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
Gensei Shugoshin P-hyoro Ikka
Tatakae!! Ramenman (Movie)
Saint Seiya: The Heated Battle of the Gods
Yumemiru Topo Gigio
Fair, then Partly Piggy
Antique Heart
Kenritsu Umisora Koukou Yakyuubu-in Yamashita Tarou-kun
Return of Topo Gigio
Doctor Chichibuyama
Meimon! The Third Baseball Club
What's Michael? (TV)
Hurricane Live! 2032
Maison Ikkoku: Final Chapter
Madonna
Starship Troopers
Zillion: Burning Night
One Pound Gospel
Hello! Lady Lynn
Esper Mami: Hoshizora no Dancing Doll
Space Family Carlvinson
Dragon Ball Specials
Saint Seiya: Legend of Crimson Youth
Abe George Kattobi Seishun Ki: Shibuya Honky Tonk
Lady Lady!! (1988)
Dominion Tank Police
Sea Cat
Vampire Princess Miyu
Seisenshi Dunbine OVA
Appleseed
Project A-Ko 3: Cinderella Rhapsody
Samurai Troopers
Spirit Warrior
Bikkuriman: Daiichiji Seima Taisen
Fight! Kickers
Xanadu Dragonslayer Densetsu
Gall Force 3: Stardust War
Dragon's Heaven
Hades Project Zeorymer
What's Michael? 2
Ten Little Gall Force
Gunbuster! Science Lesson
Ultimate Teacher
Dragon Century
Biriken
Fashion Lala: The Story of the Harbour Light
Lemon Angel (1988/II)
Sun Wukong Yu Tang Lao Ya
Otogi no Kuni no Birthday
Self Portrait
Animated Self Portraits A Portrait of Kawamoto
Mobile Suit SD Gundam Mk-I
Sunny Ryoko! You Were There in a Dream
Touyama Sakura Uchuu Chou: Yatsu no Na wa Gold
Crying Freeman
Bride of Deimos
Chalk-iro no People
Lemon Angel (1988)
Violence Jack: Evil Town
Fairy King
3-D Heaven
Miyazawa Kenji Collection - The Acorns and the Wildcat
Dokidoki Gakuen Kessen!! Youki Daimashiro
Devil's Circuit
Tokimeki Tonight Recaps
The Garden of Five Fingers
Kaze wo Nuke!
Sekai Jinken Sengen
Pi Pi De Gushi
Osomatsu-kun (1988): Appare! Chibita no Onitaiji zansu
To Shoot Without Shooting
Saboten ga Nikui
Lan Gu
Cynical Hysterie Hour: Trip Coaster
Shirahata no Shoujo Ryuuko
Video Ehon Nippon Mukashibahanshi
Dallyeola Hani
Joy (Yorokobi no Kuni)
Aozora to Tap Dance
Jinbi Guo Youji
Aikodesho
Chii-chan no Kageokuri
Nikoniko, Pun
Little Dino Dooly (1988)
Bikkuriman: Rococo & Maria Kiseki
Kimagure Orange☆Road: Summarized Edition
Zhui Shu
Jungle Dance
Baxian Yu Tiaozao
Kimi Shitteru? Shuto Enjou Anime Tokyo Dai Kuushuu
Gudu De Xiao Zhu
Habatake Pii-tan
TAMA & FRIENDS: 3 Choume Monogatari
Picasso and His Bull
Anning
Qiangzhe Shanggou
Yellow Marine Meteorological Observatory
Zhengzhi
Fish
Du Mu Qiao
Otanjoubi Omedetou
Bikkuriman: Kirakira Tokubetsu Zoukan-gou
Minna de Step
Peter-kun no Hinotama Taiji
Tanoshii Sansuu
Tonbo
Ningen no Uta
Uchuu wa Tanoshii Festival
Alice no Kisetsu
Itsumademo Tabibito
Natsufuku no Shoujo-tachi
Bupiao
Nihon no Obake-banashi
Kkachi ae Nalgae
The Olympic Challenge
Science Anime: Choudendou Monogatari
Sea Roar
Chikyuu wa Minna no Dai Gasshou
Xiao E Yu Hong Fangzi
Kemikaru Furea
Bidulgi Habchang
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
Gensei Shugoshin P-hyoro Ikka
Tatakae!! Ramenman (Movie)
Saint Seiya: The Heated Battle of the Gods
Yumemiru Topo Gigio
Fair, then Partly Piggy
Antique Heart
Kenritsu Umisora Koukou Yakyuubu-in Yamashita Tarou-kun
Return of Topo Gigio
Doctor Chichibuyama
Meimon! The Third Baseball Club
What's Michael? (TV)
Hurricane Live! 2032
Maison Ikkoku: Final Chapter
Madonna
Starship Troopers
Zillion: Burning Night
One Pound Gospel
Hello! Lady Lynn
Esper Mami: Hoshizora no Dancing Doll
Space Family Carlvinson
Dragon Ball Specials
Saint Seiya: Legend of Crimson Youth
Abe George Kattobi Seishun Ki: Shibuya Honky Tonk
Lady Lady!! (1988)
Dominion Tank Police
Sea Cat
Vampire Princess Miyu
Seisenshi Dunbine OVA
Appleseed
Project A-Ko 3: Cinderella Rhapsody
Samurai Troopers
Spirit Warrior
Bikkuriman: Daiichiji Seima Taisen
Fight! Kickers
Xanadu Dragonslayer Densetsu
Gall Force 3: Stardust War
Dragon's Heaven
Hades Project Zeorymer
What's Michael? 2
Ten Little Gall Force
Gunbuster! Science Lesson
Ultimate Teacher
Dragon Century
Biriken
Fashion Lala: The Story of the Harbour Light
Lemon Angel (1988/II)
Sun Wukong Yu Tang Lao Ya
Otogi no Kuni no Birthday
Self Portrait
Animated Self Portraits A Portrait of Kawamoto
Mobile Suit SD Gundam Mk-I
Sunny Ryoko! You Were There in a Dream
Touyama Sakura Uchuu Chou: Yatsu no Na wa Gold
Crying Freeman
Bride of Deimos
Chalk-iro no People
Lemon Angel (1988)
Violence Jack: Evil Town
Fairy King
3-D Heaven
Miyazawa Kenji Collection - The Acorns and the Wildcat
Dokidoki Gakuen Kessen!! Youki Daimashiro
Devil's Circuit
Tokimeki Tonight Recaps
The Garden of Five Fingers
Kaze wo Nuke!
Sekai Jinken Sengen
Pi Pi De Gushi
Osomatsu-kun (1988): Appare! Chibita no Onitaiji zansu
To Shoot Without Shooting
Saboten ga Nikui
Lan Gu
Cynical Hysterie Hour: Trip Coaster
Shirahata no Shoujo Ryuuko
Video Ehon Nippon Mukashibahanshi
Dallyeola Hani
Joy (Yorokobi no Kuni)
Aozora to Tap Dance
Jinbi Guo Youji
Aikodesho
Chii-chan no Kageokuri
Nikoniko, Pun
Little Dino Dooly (1988)
Bikkuriman: Rococo & Maria Kiseki
Kimagure Orange☆Road: Summarized Edition
Zhui Shu
Jungle Dance
Baxian Yu Tiaozao
Kimi Shitteru? Shuto Enjou Anime Tokyo Dai Kuushuu
Gudu De Xiao Zhu
Habatake Pii-tan
TAMA & FRIENDS: 3 Choume Monogatari
Picasso and His Bull
Anning
Qiangzhe Shanggou
Yellow Marine Meteorological Observatory
Zhengzhi
Fish
Du Mu Qiao
Otanjoubi Omedetou
Bikkuriman: Kirakira Tokubetsu Zoukan-gou
Minna de Step
Peter-kun no Hinotama Taiji
Tanoshii Sansuu
Tonbo
Ningen no Uta
Uchuu wa Tanoshii Festival
Alice no Kisetsu
Itsumademo Tabibito
Natsufuku no Shoujo-tachi
Bupiao
Nihon no Obake-banashi
Kkachi ae Nalgae
The Olympic Challenge
Science Anime: Choudendou Monogatari
Sea Roar
Chikyuu wa Minna no Dai Gasshou
Xiao E Yu Hong Fangzi
Kemikaru Furea
Bidulgi Habchang
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.
