Top 3. 0 Anime Series of All Time. Yep, I’ve finally put together a top shows list. As I hopefully made clear in part one and part two of my critical biases post, this is obviously my list – it represents the things I think are most valuable in stories in the way I think they’ve best been articulated. It’s also just a list of shows I enjoy – there’s no hard criteria here, so I wouldn’t stress the numbers too much. Also, it’s a bit front- loaded – I only started watching anime seasonally about two years ago, so the last couple years are disproportionately represented. Incidentally, I’m not including movies here either – I think direct comparisons between shows and films are a bit of a stretch, but if they were included, this list would certainly be somewhat different. And finally, I’m absolutely (and thankfully) certain this list will change over time – there are still piles of widely beloved shows I’ve never seen, so I’m sure the current rankings will be filled out in the years to come. So with that all said, let’s get to the list – Bobduh’s Top 3. Anime of All Time.- edit- I have now created a Top Shows Addendum for shows that have either fallen off or just barely missed this list. Please enjoy these additional almost- top shows! Haibane Renmei. There are few shows that create such an engaging, consistent sense of place as Haibane Renmei. The town of this show is vivid and inviting, and there is a sense of warmth and peace permeating much of this show. The atmosphere is the greatest strength here, but the rest of the show is no slouch – the writing is understated but effective, and the show’s mysteries offer ample reason to explore the strange corners of this world. Haibane Renmei is sitting back on a lazy Sunday and watching the sunlight play through the trees. Creating such a sense of peace is a rare and excellent thing. Haibane Renmei is available at Amazon. Kids on the Slope. After nearly a decade’s absence, Shinichiro Watanabe returned to direction with a serious change of pace – an understated period drama/coming- of- age story. Surprising as that was, perhaps even more surprising was how good Kids on the Slope turned out to be. Its postwar setting is compelling, its characters act like people, and it, perhaps more than any other Watanabe show, beautifully demonstrates his love affair with music. Every element of this production exudes polish, and when its characters come together for a performance, the results are always transcendent. Though it’s not among my absolute favorites, I’d consider Kids on the Slope one of the most “perfect” shows I know – every element is used well, every character leaves a mark, and its understanding of the tension, release, and even unfulfilled longing of youth is remarkable. And those songs! Kids on the Slope is available at Amazon. Gatchaman Crowds. Gatchaman’s a goddamn busy show – in the course of a 1. And it explores all these ideas while also staying remarkably light and breezy – you could enjoy the show purely as a fun, visually interesting, musically brilliant adventure without even thinking about how identity is constructed in the digital age, or whatnot. And when you combine these two strengths, you get a show that proves you don’t have to be dry to be smart – you can make awesome points about how the internet will change the world without ever giving up a sense of fun and moment- to- moment excitement. Brain food and comfort food at the same time. Here’s my review of Gatchaman Crowds. Gatchaman Crowds is available at Amazon. Steins; Gate. Half witty, endearing slice of life, half thrilling time- travel drama, Steins; Gate is a strange mixture of elements, but the end result has a lot going for it. The story is really compelling, for one thing – the tension it slowly builds is released in a thrilling second half, full of twists, turns, and all the quirks a good time- travel story should have. The humor is surprisingly sharp, too – this was a show I actually picked up in the first few episodes, and the pitch that sold me on it was “it’s like an anime comedy, but good!” And underlying both of these strengths is the great cast – in the midst of all the scifi shenanigans and episodic tangents, Steins; Gate finds the time to also tell one of the better love stories in anime, featuring a couple that are compelling independently but completely adorable together. Steins; Gate is available at Amazon. Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai. Considering how much I’m disliking the second season, I’m probably gonna have to revisit my feelings on this show at some point, but for now, all I’ve got are incredibly positive memories. The first season of Chuunibyou has focus – though it’s comedy- heavy, almost every episode of its first half is indispensable in setting up its cast’s personalities and dynamics. And once the die is cast, it tears out of the gate, covering more romantic drama in six episodes than most shows manage in a season. It’s also a great example of all the things Kyo. Ani really does well – it’s full of small character moments and beautiful colors, and its sense of comedic timing is best in class. Tie it all together with a legitimately thoughtful thematic center, and you’ve got a pretty impressive romantic comedy. Chuunibyou is available on Amazon. Giant Robo. Giant Robo is Bombast Incarnate. Featuring an epic clash between the Experts of Justice and Big Fire, there’s no room for subtlety in this production – it’s all massive robots and deadly superspies and fights for the fate of the world. It’s also a beautiful thing – a series of seven OVAs released over most of a decade, the show is a gorgeous ode to classic super robot storytelling, brought to life with strong animation and rich colors and epic orchestral scores. And yet for all its larger- than- life size, the show also tells a gripping story, full of fully- articulated characters and reflections on family and human ambition. Giant Robo essentially feels like the final act of the Greatest Robot Story Ever Told – it has absolute confidence, and earns the viewer’s trust through constant dramatic hooks and total polish in execution. Even if you generally like smaller stories, I’d give Giant Robo a chance. Here’s my essay on Giant Robo. Giant Robo is vaguely available on Amazon. Euphonium. Kyoto Animation excel at making quietly excellent little dramas, and Sound!
This list is an update to our previous Top 10 English Dubs Anime and it’s a very tall order, but I think we managed to make it even better in this new iteration.Euphonium counts as one more feather in their distressingly pincushioned cap. The show is as gorgeous as you’d expect, the drama is understated but well- articulated, and the episodes are full of those alternately funny or poignant little moments that Kyo. Ani’s mastery of animated storytelling always provokes. And Kumiko is one of the most fun people you could possibly follow around a story like this, with her snark and clumsy bluntness making her a refreshing and relatable protagonist. You can enjoy this show for its close viewing of the classic band experience, for its funny mess of jokes and characters, or for its well- articulated personal drama and reflections on goals and identity. It succeeds on all levels, making it one of the most impressive and fully realized high school dramas around. Sound! Euphonium is licensed but not yet available in the west. Spice and Wolf. It may not be apparent from this list, but it turns out I’m an incredible sucker for romance. Chemistry, banter, moments of sacrifice for the one you love – all it really takes is one great couple to get me through a show. Unfortunately, most anime is really bad at portraying romance – it flounders in cliches, it creates artificial drama, and it doesn’t understand actual rapport. Standing as one of the premier counterexamples to this sad trend, Spice and Wolf is about as endearing and well- drawn of a romance as you could hope for. Its characters are distinctive and bounce off each other well, its dialogue displays great personality and chemistry, and it’s apparent again and again how much its protagonists care for each other. Though I also am a great fan of its aesthetic and economic focus, the thing that makes Spice and Wolf a top show for me is the fantastic romance at its center. Spice and Wolf is available at Amazon. Hunter x Hunter 2. As the only long- running shounen on my list, Hx. H’s a bit of an outlier. But Hx. H is not your typical shounen – directed by Madhouse (likely my pick for the best studio of all time) and adapted from a source by the writer of Yu Yu Hakusho, Hunter x Hunter is basically a master class in what makes adventure entertaining. Though it starts off “only” demonstrating it knows how to make challenge- based television entertaining (in lieu of actual fights, it generally sets up compelling puzzles of all shapes and sizes for its heroes), it ends up jumping from genre to genre, dabbling in crime thriller, tournament shounen, and even war drama. And through it all, the show’s fantastic aesthetics elevate it above almost everything out there – in direction, in sound design, in pacing, in animation, in basically every relevant aesthetic metric, Hunter x Hunter triumphs. That it’s been maintaining this level of quality for well over a hundred episodes is nothing short of astonishing – in fact, I’d say Hunter x Hunter has only gotten better over time. Here’s a critical breakdown of Hx. H episode 1. 16, and here’s an essay on the recently concluded (and breathtaking) Chimera Ant arc. Hunter x Hunter 2. Mushishi. Mushishi is one of those strange, special shows that seem to just emerge confident and fully constructed, exude excellence for all of their running time, and then go quietly on their way. Its vignettes are dreamy and ambiguous, full of resonance and compelling ideas but never didactic. Its world is mysterious and enchanting, evoking both a more resigned and possibly more dangerous version of Miyazaki’s mystical forests. Its production is fantastic, with beautiful backgrounds matching a wonderfully understated musical score and a great sense of pacing to conjure its powerful, singular atmosphere. Para quienes disfrutasteis con nuestro top 25 mejores películas anime, hoy os presentamos una selección de las 25 series japonesas que, a nuestro juicio, más. Top 1. 0 English Dubs Anime List . Does this mean the aforementioned setting is the only thing that makes English dubs work? Judging by the work on Beck, that's not necessarily the case. In this show, we have 1. Yukio Tanaka, a 1. Japanese boy with a 1. At least, that's until he rescues a weird- looking dog from the clutches of some nasty kids. The dog, it turns out, belongs to Ryuusuke . Aside from their high- quality acting, the English voice actors also sing the translated songs themselves. Now that's a feat to beat, no rhyme intended! Top 2. 5 Best Shounen Anime. The word behind almost any sprawling anime franchise or much raved about show is usually shounen. But while it seems like . It covers every genre and every level of entertainment, from the simplest of comedy shows to the most serious philosophical anime. And because there's so much good to be found in shounen, we've battled through it to bring you a mix of old and new shows that make up the very best it has to offer. We've just updated this list from August 2. The list is far more thorough and comprehensive now - - and we feel it's the best list out there that covers the best of the shounen genre. Note: if you want more anime recommendations, do check out our Best Anime Series list, our Best Anime of 2. Top 5. 0 Manga list. As we reach the top anime on the list, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood appears, the anime version of the hit shounen manga that has won the hearts of many. But it's not just the great animation, nice pacing or huge cast of deep characters that makes the series great – it's also a show that takes serious topics well. The Elric family hasn't been the same since their mother died. But in a world of magic, reviving someone isn't that hard, right? The answer to that is what Edward Elric and his brother Alphonse find out the hard way. While they manage to revive their dead mother, it comes at the price: Alphonse's body and two of Elric's limbs. Realising their mistake, the brothers set off on a journey to obtain the Philospher's Stone, a magical item that can help them regain what has been lost. Even though Fullmetal Alchemist has been animated before, Brotherhood gives the series a more distinct shounen feel, expanding its cast of characters, developing its plot more and overall staying true to its source material (which in itself is also amazing). Best aspect: The show's heavy themes dealt with thoughtfulness and grace. There's a seriously good characterization thrown in - - this is not some simple action anime with magic, but a thoughtful, precise characters study of two brothers trying to redeem past mistakes. And of course, there's awesome action, violence and a surprisingly dark theme running through the entire series. Why it made the list: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is the go- to serious shounen anime. Brotherhood manages to pace its story more evenly than its predecessor, going into the more serious themes of the manga with more time to explore. It prides itself on being a close adaption of the manga and feels more true to the concept due to that. Watch if you like: Epic final battles, mature themes, Bones, brothers, friends, journeys, magic, fantasy, faithful adaptions, large casts of characters, long series, recent series. Watch Full Metal Alchemist for FREE on Amazon PRIME Now. Here we are: the shounen endgame boss. With over 6. 00 episodes spanning 1. One Piece is the second longest running shounen anime, beaten only by Detective Conan (and really, that's more of a kids' show). Beloved by many around the globe, One Piece has seen the world and looks like it'll sail on forever, and that's why it's at our number two spot. Gol D Roger – the strongest, wealthiest, piratiest pirate to ever sail the Grand Line – had his legacy cut short after he was captured and killed by the World Government. But Gol D's final worlds usher in the Grand Age of Pirates, for he lets slip the existence of a great treasure called One Piece. Whoever finds it is guaranteed endless riches, fame and the coveted title of Pirate King. It's this exciting adventure that seventeen- year- old Luffy jumps at, and he's quick to gather a crew and set sail for the treasure everyone has in their sights. You may be thinking that starting an endless series that's already 6. But in that regard, you'd also be missing out on a long franchise of interesting arcs, classic shounen set- ups, amazing adventures and arc after arc of great stories. There's nothing quite like One Piece, and perhaps it's good that there's no end in sight. Best aspect: The long, sprawling story that's told like an endless fun adventure. There are two arcs - - young Luffy and adult Luffy. The adult Luffy part deals with a time gap period in which all the characters grow substantially - - it's an interesting twist that puts a new spin on an old series. Why it made the list: The series may be monstrously long, but for its length, it's by far the most consistently interesting. Its huge cast of characters is only a bonus, and with how long the series lasts, it honestly feels like an adventure. Cartoonish art style be damned, it's a true pirate adventure. Watch if you like: Pirates, powers, adventures, a massive cast of characters, long series, cartoonish art styles, classic shounen series, friendship. Watch the Latest One Piece Episodes for FREE on Amazon PRIME Now. With every hundred generic shows, there comes something truly different, something that starts and ends just as amazing as ever. Hunter x Hunter makes it to our third spot for being the anime that brings so many new things to shounen and keeps it going strong for the entire 1. Twelve- year- old Gon never really knew his father after the man just up and left like anime dads like to do. When he discovers that his father, Ging, is actually a widely respected hunter, Gon decides to leave home and become a Pokemon mas— I mean, a hunter. On the way, he crosses paths with various people and gets into trouble thanks to his new friends. But it's all good fun, because you can't kill a twelve- year- old. Not right away, at least. Although an action/adventure show just like so many other series, Hunter x Hunter ditches the long training arcs to victory, preferring to let everyone suffer just that bit longer. Fight scenes (when they do happen) focus on strategy, and it's not uncommon for Gon and friends to lose. There's a lot more adventure to be had, and when the action happens, it's surprisingly realistic. Best aspect: Its strong story from start to finish. Why it made the list: Hunter x Hunter seems like it could be another Pokemon anime, but if you look at it for more than a second, it unravels to show you a thoughtful story that doesn't lose itself in trying to imitate everything else. The focus on the journey is key in this series, and developments are supported by the cast of promising but ultimately human characters. Watch if you like: A break from action, hunting, young protagonists, journeys, being different, tone shifts, smooth arcs, unpredictable series, not being overpowered, character development, strategy, long series. Next in our top anime spot is something a bit outside the usual shounen anime but can be snuck into your shounen list with good cause. It's gory, violent and mature as hell, but it warrants a peek into if you need something with a little more edge. Griffith isn't the usual man you'd see leading a formidable, deadly band of rogue soldiers, but his wit and will is the powerhouse behind the Band of the Hawk. It's in this world of endless war and strife that Griffith meets Guts, a mercenary with a giant sword and an equally giant kill record. Griffith recruits Guts into his Band of the Hawk and together they set out to take on the world, but as always things aren't that straightforward. Berserk has aged greatly over the years, but it is still a stand- out when it comes to weaving a compelling story into an action- based series with a heavy atmosphere. It's not hard to see why its popular, and its exact mix of elements blend together to make it truly amazing even decades later. Best aspect: Mature character interaction and development. Why it made the list: The show's combination of action, plot and characterisation almost make it too good to be true, but by god does it pull it off. It delivers violence and action like any other show, but its grand- scale plot, mature themes and how it handles itself make the series stand out time and time again. Watch if you like: Blood, manly men fighting manly battles, action anime, fantasy, demons, the supernatural, well- set up plot, reading the manga. Watch Beserk for FREE on Amazon PRIME Now. It's not rare to find an ambitious anime where the show's creators try to tackle multiple themes and issues only to fail – or sometimes even crash and burn. Code Geass itself is crammed with observations about power, racism, love, war, culture, history, justice, violence and societal standing but manages to tie everything together beautifully, though not without a few ass- pull moments. Code Geass introduces us to one of the most prominent anti- heroes in anime, Lelouch vi Britannia, an abandoned prince of an empire that has conquered most of the world and forced foreign populations into servitude and poverty. After wishing to change the world for his crippled sister, Nunnaly, Lelouch is granted the power of geass, which manifests as a power to bend people to his will. Surprisingly, he uses it to launch his own plan for world domination rather than doing what every other teenager would do. What follows is a long tale of strategy and deception elevated to a worldwide level but never too overpowered to be bad. Everyone has clear goals that clash and merge to become something incredible. While everything works on a global scale, Code Geass is really about the personal and you'd be hard pressed not to want to root for everyone. Best aspect: The entire show being a huge game of well- played chess (with a few cheats). Why it made the list: Code Geass is like an action- packed chess game that pulls out a few questionably legal moves but is so entertaining that it's completely passable. It should be a classic by now. Watch if you like: World- changing powers, Norio Wakamoto, a humungous cast of characters, plots with intricate plans, mecha, alternate world history. Breaking into the top six is shounen's best comedy series, Gintama. Whether you like Japan's own brand of comedy or the more Western approach, Gintama has a joke for everyone and for every taste.
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