These are the anime that actually delivered in 1997. 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 1997
WHAT'S WORTH WATCHING
Ranked by fans who actually watched every episode.
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion
Princess Mononoke
Case Closed Movie 01: The Time Bombed Skyscraper
Berserk
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth
Revolutionary Girl Utena
Pokémon
Bamboo Bears
Speed Racer X
Azumi Mamma★Mia
Kyuumei Senshi Nanosaver
Hanitarou desu.
Kishin Douji Zenki Gaiden: Anki Kitan
Ninpen Manmaru
Super Express Hikarian
Gegege no Kitarou: Youkai Tokkyuu! Maboroshi no Kisha
Kikansha Sensei
Spooky Kitaro: The Obake Nighter
Legend of the Mystical Ninja
Tokyo Pig
The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle
Crayon Shin-chan: Pursuit of the Balls of Darkness
Hamos: The Green Chariot
Coji-Coji
Rurouni Kenshin: Review Special
TWO-MIX: White Reflection
Samurai X Recap
Super Demon Hero Wataru
Bakumatsu no Spasibo
Bakusou Kyoudai Let's & Go!! WGP Bousou Mini Yonku Daitsuiseki
Dragon Ball GT: A Hero's Legacy
Cooking Master Boy
Bakusou Kyoudai Let's & Go WGP
Jungle Emperor Leo
Hareluya II Boy
Pokemon: Aki no Special
King of Classroom, Yamazaki
Hana Yori Dango The Movie
Cutey Honey F
The Dog of Flanders
Hell Teacher Nube: Summer Holiday of Fear! Legend of the Sea of Suspicion
Brave Command Dagwon: The Boy with Crystal Eyes
Doraemon the Movie: Nobita and the Spiral City
The File of Young Kindaichi
Dr. Slump
Maze: The Mega-Burst Space
In The Beginning: The Bible Stories
Super Fishing Grander Musashi
Flame of Recca
The Cases of Young Kindaichi: Shinigami Hospital Murder
Hell Teacher Nube: 0 a.m. Nube Dead
The Slayers Try
Sore Ike! Anpanman: Niji no Pyramid
Fortune Quest
City Hunter: The Motion Picture
Psycho Diver: Soul Siren
Rurouni Kenshin: Special Techniques
Cutie Honey F Movie
Eat-Man
Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz
Battle Athletes Victory
Hakugei: Legend of the Moby Dick
King of Braves GaoGaiGar
Lupin III: Island of Assassins
Crayon Kingdom of Dreams
Hyper Police
Samurai X: The Motion Picture
The☆Doraemons: The Mysterious Thief Dorapan The Mysterious Cartel
Licca-chan to Yamaneko Hoshi no Tabi
Last Orders
Hermes: Winds of Love
Konpeki no Kantai: Sourai Kaihatsu Monogatari
Burn Up Excess
Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge
Slayers Great
Macross Dynamite 7
Those Who Hunt Elves II
Mahou Gakuen Lunar! Aoi Ryuu no Himitsu
Mysterious Play OVA 2
CLAMP School Detectives
Kerokero Chime
Don't Leave Me Alone, Daisy
Sakura Wars
Photon: The Idiot Adventures
Virtua Fighter Costomize Clip
Kakyuusei: Elf Version
Kigyou Senshi Yamazaki: Long Distance Call
Battle Athletes
B'T X Neo
Strange Love
Ie Naki Ko Remy Specials
Ayane's High Kick
I Dream of Mimi
Suddenly Princess
Rayearth
Vampire Princess Miyu
Tenchi the Movie 2: Daughter of Darkness
Tenchi in Tokyo
Sore Ike! Anpanman: Bokura wa Hero
Shinkai Densetsu Meremanoid
The Fleet of the Rising Sun
Niji no Shoujo-tai Prism Knights
Saber Marionette J Again
El Hazard 2: The Magnificent World
VS Knight Lamune & 40 Fresh
Noiseman Sound Insect
Elmer's Adventure: My Father's Dragon
Baby☆Love
Shin Shounan Bakusouzoku Arakure Knight
Ultra Nyan: Hoshizora kara Maiorita Fushigi Neko
Haunted Junction
Magical Project S Specials
Wish
Starship Girl Yamamoto Yohko II
Hyper Speed GranDoll
Virus Buster Serge
Master of Mosquiton '99
Papa ga Tonda Asa
Agent AIKa
Next War Chronicle Ehrgeiz
Tenchi in Tokyo Specials
Mahou Shoujo Diana
Jungle De Ikou!
Saving Soldier Cashman
Eternal Family
Demon Fighter Kocho
Gestalt
Eight Clouds Rising
Kougyou Aika Volley Boys
Voogie's Angel
The Winds of Victory
Dragoon
Legend of the Last Labyrinth
Sakura Diaries
Wild Cardz
The Day the Earth Moved
Mr. Bond
The Game Paradise!
A Chinese Ghost Story
Ame Nochi Special
Gondora
Fujimi 2-choume Koukyougakudan
Teo the Magic Planet Pilot
Kakenukete Good-bye
Kogitsune no Shouboutai
Experiment
Kochira Katsushikaku Kameari Kouenmae Hashutsujo Special: Uwasa no Kaipan Deka Toujou / Buchou yo! Are ga Paris no Hi da / Gekitotsu! Kami VS Ryoutsu
Die Shuangfei
Sore ga Boku no Otousan
Sore Ike! Anpanman: Meringue Sisters no Christmas
Saru Kani Gassen: Ijimekkozaru to Shoujiki Kani-san
Animated Tamagotchi Found on Television!
Shimajirou Movie 3: Shimajirou to Fushigi ga Mori no Himitsu
Chibi Maruko-chan no Koutsuu Anzen
Makeruna! Senta: Sayonara Ijime Mushi
Yao Shu Yu Songshu
McDull and McMug
Shinkai no Kantai: Submarine 707
Annie's Magic Raccoon
Gwiyeoun Jjokkomi
Ki wo Tsukeyou: Douro wa Kiken ga Ippai!
Beanuts
Fune wa Utau
Ocean
Honou no Senshi: Firegirl
Magical Maho
Bonobono
Shimajirou Movie 1: Shimajirou no Daibouken - Konchuu no Kuni no Otomodachi
Akkaebiui Gwahag-yeohaeng
Let's Be Friends: Tomodachi ni Narou yo
Yeonghongibyeong Lazenca
Matouqin De Gushi
Hello Kitty to Miyou: Aesop Monogatari
Anata ga Mieru
Hakkiri Kotowarou: Yuukai Sare Nai zo!
Naita Aka Oni (OVA)
Kimi ni Sachi Are
Boku no Aozora
He De Chuanshuo
The Last Warrior Ryan
Princess Mononoke
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion
Case Closed Movie 01: The Time Bombed Skyscraper
Berserk
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth
Revolutionary Girl Utena
Pokémon
Bamboo Bears
Speed Racer X
Azumi Mamma★Mia
Kyuumei Senshi Nanosaver
Hanitarou desu.
Kishin Douji Zenki Gaiden: Anki Kitan
Ninpen Manmaru
Super Express Hikarian
Gegege no Kitarou: Youkai Tokkyuu! Maboroshi no Kisha
Kikansha Sensei
Spooky Kitaro: The Obake Nighter
Legend of the Mystical Ninja
Tokyo Pig
The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle
Crayon Shin-chan: Pursuit of the Balls of Darkness
Hamos: The Green Chariot
Coji-Coji
Rurouni Kenshin: Review Special
TWO-MIX: White Reflection
Samurai X Recap
Super Demon Hero Wataru
Bakumatsu no Spasibo
Bakusou Kyoudai Let's & Go!! WGP Bousou Mini Yonku Daitsuiseki
Dragon Ball GT: A Hero's Legacy
Cooking Master Boy
Bakusou Kyoudai Let's & Go WGP
Jungle Emperor Leo
Hareluya II Boy
Pokemon: Aki no Special
King of Classroom, Yamazaki
Hana Yori Dango The Movie
Cutey Honey F
The Dog of Flanders
Hell Teacher Nube: Summer Holiday of Fear! Legend of the Sea of Suspicion
Brave Command Dagwon: The Boy with Crystal Eyes
Doraemon the Movie: Nobita and the Spiral City
The File of Young Kindaichi
Dr. Slump
Maze: The Mega-Burst Space
In The Beginning: The Bible Stories
Super Fishing Grander Musashi
Flame of Recca
The Cases of Young Kindaichi: Shinigami Hospital Murder
Hell Teacher Nube: 0 a.m. Nube Dead
The Slayers Try
Sore Ike! Anpanman: Niji no Pyramid
Fortune Quest
City Hunter: The Motion Picture
Psycho Diver: Soul Siren
Rurouni Kenshin: Special Techniques
Cutie Honey F Movie
Eat-Man
Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz
Battle Athletes Victory
Hakugei: Legend of the Moby Dick
King of Braves GaoGaiGar
Lupin III: Island of Assassins
Crayon Kingdom of Dreams
Hyper Police
Samurai X: The Motion Picture
The☆Doraemons: The Mysterious Thief Dorapan The Mysterious Cartel
Licca-chan to Yamaneko Hoshi no Tabi
Last Orders
Hermes: Winds of Love
Konpeki no Kantai: Sourai Kaihatsu Monogatari
Burn Up Excess
Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge
Slayers Great
Macross Dynamite 7
Those Who Hunt Elves II
Mahou Gakuen Lunar! Aoi Ryuu no Himitsu
Mysterious Play OVA 2
CLAMP School Detectives
Kerokero Chime
Don't Leave Me Alone, Daisy
Sakura Wars
Photon: The Idiot Adventures
Virtua Fighter Costomize Clip
Kakyuusei: Elf Version
Kigyou Senshi Yamazaki: Long Distance Call
Battle Athletes
B'T X Neo
Strange Love
Ie Naki Ko Remy Specials
Ayane's High Kick
I Dream of Mimi
Suddenly Princess
Rayearth
Vampire Princess Miyu
Tenchi the Movie 2: Daughter of Darkness
Tenchi in Tokyo
Sore Ike! Anpanman: Bokura wa Hero
Shinkai Densetsu Meremanoid
The Fleet of the Rising Sun
Niji no Shoujo-tai Prism Knights
Saber Marionette J Again
El Hazard 2: The Magnificent World
VS Knight Lamune & 40 Fresh
Noiseman Sound Insect
Elmer's Adventure: My Father's Dragon
Baby☆Love
Shin Shounan Bakusouzoku Arakure Knight
Ultra Nyan: Hoshizora kara Maiorita Fushigi Neko
Haunted Junction
Magical Project S Specials
Wish
Starship Girl Yamamoto Yohko II
Hyper Speed GranDoll
Virus Buster Serge
Master of Mosquiton '99
Papa ga Tonda Asa
Agent AIKa
Next War Chronicle Ehrgeiz
Tenchi in Tokyo Specials
Mahou Shoujo Diana
Jungle De Ikou!
Saving Soldier Cashman
Eternal Family
Demon Fighter Kocho
Gestalt
Eight Clouds Rising
Kougyou Aika Volley Boys
Voogie's Angel
The Winds of Victory
Dragoon
Legend of the Last Labyrinth
Sakura Diaries
Wild Cardz
The Day the Earth Moved
Mr. Bond
The Game Paradise!
A Chinese Ghost Story
Ame Nochi Special
Gondora
Fujimi 2-choume Koukyougakudan
Teo the Magic Planet Pilot
Kakenukete Good-bye
Kogitsune no Shouboutai
Experiment
Kochira Katsushikaku Kameari Kouenmae Hashutsujo Special: Uwasa no Kaipan Deka Toujou / Buchou yo! Are ga Paris no Hi da / Gekitotsu! Kami VS Ryoutsu
Die Shuangfei
Sore ga Boku no Otousan
Sore Ike! Anpanman: Meringue Sisters no Christmas
Saru Kani Gassen: Ijimekkozaru to Shoujiki Kani-san
Animated Tamagotchi Found on Television!
Shimajirou Movie 3: Shimajirou to Fushigi ga Mori no Himitsu
Chibi Maruko-chan no Koutsuu Anzen
Makeruna! Senta: Sayonara Ijime Mushi
Yao Shu Yu Songshu
McDull and McMug
Shinkai no Kantai: Submarine 707
Annie's Magic Raccoon
Gwiyeoun Jjokkomi
Ki wo Tsukeyou: Douro wa Kiken ga Ippai!
Beanuts
Fune wa Utau
Ocean
Honou no Senshi: Firegirl
Magical Maho
Bonobono
Shimajirou Movie 1: Shimajirou no Daibouken - Konchuu no Kuni no Otomodachi
Akkaebiui Gwahag-yeohaeng
Let's Be Friends: Tomodachi ni Narou yo
Yeonghongibyeong Lazenca
Matouqin De Gushi
Hello Kitty to Miyou: Aesop Monogatari
Anata ga Mieru
Hakkiri Kotowarou: Yuukai Sare Nai zo!
Naita Aka Oni (OVA)
Kimi ni Sachi Are
Boku no Aozora
He De Chuanshuo
The Last Warrior Ryan
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best anime of 1997 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.