Anime of the Decade

[phantom_blood]

This is a raw form of my "Anime of the Decade Column." Because of it's size I need to store it somewhere for the time being. Hopefully I will be adding other people's opinions (ie. Rean's opinions) soon along with links and images.

• Action
  
  
  • Best Action Series
  
  
  • Best Male Action Character
  
  
  • Best Female Action Character
  
  
  • Best Fight Scene
  
  


• Sci-Fi/Fantasy




• Best Fantasy Series


• Best Sci-fi Series


• Best Mecha Series




• Comedy




• Best Comedy


• Best Comedic Male Character


• Best Comedic Female Character




• Romance
  
  
  
  • Best Romance Series
  
  
  • Best Couple
  
  
  
  


• Horror
  
  
  
  • Best Horror Series
  
  
  • Most Disturbing Moment
  
  
  
  


• Drama
  
  
  
  • Best Dramatic Series
  
  
  • Best Mystery Series
  
  
  • Best Slice-of-Life
  
  
  • Saddest Moment (Non-Death)
  
  
  • Best Death of a Character
  
  
  
  


• Miscellaneous
  
  
  
  
  • Best Opening Song
  
  
  • Best Ending Song
  
  
  • Best Insert Song
  
  
  • Best Heroic Character
  
  
  • Best Villainous C haracter
  
  
  • Best Psychopathic Character
  
  
  • Best Plot Twist 
  
  
  
  
  
  -Action
  
  Best Action Series - This is what we consider to be the all around best action series of the decade.
  
  
  
  
  
  • Black Lagoon: Seasons 1 & 2
  
  
  
  • This is perhaps one of the most over the top, action packed series of the last decade, and it contains all of the killer characters and Tarentino-esque plot necessary to captivate its audience.  While other series may have a better fight at some point than this series has, it maintains a consistently high quality of action, characters, and plot.  That is why I have selected it as my favorite action series of the decade.
  
  
  • Honorable Mention:  Ultimate Hellsing, Tengan Toppa Gurren Lagann, Hajime no Ippo (Fighting Spirit): A New Challenger
  
  
  
  
  
  Best Action Character (Male) - This is our favorite action character.  In order to be considered, the character must take part in the fighting and not just stand by.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  • Alucard from Ultimate Hellsing
  
  
  
  
  
  
  • It really shouldn’t be surprising that a version of Dracula who wields foot long handguns in his fight against vampire Nazis would take the prize for best action character.  In fact, the most impressive thing is probably the fact that he can do it without it coming off as completely retarded as it sounds. When it comes to unparalleled bad-assedry, there is no other.
  
  
  • Honorable Mentions: Kamina from Gurren Lagann, Vino from Baccano!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Best Action Character (Female)
  
  
  
  
  • Revy from Black Lagoon
  
  
  
  
  • When speaking of badassedry one cannot forget that male characters by no means have a monopoly.  No character better epitomizes this statement than the foul-mouthed,  binge-drinking, dual-pistol wielding gun-for-hire from the Lagoon Company.  I guess this is a somewhat obvious choice since I picked Black Lagoon as best action series but she deserves it nonetheless.
  
  
  • Honorable Mentions:  Motoko Kusanagi from Ghost in the Shell, Seras Victoria from Ultimate Hellsing
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Best Fight Scene
  
  
  
  
  • Ichigo vs. Byakuya from Bleach
  
  
  
  
  • Bleach has had its ups and downs, but few fans would deny that the best scene from the series is the fight between Ichigo and Byakuya.  If you can call it a scene, that is.  Like any true shonen fight, is spans more than a full episode, it has plenty of powerups and “Look what I can do” moments, and a couple football fields worth of fighting space.  But that’s what makes it great. It has all the hallmarks of a stereotypical shonen fight, but it pulls them off without a hitch without ever actually making you think, “This way over the top.” Plus, Hollow Ichigo rocks.
  
  
  • Honorable Mentions:  Alucard vs. Luke Valentine from Ultimate Hellsing, Claire Stanfield vs. Ladd Russo from Baccano!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  -Fantasy & Sci-fi
  
  Best Fantasy Series
  
  
  
  
  • Fullmetal Alchemist
  
  
  
  
  • Thank god, I got to fit this series in here somewhere.  One of the best, if not the best, series of the decade.  Fullmetal approaches many of the mature themes that one might expect from such philosophical shows as Ghost in the Shell or Monster, but it does so without sacrificing even the slightest bit of entertainment.  By combining these two aspects into a cohesive and symbiotic relationship, Bones created a show that can appeal to just about everyone.
  
  
  • Honorable Mentions:  Kino’s Journey, Mushi-shi
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Best Sci-fi Series
  
  
  
  
  • Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
  
  
  
  
  • When it comes to Sci-fi presentation, Ghost takes the cake on this one.  While the philosophical discussions and complex political maneuvering are likely to cause confusion,
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Best Mecha Series
  
  
  
  
  • Tengan Toppa Gurren Lagann
  
  
  
  
  • Gurren Lagann is a mecha series that had a unique style, unforgettable characters, and most importantly was willing to carry its wacky over-the-top style to epic proportions.  We may start out with a small mecha that’s only slightly larger than an adult but by the end we are watching robots, large enough to use galaxies as shurican, going head to head (I’m not kidding).
  
  
  • Honorable Mentions: Gundam 00, Code Geass
  
  
  
  
  
  
  -Comedy
  
  Best Comedy Series
  
  
  
  
  • Honey & Clover                  
  
  
  
  
  • This is a pretty hard category for me.  I generally don’t watch many anime where comedy is the primary focus.  Plus, while plenty of anime have comedic elements, it usually isn’t enough to warrant the title of “Best Comedy.”  However, of the shows that remain the only one that stands up amongst the others is Honey & Clover.
  
  
  • Honorable Mentions:  Nodame Cantabile, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Best Comedic Character (Male) - A character who is often used for comedic purposes.
  
  
  
  
  • Morita from Honey & Clover
  
  
  
  
  • To call Morita a freak of nature doesn’t even begin to cover his weirdness.  A procrastinating art genius who is already attending his 6th year of college by the beginning of the show, Morita takes a manic glee in torturing both his teachers and underclassmen with his antics.  In many ways, Morita embodies the youthful instinct to enjoy life to the fullest without caring about the repercussions.  
  
  
  • Honorable Mentions: Kyon from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Nyanko-sensei from Natsume Yuujinchou
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Best Comedic Character (Female)
  
  
  
  
  • Noda Megumi “Nodame” from Nodame Cantabile
  
  
  
  
  • Now that I think about it, the choice of Nodame for this category mirrors my choice of Morita for Best Male Comedic Character.  Both are free-spirited students who are shockingly talented in their field of study but often annoy others with their childish behavior.  Chiaki himself even equates his relationship with her to that of caring for a stray. Nodame may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but she makes up for it where it counts.
  
  
  • Honorable Mentions:  Haruhi Suzumiya from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya,
  
  
  
  
  
  
  -Romance
  
  Best Romance Series
  
  
  
  
  • Clannad and Clannad ~After Story~
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  • While it is the best of the Key series that have been turned into anime, Clannad is by no means a perfect romance.  It’s slow to develop.  It resembles a harem to some extent.  And it often uses blatant manipulation to evoke emotions from its viewers.  That being said, it comes closer to being perfect than any other romance anime of which I can think.  Once the romance does develop, it becomes one of the most beautiful and tragic anime in recent memory.  Plus, while the cast is formed primarily of female characters, they are never used as tools for the standard romance pitfalls.  And finally, the show develops beyond simple manipulation in order to evoke genuine laughter and sorrow.  I can’t envision a better romance anime (unless, of course, they were to complete the Fruits Basket anime.)
  
  
  • Honorable Mentions:  Fruits Basket, Ef - a tale of the two., Kanon (2006)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Best Couple
  
  
  
  
  • Toyuki and Maho from Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad
  
  
  
  
  • This is a weird choice for me. It seems to me that, if I'm going to select a couple, it should either be from a romance series or be one of the more well know anime couples such as Ed and Winry. However, I just keep coming back to Toyuki and Maho from Beck, because, of all the couples that I considered, once you strip them of the events around them they seem the most natural. The playful teenage chemistry that occurs between them feels raw and devoid of gimmicks.
  
  
  • Honorable Mentions: Yuu and Yuuko from Ef - A tale of the two, Ed and Winry from Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Ryuji and Taiga from Toradora!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  -Horror
  
  Best Horror Series
  
  
  
  
  • Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (When the Cicadas Cry) Seasons 1 & 2
  
  
  
  
  • For many, Elfen Lied may serve as a favorite anime horror, but I personally feel that no show captured the dark and twisted atmosphere of the horror genre better than Higurashi.  It’s unique method of storytelling may seem gimmicky at first, but it is effectively used and works for the shows benefit.  It may have a few small issues in its execution (no pun intended) but Higarashi over comes them with a brilliantly disturbing story that is second to none.
  
  
  • Honorable Mentions: Elfen Lied
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Most Disturbing Moment
  
  
  
  
  • Rika “Leaves the Stage” from Higurashi
  
  
  
  
  • I’ll say it again. “Dark and twisted.”
  
  
  • Honorable Mentions: First few minutes of Elfen Lied
  
  
  
  
  
  
  -Drama
  
  Best Dramatic Series
  
  
  
  
  • Death Note
  
  
  
  
  • There is little to be praised about Death Note that hasn’t been said before.  If anything it is over-praised.  Still, even when it hits its low point towards the end, it is still a well above average series about the corruptive nature of power.  Not to mention, it’s one of the few series that can be praised for having a completely despicable protagonist.
  
  
  • Honorable Mentions: Fullmetal Alchemist, Monster
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Best Mystery Series
  
  
  
  
  • Monster
  
  
  
  
  • Generally when one thinks of a mystery series, the standard Whodunit setup comes to mind.  Monster is slightly different in that the villain is rather apparent from pretty early on. Instead the mystery is directed at his past and his current methods.
  
  
  • Honorable Mentions: Death Note, Code Geass, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Best Slice-of-Life
  
  
  
  
  • Honey & Clover
  
  
  
  
  • Though I already gave this anime the title of Best Comedy, Honey & Clover really is the definition of Slice-of-Life.  It revolves solely around the interactions of a group of students, and shows us how they develop throughout the course of their daily lives.  It begins and ends en medias res, but leaves us entertained and uplifted.
  
  
  • Honorable Mentions: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad, Clannad, Nodame Cantabile
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Saddest Moment (Non-Death) - Essentially the saddest anime moment that you can think of which does not involve the death of a character.
  
  
  
  
  • Tomoya Apologizes to Ushio from Clannad
  
  
  
  
  • This scene elevates audience manipulation to the level of an art form.  Simultaneously uplifting, heartbreaking, adorable, and beautiful, this scene is liable to bring almost any viewer to tears.
  
  
  • Honorable Mentions:  Night of the Transmutation from Fullmetal Alchemist, Saya returns to her sleep from Blood+,  The ending on the train from Honey & Clover
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Best Death of a Character
  
  
  
  
  • Maes Hughes from Fullmetal Alchemist
  
  
  
  
  • To be fair, Maes Hughes wasn’t exactly a main character of FMA, but it doesn’t change the fact that his death was a shocker to anyone who didn’t have it spoiled for them in advance.  His death isn’t the saddest, and may not even be the best executed but it certainly is one of the most influential from the last decade.
  
  
  • Honorable Mentions: Nagisa from Clannad, Nina from Fullmetal Alchemist, L from Death Note, Kamina from Tengan Toppa Gurren Lagann
  
  
  
  
  
  
  -Miscellaneous
  
  Best Opening Song
  
  
  
  
  • “Asterisk” from Bleach
  
  
  
  
  • Bleach has had consistently good opening songs throughout much of the series.  However, for this title I had to go with the original. However, there are countless openings to consider so I’m sure I’m overlooking some.
  
  
  • Honorable Mentions:  “Alones” from Bleach, “Rolling Star” from Bleach, “Ready, Steady, Go”  from Fullmetal Alchemist,  Lilium from Elfen Lied
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Best Ending Song
  
  
  
  
  • “Dango Daikazoku” from Clannad
  
  
  
  
  • I have a tendency to skip or overlook ending songs, but I found Dango Daikazoku to be strangely addictive.  Admittedly my first opinion of it was that it was Cuteness purified to the point of being weapons grade material.  However, it somehow made its way onto both my computer and phone.  The only other ending song to have done that is Aishiteru from Nastume Yuujinchou.
  
  
  • Honorable Mentions: “Aishiteru” from Natsume Yuujinchou
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Best Insert Song
  
  
  
  
  • “Moon on the Water” from Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad
  
  
  
  
  • This probably isn’t the best song that I considered.  Hell, I don’t even think it’s the best song from Beck.  The reason I chose it, however, is because of how it’s used in the show.   “Moon on the Water” is probably inferior to both “Slip Out” and “Brainstorm,” but it’s often used to emphasize the emotional peaks of the first half of the show along with Toyuki’s milestones as a budding musician.
  
  
  • Honorable Mentions:  “Slip Out” from Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad, “God Knows” from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Best Heroic Character
  
  
  
  
  • Edward Elric “The Fullmetal Alchemist” from Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
    
    
    
    • At first glance, Ed may appear to be a standard shonen character.  He’s a teenage guy who is extremely talented, has some personality quirks, and is on a quest for a mythical object.  However, if the actions define a character, then Ed is a truly tragic character.  He’s given a title derived from his own deformity, and, in order to restore his brother’s body, is fighting against the personifications of human sin. If anything, Edward serves as an embodiment of how Fullmetal Alchemist transcends the genre that is “standard shonen.”
    
    
    • Honorable Mentions: L from Death Note, Lelouch Lamperouge (vi Britannia) from Code Geass, Simon from Tengan Toppa Gurren Lagann
    
    
  
  
  
  
  Best Villainous Character
  
  
  
  • Yagami Light from Death Note
    
    
    
    • Calling Light the ultimate asshole is not an exaggeration.  There is something that is inherently disturbing about him.  It’s not the fact that he’s a psychopathic mass-murderer, the fact that he’s constantly stalked by a Shinigami, or the fact that he tried to make chip-eating look dramatic.  It’s just that we can all see part of ourselves in him.  He serves to mirror the darkest parts of ourselves, and it is that element that makes him such a superb villain.  His grandstanding does not occur out in the open like some traditional villains, but in the privacy of his own twisted brain, from where watch in horror and awe as his depraved plans unfold.
    
    
    • Honorable Mentions: Johann from Monster, The Major from Ultimate Hellsing, Miyo Takano from Higurashi no Naku Koro ni
    
    
  
  
  
  
  Best Psychotic Character
  
  
  
  
  • Ladd Russo from Baccano!
  
  
  
  
  • This is an example of a category that I felt I had to include due to the influence and popularity that these types of characters tend to have within a series, but, at the same time, I had no clue who deserved it the most.  One of the main issues with this category is that some of the best psychos leave you wondering if they are truly insane or not, and no character better exemplifies this issue than Claire Stanfield who was one of my runners-up.  In the end, I went with a character who wears his psychosis on his sleeve along with a rather large blood splatter, Ladd Russo.  Ladd is an old-school psycho.  His plan just barely extends beyond “Kill People.”  In fact, he claims that his ultimate goal is to kill everyone.  So for being the most hands-down bats**t crazy contestant, this one goes to Ladd.
  
  
  • Honorable Mentions:  Clair Stanfield from Baccano!, Hollow Ichigo from Bleach, Shion Sonozaki from Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, Carl from Blood+
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Best Plot Twist
  
  
  
  
  • End of Code Geass R2
    
    
    
    • Even if you saw it coming, the manner in which the ending of this show was pulled off was so masterful that you really had no choice but to watch in shock while a chorus of “Holy S**t!” ran through your head.  The ending of the series may have been a little rushed but those last few minutes are sure to at least temporarily shove aside any complaints about pacing that you may have.  Perhaps the most artful element of this ending is the fact that it can be interpreted in more than one way.  That way the series succeeds in appealing to both the audience who would prefer a happy ending and to the audience who would like a poignant one.
    
    
    • Honorable Mentions: The truth behind Tsukimiya Ayu from Kanon, Aizen’s betrayal from Bleach