Ash Lynx is a runaway who was picked off the New York City streets by the infamous mafia godfather, Don Golzine. He became the boss of his gang at 17. Eiji Okumura is a Japanese photographer working on American street gangs. Eiji's meeting with Ash leads to his entanglement with Ash and his affairs.
Written and illustrated by Akimi Yoshida in the 1980s, Banana Fish explores shoujo and shounen genres, and boys' love or shounen-ai with finesse. Initially created for young girls, the manga gained a wider audience among people of all ages and genders. Well received, both critically and commercially, Banana Fish leaves fans wanting more.
10 An Octopus Alien Wreaks Havoc (Assassination Classroom)
Banana Fish is morose. Likewise, Assassination Classroom follows a classroom full of junior high school students who are tasked with killing their teacher, Koro-sensei, an octopus-like alien, to prevent the earth from absolute destruction.
Kunugigaoka Middle School's Class 3-E consists of a bunch of misfits with large reserves of untapped potential. The best assassins in the world train these middle school kids to help them achieve their objectives. The kids learn more than just their school curriculum from Koro-sensei through a fun and emotional school year.
9 A Vampire-Human Relationship Is Difficult (Devil's Line)
In a world where vampires lurk in the shadows and are constantly hunted, 22-year-old Tsukasa Taira discovers her friend Yuuki Anzai's true identity and confronts her feelings about him. In Devil's Line, these vampires do not require blood to survive. However, extreme human emotion can trigger and immensely increase their bloodlust.
Anzai is a human and vampire hybrid. Tsukasa finds herself drawn to Anzai, who reluctantly reciprocates her feelings of affection. As their relationship evolves, problems arise, and Anzai wishes to keep parts of him concealed forever.
8 Substitution Keeps Loneliness At Bay (Scum's Wish)
Hanabi Yasuraoka is a high school student who's in love with her next-door neighbor, who is also her homeroom teacher. A fellow high school student, Mugi Awaya has been in love with the music teacher ever since he received lessons from her. Hanabi and Mugi make a pact to be a substitute for the other's unrequited love.
Promising to not fall in love with each other, Hanabi and Mugi use each other physically and emotionally as they deal with loneliness and despair. A moving piece of animation, Scum's Wish explores first love.
7 The Best Of Two Worlds (Millionaire Detective Balance: Unlimited)
A troublesome member of the Metropolitan Police Department, Haru Katou is assigned to the Modern Crime Prevention Headquarters. Daisuke Kambe is a private detective with a limitless personal fortune. Haru and Daisuke come from entirely different worlds and upbringings, which results in endless friction and conflict between them in Millionaire Detective Balance: Unlimited.
While Daisuke solves everything with money, Haru believes that money is not everything. Faced with a myriad of troublesome mysteries, the pair must work through their differences and come to terms with each other's ideologies to succeed.
6 A Vigilante Serves Justice Via Crime (B The Beginning)
The infamous Killer B takes justice into his own hands. In a technologically advanced society, the Royal Investigation Service, RIS, calls on experienced yet eccentric detective Keith Flick, to find and subdue the havoc-wreaking vigilante Killer B.
Set in Cremona, B The Beginning follows Keith Flick and his impulsive partner Lily Hoshina on their desperate attempts to uncover Killer B's identity. During their investigation, they unravel all sorts of wrongdoings going on in Cremona, from secret organizations to government corruption.
5 Yuri's Idol Falls In Love With Him (Yuri On Ice)
Yuri On Ice follows Yuuri Katsuki, the most promising Japanese figure skater after his crushing defeat at the Grand Prix Finale. He returns home to assess his future options as the window on his figure skating career is closing rapidly. A long-time fan of the five-time world champion Viktor Nikiforov, Yuuri is surprised to suddenly find him at his door.
Determined to earn Viktor's tutelage, Yuri Plisetsky, an upcoming Russian figure skater, follows him to Japan. Yuuri enters the world of competition once again with Viktor by his side.
4 A Cursed Child's Survival Journey (Dororo)
A greedy samurai lord makes a pact with demons, renouncing Buddha, to save his dying land. 12 demons answer him, bringing prosperity to his land. However, the price of this prosperity was incurred by the samurai lord's son, who was born without limbs, a nose, eyes, ears, or skin.
Dororo follows this cursed child, who survives with the help of a medicine man. He travels through the province, defeating demons and winning back his body parts. Devoid of emotion, he finds companionship in Dororo, a wandering child.
3 A Snowboarder Takes On Skateboarding (Sk8 The Infinity)
Skateboard enthusiast and high school student, Reiki Kyan regularly visits "S" – an illegal underground race held inside a mine where skateboarders compete in extreme conditions. Sk8 The Infinity follows Reiki as he meets Langa Hasegawa, a transfer student from Canada, and their relationship with each other and skating.
When they get in trouble at "S", Langa pleasantly shocks everyone with his skills. Reiki tries to cope with his shortcomings while training Langa. An anime with vivid colors and wholesome characters, it has achieved commercial acclaim.
2 Bounty Hunters With A Fine Taste In Music (Cowboy Bebop)
Set in the year 2071, when humans have left uninhabitable earth and colonized different planets and moons in the solar system, Cowboy Bebop follows outlawed bounty hunters, called "Cowboys", aboard a spaceship called Bebop. They help the Inter Solar System police to maintain peace in the galaxy.
Spike Spiegel and his partner Jet are joined by Ein, a Welsh corgi, Faye Valentine, a notorious femme fatale, and Edward Wong, a whiz kid. While the addition of new members throws them off course, they embark on adventures and unravel their deepest mysteries.
1 Being Number 1 Isn't Easy (Dakaichi - I'm Being Harassed By The Sexiest Man Of The Year)
Dakaichi - I'm Being Harassed By The Sexiest Man Of The Year follows Takato Saijou, who has held the title of "Sexiest Man of the Year" for five consecutive years. Threatened by rookie actor Junta Azumaya, who displaces him as number one, Takato's initial disbelief gives way to envy.
Junta stumbles upon some damning information on Takato and blackmails him. Unable to bear being second any longer, Takato asks Junta his price for maintaining his silence. Little did he know, he'd have to make Junta scream to keep him quiet.