Comedy is an extremely subjective thing, and what one person finds funny the other one might find completely idiotic. A prime example of this are Adam Sandler movies like 'Jack and Jill' which most people find idiotic and downright bad, but it still got pretty decent box office profits so someone must like it right? Comedy in anime is much more difficult to pull off, as most studios idea of a comedy is 'Put cute moe girls and a shy awkward protagonist into wacky situations'. For every 'Gintama' or 'Detroit Metal City' you have a 'Jungle de Ikou!'

'Great Teacher Onizuka' soars above from the rest, standing out as a prime example of how to do a great comedy anime. It follows the incredible, though often ridiculous, antics of the titular teacher as he attempts to outwit and win over the cunning Class 3-4 that is determined to have him removed from the school. However, other obstacles present themselves throughout—including the frustrated, balding vice principal, Hiroshi Uchiyamada; old enemies from his biker days; and his own idiotic teaching methods. But Eikichi fights it all whilst trying to help his students, romance fellow teacher Azusa Fuyutsuki, and earn his self-proclaimed title.

From the extremely likeable main protagonist in Eikichi Onizuka, to a wide cast of supporting characters that quickly grow on you, 'Great Teacher Onizuka' will not fail to put a smile on your face. Onizuka's journey from a simple thug to one of the greatest teachers in Japan is truly a memorable one, and his various unorthodox methods which he uses to turn all of his students around to his side are really a sight to behold.

With cleverly crafted humor that is sprinkled with some wise life lessons on top, 'Great Teacher Onizuka' is my favorite anime ever and I'm sure it won't fail to at least put a smile on your face.

Tier Rank: S+

Rating : 10/10

It's very hard to get most normal people into anime, as they are quick to dismiss the genre as either 'cute japanese school girls doing stupid stuff' or 'hentai tentacle monsters bukake on a japanese school girl'. Well, they aren't really that wrong when it comes to the first case, but anime generally has a negative connotation when it comes to most people. However, there are a select few anime which are perfect for a newcomer to the genre, if you can get them over the whole 'bukake' thing that is. And 'Cowboy Bebop' is one of such shows.

We follow our protagonist, the mellow and carefree Spike Spiegel who is balanced by his boisterous, pragmatic partner Jet Black as the pair makes a living chasing bounties and collecting rewards. Along their travels they meet various new members of their crew such as Ein, a genetically engineered, highly intelligent Welsh Corgi; femme fatale Faye Valentine, an enigmatic trickster with memory loss; and the strange computer whiz kid Edward Wong.

'Cowboy Bebop' has an overarching story, but the show is still very episodic in nature. You can generally jump into any episode and have a good time. But where 'Cowboy Bebop' really shines are its characters. Every single one is memorable and extremely likeable. The banter between them is also extremely fun to watch. Mix in an amazing soundtrack and really good animation, and you've got yourself a masterpiece in animation.

Despite not achieving any fame at all upon premiering in Japan, 'Cowboy Bebop' quickly became a hit when it aired in the USA, especially helped by the amazing English dub. It is a classic in anime, and a must watch for any anime fan. It is also a perfect entry point for newcomers, and a show you can show to your parents without fear of them banishing you from the house.

Tier Rank: S+

Rating : 10/10

One of the very first sports anime that ever aired in Japan, and it's legacy is simply amazing and felt even to this day in the medium. You can definitely make the argument that the manga is more influential than the show, and you would be right, but the anime is definitely the best sports anime that I have ever watched.

The story of Ashita no Joe follows our protagonist, Joe Yabuki, who goes from being a delinquent and a drifter to one of the best boxers in Japan, and the world. While a relatively simple story, the amount of plot development and character development that happens in the 79 episode run of the show is nothing short of amazing. Very few shows manage to make their characters feel like a living and breathing thing, but Ashita no Joe does that flawlessly, especially with its main character Joe Yabuki. The characters in general are the strongest point of the show, followed by its plot.

What isn't the strongest point of the show, is the animation. Released in 1970-1971, this is a show that hasn't aged well. Like, at all. A lot of cheap animation tricks are used in order to save the show's budget, from using stills to using even more stills. But ultimately, the animation doesn't detract from the show's story or characters. I'm always of the belief that animation doesn't matter nearly as much as story and characters do in a show, and Ashita no Joe proves that point.

The music for the show is also very old. It oozes 70's, but again it isn't really an issue. The opening for the show is also really good.

Ultimately, while the 79 episodes may seem daunting at first, Ashita no Joe is definitely a must watch for any anime fan. Not even only for its historical value, but for its amazing story and characters as well.

Tier Rank: S+

Rating : 10/10

Sports anime are generally pretty bland and generic. They all follow a simple, standard cookie-cutter plot where 'Team of rag-tags band together and slowly work towards winning, probably lose in the first season but then gain plot armor and start smashing everyone they come across.' There are tons of shows like this, and very few of them manage to break this traditional mold of blandness and genericness. However, when a show manages to do this, it does so spectacularly and such is the case with 'Ping Pong The Animation'

Our story follows Makoto 'Smile' Tsukimoto and his friend, Yukata 'Peco' Hoshino, two boys who have grown up playing ping pong together nearly every day. Peco, brimming with confidence, aims to be the best table tennis player in the world; Smile, on the other hand, shows little ambition. Nevertheless, the two have always stuck together, with a bond built upon their mutual love for this sport. Every year, students from all across Japan gather for the inter-high table tennis competition to achieve national and international stardom. Through intense training and competition, only the very best persevere.

'Ping Pong The Animation' isn't about the sport, it is about the characters. Yes, the show does have plenty of ping pong action, but the characters are some of the best ever created in anime. Both Smile and Peco are extremely realistic, from Smile who was bullied as a kid to Peco who is brimming with energy and confidence. But Ping Pong The Animation goes a step further and gives an amazing amount of depth to characters that would be considered 'side-characters' in various other anime. But not here, as they are given such depth and explanation that they become protagonists in their own right.

The main talking point of 'Ping Pong The Animation' is its animation, which is extremely unorthodox but it works amazingly well because it highlights the fact that the show isn't about fancy animation of the sport, but about the stories of each individual character.

Featuring one of my favorite characters of all time in Kong 'China' Wenge, 'Ping Pong The Animation' is quite possibly the best sports anime ever made. A story of friendship and perserverance, it is a must watch even if you don't care much about the sport of ping pong, or sports in general.

Tier Rank: S+

Rating : 10/10

Naoki Urasawa is a genius when it comes to creating amazing stories and worlds. From his work with '20th Century Boys' to its sequel '21th Century Boys' he is an extremely popular and liked manga author. However, his magnum opus might quite possibly be the 'monster' of a manga known as 'Monster', whose anime adaptation remains one of the best anime ever produced.

Our story follows Dr. Kenzou Tenma, a renowned Japanese brain surgeon working in Germany. Highly lauded by his peers as one of the great young minds that will revolutionize the field, he is blessed with a beautiful fiancée and is on the cusp of a big promotion in the hospital he works at. But all of that is about to change with a grave dilemma that Kenzou faces one night—whether to save the life of a small boy or that of the town's mayor. Despite being pressured by his superiors to perform surgery on the mayor, his morals force him to perform the surgery on the other critical patient, saving his life and forfeiting the mayor's. Years later, Tenma's career is back on track, and he is enjoying a successful life doing what he does best. But one day, a string of bizarre serial murders winds up leading to one of Tenma's patients. Tenma witnesses the patient murdered before his eyes, by the orchestrator of the serial killings. who is none other than the boy he saved all those years ago, Johan Liebert.

What follows is 70+ episodes of Tenma's frantic search to find the boy he saved, and fix his mistake. Along the way, we meet some of the most unique and interesting, yet believably human characters in the history of anime, matched with amazing, compelling subplots, with all of these both answering mysteries regarding, and yet at the same time, furthering the question: Who is Johan Liebert, and what is he trying to do?

A great animation style and one of the most memorable villains of anime history in Johan Liebert, 'Monster' is a true masterpiece that every anime fan should watch, despite its long length.

Tier Rank: S+

Rating : 10/10

Much like Ashita no Joe, you could claim that Hokuto no Ken's manga is a bit more influential than the anime that followed it. But, unlike Ashita no Joe, I slightly disagree with that statement. Mainly because I think that the anime adds a whole new 'badass' depth to Hokuto no Ken.

Our story follows Kenshiro, in the year 19XX, who after being betrayed and left for dead, wanders a post-apocalyptic wasteland on a quest to track down his rival, Shin, who has kidnapped his beloved fiancée Yuria. During his journey, Kenshirou makes use of his deadly fighting form, Hokuto Shinken, to defend the helpless from bloodthirsty ravagers. It isn't long before his exploits begin to attract the attention of greater enemies, like warlords and rival martial artists, and Keshirou finds himself involved with more than he originally bargained for.

Hokuto no Ken is a show that inspired many other shows that followed it, not to mention how it inspired Hirohiko Araki to write Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, whose first part is basically a Hokuto no Ken fan fiction. The show manages to juggle a vast array of characters, and makes them all likeable and sympathetic.

The music for the show is also excellent, with both of the openings (Ai wo Torimodose and Tough Boy) being the highlight, and adding the show that extra bit of badassness.

The animation is very 80's, and it definitely shows it's age. But then again, that's no reason to ignore a show that is as fun as Hokuto no Ken. While it can drag on at times, the show definitely picks up the pace after the first arc and it remains a blast to watch until the end.

Tier Rank: S

Rating : 9/10

The 'mindfuck' genre of anime always has a special place in my heart, especially if the 'mindfuck' is actually a carefully crafted social commentary on current day Japan and the escapism culture. 'Mousou Dairinin' is a show about exactly that, chock-full of subtext that you probably won't catch on your first viewing unless you have a keen eye. Created by Satoshi Kon, who is one of my favorite people from the anime industry. He was a true visionary who was able to really make you appreciate anime and think twice about what is happening in the show you are watching. Truly a shame that he passed away so early, and may he rest in peace.

The infamous Shounen Bat is terrorizing the residents of Musashino City. Flying around on his rollerblades and beating people down with a golden baseball bat, the assailant seems impossible to catch—much less understand. His first victim, the well-known yet timid character designer Tsukiko Sagi, is suspected of orchestrating the attacks. Believed only by her anthropomorphic pink stuffed animal, Maromi, Tsukiko is just one of Shounen Bat's many victims.As Shounen Bat continues his relentless assault on the town, detectives Keiichi Ikari and Mitsuhiro Maniwa begin to investigate the identity of the attacker. 

'Mousou Dairinin' is an amazing show, and one of Satoshi Kon's masterpieces. With so much subtext and clever commentary on the current Japanese culture, not just in anime but overall, is really something to behold. Quite clever, and it doesn't surprise me that it went over a lot of people's heads. Good animation and amazing depths of subtext and commentary help this show shine, and it shines brightly.

Tier Rank: S-

Rating : 9/10

Another Satoshi Kon entry on this list, this time with a medium he is more familiar with: Anime Movies. A master of psychological thrillers and making the viewer wonder 'What the fuck is happening?', he showcases that talent perfectly in 'Perfect Blue'.

The J-pop idol group CHAM! is extremely popular, but one day one of the members, Mima Kirigoe, decides leave the group to pursue her acting career. Mima's life begins to change drastically after her departure from the group. Wanting to shed her pop-idol image, she takes on a role in a crime drama series, and her career as an actress gradually becomes more demanding and taxing for both Mima and her manager, Rumi Hidaka. To add to Mima's growing unease, an obsessed fan who is incapable of accepting that Mima has quit being an innocent idol, begins stalking her and a new anonymous website begins to impersonate her life with intricate detail. One by one, each disturbing development drives Mima to become increasingly unhinged and unable to distinguish reality from fantasy.

'Perfect Blue' is amazing mainly because it keeps you wondering what is happening the entirety of the movie. Are all of the events in Mima's head, or are they actually happening in the real world? With great animation and voice acting, you will be on the edge of your seat until the very end of this thriller, and the twist will probably blow your mind.

Tier Rank: S

Rating : 9/10

Kentarou Miura's magnum opus 'Berserk' is one of, if not the, best manga ever written. An amazing masterpiece that will leave you breathless by the time you're done reading it. It's a real shame that it never really got the anime adaptation it deserved, but the 1997-1998 version of Berserk comes really close to capturing Miura's vision, and more importantly, stands on its own as an excellent show regardless of your knowledge of manga.

Set in the medieval era, 'Berserk' is a dark, gritty tale that follows our protagonist Guts, who was born from the corpse of his mother. Guts only knows one thing, and that is how to fight. After a run-in with the Band of the Hawk, a formidable troop of mercenaries, Guts is recruited by their charismatic leader Griffith, nicknamed the 'White Hawk.' As he quickly climbed the ranks in order to become the head of the offensive faction, Guts proves to be a mighty addition to Griffith's force, taking Midland by storm. However, while the band's quest for recognition continues, Guts slowly realizes that the world is not as black-and-white as he once assumed.

Berserk's strenghts are in the plot and characters. The plot will grip you and not let go until the very end, and the show does something very few shows manage to do which is to make you care for the entirety of the Band of the Hawk. The main problem with the storyline of Berserk, is the ending which ends on a really bad cliffhanger. I would say that the cliffhanger was resolved in the 2016 version of Berserk, but realistically you are better off imagining your own fan fiction continuity than watching that show.

Another one of Berserk's downfalls is the animation, as even at the time it didn't look particularly great. It does give the show a very unique style, but there is just too much relying on watercolor shots and stills for my taste.

The soundtrack, on the other hand, is absolutely fantastic. Despite the opening being hilariously not fitting for the show, and including some hilarious engrish, the rest of the music is amazing. Guts' theme being the main highlight for me.

Berserk is definitely a recommendation for anyone who wants a serious anime, and though it might not be a 100% adaptation of Miura's amazing work, it's still an excellent show that deserves to be watched. Just look out for the cliffhanger ending, and be ready to pick up the manga.

Tier Rank: S

Rating : 9/10

I don't think that there exists a show as polarizing as 'Neon Genesis Evangelion' is, in quite possibly any medium. There is no in-between with  'Neon Genesis Evangelion', you either love the show or you hate it and think it is pretentious garbage. While  'Neon Genesis Evangelion' stray into pretentious territory quite a lot of times, with its Bible and Christianity references, I still think it is a great show that offers a serious take on the mecha genre, and deconstructs it more or less.

In the year 2015, the world stands on the brink of destruction. Humanity's last hope lies in the hands of Nerv, a special agency under the United Nations, and their Evangelions, giant machines capable of defeating the Angels who herald Earth's ruin. Gendou Ikari, head of the organization, seeks compatible pilots who can synchronize with the Evangelions and realize their true potential. Coming face to face with his father for the first time in years, 14-year-old Shinji Ikari's average life is irreversibly changed when he is whisked away into the depths of Nerv, and into a harrowing new destiny—he must become the pilot of Evangelion Unit-01 with the fate of mankind on his shoulders.

Hideaki Anno's masterpiece does a great take on the mecha genre, with very interesting characters and great animation. The last few episodes are definitely crazy and gave birth to a bunch of memes.

Tier Rank: S-

Rating : 9/10 (Together with 'Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion')

'Steins;Gate' is an adaptation of the visual novel with the same name, and man is it a good one. Funnily enough, most other adaptations of the visual novels that share the same universe as 'Steins;Gate'' have been quite bad, while 'Steins;Gate' is regarded as one of the best anime ever made.

The self-proclaimed mad scientist Rintarou Okabe rents out a room in a rickety old building in Akihabara, where he indulges himself in his hobby of inventing prospective 'future gadgets' with fellow lab members: Mayuri Shiina, his air-headed childhood friend, and Hashida Itaru, a perverted hacker nicknamed 'Daru.' The three pass the time by tinkering with their most promising contraption yet, a machine dubbed the 'Phone Microwave,' which performs the strange function of morphing bananas into piles of green gel. Suddenly, the crew comes to a realization: that the Phone Microwave can send emails to the past, altering the flow of history.

'Steins;Gate' has quite the engaging plot with a really likeable cast of characters, especially the main character in Rintarou Okabe. The story does start off a bit slow and slice of lifey, but when it gets going it hooks you and keeps you watching from episode to episode. The visual novel is also a nice playthrough, if you are interested in seeing the other endings.

Tier Rank: S-

Rating : 9/10

Finding a good horror anime is quite difficult, as the horror genre has much more success in the manga world. When it comes to anime, finding a horror anime that truly scares you or gets you invested is like trying to order a BigMac in a Burger King. Luckily there is one undisputed king of horror anime, and that is 'Higurashi no Naku Koro ni'.

Keiichi Maebara has just moved to the quiet little village of Hinamizawa in the summer of 1983, and quickly becomes inseparable friends with schoolmates Rena Ryuuguu, Mion Sonozaki, Satoko Houjou, and Rika Furude. However, darkness lurks underneath the seemingly idyllic life they lead. As the village prepares for its annual festival, Keiichi learns about the local legends surrounding it. To his horror, he discovers that there have been several murders and disappearances in the village in the recent years, and that they all seem to be connected to the festival and the village's patron god, Oyashiro. Keiichi tries to ask his new friends about these incidents, but they are suspiciously silent and refuse to give him the answers he needs. As more and more bizarre events occur, he wonders just what else his friends might be keeping from him, and if he can even trust them at all.

'Higurashi no Naku Koro ni' has a great plot that gets you hooked immediately, and a vast cast of characters that will keep you guessing who the culprit really is. Combine that with a lot of gore, and you've got yourself a great horror anime.

Tier Rank: S-

Rating : 9/10

Much like 'Neon Genesis Evangelion' deconstructs the mecha genre in a way, 'Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica' deconstructs the magical girl genre in a superb way. Baiting the viewer with promotional materials and first few episodes, it hits you like a truck and the show quickly takes an interesting turn.

Madoka Kaname and Sayaka Miki are regular middle school girls with regular lives, but all that changes when they encounter Kyuubey, a cat-like magical familiar, and Homura Akemi, the new transfer student.Kyuubey offers them a proposition: he will grant one of their wishes and in exchange, they will each become a magical girl, gaining enough power to fulfill their dreams. However Homura, a magical girl herself, urges them not to accept the offer since everything is not what it seems.

With great characters and a story that will get you hooked after the first few episodes, 'Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica' is a great show with beautiful animation and memorable characters that truly showcases the potential of the magical girl genre.

Tier Rank: S-

Rating : 9/10

I said above that most sports anime follow a pretty standard and generic story of 'Team of rag-tags band together and slowly work towards winning, probably lose in the first season but then gain plot armor and start smashing everyone they come across.' The latter seasons of 'Kuroko no Basket' definitely fall into that category, but the first season is full of promise and is one of the better sports anime out there, mainly due to how unique it is.

At Seirin High School, two newly recruited freshmen prove that they are not ordinary basketball players: Taiga Kagami, a promising player returning from the US, and Tetsuya Kuroko, a seemingly ordinary student whose lack of presence allows him to move around unnoticed. Although Kuroko is neither athletic nor able to score any points, he was a member of Teikou's basketball team, where he played as the 'Phantom Sixth Man,' who easily passed the ball and assisted his teammates.

'Kuroko no Basket' can be simply explained as 'super saiyan basketball'. It is tons of fun to watch, and the first season is a highlight as it promises to be something more than a generic sports show, though ultimately it falls to the same tropes in latter seasons.

Tier Rank: S-

Rating : 9/10

A show that is extremely funny, and really nostalgic. There is something really comfy about drinking your college days away and diving when you're not being piss drunk.

Iori Kitahara moves to the coastal town of Izu for his freshman year at its university, taking residence above Grand Blue, his uncle's scuba diving shop. Iori has high hopes and dreams about having the ideal college experience, but when he enters the shop he is sucked into the alcoholic activities of the carefree members of the Diving Club who frequent the place. Persuaded by upperclassmen Shinji Tokita and Ryuujirou Kotobuki, Iori reluctantly joins their bizarre party. His cousin Chisa Kotegawa later walks in and catches him in the act, earning Iori her utter disdain.

The comedy is what carries this show, and makes it a really good watch, despite some issues like the generic tsundere girl and what not. Also, what's up with all the dongs?

Tier Rank: A+

Rating: 8/10

City Hunter is a show that, honestly, isn't all that great. It's extremely formulaic, where every episode follows the exact same pattern, repeated for 100 or so episodes. But there's just something likeable about the show.

The show follows our protagonist, Ryo Saeba who works as a 'sweeper' in Shinjuku, Tokyo. He is joined by his partner Kaori Makimura, as they work together to tackle any sort of job that comes their way. The show is very episodic in its plot, with every episode following the same structure. Ryo gets a job, acts like a pervert towards the female client (Mokkori), the female client thinks Ryo is disgusting, but she ends up liking him towards the end of the episode after Ryo proves that is is more than capable for the job. Repeat for about 100 episodes and a few movies.

Ryo is definitely one of my favorite anime protagonists, and I'm not really sure why. There's just something about him that's likeable. Maybe it's his eternal quest for Mokkori, or his badassedness when he gets serious. Not to mention, he's voiced by Akira Kamiya, the same dude that voiced Kenshiro.

The animation is the highlight of City Hunter, alongside the soundtrack. If you're a huge fan of City Pop and the 80's/90's night time aesthetic of Japan, then you'll fit right in here. The ending for the first season of City Hunter 'Get Wild' by TM Network, is one of my favorite endings out of any anime.

Ultimately, City Hunter is a formulaic and episodic show where you can skip 10 episodes and not really miss anything important. But, I guess it's one of my guilty pleasure shows.

Tier Rank: A+

Rating : 8/10

It’s quite interesting that the car racing genre in anime is vastly underrepresented. You’d think that with such a simple premise there would be a boatload of shows to watch and explore, but that is not the case. Just one look at the genre page for Cars,tells you that the genre boasts a whopping 77 anime. Upon closer look, we see that half of these shows are about kids driving go-karts or something, with a serious lack of adult protagonists. There is also the occasional advert anime such as Next A-class which basically serves as a fancy commercial that tries to get you to buy the car. However, you could argue that you don't really need any more anime when you have THE racing anime 'Initial D First Stage'.

'Initial D First Stage' follows Takumi Fujiwara, a high-schooler who does delivery runs in his dad's Toyota AE86 in the dead of night. Despite working at a gas station and having friends who are car nuts, he doesn't know a single thing about cars.Takumi is introduced into the world of street racing and his natural talent draws attention from all across Gunma. And so Takumi's journey starts, as he starts liking racing and cars more and more.

Despite having hilariously bad CG animation, the tense races and amazing Eurobeat manage to  make up for some of the flaws that 'Initial D First Stage' does have.

Tier Rank: A+

Rating : 8/10