An anime with a solid plot, good characters, good character development, great animation, etc. Basically, an all-rounder. I’ve already watched Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. What are some others?
I realised just recently, that having even normal scene progression choreographed with background music, makes a great difference in the impact it makes.
I learnt that while watching Lord of Mysteries.Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is up there for me.
My only complaint about Frieren is the exam arc. Up till that point, it’s a tightly knit group of adventurers traveling with a very vague goal, it’s about their journey and their internal relationships. But the exam arc has an actual goal and introduces a lot of recurring characters, which really changes the vibe of the world. I liked it enough in the end, but I would’ve preferred more smaller arcs. On the other hand, season 2 could put the exam arc in a whole new light and make me appreciate all those characters much more when we see them again.
spoiler
The fight against fake Frieren alone made it a great arc for me
I was also initially frustrated with the exam arc. Looking back on it, it contributes significant to the idea that the world moves on and how humans take magic and use it in new ways. I would have preferred to move more quickly through there, but rushing the story would be ironic.
As a manga reader, I disliked the exam arc, but I’ve appreciated what has been built on it and you’ll see that in season 2.
I didn’t ask for all those feels.
If they keep the quality up it will be a timeless one. Too soon to say it’s perfect but it could be.
deleted by creator
Steins;Gate
I was just thinking, can I honestly think of a perfect anime? But yes, Steins;Gate, without a doubt. It is so perfect that the second season, which is an almost-perfect anime and fits neatly in the events of the first, can only bring it down in perfection.
I recently rewatched it and there’s a lot of foreshadowing and plot points that hit harder when you see them coming.
If you really like the story you should play the game. The anime leaves out a lot.
I love Stein’s; Gate but those first few episodes pacing keeps it a step from absolute perfection.
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
There’s also Kill la Kill.
Agreed, actually most of Studio Trigger’s works :)
Panty and stocking 🤘
New episode tomorrow
Saving it for tonight ☺️
I’m still amazed that each episode seems to top the one before it
One of the few studios where I’ll watch whatever they make, no questions asked.
Mine is the drill that will pierce the heavens ☝️
Erased
Recently marathoned it after listening to Scoot and Drew talk about it on The Worst Year of our Lives podcast (Rest in Power, Big Cat Scott)
Absolutely amazing anime.
I’ve watched it through a handful of times and it always holds up!
Shows:
- Cowboy Bebop
- Kill la Kill
- Steins;Gate
- Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works
Movies:
- Paprika
- Spirited Away
- Your Name
- Summer Wars
- Akira
The amount of scrolling I had to do before I saw Bebop was concerning…
And I’ve seen no one suggesting Samurai champloo.
- Haibane Renmei
- Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
- Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions!
- A Silent Voice
- Sweetness & Lightning
- Akebi’s Sailor Uniform
- March Comes In Like a Lion 2nd Season
- A Place Further Than The Universe
- Non Non Biyori Nonstop
- Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Wish more people remembered the first one.
It’s what I consider my one and only 11/10 anime.
I’m past due for a re-watch.
Gotta be Cyberpunk Edgerunners for me. Nothing has captivated me and made me love the characters as much as that show did.
Kaguya-sama, a Frieren-tier-global-recognition all-rounder romcom
Kaguya definitely gets my vote for top romcom
I love Kaguya-sama: Love is War, but it’s not perfect. One of my favorite Papa Shirogane scenes got cut when they made the movie!
To add some not already mentioned
- Apothecary diaries
- Dan da Dan
- Heavenly delusion
- Puella Magi Madoka
If you don’t mind older series, I think these are worth a recommendation:
- Bakemonogatari (and the rest of Monogatari series)
- The melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi
- Black Lagoon
- Clannad
Honorable mention for Nichijou. Perfect comedy if you ask me :)
Fantastic references.
Akira
It’s Girls Und Panzer for me. The original 12 episodes the most. You could feel the artists doing their best and the characters are fun and memorable, imo.
To add a couple to the great ones already listed:
- S1 One Punch Man
- Naruto (pre-Shippudden)
- Code Geass
- Demon Slayer
- Elfen Lied
- Jujutsu Kaisen
- Re:LIFE
- Vinland Saga
- Zankyou no Terror
- Legends Of The Galactic Heroes
- FIST OF THE NORTH STAR
- Records of Lodoss War
- Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex
- HELLSING
- Cowboy Bebop
First season of Psycho-Pass. later seasons got a bit too muddled and had some repetitive antagonists, so I wouldn’t recommend continuing it. Shinya Kogami and Shogo Makishima’s rivalry is the real meat of the story, and getting rid of both characters at the end of S1 just killed all of the show’s momentum. Gd, what a rivalry though.
Oh yeah, and the animation, visual style, and music all slaps. There’s also great side characters that get a few moments to develop and stand-out, and most of them didn’t get brought along to later seasons either.
If you ignore S2 it really is one that could be considered perfect. Movie quality audio, vizuals and story start to finish.
It’s one of many very sad instances where a visionary creative had a cool story they wanted to tell, and then after they finished and left the studio stepped in and said “Okay, now how much more can we wring out of it!”
On the upside, the first season serves a full, complete perfect story, with nothing further that needed to be added. Also, not all of the additional stuff sucks. Production IG brought Gen back to write the movie, and it was OK.
Bonus material. I just think of S2 as an OVA
