Xana’s Top 20 Anime!!!

As I promised, here is my top 20 favorite anime list!  I hope you enjoy!

20. Eden of the East

It has such an interesting premise, what would you do if you were given 10 billion yen and asked to save the world.  Would you use it for your own gain or for the great good?

19. Shiki

Shiki has pretty decent horror, which is rare in anime.  Despite have the stupidest freaking character design I have ever seen, it is still great.  I also owe this show a lot for getting my college writing proficiency when I wrote a paper on it.

18. One Piece

I am over 5 years behind on this anime but it doesn’t mean I don’t love it.  I have come to the conclusion that I am never going to get caught up with this series.  I love the mixture of comedy and action.  It is serious when it has to be but most of the time it is just silly.

17. AnoHana

Normally an anime that’s plot resolves around a ghost girl doesn’t work very well but AnoHana is the opposite.  It is a very sad anime about getting over the death of someone extremely close to you and reforming bonds with old friends.

16. Beck

First off this show is about music!  It may be a little unrealistic based on the bands success but it is anime, so it is fine.  Something about the series makes the atmosphere and characters of Beck seem real.  The characters are very realistically portrayed as high school students.  They make mistakes, fall in love, and have fun in such a genuine way.

15.Haruhi Suzimiya

This franchise may have been higher on my list if it wasn’t for the goddamn endless 8 but despite that hell it is a great franchise.  I love Kyon’s as a narrator, he is really angsty, which normally drives me crazy, but there is something about his dry sense of humor, which I love.  Kyon coupled with Haruhi leads to crazy adventures that go nowhere.

14. Naruto

I love the Naruto franchise…I know…but it is Naruto that really got me into anime.  Forget the filler and the angst, there is a lot of it but there are better things to focus on.  There are great action sequences and a hell of a lot character development/growing throughout the endless amount of episodes.  It was really nice to grow with these characters when I was young.  I started watching the series when I was 12 the same age of the characters and for some reason I could relate.

13. Ef: A Tale of Memories

Melodrama in the best way.  This show is full of romantic drama that at some points will bring you close to tears. It consists of 3 romances with characters that have some very fucked up thoughts running through their brains.

12. Durarara

Gang violence, turf wars, a missing head, a magical possessive sword, and a fairy; that is Durarara in a nutshell.  Just like number 7 on my list (hint! They are both written by the same person) Durarara consists of several interesting loosely related events that are all jumbled together.  There are a lot of characters and most of them are good. Shizuo and Izaya are amazing and they make the series, I wish the series had focused more on them instead of the high school students.

11. Code Geass

No other anime has created such an interesting alternate history world.  I really love thinking about what the world would be like today if similar event happened in the real world.  Also who doesn’t love a protagonist who is more of an antihero than a good guy?

10. Welcome to the NHK

What a great example of how it is an anime’s story and not the animation which makes it truly good.  Despite Gonzo not really trying on the animation it is the story that touched me.  Welcome to the N.H.K is about university dropout hikikomori and his daily struggles to survive.  While being funny at times it more focuses on psychological aspects of hikikomori and Otaku culture.  I have never seen another anime treat these subjects so accurately (probably because the story is partially based off of the writers own life) and it’s a real treat to watch.

9. Angel Beats!

Was it to rushed? Yes a little bit, it may have been better if it was 24 episodes like it was originally supposed to be.  This show has something special about it, which I can’t place. It has great animation, funny jokes, and some real hearth clenching moments.

8. Full Metal Alchemist

I have yet to have time to watch Brotherhood so this is based completely off the first series, which is a classic.  I don’t think I have to say much more because I bet 99% percent of you have seen it.  I have never met a person who didn’t like Fullmetal, so someone prove me wrong here.  I know many people who don’t watch anime but have seen this series and loved it.  In conclusion the story is great, the action is great, the sound is great, and the characters are amazing, there is nothing more to say.

7. Baccano

Baccano! is a violent, fun, confusing ride.  Baccano! is like Pulp Fiction where all the scenes of the anime are aired out of order.  The series consists of many stories that are intertwined which makes one great overall story. I really loved that when the series was over everything was drawn together so well. Also every character in the series is great and there are over 30 of them.  Most of them are developed well despite this series being only 13 episodes. (I’m not counting the 3 OVAs that didn’t do much for the series)

6. Toradora!

Toradora! is my favorite serious romance anime (I haven’t seen Clannad so things are always subject to change)  What made the show good was watching the relationship blossom between Taiga and Ryuji.  The show has some funny moments and also some moments that were extremely dark.  The best part though was that there was an actually satisfying ending which I was happy with.

5. Puella Magi Madoka Magica

For all those who say this series is overrated I disagree.  Studio Shaft is amazing; they were able to make a magical girl series that I could love.  Madoka Magica has a dark, sad story that will screw with your emotions.  The animation is amazing and very original.  I loved the cardboard cutout animation that is found in the witch worlds which was mixed well with great action scenes.  It also has an extremely satisfying ending.

4. FLCL

A six episode OVA that makes so little sense that I started to understand it by the end.  I love how crazy this series is.  The sloppy animation style fits the series so well and you get great characters.  FLCL is one of the only anime where people fight with guitars, awesome right?  The Pillows did the soundtrack for this series, and the songs are unbelievably good.  I have watched this anime so many times, Adult Swim shows it every Saturday and I always find myself watching it.

3. Arakawa Under the Bridge

You might find this to be a strange number 3 but never have I laughed harder at anything than Arakawa.  This show is not for everyone; the humor may be lost on a lot of people.  I love how random Arakawa is, but it still manages to have a structured plot underneath the randomness.  The characters are what make this show wonderful and unique. They are extremely original for the most part and just downright silly.  Arakawa is another Studio Shaft production so as expected the animation is great.

2. Steins; Gate

Steins; Gate is masterpiece.  I am going to quote Rei (From Wanabrar) from his top 10 countdown of 2011 because what he says is exactly right, “It will twist your emotions in multiple ways loads of times. It’s an absolute must-watch, and it’s definitely one of THE best thrillers in the history of anime.”  I don’t think I have ever been on the edge of my seat as much as when watching Steins; Gate.  The show has so many plot twists and things I would have never expected.  The characters are amazing and likable, Okabe being my favorite Male character of all time.  I also can’t freaking wait for the movie!

1. Bakemonogatari

As some of you may know if you have seen my review of it, Bakemonogatari is my favorite anime of all time. What I love best about Bakemono is the dialogue; no other dialogue has ever kept me so engaged.  While the show has some fan service which normally turns me off from an anime, I felt like it was handled properly and it never gets in the way of the series (unlike Nisemonogatari). The characters are amazing; they all have their own unique personalities that fit the series perfectly.  This is Studio Shaft second best animation (as long as you have seen the finished version) second only to Madoka.  I could go on and on so if you want to hear more go read my review here.

Thank you for reading!!!!!!! Have a nice day!

-Xana

The links on some of the names are links to reviews I wrote for Wan Abrar.