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You want to question reality. You want puzzles. You want L eating a potato chip dramatically.

Anime: Death Note (The Classic) Why watch: If you haven’t seen it, watch it tonight. A genius student finds a notebook that kills anyone whose name he writes in it. What follows is a cat-and-mouse game between Light Yagami (a god-complex killer) and L (an eccentric, world-class detective). It is a perfect 37 episodes. Manga equivalent: Monster Why read: By Naoki Urasawa (a legend). A brilliant Japanese brain surgeon in Germany saves a young boy's life instead of the mayor. Years later, that boy becomes a terrifying serial killer. The doctor hunts him down to fix his "mistake." It is a slow-burn thriller about nature vs. nurture. Read this if you liked Breaking Bad.

If you are still overwhelmed, use this flow chart mentally: hentai toon

No discussion of popularity is complete without the titans that brought anime to the Western mainstream. While recommendations change with the seasons, these series remain the gold standard for action and friendship.

In the last decade, the industry has exploded with mature themes and stunning animation. These are the popular anime series you cannot ignore. You want to question reality

While anime gets the glory, manga often has the depth. Here are popular manga that either don't have an anime yet, or the anime didn't do them justice.

For when you don't want to save the world; you just want to eat a nice bowl of rice. Anime: Death Note (The Classic) Why watch: If

Anime: Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (Sousou no Frieren) Why watch: This took the world by storm for a reason. It begins after the hero party has defeated the Demon King. Frieren is an elf who lives for thousands of years. To her, a ten-year adventure with her human friends felt like a blink. Now, decades after they’ve died, she goes on a new journey to understand humanity. It is slow, meditative, and profound. Manga equivalent: Yotsuba&! Why read: Created by the author of Azumanga Daioh, this is the happiest manga on the planet. A green-haired, hyperactive five-year-old named Yotsuba moves to a new town. That’s it. She tries air conditioning. She tries a swing. She tries selling a rock to a dad. Pure, wholesome joy.

Some stories are just designed to break you. In the best way possible.

Anime: To Your Eternity (Fumetsu no Anata e) Why watch: A mysterious, immortal being is sent to Earth as an orb. It can take the shape of anything that stimulates it—starting as a rock, then moss, then a wolf. It experiences the world through loss and love. I am not kidding: watch episode 1. You will cry. Manga equivalent: Goodnight Punpun (Oyasumi Punpun) Why read: Warning: Adults only. This is not a shonen manga. Punpun is depicted as a tiny, cartoon bird in a realistic, depressing world. It follows his life from elementary school to young adulthood, covering depression, toxic relationships, and existential dread. It is beautiful, but it will haunt you.