Best philosophical anime
Hunter x Hunter (2011) (2011) leads the philosophical list, with a community score of 8.4, ahead of Death Note. The 40 shows span 1992 to 2021, and 1 of them came out in the last five years. 40 of them carry the AniList tag "Philosophy". Most are also drama, action, and fantasy. 35 are series and 5 are movies; the typical series runs 24 episodes. Ranked by how plainly each story is built on philosophical, then community score and popularity. Each entry says what it was matched on.
Hunter x Hunter (2011)
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Death Note
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Your Lie in April
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Parasyte -the maxim-
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Mob Psycho 100
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Cowboy Bebop
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Violet Evergarden
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Fate/Zero
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Princess Mononoke
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Gurren Lagann
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Psycho-Pass
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Death Parade
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Wolf Children
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Bakemonogatari
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Clannad ~After Story~
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Made in Abyss
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Monster
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Tokyo Revengers
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works]
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Vinland Saga
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Mushi-Shi
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
I Want to Eat Your Pancreas
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU TOO!
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Monogatari Series: Second Season
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Welcome to the N.H.K.
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Ghost in the Shell
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Trigun
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Gintama Season 2
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
From the New World
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Barakamon
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Steins;Gate 0
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Yu Yu Hakusho: Ghost Files
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Nisemonogatari
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Bleach
Why it fits: AniList tag: Philosophy
Questions about philosophical anime
What is the best philosophical anime?
By AniVids' ranking, Hunter x Hunter (2011) comes first, followed by Death Note and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
What are the newest and oldest philosophical anime on this list?
The newest is Tokyo Revengers (2021) and the oldest is Yu Yu Hakusho: Ghost Files (1992).
How many philosophical anime are there?
AniVids has 260 philosophical titles that match (counting each season, movie and special), and 199 separate franchises where it is plainly central. This page lists the best 40.