I'm not evil, I swear!
Sure, I betrayed my friends and loved ones, unleashed Hollows into the World, and was willing to sacrifice an entire town to achieve Godhood. But can't you see that the system is unjust? I regret nothing!
Sousuke Aizen (Bleach)
Giant piloted robots, serious dramatic military elements. Evangelion, Gundam
Mecha
One Piece
Gothic horror, family curses, Dracula? Sign me up for this video game adaptation!
Castlevania
He may not be official canon, but he sure had neat moves like opening the Dead Zone. RIP Makyo Star.
Garlic Jr.
Look, I needed to sleep okay? Do you know how much sleep a baby needs for healthy growth and development? KAKAROTTTTTTT!!!
Broly (DBZ)
Friendship, power levels, training arcs, maybe even a world tournament or two! Naruto, Yu Yu Hakusho.
Shonen
With works like Kill la Kill and Promare, it was only a matter of time before this studio struck award gold. And in 2023, it did just that when Cyberpunk: Edgerunners won anime of the year.
Studio: Trigger
Originally constructed with the intention of players clearing all 100 floors, Aincrad was a main locale for this hit anime - at least, it was until they realized the rue final boss was hiding on floor 75.
Sword Art Online
Android 16, 17, 18... blech! Too many numbers. Just tell me the real name of Android 20 again? Much easier to remember!
Dr. Gero (DBZ)
Vampires? They disgust me, of course! Sacrificing their humanity to become cowardly ghouls hiding in the dark! Oh, I'll show the World the true strength of humanity. And if I have to burn it to the ground to get my point across, then so be it!
Montina Max/The Major (Hellsing Ultimate)
Transformation sequences, cute 2D girls fighting evil with sparkly powers! Sailor Moon, Pretty Cure.
Mahou Shoujo/Magical girl
He won the 2022 anime award for best antagonist, but also got runner-up for best protagonist. Wait what?
Eren Jaeger (SNK)
You won't see standard chess moves like castling in this anime series. But who's really keeping track? Hey, you can't put your own king in check! That's against the rules!
Code Geass
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4vjJrGeh1c
Wow, I must be getting old! What was the name of this iconic opening song again?
Rock the Dragon
I'm just saying, if everyone you ever knew suddenly died, would you even have existed at all? I can't be the only person thinking about this! I am? Oh, OK. Anyway, how about another drink Richard?
Johan Liebert (Monster)
Color-coded teams of five (or even six!) heroes combining powers/robots/armor with explosive poses. Ronin Warriors, Gatchaman Crowds
Sentai
This anime aired in 1972 along the manga. Though it didn't win any awards then, many would agree that it laid crucial groundwork for its reboot, which won anime of the year in 2019.
Devilman
Rules?! Not in Duelist Kingdom! I don't think Yugi-boy was playing by the rules when he dropped this villain's castle on his own monsters, thereby winning the duel.
PaniK
Galick gun? Yeah, cool move, but vegeta just doesn't seem to want to use it anymore. I tried to tell him how cool it looked when this villain made him use it, but Vegeta just yelled at me and left the room...
Baby (GT)
Warmonger? Please. Ingary is at war and the King demands strong wizards to join the military! Howl needs to grow up. It's not my fault that he's shirking from responsibility!
Madame Suliman (Howl's Moving Castle)
Paranoid, broken-reality stories where characters slowly go insane. Hallucinations, alien signals, breaking the fourth wall. Paranoia agent, Boogiepop Phantom.
Denpa
DAILY DOUBLE
In 2017, this title swept the debut Crunchyroll Awards with best animation, best boy, best couple, best opening, best ending, and of course, anime of the year.
Yuri on Ice
With a name like the Devil King's Castle, you'd think you wouldn't want to go near it, let alone cast explosion spells at it, as one of the female leads does in this isekai.
Konosuba/Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo
Goku, my man. Here's the sitch. I'm tired of bringing you back to life. I don't care that you're the main character, I'm not doing it again! How many times have you even died now?
4 in main timeline (King P, raditz, cell, briefly to hit)
6 if all timelines considered (heart virus from future trunks, killed by zamasu)