A wide variety of stories are told through the medium ofanime. Those not all too familiar with the art form might be quick to dismiss it as little more than flashy action and over-the-top fights between larger-than-life characters.And while there’s plenty of that to be found, anime offers so much more. With genres ranging from drama to horror, action to romance, sci-fi to slice-of-life and anything beyond, there’s something for any fan if they know where to look.
Some of those stories—whether it be through character-driven drama, feats of unimaginable strength, or unlikely duos forming the strongest of bonds—might just have the power to change lives. As fans of any form of entertainment, that one movie, show, or song that makes an impact and remains on the mind years after experiencing a work of art is always an object of pursuit, and these 10 anime might just scratch that itch.
It’s rare that a shōnen action series tells the sort of personal tale thatMob Psycho 100is capable of telling, and the series is a major reason for the recent trend of character-driven shōnen stories, like the massively popularChainsaw Man. Underneath its gorgeous visuals from Bones studio and action capable of hyping up even the most hardened of anime fans,Mob Psycho 100tells a story of personal growth and self-acceptance.
Shigeo Kageyama, also known as Mob, is an esper with incredibly powerful abilities.However, due to an incident when he was younger, Mob does his best to keep his powers at bay. His strength is tied to his emotions, and in order to keep himself in control, Mob forces himself to feel very little, which causes another slew of problems for the teenage boy.The series turns its focus towards its charactersrather than the evil they must fight, makingMob Psycho 100a unique and powerful experience.
Though it was overshadowed somewhat on release by the incredibly successfulYour Name, which released in Japan just one month earlier,A Silent Voicehas become one of the most popular anime films of the last decade. Serving a story that focuses on themes like guilt and redemption,A Silent Voicepacks one emotional punch after another, beforeleaving its audience in mostly happy tears.
The film follows Shoya Ishida, who bullied a hearing-impaired classmate named Shoko as a child. As a result of his actions, his friends turned on him, and began bullying Shoya after Shoko moved to another school. Now, as a teenager, he attempts to reconnect with her,finding friendship while learning more about both himself and Shoko, as he desperately tries to recover his will to live.
Since its completion in 2010,Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodhas become one ofthe most adored and celebrated anime series of all-time. Though adaptations ofWeekly Shōnen Jumpclassics are common, the series is anything but, telling a uniquely human story that touches on topics likefamily, identity, revenge and forgiveness, and overcoming tragedy and trauma.
The series follows the Elric brothers, who become state alchemists after a failed transmutation ends in disaster. Ed loses his left leg and right arm, while his brother Al’s body is obliterated entirely and his soul becomes bound to a suit of armor. The two set off in search of the Philosopher’s stone in order to return their bodies to their normal states, and stumble onto a government conspiracy. Coming to what is regarded as one of anime’s greatest endings,Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodremains a classic over a decade and a half later.
Self-discovery can be a common theme in anime, but arguably no series takes as interesting or visually pleasing an approach to the topic asViolet Evergardendoes. Following the titular protagonist, who takes on the job of transcribing others' thoughts and feelings into letters to loved ones,Violet discovers how to be human while learning to identify her own emotions, all in her quest to find the meaning in the words ‘I love you’.
Prior to her new job, Violet was captured and trained to become a ruthless weapon of war, before losing both her arms in battle. With new prosthetic arms, she’s able to type quicker and more efficiently than most,but often fails to understand the sentiment others are expressing to her. The series is an incredibly emotional experience, and its memorable soundtrack only further enhances the story being told.
Sports anime has long been one of the art form’s top genres, and it might come as a surprise that several of its stories are regarded as some of anime’s very best. It might come as an even bigger surprise that a series about ping-pong is capable of delivering such a human tale about personal growth, victory, failure, courage and lack thereof.
In truth,Ping Pong the Animationisn’t exactly a story about ping pong, but rather one that uses it as the central force driving its characters forward. The series follows two members of a high school table tennis club named Peco and Smile, who grow alongside one another while learning todeal with the consequences of the winning and losing nature of competitive sport. Directed by Masaaki Yuasa, who is known for unique visuals,Ping Pong the Animationmight take some time to get used to, but is worth every minute.
Many of the anime series regarded as classics or potentially life-changing works can offer pretty harrowing emotional experiences. Some can even be devastating watches, like the cult favorite and incredibly depressingWelcome to the NHK.Sometimes, an uplifting series can do the job just as well, and 2018’sA Place Further than the Universefills that role as one ofanime’s most underappreciated motivational titles.
The series follows high school student Mari Tamaki, who, after meeting a girl named Shirase Kobuchizawa,sets off to Antarctica in search of Shirase’s missing mother. Under the guise of a cozy slice-of-life series,A Place Further Than the Universetouches on themes like grief and loss while delivering one of the most uplifting and inspirational stories in anime.
The Tatami Galaxyis a unique series in a number of ways. Unlike most other anime titles,the series is based on a full-length novel rather than a manga, while its visuals, courtesy of the famed studio Madhouse, have a charming and distinctive style. The series follows an unnamed university student through parallel universes that all differ slightly from one another in various ways.
In each life, the protagonist’s choices lead him down different paths, in whichnew people are met, friends are made, and love may or may not be found.The Tatami Galaxyis made up of only one brief 11-episode season, but by the end, its themes of choice, regret, and opportunity are sure to move the viewer.
Romance in anime can be somewhat formulaic. Shows set in a school setting will focus on typically mundane drama while a bond is formed between the two leads, with a series eventually ending the moment they enter a relationship.Clannad’s first season follows much the same formula,but what comes after is what makes the anime so special.
Clannad: After Story, the 2008 follow-up toClannad, follows Tomoya Okazaki and Nagisa Furukawa beyond the classroom and into marriage and parenthood.The show’s depiction of the struggles faced by new, young families is brutal and honest, and it does not hesitate to deliver multiple gut punches to the audience. At the same time,Clannadplaces importance on family, both found and by blood, and is guaranteed to leave viewers in a puddle of tears.
There isn’t much left to be said aboutEvangelionthat hasn’t already been said. Its symbolism and secrets have been studied by generations of fans searching to get to the bottom of Nerv’s operations, butthe point of the anime is much simplerthan any of the mystique surrounding it. At its heart,Evangelionis a show aboutbroken people coming to the realization that they need one another.
Shinji Ikari is one of the most divisive protagonists in anime history,but he isn’t exactly supposed to be likable. He isn’t a hungry teen ready to make a name for himself, or the kind of anime hero ready to carry the world on his shoulders at a young age. Shinji is a scared and confused boy, thrown into a plot he knows nothing about, holding a mirror to the audience as he screams in his Eva.
Though it’s a film about artists mastering their craft,Look Backis capable of speaking to anyonewho has ever wanted anything, worked towards perfection at it, dealt with adversity, and continued on doing what it is they do. Coming in at just over an hour in length,Look Backis a masterfully crafted story ofambition, self-discovery, friendship, grief, and the pain that might come with chasing a dream.
In a world filled with axe-wielding maniacs, art and expression of self is how humanity survives and fights back. The tragic tale of Fujino and Kyomoto, of whom their names combine to create ‘Fujimoto’, is as beautiful as it is haunting in its second half,and will leave the audience asking themselves,“Why do you draw?”
