The 2020s have been packed with numerous amazing and breathtaking new anime releases so far, with each new hit series pushing the envelope on interesting storytelling methods and impressive animation. With whatever the second half of the decade holds, there are already a large handful of shows that have already begun to define a generation.

While hundreds of different anime exist, each decade produces a selection of shows that withstand the test of time. From Dragon Ball to Cowboy Bebop, these memorable anime stand out for a reason, and the 2020s will be no different.

10

Bocchi the Rock! Has Inspired Many to Enter the World of Music

Bocchi the Rock! struck a chord with audiences upon release with its down-to-earth and realistic visual depictions of social awkwardness and anxiety. Bocchi the Rock! is an idol anime with a heavy focus on comedy, mostly in the form of visual gags. Although the anime wasn’t highly anticipated like many of its contemporaries, it quickly amassed a large fan-base after various clips of the show circulated online.

With its release, Bocchi the Rock! drove up sales of musical instruments, as many fans of the series were inspired to learn the guitar and learn music like the main character of the show. Bocchi, the titular character of the series, and her many panicked exploits are relatable to many viewers. Her anxieties are very human, and this realistic character quirk keeps the writing at a caliber above other anime within the same genre.

9

Chainsaw Man Tells a Hard-Hitting Subversive Story

Like many of the shows that Studio Mappa have chosen to adapt, Chainsaw Man has seen massive success with its anime adaptation. Chainsaw Man was highly anticipated once it was announced that it would be becoming an anime, and the excitement only grew once Mappa announced that they would be handling the transition to animation. The main character, Denji, is a subversive take on the shōnen protagonist, and the story of Chainsaw Man isn’t afraid to dive into the realistic mind of an impoverished 16-year-old with a history of neglect and abuse.

Chainsaw Man‘s world and power system are fascinating, and easy to understand. So, even though only one season of Chainsaw Man has been released so far, if Mappa is able to maintain the same level of quality for its future releases, Chainsaw Man is surely going to go down as one of the best shōnen of all time.

8

The Mystery and Intrigue of The Apothecary Diaries Makes it One of The Greats

The Apothecary Diaries follows the story of an apothecary by the name of Maomao, after she is sold to an Imperial Palace. She uses her knowledge as an apothecary to solve the mystery behind certain members of the royal family falling ill, and once her efforts catch the eye of a eunuch, she is employed to continue solving mysteries for the palace.

The Apothecary Diaries is by far one of the most entertaining and satisfying mystery anime series to come out of the 2020s so far. Its characters are deep, and its world is rich with life. The different ways that the characters within the story interact with one another are nothing short of masterful, and the aspects of drama and romance are woven perfectly into the plot, taking up just the right amount of space and screen time.

7

Solo Leveling Has Captured General Audiences Everywhere

Solo Leveling has become increasingly popular since the release of its anime adaptation in early 2024. Solo Leveling was one of the most, if not the most, anticipated manhwa adaptations of all time. The hype surrounding the anime release helped push the series to the forefront of the anime medium and has perpetually kept it in the mainstream.

Solo Leveling has become the face of shōnen power fantasy and has helped expand the outreach of the genre to many new fans. The show won the Crunchyroll Anime of the Year award in 2025, and the show’s main character, Sung Jinwoo, won the Crunchyroll Best Main Character award in the same year. The opinions on Solo Leveling by many fans are somewhat mixed, but one thing can’t be argued: Solo Leveling is one of the most popular anime in the medium right now.

6

My Dress-Up Darling Uses its Adorable Characters to Captivate its Viewers

With an important narrative about self-acceptance and confidence, My Dress-Up Darling follows Wakana Gojo as he and his new classmate, Marin Kitagawa, work together to create costumes and help each other feel accepted. The romance between the two main characters is heartwarming and is the main driving force behind the plot. Like most romantic slice-of-life anime, Gojo and Marin become flustered with each other more often than not, which only adds to the character’s charm.

The story focuses heavily on the joys of human connection, and the comfort found in sharing a hobby with somebody else. This exploration of one’s passions in the company of another makes the differing friendships relatable to many different kinds of audience members. My Dress-Up Darling is a light-hearted story that succeeds and exceeds in the message that it’s delivering and in the emotions that it sets out to convey.

5

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Got Popular For a Reason

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners very well might be the best video game adaptation of all time. All 10 episodes of the short series demonstrate a masterclass in emotional storytelling, and regardless of Cyberpunk‘s origins as a gaming property, it still stands above other animated series within the same genre. The world of Cyberpunk is vast and has been popular since the 80s and 90s, but the story of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners zooms in on a new and original cast of likable characters.

Studio Trigger, the studio behind other hits like Kill la Kill and Darling in the Franxx, did a fantastic job at bringing this story to life. The hard-hitting story beats are only made even more heart-wrenching by the accompanying animation, score, and dialogue, all of which come together to create a near-seamless experience from beginning to end.

4

Dandadan Is the Perfect Blend of Action and Romance

DanDaDan is another popular shōnen battle anime that has gathered a large following in the past decade. What makes DanDaDan different, however, is that it incorporates romantic tension between its main cast of characters much more than other shows in the same genre. Momo and Okarun’s relationship as friends is one of the most alluring parts of Dan Da Dan, but the action, animation, character writing, and comedy follow closely behind.

Watching the characters become accustomed to their newfound powers is an absolute joy. The character development that each character goes through is tangible, and the lessons that they learn from one another have lasting consequences on the narrative. This helps convey the actual stakes within the story and makes it easier to become invested in their various plights. As the anime adapts more and more chapters of the manga, the show is only going to grow in popularity and gain even more fans.

3

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation is a Difficult Story About Real Problems

While there are many aspects of Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation that are questionable to some fans, the refusal to ignore the uncomfortable story beats of an imperfect main character is exactly what makes Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation so profound.

Jobless Reincarnation is an isekai that follows an unemployed man after he gets reincarnated into a fantasy world, but unlike most anime in the isekai genre, his mental health problems from his previous life follow him. With a second chance at life, Rudeus Grayrat must work through his past life’s problems while simultaneously dealing with his new one. Jobless Reincarnation is not an anime for every fan, but for those willing to endure an uncomfortably real and grounded narrative about the struggle to become a better person, this show has no rival.

2

Jujutsu Kaisen’s Characters and Animation Are a Cut Above the Rest

Jujutsu Kaisen has produced some of the most memorable characters in anime in the past few decades. With characters like Gojo, Geto, Yuji, and Yuta, it’s easy to see what keeps bringing fans back to this unfolding story. Gege Akutami, the creator of Jujutsu Kaisen, has created an intriguing world with a unique power system that allows him to use storytelling through combat better than most shōnen are able to.

Jujutsu Kaisen manages to both lean into, and subvert, many of the most popular tropes that exist in the genre. It isn’t afraid to kill off popular characters, and is invested in telling a realistic back-and-forth struggle between the protagonists and the forces of evil within its world. Season two of the anime in particular turned the already great series into something more. With what has been released so far, Jujutsu Kaisen is already one of the best shows of the 2020s, and its status will only grow with the release of upcoming seasons.

1

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is a Masterclass in World-Building

Having the plot of a story start after the end of another is an uncommon trope in anime, but one that Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End executes to perfection. The titular character of the series, Frieren, is an elf who has lived for over a thousand years and helped defeat the demon king before the series even begins. The rest of the story follows her as she travels the world once again with a new party, and explores the lasting consequences on the land left by her and the party of heroes decades prior.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is a story about grief and interpersonal connections. The many emotional story beats act to teach the cast about each other, and help Frieren process many of her repressed and forgotten memories as she seeks to understand her friends better. The world-building, character-writing, art, animation, musical score, and plot are all top-notch, making Frieren one of the greatest epics of all time.