Best Anime With Unique Art Styles

Anime is one of the most successful forms of visual entertainment globally. Fans flock to series with beautiful animations and uniquely designed characters every season upon new releases. There are many genres of anime for fans to browse, from romance to horror and Moe to Shonen, but anime does not always adhere to the recognizable art styles that fans have come to expect.

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By  Mark Sammut

While, for a time, there were many styles that were used to make up anime, there has been a certain level of quality that all shows now maintain. However, there are still some anime that go the extra mile and do something risky, using an unconventional art style to make the series stand out and possibly add depth. Here are some anime with the most unique art styles.

Updated on July 12th, 2024, by C.M Edwards: Anime is one of the most unique art forms that allows bringing incredible stories from incredible artists to life in a special way that almost makes them feel real. Many anime use the same style of animation because, often, animation studios work together to make a seamless series. There are dozens of talented animation studios that put their all into making great and impactful series, and some of them bring fascinating art styles to the table when charged with adapting a manga or light novel. Anime that brings a piece of the studio with it can make a series feel truly special. A unique art style can make or break a series, but it can always succeed in making a show stand out and step away from the sea of series that populate the anime world. Some series defy anatomy and create characters that are more cartoonish, while others dare to bring hyper detail to the table. A few more such series are now included on this list thanks to its latest update.

22 Shin Chan

Low Detail With A Big Punch

Shin Chan is a very popular series in Japan, and only debuted on late-night special Adult Swim in the US. The series follows a mischievous little boy who gets into all sorts of trouble along, with his friends and sometimes his parents.

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The raunchy and sometimes inappropriate nature of Shin Chan made for great laughs, with slapstick comedy and plays on adult themes. Visually, Shin Chan resembled chibi-like art with less detail and flamboyant animation. The series is a great watch with a low investment requirement that is definitely worth a shot.

21 RWBY

Beautifully Choreographed Animation

• Release Date: 2013
• Studio: Rooster Teeth

Rooster Teeth animation is known for bringing to life some of the most innovative animated series since the days of Cartoon Network. Unfortunately, just like its predecessor, Rooster Teeth has announced that it is shutting down. However, one of the great creations to come from the company will live on, that being RWBY.

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Starting off as a high-octane, action-packed series about a group of young girls kicking monster butt, this series evolved into a deep narrative experience that lasted several seasons. RWBY's visuals were unique, as they were more akin to low-grade CGI details, but had exquisite animation routes. Tragically, the creator of the series died early on in the show's lifespan and did not get to see the full realization of his project.

20 Suicide Squad Isekai

Stunning Designs And Reimaginings Of Classic Characters

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This series features fan favorites such as Harley Quinn and The Joker being transported to another world where the Gotham City rogues will have to think on their feet in order to survive. The visuals of Suicide Squad Isekai are some of the most pristine designs of this anime season, with a stunning opening that leaves fans hoping it measures up in the story.

19 Jojo's Bizarre Adventure

Bright And Flashy Clashing Colors And Designs

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure is a cult classic in the anime community and is a wild and chaotic series that has a dedicated following around the world. Packed full of no-stop gags and an over-the-top plot, Jojo's Bizzare Adventure also has a distinct visual style that not many other series come close to.

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On the surface, the early seasons of Jojo's are very late 90s in style, but it has always had a flamboyant theme with bright colors and over-the-top character designs that fit the show perfectly.

18 Beastars

Unique Combination Of Different Artistic Avenues

Beastars is a very unique anime set in a world where animals such as wolves, dogs, and rabbits are the dominant race, and it follows a sort of slice-of-life theme focusing on a number of characters. Within the anthro-society, there are high tensions between species; Legoshi, a wolf student, comes under fire when he begins to befriend others outside his species.

The art style of Beastars is very different from most anime and seems to have a computer-generated 3D art style mixed with traditional 2D.

17 Ping-Pong The Animation

Strong Resemblance To Source Material

Ping-Pong the Animation is a unique anime by itself without considering its art style, as it focuses on a very niche sport but does not fail to make it interesting. Ping-Pong the Animation is a widely celebrated animated series that pulls a deep story to the surface from beneath manga-esque dynamic scenes between players engaged in intense competition.

The art and direction of Ping Pong the Animation seem to bring the pages from the story itself to life by taking panels directly from the manga and repurposing them.

16 The Big O

Classic Animation Mixed With Noir Themes

Roger Smith is the negotiator of Paradigm City. In a world that has been afflicted with a mass wave of amnesia about the past, humanity now tries to move forward while not knowing what caused the event.

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Unfortunately, ghosts of the past return in the form of lost technology that seeks to throw humanity back into chaos, as those with ill intent seek to take advantage and grasp power. Roger Smith stands to prevent the lost memories from being found and used as a Megadeus who pilots a giant robot to save the day. Those who enjoy the noir genre are sure to like the art style and themes on offer in The Big O.

15 Japanese Tales Of The Macabre

Bizarre And Horrifically Detailed Nightmares Come To Life

Japanese Tales of the Macabre is an anthology anime series by the famed horror author Junji Ito. The series is a collection of some of the most gruesome and horrifying tales that Ito has created over his long career. Each episode of the series tells a bizarre and twisted story sure to unsettle the strongest of stomachs.

The shocking visuals of the series come from Ito's mind itself, and he is known for some of the most strange and jaw-dropping horror designs in the manga community.

14 Cyborg 009

Classic Artistry With Exaggerated Anatomy

• Creator: Shotaro Ishinomori
• Release Year: 2001
• Number Of Episodes: 51

Cyborg 009 is a classic anime that takes place in a future timeline where technology has spearheaded humanity forward. A terrorist organization seeks to profit off of chaos and spark the next great war between nations by using super-powered cyborgs as weapons of mass destruction to sew panic and conflict.

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Cyborg 009 has been a highly popular series and comes from the acclaimed creator Shotaro Ishinomoro, known for works such as Super Sentai and Kamen Rider. The art style of Cyborg 009 highly resembles the classic animation styles of shows like Gigantor and Astro Boy but mixes the technological advances of today to create stunning imagery along with a vast cast of diverse characters.

13 NANA

Relaxed Dedication To Anatomy With Diverse Character Designs

NANA is a romance anime created by Ai Yazawa, animated by Madhouse, and is available to watch on Hulu. The story follows two young girls on their journey to discover themselves, figure out life's struggles, and deal with the trials and tribulations of finding love. The story is beautifully told in a very loosely detailed art style with vibrant colors and masking for incredible-looking textures.

Depending on the characters present, NANA can look very muted and flat or incredibly vibrant to complement the two sides of the story. The anime mimics the manga appropriately as the original art for the characters had a very kawaii-influenced style.