Kotaku's Top 5 Anime of 2013

[kndy]

http://kotaku.com/the-five-best-anime-o ... Socialflow

[Heero]

I have to go back and look at what all came out this year. Generally the list isn't bad, the first 2 I definitely agree with. "Attack on Titan" was the obvious breakout series and "Devil is a Part-Timer" is an incredibly amusing show. I can't speak to "Silver Spoon" because I admit I just couldn't get into it, but I also didn't try that hard so I don't hold it against the show.

The last two are tough though. As I noted previously on here, I think "Gatchaman Crowds" was definitely better than expected, probably would've been at least somewhat more accepted if not for the name. I think its certainly worth watching, but understand if people disagree. But regarding "Beyond the Boundary", it was a fun show, but I can't say as I would classify it as one of the 5 best of 2013. I can't say I would even necessarily say it was the best of this past SEASON. BtB is entertaining in its own way, but not one I would unreservedly recommend to people. The front half trades almost entirely on Kyoto Animation's particular aesthetic, and the ending leaves a lot to be desired.

[usamimi]

ugh, I'm not really a fan of Kotaku, and this list is no different. Obviously Attack on Titan was great, that's a no-brainer, but I don't really agree with a lot of the rest of their choices other than maybe Devil is a Part-Timer. Ending was a bit lackluster, but the first few episodes were genuinely funny. Beyond the Boundary, I haven't finished because...I WANT to like it, but they keep focusing more on the boring daily lives of the characters and fanservicey crap when I want them to go back to the fantasy/sci-fi elements of that world. It's just not balanced well enough for me, I think.

The fact that they gave "The Hentai Prince and the Stoney Cat" an honorable mention is ridiculous, I watched a little of it after a friend raved at how funny it was and it was just more loli-perv-comedy stuff. Not worth anyone's time, unless you're into imouto junk.

AND the fact that Psycho-Pass is at THE VERY BOTTOM OF THAT LIST is depressing. I enjoyed Psycho-Pass, it was a great sci-fi show and I can't wait for season 2. I honestly can't fathom how that show didn't make their "top 5" over, say, Silver Spoon (well, to be fair I can't really say anything about Silver Spoon since I haven't seen it, but really...Yamato 2199 or Psycho-Pass probably deserved the spot more).

I think some of the most notable series that came out this year would be (in no real order): The Eccentric Family, Devil is a Part-Timer, Psycho-Pass, Watamote, Kill la Kill, and probably Yamato 2199 (though I haven't seen it).
Honorable mentions: Chihayafuru season 2, Kyousougiga (I haven't finished it yet, but it's intriguing and has a very interesting visual style), The Flowers of Evil (though it's really just a 13 episode advertisement for the first half of the manga), and Free! simply because it was nice to see a show for ladies that was fanservicey but DONE WELL.

Of course, I understand that taste is entirely subjective, and that the people who probably regularly read Kotaku aren't watching and enjoying the same kind of stuff I do, so...

[greg]

...And Yamato 2199 only gets honorable mention. Oh well, such is the way the tide is flowing these days...

[llj]

ugh, I'm not really a fan of Kotaku, and this list is no different.

Haha, yes! And I always feel like I'm doing them an undeserved favor by clicking on their site. I just can't stand their whining and snark.

[greg]

The Kotaku article that always comes to mind first is this one, by a guy living in Japan who just needs to move back home and remind himself of how crappy America can be, too. He makes some great points on how J-pop songs are all about "wasurenai", how dumb One Piece is, and how dumb Japanese talking head personalities are on TV. So much of the article, however, is pretty stupid. I have very little patience for people such as those who are Vegans or are covered with tattoos, come here, and complain about how Japanese society doesn't accept them. As if the thought of just moving back home where that sort of lifestyle stuff is considered somewhat normal never crosses their minds. The guy bitches about passive-aggressiveness. I had that happen to me on my last trip to Tokyo. As I was stepping onto a train, some douchebag who was standing next to the door put his leg out in front of me for no reason. I'd rather deal with that sort of passive-aggressiveness than what I encountered living in Arizona: having Wendy's Big Gulp cups thrown at me and nearly run over by cars just because I dared to walk down the sidewalk.

So anyhow, yeah, Kotaku articles are quite often crap.

[Animusubi]

I saw "Kotaku" and didn't bother reading it. Those guys are some of the worst journalists on anything, games or anime.