Best Animation of 2016

Animation comes in many styles and forms. From highly detailed and polished to sketchy and fluid, anime brings multiple dimensions of art straight to our eyeballs and the result is an EYEGASM. I don't know if other people use this term but all it means is that whatever you're looking at is so good or beautiful it gives your eyes an orgasm! 

As you all see I want to talk about animation today! A while back I had seen Crunchyroll's Anime Awards on their site and I looked at who won best animation (not best anime, animation). I was not personally happy about which show won So I thought it would be great to talk about the shows that were in my opinion top quality when it comes to the animation of a show. I've added a poll that can be seen throughout my blog where you can vote for one of the eight shows I'm talking about today so I can see once and for all which show people think has the best animation. I'll write a paragraph about each show as if I was making the case why that show should win and you all get to decide after reading! 

KEEP IN MIND:

• Spoiler free! \*(^o^)*/
• Vote at the end
• Keep an open mind (Try to be as little biased as possible)
• This is not for best anime, this is for the show with the best animation.

Let's get started!!!!!!!!!!

ERASED

From the winter season I present to you Erased by A-1 Pictures. I would describe the animation of Erased as polished and complex. Every shot you see, every color that's expressed has meaning throughout the show. The symbolism of the color red is impactful and adds a second layer of awe that few other shows can replicate. If you haven't noticed, the color red is used in the show for two purposes; moments of warmth and love and moments of danger. Don't believe me, watch the show again and watch out for it. The animation's polish gives Erased the crisp look we like to see but even better, the angles and art direction of the show give it's animation a new perspective that's rejuvenating. The scenes can be heartwarming and then suddenly turn drastic and intense. This show provides animation that is just jaw dropping! How can you not vote for this one!

KABANERI OF THE IRON FORTRESS

From the spring season, it is Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress by Studio Wit. There's only one phrase that can describe the are of this show; DAAAAAAAMN! I mean have you looked at this, there's so much detail and good motion that I'm having a heart attack just looking at it. The animation for Kabaneri knows how to set the mood when it comes to zombie butt-kicking action. Detailed death animations, explosions of blood pouring out of Kabaneri bodies is just a beautiful thing. Let's not forget the warriors kicking that butt! Characters are highly detailed and have a larger than life feel that you expect from Studio Wit. The landscapes are awesome too. green pastures mixed in with steampunk architecture is something we don't see too often but man does it look good! The animation of Kabaneri just screams epic and that is why there is no other show you should be voting for than Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress! 

My Hero Academia

Spring brings the hit shonen show, My Hero Academia by Studio Bones. I would describe this show's animation as cartoonish and fluid. Studio Bones is great at creating this cartoonish look to anime that they're famous for such as in Soul Eater. The cartoonish nature of the show perfects the sense of adventure that we expect from this story. The animation is at its best when expressing extreme emotions like determination or desire. The animation is used in such a way that it enhances that emotion tenfold! the same could be said about action scenes. Action scenes are well drawn and flow very naturally. People may be turned off by anime that looks a bit cartoony but I say nay! We don't get to see anime like this often so I find it to be a fresh take from the traditional anime we see today. Stellar animation that enhances the feelings of characters and audience is the reason why My Hero Academia deserves to be the show with the best animation!

SPACE PATROL LULUCO

Last contestant coming out of the spring season is Space Patrol Luluco by Studio Trigger. Trigger always does amazing work and it's no different here either. Not many people have even seen this show since the episodes only run for 7-8 minutes but that doesn't make this show any less great! Honestly, thanks to the animation, I've gotten more excitement out of this short than many full length shows that I've seen this year. The animation is best described as being active and fun. When you watch Luluco, you can see that there aren't many times when the show is still; something always happening or changing.The animation is colorful and simpler than traditional anime giving it the lively feel that we enjoy. The animation is great at heightening the comedy and absurdities that Luluco is known for and which really makes the show unique. That's why Space Patrol Luluco is a cut above the rest and deserves the title of best animation.

MOB PSYCHO 100

From the creator of One Punch Man comes a new epic series with the best animation you could ever hope for. From Studio Bones, its Mob Psycho 100. There's only one way to describe Mob Psycho's animation; messy but refined. This purposely messy art style gives a flair we haven't seen in the anime industry for quite some time. The animation can seem lackluster and then suddenly jumps into a burst of detailed and fluid art that has you standing in complete awe. Hours of hard work go into an animation that looks messy but terrific at the same time. Animation  like this is innovative, refreshing, and above all completely awesome!!! The action scenes are the best you'll ever see and that's saying something! Psychic abilities, evil spirits, hand to hand combat is all demonstrated beautifully through the work of Studio Bones.The art-style of Mob Psycho is one of the best that I've seen this year and that is the reason everyone should vote for this show.

YURI ON ICE

From the fall season comes a story of figure skating like it's never been told before. I present to you all Yuri on Ice by Studio Mappa. I didn't think figure skating would ever be so attracting to me but after seeing the beautiful animation done by Studio Mappa, I was highly impressed. This show was definitely an underdog at the beginning of the season but now has become one of the most popular shows of the year. I think the main reason for this is because of the great skating animations that we get to see so often. You an describe Yuri's animation as breathing with life. Skating scenes take a life of their own thanks to fluid animation and great camera work. The camera moves as if you were skating with them inside the rink and the angles the camera takes is absolutely spectacular. Even when watching performances from afar, you feel like a spectator sitting in your seat watching the performance take place in front of your very eyes. Yuri on Ice's animation and approach to camera work make it the best animation of the year and should easily win this competition. 

SHELTER

This next entry isn't a show at all but deserves great praise for what it has done; This is the song Shelter by Porter Robinson and A-1 Pictures. In the span of a couple minutes the animation of this music video had our eyes balling which other shows need an entire season to accomplish. The animation by A-1 Pictures is breathtaking to say the least. The sense of loneliness was perfectly created with the variety of open background scenery. Wide and vast fields, icy tundras, empty neighborhoods; all of it giving the feel that the video aspired to reach. Beautiful effects design give the video that professional touch that you expect from A-1 Pictures and adds an extra layer of depth that makes the video all the more enticing. Overall, it's just great animation doing its job; telling a story. Although this entry will get a lot of debate, I believe that there is no better choice than Shelter to be best animation. 

FLIP FLAPPERS

From the fall season, the beautiful original Flip Flappers by Studio 3hz. This studio may not be all that well known yet but they made sure their voices were heard with this project. Flip Flappers is an extraordinary piece that can only be described as colorful and epic! To start off, I'm not even a huge fan of magical girl anime so it really has to take me away in order for me to watch it and Flip Flappers did just that. The reason I took a liking to the show was primarily for two reasons. The first reason is that the action animations are spectacular. I can genuinely call this a show full of Sakuga (over the top quality animation). The second reason being the the color palette and world creation is top notch. Every new world you see is well drawn and gives off the sense of adventure that this show is all about! The spontaneous color changes with scenery and characters is exciting and keeps you interested in whats going on. That's why Flip Flappers deserves to win best animation of the year for all the great things it does.

So everyone, what do you think? Which show deserves the crown of best animation? Tell me down in the comments below and if the show you thought had the best animation isn't here, then tell me the show i'm missing. Don't forget to vote at the poll for your favorite (or other if you completely disagree with everything I've said). Before you click out, consider checking out my YouTube Channel, GiraffePants Anime for more anime content! With all that said, I hope you all enjoyed reading and hope to see you here next post!

 

Top 10 Red Haired Anime Girls

Top 10 Red Haired Anime Girls

Only in anime can you find girls with all kinds of hair colors. Colors ranging from white to blue to black and every color in between gives a sense of fantasy that we can only hope to reach one day. That being said, for those of you who enjoy the color red well, this is the post for you. Let’s look at the ten coolest females in anime that just happen to have red hair. Some of these girls make your heart pound and some have you watching in awe at the spectacle they perform. Whatever the reason, these girls hit the list for making an impression on you.

10. Manaka Mukaido

To start this list is Manaka Mukaido from the show A Lull in the Sea. Manaka belongs to a race of humans who have the ability to live under the sea. She may be small (she is 14 after all), but she has a big heart. Manaka is the kind of girl that cares deeply for her friends and always wants the group to be happy. She enters the list at number ten because her heart of gold stays true no matter the obstacle. It’s something you can look up to in awe; having the ability to love your friends no matter what. There was one point in the show where Manaka’s friend Chisaki is angry (for reasons I won’t say) and doesn’t speak to her for a number of episodes. In the end they make up and she accepts her in open arms. If I was her, I’d be gloating about being right and rubbing it in my friends face, but then again, we can’t all be saints.

09. Sakaki Shizuka

At number nine on this list is Sakaki Shizuka from the show, Shirobako. Sakaki is a struggling voice actor who is trying to make her break in the industry along with her friends who are also working in the anime industry. While trying to break through in her career she works as a waitress at a local bar. Sakaki is considered by her friends to be a hard worker and does her best to stay positive as she struggles to become a voice actress.  She makes the list at number nine mainly for two reasons. The first reason is that she is a stunning beauty. I mean just look at her; if I was a girl, I’d definitely be jealous of her. The second reason why she’s on this list is because she is an underdog. As I’ve said, Sakaki is a struggling voice actress and has the hardest time finding success compared to the rest of the main cast and knowing how hard she works to succeed just hits your heart in an emotional sense and has you cheering for her.

08. Suou Pavlichenko

At number eight is Suou Pavlichenko from Darker Than Black: Gemini of the Meteor. This young little Eurasian lives in a world full of dangerous ability wielders called contractors. She herself is a contractor, with the ability to manifest a PTRD-41 (some kind of sniper gun) from a meteor rock in her necklace. This tough girl makes the list for being so brave and having a pretty awesome ability. She isn’t afraid to put up a fight, even if it is up against someone superior to her. That’s pretty admirable considering that she’s only thirteen. Suou is cooler than most people in the world. It also doesn’t help to have a sniper manifest in your hands. It makes my power to hold in my urine for a whole day seem a lot less cool.

07. Chidori Takashiro

Number seven on this list is Chidori Takashiro from Kiznaiver. Chidori is stuck in a love triangle between the main protagonist and another woman and suffers emotionally because of it. It also doesn’t help that her physical and emotional pain are connected to six other people including the main protagonist and other woman. With the hell spiral she’s been a part of, she can’t help but cry her tears away. It makes you want to go to her, hug her and take the place of the jerk breaking her heart (can you sense my anger). It’s like when a random woman is crying in public and you just have to approach her to comfort her.

06. Rias Gremory

Number six in this top ten list is Rias Gremory from High School DxD. She’s on this list for two different reasons than the others. First, she is a demon with a whole bunch of power. She comes from a distinguished home of devils along with destructive powers inherited from her family. She can easily incinerate matter which goes against the teachings of Einstein but who cares! The second reason is that she is quite… seductive. If you don’t know, High School DxD is a harem and falls on the more intense side of the harem spectrum. Plenty of nude shots and sexual circumstances occur in the show and as a result, we see plenty of Rias and her bodacious body. Rias makes this list for playing with mens’ (and some ladies) hormones. I believe that ability to be way more deadly. Every man is hook, line, and sinker at the sight of Rias.

05. Shirayuki

At number five is Shirayuki from Snow White with the Red Hair. She may not be as physically seductive as Rias but her personality is enough to make you want to protect her. Shirayuki is a sweet girl who puts others before herself and does her best to get along with others. She can get flustered when she’s uncomfortable (her cutest feature) and above all dedicates herself to what she loves. Shirayuki works to be a court herbalist which is basically like a medicine doctor. She tends to be put in dangerous situations but is a brave lady and even more important, resourceful. She can make medicine from available plants and has proven to be able to get out of sticky situations with her brains. She comes in at number five because her medicinal abilities and lovely personality make her stand out among other red heads.

04. Maki Nishikino

At number four is Maki Nishikino from Love Live. This spunky girl makes it on the list due to her looks, personality, and beautiful voice. Maki is quite the looker. Her short curly hair is gorgeous and her slender figure makes her look like a model. If that wasn’t enough, her personality is adorable. Maki is a tsundere (google it if you don’t know) and can be quite stubborn but is in reality a kind girl. She also has some childish thoughts due to her being smoking rich! She still believes in Santa even though she is way too old to believe in Santa.  If that isn’t cute I don’t know what is. Finally, Maki has a great singing voice (best of the whole group if you ask me). Her sweet voice can intrigue any person listening and for all these reasons, Maki hits number four.

03. Luluco

Number three belongs to Luluco from Space Patrol Luluco. Luluco makes this list mainly because she is just a fun character to watch. If you see the show, you’ll quickly discover that this show is a visual rollercoaster and the story is as insane as it comes. Luluco is no different. She might be moe but don’t let that fool you, She can transform herself into a gun! She describes herself as normal but she is anything but normal, that’s for sure. Luluco fights a multitude of enemies, travels through multiple universes, all in the name of love! I just can’t help but love this girl and all her crazy antics.

02. Yoko Littner

Two words, hot and dangerous. Yoko littner definitely has a… unique choice in clothing. It leaves little to the imagination but that’s not a bad thing. Yoko’s looks are something to behold and makes my heart pound just to look at her.  If that isn’t enough to persuade you well there are other reasons for being so deep in this list; all of them guns! She has a sniper rifle and handguns to dish out justice and her skills give her an advantage over any opponent! Yoko hits number two due to her smoking looks and smoking guns but number one is even more impressive.

01. Erza Scarlet

At number one is Erza Scarlet from Fairytail. Erza is the definition of awesome. She has the magical ability to change her armor as necessary, all with different abilities. She wields weapons (mostly swords) that causes major damage and a fighting spirit that won’t quit no matter what.  She is the toughest of the tough and that is what makes her so darn cool. It also helps that she’s drop dead gorgeous. She has some of the most beautiful scarlet hair in anime and a figure that makes you have a drool moment. Erza Scarlet is the coolest red head in the anime. 

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