This year saw plenty of adaptations of old manga as well as sequels to series which we've been crying out for. Let's review which anime climbed their way out of the ranks to become the twenty highest-rated shows of 2015!

Counting down the top 20 anime of 2015 by their MAL scores as of the date of publication. The criteria are the anime must have started airing in 2015 and any DVD special episodes have been discounted.

Top 20 to 11



MAL Rated 8.16, Ranked #357

Aired Summer 2015

Produced by J.C. Staff

Watch on: Funimation, Hulu, AnimeLab



This wackjob comedy about a group of underdog boys whipped (sometimes literally) by their female classmates in the former all-female school Hachimitsu Academy is sure to please.



MAL Rated 8.19, Ranked #312

Aired Spring 2015

Produced by Madhouse

Watch on: Crunchyroll, AnimeLab



Ore Monogatari!! is a saccharine shoujo romance with a twist: main character Takeo is by no means your typical bishonen character. He's tall, extremely buff, with a face that only his mother could love－until Yamato comes along, that is!



MAL Rated 8.21, Ranked #286

Aired Winter 2015

Produced by Studio Shuka

Watch on: Crunchyroll, Hulu, AnimeLab



The continuation of the second season of the ever popular Durarara!! franchise about everyone's favorite Ikebukuro street gangs and headless horsewoman.



MAL Rated 8.22, Ranked #307

Aired Summer 2015

Produced by A-1 Pictures

Watch on: Hulu, Crunchyroll



Another sequel, Working!!! is the third season of the slice of life comedy about the oddball staff of the family diner Wagnaria.



MAL Rated 8.22, Ranked #278

Aired Summer 2015

Produced by Studio Deen

Watch on: Funimation, Hulu, AnimeLab



Junjou Romantica is the most successful BL themed anime to date. It's no wonder that the third season, which covers the third year of Misaki and Akihiko's relationship, did so well.



MAL Rated 8.25, Ranked #249

Aired Spring 2015

Produced by Studio Pierrot

Watch on: Crunchyroll



The second season of this tennis anime shows Eiichirou striving to become a professional player. While the other token tennis anime might be more famous, Baby Steps is probably more realistic in terms of actual gameplay.



MAL Rated 8.26, Ranked #241

Aired Winter 2015

Produced by TMS Entertainment

Watch on: Funimation, Crunchyroll, Hulu



Will Tomoe finally realize his feelings for the regular-human-turned-deity Nanami in the second season?



MAL Rated 8.30, Ranked #215

Aired Summer 2015

Produced by Silver Link

Watch on: Crunchyroll, Hulu



The second season of cute countryside girls doing nothing continues with them doing much of the same. And it's just as cute as the first season!



MAL Rated 8.31, Ranked #203

Aired Spring 2015

Produced by Madhouse, Production I.G.

Watch on: Crunchyroll



Another sports anime to have its second season make it on the top 20 shows of 2015, Diamond no Ace's second season finds its players preparing for the upcoming season in the heat of the Japanese summer.



MAL Rated 8.34, Ranked #189

Aired Spring 2015

Produced by Feel

Watch on: Crunchyroll, Hulu, AnimeLab



This high school rom-com continues with the Volunteer Service Club doing their best to help their classmates with their problems! Even though they have ones of their own to deal with...





Top 10 to 2

A series which expands upon the world we only caught a glimpse of in its predecessor, Death Billiards, the short film created for Anime Mirai. This anime forced its viewers to confront both the dark and lighter sides of human nature and asked us whether a person can (or should) be judged by the actions they take when pushed to the brink.

Watch on: Funimation, Hulu, AnimeLab





The epic conclusion to Unlimited Blade Works ended on a high note, ultimately topping its previous movie adaptation. First-time watchers will be shocked by the surprise twists which season two throws at them.

Watch on: Crunchyroll, Daisuki, AnimeLab





The latest installment of the controversial Monogatari series joins the rest of its brethren amongst the higher-ranked anime out there. Owarimonogatari was not without its critics but its final scoring suggests that there are plenty more fans than there are haters.

Watch on: Crunchyroll, Hulu





Following on from the first season, Aragoto pursues the Bishamon arc from the manga and teases with the promise of delving into the mystery which surrounds the masterless Nora spirits. Where season one deviated from the source material to introduce an original character, Aragoto mostly cleaves to the manga's original plotline.

Watch on: Funimation, Hulu, AnimeLab





Stardust Crusaders steps past its previous seasons to become the most well-received in its series! The crazy, zany action and explosive fights continue on from where the first season left off.

Watch on: Crunchyroll





This anime blazes into fifth place with its intense plotline and strong character development. While the series is undoubtedly about Souma Yukihira and his quest to become the number one chef of his year, we are also drawn into the personal stories of those whom he meets on his journey.

Watch on: Crunchyroll, AnimeLab





Kuroko no Basket slips into fourth place despite waning overall popularity. Season three continues to follow the story of Kuroko and the basketball team of Seirin High as they make their way through to the Winter Cup.

Watch on: Crunchyroll





Haikyuu!! slams into third place with its follow-up to an inconsistent first season. After the team's loss, they rally together to pursue a chance to go to Tokyo. But a new place comes with a new set of opponents...

Watch on: Hulu, Crunchyroll, AnimeLab





Punching its way to second place is One Punch Man! This anime gained immediate popularity for its gag humour and fresh approach to the superhero genre. Instead of an everyday guy on a quest to become a hero, we have Saitama: an established, self-proclaimed "hobby hero" who can defeat almost every monster he meets with a single punch. A twelve-episode season was too short to show any character development for our protagonist, so here's to hoping that a second season is in the pipeline!

Watch on: Daisuki, VIZ, Hulu, AnimeLab





Top Anime of 2015

Capping off this countdown is, of course, Gintama! This series enters its third season this year and remains as popular as ever. Its comical gags and lack of any respect for the fourth wall will surely leave you in stitches!

Watch on: Crunchyroll





If you thought 2015 was amazing, why not check out some other banner years of anime?

Here are some of the best so far:

Top Anime 2014

Top Anime 2013

Top Anime 2012