-canon movie called Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos. There is no doubt that Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is one of the greatest shonen anime franchises ever, showcasing the harrowing journey of two brothers who learn a lesson about alchemy in the worst ways possible.
Edward Elric is sitting and looking serious while Alphonse Elric stands behind him on the poster of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.Image via Studio BONES
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood
Release Date
April 5, 2009
Cast
4
Monster’s Thrilling Psychological Drama is One of the Best Mystery Anime
Johan tells Tenma to shoot him in MonsterImage via Madhouse
Monster is one of the easiest anime to follow in terms of watch order, since it consists of a single season with 74 episodes. The Monster anime is produced by the brilliant studio Madhouse, and it does have specials, but they are merely recaps and do not further the main storyline. Monster is one of the best psychological mystery anime ever, with a fiercely moody atmosphere to complement its dark characters.
Monster introduces one of the best anime villains, who is so iconic that he is frequently considered the greatest manipulator ever depicted in fiction. The series tells the story of Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a brilliant neurosurgeon who gets entangled in an unexpected mess when he decides to save a boy. This one unforeseen mistake completely transforms his life for the worse and creates a connection between Tenma and the devil himself.
Release Date
April 7, 2004
Directors
Masayuki Kojima, Morio Asaka
3
Death Note’s Hero is the Real Villain From the Start
Light Yagami writes the names of criminals in his Death Note with a frustrated expression.Image via Studio Madhouse
Death Note benefits from a straightforward release of 37 episodes and one TV special titled Death Note: Rewrite, which retells the same story in a more compact format with a few added scenes and dialogue. The story of Death Note essentially focuses on one man, Light Yagami, who started walking a path of righteousness but then got lost in his worldview after getting his hands on a diary that can take lives.
Death Note is a brilliant commentary on humanity, showing how limitless power can corrupt even those with the noblest intentions. The theme of good versus evil is recurrent in the series as it takes ideological warfare to the next level. Death Note also features some of the best background music in anime, and its opening theme is nothing short of iconic.
The Death Note poster depicts Light Yagami, L, Misa Amane and Ryuk in front of a black background.Image via Studio Madhouse
Death Note
Release Date
October 4, 2006
Cast
2
Neon Genesis Evangelion Fully Deconstructs Heroism & Mechas
Neon Genesis Evangelion Shinji Ikari watches Kaworu Nagisa sit beside an LCL poolImage via Gainax
Neon Genesis Evangelion follows a complex pattern of release, as its first series came out in 1995 with 26 episodes. The ending to the original Evangelion series is not very cohesive, which is why there exists a sequel movie, End of Evangelion, that neatly wraps up the story while providing important missing context. Director Hideaki Anno continued the story through a set of 4 films designed to “rebuild” the original story from the ground up, with plot twists and reimaginings that result in an ending that unifies both continuities with mind-melting proficiency.
Still, the original Neon Genesis Evangelion is considered one of the greatest mecha anime of all time, for it presents the genre in a very new light. Here, rather than focusing exclusively on the action elements of mecha warfare, the story dives deep into the psychological impact of the situation on the heroes inside the mech suits.
Asuka Langley Soryu, Shinji Ikari, Rei Ayanami and Misato Katsaguri are assembled on the poster for Neon Genesis Evangelion.Image via Gainax
Megumi Ogata
Shinji Ikari
Megumi Hayashibara
Rei Ayanami
1
Violet Evergarden is a Broken Soldier’s Healing Journey
It is absolutely astonishing how Violet Evergarden manages to finish such a touching story with relatively little material. The original Violet Evergarden series is only 13 episodes long and depicts the past and longing of Violet Evergarden, who is recovering from the aftereffects of a massive war. Before the battle, she was just a husk of a human being, trained only to kill and nothing else. However, a chance encounter gives Violet a reason to live on even after she loses everything.
Violet Evergarden’s main attraction lies in the breathtaking animation by Kyoto Animation, which is also famous for masterpieces like Koe no Katachi. The soft color palette and gentle music transport the audience into Violet’s world, which beautifully blends emotional warmth with subtle steampunk elements.