Best anime that premiered in 2005?

[angelx03]

Here are a list of anime series that premiered in Japan in 2005 (of which i found in AS forums):

• January - March 2005.
  
  Ah! My Goddess
  Air
  Buzzer Beater
  Damekko Doubutsu
  Gallery Fake
  Girls Bravo Second Season
  Jinki:Extend
  Legend of the Magical Beans Pandalian
  Lime-iro Ryuukitan X (Raimuiro Ryuukitan X)
  Magical Canan
  Mahoraba ~Heartful Days~
  Mahou Sensei Negima
  Peach Girl
  Sukisyo (Suki na mono no wa suki Dakara Shouganai!!)
  Starship Operators
  UG Ultimate Girl
  Xenosaga the Animation
  
  April - June 2005.
  
  Basilisk ~ Koga Ninpo Cho ~
  Emma (Eikoku Koi Monogatari Emma)
  Erementar Gerad
  Eureka Seven
  Eyeshield 21
  Fushigi Boshi no Futago Hime
  Futakoi Alternative
  GaoGaiGar Final Grand Glorious Gathering
  Glass Mask (Garasu no Kamen)
  Gokujou Seitokai
  He Is My Master
  Honey & Clover
  Ichigo 100%
  Izumo: Takeki Tsurugi no Senki
  Koi Koi Seven
  Loveless
  MAR Märchen Awakens Romance
  Patalliro Saiyuki
  Sousei no Aquarion
  Speed Grapher
  The Law of Ueki
  The Snow Queen
  Trinity Blood
  Tsubasa Chronicle
  Zettai Shonen
  
  July - September 2005.
  
  Akahori Gedou Hour Rabuge
  Amaenaideyo
  Da Capo Second Season
  Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid
  Ginga Densetsu Weed
  Gun X Sword
  Ichigo Mashimaro
  Kamichu!
  Kidou Shinsengumi Moeyo Ken TV
  Okusama wa Joshikosei
  Okusama wa Mahou Shoujo
  Pani Poni Dash!
  PetoPeto-san
  Play Ball
  Shuffle!
  Sugar Sugar Rune
  Suzuka
  Tide-Line Blue
  
  October - December 2005.
  
  Akagi
  Angel Heart
  Animal Yokocho
  Aria
  Black Cat
  Blood+
  Canvas ~Niji Iro no Sketch~
  Capeta
  Cluster Edge
  Gaiking Legend of Daiku-Maryu
  Ginban Kaleidoscope
  Gunparade Orchestra
  Happy Seven
  Jigoku Shoujo (Hell Girl)
  Karin
  Lamune
  Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's
  Mai Otome
  Mushishi
  Noein ~ Mou Hitori no Kimi e
  Paradise Kiss
  Rozen Maiden: Träumend
  Shakugan no Shana
  Solty Rei (Origin)
  To Heart 2

In my opinion, I considered Air TV to be the best anime that's ever created in 2005. Kyoto Animation seriously went above and beyond in production values no other TV series went through. It showcases a ridiculious amount of fluid animation from flowing hair, blowing grass, and moving clouds (there are some excellent fight scenes in Kana's arc as well). Characters are well defined and doesn't fall into your lame stereotypes; they each have a story to tell. Sure the ending may leave the viewers saying wtf, but supposedly that's how the original PC game ended.

[AquaSky]

Many good shows this year, but I'd have to say Speed Grapher, without a doubt. The plot is unconventional and exciting (just when you think you know what's going on, there's bound to be a twist), the characters are deep and well-developed, and it manages to be meaningful with messages that ring true in today's society. It's also not afraid to push the envelope with its content, which definitely adds to the gritty realism at times. I really enjoyed this series, it's easily one of my all-time favorites.

[MAS PRODUCTIONS]

Definitly the surprise series of this year had to be Shuffle! When it first aired I had it pegged as yet another harem "dating sim" type anime. About a couple episodes in they completely through me off and started making half the characters go into some dip shit. With the last episode airing this week I must say that I have enjoyed the series.

Suzuka has also kept my interest with its constant melo drama and lack of fan service which is a refreshing change from most similar anime.

Some other that were note worthy:
FMP 2: Top notch. The series just didn't dissappoint
Gun X Sword: Somehow they pulled off the wild west mechs well
He is my Masher: I went into this one expecting yet another Hanyuko Maids but instead was introduced to the most explicit and cocky main character I have ever seen.
Lamune: Though it seems to fit into the typical romantic type series that has been over done, somehow they made the story half way entertaining.
Noein: One of those series that tries really hard to stand out and has accomplished it so far.

Series that were a dissappointment:
Da Capo Second Season: The series had a better start than season one since they removed Nemu but then through everything back to where it had been in season one after a couple episodes.
Karin: Being a fan of the manga I had high expectations of this series, but with their plan to go with the novel instead of the manga I was dissappointed. Half the character development scenes were cut and in their place put a shallow love rival who was nothing more than a casanova with a extreme lack of common sense. Lame.
Negima: Another of those series I'm a fan of and was dissappointed. The lack of the true Kyoto Arc. Not only that but half the comedy based on ecchi scenes were cut out. And to top it all off they made up an ending that was just bullshit. I know the manga hasn't ended but they could have just made the Kyoto arc as long as in the manga and it would have made a great ending to the series.

[Kalium]

Ah! My Goddess TV was a lot of fun, even if somewhat painful to watch at times due to extreme awkwardness. I'm still a fanboy, and I still love it.

I'm with Aqua on Speed Grapher, it's an awesome series. I can't wait for a domestic release, although I'm a bit apprehensive about FUNi doing it. It's a very mature series, and I have my doubts about whether their handling will be up to snuff.

Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid was nice. I'd been waiting for it ever since I came across the translated novels. The doppelgänger thing was creepy, I have to admit, but it made its point quite well.

Blood+ is thus far shaping up to be a very cool and very fun series.

Also, you forgot Banner of the Stars III, although I guess that's not a series.

[KingSchwill]

No love for the Mushishi?

Hands down the best this year. Beautiful, haunting, and utterly original.

[BunofGovt]

From that entire list, Gallery Fake is the only anime I've seen. I can only recommend that you watch it. It has some nice tidbits about art, forgeries and restorations. The animation istself is okay, not an action flick, tends to have 'still' backgrounds but the series visits different countries.

Good characterizations. I particularly like the relationship between Fujita and his assistant and how it develops in the series.

[Solaria735]

I will admit I haven't seen a ton of these yet, but I'm in love with Trinity Blood (I love the feel of the series, the characters, the Vatican vs. vampires thing done differently), and what I've seen of FMP: The Second Raid.

[LantisEscudo]

I didn't watch much that was coming out new this year, focusing on filling out my collection of older titles. My opinions on the ones I did watch:

Ah! My Goddess TV - This looks really interesting, though I've only watched five episodes so far (which is how far I got before it got licensed, and what I currently have on DVD). I've enjoyed the earlier incarnations of AMG, as well as Fujishima's other work. This reboot has a lot of potential, especially considering we're getting another season soon.

Air - This one was excellent. Atypical story, even if some of the characters are a bit cliched. This is definitely finding a home on my shelves when (and if) it gets licensed, and I'm seriously considering getting R2s for it.

Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid - I liked FMP and FMP?f, and Kyoto Animation's rendering of this series was gorgeous. The plot was excellent, and I really like the characters. I'm hoping we get the novels on this side of the Pacific sometime soon.

Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's - My current addiction. Take your standard mahou shoujo series, throw out the "love and justice" posturing, keep the deep-seated innocence and need for friendship, ramp the action sequences up into something you're more likely to see in a samurai or mecha series, and throw in a layer of really interesting characters (though hyper-competent for their eight years of age), and you've got an inkling of what Nanoha's like. The second series isn't quite as good as the first was, but it's still a far better than average series. I've got the R2s for the first series, the first disk of A's is preordered, and I really wish it'd get licensed, so more people can see it.

Tsubasa Chronicle - CLAMP. Yuki Kajiura. Bee Train. Need I say more? I loved it, and even though it did deviate at times from the manga, it was in a way that was true to the characters. I've already started picking up the R2s and the R1s will be preorded as soon as they have release dates. The second season that starts in April only promises more.

Xenosaga the Animation - This one I didn't really like, and I can't really put my finger on why. I've still got three episodes yet to watch, and I can't summon the will to do it. Maybe if I had played the game, I'd find it more interesting, but right now, I've got better things to watch.

For best series of the year, I'd be hard-pressed to choose between Air, Tsubasa, and Nanoha. Depending on my mood at the time, any of them could be my pick.

[bobbarker31]

My favorite was Victorian Romance Emma. It was something different from many of the shows that were just rehashings of the same concept. It is definately not for everyone, but the art was fantastic, well researched and very subtle.

The story follows how a heir to a large merchant family during the Victorian era falls in love with his former governess's maid. All of society is allied against them as this kind of cross caste relationship is frowned upon.

This was not the normal type of anime I would watch, but I was just taken aback at the writing and the how the series was done. The series was only 13 episodes and the manga is still being written. I certainly hope that they are able to finish it and it is brought over here to the states.

[madbunny]

Wow, your list looks a lot like my directory tree.
Anyway, since I've seen a ton of these I'll just leave a snapshot.


Ah! My Goddess - I really wanted to like this one since I liked the original so much, but alas... I wound up pissed off at the Skuld character and the utter airhead-ness of Belldandy.

Air - I liked it. Actually I liked the historical arc much more than the 'present day' stuff.

Buzzer Beater - a show about demons playing basketball. What's not to like? I really liked the dumbass expressions that the characters got while they were getting their asses kicked. If you've seen it you know.

Gallery Fake - Odd how watching someone repair a painting for 15 minutes to light jazzy music can be entertaining. Somehow it works.

Peach Girl - It sort of reminded me of His and Her Circumstances without the gag comedy. so so, but I watched it anyway since I'm a sucker for romantic themed stuff.

Starship Operators - this was lots of fun, then it got licensed and I wasn't able to finish it.

Basilisk ~ Koga Ninpo Cho ~ - Seriously wicked ninja stuff. Death by Nosehair! Watch it. The implied rape scene had me on pins and needles. Don't expect your favorite characters to live. Even the hot ones. This show has a seriously high body count and you never know who's going to take the knife, it could be the red shirt, or a character that's been in the show from the start.

Emma (Eikoku Koi Monogatari Emma) - Easily one of the best of the year. I'm hoping that they finish this one off. Plus... I'm a total sucker for this stuff.

Eyeshield 21 - dumb. (ok, so I'm watching it anyway.)

Futakoi Alternative - a little too frenetic for me when I had it. I might give it another shot.

Honey & Clover - Weird and fun. I liked it a lot even though I thought the girl that was supposed to be uber cute looked like a big headed mutant freak. I guess it's what you call an "implied attribute".

Ichigo 100% - Most of it was fun till it got so repetitive and predictable I never bothered to finish it.

Loveless - If you have a membership to the "man boy love association", ( I don't) you might like this one. I hear it gets better, but I stopped soon after I realized that the college guy would be kissing the middle school boy several times an episode. aaaagh!

Sousei no Aquarion - Haven't finished it.

Speed Grapher - weird, wicked and unpredictable. Plus the animation style is different. Worth a look. That dentist episode made me cringe.

Trinity Blood - has the "written by middle school goth" FOR middle school goth all over it. Once you get past "a vampire that sucks vampires" (hey it's not a spoiler, you learn almost right away)the story is fairly predictable.

Zettai Shonen - This is hands down one of the nicest looking shows that I've seen. I couldn't stand the main character from the first part, but the show was still pretty good. My wife totally got into it.


Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid - It kicked ass, it took some names and left me wanting more. I liked this one so much I watched the raws. I'll be buying this one when it comes out.

Kamichu! - Cuuuuuute! just way, way cute. Not finished yet, but I'm really liking it. Did I mention cute factor 50?

Shuffle! - On the surface it's a harem show. Under the surface, and presumably past all the panties it has quirky and pleasantly twisty plot.

Animal Yokocho - this is new? I has a 1970's look to it. If you have someone in 3rd grade in your house.. they might like this. They might also think the telletubbies are clever and witty.

Black Cat - Starts off good... gets goofy. I'll hold my verdict till it's over, but I'm not holding much hope.

Canvas ~Niji Iro no Sketch~ - Canvas2? if it's canvas 2, it's fun. A fairly typical harem show, with a story elemement to it. If it's the original hentai canvas (and canary) then bleh..

Cluster Edge - In progress.. It hasn't really peaked me one way or the other yet.

Gunparade Orchestra - I wanted to like this one. Since I liked the original so much. Mainly shows where you have military characters bitching, disobeying direct orders and putting people in danger tend to piss me off though, so your mileage may vary.

Karin - Cute and fun. Don't be fooled by the ecchi opening sequence.

Paradise Kiss - Finally, a show where the main charecter isn't smart enough to save the world and has to get by on her looks. Features a flamboyant playboy, a lolita (or three) and a cross dresser. Worth a look.

Solty Rei (Origin) - Ok.. I'm a little creeped out by the fact that the animators felt the need to animate so many shots of her butt... nice though it is. Other than that, this show has a high cute factor and a workable storyline.


I didn't see Monster in the list. Monster should be wrapping up soon, thus putting it into this years shows. It's one of the best shows that I've seen in a long time. Don't expect any instant gratification though, this show is all about figuring out for yourself what's going on. This is easily as good as anything you'll see. Watch Monster!

Initial D - once you get past (you won't) the ugly ass characters and utterly repetitive plots. EP1 race... ep3 race... ep4 race... and that the races consist mostly of listening to narratives on what the characters are supposed to figure out the show is... strangely addictive. Not really what you would call a 'seamless' blend of 2d and 3d though.