Fate/Apocrypha centres on the Holy Grail, a mystical object capable of granting the person who possesses it any wish they want. This has lead to Holy Grail Wars, where pairs of Masters and Servants fight to be the strongest team and earn the Grail. However, the last War ended suddenly when the Grail disappeared entirely. Years later, a guild called Yggdmillennia revealed that they had the Grail all along. The Holy Grail War begins again, but this time only between Yggdmillennia and the Mage’s Association. Each side sends forward seven pairs of Master and Servants, and whichever side still has people alive at the end is the winner.

Fate/Apocrypha is another chapter in the long-running and very popular Fate anime series. It’s exciting and fast-paced, with lots of fantasy action and adventure to enjoy. It has magic, it has drama, it has epic fight scenes with mages and warriors; basically, you can count on Fate/Apocrypha to keep you on the edge of your seat and waiting for the next episode. It also features a few of the anime world’s most popular characters at the moment, like the very famous Saber. Any fans of magic and fantasy anime won’t want to miss out on watching Fate/Apocrypha. It has a wide fan base to give you plenty of people to discuss it with, too.

The iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls sees a return to the 346 Production Idol Agency from the original The iDOLM@STER series. This time, the agency has started what they are calling the Cinderella Project. The idea is that they take girls who are living completely ordinary lives, pluck them from that normalcy, and make them into idols! Of course becoming an idol is never going to be easy, and these girls have to climb up literally from the bottom as they are thrust into a whole new world. Will they be able to make it to the top and become true idols?

Let’s face it, Idol anime is incredibly popular. Especially in Japan, The iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls was loved by many fans, and it’s sequels continue to hold the attention of huge audiences. The iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls has a good underdog story, lots of characters to become invested in, and of course great Idol music. It’s an anime about chasing your dreams and rising above your circumstances, which is something a lot of people can get behind. Whether you are curious about trying an Idol anime for the first time or are a devoted fan of the genre, A-1 Pictures made a great show with The iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls.

Ao no Exorcist is an anime about two worlds - the human one, Assiah, and the demon world, Gehenna. The only way for demons to move between these worlds is by possessing humans. However, Satan, the ruler of Gehenna, can’t find a human suitable enough for him to use. Thus he sends his son into Assiah instead, hoping to one day use his son to conquer Assiah. That’s where Rin Okumura comes in. He always thought he was a normal boy until he discovers he is actually the son of Satan! Going against his father’s wishes of taking Assiah together, Rin instead studies to become an exorcist to protect the human world.

Ao no Exorcist is a great anime for fans of demons and the supernatural, but don’t want something overly dark or scary. Ao no Exorcist instead is more of a fantasy story, though there’s plenty of action and demon fights to go around! It presents an interesting story as well, and Rin is a dynamic main character who is interesting to learn more about as the anime progresses. Ao no Exorcist features an anime-exclusive ending that differs from the manga as well, so you have to watch the anime to see it!

Sword Art Online begins as a video game lover’s dream and becomes their biggest nightmare. Set in the near future, Sword Art Online begins with the launch of a virtual reality game of the same name, where players are totally immersed in a fantasy world of monsters and magic. Though, when the game is launched, a serious error comes up - no one can log out! And what’s more, if they die in the game, their brain will also shut down in real life. The only way to save the thousands of players stuff in Sword Art Online is for someone to be brave enough to defeat the boss. That means risking their own life to save everyone else’s. The anime focuses on a solo player named Kirito as he makes friends and trains to be the top player in the game.

Sword Art Online has been an incredibly popular A1 Pictures title both in Japan and abroad, and for good reason. It’s fun to watch, well animated, colourful, and creative. It had a well-timed initial release when VR gaming was becoming a real thing in people’s homes and was already a buzzword for gamer and anime fans alike. And it’s gone on to have even more subsequent seasons, including one that is airing even as this article is published. While some people have complaints about an unoriginal premise or unbelievable characters, more people are happy to enjoy Sword Art Online and let themselves get immersed in the fantasy narrative.

Souta Takanashi absolutely loves small and cute things in Working!!. It’s because of this weakness that he allows small and cute Popura Taneshima recruits him to work at a restaurant in Hokkaido called Wagnaria. Wagnaria is far from your average restaurant environment though and is fuelled by an eccentric collection of workers that become Souta’s coworkers. The floor manager wields a katana, the waitress is afraid of men, and the chef is sadistic just to name a few! But Souta has the chance to constantly sore on Popura, though it only increases her complex about looking younger than she is.

Working!! is so charming thanks to its insane cast of characters. It’s a workplace comedy unlike any other, never having a dull moment at Wagnaria. Every episode brings something new and hilarious to this hodge-podge team to face, and you’ll be laughing at all of their antics every time. Working!! is a fun and a feel-good story that is entertaining to watch, and the character are sure to capture your heart, too. Working!! has gone on to have several sequels as well due to how well it was received initially, so you don’t have to just stop with one season luckily.

Kuroshitsuji’s story begins on a night of misfortune when young Ciel Phantomhive lost absolutely everything in his life. In his darkest moment, the young Victorian boy promised his soul to a demon in exchange for his help. This demon is now in the form of Sebastian Michaelis, who is certainly “one hell of a butler” to his young master. Ciel helps the Queen of England herself in solving cases and solving problems, all with the aid of his amazingly talented butler. But the reality is that Sebastian is slowly preparing Ciel’s soul to be his most delicious meal even as the two investigate Ciel’s unfortunate luck together.

Kuroshitsuji was massively popular when it first released both in Japan and abroad, and for good reason. It’s use of black comedy to balance an extremely dark story and concept with well-timed humour makes the anime appealing to many people. It also successfully brings alive Victorian England with amazingly detailed fashion and architecture, as well as beautiful foods. These aren't necessarily detailed to add but they make Kuroshitsuji a beautiful masterpiece that it is easy to get sucked into. The story is fast-paced and intense, keeping you at the edge of your seat. And Sebastian captured the hearts of people everywhere despite being, at the end of the day, a dangerous demon! Kuroshitsuji has gone on to have multiple sequels, musicals, video games, and even a live action movie.

Fairy Tail is set in the fantasy land of Fiore, where magic is an everyday part of life. Many guilds exist that magic users join, and one of the most famous is Fairy Tail. Enter young mage Lucy Heartfilia, who is determined to become a member of Fairy Tail herself. When she ends up almost abducted and saved by a boy named Natsu and his friend Happy, they invite her to join the guild! Lucy is excited to accept, and thus begins her journey with Fairy Tail to fight evil, make friends, and help those who need it.

Fairy Tail is a big project, with nearly 200 episodes to watch. It has a large fan base across the world, with fans committed enough that it’s even popular to cosplay from. And it’s not just the fans that love Fairy Tail; it is an award-winning anime, too, also enjoyed by the critics. It’s an entertaining and fun adventure story with the right balance of action and comedy and has memorable characters to boot. Fairy Tail is a huge anime to commit to watching, but it definitely gives fans something satisfying and big enough to really get drawn into.

Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic is the story of a young magician named Aladdin. Leaving home to explore the world, Aladdin travels with a Djinn named Ugo as his only companion. He doesn’t remain isolated for long though, soon befriending a boy named Alibaba when the two accidentally destroy a merchant’s cart. To pay for the damages, the two decide to search for a nearby “Dungeon,” one of several mysterious magic labyrinths hidden throughout the land said to grant people immense power. Conquering one of these Dungeons allows one to become a candidate to rule the world!

Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic is an anime with a unique and refreshing setting and story. It’s still a coming of age adventure of sorts, but it’s creative Middle Eastern setting and use of familiar folklore names (though the characters are all original) makes it feel like a very different anime. Using bright colours, humour, and fun character designs, Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic feels like watching a funny fairy tale - with the added bonus of a fair amount of action! It’s full of larger than life characters and boasts a sequel as well.

Boku dake ga Inai Machi is about a man named Satoru with a mysterious power he calls “Revival,” which allows him to travel back in time a few minutes before a disaster happens to help save people. But when Satoru is accused of murdering his mother, he is sent back in time 18 years to his childhood home in Hokkaido. He begins to realise that the root of the murder must be in this time period and connects it to the abduction and killing of one of his classmates, a girl named Kayo. Satoru is determined to help save Kayo from this fate in the past, and also save his mother in the present.

Boku dake ga Inai Machi is the kind of anime that will keep you guessing, and have you on the edge of your seat. It’s a fast-paced and intriguing mystery that doesn’t reveal all of its secrets until right at the very end. It’s also a story full of emotion, sure to make you laugh, gasp, and maybe even cry. It’s a great example of mystery and thriller writing in anime, and while Boku dake ga Inai Machi may not have the same reputation as some of the other anime on our list of the best by A-1 Pictures, it deserves recognition. Don’t let this gem slip under your radar.

Kousei Arima is a young prodigy pianist in Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso. He has a promising future in music, and all eyes are turned to his piano playing. When his mother passes away, though, Kousei is so grief-stricken that he leaves the piano behind. He goes on to lead a life without music, staying as far away from the piano as he can. Everything changes when he meets a violist named Kaori Miyazono. Together with Kaori, Kousei begins to rediscover his love of music and find his place in the world again.

Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso is a beautiful story, full stop. It has lovely animation and of course beautiful music. It’s a great coming of age story about friendship and romance, with the extra addition classical music instead of just a usual high school setting. Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso is also very emotional, tugging at heartstrings and bringing very real tears to the eyes of many who watch it. While some people may not have heard of it, Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso is a hidden masterpiece by A1-Pictures, so don’t be amongst the people who have never experienced this moving story.