Visual Feasts
Anime
A list of anime that have aesthetic appeal or have particularly distinctive art styles...
Luo Xiao Hei Zhan Ji (Movie)
The Legend of Hei
Movie, 2019,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:9
This movie is great. The animation and fight sequences are next level. The story is adorable and powerful at the same time. Pretty funny. Everything you'd want out of an action film. Highly recommended. Criminally under-watched.
Movie, 2021,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:9
This is an absolute wow. Poignant, melancholy, peaceful, intimate, considered and poetic. Incredible visuals - the muted tonal palette is beautiful. Best use of light in anime. Well-structured story. I was transfixed.
Vampire Hunter D (2000)
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
Movie, 2000,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:10
Incredible. It's riveting from start to finish. It's goddamn stunning to look at. Probably my favourite visual design of any anime. Beautifully tragic romance. Cool characters. Macabre & gothic. Outstanding music.
Tonari no Totoro
My Neighbor Totoro
Movie, 1988,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:9
A true classic. It's a simple yet touching & beautiful story. Absolutely stunning animation - the backgrounds, the textures and the vivid details are *chef's kiss*. Full of charm and whimsy. Iconic scenes. Understated but exceptionally executed.
Shoujo Kakumei Utena: Adolescence Mokushiroku
Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Adolescence of Utena
Movie, 1999,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:10
Hypnotically beautiful. Visually mesmerising. Wildly surrealistic. The aesthetics of this anime will blow you away. It is beyond gorgeous to look at and unfathomably creative. The plot is a little incoherent but who cares when it's this visually interesting.
Tenshi no Tamago
Angel's Egg
OVA, 1985,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:9
This is art. It's visually mesmerising. There really is something unquantifiable about hand-drawn anime that just makes it beautiful to look at. Surreal, metaphorical, desolate, disturbing, powerful, creepy and bizarre.
Shinseiki Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion
TV, 1995,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:10
It's an art piece. Visually mesmerising. The colour palette is stunning. The animation design & composition is gorgeous. It's a total mind-f*ck. Gripping. Epic. Deserves the hype. Poor Shinji - bless him!
Kimetsu no Yaiba: Yuukaku-hen
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc
TV, 2021,
11 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Intensely gripping. The villian this season is a standout. The visuals are absolutely next level, like seriously beautiful and dynamic. This show gets serious flack but it's so damn entertaining. Also - Uzui is kind of a chad <3
Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun
Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun
TV, 2020,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:8
This is total eye-candy - it's just so pretty to look at and has great character designs. The story is pretty great too. Exploring the seven wonders of the school with the adorably cheeky Hanako-kun. Some touching moments. Very enjoyable. Gorgeous art style.
Mo Dao Zu Shi: Wanjie Pian
The Master of Diabolism 3
ONA, 2021,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Damn - season three is incredible. Great villains. Great twists. Great plot (much more coherent than the previous two seasons). Great action sequences. Stunning visuals - it's super pretty & cinematic. The camaraderie between two leads is at its best *wink wink*
Kaguya-hime no Monogatari
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
Movie, 2013,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:9
This is a powerfully touching story told beautifully in such a creatively animated fashion. It's moving and poignant yet thoroughly enjoyable. It won't be everyone's cup of tea but it's worth a watch. It's a great Ghibli film.
Movie, 1995,
3 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Anthologies are a draw but they're hard to rate because of the varied quality of the stories. Magnetic Rose was incredible all round. Creepy and Atmospheric with incredible visuals. Stink Bomb was stupid but entertaining. Cannon Fodder had a creative & unique art style but the story was lacking.
TV, 1982,
49 eps
Me:-
Author:9
It's a weird ride but one that's worth trying out. A 1970s style, psychedelic, gay, Japanese Bond & a time-travelling Scrappy Doo Dictator solve diamond thefts. Brilliantly stylised art style. Looks like an technicolor Aubrey Beardsley painting or Erte drawing.
Kizumonogatari III: Reiketsu-hen
Kizumonogatari Part 3: Cold-Blooded
Movie, 2017,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:9
Jaw-dropping story. Sublime animation. Impeccable dialogue. The OST is noticeably brilliant. The end is melancholic in the best way. It's intense in places.
Cider no You ni Kotoba ga Wakiagaru
Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop
Movie, 2021,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:9
People have found this anime basic but the animation style is such a draw here. It's absolutely brimming with charm. A simple story that's well told with some standout moments. It didn't feel rushed and felt authentic & earnest. Visually stunning. Best use of colour palette in anime - fresh and vibrant.
Liz to Aoi Tori
Liz and the Blue Bird
Movie, 2018,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:8
Poignant. Executed with such tender care. Beautiful story told through a charming allegory. The animation was fresh and light - it's a delight to look at. Fascinating character study through the lens of music.
Movie, 1983,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:9
As an extension of the series, this is a great addition. It's creative and fun. Weirdly gorgeous to look at. Lots of Bancoran in this movie which is a plus. Surreal but brilliant. Bjorn was a boss b*tch.
ONA, 2020,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:9
Hypnotic. Stunningly beautiful. Honestly probably the best artwork in anime. It's very short but totally captivating. It's hard to work out what's going on but this anime is justified by the visuals alone. Gorgeous music too.
TV, 2007,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:9
A visual feast. Every frame is a piece of art. Like Mushishi but way better frankly. Creatively told stories with great atmospheric creepiness and macabre. Top tier anime.
Movie, 1998,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:9
Not sure what to even say...this is superbly done. This movie is utterly transfixing. You should expect this to be a mind-f*ck. The visuals/animation are incredible and suit the vibe so well. Darren Aronofsky is heavily indebted to this film. Thrilling.
No Game No Life
No Game, No Life
TV, 2014,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Wacky & surreal. Dumb & smart. Exciting & enjoyable. There's way too much ecchi involving an 11 year old frankly but whatever, that's anime. Artwork is amazing - it's a confection of pinks and purples.
Kanashimi no Belladonna
Belladonna of Sadness
Movie, 1973,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:8
It's an art piece. Fascinating, strange, psychedelic, experimental, disturbing and painterly. The artwork is beautifully drawn. It's such a vibe. The pacing was a bit too slow and the story was confusing at times but it's such an interesting watch.
ONA, 2022,
10 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Not my usual type of anime but wow, this anime is such a vibe. The animation and colour story is incredible. Dark, violent, dynamic, vibrant, exciting and explicit. It’s a super fun ride that's kinda unforgettable.
Kaijuu no Kodomo
Children of the Sea
Movie, 2019,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:6
First off, the animation is simply incredible. It's a visual feast. A strange, incoherent movie that has a surreal dream-like vibe. The story is a confused mess. Full of fairly naff pretentious waffle about life and the universe. It could use a serious edit.
TV, 2021,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Everyone turned sharply on this anime but it's still worth watching. Powerful, creative, disturbing and unpredictable. Lots of great ideas but they admittedly didn't know quite how to stick the landing. It looks fantastic and was super interesting. A little incoherent but still impactful.
Madoromi no Vevara
Vevara in Your Dream
ONA, 2019,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:7
Firstly, the animation is beautiful and dream-like which is very fitting for a short about dreams. Not the easiest of stories to follow but it's very pretty and ethereal.
Movie, 2019,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:8
Bold, graphic, dynamic, colourful, wild, chaotic and frantic. Hard to know what to look at sometimes. It's coherent & well-told story if a bit on the nose. Using humans as fuel is twisted. Exciting & looks great.
ONA, 2021,
3 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Evocative, enchanting, dream-like, magical, charming and effective. Beautiful picture-book like animation. Simple but effective story-telling. Overall it's very good.
ONA, 2018,
10 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Dynamic, weird, engaging, disturbing, explicit, violent and interesting. This was a enjoyably wild ride. Brilliant OST. It's totally bingeable. Creative visuals. It's extreme.