7 Standout MAPPA Anime From the 2020s, Ranked by What They Do Best

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For viewers asking what the best MAPPA anime of the 2020s are, this ranking puts storytelling and character work first, then weighs visual direction, consistency across each selected installment, and distinctiveness or lasting impact. The order is an editorial judgment, not an official MAPPA ranking. It includes one film as well as television anime; for multi-part shows, the entry specifies the portion being considered.

How this ranking is scoped

MAPPA’s official works catalog lists productions by year and format, but it does not rank them by quality. The seven selections below come from that catalog’s 2020s candidates. MAPPA describes itself as an animation studio established in 2011 that plans and produces animated content across genres and formats; that is the studio’s own description, not an independent assessment. The company also identifies Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan Final Season, and Chainsaw Man as representative works in its June 2026 15th-anniversary release.

#	Preview	Product	Price
1		Banana Fish - Staffel 1 - Vol.1 - [Blu-ray]	$61.06	Buy on Amazon
2		BUCCHIGIRI?! - Gesamtausgabe - [Blu-ray]	$54.31	Buy on Amazon

The entries are ranked as complete viewing choices within the named season, film, or series installment—not as judgments about every season of a franchise. The list is not a statistical result, and no audience score or review aggregate is being presented.

The seven best MAPPA anime of the 2020s

1. Vinland Saga Season 2 (2023)

Season 2 earns the top spot for placing character change and moral consequence at the center of its story. Its appeal is less about constant escalation than about the difficult work of deciding what kind of person to become after violence. That emphasis gives the season a strong through-line and makes its quieter dramatic register a meaningful part of its identity.

#1 Best Overall

Banana Fish - Staffel 1 - Vol.1 - [Blu-ray]

• Preisgekrönter Crime-Anime: Banana Fish zählt zu den international gefeierten modernen Anime-Serien
• Düsteres New-York-Setting: Gangs, Mafia und politische Intrigen im Mittelpunkt der Handlung
• Emotionale Charaktere: Mit Ash Lynx und Eiji Okumura als zentralem Duo der Geschichte
• Anime von MAPPA: Hochwertige Inszenierung mit intensiver Atmosphäre und Action
• Kultstatus weltweit: Beliebt für seine emotionale Tiefe, Thriller-Elemente und gesellschaftlichen Themen

$61.06

Buy on Amazon

It ranks first because the character-focused approach gives the installment a clear purpose from beginning to end. It is the best pick here for viewers who want a drama that treats personal growth as the main event rather than a pause between action scenes. MAPPA lists the season as 2023 TV animation.

2. Jujutsu Kaisen (2020)

The first television season combines a supernatural action premise with an ensemble of young characters facing dangerous, often frightening threats. Its strongest general advantage is the balance between an accessible team dynamic and a darker setting; the action gives the story momentum, while the cast makes that momentum easier to invest in.

It sits just below Vinland Saga Season 2 because its appeal is more closely tied to genre momentum, while the latter is more unified around a single character-focused idea. For a viewer seeking a modern supernatural action series, however, this is the most direct starting point on the list. MAPPA lists Jujutsu Kaisen as 2020 TV animation and also names it among its representative works.

3. Dorohedoro (2020)

Dorohedoro stands out for its unusual blend of grotesque fantasy, violence, and offbeat humor. Its grimy, strange atmosphere gives it an identity that is immediately distinct from more conventional polished action-adventure series. That force of personality is its greatest asset: the setting and tone make it memorable even for viewers who do not want a familiar heroic template.

Its place at number three reflects that distinctiveness, balanced against the more emotionally direct character arcs of the top two. It is the strongest choice here for readers who value an eccentric world and a sharper tonal edge. MAPPA lists it under 2020.

4. Chainsaw Man (2022)

Chainsaw Man brings a volatile supernatural-action premise together with a protagonist whose wants are unusually immediate and human. That contrast gives the series a different emotional texture from a conventional power-fantasy setup. Its visual direction and deliberately distinctive presentation also help it make a strong impression.

It lands fourth because its singular tone and visual identity are compelling, while the ranking gives slightly more weight to consistency and the sustained character work of the entries above it. MAPPA lists it as 2022 TV animation and includes it among its representative works.

Rank #2

BUCCHIGIRI?! - Gesamtausgabe - [Blu-ray]

• Original-Anime von MAPPA – BUCCHIGIRI?! kombiniert Action, Comedy und modernes Gang-Setting.
• Stylische Inszenierung – Auffällige Farben, dynamische Kämpfe und urbanes Design.
• Ungewöhnliches Story-Konzept – Jugendgangs treffen auf übernatürliche Djinn-Kräfte.
• Charakterfokus – Arajin Tomoshibi und Matakara Asamine im Zentrum der Handlung.
• Moderne Anime-Unterhaltung – Ideal für Fans von actionreichen, kreativen und unkonventionellen Serien.

$54.31

Buy on Amazon

5. Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (2021)

This feature film is the list’s non-television entry. Its film format makes it a focused option for viewers who want a complete story in a single sitting rather than another season of a series. The Jujutsu Kaisen setting and supernatural-action appeal carry over, while the movie’s self-contained format gives it a different shape from the TV entries.

It ranks fifth because it is a strong companion to the series but has less room than a full season to build an ensemble across multiple episodes. MAPPA lists Jujutsu Kaisen 0 as a 2021 film.

6. Attack on Titan: The Final Season, Part 1 (2020)

This ranking covers the first Final Season entry listed for 2020, not the franchise’s later installments. As a late-stage chapter in a continuing story, its strength is the scale of its conflict and the way it shifts the series into its endgame. That makes it a major pick for viewers already following Attack on Titan, though it is not the best entry point for newcomers.

It ranks sixth because the installment’s impact depends heavily on the story and characters established earlier, making it less self-contained than most of the other choices. MAPPA’s catalog lists the first Final Season entry under 2020 and a Part 2 installment under 2022.

7. Hell’s Paradise (2023)

Hell’s Paradise rounds out the selection with a dark fantasy action setup centered on a dangerous journey. It offers a strong genre fit for viewers who want high-stakes confrontations and an unsettling atmosphere. Among this group, it is the most straightforward recommendation for a viewer specifically seeking another supernatural adventure.

It places seventh because the titles above have a more distinctive identity, a stronger character-centered case, or a more prominent position in MAPPA’s 2020s catalog. MAPPA lists Hell’s Paradise as 2023 TV animation.

Which one should you watch first?

• For character-focused drama: Start with Vinland Saga Season 2.
• For supernatural ensemble action: Choose Jujutsu Kaisen.
• For a strange, dark fantasy world: Try Dorohedoro.
• For a feature-length option: Pick Jujutsu Kaisen 0.
• For a late-series turning point: Watch Attack on Titan: The Final Season, Part 1 after the preceding story.

These are editorial recommendations, not claims that one style is objectively superior. Current streaming availability depends on territory and is not established here.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1

Banana Fish - Staffel 1 - Vol.1 - [Blu-ray]

Emotionale Charaktere: Mit Ash Lynx und Eiji Okumura als zentralem Duo der Geschichte; Anime von MAPPA: Hochwertige Inszenierung mit intensiver Atmosphäre und Action

$61.06

Bestseller No. 2

BUCCHIGIRI?! - Gesamtausgabe - [Blu-ray]

Stylische Inszenierung – Auffällige Farben, dynamische Kämpfe und urbanes Design.; Ungewöhnliches Story-Konzept – Jugendgangs treffen auf übernatürliche Djinn-Kräfte.

$54.31

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.