The 15+1 Best Anime Of 2023 [Ranked & Recommended]

Yes, Nihonime fans, the time has come. Another year has concluded and 2023 has greeted us, so it’s the moment to draw some conclusions.

Throughout 2023, numerous series graced our screens, and we can confidently say that at least in our opinion, this year delivered some high-quality anime.

Just recall the impact of Oshi no Ko and the emergence of the new phenomenon Frieren, but 2023 also marks the year when Attack on Titan, the most popular anime of the last few years, concluded.

We couldn’t resist sharing our list of the best anime of 2023, and we take this chance to thank you on behalf of the entire staff for your support.

We hope that in 2024 you’ll continue to stay with us for new and exciting adventures!

16. Mashle

Mashle is a super intriguing anime released in 2023, and we believe that if it maintains its high quality in the upcoming seasons it could become a hit series, so keep an eye on.

There are many ways to describe this series, but the most direct and understandable comparison is that it’s essentially an anime version of Harry Potter, drawing significant inspiration and similarities from it.

Of course, it’s not a replica of J.K. Rowling’s work as Mashle is a lot more comedic, but the dynamics between these two works bear striking similarities, which you’ll notice when watching it.

Mashle unfolds in a world where magic is the norm. The protagonist Mash is a boy who lacks magical abilities, compelling him to dedicate himself to rigorous physical training.

One day his life takes a turn when assailants threaten him, so the question arises: will his well-trained body prove sufficient, or will he have to learn magic to safeguard his loved ones?

15. Baki Hanma 2nd Season

We know that opinions on it may vary, but from a more objective standpoint, there’s no denying that Baki is a significant and incredibly successful anime in the fighting genre.

It remains a staple in action anime, focusing on martial arts and street fighting with a lot of violence and the 2023 season, sequel to the 2021 series, has successfully maintained the series’ high quality, earning it a spot on this list.

Continuing from where the previous season left off, the plot unfolds with new backstories and storylines that will captivate you, ensuring you stay glued to the screen for more episodes of this remarkable story.

If you happen to be among the few fans of fighting anime who haven’t yet experienced this milestone, now is a great time to start, so arm yourself with a guide on how to catch up on it, and enjoy the journey.

14. Undead Unluck

Undead Unluck is a series that began in the latter part of 2023 so yes, there’s a slight delay in including it in this list, but we still we have confidence in its potential.

Having read the manga, we are convinced that if the animated adaptation lives up to expectations, this series has the capability to emerge as one of the most captivating comedy/fighting anime in the upcoming years.

Fuuko is a girl with the ability to bring misfortune to anyone who touches her, so she contemplates taking her own life.

In an unexpected turn of events, she is saved by a mysterious man who goes by the name Undead, seemingly immortal and in search of a way to end his long existence.

Upon discovering Fuuko’s unique ability, Undead opts to follow and safeguard her until her powers lead to his demise.

13. The Eminence in the Shadow (2nd Season)

The Eminence in the Shadow is a series that started in 2022, and its awesome second season came out in 2023, which we’re considering for this list.

It’s definitely one of the best second seasons this year and it did a great job keeping the show at a high level.

This undoubtedly confirms it as one of the most interesting isekai stories of the last few years, with lots of funny parts and some dark and intense scenes all in one series.

Following the events of the first season, Cid and the Shadow Garden will confront new and formidable adversaries.

The stage is the Lawless City, a place where rules are non-existent and anything goes, providing the backdrop for the protagonists’ infiltration.

12. The Apothecary Diaries

The Apothecary Diaries is an anime that premiered in the fall of 2023, offering a captivating blend of historical themes, slice of life, mystery, and romance.

This is undoubtedly one of the most interesting non-action anime released this year and a big surprise, catching everyone off guard as light novels and manga weren’t that widely recognized outside of Japan.

Set in ancient China, a time when women were customarily purchased as slaves to serve as concubines in the emperor’s harem, the story follows the main character, MaoMao.

Distinct from other women like her, she chooses to keep a low profile, immersing herself in her passion for medicine.

But when rumors circulate in the emperor’s court that the ruler’s children have mysteriously fallen ill, MaoMao finds herself unable to stay on the sidelines and instead, she embarks on an investigation to uncover the truth.

11. Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead

Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead is a delightful surprise that follows a manga that has already garnered considerable attention and delivers a fantastic first season with a great adaptation and animations.

This show is truly a hidden gem and in our view, it will be remembered for its fresh and captivating take on the zombie invasion genre, which has become trite nowadays.

We highly recommend adding it to your watchlist for some enjoyable entertainment and rest assured, you won’t regret it.

After toiling for three years at a company that has exploited him in every conceivable manner, Akira finds himself on the brink of exhaustion, both mentally and physically.

But one morning, as he heads to the office, he stumbles upon a city invaded by zombies. The question arises: is this truly a catastrophic event, or could it be an unexpected opportunity to savor a taste of freedom?

10. Skip and Loafer

Skip and Loafer is a modern romance anime featuring a group of friends and a couple with opposite personalities.

Released in the spring of 2023, this anime stands out as one of the most captivating romantic series that came out this year and impressed us the most, even if it may not be receiving as much attention as we expected.

So we highly recommend watching it to discover why it can be considered one of the most intriguing romantic series in recent years.

Mitsumi Iwakura, an energetic and funny girl, embarks on a new journey in a school in Tokyo, coming from rural Japan, and she will meet Sosuke Shima, a diligent and aloof student.

She is looking for some change and to upgrade her life, dreaming of a perfect life in the big city of Tokyo. As many of you know, reality hits hard and she will have to face the hardships of life and youth.

This is the perfect story if you want to relive high school again with a diverse cast with their struggles and backgrounds, Skip and Loafer is the way to go.

9. Hell’s Paradise

Hell’s Paradise is a battle shonen anime released in the spring of 2023 and undoubtedly one of the most intriguing fighting anime of the year for good reasons.

The first standout feature is its premise, offering a fresh and interesting storyline in a genre that has explored almost all possible stories. The dark fantasy settings and power system also add a wonderful layer to the series.

The manga has already gained incredible popularity in Japan, with many anticipating it to become a future cult hit, and if the animated adaptation maintains a high standard, there’s a strong possibility it will achieve similar acclaim.

The legendary ninja Gabimaru, who people think can’t die, is in prison waiting for an executioner to kill him with no will to live anymore. But then, when an executioner named Asaemon comes and offers him a deal.

If Gabimaru goes on a dangerous mission to find the secret of eternal life in a magical place, he might be able to see his wife, the only light in his dark life, again. This makes him remember his past, reigniting his will.

8. Attack on Titan Final

Speaking of iconic moments, there’s no doubt that 2023 will be remembered as the year Attack on Titan, one of the most-watched anime ever, came to an end.

And yes, this ending has sparked extensive debate, with some loving it and others strongly disliking it, but the moment has finally arrived.

To avoid spoilers for those who haven’t seen the previous seasons, we’ll refrain from saying too much about the plot, but the moment has finally arrived.

The story has progressed to the grand final confrontation, posing a threat to all of humanity. Who will emerge victorious, and how will this incredible 10-year story end?

7. Mobile Suit Gundam: Witch From Mercury (Season 2)

Including a new Gundam series in the top anime of the year is cool and for that reason, Mobile Suit Gundam: Witch From Mercury deserves a top spot on this list, even if it’s only the second season.

The series has contributed to record sales for Gundam and brought a renewed interest to mecha in general, a genre that while still alive isn’t as popular as it was back then.

So hats off to Sunrise Studio for achieving this, and let’s hope they can continue in this positive direction. However, the ending was quite rushed in the last 3 episodes and we wanted to see more and eventually a third season.

We can’t say we are disappointed, not at all, but it could have been better! The mecha designs are quite good and this is what’s extremely important for a Gundam fan or Gunpla collectionist.

The story is set in the year 122 in an era dominated by space corporations.

The protagonist is Suletta Mercury, a girl who enrolls in the Asticassia School of Technology, overseen by the powerful Beneritt Group, a dominant force in the mobile suit industry.

6. Pluto

Pluto originated as a manga in 2003 and garnered much anticipation before being adapted into an animated series in the fall of 2023.

Fans had almost given up hope for a potential animated adaptation of this masterpiece, but we’re happy to say that the long-awaited moment has finally arrived, and it has proven to be well worth the wait.

In line with Urasawa’s other masterpieces, this series distinguishes itself with its captivating mystery and thriller elements, complemented by fantastic Sci-Fi components.

But then again from the same author of Monster, one of the best thrillers ever made, we expect no less.

The central character is Detective Gesicht, tasked with probing the enigmatic murder of the robot Montblanc, celebrated for its exemplary military service in the Asiatic War.

Little does Gesicht know that a colossal and dangerous conspiracy awaits him just around the corner…

5. Heavenly Delusion

Heavenly Delusion is a recent anime adaptation based on a seinen manga, with its first season concluded in the summer of 2023 with 13 episodes.

This is the surprise mystery/supernatural series of the year with Oshi no Ko, as it boasts an engaging plot that progressively darkens as mysteries unfold.

15 years before the series begins, a catastrophic event reshaped the world, giving rise to menacing, human-eating monsters that pose a constant threat to the survivors.

The remaining humans seek refuge in isolated facilities, left to dream and wonder about the outside world.

It is against this backdrop that Maru and Kiruko join forces outside the safety of the shelters, embarking on a quest to discover a special place known as Heaven and to find answers that might explain the world’s transformation.

But as they unravel the truths, they may come to realize that some mysteries are perhaps better left undiscovered…

4. Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2

We said it many times but in our opinion, Jujutsu Kaisen stands as one of the best battle shonen series released after 2020, or perhaps the very best.

This is further solidified this year with the adaptation of the Shibuya arc, which as we anticipated from our experience with the manga, turned out to be of the highest quality and sparked lively discussions on fan forums.

Undoubtedly, we are convinced that this story arc is among the best to have emerged recently so if you haven’t watched it yet, we strongly urge you to do so as soon as possible.

Some time has passed since the conclusion of the first season, but there’s no rest for the main characters.

The group of villains has devised a plan to incapacitate Satoru Gojo, the strongest sorcerer in the world and the No. 1 obstacle to their plans.

These are the circumstances leading up to the Shibuya Incident, an event destined to be etched in memory for years to come.

3. Oshi No Ko – My Star

Oshi no Ko is undeniably the most hyped first season of 2023, dominating discussions on animanga forums in its release period, and for damn good reason.

This series gathers an impressive range of genres and themes, starting with a slice-of-life/drama base and delving into thriller, mystery, music, and even romance.

Wait what? You haven’t watched it yet? Well, what are you waiting for? It’s time to add it to your watchlist!

The story follows Goro Honda, a gynecologist living and working in a small hospital in rural Japan, who is also a big fan of the beautiful and talented idol Ai Oshino.

And imagine his surprise when Ai shows up in his room pregnant with twins. Goro promises to help her have a safe delivery, but their encounter with a creepy man leads to his unexpected death.

Or so he thought because Goro would awaken in the body of Aqua Oshino, Ai’s son!

Just think that this synopsis only covers the first 10 minutes of the first episode, and we won’t reveal any more to avoid spoiling surprises.

2. Vinland Saga Season 2

Vinland Saga has undeniably been one of the most successful anime of recent times since its release in 2019, and this streak of success was firmly maintained in 2023 with a superb second season that lived up to expectations.

Also the transition from Studio WIT to MAPPA has elevated the quality of animation even further, so if you haven’t started watching it yet, now is the perfect time to do so.

Thorfinn, having lost all desire to live in the aftermath of the events from the first season, finds himself enslaved. During this time, he crosses paths with Einar, a young Englishman who shares a similar fate.

It’s this unexpected encounter that will trigger a profound awakening within Thorfinn’s soul.

1. Frieren – Beyond Journey’s End

This anime is a ray of hope for fantasy anime in a world full of isekai and its adaptation is doing fantastic so far.

As an elf, the 10 years she spent with her fellow heroes represent only a small portion of her long life, a fact that doesn’t apply to her companions who must endure the consequences of their actions.

This situation leads Frieren to contemplate the significance of her memories and the broader meaning of life.

Frieren is a rare gem in the world of fantasy that has emerged in recent years. Finally, we have a fantasy series that takes a different approach, breaking free from the genre’s usual stereotypes.

The story begins at the end, with the main characters having already achieved the grand feat typically central to other series of this kind, and it centers on the aftermath, not the action itself.

Don’t get fooled by these premises because Frieren isn’t as sad as the trailer lets you believe and you will get plenty of slice-of-life moments and fun scenes with the cast.

We believe there’s little more to say to convey why we consider Frieren the best series of 2023, and possibly for the years to come if the adaptation maintains its high standard.