P.A. Works may not be as much of a household name in the anime community as studios like Kyoto Animation or Madhouse. However, they’re still responsible for making and producing some of the last two decades’ most famous and critically acclaimed anime series. Founded by former Production I.G. employee, Kenji Horikawa, P.A. Works kicked off their journey with the slice-of-life series True Tears, and would soon branch out into producing animated theatrical films and video game sequences.
Like Kyoto Animation’s works, P.A. Works’ anime are typically emotional, tugging at the heartstrings. However, they are diverse, also producing horror shows like Another and dark, psychological affairs like Charlotte.
15 Canaan
MyAnimeList Score: 7.21
- Release Date: July 4, 2009
- Creator: Masahiro Ando (director); Mari Okada (writer)
- No. of Episodes: 13
- Genre(s): Action, Thriller, Supernatural
Set in Shanghai, China, Canaan follows a skilled mercenary with Synesthesia named Canaan. Along with her photographer friend Maria Osawa, Canaan encounters and fights against various factions in a terrorist plot orchestrated by her arch-nemesis, a ruthless terrorist leader named Alphard Alshua.
Canaan was recognized at the 13th Japan Media Arts Festival Awards and has been praised for its character development, action sequences, music, and fluid animation. It has received a manga and two light novel adaptations.
14 True Tears
MyAnimeList Score: 7.28
- Release Date: January 6, 2008
- Creator: Junji Nishimura (director); Mari Okada (writer)
- No. of Episodes: 13
- Genre(s): Drama, Romance, Slice of Life
True Tears is a slice-of-life series centering around a high school student named Shinichirou Nakagami. The plot unfolds as Shinichirou explores his growing bonds with Hiromi, a girl who began living with his family after her father’s death, and Noe, a quirky classmate with a strange liking for chickens.
True Tears has a touching and realistic portrayal of teen romance and was the first anime produced by P.A. Works. While it shares its title with a visual novel released in 2006, the anime tells a completely original story, sharing none of the plots and characters from the novel.
13 Another
MyAnimeList Score: 7.47
Adapted from Yukito Ayatsuji’s novel of the same name, Another follows a boy named Kouichi Sakakibara who transfers to a new school. He befriends a mysterious girl named Mei Misaki in Class 9-3, who seems invisible to the other students. Kouichi soon learns about a curse that has plagued the class for years, which has led to the gruesome deaths of numerous students.
Another is often included in Best Horror Anime lists and has had an undoubtedly huge impact on the larger anime fandom, with Mei Misaki, in particular, being an extremely popular character to cosplay.
12 The Aquatope On White Sand
MyAnimeList Score: 7.51
- Release Date: July 9, 2021
- Creator: Toshiya Shinohara (director); Yūko Kakihara (writer)
- No. of Episodes: 24
- Genre(s): Slice of Life, Drama
The Aquatope on White Sand revolves around a struggling aquarium named Gama Gama Aquarium in Okinawa, Japan. Fuuka Miyazawa, a former idol who has recently moved to Okinawa, finds herself drawn to the aquarium and begs one of the workers, Kukuru Misakino, to let her work there. And thus begins the duo’s journey to save the aquarium from closure.
Along with its themes of environmentalism and seeking a purpose in life, the series has also been praised for its beautiful underwater animation, and more than one critic has noted the yuri undertones between the two main characters.
11 Iroduku: The World In Colors
MyAnimeList Score: 7.52
- Release Date: October 6, 2018
- Creator: Toshiya Shinohara (director); Yūko Kakihara (writer)
- No. of Episodes: 13
- Genre(s): Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Iroduku: The World in Colors is set in the year 2078 and follows a 17-year-old girl named Hitomi Tsukishiro who lost her ability to see colors. Her grandmother, a powerful witch, sends her sixty years back in time to help her find her own path. There, Hitomi meets the 17-year-old version of her grandmother and discovers the joy and beauty of colors through the Magic Photography Arts Club.
The anime has been well-received by critics for its gorgeous animation, emotional storytelling, and the symbolism behind the “colors” returning to someone’s life. It is perfect for fans who enjoy slice-of-life fantasy stories with a heartfelt narrative.
10 Charlotte
MyAnimeList Score: 7.75
Written by Jun Maeda, Charlotte tells the story of an alternate reality where a small percentage of children manifest superpowers upon reaching puberty. The protagonist, Yuu Otosaka, gains the ability to possess another person’s body for five seconds, which he, of course, uses for personal gain. After student council president Nao Tomori finds this out, she recruits Yuu to the Student Council to help prevent other superpowered adolescents from exploitation by nefarious organizations.
Like Maeda’s most famous work, Angel Beats!, Charlotteskillfully blends comedy and drama, with the humorous moments acting as a palate cleanser for the dark turn the anime soon takes.
9 The Eccentric Family
MyAnimeList Score: 7.83
- Release Date: July 7, 2013
- Creator: Tomihiko Morimi
- No. of Episodes: 25
- Genre(s): Comedy, Drama, Supernatural
The Eccentric Family is set in a world where humans, tanuki, and tengu live alongside each other. The story revolves around a tanuki family, the Shimogamos, as they try to uncover the truth behind their father’s death, all while navigating the complexities of family life.
The anime was adapted from a novel written by the author of The Tatami Galaxy, Tomihiko Morimi. Unlike The Tatami Galaxy, however, The Eccentric Family is more of a straightforward comedy, with enough wacky and intense moments that will keep viewers on their toes for its duration.
8 Hanasaku Iroha: Blossoms For Tomorrow
MyAnimeList Score: 7.90
- Release Date: April 3, 2011
- Creator: Masahiro Ando (director); Mari Okada (writer)
- No. of Episodes: 26
- Genre(s): Drama, Slice of Life, Coming-of-Age
Hanasaku Iroha: Blossoms for Tomorrow follows a 16-year-old girl named Ohana Matsumae, whose life gets turned upside down when her mother decides to elope with her boyfriend. She is left under the care of her grandmother, who happens to also run a hot springs inn. Ohana begins working as an attendant at the inn, where she makes new friends and forges her own path.
The anime received a Jury Selection Award at the 15th Japan Media Arts Festival and has received positive reviews for its portrayal of family relationships. Its popularity has inspired fans to visit the real-life onsen that inspired the series.
7 A Lull In The Sea
MyAnimeList Score: 7.95
- Release Date: October 3, 2013
- Creator: Toshiya Shinohara (director); Mari Okada (writer)
- No. of Episodes: 26
- Genre(s): Fantasy, Romance, Slice of Life
A Lull in the Sea is set in a fantastical world where there is a division between sea-dwelling humans and land-dwelling humans. The series follows four junior high students who are forced to attend school on land after their underwater school closes down. The students deal with the prejudices and tensions that exist between the land people and sea people, as well as their romantic entanglements.
One of P.A. Works’ most visually stunning works, A Lull in the Sea has been praised by viewers and critics alike for its breathtaking animation, unpredictable romantic plot, unique setting, and emotional depth.
6 Angel Beats!
MyAnimeList Score: 8.05
Angel Beats! is set in a version of the afterlife that takes the form of a high school. The protagonist, Otonashi Yuzuru, wakes up in the afterlife with no memories of his past. He joins the Afterlife Battlefront led by a girl named Yuri Nakamura and soon finds out that the afterlife is filled with deceased individuals who had unresolved regrets in their past lives.
The anime uniquely balances humorous and emotional moments and evolves into quite a different series than what it started as throughout its 13-episode run. The anime would get adapted into several other media, including a 4-koma manga and a visual novel developed by Key Studios.
5 Buddy Daddies
MyAnimeList Score: 8.12
Buddy Daddies tells the story of two professional assassins, who unexpectedly become caretakers of a four-year-old girl named Miri. The plot unfolds as the assassins, Kazuki and Rei, try to balance their dangerous jobs with raising a hyperactive child, with several hilarious and heartwarming moments ensuing between the main trio.
Buddy Daddies won the Best Original Anime award at the 8th Crunchyroll Anime Awards and was also nominated for Best Comedy. Miri as a character was also nominated in the “Must Protect At All Costs” category but lost to Spy X Family‘s Anya Forger.
4 Ya Boy Kongming!
MyAnimeList Score: 8.13
Ya Boy Kongming! puts a fresh spin on the reincarnation trope. It tells the fictionalized story of renowned military strategist Zhuge Liang, a.k.a Kongming, who reincarnates in modern-day Tokyo after his death. He meets an aspiring singer named Eiko Tsukimi, and he decides to use his knowledge of ancient war stratagems to help Eiko achieve her dream of becoming a famous musician.
The anime was nominated for seven awards at the 7th Crunchyroll Anime Awards, including Best Comedy, Best New Series, Best Score, Best Opening Sequence, and Best Anime Song.
3 Skip And Loafer
MyAnimeList Score: 8.13
Skip and Loafer follows a country girl named Mitsumi Iwakura who moves to Tokyo to attend a prestigious high school. She quickly befriends a fellow first-year student named Shima Sousuke, who offers to accompany Mitsumi to school. It’s as straightforward of a slice of life as one can get.
Skip and Loafer may not have a quirky premise or fantasy elements, but it’s still a cute anime with a cast of charming characters. It has received several accolades, including nominations for Best Romance and Best Slice of Life at the 8th Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
2 Shirobako
MyAnimeList Score: 8.27
- Release Date: October 9, 2014
- Creator: Tsutomu Mizushima (director); Michiko Yokote (writer)
- No. of Episodes: 24
- Genre(s): Comedy, Drama, Slice of Life
Shirobako tells the story of five girls who bonded over their love of anime in high school, even creating an anime club. Dreaming of making it big in the anime industry, the girls would find jobs as animators, voice actors, and writers two and a half years later. The series delves into all the intricacies of creating an anime, including all the various challenges involved.
Shirobako was well-received by critics for its realistic portrayal of the anime industry and its themes of friendship and teamwork. The series won Animation of the Year at the 2016 Tokyo Anime Awards as well as the 2015 Animation Kobe Television Award.
1 Maquia: When The Promised Flower Blooms
MyAnimeList Score: 8.39
Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms centers around a mystical race of beings who live for hundreds of years called the Iorph. Maquia, a member of the Iorph, is separated from her people during an invasion by a human-led kingdom. She finds a human baby in a destroyed village and decides to raise him as her own, not knowing how to take care of a being that ages much faster than her.
The film has a rare 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and has been praised by legendary names in the anime industry like Makoto Shinkai. It has also received several accolades, including the Best Animation award at the 21st Shanghai International Film Festival and Anime Movie of the Year at the 5th Anime Trending Awards.
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