Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba may very well be the most popular anime at the moment. The show outdid itself with its recently concluded second season, delivering an unyielding hurricane of emotion and resplendently animated high-octane action that left viewers speechless. After the finale aired, fans were no doubt overjoyed to be treated with a teaser for the next arc, though there was no release date yet, naturally.
Still high off the thrill and elation from the last few episodes, a lot of people would probably give up an arm and a leg for the third season right now. But you can all relax (seriously, please do) because there is still plenty of fantastic anime content that you may have overlooked or should revisit to help make the time fly by until Season Three arrives. These other shows may not be Demon Slayer, but you might recognize familiar elements to keep you in the spirit until it returns or maybe even discover new favorites to gush over.
Naruto And Naruto: Shippuden
Yes, these are technically two shows, but they, along with the movies, form one epic story. Naruto follows the titular protagonist as a boy ninja in-training with boundless determination to become the respected future leader of his village. The follow-up Shippuden skips forward to Naruto in his adolescence still striving for his goal while contending with powerful new enemies and the cruel realities of the environment he lives in.
Both series tend to meander in their narratives, but they more than compensate for this with deeply sympathetic and complex heroes and villains, insightful themes, and some of the most memorable action sequences in contemporary anime.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Edward and Alphonse Elric, brothers and practitioners of alchemy, a pseudo-science which enables them to reshape matter, search for the mythical Philosopher's Stone, hoping that it can restore their damaged bodies. But their quest brings them to the discovery of a vile conspiracy involving inhuman beings who embody the seven deadly sins.
While the original Fullmetal Alchemist anime from 2003 is also strong, Brotherhood is being endorsed over that one for lacking filler and therefore having a clearer sense of story direction. Almost the entirety of the source manga was adapted for Brotherhood, and the anime treats the graphic novel's thought-provoking ideas and distinct world-building with respect and cinematic flair, complimented by tons of goofiness and levity to ensure a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
Dragon Ball Z
For many seasoned non-Japanese TV watchers, this series about a prodigious but boneheaded martial artist named Goku who routinely defends Earth from various threats with his friends and family represents the popping of their anime virgin cherry, opening countless eyes to a whole new realm of animated entertainment.
The main reason to watch this show, besides the iconic characters, is the action. While it is hilariously notorious for dragging out scenes and episodes, once the fighting gets going, the anime really takes off, making your heart race and often achieving moments that are world-shattering. Literally. Fans may express ambivalence towards Dragon Ball Super, ignore Dragon Ball GT, and debate over whether to watch the original Dragon Ball first in their binge, but Dragon Ball Z is the one everyone cherishes.
Bleach
High schooler Ichigo Kurosaki receives the powers of a Soul Reaper to replace another and is thus entrusted with the duties of protecting the mortal plane from malevolent spirits as well as ushering deceased souls towards peace. In his exploits, he is assisted by his predecessor and schoolmates, who have extraordinary abilities of their own.
Even if Bleach went somewhat off the rails later in the series, it maintains a highly-respected reputation among anime enthusiasts, being praised as a generally well-rounded show boasting solid characterizations, affable comedy, and exciting supernatural action-adventure. With a continuation of the anime also coming soon, it is the perfect time to become reacquainted. Or to start becoming acquainted.
Attack On Titan
Man-eating giants known as Titans rule the planet, and the remnants of the human race have retreated behind walled cities to escape their wrath. Teenager Eren Jaeger is driven to seek vengeance against the Titans after they kill his mother and joins the Survey Corps, a specialized military force trained to combat the monsters.
For most, their faithful journey with this dystopian dark fantasy show is about to reach its decisive end. For others who have managed to evade the bandwagon for whatever reason, now may be the time, with the complete story virtually laid out, to finally get into one of the most acclaimed anime series of the last decade. If you are of the latter, jump right in and get swept up in the unapologetically grim atmosphere, stunning animation, and mind-blowing twists.
Jujutsu Kaisen
In a world where demonic entities called Curses exist to threaten humanity and the only ones who can fight them are the Jujutsu Sorcerers, high school student Yuji Itadori ingests a piece of an extremely powerful Curse to save his friends. He subsequently becomes the Curse's host, but maintains enough control that elite Sorcerer Satoru Gojo believes he could be a valuable asset in the battle against evil.
There are several reasons to watch this anime, like the charming characters and incredible visuals, but special mention should be given to its relentless sense of humor, which keeps things fun no matter what happens in the story.
Hellsing Ultimate
The Hellsing organization has long protected mankind from vampires, demons, and other paranormal dangers with the help of their loyal and exceptionally formidable vampire enforcer, the gun-toting Alucard. When a decades-old enemy resurfaces to menace Hellsing, Alucard, and the world, it will take all their power, resources, and some unlikely alliances to defeat them.
This OVA series seems to revel in how hardcore and surreal it can get, and you probably will to (not counting some especially graphic imagery, perhaps). This is also another example of a manga adaptation that was preceded by a different one, but what Ultimate unequivocally has over the original Hellsing anime is its absolutely sublime animated artwork. Hellsing Ultimate is additionally notable for inspiring one of the best (and equally worth watching) fan parodies ever conceived.
Digimon Tamers
Ordinary Digimon fanboy Takato Matsuki has his wildest dreams fulfilled when he accidentally creates a real-life Digimon partner, Guilmon, for himself. However, he and a handful of comrades with their own Digimon are soon forced to deal with shady government agents and other Digital Monsters with malicious intentions invading their world.
Within the enduring Digimon franchise which comprises multiple anime series, Tamers is a stand-out. Head writer Chiaki J. Konaka crafted a compelling coming-of-age story with well-developed characters that gradually incorporates darker elements of Lovecraftian horror and science fantasy, while also serving as a kind of metafictional celebration of fandom.
Ghost Stories (Dub)
A group of youngsters has to go around their town exorcising various ghosts and demons plaguing it and its residents. However, the otherworldly happenings in the plot are ultimately not the primary focus of this anime, at least as far as the recommended English dub is concerned.
Anime fans can argue over dubs until the cows come home, but the English version of Ghost Stories is truly one-of-a-kind. Due to the original Japanese version's lack of success, the dub cast was given free rein to do as they pleased with certain minor stipulations, resulting in endless improvisation, meta jokes, black comedy, and politically incorrect humor. Even without much (if anything at all) in the way of action or intrigue, this reinterpreted anime deserves to be seen just to be believed.
My Hero Academia
If there is any current anime that could rival Demon Slayer's popularity, it is this one. Main protagonist Izuku Midoriya positively radiates Tanjiro Kamado's essence with his likable idealism and steadfast kindness as he struggles to navigate a world overrun by superheroes and supervillains to reach his dream of becoming the greatest hero alive.
My Hero Academia's premise may feel unoriginal, but the ways in which it is explored are entirely unique, fascinating, and exhilarating. The show never fails to make us cheer, cry, think, and so forth with its storylines and captivating ensemble of personalities.