These are the anime that actually delivered in 1988. 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 1988
WHAT'S WORTH WATCHING
Ranked by fans who actually watched every episode.
Grave of the Fireflies
Legend of the Galactic Heroes
My Neighbor Totoro
Gunbuster
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack
Akira
Sore Ike! Anpanman
Shin Pro Golfer Saru
Namakemono ga Miteta
Shinshuu Sudama-hen
Kaba no Potomasu
Hi no Ame ga Furu
Funky Fables
Shin Manga Naruhodo Monogatari
Hai! Akko desu
Sekai Meisaku Video Ehon
Early English with Doraemon
Ultra B: Black Hole kara no Dokusaisha BB!!
Little Lord Fauntleroy
Iron Fist Chinmi
Oishinbo
Charge!! Men's Private School
Little Baldy Hagemaru
Fight!! Ramenman
Gegege no Kitarou: Jigoku-hen
Zukkoke Sannin-gumi: Zukkoke Jikuu Bouken
Sekai Meisaku Douwa Series
Cheonbangjichuk Hani
Kaze no Matasaburou
Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure
Aim for the Ace!: Another Match
Doraemon the Movie: The Record of Nobita's Parallel Visit to the West
Armor Hunter Mellowlink
Ikinari Dagon
Armored Trooper Votoms: Red Shoulder Document - Roots of Treachery
Charge!! Men's Private School
Himitsu no Akko-chan 2
God Mars: Untold Legend
Tama of Third Street: Have You Seen My Tama?
Leina-Stol in Wolf Sword Legend
Funky Fables
Urusei Yatsura Movie 5: The Final Chapter
City Hunter 2
F
Kosuke-sama Rikimaru-sama: Konpeitou no Ryuu
Legend of the Galactic Heroes: My Conquest is the Sea of Stars
Mashin Eiyuuden Wataru
Watt Poe
Osomatsu-kun (1988)
Patlabor: The Mobile Police
Kiteretsu Encyclopedia
The Tokyo Project
Mahjong Hishouden: Naki no Ryuu
Transformers Super-God Masterforce
Bikkuriman: Muen Zone no Hihou
Kimagure Orange Road: I Want to Return to That Day
Demon City Shinjuku
The Burning Wild Man
Wowser
Sonic Soldier Borgman
Legend of the Galactic Heroes
Grave of the Fireflies
My Neighbor Totoro
Gunbuster
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack
Akira
Sore Ike! Anpanman
Shin Pro Golfer Saru
Namakemono ga Miteta
Shinshuu Sudama-hen
Kaba no Potomasu
Hi no Ame ga Furu
Funky Fables
Shin Manga Naruhodo Monogatari
Hai! Akko desu
Sekai Meisaku Video Ehon
Early English with Doraemon
Ultra B: Black Hole kara no Dokusaisha BB!!
Little Lord Fauntleroy
Iron Fist Chinmi
Oishinbo
Charge!! Men's Private School
Little Baldy Hagemaru
Fight!! Ramenman
Gegege no Kitarou: Jigoku-hen
Zukkoke Sannin-gumi: Zukkoke Jikuu Bouken
Sekai Meisaku Douwa Series
Cheonbangjichuk Hani
Kaze no Matasaburou
Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure
Aim for the Ace!: Another Match
Doraemon the Movie: The Record of Nobita's Parallel Visit to the West
Armor Hunter Mellowlink
Ikinari Dagon
Armored Trooper Votoms: Red Shoulder Document - Roots of Treachery
Charge!! Men's Private School
Himitsu no Akko-chan 2
God Mars: Untold Legend
Tama of Third Street: Have You Seen My Tama?
Leina-Stol in Wolf Sword Legend
Funky Fables
Urusei Yatsura Movie 5: The Final Chapter
City Hunter 2
F
Kosuke-sama Rikimaru-sama: Konpeitou no Ryuu
Legend of the Galactic Heroes: My Conquest is the Sea of Stars
Mashin Eiyuuden Wataru
Watt Poe
Osomatsu-kun (1988)
Patlabor: The Mobile Police
Kiteretsu Encyclopedia
The Tokyo Project
Mahjong Hishouden: Naki no Ryuu
Transformers Super-God Masterforce
Bikkuriman: Muen Zone no Hihou
Kimagure Orange Road: I Want to Return to That Day
Demon City Shinjuku
The Burning Wild Man
Wowser
Sonic Soldier Borgman
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best anime of 1988 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.
