It’s been close to two years since I made a list of my 50 favorite anime in January, 2010. Since then I’ve seen quite a few new series and my current tastes are a bit different. So I figured it’s time for me to update my list of favorite anime, seeing what new favorites I have and how my feelings for old favorites have changed…
Like my previous top 50, I have a few rules for this list as well. Some rules are based on the ones for the old list while some are new for this list:
– In order for me to consider an anime for the list, if it’s less than 100 episodes, I had to have seen all of it. If it’s more than 100 episodes, I had to have seen enough of it to feel that I can properly judge it. A list of all the anime I’ve seen can be found on my MAL.
– Titles on the list are not differentiated by season or releases. For example, when I list Shakugan no Shana, I’m counting all that I’ve seen of it, which includes the first two seasons and the OVA (the currently airing third season too but not exclusively). And for Revolutionary Girl Utena, I’m counting the TV series and the movie. I do this because in most cases, I like anime holistically, because of their different parts. But if I feel it’s important for me to make a distinction, for example, if I really liked the first season of an anime but not the second, or I loved the TV series but never saw the OVA, I will make note of it.
– Unlike my old top 50, I decided to eliminate original anime movies from the list and focus just on series. The only movies that count are ones that are based on a series already on the list. I plan to make a list of my top 10 original anime motion pictures at a later date.
– Also new for this list, I decided to base my feelings on all media facets of a particular title, not just the anime. For example, Pokemon is rated much higher on this list than my old one because of how much I love the games rather than just the anime.
– In order to show comparison between this list and my old one, I put a symbol next to each anime title. The meaning of the symbols are as follows:
(+) – the anime is ranked at least three places higher than on my old top 50
(-) – the anime is ranked at least three places lower than on my old top 50
(=) – the anime has the same or about the same ranking as on my old top 50
(*) – the anime is new on this list and was not on my old top 50
Guess that’s it for the rules. I added little blurbs about my feelings for each title, but since there are 50 of them, I kept it brief. If I wrote my thoughts about the series already, I provided a link to the post(s).
Here we go!
50. Blood+ (–)
I need to watch it again to properly judge it as it’s been several years. But I still remember how good its story, characters, and music are.
49. Bakuman (*)
Fun premise, likable characters, and great suspense despite lack of typical shonen action and fantasy. My review here.
48. Mushishi (–)
Consistently whimsical and well-written episodic stories. My review here.
47. Ranma 1/2 (–)
Rumiko Takahashi’s brilliant way with humor, characters, and fantasy shines. I think this is the oldest anime series I’ve watched (started airing in 1989).
46. Canaan (=)
Not sure why I like Canaan so much – the animation, characters, and concept I guess. My review here.
45. Baka Test (*)
Hyperbolic humor done right. Clever jokes, pretty designs, and fun characters. My review here.
44. Darker than Black (+)
The second season and Gaiden OVA brought DtB higher on my list. It’s still a little “dark” for me but it has great action, animation, story, and characters.
43. Konjiki no Gash Bell!! (–)
Only seen 88 episodes of this shonen anime based on a long-running manga but I loved it. Sorely underrated in terms of shonen series.
42. Eden of the East (*)
Rewatching Eden of the East, along with its two movies, made me appreciate it a lot more. Ending was a bit unsatisfying but great premise. My review here.
41. Tenchi Muyo! (–)
Only counting the original OVAs and manga. One of my big favorites in my early years as a fan and a series I should try to get back into one day.
40. Sailor Moon (–)
The very first anime I watched in 1995 before knowing what anime is. Haven’t seen all the episodes nor watched any in years but it will always be special to me.
39. Sola (–)
One of the best twist endings ever. My review here.
38. Ouran High School Host Club (=)
Sincerely funny reverse-harem goodness~
37. Ichigo Mashimaro (–)
So funny though 95% of the humor rides on one character. Seen the OVAs too.
36. Macross Frontier (=)
One of the best soundtracks of any anime. Everything else about it isn’t too shabby either.
35. K-ON (+)
The second season of K-ON is what ranked it higher on my list now. Why I like it here.
34. Chobits (=)
Haven’t seen all of the anime but I’ve read all the manga. Such a sweet yet deep little story.
33. Trigun (=)
One of my favorite protagonists and just an all around great, universally-appealing anime.
32. Clannad After Story (–)
The first Clannad series is good but After Story is fantastic. Few anime have touched my emotions like its second half. My thoughts here.
31. Eureka 7 (–)
It’s just been too long since I’ve seen E7 but I still remember how great I thought it was. Perhaps a rewatch will place it higher on my next list?
30. To Aru Kagaku no Railgun (*)
Great characters and fun setting. Love it much more than its sister series Index. My review here.
29. OreImo (*)
If you can take Kirino and the idea of sis-con with a grain of salt, this series offers great insight about what it means to be an otaku.
28. Revolutionary Girl Utena (=)
The shojo version of Evangelion in my opinion. If the yuri themes don’t scare you away, it’s a mind-blowing series and movie.
27. Slayers (=)
Only talking about the original three Slayers series, particularly Slayers Next. Another old favorite of mine with great humor, fantasy, and Megumi Hayashibara goodness!
26. Fullmetal Alchemist (–)
I like both the original series and Brotherhood. I respect FMA very much, just not as into it as many other fans.
25. Air (–)
Love Misuzu…the last two episodes slay me every time.
24. Cowboy Bebop (+)
Recently rewatched CBB and realized what a classic it is in every way – story, setting, characters, style, music – everything.
23. Kemono no Souja Erin (–)
Beautiful and meaningful series that’s terribly underrated. If only it got more promotion and a better animation budget.
22. Digimon (=)
Newer Digimon series haven’t been as great as the original three, but I’m still hopelessly hooked into watching them all.
21. Toradora! (–)
Watching it a second time wasn’t quite as suspenseful as the first, but it’s still one of the best high school romance dramas I’ve seen. My thoughts here.
20. Shakugan no Shana (+)
The fantasy is a bit over the top but the characters are great. And Shana is one of my most favorite anime characters of all. The currently airing third season has rekindled my love!
19. Hayate no Gotoku (=)
I actually like the shorter second season a lot more than the much longer first season. Lots of good seiyuu and the characters are just so much fun.
18. Code Geass (=)
Very few anime have been as thrilling and suspenseful to me as Code Geass, especially the second season, R2. Satisfied with the ending too.
17. Fruits Basket (=)
One of the sweetest and most uplifting shows of all despite having such a seemingly silly reverse-harem premise. The full story is in the manga, which I haven’t read, but I intend to someday.
16. Death Note (–)
A sheer masterpiece of suspense, mystery, and moral questioning from beginning to end.
15. Chi’s Sweet Home (=)
My guilty pleasure. Let kitty cuteness abound~
14. Madoka Magica (*)
One of the most recent anime that sincerely impressed me to no end. Only time will tell if it’ll continue to hold a place in my heart in years to come. My thoughts here.
13. Naruto (=)
Disregarding fillers, it brings out everything great in the shonen genre.
12. One Piece (–)
Like Naruto, fantastic shonen action, character development, and plots. Not all of its long arcs are of equal quality though.
11. Inuyasha (–)
The series that was my #1 favorite for many years. Obviously I’m not as into it as I used to be but it’s still very special to me.
10. Kannagi (–)
Though the story isn’t that original, I just love the characters, and the animation is great. But with no anime sequel or new manga chapters in three years, my interest is waning. Nagi-sama needs to be revived! My review here.
9. Evangelion (=)
Even without the new movies rekindling my interest, Eva will always be a favorite of mine. One of the most impacting and unforgettable anime I’ve ever seen.
8. Azumanga Daioh (=)
A 4-koma based “cute girls doing cute things” series that has some of the best characters and humor in the genre. I’ve watched the series several times already and it’s hilarious every time.
7. Cardcaptor Sakura (=)
The first anime I watched in Japanese. A magical girl series that does everything right. In addition to good fantasy, drama, and romance, it’s the cutest, sweetest, loveliest show ever without ever insulting my intelligence.
6. Noir (=)
A lot of people hate this series but I’ve watched it many times and think it’s a masterpiece. Unforgettable Yuki Kajiura music, suspenseful plot, thought-provoking themes, and great focus on just a few unpredictable characters.
5. Angel Beats! (*)
I haven’t lost interest in Angel Beats! for over a year now, which is a good indication that it may be a permanent stay on this list, even among my top 10. Half the reason I love it is because Yuri is one of my most favorite characters of all, and I also can’t resist Jun Maeda’s way with drama. My thoughts here.
4. Lucky Star (=)
The humor in LS isn’t for everyone, but I personally can’t get enough of it, whether it’s otaku in-jokes or character-driven humor. Love the characters, animation, and humor, plain and simple.
3. Wolf’s Rain (=)
I’ve watched WR many times and each time I love it more than the last. Brilliant mix of beauty and violence, solid characters, unique plot, fantastic music and animation, and themes that make me ponder anew every time. It has my favorite English dub too.
2. Pokemon (+)
Since I’m counting how I feel about all media aspects of an anime series instead of just the anime portion for this list, my love for the Pokemon games, and the franchise in general, is something that surpasses all the above mentioned titles. Twelve years ago Pokemon started it all for me in terms of my interest in anime and Japan, and it’s never faded since. My history with Pokemon here.
1. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (=)
Haruhi has been my #1 since mid-2007, and as of now it still shows no signs of giving up that spot! To make it clear, I love the anime but the novels more, since there’s more stories that haven’t been animated yet and they’re more detailed. Only a series I love to the utmost would compel me to actually translate extensive portions of it on my own and take a plane trip to see its movie premiere, and Haruhi is one, if not, the only one. Why I love it here.
—–
Comparing this list to my previous one, most of my favorites haven’t changed that much, especially my top 20 or so. A handful of new series have been added of course, and a few that were on my old top 50 didn’t make it onto this one. A lot of series ranked lower than they did on the old list but that’s mainly because of my needing to find spaces for the new favorites.
I’ve discovered that a good way to tell if a series is a true favorite of yours is 1) you love it just as much, if not more, after watching it more than once, and 2) you can easily think and talk passionately about it long after you’ve watched it. Rewatching is also an indispensable way to determine if that title is really a favorite, as rewatching Cowboy Bebop and Eden of the East this year helped we determine how much I really like them. It’s always interesting to find out which series are forever favorites of yours and which eventually wear off. Maybe in another two or so years I’ll make another top 50 and compare it yet again :)
Lucky Star at #4? I pretty much agree, but I think I’d put Melancholy lower, and series like Eden of the East and Code Geass higher. You ranked Pokemon much higher than Digimon? Agree also, Digimon always felt like a cheaper, knock-off version of pokemon anyway, but I still likes it. Other than that, great list! I don’t think I could make one as comprehensive, or as true.
I don’t think Digimon is a Pokemon rip-off so much as a fellow series in the “battling/collecting monsters” genre.
I think I tend to favor the character-driven, slice-of-life series, which is why shows like Haruhi and Lucky Star rank highly for me, while more plot-driven series like Eden and Geass rank lower. Not always the case of course, but usually.
Ah, I’m not surprised that Haruhi is still at the top of yours. I think at the back of my mind I keep track of my favorite 3-5 anime series based on different genres rather than having a top 10 or 50 list. It’s the apples vs. oranges problem for me — how would I compare, for example, Canaan in relation to Ouran High School Host Club (leaving aside that Maaya Sakamoto is so wonderful in both of them!)? So, whenever any one asks me (and no one does anyway) what my favorite anime are, I usually reply by genres and a few titles rather than a top 10.
LOL, making these kinds of lists are just fun mind exercises for me and are never 100% true. Maybe the top 20 or so are pretty concrete, but the rest are always subject to change along with my mood. I make a distinction between anime I personally like versus anime I think are good (the “heart” score versus the “head” score, which I actually wrote a post about a while back). You’re right that it’s pretty much impossible to compare anime that are so vastly different from each other, like Canaan and Ouran. Which is why I prefer making subjective favorites list rather than try to be objective in my comparisons.
Ah, Utena slipped down the list a little, but glad to see Bebop rose~
I see your top 10 haven’t changed much, save for Angel Beats, which isn’t too surprising, haha. Slightly surprised that Madoka didn’t surpass Naruto though.
Yeah, I definitely reading the Fruits Basket manga. There’s so much the anime didn’t cover.
“One of the most impacting and unforgettable anime I’ve ever seen.”
Haha, puns. (Also, I recommend watching Bokura no since its so similar to Evangelion. I think you’d like it. Though I also suggest reading the manga since the anime director made a lot of changes.)
(As of my current favorites, we have nine in common.)
Heh, it’s not that I like Utena less than before, it just got bumped a bit due to making room for new series I like better. I actually just borrowed the first volume of the remastered Utena DVDs from a friend (episodes 1-12). I have the box set of episodes 27-39. So I just need to get a hold of episodes 13-26 so I can properly rewatch the series =)
Madoka is still very new so I’ll need time to see if I can feel passionate about it years from now. Naruto has the advantage in that it’s still ongoing, meaning I always have something new to expect. Plus I’ve been watching it since 2003 and have seen the characters grow and develop all these years, so now they’re like old friends ^^
LOL, I didn’t even know I made a pun in my Evangelion description until you pointed it out XD
I see on your MAL that you’re very close to hitting 300 completed anime too. I’d love to see your list of top 50 anime someday ^_^
I’m so jealous! I want the Utena DVDs so badly D:
Haha, true. I always get nostalgic when I think about when I used to watch Naruto on Toonami. My interest has been diminishing though. Sometimes I think Kishimoto is dragging it out on purpose.
I’ll probably post my all time favorites when Penguindrum’s finished or when I’ve completed 300; whichever comes first. :D
Wow, that’s quite a list! I’m impressed you managed to remember them all – or did you use your MAL ratings as a guide? Either way it’s nice to see that your top 10 are all anime that I’ve watched and usually enjoyed (I’m watching Wolf’s Rain atm! Indeed the soundtrack is amazing). Seems our good tastes overlap. :P
Yes, I looked at all the titles on my MAL list and noted which ones I would consider among my top 50. There’s no way I could remember them all off the top of my head XD
Glad to know you’ve seen and (mostly) enjoyed all the shows in my top 10 ^__^ I hope you continue to enjoy Wolf’s Rain. I’d love to hear your thoughts once you’ve completed it if you want to shoot me an e-mail then.
I’ll let you know the next time I comment on your blog after I finish it. :D
This is a great list! I’m quite new to anime and haven’t seen much yet, but going by your list, I’ll make sure to start with the series listed in your Top 10. Especially The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya :) I currently get all my news from mangauk.com, so the titles I recognise are things like Naruto!
Thanks for commenting ^_^ Since you’re new to anime, I hope you find lots of titles you like, enough to make a list of your favorites someday ^_^ Also hope my top 10 are series you’ll enjoy. I’m flattered that you’re willing to watch them based on my recommendations ^^
Nice to see Angel Beats, a lot of people don’t appreciate it (which I understand, but still). :D
Not too sure if I agree with this or not, but I get your point. If you still like it the second time, you know something is right (or eight, as with Spirited Away for me). But at the same time, a lot of shows are one time experiences, as they lose their twists and such when watching a second time.
Madoka Magica, while still great a second time, lost its shock factor. Gurren Lagann, which I haven’t rewatched, would lose its “omg omg omg GIGA DRILL BREAKER”. Slow Slice of Lifes would perhaps not be bad, but not as interesting a second time.
Just my thoughts~
You have a point there. It could definitely be debated whether a series is good based on how much it enthralled you the first time (regardless of rewatching), or whether its quality is more dependent on rewatch value alone.
Heh, Angel Beats! is one of those “love it or hate it” series. For me, I recognize its flaws, but other things about it make me love it anyway :3
Having read your blog for a while, I can’t say anything surprised me. Some pretty good choices, too (except maybe Lucky Star, don’t know what you see in that one…).
I’m not sure about this rule, though: “I decided to base my feelings on all media facets of a particular title, not just the anime.” Wouldn’t that make this more a list of “favourite media franchises that happen to have an anime connection?” Not a big deal, obviously, it just seemed really arbitrary.
Anyway, good post. It’s pretty fun to look back at these kinds of lists to see how your tastes change over the years.
I just enjoy the humor and character interactions in Lucky Star. The animation is nice too. Can’t really explain it beyond that…it all comes down to taste I suppose.
You have a point that including all media aspects in my list seems a bit arbitrary. Which is why I made a note of it each time I ranked a title according to something else besides the anime, like I did with Pokemon and Tenchi Muyo! for example. It just seemed less accurate for me to rate these titles lower just because I don’t like their anime version as much as their game/manga versions.
Very, very nice list there. ^_^ I’ve seen a lot of those titles, and I have to say that they’re all respectable series. Just for fun, I’ll list my top five;
1) Hetalia
2) Baccano!
3) To Heart
4) Evangelion
5) Sora no Woto
:)
Yay for Baccano! and Evangelion :D
Thanks! ^_^
I guess you’re a Hetalia fan since it’s your #1. I’ve seen the two anime seasons of it. It’s not a favorite of mine obviously but I definitely think it’s a unique and special series worthy of such a big fan following.
Haven’t seen Baccano! but I’ve heard a lot of good things about it. I’ll have to check it out some day.
Have you seen Lovely Complex (Love Com)? I really liked its comedy and the drama seemed pretty realistic (even for an anime series). To me, it ranks pretty high in the high school romance genre maybe even giving Toradora! a run for its money.
I’ve heard of Lovely Complex back when it aired but I didn’t watch it. It sounds like a good show though so I’ll make a note to watch it one day ^_^
Angel Beats! was my favorite anime of 2010, so I’m glad to see it in your Top 10, no less your Top 5! Kanade is one of the most interesting characters I’ve ever seen, and T.K. had me falling out of my seat every time. Very impressive animation by P.A. Works.
Nice to know another Angel Beats! fan ^_^ I can definitely see why people don’t like it, but at the same time I can see what’s so lovable about it too XD
I haven’t seen many of those actually :S Interesting that you always mention Aria as a great anime and compare others to it, but was not listed. Well, I know there are more than 50 anime you do like, so some will not make it :P
Noir has Yuki Kajiura music? I have to see it now. I think I actually have it somewhere, but have never sat down to watch it. I would still put full metal panic as one of my favorite anime. It just does so many things right, and the characters fit so well. But making a top 10, or top 50 anime list would be too difficult for me :S I like so many of them!
I mention Aria a lot as a prime example of a soothing slice-of-life anime. But in terms of greatness, I think it’s great for that genre, but for an all around favorite of mine, it gets a bit boring for me (the first season at least, which is all I’ve seen).
LOL, even people who don’t like Noir admit that the one thing it has going for it is Yuki Kajiura’s music. Obviously I like more than just its music, but even I’ll agree that it wouldn’t be as awesome without it.
You have only watched the first season of Aria?! Watch the rest! The last season is near perfect in every way.
First time on your blog, and I’m really liking your posts so far! ^_^
Nice list, and I’m glad to note that Kemono no Souja Erin has a place on your list. It really was a great, beautiful series, and I’m saddened to see that it hasn’t been given much publicity in terms of blogging.
Thanks for visiting ^_^ I’m so glad you’re enjoying my posts.
Yes, Erin is sadly underrated. I think it’s mostly due to little promotion and the “childish” design that make people assume it’s just a kids show. The fact that it doesn’t get exceptionally good until episode 8 doesn’t help either. I’m hoping for an eventual DVD/BD release in the US but that’s not likely.
Really enjoying reading your blog, first time commenting =)
I like your list, quite a few of my own favorites are on there, like Ouran, Evangelion, and Code Geass. I was pleasantly surprised to see Angel Beats! so high on your list, I feel that series was so much better than some people gave it credit for. All around, great list!
Thanks, I’m glad you’re enjoying the blog ^_^
Also nice to know another Angel Beats! fan~
We seem to have some similar tastes! In my top 10 I would definitely put Neon Genesis and Lucky Star as well! As for the rest of your top 10, even if I would have not put them in my own “top 10″, I really did love Haruhi, Cardcaptor Sakura, Wolf’s Rain and Kannagi. Pokemon is standard awesomeness, I haven”t finished Azumanga Daioh yet (but its good), Angel Beats left me a bit with a bad after taste but it was definitely entertaining, and I haven’t see Noir, but I will probably get around to that soon because I trust your taste.
Really good list. A lot of these series fit into the category of “anime that is so much fun to watch”, which more often than not can make me like a series more than one that tries too hard to seem complex. I’ll definitely being using your list to find some new anime to watch! x)
Nice to know we share so many favorites =D I’m flattered that you trust my taste ^^,,,
Pokemon still holds one of the top spots for me. Yeah, it’s not the best around, but holy hell is it still entertaining. And really, that’s all that matters.
And while I don’t agree with most of the series placement on this list, Azumanga Daioh and Evangelion aside, it’s still pretty well put together.
you really do love pokemon,i also did love pokemon,the orignial series were the best,now its losing touch with Ash becoming more and more dumb about pokemkon battles as the series go on..while the games are still number 1 for me..still remember when i watched it for the first time in tv,they had to broadcast it when i had to picked my brothers from the nursery school..and i would always lose the last 5-7 minutes^__^
I’ve been following your blog for a couple of years now, and it makes me sad to see Inuyasha out of your top ten. But really good list overall, and I especially agree with what you have to say about Wolf’s Rain (that series never fails to amaze me no matter how many times I watch it!). You’ve also reminded me that I need to watch Angel Beats!
A question, have you seen Kuroshitsuji? If not, it’s worth checking out.
What No School Rumble??? Other than that omission I love almost everything on this list!
Did you really watch all 50 of those anime series? because….that is A LOT lol. I JUST got finished watching darker than black, so I’m a bit biased towards it for the time being. Why is it so low in the rankings T.T? Have you watched Samurai Champloo, btw? I don’t see it in your 2010 list either and just wonder if you just didn’t like it or never seen it before. It’s a good series that could be included in this list =).
I’ve watched way more than 50 anime series…as of now I’ve watched over 300. A full list of every anime I’ve watched can be found here. But I have been watching anime constantly since 2000, so that’s why I’ve seen so much.
I think Darker than Black is a good show…just a bit “dark” for me I guess. It’s not that I don’t like it, I just like the others on my list better. And I have heard of Samurai Champloo but haven’t seen it.
I must say, your anime list is very good reference, thank you for that! But no wonder you’ve seen so much…you’ve been watching for 12 years…wow.
haha, I still love Darker than Black so much (the same as 2 months ago), but your anime list centers around a much different theme/feeling(?), so it’s no wonder why DtB is so low in this list ^.^. And I love Cardcaptor Sakura. As a guy, I still love it. The pacing’s just right, and the content is great. If only the Pioneer Bluray set wasn’t so expensive (at $5000 or so??), and the less than $100 sets weren’t pirated copies…I’d buy it in a heartbeat. and DtB in Full HD is awe-inspiring.
I watched The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya because it was #1 on your list…and I freaking love it! I rewatch the best episodes just for the laughs (and I don’t get tired of it), and I even rewatch Endless Eight to help me fall asleep sometimes! I tried watching Angel Beats and Lucky Stars, but it’s on-hold after both’s first episodes. I plan to watch hayate no gokuto and baka to test next (somewhat low on your list) when I have the time to!
oh, and based on your review of it, I watched bakuman, and I didn’t expect it to be so good! It has been one of my favorite manga series (before it ended 2 days ago T_T), and now it’s one of my favorite anime series, though I really haven’t watched many yet.
I agree! we have seen soooo many of the same anime! I love Clannad and the After story sooooo much! I balled when I watch that anime.
OMG we have lots in common! I also really love Trigun, Chobits, FMA, Digimon, Fruits Basket, Chi’s Sweet Home (SOOO CUTE!) Naruto, Pokemon and Haruhi!!! It’s rare for me to come across someone’s blog that has so much in common!
What about Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon Ball GT