Highlights
- Bones is a renowned anime studio known for pushing boundaries in storytelling and animation, making it one of the most respected studios in the anime industry.
- Bones has produced a diverse range of anime series in various genres, including action, comedy, and science fiction, attracting a strong fanbase worldwide.
- Some of the best anime made by Studio Bones showcase the studio's exceptional animation quality and memorable storytelling.
Bones has produced notable anime series and films since its inception in 1998. Starting with the iconic show, Cowboy Bebop, Bones has produced several shows varied in genre and approach. The studio’s willingness to push the boundaries of storytelling and animation is what sets Bones apart from its counterparts, making it one of the most renowned studios in the anime industry.
Including genres such as action, comedy, and science fiction to name a few, anime series produced by Bones are known to have strong fanbases across the world who wait eagerly for upcoming releases. Although the studio owns a vast portfolio full of several samples of anime gold, here are the ten best anime made by Studio Bones.
Updated September 4, 2023, by Emedo Destiny: Bones is one of the most respected studios in Japan, and its stellar reputation is reflective of its astounding quality. It is excellent at adapting source material while staying true to the story and has also adapted popular original works of its own. The quality of animation is exemplary, and the overall production value of some projects makes them worthy of being called masterpieces. Staff involved in Bones adaptations are usually well-balanced, with quality spread out evenly across most projects. The storyboarding, sound design, animation, and many other aspects are all up to scratch, and this often makes for memorable experiences.
15 Snow White With The Red Hair
Snow White with the Red Hair is a shoujo anime that, despite its name, doesn’t take that much inspiration from the storied classic you’d generally associate it with. It is centered around a cheerful young girl named Shirayuki, living out her profession as an apothecary and working hard at her craft.
Unfortunately, she is targeted by the prince of her kingdom, who wishes for her to be his concubine and is willing to employ force to have his way. As a result, she cuts her hair and runs away, only to be found by a prince belonging to the kingdom of Clarines. After her rescue, she resolves to improve her skills and work towards being a court herbalist in her savior's country.
14 Blast of Tempest
Blast of Tempest is an action mystery with an engaging storyline. Multiple characters in the series seemingly have different motives, but they all converge at one point in the story, making it one to stick around for. There are multiple protagonists, but the main duo focused on for most of the anime are Mahiro Fuwa and Yoshino Takigawa, both connected by a deceased girl who happened to be Mahiro’s sister and Yoshino’s lover.
After her death, the two drifted apart as Mahiro went on a driven search to find her killer, and Yoshino resumed his daily life. When Mahiro appears once again, it is revealed that he has enlisted the aid of a banished witch and drags Yoshino into a conflict bigger than he could have ever expected.
13 Gosick
Gosick is another mystery anime, but adapted from a light novel. The name is a play on the word “gothic,” as the series is heavily influenced by gothic mystery and takes place in a similarly themed setting. After arriving in a foreign school, the main protagonist is partly shunned due to his distinct features and spends most of his time alone.
While in the library on one fateful day, he was led up the stairs after discovering a strand of golden hair, and soon after, he met the mysterious girl Victorique de Blois. She gives off an eerie vibe, but the two quickly become acquainted regardless. Eventually, they form a deeper bond and go around solving mysteries with Victorique as the brains and Kujou as the support.
12 Soul Eater
Soul Eater is one of the works of Atsushi Ohkubo, the creator of Fire Force, and was adapted by Bones in the year 2008. Despite being relatively old, it features stellar animation and wonderful music, both of which are employed in tandem to create an amazing work. The story itself is also engaging as it involves humanoid beings that can transform into weapons with specific wielders assigned to each of these weapons.
It is set in a fictional world with a disfigured moon and an academy meant for training young meisters, which is what the users are called. The main aim of the academy is to help weapons consume 99 souls and one witch, leading them to become a Death Scythe fit for use by the school principal, Death.
11 Darker Than Black
Darker Than Black is one of anime’s most renowned original stories, and it premiered in the spring of 2007. It was created and directed by Tensai Okamura, who has worked on other popular projects such as Neon Genesis Evangelion, Cowboy Bebop, and the aforementioned Soul Eater. It is a sci-fi thriller featuring supernatural elements, with individuals possessing special abilities that make them much stronger than regular humans.
It all started ten years prior to the beginning of the anime, with Hell’s Gate appearing in Japan and seemingly creating Contractors. Contractors are people who have exchanged their humanity for powerful abilities, and the plot centers around them and a dangerous organization that threatens their very existence.
10 Bungo Stray Dogs
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Bungo Stray Dogs is a must-watch series for fans of action and supernatural anime. The series follows the "Armed Detective Agency," a group of individuals each with supernatural powers, known as 'abilities'. These abilities range from controlling the elements to having superhuman strength to writing stories that come to life. This rich diversity of abilities makes the series all the more captivating and engaging. The characters use their abilities to solve various cases and fight against their enemies.
Despite its slow start, the series picks up in the second season, heightening in quality to the standard that Bones is known for. For lovers of resonant shows such as Kekkai Sensen, Bungo Stray Dogs is not to be missed.
9 Carole & Tuesday
Carole & Tuesday is best described as a hidden gem created to tug on hearts. This show tells the story of two young women, Carole and Tuesday, who come from vastly different backgrounds but share a burning passion for music. The story is set in a futuristic world where humans live on Mars. Critics and viewers have praised the show for its unique setting, but it is just one of the many features that make Carole & Tuesday a gem of a show.
The show comes with a diverse set of characters, enjoyable music, and a lighthearted approach to themes of friendship and perseverance. Directed by the acclaimed Shinichirō Watanabe, this anime series is sure to leave viewers entranced.
8 Eureka Seven
Set in a futuristic world where humanity lives in cities built on giant mechanical platforms called "Scub Coral," Eureka Seven tells the story of Renton, a young boy who becomes embroiled in a war between humanity and the Scub Coral, and Eureka, a mysterious girl who pilots a giant robot known as the Nirvash.
The story is a relatively complex one with relatable characters and an interesting blend of science fiction and romance. With stunning animation and a memorable soundtrack, the show explores destiny, love, and the importance of understanding and coexisting with nature.
7 Noragami
In Noragami, also known as Stray God, Yato, a minor deity with big dreams of becoming famous, crosses paths with Hiyori Iki, a human girl who saves him from a near-death experience. Based on the manga series written and illustrated by Adachitoka, the story explores how Yato and Hiyori's friendship develops as they navigate the supernatural world together.
The series premiered in January 2014 and has a total of two seasons. Viewers love this show for its striking animation, noteworthy music, and unmistakable character design by Toshihiro Kawamoto.
6 SK8 The Infinity
Reki, a high school student who is passionate about skateboarding, meets Langa, a transfer student who is new to the sport but enthusiastic about it. Together, they discover a secret underground skatepark and compete in a series of high-stakes races.
Set in a fictional island where skateboarding is the most popular sport, SK8 the Infinity blends sports and action elements, which together have an overall thrilling effect. The show was directed by Hiroko Utsumi, who is well-known by fans for her involvement in other notable anime works such as Free!.
5 Space Dandy
A comedic sci-fi anime series, Space Dandy delves into the cosmic adventures of the titular character, an alien hunter who earns money from traveling the galaxy in search of new and exotic alien species. The series is known for its eccentric humor, unique art style, and diverse cast of characters.
With a perfect blend of comedy, science fiction, and adventure, the show pushes the boundaries of these individual genres. In short, Space Dandy is a daring, one-of-a-kind show that any anime lover should not miss out on.
4 Ouran High School Host Club
As a scholarship student at the prestigious Ouran Academy, Haruhi Fujioka accidentally stumbles upon the school's host club, a group of wealthy, attractive students who entertain female clients. This comedy anime series is directed by Takuya Igarashi, known for his work on other anime series such as Sailor Moon and Soul Hunter.
The series has a number of selling points, including its humor, relatable characters, and its parodic approach to the shojo genre, exploring gender roles and stereotypes. For anime fans looking for a fun, thought-provoking show, Ouran High School Host Club will likely be a good match.
3 My Hero Academia
In a world where nearly everyone has superpowers known as "Quirks," My Hero Academia tells the story of a young boy named Izuku Midoriya, who dreams of becoming a hero. After he becomes the successor for his idol’s quirk, Izuku trains to become a hero and navigate the world of professional superheroes.
Arguably inspired by American superhero comics from Marvel and DC, this popular show is perfect for fans of battle shonen, who love an action-packed show balanced with the heartwarming and inspiring experiences of diverse and well-developed characters.
2 Mob Psycho 100
Shigeo "Mob" Kageyama, a psychic high school student who desires to be normal, leads the story of this supernatural anime series. Directed by Yuzuru Tachikawa, this supernatural action anime series follows Mob as he struggles to live a normal life in spite of his abilities. As anyone who is familiar with powers knows, normal is never easily achieved by characters like Mob.
To gain control of his abilities, Mob takes Arataka Reigen as his mentor, a man who claims to be a psychic but is not. With Mob as its offbeat but interesting main character, Mob Psycho 100 is certainly a unique entry into the shonen canon.
1 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood features the story of Fullmetal Alchemist, which follows the journey of two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, as they search for the Philosopher's Stone to restore their bodies after a failed alchemical experiment. Directed by Yasuhiro Irie, the series is considered more faithful to the original manga when compared to the first anime adaptation.
This 2009 landmark series is longer, more detailed, and more vibrant than the 2003 original, though both are impressive feats. Adapted from the manga written by Hiromu Arakawa, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is Bones at its best, with beautiful and effectively executed animation and storytelling.