Which is the shortest anime?
Hands down the shortest anime series ever made is the avant-garde cult classic FLCL, directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki. Spanning just 6 adrenaline-fueled episodes averaging 20 minutes each, FLCL‘s total runtime is a mere 2 hours and 18 minutes! This makes it the perfect rapid-fire anime to enjoy in one electrifying viewing session.
Plot Summary of FLCL
Centered on disaffected 12-year old Naota Nandaba, FLCL kicks off when the vespa-riding extraterrestrial woman Haruko Haruhara barges into Naota‘s life in the quaint town of Mabase. Over the series‘ 6 episodes, Naota contends with Haruko‘s escalating antics while coming to grips with his own adolescence.
FLCL assaults the viewer with its pace, animation styles, wacky humor and curveballs the same way Haruko disrupts Naota‘s ordinary world. Yet beneath its manic, exaggerated surface are insightful explorations of mature themes like adulthood, purpose and relationships.
Why FLCL Became a Hit
Upon release in 2000, FLCL gained an immediate cult following for:
- Its eye-poppingly distinct animation sequences and visual narrative
- Kinetic pacing with an average shot length of just 2.3 seconds!
- Eclectic all-star team including director Kazuya Tsurumaki, character designer Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, writer Yoji Enokido and music act The Pillows
- Coming-of-age story that resonated with teens and adults alike
20 years later FLCL endures as landmark anime that dwarfs its scant 120 minute runtime through creative vision, emotional weight and production pedigree.
Other Top Short Anime Series and Films
While no anime comes close to FLCL‘s brevity, many other acclaimed short series and movies capture fans and critics alike:
Short Anime Series
| Anime Series | Episode Count | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Hellsing Ultimate | 10 | 2006 |
| Devilman Crybaby | 10 | 2018 |
| Afro Samurai | 5 | 2007 |
| Ping Pong the Animation | 11 | 2014 |
Spanning between 5 and 11 episodes each, these short but spectacular series drama, action, psychological themes and stellar animation into their sub-12 episode episode counts. Like FLCL, their critical acclaim and influence outlasts their runtimes.
Notable Short Anime Films
When excluding compilation films, the shortest stand-alone anime movie is the surrealist cult icon Cat Soup (Nekojiru-so) which clocks in at just 31 minutes long. Directed by Tatsuo Sato in 2001, Cat Soup‘s minimlaist animation style belies an avant garde exploration of existence, consciousness and mortality all centered around anthropomorphic cats.
Other seminal short anime movies include:
- Voices of a Distant Star (2002) – 30 minutes
- The Red Spectacles (1987) – 37 minutes
- Aim for the Top 2! Diebuster (2004) – 50 minutes
Despite durations as compact as half an hour, these anime films employ their concise runtimes to deliver outsized impact through their animation artistry and weighty themes.
The Appeal of Short Anime
As both FLCL and other brief but brilliant anime series and movies have shown, runtime does not dictate the depth of storytelling, emotional resonance or excitement that anime can offer.
In fact as an avid gamer and anime fan myself, I often prefer shorter anime spanning 12 episodes or less over sprawling multi-cour sagas. Beyond being easier to fit into busy schedules, short anime tend to excel in aspects like:
- Focus – With less screentime to work with, short anime hone in on the most crucial narrative beats and character moments
- Presentation – From animation to editing to music, short anime frequently dazzle as they strive to make an instant impact and leave a lasting impression
- Rewatch Value – It‘s easier to revisit short anime thanks to their accessibility and pacing while noticing Easter eggs you missed before!
So while many gamers and anime fans continue waiting months for behemoth series like One Piece or Detective Conan to conclude one day, I‘ll be cherishing rewatches of perfectly petite classics like FLCL and the many phenomenal short anime out there.
The Short But Sweet Verdict
In closing, rather than get daunted by the 1000+ episode lengths of the longest-running anime juggernauts, I recommend all gamers expand their watch-lists with phenomenally concise yet unforgettable anime series and films like FLCL to experience the medium‘s true versatility. Who knows – you may just find a new all-time favorite anime in just 6 episodes!
