French anime, while uncommon, are responsible for some of the best animated series ever made. They may not be as well-known as their Japanese counterparts, but French anime still has a lasting legacy that goes strong to this day. Not all of these series have gained as much notoriety as they deserve. But the ones that have are a staple of modern animated television.
French anime have esthetics that are uniquely different from American cartoons or Japanese anime. They experiment with the medium in ways most rarely think about. Most French anime may be inspired by Japanese titles, but handle their characters and stories in a way that is distinct to their culture. It’s important to look back on the different styles that anime can be adapted to.
10
The Mysterious Cities of Gold (2012) Continues the Legacy of An 80s Classic
Streaming on SBS
The 2012 version of The Mysterious Cities of Gold is a modern continuation of a series that dates back to 1982. The story follows Estaban, an orphan who goes on adventures to uncover the Seven Cities of Gold in the Americas with his friends. The original series was a touchstone of many children’s childhoods, with a unique blend of South American mythology and science fiction. Its sequel series continues those themes and still maintains the spirit of the original.
The new animation style takes a while to get used to compared to the original. The original 2D animation still holds up well for its time, and the new series still does its best to translate the designs of Estaban, Zia, and Tao into a 3D style. The series is also slower-paced than the original, taking its time to set up new mysteries and adventures for Estaban to uncover. While it isn’t as iconic as the original 80s anime, the new 2012 version of this adventure series still proudly continues its legacy.
9
LoliRock is an Overlooked Magical Girl Anime Series Brimming with Fun
Streaming on Roku
LoliRock is a 2014 magical girl series that takes heavy inspiration from franchises like Sailor Moon and Precure. Like the former series, the main heroine, Iris, has her life turned upside down when she discovers she is a magical princess who must save the kingdom of Ephedia from the forces of darkness. What makes LoliRock unique is that it focuses just as much on music as it does on its superpowered conflicts. The Princesses of the Ephedia also live double lives as members of the popular rock band, LoliRock. So, while the girls are busy going on tours, they’re just as busy working together to fight against the dreaded Lord Gramorr.
The series has a fun, vibrant atmosphere that’s hard not to enjoy. While it isn’t as story-focused as other magical girl series, LoliRock‘s likable cast of characters and colorful animation still make it feel memorable. It can feel hard for new anime fans to find magical girl series that aren’t trying to be a subversion of the genre’s tropes. With fans eagerly awaiting a third season, there’s no better time for newcomers to magical girl anime to see LoliRock.
8
Lastman Delivers Intense Hard-Hitting Anime Action
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
Lastman is a hard-hitting action series based off the 2013 comic series of the same name. It follows a skilled boxer named Richard Aldana, who defends a young girl named Siri from supernatural monsters. The series’ mature tone and intense fights make it a great way to experience French anime for the first time. Lastman’s anime also has a unique, comic book art style that helps it stand out from other action anime.
Despite its unique style, the series still wears its influences on its sleeve. Lastman focuses a lot on martial arts action, and fights feel very reminiscent of classic anime like Dragon Ball and Fist of the Northstar. The anime also acts as a prequel to the comic series, so there’s plenty more material to explore for curious viewers. The series overall does a great job of feeling like a fresh twist on the vintage shonen anime series.
7
Valerian and Laureline is a Time-Hopping Scif-Fi Anime Thrill Ride
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Anyone looking for a good comedy anime should check out Valerian and Laureline. The 2007 anime revolves around a time cop, Valerian, saving a girl named Laureline from being executed in 10th-century France. However, this creates a huge ripple effect that leaves the Earth disappearing in Valerian’s 2416. Thus, the show sees the two unlikely heroes working together to restore the timeline and do their best to avoid creating any other serious time paradoxes.
The time-traveling antics of the titular duo are perfectly captured in this 2007 anime. The dialogue between Valerian and Laureline is full of wit and the pair have good chemistry with one another. Their adventures also take them all over the galaxy, and each episode usually explores the duo traveling to alien planets. For anyone looking for a more obscure or underappreciated sci-fi series to watch, Valerian and Laureline is a good option.
6
Wakfu is an Underrated Fantasy Anime with Loads of Fun Adventure
Streaming on Netflix
Originally starting as a game, Wakfu was adapted into an anime series in October 2008. The series is full of adventure as it sees a young Eliatrope named Yugo and his friends searching for his missing family. Wakfu is a series that thrives on its characters. Characters like Yugo, Amalia, and Percedal start the series being fairly naïve but grow to become more mature adventurers in later seasons. Seeing characters grow and change as the series goes on gives Wakfu a sense that the viewer is on a journey with them, learning more about the world as Yugo does.
The series has multiple seasons, specials, and OVAs to its name. While viewers can just watch the main four seasons of the main anime, the specials and OVAs highlight important details about the backstories of the series’ antagonists and add a lot of world-building. The series does an excellent job of making its characters feel relatable, and watching the specials gives viewers a better idea of how they go about their daily lives. The series has been going strong from its initial release in 2008 into 2024 with its latest season.
5
Ōban Star-Racers is an Exciting Anime All About Racing
Streaming on Roku
Ōban Star-Racers is a thrilling anime all about racing, something that feels lacking in the current anime landscape. The story is about the Grand Race of Ōban, an intergalactic racing competition where competitors from across the galaxy win a prize that could determine their planet’s fate. When she hears that her estranged father is entering the race, Eva Wei joins his team as a mechanic to get closer to him. The series features dazzling animation during its racing sequences, no doubt helped by its long production cycle.
Ōban Star-Racers wouldn’t be nearly as fun to watch without its characters. Eva struggles to win her father’s approval throughout the series, making her a relatable character for first-time viewers. Her father, Don, also receives plenty of characterization. While he comes off as unlikeable at first, his decision to distance himself from his daughter comes from being traumatized after losing his wife in a race crash. Seeing the two slowly work out their differences and reconnect with each other gives the anime plenty of heart in between the fierce racing competitions.
Oban Star-Racers
- Release Date
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June 5, 2006
4
MFKZ is Anime Insanity in All the Best Ways
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
For fans of unhinged, adult-animated movies, MFKZ easily takes the cake. Co-developed by French and Japanese animation studios, the film sees an unremarkable 22-year-old named Angelino gaining superpowers and being pursued by men in black suits. The story only becomes crazier from there, as Angelino must harness his new powers before he gets killed by an alien named Mr. K. When MFKZ‘s plot isn’t going off the rails, the movie throws its viewers into bloody action scenes.
The gritty shootouts and action fit the harsh tone of the movie perfectly. Characters like Angelino, who have cartoonish eyes and big heads, contrast with the more realistic-looking human characters. While this would normally disorient viewers, the movie is so over-the-top that it strangely fits. If any anime fans want to watch something with an unorthodox art style and story, MFKZ will keep them entertained for hours.
3
Miraculous Ladybug Raised the Bar for Original Western Anime Series
Streaming on YouTube TV
Odds are, Miraculous Ladybug is one of the first series fans think of when they think of French anime. The series follows a pair of crime fighters fighting against supervillains in Paris, all while balancing their school lives. Originally produced by Method and Toei Animation, the series places a large emphasis on the relationships between its cast of characters. Marinette and Adrian both work together as Ladybug and Cat Noir but aren’t aware of each other’s true identities at first. Naturally, this leads to a lot of interesting conflicts between the two.
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The series has multiple spin-offs from the main anime. The series has multiple seasons and movies to its name, with a fifth film set to release at the end of 2025. Spin-off TV anime like Miraculous Chibi sees the characters interact in cute 2D animated comedy scenes. Ladybug and Cat Noir’s adventures have captivated fans for a decade now, and the anime series’ popularity guarantees that it will not end anytime soon.
2
The Summit of Gods is an Epic French Anime Film
Streaming on Netflix
The Summit of Gods is unique, even by the standards of most French anime. The series was originally based on a Japanese manga of the same name, that was adapted into a feature-length Netflix film by Folivari and Mélusine Productions. It tells the story of a journalist, Fukamachi Makoto, scaling the heights of Mount Everest to search for the long-lost camera of George Mallory. While the camera could prove that Mallory was the first one to scale Everest, his search led him to encounter another reclusive climber, Habu Joji.
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As Habu recounts his days as a young mountain climber, the audience sees the immense risks that must be taken when scaling the largest summits in the world. The competition to be the first to scale Everest’s summit led to many deaths that could’ve been avoided with more caution. The film shows a lot of love for the art of mountain climbing, with incredible visuals to boot. Little media has shown realistic depictions of scaling mountains, but The Summit of Gods captures it gloriously.
1
Code Lyoko is Still One of The Best Sci-Fi Anime Series Produced Outside Japan
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
For anyone who grew up in the 2000s, Code Lyoko was the textbook definition of a great anime series made outside Japan. The esthetics and themes of digital worlds fit right in with anime like Serial Experiments Lain, a big inspiration for the series’ style. The series also features the characters switching from 2D animation to 3D CG once they enter the virtual world of Lyoko. This helped set the series apart from other action series and remains a key part of what makes it special.
To this day, Code Lyoko still holds a special place in many people’s hearts. The story may have a slow start in the first season, but its engaging characters are always a treat to watch. Seeing Ulrich and Yumi’s relationship grow or hearing Odd’s jokes never ceases to put smiles on viewers’ faces. Despite its CG animation not always aging well, the story is still a treat to watch with friends.
