IMDb is the go-to place for Western movie and TV show fans, who love to give their opinions and rate their favorite pieces of entertainment. With that being said, I wanted to take a deep dive into the anime section to see which anime are the highest ranked. After all, this isn’t an anime website, which makes things that much more interesting. So what anime do you think will top the list? Here are the 10 best anime ever created, according to IMDb.
IMPORTANT: Numbers are subject to change as more votes come in, so don’t be surprised if the information in this list becomes dated. Plus, this list is based on IMDb scores, and ordered after the rating, and then by the number of votes. So this means that if two anime have a 9.0 rating, the one with the most votes will be ranked higher.
PS. I will only include anime with more than 20,000 votes!
Closing In On Top 10: Demon Slayer
Original Title: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Original Run: 2019 – Ongoing
Episodes: 26
Studio: ufotable
Director: Haruo Sotozaki
Series Composition: Hikaru Kondou
IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
Votes: 70.000+
Given 10/10: 41.1%
8 or higher: 85.0 %
4 or lower: 4.3 %
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is slowly but surely creeping into the Top 10 on IMDb, and it’s not particularly surprising, now is it? Considering that it’s an ongoing anime, it’s only a matter of time before it gets an 8.8 and climbs over Dragon Ball Z and Vinland Saga. So the question is when will that happen?
The numbers speak for themselves, but I’m gonna give them a hand, okay? The only problem with Demon Slayer’s rating is that it’s not getting that many 10 pointers, compared to other anime on this list. Will that hinder the show from climbing the ranks? Possibly. But I wouldn’t worry too much, as Kimetsu no Yaiba is just warming up, and I believe the best is yet to come!
10. Dragon Ball Z
Original Title: Dragon Ball Z
Original Run: 1989 – 1996
Episodes: 291
Studio: Toei Animation
Director: Daisuke Nishio, Shigeyasu Yamauchi
Series Composition: Takao Koyama
IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
Votes: 120.000+
Given 10/10: 46.3%
8 or higher: 83.2%
4 or lower: 5.9%
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. While I doubt that Dragon Ball Z will climb the ranks, considering how old it is, I do expect it to maintain its score, which would already be impressive.
What do the numbers tell us? 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. While that might sound like a weird thing to mention, it’s important to note as many fans nowadays just review-bomb TV shows, just so their favorite anime gets a higher score. It’s ridiculous, I fully agree. But that’s how things are, so I wanted to be transparent and mention it.
9. Vinland Saga
Original Title: Vinland Saga
Original Run: 2019 – 2019
Episodes: 24
Studio: Wit Studio
Director: Shuuhei Yabuta
Series Composition: Hiroshi Seko
IMDb Rating: 8.8/10
Votes: 25.000+
Given 10/10: 40.7%
8 or higher: 88.7%
4 or lower: 2.8%
When I first saw that Vinland Saga has a rating of 8.8, I was downright shocked! While it may not be surprising to many, I didn’t expect Vinland Saga to have a higher score than Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer and Dragon Ball Z. I simply didn’t see it coming, but I was really happy because Vinland Saga feels somewhat underrated, or is that just me? Nevertheless, it might only have 25k votes, but it’s one of the top 10 anime according to IMDb.
So what about the IMDb rating? What does it tell us? Well, not many people think it deserves a 10 out of 10, with only 40.7% people giving it 10 points. However, it has a very high percentage when it comes to getting an 8 or higher. But that’s not all, as very few people have given it a 4 or lower, showing that people genuinelly like the show, without any real hate on IMDb.
8. Steins;Gate
Original Title: Steins;Gate
Original Run: 2011 – 2011
Episodes: 24
Studio: White Fox
Director: Hiroshi Hamasaki, Takuya Satou, Tomoki Kobayashi (ep.25)
Series Composition: Jukki Hanada
IMDb Rating: 8.8/10
Votes: 55.000+
Given 10/10: 42.5%
8 or higher: 85.9%
4 or lower: 4.4%
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. In turn, it’s logical that this show would be highly rated, if by only 55k people, but that’s still a good amount, isn’t it? Nevertheless, it’s a show that’s a must watch, so I hope you give it a chance one day or another, if you haven’t.
The IMDb rating doesn’t give us much information, but similar to Vinland Saga, we see a low percentage giving the show a 10 out of 10. While it’s obviously not a small number (42.5%), it’s low compared to other anime on this list, and that matters. But maybe you’re thinking why? I mean, the show won’t be able to climb with these percentages, as it’s simple math. It would in-fact need a percentage of 45% or higher to actually hit the higher end of the 8.8 spectrum. Not that it’s necessary, because 8.8 is great, but I’m afraid it’s nestled into this spot, without any way to climb, unless we get a new Steins;Gate anime!
7. One Piece
Original Title: One Piece
Original Run: 1999 – Ongoing
Episodes: 890+
Studio: Toei Animation
Director: Kounosuke Uda (+ 8 Other Directors)
Series Composition: Junki Takegami, Hirohiko Uesaka, Shoji Yonemura
IMDb Rating: 8.8/10
Votes: 100.000+
Given 10/10: 57.8%
8 or higher: 83.3%
4 or lower: 8.4%
What can I say about One Piece? It’s not only popular in the West, but it’s well-known around the world, and that’s saying something. Whether it’s the manga or the anime, One Piece is one of the many great franchises that everybody should at least show some interest in. While it’s a tall task to watch over 890 episodes, it’s definitely worth watching a few seasons to see if you are interested. But to each their own, I guess? Nevertheless, it’s undoubtedly one of the best anime of all time, and we don’t need IMDB to tell us that!
One Piece has a whopping 57.8% 10 pointers, which is only second to Attack on Titan (59.3%). This means that people genuinelly love One Piece, and that it has a crazy loyal fandom! But it also means that One Piece won’t drop from 8.8. If anything, it can actually climb to 8.9, as it’s an ongoing anime. However, it does have an 8.4% of votes with 4 or lower, which could mean that people love it and some hate it. But honestly, it shouldn’t matter that much. One Piece has a legitimate spot on this list, and that won’t change.
6. One Punch Man
Original Title: One Punch Man
Original Run: 2015 – 2019
Episodes: 24
Studio: Madhouse
Director: Shingo Natsume
Series Composition: Tomohiro Suzuki
IMDb Rating: 8.8/10
Votes: 140.000+
Given 10/10: 41.4%
8 or higher: 86.3%
4 or lower: 3.4%
One Punch Man is one of the 3 Madhouse anime on this list. Thus, it’s a studio that only knows quality, as pretty much all of their produced anime are excellent! Obviously, One Punch Man is one of them, if not the very best when it comes to eye-catching visuals and breathtaking fight scenes!
There’s a very small probability of One Punch Man hitting 8.9, considering the low amoung of 10 pointers, which is the case for most anime on this list. It simply means that it will struggle to climb the ranks, but will most likely not drop down either, as only 3.4% people have given it 4 or lower, which is great! Plus, 140k voters means that it won’t easily budge from its 8.8 score.
5. Cowboy Bepop
Original Title: Cowboy Bebop
Original Run: 1998 – 1999
Episodes: 26
Studio: Sunrise
Director: Shinichiro Watanabe
Series Composition: Keiko Nobumoto
IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
Votes: 105.000+
Given 10/10: 43.3%
8 or higher: 83.4%
4 or lower: 7.7%
Spike Spiegel’s Cowboy Bebop is one of the most popular anime in the West, and with good reason, as it’s really well-written. I’m not talking about well-written like a modern day anime, but well-written as in, Cowboy Bebop is a classic story, that trancends being just an anime. In turn, I’m glad to see it have such a high score!
While Cowboy Bebop has a high rating of 8.9, I’m worried it might drop to 8.8, considering the high percentage of people giving it a low score, at 7.7%. While it’s not necessarily a lot, it’s still more than every anime on this list, except for One Piece (8.4%). Therefore, we might see Spike Spiegel and his buddies drop to an 8.8 before we hit 2023.
4. Hunter x Hunter
Original Title: Hunter x Hunter
Original Run: 2011 – 2014
Episodes: 148
Studio: Madhouse
Director: Hiroshi Koujina
Series Composition: Atsushi Maekawa, Ryuu Kamio
IMDb Rating: 9.0/10
Votes: 80.000+
Given 10/10: 49.8%
8 or higher: 87.3%
4 or lower: 5.7%
Madhouse’s Hunter x Hunter made a big impact on the anime world when it debuted in 2011. From it’s distinct characters to its overall storytelling arcs, HxH took the anime world by the throat, and forced people to enjoy the show! Whether you like it initially or grew to enjoy it, HxH is definitely a special anime, that might be tropey, but has a ton of charm and many great moments!
Hunter x Hunter will easily hold its 9.0, considering how the ratings are rather high across the board. In turn, we won’t see it dropping anytime soon, unless people start bombing every TV anime that isn’t Attack on Titan. While that’s hard to believe, you never know with some fans how they will score anime, so anything is possible. Therefore, it’s important to take these scores with a grain of salt, as it’s still someone’s personal opinion. However, Hunter x Hunter is definitely a top 10 anime, at least according to IMDb.
3. Death Note
Original Title: Death Note: Desu nôto
Original Run: 2006 – 2007
Episodes: 37
Studio: Madhouse
Director: Tetsurou Araki
Series Composition: Toshiki Inoue
IMDb Rating: 9.0/10
Votes: 285.000+
Given 10/10: 44.7%
8 or higher: 88.7%
4 or lower: 3.6%
Death Note is an legendary anime, recognized for its exctremely well-written characters and spine-tingling storyline, with enough complexity to make you re-watch it. Simply put, it’s one of a kind, and there’s nothing like it. Thus, it makes sense that Death Note would rank this highly. Not only that, it has the second most votes out of any anime on IMDb, and that shows just how popular it is in the Western world.
When it comes to the IMDb rating, 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; 88.7%.
2. Attack on Titan
Original Title: Shingeki no Kyojin
Original Run: 2013 – Ongoing
Episodes: 75
Studio: Wit Studio / MAPPA
Director: Tetsurou Araki / Yuuichirou Hayashi
Series Composition: Yasuko Kobayashi / Hiroshi Seko
IMDb Rating: 9.0/10
Votes: 305.000+
Given 10/10: 59.3%
8 or higher: 87.5%
4 or lower: 6.6%
Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin) is an anime series that has taken the world by storm, with The Final Chapter Part 2 currently airing.
It’s not shocking that Attack on Titan is close to topping this list, and every episode that airs is another opportunity for a 10 pointer for a new fan. But will it be able to overtake Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood at #1? To me, it seems inevitable. However, considering the ending of Hajime Isayama‘s manga, which is being adapted by MAPPA, I’m sure AOT will be angering many of the show’s fans. In turn, it’s not as inevitable as many, including myself, may believe!
On IMDb, Attack on Titan has the highest percentage of 10 pointers when compared to other anime. In turn, it shows you exactly how much people love the show. But that’s not all, as it recently surpassed Death Note in being the most voted-on anime on IMDb, which is a pretty big accomplishment. It not only means that Western audiences like the show, but it is a good example of how enchanting Attack on Titan is as an anime.
1. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Original Title: Hagane no renkinjutsushi
Original Run: 2009 – 2010
Episodes: 64
Studio: Bones
Director: Yasuhiro Irie
Series Composition: Hiroshi Onogi
IMDb Rating: 9.1/10
Votes: 145.000+
Given 10/10: 51.1%
8 or higher: 87.6%
4 or lower: 5.7%
According to the votes on IMDb, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is the best anime ever created. But that’s hardly surprising, right? Considering how succesful the show was with western viewers, it makes sense that Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood would still be at the top of the mountain. But for how long? That’s the real question.
The most impressive thing about this score is that it’s literally the only anime with a 9.1 score. So when it comes to overtaking it, Attack on Titan fans will need to bomb the 10/10, otherwise it won’t hit 9.1. But I guess only time will tell if that’s actually gonna happen, considering how Hajime Isayama’s manga ends. I’m sure people will be giving AOT plenty of low scores. We’ll just have to wait and see!
Personally I think that Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood deserves the top spot, and all the love it gets, as it’s pretty much a perfect anime. I for one love seeing Edward Elric on top. So with that being said, according to IMDd, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is #1 on the list of the top 10 anime!
Source: IMDb.
