Top 10 Anime Made by P.A.WORKS [Updated Best Recommendations]

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P.A. Works (Progressive Animation Works) is a studio that has really impressed us over the last few years. The name of the studio has become synonymous with high-quality storytelling and artwork. The studio, founded in 2000, isn’t located in Tokyo like most studios but in Toyama, Japan. When you see P.A. Works credited as the studio you know right off the bat the anime is soon to be considered a classic. The CEO of P.A. Works, Kenji Horikawa, is a hands-on leader getting involved in the nitty-gritty because he loves being part of the process; it lets him stay connected to the roots of the company he founded. Under his direction, the company has produced a very diverse selection of anime, covering everything from mecha, to slice-of-life, to horror. We will now count down the Top 10 Anime by P.A. Works.

[Caution: Potential Spoilers]


10. Another

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: Jan. 2012- Mar. 2012

The town of Yomiyama has been living under a cloud for more than 26 years. There’s an oppressive atmosphere and the town is full of secrets after the death of a middle school girl in 1972. A 15-year-old boy named Kouichi Sakakibara transfers into the class the dead girl was in 26 years later and can’t shake an eerie feeling about the whole school. He also keeps finding himself crossing paths with Mei Misaki, a mysterious girl wearing an eye patch. Driven by his curiosity, Kouichi gets closer and closer to the girl despite Mei’s warning to keep his distance. He also begins to slowly reveal the truth behind the macabre goings-on in the small town.

The art is stellar. The use of light and tone from the schoolyard to the creepy doll shop really sets the mood. Tsutomu Mizushima, the director, keeps you guessing and trying to anticipate the next method, moment and victim of death. We’ve watched a lot of anime over the years and this one is like watching a Hitchcock classic. Another is a twisted tale that makes you watch, despite your instinct to look away, and that is one of the main reasons it’s on the list.

Another PV:


9. Uma Musume: Pretty Derby

  • Episodes: ?
  • Aired: Apr. 2018-?

Tracen Academy is the school you want to attend if you want to win in a derby. The school doesn’t teach you how to ride, though, it teaches you how to run. The world we witness is a world similar to our own with one exception: horse girls. They’re girls born with two legs, two pointy, furry ears and a tail that love to run, run, run. The girls train and race around tracks of turf and dirt covering miles of distance all for the chance of winning prize money, trophies, and the chance to sing and dance [record scratch]. Yes, we said sing and dance. The top three winners in each race give an idol-like performance. Why? Because this is anime and just being a horse girl isn’t enough, you’ve got to sing and dance, too. The story focuses on Special Week, a horse girl from the countryside trying to become the best horse girl in Japan. We watch the girls train and compete in a fun slice of life/sports anime.

Pretty Derby just started airing in April but has already gained quite a following. The colorful character design is one of the most attractive parts of this program. You also get clever characters who are cute as can be, even when they spend half the show in tracksuits. We also see some attention to detail in the design since all of the girls are based on real racehorses and many take the coloring of their hair from their namesake. In Silent Suzuka’s case it’s in the green ear covers she wears. A classic slice of life ensemble surrounds Special Week with characters ranging from hyper, to calm, to tsundere. A message of sportsmanship also pervades in the series. The girls work night and day to be the fastest and the best yet if they lose they don’t sulk, they congratulate the other girl and are ready to work harder to beat them next time. We think that sportsmanship is just what we need in our hyper-competitive society. The fine fillies of Pretty Derby are definitely worth checking out.

Uma Musume: Pretty Derby PV:


8. Uchouten Kazoku (The Eccentric Family)

  • Episodes: 13
  • Aired: Jul. 2013- Sep. 2013

We all have issues with our families and Yasaburou Shimgamo is no different. He is also a tanuki and so is his family. The beautiful and imperial city of Kyoto has been home to tanuki and tengu for centuries and the humans of Kyoto have no idea. Yasaburou is one of three sons of an influential tanuki family. He spends his days using the tanuki shape-shifting ability to look human and move among humans much like his mother who spends her days hustling pool. The family is also mourning the death of the family patriarch, Yasaburou’s father, who was eaten by a group of humans. The story is part drama, part slice of life, and part mystery as they live their lives and come ever closer to understanding the real reason behind their fathers' demise.

The artistic style of the series reminds you a bit of Kyoto Animation with its soft color tones and soft edges in the character design. If you’re reading this, P.A. Works, that's meant as a compliment. We find the story realistic to the point we can easily think the tanuki walk among us. The attention to detail is also noteworthy. You can tell without a doubt that from the osen to the ice cream shop that many locations are artistic renderings of real places. We love the creativity of storytelling in this tale of tanuki and recommend it to all ages.

The Eccentric Family Trailer:


7. Kuromukuro

  • Episodes: 26
  • Aired: Apr. 2016- Sep. 2016

Ancient artifact? Check. Alien invasion? Check. Reserved high school girl? Check. We are go for a mecha battle anime. The excavation of the Kurobe Dam in western Japan revealed a massive ancient artifact that seemed to defy human understanding. The United Nations sets up a lab for the top scientist in the world to research the monolithic structure. A school is established for the children of the scientists and among the students we find Yukine Shirahane, the daughter of the facility’s head. Yukine manages to set a young samurai free from the object; he’s from the Sengoku era and named Kennosuke Tokisada Ouma. We find at the same time an alien race determined to expand its empire has had its eyes set on Earth. It isn’t the first time they tried to invade, either. We watch Kennosuke, Yukina and a cast of school kids, scientists and soldiers attempt to live their lives and defend the planet against overwhelming odds.

Kuromukuro is a great story told in two arcs. The first arc, 12 episodes, establishes the characters, their relationships, and our reasons for caring about them. The second arc is the battle. The end of the series leaves the potential for a third arc, one that couldn’t come soon enough for some of us. A big reason to like this story is the details in the grounded nature of the human-made mecha. You don't see the human-made mecha fly or defy the laws of physics. The characters talk about mass and energy consumption and you feel like these machines could exist. We will admit the alien-made mecha is a bit fantastical but it’s from an interstellar species so we can let that slide. The story is a fun slice of life and adventure. If you like mecha anime this should absolutely be on your list.

Kuromukuro PV


6. Angel Beats!

  • Episodes: 13
  • Aired: Apr. 2010- Jun. 2010

Otonashi awakes to find himself outside a school he doesn’t recognize and in a gun battle. A bossy, armed school girl quickly informs him he’s already dead and that he is currently in the afterlife. Yuri, the aforementioned school girl, inducts him into the SSS or the Afterlife Battlefront. The SSS is a school organization determined to fight their way out of the afterlife. The enemy is none other than a girl they refer to as Angel because she can make wings appear on her back. Despite believing that Angel is evil, Otonashi is inexplicably drawn to her. He finds that not all the assumptions they have been making about the afterlife are correct and a greater mystery is yet to be uncovered.

Angel Beats! has two really important things going for it: music and characters. We find the music for the open is remarkable, the notes cascading off the piano make you feel as though you are floating to some ethereal place. The music by the band Girls Dead Monster is awesome. The song “Last Song” is sung with such deep passion and angst it feels as though you’re listening to someone’s soul being torn from their body. The singing voice for the lead singer Masami Iwasawa is vocalist Marina. The second song is “My Soul, Your Beats” sung by no other than anime songstress LiSA. The other outstanding part of Angel Beats! is the characters, or more so the backstories of the characters. We take moments to look into the lives of the members of the SSS and what led to their deaths to send them to the afterlife. The stories are gut-wrenching. A what-if story about two members meeting before they died is even more so. You should check it out Angel Beats! for the music, emotion, and some fun moments too.

Angel Beats Trailer



5. HaruChika: Haruta to Chika wa Seishun suru (Haruchika: Haruta & Chika)

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: Jan. 2016- Mar. 2016

Chika has never been considered a girly girl. She was an all-star volleyball player and spent more time in sweats than skirts. Chika comes to the conclusion at the beginning of her high school life to become a “cute girl.” She decides that she should leave the athletic life behind and join the Wind Instrument Club and play the flute. She develops a crush on her teacher and quickly discovers she has a romantic rival in her class. Haruta, Chika’s best male friend is also crushing pretty hard on his teacher. Haruta Kamijou is also everything that Chika aspires to be, feminine and filled with grace. The best friends attempt to live their perfect high school lives and get the attention of their instructor. Unfortunately, mysteries just keep getting in the way as Haruta and Chika prove to be the Holmes and Watson of their school, constantly drawn into solving some of the biggest puzzles plaguing the pupils.

HaruChika is a great slice of life. You have the mystery angle and the club setting but basically, it is a slice of life. We watch these two characters with good chemistry tease and support each other. A big reason that this story is on the list is Haruta; he is gay, he is out, he is unembarrassed, and no one cares. The fact that he has a crush on a male teacher isn’t any more significant than Chika’s crush. We applaud P.A. Works for simply creating a character that isn’t a stereotype or odd. He is just Haruta and he happens to like boys. The choice to go with a progressive character is enough reason to place HaruChika on the list.

HaruChika: Haruta to Chika wa Seishun suru PV


4. Charlotte

  • Episodes: 13
  • Aired: Jul. 2015- Sep. 2015

Yuu Otosaka is a charming and smart high school student, except that he isn’t. He is actually a con-man and a cheat. Yuu has a secret power that allows him to hop in someone’s body and control it for five seconds. He uses his power to get into a prestigious high school where he meets Nao Tomori, a mystery of a girl that seems to have a lot of power in the school as the student council president. Nao catches Yuu in the act and basically blackmails him into joining the student council. He finds that the student council has a secret mission to seek out, find, and bring in adolescents who have powers and protect them from a mysterious organization.

P.A. Works does a great job with this show. Of course, we get stellar character design, voice acting, and artwork, but we also get a great story. You start out watching a program that feels like a lot of supernatural high school shows. You feel like they may be going down the route of Yamada-kun and the 7 Witches or The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya then they throw you a curve ball at the beginning of the second arc and it becomes something epic. The school story becomes something far greater than finding kids with powers, it becomes a tale of sacrifice to ensure a generation of children isn't enslaved by powers with malicious intent. The transformation Yuu makes from self-centered jerk to savior is truly great and a key reason to watch.

Charlotte Trailer


3. Nagi no Asukara (A Lull in the Sea)

  • Episodes: 26
  • Aired: Oct. 2013- Apr. 2014

The human race didn’t always live on land. We, at least in this world, once lived beneath the sea. We lived and worked under the sea blessed with the power to breathe underwater. The story says that at some point some humans decided to leave mother ocean and because of that were stripped of their underwater abilities. A divide gradually developed between the two peoples despite their living side by side in many shore-side towns. A Lull in the Sea follows the story of Hikari Sakishima and Manaka Mukaido, along with their childhood friends Chisaki Hiradaira and Kaname Isaki, who are forced to leave the sea and attend a school on the surface when their school closes due to declining population. The children of the sea have to adapt to their new school and new ways of doing things in an attempt to live their lives as chaotic events beyond their control begin to gather around them.

A Lull in the Sea is simply beautiful. You can watch the whole story without the sound or translation and simply be awed by the masterpieces that serve as the background. You will notice the world beneath the waves appears to be inspired by the villages in the Greek islands. The story itself, despite the fantastical setting, is about children from the wrong side of the tracks showing up at a school where they face prejudice and mistrust not because of how they look but because of where they were from. You even get a nice star-crossed romance too. We wholly recommend this masterpiece of animation in art and storytelling.

A Lull in the Sea Trailer:


2. Sakura Quest

  • Episodes: 25
  • Aired: Apr. 2017- Sep. 2017

Yoshino Koharu is a recent college graduate and she has been out on 30 job interviews and struck out 30 times. She grew up in a small town and wants nothing more than to leave that small-town life behind and live the exciting life in Tokyo. Her dream seems to be fading with each rejection. She finally gets a job with the tourism board in the town of Manoyama. She is to serve as their queen for a period of one year as the leader of the towns “mini-kingdom”—the kingdom of Chupacabra. The kingdom, by any other definition, would be called a tourist trap. Sakura Quest is about a town that is trying to find itself in the new economy, an economy where artisan woodworking and farming just aren’t the prosperous careers they once were. The spunky queen assembles a court of other young ladies–more than one of whom have had their big-city careers stall–and have looked to start over in the small town. The girls work hard and gain experience about the job, the town, life and themselves as they try to pull a town back from the brink of disappearing.

Sakura Quest is a fun slice of life about new beginnings. We watch five girls, Yoshino, Shiori, Maki, Sanae, and Ririko, trying figure out who they are when the lives they had planned didn't work out. The art and character design are top-notch as you would expect from P.A. Works but where this anime excels is in the storytelling. The scriptwriters and the director make believable characters that seem like people you'd meet every day, especially if you work in a small town. P.A. Works was able to take something as mundane as a small town struggling to attract tourists and turn it into a gripping drama without shoehorned melodramatic moments. The compelling characters will have you looking forward to each episode and, without any spoilers, the ending is the most perfect ending for a show like this you could imagine.

Sakura Quest PV:


1. Shirobako

  • Episodes: 24
  • Aired: Oct. 2014- Mar. 2015

“We wanted to make an anime about the industry as it exists in the present,” were the words P.A. Works CEO Kenji Horikawa used when asked about this love letter to the anime industry. Shirobako, or the White Box, referring to the blank sheet of drawing paper animators use, focuses on several young women at the beginning of their careers in the industry. Aoi Miyamori is the lead in this story because as a production desk assistant she is involved in nearly every aspect of making anime. You follow her ups and downs as she stresses to the breaking point trying to wrangle artists, distributors, suppliers, actors, and directors to meet deadlines and get their anime on the air.

Do you want to know what the industry is like? Horikawa said this is it. The characters may be a bit eccentric and some of the situations push the envelope for comedic reasons, such as locking a director in a closet until he finishes his storyboards. Shirobako, in general, has a cast of real people. You simply need to search the net for “Shirobako in real life" and you'll see several of the characters are almost direct portraits of their real-life counterparts. The most obvious is of the fictitious company's president, Masato Marukawa, and Masao Maruyama, the founder of Madhouse productions. The story could easily have been a drama with living, breathing actors. The settings are realistic and the situations relatable, making them both connect with the audience on multiple levels. We, as lovers of anime, can’t recommend this anime enough. This anime about the process and passion of making anime makes it the obvious number one choice for this list of Top 10 Anime by P.A. Works.

Shirobako Trailer


Final Thoughts

P.A. Works is simply one of our favorite studios. We see their name attached to a production and expect to be wowed. The best current example of that is Uma Masume: Pretty Derby, a show we might have passed over at the concept but watched and found ourselves amazed by the level storytelling with such a silly premise. We know we’ll probably hear comments that Hanasaku Iroha didn't make the list when the story has even spawned a real-life festival in the town where it was set. We just had to make hard choices and its made several other lists over the years. The quality of P.A. Works’ storytelling is why you should check out their anime. The writers, artists, and directors manage to tell incredibly human stories in settings from the fantastical to the mundane. We look forward to all their upcoming works, especially a new season of Shirobako. We just hope they gave Aoi a promotion after four years.

Uma-Musume-Pretty-Derby-Wallpaper Top 10 Anime Made by P.A.WORKS [Updated Best Recommendations]

Writer

Author: Zeke Changuris

I’m a journalist, writer, photographer, video producer, social media manager and above all a storyteller. I’m located on the east coast of the United States but travel the world with the love of my life. I’ve been a nerd since birth with a love of history and science. I fell in love with anime, watching ROBOTECH and Venus Wars in the 80s when our only source was secondhand VHS dubs. A crazy new thing called the internet changed that, giving me access to new and amazing anime every day. I love to write for work and pleasure. I’m living the dream of every kid, getting paid to watch anime and loving every subtitled line.

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Top 5 Anime by Zeke Changuris



Original Article Below

Uma-Musume-Pretty-Derby-Wallpaper Top 10 Anime Made by P.A.WORKS [Updated Best Recommendations]

In the relatively short time that Progressive Animation Works, better known by their more common moniker, P.A. Works, has been producing anime, the company has created a very formidable reputation for itself. With creations that reflect an intrinsic attention to detail and an extremely high standard for the quality of its work, P.A. Works has become one of Japan’s premier animation studios.

The company itself was established on November 10, 2000 by president and founder Kenji Horikawa, who once worked for Tatsunoko Production, Production I.G., and Bee Train. The company’s main office is located in Toyama, Japan, where the drawing and digital photography take place. Another office, found in Tokyo, is where the production and direction take place.

One thing that separates P.A. Works from the conventional anime production company is the fact that it is not limited to anime series alone. Through its history, it has collaborated with a number of other companies to produce animation sequences for video games. As of date, P.A. Works has shown no signs of stopping, and it probably won’t, for a very long time to come.

Here then, are the top ten works of P.A. Works (pun intended)! Take note that these are the anime that the company produced on their own, without

10. Glasslip

Uma-Musume-Pretty-Derby-Wallpaper Top 10 Anime Made by P.A.WORKS [Updated Best Recommendations]
  • Episodes: 13
  • Aired: July 2014 – September 2014

The story focuses on 18-year-old Toko Fukami, who belongs to a family that runs a glass-working business. With dreams of becoming an artisan in the future, she has the rare ability of seeing images of the future when she focuses her eyes on glass. When she meets Kakeru Okikura, a mysterious boy who claims to hear a voice that leads him to her, Toko’s life will never be the same.

Glasslip became one of the notable creations of P.A. Works, with critics praising the series’ overall production quality. The series’ visuals, for one, has garnered much praise, as each episode was created in such a way that each detail, frame, and background music was meticulously directed onto each scene. The series proved quite successful, with a manga adaptation released after.

Title: Glasslip HD PV 1 ENG SUB

Uma-Musume-Pretty-Derby-Wallpaper Top 10 Anime Made by P.A.WORKS [Updated Best Recommendations]


9. True Tears

Uma-Musume-Pretty-Derby-Wallpaper Top 10 Anime Made by P.A.WORKS [Updated Best Recommendations]
  • Episodes: 13
  • Aired: January 2008 – March 2008

True Tears revolves around Shinichiro Nakagami, a young man who has a passion for drawing, and Hiromi Yuasa, the daughter of a close family friend who recently passed away. Living together under the same roof due to the present circumstances, Shinichiro starts wondering why Hiromi, who has been his close friend for years, started becoming very aloof and unfeeling towards him. As the story unfolds, Shinichiro discovers the reasons why Hiromi has decided to lock her tears away towards him.

True Tears is P.A. Works’ debut work, and the company did not scrimp on anything during its conception. Featuring a great soundtrack and a very uncompromising art style, this slice of life anime has become one of the company’s most notable works. It was eventually distributed worldwide by Bandai Entertainment for the North American release, where it enjoyed moderate success. With an internet radio show released in line with the series, this anime managed to put P.A. works on the map.

Title: True Tears Trailer

Uma-Musume-Pretty-Derby-Wallpaper Top 10 Anime Made by P.A.WORKS [Updated Best Recommendations]


8. Uchouten Kazoku (The Eccentric Family)

Uma-Musume-Pretty-Derby-Wallpaper Top 10 Anime Made by P.A.WORKS [Updated Best Recommendations]
  • Episodes: 13
  • Aired: July 2013 – September 2013

With its relatively simple title, this anime comedy-drama was based on a novel written by Tomihiko Morimi. The story features a version of Kyoto where humans live side by side the Tanuki, who are beings of the earth, and the Tengu, who are beings of the sky. The plot focuses on the lives of the titular Shimogamo family, whose members constantly need to balance between living a free life, maintaining relationships with other Tanuki families, and avoiding harm in the form of the Friday Fellows, beings who feed on the flesh of Tanuki.

Uchouten Kazoku is one of P.A. Works’ productions that further established the company’s reputation as one of Japan’s premier anime companies. It carried much of P.A. Works’ trademarks, such as a top-notch animation quality and a great soundtrack. But possibly the best thing about the anime adaptation of this popular story is the fact that P.A. Works was able to do something that is rarely done in anime – a faithful adaptation of an original work that both honors its roots and enhances the story through impeccable execution.

Title: Uchouten Kazoku/有頂天家族 - Trailer English Subs

Uma-Musume-Pretty-Derby-Wallpaper Top 10 Anime Made by P.A.WORKS [Updated Best Recommendations]


7. Canaan

Uma-Musume-Pretty-Derby-Wallpaper Top 10 Anime Made by P.A.WORKS [Updated Best Recommendations]
  • Episodes: 13
  • Aired: July 2009 – September 2009

Canaan revolves around the adventures of Maria Osawa, a Japanese photographer currently working in Shanghai. While there, however, a series of mysterious, sinister events eventually lead her to an extremely dangerous situation, in which her only way out was to be saved by the titular heroine, Canaan, a white-haired, expert marksman and assassin from the Middle East. With the upcoming anti-terrorism summit fast approaching, Canaan must use all her skills in order to keep her friend safe, and to prevent a catastrophe from happening.

What made Canaan so memorable for fans is the fact that each of the main characters in the series was able to develop in a realistic, believable way as the plot progressed. Of course, the anime’s visuals were top-notch, with each frame meticulously detailed and CGI being seamlessly integrated into key shots. In fact, one of the things that fans loved most about the series was the fact that despite the intense action sequences, the quality of the animation never dropped at all. With a memorable and straightforward story, Canaan became a big hit, spawning a manga adaptation, a series of light novels, audio CDs, and a line of special edition action figures.

Title: Canaan Trailer – [HD]

Uma-Musume-Pretty-Derby-Wallpaper Top 10 Anime Made by P.A.WORKS [Updated Best Recommendations]


6. Tari Tari

Uma-Musume-Pretty-Derby-Wallpaper Top 10 Anime Made by P.A.WORKS [Updated Best Recommendations]
  • Episodes: 13
  • Aired: July 2012 – September 2012

Tari Tari is a beautiful coming-of-age tale about a group or five Japanese high school students who are caught between the poignant point in life where one is too old to be a child yet too young to be an adult. Weighed down by the impending conclusion to high school, each of the five protagonists manage to find something worth remembering during their last year together – the magic of music, and songs that will forever stay in their heart.

Being an anime that centers on mucic, Tari Tari certainly delivers in the musical aspects of the series, featuring great tracks both vocal and instrumental. True to P.A. Works’ other creations, Tari Tari was also made with the same high quality that has become the company’s trademark. But what endeared itself to its fans was the characterizations of the main characters, whose growth and maturity was really evident during the course of the series. The series was quite successful, being broadcasted abroad. A manga adaptation was also released.

Title: Tari Tari Anime Trailer

Uma-Musume-Pretty-Derby-Wallpaper Top 10 Anime Made by P.A.WORKS [Updated Best Recommendations]


5. Shirobako

Uma-Musume-Pretty-Derby-Wallpaper Top 10 Anime Made by P.A.WORKS [Updated Best Recommendations]
  • Episodes: 24
  • Aired: October 2014 – March 2015

Shirobako tells the story of Aoi Miyamori and her friends, who were inspired by her high school animation club to pursue a career in the anime industry. Applying for a job in an anime production company, Aoi and her friends quickly discover the hardships, stress, but ultimate sense of accomplishment one gets when working in the anime industry.

In a way, Shirobako is a deconstruction of the slice of life genre, with a plot that practically breaks the fourth wall in terms of how anime is made. The series employs a fairly simple art style, but one which works greatly nonetheless. The cast, though very vast, were fully fleshed out and developed pretty well. The story’s realism however, is probably the series’ greatest aspect, as the daily struggles in an industry where the main characters are passionate about are brought out in a very stylish and ingenious fashion. Shirobako was very well-received, with a novel and a manga series also produced in line with the anime.

Title: オリジナルTVアニメーション『SHIROBAKO』 コミックマーケット86公開PV

Uma-Musume-Pretty-Derby-Wallpaper Top 10 Anime Made by P.A.WORKS [Updated Best Recommendations]


4. Nagi no Asukara (Nagi Asu: A Lull in the Sea)

Uma-Musume-Pretty-Derby-Wallpaper Top 10 Anime Made by P.A.WORKS [Updated Best Recommendations]
  • Episodes: 26
  • Aired: October 2013 – April 2014

Nagi no Asukara features a world where human civilization used to live on the ocean floor. Through time, humans began migrating to the surface, eventually inciting a rift between the two groups. The story revolves around five friends who used to live normal lives as citizens of the sea, until their school closes and they are forced to attend a school on the surface. Thus, begins their journey in exploration on the new environment, while dealing with their own maturity and the ever present distance between ocean and land-dwellers.

The trademarks of P.A. Works is very noticeable in this anime, which features impeccable production values and a soundtrack that is just right. The plot, however, is the series’ strongest point, as critics have pointed out that Nagi no Asukara is one of the rare instances where romance and slice of life is done right. Another thing that has garnered the adoration of fans is the fact that the plot is just so darn unpredictable, with each character serving a greater purpose as to the anime’s plot. With a manga adaptation and a successful release abroad this anime is widely considered the title where P.A. Works outdid themselves.

Title: Nagi no Asukara - PV [English Sub]

Uma-Musume-Pretty-Derby-Wallpaper Top 10 Anime Made by P.A.WORKS [Updated Best Recommendations]


3. Another

Uma-Musume-Pretty-Derby-Wallpaper Top 10 Anime Made by P.A.WORKS [Updated Best Recommendations]
  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: January 2012 – March 2012

Another revolves around a young man, Koichi Sakakibara, who recently transferred to Yomiyama Middle School. Upon transferring to his new school, Koichi notices a number of things being amiss, including a mysterious girl with a dilapidated desk who always sits at the back of the class, and who seems to be all but invisible. Piqued, Koichi decides to pursue a friendship with the girl, and by doing so, he quickly gets drawn in a series of deadly, supernatural events that date back to the 70’s.

Just like the Uchouten Kazoku, which is based on a Japanese novel, Another is also an anime with its roots in literature. Based on the novel by Yukito Ayatsuji, Another has become one of P.A. Works’ most successful titles, spawning a plethora of merchandise, as well as a manga release and later, a live-action version of the anime. What makes Another so distinct is the fact that it carries all of P.A. Works’ trademarks, from the impeccable art, to the seamless adaptation of the vents in the novel to the anime. It was eventually considered as one of the premier examples of real Horror anime, which uses atmosphere and a strong plot to terrify its viewers instead of the usual jumpscare and gore fest typically found in titles like Corpse Party: Tortured Souls.

Title: Another (Anime) - Trailer

Uma-Musume-Pretty-Derby-Wallpaper Top 10 Anime Made by P.A.WORKS [Updated Best Recommendations]


2. Hanasaku Iroha (The Colors of Blooming)

Uma-Musume-Pretty-Derby-Wallpaper Top 10 Anime Made by P.A.WORKS [Updated Best Recommendations]
  • Episodes: 26
  • Aired: April 2011 – September 2011

Hanasaku Iroha features the story of Ohana Matsumae, a 16-year-old girl forced to move back to her family’s province and live with her grandmother after her mother runs away with her boyfriend. Upon arriving however, Ohana quickly finds out that she is also tasked to operate the family’s hot spring inn, and that she is very much disliked by the inn’s employees. Faced with the odds, Ohana decides to face all trials before her head-on.

Combing elements of the slice of life genre and the traditional coming of age tale, Hanasaku Iroha is one of P.A. Works’ finest anime. Created as the studio’s tenth anniversary work, it has everything that one can expect from the company, with top-notch, detailed visuals and a plot that is both realistic and profound. As a series, Hanasaku Iroha is a bit longer than the usual P.A. Works fare, though most critics nonetheless lauded the company for pulling off yet another rare stunt – balancing the length of the series with the amount of plot material seamlessly. Released internationally, the anime has been widely successful, among critics and audiences alike.

Title: Hanasaku Iroha ~ Blossoms for Tomorrow ~ Vol 1 - Official Trailer

Uma-Musume-Pretty-Derby-Wallpaper Top 10 Anime Made by P.A.WORKS [Updated Best Recommendations]


1. Angel Beats!

Uma-Musume-Pretty-Derby-Wallpaper Top 10 Anime Made by P.A.WORKS [Updated Best Recommendations]
  • Episodes: 13
  • Aired: April 2010 – June 2010

Angel Beats! revolves around the adventures of Yuzuru Otonashi, who finds himself in Purgatory, which takes the form of a high school. He is soon acquainted with Yuri Nakamura, the confident, beautiful leader of the SSS, an organization she formed to fight against God. However, not all seems simple as the existence of Angel, a mysterious girl who takes the role of the student council president, seems to suggest that there are forces preventing the SSS from ultimately reaching its goal. Soon, Otonashi discovers the secrets behind Angel’s role, as well as the reasons behind everyone’s existence in the school.

Angel Beats! is one of, if not the defining anime produced by P.A. Works. Working with Jun Maeda, the mind behind titles such as Air, Kanon and Clanaad, P.A. Works was able to create an anime that has been widely successful in its release. With flawless visuals and a killer soundtrack, Angel Beats! has become one of the most popular anime produced in recent years, both in Japan and abroad. The popularity of the anime spawned a manga adaptation, a visual novel, and a series of concert tours featuring the songs used in the anime. Truly, Angel Beats! has become P.A. Works’ magnum opus to date, and one which will definitely be yet another star under the company’s belt.

Title: Angel Beats! Trailer PV8 ENG SUB

Uma-Musume-Pretty-Derby-Wallpaper Top 10 Anime Made by P.A.WORKS [Updated Best Recommendations]


Uma-Musume-Pretty-Derby-Wallpaper Top 10 Anime Made by P.A.WORKS [Updated Best Recommendations]
Uma-Musume-Pretty-Derby-Wallpaper Top 10 Anime Made by P.A.WORKS [Updated Best Recommendations]

Though fairly new to the anime industry, P.A. Works is consistently proving that a company based on the love and passion for the art it conceives, as well as a philosophy of being open to changes and collaboration with the greats in anime, is able to create masterpieces. Its creations have become hits in Japan and abroad, and the quality of its work has become the company’s trademark. Truly, P.A. Works is one company that can only get better in time.

Just take Charlotte for instance. As the anime nears it's 11 episode, we have already been blown away with the art, storyline, and wonderful character development, is establishing the studios creditability further as one of the greatest studios in the industry! As great as it is now, I don’t think the company has even reached its peak yet. And when it does, it will undoubtedly be even more considered as one of Japan’s premier animation studios.

Uma-Musume-Pretty-Derby-Wallpaper Top 10 Anime Made by P.A.WORKS [Updated Best Recommendations]

Writer

Author: Peter "Virage" de Jesus

In the game of life, the Universe deals us a hand of cards. Some revel in the fortunes they are provided. Others resort to clawing their way up with the bad hand that they are dealt. A number would fold as the years go by. Our existence is a game of chances, and in this game, we all play. I play life in Hard Mode.

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Top 5 Anime by Peter "Virage" de Jesus