With new Japanese anime like Wind Breaker, Kaiju No. 8; the world is buzzing with anime fans. The controversy in the anime world is that only Japanese animation is allowed to be called anime. I think it’s a myth and I’m here to debunk that myth.
What Are American Anime And Are They Worth Watching?
The type of anime called Amerime or American anime are cartoons that are heavily influenced by the Japanese style of animation and storytelling. It has been around for a while and people don’t even know about it, or don’t know they have been watching it. Crazy, right? The “true” anime fans will not admit that these American anime are really good!
American anime are more popular than people think
![American anime, Avatar: The Last Airbender](https://totalapexentertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/kU98MbVVgi72wzceyrEbClZmMFe.jpg)
Avatar: the last air bender? Yep, that’s an American anime. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is also an American anime. When an anime is influenced by the Japanese style of anime production, but is produced in the USA, it’s an American anime. While you let that sink in, here are some American anime that are worth watching.
5 American Anime That Competes With Japanese Anime
In no particular order (because they are just so good), here are my top 5 American anime that every anime fan must watch
Blood of Zeus ( Gods and Heroes)
![](https://totalapexentertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/9Ibjl9eP9mVKC505Kdn6oCfDsSM.webp)
Blood of Zeus (Gods and Heroes) is ongoing animated series produced by Powerhouse Animation Studios with the animation done by two South Korean studios. Powerhouse animation studios is known for their production of Castlevania.
The anime focuses on Heron, son of Zeus, who is trying to save Olympus and Earth. The anime blends adult themes and humour to create a gripping tale. When it was released, it was rated 93% by audience in Rotten Tomatoes. Blood of Zeus announced its second season and is currently airing on Netflix. And, to add a little spice, there are LGBT characters in the series.
Castlevania
![](https://totalapexentertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/4quqifqxw6nclp4lgpqmxmhawdh-scaled.jpg)
Another mind blowing anime that was produced by Powerhouse Animation Studios and airing on Netflix is Castlevania. It follows Lisa Tepes, Dracula’s wife, being accused of witchcraft and burned to death by a Catholic bishop. Dracula, in his anger reigned down demons on the people of Wallachia. So the people of Wallachia hired a man, Trevor Belmont, to defeat Dracula.
Since its premiere in 2017, it has won The Golden Trailer award and has been nominated six times. It has proven to be on par with Japanese anime in its style of animation and detailed storytelling. This is definitely a must watch for people who are horror and thriller lovers.
Dota: Dragon’s Blood
![](https://totalapexentertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ifGVUbvl36CnY9mp4kquK8In1Rh.jpg)
Dota is an anime based on a video game of the same name. The story mixes adventure, fantasy and mystery to tell a tale about Davion, a dragon knight, on a quest to wiping out scourge from the world. His adventure makes him encounter Princess Mirana also on a hidden quest of her own. Davion soon realizes that his adventure might be more than he bargained for.
The series is ongoing with three seasons. Its last season was aired in 2022, and there has been a hiatus but no announcement of its conclusion. As we wait for more seasons to adventure with Davion, you should totally check Dota out because you won’t regret it.
Netflix has been having great anime collection to choose from. Check out My Top Six Anime Recommendations on Netflix
The Legend of Vox Machina
![The Legend of Vox Machina, an American anime official release poster](https://totalapexentertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/images-3-300x225.jpeg)
An exciting tale that has Japanese styled animation with an in-depth story that will keep you locked in. The Legend of Vox Machina is about a rowdy gang of misfits, working for money but unavoidably saddled with the responsibility of stopping evil and restoring justice. The story is dark, the humour is darker, and the adventure is fantastic.
If you’re a fan of fantasy and adventure, The Legend of Vox Machina is your next stop for a gripping story. The show has two seasons and it recently announced its third season expected to be released in Fall 2024. It is currently airing on Prime Video.
The Witcher: Nightmare of The Wolf
![](https://totalapexentertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/orGlr1vHTgbDkGJPwuBjd8ncVjQ.jpg)
This is the only single movie on the list and it is here for a reason. The animation was a spin-off from the Web series The Witcher and it was released in 2021. The story focuses on a time before Geralt and talks about Vesemir, the main character.
Vesemir is a witcher who escaped a life of poverty, making money from killing monsters. But life isn’t that simple and Vesemir is soon forced to face new monsters as well as dealing with demons from his past.
The movie was critically acclaimed and was rated 83% on the tomatometer. A perfect blend of dark fantasy, medieval kingdoms, mystery and drama, it is a movie worthy to be called an anime.
In Conclusion
The anime world has grown more vast than when it started decades ago. Some people might still feel like the true anime can only come from Japan, but cartoons over time have been deeply influenced by anime.
From the storytelling to the animation, even Disney producers and directors admit that anime had changed the narrative of American cartoons. Watch out for more Amerime because they are here to stay and I’m excited about it. Also, check out the Top 5 Best Anime To Watch in 2024.
About Author
Annastaciah Ojeba can be found in the most quiet part of any room. A cat lover who’s obsessed with reading fantasy novels, watching anime and donghua, and making cute crochet things. You can find her doodling @annahojeba on Instagram and check out her soon to be launched crochet page @oz_tiny.crochet.stuff