Mikihiro Iwata established A-1 Pictures in 2005, which quickly gained recognition as a leading anime studio renowned for its breathtaking visuals. With prior experience working at the Sunrise studio, Iwata brought valuable expertise to the anime industry.
A-1 Pictures operates under Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony that specializes in anime and music production. Utilizing a combination of freelance and outsourced production methods, A-1 Pictures has produced over 200 memorable anime titles to date.
Covering a wide range of genres, A-1 Pictures has delivered anime that caters to diverse audiences. Below is a list of some of the best anime ever released by A-1 Pictures.
Best Anime By Studio A-1 Pictures
1. Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler)
- Genres: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Supernatural
“Black Butler” is a supernatural anime produced by Studio A-1 Pictures.
Set in Victorian England, the story follows Ciel, known as the Queen’s Watchdog. Ciel serves the queen and fulfills her orders alongside his demonic butler, Sebastian.
When Ciel finds himself in dire straits, he makes a pact with Sebastian, exchanging his soul for vengeance.
2. Fairy Tail
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
“Fairy Tail” stands out as one of A-1 Pictures’ most beloved anime adaptations, based on the manga series by Hiro Mashima.
Debuting in the fall of 2009, “Fairy Tail” takes viewers on a fantastical adventure. The story centers around Natsu Dragneel, a Fairy Tail guild member who wields the incredible power of fire.
Natsu is accompanied by fellow guild members Lucy Heartfilia, a celestial spirit summoner, and Gray Fullbuster, an ice wizard. Erza Scarlet, a sword knight, goes on thrilling adventures and encounters friends from other guilds.
The series concluded its final episodes in the summer of 2019, titled “Fairy Tail: Final Series.” This concluding series was a collaborative effort between A-1 Pictures and Studio CloverWorks, a subsidiary of A-1 Pictures.
3. Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
- Genres: Drama, Romance, Slice of Life, Supernatural
“Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day” is often regarded as one of the most emotionally moving anime.
This supernatural drama revolves around Menma, a girl who has passed away but returns as a ghost. She is visible only to her friend Jinta.
Desiring to reconnect with her friends, Menma communicates with them by leaving messages in her diary or moving objects when they are near her, longing to spend more time with them.
4. Sword Art Online
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Isekai, Romance
In addition to “Fairy Tail,” “Sword Art Online” stands out as one of the most beloved action anime produced by A-1 Pictures.
This series follows the adventures of Kirito and Asuna as they navigate the virtual world of video games. “Sword Art Online” is an isekai anime, a genre where characters are transported to another world, making it a must-watch for fans.
5. Magi: The Kingdom of Magic
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
“Magi: The Kingdom of Magic” is a fantasy-magic anime series produced by Studio A-1 Pictures that is worth following.
The storyline follows Alibaba Saluja and his companions as they journey to Sindria. Following their recent clash with Al-Thamen, each group member decides to go on their own adventure.
Throughout the series, viewers are immersed in the journeys of each character as they navigate their own unique paths and experiences, adding depth and excitement to the plot.
6. Shinsekai Yori (From the New World)
- Genres: Drama, Horror, Mystery, Psychological
The anime series “Shinsekai Yori” was released in the fall of 2012. This psychological horror anime gets into a mysterious plague that impacts 0.1% of the population.
This condition allows individuals to manipulate matter; some have wielded this power for nefarious purposes. As a result, society has partially isolated itself and enacted new laws to cope with the changes.
The story follows Saki Watanabe and her friends as they navigate this new world, gradually realizing that not everyone adheres to the laws governing society.
7. Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso (Your Lie In April)
- Genres: Drama, Music, Romance, Slice of Life
According to IMDb, the top anime from A-1 Pictures is “Your Lie in April.” This music-drama anime was released in the fall of 2014.
The story revolves around Kousei Arima, a piano player who has lost his ability to hear music. At school, Kousei encounters Kaori Miyazono, a talented violinist.
After hearing Kousei play the piano, Kaori is determined to have him accompany her. Through their musical journey together, Kaori reignites Kousei’s passion for music, and their relationship deepens as Kaori falls in love with him.
8. Boku dake ga Inai Machi (Erased)
- Genres: Drama, Mystery, Psychological, Thriller
“Erased” is a supernatural thriller seinen anime with an adult audience in mind.
The story centers around Satoru Fujinuma, a 29-year-old man who discovers he has the ability to turn back time moments before an accident occurs. Determined to prevent accidents before they happen, Satoru is unexpectedly sent back in time, just as he is accused of murder.
Transported back to when he was only 11 years old, Satoru embarks on a mission to clear his name. He searches his school for clues to help unravel the mystery and vindicate himself.
9. Nanatsu no Taizai (The Seven Deadly Sins)
- Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy
“The Seven Deadly Sins” is a captivating fantasy-adventure anime produced by A-1 Pictures.
The story revolves around the legendary group of warriors known as the Seven Deadly Sins, who were once revered as the strongest knights in the kingdom of Britannia.
Following a rebellion by the knights against the kingdom’s ruler, Princess Elizabeth embarks on a quest to locate the Seven Deadly Sins. Her goal is to enlist their help defending the kingdom and restoring peace to the land.
10. Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii (Wotakoi: Love is not Otaku)
- Genres: Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life
“Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku” is a refreshing anime that explores relationships, hobbies, and the challenges of balancing work and life.
The story centers around Narumi Momose, who begins working at a company where she reunites with her childhood friend, Hirotaka Nifuji. Despite their shared interests as otaku, their romantic relationship develops slowly, and they sometimes experience bumps along the way.
Featuring two main couples and a budding romance, the series portrays characters who are all passionate otaku in some form. As they navigate the complexities of adult life, they strive to maintain a healthy balance between their hobbies and professional responsibilities.
11. Kaguya-sama: Love is War
- Genres: Comedy, Romance, Seinen
“Kaguya-sama: Love is War” is a delightful romantic comedy anime with a psychological twist.
The plot revolves around Miyuki Shirogane, the student council president, and Kaguya Shinomiya, the vice president. Despite harboring feelings for each other, they are locked in a battle of wits, each refusing to confess their love first for fear of appearing weak.
Their dynamic is reminiscent of the intense rivalry between Light and L in “Death Note,” characterized by well-thought-out and methodical strategies as they try to outmaneuver each other in the game of love.
12. 86 Eighty-Six
- Genres: Action, Drama, Mecha, Sci-Fi
“86: Eighty-Six” is an engaging modern mecha anime adapted from light novels, offering a unique storyline.
The series centers around Shin, the captain of the Spearhead Squadron, which is made up of a group of citizens known as the Eighty-six. These individuals face discrimination from the Magnolian nation and are forced to fight relentlessly on the battlefield against machines, knowing that death is the only outcome awaiting them.
With its intriguing plot and compelling characters, “86: Eighty-Six” is just one of the many entertaining anime from Studio A-1 Pictures.
13. Solo Leveling (2024)
The famous Korean web novel (which also had a webtoon adaptation), Solo Leveling is being made into an anime series by A-1 Pictures in 2024. The first season of this anime is already completed as of the writing of this article, along with the announcement of the second season.
The anime follows a world where gates link the human realm to dangerous monster-infested dimensions, and specific individuals gain the ability to combat these creatures. Known as “Hunters,” they possess special powers.
Among them is Sung Jinwoo, regarded as the weakest E-rank Hunter, barely surpassing the strength of an average person.
However, after a catastrophic mission decimates his team, he’s selected by a mysterious force known as the “System.” This grants him the extraordinary power to level up and grow exponentially stronger, seemingly without bounds.
