From Lookism to Assassination Classroom, top 5 anime series to binge on OTT

There are those who have begun their journey with Dragon Ball Z as a kid, and then there are hardcore anime fans who enjoy going back to Deadman Wonderland. No matter the level of expertise or preferences, these five-anime series must be streamed, if not binged already.

Lookism

Lookism is an aeni adaptation of the eponymous webtoon by Studio Mir, which was globally released in December 2022. It is a series that focuses on the discrimination people face based on their looks. The protagonist Park Hyung Seok is an unpopular and obese high school student who is bullied every day, till he wakes up to receive a tall, muscular and handsome body in addition to his usual one. The boon? He can switch between them and live the life of his choice. It can be streamed on Netflix.

Death Note

This classic Japanese manga series often serves to initiate newcomers into manga and anime and is always great for a rewatch. Written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata, the series’ best tv adaptation was Tetsuro Araki’s one, which ran from October 2006 to June 2007. It follows the story of Light Yagami, a genius high schooler who comes into possession of a strange notebook, named the ‘Death Note,’ that can kill anyone whose name is written in it. It can be streamed on Netflix.

Assassination Classroom

This Japanese sci-fi manga, written and illustrated by Yusei Matsui, was adapted for the TV in 2015-2016 and ran for 47 episodes. It is a unique series that traces the strange tentacled creature Koro-sensei and his relationship with the batch of budding, earthling assassins of class 3-E he teaches. Though the students are commissioned to kill their teacher, they are unable to, initially due to their teacher’s invincibility, and later due to their blooming bond. It can be streamed on YouTube.

My Hero Academia

This Japanese manga has become such a commercial success that it has spawned numerous media franchises, but its best adaptation remains the Kenji Nagasaki one that began streaming in 2016. In the My Hero Academia world, the majority of the human population has gained superpowers, but the protagonist Izuku Midoriya lacks one, till All Might makes him his successor and changes his fate forever. It can be streamed on Netflix.

Dororo

Dororo is a 1960s Japanese manga series, whose latest 2019 series adaptation has won hearts. It traces the story of Hyakkimaru and the eponymous Dororo, as the duo face multiple demons on their journey to get back the former’s body parts, which had been taken from him when he was a baby. A Sengoku period-based story, Dororo beautifully portrays the themes of organ transplant, body dysmorphia, and disability, without stigmatizing the same. It can be streamed on Prime Video.