There's a noticeable difference between loving anime and truly understanding it. The former is relatively easy; the medium is already a bubble full of dazzling visuals and spectacular stories that anyone can fall for. The latter, however, requires taking a step back and experiencing the shows that represent the industry’s creative foundation.

Long before streaming services became mainstream and served endless simulcasts of shows, these handful of anime series and films reimagined the boundaries of animated expression in every ramification. These shows were not just “good for their time.” They became the building blocks for what the world now recognises as animated excellence.

From the bizarre dreamscapes of Serial Experiments Lain to the achingly human touch of Haibane Renmei ,

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