As another remarkable year in anime comes to a close, it’s time to look back and celebrate the best anime episodes of 2023 that captivated audiences and left a lasting impression. These episodes showcased the medium’s creativity and ability to deliver exceptional storytelling, breathtaking animation, and standout moments.
Whether it was the penultimate of “Attack on Titan”, the emotional climax of “Demon Slayer”, or the agonizing pilot of “Oshi no Ko”, each episode contributed to the rich tapestry of anime this year. In this article, we’ll revisit some of the best anime episodes of 2023 as per IMDb ratings. So, without further ado, let’s get started.
10. Katsubô – Boruto (9.1)
Boruto has been slandered in the past for its action choreography, filler episodes, and animation many times. But, before going on hiatus, the series dropped such an intense, action-packed, and expertly executed episode that everyone found themselves on the edge of their seat.
Featuring an incredible fight scene between Kawaki and Borushiki, the episode fittingly explored the emotions and motivations behind the clash, which added a layer of depth to the action. The parallel between Naruto and Sasuke’s iconic fight and Momoshiki’s entrance worked as a charm for the overall episode.
9. Episode #1.1 – Pluto (9.1)
Naoki Urasawa’s other magnum opus, Pluto is a mixed bag of philosophical questions, mystery, dialogues, and creative visual production that hits like a truck with its pilot episode. It first sets up a neat detective story and then elevates it to great heights by showing a more personal tale of two individuals who get affected by that world.
The episode does justice to North No. 2 and his time with Duncan by investing in each interaction between the two, removing a layer of Duncan’s emotional barrier to allow him to trust his “machine” more. As intriguing as the first act was, it was the second half that made it one of the best anime episodes of 2023.
8. Deku vs. Class A – My Hero Academia (9.3)
The sixth season of My Hero Academia had a lot of turbulence, all thanks to Deku’s personality shift towards a darker side. Amid all the fighting, no one expected an emotional upheaval episode that recounted the memories of Class A reminding Midoriya of his own words.
The conversation between Bakugo and Midoriya was the highlight of the episode, and it all felt like a culmination of everything Class A had been through. There was limited action but to see how they’ve grown with each other over their trials and tribulations is enough to call it one of the best anime episodes of 2023.
7. The Final Chapters: Special 1 – Attack On Titan (9.3)
Hajime Isayama’s generation-defining series Attack on Titan bid adieu this year with two 1-hour specials, and the first one goes down in television history as one of the best anime episodes of 2023. The first ten minutes of the episode are a grand spectacle of despair under the rumbling feet of the colossal army.
The sound-mixing and bittersweet moments perfectly elevate the rumbling scene, symbolism, and chill-giving intricate dialogues. Every aspect of this episode is executed with a level of excellence and MAPPA did everything to improve on the source material, making it a wonderful penultimate TV special.
6. A Connected Bond: Daybreak And First Light – Demon Slayer (9.4)
Demon Slayer: Swordsmith Village arc received a mixed bag of reviews for a couple of reasons, and to make up for it Studio Ufotable dropped such a banger season finale that wasn’t only closest to the quality of previous installments but also left fans with a stir of ecstasy that words can’t fully capture.
The main takeaway of the episode was the scene where Nezuko finally conquered withstanding in the sun. The episode had it all – action, humor, sibling bond – but what stood out even more in the finale was the incredible soundtrack that extracted all the emotions of the viewers.
5. Mother And Children – Oshi no Ko (9.5)
Oshi no Ko is prodigious in its visual representation, and it can be seen in its feature film-length debut episode that took the internet by storm. From the beginning, the story takes its characters very seriously and puts emphasis on gravely exploring what it means to be a pop idol or be in the entertainment industry.
There’s a surge of several emotions while watching this episode as it has lots of ups and downs that can induce hatred, happiness, and sadness at the same time. Without any doubt, “Mother and Children” is an exceptional masterpiece of a pilot as it gradually sets up the storyline for the next plot points to develop.
4. The Three-Sword Style Of The Supreme King! Zoro vs. King – One Piece (9.6)
One Piece was all over the internet in 2023 as Toei’s animators kept delivering one after another phenomenal episodes week in and week out. As the clash between Zoro and King reached its climax, the animators pulled out all the stops, dropping a spectacle that redefined the benchmark for animated fight scenes.
Whether it was King’s face reveal, his backstory, or all the Haki colorings, the attention to detail in this episode was simply astounding. To top of off, the dynamic camera angles and fluid animation gave the fight a far-fetched sense of scale and depth, making every moment of the high-octane clash feel impactful.
3. Black – Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War (9.6)
Out of all the best anime episodes of 2023, the fantastic finale of the second part of Thousand-Year Blood War hasn’t been talked about enough. But on paper it was the best Bleach episode so far, excelling in animation, composition, and direction to say the least.
The battle between Squad Zero and Yhwach was exhilarating. All the anime original scenes and rearrangement done for the episode fleshed out some of the most unexpected things fans never had a chance to in the manga, for instance, Shutara’s never-before-seen Bankai that stole the show with its stunning visuals.
2. Emperor Of Rebellion – Vinland Saga (9.7)
Many non-manga readers and impatient newbies called out Vinland Saga makers for delivering an underwhelming sequel. But, in reality, the second season was way better in terms of animation, background music, voice acting, and most importantly the dialogue writing which was magnificent in this episode.
The episode sees the clash of ideals as it features a really intense confrontation between Thorfinn and Canute. The enduring act of Thorfinn taking one hundred punches and his powerful speech ending with “I’ve no enemies” was the moment of the season, giving the series a seat at the highest rated anime episodes on IMDb in 2023.
1. Thunderclap – Jujutsu Kaisen (9.8)
Studio MAPPA really wants to cement its legacy as one of the best studios ever and needless to say, they’ve succeeded in doing so by the means of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2. This episode was just crazy with two major fights – Megumi vs Toji and Jogo vs Sukuna – with one being a crazy display of firepower.
Nothing in the show so far even compares to how immaculately animated and choreographed Sukuna vs. Jogo was. From the amazing soundtracks and BGM to great direction and action storyboard, “Thunderclap” is second to none and it’ll take a huge deal to beat it.
Which one of the following best anime episodes of 2023 is your favorite? Feel free to comment down your thoughts and make sure to recommend some other episodes like the ones listed above, also don’t forget to share this article with your fellow otaku friends.
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