Genre: Dark Fantasy, Gore, Tragedy
Manga Status: On hiatus (Author Kentaro Miura passed away; being continued by team).
The greatest dark fantasy story ever told. Berserk follows Guts, a lone mercenary branded for death by demons, wielding a sword too big to be real. Do not watch the 2016/2017 CGI anime (it is terrible). Read the manga. The "Golden Age" arc (which has a decent movie trilogy on Netflix) is a Shakespearean tragedy of betrayal. Berserk influences Dark Souls, Elden Ring, and Final Fantasy.
Warning: Contains extreme violence, sexual assault, and disturbing imagery. Not for children.
Genre: Adventure, Pirate Fantasy
Status: Ongoing (1100+ anime episodes, 109+ manga volumes) www.secrethentai.club
The best-selling manga in history. One Piece follows Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat crew as they search for the legendary treasure, the One Piece. Do not let the episode count scare you. The series is a masterwork of foreshadowing; plot points hinted at in chapter 100 pay off in chapter 1000. The anime's pacing slows down later, so many switch to the manga (or the fan-edit "One Pace").
Pro Tip: Read the digitally colored manga version. It is the definitive way to experience Eiichiro Oda’s art.
Genre: Time Loop, Mystery, Horror
Complete: Yes (25 episodes). Genre: Dark Fantasy, Gore, Tragedy Manga Status: On
Imagine Groundhog Day mixed with The Ring. Shinpei returns to his rural island home for his childhood friend's funeral. He soon discovers that a "Shadow"—a doppelganger that kills and replaces people—is stalking the island. Every time he dies, the day resets. This is a tight, 25-episode thriller with no filler. There is no manga to recommend beyond the anime source; the adaptation is perfect.
Genre: Music, Romance, Tragedy
Complete: Yes (22 episodes).
A word of warning: you will cry. Piano prodigy Kōsei Arima lost the ability to hear his own playing after his mother died. Two years later, a free-spirited violinist named Kaori drags him back into the world of music. The animation of the musical performances is stunning, and the ending is legendary (and heartbreaking). The manga is a short, powerful read. Genre: Fantasy, Philosophical, Slice of Life Status: Season
Genre: Fantasy, Philosophical, Slice of Life
Status: Season 1 complete, Season 2 announced.
The current darling of the anime world. The hero party defeats the Demon King and returns home. But Frieren is an elf who lives for thousands of years. To her, ten years of adventure was a blink of an eye. When her human companions age and die, she realizes she never truly got to know them. The show is about regret, the fleeting nature of life, and finding meaning in small moments. Read the manga for beautiful, melancholic art.