130 Anime Complaints, and, It's Never too Early to think About Saimoe:

Alongside my rankings this time, I thought I'd attach helpful gripes that make clear that despite how good an anime series may be, it could still have been better.  Series that never reach their maximum potential are a perennial frustration. When you consider how much better a series you already like could be with just a few tweaks, the lost opportunity is as vast as the Mariana Trench:

1. Pretty Cure (2004-2013+)   [Lacking English subs]
2. Clannad (2007-2009)          [Tomoyo After where?]
3. One Piece (1999-2013+)     [Extremely Slow Pace]
4. Code Geass (2006-2013+)  [Agito sucks]
5. Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha/Triangle Hearts (2000-2012+)      [Vivid where?]
6. Fairy Tail (2009-2013+)     [On hiatus]
7. Naruto (2002-2013+)          [Enough filler already]
8. K-On! (2009-2011)             [Not even done.  The source’s ending bad anyway.]

9. Seikai no Monshou/Senki/Danshou (1999-2005)     [Unfinished work.]
10. Dragonball (1986-2013)    [Buu Kai where?]
11. Higurashi/Umineko no Naku Koro Ni (2006-2013+)  [Umineko ending where?]
12. Kanon (2002-2007)
13. Da Capo (2003-2013)  [Needs way more eps and way less filler.]
14. To Aru Majutsu no Index/Kagaku no Railgun (2008-2013+)  [Index ending where?]

15. Katanagatari (2010)
16. Bakuman (2010-2013)  [slow pace]
17. Puella Magi Madoka Magica (2011-2013+)

18. Angel Beats (2010)  [Beginning where?]
19. Full Metal Panic! (2002-2006)  [Ending where?]

20. Haruhi Suzumiya (2006-2010) [Ending where?]

21. The Idolm@ster (2007-2013+)  [Too open-ended.]
22. The World God Only Knows (2010-2013+)   [Rest of story where?]
23. Hayate no Gotoku (2007-2013+)  [Follow manga when?]
24. Saki (2009-2013+)  [Ending where?]
25. Working! (2010-2012) [Ending where?]

26. Sword Art Online (2012) [Ending where?]

27. Kobato (2009-2012) [Too mysterious.]

28. Shinsekai Yori (2012-2013)
29. Record of Lodoss War (1990-1998) [Everything after oav terrible.]

30. Toradora! (2008-2011)

31. Sora no Woto (2010)

32. Galaxy Angel (2001-2006) [Wish there were more. . .]
33. Major (2004-2012) [World Series arc too short.]

34. Basilisk (2005)
35. Inuyasha (2000-2010) [Too damn long.]
36. Ranma 1/2 (1989-2008) [Too damn short.]
37. Sailor Moon (1992-2013+) [Remake where?]
38. Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (2007-2009) [BD where?]

39. Boku ha Tomodachi ga Sukunai (2011-2013) [Author ragequit his own work!]

40. Hanasaku Iroha (2011-2013)

41. Air (2005) [Supporting characters were no good.]
42. Ore no Immouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai (2010-2013+)

43. Little Busters (2012-2013+) [Ending where?  Kud Waffe where?]

44. Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu (2010-2012) [Ending where?]

45. Bake-(etc)-monogatari (2009-2013+) [Ending where?]

46. Ef (2007-2008) [Camera guy was awful.]

47. Hunter x Hunter (1999-2013+) [Author ragequit his own work.]
48. Papa no Iukoto wo Kikinasai (2012+) [Animate 1 volume out of 20, really?]

49. AKB0048 (2012-2013) [Dumb ending.]

50. Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
51. Vandread (2000-2001) [Too many vague speeches.]

52. Love Live (2010-2013) [Ended too soon.]

53. Rurouni Kenshin (1996-2012) [Ending where?]
54. Uuchuu no Stellvia (2003) [Art could’ve been better.  Pacing too.]
55. Utawarerumono (2006-2010) [Villains were too stupid.]

56. Fate/Stay/Etc (2006-2013+) [Follow the source!]

57. Cowboy Bebop (1998-2001) [Too episodic and gritty.]
58. Angelic Layer (2001) [Too slow and unrealistic.]

59. Bleach (2004-2012) [Ending where?  Slow pacing too.]
60. Strike Witches (2007-2012) [I want more!]
61. 12 Kingdoms (2002-2003) [Ending where?]
62. Summer Wars (2009)

63. Nichijou (2011-2012) [Continuation where?]
64. Girls und Panzer (2012-2013+) [More please.]

65. Evangelion (1995-2013+) [Ending sucks.]

66. Claymore (2007) [Same as above.  Try following the manga to the real end.]

67. Macross (1982-2012) [Slow pacing, repetitive storylines.]

68. Sora no Otoshimono (2009-2012+) [Follow the source.]
69. Card Captor Sakura/Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle (1998-2009) [Slow pacing.]
70. Mononoke Hime (1997)

71. Berserk (1997-2013) [Continuation where?]

72. Yuru Yuri (2011-2012) [Continuation where?]

73. Prince of Tennis (2001-2012) [Slow pacing, filler, unrealistic, unfriendly.]

74. Usagi Drop (2011-2012) [Not the real ending, and the real ending is terrible.]

75. Shakugan no Shana (2005-2012) [Never made sense.  Why fight?]

76. Amagami SS (2010-2012) [Too ecchi.  Not enough meaty content.]

77. Valkyria Chronicles (2009-2011) [What about the other games?]

78. Samurai Champloo (2004-2005) [Too episodic.  Too dumb.  Too unfriendly.]

79. Battle Athletes (1997-1998)  [Unnecessary dumb ‘humor.’]

80. Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai (2011-2013+) [Melodra]
81. Martian Successor Nadesico (1996-1998) [Never made sense.]
82. Natsuiro Kiseki (2012) [Fluff level content.]

83. Hyouka (2012-2013) [Ending where?]

84. To Heart (1999-2012) [Too many characters or too short, pick one.]

85. Shinryaku! Ika Musume (2010-2013+) [Continuation where?]

86. Break Blade (2010-2011) [Ending where?]
87. Kimi ni Todoke (2009-2011) [Ending where?]
88. Spice and Wolf (2008-2009) [Ending where?]
89. Akaneiro ni Somaru Saka (2008-2009)  
90. Azumanga Daioh (2002) [Slow pacing, repetitive.]
91. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
92. Scrapped Princess (2003) [Unnecessary characters overrun.]
93. Steins;Gate (2011-2013)
94. Hikaru no Go (2001-2004) [Ending where?]

95. Seitokai no Ichizon (2009-2012)  [Too fast pacing.]
96. Tamayura (2010-2013+) [Annoying girls.]

97. Baccano (2007-2008) [Ending where?]
98. High School of the Dead (2010-2011) [Ending where?]
99. Guyver (1986-2006) [Ending where?]

100. Death Note (2006-2008) [Dumb way to lose.]

101. Spirited Away (2001)

102. Lucky Star (2007-2013+) [Why end?]

103. Ginga E Kickoff (2012-2013) [Kinda silly.]

104. Chihayafuru (2011-2013+) [Slow pace.]

105. Zero no Tsukaima (2006-2012) [Fillericious, no real ending.]

106. Ghost in the Shell (1995-2011+) [Boring as hell.]

107. Tari Tari (2012) [Fluff level content.]

108. Flame of Recca (1997-1998) [Ending where?]

109. Bastard! (1992) [Rest of the story sucks.]

110. Gunbuster (1988-2012) [Too short and too long.]
111. Shamanic Princess (1996-1998)

112. Soul Eater (2008-2009) [Too simple, fillericious, no real ending.]
113. Moshidora (2011) [Is this really a story or a manual?]

114. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984) [Made no sense.]

115. Gosick (2011) [Yelled Victoria too much.]
116. Akira (1988) [Made no sense.]

117. Fatal Fury (1992-1994) [Short, low quality.]

118. School Days (2007-2008)

119. Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 (2009) [Too sad!]

120. Alien Nine (2001-2002) [Ending where?]

121. History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi (2006-2012) [Rest of story where?]

122. Vividred Operation (2013) [Copycat, but worse.]

123. Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shuraba Sugiru!  (2013) [Chose wrong girl.]

124. Howl’s Moving Castle (2004) [Unappealing characters bakkari.]

125. RG Veda (1991-1992) [Short much?]

126. Tears to Tiara (2009) [Too simple, boring.]

127. Suisei no Gargantia (2013+) [Not enough space aliens.]

128. Zettai Bouei Leviathan (2013+) [No plot.]

129. Hataraku Maou-sama! (2013+) [Directionless.]

130. Gundam (1979-2013+) [Slow pacing, repetitive, unrealistic, nisemono violence.]

If you look closely, a few series actually escaped any criticism.  This despite them not ranking #1.  This is because the series actually maximized its potential, it's just that the potential was never that high in the first place, so it didn't matter that they did.  In a way, it's better for me to have a complaint, because if there's no complaints and it's still bad, well, there's nowhere left to go but down.

Setting my gripes aside, another subject has been looming on the horizon of my mind.  Saimoe 2013 now has pretty much every eligible character revealed.  Since the eligibility requirements are that the character appeared from 7/1/12 to 6/30/13 in some new show, the series from the summer season will not be eligible for Saimoe 2013.  They'll have to wait until Saimoe 2014 to get their shot.  This means this spring season was the last crop of females that have a shot at the incoming title.  When you look at the series that are going to be eligible, isn't this Saimoe contest a little jam packed?

Madoka Magica, Lyrical Nanoha, Hayate no Gotoku, Saki, Higurashi, Idolm@ster, Love Live, Girls und Panzer,  Oreimo, Haganai, Railgun, Hanasaku Iroha, Miyakawa-ke (ie Lucky Star), Ro-Kyu-Bu, The World God Only Knows, Squid Girl, Oreshura, Vividred, Da Capo III, Nekomonogatari, Little Busters, Index, Yuru Yuri, Sword Art Online, Papa no Iukoto wo Kikinasai, To Heart 2, To Love ru Darkness, Dog Days, Tari Tari, Seitokai no Ichizon, Macross, Pretty Cure, Evangelion, Chuunibyou, Tamako Market, Steins;Gate, Hidamari Sketch, Milky Holmes. . .

I mean, I'm not making this up, really.  We're talking about dozens of returning series that have won the Saimoe contest, had tons of characters in it, or gotten deep into the tournament, competing with whole new series that are brim full of cuteness.  Does anyone think Girls und Panzer won't do well?  How about Love Live?  Yeah, that's what I thought.

Anime with cute girls tends to sell well.  As a result, series that are known mainly for their cute girls keep coming out year after year.  It's getting a little overwhelming for a Saimoe tournament to contain.  In 2012, despite the array of strong contenders, Saki totally dominated.  But Saki is mainly done now and only had a few episodes air this year.  It's unlikely people will come out in such force to support them again.  But then, who will they support?  The previous winners, Madoka Magica?  Or the winners before then -- Higurashi, Nanoha, Lucky Star?  Is it possible for any new or old series to compete against such ridiculous levels of competition?  Will it finally be Nagi's turn this year?  Or perhaps Squid Girl's?

If it were my choice, I'd choose Kobato from Haganai.  Or Asuna from Sword Art Online.  Or Nagi from Hayate no Gotoku.  Or Fate Testorossa from Lyrical Nanoha.  But I'll admit there are hundreds of viable answers to this quiz.  Who's the cutest of them all?  Virtually all of them. . .from a certain point of view. . .  So who will win it all?  Virtually any of them.  It will be as exciting as the college football season with its hundreds of teams.  It's just impossible to guess the champion till the very end, but there's no reason why we can't start guessing now.  Guessing is half the fun!