9 American Anime That Can Be Called Masterpieces, Ranked
The vast majority of anime are produced in Japan. However, many of the most popular anime of the 21st Century have come from other countries, including China, South Korea, Canada, and America. When it comes to American anime, specifically, there are several of them that kids grew up loving without even realizing they were anime, and others that are modern masterpieces.
For decades, many of the best American animated series have been heavily inspired by anime. There have been action anime like Avatar: The Last Airbender. magical girl anime like W.I.T.C.H, video game adaptations like Castlevania, and so much more. These series are all brilliant, and they’re more than worth watching no matter how typically averse to Western animation an anime fan might be.
Teen Titans is One of the Most Popular Superhero Series of the 2000s
Teen Titans was an incredibly important series, playing a major role in helping both anime and superhero stories to go mainstream. While many other animated superhero series have drawn small influences from anime, Teen Titans fully leaned into both the dramatic and comedic conventions of the medium. Combined with punchy writing, endearing characters, and great action, the 2003 anime maintains a dedicated following to this day.
For five seasons, Teen Titans followed a group of five young heroes, consisting of Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Raven, as they fought to protect the world from evil, and engaged in absurd hijinks. The anime is primarily remembered for its serious and mature storylines, and it deserves all the credit it gets for how much depth it was able to give its cast, and how dark it was able to go. At the same time, Teen Titans deserves more credit than it gets for, more often than not, being a creative and hilarious comedy.
The Boondocks Was One of the Biggest Hits on Adult Swim
The Boondocks is one of the most unconventional and politically charged animated series of all time and, at least for its first three seasons, it rarely failed at what it set out to do. The series follows the chaotic and dysfunctional Freeman family as they move from Chicago to the primarily white, wealthy suburb of Woodcrest. With a biting sense of dark comedy, The Boondocks ruthlessly satirizes various aspects of American society, with a focus on their relation to, at the time, contemporary Black culture in the country.
Despite premiering 20 years ago, much of The Boondocks’ commentary remains relevant today. The series was never afraid to tackle mature subjects, and it always managed to do so without ever getting too dour, and while always keeping the laughs coming. Every member of the Freeman family is iconic in their own right, the supporting cast complements them well, and the occasional anime-style fight scenes with Huey are always a major treat.
W.I.T.C.H Proves There Should Be More American Magical Girl Anime
Often overshadowed by its more successful competitor, Winx Club, W.I.T.C.H is an underrated classic that needs more eyes on it. Taking notes from classic magical girl anime like Sailor Moon, W.I.T.C.H follows five teenage girls as they become the Guardians of the Veil, tasked with using the power of the five elements to keep evil from escaping into their world. The anime hits every note that an amazing magical girl series needs to, with lovable lead characters, powerful friendships between them, imaginative world building, and a solid balance of personal drama and mystical action.
W.I.T.C.H balances a strong overarching storyline with smaller, episodic tales that explore the lives of Will, Irma, Taranee, Cornelia, and Hay Lin. The anime offers genuinely shocking plot twists, a supporting cast nearly as impactful as the Guardians, and quality animation for its time. W.I.T.C.H sadly only ran for two seasons, but both the slower-paced first season and action-packed second season deserve more attention.
Avatar: The Last Airbender is the Most Beloved Animated Series of All Time
Avatar: The Last Airbender is the face of American anime and, twenty years since it premiered, the franchise it spawned is still successful. Telling the story of Avatar Aang and his friends as he seeks to master all four elements so he can save the world from the imperialistic Fire Nation, The Last Airbender is commonly held up on a pedestal above all other Western animated series. This can primarily be attributed to its fully serialized nature, its complex and nuanced characters, its deep themes, and its spectacular action sequences.
Apart from its most commonly praised aspects, Avatar also succeeds in a number of other ways. It has an engaging sense of adventure, its world is rich and fascinating, and despite its story being a serious one, it never fails to be absolutely hilarious. Avatar: The Last Airbender is often called perfect and, give or take “The Great Divide,” it can be a difficult task to argue against this notion.
Castlevania & Castlevania: Nocturne Are Among the Best Anime Based on Video Games
American anime and animated series based on video games can both be very hit-or-miss, which is why the massive success of Castlevania came as a shock to many. Over the course of four seasons, the story of Trevor Belmont blew audiences away with its gritty, spooky atmosphere, its surprisingly likable heroes, and its brilliant fight scenes. And, instead of properly ending after four seasons, the anime shifted into Castlevania: Nocturne, which raised the bar of quality even higher.
Castlevania may draw on lore from video games, but its story is wholly its own, and it’s completely accessible to those with zero knowledge of the long-running franchise. For those who are fans of the Castlevania games though, the anime regularly finds way to drop Easter eggs for them to find, without ever getting distracted from its main focus. Fittingly for a horror-inspired series, the biggest highlight of Castlevania is its villains, with Dracula, Carmilla, Isaac, and Drolta all stealing every scene they’re in.
RWBY is a Fan-Favorite Underdog That Refuses to Die
Unlike most well-known American anime, RWBY was not initially created by a major animation studio, but by a handful of independent online creators. Over the past twelve years, though, it has grown into a massive franchise, with nine seasons and numerous spin-offs to its name across multiple forms of media, and a tenth season currently in pre-production. It speaks to the underlying charm and heart at the center of RWBY that it’s been able to enjoy as much success as it has, in spite of how clunky its writing and animation can often be.
Initially, RWBY follows its titular team of huntresses-in-training as they train to battle against the menacing Grimm that threaten their society, before it eventually transitions into a globe-trotting adventure story. Its cast of characters is massive, with dozens being easy to love and root for, its world demands its audience’s attention and makes fans always want to know more and, especially during the first few seasons, its fight scenes are jaw-dropping. RWBY isn’t always the easiest anime to get into due to its unpolished roots but, if given a chance, new fans can get to see it bloom like a rose.
Samurai Jack Perfectly Balances Comedy, Drama, and Action
Ignoring its controversial final season, Samurai Jack is a nearly flawless series. Blending fantasy and sci-fi, Samurai Jack follows its eponymous stoic hero as he’s flung into a dystopian future by the embodiment of evil, Aku, forcing him to wander the world, and attempt to find a way home. Entirely episodic, the anime shifts focus from story to story, sometimes prioritizing awesome stylized action, and other times leaning fully into the more comical aspects of the strange world Jack inhabits.
While Jack may not be especially talkative, he still manages to be an engaging protagonist, even when he isn’t cutting down enemies in the flashiest way possible. The villains Jack faces contrast the samurai by being filled to the brim with personality, the obvious stand-out being Aku, who’s easily one of the most entertaining villains in any American anime. Samurai Jack’s greatest strength is its consistency as, during its original run, it’s difficult to find a single bad episode in the entire lot.
The Animatrix is One of the Best Sci-Fi Movies of All Time
American anime movies are exceptionally rare, which is baffling as The Animatrix already proved how phenomenal they can be over 20 years ago. A spin-off of the Matrix films, The Animatrix is an anthology movie containing several short stories set in the same universe as the classic sci-fi tetraology. Not every short film is equal in quality, but they’re all brimming with imagination and passion, they implement different animation techniques, and they all contribute in different ways to fleshing out their grim setting.
The clear highlight of The Animatrix is The Second Renaissance Parts 1 and 2, which masterfully depicts how the world of The Matrix came to be, while implementing the social and political commentary that the franchise is famous for. Other strong outings from the anthology are Beyond, World Record, and Matriculated. With even the weaker installments still standing above most animated short films, The Animatrix is a must-watch for both Matrix fans and anime fans.
Arcane is the Most Acclaimed Animated Series of the 2020s
It’s a testament to the quality of Arcane Season 1 that, ignoring the disaster that is Season 2 entirely, it can still be viewed as one of the greatest pieces of media ever made. While it may be an adaptation of the ridiculous League of Legends video game, Arcane Season 1 takes itself completely seriously and, in the process, tells a rich, heartbreaking story about class and a pair of doomed sisters. Its majestic storytelling is complemented by an unforgettable soundtrack, an intriguing world, and awe-inspiring animation.
Arcane’s characters are masterfully written and voiced, the stand-outs being Jinx, Vi, and Silco, and the series’ visual storytelling is close to peerless among American anime. And while the visuals are consistently incredible, they never shine more than during the anime’s kinetic and carefully thought-out fight scenes. Arcane Season 1 is only nine episodes long, making it an easy binge-watch for any anime fan.
