The following contains spoilers for all anime discussed.
The best anime feature a multitude of plot twists, emotional climaxes, and intense fights. Almost every series has a beloved and memorable episode, scene, or moment that changed the entire franchise forever.
Select few moments not only changed their anime but ultimately defined the rest of the series moving forward. Anime viewers certainly couldn't avoid spiky blonde hair after Goku first turned Super Saiyan in Dragon Ball Z. Whether it's a character's death, a massive revelation, a huge plot twist, or victory in a final battle, fans forever remember when these anime moments changed everything.
10 Faye's Past Is Revealed
Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop only grows in quality over time. In the episode titled "My Funny Valentine," Faye Valentine finally reveals why she was cryo-frozen, as well as why she has such a jaded attitude on life and keeps everyone at arm's length. Through a series of flashbacks, Faye was manipulated by a man named Whitney, who charmed her and even appeared to sacrifice himself to save her from the debts she incurred while frozen.
However, Whitney saddled Faye with debts on top of her own, and the experience left her unable to trust almost anyone. The episode fantastically expands the world of Cowboy Bebop, and further satirizes the extremities of capitalism that society has embraced in this dark future.
9 Maes Hughes Is Murdered
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a perfect series for binge-watching, but fans should brace themselves for a multitude of tragedies right from the start. While the Elric's have their share of misfortune, Maes Hughes's death, for many, is one of the hardest-hitting in the series.
The threat of the Homunculi is made abundantly clear when Envy murders Hughes for getting too close to the truth. FMA: Brotherhood doesn't simply fridge Hughes, but instead takes its bitter time dealing with the consequences of his death, both for the story and its emotional impact on his family and friends.
8 Ash Wins The Pokémon League
Pokémon
Over two decades after Pokémon first aired, Ash Ketchum finally achieved his goal of becoming the very best, like no one ever was. This astounding accomplishment was greater than any of Ash's previous triumphs and marked a turning point and the end of an era for this beloved series.
The final battle lasted multiple episodes, each one of which could easily qualify as one of the greatest episodes in Pokémon history. All of Ash's experience and knowledge as a trainer across multiple regions culminated into one of the most emotional and deserved victories in anime history.
7 Sasuke Joins Orochimaru
Naruto
Naruto had always made it clear that there was a darkness inside Sasuke, a ruthlessness that compounded his desire to be the strongest ninja. It was nonetheless a complete shock to audiences to see him turn against his village to join Orochimaru.
This act of treason became the focal point of the latter half of the original series, and saw an entire arc dedicated to Naruto and his friends attempting to stop or rescue Sasuke. This culminated in the final battle between Naruto and Sasuke, in which neither ninja held back in one of the greatest fights in anime history.
6 L Tricks Light
Death Note
Death Note highlights the rivalry between detective L and sociopath Light, but the anime attempted to trick its viewers by seemingly allowing Light to kill off his opponent in his first appearance. In a worldwide broadcast, L announced his intention to hunt down Kira, Light's alter ego, only for Light to use the Death Note to kill him.
However, L had tricked Light, the broadcast was localized just to his city, and Light had only killed a body double. Already, L was on his trail, and it was clear from this moment on that Death Note was going to be a battle of wits, leaning into the detective genre as well as horror.
5 Lelouch Losing Control Of His Geass
Code Geass: Lelouch Of The Rebellion
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion is an absolutely fantastic entry in the mecha anime subgenre, and takes place in a world dominated by the Empire of Britannia, which has conquered Japan, now known as Area 11. Lelouch Lamperouge is a banished prince of the Britannian royal family who gains a superpower called a Geass which allows him to make anyone obey a single command.
He used this power to aid the Japanese Resistance in their fight against the occupation, and eventually revealed his identity to his lost half-sister Euphemia, a Britannian princess sympathetic to Japan. As he explained how his Geass worked, he jokingly mentioned he could use it to make her kill all Japanese people, only to lose control of his Geass at that exact moment, causing Euphemia to order her soldiers to massacre all Japanese civilians, an order she followed until her dying breath.
4 All Might Losing His Strength
My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia had made it clear from the beginning that All-Might's strength had its limits, and was beginning to fail him. But no one thought this would happen before Midoriya was ready to take his place.
In the fight against All For One, All-Might used up almost every ounce of his remaining strength to win one final victory as the world watched. This forced Midoriya to take center stage for the rest of the series, and to lead the battle against Shiguraki and a new generation of evil.
3 Simon Takes Kamina's Place
Gurren Lagann
Gurren Lagann is widely regarded by fans as one of the best anime ever made, and it's scenes like this that make it worthy of that label. Following the death of his closest friend and mentor, Kamina, Simon fell into a pit of depression, and Team Dai-Gurren was left leaderless.
After meeting the young Nia, however, Simon discovered that he had the strength within him to stand up to protect the innocent, even without Kamina to help him. Running out unarmed to defend her, he declares his intent to lead Team Dai-Gurren and continue Kamina's fight to free humanity from the Beastmen.
2 Goku Goes Super Saiyan
Dragon Ball Z
While Dragon Ball Z is full of power-ups and transformations, Goku's first Super Saiyan transformation is still an incredible moment that set the bar for any show of increased power going forward. Hinted at and prophesied for much of the Frieza saga, the moment of transformation is nonetheless shocking.
Aside from being the explosive finale to one of the best fights in anime, Goku's transformation doesn't just change the power balance in the fight, it also changes the stakes. Super Saiyan Goku is more ruthless and aggressive; a Goku who Dragon Ball fans know only appears when one of his closest friends dies.
1 Eren Emerges From A Titan
Attack On Titan
Attack on Titan is no stranger to plot twists. However, even with all the mind-boggling revelations that came later in the series, nothing can top the moment Eren emerged from the nape of a dead, rampaging titan.
This event fundamentally changed everything the audience thought they knew about the world of Attack on Titan. From here on, all previous knowledge on titans and ideas of where the series, and humanity's war against the titans, was going were thrown out the window. Besides the deeper context of what this means for Attack on Titan lore, the moment itself was shocking as Eren supposedly died many episodes earlier.