With the anime industry growing in massive popularity across the globe, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it’s already one of the mainstream media forms now. While Crunchyroll is the official hub of anime series and films, the streaming giant Netflix finds all kinds of unique films and series for global fans to enjoy. It’s a completely different world of anime beyond the realm of famous Shonen Jump series, as each original anime offers something unique not only in terms of story and setting but also in animation. Although anime is widely associated with Japanese animation, studios from all over are also tapping into the world of anime, including Korea, China, Thailand, etc.
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Unfortunately, although these originals showcase the diversity and artistic range of modern anime, they often get overlooked due to poor marketing and not enough hype. Not to mention that most anime fans go for the catchiest shows based on manga or novels that already have a considerable fan base. As such, it’s often easy to overlook these original shows that they know nothing about. However, these 10 series deserve to be on the watchlist of every anime enthusiast.
10) Moonrise
WIT Studio’s original sci-fi series, written by Tou Ubukata, best known for Psycho-Pass, took six years to release. The story takes place in a not-so-distant future, where humanity has found a way to live peaceful lives by obeying the international AI network that manages the government. The network’s lunar development project sends criminals and pollutants to the Moon, creating disparity among the people.
The difference in living conditions incites the people on the Moon to wage war, as Jacob Shadow gets entangled in the conflict after a devastating terrorist attack. Heartbroken after losing everything he held dear, he joins the army to fight the Moonโs rebels, only to come face-to-face with a figure from his past he never imagined heโd encounter again
9) Sirius the Jaeger
Released in 2018, the anime leaves off on a cliffhanger, only to leave viewers hanging for a second season. However, Sirius the Jaeger is still worth a watch, considering the incredible build-up and characters introduced so far. The story is set in 1930s Japan, following a young werewolf (Sirius) named Yuliy. He’s a member of a vampire-hunting group called the Jaegers, as their latest mission brings them to Japan to stop a group of vampires who have been causing chaos in the shadows.
The vampires’ true goal is to find the powerful ancient relic known as the โArk of Sirius,โ said to grant immense power to the one who holds it. Yuliy lost everything in his life because of the vampires’ thirst for power and swore to extinguish every last one of them. However, as his hunt continues, he begins to uncover the dark truth about his past and the true nature of the legendary relic.
8) Vampire in the Garden
Stories centering around vampires have endless possibilities, making each of them stand out from the others. Vampire in the Garden is one of WIT Studio’s lesser-known works, set in a world where the remaining humanity that survived the brutal war against the vampires lives in constant fear. They reside in a city surrounded by a wall of light to keep away their enemies and have even banned singing and music because of the vampires’ sensitive hearing.
The story follows Momo, a young soldier, who gets entangled with Fiine, the vampire queen, who has a different outlook on the war than her subjects. The duo forms a special bond over their shared love for music as they desperately hope for both sides to coexist, even in a world ravaged by war.
7) B: The Beginning
This psychological thriller is set in a technologically advanced archipelagic nation of Cermona, swept by crime and violence. Amid the chaos, a vigilante known as “Killer B” has taken it upon himself to eradicate the criminals before leaving a “B” signature at the crime scene. Since no one is able to apprehend the vigilante, the Royal Investigation Service (RIS) assigns Keith Flick, a legendary investigator, to the mission.
As the investigation continues, Koku, a mysterious boy, also gets entangled in the chaos. Bit by bit, the story continues to unravel the dark side of the advanced world, including secret organizations, terrorism, and human experiments.
6) My Daemon
The heart-wrenching show, produced by a Thailand-based studio, is set in a near future where a nuclear explosion caused the planet to collide with Hell. As humanity lives in fear after the apocalyptic event, an elementary student, Kento, comes across a tiny daemon with mysterious powers, and names her Anna. Daemons are creatures created by daemonium particles, so their unusual appearance, origins, and powers naturally cause aversion among humans.
Kento struggles to keep Anna safe until an unfortunate incident takes his mother’s life. Unwilling to let things end like this, Kento sets out on a journey with Anna to find the Daemon in Kyushu that has the ability to rewind time. However, the path to bringing his mother back to life is a rocky one, and it’s more than an elementary school kid can handle.
5) Drifting Home
This original coming-of-age film follows eleven-year-olds Kosuke Kumagaya and Natsume Tonai, who grew up like siblings and have been inseparable since childhood. However, they drifted apart after the death of Kosuke’s grandfather, who played a big role in their lives. During summer break, Kosuke and his classmates sneak inside his old housing complex that’s been scheduled for demolition.
However, Kosuke also sees Natsume there, and the two soon get into a heated argument before they realize that the entire apartment complex lifts off and drifts into a vast, mysterious ocean. Stranded and scared with no way out, the kids must put their differences aside and find a way to return home.
4) Carole & Tuesday
Carole & Tuesday follows the story of two aspiring musicians, and it remains one of Shinichirล Watanabe’s most underappreciated works, even more than five years since its debut. The story is set in a futuristic world, 50 years after humanity moved to Mars, where AI has dominated every field, even the music industry. Tuesday, the daughter of a powerful politician, runs away from home in hopes of pursuing her dream of making music.
By a stroke of luck, she comes across Carole, an orphaned refugee from Earth, who shares the same passion as her. The girls hit it off immediately and began working together, struggling to make it big in the industry. The series tackles more than their musical struggles, as it highlights social issues like immigration, oppression, and the disparity among people living on different planets.
3) Blue Eye Samurai
Animated and co-produced by a French studio, Blue Eye Samurai follows the epic tale of Mizu, a female warrior who has chosen to walk the brutal path of revenge. The story is set in the year 1663, when Japan had closed off all borders, unwilling to accept anyone who wasn’t from their country. In such trying times, a person of mixed race was treated as less than human, and that includes the brave protagonist.
She’s on a quest to track down four white men, including her father, who have remained illegally in the country after the borders were closed. They not only subjected her to a cruel life, where she had no choice but to pick up a sword, but also got involved in several illegal activities, including human trafficking.
2) Lost in Starlight
Lost in Starlight is the first globally released Korean animated film, and perhaps the most visually stunning one as well. Set in the year 2050, the film blends retro and futuristic elements to create a unique visual aesthetic, and itโs all enhanced by the soothing soundtrack. The story focuses on Nan-young, an astronaut who dreams of leading the next Mars Expedition Project, but is told to be on standby after failing the psych test.
Her superior worries that her mother’s tragic death on a similar mission would hinder her performance and asks her to take a break in Seoul for some time. She runs into Jay, a musician who abandoned his dream years ago and is now repairing vintage audio equipment. The two encourage each other and embrace their dreams while also dealing with their growing feelings, even though they may have to part soon.
1) Big Fish & Begonia
This gorgeous anime film is one of the best works in the history of Chinese animation. Set in a mystical realm beneath the human world, the story follows a young girl named Chun, who is about to undergo her coming-of-age ritual where she has to transform into a red dolphin on the day she turns sixteen and enters the human seas for seven days. The most crucial rule about the ritual is that she is forbidden to interact with humans.
However, when she’s caught in a fishing net and rescued by a human boy who drowns while trying to save her, Chun feels guilty and indebted to him. She returns to her world, determined to restore his soul no matter what price she has to pay for it.
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Image courtesy of Focus Features.
