Written by the somewhat twisted mind of Chiaki J. Konaka, who penned Serial Experiments Lain and the anime adaptation of Hellsing, The Big O presents an absolutely fascinating setting centered around the citizens of Paradigm City, who collectively lost their memories about 40 years prior to the start of the series. Building a heavy neo-noir atmosphere and paying tribute to classic Japanese and Western Shows from yesteryear, The Big O failed to find an audience in Japan, prompting Sunrise to reduce the first season's planned 26 episodes to just half that amount.

In a rare twist of fate, The Big O proved to be a hit with Western viewers and the series received a new lease on life. While fans of Sunrise's mecha roots should be more than satisfied with The Big O's explosive action scenes, the show works best when focusing on its cool protagonist and central mystery. Comparable to Batman and James Bond, Roger Smith is suave, larger than life, and endearing! Boasting gorgeous and stylish animation, The Big O is an anime that warrants remembering.

Serving as a follow-up to Crest of the Stars and based on Hiroyuki Morioka's science fiction novels, Banner of the Stars sees Sunrise returning to space. Unlike Cowboy Bebop's spaghetti western influence or Outlaw Star's comedic undertones, Seikai no Senki is a proper space opera featuring large-scale battles and a substantial focus on character development.

Set in the midst of an intergalactic war, Banner of the Stars follows the adventures of Princess Lafiel and her bodyguard Jinto Lynn, as they act as ambassadors for the imperial army. From there, politics and mind-games start to rear their ugly heads and things get rather complicated. While opting for more battles than its predecessor, Banner of the Stars hardly neglects the story's emotional core.

Representing the vastness of space in a form that is easily digestible for viewers can be challenging, but Seikai no Senki accomplishes its task without any issues! Even though the anime's pace can be rather lethargic, the characters and dialogue more than make up for it!

Slapstick is a staple of anime and precious few studios approach these moments with the unbridled passion displayed by Sunrise. With a couple of Gintama seasons under its belt, the studio has perfected the art of physical comedy and Binbougami ga! comes close to being Sunrise's hilarious Magnus Opus.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia demonstrates that selfish protagonists can be fantastic sources of entertainment and the same extends to the anime industry. Binbougami ga! pits two polar opposite characters who are out to destroy each other for their own personal gain. Due to a flaw in the cosmos, Sakura Ichiko inadvertently steals the luck from the people around her, prompting the arrival of the poverty god Momiji to take away Ichiko's ability. Unwilling to part with her good fortune, the two women engage in massive shounen-style brawls to determine the winner!

Binbougami ga! is a comedic gold-mine and the humor never fails to elicit a laugh. The animation is bombastic and compliments the insane antics of the characters, while the supporting cast is enjoyable enough to add a few extra dimensions. Binbougami ga's dramatic moments fall flat, but they do not take away from the slapstick.

Love Live! is never going to be about complex storylines or thought-provoking social commentary; no, we appreciate the franchise for its catchy songs, lighthearted tone, and endearing characters. Co-developed by Sunrise, music label Lantis, and ASCII Media Works' Dengeki G's Magazine; Love Live! revolves around nine schoolgirls who attempt to launch a career as idols. Taking place after the events of the second season, Love Live! The School Idol Movie serves as a conclusion for the cast's third-year students and slaps a fresh coat of paint on the franchise.

Even if the content and premise seldom open themselves up to any profound concepts, that hardly means Sunrise did not bring its A-game! Love Live! The School Idol Movie is an astonishing work of art that boasts crisp animation and fantastic direction by Takahiko Kyogoku. Offering some much-needed closure, Sunrise's film is an easy recommendation for fans of the series.

While not for everyone, Love Live! The School Idol Movie is an earnest and engaging slice-of-life musical about nine ambitious schoolgirls on the cusp of adulthood.

If there is one genre Sunrise knows like the back of its hand, that would have to be mecha. Iconic and serving as a gateway into the medium, Gundam is among the most recognizable names in anime and Sunrise is the studio responsible for its storied history. Released almost three decades after the series' inauguration, Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans stands among the very best incarnations of the mecha brand.

Set 300 years after the "Calamity War" that ended with Mars being colonized by humans, Iron-Blooded Orphans follows a group of children soldiers who revolt against their overlords and launch their own private military outfit. While they do eventually pick sides, Sunrise's 2015 anime is gritty and morally ambiguous. For example, Iron-Blooded Orphans' protagonist Mikazuki Augus might fight for the good guys, but the teenager is a borderline sociopath who never hesitates at the thought of killing.

Visually, Iron-Blooded Orphans is purposefully dirty and highlights the ugliness of war. Considerably darker than its contemporaries and bolstered by a simply stunning soundtrack, Iron-Blooded Orphans should be experienced by Gundam veterans and newbies!

Who doesn’t love bread? Well, Sunrise is clearly not an exception as the studio dedicated a 69 episode series to baking. Based on the manga by Takashi Hashiguchi, Yakitate!! Japan is a shounen series that glamorized the art of cooking a decade prior to the launch of Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma.

Kazuma Azuma is a boy on a mission to craft the ultimate Japanese bread capable of representing the entire nation. While France and Italy have their own definitive brands of freshly baked goods, Japan lacks that distinction and Kazuma exists to fix this discrepancy. In order to perfect his craft, the boy applies for Japan's legendary Pantasia Main Branch Store, although he ends up getting stationed at a much smaller and quirkier shop.

Even if baking is not to someone's fancy, Yakitate!! Japan's main appeal is its outrageous puns and wacky humor. Parodying many shounen tropes, Sunrise's long-running anime is a blast to watch!

Daily Lives of High School Boys' title is an accurate representation of Sunrise's anime. Based on Yasunobu Yamauchi's manga, which was published by Square Enix, this slice-of-life comedy manages to genuinely portray its robust roster of characters as actual high school students. With the exception of a couple of absurdist gags that nearly always hit, this is a relatively grounded comedy focusing on the antics of a group of teenagers.

Attending Sanada North Boys High School; Tadakuni, Hidenori Tabata, and Yoshitake Tanaka are the best of friends and compliment each other perfectly. While Tadakuni is quite serious and relatable, Tanaka and Tabata are hilarious characters who regularly get involved in awkward or silly misadventures. Even if these three act as the leads, in reality, Daily Lives of High School Boys is an ensemble comedy boasting over a dozen recurrent characters.

As a sketch series, Daily Lives of High School Boys' episodes are divided into a couple of short vignettes, although some of the stories are expanded upon in future entries. Fast-paced and witty, Sunrise's comedy never outstays its welcome and improves with each subsequent viewing.

Picture this; a Sunrise anime set in space that pivots on a crew of freelance mercenaries that are willing to take on any job to fund their ship's maintenance. Does this synopsis remind anyone of Cowboy Bebop? While Sunrise produced both series, Outlaw Star is a completely different beast from Shinichirō Watanabe's masterpiece.

Dreaming of becoming a pilot, Gene Starwind is nothing more than a wingless hired thug partnered up with the 11-year-old James Hawking. In the middle of escorting a gorgeous woman carrying a suitcase, the duo's lives are turned upside down when their escort reveals herself to be an outlaw hiding a young girl. Suddenly, Starwind and Hawking find themselves speeding across space while being hunted by multiple gangs.

Outlaw Star is frantic, intermittently hilarious, and packed to the brim with outrageous visuals! A perfect companion piece to Cowboy Bebop and Trigun, Sunrise's anime has earned the right to be mentioned alongside some of the medium's greats.

By this point, is there anything that has yet to be said about Cowboy Bebop? This is the one anime capable of rivaling Dragon Ball Z's popularity and cultural relevance outside of Japan. Influenced by Western media and effortlessly blending an array of genres like neo-noir, comedy, and horror; Shinichirō Watanabe's anime altered the industry for the better.

For those two people who are not familiar with Sunrise's series, Cowboy Bebop centers around the trials and tribulations of a crew of bounty hunters. Whether referring to the former hitman Spike Spiegel or the sensual Faye Valentine, the anime's entire roster of characters are well-written, three-dimensional, and iconic. Dealing with themes of existentialism, loneliness, and regret; Cowboy Bebop far exceeds its pulpy roots to construct a thoroughly engaging and emotional story. There is more to this anime than meets the eye.

Due to a relatively slow start, Cowboy Bebop falls just short of absolute perfection, but precious few anime manage to fly this close to the sun! Also, the soundtrack is orgasmic!

At the blink of an eye, Hideaki Sorachi's story can flip-flop from irreverent comedy to deadly drama, but Gintama handles both tones without breaking a sweat. While Sunrise only produced the first 265 episodes of the series before handing the reins to Bandai Namco Pictures, Gintama' saw the studio going out on a high note.

With the exception of Gintama': Enchousen's short-run, Gintama' served as Sunrise's swan song for the franchise and the studio went out in style! As the Odd Jobs crew; Gintoki, Kagura, and Shinpachi continue to accept weird and dangerous requests by anyone willing to ask. For the most part, Gintama' focuses more on the comedic side of things, although the Kabukicho Four Devas and Baragaki arcs do have their fair share of dramatic moments.

Parodying a multitude of series and stuffed with pop-culture references, Gintama is a masterclass in comedy. Sunrise's animation rarely falters, while the more serious arcs can be simultaneously violent and heartbreaking. Even though the Bandai Namco Pictures seasons are perfectly fine, Gintama was at the height of its powers while under Sunrise's banner.