Thanks you a lot. Hm, despite telling myself that my interest in anime is on the decline, I watched suprisingly many anime shows this year. Trying to pick a Top 10:

1. Kaiji 2nd Season

Waited for this continuation for what felt like an eternity, made even worse by the uncertainty of it happening at all. The style in this second season changed a lot compared to the first one, but just as before, Kaiji 2nd Season managed to pull exactly the right strings, having me at the edge of my seat in more than a few scenes. The worst part of it all: Waiting for season 3. Still, thereīs only a few selected other anime shows that managed to reach such exciting, thrilling, chilling scenes, namely Death Note and Monster.

2. Hanasaku Iroha

This show was fun, because bitching about the different characters was fun Yeah, I picked on this anime a lot, but it really succeeded in making me invested in all the different characters. Hoping for *that* to happen, routing for *this* character, looking forward to *that* clash of characters, etc.. I didnīt like the ending, but since it seems a second season is in the coming, this becomes a non-issue.

3. Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai

To be honest, I found this show better than Hanasaku Iroha. The reason I put it below is that I couldnīt get rid of the feeling that this anime could have been even better with more episodes. Nonetheless, I loved the sad, but realistic approach of showing the grown up kids, showing that it isnī all sunshine, just because it was in the past. The way each character was portrayed was done very diligently, very emotionally powerful and, in the context, believable. And maybe most importantly: It made me feel for everyone, even myself lol :/

4. Hunter X Hunter

Loved the original anime, love the remake. Yes, some of the censoring is silly and the later episodes of the first batch of episodes started dragging, but one fact remains: HXH is the best shounen-series since Dragon Ball. Forget about Naruto, One Piece etc., this is the best. Just one grand, creative, breathtaking adventure. <3

5. Wandering Son

Wonīt say much here, but that, again, this anime succeeded in making me feel for the involved characters. Two reasons why I placed it that "low": Firstly, the disconnect between the main characterīs problem and myself is just too big. I *can* gather enough empathy to feel for him, but in the end, it remains a tiny bit too absurd. Secondly, I couldnīt buy how *lucky* this boy was, considering his circumstances. Not only has he two friends with about the same problem, but also were all the surrounding people way too understanding. Maybe itīs like that in Japan, but here in Europe, youīd get laughed at and/or called crazy. Very emotional anime, though.

6. Usagi Drop

Every episode was masterful, an emotional trigger of perfection. Iīm really unfair, but the reason for putting it at rank 6 and not higher is the manga. No spoilers allowed, but letīs just say ... itīs absurd. Yeah, absurd is the correct phrase to describe the future events that follow the anime adaption.

7. Level E

A hilarious episodic comedy-anime, but not as totally fucked up as Arakawa under the Bridge. Loved the opening animation.

8. Mirai Nikki

Something about this showīs execution is lacking, because otherwise itīd be near the top of my ranking. I guess part of the problem is the lack of real world-interaction, in other word: How the main characters seem not to care one bit about the "normal world", just because they are caught up in this crazy situation. Would have preferred a more delicate approach, tad bit slower and all.

9. Baka to Test to Shoukanjou Ni

More of the same, and even more repetition of established jokes. Yet, it works. Get me season 3 asap!

10. Bakuman 2nd Season

Still enjoyable, though plot progression has become kinda slow, and I really donīt like some of the characters. And it seems very possible that it turns into a neverending story. Because, ya know, Ashirogi have to keep failing, otherwise thereīd be no more drama lol

Special mention: Infinite Stratos

The 2011-anime I enjoyed hating the most. LOL. You really have to think about it for one second: There you have this kinda neat concept of light weight Mech-suits, a budget high enough for really smooth, dynamic animations during combat, and what do you decide to go for plotwise? OF COURSE, a run-of-the-mill harem-anime! Main character is the only male human being who can pilot one of those mecha-suits and joins an all-girls school. Meets all the different types of girls youīd expect from a hentai-game, erm, I mean, harem-anime. And while weīre all used to the hero of such type of anime NEVER taking advantage of his situation, Ichika marks the dumbest, densest guy in harem-anime history. To be honest, I think heīs gay. Because thatīs the only explanation thatīd make the tiniest bit of sense of his behavior. So, yeah. The only plus of watching this were Shinonono Houkiīs boobs and the resulting hentai doujins. Other than that, one giant piece of bullcrap. Haha, oh wow.

And that was my anime 2011.