I’ve been enjoying the heck out of Please Teacher!, a semi-goofy anime series I randomly added to my Netflix queue like two years ago, which finally worked its way up. It got me to thinking about my favorite series’ of all time, and before I knew it, I was making this list.

I don’t claim to be a hardcore anime fan by any means, but I had a surprisingly hard time narrowing it down to 15 (and I was originally going to do 10.) I’m sure “serious anime dudes” would find this list laughable, but I likes what I likes, and plenty of “highly acclaimed” stuff sucks hard (Dragonball Z, My-Hime, Naruto among many others.) Anyway, remember when it was called “Japanimation”? I miss those days…

My Top 15 Favorite Animes:

Macross

AKA Robotech in the U.S. Dated and charming and awesome. I didn’t get into this until several years ago, but I’ve LOVED it and watched it many times since.

Zeta Gundam

Also very dated, but equally awesome. I watch every winter for Christmas-y goodtime feelings. “Lt. Quattro” is the coolest.

Outlaw Star

Has it all. Fun characters you care about, space battles, comedy, cat girls, pirates, variety, great storyline.

Bleach

For a show that is two dudes standing on a battlefield discussing nonsensical powers half the time, there is just something about Bleach that I freaking LOVE and look forward to every week. Likeable characters, dark story, sharp comedy.

Mobile Suit Gundam

The O.G. A little hard to watch, because it is just ancient, but so many great aspects and colorful design and storyline twists and turns are well worth it.

The Big O (Season 1, mainly)

Great self-contained stories, amazing soundtrack, Roger Smith is awesome, Dorothy is awesome, GIANT ROBOTS.

Death Note

Lots and lots and lots of talking and psychobabble, but I love every second of it, and the resolution of the storyline was pretty awesome.

Cowboy Bebop

Very much in the same vein as Outlaw Star, just not rated as high because some episodes here and there get a little boring.

Gokusen

Not something I would normally like at all, but the characters and voice acting went a long way towards turning me around on this series about a substitute teacher who is actually a Yakuza boss.

Beck +Mongolian Chop Squad+

Makes me feel good, makes me proud to be in a band. Highly underrated. Great soundtrack, too.


Mobile Suit Gundam The 08th MS Team

A smaller, more character-driven Gundam series. Like a Vietnam love story with giant robots instead of riverboats.

Fullmetal Alchemist

Just finished this recently. A surprisingly VERY well-done mix of darkness and comedy at their most polar extremes. Very very dark story at times. Super likable main characters.

Akira

Didn’t like this much back in the day, but watching it recently with more maturity, I’ve turned around on it completely. Not as overrated as I always felt it was. A GREAT, well-made movie, story, animation and design-wise.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

Another series I wouldn’t normally like at all just reading the bullet-points, but Haruhi is one of the best characters ever. A total bitch to everyone around her, but in a way that makes her completely lovable. Everyone’s great in this.

Vampire Hunter D

Both versions are great. The original being one of the very first animes I ever knew about, still love deeply, and therefore could not possibly be excluded from this list.