Japanese cinema is celebrated for its refined minimalist dramas and avant-garde experimentation; it also introduced popular genres like jidaigeki (samurai epics), kaiju, and anime. Across both high art and mass entertainment, it often explores morality, impermanence, and the pressures of modern life.

Hidetoshi Nishijima and Tôko Miura in Drive My Car (2021)

Hideaki Anno's 1995 mecha series deconstructed the genre through adolescent psychology, existential philosophy, and apocalyptic imagery. Spanning television, films, and the Rebuild tetralogy, it redefined anime as a medium for deeply personal artistic expression.

The adult animation subgenre is aimed at mature audiences, typically consisting of content that explores complex themes, mature storytelling, and may include explicit language, violence, sexual content, or other adult-oriented elements. Unlike traditional animation that is often associated with family-friendly or children's content, adult animation caters to grown-up viewers who appreciate more sophisticated and often darker narratives.

Seth Green, Mila Kunis, Alex Borstein, and Seth MacFarlane in Family Guy (1999)

Anime is a style of Japanese animation that has gained significant popularity outside of Japan. It is often characterized by its use of flat design and limited animation, with characters characterized by large expressive eyes, exaggerated facial expressions, and defined lines. These stories are produced for audiences of all ages, with specific subgenres catering to different age groups.

Steve Blum and Koichi Yamadera in Cowboy Bebop (1998)

Hand-drawn animation, also known as traditional animation, is a technique in which each frame is created by hand. It involves the process of drawing individual images, known as frames or cels, by skilled animators and then photographing or filming them in sequence to create the illusion of motion.

Jodi Benson, Jason Marin, and Samuel E. Wright in The Little Mermaid (1989)

Mecha is a subgenre of Japanese animation that features giant robots or mechs that are controlled by pilots or artificial intelligence.

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury (2022)

The psychological drama subgenre features intricate workings of the human mind, emotions, and psychological states. These dramas delve into characters' inner thoughts, perceptions, motivations, and often involve complex narratives and emotional depth, aiming to engage the audience's intellect and emotions simultaneously.

Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Animation is a form of visual storytelling that involves creating visual art and motion through the use of various techniques and technologies. In animation, images are manipulated to create the illusion of movement, bringing characters, objects, and environments to life. Animation can encompass a wide range of styles, themes, and intended audiences, making it a diverse and versatile form of storytelling.

Daveigh Chase, Rumi Hiiragi, and Mari Natsuki in Spirited Away (2001)

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

The sci-fi genre, short for science fiction, features imaginative and futuristic concepts that are often rooted in scientific principles, technology, and possibilities. These stories delve into "what if" questions and can serve as a platform to address contemporary social, political, and ethical issues by projecting them onto future or alternate settings.

James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

The Biggest Movies and TV Coming in September

"The Gentlemen" and "Slow Horses" return this fall, while the "Reacher" spin-off series "Neagley" makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

2026 Fall TV and Streaming Watch Guide

&quot;The Gentlemen&quot; and &quot;Slow Horses&quot; return this fall, while the &quot;Reacher&quot; spin-off series &quot;Neagley&quot; makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Streaming Stars, Then and Now

Megumi Hayashibara, Akira Ishida, Yûko Miyamura, Megumi Ogata, and Maaya Sakamoto in Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021)

Shin seiki evangelion: Koutetsu no girlfriend

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Girlfriend of Steel (1997)

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Girlfriend of Steel

Akira Ishida and Megumi Ogata in Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (2012)

Shin seiki evangelion: Genesis 0:0 - in the beginning

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Genesis 0:0 - In the Beginning (1995)

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Genesis 0:0 - In the Beginning

Evangelion Hoso 30 Shunen Kinen Tokubetsu Kogyo

Evangelion 30th Anniversary Special Commemorative Show (2026)

Evangelion 30th Anniversary Special Commemorative Show

Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Mythology of Evangelion

Shin seiki Evangelion Gekijô-ban: Shito shinsei

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth (1997)

Untitled Evangelion Show

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