Who doesn’t know MAPPA? The studio with a cult following, which has recently began prioritizing profits over its workers.
Despite mass-producing anime for the last couple of years, their earlier works stand out among the overcrowded average outputs, and I have curated this list of highest-rated MAPPA anime to discuss that.
But before jumping in, remember that only one anime per franchise is included, and only TV anime are included in this list.
So, without further ado, let’s dive right into the list of the top 10 highest-rated MAPPA anime.
10Terror in Resonance
MAL Rating: 8.09
Rated by: 622K users
Terror in Resonance is an original psychological mystery anime unlike any other MAPPA original produced these days. When the studio still had more veterans onboard, anime like these were made. To this day, it is their best original production. Rather than discussing it, I recommend you watch and judge if the rating is just.
9Hell’s Paradise
MAL Rating: 8.1
Rated by: 361K users
I don’t know about Paradise but except for a couple of episodes, it was HELL throughout the entire series. It not only butchered a great shounen, but the popular “MAPPA disaster production” discourse seemed to peak during its airing. Even a 5 out of 10 is very generous for the adaptation; an 8 out of 10? Just read the manga.
8 Dororo
MAL Rating: 8.25
Rated by: 630K users
If asked to pick a favorite among the MAPPA’s anime lineup, I would pick Dororo without hesitancy. And anyone who has ever watched Dororo will say the same as well. Like Kids on the Slope, this anime was animated by MAPPA with the help of Tezuka Productions.
This story of vengeance will make you appreciate the luxuries of life that we often take for granted, such as a loving family and seeing, hearing, touching, and embracing the warmth of your closed ones. There’s a reason why more than half a million people rated it this high.
7Kids on the Slope
MAL Rating: 8.33
Rated by: 173K users
Kids on the Slope is Josei anime with music and romance as its primary elements. As an anime targeted at the Josei demographic, a usual MAPPA fan would find it hard to connect.
But if you’re not part of the cult and enjoy anime centered around music, then you might appreciate this anime’s existence. Although there are visible shortcomings including certain parts not adapted, Kids on the Slope gives you a unique experience but leaves a lot to desire. Still, seeing it as one of the highest-rated anime says that there were more appreciators than I expected.
6Banana Fish
MAL Rating: 8.47
Rated by: 375K users
Firstly, I am glad to see Banana Fish as one of the highest-rated MAPPA anime. Secondly, it is the most diverse work in the entire MAPPA roster. It’s a Shoujo demographic, with themes of delinquents and organized crime while touching some disturbing elements in the most sensitive way possible.
Somewhere along the line, MAPPA lost its touch in choosing works like this and went for only mainstream shounen, but that’s a discussion for another day. Banana Fish will remain one of MAPPA’s most applauded adaptations to this date, which isn’t overrated or overhyped; what remains is a pure appreciation for the anime.
5Chainsaw Man
MAL Rating: 8.5
Rated by: 849K users
MAPPA adapted Tatsuki Fujimoto’s mega-hit manga Chainsaw Man, and like the manga, it turned out to be a major hit. Although the anime religiously adapted the manga and went all out in terms of animation, some feel that it’s way too perfect for a Fujimoto work. But in the end, the ratings mirror the sentiments of the viewers, that is, their love and appreciation for Makima.
Denji has become a devil hunter with his chainsaw devil, Pochita, to clear the debts left by his late father. When the creditor betrays and nearly kills him, Pochita merges with him to become Chainsaw Man. Then enters Makima, who makes Denji her lap dog to use as she wishes.
4Hajime no Ippo
MAL Rating: 8.6
Rated by: 144K users
Even though it has some clear weaknesses compared to its prequels – produced solely by Madhouse — Hajime no Ippo: Rising stands tall in this list because of the brilliantly executed boxing matches throughout the season. If you are a boxer or like to watch the sport, this anime should be on your priority list. The ratings aren’t inflated either; it is a sports anime that deserves all the love in this world.
MAL Rating: 8.79
3Attack on Titan
Rated by: 1.3M users
Wit Studio struggled to produce AOT for a while and decided to hand it over to MAPPA despite AOT S3 Part 2 becoming their highest-rated anime.
That raised several questions. The fans were fuming and worried about the drastic change in the anime’s final season.
They weren’t wrong; the consistency in quality dropped quite a bit, but despite that, Attack on Titan: Final Season became a hit because…popularity. This might be one of those cases where the ratings might be slightly inflated because of the fans’ appreciation for the story.
2Vinland Saga
MAL Rating: 8.81
Rated by: 322K users
It’s not surprising to see Vinland Saga as the second highest-rated MAPPA anime, considering that Season 1 is also Wit Studio’s second highest-rated anime. The transfer from Wit to MAPPA had fans worry about the quality of the sequel, but because it had the same team, the consistency in quality didn’t waver.
The fans were too excited to see the Farmland/Slave Arc adapted into anime four years after its prequel was released. Vinland Saga S2 didn’t disappoint. It captured the arc’s essence and portrayed it without going over the top, which is accurately reflected in its ratings.
1Jujutsu Kaisen
MAL Rating: 8.83
Rated by: 500K users
From the first episode to the last one, Jujustu Kaisen S2 seems to be in a completely different league from its prequel. With major staff changes and the regular MAPPA schedule discourse, JJK S2 has surpassed expectations even with the deadly schedule, thanks to the animators giving their all.
Besides the animation, another factor that helped it become MAPPA’s highest-rated anime is the adaptation of the highly anticipated Shibuya Incident Arc, in which Gojo was sealed, leaving the other sorcerers vulnerable to outside forces. Even six months after its release, it remains at the top, which speaks volumes about this anime.
Final Thoughts
The only thing that bothers me in the top 10 highest-rated MAPPA anime list is the absence of Dorohedoro, while Hell’s Paradise comfortably sits there. Does this mean, ratings aren’t as reliable as they used to be? Or do you read a few reviews before jumping into a certain anime? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below.
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