A visually stunning anime that went unnoticed

Key things

• Some visually stunning anime gems are overshadowed by more popular ones due to complex plots and unusual art styles.
• Examples include Violet Evergarden, 5 Centimeters Per Second, Sound! Euphonium, Bubble, Children of the Sea and Great Pretender.
• These anime showcase incredible visuals and unique storytelling, but struggle for recognition among the wider anime community.

People watch anime for many reasons – some for the plot, some for the awesome fight scenes, and some for the hype. However, nothing captures the attention of an anime watcher like breathtaking visuals. From detailed, hand-drawn backgrounds to gorgeous action sequences, there's no shortage of visually stunning anime. But for every favorite anime like Demon Slayer and Your nameare anime that don't get that much traction.

Sometimes, due to poor promotion, unusual art styles, or complex plots, these anime have gone unnoticed in the anime community. However, they are rare gems for those willing to find them, as they show the hard work behind beautiful animation.

1 Violet Evergarden

A beautiful masterpiece overshadowed by the bigger hits

Violet Evergarden is an anime that tells the story of a girl who knows nothing but war and is seen by almost everyone as a killing machine as she tries to find her purpose in the absence of war. The series was animated by Kyoto Animations, a popular animation studio known for its good visuals, but this masterpiece is amazing even by the studio's standards, with an unorthodox art style and a realistic atmosphere.

Its slow pace and selective appeal combined with the release of already known anime such as Saiki K and Attack on Titans made it more of a sleeper than a mainstream hit that year.

2 5 centimeters per second

Shinkai's Early Gem Lost In The Shadows Of His Blockbusters

Makoto Shinkai's 5 centimeters per second is an anime that explores relationships between people and how distance and time affect such relationships, along with the ability to let go and move on. This is one of his most realistic works with immense visual appeal and a realistic portrayal of life that captivates its viewers.

Although visually captivating, Shinkai's other works such as Your name and Weathering with you, had much more recognition than this anime masterpiece. Also, its extreme realism and lack of a happy ending may have made anime fans reluctant to watch the series, missing out on the beauty it has to offer.

3 Sound! Euphonium

Musical drama with top realism

Sound! Euphonium focuses on the growth of the main character and her peers in a high school band with a dream to reach out to the citizens, and the animation does more than enough justice. From the brilliance of the wind instruments to the realistic body language of the characters, the attention to detail leaves viewers of the series in awe.

Sadly, music themed anime aren't extremely popular and Sound! Euphonium it will become a masterpiece lost in this crowd. The focus on musical drama and realism is completely out of step with the larger faction of the anime community, so it goes unnoticed.

4 Bubble

A feast for the eyes that fought for recognition

• Japanese name: Bubble
• Number of Episodes: 1
• Studio: Wit Studio

Bubble is a sci-fi anime set in an abandoned city covered in a giant bubble, filled with smaller mysterious bubbles and gravity-defying bodies of water, and the visuals are on par with such unique concepts. The visuals are so good that fans of the film believe it was a passion project for the animators, an excuse for them to go all out.

Unfortunately, the anime struggles to gain traction due to its reviews. Many critics and viewers believe that it lacks a proper story, arguing that it focuses more on style than substance. These reviews of its storytelling overshadow the stunning visuals of the anime, leaving it underappreciated in wider anime circles.

5 Children of the Sea

A narrative that leaves fans confused

• Japanese name: Kaijuu no Kodomo
• Number of Episodes: 1
• Studio: Studio 4°C

Children of the Sea takes its viewers on a surreal journey through the sea alongside some of the most mesmerizing underwater visuals in anime. With a very unique blend of hand-drawn 2D animation and CGI, the anime was able to capture the ocean scenery beautifully, making every frame a work of art.

However, with such beautiful visuals, the anime uses unconventional storytelling that leaves fans at a loss as to how to engage with it, making it difficult for them to identify the message it's trying to convey. As a result, it has not gained much traction and is considerably undervalued.

6 Redline

Lack of mainstream promotion

Redline is one of the anime that shows the true dedication of the animators. Hand-drawn from start to finish, Madhouse took more than eight years to produce, went over budget and destroyed their studio. The art style and animation are out of this world, with vivid action sequences and exciting races that are almost impossible to forget.

Sadly, despite the animation and effort put into the production of this film, Redline it suffered a poor performance at the box office upon release, leaving it underappreciated in the anime community.

7 A great performer

A stylish Heist series with a watercolor aesthetic

• Japanese name: A great performer
• Number of Episodes: 23
• Studio: Wit Studio

An anime focused on con artists teaming up for organized crime, A great performerThe plot is extremely gripping and emotional, as are the visuals. Have some watercolor paintings and backgrounds with bold artistic embellishments that bring light to almost every scene and expressions that almost perfectly portray the emotions of the characters.

While A great performer is a sight for sore eyes, it doesn't get the recognition it deserves, which is partly due to it being released directly to streaming platforms like Netflix. In addition, niche subject matter doesn't appeal to a wide audience, so it goes unnoticed by the larger anime community.

8 The Monogatari series

A visual puzzle for a specialized audience

Shaft is widely known for its unique visual experiments and Monogatari the series best describes this fact. The unconventional use of bold color schemes and beautiful character details make the series visually extremely different. It also uses visual metaphors that make the user pay attention to every detail while watching.

However, these visual metaphors combined with their enigmatic storytelling made the entire series complex for the average anime fan to watch. For fans who watch anime, Monogatari it's much better known for its narrative and complex plot, which allows its eye-catching visuals to fly under the radar.

9 Makeine: Too many lost heroines

Romantic Comedy With A Slow Start

At first sight, Makein It appears to be a basic romantic comedy anime, but the visuals and animation elevate the anime beyond expectations. Vibrant colors and dynamic animation give the anime an extra boost to its already compelling storyline, bringing visual brilliance at its best.

However, the anime doesn't get off to a great start. The first few episodes give off the vibe of a standard anime romantic comedy with very familiar tropes. Fortunately, the perspective changes after those few episodes, but most anime fans don't have the patience to see it through.

10 Garden of Words

Another Shinkai In The Shadows masterpiece

Being an anime set in the rainy season of the year, few anime capture the beauty of nature in a way Garden of Words does The work and detail put into the anime is beyond exceptional, especially when it comes to things like its greenery and rain. The animation of raindrops and puddles and the casting of light on objects and characters gives it a hyper-realistic feel and creates a quiet atmosphere.

Sadly, this is another anime that is not well known due to the release of Shinkai's more popular and commercially successful works such as Your name. The anime's short run time also didn't leave much to be desired by fans, so it was underappreciated.