Ask John: What Were the Best Anime of 2007?

Question:
In your opinion, what was the best and worst of anime in 2007? What were the hits; what were the misses? What sleepers impressed; what train wrecks disappointed? Was anime, as a whole, better or worse than 2006?

Answer:
Through a combination of luck, perseverance, and curiosity I’ve managed to sample a comprehensive, but not complete, representation of the anime productions that premiered during 2007. Out of the roughly 152 anime productions created for TV broadcast that premiered this year, I’ve managed to watch at least one full episode of 141 of them. I’m not presumptuous enough to imply that the quality of any series can be determined from a single episode, but I do think it’s fair to extrapolate reasonable expectations from a single episode. While I’ve been fortunate enough to see more of 2007’s theatrical anime releases this year than I did last year, I’ve still not yet watched some of 2007’s major anime films, including Stranger, Clannad, Naruto Shippuden, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures: Phantom Blood, and Appleseed Ex Machina. Furthermore, I’ve personally watched only four out of the five anime films nominated for Japan’s 2007 Academy Award for best feature. While my exposure hasn’t been entirely comprehensive, I think it’s extensive enough to compose a responsible analysis.

To explain my criteria, I’ve taken into consideration all anime produced for TV broadcast to have premiered during 2007 except Macross F, which has aired one preview episode this year, but won’t begin its regular weekly broadcast until next year. My rankings are based upon personal critique of literary and cinematic craftsmanship. This isn’t a list based on popularity, nor a list of which programs I personally enjoyed most this year. It’s a subjective list of the best quality anime to debut in 2007. With that said, I’ll begin with the best TV anime.

If Studio Ghibli had produced its own version of Ghost in the Shell, the result would have been something very much like Madhouse’s Denno Coil. The long awaited and highly anticipated Denno Coil fulfilled every expectation by offering viewers a captivating, attractive, well animated, and thoroughly satisfying story that combined humor, adventure, romance, mystery, science fiction, and even a bit of horror into a unique, dramatic look at life in a world just slightly different than our own. Denno Coil’s story reveals its secrets very slowly, steadily offering viewers opaque glimpses at a larger narrative and dropping carefully planned pieces and bits of foreshadowing that reveal their true significance and relevance much later. All the while, the show never feels manipulative or frustrating because its humor, atmosphere, and textured characterizations always keep the show fascinating and involving. Denno Coil deftly moves from comedy to suspense to the tentative hesitation of first love, to tragedy and hopefulness all while feeling organic and natural. Viewers become engrossed in the story because the characters and the mishaps they find themselves wrapped up in are enjoyable, and the mystery that surrounds them is spellbinding. By the end of the series, answers are provided, disparate elements all fall into place, lessons are learned, and characters grow and move forward after having experienced both happiness and grief. Simply put, no other anime series in 2007 rivaled the consistent literary and artistic excellence of Denno Coil.

Immediately after finishing work on the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig television series, director Kenji Kamiyama and the animators of Production I.G. set to work on another anime series featuring similarly dazzling production values and amazing attention to detail. Seirei no Moribito literally created a window onto another world. No detail was overlooked. Or, more precisely, immense attention was given over to fully realizing the world of Seirei no Moribito including its religions, governments, cultures, traditions, beliefs, flora and fauna, and its history. Seirei no Moribito also exhibited a stunning cinematic experience filled with panoramic shots and action that felt like it was too big for the television screen to contain. The show broke with contemporary anime conventions by telling a story about adult characters that act like adults. There are no stereotypes or supporting characters in Seirei no Moribito; every character fulfills his or her role in society naturally. The series is a breath of fresh air because it has no good or evil characters. Characters live according to their duties, their personal integrity, and their desires, like believable people rather than fictional creations. Conflicts arise and are settled as clashes of personal ideals, not as artificial plot devices introduced for the sake of creating tension or excitement. Seirei no Moribito is the epitome of “mature” anime, not because it’s filled with sex or violence, but because it illustrates a serious conflict realistically, without ever relying on stereotypes or clichés. Seirei no Moribito is a stunning looking fantasy highlighted by astoundingly animated action sequences and heartfelt, totally believable emotions, conflicts, and struggles.

In between helming the outstanding Fullmetal Alchemist and Gundam OO series, director Seiji Mizushima led the animators of Madhouse to create the wonderful Ooedo Rocket (alternately known as “Oh! Edo Rocket”). This zany, hyper-kinetic, anachronistic historical fantasy recalls the spirit of the golden age of anime by serving as a springboard for animators to express themselves. Oh! Edo Rocket is a wild mix of feudal Japan, science fiction, bizarre gags, contemporary pop culture references, and literally whatever ideas the animators felt like including. This eclectic conglomeration of influences and elements still manages to be cohesive and compelling by never losing sight of developing its large cast and constantly moving its story forward toward an amusing and satisfying conclusion. Simply because it’s so wacky and unique, Oh! Edo Rocket is certain to alienate viewers used to conventional anime. But the series is thoroughly rewarding for viewers looking for an anime that totally disregards caution and expectation and dives headlong into a delirious, unrestrained explosion of everything that makes anime artistic and interesting pop culture art.

While Oh! Edo Rocket is a deliciously overflowing stew of anime characteristics, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is a concentrated revival of vintage anime characteristics. The series contains homage to Captain Harlock; the drill arm robots of Getter Robo and Baratack; the small hero team and their combining robot fighting against annihilation theme of countless vintage robot anime; the enflamed masculinity of St. Seiya and Otoko Juku; the kinetic and hyperactive animation characteristic of golden era anime like Birth, Harmaggedon, and Cool Cool Bye; Gunbuster’s emphasis on courage and determination overcoming all obstacles; and Evangelion’s theory that individuality and growth are positive and natural while opposition to change and individuality leads to destruction. Gurren Lagann offers nothing new. It merely revives long simmering anime conventions and boils them into a raging inferno. Gurren Lagann appeals to veteran anime fans because it’s a revival of familiar, traditional anime themes. The show appeals to newer fans because its exuberance, kineticism, and self-conscious exaggeration of anime archetypes makes it involving, entertaining, and motivational.

There may be widespread disagreement with my decision to recognize Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight as one of the five best anime TV shows of 2007, but I think that most objections will come from critics that haven’t actually watched the show. Manabi Straight deserves some academic credit for basing its setting on an extrapolation of contemporary Japan’s declining birth rate crisis. The show deserves even more credit for its adorable character designs, lush color design, extensive use of stylistic cinematography, above average animation quality, and, most importantly, its development of empathy for its characters. Manabi Straight develops genuine affection and caring for its characters; their hopes and dreams, and the disappointments and setbacks that they face. Manabi Straight is a “moe” show that deliberately avoids the superficial, stereotypical characteristics of harem anime and slapstick comedy. It’s a drama about cute girls that feels tranquil, touching, amusing, stylish, and uplifting without feeling pretentious, silly, or like a any one of a dozen dating simulation game adaptations.

Although I haven’t watched certain acclaimed 2007 theatrical productions including Kara no Kyokai and the award nominated Detective Conan: Jolly Roger in the Deep Azure, based on the exposure I have had to 2007 anime feature films, I do think that I have a firm impression of the best anime feature films of the year.

Madhouse crafted one of 2006’s best anime features with Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo. They’ve repeated the feat in 2007 with Piano no Mori, the finest anime feature film of the year. Piano no Mori is beautiful, charming, and enthralling. The film is nice looking and well animated, occasionally exceptionally well animated, but its strongest points lie in its writing. Ostensibly the picture is about music, and in particular two friendly rival elementary school boy pianists, but in effect the film is about its characters and their personalities. Even characters with small parts in the film are masterfully provided with fully developed and explored personalities. Protagonist Shuuhei Amemiya is an exceptionally illustrated character because he’s far more honest to himself and familiar with himself than typical of anime characters. When he feels frustration and jealousy, he’s wise enough to realize that his feelings are a product of circumstances and his own emotions, so he works through them instead of letting them cripple him. Similarly, the film itself sets up a rivalry, but never allows itself become a predictable competition story or typical underdog victory story. The film establishes characters that viewers care for, then proceeds to treat the characters fairly in a story that feels refreshingly natural, compassionate, and inspirational.

Two other films that rank among the best of 2007 are ones that have been overlooked for major award consideration. Identifying director Makoto Shinkai’s Byosoku 5cm ~A Chain of Short Stories About Their Distance~ by its lengthy full title is vital because it’s necessary to consciously realize that the film is actually an anti-love story to fully appreciate the film. This lovely looking and haunting film is a tragic story about the way time and distance erodes love and creates a feeling of hollow disconnection. Equally brilliant is Studio 4°C’s anthology film Genius Party. While segments such as “Door Chime” and “Limit Cycle” seem a bit superficial or unengaging, they’re easily compensated by the amazing “Shanghai Dragon,” and “Deathtic 4,” segments, raising the collective average of the 7 shorts up quite high.

I hope that readers will excuse me for not discussing OVA releases. I think that 2007 was simply a rather weak year for OVAs when releases included Ice, Aika R-16, Bokusatsu Tenshi Dokuro-chan 2, Dead Girls, and Murder Princess, among others.

On the domestic side, identifying the year’s best American anime premiers isn’t difficult because many of them have placed on my previous “best of” lists, including Death Note, Flag, Kurau: Phantom Memory, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, and Mushishi. The theatrical films Paprika and Tekkon Kinkreet also debuted on American DVD in 2007, making them also worthy of mention.

Summarizing the 2007 year in anime is difficult. I think that the total number of outstanding anime productions debuted in 2006 is greater than the number that premiered in 2007. But while 2006 had a large number of exceptional titles, 2006 also had a significant number of terrible anime. The average quality of 2007 anime may be better than 2006’s average because there aren’t any 2007 titles that stand out as exceptional failures. Kissdum Engage Planet started out stellar but quickly declined into mediocrity. Goshuushousama Ninomiya-kun and Maple Story were uninspired, but not awful. Jyushin Enbu -Hero Tales- has failed to live up to its promise, but isn’t unusually bad. None of 2007’s new anime sunk to the level of 2006 titles such as Giniro no Olynsis, Gundo Musashi, or Zaizen Jotaro. Actually, with excellent titles including Clannad, Darker Than Black, Lovely Complex, Lucky Star, Minami-ke, Mononoke, Moyashimon, Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei, Shigurui, and Shion no Oh, and an absence of really awful anime this year, 2007 may be a better year of anime than last year was.

2007 Anime TV & Internet Premiers:

Afro Samurai
Ah! Megami-sama: Tatakau Tsubasa
Ayakashi
Baccano!
Bakugan Battle Brawlers
Bamboo Blade
Blue Dragon
Blue Drop ~Tenchi-tachi no Gikyoku~
Bokurano
Bonoron ~Fushigi na Mori no Iitsutae~
Buzzer Beater
Chibinacs 2.0
Clannad
Claymore
Code-E
D.C. II
Darker than Black
Deltora Quest
Denno Coil
Devil May Cry
Doujin Work
Dragonaut: The Resonance
Duel Masters Zero (October 2007)
ef – a tale of memories.
Eikoku Koi Monogatari Emma ~Molders Hen~
El Cazador
Elecking the Animation
Fightension School
Fightension Depart
Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight!
Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro
Genshiken 2
Getsumen Toheiki Mina
Goshuushousama Ninomiya-kun
GR -Giant Robo-
Happy Happy Clover
Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3 ~Kurenai no Tsuki~
Hatarakids My Ham Gumi
Hayate no Gotoku!
Hello Kitty: Ringo no Mori no Mystery
Hello Kitty: Ringo no Mori to Parallel Town
Heroic Age
Hidamari Sketch
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai
Himawari!!
Hitohira
Ichigo Ichie Koibana Tomobana
Idolmaster Xenoglossia
Ikkitousen Dragon Destiny
Jump Ohji
Jyushin Enbu -Hero Tales-
Kaibutsu Oujo
Kamichama Karin
Kawaii! JeNny
Kaze no Shoujo Emily
Kaze no Stigma
Kemono Soukikou Dancougar Nova
Kenko Zenrakei Suieibu Umisho
Kido Senkan Gundam OO
Kimikiss pure rouge
Kindaichi Shonen no Jikenbo Special
Kishin Taisen Gigantic Formula
Kissdum Engage Planet
Kodai Ouja Kyouryuu King D Kids Adventure
Kodomo no Jikan
Koisuru Tenshi Angelique ~Kagayaki no Ashita~
Kono Aozora ni Yakusoku wo ~Youkoso Tsugumi Ryouhe~
Kotetsu Sangokushi
Kotetsu Shin Jeeg
Kyoshiro to Towa no Sora
Les Miserables Shoujo Cosette
Love Com
Lucky Star
Lupin III: Kiri no Elusive
Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS
Majin Tantei Nogami Neuro
Major (third series)
Mameushi-kun
Maple Story
Master of Epic: The Animation Age
Minami-ke
Miyori no Mori
Moetan
Mokke
Mononoke
Moonlight Mile 1st Season -Lift Off-
Moonlight Mile 2nd Season -Touch Down-
Moyashimon
Mushi-Uta
Myself;Yourself
Nagasarete Airantou
Nanatsuiro Drops
Naruto Shippuuden
Night Wizard the Animation
Nodame Cantabile
Oh! Edo Rocket
Onegai My Melody Suki
Ookiku Furikabutte
Over Drive
Potemayo
Prism Ark
Pururun! Shizuku-chan Aha
Reideen
Rental Magica
Robby & Kerobby
Rocket Girls
Romeo x Juliet
Ryusei no Rockman Tribe
Saint Beast ~Kouin Jojishi Tenshi Tan~
Saint October
Saishuu Shiken Kujira (internet broadcast)
Saiunkoku Monogatari (second series)
Sayonara Zetsubo-sensei
School Days
Seirei no Moribito
Seto no Hanoyome
Shakugan no Shana II
Shigurui
Shining Tears X Wind
Shinkyouku Soukai Polyphonica
Shinrei Gari/Ghost Hound
Shion no Ou
Shuffle! Memories
Shugo Chara
Sketchbook ~full color’s~
Skull Man
Sky Girls
Sola
Spider Riders ~Yomigaeru Taiyou~
Sugar Bunnies
Sugo Chara!
Suisui! Fizi!
Suteki Tantei Labyrinth
Taihou Shichaouzo Full Throttle
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
Tensai? Dr. Hamax
Terra e…
Tetsuko no Tabi
Tobaku Mokushiroku Kaiji
Tokyo Majin Gakuen Kenpuchou Tou
Tokyo Majin Gakuen Kenpuchou Tou Kenbu Hen
Touka Gettan
Treasure Gaust
Venus Versus Virus
Wangan Midnight
Wellber no Monogatari ~Sisters of Wellber~
Yakkohan Shimai
Yasai no Yosei N.Y. Salad
Yattokame Tanteidan
Yes! Precure 5
Zero Duel Masters (April 2007)
Zero no Tsukaima ~Futatsuki no Kishi~
Zombie-Loan