Top 5 Anime of 2017

It's finally the end of the year, which means it time for the obligatory lists of my favourite things of 2017. I'll be starting with anime, and letting you know what my favourite shows of the year were.

Remember, this is all just my opinion, so feel free to disagree; just don't eviscerate me over it.

Copyright © A-1 Pictures

5. Interviews with Monster Girls.

The lives and times of a vampire girl, and her other friends; or rather, it is technically the story of Tetsuo Takahashi, the science teacher at a high school, with an interest in demi-humans. Demi-humans being people who closely resemble mythical creatures from various mythologies, such as vampire, dullahans, or yuki-onna. Despite ostensibly being the main character, it is the girls that are the stars of the show; although the show avoids the pitfalls that might jump to mind when one pictures such a set-up/

A very much character-driven show, each episode digs a little more into the life of the girls, exploring how they cope with being a little different from everybody else. Despite suffering from fictional conditions, the story treats them more sensitively than a lot of documentaries; even the “succubus” character is treated well, and the shows avoids what many other anime might well do with a character of that nature. Each of the characters a nicely fleshed-out, and engaging, with compelling personalities. I never really gets dramatic, but the it is more about the daily lives of our characters.

Combining some heart-warming slice-of-life, with a philosophical outlook on life, it's a pleasant and engaging series. Well worth a watch.

Copyright © Bones

4. My Hero Academia Season 2

The first season of this show was a hit in 2016, having great characters, and an enthralling story. Then in 2017 the second season comes out, and it turns out to be even better. Deku and class 1A return, and continue their academic exploration of what it means to be a superhero.

This season delves deeper into the backgrounds of Deku's classmates, as we learn about the things that drive them, and motivate them to try and be heroes. We get to see them begin to grow and mature, as well as seeing the bonds between them develop. We also get introduced to a couple of new villains, which tie-in the driving question behind the show; what does it mean to be a hero?

Of course, there is also some very well-done and exciting action scenes, which will leave you on the edge of your seat. The action ties-in to the development of the characters, and also continues to display the creative use of powers that was began in the first series. It's always interesting to see what the series will come up with next.

A more than worthy sequel, with plenty of excitement and drama to keep audiences entertained.

Copyright © Satelight

3. Senki Zesshou Symphogear: AXZ

Fist 1, reason 0.

The original Senki Zesshou Symphogear became one of my favourite series when first saw it years ago, and the latest series lives-up to the expectations that were born then.

Symphogear is a magical-girl show that is unlike any other I've seen, the closest would probably be Kill la Kill, although Symphogear has far less fanservice. The fights and dynamic and full of energy, and the newest season takes things a little further, and is somewhat more creative. The characters break from their established abilities, growing as warriors, and employing their abilities in different ways. On top of that the fights manage to the frantic, and fraught, yet also easy to follow.

However, it's not all mindless action. The story is good, if not the greatest in the world, but the characters are fantastic. It's great to the see the returning characters continuing to grow and develop, without having to fall back into relearning old lessons. The show's writers seem to realise that people don't stop maturing just because they learned one important life lesson, or overcame a single phobia. More important is how the relationships between the characters continue to develop, as the developments are always interesting to watch.

In short, another successful entry in an amazing franchise.

Copyright © Sentai Filmworks

2. Princess Principal

Cute girls doing cute things? Hardly. Cute but deadly girls doing morally questionable things would be closer to the mark.

Princess Principal was an exceptionally pleasant surprise for me when it was released, as I went in expecting something like a slice-of-life show with spy trappings, and a focus on how moe the girls were. Instead we got an actual spy thriller in a steampunk setting. Not only that, but it mixed pulse-pounding action with tense moments of actually espionage, to create some of the best examples of spies in fiction. The fights were dynamic, and the twist in the plot actually made sense, having been properly foreshadowed before hand, thus it actually successfully achieved something that many anime stumble over.

On top of the generally excellent plot, the characters are also nicely written. Each of them has there own motivation, and secrets, which they keep from each other as well as their enemies. Even as the bonds between the main cast develop, and they grow closer to each other, there is still the lingering question of whether they can trust each other. It creates a genuine sense of not knowing what may come.

A series that surpassed all around it, to become my favourite of the summer season.

Copyright © Studio Trigger

1. Little Witch Academia

Studio Trigger's latest offering, Little Witch Academia is a series the successfully combines slice-of-life, fantasy, and action into something truly special.

The series takes place at a magical boarding school, so far so very Harry Potter. However, the writers over at Studio Trigger have clearly put their own spin on the idea, with how uniquely strange and wonderful some of the aspects of their magical world are. Even when parts of the plot get truly outlandish, such as with the love bee, it can still lead to some genuinely heart-warming moments.

The characters manage to be simultaneously outlandish, yet very down to earth. They all have compelling motivations beneath their outer personalities, and we get to see how these change and shift over time. Some characters are not at all what you might expect them to be, yet it still feels like a natural part of them. Most of the character development is down very well, as we see how events and introspection change them gradually over time. It feels very natural, and helps the characters feel like real people that we want to root for.

The series is a truly engrossing tale almost guaranteed to pull many emotions from the view; which is why it's my favourite anime of the year.

So those were my favourites, what were yours?

Until next time,

PhoenixAct.