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15 Amazing Anime Movies and Series Based on Games
Pokemon
Based on: Pokemon
Classic. Obviously. The title came out for Gameboy in 1996, and the anime premiered the next year. Many of us didn't even know there was a game to go with this dizzyingly fun cartoon featuring a fat, yellow fighting pet and his human. And that was just fine by us. (Photo by: Warner Brothers)
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Devil May Cry
Based on: Devil May Cry
This is one of the more divisive animes out there. Some people love following more of vengeful demon hunter Dante's adventures. Some people insist that the show's focus on interpersonal relationships is a needless distraction from what could, and should, be a show about straight-up demon murder. Either way, if you loved the games, it's worth checking out. (Photo by: Capcom)
Steins;Gate
Based on: Steins Gate
The infinitely-human sci-fi tale with the funny punctuation began as a "visual novel," a very popular style of PC title in Japan. If you're into thoughtful sci-fi sagas, great. But really, Steins;Gate is so much more: The story of a unique set of oddballs whose friendship literally transcends time. You'll have a hard time forgetting this one. (Photo by: Funimation)
Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker
Based on: Dragon Age
If you love badass heroines, here's a way to follow the early adventures of a true lulu. Cassandra (think half fighter, half religious-style inquisitor) and her fellow Seekers battle a mage-led conspiracy of to overthrow a religious order and its leader, the Divine. (Photo by: Funimation)
Halo Legends
Based on: Halo
Like Devil May Cry, some people love this one, and some people hate it. That differentiation seems to mostly hinge on how much you enjoyed watching Halo's cutscenes. (Photo by: Warner Brothers)
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
Based on: Final Fantasy VII
Advent Children follows the heroes of FF7 two years after they defeat Sephiroth. (Photo by: Sony Pictures)
Viewtiful Joe
Based on: Viewtiful Joe
Great news if you loved this totally insane game: The anime captures that same glorious manic energy. This one is worth watching just for the Men in Black parody episode. Henshin-a-go-go, baby! (Photo by: MGM Television)
Dimensional Adventure Nu-Mamonja
Based on: Chrono Trigger
Two monsters meet fellow creatures and characters from the game at a magical festival the night before the events of Chrono Trigger begin in this promotional anime. (Photo by: Production I.G)
Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
Based on: Kirby
Star Warrior Kirby protects a village from the evil monster-summoning King Dedede and his minions. (Photo by: Funimation)
Persona 4: The Animation
Based on: Persona 4
This anime uses dialogue and characters directly from the beloved Playstation game. It takes a slightly different angle on the central mystery of the game, but most viewers like getting the alternative perspective on a universe in which they've spent so much time. (Photo by: Sentai Filmworks)
Ef: A Tale of Memories
Based on: Ef: A Fairy Tale of the Two
One of two animes based on the popular Japanese visual novel series, A Tale of Memories finds Hiro Hirono meeting the prospective romantic interests he would encounter in the game. This one's from the grand tradition of animes that totally confuse you at first, then make you feel feelings ... and then cry. About cartoon characters. (Photo by: Sentai Filmworks)
Digimon
Based on: Digimon
OK, yes, this was basically the same thing as Pokemon. But the Digimon could only evolve when their owners went through some personal character development, which was an interesting touch. (Photo by: Nickelodeon)
Inazuma Eleven
Based on: Inazuma Eleven
Not many sports games get made into animes. Fortunately, Inazuma Eleven is an exception. Endou Mamoru recruits a ragtag group of outsiders to compete in his soccer club in this delightful series. (Photo by: Geneon Entertainment)
Gungrave
Based on: Gungrave
A lot of people are actually more familiar with this anime than the game that preceded it. The third person shooter on the Playstation 2 wasn't a masterpiece by any stretch, but the anime deftly followed Brandon Heat and Harry MacDowell as they rose and fell through the ranks of a mafia crime syndicate. (Photo by: Funimation)
Tales of the Abyss
Based on: Tales of the Abyss
Unlike most animes, you don't need to play the game first to understand this show. In 26 episodes, Tales of the Abyss chronicles Luke fon Fabre's journey from pampered son of royalty to the prophesied "chosen one." (Photo by: Bandai Entertainment)
More...
Based on: Pokemon
Classic. Obviously. The title came out for Gameboy in 1996, and the anime premiered the next year. Many of us didn't even know there was a game to go with this dizzyingly fun cartoon featuring a fat, yellow fighting pet and his human. And that was just fine by us. (Photo by: Warner Brothers)
Sponsored content by Nintendo
Devil May Cry
Based on: Devil May Cry
This is one of the more divisive animes out there. Some people love following more of vengeful demon hunter Dante's adventures. Some people insist that the show's focus on interpersonal relationships is a needless distraction from what could, and should, be a show about straight-up demon murder. Either way, if you loved the games, it's worth checking out. (Photo by: Capcom)
Steins;Gate
Based on: Steins Gate
The infinitely-human sci-fi tale with the funny punctuation began as a "visual novel," a very popular style of PC title in Japan. If you're into thoughtful sci-fi sagas, great. But really, Steins;Gate is so much more: The story of a unique set of oddballs whose friendship literally transcends time. You'll have a hard time forgetting this one. (Photo by: Funimation)
Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker
Based on: Dragon Age
If you love badass heroines, here's a way to follow the early adventures of a true lulu. Cassandra (think half fighter, half religious-style inquisitor) and her fellow Seekers battle a mage-led conspiracy of to overthrow a religious order and its leader, the Divine. (Photo by: Funimation)
Halo Legends
Based on: Halo
Like Devil May Cry, some people love this one, and some people hate it. That differentiation seems to mostly hinge on how much you enjoyed watching Halo's cutscenes. (Photo by: Warner Brothers)
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
Based on: Final Fantasy VII
Advent Children follows the heroes of FF7 two years after they defeat Sephiroth. (Photo by: Sony Pictures)
Viewtiful Joe
Based on: Viewtiful Joe
Great news if you loved this totally insane game: The anime captures that same glorious manic energy. This one is worth watching just for the Men in Black parody episode. Henshin-a-go-go, baby! (Photo by: MGM Television)
Dimensional Adventure Nu-Mamonja
Based on: Chrono Trigger
Two monsters meet fellow creatures and characters from the game at a magical festival the night before the events of Chrono Trigger begin in this promotional anime. (Photo by: Production I.G)
Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
Based on: Kirby
Star Warrior Kirby protects a village from the evil monster-summoning King Dedede and his minions. (Photo by: Funimation)
Persona 4: The Animation
Based on: Persona 4
This anime uses dialogue and characters directly from the beloved Playstation game. It takes a slightly different angle on the central mystery of the game, but most viewers like getting the alternative perspective on a universe in which they've spent so much time. (Photo by: Sentai Filmworks)
Ef: A Tale of Memories
Based on: Ef: A Fairy Tale of the Two
One of two animes based on the popular Japanese visual novel series, A Tale of Memories finds Hiro Hirono meeting the prospective romantic interests he would encounter in the game. This one's from the grand tradition of animes that totally confuse you at first, then make you feel feelings ... and then cry. About cartoon characters. (Photo by: Sentai Filmworks)
Digimon
Based on: Digimon
OK, yes, this was basically the same thing as Pokemon. But the Digimon could only evolve when their owners went through some personal character development, which was an interesting touch. (Photo by: Nickelodeon)
Inazuma Eleven
Based on: Inazuma Eleven
Not many sports games get made into animes. Fortunately, Inazuma Eleven is an exception. Endou Mamoru recruits a ragtag group of outsiders to compete in his soccer club in this delightful series. (Photo by: Geneon Entertainment)
Gungrave
Based on: Gungrave
A lot of people are actually more familiar with this anime than the game that preceded it. The third person shooter on the Playstation 2 wasn't a masterpiece by any stretch, but the anime deftly followed Brandon Heat and Harry MacDowell as they rose and fell through the ranks of a mafia crime syndicate. (Photo by: Funimation)
Tales of the Abyss
Based on: Tales of the Abyss
Unlike most animes, you don't need to play the game first to understand this show. In 26 episodes, Tales of the Abyss chronicles Luke fon Fabre's journey from pampered son of royalty to the prophesied "chosen one." (Photo by: Bandai Entertainment)
More...