2020:

AOTY: #AkudamaDrive

The hell that is our current system of “justice” and “correction” was brought to vivid color in the wild ride that is Akudama Drive. Taking place in a hypersurveilled dystopia version of Kansai, this anime follows a group of notorious criminals (and one seemingly ordinary citizen) who find themselves enmeshed in a greater conspiracy, fighting between the system that crushes them and their own internal conflicts.

Runner Up: #LookingforMagicalDoremi

One thing I wanna talk about with Looking for Magical Doremi in this edition is the faces. You can tell if something is going to be a good magical girl series just on the faces alone and Toei, being the masters of both magical girls and wild faces that are, were more to oblige us in this regard.

2021:

AOTY: #misakinomaiyoga

This may be a little-known movie, but it still has one of the best narratives in recent anime with a gorgeous world and relatable themes to prop up its tale. Taking place in the aftermath of the 3/11 disaster, Misaki no Maiyoga focuses on two lost children - the runaway Yui and the orphan Hiyori - who find themselves settled in a house on a cape that proves to be a portal to a fantastical world, one still healing from disasters both natural and supernatural.

Runner Up: #OddTaxi

One thing I wanna talk about with Odd Taxi in this edition is Natsuki Hanae’s performance as our taxi driver Odokawa. Already having made a name for himself as portraying youthful protagonists like Tanjiro and Ken Kaneki, it was wild to see him take on the role of a gruff, 40-something walrus who felt more at home in a 70s Scorcese film. Yet, to his talent, Hanae was able to disappear into the role and find new ways to explore his skills and improve seiyuu fans’ experiences at large.

2022:

AOTY: #akebichannosailorfuku

One thing I wanna talk about with Akebi-chan in this edition is Episode 7, “Please Let Me Hear It.” While the show already had a high level of visual beauty, this one kicked up to another level when it had no reason to do so. The episode directorial debut of moaang, this exploration of self-improvement and the desire to not let others down becomes a symphony of visual fluidity and the joy of being honest with who you are - and what you could become.

#AkebisSailorUniform

Runner Up: #CyberpunkEdgerunners

It was the anime that should’ve been a cheap cash-in; of course, that just ain’t the way for a series like this. Another dystopian future focusing on criminals, Edgerunners follows the life of David Martinez, a boy from the rough side of town who endures personal tragedies to begin his fiery path towards a better life, even as things threaten to come crashing down around him.

2023:

AOTY: #Overtake

Not to make the obvious pun, but Overtake overtook my expectations in becoming my favorite anime of 2023. Starting off as a sports anime focusing on the niche yet dynamic world of F4 racing, the series quickly defines itself as something interested in broader, more human concerns. Between the realistic concerns over funding and the amount of effort it takes to participate in the sport, Overtake explores the ways that our passions and pursuits either hide or reveal parts of ourselves we’re uncomfortable with, particularly that which has traumatized us.