LogFAQs > #933399929

5. Your Lie in April
https://anilist.co/anime/20665/Your-Lie-in-April/

Your Lie in April is among the most beautiful portrayals of human growth and emotion that has been put to the small screen. While I don't think this is really a tear jerker in the way something like Clannad After Story is, this title really makes you feel the weight of what each character is going through. The clear progression of growth and change in characters, especially Kousei, is pretty much unmatched this decade imo. I think this is not a series about loss or grief, it's one about acceptance and perseverance. Of course there are parts that play up the drama, but it's done in ways and at times that really maximize the impact and don't make it feel cheap. When you mix it with the production quality, especially the musical score attached this is one of the most amazing watches of the decade.

4. K-On!!
https://anilist.co/anime/5680/KON/

The second season of the "original" moeblob show is maybe the greatest display of the unity of friendship between a cast of characters in anime. When I compare this title to other slice of life shows, even ones on this list like Yuru Yuri, Kiniro, etc. This is clearly much much better in terms of how they build each character, show their relationships, how they pace the comedy overall. Everything is really cute, but being cute was not the focus it was seeing the growth of friendship. In this season Yui goes from a good anime protagonist to an all time great character. She simply steals the show. There is also a surprising amount of more serious moments in the series with stem from how characters personalities start to show in their actions and emotions. I think people often pass over this series as just a cgdct moeblob show, but there is a level of care in constructing the characters and their personalities that most dramas don't bother to reach. K-On is a land mark series and in its genre has not been matched in the near decade it has been since it finished.

3. Chihayafuru
https://anilist.co/anime/10800/Chihayafuru/

Do you know those shows that have a moment when you know you're watching something great? For me it was that scene where Chihayaya took that one card. Chihayayfuru is a sports but not a sports show. It's hard to describe. The actual sport itself in karuta is important to the show, very much so, but the reasoning for playing it goes way beyond just being "the best" at the game. The personal reasons the main cast has for competing are varied and compelling. As the show progresses their personalities and play styles become more refined and defined in natural ways. This might be the best show of the decade when it comes to introducing new characters. They just implement them in the most natural ways possible and after growing pains they them feel like natural parts of the show like you can't remember when they were not there. This anime has some of the best sound production in anime and when mixed with the pacing and animation quality each moment feels so impactful. As for the actual karuta, it is amazing to watch. The way they mix the actual physical play with a sense of strategy to go along with everything else is incredible. I read how MADHOUSE went out of their way to get everyone back for S3 despite the growth of the cast and staff who worked on it since S2 ended. It was worth it.

2. Mawauru Penguindrum
https://anilist.co/anime/10721/Penguindrum/

SURVIVAL STRATEGY! Penguindrum is a show that mixes weird and sometimes outrageous imagery, somewhat cliched themes, and a deep psychological story that digs deep into character motive and emotion. This is an an anime that aired in 2011 (1, 2 and 3 all debuted in 2011) and has a lot to cover in it. I can't really do it justice because it's been such a long time so a lot of details do escape me. But I do know they build things up to have impact when they reveal the big moments. They let you get to know characters before their big moments. This is not to say the show is devoid of humor or even poking fun if itself sometimes. I think characters like Ringo are often forgotten when thinking about greatest characters of the decade, but she is so important to the first half of the anime and so compelling as one of the main characters that she should get more accolades. I compare this to another show (by the same person) that is the most recent in Sarazanmai and that's when I really notice how good Penguindrum is. Because Sarazanmai is not good. That anime kind of forces what it is down your throat and Penguindrum kind of gives you a piece of candy and you suck on it a little, but you want more so it keeps giving you more and more of it until finally you are high on all the sugar.

1. Steins;Gate
https://anilist.co/anime/9253/SteinsGate/

I don't think I have to really explain why this is number 1. I fully expect this to be number 1 in Votch's topic too for the b8anime community vote. I think when you mix together everything in this, story, humor, characters, drama, and just how everything is pieced together this is the complete package. It might not be the absolute best at anything but it's so good in every aspect that there are pretty much no weak spots to poke at. Okabe Rintarou is possibly the best character of the decade. His portrayal is now considered to be legendary. The anime does such a great job at mixing in "anime character traits" but also showing a very relatable person behind each face. Even though I pretty much predicted some of the twists it didn't make it feel like it was bad, the execution behind how and when they do things is pretty much perfect. This is one of the few anime in existence that is better when you watch it twice. I can't praise this anime enough.