Every ten years there is an anime that defines a generation. In the 70's, it was Mazinger Z; in the 80's, it was Akira; and in the 90s, it was Neon Genesis Evangelion. Now that the first decade of the 2000s is coming to an end, what anime will define a decade?
Love it or hate it, Evangelion changed the anime industry
I personally feel that Gurren Lagann is the anime that defines this decade. My reason behind it is that most people who have seen it, loved it. This anime has an interesting story, great character development, comedy, awesome action, drama, surprise twists that no one expected, and a satisfying ending. This anime even had a great meaning behind it.
I originally felt that The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya was going to be the anime to define this decade but after seeing the epic anime Gurren Lagann, I quickly changed my mind. So, what anime do you think defines this decade?
27 comments:
What about Code Geass?
My point of view towards life is similiar to Elfen Lied. So I pick Elfen Lied since this decade seems somewhat twisted, plus the economy doesn't help much.
Gurren-Lagann was a wonderful and inspiring work, certainly. But as far as decade-defining, I believe that The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is the only anime that deserves the spot. Love it or hate it (certainly, right now most people seem to hate it), Haruhi was the first show to be both 1) explosively popular on both sides of the Pacific, AND 2) followed by everybody, episode by episode, *simultaneously.* We've been living in the Internet decade: the age of Nico Nico Douga, Pixiv, all the -Chans, and so on. Haruhi is very much the exemplar of that force.
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Anime of the decade? Hmmm... I would say Haruhi by a hair over Geass. Gurren Lagann was good (even better than Haruhi for me) but Haruhi seems to have had more appeal both in Japan and in other countries than Gurren Lagann. Geass comes close though (though part of it comes from the suckiness of the new Haruhi episodes...)
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I don't think neither Code Geass nor Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann deserve to be the anime of the decade. You may have liked them, but did they really change anime in the same way as NGE, Evangelion and Mazinger?
I'd put my money on Mushishi: it was the anime that showed that showed to just about everyone that you don't need an exciting story to be amazing. It promoted mature series Ghost in the Shell can also be attributed to the change of anime to be more mature.
How does an anime define a decade? Is it massive popularity? Passionate fans and haters? Relevance beyond the generation who saw it?
It's too soon I think to find out, but I suppose Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu is it, but then again some recency bias might be in play [->]
It definitely has to be Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu. Haruhi changed the anime world so much, in so many ways. Haruhi was the first to start the online (and everywhere else) dance trend, which now continues on in other anime. She brought tsundere to a different level, and started a religion.
My runner up would be Code Geass, which brought Nietzsche and every other type of philosophy into an anime that had sex-appeal, mecha, comedy, and strategy. CLAMP = geniuses.
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I would have to disagree and say the Robotech defined the 80's. What about the 1960's? Would not Astro Boy set that decade on fire?
I would love for Gurren Lagan to define the 00's, but we still have time.
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Just based on my view of everything from where I'm standing...I'd have to say Haruhi is more-so the "anime of the decade" then Gurren Lagann. But if I could choose based on my personal preferences between the two I would pick Gurren Lagann.
That being said I feel like Lucky Star also had a great impact too and is a potential candidate, I mean many otaku in Japan travel to Washinomiya JUST because the opening to the anime featured scenes from that town. The town has been absolutely consumed by the Lucky Star fans to the point where they're trying to change the high school uniforms to match those of the cast of Lucky Star.
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For me I feel that it is Haruhi Suzimiya. The show isn't even on my top 30 list but I feel that it is gonna be the most influential anime from this decade.
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I feel Fullmetal Alchemist define 00 decade. I suppose that now that there is another FMA season featuring almost the same eps...
but probably Naruto fans will emerge, and pronaunce it as anime of the decade,...
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This one is hardly even a thinker - Bleach or Naruto would win hands-down because of their retardedly large fandom and how both were originally good then suffered down the line due to fillers and how they gradually became "generic". Is that not how anime is, in this decade?
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Nice.... I can't stand Naruto because of it's retardedly large fandom. I love Bleach because I love the twists and turns in it.
I really can't say what Anime defines this decade... It seems there are so many being put up to the plate here that there will be not ONE Anime that defines this decade as much as there will be MANY Anime that defines this decade. And what I mean by that is, so many people support so many different Anime out there, that there would be a good handful that have defined this decade together.
So many Anime fans can debate endlessly for hours I'm sure, about which Anime has defined this decade. So instead of just choosing one that defined this decade since not everyone will agree, come to an understanding that there are quite a few out there that have together, in their own ways, defined this decade of Anime.
dude, are you out of your mind? no doubt, the anime that made millions of people actually start watching anime and by far the best series from the last decade is DEATH NOTE
and I really can't believe that none of the users that have already commented remembered Death Note...there isn't any person in the world that saw DN and considers it a piece of sh*t..perfect plot, perfect cast of characters, breathtaking twists, amazing ending...Death Note, take a bow
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Actually, the creator of Death Note hates his story and the characters.
And here I thought someone would have mentioned Clannad by now. :p
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in my mind there are 3 anime:
Overall: Gurren Lagann: It is the overall well done movie. great character, mecha, quality, storyline. but if not the top for each of them.
Concept: Full Metal Alchemist: Very interesting way to portray the idea of "alchemy" and it is a pretty rare niche before it came out. The story development is amazing!
Character & Storyline: Code Geass: Seriously, Lelouch gave me a chill when i watch the series, clearly feel his emotions and his brilliant (evil?) way of leading (controlling?) the war. the storyline is always unexpected and breath taking. It is the anime that i'll yell if i have to wait for the next week, almost every episode.
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@Densha-Dan: Great question. Although I think you missed the mark. "Gundam" is obviously a contender alongside "Mazinger" for the 70's. But clearly, mecha ruled. Next, while the film "Akira" definitely caught American audiences, can't forget the "Robotech" series for that same reason in the 80's. Ah, then the 90's saw the likes of Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell), Hideaki Anno (Evangelion), and Hayao Miyazaki (Nausicaa), so any of their masterpieces could qualify, lol. At this point, it wasn't simply mecha anymore, lol. But for the 00's? That's pretty tough. Was there truly a masterpiece?
Well, if a studio ruled above all else, it would probably be Kyoto Animation. Not only with their "Haruhi", "Lucky Star", "Air" and "Kanon" hits, but probably their flagship series "Clannad" as well. Not mecha at all! But rather, based on a dating-sim visual novel. And if any genre defined the 00's, it wasn't mecha-related. Alas, if the growth of "Sankaku Complex" is any indication, it would probably be related to moe, an eroge, or a dating-sim, wouldn't it? In that light, "Clannad" takes the title of "Anime That Defined the Decade". A decade of moe, eroge and girls-girls-girls, lol. So far.
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@Blur-man: I just did below, lol. ^_^
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Mhh, not sure we can already say what the anime of the decade is. There's a few solid contenders mentioned above but usually such things are only clear over time.
I mean, what anime will still be the most discussed and talked about, raved over, adored or hated from this decade 10-20 years from now? That one will be the anime of the decade.
Also, I've my own reservations about NGE and Akira, I've always thought Cowboy Bebop and Ghost In The Shell were much more decisive and significant in that same era.
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Interesting entry
I'd go for Naruto and Haruhi since those anime series had the biggest impact this decade. Sure Death Note is great and its plot, characters, etc. are (possibly) the best ever.
But Naruto is the new dragon ball and haruhi is the new sailor moon IMO.
When I think of an 'anime of the decade' I think of an anime that will/had inspired many series after it.
Code Geass, Haruhi, Gurren Lagann, Death Note...many anime have had watchers find themselves in awe.
It's a tough choice, but I must say it is Gurren Lagann. The graphics are amazing, the story is great, and the characters are both entertaining yet realistic.
Reading through other ppl comments, it seems everyone has their own opinion. Saying that, I find it's a matter of choice and seeing which anime inspired you or made u say 'the best anime series ever'. Sure there's many but there will always be one which pops into ur mind when a similar question is asked again.
Personally, I find Haruhi Suzimiya is the one but FMA is the one I remember about a lot.
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Maybe we'll find out next decade
My bet's on Haruhi
And there I was, cracking my head on how I was gonna put into words my choice of Clannad among the definitions of the decade.. Lol!
"haruhi is the new sailor moon"
Never thought of it that way. But now that you mention it.. Hmm....
Good point.
I cant believe nobody has mentioned Eureka-7...this one is by far better than gurren lagann...it would prob tie with code geass for best mecha show...and Ghost in the shell: SAC and SAC 2 have definitly out done any other show for reaching across to america and elsewhere
The fight's between Wolf's Rain, Samurai Champloo, Ghost In The Shell: SAC and Full Metal Alchemist. I guess it all comes down to taste but I'll give it to FMA this time.
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