It’s time for the Third Annual Reader’s Choice Poll!

Every year there are so many good choices, and I’m still in the process of choosing my own favorites (GEASS, Macross Frontier, and true tears are at the top of my list), but below, you can vote for your Favorite Anime of 2008 from a list of every single series that’s ended this past year.

The criteria for a series being included on this list is that it had to have been a complete TV series that ended in 2008 or will be ending very soon. The general idea here is that you can’t really judge a series until it’s over, and that means that fans of shows like Toradora! will have to wait until next year’s poll. I also wasn’t able to include any OVAs because there were just too many of them, though I’ve added Detroit Metal City and Kara no Kyoukai to the list by special request. In addition, I’ve combined series that were split into two parts into one listing (i.e. Vampire Knight and Vampire Knight Guilty). Still, if there’s anything you think I omitted that fits into the above criteria, feel free to email me, and I’ll add it to the list.

Choose your favorite, tell your friends to come vote, and the winner will get included in a post later this week!

This poll will close Tuesday, December 30th, 2008 at 11:59 PM EST.

Edit: There were some problems with the polling software, so voting got frozen for a few hours. Please try voting again if you weren’t able to earlier.

The poll has been closed early. Please see this post.

274 Comments

  1. I love it… Geass was the most talk about anime around. Wow, that shocked me a bit, but i can see that as true. I was about to put it down, but i found out that i can’t stand watching it twice, only certain episodes i really enjoyed.

    Matt
  2. Though Code Geass was a very good, it wasn’t as good as his first season, that’s a shame in my opinion… It had a really good ending… but… some episodes… weren’t as good as they could be (and yes, I’m saying this as a fan). For me it’s not so hard to choose: GA-REI ZERO was a great anime, with a great OST, it looked beautiful and had a good storyline as well. 😀

    MC
  3. ga-rei-zero 😀
    code geass r2 dragged on in my opinion if 1st season was up, i’d def. vote for that.
    g-r-z also dragged, but the weps totally made up for it and action
    main character sucks though it’s the supporting characters that make the show totally watchable.

  4. I’m going out on a limb and voting for true tears. Certainly one of the most well-written and directed animé of ’08, this one struck more chords on me than all of the other shows put together. true tears is indeed the best romance anime this year, and it also makes itself a contender for best animé of the year.

    Readarmon
  5. YAAAAAAAAY CODE GEASS IS LEADING! I was kinda afraid at first when I didn’t find while looking at the results. Even though Code Geass is one of my fav animes I still feel bad voting for an anime as the best anime of 2008 when I haven’t watched so many new animes.

    ConfusedGirl29
  6. Dragonaut ftw =)

    Because doesn’t everybody secretly crave redundant plot, vomit-inducing characters, weak storylines and power of love endings? Oh…and the break-dance fight at the end xD

    Seriously…Kekkaishi although the ending was trash…not the best thing out there but had its high points and the only time I cared when they killed off a character. Code Geass R2 while good, was too hyped for me to enjoy.

    Kincaid
  7. Geass its me comon what else could i vote for
    !!!

    Macross turned a originally unique concept like communicating with aliens through song into somthing suuuuper lame and seemed like nothing more than a convoluted attempt (more so than all other animes) to sell CD albums!
    Gundam 00 was a’ite but lacked oomph and since its only gundam its ultimately just a rehash of same old same old! it lacked the compelling originality that made code geass great!
    Clannad was Clannad a feeble shadow of the movie in my honest opinion and kannagi is nothing great as an anime seems like its only just begun! i would like them to ocntinue with that story!

    Dragonaught lol i thought we had moved on from that nagging feeling of remorse and hatred for wasting so much time watching that series!

    WingZero zxt
  8. Hmm, well I can’t vote then. But my top three would be Hayate no Gotoku / Shigofumi / Chii’s Sweet Home. Kamen no Maid Guy and Strike Witches get honorable mention for the GAR and no pants respectively.

    boo
  9. Hmm… all my current favorites haven’t ended yet, and since I haven’t seen that many series, I’ll go with the show I remember enjoying the most. Despite the ridiculous plot, Toshokan Sensou really got my inner fangirl pumped =)

    shirokiryuu
  10. Personal Awards

    Top 5
    1. Kaiba
    2. Kure-nai
    3. Mouryou no Hako
    4. Spice & Wolf
    5. Ghost Hound

    Best Animation : Kaiba (by far)

    Best Soundtrack : Kaiba

    Worst Soundtrack : Macross F (cheesy idol music annoys me)

    Biggest waste of budget : Macross F

    Best Voice Acting : Kure-nai (Horo from Spice & Wolf gets special mention)

    Award for show that tries to be deep but isn’t : Ef

    Biggest trainwreck : Code Gay-Ass

    Best show nobody saw: Kaiba (followed by Noramimi)

    What I’m looking forward to next year : For Lellouch and C.C to make an appearence in the new season of Spice & Wolf as traveling merchants driving their cart

    My thoughts : 90% of the anime viewing population are tasteless worms!!

    Lithium
  11. Obviously CG R2 will be #1… But come on, Nagi #4? I know it’s a matter of opinion but that show didn’t have anything (well maybe a few good jokes, thats it). I really fail to see what so many people see in that show.

    Zenzen
  12. Geass? What a sad sad hole anime has fallen into, the majority of geass was one of the worst anime I’ve ever seen, because I stop watching utter trash early, unless its a 2nd season like Geass.

    Macross for the wolf.

    Midou
  13. Code Geass was good this year but as many said imo R2 dragged way too much so id say Gundam 00 deserves it. Lockon’s death in S1 is probably one of those events that you dont forget

    Blazerunner
  14. If the entire series was out, I’d probably have gone with Kara no Kyoukai, but since it wasn’t, I’ll join the herd of sheep and vote for CG R2. It may not have been great, but I’ll be damned if it wasn’t enjoyable and gripping the whole way through. And it’s one of the very few endings that I can say I really liked.

    Gokie
  15. So many good anime this year! Just impossible to choose

    But I decided to vote Kurenai since I knew that fewer people were likely to vote for it.
    Code Geass and Kannagi are defiantly on my favorites list.

    ebear
  16. Hmm…
    I have to go with true tears, which was unexpectedly good. Though I think Clannad and Chaos; Head are as if not better than True Tears, but I expected both of those to be amazing shows, I have to go with true tears due to the unexpected greatness.

    Camarilla
  17. En mi opinión
    Best anime: Code Geass R2, aunque no llego a ser igual de buena que la primera parte
    Mejor final: Code Geass R2, la escena de la muerte de Lelouch, es sublime

    Sorpresa del año: Kannagi, nunca hubiera imaginado que la serie sería tan buena

    Best Comedy: Hayate no Gotoku,
    Best Drama: H2O
    Mejor fotografía (most Kirei image): Vampire Knight Guilty

    Peor decepción: Shakugan no shana II, demasiados capítulos muy malos and
    Best Why?? CHAOS;HEAD, tenía demasiado potencial y la dejaron ir

    Huitzi
  18. Wow I didn’t think that many shows were aired in 2008 (I guess finished)making this really hard to choose just one.
    Which one did I enjoy the most? Probably Strike Witches (i know, in b4 LOLZ PEDOBEAR <_<)
    Which one did most of the other people enjoy the most? Probably Code Geass R2
    Which was the best? I’d have to say Spice and Wolf. Ef, Macross, Clannad, True Tears get honorable mentions, sorry they all couldn’t make it on.

    Stormflux
  19. Hoho…
    I can actually see a list of shows I haven’t watched…

    Top 8 YEAH !!!

    1 – Geass R2
    2 – Gundam 00
    3 – Clannad
    4 – True Tears
    5 – Kannagi
    6 – Spice and Wolf
    7 – xxxHoLiC Kei
    8 – Shakugan no Shana II

    8 … It has to be 8 or it won’t be symmetrical … ^o^

    Hagiri
  20. I can’t force myself to watch another gundam after being forced to watch SD Gundam dubbed with my nephew… So I have to put Gundam 00 as far at the bottom as possible, since I will never watch another gundam…

    Camarilla
  21. Kaiba was definitely my best, though I know not a lot will agree with me. It had a great story, it tried to show contemporary social and psychological issues subtly, and had a great flow, different style of art, and good music. It truly was a masterpiece, though perhaps anime fans will not appreciate it since it could be read as either deep, or just out of the ordinary to the point where people dislike it.

  22. Go to DMC!! Seriously, it’s a crime so few people have watched Negishi’s and Krauser’s antics in Detroit Metal City. As much as I loved Kannagi, Code Geass 2, and the other popular favorites, DMC made me laugh so hard I cried.

    anon234
  23. DMC, Kurozuka, Nodame Cantabile PC, Zetsubou Sensei.
    Special mention to Paris Hen though. Best season 2 for an anime ever. Too bad it was cut so short, waiting for season 3.
    Anime that i am planning to watch are……Xamd, Ga-Rei, Kannagi, Chaos, Clannad and Gundam.
    Geass bombed badly.

    duugi
  24. Some of these are truly awesome shows, but when I stop to think about the most true enjoyment and what show I’ve really gotten the most out of, its a difficult choice for me between Clannad and Gundam 00 🙁
    I think in the end my vote will go to Clannad because I’m still enjoying Clannad After Story just as much if not even more than its first season. Whereas, I’m starting to find the second season of Gundam 00 a disappointment compared to it’s first season.

    So Clannad it is!

    Sarukah
  25. Code Geass was not great as gundam, it doesnt compare. huge reason(and i am a code geass fan): ending was pulled out of an a$$hole. Thats my opinion but other than that far as what gundam 00 first season has shown us, what gundam 00 second season is showing us its just upscale. It keeps getting better and better. Code geass just went good, to second season wtf.

    paiser
  26. I think series like Gundam 00 and Clannad shouldn’t be included in this poll since half of them aired in 2007 and half will air in 2009.
    The best few in my opinion(in no order of preference)
    GAR-Rei-Zero
    Kaiba
    Code Geass R2
    Kannagi
    H20 ~Footprints in the Sand
    Druaga no To
    Himitsu the Revelation (WTF noone mentioned this? You people PHAIL so hard)
    Penguin Musume Heart
    Natsume Yuujinchou
    Hatenkou Yuugi
    Chaos; Head
    Wagaya no Oinari-sama
    Special A
    true tears

    Ef a tale of melodies would have been in that list if not for SHAFT screwing up the magic in the ending epilogue.

    SnooSnoo
  27. Macross to me wasn’t taht good their animation was really good but the ending is just too fast in my opinion. Code geass is definately running the pole of the list which i really like the way it ended showing how lelouch accomplish what he was planning to do. Aria the Origination got ym vote as well as i really like how it ended the only down part is they didn’t show alicia’s husband or who she got married with. I’m not sure not much would vote for aria as most of you prefer cool animation violence or fighting. True tears was pretty catchy in my opinion i like thier plot and how the story goes same goes to H2O. Haruka was pretty much fun to watch with her being dense and moe.

    My final vote will still goes to code geass i guess

    jeffng9
  28. DANG. Only one vote?

    A few I would have loved to put in as ‘second’ or ‘third’, but Gundam 00 seems the most entertaining for me. Code Geass R2’s ending was well done, but the rest can’t really be said for the whole season so it comes a close second.

    Kannagi would have done well too, I hope.

    Owaranai
  29. Casshern Sins. It is a deep anime. As long as you’re not some ADD, short attention span 8 year old, trust me, you’ll take an interest.

    Otherwise, Nabari for almost the same reasons. And loved the art style.

    Code Geass R2 and 00 are overrated even though I am watching them. Just not my fave.

    FMA 2009 fo sho

    invAZN
  30. Well, it’s hard to say since there were so many good ones too. Gundam 00 is just bad ass but I haven’t seen Code Geass yet. I just finished Kanokon and that was hilarious as hell but not very good with a plot. Rosario to Vampire, Shakugana no Shana, 20-Mensou no Musume, Rental Magica, Shigofumi, Bamboo Blade, CHAOS;HEAD, etc all seem really good. I think it is a hard decision to make. Anime is just good in general 😉

    Shiro
  31. Seems to be Code Gayass in a landslide, but of course Macross Frontier was better. Although I admit being more emotional for Ledouches death scene ( mainly because of Nunally having a breakdown, poor girl ).

    Magnuskn
  32. Arrg, Nodame should be higher! Eh, then again it didn’t do anything new, the LA already covered its points, manga’s way ahead (and on hiatus), thing was only partial.
    I see CG, fairly recent still, big name, silly popular. Kannagi and Clannad too. Macross F is a bit older but still fairly big. ef and shaft’s other stuff are still niche shows. Shana II was just too early in the year for this kind of pop poll. Hyakko’s subs arn’t done yet. Half of these that ended recently ended poorly. The rest are probably not fresh enough in people’s minds.

    Asterisk-CGY
  33. KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI

    The only right opinion
  34. KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI
    KAIJI KAIJI KAIJI

    The other right opinion
  35. 1. Clannad
    2. Code Geass
    3. Macross Frontier
    4. ARIA The Origination
    5. Gundam 00
    6. Toshokan Sensou
    7. Nodame Cantabile Paris Hen
    8. Zoku Sayounara Zetsubou Sensei
    9. xxxholic Kei (the manga is much better)

    Ayu-Ayu
  36. Haha, that reminds me of this time that this guy said TTGL (<- don’t know what it stands for tho) was so cool, and that Naruto was for kiddies. I Laughed at him and watched the episode called Boku no Pico. Did you watch that one? Where Sasuke meets that guy.

    NumberOne
  37. NumberOne I should hope not, haha!

    4chan is a pretty bad site, its got a really bad rep with hacking, gore and all these others rumors

    Gaia is nothing like that!! Don’t confuse them

    Sarah­­­
  38. I don’t know if its bad taste, everyone doesn’t like the same stuff I’m fine with that

    its just that I haven’t heard of these anime before not even once! maybe they are popular in japan only?

    Sarah­­­
  39. well i didn’t watch half of the anime that was up there. it took me a while to choose between nabari no ou and vampire knight. i pick nabari no ou because it has better episodes.

    animeluv04
  40. Wow.. I think its bugged for sure now.

    I sent an email to the email linked on the “email me” link.. no point voting for now though.

    Also Dr. A I have no idea what you’re saying, haha

    Sarah­­­
  41. Seems that some people are overvoting somehow… I can´t really see some of momentary winners at the top really garner so many votes against Code Geass ( as much as I disliked several parts of the series, others were enjoyable enough, so I understand its popularity ).

    Magnuskn
  42. kimikiss pure rouge > minami ke okawari > special A > vampire knight > shakugan no shana second > wagaya no oinari sama (luv it for the fan service ^^ > chaos head > clannad (was a big let down) , dunno where hyate no gotoku comes in, i really liked it, but i stopped watching it for some reason 😐 …. depending on my mood, vampire knight comes first sometime, but im usually into more romance so kimikiss it was ^^

    brianleung8912
  43. Bus gamer!?! WTF!!!!

    i seriously hope that there really is something wrong with the poll !!!

    of all the animes code geass was the only one that had me checking for subs to come out like every 2 mins(Ga Rei -zero did aswell but CG kicks ass!!)

    XxdarknessxX
  44. @Omni:
    # Bus Gamer (30%, 15,335 Votes)
    # Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu (17%, 8,541 Votes)
    # Strike Witches (11%, 5,710 Votes)
    # Spice and Wolf (11%, 5,560 Votes)
    # Mnemosyne (10%, 4,878 Votes)

    Bus Gamer? Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu? What a joke… something is odd about those numbers as well.

    Jairo
  45. A few mistakes and people start cussing. Tsk tsk…=P

    I’m sure there are a few errors to be rectified and considering there’s been-I don’t know, several hundred others?-who voted before, the results aren’t what they appear to be right now, I believe. Just vote again or something.

    Would be nice if some spammers just scram and let us comment like normal Netizens in peace.

    Death Note hasn’t really aired a “series” this year, and I remember Tytania hasn’t ended yet as much as I remember my own name.

    Owaranai
  46. “Bus gamer!?! WTF!!!!

    i seriously hope that there really is something wrong with the poll !!!

    of all the animes code geass was the only one that had me checking for subs to come out like every 2 mins(Ga Rei -zero did aswell but CG kicks ass!!)”

    That’s because you’re an idiot with no taste in good anime.

    Lolwut
  47. CODE GEASS CODE GEASS CODE GEASS CODE GEASS CODE GEASS CODE GEASS CODE GEASS CODE GEASS CODE GEASS CODE GEASS CODE GEASS CODE GEASS CODE GEASS CODE GEASS CODE GEASS CODE GEASS

    Nothing beats Code Geass, fags.

    Anonymous
  48. CLANNAD, Nodame Cantabile or ARIA.

    I chose CLANNAD, I couldn’t really seem to enjoy the two latter shows as much as I enjoyed CLANNAD.

    On another note, I can’t believe people like Code Geass. The show is based essentially on twists after twists, and in the end there is no foundation anymore. Sad.

    Also, there seems to be something wrong with the poll… I don’t see how ‘Bus Gamer’ can get that many votes.

    Roxas
  49. Omni didnt even blog Bus Gamer! (its not in any catagory from what im seeing)
    So i dont understand how it could be at the top with like 15,000 votes since most voters here do visit RC and read the blogs & which bus gamer is not blogged!

    Valkyrie
  50. Excuse me…is nobody noticing that the number of votes is ABSURD???!!!

    Bus Gamer (24%, 15,338 Votes). 15000???!!! You actually belive that 15000 people voted for this show in 2 days? Not to mention the next 4 shows.

    Code Geass was at the top 20 minutes ago.

    DmonHiro
  51. Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu is so boring. i fall asleep while i still watching it and giving up this series after episode 2.Predictable story. Monotone’s voice (ecspecially Nogizaka Haruka). It’s voice remind me of enma ai of jigoku shoujo. Cannot stand that seiyuu voice.

    Code geass, macross frontier or gundam 00 should be top three anime.

    Mofandom
  52. Might be? Last night the numbers were far more reasonable all around. Either there are some massive fansites linking in, or some people are obviously way too bored and have nothing better to do than write bots this holiday season…

    Dave
  53. I watched a few minutes of Bus Gamer and that one long Japanese title thats winning and they were so awful I had to stop.

    They should have made something really awesome no one knows about win, like Astro Fighter Sunred or Titania, too bad they weren’t even on the poll, but garbage like Bus Gamer is.

    Midou
  54. Looks like someone hacked the Poll. Bus Gamer is #1? LOL. The series didn’t even finish airing and episodes came in dribs and drabs. No way that could possibly be the Highest voted series.

    Splash
  55. of course is an hack, i think there’s more than 17000 people who watched Bus Gamer all over the world; a poll restart is needed, or you can take the results of few hours ago: Code Geass, Gundam 00 and Macross Frontier. it’s a good result for me 🙂

    antokio
  56. What the F*** bus gamer? I think its some stupid error here with the polls.
    Strike witches?Haruka? Is the world ending?!!
    The rest are believable though somewhat…either that or millions pedophiles and japanophiles live here.
    lol macross has 0. % of the votes.

  57. Haruka Nogizaka, Bamboo Blade and Spice and Wolf are very good series, but I don’t think they could get this amount of votes and IMHO they don’t deserve to win over CLANNAD, GEASS, true tears or Hidamari Sketch. I don’t have an opinion about Macross and Gundam because I don’t like so much mecha (I liked GEASS for politics), but I respect that they’re popular.

    Omni, please, stop that. It’s evident that someone has hacked the poll.

    Keitaro1983
  58. So it’s really obvious this poll got trolled, but what is even worse is the amount of unreadable, illegible, and childish comments posted about the poll hijack and Code Geass. I’m glad this poll got trolled, though everybody should know what the top 5 is anyways (#1 by a long shot followed by superior shows like Gundam 00, Macross Frontier, and raging shows like true tears and Kannagi).

    By the way, I made a legit vote for Shugo Chara and nothing more.

    pakxenon
  59. Seriously. The people saying Geass was a great series, just wow. The first season started off decent but with R2 it became a trolling fest.

    Also yeah, the reason for it being so popular is due to the “japanophiles” or weeaboos as I know them as. Them or Yaoi Fangirls. Geass tries to be everything at once, catering to everyones needs, but that’s part of what screws it over. But because those parts are there, people love it all the same because it’s cool.

    Geass is mediocre at best when looking at the entire series, and a good one (not great or amazing) when looking at just S1.

    And Haruka is a definite no. It’s one of the most generic anime I’ve seen in a long time. I don’t think Kaiji is the greatest, but when that started increasing in votes I was really rooting for it since it’s original, creative, and does everything really well much unlike the number one at the time.

    Bwahaha
  60. gundam 00 and skip beat,

    agree with iori kun..
    code geass isn’t enough..
    altough the 1st season was a bit surprised..i think it much better than gundam 00

    but, the 2nd season is..
    oh well,.. it’s just make me disappointed a lot.. (sorry 4all CG r2 fans)

    alice
  61. Teh Code Geass by far. I’ve seen some nice series this season, but nothing I haven’t seen before. Code Geass was something new, sometimes made me RAAAAAAGEEEE and some others made me MOAARRRRRR, but the final result was an awesome experiance. And Because Gundam Seed 00 is still airing, the lead goes to none other than Code Geass.

    Hellishdude

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