What are the best anime of 2021? There is no single objective answer: fan polls, awards juries, public voting and an editor’s personal picks recognize different things. This retrospective brings those perspectives together, with a clear note of why each title stands out and what kind of recognition it received.
How to read this 2021 anime list
The selections below are recommendations, not a definitive quality ranking. Anime Corner’s fan poll ranked 32 nominated shows; J-List’s Peter Payne offered a subjective list based on what he enjoyed watching and writing about; and the r/anime Awards published separate jury and public results. Those methods should not be treated as interchangeable.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Pok#mon: The Movies 1-3 Collection (Blu-ray) | $14.96 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Sailor Moon Three-Film Collection (Blu-ray) | $19.19 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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| 4 |
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Digimon the Movies 4-6 Collection [Blu-ray] | $23.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
![Digimon The Movies 1-3 Collection [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51A6WUi9P+L._SL160_.jpg)
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Digimon The Movies 1-3 Collection [Blu-ray] | $24.59 | Buy on Amazon |
Eligibility also varies. Anime Corner excluded Ranking of Kings because its second half aired in 2022, while the sources do not establish one shared rule for whether a title must have premiered in 2021 or merely aired episodes that year. The list includes series and films, originals and adaptations, and continuing or final seasons. Where a poll placement is mentioned, it is a result of that poll—not a universal measure of quality.
Series recognized by Anime Corner’s fan poll
Anime Corner’s 2022 results article reported a poll of 32 nominated shows, with nominations based on its own and external data. It cautioned that results reflect the selected sample and that viewers’ tastes differ. The poll’s leading three were Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, Fruits Basket The Final Season and Re:ZERO −Starting Life in Another World− Season 2 Part 2. The vote shares were 6.72%, 6.09% and 5.68%, respectively. See Anime Corner’s results and methodology.
#1 Best Overall
1. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
A fantasy series that found support across very different selection methods: it topped Anime Corner’s poll, appeared on J-List’s subjective list, and won public Anime of the Year at the r/anime Awards 2021. The poll result is a useful indicator of that electorate’s preference, not a universal verdict.
2. Fruits Basket: The Final
The conclusion to the Fruits Basket story placed second in Anime Corner’s poll and was also a J-List pick. It is a strong choice for viewers looking for a character-focused final season rather than a new standalone premise.
Rank #2
3. Re:ZERO Season 2 Part 2
Anime Corner’s poll placed the second part of Re:ZERO season two third. It is a continuing story, so it is best approached after the earlier episodes rather than as an entry point.
4. Attack on Titan: The Final Season
Anime Corner ranked the final season fourth, and J-List included it among its picks. Its position reflects recognition in the poll and an individual editor’s selection; neither source makes it a consensus ranking.
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5. Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song
This science-fiction series placed fifth in Anime Corner’s poll and appeared on J-List’s list, making it one of the titles supported by both audience polling and a personal recommendation.
6. Horimiya
Horimiya was an Anime Corner poll entry and a J-List pick. J-List describes it as a romantic comedy adapted from a popular manga, making the Horimiya manga a natural optional next step for readers who want to explore the source material. Check the listing for the edition and current availability; this historical roundup does not establish either.
Rank #4
7. Tokyo Revengers
Both Anime Corner’s poll and J-List’s subjective list included Tokyo Revengers. It is a useful pick for viewers who want a continuing series rather than a film or a self-contained original.
8. To Your Eternity
To Your Eternity was included in the Anime Corner poll and selected by J-List. Those two forms of recognition make it one of the better-supported recommendations in this roundup without implying that all viewers will rank it similarly.
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Best Value
- English dubbed, Japanese language, English subtitles
Other notable series and films
9. Sonny Boy
The r/anime Awards 2021 jury chose Sonny Boy as Anime of the Year. That is the jury outcome, distinct from the awards’ public result, which went to Mushoku Tensei.
10. Wonder Egg Priority
J-List included Wonder Egg Priority among its personal picks, and the series was an animation nominee at the r/anime Awards 2021. A nomination and an editor’s recommendation are different kinds of recognition, but both make it worth considering in a year-end sampler.
11. Pompo the Cinephile
The r/anime Awards 2021 jury selected Pompo the Cinephile as Movie of the Year. For comparison, the public Movie of the Year winner was Demon Slayer: Mugen Train. The difference illustrates why it matters to identify which award result is being cited.
12. Demon Slayer: Mugen Train
Demon Slayer: Mugen Train won public Movie of the Year at the r/anime Awards 2021. It was not the jury’s selection; the jury chose Pompo the Cinephile.
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What the different recognitions mean
- Fan poll: Anime Corner’s results represent votes from its selected sample of voters across 32 nominated shows, not all anime viewers.
- Personal recommendation: Peter Payne said his J-List picks were subjective, based on what he enjoyed watching and writing about, and that he had not watched every show he considered good.
- Jury and public awards: The r/anime Awards reported separate jury and public winners, so an award should always be labeled by outcome.
- Crunchyroll’s 2021 Anime Awards: A December 2020 preview described a process combining judge nominations and fan input, with a 70:30 weighting in final winners. This is a description of that awards program, not an independent audience poll. Read Crunchyroll’s announcement.
For readers seeking a consensus-style starting point, begin with titles appearing across more than one of the cited sources, such as Mushoku Tensei, Fruits Basket: The Final, Vivy and Horimiya. For a less poll-driven route, the jury choices Sonny Boy and Pompo the Cinephile offer a different perspective.
Quick Recap
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