Hello and welcome to Project Nitsuj. It’s the start of a new year so Happy New Year to everyone out there. After a rough 2020, the anime industry came back strong and gave us a good year of anime. It was definitely the year of the sequel as a lot of animes from the past got another season for us to enjoy while also giving us new anime to watch. So, which ones made the list? Let’s find out. I’m Nitsuj and these are the top 11 Anime of 2021. Full disclaimer, this list is just my opinion so feel free to agree or disagree with me. Just don’t be a dick about it. Also, Kimestu no Yaiba S2 will not be on the list because it technically counts as Winter anime of 2022. We good? Alright, let’s go~!
#11. SK8 the Infinity
If you told me I’d be hooked on an anime about underground skateboarding I’d say you were crazy, but here we are. While the anime lacks a little realism it is a joy to watch from beginning to end as we follow our two main characters in the underground world of skateboarding and the various characters they come across. This anime has the look of a modern era anime, but honestly feels like it came from the 90s. We have some funny moments, good music, and some impressive skating and camerawork to keep you entertained. On top of that, the characters are also a lot of fun to be around. Each one has their own design, personality, reason for skating. They work off each other pretty well. While nothing major or groundbreaking this anime was just a fun watch and worth checking out.
#10. The World’s Finest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in Another World as an Aristocrat
From the writer of Redo of Healer comes his take on the isekai genre. Rather than an otaku getting reincarnated in another world to save the day, an assassin is reincarnated and given the mission of killing the hero who will defeat the demon lord. That set up alone makes this anime stand out from other isekai animes. As you would expect from this author there are a few dark moments but it is tamed when compared to his other work and the story is very smart and interesting. I like the way the main character thinks and acts. He manipulates people, he learns from others, he’s resourceful, and he’s doesn’t get flustered around girls so easily. While he’s powerful when compared to those around him he’s not OP and keeps thinking ahead on how he can beat his opponents. As for the girls that surround him, they’re not useless. They’re not there to be eye candy and flirt with the main character, they’re actually badass and aren’t afraid to fight and kill on his behalf. With the way the anime ended there’s bound to be a second season sometime down the line and I look forward to seeing what happens next in this series. The author has definitely shown that he’s one smart guy who knows how to write. And has range.
#9. Takt op.Destiny
The love child of Madhouse and MAPPA. An interesting anime that mixes action and classical music together to give us something along the lines of Fate but entirely different and stands on its own. While the story is generic in a sense the characters themselves are interesting, the action is good, the music is great, and of course the animation is amazing as you would expect from these two great studios. The anime does a good job exploring music, the importance it has on our society, what it is, what it should convey, and what it means to people who hear it and play it.
#8. Beastars S2
Beastars made a grand return last year. While not as good as the first season, this season was entertaining to watch as the killer was finally revealed much to our shock and hearing his story, struggle and how he remembers the event is both sad and dark at the same time. This season seemed to focus more on carnivores as we see their highs and lows throughout the season such as the daily struggles they go through to live with herbivores and how one accident can seriously mess them up. The season has a few plot points that they don’t show a lot of or end too quickly (check the full review to learn more about that) this season was still a good follow up to the first season and I hope they make a third one down the line.
#7. Attack on Titan Final Season Part 1
The first part of the final season of Attack on Titan. It was good as we got to go to Marley and see just how their teachings have messed up a lot of people and get an epic titan battle. However, it’s the second half of part 1 that catches a lot of people by surprise as we get betrayals and secret dealings left and right. Allies become enemies, enemies become allies, lines are drawn, and everything that they’ve been fighting for could crumble at any minute by an unexpected betrayal. While they fast forward through a few plot points and yeah, the CGI on the titans looks a little off I still enjoyed the season and it got me hyped for the second part. I’m curious to see how this all ends. Who will survive? Who will die? What will be loss? What will be sacrificed? What will be gained? All of these questions and more is what’s on my mind heading in to part 2 and I know they won’t disappoint. Hopefully.
#6. My Hero Academia S5
The fifth season of MHA. Becoming one of the most popular mangas in Shonen Jump as well as one of the best animes continuously. Three arcs of the season do a good job at advancing the story of our characters while building up the inevitable threat that grows in the shadows. The battle between class A and B was fun and honestly made me want to see a spin-off that just focuses on class B and what they do. The redemption arc of Endeavor continues as the family still hasn’t forgiven him, but is steadily working their way to forgiving him. Finally, the villain arc did what a lot of shows and mangas don’t do and give the villains their own character development. They made the villains more interesting and actually had us cheering for them. With rumors of the manga ending this year, I say we have about 1 or 2 more seasons of MHA left and I look forward to seeing how they animate what happens next.
#5. Lupin the Third Part VI
Yeah, Lupin is back and this time he’s taking on Sherlock Holmes and the United Kingdom. Part 6 of Lupin seems to be blending both the positive aspects of part 4 and 5 to give us honestly what I consider to be the best of Lupin’s newest adventures. So far we’re at the half way point in the anime, but so far it’s been great. The use of the new characters as well as the stories have all been exciting to watch and keeps you interested in what’s going to happen next. Lupin once again shows just how underrated he is.
#4. 86
The hit novel turned hit anime delivers on all levels. At first glance 86 may not seem all that special, but as you continue to watch it you start to realize and understand the dark story behind it, see how the characters come to understand what it means to live and survive through war, and how messed up one’s supremacy can be and how it can lead to one’s downfall. The CGI used in the anime is good and I like how the female lead is aware of the corruption going on in her nation and fights against the system to do what she believes is right even when everyone around her tells her to give up. There’s struggles and triumphs scattered throughout this series, and through them all you’re invested and wanting to know what happens next.
#3. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
It’s very rare for studios to be made for just one anime. Often considered one of if not the best isekai story out there, Mushoku Tensei delivers a compelling story about trying to start a new life in another world. This is an anime that plays the long game. The characters don’t immediately go off on an adventure, the story takes its time slowly introducing the characters, allowing us the chance to get to know them, and then sending them off on a journey. Through this experience you fully understand what they’re like, why they’re like this, and interested in seeing how they’ll change for better or worse. While the main character’s perverted antics can be a bit disturbing at times, when he starts to focus and acts like a guy his age he’s actually pretty cool. This anime has been interesting so far with its story and I look forward to seeing what happens next in the series.
#2. To Your Eternity
This is an anime about life and trying to understand it through others, loss and hardship. It’s really tough to describe this anime. The best way to describe this is if you’ve ever experienced the death of a loved one then this anime will definitely speak to you. It’s an anime that you have to experience to fully understand what all the praise is about and once you do you’ll be blown away by what you see. This anime will make you shed tears while also making you understand life and appreciate the ones and the things you have it.
Honorable Mentions
As always, here are the honorable mentions from 2021: Re:Zero S2 Part 2, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime S2, Cells at Work Black, The Quintessential Quintuplets, Last Dungeon Boonies, Log Horizon S3, Dr. Stone S2, Redo of Healer, Yasuke, Shaman King 2021, Welcome to Demon School Iruma-kun S2, Combatants Will Be Dispatched, Mars Red, How Not to Summon a Demon Lord S2, Zombie Land Saga S2, Don’t Toy with Me Miss Nagatoro, The Faraway Paladin, Digimon Ghost Game, Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan, and So I’m Spider So What
And number 1. . .
#1. Odd Taxi
It had to be this anime, there was no other anime like it this past year. The writing for this is amazing. The story, the twists, the turns, the characters, and the way it ends is unbelievable. The anime manages to tell a mature and thought-provoking story without relying too heavily on gore and sex, place it in a very imaginative world that’s conceivable, and deliver something that goes beyond the expectations of everyone watching it. The sad part about this series is that it went mostly unnoticed by a lot of people who were turned off by its presentation and those who watched may have overhyped it a little. But make no mistake this was an exceptionally great anime with amazing writing from beginning to end and an amazing twist at the end that leaves your jaw open. This was an anime I overlooked when I first heard about it but I’m glad I checked it out and I encourage you guys to do the same thing if you haven’t seen it already.
And that’s my lists. What was your favorite anime of 2021? Let me know in the comments below. Happy New Year and I’ll see you next time on Project Nitsuj.