Starting with the best to the worst, here's what we watched in 2008 (old, new or continuing series):
1. Monster
This is true of most series, but I do not mind not catching a series as it airs but rather enjoying collecting so I don't have to wait weekly for a new episode.Thank goodness I discovered this series after it aired in full. Monster was intense - A drama, thriller, and dark story about an ordinary, good-hearted doctor that is tossed into a moral dilemma of the most outrageous but plausible circumstances. The worst possible nightmare comes to life for Dr. Tenma as he travels through Germany and Europe after the fall of the Wall. The psychological drama takes him through the dirty streets and dirty underworld of Germany and the remnants of war, and the products of it. From prostitution, mafia, hidden horrendous experiments on children, the Magnificent Steiner, to the creepiest (cutest?) fictional in story storybook and the enigmatic Johan, it's Dr. Tenma as he struggles against the world...and himself.
The question remains, who's the real Monster?
Music Review: Kuniaki Haishima. "B+" It's a very fitting soundtrack. The music, while quite good, was mostly lost to me during the series until midway with that great scene involving the library, Dr. Tenma and Johan 'pulling a Sephiroth'. Notable tracks: "The Seeds of Time", "Grain", and "Sweet Home".
Favourite characters: Johan, Dr. Tenma, Deiter and the Magnificent Steiner.
2. D. Gray-Man
Finally taking a chance on it, I was mostly unimpressed at the beginning of the series. It had potential and the story seemed fairly, well, uninspired at best but a few episodes in and I was hooked. At first it was my obsession with another silver-haired boy but as the story progressed and I realised this shonen series was about to get super hardcore and characters could take a serious beating and possibly not make it intact, I couldn't stop watching.Suddenly, the series was extremely well-written as the focus became more on the Black Order - a group of exorcists tasked to rid the world of Akuma: the souls of tortured humans hiding in the skins of the humans, who called them back from the dead out of extreme sorrow, but killed by the very ones they loved on order of the Millenium Earl; The Noah (Tyki Mikk - you are probably the most beautifully drawn character of all series watched this year); and a strange little exorcist by the name of Allen Walker.
Surprisingly, I love Allen. It's surprising because it's rare I love the main character the most but sure enough, he's a little odd, overly sweet, has a gambling problem and yeah, Beetchie, he's got silver/white hair.
Of course, with my stupid luck, it would figure that as soon as I get incredibly enthralled with this series, it ends when it shouldn't and I'm left waiting around for the manga to be written. Damn it, I miss it.
Music Review: Kaoru Wada. "B". There were some stellar pieces, some of the opening sequences were okay. Notable Tracks: "Allen Walker", "Tyki Mikk", "Roku Maboroshi Hatsudou", "Sennen Hakushaku" and "Gekisen".
Favourite characters: Allen Walker, Tyki Mikk, Cross Marian, JasDevi and Crowley.
3. Soul Eater
Okay, I REALLY hated this when I saw the first episode. It was too forciful in it's trying to get me to like it. I hated it so much, I stopped watching in May and only recently picked it up again. I'm just about caught up to all the goings-on and if not for Death the Kid, I'd probably still be missing out on something good this year.Everything about Soul Eater is edgy - the characters, the style, the punches thrown, the punches received, and the music. The story gets insane at one point and it's then it's at its best and like any good action series, the fights are incredible to watch but even more so because the style is so crisp and no holds-barred.
Square Enix is going through some kind of transformation, first with publishing The World Ends With You and now this highly-stylized, 'modern - street punk' series.
Music Review: It's so cool, it's scandalous. Full review in the music issue of the End of 2008 Year Review. The short version... "A+"
Favourite charaters: Justin Law, Professor Franken Stein, Death the Kid and Black Star.
4. Mushishi
This was another mostly serious, creepy anime about beings called Mushi. Mushi co-exist, and sometimes not, with humans. They're in everything but most cannot see them. Sometimes interactions with certain types of mushi can cause great strife or sometimes, even joy. They're usually dangerous to humans but not intentionally. This series is pretty hard to describe as to what it really is but it was an enjoyable watch - often sad, mysterious and quiet. It's beautifully done from the art to the story telling and Ginko (the main and only consistent character) is as mysterious as the mushi he seeks.Music Review: "B". I'm sure it was fitting as most music set to anime are but I don't recall anything too outstanding about it.
Favourite character: (There's only really one but he is quite loveable) Ginko
5. Katekyo Hitman Reborn
It's beginning to be a trend here but I disliked this series at the start. I read that it got a lot more serious later on, so I stuck with it. I'm still in the process of watching it (up to episode 65 as I write this) and I cannot wait to catch up. After some time, I missed seeing the main character in his underwear and was just getting into the comedy of the series when it turned bad-assed on me.It's another series that's a bit of a 'first' for me. I love the main character. Unlike D. Gray-Man, Sawada Tsunayoshi is not my favourite but I still do really love him.
It's your typical shonen - there's a fight, after fight, after fight but I'm very impressed by how the fights have those little twists I don't quite see coming but probably should?
Hitman Reborn's premise and delivery is... suspect. Tsuna's in training to become the next Italian mafia boss of the most powerful family in the world. As the 10th Vongola boss, Tsuna is an unwilling candidate, being he's only a 14/15 year old kid in Japan who just doesn't understand why babies are trying to teach him the way of violence and why various people are trying to kill his ass. And who could blame him for being wary of a gun toting baby who speaks full english and is constantly kicking him in the head?
As Hitman Reborn's story goes on, Tsuna unwittingly (thanks to Reborn the mafia maestro hitman baby) gathers his Vongola Mafia "Family" together. Not all of them like each other and they're pretty much all misfits in their own way but Tsuna's "Family" is strong and well, pretty cute as most shonen characters are. So, what I love most about Hitman Reborn are the fights that are damned excellent and the characters and their interactions with each other because they're loveable and fun.
Music Review: I like it well enough and some pieces just really stand out. What's with the Rocky/Road to Victory theme though? And why do I like it so much? "B". Notable Tracks: "Fuuki Iinchou Hibari Kyoya", "Tsuna Kakusei", "Ningen Bakudan I-pin", "Battle 1" and "Hurricane Bomb Gokudera Hayato"
Favourite characters: Gokudera Hayato (white/grey hair, and an unhealthy obsession? - count me in!), Tsuna, Yamamoto (really, how cool is it everytime he does a special sword attack the Japanese name for it flashes across the screen in old school style?), Colonello ("hey!"), Mukuro, and I'm even liking my previously hated Reborn.
6. xxxHolic: Kei
The second season of xxxHolic took a more serious turn. There were more episodes that developed characters and their relationships. While still charming and bizarre, it was short and there was just too much trauma packed into that time period. With the manga still ongoing, the series ended on what H1 likes to delude herself with and call a 'happy note'. Watanuki's surrounded by his strange, collection of 'family' and they're together eating and drinking with no worries in the world. It was a sad, sweet ending to a great series but I know nothing but tragedy's waiting for me in the manga. It is CLAMP after all.Music Review: S.E.N.S. Project. "B". It's a good, weird soundtrack for the most part. Full review in the previous End of 2008 Year Review I - Music.
Favourite Characters: Watanuki Kimihiro, Yuko, Mokona (H1's favourite), Himawari, and Domeki. That's about the entire cast of regulars.
7. Honey and Clover I & II
Sometimes, I enjoy watching a 'romantic' type series. 'Romantic' is not quite the word I want to use to maintain my cred. here but that's what this show was: various love triangles that ended Japanese like - with nothing being resolved for any parties involved. It was cute, funny, sweet, sad and unsatisfying! But, knowing these things never end well, it was also expected. It didn't make things any less harsh when they unfolded though.There was nothing super crazy but its strength was all in the characters' development, relationships and broken dreams everywhere.
Music Review: "B+". Embarassing but it was mostly made up of songs from "Clover" by Suga Shikao. Heh... I know, I know.
Favourite characters: Shinobu Morita (crazy mf'er!), Takumi Mayama, and Ayumi Yamada. Aww, stupid Mayama. At least Yamada could be happy at the end.
8. Mononoke
This was the most beautiful anime I watched this year. It was like watching wood block prints in motion. It was a short series, that followed story arcs each dealing with a different Japanese lore ghost/spirit/mononoke! It was sometimes creepy but not too scary either. I thoroughly enjoyed this interesting series.Music Review: Takanashi Yasuharu. It was a fantastic, thrilling, grand soundtrack that blended some creepy Japanese sounds in there too. I hate it when ghosts call to me! "A". Notable Tracks: "Mononoke", "Isamashige", and "Osoroshige".
Favourite Characters: Only one to love because there was only one main character - The Medicine Seller (great voice actor too!).
9. Darker Than Black
Like I said, superficially this anime reminded a bit of Cowboy Bebop - Mostly due to it's Yoko Kanno composed soundtrack, a 'gate' and a few other things I've said before. That's not to say this should be compared to Bebop and I try not to do that. It had a fairly strong, interesting story with potential for much more than how it ended. It was sometimes fun, the different abilities were mostly impressive and learning what their payment was for using their powers was cool too and sometimes was enough to make me cringe.Music Review: Yoko Kanno. She's a great composer and at the very least, she composed one of the best soundtracks I've ever heard when she did it for Bebop. This soundtrack's no different. It's more on the jazzy side than some of her others but very smooth, fun and sexy just as Kanno knows to do. However, I was not over impressed initially by the music in the series. It did not really stand out while I was watching but is a good listen otherwise. There are some pieces that were just fantastic but for some reason did not make the soundtrack's final cut and THAT just leaves me cranky. "B+". Notable Tracks: "Keiyakusha", "Was", "Tenderly", "Go Dark", "Guy", and "Yin's Piano"
Favourite characters: Li Shengshun/Hei, November 11 and the Detective Agency fools.
10. Naruto Shippuden
Naruto Shippuuden did not have that strong a year for the first half and throughout summer. I don't care about Sasuke, so any Sasuke related bullshit will automatically drop the anime on a best of a list for me. The only time I want to see Sasuke is when he's getting his ass handed to him, not when he's being a smug bitch to Naruto.Filler followed during the summer as a set up for one of the saddest anime moments for me. Oh, Asuma Sensei! Why did you have to go? Even though I read it months ago in the manga, it still hurt enough to leave me teary for a month after the fact seeing it in the anime.
Shikamaru shined and since he's my 2nd favourite, I was happy with that. It was also not that great a year since there was not enough Kakashi Sensei.
If we were talking about the manga though...omg, all sorts of hellish rubbish is going down and my little brain can't handle it. The anime is going to be good this year...
Music Review: Pretty good for the most part. Some of the more rock infused pieces can get annoying though. I'm only going by what I hear as I watch weekly so I'll give it a "B-".
Favourite characters: Hmmm, well... there was new to the cast, Hidan! Who I loved even if he killed Asuma. I know, that's just hateful on my part but I did love me some Hidan. And the regulars - Kakashi, Shikamaru, and even got to love Asuma more and gain a new respect for Naruto, who I actually care about now.
11. Bleach
I have to say - Bleach had an even worse run this year than Naruto. This series is going too quickly and is plagued with nonsense fillers while Tite Kubo writes the manga. I love my damned Bleach (H1's convinced I am just a heartless bitch and don't really care enough about the characters as I claim to) but this year was just rubbish. I can't stand how those asshole animators made my Rukia look like a moron by having her say "Kaien-dono" about a billion times before she finally keeled over for the millionth time after getting the impression she should do more major damage than that ass Tite lets her do.Then there was Orihimeass. I hate her. I don't feel sorry for her. I can't stand her love for Ichigo and she's an annoying, noisy, selfish bitch. The faster Aizen destroys her, the better. The manga might reveal something good or Tite might just let me down as he usually does.
The manga's going okay and I can't wait to see Shinji again but other than that, the 4 or so episodes to end the year when the Gotei 13 showed up to save the fools at Hueco Mundo were not enough to pull Bleach out of a crap hole. I do love you though, Byakuya! Ugh, severing your own nerves to save your sister... awesome.
Music Review: Shiro Sagisu. Not as good as last year's. I mean, I just said it today. If they were to release the next Bleach soundtrack based on what's being played currently - it's going to suck. The rock's not working out. Umm, and I know some of it's from the Diamond Dust Rebellion soundtrack and that just sucked. More Espada music, please Shiro Sagisu!
Favourite characters: The regulars - most members of the Gotei 13 save that wolf, H1...I mean Yama ji and Soi not fon. I didn't care for the Espadas they focused on this year but can't wait for Ulquiorra to return. His clown face is just hotness, H1. Hotness.
12. Natsume Yuuchinjou
A little slow on the start and maybe throughout the entire thing really, I enjoyed the quietness of this series for the most part. Things didn't quite happen they way I was expecting them too and remained kind of a simple watch that could have been better but never quite resulted in something fantastic. It was fine enough for me to be interested in the 2nd series or maybe H1 just really loves her a bitchy Nyanko Sensei, as do I. What an ass, he is! But with Kakashi's voice, he's forgiven and made all that cooler even if you can't really hear it when he's in round form.Music Review: I don't recall much other than H1 singing the opening bit of the main theme for me. Ass. I can't rate it because I don't remember most of it.
Favourite characters: Nyanko Sensei, those cheering yokai who were dim, and Natsume Takashi...not to be confused with that bitch Reiko.
13. Kuroshitsuji
I started this and it's still ongoing. I really don't know how I feel about this shart. It's kind of endearing, kind of weird, and I feel like it has found its niche. It's comedic moments sometimes just try to hard and don't quite fit in with the supernatural, bloodiness and underlying story of the anime. It's weirdness that I will stick with just to see what it truly develops into.Music Review: Based on what I remember, I'll give it a meh.
Favourite characters: Sebastian Michaelis (of course), Finian, Bard, Undertaker and Grell.
14. Elfen Lied
Meh. It began pretty good. It was very bloody and had me interested. Being a short series, I decided to watch it through. It was decent but not the greatness that everyone talks about in my opinion. The blood spatter and flying limbs was more for shock value than anything I felt and that can often be annoying. As per usual though, the Japanese know how to make you cry and the abuse scene with the little girl and the killing of the puppy was just hard to watch.Music Review: Don't remember a damned thing.
Favourite characters: I don't remember them either other than Nyu and even so, she wasn't my favourite.
15. Ayakashi: Japanese Classic Horror
This was also a collection of story arcs dealing with a certain lore/ayakashi, of which the last collection was Mononoke which was made into its own spin-off series. Other than Mononoke, I didn't care for the other stories. They were alright but I was not that impressed by the art or the stories themselves.Music Review: This came out first and the soundtrack is the same for Mononoke. It gets an "A". While a certain track in particular just truly stood out for certain scenes, the music just fit better in Mononoke than it did here.
Favourite characters: I don't have any from the other arcs but The Medicine Seller still rocks!
16. X TV
After 5 years, I finally finished watching X. That's pretty lame but I just fell off anime for a while and this was one of them that I didn't finish. So, I did and have to say... it was really dated. What was so fantastic about this anyway? What was the big deal? Sure the art's beautiful but it's CLAMP, so that's to be expected. The whole Dragons of Heaven and Dragons of Earth just seemed pretty emo and self-righteous. The characters though were still loveable and amazing but the end of the series was very rushed.Music Review: Naoki Satou. A big "A+". This is one of the best soundtracks and music I own. Even after all this time, it's still fantastic. The entire first volume is just a masterpiece and the most notable track from the second volume is "Last Battle". I played that song 49 times this year and it never gets tired.
Favourite characters: Aww, my Sorata. You've always been the one I love most. Yuto, and Kakyo.
17. Bus Gamer
I'm not sure why this was made into an anime but after 3 episodes, it was unfinished and left a bad taste in my mouth. There was no real time to get involved with the characters for the most part. I did not miss it when it was over and I did not really care to see how things ended because it just wasn't that good anyway.Music Review: Meh.
Favourite characters: Meh. Probably the stupid blonde kid though or maybe just meh.
18. Chrono Crusade
Ummm. I should just stop reviewing at this point. I watched this at the beginning of the year and I remember it finishing and I was not caring. I vaguely remember it being kind of funny or wanting to be, then being kind of serious, then being kind of retarded. Maybe I'm just confused because the descriptions I'm reading are seeming a bit like it was a good series but yeah, I really think I felt rather underwhelmed.Music Review: None. I can't remember.
Favourite characters: Aion but probably only due to the fact Kakashi's voice actor voiced him, Chrono was kinda cute too and Joshua.
19. Jigoku Shoujo
I fail to see what the fascination with this series is. I tried to watch both the first and second and did not get more than half way through for either. The individual stories were kind of lame, all followed the same formula - which was to make ordinary people harrassed and pushed fix their problems by calling forth this bitch to send them to hell, and by doing so, they person who set the curse would also go to hell when they died. What's the point of living in the now only to be tortured at the end for all eternity? Tch. I mean, sometimes it was harsh - this one person was almost killed by a stalker but pulled the string on the doll to call the Hell Girl to do her bidding but other than that... it was just kind of terrible and then just kind of boring. I remember being very annoyed and the same chariot of fire scene showed every damned episode.Music review: Meh.
Favourite characters: Meh.
20. Negima
One of my favourite series was Love Hina, so I was very eager to give this series a chance being that it was the same creator. I couldn't get past the 3rd episode. Maybe I should try again...Things to watch:
H1 and I watched the first episode of Moyashimon and it was cute but started right at the end of the year, so we couldn't add it to the list. I also want to watch Pumpkin Scissors and Claymore in the coming year since I never got around to them.
Currently listening to: "Love Dog" by TV on the Radio. I might be re-thinking this album's position on my end of year review I because it's pretty damned good.
