Anime adaptations of manga are some of the most famous and loved shows in the world. They give flesh and blood to the stories, characters, and art from the original manga source, giving them some exposure to broader audiences.
Here are some of the best animes based on manga, along with ratings, genres, and a fair enumeration of their pros and cons.
Page Contents
1. Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin)
IMDb Rating: 9.5/10
Star Rating: ★★★★★
Genre: Action, Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Intro:
Attack on Titan takes place when Titans—large humanoid creatures—have all but exterminated humanity. Eren Yeager, along with his friends Mikasa and Armin, joins the military to fight back against the Titans and slowly uncover the mysteries of the world.
Strong Points:
Deep, engaging story with twists and turns at every moment
Outstanding animation and action choreography
Really developed characters, especially Eren and Mikasa
Weak Points:
A little too slow in some parts, especially in the later seasons.
The flaunting complexity of the plot might drive away confused newcomers.
2. One Piece
IMDb Rating: 8.8/10
Star Rating: ★★★★★
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Intro:
Its storyline follows Monkey D. Luffy and his pirate crew against the backdrop of their search for the legendary treasure of One Piece, whose finding will make Luffy the Pirate King. The series became one of the longest-running anime and one of the most loved all over the world.
Strong Points:
Great world-building and unique island settings.
A huge and different cast of characters with well-developed backstories.
Exciting adventures with fresh challenges during every new arc.
Weak Points:
The series is very long, which may act as a barrier for newbies.
Even filler episodes are some that slow the pace of the story.
3. Hunter x Hunter (2011)
IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
Star Rating: ★★★★★
Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Shounen
Intro:
Gon Freecss continued his search for his father by aspiring to be a Hunter. A road filled with real hazards with new friends and the exploration of a giant world riddled with dangers and secrets is child’s play.
Strong Points:
Very good character development and emotional depth.
Characters featuring their quirks and subjecting a wide range of profound special powers.
World-building at its highest level, laced with deep, rich myth
Weak Points:
Abominably, the mid-section remained incomplete: why did they leave all those strings hanging unanswered?
Sometimes there is raving, and other times a slowing during arcs.
4.Naruto & Naruto Shippuden
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Star Rating: ★★★★☆
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Intro:
Naruto follows Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja with big dreams of becoming the strongest ninja and earning his peers’ respect. Naruto Shippuden continues his journey against evil, though the challenges he faces are now considerably more potent.
Strong Points:
Great character development for Naruto and friends.
Deep ninja lore establishes a vast world.
Epic battles imbued with raw emotion.
Weak Points:
Many filler episodes hinder the progression of the plot.
Pacing in the early episodes is slow.
5. Death Note
IMDb Rating: 9.0/10
Star Rating: ★★★★★
Genre: Psychological, Thriller, Supernatural
Introduction:
Death Note entails Light Yagami, an intelligent yet morally ambiguous high school student who finds a notebook that permits him to kill any person whose name he writes in.
He uses that power to create a utopia of his design while being hounded by the genius detective L.
Strong Points:
A tension-packed psychological thriller of the highest caliber with intense cat-and-mouse interplay.
Serious questions of morality confront individual complexities.
Superb writing and engaging plot twists.
Weak Points:
Slow in narrative content, which may not be to everybody’s taste.
The buildup is shattered by a very fast ending.
6. My Hero Academia (Boku no Hero Academia)
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Star Rating: ★★★★☆
Genre: Action, Superhero, Fantasy
Intro:
Izuku Midoriya is a powerless boy who dreams of becoming a hero in the world where most people possess some superpowers. The plot here follows his journey to the prestigious U.A. High School for budding heroes.
Strong Points:
A fresh premise for the superhero genre, with a novel blend of Eastern and Western influences.
Well-developed characters with excellent emotional arcs.
Exciting superhero battles and action scenes.
Weak Points:
There are times when the story is predictable.
Heavy dependence on ubiquitous tropes.
7. Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba)
IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
Star Rating: ★★★★★
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Supernatural, Drama
Intro:
Demon Slayer follows a kind-hearted boy named Tanjiro Kamado who turns demon slayer after demons butcher his family, and his sister Nezuko is turned into a demon. He embarks on the journey of avenging his family and curing his sister.
Strong Points:
Amazing animation, especially during fight sequences.
Emotionally charged storytelling with themes like family and perseverance.
Great original villains and well described.
Weak Points:
The battle structure does get repetitive.
Some pacing problems exist, especially between major battles.
8. Tokyo Ghoul
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Star Rating: ★★★★☆
Genres: Action, Horror, Supernatural, Psychological
Intro:
Ken Kaneki, a college student, is on his way to becoming a half-ghoul due to a terrible accident. From then on, the protagonist experiences the life of a half-human, half-ghoul, personifying himself as he discovers new powers.
Strong Points :
A very dark and atmospheric tone creates tension.
Deep psychological exploration of Ken Kaneki’s identity.
Intense and visually striking combat sequences.
Weak Points :
Pacing can feel particularly rushed, especially in later episodes.
The anime does not fully capture the angst of the manga’s story.
Conclusion
These anime adaptations come with a fair bit of emotional and action content, along with an entertaining story to draw the viewers. Just like each has its own pros and cons, they will all shine at the top among the best anime based on manga.