The 20 Best Anime to Give You Courage, Ranked
Updated September 14, 2026
Ranked by how highly viewers rate each show and how strongly it delivers this feeling — a slightly less famous show that hits harder can outrank a bigger name.
- 1
Hunter x Hunter (2011)TV · 2011 · Score 89
“An adventure story that quietly becomes the most psychologically complex anime ever made.”
Why it's here
Developing powersDefeat means friendshipFighting-shounen - 2
Fullmetal Alchemist: BrotherhoodTV · 2009 · Score 90
“The anime that proved shonen could be literature.”
Why it's here
Fighting-shounenNecromancyCannibalism - 3
Yu Yu Hakusho: GhostfilesTV · 1992 · Score 83
Why it's here
Hand to hand combatPreview before edDefeat means friendship - 4
BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War - The CalamityTV · 2026 · Score 90
Why it's here
Fighting-shounenDemonSuper power - 5
- 6
Gurren LagannTV · 2007 · Score 85
“The anime that made 'believe in yourself' feel like a battle cry instead of a cliché.”
Why it's here
UndergroundEmotions awaken superpowersDamsel in distress - 7
Vinland SagaTV · 2019 · Score 87
“A Viking revenge epic that becomes the most profound pacifist story in anime.”
Why it's here
Weak to strongSpearplayHeroic sacrifice - 8
JUJUTSU KAISENTV · 2020 · Score 84
“A curse-filled world where the real horror is how casually people accept suffering.”
Why it's here
Fighting-shounenSchool rivalryGood vs evil - 9
Naruto: ShippudenTV · 2007 · Score 82
“The story of a boy who turned loneliness into a philosophy of never giving up on anyone.”
Why it's here
Hand to hand combatFighting-shounenCard games - 10
ONE PIECETV · 1999 · Score 87
“A thousand episodes, and every single one is about the same thing: freedom.”
Why it's here
Fighting-shounenSamuraiCompetition - 11
NarutoTV · 2002 · Score 80
“The original outcast story that taught a generation that loneliness doesn't have to be permanent.”
Why it's here
Developing powersDefeat means friendshipFighting-shounen - 12
Mob Psycho 100TV · 2016 · Score 84
“The strongest psychic in the world, and all he wants is to be a decent person.”
Why it's here
Defeat means friendshipSchool rivalryEmotions awaken superpowers - 13
- 14
One-Punch ManTV · 2015 · Score 83
“The superhero who's bored because he already won — and it's existentially devastating.”
Why it's here
Defeat means friendshipEmotions awaken superpowersIdealism - 15
- 16
JUJUTSU KAISEN Season 3: The Culling Game Part 1TV · 2026 · Score 86
Why it's here
ExorcistsDark fantasyMonsters - 17
- 18
Dragon BallTV · 1986 · Score 78
Why it's here
Developing powersPreview before edDefeat means friendship - 19
Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 4TV · 2026 · Score 90
Why it's here
SpearplayDark fantasyDesert - 20
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no YaibaTV · 2019 · Score 83
“Kindness as a weapon in a world that rewards cruelty.”
Why it's here
Fighting-shounenIdealismCalling your attacks