Since its launch in 2005, A-1 Pictures has produced a number of anime series loved by viewers. The studio, which is a subsidiary of Aniplex and Sony Music Enitertainment Japan, first produced family-oriented shows for Aniplex, before expanding into a wider range of shows many of which are notable in the world of anime.
This piece will feature the top ten anime by A-1 Pictures. From fantasy epics to psychological thrillers, these shows showcase the studio's versatility and skill at producing high-quality anime, making them a must-watch for any anime fan. With a wide variety of genres and themes, they are sure to appeal to a broad range of viewers.
10 Black Butler
Originally written and illustrated by Yana Toboso, Black Butler tells the story of Ciel Phantomhive, a twelve-year-old Earl in Victorian-era London known as "the Queen's Guard Dog." His job is to solve crimes in London's underbelly, and Sebastian Michaelis, his devoted butler, assists him. However, Sebastian is a demon whose soul is tethered to Ciel's.
Because of his traumatic history, Ciel is consumed by darkness. He forms a contract with Sebastian, exchanging his soul for vengeance on those who contributed to his traumatic past. As Ciel and Sebastian work together to resolve Ciel's dark past, they form a remarkable bond too strong to be broken.
9 Magi: Labyrinth of Magic
Magi: Labyrinth of Magic is a story filled with adventure and interesting experiences. It is based on the concept of mysterious ruins, or "dungeons," that conceal priceless treasures. A Magi is a skilled magician with a tremendous affinity for magic. A Magi selects a candidate to become a king, aids them in conquering the dungeons, and grants them access to the power of the legendary djinns within.
The story follows a young Magi called Aladdin. Accompanied by his mentor Ugo, and his friend Alibaba Saluja, Aladdin travels the world looking for his true self. Together, their expedition around the world is one full of adventure and several odd occurrences.
8 Seven Deadly Sins
Based on the popular manga of the same title and set in a fantasy world resembling the European Middle Ages, The Seven Deadly Sins follows the third princess of Liones, Elizabeth, as she searches for help to reclaim her kingdom and bring justice in an unjust world.
The Seven Deadly Sins were a subgroup of The Holy Knights, protectors of Britannia, who were allegedly defeated for attempting to overthrow the ruler of Liones. A decade later, the protectors of Britannia have now become tyrannical rulers, and finding the Seven Deadly Sins is Elizabeth’s only chance to save her kingdom.
7 Silver Spoon
Tired of feeling inadequate, Yugo Hachiken enrols in Ooezo Agricultural High School to escape the pressure from his father’s expectations. However, what he finds is a far cry from what he expected and he soon has to adapt to the harder lifestyle of early morning wake-up calls and hard labour.
Silver Spoon gives a comedic presentation of Hachiken's struggle to fit into his new environment and to live his life according to his own terms. During this experience, Hachiken encounters fascinating people and gains insightful knowledge about life.
6 86
86 is based on the light novel series of the same name written by Asato Asato. The series is set in the Republic of San Magnolia, where "Juggernauts," or autonomous drones, are used to fight the ongoing war with the Giadian Empire. However, these drones are actually piloted by a group of individuals known as the Eighty-sixers, who are dehumanized and treated as mere tools.
The story follows Shin, the captain of Spearhead Squadron, as he engages in a fruitless war on the battlefield, with only death at his side. Despite the prejudice and cruel treatment, Shin continues to fight, determined to achieve his mysterious ends.
5 Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day is a series that tells the story of childhood friends who have grown apart after the death of their friend, Meiko "Menma" Honma. The leader of the group, Jinta Yadomi, lives as a recluse, spending his days on video games instead of attending school. One hot summer day, Menma appears before Jinta as a ghost and pesters him to fulfil an old wish.
In an effort to settle Menma's ghost, Jinta and his childhood friends reunite. Together, they attempt to assist Menma and each other in moving on. As the friends revisit their suffering and guilt in the past and the present, they try to heal from the past and strengthen their friendship.
4 Space Brothers
In Space Brothers, Mutta Nanba and Hibito, two brothers with a passion for space, deal with the repercussions of unfulfilled dreams and promises. 19 years before, both brothers vowed to become astronauts after witnessing a supposed UFO. But, as adults, life is different than they imagined it, with Mutta working in an automotive company while Hibito continues towards his vow.
This show, adapted from Chūya Koyama’s original manga series, follows Mutta as he attempts to reclaim lost time and realign himself towards achieving his childhood dream of becoming an astronaut.
3 Erased
Erased is the story of Satoru Fujinuma, a 29-year-old manga artist living in Chiba. Satoru has the power to go back to the moment before a life-threatening incident to prevent it from happening. This power is called “Revival".
When Satoru’s mother is killed by an unknown attacker, his power takes him back by eighteen years. With this time jump, he has the chance to save his mother and also prevent an incident that led to the death of three of his childhood friends. Satoru begins a quest to discover what happened 18 years ago and keep his classmates from dying.
2 Love Is War
Kaguya-sama: Love Is War is based on the manga series of the same title, written by Aka Akasaka. It follows the story of Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya, two students of Shuchiin Academy. They are both highly respected students, excelling in all of their school activities.
But between them lies the undivulged secret of romantic affection. They are both hesitant to confess the feelings they have for the other for fear of being the weaker one. To both Miyuki and Kaguya, love is a battlefield, and neither of them wishes to be on the losing side.
1 Your Lie In April
Your Lie in April, a romantic series written by Naoshi Arakawa and adapted by A-1 Pictures, is both beautiful and heart-wrenching. The show follows Kousei Arima, who is called the "Human Metronome" because he plays the piano with precision and perfection. Kousei is the best at what he does because of his mother’s strict guidance. But when his mother dies suddenly, Kousei stops playing because he loses the ability to hear sound from the piano.
Due to his grief and trauma, Kousei lives an unexciting life as a student. Then he meets Kaori Miyazono, an eccentric violinist who makes his life more exciting. Your Lie in April tells the story of their relationship in the flux of life and with the beauty of music.