So it's time again. That's right, it's time for yet another anime blog post. Usually I would post some sort of award list/blog but this year I didn't watch as much anime as I normally do. Not to mention, I really didn't want to do one. Instead, I'll post about my ten favorite anime of the year. Only anime that have finished airing in 2011 will qualify, (with one notable exception which I will mention during the top ten list). Note this is what I feel were the anime I enjoyed most this year, not necessarily the best or the highest quality series of the year. Also note that this isn't really a ranked list, with the exception of #1 which is my favorite anime of the year. Anyway, let's get on with it.
Nichijou (aka My Ordinary Life) is one of those love it or hate it shows, as is the case with many comedies. Its humor is a combination of puns, slapstick, satire, and at times, downright weirdness. However, I'm absolutely a fan of weird shows like this and Nichijou manages to deliver the goods pretty much every week. Whether it's Mai's constant trolling of Yuuko or the Professor's hilarious interactions with Nano, the show delivers humor that is both smart and endearing. I didn't laugh out loud as much as I would have expected but I enjoyed pretty much every episode. There's something that should be said for shows that aren't afraid to be as downright crazy or as ridiculous as Nichijou can be at times (and let me tell it can get pretty crazy) both when it comes to the situations depicted or the animation itself. Speaking of which, I have to give props to KyoAni for yet another excellent adaptation. I'm not sure another anime studio could have pulled this show off as well as KyoAni did, and for that I can almost forgive them for only having one show last year. ;)
There's nothing particular original or innovative about Infinite Stratos, but it's combination of intense mecha battles and high school romantic comedy is certainly effective. The show is, for the most part, a harem anime but while the various heroines follow typical anime tropes, each has a distinct personality and end up being quite likeable. Seeing them fight over the affections of denser than lead Ichika is more often hilarious than not and when combined with the action sequences, makes for some fun times. The strong voice cast, good (for the most part) animation and attractive character designs makes this a successful debut for 8-bit (at least as the primary production house). However, if you're looking purely for an action/mecha series, this is not for you as while the action itself is fine, there isn't really much plot development along those lines as the anime is, at heart, a romantic comedy and is character driven rather than story-driven (I do think however that there is plenty of good setup for possible sequels in the future)
Ao no Exorcist (aka Blue Exorcist) is another of those shows that doesn't try to be innovative or particularly original. It knows what it is (a shounen series) and it executes that very well. In many ways it's a throwback to the classic shounen of a bygone era. As a big fan of those shounen series, I really enjoyed my time with Ao no Exorcist and would really love to see a sequel in the future. The plot is pretty straightforward, the voice acting is solid, the action is well animated and the characters are quite likable. There really isn't much else that needs to be said. Though Ao no Exorcist certainly cannot stand up to a lot of the shows this year in terms of impact or creativity, it proves that traditional shounen series can still be entertaining in this day and age and that, ironically, is actually quite refreshing.
Almost completely in contrast to the previous entry, Mawaru Penguindrum is the definition of innovation and originality. A thought-provoking, fascinating, and truly unique series, Mawaru Penguindrum demonstrates what anime, as a storytelling medium, can accomplish. While the complex storytelling is far from perfect and ultimately does not conclude in a satisfying way (and is often difficult to follow), it has definitely given me a greater appreciation of what multi-faceted storytelling can bring to this medium. It's also a deeply symbolic series, so for those who can appreciate and follow the symbolic undercurrents of the series, there are a lot of things to think about and ponder over. However, symbolism is usually tough to pull of and while Penguindrum does it better than a lot of other shows, it can still be difficult to grasp, which is a shame because I felt that it really allowed me to appreciate the show on a much deeper level. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this show as much as I would have expected, but as with all high-concept series, Penguindrum is more meant to be appreciated than necessarily enjoyed simply as a piece of entertainment. Now, I'm usually the type of guy who cares more about a show's entertainment value than necessarily its critical or artistic merits, but I must admit that Penguindrum is definitely an exception and should not be missed for anyone who wants to see more out of this medium than tired character tropes or recycled plot premises. I've gotta give props to Brain's Base for once again creating something that few production houses could (hope to) deliver.
I will admit that I was not immediately drawn to GOSICK. It has an atypical and interesting premise and an unusual setting (for an anime at least) but has sort of slow burn in the initial few episodes. The plot however, definitely picks up and goes in directions that I certainly didn't expect (especially from what I thought was just a mystery series), and ended up becoming the show I looked forward to the most each week. What really impressed me about GOSICK was how well BONES nailed the setting. The world of GOSICK is utterly convincing, despite it taking place in a fictional country with a somewhat alternative take on history. The relationship between Victorique and Kazuya is also one of the best I've seen in recent history (though I will admit that it doesn't develop as well as I hoped by the end). GOSICK is as much a series about Victorique and Kazuya's growing relationship as it is a mystery/thriller with occult themes and historical undercurrents. The setting and the mystery elements are certainly very interesting, but It's the story and Victorique and Kazuya's relationship that ultimately makes the show so engaging from week to week, leading up to a touching, and emotionally resonant (though somewhat rushed) ending. The animation, artwork, and character designs were superb as well (not surprising for BONES) and the music is also fantastic. I just wish BONES had more episodes to flesh out the story and some of the minor characters as GOSICK definitely felt cramped within its 24-episodes, and that is really my only major gripe with the series.
Usagi Drop is unlike a lot of the other anime airing these days in that it’s not crazy, fan-service laden, action-packed, or a haremesque romcom, but a touching slice-of-life drama about a 30-something guy and his newly adopted daughter. There’s something to be said for a show that relies entirely on the strength of its story and characters rather than on some overused gimmick. I won’t argue about how “realistic” the show is because at the end of the day, it’s still fiction, and fiction is rarely realistic. However, Usagi Drop is one of the few shows in recent memory that just puts a smile on my face every time I sit down to watch it. It is slowly paced and because of its one-season run, a lot of plot threads are left hanging, and a lot of the minor characters are left undeveloped, but it still manages to leave a very memorable impression. There’s a purity here that few shows have, and emotional resonance that few shows can elicit. This is a shining example of the power of subtlety in storytelling, something that a lot of anime these days lack.
There’s been a lot of praise thrown up for Puella Magi Madoka Magica, and to a certain extent it’s worthy of that praise. It’s a show that turns the “magical girl” genre upside down. It’s a refreshing departure from what has become one of the most prolific anime tropes. SHAFT is not known for original stories, but it has crafted one here that is compelling, unorthodox, and also highly entertaining. It’s a show that leaves you at the edge of your seat week by week, enthralling you with each twist and turn in the story. This is also not a happy show either. There is no true “happy ending” in the world of Puella Magi Madoka Magica. The darker tone works wonders here and adds a great contrast to the show’s lighter moments. Ultimately the show’s greatest strength is its focus on the humanity of its heroines, rather than their fantastical alter egos. It’s as much an exploration of human nature as it is a show about ordinary high school girls who transform into mahou shoujo. Puella Magi Madoka Magica does a great job of demonstrating the somewhat cruel fate the heroines are thrust into as well as the consequences that result from committing to a life of fighting evil in the name of “justice.” Its reinvention of a genre is something that is sorely lacking in a lot of the anime that are being made these days and other studios can certainly learn from what SHAFT has managed to accomplish here.
Okay, technically speaking Fate/Zero has only aired half of its episodes, but since this series is being split into two seasons (similar to Code Geass or Gundam 00), I feel it’s justified include this in my 2011 top ten list. Anyway, with that caveat in mind, Fate/Zero managed to impress me week in and week out with fantastic animation, superb exposition, and compelling characters. What Ufotable has done with the animation, especially the exquisitely detailed action sequences, is commendable on its own and no doubt sets the bar very high for future anime TV series. But that’s not the real reason why Fate/Zero is such a compelling series. It’s the storytelling that really sets Fate/Zero apart from both its predecessor (Fate/Stay Night) as well other anime series. There is as much exposition in this series as there are action sequences and unlike say a show about a certain magical index, Fate/Zero manages to make its exposition interesting and informative. The show features many complex characters and an intricate plot that includes both political and historical intrigue all set in a world of mages and heroic spirits. It has an ensemble cast of characters that are interesting in their own ways. The relationships between the masters and their servants and between the servants themselves are handled exceptionally well. What I’m left with after its mid-season cliffhanger ending is a feeling of incredible anticipation: I can’t wait until April, when the series resumes once again.
AnoHana (aka We Still Don't Know the Name of the Flower We Saw That Day) is a show that is tough for me to criticize. On the one hand, it had an exceptional start with a premise that had incredible storytelling as well as psychological potential. Yet as the series progressed it ended up squandering a lot of that potential with some poor conceived plot devices, and story-telling kinks that turned what could have been a truly steller series into just a good series. This is not to say I didn’t enjoy it. I certainly did (hence its place on my top ten list), and it’s pretty clear that A-1 Pictures wasn’t trying to make that series. It was going for something simpler, and more straightforward. This is a show about friendship, about loss, about growing up and ultimately about life itself. By the end of the series, it’s pretty clear that that’s all the creators wanted the show to be. This is not meant to be a reimagining of the genre, nor a deep exploration of the human condition. Still, as much as I enjoyed this series, I can’t help but shake the feeling that this could have been much more than what it turned out to be. Is that a valid criticism? Perhaps so, perhaps not, but this had the potential to be the best series of the year and it’s a little unfortunate that A-1 didn’t seem to be ambitious enough to aim for such a high goal.
I really liked Steins;Gate. It’s again one of those shows that is not immediately compelling but grows on you week by week. It’s impressive both visually and intellectually and one of the best visual novel adaptations I’ve ever seen. Combining an outstanding visual presentation with some of the best writing I’ve seen in years, Steins;Gate is a great anime is pretty much every way. The writing staff in particular really did an outstanding job with the story and the dialogue, which was at times hilariously entertaining, and at times intellectually stimulating. Okabe is one of the best characters ever conceived and Mamaru Miyano portrays him perfectly with all of his eccentricities. The rest of the cast deserves praise as well but Miyano just nailed Okabe’s dark, insecure, egomaniacal inner self so well with arguably one of the best performances of the year. I must also commend White Fox for doing such a great job of adapting such a complex visual novel. Adapting visual novels is not an easy prospect and the fact that White Fox did it so well puts them in the same league as KyoAni and SHAFT, not bad for a relatively rookie production studio. There were a lot of shows that I enjoyed watching this year, but in the end Steins; Gate was the one that I not only enjoyed the most, but also felt the most complete. That said, some people might be turned off by the somewhat slow start in the first few episodes, but if you keep with it, you’ll be rewarded with one of the smartest and funniest anime series in a long time.
Honorable Mentions (aka the other list of ten):
- Working'!! for showing us that despite the title, the employees of Wagnaria don't seem to do much work.
- Shinryaku!? Ika Musume for bringing back our favorite squid girl
- Kore wa Zombie Desu Ka? for perhaps the most amazing/disturbing transformation sequence in the history of anime
- Shakugan no Shana Finale for making Shana awesome again (but unfortunately was not eligible for the list)
- STAR DRIVER for being so damn fabulous
- To Aru Majutsu no Index II for rivaling Penguindrum in its ability to be utterly incomprehensible
- Hanasaku Iroha for giving us one of my favorite female protagonists in recent memory
- Level E for the amazing sarcasm and endless trolling
- Freezing for demonstrating that gratuitous fan service and quality anime are not mutually exclusive terms
- Deadman's Wonderland for its refreshing demented characters and crazy premise/setting.
The winter 2012 anime season has already begun so here's to another great year of anime! And with that, this blog post comes to an end. I'll leave you with this:
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