Rain Town

Arranged by score

This is an early list that I made and quite frankly it's a mess, I decided to make a more comprehensive thematic series, check them out:

- An introduction to short animations
https://myanimelist.net/stacks/29151

- Short animations getting artsy
https://myanimelist.net/stacks/29178

- Short animations getting dark
https://myanimelist.net/stacks/29194

- Short animations getting scientific
https://myanimelist.net/stacks/29216

Original animes from youtube or found on the platform legally and for free.

Featuring little to no dialogue and/or characters and the experience is carried by the music and/or visual atmosphere.

Part 1 - https://myanimelist.net/stacks/311
Part 2 - https://myanimelist.net/stacks/5128
Part 3 - https://myanimelist.net/stacks/8036
Part 4 - https://myanimelist.net/stacks/8173
Part 5 - https://myanimelist.net/stacks/9135
Part 6 - https://myanimelist.net/stacks/9240
Part 7 - https://myanimelist.net/stacks/9448
Part 8 - https://myanimelist.net/stacks/9461
Part 9 - https://myanimelist.net/stacks/20874
Part 10 - https://myanimelist.net/stacks/60874
Part 11 - https://myanimelist.net/stacks/75990

Anime that feels absent and empty, due to it's deafening silence and overwhelming atmosphere by which it permeates.

Rendering a state without people nor narrative action, yet somehow convey the sense of their being within the space — a lingering life force as if someone has just departed or is about to arrive. A quiet, strange moment is swallowed by the emotional power of absence, or a mystery that is brewing with undercurrent of danger, hopelessness and the unknown.

Short format (and sometimes episodic) anime that you will enjoy in a small amount of time. Wether It has less than 12 episodes or
the duration of the episodes is between 5-15 minutes. Stand-alone OVAs & ONAs are included too.

A selection of more linear and conventional story telling or just damn good art.
If you want to see how vast the anime world is and explore narratives and art styles that are not part of the mainstream, try them out.

More stacks going deeper in this world:

- Short animations getting artsy
https://myanimelist.net/stacks/29178

- Short animations getting dark
https://myanimelist.net/stacks/29194

- Short animations getting scientific
https://myanimelist.net/stacks/29216

Let me know your thoughts and suggestions for this stack :)

Most of these are narrative shorts with Sci-Fi theme or just a futuristic setting.
Cyberpunk, post-apocalyptic, robots and androids, space opera, time travel, you know the drill.
A few are a bit abstract and surreal, and also some nice fitting music videos in the middle.

More stacks going deeper in this world:

- An introduction to short animations
https://myanimelist.net/stacks/29151

- Short animations getting artsy
https://myanimelist.net/stacks/29178

- Short animations getting dark
https://myanimelist.net/stacks/29194

Let me know your thoughts and suggestions for this stack :)

There are short-length anime series of OVAs, specials, ONAs, and music-centered anime that offer unique and captivating experiences in a more compact format. Here are some recommendations of short-length anime:

Animes with a nice weather atmosphere.

ONAs, OVAs, TV series, movies and music videos

DigiCon6 ASIA Awards is a competition for short films of Asian origin, established in the year 2000 by TBS.

Most of the winning entries from recent years can be viewed for free on the official website and youtube channel:

https://www.tbs.co.jp/digicon

There is an English version of the website as well, but it doesn't list all the Japanese regional winners. Instead, unlike the Japanese version, it does have winners from other regions:

https://www.tbs.co.jp/digicon/en

This list is by no means comprehensive, as many of the winners don't have a MAL entry yet, presumably because the creators might not be established in the industry.

Part 2: https://myanimelist.net/stacks/51870

Anime with little to no dialogue. These items range from specials to movies to TV shows, most of which are classified as Avant Garde.

Some of these anime have related entries that also meet the criteria, but have been omitted for the sake of brevity.

Anime that were created by a independent (indie) animator or group of animators.

Only including anime released in the modern era of anime, i.e. after the 1963 release of Astro Boy. Focusing on anime that were released after 2000. Not including music videos.

Not aiming to be comprehensive, but feel free to suggest additions.

In my research thank you to:
Callum May for his article on Anime News Network (available at https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2017-11-15/the-best-independent-anime-you-can-watch-online/.124035)
Jasper Sharp for his helpful article found at https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/features/beyond-anime-short-history-independent-japanese-animation
Tracy Ha for her YouTube playlist (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC16370D5B63EB2BB)


Anime not listed on MAL
The Collision by Studio Wrong (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erULarjaRwQ)
Bite the Bullet by Yuki Isho (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P8tJEhZS_0)

The Japan Media Arts Festival is an annual festival held since 1997 by Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs. The festival begins with an open competition and culminates with the awarding of several prizes and an exhibition.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Anime inspired by or that I think mimic the feel of stories you find floating around online. Creepypastas, urban legends, backroom like locations, ghost stories and secret (or not so secret) organizations dealing with the supernatural can all be found on this list!

Companion to this manga interest stack: https://myanimelist.net/stacks/66173

Ever get that feeling where every anime you try starts blending into the same recycled plots and familiar tropes? This stack is the antidote to that. Here, we explore 50 anime that dare to be different — titles that rip up the rulebook and build something bold from scratch. Whether through surreal storytelling, genre-defying plots, or worlds that leave you asking "how did they even think of this?", each of these series stands out as a creative anomaly.

This isn’t just about strange visuals or shock value. Every anime in this list earns its uniqueness through substance — with plots that bend expectations, narratives that twist time or space, or characters that inhabit psychological, philosophical, or otherworldly dimensions. Some will leave you mystified, others may make you question reality (or your taste in fiction), but all of them will leave a lasting impression.

So if you're burnt out on formulaic school romances, predictable shounen arcs, or yet another "I'm now in a fantasy RPG" setup — this stack is your escape hatch. Welcome to the wild side of anime. Welcome to the bizarre, brilliant, and beautifully unique.