Best Avant Garde anime — top 16 ranked

The highest-rated avant garde anime of all time, ranked by MyAnimeList user score. Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion leads with a score of 8.58, followed by Perfect Blue and Neon Genesis Evangelion. The 16 titles below average 7.98/10 and are drawn from MyAnimeList's top 2,000.

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  1. 1 Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion poster

    Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion

    Shinseiki Evangelion Movie: Air/Magokoro wo, Kimi ni
    Movie · 1 ep · Summer 1997 · Gainax
    Avant GardeDramaMechaPsychologicalSci-Fi
    ★ 8.58
    1.1M members
    #130 on MAL
  2. 2 Perfect Blue poster

    Perfect Blue

    Movie · 1 ep · Winter 1998 · Madhouse
    Adult CastAvant GardeAward WinningDramaHorror
    ★ 8.56
    846.6K members
    #138 on MAL
  3. 3 Neon Genesis Evangelion poster

    Neon Genesis Evangelion

    Shinseiki Evangelion
    TV · 26 eps · Fall 1995 · Gainax
    Avant GardeAward WinningDramaMechaPsychological
    ★ 8.38
    2.1M members
    #259 on MAL
  4. 4 Kaiba poster

    Kaiba

    TV · 12 eps · Spring 2008 · Madhouse
    AdventureAvant GardeAward WinningMysteryPsychological
    ★ 8.14
    185.5K members
    #544 on MAL
  5. 5 Serial Experiments Lain poster

    Serial Experiments Lain

    TV · 13 eps · Summer 1998 · Triangle Staff
    Avant GardeAward WinningDramaMysteryPsychological
    ★ 8.11
    929.8K members
    #599 on MAL
  6. 6 Paprika poster

    Paprika

    Movie · 1 ep · Fall 2006 · Madhouse
    Adult CastAvant GardeAward WinningMysteryPsychological
    ★ 8.05
    629.6K members
    #691 on MAL
  7. 7 FLCL poster

    FLCL

    OVA · 6 eps · Spring 2000 · Gainax
    Avant GardeComedyMechaParodyPsychological
    ★ 8.04
    913K members
    #701 on MAL
  8. 8 Penguindrum poster

    Penguindrum

    Mawaru Penguindrum
    TV · 24 eps · Summer 2011 · Brain's Base
    Avant GardeDramaMysteryPsychologicalSupernatural
    ★ 7.92
    324.1K members
    #905 on MAL
  9. 9 Welcome to Irabu's Office poster

    Welcome to Irabu's Office

    Kuuchuu Buranko
    TV · 11 eps · Fall 2009 · Toei Animation
    Adult CastAvant GardeDramaMedicalPsychological
    ★ 7.91
    104.5K members
    #925 on MAL
  10. 10 Mind Game poster

    Mind Game

    Movie · 1 ep · Summer 2004 · Studio 4°C
    Adult CastAdventureAvant GardeAward WinningComedy
    ★ 7.81
    99.2K members
    #1,166 on MAL
  11. 11 Texhnolyze poster

    Texhnolyze

    TV · 22 eps · Spring 2003 · Madhouse
    Adult CastAvant GardeDramaMysteryOrganized Crime
    ★ 7.76
    299.3K members
    #1,314 on MAL
  12. 12 Devilman: Crybaby poster

    Devilman: Crybaby

    ONA · 10 eps · Winter 2018 · Science SARU
    ActionAvant GardeGoreHorrorMythology
    ★ 7.74
    1.3M members
    #1,350 on MAL
  13. 13 Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Adolescence of Utena poster

    Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Adolescence of Utena

    Shoujo Kakumei Utena: Adolescence Mokushiroku
    Movie · 1 ep · Summer 1999 · J.C.Staff
    Avant GardeDramaGirls LoveMahou ShoujoSchool
    ★ 7.72
    63.8K members
    #1,426 on MAL
  14. 14 Angel's Egg poster

    Angel's Egg

    Tenshi no Tamago
    OVA · 1 ep · Fall 1985 · Studio Deen
    Avant GardeDramaFantasy
    ★ 7.71
    193K members
    #1,458 on MAL
  15. 15 Paranoia Agent poster

    Paranoia Agent

    Mousou Dairinin
    TV · 13 eps · Winter 2004 · Madhouse
    Adult CastAvant GardeAward WinningDetectiveDrama
    ★ 7.66
    487.8K members
    #1,602 on MAL
  16. 16 Puparia poster

    Puparia

    ONA · 1 ep · Fall 2020
    Avant Garde
    ★ 7.60
    64.8K members
    #1,812 on MAL

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