Animation Revelation's Top 65 Cartoons (includes anime)

Cross posting this from Western Animation since a couple of anime placed quite high.

Just from the perspective of an anime fan, I can say that's it's written by fans of western animation trying to be inclusive rather than people that truly are into both; from an anime perspective there's some major omissions (Haruhi, Madoka) and some odd inclusions (Yu Yu Hakusho, Higurashi) that make it fairly obvious that they've only seen the small handful that aired in prime-time on CN or got popular with the "serious" crowd

More generally... I can agree that most of the things listed qualify as good, but the placements seem largely random, and I can think of some series that definitely seemed snubbed, even on the western side

Keep in mind that Madoka was very new during the lists creation. Too new to even be considered (heck, Avengers Earths Mightiest Heroes barely made the list due to its newness, it got lucky).

These guys have definitely seen more anime than what's aired on Cartoon Network and Adult Swim. And Yu Yu Hakusho and Higurashi were considered to be well made shows, and they probably felt that Haruhi couldn't compare to the shows already on the list.

Eh, Higurashi's welcome was lukewarm at best. Its animation is sloppy at times and it's certainly nowhere near Haruhi and Kyo Ani's level.

edited 19th Jun '12 11:21:29 PM by neobowman

If they truly thought that Haruhi was worse than Higurashi I don't think I can take it seriously at all

You know they don't have to view those animu as good. Just saying.

@Hylarn: So because they didn't include a couple shows that you liked, the writers are not True Anime Fans? That's a pretty snobby opinion. The only qualifier to liking anime is because you like anime.

edited 19th Jun '12 11:31:26 PM by Firestorm

I suppose, yes. But a list that places King Of The Hill fifth seems like a list that's trying to be objective to me

That's not what I said at all. My point is that I don't get the impression that they're particularly up-to-date on anime, if they ever were

They have a regular feature where they review the various new anime of the current season, so I'd say they're pretty up to date on anime.

You said that "Just from the perspective of an anime fan, I can say that's it's written by fans of western animation trying to be inclusive rather than people that truly are into both;"

Maybe you didn't mean it like that, but it came off as saying that they didn't enjoy anime the way you did.

Put together by the same people as the list?

Eeyup.

I love Higurashi more than Haruhi but in terms of quality, there's no way I'd put it above it. And Excel Saga? Yes, it's hilarious but I definitely wouldn't put it on the list.

Isn't the whole idea of a 'best of' list completely subjective anyways?

To a certain extant. But there are certain technical benchmarks that are fairly objective and on those Haruhi generally beats out even its fellow Kyo Ani production Full Metal Panic: The Second Raid which does make the list.

I'm not entirely certain by what criteria they were judging that list either since some of their Western Animation choices seem a little wonky as well.

What benchmark? That a lot of people like it? Ultimately these things either boil down to personal favorites, popularity contests, or obscure choices just to be hip, or some combination therein. There ain't some metric for determining the objective worth of anything, so getting worked up because some list didn't include some sacred cow is a complete waste of time.

Definitely makes me want to watch Batman the Animated series. I just finished Justice League and it was AMAZING. ;-;

It reads like a mismatch of entry-level mainstream shonen anime, (Dragon Ball, Death Note, Full Metal Alchemist, Hunter x Hunter, Yu Yu Hakusho), stereotypical +classics that are worshipped by retro-elitist", (Cowboy Bebop, Lupin III, Evangelion, Gundam, FMP:TSR, Monster, GTO), plus some random violent series that totally prove that anime is not for kids. (Baccano, Higurashi, Paranoia Agent, Excel Saga)

I would like to believe that the writer just happens to be a fan of old-school fighting/action series, and thrillers, but given that it was written by the site's membership collectively, and the way it is mixed with western cartoons, it feels more like pandering to the western sensibilities of the non-fans reading it, who would be put off by seeing the pictures of too many colorful-haired big-eyed teenage girls, or reading premises about high school settings.

But as it is, the list doesn't reflect anyone's tastes in anime. Neither the overall fandom's, nor plausibly any individual writer's. It reflects the tastes of the average mature animation fan, who sometimes happens to watch "Japanimation".

edited 20th Jun '12 3:52:34 PM by Ever9

What kinds of anime do you think should've made the list Ever 9?

Again, is anyone in a position to actually objectively measure the worth of an animated show? That's a fool's errand. In the end it only reflects the opinions of those who decided on it.

Excel Saga is suddenly a random violent series? I realize the last episode was over-the-top, but really?

Oh, and if you're favorite animu didn't make the list, here's a feature about the stuff that didn't make the cut.

...Okay, I'll admit they haven't done their homework on Anime; refered to Teen Titans' art style as 'Gianaxesqe'. The fuck?

edited 20th Jun '12 11:52:51 PM by Scherzo09

Well, TT's animation is influenced by FLCL.

Eh, that seems like quite a stretch to me. And even if that was the case that assume's there's a 'gainax style' to animation. Because Evangelion and Panty And Stocking are pretty indistinguishable.

edited 21st Jun '12 12:04:28 AM by Scherzo09