Top 10 Anime of the Decade (incl. Winter Anime 2020)
Minna-san, akemashiteomedetōgozaimasu (Happy New Year)! It’s been awhile...sorry T^T. Life has been absolutely INSANE since the last time I posted, which was...omg September. OwO I honestly did not watch a lot of anime because real life has been so crazy. BUT that doesn’t mean I didn’t watch ANY anime.
I was originally just going to post my annual Winter Anime Season post but after watching Joey: The Anime Man’s “The ULTIMATE Top 10 Anime of the Decade List” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqY25glHPxE) I wanted to look back and reflect on some of my favorite anime of the decade and share them with you guys as well. Like Joey I will also include some honorable mentions in the list. Without further ado, here are some of my favorite anime from this decade:
https://myanimelist.net/anime/6746/Durarara?q=durara
This was one of the first few shows that @perfectlynorm first recommended for me to watch when he and I reconnected back in 2015. I didn’t watch this show back when it first aired, but I really wish I did. The storytelling really stood out to me and I loved how all of the characters’ stories interconnected with each other. The seasons that came out later in 2015-2016 were great as well, but this first season was by far the best.
- Kaichou wa Maid-Sama! (still one of the best romance/comedy anime to this day...I NEED A SEASON 2!!!)
- Shugo Chara (technically it aired years before 2010 but it’s one of the first few shows I got into during that year)
- Kimi ni Todoke (a slow burner but it’s still one of the few romance anime I go back to from time to time)
https://myanimelist.net/anime/10087/Fate_Zero?q=fate
Again, this is another show that @perfectlynorm recommended back when I really started to become the filthy weeb that I still am. This was also the first show that introduced me to the greatness of ufotable’s animation. Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works was amazing, but this show really blew my mind. The animation, the story, and the characters were top tier amongst the shows I watched at the time. This is a show I could recommend to new anime fans.
- Uta no Prince-sama: Maji Love 1000% (this show unlocked my love for idol anime, a very memorable part of my teenage years)
- Sekaiichi Hatsukoi (still one of the best Boys Love/Yaoi anime I’ve ever watched...still waiting for the day he officially falls in love with him ugh)
- No.6 (another @perfectlynorm recommendation...that ending still hurts T^T)
https://myanimelist.net/anime/11771/Kuroko_no_Basket?q=kuroko
One of my male high school friends recommended this to me...I wonder if he new that he was cursing me at the time. This show was my introduction to the sports genre in anime. To this day, this show is still one of my favorite sports anime. Yes, looking back on it now parts of this show are extremely unrealistic and is mainly loved by fujoshis, but if I were to introduce any new anime fan to the sports genre, this would be the first show on my recommendation list.
- Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic (I started this show for the voice actors, I stayed for the story and characters, 10/10 would watch again)
- Sukitte Ii na yo. (another great romance anime that really builds the relationship between the two main couple...without holding out the kiss until the last episode)
- Kamisama Hajimemashita (loved the anime and the manga...I was sad to see it end and that the anime was rushed, but it’s another romance anime I could watch again)
https://myanimelist.net/anime/16498/Shingeki_no_Kyojin?q=attack%20
Oh wow, @perfectlynorm recommendation lol. At the time, I would not have watched this on my own free will since I was (still am) weak to blood and gore. However, when I first watched this...I pretty much binged the entire first season within a week. I still remember the thrill and heart-pounding excitement I felt from watching each episode. I still have a lot of episodes to catch up on before the FINAL season (omg) comes out next fall, but I am excited nonetheless.
- Free! (ugh the fujoshi bait was so real in this show, but I LOVED it)
- Kuroko no Basket 2 (I was soooo hyped when I was watching this show, even while I would wait for each new episode during my Saturday ballet classes)
- Uta no Prince-sama: Maji Love 2000% (imo, the BEST Utapri season)
https://myanimelist.net/anime/22265/Free__Eternal_Summer?q=free
At this time of my life, I just graduated from high school and was about to start the next big chapter of my life: college. This show really spoke to me back then because, like the characters, I was scared and uneasy for what happens after high school. I especially related to Haru’s uncertainty for the future and unwillingness to change. But as I followed his journey throughout the season I eventually felt ready to take the next step towards my future along with him.
- Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun (I DIED while watching this show, it provided so many laughs that I would recommend this to anyone)
- Akatsuki no Yona (love, love, love Yona and her harem of strong ikemen...I still feel proud that @lunastories absolutely FELL for this show)
- Haikyuu!! (one of the best sports anime EVER...I’m so so sad it’s ending soon)
https://myanimelist.net/anime/24415/Kuroko_no_Basket_3rd_Season?q=kuroko
It was very difficult to choose a favorite anime for this year, but when I thought about what show I felt the most emotions from start to finish, I picked the final season of KnB. I was reading the manga while it was still being serialized so nothing in the show came as a surprise plot-wise, but to watch this show from the very beginning to the very end made me very emotional...until Last Game became a thing (god it still hurts T^T).
- Ore Monogatari! (this has to be my FAVORITE romance anime, it broke so many romance anime stereotypes and i could watch it again and again)
- Haikyuu!! 2 (it’s haikyuu, nuff said)
- One Punch Man (still haven’t watched season 2, but omg I LOVED season 1, I still remember how much my friends and I laughed for each episode)
https://myanimelist.net/anime/32995/Yuri_on_Ice?q=yuri
*deep breaths* AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH ok. This show, as embarrassing as it is to admit, MADE 2016 for me. Like so many fujoshis and fudanshis, I ate this show up and awaited week after week for each new episode to air. I know there are so many criticisms about this show, but f**k the haters. For me, and for others, this show changed what anime could do: normalize a same sex couple without fetishizing it.
- ERASED (a GREAT mystery anime, that brings a lot of feels and thrills 10/10)
- Boku no Hero Academia (omg loved it, scroll down for more of my thoughts about this show)
- Kiss Him, Not Me! (this is the anime for fujoshis, watch if you are or think you are one, trust me)
https://myanimelist.net/anime/33486/Boku_no_Hero_Academia_2nd_Season?q=boku%20no
I picked up the first season of this series before the summer 2017 anime season because of all the hype about it, and omg I was so excited for the second season. I eventually got all of my anime friends to watch it and they got so into it that we would do our first group cosplay together for the show at AX a year later. This show really made 2017 for me and I am very happy it is still so loved to this day...now I just need to start season 4 hehehe.
- Hitorijime My Hero (one of my fav Boys Love/Yaoi anime cuz the main couple does not bang for every episode and actually TALK lol)
- Tsuki ga Kirei (a romance anime that i think accurately portrays an awkward, but sweet middle school romance)
- Recovery of an MMO Junkie (another fav romance anime, the main couple are absolute cinnamon rolls please please watch it)
https://myanimelist.net/anime/36649/Banana_Fish?q=ban
The ending of this show still breaks my heart, but this show was a huge part of 2018 for me. At first, the show’s brutal and violent themes startled me and prevented me from watching it when it first aired, but when @perfectlynorm convinced @passionateflame and I to watch this after AX 2018, I was blessed and cursed at the same time. Ash and Eiji’s strong emotional connection was what warmed and broke my heart at the same time. Rest in peace...my heart.
- IDOLISH7 (an idol anime that beats UtaPri to death...excited for season 2 in 2020!!!)
- Gakuen Babysitters (not only gives me endless amounts of feels and warm fuzzies, but also reminds me why i love working with kids)
- Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii (THE show for otaku)
Although 2019 was probably the year I watched the least amount of anime, Fruits Basket was my favorite anime of the year. It was hard to pick my favorite and to narrow down the honorable mentions, but this anime was my most anticipated show of the year. I had high expectations going into it since the original anime was a huge part of my teen years, and I was definitely not disappointed. I’m so excited for the upcoming second season in 2020!!!
(Edit: ok I cheated by adding 4 but all of these shows were AWESOME!)
- Dororo (one of the great surprises of 2019, 10/10 would watch again)
- Demon Slayer (jumped on the bandwagon after AX and OMG I’m so glad I did)
- Dr. Stone (SURPRISE another @perfectlynorm recommendation...LOVED IT)
- Beastars (...I’m not a furry...but Legosi is best boy)
Here is what I am watching for winter 2020:
https://myanimelist.net/anime/38883/Haikyuu__To_the_Top
YES!!! My crow babies are back after a FOUR YEAR hiatus!!!
AND that concludes my top 10 anime of the decade list. I do not think my taste in anime has changed too much over the years, but within this past year I have come to be genuinely and pleasantly surprised over anime that I never would have picked up 10 years ago. So I guess I want to approach anime with a more open mind in 2020.
I only plan to watch Haikyuu for this winter season because I am going to be busy with student teaching and finishing off my last semester in the teacher credential program at my school. But things might change...
Anyway, thank you so much for reading this MONSTER of a list if you made it to the end. Let me know what you guys think. What were you some of your favorite anime this decade? What was your favorite anime this year? Are you watching any anime this season? I hope 2020 starts off great for all of you! Matane!
