Anime never really gets the recognition it deserves in the Emmys, a platform that awrads the best shows of small screen entertainment. Many of the anime listed here have not actually had an official American release date, so they still qualify for next year’s Emmys should an American network decide to make a go for it. The only anime to have been ever nominated for the prestigious award is Afro Samurai. Given the immense popularity of these anime shows, we would not be surprised if they get nominated and even win an Emmy.
Attack On Titan
It is the anime everyone kept talking about for the most part of 2021. Attack On Titan is one of those shows you just cannot miss. It does not matter if you like anime or hate it. The story of the series is enough to keep you at the edges of your seat. Eren lives in a world that has been ravaged by humanoid giants called Titans. The Titans eat regular humans. Eren and his friends live in a city protected by huge walls that keep the Titans outside. But when the Titans finally manage to break through, all hell breaks loose. Attack On Titan scores well on suspense, build-up, and character development of epic proportions.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Of all the entries in this list, we believe Jujutsu Kaisen has the most chances of being nominated for the Emmys. Granted it was released in October 2020. But it has not had an official release in mainland America as of now. Only international anime streaming services can give you access to it. Yuji Itadori is an exceptionally athletic young man who lives in a world full of curses, creatures born out of negative human emotions. When Yuji ingests a cursed object containing the power of Sukuna, widely regarded as the King of Curses, he embarks on an adventure of a lifetime. As a rookie Curse User, Yuji makes friends and a lot of enemies.
The Promised Neverland
The Promised Neverland, just like Attack on Titan, was a sleeper hit. Even the studio that made it did not anticipate such a huge positive response. The show follows three children living in an orphanage surrounded by what seems like a utopian landscape. Life for Emma, Ray, Norman, and the rest of the “Adopted” at the orphanage is good. In fact, it seems too good to be true. And then a shocking revelation throws their world upside down. The children are meant to be human sacrifices. There are sinister forces at play and so many twists and turns come your way it puts Game of Thrones to shame.
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Horimiya
The manga has been running for so many years. The director of the anime series was unfairly given only one season to wrap things up. But he did a pretty good job with whatever he had at his disposal. Horimiya is a tale of romance. But it does not have a traditional approach to the genre. It follows a rather elliptical narrative with break-neck pacing that at times might feel disorienting. Instead of will they, won’t they moments, the anime gives us singular point of views of Izumi Miyamura and Kyoko Hori.
Wonder Egg Priority
Magical Girl series are a dime a dozen in the world of anime. But Wonder egg priority flips the genre on itself, giving us a nuanced and fluid take. The series follows 14 year old Ai Ooto who has the power of spirit manipulation. She strives to protect the souls of teenage girls stored within titular Wonder Eggs. Japan has come a long way in the field of animation. Just like Jujutsu Kaisen, Wonder egg Priority is a world full of amazing plotlines and incredible animation. The anime is extremely powerful and emotionally provocative at times.
Re: Zero
Russia may have banned isekai anime in their country. But had Putin seen Re: Zero – Starting Life In Another World, he may have asked the people at Kremlin to reconsider the move. Subaru is a teenage shut-in who suddenly finds himself transported to another world. Unlike the protagonists of the Isekai genre, Subaru is not overpowered and does not get any special abilities. The only power he has is of unlimited respawn. Every time Subaru dies, he comes back to life at his previous checkpoint. But make no mistake, despite its flowery premise, Re: Zero is a very grim and dark anime not many could stomach.
Demon Slayer
Now that Demon Slayer: Mugen Train has been smashing records left, right, and center all over the world, we couldn’t be more excited for demon Slayer Season 2. originally known as Kimetsu no Yaiba in Japan, the story follows Tanjiro, a young demon slayer who must find a way to cure his sister, who was turned into a demon. Kimetsu no Yaiba has action sequences that might sometimes give primetime action shows of America a run for its money. It also has a strong set of core characters to boast.
Sk8 the Infinity
The plot of the show is ridiculous. But even still, it is more relatable than most shows on Earth. Langa Hasegawa is a new transfer student. he befriends Reki Kyan, a high school sophomore who introduces the former to the world of underground skateboarding. The show is full of colors and pomp. Skaters use robotic skateboards dressed up as matadors and ninjas, fighting against each other. the human element is also explored. When Langa suddenly starts surpassing Reki, it creates a sense of envy and jealousy that fuels the latter part of the overall story line.
My Hero Academia
This list would not have been complete without My Hero Academia. It is probably the only Shonen anime after Naruto, One Piece, and Dragon Ball to have an audience just as huge in the West. Izuku is a young boy born in a world where humans develop abilities when their innate ‘quirks’ activate around the age of four. Izuku is quirk-less but he intends to become the world’s mightiest superhero nevertheless. Things change when All Might, his idol and the world’s greatest superhero, passes on his quirk to him. Izuku becomes the heir to the mantle of One For All. Season 5 of the show has already started airing in Japan.
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Chainsaw Man
Chainsaw Man has been widely regarded as the next Jujutsu Kaisen, only darker and much more violent. The original manga hit in 2018 and was extremely well received. The Studio that is giving it the anime adaptation treatment is also the same that brought Jujutsu Kaisen to life – MAPPA. In a world where creatures called Devils are born out of human fear, humanity lives in constant fear. A young man named Denji decides to work for the Yakuza to pay off his deceased father’s debt. Denji fuses with a seemingly benevolent Devil named Pochita. As the new human-Devil hybrid called the Chainsaw Man, Denji now works for the government as a sanctioned Devil Hunter.
