As the year comes to an end, we look back on the incredible anime series that came out in 2023. This year was one of the most unique years of anime I can remember with series that pushed their genre boundaries or introduced new concepts. There are no rules for this list, only vibes. We will be including anime movies, huge fan-favorite hits and smaller (but still popular) titles. Without further ado, these are our top 10 anime of 2023.
The Boy and the Heron
It is only right that we start this list with Hayao Miyazaki‘s first feature film in 10 years, The Boy and the Heron. This movie is a beautiful hand-drawn, original story that serves as a love letter to the industry. It also features a powerful yet surprising voice cast which includes Christian Bale, Robert Pattinson, Mark Hamill, Florence Pugh and Willem Dafoe. The fantastic story follows Mahito who struggles to settle in a new town after his mother’s death. However, when a talking heron informs Mahito that his mother is still alive, he enters an abandoned tower, which takes him to another world.
You can still catch this masterpiece in theatres now, check for tickets here!
Suzume no Tojimari
Speaking of beautiful, powerful animated movies, we have to talk about Suzume no Tojimari. The music alone makes this movie worth watching, but the amazing voice acting, animation and fast-paced plot make it one of the best movies of the year. Suzume finds is a single weathered door standing upright amid ruins as though it was shielded from whatever catastrophe struck. Seemingly drawn by its power, Suzume opens the door and then doors open one after another all across Japan, unleashing destruction upon any who are near.
You can watch on Crunchyroll here.
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Buddy Daddies
Buddy Daddies is for everyone whose DnD campaign party adopted an orphan NPC (that they may or may not have created). This comedic, slice-of-life anime was criminally overlooked this year but is a top anime in my heart. Assassins Kazuki Kurusu and Rei Suwa meet Miri, a girl looking for her father on Christmas Day; Kazuki and Rei take Miri in to take care of her.
You can watch Buddy Daddies on Crunchyroll here!
Oshi no Ko
Oshi no Ko‘s concept is a little out there and the trailer does very little to capture the magic that is one of the best anime of the year. Dr. Goro is reborn as the son of the young starlet Ai Hoshino after her delusional stalker murders him. Now, he wants to help his new mother rise to the top, but what can a child do about the dark underbelly of the entertainment industry?
You can watch Oshi no Ko on HiDIVE here!
Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku
Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku took me by surprise this year but quickly landed on my list of Best Anime of 2023. The animation in this series is top-notch and downright beautiful at times. Gabimaru is a ruthless assassin from the village of Iwagakure who is nearly impossible to kill. When he is sentenced to death row he goes to a hidden island to find the Elixir of Life to earn his freedom. I binge-watched this show in one sitting because I could not stop watching it.
You can watch Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku on both Prime Video and Crunchyroll.
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Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead was the most fun I had watching an anime series all year long! Parts of it are funny and downright wholesome, and then it will take a sudden turn down Spooky Street. Living like a zombie himself after working nonstop for a soul-crushing company, Akira slept through the start of the zombie apocalypse. Now he’s on a mission to reclaim his life and work through his bucket list of “100 things to do before turning into a zombie.”
The best part is that you can watch Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead on Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu and Crunchyroll.
Mashle: Magic and Muscles
Imagine being a gym rat in a magical world, all sit-ups and no spells. Well, in Mashle: Magic and Muscles you can see what happens when swole protagonist Mash Burnedead gets sent to magic school. I loved the balance of suspense and humor that the series had along with the unconventional plot.
You can watch Mashle: Magic and Muscles on Crunchyroll here!
My Happy Marriage
My Happy Marriage kept my Netflix subscription alive after price hikes while I waited for this sweet story of love, magic and redemption to unfold every week. An unhappy young woman from an abusive family is married off to a fearsome and chilly army commander. But the two learn more about each other, and love may have a chance.
You can watch My Happy Marriage on Netflix here.
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Horimiya: The Missing Pieces
I will never say no to more Horimiya. My favorite slice-of-life anime couple made their return in Horimiya: The Missing Pieces and my year was better for it. Hori is a prim and perfect social butterfly at school, but she’s really a brash homebody. Meanwhile, under a gloomy façade, Miyamura hides a gentle heart, piercings and tattoos. They both reveal a side they’ve never shown in a chance meeting.
You can watch Horimiya: The Missing Pieces on Crunchyroll here!
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That’s a wrap on our best 10 anime for 2023! Did your favorite make it on our list? What anime are you looking forward to in the New Year? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
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