Top Episodic Anime Recommendations

Ansatsu Kyoushitsu

Also known as Assassination Classroom.

Studio: Lerche
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Supernatural

The students of class 3-E have a mission: kill their teacher before graduation. He has already destroyed the moon, and has promised to destroy the Earth if he can not be killed within a year. But how can this class of misfits kill a tentacled monster, capable of reaching Mach 20 speed, who may be the best teacher any of them have ever had?

Tags: Assassins , School , Teacher , Primarily Teen Cast , Shounen , Ensemble Cast , Anti-Hero , Episodic , Super Power , Male Protagonist , Guns , Crime , Bullying , Found Family , Artificial Intelligence , School Club , Baseball , Femboy , Tentacles , Suicide , Tragedy , Aliens

Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai: Tensaitachi no Renai Zunousen

Also known as Kaguya-sama: Love is War.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Psychological , Romance , Slice of Life

Known for being both brilliant and powerful, Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya lead the illustrious Shuchiin Academy as near equals. And everyone thinks they’d make a great couple. Pride and arrogance are in ample supply, so the only logical move is to trick the other into instigating a date! Who will come out on top in this psychological war where the first move is the only one that matters?



Tags: School , Heterosexual , Tsundere , Primarily Teen Cast , School Club , Ojou-sama , Episodic , Slapstick , Female Protagonist , Seinen , Male Protagonist , Meta , Ensemble Cast , Parody , Kemonomimi , Rotoscoping , Nekomimi

Violet Evergarden

Also known as Violet Evergarden.

Studio: Kyoto Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Slice of Life

A certain point in time, in the continent of Telesis. The great war which divided the continent into North and South has ended after four years, and the people are welcoming a new generation. Violet Evergarden, a young girl formerly known as “the weapon”, has left the battlefield to start a new life at CH Postal Service. There, she is deeply moved by the work of “Auto Memories Dolls”, who carry people's thoughts and convert them into words. Violet begins her journey as an Auto Memories Doll, and comes face to face with various people's emotions and differing shapes of love. There are words Violet heard on the battlefield, which she cannot forget. These words were given to her by someone she holds dear, more than anyone else. She does not yet know their meaning but she searches to find it.



Tags: Rehabilitation , Writing , Tragedy , Female Protagonist , Coming of Age , Kuudere , Work , War , Disability , Military , Episodic , Travel , Orphan , Historical , Primarily Adult Cast , Philosophy , Steampunk , Foreign , Heterosexual , Age Gap , Trains , Guns , Assassins

SPY×FAMILY

Also known as SPY x FAMILY.

Studio: CloverWorks , Wit Studio
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Slice of Life , Supernatural

Everyone has a part of themselves they cannot show to anyone else.

At a time when all nations of the world were involved in a fierce war of information happening behind closed doors, Ostania and Westalis had been in a state of cold war against one another for decades. The Westalis Intelligence Services' Eastern-Focused Division (WISE) sends their most talented spy, "Twilight," on a top-secret mission to investigate the movements of Donovan Desmond, the chairman of Ostania's National Unity Party, who is threatening peace efforts between the two nations.

This mission is known as "Operation Strix." It consists of "putting together a family in one week in order to infiltrate social gatherings organized by the elite school that Desmond's son attends."

"Twilight" takes on the identity of psychiatrist Loid Forger and starts looking for family members. But Anya, the daughter he adopts, turns out to have the ability to read people's minds, while his wife, Yor, is an assassin! With it being in each of their own interests to keep these facts hidden, they start living together while concealing their true identities from one another.
World peace is now in the hands of this brand-new family as they embark on an adventure full of surprises.



Tags: Espionage , Family Life , Found Family , Shounen , Assassins , Conspiracy , Fake Relationship , Adoption , Male Protagonist , Female Protagonist , Crime , Foreign , Slapstick , Urban , Super Power , School , Ensemble Cast , Heterosexual , Surreal Comedy , Parenthood , Parody , Episodic , Guns , Politics , Martial Arts , Orphan , Urban Fantasy , Bullying , Tsundere

Horimiya

Also known as Horimiya.

Studio: CloverWorks
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Slice of Life

A secret life is the one thing they have in common. At school, Hori is a prim and perfect social butterfly, but the truth is she's a brash homebody. Meanwhile, under a gloomy facade, Miyamura hides a gentle heart, along with piercings and tattoos. In a chance meeting, they both reveal a side they've never shown. Could this blossom into something new?



Tags: School , Family Life , Male Protagonist , Female Protagonist , Heterosexual , Ensemble Cast , Coming of Age , Primarily Teen Cast , Tsundere , Slapstick , Love Triangle , Shounen , Bullying , Episodic , Masochism , Sadism , Chibi

Death Parade

Also known as Death Parade.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural , Thriller

When two people die at the same time, they’re sent to a place that’s neither heaven nor hell—a lavish bar between worlds where the stakes are high and the rules are simple: if you win you live again, if you die… you’re gone for good.

Decim is the bartender charged with serving the souls who enter Quindecim. He may make a mean cocktail, but his true profession is to play the role of arbiter—a judge who determines whether or not a soul is worthy of reincarnation. To aid in his judgment, the bar’s patrons are forced to play simple games laced with sadistic twists designed to bring their true natures to light. To Decim, judgment has always been black and white—that is—until he meets a mysterious young woman whose fate seems impossible to decide. His indecision shakes the very foundation of the games and raises the biggest question of all: Who is fit to judge the dead?



Tags: Death Game , Afterlife , Philosophy , Tragedy , Amnesia , Memory Manipulation , Reincarnation , Bar , Primarily Adult Cast , Episodic , Suicide , Gambling , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Mythology , Kuudere , CGI , Ice Skating , Revenge , Gyaru , Bowling , Tanned Skin

Shin Seiki Evangelion

Also known as Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Studio: Gainax , Tatsunoko Production
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Mecha , Mystery , Psychological , Sci-Fi

In the year 2015, the Angels, huge, tremendously powerful, alien war machines, appear in Tokyo for the second time. The only hope for Mankind's survival lies in the Evangelion, a humanoid fighting machine developed by NERV, a special United Nations agency. Capable of withstanding anything the Angels can dish out, the Evangelion's one drawback lies in the limited number of people able to pilot them. Only a handful of teenagers, all born fourteen years ago, nine months after the Angels first appeared, are able to interface with the Evangelion. One such teenager is Shinji Ikari, whose father heads the NERV team that developed and maintains the Evangelion. Thrust into a maelstrom of battle and events that he does not understand, Shinji is forced to plumb the depths of his own inner resources for the courage and strength to not only fight, but to survive, or risk losing everything.



Note: Later releases include edited versions of Episodes 21-24 called the "Director's Cut" with some visual editing and adding extra scenes that appeared in the theatrical recap 'Death'.

Tags: Philosophy , Psychosexual , Coming of Age , Tragedy , Denpa , Super Robot , Dystopian , Post-Apocalyptic , Angels , Primarily Teen Cast , Suicide , Kaiju , Conspiracy , Male Protagonist , Aliens , Body Horror , Religion , Mythology , Military , Clone , Tokusatsu , Kuudere , Tsundere , Politics , Bisexual , Gore , Trains , Boys' Love , Espionage , Nudity , LGBTQ+ Themes , Episodic

Cowboy Bebop

Also known as Cowboy Bebop.

Studio: Sunrise
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Sci-Fi

Enter a world in the distant future, where Bounty Hunters roam the solar system. Spike and Jet, bounty hunting partners, set out on journeys in an ever struggling effort to win bounty rewards to survive.

While traveling, they meet up with other very interesting people. Could Faye, the beautiful and ridiculously poor gambler, Edward, the computer genius, and Ein, the engineered dog be a good addition to the group?

Tags: Space , Crime , Episodic , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Adult Cast , Tragedy , Noir , Travel , Guns , Male Protagonist , Cyberpunk , Found Family , Philosophy , Terrorism , Tomboy , Martial Arts , Cyborg , Cowboys , Amnesia , Anti-Hero , Gambling , Yakuza , Heterosexual , Drugs , Police , Female Protagonist , Cult , Tanned Skin , Nudity , Circus , Seinen

Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai?: Tensaitachi no Renai Zunousen

Also known as Kaguya-sama: Love is War?.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Psychological , Romance , Slice of Life

After a slow but eventful summer vacation, Shuchiin Academy's second term is now starting in full force. As August transitions into September, Miyuki Shirogane's birthday looms ever closer, leaving Kaguya Shinomiya in a serious predicament as to how to celebrate it. Furthermore, the tenure of the school's 67th student council is coming to an end. Due to the council members being in different classes, the only time Kaguya and Miyuki have to be together will soon disappear, putting all of their cunning plans at risk.
A long and difficult election that will decide the fate of the new student council awaits, as multiple challengers fight for the coveted title of president.


Tags: School , School Club , Ensemble Cast , Tsundere , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Episodic , Primarily Teen Cast , Ojou-sama , Coming of Age , Heterosexual , Slapstick , Parody , Meta , Kuudere , Seinen , Bullying , Villainess , Otaku Culture , Crossdressing , Primarily Female Cast

Bungou Stray Dogs

Also known as Bungo Stray Dogs.

Studio: bones
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Mystery , Supernatural

Stalked by a beastly white tiger, Atsushi Nakajima has no idea that the menace lives inside him—a power that catches the attention of the Armed Detective Agency. Using inhuman abilities to combat crime, this team takes Atsushi under the wing of their most eccentric member, Dazai. Together, they tear through mafia-muddled mysteries while enemies keep an eye on the tiger’s lofty bounty.



Tags: Super Power , Crime , Detective , Mafia , Urban Fantasy , Male Protagonist , Classic Literature , Yakuza , Urban , Primarily Male Cast , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Adult Cast , Work , Orphan , Gangs , Seinen , Suicide , Slapstick , Gore , Kuudere , Guns , Terrorism , Shapeshifting , Anti-Hero , Assassins , LGBTQ+ Themes , Incest , Episodic , Tragedy , Bar , Homeless

Ansatsu Kyoushitsu 2

Also known as Assassination Classroom 2.

Studio: Lerche
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Supernatural

The second season of Ansatsu Kyoushitsu.

The students return as school is back in session for the second semester. Following their exploits on the island during summer vacation, Class 3-E continues to sharpen their blades with their sights set on their teacher, the slippery Koro-sensei. They have more to worry about than just their teacher, however, as enemy assassins, both old and new, are out for the increased bounty on the octopus' head.

Moreover, their rivals in Class A, as well as Kunugigaoka Junior High's fearsome principal, stand to block Class E from achieving academic excellence. With all of these obstacles opposing them, the group must continue to work together in order to overcome their foes and accomplish their goal of successfully assassinating their teacher.

Tags: Assassins , School , Teacher , Coming of Age , Primarily Teen Cast , Ensemble Cast , Super Power , Tragedy , Shounen , Anti-Hero , Time Skip , Male Protagonist , Military , Urban Fantasy , Episodic , Rural , Crossdressing , Heterosexual , Yandere , Suicide , Aliens

Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru.

Also known as My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU.

Studio: Brain's Base
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

This romantic comedy revolves around an antisocial high school student named Hikigaya Hachiman with a distorted view on life and no friends or girlfriend. When he sees his classmates talking excitedly about living their adolescent lives, he mutters: "They're a bunch of liars." When he is asked about his future dreams, he responds: "Not working." A teacher gets Hachiman to join the 'Volunteer Service' club, which happens to have the school's prettiest girl: Yukinoshita Yukino.



Tags: School , School Club , Primarily Teen Cast , Male Protagonist , Philosophy , Anti-Hero , Heterosexual , Love Triangle , Kuudere , Hikikomori , Satire , Femboy , Meta , Tsundere , Bullying , Female Harem , Episodic , Chuunibyou , Bisexual , Tennis , Rehabilitation

Dororo

Also known as Dororo.

Studio: MAPPA , Tezuka Productions
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Supernatural

Dororo, a young orphan thief, meets Hyakkimaru, a powerful ronin. Hyakkimaru's father, a greedy feudal lord, had made a pact with 12 demons, offering his yet-unborn son's body parts in exchange for great power. Thus, Hyakkimaru - who was born without arms, legs, eyes, ears, a nose or a mouth - was abandoned in a river as a baby. Rescued and raised by Dr. Honma, who equips him with artificial limbs and teaches him sword-fighting techniques, Hyakkimaru discovers that each time he slays a demon, a piece of his body is restored. Now, he roams the war-torn countryside in search of demons.

Tags: Demons , Revenge , Disability , Swordplay , Tragedy , Samurai , Estranged Family , Youkai , Anti-Hero , Orphan , War , Male Protagonist , Historical , Crossdressing , Rural , Travel , Urban Fantasy , Gore , Philosophy , Female Protagonist , Episodic , Body Horror , Tomboy , Kuudere , Shounen , Primarily Male Cast , Primarily Adult Cast , Ghost , Cannibalism , Heterosexual , Prostitution

Hyouka

Also known as Hyouka.

Studio: Kyoto Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Mystery , Romance , Slice of Life

Energy-conservative high school student Houtarou Oreki ends up with more than he bargained for when he signs up for the Classic Literature Club at his sister's behest—especially when he realizes how deep-rooted the club's history really is. Begrudgingly, Oreki is dragged into an investigation concerning the 45-year-old mystery that surrounds the club room.

Accompanied by his fellow club members, the knowledgeable Satoshi Fukube, the stern but benign Mayaka Ibara, and the ever-curious Eru Chitanda, Oreki must combat deadlines and lack of information with resourcefulness and hidden talent, in order to not only find the truth buried beneath the dust of works created years before them, but of other side cases as well.

Based on the award-winning Koten-bu light novel series, and directed by Yasuhiro Takemoto of Suzumiya Haruhi no Shoushitsu, Hyouka shows that normal life can be full of small mysteries, be it family history, a student film, or even the withered flowers that make up a ghost story.



Tags: School Club , Detective , School , Male Protagonist , Primarily Teen Cast , Coming of Age , Philosophy , Episodic , Classic Literature , Heterosexual , Filmmaking , Rural , Tsundere , Otaku Culture , Politics , Cosplay , Shrine Maiden , Bullying

Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-nan

Also known as The Disastrous Life of Saiki K..

Studio: J.C. Staff , EGG FIRM
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Slice of Life , Supernatural

To the average person, psychic abilities might seem a blessing; for Kusuo Saiki, however, this couldn't be further from the truth. Gifted with a wide assortment of supernatural abilities ranging from telepathy to x-ray vision, he finds this so-called blessing to be nothing but a curse. As all the inconveniences his powers cause constantly pile up, all Kusuo aims for is an ordinary, hassle-free life—a life where ignorance is bliss.

Unfortunately, the life of a psychic is far from quiet. Though Kusuo tries to stay out of the spotlight by keeping his powers a secret from his classmates, he ends up inadvertently attracting the attention of many odd characters, such as the empty-headed Riki Nendou and the delusional Shun Kaidou. Forced to deal with the craziness of the people around him, Kusuo comes to learn that the ordinary life he has been striving for is a lot more difficult to achieve than expected.

Note: Aired in 2 versions, a 120-episode 5-minute short series, and a combined 24-episode 24-minute TV series with the same content.

Tags: Super Power , Surreal Comedy , Satire , Episodic , Parody , School , Meta , Mythology , Asexual , Male Protagonist , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Shounen , Tsundere , Kuudere , Aromantic , Memory Manipulation , Urban , Chuunibyou , Ghost , Unrequited Love , Heterosexual , School Club , Gyaru , LGBTQ+ Themes , Incest , Video Games , Gangs

Kobayashi-san Chi no Maidragon

Also known as Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid.

Studio: Kyoto Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Fantasy , Slice of Life

What happens when a drunken promise leads to living with a dragon? That’s Miss Kobayashi’s new reality when Tohru appears in her life. With a maid-slash-dragon in her home, she’s experiencing a whole new level of domestic bliss! But the dragons don’t stop there. On a mission to find Tohru appears Kanna, a little dragon with a big attitude. Before she knows it, Kobayashi’s got a house full of dragons—one serving tail and the other serving serious moe! Together, they live side by side with only the occasional disaster…well, maybe. But nothing beats coming home to the warm welcome of a dragon maid!



Tags: Found Family , Dragons , Monster Girl , Family Life , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Maids , Magic , Episodic , Urban , Yuri , Urban Fantasy , Seinen , Large Breasts , Primarily Adult Cast , Office Lady , LGBTQ+ Themes , Otaku Culture , Kuudere , Isekai , Software Development , Bisexual , Philosophy , Nudity

Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii

Also known as Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Slice of Life

Having slept through all four of her alarms, the energetic Narumi Momose finds herself running late for her first day of work at a new office. As she races to catch her train, she makes a promise to herself that none of her coworkers will find out about her dark secret: that she is an otaku and a fujoshi. Her plan goes instantly awry, though, when she runs into Hirotaka Nifuji, an old friend from middle school. Although she tries to keep her secret by inviting him out for drinks after work, her cover is blown when he casually asks her whether or not she will be attending the upcoming Summer Comiket. Luckily for her, the only witnesses—Hanako Koyanagi and Tarou Kabakura—are otaku as well.

Later that night, the pair go out for drinks so that they can catch up after all the years apart. After Narumi complains about her previous boyfriend breaking up with her because he refused to date a fujoshi, Hirotaka suggests that she try dating a fellow otaku, specifically himself. He makes a solemn promise to always be there for her, to support her, and to help her farm for rare drops in Monster Hunter. Blown away by the proposal, Narumi agrees immediately. Thus the two otaku start dating, and their adorably awkward romance begins.



Tags: Otaku Culture , Primarily Adult Cast , Josei , Office Lady , Female Protagonist , Video Games , Work , Episodic , Male Protagonist , Urban , Kuudere , Ensemble Cast , Heterosexual , Cosplay , LGBTQ+ Themes , Tsundere , Office , Athletics , Tomboy , Bisexual , Classic Literature

MONSTER

Also known as Monster.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Thriller

Dr. Kenzo Tenma is a renowned Japanese brain surgeon working at a leading hospital in Germany. One night, Dr. Tenma risks his reputation and career to save the life of a critically wounded young boy over that of the town mayor who had been planning to support the hospital financially. A string of mysterious murders begin to occur soon after the operation, and Dr. Tenma emerges as the primary suspect despite no incriminating evidence.

A doctor is taught to believe that all life is equal; however, when another series of murders occur in the surgeon's vicinity, Dr. Tenma's beliefs are shaken as his actions that night are shown to have much broader consequences than he could have imagined. Leaving behind his life as a surgeon he embarks on a journey across the country to unravel the mystery of the boy he saved.

Tags: Crime , Seinen , Detective , Philosophy , Ensemble Cast , Fugitive , Revenge , Primarily Adult Cast , Noir , Conspiracy , Twins , Memory Manipulation , Tragedy , Adoption , Foreign , Urban , Police , Male Protagonist , Amnesia , Medicine , Politics , Dissociative Identities , Travel , Historical , Orphan , Time Skip , Guns , Suicide , Primarily Male Cast , Torture , Episodic , Crossdressing , Nudity , Gore ,

Fruits Basket: 1st Season

Also known as Fruits Basket (2019).

Studio: TMS Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance , Slice of Life , Supernatural

Tohru Honda thought her life was headed for misfortune when a family tragedy left her living in a tent. When her small home is discovered by the mysterious Soma clan, she suddenly finds herself living with Yuki, Kyo, and Shigure Soma. But she quickly learns their family has a bizarre secret of their own: when hugged by the opposite sex, they turn into the animals of the Zodiac!



Tags: Found Family , Female Protagonist , Family Life , Shoujo , Fairy Tale , Mythology , Coming of Age , Primarily Teen Cast , Urban Fantasy , Ensemble Cast , Orphan , Shapeshifting , Rehabilitation , Animals , Primarily Male Cast , School , Episodic , Slapstick , Bullying , Heterosexual , Male Harem , Unrequited Love , Denpa , Kuudere , Memory Manipulation , Tsundere , Love Triangle , Homeless , Yandere , Agriculture , School Club , Nekomimi , Kemonomimi , Femboy , LGBTQ+ Themes , Crossdressing , Body Horror , Gangs , Gender Bending , Delinquents , Amnesia , Suicide , Nudity , Chibi , Card Battle

SPY×FAMILY Part 2

Also known as SPY x FAMILY Cour 2.

Studio: Wit Studio , CloverWorks
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Slice of Life , Supernatural

The second half of SPYxFAMILY.

With Anya Forger successfully enrolled at the renowned Eden Academy, Operation Strix advances to its second phase. To investigate Ostanian politician Donovan Desmond, Anya must either befriend his son Damian or collect eight Stella Stars to become an Imperial Scholar. Fortunately, Anya has already acquired her first star. In celebration, her adoptive father, Loid, decides to fulfill her wish to adopt a dog.

During their canine search, Loid receives new orders from his superiors, who have found that a band of Berlint University students is plotting to assassinate Westalis' Minister Brantz using bombs worn by trained dogs. While Loid tries to stop their plans, Anya stumbles upon the terrorists' base of operations. There, she befriends a kindhearted, clairvoyant dog who the family later names Bond.

Although the Forgers continue to lead their individual lives in secrecy, the family—with a new fluffy addition—remains united through all of the unusual obstacles thrown their way.



Tags: Family Life , Found Family , Espionage , Episodic , Parody , Urban , Ensemble Cast , Urban Fantasy , Assassins , Foreign , Female Protagonist , Adoption , School , Male Protagonist , Politics , Super Power , Fake Relationship , Parenthood , Shounen , Unrequited Love , Slapstick , Heterosexual , Love Triangle , Animals , Surreal Comedy , Orphan , Tsundere , Crossdressing , Kuudere , Tennis , Yandere , Martial Arts , Female Harem , Ojou-sama