Mari Kurihara is the President of the Underground Student Council at Hachimitsu Academy. Mari is unabashedly opposed to admitting boys into this, until recently, all-girls school. The one to approve this change, is the school chairman who happens to have a fetish for female posteriors, which he’s often seen admiring in photos or online, he also happens to be Mari’s father. Mari looks down on him because she often catches him looking at derrieres, which she finds disgusting. This disgust is the base for Mari’s hatred of men and for her plans to have the 5 male students expelled in an indirect attack towards the Chariman. Mari and The Chairman come in at number 5 because of the passionate disdain Mari feels towards her father and how while trying to get the boys expelled, she also uses them as pawns in her power struggle with him. Not to be left behind, the Chairman takes every opportunity possible to give the boys a chance, not only because they’re his fellow men, but also because he wants his daughter to learn her lesson. The almost palpable, yet comedic, tension in the room when these two meet and the fact that the boys are used as game pieces makes this rivalry worth adding to the list!

Ibuki is designated as the heir to the Nil Kamui Throne by the Red Dragon, and is a “Child of Contract”. This contract gives him the ability to sacrifice a loved one’s soul in exchange for taking another’s life. However, Ibuki hates violence which puts him in a difficult position when defending his Kingdom. Ibuki’s younger sister Inori, is also an heir to the throne but is the complete opposite of her brother. Inori also has a contract with the Red Dragon, who’s madness she is revealed to be the cause of. Contrary to Ibuki’s, her power is that of revival. Innori is cold, and has completely opposite plans for the kingdom than Ibuki. When Ibuki realizes the sister he loves is a threat to the Kingdom, he is faced with having to fight her and perhaps even destroy her. Sibling rivalry is perhaps one of the most classic types there are. At their young age, these two siblings are torn apart, manipulated, granted special powers and made to face each other with many lives and a Kingdom in the balance. The contrast between the siblings really adds more dimension to the rivalry since one of them, Inori, doesn’t really feel saddened by fighting her brother, while Ibuki is deeply pained by having to fight his beloved sister. Inori and Ibuki come in at number 3 because theirs gives an interesting spin to the time-honored sibling rivalry.

Kogoru Akechi, mostly known as Akechi in the series, is a young prodigious detective with success in all but one of the unique cases he has been involved with. That case being the 20 Faces case. 20 Faces is an unknown killer who murders criminals and other people who he/she believes deserve death. 20 Faces believes criminals get off too easily after committing crimes and that therefore somebody should give them what they deserve. The criminal gives the police advance notice of the murders and taunts Akechi. Throughout the investigations 20 Faces even reveals that Akechi is a key to how and when the crimes will be committed. Akechi has not been able to catch 20 Faces in the years he’s been investigating the case. Akechi lost his best friend to 20 faces 3 years prior and this motivates him to, almost obsessively, work to solve the case. Akechi and 20 Faces come in at number 3 because of the degree of obsession with which both Akechi and 20 Faces approach each other. It’s almost reminiscent of Light Yagami and L in Death Note. Not to mention, there are people’s lives on the line. It’s a dark twist on the typical genius detective vs evil mastermind rivalry that could only come from basing this series on Rampo Edogawa’s Mystery Fiction novels.

Masamune Matsuoka is a member of the survival team Toy☆GunGun. He is very skilled, charismatic and strives to always have fun. Nagamasa Midori was once a teammate of Matsuoka before, for reasons unknown, deciding to split from him. Midori is a bit two-faced and can switch from being a gentle doctor to a bit of a sadist towards his teammates and opponents on the field during survival games. Midori enjoys emotionally torturing Matsuoka and due to an occurrence involving someone special to him in the past, Matsuoka has become obsessed with beating Midori at TGC (a secret survival game tournament). Midori’s past and present bullying causes Matsuoka to stand in shock and almost cry when he runs into him for the first time in a year. Matsuoka and Midori come in second place because of the sheer intensity with which these characters react to each other. Midori doesn’t care who he tortures to in order to humiliate Matsuoka, and even the usually kindhearted Matsuoka, though left trembling when faced with Midori, loses sight of his friends in his blind pursuit of vengeance against Midori. Midori is the monster we love to hate, while the audience really feels for Matsuoka and roots for him to get his revenge. These are two rivals who illicit so much emotion in each other and the spectator that we can’t help but watch what happens next.

Nagisa Kiryuu is a newly transferred third year high school student and third son of the Kiryuu family who run the space aeronautics mega corporation Kirishina Corp. Yuuji is the second brother and is senior managing director. After being sent all over the solar system and having successfully dealt with all tasks appointed to him, Nagisa is transferred to the Mars branch and ordered by Yuuji to disband A-TEC, an advanced technological education class of which he is also a student. Nagisa has been succeeding at every seemingly impossible task thrown at him by the Kirishina Corporation because he wishes to overthrow his two brothers as part of a personal vendetta. As his immediate supervisor and boss, Yuuji verbally and sometimes physically abuses Nagisa repeatedly, which only spurs Nagisa on in fighting to take him down. Nagisa even attempts manipulating politics in order to get his way, which eventually brings Yuuji to put a hit on Nagisa. This life-long rivalry makes it at number 1 because there is so much passion between the rivals. Yuuji hates Nagisa so much and wants him out of his life and the corporation badly enough that he treats him like trash and has him kidnapped, beaten and almost killed. All the while Nagisa endures being sent out expected to fail and faces certain death several times, only to get revenge on his terrible brother Yuuji and the rest of the Kiryuu family. He will sacrifice anything to fulfill his vengeful wishes. With lives, corporations and people’s sanity on the line, this is definitely a memorable rivalry which we’ll hopefully get to see more of.

An honorable mention must be added for the very passionate, very intense, though one-sided rivalry between Umaru and Sylphynford. As her perennial runner-up, Sylphynford admires and idolized Umaru to the point of deciding that she is her rival. In everything. While Umaru doesn’t go along with it, Sylphynford continuously challenges Umaru to random contests like comparing test scores or even to see who can walk faster. As a gamer, Sylphynford is also a close second to Umaru’s alter ego, U.M.R. Though Sylphynford doesn’t realize U.M.R. and Umaru are the same person, she spends hours challenging U.M.R. at the arcade. Sylphynford is a kind girl, and all she wants is to win, she is passionate, but she ultimately is a positive rival. This, and the fact that Umaru doesn’t reciprocate her feelings of rivalry, keep this duo from being in the main list, but definitely deserve a mention.

The summer of 2015 was a rich time for anime that was badass, and of course, Gangsta. is one of them! It tells the tale of two men, Worick and Nicolas, who were called and paid to do any job, which essentially meant that they were jacks of all trades. Their line of work fell under dangerous territory, but they were mostly well-respected men and were thought to be incredible workers. Of course, the fact that they live in a dangerous territory is not a coincidence, and both Nicolas and Worick have pasts that are sure to make you love them even more. While there are mini conflicts within their neighborhood, there’s always a higher power that causes turmoil amongst all characters. Essentially, Gangsta. is a story of discrimination within a governmental system that started with causing people to suffer, and expecting them to pay for it. One of the main things that we notice about Nicolas is his angry features — like he’s going to kill you, which he very well could. He is also someone who was trained in this area of expertise, since he is a Tagged, to use a katana sword to slay enemies. A Tagged essentially refers to something akin to human experimentation, where a large number of people are given drugs to test their ability as a human being, but of course, it ultimately falls through and those who are Tagged are ostracised because they pose a potential danger to society. While we only catch glimpses of Nicolas’ strength in the beginning, we really start to see his ruthlessness when he’s fighting Doug, another Tagged of a lower rank. When these two spar, it’s incredibly intimidating to watch, because of the sheer difference in skills between those who are Tagged and those who are considered to be normal human beings. Not only was the animation for this scene extremely well-done, but being able to see their fight in the anime creates a whole new experience than when you witness it in the manga. It’s fast-paced and mostly in the air, but it was without the use of weapons apart from Nicolas’ katana! The exchange between the two was one of the finer things about fight scenes in anime!

The first thing that we find out about the Okumura siblings is that their biological father is Satan. Their mother, of course, is a human woman and had died giving birth to them. The only strange thing about this fact is that the older of the two brothers, Rin, is the one that possesses demon powers, while Yukio does not. The previous Paladin, the head exorcist at the academy they attend, also known as Shiro, was the one that raised the two boys as humans, and not as demons. Of course, Rin and Yukio are left as orphans when Satan, who had been possessing Shiro, completely takes over his body which ultimately kills Shiro. Because of Rin’s big secret, he has to be extra careful when he trudges the floors of the academy, otherwise his life could be in danger. Amaimon, also known as the Earth King, is incredibly interested in Rin’s existence and the fact that he is classified as a demon. When he and Rin begin fighting due to the fact that Amaimon was intending to harm Shiemi, Rin’s love interest, the power that exuded from both of them was incredible. Rin had been given a sword by Shiro, and it was a seal to keep his demonic powers in check. However, when he fights Amaimon, the sword slowly begins to break, which causes Rin’s powers to overwhelm his body and cause him to lose control. From that point on, Amaimon realisees that he cannot win against Rin — which is a huge testament to Rin’s powers, since Amaimon is considered incredibly strong! Watching the extent of Rin’s powers is intimidating, as he still has to learn to possess those powers.

One of the reasons that Tokyo Ghoul became so popular incredibly quickly after its anime release is because of how intensely and forcefully the plot was introduced. While it starts off as lighthearted and kind of cute, the first episode ends with countless questions and leave you wanting more. Of course, the biggest deal is that Kaneki, the protagonist, had turned into a Ghoul instead of having died when he was eaten. Naturally, this opened up a whole new world to not only him, but to us, as well. Although Kaneki struggles with questioning his existence and as to whether he’s a human or a Ghoul, he is introduced to a new family of Ghouls who take him in and help him to deal with his new identity — one of the people being Kirishima Touka. From the very start, when Touka’s character is introduced, she’s seen as someone who is compassionate towards those close to her, and as a result, she is incredibly wary of those who she acknowledges as her enemies. Mado is akin to a hunter of Ghouls and when he kills them, he uses their quinques as his own weapons to hunt other Ghouls. When Touka received wind of this from a younger Ghoul named Hinami, she was livid and immediately went after him. Mado, of course, had secretly been wanting to capture Touka for years but couldn’t find her because of the masks that Ghouls wear. When Mado recognized her mask (a bunny), he became excited and wanted her head. The tension and anticipation throughout this fight was immense, as both characters are filled with hatred and a bloodlust that surpasses other fights in the anime. Because Touka is so filled with rage when she finds that Mado used Hinami’s mother’s quinque as his new weapon, her actions are quicker than usual and she is, of course, able to take out Mado for the horrid thing he had done to not just a Ghoul, but a child.

Attack on Titan was one of those anime that completely blew up in terms of popularity when it was announced to be an anime. The fanbase was huge, and for some good reason, too, since the plot of the series is incredibly unique and dark. The fanbase itself made tons of jokes whenever their favorite characters would get killed off, because they claimed it was impossible for certain characters to stay alive all the way through — even if they were considered protagonists. One of the most adored characters is Levi, because he’s small and yet he is a corporal who leads his men into battle, knowing that he is always taking a risk and putting his life on the line. In the anime, one of the defining moments of Levi’s character was when he was fighting against the Female Titan. During his training with his men, he always made sure to tell them to make a clean cut on a Titan’s neck in order to ensure immobility. While on the battlefield, he had his squad that backed him up, Levi’s genuine disgust for Titans really showed through right before he cut the back of the Female Titan’s neck. His lack of hesitation and incredible skill is what makes anime-watchers feel awe — because he’s such a badass and he merely thinks of it as doing his job to protect humanity. Because he’s so skilled at what he does, and because he genuinely wanted to keep the human race alive, his fight and ultimate win against the Female Titan certainly did wonders for the plot of the story.

In the supernatural world of anime, there is always conflict between spirits and gods that inadvertently involve intense violence. Noragami is unique in that one of the protagonists is a human girl named Hiyori who is connected to both the real world and the spiritual world, due to a car accident that she was in. She is dragged into a world of gods and spirits and apart from trying to get herself back to normal, Hiyori also experiences the inner networks of the gods and their relationships with each other. Bishamon is one of the gods in the Noragami universe who is a high-ranking God. She has many Regalia that she uses as weapons when she fights off demons and sends lost souls to where they should lay to rest. Because of her reputation amongst those in the supernatural world, she and Yato, the male protagonist, don’t see eye to eye. There is a history between them, of course, that we don’t know about, but the tension between them makes Hiyori feel uneasy. Bishamon sends her Regalia to attack Yato and his Regalia, Yukine, and the hostility between the two gods is evident and prominent. To Hiyori, watching these two gods fight each other is intimidating, and it makes her, as well as the audience, realize that true strength that Yato possesses. Not only was he up against Bishamon, a highly regarded god, but his reputation as the god of calamity certainly made the fight more interesting to watch!

Soul Eater is the type of shounen that most people like because of its concept of weapons “eating” souls in order to transform into a Death Scythe, after consuming one hundred souls. Each meister has their own scythe and they have incredible relationships with them, since it’s impossible to actually improve as a tag team if they don’t have some form of a relationship. The main meister and scythe tag teams are Maka and Soul, Black Star and Tsubaki, and Death the Kid and the Thompson sisters. While all of the scythes have their own sets of skills, Tsubaki is an interesting scythe, because of the fact that her familial background is not revealed until later on into the series. She’s a sweet girl who is incredibly caring towards Black Star, but her bloodline is one that would make others fear her if they knew her. In a particular arc of Soul Eater, we are introduced to a demon blade that is said to possess people into using him so that he can gather and endless supply of souls to eat. When Tsubaki receives wind of this, she of course, knew that it was her brother when the name Masamune was uttered. It was her older brother — someone she had never gotten along with because of their differing perspectives on how a scythe or weapon should live: with or without a master to be loyal to. Tsubaki enters another realm to see her brother, to speak to him, to at least attempt to get through to him. When his sister is right in front of him, Masamune is unamused and proceeds to tell her that they will settle this family feud right now. After incredible sets of skills from a family with a noble title, the two siblings are at a crossroads, with Tsubaki torn between saving her brother from a life of darkness, or to save herself and give up on it. Naturally, the villain is taken down, and not without an incredible fight, first. Masamune’s bloodlust did not affect Tsubaki, and she still possessed the same integrity that she had long before the feud with her brother. As such, Tsubaki received character development from a fight between hers and her brother’s ideals.

From the very start, K Project is a complicated anime to understand because it’s filled with so many unanswered questions until much later on in the plot. The gist of the anime is that it revolves around Clans of the area and it questions each character’s motives and goals. Of course, belonging to any Clan was a good sign for a character, because it meant that he was worthy enough to belong to a clan. If someone did not belong to a clan, they were seen as potentially a threat, because they served no one and they were loyal to no one. Naturally, that was seen as a safety hazard and was usually dealt with accordingly. When the Kings of the Clans are chosen, they are usually chosen because they have a strong willpower and can lead others to trust them and live safely. When that is put to the test and the three main Kings of the series fight each other, it truly is a spectacle. The three Kings have immense power and most definitely use this to their advantage. No other member of any Clan is directly involved, as it’s revealed in the series that only Kings can kill Kings. Previous fights and spars in the series were based on and motivated by the complexity of the relationship between the Red Clan and the Blue Clan. However, when the anime was coming to a close, it was crucial to create a climax — a moment in which everything is pieced together to make the audience understand, or at least try to understand, what had been happening the entire time. All questions are answered when Isana Yashiro fought against the Red King (Suoh Mikoto) and the Blue King (Munakata Reishi). This, of course, meat that Yashiro had to have similar powers to the two, and of course, it’s revealed that he is the Silver King. The battle between the three is truly luminous in that the animation is gorgeous, and the fact that it’s done so well makes the storyline that much more painful and distinct. Not only did we get to see Suoh truly be a badass in his fight, but we also get to see Yashiro’s true skills when it comes to fighting. Talk about development!

One of the best things about Gintama is that apart from its crude and unadulterated comedy, is its fight scenes. Gintama truly has the mark of a shounen although it does have a few inconsistencies that cause it to be unconventional. There’s an abundance of specific moments in the anime that can touch different parts of your heart, and what most fans love about the series itself is that it never loses sight of its characters’ true motives. Although Gintoki is lazy and doesn’t pay Kagura and Shinpachi as he always should, he was once feared as the White Demon, something that has been referred to several times in the anime. One of the best demonstrations of his title is when he gets into a battle with Jirochou, one of the Four Devas of Kabukicho. When we are first introduced to Jirochou and Gintoki’s relationship, it’s one that is better and causes us to think that they wouldn’t get along. Of course, Sorachi, Gintama’s writer, has an interesting way of making us all love Gintoki with each and every fight that he gets himself into. Jirochou had originally joined the Four Devas to watch over Otose at the request of her deceased husband, despite being in love with her. Not only that, but he had a daughter, Pirako, who he felt extremely attached to, despite abandoning her. From the very start, Jirochou poses as a problem because there was simply too much in his past that affected his current state. Although there is often mock conflict between Otose and Gintoki because he doesn’t pay his rent, he is still protective of his landlord and goes against Jirochou to protect not only Otose, but the other Four Devas, as well. When the two cross katanas, it is found that they see themselves in each other. Despite this fact, they continue to fight until Jirochou, of course, is taken down, but with dignity. Not only did Gintoki prove that he could definitely be trusted with the task of protecting Kabukicho, but he also freed Jirochou from his burdens and allowed him to go back to his family. One of the most amazing things about Gintama is that ultimately, there usually is no bad guy — which is what makes the fights that much more awesome!

Fairy Tail is becoming one of those shounen that everyone has watched at least a few times. It’s beginning to be thought of on the same level as Naruto, Bleach, and One Piece, which is a huge step for the series! Qualities that cause this anime to be so high up there is its characters who are always willing to show off their strength in order to protect their guild. During the Grand Magic Games, after Fairy Tail had its “strongest guild in Fiore” title stripped, Natsu and Gajeel are faced with Sabertooth’s — the new strongest guild in Fiore — Dragon Slayers: Sting and Rogue. What’s revealed about these twin Dragon Slayers is that they are thought to be second-generation Dragon Slayers. While this means that some of their powers are more enhanced compared to Natsu and Gajeel, they still do not have the initial strength that Fairy Tail’s Dragon Slayers do. The fight between them is absolutely mesmerizing, as you watch flash of light after flash of light, and watching the spectators be in a state of awe as they watch Dragon Slayers tough it out. While Natsu and Gajeel don’t have the “powers” that Sting and Rogue possess yet, their sheer determination to win, along with their now-second-nature strength is what drove them to believe in themselves and ultimately win against the Sabertooth Dragon Slayers. Not only is the audience amazed by Natsu and Gajeel’s refusal to give up, but so were the other characters that watched their friends from afar. Truly, this fight is a testimony to what Dragon Slayers are definitely capable of.

One of the most influential anime that depicts Western culture while still displaying Japanese roots is definitely the Fullmetal Alchemist series. It’s filled with so many intricately placed secrets that contribute to the plot, and it never strays from the actual mission that the Elric brothers wanted to achieve. There have been praises from countless fans about the villains of the series — how they are all so well-developed and that the end of their character arcs suits them incredibly well! It takes a while for all of the villains to be vanquished, of course, but the most satisfying, in terms of plot and character motivation, is the fight between Scar and King Bradley. Throughout the entire series, we as the audience know that King Bradley is working with the Homunculi. Edward and Alphonse don’t know, and neither do other members of the State until the anime is coming closer to an end. Scar, who had detested the government and held them accountable for the death of his brother, is finally faced with King Bradley, the king and president of Amestris. He is appalled by the fact that the man is able to allow millions of lives being lost, merely for the production of a Philosopher’s Stone. Essentially, King Bradley (aka Wrath) is afraid of old age, and yet, that is the very way in which he dies after his Philosopher’s Stone is extracted from him. The fight itself between the two is one that is high in tension, as there is a ridiculous supply of pent up anger on Scar’s part. At this point, the audience does not feel sympathy for King Bradley, but rather, is rooting for Scar to gain back his justice. It was a rough ride, but the end results definitely contributed to restoring Amestris back into order.

Let’s start this list off with a drama that takes its viewers on an adventure filled with emotions and beautiful music. Arima Kousei is a child prodigy and gifted piano player despite his young age. He has a great future lying ahead of him, but everything changes on the day his mother passes away and he swears to himself to abandon music completely. His days turn into a dull routine overshadowed by the tragedies of his past. But his life might get turned upside down one more time when he meets passionate and lively Kaori. Even though this show wants to teach its viewers to keep going even through the darkest of times, it is still painful to watch the tragedies unfolding on screen. Over the course of this show the characters will slowly but surely grow on you, just to rip your heart out for the great finale and conclusion. Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso is a show that is as beautiful as it is tragic and has earned itself the first spot on this Top 10 List.

Next up is Elfen Lied, a show that is known for its high amounts of gory and disturbing scenes. Lucy is not human. She might look like a normal girl, but she has the power to destroy this planet and every person trying to stop her from doing so. Even a creature like her, however, can show a different side. Elfen Lied tells the story of Lucy’s meeting with teenagers Kouta and Yuka. They are bound together by fate and the meaning of this meeting reaches way back into the past. Elfen Lied takes you on a rollercoaster ride of negative emotions, from disturbing to depressed, disgusted, shocked and touched, but you still cannot stop watching. I found this show when I didn’t have much experience with anime yet, and how I wish that someone would have warned me. Besides the obviously bloody contents, Elfen Lied explores a lot of ethical issues and psychological questions. This show will get to you and touch you like no other.

The speed of a cherry blossom falling to the ground is five centimeters per second. This movie tells a chain of short stories about their distance. Some people seem to belong together, but there are things in this world pulling them apart. It might be physical distance, but sometimes the person sitting right next to you can be as far away as the end of this atmosphere. Meet several people and hear about their stories of love, separation and an eminent feeling of fate holding them all together. 5 Centimeters per Second isn’t as depressing as it is simply painful to watch. Unlike some of the other stories presented on this list, this one shows events that can and actually are happening every single day. This is a romance movie that does not show the bright side of falling in love, but the painful side that includes getting hurt and having to move on. A big recommendation for all fans of bittersweet love stories.

How far would you go to save the world from destroying itself? The sequel to the first Code Geass story starts one year after the Black Rebellion. The fight between Lelouch Lamperouge and the Holy Britannian Empire continues, with new alliances and plot twists. Can Lelouch finally realize his goal or does he have to go down trying? Code Geass R2 introduces new characters and, more importantly, a lot more drama and emotions. The characters feel authentic and the fans will cry and scream with them on this adventure set in an alternative version of Japan. The whole show has a certain depth to it that will make you feel as if Code Geass is way more than just a work of fiction and tries to explore more important issues. By the end of this show the characters will feel like brothers and sisters to you, which makes the finale even more heartbreaking. Tears guaranteed!

You thought all summer camp stories end in an amazing adventure like in Digimon? Think again, because Bokurano will show you an alternative outcome. 15 children come together and decide to explore the beach while being away on a summer camp. In a dark cave close to the ocean they find an eccentric man who invites them to play a game; earth is being attacked by a large robot and it is up to them to defend their planet. The kids are ready to test his game, but soon enough they have to realize that the game is played differently from what they’ve expected. Many people stumble across Bokurano looking for a Mecha or Sci-Fi show. What they didn’t expect is a much sadder anime that explores the dark sides of the human mind. The producers didn’t cut down on drama and on top of that you have to keep in mind that the main characters are only children. Allow the story to unfold and stick through until the very end and I can promise you that you will be touched by this show in a way that you didn’t expect before.

Follow Jinta and his friends on their journey back into their own past. Despite their differences, six kids become best friends during summer. They enjoy their carefree days together and do not spend a second worrying about their future. But a tragic death forces them to grow up and go their separate ways. Many years later, now in high school, fate brings the former friends back together and makes them face the mistakes of their past. Here we have another story that immerses you into a tragedy that is set close to everyday life. The definitiveness of death isn’t something that should be experienced by kids. Yet, the characters of this show need to face it and you cannot help but feel bad for them. Thoughts about what a happy adventure this could have been in another universe keep haunting you. Especially fans of Slice of Life and School shows will fall in love with this story.

You have watched all the anime up to this point, but still didn’t shed a tear? Be ready, because this movie won’t leave a single eye dry. In the apocalyptic remains of the Japanese countryside after the atomic bombing of World War II, two siblings strive for survival. With no hope left, young Seita tries to protect his four-year-old sister Setsuko in a country that offers neither help nor sympathy. Their love for each other is all they have left while fighting grief and hunger. Heartbreaking - that’s the only way this movie can be described. After all, for each minute spent watching this movie you have to remind yourself that this is not entirely a work of fiction. It has happened and the sheer pain displayed on the screen is real. Grave of the Fireflies is a classic, especially for fans of sorrowful stories. Don’t let the age of this little gem scare you off. There is a reason why I have to include it on this list; after all, emotions are timeless and you can still sympathize with the characters even more than 20 years after the release of this movie.

It’s time to move to our Top 3 and which show would be a better fit for the first spot than Fullmetal Alchemist? The Elric brothers have a special bond. They tried their best to save their mother with the power of alchemy, but in the process older brother Elric lost part of his limbs while Alphonse lost his whole body and had to be bound to a suit of armor. Together they embark on a journey to find the Philosopher’s Stone and to undo the mistakes of their past. Their journey turns out to be much bigger than expected and they need to fight to protect the people close to them. The relationship between the two brothers really gets to you, especially if you have siblings of your own. This anime succeeds at what many others only attempted to do: creating a believable connection between the main characters. That’s what really makes this show stand out and also conveys the emotions and drama of the storyline. It drags you into the story and forces you to really feel for the characters. Fullmetal Alchemist is a job well done and a definite must-watch.

If you had to die right now, what regrets would you have? Otonashi is sure that he is dead. Yet, he wakes up outside the gates of a mysterious school that he does not recognize. Is this how heaven looks like? Otonashi is trapped inside a limbo zone between life and death and has to join a rebellion that fights no one less than God. Be ready for a show revolving around life, death and everything that happens between the two. If you just start watching Angel Beats! you might not understand how it can be part of this list. It is true that this show is hilarious and seems carefree like no other. But it is also true that this is only one side of Angel Beats! and as the story progresses you find out more about the previous lives of the characters and the reason behind them being trapped at this school. Keep a pack of tissues nearby, because this show shows you the whole spectrum of human emotions.

The final station of our emotional rollercoaster is no other show than Clannad, bringing us a love story that has touched thousands of people all over the world. Tomoya Okazaki and Nagisa Furukawa meet in high school under unlikely circumstances. While Nagisa is trying hard to overcome her shy and clumsy self, Tomoya couldn’t care less about school and just wants to live his life without any obstacles. The story of Clannad: After Story begins after the two of them graduate high school and slowly have to grow up. The reason for the great success of Clannad: After Story might be the fact that the initial Slice of Life story moved on to become something bigger and better. Even though the storyline is still kept down to earth, you will see a lot more drama, pain and heartwarming moments. Trust me when I tell you the feelings are strong with this one; you cannot help it but be moved by the story and feel for the characters, from the lighthearted beginning of the story until the painful ending.

This simple epilogue to the saga of the Gundam Meisters is a beautiful ode to the peace that that finally achieved after the long years of war. During the final stages of the war against the ELS, Setsuna ends up transcending his physical form. Thus, the woman whom he has feelings for, Marina Ismail, ends up being alone, for 50 long years. That is, until Setnuna finally manages to go back to her. The beautiful score, coupled with the subtle hints of romance that still exists within the two main characters, and highlighted by the Gundam 00 Qan[T] finally retiring amidst a sea of flowers, provides much depth and symbolism to this short, yet extremely beautiful scene.

Sword Art Online is set in a virtual word and is thus practically limitless when it comes to how stunning its visual sceneries can be. However, one cannot deny that the last few scenes of the first arc of the anime’s first season are a beauty of behold. Set against the backdrop of Aincrad’s destruction, the perfect sunset serves as a symbolic finale to the show’s stellar first arc. With the world they had lived in for the past few years literally falling into pieces, Kirito and Asuna share a brief moment of warmth, reveling in each other’s presence, knowing that even if the world were to end right there, they had each other, and they will never walk any life alone.

There is just something about anime classics that remain so memorable and poignant. In the case of the 1984 movie, Do You Remember Love, HIkaru, who is then involved in one of anime’s most famous love triangles, persuades Minmay to perform a song. Though the song is quite mellow and simple, it nonetheless touches all those involved in the war, including the Zentraedi. The simple performance, the mellow riffs of the song, set against the the movie’s climactic battle with the alien forces, makes this scene a wonder to behold. Its intricate, smooth, hand-drawn frame-by-frame motions are quite an irony in itself, showing beauty in the midst of the most brutal of wars.

Angel Beats! is an anime with its share of memorable, aesthetically beautiful moments. However, the one that really pulled at its viewers’ heartstrings involve the series’ final moments, when the connection between Otonashi and Kanade was finally revealed. As Kanade tells Otonashi that his very heart beats within her chest, the repercussions of his feeling of love for her get fully revealed. Set against the a perfect sunset and serenaded by the show’s iconic tune, the final scenes of Otonashi and Kanade together are just heart-wrenching to behold, as the viewer fully knows what’s going to happen next, yet is powerless to stop it. Yes, beauty happens in an instant, yet that fleeting moment may pass by as fast as it has come.

Though Shadow Skill: Eigi is one of the purest examples of a fighting anime, this scene nonetheless is simply beautiful for the sheer sense of awe that it invokes from the viewer. After his adopted brother, Gau, gets kidnapped by Darkness, an immortal being, Diaz Ragu, a man who was permanently damaged after pushing himself over his limits to save his sister’s life, challenges the god to a fight to the death. Diaz Ragu finally ended his life with a victory over an immortal being. He passes away standing even in death, his Black Wing still standing strong. The episode’s final moments, showing the black wing over a hill being showered by white feathers, does not just trigger as sense of admiration for the beauty of the scene, it begets a sense of awe for the man who once held the mighty weapon.

Among the classic anime scenes that truly pulled at the hearts of fans all over the world involves the fateful farewell scene on the 31st episode of the Rurouni Kenshin anime. After Lord Okubo’s assassination, Kenshin decides to confront Shishio, but before he starts on a journey that he may not come out of alive, he decides to say goodbye to the person that matters most to him - Kaoru Kamiya. Set in a firefly-lit night, the subtle farewell scene became one of Rurouni Kenshin’s iconic moments, with Kenshin pulling Kaoru into an embrace, his first truly intimate moment with the Kamiya Kasshin adjutant master, as he gives her his gentle farewell. Though drawn relatively simply compared to today’s standards, the masterful direction, the sepia-tinged montage, as well as the perfect, emotional orchestral score, made this scene one of the most beautiful moments in anime.

Within the emotional whirlwind that is Clannad: After Story lies this golden scene, a scene when Tomoya Okazaki finally overcomes his depression over his grief for the death of his wife and embraces the role he has to take as a father to the young Ushio. Set against a field of flowers a few moments before the sun sets, the scene is one powerful moment to behold. It is said that something that is beautiful is something that can take your breath away. This scene is one of those, showing the raw emotion that has made Clannad: After Story what it is. With excellent direction, cinematography and the signature Clannad score, the scene where Tomoya embraces fatherhood for the first time is one scene that one will always remember.

After the massive battle that featured mecha of epic proportions literally shooting galaxies as shurikens to the enemy, Gurren Lagann ends on a very simple note. The lovers, Simon and Nia, who have fought together in the war, know that their time together is very limited. Hence, they decide to get married, in the presence of all their friends. The wedding scene at the end of Tenga Toppa Gurren Lagann is almost an antithesis to the entire series, being small-scale, simple, and very subtle. However, it is for its very simplicity that it has become one of the most beautiful moments in anime, reflecting the fleeting feelings of bliss that man is granted during his stay on Earth.

5 Centimeters Per Second is almost like a moving work of art, with its stunning visuals and its emotional soundtrack. It is a story of first love and the pain of its first loss. In this scene, Kanae, who has been in love with Takaki, finally realizes that she will never have his heart, for he has already given it to someone else. The young girl’s feelings are perfectly depicted, albeit symbolically, by her vision of Takaki and another, unknown girl watching the Earth’s gentle rise in the distance. The scene itself is beautiful, not simply because of its aesthetics, but because of the underlying theme that it represents.

Howl’s Moving Castle is widely regarded as one of Hayao Miyazaki’s best works, featuring many of his signature touches such as a plot that is intricate and characters which are unforgettable. This sequence, where the story’s heroine, Sophie, finally discovers the truth behind Howl, is one scene that is very memorable. The quality of the scene itself is trademark Studio Ghibli, but beyond the aesthetics of this scene lies its significance of it to the main storyline, as as heroine finally is able to understand Howl and his past after this. By watching the young Howl literally catch a falling star, Sophie finally begins to see Howl for who he truly is.

Despite being at a high school for mercenaries, Kinji just wants to be normal and get rid of his secret condition —he turns into an ace killer when he's turned on by the female form. A chance encounter with a fiery transfer student that puts both their lives in danger soon turns into her unrelenting desire to make him her partner. Another anime with cute girls and lots of action, this show manages to pack 3 high paced story arcs into 12 episodes. The slowly blossoming romance between the two main leads helps keeps things light hearted despite the heavy plot.

In Areishia Spirit Academy, only trained maidens of noble families are gathered to become spirit contractors. For the first time in history, an irregular boy spirit contractor whose existence was thought impossible until now joins the school. His name is Kamito, and he possess skills and potential far exceeding that of which he is willing to show. What are the secrets behind his power? Why does he want to keep them hidden? What is his link to the recently re-emerged figure Ren Ashbell who holds the title of the Strongest Blade Dancer? The thickening plot and mystery surrounding our protagonist makes the anime an entertaining watch, as if the cute girls and fanservice aren’t enough already!

First-year student Ash Blake of Ansarivan Dragonar Academy is known by his fellow classmates as the ‘number one problem child.’ Despite his rare ability to ride other people’s dragons and his incredibly large star-shaped brand that marks him as a future dragon master, his dragon has never appeared. One fateful day, Ash's dragon awakes in full glory, but appears different than any dragon ever seen before —in the form of a beautiful girl! The hot headed girl/dragon though small, holds an incredible amount of power. But she soon becomes the least of his worries as powerful unseen forces start moving to bring an ancient evil back to life.

The story centers around Akihisa Yoshii, the "baka" of the title, and unlike our other titles in this list where the protagonist pretends to be an idiot, he really is one. He attends Fumizuki Academy, where the staff rigidly divides the students based on the results of their academic scores, and assign benefits based on it. The higher the grade, the better the class and classroom, the better the benefits The school happens to have developed experiments to summon fantasy creatures, and the anime revolves around Akihisa and the F class as they try to take on the higher-tiered classes and seize their perks an all-out battle for school supremacy. Full of slapstick humour, ecchi, plot twists, more blood spilled than Attack on Titan and a warm overarching theme about true friendship and love, this is one of my favourites in this list.

Widely known for invading the internet with the “blue ribbon underboobs”, Danjon ni Deai o Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darō ka –or DanMachi for short– takes place in the city of Orario, a huge labyrinth in the underground. Its strange name attracts excitement, illusions of honor, and hopes of romance with a pretty girl. In this city of dreams and desires, new adventurer Bell Cranel has his fateful encounter with the tiny Goddess Hestia. A light hearted comedy about a boy striving to become the best adventurer and a lonely goddess searching for followers, both working together to fulfill their goals. With an increasingly heavy plot and a fresh take on friendship and “the meaning of getting stronger”, you tend to forget it’s supposed to be a comedy/ecchi anime.

Our story centers around our beloved protagonist, Yotaro Hanabusa, a member of the last remaining order of the 21st century Knights called the "Knights of the world”. While donning a mask to hide his identity, he goes about the day protecting the peace as the mysterious “Knight Lancer”. One day he meets a little girl by the name of Kidoin Makio, and through a series of quirky events, soon begins living with her along with his party that includes an overbearing maid, an air-headed squire and a white horse that squeals like a pig. With it’s own brand of wacky story telling and a lovable and unique cast of characters, this light hearted story that follows a knight who doesn't want to be a knight as he begins to look after a young rich girl, along with his quirky friends, makes for a great watch!