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[Qurupeke]

Series:

1. One-Punch Man ; 1275 points ; 158 votes

The only possible choice. This right here is why people like anime. Both a parody and a love letter to shounen, general super hero stuff, tokatsu, and whatever else is awesome. The source material alone would have made this take the top spot, but the adaptation went above and beyond, bringing along an absolutely stellar soundtrack and some kind of Madhouse animation magic despite having an apparently modest budget.
Being perfectly honest, this alone is enough to justify the otherwise crappy year for anime.

My only real metric for scoring shows is how much I enjoyed them, and this was the show I enjoyed the most. This series is not very deep, the story is very weak and the fights, while pretty, have no real tension, but the way it simultaneously embraces and parodies genre tropes made me have this stupid grin when watching the whole time. The soundtrack and characters, especially Saitama, are just gravy to just a really fun show.

Here is my review of One Punch Man.

“Hey, remember that time he punched that dude”
“Yeah”
“That was so cool”

2. Shirobako ; 870 points ; 101 votes

I can't really explain why I like Shirobako so much. Maybe it's the huge cast of colorful characters. Or seeing the main characters overcome their struggles in trying to break into the anime industry. Could it be the realization that making anime is just like working on a high school group project? I really don't know.

One of Shirobako's greatest strengths is that despite its often-exaggerated characters and situations, there are always small moments where you can completely relate to the characters. Seeing a text from an old friend and ignoring it because there's a deadline coming up. Grabbing dinner with a coworker and complaining about work. Calling your parents while putting dinner into the microwave. It's moments like these that truly make Shirobako memorable.

There is going to be a lot of word said about this series over the course of the voting but the reason I fell in love with Shirobako can be summed up in one word, maturity. This series has one of the all time greatest fake outs I have ever seen and gave me a series I have been searching for in this medium for a very long time. I don't see it mentioned a lot but this series starts in high school featuring and all girl high school anime club and it looked like it was going to be just another anime to be forgotten about. Then it did what people have been wanting anime shows to do for fucking ever and said fuck you high school setting we are going to the real world. Yes, yes, I know the world was glamorized and romanticized to a degree but god damn if it was not the most refreshing thing in the anime world to watch fully grown adults dealing with adult problems in an adult world and that is what put this series over the top for me.

Shirobako has been excellent from its first episode, but seeing it wrap in such a satisfying and conclusive way was cathartic. Especially given the on screen hysteria the characters occasionally have to go through. Equal parts fun, anecdotal, and educational, Shirobako left me feeling full at it’s conclusion.

3. Sound! Euphonium ; 525 points; 77 votes

Kyoto Animation's best work in years. Here is another show that does a brilliant job developing the fairly large cast of characters in the Kitauji High School band as they go from nigh-unlistenable to the Nationals. In every performance, the animators demonstrate a remarkable attention to detail, accurately depicting every note from every instrument, with music that reflects the band's skill level at every stage of their journey. I'm very excited for the next season, whenever it airs.

Euphonium is likely one of Kyoani's most impressive anime to date. Despite the plot being about a young girl's experience in a school band the visuals may overshadow the music for some and it does so without trying to pander. The animation, expression and color are all drawn with care and attention. The audio is an absolute pleasure with beautiful concert music, warm tones to match the small town visuals and apparent differences in skill among the characters when they play their own instruments. Even a novice can watch it at a glance and tell the experienced band members from average ones and beginners. The characters themselves are good and very human in their cheer, self-pity, anxiousness and perseverance. Despite the show ending just at the climax it's still a youthful and touching journey in every sense of the word for the initially apathetic and unskilled band that manages to become contest winning material.

As a musician, I cannot help but give this my top place for 2015 anime. There have been numerous anime with music as a prominent theme - Nodame Cantabile, Kids on the Slope, Your Lie in April - but aside from Gauche the Cellist, nothing I've seen has gotten music as right as Sound Euphonium does. When I heard Reina's first note in the trumpet solo reaudition, I knew I was in love with the show. That scene right there powerfully demonstrated the difference between a good and a great musician. I have to commend Kyoto Animation for putting in the time and effort to ensure an accurate depiction of music both visually, with elaborate mechanical drawings of the instruments, narratively, by researching how concert bands worked, and aurally, by using the resources of a music college and having the performances be appropriately poor or excellent depending on what was appropriate for the context of the story. It really captured why people fall in love with music, and what it means to struggle to perform to the best of your abilities as a musician. Beyond that, it did a good job of fleshing out its cast - pretty much every member of the band who got any reasonable screen time had depth to their character. A stunning achievement.

4. Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma ; 506 points ; 78 votes

Another adaptation that didn't surprise me thanks to MangaGAF. I love the over-the-top nature of cooking and the shounen style dramatization of it. Alice is best girl, Erina can GTFO.

High intensity shounen in the guise of a cooking anime. Not even some pure action shows come close to the tension of this show. And if that is not enough, it has a great cast of side characters and is just all around fun and entertaining.

Food Wars is an easy contender for this year's best, especially if you've got the stomach to handle some gratuitous fanservice (which simmers down after the first episode). The show follows the culinary school adventures of a young protagonist named Soma. After several years of hardcore dining experience and cook offs with his old man he is tossed into the lion's den that is the Totsuki culinary school at the top of Japan's cooking world. Despite numerous attempts to oust him and those close to him Soma pulls win after win. It's a well animated show with bombastic characters, absolutely taste bud teasing food and a refreshing lack of romance despite the school setting. Anyone with an appetite for great cooking, great friendships and great characters owes it to themselves to check this morsel of an anime out.

5. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders - Egypt Arc ; 501 points ; 72 votes

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure is just such an amazing series. The amount of creativity and imagination that Araki put into it is just outstanding, and it makes watching the show incredibly fun. On top of that, the anime did an outstanding job of adapting the source material. David Production might not have a very high budget, but it feels like they truly understand what makes the series special.

Ever since David Productions undertook the task of animating JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure it sort of felt like it was leading up to this. I didn’t have any prior knowledge to the series going into this, but even without that, this feels like a resounding success of a lauded story. There’s a potency of style and form that creates a presentation that’s entirely its own. It’s still working within its limited framework of animation, but it’s the best it’s ever been. As each passing part grows in quality and competency I’m excited to see what the future of David Productions take on JoJo’s looks like.

It's more great JoJo action but with more Dio so it was a great ride. Can't wait for part 4.

6. Death Parade ; 377 points ; 60 votes

A show that visually it hits all the right marks. The comments on the ugly side of humanity get a bit overbearing at points but they balanced these out with examples of human selflessness every now and then. The B plot dealing with the gods was a bit boring, but everything else is worth a watch.

Everybody, put your hands up. Death Parade is a show about death, and coming to terms with your life. It's about judging how you should look at your life, and the lives of people around you. I think the story struggles a bit towards the end, but Death Parade is one of those rare shows I feel I could recommend to anyone. It's sad, it's funny, it's beautiful, it's thoughtful. It's one of the best shows of the year, despite some issues.

This is one of those series that is going to appear in quite a few lists and not without reason. Hell, I think the OP alone might be the catalyst for the popular voting. Still, what we have here is a very interesting series that seeks to analyze and ponder the human condition, not just death but human emotions under duress and how the react under said duress. I thought that was the strongest aspect of the program and it really didn't need and in fact I think it detracted when the series tried to do world building. This is a series and a premise that benefits the most from keeping things as ambiguous and answering as few questions as possible and showing us not just behind the curtain but also how some of the mechanics worked and being concerned about those mechanics was immersion breaking. Still, minor flaws in the grand scheme of things.

7. Owarimonogatari ; 278 points 42 votes

Trollmaster Nisio Isin strikes again with his "End Story", a light novel that belies its title and consists instead exclusively of flashback arcs.

Although I haven't finished the series yet, I'd almost feel remiss if I didn't put this on here. Monogatari is one of those shows where people either love it or hate it, particularly because of its character interactions and the dialogues that they have with each other. I just love the way that Nisio writes conversations - and while they are as artificial as Amy Sherman-Palladino or Aaron Sorkin dialogues, they are just so exciting to listen to because of how lyrical and sharp they are. Every conversation is verbal sparring, and you can hear the back and forth in every interaction. It's something I can't get anywhere else and certainly something that I'll never be tired of.

Owarimonogatri is the latest entry in a long line seasons for this anime series and it shows that the series still has plenty of life left in it. Unlike some of the previous seasons this one panders less, but it still might be a bit much for those not familiar with the series. The mystery element surrounding "oddities" and their actions takes center stage with the enigmatic Ougi Oshino lighting the way for our main character. Watching this particular installment in the series requires some reading and watching to understand the context behind a lot of what goes on, but for knowledgeable viewers there is a lot of payoff. Quite a bit of what makes the MC who he is today is explained in greater detail and the same goes for his supernatural companion, Shinobu, whose new relationship with Araragi as a lifelong partner reaches a new level after their meeting and parting with an enemy of hers hoping for a second chance. What that "chance" refers to is a complete surprise you'll have to see for yourselves!

8. My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU TOO! ; 274 points ; 41 votes

Waiting for this show to air each week was tough. It was that damn good. It was mentally and emotionally engaging and really created a lot of debate on Hikki's emotional disposition. It not often you watch a show that keeps you captivated as this one did throughout the season with that mix of comedy, drama, personal growth, as well as a small touch of romance. The show wasn't as much about love as it is about friendship and relationships. Several moments were just so damn well written and animated, it's hard not to put this #1. All we can do now is hope we finally get the movie of third short season to get a proper ending to the show, but this was an amazing ride and could have easily been #1.

Oregairu's second season is a poignant story about adolescent insecurity. With well-developed, emotionally resonant characters, it delivers a completely unique experience that is easily the best of the year.

I have an unconditional love for this series since S1. Took us approximately 3 years to get this sequel, but boy did it deliver. Visuals were updated, character designs were refined. The stories were AMAZING, and we see every single character in this grow in some way. I'd say this is easily one of the greatest and most believable Slice of Life anime out there, it cuts the bullshit out and shows the viewer situations that could actually happen along with the character's personal struggles, and their resolution. Shame we will probably have to wait for another 3 years to get a third season.

9. Haikyuu!! Season 2 ; 248 points ; 36 votes

Still ongoing but I really enjoyed seeing the character development and the new characters that were introduced. Nothing like sports anime that gets you pumped up and make you want to be your very best.

I don't think any anime this year makes me tear up as much as this one. I love the art. The characters, and jesus fucking christ, the friendship and feels. Its also been steadily improving over the entire course of the show. Which is really exciting. I also think that they do a really good job at making the other teams likable and having a competitive spirit without making everyone evil volleyball wizards (i'm looking at you Kuroko)

It's one of the best sport animes out there. It looks really good, has a great soundtrack, and all of the characters are great. Every single one of them are likable, even the rivals. It's really easy to cheer for them and you really want to see how each of them grows as players.

10. Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans ; 226 points ; 40 votes

Never watched a Gundam show before, and then beast showed up. It's dark, it's edgy, it's funny, it's heart breaking. It's a show that makes you go through a lot of emotions as you watch what I would consider to be a coming of age story for space slave children, learning to be free and making a living of their own. It is my number one recommendation to anyone who wants a good show. It has a ton of characters and they all matter. It has great balance between action and character/world building too. I was truly surprised, and I'm very glad that will continue to air next season.

While the show is still in its early goings and still has the potential to go south like other promising Gundam shows, IBO has had an incredibly strong start. Even only looking at the episodes that have aired so far, I think that it is strong enough to take this spot. The tone and development of the characters has been so much stronger than I expected going in, this show isn't afraid of devoting full episodes to the development of the Tekketsu members and their associates and this benefits the show greatly. It's satisfying to feel a sense of understanding when seeing how Mikazuki, Orga and the rest of the family act both in and out of battle and how their actions maintain consistency throughout. The detail of the battles also impress. While other Gundam shows I've watched primarily focus on the Gundams alone, IBO splits focus between mecha, battleships and boarding parties which makes the battlefields feel far more realised. The tactics employed in those battles are much more exciting than the standard beam rifle affair.

This has to be the best Gundam in YEARS. It has WAY more mature storytelling than I was expecting and a subtlety in its design that is executed incredibly well. Orga and Mika are complex, fleshed out and evolving characters surrounded by a cast of well done and interesting side bros and hoes. The plot is standard but handled with expert hands and directed with a weight to it that you’d think Gundam would excel at, being about child soldiers and all, but rarely ever hits the mark on.

OVAs/Films:

1. Little Witch Academia: The Enchanted Parade ; 199 points ; 50 votes

After a fantastic sub thirty minute romp in the first movie, LWA returns to wow us again with a 50 minute encore in The Enchanted Parade. The action is spectacular, but Trigger doesn't forget to keep us invested in the relationships and the need for decent dialogue. Akko is the ball of energy dragging the show along by the collar, Sucy is the slightly mad, but thoughtful anchor and Lotte is the middle of the road witch. Together with three new troublemakers at the school they manage to build a fantastic spectacle of a parade culminating in an impromptu superhero stage show with wonderful Gainax flavor to it. Anyone who watched the original (or hasn't) should stop wasting time reading my review and check it out. No summary will be sufficient to prepare for this cute and enthralling fantasy adventure.

2. When Marnie Was There ; 83 points ; 19 votes

This has one of the best depictions of depression I've seen in film. I could see myself in Anna; the way she thought, acted, and felt reminded me of earlier times in my life. The direction was suitably atmospheric, particularly in its depiction of the mysterious Marsh House and the curious figure of Marnie. The way Anna was gradually opened up over the course of the film through her interactions with Marnie and others she met was very healing. I completely broke down when the ending credits song played in the theater. The film hit me very hard in a sensitive spot, which it why it has stuck with me so strongly since then.

3. Space Battleship Yamato 2199: Odyssey of the Celestial Ark ; 76 points ; 19 votes

More of 2014's NeoGAF AOTY. It was basically a long-form episode, with the crew getting trapped on a mysterious alien world, forced to figure out its secrets in order to escape. Beautiful as always, and just generally solid sci-fi.

4. Psycho-Pass The Movie ; 50 points ; 12 votes

Definitly better than S2, not as good as S1, but a really good movie. It brought back Kougami, Akane is still badass and a pretty different location was also a nice change. My favorite movie this year.

5. Digimon Adventure tri. Chapter 1: Reunion ; 50 points ; 11 votes

Oh man. My childhood is back and is looking great! This was such a joy to watch and had a great time with it!

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Voting Thread
Current Seasonal Thread
The rest of the results.
Thanks for the input everyone and keep enjoying animes!

 

[Firemind]

i should check out opm huh

lol at shirobako ranking twice

 

[harSon]

Glad Haikyuu! is on there. I've never heard of 2,3,7 or 8.

 

[AnathemicOne]

Charlotte is nowhere to be found, I am pleased with this.

Also really glad Digimon Tri. made it considering the lack of votes I saw (first glance) in the voting thread.

 

[shira]

RIP Prison School

 

[John Kowalski]

Acceptable.

 

[Narag]

Decent enough list for a weaker year. I don't have to feel guilty about not finishing Shirobako with that gap too!

 

[veloxStrix]

That's about what I expected. Pleasantly surprised Oregairu made it on the list.

Happy to see LWA take the win though.

Glad Haikyuu! is on there. I've never heard of 2,3,7 or 8.

2, 7, and 8 were all in my Top 5. My Teen Romantic Comedy was my #1. xD

 

[Moral Panic]

Sound! Euphonium?

Must of been a late comeback, I don't remember so many people putting it in the early voting lol.

 

[Line_HTX]

I'm okay with either OPM or Shirobako in either 1 or 2.

I regret not watching Shirobako for the working life.

 

[KillerMan91]

Garo didn't make it. =/

 

[BGBW]

Bloodborne WUG Zoo was robbed!

 

[Line_HTX]

I'm really happy to see both Sound Euphonium and Food Wars placed higher than Jojo's.

Spoiler

I like Jojo's too.

 

[phaze]

Glad Owari and Haikyuu made it.

 

[Basileus777]

Well that's an incredibly predictable list with no real surprises anywhere.

 

[Crash Station]

When looking at the voting thread, I wasn't expecting that kind of gap between 1 and 2.

OPM deserved it this year and would have deserved it in a normal year as well.

 

[Newtype-001]

Your Lie in April and Blood Blockade were robbed.

atleast Shokugeki and Haikyuu made top 10.

 

[ohlawd]

k I should watch Food Wars

 

[Haly]

The fuck is Psycho Pass doing there?

Here's the REAL top 5 shorts.

Mushishi: The Next Chapter - Drops of Bells
BUREAU OF PROTO SOCIETY
The Diary of Ochibi
Kanon
HAMMERHEAD

 

[Regulus Tera]

Haikyuu is too low. Otherwise great list.

 

[injurai]

Anything with Snafu in it's title sounds like a winner.

 

[Line_HTX]

Glad Haikyuu! is on there. I've never heard of 2,3,7 or 8.

3 is great for music drama.

Does 7 look familiar to you? Eh?

 

[darkside31337]

Disappointing Your Lie In April didn't make the list but not unexpected. Oh well. Happy Haikyu actually made it to the top 10 but it should have been higher up.

List is still less egregious than past years where stuff like Hyouka and Panty and Stocking won, or Yamato winning when it shouldn't have even been eligible.

 

[Sakura]

Only two of the shows I voted for are in the top 10.
I think that means you guys have bad taste.
Would've voted for Hibike Euphonium, but I didn't watch it at the time I made my list, and forgot to update.

 

[Dresden]

We did it anime.

 

[Soma]

that's a pretty respectable top five, imo

happy to see shokugeki there but sad to see no prison school

but i didn't even vote so whatevs

 

[Line_HTX]

This list is mostly good and my tastes are good.

 

[Darkness Unleashed]

A damm solid number 1. Also really happy that Shirobako, Euphonium and Soma ended up really high. Only disapointment is not seeing Your lie in April up there as well.

 

[Crash Station]

Also yay, very first quoted person!

But yeah, it is a pretty predictable list. Soma above JoJo and Death Parade is surprising though, as is a Monogatari series being there at all.

 

[captainpat]

OPM deserved it this year and would have deserved it in a normal year as well.

Agreed. I can't believe posters were claiming it would only win because the competition was "weak".

 

[veloxStrix]

Only two of the shows I voted for are in the top 10.
I think that means you guys have bad taste.
Would've voted for Hibike Euphonium, but I didn't watch it at the time I made my list, and forgot to update.

This is exactly what I did. >.> I watched so many shows in January so I could revise my list and then never did.


A little salt over the OPM win, but I spent around 4 pages arguing about it in the anime thread so I've come to terms with the punch. :c

 

[javac]

Another terrible year.

 

[massoluk]

I didn't vote last year. I disqualified myself voluntarily since I only watched a few series. Didn't think last year was that good for anime. But I'm glad SNAFU got some recognition there, it was my favorite series last year.

 

[nintendoman58]

I didn't expect Gundam IBO to make the list.

Glad that Jojo made it in the top 5.

 

[KazenY2J]

No Parasyte
Good list though.

 

[Ganzlinger]

I didn't vote.

Haikyuu and Digimon tri are the only ones I like. Most of the choices I never watched.

One Punch Man is overrated. Fight me. lol

 

[madp]

Soma? SNAFU? Irritable Bowel Orphans???

 

[Spirited]

Last year wasn't the best, happy that this year seems to have more promise.

Although I did like quite a few from last year (Food wars, noragami, OPM, death parade and even more that was trash but I enjoyed) but nothing really stood out as a "masterpiece", maybe OPM if I'm really generous.

 

[Line_HTX]

Soma? SNAFU? Irritable Bowel Orphans???

Yeah, I don't get how Gundam animes are even liked nowadays anymore...

 

[BGBW]

No Parasyte
Good list though.

If anything position 14 is too high for that show. Went to pot.

 

[EvilKatarn]

A year so bad that even Gundam made it in, huh.

 

[madp]

Yeah, I don't get how Gundam animes are even liked nowadays anymore...

If IBO is this popular on GAF, maybe it's time that I finally start tricking people into watching its "forgotten spiritual predecessor" Victory Gundam.

 

[Soma]

Soma? SNAFU? Irritable Bowel Orphans???

one of those is actually good

(it's the one with the food)

 

[hosannainexcelsis]

So I was slightly mistaken; not only Sound Euphonium but also Haikyuu Season 2 out of the TV anime I voted for managed to make it into the top 10. Otherwise, about as expected. I'm disappointed in the movies section not including any Animator Expo shorts and having Psychopass over Ghost in the Shell, but at least Marnie is in there.

But yeah, my taste is really diverging from the "consensus" taste here.

 

[darkside31337]

A year so bad that even Gundam made it in, huh.

GBF made the top 10 too last year and damn right it should have. Might be the best Gundam TV series ever made (a shame about Try though).

 

[veloxStrix]

A year so bad that even Gundam made it in, huh.

If IBO is this popular on GAF, maybe it's time that I finally start tricking people into watching its "forgotten spiritual predecessor" Victory Gundam.

Is IBO even a Gundam show? It's just another Okada show with a few passes of Mech stank.

one of those is actually good

(it's the one with the food)

Ah, so all three.

 

[Firemind]

Soma? SNAFU? Irritable Bowel Orphans???

Those Gundam write-ups LMAO

 

[EvilKatarn]

If IBO is this popular on GAF, maybe it's time that I finally start tricking people into watching its "forgotten spiritual predecessor" Victory Gundam.

 

[Basileus777]

But yeah, my taste is really diverging from the "consensus" taste here.

In a weak year a bunch of standard popular shows end up ranking. Other than Soma being so high, nothing here is really that appalling.

 

[Deputy Dangle]

It's really too bad that the bulk of Animator Expo didn't get a ton of exposure in the larger internet anime community. Hopefully, the entries mentioned in the voting thread caught the eye of those that weren't aware of it at least.

No Parasyte
Good list though.

I think most of the push for that came from the 2014 awards.