Christmas in January is probably one of my favorite movies ever, but it only has a 5.57 on MAL. It’s only 46 minutes and it’s the most densely good anime I’ve ever seen. As in like, it’s the best anime ever per-minute.
If you have a MAL account, you can plug in your username to anime.plus and you can view a bunch of stats including what your biggest score differences are. Here’s everything that I have rated around +2 points higher than the average score:
Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu (2009) 10 7.24 +2.76 Paniponi Dash! 10 7.44 +2.56 1-gatsu ni wa Christmas 8 5.57 +2.43 Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou 10 7.60 +2.40 Gamers! 9 6.72 +2.28 B-gata H-kei 9 6.82 +2.18 Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu 10 7.82 +2.18 Hibike! Euphonium 10 8.03 +1.97All of these I would say are quite underrated, though Kare Kano and Hibike! Euphonium are pretty well-renowned. Haruhi is also very popular.
That anime.plus tool is super cool! Do you know if anything like that exists for anilist.co?
Internet search shows me this website: https://anistats.kluge-it.tech/
But I’m not sure if it includes score differences stats
I don’t see it there but cool website nonetheless; thanks for sharing!
This is mine. By these metrics, Say I Love You and Akebi’s Sailor Uniform are the two I love most.
Versailles no Bara (Movie) 10 6.42 +3.58 Dou-Da? Doing! 10 6.67 +3.33 Jantama x Gintama Collab Kettei Promotion Anime 10 6.67 +3.33 Chiisana Eiyuu: Kani to Tamago to Toumei Ningen 10 6.84 +3.16 3-nen Z-gumi Ginpachi-sensei Announcement Special 10 7.23 +2.77 Suki tte Ii na yo. 10 7.38 +2.62 Byousoku 5 Centimeter 10 7.55 +2.45 3-nen Z-gumi Ginpachi-sensei 10 7.63 +2.37 Akebi-chan no Sailor-fuku 10 7.64 +2.36 Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu: Twi-Yaba 10 7.65 +2.35
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Ergo Proxy
Also in a similar spirit: Wolf’s Rain
Mushi-shi, a delightful and thoughtful show with a good “monster of the week” formula.
In a similar vein, Kino’s Journey.
Serei no moribito (Guardian of the Sacred Spirit) might be my favorite, though. I like the character of Balsa and the mentoring role she takes over the young prince.
Tonari no Yokai-san, a slice-of-life drama with mythological elements about supernatural beings and humans peacefully co-existing in the modern world. It’s sad, and beautiful, and heartwarming; one of my favourite shows of 2024. People who liked Natsume’s Book of Friends might enjoy this one as well.
Bang Brave Bangern! is the gayest, and probably the most fun anime I’ve ever seen. Even the year it came out I didn’t see very many people talking about it, so shoutout to the Mother’s Basement youtube channel for making me aware of its existence.
Golden Kamuy is also excellent, but a lot of people got (understandably) turned off by how bad the bears looked in the first couple of episodes. They were rendered in 3d and composited in really poorly. It was not great. And tbh while the rest of the show doesn’t have anything that bad later on the animation never really becomes what I’d call “great”. That said, if you want to watch a bunch of crazy dudes kill each other over some gold in Taisho-era Hokkaido this show is an incredible time.
Edit: The Elusive Samurai is also an absolutely amazing watch. You just have to be okay with a show where one moment they’re making silly jokes and then 30 seconds later people are being beheaded.
The first season of Golden Kamuy was amazing but I took a break after the first episode or two of the second season and totally forgot the plot. It’s pretty dense and has a lot of characters so it’s easy to forget exactly what was going on last.
I gotta get back into it at some point
Golden Kamuy’s S3 is an absolutely banger watch.
spoiler
I love seeing Hijikata in any show. Old Hijikata is just as badass as ever and I wished he lived that long.
I was very amused seeing him and the other old guy he hangs out with, since I mostly knew them from Gintama!
If I had to pick one off the top of my head I’d probably say Koi Gaze. Yes the story is disturbing and uncomfortable, but that also makes it work.
The Invisible Man and His Soon-to-Be Wife was the most adorable show I watched all year. I’m a sucker for positive representation.
Metallic Rouge
so underrated director and whoknowswhoelse decided to give 12 chapters to a 24+ chapter plotline.
sobbing
Maō no Ore ga Dorei Erufu o Yome ni Shita ndaga, Dō Medereba ī? An Archdemon’s Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride
My expectations were abysmally low and it is actually cute, fun and grounded at the same time.
Chainsmoker Cat :3
Idk if it’s underrated but I never meet anyone, in person that likes Sgt Frog. That shit slapped and the English dub localized the jokes making it an absolute treasure.
I really liked Akudama Drive.
Anime original, and it’s only one cour, so easy to just watch in one or two sittings.
Big O
