30-Day Anime Challenge! (Day 2): Favorite Anime You’ve Watched So Far (Thematic Anime-Related DIScussions)
Day 2: Favorite Anime You’ve Watched So Far
Ok, let me make it clear that there is no such thing as just “one” favorite anime. Well, for me anyways, cuz to me, it’s both illogical and unfair: illogical because anime trends come and go as time goes by and, soon enough, another anime may take the place of your current favorite show, which then leads to my second point, which puts your favorite anime at an unfair disadvantage against a possibly more enriching anime that caught your fancy.
That’s why my plan is to provide a couple of examples (not just one) of my favorite anime for a couple of genres, or at least as many genres as I care about.
Also take note that I do recommend ALL of the anime I’m listing for each genre, but I don’t recommend that you watch some of them with your brain on. The whole point of the list is for me to illustrate which anime I ENJOYED, and it doesn’t necessarily have to have good plot, or engaging character development, or flawless animation and soundtrack (although many of the shows that I listed here do fulfill one or more of these requirements, ergo being essential to my enjoyment of said shows).
ALSO there will be repetitions. Just putting that out there, as some shows belong to multiple genres.
Alrighty, with that oddly lengthy, semi-complex disclaimer out of the way, shall we begin?
Action: As with action genre, I do consider a well-thought plot to be a factor in my enjoyment, but in the end, if the action scenes get me riled up, the comedy is well-paced, and the animation and soundtrack are at least above average, then you can earn a spot here.
- Katekyo Hitman Reborn (really underrated show that’s infinitely better than most shonens out there)
- Fullmetal Alchemist & FMA: Brotherhood (naturally)
- Soul Eater (BONES pls make a remake of this show)
- Kill la Kill (don’t lose your waaaay)
- Cowboy Bebop (OF COURSE, SPACE COWBOY)
- Shakugan no Shana (all three seasons babyy)
- Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (pure, unadulterated fun)
- Guilty Crown (yeah that’s right, I put Guilty Crown)
- Trigun (OH YES)
- Hellsing (pls people watch these retro stuff they’re fantastic)
- Full Metal Panic S1-S3 (a jack-of-all-trades anime that’s fun to watch)
Romance: Ok, now with the romance genre, I believe that you MUST have an at least above average storyline and interesting characters that you can relate with (to some extent), as a good romance cannot live on lovey-dovey moments of blushing confessions alone.
- Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai (S1-S2) (second season does the romance aspect a great service)
- Toradora (my fav out of everything in the romance genre)
- Clannad & After Story (duh)
- Ano Natsu de Materru (a more romance-based Anohana)
- Golden Time (some say it’s better than Toradora)
Mecha: DISCLAIMER- there will be no Gundams on this list. Sorry.
So, I’m not really a mecha person. I dunno why, I just don’t see the charm of two brobdingnagian humanoid robots with tons of lasers and cannons and missiles and sometimes swords and other sharp weapons pounding and slashing and shooting and blasting each other into a mechanical stupor until they inevitably explode. I just don’t. However, stories that revolve around a central plot, with mechs on the side, do get my attention, admittedly. I’m not antagonistic towards mech anime, just saying. I don’t discriminate and neither should you.
Stop mechcism.
- Aldnoah Zero (no I’m serious, I enjoyed how stupid this show is)
- Code Geass (yeah, I must include this show here; that’s how good it is)
- Guilty Crown (similar to aldnoah but with greater production value)
- Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (for the second time babyyyy)
- Neon Genesis Evangelion (OF COURSE THIS SHOW SHOULD BE HERE)
Slice of Life: Now this is the genre where plot doesn’t necessarily have to be well-drawn out and complex, or exist at all for that matter. However, character interactions is an important aspect that drives the show forward and keeps us viewers engaged in the show. Also take note that there will be an abundance in KyoAni shows on the list.
- Hyouka
- Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai
- The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
- Anohana (THE FEELS MAN)
- K-On (it’s better to think of it as a SOL rather than a music show)
- Beyond the Boundary (an absolute fave)
- Love Live! School Idol Project (hellz yeah I don’t care what you saaay)
- Free! & Eternal Summer (HEEEELZ YEAH I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU SAAAAY)
- Azumanga Daioh (for obvious reasons)
- Clannad & After Story(FOR OBVIOUS REASONS)
- Sound of the Sky
Sports: Similar to slice of life shows, but add some action and just sprinkle some hype into the story, combined with of course fluid animation. Some people aren’t really sports fans, but that’s fine.
It’s their loss.
- Haikyuu (slapping balls)
- Kuroko no Basket S1-S3 (dribble and shoot them balls)
- Free! & Eternal Summer (you know it’s gonna be here)
- Ping Pong the Animation (HELL YEAH YOU THOUGHT I WAS GONNA LET THIS ONE AWAY HELLLL NAWWW 10/10 IGN FOR FLUID ANIMATION)
Fantasy/Supernatural: Of course these genres should be included. Being a means to escape our boring, monotonous reality, the fantasy and supernatural genre allows its viewers to explore worlds that can be similar to our world, but different in many, unique, and intriguing ways. Take note that some shows belong on either one of these two genres.
- Durarara! (rararararrararararararrararrarara)
- Bakemonogatari & its subsequent series (no explanations needed)
- The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
- Shakugan no Shana S1-S3
- Black Butler and Black Butler: Book of Circus (forget about the second season pls)
- Tokyo Ghoul (OF COURSE)
- Attack on Titan (sure why not)
- Gankutsuo: The Count of Monte Cristo (an underappreciated show that must be noticed)
- Haibane Renmei (another underrated show that should REALLY be checked out)
- Baccano
- Mushishi
Psychological: One of my absolute favorite genres, psychological shows are all about that mental warfare. They introduce themes and fabricate a gorgeous plot that seeps into your brain, unnoticed, until the time strikes, where at that point your mind will either undergo spontaneous combustion or just cease to exist. But either way you will enjoy it nevertheless.
- Neon Genesis Evangelion (dude you cannot get more psychological than this)
- Terror in Resonance (one of the best that’s come out of the year 2014)
- Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica (people who dropped the show after the 3rd episode missed out on A LOT)
- Death Note
- Tokyo Ghoul
- Higurashi no Naku Koro ni
- Serial Experiments Lain
Sci-fi: If there is one thing that I appreciate in any form of entertainment, may it be the literary form or the visual media equivalent, it is a good science-fiction story. Stuff like Star Trek or Doctor Who are prime examples, and in anime there are also quite a few gems that appealed to my inner geek.
- Deadman Wonderland
- Sound of the Sky
- Cowboy Bebop
- Ergo Proxy
- The Ghost in the Shell series
- Psycho-Pass
- Steins;Gate
And that is it!
…………………………
Again, I may have went a little too crazy with the amount of anime that I put in, but still. I feel that these anime are amazing, if not enjoyable, in their respective genres, and I encourage you guys to at least check some of them out.
