Anime of the Year 2014-II Spring - No Game No Life

No Game No Life is an ultimately enjoyable anime. Also I call honorary masterpieces Ping Pong the Animation , Mangaka-san to Assistant-san to The Animation and Sidonia no Kishi .

1. No Game No Life No Game, No Life ノーゲーム・ノーライフ [Madhouse] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Isekai, Strategy Game Comedy, Fantasy, Ecchi  Sixteen sentient races inhabit Disboard, a world overseen by Tet, the One True God. The lowest of the sixteen—Imanity—consists of humans, a race with no affinity for magic. In a place where everything is decided through simple games, humankind seems to have no way out of their predicament—but the arrival of two outsiders poses a change. On Earth, stepsiblings Sora and Shiro are two inseparable shut-ins who dominate various online games under the username "Blank." While notorious on the internet, the pair believe that life is merely another dull game. However, after responding to a message from an unknown user, they are suddenly transported to Disboard. The mysterious sender turns out to be Tet, who informs them about the world's absolute rules. After Tet leaves, Sora and Shiro begin their search for more information and a place to stay, taking them to Elkia—Imanity's only remaining kingdom. There, the duo encounters Stephanie Dola, an emotional girl vying for the kingdom's sovereignty. In desperation, she attempts to regain her father's throne, but her foolhardiness makes her goal unachievable. Inspired by the girl's motivation and passion, Sora and Shiro decide to aid Stephanie in getting Elkia back on its feet, ultimately aiming to become the new rulers of the enigmatic realm. It's definitely an enjoyable piece of art, but it's not finished and can't compared it to genius masterpieces in enjoyment. But can call it thought-provoking, so it deserves a 9..   Overall Rating: 9/10

2. Haikyuu!! ハイキュー!! [Production I.G] (Finished 1/25) Tags: Shounen School, Team Sports Ever since having witnessed the "Little Giant" and his astonishing skills on the volleyball court, Shouyou Hinata has been bewitched by the dynamic nature of the sport. Even though his attempt to make his debut as a volleyball regular during a middle school tournament went up in flames, he longs to prove that his less-than-impressive height ceases to be a hindrance in the face of his sheer will and perseverance. When Hinata enrolls in Karasuno High School, the Little Giant's alma mater, he believes that he is one step closer to his goal of becoming a professional volleyball player. Although the school only retains a shadow of its former glory, Hinata's conviction isn't shaken until he learns that Tobio Kageyama—the prodigy who humiliated Hinata's middle school volleyball team in a crushing defeat—is now his teammate. To fulfill his desire of leaving a mark on the realm of volleyball—so often regarded as the domain of the tall and the strong—Hinata must smooth out his differences with Kageyama. Only when Hinata learns what it takes to be a part of a team will he be able to join the race to the top in earnest. I'm surprised to learn that there is such a popular anime about volleyball. But all I see is better than usually done shounen spokon with characters that I don't like, nothing really exceptional.   Overall Rating: 6/10

3. JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken Part 3: Stardust Crusaders JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 スターダストクルセイダース [David Production] (Finished 1/24) Tags: Shounen Action, Adventure, Supernatural Years after an ancient evil was salvaged from the depths of the sea, Joutarou Kuujou sits peacefully within a Japanese jail cell. He's committed no crime yet demands he not be released, believing he's been possessed by an evil spirit capable of harming those around him. Concerned for her son, Holy Kuujou asks her father, Joseph Joestar, to convince Joutarou to leave the prison. Joseph informs his grandson that the "evil spirit" is in fact something called a "Stand," the physical manifestation of one's fighting spirit which can adopt a variety of deadly forms. After a fiery brawl with Joseph's friend Muhammad Avdol, Joutarou is forced out of his cell and begins learning how to control the power of his Stand. However, when a Stand awakens within Holy and threatens to consume her in 50 days, Joutarou, his grandfather, and their allies must seek out and destroy the immortal vampire responsible for her condition. They must travel halfway across the world to Cairo, Egypt and along the way, do battle with ferocious Stand users set on thwarting them. If Joutarou and his allies fail in their mission, humanity is destined for a grim fate. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

4. Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei The Irregular at Magic High School 魔法科高校の劣等生 [Madhouse] (Finished 8/26) Tags: School Action, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi In the dawn of the 21st century, magic, long thought to be folklore and fairy tales, has become a systematized technology and is taught as a technical skill. In First High School, the institution for magicians, students are segregated into two groups based on their entrance exam scores: "Blooms," those who receive high scores, are assigned to the First Course, while "Weeds" are reserve students assigned to the Second Course. Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei follows the siblings, Tatsuya and Miyuki Shiba, who are enrolled in First High School. Upon taking the exam, the prodigious Miyuki is placed in the First Course, while Tatsuya is relegated to the Second Course. Though his practical test scores and status as a "Weed" show him to be magically inept, he possesses extraordinary technical knowledge, physical combat capabilities, and unique magic techniques—making Tatsuya the irregular at a magical high school. I remember liking the beginning and characters, but it got stale and boring eventually as interest in the possible story developments got lost. It seemed to have all the right cards, but it did not work out for me.   Overall Rating: 6/10

5. Fairy Tail (2014) Fairy Tail Series 2 FAIRY TAIL（フェアリーテイル） [A-1 Pictures, Bridge] (Finished 1/102) Tags: Shounen Action, Adventure, Fantasy The Grand Magic Games reaches its climax following Natsu Dragneel and Gajeel Redfox's stunning victory over Sting Eucliffe and Rogue Cheney of the Sabertooth guild. This success pushes the Fairy Tail guild closer to being crowned the overall champions, but obtaining victory isn't the only challenge they face. A mystery still surrounds a hooded stranger and the ominous Eclipse Gate, leaving more questions than answers. More crazy adventures are on the horizon for Fairy Tail as their destructive antics and joyful rowdiness continue unabated. Their greatest trial is quickly approaching, but united as a family, the guild will always be ready to face any threat that comes their way. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

6. Black Bullet ブラック・ブレット　BLACK BULLET　［黒の銃弾］ [Kinema Citrus, Orange] (Finished 3/13) Tags: Action, Mystery, Sci-Fi  In the year 2021, a parasitic virus known as "Gastrea" infects humans and turns them into monsters. What is left of mankind now lives within the Monolith walls, walls that are made of Varanium, the only material that can hurt Gastrea. To counter the threat that the Gastrea pose, "Cursed Children"—female children whose bodies contain trace amounts of the virus which grant them superhuman abilities—officially called Initiators by the Tendo Civil Security, are given partners called Promoters, people who work to guide and protect the young Initiators. These teams of two are sent out on missions to fight the monsters created by the Gastrea virus and keep them at bay. Black Bullet revolves around the team of Enju Aihara, an Initiator, and Satomi Rentaro, a Promoter, as they go on missions to fight the growing threat of Gastrea in their hometown of Tokyo. I remember dropping it, because it was too unserious and ridiculous to my taste. It just does not live up to expectations and disappoints on the way.   Overall Rating: 6/10

7. Date A Live II デート・ア・ライブⅡ [Production IMS] (Finished 1/10) Tags: Harem, Mecha, School Action, Romance, Sci-Fi Spirits are otherworldly entities with immense power, capable of creating spatial quakes whenever they appear. One way of dealing with them is through brute force and killing them... or making them fall in love and sealing their powers. Having sealed three Spirits, Shidou Itsuka continues his mission with Ratatoskr in locating more spirits and dating them, to ensure the world's safety from further destruction. However, this time around, their problems will not be limited to Spirits as a more imposing threat seems to have noticed their activities. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

8. Mekakucity Actors メカクシティアクターズ [Shaft] (Finished 2/12) Tags: Super Power Sci-Fi, Supernatural On the hot summer day of August 14, Shintarou Kisaragi is forced to leave his room for the first time in two years. While arguing with the cyber girl Ene who lives in his computer, Shintarou Kisaragi accidentally spills soda all over his keyboard. Though they try to find a replacement online, most stores are closed due to the Obon festival, leaving them with no other choice but to visit the local department store. Venturing outside makes Shintarou extremely anxious, but the thought of living without his computer is even worse. It's just his luck that on the day he finally goes out, he's caught in a terrifying hostage situation. Luckily, a group of teenagers with mysterious eye powers, who call themselves the "Mekakushi Dan," assist Shintarou in resolving the situation. As a result, he is forced to join their group, along with Ene. Their abilities seem to be like pieces of a puzzle, connecting one another, and as each member's past is unveiled, the secret that ties them together is slowly brought to light. It's abstract and pretentious, plus each episode has different characters who probably meet by the end in some combined story. Basically, I just don't care about these characters and these stories - they are plainly not interesting.   Overall Rating: 6/10

9. Ping Pong the Animation ピンポン THE ANIMATION [Tatsunoko Production] (Finished 11/11) Tags: Seinen Award Winning, Drama, Sports Despite being polar opposites, Makoto "Smile" Tsukimoto and Yutaka "Peco" Hoshino have been best friends since childhood. Although the overly confident Peco strives to be the best ping-pong player in the world, he often skips practice, earning the ire of his fellow teammates on the Katase High School ping-pong team. Meanwhile, Smile—in spite of his innate talent for the sport—cannot help but hold back his full strength when playing against others. Through their mutual love for ping-pong, the two have developed a bond that is seemingly unbreakable. When Peco hears that an ex-national team player from China is coming to Japan, he drags Smile over to rival Tsujido High School to observe them. The subsequent trip leads to a clash between Peco and Kong Wenge, who overwhelmingly defeats the former in one game. Stunned by such a comprehensive loss, Peco finds himself questioning why he plays to begin with. Seeing his potential as a player, Katase's coach begins to train Smile to overcome his hesitation, but he is reluctant to play if it is not for enjoyment. As the two struggle to find meaning in the sport, a plethora of stronger players—each with their own internal strifes—await them at the inter-high tournament, where only the very best can persevere. But when these young athletes let their unbridled ambition go unchecked, the hardships they face paint a somber reality as they pursue glory. I skipped it before thinking it's another spokon, but I heard in podcasts that it's not usual spokon and that it's unique in what it does, so here I am. It's more about backgrounds and motivations and paths and relations, but I keep comparing it with old The Ping-Pong club anime which seem to have a lot of roots for this one. Anyway, it's short and meaningful, it deserves a honorary masterpiece.   Overall Rating: 7/10

10. Bokura wa Minna Kawai-sou The Kawai Complex Guide to Manors and Hostel Behavior 僕らはみんな河合荘 [Brain's Base] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Seinen Romantic Subtext, School Slice of Life Kazunari Usa is a high school freshman who will start living alone due to his parents now working in a different area. Excited for his new independent life, he hopes to go about his teenage days without the worry of dealing with any strange people, but as he soon discovers, his new boarding house Kawai Complex is far from ordinary. The various tenants at Kawai Complex are all quite eccentric characters. Shirosaki, Kazunari's roommate, is a pervert and masochist; Mayumi Nishikino, a borderline alcoholic office lady, hates couples because of her unfortunate luck with men; and Sayaka Watanabe, a seemingly innocent college student, enjoys leading men on. Shocked with the lack of decent individuals at his new residence, Kazunari is about to leave when he runs into shy senior student Ritsu Kawai and finds himself slowly falling in love with her. Maison Ikkoku is a pretty good setting, so it was only a matter of time till it inspired a similar work. I probably dropped it on the way, but don't remember where or why, so it's time to finish it. And now I get the reasons - this show is slow, aimless. repetitive and somewhat immature. Protagonists in modern anime are much more realistic and complex.   Overall Rating: 6/10

11. Hitsugi no Chaika Chaika -The Coffin Princess- 棺姫のチャイカ [Bones] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Romance  For 500 years, the Taboo Emperor, Arthur Gaz, ruled the Gaz Empire with an iron fist and conducted inhumane experiments on his own people. But his reign came to an end five years ago, when mighty warriors—later known as the Eight Heroes—defeated him in a battle for the capital. His death ended the 300-yearlong war between the Gaz Empire and the alliance of six nations. In the present day, Tooru Acura is a former saboteur from the war who has difficulty settling into the peaceful world, as he cannot find a job where he can put his fighting skills to use. An opportunity appears before him, however, when he meets a white-haired Wizard named Chaika Trabant. With a coffin on her back, she is searching for the scattered remains of her father in order to give him a proper burial, and she hires Tooru and his adoptive sister Akari to help her. However, the six nations alliance, which have now formed the Council of Six Nations, dispatches Albéric Gillette and his men from the Kleeman Agency to pursue and apprehend the late Emperor Gaz's daughter—Chaika. With the shocking revelation of Chaika's identity, the Acura siblings must choose between helping her gather the remains of the tyrannical emperor and upholding the peace the continent strives to maintain. I remember dropping it after first episode, because pilot is disastrous. But it gets to be just above average fantasy travel anime. With such story and quite bland characters there's not much to expect or enjoy.   Overall Rating: 6/10

12. Gokukoku no Brynhildr Brynhildr in the Darkness 極黒のブリュンヒルデ [Arms] (Finished 4/13) Tags: Seinen Super Power Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi Venturing into the wilderness, the skeptical Ryouta Murakami and the ambitious Kuroneko were on a quest to prove the existence of extraterrestrial life when a tragic accident occurred, reaping Kuroneko of her life and leaving Ryouta in a critically injured state. Ten years have passed since the disaster, and Ryouta is now living a normal life in high school. He vows to prove that aliens are real in honor of his late friend. A transfer student named Neko Kuroha unexpectedly arrives one day, bearing a striking resemblance to the late Kuroneko—even sharing a similar name. Most mysteriously, she seems to possess supernatural powers. As Ryouta takes more interest in Neko, he is drawn into a deadly world where dangerous scientists hunt magic-wielding witches that have escaped from their secret research laboratory. Neko is one of these escapees, but there are many others who are in similar situations, and it's up to Ryouta to protect them from their would-be captors. This time mystery is about runaway magician girls who can foresee future. My old self dropped it early, but can't find anything worthwhile in it to go on either .   Overall Rating: 6/10

13. Isshuukan Friends. One Week Friends 一週間フレンズ。 [Brain's Base] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Shounen School Comedy Sixteen-year-old Yuuki Hase finally finds the courage to speak to his crush and ask her if she wants to become friends. The object of his affection, Kaori Fujimiya, is a quiet and reserved girl who cuts herself off from everyone and does not spare him the same blunt rejection she gives everybody else. Some time after, Yuuki finds her eating lunch on the roof where she secludes herself during break. He decides to start meeting with Kaori every day in the hopes of beginning to understand her better. The more time they spend together, the more she begins to open up to him. However, nearing the end of the week, she starts to push him away once more. It is then revealed to him the reason for Kaori's cold front: at the end of the week, her memories of those close to her, excluding her family, are forgotten, as they are reset every Monday. The result of an accident in middle school, the once popular and kind Kaori is now unable to make friends in fear of hurting the people dear to her. Determined to become more than just one week friends, Yuuki asks her the exact same question each Monday: "Would you like to be friends?" Because he knows that deep down, Kaori wishes for that more than anything. Cycled amnesia is super bad and cheesy way to execute romance ... I could never understand the appeal and never liked such works .   Overall Rating: 6/10

14. Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii The World is Still Beautiful それでも世界は美しい [Pierrot] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Shoujo Adventure, Fantasy, Romance In the Sun Kingdom, sunshine is part of its citizens' everyday lives, and rain is something that they have never even heard of. However, in a faraway land called the Rain Dukedom, the weather is reversed, and everybody has the power to create rain with their voices. Livius Ifrikia has conquered the entire world and expanded the Sun Kingdom's influence in the three short years since he was crowned king. Upon learning about the powers to create rain, Livius decides to marry Nike Remercier, one of the princesses of the Rain Dukedom. However, those outside the Sun Kingdom have spread a rumor that Livius is a cruel, ruthless, and tyrannical ruler, and as word reaches the princess, she begins to prepare herself for the worst. But when she finally meets her fiancé, Nike discovers that he is an entirely different person from what she originally expected. Of course I dumped it before, because it's just fantasy romance in artificial kingdoms. I require something more substantial.   Overall Rating: 6/10

15. Mushishi Zoku Shou Mushi-shi: Next Passage Part 1 蟲師 続章 [Artland] (Finished 1/10) Tags: Seinen Adult Cast, Historical, Iyashikei Adventure, Mystery, Slice of Life, Supernatural Perceived as strange and feared by man, over time the misshapen ones came to be known as Mushi. Although they harbor no ill intentions towards humans, many suffer from the side effects of their existence and strange nature; exploiting the Mushi without understanding them, even unintentionally, can lead to disaster and strife for any involved. Mushishi Zoku Shou continues the story of Mushishi Ginko on his journey to help the visible world to coexist with the Mushi. During his travels, Ginko discovers various gifted individuals—those cursed by circumstance and those maintaining a fragile symbiosis with the Mushi—inevitably confronting the question of whether humanity, talented and tortured alike, can manage the responsibility of the unseen. Moreover, as a Mushishi, Ginko must learn more about these strange beings and decide if he has the right to interfere with the complex relationships between Mushi and mankind. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

16. Mangaka-san to Assistant-san to The Animation The Comic Artist and His Assistants マンガ家さんとアシスタントさんと THE ANIMATION [Zexcs] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Seinen Harem Comedy, Ecchi Yuuki Aito is a perverted manga artist who appreciates panties, wishing to draw as many as he can. Being surrounded by numerous female assistants, he is constantly asking to use them as references for the manga he draws. Although Aito has an extremely degenerate mind, he can also be a very kind, generous, and helpful person. The duality of his behavior confuses his assistants—do they love the considerate side of him that he rarely displays, or do they hate him for the perverted thoughts he has most of the time? It's half-length episodic silly comedy, but I have really positive recollections, probably because I like the theme and characters here. Can't ignore the fact that I enjoy it substantially.   Overall Rating: 7/10

17. Akuma no Riddle Riddle Story of Devil 悪魔のリドル [Diomedéa] (Finished 3/12) Tags: High Stakes Game, School Action, Girls Love, Suspense Tokaku Azuma has just transferred to the elite Myoujou Academy, a private girls' boarding school. But there's a catch: she, along with 11 of her fellow students in Class Black, is an assassin taking part in the challenge to kill their sweet-natured classmate, Haru Ichinose. Whoever succeeds will be granted their deepest desire, no matter the difficulty or cost. However, each assassin only gets one chance; if they fail to kill her, they will be expelled. Despite the extraordinary reward, Tokaku decides to take a different course of action. Though Haru is her target, the young assassin soon finds herself drawn to the very girl she is supposed to kill. With the entire class out for Haru, Tokaku refuses to let her friend die, vowing to protect her from a growing bloodlust. It's pretty straightforward - 11 assassins are enough to fill 10 episodes, plus two for intro. I require some special mood to enjoy such assassin action. But just comparing to other battle royales, it does not stand out much.   Overall Rating: 6/10

18. Love Live! School Idol Project 2nd Season Love Live! School Idol Project 2 ラブライブ! School idol project 2期 [Sunrise] (Finished 1/13) Tags: Idols (Female), Music, School Award Winning, Slice of Life Otonokizaka High School has been saved! Despite having to withdraw from the Love Live!, the efforts of μ's were able to garner enough interest in their school to prevent it from being shut down. What more, following the conclusion of the first, a second Love Live! is announced, this time on an even larger stage than before. Given a chance for redemption, the nine girls come together once more to sing their hearts out and claim victory. However, with the end of the school year approaching, the graduation of the third years draws near. As they attempt to reach the top of the Love Live!, they must also consider their future and choose what path the group will take. Though the question of whether to continue without the third years or disband weighs heavily on the minds of its members, μ's must quickly come to an answer with graduation right around the corner. Love Live! School Idol Project 2nd Season continues the story of the girls as they laugh, cry, sing, and dance in their journey to determine the future of their group and conquer the Love Live! in their last chance to win with all nine girls together. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

19. Ryuugajou Nanana no Maizoukin Nanana's Buried Treasure 龍ヶ嬢七々々の埋蔵金 [A-1 Pictures] (Finished 2/11) Tags: Adventure, Mystery, Supernatural  Nanae Island is a man-made island in the Pacific Ocean that holds everything necessary for the proper education and training of children. It was created by the Great Seven, a group of adventurers headed by Nanana Ryuugajou, as a place for the young to chase their dreams. After being disowned and exiled by his family, high school student Juugo Yama arrives on this island, happy to finally be free of his father. Upon moving into his new room, he discovers the ghost of Nanana Ryuugajou, bound to the island after her unsolved murder 10 years ago. Nanana tells Juugo that, just before her death, she hid items with unique and mysterious powers all across the island—items known as the Nanana Collection. Hoping to uncover clues that will help him find the culprit behind her death, Juugo, with the help of self-proclaimed "Master Detective" Tensai Ikkyuu and her cross-dressing maid Daruku Hoshino, sets out on his search. Modern full of traps treasure-hunting done by pupils looks... very weird. Add to this supernatural detective mystery, trap, puzzles and ghosts and it becomes evident that I can't bear this nonsense for long.   Overall Rating: 5/10

20. Gochuumon wa Usagi desu ka? Is the Order a Rabbit? ご注文はうさぎですか？ [White Fox] (Finished 2/12) Tags: CGDCT, Iyashikei, Workplace Slice of Life Kokoa Hoto is a positive and energetic girl who becomes friends with anyone in just three seconds. After moving in with the Kafuu family in order to attend high school away from home, she immediately befriends the shy and precocious granddaughter of Rabbit House cafe's founder, Chino Kafuu, who is often seen with the talking rabbit, Tippy, on her head. After beginning to work as a waitress in return for room and board, Kokoa also befriends another part-timer, Rize Tedeza, who has unusual behavior and significant physical capabilities due to her military upbringing; Chiya Ujimatsu, a waitress from a rival cafe who does everything at her own pace; and Sharo Kirima, another waitress at a different cafe who has the air of a noblewoman despite being impoverished. With fluffy silliness and caffeinated fun, Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka? is a heartwarming comedy about five young waitresses and their amusing adventures in the town they call home. When it comes to cute girls doing moe stuff, K-On is the measure, and this rabbit whatever falls short in comparison.   Overall Rating: 6/10

21. Sidonia no Kishi Knights of Sidonia シドニアの騎士 [Polygon Pictures] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Seinen Mecha, Space Action, Sci-Fi After destroying Earth many years ago, the alien race Gauna has been pursuing the remnants of humanity—which, having narrowly escaped, fled across the galaxy in a number of giant seed ships. In the year 3394, Nagate Tanikaze surfaces from his lifelong seclusion deep beneath the seed ship Sidonia in search of food on the upper levels, only to find himself dragged into events unfolding without his knowledge. When the Gauna begin their assault on Sidonia, it's up to Tanikaze—with the help of his fellow soldiers and friends Shizuka Hoshijiro, Izana Shinatose, and Yuhata Midorikawa—to defend humanity's last hope for survival, and defeat their alien foes. Sidonia no Kishi follows Tanikaze as he discovers the world that has been above him his entire life, and becomes the hero Sidonia needs. I always enjoyed Knights of Sidonia. It's that rare mecha that does not feel like mecha. But nine years later I see more shortcomings here, so I'll settle with borderline masterpiece.   Overall Rating: 7/10

22. Seikoku no Dragonar Dragonar Academy 星刻の竜騎士 [C-Station] (Finished 2/12) Tags: School Comedy, Fantasy, Ecchi  Learning to ride and tame dragons comes easy to most students at Ansarivan Dragonar Academy—except for first-year student Ash Blake, who is known by his fellow classmates as the "number one problem child." Poor Ash is the laughing stock at school because, despite his unfashionably large star-shaped brand that marks him as a future dragon master, he has nothing to show for it. His dragon has never appeared. Until now, that is. One fateful day, Ash's dragon awakes in full glory, but appears different than any dragon ever seen before—in the form of a beautiful girl! What's worse, Ash soon discovers that this new dragon has attitude to spare, as she promptly informs him that she is the master, and he, the servant. Ash's problems with dragon riding have only just begun. Just altered Zero no Tsukaima with more fanservice and darkness involved. It failed to catch my interest both then and now.   Overall Rating: 6/10

23. Soul Eater NOT! ソウルイーターノット！ [Bones] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Shounen School Action, Comedy, Fantasy Soul Eater NOT! is a spin-off and side story that takes place one year prior to the events of the original Soul Eater. At the Death Weapon Meister Academy, humans born with the power to transform into weapons and those with the power to wield these weapons (Meisters) train to hone their natural talent. The characters of the main series are enrolled in the Especially Advantaged Talent class, where they train to become warriors of justice capable of defeating what threats prey on innocent lives—or even the entire world. Other students at the DWMA are less talented. Members of the Normally Overcome Target class focus less on being warriors of justice and more on controlling their powers so they don't hurt themselves or anyone around them. Tsugumi Harudori, a new halberd-transforming student, meets Meisters Meme Tatane and Anya Hepburn and quickly grows indecisive about which of the two new friends should be her partner. As they learn to use these powers and settle in, their lives as everyday students will be far from normal. Sequel or spin-off or whatever. Never liked Soul Eater to begin with, not enjoying SOL in this silly universe either.   Overall Rating: 5/10

24. Kanojo ga Flag wo Oraretara If Her Flag Breaks 彼女がフラグをおられたら [Hoods Entertainment] (Finished 2/13) Tags: Harem, School Comedy, Romance  In visual novels, an imaginary flag is defined as an event that serves as a turning point for the whole story. A player triggering the romance flag for a heroine will proceed to her route, or a death flag will signify that a certain character will die afterwards. High school student Souta Hatate can see these flags above a person's head, and has the ability to bring them down to stop certain events from happening. Using this power, he has prevented other people's deaths. But, after a past accident with him as a sole survivor, he ended up believing that only misfortune will befall those who are near him, and has refrained from making friends or having relationships ever since. However, everything starts to change after transferring to a new school. After toppling another death flag, his classmate Nanami Knight Bladefield notices his powers and tries to learn more about him, promising that she will remain at his side no matter what may happen. Thus begins Souta's journey as he meets new friends and acquaintances while uncovering the mysteries of his ability—which might run deeper than what anyone expects. Protagonist with foreseeing superpower becomes popular at school and gathers all kinds of lolis around. There aren't many good harems, and among them it's quite ok.   Overall Rating: 6/10

25. Dragon Ball Kai (2014) Dragon Ball Z Kai: The Final Chapters ドラゴンボール改 [Toei Animation] (Finished 1/61) Tags: Shounen Martial Arts, Super Power Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy Remastered version of the Majin Buu saga that adheres more to the manga's story. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

26. Selector Infected WIXOSS  [J.C.Staff] (Finished 1/12) Tags: High Stakes Game, Psychological, Strategy Game Suspense Things are not always what they seem. This is especially true for Ruuko Kominato, when she receives a deck of cards for the popular card game WIXOSS, only to find a girl trapped inside her LRIG, or avatar card. Upon meeting others in the same situation, Ruuko discovers that she has now become a "Selector," a player in a special version of WIXOSS where girls can battle each other for a chance to have their deepest desires come true. However, there is a catch. In contrast to the glory that awaits them after their victories, there is a cruel fate: if they lose three times, their lives will be destroyed. In an ominous game filled with lies and deceit, Ruuko and her newfound friends must uncover the secrets behind WIXOSS and realize what is truly most important to them before it is too late. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

27. Baby Steps ベイビーステップ [Pierrot] (Finished 1/25) Tags: Shounen School Sports Diligent and methodical honor student Eiichirou Maruo decides to exercise more during the little free time he has available because he is worried about his health. For this reason, after seeing a flyer, he joins the Southern Tennis Club at the beginning of his freshman year. During his free trial at the club, he meets Natsu Takasaki, another first year student, who is determined on becoming a professional tennis player due to her love for the sport. In contrast, Eiichirou's study-oriented life exists because he believes that it is what he has to do, not because he enjoys it. However, his monotonous days come to an end as the more he plays tennis, the more he becomes fascinated by it. Baby Steps is the story of a boy who makes the most of his hard-working and perfectionist nature to develop his own unique playing style. Little by little, Eiichirou's skills begin to improve, and he hopes to stand on equal footing with tennis' best players. Since Hajime no Ippo concept has not changed, so it just gets applied to different sports, but this one is lighter and with super-nerdy protagonist.   Overall Rating: 6/10

28. Initial D Final Stage 頭文字 D Final Stage [SynergySP] (Finished 1/4) Tags: Seinen Racing  In the final match against the Kanagawa street racing team Sidewinder, Project D street racer Takumi Fujiwara is faced with a surprising challenger: Shinji Inui, a 17-year-old high school student. Beginning to drive at a very young age, Shinji is not only familiar with the mountain pass where the race is taking place, but he also drives a Toyota AE86—the same car model Takumi uses. Initially reluctant to participate due to a lack of enthusiasm, Shinji becomes motivated after witnessing the fiery battle between Keisuke Takahashi and Gou Houjou. Undefeated in his home course known as the Tsubaki Line, Shinji might prove to be Takumi's most formidable opponent yet. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

29. Blade & Soul ブレイドアンドソウル [Gonzo] (Finished 13/13) Tags: Martial Arts Action, Adventure, Fantasy Alka is an assassin for the Clan of the Sword. She's on a journey to find the woman Jin Valel, who killed her master Hon without feeling—not unlike how Alka has learned to kill in her work as an assassin. On her journey, Alka encounters three strange women, each a great warrior in her own right and grapples with her slain master's wish that she leaves the life of an assassin behind. I remember that I liked action and gore here, but overall it was a big letdown with story , characters and lots of things that did not make much sense.   Overall Rating: 6/10

30. Break Blade Broken Blade ブレイク ブレイド [Production I.G, Xebec] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Shounen Adult Cast, Mecha, Military Action, Fantasy In the continent of Cruzon, an impending war between the Kingdom of Krisna and the nation of Athens is brimming. The people of this land are able to use quartz for whatever purpose they desire. Yet one person, Rygart Arrow, is not. He is an "un-sorcerer," a person unable to use quartz. But this characteristic will enable him to pilot an ancient Golem, one strong enough to put up a fight against the invading army of Athens. Six movies were short, under 50 minutes each, so it fits well into 12 episodes. It was above average in every aspect, and don't see much change in the series.   Overall Rating: 6/10

31. Kenzen Robo Daimidaler Daimidaler: Prince vs. Penguin Empire 健全ロボ ダイミダラー [TNK] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Seinen Mecha Action, Comedy, Ecchi Battles continue between "Penguin Empire", the mysterious life form which arrived on earth all of a sudden, and "Beauty Salon Prince", the secret anti-Penguin organization. In order to fight Penguin Empire's gigantic "Penguin Robot", Beauty Salon Prince has developed their ultimate weapon, "Daimidaler", and is now looking for the pilot. They choose Koichi Madanbashi, a hot-blooded high school boy who is mad about big boobs, because he is the factor of "Hi-ERo particles", the source of unknown energy. Ecchi and mecha has always been a trashy mix, but adding parody to it makes it a crazy circus that I don't want to be part of.    Overall Rating: 5/10

32. Captain Earth キャプテン・アース  [Bones] (Finished 1/25) Tags: Mecha, Space Action, Romance, Sci-Fi One night, right before summer vacation, Manatsu Daichi, a second-year in high school, sees a weird round rainbow floating in the sky above Tanegashima and ventures there alone. He has seen this rainbow before. With the memories of his father's mysterious death and an encounter of a strange boy and girl, Daiji arrives on the island while the alarm of a building labeled Earth Engine is going off. Someone asks him if he is a captain, just as robotic intruders from Uranus called Kill-T-Gang arrive. The battle around the shining stars is about to begin. Feels like generic compilation mecha with stereotypical characters, and nothing here makes me want to explore it past pilot episode.   Overall Rating: 6/10

33. Yu☆Gi☆Oh! Arc-V Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V 遊☆戯☆王　アーク・ファイブ ARC-V [Gallop] (Finished 1/148) Tags: Shounen Strategy Game Action, Fantasy Action Duels, which allow duelists to soar and swing alongside their Duel Monsters, are taking the world by storm. Due to an evolutionary breakthrough, the "Solid Vision" system is now able to provide Duel Monsters with mass. Yuuya Sakaki is Yuusho Sakaki's son, the latter being the founder of You Show Duel School in Miami City. Yuusho insists that duels are not a tool of war, but rather are to bring smiles to people and thus introduced the concept of Entertainment Dueling. However, at the height of his fame, Yuusho disappears and fails to attend his duel with Strong Ishijima, the Action Duel champion. Although scarred by this sudden leave, Yuuya vows to become an Entertainment Duelist like his father. Several years later, in the midst of a battle with Strong Ishijima, Yuuya's desperation to win brings forth a miracle. His pendant begins glowing, turning his cards into Pendulum Cards, which enables him to perform a Pendulum Summon—a summoning method unknown to the world and himself—gaining him fame overnight. As a result, Reiji Akaba, CEO of Leo Corporation and founder of the elite Leo Duel School, starts producing new Pendulum Cards to incorporate Pendulum Summoning into the system. Thus, the mysteries that surround Pendulum Summoning and Yuuya's father start to unravel, and Yuuya learns bit by bit what it takes to become an Entertainment Duelist. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 5/10

34. Escha & Logy no Atelier: Tasogare no Sora no Renkinjutsushi エスカ&ロジーのアトリエ ～黄昏の空の錬金術士～ [Studio Gokumi] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Fantasy  This world has gone through many Dusks, and is slowly nearing its end. Within this world, in the western reaches of the "Land of Dusk," there was a nation that prospered thanks to its use of alchemy. There, in order to survive the eventual arrival of the "Dusk End," the people devoted their efforts to rediscover and recreate lost alchemic technologies. Rediscovered technology from the past era was gathered in the alchemy research city known as "Central," where research was conducted on how to halt the advance of the twilight. One of the heroes is a young man who researched alchemy in Central, the other a girl living in a small town on the frontier. This girl's name is Escha. In the process of using her knowledge of ancient alchemy to help others, she was assigned to the Development Department. The young man's name is Logy. Having learned the newest alchemic techniques in Central, he requested a transfer to this understaffed town to make use of his abilities, and meets Escha when he is assigned to the Development Department as well. The two make a promise to use their alchemy together, and bring success to the Development Department. Can't stand the games, can't stand the anime. It's grand mystery for me how it can be appreciated.   Overall Rating: 5/10

35. M3: Sono Kuroki Hagane M3～ソノ黒キ鋼～ [Satelight] (Finished 1/24) Tags: Mecha, Psychological Action, Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi In a dark void known as the Lightless Realm, a group of children meet and bond, but are then separated and returned to their own dimension. Years later, these children reunite to fight "Admonitions," monsters that originate from the same void, using robots known as "Vess." However, their efforts only slow the ever-encroaching and expanding Lightless Realm from infecting their world. Their lives take a drastic turn when a new foe appears in the form of a "Corpse," whose song is rumored to kill any who hear it within nine days. The "Corpse Song" is heard by the group, and with this, they each begin to pull away and become caught up in their own personal problems—ultimately threatening the fate of humanity. When mecha and mystery come together, I expect nothing good. When it's accompanied by sci-fi and  supernatural, it's already hitting trash level which is hard to overcome. But M3 does not even try to - it enjoys being trash, so who am I to bother it in its cringe.   Overall Rating: 5/10

36. Fuuun Ishin Dai☆Shogun Dai-Shogun: Great Revolution 風雲維新ダイ☆ショーグン [J.C.Staff, A.C.G.T.] (Finished 2/12) Tags: Historical, Mecha Action In the late Edo period, Japan had experienced an unprecedented crisis by Kurofune (Black Ships), the ships from foreign countries. But a giant robot called Onigami, which has existed since ancient time, dispelled the Kurofune ships and the exclusion of foreigners was accomplished. The story begins in Japan where Meiji restoration in 1868 didn't happen. The tagline says, "I can be the greatest man in the world, because I am a virgin!!" Samurai and ninja never go well with mecha... just saying. Great conqueror of Nagasaki never killed anyone and easily gets beaten by his granny caretaker or gets scolded by a small official or faints with a single boob touch as a virgin... The amount of nonsense is sky high, but main dish is soft ecchi here.   Overall Rating: 5/10

37. Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo Returns The File of Young Kindaichi Returns 金田一少年の事件簿R【リターンズ】 [Toei Animation] (Finished 1/25) Tags: Shounen Mystery High school student Hajime Kindaichi is the supposed grandson of famous private detective Kosuke Kindaichi. Visiting Hong Kong for a fashion event with Kindaichi, our hero's girlfriend Miyuki is captured by a stranger in a case of mistaken identity. The journey to save Miyuki itself leads to yet another crime case... Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

38. Cardfight!! Vanguard: Legion Mate-hen Cardfight!! Vanguard Legion Mate カードファイト!! ヴァンガード レギオンメイト編 [Dentsu, Sotsu, Bushiroad] (Finished 1/33) Tags: Strategy Game Action TMS Entertainment Several days after the mortal battle against Link Joker which embroils the whole world, the world has returned to peace. But Kai Toshiki faces a surprising situation. Sendou Aichi, the hero who saved the world from the invasion of Link Joker, has suddenly disappeared. In addition, everyone's memory about Aichi is lost...Almost all hints have been lost, and Kai starts to search Aichi with "Blaster Blade" and the deck of Royal Paladin, the only existing hint and the proof of their bonds. Kai is approached by fighters who call themselves "Quatre Knights". The four---Gaillard, Neve, Ratie and Sarah---are fighters with world-class power in vanguard fights. They control mysterious power and urge Kai to give up searching Aichi. What is their purpose...!? And what is their relationship with Aichi...!? Kai, with the new power "Legion" in his hand, fights to take Aichi back. Now, the war has begun! Sequel.   Overall Rating: 5/10

39. Lady Jewelpet レディ ジュエルペット [Studio Comet, Zexcs] (Finished 1/52) Tags: Anthropomorphic, Mahou Shoujo Fantasy, Romance Momona is an ordinary junior-high school student hailing from Jewel Land. At her cousin's wedding, she envies the bride, Lady Diana, due to the fact that she is marrying the cousin who she had a slight crush on. However, once she sees Lady Diana and her cousin together, Momona begins to like her, and accepts her as her cousin's bride. Just as Lady Diana is about to properly meet her and introduce herself, Momona is transported to a snowy place in Jewel Land where the ruler, Lady Jewel, is giving a speech to the Petit Ladies, girls who are chosen as Jewel Candidates to be the next Lady Jewel. Momona meets her partner and mentor, Ruby, a white rabbit, who will guide her through the tasks in becoming Lady Jewel. Whoever passes the most tasks wins and becomes the next Lady Jewel, but standing in her way is Lillian, a girl who also aims to win the title of Lady Jewel, so she can choose her brother, Cayenne, to be her King alongside her. Momona soon also begins to fall in love with Cayenne, yet Lillian doesn't want her to get too close to him. Cayenne also seems to harbor feelings for Momona, but who will be chosen in the end as Lady Jewel to decide it all? And will Momona and Lillian ever become true friends and will Cayenne and Momona ever be together? Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

40. Majin Bone マジンボーン [Toei Animation] (Finished 1/52) Tags: Strategy Game  Anime adaptation of Majin Bone, a digital card game project. Majin, the creator of the Universe, has been resurrected in the present day. Shougo Ryuujin, an ordinary high school student who transforms into the Bone Fighter Dragonbone with the Bone Card in order to save Earth. Together, with the other White Bone warriors take a stand against the Dark Bone, a foe that has appeared from darkness to devastate Earth. However, "could the true enemy be ourselves?" Another shounen cards trash for kids.   Overall Rating: 5/10

41. Abarenbou Rikishi!! Matsutarou Rowdy Sumo Wrestler Matsutaro!! 暴れん坊力士！！松太郎 [Toei Animation] (Finished 9/23) Tags: Seinen Combat Sports Matsutarou Sakaguchi is a giant roughneck man with strength far beyond ordinary people. He never uttered words like "work hard," "strive," and "dream" like the typical shounen manga protagonist. However, he is stronger than anyone and peerless in sumo wrestling. His greatest weakness is his own carefree personality. He grows into a full-fledged sumo wrestler. It was really funny, but it grew old and repeating by the middle and there was no incentive to go on without enjoying the flow, so dropped it eventually.   Overall Rating: 6/10

42. Dragon Collection ドラゴンコレクション [OLM] (Finished 1/51) Tags: Isekai Fantasy Through an unexpected turn of events, an ordinary elementary school student, Hiro Enryuu, finds himself in the world of the "Dragon Collection" game. This is a world called Dragon Earth, where gods, humans, and monsters exist side by side. Those who roam this world using a magic book, called a Grimoire, and cards to summon monsters and search for treasures that bear the powers of dragons are called Dracolle Battlers. Despite his bewilderment, Hiro becomes a Dracolle Battler and, together with the friends he meets there, begins his adventure to become a legendary Dragon Master! Whenever protagonist is elementary school student, there's 99% chance that anime is for kids. Summoning monsters makes it another variation of pokemon.   Overall Rating: 5/10

43. Pretty Rhythm: All Star Selection プリティーリズム・オールスターセレクション [Tatsunoko Production, Dongwoo A&E] (Finished 1/11) Tags: Shoujo Idols (Female), Music Sports This is the fourth anime series of Pretty Rhythm. The story features a girl named Laala Manaka, who desires to become an Idol. To further her debut the best, the three main protagonists from the previous Pretty Rhythm series Aira, Mia, and Naru give her lessons about how to be the best Idol. In addition to the lessons she's learning, the series also retells the events of the previous Pretty Rhythm series. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

44. Tamako Love Story たまこラブストーリー [Kyoto Animation] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Award Winning, Romance, Slice of Life  As the seasons pass by, the end of Mochizou Ooji's third and final school year quickly approaches. He aims to study at a university in Tokyo, but at the cost of leaving behind his loved ones—including his beloved childhood crush, Tamako Kitashirakawa. Having no such plans for the future, Tamako will merely remain in town to work at her family's humble mochi shop. As the time for Mochizou's departure draws closer, the reserved young man must gather up the courage to confess his feelings to Tamako before it is too late—lest his love go unnoticed forever. As of late Award Winning has become a poor tag for me as it means that work is created with the aim to participate in concourse and thus it's usually kind-hearted SOL, rarely with a twist. And it's just not entertaining.   Overall Rating: 6/10

45. Koukaku Kidoutai Arise: Ghost in the Shell - Border:3 Ghost Tears Ghost in the Shell: Arise - Border 3: Ghost Tears 攻殻機動隊ARISE -GHOST IN THE SHELL- border:3 Ghost Tears [Production I.G] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Adult Cast, Detective, Mecha, Psychological Sci-Fi Third movie of Ghost in the Shell: Arise. Motoko and Batou work to try to stop a terrorist organization whose symbol is the Scylla. Meanwhile, Togusa investigates a murder of a man who possessed a prosthetic leg manufactured by the Mermaid's Leg corporation. I did not like it, primarily because it's mostly a detective, and Kusanagi lover made no sense to me.   Overall Rating: 6/10

46. Crayon Shin-chan Movie 22: Gachinko! Gyakushuu no Robo To-chan Crayon Shin-chan: Serious Battle! Robot Dad Strikes Back 映画クレヨンしんちゃん　ガチンコ! 逆襲のロボとーちゃん [Shin-Ei Animation] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Seinen Award Winning, Comedy, Sci-Fi Hiroshi got a slipped disk due to a back injury. He was taken to an Este salon by a mysterious beautiful girl who appeared suddenly, to receive a free trial of beauty treatment as well as a massage. When Hiroshi returned home after a beauty treatment, he was surprised to see himself in the form of a robot. Shinnosuke gets overjoyed, whereas Misae gets worried on seeing him as a naked robot. The robot version of Hiroshi turns out to be convenient. The robot Hiroshi could be controlled by a remote control and pretty much do anything including cooking and cleaning. Meanwhile, Hiroshi realizes that his turning into a robot has to do something with that Este salon. However, this new change was a dark conspiracy hatched by “Chichi Yure Doumei (The Association of Fathers)” to create a strong father figure for all the fathers in Japan. Soon, many dads in the whole nation go out of control, and the Nohara family (Shinnosuke's family) and Kasukabe start falling apart. Before the near-collapse of Kasukabe, Shinnosuke and Hiroshi i.e. Robot dad stand up to save the day. Featuring the most intense battle of middle-aged men, the movie brings a touching story that makes all fathers and families in Japan cry. I'm not enojying these thematic adventures, not sure why I keep watching them, probably because there aren't many left.   Overall Rating: 6/10

47. Nemure Omoigo, Sora no Shitone ni ねむれ思い子 空のしとねに [Hand to Mouse.] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Space Adventure, Drama A family was riding a car on their way home from a maternity hospital. Satomi and Yasunori were taking their newborn baby named "Orine" home and were filled with happy expectation. However, a sudden accident attacked them. Orine lost her parents, and she became alone. Nineteen years have passed, and she has grown up. She was pursued by the police because of an incident. She continued to escape, but Yuri Aoshima, a member of a shady organization, tried to contact her. Orine agreed to Yuri's demand, which was going to an experimental space station. Yuri will help her to escape, instead. Somehow, only Orine can enter an unmanned space station. Surprisingly, the person who was waiting for Orine was her mother, Satomi. She appeared in the similitude of her twenties. Orine was perplexed, and Yuri demanded to turn the power off of the station. Unwillingly, she started to place the shut-down device, but she believed that it will solve the mystery and help her mother. As Orine and Satomi spend time together, they made up for their lost time. Yuri's aim, Satomi's true identity, and a man called "SENSEI" who is involved in taking over the station. While the mystery deepens, Orine gets closer to the "truth"... Full CGI is a huge minus. Plot and mystery are ridiculous.   Overall Rating: 5/10

48. Ghost Messenger Movie 고스트 메신저 극장판 [Studio Animal] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Action, Supernatural In this anime fantasy, Kanglim is a 5th grade Ghost Messenger on a supernatural mission. When he finds himself trapped in a Soul Phone, Kanglim, who has the power to see mystical spirits, must successfully capture one of them to free himself from the trap. The feature film is primarily a re-cut of the first two episodes of the OVA. It's an average shounen with two unlikable protagonists.   Overall Rating: 5/10

Share this: