Filler is one of the most notorious aspects of anime. These types of episodes are distinct from the rest of the series in that they do not advance the plot or develop the characters, and the events of the episode are irrelevant to the overall story. It can be frustrating when a relatively good series is bogged down by filler content.
On the other hand, there are many anime series that do not allow filler to bring the rest of the story down. These series are notable for keeping the main plot moving across every episode, never wasting a single second. Some can pull this off with a limited number of episodes while others manage to tell a sprawling story across a number of seasons without ever slowing down.
10 The Elric Brothers Search For Answers (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
A classic story without filler, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a re-adaption of the manga series that is more faithful than the previous anime series. By sticking closer to the original story, Brotherhood does not allow any extra time for the Elric brothers to embark on any side quests, forcing them to continue toward their final goal.
This anime is faster-paced and much more intense than the first Fullmetal Alchemist adaption and does not waste any episodes when it comes to the plot.
9 Hiro & Zero Two Fight For Their Future (Darling In The FranXX)
In Darling in the FranXX, teenagers are responsible for defending the remnants of civilization from monsters called Klaxosaurs. To do so, they must pilot mechs, which require one male and one female pilot. However, it is clear from the beginning that there is more going on than what the kids or the audience have been told.
While the series does lose focus about midway through, it manages to get itself back on track and bring the story to a satisfying conclusion. Every episode delves deeper into the mysterious forces at play behind the scenes, as Hiro and Zero Two work together to ensure the security of their future.
8 Tanjiro Must Free His Sister (Demon Slayer)
Demon Slayer is unique in that it is still ongoing, so there is still a possibility that the show could include filler later on, but as of the writing of this list, the series has only advanced the plot with each crucial story arc. Tanjiro's ultimate goal is to find a way to turn his sister, Nezuko, back into a human.
While not every arc focuses on that objective, the story does contribute to the character development of Tanjiro and his friends, and also helps him better understand demons. Every episode moves the story forward, bringing Tanjiro closer to the finish line.
7 Koichi Searches For A Way To Break A Curse (Another)
In Another, middle school student Koichi Sakakibara transfers into a new school and comes across classmate Mei Misaki who everyone else, students and teachers alike, ignore. Everyone treats her as though she does not exist. Koichi soon comes to find that this is the result of a curse that befalls his class every year, in which students and family members of the students die in horrific ways.
This single-season anime follows Koichi and Mei as they strive to search for answers and prevent further deaths from occurring. Every episode advances the plot as the main characters draw closer to solving the mystery.
6 Kosei Confronts His Childhood Trauma (Your Lie In April)
Standing out from the rest of the entries on this list, Your Lie in April tricks its audience into thinking it is simply a slice of life drama about a musician rediscovering his love of music. While that is a major part of the plot, the show soon reveals that there is more to the character of Kaori than she initially les on.
The series takes a darker turn down a more emotional path, as protagonist Kosei relives the trauma he experienced as a child and learns to overcome it. Now, he is determined to not let history repeat itself.
5 Terrorists On A Quest For Revenge (Terror In Resonance)
From the creator of Cowboy Bebop, Shinichiro Watanabe's Terror in Resonance is an intense, fast-paced thriller that tells the story of two teenage boys who commit acts of terrorism throughout Tokyo in an effort to expose an organization that wronged them. The series takes a unique position in that its protagonists are terrorists and somehow manages to get the audience to root for them.
With its short number of episodes, Terror in Resonance does not have an opportunity for side stories and keeps the action going across the entire story arc.
4 Eren Strives To Wipe Out Titans (Attack On Titan)
Arguably one of the most well-known anime in modern history, Attack on Titan is a longer series that manages to not waste any time on a single episode. There is no filler, as every episode contributes to the development of the main characters as well as the main story. The series foreshadows major plot points from the get-go and continues to reveal new information about its world with each arc.
Attack on Titan is the longest-running anime on this list with only a handful of episodes left before it ends, and yet it still finds a way to continue moving the story along without stopping for breaks.
3 Satoru Must Solve A Mystery (Erased)
Erased is a murder mystery unlike any other. Satoru Fujinuma possesses a unique ability to travel backward in time just moments before a deadly incident occurs. However, when Satoru discovers his mother's dead body, he is suddenly sent back eighteen years into the past, giving him the opportunity to solve the mystery across time.
This short, single-season anime takes the audience on a journey throughout different time periods in Satoru's life as he tries to figure out his mother's killer and how it connects to an unsolved case from his childhood.
2 High Schoolers Work Together To Survive In Space (Astra: Lost In Space)
Astra: Lost in Space presents the audience with a mystery that is as fun to watch unfold as it is to speculate about what's really going on. The series follows a small group of high school students traveling through space, on their way to an off-world camp. However, things quickly go sideways as a strange sphere of light engulfs them and the students find themselves transported thousands of light-years away.
Over the course of 12 episodes, these teenagers must find a way home with limited resources, while also uncovering the mystery of the light and why it has transported them so far away.
1 An Ordinary Person Gets Wrapped Up In A Criminal Underworld (Akudama Drive)
Akudama Drive is a fast-paced action anime set within a futuristic cyberpunk world. The series does not waste a second getting right into the action, as an ordinary person gets caught up in the criminal world of "Akudama," high-profile outlaws with specialized skillsets. To survive, this completely normal woman takes on the name "Swindler," and embarks on the ultimate heist.
Thanks to its short episode count and fast pace, Akudama Drive tells a complete story in a single season. Every episode keeps the action moving and contributes to the overall plot.
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