Top 10 Anime of 2016
Here it is, my top 10 anime of this year after even more unnecessary procrastination! Honestly, it was a pretty damn good year for anime. Pretty shit year for mostly everything else though. Oh well, at least anime served as a good distraction, but the anime on this list were more than just a distraction. They were the toppiest of anime I saw and would like to highlight. There are some ground rules though:
The anime must have finished airing in 2016, so any anime season that started in (probably Fall) 2015 and ended in 2016 count, and unfinished anime from Fall 2016 don’t. That means no 3-gatsu no lion, even though it easily qualifies to be on this list. It’s only halfway done so far, and it’s not fair to prematurely include it before it’s finished. It’ll probably end up on my 2017 list though, so don’t worry.
No direct sequels. So anime like Haikyuu!! 3rd season and Natsume Yuujinchou Go are out. They would also easily make it if I didn’t include this rule, but my objective is to showcase the new stuff that this year has produced.
Of course, please remember that this is a personal list based on my personal opinion, so don’t tell me about Re:zero this (which I didn’t even watch and probably never will) or Erased that (which was extremely average in my opinion). There was a lot of popular anime I just avoided watching this year because I’m picky, so don’t ask why it’s not on here. [Obligatory link to MAL]
One final thing I want to say is that my precise ratings are not set in stone. As I watch more and more anime, my standards change, so there are always some anime that get reshuffled on the scale and may go up or down as I reconsider my feelings on what they deserve. Without further delay, here’s my list:
#1) Mob Psycho 100 [9.3/10]
Unsurprisingly, Mob Psycho 100 is my #1 of the year. Putting aside the super obvious reason why it’s so noteworthy (the amazing, unique, fluid, eclectic, creative animation), the clever story, incredible humor, and lovable characters are up to par and an important part of why I love it so much as well. It’s such a rarity when so many things go right in the production of an anime that is also an adaptation. I’ve never read the web comic, but I can’t imagine how they could’ve done it better.
#2) Poco’s Udon World [9.2/10]
Whoa, talk about a surprise obscure choice. Yes, even I didn’t expect this one to soar to the top of my list, but the absolute mastery of themes explored on top of the adorable, heartwarming shenanigans put this at #2. Poco’s Udon World, while not exactly impressive on a technical level (like my #1 choice) or on a deeply artistic level (like my #3 choice), just... hit me right in the feels for a lack of a better term. It’s not often that I see anime that affect so much emotionally. This elicited similar feelings to Natsume Yuujinchou but covers a different perspective and a different set of themes (besides love). This is a high quality “feel good” anime for these depressing times.
#3) Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu [9.1/10]
I... was initially a little hesitant to put Rakugo on this list. Not because it doesn’t deserve it but because the story is only halfway done, and I don’t like putting incomplete anime on a list. However, I gave it some thought and this first season is still a complete story arc (of Kikuhiko’s life), and can be judged on that alone. Don’t be surprised if the second season which is currently airing ends up on next year’s list too. (I will probably end up breaking my own rules in order to allow a direct sequel). So, while MP100 and PUW are rated slightly higher, I admit that Rakugo is a true masterpiece and a modern classic. Anime of this level of artistry without a single cliche anime trope are *incredibly* rare. The only reason I’ve rated this lower is because of my personal preference for genre fiction (sci-fi, fantasy, etc) over pure drama.
#4) Yuri!!! on Ice [8.9/10]
It may surprise you that as a tumblr user I’m not ranking this my #1, but a few anime have surpassed it by mere .1 increments. However, that doesn’t mean that YoI is undeserving of its praise (...except perhaps about the animation) or popularity. Contrary to that, I am extremely pleased with its success and eagerly wait the 2nd season as well as more anime about ice skating or canon gay couples. YoI is not perfect by any means, yes, but the passion, genuineness, and love it brought was a sorely needed breath of fresh air. It was also nice to see a sports anime break the mold.
“Don’t stop us now, the moment of truth / We were born to make history”
#5) Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable [8.7/10]
Since DiU is an indirect sequel, it belongs here, okay? Honestly, I enjoyed this part more than Stardust Crusaders and about as much as Battle Tendency. You can tell this where JJBA really started to settle in as a franchise. And I really would’ve liked to finally give a JJBA anime a 9/10 but unfortunately was unable to. Like the first series, it got incredibly close but juuuust missed the mark. This time it was for different reasons though. DavePro took some shortcuts with the production and cut out enough that it affected my score, despite how much I loved the plot and characters and stands.
