When it comes to anime, people are incredibly opinionated. With that being said, no list can ever please every reader, so, after critical review, these are the top 8 requested anime we see in the comments section. Leave any of your favorites out? We might have a round two! Let us know in the comments!
Fate/stay night
Fate/stay night is one of the most popular anime that is still receiving new content. The series follows the story of Shiro Emiya, a young magus who joins the Fifth Holy Grail War, a lethal competition against heroes throughout history with the goal of having their wishes granted. This series began as a visual novel from Type-Moon, but soon was picked up for an anime adaptation. Fate/stay night is a dangerous and brutal adventure and worth the watch if you have Netflix. Alongside Sword Art Online, Fate/stay night is a modern fantasy anime that commenters adore.
Trigun
Towards the end of the 90s, the Space Western genre exploded, with shows such as Cowboy Bebop, Outlaw Star, and Trigun finding a welcome reception in the anime community. Trigun follows the adventures of Vash the Stampede, an avowed pacificist that has a knack for finding trouble, or, at least, trouble finding him. No matter where Vash goes, destruction soon follows and it’s up to him to stop it, but when everyone on the planet is after you and the $$60,000,000,000 bounty, you’re going to have a rough time. Featuring a colorful and hilarious cast, as well as some of the most heartbreaking moments in anime history, Trigun will make you laugh, cry, and even think a little. Trigun is a classic that many fans of 90s anime adore, but it can often be overshadowed by other hits like Cowboy Bebop.
Vision of Escaflowne
Hitomi is just an average teenage girl who was minding her business one day when a man named Van appears at her school battling to the death with a dragon. Soon after, Hitomi finds herself on the planet Gaea, where she must fight with Van against the domination of the Zaibach Empire. In order to do this though, Van and his comrades must make use of Escanflowne, a mysterious mech, but it may only be through Hitomi’s potential abilities on Gaea that will bring Escanflowne to life. This 26-episode series released to critical acclaim is a must see for any fans of the mecha genre. Vision of Escaflowne is one of the most popular mecha anime featured in the forums to date.
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Vampire Hunter D
Vampire Hunter D originally began as a series of novels that has been adapted into a multitude of audio dramas, video games, two animated films, manga and comic series, as well as a brand new animated series announced last year. The series follows D – a half vampire, half man – vampire hunter with powers that surpass any who may stand in his way. While his abilities may seem useful in a world populated by such monsters, D is scorned by both vampires and humans due to being neither full human or vampire, leaving D to roam the lands alone on his cybernetic horse. As one of the first animated films to come to the West from Japan in 1985, Vampire Hunter D successfully blends the Post apocalyptic, Gothic, and Science Fiction genres in a way that is both entertaining and terrifying. Many fans of the horror genre laud these films as masterpieces, especially during an era when Studio Ghibli reigned supreme.
Gurren Lagann
To date, Gurren Lagann is one of the best mecha anime, but can often go under the radar due to being overshadowed by series like Neon Genesis Evangelion or the Gundam franchise. In an Earth dominated by the Spiral King, Lordgenome, Simon and Kamina are everyday villagers that are forced to live their lives beneath the surface. After discovering the robot Lagann, Simon and Kamina escape to the surface and begin fighting against Lordgenome. They also acquire another mech, which they name Gurren, which can fuse with Lagann, making Gurren Lagann. While it may seem like your run-of-the-mill Mad Max-esque post apocalypse, Gurren Lagann offers some of the best storytelling and world building that the mecha anime genre has to offer.
Akame Ga Kill
Not many anime series can compare to the intense violence present in Akame Ga Kill, a dark fantasy series that premiered in 2014. Leaving home in search of ways to support his poverty-stricken town, Tatsumi soon finds himself in the clutches of an evil family only to be rescued at the last minute by Night Raid, a group of deadly assassins. As a part of this group, Tatsumi seeks to bring back a lawful balance to the nation, and thus deliver his village from poverty. Akame Ga Kill released to critical acclaim and is a must see for fans of dark, violent anime. Often, this show is compared to Berserk in terms of sheer presence of violence and action and is one of the most highly requested anime for these lists.
Berserk
Berserk is a dark, violent anime that has maintained a cult following since its release in 1997. Guts and Griffith are both powerful warriors in the “Band of the Hawk” mercenary group. Despite being very powerful, they are put through trials, both physical and mental, that will push them to the most extreme limits of their strength and sanity. I don’t want to give too much away, so just go ahead and check this one out. Berserk is notable for its influence on the Dark Souls series, as well as its spiritual successor Bloodborne. Once again, if you’re a fan of violence and insanity, then Berserk is the quintessential fantasy anime for you. While Berserk is very popular in comment sections everywhere, there is one anime that stands above them all…
Black Lagoon
Black Lagoon is one anime that I’ve always wanted to include on these lists, but haven’t found the perfect moment to give it its proper due. This series focuses on a band of pirate mercenaries that operates in Asia during the 90s. The mercenaries, known as the Lagoon company, take jobs from crime syndicates from around the world, and shipping goods is only half of their struggle, as they are constantly faced with firefights and other violent encounters. While Black Lagoon may go unnoticed by many casual anime fans, it remains one of the most highly discussed shows online and has gained praise in Japan as well as the West, even airing on Toonami in 2014. It may not be as fantastic in nature as other entries on this list, but its mixture of action, comedy, and crime drama makes for an interesting and entertaining break from your more average anime. Black Lagoon is hands down the most requested series for these lists, and rightfully so, it’s a powerful and exciting experience that viewers can’t help but be sucked into.
