I've been researching anime for quite sometime in an attempt to find a "perfect Series".( well, watching a lot is a form of research) Now, we all understand that this is in the eye of the beholder, yet I have concluded no such anime exists. Therefore, I must discover the best of each genre. What is everyone's best of lists? I myself enjoyed Pani Poni Dash and Claymore for example.
Like you realized, there is no best anime, like there is no best house. Different series have different goals, and should be evaluated based on these.
Claymore is a good example, it's a excellent an excellent remix of traditional fantasy elements. Not original, but very effective.
Rozen Maiden is also quite good at what it aims: loli/harem/gothic fetishism with a twist.
Full Metal Alchemist is a great "young boys go adventure" type of series. It delivers action, fun, and even manages to feed in a lot of plot twists and raise interesting issues.
Mushishi is very good at delivering beautiful and moody philosophical short stories.
Chobits is the ultimate "beautiful robot girl for desperate loners". The main robot girl is appropriately attractive/loli/bland, and the cute little robot girls are really cute.
Etc,...
Haruhi would have been perfect if they deviated less from the original story and put in less references to pop culture.
Please don't start any more "best anime" threads. There are already several, and besides, they are all horribly boring due to most people being unable to formulate an objective argument for why a show is good, and will instead just a write a list of shows they liked with no arguments backing them up at all.
Duly noted. Bringing up an argument for your choice is important. Getting others input is essential. My reason for pointing out Pani Poni Dash and Claymore for examples, would be their prominence in their respected genres. PPD being a parody/comedy/loli, does so in a quirky, random, and maintains stereotypical Japanese humor.(if you can understand the Japanese references) Further more, I find Mesousa a perfect example of going against the trend of overly cute and lovable animal character that are in most animes. Claymore on the other hand being a midevil/fantasy/emo/drama has plenty of artistic style and excellent fighting. Where the story has a few dips, the violence and sence of bloodlust is most entertaining.(offing main characters and main supporting characters is always too few and far between) I also enjoyed the creature designs, especially some of the Awakened Beings and The Abyssal Ones. On a side note I should have named this thread something in the lines of backing up your claim.-_-;