Peter Pherraz's Best Eastern Animation of the Year / Period of Years (1901 – 2020)
AnimeUnlisted
This list includes what I subjectivelly consider to be the Best Eastern Animation that I have finished so far, for either one year or many years, for the entire 20th century, plus the first fifth of the 21th century. It is not only of works from Japanese Animation (Anime), but of Korean Animation (Aeni) and Chinese Animation (Donghua) as well, as they are the countries cataloged in this database too.
As for why there is only “Animation of the Year” from 1981 onwards, is that before said year, I haven’t finished more than 100 animations in any past decade, with the decades of 1930s, 1960s, and 1970s, having two entries comprise the best of two halves (Quinquennials) of the decade, that either has or will have, more than than 50 animations completed.
For every entry, there will the English Title and Original Languange Title, the names for the Director/Creator/Writer, Award for being the Best of the Year / Period, and the Number of Completed Animations.
As for why there is only “Animation of the Year” from 1981 onwards, is that before said year, I haven’t finished more than 100 animations in any past decade, with the decades of 1930s, 1960s, and 1970s, having two entries comprise the best of two halves (Quinquennials) of the decade, that either has or will have, more than than 50 animations completed.
For every entry, there will the English Title and Original Languange Title, the names for the Director/Creator/Writer, Award for being the Best of the Year / Period, and the Number of Completed Animations.
Movie, 1917,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:6
Titles: The Dull Sword | なまくら刀
Director: Junichi Kouchi | 幸内純一
Best of the Earliest Years (1901 – 1920).
Number of Completed Animations: 03 (all known surviving works).
Director: Junichi Kouchi | 幸内純一
Best of the Earliest Years (1901 – 1920).
Number of Completed Animations: 03 (all known surviving works).
Movie, 1929,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:7
Titles: Two Worlds | 二つの世界
Director: Yasuji Murata | 村田安司
Best of the 1920s Decade (1921 – 1930).
Number of Completed Animations: 35 (all known surviving works).
Director: Yasuji Murata | 村田安司
Best of the 1920s Decade (1921 – 1930).
Number of Completed Animations: 35 (all known surviving works).
Movie, 1932,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:7
Titles: The Ugly Duckling | あひるの子
Director: Yasuji Murata | 村田安司
Best of the 1st Quinquennial of the 1930s Decade (1931 – 1935).
Also Best of the 1930s Decade (1931 – 1940).
Number of Completed Animations: 66 (all known surviving works).
Director: Yasuji Murata | 村田安司
Best of the 1st Quinquennial of the 1930s Decade (1931 – 1935).
Also Best of the 1930s Decade (1931 – 1940).
Number of Completed Animations: 66 (all known surviving works).
Movie, 1939,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:7
Titles: Benkei vs Ushiwaka | べんけい対ウシワカ
Director: Kenzou Masaoka | 政岡憲三
Best of the 2nd Quinquennial of the 1930s Decade (1931 – 1935).
Number of Completed Animations: 19 (all known surviving works).
Director: Kenzou Masaoka | 政岡憲三
Best of the 2nd Quinquennial of the 1930s Decade (1931 – 1935).
Number of Completed Animations: 19 (all known surviving works).
Movie, 1943,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:7
Titles: The Spider and the Tulip | くもとちゅうりっぷ
Director: Kenzou Masaoka | 政岡憲三
Best of the 1940s Decade (1941 – 1950).
Number of Completed Animations: 27 (all known surviving works).
Director: Kenzou Masaoka | 政岡憲三
Best of the 1940s Decade (1941 – 1950).
Number of Completed Animations: 27 (all known surviving works).
Movie, 1956,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:7
Titles: The Phantom Ship | 幽霊船
Director: Noboru Oofuji | 大藤信郎
Best of the 1950s Decade (1951 – 1960).
Number of Completed Animations: 39 (probably +30 surviving works to watch).
Director: Noboru Oofuji | 大藤信郎
Best of the 1950s Decade (1951 – 1960).
Number of Completed Animations: 39 (probably +30 surviving works to watch).
Movie, 1964,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:8
Titles: Sun Wukong: Uproar in Heaven | 大闹天宫
Director: Wan Laiming | 万籁鸣
Best of the 1st Quinquennial of the 1960s Decade (1961 – 1965).
Also Best of the 1960s Decade (1961 – 1970).
Number of Completed Animations: 22.
Director: Wan Laiming | 万籁鸣
Best of the 1st Quinquennial of the 1960s Decade (1961 – 1965).
Also Best of the 1960s Decade (1961 – 1970).
Number of Completed Animations: 22.
TV, 1969,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Titles: Dororo and Hyakkimaru | どろろと百鬼丸
Director: Gisaburou Sugii | 杉井ギサブロー
Best of the 2nd Quinquennial of the 1960s Decade (1966 – 1970).
Number of Completed Animations: 30.
Director: Gisaburou Sugii | 杉井ギサブロー
Best of the 2nd Quinquennial of the 1960s Decade (1966 – 1970).
Number of Completed Animations: 30.
TV, 1970,
79 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Titles: Tomorrow's Joe | あしたのジョー
Director: Osamu Dezaki | 出﨑統
Best of the 1st Quinquennial of the 1970s Decade (1971 – 1975).
Number of Completed Animations: 25.
Director: Osamu Dezaki | 出﨑統
Best of the 1st Quinquennial of the 1970s Decade (1971 – 1975).
Number of Completed Animations: 25.
TV, 1979,
40 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Titles: Rose of Versailles | ベルサイユのばら
Directors: Tadao Nagahama | 長浜忠夫 (eps 1 – 13) & Osamu Dezaki | 出﨑統 (eps 19 – 40)
Best of the 2nd Quinquennial of the 1970s Decade (1976 – 1980).
Also Best of the 1970s Decade (1971 – 1980).
Number of Completed Animations: 28
Directors: Tadao Nagahama | 長浜忠夫 (eps 1 – 13) & Osamu Dezaki | 出﨑統 (eps 19 – 40)
Best of the 2nd Quinquennial of the 1970s Decade (1976 – 1980).
Also Best of the 1970s Decade (1971 – 1980).
Number of Completed Animations: 28
TV, 1980,
47 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Titles: Tomorrow's Joe 2 | あしたのジョー 2
Director: Osamu Dezaki | 出﨑統
Best of the Year of 1981.
Also Best of the 1980s Decade (1981 – 1990).
Number of Completed Animations: 11.
Director: Osamu Dezaki | 出﨑統
Best of the Year of 1981.
Also Best of the 1980s Decade (1981 – 1990).
Number of Completed Animations: 11.
Movie, 1982,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:10
Titles: The Ideon: Be Invoked | 伝説巨神イデオン 発動篇
Director: Yoshiyuki Tomino | 富野由悠季
Best of the Year of 1982.
Number of Completed Animations: 10.
Director: Yoshiyuki Tomino | 富野由悠季
Best of the Year of 1982.
Number of Completed Animations: 10.
TV, 1982,
31 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Titles: Space Adventure Cobra: TV Series | スペースコブラ
Director: Osamu Dezaki | 出﨑統
Best of the Year of 1983.
Number of Completed Animations: 15.
Director: Osamu Dezaki | 出﨑統
Best of the Year of 1983.
Number of Completed Animations: 15.
TV, 1983,
52 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Titles: Armored Trooper Votoms | 装甲騎兵ボトムズ
Director: Ryousuke Takahashi | 高橋良輔
Best of the Year of 1984.
Number of Completed Animations: 17.
Director: Ryousuke Takahashi | 高橋良輔
Best of the Year of 1984.
Number of Completed Animations: 17.
OVA, 1985,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:8
Titles: Angel's Egg | 天使のたまご
Director: Mamoru Oshii | 押井守
Best of the Year of 1985.
Number of Completed Animations: 26.
Director: Mamoru Oshii | 押井守
Best of the Year of 1985.
Number of Completed Animations: 26.
TV, 1985,
50 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Titles: Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam | 機動戦士Ζガンダム
Director: Yoshiyuki Tomino | 富野由悠季
Best of the Year of 1986.
Number of Completed Animations: 24.
Director: Yoshiyuki Tomino | 富野由悠季
Best of the Year of 1986.
Number of Completed Animations: 24.
TV, 1984,
109 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Titles: Fist of the North Star | 北斗の拳
Director: Toyoo Ashida | 芦田豊雄
Best of the Year of 1987.
Number of Completed Animations: 27.
Director: Toyoo Ashida | 芦田豊雄
Best of the Year of 1987.
Number of Completed Animations: 27.
Movie, 1988,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:10
Titles: Legend of the Galactic Heroes: My Conquest is the Sea of Stars |
銀河英雄伝説: わが征くは星の大海
Director: Noboru Ishiguro | 石黒昇
Best of the Year of 1988.
Number of Completed Animations: 25.
銀河英雄伝説: わが征くは星の大海
Director: Noboru Ishiguro | 石黒昇
Best of the Year of 1988.
Number of Completed Animations: 25.
Movie, 1989,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:9
Titles: Kiki’s Delivery Service | 魔女の宅急便
Director: Hayao Miyazaki | 宮崎駿
Best of the Year of 1989.
Number of Completed Animations: 33.
Director: Hayao Miyazaki | 宮崎駿
Best of the Year of 1989.
Number of Completed Animations: 33.
OVA, 1990,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:8
Titles: Devilman: The Demon Bird | デビルマン 妖鳥シレーヌ編
Director: Umonosuke Iida | 飯田馬之介
Best of the Year of 1990.
Number of Completed Animations: 24.
Director: Umonosuke Iida | 飯田馬之介
Best of the Year of 1990.
Number of Completed Animations: 24.
Movie, 1991,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:9
Titles: Only Yesterday | おもひでぽろぽろ
Director: Isao Takahata | 高畑勲
Best of the Year of 1991.
Number of Completed Animations: 23.
Director: Isao Takahata | 高畑勲
Best of the Year of 1991.
Number of Completed Animations: 23.
Movie, 1992,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:10
Titles: Porco Rosso | 紅の豚
Director: Hayao Miyazaki | 宮崎駿
Best of the Year of 1992.
Number of Completed Animations: 25.
Director: Hayao Miyazaki | 宮崎駿
Best of the Year of 1992.
Number of Completed Animations: 25.
Movie, 1993,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:10
Titles: Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Overture to a New War |
銀河英雄伝説外伝 新たなる戦いの序曲[オーヴァチュア]
Director: Keizou Shimizu | 清水恵蔵
Best of the Year of 1993.
Number of Completed Animations: 17.
銀河英雄伝説外伝 新たなる戦いの序曲[オーヴァチュア]
Director: Keizou Shimizu | 清水恵蔵
Best of the Year of 1993.
Number of Completed Animations: 17.
OVA, 1993,
6 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Titles: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: 1st OVA series | ジョジョの奇妙な冒険
Director: Hiroyuki Kitakubo | 北久保弘之
Best of the Year of 1994.
Number of Completed Animations: 13.
Director: Hiroyuki Kitakubo | 北久保弘之
Best of the Year of 1994.
Number of Completed Animations: 13.
Movie, 1995,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:9
Titles: Ghost in the Shell: The Movie | 攻殻機動隊
Director: Mamoru Oshii | 押井守
Best of the Year of 1995.
Number of Completed Animations: 21.
Director: Mamoru Oshii | 押井守
Best of the Year of 1995.
Number of Completed Animations: 21.
TV, 1995,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Titles: Neon Genesis Evangelion | 新世紀エヴァンゲリオン
Director: Hideaki Anno | 庵野秀明
Best of the Year of 1996.
Number of Completed Animations: 15.
Director: Hideaki Anno | 庵野秀明
Best of the Year of 1996.
Number of Completed Animations: 15.
OVA, 1988,
110 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Titles: Legend of the Galactic Heroes | 銀河英雄伝説
Director: Noboru Ishiguro | 石黒昇
Best of the Year of 1997.
Also Best of the 1990s Decade (1991 – 2000)
& Best of the 20th Century (1901 – 2000).
Number of Completed Animations: 19.
Director: Noboru Ishiguro | 石黒昇
Best of the Year of 1997.
Also Best of the 1990s Decade (1991 – 2000)
& Best of the 20th Century (1901 – 2000).
Number of Completed Animations: 19.
OVA, 1992,
7 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Titles: Giant Robo the Animation: The Day the Earth Stood Still |
ジャイアントロボ THE ANIMATION 地球が静止する日
Director: Yasuhiro Imagawa | 今川泰宏
Best of the Year of 1998.
Number of Completed Animations: 27.
ジャイアントロボ THE ANIMATION 地球が静止する日
Director: Yasuhiro Imagawa | 今川泰宏
Best of the Year of 1998.
Number of Completed Animations: 27.
TV, 1998,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Titles: Cowboy Bebop | カウボーイビバップ
Director: Shinichirou Watanabe | 渡辺信一郎
Best of the Year of 1999.
Number of Completed Animations: 27.
Director: Shinichirou Watanabe | 渡辺信一郎
Best of the Year of 1999.
Number of Completed Animations: 27.
Movie, 2000,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:9
Titles: Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust | バンパイアハンターD
Director: Yoshiaki Kawajiri | 川尻善昭
Best of the Year of 2000.
Number of Completed Animations: 32.
Director: Yoshiaki Kawajiri | 川尻善昭
Best of the Year of 2000.
Number of Completed Animations: 32.
Movie, 2001,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:10
Titles: Cowboy Bebop: Knocking on Heaven's Door | カウボーイビバップ天国の扉
Director: Shinichirou Watanabe | 渡辺信一郎
Best of the Year of 2001.
Number of Completed Animations: 37.
Director: Shinichirou Watanabe | 渡辺信一郎
Best of the Year of 2001.
Number of Completed Animations: 37.
TV, 2001,
51 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Titles: Digimon Tamers | デジモンテイマーズ
Director: Yukio Kaizawa | 貝澤幸男
Best of the Year of 2002.
Number of Completed Animations: 34.
Director: Yukio Kaizawa | 貝澤幸男
Best of the Year of 2002.
Number of Completed Animations: 34.
TV, 2002,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Titles: Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex | 攻殻機動隊 STAND ALONE COMPLEX
Director: Kenji Kamiyama | 神山健治
Best of the Year of 2003.
Number of Completed Animations: 38.
Director: Kenji Kamiyama | 神山健治
Best of the Year of 2003.
Number of Completed Animations: 38.
Movie, 2004,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:10
Titles: Mind Game | マインド・ゲーム
Director: Masaaki Yuasa | 湯浅政明
Best of the Year of 2004.
Also Best of the 2000s Decade (2001 – 2010)
& Best of the 21th Century so far (2001 – 2100).
Number of Completed Animations: 33.
Director: Masaaki Yuasa | 湯浅政明
Best of the Year of 2004.
Also Best of the 2000s Decade (2001 – 2010)
& Best of the 21th Century so far (2001 – 2100).
Number of Completed Animations: 33.
TV, 2004,
74 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Titles: Monster | モンスター
Director: Kojima Masayuki | 小島正幸
Best of the Year of 2005.
Number of Completed Animations: 38.
Director: Kojima Masayuki | 小島正幸
Best of the Year of 2005.
Number of Completed Animations: 38.
TV, 2006,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Titles: The Beast Claw | ケモノヅメ
Director: Masaaki Yuasa | 湯浅政明
Best of the Year of 2006.
Number of Completed Animations: 41.
Director: Masaaki Yuasa | 湯浅政明
Best of the Year of 2006.
Number of Completed Animations: 41.
TV, 2007,
27 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Titles: Heavenly Breakthrough Gurren Lagann | 天元突破 グレンラガン
Director: Hiroyuki Imaishi | 今石洋之
Best of the Year of 2007.
Number of Completed Animations: 48.
Director: Hiroyuki Imaishi | 今石洋之
Best of the Year of 2007.
Number of Completed Animations: 48.
TV, 2008,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Titles: So Long Mr. Despair: 2nd Season | 俗・さよなら絶望先生
Director: Akiyuki Shinbou | 新房昭之
Best of the Year of 2008.
Number of Completed Animations: 54.
Director: Akiyuki Shinbou | 新房昭之
Best of the Year of 2008.
Number of Completed Animations: 54.
TV, 2009,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Titles: Mazinger Edition Z: The Impact! | 真マジンガー 衝撃! Z編
Director: Yasuhiro Imagawa | 今川泰宏
Best of the Year of 2009.
Number of Completed Animations: 55.
Director: Yasuhiro Imagawa | 今川泰宏
Best of the Year of 2009.
Number of Completed Animations: 55.
TV, 2010,
11 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Titles: The Tatami Galaxy | 四畳半神話大系
Director: Masaaki Yuasa | 湯浅政明
Best of the Year of 2010.
Number of Completed Animations: 53.
Director: Masaaki Yuasa | 湯浅政明
Best of the Year of 2010.
Number of Completed Animations: 53.
OVA, 2010,
5 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Titles: Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail | ブラック・ラグーン ロベルタズ・ブラッド・トレイル
Director: Sunao Katabuchi | 片渕須直
Best of the Year of 2011.
Number of Completed Animations: 55.
Director: Sunao Katabuchi | 片渕須直
Best of the Year of 2011.
Number of Completed Animations: 55.
OVA, 2006,
10 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Titles: Hellsing Ultimate | ヘルシング ULTIMATE
Directors: Tomokazu Tokoro | ところともかず (eps 1 – 4), Hiroyuki Tanaka | 田中洋之 (eps 5 – 7), Yasuhiro Matsumura | 松村やすひろ (eps 8 – 10) and Kenichi Suzuki | 鈴木健一 (eps 9 – 10).
Best of the Year of 2012.
Number of Completed Animations: 76.
Directors: Tomokazu Tokoro | ところともかず (eps 1 – 4), Hiroyuki Tanaka | 田中洋之 (eps 5 – 7), Yasuhiro Matsumura | 松村やすひろ (eps 8 – 10) and Kenichi Suzuki | 鈴木健一 (eps 9 – 10).
Best of the Year of 2012.
Number of Completed Animations: 76.
OVA, 2012,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Titles: Space Battleship Yamato 2199 | 宇宙戦艦ヤマト2199
Directors: Akihiro Enomoto | 榎本明広 & Yutaka Izubuchi | 出渕裕
Best of the Year of 2013.
Number of Completed Animations: 89.
Directors: Akihiro Enomoto | 榎本明広 & Yutaka Izubuchi | 出渕裕
Best of the Year of 2013.
Number of Completed Animations: 89.
TV, 2013,
24 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Titles: Kill La Kill | キルラキル
Director: Hiroyuki Imaishi | 今石洋之
Best of the Year of 2014.
Number of Completed Animations: 60.
Director: Hiroyuki Imaishi | 今石洋之
Best of the Year of 2014.
Number of Completed Animations: 60.
TV, 2015,
24 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Titles: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders - Battle in Egypt |
ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 スターダストクルセイダース
Director: Naokatsu Tsuda | 津田尚克 & Kenichi Suzuki | 鈴木健一
Best of the Year of 2015.
Number of Completed Animations: 77.
ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 スターダストクルセイダース
Director: Naokatsu Tsuda | 津田尚克 & Kenichi Suzuki | 鈴木健一
Best of the Year of 2015.
Number of Completed Animations: 77.
TV, 2016,
39 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Titles: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable |
ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 ダイヤモンドは砕けない
Director: Naokatsu Tsuda | 津田尚克 & Toshiyuki Katou | 加藤敏幸
Best of the Year of 2016.
Number of Completed Animations: 99.
ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 ダイヤモンドは砕けない
Director: Naokatsu Tsuda | 津田尚克 & Toshiyuki Katou | 加藤敏幸
Best of the Year of 2016.
Number of Completed Animations: 99.
Movie, 2017,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:10
Titles: The Night Is Short, Walk On Girl | 夜は短し歩けよ乙女
Director: Masaaki Yuasa | 湯浅政明
Best of the Year of 2017.
Number of Completed Animations: 83.
Director: Masaaki Yuasa | 湯浅政明
Best of the Year of 2017.
Number of Completed Animations: 83.
OVA, 2015,
6 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Titles: Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin | 機動戦士ガンダムTHE ORIGIN
Director: Yoshikazu Yasuhiko | 安彦良和
Best of the Year of 2018.
Number of Completed Animations: 101.
Director: Yoshikazu Yasuhiko | 安彦良和
Best of the Year of 2018.
Number of Completed Animations: 101.
TV, 2018,
39 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Titles: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind | ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 黄金の風
Director: Naokatsu Tsuda | 津田尚克
Best of the Year of 2019.
Also Best of the 2010s Decade (2011 – 2020).
Number of Completed Animations: 95.
Director: Naokatsu Tsuda | 津田尚克
Best of the Year of 2019.
Also Best of the 2010s Decade (2011 – 2020).
Number of Completed Animations: 95.
TV, 2020,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Titles: Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! | 映像研には手を出すな!
Director: Masaaki Yuasa | 湯浅政明
Best of the Year of 2020.
Number of Completed Animations: 66.
Director: Masaaki Yuasa | 湯浅政明
Best of the Year of 2020.
Number of Completed Animations: 66.
