Rolling in at number ten is a Korean anime that released in the fall season of 2005. This wonderful story revolves around the life of Jang Geum and her passion for cooking. Jang Geum’s dream was to become a palace chef, but she met with numerous hurdles along the way. Jang Geum has to pass all of the tests to become a refined chef while in fierce competition with her rival. No matter what, Jang Geum always managed to impress everyone with her exceptional creativity, determination, and zest. You can’t help but cheer for her as she always strives for the best and makes sure to do things the right way, and her way. One fantastic example is in episode two when Jang Geum decides to create a very simle rice dish which goes very well for her in the beginning. Rice is very delicate and must be prepared with the right amount of attention, and Jang Geum had it all complete. Suddenly an accident occurs which puts her behind the rest of the competitors, leaving her with very little time to work with. In the end, the judges tried her rice dish and were very impressed by it, despite not having much time to prepare it. We feel this show is deserving of its tenth spot because it tells a wonderful story of passion with a touch of warmth to provide meals that not only serve the hungry stomach, but to fill our empty souls.

Food will always be the gateway to our souls because of how much variety is out there to choose from. This brings us to number where Bonjour Koiaji Patisserie makes its appearance on the number nine spot. Seeking to pursue a career in pastry, Sayuri decides to enroll into an elite confecitonery academy that's surrounded by many handsome men in uniform. They all aspire to be chefs much like herself and to her amazement, can create some fantastic dishes as well. Pastry design will always be popular no matter what part of the world you reside in, and when you watch this anime you'll be blown away at what these characters come up with. The show teaches us about the importance of having a focus and sticking to it, as shown by Ryou and his supreme baking skills. Many of us are led astray by others who don't serve a purpose similar to our own, and we become distracted and end up leaving our passions behind. Bonjour Koiaji Patisserie teaches us to regain that focus and to surround yourself with wonderful like minded individuals who will not only help you strive for success, but to help build character and live the life you've decided in your heart.

Coming in at number eight is Muteki Kanban Musume. The story focuses on Miki, a poster girl who works by her mother's side at their Chinese ramen restaurant. Miki seems to have a very innocent persona at first glance, but that all changes once you get on her nerves. Whenever a conflict arises Miki tends to lose her temper, fighting with everyone in the restaurant including her mother, which end up causing mishaps. Now, we simply can’t leave out the most important dish of the entire series, and that’s ramen. When watching the series you get a glimpse of the true essence of how the popular dish is made, and the heart that goes into it. Ramen is a very delicious bowl of savory goodness that can be served in a variety of ways. In Muteki Kanban Musume, the style that is used primarily is the Chinese method of preparing which is quite simple and easy to do on your own. In Japan it is called Chuuka Soba which literally translates to Chinese Soba or Chinese Noodles. What you’ll usually find in a bowl of ramen consists of Chashuu which is sliced braised pork, Scallions, Menma (bamboo shoots), and the very popular Nori (Dried Seaweed). Other items can be added such as a boiled egg or bean sprouts which add an extra bit of texture and flavor to the meal. If you truly love ramen and would like to see more then be sure to check out Miki and her friends!

Sushi and Beyond is an anime based on the book by British travel and dining Journalist Michael Booth. Booth and his family embark on a 100-day trip to Japan where Booth takes the viewer on an adventure to several Japanese styled restaurants focusing on various dishes. Not only does the show provide you with an entry way into the world of Japanese culture, you're educated on how to properly eat and enjoy the beautiful cuisine it shares with everyone. For most of the show, it teaches us how special Japan really is and how unique much of the cuisine is with regards to Japanese tradition. This is a show that is full of great information not just about food but will educate you about Japanese culture as well. We suggest you watch it and learn more about the great restaurants that are found all around the amazing nation.

Wakako-Zake follows the audacious life of Wakako Murasaki, who truly enjoys going out alone to eat and drink where ever she desires after finishing work. Wakako takes us on a journey filled with an assortment of great food served in a very Japanese style. Each episode of the show lasts for roughly 2 minutes, making a short series that show us some very delicious meals throughout. A lot of the show introduces viewers to various Japanese methods of cooking such as the episode 11 where Wakako shows us a very popular dish named “Hokke”. Japanese custom its own method of preparing the dish and from watching this particular episode, you can see that every part of the fish is considered and not ignored. In more of the episodes we start to see more unique dishes created by various chefs in different restaurants such as Crab Miso, Goya Chanpuru, and Sea Urchin Cresson which are very delicious Japanese dishes that can only be found in certain parts of the nation. We highly recommend watching this anime to really get a true feel of Japanese style culinary.

Kofuku Graffiti comes in at number six on our list, and we'll provide reasons why we think it deserves its position. Machiko Ryou is a middle school student that decides to live with her second cousin Morino Kirin. Knowing that her passion lies in the form of cooking, she finds happiness can be created through making great dishes for everyone, including Kirin. Her late grandmother had passed down her knowledge to ensure that Ryou can not only bring inspiration into her life, but to bring satisfaction to those around her. Gourmet cooking is such a blast to watch because of its sheer attention to detail relating to taste, color texture, and more. A lot of moe is shown throughout the series which in Japanese refers to the feeling of bursting out or using a special power to make your heart burn with passion and love. You can definitely see passion and love come straight out of the hands of Ryou as she always has ideas running through her mind, ready to share great foods with her friends on their wonderful journey through the gourmet world. If you enjoy the moe-style approach along with mouth watering cookery then be sure to watch this great anime.

Making its way into our top five spot in our favorite cooking/food anime is Yumeiro Patisserie. This sweet series follows the life of Ichigo Amano who doesn't necessarily have the talent of creating a beautiful cake, but her strong palate makes up for it quite easily. Her grandmother who was a pastry chef encourages Amano to pursue a career in pastry, and tells her to find a school to study and become a chef herself. We see that throughout the series Amano uses her great sense of taste to create some very potent pastries that will have you foaming from the mouth. For those who have a sweet tooth, Amano whips up a great assortment of cakes while her competition throughout the series make some of the best pastries we've ever seen. The sheer attention to detail and accuracy are what make this such a great addition to our list. The food may be the selling point of the series, but what truly places the icing on the cake is the presentation. Have you ever walked into a pastry shop only to see everything so neatly stocked and designed? Yumieiro Patisserie will not only have you licking your lips in satisfaction, but also inspire you to truly live out your dreams and become a master of what you love doing in your heart.

Yakitate! Japan is a wonderful classic cooking anime that focused on the life of the bread obsessed Azuma Kazuma whose dream was to become the best bread maker in Japan. He was gifted by the gods with having hands that could produce natural heat and help speed up the fermenting process when making bread dough. The special power was known as “Solar Hands” which you can see him use frequently all throughout the competition. His goal is to make his Ja-Pan the national bread of Japan, and so he ventures out to ensure he secures a spot in the very prestigious Pantasia Bakery. We chose this as our number two spot because Kazuma shows determination his willingness to succeed doing what he loves, which is to make bread. Furthermore there aren't that many anime that really focus on the process of making bread from scratch, using real methods to demonstrate to the viewer. Not only does this show educate you and make you crave some sweet pastry, it is full of great humor that will keep you laughing for hours after watching one episode. One great example is how the show really focuses on exaggerating those moments when the judges taste a certain pastry only to burst out in this pseudo-orgasmic behavior that just creates a wonderful tone, and helps to balance out the more serious moments of the show. If you truly enjoy your cakes and sweet pastries like we do, then make sure to check out this very wonderful slice of life comedy.

We most certainly love diversity when it comes to the preparation of food, and so our next contestant is Ristorante Paradiso which comes in at number three. Nicoletta felt resentment towards her mother Olga, as she ran off to Rome to remarry. Nicoletta never accepted her mother's decision and throughout her youth she vowed to get back at her, that is until she comes across an Italian restaurant called Casetta Dell'Orso. As Nicoletta walked inside she was immediately greeted by very handsome gentlemen in formal clothing, and much like the employees the clientele were very well kept too. Before she could ever really let out her feelings towards her mother, the environment in which she found herself in started to grow on her leading to a love of the Italian lifestyle. The wonderful thing about this anime doesn't just come from Nicoletta’s complicated past, but from the marvelous cuisine that comes from it all. You can see that much of Nicoletta's mother's love is displayed through her fine dining being very meticulous. Once you're greeted with a glass of red wine and some of the world's best Italian pasta, every bit of hatred in your bones dissipate and you're immediately amazed with all of the many herbs and spices that blend well with each other. We suggest you take a bit of time to relax and enjoy the adventures that Nicoletta experiences, and truly take in all that Casetta Dell'Orso has to offer.

Shokugeki no Souma really turned heads and made many drool when it made its debut back in the spring of 2015. Yukihira has had a dream since he was very little to become a world renown chef, but never had much opportunity to showcase his talents. His father one day decides to close the restaurant and encourages Yukihira to enroll in the Tootsuki Culinary Academy to sharpen his skills as a chef. This elite cooking school is home to some of the world's best and it has now become the purpose of Yukihira to fulfill his dream to becoming the best the world has ever seen. The first season of the series really left us craving for more as each episode that aired was full of an abundance of information pertaining not just cooking, but Japanese style cuisine. With a variety of culinary techniques we were amazed at just how well prepared these dishes were and how remarkably similar they are to their real life counterparts. In the second season Yukihira makes his triumphant return continuing from where it left off in the very tense culinary finals, where he squares off against highly skilled chef Alice. While we don't want to giveaway much of the episode, much of it focuses on the very popular Bento. This new season is already shaping up to be a very intense one which is why we had to give it the number one spot.

Oota Saya is the shy younger sister of Oota. She is also, coincidentally, the BFF of Tanaka’s sister, Rino. Shy but honest, Saya would be that cute BFF you’ve always wanted. Much like their older brothers, Saya and Rino get along well because their personalities make a fine mismatched combination. Saya leans on Rino’s confidence and dependability, whereas Rino admires Saya’s sweet-hearted nature. It’s possible Saya’s shyness can be trying at times, but she’s just so darn cute! While having her as a BFF would be great, probably she would be better as a little sister. Too bad this isn’t a little sister list.

We don’t want to split hairs when it comes to this inseparable duo, Shimura and Katou. Shimura is a megane-kun, and Katou is a cheerful guy with a propensity to overreact. They are the normal guys who make it more obvious how quirky Tanaka and Oota are. Sometimes, they can be a source of aggravation for Tanaka, by drawing attention to him or asking him to do too many things. Still, Shimura and Katou are kind-natured and do their best to understand Tanaka. Although they don’t really get him, they still try. The main reason they would make good BFFs though, is because as a pair, they are great at “making the atmosphere.” They know how to joke around and have fun and react in entertaining ways. During the school cultural festival, the duo went all out to make their class’s haunted house a success. Fun and dependable, we would take both Shimura and Katou as our BFFs.

Tanaka Rino might have the same face and her older brother, but Rino is strict and responsible. She takes care of the household chores and her brother’s wellbeing. Rino knows her older brother better than anyone and accepts all of his weirdness. Now, Rino may have a serious bro-con (brother complex: she really likes her brother in a non-sibling way), but when it comes to her BFF Oota Saya, she is equally dependable for her friends. Rino might be a little over-protective at times, but she’s doing it out of love, so we can’t hate her for it. Even when Rino is faced with the fact that her best friend is actually the sister of her archrival for her brother’s attention, Rino still sticks with Saya. Rino is cold and slightly evil towards her enemies, but she’s equally empathetic and caring to her friends and family. Rino is the BFF you want in your corner when drama hits. While there’s not much drama in Tanaka’s world, there’s plenty of it in real life, and we’re sure that Rino would be a champion.

Another inseparable duo, female version, consists of Miyo and Kich, the pair of friends who spend a lot of their free time with Shiraishi. Miyo, or Micchan, has a sweet smile with an even sweeter attitude. Kich, or Kicchan, is kind and hardworking. Both are very considerate of Shiraishi and support her after they learn Shiraishi has a crush for someone. Even after Shiraishi starts to relax from her “idol” image and wears glasses to school, Miyo and Kich only have kind words to offer their friend. These two are “normal” students and emphasize Shiraishi’s former-outcast mentality. Still, they are the perfect friends for a former outcast, often thinking about Shiraishi and always inviting her to have fun with them. Always bringing the happy and friendly vibes, Miyo and Kicchan would be great BFFs for both normal and quirky people alike!

Saionji is just a young hard-working girl doing multiple part-time jobs, and that’s impressive on its own. Even Tanaka describes her as “amazing.” We were able to get a sneak peek into Saionji’s inner monologue in the few times she was on screen, and we totally agree with her thoughts if we were to run into a real-life Tanaka and Oota duo. She thinks through situations in the most entertaining way possible. Her skills in hyper analysis combined with her earnest personality make Saionji an admirable character. Even though we know that in her head she’s getting flustered, she still keeps it all together. Keeping it together is a quality we all love in our BFFs. Not to mention, we could sit and listen to her thoughts on everyday situations for hours. It’s a shame she didn’t have more appearances in the anime. Please, tell us more, Saionji!

Shiraishi is always in the spotlight after making her high school debut as a classroom idol, despite having an extremely introverted personality. Still, she has all the best qualities of an introverted friend: thinks carefully before speaking and doesn’t impose on Tanaka’s quiet time. On the other hand, she is also very stylish and adept in baking and sewing. As the class representative, Shiraishi proves herself to be responsible, hardworking, and popular. Everybody loves Shiraishi, and so do we! Shiraishi gets Oota’s seal of approval in baking, and if we could become BFFs with Shiraishi, we would always be available for a taste test! Not to mention, Shiraishi knows how to relax. If you’re not familiar with the sheer joy of tying your bangs out of your face, then you better get familiar fast. Shiraishi is a BFF that you can relax with in sweatpants and then have a fun time getting ready to go out with. After her extensive research, Shiraishi knows all the ins and outs of what’s fashionable, so we welcome her as our BFF fashion guru.

Someone please help us make this sleepy boy our BFF. While the title lets you know that Tanaka-kun is listless, or even lazy, we can also say that Tanaka is an extremely peaceful and laid-back guy. As a BFF, we could depend on Tanaka to never insert unnecessary drama into our lives. If anything, we can always depend on Tanaka to make the choice that expends the least amount of energy, and that type of predictability is welcome in our chaotic world. Not to mention, Tanaka’s outlook on life taps into our own inner wish to sleep all day. There’s so much we could agree on with Tanaka when it comes to the desire to relax and the allure of peace and quiet. Even though Tanaka doesn’t like noisy places, he will speak at length on his ever-listless lifestyle, and it’s pretty fun just hearing his interesting perspective. Moreover, if we want to go out and have a more exciting time, Tanaka wouldn’t be upset when he gets left out. If anything, he would be appreciative. With an entertaining mindset on life with no frills and no drama, Tanaka could be a steady BFF that we can rely on.

Echizen is known to be a “yankee” girl. She seems combative and reacts harshly to things that surprise or upset her. Nonetheless, Echizen is very kind-hearted and helpful to her friends and neighbors, who in turn respect the young girl. Oota, as Echizen’s childhood friend, also thinks highly of Echizen. With a unique sense of style, Echizen wears a long skirt and appears a little rough, but she adores cute things and people, including her best friend, Miyano. Miyano, who admires Echizen’s maturity, affectionately calls Echizen “Ecchan,” and in turn, Echizen calls Miyano “Myaano.” As a running theme in these anime, thanks to their differences in personality, Echizen and Miyano have a strong and happy friendship. To Oota and Tanaka, Echizen has a dangerous image. In reality, Echizen is very kind and honest. She’s a little naïve with her feelings in romance, but she remains straightforward in everything she does. Echizen would be a great BFF, because she adores her friends and understands how to show appreciation for others. When Oota is absent from school in Episode 8, Tanaka is left to deliver a handout to his house, but his laziness has prevented him from knowing exactly where Oota lives. Echizen goes out of her way to deliver Tanaka to the Oota residence, and she even makes sure that Tanaka doesn’t spill the beans that she helped him. She does so, of course, by throwing her shoe at him. A little rough around the edges, we would still love having the tough and kind-hearted Echizen as our BFF.

Overflowing with adorableness, we can totally understand why Echizen is so enamored with her best friend. Miyano is a mini high school girl with the cutest overreactions in the anime. The cuteness, however, has gotten to her, and Miyano decides to vow herself to being more mature after developing a crush. She chose Tanaka as her master, because his laid-back attitude makes him appear super mature. Even though Miyano is worried about appearing mature, she is, in fact, very good at reading situations. She helps both Shiraishi and Echizen when they are having internal conflicts and takes active steps to help Shiraishi with her crush on Tanaka. Miyano might not be able to master listlessness, but she would be a lot of fun to have around. Just standing next to her would make us feel more energized. Even though her personality clashes with Tanaka, he still accepts her friendship and believes her to be a well-meaning girl. When conflicts start to emerge, we can always count on Miyano to help smooth things out. We will always cheer for Miyano, and we’re pretty sure as a BFF, Miyano would always cheer for us too.

Oota is a pretty amazing best friend to Tanaka. The two have completely different outlooks on life, but Oota goes to great lengths to understand Tanaka and has a healthy amount of respect for his best friend’s dedication to being lazy. In order to support that dedication, Oota carries Tanaka between classes and helps him survive the everyday. He also gives great advice, although sometimes misguided by what we like to call Oota-ness, when his serious nature pushes him to jump to conclusions. Strong and selfless, Oota will take on any number of tasks if it will help his friends. In addition to carrying Tanaka around, Oota also volunteers to be a ghost in their class’s haunted house, despite being deathly afraid of ghosts. He is also seen as being an understanding older brother and can easily read his younger sister’s feelings. Oota is a dream-friend come to animated life, and being BFFs with him would make any of us happy Tanakas.

Kanzashi is the younger sister of the Student Council President at IS Academy and an IS pilot. She is a quiet, conservative girl who’s shy and not prone to outbursts or violence on the grounds that it’s unproductive. Kanzashi spends her time studying, training and watching anime under her covers. She sits in the back of the class and was apparently never noticed in the first season. She looks a lot like her older sister. She has white blue hair and red eyes. Unlike the other girls, Kanzashi hasn’t modified her uniform. She does wear two techno-inspired hair pins and glasses. Who wouldn’t want to cuddle under the covers and watch anime? We all know the cute quiet ones can be a handful, and that the demure can have a simple sex appeal.

Tabane is a genius, she is the one who invented the IS after all. She refers to herself as “Tabane the Genius,” completely understanding that she is in a class all her own. She is also the older sister of Houki, Ichika’s childhood friend. Tabane bounces around with the energy that makes you feel like you are dealing with a child suffering from ADHD. Her genius also has a big disconnect with her creations and the potential danger they present as we see in the course of the series. Tabane has long purple and pink hair that flows down her back. She also has an ample bosom, and shows it off in scoop-neck dresses. Tabane seems to have a love of fairytales with her clothing taking hints from stories like Alice in Wonderland. Her genius isn’t only focused on robotics, either. We can tell that from the way she comments on the looks of others she has at least a portion of that overpowered brain reserved for more lustful thoughts. Tabane shows that smart can be sexy, even when you wear metal rabbit ears on your head.

Yamada sensei is the assistant homeroom teacher for Ichika’s class along with Chifuyu Orimura, Ichika’s demanding older sister. She is a caring teacher who seems to be concerned about all her students, both academically as well as their wellbeing. Yamada, like all the women in this story, have a deep affection for Ichika, though the level of affection isn’t elaborated on. She was once an IS contender and still has many of the skills that made her one of the best in japan. Yamada pilots an IS designed for long-range attacks using a long barreled cannon. Maya Yamada has green hair, green eyes and glasses. Her outfit of choice is often a yellow mini dress with black knee-high boots. Yamada also has some sex appeal and not just because of her ample oppi (breasts). She has a rather cheeky way of teasing Ichika when he gets too close to her, suggesting that they start dating before moving to second base. The looks, her teasing ways and the way she stays cool under pressure all make her one sexy sensei.

Rin is one of the lead contenders from China training at the IS Academy. She is also a childhood friend of Ichika, their friendship starting after Houki moved away. She has been in love with Ichika since childhood. Her family owns a Chinese restaurant leading to Rin learning how to cook. A skill she threw herself into when, though he doesn’t remember the details, Ichika told her he’d marry her if she learned how to cook so he could eat her delicious food every day. The problem is that Rin remembers that very clearly and he doesn’t, making it a sore point in their relationship. Rin may be a petite girl but we don’t discriminate in the sexy category. She has a mischievous smile with a snaggletooth that appears when she gets overly excited or astonished -- and that’s adorable. Rin modified the school uniform so the sleeves separate from the shoulders a bit, giving her a little of that 80s sweatshirt-off-the-shoulder look. She does pilot a pretty cool piece of equipment, too, an IS called Shenlong. The form-fitting IS uniform doesn’t do much for her barely-there breasts but it hugs her curves. We would also be remiss if we didn’t mention the yellow bows in her twin tails for the perfect sexy impish look.

Houki is a student the IS academy and a childhood friend of Ichika. She is accomplished at kendo and competes at the national level. She is an IS pilot and the sister of the leading IS scientist. The discipline she has mastered in kendo has spread to the other facets of her life. Her traditional and serious attitude makes her a bit of a stick-in-the mud when it comes to having a good time. She pilots the IS called Akatsubaki, a melee-class fighter that lends its effectiveness to her abilities with a sword. Even though she’s serious, Houki is also seriously sexy. She is tall, and her IS Academy uniform skirt makes her legs look even longer. The high-knee high boots and thigh-high stockings draw your eyes right to the zetta ryouiki. Her very long purplish hair is tied back into a ponytail with a green and black scarf. Her ample cleavage is always accentuated in the skin-tight flight suit, giving us a little thrill each time she suits up. She doesn’t know how sexy she is, either. The embarrassment on her face when her sensuality is even suggested is enough to cause steam puffs to pop out of anyone’s ears, making her one the sexiest IS girls.

Laura is another first-year student at IS Academy and a highly ranked German pilot. Laura’s relationship with the rest of the group gets off to a rocky start. She shows up at the school bent on beating the living daylights out of Ichika, stating that he she will never accept that a weak, unskilled pilot like him is Chifuyu’s (Ichika’s sister and her former teacher) actual brother. She is a rather vicious fighter and a 3rd-generation IS. She nearly kills two of her classmates who come to Ichika’s defense. The plot has Laura come around into the Ichika camp eventually and so much so she declares he is her wife (yes, wife). Laura is the most petite member of the harem, showing that small can be very sexy. She has long sliver hair and one red eye. She keeps an eyepatch over her technologically modified yellow left eye. The uniform she wears is a slightly altered version of the school uniform. She chooses to wear pants and boots instead of a skirt in fitting with her military upbringing. She has her softer side, too, especially after she begins to room with Charlotte (the cat pajamas are especially adorable). She exudes confidence in her abilities and is straightforward about her intentions. This juxtaposed with her shyness about her left eye and her appearance in anything other than a uniform make her very appealing.

Tatenashi is a very clever girl. She hails from Russia, is a second-year at the IS Academy and because of her combat skills rose to be the Student Council President. Tatenashi has an air of dominance; when you face her in a debate or on the battlefields you know she has a plan to win. She shoulders a lot of responsibility, too, as the head of the powerful Tatenashi family. Tatenashi has short light blue hair. She has penetrating dark red eyes. Her figure is very alluring with curves in all the right places. Tatenashi most often wears the classic uniform with red stockings and carries a fan that she snaps open and closed to make a point. She has at times worn less in her attempts to tease and seduce Ichika, such as one of his white dress shirts (without pants) and she even did the naked apron. We love this girl for her grounded self-assurance because, after all, confidence is sexy.

Chifuyu is Ichika’s older sister and homeroom teacher. She is a strict woman in the classroom, at home and while in command. Chifuyu practically raised Ichika after their parents abandoned them, which made her a very stoic woman who hides her feelings from even her brother. Chifuyu’s formalness goes as far as her brother calling her sensei in class and on school grounds as opposed to Onee-sama (big sister). She is also a former World Champion IS pilot and now runs the Academy as well as serving as a dorm mother. Yet for all her strictness she cares deeply for her brother and wants to protect him from the dangers of the world, especially now that he is an IS pilot. Chifuyu is a tall woman, most likely in her early twenties, who has an incredible bearing. Her classroom attire is a white dress shirt, black jacket and black skirt with a green tie, stockings and high heels. We also get to see her put many of the other girls to shame when she shows up at the beach in a black bikini, looking like a fashion model. The glances she gives some of her students could stop stampeding rhino in its tracks and we love her all the more for it. Onee-sama Chifuyu is definitely one who likes to take control of every aspect of her life, and that in combination with a drop-dead gorgeous body is very sexy indeed.

Charlotte begins her life at IS Academy as a 1st-year transfer student named Charles, obviously a girl in disguise. She makes quite a buzz at the academy as only the second “male” in the world who can pilot an IS. Charlotte also becomes Ichika’s roommate by default. The two “boys” form a bond of friendship, though Ichika thinks Charles is a little shy. Charlotte fights extremely well her custom IS, the Raphael-Revive. It’s a fast-moving, gun-toting mecha that may only be a second generation but can more than keep up with the third-generation models. When it is revealed that Charles is Charlotte the sexy comes out. She trades in her pants for a skirt and stops binding her chest, giving her far more curves. Charlotte is definitely a fan favorite. Ichika even described her smile as that of an angel. At several moments when she is alone with Ichika, she puts him in an awkward situation and then accuses him of being a pervert, but in a teasing flirty tone. We get a chance to see Charlotte’s kinky side during a competition for Ichika’s affections where she dresses as a sexy poodle and offers him a cookie wedged in her cleavage. When you cross kind, kinky and cute you get some out-of-this-world sex appeal.

Cecilia is a 1st-year student and the first heroine we meet at IS Academy. She is also one of the top pilots in the world. Cecilia can come across a snobbish; we first get a taste of that when she refers to Ichika as a commoner and Japan, her host country, as culturally backward. She is the heir to a large fortune and has had little help from her family protecting that fortune. After battling with Ichika, she realizes she wants a strong man like him in her life. Her IS is called Blue Tears and is made for ranged combat. The blue and white unit’s main weapon is a long rifled canon and four orbiting blades that fire lasers. Cecilia a blond-haired blue-eyed babe. Her long blond hair drapes down her back, kept in place by a blue headband. She almost gives off an Alice in Wonderland vibe. Unfortunately we don’t get to see a lot of her legs while she is in uniform as she modified it to be more “lady like” with a lengthened hemline. She does however change into the same skin-tight piloting uniform when she mans her IS. Cecilia is beautiful and will surely tell you she is; she used to model before flying an IS. The haughty attitude in combination with being an excellent pouter makes her one of the sexiest IS girls.

Yuu Narukami has never stayed in a single town for long. Because of his parents’ job, he usually leaves after a year, causing him to have never known anyone for long. However, this year is different. His parents have gone to a place that would be difficult for him to follow. Thus, he is sent to stay with his uncle and cousin in the quiet town of Inaba. However, just as the year is shaping up to be a quiet one, he gets caught up in a string of murders, supernatural shadow creatures and the power of Persona. Can he manage to find himself in the chaos? Following the format of a Hero’s journey, Yuu gains a power that neither he nor his friends understand; the power of Persona. Like Sorey, he doesn’t run and hide, even when he discovers that the circumstances are wilder than fiction, instead choosing to stay and fight because he can. Or because it’s the right thing to do. Persona 4 may take place in modern times, but much of it is shrouded in the supernatural. If you enjoyed the spirit powers of Sorey, Yuu will not disappoint.

Yuuji Sakai is your average everyday high-schooler that doesn’t know down from up. He goes about his daily life like normal until he stumbles into a stand-off between the Crimson Denizens; supernatural beings that consume the existence of humans in order to sustain their own power and existence. Those who are consumed get turned into torches, a stop-gap measure that let’s those consumed slowly fade away to prevent tearing apart the fabric of existence. Yuuji has also been turned into a torch, but for some reason, he still seems to be fully aware. And what of the strange red haired girl he saw that very day? Unlike the previous pick, Yuuji doesn’t start out with any special powers. He is an anomaly in the system, but one that isn’t empowered to make any sweeping change as of yet. However, he does undergo the Hero’s journey over the course of three seasons, growing in tangible ways that show the amount of adversity he has to go through after being thrust into a world against his will. If you wanted to see someone super weak become super strong, this is the anime for you.

In a fantasy world like every other fantasy world, a group of strangers wake up without any memory of who they were before they landed in that very situation. In order to earn enough currency for basic necessities like food, they are forced to pick up the only job that they are qualified to do; being a soldier in the Reserve Army. However, life isn’t easy. Though they have been granted powerful professions like priest, rogue or mage, none of them actually know what they’re doing and get pummelled by the weakest of creatures. Can this motley band of recruits survive in a dog eat dog world? Or will they perish like so many before them? While Grimgar doesn’t exactly adopt the format of the Hero’s Journey, we do see similar elements present in the show. Nobody in the series starts out as a big damn hero. There is an instance early on where 6 of them take on a goblin for 5 minutes of the show and fail really badly. But the depth of how much they suck only adds to the lustre of the show when they start to improve greatly and grow in big but reasonable spurts. If you like seeing progression in a show, this is definitely something you should watch.

Humanity is on the brink of extinction. What remains of the human race is sequestered behind hulking walls; the only thing that stands between them and the Titans. The Titans are huge creatures capable of decimating a village in mere seconds, owing to its massive strength, speed and size. Eren Yeager is one of the villagers living in the outskirts of the walls with an insignificant lifestyle with his mother and friends. But everything changed when the Titans attacked. After witnessing the death and tragedy at the hands of the Titans, Eren tearfully declares that he will do everything in his power to destroy each and every one of them. This is really a no-brainer. While SnK is very much darker than Tales of Zestiria and the element of fantasy isn’t as prevalent, the Hero’s Journey is still present in this tale of loss, despair and vengeance. Eren doesn’t immediately become a superhero that can destroy all the Titans. He has to go through the same training as everyone else before he’s even allowed to fight on the frontlines, lest he gets himself killed on day one. But when he finally gets good, it’s all good.

The Holy Grail War is one fought between Magus by summoning Servants or Heroic Spirits from ages past to battle in a death match. 7 Magus must compete for the Holy Grail in order to win a prize, a wish unbound by any restrictions. Emiya Shirou is thrust against his will into the Holy Grail war, gaining a servant of his own by the name of Saber. Will he survive? The FSN series is one of cult classics of recent times because of its story, action and drama. Shirou is aware of magecraft and he does practice is from time to time, but it is only when the events of the show unfold that he starts to grow exponentially, as many of us are prone to do under immense stress and pressure. Like Tales of Zestiria, FSN is animated by Ufotable, well known for their superb combat animations. So if you liked Tales of Zestiria and enjoyed its story, there’s plenty to like here as well.

(Note: The series is spread out over multiple smaller seasons, so the above is not entirely accurate in how long the series actually is, only the first season) Two worlds exist side by side. However, they have an adversarial relationship. One can live only if the other dies. In the perishing world, Colette is the chosen one sent to awaken the spirits of the world so that the mana of it can be restored and the world will be saved as a result. She has to travel the world with her two friends Lloyd Irving and Genis Sage in order to reach their destination so she can ascend into the state of being an angel. But along the way, they learn the truth about the other world, and nothing is ever as they expected. What else is more similar to Tales of Zestiria than another Tales of entry? While Tales of Zestiria is the latest in the series and is currently enjoying great fame and popularity, we must not forget those that came before it and allowed it the fanbase it has to even succeed. Tales of Symphonia, as a consequence of being from the same overarching series, carries many similar elements to Tales of Zestiria. The hero sets out to save the world, but nothing is ever as it seems. It’s ultimately futile to list out how similar they are because there are so many similarities. Just know that if you enjoyed Tales of Zestiria, you should enjoy this too.

Kokoro Connect is a wonderful school themed show with elements of comedy, romance and a lot of drama. This show is about five students attending Yamaboshi Academy who don’t quite fit in any school club, so they decide to form their own club, the Student Cultural Society. Things get a bit freaky and twisted when these kids mysteriously start to switch with each other’s bodies, bringing about a whole lot of drama. Kokoro Connect is all about plot twists and character development. This is a show in which you never know what can happen next, and every little change of events brings these kids close together, although not always in a good way. Kokoro Connect provides a strong insight into being in someone else’s shoes, with all the drama that implies.

Of course, we can’t talk about dramatic and not mention Nana. This is the story of Nana Osaki, a strong independent punk rock girl with dreams of becoming a rock-star, and Nana Komatsu, a naïve and dependent 20-year old girl who has the ability of falling in love with the wrong men. The two Nanas board the same train to Tokyo hoping to fulfill their dreams and end up becoming roommates and friends. Nana is a beautiful shoujo with a lot of music and style. Watch these two girls grow up as they dive into the big city to fulfill their destinies. Of course, their paths are not easy and they have to face envy, betrayal and the ugly side of fame before they can triumph in the concrete jungle.

Another is a classic among horror and mystery dramas. The story revolves around young Sakakibara who is transferred into class 3-3 of Yomiyama North Academy, where everyone behaves rather mysteriously. In this class, Sakakibara meets a girl with an eye-patch named Misaki Mei, who is ignored by everyone else for some unknown reason. After Sakakibara and Misaki begin to interact, strange and unfortunate things start to occur around class 3-3. Just reading what Another is about is enough to give you goosebumps. After all, dramas are not only meant to make you cry, they may also take you through different emotions. Another is an intricate story with several twists of events that will keep you biting your toenails and dying to know what’s really happening. You’ll feel an icy chill running down your spine as you unsuccessfully try to guess who’s alive and who’s dead.

Hai to Gensou no Grimgar is the story of six young boys and girls who suddenly find themselves in a world of fantasy with no memory of how they got there or where they come from. The world of Grimgar is now their reality and they have to train as knights, magicians, hunters and thieves, among others. Sadly for them, their new world may be a bit more realistic and harsh than the usual fantasy RPG games we are used to. Even though this show shares a somewhat similar premise to fantasy shows like SAO, Grimgar focuses much more on character development and on the peripeteias or misfortunes the main characters have to go through. The scenery also plays a big role in conveying a dramatic and melancholic atmosphere. Hai to Gensou no Grimgar is a very artistic anime featuring beautiful backgrounds and a brilliant soundtrack that really help to develop the relationships between the characters and their dramatic everyday life.

In Higashi no Eden we’ll meet college student Saki Morimi, who’s on a trip to Washington. She gets in trouble with the police for trying to get inside the White House Garden but is saved by a young naked man with a gun, a cellphone and no memory. This is how she meets Akira Takizawa and they start a dangerous adventure to find out the connection between Akira’s real identity, a mysterious succession of events and a terrorist attack on Tokyo. Higashi no Eden is a really cool and original story that has a bit of everything. This dramatic thriller has elements of romance, comedy, sci-fi, mystery and action, so it’s really no surprise how this show can take us through a roller coaster of emotions. As if the tension arising from a terrorist attack were not dramatic enough, the unexpected twists of events and Akira’s mysterious identity will provide you with the adrenaline and the edginess you were looking for.

Plastic Memories follows the story of Tsukasa Mizugaki, who gets a job at SAI Corp, a company known for producing androids known as Giftias. These Giftias are very similar to actual human beings, with the only detail that their lifespans are of 81,920 hours (around nine years and four months). Tsukasa’s work consists of retrieving Giftias who reach their expiration date, and to do so he counts on Isla’s assistance, who is a Giftia and an expert on retrievals. To make the story a bit more complicated, Tsukasa realizes he has feelings for Isla, but this love has an expiration date. Plastic Memories is a romantic science fiction anime which reminds us a lot of another epic drama featuring charming androids, Chobits. Judging from both shows’ huge success, this type of romantic dramas has proved to be a winning formula. Plastic Memories is a story to feel in love but also to learn to let go. Oh yeah, it’s also a story to cry like a little girl.

Your Lie in April tells the story of prodigious piano player Kousei Arima, who falls into a depression after the death of his mother and he quits playing. For a couple of years, Kousei carries a dull and music free life. Of course, that is only until he meets Kaori Miyazono, a gorgeous violinist girl who rocks his world and makes him want to play and live music again. Your Lie in April is a lovely romantic school drama filled with music, optimism and second opportunities. This is the kind of show to believe in second chances and starting over again. Still, Your Lie in April is not all about rainbows and butterflies. In fact, you are bound to experience many different emotions while watching this inspiring yet heart-breaking drama.

AnoHana (for short) presents a group of childhood friends who have grown apart after the tragic death of one of the group’s members, Menma. Years later, Menma’s spirit appears in front of Jinta, one of the boys, which brings the whole group together again to try to help Menma’s soul find her rest. These boys and girls will have to re-live their childhood stories in order to help Menma’s spirit and to get rid of the ghosts of their past (see what we did there?). AnoHana is a magnificent supernatural slice of life show that will make us cry our eyes out by teaching us some beautiful and valuable life lessons. This dramatic production is all about cherishing what we have, not taking things for granted, learning to let go and appreciating our friends. AnoHana is definitely a ride of emotions.

Probably no other anime screams out DRAMA as much as Tokyo Magnitude 8.0. This is the story of Middle School student Mirai Onozawa, who takes his 8-year old brother, Yuuki Onozawa, to a robot exhibition on the same day a devastating earthquake hits the city. The siblings find themselves in the middle of the destruction and they set off on a journey through the horror of a collapsing metropolis as they attempt to get back home safe to their parents. Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 will get you immersed in a world of hopelessness, fear and misery with occasional glimpses of hope and optimism that serve as relief. It’s the kind of production that makes you suffer for the main characters and pray for them to get out of that awful situation (just like in The Pursuit of Happyness or in The Impossible, to name a few insufferable movies). Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 will give you a lot to think about the importance of family and the ephemerality of life. If that’s not dramatic then nothing is.

And then of course we have Clannad: After Story, because no drama list would ever be complete without Clannad. If you are really into drama anime then chances are you’ve already heard about this anime. Clannad: After Story has a reputation for being the anime that causes the greatest amount of crying. You seriously need to have an ice cold heart to watch Clannad: After Story and not shed a single tear. Clannad: After Story follows the everyday life of Tomoya Okazaki and Nagisa Furukawa after they graduate from high school. As they enter adulthood, these two will face the struggles of growing up and getting into the real world. Join them along their dramatic journey to learn about the importance of family and how to endure the trials and tribulations of life.

Being a staple of Japanese café culture, what better way is there to start off a top 10 list with a maid café? Maid’s Sheep Café is the place where the heroine spends most of her time, as it is her place of work. The Maid’s Sheep Café has a somewhat classier feel to it than traditional maid cafés and it features male employees dressed appropriately in very formal clothing, complementing the expected presence of maids in the café. The manager of the Maid’s Sheep is a man named Waka, who, like his employees, dresses in formal, yet distinct clothing which fits the theme of the Maid’s Sheep. Red is the dominant colour in the Maid’s Sheep and this is reflected in the employee uniform, with red aprons donned by the women and several traces of red apparent on various parts of the uniforms of the male employees. The Maid’s Sheep is where a large majority of events in the Amnesia anime take place and in fact, Maid’s Sheep is where everything begins; the heroine collapses and loses her memory in the Maid’s Sheep. If you’re a fan of not knowing who you are between cups of great coffee and awesome service then the Maid’s Sheep is perfectly tailored to suit your needs!

Kawaji House or the Houseboy Student Café is a traditional Japanese café and our protagonist, Usa Kazunari’s place of part-time employment. It sports a traditional Japanese atmosphere with choices of meals on low tables and even private rooms where certain customers can enjoy a degree of solitude, while being served by waiters dressed in yukata. Kawaji House is owned by Shinohara Tae and due to Usa’s employment there, it is a fairly busy place as Usa’s eccentric housemates spend their time lounging around. Customers can select who they would like to be served by and therefore it is very possible to create pleasant relationships with the servers there. The quiet Japanese feel of Kawaji House makes it an essential on any anime café list and it is the perfect place for peaceful passing of time alone or with friends.

Owned and run by Andrew Gilbert Mills in the real world, Dicey Café is the hangout spot of choice for Kirigaya Kazuto and his friends, where they’d discuss plans and even full dive while in the café. While Andrew was trapped in SAO, his wife kept Dicey Café’s doors open and it was the venue where Kirito and his SAO surviving friends celebrated beating the game. Dicey Café has a small interior, with only four tables available and a bar, usually manned by the owner, Andrew, himself. Dicey Café’s small size makes it better suited to smaller, more intimate group gatherings or for the entertainment of small scores of customers. It has slightly dark lighting, giving it a relaxed vibe and making it perfect for anyone looking to take a break from a lengthy, stressful gaming session.

Situated in a beautiful small town is strangely named Rabbit House Café. The name may be misleading to some and completely ambiguous to others, but the only rabbit reference in the entire café is the presence of the rabbit worn on waitress Chino’s head. Complete with tables for one or many and various blends of coffee to choose from, the Rabbit House is an adorably-sounding hangout spot with moe-on-moe-on-moe serving whoever walks through the door. The Rabbit House is a fairly standard café. There are special staff who work there and ensure that the café has a relaxing atmosphere. Relish stroking the soft fur of a bunny while enjoying sips of multiple blends of coffee and the artistry of waitress Rize as she expertly crafts lattes. The Rabbit House is the perfect café for anyone who likes anything remotely cute.

Like any other maid café, Maid Latte sports the same theme with several different events available weekly for ultimate customer satisfaction. Cute waitresses complete with cute maid outfits and cute nicknames make Maid Latte aesthetically pleasing. The plethora of events such as Nekomimi Day, Anime-Cosplay Day, Bunny Ears Day or even the colourful Maid Rangers Day make Maid Latte one of the most creative cafés on this list and it is definitely a go-to place if you wish to kill time in an effortlessly enjoyable way. Maid Latte prides itself on customer experience; events and games are used to spice up what would normally be a quiet cup of coffee or a small gathering with friends. The maids are friendly and generally well-liked and Maid Latte is definitely the maid café with the most personality. Just make sure you don’t grow too fond of the maids; some of them are dangerous!

Following the popularity of maid cafés in Japan, Akihabara in Tokyo more specifically, May Queen Nyan-Nyan makes an appearance on this list. Run by Faris Nyan-Nyan (Akiha Rumiko), May Queen Nyan-Nyan boasts incredible popularity as it was the medium through which Feyris brought moe culture to Akihabara. The employees wear animal ears in addition to traditional maid uniforms and some even wear wigs, giving the café a slightly different feel to most other maid café. May Queen Nyan-Nyan is a moe paradise in Tokyo. It is a great place for people to relax with friends and experience moe awesomeness in the heart of the otaku realm that is Akihabara. You never know, you may be served by the Moe Queen, Faris Nyan-Nyan herself!

Shirokuma Café or Polar Bear’s Café is an aptly named café nestled in a small neighbourhood area, located close to the zoo where animals and humans can enjoy a range of food and drink and good human or animal company. It is a bright café with several tables to seat several people and one of the strangest cafés due to the fact that it is named after, run and managed by a polar bear. Polar Bear runs Shirokuma Café very well and because of its close proximity to the zoo, many animals enjoy great service when their zoo shifts end. It boasts a very warm and relaxed vibe. Despite what you might think, Shirokuma Cafe enjoys its fair share of customers. Shirokuma Café, the best place to enjoy the company and service of fully competent, restaurant-running animals!

At third on our café list is none other than Café Endou from Dagashi Kashi, run by the Endou family with Endou Saya, Kokonotsu’s childhood friend, who works as a waitress and barista at this pleasant little establishment alongside her twin brother, Tou. The Café boasts a great interior as well as great coffee expertly prepared by Saya, a coffee lover who takes pride in the coffee she makes. Based in a small town, Café Endou is a quieter café than the other cafes on this list. It gives Cafe Endou a rustic feel, unlike other cafés based in heavily populated urban areas. Café Endou is perfect for solitary enjoyment of a café atmosphere and is a brilliant place to stop by after enjoying the various dagashi from the Shikada Dagashi shop.

Located in the 20th Ward of Tokyo, Café Anteiku is one of our favourite anime cafés. Run by an old Ghoul who goes by the name Yoshimura, its doors are open to humans and Ghouls alike. It also has the unfortunate pleasure of being the backdrop of some very unfortunate events. Still, Cafe Anteiku is usually a pleasant little café with tables lined up along a window facing the street through which one could enjoy a good cup of coffee while looking for their next meal in the scores of people outside Anteiku. Cafe Anteiku’s doors are open to normal human beings as it serves as a means through which Ghouls and humans can come into contact with and come to understand each other. The staff are generally friendly and the coffee is enjoyed by many. The café serves as more than just a place where people relax and meet with friends; however. Many hungry Ghouls incapable of hunting their own prey visit Cafe Anteiku for the rations that the staff at the café tend to give to struggling Ghouls. Rest assured, human customers are protected by an agreement amongst staff against the hunting of Anteiku customers so rest assured: you can enjoy your coffee and a little non-human company in a safe place.

In a world where domestic androids are commonplace and even treated like lesser technology like normal kitchen appliances, there exists a special café where the line between human and android is temporarily erased. At this cafe, both humans and androids can enjoy each other’s company, without knowing the identity of the other. It is a peaceful space where people and androids alike can enjoy company, food, drink and even the ambience. The café has only one rule: no discrimination between humans and androids. This cafe is known as The Time of Eve. The Time of Eve is a very dark room and very spacious, with several conventional seating areas and various couches convenient for lounging and it attracts a wide array of personalities, making it one of the coolest cafés to visit. It is also one of the only places where a human can experience fairly human interactions with androids, which are meant to be mere mechanical servants of humans. The Time of Eve is one of the most unique cafés in anime and definitely a place worth putting in your activity logs.

First up on this list is Aurorus, the Tundra Pokémon. This unique ancient Rock and Ice-type Pokémon evolved from Amura, which can be obtained by reviving it from the Sail Fossil. Since it is regarded as an ancient Pokémon, Aurorus’ appearance resembles of an extinct dinosaur species; the Amargasaurus that walks on all four feet, and has a fairly long neck. Notably, the most distinctive appearance of this majestic ancient Pokémon is its sails of membrane on top of its head that expands along its neck, with white and yellow color pallet as its base and then slowly fades to a pale blue, giving it an icy and cool look. This magnificent looking Pokémon is also one of the few Pokémon able to learn the move Freeze-Dry, a powerful ice-type move that was introduced in Generation VI. One last fun fact about Aurorus is that its diamond-shaped crystals that surround the side of its body are able to expel powerful air with extreme temperatures, an ability that easily freezes any of its opponents in a jiffy and enveloping them in ice.

Dominating its way to the number 9 on the list is Tyrantrum, the Despot Pokémon. Now that we have seen Aurorus, the Tundra Pokémon in the previous selection. Now, prepare to be intimidated by its awesome counterpart Pokémon, the Tyrantrum! Previously evolved from Tyrunt which was revived from the Jaw Fossil, this mean-looking animal does have a mean bite, literally, as it is able to learn a variety of Fang type moves such as Fire Fang, Ice Fang, Poison Fang, and Thunder Fan. From its looks, Tyrantrum has a close resemblance to a Tyrannosaurs Rex, having red scaly skin covering its body, big jaw, moderately small arms, and big claws, making this ancient Pokémon one not to be messed with. It was also revealed in the Pokédex that this Pokémon could easily tear apart thick metal with its gigantic jaws, all the more reason to place this Pokémon in the number 9 spot on the list.

Remember the badass Rock-type Pokémon way back from Generation I, Rhydon? Well, guess what? Game Freak introduced the next and final evolution line of Rhydon in Generation IV; Rhyperior the Rock and Ground-type Pokémon, making it better with a more badass looking exterior than Rhydon. In comparison with Rhydon, Rhyperior has a more distinct color base of a darker surface with orange plates of rocks attached to its body, giving Rhyperior a look as if it is wearing a tactical vest made from molten lava plates around its body which totally makes this Pokémon look badass. In addition, this Pokémon definitely deserves to be on this list thanks to its ability to learn one of the most powerful Rock-type moves introduced in Generation V, Rock Wrecker.

Now we all remember the Dual element Rock-type and Flying-type Pokémon from generation I, Aerodactyl, which was a fossil Pokémon. This next Pokémon on the list, Archeops is the only Dual Rock-type and Flying-type Pokémon ever introduced other than the 1st Generation Aerodactyl! Just like its previous predecessor, Archeops is a fossilized Pokémon that was brought back to life from the Plume Fossil. From its outer appearance, this ‘First-Bird’ Pokémon really defines majestic to a whole new level. With stunning, extravagant color combinations of blue, red, and yellow on its feathers, this Pokémon will remind you of the modern tropical birds in the forest. It was also revealed that Archeops is believed to be the ancestor of all the bird Pokémon that exists in the present world.

Next on the list, we have Regirock, the Rock Peak Pokémon. This Pokémon is the first legendary Rock-Type Pokémon to be ever introduced in the world of Pokémon. First appeared in Generation 3 as one of the Legendary Regi-Trio along with Regice and Registeel, this unique Pokémon is a true sight of wonders thanks to its peculiar appearance. Just like the rest of the Regis, Regirock appeared to be made out of the element in which its name bears, rocks. Specifically, big chunks of rock were stacked together to form its exterior. Regirock also has a six orange dots as eyes on its face that resembles the letter “H”. Overall, this legendary Rock-type Pokémon took the number 7 spot on the list thanks to its remarkably high Defense Stats. Unfortunately, just like any other Rock-type Pokémon in general, it had to make up for the lack of Special Attack and Speed stats.

Bulldozing its way to the number 5 spot of the list is the second Legendary Rock-type Pokémon to appear on the list, Terrakion. This sturdy and bulky ox-like Pokémon is one of the members of the Swords of Justice Legendary Pokémon, along with Virizion, Cobalion and Keldeo. According to legend, Terrakion, together with Virizion and Cobalion, took Keldeo under their wing and taught it the move, Secret Sword. Truly, the legends of being one of the members of the Sword of Justice speaks for itself as it was said to be able to crush through castle walls with one blow. Although not much is known about Terrakion, this Pokémon is said to once fight during the war against humans to protect other Pokémon that are in danger. A rock-hard protector of Pokémon with extraordinary legends as the number 5 spot on the list, what more is expected?

Aggron is one of the most well-known Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon introduced in Generation III Pokémon. With its evolution line starting from Aaron, it evolves into Lairon before finally reaching the end of its evolution line, Aggron. In Generation VI Pokémon, Aggron was able to perform a Mega-Evolution to Mega Aggron using the Aggronite Mega Stone. This steel-plated Pokémon is perhaps one of the most versatile Pokémon in terms of Move Learning as it is able to learn one of the most powerful, perhaps signature moves from a variety of types, such as Blizzard, Hyper Beam, Giga Impact, Solar Beam, Fire Blast, Thunder, Stone Edge and Earthquake. Aggron is even able to learn the HM move Surf, which is, to a point, an unusual move to be learned by Aggron, proving once again its versatility is what earns its position on number 4 of the list.

Counting down the top 10 list of Rock-type Pokémon, we have Mega Aerodactyl taking the number 3 spot. As mentioned in the number 7 spot on the list, Aerodactyl is an ancient fossilized Pokémon that was resurrected from Old Amber first introduced in Generation I Pokémon. And it was not until Generation VI that this prehistoric Pokémon obtained its Mega Evolution to Mega Aerodactyl using Aerodactylite Mega Stone. As one of the few fossil Pokémon ever existed, Aerodactyl is considered one of a kind as it is the only one that doesn’t have a normal evolution line like the other fossil Pokémon, but instead has the ability to Mega Evolve into Mega Aerodactyl. In terms of appearance, Aerodactyl is inspired from the prehistoric dinosaur pterodactyl. In its Mega-Evolved form, Mega Aerodactyl’s body is highlighted with spikes that resemble stalagmites, giving it an intimidating look.

Diancie, the Rock-type and Fairy-type Pokémon on the list, is as rare and mythical as a jewel. This jewel-like Pokémon was first introduced in Generation VI, along with the Fairy-type element that serves as a purpose to balance out the type chart. Although many confused this luxurious Pokémon as a legendary Pokémon, it is, in fact, a Mythical Pokémon which is considered at one point the same as Legendary Pokémon. Diancie is also able to Mega Evolve into Mega Diancie using Diancite Mega Stone, making it one of the few Legendary Pokémon to have a Mega-Evolution. When in its Mega-Evolution state, Mega Diancie appeared to be somewhat wearing a pink jewel dress covered with a tiara-like heart shape jewel, everything about Mega Diancie is just beautiful to look at, making this Pokémon earn the number 2 spot on the list. Thanks to its mesmerizing beauty, Mega Diancie is referred to as the “Royal Pink Princess”. Diancie is also the only Pokémon known to be able to use the move “Diamond Storm”.

And taking the number 1 spot of the top 10 Rock-type Pokémon is… Mega Tyranitar! First introduced in Generation II, this large bipedal Pokémon is already known to be strong as it is. Basically, this Pokémon is similar to Aggron in terms of its evolution line since Tyranitar is also considered to be a Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon and its versatility in learning the most powerful or signature moves of the varied types, including Giga Impact, Hyper Beam, Focus Blast, Fire Blast, Blizzard, Thunder, Stone Edge, Earthquake and also able to learn the HM move Surf! In its Mega-Evolved form, Mega Tyranitar has a more ‘wavy’ and ‘branch-full’ armor-like look so to speak, with more gaps on its body, and a long upright horn that has formed from its previous state of a spike on its head. With its immense size and power, this Pokémon can withstand any sort of attack making this Pokémon undoubtedly, a very strong Pokémon indeed.

First up on the list is Mew, although there isn’t much known about this Mythical Pokémon, it is said to be the origin of all Pokémon. Notably, because of the fact that Mew is able to learn every TM, HM moves ever existed in the world of Pokémon. Mew is also known to be an event-exclusive Pokémon in most of the Pokémon game franchise. The controversy for this Pokémon stems from it being the very first Pokémon trademark ever registered (March 1994), few years way before Pocket Monsters (December 1997). Despite being the first ever Pokémon, namely the origin of Pokémon, Mew is registered in as #151 in the Pokédex database, being the last Pokémon in Generation I. Even when Pokémon Red and Green games were first released, Nintendo wasn’t aware that Shigeki Morimoto, the game designer, and programmer, had Mew programmed into the game.

Originally, the controversy started when Ash was asked by Prof. Oak to retrieve a mysterious golden-colored PokéBall called GS Ball from Prof. Ivy in Valencia Island which was located in the Orange Archipelago. The initial plan was to have the GS Ball investigated, but Prof. Oak then decided that it was more to it than he can handle so he would have Ash to bring in once again to Kurt, the PokéBall Master in Johto. The GS Ball gradually gains the attention of millions as there were quite a few episodes in the Pokémon series dedicated to the mysterious ball. But when Ash successfully gave the ball to Kurt, the GS Ball was never mentioned again in the series, leaving fans with a big question mark over the mystery of the GS Ball. The mystery of the GS Ball was finally revealed in an interview with the Pokémon Anime Director, Masamitsu Hidaka, who confirmed that the GS Ball would have contained the Generation II Pokémon, Celebi, but because Celebi already had a movie dedicated to itself, he felt that it would be redundant to mention Celebi again in the series, therefore never mentioning the GS Ball again in the series.

This next Pokémon earned its controversial debut thanks to an episode of the Pokémon animated series. The story starts off with Nastina, who is persistent to build a hotel/theme park in Porta Vista, even if it means destroying the habitat of Tentacool that lived there. Nastina’s plan went a bit overboard as she was even willing to give out a $10,000 reward to whoever was able to repel off the Tentacool. Eyes on the prize, Team Rocket got involved with the plan, but the plan took a turn for the worse, as one of the Tentacool evolved into a gigantic Tentacruel. Fueled with rage over their destroyed homes, the Tentacruel began destroying skyscraper buildings and the city. The mass destruction caused by Tentacruel became the major contributing factor of this specific episode to be banned for a few years from airing in the U.S. as it was attributed to the event of September 11th terrorist attack. Even though the episode was banned from airing, the scene of said destruction remained uncut from the opening sequence.

Moving on to the number 7 spot on the list, we have Drifloon. In hindsight, this balloon-like Pokémon might appear to be cute and cuddly, but it, in fact, holds quite a bizarre secret. According to folklore, this dual-type Ghost/Flying Pokémon is referred to as the “Signpost for Wandering Spirits.” What’s so controversial about this Pokémon stems from its dark and bizarre Pokedex entry, which specified that Drifloon is Pokémon that takes children to the “world of the dead” in the original Japanese version. It was then changed into “It tugs on the hands of children to steal them away.” in the English version of the Pokémon game. Granted, the Pokémon is a ghost-type and is meant to be creepy, but it does beg the question, “how creepy is too creepy?” You decide.

This next Pokémon might seem cheerful and harmless, but h You might wonder how a cheerful, happy-looking Pokémon like Ludicolo could end up in the Top 10 Controversial Pokémon list, but the fact remains that this Pokémon is attributed to the stereotypical Mexican dancer. This sparked some level of controversy amongst the Pokémon fans but it wasn’t too serious, as Ludicolo was remarked as an overall positive thing. The fact that Ludicolo’s name derived from the Spanish word ‘Loco’ which meant crazy, some speculated that this also becomes one of the contributing factors that fueled the controversy. All in all, there were no actions taken by Game Freak or Nintendo as a measure to resolve the issue.

So far, the list contains Pokémon that contains stereotypical resemblance of things in real life, but this next Pokémon is known to be overly sexy. Lopunny has been a target victim for parents who complain that the design on this Pokémon is too sexy and inappropriate for kids to watch. It was even assumed that Lopunny was based on the infamous playboy bunny, or a lady wearing fur boots and cuffs. It sparked some attention to this Pokémon, but ultimately, the initial design of said Pokémon is not at fault. And it all comes down to how a person perceives something. Some might think that it’s inappropriate, some think it’s normal. What do you think?

Taking the number 4 spot on the list is one of the Trio Regi Legendary Pokémon known in the Hoenn region, Registeel. Just like its name, Registeel’s body is entirely made of steel, with 7 glowing red eyes but no mouth, giving it a mysterious look. This steel-plated Pokémon was known to be a source of controversy thanks to its sprite design. In the original Diamond & Pearl Pokémon game, the hand gesture of Registeel resembles that of a Nazi salute, with one arm reaching out forward. The sprite of said Pokémon was then edited in the European version of the Pokémon game.

Entering the top 3 spot of the Top 10 Controversial Pokémon list is Kadabra. The case pertaining to the Kadabra controversy started in the late 2000s, when a man named Uri Geller tried to sue Nintendo for a total amount of £60 million, claiming that Kadabra’s Pokémon design was based on a parody of himself, since he was also a psychic that has the ability to bend spoons, similar to Kadabra’s original artwork of holding a bent spoon. Even though Uri’s lost the lawsuit, Nintendo took action as the necessary precaution to avoid further altercations and lawsuits from Uri. This resulted in the printing of Kadabra TCG cards to be ceased immediately. The usage of Kadabra TCG cards was also banned at one point, and Nintendo eventually printed Abra cards that have an attack that allowed it to evolve directly into Alakazam, skipping the Kadabra evolution line.

This next controversial Pokémon is responsible for hundreds of children having seizures, Porygon. The controversy originated from an episode of the Pokémon animated series titled “Dennō Senshi Porigon” which translates into "Cyber Soldier Porygon”. The scene responsible for the controversy was when Ash’s Pikachu uses its Thunderbolt attack in order to stop some vaccine missiles. The huge explosion from the attack resulted in a rapid flashing sequence of red and blue lights. After this particular scene, viewers complain to have experience dizziness, headaches, nausea, some even experienced seizures. The event led to hundreds of children getting sent to the hospital. It was speculated that only a fraction of the victims were diagnosed to have photosensitive seizures. After the airing of this infamous episode, the entire Pokémon series came to a stop as it was suspended and it went into a 4 months hiatus break before airing again.

By far, the most controversial Pokémon ever existed, is Jynx. Taking the number 1 spot on the list, the controversy brought by this Pokémon was taken seriously by both Nintendo and Game Freak. It all started when Carole Boston Weatherford, claimed that Jynx’s initial design was a mockery towards the African-American culture, as it resembles the stereotypical African-American with dark black skin and bulging lips. The complaint sparked some serious issues in the Pokémon community, forcing Nintendo and Game Freak to make some altercations to the Pokémon design itself because it was criticized for being racist. Although Jynx’s design was originally inspired by a trending fashion style in that time, the media still had the episode pertaining to said Pokémon to be banned from airing. Even after Nintendo and Game Freak decided to change the color from the original black to purple, the episode was still banned from airing in the U.S. thanks to its resemblance to the African-American community.