Many anime creators have a signature style and work in similar genres, though some have proven to be more versatile, enough that they work on various titles that couldn’t be further apart from each other. With that in mind, here are the top anime that you won’t believe are made by the same creator.
To be exact, this list features 10 anime split into five pairs of two. Each pair of shows is made by the same creator, be they the show’s director or the creator of their source materials.
Shinichiro Watanabe – Cowboy Bebop and Terror in Resonance
It’s fair to say that Shinichiro Watanabe is one of the most legendary anime directors, with iconic works such as Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo under his belt.
Many of his works feature an emphasis on music and have an adventure story, so it’s quite unexpected that Watanabe created and directed the thriller anime Terror in Resonance.
Given the show’s story, which is about two teenagers who steal a prototype atomic bomb, the series is noticeably different compared to Watanabe’s other projects.
That’s not to say the music here is an afterthought. After all, Terror in Resonance’s soundtrack was composed by Yoko Kanno, Watanabe’s collaborator in Cowboy Bebop.
RELATED: The Best Classic Anime to Watch
Negi Haruba – The Quintessential Quintuplets and Go Go Loser Ranger
Go Go Loser Ranger is becoming one of the highlights of the spring 2024 season. But did you know that the manga’s creator is Negi Haruba? Yes, that’s the same Negi Haruba who made The Quintessential Quintuplets.
Many romance anime creators stick to the genre for their next work. Thus, it’s surprising that Haruba went in a completely different direction for his Quintuplets follow-up.
Despite being wildly different from his previous work, Go Go Loser Ranger has proven to be successful enough that it now has an ongoing anime adaptation.
Hiromu Arakawa – Fullmetal Alchemist and Silver Spoon
Fullmetal Alchemist is one of the most beloved shonen manga of all time, and the Brotherhood adaptation is also a legendary anime in its own right.
The manga’s creator Hiromu Arakawa also has other action and fantasy projects, but she also has an intriguing manga titled Silver Spoon, which got an anime adaptation in 2013.
Given that Silver Spoon is a slice-of-life story about a student who enrolls in an agricultural school in Hokkaido, its story couldn't be further apart from Fullmetal Alchemist.
It makes sense why Hiromu Arakawa created Silver Spoon though. Before becoming an esteemed manga artist, Arakawa helped on her family’s dairy farm in Hokkaido.
YOU MIGHT LIKE: Best Slice-of-Life Anime to Watch of All Time
Yoshitoki Oima – A Silent Voice and To Your Eternity
Yoshitoki Oima is the author of the A Silent Voice manga, which was the basis for Kyoto Animation's renowned drama film.
Aside from this, Oima is also the creator of the To Your Eternity manga, which has an anime series adaptation.
Both titles are dramas, though they’re completely different in terms of story and setting. A Silent Voice has a school setting and features a moving drama involving a deaf girl.
Meanwhile, To Your Eternity is a fantasy series that takes place over centuries as its protagonist is immortal.
Keiichiro Saito – Bocchi the Rock! and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Keiichiro Saito is sort of the odd man out on this list. After all, most of the creators on this list are manga artists, except Watanabe, who primarily works on original titles.
Meanwhile, Saito is the director of the Bocchi the Rock! and Frieren anime adaptations. Even if he did not work on the manga, his directorial vision is still a key factor in what made both shows so good.
What’s even more impressive is that Bocchi is Saito’s debut as an anime series director, with Frieren being only his second. Even if he’s fairly new to directing full shows, he already has two home runs.
Moreover, these two titles also couldn’t be further apart story-wise, with the former being a slice-of-life music anime with surreal comedy elements, while the latter has a unique take on the fantasy genre.
Do you have more anime you were surprised that share the same creator? Share them with us in the comments section below.
Discover the latest anime news and info by following us on Facebook.
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!
Anime