The most popular anime often have something in common; the studio that creates them. CLAMP is a household name for longtime fans of anime.

The most popular anime often have something in common; the studio that creates them. CLAMP is a household name for longtime fans of anime. A quartet of female manga artists: Nanase Ohkawa, Mokona, Tsubaki Nekoi and Satsuki Igarashi, they've received praise as being one of the most acclaimed anime artists in the industry. What's even more interesting is that some anime from the franchise are interconnected. Meaning, fans can enjoy brilliantly-planned cross-overs of their favorite characters!

From inspired unique animation and dark themes, to bubbly, shoujo goodness, here are some of the best anime from the CLAMP franchise, ranked:

Directed by Toshihiro Hirano, this dark fantasy series has become a bestseller among international audiences. CLAMP's approach behind the art style and diverse character design was aimed at targeting younger audiences, with visible influences from mecha-anime, balanced with standard styles of fantasy.

Three right grade girls: Hikaru, Umi and Fuu are on a field trip with their school, when they time travel to a different world called Cephiro. Tasked with rescuing Princess Emeraude from the villain Zagato, the three girls must fulfill their mission to return to Tokyo safely. Their only source of guidance is Mokona, a magical creature who helps each of them identify their runic power to defeat Zagato.

Adapted from the original novel by Natsuhiko Kyogoku, this horror-mystery series is directed by Ryōsuke Nakamura. CLAMP were tasked with the character design for the anime series, in collaboration with Asako Nishida. The vast array of characters, combined with the painted backgrounds make the visual experience stand out, among other similar anime.

It's 1952, Tatsumi Sekiguchi is a writer of crime novels and Morihiko Toriguchi is the editor of a magazine. A chance encounter with Onmyoji, Akihiko leads the duo to become embroiled with future crimes that occur in their surroundings. It is up to these three to solve each new case before the culprit escapes.

Movie Franchises That Should Get an Anime Series Based on Them

Directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri, this apocalyptic dark fantasy anime is a uniquely imagined scenario of the end of days. Featuring characters that blur the lines between archetypical shoujo and shounen, along with some of the most ruthless villains seen in anime, the narrative and the character illustrations make up an extremely surreal watching experience.

It's 1999, and the world is about to end. Kamui Shiro is a young man with supernatural abilities, who returns home to Tokyo after six years to fulfill his dying mother's wish of changing fates. With other powerful sorcerers joining the mix and wanting to use the end of days for their own benefit, Shiro must stop the hurdles in his path, on the road to stopping the apocalypse from striking.

Directed by Kōichi Mashimo and Hiroshi Morioka, this adventure fantasy anime is another one of CLAMP's most influential works. Featuring a high number of character crossovers in this series, the anime is a fanservice treat for longtime CLAMP fans. Receiving praise for its art and story setting in the isekai genre, Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle is a critic and fan favorite.

Set in the Kingdom of Clow, Princess Sakura unexpectedly loses all her memories. With the help of her childhood friend Syaoran, who is now an archeologist, Princess Sakura sets out on an adventure to restore her memories, which were scattered in the form of flower petals across multiple time periods and locations.

Directed by Mitsuyuki Masuhara, this fantasy anime series is considered as one of CLAMP's most important contributions to the shoujo anime genre. Featuring lovable characters that have standout personalities, along with a charismatic art style with gorgeous backgrounds and magical music, this anime is a complete package of wholesome slice-of-life fantasy.

Kobato is a lovely girl who works at a kindergarten. However, unknown to the outside world, Kobato is tasked with collecting the healed hearts of whomever she meets in a little bottle before the four seasons pass. Accompanying and guiding Kobato on her journey is a dog plushie called Ioryogi, who is actually a mystical spirit trapped in this form. If Kobato succeeds in her mission, Ioryogi and his other trapped friends will also be able to return to their actual forms.

The Most Anticipated Anime Releasing In 2022

Directed by Tsutomu Mizushima, this dark fantasy anime TV series exists in crossover with Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle. Arguably the most inspired of all CLAMP artworks, the style borrows from traditional Japanese artworks, making the characters stand out among the various patterns and striking designs. This translates really well into animation too, allowing the dark fantasy aspect of the story to be more prominent through these little touches.

Ordinary high-school student Kimihiro has an inconvenient secret. He can see the world of the supernatural. Mortified by his abilities, Kimihiro has an encounter with grand witch Yuko, a woman who owns a wish-granting shop. She offers to remove Kimihiro's magical abilities under one condition: that he will now become a permanent employee of her magic shop. A reluctant Kimihiro has no choice but to honor the deal.

Directed by Morio Asaka, this fantasy anime series is one of CLAMP's most popular original works. With a mystical art style featuring a pastel palette, this anime is the perfect shoujo adaptation, with its unique character design and clean animation that appeals to both young and older viewers. The anime also received the Best Anime award at Animage Grand Prix in 1999, making it truly one of its kind.

Set in the fictional location of Tomoeda, the anime follows the journey of ten-year-old Sakura, who discovers that she has magical abilities when she comes across a set of magical Clow Cards and accidentally sets them free from a book in her basement. Instructed by Cerberus, the guardian of the book, Sakura must now go on a journey to locate and subdue every card's magical abilities before collecting it in her book.

Directed by Gorō Taniguchi and featuring original character designs by CLAMP, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion is an anime TV series that is well-deserved of its number one spot on this list. Featuring incredible world building in an alternate timeline and versatile character designs that quickly became fan favorites, this anime is critically acclaimed for its art and storytelling, a feather in CLAMP's cap.

Lelouch vi Britannia is a young prince whose tyrannical father, King Charles zi Britannia, sends him and his blind sister as envoys to Japan after the death of their mother. When the children are sent there, Britannia launches an attack on Japan, taking the country by surprise and causing destruction. With nothing but the ruins of Japan remaining behind him, Lelouch promises to take revenge against his villainous father, setting the spark for a grand rebellion.

Fatima is an author, seamstress and English major who is enthusiastic about films, comics and cosplay. She also has an avid love for writing and writes about the latest entertainment news and trends on Movieweb.