The Illogicalzen Top Twelve Anime of 2012

It appears to be that time of the year where many bloggers begin to list their favourite anime and make lists that may differ wildly from each other while containing a few common links. I didn’t do this last year, partly because I wasn’t really as involved with anime blogging as I am now, but this year shall be different! I have to admit that I don’t really believe in lists, finding them too restrictive and forcing you into picking your favourite, but for lack of a better format, and because I am taking part in Kidd’s Ani-Bloggers Choice Awards I shall have to come up with a list and an order for my favourite anime for the year. But, even thought they will be in order, these anime are essentially equal for me since I enjoyed them for different reasons and at different times, and in all cases there were points where they didn’t quite work as well. But, before I get into the list proper there are a few honourable mentions, all series that I enjoyed but weren’t quite good enough to make onto my Top Twelve List for a variety of reasons.

Twelve Days of Anime #07 – Beware the God of Flatness!

While Haiyore! Nyaruko-San was a good gag series, it often lacked the right jokes to make everyone laugh, often relying heavily upon the referential nature of its humour and numerous references. Bimbougami Ga does exactly the same but in a better way and it just worked. The humour was helped because the main characters Ichiko and Momiji were fundamentally unlikable and often incredibly arrogant. Despite this they were both great characters to watch and the series revolved around the constant arguing that took place whenever they were in the same room. For me the series was even funnier when it becomes clear that despite their constant bickering, Momiji and Ichiko actually see each other as friends even though they would never admit it.  

Binbougami Ga and the Gadget of Misfortune

Binbougami Ga may be part parody using slapstick comedy and other humour to create a light-hearted story, but at the very centre of it we have a character that is deeply flawed and very lonely. The central relationship of the series between Ichiko and Momiji is one of mutual distrust and general spite. Neither character hates the other, but their petulant natures coupled with the ridiculous situations that they both find themselves in helps to create an atmosphere that is almost preposterous. Binbougami Ga therefore does what Medaka Box failed to do (and arguably the manga continues to fail in this respect) by managing to parody and lampoon other anime and manga genres, while also maintaining a relatively serious story and character relationships.

Binbougami Ga! First Impressions

Binbougami got off to great start with an excellent episode full of brilliant slapstick and wonderful humour, while still having a more serious element to the story. Binbougami Ga is everything that Medaka Box wanted to be (and arguably tried and failed miserably in both manga and anime), it is a wonderful blend of energetic slapstick, along with a element of self-referential comedy, while also having a more serious element about loneliness and friendship. Now, I went into this series already a little biased since I have read the manga (the chapters that have been translated that is) and truly enjoyed it, so this anime only helped to build upon an already good impression that this story has had on me.