Jay Gee's Top Anime of 2009

BroEl's Top Anime of 2009

BroEl posted his own version a few days ago, and so I thought I'd write my own take of this topic as well using the same categories. Nothing against his list, but I thought I'd also share what I think were the best of 2009. Some of the titles may even overlap.

Best in Japan

2009 was a rather lackluster year in terms of overall quality, but that doesn't mean that there weren't any gems. Two of these made my Top 50 Anime of the 2000s.

#5 - Tokyo Magnitude 8.0

I didn't know what to expect coming into this series -- no, that's not correct, I actually did expect something. I expected this to be a blockbuster disaster title in the vein of larger-than-life movies like The Day After Tomorrow. Boy, was I ever wrong.

What I like most about this series is the fact that it is character-driven. Rather than focusing on the disaster element (in which BONES put a lot of painstaking effort into portraying), instead it focused on the human element. This made the series far more grounded than one might think, resulting in a series that actually ended up being quite the breath of fresh air.

#4 - Kūchū Buranko

While this ended up being a bit of a disappointment (it doesn't stand up all that well to the magnificent Mononoke), it still ended up being the most unique anime of 2009.

While the rotoscoping, colorful backgrounds, and other quirks are what made the series very unique, but it felt as though director Kenji Nakamura got too wrapped up in it all. The garish nature of the artistry distracts more than it helps, causing the storytelling itself to fall by the wayside in terms of overall quality. Though every episode is very entertaining to watch unfold (especially since they are all intersecting), there was something missing. They all lacked the necessary impact to make them memorable.

My misgivings aside, this is a series that I can still highly recommend. Just don't expect something on the level of Nakamura's brilliant prior works.

#3 - Cross Game

I love baseball, so it should come as no surprise that I love Cross Game. While the series is not complete yet, what I have seen so far is just too good to ignore. Mitsuru Adachi is a master at interweaving baseball and slice-of-life together into a very compelling package. Surprisingly, the best moments of this series are when baseball is NOT being played. The character interactions and subtle character development are excellent -- the baseball is just an added bonus. I really hope this is licensed, although the chances are probably slim at best.

#2 - Aoi Hana

This series desperately needs a sequel.

I love this series to death. It was easily my favorite anime of 2009 until the title at #1 came around and blew it away.

Being a fan of yuri (lesbian) anime, I went into this series expecting a series that would probably end up being a guilty pleasure. Little did I know that it would end up being exactly the opposite. The series isn't about the lesbianism, rather it is about the importance of relationships. This, combined with gorgeous production values, beautiful music, and sensitive direction from Kenichi Kasai, turned Aoi Hana into something far more substantial than its premise might suggest. This series had such a profound effect on me that I could not help but become completely enamored with it. So much so, that I was heartbroken when it ended with so much more story to tell. If I had the money, I would totally fund a sequel. Yes, I really do want more Aoi Hana that badly.

#1 - Summer Wars

No, you've got it wrong, Natsuki. You're #1, not #2.

Surprise, surprise. I bet nobody saw this one coming. Just like I did with its entry my Top 50 Anime of the 2000s series, I'll refer you to my review.

Best in North America

Given the current state of the industry, 2009 was actually a pretty darn good year for releases in North America. In fact, each and every one of these made my Top 50 of the 2000s.

#5 - Monster

I don't have much more to say about Monster than has already been said, so I'll simply implore you to watch it, as it is a must-see for just about any anime fan. Don't let the high episode count scare you off.

#4 - Moribito - Guardian of the Spirit

Media Blasters did us all a favor by rescuing this from Geneon. This is another show that everyone really needs to see, as Kenji Kamiyama and Production I.G did a superb job with this series. The visuals are breathtaking and the writing is nearly on par with them. If you have seen the complete anime series, be sure to read the second novel of the series, Guardian of the Darkness, which is just as fascinating. Hopefully Scholastic will continue to publish them, as I haven't heard anything about the third novel yet.

#3 - Ghost Hound

If you're a fan of anime that require you to use your brain, then this series is definitely for you. Watch it.

#2 - Shigurui: Death Frenzy

This and Ghost Hound are the only two anime I can think of in which I would say watching them with headphones is an absolute necessity. Why? Atmosphere, baby! Both series have some of the best sound production you'll ever find in the medium.

#1 - Baccano!

If you liked Baccano!, then be sure to catch Durarara!! on Crunchyroll.

Best Non-2009 Anime I Watched in 2009

I watched an awful lot of great anime this year, so narrowing it down to just five wasn't easy. Two of these made my Top 50 of the 2000s as well.

#5 - Giant Robo

Ho boy, this series is the epitome of the word "epic." Just watch it and you'll see. Not only did it require such a tremendous budget that it took 6 years(!) to release all seven episodes in Japan, the story is on a global scale with a sizable cast of characters to boot. Plus, it has to its credit the greatest soundtrack of all time when it comes to anime. Heck, it has one of the greatest scores in the history of film period! If you haven't seen Giant Robo yet, you really, really should -- no, you MUST.

#4 - Patlabor 2: The Movie

I watched the entirety of the original Patlabor OVA series and the first two movies this year, but the second film is easily the standout of the bunch. In fact, it's Mamoru Oshii's best film to date.

The OVA series and even the first film are great on their own, but they still pale terribly in comparison to Patlabor 2: The Movie. While Oshii does his fair share of philosophizing in this film, his philosophy works its way into the plot quite seamlessly, and he makes some strong points too. Also, the film is beautifully executed. The transition into martial law is my favorite sequence in the entire movie and one of the most memorable anime scenes ever.

If you haven't seen Patlabor, start with the original OVAs, then watch the first two movies. They are the quintessential Patlabor -- you can watch the TV series, its OVA follow-up, and the third movie if you want; but you probably don't need to. Save for perhaps the third movie, I never plan on watching any of the rest of the franchise myself. I personally believe that there's no need to do so.

#3 - The Wings of Honneamise

The finest anime GAINAX ever produced -- well, save for FLCL -- is, interestingly enough, the first one they EVER made. Sadly, it is probably one of their least-talked about titles.

For one, it has an awful track record of releases in North America, the most recent being the ghastly overpriced Bandai Visual USA release. Secondly, having been made 23 years ago, it is very "old" by the standards of many anime fans today who won't give anime made before the 1990s even a passing glance. I'm not saying every fan is like this -- I'm even guilty of this a little myself, having not seen a considerable amount of pre-90s anime in comparison to 90s and beyond -- but it seems that almost every fan I meet has never even heard of this exquisite gem, which is a shame.

Still though, many people who have seen this film realize just how great it really is. Despite its age, it still ranks amongst anime's best when it comes to production values, and the story is a timeless one that will resonate with most anyone. Watch this film for yourself and you'll see why it is considered by many to be one of the greatest anime films ever made. Rent it if you can't procure Bandai Visual USA's release for cheap.

#2 - Mind Game

If another anime film ever manages to top Mind Game's smorgasbord of impressive visuals, that will be the day.

#1 - FLCL

As I said earlier, FLCL is GAINAX's crowning achievement. How fitting that FUNimation announced today that they have "rescued" it. Do they rock or what? Now I'll finally be able to own it at an affordable price point, and on Blu-ray to boot.

And there you have it, folks. Chiyo-chan seems to be pretty pleased with this list, even though her series isn't on it. Not that I can help it, I watched Azumanga Daioh back in 2006 (or was it 2007?). Anyway, I should really watch it again some time.

Until next time ...