Anime has had a strong decade of stories under its belt. The 2010s gave anime fans some instant classics, and that status cannot be better seen than the rankings on MAL or MyAnimeList. While some long-running shows do dominate those halls, the focus will be on the first season of shows, so no sequels will be discussed (for now).
These anime have shown just how unique the medium can be. From time-traveling philosophical dramas to fun shounen action, anime has proven time and time again just how flexible it can be.
The Tatami Galaxy (2010) - 8.58
The Tatami Galaxy is considered by many to be Masaaki Yuasa's magnum opus, and that consideration is well deserved. The Tatami Galaxy is the surreal and mysterious story of a boy who is sent back through time to relive his first year of college, after wasting the last two years of his college life breaking up couples.
The themes of regret and nostalgia, even for somebody who had only spent two years of his life past the "time jump", is a palpably relatable tale for any person of any age. Add to that the brilliantly colorful visual style and animation, then you get a classic Masaaki Yuasa coming-of-age story.
Stein;s Gate (2011) - 9.08
Continuing the trend of time travel anime being emotional rollercoasters, Stein;s Gate takes a much more cynical and sci-fi approach than The Tatami Galaxy does. Eccentric scientist Rintarou Okabe has discovered a way to send messages through time via a "phone microwave". The strange project eventually turns into a deep conspiracy involving an organization known as SERN, which is hellbent on keeping the whole thing under wraps.
Stein;s Gate is one of those anime that anime fans feel confident in sharing even with non-anime fans. The story is incredibly complex and rewatches will certainly reward hawk-eyed viewers. While there are some questionable bits of humor from time to time, Stein;s Gate's overall narrative more than earns its high ranking on MAL.
Wolf Children (2012) - 8.59
Wolf Children is a slice-of-life film from Mamoru Hosada, best known for The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (another dramatic time travel movie). The movie focuses on Hana, a woman who falls in love with her classmate, who is secretly a wolfman. The children also take from their father, being wolf-hybrids as well.
The movie tackles themes of single parenthood, grief, and the realities of raising children who are "different". Wolf Children is a wholesome slice of life that manages to rip your heart out with some heart-wrenchingly difficult scenes, but it's all done masterfully.
Attack on Titan (2013) - 8.53
Attack on Titan is without a doubt the most popular anime of the 2010s, as MAL puts it at the hefty #1 spot above other classics such as Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and Death Note. The story of Eren Jeager and his friends standing up against the Titan threat in a viciously brutal "Anybody Can Die" setting captivated audiences.
With the final stretch of the story finally being adapted, time will tell if the anime's ending will be as iconic as its start. There's no doubt that Attack on Titan will be remembered for years to come, regardless of its ending.
Your Lie In April (2014) - 8.67
Your Lie In April is the premiere drama anime of the 2010s. The story focuses on Kousei Arima, a young but troubled piano prodigy who plays with incredible perfection. Upon his mother's death, however, he finds himself unable to play the piano as before. That was until he met Kaori Miyazono, who brings him back into the world of music and color.
Your Lie In April would be among the many dramatic series that deal with past trauma, showcasing just how troubled anime fans could be and using the anime as a medium to cope with their issues. It's a truly troubling tale that doesn't sugarcoat the unsavory aspects of perfectionism and parental abuse.
One-Punch Man (2015) - 8.51
The definitive shounen of the decade (at least until Demon Slayer took the world by storm in 2019), One Punch Man is a love letter and roast to all things shounen. Saitama, the titular One Punch Man, is a hero for fun who struggles with the boredom of complete power.
Meanwhile, the world remains woefully unaware of how strong Saitama truly is, even compared to the powerful S-class heroes. One Punch Man is a hilarious deconstruction of the shounen genre but nevertheless ends up being a great example of the genre.
A Silent Voice (2016)
A Silent Voice continues Kyoto Animation's good movie streak that started with The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya. The story starts with Shouya Ishida, a former bully, contemplating taking his own life as he is ostracized throughout middle school. However, a chance meeting with Shouko, a deaf girl he once bullied, starts his path to redemption.
A Silent Voice is a character exploration first and foremost, exploring themes of guilt and depression in uncomfortably real ways. The movie's technical qualities, as per Kyoto Animation's fantastic standards, are gorgeously crafted. For a movie with a deaf main character, A Silent Voice has an amazing sound design.
Made in Abyss (2017) - 8.68
Made in Abyss is an anime that is seemingly innocuous at first glance. After all, everything about it implies a light-hearted adventure anime where nothing of real consequence happens. Fans of the series will say this to people to trick them because it's one of the most shockingly dark anime of the decade.
Despite that, it's still a gorgeous piece of art. Made in Abyss focuses on Riko, an aspiring Diver, whose mother was lost to the deepest parts of the Abyss, a gigantic pit whose bottom is yet unknown. Along the way, she meets Reg, a mysterious cyborg boy with amnesia. Together, they brave the Abyss and uncover its many secrets along the way.
Violet Evergarden (2018) - 8.67
Violet Evergarden AKA, Kyoto Animation flexing its insane production skills, is a tale about lost loves and moving on. Four years after a great war, Violet Evergarden (yes, she's a person, not a place) recovers from her wounds and is left to pick up the pieces in s world she's never known: s peaceful one.
After her first adoptive family turns out to be a bust, she comes across workers known as Auto-Memory Dolls, skilled typists who help the illiterate, and those who want to express their feelings and memories through words. Finding comfort in the profession, Violet embarks on a journey of self-discovery, finding closure in other people's memories.
Vinland Saga (2019)
Before The Northman wowed audiences with its brutal take on Viking culture, Vinland Saga was showing anime fans the grandiose nature of a true Viking epic. After a young Thorfinn is adopted by Askeladd, the man who murdered Thorfinn's father, he dedicates himself to one day being skilled enough to kill the murderous warlord.
However, the chaos of the Viking conquest made that goal a difficult path for the young warrior. Along the way, Thorfinn finds himself witness to some of the most historic moments of eleventh-century Europe. Vinland Saga perfectly captures the pragmatism of the Viking culture without losing sight of how epic it truly was.