Feature: Top 10 Anime of 2016 Second Half

Well the end of the year is upon us and and since I’ve already compiled my top 10 of the first half of the year it is not time to to look over the second half of the year and see what went right or wrong. This will be my top 10 series of the second half of 2016. Only series that finished this year eligible for my list and short series will have their own separate list. Without further ado and in no particular order here is my top 10.

Flip Flappers

Sometimes a show comes along that is so out there, so bizarre and weird that it strikes you straight away. Flip Flappers did that to me with its crazy premise that sets up and even crazier ride of a series that takes you to so many places you could not have thought of.

Basically Papika meets Cocona who she believes to be special, after pleading and pleading Cocona agrees to go on an adventure with her once but this sets in motion on hell of a rollercoaster ride as they enter a dream like state where the imagination runs wild. They are collecting these stones but have to fight to get hold of them as someone else is wanting to in their own aims. It’s simple setup but everything after that is just a joy.

What I loved most about this series is the imagination that has gone into it. They visit futuristic cyber world, a Mad Max style apocalyptic world, a haunted school that provides no escape to entering someone’s dreams and altering their minds. It will never repeat itself, never feel stale and constantly surprise you with what it tells, the specs of information it releases to you to make you think. It looks fantastic and treads the right line between cartoonish and elegance.

It is also helped by the animation. It is so, so smooth. It flows perfectly, never letting up, never feeling clunky and this means we get some wonderful set pieces, be it fighting a giant monster, entering or fighting against an evil organisation it never ceases to amaze me just how well it works. It is one of the smoothest, fluid animated shows I have seen this year, up there with Macross Delta.

Ajin Second Season

The second season of Ajin took what made the first so good and just upped the ante to the point where every episode was wrought with danger and mayhem ensues as Satou continues his rampage and playing games.

The true highlight of this series is the highlight of season one: Satou. A villain so delightfully insane, so set in his ways and just, well, badass. He is the embodiment of that. His plans are second to none taking into account every possibility, he never reveals his full hand, his combat experience allows him to take on all elite on comers and most of all is seeing how much fun he has. He loves the chaos, loves playing it like a game and that his is goal, to see how exciting it is. He is without a doubt one of the best villains I have seen in anime for these reasons.

But that is not all, so many intertwining story threads join together or get expanded on here. From how Kei and Ko adapt to the every changing dangerous landscape to what the deal is with Tosaki and Shimomura with a suitably sad back-story. The inclusion of the Americans brings more twists and turns as well to ramp up the danger even more as Satou enjoys the chaos.

In essence this second season thrusts into the light the danger the results of what happens when you constantly put down the Ajin, when you demean them and deny the cruelty inflicted upon them. The results are simply glorious. If you want an action horror series then look no further than Ajin. Even the CGI (which I was a fan of) has improved to look more fluid and flow better. My only complaint is the waiting to see if we ever get more Satou.

Macross Delta

What more could I possibly say about this series that I didn’t in my review? Not much but I’ll try. Heavily anticipated by myself and worried that my expectations would only lead to disappointment I was in awe of what came through. A vast array of incredible characters really make up why I loved this, each delivering on numerous twists and shocks as well as emotional moments that left one hell of an impact on me.

Hayate is a drifter going from one place to the next but upon meeting Freyja, a stowaway, his life change. The action is one of the highlights of any Macross series and here they do it justice. The sky battles with the Valkyries are always on point, ramping up the tensions, showing a spectacle of air combat to impress even the most sceptical or uninitiated mecha fans. Seeing the Elysion rise and protect Walkure, seeing the tactical battles between commanders come forth is a joy to watch and leave lasting impressions.

And of course the music is there to really draw you in. Idol music is something I have differing opinions on so it has to really stand out to keep me hooked and Walkure did just that. Whether it be upbeat high tempo songs that put a smile on your face, songs that get you pumped up and into a fighting mood or melodic ballads they never fail. With JUNNA voicing Mikumos singing part and Minori Suzuki voicing Freyja it gave rise to 2 new incredible talents.

That is not to forget the intertwining thread heavy story that takes enough twists and turns to leave you saddened, in a rage or utterly shattered emotionally as Hayate comes to terms with who he is, what is happening to those around him and much more. That they can do this while fleshing out the abundance of characters here just shows you how impressive they are. A true wonder and deserving of its place in the Macross canon.

Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu

This show hit big time on its arrival and I could see why. It is deceptively good and arc after arc raises your expectations, crushes you emotionally then delivers those expectations. The feelings I had watching this, seeing Subaru go through torment after torment, seeing characters grow exponentially, suffer and rebound is sight to behold and a true standout of anime let alone just this year.

It starts off with Subaru being transported to another world and follows what you’d expect, confident otaku neet knows all the ins and outs but it is when he and new found friend Emlia are brutally murdered that it takes twist. Subaru wakes in the same spot he was at before in the same scenario. He can revive at a save point of sorts and restart but this is where his story begins. Why does he have this power? What will he do with it? How will he cope with these memories, these moments that don’t exist to those very people who created them? It’s engaging and fascinating to see it all explored thoroughly.

This restarting after death is used in countless ways to really ramp up your emotional investment, from seeing your favourite characters die, Subarus determination to not let it happen to the effect it has on his personality. That last part is crucial as his development throughout is superb and one of the main successes of it until he breaks until he can grow again and learn, truly learn from his mistakes. It’s not something you see every series, especially ones based on going series so you savour how well it is pulled off.

With action, phenomenal world building as thread after thread is weaved, character development for all resulting in standout emotional encounters, a delectable score to help heighten the nature of events, gripping story, perfect pacing and wonderful animation there is nothing I did not love about this as every episode pulled me in more and more, sucker punched me when I least expected it, made me shout at the screen, shed tears and these cruelly beautiful moments. It is one of a kind and proof never to judge a book by its cover. Outstanding.

Keijo!!!!!!!!

Having loved the manga for a while now when an anime was announced I was bewildered yet overjoyed and the end result whilst not perfect is more than I could have hoped for as it takes what is so absurd about this series and focuses purely on that which leaves all other sports shows trailing behind.

Based on a fictional professional sport where girls knock each other into the water using their asses and boobs it is simply ridiculous but in such a good way. It’s over the top (bit of an understatement) but always takes itself seriously which is part of the fun. The insane level of powers here is out of this world. Twisting boobs, hunting asses (with lion flames of course), boob hypnosis, pulling up their swim suit for super speed, transformations, nipple sword slashes and so much more.

It is ludicrous and so fun to watch. Every episode I was in hysterics with a smile fixed permanently to my face. Sure it features all the tropes you’d come to expect from a sport series but it pulls them off with such exquisite execution you forgive it. It’s this spin that keeps it fresh and keeps you hooked.

Yet whilst that is the main focus the characters get good development as well with motivations, growths, interactions and more. Each character has their own motivations, their own back stories and whilst not all are touched upon the ones that are such as Sayaka is actually quite heart warming by their conclusion. If you love fan service, over the top action and just want to smile then you have to watch this show.

Hibike! Euphonium Second Season

The first season caught me off guard, I watched because of KyoAni and was utterly drawn into to this world and engaged with the characters and a club band, an actual brass band which I had not seen before.

This season is more focused on character drama which I actually liked a lot more as it explores some of the questions the first season raised such as what is the deal with Kumikos sisters, what is Asuka really like, what happened with the first years in the club beforehand and more helping create more of a complete picture and getting me to really like the characters here. There is also less yuri-baiting but it still seems destined to go the route of Kumiko and Reina ending up with each other.

This character drama may be heavy but it is the way it pays off that really makes it worth it. The time spent building up these events, the ever so small movements behind the scenes so to speak, the way characters inadvertently set up trouble leads to a big payoff where you will be put through the emotional wringer along with them as pent up anger, frustration and sadness burst onto the screen and into your ears. Quieter emotional moments exists and pack as much punch as well such as Kumiko unknowingly breaking down on a train that will tear you up.

And of course it looks beautiful. From scenery to the instruments to themselves to the small but crucial animations that display characters emotions KyoAni is on the top of their game here. A special mention to the performances with one in particular early on which was a magnificent 5-7 minutes of a band playing. It is simply sublime in the movements, the close-ups, the barely noticeable strains and the concentration.

There are just so many elements here that all come together to create a visually stunning, engaging and emotional show. I cannot recommend it enough as it showcases just how good KyoAni are and what they are capable of.

Amanchu!

I had no idea what to expect with this series other than involving scuberdiving so it was more than a pleasant surprise that it was a mix of not only that but slice of life, comedy, relaxing and full to the brim with charm. Futuba moves to a new town, away from her friends and she feels down but an encounter with Hikari an energetic, gung ho girl who sees the positive in everything rekindles a little spark in her.

It’s a very positive story following Futuba and it warms the heart seeing it. More so when real emotional moments come to the fore as Futuba realises that she has people who care for her, that will help her through tough times and that are actually helping her come out of her shell. It’s fascinating to see, incredibly heart-warming that her fears are allayed and people like her and care for her whilst she grows into something she didn’t think she could be again. The emotional scenes play a crucial part and the execution of each one leaves you feeling all warm inside.

The art here is beautiful from depicting the sea when scuberdiving to the gorgeous views around the town and more including the characters that shares this wonderful art such as the refreshing school uniform. It doesn’t stick to just one style though as the almost muppet like art used to depict many of the comedy scenes I found particularly adorable and it was always used in the right moment leaving the regular art for more serious scenes. It helps that the comedy in these scenes can range from physical to subtle and always struck a cord with me leaving me with at least a smile each time.

This isn’t a slice of life where nothing happens either as away from the relaxing scenes there is a real focus on scuberdiving. From setting up to how to breathe properly to what you do in an emergency and so much more. It was clear that there is a real passion for this behind it as it always stayed realistic and in depth as well as showing the true open joy of it, the feeling of this open expanse. I came away from this feeling so very positive yet also so very relaxed and wanting to go scuberdiving myself. It accomplished a lot of things and had me hooked each week which is a sure fire way to say it has succeeded on many levels.

Orange

Romance series between high school kids has to really stand out to me and that is just what Orange did here with a time travel gimmick that didn’t feel too out there to lose any interest. Technical talk about time travel can quickly take over the main heart of the story if not careful but Orange manages to navigate it’s way past this.

Naho has received a letter from the future from her future self, in it she says that Kakeru committed suicide and that her friend have deep regrets on this. Not believing it Naho continues like normal until events form the letter happen with freighting accuracy. She then decides to save Kakeru from this. I haven’t seen something play on time travel like this before so I was fascinated from day one and seeing the reality of their situation bite the first time shook me as was even more engrossed in this.

It is sweet and heart-warming at the same time. Saving a loved one if you got the chance may be cliché but here it just works. The developments throughout really hit me emotionally to the point I was in tears along with Naho at the thought of Kakeru dying. I went through it along with them, shouting at the screen to save Kakeru, I felt as though I was there and seeing an emotional wreck that Kakeru had become, his near misses, his longing for happiness yet constant regrets about his perceived selfishness.

Bringing out those feelings in me was exactly what a show should do when it treads the emotional path. It gave enough to all characters involved to make me care, developed them enough, fleshed them out enough to make me truly care what happens. It feels all real as well in the erratic state Kakeru is in, what he feels. The overwhelming feelings of anger, sadness and being genuinely gripped to see what happened next quickly overshadowed any minor flaws here to create a sublime experience.

Fune wo Amu

Who knew a series about making a dictionary could be so fascinating and enjoyable? Not me but that was the case here as we follow socially awkward Majime as he enters the world of words and finds a new home, a new calling where someone like him who always felt out of place can do something meaningful.

What I like about this is the detail on which making a dictionary requires, from deciding which words may or may not be appropriate, the theme of the dictionary, the struggles of making a resource heavy book like it in a business world where short term revenue trumps long legged books, tackling problems that arise to even the right texture and feel of the paper. That these topics can create an enthralling story is an incredible achievement.

The characters play just as big a part and are just as interesting. Majime is socially awkward, loves books and in ways has a childlike demeanour. Seeing him evolve so to speak, seeing him adapt to new surrounding to react to new emotions he has never felt is wonderful. As is the supporting cast who not only help him but have their own growths such as Nishioka who, whilst not pining for his job, actually demonstrates just how much it has affected him.

I cannot recommend this enough, not only is it a fresh new topic rarely tackled but it is also a refreshing change from the regular anime you get with less of a focus on certain aspects such as romance that would usually be pored over and act like it’s the newest thing in other shows. This show features actual adults in ways actual adults act which is simple refreshing.

Drifters

From the creator of Hellsing I expected much and it delivered in spade with fierce action, fantastic animation (for the most part), a weird and wonderful sandbox of a world and stylistic. Multiple famous characters from history are in essence plucked from heir real world positions before their deaths and find themselves in front of a man in a desk before being whisked off to another world where a group calling themselves The Ends are attempting to take control and led by the Dark King.

The setup allows for an almost endless supply of characters, events, scenarios and action. It’s interesting to see how these great historical figures react to one another, the world they live in, the races of this world and the advancements in technology since their times. Seeing Oda Nobunaga adapt to his surroundings one of his plans, seeing Toyohisa take on Jeanne d’Arc, seeing Anastasia freeze everything around her or Yoichi leading a troop of archers is just wonderful as you never know what you’ll get.

The action is one of the standout memories from this series for me. Swathes of bloody violence, people ripped apart, torn to shreds, gutted, heads cut off it is a sight to behold as anime rarely ever gets this gruesome or violent. That’s not to say it is just all action as Oda Nobunaga devises a plan to take this new world through any means and we only get glimpses of EASY and Murasaki the orchestrators who sent these warriors there, their goals shrouded in mystery.

I simply had a lot of fun watching this, it drew me into their gritty, dark world, delivered action that holds up against any other and even had brief breaks of comedy which whilst not for everyone had me smiling each time they popped up such is the start contrast in tone to the real world antics. It has me thirsty for more and leaves a lasting impression.