My Favorite Anime of 2018

I don't watch much TV or movies but what I do watch a lot of is anime. This year I decided to keep track of how many anime I watched and I watched a total of 50. While that might not seem like a lot, for me it is. If you'd like to see all the anime I've watched you can go here.

Some of the anime I watched were new releases from this year, already released animes, or animes with a continuing season. I'm going to be putting this list in a chronological order of when I started the anime, since all of these are my favorites from what I watched this year I don't see a point in numbering them most to least favorite. Alright, let's get right into it!

1. Black Clover (2017)

I didn't realise this was an on-going series when I first started watching it in the beginning of this year. I thought it just a 12 or 13 episode first season but was wrong. When I watched those first 12 episodes I obviously had the same thought as a lot of other people, "This reminds me of Fairy Tail" mostly because of the main character Asta and how similar him and Natsu are in characterization. While this anime does have similarities with Fairy Tail (2009)and from what I've read other animes, now that it's about 60+ episodes in I believe it's started to differ itself. One of the reasons that I still watch this anime is because of how interesting Asta's ability is, or well, lack there of. I'm also really interested in seeing how him and Yuno are connected not only to one another but to the first Wizard King and maybe even the first demon, that's my own theory. If you like magic-type anime with strong friendships and lengthy battle scenes then you'll most likely enjoy Black Clover.

2. Boku no Hero Academia (2016)

This year I caught up on Season 2 of Boku no Hero and watched Season 3 live. I don't think there's anyone who doesn't like this anime. All of the characters are all so loveable and have such great and interesting relationships with one another. The character development is one of the best I've seen in any anime I've watched, if I'm being honest. This combines two of my favorite anime tropes, high school and magical powers/abilities. I cry at anything but this show will make you cry and laugh and just feel so happy. If you haven't already I strongly suggest checking it out.

3. Made in the Abyss (2017)

If you want to cry this is the anime for you. I can only describe this as being both wholesome but very dark and mature. This anime follows a young girl who meets an odd boy who then decide to travel down in the Abyss that is in the center of their city because they think the boy came from the Abyss. It's such a unique and different anime that follows kids that actually looks like kids. It became one of my favorites within the first few episodes because of how amazing it is. I can see why it won of the Crunchyroll's Anime of the Year this year.

4. Ling Qi (Spiritpact) (2016)

This year I watched both season 1 and season 2 of Ling Qi. When I read the summary and had decided to watch it I did not realise it was a full on Shounen Ai anime. I was so shocked when I did realise it was a Shounen Ai because I just was not expecting it. I'm not complaining though, the plot of this anime is still interesting and it's sole focus isn't on the relationship between the two characters but their relationship does play heavily into the plot, especially in season 2. If you're looking for something with really cute scenes but also some good sword fighting and family drama then this is it.

5. Tanaka-kun is always listless (2016)

Tanaka-kun is always listless is my favorite highschool/slice-of-life anime. There's not too much going on plot wise. There are a few crushes here and there but what's the best about this anime is Tanaka-kun he's basically always falling asleep and doing the least that he can, which is the point. His best friend Oota is pretty much always looking out and taking care of him, it's really cute and sweet. This an anime that I would recommend watching maybe after you've just binged a battle-heavy or emotional anime, it's a good way to just reset, laugh, and be happy.

6. Assassination Classroom (2015)

Let me say that I did not expect to love this show as much as I did and still do. You wouldn't think that a show about a rejected class of students trying to kill their own teacher would be as sentimental and emotional as this is but, wow. I watched both season 1 and 2 this year and this anime really pulled at all my heartstrings. I was bawling my eyes out during the second half of the second season, especially the last 2 episodes. Although the class' main goal is to kill their teacher they build such an amazing bond with him that you cannot help but cry at the end. All the characters in this are amazing and this is another show that has some good character development especially considering it's kind of short. I highly suggest watching this if you haven't already.

7. Poco's Udon World (2016)

This is a very cute and calm anime. It's about a guy who ends up going back home after his father's death with the intention of cleaning out his childhood home so his and his sister can put it up for sale. He ends up building a bond with a Tanuki who takes form as a human child and through this bond remembers his childhood and his father. It really is just one of the cutest animes I've ever seen and is reminiscent of Barakamon (2014). This anime made me cry, of course.

8. Miira no Kaikata (2018)

As you can probably tell I love cute anime and this one is no different. This anime follows a highschool boy who gets a package from his explorer of a father. In this package is a small little mummy who is the cutest little thing! He cries so much when Sora is at school that he dehydrates himself. Along with Sora and Mi-kun, there are many other human and creature friends that are introduced throughout the series. Each human and supernatural pair are so similar and the best of friends, they're all the best of friends. This is another anime that's a good one to watch after a heavier anime, it really lifts the mood.

9. Junjou Romantica (2008)

I really can't believe how much I liked this anime. I had started to watch it so long ago but stopped around episode 3 or 4 for some reason, so this year I had randomly decided to watch another episode or two to see if I would finish the series or drop it. I then somehow ended up watching all three season in like 2 days because of how hooked I became. Since this is an older Shounen Ai anime it has the cliche forceful scenes that I myself do not like but they aren't as bad in season 2 or season 3, but they are present. The main reason I love this show is for the main couple Usami and Misaki, I really don't care for the side relationships that are touched on in the first 2 seasons, and this is another reason why I prefer season 3. This is kind of like a guilty pleasure watch, there's no super-real plot or anything, you're pretty much just watching to see the two characters relationship.

10. Bungou Stray Dogs: Dead Apple (Movie) (2018)

My main reason that I love this movie is because of one certain scene with Chuuya and Dazai. I don't want to put spoilers but if you've already seen this movie then you know what part I'm talking about. This is a movie from the series Bungou Stray Dogs which is a series that follows an agency of people who solve crime but they also have special powers. The movie itself is about that agency teaming up with the rival mob in destroying an enemy who has a power to make the people with special abilities kill themselves. The plot is great and I loved seeing Nakajima and Akutagawa working together instead of fighting again one another.

11. How Not to Summon a Demon Lord (2018)

I was not expecting this anime to be what it is when I first started to watch it. It's about a gamer who ends up being summoned into a world that is exactly like the game he is playing, he has all of his ultimate stats and everything. The two girls who summon him end up becoming his partners in the world and they basically all live together in a hotel room. It's hilarious and cute and really makes you love all of the characters. There are a lot of sexual scenes between the three main characters but I think it kind of adds to the hilariousness because of how awkward the main character Diablo is on the inside but it acting all cool and collected on the outside. This is a good mix of a comedic and battle type anime.

12. Kakuriyo: Bed and Breakfast for Spirits (2018)

This is by far my favorite anime from this year. It's about a girl, Aoi, who ends up in the spirit world - Kakuriyo - because her grandfather promised her to the ogre, Oodanna, as a payment for his gambling debt. While she's in Kakuriyo she remembers a time when a spirit - ayakashi - saved her life when she was a little girl, she tries to figure out who that spirit was. This series also follows some of the side characters to give them more depth. I am really hoping this gets a second season because the animation is beautiful, the characters are so amazing, and I would love to see how the relationship between Aoi and Oodanna grows.

13. Toradora (2009)

There aren't many anime, or shows in general, that I would rewatch but this is one where I would. It's so amazing and one of the best romance-centered anime I've watched. It's such a simple concept, two characters have a crush on the other's bestfriend so they decide to help one another, but of course, end up liking each other instead. It's a really fun highschool anime with fun characters and a build up to the final relationship that I haven't really seen in any other anime that I've ever watched.

14. Dakaichi - My number 1 (2018)

Amazing. Wonderful. Lovely. This is another Shounen Ai anime that again I didn't even realise was going to be a Shounen Ai until I started to watch it. The two main character, Takato and Junta, are actors who end up starring in the same TV drama, which is where they meet. They're relationship is so cute and you can really tell how much Junta loves Takato. This is an anime where you really just have to watch it and experience it.

15. Fairy Tail: The Final Season (2018)

Fairy Tail is my favorite anime of all time. It's the first manga I ever read and finished and was the first longer anime that I watched. I love all of the characters so much and am so sad that this is the last season but am also so happy that the series is finally back in animation form. Fairy Tail was first animated in 2009 and follows a guild of wizards called, you guessed it, Fairy Tail. They go on 'jobs' to earn money and of course there's bad guys that they have to fight to basically save the world. If you have not watched this anime I recommend it times a thousand. It has such strong friendships and the openings are some of my favorite in all of anime. The soundtrack is also amazing. You'll laugh, cry, smile, and experience every emotion, it's really such a great show and hold a very special place in my heart.

There are my top 15 anime that I watched this year! I can't wait to watch more in 2019! I have some heavy anime goals that I hope to finish next year, and that's mostly to watch the classics that have 300+ episodes and of course to watch the new ones that come out next year as well. What was your favorite anime you watched this year?