Entertainment
10 Game-Changing Anime Series That Totally Rewrite Genre Rules
Ever since Demon Slayer in 2019 and the extra free time the pandemic provided, anime has blown up in popularity, becoming a worldwide sensation that fans have fallen in love with because of its energetic animation and creative stories. However, while anime used to be different, with shows such as One Piece, ever since the medium got popular, stories have gotten unoriginal and repetitive, simply going to entertain and not innovate.
Certain anime follow a specific script and blueprint, but among every genre are a handful of exceptions. There are some game-changing anime that completely rewrote the genre’s rules, establishing a new way for stories to be told. That is why this list will rank game-changing and genre-redefining anime based on originality, how they shook up the script, and how future shows followed.
10
‘Chainsaw Man’ (2022–Present)
The majority of the anime on this list are older shows, but there are a couple of modern series that dare to go against the grain, and Chainsaw Man is one of them. Denji is a simple person, not knowing the luxuries of daily life, but when Makima gives him the opportunity, he becomes a demon hunter. Now hunting devils, his only goal is to experience something new, whether it be a jam of toast or love.
Fans aren’t happy with how the manga is being handled, but the anime, for now, is a truly unique series that deconstructs the typical shōnen protagonist. Anime has always been weird, but Chainsaw Man dialed it up a notch, using its endearing characters and their flaws to tell a bizarrely dark story. In the end, this anime goes against many shōnen tropes and clichés to deliver a modern delight that is one-of-a-kind.
9
‘Puella Magi Madoka Magica’ (2011)
There are many definitive anime genres and styles, and one of them is magical girls, which follows cutesy witches battling evil with pure hearts. Puella Magi Madoka Magica starts as such, following an idealistic girl becoming a mage after taking up a mysterious cat on its offer. However, it takes a drastic twist, with the duties of a witch meaning taking on otherworldly horrors, resulting in countless deaths.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica took the genre known for being cute and wholesome and made it one of the most traumatizing, bleak, depressing, and violent anime the medium has to offer. Many anime subvert expectations, but none do it as well as Puella Magi Madoka Magica, and this changed the game when it comes to this type of deconstruction.
8
‘Yu Yu Hakusho’ (1992–1995)
Hunter x Hunter is one of the most popular anime series of all time, but its creator made an anime that is just as influential, if not more. Yu Yu Hakusho follows Yusuke after he dies before his time, leaving the afterworld to give him a set of trials to earn his life back. He now works as a spirit detective, helping keep the balance between the spirit world and the human realm.
By today’s standards, Yu Yu Hakusho feels fairly typical, but that is because it redefined how shōnen anime is handled, making it a true pioneer of its time. Yusuke was an original protagonist who proved that punks can have a heart of gold. However, Yu Yu Hakusho is best known for popularizing the tournament arc, one of the best arcs in anime. Almost every major shōnen now has a tournament arc, and it is because this anime changed the game.
7
‘Slam Dunk’ (1993–1996)
There are plenty of game-changing sports anime, such as Ashita no Joe, but Slam Dunk is a tier above in terms of rewriting the genre’s rules. Hanamichi is a typical punk who just wants a girlfriend, and his next brightest idea is to impress his crush by joining the basketball team. He may have the measurables, but he has no experience, and he refuses to work with anyone, making his journey to master the sport difficult.
Slam Dunk does feature a lot of standard sports tropes, but it still has an air about it that separates it from other sports anime. It sparked a surge of popularity of the sport in Japan because of its riveting plot and engaging characters. Slam Dunk is a masterclass of character work, creating compelling arcs and development, making it one of the best sports anime of all time.
6
‘The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya’ (2006–2009)
Anime culture changes constantly, but the 2000s had a different style that is most commonly associated with otaku culture and moe. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya follows a school club that investigates the supernatural and occult. Kyon just wants a normal high school life, but his club mates consist of time travelers, aliens, and supernatural beings, making it anything but normal.
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya established the moe style in an era where it was at an all-time high, not to mention it deconstructed it by including supernatural elements and experimental storytelling. The anime is notoriously known for its ending arc, which reused the same episode with minor changes. While this isn’t a good thing, it did rewrite the genre’s rules by including this inventive conclusion. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya proved that moe anime can be profound, playing on its endless summer storyline.
5
‘Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End’ (2023–Present)
Chainsaw Man isn’t the only modern anime on this list; Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is a new fantasy that has instantly become a classic. The titular elf and her party defeated the demon part, but after she outlives some of the members, she realizes she didn’t properly convey her feelings. Frieren, Fern, and Stark now retrace a similar path on their way to the land of the dead, to speak to her fallen comrades.
As opposed to anime that follow the party journeying to kill the demon king, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is set after that, in a time of peace, proving the genre can be fresh when done differently. Not to mention, this anime focuses on mellow storytelling and enjoying the side quests instead of the main adventure. This flies in the face of fantasy anime and its stale storytelling style, reinventing the genre and rewriting the rules in the meantime, becoming one of the best modern anime series ever.
4
‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’ (1995–1996)
Mecha anime are outdated now, with fewer and fewer every year, but it used to be the definitive anime genre, and one of the most iconic is Neon Genesis Evangelion. The world is left in tatters, and a third cataclysm threatens to end it for good. However, the only hope for humanity and survival is Shinji and other teenagers, who must pilot mechs and defeat angel-like aliens, but other players have other goals.
A certain anime redefined the genre into what it is most known as, but that show will be featured later, as Neon Genesis Evangelion rewrote the mecha genre again. Most anime protagonists are strong-willed, but Shinji is weak and flawed, which is what makes him so compelling. Neon Genesis Evangelion aged like a fine wine, being an expression of mental health that redefined anime and how it is viewed.
3
‘Urusei Yatsura’ (1981–1986)
It may not be talked about enough among the mainstream community, but romance anime are some of the most popular, and the genre is ripe with well-made classics, such as Urusei Yatsura. When an alien princess comes down to Earth, she falls in love with a scummy high school boy. Now he struggles to stay faithful to her with so many other women he has his eyes on.
The tsundere trope is one of the most famous and popular in anime, and it all started with Urusei Yatsura. Lum revolutionized what a character could be, and this trope has stuck to this day. It rewrote the romance genre by introducing a new archetype, changing the rules, and instantly becoming a classic.
2
‘Mobile Suit Gundam’ (1979–1980)
This list mentioned how a certain mecha anime redefined the sci-fi genre, and that was Mobile Suit Gundam, a true classic. A separate colony declares war on Earth, quickly gaining the upper hand with their advanced mechs. However, Earth strikes back after developing its own Gundam, starting an intergalactic war for freedom.
Mechas are a definitive staple of anime, so much so that they are synonymous with Gundam, known for the many anime series and its hobby building. Gundam treated robots as real metallic weapons, straying from the magical and idealistic take. It focused on the grim realities of war and the end of the good vs. evil discussion, creating a nuanced story that rewrote how sci-fi anime are handled.
1
‘Dragon Ball Z’ (1989–1998)
This list has mentioned shōnen anime a lot, and there is no shōnen anime as iconic and influential as Dragon Ball Z. After an alien child lands on Earth, he trains in the ways of martial arts, becoming a skilled fighter who protects Earth and his friends. From enemies such as Frieza, King Buu, Vegeta, and Cell, Goku will fight a lot of tough enemies on his journey.
Dragon Ball Z defined the modern-day shōnen genre, being an essential and influential classic that established many tropes and storylines. From the silly big-eating protagonist to exaggerated characters and action-packed stories, this anime and its style inspired every anime that came after. Dragon Ball Z is one of the best anime series of all time, and changed how anime operates while doing so.
Dragon Ball Z
- Release Date
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1989 – 1996
- Network
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Fuji TV
- Directors
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Daisuke Nishio, Shigeyasu Yamauchi, Osamu Kasai
- Writers
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Akira Toriyama, Neil Bligh, Hiroshi Toda, Katsuyuki Sumisawa, Aya Matsui, Keiji Terui, Reiko Yoshida, Toshiki Inoue
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Masako Nozawa
Son Goku / Son Gohan / Son Goten (voice)
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Ryo Horikawa
Vegeta (voice)
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