Established in 1981 by the former Mushi Pro staff, Kyoto Animation has a credible reputation for great anime. Known for their moe art style, KyoAni has brought everything from lighthearted comedies to engaging dramas. This list looks at the 10 best anime from Kyoto Animation. Be sure to check out why we love Kyoto Animation.
On July 18, 2019 Kyoto Animation’s Studio 1 was the victim to an arson attack killing 35 people. The fire is classified as the deadliest fire since 2001 in Japan. With parts of the studio destroyed, fans, companies, and communities came together to do what they can to help. On KyoAni’s website are instructions on how to donate to the rebuilding process.
10 Hyouka – 7.8/10
Released during the spring 2012 season, Hyouka is a mystery-slice of life anime. The anime follows Houtarou Oreki a high school student in the classics club. However, there is a mystery surrounding a club member’s uncle. Hyouka and the classic club must work together to solve this mystery, as well as other mysteries they encounter along the way. Hyouka is one season and ran for 22 episodes.
9 Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid – 7.9/10
Released during the summer 2005 season, Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid is the second season in the Full Metal Panic! series. The action-mech story was originally done by studio Gonzo before Kyoto Animations picked it up. The story follows Sousuke Sagara and Kaname Chidori, two high school students. While trying to balance their school life, a terrorist organization know as Amalgam appear. It’s back to saving the world for Sousuke and Kaname. FMP! The Second Raid ran for 13 episodes and has a sequel titled Full Metal Panic! Invisible Victory done by studio Xebec.
8 Clannad – 7.9/10
Widely regarded as one of Kyoto Animation’s most well known titles, Clannad was released during the fall 2007 season. Adapted from the visual novel Clannad, the school life-romance anime follows Tomoya Okazaki. Tomoya meets a variety of girls spending time with each of them through out high school. However, he takes a liking to the timid Nagisa Furukawa. Tomoya learns that Nagisa has an illness and wants to revive the drama club. Tomoya helps Nagisa work towards her dream with the help of the other girls he meets. Clannad has two seasons and ran for 23 episodes.
7 The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya – 7.9/10
Widely regarded as a classic masterpiece, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya was released during the spring 2006 season. The school-slice of life anime follows Haruhi Suzumiya, a high school girl interested in supernatural entities. Upon meeting Kyon, a boy with the same interests, shes inspired to start the SOS Brigade, a club interested in the supernatural. Recruiting more members for the club, Haruhi embarks on crazy adventures. The series wasn’t originally released in chronological order giving fans an alternate way to watch. The Haruhi Suzumiya series is two seasons and ran for 14 episodes.
6 Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu – 8.1/10
Released during the summer 2003 season, Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu is a side series done by Kyoto Animation in the Full Metal Panic! series. As stated in the first entry, Full Metal Panic! was originally done by studio Gonzo. The KyoAni side series follows Kaname Chidori and Sousuke Sagara, high school students at Jindai High School. The two get into antics when they try to live a normal high school life. This side series of Full Metal Panic! ran for 12 episodes.
5 The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya – 8.1/10
Released in 2010, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is a film following the second season in the Haruhi Suzumiya series. The story follows Kyon, a member of the SOS Brigade who has noticed Haruhi’s absence. However, she is not the only one. Itsuki has also gone missing, and the rest of the club has lost their memories. Widely regarded as one of the best arcs in the Haruhi Suzumiya series, the literature club now takes over the SOS Brigade. Kyon must now deal with new supernatural experiences.
4 A Silent Voice – 8.2/10
Released in 2016, A Silent Voice is a school life-drama film of a heartwarming tale. The plot follows Shouya Ishida who bullies Shouko Nishimiya a deaf girl in his elementary class. Shouya bullies Shouka to the point where she eventually moves away. When Shouka leaves, Shouya’s class puts the blame on him, being isolated. Now in high school, Shouya wants to make things right and searches for Shouko. He learns sign-language in hopes to build a relationship he never had.
3 Nichijou: My Ordinary Life – 8.3/10
Released during the spring 2011 season, Nichijou: My Oridnary Life is a comedy-slice of life anime. The anime follows Yuuko Aioi, Mio Naganohara, and Mai Minakami, childhood friends and now attending high school. The show follows their everyday lives as each day is a new story. Sometimes calm. Sometimes ridiculous. Nichijou: My Ordinary Life is one season that ran for 26 episodes. In addition, the series also has a 25 episode side story also done by Kyoto Animations.
2 Violet Evergarden – 8.4/10
Released during the winter 2018 season, Violet Evergarden is a fantasy-drama anime. Winning "Best Animation" at the Crunchyroll 2019 Anime Awards, Violet Evergarden is known for its beautiful visuals. The anime follows Violet Evergarden, a girl caught up in The Great War. Raised as a war machine, she doesn’t understand the concept of love. After the war, Violet works as a transcriber at CH Postal Services. Finding it hard to convey emotions into writing, Violet embarks on a journey to find out the meaning of love. Violet Evergarden is one season that ran for 13 episodes. The anime has been confirmed for a sequel movie.
1 Clannad: After Story – 8.6/10
The best anime from Kyoto Animation according to IMDb is Clannad: After Story. The sequel to Clannad, After Story is a romance-drama anime. Tomoya has decided that Nagisa is the girl for him and the two begin dating. Graduating high school, the anime follows their life together. When Nagisa gives birth to Ushio, the two embark on a new journey. Regarded as one of the saddest anime that is sure to make you cry, Clannad: After Story ran for 24 episodes during the fall 2008 season.