Summary
It could be considered that anime has been in its golden age for the last decade, with thousands of series releasing frequently and reaching new audiences every anime season. The anime community has also grown vast and vocal, hyping up their favorite shows that check all the boxes, from story to animation.
There have been phenomenal series released by talented authors and studios who come together to make something truly special. The work that goes into making a series is an uphill battle, as bringing life to sequential art takes time, effort, and dedication. When lightening strikes in the proper place, a series that raises the visual bar of anime appears and becomes an instant hit. Here are some of the best-looking anime of the 2020s, so far.
Takt Op. Destinyis set in a dismal world devoid of music due to the invasion of extraterrestrial creatures called D2s, which are attracted and enraged by sound. In this world, a select few unique individuals obtain bizarre abilities revolving around musical frequencies called conductors.
A young boy and girl named Takt and Cosette become embroiled in the country’s survival, as their fates become intertwined when they become Conductor and partner after a D2 attack.Takt Op. Destinyis an incredibly well-crafted series with a unique shine to its color, which pops off the screen thanks to the brilliant skill of Mappa and Madhouse.
The originalTrigunanime was a fan favorite during the 90 and has retained its sizable fanbase since then. The series was rebooted recently, and Studio Orange breathed fresh creativity into the series.Trigun Stampedeis one of the first 3D anime to receive such high praise.
The show tells the story of Vash the Stampede and his journey across the terraformed wasteland on which the human race now resides. Vash is an artificially-created human on a mission to find his brother, who crashed the colony ship carrying the last of the human race on a desolate planet. Now, in a lawless new world, Vash tries to shoot his way out of violent encounters without taking a single life.Trigun Stampedeis a colorful rush of action with seamless sequences that make it stand out from traditional anime series.
Chainsaw Manis a member of the Dark Trio of shonen, featuring a mature story set in a bleak world wheredevils roam the earth. Devils are manifestations of human fear; they embody objects, entities, or concepts that humans fear the most. Denji, a young transient, reaches the end of his rope and becomes entangled in a violent war of man versus devil.
Becoming a devil himself, Denji is drafted into a defense organization. However, the road to salvation places Denji and the new family that has adopted him in constant danger. Mappa has proved itself to be one of the most talented animation studios in the world, delivering a spine-tingling series that leaves an impression with every frame.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s Endwas an unforeseen, astounding success that tells a fantastical fantasy story. Set in a young world where magic and swords are the standard tools of adventures, Frieren is a near-ancient elf who once saved the world as a part of the Party of Heroes. The story follows her as she begins to live again after most of her friends from her previous life have aged or passed away, and explores how her character deals with her vast lifespan.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s Endis a lush and colorful series that tells a magnificent story of loss, love, growth, and curiosity. Madhouse knocks it out of the park again with this superb animation, with interesting character designs and breathtaking action sequences.
Wind Breakeris a recent release that has filled the big shoes ofmartial arts anime, like the classic seriesAir Master.A young high school ruffian, Sakura, becomes a rising star of a local school gang, which aids him in his goal of becoming the strongest. On his journey, Sakura finds exactly what he’s looking for: a slew of strong opponents to test his skills. However, Sakura gets more than he bargained for and is adopted into a makeshift familial brotherhood, something he is direly lacking.
Wind Breaker has some of the best animated hand-to-hand fight scenes and never fails to blow expectations out of the water. The latest season ofWind Breakeris currently airing and has received high marks from anime fans worldwide.
Itadori Yuji’s life changes forever when he is pulled into a fight against a living curse and digests an ancient cursed object that melds his body with the soul of the most evil sorcerer ever to live, Sukuna. Itadori finds himself the vessel to the most dangerous sorcerer in history and is taken under the wing of the strongest sorcerer of modern times.
Jujutsu Kaisenis a brutal story with volatile twists and turns that do not lead to happy endings. Mappa has handled the series masterfully, with incredibly well-choreographed action and detailed facial expressions, making it one of the best-looking anime shows currently airing.
Demon Slayeris a fan favorite among the anime community that dives into an organization of skilled sword masters that take on a supernatural threat of demonic beings. Tanjiro, the main character, is the sole survivor of his family’s slaughter at the hands of demons.
Seeking retribution and a way to turn his little sister back into a human, Tanjiro enlists with the demon slayer corps and sets out to slay the origin of all demons, Muzan.Demon Slayerhas some of the best animation on the market, with the crispest and most sublime frames among most anime on the list.
To Be Hero Xis an incredible series that came out of nowhere and made a massive impact on the anime community. As a story by Chinese creators, it is a joint production with both Chinese and Japanese studios. The story starts with Lin Ling, a struggling marketing agent who must step into the role of one of the greatest superheroes in the city after a tragic event.
The series features multiple different art styles, including 2D, 3D, and sketch styles that elevate the story’s depth and themes.To Be Hero Xis easily the anime of the year, as it has been meticulously crafted to perfection.
