21 Bucket List Anime You Must See Before You Die

“Before you die” is obviously dramatic. Nobody’s handing you a ticking clock and a remote control. But if you want an anime bucket lista greatest-hits tour of what the medium does bestthese 21 picks will get you there: iconic classics, modern blockbusters, and a few films that changed animation forever.

This list isn’t about watching the most anime. It’s about watching the right anime: stories that influenced pop culture, pushed animation forward, or hit you with a plot twist so sharp you’ll pause the episode just to breathe.

How this bucket list was built

I cross-checked recurring “must-watch” titles highlighted by major U.S. entertainment outlets and streaming/awards coverage, then balanced the list across eras and genresaction, sci-fi, fantasy, drama, sports, and romanceso you can sample anime’s full menu without eating only spicy shonen for a month. (Your stomach and your feelings deserve variety.)

What makes an anime “bucket list” worthy?

Great anime comes in every shape, but bucket list picks usually do at least one of these things exceptionally well: they defined a genre, influenced other creators, introduced new audiences, or delivered a story you’ll remember for years. Some are technical showpieces (animation, music, directing). Others are emotional landmarksstories that make you rethink what animation can communicate. The list below tries to include all of those qualities while staying friendly to both newcomers and long-time fans.

The 21 bucket list anime you have to experience

1) Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Two brothers commit a forbidden act and spend the series paying for itliterally and morally. It’s tight storytelling, smart world-building, and emotional payoff without endless detours. If someone asked for one “best anime series” to recommend, this is the safe bet that still feels exciting.

2) Cowboy Bebop

Space bounty hunters, jazz, and a vibe so cool it should come with sunglasses. Episodic adventures slowly reveal deeper wounds, turning stylish fun into something quietly tragic. It’s also a crash course in how tone, music, and animation can do heavy lifting.

3) Neon Genesis Evangelion

Giant robots are the hook; the real story is anxiety, identity, and messy human connection. It’s intense, symbolic, and sometimes uncomfortableon purpose. Watch it when you want anime that’s more “therapy session” than “victory lap.”

4) Attack on Titan

It begins as survival horror and evolves into a massive, twisty epic about power, fear, and freedom. The action is huge, but the moral questions get even bigger. If you like stories that constantly reframe what you think you know, this is essential.

5) Death Note

A supernatural notebook turns into a battle of intellect and ego. The pacing is famously bingeable, and the cat-and-mouse mind games still hold up. It’s one of the best “anime to watch before you die” picks for people who don’t usually watch anime.

6) One Piece

A long-running adventure that somehow keeps growing in heart and imagination. Behind the jokes and pirates is a powerful story about found family, freedom, and stubborn hope. Start small, keep going, and accept that you may develop feelings about a ship.

7) Naruto (and Naruto: Shippuden)

The blueprint for modern shonen: training arcs, rivalries, and battles that become personal. Naruto’s underdog story is also about loneliness, belonging, and choosing what kind of person you’ll be. Skip filler if you want; keep the big emotional moments.

8) Dragon Ball Z

It’s not just a showit’s a cultural earthquake. Power-ups, iconic villains, and fights that taught a generation what “hype” looks like. Watch it to understand why so much action anime still echoes its rhythm.

9) Hunter x Hunter (2011)

Starts playful, then keeps revealing sharper edges. The power system rewards strategy, and the arcs can shift from wholesome adventure to unsettling drama fast. It’s clever, unpredictable, and deeply character-driven once it gets rolling.

10) Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

Heartforward storytelling meets spectacular action. It’s famous for gorgeous animation, but what sticks is the compassion at its coreheroes and villains alike carry grief. A modern must-watch anime that’s both accessible and intense.

11) Jujutsu Kaisen

Fast, funny, and ferocious. The fights are sharply choreographed, the tone leans dark, and the characters feel like real people coping with unreal horror. If you want a modern series that looks premium and hits hard, start here.

12) My Hero Academia

Superheroes through an anime lens: big emotions, big powers, and a school setting that turns “becoming a hero” into a long, messy process. It shines as an ensemble show, with side characters who earn real arcsnot just background poses.

13) Mob Psycho 100

A psychic powerhouse tries to become a better person, not a stronger weapon. It’s hilarious, heartfelt, and animated with fearless creativity. You’ll laugh, then suddenly care a lot about self-esteem and personal growth. Sneaky, effective, and unforgettable.

14) Steins;Gate

A time-travel story that starts quirky, then tightens into a suspenseful emotional spiral. The setup is deliberate, the consequences hit, and the payoff is worth the patience. Perfect for viewers who like sci-fi with rulesand heartbreak.

15) Ghost in the Shell (1995 film) or Stand Alone Complex

Cyberpunk that asks big questions: What is a self? What is a body? What happens when your mind is online? The film is a landmark; the series expands it into a thoughtful crime-and-politics drama. Either way, it’s required reading for sci-fi fans.

16) Akira (film)

Visually influential, culturally massive, and still astonishing to look at. Akira is dystopian chaos with themes of power, control, and transformation. It’s not “easy viewing,” but it’s a cornerstone of global animation history.

17) Spirited Away (film)

A coming-of-age fairy tale wrapped in breathtaking imagination. It’s warm, strange, and deeply human, even when the characters are literally spirits. If you want a film that feels like a dream you can’t quite explain, this is the one.

18) Your Name (film)

A body-swap romance that becomes a moving puzzle of memory and longing. It’s accessible for newcomers, visually gorgeous, and emotionally precise. You’ll finish it and immediately understand why it became a worldwide phenomenon.

19) Vinland Saga

Vikings, revenge, and the slow shift from “win at all costs” to “what does winning even mean?” It’s violent when it needs to be, quiet when it matters most, and deeply invested in character change. History with a sharp emotional blade.

20) Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

Instead of focusing on the quest, it focuses on what comes after. An immortal elf mage learnslatewhat her friendships meant, and then tries to live differently. Gentle, reflective fantasy that still delivers wonder and weight.

21) Haikyu!!

Even if you don’t care about volleyball, you’ll care about this team. It’s a high-energy story about growth, practice, and trust, with matches paced like action scenes. Few shows capture momentum and joy as well as this one.

A simple watch order that keeps you sane

If you’re building a “must-see anime” marathon, rotate tones and lengths:

• Heavy → light: follow Attack on Titan with Haikyu!! or a movie night.
• Long → short: pair One Piece with a complete, tighter story like Death Note.
• Series → film: use Spirited Away, Akira, or Your Name as resets.

Quick picks by mood

• “I want a thriller right now”: Death Note (fast hook, constant mind games).
• “I want something hopeful”: Haikyu!! (energy, teamwork, and pure momentum).
• “I want sci-fi that makes me think”: Ghost in the Shell or Steins;Gate.
• “I want modern blockbuster action”: Demon Slayer or Jujutsu Kaisen.
• “I want to cry but in a classy way”: Frieren or the film Your Name.
• “I want a classic that explains the hype”: Cowboy Bebop, Evangelion, or Dragon Ball Z.

Conclusion

The best bucket list anime list should feel like an invitation, not an exam. Pick what fits your mood, keep sampling different genres, and let the medium surprise you. If you watch even a handful of these, you’ll understand why anime can be comfort food, adrenaline, art, and a full emotional workoutsometimes in the same episode.

500-word experience add-on: what it’s like to watch bucket list anime

Here’s the part most lists skip: the experience of watching “anime to watch before you die” titles is bigger than the episodes themselves. It’s the rituals you build, the tiny ways your brain rewires, and the social aftershocks when a show becomes a shared language.

First, your pacing instincts change. Bucket list anime teaches you that speed isn’t the goal. Some stories reward a weekend binge (Death Note is basically engineered for “one more episode”), while others land harder when you give them space. After a heavy stretchsay, Vinland Saga or Attack on Titanyou might feel strangely tired, like you ran emotional sprints. That’s normal. Taking a break isn’t quitting; it’s letting the themes settle.

Second, you start doing “tone planning.” Fans joke about needing a “palette cleanser,” but it’s real. You’ll find yourself arranging your week like a DJ: intense thriller on Tuesday, something hopeful on Thursday, and a film on Saturday to reset your brain. This is one of anime’s best qualitiesits range is so wide that you can curate your mood without leaving the medium. Your bucket list becomes less of a checklist and more of a well-balanced playlist.

Third, you notice craft in new ways. After you watch a few landmarks, you start seeing animation choices the way you notice cinematography in live-action. The camera movement in a fight, the timing of a joke, the silence before a revealsuddenly those details pop. A series like Cowboy Bebop can make you appreciate editing and music; a film like Spirited Away can make you realize how much emotion can be carried by a look, a pause, or a change in lighting.

Fourth, your conversations get funnier. Bucket list anime is social fuel. You’ll develop shorthand: “It’s giving shonen training arc,” “This villain has major Death Note energy,” or “This plot twist belongs in Attack on Titan.” Even if your friends aren’t anime fans, they’ll recognize the enthusiasm. And if they are fans, you’ll get the best kind of group chat: the one where everyone is yelling in all caps over the same moment.

One more surprise: you may become a “re-watch” person. Bucket list anime often rewards a second pass because you catch foreshadowing, character subtext, and visual callbacks you missed the first time. You might also start caring about openings and endingsthose songs and visuals become emotional bookmarks for whole arcs. And if you’re watching alongside friends, you’ll learn the sacred art of spoiler-free hype: sending “HOW ARE YOU HOLDING UP?” texts, swapping reaction memes, and celebrating tiny character wins like they happened to someone you know. That shared excitement is part of why these shows become classics.

Finally, you collect ‘I get it now’ moments. Maybe it’s the first time a story flips your assumptions, or the first time you feel genuinely moved by animation, or the first time you realize a long series is actually about community and kindness. Those moments are why these titles earn “must-watch” status. The goal isn’t to finish every entry; it’s to find the shows that stick to your ribs and stay with you long after the credits roll.