10 God-Tier Written Anime That Are Definitive Masterpieces
The term “masterpiece” is hard to define. In fact, it is so hard that numerous academics spend years of their lives debating what it means for a piece of art to truly reach the status of a masterpiece. However, within the anime fan community, some series are frequently described as masterpieces due to their high quality and impact on the anime industry as a whole.
What makes this especially fascinating is that these series cover the entire spectrum of the industry, from prophetic sci-fi tales to charming coming-of-age dramas. But what are these anime, and why should every anime fan go out of their way to check them out at least once?
Neon Genesis Evangelion Looks at What It Means to Be Human
Produced by Gainax and directed by Hideaki Anno, Neon Genesis Evangelion is the definition of the phrase “modern classic.” Shinji Ikari’s struggle to find meaning in an inherently painful world has resonated with several generations of audiences to the point that the series is considered a rite of passage for all anime fans. Evangelion’s mechs remain some of the most iconic in anime history, being instantly recognizable even to those who have no interest in anime.
Neon Genesis Evangelion stands out for its creativity. During its runtime, Evangelion never shied away from taking events in an unexpected direction or tackling big and complex topics. Combine this with the anime’s famously dense symbology and surreal ending, and it’s easy to see why the Evangelion remains so popular. The ultimate testament to Evangelion’s masterpiece status is that people are still writing academic papers about it, despite the anime finishing decades ago, something few other anime can claim.
Revolutionary Girl Utena Tackles the Pain of Gender
Created by Be-Papas (a group made up of Kunihiko Ikuhara, Chiho Saito, Shinya Hasegawa, Yōji Enokido, and Yūichirō Oguro), Revolutionary Girl Utena burst onto screens in 1997. The story follows Utena Tenjou, a girl who dreams of becoming a prince. However, after enrolling at the prestigious Ohtori Academy, she quickly learns that her dream may not be as easy as it seems.
Revolutionary Girl Utena is unique from similar anime in how it tackles topics like gender and the pain of growing up in a raw but nuanced way. Despite running for 39 episodes, the anime covers numerous topics with Utena experiencing symbolic versions of common teenage female issues, including bullying and emotional abuse. Combine this with the anime’s beautiful animation and perfectly paced story, and it’s easy to see why Utena has become an anime icon.
Serial Experiments Lain Predicted the Future
A quintessential cult classic, Serial Experiments Lain launched in 1998. The anime follows Lain Iwakura, a young girl whose life is turned upside down when she gets a message from a deceased classmate who says she didn’t actually die; instead, she became one with the Wired. This sends Lain down a twisting rabbit hole as she tries to get to the bottom of a thrilling mystery that turns out to be bigger than she could ever have expected.
Serial Experiments Lain is mindblowing in how it predicted how the internet would come to shape society, to the point that many modern viewers will understand Lain’s struggle to exist in both the real and virtual worlds while keeping both sides of her personality separate. The anime also features some stunning visuals that enhance the story’s themes while looking great in their own right. Thus, Serial Experiments Lain remains an engrossing and thought-provoking experience, even several decades after its initial release.
Mobile Suit Gundam Changed Everything for Anime
Without 1979’s Mobile Suit Gundam, the modern anime landscape would look totally different. Produced by Sunrise, Gundam created an entirely new subgenre of mecha anime: the Real Robot genre. This genre treated mechs as machines rather than superheroes, presenting more complex stories that used mechs to discuss the nature of conflict.
Mobile Suit Gundam didn’t just create the Real Robot genre; it basically perfected it. During Amuro Ray’s journey, he is forced to confront every aspect of the war, from the pain of fighting to the devastation it leaves in its wake, leading to several harrowing moments. Combine this with Gundam’s excellently written story and wonderfully animated action sequences, and it’s easy to understand why many anime fans treat it as a rite of passage.
Monster Is a Tense Thriller Anime
Based on the manga written and illustrated by Naoki Urasawa, Monster was produced by Madhouse. Running for 74 episodes between 2004 and 2005, the series follows Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a skilled neurosurgeon who opts to save a child over a local politician, only for this decision to come back and haunt him years later. This throws Tenma into a tense game of cat and mouse as he is forced to decide if it’s best to attempt to undo his actions or let the ripple effect continue to play out.
Monster‘s atmosphere is incredibly memorable. The various environments that Tenma passes through on his journey always have an oppressive air that makes it feel like something could jump from the shadows at any moment. Monster will keep viewers on the edge of their seats for the entire runtime.
Tomorrow’s Joe Is a Legend in Japan
Based on the manga written by Asao Takamori and illustrated by Tetsuya Chiba, Tomorrow’s Joe ran for two, non-consecutive seasons. The first of these seasons was produced by Mushi Production and aired in 1970, while the second aired in 1980 and was animated by Tokyo Movie Shinsha. The series follows Joe Yabuki, a young drifter who discovers a love and talent for boxing and starts to work his way up the sport’s ranks.
Tomorrow’s Joe is more gritty than other sports anime. During the early episodes, Joe Yabuki is portrayed as a realistically troubled and authentic-feeling working-class person, and this remains an element of his character even when he starts to experience success. Tomorrow’s Joe never shies away from the fact that sporting glory is a long and painful process that often has as much failure as it does glory.
Violet Evergarden Captures a Specific Mood Beautifully
Animated by Kyoto Animation and making its debut in 2018, Violet Evergarden is set in a world that is recovering from the aftereffects of a massive war. The story follows Violet Evergarden, a young woman who was raised as a weapon, as she embarks on a new career as a scribe for those unable to write. The anime does a good job of depicting a world that is slowly recovering from conflict, with many characters clearly still nursing the mental scars that such things can bring.
The anime’s handling of Violet is also exceptional. Her slow transformation across the series is handled carefully and naturally, making her feel like a truly three-dimensional character. Violet Evergarden is a beautifully melancholic anime that strikes the perfect balance between hope and realism, ensuring it will resonate with anyone who has struggled to find their place in the world.
Cowboy Bebop Captures the Real Folk Blues
Directed by Shinichirō Watanabe and animated by Sunrise, Cowboy Bebop is rightly regarded as a modern classic. The series follows Spike Spiegel and Jet Black, two men with dark pasts who make their living as bounty hunters, traveling from planet to planet on their ship, the Bebop. During its 26-episode run, Bebop jumps between a wide variety of genres and sci-fi subtypes, and pulls them all off perfectly, leading to some of the best episodes of television ever created.
Spike’s ongoing struggle to come to terms with the ghosts of his past leads to one of the most amazing overarching storylines in anime history. Not only is each moment perfectly timed and composed, but it all builds to one of anime’s most iconic ending scenes. Combine this with Yoko Kanno’s legendary soundtrack, and it’s hard to argue against Cowboy Bebop’s status as a masterpiece.
Paranoia Agent Is Weird & Tense
Satoshi Kon is often regarded as one of the greatest anime movie directors of all time, being the mastermind behind critically acclaimed films like Perfect Blue and Paprika. However, Kon’s talents were not just reserved for the silver screen, as Paranoia Agent, his TV anime, is just as good as his theatrical films. Paranoia Agent starts with a mysterious young boy with a golden baseball bat attacking a woman in Tokyo, an act that causes the whole city to spiral into paranoia as everyone tries to work out the identity of the mysterious attacker.
Paranoia Agent is a fantastic anime on numerous levels. The series’ often-surreal animation does a great job of complementing and enhancing the story’s uncomfortable atmosphere, leading to several memorably unnerving moments. Paranoia Agent‘s central message about the power of belief and how our thoughts can spiral out of control and create monsters is as resonant today as it was when the series first launched.
Astro Boy Paved the Way for Anime as We Know It
Based on Osamu Tezuka’s legendary manga series, Astro Boy made its TV debut in 1963. The series follows the titular Astro, a robotic young boy created by Dr. Tenma in a futile attempt to replace his lost son. However, Tenma tosses Astro out, and Astro eventually is adopted by Professor Ochanomizu. With his newfound family, Astro embarks on numerous adventures, helping people and stopping other scientists who wish to use robots and other technology for evil purposes.
Astro Boy is a trailblazing series that laid the foundations for the modern anime industry. Despite Astro Boy‘s simple and fantastical premise, it tackles many of the day’s hot-button issues in an easy-to-understand way. So, while Astro Boy has dated, it remains a must-watch series for all anime fans.
