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ローゼンメイデン 
December 30, 2005 | 
54 Comments
Well, everyone else has done it so I may as well jump into the bandwagon. I think 2005 has been a surprisingly good year despite my rather low expectation of it at the beginning. In fact, some of the series that I list here actually end up as my all-time favourites. I don't think I'll be talking much about the state of the industry since I didn't actually follow many series this year. Having said that, I recommend that you read through Bluwacky's thorough analysis of this year's releases. I think he made a lot of interesting point about the industry. What I'm going to do here is simply list my top 3 of this year's series/games/songs and then talk about them. I am also interested to know what other people's favourite series/games/movies this year so feel free to indicate your choices in the comment area. Before I do this, however, please be aware that some of the paragraphs contain light spoilers.
1. Honey and Clover
The number one position for me was actually a toss-up between this title and Mushishi. However, I have many good memories and several personal identifications attached to Honey and Clover that in the end, I can't help but choosing it as the best anime series that came out this year. The series was really one of a kind. It's been a while since I watched something which actually resonates with me so this series has been a pleasant surprise. Everything from the characters down to the music was given proper treatment. The series also managed to successfully combine both happy and sad moments to make a very poignant story that is easy for most viewers to relate. In addition to these, I feel that Honey and Clover is one of those rare anime that actually motivated me to achieve the goals that I've set out for myself.
2. Mushishi
I really like this series for two reasons: the small, scattershot horror stories contained in each episode as well as the life/moral message contained within it. Just like Honey and Clover, it manages to include some life-related themes such as mistakes and regret or one's destination in life but instead of mixing these themes with comedy, the series mixes it with light horror. Often the story ends in catastrophy and sometimes it ends in happiness just like life. The series also often asks its viewer to question some ethical matters that one otherwise would not think about because most people don't have to deal with this kind of matters on a daily basis. Things such as survival of the fittest or having the power to decide for others. I find the series to be intellectually arresting and it helps that each episode is complemented by beautiful animation.
3. Rozen Maiden träumend
Before the series started, I knew that I'd like it but I definitely didn't expect the series to be this good. The series seems to have done a good job at mixing light-hearted, comedic moments with dark and devastating storylines. The series also oozes several interesting mysteries and questions ranging from the identity of 'Father' to the intention of Barasuishou and the Rabbit Man. I'm also glad to see that the series did not waste the first 12 episodes in Jun's character development because that development finally shows its effect in full force here with Jun turning into a pleasant character who now gets to help the dolls with their problems. Admittedly, there is always a chance that the series will screw up the ending. But as it stands, I think the series deserves the number 3 position in this year's best anime series.
The best of the rest:
Kamichu, Mai Otome, Jigoku Shoujo, Paradise Kiss, Karin
1. Shinku (Rozen Maiden träumend)
With the recent revival of Suigintou, the arrival of Barasuishou, along with other shenanigans in Rozen Maiden Traumend, it is easy to forget that Shinku is actually a very fun and interesting character. Despite being number 5 in the doll creation order, she seems to command respect from her older and younger sisters. She's also quite strong in comparison to the other dolls and I think a lot smarter than the rest of them. Having said that, she has this weird royalty act which often becomes the source of my amusement, especially when the others ignore her. Then there is her scary fangirl moments where she'll obsessively watch every single episode of Kun-Kun, buy the costume, and judging from her shelf space, collect some of the DVDs. Add to this her irrational fear of cats and love of toilets and you have to wonder what's not to love about her?
2. Suigintou (Rozen Maiden träumend)
I really like the way the writers have re-introduced her character this season. It really made me sympathise with her a lot despite the fact that she hasn't completely changed her attitude. But maybe this is why her character is interesting because her evil doings partly came out of her desire to be better than the others. It sounds so selfish and yet very human at the same time. It's even more understandable in Suigintou's case because she has lived her whole life in the shadow of her own imperfect body. I find it interesting to see her questioning why 'Father' made the others to be near perfect while leaving her incomplete. For some reason it reminds me of humans themselves where some people are much better off than others. It seems unfair and I'm sure some people want to know why this is the case or rather, why this is happened to them.
3. Suiseiseki (Rozen Maiden träumend)
I can't believe that I ended up choosing another doll for a favourite female character but unfortunately I feel that the list for interesting female characters is a bit short this year. I was actually going to vote either for Ayu from Honey and Clover or Enma Ai from Jigoku Shoujo but so far their personality and story don't entertain and interest me as much as Suiseiseki's. Suiseiseki, on the other hand, has several interesting personalities. On a day to day basis, she adopts a rather crash and mischieveous personality. She never hesitate to bully and make fun of HinaIchigo, for example. But then the series show another personality of her: the shy, almost timid-like when it comes to aprroaching someone that she likes. I also didn't expect her to be quite selfless and would prefer to stay with her sisters forever than becoming a perfect girl all on her own.
The best of the rest:
Yamada Ayumi (Honey and Clover), Enma Ai (Jigoku Shoujo), Akari (Aria)
1. Takemoto Yuuta (Honey and Clover)
Some people seem to find his character boring but I think he's extremely interesting and easy to relate to. That just goes to show that different people has different opinion on what makes a character interesting. I find Takemoto to be a well-developed characters who went through some simple but admirable changes towards the end of the series. I think being able to see him turning into such a confident character at the end of the series is one of the reasons why I like the ending of the series. I think his change allowed me to believe that even though the series wasn't completely resolved, he and the other characters will develop into better people in the future. I also love the fact that he gets to deliver so many lines that I have thought myself from time to times. I just think it's nice to see your own feeling reflected in a popular entertainment form like this one.
2. Sakurada Jun (Rozen Maiden träumend)
Here is another character who has undergone a nice change over the course of the series (or two in this case). Jun started out as a Hikikomori sufferer who was rude to his sister, afraid of the outside world, and can't be relied on to do anything. At the end of the first series, he's overcome his problem and in the second season, he actually becomes the one who provides the doll some emotional support now that they need his help. I also like the fact that his change doesn't happen overnight and he clearly still displays some of his unpleasant characteristics from time to time. Having said that, it is obvious that he really is a kind and caring person who's willing to go out of his way to help those who needs him.
3. Ginko (Mushishi)
And this officially confirms that I have strange taste because I think most people find Ginko to be boring. I personally think he's a rather funny guy. The series has shown time and time again that he has a sarcastic side to him. He also doesn't hesitate to do a little bit of manipulation here and there if it means that he can achieve his objectives. And I can't help but finding his facial expressions to be extremely amusing. The problem is that the series tends to place its focus on the victim of the week instead of on Ginko. As a result, Ginko's little character traits often become easily unnoticed in the midst of all the major events that happen in each episode. But I find that this has always been the case with any kind of supernatural series even the live-action ones such as The X-Files.
The best of the rest:
Shinobu Morita (Honey and Clover), Saiga (Speed Grapher), Akatsuki (Aria)
1. Dramatic - Yuki (Honey and Clover)
Despite Yuki's rather high-pitched delivery of the song, I strangely find myself liking the song a lot. It probably has to do with the actual lyric itself, which is not only relevant to Honey and Clover, but also to my own experience. The song's themes of unrequited love, seperation from friends, and forgotten promise feel so spot-on in regards to the series. The first animation that came with the song was admittedly unusual. The combination, however, still created a rather nice visual/audio mixture. The second animation was more appropriate for the song but I think the song was at its best when used within the episodes themselves. When coupled with certain scenes from the series, such as when Takemoto tries to stop Morita from leaving Japan, the song produced such an indelible impression that I won't forget anytime soon.
2. Seishoujo Ryouiki - Ali Project (Rozen Maiden träumend)
There's something forebodding about this opening from both animation and song perspective. I realise that a lot of people don't like Ali Project but I personally love their weird, unusual mix of Polka, middle eastern, and gothic music. On its own, the song does a good job of suggesting the darker nature of the sequel. But when combined with the animation, the two produce one hell of a creepy atmosphere. I especially love the shots of the doll laying lifeless on the staircase looking as if they've been 'junked'. Then there is the shot Shinku looking miserable while someone (presumably 'Father') puts some kind of ribbons around her and Barasuishou unveling herself as the new villain. Another equally memorable shot is the one where Suiseiseki and Souseiseki clasping their hand together inside a Church-like interior.
3. Days - Flow (Eureka 7)
I don't actually like the animation that goes with the song. I think it's perfectly passable but nothing to write home about either. However, the song itself was rather good in my opinion. Or maybe I'm just feeling sentimental about it because I heard this song almost everytime I went to the local convenience shop in Japan a few months ago. I also ended up listening to the song whenever I go out with my friends on a bike ride because the song has that adventure feel to it. So I guess I like the song itself instead of the entire opening but I can't think of another opening song that I prefer to put in this list so this OP ends up as the default 3rd place.
The best of the rest:
Blaze - Kinya (Tsubasa Chronicle), Lonely in Gorgeous - Tommy february6 (Paradise Kiss), Hare Nochi Hare! - Tomita Maho (Kamichu!)
1. Waltz - Suneohair (Honey and Clover)
If I think about it, I probably wouldn't have paid attention to Waltz if it wasn't played as Honey and Clover's ED Theme. In fact, I remember not liking it right away when the series started. However, as I watched more and more episodes of Honey and Clover, the song becomes synonymous with the series itself. I especially like how the song usually starts a couple of seconds prior to the actual credit, blending the episode rather nicely into the ending theme. I also must commend the writers/animators for using the song to accompany Takemoto's final narration during episode 24. The song really gave additional weight to Takemoto's already interesting speech about the uncertain future. All in all, this is one song that I'll forever associate with the series.
2. Karinui - Noto Mamiko (Jigoku Shoujo)
This is such a melancholic and beautiful song which I think provided the first clue that the series will eventually deal with Ai's background story. To me the song's sad tone serves to suggest that Ai is not happy with her line of work and tries to find a way out of it. I also like the spider/spider web motif that is scattered throughout the episode. Especially since I've been suspecting that Ai's grandma has some kind of relation to the spiders which often appear out of nowhere. The lyric was especially interesting as well here because there is one part which mentions one's inability to run away from the dead end. Of course all of these are just speculations but from what I've seen so far, Ai does look as if she's trapped in her job as the hell girl. As the latest episode reveals, she's been fulfilling her duty for at least 500 years and now wants to tell someone about it.
3. Yoake Umare Kuru Shoujo - Yoko Takahashi (Shakugan no Shana)
I have zero interest in the series itself but I think the ending song is a killer. Yoko Takahashi always produces some of the best music regardless of the quality of the anime that contains the song (ie. This Ugly and Beautiful World). Unfortunately this time the song is only accompanied by static screenshots of Shana instead of some animated scenes so what could have been a very effective ending ends up being a rather muted and unexciting one. If one just listens to the song, especially the full version, one can actually tell that its tense composition would have been better used to accompany some action scenes. The gregorian chants of the song for some reason reminds me of Evangelion but I also realise that some of Takahashi's song does have a quasy-religion feel to them regardless of the story of the anime itself.
The best of the rest:
Loop - Sakamoto Maaya (Tsubasa Chronicle), Otome wa do my best desho? - Kikuchi Mika (Mai Otome), Rainbow - Roundtable feat.Nino (Aria)
1. Sakurairo Mau Koro - Nakashima Mika
This was the first song that I actually bought in 3 different formats: CD single, UMD disc, and DVD. Yeah, I'm a bit obsessed with this song. I think mostly this has to do with the nostalgia factor because I heard this song so often when I was in Japan. And for some reason, the song, especially the PV, reminds me a lot of Japan with its falling cherry petals. Another reason why I like it also has a lot to do with the way Nakashima Mika sings the song. She really brings a lot of conviction in her performance, which in effect makes the song very pleasant to hear. I also love the weird static figurines that the animators used to tell the storyline. They are not well animated but some reason a lot of emotions come out from their movement and the little sceneries in which they interact with each other.
2. Hana - Orange Range
I actually didn't like this song that much when I first heard it played as Ima Ai ni Yukimasu's ending theme. I thought the tune was rather upbeat and not very suitable for the film, which ends on a rather sad note. After I settled down in Japan, however, I got the chance to hear it properly and understand the lyrics better. After this, I can understand why the song was used as the ending theme. Ima Ai ni Yukimasu does end on a sad note but it was also uplifting at the same time. The film suggests that even though the characters only get to be with each other for a short while, that time was the happiest time of their life. And at the end of the day, how many people can honestly say that they're really happy with their life? Hana simply reinforces the film's message and suggests that despite the ending, the entire experience was worth it.
3. Butterfly - Koda Kumi
Well, I thought this was a rather fun and energetic song to listen to. And the PV was especially fun to watch especially when Ms Koda cosplays as the teacher from every boys' wetdreams then starts erotically bumping and grinding her hips towards her pretend male students. Despite how it may sound, the PV is actually quite tame in comparison to some American music videos. But it has some kind of naughty sexual innuendo which is far more attractive in comparison to the more sexually overt music videos. Plus, it seems Ms Koda didn't seem to take the entire thing seriously so the PV is a blast to watch. If there is one criticism I have about the PV, that will have to be the stupid butterfly costume that she gets to wear from time to time. Yes, I realise that it's the title of the song but the costume looks kind of cheesy and the wings look too fake.
The best of the rest:
Koko ni Shika Sakanai Hana - Kobukuro, Planetarium - Otsuka Ai, Story - Ai
1. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Granted, I haven't been playing that many games this year but I thought Metal Gear Solid 3 was the best of them all. I don't know how to say praise this game without spoiling too much of the story, so I am just going to say that everything from the battle mechanic, the graphic, the story, the enemies, and the extras are perfect, at least for me. The storyline shows how there is always more than one way to look at war between two factions and how interchangeable the words 'Allies' and 'Enemies' can be in this situation. But of course the best thing about the game was the sneaking, the rather large environment that the game provides, and the graphic, which I thought was really good especially considering that this was done on PS2.
2. Shadow Hearts 2: Covenant
I actually didn't like this game in the beginning. I felt that the gameplay and the creep factor are rather weak and watered-down in comparison to the original Shadow Hearts. However, halfway through the game, the storyline started to tug my heartstring. I was a big fan of Yuri and Alice's relationship in the first game and therefore their conversation in the train was exceptionally moving for me. And then there was the ending. The ending was a killer in my opinion. I can't help but liking the scene where everyone goes on their seperate way while Getsurenka plays on. The part where the song mentions about guiding everyone to the place where they belong really had me. I don't know if the song was meant to represent Yuri's or Alice's or Karin's feeling but either one, the song and the final CG movie work together in a satisfying manner.
3. Resident Evil 4
I just started playeing this game a few days ago but I'm quite impressed with it already. I was mortified when I first get to meet those creepy villagers. They are certainly faster, more dangerous, and know how to communicate with the other villagers to make your life miserable. As if that's not enough, the game decides to add that psychotic and persistent chainsaw wielder. Thankfully this is not Clock Tower or a similar game or else my character would have died in fear or cowered in terror. I am also glad with the programmers' decision to increase the amount of bullets you can use within the game because there's no way you can survive those savages without some nice clean shot through their skulls. After facing these people, facing those good old zombies will probably feel like a walk in the park.
1. Ima, Ai ni Yukimasu
Okay, this one actually came out late last year but the DVD came out this year, so I decided to include it here. If you haven't seen this film, then I really recommend that you go see it now instead of watching whatever second-rate remake Hollywood has in mind to create next year. I still remember watching the film for the first time as a part of my in-flight entertainment on my way to Japan. By the time the film ended, I wanted to see it again and ended up watching it 3 times during the entire flight. Each time, I get the same feeling that these characters were lucky to have found each other. I thought later on that I was crazy for thinking like that because these are fictional characters. And yet, the emotions that the actors and the story convey were more than enough to convince me that if these people were real, they are probably some of the luckiest people in the world.
2. Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
I know that the storyline is almost non-existent and the characters are not well-developed. But not all films have to focus on these elements to be enjoyable. And in my opinion, Advent Children was an entertaining fanservice movie for the fans of the game. I mean seriously, if you're fan of the game, what's not to love about the film? It features almost every single characters from the game and then some, all rendered in expensive-looking polygons. The action scenes are awesome and worth a look at least once. The soundtrack is actually rather good and features several nice variations on the already familiar tunes from the games. It would have been nice if the plot is a bit more interesting than what ended up being featured. But the one that is shown in the film wasn't that bad either so overall, I think the film was a rather entertaining film, at least for the fans.
3. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Okay, so this is another guilty pleasure. But I really enjoyed this fourth adaptation of the famous book to the point that I actually went to see it twice in the cinema. It's true that the adaptation took out a lot of materials from the book. But I don't see how they can squeeze in Goblet of Fire into a 3 hour movie without cutting out some of the plot points. And I happen to be one of those people who were happy with what they didn't include (except for the Sirius Black part of the story) so I found this film to be rather entertaining. It also helps that the old and new cast members seem to work well with one another so it didn't feel weird to see them interacting with each other. Finally, the special FX are not bad either with the dragons being the highlight of the piece.
The only series you talked about in this that I've actually been following (becuase I"m lazy) is Rozen Maiden. that's actually the reason I found this site. I must say I'm a huge fan of it and I agree it has to be one of the best series right now.
Well at least I think the same thing! Honey and Clover and Rozen Maiden deserves to be in the top 3!
What an excellent review of this years anime. I'd have to say one of the best things of 2005 was finding this blog. While some anime blogs post screencaps and a short summary, your blog goes into great detail along with some personal insight into the topics covered in some of the animes. I would never have picked up H&C without your blog and I certainly have a newfound respect for the anime blogging community. Thanks for a great year and I look forward to 2006.
-Michael AKA kungfustickman
YES. YES. Hachimitsu is one of the best and Takemoto IS the best character out there... and I'm sorta like Michael up above. Though I already liked Hachimitsu before I found your blog, yours made it even better and we even started blogging with the goal of being able to end up with your type of sucess.
More Hachimitsu Lurve! Nine out of Ten bloggers who watched it prefer Hachimitsu... no wait I just made up that random statistic, but it's probably true.
Waltz was my best ED this year too.
Yes Takemoto. I find that characters in a story are generally representations of extreme characteristics in everyone.
In other words, we each have a little bit of Morita, Mayama, Yamada, Takemoto and Hagu in all of us.
That's definetly true for myself.
Good recap, especially like the breadth of the topics. But no Drama? I would definitely give an honorable mention to Densha Otoko. Also reminds me that I have to get around to watching the end of 'Honey and Clover'.
Unfortunately I didn't watch many Drama this year. The only title I watched was Ruri no Shima (which I'll gladly recommend). I didn't even get the chance to watch Densha Otoko or Hana Yori Dango.
My choices according to each season and in no particular order for every season:
Winter 2005
1) Starship Operators
I have talked quite a lot about this show. I have said it once and I will say it again: This show makes the whole Star Trek Saga look like the Teletubbies!! I am not exaggerating when I say this show is a real masterpiece. I think the main strength of this show is that the events are believable and the characters are mature. The story may be science fiction but heck, I find all the events and details more believable, realistic and plausible than what I see in American science fiction shows. Add to that excellent animation, excellent character designs, strong drama, likable and mature characters and a wonderful sound track and you have a winning mix. If you love science fiction, military strategy stories or engaging drama then this show is a treat for you.
2) Mahoraba
The requisite light comedy for a balanced anime diet during the winter season. A real joy to watch. Many people dismissed this show as a clichéd childish comedy but those who continued to the end discovered how wonderful this show can be. The comedy is hilarious and the drama engaging (and sometimes tear jerking). I understand how some people are put off by the character designs and I would agree with them but they should give the story a chance to see this show for what it really is. The animation is high quality as would be expected from J C Staff. The soundtrack is cheerful reflecting the nature of the show.
Spring 2005 (the season of tear jerking)
1) Honey & Clover
Well, what can I say?! That’s why I will not say anything because many bloggers have said quite enough about this gem. You have to watch it to believe it. If you want to know my views on this show then you can refer to Garten’s rigorous views and analysis which completely reflect how I feel about this show. May god protect you all from any Morita san type character that you might know (^_^)
2) Victorian Romance Emma
Another true masterpiece. I tend to have an affection towards anime dramas with a story taking place in a European setting because that’s how I started to like anime and because they usually have excellent plots and exciting drama. Emma is no exception. An enchanting tale about the differences and hostility between social classes and how romance can be found in the least expected of places. During the last episodes of the show, I used to have tears in my eyes by just looking at Emma even if the scene was not sad at all. That was because Emma was the epitome of a living tragedy and her story would break a hard piece of stone let alone someone’s heart. Even the way she looks, talks and behaves carries a sense of sadness and pain. What makes Emma an even more tragic character is that she never spoke of her pains to anyone and always endured and kept it to herself and carried on. I do realise that the anime only covered the first 2 volumes of the manga and, as a result, the story in the anime wasn’t really concluded but the anime has created enough of an incentive for me to read the remaining volumes of the manga and see where life will lead this strong willed and admirable woman.
3) Basilisk
This show came as a surprise to me since I didn’t expect to enjoy it that much. I was completely hooked from episode 1. This is the first anime show that I have seen where tragedy starts from episode 1 and continues all the way through to the end (I’m a sucker for tragedy). To say that the drama and action scenes were engaging is an understatement. I used to sit on the edge of my seat while watching just to see where the fast unfolding events will lead. Superb animation, great character designs and great music all add to the remarkable feast that is Basilisk.
Summer 2005 (The season of fun and games)
1) Full Metal Panic -The Second Raid-
Man, Kyoto Animation sure put many large and old Japanese animation studios to shame with this show (much to my delight since I am a big fan of the Kansai region). The animation is so detailed that they went to the extreme of animating the breathing movements of a character who was standing still. This show proved to be the highlight of the summer season and yet another masterpiece that was produced this year (the show was ranked amongst the top ten most popular anime shows at Anime News Network). Great drama, great animation, great action scenes, great military strategies, great character designs, great music and great comedy is what makes this show…well…great!! Honestly, even if you didn’t watch the first season (like me) then you should give this a try. Finding information about the first season from the web is easy and is more that enough to enable anyone to understand the plot of this show without any problems. Final note: Chidori is hazardous to your health so beware! (O_o)
2) Peto Peto san
This show carries a special place in my heart. You can called it the Mahoraba of the summer season if you like. The impression I got from the official website before the show aired was that it was an educational show (which implies a boring story). Boy was I wrong!! The first episode completely evaporated any misconceptions I had about this show and it was a sweet and fun ride since then. A light hearted and enjoyable show with the most innovative handling I have seen so far of the social problem of “discrimination”. The show tries to approach some mature themes in a light hearted and harmless way. I can’t forget to mention the adorable character designs, the nice and sometimes silly soundtrack, the enjoyable drama and an abundance of likable characters including (yes, you guessed it) that wonderful creature Petoko (fans of the show know that the word “creature” was used intentionally here). Another notable thing is the use of local accents by many of the characters in the show (i.e. not standard Tokyo talk) which makes the voice acting more enjoyable. Petoko forever!!
3) Ichigo Mashimaro
When you’re watching a show like Full Metal Panic -TSR- you need to dilute its intensity with not one but two light hearted shows (that plus all the promotion that Matthew did for the show in his blog). A wacky comedy about the daily lives of four young girls and their guardian with no real plotline what so ever, just plain wackiness and absurdity all the way through. You can call it slice of life if you want although it is a bit bizarre for that. Miu is definitely barking mad!! (^_^;;)
Fall 2005
1) Angel Heart
My serious dramatic dish for this season. I have high expectations for this show and I hope it won’t disappoint me in the end. The animation, character designs and music are all top notch. The story (both comedy and drama) is enjoyable so far. I hope they keep this up for the whole of 52 episodes.
2) Aria
If it’s slice of life then count me in. Enough said!! Athena rocks by the way.
3) Rozen Maiden -Traumend-
I haven’t watched enough of this to make a sound judgement yet so I will reserve my judgment until later. The show seems interesting enough for me to continue watching though. Garten, I can’t believe you choose all your top favourite female characters from the dolls!! Poor Ayu.
Great review as always and I definitely owe it to you for introducing me to Honey and Clover. In short, 2005 was definitely an excellent year for anime. Let’s hope for another prosperous year for this blog, yourself and the anime scene in general.
BLAZE is my number 1 favourite song, then D-Technolife by UVERworld (Bleach OP theme 2). lolz
and i've seen too many good anime to actually decide what's my favourite =P
Happy New Year everyone -^^-
My choice:
The best anime: Honey and Clover
The best OP: Lonely in Paradise
The best ED: Waltz
The best music: Honey and Clover
The best VA: Ueda Yuuji (Morita)
The best character design: Kamichu
I think the best anime will have to be Honey and Clover. I also like what little I've seen of Mai Otome. As for music, I have to vote for Honey and Clover again. Everything from the opening to the ending was done beautifully. The insert song was to die for too. I always love Spitz' Spica but seeing it in the show only increases my love for it.
I forgot to mention that I recently read Death Note and was very impressed by it. I noticed that you don't have "Best Manga" category and I think this manga is one of the best manga that I've read even though it's not a new release.
How come no 1 vote for AIR? It has to be one of the best anime produced this year. Kudos to Kyoto animation for creating this piece of awesome show.
Honey and Clover is my favourite anime this year if not ever. There are so many things going for it from the animation down to the song. I wish the fansubber will sub the extra episode because I'd love to watch that as well. I also happen to love Zettai Shounen despite its rather slow pacing. In the opening theme category, again, Honey and Clover gets my vote. I like the ending theme for ARIA: the animation. I've been a fan of Roundtable ever since I heard them singing the OP for Chobits. I don't listen to Japanese pop so I have no favourite in that one. And none of the films that got released this year was especially interesting although Narnia was okay, I supposed.
Great round-up review for the year's series! ^^
Well, I won't say which series is the best in what aspect since everyone has their own preferences. Here's my favorites list. They're in no particular order by the way coz I find it hard to judge them critically. They're all equally good to me.
Favorite Anime Series
1. Mai-Otome
Although it has its ups and downs every now and then, it still managed to get me glued to the screen for every episode. I said before I'll only be blogging the interesting episodes but I ended up writing a review regularly every week. Yes, that's how entertaining it is to me. ^^
2. Rozen Maiden träumend
Oh yes!! I definitely agree that this is one of the best series to ever grace TV (and torrent sites :p). I had high expectations for it after completing the first series and so far, I believe träumend has yet to disappoint fellow fans. The latest episode is depressing though but nevertheless, I still find it really intriguing. Argh... Can't contain my impatience for the next one.
3. Hachimitsu to Clover
To be honest, I can't easily connect with slice-of-life type of shows but somehow this one managed to retain my interest until the end.
4. Mushishi
A very well-rounded series. Heck, the animation alone is enough to keep me watching.
Favorite Characters
Probably coincidental as it may seem, I have the same taste as you, Garten-san. ^^
1. Suiseiseki (Rozen Maiden träumend)
This doll is the perfect mix of being adorable and insanely ebiiil at the same time. She has always been my favorite and her hilarious antics never fail to make me laugh. Crazy as she seems at times, I love her caring side as well. She has my greatest sympathy in Episode 9. Watching her lose someone dear to her is really painful...
2. Shinku (Rozen Maiden träumend)
Her seriousness is what amuses me the most. She has a very pro almost business-like "Don't-Mess-With-Me" kind of attitude most of the time and it cracks me up whenever she gets into a typical funny situation involving all of the other dolls. Even though fans are familiar with her other "softer and relaxed side", I still find it rather surprising at times, especially her obsession with Kun Kun. Speaking of which, I was LMAO during Episode 3 where she kicked the chair and went outside shouting "Chotto!! Leader wa WATASHI YO!!" at the rest of the dolls all because Souseiseki stole her big break at taking after Kun Kun, and Suiseiseki chipped her pride with the latter's subtle insults. LOL!! One of the best scenes in the entire series. XD
3. Suigintou (Rozen Maiden träumend)
I was practically drowning in ecstacy when I saw the preview for Episode 6. SO GLAD that they decided to bring Gin-chan back halfway through the series. One thing I love about her this time round is her vulnerability to sappiness :p. Sure, she may still seem hell-bent on become Alice and even psychotic at times, but what captivated me the most is she showed that she's very capable of caring for others, as demonstrated by her relationship with Megu. Extremely subtle as it may seem, she looks as though she's sincerely concerned for her medium's well-being and I guess I can brand this as a good enough reason for her to keep on participating in the Alice Game. Although chances are really slim, I do wish to see her heart change.
4. Shizuru Viola (Mai-Otome)
The Undisputed Hentai Goddess of Yuri, she's one damn hot and kick@$$ chick in whatever she does, whether it's tackling giant Slaves or molesting girls. Hell yeah, she's definitely the perfect character to look out for when you want a healthy dose of fanservice. :p
5. Juliet Nao Zhang (Mai-Otome)
Everything she says is an absolute kick, not to mention sexy too. Pay very careful attention to her words.....
Favorite Anime Opening Videos
1. Seishoujo Ryouiki - Ali Project (Rozen Maiden träumend)
The first time I watched the video, I went OMG... It's damn good ^O^! I've honestly never seen anything like it! The animation is very elaborate and the sequence for each scene is perfectly coordinated to complement one another. Additionally, it conveyed the themes of the series really well. So..... Mesmerizing; it's almost hypnotic! This is one of the very rare opening videos which I never get tired of watching over and over again. ^^
2. ETERNAL BLAZE - Mizuki Nana (Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha A's)
Enjoyed the sequence very much. Really well-done in the way they introduced all the new characters.
Favorite Anime Ending Videos
1. Karinui - Noto Mamiko (Jigoku Shoujo)
2. Waltz - Suneohair (Honey and Clover)
Agree with what you've written. :)
3. Hikari no Rasenritsu - Kukui (Rozen Maiden träumend)
I didn't like the song very much but I think the video's excellent!
4. Loop - Sakamoto Maaya (Tsubasa Chronicle)
Really sweet. It suits Syaoran and Sakura's story very well. ^^
Favorite Movie
1. Final Fantasy VII Advent Children
Heck, the animation alone blatantly sucked my eyeballs out. Brilliantly AWESOME!!!! Who cares about the story when you have kick@$$ SqureEnix animation like this! :p
Favorite PS2 Games
1. Kingdom Hearts II
Aw MAN!!!! You've just gotta TRY IT!!!! If you've played the first installment before, then the second one is a MUST-play. And I highly recommend you to take on Proud Mode if you're familiar with it (although fighting Sephiroth is a definite pain in the butt); it would make it slightly easier for you to view the secret movie at the end - something which is NOT to be missed. Makes you wait darn impatiently for the third installment. :p
2. Tales of the Abyss
I'm a huge fan of the Namco Tales series, and their latest release is one heck of an exciting epic adventure. Another highly recommended game, especially if you love Fujishima Kousuke's works. This one is his best so far after Symphonia.
LOL, whoops.... Sincerely sorry for taking so much space in the comment box. ^^;;;
Best Anime:
Mushishi - No contest. I don't think any other series can match its beauty and story.
Best Song:
Tori no Uta - One of the best thing about the series. It's a shame that the story was kind of weak
Best Character:
Ichigo Kurosaki - I know he's not from recent anime but I want to vote for him.
Ah, one more thing:
Best CG Film:
Advent Children - this thing just rocks. If Square had released this instead of that boring Spirit Within, they wouldn't have financial problem.
Yep, I agree. Although they're both under the same company of Square, the animation for 'The Spirits Within' was done by Square USA Inc instead of SquareEnix Japan... But storywise, it's still created by SquareEnix. ^^
I think part of the Spirit Within failure was because they tried to create characters that they think are going to appeal to US audience. As a result, they ended up producing some of the most boring and cliche characters (okay, so some of FFVII characters are stereotypes as well but they're far more interesting).
I think it's quite funny when you look at it, when you realise that most people have made their favourite series the most recent ones, eg. Honey and Clover only finished a few months back as opposed to say... AIR which finished over half a year ago.
For me, this year was good but I think that out of all the series I've watched, My HiME, AIR and Speed Grapher take the cake. Whilst I know many people didnt like Speed Grapher because of the animation quality, I watched it right to the end and it's a really nice story. My HiME and AIR were both guaranteed for me because I loved them so much. AIR was the series this year which let me relax and just enjoy myself (inbetween much emotional turmoil). I'm watching Honey and Clover at the moment and enjoying it, but I dont feel just now that it is one of the best I've seen this year. When I've finished, my opinion might change. We'll have to wait and see.
One category I think you should add, aswell as your best opening and ending, should be best overall soundtrack. There was alot of good music this year, with quite a few Yuki Kajiura OST's. Opening wise, my favourites have to be Tsuki no CURSE from Loveless, and Tori no Uta from AIR. Both are really beautiful songs, and both convey an emotion attributed to each series (In my opinion). Ending wise, my favourites have been Break the Cocoon (2nd Speed Grapher ending) and Kimi ga sora datta - My HiME ending. However, I may be biased as is blatant from my favourite series and subsequent music tastes etc.
But in total, im glad you put up a favourites of the year. I enjoy reading your anime blog's and this is insightful into what series I should maybe try that I haven't already. Have a happy new year and good luck for 2006.
Happy New Year and thanks for all your hard work!
Was Speed Grapher really that good? I haven't watched more than the first 12 episodes. I love the character design and I'd kill for one of those Yuusuke Kozaki's original illustration. I mean check out his website and be amazed at his artworks:
http://kymg.net/top.htm
However, I thought the story was a bit repetitive with villain of the week coming episode after episode. And after 12 episodes, I felt that I've had enough. I should really go back to it again one day to see if it gets better. After all, I did rec the series based on the character design alone.
As for best overall soundtrack, unfortunately I'd have to vote for Honey and Clover as well. I really love the insert songs as well as some of the instrumental pieces that were featured in the series.
I've only watched Tsubasa Chronicle and Air this year. Out of those, Air was the best in terms of animation. Tsubasa has better soundtrack although Air's opening song was very good.
My favourite this year will have to be He is My Master. So it's not exactly intelligent but you have to admit it was funny.
Speed Grapher hasn't improved at all after episode 12 and the monster of the day theme continued to the very end. I should, however, point out that episode 22 is the highlight of the entire series and the emotional climax in this episode came from the most surprising source. If you decide not to continue watching the show then you can at least check that episode.
I'm still waiting for a blogger who didn't think that Honey and Clover was the best show of the year! Perhaps if Mentar posts his list it'll include my favorite of the year... Suzuka :)
Suzuka? I haven't seen Honey and Clover but if Suzuka is the best series of the year then anything else will be far more deserving, especially my favourite, Rozen Maiden traumend.
Honey & Clover is the best anime ever in my life time. Since then, I have a new criteria when I choose great animation series. Nowadays, I find that it is difficult to pick another great one. It seems that Honey & Clover will dominate the number one position in my heart for the rest of my life. Let us, who love Honey & Clover, promote its greatness to others. Also we need to support the manga & live action movie of Honey & Clover in the upcoming years!! Work hard, Chika Umino!! Finally, Happy New Year from Hong Kong!
Well, I wish to you one more year ^^
Speed Grapher did pick up. It was still kinda villain of the week but it began to explore back stories a bit more. The latter half was more developing more on Kagura and Saiga's relationship, showing many more of the problems in their path and also the fate of the lead characters, the sacrifice of being a Euphoria, how Saiga was exposed etc. It all tied up nicely in the end, and I feel that people do give it low reps because the animation got worse and inconsistent but it was better in the end.
I enjoyed it, but it probably wasn't for anyone. If you have time to go back and finish it then I'd recommend it but if not then you probably wont miss much. Just for me, this was one series that kept me gripped and that I thoroughly enjoyed, although I know my tastes differentiate from other peoples.
Happy New Year everyone!! My favourite series this year has to be Honey and Clover. I've never seen anything like it before. Thank you for recommending it. I wouldn't have seen it if I didn't read about it from this blog.
FFVII is the best movie!! hehe, sorry I haven't watch any of the anime mentioned here but FFVII is the best!!
My choice:
The anime for the storyline:
1 Honey and Clover
2 Euerka 7
3.Air
The anime for the picture
1.Mishishi
2.Honey and Clover
3.Gankutsuou
The anime for the ost
1.Honey and clover
2.Air
3.Eureka 7
I Agree with BenHo Rozen Maiden was how i found this site but i come here almost everyday!
I hope for spring 2006 if like planned the XXXHOLiC anime comes out and you'll review it, you would do it justice ^-^
Here's to a great Year!
Hmm... okay, I'll play pariah here. For me, H&C is not in the top group of animes I'd take with me for the famous remote island. I'll readily concede that the presentation and production value overall is top, but the story suffered for me due to two reasons: First, I never managed to fully warm up to the designated two main characters, namely Takemoto (too soft and broody) and Hagu (too cute, spoiled and nondescript). I also disliked the lack of a true resolution for Ayu, even though I liked her character alot. Thing is - when you don't want to BE the characters in a way, then the series can't realize its potential with you. That's what happened to me.
I couldn't easily select an anime of the year from me unless I may choose "wrap-around" shows too - then my pick would clearly be Mai HiME. I should note though that I didn't watch Mushishi and Rosen Maiden träumend yet (no time for the first, waiting for a certain release for the second).
A show which deeply and unexpectedly impressed me was Mahoraba. I particularly encourage everyone to try the manga. It offers something difficult to explain, but I'll try it: The mangaka shows such a wisdom about human relationships and goodness of heart which is permeating his works that it's quite impressive. Try it.
A minor plug about Starship Operators: I'm currently helping complete this show. In around 1 month the two last episodes with the first english language release I know of will be out, and I invite everybody to give it a try. All flaws of the show aside, it's quite an impressive and bitter criticism of the melange of politics and newsreporting nowadays, up to a very surprising and convincing ending. Certainly a valid pick from the late-2004 department.
Suzuka wouldn't be "anime of the year" material due to its low production values and shaky drama arc placement, but it's getting a honorable mention as one of the best and _unusual_ romance animes in the last decade (a genre I'm particularly fond of). If it had offered the full splendor of the manga artwork, it definitely would have had a shot though.
Mai Otome is shaping up great. Quite a bit less extreme than MH so far, it still has set up the chessboard with many many pieces. I hope that they manage to create a middle and end run worthy of the big brother, MH.
I agree with Honey & Clover being the top, probably because I could relate with it the most out of all of these anime.
Mai Otome seems somewhat of a disappointment compare to Mai HiMe, which I really like and agree to the vote that it's one of the best despite the plot holes.
I really like Mushishi for the art, but I fail the grasp the life theme messages that Garten is talking about. Any tip on how to understand the unrecognizable and subtle message Garten? XD Because I really like this series but I can't seem to find the undying message within it = =,,
I really liked Rozen Maiden but haven't watched all of Rozen Maiden Traumend yet, but seems really good, and does anyone know how many episodes are there for this?
Mahoraba I only saw the first few episodes but it seems fairly...cute. But I was advise to watch all of it before judging it lol
Jigoku Shoujo seems good as well but I haven't follow it, but reading your summary makes it a must-see.
I'm glad I did not watch Paradise Kiss because the art is too shiny and I prefer the manga much much more, especially after reading the ending to the anime. That's a horrible ending! I love the manga ending because it was the first manga that had the main couple pairing off while showing that their relationship wasn't pointless because it helped Yakari grow and experience more than what I she had ever done thus far.
For graphic I would definitely say Advent Children took the gold medal. That movie was crazy...! The art was unbelieveable, except for the hair. Something about FFX animation and the hair looks odd...
But overall, I agree with Garten choices, especially with Honey and Clover. Thanks for the list Garten! It's greatly appreciated.
I thought Mushishi's message is not that hard to see. I think with each episode, the series features some sort of a theme. Most of the time it has a lot to do with regrets and grief so it's easy to identify. The rest I guess is just a matter of being observant.
Rozen Maiden traumend is a really good series, at least so far it has been. So I really recommend the series.
My choice for best anime is HONEY AND CLOVER!! It's such a good series just like FRUBA. I havent seen the rest of the series listed here but Im going to try and see them now.
I watched the first few eps of H&C, and although I recognize that it's well-made, I didn't really connect with it. Does it get better? Should I give it another chance, since everyone seems to love it?
And of course, if 2004/2005 shows were also included, Mai Hime would jump to the top. It seems that my tastes are pretty close to Mentar's... I guess I should check out the other series he recommended. :-)
However, I'm surprised that so few people mentioned FMP TSR. I have nothing but praise for that show, and I agree with what Mohammad said - Kyoto Animation kicked some serious ass with it. In particular, after watching all three FMP series, it is plain to see that Kyoto Animation wipes the floor with the dreaded Studio Gonzo. :P
Also, with his work on Fumoffu and TSR, Yasuhiro Takemoto has proven to be a very good and versatile director, doing well with both comedy and drama. I'll keep an eye on that guy.
IMO, H & C don't really pick up until episode 6 so if you've only seen the first few episodes, you won't connect with the characters until episode 6.
Anyway, I have to agree with Garten, H & C is the best anime of the year. The animation, story, and music are top notch.
Also, no one mentioned the best game of the year: World of Warcraft. I've been addicted to this game for months now and showing no sign of getting better. This game is dangerous for your health, I tell you!!
So many choices...so little time to watch all fo them. This year I've only seen "Tsubasa" (bad), "Speed Grapher" (bad), and "Black CAt" (good). I'm afraid no best anime for me this year.
But I love the opening and ending theme for "Tsubasa", the first ending theme for Speed Grapher" (does anyone know the name? please?). Best manga is Naruto. I've been following it since the beginning.
Ok, my list of anime-watching is not very extensive, especially compared to some :) But suffice to say, my favourite has been Honey & Clover, unsurprisingly, and also Fantastic Children. I could really identify with Takemoto, as I'm going through the same thing he was going through right at the end there. (Unfortunately, no soul-searching trips for me! I don't even have a tricycle, let alone a bike.) FC was just brilliant, though, from start to finish! Some have complained about the pacing (or lack of it thereof) but I thought the whole thing was just brilliantly pulled off! Come ending, I was a bit disappointed and sad that it's ended, but I think this would even beat out Honey & Clover if it wasn't for Morita ;)
At any rate, I still liked the rest of the show that pops up this year. Air was supposed to bloody brilliant, but I was left feeling rather disappointed towards the end - perhaps it wasn't the ending I expected, maybe I just liked Kanon more, but fact of the matter was that I didn't like it as much as I'd expected to. Emma was great! The animation quality kept up until the last episode, and it was so deliciously beautiful, even though the ending was rather abrupt, and I had hoped to see more.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Sousei no Aquarion. Since the sub still hasn't finished yet, I'm not finished with it yet either. I'm putting off watching it until all of it comes out since there's apparently some plot towards the end. But I really enjoyed this show! Crack at its best! Hee! It's not the most clever show out there, but it has been enjoyable to watch. Now for the fansub to actually finish... Advent Children has kickass animation! Yeah, no plot, generic characters but loved it anyway.
I got in the anime scene a bit late last year, so that's all I've been watching :) Or maybe I've missed a few; I swear I saw more. But I think it's more because I was trying to caught up with last last year's anime xD;; (Was totally out of the loop for 2004, due to internet inactivity!) I'm anticipating very little anime this year, since there are only two shows I'm planning on watching (Fate/stay night because of the designs & looks of the anime; Ergo Proxy which sounds interesting), but I'm really anticipating the release of Nana & XXXholic. Loved Nana, I hope they won't butcher it. XXXholic, though, I have no idea what it's about, save for the first few chapters (I got tired of waiting; I was never good with waiting, heh), but maybe the anime will hold the interest :) Besides, Suga Shikao providing a song for it? Loved Shikao, even before he showed up a lot in H&C, so I'm looking forward to XXXholic somewhat. (I don't want to raise my hopes, though, since it seemed that Tsubasa was pretty much a failure in the eyes of fans... or so it seemed to me anyway.)
Sorry for the double post, but it was getting rather long and I thought I'd typed it another time; but am changing my mind again ^^;; Sorry!
Anyway, continuing with last year's anime, Mushishi was lovely; the animation was even reminiscent of H&C, which was why I got into it in the first place. I rather like it, even with its episodic nature. I would really love to know more about Ginko, too, though, because his backstory seemed rather interesting from the glimpse given to us. I'll be sad if this ends really soon :( What else am I supposed to watch?
Paradise Kiss: disappointing. I know, I know, I loved the manga too much, but still. I didn't think it'd be this bad. I seriously feel nothing for it. After watching an episode, I would immediately delete it; whereas with anime I do like I'll watch it over and over again till the DVD becomes available. (Then I give 'em away xD) I don't know; something about its execution left me feeling nothing for it. No great music (except for the seriously catchy OP), no funny moments where Yazawa Ai excels at, even at the tense moments, the characters' seiyuus... I could go on and on, but maybe I shouldn't. I don't even have the heart to download it anymore. (Stopped at ep 8, and I've no intention of picking even the last ep at, seeing as how they cut out so many things from your descriptions.)
Noein is coming along pretty nicely, actually. I don't know what I really expect of it. At times the character designs bothered me a bit, but after a while I got used to it. Still there are times when I could just shout at them to be at least consistently bad/good/mediocre! I'm still following it, though, no doubt about that, because I'm hoping it'll be another masterpiece like Fantastic Children :) (No high hopes though, it looks pretty okay for now but could turn pretty boring afterwards.)
Anyway, I really hope that's it for now and that I didn't miss anything :P That's why I swore I saw more of 2005, because I did, only I forgout about it, haha!
Wai! Wai!! Honey and Clover is da best!! I just finished episode 24 and I want more!! Tsubasa was also good why no one like it? How about Trinity Blood? Has anyone else seen it?
Best series: Honey and Clover
To me there is no other series that I can called best anime other than this one. I can identify with all of the characters especially Ayu, Takemoto, and Hagu. I know how it feels to have a crush on someone who just see you as a friend. The pain, the jealousy, everything was so similar and.... embarassing now that I think about it. But back then it didn't feel pathetic to keep chasing after him. Right now though, I am mortified beyond belief everytime I think about it. I can only hope that he never noticed like Mayama noticed Yamada's feeling.
Best song: Waltz
Again, this comes out at the top because I love the lyric and its meaning "nee, nandake? sagashite ita mono?" I'm still in the middle of soul-searching myself and that's why this song hurts so much at times.
Best game: Silent Hill 4, Devil May Cry 3
I was going to mention some Yaoi game but I think people are going to be afraid :D. Erm, I love these games mostly because the main characters, Henry and Dante are such good looking studs. So sue me, I like good looking guys. :P
I agree with Nadie that "Fantastic Children" should have been included in the list. It was one of the best show I have ever seen and I am glad that the DVD is coming out soon.
An excellent and most detailed review of 2005's J-based entertainment. I'd definitely agree with your placement of Rozen Maiden traumend and Honey and Clover. But I really can't endear myself to Sakurada Jun. In comparison with the dolls, he's just too nondescript.
But anyway, can you imagine that I marathoned both of these (plus the original Rozen Maiden) only 2-3 months ago?
I'm watching the original Rozen Maiden right now, and I'm really liking it. Best doll-based anime I've ever seen. :^)
Best anime is Honey and clover. No contest about it. Everything was done so well. I haven't watch the rest that you mentioned so I have no comment either way.
I'll have to give Best Soundtrack to Tsubasa Chronicle though. I love both the OP and the ED theme and some of the BG music are also quite good.
i've got to agree with you on takemoto and ginko.
i could reeallyyy relate to takemoto, especially in one of the middle episodes (i think it was the one where he went home for new years) where he was saying as he got older he realized that he really wasn't good at anything. but seeing him still find some form of contentment at the end kind of eased me, if that makes any sense. like i'm reassured that yeah, there are people like me out there.
and i looooveeee ginko. he's so cool ^^
So, Ima, Ai ni Yukimasu is really that good? Okay, you got me. Now I want to see it. XD Too bad no one in the whole stinkin' world will sub it for us poor English speakers! *cries*
You exactly described my impressions and feelings of Honey and Clover! I was immediately addicted to this anime as soon as I watched it! This is undeniably the best anime I've watched ever!
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