10 Best Animated Shows With No Filler Episodes, Ranked

More often than not, animation is a medium that perfectly lends itself to TV shows that are almost entirely episodic. Every now and then, however, creatives use animation to make a more serialized show, one telling a single story from start to finish. When a show is serialized, it’s easy to fall into the pitfall of filler episodes—ones that don’t significantly advance the story, character arcs, or world—but there are a few precious animated series that don’t have any filler episodes at all.

This is, of course, not all that common. But when an animated show is composed entirely of episodes that add something crucial to the narrative, it’s quite a spectacle to behold. From underrated classics, like Gargoyles,to anime series that are pretty much famous precisely for having no filler, like Death Note, these are shows that prove that it’s possible to have an exceptional TV series without padding its runtime.

10

‘Gargoyles’ (1994–1997)

The animated Disney show Gargoyles, full of Shakespearean themes and powerful moments of melodrama, is a surprisingly complex and dark series for Disney. It doesn’t have nearly as many fans as it should, but there are many forgotten cartoons that are still worth watching, and this is undoubtedly one of them.

With strong influences from fairy tales, folk tales, and mythology, Gargoyles has a vibrant world populated by fascinating characters, and each of its episodes contributes to that fact. That’s how it has remained such a cult classic over the years: It’s an airtight narrative where every episode matters, save for a mess of a third season that fans and even the show’s creator, Greg Weisman, consider non-canon.

9

‘Scavengers Reign’ (2023)

Based on creators Joe Bennett and Charles Huettner‘s 2016 short film Scavengers, Scavengers Reignis one of the most unfairly canceled single-season shows of the 2020s. But even though it’s one of the many sci-fi shows which, over the years, have been cut short before being able to fully find their voice, it’s still one of the genre’s best recent outings, full of richly detailed world-building and a perfectly-written narrative.

It’s a very philosophical and slow-burning show, but that pacing feels entirely deliberate. As a result, the narrative is airtight and full of vivid details that make both the world and characters feel lived-in. Everything here feels intentional, and although it would have been lovely to get a few extra seasons to really flesh everything out, there isn’t a single bit of filler in Scavengers Reign as it is.

8

‘Death Note’ (2006–2007)

One of the most notorious anime series of the 2000s, Death Note is a tense psychological thriller that’s a true 10/10. Filler content and episodes are particularly common in anime shows, making those that steer clear of that pitfall particularly notorious, which includes this cult classic. This cat-and-mouse game is perfect for those who prefer serialized anime that doesn’t pad its story with pointless story beats.

Sticking closely to its source material, this hugely binge-worthy gem is probably one of the best starter anime series out there. It’s a focused, thoroughly fun experience that never stops throwing crucial story and character elements at the viewer, even during the narrative’s slower moments. It’s a zero-waste show that all those who love great animated storytelling should check out at least once in their lives.

7

‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’ (2022)

At launch, Cyberpunk 2077was a true mess of a game. Over time, however, it had one of the biggest comeback stories in the history of gaming—and that comeback led to the anime miniseries Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. It’s one of the best-ever animated series for adults, expanding on the world of its source material in all sorts of enthralling ways.

All 10 episodes of the series were planned from the start, and as such, there’s not a single moment in this tightly-written masterpiece that goes to waste. Packed with visual flair, wild action scenes, and fascinating story beats, this is a show that, if anything, could have been even longer. For fans of the game and fans of animation alike, it’s a must-watch.

6

‘The Legend of Vox Machina’ (2022–)

The Legend of Vox Machinais built on top of one of the most creative premises of any animated show ever: It’s based on the first campaign of the Dungeons & Dragonsweb series Critical Role, with the original voice actors all reprising their roles. It’s a true labor of love and passion that all fans of D&D and the many shows it has inspired over the years should check out.

Due to the nature of it not being a scripted show, but a proper D&D campaign, The Legend of Vox Machinahas never had any filler episodes, nor even any significant filler content. Some fights might feel less central to the main quest, but every episode contributes something crucial to character development and plot progression, making this one of the most bingeworthy animated shows on Prime Video.

5

‘Blue Eye Samurai’ (2023–)

Netflix is perhaps the modern master of animated television in the Western world, and for proof, one needn’t look much further than Blue Eye Samurai. Action-packed and visually delightful, it’s a gem inspired by the Westerns of Sergio Leone and the samurai flicks of Akira Kurosawa alike. Those points of reference make it one of those rare animated shows where every episode is a masterpiece.

Not many character studies manage to have pacing this tight. Blue Eye Samurai tells a tale of revenge, identity, and societal prejudice over the course of eight episodes whose every second of runtime adds something crucial to the narrative. Even moments that at first may seem like detours end up adding tons of depth to the world and characters.

4

‘Attack on Titan’ (2013–2023)

It’s almost unbelievable that across four seasons and nearly a hundred episodes, not a single one of them was filler in Attack on Titan. This is, after all, one of the most acclaimed animated series in history, let alone anime. Several of Attack on Titan‘s best episodes have ratings on IMDb that most animated shows can only dream of, and that’s for good reason.

Everything adds depth, detail, and density to this absolutely exceptional show, every episode contributing to varying degrees to the story. Sure, some moments may seem less essential than others, but in the grand scheme of things, there’s no semblance of padding in Attack on Titan: It’s all part of one of the most nuanced and engaging animated shows of the 2010s.

3

‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’ (1995–1996)

One of the most noteworthy cult classics in the history of anime, Neon Genesis Evangelionspawned a franchise so incredibly successful that it’s easy to see why some might refer to this as one of the greatest animated shows of all time. It’s not exactly beginner-friendly, but this deconstruction of the mecha genre is absolutely exceptional.

The show has some episodes that may feel like detours, but it’s all entirely deliberate, part of Hideaki Anno‘s stunning auteurial vision. It’s one of the biggest anime masterpieces of all time, a work of art driven by its characters and their psychology most of all. Even the moments from the show that may at first seem like padding are crucial to constructing these fascinating characters, and thus essential to the show as a whole.

2

‘Arcane’ (2021–2024)

Who could have guessed that Netflix would take a game like League of Legendsand turn it into not only one of the greatest shows of the 2020s so far, but one of the greatest animated shows of all time. Arcaneis a masterpiece, an action-packed sci-fi extravaganza with world-building so layered and character arcs so vivid that it would be hard for any animation fan to resist its magic.

It’s a masterpiece that’s completely filler-free, offering some of the best visuals, music, and voice acting of any animated show of the 21st century. There are quieter episodes and more explosive ones, more character-driven episodes and more plot-twisty ones, more consequential episodes and ones that are mostly setup, but they’re all absolute necessities for all those watching Arcane. There’s no skipping here.

1

‘Over the Garden Wall’ (2014)

One of the biggest cult classics in all of 21st-century animation, Over the Garden Wallwas Cartoon Network’s first-ever miniseries, and it’s one of the funniest, creepiest, and most profound shows they’ve ever produced. It’s also one of the most original animated shows ever, with world-building and character arcs so detailed that it’s no surprise there’s zero filler here.

Indeed, every episode and every story beat of Over the Garden Wall contributes either to its story, to its characters, to its world, or to its emotional logic. It all comes together gorgeously to form a show that occasionally only flirts with filler episode tropes, but cleverly uses them to build its thematic core. It’s a tight, perfectly written series that all animation fans should check out sometime.