Best anime of 1988 — top 10 ranked

The best anime that premiered in 1988, ranked by MyAnimeList user score. Legend of the Galactic Heroes leads with a score of 9.02, followed by Grave of the Fireflies and My Neighbor Totoro. The 10 titles below average 8.07/10 and are drawn from MyAnimeList's top 2,000.

  1. 1 Legend of the Galactic Heroes poster

    Legend of the Galactic Heroes

    Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu
    OVA · 110 eps · Winter 1988 · K-Factory
    ★ 9.02
    372.1K members
    #11 on MAL
  2. 2 Grave of the Fireflies poster

    Grave of the Fireflies

    Hotaru no Haka
    Movie · 1 ep · Spring 1988 · Studio Ghibli
    ★ 8.55
    786.4K members
    #141 on MAL
  3. 3 My Neighbor Totoro poster

    My Neighbor Totoro

    Tonari no Totoro
    Movie · 1 ep · Spring 1988 · Studio Ghibli
    ★ 8.25
    1.2M members
    #403 on MAL
  4. 4 Akira poster

    Akira

    Movie · 1 ep · Summer 1988 · Tokyo Movie Shinsha
    ★ 8.16
    976.3K members
    #516 on MAL
  5. 5 City Hunter 2 poster

    City Hunter 2

    TV · 63 eps · Spring 1988 · Sunrise
    ★ 8.08
    32.1K members
    #631 on MAL
  6. 6 Gunbuster poster

    Gunbuster

    Top wo Nerae! Gunbuster
    OVA · 6 eps · Fall 1988 · Gainax
    ★ 7.85
    148K members
    #1,066 on MAL
  7. 7 Legend of the Galactic Heroes: My Conquest is the Sea of Stars poster

    Legend of the Galactic Heroes: My Conquest is the Sea of Stars

    Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu: Waga Yuku wa Hoshi no Taikai
    Movie · 1 ep · Winter 1988 · Kitty Film Mitaka Studio
    ★ 7.84
    46.7K members
    #1,077 on MAL
  8. 8 Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack poster

    Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack

    Kidou Senshi Gundam: Gyakushuu no Char
    Movie · 1 ep · Winter 1988 · Sunrise
    ★ 7.72
    61.3K members
    #1,416 on MAL
  9. 9 Kimagure Orange Road: I Want to Return to That Day poster

    Kimagure Orange Road: I Want to Return to That Day

    Kimagure Orange☆Road: Ano Hi ni Kaeritai
    Movie · 1 ep · Fall 1988 · Studio Pierrot
    ★ 7.65
    11.9K members
    #1,626 on MAL
  10. 10 Hello! Lady Lynn poster

    Hello! Lady Lynn

    TV · 36 eps · Spring 1988 · Toei Animation
    ★ 7.58
    4.9K members
    #1,876 on MAL

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