Hello and welcome to Project Nitsuj. Happy new year to everyone out there. As is customary with the start of the new year, I’m going to spend the next few weeks taking a final look back at 2019 and I’m starting things off by counting down the top 11 animes of 2019. Creating this list was a daunting task. There were so many good anime that came out last year that halfway through the year I already had over 11 candidates to put on this list. That just shows how good last year was. If I really felt like it I swear I could have done a top 25 list, but unfortunately only 11 can be named and I’m sure I’m going to piss off a few people by not naming a certain anime or putting one anime higher than the other, so let’s get started. These are my picks for the top 11 anime of 2019.
#11. Fire Force
From the insane mind that gave us Soul Eater. Fire Force was an enjoyable anime from beginning to end. It’s a fun watch as you just find yourself enjoying all of the characters and the spectacular animation from David Productions. While the series doesn’t bring nothing new the genre the way in which it was told was interesting and fun to watch. While not a masterpiece of anime, this series was still a fun watch and with the announcement of a second season I have feeling everyone thought the same thing.
#10. Carole and Tuesday
Watanabe and his crew deliver again with this unique and interesting anime which shows an appreciation for music. Out of all of Watanabe’s animes, this is probably his most wholesome anime as we focus on two girls who just melt your hearts with their dreams of becoming singers on Mars. The music in this anime is great and visually this was hands down one of the best animated shows of the year in my opinion. Seriously, Bones really out did themselves with this anime. While not very action-packed like Watanabe’s other animes, this anime just goes to show that Watanabe doesn’t need to rely on action to tell a good story. All he needs are good characters and a story to go along with it.
#9. Dororo
2019 had a number of remakes throughout the year of classic and old school anime. If I had to pick one I felt was the best it would have to be Dororo. A very dark series that came out in the 60s, an unfortunate time where anime/manga was mostly geared towards kids, so it was confusing on what was meant to be taken seriously. Fast forward 50 years into the future and the anime gets a fresh remake where the animation and tone of the anime is a perfect representation of the manga. Hell, it’s actually better than the manga. The story about a young warrior trying to reclaim his stolen body parts from demons was great and presented the unique situation of if what he’s doing is right as each time he reclaims a body part, disaster strikes the land where he was born. The relationship between the two main characters is good, the action was good, and the changes they made throughout the series only enhanced the experienced. MAPPA turned a forgetful series into one of the most unique animes to come out last year and for a series that’s over 50 years old, that’s saying something.
#8. The Promised Neverland and Kaguya-sama: Love is War
I can already hear the hate coming from everyone because I put these two animes so low on this list. Make no mistake, if it had been any other year, these two would have been much higher on the list. If anything, them being on the bottom just shows you how good 2019 was. If there was anything to take away from 2019 is that, it was the year of Shounen Jump as the manga magazine giant took some of their most popular series and turned them into hit animes. The first series that got the ball rolling for them was The Promised Neverland a mystery/horror/psychological anime which sees this group of orphans trying to escape being eaten by monsters. While the anime can be predictable at times, this anime has you glued on what’s going to happen next and manages to pull you into the shoes of the characters who are trying to piece together who they can trust, how they’ll all escape alive, and how they can escape without raising suspicion from their overseer. The anime is just filled with intense moments and the way it’s shot makes you feel like you’ve stepped into their world and feel what they’re feeling. Kaguya-sama: Love is War takes the concept of two people liking each other and turns it into a battle of the minds to see who can one up the other. Each episode was great and the battles between are two main leads are fun to watch as each battle slowly reveals who these two are and why they’re the way they are. I always got a kick watching the two leads try to out think each other or adapt to the situation should new information arise or outside interference showed up. It was like chess only more fun and exciting. With non-battle battle anime starting to become more popular it’s great to see series like these get recognized as great works of anime and show us that non-battle battle anime can be entertaining and fun to watch. With both animes greenlighted for a second season this year, I have a feeling non-battle battle anime is going to be the next big genre in anime.
#7. Mob Psycho S2
The work of One came back this year. While One Punch Man was good I feel that Mob Psycho blew them away this year. What made this season really stand out from One’s other work was the development of Mob’s character and seeing him grow as a person who was starting to think for myself and stand up for himself as well. While we still got some fast-paced action I think we can all agree that the highlight of this season was the characters and watching them develop into better characters. With the manga finished, I’m curious if they’re going to do another season or just wrap up everything with a movie? Whatever they decide to do I look forward to seeing more of Mob Psycho and hopefully see an adaption of the spin-off starring Reigen.
#6. Dr. Stone
Yeah, if you told me I be interested in an anime focusing on science in a new stone age I say you were crazy but give you a dollar for giving me a good laugh. Yet, here we are, an anime that makes science fun and easy to follow. Dr. Stone was like a combination of Fire Force and The Promised Neverland. It’s entertaining and interesting to watch as the characters and settings are good just like Fire Force and there’s an air of suspense and intensity as just like the main character you’re stuck wondering why everyone turned into stone and seeing this race against the clock against someone else who’s relying on brute strength to take over this new world. This was definitely one of the most anticipated animes of the year and I’m proud to say it lived up to the hype and made me a fan of the manga. The Year of Shounen Jump continues to go strong and once again a second season is on the way.
#5. Attack on Titan S3 Part 2
After 2 seasons of focusing on the corruption within the walls, we finally get our titan slaying action as well as a bunch of twists and new information that blows your mind and just leaves you asking ‘what’s going to happen next’? It’s amazing how well this season delivered on everything it was building up to and still managed to keep the surprises coming with the great reveal of who the titans are, shocking death of some characters and exactly who their enemy truly is. All I can say is, the 4th season can’t get here soon enough and boy does it have a hill to climb if it wants to beat this season.
#4. My Hero Academia S4
The year of Shounen Jump continues to dominate. With All Might officially retired, those who lurked in the shadows have finally begun to resurface and now more than ever is it time for Izuku and his classmates to step up and become the new pillars of justice. While the season may only be halfway over at this point, there’s no denying the first half has been great not only in terms of action but with the characters as we see Izuku and his friends once again take the next step to becoming heroes and proving that they have what it takes to stand up to evil. Though their paths may differ their goals to be a shining beacon for the future now that All Might is gone remains the same and watching these characters grow and develop is a delight to watch.
#3. The Rising of the Shield Hero
If you loved That Time I Got Reincarnated as Slime, get ready to love the Shield Hero. In a market saturated with isekai anime, this anime managed to stand out for it’s unique premise, direction, and main character overcoming the odds, proving everyone who was against him wrong, and truly being the only one who is worthy enough to be called a hero. Seriously, my condolences to all the shit Naofumi had to go through and the idiots he has to deal with. He has the patience and tolerance of a saint cause I would have let them all die a long time ago. It’s already been confirmed that a second and third season are on the way which only just goes to show how popular the series was and shows us that isekai is still alive and well. Just put some goddamn effort into the genre.
#2. Vinland Saga
It was a tough choice between this anime and Shield Hero but this was a series I’ve been wanting to see for years get animated and it didn’t disappoint. This whole series is like what would happen if Berserk 2017 was more historical and done correctly. It’s a spectacular anime with gripping characters, great animation, action, and just rich in historical lore. This was an anime that really help showed the world that Wit Studios was more than just Attack on Titan and I hope to see more of it in the future.
Honorable Mentions
Before unveiling the number one pick, here are a few other animes I enjoyed watching this year. . .
Danmachi, Kanata no Astra, Kawaikereba Hentai demo Suki ni Natte Kuremasu ka?, How Heavy are the Dumbbells?, If It’s for My Daughter; I’d Even Defeat a Demon Lord, Nande Koko ni Sensei ga!?, Meddlesome Kitsune Senko-san, Isekai Quartet, We Never Learn, Bungou Stray Dogs S3, One Punch Man S3, My Roommate is Cat, Date A Live S3, Kakegurui 2nd Season ,Gotoubun no Hanayome, Aggretsuko 2nd Season, SAO: War of Underworld, Aiharu no Sora, Oresuki, Fate/Grand Order, and Welcome to Demon School Iruma-kun
And number one. . .
#1. Kimestu no Yaiba
Is anybody surprise by this pick? This anime was nothing short of a masterpiece. It had great writing, great characters, breathtaking animation, amazing fight scenes, it just delivered on everything. While the anime does a lot of the shounen tropes, it also changes things up by having a main character who’s not easily angered and isn’t out for revenge but instead just wants to save his adorable sister. Speaking of sister, the bond between Tanjiro and Nezuko is just great. It feels and looks genuine like two siblings who truly do care for one another and want to protect each other. The demons aren’t just your typical demons they’re actually sympathetic creatures who each have a sad past that makes you feel sorry for them. It doesn’t excuse what they’ve done but it makes you realize that they’re not just heartless monsters. Throw in some funny and strong side characters, a menacing and mysterious villain, and animation that just blows you away and you have Kimestu no Yaiba. An anime that really stood out last year and shows us why Shounen Jump is still the best manga magazine in the world.
So that’s my list. I hope you enjoyed and let me know what your favorite anime from 2019 was. Happy new year everyone and I’ll see you next time on Project Nitsuj as we continue to give one final look at 2019.
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