The 2010s were the decade anime went global. Streaming exploded, simulcasts made new episodes available worldwide within hours, and shows that once would have stayed niche became mainstream cultural events. It was a golden age, and narrowing it down is genuinely hard. But these fifteen anime defined the decade — the shows that pushed the medium forward, dominated the conversation, and will be remembered long after the era ends.
The Game-Changers
Attack on Titan (2013) is the defining anime of the decade, full stop. It began as a visceral survival horror and evolved into one of the most complex political and moral stories in any medium, and its mid-series twist reshaped what fans expected from anime storytelling. Nothing else had this cultural footprint.
Steins;Gate (2011) opened the decade with a time-travel masterpiece that starts as a quirky comedy and becomes an agonizing tragedy about the cost of saving the people you love. It remains one of the most beloved anime ever made.
Madoka Magica (2011) deconstructed the magical-girl genre so thoroughly it created a new subgenre, hiding a devastating meditation on hope and despair beneath a cute exterior.
The Modern Classics
Hunter x Hunter (2011) delivered the Chimera Ant arc, widely considered one of the greatest story arcs in anime history, elevating a shonen remake into an all-time masterpiece.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009-2010) bridged the decades and remains, for many, the single most complete anime ever made — a perfect blend of action, philosophy, humor, and heartbreak.
A Silent Voice (2016) and Your Name (2016) proved anime film could dominate the global box office and move audiences to tears, with Your Name becoming a worldwide phenomenon.
Made in Abyss (2017) paired the most beautiful world design of the decade with genuinely disturbing darkness, creating something unforgettable and unclassifiable.
The Phenomenons
Demon Slayer (2019) closed the decade by redefining what television animation could look like, with ufotable's Episode 19 becoming a cultural moment and the franchise shattering box-office records.
My Hero Academia (2016) revitalized the superhero-shonen genre for a new generation and became one of the biggest franchises in the world.
One Punch Man (2015) delivered the most jaw-dropping action animation of its year while satirizing the entire genre it belonged to.
Mob Psycho 100 (2016) showcased pure animation creativity in service of a surprisingly gentle story about growing up.
The Emotional Landmarks
Your Lie in April (2014) built an entire series around music and grief, delivering one of the decade's most beautiful and devastating experiences. March Comes in Like a Lion (2016) offered a tender, gorgeous exploration of depression and found family. And Violet Evergarden (2018) paired Kyoto Animation's peerless production with a deeply moving story about learning to understand human emotion.
Why the 2010s Mattered
The 2010s transformed anime from a subculture into a global mainstream force. Streaming broke down the barriers that once kept anime niche, letting shows reach audiences everywhere simultaneously. Production values soared as studios competed for international attention. And the storytelling grew more ambitious, with shows like Attack on Titan proving anime could tackle themes as complex as anything in prestige television.
This was the decade that created the modern anime fan — someone who watches new episodes weekly alongside fans across the world, who takes the medium seriously as art, and who has access to more great anime than any generation before. The shows on this list are its legacy, and they will be recommended for decades to come.
The Shows That Just Missed the List
Narrowing a decade this rich down to fifteen means leaving off shows that would headline a weaker era. Re:Zero redefined the "trapped in a loop" premise and built one of the decade's most psychologically intense protagonists. The Promised Neverland's first season delivered a nail-biting thriller unlike anything else in shonen. Kaguya-sama: Love Is War became the smartest romantic comedy in years. Jujutsu Kaisen closed the decade's tail end by announcing itself as the next major franchise. Haikyuu made volleyball into some of the most thrilling television anywhere. Any of these could justify a spot, and their omission says more about the decade's overwhelming depth than any shortcoming of their own.
That depth is the real story of the 2010s. In a weaker decade, a show like Made in Abyss or Mob Psycho 100 would be an undisputed number one; here they have to fight for a place among a dozen other masterpieces. The sheer density of great anime — across every genre, from tearjerking drama to genre-redefining action to boundary-pushing art films — is what made this the medium's global golden age.
For a newer fan building a watchlist, the 2010s are the ideal place to start, because so many of the shows people still talk about today come from this exact window. Work through this list and the honorable mentions above, and you will have seen the foundation of modern anime fandom — the shared touchstones that fans everywhere reference, debate, and love. It is a decade that rewards deep exploration, and there has never been a better time to dive into its catalogue.
