2008 Animu Review Thread

Well the year's rounding up and most shows from the Winter season are getting ready to kick in like V-TEC, so I figure now's a good time to take a look back and name our favorite shows from this years choices! I do this because I'm largely interested in what you folks watched, that and because man this place is so dead. ;_;

Anyways, I'll start us off with my Top 5 and honorable mentions, forgoing the obvious like Gundam and Geass. Anything that aired from January to current is game.

#5: Kamen no Maid Guy



Wait, don't throw your tomatoes just yet. Yeah I know, one too many boob jobes. Ok, maybe like a million too many boob jokes. But Kogarashi alone makes this slapstick boobs comedy worth watching from beginning to end. There's Fubuki too, but who cares about her when you have the epitome of manliness in a maid outfit by her side. It's so absurd at times you can't help but love it.

#4: Wagaya no Oinari-Sama



This Comedy/Fantasy/Slice of Life tale from XECES came at the recommendation of Bigblah, who wondered why I wasn't watching it because I am obviously so furry. Anyways it's the story of fox deity Tenko Kuugen, who is tasked with protecting the two young heads of the Takagami family. Most of the episodes revolve around the trouble caused by Kuugens appearance and somewhat childish nature, but the well rounded cast of characters (and delusional would-be girlfriends) and overall theme of family made this show a shining beacon in a season of letdowns.

#3 Casshern Sins



(I'd give this one a higher spot but it's not done airing yet) Madhouse has without a doubt produced the most beautiful looking show I've seen all year. A reboot of the Casshern franchise, Sins displays a powerful look into the ruining post apocalyptic world and delivers week after week of moving tales of survival and insanely well done fights. It's slow paced in spots, but it's a gorgeous kind of slow paced. With the direction it's taking, Casshern will likely end up being my favorite in '09 as well.

#2 The Telepathy Girl Ran



The story of Ran Isozaki, her childhood friend Rui, and self proclaimed beauty and genius Naha Midori and their special powers quickly became a sleeper hit on my list and a quick favorite with it's endless charm and character building. It also helps that it's got the best fucking big brother ever and an even better team of parents. It subverts a few of the common tropes associated with girls with powers, and does a wonderful job making me smile week after week. Doesn't help that I'm a sucker for any role Emiri Kato does lately. ;_;

#1 Shigofumi: Letters from the Departed



Raise your hand if you saw this one coming. It's all I talked about in the spring, how could I not give this one my top spot? Sure I could give it to DMC, but that's just unfair because no show can beat DMC, ever. The only downside to Shigofumi was the ending was rushed, but JC Staff did the right thing in releasing a 13th episode and patching all that nonsense up. Lolfangstaff + oh god Chiaki = Winner.

Honorable Mentions

Real Drive - Shirow's latest work about fat girls and OH GOD THE OCEAN IS SO DEEP never falls short in the character development department, but lacks any cohesive direction or story until the last few episodes. Not that the show wasn't anything short of amazingly fun to watch, but it's no GitS.

Koharu Biyori - tit jokes tit jokes tit jokes tentacle monsters mindless otaku pandering oh god eri kitamura you are the best seiyuu ever.

Library War - Call of Duty 4: Modern Bookshelves

Hyakko - Bisexual

Spice and Wolf - Can we get a second season that's just Lawrence and that ultra moe shepherd chick? I'd watch that so bad.

So that's it for me, what were you guys' top 5 in '08? In before Blah lists Macross F to make me angry and Taco's #1 is Strike Witches.

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