Sadness gnaws at me as I compile a selection of the best anime series from the early 2010s. The industry during this period made a huge leap forward in terms of technical execution and sakuga, but the quality of the adapted titles... But that's still ahead. In general, this period became both a blessing and a curse for anime. A curse that remains unbroken to this day. And there are no prospects that some magical girl will suddenly appear to heal the endless isekai conveyor belt. But the beginning of the decade didn't foreshadow anything bad.
By the way, this is exactly the period when Russian fandubbing began to flourish! Last time, I deviated from my own rule of writing about only the five best series, though there were objective reasons for that. This time, I will strictly adhere to the rule.
Steins;Gate (2011)
A smart and interesting science fiction story. The protagonist is Rintaro Okabe, an 18-year-old self-proclaimed "mad scientist" Hououin Kyouma, living in Akihabara. Together with his friends — the kind Mayuri and the hacker Daru — he accidentally turns a microwave into a device that sends text messages into the past (D-mail). At first, the experiments seem fun: they change minor events, win the lottery, save someone's life. But soon Okabe realizes: every change creates a new world line, and the price for interfering with time is enormous. He is forced to relive the tragedies of his loved ones again and again, facing the organization SERN, paranoia, loss of sanity, and moral dilemmas. The anime masterfully combines humor, references to otaku culture, tense suspense, and deep emotional drama. The finale is one of the strongest and most touching in anime history. A classic that every sci-fi fan must watch.
Attack on Titan (2013)
This anime became much more than just a "good series." Thanks to "Attack on Titan" (of course, the correct translation is "Attack on Titan," but the erroneous title has already taken root in Russia), even those who hadn't really heard much about anime before 2013 started watching it. A dark epic in the genres of dark fantasy, action, and psychological drama. Humanity is nearly exterminated by giant Titans that devour people for no reason. The last survivors live within three huge walls that have protected them for many years. The story begins with the fall of Wall Maria: the Colossal Titan and the Armored Titan breach the barrier, and Titans flood in. On that day, 10-year-old Eren Yeager loses his mother, vows to exterminate all Titans, and joins the Survey Corps along with his adoptive sister Mikasa and friend Armin. The series shocks with its cruelty, sudden deaths, and constant sense of hopelessness. As it progresses, the secrets of the Titans' origins, the world beyond the walls, and the very nature of the conflict are revealed. The plot transforms into a complex political and moral drama about freedom, revenge, the cycle of hatred, and the price of survival. The animation, music by Hiroyuki Sawano, and characters made "Attack" one of the most discussed and influential anime of the 21st century. The finale evokes polarizing emotions but remains powerful and ambiguous.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
Yes, this is not the first adaptation of "JoJo." But it was this one that attracted maximum attention to this magnificent parade of pathos and stylish poses, turning it into a true cult phenomenon. The series started with the parts Phantom Blood (1880s) and Battle Tendency (1930s), where the main characters are members of the Joestar family, whom their loved ones simply call JoJo. In Phantom Blood, the noble Jonathan Joestar confronts his adoptive brother Dio Brando, who uses a Stone Mask to become a vampire and craves power. An epic struggle of a gentleman against a vampire, full of drama, courage, and tragedy. In Battle Tendency, Jonathan's grandson, Joseph Joestar, uses the energy of Hamon (Ripple) to battle ancient super-beings — the Pillar Men, creators of the mask. Here, the signature humor, tricks, poses, and flashy style appear. And the story of Kujo Jotaro and his signature "Yare yare daze" instantly became timeless memes.
Sword Art Online (2012)
Here it is, the herald of the anime apocalypse. The very "patient zero" from which the massive infection of the anime industry with isekai began. It is with this series that our beloved anime split into "before" (taste, plot, intrigue) and "after" (mass production, self-plagiarism, and boredom). And yet, ignoring this series and its contribution to the industry is simply criminal. Like ignoring Hitler's personality in world history. SAO is one of the most famous and discussed anime in the isekai genre. 10,000 players are trapped in the VRMMORPG Sword Art Online, created by Kayaba Akihiko. Logging out is blocked: death in the game means death in reality. To survive, they must clear all 100 floors of the floating castle Aincrad. The protagonist — Kirito (Kazuto Kirigaya), a beta tester and loner, quickly becomes one of the strongest. Alongside him stands out Asuna — the vice-leader of the guild «Knights of the Blood Oath», strong, beautiful, and determined. Their relationship forms the basis of the first arc. The series is divided into arcs: Aincrad (classic survival in an MMORPG), Alfheim Online (fantasy with fairies), Gun Gale Online (cyberpunk shooter), Mother's Rosario, and Alicization (the most extensive and controversial). It was the SAO anime that popularized the trend of isekai with VR, "death traps," and widespread harem elements. And who to put fifth on the list? Hmm, so many options, because year after year, more and more anime came out, good and different. Maybe something like "Haikyuu!!" or "Kuroko's Basketball"? Probably not. There were plenty of cool sports anime back in the 80s, so nothing unique here. I really want to write about "Space Dandy," but that's more of my personal affection, which most people wouldn't appreciate. Perhaps...
One Punch Man (2015)
An epic parody of the superhero genre from studio Madhouse. The protagonist is Saitama, an ordinary 25-year-old guy who, after three years of intense training (100 push-ups, sit-ups, squats, and a 10 km run daily), became so strong that he defeats any enemy with one punch. As a result, he went bald and... got bored: there are no worthy opponents, fights have become routine. The world is full of monsters and disasters, and to combat them, the Hero Association with ranks from C to S was created. Saitama joins it as a hobby, but his feats are ignored due to his bald head and modest appearance. The anime explodes with dynamic battles, stunning animation (especially the final scenes), absurd humor, memes (Saitama's "OK" face), and satire on superhero clichés. Alas, the second and especially the third seasons of the series turned out to be much worse than the first. And that's putting it mildly. And yet, the manga by artist Yusuke Murata and author ONE becomes more and more magnificent with each passing year.
What, no revelations? Well, there you have it.