Best Anime To Binge-Watch

Not every anime has to be thousands of episodes long like One Piece or Case Closed. In fact, some of the most enjoyable stories are those that are succinct and compact. So, let’s take a look at some of the shows that do that well.

These are shows that can be defined as “easily bingeable” either because of their fast pace, their close-knit narrative, or the amount of variation from episode to episode. Be it one season or two, these shows draw in viewers with interesting plotlines and lovable characters. With such a large variety of styles and genres at hand, there’s something here for everyone who is searching for the best binge-worthy anime.

Updated February 3, 2024 by Mark Sammut: With the Winter 2024 season in full swing, die-hard anime fans can watch roughly 40 episodes per week. Consequently, if someone wants to consume a complete story, they might want to pick something on the short side. As such, they should go with the best anime to binge.

Anime with multiple seasons will be considered as long as the cours work well in isolation.

18 She And Her Cat: Everything Flows

MyAnimeList: 7.68

Based on a 1999 short by Makoto Shinkai, which is a must-watch for fans of the director’s later works, She and Her Cat: Everything Flows chronicles the relationship between Miyu and her cat Daru. These two have been together for a long time, so much so that Daru is in the twilight of his life; meanwhile, Miyu is on the cusp of adulthood as a college student. Jumping back and forth between the present and the past, Everything Flows showcases the small moments that forged Miyu and Daru’s unshakable bond.

Unsurprisingly, She and Her Cat: Everything Flows does not hesitate to pull at the viewer’s heartstrings, and pet owners might find some parts to be almost too relatable. Permitting someone is searching for a slice of life with the potential to cause tears, they should check out this short anime.

17 Tonari No Seki-kun: The Master Of Killing Time

MyAnimeList: 7.53

Tonari no Seki-kun has a delightfully uncomplicated premise. A diligent student, Rumi Yokoi just wants to pay attention in class; unfortunately for her, she happens to sit next to Toshinari Seki, a boy who will go to great lengths to ensure that he never has to pay attention in class. A battle for the ages ensues as Seki devotes all his concentration to accomplishing his experimental acts of time-wasting while Rumi tries desperately to resist the urge to stare in bafflement at the chaos transpiring at her neighboring desk.

The main episodes last roughly 7 minutes, so the series goes by in a heartbeat. While each skit revolves around essentially the same joke, its short runtime and willingness to embrace absurdity permit Tonari no Seki-kun to feel fresh throughout its entire run.

16 Afro Samurai

MyAnimeList: 7.36

Based on Takashi Okazaki’s seinen manga, Afro Samurai gained a following due to its well-choreographed action and star-studded English voice cast. In an alternative interpretation of feudal Japan, warriors are classified by the number on their headbands, with “Number 1” representing the greatest fighter in the country. As a child, the eponymous samurai witnessed his father’s death at the hands of Justice, a killing that saw the latter take the former’s Number 1 headband. Now a capable swordsman, Afro Samurai seeks revenge on Justice.

Afro Samurai has fun characters and a great soundtrack, but the anime’s main appeal is its gory fight sequences and stylish animation. Although the story has some depth and flashes of introspection, the series and movie both understand what the audience is here to see.

15 Gakuen Handsome

MyAnimeList: 6.72

Gakuen Handsome has awful animation, detestable characters, and is stuffed to the brim with yuri harem tropes. Importantly, the anime is self-aware of all of these elements, and it uses them to parody a genre that has produced quite a few polarizing shows.

A self-insert protagonist, Yoshiki Maeda, attends an all-boys high school and quickly finds himself attracting the attention of the academy’s most eligible bachelors, along with a teacher. Yoshiki’s days become consumed with inappropriate declarations of love, grandiose romantic gestures, and the sharpest chins in anime.

14 The Tatami Time Machine Blues

MyAnimeList: 8.18

Ok, this is a special case since The Tatami Time Machine Blues is a sequel to 2010’s fantastic The Tatami Galaxy, which can be also binge-watched as it is only 11 episodes. However, the 2022 season flies by in roughly two hours, and the story is pitch-perfect for a single session sit. Despite being a sequel, The Tatami Time Machine Blues largely does its own thing and can be watched without familiarity with its predecessor, even if that would not be ideal.

On a sizzling summer day at an apartment block filled with Kyoto University students, the air conditioner’s remote breaks, dooming the residents to hell on Earth. However, somehow, they discover a time machine, granting them the opportunity to rewrite the past and cool the future. Naturally, things get complicated rather quickly. Beautifully animated and overflowing with wit, The Tatami Time Machine Blues is a delight, and it was one of the best comedy anime of 2022.

13 Erased

MyAnimeList: 8.30

Erased is one of those “go back in time to change the past” stories similar to Back to the Future, but done so incredibly well. A-1 Pictures is the animation studio behind this, known for quite a variety of anime, such as the Fairy Tail adaptation, Blue Exorcist adaptation, and even made the absurd series known as GATE.

What Erased does differently though, is that MC Satoru Fujima is an adult that travels back in time to when he was in middle school to solve a murder mystery! So, as a child not even in high school, Satoru has to investigate very adult issues and convince people he knows what he’s talking about, all in the body of a child. That, combined with the fact that he goes back to the present a couple of times, and the impeccably well-written story between him and the girl he’s trying to save, Kayo, makes Erased the perfect thriller to binge in a day or two. Oh, and most if not all viewers will find that the opening song of Erased is stuck in their heads for weeks to come.

12 Devilman Crybaby

MyAnimeList: 7.75

Unlike a lot of other series on this list, Devilman Crybaby is not a happy-go-lucky story or a comedic masterpiece. It has some funny moments, sure, but Devilman is nihilistic to its core, as author Go Nagai intended it. But, when Masaaki Yuasa was approached with the concept of creating his own spin-off Devilman story, things somehow managed to get even darker. It’s honestly a psychological sort of experiment with gratuitous amounts of violence, gore, and other adult themes. Though, to be fair, it’s not quite on the same level as some other, more nuanced, psychological anime.

But, being sad or dark isn’t equivalent to being bad, as the series is incredibly well-made. The style of the show alone is memorable enough, but then the animation, rap scenes, voice acting, horror elements, and action scenes all take it over the top.

MyAnimeList: 8.10

Detroit Metal City is a fever dream in the best possible way. Soichi dreams of writing and singing easy-listening pop songs without a shred of malice or suggestive content; unfortunately, as the leader of a death metal band, his on-stage persona is the personification of everything he hates in the world. Still, it is a gig and Soichi needs to eat, so he is willing to keep stepping into Johannes Krauser II’s shoes as long as his identity is kept a secret.

An argument could be made that Detroit Metal City has essentially one joke, but it is a great gag that the anime uses to full effect. Soichi’s dual lives constantly collide in hilarious ways, and his transformation to a metal demon is always a sight to behold. If someone is searching for an irreverent comedy they can blast through in two hours, they cannot do much better than Detroit Metal City.

10 Golden Boy

MyAnimeList: 8.04

A classic anime comedy, Golden Boy stars the poster boy for perverted characters, Kintaro Oe. Traveling across Japan with little more than the clothes on his back, Kintaro wishes to explore the many flavors of life, along with meeting as many beautiful women as possible. Throughout his educational and endearing journey, Kintaro must constantly evolve and adapt to survive.

Undoubtedly for adults, Golden Boy does not sugarcoat Kintaro’s lustful nature, all the while still keeping things at a relatively respectable level. Kintaro is an oddly lovable protagonist, someone who wears his heart on his sleeve and constantly strives to improve himself. Permitting it suits somebody’s comedic sensibilities, Golden Boy‘s humor has aged pretty well.

9 Alice In Borderland

MyAnimeList: 7.28

Alice in Borderland exploded in popularity following the success of Netflix’s live-action adaptation. Outside of Haro Aso’s manga, which is a really fun read, the TV show is the best way to consume a version of this story. In the grand scheme of things, the 3-part anime is nothing more than a footnote in the franchise’s history, and it is way too short to suffice as anything more than an introduction to this universe. Nevertheless, the animated series is watchable and a decent companion piece to the manga.

Ryohei Arisu and two of his friends are summoned to an alternate version of Tokyo, one that resembles a ghost town. The guys are quickly informed that they have been recruited into a contest consisting of different games, and failure can result in death. The OVA series sets up the story’s premise and goes through a few games, all the while introducing a couple of important secondary characters. The adaptation does not have enough time to really explore its cast, but it is nevertheless entertaining.

8 Carnival Phantasm

MyAnimeList: 7.87

Carnival Phantasm is a special case since it is difficult to outright recommend in isolation. The comedy OVA series parodies a few Type-Moon properties like Fate/stay night and Tsukihime; consequently, familiarity with these universes’ characters will determine someone’s appreciation of this spin-off. Technically, Carnival Phantasm might get a laugh out of newcomers due to some decent slapstick and clever wordplay, but the show assumes that everyone watching is already a fan who has either consumed the original visual novels, manga, or anime adaptations.

With each episode lasting roughly 14 minutes, Carnival Phantasm is a breezy and joyful watch that does not overstay its welcome. The series takes recognizable faces and throws them into silly situations while still retaining their authentic personalities, which just makes the humor hit all that much harder.

7 Gunbuster (Season 1)

MyAnimeList: 7.87

At an initial glance, one might be tempted to dismiss Gunbuster as just another mecha anime about a timid pilot proving their doubters wrong as they defeat alien threats. In some ways, Gunbuster is that show, but it is also a lot more. Over the course of the original OVA series’ six episodes, Gunbuster blends fantastically animated action sequences with a strong roster of characters who go through an impressive amount of development, particularly Noriko Takaya and Kazumi Amano. This anime also improves as it goes along, culminating in a satisfying conclusion.

The sequel, Diebuster, is a bit more convoluted and, consequently, polarizing, although it is still enjoyable and worth a try for fans of Gunbuster. However, the 2005 series only loosely connects to its predecessor, so Gunbuster can be binge-watched without worrying about the sequel.

6 Terror In Resonance

MyAnimeList: 8.09

Directed by Shinichiro Watanabe of Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo fame, Terror in Resonance is arguably the director’s most compact project. At less than a full cour, the anime has very little time to slow down, which complements the story being told. Two teenagers named Nine and Twelve pull off a string of terrorist attacks in Tokyo, devising them in a way to minimize casualties but maximize social unrest. They put the police on high alert as they announce plans to execute a bigger attack if a riddle is not solved.

While the pair’s motives make them sympathetic figures, their actions are not condoned either, creating a refreshingly morally gray dilemma. Terror in Resonance hits the ground running with four extremely strong episodes, and the anime remains captivating until the very end.

5 Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san

MyAnimeList: 7.29

Laboring at a bookshop is hard work, regardless of whether someone is a skeleton or a knight. Despite the fantastical presentation of its characters, Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san is quite a realistic look into this profession, showing the trials and tribulations faced by the store’s staff.

While a tense thriller can be impossible to pause, some of the best anime to binge-watch craft a cozy atmosphere that feels like a warm blanket on a cold day. These are shows that only expect attendance from their viewers, and Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san is one of these series.

4 Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

MyAnimeList: 8.60

Set prior to the events of CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077, Studio Trigger’s Edgerunners is a visual treat that also happens to tell a crushing tale soaked in violence, hopelessness, and consequences. Similar to the game, the show’s star is its main setting: Night City. A classic cyberpunk dystopia, this metropolis’ dazzling lights and advanced technology do little to hide its corrupt and destructive core, one that all but guarantees the have-nots must turn to the criminal underworld if they want to survive. Forced into insurmountable debt, David quickly finds an escape by joining a mercenary group of netrunners and building something resembling a genuine connection with a woman named Lucy.

Edgerunners represents Trigger at the peak of its power, particularly in the animation department. Night City has arguably never looked better than it does in the 2022 series, and that includes CD Projekt Red’s game. The story moves at a blistering pace, almost to its own detriment, but it also ensures the episodes do not have a single dull moment.

3 Bunny Drop

MyAnimeList: 8.35

At his grandfather’s funeral, Daikichi Kawachi meets Rin Kaga, the deceased man’s illegitimate daughter. Angered by his family’s treatment of the young girl, the directionless protagonist decides to essentially adopt the child, acting as her caregiver. Suddenly finding themselves living with a stranger, Daikichi and Rin both have a lot of growing up to do if they want this relationship to flourish.

Bunny Drop is a sweet and realistic slice of life about family, responsibility, and love. At just 11 episodes, the anime moves along at a lovely pace, especially since the show’s main characters are consistently developing.

2 Ping Pong The Animation

MyAnimeList: 8.62

Ping Pong the Animation has earned near-universal praise over the years, and its glowing reputation is fully earned. Sports anime are fairly common, and most of the category’s biggest names are long shows that require a few weeks to complete. While part of the genre, Ping Pong the Animation exists in its own bubble, one that has very few comparison pieces outside of Masaaki Yuasa’s other directorial efforts.

Even though ping pong serves as something of a driving force, the story is fully about the friendship between Smile and Peco, two boys who were inseparable despite having very different personalities. Smile looks up to Peco as a hero, but when the latter begins to lose his drive, it is up to the former to get his friend back on track. Boasting gorgeous visuals, brilliant writing, and relatable characters, Ping Pong the Animation is a masterpiece.

1 FLCL (Season 1)

MyAnimeList: 8.03

FLCL is a fever dream of an anime that has mechas popping out of people’s heads, an alien with a fondness for guitars and Vespas, and a plot that flies by at a billion miles per second. The original six episodes are overwhelming in the best possible way, and while the plot often feels secondary to the visuals and action, FLCL‘s story comes together quite nicely by the end of its run.

The 2000 series eventually spawned four belated follow-ups in Progressive, Alternative, Grunge, and Shoegaze, neither of which come close to the original’s quality nor are they must-watch additions. That said, the sequels are perfect for individual binge sessions.