animetop20

Because I was tired of having a top ten with Honorable Mentions...
Because I was bored...
Because I darn well felt like it...
I made...
The Top 20 Anime Countdown!!!
Find out what anime I like!
Find out why!
Find out what they're about!

1) FullMetal Alchemist
-51 episode series, 1 movie (spring/summer 2005)
Rating: 13+
Summary: After trying to resurrect their mother using alchemy, which cost Edward Elric an arm and a leg and Alphonse Elric his whole body, these two brothers set out on a quest to find the Philosopher's Stone to get their bodies back to normal... and maybe even try to resurrect their mother once again.
Why it's here: Great characters, great animation, great plot, great twists, no filler
Negatives: None

2) Azumanga Daioh
-26 episode series
I've seen: 23 episodes
Rating: 13+
Summary: This show follows a class of students through high school. Really. That's it.
Why it's here: Very, very funny. Great characters, great look into the comical side of life.
Negatives: None

3) (Vision of) Escaflowne
-26 episode series, 1 movie
Rating: 13+, PG-13
Summary: Hitomi is a normal high school track athlete until suddenly she is transported to the land of Gaea where she meets Van, who pilots the ancient dragon Escaflowne. The two of them, along with others, must stop the evil Zaibach Empire from taking over all of Gaea.
Why it's here: Perfect neo-medieval world, blends many anime genres together, engaging plot
Negatives: TV series ending, some dislike the movie for being too different from the show.

4) Outlaw Star
-26 episode series
Rating: 13+
Summary: Gene Starwind and his copilot Jim Hawking stumble across the android Melfina, sending them on a journey across the galaxy to discover what secrets she holds. Meanwhile, other groups seek to acquire Melfina for themselves.
Why it's here: Gritty, realistic feel, likeable characters, good action, great plot.
Negatives: (Positive for some) Random hot springs episode.

5) Record of Lodoss War
-13 episode OVA, 26 episode series, 1 movie
Rating: 13+
Summary: OVA: Parn and company must put a stop to the evil emperor Beld, his minion Ashram, and the dark sorceror Wagnard.
TV: Wagnard and Ashram are back, and it's up to Spark, Parn, and company to stop him.
Movie: A thousand years has passed since the events of the TV series, and on the continent of Crystania, a great evil has arisen in the form of a possessed Lord Ashram, and a company of heroes must go stop him. They pick up the dark elf Pirotess, whose love for her master Ashram has not faltered in all these years.
Why it's here: Well-done fantasy anime. Wide range of races and personalities, good yet stock plot.
Negatives: Some may find it too cliche, continuity issues between OVA and series.

6) Fruits Basket
-26 episode series
Rating: 13+
Summary: Tohru Honda, after the loss of her mother, stumbles upon the Sohma house, where members of a cursed family live. The curse: whenever a member of the opposite sex hugs them, they turn into an animal of the Chinese Zodiac!
Why it's here: Interesting plot, fun characters, downright hilarious
Negatives: (for some) Homosexual overtones between some characters.

7) Rurouni Kenshin/Samurai X
-96 episode series, 1 movie, 6 episode OVA
I've seen: 2/3 of series, movie, first 4 OVA episodes
Rating: Series: 13+ Movie/OVA: 17+ (violence)
Summary: Kenshin, an assassin from the Meiji Revolution that overthrew the government in Japan (OVA 1-4) has decided to stop running from his past and join society again, this time as a warrior who uses a reverse-blade sword, making it nearly impossible to kill someone. He has tried to atone for the wrongs he has committed by using his sword to help people, the philosophy held by a certain Kaoru Kamiya and her student, Yahiko Myojin. Along with Sanosuke and many other people he meets along the way, Kenshin makes Tokyo and Kyoto safer places for their residents.
Why it's here: Kenshin=freaking awesome character, other characters are good, great backstory, great plot.
Negatives: Series starts to drag 2/3 of the way through.

8) Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team
-13 episode OVA
Rating: 13+ (nudity)
Summary: Shiro Amada is placed in charge of a new mobile suit team fighting its way through the jungle against Zeon and rebel forces during the One Year War.
Why on list: Gritty story, realistic despite giant robots, believable characters, great plot and action.
Negatives: (positive for some) random upper female nudity

9) Revolutionary Girl Utena
-39 episode series, 1 movie
Rating: 13+ (movie: nudity)
Summary: Utena Tenjou attends Ohtori Academy in a search to find her prince, a man who saved her when she was a child. Through a series of mysterious duels, can she find him and gain the power to revolutionize the world?
Why on list: *shrugs* I'm not sure why this is so good... It just is. OK, fine. Great plot, interesting characters, mysterious plot elements, one of the best anime soundtracks ever.
Negatives: Confusing, (positive for some) blatant lesbian relationship between Movie Anthy and Utena

10) Neon Genesis Evangelion
-26 episode series, 2 movies
Rating: 15+
Summary: Shinji Ikari is thrown into the role as the pilot of a giant robot called an Eva to protect Neo-Tokyo from the assault of the "Angels," monsters of enormous size and enormous power. How many of them are there, and what secrets is the Nerv organization hiding?
Why it's here: Confusing symbolism, great plot, great themes, humor, great characters (except Shinji).
Negatives: Confusing symbolism, many don't like series ending, Shinji's whining.

11) Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket
-6 episode ?OVA
Rating: 13+
Summary: Al is living a normal life, until a battle breaks out in the neutral colony where he lives. School is cancelled and Al finds and befriends Zeon pilot Bernie, whom he helps carry out his mission to find a Gundam in the colony. As Christmas approaches, time is ticking on the Zeon mission, and when the clock reaches zero, the colony will be destroyed.
Why it's here: Accomplishes in 6 episodes what most longer series don't. Characters are fully developed, the plot is complete, the action is all there. There is absolutely no filler in this series.
Negatives: None.

12) Inuyasha
-167 (?) episode series, 3 movies
I've seen: 1/4 the series, first movie
Rating: 13+
Summary: Kagome jumps through a well on her family's property and is transported back to feudal Japan, a land of humans and demons. She befriends the half-demon Inuyasha as well as a few others, and they have to find the shards of the shattered Shikon Jewel and keep them from the evil Naraku.
Why it's here: Entertaining characters, good plot, episodic without losing touch with the main plot.
Negatives: Too long.

13) Martian Successor Nadesico
-26 episode series, 1 movie
I've seen: entire series
Rating: 13+
Summary: Akito Tenkawa is a pilot-turned-cook thrown back into his role as a fighter when he inadvertently joins the crew of the space battleship Nadesico in their fight against the Jovian lizards. Who are these Jovians anyway, and what does the Nergal organization have up its sleeve?
Why it's here: Uses several cliches to tell a humorous, parodical (?), yet original story.
Negatives: If you don't know the cliches, you won't be able to fully appreciate this series.

14) Oh, My Goddess!
-5 episode OVA
Rating: 13+
Summary: Keiichi just wants a girlfriend... anyone will do. When he calls for Chinese food and accidentally gets the Goddess Hotline, little does he know his wish will come true in the form of the beautiful goddess Belldandy. However, chaos ensues when her two sisters, the voluptuous Urd and the mechanical genius Skuld join them in their house.
Why it's here: Very pure love story, funny, great characters, great plot.
Negatives: Too short! (Note: A longer series is currently in production in Japan)

15) Castle in the Sky
-movie
Rating: PG
Summary: Pazu finds the girl Sheeta floating down into his village and he rescues her, their destinies with the mysterious Laputa, the castle in the sky, bringing them together to find the shrouded city.
Why it's here: Great story, beautiful art.
Negatives: Pacing is a little slow.

16) Princess Mononoke
-movie
Rating: PG-13 (violence)
Summary: Ashitaka is cursed by an animal demon, and he has to find the Forest God to cleanse his wound. Journeying with a "heart unclouded by hatred," he encounters the city of iron and befriends both its leader, Lady Eboshi, and its nemesis, the Wolf Princess, San.
Why it's here: Great story, great action, great message.
Negatives: None

17) X
-movie, 26 episode series
I've seen: Movie, 7 episodes
Rating: R (graphic violence, nudity), 16+
Summary: It's the end of the world. The seven dragons of earth and the seven dragons of heaven square off in Tokyo to see if humanity is destroyed or saved.
Why it's here: Great premise, both have good action, series also has character/plot development.
Negatives: Movie has NO character/plot development.

18) Perfect Blue
-movie
Rating: R (graphic violence, graphic nudity)
Summary: A pop singer decides to start expanding her career, going into acting. As her fame starts climing rapidly, people start getting killed, and the list of suspects keeps dwindling.
Why it's here: Engaging psychological thriller/whodunit that keeps you guessing till the end.
Negatives: Rape scene, (positive for some) porn magazine shoot.

19) Ghost in the Shell
-2 movies, 26 episode series
I've seen: First movie, first 4 episodes.
Rating: R (nudity, violence), 16+ (?)
Summary: A cyborg is a member of a police squad tracking down a mysterious string of murders that seem to be linked together. She eventually finds herself in direct contact with the elusive, formless killer.
Why it's here: Anime classic, smooth action scenes, nice premise.
Negatives: (positive for some) Lots of female nudity (first movie)

20) Last Exile
-26 episode series
I've seen: First 4 episodes
Rating: 13+
Summary: (I'm not really sure.. but this is what I can guess) Pilots of vanships complete missions for money, and Claus and Lavie get themselves involved in something much bigger than a simple delivery.
Why it's here: Seamless and beautiful blend of 3D environments and cel-shaded characters, political drama, action.
Negatives: None, yet.