Toei Animation is a Japanese animation company that has had a long history of success in the industry. Founded by animators Kenzō Masaoka and Zenjirō Yamamoto in 1948 as Japan Animated Films, Toei has been around basically since anime’s inception.
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Toei is responsible for dozens of iconic anime including influential gems likeGalaxy Express 999and legends of the genre likeDragon BallandOne Piece. With over 60 years of influence, Toei has built a name for itself as one of the most famous Japanese animation studios in history. They will be forever remembered for their legendary characters, top-notch animation, and thousands of episodes that speak for themselves.
7The Kindaichi Case Files
The Kindaichi Case Filesis an anime from the 90s that follows a high school student named Hajime Kindaichi who follows in his famous grandfather’s footsteps as a private investigator. The animewas first adapted from a mangaas a feature film in 1996 and then became a series that ran for 148 episodes.
The series features a number of whodunit stories where Hajime is almost always able to crack the case. What makes it unique is its interesting and sometimes supernatural mysteries along with its memorable suspects. The criminals are often shown as sympathetic villains with interesting motives and often tragic backstories which makes for a memorable mystery show.
6Digimon Adventure
Digimon Adventurewas the first series developed from the iconicDigimonmedia franchise. Known as the first big competitor toPokemon,Digimon Adventurewas based on a digital monster-collecting toy/game. The series had some big shoes to fill if it wanted to compete withPokemon’sanime that was dominating the 90s.
In 1999 a short film was released with great success which launched the series shortly after. Only airing 54 episodes,DigimonAdventures didn’t meet the success ofPokemon, but it did develop a cult following. This following allowed the franchise to spread into many different films, spin-off series, and video games that are still active today.
5Fist Of The North Star
Fist of the North Starwas one of Toei’s early manga adaptations. Released in 1984, it was met with success and aired for 109 episodes. Then a sequel series was made which aired for another 43 episodes. The series is set on a post-apocalyptic Earth after a nuclear war and follows Kenshiro, a deadly warrior dedicated to protecting the innocent.
Kenshiro practices a unique martial art known as Hokuto Shinken which focuses on attacking an enemy’s vital points hidden within their bodies. As Kenshirodefeats countless warlords, thugs, and criminals, they often explode with gory and glorious effects. The show’s unique setting and over-the-top action make it a worthy entry in Toei’s long list of fighting anime.
4Sailor Moon
Sailor Moonis without a doubt one of the most famous anime in history. Now considered a pioneer of the genre, the show is about a magical schoolgirl who can transform into Sailor Moon and is in search of an ancient magical artifact. The series follows Usagi Tsukino as she goes on adventures with her group of fellow Sailor Moon comrades known as the Sailor Soldiers.
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They battle against villains that are in search of the magical Silver Crystal or the destruction of the galaxy.Sailor Moonhas spawned numerous spin-offs, films, and other mediawhich have earned over $13 billion worldwide. It’s praised for its adventure, humor, and art.
3Mononoke
Mononokeis one of Toei’s more avant-garde types of anime. It’s a historical series following a nameless medicine seller who wields a sword during a time when only samurai were able to do so. The medicine seller faces numerous supernatural perils as he wanders throughout ancient Japan destroying mononoke.
Mononoke are evil spirits that remain in the human world by binding themselves to human emotions. To defeat them, the medicine seller must learn the spirit’s shape, truth, and reasoning.Mononokeis praised for its incredible art, abstract characters, and supernatural story.
2One Piece
When it comes to anime,One Piecehas earned its rank among the greatest of all time. The epic saga began in 1999 and has spawned over 1,000 episodes that still air to this day. The franchise follows Monkey D. Luffy and his band of Straw Hat pirates.
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Featuring traditional stories of adventure, comedy, and action,One Piecehas entertained anime fans for decades. It has gained critical acclaim and billions of dollars from the series including its spin-off films and video games.One Pieceisn’t going anywhere anytime soon, and it remains as one of Toei’s legendary works.
1Dragon Ball
It’s hard-pressed to find someone who hasn’t at least heard of theDragon Ballfranchise. Yet another iconic manga adaptation, theDragon Ballanime began in the 80s and was met with unbelievable success. Spawning into multiple sequel series likeDragon Ball ZandDragon Ball Super, as well as dozens of feature films and video games,Dragon Ballis right up there withOne Piece.
The originalDragon Ballremains an incredible adventure story as it tells the tale of Son Goku and his journey to becoming possibly the greatest fighter anime has ever known. Goku’s undefeatable fighting spirit and childlike wonder make him a memorable protagonist that fans will love forever. The series' characterization, the mix of sci-fi and fantasy, and those unforgettable fight scenes are whyDragon Ballwill always be remembered as Toei’s greatest triumph.
