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One of my biggest guilty pleasures is watching too much Anime. Anime are Japanese cartoons based, most of the time, off of comic books known as Manga. However, unlike the conventional cartoon, Anime can range from children's series like Pokemon to quite exotic adult series like FLCL. I have watched quite a few Anime in my time, and I think that, with the ones I have watched, I can officially make a top 5 list of best Anime series of all time.
Remember, this is just my opinion, so if you disagree (and I bet you probably will), please comment RESPECTFULLY below. Comments that use cuss words and vulgarity will not be admitted onto this website in accordance with the guidelines of this website.
5. Fantastic Children- I have always respected Anime that can confuse me. However, too much perplexing nature can really hurt a series (if you want a real puzzle, watch Durarara-- I gave up trying to figure it out after four episodes). Fantastic Children, however, has become the happy medium between adventure, mystery, and irony in many ways. The show is almost too hard to explain in a simple article; it is one of those shows that you just have to watch yourself. The show is 26 episodes long, and each episode brings you one step closer to solving the mystery behind Helga, the Children of Belfort, and the story behind their reincarnations. It really is a wild ride. Though the show is short on action in the beginning and in general, there are points where battle scenes will leave you in awe and wanting more. However, this show does not contain enough action scenes to satisfy your normal Dragon Ball Z or Bleach advocate. What those two lack is Fantastic Children's greatest strength: the ability to tell an insane, perplexing, and seemingly epic story.
4. Trigun- This has always been a favorite of mine. The show takes place on a planet that seems like the Wild West. This show is nothing like Fantastic Children, as there are plenty of action scenes in the show. Trigun begins as somewhat of a comedy, as lovable main characters such as Vash the Stampede, Millie, and Merrill all attempt to find themselves on a sandy desert planet. Let me tell you that if you are a big fan of Anime that contain many different types of guns and gun battles, this is the show for you. Character development plays a huge role in the show, and the climactic ending ties all the loose ends together, and hosts one epic battle that will make the entire series worth it. Trigun is truly a masterpiece and it is hard to leave it off of a list of the greatest.
3. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood- Here is where Edward Elric fans everywhere split in two: original Fullmetal Alchemist fans on one side and Brotherhood fans on the other. However, I felt Brotherhood, in the end, told a more complete story. Brotherhood stuck closer to the Manga. In my mind, Brotherhood edged out the prior series in almost every category except for the character of Kimbley, whom I felt Brotherhood made to be a complete weakling. Brotherhood was an epic adventure, as was the first one. Both Fullmetal Alchemist series, in general, are epic, violent, and most certainly climactic at points. There is little left to say other than both deserve a spot in a top 10 list.
2. Mirai Nikki- I just watched Mirai Nikki, as it came out this year. The series is 26 episodes, and takes you inside the battle to succeed Deus, the God of Time and Space. Twelve chosen ones set off to be the last one standing amongst them. All of the players seem to be completely insane and the characters that were thought up for this series are completely ingenious. Like Fantastic Children, the events of this series are hard to explain without the other person watching it. I found the series to have many plot twists and many unexpected turns along the way. There is a good amount of action in the series, but it is almost as fun to see them all strategize against one another. Unlike in Trigun, the characters are not lovable at all, but rather, somewhat sickening in many ways. The only terrible part about it was the very abrupt cliff hanger of an ending. However, it was announced that Mirai Nikki may see its end in a movie or a second season, but we do not know yet. What I do know is that this series is a must-see for anyone serious about watching Anime.
1. Death Note- Here are all the people saying, "How cliche. Death Note is #1." However, I would not have put Death Note up here if it did not truly deserve it. I don't take popularity into account when it comes to lists like this (see Fantastic Children at #5). Very few people, who claim to be true Anime fans, have not seen Death Note. The storyline and the premise are both completely ingenious, the execution of the storyline is almost perfect, and the opening theme songs fit the action of the show quite harmoniously. The series has more of a dark tone to it, as we watch Light Yagami turn from a normal straight A student into a self-proclaimed God right in front of our eyes. With near flawless execution, this Anime is most certainly my favorite and debatably, the best of all time.
Others That Just Missed This List:
Eden of the East: It's a good watch and quite short to kill a few hours of boredom.
Zetman: This is quite the same as Eden of the East, however the series seemed rushed, and the ending honestly sucked.
Fullmetal Alchemist: See Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (#3) for more detail.
Dragon Ball Z: It has always been a classic watch and one of the best, however character development happens too quickly for some and completely stops for others (by the end, what ever happened to Yamcha, Krillin or Tien? Then again, who cares?).
Fooly Cooly (FLCL): A classic, six episode Anime that is way out in left field, but is honestly ingenious in its own right.
Gunslinger Girl: This one is quite somber, quite quirky, but has its awesome moments.
Case Closed (Detective Conan): I'll give Case Closed a couple things: the characters are lovable and the writers' ability to repackage the same case over and over, and still make it interesting, is honestly unheard of.
Bleach: It probably would have made this list if some of the arks weren't so ridiculous.
Naruto/Naruto Shippuden: Too many fillers means no place on this list. Although, I love the action in the show, when the writers stop playing around.
Ben-to: The plot is ridiculous and barely qualifies as a plot. If you are just looking for straight up action, check out is past isle twelve (you'll get that pun if you watch it).
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: A great Anime and a blast from the past that never dissapoints.
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Comments
Your opinion is your opinion, but that doesn't mean it has to be right. Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one, and most of the time, they're just an orifice for shooting shit.
That said, I don't think anyone is in the right attacking you for your views on a series. If you were at fault anywhere I think it was in your approach which was amatuerish and (even worse) unoriginal.
Now if we're talking about critically superior Japanese animated programs, One Piece wouldn't and shouldn't make that cut. Longer doesn't mean better and simply being based on what is unquestionably the most successful manga of all from a manga genius DOESN'T mean the animated version is worth anything.
And...most of it isn't. Some of it is done very well but most of it doesn't come close to superior animated series, very few of which are actually on this list.
I'm probably one of the biggest One Piece fans around and I have no problem admitting that. It's the truth.
But for Chrissake kid, if you're gonna spout crap about 150 epsiodes of a moderately well-done Japanese animated program like One Piece, don't dare consider praising that monstrosity the Bleach anime. And I say that, as well, as a fan of the comic.
Well, thanks for agreeing with me on One Piece... And you are certainly right about Bleach-- it went on for too long and got pretty bad by the end. However, what Bleach had that One Piece did not was fluid storytelling. Just my opinion, I like a story that is sequential. The Manga for One Piece was much better than the Anime. You are right about most of your analysis.
However, as for my approach, try to understand. Top 5 lists are just the way I format my opinions to make it more organized and easier to understand. I have at least 20-25 top 5 lists, which I would suggest you read.
First of all, people calm down about the whole One Piece thing. I never said it was terrible. And to respond to everybody, I have watched around 150 episodes or so of One Piece, and I stopped because it seemed to be getting monotonous and quite filler-ish. I agree with the other commenter that said "the action is good, but the storyline is average at best." The characters of Luffy, Zoro, and Nami are well-made and well-developed. The rest of them, however, lacked for me. I could not stand Usopp; I found him very undeveloped, very annoying, and very "let's throw a peanut into the almond bowl."
However, longevity does not guarantee you as being one of the best. If I thought Naruto deserved a spot on my list, it would have made it in my top 5. It is a best of the rest for around the same reason One Piece is. But I can tell there is no reasoning with Insane Anime Fans. I have watched enough of it to judge it one way or the other. I don't care if you don't agree. If you disagree, make your own list. But this is my list; it is the way it is.
And by the way, you have no right to tell me I don't know anything. So keep watching your beloved pirates; you can't make someone love the show. I have respect for One Piece's longevity and some of its character development, but I feel it could have been done much better. Sorry if you don't agree. But I stand by my choices.
You don't know anything! ;)
It's a shame you'll miss out on the One Piece masterpiece.
You will not be missed.
Your list has several flaws in my mind, but that's not really the reason I'm commenting.
Character development, storyline, comedy, action, suspense- they should all play a major factor in your choices. And One Piece is the dominating factor for character development and story immersion. I simply do not agree with your "almost made the list" thoughts. The characters themselves are actually meant to be perceived as people, not just another anime show with a 25 episode plot, but a show that is truly a masterpiece; so much so, that people have called Eiichiro Oda's anime the "Successor to DBZ", and that title proves it's significance. The only diagnosis that I can tell from your comments about it is this: You have not watched it.
Before you insult something, at least make sure you get your facts straight.
This is an interesting list, but you're right... I mostly disagree with your choices for top-rated series. The reason mostly being that we have vastly different tastes.
I think it would be beneficial to you to define what it is that you look for in a show that would rank it highly in your eyes. For example, I notice that many of the series you list are shounen anime -- mostly targeted towards a younger male audience -- so I imagine your interests lie in action, suspense, and Big Hero Noise. My thought is that this will help your readers relate better to your choices.
I am personally more of a fan of character development, character interactions, storyline, and musical scores. More of my interests would fall into seinen and josei series. As such, Eden of the East and Ghost in the Shell: SAC most definitely fall somewhere in my list.
Just a few thoughts that I hope will help you write a stronger article later. Good luck!
Good eye on the Shounen point! However, character development, action sequences, and the overall animation itself is what I look at most. I really liked Eden of the East and Ghost in the Shell: SAC, along with many others like it. However, I am not a big fan of shows such as One Piece or MAR because of the fact that the characters do not impress me one bit. It is a real hit or miss with me when it comes to Anime series. They have to make a good first impression on me. If they do not get me interested in the first couple of episodes, it quickly loses its favor with me. I hope this helps you understand my reasoning. Thanks for commenting.
As a fellow otaku I feel as if this list does not truly tap into the wealth of anime from the past. While I do agree to a certain extent with Trigun, Deathnote, and FMA Brotherhood being on this list, there are just so many more that I feel have stood the test of time. While I have never seen Fantastic children and thus will not comment on its legitimacy, I do wish to complain about Mirai Nikki being on this list. While it was a great anime, I feel as though it has yet to prove itself when compared to giants such as Eureka Seven, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, the mentioned Case Closed, and One Piece as do a few of the anime on your other "just missed the list" section. Thus, while I agree with some of your list, I must respectfully say that I disagree with two or three of your choices in the top 5 opting instead to include Neon Genesis Evangelion, One Piece, and a classic such as Gunbuster, GaoGaiGar, or Mazinger Z to capture the spirit of the mecha age. As for the recommendation list, I do agree with some more contemporary hits such as Ben-to as well as FLCL (Since that is indeed a classic), but i would add some more anime from a broader spectrum such as Initial D, Wangan Midnight, Slam Dunk, Gundam Wing, or Eyeshield 21. On another note, I would recommend you watch many of the aforementioned series as well as some shorter, less known series such as Majin Tantei Nogami Neuro or Un-go along with some newer ones such as Persona 4 (which has a "true ending" episode coming out soon), Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai, or even Phi Brain: Kami no Puzzle if you want something different and puzling(you'll understand the joke if you watch it). But anyways, I did find your anime choice interesting to say the least. You can tell someone's character by the anime they watch and some of your choices show you have some taste.
I find One Piece and Eureka Seven to be quite average...
Actually one I did miss was Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex, which is also an amazing one! I'm gonna add it as a mention.
Neon Genesis Evangelion was pretty good.
For older Anime, I probably could have added Lupin The Third or something like that. Eyeshield was pretty good.
Thanks for the comment.,
The fact that One Piece is one of the most watched anime in the world and has been going on for 10 years with Eiichiro Oda stating that it is only half way done proves it's longevity as an all time classic. As for Eureka seven, I respect all opinions. However, calling One Piece average is a crime.
First of all the fact that One Piece has lasted a ridiculouly long time does not by any means make it good. The one good thing about One Piece is the action it is without a doubt top notch, but the truth of it is that is all it has going for it. Most of the characters are shallow and/or one dimensional and the story is remotely nonexistent. It is essentially one filler after another with the only stipulation stopping it from being called filler is the fact it actually happened in the manga. One Piece is average at best and it takes a complete moron to even suggest its anything more.
In my opinion, longevity does not matter when quality lacks... Most of the characters, with the exception of Zoro, annoy the heck out of me.
I didn't find the stories very interesting... It seems like a big lather, rinse, repeat cycle at this point. Sorry, just my opinion... They need to do something different with it.
First of all, the point of an anime is to watch it, and I know you haven't even watched One Piece if you're saying such nonsense. The character development is known as one of the most well done in anime history, with character's still developing as the series is only half-way done. The anime is meant to be viewed as an adventure, NOT a simple 25 episode series with a terse plot. It has sagas, just like DBZ, and many fans of One Piece say it is the successor to the ever classic. So listen, R. Turk, before you discard something you haven't even watched, actually take some time and watch the anime. I respect your opinion...but, again, I bet you have not watched the series.
Outside of the longevity, One Piece does what most shallow anime today don't: Create an ever expanding atmosphere and environment that captures the essence of adventure while still maintaining an underlying plot. Akin to the anime of the past, characters are introduced at a slower pace, backstories are explored via individual arcs, and characters introduced earlier are referenced throughout the entire series, not for a couple of episodes. Each arc has an enemy that, sure is progressively stronger, but each arc doesn't necessarily see improvement in the main cast. Creative ideas to topple or defeat the villains emerge through creativity and an ever growing sense of teamwork and friendship within the crew and minor characters. Through this method, the idea of adventure os fully realized in a whimsical and action packed way.This dedication to the cast and idea of a series that is truly one that spans the ages has made One Piece THE MOST POPULAR AND BEST SELLING MANGA IN JAPANESE HISTORY, not to mention that it was voted by teenagers aged 14-19 to have the most interesting plot/cast of characters out of any manga. Only a person who is relatively new to anime/has no appreciation for the work put into maintaining a cast that doesn't always get stronger (i.e bleach, naruto) would suggest otherwise. If you haven't seen or read the entire series, saying that it is a wash/rinse cycle is ignorant and calling it average is sacrilege to all otaku everywhere. As I said before, placing anime such as Zetman, Ben-to, and Mirai Nikki up with the anime classics while neglecting the few that are lauded everywhere is childish and ignorant. If someone can't appreciate the work, storytelling, and sense of romance and adventure based on the dreams of both children and teens alike, then anime fans of today are truly dying and succumbing to the fast, shallow, and "wash-rinse-repeat" style of anime. No matter how you change the story or cast of an anime, many pieces today cannot accomplish what OP has done.
WELL SAID!! I agree with everything that this person says.
Only a person that neglects to actually watch the anime would spout such ignorance. One Piece is a miracle.