We've studied the top 100 anime through various lenses: length, timeline, sources, etc. But there's another way of viewing anime, and that's by the voice actors who give them life. Previously, I've identified some of the best voice actors in the anime industry. If I match them to the anime series they starred in, it will become clearer how reliant good anime is on great actors. My only worry is that I spread the praise too thin. There are so many great voice actors in the anime industry playing so many beloved characters across time that no list is comprehensive enough. With that in mind, I'm going to include more voice actors than in my previous posts. I'll also take this opportunity to rearrange the top 100 rankings yet again in light of the new summer anime season, which has proven itself with some wonderful old and new series worthy of mention. Namely, Usagi Drop, Idolm@ster, and Nichijou will enter the top 100 for the first time.
Nichijou uses an amazing variety of off the wall humor backed up by the incredible Kyoto animation company, which is enough to make it a great comedy, but it lacks a soul that would give it true worth like Galaxy Angel. It's too random to become great. Usagi Drop has one of the most lovable girls ever imagined in Kaga Rin, and the unique circumstance of someone volunteering to become a father without ever having a wife or child is exciting and interesting. Idolm@ster has some of the best art and music ever. In addition, its vast variety of girl leads are all lovable, every one of them makes you want to get to know them more and every one of them makes you happy when they're the center of attention. A perfect story like this is only marred by how unfocused and shallow the story must remain to contain 13 different female leads all on air at once. That weakness is also the series' strength though, certainly no one else has been ambitious enough to try such a feat, and the payoff in terms of how beautiful the series looks is ample.
With that said, let's get to the list! The parenthesis show when the series was released. A plus means it is still in production. I will also be listing the voice actors of note in each series first, followed by the role they were playing in said series. Watch how the best voices cluster around the best series, which in large part is the reason why they are the best:
1. Clannad (2007-2009) Satsuki Yukino: Misae Sagara. Yukari Tamara: Mae Sunohara. Mai Nakahara: Nagisa Furukawa. Yuuichi Nakamura: Tomoya Okazaki.
2. One Piece (1999-2011+) Mayumi Tanaka: Luffy D. Monkey.
3. Code Geass (2006-2009+) Norio Wakamoto: Charles vi Brittannia. Jun Fukuyama: Lelouche Lamperouge.
4. Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha (2004-2010) Nana Mizuki: Fate Testorossa. Yukari Tamara: Nanoha Takamachi. Mai Nakahara: Teana Lanster.
5. Seikai no Monshou/Senki/Danshou (1999-2005)
6. Pretty Cure (2004-2011+) Mariya Ise: Urara Kasugano/Cure Lemonade.
7. Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni (2006-2009+) Satsuki Yukino: Shion/Mion Sonozaki. Yukari Tamara: Rika Furude. Mai Nakahara: Rena Ryugu.
8. K-On! (2009-2011+) Aki Toyosaki: Yui Hirasawa. Ayana Taketatsu: Azusa Nakano.
9. Naruto (2002-2011+) Nana Mizuki: Hinata Hyuuga. Yukari Tamara: Tenten. Showtaro Morikubi: Shikimaru. Noriaki Sugiyama: Sasuke Uchiha.
10. Dragonball (1986-2011) Norio Wakamoto: Cell. Mayumi Tanaka: Kuririn.
11. Haruhi Suzumiya (2006-2010) Aya Hirano: Haruhi Suzumiya.
12. Kanon (2002-2007) Yukari Tamara: Mai Kawasumi.
13. Fairy Tail (2009-2011+) Aya Hirano: Lucy Heartfilia. Mariya Ise: Levi McGarden. Rie Kugimiya: Happy. Mai Nakahara: Juvia Luxor. Yuuichi Nakamura: Gray Fullbuster. Tetsuya Kakihara: Natsu Dragneel.
14. Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (2007-2009) Tetsuya Kakihara: Simon.
15. To Aru Majutsu no Index/Kagaku no Railgun (2008-2011) Norio Wakamoto: Biagio Busoni. Rie Kugimiya: Agnes Sanctis. Aki Toyosaki: Kazari Uiharu.
16. Katanagatari (2010) Yukari Tamara: Togame. Mai Nakahara: Nanami Yasuri.
17. Angel Beats (2010) Kana Hanazawa: Kanade Tachibana.
18. Puella Magi Madoka Magica (2011)
19. Da Capo (2003-2011) Yukari Tamara: Sakura Yoshino.
20. Kobato (2009-2010) Kana Hanazawa: Kobato Hanato.
21. Vandread (2000-2001)
22. Full Metal Panic! (2002-2005) Satsuki Yukino: Kaname Chidori.
23. Working! (2010+) Jun Fukuyama: Sota Takanashi.
24. Toradora! (2008-2009) Rie Kugimiya: Taiga.
25. Record of Lodoss War (1990-1998) Norio Wakamoto: Woodchuck.
26. The World God Only Knows (2010-2011+) Kana Hanazawa: Shiori Shiomiya. Aki Toyosaki: Jun Nagase. Ayane Taketatsu: Ayumi Takahara.
27. Bakuman (2010-2011+)
28. Sora no Woto (2010)
29. Cowboy Bebop (1998-2001)
30. Ef (2007-2008)
31. Hayate no Gotoku (2007-2009+) Norio Wakamoto: Narrator. Rie Kugimiya: Nagi Sanzenin.
32. Evangelion (1995-2009)
33. Basilisk (2005) Nana Mizuki: Iga Oboro
34. Galaxy Angel (2001-2006) Yukari Tamara: Ranpha Franbois.
35. Saki (2009+) Rie Kugimiya: Yuki Kataoka.
36. Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
37. Ranma 1/2 (1989-1996)
38. Major (2004-2010) Rie Kugimiya: Komori. Showtaro Morikubi: Goro.
39. Air (2005) Yukari Tamara: Michiru.
40. Sailor Moon (1992-1997)
41. Angelic Layer (2001)
42. Rurouni Kenshin (1996-2001+)
43. Prince of Tennis (2001-2011+)
44. Uuchuu no Stellvia (2003)
45. Hanasaku Iroha (2011+) Aki Toyosaki: Nako Oshimizu.
46. Ore no Immouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai (2010-2011) Kana Hanazawa: Ruri
Gokou. Yuuichi Nakamura: Kyosuke Kosaka. Ayana Taketatsu: Kirino Kosaka.
47. Usagi Drop (2011+)
48. Inuyasha (2000-2010) Satsuki Yukino: Kagome Higurashi.
49. 12 Kingdoms (2002-2003)
50. Utawarerumono (2006-2009) Rie Kugimiya: Kamyu. Mai Nakahara: Yuzuha.
51. Kimi ni Todoke (2009-2011) Aya Hirano: Ume Kurumizawa. Yuuichi Nakamura: Ryu Sanada.
52. Summer Wars (2009)
53. Mononoke Hime (1997)
54. Idolm@ster (2011+) Yukari Tamara: Iori Minase. Mai Nakahara: Ritsuko Akizuki.
55. Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu (2010-2011+) Ayana Taketatsu: Miharu Shimizu.
56. Battle Athletes (1997-1998)
57. Amagami SS (2010-2011)
58. Samurai Champloo (2004-2005)
59. Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai (2011)
60. Zero no Tsukaima (2006-2008) Rie Kugimiya: Louise.
61. Berserk (1997-1998+)
62. Claymore (2007)
63. Valkyria Chronicles (2009-2011)
64. Akane-iro ni Somaru Saka (2008-2009) Rie Kugimiya: Yuuhi Katagiri. Aya Hirano: Minato Nagase.
65. Negima! Magister Magi Negi (2004-2010+)
66. Macross Plus (1994-1995)
67. Read or Die (2001-2004)
68. Mahoromatic (2001-2009)
69. Sora no Otoshimono (2009-2011) Aki Toyosaki: Chaos.
70. Bleach (2004-2011+) Rie Kugimiya: Karin Kurosaki. Noriaki Sugiyama: Ishida Uryuu.
71. Card Captor Sakura (1998-2000)
72. Martian Successor Nadesico (1996-1998)
73. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
74. Break Blade (2010-2011) Kana Hanazawa: Cleo Subarafu.
75. Spice and Wolf (2008-2009) Jun Fukuyama: Kraft Lawrence. Aki Toyosaki: Merta.
76. Bastard! (1992)
77. Alien Nine (2001-2002)
78. Fatal Fury (1992-1994)
79. Bakemonogatari (2009-2010+) Kana Hanazawa: Nadeko Sendoku.
80. Iria: Zeiram the Animation (1994)
81. Guyver (1986-2006)
82. Shakugan no Shana (2005-2010+) Rie Kugimiya: Shagukan no Shana.
83. Nichijou (2011+)
84. Macross Frontier (2008-2011) Yuuichi Nakamura: Alto Saotome.
85. Scrapped Princess (2003)
86. Lucky Star (2007-2008) Aya Hirano: Konata Izumi.
87. Hunter x Hunter (1999-2004+)
88. Azumanga Daioh (2002) Norio Wakamoto: Chiyochichi.
89. To Heart (1999-2010)
90. Spirited Away (2001)
91. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
92. Sora no Manimani (2009) Aki Toyosaki: Aiko Kawashita.
93. Gosick (2011)
94. Gunbuster (1988-2006)
95. RG Veda (1991-1992)
96. Shamanic Princess (1996-1998)
97. Akira (1988)
98. Moshidora (2011) Tetsuya Kakihara: Keiichiro Asano. Kana Hanazawa: Yuki Miyata.
99. Soul Eater (2008-2009)
100. Saber Marionette (1995-1999)
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