Founded in 2005 by Mikihiro Iwata, A-1 Pictures is a modern anime studio known for its stunning visuals. Operating primarily off free-lance and outsourced production, A-1 Pictures have created over 200 memorable anime over the years and are still going strong in the current season.
A-1 Pictures has released anime across a wide variety of genres. This list looks at the 10 best A1-Pictures anime they have ever put out. The scores on this list coordinate with their IMDb ranking. Be sure to check out the other A-1 Pictures anime that didn’t make the list.
10 Black Butler – 7.8/10
Released during the fall 2008 season, Black Butler is a demon-supernatural anime. Known as the Queen’s Guard Dog, Ciel lives in Victorian England working for the queen. With assistance from the demon-butler known as Sebastian, Ciel does whatever he has to. At his lower point, Ciel makes a contract with Sebastian, exchanging his soul for revenge. Black Butler has three seasons and runs for 24 episodes.
9 Kaguya-sama: Love is War – 7.9/10
Released during the winter 2019 season, Kaguya-sama: Love is War is a psychological-romance anime. The story follows the student council president Miyuki Shirogane and vice president Kaguya Shinomiya. The two are in love with each other, but feel if they admit it first, it’s a sign of weakness. Fans of the psychological battle in Death Note are sure to like this series. The battles between Kaguya and Miyuki are like the battle between Light and L. Well thought out and methodical. Kaguya-sama: Love is War one season and ran for 12 episodes.
8 Magi: The Kingdom of Magic – 7.9/10
Magi: The Kingdom of Magic is the second season in the Magi series. Released during the fall 2013 season, Magi: The Kingdom of Magic is a fantasy-magic anime. The anime follows Alibaba Saluja, and his friends journeying to Sindria. Fresh off the battle with Al-Thamen, everyone decides to take on their own adventure. The plot follows each character as they take on their own adventures. The Magi series is three seasons and the second season ran for 25 episodes.
7 Fairy Tail – 8.0/10
Along with Sword Art Online, Fairy Tail is one of the most popular anime from A-1 Pictures. Released during the fall 2009 series, Fairy Tail is a fantasy-adventure series. Fairy Tail follows Natsu Dragneel who is part of the guild, Fairy Tail. Possessing supreme fire powers, Natsu often travels with celestial spirit user Lucy Heartfilia, ice wizard Gray Fullbuster, and swordswoman Erza Scarlet. The series follows their adventures together constantly saving Fairy Tail. Fairy Tail has just finished its final series at the end of the summer 2019 season titled Fairy Tail: Final Series. The first season of Fairy Tail ran for 175 episodes.
6 From the New World – 8.1/10
Better known by its Japanese title Shinsekai Yori, the anime was released during the fall 2012 season. The psychological-horror anime follows a mysterious outbreak affecting 0.1% of the population. The condition allows people to manipulate matter and some have used this power for evil. Creating a new world, society has isolated part of itself with new laws. Following Saki Watanabe, she and her friends learn to adapt to this new world realising not everyone follows the law. From the New World is one season and ran for 25 episodes.
5 Black Butler: Book of Circus – 8.2/10
On the list for the second time is the Black Butler series. Black Butler: Book of Circus is the third season of the series and is a demon-supernatural anime. Ciel is back to solve the case of the disappearing children under Queen Victoria’s order. Still partnered with Sebastian, the demon butler, the two try their best to uncover the mystery. However, things don’t seem to go as planned for the two. The third season of Black Butler is prequel to an OVA and a movie. The anime ran for 10 episodes.
4 The Seven Deadly Sins – 8.2/10
Released during the fall 2014 season, The Seven Deadly Sins is a fantasy-adventure anime. The series follows seven holy knights known as The Seven Deadly Sins. These seven holy knights are some of the strongest people in the land of Britannia. After the knights of Britannia rebelled against the kingdom to overthrow the king. The king’s daughter Elizabeth sets out on her own quest to find the The Seven Deadly Sins and defend the kingdom. Season three of the anime is set to release in the upcoming fall 2019 season. The Seven Deadly Sins first season ran for 24 episodes.
3 Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day – 8.3/10
Released during the spring 2011 season, Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day is one of the saddest anime ever. The slice of life-drama follows Menma a girl who is already dead. Returning to the world as a ghost, she can be seen by her friend Jinta. Wanting to spend more time with her friends she lets them know she is around by writing in a diary or carrying things when they’re nearby. Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day is one season and ran for 11 episodes.
2 Erased – 8.5/10
Released during the winter 2016 season, Erased is a supernatural-seinen anime. The anime follows Satoru Fujinuma, a 29-year-old man with the ability to turn back time. Moments before an accident happened Satoru is sent back in time realising, he has this power. He wants to be able to use this to prevent accidents before they happen. When Satoru is accused of a murder he is sent back to the past. Only 11-years-old, Satoru looks for clues at his school that could help him clear his name. Erased is one season and ran for 12 episodes.
1 Your Lie in April – 8.6/10
The best anime from A-1 Pictures according to IMDb is Your Lie in April. Released during the fall 2014 season, Your Lie in April is a music-drama anime. Considered to have one of the saddest deaths in anime, Your Lie in April follows Kousei Arima, a tone-deaf piano player. At school, Kousei meets Kaori Miyazono a violin player. After Kaori hears Kousei play the piano she decides that she wants him to be her accompanist. Kaori re-ignites the fire that Kousei once had for music and finds himself falling for her. Your Lie in April is one season and ran for 22 episodes.