A Crash Course in Japanese Anime

Little Witch Academia
Little Witch Academia | Courtesy of Trigger/Netflix
James Gates

A Japanese cultural institution since 1917, anime is now a global phenomenon. But with a dizzying array of titles and genres to choose from, where on earth should you begin? Fear not, our handy guide will help you find your way.

To keep things simple, we’ve focussed on the main genres, with established titles in each genre but also some lesser-known examples for people who feel like digging a little deeper. Unlike the West, many Japanese animated titles often defy easy categorisation, and genres can be mashed together. The titles below are a mixture of feature films, television series and original video animation. These are just the tip of the iceberg, and they are all worth checking out.

speech icon man in bubble

Destinations Unlocked:

Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture trip

Looking for an expert's perspective?

Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
speech icon man in bubble
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

Action

Largely self-explanatory. If there are a lot of arses getting kicked, then it’s action. Look for: dazzling martial arts, cute girls with comedically over-sized guns and/or swords and anything else which includes ninja or samurai.

Flagship Titles: Dragonball Z, Fist Of The North Star, Ghost In The Shell, One Piece, Lupin The 3rd, Akira

Why Not Try: Kill la Kill, Samurai Champloo, One Punch Man, Ninja Scroll, Space Battleship Yamato 2199

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csvfN3rLos8

Slice-of-life

The so-called ‘ordinary’ world can be just as entertaining and compelling as any fantastical setting, and ‘slice-of-life’ anime bears this out with tales of everyday people that are by turns analogous, instructive and charming. Comedy is heavily incorporated, and schools and workplaces feature heavily, as does some sort of profound life lesson.

Flagship Titles: K-On!, The Comic Artist and His Assistants, Barakamon, My Neighbour Seki, The Wind Rises

Why Not Try: Silver Spoon, Maison Ikkoku, Bartender, Yokohama Kaidashi Kikō: Quiet Country Cafe

Drama/Tragedy

Like slice-of-life, only with fewer laughs and an absence of the ‘isn’t-it-funny-how-things-always-work-themselves-out’ vibe. The protagonists may not always come out on top, and a great sacrifice of some sort will have to be made along the way.

Flagship Titles: Angel Beats, In This Corner Of The World, Your Name, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

Why Not Try: Byousoku 5 Centimeter, Orange, 91 Days, Wolf Children

Historical

As the name implies, anything of historical interest, not just in Japan but around the world. Perhaps not surprisingly, some heavy liberties can and will be taken with the accuracy of the events and individuals depicted.

Flagship Titles: Grave Of The Fireflies, Rose Of Versailles, Folktales From Japan, Musashi: The Dream of the Last Samurai

Why Not Try: Barefoot Gen, From Up On Poppy Hill, Nobunaga Concerto, Romance Of The Three Kingdoms

Mecha

Great big bloody robots, usually shooting and/or beating the crap out of one another in a variety of locations. While it may not seem like it, mecha anime is one of the most thematically versatile genres in the medium; political intrigue, speculative science-fiction, psychological drama and slapstick comedy can feature heavily, sometimes in the course of a single episode.

Flagship Titles: Mobile Suit Gundam, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Knights of Sidonia, Gurren Lagann, Aldnoah.Zero, Gunbuster!

Why Not Try: Patlabor, Megazone 23, Giant Robo: The Day The Earth Stood Still, Macross Plus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYZfeY8Vg0E

Magical

Some are of them are witches, some of them are wizards, some of them are even aliens, but all possess extraordinary powers and more often than not, understanding and controlling those powers is a challenge all by itself.

Flagship Titles: Sailor Moon, Little Witch Academia, Fullmetal Alchemist, InuYasha, Kiki’s Delivery Service

Why Not Try: Fairy Tail, Ah! My Goddess, Slayers

Psychological/Horror

As one would expect: deadly threats to body and mind, be they supernatural or otherwise. Again, as with mecha, horror anime can be surprisingly versatile in subtext and subject matter.

Flagship titles: Attack On Titan, Vampire Hunter D, Gantz, Tokyo Ghoul, Hellsing,

Why Not Try: Blood: The Last Vampire, Perfect Blue, Genocyber, Kowabon, Devilman

culture trip left arrow
 culture trip brand logo

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

women sitting on iceberg

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

culture trip logo letter c
group posing for picture on iceberg
group posing for picture on iceberg

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points
culture trip brand logo
culture trip right arrow
landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

X

Holiday Sale Offers on Our Trips

Incredible Savings

Edit article