Tarotist's Blog

Dec 31, 2016 8:02 PM
Anime Relations: Keijo!!!!!!!!
MY WATCHED ANIME RANKING OF 2016


In 2016, I have seen 60 different series. Unfortunately, I cannot list every anime I've seen of that because of character limitations in blogs, so all short anime will be excluded from this list. Also, because of how much anime I have seen, My top 10 Anime of 2016 will not be included on this list, but rather in a separate blog. As I've done before, I will be listing the anime that I watched and the rank that I feel they belong to. They do not necessarily have to have been aired in 2016 since we're always watching different kinds of anime. Since this will be focusing on anime TV series and OVAs, unless the movie is connected to a TV series, standalone movies will be excluded. And, with the exception of a few anime, anime consisting of multiple seasons will be ranked together as one.

Because I watch all genres, it can be very difficult to rank such a list. While this list can generate a swarm of opinions, the fact remains that this is MY list. Remember that you are you and I am me. My opinions have been finalized, so here are the anime that I have seen in 2016 and my opinion of them.

BOTTOM TIER


Anime in the bottom tier category have little to no redeeming value. Watching them is merely a waste of time, so unless you're trying to be a completionist, don't even bother starting them because you'll only end up brain dead in the end.


60. Endride
A teenage boy from modern day Japan comes in contact with a mysterious stone that sends him into an unfamiliar world where he meets a young prince who desires to slay his king. On paper, it sounds promising, and the concept of a person from present-day Earth entering a new land is often sought after in anime. Unfortunately, Endride executes this very poorly with its shallow characters, bland art style, simplistic animation, and horrible writing. And to know that this anime got 24 episodes? Don’t even bother. It’s not worth it.



LOW TIER


Anime within this tier do have some watching value, but not enough to make the watching experience fulfilling. Depending on the watcher's taste, these anime may have much more positive opinions. In my case, these anime could have done more, but just didn't make the cut. Watch if you're interested. Otherwise, pass.


59. Chaos Dragon: Sekiryuu Seneki
When a war erupts between two neighboring countries, a dragon rises to bring terror to the land, and it is up to a chosen young boy to quell the fighting. It had a pretty good opening where the concept of sacrifice was quite the shock to attract viewers. The action and animation is decent at best, but the rest of the anime is a mess of many things including inconsistent pacing, poor execution, and a terrible protagonist. Despite the collaboration of talents working on this series, the anime just isn't entertaining at all to keep the watcher engaged in it.

58. Terra Formars Revenge
The second season of Terra Formars that begins where the previous season left off. The first notable difference is the significant change in art style from the first season to the second, most likely due to some studio changes in-between seasons. The first season had a darker and more grim art style while the second season is more like traditional anime. This difference did not affect my viewing experience much, so I'll let it be. The presentation of the second season is rather identical to the first, but with a little more action and some comedy skits. Because of this, the problems of season 2 are identical to the problems of season 1 such as slow pacing, over-emphasis on character backgrounds, and scenes that can be difficult to take seriously. It's an underwhelming anime, but if you enjoyed the first season, then please do watch Revenge.

57. Aoharu x Kikanjuu
A tomboy attempts to get back at a host of a local club for deceiving her friend, only to fail and be part of a survival game to repay her debt while hiding her identity as a girl. Aoharu x Kikanjuu is about the sport of BB gun combat, and the anime is pretty knowledgeable when it comes to gun usage and tactics. The action is not bad, but there is far too little of it to make it worthwhile. The majority of the episodes focus on the characters and their backstories, resulting in many dialogue-heavy episodes. This can be seen as adding some drama to the characters and story, but it feels overemphasized and forced just to give the characters a dramatic backstory. The MC hiding the fact that she is a girl plays an extremely minor role in the story and is easily forgotten. The anime would have been better if the hidden gender concept was executed to make it more relevant to the anime. Otherwise they should have just made her a boy in the first place. Aoharu x Kikanjuu had potential to be a decent series, but its slow progression and bland protagonist heavily hinders it.

56. To LOVE-Ru Darkness (2nd)
The supposedly third season of the To LOVE-Ru series that focuses more on the titular character. While this season of To LOVE-Ru gives the side characters more screen time, the presentation of the series changes very little from the previous season, Motto To LOVE-Ru. The girls do something, Yuuki Rito is brought into it, cue ecchi moment, rinse and repeat. I did find some of the scenes funny, but overall, it wasn't that impressive. Surprisingly, despite the fact that I found Lala very annoying in the first To LOVE-Ru, her minimal screen time in Darkness made me miss her a little...

55. Armitage III (Dual-Matrix)
A detective from Earth is transferred to Mars and is partnered up with a young woman who is more than what she looks like. Human-machine relationships is an interesting theme, and this anime does a decent job of presenting it. However, Armitage's animation is choppy and very outdated, making the action scenes rather uncomfortable to watch. The characters are not bad, but I did wish that this was a TV series rather than an OVA series to flesh out the characters and story more. The movie sequel, Dual-Matrix, was a decent watch and even had some emotional scenes as well. But once again, the experience is short lived and could have been much better if the series was extended a little more.


MID TIER


The tier where anime range from below average to above average in rating. The anime within this tier are certainly watchable, but the experience for the watcher will vary depending on their tastes. They may not be groundbreaking, but they can still be enjoyable.

54. Orange
A high school girl receives a mysterious letter that tells her of the future as well as the fate of a new transfer student. I read the Manga of this anime beforehand, and I personally did not like it. I didn't like the super fast pacing of the first episode, but the following episodes were handled a little better and stayed true to the Manga. Also, watching the Anime made it easier for me to understand what I couldn't in the Manga, so I would prefer the Anime over the Manga. I was not fond of the protagonist, and the actions of some of the characters made the melodrama pretty obvious. Some of the drama was good, but sometimes they're caused by some pretty questionable writing and dialogue. The closing episodes were not bad though. It's a decent shoujo for those looking for some emotional scenes, but looking too far into its "themes" may not be the best idea...

53. Fushigi Yuugi
Two junior-high school students enter a library and find a mysterious book that sends them into Ancient China where their summoning will decide the fate of the land. The anime has a bit of a slow start, but quickly becomes highly engaging once a few characters are introduced. The first half has many unexpected twists which made me eagerly watch episode after episode. It has some pretty good comedy, and the variety of characters kept the anime entertaining...until we reach the second half where the side characters become nearly irrelevant and the major focus becomes the romance between the lead couple, something that heavily reminds me of Sword Art Online. Hearing "Miaka!" and "Tamahome!" over and over got the second half to stale very quickly and made it a drag to watch. The action scenes are average, but a few of the characters were quite interesting, namely the villains. What sets this apart is that it is a Shoujo anime that has many of the shoujo tropes that would happen in a school setting, except this anime is not in a school setting, but retains all of the tropes. Not a bad watch, but the romance can get annoying.

52. Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka? (Is it Wrong to Try to Pick up Girls in a Dungeon?) aka. Danmachi
Guided by a well-endowed loli Goddess, a boy sets forth to become an adventurer seeking fame, fortune...and girls. Anyone who has played a fantasy video game will be all too familiar with Danmachi's setting that pretty much represents a game world. The concept of this anime is pretty identical to one as well. Train, get loot, learn skills, progress farther, rinse and repeat. It's not bad, but the anime is rather lacking in terms of character personality. The protagonist isn't really anything special and is just there to progress the story. His Goddess is the anime's fanservice character, though she does have some good traits as a character other than her bust size. The action scenes are pretty good though. But with a concept like this, the anime's 13 episodes just isn't enough to flesh out the anime's true potential, so hopefully it gets a sequel that will add more to its story and characters.

51. Koe de Oshigoto!
A 16-year-old girl reluctantly volunteers to become a voice actress for an eroge. This 2-episode OVA is basically a short borderline-H series where the main focus is the voice acting. It takes a surprisingly realistic approach on the job of H voice acting where you can see what the actors do to get their voices right for the H scenes. Fun fact: The VA for the protagonist has no Hentai titles credited under her name. My biggest gripe with this series are the H-scenes themselves. Since they are shown, it takes away the experience from simply hearing the voice acting. The anime is quite funny, but it contains a lot of NSFW content, so be wary when you're watching this.

50. Boku dake ga Inai Machi (ERASED)
A manga artist who bears witness to a murder suddenly possesses the power to go back in time to undo the tragedies surrounding his life. If there's one thing this anime did right, it's catching the watcher's attention and getting them hooked to the story. This mystery anime becomes very intriguing early on, making you want to learn about the characters and the events that led to the tragedies in the future. However, what destroys this anime is an event that happens during the second half where it takes its most prominent aspect and just gives it up. When it happened, my thought process was simply: "You just shot yourself in the foot. Now hurry up and end already, because you can't surprise me anymore".

49. God Eater
A young man joins a military force to combat the Aragami, mutated monsters that endanger the last remaining humans on Earth. Ok, we've seen this concept before, so it's a matter of execution. Being based off of the game of the same name, God Eater captures the characters as well as the art style accurately. The animation is rather inconsistent. Sometimes the action scenes are smoothly animated, and at other times they feel like still frames with flashing lights. Perhaps the most notable flaw in this anime is the usage of “slow-motion” in some scenes, which make it feel like it was deliberately done to to fill up its 24-minute run time. Its theme may be nothing original, but it does have a few good episodes. Overall, God Eater is a decent watch. Nothing particularly special, but nothing overly wrong.

48. Clannad (After Story)
A delinquent’s conversation with a girl triggers a series of events that will change his perspective on life forever. Clannad has many problems such as forced drama and comedy, forgettable characters who are either unnecessary, stereotypical, or just downright stupid, and simple solutions to problems that were made more complicated than what they needed to be. Also, while the music is good, it becomes repetitive as you hear it throughout the series. One of my major dislikes of Clannad is the usage of a certain dramatic theme used at random points in the series to tell the viewer “This is a dramatic moment. Start shedding tears.” It’s a cheap technique that induces emotions on the viewer. Since I was able to see through that, I didn’t fall for it. After Story is more or less identical to the first season, with less comedy, more drama, and better pacing. The plot only begins to really kick in during the second half of After Story where it finally breaks away from its “Troubled person of the week” formula. I did not find the heavy drama in After Story to be as strong as I expected, but I will admit that there were a few good episodes that definitely got to me. The ending is not particularly bad, but it will leave a “?” above your head if you weren’t paying attention enough. I was not impressed by the drama in the TV series, but I found the drama in the “Tomoyo-hen” special much better than the entire series. The Clannad Movie is an alternative take on the series, but it is very inconsistent and its direction was all over the place. I will say that if the TV series took the direction that the movie took, I would have enjoyed Clannad much more.

47. Fate/kaleid Liner Prisma Illya 3rei!
The third season of the Fate/kaleid series. After the filler-filled seasons of 2wei and 2wei Herz, 3rei decides to opt out of the nonsensical fanservice and head straight into the action, which IMO is a much better way to start the series. The anime still has its comical moments (and pretty funny ones at that), but they are implemented well with the anime’s scenario so that they do not feel out of place. The anime can sometimes feel a little slow with all the dialogue, which is an issue with the entire series. While I did enjoy watching 3rei, I do hope that they change the formula up a little in the following seasons because the series is beginning to get stale…

46. Sora no Otoshimono (Heaven's Lost Property)
An ordinary high school boy in an ordinary village is living an ordinary life…that is until an Angeloid from the skies crashes down to disturb his peace and quiet lifestyle. Sora no Otoshimono is a mix of harem, school, Sci-Fi, and Supernatural with the obligatory Ecchi. Top that off with its bizarre cast of characters and ridiculous comical moments, and you have yourself one heck of an entertaining ride. The anime is not all comedy however, as there are a few dark and dramatic moments that give the characters some time for development. That being said, most of the major story points don’t become relevant until near the end of the series, and everything in between is comical filler for the most part. And while the MC is hilarious to watch, his antics get repetitive, so the comedy may stale over time. The movies are canon sequels that take place far beyond the arcs covered by the TV series, a questionable decision made by the creators. If you’re looking for more story, then it would be best to read the manga. Otherwise, go with the Anime if you’re just looking for a fun anime to watch.

45. Mirai Nikki (Future Diary)
A boy who once used his cellphone as a diary is now the holder of a cellphone that tells the future and becomes part of a game where the winner becomes God. Mirai Nikki was a very difficult watch for me because I couldn’t tell when I should take the anime seriously or not. The anime can be dark and edgy at one scene then immediately comical and nonsensical in the next. And sometimes it would do both at the same time, and I would be sitting there thinking to myself “uhh…ok?” I couldn’t connect with any characters due to how shallow they were, and the character backgrounds all seem to be made as cheap shock factor stories with minimal development. Having a yandere as a major lead character doesn’t really help much, especially if she’s one-dimensional and talks like a Pokemon. At least she makes the anime entertaining to watch, because she’s practically the only reason why you would be watching this anime in the first place. What about the MC you ask? Hahaha...No. Mirai Nikki’s concept had great potential to creating a great series, but its indecisiveness on whether it wanted to be serious or stupid led the series to become one great trainwreck. I will admit that it was a fun watch, but that’s all that it’ll get from me.

44. Kage (Shadow)
When the era of ninjas is nearing its end, a woman trained in the clandestine arts is hired to assassinate various targets as well as deal with rival shinobi. This isn’t the first hentai that was featured on my Top Watched List (Mezzo Forte was featured last year). Sex is done for a variety of reasons such as pleasure, profit, and stress relief. In Kage, sex is used for assassination by bringing the target down to where they are most vulnerable and then delivering the killing blow while they are unaware. Kage executes this concept very well, and it is complemented by good action choreography and animation. If you’re used to watching sex scenes in R-Rated movies, then the sex in this anime shouldn’t be too big of a deal. The characters don’t have much to them, but they have enough to make the series work. The anime’s most notable flaw is its rushed ending, and you kind of wish that the series was extended a little longer to expand the story.

43. Seirei no Moribito (Guardian of the Sacred Spirit)
A wandering spearwoman becomes the bodyguard of a young boy who possesses a magical being within him. After watching so many modern-day anime, the setting for Seirei no Moribito was a breath of fresh air. It felt very immersive, and nothing within the world felt out of place. It is rare to have the MC be a spear wielder rather than the usual swordsman. The fight choreography is very well done, but there are very few fight scenes in the series which is a little disappointing. However, my greatest issue with this anime are the main characters. They both feel like characters who are simply reading off of a script with little personality behind their voices. I’m not going to lie. The boy has terrible voice acting, and his inconsistent character from weak to strong to weak makes him someone difficult to connect with. The female MC is a 30-year old bodyguard...and that's all she is. Other than being a bodyguard, she lacks any notable traits that distinguish her personality from others. Whenever she is asked a question, she always answers them in the manner of "Perhaps, maybe, possibly, we'll see...". I don't know if she's being mysterious, sarcastic, insensitive, or indecisive, but this just doesn't make her special at all. The progression is pretty slow with a few unnecessary episodes, but the story is pretty straightforward. Seirei no Moribito is a decent adventure anime that could have been better if the lead characters were written better.

42. Ore Monogatari!
A monstrous high school student with a heart of gold experiences his first romance with a sweet and innocent girl. Ore Monogatari is a lighthearted shoujo romance that deviates from the norm due to its male protagonist. Rather than use the typical Bishounen, Ore Monogatari has a “gorilla” for an MC, and seeing how the side characters react to such a person is what makes the series interesting. The anime has many cute and comical moments, and it has little to no drama. However, these cute and comical moments tend to overstay their welcome, leading to the series becoming repetitive. And while the “cluelessness” (for lack of a better term) of the protagonists makes them fun to watch at first, it makes their characterization stale and they become more predictable later on. It gets old as the series progresses, but it is a relaxing watch overall.

41. Berserk (2016)
The sequel to the Berserk TV series and Movie Trilogy that shows the events that take place after the Golden Age Arc. The most notable issue that everyone has with this series is the choice of CGI animation. There were some noteworthy issues with the animation, but for the most part, I didn’t mind it. Actually there were a few moments where I did like the animation choice. Also, despite the amount of nudity and gore in the anime, the censorship was very minimal. Well even if the animation is iffy, the sound is spot on. Hearing that large sword hit something with a loud “CLANK!” sounds so satisfying. The cast of characters were also pretty interesting. Each character gets their share of screen time and you get a chance to learn their thoughts and motives. I will say that the pacing of the anime felt uneven. I really dislike it when an anime starts from a fast-paced action scene, and then transitions during the action into a slow expository dialogue scene. If you can tolerate its animation, Berserk 2016 is a decent watch. Hopefully its following season will touch up on the animation issues to give us a smoother watching experience.

40. Mardock Scramble
A young prostitute who was murdered is revived to get revenge on the person that left her for dead. Mardock Scramble is a movie trilogy that is a mixed bag. The first movie establishes the story and has some breathtaking action scenes. The second movie is mostly dialogue, both expository and psychological. The third movie is a mix of the two. This can be a turn off for those starting on the series and expecting it to be full of action scenes. While the second movie is dialogue heavy, fans of the psychological genre may find it pretty interesting as well as adding to the protagonist’s character development. The character designs are pretty good, although some of them may look rather grotesque. The animation is also very good and suitable for a movie. Aside from the imbalance between action and dialogue, my main issue with the anime is its brief ending. Also, due to the protagonist’s occupation, there will be sex involved, so keep that in mind when you begin this movie trilogy for the first time.

39. Boogiepop Phantom
A series of deaths within a city is rumored to revolve around a mysterious being known as “Boogiepop”. Boogiepop Phantom is an episodic series where each episode tells a different story. I can’t really say anything about the story without giving away a spoiler, but all I will say is that the individual stories are connected one way or another. The anime’s dark atmosphere combined with its excellent sound design gives the series an omnipresent sense of mystery and thrill. The characters are different for every episode (some appear more than once depending on whose perspective the story is being told by), but they all have a problem that centers on themes such as change and escapism. Perhaps the most questionable aspect of the anime is the mystery itself. While the anime does provide the answers to the mystery, it may take a little bit of outside thinking to understand it clearly. It’s not overly complicated though. It just takes some time to piece the puzzle together.

38. Peach Girl
A low self-esteemed high school swimmer assumed to be promiscuous due to her tanned skin attempts to change herself to please the boy she likes while a mischievous girl and a carefree boy tail the pair from behind. TELL ME LIES! TELL ME SWEET LITTLE LIES! Peach Girl is a textbook Shoujo anime containing many tropes that a Shoujo anime possesses including schoolgirl romances, love triangles, and MANY LIES, MANY BACKSTABBING LIES! These LIES can be both a good thing and bad thing. For one, they're the source of conflict in the series that keeps the anime going. Unfortunately, because of all the LIES, the anime tends to get very repetitive. As for the characters, they're not bad. They're actually pretty entertaining. There is one character that everyone is going to have their eyes on though. But you should remember not to judge a book by its cover. Who you consider the worst character in the show early on may just happen to end up being the best character in the anime. ^_^

37. Uchuu Patrol Luluco
A normal young girl was living a normal young girl's life until she is made a space girl of justice when her father accidentally consumes a fatal substance that freezes his life. Being a short series, I didn't expect much from this anime series. I didn't find this anime very interesting in the beginning...until all the Gainax/Trigger references started to kick in. This series is one wacky ride with the protagonist going to many different worlds in the universe and meeting different kinds of people within the same universe. The jokes can be hit and miss depending if you can catch the references or not. I was waiting for that Evangelion reference...and there it was! Luluco is another one of Trigger's anime reminding its audience that it just wants to have a good time, but one's enjoyment of the series will be mainly based on how well they catch the references. Maybe one day we'll get a Trigger anime that features all of their anime in one series. Trigger Avengers!

36. Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans
Because of the harsh living conditions that the citizens of Mars have to endure, a young lady steps forward to become the representative for the Red Planet's independence along with a group of young soldiers to support her. While the majority of Gundam anime in the past revolve around a war, this series is more of an adventure for a group who seeks a new life. The animation style of the action scenes reminds you of the older Gundam series like Wing and Seed, which isn't a bad thing for those familiar with the past titles. The Mecha designs are pretty detailed, and seeing them in action makes them look even better. While the anime's story has a defined goal from the beginning, progressing there is a bit of a hassle. The majority of the episodes focus on the characters and their lives, and while learning about each of them is interesting, it does take a while to get through all of them. Sometimes, these non-action heavy dialogue episodes can occur consecutively from episode to episode, and this occurs more than twice in different parts of the series. I usually don't mind character development Slice of Life episodes, but Iron-Blooded Orphans does it a little too much and makes its progression very slow. Fortunately when the action does come in, it delivers with a bang.

35. Isshukan Friends
A high school boy finally musters up the courage to talk to his crush, only to become completely forgotten by her after a week. Isshukan Friends is a lighthearted take on weekly memory loss in a school setting. While the friendship theme of the series is nothing original, what it does it does well. It has its comical and dramatic moments, but it never does more than necessary to keep the lighthearted atmosphere consistent. The characters have distinct personalities that make each of them entertaining in their own way (especially for one really dank character), and the development of the central character is executed well. The protagonist can be a bit of a nuisance at times due to his personality though. While the anime does consistently well, it begins to stumble near the climax when a new event changes the course of the series. Other than that, Isshukan Friends is a relaxing and entertaining watch that plays it safe and keeps things nice and easy.

34. Planetarian: Chiisana Hoshi no Yume
With humanity on the brink of extinction, a man searching for supplies in a city wanders into a Planetarium where he is greeted by a robot who has not had a customer for the past 30 years. For a series that only spans 5 episodes, it sure does a lot. The art, animation, storytelling and overall presentation is excellent, especially with the episodes involving the Planetarium. The robot can be a little annoying, but a robot is a robot. The man on the other hand was a little questionable in his actions as if they felt forced, but since this was based on a visual novel, I'm assuming he's meant to represent the reader, so I can let that slide. The story is pretty simple and can be predictable, but it delivers a strong message nonetheless. One notable flaw is that it tends to overdo its drama, which weakens its emotional impact. Planetarian is a beautiful watch for those who want some quick feels.

33. Rec
A single salaryman takes home a young voice-actress-in-training who has lost her home to a fire, and a relationship develops as they spend more time together. Rec (short for "record) is a short anime series that focuses on the lives and jobs of the two main characters. While the romantic story is pretty straightforward, what makes the anime interesting is seeing these two people (mostly the girl) struggle to get by in their work. While each episode is short, the characters develop very well, and seeing their struggles makes them easy to relate to. The series may be short, but it is definitely an engaging watch.

32. Keijo!!!!!!!
A talented gymnast's interest in money gets her to participate in the highly profitable, bust-busting, butt-butting, hip-whipping sport of Keijo. Keijo is a Shounen-style sports anime primarily focused on female characters and the roundest parts of their bodies. While this concept may sound ridiculous at first, the anime happens to execute it with style and finesse. The many characters in the series don't really have much development, but they can all be distinguished by their appearances and creative special techniques. The anime progresses at a fast pace, doing its best to shove its butt into your face as much as possible. While the anime is overloaded with cleavages and rear ends, watching enough of it will desensitize you and you will mostly be focusing on the action rather than caring about butts and busts. The story is pretty generic and predictable, but the action scenes are well animated. It may be ridiculous, it may be lewd, it may be full of ass, but Keijo knows how to make itself work! Kiss ass or butt out, because Keijo is here to bust some busts!

31. Witch Hunter Robin
A young girl possessing the gift of fire is sent to an organization to assist in the capture of magic-users known as "Witches". Witch Hunter Robin revolves around the titular character and the interactions with the people around her. Notable issues include the episodic first half, the slow progression, the strange art style, and the simplistic animation for its few action scenes. It is not an action anime but rather a character-driven anime, and its greatest strength is the growth and development of the protagonist. She may be an introvert, but she has a lot of personality. The anime may progress slowly due to the episodic first half and the quiet tone of the series, but the stories are quite engaging and help develop the protagonist, which in turn help develop the story. The best advice I can give is do not expect Witch Hunter Robin to be an action anime as the action scenes are minimal. Instead, watch it as a mystery anime where the mystery is the protagonist herself.



HIGH TIER


I found the anime in this tier to be highly enjoyable and well done. While they do not make it to the top of my list, they are still worth a watch and are very memorable.

30. Kanokon
A country boy transferring to a high school in the city becomes the center of attention of the local animal spirits. Kanokon is an ecchi comedy anime that likes to take its lewd antics up a notch by having the females fight over the shota MC with some unconventional tactics. Not only is the anime really hilarious, but it is also very cute in terms of its art style and especially its voice acting. The story isn't very prominent in the series, but the anime's episodic nature helps keep its comical moments fresh and entertaining. There is some nudity, but the cute art style keeps it tame and watchable. If you can't tolerate ecchi, avoid watching this. But if you're not up for a deep story and just want something fun to watch with some cute lewdness added in, Kanokon will be sure to get you laughing and feeling moe. Trust me. Once you're finished with Kanokon, you will never look at cake the same way ever again.

29. Area 88 (OVA)
An aspiring pilot is tricked into fighting a war, and now he must do whatever it takes to earn his freedom. Area 88 is a war drama that centers on the life of the MC and his struggles of putting his life on the line over and over. The development of the MC is very good, and his troubles make him a character that some can relate to. For its age, the animation is great, and the action scenes do not disappoint. It also has a minor romance element that adds to the story. It's ending can be somewhat questionable and may leave some unsatisfied. Nevertheless, Area 88 is highly engaging, and its story can prove to be appealing to anime fans new and old.

28. Dirty Pair + OVA
When there's trouble in the galaxy, the Lovely Angels will be there to take care of it...at the expense of a "little" collateral damage. Dirty Pair centers on a duo of "Trouble Consultants" trained in skills secret agents are known for, such as espionage, sabotage, and infiltration, and the majority of the episodes have the duo either sneaking in a facility or disguising themselves to blend in hostile territory. Despite its age, its animation is surprisingly good. With the exceptions of the First and Last two episodes in the TV series, the anime is entirely episodic and can be watched in any order. Some episodes can be really good, while others may be a bit of a bore. While there is no consistent story, each episode has its own adventure that shows a new side to the pair. The strongest aspect of Dirty Pair is without a doubt the pair itself. The synergy and chemistry between the two female leads is so perfectly in sync that isolating one from the other would be a sin and would outright destroy the series. Dirty Pair is a highly entertaining and highly enjoyable series that will make you want to watch episode after episode just to see what the girls will do next. As the anime that started the advent of gun-toting female protagonists, it would be a waste to skip out on such a classic.

27. Tonari no Seki-Kun
A boy who likes to get creative with his desk is constantly being watched by the girl next to her while class is in session. Think of this anime as a "show and tell" series where the boy shows and the girl tells. One of the amazing aspects of this show is that it makes you guess on what is happening as you observe the boy's actions. What makes this even better is the performance of the girl, who is voiced by none other than the renowned seiyuu, Kana Hanazawa. This short series is episodic, and the characters are pretty straightforward, but it is their actions that make this anime so entertaining to watch. A simple concept with a lot of excitement and thrill, Tonari no Seki-kun will keep you on the edge of your seat in every episode.

26. Ajin + S2
Recently discovered to be an immortal, a high school teenager must run from the authorities to avoid becoming a subject for experimentation. The central concept of Ajin is that when you are killed, you revive back to normal moments later. In order to enjoy this anime, you must always keep that in mind. Created by the same studio that made Sidonia no Kishi (my #2 of 2015), Ajin is animated with the same CGI style as Sidonia. As I am already used to that animation, it didn't bother me in the slightest. The first season establishes the premise, giving us the who's, what's, and why's. The setting and plot reminds me of Western detective and terrorist films, and you will soon find the resemblance with its outstanding villain. The villain of the series is what carries this anime to the end. His words, thought process, and combat skills pretty much resemble the best of Ajin. Unfortunately the rest of the characters feel underwhelming due to lack of character development, which is the anime's biggest weakness. Because of the immortal theme, the action scenes can get pretty intense, and some characters will do things that you would never expect them to do. The anime keeps a consistent pace with some cliffhangers, but I found the ending rather weak. Based on how it ended, it is unknown if they will continue the series or not. It may have taken an original route from the Manga, but Ajin is a solid series that did well in standing up on its own.

25. Eve no Jikan
There is a rule where humans are to see robots as robots and nothing more, but in this city is a hidden cafe where this rule is not applied. This is a theme commonly found in anime where humans and robots develop feelings for one another. Eve no Jikan excels in its overall presentation and its usage of CGI. The characters all have some depth to them that makes them more than what they seem, and this helps add to their development. There's not much else to say about it because of it being such a short series, but it has a lot to tell. Just like a cafe, Eve no Jikan is an anime where you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the ambiance.

24. Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt
A pair of angel sisters are exiled to Earth due to their bad behavior, and now they must earn the right to return to heaven...by being as bad as they can possibly be! Panty and Stocking is all about being lewd, naughty, and downright dirty as this anime is nothing but sex jokes, profanity, and over the top cartoon violence. The anime's art style may resemble that of Western cartoons, but the amount of color that is used combined with the smooth animation makes the show a spectacle to behold. The lead characters look amazingly cute, and they look even more amazing during their transformation sequence. How the anime portrays itself is pretty over the top, which is something Gainax specializes in. The series is episodic for the most part, but there are some recurring characters that help add to the finale of the story. There were some episodes that weren't as crazy as the others, and I find them to be the lowest points of the series. Panty and Stocking is a great looking anime with plenty of craziness to go around, so you better be prepared to handle the nasty.

23. Detroit Metal City
A young man who dreams of becoming a pop artist works as a Death Metal band leader in order to earn a living. Death Metal, hardcore vulgarity, and a whole lot of unexpected moments make DMC one hell of a comedy show. The anime is extremely offensive and is not afraid to get controversial and immoral. The voice acting for the MC is very well done, having to switch between an innocent young man and a crazed psycho guitarist. While the anime does spout a lot of profanity and vulgarity, the true source of the comedy is the dispositional attribution that the MC has to deal with when acting as his Death Metal alter-ego. What this means is that crazy situations the MC is put in is usually an accident, but the people around him see it as intentional. While it is fun to watch, it can feel repetitive sometimes and the vulgarity in some episodes can feel weaker than usual. Still, for the amount of craziness that the anime possess and the short duration of the episodes, it wouldn't hurt to take a ride to hell to witness the greatness that is Detroit Metal City.

22. Boku no Hero Academia
Quirks are on the rise where almost every person possesses one, but there is one individual who unfortunately was not granted such a gift. Boku no Hero Academia is a Shounen superhero series about a boy who, despite being powerless, strives to be as strong as the heroes he looks up to. Sure he's a wimp, but that doesn't stop him from wanting to become a hero. One distinction that this anime has compared to others is the theme of sacrifice, specifically in the usage of their powers. These heroes may have special abilities, but they all have a limit to how much they can do because of the after effects that can prove harmful or disadvantageous to its user. Restrictions promote creativity, and this works in favor for this series not just in the action scenes, but in the concept of what it means to be a hero. This limitation is what makes the action scenes exciting to watch because it makes you wait and see when the character will pull their trump card. Accompanying these great action scenes is the excellent soundtrack and direction, giving the anime powerful tension that just immerses you into the show. That being said, the characters seem to fit stereotypical tropes and don't seem to be all too special. The story of wanting to become a hero is also rather unoriginal. But as simple as the story and characters may be, it is one of those shows that makes you cheer for the heroes as you probably did when you were younger. Boku no Hero Academia is a superhero anime made for superhero fans. And with a second season on the way, it just might get even better.

21. Tenchi Muyou! Ryououki (OVA seasons 1,2, and 3)
A young boy living an ordinary life awakens a being that results in him becoming Earth's main attraction to aliens from outer space. Tenchi Muyou! Ryououki is a 90s anime that gets the harem genre right. While the girls surrounding the MC try to get close to him, the MC is not a wimp and is smart enough to tell if they're trying to seduce him or not. All of its characters are hilarious and each have their own secret past that makes them interesting. The story is pretty simple, but the characters are what makes it fun. The art isn't perfect, but the designs for the characters are very distinct, and the animation works well along with it. There are some fan service moments, but they're done when the timing is right, and sometimes they work in favor of the comedy. The action scenes are also pretty good, and you'll be surprised at how powerful some of the characters are. The first and second seasons are a blast to watch, but the entertainment begins to slow down on the third. I didn't expect much from this series at first, but I found myself laughing with each episode and wanting to watch more. Tenchi Muyou! Ryououki has got a lot of surprises up its sleeve, and it'll make sure that you have a good time watching it.

20. Kaichou wa Maid-sama!
The first female student council president of a school that has recently turned co-ed must hide her identity as a part-time maid to maintain her social status and conceal the fact that her family is struggling to make ends meet. The anime has a lot of comedy and has many moe moments that can provoke a blush very easily. It also makes frequent usage of chibi characters, something that I can always welcome in a comedy anime. It also does well in its concept of balancing between the MC's school life and maid life. While the series does have some story arcs, the anime is mostly episodic and is mainly comic relief. I do not watch Shoujo anime very much, but I will admit that the design of the protagonist is very beautiful (especially when she can adapt to many different types of outfits and hairstyles). She's a strong-willed character who doesn't let anyone get the best of her (save for the male MC). She's also very fun to watch to see how she reacts to situations beyond her control, and this makes for most of the fun in the series. The male MC is basically there to tease her, which adds even more to the fun. The side characters however are pretty forgettable since they don't really contribute much to the series (with the exception of the sister XD). There are a few episodes that seemed like random filler and felt unnecessary for the series. The ending was also pretty lackluster, but I guess that's expected of an episodic Shoujo anime. Kaichou wa Maid-sama is a moe-filled show with funny moments, cute chibis, and many dresses.

19. Inferno Cop
Where there is evil, a hero of justice will appear, and he calls himself...INFERNO COP! This short anime series uses satire, literal cardboard characters, photo-realistic backgrounds, and a single voice actor to tell a humorous story of epic proportions. The animation is basically taking a cardboard character and moving them by dragging their image with the mouse. As simple as that seems, it makes watching Inferno Cop feel like reading a comic book. The anime does its best to make the most of what it has in creating a story, and it ends up being highly entertaining. For some anime, it takes flawless writing, shocking plot twists, excellent character development, and great depth to make it amazing. For Inferno Cop, all it needed was sweet simplicity.

18. Prison School
Due to the perverted acts of the 5 new male students in the school that was recently made co-ed, the Underground Student Council has sentenced them to one month in the school prison as punishment. This is an anime that likes to take its ecchi concept to the extreme to the point where it becomes BDSM. The girls are the ones on top, and they give the boys a beating. The concept sounds painful, but what makes it great is that it takes itself rather seriously. Sure the fan service is everywhere, but it doesn't ignore its brutal aspect, and the anime takes great measure to maintain that. There's a lot of detail in the art style, and the anime makes good use of camera angles, although having the vice president constantly revealing herself gets a little stale. The comedy is good, but it mostly relies on shock factor and reactions, which also tends to stale over time. And honestly the funniest moment in the series for me wasn't an ecchi scene. The main characters do have some depth and make use of strategic planning, which helps build up the thrilling moments of the series. The plot can be somewhat predictable, but it is exciting to watch nonetheless. You may be laughing at how ridiculous Prison School is, but it's there to remind you that it takes itself very seriously and will execute its savage antics without mercy.

17. Anime de Wakaru Shinryounaika (Comical Psychosomatic Medicine)
A short episodic anime series about a psychologist and his assistants that discuss about psychosomatic disorders in comical anime fashion. This anime takes actual psychosomatic disorders from the DSM-IV and discusses about them in this fun little anime. There's plenty of fan service to entertain the unsuspecting viewer. And despite the many jokes presented throughout the series, they always relate to the current topic, which makes them even funnier. As a psychology graduate, I found this anime to not only be extremely hilarious, but also surprisingly accurate to the diagnoses of the disorders. The notable issues in this series are that the comedy gags can get repetitive, and those who are unfamiliar with the DSM-IV criterion method and the parodies and anime tropes might not understand some of the jokes. However, not once did I get bored with this series, and I laughed from beginning to end. Anime de Wakaru Shinryounaika is a must watch for all psychology majors and graduates.

16. Katanagatari
The descendant of a great swordsman is hired by an ambitious strategist to go on a journey to retrieve 12 powerful swords known as the "Deviant Blades". Katanagatari is an anime that builds up on its storytelling and delivers with its action scenes. Being 50 minutes per episode, having to read large amounts of dialogue can be a drag to watch. The action scenes are good, but sometimes the fighting has to stop because the characters need to speak on some exposition, and this gets pretty annoying and hurts the pacing of the series. The art is a little different from the usual anime, but the character designs are appealing nonetheless, and the amount of color used throughout the series makes it look great. The progression of the series goes by a "sword of the month" formula. It may sound episodic, but the story stays consistent from one episode to the next, and it works well considering that there are 12 swords and there are 12 months in a year. The MC may seem rather air-headed at first, but he develops very well over the course of the series. All of the characters have some story behind them, and they tell enough to make them relevant to the story. What truly makes this anime great is its ending. You're not going to expect it, but by the time you realize what happens, you will have been torn to pieces.

15. Binbougami ga!
Due to a girl's overwhelming fortune having a negative effect on the people around her, a god of misfortune is sent down on Earth to restore the balance. Binbougami Ga! is an anime chock full of gags, parodies, silliness, unpredictability, bad-mouthing, and whatever other recipe is needed to cause some mayhem. The anime is ridiculously funny and its characters all play a role to contribute to the comedy. Lots of things happen at once and the art and animation play them out very smoothly. But if there is one thing in this anime that stands out for me more than anything else, it is the superb voice acting. HanaKana shows off her talent once again to make this anime as outrageous as possible, and the supporting cast does just as well in lending their voices to the chaos. One of the twists of this anime is that the protagonist also serves as the antagonist, and the story's aim is to change her ways. Though the anime is filled with comedy, it does have its minor dramatic moments. While brief, they do a good job of bringing some melancholic emotion to the series. But that does not take away from the comedy at all, and it fits right in to add to the MC's development. Binbougami Ga! is one of those anime where you don't want to blink, because things happen so fast and you don't want to miss out on anything.
Best Comedy

14. Ping Pong the Animation
Two close friends play the sport of Ping Pong not just to demonstrate their skills but to convey their thoughts and emotions to one another. The first thing everyone notices with this anime is the art style. It may seem off-putting at first, but the art actually has its own unique charm that makes the anime appealing in its own way. The animation is also surprisingly good for such an art style. It makes the sport feel a lot more realistic than seeing it in the usual anime art style. It may seem like a generic sports anime at first, but you soon learn the great amount of depth that each character has in the anime. They all have their own stories and motivations, and in a sense you want to wish them the best. There are a few slow moments in the series where time is taken to develop the characters, but for the most part the anime is very engaging. The ending is somewhat predictable, but it gives you a fulfilling experience. Ping Pong the Animation may be ugly on the surface, but if you take the time to explore its depths, you will find an inspiring and beautiful story.
Best Sport

13. Top wo Nerae! Gunbuster
A young girl trains to become a space pilot to fight against the monsters to avenge her father's death. In the beginning, it looks like a cliche anime where a girl suddenly possesses the skill to become a great mecha pilot. But as you progress through the series, more events happen that begin to change the MC, and her character grows to become someone completely different than who she was in the beginning. Though the OVA series is only 6 episodes, it is able to tell a story that spans over a large amount of time. Due to its age and lack of budget, there are some very notable flaws in its sound and animation as well as a certain issue with the art. But what makes this anime so spectacular is...well...Let's just say that it made me feel emotional in a way that I didn't expect it to. It's only 6 episodes. Just watch it for yourself and find out.

12. ReLIFE
A man whose been living a life of misfortune and disappointment is given a chance to change his life for the better by being part of an experiment where his appearance reverts to when he was in his high school days. I did not expect this anime to be as good as it was, and it was the easiest 9 I've given to an anime. The characters are fleshed out very well, and their development throughout the series was both interesting and intriguing. All of the characters felt important to the story, and none of them were left out. The anime executes its comedy and drama very well, and it balances the two in such a way that they never overlap one another to maintain the consistency of the anime's atmosphere. The romance aspect was also surprisingly good, and it had a brief moment where I laughed out loud because of how well it caught me off guard. My only concern with this anime is that it strays away from its original old-to-young concept and becomes more of a common slice of life series. But this is just the beginning of the ReLIFE story. With its cliffhanger ending, I'm just begging for a second season to be made. If not, they can at least speed up on the Manga...
Best Romance

11. Assassination Classroom S2
The second season of Assassination Classroom. I found the first season of this anime a chore to watch with the large amount of monologues and filler-ish episodes. I couldn't even remember most of the students in season one. However, the second season redeemed itself by providing much needed character backgrounds for the students as well as having more interesting episodes and action scenes. The amount of monologues in season 2 is just about as much as season one, but they were much more engaging since it mostly deals with the characters and their actions. After learning about the characters, the anime comes to a very satisfying ending that is very emotional and memorable. Assassination Classroom season 1 was a decent watch, but season 2 was a great watch and one of the stronger anime to air in 2016.



Sorry for any grammatical mistakes and errors. I was sick while typing this and now I have a headache~

If you're wondering, "Why isn't __________ here?", it's because I probably didn't watch it! You don't rate something that you didn't watch, do you?


Now then...because of this massive list, I do not have enough room to list my top 10 anime here. So that means I'm just going to have to make another blog!


Posted by Tarotist | Dec 31, 2016 8:02 PM | Add a comment
It’s time to ditch the text file.
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