The anime industry is one of the most innovative and engaging in today’s entertainment world. Anime are not bound by the limitations of live-action, and therefore provide the perfect platform for anything from breathtaking fight scenes, interdimensional time-travel, and fantasy worldbuilding to the exploration of the moral and existential issues that plague us all.
Following this year’s AnimeJapan 2025, and the highly anticipated Crunchyroll Awards set to begin nominations on April 3, 2025, what better way to celebrate the achievements in anime than a list of the top 10 anime from the last decade? Check out our list of the 10 best anime series of the last decade, and find out where you can stream them all from the United Kingdom below!
Attack on Titan (2013–2023)
Attack on Titan is without doubt one of the best anime of the past decade due to its gripping storytelling, intricate plot twists, and deep character development. It is a dark fantasy anime set in a world where humanity is on the brink of extinction due to giant humanoid creatures called Titans. The story follows Eren Yeager and his friends Mikasa and Armin, as they join the military to fight against the Titans after their hometown is destroyed. In particular, Eren’s unexpected arc from hero to villain presents a story full of moral dilemmas and philosophical questions that have kept fans engaged over the course of four whiplash seasons.
Jujutsu Kaisen (2020–)
Jujutsu Kaisen is celebrated as one of the best anime of the past decade because of its highly relatable characters, splashy animation style, and blend of action, horror, and humour. The rich world created by Gege Akutami has quickly rocketed Jujutsu Kaisen to the top of anime fans’ lists, despite it only currently having two seasons.
Jujutsu Kaisen follows the story of high school student Yuji Itadori, who, after ingesting a cursed finger, becomes enveloped in a world of cursed spirits. To protect others and learn how to navigate this new world, he enrolls in Jujutsu High, a school for sorcerers trained to combat these sinister beings. Throughout the series, Yuji and his friends Megumi and Nobara, face various powerful curses as they develop their skills and confront their own vulnerabilities.
Demon Slayer: Blade of Demon Destruction (2019–)
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is considered one of the best anime of the past decade due to its colourful animation, breathtaking fight scenes, and—perhaps most significantly—the depth of its character explorations as the protagonists tackle loss and what it means to persevere in the face of great odds.
The story follows Tanjiro Kamado, a kind-hearted boy whose family is murdered by demons. Tanjiro and his sister Nezuko are the sole survivors, and Nezuko is shockingly transformed into a demon herself. After vowing to avenge his family and find a cure for Nezuko, Tanjiro becomes a demon slayer. The series follows his journey as he battles demons while encountering fellow slayers and uncovering the murky history of demons as he searches for a cure for his sister.
One Piece (1999–)
Although the One Piece anime may have started back in 1999, the series is very much still relevant and even gaining new fans since the release of its live-action counterpart in Netflix’s One Piece. The anime is widely considered one of the best of the last decade (and prior) because of its relentlessly positive spirit that propels its unique plot forward. The lovable main characters, including Captain Monkey D Luffy, Nami, Usopp, Zoro, and Sanji, together form the Straw Hat Pirates, a merry group of misfits with special powers in search of the One Piece, which dubs its finder King of the Pirates. The series follows the group as they traverse the high seas of this colourful world, evading villains and growing closer to one another as they search for the powerful ancient relic.
Dr Stone (2019–)
Dr Stone is perhaps the most underrated anime on this list. The series takes place in a world where humans have been turned to stone. After thousands of years, human scientist Senku Ishigami awakens in this new world, and finds the few other survivors including his friend Taiju. Together, the group work to restore humanity from their petrified state and rebuild civilisation while confronting opposing views in the group and learning to balance power.
Dr Stone is one of the most compelling anime to come out of the last decade because of its mix of strong-willed characters, impressive animation style, and perhaps most importantly its grounding in science-based problem solving, which is used to great effect and gives the additional benefit of being both educational and entertaining.
Re: Zero (2016–)
Re: Zero—Starting Life in Another World is well loved by anime fans for its intricate storytelling and emotionally charged character development. The story follows Subaru Natsuki, a teenager who is suddenly transported to a fantasy world where he discovers he has the ability to return from the dead. Each time he dies, the timeline resets and he finds himself back at the start of the loop. During his time in the fantasy world, Subaru meets the mysterious Emilia, who saves him only to be killed herself. Once Subaru masters the timeline, he can finally learn how to save Emilia too. Throughout the story, the blend of dark fantasy elements, psychological and emotional challenges, and a good dose of humour create a gripping narrative that makes Re: Zero one of the most beloved anime of the past decade.
One-Punch Man (2015–)
One-Punch Man is one of the best anime of the last decade due to its clever subversion of the classic superhero story blended with plenty of comedy and action. The story follows Saitama, a hero who trained his singular one-punch move so effectively he can defeat any opponent without much effort. But getting to this point has a cost, and Saitama deals with boredom and a sense of meaninglessness as he goes in search of worthy opponents to fight.
One-Punch Man stands out in its ability to address themes of heroism and what motivates a person to continue forward in the face of stagnation. Throughout the story, Saitama maintains a deadpan attitude toward life that contrasts sharply with the heroes and villains around him. This contrast makes him both relatable and intriguing to both die-hard anime fans and those new to the genre.
My Hero Academia (2016–)
My Hero Academia is one of the most compelling anime of the past decade due to its explorations around identity and moral courage. The story takes place in a world where 80% of the population has a superpower, otherwise known as a Quirk. Izuku Midoriya starts out as an ethically heroic but superpowerless teen who is bestowed with powers after gaining the attention of the legendary hero All Might. Now with his own powers, Izuku joins the UA High School where he trains to use his powers as a true hero. Given his great appreciation of superpowers due to having lived without them, Izuku’s moral values are only cemented as he learns at the academy and defends its pupils from outside threats.
Dandadan (2024–)
Dandandan succeeds in being both a thrilling fantasy and a touching story of friendship slowly turning into more. The plot follows two high school students, Momo and Ken (aka Okarun), who attempt to prove the other wrong about their belief in either aliens or ghosts. But in doing so, they find out both are real. With Momo’s latent psychic powers activated during an alien encounter, she and Okarun spend the rest of the series fighting aliens and ghosts whenever a new threat presents itself, while slowly building their own romantic bond.
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (2023–)
Frieren: Beyond Journeys End is one of the best anime of the last decade due to its deviation from the traditional hero’s arc to a beautiful journey through time, grief, and memory. The story follows an elf mage called Frieren who was part of the original group who defeated the Demon King, ushering in a period of peace. But as the years go on Frieren remains the same while those around her age and die. In a bid to honour the memory of Himmel, one of the original group members, she and a new group travel to his resting place as she relives memories from the past and learns to appreciate those around her in the present.
Although the series is slower than many other anime, its thoughtful storytelling, attention to detail, and exploration of loss while reckoning with vulnerability and the value of human connection make it a series not to be missed.
Where to watch the best anime series of the last decade streaming online
Find out how (and where) to stream the best anime series of the last decade online by scrolling down to the list below. The series are all available to stream online across a variety of platforms in the United Kingdom, including Netflix, Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime Video, ITVX and more!
