The anime industry has grown into a wildly successful and versatile entertainment medium. Anime frequently lean into extremes, and gorgeous animation and unbelievable stories bring in audiences that are hungry for more content. There are also so many unique genres that are specific to anime, all of which tell stories that reach a specific crowd of people that might get overlooked elsewhere.
Many factors contribute to an anime’s success, and a strong script and cohesive story can surprisingly be afterthoughts. Fortunately, there are some foundational anime series that have a lot to offer, but first and foremost feature exceptional, challenging writing.
10 Paranoia Agent Ambitiously Explores A Thoughtful Epidemic
Satoshi Kon is considered to be one of the most prolific anime auteurs of his generation who was able to achieve an enviable career that’s full of groundbreaking productions. Kon’s feature films are dark, psychological examinations of the soul that truly present humanity as fragile, flawed creations.
Paranoia Agent allows Kon’s rich themes to mature and compliment each other over the course of a tight 11-episode psychological drama. The social phenomenon of Lil’ Slugger that paralyzes a nation is fascinating in and of itself, but the way in which this threat turns into a deconstruction of mob mentality and social anxiety is profound.
9 Neon Genesis Evangelion Ramps Up The Existential Dread With Its Apocalypse
Neon Genesis Evangelion’s run on television ended 25 years ago, and yet the anime routinely comes up in conversations over the best programs from the animated medium.
Neon Genesis Evangelion functions as a serviceable mecha series where giant robots fight against surreal monsters for the fate of the planet. However, the series has such a depressing backbone as Evangelion’s reluctant protagonist, Shinji Ikari, struggles with his identity as much as he does with the looming apocalypse. Evangelion takes such glorious turns that disregard linear storytelling in favor of visceral spectacles.
8 Death Parade Looks At Humanity’s Many Strengths And Weaknesses
Death Parade is one of the stronger examples of anthology storytelling due to how it simultaneously weaves powerful standalone stories that also contribute to a larger serialized narrative. There’s a brilliant premise that’s in play in Death Parade where something as important as the fate of someone’s soul is determined through high-stakes versions of recreational games like billiards, darts, or air hockey.
Each episode of Death Parade turns into a stunning character study on life, loss, and regret. There’s real weight behind each of these human stories, but the fantastical premise that governs it all turns Death Parade into an even more rewarding series.
7 Made In Abyss Turns Into An Endurance Match Of Pain And Sacrifice
Made in Abyss comes across as a friendly adventure series that young demographics can enjoy as they admire the heroic actions of Riko and her faithful robot companion, Reg. Admittedly, Made in Abyss begins in a safe place, but it naturally morphs into a tragic and frightening story that would disturb most children.
Brilliantly, the tone of Made in Abyss grows more mature as Riko and Reg descend deeper towards their mysterious fate. The storytelling feels effortless, and the commentary that it explores regarding love, toxic codependency, and abuse is in a league of its own.
6 Cowboy Bebop Uses Genre And Music To Amplify Its Themes
Cowboy Bebop accomplishes more across 26 episodes than some anime struggle to achieve in hundreds of installments. Cowboy Bebop is the perfect blend of eclectic sensibilities that come together into a sublime explosion of style.
Cowboy Bebop meshes sci-fi and western aesthetics, as well as an iconic jazz soundtrack by Yoko Kanno and The Seatbelts, to tell intelligent, unique stories. A melancholy story of guilt and redemption plays out across the series, but each individual story is a masterpiece of style, genre, and character.
5 Wonder Egg Priority Breaks Down Raw Grief Through A Fantastical Catalyst
Wonder Egg Priority was one of the most discussed anime series of 2021. Wonder Egg Priority may initially look like a bright and cheerful slice-of-life school anime, but its protagonist, Ai Ohto, struggles to pull herself out of a depressive state following the suicide of her best friend.
Ai is gradually introduced to the fantastical “Wonder Egg” and the incredible possibilities that it teases, but this is all a subversive way to explore the character’s grief. Wonder Egg Priority breaks down a realistic problem in a wildly unique way that accentuates how anime’s hyperbolized genres can be such an effective filter for real-world woes.
4 Puella Magi Madoka Magica Turns The Magical Girl Genre Into A Bleak Hellscape
The magical girl genre is one of the most bloated and popular genres within the anime industry, and it takes a lot at this point to do something genuinely new with the subject matter. Puella Magi Madoka Magica has made such an impression on audiences because it begins no differently than Sailor Moon or Cardcaptor Sakura. Yet, in this series, the commitment to become a magical girl is more a death sentence than a heroic opportunity.
Madoka Magica wastes no time with its deep commentary on friendship, peer pressure, and sacrifice. It’s incredibly effective with how it presents comforting magical girl tropes as tragic obstacles.
3 Space Dandy Is Secretly A Brilliant Look Into The Multiverse’s Endless Nature
It’s easy to dismiss a series like Space Dandy as random silliness that’s entertaining but ultimately empty. One of the most satisfying aspects of this chaotic series is that a greater narrative begins to take shape as more of its seemingly non-sequitur nonsense is explored.
Dandy and the rest of his crew hop around planets as the series transforms between different genres, animation styles, and storytelling staples. This all stands out on an episodic level, but Space Dandy connects these dots through a brilliant deconstruction of multiple timelines and the universe’s limitless nature, which is teased as early as the lyrics to the anime’s credits music.
2 Osomatusu-San Is In League Of Its Own When It Comes To Comedy And Satire
The barometer for what qualifies as good writing in a drama series versus a comedy is incredibly different, especially when it comes to a surreal gag anime. Osomatsu-San operates with frenetic pacing and plays by its own rules where anything is possible and any piece of pop culture, anime or otherwise, is fair game for parody.
The level of layers to the satire and meta-commentary in Osomatsu is truly impressive, and other comedies could learn a lot from its fearless ambition. Osomatsu-San doesn’t have dramatic serialized storytelling, but it does know how to evoke genuine emotion and evoke sympathy in addition to delirious silliness.
1 Attack On Titan’s Serialized Story Continues To Bear Fruit And Connect Its Dots
It’s very easy for an anime series that’s steeped in war and features monstrous giants to grab the audience’s attention. To Attack on Titan’s credit, the series begins in a compelling place as humanity struggles to hold their own against these monsters, but the Titans eventually become the backdrop to much more sinister ideas.
Attack on Titan is one of the very best when it comes to long-form storytelling and patient pay-offs and callbacks. The characters experience remarkable, believable changes, but there are so many details from the first and second seasons that don’t receive closure until the final year.
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