2011, Best Year in Anime History:

Last time I posited this question, I wasn't certain. 2010 was offering a good deal of competition for 'best year ever' across various matrices. This time, however, I'm certain. 2011 is the best year in anime history.

What changed my mind? For one thing, Bleach, Fairy Tail, Pretty Cure and One Piece, long-running series all, are currently hitting on all cylinders, far better than average. When they're good, the year in anime is good. When they're bad, the whole year falters. For another, there's a huge list of high-quality series currently airing this fall, from Idolm@ster to Bakuman to Working, that just make every week a wonder of enjoyment.

Lastly, there's the undeniable quality of Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai, the love(?) comedy that has such wonderful wit, humor, incisiveness, and gorgeous girls as a cherry on top. Sena and Kobato especially stand out. If we add this series to the top 110 list, we give 2011 a landslide victory.

Here's the newly updated list:

1. Clannad (2007-2009)
2. Pretty Cure (2004-2011+)
3. One Piece (1999-2011+)
4. Code Geass (2006-2009+)
5. Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha (2004-2010+)
6. Seikai no Monshou/Senki/Danshou (1999-2005)
7. Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni (2006-2011+)
8. K-On! (2009-2011+)
9. Kanon (2002-2007)
10. Fairy Tail (2009-2011+)
11. Naruto (2002-2011+)
12. Dragonball (1986-2011+)
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. Vandread (2000-2001)
22. Full Metal Panic! (2002-2006)
23. Kobato (2009-2010)
24. Working! (2010-2011+)
25. Bakuman (2010-2011+)
26. Record of Lodoss War (1990-1998)
27. The World God Only Knows (2010-2011)
28. Hayate no Gotoku (2007-2011+)
29. Sora no Woto (2010)
30. Toradora! (2008-2009+)
31. Evangelion (1995-2009+)
32. Basilisk (2005)
33. Galaxy Angel (2001-2006)
34. Saki (2009+)
35. Major (2004-2010+)
36. Prince of Tennis (2001-2011+)
37. Inuyasha (2000-2010)
38. Ranma 1/2 (1989-1996)
39. Sailor Moon (1992-1997)
40. Air (2005)
41. Hanasaku Iroha (2011+)
42. Usagi Drop (2011+)
43. Angelic Layer (2001)
44. Rurouni Kenshin (1996-2001+)
45. Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
46. Ef (2007-2008)
47. Ore no Immouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai (2010-2011)
48. 12 Kingdoms (2002-2003)
49. Uuchuu no Stellvia (2003)
50. Utawarerumono (2006-2010)
51. Summer Wars (2009)
52. Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu (2010-2011+)
53. Cowboy Bebop (1998-2001)
54. Samurai Champloo (2004-2005)
55. Battle Athletes (1997-1998)
56. Bleach (2004-2011+)
57. Amagami SS (2010-2011+)
58. Macross (1982-2011)
59. Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai (2011)
60. Zero no Tsukaima (2006-2008+)
61. Mononoke Hime (1997)
62. Berserk (1997-1998+)
63. Claymore (2007)
64. Valkyria Chronicles (2009-2011)
65. Negima! Magister Magi Negi (2004-2011)
66. Sora no Otoshimono (2009-2011)
67. Shakugan no Shana (2005-2011+)
68. Card Captor Sakura (1998-2000)
69. Nichijou (2011+)
70. Strike Witches (2007-2010+)
71. Hunter x Hunter (1999-2011+)
72. Gundam (1979-2011+)
73. Fate/Stay/Zero (2006-2011+)
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 (1999-2010+)
80. Bastard! (1992)
81. Mahoromatic (2001-2009)
82. Akane-iro ni Somaru Saka (2008-2009)
83. Fatal Fury (1992-1994)
84. Bakemonogatari (2009-2010+)
85. Lucky Star (2007-2008)
86. Azumanga Daioh (2002)
87. Alien Nine (2001-2002)
88. Iria: Zeiram the Animation (1994)
89. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
90. Guyver (1986-2006)
91. Spirited Away (2001)
92. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
93. Scrapped Princess (2003)
94. Steins;Gate (2011+)
95. Gunbuster (1988-2006)
96. Shamanic Princess (1996-1998)
97. Akira (1988)
98. Moshidora (2011)
99. Soul Eater (2008-2009)
100. Tamayura (2010-2011+)
101. Ninja Scroll (1993-2003+)
102. Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai (2011+)
103. High School of the Dead (2010-2011)
104. Hikaru no Go (2001-2004)
105. Kanokon (2008-2009)
106. Flame of Recca (1997-1998)
107. Sora no Manimani (2009)
108. Ghost in the Shell (1995-2011)
109. Gosick (2011)
110. Shinryaku! Ika Musume (2010-2011+)

42 of the top 110 best anime franchises have already aired this year, and Toradora, Rurouni Kenshin, and Major are set to join the ranks before year's end. When all is said and done, 45 of the top 110 best anime franchises will have aired in 2011, at least in part. 10 of the top 110 best anime franchises were actually founded in 2011 and have only aired during this year. That's spectacular. The previous best record, 2010, only had 36 of the best 110 series airing, though it did have 13 premiers to 2011's 10. 2009 had 39 of the top 110 series airing, and premiered 10 series as well. 2008 had 28 of the top 110 series airing, and premiered 5. 2007 had 25 of the top 110 series airing, and premiered 7. 2006 had 23 of the top 110 series airing, and premiered 5. As you can see, the trend just goes lower and lower each year back in time. It's an indisputable margin of victory.