10 Anime With 100% on Rotten Tomatoes That You Need To Watch ASAP
Every anime fan has their own perspective on what makes a show truly great. Some believe that the greatest anime are action-packed with jaw-dropping fight scenes. Others are more fond of slice-of-life narratives, where one can truly get to know the characters.
Some fans like to check the ratings of shows before they watch them, often by using websites such as Rotten Tomatoes. There, one can find that there are some anime with perfect scores. From Pluto to Vinland Saga, there is a highly rated anime for any fan.
Pokémon Concierge Is a Cozy Anime for Fans of All Ages
The Pokémon franchise is not just a worldwide phenomenon; it is a staple in the lives of many fans. Though many pieces of Pokémon media revolve around battling, there are some that break away from this element. The stop-motion anime Pokémon Concierge is just one example in the franchise. Pokémon Concierge follows the adventures of Haru, a new employee at the busy Pokémon Resort.
Over time, Haru gets to know the people and Pokémon of the resort and begins to find joy once again. Though Pokémon often showcase their powers in the anime, Pokémon Concierge is meant to be calm and not exhilarating. Fans adore the slice-of-life elements the series has, quite different from the original anime. The adorable animation and relaxing soundtrack also add to the overall uplifting experience.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Focuses on Humanity
Unlike her companions, the elven mage Frieren is nearly immortal, as elves can live for hundreds of years. However, following the death of her old friend Himmel, Frieren realizes that she is taking her time for granted. Her quest to understand humanity thus becomes one of the most celebrated narratives in modern anime history. Frieren’s tale is one that may seem similar to other fantasy stories, yet is unique in its own way nevertheless.
Many anime are known to explore human nature, yet Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is one of the legendary few that do so in an extraordinary manner. Frieren not only grows as she learns more about humanity, but grows as a mentor. Her story is a very different tale compared to other mages in the anime sphere. Against a fantasy backdrop, Frieren’s adventures with her new companions is an absolute treat for any anime fan.
Neon Genesis Evangelion Remains a Classic Mecha Anime
After his estranged father reaches out to him, teenager Shinji Ikari finds himself piloting a powerful mecha in a battle against the monstrous creatures known as Angels. At the start of Neon Genesis Evangelion, Shinji’s story appears to be like many other coming-of-age stories found in the mecha genre. However, it is anything but what its audience expects of the narrative at first. What later follows is an experience that many fans still have trouble categorizing into a single genre.
Though the story has several elements of the mecha genre, Neon Genesis Evangelion is a psychological thriller at its core. The anime not only explores the lives of each character, but incorporates elements from different religious texts into its narrative. Aside from the first Angels Shinji and the other pilots battle, the story also later focuses on other related beings such as Adam and Lilith. A character study at its center, few anime can match the atmosphere of Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Cowboy Bebop’s Atmosphere Is Like No Other Anime
Space adventure stories are popular worldwide, yet the genre also has a unique take on the usual narratives within its roster. The space Western subgenre, a blend of science fiction and elements of classic Western stories, is an especially popular type of narrative still. One of the most famous space Westerns in history, Cowboy Bebop, debuted in 1998. The anime follows the journey of the members of the Bebop crew, including Spike Spiegel and Faye Valentine.
As expected of the genre, Cowboy Bebop includes several action sequences. However, the choreography of these scenes, alongside the amazing soundtrack, create a one-of-a-kind experience. It is also rare for the genre to work with the themes that Cowboy Bebop presents, including the concept of human nature alongside ennui. Cowboy Bebop stands on its own for a good reason, making it a fantastic anime for new fans.
Kaiju No. 8 Is Action-Packed & Hilarious
Stories about fighting monsters are incredibly common in the action-adventure genre. Nowadays, there are also stories about heroes working alongside monsters, or in unique cases, becoming such creatures themselves. Kaiju No. 8 belongs to the latter category, and is a wild ride throughout. After a strange encounter with a parasite-like kaiju, Kafka Hibino gains the ability to transform into a powerful kaiju himself. The series has become one of the most popular science fiction stories today.
Kaiju No. 8 has qualities of several mediums, including the superhero genre and tokusatsu media. Though it is quite a different path than he had in mind, Kafka vows to help those in need all while making sure his powers are kept a secret. Naturally, the world of Kaiju No. 8, filled with all sorts of dangerous kaiju, is intense, and many fight scenes will leave fans on the edge of their seats. However, what allows the anime to be so great is how it mixes these moments with excellent comedic timing.
Anime fans continue to discuss what truly holds the title of the best shōnen anime ever made. While some claim the anime is One Piece, others argue that the title should go to Hunter x Hunter. However, there is one anime that a majority of fans agree to be the greatest contender for such a prestigious title. This anime is Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, the second adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa’s manga of the same name.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood follows the journey of the two Elric brothers, Edward and Alphonse, as they search for a way to get their original bodies back after a horrible alchemical experiment. Many pieces of media work with the concept of alchemy, yet never before has a narrative illustrated the concept in such a fascinating manner as Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. The narrative not only focuses on alchemy, but on human nature itself. The intertwined fates of the Elrics and those they meet create a story like no other.
Vinland Saga Is Famous for Its Changing Atmosphere
At the start of Vinland Saga, the protagonist, Thorfinn, is showcased as a young man with no mercy for those around him, following the death of his father. However, in a stark contrast to his younger self, an adult Thorfinn has a somber perspective. Many fans, especially those who only watched the anime, were surprised at the sudden change in atmosphere. Compared to the especially gruesome first season, the second season was slower paced.
In the second season of Vinland Saga, the audience travels alongside Thorfinn as he tries to break free from his haunting past. This change in atmosphere, especially in comparison to the first arc, helped make Vinland Saga even more popular among audiences. Thorfinn’s character development was especially praised, with his humanity being noted upon by fans and other authors alike. However, Thorfinn’s story in the anime medium is not over yet, though a release date for the third season has yet to be announced.
Death Note Features a Legendary Game of Cat-and-Mouse
Supernatural powers are a common sight in many genres of the anime medium. However, one story that has deconstructed the relationship between the main protagonist and their unique abilities is Death Note. Everything begins when genius student Light Yagami discovers the titular Death Note, which allows him to take the lives of whoever’s name is written in the book. His quest for justice takes a dark turn later on, causing the viewer to question the moral of the story’s “hero”.
There are many psychological thriller anime, from Perfect Blue to Psycho Pass. However, Death Note takes a unique approach by working with the ability to control death itself. Though other anime such as Bleach have also worked with this theme, Ichigo Kurosaki is a very different person compared to Light Yagami. His descent into villainy is one that many fans remember many years after the anime’s debut.
Pluto Is a Darker Take on Osamu Tezuka’s Renowned Sci-Fi Manga
Osamu Tezuka, years after his debut in the manga world, is still considered one of the most renowned creators in history. Often referred to as the “Father of Manga”, artists around the world continue to be inspired by his vast roster of works. One of his most popular series by far is Astro Boy (also known as Mighty Atom), the tale of a heroic robot boy. However, in Naoki Urasawa’s Pluto, the world of Astro Boy is showcased in a very different manner.
Pluto is based off of “The Greatest Robot on Earth”, an intense arc in the original Astro Boy manga. In Urasawa’s signature storytelling style, the fate of the extraordinary young robot is rewritten for a more mature audience. Compared to the original arc, Pluto is not for the faint of heart, as it truly showcases the darkness that lies within human nature. It is an extraordinary tragedy that any anime fan will remember for many years to come.
Solo Leveling, also known as Only I Level Up, began as a webnovel. Later on, Solo Leveling would gain several adaptations, including a webtoon version and even an animated series. The anime adaptation has especially grown popular thanks to its jaw-dropping first season. The narrative of Solo Leveling primarily centers on the superpowered hunter Sung Jinwoo, who gains the ability to grow stronger, a skill other hunters lack.
Though there are mixed reviews for the animated series’ second season, the first season remains very well-received on platforms such as Rotten Tomatoes. What many critics praised in the world of Solo Leveling was not only the action sequences, but the worldbuilding itself. The power system in Sung Jinwoo’s universe is a unique one, and his powers have allowed him to be recognized as one of the most powerful protagonists today. The next installment of Solo Leveling has yet to premiere, though many fans are extremely curious about what comes next in Sung Jinwoo’s journey.
