Since 1973’s Aim for the Ace, Madhouse’s first TV show, they’ve used their talented directors and animators to bring our favorite manga to life. Much like Hanada Shounen-shi from Madhouse: Classics and Hidden Gems, these shows are award-winning, and many are perennial fan favorites. If you binge or marathon, these Award Winning TV shows are worth your time.
Cardcaptor Sakura TV
The best dressed magical girl may be Sakura from Cardcaptor Sakura. She at least has the numbers advantage. Cardcaptor Sakura, based on Clamp’s manga, premiered in 1998. The story revolves around ten-year-old Sakura Kinomoto, who accidentally unleashes fifty-two magical cards known as Clow Cards into the world. The cards manifest a physical form that Sakura battles to subdue and reseal them. Two people aid Sakura, Tomoyo Daidouji and Syaoran Li. Tomoyo videotapes her magical girl exploits and creates her outfits. Syaoran, a descendant of the cards’ creator, Clow Reed, helps her collect them.
I’ve only seen a few episodes of this series and it was the Kid’s WB version at that, but I liked what I saw despite the editing. A good Clamp story always shines through. This is why Cardcaptor Sakura won multiple Anime Grand Prix Awards, a contest created by Animage magazine, in several categories over two years. At the 22nd and 23rd (1999 and 2000) Anime Grand Prix, Cardcaptor Sakura won Best Female Character (Sakura) and Best Song (Platinum). Platinum, sung by Maaya Sakamoto, is the third opening theme. The series also took home the Best Episode Awards for episodes 46 and 70.
In 1999, Cardcaptor Sakura was the winner of the Anime Grand Prix, taking the number one spot and beating Cowboy Bebop. It took second place in 2000, losing to Sayuki.
The Gokusen
Who can teach the Shirokin High delinquents? Kumiko Yamaguchi, yakuza heiress, is the only rookie teacher who can educate kids everyone else has given up on and she’s not afraid to use her fists in the name of education. The Gokusen aired in 2004 and lasted for thirteen episodes. It won Best Animation Series at the Asia Television Award in 2004.
The Gokusen is a fun show to watch. Kumiko goes from naïve to fan girl to scary in any scene and it’s hilarious. The ending animation, directed by Sayo Yamamoto (Yuri!!! on Ice), is gorgeous and features the characters in the Taisho Period, with Kumiko trying to confess her love. The ending theme “My Road” (“Onore Michi”) by Aki Yashiro is a wonderful accompaniment.
Paranoia Agent
Satoshi Kon’s thirteen-episode psychological paranormal mystery series, Paranoia Agent, blurs the lines of reality with its original story about scapegoats and avoidance. Everyone makes excuses involving work, school, or deadlines. Tsukiko Sagi is no different, as a timid character designer pressured to create her next hit. One night Tsukiko is attacked by a young boy with golden inline skates, a baseball cap, and a golden bat bent like a dog’s hind leg. Her story goes viral, and the attacker becomes known as Lil Slugger or Shounen Bat. An urban legend starts that if you’re mentally cornered, Lil Slugger will come for you. Even the detectives investigating the crime aren’t certain if the attacker is real or something else.
This series won the Silver Prize in Animation Jury Award and the Audience Award at the 2004 Fantasia International Film Festival. The opening title sequence for this show is a favorite and Susumu Hirasawa’s music pairs beautifully with the bizarre imagery. The theme song Dream Island Obsessional Park is also a great song to wake up to.
Death Note
An award-winning TV show from 2006, Death Note delighted people around the world with its mystery and morally ambiguous story. High schooler Light Yagami finds a Death Note, a black notebook that enables the user to write a name and have that person suffer a heart attack or a specifically described death. Light teams with the Death Note’s owner Ryuk, a god of death, and he eliminates criminals around the world to bring about his own version of peace and justice. The media dubs him Kira, and the international detective L seeks to unmask and capture him. Death Note was a Notable Entry winner in the TV category at the 2007 Tokyo Anime Awards.
Den-noh Coil
Den-noh Coil is a 2007 sci-fi series about growing up in a world immersed in artificial reality. I remember reading about this series in Anime Insider. The article was about the best shows of that year, but Den-noh Coil was unlicensed at the time and was unlikely to get picked up. It finally did, in 2016.
This series follows elementary schooler Yuko Okonogi. She moves to Daikoku City where she becomes friends with kids who investigate the mysterious events that happen around town. One of the biggest themes in Den-noh Coil is the distance or separation technology causes people to have with reality, each other, and our desires.
A recipient of both the 39th Seiun Award in Media and the 29th Japan SF Grand Prize, Den-noh Coil is a high-quality sci-fi work. It also won the Excellence Award in Animation at the 11th Japan Media Arts Festival. Director and creator Mitsuo Iso, in his directorial debut, received the Individual Award at the 13th Animation Kobe.
The Tatami Galaxy
The Tatami Galaxy is a surrealistic trip through college. Adapted from the novel by Tomihiko Morimi, The Tatami Galaxy focuses on a disillusioned Kyoto University student as he tries to live his perfect college life. Every time he’s confronted with reality, he’s given another chance in a parallel world. His attempts involve him joining different social circles or clubs to counteract his fate.
This surreal and fast-paced 2010 series is the first television series to win the Grand Prize in Animation at the 14th Japan Media Arts Festival. It’s also a Notable Entry TV winner at the Tenth Tokyo Anime Award Festival.
Parasyte -the maxim-
Parasyte -the maxim- is philosophical body horror at its finest. 2014’s Parasyte TV series is based on Hitoshi Iwaaki’s 1988 manga about high schooler Shinichi Izumi as he deals with a parasite invasion. Shinichi has a parasite named Migi embedded in his right hand, but unlike most parasites which overtake their host’s brain, Shinichi and Migi remain individuals. They use their unique situation to protect Shinichi’s loved ones and his town at the cost of his emotions.
Parasyte -the maxim- won the 2014 Grand Prize in Animation at the Tudou Young Choice Awards in Beijing.
One Punch Man
One Punch Man is a unique twist on the superhero genre. It focuses on the ennui or listlessness one feels when life provides no challenge. Madhouse provided the animation for season one, which is the best season so far. Premiering in 2015, One Punch Man is about the daily life of Saitama, a hero for fun, and his quest to make ends meet despite being the strongest hero in the world.
One Punch Man received the Best Award for TV program at VFX-JAPAN Awards in 2016.
Can’t Stop Watching
As viewers, we all love a series for different reasons. Some like the deep stories, the loveable and relatable characters, or the animation style. Each Madhouse TV show featured has all these qualities and more. No matter how many years pass, their award-winning quality remains. Let us know in the comments or on Twitter what you love about these shows or what other Madhouse TV shows deserved an award.
Next up is Madhouse: Timeless Movies.
