Top 20 Seasonal Anime of 2010

Starting a new decade gives us the perfect opportunity to have a look at the previous decade’s worth of anime. Starting with the year 2010, we will go through the top 5 anime of each season for each year.

Top 5 anime of Winter 2010

1 Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu 

• Episodes: 13
• Studios: Silver Link
• Source: Light novel
• Genres: Comedy, Romance, School, Super Power

Synopsis
Fumizuki Academy isn’t a typical Japanese high school. This unique institution has implemented a new and innovative system to sort its students. At the end of their freshman year, students take a test that divides up the student body. The highest scorers are placed into A-class, all the way down until F class, for the lowest of the low.

Unfortunately for Akihisa Yoshii, his supposedly “great” intellect wasn’t quite enough for such a test, and he’s now stuck at the bottom of F class. Naturally, F class has the worst facilities: not only rotten tatami mats and broken tables, but also outdated equipment and worn-out furniture. On the bright side, his friend Yuuji Sakamoto is in the same class, and to everyone’s surprise, the genius girl Mizuki Himeji has also ended up in the same class due to an unforeseen fever on the day of the test. Unsatisfied with their lot, F class rallies behind Yuuji, determined to take on the higher-tiered classes in order to seize their perks by using the school’s Examinations Summon Battle system.

2 Durarara!!

• Episodes: 24
• Studios: Brain’s Base
• Source: Light novel
• Genres: Action, Mystery, Supernatural

Synopsis
In Tokyo’s downtown district of Ikebukuro, amidst many strange rumours and warnings of anonymous gangs and dangerous occupants, one urban legend stands out above the rest—the existence of a headless “Black Rider” who is said to be seen driving a jet-black motorcycle through the city streets.

Mikado Ryuugamine has always longed for the excitement of the city life, and an invitation from a childhood friend convinces him to move to Tokyo. Witnessing the Black Rider on his first day in the city, his wishes already seem to have been granted. But as supernatural events begin to occur, ordinary citizens like himself, along with Ikebukuro’s most colourful inhabitants, are mixed up in the commotion breaking out in their city.

3 Katanagatari

• Episodes: 12
• Studios: White Fox
• Source: Light novel
• Genres: Action, Adventure, Historical, Martial Arts, Romance

Synopsis
In an Edo-era Japan lush with a variety of sword-fighting styles, Shichika Yasuri practices the most unique one: Kyotouryuu, a technique in which the user’s own body is wielded as a blade. The enigmatic seventh head of the Kyotouryuu school, Shichika lives quietly in exile with his sister Nanami until one day—the wildly ambitious strategist Togame barges into their lives. Togame brazenly requests that Shichika help in her mission to collect twelve unique swords, known as the “Deviant Blades,” for the shogunate. Shichika accepts, interested in the girl herself rather than petty politics, and thus sets out on a journey.

4 Seikon no Qwaser

• Episodes: 24
• Studios: Hoods Entertainment
• Source: Manga
• Genres: Action, Super Power, Supernatural, Ecchi, Seinen

Synopsis
At St. Mihailov Academy, a series of serial murders have taken place with all the victims being young women. After a horrible day of being harassed by their classmates, the adopted sisters Mafuyu Oribe and Tomo Yamanobe stumble across an injured young man and decide to bring him back to their place to recover. That very night, Mafuyu ends up at the mercy of the infamous serial killer. Strangely, he demands not her life, but instead, an icon left behind by Tomo’s father.

Luckily, Sasha, the mysterious young man that the sisters had taken in, comes to the rescue just in time, helping Mafuyu avoid the same fate as the other victims. Sasha reveals that he is a Qwaser, an individual capable of controlling chemical elements by partaking in Soma, a miraculous essence found within the breasts of women.

5 Omamori Himari

• Episodes: 12
• Studios: Zexcs
• Source: Manga
• Genres: Action, Harem, Comedy, Demons, Supernatural, Romance, Ecchi, Fantasy

Synopsis
After the death of his parents, Yuuto Amakawa lives a pretty ordinary life in the city. The only problem he has to worry about while attending school alongside Rinko, his next-door neighbour, is his cat allergies. That all changes on his sixteenth birthday, when an Ayakashi—a supernatural creature—attacks him for the sins of his ancestors. Luckily, he is saved by Himari, a mysterious cat-woman with a sword, who explains that Yuuto is the scion of a family of demon-slayers, and she is there to protect him now that the charm that kept him hidden from the supernatural forces of the world has lost its power.

Top anime of Spring 2010

1 Angel Beats!

• Episodes: 13
• Studios: P.A. Works
• Source: Original
• Genres: Action, Comedy, Drama, School, Supernatural

Synopsis
Otonashi awakens only to learn he is dead. A rifle-toting girl named Yuri explains that they are in the afterlife, and Otonashi realizes the only thing he can remember about himself is his name. Yuri tells him that she leads the Shinda Sekai Sensen (Afterlife Battlefront) and wages war against a girl named Tenshi. Unable to believe Yuri’s claims that Tenshi is evil, Otonashi attempts to speak with her, but the encounter doesn’t go as he intended. Otonashi decides to join the SSS and battle Tenshi, but he finds himself oddly drawn to her. While trying to regain his memories and understand Tenshi, he gradually unravels the mysteries of the afterlife.

2 Kaichou wa Maid-sama!

• Episodes: 26
• Studios: J.C.Staff
• Source: Manga
• Genres: Comedy, Romance, School, Shoujo

Synopsis
Being the first female student council president isn’t easy, especially when your school just transitioned from an all-boys high school to a co-ed one. Aptly nicknamed “Demon President” by the boys for her strict disciplinary style, Misaki Ayuzawa is not afraid to use her mastery of Aikido techniques to cast judgment onto the hordes of misbehaving boys and defend the girls at Seika High School.

Yet even the perfect Ayuzawa has an embarrassing secret—she works part-time as a maid at a maid café to help her struggling family pay the bills. She has managed to keep her job hidden from her fellow students and maintained her flawless image as a stellar student until one day, Takumi Usui, the most popular boy in school, walks into the maid café.

3 K-On!!

• Episodes: 13
• Studios: Kyoto Animation
• Source: 4-koma manga
• Genres: Slice of Life, Comedy, Music, School

Synopsis
Hirasawa Yui, a young, carefree girl entering high school, has her imagination instantly captured when she sees a poster advertising the “Light Music Club.” Being the carefree girl that she is, she quickly signs up; however, Yui has a problem, she is unable to play an instrument.

Along with the tasks of school and homework, Yui begins to learn the guitar with the help of the other band members, experiencing many mishaps along the way. However, with the school festival drawing near and Yui getting stuck with her practice, will the Light Music Club be ready in time for their debut?

4 Kiss x Sis

• Episodes: 12
• Studios: feel
• Source: Manga
• Genres: Harem, Comedy, Romance, Ecchi, School, Seinen

Synopsis
After Keita Suminoe’s mother passed away, his father promptly remarried, introducing two step-sisters into Keita’s life: twins Ako and Riko. But since their fateful first encounter, a surge of incestuous love for their younger brother overcame the girls, beginning a lifelong feud for his heart.

Now at the end of his middle school career, Keita studies fervently to be able to attend Ako and Riko’s high school. While doing so, however, he must resolve his conflicting feelings for his siblings and either reject or succumb to his sisters’ intimate advances. Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately for Keita—his sisters aren’t the only women lusting after him, and there’s no telling when the allure of temptation will get the better of the boy as well.

5 Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou

• Episodes: 12
• Studios: Artland
• Source: Light novel
• Genres: Action, Harem, Comedy, Magic, Ecchi, Fantasy, School

Synopsis
Dreaming of changing the world for good, Akuto Sai transfers to Constant Magic Academy where he befriends a virtuous ninja clan member, Junko Hattori. On the way to the academy, they vow to make the world a better place together; however, the situation suddenly takes a turn for the worse upon his arrival—it is prophesied that he will become the Demon King!

Top anime of Summer 2010

1 Highschool of the Dead

• Episodes 12
• Studios: Madhouse
• Source: Manga
• Genres: Action, Ecchi Horror, Shounen, Supernatural

Synopsis
It happened suddenly: The dead began to rise and Japan was thrown into total chaos. As these monsters begin terrorizing a high school, Takashi Kimuro is forced to kill his best friend when he gets bitten and joins the ranks of the walking dead. Vowing to protect Rei Miyamoto, the girlfriend of the man he just executed, they narrowly escape their death trap of a school, only to be greeted with a society that has already fallen. Soon, Takashi and Rei band together with other students on a journey to find their family members and uncover what caused this overwhelming pandemic.

2 Seitokai Yakuindomo

• Episodes: 13
• Studios: GoHands
• Source: 4-koma manga
• Genres: Comedy, School, Shounen, Slice of Life

Synopsis
On his first day of high school at the formerly all-girls school, Ousai Private Academy, Takatoshi Tsuda is called out for his untidy uniform by the student council president Shino Amakusa. In apology for delaying Takatoshi for his first-class—and stating that the group needs a male point of view to accommodate the arrival of boys at the school—Shino offers him the position of vice president of the student council. Though unwilling, Takatoshi finds himself appointed as the newest member of the student council having yet to even step foot inside the school building.

Takatoshi soon realizes that the other student council members who are more than a little strange: President Shino, who is studious and serious in appearance, but actually a huge pervert, fascinated with the erotic and constantly making lewd jokes; the secretary Aria Shichijou, who may seem like a typical sheltered rich girl, but is just as risque as the president, if not more so; and finally, the treasurer Suzu Hagimura, who may act fairly normal, but has the body of an elementary school student and is extremely self-conscious of it. Surrounded by these colourful characters, the new vice president must now work through a nonstop assault of sexual humour and insanity.

3 Nurarihyon no Mago

• Episodes: 24
• Studios: Studio Deen
• Source: Manga
• Genres: Action, Demons, Shounen, Supernatural

Synopsis
Rikuo Nura doesn’t want anything to do with evil youkai and just wants a normal life. Too bad he’s a quarter youkai, and Nurarihyon, his grandfather, is insistent that he takes over as head of the Nura Clan. He’s able to keep his supernatural secret life hidden from his classmates, as he can only transform into a youkai at night, for six hours at a time. Unfortunately for him, various youkai factions are out to target both his youkai and human friends, and like it or not, he needs to embrace his youkai side.

4 Ookami-san to Shichinin no Nakama-tachi

• Episodes: 12
• Studios: J.C.Staff
• Source: Light novel
• Genres: Comedy, Parody, Romance

Synopsis
Ookami and Ringo are members of the Otogi Bank, a club in Otogi High School that assists students with their problems in return for their assistance on a different problem at a later date; thus the Otogi Bank is effectively a loan institute for problems where you can take out a loan for a solved problem but you have to repay it sooner or later.

The Otogi Bank is able to solve any problem and will go to any lengths to do so, often leading the members to danger or mayhem. Since most of the members of the club are female, another male is needed for the more dangerous assignments. Thus, the scopophilic (the fear of being looked at) Morino Ryoushi is inducted as a member, right after he confesses his love for Ookami.

5 Densetsu no Yuusha no Densetsu

• Episodes: 24
• Studios: Zexcs
• Source: Light novel
• Genres: Action, Adventure, Magic, Fantasy, Shounen

Synopsis
“Alpha Stigma” are known to be eyes that can analyze all types of magic. However, they are more infamously known as cursed eyes that can only bring destruction and death to others. Ryner Lute, a talented mage and also an Alpha Stigma bearer, was once a student of the Roland Empire’s Magician Academy, an elite school dedicated to training magicians for military purposes. However, after many of his classmates died in a war, he makes an oath to make the nation a more orderly and peaceful place, with fellow survivor and best friend, Sion Astal.

Now that Sion is the king of Roland, he orders Ryner to search for useful relics that will aid the nation. Together with Ferris Eris, a beautiful and highly skilled swordswoman, Ryner goes on a journey to search for relics of legendary heroes from the past, and also uncover the secrets behind his cursed eyes.

Top anime of Autumn 2010

1 Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai

• Episodes: 12
• Studios: Manglobe
• Source: Manga
• Genres: Comedy, Harem, Romance, Shounen, Supernatural

Synopsis
Keima Katsuragi, known online as the legendary “God of Conquest,” can conquer any girl’s heart—in dating sim games, at least. In reality, he opts for the two-dimensional world of gaming over real life because he is an unhealthily obsessed otaku of galge games (a type of Japanese video game centred on interactions with attractive girls).

When he arrogantly accepts an anonymous offer to prove his supremacy at dating sim games, Keima is misled into aiding a naïve and impish demon from hell named Elucia “Elsie” de Lute Ima with her mission: retrieving runaway evil spirits who have escaped from hell and scattered themselves throughout the human world. Keima discovers that the only way to capture these spirits is to conquer what he hates the most: the unpredictable hearts of three-dimensional girls! Shackled to Elsie via a deadly collar, Keima now has his title of “God of Conquest” put to the ultimate test as he is forced to navigate through the hearts of a multitude of real-life girls.

2 Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai

• Episodes: 12
• Studios: AIC Build
• Source: Light novel
• Genres: Slice of Life, Comedy

Synopsis
Kirino Kousaka embodies the ideal student with equally entrancing looks. Her grades are near perfect, and to cover her personal expenses, she works as a professional model alongside her best friend Ayase Aragaki, who abhors liars and all things otaku. But what Ayase doesn’t know is that Kirino harbours a deep, entrenched secret that will soon be brought to light. At home one day, Kyousuke, Kirino’s perfectly average brother, stumbles upon an erotic game that belongs to none other than his seemingly flawless little sister. With her reputation at stake, Kirino places a gag order on her sibling while simultaneously introducing him to the world of eroge and anime.

3 Bakuman.

• Episodes: 25
• Studios: J.C.Staff
• Source: Manga
• Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Shounen

Synopsis
As a child, Moritaka Mashiro dreamt of becoming a mangaka, just like his childhood hero and uncle, Tarou Kawaguchi, creator of a popular gag manga. But when tragedy strikes, he gives up on his dream and spends his middle school days studying, aiming to become a salaryman instead.

One day, his classmate Akito Takagi, the school’s top student and aspiring writer, notices the detailed drawings in Moritaka’s notebook. Seeing the vast potential of his artistic talent, Akito approaches Moritaka, proposing that they become mangaka together. After much convincing, Moritaka realizes that if he is able to create a popular manga series, he may be able to get the girl he has a crush on, Miho Azuki, to take part in the anime adaptation as a voice actor. Thus the pair begins creating manga under the pen name Muto Ashirogi, hoping to become the greatest mangaka in Japan, the likes of which no one has ever seen.

4 Yosuga no Sora: In Solitude, Where We Are Least Alone.

• Episodes: 12
• Studios: feel.
• Source: Visual novel
• Genres: Drama, Ecchi, Harem, Romance

Synopsis
Having lost their parents in a tragic car accident, the twins resolve to return to the countryside and start life anew at their grandfather’s house, the haunt a constant reminder of moments from their past. Greeting them are childhood friends Nao Yorihime and Akira Amatsume, and newcomer Kazuha Migiwa. It is a warm welcome, symbolic of the days that should come.

Their peace is merely ephemeral, however, as suppressed emotions, born from vows both newfound and forgotten, start exerting their influence on the twins’ new lives. And deep down, a dark secret, only known to them, begins to unshackle.

5 MM

• Episodes: 12
• Studios: Xebec
• Source: Light novel
• Genres: Harem, Comedy, Ecchi, School

Synopsis
Taro Sado is a high school student who lives his day to day life with a big secret—he’s a masochist! Encouraged by his cross-dressing best friend Tatsukichi Hayama, Taro asks the Second Voluntary Club for help with his problem and ends up joining the club after they vow to “fix” him.

Together with other wacky characters such as Yumi Mamiya, a talented masseuse and Yuuno’s best friend, and Noa Hiiragi, the president of the invention club, they all learn about the importance of acceptance and kindness.

Which of these 2010 anime have you watched?

Seasonal anime of the decade posts

2010                 2011

2012                 2013

2014                 2015

2016                  2017

2018                 2019

 

*Write-ups sourced from MyAnimeList