In few more days we will be bidding goodbye to this year and start anew but before that comes to pass, let me just share this list that I've made, list of the shows that I have enjoyed to the utmost this year and probably for years to come because they are just that legendary, not as legendary as Yamada Tae but still deserves recognition in my own humble opinion. Well I limited it to just 10 series but I could have listed twice or maybe even thrice that number but as things stand (my lack of time and the depressing prices lol, yeah this is all I could come up with) well then, let's start this list that will end it all!

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10. SSSS.Gridman

Genres: Action, Sci-Fi, Mecha

Studio: Trigger

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Veteran anime fans would always be filled with great anticipation whenever Studio Trigger announces a new series they are working at, well they had a rough start this year with their controversial series that split the community into another spiral of love and hate relationship because of a certain pink haired space battleship that supposedly ended things with a bang or so they said. Well I will just leave it at that and proceed with the series I picked for this list and that is none other than SSSS. Gridman.

SSSS. Gridman is the ultimate nostalgia show this year because it utilizes the giant robot series ploy that hits hard right in the childhood of many. Of course the show faithfully complied to the format of a typical show falling in this category but this time the monsters and the robot are rendered in CG animation which surprisingly doesn't suck but as a matter of fact added to the nostalgia factor because it captures the feeling of how a giant robot series should be, incorporate the studio's flair and ability to build up hype during power up and crucial moments then you've got yourself the ultimate hype machine of the year! And for the record they didn't wind up in space this time.

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9. Baki

Genres: Action, Martial Arts, Shounen

Studio: TMS Entertainment

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Probably one of the most commercially known series in this list because even non-anime fans that I know of have been talking about it, but I guess that is to be expected especially in my country where the show was aired several years ago in free TV.

The show is famous for its brutal fights and creative storytelling but sadly, as a show being advertised as an action series, it doesn't live up to it because of its poor and rigid CG animation that totally looks out of place in most cases. Though despite that poor aspect, the show still boasts the best fights this year not by visual aesthetics but by making each bout unpredictable making the audience excited and always in anticipation of what the show has in store for them.

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8. Zombieland Saga

Genres: Music, Comedy, Supernatural

Studio: MAPPA

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AKA Love Dead! AKA The uNDEADM@STER AKA How to awaken into Necroph... Ok let's drop it here.

If there is anything I've realized because of Zombieland Saga, I guess that is that human creativity really is infinite especially if the people in question are working in the anime industry. I can't even begin to imagine how the creator of this show came up with the idea of having zombies dance and sing as idols and the greatest irony of it is that they are reviving a town, yeah zombies reviving a town.

I initially thought that this will be a full blown comedy show that will challenge Asobi Asobase but I guess I was a bit off, yeah it is funny for the most part but later on it became more leaning on the emotional factor and in fact it hit its peak during Lily Hoshikawa's episode and it rode that wave till the last episode with that stellar performance of the group that went against fate itself, add that little glimpse of Koutarou's past with Sakura, for sure you will be left craving for more (which I believe is probable given how successful it turned out)!

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7. Yuru Camp△ (Laid-Back Camp)

Genres: Slice of Life, Comedy

Studio: C-Station

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The dark horse of the 2018 winter anime season that took the internet by storm, this is considering that it aired alongside titles that have gained traction long before the season started like Violet Evergarden, Nanatsu no Taizai: Imashime no Fukkatsu, Overlord II and Darling in the FranXX.

The cute girls doing cute things series have strong presence in the present age that it is weird not to have at least one every time a new season begins but it is not an easy feat to go toe to toe with anime's finest and come up on top but that is what exactly this anime has accomplished. The show is just about a group of girls camping but the relaxing and soothing effect that watching this show provides proved to be its greatest asset in a season plagued by drama and action heavy series.

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6. Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken (That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime)

Genres: Fantasy, Shounen

Studio: 8bit

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Isekai is saved by a slime, yeah, not by smartphone boy 2.0, not by demon lord boy nor by goblin slayer-san but by a mere slime, you know that guy you encounter as a beginner whenever you try out new MMOs, yeah that round, weak, jelly looking thing, that description fits the slime in this show too, well except that he is not weak.

This show tried to set itself apart by having a slime take the lead role and that worked for me in the initial stage because it sparked curiosity on my part however my long term enjoyment and engagement was not because the lead is unique but because the community that he built is unique, he is a monster that leads other monsters, creating a force comprised of different species that lives together in harmony it gives the feeling of a simulation game where you build everything from scratch making little achievements and new companions added in the roster more fulfilling, for me this is the opposite of Overlord that has everything built already and just crushing oppositions that comes up which gives a different kind of satisfaction though.

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5. Seishun Buta Yarou wa Bunny Girl Senpai no Yume wo Minai (Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai)

Genres: Comedy, Romance, School, Supernatural

Studio: CloverWorks

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This year offered too many top tier shows that from here onward anyone could have taken the top spot by a very close margin depending on how the series concluded and that is the reason why I placed this here because I felt that the ending somehow lacks impact compared to its earlier arc conclusions, though I've gotta give props to how Sakuta's breakdown scene was handled and that truly resonated to my being and made me feel his sorrow and grief.

The show was compared to Monogatari series a lot of times because of its format of having different girls encounter problems that the protagonist have to attend to but rest assured that no one ended up having his guts gauged out or having someone to be sliced up into smaller bite sized pieces because this is not Monogatari series ladies and gentlemen. You can rule out the supernatural tag up there and I would still be here albeit for the sake of romance alone because if this isn't one of the most entertaining pair in the multitude of all the shows I've watched till now, then I don't know what kind of pairing would qualify as entertaining anymore.

The true genius of the show lies in the clever exchanges between each character, the characters don't please each other with platitudes but instead outright says what needs to be said and sometimes their words are riddled with sarcasm that it felt more real and refreshing because as far as I can remember, I haven't seen any other shows that did the script the way this one did.

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4. Golden Kamuy

Genres: Action, Adventure, Historical, Seinen

Studio: Geno Studio

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Golden Kamuy suffered a lot due to its dopey animation and the unbearable CGI that turned off a lot of viewers at first try. Even I can’t deny that its animation is mediocre at best but once you get used to it you are left with an intriguing and peculiar story that anime fans rarely see nowadays, that teeth gritting, fist clenching, blood boiling experience with a lot of blood, guts, body parts, brain fluid and dead bodies left at its wake.

Another aspect of the show I liked is how weird it can go but the characters still remain true to their character and act their part like it’s the most normal thing in the world, like the time when they fought naked against a group of blind bandits in the depth of the night where you can feel the tension rising but still be able to crack a laugh or two while they fight for their lives.

The show proved to be above the norm during its earlier to mid run but its end game spurred it to a greater height with a lot of twists and betrayal that left me at the edge of the seat especially during its last 3 episodes where all the major players gathered for one hell of a battle royale where everyone around you be it enemy or ally can switch side with a snap of a finger.

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3. Asobi Asobase (Asobi Asobase: Workshop Of Fun)

Genres: Comedy, School

Studio: Lerche

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This is a pure comedy gold and that is all there is to it. I have no other things to say other than this is the funniest thing I have seen this year and it has pushed through this list with just that alone. Screw all other things comedy is king!

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2. Hinamatsuri (Hina Festival)

Genres: Comedy, Supernatural, Sci-Fi, Slice of Life, Seinen

Studio: feel.

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A comedy show that I ranked higher than Asobi Asobase not because it is better when it comes to making people laugh but because it can make people feel warm and fuzzy inside without straying from its comedic roots, it is a mixed bag of ideas thrown together to create the most humane show I have seen in years and at the same time making me burst into laughter with its refreshing comedy routines and gag set-ups.

It has a wide array of gags that works around its well diversified set of characters ranging from a kind Yakuza member, an emotionless esper, a middle schooler that is also the best bartender in town probably the best in everything she does while we’re at it and the heart of the show and my primary reason for ranking it this high, the kindest, purest and most grateful character of the year Anzu that packed the most touching scene all year round, it was a simple desire to be able to pay back the kindness of others kind of scene but the impact it left would always remind me about how wonderful a ride this series has been.

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1. Sora yori mo Tooi Basho (A Place Further Than The Universe)

Genres: Adventure, Seinen

Studio: Madhouse

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Four newly acquainted girls travel to Antarctica, straightforward with no world at stake nor magical or mind-blowing gimmicks to speak of but strange enough, it is the one that shone the brightest and left the biggest mark this year.

One can only imagine the myriad of possibilities when it comes to adventures that one can come up with using the medium but this show chose Antarctica as its destination, something that is not as grand compared to the other adventure shows but that grounded approach may have been what enabled the show to capture the hearts of many because it allowed for a more genuine and more compelling adventure story that inspired some to take the time and effort to go and see the world for themselves.

Of course the adventure is good and all but let’s not forget the other important aspect that made this show as great as it is, the characters that demonstrated once again the wonderful thing called friendship, entertained the viewers with their mischiefs and misadventures but most of all told a story that is both inspiring and heartbreaking.

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That completes this list and in case you are wondering why long running series and sequels are not included in the list it is because I will be making a separate one for them, though I made a little mistake and included Baki here.Well the next list will probably be done by next week so I will be a tad bit late for the closing act lol. Anyway thanks for a great year to everyone and may we have a better one this coming 2019, both in anime series and the steem/ sbd prices. Thanks as usual and I will be seeing you again next time!

Ciao~