Japanese anime has become a global phenomenon. This entertainment medium has fans of all ages enjoying its unique blend of animation and storytelling. There is an anime for everyone, from action-packed shonen series to heartwarming slice-of-life dramas. There's something for robots and sci-fi lovers in anime. On the other hand, spooky horror anime series are also captivating.
In addition to its visual appeal, anime also excels at storytelling. This article will look at some of the most famous Japanese anime of all time. We will explore various anime genres and what makes them so special. With our recommendations for some of the best anime to watch, your binge-watch sessions are easy to plan.
Whether you are new to Japanese anime or are already a huge fan, we have a compilation of the best anime movies and series. Moreover, check out the free online resources for reading manga and anime.
What is Anime?
Some people are unaware of anime. They may think it's just a cartoon; however, it's aimed towards the mature audience that can understand complex stories. Anime has darker, intriguing themes often inspired by human emotions, real-life events, and the world around us. Hence, all can enjoy anime for the gripping story, life-like characters, and plot twists.
Anime has hand-drawn art and vibrant colours. The term anime is a Japanese word derived from the English word animation. You may be surprised to learn that in Japan, the term anime refers to all animated works, regardless of style or origin. However, outside Japan, anime typically refers to animation produced in Japan.
Anime has many genres: action, adventure, comedy, drama, horror, mystery, romance, science fiction, and fantasy. It can also be divided into different categories based on the target audience, such as shonen (for boys), shojo (for girls), and seinen (for adults).
While being popular in Japan, Anime is also popular in India. Some popular anime series include Dragon Ball, Naruto, One Piece, Sailor Moon, and Attack on Titan.
History of Japanese Anime and Its Cultural Significance
Anime's history dates back to 1907. The Japanese artists created anime based on their Western observations. Another inspiration was WW2 for creating the first anime film. Many people started enjoying printed manga when the war ended, as they needed some light distraction. Over the years, anime has become diverse and covers any genre you can name.
Osamu Tezuka, often called the "father of anime, " has dedicated his whole life to this art. His famous works include Black Jack: The Movie, Jungle Emperor Leo, Astro Boy, Metropolis, and Buddha.
Anime has dense characters and stories that emphasise feelings and how they affect actions. Talking about animation, you'll see bright-coloured hair, different hairstyles, large oval eyes, and human bodies of the characters. Studio Ghibli, Toei Animation and Madhouse are some of the most known anime companies.
Japanese manga & anime reflect traditional Japanese values and culture. One popular trend in anime is the emotional connection between the characters. People, their friends and family inspire it. Besides, it reflects the societal norm and gives a better insight to an outsider. The anime characters are often loyal, hardworking, and full of respect, signifying how Japanese culture is.
Moreover, many series' character arcs and stories depict the characters having a strong belief in themselves when going through life's hard challenges. This proves anime is inspiring for all people.
How is Japanese Anime Different from Cartoons?
If you ever mistake anime for cartoons in front of an anime lover, be ready for a debate. Anime fans are loyal and do not take this comparison lightly. Here are some things to prove the difference between the two.
Unique Animation Style
Anime is made using hand-drawn animation techniques, also called 2D animation. The artist creates each animation frame by hand with pencil sketches, watercolour paintings, and digital tools.
When making this traditional approach, it's a challenging task to create one anime shot. Furthermore, Some artists may use 3D animation techniques with computer-generated graphics.
Apart from animation, voice acting, and character design are extremely important. One huge difference between anime and American animation is that voice acting is done after animation in the former. Another characteristic of anime is camera work that includes zooming in and out, angle shots, and dynamic camera work for more drama.
Genres
The list of genres is a treat for all anime lovers. It's full of action, ecchi, adventure, horror, comedy, drama, a slice of life, fantasy and sci-fi, to name a few. The action genre has a lot of battle scenes, while ecchi is more targeted at adult audiences. The comedy genre will put you in an easy mood and make you laugh at silly jokes and comical moments.
The adventure genre has characters travelling from one city to another city in search of work or study while learning new skills. There are several genres to try, so you can find the one you enjoy the most. Cartoons don't offer all these genres and have stories that aim towards children. Therefore, they are not complex.
Target Audience
Cartoons have an audience of kids and early teens. They do not have a serious theme, and the stories finish in one episode. Meanwhile, anime has a long plot line. Anime has a global audience, with language not being a barrier. Even if you can't speak the Japanese language, you may find dubbed anime on Netflix. Some also have subtitles in English or Spanish language.
Serious anime themes often attract mature audiences as the story is gripping and often deals with darker and more serious themes.
Diverse storytelling
Anime tells a well-woven story, and characters have multiple plotlines. The animation and the plot are immersive and captivating. The animation in these movies may take years to learn as it is very specific and made on different slides. You will have to watch the whole show or movie to understand it.
The same cannot be said about cartoons as they do not have many stories. It may just have a single story that can repeat in every episode. Cartoons for young kids are mostly repetitive for educational purposes. Hence do not offer a deep viewer experience for adults.
List of Best Japanese Anime
Some of the best Japanese Anime movies are set in Tokyo. One such popular film set in Tokyo is Akira. Anime fans also like the movies Tokyo Ghoul and Your Name. The story revolves around the character Shotaro Kaneda who is a motorcycle gang leader. Many watch it to witness the dystopian action set-up they love in anime. On the other hand, the Tokyo Ghoul series episodes story revolves around a school student Ken Kaneki accidentally dating a ghoul. This is just a slice of the storyline you may witness with interesting character arcs.
Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away is a treat to the eyes and brain. All the words and images hold so much value in each scene, with high-on-life characters directed to deliver an emotional story to the fans. It's about a girl on a quest to free her parents. You may watch it in the original language or choose to see it dubbed. The fantasy world in the movie will transport you into anime.
The credit of these original anime films, series, and episodes goes to the inspiration they take from the culture of Japan and family values that inspire young girls and boys. Whether you like the adventure or slice-of-life genre with some action, these movies will inspire you each time. Many young school kids have started to enjoy anime manga.
This year's upcoming anime films are Kaina of the Great Snow Sea and Digimon Adventure 02. When you watch the trailer video, you can tell from the trailer that the newly directed movie will be full of anime fantasy and the delightful culture of Japan.
Here's a list of the best Japanese anime to start new genres. You may find these on Netflix, Crunchyroll, Hulu, Tubi, and CONtv. While getting entertained, you may also stumble upon Anime Quotes that are inspiring and emotional.
Action Anime
- Fullmetal Alchemist
- Trigun
- Kill la Kill
- Gurren Lagann
- Darker than Black
Adventure Anime
- Kino's Journey
- Spice and Wolf
- One Piece
- Fairy Tail
Comedy Anime
- Daily Lives of High School Boys
- Nichijou
- Gintama
- The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
- The Devil Is a Part-Timer!
Drama
- Your Lie in April
- Kanon
- Clannad
- Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
- Little Busters!
Slice of Life Anime
- Barakamon
- Non Non Biyori
- Lucky Star
- Wagnaria!!
- Koufuku Graffiti
Fantasy Anime
- No Game, No Life
- Escaflowne
- Slayers
- Nanatsu no Taizai
- Inuyasha
Best Websites to Find Japanese Manga to Read
Here are some websites to read Japanese Anime and Manga. Moreover, they also have resources to watch Anime for free. You may have to sign up for an account.
Manga Kakalot
Manga Kakalot hosts a wide range of manga series, including both popular and lesser-known titles. With offerings spanning 40 different genres, readers can enjoy a diverse selection of manga.
Crunchyroll
Widely recognised for its anime streaming service, Crunchyroll also provides access to manga series. Alongside free manga content, users can opt for Crunchyroll Premium, a subscription service offering ad-free access to both anime and manga.
Naruto is one of the most popular and best manga series fans love. You may install Crunchyroll to stream Naruto anime and its other series Naruto Shippuden. While the first season is free to see on the app, you may love the story enough to subscribe to watch it.
Manga Reborn
Manga Reborn aims to introduce lesser-known manga series to a broader audience by providing translations from Japanese to English. The site offers free and paid series, allowing readers to support aspiring creators.
Manga Owl
Manga Owl boasts an extensive collection of manga encompassing over 100 genres, catering to various interests. The website features numerous romance manga series and a selection of adult-oriented content. Additionally, readers can actively engage with the community, create manga collections, and participate in discussions.
Readm.org
With its clean and organized interface, Readm.org presents a curated list of the best and most popular manga series. Users can easily navigate different genres, accessing high-quality scans for enjoyable reading.
Kiss Manga
As one of the sources for free digital manga, Kiss Manga offers a vast collection of content. Users can search for specific manga titles and explore popular series others are reading. Each manga series page provides information about the series, while the high-quality scans and the ability to read each chapter on a single page enhance the reading experience.
Comic Walker
A prominent manga site in Japan, Comic Walker, can be accessed in English, providing easy access for readers worldwide. While some manga series are available entirely for free, others can be purchased to support them.
Book Walker
Book Walker, a sister site of Comic Walker, primarily focuses on providing manga for purchase. However, it also offers a selection of free titles in ebook form. The site frequently updates its free manga offerings, allowing readers to discover new content.
These websites offer several manga series, ensuring that manga enthusiasts can indulge their passion and discover new titles. Whether you're seeking popular releases or hidden gems, these platforms provide various options to cater to different tastes and preferences.
Comic Con In India
Comic-Con in India is a popular annual event that celebrates comic books, pop culture, and all things geeky. It typically features comic book artists, writers, cosplay, merchandise, and various panels and discussions related to comics, movies, TV shows, and video games.
Comic-Con events in India are organized by Comic Con India, a subsidiary of ReedPOP.
Most Popular Anime Series In India (2000-2023)
Here are some of the most popular anime series in India from 2000 to 2023:
Dragon Ball Z (2000s)
Naruto (2000s-2010s)
Death Note (2000s-2010s)
Bleach (2000s-2010s)
Attack on Titan (2010s-2023)
One Piece (2010s-2023)
Sword Art Online (2010s-2023)
My Hero Academia (2010s-2023)
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (2010s-2023)
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2010s)
Japanese anime connect the art of animation with immaculate story-telling, these attributes have made it extremely famous in India among teenagers.
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