Be not afraid, fellow anime fans! For we have obtained the divine list of anime with angels that'll help you obtain salvation.
Though these celestial beings are often sent to mortals as messengers and helpers to guide them towards salvation, angels aren't always good. In fact, many anime angels are decidedly less holy than humans.
Here are my picks for the best anime about angels that play with the usual tropes—and our expectations—to deliver unique experiences full of twists, turns, and subversions.
10. Angel Tales (2001–2003)
Goro Mutsumi doesn't have a lot of luck, but one day he finds a group of young girls who insist that they are his guardian angels.
More than that, they're actually the reincarnations of his twelve pets who have died throughout his life.
Throughout Angel Tales, these guardian angels help their former owner turn his life around and become a more confident person.
There's a lot of sweetness to enjoy in this anime about angels, particularly for anyone who's lost a pet (or pets) in the past.
9. Maria the Virgin Witch (2015)
Set in France during the Hundred Years' War, Maria the Virgin Witch is about how angels react when a human interferes with their jobs.
After using her magic to save countless people and keep conflict from spilling over, Maria is told by the Archangel Michael that she will lose her powers if she loses her virginity.
What follows is her attempts to continue saving humans without attracting the further ire of heaven.
8. Haibane Renmei (2002)
While the creatures in Haibane Renmei aren't explicitly called "angels," they've got halos and wings so they pretty clearly belong on this list.
Haibane Renmei is an anime shrouded in mystery from start to finish. When Rakka emerges from a cocoon and enters the world, she's given a halo to wear while wings painfully burst out of her back.
Who are these Haibane? Where do they come from? And where do they eventually go? Not everything is explained in this anime, but the journey is beautiful enough in its own right to be worth experiencing.
7. Heaven's Lost Property (2009–2010)
In Heaven's Lost Property, Tomoki Sakurai is just trying to live a quiet life, despite being surrounded by chaotic classmates.
Things only get more complicated when a winged woman crash lands near his house and—within a few seconds of meeting him—declares herself his loyal servant.
Tomoki learns that Ikaros is just one of the angelic creatures that have landed on Earth and brought their intergalactic conflict with them.
6. A Centaur's Life (2017)
Despite its title, A Centaur's Life is positively brimming with different kinds of mythical and fantastical creatures, including angels.
This slice-of-life anime takes place in a world where humans evolved into multiple different forms and took on the traits of snakes, cats, horses—just about any combination you can imagine is in this show.
One of the main supporting characters is an angel who's constantly trying to take on more than she should to look after her family.
5. D.N.Angel (2003)
Daisuke Niwa is a young man with a crush. After confessing his love to her, she ends up rejecting him.
Rejection can be devastating for any young person, but it's particularly difficult for Daisuke since it awakens his angelic alter ego, Dark Mousy.
Due to a genetic condition, all the men in his family transform into dashing thieves when they think about their unrequited love.
D.N.Angel is a silly premise but there's a lot of heart within it. This is a fun, lighthearted, and charming anime about love and angels.
4. High School DxD (2012–2018)
In High School DxD, Kuoh Academy has recently changed from an all-girls school to a co-ed academy—and Issei Hyodo is part of the first batch of boys in attendance.
He isn't exactly focused on his studies, however. He's distracted by his lecherous desire to build himself a harem of his fellow students.
Things get even more complicated when Issei discovers that the school is actually full of angels, fallen angels, and demons living among the ordinary human population.
High School DxD is full of celestial and demonic hijinks, complete with loads of fan service and humor along the way. If you're looking for a more risqué take on angels in anime, this is a solid watch.
3. Gabriel DropOut (2017)
In Gabriel DropOut, angels are regularly sent to Earth to get to know the mortals that they're tasked with guiding.
Gabriel White Tenma is on such an excursion, which involves making her way through a human high school. She has every intention of completing this mission, but she soon discovers that she loves anime, video games, and all things otaku.
In the end, Gabriel White Tenma becomes a complete slacker, forcing other angels to try to steer her back toward the divine path, all while demons encourage her downfall.
There's plenty of humor in this slice-of-life anime, which is a great palate cleanser after watching the more intense shows on this list.
2. Panty & Stocking With Garterbelt (2010)
Have you ever wondered what would happen if you combined the gross-out humor of The Ren & Stimpy Show with the design, concepts, and styles of The Powerpuff Girls?
The result would be Panty & Stocking With Garterbelt, which follows a pair of foul-mouthed angels who have been kicked out of heaven for being too lewd and rude.
They have to earn their way back home by killing demons, but they're too focused on sex and sweets to get the job done.
Panty & Stocking With Garterbelt is remarkable for how it subverts our expectations of angels in anime. We see the Anarchy Sisters do everything they can to avoid fighting evil, all so they can indulge in carnal pleasures at every opportunity.
The animation constantly shifts style and the soundtrack is filled with amazing tunes. Panty & Stocking With Garterbelt is both puerile and silly, but each episode is still undeniably funny.
1. Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995–1996)
If you ask a hundred anime fans what their favorite show is, the most common answer will likely be Neon Genesis Evangelion.
The angels in this anime aren't winged saviors; rather, they're monsters from another world that seek to destroy humanity. It's a great twist on the traditional idea of Christian angels, but it's even more than that.
Neon Genesis Evangelion is the greatest anime about angels because it has layers upon layers of imagery to unravel as you watch. Shinji's relationships with his parents, teammates, and even the mecha he pilots to battle the angels are all deeply and thoughtfully explored.
The animation is gorgeous and the soundtrack holds up to this day. Countless animators around the world have been deeply influenced by this show, making it one of the most important anime of all time.
