Just wondering what people think are some of the best anime series in the last 10 years. I know people will have some personal bias, but please support your choices. I mean there are tons of anime I find entertaining, but just don't make the cut. I suppose quality in terms of overall story, character development, entertainment value, animation, OST, innovation/overall excellence. I think I've watched most of the anime "worth watching" and many series not worth watching, but maybe there will be some others I have yet to watch. I've probably seen around 150-200 (full series) series so far.
I personally think Junni Kokki (12 kingdoms) was probably the best I've seen in recent memory. It had some annoying characters, but overall it was excellent. I think it made the top 5% in terms of animation, OST and style. For a long series, it kept up without slacking on the animation. I suppose having a storyline and character development is what set it apart. Most animes seem to utterly fail in terms of developing characters. All I usually see are static characters that are unrealistic. The storyline is also one of the better lines because it's based on a book that doesn't suck. e.g. The story wasted written by some shitty mangka, but an actually writer.
Sailor Moon! It has to be Sailor Moon!
Yes it started in 1992 but it ran for 5 seasons ending in 1997 so it still counts as being in the last 10 years.
The story great and mix of action, romance, and comedy. There are very tense moments and then moments of pure comedy.
Pokemon aka Pocket Monsters
This thread is going places!
evangelion.
Naruto
Dwoit!
Eva and Sailor Moon!
They introduced a lot of concepts that haven't been trumped as of yet.
The naruto anime has gone hill so I won't nominate it. Manga's great though.
Boku ha Doragon Boru Zeta-chan!
>>2-8 are DQN
The real awesome shows of the past 10 years are
I’m often asked, “What’s your favorite anime ever?” Usually I just answer “I dunno, I like a lot of series, like …” and then I’d go and name 10 fairly recent shows, conspicuously avoiding Cowboy Bebop because that’s such a stupid cop-out kind of answer. I was asked this question again just recently, and as usual I had to think a moment. But this time, for the first time, I came up with a definite answer: Card Captor Sakura is my favorite anime ever.
I can feel the incredulous glares. What could lead me to this conclusion, and how does that translate into “best anime ever” status? I’d prepare a PowerPoint presentation detailing why, but showing it to an audience might get you arrested. But setting aside Sakura’s status as one of the most revered characters of doujinshi artists the world over, what makes this series so wonderful?
Well you could start with Sakura herself, clothes on. Sakura manages to appeal to a broad audience. She’s athletic, attractive, intelligent without seeming so, fluffy without being dumb. She’s kind to her friends and even her enemies can’t seem to keep hating her for very long. These relationships are at the core of this series. Who Sakura likes, who likes Sakura, the relationships her friends and family have, these are the focus of the story, not the Clow cards.
Perhaps in this way CLAMP managed to find the perfect mix for a magical girl series. The viewer is interested enough in the cards to want to know more about them, but the characters take center stage. What are Sakura’s feelings for Li, what are Tomoyo’s feelings for Sakura, what’s the story behind Sakura’s family, the viewer is more anxious to answer these questions than find out what collection of cards Sakura will use this week. It helps, of course, that the supporting cast is excellent.
Tomoyo is exceptionally cute, a rich girl without flaunting it and flamboyant in her pre-pubescent homosexuality. She excels in areas where Sakura is left lacking. She’s an excellent cook, a steady hand with a needle and thread (with a mind full of clothing ideas, or excuses to strip Sakura down, depending on your point of view), and perhaps most striking is that where Sakura is active and outgoing, Tomoyo is quiet and reserved. Tomoyo supports Sakura and shares her secret, she’s a true friend.
Then there’s Sakura’s family. Touya, her older brother, may seem antagonistic at first. But his playful chiding of Sakura belies how much he actually cares for her. Sakura’s father, Fujitaka, rarely takes much of the spotlight, but he does share many emotional moments in the series. The untimely death of Sakura’s mother, Nadeshiko, obviously still haunts him, but he doesn’t let it drag him down.
Li Shoaran is the closest this series comes to a less than perfect character. Early on he is a pure antagonist. Later he seems like an undeserving recipient of Sakura’s affection. Were this any other anime, he’d be a well-developed character, but in this series he sometimes comes across as too simple-minded. Still, he fills a needed spot in the cast line-up.
One can’t forget Kero-chan either. He is rarely conflicted, but he fills the role of a magical girl’s familiar better than anything before or since. Often he is just comic relief, or a source of information, but his love of sweets and videogames manages to make him a more believable character than characters like Sailor Moon’s Luna, or Pretty Sammy’s Ryo-Ohki.
CLAMP has a consistent tendency to foul up a perfectly good series with unneeded complexity half-way through the story. Often their stories take sinister tones where previously it had been light-hearted. This once again manifests itself in CCS, but for once it adds to the story rather than ruining it. Sakura can’t keep catching cards forever, so a plot device to keep the series going was welcome as long as you get a chance to visit with the characters for a few more episodes. It helps that the sinister (not so sinister) twist was hinted at from the earliest parts of the story.
Another thing that helps this series is the production values. The animation, produced at a time before digital anime, is top-notch throughout the series. Impressive scenes seem to pop up in every episode and the characters are never off model. The soundtrack too is highly memorable, with appropriate tracks played at just the right times and an excellent selection of openings and endings.
Ok so none of this really proves that it’s the best anime ever, but the votes are in on it being the favorite of more fan than any other. The massive body of doujinshi and fan art produced depicting the characters doing what they only wish they could do to each other proves that fans really do love this show and its characters. The library of these works is unmatched; no other series even comes close to matching CCS for the volume of hentai produced in its honor.
It’s easy to see why. Sakura has a sexual presence on screen that’s impossible to ignore. Rarely is she deliberately enticing, but her outfits and mannerisms make the message clear. You simply can’t appear on screen in a tight rubber suit without meaning to arouse the audience. The impact of this can’t be overstated. Sakura proved to scores of fans that yes, children can be sexy too. The effects of this are clearly seen still today. Breast sizes in anime are on a downward trend, as is height and age.
If nothing else, CCS revitalized the magical girl genre. It showed everyone how it’s done. Those series that have ignored the lessons CCS has to teach have ended up being derivative and boring (Tokyo Mew Mew). Those that have learned some of the lessons are highly regarded (Figure 17), but no series has yet managed to dethrone CCS. I doubt that in 20 years I’ll have a better answer to “What’s your favorite anime?” The joy this series brings is timeless.
>>10
Nice try, but it doesn't quite match the question. Select your copipe with more care.
I'd agree with Azumanga, it has quite broad appeal.
I haven't watched lots of animé; usually I just watch what my girlfriend transfers to me on IM (hahahaha... that's basically the opposite of Densha Otoko type otakus who are afraid of girls discovering their passion for animé wwww :-p).
Anyway... so, choosing from my skimpy list
I like Air for poignance.
I like Kanon for cuteness, though Kanon just has the worst character design ever.
Hmm... Love Hina, I've never watched the animé, but the manga is wonderful for laughs ^^
Um to add, I hate Shuffle. It's the shallowest, silliest thing ever -_- If you ask, I watched a few episodes only because my girlfriend asked me to.
This isn't the "Some random show I kind of like" thread.
Then again, it's pretty much a kusosure anyway, so who the hell cares?
>>14
Wait, I don't get it. What is the point of this thread, then?
I like Mao Chan... please don't hate me
> Ichigo Marshmallow
I think you are overestimating recent things here.
For me Sailor Moon is by the the best. I've re-watched Sailor Moon more than any other anime.
Love Hina and Azumanga Daioh are also near the top of the list, but I don't believe nobody's mentioned Ah! Megmisama (OVA) or Read or Die! (OVA).
Gundam Seed Destiny
cant beat re used animation
oooo yeah
I'll pretend this thread hasn't already killed itself and say
Revolutinary Girl Utena. A very good and original anime. Plus points for having the courage to be twisted in lots of ways.
>>16
You are a pedophile. But we love you anyway.
No we don't.
Truthfully, I would say Ghost in the Shell, Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Fullmetal Alchemist, and Gundam Seed. (In about that order.)
...though maybe to fit in with the rest of this thread I should just say " Cardcaptors for the win!"
Bebop does have a serious claim to the title, sure, and GitS:SAC was very good (but not quite broad enough in appeal to claim a generic "best" title), but Champloo? It wasn't bad, I guess, but it's not like there was much to be excited about in it either. It was a sort of amusing series, but I had to put in an effort to get through it at all.
FMA and Seed I couldn't even bother to start watching.
>>24 would have preferred a simple "Cardcaptors for the win!"
But yeah, I can't really recall Champloo, but it was certianly a plus. I can see why someone wouldn't think it was the best. (which is why I didn't have it first.)
GS and FMA were pretty good.
They were like those horrible 100+ episode series that drag on and have lots of fillers... but condensed so that they didn't have the fillers and almost always had constant plot.
Besides those, I can't recall any that even come close.
Giant Robo.
the end
26 posts and nobody mentioned Princess Tutu?
>Revolutinary Girl Utena.
Seconded.
It's a shitty thread. Pay attention!
It's time for a part 2:
Reformational Girl Utena
Prequel: Rebellious Girl Utena!
-evangelion
-cowboy bebop
-DBZ
-Inu Yasha
-Trigun
-Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th Ms Team
-chobits
my top ten list!
1.card captor sakura
2.SE-Lain
3.Rozen maiden
4.Pani Poni Dash
5.Angelic layer
6.ah my goddess
7.Project A-ko
8.Evnagelion
9.spriggan
10.Noir
Pita-Ten, Haibane Renmei, and Azumanga Daioh
Fifthing Utena for its all-around awesome.
Also adding the standard Cowboy Bebop option because of its completely different all-around awesome.
If not said before
Ghost in the Shell Stand alone complex , 1Gig 2gig and hopefully 3gig.
I'm gonna catch crap for this one...
Pretty Cure and Pretty Cure Max Heart. Max Heart is still airing and there'll be a second movie.
What sort of monster would say Giant Robo is "meh" :(
Anyone saying that a series not at least as old as HR/Azumanga is "best of the last 10 years" is probably going to have forgotten it in a few months, too.
Mew Mew Power, followed by Naruto
Gungrave
In alphabetical order:
Ah! Megamisama (OVA,Movie,TV)
Azumanga Daioh
Love Hina
Pretty Cure
Rozen Maiden
Sailor Moon
I pray to God every night that Yotsuba To! gets an anime.
Utena, despite its lenghts.
Haibane Renmei
Cowboy Bebop
and Last Exile
That's a good list, but it breaks the rule of this thread to only list really shitty anime.
In no particular order these are the shows I can rewatch and still enjoy
Child's Toy
One Piece
PlanetES
Twin Spica
12 Kingdoms
Fruits Basket
Crest/Banner of the Stars
Full Metal Alchemist
Master Keaton
Haibane Renmei
Best series, and only 10 years, can we go back possibly father then that if needed? and I am going to list my top 10 anyway
GTO
Ghost in the Shell, Stand alone complex
遥かなる時空の中で ～八葉抄～ isn't bad.
...
I know I've seen more than that, recently. Haven't I?
Oh! Duh! Most of my favorites are either older than 10 years, or I don't know when they were made. =#)
Eeeeeeeeek, I forgot to mention Boogiepop Phantom.
I liked Ebichu enough to rewatch it several times. Am I going to die?
I also didn't mind Evangelion (though I haven't seen the last few eps or EoE yet...yes, I've seen the ZOMG SPOILERS, who hasn't?), and Azumanga Daioh wins at least 3 internets.
>>49 You're going straight to hell for Ebichu, but that's okay. Say hi to Mom for me.
WTF?!?!??
No one mentioned the series "Here and There Now and Then" !!
YOU FOOLS!! YOU UTTER FOOLS!
>>49 The last few episodes is where Eva goes completely wrong.
few of my favorites from past 10 years:
ng evangelion
se lain
rahxephon (love this series)
kidou senkan nadeshiko
serial experiments lain
rahxephon
x (any series)
Do you know " Twin Spica ( ふたつのスピカ）”?
I know it's not famous in America..
just finished planetes
imo PlanetES > 12 Kingdoms.
It's a very good anime... no real special effects ... no giant robots .. just a very good story and characters ...
Monster
Evangelion.
Planet es.
Cowboy bebop.
Ghost in the shell.
Except that all the filler episodes were terrible, yes.
The moon ninja episode was good entirely by accident, but most of the other earlier ones sucked.
most entertaining filler episodes that actually showed up at the end ... e.g. planetes had fillers with more meaning than fma ... the moon ninja showed up near the end .. with the fat guy mopping the floor .. and selling all the dead ninja possessions ... it had a point e.g. the jacked up nature of humanity ... anyways planetes was awesome .. esp towards the end.
every filler in planetes had some connection with the overall plot ...
monster is good ... but it's pretty damn long ... they should have stopped it at like 60
You put one (1) period at the end of a sentence, unless you actually are trying to give the impression of being a stoned pothead.
Duuuuude......
your mom is a stoned pothead .... pwnddd
Well, I sure got served. By a pothead, even!
Tokyo Mew Mew
best anime evar.