5 Anime Masterpieces You Can Finish in a Single Weekend

With anime episodes often falling under the half-hour mark, they make easy binges — and some masterpiece series are short enough that they can be finished in a single weekend. The success of movies like Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle and Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc are driving home the reality that anime is bigger than ever in the U.S. (and outside of it as well). Some of the best anime to watch are long-running shows, but series like One Piece and Dragon Ball require a time commitment that not everyone can make. They’re also titles viewers are likely to have seen, whether they’re casually interested in the medium or diehard fans.

Fortunately, there are incredible series that are on the shorter side, clocking in at just one or two seasons. Considering the length of their episodes, these anime can be binged in the span of a weekend — and for the truly dedicated, in the span of a single day. From a time-travel adventure that tasks its main character with solving a girl’s disappearance to a sports anime about a figure skater who’s down on his luck, these masterpieces offer promising binges for every viewer.

5) Erased

At just 12 episodes, Erased is one of the easiest anime to finish — though what it lacks in length it makes up for in emotion. Based on the manga by Kei Sanbe, the series follows Satoru Fujinuma, who has the uncanny ability to travel to the past. With this power, he’s able to go backwards as many times as necessary to stop tragedies from unfolding. And when his mother’s murder is pinned on him, he’s forced to venture back to stop it from happening. To do so, he must also prevent the death of Kayo Hinazuki, a girl from his childhood, by figuring out who was behind it.

With all the questions it raises early on, Erased tells a gripping story that will keep viewers hooked from the first installment onward. It’s a thriller in that sense, but it impressively blends drama and sci-fi elements into its story. As Satoru gets to know Kayo, he’s forced to examine his own shortcomings, particularly when it comes to his trouble forming connections. Erased is thoughtful and makes you feel for the characters in its short run, and it delivers memorable twists that will stick with viewers. While some feel the ending is rushed compared to the manga, the journey still makes it worthwhile.

4) Akame ga Kill!

A decade after the anime’s debut, Akame ga Kill! still doesn’t get enough love. However, this story about oppression and revolution is just as relevant today as when it came out. Drawing from the manga of the same name — though the series makes significant changes to the source material — Akame ga Kill! opens with Tatsumi embarking on a journey from his small village to the city, believing he can forge a better life for himself. He soon realizes how heavily the cards are stacked against the poor, nearly getting murdered, then falling in with Night Raid, an assassin organization dedicated to overthrowing the current regime.

That all happens in the first episode, which should drive home how fast-paced and binge-worthy Akame ga Kill! is. It’s not for the faint of heart; the anime is not shy about depicting the harsh realities of war and rebellion, and that means killing off plenty of characters over its run. With 24 episodes in total, Akame ga Kill! is possible to get through in a weekend. And once things pick up, there’s a good chance viewers won’t want to put it down. Of course, they might need to, just to emotionally process it all.

3) Trigun

2023’s Trigun Stampede does an impressive job of rebooting 1998’s Trigun, but the original is still a must-watch. One of the best sci-fi anime out there, Trigun utilizes the genre’s conventions well, masterfully blending them with Western elements. Following Vash the Stampede on his adventures — and watching as bounty hunters attempt to collect the reward on his head — is entertaining, both because of the character’s charm and because the backdrop is so unique.

With its more episodic beginning, Trigun is the type of anime that can be savored over time. However, its action and humor make it just as easy to binge, and the latter half of the series digs deeper into an overarching plot that will keep viewers seated. Boasting 26 installments in total, Trigun is on the longer side for a weekend viewing experience. However, those planning to stay home for a couple of days could easily get through it. And its conversations surrounding pacifism and violence will leave viewers with something to chew on long after they’re done.

2) Yuri on Ice

Those looking for a bingeable anime outside the fantasy and sci-fi realms should give Yuri on Ice a try (assuming they haven’t seen the viral sensation already). The series made waves when it aired in 2016, becoming a standout among the many great sports anime out there. Following the eponymous figure skater after he suffers a blow to his career, the anime sees him bouncing back under the guidance of his new coach and legendary skater, Victor Nikiforov. Not only does Yuri on Ice tell a touching story of someone finding themselves again, but it depicts one of best LGBTQ+ relationships in the medium.

The bond between Yuri and Victor offers enough reason to watch, especially for those who enjoy well-developed character dynamics. Of course, Yuri’s struggles with mental health and the challenges he faces while reviving his career also make the anime heavily relatable. Tragically, a Yuri on Ice movie was planned and then canceled, so it’s only 12 episodes long. This makes it a great weekend binge, but it will leave viewers wishing there was more.

1) Odd Taxi

Odd Taxi is a criminally underrated anime, and it’s one that deserves far more attention for its clever premise and twist. The 2021 series is a crime thriller set in a world full of anthropomorphic animals, and viewers follow a walrus taxi driver named Hiroshi Odokawa as he becomes wrapped up in a missing-persons case. The anime digs into the lives of the other characters around him, injecting drama and intrigue into its central mystery. It’s easy to get invested for this reason, and the pay-off feels earned in a way that not all mystery shows pull off.

With a single 13-episode season, Odd Taxi is an ideal weekend watch — though it may leave viewers hopelessly searching for something similar after they’re done. There’s nothing quite like it, and it would be impossible to replicate the magic in a second outing. That highlights what a gem it is, though, and viewers won’t regret picking it up.

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