#1: Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin)
Widely known for its intricate storyline and complicated character development, Attack on Titan holds the title of one of the most popular animes streamed worldwide. The story starts in the Shiganshina District, the homeland of the anime’s main characters: Eren Yeager, Armin Arlert, and Mikasa Ackerman. In this universe, humans fall prey to humanoid giants called “Titans”. For about a century, citizens found safety behind three walls that surrounded their land. However, when the walls are attacked by three of the nine most powerful titans, havoc breaks out through destroyed territories, heightened fears, and lost lives. 

After watching his mother being eaten by a titan, Eren’s desire to eradicate the titan population was born. He goes on to dedicate the next few years of his life to training alongside his friends, Mikasa and Armin, to join the Survey Corps and officially take part in direct Titan combat. The anime ultimately follows these characters and how they face the treacherous creatures who have preyed on them for so long. Personally, I admire the storyline this anime presents. There are many elements of thrill, betrayal, and emotion that lead you to question the morality of right and wrong decisions. The plot twists are legendary, and I truly believe it is one of the most skillfully crafted stories in anime history. 

#2: The Promised Neverland (Yakusoku no Nebārando)
The Promised Neverland is a dark-fantasy anime that follows the lives of Grace Field House, an orphanage that appears innocent and caring towards its orphans. Banned from going into the “outside world” past their gates, the children are taken care of by maternal caretakers. They are substantially fed, bathed, and educated until they turn 12 years old. On their 12th birthday, the orphans are shipped out to a “proper home”. However, when orphans Emma, Ray, and Norman discover the dark truth behind Grace Field House, they formulate an escape plan to save themselves and the innocent lives within the orphanage. 

I found the first season to be quite interesting. I was a fan of how the plot was executed, and in a sense, I felt somewhat nostalgic from watching the interactions between characters. However, when the second season was released, the whole storyline went downhill. It’s obvious that the ending was rushed which led to many empty voids within the actual story. Most of the events became easy to predict and it was no longer enjoyable to watch. Overall, I believe that the anime had great potential, but it’s not one I would recommend to one who wants something that is interesting enough to follow through with.

#3: Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba)
In a universe where half the population is unaware of the demons that lurk in the night’s shadows, how would citizens protect themselves and the individuals they love? After most of his family was slaughtered by a demon, Tanjiro Kamado trains in order to join the Demon Slayer Corps, an unrecognized society fighting to protect victims of demons. Nezuko Kamado, Tanjiro’s last remaining sister, became a demon after the attack. Tanjiro joined the Corps in hopes of finding treatment to turn Nezuko back into a human, and through the anime, we are able to see the lessons he learns as he grows as an official Demon Slayer. With two seasons and one movie, Demon Slayer’s third season will most likely release in 2023. 

Ironically, when I watched the first episode, I was not hooked. I didn’t think the plot made sense, and I easily became irritated with the characters. Despite this, I continued my journey through this universe and eventually developed a strong fondness for it. This anime emphasizes the importance of unity and raffles through every emotion within every new episode. Now that I have watched every second of this anime, I can confidently say that it’s a beautifully produced show, and it’s something I think everyone should consider watching.