Series like Violet Evergarden and Attack on Titan continue to gain popularity not only because of their unusual plot and characters, but because they have some of the best animation in anime. With their success, it’s clear that animation quality and fun graphics are crucial factors in bringing anime to the top. There are many anime with beautiful animation that get lost in the shuffle, but others become model series with the right mix of plot, character development, and animation.
With entries in both categories, the anime on this list have consistent and visually appealing animation that is both clever and beautiful. The styles, target demographics, and genre may vary greatly, but one thing these series share is a beautiful animation style that makes the series perfect.
10 Aldnoa Zero
Watch it now on Crunchyroll.
Aldnoa Zero received mixed reviews from the audience for its story, but it didn’t lose any points in its animation. The plot is full of action sequences combined with science and technology. A-1 Studio’s first attempt at a mecha anime, the studio did an amazing job in the execution of the plot. Depicting a civil war between Earth and technologically advanced Mars, it combines 2D animations with attractive CGI robot models for the battle. The mecha battles are done at a high level, and the CGI is smooth. The aesthetic confirms the fact that the show is futuristic/alternate. Sci-fi themes are prominent, with beautiful details such as mecha in use. The Lost Technology of Mars has unique mecha designs, such as the six-armed cataphract Hellas, which make the animations interesting.
9 Yuri!!! On ICE
Watch it now on Crunchyroll.
One of the best anime directed by a female is Yuri!!! ICE focuses on reality and creativity. Since this is a sports anime, the elaborate skating choreography and routines take up a lot of screen time. Animations of human body movements are very powerful. As the skater enters the rink and performs, the camera angles are clever to capture every move. The characters are well animated with detail even when they are not on the ice skating rink. The series uses a variety of lighting techniques, relying heavily on contrasting cool and warm color palettes to convey the mood of a scene. Yuri!!! on ICE is a series created with love and attention, with detailed sculpting of hand shakes, gentle shine on metal and a pink lip bite in action.
8 Plastic memories
Watch it now on Crunchyroll.
Plastic Memories maintains continuity and high-quality animation throughout the short 13 episodes. The series has an experimental air because it takes the plot in a sci-fi direction and is set in a utopia-like atmosphere. The environment is bright, colorful and uses a wide color palette similar to a watercolor painting. The style perfectly conveys the sci-fi feel and blends successfully with the show’s theme and characters. The character designs are reminiscent of those seen in the Evangelion series, and the facial expressions are extremely human without being dramatic. The series features realistic artwork and concepts with futuristic buildings, machines and gifts.
7 Hyuuka
Watch it now on Crunchyroll.
Hyuka is a very visually appealing anime series by Kyoto Animation. The Kamiyama High School Classic Literature Club enjoys solving mysteries and spending time in their everyday lives. Dominant lighting, highly stylized and wonderfully abstract events and monologues set the mood and atmosphere. It transports the audience to a fantastical world away from reality. The word game illustrated in Oreki’s Imagination has a distinct visual element, with the cover of each puzzle carefully designed for the audience. Some scenes have a dreamy air, and this contrast between the mundane and the abstract makes haiku a unique experience.
6 Chance/Overnight: Unlimited Blade Works
Watch it now on Crunchyroll.
Unlimited Blade Works’ origin is for the holy grail as a battle royale, but the anime is the biggest of the lot/last series. From the scenery to the character designs to the jaw-dropping action scenes, the animation is superb. Cities in motion, bridge panoramas, crowded parks, and dark graveyards are just a few examples of anime’s stunning artwork. With fast movement and excellent camera angles, the action is well coordinated. The conflicts between the teacher and the servants are well written and detailed. Characters move naturally, and features like water reflections, complex hair movements, and 3D opponents are all in the animation that made Ufotable Studio so popular.
5 Attack on Titan
Watch it now on Crunchyroll.
Attack on Titan features one of the most captivating survival stories of all time, combined with great characters, music, and of course, beautiful animation. For those new to anime, it can serve as a great anime for beginners to get a taste of the amazing things the medium is capable of. The art is incredible, and will leave viewers in awe of how far animation has gone. Many were shocked by the 3D Maneuver Gear action, which quickly became a special animated highlight of the show. Soldiers take to buildings and take to the air above them, moving away from traditional ground warfare and into the world of high-flying. The characters are drawn broadly with varying thicknesses of black to make them stick out from the background, which is the beauty of the animated feature.
4 My dress-up Darley
Watch it now on Crunchyroll.
My Dress Up Darley was the hottest new anime of the winter 2022 season. It beat Attack on Titan and Demon Slayer in several top anime polls during its time on air, showing how popular and popular it is with viewers. Since it’s an anime about cosplay and features Japanese henna dolls and doll-like characters, the animation quality and character designs are top-notch. In art, there is a contrast between 2D characters and 3D photographic backgrounds, which involve more photography than hand-drawn artwork. The cosplay costumes are amazing and vibrant. Whether it’s designing the clothes or gathering the materials needed, Cloverworks has gone above and beyond. The shading is also colorful and beautiful, and there isn’t a single element of animation that detracts from the overall appeal of the series.
3 Demon Slayer
Watch it now on Netflix.
Demon Slayer is one of the best anime ever, featuring vivid artwork combined with an intriguing plot. In terms of animation, the series went above and beyond what anime fans expected. The use of CGI is seamless and seamless, giving the impression of watching a 3D anime. The backgrounds depict the harsh conditions of survival in realistic snow and mountain environments in the desert. Demon Slayer’s unique Nichirin swords are beautifully rendered in battle, with rich details such as water flowing from the sword, and the animation proves to be brilliant. It adapts combat situations to cinematic choreography, and character movements are used to highlight the series’ various fighting styles.
2 Violet Evergarden
Watch it now on Funimation.
Violet Evergarden is an anime film series based on a light novel that is visually appealing and emotionally satisfying to the audience. The series is praised for its emotional richness and engaging plot. The world setting of Violet Evergarden features natural and beautiful landscapes, European architecture and vibrant colors. The starry night scene, as well as the city of Leiden, looks like a creative wonder. Flowers feature prominently in the series, adding to the sentimentality of the events. The environment, objects and camera views add great details to each scene. The visuals at Violet Evergarden are unmatched in quality and critically acclaimed.
1 Jujutsu Kaisen
Watch it now on Crunchyroll.
Jujutsu Kaisen, now in its second season, is a story about supernatural monsters or humans who curse humans in which Itadori swallows a cursed finger and works to remove the curse. Naturally, the show gets increasingly violent and gruesome, action-packed and brutal. The fights are smoothly animated and feature interesting tactics. The scene-setting animation in Cursed Domains is fantastic, and individual actions have a lot of power because of the unique way auras are defined, with aquamarine tints and pseudo-3D contours. The series also has a lot of creative and unusual designs, which makes it a true animation masterpiece.
There are many more series with beautiful animation, but these are the most attractive and attention-grabbing ones around. Beautiful animation can raise the profile of even a mediocre series, but when paired with good writing and acting, the experience can be absolutely sublime. Some of the best animations have come in recent years, and fans can only look forward to more series like Attack on Titan as animation technology continues to advance.