Top 10 Favorite Anime – Did your favorites make the list? (Probably not)

This list was actually not really hard to make. Despite watching over 250 shows it doesn’t take very long for me to go “Oh yeah that show was great.” or “I really enjoyed watching that.” When I look over what I’ve seen. But don’t get me wrong. Just because I pick these few out doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoyed most of the shows I’ve seen. Well, mostly just the ones I given an 8 and up to. I just want to tell you now there is no bullshit on here like Haruhi, Code Geass or Lucky Star. Mediocre garbage belongs in its own top 10 list. Also I really didn’t try to sum up the plot or the story of each show. I figure you can just use ANN or Wikipedia for that. I wanted to focus on why I liked the show specifically.

Oh, yeah this list also only contains series and not movies or OVAs.

Number 10

Air (2005)

Ok, I admit it this one is here purely fanboyism, and the only one on this list like this. At least I have the decency to not cover this up. So, yeah the Air anime from Kyoani. Man, back in the day I used to download trailers to anime that would be showing the next season and what not. I remember jizzing my pants when I had seen an Air anime was in the works. At the time I was actually worried that no one would fansub it for whatever reason. Mostly because I thought perhaps it was too niche. But, my worries were for no reason because it surely got its fair amount of groups working on it.

I have fond memories of watching Air. I would religiously watch every new episode on Sunday because that was the day each new episode came out. At least the group I followed. I always had an interest in Air since playing the visual novel, which at the time I knew zero Japanese. The anime itself delivered with its great animation, wonderful music straight from the game, a plot that fit everyone’s story in albeit horribly but probably better than Clannad. I enjoyed it and it really filled in the gaps for me who knew nothing about the game. It was an emotional anime where I really left it loving all the characters. I honestly cried like a bitch when that one character died and I still do to this day when I watch it every summer.

Number 9

2×2=Shinobuden (2004)

This might be here out of pure nostalgia since I saw it being previewed at my first time going to Otakon. Still, when I saw it at Otakon I thought it was hilarious so coming back I had to watch it, and I did. All of it in one sitting. I dunno it was either this show or Azumanga Daioh and 2×2=Shinobuden out beat it. I feel like the jokes in Azumanga Daioh are only funny on one watch, but once you know the jokes it really isn’t funny.

What can I say? Wakamoto is a god. He does an excellent job playing Onsokumaru. I love the slapstick, dirty humor and parody in this show. I understand comedy is really a hit or miss thing for most people. One thing is funny to one person and maybe not to a different person. For me 2×2=Shinobuden is the most funny anime I have watched. Watching it was just so hilarious at the time. Most of the credit goes to Wakamoto playing Onsokumaru, but everyone does a great job making this show funny. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard watching an anime before until I saw this one.

Number 8

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (2006) SEASON 1 ONLY

I’m bitter. I hate Higurashi’s second season. Maybe it’s because they’re the answer arcs? Maybe I just found them really boring? Maybe the studio just wasn’t doing a good enough job? I don’t know, but I must say that I really liked season 1. The first 8 episodes were really the best in my opinion but it was definitely that first arc, Onikakushi-hen, that packs the punch when it comes to mysterious and unsettling feelings. I mean Higurashi is a great spooky anime. People die and disappear. You’re seeing people go crazy and kill their friends. It has blood and people making crazy faces. And you as a viewer have no idea why. You’re presented with information but some/all lead to dead ends. You never really know what is going on when you watch. Well… Until you watch season two. Pfft. I honestly was baffled about what was really going on, as is everyone should be. If you’re one of those people that knew it was them the whole time just shut up. No you didn’t know.

I like the characters in Higurashi. They’re a good bunch especially the main group of kids. Also, Rika is adorable. I look forward to anything 07th Expansion throws my way.

Number 7

Kimagure Orange Road (1987) & Maison Ikkoku (1986) TIE

These series probably deserve higher on this list… Anyway, greatest high school love drama comedy anime EVAR paired with the greatest drama love comedy EVAR. You can’t get better than these two shows in their genres. If you haven’t seen these two and you’re a fan of the genre you need… No, you MUST watch them. I wasn’t planning on watching them but I had recommendations about them so I checked them out. I don’t regret it because I loved them both. They’re classic. KoR with its whimsical and comedic high school love triangle which only reminded me of a Japanese version of The Wonder Years, and Maison Ikkoku with its excellent blend of comedy, drama and mature themes. If you’ve been complaining about the recent trends of anime lately, and looking for something for the past then I suggest looking into these. They have the substance you’ve been looking for.

Number 6

Haibane Renmei (2002)

I actually can’t remember Haibane Renmei too much but I do remember loving it that I just watched it in one sitting. It does have its flaws like there should have been more of an explanation on what was going on and how certain things came to be but perhaps if that was explained it might have destroyed the mysteriousness of the setting a side from it being a purgatory of sorts. I enjoyed the symbolism a lot in the later half of the show. Nothing is really out right explained, but it is essential a story about moving on and forgiving. That resonated feelings of understand inside me and that is why I liked it.

Number 5

Honey and Clover (2005/2006) BOTH SEASONS

I don’t watch Japanese dramas but I would figure they’re like Honey and Clover. Honey and Clover has its share of drama but it also has a fair share of comedy as well. It has a cast of lovable college kids as they sort out their feelings and pave their way in life. You don’t see many anime that take place in college. It’s usually all this high school or whatever bullshit. Nothing I can relate to personally anymore. I think Honey and Clover is a great show for any college student to watch plus I think a lot of the feelings and themes are things anyone watching can relate to since Honey and Clover is realistic. Any male watcher is bound to either relate with one or all three of the main male characters. I found myself to be most like Takemoto.

Number 4

Kino’s Journey (2003)

Kino’s Journey is very episodic and has similar themes and ideas as The Little Prince. Kino, the main character who is a reverse trap, along with her talking motorcycle Hermes travel around to different nations observing their culture, values and beliefs but only for a few days. I liked the themes and symbols in this show as most of the shows on the top tier of this list. Kino is a very passive character and doesn’t pass judgment on the cultures she visits.

A lot of the cultures are very similar to our very own. Religion, work, morals, violence, and other such things are topics of the various episodes in Kino’s Travels. It’s an interesting watch and at first glace perhaps kind of pretentious, but personally I am a fan of anime that makes you think or question things while you watch, and Kino’s Journey is a lot like that. The fact that the main character passes no judgment or objection to whether said cultures are right or wrong is another interesting point that I like about Kino.

Number 3

Paranoia Agent (2004)

Oh jeez, this show. Paranoia Agent is the first work I watched by the excellent director Satoshi Kon. I swear Paranoia Agent is another one on this list that I could not just put down until I watched it all in one sitting. After watching all of it I actually felt very uneasy and disturbed… It has a very interesting story telling that begs for the viewer to keep watching till the end. It makes me wonder why Kon doesn’t make more original works of his own rather than adapting novels to animation releases. If you’re one of those disgruntled people that is angered at how anime is stupid now and not like the past or that it’s only moe anime nowadays or some bullshit like that. Then maybe you might want to check into Kon’s work. He is just as disgruntled as you are and strives to put the anime into animation.

So anyway, about Paranoia Agent. If you’re looking for a social commentary anime then Paranoia Agent is the way to go. Kon tackles a lot of things that are plaguing the world today and specifically Japan since after World War II. Such things as the rampant commercialism, the use of moe characters or cute mascots to divert the attention of the masses, escapism, otaku culture, the spread of rumors, and facing reality or rather the truth. I loved it, and much like Puprika, probably deserves another watch after being to Japan. Kon is definitely a genius and one of the few in the anime industry that is counter culture. I love his stuff for that.

Number 2

Now and Then, Here and There (1999)

Another show I really liked the setting, characters and overall covered themes. I think Now and Then, Here and There is a show that is easy to overlook. Mostly because of the DVD box art or maybe just lack of hearing about it. But I think most people after watching really enjoy it. Well, at least I did. After watching, I thought a person could really go through and just dissect every little thing about this show because it just has a lot of metaphors and symbols. Many characters hold different world views and morals. It’s very easy to feel for the good characters and abhor the immoral ones. Like Higurashi, the animation might look all cute and innocent but it’s actually a very mature and intense show.

Number 1

Cardcaptor Sakura (1998)

Yeah so after all those shows THIS is the top of the list. Kinda funny huh? Cardcaptor Sakura truly is my favorite. One of the rare examples of taking the manga and only going above and beyond in the anime adaption only adds more value to its number one spot. CCS, arguably, solidified many of the general themes of magical girl shows in the past.

CCS is filled with many lovable (and homosexual) characters you’re bound to like them all. Sakura is one of the most adorable little girls in anime, and perhaps the best little sister anyone could ask for (in a non sexual way perverts). It’s a very cute, lighthearted show and hardly ever gets very dark at all. The plot is the typical must collect things but CCS is more about its characters and how they interact essentially their relationships. The budding relationship of Shaoran and Sakura is very cute, and the last scene in the movie is great. CCS is also my favorite magical girl show but currently this spot is being challenged by Shugo Chara which I’m finding very enjoyable as well.

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