8 Anime Series Better Than Arcane

The animated series Arcane has quickly become a fan favorite, praised for both its beautiful animation and captivating storyline. The show premiered in 2021 with its first season and concluded in 2024 with its second. Arcane is particularly notable for its exceptional visual style and direction, as well as its compelling characters, each with their own unique story. However, despite its strengths, Arcane isn’t perfect and many other anime series are arguably superior.

One Piece

Image by Toei Animation

One Piece is widely considered the best manga series of all time, and it’s also the best-selling. While the manga itself is exceptional, the anime adaptation is also quite good and has consistently gotten better over time.

Like Arcane, One Piece frequently explores serious themes like oppression. However, One Piece has generally addressed these topics more effectively, as seen in arcs like Wano and Fishman Island. It also boasts a stronger, more consistent storyline and more well-developed characters.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is a popular new anime that premiered in 2023. It tells the story of an elf who lives far longer than her companions, and how she learns the importance of the relationships she builds along the way. Viewers quickly connected with the series, largely due to its captivating protagonist, Frieren.

Frieren is quickly becoming a standout female character in the anime world. The series really highlights how compelling she is, both through her story and what she does. Like the show Arcane, it boasts a great ensemble cast, but its characters are generally more well-developed.

The Apothecary Diaries

Apothecary Diaries

If you’re looking for anime with strong female leads, The Apothecary Diaries is a standout, similar to Arcane. Although it began in 2023, the series has quickly become incredibly popular in Japan and around the world. It follows the daily life of a young woman working as an apothecary within the Imperial Palace.

One of the best parts of ‘The Apothecary Diaries’ is the clever and well-developed character of Maomao, and she’s not the only standout in the anime. Good news for fans: a third season and a new movie are planned to continue the story in 2026!

Attack on Titan

Image by WIT studio

Attack on Titan is now considered one of the greatest anime series of all time. It first captivated audiences with its shocking and violent premise – humans fighting giant, man-eating Titans. But the show evolved beyond simple action, becoming a complex and fascinating story filled with secrets and mysteries.

Initially, Attack on Titan focuses on the battle between humans and Titans. However, the story later expands to explore the conflict between Paradis and the outside world, delving into complex and serious themes.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Fullmetal Alchemist is widely considered one of the best anime series ever made. For over ten years, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood was even ranked as the highest-rated anime of all time. The story revolves around two brothers who attempt to revive their mother using alchemy, but they quickly discover they don’t fully understand how it works.

Even after more than ten years, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is still considered essential viewing for anime fans. Its story is significantly more intricate and well-developed than that of Arcane, and many believe it’s practically perfect, largely due to the fantastic writing by its creator, Hiromu Arakawa.

Revolutionary Girl Utena

Revolutionary Girl Utena is a highly praised anime series aimed at young girls. It was groundbreaking when it first came out, and it’s still considered a classic of the genre.

Utena remains a beloved and enduring character, and the series is particularly praised for its well-developed characters. Utena and Anthy are considered one of the most iconic and celebrated couples in the Shojo genre.

Sailor Moon

Image by Toei Animation

I think most anime fans have at least heard of Sailor Moon. It’s incredibly popular with girls worldwide, and what really stands out is that the story centers around a fantastic group of female characters – the Sailor Guardians. It’s really a show focused on those amazing women.

Long before Vi and Caitlyn became a popular couple, everyone knew about Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune – they were the iconic anime pairing. But even more famous is the story of Sailor Moon, which remains one of the greatest anime and manga series ever created, even today.

Hunter X Hunter

Image by Madhouse

Despite facing challenges over the years, particularly due to the author frequently taking breaks, Hunter X Hunter remains incredibly popular among anime fans.

Arcane has a promising premise, but its storyline doesn’t quite live up to its potential, particularly in the second season. In contrast, Hunter x Hunter consistently excels, with each story arc building on the last and demonstrating truly impressive storytelling. The Chimera Ant arc is particularly renowned for its exceptional writing.

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2025-11-26 05:37