Many of the best anime of the last decade are far from over. As good as series like Chainsaw Man and Frieren are, the anime aren’t even close to ending, meaning fans will have to wait years for a resolution. Thankfully, there’s no shortage of amazing anime that are already finished.
Anyone waiting for the next season of their favorite anime can pass the time with completed series like Gintama. Not only are these series 100% finished, but they’re true 10/10s with absolutely brilliant writing. Best of all, since these series are already done, there’s no need to worry that the anime will drop the ball before the finish line.
Gundam Build Fighters Is One of the Best Modern Mecha Anime
When people think about Gundam, Gundam Build Fighters is rarely the first series that comes to mind. Its lighter tone and focus on Gunpla make it feel far removed from the political conflicts and wartime drama associated with the franchise, and it’s clearly aimed at a younger audience. Even so, Build Fighters and its sequel, Try, prove anime for kids can still be genuinely good.
Gundam Build Fighters knows exactly what it is: a show built around Gunpla with enormous affection for Gundam itself. It’s packed with references to the franchise and frequently celebrates the joy Gundam has brought fans around the world, but it never relies on nostalgia alone. The series also has an immensely likable cast and consistently entertaining battles that manage to feel surprisingly high-stakes.
Gintama Is a Perfect Action Comedy Anime
There’s a reason this anime lasted for over 350 episodes and nearly a decade. Gintama is everything one could want out of a shonen anime. On the surface, it looks like a parody of the genre, and seems like it’s incapable of taking things seriously. Certainly, the first few dozen episodes of the series are all comedy, designed to introduce this ridiculous world where both aliens and samurai are equally possible.
Gintama‘s ability to go from being a comedy to an action series that can compete with the best of them is what makes the series work. The series is set within a rich universe where viewers are just as likely to see characters poking fun at Yamcha from Dragon Ball Z as they are diving into more serious topics like Gintoki’s Benizakura arc. It can feel like mood whiplash at times, but it’s something truly special.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders Is Where JoJo Reaches Its Full Potential
While the first season of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is great, and it shouldn’t be skipped, no matter what anyone says, it’s when the series gets to Stardust Crusaders that the franchise reaches its full potential. Set in the 1980s, Stardust Crusaders follows Jotaro Kujo and his allies as they travel the world in hopes of confronting the mad vampire, Dio.
Stardust Crusaders is when it finally feels like Hirohiko Araki gets comfortable enough to cut loose, as the characters become more interesting and the fight scenes become more creative. This Part of JoJo introduces one of anime’s best power systems in the Stand system, which gives every character their own summoned monster wielding their own special abilities.
Hunter x Hunter Represents the Peak of Adventure Anime
Only a great like Yoshihiro Togashi could follow up one amazing series like Yu Yu Hakusho with another great like Hunter x Hunter. Hunter x Hunter is the ultimate adventure story, following a boy named Gon Freecss as he goes on a quest to meet his father. His adventures are often full of real danger, and Gon typically finds himself dealing with challenges and enemies that he isn’t capable of actually overcoming.
Hunter x Hunter is a masterpiece of both world-building and character writing. Few series are capable of long stretches of storytelling without their protagonist, yet Hunter x Hunter pulls this off repeatedly. Rather than force Gon into situations he lacks the strength or wisdom to deal with, the series instead takes that time to develop supporting cast members and antagonists, creating one of the most immersive worlds in anime.
Macross Frontier Offers Space Dogfights and a Well-Written Love Triangle
Created to celebrate the 25th anniversary of one of mecha anime’s longest-running franchises, Macross Frontier had plenty to live up to. Fortunately, Shoji Kawamori and Satelight delivered a series that not only expands the mythology of Macross in meaningful ways, but also works as an introduction for newcomers.
One of Macross Frontier’s greatest strengths is its central love triangle. The spectacular space dogfights and Itano Circus sequences are all here, but the series never loses sight of the changing dynamic between Alto, Sheryl, and Ranka. Just as compelling is watching Sheryl and Ranka’s careers evolve, with both experiencing successes and setbacks as they pursue their own dreams.
Trigun Is a Fantastic Action Anime About the Value of Human Life
Everything that’s special about Trigun revolves around Vash the Stampede. While series relying on their main character is nothing new, Vash stands out as one of the best protagonists in anime history. Compared to this modern era, where overpowered characters are eager to wield their power to kill or embarrass anything that stands in their way, Vash feels like the lone adult in a room full of children.
Trigun is an exploration of just how far one man is willing to go to stick to his morals. As one of the most talented gunmen that ever lived, so much of Vash’s life would be easier if he simply killed his enemies. Instead, he shows himself willing to go to any lengths, even if it means harming himself, just to keep from taking lives. Trigun stands out by trying its best to show how every human life is precious.
The original 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist was already a beloved anime series, but it was far from being a faithful adaptation of the manga that shares its name. Fortunately, the series was so popular that Studio Bones was able to get a remake off the ground just six years later. And while it would’ve been easy to fall short of the first anime, Brotherhood instead gave long-time fans everything they could’ve hoped for.
A major part of Brotherhood’s appeal is the depth of its world. Arakawa fills Amestris with memorable characters who have their own ambitions, loyalties, and conflicts that often extend far beyond the Elric brothers’ journey. Combine that with the story’s gripping narrative about the harm that imperialism does both to other nations and its own citizens, and the result is one of anime’s best.
Samurai Champloo Mixes Intense Sword Fights With Chill Hip-Hop
Samurai Champloo is worth watching just for the lo-fi hip-hop soundtrack alone. It’s something that should clash with the story’s jidaigeki-era setting, but works perfectly thanks to the brilliance of director Shinichiro Watanabe. Watching slick samurai action play out set to a Nujabes track is something that no other anime will ever be able to replicate.
Much like Cowboy Bebop, the plot isn’t the reason to check out Samurai Champloo. Instead, it’s watching Jin, Mugen, and Fuu develop as people, and experiencing the sometimes absurd, sometimes poignant vignettes of each episode. Samurai Champloo is a series that excels in everything that makes a series great, even if it isn’t a show that viewers will ever feel like they need to binge-watch.
Cowboy Bebop Is Still a Perfect Sci-Fi Western Even Decades Later
People have been talking about Cowboy Bebop as one of the greats in anime since it started running on Adult Swim in 2001. It’s remained in the public consciousness for 25 years since then, as one of the rare non-mecha sci-fi anime that’s actually managed to gain notoriety beyond being a cult classic.
Naturally, these days, fans have become obsessed with plot-driven anime, and can sometimes find Cowboy Bebop‘s largely disconnected vignettes off-putting. However, focusing solely on the plot misses out on what makes Cowboy Bebop special.
Through its quirky cast, Cowboy Bebop displays the theme of found family better than almost any anime out there, as these characters with no reason to stay together learn to look out for one another anyway. Seeing them become a makeshift family is exactly what makes this anime’s legendary ending hit so hard.
Legend of the Galactic Heroes’ Character Writing and World Building Is Unmatched
While it’s true that anime has had space opera series for years, few of them have ever been as good as Legend of the Galactic Heroes. This incredible anime might be a long-runner, with an episode count exceeding a hundred episodes, not counting all its prequels and side stories, but it’s worth it.
The series tells the story of a war between two opposing intergalactic empires. Despite having a massive cast, every character within Legend of the Galactic Heroes is brilliantly written, each serving their own purpose in the grander narrative. At the same time, it features some sharply-written social commentary that’s timeless, meaning it feels just as relevant now as it did when the series released in the 1980s.
