Is there such a thing as a universally loved anime? Join us as we explore some of the most critically acclaimed and fan-favorite series that come pretty darn close! Which of these beloved shows holds a special place in your heart? Let us know in the comments!
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the anime so beloved that
00:13hardly anyone hates them.
00:26There are plenty of classic 90s shounen series with devoted fans, however Yu Yu Hakusho arguably
00:33has the fewest detractors.
00:40The show follows spirit detective Yusuke and his friends as they battle various supernatural
00:46threats.
00:47The characters are compelling and the story is well told and lacking the filler that plagues
00:52some of its peers.
01:05The action and animation hold up surprisingly well, even the dub is praised and we all know
01:11how rare that is.
01:13Yu Yu Hakusho also proved incredibly influential on the genre, with dozens of its successors
01:19taking inspiration from it.
01:21It might be comparatively underrated, but few who have seen it would speak against Yu
01:25Yu Hakusho.
01:37Number 9.
01:38Free Ran Beyond Journey's End
01:40Perhaps the only complaint you'll see about Free Ran is its slower pace, and while accurate,
01:45nobody hates the show because of it.
01:57The journeys of the eponymous elf mage have won the hearts of millions.
02:01The animation is gorgeous and renders slice of life and action scenes with equal beauty.
02:07The soundtrack is steering and moving too.
02:19The pace of the show is measured, yet in its quiet moments, Free Ran delivers incredible
02:25insight into its characters, themes and world.
02:36Free Ran Beyond Journey's End continues to go beyond everyone's expectations, and
02:41we absolutely love it.
02:47Number 8.
02:48Gintama
02:49Comedy can be subjective, but while Gintama may not make everyone laugh, it's still
02:54a riot.
03:01A bizarre mashup of sci-fi, samurai and fourth-wall-breaking comedy, Gintama is truly weird and utterly
03:09unique.
03:10Despite its emphasis on comedy, the series does contain some serious elements, particularly
03:15as time goes on, with some incredibly intense battles.
03:29While its heavy reliance on in-jokes and Japanese humour has left it more of a cult
03:34classic outside of Japan, Gintama is still as well-liked as it is under-watched.
03:40People even like the filler.
03:51Number 7.
03:52Natsume's Book of Friends
03:53A teenage boy with the ability to see spirits and yokai is a typical anime set-up, but it's
04:00in its execution that Natsume's Book of Friends differs from the rest.
04:12The titular Natsume Takashi doesn't fight spirits, but instead seeks to understand and
04:18empathise with them.
04:19Comforts, wholesomeness and emotional backstories are the order of the day with this anime.
04:25The sheer amount of depth packed into each episode is impressive.
04:39While it may not have much international recognition, everyone who knows Natsume's Book of Friends
04:45knows it's a real page-turner.
04:56Number 6.
04:57Dandodan
04:58Love is always a hurricane, and Dandodan is one wild storm.
05:14Bursting onto the scene with a ton of energy and a totally unique feel, Dandodan was an
05:20instant favourite for many.
05:22Momo and Okurun's encounters with aliens and ghosts lead to comedy, romance and action
05:28in equal measure.
05:37Its wide variety of genres gives it a broad appeal to begin with, but the presentation
05:43is what won so many hearts.
05:45The series expertly transitions from chaotic action to hysterical comedy to adorable romantic
05:51moments, sometimes all in the same scene.
06:01Dandodan doesn't compromise by emphasising one tone instead of another, but instead embraces
06:07them all with equal enthusiasm.
06:10It's no wonder everyone adores it.
06:12Number 5.
06:13Mob Psycho 100
06:15Psychic powers can't solve every problem.
06:18Mob is a young esper whose struggles with emotions, girls and making friends are often
06:23as difficult as his battles against ghosts and other psychics.
06:40Mob Psycho 100 is packed with incredible action scenes with beautifully fluid animation.
06:45Meanwhile, the character dynamics and personal growth throughout the show are well done and
06:51truly heartwarming.
06:52The series will make you laugh, cry and maybe become a better person.
07:11Mob Psycho 100 is as difficult to hate as the Body Improvement Club.
07:18It's impossible to hate is what we're saying, fight on!
07:28Number 4.
07:29Gurren Lagann
07:30Your blood would need to run cold indeed not to enjoy this hot-blooded mecha anime.
07:36Simon, Kamina and the rest of Team Daiguren's giant mecha battles take them from deep underground
07:42to the stars above.
07:50The extensive cast each get their own chance to develop, since much like the drills that
07:55feature throughout, they all keep moving forward.
07:58For as audacious and outlandish as Gurren Lagann is, its themes include touching down-to-earth
08:04ideas like believing in yourself.
08:19You'd have to be an anti-spiral to hate Gurren Lagann, because its lovability pierces the
08:24heavens themselves.
08:35Number 3.
08:36Hunter x Hunter
08:37It's amazing that the creator of Yu Yu Hakusho managed to make two series that are universally
08:43acclaimed.
08:53Hunter x Hunter is somehow both a wholesome shounen adventure series and a show that deconstructs
08:58the genre's tropes in dark and interesting ways.
09:02Aspiring Hunter Gon's search for his father leads to several distinct and varied smaller
09:07stories along the way, including everything from a mafia conflict to a video game isekai.
09:21Hunter x Hunter has earned millions of fans thanks to its intricate storytelling, great
09:26characters and brilliantly realised power system, among many other things.
09:37In fact, you could argue that the only thing people hate about it is that we may never
09:42get a complete adaptation.
09:51Number 2.
09:52Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood
09:54Almost nobody badmouths FMAB, it's just too good.
10:07An epic adventure series, Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood follows Ed and Al Elric on their
10:13quest to regain their bodies after a disastrous and grim mistake.
10:25Their simple quest soon builds into a story on a massive scale, yet it never loses its
10:32heart.
10:33The show's themes are deep and touch on everything from war to the nature of the human
10:38soul.
10:39It's action is spectacular, it's funny yet tragic.
10:42This anime does a little bit of everything, and it does everything practically perfectly.
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11:13Number 1.
11:14Cowboy Bebop
11:15This sci-fi series is simply too cool to dislike.
11:18The adventures, and misadventures, of the Bebop crew have been so popular for decades
11:24for many reasons.
11:36It's a frequent gateway anime for many.
11:38The animation holds up incredibly well.
11:41The series draws from a lot of genres, which make it appeal to fans of many kinds of stories.
11:47Speaking of genres, the music is eclectic, yet absolutely flawless throughout.
11:59And the dub is easily front and center in the anime dub hall of fame.
12:04Cowboy Bebop is an anime that just about everyone considers a jam.
12:16Is there an anime that gets no hate, that you hate we forgot?
12:20Let us know in those comments below.