The term anime is a Japanese colloquialism used as an abbreviation for the term “animation.” Generally in Japan, the word anime (written アニメ) is synonymous with animation of any kind from anywhere. Internationally, however, anime is typically referred to as animation that is produced from Japan. The distinction between anime and cartoons is more cultural than it is technical.

Anime itself dates back over a hundred years. The first confirmed example was produced in 1917 titled Namakura Gatana with a run time of only four minutes.

Here is a list of 10 animes you will enjoy watching

1. Death Note

Genres: ♟️ Psychological, 🔮 Supernatural, 🕵️ Mystery, 🤯 Thriller

The story follows Light Yagami, a high school student who stumbles across a mysterious otherworldly notebook: the “Death Note”, which belonged to the Shinigami Ryuk, and grants its user the power to kill anyone whose name and face he knows. The series centers around Light’s subsequent attempts to use the Death Note to change the world into a utopian society without crime and the subsequent efforts of L, a reclusive international criminal profiler, to apprehend him and end his reign of terror.

2. Attack on Titan : Shingeki no Kyojin

Genres: 👊 Action, 🎭 Drama, 🧞 Fantasy, 🕵️ Mystery

Attack on Titan is set in a world where humanity lives inside cities surrounded by enormous Walls that protect them from Titans, gigantic humanoid creatures who devour humans seemingly without reason. The story centres around Eren Jaeger and his childhood friends Mikasa Ackermann and Armin Arlelt whose lives are changed forever after the appearance of a Colossal Titan, which brings about the destruction of their home town. Vowing revenge and to reclaim the world from the Titans, Eren, Mikasa, and Armin join the Scout Regiment, an elite group of soldiers who fight Titans outside the Walls.

3. My Hero Academia

Genres: 🐵 Animation, Action, 🌋 Adventure, 🤣 Comedy, ✨ Fantasy, 🤖 Sci-Fi

The story follows Izuku Midoriya, a boy born without superpowers in a world where they are the norm, but who still dreams of becoming a superhero himself. He is scouted by the world’s greatest hero, who shares his powers with Izuku after recognizing his value and later enrolls him in a high school for heroes in training.

4. Bleach

Genres: 👊 Action 👒 Adventure 🔮 Supernatural

High school student Kurosaki Ichigo is unlike any ordinary kid. Why? Because he can see ghosts. Ever since a young age, he’s been able to see spirits from the afterlife. Ichigo’s life completely changes one day when he and his two sisters are attacked by an evil, hungry and tormented spirit known as a Hollow.

5. Fullmetal Alchemist : Brotherhood

Genres: 👊 Action, 👒 Adventure, 🤣 Comedy, 🎭 Drama, 🧞 Fantasy

Abandoned by their father as kids, two young brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric lived with their mother in a small town called Resembool. After losing their mother to a terminal illness, they try to resurrect her using alchemy – a science which allows you to transform physical matter from one form to another.

6. Demon Slayer

Genres: 👊 Action 👒 Adventure 🎭 Drama 🧞 Fantasy 🔮 Supernatural

Demon Slayer’s plot follows the epic saga of Tanjirou Kamado, a kind-hearted teen who, upon returning home one day, finds his entire family slaughtered by invading demons. Worst of all, he finds that his sister, Nezuko, has been turned into a bloodthirsty demon herself.

7. Tokyo Revengers

Genres: 👊 Action, 🎭 Drama, 💕 Romance,🔮 Supernatural

Hanagaki Takemichi lives an unsatisfying life right up until his death. Waking up 12 years in the past, he reckons with the eventual fate of his friends and tries to prevent an unfortunate future.

8. Odd Taxi

Genres: 🎭 Drama 🕵️ Mystery ♟️ Psychological

‌In a city which should be familiar, there is the feeling of something a little different. Kotokawa is a taxi driver who lives an ordinary life, taxing some quirky customers around. A slightly eccentric stranger who has no relatives nor any relations with other people, Kotokawa’s hobby is to listen to Rakugo on the radio before going to bed. For the time being, the only people he can consider as friends are his family doctor Gouriki, and his high school classmate Kakihana. Kabasawa, a college student who wants a buzz, Shirakawa, a nurse who’s hiding something, comedian group Homo Sapiens, who isn’t selling well, the city hoodlum Dobu, and the rookie idol group Mystery Kiss—the conversations with these people, which should not have meant much, lead to a girl who disappeared.

9. Haikyuu

Genres: 🤣 Comedy, 🎭 Drama, 🏀 Sport

Hinata Shouyou, a short middle school student, gained a sudden love of volleyball after watching a national championship match on TV. Determined to become like the championship’s star player, a short boy nicknamed “the small giant”, Shouyou joined his school’s volleyball club.

10. Jujutsu Kaisen

Genres: 👊 Action 🤣 Comedy 🎭 Drama 🔮 Supernatural

The story follows high school student Yuji Itadori as he joins a secret organization of Jujutsu Sorcerers in order to kill a powerful Curse named Ryomen Sukuna, of whom Yuji becomes the host.