P.A. Worksmay not be as much of a household name in the anime community as studios like Kyoto Animation or Madhouse. However, they’re still responsible for making and producing some of the last two decades' most famous and critically acclaimed anime series. Foundedby former Production I.G. employee, Kenji Horikawa, P.A. Works kicked off their journey with the slice-of-life seriesTrue Tears, and would soon branch out into producing animated theatrical films and video game sequences.
Like Kyoto Animation’s works, P.A. Works' anime are typically emotional, tugging at the heartstrings. However, they are diverse, also producing horror shows likeAnotherand dark, psychological affairs likeCharlotte.
15Canaan
MyAnimeList Score: 7.21
Set in Shanghai, China,Canaanfollows a skilled mercenary with Synesthesia named Canaan. Along with her photographer friend Maria Osawa, Canaan encounters and fights against various factions in a terrorist plot orchestrated by her arch-nemesis, a ruthless terrorist leader named Alphard Alshua.
Canaanwas recognized at the 13th Japan Media Arts Festival Awards and has been praised for its character development, action sequences, music, and fluid animation. It has received a manga and two light novel adaptations.
14True Tears
MyAnimeList Score: 7.28
True Tearsis a slice-of-life series centering around a high school student named Shinichirou Nakagami. The plot unfolds as Shinichirou explores his growing bonds with Hiromi, a girl who began living with his family after her father’s death, and Noe, a quirky classmate with a strange liking for chickens.
True Tearshas a touching and realistic portrayal of teen romance and was the first anime produced by P.A. Works. While it shares its title with a visual novel released in 2006, the anime tells a completely original story, sharing none of the plots and characters from the novel.
Adapted from Yukito Ayatsuji’s novel of the same name,Anotherfollows a boy named Kouichi Sakakibara who transfers to a new school. He befriends a mysterious girl named Mei Misaki in Class 9-3, who seems invisible to the other students. Kouichi soon learns about a curse that has plagued the class for years, which has led to the gruesome deaths of numerous students.
Anotheris often includedin Best Horror Anime listsand has had an undoubtedly huge impact on the larger anime fandom, with Mei Misaki, in particular, being an extremely popular character to cosplay.
12The Aquatope On White Sand
MyAnimeList Score: 7.51
The Aquatope on White Sandrevolves around a struggling aquarium named Gama Gama Aquarium in Okinawa, Japan. Fuuka Miyazawa, a former idol who has recently moved to Okinawa, finds herself drawn to the aquarium and begs one of the workers, Kukuru Misakino, to let her work there. And thus begins the duo’s journey to save the aquarium from closure.
Along with its themes of environmentalism andseeking a purpose in life, the series has also been praised for its beautiful underwater animation, and more than one critic has noted the yuri undertones between the two main characters.
11Iroduku: The World In Colors
MyAnimeList Score: 7.52
Iroduku: The World in Colorsis set in the year 2078 and follows a 17-year-old girl named Hitomi Tsukishiro who lost her ability to see colors. Her grandmother, a powerful witch, sends her sixty years back in time to help her find her own path. There, Hitomi meets the 17-year-old version of her grandmother and discovers the joy and beauty of colors throughthe Magic Photography Arts Club.
The anime has been well-received by critics for its gorgeous animation, emotional storytelling, and the symbolism behind the “colors” returning to someone’s life. It is perfect for fans who enjoy slice-of-life fantasy stories with a heartfelt narrative.
Written by Jun Maeda,Charlottetells the story of an alternate reality where a small percentage of children manifest superpowers upon reaching puberty. The protagonist, Yuu Otosaka, gains the ability to possess another person’s body for five seconds, which he, of course, uses for personal gain. After student council president Nao Tomori finds this out, she recruits Yuu to the Student Council to help prevent other superpowered adolescents from exploitation by nefarious organizations.
Like Maeda’s most famous work,Angel Beats!,Charlotteskillfully blends comedy and drama, with the humorous moments acting as a palate cleanser for the dark turn the anime soon takes.
9The Eccentric Family
MyAnimeList Score: 7.83
The Eccentric Familyis set in a world where humans, tanuki, and tengu live alongside each other. The story revolves around a tanuki family, the Shimogamos, as they try to uncover the truth behind their father’s death, all while navigating the complexities of family life.
The animewas adapted from a novel written by the author ofThe Tatami Galaxy, Tomihiko Morimi. UnlikeThe Tatami Galaxy, however,The Eccentric Familyis more of a straightforward comedy, with enough wacky and intense moments that will keep viewers on their toes for its duration.
8Hanasaku Iroha: Blossoms For Tomorrow
MyAnimeList Score: 7.90
Hanasaku Iroha: Blossoms for Tomorrowfollows a 16-year-old girl named Ohana Matsumae, whose life gets turned upside down when her mother decides to elope with her boyfriend. She is left under the care of her grandmother, who happens to also run a hot springs inn. Ohana begins working as an attendant at the inn, where she makes new friends and forges her own path.
The anime received a Jury Selection Award at the 15th Japan Media Arts Festival and has received positive reviews for its portrayal of family relationships. Its popularity has inspired fans to visit the real-life onsen that inspired the series.
7A Lull In The Sea
MyAnimeList Score: 7.95
A Lull in the Seais set in a fantastical world where there is a division between sea-dwelling humans and land-dwelling humans. The series follows four junior high students who are forced to attend school on land after their underwater school closes down. The students deal with the prejudices and tensions that exist between the land people and sea people, as wellas their romantic entanglements.
One of P.A. Works' most visually stunning works,A Lull in the Seahas been praised by viewers and critics alike for its breathtaking animation, unpredictable romantic plot, unique setting, and emotional depth.
Angel Beats!is set in a version of the afterlife that takes the form of a high school. The protagonist, Otonashi Yuzuru, wakes up in the afterlife with no memories of his past. He joins the Afterlife Battlefront led by a girl named Yuri Nakamura and soon finds out that the afterlife is filled with deceased individuals who had unresolved regrets in their past lives.
The anime uniquely balances humorous and emotional moments and evolves into quite a different series than what it started as throughout its 13-episode run. The anime would get adapted into several other media, including a 4-koma manga and a visual novel developed by Key Studios.
