When people think of great anime, they typically default to older hits, and for good reason. Classic anime shows and movies like Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, Akira, and Ghost in the Shell have been some of the most popular and influential stories for decades, so whenever people are talking about the best anime, they’ll almost always end up talking about those works and others.

There’s no denying the enduring quality of classic anime, but that shouldn’t discredit the quality of newer works. With how much the quality of both writing and animation has evolved in recent years, every new season of anime typically has at least one major hit in the making, and as such, there are plenty of modern and new-gen anime that are more than worth their hype thanks to some combination of incredible stories and visuals. A few anime like that are especially worth highlighting, as every one of them will surely go down as major hits for years to come.

8 Wind Breaker

Anime Series By CloverWorks; Based On The Manga By Satoru Nii

CloverWorks’ Wind Breaker stars Haruka Sakura, a kindhearted delinquent who’s spent his whole life being ostracized for his heterochromia and seeks to prove himself by becoming the top fighter at the legendary delinquent-filled school Furin High. As it turns out, though, the delinquents of Furin High are just as kindhearted as Haruka and protect their town from anyone who tries causing trouble, and by ing with them, Haruka finally finds a place where he can belong.

Wind Breaker doesn’t have the most depth to its writing, but that doesn’t matter too much when Haruka consistently has such great chemistry with the of Bofurin as he slowly learns to open up. More importantly, Wind Breaker has some of the most gorgeous fight animation of any anime in recent years, all of which is perfectly complemented by its stellar direction, and when Wind Breaker season 2 officially premieres this spring, it’s sure to become an even bigger hit with fans and critics alike.

7 The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You

Anime By Bibury Animation Studios; Based On The Manga By Rikito Nakamura & Yukiko Nozawa

Bibury Animation Studios’ The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You stars Rentaro Aijou, an eccentric young boy who’s fallen in love 100 times and been rejected every time. One day, however, the God of Love tells Rentaro that he will gain 100 soulmates during his time in high school, all of whom he must love equally or else risk killing them for depriving them of a soulmate.

It’s one thing for the animation to be consistently good, but between just how great the parody-laden comedy is, how heartfelt the interactions between the Rentaro Family are, and the sheer fact that it’s a rare harem anime that commits to its harem element while never failing to justify it, The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You is a revolutionary anime for its masterful handling of one of anime’s most divisive genres. There’s never been a harem anime quite like it, and that’s going to make it a household name for years to come.

6 Pluto

Anime Series By Studio M2; Based On The Manga By Naoki Urasawa & Takashi Nagasaki

Studio M2’s Pluto is a modern reimagining of the classic “Greatest Robot on Earth” story arc from the legendary anime Astro Boy by Osamu Tezuka. In this take on the series, robot detective Gesicht begins investigating the mysterious murders of the world’s strongest robots by a mysterious figure named Pluto, and in doing so, he uncovers a massive conspiracy that threatens to put the entire world at risk.

While Pluto spent almost a decade in development, it was well worth the wait, as Pluto does a phenomenal job of modernizing the iconic Astro Boy anime with its gorgeous art and animation and its mature storytelling filled with human drama and unflinching commentary on the Iraq War. Manga author Naoki Urasawa is one of the most iconic names in seinen manga for his work on stories like Monster, 20th Century Boys, and Billy Bat, and the incredible quality of Pluto’s anime shows he deserves all the recognition he’s received, and then some.

5 Devilman Crybaby

Anime Series By Science Saru; Based On The Manga By Go Nagai

Science Saru’s Devilman Crybaby is the latest reimagining of the iconic Devilman series by Go Nagai. When habitual crybaby Akira Fudo is dragged by his best friend Ryo Asuka onto a mission to expose the existence of demons, he's possessed by the demon Amon and gains the power to transform into the bloodthirsty Devilman. What follows is Akira's transformation into a more assertive and aggressive person as he struggles to protect his loved ones from demons under the growing threat of the apocalypse.

Not only does Devilman Crybaby effortlessly modernize the original Devilman with new takes and twists on the characters and overall story while still having the same hauntingly dark finale, but Devilman Crybaby’s creative, eccentric, and all-around gorgeous art and animation make every episode a delight to watch from start to finish. Even after so many years, Devilman Crybaby is undeniably one of the best Science Saru anime ever made, and anyone who wants to know why the company is held in such high regard needs to only watch this series.

4 Delicious In Dungeon

Anime Series By Studio Trigger; Based On The Manga By Ryoko Kui

In Studio Trigger’s Delicious in Dungeon, the adventure party of series protagonist Laios is wiped out by a dragon, with Laios’ sister, Falin, even being eaten alive. Laios and what remains of his party need to hurry back through the dungeon to revive Falin, and to deal with a lack of funds, they resort to eating the monsters they encounter in the dungeon, something Laios is all but stated to have just been looking for an excuse to do, all while slowly uncovering the dark, hidden secrets behind the dungeon’s existence.

It’s one thing for Delicious in Dungeon to have gorgeous artwork and animation courtesy of Studio Trigger, but between its great comedy and action and the surprisingly thorough worldbuilding, Delicious in Dungeon is one of Studio Trigger’s best anime in recent years for how well it sells itself as a fantasy series both visually and narratively. It’s a perfect anime to watch amid the overabundance of generic isekai anime, and with Delicious in Dungeon season 2 in development, there’s plenty more in store.

3 Bocchi The Rock!

Anime Series By CloverWorks; Based On The Manga By Aki Hamazi

CloverWorks’ Bocchi the Rock! stars Hitori Gotoh, a girl with crippling social anxiety who learned to play guitar in the hopes of using it to make friends, although her efforts never once managed to bear fruit. One day, however, Hitori is recruited to be the new guitarist in the band Kessoku Band, and as Hitori—now with the nickname Bocchi—commits herself to the band, she’ll find herself slowly but surely gaining the exact life she hoped for when she first started learning the guitar.

On the surface, Bocchi the Rock! comes off as little more than another “cute girls doing cute things” anime, but between its creative and all-around gorgeous animation and how great a job it does of telling a story about overcoming social anxiety with Bocchi’s arc, Bocchi the Rock! is easily one of the best anime in recent years for how well it excels both visually and narratively. It’s recently been announced that Bocchi the Rock! season 2 is in development, and once it comes out, the show will surely rise to even greater heights for fans and critics alike.

2 Dandadan

Anime Series By Science Saru; Based On The Manga By Yukinobu Tatsu

Science Saru’s Dandadan stars Momo Ayase and Okarun, two teenagers obsessed with aliens and the supernatural who end up permanently changed by an encounter with both, with both teens gaining supernatural powers and Okarun losing his genitalia. Momo and Okarun work together and with others to get them back while fighting any supernatural threat they come across, all as a budding romance begins to develop between the two.

Dandadan was hyped up to be a big deal from the moment it was announced, and sure enough, when Dandadan finally premiered, Dandadan more than lived up to its hype with its perfect combination of gorgeous animation, clever and heartfelt writing, and an all-around stellar direction to tie it all together. Dandadan season 2 premieres in July 2025, and with how amazing season 1 was, season 2 will be just as great to watch, if not more so.

1 Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

Anime Series By Madhouse; Based On The Manga By Kanehito Yamada & Tsukasa Abe

Madhouse’s Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End stars Frieren, the virtually unaging elf mage of the adventurer party that defeated the demon lord. While Frieren initially didn’t think much of her time with everyone, the death of the Hero, Himmel, made her realize how much she cared about them, and her regret over letting Himmel die without seeing that pushes Frieren to go on a new journey to learn how to better understand people, all while leading a new adventurer party and occasionally dealing with the remnants of her past.

The Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End manga had consistently been a hit with fans and critics for years, and thanks to its amazing animation, soundtrack, and overall direction, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End was a flawless adaptation of the manga that brought out the full charm of its mature writing and incredible visuals at every turn. With Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End season 2 set for a January 2026 premiere, there’s plenty more in store for the series, and overall, there’s no better example of a new-gen anime that’s worth the hype.