Probably the greatest magical girl anime ever made (or at least the blueprint for the popular choice "Madoka"), and likely the one that would eventually bring Akiyuki Shinbo to prominence, "Nanoha A's" revolutionised a tired genre with a unique storytelling, art design that would influence an entire age of animation and excellent sound design with strong western influences. This is the anime that would expand the definition of what one could consider a magical girl or a magical staff, and challenge typical characterisation of villain and hero. It also features fantastic cinematography and framing, paired with easy to follow editing, doing away with frenetic cutsbetween characters and action and animating it's battle scenes with beautiful, over-the-top magic sequences.

Paired with a killer soundtrack featuring inserts by Nana Mizuki, this is an unforgettable anime.

While the series itself is beginning to be forgotten, the importance of this anime can never be overstated. Without Nanoha, there wouldn't be a Bakemonogatari, a Madoka or an Arakawa Under the Bridge.