What is your Top 10 Anime of All-Time?

[Trumby]

This is...mostly in order.

Baccano!
Last Exile
5cm/s
Laputa: Castle in the Sky
Spirited Away
Cowboy Bebop
Gunslinger Girl
Trigun
Full Metal Panic! (all three seasons)
Fullmetal Alchemist

[oslapedo]

^ Gunslinger Girl and FMA are some of the best manga I've read but I can't say the same for their anime adaptions. :,O

[Vampire-Kameko]

Higurashi~
Shuffle!~
Shugo Chara~
Kuroshitsuji~
Code Geass~
Super Gals~
Pokemon~
Chobits~
Air Gear~
Baccano~

I wanna watch Higurashi!!! ;o; Maybe I'll download it somewhere! >8D

DOWNLOADED!!! d

[Figgles]

So hard to choose. >< But I guess my top ten would have to be...

(No particular order)

Pandora Hearts
Kuroshisuji
Nighthead Genesis
Bleach
Code Geass
Vampire Knight
Hellsing
Trinity Blood
Death Note
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

[TomtheFanboy]

I refuse to prioritize any more than I already have.

Neon Genesis Evangelion
Azumanga Daioh
Macross Plus
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Ouran High School Host Club
Ranma 1/2
Dragonball (but not Z)
Lupin 3rd

I can't decide between Cowboy Bebop and Coyote Ragtime Show. Bebop is the original and it's untouchable, but Coyote Ragtime Show just takes everything up to 11 while still doing a brilliant homage to the shows that came before. I'd pick both and close out the list but I feel that I'm still missing some facet of anime that makes me like some other title more than one of these.

[Anamink]

These aren't absolutely in order, but it's close enough.

1. Naruto ((Even if you don't personally like the series, just look at the impact it's had on the anime world. It's branched off into every area-- movies, games, calendars, food, trinkets... everything. Not to mention the fact that it's been going for a freaking long time. Personally I find it really easy to get sucked up in the plot, and I've become really emotionally invested in the characters... but not everyone would agree. It's really a balance of humor, action, friendship, and heartache.))

2. Code Geass ((Another work of art by CLAMP. The story is utterly compelling and leaves you guessing until the very last episode. The characters are supremely complex and it's interesting to watch how they develop through the series. The artwork/animation is simply gorgeous, but I've always been a CLAMP fan anyway.))

3. Akira ((It may be an older movie, but it's a must-see for the more mature anime fanbase. The story is really indescribable, and may take a few viewings to understand. It's very cyberpunk setting-wise, and has some awesomely weird psychological undertones.))

4. Hellsing ((Absolutely a work of art. Now these are REAL vampires, not those silly "I sparkle in the sun" Twilight geeks. This is definitely a series for more mature viewers due to excessive violence and language, although I must admit I first watched it when I was pretty young. >.> It does go a bit into the "what does it mean to be human?" psychology, but mostly it's a great supernatural thriller.))

5. Kuroshitsuji ((What I loved most about this one was the setting, taking place in the Victorian era around the time of Jack the Ripper. I fell in love with the character designs and their clothing even before I watched it, but I'm glad I did-- it was a wonderful series with a great mix of humor, action, and rather cynical psychology. I really love the way Ciel developed through the series.))

6. Neon Genesis Evangelion ((There's no way I could make a top anime list without including this one! Aside from my intense dislike of the main character, I have always loved this series. Futuristic setting; giant, sort-of-alive robots beating up giant, monstrous angels; psychotic children trying not to lose their last bits of sanity; and various moral dilemmas, including the cloning of people. This is another one that may require multiple viewings.))

7. Pokemon season one, MAYBE season two ((Back when pokemon first came out, it really was a huge deal. I remember when my brother and I first started playing fan-translated versions of the original Japanese games, before they became popular in America, and I was ridiculously excited for the cartoon to start. Although it's mostly just poorly-animated drivel about cute/silly little creatures beating each other up and "bonding" with their owners, kids everywhere fell in love with it. And who can forget "Hey you, Pikachu!" for the N-64; I get to talk to my very own pet pikachu? Yes please!!))

8. Saiyuki ((A new take on the classic "Journey to the West" story, Saiyuki is loads of fun. It has demons, action, drinking/smoking, and hot guys. What's not to love?))

9. Sayounara Zetsubou-sensei ((Possibly the most cynical series I have ever seen, this is a must-see for pretty much everyone. It's a classic example of things you know you're not supposed to laugh at, but can't help doing so. It's like one giant social commentary on life, mostly referencing Japanese culture, and dips into practically every controversial issue you can think up.))

10. The Slayers ((There's nothing deep and profound about this series. The animation is fairly old, and extremely cartoony. But that's a big part of what makes this series so charming; you're not SUPPOSED to take it seriously. The characters and story are silly and overly dramatic, but there are times you'll be clutching your stomach in agony as you laugh hard enough to practically lose consciousness. I wouldn't recommend watching every season at once, lest you suffer permanent brain damage, but it's a light-hearted series that's great for watching when you're tired of the multitude of depressing series out there.))

[oslapedo]

CLAMP only did the character designs for Code Geass, not the plot or anything else =3=

[CloudStrife32]

Not in completer order, but close enough.*shrugs*

- Baccano!
- s-CRY-ed
- Trigun
- Cowboy Bebop
- Sailor Moon
- Witch Hunter Robin
- The Legend of Zelda (The cartoon, which I consider an anime...>>)
- Digimon
- Bleach
- Air Gear

[Mitsukai Mizu Amaya]

FullMetal Alchemist
MARS (It's a taiwanese drama based on a japanese manga, so it counts in my book! xD)
Shippuuden Naruto
Strawberry Panic!
Noein
Sailor Moon
Kyou Kara Maoh
Angel Sanctuary
Axis Powers Hetalia
Ranma 1/2

EDIT

Forgot some of the runner-ups: Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle, Spirited Away, the ORIGINAL Pokemon, Trigun, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Fruits Basket, and Dragonball, DBZ, and DBGT...
In reality, the only favorites are 1-6... after that, I picked at random. I love them all. xD

[Mister_manji]

heh, well I might as well. I'll try to leave out movies.

In no particular order

Cowboy Bebop
Gundam Wing
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Escaflowne
FLCL
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
Princess Mononoke
Black Lagoon

I'm trying to think of something more modern, but nothing has really stuck with me in the past year or two.

[Anamink]

CLAMP only did the character designs for Code Geass, not the plot or anything else =3=

Don't mind me, I fail at life...

Well, CLAMP still did amazingly well on the character designs for Code Geass, imo. Even if they didn't do anything else.

[talkwithtim]

Thank you for all the great comments! I'm putting together the results today and will post the article soon!

[Wuntvor]

I just wanted to say that it is impossible to list a top 10 without also putting in a genre.  This is like saying what are the ten top films of all time.  You are going to get a different list from every individual.  Maybe what you should have is your favorite of ten categories.  Favorite anime movie, favorite anime comedy, favorite anime horror, favorite anime mech series, favorite anime drama, favorite magical girl anime, favorite shounen anime, favorite shoujo anime... You get the idea.

I also noticed that many of the shows listed are ones that have come out in the last 5 years, or that have aired on American TV.  Anime is so much bigger than that.

Here are a few shows that I feel need mentioning that I did not see on the list:

Kiki's Delivery Service - Whenever I think of a first anime for new viewers to watch I immediately think of Kiki.  This excellent film by Miyuzaki and the team at Studio Ghibli deserves a place in everyone's DVD collection.  If you don't get any of the other Ghibli films, get this one.  It captivates all audiences, and is an enjoyable romp.

Tokyo Godfathers -  Another great movie by another great animator.  This anime has become part of my Classic Christmas repertoire.  It rates right up there with Miracle on 34th St. and It's a Wonderful Life  The main characters are a trio you don't often see as heroes in any tale: A teenage female runaway, a 40 something wino, and a drag queen.  The three find a baby in the garbage on Christmas and decide to return it to it's parents.  A great comedy, drama, suspense movie.

Seirei no Moribito - Although this is a fairly new series I want to mention it here because it is a visually stunning masterpiece with a great story.  I was captivated by this show after the first episode and couldn't wait for the next release.  For fans of Xena Warrior Princess give Moribito a try.

From the recent batch of shows I recommend the following:

Toradora  - A fun school comedy with a new twist on the lovers triangle.  Extremely popular.

K-ON - From the number of people anxiously waiting for season two I will have to say that this show is a winner.  The series is about an all girl High School band.  The name K-ON is abbreviated Japanese for Light Music.  All the girls are sweet and have their own groups of fans.  Definitely worth a watch.

Shugo Chara - I mention this one because it is a popular kid/teen anime that is now in it's third season.  I find it rather cute and addicting even though I am an adult.  You can place it in the same category as Pokemon, Digimon, Monster Rancher, Card Captor Sakura, and DiGi Charat.

Older shows that need mentioning:

Scrapped Princess - This is a great series that I feel doesn't get the recognition it deserves.  If you like Full Metal Alchemist (Another great show) then you really need to try Scrapped Princess The overall feel of the show is the same.  Make sure to have tissues handy.

Chobits - I don't suppose this can really be listed as a top 10, but it is dear to me.  Chobits was the first anime I ever rented and watched, knowing it was anime.  This is the show that got me hooked.  Yep, you can blame it all on Chii.

Saiunkoku Monogatari - A shoujo masterpiece that I found totally captivating.  For those who like court intrigue, romance, and womens rights, this is a must see.  I like it better than Fushigi Yuugi which is a similar type of show.

Planetes - Among the space shows out there I find this one to be the most realistic and entertaining.  Garbage collectors in space!  I love the female pilot who smokes all the time and has to sit in a special chamber to suck up her smoke.  The episodes where she hasn't had a smoke in three days, and is suffering from withdrawal  Priceless.

Yawara! A Fashionable Judo Girl - I won't be surprised if you have never heard of this one.  It is an oldie but a goody.  Fan subbing groups have never finished this great series about a normal high school girl who has a natural talent for judo.  Her family runs a dojo and her father was the greatest in Japan, until his 6 year old daughter threw him!  Now Yawara is being trained by her grandfather to be the best ever and win the Olympics, only problem is she just wants to be a normal high school student and go to a girls college and learn to cook!  A current show that is similar is Cross Game or maybe Shijou Saikyou no Deshi Ken`ichi

I listed eleven. Oh well, as I said these are my opinions of shows everyone should see.  There are others as well in every category, these are just the ones that popped into my head first or left a lasting impression on me.  Take the list for what it is worth.  If you watch even one of these shows, then I guess I accomplished my goal.   

[talkwithtim]

I just wanted to say that it is impossible to list a top 10 without also putting in a genre.  This is like saying what are the ten top films of all time.

The genre is anime. And I asked about the top ten anime films of all time. I thought that was pretty clear. In any case, the article has been posted. You can read it here - best anime movies!

[JeffT]

I just wanted to say that it is impossible to list a top 10 without also putting in a genre.  This is like saying what are the ten top films of all time.

The genre is anime. And I asked about the top ten anime films of all time. I thought that was pretty clear. In any case, the article has been posted. You can read it here - best anime movies!

Anime isn't a genre--it's a combination of medium and culture. Genre categories would be like action, comedy, romance, drama, etc.