Summary
Madhouse has produced plenty ofanimegems, including some classic shows that were some of the biggest shows of their time. Adapting an anime is much more complicated than making the manga images move. A good adaptation is also supposed to take some liberties to set the tone, get the lighting right, and even make a killer soundtrack that elevates each iconic moment.
So which manga or lite novels did the teams working under Madhouse at the time excel at adapting? With teams coming and going the looks and feels can vary from show to show. From murder mysteries to popular isekai, these are the best Madhouse anime.
10One Punch Man
A Comically Powerful Hero
The first season of One Punch Man is one ofthe funniest anime comedies of all time. What happens when you are the world’s greatest hero but no one knows it? With one punch, Saitama defeats any enemy that comes his way, much to the surprise of the few people that know his identity.
However, this also gets in the way of his ambitions. With dreams of being brought down to the brink of defeat only to make a heroic comeback, will Saitama ever find a challenger who can test his limits?
9Overlord
Stuck Inside A Video Game
What happens when your favorite video game shuts down its servers for the last time? You hop on and wait for the end. However, what if the shutdown wasn’t really the end and instead, the game took a life of its own?
In Overlord, the last player online is isekaid into the game world, which is now a real world. Keeping his character from the game and using his guild’s name as his new identity, Ainz must figure out if anyone else besides himself has been transported to this new world.
8No Game No Life
Life Is A Game
No Game No Life is an anime series that follows Sora and Shiro, who are unmatched gaming prodigies. After being transported to a fantasy world where all decisions are made through games, they set out to challenge the ruling Ten Commandments and reshape the world.
Their goal is to overthrow the current rulers and take control of their new reality. The series combines intense strategic gameplay with vivid, colorful visuals that can make any gamer jump for joy. Whether it be video games or classic tabletop rules, No Game No Life touches all criteria.
7High School Of The Dead
Zombies And Mayhem
One Madhouse anime that had some interesting scenes is High School of the Dead. As thezombie genreelevated itself in pop culture, it was only a matter of time before a zombie anime was released. This is where High School of the Dead comes in.
The anime has some of the bloodiest zombie fights with each death feeling just as painful as it looks. It’s essentially the zombie outbreak fantasy for any high schooler who dreams of becoming the hero of their own apocalyptic scenario.
6Summer Wars
A Spiritual Remake
Summer Wars is an anime film produced by Madhouse that might seem familiar at first glance. When an artificial intelligence named Love Machine gains sentience and starts interfering with the computers of the world, it’s up to moderator, Kenji Koiso, to put a stop to it.
Using his avatar and the family of his fake fiancé, Kenji and his friends must fight Love Machine online. The visuals of Summer Wars have two distinct looks to portray the real world and the one online. The story is also a spiritual remake of Digimon Adventure: Our War Game.
5Cardcaptor Sakura
Capturing Cards For Love And Power
Cardcaptor Sakura is an iconic anime from the ’90s that follows ten-year-old Sakura Kinomoto as she unknowingly releases the power of the Clow Cards upon the world. Now it’s her duty to recapture them and use their power to subdue the missing cards.
While the manga originally featured 19 Clow cards, the anime has 52. This creates plenty of original anime content, though it does come at the cost of having some cards used once and never mentioned again. Still, if you enjoyed the manga or want to see one of the original anime adaptations before watching Clear Card, check it out!
4Death Note
The Ultimate Murder Mystery
Death Note is a classic psychological thriller anime that shows the full corruption of Light Yagami, a high school student who finds a mysterious notebook, the Death Note. This notebook grants him the power to kill anyone by writing their name in it.
As Light uses it to eliminate criminals and create his perfect world, his actions draw the attention of the world’s greatest detective, L. With a gloomy and hazy look and a soundtrack that makes Light truly feel like a rising God, Madhouse elevates the original manga experience to epic proportions.
3Nana
Growth And Maturity Perfectly Portrayed
If you’re looking for an anime that veers away from the high school setting and explores the world of adults just a bit more, then check out Nana. What does it feel like to fall out of love, work to pay rent, or even get betrayed by those you thought were closest to you?
Nana is funny, tragic, intriguing, and a treat to look at. The art style also complements the different adult relationships whether they be positive or negative. This also makes it an incredibly relatable anime brought to life by Madhouse.
2Hellsing Ultimate
Vampire Horror To The Max
Hellsing Ultimate is one ofthe ultimate horror anime. It is dark, gritty, and bloody. Luckily, the team working under Madhouse at the time does a great job of bringing the manga to life and making it a true successor to the original Hellsing anime. It follows Alucard as he fulfills the wishes of Integra and the Hellsing Organization.
Hellsing Ultimate differs from the original anime as it follows the manga a bit more closely. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few surprises around the corner. Episodes are also much longer, making them feel grander and perfect for long watches.
1Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Learning To Appreciate The Small Moments
Madhouse created one ofthe greatest fantasy animeof all time. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End follows the Elf Mage, Frieren, as she slowly begins to appreciate the time she spends with humans more.
It’s a slow but beautiful dive into the complexities of immortality as Frieren remembers her old traveling companions while on her journey with her new ones. While the animation can sometimes be slow, the scenery is always beautiful. Meanwhile, Madhouse saves the best for moments that elevate manga panels to their fullest.
