In the modern day, there are so many anime franchises to choose from that it is hard to decide what to watch, even for veterans. Time being of the essence, the likes of Naruto, Bleach, or One Piece may be prohibitively long to start watching from the beginning in between two shifts or two classes. Yet, it can be surprising to find that an anime does not need long narratives or full-length episodes to be an enjoyable experience.
With studios releasing more adaptations than ever before, they prioritized shorter-form seasonal anime in batches of thirteen to twenty-six episodes, with some having fewer episodes than thirteen. Other franchises instead opt to have shorter episodes than the usual twenty-four minutes. Not every release is great, but greatness comes in all shapes and sizes.
Updated by Alexandra Locke on April 13, 2023: Some of the best stories come from the shortest anime. These anime manage to fit a lot of great storytelling and character development into a single season. Short anime can be found across all genres, but these are among the best short anime of all time.
15 Hetalia: Axis Powers
52 Episodes, 5 Minutes
Hetalia: Axis Powers takes place during the Second World War and features anthropomorphic representations of countries. Hetalia does an amazing job of packing in countless historical references and jokes, even subtle ones, within only five-minute-long episodes.
Hetalia: Axis Powers’ main strength comes from the interactions between the characters reflecting real international relations of the time with wit and accuracy. To gloss over the heavy topics of war and conflict, Hetalia takes a humorous approach with puns and gags about geopolitics that make for an entertaining watch.
14 Death Parade
12 Episodes
Death Parade is an eerie tale of what lies beyond the mortal coil. A mysterious emotionless being named Decim runs the Quindecim bar, where people who died simultaneously go to seal their fates. Decim has always been absolute in his decisions until an enigmatic, unnamed human woman becomes his partner.
Death Parade is an unsettling tale that takes a hard look at humanity. Decim is continually challenged to scrutinize his charges more scrupulously, while also watching over the new hire. This show can be incredibly dark at times, which makes it perfect for horror fans. However, it also has a softer, more compassionate side that is sure to tug on viewers’ heartstrings.
13 Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun
18 Episodes
Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun is a hilariously underrated anime about an oblivious mangaka and his smitten classmate. The show is a fun look into all the work that goes into a single manga chapter, while also including numerous high school hijinks.
This anime may be short, but it is also one of the most entertaining romantic shows. The lovable cast of characters and the catchy opening song add to the brilliance of this short story. Though there is not the most satisfying conclusion, it is still a great watch for fans of romantic comedies.
12 Hyouka
23 Episodes
Hyouka is a school mystery anime about a reluctant, apathetic boy named Hotarou Oreki. He is sucked into helping the Literature Club solve a mysterious disappearance by the bubbly Eru Chitanda. Together, they solve the mysteries of Kamiyama High.
Hyouka is only one season long, but the mysteries and the romantic undercurrent give this slice-of-life a different take on the genre. Oreki’s attitude toward life also makes the payoff of his relationship with Chitanda all the more heartwarming. This quiet show is great for anyone looking for a slower-paced, beautiful anime.
11 Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
11 Episodes
In only eleven episodes, Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day tells a deep story about overcoming loss. After a group of friends drifts apart, one of them, Menma, dies in an accident. Years later, the group’s former leader, Jintan, starts seeing an older version of Menma. She has returned as a ghost to have one last wish fulfilled before she leaves for the afterlife.
Relative to its contemporaries, Anohana is fluidly paced and well executed. The series does deliver in terms of tugging at the heartstrings of its viewers, but it may be somewhat lacking compared to similar modern anime. Nevertheless, the Anohana anime is one of the greats.
10 Aggressive Retsuko
100 Episodes, 1 Minute
Aggressive Retsuko follows the 25-year-old red panda, Retsuko, through her daily routine working as an accountant in a Japanese trading firm. The story of her life is told through one-minute skits that combine comedy and commentary about working in Japan. Incredibly, the shorts prove that excellent Japanese animated content can be achieved in a small amount of time.
Anime often addresses Japan’s workaholic culture. It is hard to find a reincarnated main character from an isekai who has not died from working too much. As such, Aggressive Retsuko excels at getting its message across in a very short format with a touch of slapstick humor. Plus, fans who love the shorts, can get more content from the Netflix original anime, Aggretsuko.
9 Erased
13 Episodes
Erased follows Satoru Fujinuma as tries to solve the mystery of not only his mother’s death but the murders of three of his elementary school classmates. With his involuntary time travel ability, Satoru is sent back to his fifth-grade self to save the first victim, Kayo Hinazuki, and hopefully prevent the other killings as well.
Erased is an intense story that sticks with audiences long after its end. It is unfortunately only twelve episodes long, but it manages to provide a gripping mystery that entices audiences from the on-set.
8 Yuri!!! On Ice
12 Episodes
Figure skating’s appeal turned these twelve episodes into an international sensation. Yuri!!! On Ice is an inspiring sports drama that follows Japanese figure skater Yuri Katsuki as he strives to become a champion with the help of his Russian coach, Victor Nikiforov.
The dynamic between the two main characters is the main element that drives the narrative. Victor is more than just a coach, as he helps Yuri with raising his self-esteem and growing as a person in general. The sports anime boasts realistic and beautiful choreography that breaks the mold of the more flamboyant action-oriented series, like Prince of Tennis.
7 Gunbuster
6 Episodes
Gunbuster follows military cadet Nono as she tries to become a space pilot during an alien invasion. To achieve her dream of piloting the mighty Gunbuster, she will have to make sacrifices. This classic Gainax anime has a solid mix of dramatic storytelling and lighter moments between the cast of characters.
Gunbuster brilliantly combines an ’80s aesthetic with war stories through space and time. Though only six episodes long, Gunbuster stands out as Hideaki Anno’s directorial debut. Many themes and motifs found in Neon Genesis Evangelion have visible roots in Gunbuster, such as an interesting but flawed female lead and brutal mecha warfare.
6 FLCL
6 Episodes
Over only six episodes, FLCL follows Naota as he navigates the strange world of adulthood with his Vespa-riding alien partner Haruko through both laughter and tears. FLCL is another Studio Gainax masterpiece that presents itself as a surreal action-packed comedy but tells a relatable and mature coming-of-age tale underneath.
FLCL had very few episodes in its first season but remains one of the most memorable anime to this day for its peculiar visuals and bizarre atmosphere. New seasons were produced after almost eighteen years of dormancy to great fanfare. The director behind FLCL, Kazuya Tsurumaki, also happens to be Hideaki Anno’s protégé.
5 No Game No Life
12 Episodes
No Game No Life follows siblings Sora and Shiro who have become bored by how easy life is in the real world. As such, the God of games, Tet, decides to bring them to Disboard, a world where violence is prohibited and disputes are settled through games. Using their talents, Sora and Shiro embark on a journey to conquer this new world through the power of gaming.
When No Game No Life started airing, it rode the isekai wave started by Sword Art Online. Yet, this set of twelve episodes distinguishes itself with its unique take on the genre. Isekai generally involve combat, but since Tet banned violence from Disboard, the siblings have to progress with the power of their minds instead of the force of arms.
4 High School Of The Dead
12 Episodes
When a zombie infestation starts spreading, a group of high school students and teachers try to find safety in High School of the Dead’s post-apocalyptic world. Childhood friends Takashi and Rei team up with several other survivors to fight against the horde of undead as the world falls into chaos.
High School of the Dead is mostly known for its risqué physics-defying moments, but it still finds time for character development and tells a compelling story. Unfortunately, this is twelve episodes that will never have a sequel after the manga’s author passed away in 2013.
3 My Wife Is The Student Council President
24 Episodes, 8 Minutes
Through snappy, eight-minute-long episodes, My Wife is the Student Council President follows high school student Hayato. Hayato is unwittingly betrothed to the new student council president, Ui, who won her election against him by pandering to her voters with promises of liberating love.
It is easy to dismiss anime with an erotic premise and lewd subtext, but My Wife is the Student Council President subverts the genre. Hayato and Ui’s relationship is not only wholesome but also realistic as they both learn from each other and mature as characters together.
2 Horimiya
13 Episodes
Horimiya is a tale of two opposites falling in love. Kyouko Hori is a popular, stellar student who people depend on, while Izumi Miyamura is a shy loner. Yet, when the two meet outside of school, they realize that they have more in common than they realized.
This one-season anime is a heartfelt, beautiful tale that actually has a romantic payoff (unlike many anime of its kind). Hori and Miyamura’s relationship is honest and relatable. Both characters treat each other with respect, making this show one of the best romantic anime despite its brief run.
1 Puella Magi Madoka Magica
12 Episodes
The first of twelve Puella Magi Madoka Magica episodes starts like any other magical girl series. A mascot-like character resembling a cute stuffed animal offers Madoka and her friend Sayaka the chance to become magical girls. Unfortunately, Madoka realizes that with great power comes great responsibility, and the Faustian bargain she made will only bring despair.
Madoka Magica can easily fool viewers based on first impressions. With a cutesy aesthetic that is reminiscent of previous magical girl anime like Sailor Moon or Precure!, it is hard to imagine the horrors to come. Madoka Magica’s dark magical girl story single-handedly ushered in a new era for the genre.