These are the anime that actually delivered in 1986. Every score here comes from fans rating each episode as it aired, so a strong premiere can't carry a weak finale. The ranking updates weekly. Filter by Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter, or see what's airing this week.
All Seasons 1986
WHAT'S WORTH WATCHING
Ranked by fans who actually watched every episode.
Dragon Ball
Castle in the Sky
Bosco Adventure
Silver Fang
Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac
Bug tte Honey
Battle Ball
Doraemon: It's Summer!
Mock & Sweet
Princess Anmitsu
Doraemon: Treasure of the Shinugumi Mountain
Spooky Kitarou: The Strongest Ghost Army! Landing in Japan!!
Spooky Kitaro: Crash!! The Great Rebellion of the Multi-Dimensional Yōkai
Doraemon: It's Winter!
Spooky Kitarou: Ghost War Struggle
Manga Naruhodo Monogatari
Wonder Beat Scramble
Doraemon: Summer Holiday
Magical Emi: Semishigure
Robotan
Maple Town Monogatari (Movie)
Doraemon: It's Autumn!
Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos
Mahou no Star Magical Emi: Finale! Finale!
Doraemon: It's Spring!
Kyouiku Eiga-sai Jushou Anime Series
Fat Ma Is Cleanin' the Room
Blue Comet SPT Layzner
Juusenki L-Gaim I: Pentagona Window + Lady Gavlet
Oh! Family
Maison Ikkoku
Doraemon the Movie: Nobita and the Steel Troops
Sangokushi II: Amakakeru Otoko-tachi
Armored Trooper Votoms: Big Battle
Animated Classics of Japanese Literature
Shounan Bakusouzoku
The Transformers: The Movie
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ
Fight! Kickers
Once Upon a Time... Life
Go Go Toraemon
Mahou no Tenshi Creamy Mami: Curtain Call
Pro Golfer Saru: Super Golf World e no Chousen!!
Doteraman
Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies
Barefoot Gen 2
Fist of the North Star: The Movie
Captain Tsubasa: Sekai Daikessen!! Jr. World Cup
Ai Shoujo Pollyanna Story
Honoo no Alpenrose
High School! Kimengumi (Movie)
Transformers: Scramble City
Ultraman Kids' Proverb Stories
Touch: Sebangou no Nai Ace
Dancougar: Requiem for Victims
Touch 2: Sayonara no Okurimono
Running Boy: Star Soldier no Himitsu
Bari Bari Densetsu
Hikari no Densetsu
Magical Idol Pastel Yumi
Captain Tsubasa: Asu ni Mukatte Hashire!
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Uchuusen Sagittarius
Maple Town
Kinnikuman: Seigi Choujin vs. Senshi Choujin
Kinnikuman: New York Kiki Ippatsu!
The Paper House
Wounded Man
Sango Shou Densetsu: Aoi Umi no Elfie
Phoenix: Karma Chapter
Urban Square: Kohaku no Tsuigeki
They Were Eleven
Urusei Yatsura Movie 4: Lum The Forever
Open the Door
Heart Cocktail
Toki no Tabibito: Time Stranger
Love City
Itoshi no Betty Mamonogatari
Hulu Xiongdi
Departure: Ami, the Last Chapter
Project A-ko
Megazone 23 Part II
Yamataro Comes Back
Super Soap
Pony Metal U-GAIM Promotion Film
Once Upon a Time
Prefectural Earth Defense Force
Seito Shokun! Kokoro ni Midori no Neckerchief wo
Grey: Digital Target
OUTLANDERS
Gall Force 1: Eternal Story
Amon Saga
Karuizawa Syndrome
Pelican Road Club Caroucha
Twinkle Heart: Gingakei made Todokanai
Maris the Chojo
The Adventures of Scamper the Penguin
Okubyou na Venus
Call Me Tonight
Guyver: Out of Control
Castle in the Sky
Dragon Ball
Bosco Adventure
Silver Fang
Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac
Bug tte Honey
Battle Ball
Doraemon: It's Summer!
Mock & Sweet
Princess Anmitsu
Doraemon: Treasure of the Shinugumi Mountain
Spooky Kitarou: The Strongest Ghost Army! Landing in Japan!!
Spooky Kitaro: Crash!! The Great Rebellion of the Multi-Dimensional Yōkai
Doraemon: It's Winter!
Spooky Kitarou: Ghost War Struggle
Manga Naruhodo Monogatari
Wonder Beat Scramble
Doraemon: Summer Holiday
Magical Emi: Semishigure
Robotan
Maple Town Monogatari (Movie)
Doraemon: It's Autumn!
Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos
Mahou no Star Magical Emi: Finale! Finale!
Doraemon: It's Spring!
Kyouiku Eiga-sai Jushou Anime Series
Fat Ma Is Cleanin' the Room
Blue Comet SPT Layzner
Juusenki L-Gaim I: Pentagona Window + Lady Gavlet
Oh! Family
Maison Ikkoku
Doraemon the Movie: Nobita and the Steel Troops
Sangokushi II: Amakakeru Otoko-tachi
Armored Trooper Votoms: Big Battle
Animated Classics of Japanese Literature
Shounan Bakusouzoku
The Transformers: The Movie
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ
Fight! Kickers
Once Upon a Time... Life
Go Go Toraemon
Mahou no Tenshi Creamy Mami: Curtain Call
Pro Golfer Saru: Super Golf World e no Chousen!!
Doteraman
Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies
Barefoot Gen 2
Fist of the North Star: The Movie
Captain Tsubasa: Sekai Daikessen!! Jr. World Cup
Ai Shoujo Pollyanna Story
Honoo no Alpenrose
High School! Kimengumi (Movie)
Transformers: Scramble City
Ultraman Kids' Proverb Stories
Touch: Sebangou no Nai Ace
Dancougar: Requiem for Victims
Touch 2: Sayonara no Okurimono
Running Boy: Star Soldier no Himitsu
Bari Bari Densetsu
Hikari no Densetsu
Magical Idol Pastel Yumi
Captain Tsubasa: Asu ni Mukatte Hashire!
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Uchuusen Sagittarius
Maple Town
Kinnikuman: Seigi Choujin vs. Senshi Choujin
Kinnikuman: New York Kiki Ippatsu!
The Paper House
Wounded Man
Sango Shou Densetsu: Aoi Umi no Elfie
Phoenix: Karma Chapter
Urban Square: Kohaku no Tsuigeki
They Were Eleven
Urusei Yatsura Movie 4: Lum The Forever
Open the Door
Heart Cocktail
Toki no Tabibito: Time Stranger
Love City
Itoshi no Betty Mamonogatari
Hulu Xiongdi
Departure: Ami, the Last Chapter
Project A-ko
Megazone 23 Part II
Yamataro Comes Back
Super Soap
Pony Metal U-GAIM Promotion Film
Once Upon a Time
Prefectural Earth Defense Force
Seito Shokun! Kokoro ni Midori no Neckerchief wo
Grey: Digital Target
OUTLANDERS
Gall Force 1: Eternal Story
Amon Saga
Karuizawa Syndrome
Pelican Road Club Caroucha
Twinkle Heart: Gingakei made Todokanai
Maris the Chojo
The Adventures of Scamper the Penguin
Okubyou na Venus
Call Me Tonight
Guyver: Out of Control
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best anime of 1986 so far?
- The current number one sits at the top of this list, ranked by fans who scored every episode as it aired. The order updates weekly while the season airs.
- How are these rankings decided?
- Fans rate individual episodes, not whole shows. No critic scores, no studio hype. If a show falls apart in its second half, the ranking shows it.
