Want something where you don’t have to always follow the plot? You can watch some of these.
Nowadays, it feels like we don’t get episodic series anymore. On the one hand, newer fans don’t seem to like them, preferring things that have an overarching narrative.
That said, many fans have a soft spot for series that tell a new story in every episode — they just feel nostalgic, like watching something on TV when you were a child. If you want an anime like that, here are 10 good options you might consider.
Cowboy Bebop is probably the most famous episodic anime out there. It’s funny, because it is not entirely episodic: there’s actually a plot in the second half of it. That said, a lot of people remember it for the various one-episode adventures the characters go on, which take the majority of the screen time.
The anime is famous for its amazing visuals and music, and is worth watching for them alone. Don’t skip the movie, Cowboy Bebop: Tengoku no Tobira, either — it’s essentially just an extended episode of the series. Furthermore, Samurai Champloo, made by the author of Bebop, is a similar recommendation in a different setting.
Kino's Journey
Every episode in Kino’s Journey (Kino no Tabi: The Beautiful World) is standalone (well, except for the two-episode arc in the middle of the original series). Kino, traveling through the world with her talking motorcycle, visits different countries — and we learn more about people just as we learn more about her.
The anime is very philosophical in nature, and both the old and the new series are good, though the original is still considered to be the better one.
Mushishi follows an enigmatic man, Ginko, who has a unique ability to see mushi — the most basic form of spirits in this world. Traveling through Japan, he helps people with their supernatural — and not only supernatural — problems.
Every episode is its own story, and every single one comments on a certain social phenomenon or issue.
Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina
Often considered a newer take on Kino’s Journey, Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina (Majo no Tabitabi) follows Elaina on her journey through multiple worlds. Taking the role of a passive observer most of the time, she sees how people of different worlds live.
If you think the anime is going to be a fun and happy adventure, you’re very mistaken — it deals with a lot of surprisingly dark themes.
Space☆Dandy
Space Dandy is, you guessed it, an anime about a dandy in space. It’s considered by many to be the spiritual successor to Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, and the comparison makes sense, considering it’s also made by the same person.
What is perhaps the most interesting about this anime, however, is the fact that for almost every episode, a new famous director or animator was invited. As a result of this approach, each episode feels different from the rest, and the show keeps being fresh and new.
Case Closed
We don’t really get many actual detective series in anime. Even the most popular one, Bungou Stray Dogs, often goes into battle shounen with superpowers territory instead. However, fans of crime drama series might enjoy Case Closed (Meitantei Conan), also known as Detective Conan.
The anime does have a plot, but it’s rarely relevant. Most of the time, the characters just solve criminal cases — and there are over a thousand episodes. There are rumors that the mangaka had already written the ending, but decided not to publish it until his death, focusing on individual cases instead.
Asobi Asobase – workshop of fun – tricks you into believing it is just a normal slice-of-life series with its opening. That couldn’t be further from the truth: instead, it’s a slapstick comedy with weird and often very crude humor.
If you like the Fate series, you can watch Carnival Phantasm — a parody spin-off of the franchise. Keep in mind, though, that it requires knowing more than just Fate/Zero — the jokes get funnier the more familiar you are with the franchise.
At many points, Carnival Phantasm even includes characters from other works by Kinoko Nasu, including The Garden of Sinners (Kara no Kyoukai) and Lunar Legend Tsukihime (Shingetsutan Tsukihime). It might seem like a harsh set of prerequisites, but trust us: it’s funny either way.
Star Wars: Visions
Yes, there is a Star Wars anime. No, it’s not an adaptation of the actual story — or even a reimagining of it. Instead, it’s a collection of nine short stories connected to the franchise and the world of Star Wars.
While some of them take creative liberties and are only loosely tied to the actual canon of the movies, they are worth watching for the animation alone.
Seraphim Call
Okay, here it’s where it gets weird. Seraphim Call is a very obscure anime from 1999 that follows 11 girls, all of whom are unique in some way. Each episode focuses on a particular episode from the life of one of them (yes, Episodes 5 and 6 are supposed to be like that — you’ll understand when you get there).
What’s the 12th episode for? Well, it actually connects the short stories together, and does so in a very beautiful way. While the visuals are certainly quite dated, it’s worth watching just because of how weird it is.
Want something where you don’t have to always follow the plot? You can watch some of these.
Nowadays, it feels like we don’t get episodic series anymore. On the one hand, newer fans don’t seem to like them, preferring things that have an overarching narrative.
That said, many fans have a soft spot for series that tell a new story in every episode — they just feel nostalgic, like watching something on TV when you were a child. If you want an anime like that, here are 10 good options you might consider.
Cowboy Bebop is probably the most famous episodic anime out there. It’s funny, because it is not entirely episodic: there’s actually a plot in the second half of it. That said, a lot of people remember it for the various one-episode adventures the characters go on, which take the majority of the screen time.
The anime is famous for its amazing visuals and music, and is worth watching for them alone. Don’t skip the movie, Cowboy Bebop: Tengoku no Tobira, either — it’s essentially just an extended episode of the series. Furthermore, Samurai Champloo, made by the author of Bebop, is a similar recommendation in a different setting.
Kino's Journey
Every episode in Kino’s Journey (Kino no Tabi: The Beautiful World) is standalone (well, except for the two-episode arc in the middle of the original series). Kino, traveling through the world with her talking motorcycle, visits different countries — and we learn more about people just as we learn more about her.
The anime is very philosophical in nature, and both the old and the new series are good, though the original is still considered to be the better one.
Mushishi follows an enigmatic man, Ginko, who has a unique ability to see mushi — the most basic form of spirits in this world. Traveling through Japan, he helps people with their supernatural — and not only supernatural — problems.
Every episode is its own story, and every single one comments on a certain social phenomenon or issue.
Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina
Often considered a newer take on Kino’s Journey, Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina (Majo no Tabitabi) follows Elaina on her journey through multiple worlds. Taking the role of a passive observer most of the time, she sees how people of different worlds live.
If you think the anime is going to be a fun and happy adventure, you’re very mistaken — it deals with a lot of surprisingly dark themes.
Space☆Dandy
Space Dandy is, you guessed it, an anime about a dandy in space. It’s considered by many to be the spiritual successor to Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, and the comparison makes sense, considering it’s also made by the same person.
What is perhaps the most interesting about this anime, however, is the fact that for almost every episode, a new famous director or animator was invited. As a result of this approach, each episode feels different from the rest, and the show keeps being fresh and new.
Case Closed
We don’t really get many actual detective series in anime. Even the most popular one, Bungou Stray Dogs, often goes into battle shounen with superpowers territory instead. However, fans of crime drama series might enjoy Case Closed (Meitantei Conan), also known as Detective Conan.
The anime does have a plot, but it’s rarely relevant. Most of the time, the characters just solve criminal cases — and there are over a thousand episodes. There are rumors that the mangaka had already written the ending, but decided not to publish it until his death, focusing on individual cases instead.
Asobi Asobase – workshop of fun – tricks you into believing it is just a normal slice-of-life series with its opening. That couldn’t be further from the truth: instead, it’s a slapstick comedy with weird and often very crude humor.
If you like the Fate series, you can watch Carnival Phantasm — a parody spin-off of the franchise. Keep in mind, though, that it requires knowing more than just Fate/Zero — the jokes get funnier the more familiar you are with the franchise.
At many points, Carnival Phantasm even includes characters from other works by Kinoko Nasu, including The Garden of Sinners (Kara no Kyoukai) and Lunar Legend Tsukihime (Shingetsutan Tsukihime). It might seem like a harsh set of prerequisites, but trust us: it’s funny either way.
Star Wars: Visions
Yes, there is a Star Wars anime. No, it’s not an adaptation of the actual story — or even a reimagining of it. Instead, it’s a collection of nine short stories connected to the franchise and the world of Star Wars.
While some of them take creative liberties and are only loosely tied to the actual canon of the movies, they are worth watching for the animation alone.
Seraphim Call
Okay, here it’s where it gets weird. Seraphim Call is a very obscure anime from 1999 that follows 11 girls, all of whom are unique in some way. Each episode focuses on a particular episode from the life of one of them (yes, Episodes 5 and 6 are supposed to be like that — you’ll understand when you get there).
What’s the 12th episode for? Well, it actually connects the short stories together, and does so in a very beautiful way. While the visuals are certainly quite dated, it’s worth watching just because of how weird it is.
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