What Makes A "Best Anime of 2021" List and What's on Mine

[@NestorMandela]

Top 8 of Glass Reflection: 13:51 Fena Pirate Princess 14:56 Vivy Fluorite Eye's Song 15:42 Mushoku Tensei Jobless Reincarnation 17:33 Komi Can't Communicate 19:55 Fruit Basket The Final 21:30 Oddtaxi 23:44 Ranking of Kings 25:27 Laid Back Camp Season 2

[@mayayoung5405]

THANKSSS

[@NestorMandela]

@@mayayoung5405 no problem!

[@Sosotora55]

I probably fit more into the second category, not because I want to confirm my own biases but because I'm interested to hear other peoples thoughts and analysis of the series they enjoy. Hearing why a show is good and resonates with a person is just as entertaining as tearing into a bad show for being trash.

[@danielwhyatt3278]

That’s probably true for me as well.Well, there’s always bound to be that show that you really like which you feel hasn’t gotten the attention it deserves over the more big headline releases, so you want to be able to confirm that others have actually seen it as well and have come to the same conclusion as you that it is truly a gem of the year. This year thankfully, we’ve had plenty of awesome gems that have gotten a lot more attention than others have in previous years.

[@ixamisus]

Same!

[@marocat4749]

Especially if its for very emotionalpersonal or weird reasons and a show that is objective not great. Thats the most wholesome and interesting reviews. Its generally really holsome hearing about life stories and that in reviews. You checked out scramboli reviews thats emotional and raw.

[@tree363]

I'm not confident enough to say that I don't partially want to confirm my own biases (I'm human, after all), but I mostly agree with this.

[@DeOneTrueSage]

Can't believe Ex-Arm didn't made best anime of the year but it's understandable since it's the best anime of the decade already.

[@Doodlesthegreat]

I believe that in the future, people should react to the Ex-Arm the same way The Three Stooges react to NI-AG-RA FALLS!

[@nemesheesh897]

Bro ex-arm is the best anime ever has the best cgi too ppl who say naruto,dbz,bleach,jojo,vinland,aot ate the best anime are bull shit

[@Haskellerz]

@@nemesheesh897 Ex-arm is the best comedy of the decade, I haven't laughed as much in 10 years of watching anime.

[@Que984]

Idk man Gibiate was a pretty good decade winner last year.

[@brendancarter774]

@@Haskellerz you haven’t seen gintama yet

[@Anthony-ng5pq]

I have to say Vivy for me personally, I haven't re-watched a series as much as that one for a while. The synergy of music, vocals, animation, fight designs and story, wow it just all came together well.

[@peaj4812]

Vivy was my hands down favorite, absolutely blown away by it. Plus it's OP was amazing. I usually skip OPs but this one and Tonikawa are absolutely gripping.

[@nathanielscreativecollecti6392]

Odd Taxi was practically perfect. For being as original as it was, suddenly gripping, re-watchable and approachable for anyone, weeb or not, I've got to say that Odd Taxi wins.

[@MuellerX]

Yeah, i only binged it a couple of days ago when i was watching shows i have missed throughout the year. In the first episode, at the scene with the Doctor asking him what he looks like to him, i already thought to myself afterwards: "Okay, its gonna be anime of the year."

[@thereliablegemini8687]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKjRgmqqbs5rrc0 this is the audio drama it explains even more and literally ties the show together also it is 100 % cannon

[@ThePreciseClimber]

Well... some elements did feel like very blatant plot convenience & contrivance.

[@modvavet]

To Your Eternity was AMAZING. There was definitely a bit of a dip in the middle, but that last episode just ate me alive.

[@grodon909]

I'm kind of okay with the dips. I needed a break from crying.

[@modvavet]

@@grodon909 yeah, at my age crying ends up with sore eyes and a headache in the morning. And yet, weirdly, I actually seek it out. :P

[@Doodlesthegreat]

OddTaxi is a masterclass in writing. Story, scene, characters, dialog. And that ending. Yeah, no way you can say it without spoiling the show. While I was lucky enough to watch from the start, so many folks were like you, only catching on after hearing about it from others. And in such an amazing year, I was worried it would fall into the cracks when it came to a close. But thanks to folks like yourself, Gigguk, and Mother's Basement, it's going to be remembered.

[@janisir4529]

I've watched 3 episodes of it, but it just seems like a less interesting Durarara

[@MuellerX]

Well, to be honest, i dont know how so many people didnt pick up on the show spoiling its ending in the 2 scenes of episode 1 in which the nurse laughed. I think knowing it already from episode 1 made me appreciate the anime much more and i already knew just from watching episode 1 that its gonna be anime of the year. Without knowing the major twist already from episode 1 onwards certain aspects of the show like worldbuilding (society, culture, food) would have seemed strange or poorly put thought into throughout the show until the last episodes. The end is sure to clear any misconceptions up and raise ones oppinion on the show. But then the damage could be already done. If you miss the spoilers in episode 1, you could have a lingering thought back in your mind throughout the show: that the shows character design is apparently only capitalising on a trend while doing it in an unrefined way. Then sureley this will decrease your overall enjoyment of the show even if you appreciate the ending. The only thing that could fix that "underappreciated" unspoilered 1st watch would be to rewatch the entire show and pay more attention to smaler details, But how many are gonna have time and patience to rewatch a seasonal anime nowadays if you didnt 100% enjoy it first watch? Like Arkada said, why watch an old imperfect show when the next seasonal shows are just arround the corner.

[@Sheamu5]

I watch them to remind myself of all the great shows I missed, and try to watch some of them.

[@pointlessaccount100]

This ☝️

[@KS-vw8pn]

Yup Yup. My reason for clicking on this as well☝️

[@danielwhyatt3278]

I watch them to confirm whether or not the majority consider my appeal needs to be right about some of the top headliners, but also a lot of the gems which get fewer attention, as well as reminding me of all of those that I’ve surely added to my watchlist but have forgotten about over all these months of awesome releases. It feels like as usual, the fourth quarter winter season is the one that seems to stick most into peoples heads as it is the last they have to keep up with. Definitely want to try and see if I can binge the rest of the good ones from 2021 though in January before getting lost in the swell of 2022 that is sure to be larger than anything that has come before. At least from what we’ve seen all of these trailers over the past two months anyway.😓😆😁

[@tragicangel2005]

Yesssss to the top pick!! Yes. "It was so much better than we deserved". Facts. Thank you for another year of great content review Arkada!

[@Jairjax]

i clicked on your list specifically because I've watched ya for years, I respect your opinion and I like to see what you thought was good.

[@pokemonsliver]

I like seeing people's best list because I think it's always interesting to learn why a show or any form of art spoke to someone. Even if two people agree that one show is the best their reasons could be completely different and seeing that kind of stuff is fun for me.

[@BMVfilms]

I just like hearing from you, or really any content creator I watch. I don’t even really care about validating my own choices, it’s just nice hearing your reasoning and what stood out to you

[@authorRisenfromash]

Same.

[@Lee-lm2bn]

Hands down, my favourite anime movie of 2021 was Gintama: The Final. While leaving the cinema I teared up and couldn't believe that one of the greatest shows ever came to an end. 😢

[@kcsupersonic1]

Kind of surprised to hear anyone say they felt Fena was good beginning to end. The popular opinion from most people was that Fena started out good and the ending kind of crashed and burned (with some even arguing that the ending undercut the message and story the show was setting up in the first place).

[@KillerTacos54]

agreed

[@jmm00702]

And he dropped to your eternity midway through??? Tf did he even finish the gugu arc? That shit hit way harder than the start lol

[@fallenangelzelos2807]

Yeah Fena has a fun and good adventure premise from the start and then in the last couple episodes it decided to suddenly change its tone and identity. I’m just going to put the show into the “it’s about the journey not the destination” pile but yeah…it was weird.

[@nightfall3605]

Mr. The-Ending-Is-Paramount thought that Fena didn’t shit the bed? I think too much Eva has skewed his perception of a coherent ending.

[@Miruk4]

Absolutely agreed, I almost felt I was the weird one for a second for thinking Fena's ending was actually pretty terrible. Shame too, it started off so well.

[@TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

We had a great year of anime, next year will be even better, happy new year!

[@Ramhams1337]

you mean this year right?

[@danielwhyatt3278]

2022 this year is going to be so amazing. There are still plenty of series I need to catch up on from 2022, not least finishing some from the winter season.☺️ There were just so many in 2021 and from all of the trailers we’ve had over the past two months for series and films that will be coming out in the first and second quarter of this year alone, I don’t know how we are going to keep up.😓😂👏🏼

[@Fixti0n]

I really wish you are right, but i cannot help to be cynical about anime, i believe that overall 2021 was the peak of anime as a whole, and from now on we have to go back to the 3 or 4 top anime each year, where as this year we had something like 30 top anime. First off, i think the global state of things left the anime industry working a little different, giving more time and letting the creators work at a slower more deliberate pace, And now we no longer need to be as restrictive as we once were in the whole...global situation we found ourselves in. If we are to get another year of 30+ top amazing anime we either need to become even more tyrannical agenst the general population, or the anime industry needs to adapt a more relaxed attitude towards crunch, work and production speed, and i dont really see either of those two things happening.

[@Vraii25]

one piece will be best anime of the year 2022 no doubt

[@PamdaDev]

I go to these lists and videos for "Animes of the Year to Watch" and make sure i didnt miss something i might have liked. Also, thanks for the always amazing work. Happy New Year !!!

[@danielwhyatt3278]

Same here. I’m betting there’s plenty of series from the beginning and the middle of the year that went under my radar because they weren’t ‘flashy enough’ in their advertising to draw my attention and got smothered by the rest, or the big name ticket items were hard to get into because you are always trying to catch up with the shorter series. These lists are a great reminder. Plus they help to know which ones are truly worth your valuable time to watch, considering MyAnimeList lists basically every little thing that comes out month after month and it feels impossible to keep up.😆😌

[@googleslocik]

Arcane was hands down the best animated show of the year for me, not even close.

[@titan_main]

I don't watch a lot of animated stuff, but arcane is the best show I've watched this year period. I know the emmy's doesn't normally give out a ton of awards for animated stuff, but it deserves a ton of nominations imo.

[@Vraii25]

honestly... its different culture, arcane is more americanized so its hard to compare to japanese animation. It should be compare to pixal or marvel what if. Although i have no idea what the budget of arcane is.

[@stickygaiden]

@@Vraii25 it's more french than american if you ask me in term of animation.

[@DharcVasquez]

Yeah it's good but it's not anime

[@lord6411]

I have to admit that I think Odd Taxi was a much more complete and fulfilling experience for me. I’m not a massive fan of Riot’s grimdark fantasy punk aesthetic to begin with so that might play a role in why I’m not a big fan of Arcane

[@dyslexicfaser]

The first 9 episodes of Wonder Egg are still absolutely a must-see, even in a year as jam-packed as this one

[@thestarvinggamer5618]

Funny, am I the only one that loves all 12 episodes of Wonder Egg Priority + OVA?

[@Lazer-bp9lf]

The "special" f**ked up everything.

[@Exel3nce]

It isnt really packed, lets be honest

[@HateIsJustice]

@@thestarvinggamer5618 I had major issues with the aspect of the fourth character's arc topic, but the OVA felt really sloppy and left much more things unanswered than resolved or anything. If there's a second season to come, I hope they're able to actually make amends to both of those issues considering how beautiful the show was and how interesting the concept seemed at first.

[@Revealingstorm.]

Only the special is bad. The rest of the show is fantastic

[@taxessux]

Dude, I have been watching you for years. I just enjoy you talking about why you think something is good or not. Sometimes it is just good to hear people talk about things they show some passion about.

[@pineconekun9627]

Sometimes I watch reviews and such of shows that iv already seen. This isn't because I want to confirm that its good but because frankly, I don't really have anyone to talk to about some of the shows I like and its nice to hear someone else gush about a show that I like so much. It also allows me to hear why someone else liked a show an helps me go over why I liked it as well. Sometimes someone else is just able to describe why I like something better than I am. Lastly. I get to hear things that people like about a show I like that I didn't even think about or didn't appeal to me. This gives me a new perspective. Glass Reflection gushing over Yuru Camp is a perfect example of this for me.

[@deejay1040]

Ive been watching your video for about 6 years now. The reason i clicked on this one is pretty much YOU .You've been doing gods work son. Thank you!

[@bood6162]

Jobless Reincarnation is being made by a studio who’s SOLE anime is just that (it’s almost like a passion project between two studios that are sharing their work) so I’d be real surprised if they lost steam anytime soon

[@Lau-ze3nn]

The head of the studio decided to adapt Mushoku after reading volume 12, so that means we'll gat at least 24 more episodes

[@jarrenraves]

I didn't know that, but having finished volume 12 myself yesterday, I cant say I'm surprised! It towers over the others so far.

[@Lau-ze3nn]

@@jarrenraves wait to see what's next!

[@Zoom03352]

@@jarrenraves and then comes vol 14 and 15 that are just as amazing

[@Revealingstorm.]

I wish I liked the anime, but I can't because I find the main character so irredeemable. Shame since the animation is so beautiful.

[@juansek208]

I'm watching this "Best anime of 2021" list because YOU made it. I respect your insightful analysis on anime, beyond whether I agree with everything you say or not.

[@koda2387]

gonna be real. I don’t even watch anime. ur style/diction/tone/whatever is just so satisfying and like intelligent. feel my brain cells multiplying hearing u talk

[@ThetaWindfall]

Horimiya was a surprise for me - I am not really a Romance fan, but somehow I ended up watching Episode 1, and I was completely hooked. Definitely a great Anime

[@Mr.2GD]

The sad part is they could animate more of it. A 12 episode anime typically adapts around 50 chapters in the Manga. But the studio adapted all 125 chapters in 12 episodes. They could have done better

[@animec-dramaskpop6362]

@@Mr.2GD Some things that work in the manga won't necessarily work in the anime. Knowing how and when to edit the source material is so important when adapting anything. After watching the anime I read the manga and honestly i prefer the anime.

[@animec-dramaskpop6362]

I don't make a habit of watching romance anime either but Horimiya hooked me from the get go. I discovered it a couple of weeks ago and I've it at least 5 times all the way through from beginning to end. I just love it.

[@Gabrol77]

You should watch High Score Girl...

[@couldntpickausername4099]

"If I make a list of my favorite anime of the year is that really useful to you" honestly yes. sometimes it's just nice to hear someone talk about something they are passionate about, like and are informed on. Hearing what you like and don't like about the year lets me know of things I may wish to take a look at or lets me dip my feet into the culture without having to do a deep dive and sometimes it's just interesting.

[@thesquishedelf1301]

To Your Eternity is probably my 3rd best pick, honestly. Your assessment is correct, imo, and it’s kinda unavoidable in the story. The Boy arc is really good as an introduction; the forest arc is good but overwhelmed with setup, and that same pace continues through the show, for various reasons, but most importantly the main character’s development. Not for everyone. IMO the reason the first arc was so good was that our protagonist wasn’t really a character yet, so it could focus *entirely* on the side-character studies that are the show’s highlight.

[@keiichimorisato98]

Then it turns into a Shonen battle series...

[@thesquishedelf1301]

@@keiichimorisato98 More like a dark magical girl show. The Man In The Cloak is basically Kyubey or any other sinister Magical sponsor. A Shonen would have less focus on the internal struggle of Fushi being forced to get stronger against his will. ...still formulaic tho

[@keiichimorisato98]

@@thesquishedelf1301 honestly, I was REALLY hoping it would be a show that explores immortality in much the same way Lost Oddyssey did with it's Thousand Years of Dreams kinetic novel sections. I do think that To Your Eternity is fantastic, but that first arc and the second one too, really gives the wrong impression of what the series actually is.

[@bimbocindy]

I'm so happy you mentioned Vivy! It was by far my favourite anime of year and was just so enjoyable from start to finish

[@GottyJ]

I feel like vivy was slept on a lot because of the premise in paper seems like a weird valley to go into. It’s got idols , artificial intelligence , time travel , murder bots etc So great tho- I can’t believe that an anime starring an AI idol has some of the best fighting animation I’ve seen in years

[@Kryisupport]

To me, this video helps me find new anime that I might have missed this year. Or to give me that little extra push needed to watch, a good but difficult to find anime.

[@justindowning3845]

I watch your content because most suggestions I've gotten from you are enjoyable and worthy of my time Your top lists are how I get content to watch. I hate trying to find content off of dozens of websites. Your not always right in line with what I enjoy but you're closer than any other content creator I've discovered

[@dennisgilpatrick5460]

Over several years ( more years than I'd like to remember) I have greatly enjoyed these segments. You have managed to give what I would call a clear and concise evaluation of the animes that you have commented on. Whereas others have filled their critiques with what is obviously personal opinions you have managed to keep (for the most part) your comments helpful and clear Thank you for your work and efforts, I hope Glass Reflection continues for many more years.

[@dddmemaybe]

Rudeus being haunted by his old self and captured to commit his same old mistakes even after being reborn, is a point that the show makes very purposely. The show shames him for it and asks you to do the same. It asks you to say that it is bad.

[@kennmarlow4889]

I think Mushoku (the anime especially) does a great job at capturing the contrast between Rudeus's old and new self, and it really makes you reconsider what it takes to change. Especially what goes on in the mind of somebody unwilling to change, their paranoia, loneliness and sloth. I also like how the show aknowledges that people "being there" for the MC isn't enough for him to change, and actually add to his already existing inferiority complex. On top of that, it shows you what that person can become if given a second chance, and how people can improve with the right trigger. I will say this though, Mushoku's biggest flaw lies in Rudy's pervertedness. It adds very little to the story as an element, especially to the extent it is taken. It is something he never really grows out of or improves (I have read ahead, his development does not tackle this aspect of his character, or it barely touches on it). What makes this so apparent is that it isn't addressed, it isn't given a proper conclusion AND it is even justified by the series in some ways. Other characters act WORSE just to make the MC look better by comparison, even if it has no link to their character or makes vilains in the series as a whole seem like one trick ponies. In this aspect, Mushoku did not approach the subject with enough sensitivity, and I think that it is a definitive flaw.

[@TheFourthWinchester]

The show never shames him. And viewers enjoy his pedo acts.

[@linkwolf2196]

@@kennmarlow4889 ok

[@suplextrain]

Even if that was true, it doesn't change anything if "you're supposed to dislike/hate the character". This is the protag and the one you're supposed to root for, if people don't like said character that can very easily be a justifiable problem.

[@Marco_Onyxheart]

It's really really uncomfortable to sit through, though. But yeah. If the rest of the anime wasn't so good as it is, I wouldn't be able to do it. But it keeps pulling me back in, then disgusts me, then pulls me back in again.

[@drewdavis2708]

There's always reason 3, to get to know the personality behind the video more and be interested in hearing other peoples views on the shows. Great video and cool intro to shake up this genre of content!

[@ReiyukaE]

While I deeply enjoyed Fena, the ending made it a "eh, it's good I guess" show for me - which I found surprising, because it's right up my alley. XD Thanks for this overview - glad to know I didn't miss out on any particular shows. ;)

[@Robbsta77]

I remember seeing the announcement for Komi, tried to keep my expectations fair and secretly hoped it was every bit as good as I heard it was. Soo Happy to say that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it!

[@kylem2010GT]

My hype for Komi was justified... Now Spy X Family!

[@IamTheOppressor]

Kind of shocked to not hear him talk about "The Aquatope on White Sand" given his taste.

[@goldmemberpb]

Aquatope was really good. No supernatural twist, no rushed plot, just a story about the MCs trying to live their dream.

[@JasonColby]

Good show. The pivot in tone between the two cours was very... I think I want to say "mature"? And not in the gore-n-b00b33z sense.

[@Haskellerz]

I think he didn't watch it yet

[@Taliasaurus]

Finally someone who put Fruits Basket at the top of their list!! Barely anyone I've seen has talked about this show for some reason

[@lets_talkabout_anime]

I watch your lists specifically because I know I typically share a lot of tastes and opinions with you so I use them to help me prioritize things I should try watching first (along with other sources) to minimize time wasted on things I won't like.

[@ratiuvictor9533]

Ex-Arm was so good. Everybody it gives shit but you need to watch the whole series to understand what it is. And immediately after you finish it you need to re-watch it one more time. The second time will give you a completely new experience. Trust me. It's incredible. Maiby after the second viewing you will want to watch it the 3th time to see the background story and world building. It's so good.

[@enziorobin]

As someone who usually despises romance shows, Horimiya is the first romance show I followed as the volumes came out and I was hella excited when I saw it was becoming an anime, and I wasn’t disappointed by what I got

[@PlataIce]

Anyone else waiting for the Stuffed Reflection episode where the plushie shares his opinions?

[@percythecat2050]

Kinda surprised you didn't mention "Nomad: Megalobox 2" - Because I wouldn't call it a season 2. It doesn't pick up where Megalobox left off. It tells a very different and interesting story with the same characters and damn near brought me to tears. When I think of emotional heavy hitters, it's neck and neck with "Ranking of Kings".

[@mrtrananh]

I love Nomad too. Instant classic for me

[@horrorkesh]

The new fruits basket is probably going to end up as a buy for me I bought the original series way back when it was on DVD and I'm probably going to pick it up again when this new series is complete on DVD

[@danielwhyatt3278]

That will definitely look great side-by-side in one’s collection. I haven’t finished the remake of the series yet but I have a feeling I’m definitely going to love it and would probably like to pick up the Blu-ray.

[@Shebeast3]

I did the same x it took a while for it to grow on me the new one that is but I love it and need to get the rest on dvd it's so worth it

[@Banguelas]

I don’t watch anime as much as the followers of this channel do but I am subscribed and love those top list. When I am looking to start watching a new anime, I like to check if anything catches my attention and would be worth my time.

[@arrowqueen3641]

Me who had watched Fruits Basket like a madman for 9 times: IT IS A MASTERPIECE.

[@vulnerablegrowth3774]

My reason is that I want the underrated shows I like to watch are put in the spotlight and hopefully increases the love for the series. Like Ranking of Kings, I want more people to watch it so that more shows like that get made and increase the chances of RoK gets a continuation if it doesn’t finish in Part 2.

[@jprodell]

Fruits Basket Finale was by far the best anime of the year, by no close margin. Like don’t get me wrong, a lot that came out this year was great but nothing came close to making me feel the same way that Fruits Basket did.

[@danielwhyatt3278]

I still need to finish season one of the remake of fruits basket. Let alone season two. I do remember it so far being really good though with a few good adjustments and can’t wait to see how it goes. I hope I can fit it in between eeeeeeverything else that’s coming out as well as my uni studies

[@AkujiTester]

For me I'd probably say that Vivy was my favorite, but I'll have to re-watch it to confirm

[@AkujiTester]

Re-watched it and can confirm

[@skitzy47]

Discovery for me, especially here since there's no way you would have anything I thought the best on here haha! Happy new year sir

[@rustysa1300]

Just throwing it out there. I really like your opinions on shows. There was a few that I skipped, but you liked. So I gave them a second chance and absolutely fell in love with. It is because of this history that I have with you. That any review or top 10 list that you make I want to watch.

[@quarksarranged]

Arcane while not anime, was the best animated TV show from this past year and its not even close.

[@kellharris2491]

I loved 86 Eighty-six. It brought me to tears several times. Some sad but some happy.

[@Atrenu]

Can I just say, sir, that I admire your professionalism in these sorts of videos (which has been present for YEARS now), even when you're playing a bit?

[@DeckDogs4Life]

Horimiya was a phenomenal show and I can't express that enough. I have read the manga as well and I love the series.

[@chorusalonso8834]

I really do appreciate that you still mention fena since literally nobody else talked about it but you! I respect your opinions a lot and I definitely feel like you have the best opinions on anime honestly.

[@WeebClipper]

My Top 10 Anime of 2021: 1: Attack on Titan S4 2:Quintessential Quintuplets S2 3: Mushoku Tensei 4: Komi Can't Communicate 5: Tokyo Revengers 6: Horimiya 7: Vanitas no Carte 8: Kobayashi san S2 9: Ranking of the Kings 10: To your eternity

[@GenerationZ313]

I suppose the good news for you is that half of those shows are getting continuations that are set to air throughout 2022

[@sevdev9844]

Okay, now watch Vivy.

[@ardawen]

Nice list, i loved Odd Taxi, but i can totally respect your feelings for fruits basket. I also want to give a honorable mention to Super Cub. That show just warmed my heart. I know because it got drowned in the big sea of the year, a lot of people might not feel the same, but it was just so wholesome.

[@Katt1721]

My top ten anime for the year (not counting shorts or films - otherwise we'd see Poketoon and Eva 3.0 + 1.0 on there) 1. Fruits Basket the Final (Its rare shoujo gets a full adaptation and I'm thankful a series that was so formative for me got such a lovely one) 2. Megalobox: NOMAD (blew S1 out of the water, and was even more emotionally gripping and nuanced than I could have expected) 3. Heike Monogatari (dont let its complicated family tree scare you off, its rare a story on such a large scale can also emotionally devastate me on such a personal level... esp that finale) 4. Ranking of Kings (one of my favorite adv/fan anime I've watched in a long time, every aspect is firing on all cylinders) 5. Kageki Shoujo (easily my favorite school/club-set anime of the year, every girl is best girl) 6. Odd Taxi (I was completely sold once it hit the gacha game episode and it never let up from there) 7. SSSS.Dynazenon (a great, if albeit a messier, follow-up to Gridman with even more focus on its supp. cast) 8. Sonny Boy (whether you loved it or just respected its originality, these types of shows are def worth celebrating) 9. Case Study of Vanitas (only series that convinced me to go out and buy the manga) 10. SK8 (might as well give the last spot to something super fun)

[@dasanjos]

Oh I skipped fruits basket.. will catch up on that

[@samueltheprideofafrikarobi9319]

Do we know if NOMAD is getting a DVD/Blu-ray release?

[@Katt1721]

@@samueltheprideofafrikarobi9319 Funimation licensed and dubbed it so there's pretty much a 99% certainty (at least in NA, but I'm sure other territories as well)

[@aelfricv7454]

"Why did you clicked on it?" Because you uploaded it. Simple as that Happy New Year!

[@Drakebloodthorn]

Commenting off your opening about why people watch videos like this :p Just wanted to tell you I'm pretty much watching this video because I enjoy your reviews and personality lol. Keep doing what your doing in 2021 Love your content

[@A_Random_W33b]

Shadows House flew by under the radar for so many people, which is a darn shame because it is easily one of the best anime of 2021, up there with 86, Odd Taxi, Vivy, and Ousama Ranking, in my personal opinion anyway.

[@BlueCrimson10]

Up until the anime original content, I'd be right there with you on Shadows House. A lot of people slept on it hard.

[@sayrnewton3692]

True, it has some of the most creative world building I've seen in a long time. Promised Neverland season 2 was sacrificed for this show.

[@thesharinganbeast6478]

Was anyone else confused when watching Vivy? For those who haven't watched it, I recommend binge-watching it in one or two sittings. Otherwise, you will get lost. I know I did. I watched the first four episodes and came back a couple of weeks later to finish it, and I practically had to restart the show because nothing made sense to me. The story likes jumping around and sneaking in time skips that make it hard to follow where the characters were in the timeline. I had to rewind and watch certain scenes multiple times to process the information that flew past me. It is worth the watch, but it might hurt your brain. I gave it an 8.5/10. The music and animation were flawless.

[@Rx79100]

I kinda get general ideas on 1st watching. I find it more enjoyable when i watch 2nd time there are many details that make it enjoyable. ( Like clear the game the first time but there are many easter eggs to collect. ) It is my pick for 2021 Anime of the year . Despite its undermentioned

[@LcHR21212]

Ranking of kings is the one anime that surprised me in the best of ways, so happy i gave it a shot

[@ThetaWindfall]

I liked Log Horizon Season 3 - Was good. Definitely worth a watch if you can catch up with what happened in S1 and S2.

[@Gabrol77]

Its been sooo many years that they should have done something like 1 o 2 recap episodes...

[@debajitbhaumik3841]

1)Sonny boy 2) Odd taxi 3) Nomad megalobox 2 4) Horimiya 5) heike monogatari

[@yuzhengchen7780]

Sonny boy is absolutely a masterpiece. It is also my favorite of the year.

[@PhuongNguyen-_-]

Finally someone mentions Heike Monogatari

[@destroier920]

I watch videos like these for multiple reasons (in no particular order: 1. To see if I have any taste in good shows at all. 2. To see what shows might be interesting to watch (although my to watch list just keeps getting bigger) 3. To see what other people might think about the shows I enjoyed, by extension to see what good and bad about a show I missed on my watch. The shows I watched and really enjoyed this year, are 86, Moshuko and Odd Taxi, I have yet to watch Vivy and Ousama Ranking. Also Sakugan, Mieruko-chan and new seasons of Kimetsu are all on a wait list... I haven't been a good anime binger this year ...

[@kassydluffy9105]

this dude deserve more subs tbh . So much work put into these videos.

[@smoothesuede4978]

Implying that Vivy or Fena stuck their landings is a crime. Imo they are strong nominees for the Wonder Egg award: "Extremely impressive starts, great production, but crashed and burned by the end." No hate tho, just a difference in taste. Great vid, looking forward to next year's content.

[@UGNAvalon]

I think “Final Seasons” are worthy enough to be included within Best Of lists (at least within the Honorable Mentions) bc, as a finale, it can make-or-break the enjoyment of the rest of the series. And as you say, “The Ending Is Paramount” ;D

[@DrDeliciou]

I think Finest Assassin deserves to be on this list as well. I absolutely LOVED that anime and hope we get another season.

[@_BenJaminCroft_]

Attack on Titan has gone beyond "anime of the year". It has become one of those rare animes that will stand the test of time and will be remembered always.

[@shubhod9569]

have you read the manga lmao

[@robertsalfelder8111]

I never got into AOT I cant stand the animation of the show. And if I don’t like a shows animation I cant get into it period

[@MmaRicky]

@@robertsalfelder8111 I initially had the same thoughts but bc of everyone saying it’s soo good I stuck thru it and by the end of the first season i was hooked. It’s prolly my all time favorite dubbed anime

[@IamaDesmond]

Here to confirm that odd taxi is on the list

[@HeeminGaminStation]

Reason #3 I want to be entertained glass reflection is entertaining

[@Toucanbird]

I really appreciated your take on To Your Eternity, because the same thing happened to me as well. After the first few episodes, I thought it had a legit chance at being my anime of the year, but as it went along, I kinda became disinterested. I pretty much finished the Gugu arc and have just been “meh” toward finishing it up. I think the one thing I’m really struggling with in the show is just how depressing it is. Just when I start getting attached to characters, boom, they’re gone. As someone that watches anime based more off of characters than plot, it’s really challenging to watch. As for my anime of the year, if we’re including sequels, Fruits Basket: Final Season. Excluding sequels, I think I’d go with Odd Taxi. It had a twist that I REALLY didn’t see coming and it was one of those shows where I really enjoyed the characters. I will say that I did enjoy the mystery elements behind the show as well. The only thing I didn’t like about it was how it ended with the final scene. It was a little bit too ambiguous and left a bit too much open to interpretation. I’m an anime fan that doesn’t enjoy that…at all. Much like Arkada, endings to anime are paramount and when the show is left open-ended, it doesn’t really give me any sort of closure. I think the only show that I’ve seen that pulled it off masterfully was Shinsekai Yori, but even then, I felt like how that show is structured is a big reason why it being open-ended wasn’t a bad thing. Odd Taxi on the other hand is a far more character-driven show than Shinsekai Yori, so for it to be left off open-ended was a bit disappointing. It didn’t affect it enough for me to say it “ruined” the show…I just thought that if you take out the final scene, the show would have ended much better.

[@thesquishedelf1301]

Yeah. I quite liked To Your Eternity but that’s an absolutely valid criticism. I don’t think it’s for everyone because of that overall melancholic mood, that you will get attached to people and yet you know they’re not necessarily likely to make it past the end of their arc. It’s a character show, not a plot show, but the characters aren’t guaranteed their happy ending. Gugu deserved the rest of his life :(

[@brandonhowell5096]

To your eternity would've worked better as a series of movies rather then a show in my opinion

[@Toucanbird]

@@brandonhowell5096 You’re probably right about that. With the way the show is structured, it probably would have better as a movie series than a TV series.

[@peaj4812]

@@Toucanbird Gugu was a lull, the next arc was better imo. Plus the ending was absolutely heartbreaking. Which I love.

[@foodini666]

Great video. Have a happy new year Glass R, look forward to more of your videos this year.

[@wolfsigma]

86 just keeps getting better. Every time i think its going to take it easy or take the path of pins... it takes the path of needles. Such a beautiful anime that is hurt. Not Ranking of Kings hurt but still.

[@AquaticSwordsmanMovi]

I don’t really care about finding new shows or confirming my own opinion on best of year. I just like listening to people talk about anime because I don’t get almost any of that in my daily life.

[@viktoriarose31]

"if I was to remove the sequels rule I probably would just give it to laid back camp again" yup same haha can't wait to see the movie :')

[@danielwhyatt3278]

I literally only started watching Laid Back camp for the first time ever during this winter, and I absolutely fell in love with it. I’ve re-watched several of season ones episodes twice already and can’t wait to finish it and move onto season two. The movie will surely be wonderful as well, although I have no idea what form it will take.

[@jamesswarens1878]

Odd Taxi is easily AOTY for me. There are other shows that take the next few spots like Ranking of Kings and Mushoku Tensei and Fruits Basket S3, but even as good as those shows are, they are still miles behind how good Odd Taxi is. It's the second time during my entire anime watching experience that I've considered a series flawless. The first is a Place Further than the Universe.

[@TheHighFlys]

100% agreed glad someone thinks the same, Odd Taxi even it's OP is the best of the year none the less the actual Anime; the way it intertwines it's story is just so..... man words can't describe how much I enjoyed this one

[@themadichib0d]

My problem with odd taxi is that nobody can tell me why I should start watching it other than its "really good" or has "good characters". But the synopsis just doesnt sound interesting to me whatsoever, so just saying its really good doesnt really help much.

[@imsentinelprime9279]

@@themadichib0d its basically like pulp fiction with how it does its dialog and shit. I enjoyed but I don't understand why everyone is calling it a masterpiece. I found myself getting bored of it and the look of the show is uninteresting to me. And the twist was OK but by the end it was just a alright experience.

[@TheApostelicPrincess]

Amazing Taste you got

[@Shebeast3]

I watch your best anime videos of the year because I always love hearing what shows you have enjoyed and what you think of them

[@kylominogo]

Hands down MT takes the cake not even an argument or question about it

[@grodon909]

Totally agree with Log Horizon. I loved the first two seasons, and was excited to watch the third,but I honestly couldn't remember a dang thing after all these years

[@aaronstrager4247]

Vivy was such a sleeper hit, I can’t believe it took me until last week to see it.

[@janisir4529]

I mean, it was good, but I too forgot it existed, and I've watched it. Redo of Healer on the other hand is going to be remembered, it's a gigantic meme, whereas Vivy is only destined to be a hidden gem.

[@kcsupersonic1]

NGL it felt a little hypocritical to talk about Horimiya (my personal Number 2 favorite anime of the year after Fruits Basket) as being a hard sell as a romance series when one of the other top picks in Komi is also a romance series and Fruits Basket also has its fair share of romance as well. Setting aside Fruits Basket, Horimiya and Komi are both Rom-coms when you boil everything down but they both focus on different things when telling their stories. Horimiya is very much about relationships and the comedy in that series comes from the very real worries and anxieties these High School students struggle with on a day to day basis. Komi on the other hand puts a much stronger emphasis on situational comedy with the romance aspects sort of happening in the background. The characters in Horimiya are also a lot more grounded in comparison to the more colorful and eccentric cast of Komi.

[@thesquishedelf1301]

And that’s kind of why Komi can sneak past the romance genre. Kinda like Kaguya-sama: Love is War, it’s fundamentally a comedy over the top of the romance base. A com-rom, if you will, as opposed to a rom-com.

[@dvillines26]

Komi-san is more goofy slice of life, Horimiya is more definitively a romance anime first, even though it also has some comedy. I think Komi-san is an easier sell for many reasons, those included. also, Hori is kind of an abrasive character, and Miyamura can be a huge doofus. Komi and Tadano are almost impossible to dislike. Horimiya also has dramatic relationship progression. Komi-san is about two socially awkward dorks who will almost certainly take until late into their second or well into their third year of high school to get it together. any progress we get is going to be slow, and hard-earned, and sprinkled within episodes full of jokes.

[@ashe1317]

"that's not aNiMe, that's sPaRkLiNg AnImAtIoN" i stg, that's still the best quote and i'm gonna be throwing it around for a longass time, and not just about Arcane. but yeah, Arcane was deadass the best thing i watched this year, period end of story. but Oddtaxi was also really damn good; the writing in that was TIGHT

[@xXDESTINYMBXx]

What's the budget arcane got, just to compare a bit.

[@Rasselon]

My reason for clicking on this video is just that I like your content, but I do not watch it often/do not watch everything. I hope to see here some anime that I watched and liked/disliked enough to resonate somehow with your opinion. What I want to gain from watching this video - have a fun time watching it (possibly skipping half of it if I am indifferent towards the anime you are talking about). Happy new year :)

[@janisir4529]

I watched a bunch of shows from this year, but of all the things I liked, you only mentioned a few obvious popular ones. And the overwhelming majority of stuff you listed I didn't care for whatsoever. My plans to ease my existential dread through validating my anime taste has been foiled! Curse you!

[@TauAlphaVu]

Everyone is sleeping on Uma Musume S2, which really probably shouldn't have even been called S2 since it has a different set of MCs and completely different tone from S1. It was an absolute masterpiece and one of the best sports anime of all-time alongside Ping Pong The Animation and Chihayafuru. It's about as close to flawless as an anime can get, praise I'd previously only ever given to Madoka. Every character and storyline is done justice with heart wrenching lows and heart warming highs. You'll laugh, you'll cry (a lot), and you'll laugh while crying. Anyone who hasn't given Uma Musume S2 a chance yet is really doing themselves a disservice because the amount of love the studio put into it is truly stunning.

[@Marneus28]

It was great but damn was it hard to watch sometimes. Talk about kicking you in the feels again and again. =(

[@imsentinelprime9279]

Looked it up. And I got to say I'm not interested in at all. It looks like another cutsey magical girl type show. A I'm no pedo so it's a pass.

[@barrydelight]

It's my favourite anime this season.

[@sevdev9844]

Thanks, but I'll probably watch S1 first.

[@jamie4993]

If you get the chance to catch up with 86 ( understanding the final two episodes are delayed to March due to production issues), I think you'll find the "hook" you are currently missing.

[@MohamedAshraf-fv8jk]

the 1st season was my fav anime of the entire year .. and i really wanted to watch the whole 2nd season once it finished, but .. the delay 😐😐😐😐

[@MohamedAshraf-fv8jk]

the first season was stellar in my opinion ..

[@owengray3785]

Dude 86 is my favorite anime since Kaguya Sama.

[@LorenzoScarafia]

Because I am interested in your lists and always find them helpful to scan and find new gems in Anime

[@tjmj5238]

Loving all the KZbinrs coming out with these lists!

[@clarkkentnaruto4322]

I watch these videos so that: I can watch clips of different shows and see what catches my interest the most. To check and see what fans I can build a connection with. Finding ways to connect with people is hard. Anime and shows can be a great ice breaker.

[@njdnik]

Hella great List Arkada! Me and my group of friends are having a hard time deciding on the best of year too. Still gotta watch fruits basket, so many people commenting how great it is got me curious to check it out. The only Anime on your main list that kinda let me down was Fena, I was very much hyped for it at the start, but the ending felt really strange and forced for me. Like trying to tie a lot of context and exposition with some mystery and supernatural stuff and not taking the time to make it swalloable. Kinda like great pretender S2 or Kabaneri ending made me feel. I did love fena herself and her warriors it was a nice watch! Vivy was another one that was very special to me but the bittersweet ending made me and my friends forget about it a bit. I enjoyed it so much though, specially since I love musical Anime and the way they handled the openings. Thanks for the Vid! Amazing Works as always! If Brazilian Real wasnt so devalued and Taxes were`nt so bad for us I`d definitely grab that Arkada Plushie! haha

[@CBlade0]

Your analytical brain is great. I totally understood that intro and the thoughts behind it :)

[@jaredmasuno5327]

I'm actually shocked that Fena is on this list. I loved it until the end, where all the plot threads got nonchalantly hand waved, forgotten, or resolved with the stupidest answers. I'll definitely look for your review of it, cuz I am super curious how this ending (which is paramount) was satisfying.

[@kevinjoseph9790]

I agree 100 percent. I usually agree with Arkada most of the time but Fenas ending for me was a series of ass pulls that really didn’t close any plot threads in a satisfying way. Plus I kinda thought Fena the character was kinda boring and one dimensional with her being extremely reliant on the main male lead and that and her being a nice person being her only real characteristics.

[@JoeOutside1]

The reason I clicked on this is because you are at this point the last anituber on the platform whose opinion I respect and can expect a thought-provoking, well-reasoned list of suggestions, with reasons listed beyond, "Because I am the Anime Pope and if you don't agree with me you're wrong and possibly defective." Also to confirm my own biases, despite the fact our tastes rarely align.

[@kuges8146]

To your eternity : "Is Fushi ok? Yes dear, he's outside bearslapping a city."

[@nathanielscreativecollecti6392]

I clicked it because I rely a lot on you to decide what Anime to watch. Sure I'm not the most up to date but I watch the highest quality stuff. Not enough time to watch all I would like to so I have to get your help. Thanks!

[@mr_ander_3989]

for me I watch reviews in general to get multiple view points on one show I really enjoyed, which I don't always know completely why i enjoyed it even though i do spend a lot a time thinking about it there is always more, so me watching reviews just gives me multiple positions to see from, for example watching a glass reflection review and a gigguk review to me always posses new arguments and opinions to why the show is good which gives me more enjoyment and helps me pinpoint what I enjoy