Not every anime has to be thousands of episodes long like One Piece or Case Closed. In fact, some of the most enjoyable stories are those that are succinct and compact. So, let’s take a look at some of the shows that do that well.
These are shows that can be defined as “easily binge-able” either because of their fast pace, their close-knit narrative, or the amount of variation from episode to episode.
10 One-Punch Man
First up is One Punch Man, a series that somehow has a ton of variation and none at all. In every single arc, characters end up fighting against an insurmountable enemy and losing, only for Saitama to come and beat them in one punch right at the end. Yet, while the structure for these arcs all share the same foundational concept, the character interactions, fight scenes, and pacing all differ widely. One-Punch Man is a high octane, hilarious, and downright incredible series that is easy to burn through. Plus, like a ton of other animated series, OPM is on Netflix, making it more accessible as well.
9 Megalo Box
Megalo Box took a lot of people by surprise when it first released in 2018, and it’s surprised even more people recently with the confirmation of its upcoming second season. The anime was made as a sort of pseudo-celebration and commemoration for the 50th anniversary of Ashita no Joe, an iconic boxing anime comparable to Rocky Balboa. Yet, for something that was made to celebrate another series, Megalo Box really does a good job standing on its own two legs. The world is interesting, Junk Dog is a relatively unique MC, and the fights are very enjoyable. And, because it follows Junk Dog’s relatively short career, there are only 13 episodes to watch in the first season.
8 Baccano
Baccano was many people’s first introduction to how anime could tell more adult stories while still including fun, fantasy, and hilarious characters. Plus, the show is very stylistically similar to the original Fullmetal Alchemist anime, which brought it a slew of new fans as well. Baccano is a short story about prohibition, the Mafia (not the Yakuza like most other crime-centric anime), and an elixir of immortality. Oh, and it also has a gigantic cast of characters who all have their own motivations and time in the spotlight. Because of the character diversity and compact narrative, Baccano makes for a fantastic series for you to watch on a weekend off.
7 No Game No Life
What if arguments weren’t settled with words or with fists, but with the results of a game? That’s the concept of No Game No Life, and that would’ve been simple enough as a setting. But, the author takes it even further and throws two shut-in siblings who are atop the world’s best gamers on Earth into the world of Disboard, so obviously, things get a whole lot more interesting. No Game No Life is an anime with some truly beautiful art, a great soundtrack, charming characters, and an absolutely unique concept.
Sure, it relies pretty heavily on fanservice and referential humor, but at the end of the day, Sora and Shiro are some of the most memorable protags in recent memory.
6 KonoSuba: God’s Blessing On This Wonderful World!
KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World, better known as just KonoSuba, is by far the most popular comedic anime of this generation, and for good reason. Unlike other Isekai anime currently airing, the cast of characters in KonoSuba rarely decimate their opponents, even with how overpowered they are. There’s a unique pace to the comedy in this series such as with Kazuma’s lightning-fast sarcastic retorts or Aqua’s ability to swap from an over-confident jerk to bawling mess in a microsecond. There’s truly not many other comedy series like it, though some options like VladLove are still pretty good. And, because of the fast-paced jokes, the episodes feel like they fly by, making it easy to get through rather quickly.
5 Aggretsuko
Aggretsuko is the only anime on this list thats longer than 24 episodes, and that’s primarily because its easily accessible concept lets you hop in and out at any point. From the Sanrio corporation, creators of Hello Kitty comes Aggretsuko, the story of an adorable anthropomorphic red panda office worker in a harsh world whose favorite avenue of letting out stress is by screaming her heart out to death-metal karaoke. Basically, this show is binge-able simply because people can watch 50 episodes in a row or 5 and come out of it happy either way.
4 Devilman Crybaby
Unlike a lot of other series on this list, Devilman Crybaby is not a happy-go-lucky story or a comedic masterpiece. It has some funny moments, sure, but Devilman is nihilistic to its core, as author Go Nagai intended it. But, when Masaaki Yuasa was approached with the concept of creating his own spin-off Devilman story, things somehow managed to get even darker. But, being sad or dark isn’t equivalent to being bad, as the series is incredibly well-made. The style of the show alone is memorable enough, but then the animation, rap scenes, voice acting, horror elements, and action scenes all take it over the top.
3 Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!
Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken is such a uniquely charming anime. It’s popular, for sure, but this show deserves twice if not three times the amount of renown it currently has. The show follows the story of three girls, Midori, Tsubame, and Kanamori who all love art in different ways. Well, Kanamori is more in it for the money, but all three of them work incredibly hard to put together their own animations and projects.
Every single episode of this show brings a brand new concept and world to life whether it’s through the sound design, the characters, or the world-building. Midori’s the world-builder, Tsubame is the character illustrator, and Kanamori is the no holds barred manager. Eizouken is an anime full of experimentation, passion, love for the industry, and so much more. And, it not only engrosses you in its story and world but also teaches you about the process of creating anime.
2 Little Witch Academia
The animation studio known as Trigger is a big name in the anime community. They’re the ones behind Gurren Lagann, Kiznaiver, Brand New Animal, Kill la Kill, and of course Little Witch Academia. Their shows tend to feature iconic action scenes, fantastic character designs, and a lot of “fight the power” vibes. And, while Little Witch Academia might be a bit more down-to-earth, oddly enough, than some of their other series, it absolutely has all these same traits. The narrative structure is a bit weak, like most Trigger anime, but this Harry Potter-esque anime is still one of the most memorable in years. And, it manages to get its entire story out in only a single season, making it exceptionally easy for anyone to watch.
1 Death Parade
Death Parade isn’t one of the most popular anime out there like Naruto, One Piece, or My Hero Academia, but it still had a pretty big following while it aired. It’s a short story with a simple concept that oozes atmosphere, style, and charm. This was an anime from 2015 that took off online because of its funky fresh opening animation and song, only to reel people in with the whole “heaven-or-hell death game” concept. Basically, the anime takes place at a “bar” called Quindecim that functions as the stopping point between Heaven and Hell. In this bar, people are subjected to sly tests (usually in the form of bar games) that are much more complex than they first appear. Decim, the bartender, is the one who oversees and lays down judgment once the game is over, and these scenes combined with the humanizing conversations with his “assistant” and sudden amnesiac Onna is what makes Death Parade so great. It’s all packed neatly into 12 episodes that people will have a blast watching.
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