Anime of the Year 2012-IV Fall - Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun

Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun is the best shoujo comedy that I know. Since there is a firm masterpiece this time, can lower score of Bakuman. 3rd Season a bit to comply. There is also a number of honorary masterpieces - Psycho-Pass , Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! and Ixion Saga DT .

1. JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken (TV) JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (2012) ジョジョの奇妙な冒険  [David Production] (Finished 3/26) Tags: Shounen Vampire Action, Adventure, Supernatural The year is 1868; English nobleman George Joestar and his son Jonathan become indebted to Dario Brando after being rescued from a carriage incident. What the Joestars don't realize, however, is that Dario had no intention of helping them; he believed they were dead and was trying to ransack their belongings. After Dario's death 12 years later, George—hoping to repay his debt—adopts his son, Dio. While he publicly fawns over his new father, Dio secretly plans to steal the Joestar fortune. His first step is to create a divide between George and Jonathan. By constantly outdoing his foster brother, Dio firmly makes his place in the Joestar family. But when Dio pushes Jonathan too far, Jonathan defeats him in a brawl. Years later, the two appear to be close friends to the outside world. But trouble brews again when George falls ill, as Jonathan suspects that Dio is somehow behind the incident—and it appears he has more tricks up his sleeve. Did not like OVAs. Don't like 19th century, weird fashion, focus on epic fights and short arcs without any interesting big story. Watchable and less childish than I thought, but still disappointing.   Overall Rating: 6/10

2. Psycho-Pass サイコパス [Production I.G] (Finished 22/22) Tags: Adult Cast, Detective, Psychological Action, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Suspense Justice, and the enforcement of it, has changed. In the 22nd century, Japan enforces the Sibyl System, an objective means of determining the threat level of each citizen by examining their mental state for signs of criminal intent, known as their Psycho-Pass. Inspectors uphold the law by subjugating, often with lethal force, anyone harboring the slightest ill-will; alongside them are Enforcers, jaded Inspectors that have become latent criminals, granted relative freedom in exchange for carrying out the Inspectors' dirty work. Into this world steps Akane Tsunemori, a young woman with an honest desire to uphold justice. However, as she works alongside veteran Enforcer Shinya Kougami, she soon learns that the Sibyl System's judgments are not as perfect as her fellow Inspectors assume. With everything she has known turned on its head, Akane wrestles with the question of what justice truly is, and whether it can be upheld through the use of a system that may already be corrupt. I don't consider PsychoPass great even though I watched everything from it. But it still got enough firepower and interesting details to be called a borderline masterpiece.   Overall Rating: 7/10

3. Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! 中二病でも恋がしたい! [Kyoto Animation] (Finished 12/12) Tags: School Comedy, Romance  Everybody has had that stage in their life where they have thought themselves to be special, different from the masses of ordinary humans. They might go as far as seeing themselves capable of wielding mystical powers, or maybe even believe themselves to have descended from a fantasy realm. This "disease" is known as "chuunibyou" and is often the source of some of the most embarrassing moments of a person's life. For Yuuta Togashi, the scars that his chuunibyou has left behind are still fresh. Having posed as the "Dark Flame Master" during his middle school years, he looks back at those times with extreme embarrassment, so much so that he decides to attend a high school far away where nobody will recognize him. Putting his dark history behind him, he longs to live a normal high school life. Unfortunately, he hasn't escaped his past yet: enter Rikka Takanashi, Yuuta's new classmate and self-declared vessel of the "Wicked Eye." As this eccentric young girl crashes into Yuuta's life, his dream of an ordinary, chuunibyou-free life quickly crumbles away. In this hilarious and heartwarming story of a boy who just wants to leave his embarrassing memories behind, the delusions of old are far from a thing of the past. Some parts of it are cheesy, but some are cute and memorable. It's worth watching even for the memes alone, so can't deny it a honorable masterpiece.   Overall Rating: 7/10

4. Sakura-sou no Pet na Kanojo The Pet Girl of Sakurasou さくら荘のペットな彼女  [J.C.Staff] (Finished 3/24) Tags: School, Visual Arts Drama, Romance At Suimei High, the Sakura-sou dormitory is infamous for housing the school's most notorious delinquents. Thus, when the relatively tame Sorata Kanda is transferred to the dorm, escaping this insane asylum becomes his foremost goal. Trapped there for the time being, he must learn how to deal with his fellow residents, including bubbly animator Misaki Kamiigusa, charming playboy writer Jin Mitaka, and the ever-reclusive Ryuunosuke Akasaka. Surrounded by weirdness, Sorata frequently finds respite in his interactions with his one "normal" friend, aspiring voice actress Nanami Aoyama. When Mashiro Shiina—a new foreign exchange student—joins the dormitory, Sorata is instantly enraptured by her beauty. Underneath her otherworldly appearance, Mashiro is an autistic savant, capable of world-renowned brilliance in her art, yet unable to perform simple daily tasks. After Sorata ends up in charge of taking care of Mashiro, the two inevitably grow closer, with Sorata's initial desire to escape the dormitory becoming a forgotten goal. Despite their eccentricities, every resident is incredible in their own field, leaving Sorata to contend with his own lack of any particular skill. With brilliance all around him, he thus strives to become an equal to their talent. Revolving around the hardships and joys of its colorful cast, Sakura-sou no Pet na Kanojo is a heartwarming coming-of-age tale of friendship, love, ambition, and heartbreak—through the lens of an ordinary person surrounded by the extraordinary. Unsociable manga artist girl is nothing new, protagonist is typical and side cast are not really memorable. Lots of useless juvenile drama is involved. I've no incentive to watch it further.   Overall Rating: 6/10

5. Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun My Little Monster となりの怪物くん [Brain's Base] (Finished 13/13) Tags: Shoujo School Comedy, Romance Shizuku Mizutani is apathetic toward her classmates, only caring about her grades. However, her cold view of life begins to change when she meets Haru Yoshida, a violent troublemaker who stopped attending class after getting into a fight early in the school year. He is not much different from her, though—he too understands little about human nature and does not have any friends. Much to Shizuku's surprise, he proclaims that she will be his friend and immediately confesses his feelings toward her upon meeting her. Because of her lack of friends and social interaction, Shizuku has a hard time understanding her relationship with Haru. But slowly, their friendship begins to progress, and she discovers that there is more to Haru than violence. She begins to develop feelings for him, but is unsure what kind of emotions she is experiencing. Together, Shizuku and Haru explore the true nature of their relationship and emotions. It's actually the best shoujo that I'm aware of by now. It has more fun and complexity than earlier favorites. It's the highest score any Shoujo got from me if not count dark shoujo Madoka.   Overall Rating: 8/10

6. Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic マギ The labyrinth of magic [A-1 Pictures] (Finished 4/25) Tags: Shounen Action, Adventure, Fantasy  A Magi is a magician whose inclination toward magic is so immense that they can be said to shape the world. With their significant influence, each Magi chooses a worthy candidate to become a king, then helps them conquer strange labyrinths called "Dungeons" and acquire the power of mythical djinns within. Above all else, the Magi supervises their elected representative as they build a country that might one day bring the world to its knees. Aladdin is a young Magi wandering the world in search of his true self. However, his journey is not a lonely one, as he is accompanied by his friend and mentor Ugo—a djinn he summons using his flute. In his travels, Aladdin also befriends Alibaba Saluja and guides him to a nearby Dungeon. With this newfound friendship, they begin an epic adventure across the world, witnessing various irregularities that seem more frequent than ever. So super strong magi Aladdin travels with Djinn just travel around the worlds and places, make friends, gather treasure, fight baddies in short adventure arcs. That sounds and feels terrible. Constant random deus ex machina and silly characters make things even worse. I absolutely don't understand the appeal here .   Overall Rating: 5/10

7. Btooom!  [Madhouse] (Finished 4/12) Tags: Seinen Gore, High Stakes Game, Psychological, Survival Action, Sci-Fi, Suspense Ryouta Sakamoto is unemployed and lives with his mother, his only real achievement being that he is Japan's top player of the popular online video game Btooom! However, his peaceful life is about to change when he finds himself stranded on an island in the middle of nowhere, with a small green crystal embedded in his left hand and no memory of how he got there. To his shock, someone has decided to recreate the game he is so fond of in real life, with the stakes being life or death. Armed with a bag full of unique bombs known as "BIM," the players are tasked with killing seven of their fellow participants and taking their green crystals in order to return home. Initially condemning any form of violence, Ryouta is forced to fight when he realizes that many of the other players are not as welcoming as they may seem. Teaming up with Himiko, a fellow Btooom! player, they attempt to get off of the island together, coming closer and closer to the truth behind this contest of death. There are much better battle royale - with better characters and setup and rules. If anything, I'm not enjoying these one-sided simpleton characters and development.   Overall Rating: 6/10

8. Shinsekai yori From the New World 新世界より [A-1 Pictures] (Finished 3/25) Tags: Psychological Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Suspense In the town of Kamisu 66, 12-year-old Saki Watanabe has just awakened to her psychic powers and is relieved to rejoin her friends—the mischievous Satoru Asahina, the shy Mamoru Itou, the cheerful Maria Akizuki, and Shun Aonuma, a mysterious boy whom Saki admires—at Sage Academy, a special school for psychics. However, unease looms as Saki begins to question the fate of those unable to awaken to their powers, and the children begin to get involved with secretive matters such as the rumored Tainted Cats said to abduct children. Shinsekai yori tells the unique coming-of-age story of Saki and her friends as they journey to grow into their roles in the supposed utopia. Accepting these roles, however, might not come easy when faced with the dark and shocking truths of society, and the impending havoc born from the new world. Another suspense mystery and more so with espers which means slow pace, random events that may or may not lead to something meaningful and constant confusion. I start to think that the proper way to sample mysteries is to watch three last episodes and not first three episodes which are always deliberately confusing.   Overall Rating: 5/10

9. K  [GoHands] (Finished 3/13) Tags: Super Power Action, Fantasy, Mystery "Kings" are individuals who have been bestowed with incredible supernatural powers and granted the ability to recruit others into their clans. Protecting the lives and honor of their clansmen is an integral part of the Kings' duties. After a video depicting the heinous murder of a Red Clansman spreads virally, the unassuming student Yashiro Isana is accused of homicide. Now, a manhunt is underway for his head, bringing him into contact with the infamous "Black Dog" Kurou Yatogami—a skilled swordsman and martial artist determined to follow the wishes of his late master, the Seventh King. Meanwhile, the current Red King, Mikoto Suou, faces his own imminent demise as the search for Yashiro narrows. But during Yashiro's struggle to prove his innocence, a greater conspiracy is unraveling behind the scenes; clouds begin to appear in his memory, and close friends start to question his very existence. What began as a simple murder is now leading towards a full blown war between Kings with the very fate of the world at stake. Just war of gangs with superpowers with protagonist framed as murderer and thus hunted. Good visuals, but I find everything else decent at best and uninspiring.   Overall Rating: 6/10

10. Suki tte Ii na yo. Say "I Love You." 好きっていいなよ。 [Zexcs] (Finished 3/13) Tags: Shoujo School Drama, Romance Friends will only let you down—that is the sad truth Mei Tachibana lives with, ever since she was wrongfully blamed for the death of a class pet by her so-called friends in grade school. Since then, she has stayed away from people in order to avoid ever being hurt again. However, Mei's life begins to change drastically when a misunderstanding in high school causes her to encounter popular student Yamato Kurosawa. Yamato finds her intriguing and insists on being her friend, even though Mei wants nothing to do with him. But when a dangerous situation ends with Yamato kissing Mei to save her from the unwanted attention of a stalker, Mei begins to develop feelings for him. On the heels of her discovery that their feelings are mutual, they start dating and she gains not only a boyfriend, but friends as well. Mei, however, finds it very hard to adapt to this new lifestyle, especially in expressing her true feelings towards Yamato. Throughout misunderstandings of their new relationship, each other, and the attentions of other girls, Mei and Yamato slowly grow closer and learn the true meaning of those three little words: "I love you." I need smart characters to like shoujo. These characters are one-sided and very unlikable. Don't know who it is for - probably for depressed girls.   Overall Rating: 5/10

11. Kamisama Hajimemashita Kamisama Kiss 神様はじめました  [TMS Entertainment] (Finished 1/13) Tags: Shoujo Mythology Comedy, Fantasy, Romance High schooler Nanami Momozono has quite a few problems of late, beginning with her absentee father being in such extreme debt that they lose everything. Downtrodden and homeless, she runs into a man being harassed by a dog. After helping him, she explains her situation, and to her surprise, he offers her his home in gratitude. But when she discovers that said home is a rundown shrine, she tries to leave; however, she is caught by two shrine spirits and a fox familiar named Tomoe. They mistake her for the man Nanami rescued—the land god of the shrine, Mikage. Realizing that Mikage must have sent her there as a replacement god, Tomoe leaves abruptly, refusing to serve a human. Rather than going back to being homeless, Nanami immerses herself in her divine duties. But if she must keep things running smoothly, she will need the help of a certain hot-headed fox. In her fumbling attempt to seek out Tomoe, she lands in trouble and ends up sealing a contract with him. Now the two must traverse the path of godhood together as god and familiar; but it will not be easy, for new threats arise in the form of a youkai who wants to devour the girl, a snake that wants to marry her, and Nanami's own unexpected feelings for her new familiar. I have only one question regarding this anime - why is it not properly marked as reverse harem so that I could dump it instantly?.   Overall Rating: 5/10

12. Zetsuen no Tempest 絶園のテンペスト [Bones] (Finished 1/24) Tags: Shounen Psychological Action, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery Yoshino Takigawa, an ordinary teenager, is secretly dating his best friend Mahiro Fuwa's younger sister, Aika. But when Aika mysteriously dies, Mahiro disappears, vowing to find the one responsible and make them pay for murdering his beloved sister. Yoshino continues his life as usual and has not heard from Mahiro in a month—until he is confronted by a strange girl who holds him at gunpoint, and his best friend arrives in the nick of time to save him. Yoshino learns that Mahiro has enlisted the help of a witch named Hakaze Kusaribe to find Aika's killer. However, the witch has been banished to a deserted island due to infighting within her clan. Hakaze's brother, Samon, selfishly desires to make use of the Tree of Exodus' power, in spite of both his sister's opposition and the impending peril to the world. With Hakaze out of the picture, it is now up to Yoshino and Mahiro to help her save the world, all while inching ever closer to the truth behind Aika's death. Mystery, huh. Investigate murder and save the world from world conquest with superpowers! Another boring 24 episodes for a fluke resolution. First episode just retells the synopsis, but it's more than enough to grow to hate it.   Overall Rating: 5/10

13. Nekomonogatari: Kuro Nekomonogatari Black 猫物語（黒） [Shaft] (Finished 1/4) Tags: Comedy, Romance, Supernatural, Ecchi  After surviving a vampire attack, Koyomi Araragi notices that his friend and savior, Tsubasa Hanekawa, has been acting strange. When he happens to cross paths with her on his way to a bookstore and sees she has a bandage on her face, he knows something must definitely be wrong. Araragi wants to help her, but Hanekawa assures him that her wound is just something she received at home and that he should not concern himself with it. But when a white cat with no tail is hit and killed by a car, the pair bury the creature and the real trouble begins. When Araragi later pays a visit to his friend Meme Oshino and recounts the day's events, he is informed what they have buried is actually an apparition, one perfect for Hanekawa in her current state. Tasked with finding his friend to confirm her safety, he discovers that she has attacked her parents, possessed by the "Sawari Neko." Now, it is up to Araragi to help Hanekawa as she once helped him. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

14. To LOVE-Ru Darkness To LOVE Ru Darkness To LOVEる -とらぶる- ダークネス [Xebec] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Shounen Harem, School Comedy, Romance, Sci-Fi, Ecchi  As close encounters of the twisted kind between the residents of the planet Develuke (represented primarily by the female members of the royal family) and the inhabitants of Earth (represented mainly by one very exhausted Rito Yuki) continue to escalate, the situation spirals even further out of control. When junior princesses Nana and Momo transferred into Earth School where big sister LaLa can (theoretically) keep an eye on them, things SHOULD be smooth sailing. But when Momo decides she'd like to "supplement" Rito's relationship with LaLa with a little "sisterly love," you know LaLa's not going to waste any time splitting harems. Unfortunately, it's just about that point that Yami, the Golden Darkness, enters the scene with all the subtleness of a supernova, along with an army of possessed high school students! All of which is certain to make Rito's life suck more than a black hole at the family picnic. Unless, of course, a certain semi-demonic princess can apply a little of her Develukean Whoop Ass to exactly that portion of certain other heavenly bodies! Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

15. Code:Breaker  [Kinema Citrus] (Finished 2/13) Tags: Shounen School, Super Power Action, Comedy, Supernatural Although cheerful and delicate, Sakura Sakurakouji is a skilled martial artist with a sense of fairness that never falters—no matter the situation. Upon witnessing people burning in blue flames while on a bus ride home, she calls the police to bring their murderer to justice only to find that no evidence remains. However, all her doubts about what she saw vanish when the next day, the new transfer student Rei Oogami joins her class; he is the very boy she watched commit murder in cold blood. Rei is kind, sweet, and quickly becomes popular, contradicting Sakura's accusations. Soon enough, she learns his true nature: a Code Breaker, or "one who does not exist." To Sakura's shock, Rei—armed with mysterious powers—seeks to exact justice according to the principle of "an eye for an eye." Determined to bring Rei to the right path, Sakura keeps close to him in the hopes of redeeming him from his ways before others are hurt. I see it as a dumb revamp of Death Note. One protagonist exerts self-imposed justice, the other tries to save victims. Repetitive and shallow.   Overall Rating: 5/10

16. Bakuman. 3rd Season Bakuman Season 3 バクマン。 [J.C.Staff] (Finished 25/25) Tags: Shounen Otaku Culture Comedy, Drama, Romance Onto their third serialization, manga duo Moritaka Mashiro and Akito Takagi—also known by their pen name, Muto Ashirogi—are ever closer to their dream of an anime adaption. However, the real challenge is only just beginning: if they are unable to compete with the artist Eiji Niizuma in the rankings within the span of six months, they will be canceled. To top it off, numerous rivals are close behind and declaring war. They don't even have enough time to spare thinking about an anime! In Bakuman. 3rd Season, Muto Ashirogi must find a way to stay atop the colossal mountain known as the Shounen Jack rankings. With new problems and new assistants, the pair continue to strive for their dream. Sequel. Since there's another firm masterpiece this season, lowering score for that anime's sake.   Overall Rating: 8/10

17. Gintama': Enchousen Gintama: Enchousen 銀魂' 延長戦 [Sunrise] (Finished 13/13) Tags: Shounen Gag Humor, Historical, Parody, Samurai Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi While Gintoki Sakata was away, the Yorozuya found themselves a new leader: Kintoki, Gintoki's golden-haired doppelganger. In order to regain his former position, Gintoki will need the help of those around him, a troubling feat when no one can remember him! Between Kintoki and Gintoki, who will claim the throne as the main character? In addition, Yorozuya make a trip back down to red-light district of Yoshiwara to aid an elderly courtesan in her search for her long-lost lover. Although the district is no longer in chains beneath the earth's surface, the trio soon learn of the tragic backstories of Yoshiwara's inhabitants that still haunt them. With flashback after flashback, this quest has Yorozuya witnessing everlasting love and protecting it as best they can with their hearts and souls. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

18. Oniichan dakedo Ai sae Areba Kankeinai yo ne! OniAi お兄ちゃんだけど愛さえあれば関係ないよねっ [SILVER LINK.] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Harem, School Comedy, Romance, Ecchi After their parents' deaths, brother and sister Akito and Akiko Himenokouji were forced to live with separate families for six years. But now they have finally reunited and begin to live together. It quickly becomes apparent that Akiko harbors romantic feelings for her brother; however, Akito only sees her as a sibling. When three more girls—Anastasia Nasuhara, Arashi Nikaidou, and Ginbei Haruomi Sawatari—move into their apartment, Akiko's hopes of living alone with her brother vanish. Moreover, these girls also like Akito in one way or another, making it even more difficult for Akiko to gain her brother's undivided attention. As the girls fight over who should take care of Akito, they display various eroticisms that may be a little too much for a normal man to handle. Ecchi harems have the same plot - everyone competes for protagonist, so appeal should lie in characters. They are quite alright, but nothing special, more like realizations of different tropes.   Overall Rating: 6/10

19. Girls & Panzer Girls und Panzer ガールズ&パンツァー [Actas] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Military, School Action  "Senshadou" is a traditional sport using World War II era tanks in elimination-based matches. Widely practiced by women and girls alike, it's advertised as a form of art geared towards making ladies more prominent in culture and appealing to men. Becoming a worldwide phenomenon over time, the influence of senshadou leads to the creation of a world championship which will soon be held in Japan. Miho Nishizumi, who comes from a lineage of well-respected senshadou specialists, is at odds with the sport after a traumatic event led to her retirement and eventually a rift to form between her and her family. To steer clear of the practice as much as possible, she transfers to Ooarai Girls Academy where the senshadou program has been abolished. However, with the news of the upcoming championships, the school revives their tankery program, and Miho is pushed into joining. Now, with the aid of some new friends, she must overcome her past and once again take command of a squadron of tanks in an effort to save her school from closure, all while proving to her family that the Nishizumi-style of senshadou is not solely about victory. I remember watching it for the same reason as Milky Holmes - for meme potential. It's crazy and unusual, but I did not find it particularly interesting in any way. For me it's nothing different from any other anime about cute girls participating in some club activities like strikeball.   Overall Rating: 6/10

20. Little Busters! リトルバスターズ! [J.C.Staff] (Finished 3/26) Tags: School Comedy, Drama, Supernatural As a child, Riki Naoe shut himself from the world, thanks to a diagnosis of narcolepsy following the tragic deaths of his parents. However, Riki is saved when, one fateful day, a boy named Kyousuke recruits him into a team who call themselves the Little Busters. Accompanied by Masato, Kengo, and Rin, these misfits spend their childhood fighting evil and enjoying their youth. Years pass, and even in high school, the well-knit teammates remain together. Kyousuke decides to re-ignite the Little Busters by forming a baseball team as it will be his last school year with them. They have a problem though: there aren't enough members! The tables have turned, for it is now Riki's turn to reach out and recruit new friends into the Little Busters, just like Kyousuke had once done for him. Then, an omen surfaces—Rin finds a strange letter attached to her cat, assigning them the duty of uncovering the "secret of this world" by completing specific tasks. Just what is this secret, and why is it being hidden? It's up to the Little Busters to find out! I tried it a lot of times, because a cheerful friendship story with some twist and many interesting backgrounds is difficult to fail. But don't underestimate Key - because they suck at literally everything. Absolutely silly cliche centered dialogues and fast recourse to violence is called humor here. I'm sure it is, but only in kindergarten. Those who aren't satisfied can enjoy antics. Characters are so dumb that it may be contagious. Total averageness and lack of any direction.   Overall Rating: 5/10

21. Jormungand: Perfect Order Jormungand Season 2: Perfect Order ヨルムンガンド PERFECT ORDER [White Fox] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Seinen Organized Crime Action, Adventure Still in pursuit of her ambitious goal, ingenious arms dealer Koko Hekmatyar, inexpressive child soldier Jonathan “Jonah” Mar, and the rest of their squad continue their mercenary activities. From professional assassins to private militaries, the group's work constantly puts them in the face of danger. But internal conflicts soon arise after Renato "R" Socci, one of Koko's bodyguards, is revealed to be an undercover agent for "Operation Undershaft"—a plan devised by the CIA to infiltrate HCLI and exploit Koko as a tool. Shocked by his betrayal, Koko's leadership is needed now more than ever to rally her squad and rebuild their foundation of trust before they are torn apart. Jormungand: Perfect Order follows Koko and the rest of her crew as they take on persistent adversaries, overcome internal struggles, and make Koko's vision of world peace a reality—where everything is in perfect order. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

22. Robotics;Notes ロボティクス・ノーツ [Production I.G] (Finished 22/22) Tags: Mecha, School Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi It has always been the aspiration of the Central Tanegashima High School Robotics Research Club to complete the GunPro1, a fully functioning giant robot. For years, the members of the club have contributed to its progress and it is now Akiho Senomiya's goal to finally make the dream of all the past club members become a reality. However, things are not as easy as they seem as the club lacks the funding for such a huge endeavor. Aside from that, the only other club member, Kaito Yashio, shows no interest in assisting his childhood friend and instead indulges in playing mecha-fighting games on his "PokeCom." As Kaito is in the middle of wasting his days, he receives an indecipherable message and hears a voice that seems to be drowned out by the noise of static. He searches for the source, only to realize that it came from Airi Yukifune, an AI which only exists within the augmented reality system accessible via the PokeCom. Robotic;Notes follows the story of Kaito as he discovers a peculiar report in Airi's database, one that would have disastrous consequences in the future. Club about building rockets or robots is one of the most sore plots possible for me. Characters are ok, but otherwise it's extremely boring. I fell asleep over it more times than over any other anime.   Overall Rating: 6/10

23. Initial D Fifth Stage 頭文字 D Fifth Stage  [SynergySP] (Finished 1/14) Tags: Seinen Racing Action, Drama After earning a series of difficult victories in the prefectures of Tochigi, Saitama, and Ibaraki, the drivers of Project D—an amateur street driving group led by ex-street driver and expert tactician Ryousuke Takahashi—Takumi Fujiwara and Keisuke Takahashi now have to take Project D to the next level: the Kanagawa prefecture, commonly known as the holy land of street racing. Their opponents, members of the three best street racing teams of Kanagawa, design an elaborate strategy called the "Four Lines of Defense" to put a definitive end to the ambitions of Project D. Meanwhile, Takumi feels he needs to refine his driving skills to overcome the last victory against Toshiya Joushima that he only just managed to snatch. The moment of truth has now come for Project D, which carries with it the hopes of the Gunma Prefecture; will they manage to thwart the surprising tactics of the skilled street racers of Kanagawa? Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

24. Medaka Box Abnormal めだかボックス アブノーマル [Gainax] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Shounen Martial Arts, School, Super Power Action, Comedy, Ecchi After the defeat of Myouri Unzen at the hands of Medaka Kurokami and her Student Council, peace has returned to Hakoniwa Academy—at least, for a short while. Soon, Medaka, Zenkichi Hitoyoshi, Kouki Akune, and Mogana Kikaijima find themselves wrapped up in another sinister scheme, known as the "Flask Plan," led by the school's principal himself. However, the council's first problem is to deal with a whole new group of superhuman students calling themselves the "Thirteen Party," led by the egotistical but powerful Oudo Miyakonojou. With the mysterious Flask Plan, Oudo's tyranny, and the resurfacing of an old enemy, the state of Hakoniwa Academy is far from tranquil, and Medaka and her companions have their hands full as things only get a lot more abnormal. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

25. Ixion Saga DT イクシオン サーガ DT [Brain's Base] (Finished 25/25) Tags: Isekai Action, Comedy, Fantasy One day as Kon Hokaze is playing an MMORPG, he receives a request from a female character in the game. He thinks that he has lucked out and found a girlfriend online, but suddenly he finds himself transported into the world of Mira where he accidentally saves a young princess by landing on her attacker with his swivel chair. With no idea how he got there nor how to get back to his own world, Kon tags along with the princess as part of her honor guard while a militant faction of the princess's own country seeks to capture her before she can complete her arranged marriage. I like almost all humor a lot here. But there's zero story, just character interaction and humor, and that wears off eventually if watched in large gulps. And with this size humor can get slightly repetitive. It felt like a firm masterpiece for the first half, but eventually I settled with lower one.   Overall Rating: 7/10

26. Hayate no Gotoku! Can't Take My Eyes Off You Hayate the Combat Butler: Can't Take My Eyes Off You ハヤテのごとく! CAN'T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU [Manglobe] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Shounen Harem, Parody Comedy Taking place one month after the events that occurred in the movie Heaven is a Place on Earth. Living at the Sanzenin Mansion once again, Nagi returns to her old ways of life, until she receives word from American authorities informing her that she has a week to pick up her late father's belongings that was indefinitely delayed due to various circumstances. After receiving news of her father whom she doesn't remember, Nagi then meets a mysterious girl (with a hidden agenda) claiming to be Nagi's little sister. The series tells a new story that is original to the anime and not directly based on the manga. The main author of the original series Kenjiro Hata personally created the original concept for the story of this anime. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 5/10

27. Aikatsu! アイカツ！アイドルカツドウ！ [Sunrise, Bandai Namco Pictures] (Finished 1/178) Tags: Shoujo Idols (Female), Music, School Slice of Life An idol's brilliance illuminates the dreams of humanity. Starlight Academy, a holy ground for celebrities in training, seeks to realize this belief. Behind its rigorous entrance requirements lie not only the top young stars in the entertainment business, but some of the best memories these students will ever have. Or so Aoi Kiriya believes. Alongside her best friend Ichigo, Aoi decides to apply for the prestigious private school in hopes of living up to the praise of the biggest idol in the world: Mizuki Kanzaki. As they journey through the numerous laughs, friendships, and heartbreaks that await them, can the two girls light up the lives of others as Mizuki has done for them? Whether it be chopping down Christmas trees, traversing obstacle courses, or even rock climbing, there's always a playful new adventure to be found in the world of Aikatsu!. 3DCGI dances and collection cards are red flags for me, but overall a normal idol anime that you expect it to be .   Overall Rating: 6/10

28. Yu☆Gi☆Oh! Zexal Second Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal II 遊☆戯☆王ZEXALⅡ（セカンド） [Gallop] (Finished 1/73) Tags: Shounen Strategy Game Action, Fantasy After defeating a mysterious enemy, Yuuma Tsukumo, along with the help of Kaito Tenjou and Ryouga "Shark" Kamishiro, has thwarted the Barians' plans. However, Yuuma is still on a quest to retrieve the Number Cards to restore Astral's memories. The Seven Barian Emperors catch wind of Yuuma and Astral's endeavors and begin to collect the cards themselves to achieve their ultimate goal: destroying Astral's world in exchange for saving their own. Though only five of the emperors are present, they unanimously decide on annihilating Astral and Yuuma once and for all. Elsewhere, with their newfound powers of ZEXAL, Astral and Yuuma work to eliminate the enemy force that threatens Earth and the rest of the universe. Yu☆Gi☆Oh! Zexal Second unveils the mysteries and unpleasant surprises that lie in the wake of Yuuma's adversities. As Astral struggles to accept his past and the consequences it may have brought, will the gods continue to shower their fortune upon Yuuma on yet another perilous adventure? Sequel.   Overall Rating: 5/10

29. Busou Shinki Busou Shinki: Armored War Goddess 武装神姫 [8bit] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Mecha Action, Sci-Fi, Slice of Life The slice-of-life battle story is set in a future that has neither World War III nor an alien invasion—just an ordinary future set after our current age. In this world, robots are part of everyday life, and they contribute in various aspects of society. "Shinki" are 15-centimeter-tall (about 6-inch-tall) cute partners made to assist humans. Equipped with intelligence and emotions, they devote themselves to serving their "Masters." These Shinki can even be equipped with weapons and armor to fight each other. Such Shinki are named "Busou Shinki" (literally, "armed divine princesses"). In particular, the Shinki Ann (Arnval), Aines (Altines), and Lene (Altlene) serve a high school freshman named Masato. Things change when a new Shinki, the bellicose Strarf, joins them. Not finding interesting battles of toy robots or avatars like in Angelic Layer. It's totally the same, plus typical SOL here.   Overall Rating: 5/10

30. Hidamari Sketch x Honeycomb ひだまりスケッチ×ハニカム [Shaft] (Finished 1/12) Tags: CGDCT, Iyashikei, School, Visual Arts Comedy Studying at the Yamabuki Arts High School has been a dream-come-true for Yuno, and she's learned so much already! And not just from her instructors, but from her friends and neighbors who've become her second family and made the Hidamari Apartments such a safe and nurturing home. But as the day of her "big sisters" Sae and Hiro's graduation draws slowly closer, it's time for Yuno to start seriously taking on the same role for Nazuna, Nori and the other budding young artists who've entered Hidamari's protective cocoon. And it's also time to tackle some really challenging artistic assignments. That doesn't mean there won't still be time for fun with Miyako and all the others, but it's definitely time to pencil in her plans for the future. And sometimes that means you have to put the art before the course! Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

31. Juusen Battle Monsuno Monsuno: World Master 獣旋バトル モンスーノ [Larx Entertainment] (Finished 1/52) Tags: Action, Adventure  Chase Suno and his friends, Jinja and Bren, are on a search for Chase's father, Jeredy Suno. However, they soon become involved in something else upon reaching their father's lab and becoming involved with an organism known as Monsuno. Chase, choosing to side with his father's work, denies S.T.O.R.M. access to the Monsuno and escapes. They are now on the run from the military organization, S.T.O.R.M., while still looking for Chase's father. However, a mysterious organization also has his eyes set on Chase and the group's Monsuno. Another pokemon reinvention with a bit older characters.   Overall Rating: 5/10

32. Chousoku Henkei Gyrozetter 超速変形ジャイロゼッター [A-1 Pictures] (Finished 1/51) Tags: Mecha, Racing Action In 21st century Japan, cars with artificial intelligence for increased safety, known as "A.I. cars," have revolutionized the car industry. Special schools teaching children driving A.I. cars have been established. One day, Kakeru Todoroki, a fifth grader of Arcadia Academy, was summoned by the school principal and given an A.I. car "to save the humanity by chosen drivers like you." The car, however, is not just a car but also a transforming robot known as "Gyrozetter." For those who still aren't tired of Transformers.   Overall Rating: 5/10

33. Arata naru Sekai: World's/Start/Load/End World's End アラタなるセカイ WORLD'S/START/LOAD/END [Madhouse] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Time Travel Sci-Fi Four high school girls in uniforms walk silently on the barren earth. These girls are time travelers who had been sent 6000 years into the future, from their present in which the same day is endlessly repeated, in order to evade human extinction. They studied time travel in school, were examined by the aptitude test, and were sent to the future as told. What should they do now? They had no idea. The only thing they could take with them from the present was a light, toy-like cellphone. Of course, it receives no signal here. As the girls are walking, they see strange birds flying in the sky, and a discolored river in the distance. Then, one girl finds an abandoned house, and recognizes the name inscribed on the front gates. Travelling to future without any purpose is very lightminded. So it becomes exploration without any purpose. It is unwise to expect a decent ending out of this.   Overall Rating: 5/10

34. Usogui 嘘喰い [Soft Garage, Shueisha] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Seinen High Stakes Game, Psychological, Strategy Game There are gamblers out there who even bet their lives as ante. But to secure the integrity of these life-threatening gambles, a violent and powerful organization by the name of "Kagerou" referees these games as a neutral party. Follow Bak Madarame a.k.a. Usogui (The Lie Eater) as he gambles against maniacal opponents at games—such as Escape the Abandoned Building, Old Maid, and Hangman—to ultimately "out-gamble" and control the neutral organization of Kagerou itself. Not translated. Very similar to Kaiji, but begins without introductions from Hangman arc. And Kaiji was still better.   Overall Rating: 5/10

35. Dogra Magra ドグラ・マグラ [-] (Finished 0/1) Tags: Mystery, Sci-Fi  An animated adaptation of Yumeno Kyuusaku's sci-fi novel Dogura Magura. Not found.   Overall Rating: 0/10

36. Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版:Q [Khara] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Mecha, Psychological Action, Award Winning, Drama, Sci-Fi  Fourteen years after the Third Impact, the Earth is a post-apocalyptic wasteland, human civilization is in ruins, and the people Shinji Ikari knows are almost unrecognizable. Trapped inside Evangelion Unit-01, he is recovered from space by Asuka Langley Shikinami and Mari Illustrious Makinami, only to find himself a prisoner of WILLE, a military faction led by his former guardian Misato Katsuragi. Cold and bitter, his former allies view him with suspicion and refuse to support him as he comes to terms with the consequences of his actions. A hurt and confused Shinji is rescued from WILLE by Rei Ayanami and returned to NERV headquarters. There, he meets and quickly befriends the enigmatic Kaworu Nagisa, who offers him warmth and insight into the state of NERV's war with the Angels. But Shinji and Kaworu's brief respite lies on the eve of a new battle, one in which Shinji finds that his enemies are no longer Angels but former comrades. In this bitter confrontation to determine the future of the world, Shinji will learn first-hand that the past truly cannot be undone. Finally continuation of the story after two recap movies. Or so I thought. But main difference is Asuka does not have left eye, Shinji wakes up after 14 years of slumber, and Kaoru is introduced to Shinji only now.. Then ending of original movie is retold... So, these reinstallment movies just rewrite original canon as desired. After original movie that put a logical end we get a lot of BS now again just in order produce more movies. I'd say skip entirely unless some chaotic action is welcome.   Overall Rating: 5/10

37. Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica Movie 1: Hajimari no Monogatari Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part 1: Beginnings 劇場版 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ 始まりの物語 [Shaft] (Finished 1/1) Madoka Kaname and her best friend Sayaka Miki are ordinary middle school students in the city of Mitakihara. But one day, they encounter a strange cat-like creature named Kyuubey, who claims he can grant them one wish. In exchange, they would become magical girls and fight against evil perpetrated by witches. A veteran magical girl in the area, Mami Tomoe, decides to show them how to hunt witches, while the mysterious transfer student Homura Akemi warns them to not take Kyuubey's deal, though she refuses to say why. However, after witnessing the brutal reality of fighting witches, the girls decide it may be safer to decline Kyuubey's offer. But when another magical girl arrives in the city and Sayaka decides to make a wish to help the one she loves, things quickly escalate as they are confronted with the harsh truth behind their powers and the ultimate price of their wishes. Recap of the series that was was not needed in first place.   Overall Rating: 4/10

38. Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica Movie 2: Eien no Monogatari Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part 2: Eternal 劇場版 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ 永遠の物語 [Shaft] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Mahou Shoujo, Psychological Drama, Suspense Though Sayaka Miki's wish was fulfilled, the unforeseen consequences that came with it overwhelm her, causing her soul gem to become tainted as she succumbs to despair and eventually loses her humanity. Homura Akemi reveals to Kyouko Sakura and Madoka Kaname the ultimate fate of magical girls: once their soul gem becomes tainted, it transforms into a Grief Seed, and they are reborn as witches—a truth Homura learned only through repeating history countless times in a bid to prevent Madoka's tragedy. Kyuubey only compounds their despair when he confesses his true intentions: to harness the energy created from magical girls and use it to prolong the life of the universe. As the threat of Walpurgisnacht, a powerful witch, looms overhead, Homura once again vows to protect Madoka and the world from a grim fate. Caught between honoring Homura's wish and saving the world, which one will Madoka choose in the end? Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica Movie 2: Eien no Monogatari is a story of inescapable destiny, and an unlikely hero who could change it all. Recap of the series that was was not needed in first place.   Overall Rating: 4/10

39. Nerawareta Gakuen Psychic School Wars ねらわれた学園 [Sunrise] (Finished 1/1) Tags: School Romance, Sci-Fi Very little changes in Kenji Seki's daily routine. Every morning, he takes his dog to the beach in the hopes of catching a glimpse of his classmate, Kahori Harukawa, while she surfs. Afterward, he meets up with his neighbor and childhood friend, Natsuki Suzuura, and they walk to school. In essence, he lives an idyllic life where the only thing he has to worry about is how to finally confess his feelings to Kahori. The routineness of Kenji's life is interrupted by the arrival of a mysterious transfer student. Ryouichi Kyougoku, who claims to be a psychic, has both the charisma and popularity that Kenji has always dreamed of. Before long, Kahori begins to show feelings for Ryouichi, and Natsuki becomes distant whenever Kenji tries to talk about his feelings. As Kenji's life is thrown into disarray, how will Ryouichi's arrival impact those around him? Nerawareta Gakuen follows these formerly typical high schoolers as they become involved with the supernatural. I don't remember a single good story about psychics, and this one only adds to the number of buried ones. Total confusion, waste of time.   Overall Rating: 5/10

40. Fuse: Teppou Musume no Torimonochou Fusé: Memoirs of a Huntress 伏 鉄砲娘の捕物帳 [TMS Entertainment] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Historical Action, Drama, Supernatural In Kyokutei Bakin's classic Japanese epic novel Nansou Satomi Hakkenden, eight samurai serve the Satomi clan during Japan's tumultuous Sengoku (Warring States) era. The Edo-era samurai are the reincarnations of the spirits that Princess Fuse mothered with a dog named Yatsufusa. In Fuse Gansaku: Satomi Hakkenden, the female hunter Hamaji comes to her brother in order to hunt Fuse. Thus, the karmic cycle of retribution that began long ago with the Satomi family begins anew. Karmic circles and reincarnations are way out of my interest. Characters behave irrationally, and story is really bad. Another time sink.   Overall Rating: 5/10

41. Mass Effect: Paragon Lost マスエフェクト～失われたパラゴン  [Production I.G] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi  Mass Effect: Paragon Lost is the prequel to the highly-anticipated Mass Effect 3 and follows the early career of Alliance Marine, James Vega. Vega leads an elite Special Forces squad into battle against a mysterious alien threat known as The Collectors. Stationed at a colony in a remote star system, Vega and his soldiers must protect the civilians from a ruthless invasion determined to capture the population for unknown purposes. Learn more about the Mass Effect universe with an unprecedented glimpse into the haunted past of Mass Effect's newest hero! I don't consider Mass Effect a good franchise - totally artificial and generic. Movie is on par with it, just without charismatic companions.   Overall Rating: 5/10

42. Gothicmade: Hana no Utame GOTHICMADE -ゴティックメード 花の詩女- [Automatic Flowers Studio] (Finished 0/1) Tags: Mecha Romance, Sci-Fi On a tiny colony world named Carmine, young women known as Songstresses inherit the generation memories of those who came before them, using their knowledge to help a populace that suffers under the harsh policies of the ruling interplanetary league. Newly reborn as a Songstress, 16-year-old Bellin Ajelli sets off a holy pilgrimage across the planet. Rumors of a possible terrorist attack result in Prince Truhallon of the militant Donau Empire being sent in to protect her, but his very presence is the antithesis of everything Bellin stands for. The two are as different as night and day, but they're stuck together until they reach the capital. Not found.   Overall Rating: 0/10

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