Some ofthe best anime series of all timeare way more than 100 episodes, but not everybody wants to dedicate the next few months (or years) of their lives to a single series. Luckily, there are a ton of great anime series that don’t require days of dedication. These series can be started and finished within a month, and they’re all less than 30 episodes long.
A lot of anime series need dozens of episodes to tell their story, develop it, and conclude it succinctly. These series don’t, asthe best anime series with fewer than 30 episodes all do a great job at creating wonderful worlds and wrapping them up in no time at all.There are also a ton of short series across a number of different genres, so no matter what the average fan is looking for, they can find a great short series right up their alley.
Samurai Champloois one of thebest anime series that came before a manga. It also has only 26 episodes, telling an amazing story in no time at all.At one episode a day, this series can be started and finished before even the shortest month is over.
Samurai Champloois an incredibly unique series that blends the Edo period of Japan with hip-hop amazingly. The series stars Fuu, Mugen, and Jin as the trio work to find the samurai who smells of sunflowers. There are few anime series likeSamurai Champloo,and the worst part of the series might be the fact that therearen’thundreds of episodes to watch.
Dororois a series created by the father of manga himself, Osamu Tezuka. The series first got an anime adaptation way back in 1969. 50 years later, it got another adaptation, bringing the classic series back to the screen for new audiences to enjoy.
Dororois one ofthe darkest anime series of all time.In just 24 episodes,Dororotells the story of young Hyakkimaruas he looks to reclaim his lost limbs from the demons they were sacrificed to. As he regains his body, the land that benefited from his sacrifice is destroyed, leaving Hyakkimaru frustrated, angry, and entirely unsure of what the right thing to do is.
Parasyte: The Maximis another wonderfully dark anime series that can be finished in just 24 episodes. The story is gripping, the characters add a lot of depth to the series, andParasyte: The Maximhas one ofthe best one-man-army moments in all of anime.
The series focuses on 17-year-old Shinichi Izumi as he stops an alien parasite from taking over his brain. He traps the parasite in his arm, losing his arm but keeping his own intellect intact. The pair then develop a strong bond and work together to fight other parasites as the series explores themes like love, identity, and more.
Darling in the FranXXstands out as one ofthe best kaiju anime seriesaround. The series takes place in a dystopian version of Earth where humanity has drained their home planet of all of its natural resources. Seemingly out of options, they begin to use the planet’s magma as a source of energy, awakening a dormant power from within.
Darling in the FranXXis only 24 episodes long,which is surprising considering how in depth and moving the story is. There is no filler in the series, the characters are relatable and lovable at the same time, and there are few anime series with better mech fights.
Bofuri: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defensestars one ofthe most adorable characters ever created. Kaede Honjo hops into a video game not knowing much about it. She’s afraid that she’s going to get hurt, so instead of distributing her stat points evenly across traits like strength or speed, she decides to put them all in defense.
Kaede, who goes by Maple in the game of NewWorld Online, unintentionally becomes indestructible. It’s a hilarious result that Maple never even meant to happen.She becomes one of the strongest characters in the entire game entirely by accident, leading her guild to some of the greatest treasures around.Bofuriis only 24 episodes, making it a great, quick watch.
Your Lie in Aprilis well-known as one of the most moving anime series ever made. It’s a deep, touching series that asks some of the biggest questions of the art form and answers them masterfully. The series stars 14-year-old pianist Kōsei Arima as he loses his ability to play the piano following the death of his mother.
In 22 amazing episodes,Your Lie in Apriltells Kōsei’s story of redemptionas he falls back in love with the piano, overcomes his grief, and learns to love life again. It’s not a series for the faint of heart, and there aren’t too many people who leaveYour Lie in Aprilwith dry eyes.
Horimiyamight bethe best romance anime in the genre. The series is only 13 episodes long, which barely even makes sense. It’s such a funny, heartwarming, incredible series thatit feels like it can go on for hundreds of episodes before running out of steam.
Thankfully, there’s a sequel to the main series calledHorimiya: The Missing Pieceswhich covers the chapters of the manga that didn’t get animated in the original adaptation. The sequel series is only 13 episodes long as well, bringing the total to a succinct 26.
Cowboy Bebopis an amazing anime series that really shows off the best parts of the art form. It’s another26-episode-long series that tells a unique storyin less time than most series take to get out of their first arc.Cowboy Bebopstars Spike Spiegel, Jet Black, Faye Valentine, and the rest of the crew of the eponymous Bebop as they explore space as bounty hunters.
Spike Spiegel, the main character of the series, is well-known as one ofthe coolest characters in anime. He’s a joy to watch every time he’s on screen, and series director Shinichirō Watanabe did an excellent job of bringing Spike’s charismatic energy to life through great quips, stoic moments, and amazing fights.
Neon Genesis Evangelionis somehow both a cult classic and one of the most well-known and widely respected anime series ever made. It’s one of the few anime series to be succesful without a manga being used as source material,creating an amazing story on its own in 26 episodes.
Neon Genesis Evangelioncan barely be described in words, and that’s one of the series' biggest strengths. It’s a philosophical, dark, thought-provokingseries that usually leaves viewers with more questions than answers.
Nichijou - My Ordinary Lifeis a staple of comedic anime. It’s one of the wittiest, funniest, and wholesome series around. It stars six main characters as they navigate life, friendships, and a ton of random exchanges that always end hilariously. Each character brings something interesting to the series,leaving anyone who watches it wanting more.
Nichijou - My Ordinary Lifeis only 26 episodes long, but it could go on for hundreds. Each episode feels like a fever dream in the best way possible, and the worst part about the series might be the fact that there isn’t more to watch.
