There’s no right or wrong way to watch an anime, but there’s a heavy temptation to binge-watch content with certain series that have staggering episode counts or slow-burn serialized storytelling. Anime like One Piece or Detective Conan can feel borderline impossible for newcomers without a binge-watch approach, while distilling other series down to weekly watches can ruin the story’s momentum.
There’s a delicate balance when it comes to binge-watching and some series’ flaws and repetitive patterns become more obvious when tons of content is consumed in short bursts. That being said, certain anime are at their best when audiences barrel ahead and excitedly move through the story rather than taking their time.
10 Cowboy Bebop
26 Episodes
Cowboy Bebop is a landmark anime that’s even resonated with those who aren’t typically drawn to animation. Spike Spiegel and the rest of his intrepid team of bounty hunters have traumatic pasts to atone for, but that doesn’t stop them from getting into a myriad of space shenanigans. Cowboy Bebop adeptly blends science fiction, westerns, and an energetic jazz soundtrack that gives the anime a solid foundation where anything is possible.
Cowboy Bebop only has 26 episodes, but it’s difficult to not binge through them all and experience the whole adventure. A binge-watch highlights the anime’s versatility and gives the audience a better idea of what the whole series has to offer.
9 Gintama
367 Episodes
Gintama is gag comedy personified that masquerades as a shonen series. Gintoki, Shinpachi, and Asuka run an odd jobs business that exposes them to both mundane problems and apocalyptic epidemics. Nothing is off limits in Gintama and it effortlessly parodies anime’s biggest series.
Gintama somehow doesn’t lose any steam over the course of more than 350 episodes and some of the anime’s funniest and most successful episodes are during the final seasons. Gintama takes a handful of episodes to find its footing, which makes a binge-watch the perfect way to get to the good stuff. A slower watch may cause fans to lose interest and never fully experience the anime’s wild sensibilities once it finally lets loose.
8 Fruits Basket (2019)
63 Episodes
2019’s Fruits Basket reboot is nearly three times as long as the original and it’s able to do the heartwarming story justice. Fruits Basket is an iconic shojo series that explores Tohru Honda’s indoctrination into the Sohma household. Tohru bonds with this male-dominant family, only to learn that they are afflicted by a strange curse where they turn into animals of the Chinese zodiac when they’re embraced by someone of the opposite sex.
Fruits Basket finds the right balance between these supernatural transformations and genuine human pathos. The small-scale nature of Fruits Basket and its “slice of life” focus means that a binge-watch makes it easier to appreciate its slow burn plot and character development.
7 Mob Psycho 100
37 Episodes
There are endless anime that feature superpowered psychic warriors, but Mob Psycho 100 is in a class of its own since its protagonist actively avoids the use of his prolific powers. Shigeo “Mob” Kageyama is an extremely strong esper, but his powers come at the expense of him losing control of his emotions. Mob isn’t interested in psychic supremacy and instead just wants to enjoy life as a teenager and play with his friends.
Studio Bones generates bewildering visuals that make the anime’s psychic displays truly feel unbelievable. Mob Psycho 100 elegantly wraps up its story over three seasons, which play even better when they’re experienced in quick succession. Mob’s growth as a person becomes that much more impressive.
6 Yu Yu Hakusho
112 Episodes
Yu Yu Hakusho is a standout ‘90s shonen anime that’s nostalgic bliss and doesn’t suffer from modern pitfalls. At 112 episodes, Yu Yu Hakusho is a bit of a commitment, but nowhere near Dragon Ball, Naruto, or One Piece when it comes to intimidating episode counts. Yu Yu Hakusho is not only manageable, but it flows better in a binge-watch setting that’s able to immediately pay off each episode’s cliffhanger.
Yu Yu Hakusho chronicles Yusuke Urameshi’s growth from juvenile delinquent to selfless spirit world warrior. Yu Yu Hakusho’s introductory episodes are the weakest and stray furthest from the show’s mission statement. They work better if they’re binged through, along with the lengthy Dark Tournament that dominates the anime’s second-half.
5 Space Dandy
26 Episodes
Shinichiro Watanabe’s Space Dandy is cut from the same cloth as Cowboy Bebop, only it leans more into absurdist sensibilities with its unpredictable space adventures. Dandy is a slacker bounty hunter who struggles to make ends meet and finds himself living from bounty to bounty. Space Dandy utilizes an ambitious strategy where each episode has a unique director who’s given tremendous freedom with planets, aliens, genre, and themes.
No two episodes of Space Dandy feel alike and this beautifully reflects the limitless nature of the universe. There’s such stunning visuals and daring storytelling on display that’s only strengthened through a dedicated binge-watch. Space Dandy even gets into multiverse madness way ahead of the curve.
4 Nana
47 Episodes
Ai Yazawa’s Nana follows Nana Osaki and Nana Komatsu, two 20-year-olds who move to Tokyo with different life goals, but find a true affinity in each other’s company. Nana toes the line between the shojo and josei demographics with its focus on serious coming of age stories for its two heroines that don’t pull any punches.
Nana lures in curious audiences with its realistic characters and grounded storytelling, but it doesn’t take long to get fully invested in their struggles and dreams. Nana leaves its audience with some unanswered questions after 47 episodes, but there’s still a satisfying sense of closure. Nana K. and Nana O.’s story resonate more when they can be experienced in larger chunks.
3 Death Parade
12 Episodes
Anime anthologies are common, but Death Parade is a unique case that uses this format to indulge in moving character studies. Death Parade takes place in a purgatory-like waystation where deceased individuals must play games like billiards, air hockey, or darts for the fate of their eternal souls. The juxtaposition between recreational activities and gutting backstory is oddly effective and equally engaging.
Death Parade’s story is brief at only a dozen episodes, so it’s an easy binge-watch that showcases the full range of its sinister scenarios. The new characters that are met in each episode are appealing, but by the end of the series there’s also much more known about Decim, the unusual arbiter of life and death.
2 Devilman Crybaby
10 Episodes
Go Nagai’s Devilman superhero horror story has received several adaptations and expansions, including Masaaki Yuasa’s Devilman Crybaby for Netflix. Yuasa is one of the most creative names in anime and he elevates Nagai’s original story to visually stunning heights. Highschooler Akira Fudo learns that he’s a powerful demon known as Devilman who pledges to use his powers for good and wipe out the monstrous evils that lurk in the darkness.
Devilman Crybaby is an enlightening power fantasy, but a tragic relationship is explored between Akira and his friend, Ryo, who also has demonic secrets. It’s hard to not binge-watch all ten episodes of Devilman Crybaby at once with such an adrenaline-pumping narrative, tight storytelling, and vicious action sequences.
1 Attack On Titan
89 Episodes
Hajime Isayama’s Attack on Titan is one of the decade’s most popular anime. Attack on Titan tells the chaotic story of a caged-off world that’s terrified of the gargantuan monsters that roam outside. Attack on Titan slowly highlights the horrors of war and continually blurs the lines between man and monster. AOT tells a huge story that spans generations, but it’s not until the third season that it really begins to break away from its formula.
Attack on Titan’s final seasonswork so well because of the thoughtful development that kicks off the series. Season two feels muddled and confused on its own, but a binge-watch through everything makes it easier to appreciate the lengthy payoffs.