Best of Anime 2014

Welcome to my grand Best of Anime 2014 page! This page will include all the various top lists, such as top OP/ED and top characters that I had put as separate posts in 2013. This page will be updated regularly; meanwhile, the overall Top 48 Anime of 2014 will be posted as normal posts, though they will be linked here.

Eligibility Note: All shows that have finished a complete season (defined as having its own, separate entry in Anime News Network's encyclopedia) are eligible, including shows that started in 2013. Shows for which one season finished in 2014 but another season has started but not yet finished will only be evaluated by the season that finished this year. Full-length TV shows, half-length TV shows that air for at least 10 episodes, and 1/3-length shows that air for at least 15 episodes are all eligible (so Tonari no Seki-kun is eligible). Each list may have its own eligibility rules, too.

You can quickly jump to any of the lists that I've completed by clicking on the active links below:

Top 10 Opening Episodes
Top 11 Opening Themes
Top 10 Opening Animations
Top 10 Ending Themes
Top 10 Ending Animations
Top Insert Songs
Looking at Anime Visuals (By Season)
Top 10 Animation
Top 10 Visual Styles
Top 10 Character Designs
Top Cutest Anime Characters (Female/Male)
Most Beautiful Female Characters/Most Handsome Male Characters
Top Supporting Characters (Female/Male)
Top Personalities (Female/Male)
Top Characters (Female/Male)
Top Romantic Pairs
Top Same-Gender Pairs
Top Other Opposite-Gender Pairs
Top Siblings
Top Overall Casts
Top 10 Moments
Top 10 Non-Finale Episodes
Top 10 Finales
Top 10 Breakout Shows
Top 10 Surprises
Top 10 Shows for Faith Connections

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Top 10 Opening Episodes

Eligibility Note: Only non-sequel shows that started airing in 2014 are eligible here. Shows that started airing in Fall 2014 but have not yet finished are also eligible.

10. Is the order a rabbit? - Hard to not include this one. It just has that perfect, fluffy slice-of-life tone to it that perfectly sets the groundwork for the rest of the show.

9. If Her Flag Breaks - The first episode of this show proved that there's more to this show than just harem antics. There's a hint of a darker story going on here with the flags, as well as some nice starting characterization, especially for Nanami. The show's a bit inconsistent going forth, but this opening episode at least showed that it was more than your standard harem light novel adaptation fare.

8. World Conquest - Zvezda Plot - You have to love a show that starts with a loli subduing an entire army of tanks. Or not. At any rate, this premiere had both a lot of wackiness and also quite some heart to it as we learn just what Kate thinks of world conquest. It's an unusual premiere for an unusual show, but one that sets the tone well for a show that really is better than it might seem.

7. Amagi Brilliant Park - This premiere has a lot of funny moments, as well as some hints of a deeper story with some good emotional moments. As it turns out, the show's more concerned with the funny than the story, but it does at least deliver a bit on its drama too.

6. Monthly Girls Nozaki-kun - If you want comedy, Nozaki-kun lets you know you're getting comedy. An uproariously hilarious premiere (especially the bike scene), with just a bit of a romance tease, sets the tone for the best comedy of the year.

5. Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works - It's kind of unfair for this show to be here, because it had twice as long of a premiere as the other shows. But that's beside the point: the point is, this show's premiere showed that this adaptation had the potential to be much better than the previous adaptation. It provided great animation and some great characterization for Rin and Archer. If you were like me and were unsure of another Fate/stay night adaptation after seeing the first one, this one eased a lot of worries.

4. Terror in Resonance - Talk about a gripping premiere. Complete with provocative imagery reminiscent of 9/11, this show's premiere was exciting and also intriguing, especially with how Lisa would play into things. A rockin' Yoko Kanno soundtrack only made things even better. Unfortunately, in this case, the rest of the show didn't quite live up to the premiere, but the first episode was definitely fantastic.

3. Inari Kon Kon - Like Gingitsune last year, Inari Kon Kon started off with a premiere full of charm and spirituality. The plot of Inari taking the form of another girl to try to get closer to her crush is pretty standard, but once Uka-sama fully enters the picture, not just as the shrine goddess but also as a parental figure of sorts to Inari, the show immediately proves itself to be one of the year's most notable faith-based shows.

2. Celestial Method - The first episode of this show had a miniature plot all of its own, revolving around Nonoka remembering her meeting with Noel. It's a cute and emotional premiere, and while some might say the rest of the show didn't live up to expectations (not me, though), it does set the stage for a solid character drama.

1. Barakamon - This is the only show from the YamaHanaBara trio to be on this list, as Yama no Susume is a sequel and Hanayamata, honestly, had a bit of a weak start, only really showing potential toward the end of its first episode. In Barakamon, though, all of the show's charm and strengths are shown right away in an amazing first episode. This premiere has so much to it: a strong opening characterization of important characters, a nice message, some beautiful scenery, and plenty of cuteness and heart. It's far and away my favorite first episode of the year, and thankfully, the rest of the show followed up on it perfectly to form one of my favorite shows of the year.

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Top 11 Opening Themes

Eligibility Note: For all Opening/Ending Themes/Animations lists, only themes that originated in 2014 count (so no more Database); themes from Fall 2014 shows that are not finished airing yet are eligible. For this list, only the music itself will be evaluated.

Also, I will not be linking to any YouTube videos unless the show is not available for legal streaming. If it is, just pull up an episode and listen to it there.

(Edit: Wow, how could I forget that one? Added a new #5, plus expanded the list to 11 because.)

11. Space Dandy OP: "Viva Namida" by Yasuyuki Okamura - Gotta love that funky beat.

10. D-Frag! OP: "Stalemate!" by IOSYS jk Girls - This is a wacky, energetic song that perfectly fits the show. Bonus points for it being by IOSYS, well-known for some of the more popular Touhou remixes out there.

9. Is the order a rabbit? OP: "Daydream café" by Petit Rabbit's (main cast) - This seemed like a pretty ordinary song at first... until I tried singing along to it. The vocal lines are surprisingly intricate, and they move from one singer to another really well.

8. Engaged to the Unidentified OP: "Tomadoi -> Recipe" by Mikakuning! (main cast) - This is just a really catchy, energetic song.

7. Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun OP: "Kimi Janakya Dame Mitai" by Masayoshi Ooishi - Another funky song with some really nice instrumentation.

6. One Week Friends OP: "Niji no Kakera" by Natsumi Kon - This song is just really nice. It has that bit of an emotional touch to it that fits really well with the show.

5. Gugure! Kokkuri-san OP: "Welcome! DISCO Kemokemoke" by the main male cast - Disco is not dead. Disco never died; it just needed the voices of a fox, dog, and tanuki spirit to take it for a spin.

3 (tie). Your lie in April OP1: "Hikaru Nara" by Goose house - Goose house is starting to become my new favorite anime theme performer. This theme has wonderful harmonizations, beautiful melodies, and an energetic chorus; a show about music deserves nothing less. It's so good, I consider it tied with...

3 (tie). Amagi Brilliant Park OP: "Extra Magic Hours" by AKINO with bless4 - This song has powerful vocals, intricate instrumentation and a wonderful energy throughout, and is just an amazing song overall. The claps are also a really cool effect in this song. Since this show isn't streaming anywhere, take a listen to it here.

2. Sakura Trick OP: "Won (*3*) Chu KissMe!" by the main cast - Forgive me if this song starts playing and I spontaneously break into dance. This eurodance-inspired song feels like it came straight out of a DanceDanceRevolution machine, and it is awesome. I'm sure many of the songs below are better musically, but this song is pretty much the epitome of catchy, addicting music, and that forces it to take the second spot, beaten only by...

1. Hanayamata OP: "Hanaha Odori Reya Iroha no Ho" by Team Hanayamata - This song is just perfect in every way. The catchy vocals, the energy, the music that combines traditional Japanese musical styles with modern music styles (a signature characteristic of yosakoi, fittingly enough)... it all really fits together to make a wonderful song. Its role in the show's finale really seals the deal, though, as one of my favorite opening themes of all time.

Top 10 Opening Animations

For this list, the focus is on the animation sequence itself, with some consideration for how the music fits with the animation. I don't really have much to say about them otherwise, so let's just list them out and make any comments I feel like making afterwards:

10. Love Live! School Idol Project Season 2
9. Space Dandy
8. D-Frag!
7. If Her Flag Breaks
6. Engaged to the Unidentified
5. Celestial Method (the effects with the lights are really neat)
4. Hanayamata (that dance sequence)
3. Gugure! Kokkuri-san (again, disco will never die)
2. Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun (on the other hand, that tanuki needs to die)

And finally...

1. Encouragement of Climb Season 2: Both openings are wonderful, SHAFT-influenced animations that are just a lot of fun to watch. If I had to choose one, I'd give the edge slightly to the second OP, but both easily take the first place spot of this list.

Top 10 Ending Themes

Eligibility Note: In addition to the rules for the opening theme, ending themes cannot be one-off endings, or opening themes used as endings for one episode and then used as an opening otherwise.

10. No Game No Life ED: "Oración" by Ai Kayano - Ai's voice here works really well with the song.

9. Invaders of the Rokujyouma ED: "Koi wa Milk Tea" by petit milady (Aoi Yuuki and Ayane Taketatsu) - A cool and musically resonant song; not bad considering it comes from the voices of Korama and Kurama.

8. The Kawai Complex Guide to Manors and Hostel Behavior ED: "My Sweet Shelter" by Kana Hanazawa, Rina Satou, and Hisako Kanemoto - A ridiculously catchy song.

7. Amagi Brilliant Park ED: "Elementario de Aimashou" by BRILLIANT4 (Minami Tsuda, Shiori Mikami, Tomoyo Kurosawa, and Yuka Aisaka) - This song features the four elemental fairies of the show, and the lyrics even reference each fairy's element.

6. Barakamon ED: "Innocence" by NoisyCell - The Engrish is strong with this one, to be sure, but it's a charming song all the same, and quite fitting for the show.

5. Sabagebu! ED: "Piti Pati SurviBird" by Gesukawa Girls (main cast) - This ED is silly and crazy and absolutely insane. Kind of like the show itself.

4. Free! Eternal Summer ED: "Future Fish" by Style Five (main cast) - Oh yeah, this song. Catchy and upbeat and just full of flair, this song is just a joy to listen to.

3. Engaged to the Unidentified ED: "Masshiro World" by Mikakuning! (main cast) - I will never get tired of Yuri Yoshida (Mashiro's seiyuu) motor-mouthing out the lyrics of this song while the others respond.

2. Silver Spoon Season 2 ED: "Oto no Naru Ho e" by Goose house - The other reason why Goose house is becoming my favorite anime theme performer. This song is more laid back as fitting an ending theme, but is still fairly upbeat and very cheerful, with amazing voice melodies and harmonies throughout.

1. Celestial Method ED: "Hoshikuzu no Interlude" by fhána - fhána strikes again with one of the best ending themes I have ever heard. Towana's vocals are as powerful as ever, and the instrumentation is absolutely beautiful too, with the bonus of having an absolutely rockin' bass line. The way the show segues into this song at the end of episodes is also perfect. This is easily my favorite ending theme of the last year.


Top 10 Ending Animations

10. Love Live! School idol project Season 2 (if only for Rin shaking her maracas again; that'll never get old)
9. World Conquest ~ Zvezda Plot
8. Kill la Kill ED2 (Mako truly is the best)
7. Le Fruit de la Grisaia ED1 (the main one with the SHAFT-like animation and chibis)
6. Celestial Method (it not only sounds awesome, it has some great visual effects, too)
5. Barakamon
4. Engaged to the Unidentified (chibi Mashiro is so adorable)
3. Sabagebu! (seriously ridiculously awesome, especially that dance)
2. Saki - The Nationals (classic Saki chibi fun with some great references to Takeshi's Castle)

And finally...

1. Free! Eternal Summer - In the end, I had to choose this one. Not only is it totally silly and fun and fitting both the song and the show, but it's also thematically important, as the show itself deals with the futures of the cast, and being able to see what each of the guys wanted to grow up to be as children works really well to that effect.

Top 5 Insert Songs