There is a lot of anime out there and in this golden age of TV streaming, the choices have never been more significant. So how do you cut through the noise and find the “Best of” for any chosen topic? Well, we’re here to help celebrate and shine a spotlight on some of the latest, greatest and unforgettable shows through the years.
For our ongoing series of articles depicting the best anime, our attention this time turns to anime about social media. From complex storylines to those that aim to make you chuckle, there’s a good choice to whet your appetite.
Of course, if we’ve missed any of your favorites, feel free to comment below and we’ll add them!
Odd Taxi
Odd Taxi is a fantastic animal anime that tackles topics like social media, debt, gambling, and addiction. In this world, anthropomorphic creatures work daily jobs and participate in mundane human activities. We examine the life of a walrus taxi driver named Hiroshi. He’s lived a peaceful life. He’ll travel to numerous locales and meet strange animals with intriguing stories to tell.
Many of his passengers will leave a lasting impression on audiences. Some of their tales will intertwine with Hiroshi’s journey, making the small talk between him and them relevant. This anime features some great comedy and knows how to balance it with its darker aspects. With its incredible writing, alluring characters, and beautiful settings, you’re in for a great time with Odd Taxi.
You can read our thoughts on Odd Taxi in our full-season review here!
Durarara
Durarara may have a strange name, but it’s an incredible series you don’t want to skip. This anime contains multiple story arcs that add more complexity to its world. This show wraps all its sub-plots up well and you’ll find yourself enjoying the journeys our characters lead. It takes place in a large metropolitan city, where urban legends are spread like wildfire.
Our protagonists get roped into many mischievous circumstances. The anime includes numerous plot twists to keep viewers interested in its storytelling. Our characters tackle numerous mysteries with confidence, but you’ll find these situations tense and a tad spooky. At the same time, the characters in this show have wonderful characteristics and wit.
If you’re searching for a fun series with great mysteries and an excellent depiction of social media, check out Durarara.
Summer Wars
Mamoru Hosoda is an unknown hero in the anime industry. He’s not as big as others directors like Hideaki Anno of Makoto Shinkai. Regardless, he brought fans many beloved works from The Girl Who Leapt Through Time to Summer Wars. This anime offers likable characters, beautiful visuals, and appealing worlds.
In it, we follow Kenji. He’s a math genius and part-time moderator for the virtual world called OZ. OZ is a popular cybernetic world where people can take part in multiple activities. They can play sports with friends or shop for goods. OZ offers folks an incredible security system, resulting in many users putting their trust in it.
In reality, Kenji meets his crush Natsuki. She offers him a chance to attend a summer trip if he pretends to be her fiancé. While there, a mysterious individual sends him a coded challenge request to his cell phone. After Kenji cracks the code, he unleashes a great danger on Earth. He must find a way to return everything to normal before it is too late. This is a great film to watch if you’re looking for something that carefully identifies the issues surrounding social networking and trusting a cyber product.
Gatchaman Crowds Insight
Gatchaman Crows Insight is the sequel to 2013’s Gatchaman Crowds. This is another anime that provides commentary on peer pressure, social media, and how being a part of a group isn’t always the best move. This anime features some decent action scenes and charming characters who differ in design, personality, and goals.
This anime doesn’t focus on the show’s protagonist Hajime as often. It pays more attention to the Gatchaman’s latest member Tsubasa, who Hajime guides in the series. Tsubasa is a friendly person like Hajime but comes with his own set of issues. Insight feels less heroic than its first season, as it delves into more societal banter rather than having our heroes clash heads with otherworldly foes.
It’s not a season many people enjoy due to those reasons. However, it features a fair amount of action for those who enjoyed the first season. Give this series a watch if you like superheroes.
In/Spectre
In/Spectre is about a supernatural mediator named Kotoko. She resolves issues between the human and youkai realm. She visits a hospital and meets Kurou, a college student who isn’t living the best life. Kotoko develops feelings for him and suspects that something supernatural lurks within Kurou.
That said, she asks him to become her assistant. Two years pass and Kotoko and Kurou tackle a mission involving a faceless woman who wields a steel beam. Although there ready to resolve the matter, Kotoko and Kurou will learn that this problem is a lot deeper than they anticipated. This anime’s dialogue is heavy and fans expecting action will find it extremely disappointing.
This show relies on its engaging mystery components and tension to keep audiences entertained. Every detail is important, so it’s best to pay close attention to what’s being shared between the characters. Some resolutions feel believable, but the show features a few holes that ruin several of its mysteries. It’s a series you’ll either love, feel mixed about, or despise. If you’re into mystery anime, give it a try.
Tonikawa: Over The Moon For You
Tonikawa: Over The Moon For You follows Nasa, a boy who almost gets struck by a truck because he falls in love with a girl across the street from him. Thankfully, she saves him and he gets taken away by an ambulance. However, his strong affection for the girl causes him to chase after her while crippled. Shocked by his foolish habits, she accepts his confession.
However, he must marry her when they get older. Therefore, we examine the boy and girl’s growing relationship as it blossoms into something wholesome in the end. You’ll be bewildered by the hilarious mischief our characters get into toward the end. It’s a series that’ll help you keep your mind at ease and make you feel warm inside.
Our characters have excellent chemistry and receive outstanding development. With its beautiful art style, alluring animation, and heartwarming narrative, Tonikawa: Over The Moon For You is an excellent anime to watch when you’re feeling down.
Bocchi The Rock
Bocchi The Rock is one of 2022’s best anime series. It features a well-rounded cast involving themselves in amusing scenarios. It follows a girl named Hitori Gotou, who dreams of becoming a fabulous musician. One day, she meets a girl named Njika, who offers her an opportunity to play for her band called Kessoku Band.
What stands in Hitori’s way is her extreme social anxiety. After performing decently at Starry Club and earning the tagline “Bocchi,” Hitori vows to overcome her mental hurdles and help Kessoku Band become the best music group ever. This anime tackles social anxiety, social media, and popularity insanely well.
Many people can relate to Hitori’s struggles and understand why she reacts the way she does toward new people. It tackles these situations in a respectable and enjoyable light. She’s the type of character you’ll love cheering for and laughing at. If you’re looking for an incredible anime with a well-crafted plot and excellent humor, check out Bocchi The Rock.
You can read our thoughts on Bocchi The Rock in our full-season review here!
Aggretsuko: We Wish You A Metal Christmas
This is a 22-minute OVA Christmas special for Netflix’s hit anime series, Aggretsuko. It’ll keep you as amused as the original show and features our beloved protagonist Retsuko getting into mischief for Christmas. Unfortunately, nothing goes well for our little darling as she spends her holidays obsessing over how to get famous online.
Her desire for fame is relatable to today’s audience. With social media outlets like YouTube and TikTok clouding the minds of young adolescents and adults, there’s a lot of content stored in this special that will resonate with folks. If you’re a fan of the series and haven’t checked out this Christmas special, feel free to give it a watch.
Recovery of an MMO Junkie
Recovery of an MMO Junkie follows Moriko, who embraces her life as a shut-in geek. She likes immersing herself in the fantastical world of Fruits de Mer as her male avatar, Hayashi. She likes interacting with this world’s players and befriends a girl named Lily. What starts off as a humble friendship in a gaming world transforms into something beautiful by the series’s conclusion.
This is one of those anime where we explore our characters’ lives inside and outside a virtual setting. It contains some fun drama, romance, and intermingling between our protagonists. The visuals are astonishing in both worlds. You’ll adore the character’s interactions with each other the most as it evokes strong wholesome energy.
If you’re looking for a nice romantic anime with gaming and social media elements, check out Recovery of an MMO Junkie.
SNS Police
Typically, anime with short episode durations don’t get picked up by anime fans. They often ignore these titles in favor of popular shows or ones with cover photos and synopses that catch their attention. SNS Police is most likely a show that flew under many fans’ radar because of its goofy cover photo and five-minute episode runtimes.
This is a two cour series that aired in 2018. It’s extremely goofy but offers enough charm and wit that’s worth your time. It follows the Social Media Service Police (SNSP) who spend their time patrolling various social media outlets like Twitter and Instagram. They’re tasked with protecting everyone from harm and punishing those who abuse their internet privileges.
It’s a hilarious show with fun sketches, humor, and variety. It pokes fun at the term internet police in gentle ways but isn’t afraid to toss in some internet lingo to stay fresh. If you’re looking for a quick anime to add to your watch list, consider adding this one.
So, there we have it, our picks for the best anime through the years about social media!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!