Series:
1. One Punch Man
To be expected. Just good fun, and some of the best animation of the year, which is saying a lot considering ufotable had two shows this year. The wait for the animated Garou arc will be long.
2. My Teenage Love Comedy SNAFU TOO!
A good example of taking a comedy series into a more dramatic path. The art change really helped as well since I would have never taken the drama seriously in the previous art style. A good example of a teenage romcom that isn't a complete drag to watch. The characters are interesting and the drama exists for a reason. What do you do when three friends clearly want to bang, but doing so would end their friendship?
3. Mr. Osomatsu
Another big surprise. It's been years since I've laughed this hard at an anime. It's the funniest anime of the year, even moreso than OPM. It takes characters from an 1940s and 1980s anime and brings them into the modern age, which great results. The show is a comedy so yeah the humor is hit or miss, but when it hits, holy shit it hits. My favorite skits have been the Todomatsu and the Five Demons, which nearly killed me from laughing to the point of choking, and Jyushimatsu Falls in Love, which is more heartfelt than funny and deals with some actual real life issues I wasn't expecting from a series like this.
4. Shirobako
A tragedy about a young woman and her coworker/friends who are so stressed out, they start imagining and having full back and forth conversations with anime characters, stuffed animals, and dolls. It's nice seeing an anime about young adults getting adjusted to their new career choices. It's also interesting seeing that the production of anime is no better than your standard college project. There's the one with big ideas who you have to push to actually do those big ideas, the dumbass who fucks everything up but is around so you can feel better about yourself, and the one who actually gets shit accomplished but from behind the scenes, plus many more. I ended up liking all of the characters that worked for the anime studio by the end of the show, even Hiraoka.
5. Death Parade
A show that explores how people's personalities change when they face death in the face. Decided to check this out due to this thread actually, and I'm very happy with what I watched. In purgatory, before you get sent to get reincarnated or waste away in an empty void forever, you have to play a game "with your life on the line". It was interesting seeing a duo fight to win a game while they slowly realized that they died and try to cope with the fear and dread of that. It also makes you think how you would handle a situation like that. My favorite game that they played was probably the air hockey game, though it got a tad ridiculous towards the end. The bowling game also had a pretty ridiculous reveal for the climax. Other than that, if you like anime and games that feature death games, then give this a shot, though it's psychological and not gory, if that's what you're looking for.
6. Sound Euphonium
It's like K-ON but if the show actually revolved around the characters getting good at playing music, rather than cake and tea. If you've ever been in concert band, give this show a shot since it's beautifully animated, has great development for the band members as they go to not caring about getting better to competing to go to the nationals, and a nice growing friendship (romance?) between two girls. Could have done without the boring "love triangle" featuring a guy who really only existed to give info dumps. This anime made me want to pick up my Alto Saxophone again after not playing it for 6 or so years.
7. Jojo Stardust Crusaders: Battle in Egypt
What's up with the resurgence of old series being animated this year? Anyway, a satisfying conclusion to the series that started last year. Not my favorite Jojo part, but it was a great series with fun villains and scenarios. Highlight has to be D'Arby's Gambling Battle and the final battle with DIO.
8. Rokka -Braves of the Six Flowers-
One of the bigger surprises of the year. The Aztec inspired locations were refreshing and the plot goes from generic fantasy to a freaking locked room and "who's the traitor" mystery in the first 4 episodes. Shoddy animation and a cliffhanger that will never be resolved unless you read the fan translated novels keep it from placing higher.
9. GATE
Any series that actually features an adult as a protagonist is refreshing in its own right. It's technically a harem, but it doesn't actually reach that point in the 13 episodes that aired this year. If you like guns and armies, you might like this since it's the Japanese Defense Force going to a fantasy land filled with knights, dragons, and magic and royally fucking their shit up. The MC is the JP equivalent of a Marine as well.
America Nippon fuck yeah!
10. Fate/Stay Night - Unlimited Blade Works Part 2
While nowhere near as good as Fate/Zero, it's enjoyable if only for the fantastic animation and the climax fight between
. The show made me realize that UBW wasn't as good as I remember it being when I read the VN 7 years ago. You're either going to like the MC, Shirou, or completely loathe him.
Honorable Mentions:
Durarara x2 - First/Second Arc
Durarara is back and that's always a good thing. More of the weird shit you'd expect from this series, but with good heel turns for certain characters. Shizou and Izaya continue to be a highlight, while Mikado's decent unto criminal activity is good for the character.
Punchline
An anime from the writer of the Zero Escape series. While it has fanservice up the ass with panty shots being central to the freaking plot, the Zero Escape/Infinity writing definately shows around 1/3rd into the series. It has a pretty damn good ending as well, though it is essentially an advertisement for the game coming out next year. We might get it however so yay for that?
Films/OVA:
1. Digimon Tri Part 1
Nostalgia up the ass. While the animation was shoddy as hell at points (thanks Toei), it was still very enjoyable. Can't wait for Part 2 in March.
2. Boruto - Naruto the Movie
Surprisingly enjoyable considering I abandoned the anime in the Pain arc and the manga in the beginning of the World War arc. Cool seeing characters that you followed for a decent portion of your teenage life as adults with kids.
3. Psycho-Pass Movie
A true followup to Psycho-Pass after the shittastic second season. The characters introduced/developed in the 2nd season are either barely in it or don't show up at all. Fantastic
5. Persona 3 Movie 3
A kinda good adaption of the fall portion of the game. Or maybe I'm just desperate for good Persona anime, who knows. Makoto's development in the first two movies kinda got reset just so they could do something in this one. The trade off is that it makes his relationship with Ryoji have more meaning, which should pay off next film.
5. DBZ - Resurrection F
Somehow Boruto was more nostalgic for me, and Battle of the Gods was a way better DBZ experience for me. Despite that, this movie was still enjoyable for the most part, poorly done CG plagued fights aside.
