Anime isn't a genre in and of itself — it comprises stories of many kinds with the distinct style of Japanese animation. There are many categories for shows to be classified under from more obscure ones like iyashikei to well-known staples like shonen.
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Certain shows have defined entire groups of shows so thoroughly that the whole genre is loved by fans to this day because of them. These iconic anime are excellent ways to explore these genres to understand what other shows like them will have to offer.
10 Isekai - Sword Art Online
Isekai is a genre of anime where the main characters enter a new world unlike their own, typically resembling a MMORPG or fantasy land. Sword Art Online was originally released back in 2013, and it boosted the genre into the spotlight.
Of course, the show has faced loads of backlash and criticism for unoriginal characters and repetitive plots, but still, it was the start of something greater. Since its release, dozens of other shows involving virtual worlds or video-game-like settings have sprung into popularity, including the beloved That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime.
9 Mecha - Mobile Suit Gundam
This iconic anime from the late 70s is one of the most popular, well-known, and continued anime in Japan. There was even a life-sized Gundam created in Yokohama! Mobile Suit Gundam was the biggest show to boost viewers' interest in Mecha anime. There have been many shows and films inspired by this classic story, and it's not tricky to see why. It's exciting, full of action, and it was a brand new concept animated in such a stunning way.
8 Sports - Haikyuu!!
Sports anime have taken over and they're not slowing down. Name any sport, whether it's soccer, ice skating, or badminton, and viewers are guaranteed to find a sports anime about it.
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Haikyuu!! is definitely the most popular and well-received sports anime that defined the genre, with its hilarious and relatable characters, nail-biting competitions, and budding friendships. It's a classic that will go down in anime history.
7 Psychological - Death Note
Death Note continues to reign as one of the best anime series of all time. It is a common show that people not familiar with anime watch to get into the animated film scene, since it avoids any of the weirder, funkier, and sometimes perverted tropes that other anime tend to have. Death Note is iconic for its drawn-out psychological games between the main characters and the plot twists at each and every turn.
6 Horror - Elfen Lied
This dark, horror anime went viral back at its release in 2004 and continues to be one of the creepiest and most famous horror shows in the genre. Elfen Lied is set in a world where a newly mutated species similar but stronger than humans are threatening to wipe out the Earth's population to replace it with their own.
The series highlights societal inequalities, questions humanity, and comments on genetic discrimination. While other horror media use bloody ghosts and fantastical beasts to be spooky, this series terrifyingly pits violence against humans and their mutated counterparts.
5 Adventure - One Piece
Considering Luffy and his crew have been on their grand adventure since 1999, this classic series takes the top spot in the Adventure genre.
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The manga it is based on began in 1997 and is still being written and animated to this day, making it one of the longest-running anime of all time. The manga is also leading as the best-selling manga series in history! The plot of One Piece is simply one gigantic pirate-filled adventure across the mystical seas, with powerful enemies and even more powerful protagonists.
4 Sci-Fi - Cowboy Bebop
This popular anime from 1998 stands as arguably the best sci-fi anime out there. The story follows the charming Spike Spiegel and his ragtag crew of bounty hunters traveling through space to make some cash. There's an overlying main story arc that concludes in a powerful way, mixing in intense, serious themes to the fun, easy-going vibe of the show. Cowboy Bebop has millions of fans who continue to watch and promote the show to everyone they know.
3 Slice of Life - Clannad
The Clannad anime was based on a visual novel of the same name. The show follows the main character Tomoya Okazaki, a high school delinquent who has his life flipped upside down when he becomes friends with a girl named Nagisa Furukawa. The show is loved for its realistic character development, comedy, and emotional effects. A sequel series called Clannad After Story continues the story and gained just as many diehard fans as the first series.
2 Shoujo - Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon is the end-all, be-all, greatest shoujo/magical girl anime to ever exist. The early 90s show inspired so many future anime focused on powerful female characters and magical themes. It affected anime genres of every kind, including its male counterpart, shonen anime.
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Sailor Moon and her fantastic team of magic-wielding young women continues to be just as popular as ever, with many games, sequels, toys, and remakes being popularized every year. It has romance, adorable friendships, humor, and tons of cute artwork.
1 Shonen - Dragon Ball
It shouldn't be a surprise that Dragon Ball is the defining anime that shaped shonen anime as we know it today. The original manga and show were created back in the 80s and new series based on the classic are still being animated to this day.
There are very few anime characters who can be identified as easily as Goku, and even people who don't watch anime will know what is being referenced when they hear "Kamehameha!" It's a classic that continues to be watched and loved even nearly 40 years after its initial premiere.