Looking back, I didn’t have incredibly strong feelings about any series I watched in this past year. So I considered the titles that I rated most highly at MyAnimeList, that is, the ones that scored an 8 or high-7, as I did not give any 9s or 10s last year. However, there were 2 notable series that did not get ratings at all because they were not anime: an American cartoon that was based on a Japanese video game, and a Japanese-Taiwanese co-production puppet show, both on their second seasons. And honestly, I think those were more flawless than the other titles on my short-list!
Things are certainly continuing to be weird here at Jacquieandbini. You may recall I selected a 3D CG short (Ikemen Sengoku: Bromances Across Time) as my Anime of the Year for 2017. For 2018, two non-anime series are dominating my year-end “anime” chart. I don’t think you’re likely see a Top 10 like this anywhere else!
I’m keeping it simple this time. Please follow the links if you wish to view the previous write-ups.
☆ Top 10 Anime or Anime-like Series:
#1. CASTLEVANIA Season 2 (8 episodes)
Aired Autumn 2018
(streaming: NETFLIX)
#2. Thunderbolt Fantasy: Sword Seekers (Touri-ken Yuuki) (season 2) (13 episodes)
Aired Autumn 2018
(streaming: Crunchyroll)
#3. The Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These (Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu: Die Neue These – Kaikou) (12 episodes)
Aired Spring 2018
(streaming: Crunchyroll)
#4. SCHOOL BABYSITTERS (Gakuen Babysitters) (12 episodes)
Aired Winter 2018
(streaming: Crunchyroll)
#5. DOUBLE DECKER! Doug & Kirill (13 episodes)
Aired Autumn 2018
(streaming: Crunchyroll)
#6. MEGALO BOX (13 episodes)
Aired Spring 2018
(streaming: Crunchyroll)
#7. The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. 2 (Saiki Kusuo no Psi Nan 2) (24 episodes)
Aired Winter 2018 to Spring 2018
#8. How to keep a mummy (Miira no Kaikata) (12 episodes)
Aired Winter 2018
(streaming: Crunchyroll)
#9. Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san (Gaikotsu Shoten’in Honda-san) (12 episodes)
Aired Autumn 2018
(streaming: Crunchyroll)
#10. BANANA FISH (24 episodes)
Aired Summer 2018 to Autumn 2018
☆ The Biggest Slogs:
There were a few shows that seemed very promising in the beginning but ultimately felt like a chore to get through, with no real payoff at the end. The dubious honours in this category go to:
01. Angels of Death (aired Summer 2018, Crunchyroll)
02. SANRIO BOYS (aired Winter 2018, Crunchyroll)
03. Phantom in the Twilight (aired Summer 2018, Crunchyroll)
☆ Anime Songs TOP 10 COUNTDOWN:
10. INKYA IMPULSE, by Honda Hanako(cv:Kino Hina), Olivia(cv:Nagae Rika), Nomura Kasumi(cv:Kohara Konomi) feat. Ikepy & KSKN (ASOBI ASOBASE ED)
09. Heavenly Visitor, by TRIGGER (IDOLiSH7 ED3)
08. KISS OF DEATH, by Nakashima Mika (Produced by HYDE) (DARLING in the FRANXX OP)
07. Growth Arrow, by OLDCODEX (Butlers X Battlers OP)
06. One Side, by OLDCODEX (SERVAMP: Alice in the Garden Main Theme)
05. Treasure, by Narek (cv: Ishikawa Kaito) & Vino (cv: Umehara Yuuichirou) (Dame x Prince ANIME CARAVAN ED3)
04. The Perfect World, by Marty Friedman feat. Jean-Ken Johnny & KenKen (B: The Beginning ED)
03. His/Story, by Nishikawa Takanori (Thunderbolt Fantasy: Sword Seekers OP)
02. narrative, by SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:LiSA (MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM NARRATIVE Main Theme)
01. Roll the Dice, by Nishikawa Takanori (Thunderbolt Fantasy: Sword Seekers ED)