10) Ranma 1/2

As creative genius Rumiko Takahashi's best series, Ranma 1/2 sparkles with remarkably original ideas that are as wacky as they are romantic. Though I tend to disfavor the episodic style of storytelling (I like my stories with a little more robustness), Takahashi's numerous, whimsical predicaments keep things interesting. Quite unfortunately, however, the anime tends to sour midway through the 3rd season. If it had only remained true to the manga, Ranma 1/2 would've easily been among my top 5.

9) Martian Successor Nadesico (Kido Senkan Nadesico)

Superficially, MSN shares several similarities to the epic series Neon Genesis Evangelion. What lies deeper is a jovial sci-fi tale with a whole lot of heart. MSN presents a lovable cast of characters with a complex, yet lucid story sprinkled with its fair share of plot twists. Let's go passion!!

8) His and Her Circumstances (Kareshi Kanojo no Jiyo)

My first shoujo was KKnJ, and I was blown away by show's presentation and the genre itself. Everything in this series just clicks: the characters, the premise, the comedy, the drama; all are presented with professional style distinctive of Hideki Anno and the Gainax troupe. The music is particularly exceptional: the opening and ending songs are dangerously catchy and the background music is hauntingly touching. Sadly, KKnJ starts to lose its splendor midway through the series and steadily tumbles to a disappointing end. But, on the whole, KKnJ is one of the most entertaining series out there.

7) Slam Dunk!

A basketball anime? Why not?! I've always been a fan of basketball (I used to be obsessed with it) so SD was right up my alley. But SD has a magical quality that makes it appealing to anyone. The characters are a delight to watch--especially Hanamichi--and have a very real quality to them. The birth and development of the Shohoku starting five is well told, and watching them as they test their skills is at times emotionally enthralling. There were times, however, where the story focused too much on the games rather than the characters. Still, SD successfully captures the spirit of competition and sport. It also has my all time favorite anime song: Anata Dake Mitsumeteru. Mezase love power!!

6) Neon Genesis Evangelion (Shin Seiki Evangelion)

Unmatched in professional polish, Neon Genesis Evangelion is Gainax at their very best. Although the first 14 episodes (though still very good) are tainted with the "monster of the week" syndrome, thereafter, the series improves tremendously as the story darkens in tone and shifts focus to the morbid dimensions of the characters. Of particular note is Shinji Ikari: almost everyone knows someone with similar emotional problems, and if you didn't before, after watching this series, you will--he's THAT well developed. Anyway, though so much can be discussed and debated about NGE, at least one thing is certain: it's an absolute must-see for any anime fan. ...a deep exploration of the connections between our selves and others.

5) Revolutionary Girl Utena (Shoujo Kakumei Utena)

From beginning to end, Utena is a surreal experience; from the start, you're not quite sure where everything is going and when you've arrived, you're not quite sure how you got there. When the surreal borders on weird, my stomach tends to churn, but, thankfully, this series never goes overboard. Everything in Utena is just so, well, different-different but good. The music, for example, consists of some of the strangest, most unique melodies I've ever heard, but it's undeniably splendid. Though this anime is undoubtedly one of a kind, it's fundamentals aren't totally new or unfamiliar; in fact, Utena has several similarities to NGE: a polished style, deep characters, the "monster of the week" syndrome, a midway dramatic shift in tone, a stepwise psychological breakdown of the main character, an enigmatic story, etc. They are, indeed, similar, but not at all the same... Anyway, Utena is fantastic series from start to finish, minus the middle: I didn't care for nearly all of the episodes comprising the black rose saga. But even still, Utena easily deserves a spot in my top five.

4) Fushigi Yuugi (The Mysterious Play)

The setup of Fushigi Yuugi isn't the most original on paper--the whole "place modern school girl in an alternate universe" scenario has seen many, many incarnations in anime--but FY possesses a certain magic that sets it far apart from its generic roots. It has all the requisites of a good anime--beautiful music, interesting characters, and an entertaining story. But FY goes beyond that: it has exciting battles, romance that works, and dramatic scenes that pack an emotional wallop. Returning to the story, though simple enough, watching the characters play everything out is its principal draw. The characters have remarkable camaraderie and are extremely funny to boot: from Tamahome's greed and Miaka's silliness, to Chichiri's "no da!"s and Hotohori's vanity, the Suzaku Seven is guaranteed to leave you in stitches. So does FY have it all? Well, it's not flawless (but what is, really?), but it certainly deserves my number 4 spot on pure entertainment value alone.

3) Hana Yori Dango (Boys Before/Over Flowers)

Boldness should be easily portrayed in a media based on fiction because authors have total control over the lives of their characters. Unfortunately, too often these authors are hindered by their employers or the expectations of their fans. Yoko Kamio, author of this shoujo series, apparently doesn't suffer from this limitation. She takes her protagonists down paths most other authors dare not tread lest their beloved characters fall into overly precarious predicaments. Never before have I seen characters in such pathetic, heart wrenching, and dismal situations; as such this show is extremely unpredictable and gripping. In fact, I was so enthralled by its story that I finished it in just two sittings. Its endearing characters (who actually change outfits!), amazing soundtrack (my all time favorite), remarkable voice acting (Mochida Maki, voice of Makino Tsukushi, gives a laudable performance) and unmitigated boldness makes Hana Yori Dango a must see anime.

2) Berserk

Berserk tells a bold and unique story that has had a profound impact on me. Set in medieval times, it explores the ideas of friendship, trust, and love through the characters that comprise the Band of the Hawk. The well developed love Caska and Gutts come to share deserves special mention. Although their union was a forgone conclusion, its development and execution rivals any other series with a love theme. But what grabbed me above all else with this series was its take on ambition. Through Griffith, the audience sees the personification of ambition. His thoughts and actions subtly move the show forward and are portrayed in a manner that can only be described as beautiful. It is Berserk's raw and introspective take on these themes that had me spellbound the whole way through. That coupled with its unforgettable music, and unadulterated violence mixed with exciting confrontations makes this an anime no shounen fan should miss. Truly a beautiful and inspirational work.

1) Dragonball Z

The descriptor written on the Japanese DBZ DVD Boxset (a.k.a The Dragonbox) reads:

"A journey that began long ago, in a place neither near nor far...
A story of heroes, passed down through the ages...
Until now. This is our story. These are our heroes."

This aptly describes the way I feel toward this engrossing story. With numerous imaginative concepts--like Scouters, Super Saiyajins, Fusion, KaioKen, etc--and some of the most well developed characters and ideas on television, DBZ is truly an immersive anime. However, that's not to say that it's without flaw: at 291 episodes, DBZ is a bit longer than it had to be; it tends to drag-on at points and has enough filler to stuff a king sized mattress. Plus (most evident in filler episodes) the art can be wildly inconsistent. Still, at it's core the anime remains true to the manga and brings Toriyama's influential masterpiece to life with a fitting (but highly underrated) musical score, an excellent seiyuu cast, and some of the most explosive fights ever animated. Unfortunately, due to the popularity of the horrendous dub, not many westerners have seen DBZ in it's unfettered Japanese glory. And even if they had a chance to, most of the surprises have already been ruined (who doesn't know what a Super Saiyajin is?). I was lucky enough not have this series spoiled by the dub. And though my affections have, naturally, waned with time, I unhesitatingly place DBZ a top my list of all time favorites.