Naruto is one of the most popular anime of all time and an incredibly beloved series. For several years, it was one of the top manga and anime series for Shonen Jump, which is why it's a member of the big three. Even non-anime fans can recognize Naruto, which just shows how iconic the character is.

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That being said, the series is far from perfect. Not only are there tons of pacing issues, but the characters, especially the female characters, aren't as well developed as those from other anime. Naruto may be one of the most popular anime of all time, but when it comes down to it, it is far from the best anime of all time.

Update on May 25h, 2023 by Louis Kemner: While Masashi Kishimoto's legendary series Naruto does many things right, such as its clever action sequences and colorful worldbuilding, it falls short in certain departments, such as pacing, romance, and even the use of filler episodes. Any shonen anime fan who's gotten tired of Naruto can try out other similar anime titles that each do something better than Naruto did, and those series may soon become a personal favorite.

10 Bleach

Bleach is another member of the big three, and although it's not talked about as much as Naruto, the series is just as popular. It has some of the same issues with pacing and filler, but despite what some fans think, this series actually does filler better.

The filler in Bleach, like the Zanpakuto Rebellion arc, is far more entertaining than any of the filler in Naruto. While Naruto's filler distracts from the story, the filler in Bleach gives a better look at the characters and creates pretty interesting stories.

9 Jujutsu Kaisen

One of the biggest issues with Naruto is how poorly developed the female characters are; luckily, for Jujutsu Kaisen fans, this series doesn't have that issue. Not only are the women incredibly well-rounded and strong in their own ways, but each has well-written backstories.

In fact, most of the women are far more developed than the male characters and are way more interesting because of that. Aside from that, Jujutsu Kaisen also boasts stellar animation and a more engaging tone than the Naruto anime does.

8 Samurai Champloo

Samurai Champloo is an underrated series with incredibly well-done fight scenes and well-developed characters. It comes from the same director as Cowboy Bebop, so it has an interesting style and a lot of unique themes. Although Naruto has some incredible fight scenes, Samurai Champloo manages to have even better fights without even using a magic system.

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The characters may not have special abilities like many of the characters in Naruto, but the fights are incredibly well-choreographed and just fun to watch. Not to mention, the fighting styles are unique to each character, so not only are fans getting amazing action, but they're learning about the characters' personalities.

7 Attack On Titan

Attack on Titan is probably one of the most mainstream anime, and that's because of how well done the story is. While the cliffhangers can be a pain, the storytelling is still thought-provoking. While Naruto tends to spoon-feed the story to its audience, much of the story in Attack on Titan is left up to the audience's interpretation.

For example, the reason why Titans eat humans is never directly addressed in the anime and is actually left for fans to figure out on their own. Also, Attack on Titan's protagonist Eren Yeager shook up the shonen formula with his descent into genocidal villainy, turning his former friends and enemies alike against him.

6 Demon Slayer

Demon Slayer is incredibly similar to Naruto in many ways, but one thing Demon Slayer does better is its animation. While the fight scenes in Naruto are well done, the rest of the series is not. Fans can usually tell when something important is going to happen because there is a marked difference in animation quality.

Demon Slayer doesn't have this issue because the animation stays consistent throughout the series, making it an incredibly beautiful show. Meanwhile, Demon Slayer is a more engaging watch than Naruto because it has much tighter pacing and doesn't need dozens of episodes for a storyline to pay off.

5 My Hero Academia

My Hero Academia is the current "it" anime with six complete seasons and counting. The story is unique, and the characters are well-developed and compelling. Character development is something this series excels in, and it's probably something it does better than any other anime.

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Protagonist Izuku Midoriya has become an incredibly strong character throughout the series, and he hasn't lost any of his kindness. His rivalry with Bakugo is well done, and Bakugo is one of the best-developed characters in the entire show. The changes the characters make as the show progresses are believable and not sudden, which makes their journey incredibly fun to watch.

4 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is usually on most fans' best anime lists. The magic system is unique, and the story is incredibly compelling. Not to mention, all of the characters are written well, including the female characters, which is something fans like to see.

Something unique about the series, though, is how great of a starter anime it is. While most seasoned fans will tell new fans to watch Naruto eventually, its issues make it a bad anime to start with. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is the best starter anime for its well-paced story and excellent animation.

3 InuYasha

Inuyasha is an early classic of the isekai genre, but it's not just isekai fantasy action because it also has solid romances. One of the biggest gripes fans have with the Naruto series is how last-minute all of the relationships are, and some of them feel forced, boring, or downright uncomfortable.

Inuyasha does a great job at building the character's relationships, so it feels earned when Kagome and Inuyasha finally get together in the end. The series also has author Rumiko Takahashi's classic creative flair and her remarkable skill for writing hotheaded but lovable and sympathetic tsundere characters.

2 Hunter X Hunter

Hunter x Hunter isn't an anime that gets a lot of hype, but that doesn't mean it isn't a quality series. It shares a lot of similarities with other shonen, but something it excels at is music and sound design. While Naruto has some great music, this series is a master at setting the right mood for any situation.

Fans go back to the Hunter x Hunter for the story, but also because it's just a great series to listen to. Considering Hunter x Hunter comes from the same creator as Yu Yu Hakusho, it makes sense that the quality of this series would be just as good.

1 Jojo's Bizarre Adventure

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure is a special anime series utterly distinct from all other anime visually. The JoJo anime isn't for everyone; the art style tends to turn some people off, but the colorful cast of characters and the incredibly well-done fight scenes make this anime one of the best.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is an anthology, which means each story arc feels refreshingly new, and no character arcs or storylines drag on too long. These arcs range from Jonathan Joestar's brief battles with Dio Brando in Victorian England to Josuke's small-town adventure to Jolyne Cujoh's desperate bid for freedom in prison.

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