2015 is over, and now, we are looking back at 2015 with some of the best anime of 2015. We’ve spent ONE ENTIRE MONTH debating on which should be entered in the list, and after a whole lot of fights, arguments, and beat downs, we have finally got to agree (sort of) which 10 anime deserve to be on our list. So which ones made it? Ready your torches and pitchforks, because here are our picks:
10) School Love!
School Live! is an anime about girls living in a school with their dog, and it’s about them having their everyday lives inside the school, you know, cute girls doing cute stuff, and has even been called by fans as a “Healing Anime”. JUST KIDDING! School Live! may look like your typical moe blob at first, but it’s actually a very messed up anime full of psychological twists, and is set in a freaking zombie apocalypse. Don’t let the moe character designs fool you, this is a horror anime with all the hallmarks of a zombie apocalypse story, which centers on survival and the girls’ mental health. because if you think about it, living in a zombie apocalypse can drive anyone insane.
9) Prison School
The Summer 2015 anime season has introduced a lot of great anime, and Prison School is certainly one of the most intriguing of that season. Beautiful animation, an intriguing story, and unique characters have all made this anime one of this year’s best, and we know many would agree. Filled with plenty of twists and turns, Prison School has held many at the edges of their respective seats, and has thrilled fans the world over.
8) Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend
Question: What happens when you place a realistically NORMAL girl, who is boring and completely unexciting, and place her in a harem anime filled with girls who fit the various anime tropes? USUALLY, she would be handed the role of a background character, or even an extra. Heck, she might even be placed in the background and not be noticed. HOWEVER, in Saekano, that normal and unspectacular girl, is in fact, the actual MAIN GIRL. If you look at the image, she’s not the large-chested onee-san-type senpai, or the flat-chested blonde twin-tailed tsundere, she’s not even the purple-haired childhood friend. She isn’t even prominent in the anime’s main visual! But this is what makes Saekano one of this year’s best, and that it actually plays with the usual harem tropes and adds a bit of reality in them.
7) Your Lie in April
This emotionally heart-rending anime has made a lot of people cry, and its beautiful animation, lovable characters, and tragic story is one to watch… Just prepare a lot of tissues because you might be crying buckets with this anime. Your Lie in April would have ranked higher in our list had its first half been shown in 2015.
6) Shirobako
The anime about making an anime opened the eyes of many anime fans about how truly difficult it is to make anime, from hellish deadlines to lazy animators, to co-workers who are just complete jerks and fans who are really demanding, the anime is a reflection of the state of the anime industry today. The lovable characters of Shirobako are simply unforgettable, and the animation? Well, it seems that they really worked hard on this to show how hard the process of making an anime really is. Like Your Lie in April, the anime would have made it higher on our list if it had been shown for the entirety of 2015. Sadly, its first half was shown in 2014 as part of the Fall 2014 season, while its second half was shown during Winter 2015.
5) Shimoneta: A Boring World Where the Concept of Dirty Jokes Don’t Exist
From its provocative OP to its stinging social commentary about gender roles and public decency, to the wild antics of its characters, all the way to that particular incident regarding a real-life Media Watchdog group getting complaints about the anime, who recently passed away, Shimoneta: A Boring World Where the Concept of Dirty Jokes Don’t Exist is certainly one of the most talked about anime of the year, and it certainly is also the most controversial. The anime is a great watch, and is genuinely hilarious. The anime is fittingly highlighted by the “performance of a lifetime” by the late Miyu Matsuki, who recently passed away. Rest in peace Miyu Matsuki, and know that your anime is one of the best ones this year!
4) Fate/ Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works Part II
I’ll say it now, Part 2 of ufotable’s Fate/ Stay Night: Unlimited Bladeworks is a lot better than part 1, and the entire series itself is a lot better than DEEN’s original adaptation, that’s for sure, and that one is considered a classic! With its stellar animation, gorgeously animated fight sequences, and an adaptation worthy of the Holy Grail War itself, Part 2 has proven to be one of the most beautifully animated titles this year. It takes characters that people already know and love, and they reminded us why we loved them in the first place! Oh, and the anime has one killer soundtrack too! And remember, PEOPLE DIE WHEN THEY ARE KILLED… oh, wait, that’s from DEEN’s version!
3) The Heroic Legend of Arslan (2015)
This epic anime boasts a similarly epic pedigree, as it is based on the manga series by the legendary Hiromu Arakawa (Full Metal Alchemist, Silver Spoon), which itself is adapted from manga adaptation of Yoshiki Tanaka (Legend of the Galactic Heroes)’s Arslan Senki novels, which are loosely based on the Persian epic, Amir Arsalan-e Namdar. Like many in our list, the anime offers some stellar animation, coupled with some pretty intense battles, which are fitting of its grand scale. This one is something anime fans should never miss.
2) One Punch Man
Come on, do we really need to explain why Caped Baldy is here?!
1) My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU. TOO.
Back in 2013, we chose season 1 of My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU as the #1 anime of that year, and this year, it took first place again as it beat out One Punch Man, just like it did back in 2013 as it topped Attack on Titan. For season 2, not only did we see a change of animation studio, we also saw a change in character design, but that did not stop Hachiman and co. from delivering yet another stellar anime. It showed us why it is the romantic comedy equivalent of Evangelion (which is for mecha) and Madoka Magica (which is for magical girls), and that it turns the entire RomCom genre in its head, as it plays with the various RomCom tropes. The anime has gotten a heavier and more serious tone as compared to the first season, and it also delved deeper into the relationship between the three service club members, Yukino, Yui, and of course, Hachiman, a.k.a. anime Batman.
Welp, they are certainly sharpening their pitchforks and lighting up their torches now, so time to run! Happy New Year everyone!
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The SGCafe New Year Special: The Top 10 anime of 2015
Your number 1 spot makes me bleed internally; stupid dialog that pretends to sound deep and extreme teen drama over the most simplistic issues (being a teenager was complicated, but no one is as twisted and emo as the ones in SNAFU). OPM was gorgeously animated but quite empty otherwise. I think Prison School and Shirobako were much better, consistent and fun without getting on your nerves.
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