The Top 120 Anime: Fun Facts

1. Clannad (2007-2009) 
2. Pretty Cure (2004-2012+)
3. One Piece (1999-2012+)
4. Code Geass (2006-2009+)
5. Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha/Triangle Hearts (2000-2010+)
6. Seikai no Monshou/Senki/Danshou (1999-2005)
7. Fairy Tail (2009-2012+)
8. Naruto (2002-2012+)
9. Dragonball (1986-2011)
10. Higurashi/Umineko no Naku Koro Ni (2006-2012)
11. K-On! (2009-2011)
12. Kanon (2002-2007)
13. Haruhi Suzumiya (2006-2010)
14. Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (2007-2009)
15. To Aru Majutsu no Index/Kagaku no Railgun (2008-2011+)
16. Angel Beats (2010)
17. Puella Magi Madoka Magica (2011+)
18. Da Capo (2003-2011)
19. Katanagatari (2010)
20. The Idolm@ster (2011+)
21. Full Metal Panic! (2002-2006)
22. Bakuman (2010-2012+)
23. Kobato (2009-2012)
24. Working! (2010-2012+)
25. Record of Lodoss War (1990-1998)
26. The World God Only Knows (2010-2011)
27. Hayate no Gotoku (2007-2012+)
28. Vandread (2000-2001)
29. Sora no Woto (2010)
30. Toradora! (2008-2011)
31. Evangelion (1995-2009+)
32. Basilisk (2005)
33. Galaxy Angel (2001-2006)
34. Saki (2009-2012+)
35. Major (2004-2012)
36. Prince of Tennis (2001-2012)
37. Inuyasha (2000-2010)
38. Ranma 1/2 (1989-2008)
39. Sailor Moon (1992-1997)
40. Air (2005)
41. Hanasaku Iroha (2011+)
42. Usagi Drop (2011-2012)
43. Angelic Layer (2001)
44. Rurouni Kenshin (1996-2011+)
45. Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
46. Ef (2007-2008)
47. Ore no Immouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai (2010-2011+)
48. Uuchuu no Stellvia (2003)
49. Utawarerumono (2006-2010)
50. Summer Wars (2009)
51. Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu (2010-2012)
52. Cowboy Bebop (1998-2001)
53. Samurai Champloo (2004-2005)
54. Battle Athletes (1997-1998)
55. Bleach (2004-2012)
56. Bake-(etc)-monogatari (2009-2012+)
57. Amagami SS (2010-2012)
58. Macross (1982-2011)
59. 12 Kingdoms (2002-2003)

60. Mononoke Hime (1997)
61. Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai (2011)

62. Berserk (1997-2012+)
63. Claymore (2007)
64. Valkyria Chronicles (2009-2011)
65. Negima! Magister Magi Negi (2004-2012)
66. Sora no Otoshimono (2009-2012+)
67. Strike Witches (2007-2012)
68. Nichijou (2011-2012+)
69. Hunter x Hunter (1999-2012+)
70. Fate/Stay/Etc (2006-2012+)
71. Card Captor Sakura (1998-2000)
72. Gundam (1979-2012+)
73. Shakugan no Shana (2005-2012)
74. Martian Successor Nadesico (1996-1998)
75. Read or Die (2001-2004)
76. Break Blade (2010-2011)
77. Kimi ni Todoke (2009-2011)
78. Spice and Wolf (2008-2009)
79. To Heart (1999-2012+)

80. Bastard! (1992)

81. Mahoromatic (2001-2009)
82. Akane-iro ni Somaru Saka (2008-2009)
83. Fatal Fury (1992-1994)
84. Lucky Star (2007-2008)
85. Azumanga Daioh (2002)
86. Alien Nine (2001-2002)
87. Iria: Zeiram the Animation (1994)
88. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
89. Guyver (1986-2006)

90. Spirited Away (2001)
91. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
92. Scrapped Princess (2003)
93. Steins;Gate (2011-2012+)
94. Gunbuster (1988-2012)
95. Shamanic Princess (1996-1998)
96. Boku ha Tomodachi ga Sukunai (2011)

97. Papa no Iukoto wo Kikinasai (2012+)

98. Akira (1988)
99. Moshidora (2011)
100. High School of the Dead (2010-2011)
101. Flame of Recca (1997-1998)
102. Hikaru no Go (2001-2004)

103. Shinryaku! Ika Musume (2010-2011+)
104. Ghost in the Shell (1995-2011)
105. Tamayura (2010-2011+)
106. Zero no Tsukaima (2006-2012)

107. Soul Eater (2008-2009)
108. Sora no Manimani (2009)
109. Kanokon (2008-2009)
110. Gosick (2011)

111. Baccano/Durara (2007-2011)

112. Ninja Scroll (1993-2003+)

113. Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

114. Death Note (2006-2008)

115. Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 (2009)

116. Saint Tail (1994-1996)

117. RG Veda (1991-1992)

118. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)

119. X  (1996-2002)

120. Hyouka (2012+)

Now that we have this wondrous resource, the top 120 anime, it's time to find out some fun facts using it.

First off, through long and diligent care, I've watched every single non-filler episode of every single one of these ranked series, except for Gundam.  I'd like to someday watch all of Gundam, but it's just so long, and the project is so huge, that I wouldn't know where to start.  The reason I want other people to watch these series is because I know by first hand experience that they're great.  I wouldn't talk the talk without walking the walk.  If I don't count an episode, even though it isn't filler, in my points values, it's because it really wasn't worth watching, which I can attest to from first hand experience.

Second off, the timelines of these series can be deceptive.  Offhand it looks like a show has been constantly running for the last 12 years, but there can actually be a 10 year gap between episodes 3 and 4, just as a hypothetical example.  Therefore a better measurement of a series' continuity is a chronology by year.  I decided to craft just such a chronology chart, with the rows as my top 120 series and the columns as the years 1979-2012, and then just input into each cell the number of episodes and/or movies that aired from said franchise on each and every year.  Filler content or fluffy side-issue specials don't count, but they are marked with an 'x' as having been released on that year.  In this way, it can feel like a great many series are being released in 2012, but it's largely ethereal because so little actual content was released under each franchise's name.

By excising the less than deserving filler episodes, or simply really bad episodes of a nonetheless good show, one can find the true length of long running series like Prince of Tennis, One Piece, Naruto and Bleach.  In some years, these series didn't really release any new content, despite airing new episodes every week.  As a result, the title for the actually longest good series currently belongs to One Piece, but will soon be overtaken by Pretty Cure, which doesn't have any filler and has been running continuously since 2004.  No other series even comes close.  There are other surprises, like the fact that considered fairly, Naruto is longer than Dragonball now.  But the most interesting data to be found out of this chronology chart is the rise and fall of the quality and quantity of good anime over the course of years.

To get a straight points value to each year in terms of anime released that year, one would need a formula to combine the quality of the series with its quantity.  Any formula is arbitrary and will of course not be technically perfect, but so long as it's close to true it will do.  The point is to just get a handle on these numbers and transform them into something meaningful.

Is my contention that 2011 was the best year in anime ever true?  Is it true that anime has been getting continuously better since 2000 and especially since 2006 or so true?  Let the top 120 anime chronology data decide.  2012 isn't done yet so obviously we can't draw any conclusions about its worth as a whole.

Excluding Gundam, which I throw out as an outlier (too many episodes of too little quality to form a meaningful response), the formula is simple.  Your anime year's worth is 120 points for each episode of the #1 anime released that year, 119 points for a #2 anime episode coming out, and so on down to 1 point per each episode of a #120 anime being released.  Movies will count as 4 episodes' worth as a rough estimate.  I can't post the actual database I created because blogger doesn't support such things, but I can post the findings discovered from said data, which is fun enough.  Our points tally begins in 1982 -->

1982:

12 eps of Macross, each worth 63 points = 756

= 756

1983:

24 eps of Macross, each worth 63 points = 1512

= 1512

1984:

1 movie of Nausicaa, each worth 33 x 4 points = 132

=132

1985:

Nothing = 0

1986:

Nothing = 0

1987:

Nothing = 0

1988:

1 movie of Grave of the Fireflies, each worth 30 x 4 points = 120
+ 2 eps of Gunbuster, each worth 27 points = 54
+ 1 movie of Akira, each worth 23 x 4 points = 92

= 266

1989:

4 eps of Gunbuster, each worth 27 points = 108
+ 3 eps of Guyver, each worth 32 points = 96
+ 1 movie of Kiki's Delivery Service, each worth 76 x 4 points = 304
+ 27 eps of Ranma 1/2, each worth 83 points = 2241

= 2749

1990:

3 eps of Guyver, each worth 32 points = 96
+ 48 eps of Ranma 1/2, each worth 83 points = 3984
+ 6 eps of Record of Lodoss War, each worth 96 points = 576
+ 1 ep of Dragonball, each worth 112 points = 112

= 4768

1991:

7 eps of Record of Lodoss War, each worth 96 points = 672
+ 50 eps of Ranma 1/2, each worth 83 points = 4150
+ 1 movie of Ranma 1/2, each worth 83 x 4 points = 332
+ 1 ep of RG Veda, each worth 4 points = 4

= 5158

1992:

1 ep of RG Veda, each worth 4 points = 4
+ 6 eps of Guyver, each worth 32 points = 192
+ 1 ep of Fatal Fury, each worth 38 points = 38
+ 6 eps of Bastard!!, each worth 41 points = 246
+ 38 eps of Sailor Moon, each worth  82 points = 3116
+ 36 eps of Ranma 1/2, each worth 83 points = 2988
+ 1 movie of Ranma 1/2, each worth 83 x 4 points = 332

= 6916

1993:

12 eps of Dragonball, each worth 112 points = 1344
+ 2 eps of Ranma 1/2, each worth 83 points = 166
+ 41 eps of Sailor Moon, each worth 82 points = 3362
+ 1 ep of Fatal Fury, each worth 38 points = 38
+ 1 movie of Ninja Scroll, each worth 9 x4 points = 36

= 4946

1994:

6 eps of Iria:  Zeiram the Animation, each worth 34 points = 204
+ 1 movie of Fatal Fury, each worth 38 x 4 points = 152
+ 14 eps of Macross, each worth 63 points = 882
+ 40 eps of Sailor Moon, each worth 82 points = 3280
+ 5 eps of Ranma 1/2, each worth 83 points = 415
+ 40 eps of Dragonball, each worth 112 points = 4480

= 9413

1995:

36 eps of Dragonball, each worth 112 points = 4032
+ 13 eps of Evangelion, each worth 90 points = 1170
+ 1 ep of Ranma 1/2, each worth 83 points = 83
+ 39 eps of Sailor Moon, each worth 82 points = 3198
+ 42 eps of Macross, each worth 63 points = 2646
+ 1 movie of Macross, each worth 63 x 4 points = 252
+ 1 movie of Ghost in the Shell, each worth 17 x 4 points = 68
+ 12 eps of Saint Tail, each worth 5 points = 60

= 11509

1996:

31 eps of Saint Tail, each worth 5 points = 155
+ 2 eps of Shamanic Princess, each worth 26 points = 52
+ 14 eps of Martian Successor Nadesico, each worth 47 points = 658
+ 33 eps of Rurouni Kenshin, each worth 77 points = 2541
+ 37 eps of Sailor Moon, each worth 82 points = 3034
+ 4 eps of Ranma 1/2, each worth 83 points = 332
+ 13 eps of Evangelion, each worth 90 points = 1170
+ 35 eps of Dragonball, each worth 112 points = 3920

= 11862

1997:

33 eps of Dragonball, each worth 112 points = 3696
+ 1 movie of Evangelion, each worth 90 x 4 points = 360
+ 5 eps of Sailor Moon, each worth 82 points = 410
+ 29 eps of Rurouni Kenshin, each worth 77 points = 2233
+ 17 eps of Battle Athletes, each worth 67 points = 1139
+ 2 eps of Macross, each worth 63 points = 126
+ 1 movie of Mononoke Hime, each worth 61 x 4 points = 244
+ 12 eps of Berserk, each worth 59 points = 708
+ 12 eps of Martian Successor Nadesico, each worth 47 points = 564
+ 2 eps of Shamanic Princess, each worth 26 points = 52
+ 19 eps of Flame of Recca, each worth 20 points = 380

= 9912

1998:

23 eps of Flame of Recca, each worth 20 points = 460
+ 2 eps of Shamanic Princess, each worth 26 points = 52
+ 1 movie of Martian Successor Nadesico, each worth 47 x 4 points = 188
+ 35 eps of Card Captor Sakura, each worth 50 points = 1750
+ 13 eps of Berserk, each worth 59 points = 767
+ 2 eps of Macross, each worth 63 points = 126
+ 15 eps of Battle Athletes, each worth 67 points = 1005
+ 9 eps of Cowboy Bebop, each worth 69 points = 621

= 4969

1999:

13 eps of To Heart, each worth 42 points = 546
+ 26 eps of Card Captor Sakura, each worth 50 points = 1300
+ 1 movie of Card Captor Sakura, each worth 50 x 4 points = 200
+ 17 eps of Cowboy Bebop, each worth 69 points = 1173
+ 13 eps of Seikai no Monshou/Senki/Danshou, each worth 115 points = 1495
+ 8 eps of One Piece, each worth 118 points = 944

= 5658

2000:

42 eps of One Piece, each worth 118 points = 4956
+ 11 eps of Seikai no Monshou/Senki/Danshou, each worth 115 points = 1265
+ 13 eps of Vandread, each worth 93 points = 1209
+ 10 eps of Inuyasha, each worth 84 points = 840
+ 4 eps of Rurouni Kenshin, each worth 77 points = 308
+ 9 eps of Card Captor Sakura, each worth 50 points = 450
+ 1 movie of Card Captor Sakura, each worth 50 x 4 points = 200

= 9228

2001:

12 eps of X, each worth 2 points = 24
+ 11 eps of Hikaru no Go, each worth 19 points = 209
+ 1 movie of Spirited Away, each worth 31 x 4 points = 124
+ 3 eps of Alien Nine, each worth 35 points = 105
+ 12 eps of Mahoromatic, each worth 40 points = 480
+ 3 eps of Read or Die, each worth 46 points = 138
+ 1 movie of Cowboy Bebop, each worth 69 x 4 points = 276
+ 26 eps of Angelic Layer, each worth 78 points = 2028
+ 45 eps of Inuyasha, each worth 84 points = 3780
+ 12 eps of Prince of Tennis, each worth 85 points = 1020
+ 26 eps of Galaxy Angel, each worth 88 points = 2288
+ 13 eps of Vandread, each worth 93 points = 1209
+ 10 eps of Seikai no Monshou/Senki/Danshou, each worth 115 points = 1150
+ 36 eps of One Piece, each worth 118 points = 4248

= 17079

2002:

30 eps of One Piece, each worth 118 points = 3540
+ 13 eps of Naruto, each worth 113 points = 1469
+ 24 eps of Full Metal Panic!, each worth 100 points = 2400
+ 45 eps of Galaxy Angel, each worth 88 points = 3960
+ 51 eps of Prince of Tennis, each worth 85 points = 4335
+ 40 eps of Inuyasha, each worth 84 points = 3360
+ 1 ep of Macross, each worth 63 points = 63
+ 30 eps of 12 Kingdoms, each worth 62 points = 1860
+ 12 eps of Mahoromatic, each worth 40 points = 480
+ 26 eps of Azumanga Daioh, each worth 36 points = 936
+ 1 ep of Alien Nine, each worth 35 points = 35
+ 52 eps of Hikaru no Go, each worth 19 points = 988
+ 14 eps of Ghost in the Shell, each worth 17 points = 238
+ 12 eps of X, each worth 2 points = 24

= 23688

2003:

12 eps of Ghost in the Shell, each worth 17 points = 204
+ 12 eps of Hikaru no Go, each worth 19 points = 228
+ 24 eps of Scrapped Princess, each worth 29 points = 696
+  3 eps of Mahoromatic, each worth 40 points = 120
+ 16 eps of Read or Die, each worth 46 points = 736
+ 15 eps of 12 Kingdoms, each worth 62 points = 930
+ 2 eps of Macross, each worth 63 points = 126
+ 26 eps of Uuchuu no Stellvia, each worth 73 points = 1898
+ 41 eps of Inuyasha, each worth 84 points = 3444
+ 51 eps of Prince of Tennis, each worth 85 points = 4335
+ 58 eps of Galaxy Angel, each worth 88 points = 5104
+ 12 eps of Full Metal Panic!, each worth 100 points = 1200
+ 26 eps of Da Capo, each worth 103 points = 2678
+ 52 eps of Naruto, each worth 113 points = 5876
+ 32 eps of One Piece, each worth 118 points = 3776

= 30721

2004:

45 eps of Pretty Cure, each worth 119 points = 5355
+ 26 eps of One Piece, each worth 118 points = 3068
+ 13 eps of Mahou Shoujou Lyrical Nanoha, each worth 116 points = 1508
+ 43 eps of Naruto, each worth 113 points = 4859
+ 26 eps of Galaxy Angel, each worth 88 points = 2288
+ 7 eps of Major, each worth 86 points = 602
+ 14 eps of Prince of Tennis, each worth 85 points = 1190
+ 31 eps of Inuyasha, each worth 84 points = 2604
+17 eps of Samurai Champloo, each worth 68 points = 1156
+13 eps of Bleach, each worth 66 points = 858
+ 2 eps of Macross, each worth 63 points = 126
+10 eps of Read or Die, each worth 46 points = 460
+ 13 eps of To Heart, each worth 42 points = 546
+ 3 eps of Gunbuster, each worth 27 points = 81
+ 1 ep of Hikaru no Go, each worth 19 points = 19
+ 24 eps of Ghost in the Shell, each worth 17 points = 408
+ 1 movie of Ghost in the Shell, each worth 17 x 4 points = 68
+ 1 movie of Howl's Moving Castle, each worth 8 x 4 points = 32

= 25228

2005:

2 eps of Ghost in the Shell, each worth 17 points = 34
+ 3 eps of Gunbuster, each worth 27 points =81
+ 19 eps of Guyver, each worth 32 points = 608
+ 12 eps of To Heart, each worth 42 points = 504
+ 12 eps of Shakugan no Shana, each worth 48 points = 576
+ 26 eps of Negima, each worth 56 points = 1456
+ 49 eps of Bleach, each worth 66 points = 3234
+ 9 eps of Samurai Champloo, each worth 68 points = 612
+ 15 eps of Air, each worth 81 points = 1215
+ 22 eps of Major, each worth 86 points = 1892
+ 24 eps of Basilisk, each worth 89 points = 2136
+ 13 eps of Full Metal Panic!, each worth 100 points = 1300
+ 26 eps of Da Capo, each worth 103 points = 2678
+ 20 eps of Naruto, each worth 113 points = 2260
+ 2 eps of Seikai no Monshou/Senki/Danshou, each worth 115 points = 230
+ 13 eps of Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha, each worth 116 points = 1508
+ 30 eps of One Piece, each worth 118 points = 3540
+ 47 eps of Pretty Cure, each worth 119 points = 5593
+ 2 movies of Pretty Cure, each worth 119 x 4 points = 952

= 30409

2006:

49 eps of Pretty Cure, each worth 119 points = 5831
+ 1 movie of Pretty Cure, each worth 119 x 4 points = 476
+ 32 eps of One Piece, each worth 118 points = 3776
+ 11 eps of Code Geass, each worth 117 points = 1287
+ 26 eps of Higurashi/Umineko no Neko Koro Ni, each worth 111 points = 2886
+ 13 eps of Kanon, each worth 109 points = 1417
+ 14 eps of Haruhi Suzumiya, each worth 108 points = 1512
+ 1 ep of Full Metal Panic!, each worth 100 points = 100
+ 13 eps of Galaxy Angel, each worth 88 points = 1144
+ 23 eps of Major, each worth 86 points = 1978
+ 9 eps of Prince of Tennis, each worth 85 points = 765
+ 28 eps of Utawarerumono, each worth 72 points = 2016
+ 1 ep of Bleach, each worth 66 points = 66
+ 2 eps of Negima, each worth 56 points = 112
+ 24 eps of Fate/Stay/Etc, each worth 51 points = 1224
+ 13 eps of Shakugan no Shana, each worth 48 points = 624
+ 1 ep of To Heart, each worth 42 points = 42
+ 7 eps of Guyver, each worth 32 points = 224
+ 1 movie of Ghost in the Shell, each worth 17 x 4 points = 68
+ 13 eps of Zero no Tsukaima, each worth 15 points = 195
+12 eps of Death Note, each worth 7 points = 84
+ 1 movie of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, each worth 3 x 4 points = 12

= 25839

2007:

25 eps of Death Note, each worth 7 points = 175
+ 13 eps of Baccano/Durarara, each worth 10 points = 130
+ 12 eps of Zero no Tsukaima, each worth 15 points = 180
+ 24 eps of Lucky Star, each worth 37 points = 888
+ 3 eps of To Heart, each worth 42 points = 126
+ 12 eps of Shakugan no Shana, each worth 48 points = 576
+ 25 eps of Claymore, each worth 58 points = 1450
+ 45 eps of Bleach, each worth 66 points = 2970
+ 2 eps of Utawarerumono, each worth 72 points = 144
+ 12 eps of Ef, each worth 75 points = 900
+ 8 eps of Prince of Tennis, each worth 85 points = 680
+ 26 eps of Major, each worth 86 points = 2236
+ 1 movie of Evangelion, each worth 90 x 4 points = 360
+ 39 eps of Hayate no Gotoku, each worth 94 points = 3666
+ 13 eps of Da Capo, each worth 103 points = 1339
+ 27 eps of Tengen Toppa Gurrenn Lagann, each worth 107 points = 2889
+ 11 eps of Kanon, each worth 109 points = 1199
+ 24 eps of Higurashi/Umineko no Naku Koro Ni, each worth 111 points = 2664
+ 41 eps of Naruto, each worth 113 points = 4633
+ 26 eps of Mahou Shoujou Lyrical Nanoha, each worth 116 points = 3016
+ 14 eps of Code Geass, each worth 117 points = 1638
+ 29 eps of One Piece, each worth 118 points = 3422
+ 49 eps of Pretty Cure, each worth 119 points = 5831
+ 1 movies of Pretty Cure, each worth 119 x 4 points = 476
+ 12 eps of Clannad, each worth 120 points = 1440

= 42928

2008:

24 eps of Clannad, each worth 120 points = 2880
+ 48 eps of Pretty Cure, each worth 119 points = 5712
+1 movie of Pretty Cure, each worth 119 x 4 points = 476
+ 45 eps of One Piece, each worth 118 points = 5310
+ 25 eps of Code Geass, each worth 117 points = 2925
+ 33 eps of Naruto, each worth 113 points = 3729
+ 13 eps of To Aru Majutsu no Index/Kagaku no Railgun, each worth 106 points = 1378
+ 14 eps of Da Capo, each worth 103 points = 1442
+ 13 eps of Hayate no Gotoku, each worth 94 points = 1222
+ 13 eps of Toradora!, each worth 91 points = 1183
+ 26 eps of Major, each worth 86 points = 2236
+ 1 movie of Major, each worth 86 x 4 points = 344
+ 7 eps of Prince of Tennis, each worth 85 points = 595
+ 1 ep of Ranma 1/2, each worth 83 points = 83
+ 12 eps of Ef, each worth 75 points = 900
+ 24 eps of Bleach, each worth 66 points = 1584
+ 25 eps of Macross, each worth 63 points = 1575
+ 2 eps of Negima, each worth 56 points = 112
+ 12 eps of Strike Witches, each worth 54 points = 648
+ 12 eps of Shakugan no Shana, each worth 48 points = 576
+ 13 eps of Spice and Wolf, each worth 43 points = 559
+ 2 eps of To Heart, each worth 42 points = 84
+ 12 eps of Akaneiro ni Somaru Saka, each worth 39 points = 468
+1 ep of Lucky Star, each worth 37 points = 37
+ 13 eps of Zero no Tsukaima, each worth 15 points = 195
+ 38 eps of Soul Eater, each worth 14 points = 532
+ 12 eps of Kanokon, each worth 12 points = 144
+ 3 eps of Baccano/Durarara, each worth 10 points = 30

= 36959

2009:

11 eps of Tokyo Magnitude 8.0, each worth 6 points = 66
+ 2 eps of Kanokon, each worth 12 points = 24
+ 12 eps of Sora no Manimani, each worth 13 points = 156
+ 1 ep of Akaneiro ni Somaru Saka, each worth 39 points = 39
+ 2 eps of Mahoromatic, each worth 40 points = 80
+ 2 eps of To Heart, each worth 42 points = 84
+ 13 eps of Spice and Wolf, each worth 43 points = 559
+ 12 eps of Kimi ni Todoke, each worth 44 points = 528
+ 1 ep of Shakugan no Shana, each worth 48 points = 48
+ 13 eps of Sora no Otoshimono, each worth 55 points = 715
+ 3 eps of Negima, each worth 56 points = 168
+ 26 eps of Valkyria Chronicles, each worth 57 points = 1482
+ 13 eps of Bake-(etc)-monogatari, each worth 65 points = 845
+ 26 eps of Bleach, each worth 66 points = 1716
+ 1 movie of Summer Wars, each worth 71 x 4 points = 284
+ 2 eps of Utawarerumono, each worth 72 points = 144
+ 13 eps of Inuyasha, each worth 84 points = 1092
+ 2 eps of Prince of Tennis, each worth 85 points = 170
+ 25 eps of Major, each worth 86 points = 2150
+ 25 eps of Saki, each worth 87 points = 2175
+ 1 movie of Evangelion, each worth 90 x 4 points = 360
+ 12 eps of Toradora!, each worth 91 points = 1092
+ 26 eps of Hayate no Gotoku, each worth 94 points = 2444
+ 11 eps of Kobato, each worth 98 points = 1078
+ 1 ep of Da Capo, each worth 103 points = 103
+ 24 eps of To Aru Majutsu no Index/Kagaku no Railgun, each worth 106 points = 2544
+ 9 eps of Haruhi Suzumiya, each worth 108 points = 972
+ 13 eps of K-On!, each worth 110 points = 1430
+ 31 eps of Higurashi/Umineko no Naku Koro Ni, each worth 111 points = 3441
+ 38 eps of Dragonball, each worth 112 points = 4256
+ 29 eps of Naruto, each worth 113 points = 3277
+ 11 eps of Fairy Tail, each worth 114 points = 1254
+ 42 eps of One Piece, each worth 118 points = 4956
+ 49 eps of Pretty Cure, each worth 119 points = 5831
+ 2 movies of Pretty Cure, each worth 119 x 4 points = 952
+ 12 eps of Clannad, each worth 120 points = 1440

= 47955

2010:

50 eps of Pretty Cure, each worth 119 points = 5950
+ 2 movies of Pretty Cure, each worth 119 x 4 points = 952
+ 49 eps of One Piece, each worth 118 points = 5782
+ 1 movie of Mahou Shoujou Lyrical Nanoha, each worth 116 x 4 points = 464
+ 49 eps of Fairy Tail, each worth 114 points = 5586
+ 26 eps of Naruto, each worth 113 points = 2938
+ 49 eps of Dragonball, each worth 112 points = 5488
+ 27 eps of K-On!, each worth 110 points = 2970
+ 1 movie of Haruhi Suzumiya, each worth 108 x 4 points = 432
+ 24 eps of To Aru Majutsu no Index/Kagaku no Railgun, each worth 106 points = 2544
+ 14 eps of Angel Beats, each worth 105 points = 1470
+ 12 eps of Katanagatari, each worth 102 points = 1224
+ 13 eps of Bakuman, each worth 99 points = 1287
+ 13 eps of Kobato, each worth 98 points = 1274
+ 13 eps of Working, each worth 97 points = 1261
+ 12 eps of The World God Only Knows, each worth 95 points = 1140
+ 14 eps of Sora no Woto, each worth 92 points = 1288
+ 26 eps of Major, each worth 86 points = 2236
+13 eps of Inuyasha, each worth 84 points = 1092
+ 12 eps of Oreimo, each worth 74 points = 888
+ 1 ep of Utawarerumono, each worth 72 points = 72
+ 13 eps of Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu, each worth 70 points = 910
+ 34 eps of Bleach, each worth 66 points = 2244
+ 2 eps of Bake-(etc)-monogatari, each worth 65 points = 130
+25 eps of Amagami SS, each worth 64 points = 1600
+ 3 eps of Negima, each worth 56 points = 168
+ 12 eps of Sora no Otoshimono, each worth 65 points = 780
+ 12 eps of Strike Witches, each worth 64 points = 768
+ 1 movie of Fate/Stay/Etc, each worth 51 x 4 points = 204
+ 3 eps of Shakugan no Shana, each worth 48 points = 144
+ 4 eps of Break Blade, each worth 45 points = 180
+ 13 eps of Kimi ni Todoke, each worth 44 points = 572
+ 2 eps of To Heart, each worth 42 points = 84
+ 12 eps of High School of the Dead, each worth 21 points = 252
+ 12 eps of Shinryaku! Ika Musume, each worth 18 points = 216
+ 4 eps of Tamayura, each worth 16 points = 64
+ 24 eps of Baccano/Durarara, each worth 10 points = 240

= 54894

2011:

2 eps of Baccano/Durarara, each worth 10 points = 20
+ 24 eps of Gosick, each worth 11 points = 264
+ 12 eps of Tamayura, each worth 16 points = 192
+ 12 eps of Shinryaku! Ika Musume, each worth 18 points = 216
+ 1 ep of High School of the Dead, each worth 21 points = 21
+ 10 eps of Moshidora, each worth 22 points = 220
+ 12 eps of Haganai, each worth 25 points = 300
+ 24 eps of Steins;Gate, each worth 28 points = 672
+ 12 eps of Kimi ni Todoke, each worth 44 points = 528
+ 2 eps of Break Blade, each worth 45 points = 90
+ 12 eps of Shakugan no Shana, each worth 48 points = 96
+ 13 eps of Fate/Stay/Etc, each worth 51 points = 663
+ 12 eps of Hunter x Hunter, each worth 52 points = 624
+ 27 eps of Nichijou, each worth 53 points = 1431
+ 1 movie of Sora no Otoshimono, each worth 55 x 4 points = 220 points
+ 2 eps of Valkyria Chronicles, each worth 57 points = 114
+ 11 eps of Ano Hana, each worth 60 points = 660
+ 1 ep of Amagami, each worth 64 points = 64
+ 18 eps of Bleach, each worth 66 points = 1188
+ 2 eps of Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu, each worth 70 points = 140
+ 4 eps of Oreimo, each worth 74 points = 296
+ 11 eps of Usagi Drop, each worth 79 points = 869
+ 26 eps of Hansaku Iroha, each worth 80 points = 2080
+ 1 ep of Major, each worth 86 points = 86
+ 1 ep of Toradora, each worth 91 points = 91
+ 1 movie of Hayate no Gotoku, each worth 94 x 4 points = 376
+ 13 eps of The World God Only Knows, each worth 95 points = 1235
+ 13 eps of Working, each worth 97 points = 1261
+ 25 eps of Bakuman, each worth 99 points = 2475
+ 25 eps of The Idolm@ster, each worth 101 points = 2525
+ 12 eps of Puella Magi Madoka Magica, each worth 104 points = 1248
+ 12 eps of To Aru Majutsu no Index/Kagaku no Railgun, each worth 106 points = 1272
+ 1 ep of K-On!, each worth 110 points = 110
+ 1 movie of K-On!, each worth 110 x 4 points = 440
+ 3 eps of Higurashi/Umineko no Naku Koro Ni, each worth 111 points = 333
+ 12 eps of Dragonball, each worth 112 points = 1344
+ 26 eps of Naruto, each worth 113 points = 2938
+ 45 eps of Fairy Tail, each worth 114 points = 5130
+ 45 eps of One Piece, each worth 118 points = 5310
+ 48 eps of Pretty Cure, each worth 119 points = 5712
+ 2 movies of Pretty Cure, each worth 119 x 4 points = 952

= 43806

Whoops!  According to this formula, 2011 comes in a distant third.  The big winner is 2010 with 54894 points, and 2nd is 2009 with 47955 points.  2011 comes in third with 43806 and 2007 4th with 42928.  But the other pattern I noticed, that anime became ridiculously better after 2006, shows forth very well using this formula. The five best years are all post-2006.

I don't think this formula is perfect, I think it favors long series too much, but like I said it's just a way to approach the data, not the final word.  The point is the truth is still visible.  2011 was a great year in anime, and anime has been getting exponentially better compared to the 90's.  Furthermore, this proves that 2011, at 3rd place, wasn't just using an ep of x series and an ep of y series to pad its numbers.  It had a lot of eps of many good series and generated an enormous point total in its own right.  My initial way of tallying points, by just the number of series represented in a year, wasn't far off the mark.