Well, I figured now would be a good time to make a post with my picks for best of 2009. It has taken me a long time of thought to make a pick for the best of each, but here are my picks!

My pick of Best Anime of 2009:

1st pick

Clannad : After Story

Sequel to CLANNAD focusing on the relationship between Tomoya and Nagisa.
(Summary from ANN) Life continues on for Tomoya. A few months have passed since he confessed his love to Nagisa. Now entering the second semester, he continues to meet a variety of different people, expanding his own world in the process. As well, Tomoya and Nagisa’s relationship begins to enter a level of intimacy unlike before. Through his relationship with Nagisa, and his various encounters, Tomoya begins to understand the meaning and importance of family. Unfortunately, as Tomoya and Nagisa begin their own family together, they are faced with many hardships and challenges along the way.

Thoughts

This began broadcasting in the fall of 2008, however it did not finish broadcasting until the end of winter 2009. It still falls into the 2009 category!

Well, I had a tough time choosing between Clannad after story and Toradora for my favorite picks. However, since Clannad has left a huge impression and the making of it was beyond anything I ever thought of. Every week, each story was filled with emotion in one form or another. It had me on edge right up to the end. This is one of those shows, you cannot help but feel deep sorrow for the main character.

2nd pick

Toradora

(Summary from ANN) Despite Ryūji Takasu’s gentle personality, his eyes make him look like an intimidating delinquent so he is utterly hopeless about his chances of getting a girlfriend anytime soon, and does not have many close friends either. After being greeted by his hungover mother in the morning, Ryūji goes to school and is happy to find that he gets to be in the same class as his best friend Yūsaku Kitamura and crush Minori Kushieda. However, it is then that he unexpectedly knocks into "the school’s most dangerous animal of the highest risk level" — Taiga Aisaka — who just happens to also be in his class, and is a good friend of Minori.

Despite Ryuji Takasu’s gentle personality, his eyes make him look like an intimidating delinquent. Class rearrangements on his second high school year put him together with his best friend, Yusaku Kitamura, and his hidden crush, Minori Kushieda. Along with these two comes Kushieda’s best friend, Taiga Aisaka. Her delicate appearance contrasts with her brutal personality. Secretly in love with Kitamura, Taiga agrees to help Ryuji with his love interest as long as he helps her get closer to hers.

It’s a new school year and Ryuuji Takasu discovers not only is he in the same class as his best friend, Yusaku Kitamura, but also Minori Kukshieda whom he’s had an undisclosed crush on for quite some time. Along with Kitamura and Minori is Minori’s best friend, the “Palmtop Tiger”, tiny Taiga Aisaka whom, despite her small stature, takes nothing from nobody. (When unflattering pictures of her in a bathing suit were circulated, “Of course, I made it rain blood in the photography club.”) Taiga is secretly in love with Kitamura and she and Ryuuji, despite an oil and water relationship, agree to mutually support each other in their quests for their heart’s desire.

Thoughts

This series, like Clannad, also began broadcasting in fall of 2008 and finished in the winter of 2009.

Well, this series also left a huge impression on me as well. If not for the feeling more could have been done at the ending and along the way, It would have made my top pick. Every episode was filled with something amazing. I am still left in awe by how good the series actually is. I also liked a chunk of the music the went with the openings and endings to the series.

Category Picks

Well, since I cannot come up with any series that even come close to my first 2 picks, I decided to separate the rest of my picks by category. However, I am not going to include any repeats.

Fan service

Fight Ippatsu! Jūden-Chan!!

(Summary from ANN) Plug is a "Juuden-Chan" or "Charger Girl" from a dimension parallel to Earth’s own. Her job is to find humans in our dimension that are depressed, transform into her rubber suit, and charge them up to revitalize their energy.

Thoughts

Well, this is perhaps the most fan service I have seen since To LOVEru. Every episode you can find fan service, after all the entire series is based upon fan service! The ending is not that bad, and there’s also a dash of comedy and romance mixed into it to give it a nice series to watch… when others are not around .

Romance

Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu: Purezza

(Summary from ANN) Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu centers around Yūto Ayase and Haruka Nogizaka. Yūto is seemingly ordinary, but Haruka is attractive, intelligent, and rich, which prompts other students to idolize her and even give her French nicknames like "Nuit Étoile" (The Silver Star of the Night) and "Lumière du Clavier" (The Shining Princess on the Piano). One day, Yūto wanders into the school library in order to return a book and accidentally stumbles upon Haruka’s deepest, darkest secret: she is a diehard fan of anime and manga, in other words, a regular otaku. Promising Haruka to keep this a secret, Yūto becomes her advisor and confidante of some sort and hangs out with her more, though earning some viciously envious glares from his fellow schoolmates.

Thoughts

Perhaps my most looking forward to series of the year. The first season appeared around the time when I had just started watching Anime is full force so it was one of my first series to watch online. I just had to watch the next season when I saw the announcement that there would be a second season. I still enjoy the series, even more after this latest one with all suggestive titling and comedic moments between Haruka and Yuto. However, the romance between Haruka and Yuto is very strong even if they cannot show it very well, which is why it has earned my pick for best romance of 2009.

Comedy

Sora no Otoshimono

(Summary from ANN) Tomoki Sakurai often encounters a strange girl in his dreams asking for his help, but he can’t remember her face when he wakes up. When an Unidentified Mysterious Animal (U.M.A.) falls out of the sky, his life of pacifism suddenly becomes complicated. The animal turns out to be an angel, Ikaros.

Thoughts

This is the best laugh I have seen in a long time. Filed with fan service and comedy, Sora no Otoshimono was a very entertaining series to watch. As a result of the anime, I started reading the manga as well. From Sohara’s fists of doom to all the flying panties. Everything about it is fairly entertaining. The character detail during the funny parts adds to the comedy. The story does have its good moments though. The ending to the Anime is very good. It leaves on a good note, leaving you to have to read the manga for more.

Biggest Disappointment

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

This is the continuation of the first series. Adds a little more insight to the series.

Thoughts

Well, clearly this is the biggest disappointment for a series I have seen in a long time. After the first time I watched it, it was very interesting. However, this past 2009 version was horrible. The endless eight was a complete waste of time. They could have easily got the point across with 3 episodes, not eight. after 4 times of the endless eight, I stopped watching the series completely. It was a huge disappointment compared to the original. I could have done without even watching this.

Other notable series

Ride Back

(Summary from ANN) In a future world where an organization called the GGP has taken control of the world, Rin Ogata was a promising up-and-coming ballet dancer, but suffered a serious injury and decided to quit. Years later in college she comes across a club building and soon finds herself intrigued by a transforming motorcycle like vehicle called a Rideback. She soon finds that her unique ballet skills with balance and finesse make her a born natural on a Rideback.

Thoughts

Probably one of the most interesting series I have watched. The production detail was extremely good. The story line had some very good moments, however I would have liked to see more with the ending. It seems like they are leaving it open for another season, which I will definitely watch.

Shangri-la

(Summary from ANN) The story of a young woman fighting for her survival in a real "urban jungle." Only 18 years old, Kuniko Hojo finds herself at the heart of the battle for humanity’s future when she discovers that the government which rules Atlas intends to continue marginalizing the less-privileged masses outside the tower – by force, if necessary.

Thoughts

Well, This was a very good series all around. It is certainly worth mentioning, but is not a top vote for anything. About the only thing I can give it best vote for is action, and that’s because I don’t watch many manga with good action in it. If you didn’t watch it, I suggest you watch it. It if very good, up to the end. I like the ending as well, it feels mostly complete.

Kämpfer

(Summary from ANN) Senou Natsuru is your normal, everyday high school student. However he’s been chosen to be a Kampfer, who’s objective consists on fighting other Kampfer with either guns, swords or magic, however, there’s catch; first you can’t chose if you´re a Kampfer or not, and second, you must have the body of a girl to use your powers.

Thoughts

Another very good, well rounded series to watch. Plenty of comedic moments, a little fan service, a little action, and more. Overall, this is another must-watch show for those who like a mix of comedy,romance, and some fan service, but not going overboard with any of it. Again, because of the anime, I started to read the manga. I did, however, not like how they sped through everything. I feel that they could have gone more in-depth with the story line and told more than just speeding through many chapters of manga in one episode.

Looking Ahead

This year, it doesn’t seem like it will be nearly as good as the past, anime wise. With all the problems with the costs of making Anime and the recent economic problems, it seems that there is a lack of good stuff. Although, It may just be this coming winter as with winter there is not nearly as many new things as spring/fall. There are only 3 series I am looking forward to with an additional 2 more as possibilities to watch for winter 2010. But the year just started and it is far from over, who knows what will happen! Lets hope for another good year!