{"id":14270,"date":"2008-12-31T11:59:52","date_gmt":"2008-12-31T15:59:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/?p=14270"},"modified":"2025-08-09T10:21:40","modified_gmt":"2025-08-09T14:21:40","slug":"ask-john-what-were-the-best-anime-of-2008","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/ask-john-what-were-the-best-anime-of-2008\/","title":{"rendered":"Ask John: What Were the Best Anime of 2008?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Question:<\/strong>
\nWhat have the best anime of the year been? What were the worst anime of the year?<\/p>\n


\nAnswer:<\/strong>
\nThe total number of TV and web anime productions this year has been up slightly from 2007, but down from the record number of new titles debuted in 2006. But 2008 may be the strongest year of new TV anime since 2002’s large class of outstanding freshmen. In fact, there have been so many exceptional TV and web anime productions this year that I’m forced to apply a number of exclusions to help narrow my list. Priority goes to the combination of artistry and originality. Unlike the uncertainty of the Hollywood film production industry, typically anime productions with big budgets actually do turn out better than productions with more modest resources. But it’s unfair to determine best anime productions by their production values alone. I’m also hesitant to nominate sequels because sequels have an inherent unfair advantage over premiere titles. Sequels don’t have to introduce their characters, settings, and relationships the way introductory productions do, so sequels have, in effect, a head start out of the gate. Considering the strength of several of this year’s sequels and original productions, I’ve chosen to give preference to works that exhibit unique originality – shows that aren’t immediately and easily comparable to any other work. I know that it’s not entirely fair to judge the quality of a work based on watching merely one, or a handful of episodes, but with the massive number of works in competition, doing precisely that is unavoidable. Of the 159 TV and web anime productions to debut in 2008, I’ve been fortunate enough to watch at least one full episode of 150 of them.<\/p>\n

\"Macross<\/p>\n

I’ll deal with the 800 pound gorillas first. Macross Frontier, Code Geass: Lelouche of the Rebellion R2, and Mobile Suit Gundam 00 second season impose themselves onto the list of 2008’s best TV anime by virtue of their profound resources. All three of these productions had the benefit of established continuity, generous production budgets, and talented & committed production staffs. All three shows are typified by strong writing, compelling characters, intriguing narratives and plot twists, catchy music, and excellent animation. Like unstoppable juggernauts, these three shows were expected to be among the year’s best, and anything less would have been shocking.<\/p>\n

\"Kaiba\"<\/p>\n

More interesting, at least to me, are the new titles that took the anime world by surprise, excelling with pure creativity rather than lots of money. The most fascinating anime series of 2008 must be director Maasaki Yuasa’s sci-fi parable Kaiba. This amazingly profound and personal production borrowed inspiration from myriad sources but stirred its influences into a totally original stew. The mysterious and moving story of a man missing his heart, lost in a vast universe in which memories are as much a commodity as a personality trait, poses ethical questions about the value of life, love, and the boundary between possibility and moral responsibility. And the show did so within a frame of totally unique visual design and fluid animation. The series’ climax, I’ll concede, does feel slightly rushed and slightly under explained, but that small shortcoming detracts little from the exceptional creativity, intelligence, and enthralling artistry of the whole production.<\/p>\n

\"Natsume<\/p>\n

Natsume Yuujin Cho is one of this year’s TV productions that simply got everything right. This balmy, painterly series evokes a glowing warmth consisting of humor, melancholy, kindness, and the temporal beauty of natural life and death. An episodic structure allows the series to exhaustively explore its protagonist through his interactions with a variety of characters expressing a range of personalities, motivations, and goals – ranging from selfish to benevolent to malicious. Natsume Yujin Cho excels at developing an absorbing, pervasive atmosphere that’s enthralling, engrossing, and affecting. The show draws in viewers and completely engages their heart and mind the way that very few other anime are able to. This is a beautiful series, both in terms of its visual design, and its affective impact on viewers.<\/p>\n

\"Nijuu<\/p>\n

Nijuu Menso no Musume, The Daughter of Twenty Faces, is another of this year’s largely overlooked TV productions to have gotten everything right. This engaging adventure story set during the early 20th century first details the life of a young girl adopted by, then violently separated from, a charming rogue thief and his gang, then expands into a sci-fi suspense story with global implications. The series does a fine job of gradually depicting protagonist Chizuko Mikamo’s growth from a smart but subjugated girl into an assertive, capable young woman. The series organically presents adventure, science fiction, mystery, historical drama, and believable, tentative romance in a steady story progression that never resorts to filler or narrative digression. The animation quality stays steadily good, periodically reaching excellence. Nijuu Menso no Musume is simply a rare, solidly constructed, intelligent & literary adventure that never panders to audience expectations or genre conventions.<\/p>\n

\"Eve<\/p>\n

Even with only three episodes released, Studio Rikka’s Eve no Jikan (The Time of Eve) web anime is already an outstanding achievement. The series’ impressive visual design bears much in common with fellow independent animator Makoto Shinkai, which is alone enough to justify praise. But the greater strength of Eve no Jikan lies in its ability to subtly deconstruct Japanese society and the larger arbitrary conventions of human assumption. The series poses intriguing questions about instinctive human behavior and Japanese society’s strict insistence on social conformity. Do humans instinctively prioritize respect based on visual perception? Why greet and thank a machine that resembles a human being, but not offer the same courtesy to a machine that doesn’t resemble a human body? If personality is the only distinguishable difference between an android and a human, should there be arbitrary distinctions at all? Are Japanese people that interact with androids on a personal level ostracized because they’re mentally unstable, or because of Japanese cultural convention? The ability to pose these sort of moral quandaries within the context of a visually dynamic, engaging, and enjoyable anime makes Eve no Jikan a fascinating work that dares to propose social critique and genuine philosophical debate.<\/p>\n

\"Strike<\/p>\n

Finally, certain critics may scoff at the nomination of Strike Witches as one of 2008’s best anime series, but I’ll state my own case and also point out that an authority no less than the Japanese government’s Ministry of Cultural Affairs has recognized the Strike Witches TV series as one of 2008’s best anime. Ultimately, the story crux of the Strike Witches television series was revealed to be not especially profound or unique, but the series’ excellence lies in other small details. Anime with ensemble casts are common, but few anime develop and distinguish each member of their cast as distinctively and thoroughly as Strike Witches. For a show ostensibly about girls with guns and exposed panties, the Strike Witches TV series spend an admirable amount of its time illustrating and developing character, especially Yoshika Miyafuji and Lynette Bishop’s gradually developing confidence and sense of responsibility. Nearly all of the other cast members were also fleshed out with background details and personal stories that felt like completely natural narrative development. So much time is spent on establishing and deepening character relationships that everything which occurs in the show feels totally believable, like a natural result of the girls’ relationships with each other. Viewers that look beyond the obvious fan service will find that the Strike Witches TV series exhibits admirable animation quality, appealing character design, and unusually strong character development.<\/p>\n

Two components have made 2008 an especially good year for anime. The first is a large number of exceptional works that include Candy Boy, Casshern Sins, Kannagi, Kurenai, Kurozuka, One Outs, Ookami to Koshinryo, RD Senno Chosashitsu, and Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei. The other half of the equation is a very minimal number of particularly bad productions. In fact, there’s only one TV production from this year that I think deserves special condemnation. The Gunslinger Girl -Il Teatrino- series was simply awful. The show had almost no character design continuity carried forward from its respectable first series. In fact, Il Teatrino’s visual design frequently looked poor enough to suggest that some of it wasn’t even finished. And while I’ve never thought that the 2003 series is as smart as it’s given credit for being, Il Teatrino is simply stupid much too frequently. While not bad, per se, the Mugen no Juunin, Blade of the Immortal, television series should be cited as the year’s biggest disappointment. After years of assertion that Hiroaki Samura’s manga couldn’t be adequately adapted into anime, Bee Train’s adaptation seemed to prove that point.<\/p>\n

Considering the limited number of 2008’s theatrical movies and OVAs I’ve been able to watch, I don’t feel confident about making exhaustive comparisons. However, I would like to mention a few titles briefly.<\/p>\n

The quality of the Kara no Kyoukai movies has varied a bit, and because of their structure and continuity, they don’t effectively stand as independent films. With those provisions in place, the third movie, “Remaining Sense of Pain,” is an especially intense, exciting, and provocative picture. And while Hayao Miyazaki’s Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea loses some steam in its third act, it’s still on par with expectations, and a fine return to the form of Miyazaki’s classic 80s films.<\/p>\n

The 3 episode independently produced Amuri in Star Ocean OVA series may have been largely overlooked by international viewers because of its obvious “moe” design and its full CG animation, but this highly enjoyable series exhibits some of the most amazing visual creativity I’ve ever seen in anime. Amuri in Star Ocean isn’t something that can be effectively described. It literally has to be seen to be fully appreciated. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the first Zettai Shogeki ~Platonic Heart~ OVA was so bad that I couldn’t bear to watch the second & third episodes.<\/p>\n

Here, then, is my possibly incomplete list of 2008 premiere anime.<\/p>\n

TV & Internet anime:<\/strong>
\nAkane-Iro ni Somaru Saka
\nAllison to Lilia
\nAmatsuki
\nARIA The ORIGINATION
\nattacked kuma3
\nBattle Spirits: Shonen Toppa Bashin
\nBihada Ichizoku
\nBLASSREITER
\nBlue Dragon: Tenkou no Shichi Ryu
\nBounen no Xamd
\nBUS GAMER
\nCandy Boy (web anime)
\nCasshern Sins
\nCHAOS;HEAD
\nChi’s Sweet Home
\nChocolate Underground (web anime)
\nClannad After Story
\nCode Geass: Lelouche of the Rebellion R2
\nCrystal Blaze
\nD.C. II Second Season
\nDeath Note Rewrite 2: L wo Tsugumono (TV Special)
\nDecodeco Town (web anime)
\nDolly Variety
\nDruaga no Tou ~the Aegis of URUK~
\nDual Masters Cross
\nef -a tale of melodies-
\nEve no Jikan (web anime)
\nFightension Televi
\nFireball
\nGag Manga Biyori 3
\nGakkou no Kaidan Anime Special
\nGarei Zero
\nGolgo 13
\nGUNSLINGER GIRL -IL TEATRINO-
\nH2O \u00ef\u00bd\u017eFOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND\u00ef\u00bd\u017e
\nHakaba Kitaro
\nHaken Taiken Daisuki! Shimajiro
\nHakushaku to Yousei
\nHatenkou Yugi
\nHennako-chan (web anime)
\nHidamari Sketch x365
\nHimitsu Top Secret ~The Revelation~
\nHokuto no Ken Raoh Densetsu: Ten no Haoh
\nHyakko
\nIkkitousen Great Guardians
\nIkuze! Gen-san (web anime)
\nInazuma Eleven
\nInugaisha (web anime)
\nItazura na Kiss
\nJigoku Shoujo Mitsuganae
\nJunjo Romantica
\nJunjo Romantica 2
\nKaiba
\nKamen no Maid Guy
\nKannagi
\nKanokon
\nKemeko DX
\nKido Senshi Gundam 00 second season
\nKiku-chan to Okami (TV special)
\nKimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore De
\nKissdum R -Engage Planet-
\nKodai Ouja Kyouryu King D Kids Adventure Yokuryuu Densetsu
\nKoihime Musou
\nKurenai
\nKurogane no Linebarrel
\nKuroshitsuji
\nKurozuka
\nKyo no Go no Ni
\nKyouran Kazoku Nikki
\nKyou Kara Maoh third series
\nLittle Village People
\nLiveon Cardliver Kakeru
\nLupin the 3rd: Sweet Lost Night (TV special)
\nMacademy Washoi
\nMach Girl
\nMacross Frontier
\nMahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto ~Natsu no Sora~
\nMAJOR 4th season
\nMegumi (web anime)
\nMichiko to Hachin
\nMinamike ~Okawari~
\nMission E
\nMnemosyne -Mnemosyme no Musume Tachi-
\nMoegaku 5
\nMonochrome Factor
\nMouryou no Hako
\nMugen no Juunin
\nNabari no Ou
\nNatsume Yuujincho
\nNegibozu no Asataro
\nNeo Angelique Abyss
\nNeo Angelique Abyss Second Age
\nNet Ghost Pipopa
\nNijuu Menso no Musume
\nNintama Rantaro (16th series)
\nNodame Cantabile Paris Hen
\nNogizaka Haruka no Himitsu
\nNoramimi
\nNoramimi 2
\nOjarumaru (11th series)
\nOne Outs
\nOnegai My Melody Kirara
\nOokami to Koshinryo
\nPeeping Life
\nPenguin Musume Heart (web anime)
\nPenguin no Mondai
\nPERSONA -trinity soul-
\nPorfy no Nagai Tabi
\nRD Senno Chosashitsu
\nRoboDz
\nRocket! Bokura wo Tsuki ni Tsuretette Shin Tsuki Sekai Ryokou
\nRosario to Vampire
\nRosario to Vampire Capu 2
\nS.A
\nSaint Seiya Meio Hades Elysion Hen
\nScarecrowman: The Animation
\nSeiyou Kottou Yougashiten ~Antique~
\nSekirei
\nSentakuya Shin-chan (TV Special)
\nShigofumi
\nShikabane Hime Aka
\nSkip Beat
\nSlayers Revolution
\nSoul Eater
\nStitch
\nStrike Witches
\nSugar Bunnies Chocola!
\nTakane no Jitensha (TV special)
\nTales of the Abyss
\nTelepathy Shoujo Ran
\nTentai Senshi Sunred
\nTetsuwan Birdy Decode
\nToaru Majutsu no Index
\nToradora!
\nToshokan Sensou
\nTower of Druaga ~Aegis of Uruk~
\nTrouble
\ntrue tears
\nTytania
\nUchi no 3 Shimai
\nUltraviolet Code 044
\nUsavich season 3
\nVampire Knight
\nVampire Knight Guilty
\nWagaya no Oinarisama
\nWellber no Monogatari ~Sisters of Wellber~ (second series)
\nWorld Destruction ~Sekai Bokumesu no Rukunin~
\nxxxHOLiC Kai
\nYakushiji Ryoko no Kaiki Jikenbo
\nYatterman
\nYes! Precure 5 GoGo!
\nYozakura Shijyuusou ~ Yozakura Quartet
\nYu-Gi-Oh 5D’s
\nYume-Miru Anime On-chan
\nZenryoku Usagi
\nZero no Tsukaima ~Princesses no Rondo~
\nZettai Karen Children
\nZettai Yareru Greece Shinwa
\nZoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei<\/p>\n

Theatrical Anime:<\/strong>
\n.hack\/\/G.U. TRILOGY
\nBiohazard: Degeneration
\nBleach Super Jump Tour movie
\nBlue Dragon Super Jump Tour movie
\nDoraemon: Nobita to Midori no Kyojin Den
\nDragon Ball: Ossu! Kaette Kita Son Goku to Nakama-tachi!!?
\nGake no Ue no Ponyo
\nGe Ge Ge no Kitaro: Nihon Bakuretsu!!
\nGurren Lagann movie 1
\nHighlander Director’s Cut
\nInuyasha SP Kuroi Tetsusaiga (It’s a Rumic World Exhibition special)
\nKara no Kyokai movies 3-6
\nKeroro Gunso movie 3
\nKokaku Kidotai 2.0
\nMajor: Yujo no Winning Shot
\nMeitantei Conan: Senritsu no Full Score
\nNaruto Shippuden: Kizuna
\nOne Piece: Episode of Chopper + Fuyu ni Saku, Kiseki no Sakura
\nOne Piece: Romance Dawn Super Jump Tour movie
\nPocket Monster Diamond & Pearl: Parachina Giratina to Sora no Hanataba Sheimi
\nPyu to Fuku! Jaguar
\nRanma ½ (It’s a Rumic World Exhibition special)
\nShin Kyuseishu Densetsu Hokuto no Ken: Kenshiro Densetsu
\nThe Sky Crawlers
\nSoreike! Anpanman: Yosei Rinrin no Himitsu
\nSunadokei
\nSguy & the Family Stone
\nTegami Bachi Jump Super Tour movie
\nUrusei Yatsura (It’s a Rumic World Exhibition special)
\nYes! Precure 5 GoGo! Okashi no Kuni no Happy Birthday
\nYu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s Jump Super Tour movie<\/p>\n

OVA Anime:<\/strong>
\nAmuri in Star Ocean
\nArmored Trooper Votoms: Pailsen Files
\nBatman: Gotham Knight
\nCobra the Animation
\nDetroit Metal City
\nGUNSLINGER GIRL -IL TEATRINO- OVA
\nIdol Master: Live for You
\nKaito Tenchi Twin Angel
\nKamen no Maid Guy OVA
\nKiss\u00c3\u2014Sis
\nKite: Liberator
\nLucky Star OVA
\nLupin III: Green vs Red
\nMy-Otome 0~S.ifr~
\nNaisho no Tsubomi
\nNegima!? ~Shiroki Tsubasa~ ALA ALBA
\nQUIZ MAGIC ACADEMY ~The Original Animation~
\nSchool Days ~Magical Heart Kokoro-chan~
\nSchool Rumble San Gakki
\nSeto no Hanayome
\nSwitch
\nTo Heart 2ad
\nYotsunoha
\nZettai Shogeki ~Platonic Heart~<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Question: What have the best anime of the year been? What were the worst anime of the year?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14270","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ask-john"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14270","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14270"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14270\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38527,"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14270\/revisions\/38527"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14270"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14270"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14270"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}