Highlights
- Shinichiro Watanabe's works have distinctive art styles and eccentric characters that fans instantly fall in love with.
- Watanabe's anime shows are beloved for their relatable and nuanced characters, exploring human relationships, identity, and morality in a fun and entertaining way.
- Watanabe's ability to fuse music, narrative, and visuals creates unforgettable anime experiences that span through decades and resonate with audiences globally.
Shinichiro Watanabe created some of the greatest sci-fi anime shows with hilarious and charming misfits fans couldn't help but fall instantly in love with. Watanabe's works have distinctive art styles and always feature eccentric characters who can't find their place in the world.
While Shinichiro Watanabe anime has superbly crafted stories and are set in meticulously built worlds, they're mainly beloved for their often weird but always relatable and nuanced characters. Anime fans can explore some of the best noir anime as well as exciting and meaningful anime sci-fi stories that explore human relationships, identity, and morality in a thoroughly fun, entertaining, and often hilarious way.
Updated August 29, 2023, by Via Erhard: Shinichiro Watanabe is not just one of the most talented anime directors but a storytelling virtuoso who is capable of creating truly one-of-a-kind tales that are as unpredictable as they are poignant. The director's distinct touch is easily recognizable in each of his projects, no matter if it's the jazzy vibes of Cowboy Bebop, the blend of hip-hop and samurai culture in Samurai Champloo, or the heartfelt melodies of Carole & Tuesday because his ability to fuse music, narrative, and distinctive visuals creates unforgettable experiences.
Anime fans can dive into these complex worlds that are not merely about the cool action scenes or the quirky characters; it's about the underlying themes that resonate with audiences globally. That's what sets Watanabe's work apart -- his keen understanding of humanity's nuances. His works span through decades, and thankfully he's also working on new projects, so anime fans can not only get lost in classic anime shows but get to know new characters and stories while embarking on introspective journeys across galaxies, eras, and emotions.
Lazarus
Not just Shinichiro Watanabe fans but all anime lovers who prefer dark sci-fi anime shows will be happy to hear that this iconic anime director is coming back with a new series titled Lazarus. While there is no certain release date for now, fans can already watch its first trailer and learn more about the anime's plot. Viewers will be transported into 2052, where humans are living their best life, thanks to a wonder drug, Hapuna, that has cured... well, everything.
As most fans would expect, there is a twist. The neuroscientist behind the miracle drug, Dr. Skinner, decides to come back with some not-so-great news: everyone who took the drug has a mere three years left before they die. Lazarus will not only have Watanabe's magic touch but its action choreography is created by the brilliant John Wick's director, Chad Stahelski. The show will also showcase MAPPA's animation prowess. With jazzy melodies from maestro Kamasi Washington, along with electronic rhythms by Floating Points and Bonobo, fans are set for a visually and audibly tantalizing experience.
8 Macross Plus
Mecha and music enthusiasts undoubtedly already know and love Macross Plus for its remarkable blend of intense aerial combat and artificial intelligence-driven pop melodies. Under the direction of the talented duo Shoji Kawamori and Shinichiro Watanabe, this OVA-turned-movie takes viewers to the year 2040 on the planet Eden. Macross Plus also has a distinctive art style that seamlessly fuses traditional hand-drawn animation with computer graphics of its era, which led to a visually captivating experience thanks to the richly detailed mecha designs and fluid combat sequences.
The story follows two childhood friends, Isamu and Guld, who find themselves as rival test pilots for next-gen fighter projects. The drama unfolds when unresolved feelings and memories resurface due to their mutual connection with Myung, now the producer for the AI diva, Sharon Apple. Enhanced by breathtaking visuals and the captivating soundscapes crafted by Yoko Kanno, Macross Plus stands as a testament to the golden era of '90s anime, delivering a story that's as thrilling as it is melodious.
7 Terror in Resonance
Terror in Resonance is Shinichiro Watanabe's darkest mystery anime series set in Tokyo. This thrilling crime anime has a twisty and thought-provoking story that deals with the issues of terrorism and paranoia. It's a popular anime show that has a great animation style as well as intriguing characters that truly make the experience memorable.
Terror in Resonance is set in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo, where most of the city has been destroyed by a sudden terrorist attack. The police have only a weird and bizarre internet video as a clue, so fear and paranoia soon start to plague all the survivors.
6 The Animatrix
The Animatrix is one of the most popular sci-fi anime anthologies of all time that was actually written by the original Matrix franchise creators Lana and Lilly Wachowski. However, the segments were directed by various Japanese filmmakers, including Shinichiro Watanabe, who directed the Kid's Story and A Detective Story.
The Animatrix became almost as popular as the original Matrix movies thanks to its stunning visuals and similarly twisty stories that explore AI and the relationship between body, brain, and mind. The stories are all related to the original Matrix universe, and fans can meet many of their favorite characters again, including Neo and Trinity.
5 Kids on the Slope
Kids on the Slope is Shinichiro Watanabe's most wholesome anime that's perfect for anime fans who love great slice-of-life anime stories. Most of the episodes of this charming music anime have been directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, who marked this feel-good show with his distinctive artistic style.
Kids on the Slope tells the story of an unlikely friendship that develops between the class delinquent and his introverted classmate once they realize that they both love jazz music. The stories follow their lives and adventures as their friendship develops, and their personalities are influenced by each other.
4 Carole & Tuesday
Carole & Tuesday is praised by fans and critics alike as one of the best music anime shows of all time. Many of the episodes were directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, who created one of the most memorable futuristic anime worlds.
Carole & Tuesday is a highly motivational story about two teen girls, a part-time worker Carole, and a rich runaway, Tuesday, who meet by chance and decide to start a band and make music together. The anime has a great art style as well as unforgettable music and is an inspiring story about working hard and never giving up when it comes to fighting for one's dream.
3 Space Dandy
Space Dandy is Shinichiro Watanabe's weirdest and funniest anime show that takes its viewers on a trippy and surreal adventures-filled journey. It's one of the most hilarious space anime series with unique visuals and some of the most unforgettable and eccentric characters ever created.
Space Dandy is about the misadventures of an alien hunter who's also known as the Space Dandy. Fans can follow his adventures as the Dandy embarks on various hunting missions around the galaxy while searching for rare and undiscovered aliens with the help of his friend Meow and his robot assistant QT.
2 Samurai Champloo
Samurai Champloo is Shinichiro Watanabe's epic adventure anime series with a beautifully designed world and some of the most honorable and hilarious characters. It's often praised as one of the best samurai anime series thanks to its remarkable art style, emotional stories, and brilliant characters.
While Samurai Champloo has breathtaking fighting scenes, it's a show not about fighting but about responsibility, justice, and loyalty. Its story follows two brave and talented Samurais with very different fighting styles and a teahouse waitress who rescues them from execution and asks them to help her find a mysterious samurai who smells like sunflowers.
1 Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop is Shinichiro Watanabe's most popular anime show, that's often praised by critics and fans as a perfect anime. It's one of the greatest anime set in a spaceship with a brilliantly built post-apocalyptic world and well-crafted and complex characters. Watanabe created the anime world's most well-known group of misfits who just tried to live their lives in a cruel and dark world.
Cowboy Bebop is a classic sci-fi anime that's set in a dystopian future in 2071, where Earth has become uninhabitable. Its stories follow a group of bounty hunters who travel around the solar system while trying to hunt down wanted fugitives to make some money. The fans can go on their often dangerous misadventures while also exploring the characters' stories, tragedies, and dreams on a deeper level.