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As I've stated in the title of my previous article, this list would be updated once I have watched more anime in the future.
Okay, with this version of the list, I have decided to do what I did not do in my previous list. That being not only will I name the top ten series' that I heavily enjoyed, but I am also going to list some honorable mentions that I feel that deserves to be recognized for its accomplishments.
And I probably wouldn't go into much depth with each show on this list seeing as it is a list so please forgive me if my reasons may come off as insipid or shallow.
Also, keep in mind that this is my list so everything that is on here is completely subjective. Feel free to disagree but please do not be rude once you deliver your opinions, that is all I ask.
With that out of the way, let's get started.
Great action sequences, fantastic soundtrack and superb animation, I felt that Attack on Titan deserved an honorable mention. I feel sort of bad for not even mentioning it in my previous list but eh.
While the premise is intriguing and the Titans look disturbing, it is held down by a large cast of characters, with only a few of them being actually engaging and interesting. Erwin Smith, Annie, Levi, and Mikasa are great and all, but with the others like Eren, Jean, Armin, and so on, they just can't seem to be able to compete and those guys are main characters as well.
Every side characters in this show feel like archetypes seen a lot of times in other anime before.
And I know it is not the anime's fault per say, but the show had a lot of good build-up in its narrative that the payoff and the way it ended wasn't satisfying, at least for now.
Still recommend this one because it is at least enjoyable to watch and has enough action to keep the audience invested. However, I will say my opinion on this one as a whole may change depending on how the future seasons of this show perform.
Good characters, fantastic soundtrack, interesting premise and yet for some reason lacked the 'WOW' factor that Hunter x Hunter or even One Punch Man had.
However despite that, it made up for it with an interesting lore and the themes it had definitely helped the story a lot. Not to mention the comedy is just brilliant, out of all the shows on the honorable mentions list, this one had the most laughs.
Like with Attack on Titan, there are some really great characters in this one like Edward Elric and Roy Mustang is amazing, but there were also others that aren't as good as them like Riza Hawkeye or Scar, and they are given just as much attention as those two. The side villains are interesting but the main one felt lacking by comparison, and his end goal was pretty generic as well.
The animation could have used a little more work as well but it still had some great actions scenes to balance it out. Also, there were some pretty good twists and turns that happened in this one that will surely catch your attention.
I still liked this show enough for me to give it a full recommendation. If you're looking for a shounen anime that loves to switch up the formula every once in a while, then FMA Brotherhood is a great way to start.
Another show with an overpowered main protagonist, One Punch Man basically answers the question what happens if the main character becomes too powerful.
Having somewhat of a unique premise, this particular show was funny for what it was trying to do. It is admirable that they managed to make Saitama, a character that's supposed to be seen as a god amongst men that can kill any enemies in just one punch, interesting. Not to mention that the rest of the main cast can be quite entertaining as well. The animation is great to look at and the soundtrack manages to fit the tone of the show as a whole.
And unlike Attack on Titan, it managed to give somewhat of a satisfying ending despite being shorter than the former.
However, what holds it back for me is that I felt it's a bit too short for me to care about the rest of the characters it tried to develop. The other non-Class S 'heroes' in particular got very distracting for how useless and annoying some of them were.
Either way, I enjoyed this show and I'll be waiting for what they have in store for the supposed second season that is coming up.
The only thing keeping it from going any higher up is that there are some story elements to it that they didn't answer or never bothered to explain. The problem is that the show already expects the audience to know so they just randomly decided to show it, without giving any rhyme or reason as to why it's even there in the first place.
Also, some of the side characters get little to no screentime like Sakura, Rider, and Lancer, which made them severely uninteresting.
And it is rather unfortunate that Saber didn't get nearly as much screentime in this as she did in Zero. It is supposed to be about Rin and Shirou, but a little more of her probably wouldn't have hurt the show because she is more than capable of entertaining the viewers herself.
However, it still is a good show, definitely worth seeing just for the animation alone. I would suggest watching Fate/Stay Night - 2006 (or possibly skip the whole thing entirely if you aren't interested), then Fate/Zero, and then this, so that the story as a whole would come full circle.
Okay, with this version of the list, I have decided to do what I did not do in my previous list. That being not only will I name the top ten series' that I heavily enjoyed, but I am also going to list some honorable mentions that I feel that deserves to be recognized for its accomplishments.
And I probably wouldn't go into much depth with each show on this list seeing as it is a list so please forgive me if my reasons may come off as insipid or shallow.
Also, keep in mind that this is my list so everything that is on here is completely subjective. Feel free to disagree but please do not be rude once you deliver your opinions, that is all I ask.
With that out of the way, let's get started.
Honorable Mentions:
Attack on Titan
Great action sequences, fantastic soundtrack and superb animation, I felt that Attack on Titan deserved an honorable mention. I feel sort of bad for not even mentioning it in my previous list but eh.
While the premise is intriguing and the Titans look disturbing, it is held down by a large cast of characters, with only a few of them being actually engaging and interesting. Erwin Smith, Annie, Levi, and Mikasa are great and all, but with the others like Eren, Jean, Armin, and so on, they just can't seem to be able to compete and those guys are main characters as well.
Every side characters in this show feel like archetypes seen a lot of times in other anime before.
And I know it is not the anime's fault per say, but the show had a lot of good build-up in its narrative that the payoff and the way it ended wasn't satisfying, at least for now.
Still recommend this one because it is at least enjoyable to watch and has enough action to keep the audience invested. However, I will say my opinion on this one as a whole may change depending on how the future seasons of this show perform.
Psycho-Pass
The first half of the show was great that is unfortunately held down by a half-baked second season.
Psycho-Pass overall had fantastic visuals, interesting characters, and an intriguing lore mixed with sci-fi elements. The main characters were great and were developed really well, as was the main antagonist in the first season. However, like I said, it is unfortunately held down by the second half due to how much they basically repeated the same plots they did in the first one. Not to mention the new characters they brought in ranged from uninteresting to just annoying.
Another problem is that this show tried to take itself too seriously.
Seriousness is fine, but as a show with more than twenty episodes, they at least could have given the audience a break from all the craziness and dark elements that happened at least once or twice.
Throwing in at least a couple of jokes or even lighthearted moments probably wouldn't have hurt it as a whole. It had enough story and characters to carry itself on its feet. And the soundtrack wasn't really all that great either, but it still kinda fit on what type of show this is.
I encourage people to give this one a try, but if you were to ask me personally, I'd say skip over the second season because it doesn't really add anything new to the table.
Psycho-Pass overall had fantastic visuals, interesting characters, and an intriguing lore mixed with sci-fi elements. The main characters were great and were developed really well, as was the main antagonist in the first season. However, like I said, it is unfortunately held down by the second half due to how much they basically repeated the same plots they did in the first one. Not to mention the new characters they brought in ranged from uninteresting to just annoying.
Another problem is that this show tried to take itself too seriously.
Seriousness is fine, but as a show with more than twenty episodes, they at least could have given the audience a break from all the craziness and dark elements that happened at least once or twice.
Throwing in at least a couple of jokes or even lighthearted moments probably wouldn't have hurt it as a whole. It had enough story and characters to carry itself on its feet. And the soundtrack wasn't really all that great either, but it still kinda fit on what type of show this is.
I encourage people to give this one a try, but if you were to ask me personally, I'd say skip over the second season because it doesn't really add anything new to the table.
Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion R1 | R2
Code Geass as a whole is like a mixed bag. When it's good, it's really good but when it's not, it takes a dive, like Lelouch's unnecessary romance with Kallen or Rollo's "redemption" and so on.
While on that note, having a huge amount of characters, like Attack on Titan, sort of backfired on the show. Even though characters like Lelouch himself and Schneizel are fun and enjoyable, characters like Ohgi, Rollo, Kallen, and Shirley fall short and weren't very interesting or even entertaining, despite being very crucial to the plot.
The animation still holds up despite being released almost a decade ago, at least the first half was. The soundtrack was a bit of a hit-and-miss and the story is not really all that original but executes it in a way that makes it really entertaining.
It's one of those shows where you just sit back, relax and just watch as insanity unfolds right before your eyes. It's like a popcorn flick and if you're looking to have a good time, then this show has your back.
Another show involving mechs but with overpowered main characters, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann manages to reel its audience in with its crazy atmosphere and upbeat, hyped-up narrative. The animation can be a bit distracting at times, and the soundtrack is overall meh, however, it makes up for it with its characters and story.
Not to mention for a show that is as chaotic as this, it surprisingly somehow has twists and turns that could only work for this type of plot. Without giving away too much, there is a bit right after the first half where the show really starts to pick up that managed to keep itself interesting.
The problem, however, is that it takes a bit of time and dedication to get there and the plots beforehand got a little tiring.
Overall, I recommend this one if you are looking for a show that is just balls to the wall insane along with comedy that could keep up with its insanity.
While on that note, having a huge amount of characters, like Attack on Titan, sort of backfired on the show. Even though characters like Lelouch himself and Schneizel are fun and enjoyable, characters like Ohgi, Rollo, Kallen, and Shirley fall short and weren't very interesting or even entertaining, despite being very crucial to the plot.
The animation still holds up despite being released almost a decade ago, at least the first half was. The soundtrack was a bit of a hit-and-miss and the story is not really all that original but executes it in a way that makes it really entertaining.
It's one of those shows where you just sit back, relax and just watch as insanity unfolds right before your eyes. It's like a popcorn flick and if you're looking to have a good time, then this show has your back.
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
Another show involving mechs but with overpowered main characters, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann manages to reel its audience in with its crazy atmosphere and upbeat, hyped-up narrative. The animation can be a bit distracting at times, and the soundtrack is overall meh, however, it makes up for it with its characters and story.
Not to mention for a show that is as chaotic as this, it surprisingly somehow has twists and turns that could only work for this type of plot. Without giving away too much, there is a bit right after the first half where the show really starts to pick up that managed to keep itself interesting.
The problem, however, is that it takes a bit of time and dedication to get there and the plots beforehand got a little tiring.
Overall, I recommend this one if you are looking for a show that is just balls to the wall insane along with comedy that could keep up with its insanity.
Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit
Moribito still has some of the most stunning visuals you will ever see in any anime, plus the soundtrack fits the show very well.
Not only that, but it also had some intriguing fantasy elements that you wouldn't expect to see in a show like this. Balsa the spear wielder and Prince Chagum are also very well-developed and really likable. Best mother-son relationship ever put together in any anime.
The fight and action sequences were just a thing of beauty, they were animated very well and the music fit the overall tone of the show. The choreography and fluidity in the animation just made them some of the best fight sequences ever in any anime.
Also, the show never really had a clear antagonist and it was very refreshing because it made all of its characters feel like real people caught in real dilemmas.
However, the downside is that because all of the characters felt realistic, some of them didn't get as much screen time as they should have. It also got a bit dragging in the middle parts as nothing much happened and the climax was very predictable because the fantasy elements got too specific and convenient.
Overall, I say go watch this show if you want to see great fight scene and likable main characters, as it is very good in both that regard.
Not only that, but it also had some intriguing fantasy elements that you wouldn't expect to see in a show like this. Balsa the spear wielder and Prince Chagum are also very well-developed and really likable. Best mother-son relationship ever put together in any anime.
The fight and action sequences were just a thing of beauty, they were animated very well and the music fit the overall tone of the show. The choreography and fluidity in the animation just made them some of the best fight sequences ever in any anime.
Also, the show never really had a clear antagonist and it was very refreshing because it made all of its characters feel like real people caught in real dilemmas.
However, the downside is that because all of the characters felt realistic, some of them didn't get as much screen time as they should have. It also got a bit dragging in the middle parts as nothing much happened and the climax was very predictable because the fantasy elements got too specific and convenient.
Overall, I say go watch this show if you want to see great fight scene and likable main characters, as it is very good in both that regard.
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood
Good characters, fantastic soundtrack, interesting premise and yet for some reason lacked the 'WOW' factor that Hunter x Hunter or even One Punch Man had.
However despite that, it made up for it with an interesting lore and the themes it had definitely helped the story a lot. Not to mention the comedy is just brilliant, out of all the shows on the honorable mentions list, this one had the most laughs.
Like with Attack on Titan, there are some really great characters in this one like Edward Elric and Roy Mustang is amazing, but there were also others that aren't as good as them like Riza Hawkeye or Scar, and they are given just as much attention as those two. The side villains are interesting but the main one felt lacking by comparison, and his end goal was pretty generic as well.
The animation could have used a little more work as well but it still had some great actions scenes to balance it out. Also, there were some pretty good twists and turns that happened in this one that will surely catch your attention.
I still liked this show enough for me to give it a full recommendation. If you're looking for a shounen anime that loves to switch up the formula every once in a while, then FMA Brotherhood is a great way to start.
One Punch Man
Another show with an overpowered main protagonist, One Punch Man basically answers the question what happens if the main character becomes too powerful.
Having somewhat of a unique premise, this particular show was funny for what it was trying to do. It is admirable that they managed to make Saitama, a character that's supposed to be seen as a god amongst men that can kill any enemies in just one punch, interesting. Not to mention that the rest of the main cast can be quite entertaining as well. The animation is great to look at and the soundtrack manages to fit the tone of the show as a whole.
And unlike Attack on Titan, it managed to give somewhat of a satisfying ending despite being shorter than the former.
However, what holds it back for me is that I felt it's a bit too short for me to care about the rest of the characters it tried to develop. The other non-Class S 'heroes' in particular got very distracting for how useless and annoying some of them were.
Either way, I enjoyed this show and I'll be waiting for what they have in store for the supposed second season that is coming up.
Fate/Stay Night - Unlimited Bladeworks
A worthy successor to the 2011 series 'Fate/Zero' and a good adaptation of one of three routes in the original 'Fate/Stay Night' Visual Novel, this one has breathtakingly gorgeous animation (probably the best I've seen in any series), magnificent soundtrack, well-written main characters and an intriguing story that kept the audience invested.
Archer was a great character and had the best parts in the entire show. Shirou and Rin are so much better in this than their 'Fate/Stay Night (2006)' counterparts. And it has already been mentioned, but dear lord, the animation in this one was so beautiful.
It's probably even better than Zero's and that show also had breathtakingly gorgeous visuals.
Archer was a great character and had the best parts in the entire show. Shirou and Rin are so much better in this than their 'Fate/Stay Night (2006)' counterparts. And it has already been mentioned, but dear lord, the animation in this one was so beautiful.
It's probably even better than Zero's and that show also had breathtakingly gorgeous visuals.
The only thing keeping it from going any higher up is that there are some story elements to it that they didn't answer or never bothered to explain. The problem is that the show already expects the audience to know so they just randomly decided to show it, without giving any rhyme or reason as to why it's even there in the first place.
Also, some of the side characters get little to no screentime like Sakura, Rider, and Lancer, which made them severely uninteresting.
And it is rather unfortunate that Saber didn't get nearly as much screentime in this as she did in Zero. It is supposed to be about Rin and Shirou, but a little more of her probably wouldn't have hurt the show because she is more than capable of entertaining the viewers herself.
However, it still is a good show, definitely worth seeing just for the animation alone. I would suggest watching Fate/Stay Night - 2006 (or possibly skip the whole thing entirely if you aren't interested), then Fate/Zero, and then this, so that the story as a whole would come full circle.
Erased
Great show from the very beginning that was, unfortunately, weighed down by the ending. Not that the ending was bad and all, but it was just a bit underwhelming. It felt like the story was a bit incomplete once the credits started to roll.
The mystery aspect was also not that good as it started to get a little bit predictable once you get used to the show's direction. However, it makes up for it with its intriguing narrative, intense atmosphere and good characters to match. Kayo Hinazuki's story alone was enough to keep people invested.
Not to mention the visuals look great and the soundtrack is just magnificent. It perfectly fits the atmosphere that Erased had. It also surprisingly has good comedy for a show that is as serious as this.
If it weren't for the ending being a bit predictable and incomplete, this one probably would have made the top ten, seeing as the first half of this show was just brilliant that kept people wanting more when it first premiered.
Overall I would say go give this show a chance, it's at least worth for the drama the unfolds but do not get your hopes too high for the ending.
Ask anyone who's finished the show and you'll know why that phrase has a very bad reputation, even amongst hardcore fans of the franchise.
It still is a good show that I would recommend to anyone who is interested in seeing a supernatural/sci-fi take on a high school slice of life show and it is rather unfortunate that there hasn't been any greenlit of there ever being a season three.
The mystery aspect was also not that good as it started to get a little bit predictable once you get used to the show's direction. However, it makes up for it with its intriguing narrative, intense atmosphere and good characters to match. Kayo Hinazuki's story alone was enough to keep people invested.
Not to mention the visuals look great and the soundtrack is just magnificent. It perfectly fits the atmosphere that Erased had. It also surprisingly has good comedy for a show that is as serious as this.
If it weren't for the ending being a bit predictable and incomplete, this one probably would have made the top ten, seeing as the first half of this show was just brilliant that kept people wanting more when it first premiered.
Overall I would say go give this show a chance, it's at least worth for the drama the unfolds but do not get your hopes too high for the ending.
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya + Disappearance
An upbeat soundtrack, and cliched characters, from an outside point of view, this seems like a typical slice of life, high school rom-com anime.
However, the lore was intriguing enough as it sort of explains as to why everything is the way it is in their universe. I won't give away too much but the show does have a lot more going for it as it has bits of sci-fi and supernatural elements to it that made it interesting.
The animation still holds up to this day despite being a decade old as the first episode was released in 2006.
The Disappearance movie as a whole was great, it's possibly even better than the show in some aspects. The whole time, the characters stayed true to what made them enjoyable in the first place and was given enough development to keep the audience interested.
However, with all the praise it could be given, there is one major thing that is keeping it from going higher and it can be summed up in just two words: Endless. Eight.
However, the lore was intriguing enough as it sort of explains as to why everything is the way it is in their universe. I won't give away too much but the show does have a lot more going for it as it has bits of sci-fi and supernatural elements to it that made it interesting.
The animation still holds up to this day despite being a decade old as the first episode was released in 2006.
The Disappearance movie as a whole was great, it's possibly even better than the show in some aspects. The whole time, the characters stayed true to what made them enjoyable in the first place and was given enough development to keep the audience interested.
However, with all the praise it could be given, there is one major thing that is keeping it from going higher and it can be summed up in just two words: Endless. Eight.
Ask anyone who's finished the show and you'll know why that phrase has a very bad reputation, even amongst hardcore fans of the franchise.
It still is a good show that I would recommend to anyone who is interested in seeing a supernatural/sci-fi take on a high school slice of life show and it is rather unfortunate that there hasn't been any greenlit of there ever being a season three.
Okay, with that out of the way, let's move on to my real top ten.
Top 10 Anime Series:
No. 10 - Clannad + After Story
For a show that has a lot emotional and depressing elements, Clannad also has some of the best comedy a show could offer. Not only were the characters entertaining to watch, but it was also nice to see them grow up from high school, all the way through adulthood.
It is rare for an anime to really do something like that, to see the characters develop into model citizens. Not only that but the animation, despite having a generic art style, was pretty to look at and it fit the overall tone of the show.
The soundtrack was also noteworthy as it was able to keep up with what was displayed onscreen. The only problem is that the character of Nagisa just felt a bit generic.
This show did a great job at developing most of its other female leads that Nagisa felt like she was left behind. Everything that revolved around her was interesting, but the character herself was not and that is disappointing seeing as she is supposed to be the main female lead. Her parents were more interesting than her, heck, they are probably even the best characters in the entire show.
Akio and Sanae were very enjoyable to watch every time they were on screen. Seeing those two together was just very entertaining.
The ending, despite how polarizing it is among the viewers, left a sense of satisfaction that has this feeling of closure to it.
At times, the first season felt really generic but maybe that was the intention after seeing everything unfold in After Story. The first season felt more like a build-up towards it and it paid off really well.
You may not enjoy the ending as much as I did, but I'd say give this one a try. It's an emotional roller coaster that is surely worthy of respect.
It is rare for an anime to really do something like that, to see the characters develop into model citizens. Not only that but the animation, despite having a generic art style, was pretty to look at and it fit the overall tone of the show.
The soundtrack was also noteworthy as it was able to keep up with what was displayed onscreen. The only problem is that the character of Nagisa just felt a bit generic.
This show did a great job at developing most of its other female leads that Nagisa felt like she was left behind. Everything that revolved around her was interesting, but the character herself was not and that is disappointing seeing as she is supposed to be the main female lead. Her parents were more interesting than her, heck, they are probably even the best characters in the entire show.
Akio and Sanae were very enjoyable to watch every time they were on screen. Seeing those two together was just very entertaining.
The ending, despite how polarizing it is among the viewers, left a sense of satisfaction that has this feeling of closure to it.
At times, the first season felt really generic but maybe that was the intention after seeing everything unfold in After Story. The first season felt more like a build-up towards it and it paid off really well.
You may not enjoy the ending as much as I did, but I'd say give this one a try. It's an emotional roller coaster that is surely worthy of respect.
No. 9 - Bokurano: Ours
The animation for this one is bad, there is no denying that.
With that said, however, Bokurano had enough story and mystery that can keep its audience watching. Despite having a large main cast composing of fifteen children originally, this show managed to deliver each story of each child in such an emotionally crippling way that people will probably end up remembering their story more than their own names.
The first half, however, was pretty dialogue heavy and it got pretty slow because of it for a while.
Afterward, the show slowly relied on its characters to carry the show and it managed to pull it off. And what is unique about it is that each child had a different reaction to the predicaments they are in. Nobody was ever on the same page as they are always arguing with each other because of their different ideologies.
The lore was very grim and mysterious that the writer for Madoka Magica even admitted that he was inspired by this show and that should tell the audience something. The soundtrack overall is alright, there is nothing very unique about it apart from the opening and ending themes.
However, there were some bits and pieces that seemed very important but they just randomly decided to drop all of it at the very end, which is disappointing.
Despite having bad animation, I say this show is worth checking out for those who are interested in seeing a psychological, thriller involving mechs.
With that said, however, Bokurano had enough story and mystery that can keep its audience watching. Despite having a large main cast composing of fifteen children originally, this show managed to deliver each story of each child in such an emotionally crippling way that people will probably end up remembering their story more than their own names.
The first half, however, was pretty dialogue heavy and it got pretty slow because of it for a while.
Afterward, the show slowly relied on its characters to carry the show and it managed to pull it off. And what is unique about it is that each child had a different reaction to the predicaments they are in. Nobody was ever on the same page as they are always arguing with each other because of their different ideologies.
The lore was very grim and mysterious that the writer for Madoka Magica even admitted that he was inspired by this show and that should tell the audience something. The soundtrack overall is alright, there is nothing very unique about it apart from the opening and ending themes.
However, there were some bits and pieces that seemed very important but they just randomly decided to drop all of it at the very end, which is disappointing.
Despite having bad animation, I say this show is worth checking out for those who are interested in seeing a psychological, thriller involving mechs.
No. 8 - Parasyte - the Maxim
Interesting concept, graphic imagery, disturbing body horror, this show has all the makings of an uncomfortable gorefest.
While the ending for the is one may have been too simple for a show like this, Parasyte managed to carry itself on its feet with its good direction and interesting characters. The duo of Shinichi and Migi alone makes this show worth the watch.
Not only that but each antagonist that this show was able to produce, all had distinct personalities and goals which made them all interesting in their own right. Despite having a very serious tone, Parasyte also manages to balance it out with some much-needed comedy when things get too heavy and serious in order to give the audience a break.
And what's fascinating is that for a show as mature as this, it was somehow able to have some very genuine emotional moments.
However, the soundtrack is not very 'fitting' for the show at times and the animation, while really good consistently, felt a bit wonky in some parts. Satomi Murano was also another factor that kept this show from going higher than it is. She was just not intriguing and didn't really contribute much to the plot, aside from being the token love interest.
Either way, Parasyte is still very entertaining and has enough material for anybody who's every interested in psychological body horror could enjoy.
While the ending for the is one may have been too simple for a show like this, Parasyte managed to carry itself on its feet with its good direction and interesting characters. The duo of Shinichi and Migi alone makes this show worth the watch.
Not only that but each antagonist that this show was able to produce, all had distinct personalities and goals which made them all interesting in their own right. Despite having a very serious tone, Parasyte also manages to balance it out with some much-needed comedy when things get too heavy and serious in order to give the audience a break.
And what's fascinating is that for a show as mature as this, it was somehow able to have some very genuine emotional moments.
However, the soundtrack is not very 'fitting' for the show at times and the animation, while really good consistently, felt a bit wonky in some parts. Satomi Murano was also another factor that kept this show from going higher than it is. She was just not intriguing and didn't really contribute much to the plot, aside from being the token love interest.
Either way, Parasyte is still very entertaining and has enough material for anybody who's every interested in psychological body horror could enjoy.
No. 7 - Sound of the Sky
Who knew a show about girls in the military could somehow deliver a beautiful story about friendship, loyalty, and hard work? Well, Sound of the Sky answers that question truthfully. Gorgeous visuals, fantastic soundtrack, and the overall feeling of it made it one of the best slice-of-life shows ever made,
However, given they are in a military situation, it is quite surprising that majority of the show was dedicated to the characters rather than the story and it worked out very well.
The characters are all well developed and really likable and the relationships between them are enjoyable to watch. Even the side characters got their time to shine in this show, which is a major plus. You could say that this show is more character driven rather than story driven.
The other noteworthy thing about it is the soundtrack. Because the show uses music as one of its key elements in its narrative, it's safe to say that Sound of the Sky has one of the most beautiful soundtracks crafted for an anime.
Despite excelling in the character department, this show's story was a bit hit or miss depending on your taste. Because it doesn't have an overarching storyline, it may turn some people off because a lot of people prefer to see a good story rather than characters going around doing random things.
The other downside to that is that the show is a bit too short. It definitely needs another season because it introduced certain elements in its final episodes that never got explored more.
With that said, I liked this show a lot and I highly recommend it. A lot of times it reminded me of season 1 Steven Universe with its humorous/emotional moments, world-building, characters, and pacing. When another show could give me that same feeling, it's worth the watch in my opinion.
However, given they are in a military situation, it is quite surprising that majority of the show was dedicated to the characters rather than the story and it worked out very well.
The characters are all well developed and really likable and the relationships between them are enjoyable to watch. Even the side characters got their time to shine in this show, which is a major plus. You could say that this show is more character driven rather than story driven.
The other noteworthy thing about it is the soundtrack. Because the show uses music as one of its key elements in its narrative, it's safe to say that Sound of the Sky has one of the most beautiful soundtracks crafted for an anime.
Despite excelling in the character department, this show's story was a bit hit or miss depending on your taste. Because it doesn't have an overarching storyline, it may turn some people off because a lot of people prefer to see a good story rather than characters going around doing random things.
The other downside to that is that the show is a bit too short. It definitely needs another season because it introduced certain elements in its final episodes that never got explored more.
With that said, I liked this show a lot and I highly recommend it. A lot of times it reminded me of season 1 Steven Universe with its humorous/emotional moments, world-building, characters, and pacing. When another show could give me that same feeling, it's worth the watch in my opinion.
No. 6 - Fate/Zero
Fantastic score, brilliant storytelling, interesting concept, great characters, and animation so well-done makes Fate/Zero one of the most entertaining pieces of medium ever made.
Each side character had very distinct, yet intriguing personalities and morals. The story also being very engaging makes this show worth the watch. Gilgamesh alone was a fantastic secondary antagonist and was the perfect foil for Saber, who was also very interesting and great to watch in her own right.
The soundtrack is also magnificent as well, it perfectly fit the tone that this show had.
The fight sequences in this are just beyond gorgeous. Whoever was in charge of the animation department, that person deserves a big fat bonus as this show has some of the best action sequences ever put together in any anime.
It also has some of the most disturbing imagery and themes of all the Fate anime adaptations as of right now, with the possibility of 'Fate/Stay Night - Heaven's Feel' topping it given how grim and dark it was according to the Visual Novel readers.
However, what keeps it from entering the top five is the fact that the main protagonist and antagonist, Kiritsugu Emiya and Kirei Kotomine, were not interesting, at least, in comparison to the other characters in the show. Kiritsugu only became interesting as the series was about to end and Kirei was greatly overshadowed by the much more enjoyable and entertaining Gilgamesh.
Still, Fate/Zero is a fantastic show that deserves to be recognized. Like with Unlimited Bladeworks, this one is worth is just for the animation and soundtrack alone. Topping it off with entertaining characters and a great story makes it all the more enjoyable.
Each side character had very distinct, yet intriguing personalities and morals. The story also being very engaging makes this show worth the watch. Gilgamesh alone was a fantastic secondary antagonist and was the perfect foil for Saber, who was also very interesting and great to watch in her own right.
The soundtrack is also magnificent as well, it perfectly fit the tone that this show had.
The fight sequences in this are just beyond gorgeous. Whoever was in charge of the animation department, that person deserves a big fat bonus as this show has some of the best action sequences ever put together in any anime.
It also has some of the most disturbing imagery and themes of all the Fate anime adaptations as of right now, with the possibility of 'Fate/Stay Night - Heaven's Feel' topping it given how grim and dark it was according to the Visual Novel readers.
However, what keeps it from entering the top five is the fact that the main protagonist and antagonist, Kiritsugu Emiya and Kirei Kotomine, were not interesting, at least, in comparison to the other characters in the show. Kiritsugu only became interesting as the series was about to end and Kirei was greatly overshadowed by the much more enjoyable and entertaining Gilgamesh.
Still, Fate/Zero is a fantastic show that deserves to be recognized. Like with Unlimited Bladeworks, this one is worth is just for the animation and soundtrack alone. Topping it off with entertaining characters and a great story makes it all the more enjoyable.
No. 5 - Hyouka
This show should just rename itself "Misleading" the anime because Hyouka had a lot more going for it than what most people expected it to be. Not to mention it constantly tricks its audience with the mysteries that keep happening within the show.
Sure, nothing really dark or psychologically traumatizing happened, but this one managed to carry itself with its good directing, mellow soundtrack, and fantastic characters that made it an entertaining show. The show just had this warm feeling to it that managed to keep its viewers invested.
For those who don't know, Hyouka is a character-driven show that relies on perspective as there are some mystery aspects in this one as well. However, don't expect it to be as grim and dark as say Psycho-Pass or Steins;Gate because this show is also a slice-of-life comedy as well.
What made the show enjoyable was not really the mysteries but how the characters reacted to said mysteries and what they do with them. Each main character in this show was just well-written and entertaining, not to mention the animation is also gorgeous to look at as well.
It may come to no surprise that Hyouka is one of my favorite anime. If I were to nitpick I'd say the mystery aspects of the show got a little repetitive but I still highly recommend this one. It didn't need any dramatic twists and turns to be good and that's why it's great.
Go watch it and find out for yourself, I'm sure it is not for everyone and I can respect that, but for me, it's one of those shows that just makes me want to relax and have a good time.
Sure, nothing really dark or psychologically traumatizing happened, but this one managed to carry itself with its good directing, mellow soundtrack, and fantastic characters that made it an entertaining show. The show just had this warm feeling to it that managed to keep its viewers invested.
For those who don't know, Hyouka is a character-driven show that relies on perspective as there are some mystery aspects in this one as well. However, don't expect it to be as grim and dark as say Psycho-Pass or Steins;Gate because this show is also a slice-of-life comedy as well.
What made the show enjoyable was not really the mysteries but how the characters reacted to said mysteries and what they do with them. Each main character in this show was just well-written and entertaining, not to mention the animation is also gorgeous to look at as well.
It may come to no surprise that Hyouka is one of my favorite anime. If I were to nitpick I'd say the mystery aspects of the show got a little repetitive but I still highly recommend this one. It didn't need any dramatic twists and turns to be good and that's why it's great.
Go watch it and find out for yourself, I'm sure it is not for everyone and I can respect that, but for me, it's one of those shows that just makes me want to relax and have a good time.
No. 4 - Shirobako
Ever wondered what it feels like to make an anime or working in general? Well, Shirobako answers that question and it is a really good one.
Shirobako, like Hyouka, had a sense of warmth to it and it just wants to make its audience kick back and relax as things unfold on screen. Not only that but the directing for this show was just great and that is to be expected. It is really easy to tell that the writer and director of this one were pouring all their real life experiences and frustration from within the anime industry into this one because it feels too realistic to be just made up on the spot.
The design of the characters are a bit generic, but they made up for it by making them entertaining and realistic as possible. Each main character had very distinct personalities and dreams that they were all equally enjoyable to watch.
Despite being a slice-of-life, comedy, this one is also surprisingly very story-driven. Nothing really dramatic happens, but for some reason, that managed to work in this show's favor. The animation wasn't anything special but some angle shots did look nice and the soundtrack for this was just very relaxing.
If I had to nitpick I would say there were some characters that didn't get enough screentime that they rightfully deserved and this show used a lot of terms that I'm sure a lot of aspiring animators would understand, but the mainstream audience probably would not.
Overall this show was amazing. Again, it's obviously not for everyone but for me, it's one of those shows that actually made me want to re-watch the whole thing again the first time I finished it.
There are very few shows that could pull off a time-travel plot mixed with a romantic sub-plot well and this, fortunately, is one of them.
Steins;Gate not only managed to keep its audience intrigued with its sci-fi and time-travel elements, it also had enough character drive and story to keep people invested.
Unlike Hyouka and Shirobako, Steins;Gate had a very cold and tense atmosphere to it, which is very fitting for a show like this. It also has a very good mystery sub-plot that something like Erased sadly lacked. The score is very good too, every music that played in the background fit every specific scene that happened, not to mention the opening and ending themes are amazing.
Each character had their own unique personalities and most of them were very interesting. Like mentioned before, the romance in this one was executed really well and was actually interesting. The two main leads Okabe and Kurisu just played off of each other so well that you just want to see them together.
The two had great chemistry onscreen without feeling forced and it's very rare for a show to do that, especially considering that this is also a sci-fi, time travel, crime-thriller. Usually, romances don't really add much to the overall story, but this one managed to make it feel very important and that in of itself is worthy of respect.
The comedy is also something that is noteworthy. Most of the jokes felt warranted and never felt like they watered down the main story.
If there some faults to it, some of the other main characters weren't very interesting but thankfully weren't given as much screen time as some of the better ones. The animation could have used a little more work and it does take a while before the story really picks up about halfway through it, but those are just more or less nitpicks.
Overall, Steins;Gate is a wonderful show that somehow managed to take sci-fi, supernatural mysteries, and mixed it with good comedy and romantic themes. If you are looking for a good take on time-travel that has very good directing, I say give this show a chance.
Shirobako, like Hyouka, had a sense of warmth to it and it just wants to make its audience kick back and relax as things unfold on screen. Not only that but the directing for this show was just great and that is to be expected. It is really easy to tell that the writer and director of this one were pouring all their real life experiences and frustration from within the anime industry into this one because it feels too realistic to be just made up on the spot.
The design of the characters are a bit generic, but they made up for it by making them entertaining and realistic as possible. Each main character had very distinct personalities and dreams that they were all equally enjoyable to watch.
Despite being a slice-of-life, comedy, this one is also surprisingly very story-driven. Nothing really dramatic happens, but for some reason, that managed to work in this show's favor. The animation wasn't anything special but some angle shots did look nice and the soundtrack for this was just very relaxing.
If I had to nitpick I would say there were some characters that didn't get enough screentime that they rightfully deserved and this show used a lot of terms that I'm sure a lot of aspiring animators would understand, but the mainstream audience probably would not.
Overall this show was amazing. Again, it's obviously not for everyone but for me, it's one of those shows that actually made me want to re-watch the whole thing again the first time I finished it.
No. 3 - Steins;Gate
There are very few shows that could pull off a time-travel plot mixed with a romantic sub-plot well and this, fortunately, is one of them.
Steins;Gate not only managed to keep its audience intrigued with its sci-fi and time-travel elements, it also had enough character drive and story to keep people invested.
Unlike Hyouka and Shirobako, Steins;Gate had a very cold and tense atmosphere to it, which is very fitting for a show like this. It also has a very good mystery sub-plot that something like Erased sadly lacked. The score is very good too, every music that played in the background fit every specific scene that happened, not to mention the opening and ending themes are amazing.
Each character had their own unique personalities and most of them were very interesting. Like mentioned before, the romance in this one was executed really well and was actually interesting. The two main leads Okabe and Kurisu just played off of each other so well that you just want to see them together.
The two had great chemistry onscreen without feeling forced and it's very rare for a show to do that, especially considering that this is also a sci-fi, time travel, crime-thriller. Usually, romances don't really add much to the overall story, but this one managed to make it feel very important and that in of itself is worthy of respect.
The comedy is also something that is noteworthy. Most of the jokes felt warranted and never felt like they watered down the main story.
If there some faults to it, some of the other main characters weren't very interesting but thankfully weren't given as much screen time as some of the better ones. The animation could have used a little more work and it does take a while before the story really picks up about halfway through it, but those are just more or less nitpicks.
Overall, Steins;Gate is a wonderful show that somehow managed to take sci-fi, supernatural mysteries, and mixed it with good comedy and romantic themes. If you are looking for a good take on time-travel that has very good directing, I say give this show a chance.
No. 2 - Puella Magi Madoka Magica + Rebellion
What happens if you take the magical girls from Sailor Moon or Cardcaptor Sakura, and put them into real life situations? Well, you get this, talk about genre breaking.
Now this was very difficult for me because this and the soon to be my no.1 pick, it was hard for me to decide which one I liked more because I really do adore both shows a lot, but alas, this one got the short end of it.
Even then, this one has 3-dimensional characters that were very realistic, dark yet very enjoyable twists and turns, an intriguing ongoing narrative that wasn't watered down until the very end, gorgeous animation and a fantastic score that fit the tone of this show just right.
This may come off as repetitive, but each main character of this show was enjoyable in their own unique way. There was not a single main character that got annoying nor irritating because the show did a fantastic job at putting them situations where you just can't help but root for them.
It also has great directing as some of the character-driven and emotional moments were done extraordinarily well. Not to mention the dialogues in this one didn't feel forced. The fight scenes were also very gorgeous not in a way like Fate/Zero's, but more of because you felt the emotion that each girl felt at the time.
The story was so intriguing that it just felt like it was getting better as it went on. Sure it may have been inspired by Bokurano, but this one at least felt unique in its own way and it did a much better job at making the characters sympathetic and memorable.
If I were to nitpick I'd say some of the side characters got on my nerves a little and there are times where the animation on the characters looked weird.
I still highly recommend this one. Overall, there is nothing for me to really complain about. It is a fantastic take on the magical girl genre and it will keep you on its toes with its intense atmosphere and dark twists. Madoka Magica is one of those that I believe is a must watch if you are looking to get into anime.
Now this was very difficult for me because this and the soon to be my no.1 pick, it was hard for me to decide which one I liked more because I really do adore both shows a lot, but alas, this one got the short end of it.
Even then, this one has 3-dimensional characters that were very realistic, dark yet very enjoyable twists and turns, an intriguing ongoing narrative that wasn't watered down until the very end, gorgeous animation and a fantastic score that fit the tone of this show just right.
This may come off as repetitive, but each main character of this show was enjoyable in their own unique way. There was not a single main character that got annoying nor irritating because the show did a fantastic job at putting them situations where you just can't help but root for them.
It also has great directing as some of the character-driven and emotional moments were done extraordinarily well. Not to mention the dialogues in this one didn't feel forced. The fight scenes were also very gorgeous not in a way like Fate/Zero's, but more of because you felt the emotion that each girl felt at the time.
The story was so intriguing that it just felt like it was getting better as it went on. Sure it may have been inspired by Bokurano, but this one at least felt unique in its own way and it did a much better job at making the characters sympathetic and memorable.
If I were to nitpick I'd say some of the side characters got on my nerves a little and there are times where the animation on the characters looked weird.
I still highly recommend this one. Overall, there is nothing for me to really complain about. It is a fantastic take on the magical girl genre and it will keep you on its toes with its intense atmosphere and dark twists. Madoka Magica is one of those that I believe is a must watch if you are looking to get into anime.
No. 1 - Hunter x Hunter (2011)
I am aware that some of you may have been disappointed but I just can't help it, I enjoyed the hell out of this show so much from beginning to end. The reason it won over Madoka is probably because it was longer, therefore it had more time to make itself very entertaining.
Reason being is that this one, like Madoka Magica, decided to play with the tropes that you normally see in shows like this, and then turn it on its head.
And you never really know what type of anime this one is going to be because this show loves to jump in-between different genres. It's all over the place and it's admirable for that. Sometimes it used the traditional shounen approach like Dragon Ball, but then the next it's like Steins;Gate when it comes to the crime-thriller aspect, and then the next you get emotionally driven moments that you normally see in shows like Clannad or Angel Beats.
And of course, the comedy in this one was great as well. The director knew when to deliver a proper joke and when it is time to be serious, which is also a plus for this show.
Not only that but the main characters are all great. Literally, every single one of them is good in their own ways. Even the side characters were all very likable and unique in their own way. The antagonists in this also felt very refreshing as they do not really follow what is the norm, heck, the same could be said for the 'heroes' themselves.
You could even consider this show as the anime that has no heroes and villains, because as mentioned already, this one doesn't like to follow what is normally considered in the norm.
The animation for this, like the show itself, got better as it progressed. The fight scenes were action packed as it should be, but it never felt like they were just mindlessly hitting each other, the fighters actually used strategy and brains in order to win.
The soundtrack was a little bit meh but I guess for a show as long as this, it's passable.
You already know what my opinion on this and like Madoka Magica, this one is also what I consider as a must watch. It is just really good and I'm hoping the next incarnation of this masterpiece will be just as, if not, even better than this one.
Reason being is that this one, like Madoka Magica, decided to play with the tropes that you normally see in shows like this, and then turn it on its head.
And you never really know what type of anime this one is going to be because this show loves to jump in-between different genres. It's all over the place and it's admirable for that. Sometimes it used the traditional shounen approach like Dragon Ball, but then the next it's like Steins;Gate when it comes to the crime-thriller aspect, and then the next you get emotionally driven moments that you normally see in shows like Clannad or Angel Beats.
And of course, the comedy in this one was great as well. The director knew when to deliver a proper joke and when it is time to be serious, which is also a plus for this show.
Not only that but the main characters are all great. Literally, every single one of them is good in their own ways. Even the side characters were all very likable and unique in their own way. The antagonists in this also felt very refreshing as they do not really follow what is the norm, heck, the same could be said for the 'heroes' themselves.
You could even consider this show as the anime that has no heroes and villains, because as mentioned already, this one doesn't like to follow what is normally considered in the norm.
The animation for this, like the show itself, got better as it progressed. The fight scenes were action packed as it should be, but it never felt like they were just mindlessly hitting each other, the fighters actually used strategy and brains in order to win.
The soundtrack was a little bit meh but I guess for a show as long as this, it's passable.
You already know what my opinion on this and like Madoka Magica, this one is also what I consider as a must watch. It is just really good and I'm hoping the next incarnation of this masterpiece will be just as, if not, even better than this one.
Well, there you have it, folks. My top 10 anime series of all time, like I said at the beginning, this may change over time as I view more but as of right now, this list will stay firm because I really enjoyed each and every show that was on here in one way or another.
I'm hoping to see more anime as good as the ones on this list in the future, until then, hope you enjoyed reading this.
I'm hoping to see more anime as good as the ones on this list in the future, until then, hope you enjoyed reading this.
Stop Apologizing...
Okay, as you know, the Steven Universe fandom has been known to attack anything and anyone that they don't like and I have called them out before, click here if you're interested.
Well, it isn't surprising that something of this caliber of idiocy has happened again. Click here to see for yourself.
I knew this would probably happen sooner or later but it's still depressing to hear either way :faint:
How can the crew be racist when the show is clearly one of the most positively accepting shows you could ever get? With crew members coming from different races, sexualities, and mental conditions?
What's worse is they're still continuing their
Very tiring
Okay, I may come off as a hypocrite regarding this statement, but am I the only one that is getting tired of people that love to act like "experts" online regarding any topic?
Like, people who do everything in their power to try and prove other people that they are right and everybody else is wrong?
I encourage discussion as much as the next guy and I'm open to all opinions, but there was a person recently on Youtube that was just very unpleasant to talk to.
No joke, no exaggeration, I saw this person comment in numerous videos on Youtube, throwing a hissy fit and replying to people they don't agree with, using very long comments that coul
Getting real tired of things like this...
How can a show about tolerance, acceptance, and love attract some of the most disgusting and vile people you could ever think of?
Well, Steven Universe would like an answer to that question as well.
Okay, before you harass me and say I hate the show, I'm asking you now not to jump to that conclusion. Because my watchers and some people I've talked on here know how big of a fan I am of the show.
I even watch the newest episode as soon as it airs, heck, I even have a review both here on DA and Wordpress, both of which are very positive since I love the show a lot. It's one of the few cartoons that got me emotionally invested, it is that good
Is it bad to have Role-Models in Fiction?
WARNING: THIS MAY FEEL A BIT RANTY
Lately, there's a topic that's been bugging me about fiction in general. The fact that a lot of people feel the need to have the main character for fictional stories to be role-models.
Don't get me wrong, when it comes to children's media, role models are needed. But there's a time when these things just don't apply, for instance (and I'm probably gonna get a lot of flack for mentioning it), the new Ghostbusters.
Why are a lot of people expecting the main characters in that film to be role-models? It's a movie about a group of women hunting ghosts and fighting supernatural stuff, not to mention it's mostl
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I recommend Neon Genesis Evangelion,Berserk,Claymore,Hellsing Ultimate.