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When most people think of great television, they might not immediately think of anime. Yet on IMDb, the world’s most popular entertainment database, anime series dominate the highest ratings in ways that would surprise many Western viewers. These aren’t just cartoons for kids or niche entertainment for a select few fans.
These are masterfully crafted stories with complex characters, philosophical depth, and emotional resonance that rivals any live-action drama. From psychological thrillers that will keep you awake at night to epic adventures spanning decades, these top-rated anime series represent the pinnacle of storytelling in any medium. Let’s dive into the ten anime that have earned the highest ratings from millions of viewers worldwide.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – The Undisputed Champion
According to the votes on IMDb, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is the best anime ever created with a 9.1 score, and it’s pretty much a perfect anime. This remarkable series follows two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, who attempt to use alchemy to bring their deceased mother back to life. When the ritual goes horribly wrong, Edward loses an arm and a leg, while Alphonse’s entire body is lost and his soul is bound to a suit of armor.
What makes this series extraordinary isn’t just its unique magic system based on equivalent exchange. One of the things that Fullmetal Alchemist portrays masterfully is the horror of war and the cycle of hatred and violence. The story weaves together themes of sacrifice, morality, and the true cost of power in ways that feel both fantastical and deeply human.
The series maintains incredible consistency throughout its 64 episodes, building to revelations that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about the story. Every character serves a purpose, every plot thread connects meaningfully, and the ending delivers emotional payoffs that have kept viewers talking for years.
It’s this combination of tight storytelling, complex moral questions, and genuine emotional depth that has earned Brotherhood its place at the top. Attack on Titan fans will need to bomb the 10/10, otherwise it won’t hit 9.1 to dethrone this masterpiece.
Attack on Titan – The Modern Phenomenon
Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin) is an anime series that has taken the world by storm and currently holds a spot near the very top of IMDb’s rankings. On IMDb, Attack on Titan has received exceptionally high ratings and strong viewer engagement.
Set in a world where humanity lives behind massive walls to protect themselves from giant humanoid creatures called Titans, the series begins as what seems like a straightforward monster-fighting story. However, as the layers peel back, it reveals itself to be a complex examination of war, prejudice, and the cyclical nature of violence.
Attack on Titan takes all of that even further. Isayama’s storytelling, the constant jaw-dropping reveals, and confrontations that have been years in the build-up, nothing ever seems to miss a beat. What starts as humanity’s fight for survival evolves into a morally complex narrative about the price of freedom and the devastating consequences of hatred passed down through generations.
Even more impressively, Attack on Titan’s lowest-rated episodes still hover above an 8.0, while other acclaimed anime like Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and Death Note have their dips into the mid-7 range. This consistency has helped cement its position as potentially the greatest anime ever made.
Steins;Gate – The Time Travel Masterpiece
Steins;Gate is studio White Fox’s crown jewel for a reason, as this show is captivating, with a well-written story and complex character storytelling, and it’s logical that this show would be highly rated. With an IMDb rating of 8.8 out of 10, this psychological thriller follows a self-proclaimed mad scientist who accidentally discovers a method of time travel through modified microwaves.
Steins; Gate is one of the best takes on time travel you will probably ever see. It’s ridiculously good and utterly captivating the deeper you dive into it, and its best aspect is probably the quality of the characterisation. Unlike many time travel stories that get bogged down in paradoxes and plot holes, Steins;Gate uses its concept to explore deep character development and emotional consequences.
The first half of the series builds slowly, establishing characters and relationships that become crucial later. You get deeply invested in its likeable cast and how their lives are affected by every event in the series, and the further you get into the anime, the more insane it gets. What begins as slice-of-life comedy transforms into an intense thriller about the weight of choices and the price of trying to change fate.
One of the greatest all round anime ever with comedy, romance, tragedy, sci-fi, and even a little action blended perfectly together. It featured an original premise and a satisfying conclusion, and the character of Mad Scientist will become one of your favourites.
Death Note – The Gateway Anime
Death Note was the introduction to the medium for many, and it certainly is an edge-of-the-seat entrance to the world of anime – an extravagant cat-and-mouse game of epic proportions where everything is at stake. This supernatural thriller follows Light Yagami, a brilliant high school student who discovers a notebook that can kill anyone whose name is written in it.
What makes Death Note extraordinary is how it presents a moral dilemma with no clear right answer. Light believes he can create a better world by eliminating criminals, but his methods raise questions about justice, power, and corruption. The psychological battle between Light and the mysterious detective L creates some of the most intense mental chess matches ever put to screen.
The series excels at building tension through dialogue and internal monologues rather than action sequences. It has the second most votes out of any anime on IMDb showing just how popular it is in the Western world, though it’s surprising how few 10 pointers it has received at only 44.7%, but ironically enough, it has the highest percentage of getting 8 points or more at 88.7%.
Even years after its conclusion, Death Note remains a cultural touchstone that continues to spark debates about morality and justice. Its influence can be seen in countless other psychological thrillers that followed.
One Piece – The Epic Adventure
The long-running anime series “One Piece” maintains consistently high ratings on IMDb, with the Toei Animation series securing strong viewer approval. This massive pirate adventure follows Monkey D. Luffy as he searches for the legendary treasure known as One Piece.
What sets One Piece apart from other long-running series is its incredible world-building and character development. Despite having over one thousand episodes, creator Eiichiro Oda maintains consistency in both art style and storytelling that’s virtually unmatched in anime. Each new island brings unique cultures, memorable characters, and emotional storylines that contribute to the larger narrative.
The series masterfully balances comedy and drama, often within the same scene. Luffy’s crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, feels like a genuine family, and their adventures explore themes of friendship, dreams, and the meaning of freedom. The emotional impact of certain arcs has left viewers in tears, while the epic battles and creative devil fruit powers provide spectacular entertainment.
One Piece proves that length doesn’t have to mean decline in quality. Each arc feels essential to the overall story, and the payoffs for long-term mysteries continue to satisfy fans who’ve been following the series for decades.
Hunter x Hunter – The Subversive Shonen
Hunter x Hunter is a unique shonen in its own right. The series subverts the usual trope of Shonen anime and goes into some really different territories in every single arc, with the Chimera Ants arc especially being a masterpiece in storytelling. This adventure follows young Gon Freecss as he becomes a Hunter to find his missing father.
What makes Hunter x Hunter special is how it consistently defies expectations. The power system, called Nen, is one of the most complex and well-thought-out magic systems in anime. Unlike typical shonen where power-ups solve problems, Hunter x Hunter emphasizes strategy, creativity, and often shows that raw strength isn’t enough.
The series doesn’t shy away from dark themes despite its young protagonist. Character deaths have permanent consequences, moral choices aren’t black and white, and even the “heroes” sometimes make questionable decisions. The Chimera Ant arc, in particular, is considered one of anime’s greatest achievements in psychological horror and character development.
Unfortunately, the series remains unfinished due to the author’s health issues, but what exists stands as a testament to innovative storytelling within the shonen genre.
Dragon Ball Z – The Cultural Icon
Dragon Ball Z is a legendary anime, and is arguably the most significant and important anime ever created, therefore, it’s great to see that so many people still value the show, years after it premiered in 1989. This martial arts epic follows Goku as he defends Earth from increasingly powerful threats while discovering his alien heritage.
Dragon Ball Z’s influence on anime and popular culture cannot be overstated. It popularized many tropes that became standard in action anime: power level escalations, transformation sequences, and epic battles that span multiple episodes. The series introduced Western audiences to anime through television broadcasts that created an entire generation of fans.
Beyond its cultural impact, Dragon Ball Z succeeds because of its simple but effective formula. The core themes of friendship, determination, and self-improvement resonate across cultures. Goku’s pure-hearted nature and unwavering desire to become stronger inspire viewers to push their own limits.
It’s a really “honestly” rated show, with points across the board being very level, making it feel like people have given a fair rating. This balanced reception speaks to the series’ broad appeal and enduring quality.
Demon Slayer – The Visual Spectacle
Demon Slayer has quickly risen to become one of the highest-rated anime on IMDb, and it’s easy to see why. The series follows Tanjiro Kamado, whose family is slaughtered by demons except for his sister Nezuko, who becomes a demon herself. Tanjiro joins the Demon Slayer Corps to find a cure for his sister while hunting the demon responsible for his family’s death.
What sets Demon Slayer apart is its stunning animation quality. Studio Ufotable has created visually spectacular fight sequences that blend traditional animation with CGI effects seamlessly. The water and fire breathing techniques are brought to life with breathtaking detail that has redefined what’s possible in anime production.
However, the series isn’t just style over substance. The emotional core of Tanjiro and Nezuko’s relationship drives every episode. Tanjiro’s compassion, even toward the demons he must slay, adds moral complexity to what could have been a simple revenge story.
The series has broken numerous records in Japan and internationally, proving that quality animation combined with solid storytelling can create a global phenomenon.
Code Geass – The Strategic Masterpiece
Code Geass presents one of anime’s most complex protagonists in Lelouch vi Britannia, a exiled prince who gains the power to compel anyone to obey his commands. Set in an alternate timeline where the Holy Britannian Empire has conquered Japan, the series follows Lelouch as he leads a rebellion while attending school under a false identity.
The series excels at political intrigue and strategic warfare. Every move Lelouch makes has consequences that ripple throughout the story, creating a chess match between various factions with incredibly high stakes. The mecha battles serve the story rather than dominating it, with each confrontation advancing character development or plot progression.
What makes Code Geass truly special is its ending. Without spoiling anything, the series concludes with one of anime’s most controversial yet brilliant finales. It’s a conclusion that recontextualizes everything that came before and has sparked endless discussion among fans about sacrifice, leadership, and the cost of change.
The series doesn’t shy away from showing the moral complexity of revolution, presenting both the necessity of change and the terrible price that change demands.
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Triumphant Return
Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War has achieved exceptionally high ratings on IMDb, earning widespread acclaim from users. This continuation of the beloved Bleach series brings the manga’s final arc to animated life with significantly improved production values.
Many anime fans originally started watching Bleach in the 2000s, and by the time it wrapped up its initial eight-year-long run, we all had grown up alongside the show. After 2012, the anime went on an indefinite hiatus, but despite that, many Bleach faithful stayed patient through this period, hoping they would one day see the return of Ichigo and the Soul Society.
The Thousand-Year Blood War arc represents Bleach at its absolute best. The improved animation quality, darker tone, and epic scope of the final battle between Soul Reapers and Quincy armies has reignited passion for the series. Studio Pierrot has clearly learned from past mistakes, delivering consistently high-quality episodes without the filler that plagued the original run.
For longtime fans, seeing this arc finally animated feels like a reward for years of patience. The series tackles themes of legacy, sacrifice, and the changing of generations in ways that feel earned after decades of character development.
The Enduring Power of Great Storytelling
These ten anime series represent the pinnacle of animated storytelling, each earning their place through exceptional writing, memorable characters, and emotional resonance that transcends cultural boundaries. What unites them isn’t a single genre or style, but rather their commitment to treating viewers as intelligent audiences capable of handling complex themes and moral ambiguity.
From the philosophical depth of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood to the strategic brilliance of Code Geass, these series prove that animation is not a genre but a medium capable of telling any kind of story. They’ve earned their high ratings not through flashy gimmicks or pandering, but through the fundamental elements of great storytelling: compelling characters, engaging plots, and emotional truth.
The fact that these anime consistently outrank many live-action series on IMDb speaks to their universal appeal and lasting impact. They’ve created passionate fandoms that span decades and continue to introduce new viewers to the incredible possibilities of animated storytelling.
What do you think about these highest-rated anime series? Have they changed your perspective on what animation can achieve? Tell us in the comments.
Besides founding Festivaltopia, Luca is the co founder of trib, an art and fashion collectiv you find on several regional events and online. Also he is part of the management board at HORiZONTE, a group travel provider in Germany.
