The Top 130 Anime -- Onwards to the Summer Season:

The spring season is winding down, so it would serve us well to take another look at our top anime rankings before the summer season begins and throws everything back into chaos again. This may also be our last chance to look at the top 130 anime rankings, because my compiled anime list is already up to 410 franchises. Going by the top 1/3 of watchable anime shows, if the summer season has even ten new watchable franchises, the next ranking will have to expand to the best 140 anime franchises ever. Who will appear in those phantom ten slots soon to be unlocked? There’s actually still a lot of great candidates to choose from. If I had to choose ten new series now, before I even got to see the summer candidates that will also be competing for these slots, it would look like this:

130. Shingeki no Kyojin (2013+)

131. Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure (1993-2013+)

132. Suisei no Gargantia (2013+)

133. Mahoromatic (2001-2009)

134. Trigun (1998-2010)

135. To Love ru (2008-2013+)

136. Shukufuku no Campanella (2010-2011)

137. Saint Tail (1995-1996)

138. Ro-Kyu-Bu! (2011-2013+)

139. Yu Yu Hakusho (1992-1996)

140. Gundam  (1979-2013+) (always last on the list due to its ceremonial nature)

The reason being for these phantom inclusions? Shingeki no Kyojin and Ro-Kyu-Bu are getting lots more episodes this summer, and both have started off on the right foot, To Love ru is getting additional OAV’s, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure is getting a third segment sooner or later which is supposed to be really fun, Suisei wasn’t as good as I expected but it’s hardly terrible, Trigun, Mahoromatic, Saint Tail and Yu Yu Hakusho have been in the rankings before, and Shukufuku no Campanella has not only tons of attractive, charismatic girls but a compelling plot to boot. Still, it’s ten series too early to be talking about the 140 rankings, for all I know the summer season’s new shows will claim all ten of these slots and rule supreme. The larger point is that even if I have to expand the rankings, I still have plenty of good series to call upon to fill in the gaps. Whether it’s the top 130 rankings or the top 140 rankings, it will include nothing but series worth watching. Many of the shows listed above have millions of fans, many of whom will say it’s the ‘best anime ever.’ It’s pretty nice when #140 on the depth chart is still punching so far above its weight. Without further ado, however, we’ll move from the preview to the main event:

1. Pretty Cure (2004-2013+)
2. Clannad (2007-2009)
3. One Piece (1999-2013+)
4. Code Geass (2006-2013+)
5. Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha/Triangle Hearts (2000-2012+)
6. Fairy Tail (2009-2013+)
7. Naruto (2002-2013+)
8. K-On! (2009-2011)

9. Seikai no Monshou/Senki/Danshou (1999-2005)
10. Dragonball (1986-2013)
11. Higurashi/Umineko no Naku Koro Ni (2006-2013+)
12. Kanon (2002-2007)
13. Da Capo (2003-2013)
14. To Aru Majutsu no Index/Kagaku no Railgun (2008-2013+)

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

18. Angel Beats (2010)

19. Hayate no Gotoku (2007-2013+)

20. Sword Art Online/Accel World (2012)

21. Full Metal Panic! (2002-2006)
22. The World God Only Knows (2010-2013+)
23. Saki (2009-2013+)
24. Haruhi Suzumiya (2006-2010)

25. Working! (2010-2012)

26. The Idolm@ster (2007-2013+)

27. Record of Lodoss War (1990-1998)

28. Shinsekai Yori (2012-2013)
29. Kobato (2009-2012)

30. Toradora! (2008-2011)

31. Sora no Woto (2010)

32. Galaxy Angel (2001-2006)
33. Major (2004-2012)

34. Basilisk (2005)
35. Inuyasha (2000-2010)
36. Ranma 1/2 (1989-2008)
37. Sailor Moon (1992-2013+)
38. Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (2007-2009)

39. Boku ha Tomodachi ga Sukunai (2011-2013)

40. Ore no Immouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai (2010-2013+)

41. Ef (2007-2008)

42. Hanasaku Iroha (2011-2013)

43. Air (2005)

44. Little Busters (2012-2013+)

45. Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu (2010-2012)

46. Bake-(etc)-monogatari (2009-2013+)

47. Hunter x Hunter (1999-2013+)
48. Papa no Iukoto wo Kikinasai (2012+)

49. AKB0048 (2012-2013)

50. Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
51. Love Live (2010-2013+)

52. Vandread (2000-2001)

53. Rurouni Kenshin (1996-2012)
54. Uuchuu no Stellvia (2003)
55. Utawarerumono (2006-2010)

56. Fate/Stay/Etc (2006-2013+)

57. Cowboy Bebop (1998-2001)
58. Angelic Layer (2001)

59. Bleach (2004-2012)
60. Strike Witches (2007-2012)
61. 12 Kingdoms (2002-2003)
62. Summer Wars (2009)

63. Nichijou (2011-2012)
64. Girls und Panzer (2012-2013+)

65. Evangelion (1995-2013+)

66. Claymore (2007)

67. Macross (1982-2012)

68. Sora no Otoshimono (2009-2012+)
69. Card Captor Sakura/Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle (1998-2009)
70. Mononoke Hime (1997)

71. Berserk (1997-2013)

72. Yuru Yuri (2011-2012)

73. Prince of Tennis (2001-2012)

74. Usagi Drop (2011-2012)

75. Shakugan no Shana (2005-2012)

76. Amagami SS (2010-2012)

77. Valkyria Chronicles (2009-2011)

78. Samurai Champloo (2004-2005)

79. Battle Athletes (1997-1998)

80. Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai (2011-2013+)
81. Martian Successor Nadesico (1996-1998)
82. Natsuiro Kiseki (2012)

83. Hyouka (2012-2013)

84. To Heart (1999-2012)

85. Shinryaku! Ika Musume (2010-2013+)

86. Break Blade (2010-2011)
87. Kimi ni Todoke (2009-2011)
88. Spice and Wolf (2008-2009)
89. Akaneiro ni Somaru Saka (2008-2009)
90. Azumanga Daioh (2002)
91. Scrapped Princess (2003)
92. Steins;Gate (2011-2013)
93. Hikaru no Go (2001-2004)

94. Chihayafuru (2011-2013+)
95. Tamayura (2010-2013+)

96. Baccano/Durarara! (2007-2010)
97. High School of the Dead (2010-2011)
98. Guyver (1986-2006)

99. Death Note (2006-2008)

100. Lucky Star (2007-2013+)

101. Seitokai no Ichizon (2009-2012+)

102. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

103. Spirited Away (2001)

104. Ginga E Kickoff (2012-2013)

105. Zero no Tsukaima (2006-2012)

106. Tari Tari (2012)

107. Flame of Recca (1997-1998)

108. Bastard! (1992)
109. Shamanic Princess (1996-1998)

110. Soul Eater (2008-2009) 
111. Hataraku Maou-sama! (2013+)

112. School Days (2007-2008)

113. Zettai Bouei Leviathan (2013+)

114. History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi (2006-2012)

115. Ghost in the Shell (1995-2011+)

116. Moshidora (2011)

117. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

118. Gosick (2011)
119. Akira (1988)

120. Fatal Fury (1992-1994)

121. Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 (2009)

122. Alien Nine (2001-2002)

123. Vividred Operation (2013)

124. Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shuraba Sugiru! (2013)

125. Gunbuster (1988-2012)

126. Happiness! (2006-2007)

127. Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

128. RG Veda (1991-1992)

129. Tears to Tiara (2009)

130. Gundam (1979-2013+)

What has changed since last time these rankings were listed?

The biggest change is that Suisei no Gargantia has dropped out of the rankings due to a really weak middle section of its story. If it has a strong ending, combined with its strong opening, I could see it returning in the top 140, but it simply doesn’t deserve to be ranked as things stand. The twist at the end that ‘squids are people too’ is ridiculous, since the squids have displayed no sign of culture or intelligence in any of their actions. If they are people, they’re still less evolved than cave men who at least wore clothes, had speech, built buildings and so on. I have less pity for them than I have for the Neanderthals mankind wiped out long ago. It’s been a very deflating ride ever since the second episode.

In Suisei no Gargantia’s place is Happiness! Another anime based off of a visual novel, which means primarily “Wow are the girls pretty!” Whether it’s Majikoi, Koichoco, Oretsuba, Fortune Arterial or any other visual novel based anime, they always get this part incredibly right. But Happiness! isn’t just a romance story featuring a gaggle of pretty girls. It has an incredible atmosphere or mood to it that I can’t say I’ve seen in any other series. Strangely enough, the series lives up perfectly to its title, because the entire time you’re watching it you’ll have a big smile on your face. It isn’t due to laughter or comedy, but simply due to the sweetness, kindness and light that keeps shining forth from the screen. You could say the series is the visual version of what marshmallows are to taste. Or perhaps Happiness! equals bubble blowing, or maybe water slides, or anything else in this world that is both innocent and fun. All the characters are likable, but the ones that really stand out are Jun, the crossdressing boy who looks and acts exactly like a lovely girl, and Anri, the striver who is always trying to reach higher heights than her actual skill level permits through optimism alone. What’s so great about these two characters is that their very existence helps characterize the main hero and main heroine, who are the friends of these two firecrackers. Because the hero gets along so well with Jun, someone who normally would be shunned but is instead treated as a completely normal friend, you end up liking Yuuma as well. And because the heroine gets along so well with Anri, someone who would normally be scolded for causing so much chaos whenever her magic goes wrong, you learn of Haruhi’s wide, forgiving heart which will always try to help people even when they only have themselves to blame. Because of Jun and Anri, we end up with four lovable characters instead of just two, now that’s value for your dollar.

Aside from this substitution, what else has changed? I chose to lump in Accel World together with Sword Art Online, because they both exist in the same universe, just like Umineko and Higurashi do, so this is the more consistent way to view the series, and moved its rank up to #20. If SAO ever gets a second season the ranking will just get better and better, but #20 is good enough for now. I moved up Hataraku Maou and Zettai Bouei Leviathan to #111 and #113 due to how good their recent episodes have been and how good I expect their future episodes will be in these last few weeks. Ghost in the Shell got a demotion for being too boring, History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi got a promotion for being so cheerful, Chihayafuru went up to #94 due to its strong second season, Lucky Star moved up to #100 due to its Miyakawa-ke spinoff, Oreimo moved up to #40 due to its great second season, Hayate no Gotoku improved to #19 with its true-to-the-manga fourth season, and so on. The spring season brought a lot of change to the value of a lot of franchises so all my rankings had to change to reflect that. No doubt the summer season will do the same, and the fall season after that. The only constant to these rankings is change, because the anime industry refuses to stop and continues to produce such great new series every year.

Summer Season first impressions are just around the corner.  The month of July really can't come fast enough.