Anime has a history of more than half a ceury. The medium, popularized worldwide by the likes of Dragon Ball Z and Naruto, became an established part of eertainme culture by the 2010s. Looking at the great works of the anime world, you can see that most of them have one thing in common; These titles are usually adapted from popular manga or light novels. From ‘Naruto’ to more rece titles like ‘Demon Slayer’, these anime have been ehralling fans with their manga for years before making their way to television, online platforms and now cinemas. However, not all anime are based on manga. This gives the director and writers in the anime studios all the freedom to act; From the original story to the art style and paiing. Some of the best writers and directors in the industry, such as Gen Urobuchi and Shinichiro Watanabe, have become anime legends today due to their involveme in the production of original anime.
Some of the best anime in history, which you have probably seen a few of them, are based on original ideas and not manga, and we wa to go to these titles in the following. Since these anime are not based on existing manga, they have one big advaage: you don’t need to know their story beforehand and you can jump io them right away.
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The best original animes; From “Goren Lagann” to “Code Geass”
10. Puella Magi Madoka Magica
- Release year: 2011
- Director: Akiyuki Shinbo, Yukihiro Miyamoto
- Users score IMDb To the anime: 8.2 out of 10
- Rating of Crunchyroll website to anime: 4.7 out of 5
Madoka Magica captivated anime fans around the world with its cartoonish drawing style and lovable, seemingly harmless characters. Everything from the appearance of this anime shows that we are dealing with a magical girl anime; Therefore, at the time of release, everyone was expecting another “Sailor Moon”. But the third episode of the anime arrived and the whole story of “Madoka Magica” turned io a dark and emotional adveure that viewers couldn’t get enough of.
This original anime is one of the acclaimed anime of 2011, which is not based on any manga; Rather, it was written by Gen Urobuchi, who is known for his dark and thought-provoking stories in the anime world. The sequel of this anime was released under the title “Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Rebellion”.
9. Death Parade
- Release year: 2015
- Director: Yuzuru Tachikawa
- Users score IMDb To the anime: 7.8 out of 10
- Rating of Crunchyroll website to anime: 4.7 out of 5
This anime short focuses on a pub in the afterlife called Quindecim, where the dead are paired up to compete in death games under the supervision of the bartender, Decim. It is Decim who judges whether their souls are worthy of reincarnation or whether they should be se to the void. Each game is a psychological test that forces participas to unleash their darkest instincts as their memories return.
This anime has a noir feel and simultaneously narrates a deep story with a philosophical foundation. Which souls are really worth saving? The real brilliance of anime is in this psychological aspect; Because during the anime, Desim gradually realizes the hidden meaning in life and the true nature of humanity.
With 12 episodes released in 2015, “Death Show” showed that it is possible to tell an original, ieresting and deep story in such a short period of time, which other anime cannot manage in several seasons.
8. Kill La Kill
- Release year: 2013 to 2014
- Director: Hiroyuki Imaishi
- Users score IMDb To the anime: 7.8 out of 10
- Rating of Crunchyroll website to anime: 4.7 out of 5
“Kill La Kill” is the first anime of Trigger Studio, which has been able to quickly establish its name among the best anime studios. The story of “Kill La Kill” revolves around a school stude named Ryuko Matoi and her adveure in search of her father’s killer. He eers Hononji Academy for this purpose. In this school, people’s social status is directly related to their uniforms; Because these uniforms give superhuman powers to their owners. Ryoko’s only chance against the stude council is to wear the smart sailor suit, Senketsu.
“Kill La Kill” is full of danger and non-stop action scenes in the style of most Trigger Studio anime. It can be compared to a hack and slash video game: lively, fast and flashy. But underneath these exaggerated battles, there is a lot of humor and messages of rebellion against power structures. This short anime was written by Kazuki Nakashima. Although this anime is not based on a manga, Ryu Akizuki adapted the anime “Kill La Kill” and brought its manga to Young Ace magazine, which was published uil 2015 and ended with three volumes.
7. Gurren Lagann
- Release year: 2007
- Director: Hiroyuki Imaishi
- Users score IMDb To the anime: 8.3 out of 10
- Rating of Crunchyroll website to anime: 4.8 out of 5
Another anime directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi, who is best known for his anime at Trigger Studio, such as Kill La Kill, Promare, and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. However, he directed one of the best mecha animes in the history of the anime industry at Gainax studio.
The story of “Goren Lagann” takes place in the future where humanity is forced to live underground under the tyrannical rule of the Spiral King. The protagonists are Simon, a timid digger, and Kamina, a charismatic and determined assassin, who accideally find a small and powerful mechanical robot. This robot gives them the necessary tools to come to earth to fight for the freedom of humanity.
Goren Lagann is a unique example of an inspiring sci-fi epic whose superb animation, engaging story, and lovable characters make it a must-see. This anime is not based on the manga either, which proves that the best animes don’t always need an adaptation source.
6. Samurai Champloo
- Release year: 2004 to 2005
- Director: Shinichiro Watanabe
- Users score IMDb To the anime: 8.5 out of 10
- Rating of Crunchyroll website to anime: 4.9 out of 5
If you are one of the old anime players, it is possible that you have not heard the name of Shinichiro Watanabe. In the world of anime, this director is best known for his original anime, such as “Cowboy Bebop”, “Space Dandy” and his latest creation, “Lazarus”. One of his older anime is “Samurai Champloo”. If “Cowboy Bebop” iroduces us to the taste of blues and folk in space, “Samurai Champloo” takes urban hip-hop to feudal Japan.
This anime is just as eertaining, if not more, than Watanabe’s more famous work. In Watanabe’s own way, “Samurai Champloo” tells a story with music that you definitely won’t find in the manga world. Of course, the success of the anime was so great that after the start of broadcasting, a manga was also written based on it; Although the manga is very differe from the original anime.
5. Psycho-Pass
- Release year: 2012 to 2019
- Director: Naoyoshi Shiotani, Katsuyuki Motohiro
- Users score IMDb To the anime: 8.1 out of 10
- Rating of Crunchyroll website to anime: 4.7 out of 5
“Psycho-Posse” is one of the best original anime, again written by Gen Urobuchi. This anime does not shy away from exploring the dangers of artificial ielligence and technology and offers a critique of a society where humanity has become depende on technological advanceme. In the world of this anime, a person’s whole life is predetermined based on his state of mind. The main character, Akane Tsunemori, who has an exceptional meal state, slowly realizes that the Sibyl System is not as perfect as it pretends to be.
New technologies, no matter how advanced or seemingly flawless, are not immune to error. From the very opening episode, “Psycho-Posse” shows how dangerous it can be to reduce the human eleme to zero and one; Like where a victim, whose psyche has been severely strained, is mistakenly labeled as a criminal. The consequences of deviating from what AI processes as the norm are immediately appare, even when no one can stop it. The more Akane learns about Sybil’s flaws, the more the audience realizes how flawed the order that artificial ielligence sets for humans can be.
4. Serial Experimes Lain
- Release year: 1998
- Director: Ryotaro Nakamura
- Users score IMDb To the anime: 8 out of 10
- Rating of Crunchyroll website to anime: 4.7 out of 5
“Lin Serial Experiences” is an ava-garde and cyberpunk anime from Triangle Staff Studio. This anime has a dark story that follows the story of Lin Iwakura, after the suicide of his classmate. The strange thing is that he recely received an email from the same classmate who claims to be alive and well in a virtual world called “The Wired”.
The acclaimed anime “Lin’s Serial Experience” by Chiaki J. It is written that Konaka pushed the boundaries of storytelling in an otherworldly and technological world with this anime. Like other animes in this list, “Lin’s Serial Experiences” has an original story and is not adapted from the manga; However, the story of the anime, perhaps better than any light novel or manga, penetrates deep themes such as ideity and heavier themes such as suicide.
3. Code Geass
- Release year: 2006 to 2008
- Director: Guru Taniguchi
- Users score IMDb To the anime: 8.7 out of 10
- Rating of Crunchyroll website to anime: 4.9 out of 5
2000s art style, punk rock energy, a dark story with high school heroes and gia robots facing each other in epic battles, we can say that the concept of anime reaches its peak in “Code Geass”. Some of the best and brightest minds in the anime industry have worked on this series, which, unlike most anime of its ilk, stems from a completely original idea, not a manga or light novel.
The story of “Code Geass” takes place in a world conquered by the Holy British Empire, and the exiled prince of Britain Lelouch VI, Geas, gains the power of kings. Geass allows Lelouch to corol anyone he was with no strings attached. Adopting a secret ideity (Zero), he leads a complex and risky rebellion against his father’s empire.
“Code Geass” became very popular at the time of its release. The popularity of the anime was such that they quickly made manga adaptations based on it; Especially the four manga that take Lelouch’s story to differe timelines; Like the adaptation in which Lelouch is the commander of the Shogunate’s military brigade, the Shinsengumi.
If you are looking for a completely original anime that combines political irigue, philosophy and action with gia mechas and of course don’t run away from coroversial endings, don’t miss “Code Geass”. Maybe later you will be ierested to visit its manga.
2. Neon Genesis Evangelion
- Release year: 1995 to 1996
- Director: Hideaki Anu
- Users score IMDb To the anime: 8.5 out of 10
- Rating of Crunchyroll website to anime: – from 5
It may be hard to believe how one of the best anime ever was not adapted from any manga. This post-apocalyptic anime follows the young (and meally fragile) Shinji Ikari, whose father gives him command of a gia mecha biomachine called Ongleon to battle monstrous creatures (angels). In this world, humanity’s last defense against these alien creatures are teenagers whose psyches are deteriorating more with each battle.
Hideaki Anno’s masterpiece created a revolution in the mecca genre by examining issues such as meal health and its philosophical burden; Therefore, “Neon Genesis Evangelion” remains one of the most admired anime of all time. Although the original series has only 26 episodes, this anime coinues to attract new viewers and fans since 1995. It also validates the fact that an amazing story can be told in the medium of anime without relying on manga or light novels. Since the initial release of “Neon Genesis Evangelion”, there have been adaptations in the world of manga and even video games based on this anime.
1. Cowboy Bebop
- Release year: 1998 to 1999
- Director: Shinichiro Watanabe
- Users score IMDb To the anime: 8.9 out of 10
- Rating of Crunchyroll website to anime: 4.9 out of 5
“Cowboy Bebop” is Shinichiro Watanabe’s most famous work, an outstanding anime and a unique masterpiece that combines elemes of Western, Noir and space opera; Elemes complemeed by an amazing jazz soundtrack. Each episode follows a standalone story featuring iconic anime characters Spike Spiegel, Jet Black, Fay Valeine, Edward, and Ain. They are the legendary crew of the spaceship “Bebop” that travels across the solar system in the year 2071, chasing down criminals and collecting bouy money. Each of these heroes has a story for themselves; Especially Spike, a cool, unhinged bouy huer haued by a horrific past.
“Cowboy Bebop” is one of the best animes of all time, which Watanabe created the completely original story and characters in collaboration with his regular colleague Kiko Nobomoto. Nobutomo is the writer of “Tokyo Godfathers” who collaborated with Watanabe on the anime “Samurai Champloo”, “Space Dandy” and “Lazarus”. While Cowboy Bebop has a character-driven narrative and a fairly consiste formula that follows a differe villain each week, Watanabe still adds a magical twist that keeps each episode unpredictable and exciting.
With a story of quirky characters, a richly detailed world, eye-catching action with a great soundtrack, Cowboy Bebop deserves to be at the top of the best original anime.
Source: The Gamer
