It’s remarkable to think that it’s already been ten years since 2015. A lot has happened in the past decade, including a massive surge in anime popularity, which has produced some of the most entertaining shows, including Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen. However, because of this enormous change, it’s nice to look back on what shows were like ten years ago and which were the best.

This list will rank the ten greatest anime from 2015 based on quality, consistency, writing, story, animation, entertainment value, fan opinion, and critical acclaim. Fans should celebrate aging shows and remember them, because new anime keep overshadowing these classics. This list will also take into consideration each show’s legacy over the past ten years and how it has aged, even though it is ranking the season from 2015.

10

‘Plastic Memories’ (2015)

Studio: Doga Kobo

Plastic Memories doesn’t have the greatest legacy, and seemingly died off after its original air, but that doesn’t take away the massive fan support it had ten years ago. After landing a job with an AI company, Tsukasa must collect the AI androids before they expire. But when he partners with Ilya, he starts growing feelings for her, but his time is running out before he can confess.

Sometimes, generic can be good, and many fans felt this way when watching Plastic Memories, which doesn’t do anything new, but provides a comforting and familiar experience despite being a new story. It may be tropey and predictable, but the show remains heartfelt and emotional, and is a sci-fi anime that accurately predicted the future.

Plastic Memories

Release Date

2015 – 2015

Directors

Yoshiyuki Fujiwara

Writers

Naotaka Hayashi

9

‘Prison School’ (2015)

Studio: J.C. Staff

Anime knows how to surprise fans when it comes to the school genre, but many shows feel unoriginal, only rehashing previous tropes. Prison School, on the other hand, delivers a completely unique school experience. When an all-girl school allows five boys to enroll, they naturally start peeping. But after the student council catches them, they force the boys to endure hard labor in a makeshift school prison.

Prison School isn’t for everyone, as the excessive fan service and over-the-top ecchi elements can be too much to handle at times and are incredibly awkward. However, if fans can get past that, what awaits is a raunchy comedy and a surprisingly captivating series. From staple misunderstandings to cheap humor, Prison School will deliver dumb laughs, and that’s about it, but it is enough to be one of the greatest anime in 2015.

8

‘Osomatsu-San’ (2015)

Studio: Pierrot

Reviving old shows is a risky endeavor, but the most controversial are children’s shows, which often return with a more mature approach. Osomatsu-San takes place after Osomatsu-Kun, a show about the adorable antics of sextuplets. However, they are all now grown up, unemployed, and their antics are less adorable and more pathetic.

Back-to-back comedies make an appearance on this list, but Osomatsu-San proves its worth through its slapstick gags and referential humor. From poking fun at Attack on Titan or Demon Slayer, this anime knows how to be meta, which has kept it relevant the past ten years. It may not be the most popular right now, but it does have a new season coming out in 2025, proving there are still fans who want to experience one of the funniest anime ever.

7

‘Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma’ (2015)

Studio: J.C. Staff

2015 must have had an obsession with overt fanservice, because after Prison School is Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma. After his father left their family-owned restaurant, Soma enlists in an elite culinary school, where he will test his creative cooking style against the best of the best. However, competition thrives in this school, with food battles determining a chef’s skill and talent.

Like Prison School, Food Wars is an excellent anime, provided fans can get past the fanservice, which may be challenging, as everyone experiences a food orgasm after tasting every dish. However, the cooking battles themselves are exhilarating and mouth-watering, providing entertainment to a whole new level. Food Wars is over-the-top, but its appeal lies in its riveting cooking competitions that have become a staple of 2010s anime.

6

‘Overlord’ (2015)

Studio: Madhouse

It was right around 2015 when Isekai became popular, and ten years later, in 2025, the genre is the biggest in all anime. Overlord was an early contender in this genre, utilizing a villain as the protagonist instead of an average person. Momonga is a player in a popular VR game that is shutting down, but much to his surprise, he is still in the game, and the NPCs are alive, prompting him and his subjects to investigate the cause.

One might think that the oversaturation of the Isekai genre would diminish Overlord’s popularity. Against all odds, the anime remains widely watched and is considered one of the best in the Isekai genre. It sets itself apart from others, despite using a typical Isekai plot, and also takes a darker approach that only grows more sinister in future seasons. The first season itself is excellent, but its legacy has only continued to improve.

5

‘Sound! Euphonium’ (2015)

Studio: Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation is one of the most prestigious anime studios, and in 2015, they started a beloved franchise, Sound! Euphonium. Now in high school, Kumiko hopes to put her past behind her, but after her friends encourage her to join the music club, she finds herself back on the euphonium. They must choose whether to take it easy or practice hard, and play in the school festival.

Sound Euphonium was a brilliant anime in 2015 and deserves a spot on this list, but it ends up higher because of its legacy and how well it has aged. Each season only improved the show, with the finale being one of the best anime of 2024. It is a heartwarming journey with remarkable character development and an uplifting storyline, making it a classic 2015 anime that remains timeless in 2025.

4

‘Dragon Ball Super’ (2015)

Studio: Toei Animation

Dragon Ball is considered one of the most influential anime series in history, and its legacy can be felt in every generation, particularly in the 2010s, when it returned in 2015 with Dragon Ball Super. While Goku and Vegeta were up to their usual training, they faced more universal threats, including Beerus, the God of Destruction, an evil version of Goku, and a tournament involving all the known universes.

Fans have varying thoughts on Dragon Ball Super, with many not enjoying the excess filler. However, no one can deny that this series rejuvenated the love for the franchise and produced some of the most well-known moments in anime history. Dragon Ball Super is one of the few shows to break the internet and boasts some of the best modern anime arcs, which remain influential in 2025, with fans eagerly awaiting a second season.

3

‘Death Parade’ (2015)

Studio: Madhouse

Most of the anime on this list are adapted from the manga counterpart; Death Parade, on the other hand, is a completely original series. Many people wonder what happens after they die, and in this anime, a bartender judges whether they go to heaven or hell. In a series of games, Decim determines who is fit for what, but Kurokami begins to question the ethics and legitimacy of the operation.

Death Parade was massive in 2015, and although its popularity has waned, fans still regard it as one of the best original anime series. The philosophical and ethical debate is fascinating, but the anime also provides enough entertainment and endearing characters to carry exciting moments. Death Parade is a flawless anime, but it doesn’t take the top spot because of its limited relevance nowadays.

2

‘Assassination Classroom’ (2015)

Studio: Lerche

A good teacher can make all the difference, but when students want to kill them, that usually means they are bad. But it’s the opposite in Assassination Classroom, which follows an alien threatening to blow up the moon. The only way he will stop is if he can teach students to kill him.

It may be a wacky story, but the plot is surprisingly heartfelt and “normal.” The anime is doing big things to commemorate Assassination Classroom‘s tenth anniversary, which should tell fans how relevant and popular the show remains. The first season was great, but the second season solidified it as a historic series, featuring great comedy, action, characters, plot, and emotion. Assassination Classroom has aged gracefully, becoming a landmark of 2015 that stands tall in 2025.

1

‘One-Punch Man’ (2015)

Studio: Madhouse

What other anime besides One-Punch Man would be at the top spot? This show dominated 2015, revolutionizing the medium and anime community with its outstanding animation and stunning action. Saitama has grown bored as the strongest superhero, but doesn’t receive any recognition, as he simply wants a worthy challenge. Perhaps he’ll find it when One-Punch Man returns with season three in Fall 2025.

While season two has hurt its legacy, the first season was magnificent enough to make up for it, keeping the show as nothing short of historic. Nothing can take away the glory of season one, which was one of the most exhilarating, entertaining, and hilarious series anime fans have ever witnessed. One-Punch Man is a cultural milestone that has shaped the anime community and the medium as a whole, proving not only to be one of the best anime of 2015 but also one of the greatest of all time.

NEXT: The 20 Best Anime Series of All Time, Ranked