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Best of 2010-2011:



Dragon Ball Z (JAPANESE)
One Piece

From here on I exclude DBZ from the rest of this for the most part, you could say it tops about everything and is the best of 2010-2011 combined. Watching it in Japanese was a revelation, Goku's character was 220% different and went from my least favorite to my favorite character in the entire series, the legendary classic VA cast was mindblowing, along with the music and the vibe it was a completely different beast in Japanese. And Dragon Ball is half the story! If only half the fans knew it. Finally watching that in full last year in 2010 was an incredible experience. One heck of a journey I'll never forget and legitimately one of my top favorites forever now.

Obviously, One Piece is another huge highlight of 2010-2011 combined for me. #2 shounen for sure.

Best of 2011:
Fang of the Sun Dougram
Perrine Monogatari
Treasure Island
Tenchi Muyo / Universe
El Hazard Magnificent World / The Wanderers
Groove Adventure Rave
Les Miserables
Marmalade Boy
Fushigi Yuugi
Itazura na Kiss
Saint Seiya
Kaiji

Honorable Mentions:
Future Cyber Formula GPX
Panzer World Galient
Daddy Long Legs
Future Boy Conan

Best Villain:



1. Lecoque (Fang of the Sun Dougram)
2. Nakago (Fushigi Yuugi)
3. Buu (Dragon Ball Z)

- Lecoque was a genius and simply put someone who probably could've fooled most in Legend of the Galactic Heroes. He is LOGH tier brilliance. He never once really dirtied his own hands, rather he pulled and twisted the strings of everyone around them and had everyone else do his own bidding.

- Nakago is a similar case, but more on a personal level. He gets inside your mind and manipulates the core, crushes you from within. Felt like something out of the series, Monster. As you question his motives and actions, you realize more than likely he was once innocent himself but had a "Monster" planted within him. Others birthed the demon within Nakago and he will make sure they know it.

- Buu? Yes, listing him next to two Mother Brain's might be a pretty weird choice, however he was an incredible villain and the fitting final boss for DBZ. Although I do not hesitate to say Freeza (perhaps my #1 villain) and Cell blow Buu out of the water, the "Buu Experience" was a new thing for me, seeing the arc in full episode to episode for the first time... I had never finished the entire series back on Toonami or whatnot, so the Buu arc was quite a new experience for the most part. Because of this I rank Buu here pretty highly and he was a "new" villain to me, so he hits the top list of 2011, even if Freeza and Cell beat him with characterization by 9000 miles.

Now, compared to most other shounens, Buu is still one of the best villains I've ever seen. There's nothing good about the "evil" side of him, at all. There is nothing there to reason with, nothing to understand or comprehend. Kid Buu does not even have any dialogue. Didn't need it. Not once does Buu look like he physically takes any real damage whatsoever and never suffers from "pain", he just gets angrier. He was an invincible blob of chaos and destruction, a ticking timebomb ready to explode and destroy the universe for his own amusement. Evil psycho incarnate.

Ultimate Badass:



1. Vegeta
2. Phoenix Ikki
3. Dragon Shiryu
4. Satoshi Miwa
5. Zoro Roronoa
6. Whitebeard

- Satoshi Miwa? Might stick out like a sore thumb, but the man is one of the best side characters I've ever seen in a drama. Never was he overbearing or annoying one bit, but his persistence and assertiveness was legendary against a challenge. He had maximum confidence, yet he didn't get what he wanted. He eventually accepted his defeat and moved on without tripping. A commendable guy.

- Vegeta, Ikki (Protoman), and Shiryu go without saying if you've seen them in action. Better hope you're friends with these guys. From the beginning of DBZ and to the end, Vegeta's characterization is truly amazing, subtle yet completely believable.

- Zoro and Whitebeard... goes without saying once you've experienced their moments.

Ultimate Badass Lady:



1. Erza Scarlet
2. Shaina Ophiuchus
3. Ultear
4. Boa Hancock

- Erza, womanly and beautiful, but badass and tough as nails. I wouldn't make her angry.

- Shaina, I got jealous of Seiya... WHY HIM!?!

- Ultear, evil female villains are often a homerun for me, the Ada Wong factor I like to say. She's another keeper.Cunning and manipulative, she's got her own agenda.

- Boa, she's got the voice, the looks, the power, the everything. I'd drink her bath water.

Best Standout VA:
Aya Hisakawa - Never fails and still sounds amazing to this day.
Ryotaro Okiayu - Some of the best range I've ever heard.
Miyuki Sawashiro - Climbing her way to the top already, very impressive and an excellent choice for the new Kurapika (HxH).

Babe of the Year:



Lucy Heartfilia

*three thumbs up*

Best OST of THE UNIVERSE:
Saint Seiya

- Goes without saying, may very well be my #1 favorite anime score.

Best Art / Character Designs:



Saint Seiya

- Although the series had static animation throughout, it had its tricks and moments and art wise, it was breathtaking. Some of the best stuff I've ever seen. I can't imagine drawing the intricate armor and all the details this series had. Thumbs up Toei and co.

Best New Shounen:
Fairy Tail - If this series had infinite episodes I'd never tire of it.

Best Movie:
Windaria - "Bad end", really good stuff and visually outstanding.
Metropolis - Probably one of Rintaro's best.
Ai City - Well nothing mindblowing, but felt like Cobra a little and Shiro's music ruled.

Best Rewatch:
Toward the Terra - Saw this back in 2007, stood the test of time flawlessly!
Rahxephon - First time in Japanese, haven't seen this since ~2003. Loved it all over again and I couldn't believe how well it's aged for 2002, Bones knew what they were doing with early digi-animation. Great story and characters that got me thinking, gave me Xenogears vibes (always a plus), amazing stuff.

WTF:
Bobby's In Deep -One of the weirdest OVA's I've ever seen, slightly depressing and weirdly artistic, but it was definitely out there and original.
Dead Leaves

Worst of 2011:
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Movie - finally, I can close this book forever.
Tekkaman Blade II - VOLTEdud.
Dragon Ball GT - does not exist.
Mobile Suit Gundam Wing - ZzzzzZZzzzZzzz
Ashita no Nadja - showed promise but should've been half the length.
Armored Trooper Votoms Case Irvine - Votoms Geass? Code Troopers? Nope...

RIP



Mr. Dezaki! - The greatest anime director of all time.
Shingo Araki! - One of the greatest character designers of all time.