Although nothing beats the classics, there areanimesthat have come out in recent years that have earned a place in history for their masterful stories and the impact they have had on the audience, captivating viewers worldwide. With a great diversity of genres,there’s plenty of new-generation anime for those looking to compare how the modern options stand against the classics.
Despite being far away from theanimated retro works of artreleased during the golden age of anime,there are still modern series spanning from the last decade that deserve to be recognized as masterpiecesfor their unique narratives, impactful characters, and high-quality animation, becoming some of the finest adaptations in recent years that even the most diehard fans of the classics should watch.
This list takes into consideration anime that ended in the last decade.
2021
Number of Episodes:
26
Released as a homage toAshita no Joeon the 50th anniversary of the series,Megaloboxfeatures boxing in a very different waybut with a powerful and inspiring message of self-improvement.Megaloboxis set in a cyberpunk future where boxers fight in the ring using mechanical attachments called gears, with the purpose of increasing the lethality of the matches and their own striking power.
However,MegaloboxInstead of focusing exclusively on boxing, it uses the sport as a narrative toolwhile touching on themes like humanity vs. technology, social inequality, survival, mental health, and the meaning of defeat. Additionally, the anime not only has great characters but is enhanced by its animation, with a retro art style inspired by classic anime which fits the atmosphere of the story. Furthermore,Megaloboxstands out for its incredible soundtrack and fluid animation that creates intense boxing matches full of tension and excitement that keep the viewers at the edge of their seats.
2022
10
Cyberpunk: Edgerunnersis an anime with aunique aesthetic thanks to its animation style saturated with colors and glowing with neon and masterful direction by Studio Trigger, whichbrings to life a futuristic urban landscape as series likeGhost in the ShellandAkiradid in their time. InCyberpunk: Edgerunners,David Martinez ends up joining a band of mercenaries to survive in Night City, immersing viewers in a criminal world filled with explicit violence, megacorporations, deaths, weapons, moral dilemmas, and surprising twists.
This is elevated by the anime’s frenetic pace, dynamic action, and charismatic characters whose struggles are easy to relate to, showing their growth and the emotional bond they form throughout the story. As a result,Cyberpunk: Edgerunnersis an anime with a distinct personality that will hit fansof the original game, the cyberpunk genre, and anime in general.
2020
13+ 1 OVA + 2 Films
Violet Evergardenis a great example of how slow and emotional stories can have better animation than action-based anime, with a beautiful art style, composition, character designs, and breathtaking backgrounds. The anime follows the story of Violet, a former child soldier who grew up to become a weapon without understanding feelings, who starts working writing letters, learning to live in a post-war world, and meeting all kinds of people in her job as she focuses on her own self-discovery.
In this unique setting, more than just a simple slice-of-life anime,Violet Evergardenis an ode to finding one’s identity and overcoming grief. Deeply nostalgic and melancholic,Violet Evergardenshowcases many side stories while revealing the past of Violet, perfect for those who enjoy slow-paced stories that touch the sensitive fiber of viewers.
23
86: Eighty-Sixis one of themost underrated animein recent years, showcasing one of anime’s best anti-war messages, showcasing discrimination and dehumanization, and raising awareness about the horrors suffered by invisible soldiers on the battlefield. The anime presents a moral dystopia where a handler named Lena commands a squad belonging to an outcast district known as the Eighty-Six, who are used as cannon fodder in battle.
Additionally,86: Eighty-Six hasset itself apart for its crudenessin portraying the sacrifice of soldiers in a corrupt system, creating a tense aura of doom in the story inthe purest Attack on Titan style, worrying viewers about the squad’s survival, and showcasing combats that are a true visual delight with the great animation of A-1 Pictures. Furthermore, one of the highlights of86 Eighty-Sixis its well-written and complex characters, which, along with Hiroyuki Sawano’s soundtrack, make its 23 episodes feel short.
2023
48
Vinland Sagafollows a Viking boy looking to avenge his father who is hit by a violent world filled with death, tragedy, and war. However, the story evolves from an action-packed and bloodlust-driven journey toone of the best stories of redemption in animewith a message about dehumanization and slavery.
Not only is Thorfinn’s character development perfectly portrayed, butVinland Sagashowcases many complex, well-written and contrasting charactersthat blur the line between good and bad, showcasing the meaning of a true warrior, and the search for peace all wrapped in an odyssey of self-discovery. Also,Vinland Sagahas some of the best animation with dynamic battle sequences, beautiful backgrounds, and a unique color palette, becoming one of the boldest stories in recent years and a grounded story that won’t leave any viewer indifferent.
13 + 1 Film
Odd Taxiis one of the most unconventional modern animewith the feeling of a noir detective story with a twist as its characters are allanthropomorphic animals. InOdd Taxi,Hiroshi Odokawa, an apathetic walrus taxi driver who spends his days listening to his passengers, gets suddenly involved in a missing person’s case, being forced to use his insight to slowly unveil a criminal conspiracy.
What makesOdd Taxisuch a unique anime is how it connects every character and mystery to its overarching plot,having some of thebest plot twists in anime. Furthermore, the anime shares the atmosphere of a Quentin Tarantino film and is a great representation of a concrete jungle, with moral ambiguity, social criticism, and charismatic characters that make it one of the animes that every fan of the medium should watch.
37
Mob Psycho 100follows the journey of Shigeo Kageyama, who isan esper with immense powersworking exorcising ghosts as a disciple of a fraud psychic but whose only wish is to improve himself and be able to impress his crush. Although this premise might sound generic for a shōnen battle anime,Mob Psycho 100is a cathartic anime about self-love and becoming the best version of yourself.
While its atypical art style and character design may throw off some viewers initially, this gives the characters expressionism and personality, creating hilarious scenes and making the series highly enjoyable at all times. Furthermore,Mob Psycho 100has high-quality animation and some of the best battle sequences in anime.However, the best part of the anime is undoubtedly Mob’s character development, which makesMob Psycho 100one of the most uplifting and inspiring pieces of media out there.
12
Created by Shingo Natsume,the director ofOne-Punch ManSeason 1,Sonny Boyis a perfect option for fans of Satoshi Kon’s films and animes likeTatami Galaxydue to its experimental animation, showing a group of students who one day get stranded along with their school in another dimension sparking many conflicts as they tried to return to their world.
Sonny Boy’s character design was made by Hisashi Eguchi, who also worked on the acclaimed filmPerfect Blue.
With a unique narrative with sudden time jumps meant to let viewers fill in the gaps, and full of symbolism,Sonny Boyis a surrealist isekaiunlike anything else in the genre that delves into the role of society in youth and growing up, making viewers reflect. This way,Sonny Boyis one of the underrated gems in animethat could be rightfully referred to as an animation masterpiece.
2024
28
Even though it is a slow-paced series,Frieren: Beyond Journey’s Endhas risen as one of the best fantasy anime of all time. In Frieren, a 4-member party returns after defeating the Demon King, showing the end of an adventure rather than its beginning. However, this establishes a different type of journey as Frieren, an elf gifted with longevity, realizes that time does not pass through her the same as those she traveled with. This sets Frieren on an introspective journey that intertwines both her memories of the past with her new experiences in the present.
As a result, in the anime, reaching a destiny isn’t the goal, but the relationships created on the way there, showcasing the importance of bonds, the ephemeral of life, and how people evolve. This is enhanced by the anime’s stunning animation and emotional soundtrack, makingFrierena different type of series that would touch the hearts of viewers.
2025
25
Orbis one of the animes that demonstrates the infinite possibilities of the medium for telling deep and fascinating stories. Orb perfectly blends history and fiction, being set in the 15th century, showing a young boy, Rafal, who secretly loves astronomy despite it being punished by the church and who suddenly discovers the possibility of proving the Heliocentric theory, being conflicted between his curiosity and his safety.
This way, the anime magnificently portrays the struggle of those who seek the progress of science but were persecuted by going against the dogmas, conveying the message of how far people would go to prove what they believe in.Orb: On the Movements of the Earthis crude, realistic, and philosophical but deeply inspirational, highlighting the importance of pursuing knowledge and following one’s passion, despite the risks. Furthermore, its mind-blowing twists, deep philosophy, character development, and stunning starry skies and landscapes makeOrbone of the most original animeof the last decade.
