Anime 2017 Year – End
Action– Attack on Titan 2nd Season (Spring 2017)
This felt like a slightly weaker year for action anime than previous years, but that doesn’t stop Attack on Titan from being a deserving winner. Despite Season 2 not quite being as good as its first season, Studio Wit continues to animate one of the most impressive ongoing adaptations. Not much is prettier than watching Levi or Mikasa swing around with their maneuver gear chopping up titans, and it remains one of the most fluid adaptations to date. Outside of animation being pivotal to an action series, plot and characters are as well, and few characters intrigued me more in 2017 than Reiner, while Mikasa remains one of my favourite female shounen protagonists of all time. Yes, this season could have used more screen time for Levi, but minor complaints aside Attack on Titan Season 2 did well and I would be unsurprised if Season 3 is sitting here in this awards section yet again in 2018.
Honourable Mention; Re:Creators (Spring 2017), Quanzhi Gaoshou (Summer 2017)
Adventure– Little Witch Academia (Winter 2017)
This was a close call between 2017’s Kino no Tabi remake, but in the end, I chose Little Witch Academia. The best anime of 2017 with Academia in its title – though of course there was never too much competition there. Little Witch Academia was the 2nd Anime Mirai project to receive a full series adaptation- after Death Parade, and it lived up every bit to the anticipation. Diana & Akko were characters of the highest caliber, and it had such an immersive, atmospheric setting that I found myself serenely gliding from episode to episode watching Akko overcome her own struggles as a witch, Diana grow as a character, and Croix grow as an antagonist. Unlike other untalented protagonists, Akko was not just gifted superpowers or magic. She earned it. Akko is proof that “A believing heart is magic.”
Honourable Mention; Kino no Tabi: The Beautiful World - The Animated Series (Fall 2017)
Fantasy– Natsume Yuujinchou Roku (Spring 2017)
Natsume Yuujinchou is one of those rare shows that appears to have no flaws. Serene, peaceful, tranquil, warm, fuzzy, those are the overriding emotions I have when watching the show. All the recurring characters are at the least, likable. Natsume is a great character, his friends are all good characters – especially Tanuma and Taki, his family genuinely loves him and cares for him, Madara despite his tsundere-like personality genuinely cares for Natsume, even many of the side characters are just good people/spirits. The background of Natsume’s past is slowly leaked in episodes but never feels “filler-like.” Nothing can seemingly derail this show’s consistency. Not even a change in studio after Season 4 was able to distract Natsume from being one of the best Fantasy / Slice of Life’s of all time. Its been such a ride seeing Natsume’s character develop from Season 1 to Season 6, and this show is the epitome of consistent. 2017 was a great year for fantasy- one of the few genres to seemingly do well, and Natsume is so far above them, I don’t even speak of the other contenders.
Honourable Mention; Re:Creators (Spring 2017), Children of the Whales (Fall 2017), Mahoutsukai no Yome (Fall 2017)
Comedy– Kobayashi-san Chi no Maid Dragon (Winter 2017)
It was definitely a disappointing year overall for Comedy. Unlike 2016 which brought us Saiki Kusuo, there wasn’t really a flagship anime primarily carried by its comedy. The top contenders- Maid Dragon was primarily a slice of life/fantasy which was definitely carried more by those elements while Konosuba was a fantasy/isekai. Although it could be argued Konosuba was at times funnier, it couldn’t match the overall level of quality of Kyoto Ani’s Maid Dragon. Moe art style, dragons, lovely animated fight scenes, laughs, serious moments; Maid Dragon brought a little bit of everything to the table. If you’re looking for a genuinely hilarious comedy like Saiki Kusuo or to a lesser extent School Rumble you won’t find it here; but you will find an often light-hearted series, with great characters, great animation, and some good laughs in between.
Honourable Menton: Konosuba 2 (Winter 2017)
Drama- Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu: Sukeroku Futatabi-hen (Winter 2017)
There is very little to be said about Rakugo that I haven’t previously said. The show is living, breathing art. Last year when Rakugo won this category it was a major upset; this year it felt almost pre-determined. Rakugo remains a special show with its second season not failing to capitalise on its first season’s brilliance. Great characters, heartfelt moments, the regrets, the laughter, the tears; one show should not be able to evoke this many emotions. Yet I found myself immersed – both with the rakugo performances, as well as the characters own struggles and triumphs. While the art form of Rakugo itself may be a dying profession I can promise this show isn’t. This show will continue to live on inside the hearts and minds of all who have watched it.
Romance- Tsuki ga Kirei (Spring 2017)
Warm and pure are the two adjectives I think of when I hear: “As the Moon, So Beautiful.” Tsuki ga Kirei Is the decisive winner of the Romance category this year, and it’s at the least a little surprising. When the anime first came was announced, due to the limited information we had available at the time it was ironically being referred to as “vague the anime.” All we really knew is it was being animated by the much-maligned studio feel. Per Malgraph I’ve seen 23 entries animated by Studio feel with a mean score of 5.22 – making it one of my lowest scored studios. However, feel. stepped up with one of the warmest romances I’ve seen, maybe ever. Tsuki ga Kirei is a great example of not having to be complex to be “good.” It doesn’t rely on melodrama, or complex dialogue, plot twists, heavy symbolism, or anything of the sort. Yes, the art style and animation could both be underwhelming at times, but the characters felt real and maybe more importantly; their romance felt real- and it all lead to a 12-episode experience anyone can enjoy.
Honourable mention; Kuzu no Honkai (Winter 2017), Just Because! (Fall 2017), Net-juu no susume (Fall 2017)
Romantic-Comedy- Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata ♭ (Spring 2017)
Romantic-Comedies is another genre that struggled in 2017, leaving the second season of Saekano without much competition. Interestingly enough its one of the few anime where I’ve wavered on “best girl” with both Utaha and Megumi taking fair turns to shine. Saekano increased the drama this season, but maintained the core of the show which contains lighthearted comedy, a harem-like setting, and a sprinkling of ecchi/fan-service. The character development we receive- of course for Megumi, but also Eriri was very well done. While the show itself may not be an AOTY contender, I think it does a lot of things well, and is well worth the watch.
Science-Fiction- Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou (Fall 2017)
Personally, I don’t care what genre this show won, as long as it won something. Yes, it’s probably more of a slice of life than Science-Fiction, but unfortunately it never had a chance to win that category. Maybe in 2016, but not this year. Per Lanblade; “Post-apocalyptic earth in Girls Last Tour is so tech advanced that humanity wiped itself out. Multi-level cities (each level up they went, the tech improved; a common trope for scifi works), strange facilities, robots with laser beams, and maybe some influence by the tech of the mushroom creatures that they interact with (who may be aliens visiting Earth or may be bioengineered weapons that evolved sentience--either way that's scifi territory).” He easily justifies the science-fiction tag it received on MAL. Technicalities out of the way, this show is very special. For a show not necessarily designed as a comedy I found myself laughing quite a bit. The characters were terrific- yes there were only 2 re-occurring, but they were each very likable. Their interaction and chemistry with each other was also a treat to watch. This may be the best post-apocalyptic anime I’ve ever seen. Each episode meant something. Whether it was their fascination with a camera, or their enjoyment over the sound of rain. The OST was fantastic, and White Fox simply seems to breed high quality anime. Even the moe art style couldn’t detract from the quality of SSR. In a post-apocalyptic world full of mystery, where our 2 protagonists have to search indefinitely for rations just to survive, you would expect only despair to exist. However, even after discovering they may be the last 2 humans on earth – our two protagonists continue to travel towards the top of the cities, a smile on their face.
Honourable Mention; SukaSuka (Spring 2017)
Horror/Thriller– Made in Abyss (Summer 2017)
Summer is finally on the board in the genre-based categories. Like several of the other categories so far 2017 was not the strongest year for the horror/thriller department. In fact, I’d be curious to know how many anime from 2017 even had that genre tag on MAL. Made in Abyss doesn’t. But Random Curiosity’s Zephyr gave this award to “Princess Principal” citing the same lack of depth in this genre this year. The most fitting anime this year would have been Ousama Game, but I’d sooner not give out an award at all than award Ousama Game anything other than worst series of the year. Made in Abyss may be one of the more overrated series in recent years- but its still a strong series, with a tense atmosphere, great setting, good OST and decent characters. It feels like the potential for Made in Abyss is greater than the current results- which always bodes well for future seasons.
Sports- Shokugeki no Souma: San no Sara (Fall 2017)
Yes, its true Shokugeki lacks a “Sports” tag on MAL or other sites, but its one of the few instances where I don’t really care. MAL only lists 3 genres for Shokugeki – Ecchi, School, and Shounen. One of those is a demographic, one is a setting, and one hardly truly defines what Shokugeki is. Shokugeki received an honourable mention in this same category in both 2015 and 2016 so its not unprecedented territory. Fortunately for Shokugeki (but maybe unfortunately for me) the lack of any Haikyuu or Kuroko opens the field for a new winner, though Shokugeki itself of course is not a new show. This was actually Shokugeki’s weakest season to me, as I didn’t much are for the direction of Erina’s father as an antagonist and the whole set up with Central. That being said it’s still a very fun show overall, and who ever said competitive cooking isn’t a sport? Ballroom e Youkoso was a very close contender and while I appreciated the technical side of it more, Production I.G must relinquish, at least temporarily its reign on sports anime.
Honourable mention; Ballroom e Youkoso (Summer 2017)
Slice of Life- Sangatsu no Lion 2nd Season (Fall 2017)
This. This right here, this. This show was terrific. I know I had some very personal issues with Season 1 but after re-watching S1 realised those complaints- while valid may have been overstated and an overreaction. Season 2 however, was nearly flawless, leaving complaints from just about… no one. The characters absolutely top of the line. Kiriyama Rei is one of the best male Slice of Life protagonists of all time. Hina was so adorable, yet mature, motivating and endearing. Specifically, Rei’s chemistry and interaction with Hina reached peak level this season. We learned more about Master Souya- the child of God himself, a great yet somewhat mysterious character. Sakutarou himself was a great character, and man was it satisfying watching him beat Shimada, even at the age of 66. The metaphor of him carrying the burden of all his friends who had viscerally lived their hopes and dreams through Sakutarou was magnificent. Standing in a burnt field, burning, once again the 66-year-old maestro became a human torch, even if it was for one last time. How can a show introduce a character and have you care for them so much, so quickly? Viscerally living through their experience? I hardly know where to start with Sangatsu, everything this season touched turned to gold. The bullying Hina and her friend went through was one of the most realistic depictions of bullying I’ve seen so far in anime, and was genuinely heartbreaking to watch at times. One of the best proclamations in recent anime history is when Hina said “She did nothing wrong.” The way the parents handled it, the way the kids handled it, the way the teachers handled it- it all felt very real. Maybe it was the tone of the arc itself but I believe that allowed Shinbo Akiyuki to shine brightest. A return to the head tilts, a return to the darker backgrounds and lighting, where the characters are appearing to be consumed by darkness. Hell, Hina even referred to the bullying going on in the classroom as “the darkness.” Shades of Madoka and shades of Monogatari stylistically entered my mind. While Season 1 was very well crafted, and had excellent use of symbolism and metaphors, Season 2 capitalised on that buoyed by Shinbo Akiyuki’s distinct style. The OST was terrific, the characters; terrific, the art; terrific, the animation; terrific, the story; terrific. Even the characters that were far less likable from S1 (Gotou, Kyouko, Shimada) saw their roles either significantly decrease or evaporate entirely. Kiriyama at the age of 18 is finally in class B. While the focus was less on his specific shogi matches, S2 developed the cast in such unique, intriguing, immersive ways that the shogi almost became an afterthought. What’s not an afterthought, however, is this show; which is an immediate AOTY contender. Season 3, please, when?
Mystery- Houseki no Kuni (Fall 2017)
Rounding out the genre-based awards is the mystery category. While I wouldn’t necessarily classify Houseki no Kuni as a classic mystery, it’s definitely a deserved winner. First, shot-out to studio “Orange” for the competent use of CGI. It would be impossible to talk about this show without mentioning the possibly revolutionary use of CG animation, so let’s get it out of the way first. The character designs were unexpectedly very good and fitting. The setting was pretty unique, and the mystery of the world is maybe what captivated me the most. Who are the lunarians? What do they want with the gems so badly? What is Kongou-Sensei’s relationship to the lunarians? So many questions, left either unexplored or unanswered. One answer we did receive is a job for Cinnabar. Can she and Phos uncover the truth? This show left us with one of the cruelest cliff-hangers in recent memory. But it’s a story and setting glowing with potential.
Honourable mention; Acca-13 ku Kansatsu-ka (Winter 2017)
Underrated- Children of the Whales (Fall 2017)
Let’s be clear. This show isn’t Shinsekai Yori, and never will be. If your baseline for a good fantasy show involving superpowers is Shinsekai Yori, then let’s just stop making anime in this genre, because there may never be another Shinsekai Yori. The 7.32 mean score for this show is rather unfathomable. This is a very good show. The art and animation in this show was beautifully aesthetic, with a possibly equally beautiful OST to accentuate the tone and setting of the show. The setting was great- and original with the mud whale acting as a harmonious dystopia. Sure, detractors will say that the anime feels incomplete, and surely there’s a case to be made for that. However, what about Made in Abyss, Houseki no Kuni and others? Children of the Whales has the foundation of a very special show. Unorthodox, engaging, immersive, complex, unpredictable, a strong cast of characters that are not unlikable, a beautiful OST, and some of the most vivid art I’ve ever seen.
Overrated- Uchouten Kazoku 2 (Spring 2017)
Before I get into my choice here, let me take another minute or two to bash on another strong contender for this category. Boku no Hero Academia 2nd Season. That show beat out Mob Psycho to win the award in 2016, and entered 2017 the surefire front runner to win it yet again. I thought the 8.42 score for season 1 was ludicrously high, but the 8.70 for the 2nd season is downright unjustifiable. I remember speaking with one prominent critic who compared it to Naruto, “minus the stakes.” Yes, from a technical perspective it remains one of the better animated shows, with a good OST, but that doesn’t change the fact I’m watching one of the most over hyped, predictable, trope shounen to ever exist. Uchouten Kazoku 2 on the other hand is simply boring. Maybe this one’s on me. I felt Season 1 was vastly overrated, but Season 2 to me was even more boring, having to fight just to maintain my interest. It’s rare for shows with such level of acclaim for me to miss the mark this much, but after openly watching both Season 1 and now Season 2 I can truthfully state this one of them. I didn’t care for the characters, I didn’t care much for the setting. A fantasy slice of life relies so much on its setting & characters to create the right atmosphere and maybe this just is a “taste” thing for me. It’s got an 8.20 rating compared to BnHA’s ballooned 8.70 rating, but we know why. BnHA appeals to the highest common denominator of anime fans. People who like shounen, fights, and super heroes. Uchouten Kazoku however, is way more critically lauded, and it’s for reasons I far less understand.
Honourable mention: Boku no Hero Academia 2nd Season (Spring 2017)
Best Opening- Eiyuu Unmei no Uta- EGOIST (Fate/Apocrypha)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nLH06ftkL0&t
Best Ending- Heikousen- Sayuri (Kuzu no Honkai)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R82g0ALA8c
Best Insert- Scarborough Fair- Tamara Yamada (Sukasuka)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkaxczyyavE
Best Soundtrack- Re:Creators
MAGICAL SPLASH FLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARE. Well after last year’s upset, its back to business as usual for the best OST. Sawano Hiroyuki was back at his finest for Re:Creators. I felt bad Re:Creators wasn’t able to take home a genre-specific category getting beat out for in the fantasy, action, and Sci-Fi categories, but at least it can take solace here. Gravity Wall and Sh0ut were both great OPS which we all know always bodes well for winning this category. As Goukeban articulately points out in his review, songs like Here I Am (Mamika’s theme), God of ink, Layers, Brave the Ocean and World Etude were all purposefully used and crafted in ways to accentuate the events and animation itself. It might not be Sawano Hiroyuki’s best work- that honour goes to Guilty Crown and Aldnoah.Zero, but he remains the best in the business right now, and I look forward to any anime of which he’s part of sound production.
Honourable mention; Fate/Apocrypha, Princess Principal
Best Art- Sangatsu no Lion 2nd Season
For the second year in a row Shaft- and Sangatsu no Lion will be receiving the best art award, breaking Kyoto Ani’s once solidified monopoly. I mentioned quite a bit earlier, but Shinbo Akiyuki’s artistic direction was world class and unquestionable. While Season 1 had exceptional artistic direction- Season 2 raised the bar, and to beat out Rakugo in back to back years is just a testament to Akiyuki’s brilliance. The show was very stylistic, accentuating an already fantastic story. Scenes where the entire background went black to reflect the mood and tone – such as during Hina’s bullying arc, the “burnt field/human torch” metaphor during Sakutorou’s match against Shimada, the background art, the lighting, the show was brilliantly directed, and while Akiyuki and Shaft have yet to equal Kyo Ani’s attention to detail, they are able to stand out through metaphors, symbolism, lighting, and Akiyuki’s distinct style.
Honourable mention; Mahoutsukai no Yome
Best Animation- Attack on Titan 2nd Season
For a while now Studio Wit has been coming. When Attack on Titan Season 1 aired I was on record of saying that was the “best action animation” to date. Yes less than 2 years later it was surpassed by Fate/Stay Night’s Unlimited Blade Works, but Wit has truly become one of the most beautiful studios in the business recently. Mahoutsukai no Yome was beautifully animated with meticulous attention to detail, but Attack on Titan’s 2nd season deservingly claims this award. I mentioned earlier, but the movements of maneuver gear- so fluid and dynamic, watching Levi and Mikasa swing around chopping up titans is the highest level of quality animation we have in this medium so far. The titans themselves are animated very uniquely and convincingly, and the transformations themselves happen crisply and fluidly. The fight between Reiner and Eren was one of the most memorable moments of the year. While ufotable continues to set the pace, Studio Wit has proven that they are here for the long term.
Honourable mention; Houseki no Kuni
Best Movie- Kimi no na wa
Unfortunately, at the point I made my 2016 anime year end awards, Kimi no na wa had not yet legally been released. Now finally for the first time I can speak on what an absolutely stunningly, brilliant movie “Your Name” is- and how I don’t regret waiting to purchase the BD. Makoto Shinkai has proven and proven and proven over and over again to be Japan’s undisputed most brilliant animated feature film director. Yes Hosada is steadily building a track record of his own- but there’s no “Your Name” on his CV. The aesthetics for this film is unrivaled. Not even Shaft or KyoAni’s best can produce something so aesthetically stunning. The OST = world class. The characters, simple yet endearing with an engaging fantasy romance. The symbolism and metaphors- such as the red string of fate were simple yet constructive. God bless this man, this movie deserves every bit of praise it receives and more. If you can’t appreciate a movie of this quality construction, then its probably time to explore other hobby opportunities; cause this one definitely ain’t it chief.
Best Female Character– Kawamoto Hinata (Sangatsu no Lion)
What an interesting year for female protagonists. No there was no undisputed bae this year like Rem was last year, but we had a plethora of choices to choose from. I’m going to briefly mention all the female protagonists I genuinely appreciated this year. Hanabi (Kuzu no Honkai), Mamika (Re:Creators), Diana & Akko (Little Witch Academia), Yuuri & Chito (Girl’s Last Tour), Chise (Mahoutsukai no Yome), Ctholly (Sukasuka), Megumi (Saekano) and Tooru (Maid Dragon). The award could have easily gone to any of them as the distance separating these characters was minimal. However, I think Kawamoto Hinata did just enough to rise to the top of the pack. She was a lovely character, and her interactions with her sisters, her screen time with Rei, her screen time at school, she took advantage of nearly every moment given to her to shine. She was such a strong-willed character, so sweet and caring, but at the same time prideful enough to do the right things for her friends, even when she knew she would face backlash. She didn’t hesitate and even bravely proclaimed that she did nothing wrong, knowing in her heart that she acted in a way that would leave no regrets. Maybe that’s what hurt her the most. She saved Rei from his darkness, and in doing so maybe even saved Sangatsu’s status as a masterpiece.
Honourable mention; Honourable mention; Hanabi (Kuzu no Honkai), Mamika (Re:Creators), Diana (Little Witch Academia), Akko (Little Witch Academia)
Best Male Character- Kiriyama Rei (Sangatsu no Lion)
So, with Hina winning best female protagonist of the year, that left little doubt as to who would win male protagonist of the year. There were less choices for male than female this year, but the quality of the male characters in general was pretty strong. Most of the best male characters came from sequels however; Kiriyama Rei, Levi, Natsume and Yakumo. Of the new characters we were first introduced to in 2017, Blitz Talker (Re:Creators), Ayanokouji (Classroom of the Elite) and Ye Xiu (Quanzi Gaoshou) are probably the best. However, my male protagonist of the year is unquestionably Kiriyama Rei. At 18 years old my guy has finally made it to class B-2. There are few main characters I feel more personally attached to than Rei when it comes to sports/competitive anime. Rei is a prodigy though and it’s extremely easy to find myself personally invested in him and rooting for. His character development from episode 1 through the end of Season 2 was excellent. He went from a reclusive loner to a reliable friend and person, and it was done so in a believable, realistic way that felt organic and natural rather than forced. Were there times when maybe his self-deprecation was a little annoying? Maybe, but that’s what made it even sweeter watching him go out of his way to help others- specifically Hina. The scene where he surprises her on the bridge by the river when she was nervous on her class trip remains memorable.
Honourable mention; Levi (Attack on Titan), Natsume (Natsume Yuujinchou), Yakumo (Rakugo), Ayanokouji (Classroom of the Elite)
Best Villain- Altair (Re:Creators)
After not taking home any of the genre categories, Re:Creators has done well to capture its second award of my 2017 year end review. Let’s give a moment of silence for Mamika… Altair was an excellent antagonist with deep motivations, immense power, and great aesthetics. As the fictional construction of Setsuna, an author who had personally taken her own life, Altair wanted to destory that world. Ever loyal to her creator, if the world turned its back on Setsuna, then she would bring vengeance on the world. Loyalty and Vengeance are 2 great motivations for any good antagonist and when you combine that with the circumstances of Setsuna’s death it all culminates towards a very relatable and sympathetic character who you almost find yourself rooting for at times. Her character development is excellent and she retires as the best villain of 2017 and one of the best villains this decade.
Honourable mention; Reiner (Attack on Titan)
Best Short-Form Series 2017- Pingu in the City (Fall 2017)
Noot Noot.
Worst Anime Series 2017– Ousama Game the Animation (Fall 2017)
This show was an unmitigated travesty. It’s hard to fathom how a show can become as bad as Ousama Game. You almost have to intentionally try to make a show this bad. I had never given a 2/10 to a full-length TV series before out of the more-than-500 I have completed. Ousama Game changed that and defied even my most feared expectations. This show was entirely bereft of any quality or logic. The animation was terrible, the dialogue was terrible, the characters were terrible, almost all of the events seemed to be nonsensical, cringy or worse. Somehow this show managed to get worse and worse each episode with an ending that was unprecedentedly bad. That’s all I’ll speak on this junk.
Honourable mention; Seiren (Winter 2017), Inuyashiki (Fall 2017)
Best Anime Series 2017– Sangatsu no Lion 2nd Season (Fall 2017)
Was there ever any doubt as to what the anime of the year would be for 2017? Actually, the answer to that is yes. Natsume Yuujinchou season 6 and Rakugo season 2 were both probably front runners at the start of the year. Natsume may be the most consistent show of all time, while Rakugo is a timeless work of art. Both are firmly entrenched in my top 30 shows of all time. I know most years when it’s all said and done there’s going to be at least a few series close to each other in terms of overall rank. Rakugo is #25 on my all-time list, Natsume Yuujinchou comes in at #19 and Sangatsu no Lion completed the unlikeliest of upsets coming in at #18. Sangatsu no Lion was able to overcome those grievances I had with S1 to finally become the masterpiece Slice of Life I always knew and hoped it would be. It’s that good. The setting, the shogi matches, the characters, the art, the animation, the OST, the dialogue, the metaphors, everything culminated together to form this masterpiece. The scariest thing is the source material is still on-going so there’s even more potential yet for this show to grow. Like I said, Season 3 when and please?
Honourable mention; Natsume Yuujinchou Roku (Spring 2017), Rakugo 2nd Season (Winter 2017)
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