The Fall season has concluded, and 2012 is just around the corner. Time to list my Top 10 series from 2011. Remember, these are the best shows that I finished. If your favorite was left off the list, I guess you should get your own anime blog!
10. Rio – Rainbow Gate: So what is one of the most reviled series of 2011 doing on my Top 10 list? Simple. It was the best guilty pleasure I watched all year. It never took itself too seriously, the girls were gorgeous, and it never lost its infectious fun. From poking fun at classic series to putting Rio in increasingly ridiculous challenges, this show always delivered.
9. Fractale: While this show didn’t save anime, it was a competent fantasy action series. It didn’t have enough time to flesh out its ambitious plot, but what we got was excellent acting, Studio Ghibli-inspired backgrounds, and a lovely soundtrack. It was a bit of a mess, but an interesting mess at that.
8. Level E: This may be the greatest troll series ever created. The anthology framework may have kept you disoriented, but the antics of a naughty alien prince getting his comeuppance was well worth the monkey ride.
7. The World God Only Knows 2: The continuing adventures of the “Capturing God” and his demon sidekick picked up right where they left off in Season One. Keima would have been insufferable in lesser hands than Hiro Shimono. Kanae Ito also shined as the sweet, fire truck-loving demon Elsie. We also got introduced to overachieving demon Haqua, and her sparring with Keima kept things lively. This is basically screaming for a Season 3.
6. Ro-Kyu-Bu: The set up is a bit repellant, with viewers expected to ogle middle-school girls in basketball pants. However, this was one of the best ensemble pieces of the year. The personalities of the five girls meshed very well, making them underdogs worthy of rooting for.
5. Kore Wa Zombie Desu Ka?: As Japan feels its way around combining comedy, drama and horror, this series works pretty well thanks to a strong lead. The inevitable harem elements actually detracted somewhat from its power, but a strong ending and the promising sequel make it all worth while.
4. Kimi ni Todoke 2: After the first season full of angst, humor and likable characters, Season 2 had to be made for the payoff. And we got it…sort of. Watching Sawako and Kazehaya take baby steps toward becoming a couple was exquisite agony. Mamiko Noto deserves praise for giving voice to Sawako’s social awkwardness. While the drama and misunderstandings came on a little thick most of the time, the strong characters always rescued it from soap opera slop.
3. Infinite Stratos: There are so many ways this could have gone wrong, and to be fair it ended sort of weakly. However, this futuristic action harem comedy was worth a watch thanks to the strong females in the cast. There was a girl for every taste, and that girl was well-acted and strongly built. They are teasing us with OVA releases. I hope it gets a proper Season 2.
2. Denpa Onna to Seshun Otoko: Slice-of-life gets the SHAFT treatment, as we get a wheelbarrow full of terrible quirky, interesting girls and one intrepid boy edging toward adulthood. Stepping back from it all, one can marvel at how much happened between the characters. Makoto sacrificed his right arm to bring his cousin back from the brink of madness. He’s got not one, but two hot (odd) girls chasing him – along with his MILF aunt. Talk all you want about Bakemonogatari, this is SHAFT’s most impressive series about a boy growing up.
1. Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai: Sporting the highest re-watchability factor of any series, Haganai impressed me with its humane treatment of socially awkward people. It didn’t mock them like Genshiken, nor did it trash things up with supernatural elements like Haruhi. It was just a group of social misfits trying to find ways to fit in. The story between Yozora and Kodaka seemed shoehorned in at the end. However, I can’t imagine them not doing a second season so we can pursue the plot playing out in the light novel series. This show didn’t try and do too much, it stayed in its comfort zone.
2011 was a pretty good year for anime. Here’s hoping that 2012 is an even better year!
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