Your next obsession is waiting on the page—or screen. Happy watching and reading. Did we miss your favorite? Let us know in the comments, and check back monthly for updated rankings on seasonal hits.
Whether you are looking for your next binge-watch or your next physical manga haul, this guide provides curated broken down by genre. We move beyond the absolute basics (though they are included) to give you the essential viewing and reading list for 2025 and beyond. Part 1: The "Big Three" & The Pillars of Shonen For fans of: Action, Friendship, Epic Battles
However, for newcomers and seasoned fans alike, the sheer volume of content can be paralyzing. With hundreds of new shows airing every season and decades of backlogged classics, where do you even begin? Your next obsession is waiting on the page—or screen
If action isn’t your thing, but you love Game of Thrones -level scheming, these are essential. Status: Completed Why it’s popular: The gateway drug for intellectual anime fans. A genius student gains the power to kill anyone by writing their name in a notebook. What follows is a cat-and-mouse game between him and the world’s greatest detective. The Recommendation: Stop watching after Episode 25 (or Volume 7). While the manga continues, many agree that the "second half" lacks the magic of the first. The anime is a perfect, tight package. 5. Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin) Status: Completed (Anime & Manga) Why it’s popular: A masterpiece of foreshadowing. What begins as a gory survival horror about giant eating humans evolves into a geopolitical tragedy about the cycle of hatred. The Recommendation: The anime finale is visually stunning, but the manga’s extra 8 pages in the final volume provide a more controversial, realistic ending. To understand the discourse, you need both. 6. Monster (Anime & Manga) Status: Completed Why it’s popular: Often called the "perfect thriller." Set in post-Cold War Germany, a brilliant surgeon saves a child’s life only to discover the child grew up to become a serial killer. The Recommendation: This is slow-burn, realistic, and mature. There are no superpowers. If you love David Fincher films ( Se7en , Zodiac ), read the manga volumes or watch the 74-episode anime. Part 3: Isekai (Trapped in Another World) For fans of: Fantasy, RPG Mechanics, Power Fantasies
No discussion of popularity is complete without acknowledging the titans. If you want to understand modern anime, you must start with Shonen (series targeted at young men, but enjoyed by everyone). Status: Ongoing (Manga)/On Hiatus (Anime) Why it’s popular: It is the best-selling manga in history. Eiichiro Oda’s tale of Monkey D. Luffy and his quest for the titular treasure is a masterclass in world-building and emotional payoff. The Recommendation: Do not let the 1,000+ episode count scare you. The journey is the point. For manga readers, the pacing is superior; the "Wano Arc" is widely considered a visual masterpiece in print. 2. Jujutsu Kaisen (Anime & Manga) Status: Ongoing Why it’s popular: This is the current king of "Dark Shonen." With fluid animation by Studio MAPPA and a power system (Cursed Energy) that rivals Naruto ’s Chakra, Jujutsu Kaisen delivers non-stop thrills. The Recommendation: Watch Season 1 and the Hidden Inventory arc (Season 2). Then, switch to the manga. The upcoming "Culling Game" arc is chaotic, brutal, and constantly trending on social media. 3. My Hero Academia (Anime & Manga) Status: Final Arc (Manga & Anime) Why it’s popular: It answers the question: "What if Western superheroes lived in a Japanese high school?" With a cast of hundreds of unique heroes, it balances tournament arcs with genuine stakes. The Recommendation: The anime’s soundtrack elevates the material. However, the manga finishes the story first—if you hate spoilers, read the final two arcs digitally. Part 2: The Psychological & The Dark For fans of: Death Notes, Plot Twists, Morally Grey Characters Let us know in the comments, and check
In the last decade, the world has witnessed a cultural phenomenon. What was once considered a niche hobby has exploded into a global mainstream powerhouse. From the record-breaking box office success of Demon Slayer: Mugen Train to the social media dominance of Chainsaw Man , anime and manga are no longer just "Japanese cartoons"—they are a defining element of modern entertainment.
Isekai dominates modern anime charts. While there is a lot of "trash," there are genuine gems. Status: Ongoing Why it’s popular: The ultimate "feel-good" power fantasy. The protagonist becomes a slime monster but uses modern knowledge to build a monster nation. The Recommendation: The manga is actually easier to follow than the anime’s chaotic third season. The art is cleaner, and the political meetings that bog down the show fly by on the page. 8. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation (Anime & Manga/Light Novel) Status: Ongoing Why it’s popular: The grandfather of modern Isekai. It boasts movie-quality animation and deeply flawed characters. It is controversial (the protagonist is a pervert), but it is also the most honest look at second chances in the medium. The Recommendation: Read the Light Novels (the source material). The manga adaptation is widely considered inferior and rushes the emotional beats. The anime is a "premium" experience worth every frame. 9. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Status: Completed (Manga hiatus)/Anime Season 1 done Why it’s popular: The anti-Isekai. It takes place after the hero kills the Demon Lord. An elf mage outlives her human party and must learn to connect with others despite her immortality. The Recommendation: Watch the anime. The director uses silence and ambient sound in a way that no manga page can replicate. It won "Anime of the Year" for good reason. Part 4: Romance & Slice of Life For fans of: Heartwarming stories, Love triangles, Comedy Part 1: The "Big Three" & The Pillars
Start with Spy x Family if you want a laugh. Dive into Chainsaw Man (the manga) if you want chaos. Or read Frieren if you want to remember why stories matter.