Reader’s Choice – Best of Anime 2014 Poll
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The end of the year is here and it’s time for the ninth Annual Reader’s Choice poll. Do you have a favorite series you’d like to see win? Are you just curious to see what everyone else enjoyed this year? Either way, the microphone’s in your hands now. Make your vote count.
As per the usual, there will be two polls for you to vote on this year – one for regularly broadcast TV series, and another for OVA/movies. We’re asking you for your top 5 picks in each poll, which should stop the results from being heavily skewed towards the mega-popular shows. This year we have an astounding 190~ TV series/shorts and 100~ OVA/movies/specials for you to choose from, so make sure you look over the entire list before deciding. Keep in mind that like all entertainment, anime is subjective. There is no one size fits all here. Please respect the opinions of others, even if you may disagree vehemently with them.
Criteria-wise, the following is what was used to decide what shows did (or did not) make it onto these lists:
- For a regular broadcast TV series to be considered, it has to have finished airing in 2014. The idea is that you can’t truly judge a series until it’s over, so shows such as Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu, Log Horizon 2, Yowamushi Pedal: Grande Road will appear on next year’s poll. Series with a second season coming but a clear stopping point in the one we’ve already seen are included.
- For OVA/movies, it has to have been released on Blu-ray/DVD in 2014 to qualify, ensuring that viewers outside of Japan have had a chance to watch it. This mostly pertains to theatrical offerings. The difference from TV series is that they don’t necessarily have to be complete to be included, since it can take several years for an OVA series to finish. That’s why Gundam Unicorn is appearing again this year.
As far as we’re aware, the anime series list is complete, barring a handful of shows that are animated but unlike “typical” anime. The OVA/movie list is less so, but this is by design; there are lot of really niche OVAs that aren’t really worth considering and there is a tendency for series in this category to be delayed or released at different dates, so accuracy will vary greatly. If you feel there’s something that deserves consideration, isn’t listed, or is listed but shouldn’t be, please leave a comment or send me (Zephyr) an email or tweet at me (@ZephyrRC) and I will add it in as soon as possible. Please note that the first comment in this post will keep a list of shows added, so keep an eye on that before voting.
With that said, vote away. Time’s ticking.
Note: The polls will close at midnight PST on Thursday, January 1st. This means the morning of the 1st, the second it turns into 12:00:00AM PST on the 1st, and 8:00 AM GMT on the 1st. Results will be posted in the Best of Anime 2014 post, which will be written by myself and Stilts (the two active writers who have watched the most anime this year).
December 29, 2014 at 1:12 amSoran
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Thought we could only choose one,my mistake I was in a hurry,then my choices are:
Hunter X Hunter
Sidonia no Kishi
No Game no Life
Gin no Saji
Tokyo Ghoul
December 29, 2014 at 2:48 amRed HeartGold ZX
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[Tamako Love Story] for my best Movie of the Year.
December 29, 2014 at 4:27 amNodoka3
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This year did not have too many good anime but the once that were good, were REALLY good!
December 29, 2014 at 4:44 amliebel
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Zankyou no Terror was great…until Five showed up.
December 29, 2014 at 4:46 amliebel
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Had no idea Gin no Saji means Silver Spoon. Would have voted for it otherwise…
December 29, 2014 at 6:19 amMakoto
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So many good shows, truly an awesome year for anime !
It was so hard to pick only 5 shows… but i gave an attempt:
- No game no life (concentrated awesomeness in each second of animation)
- Kill la Kill (because Gainax is now called Trigger)
- Nagi no Asukara (visual slap at each scene and tearjerker, P.A Works, thank you)
- Shingeki no Bahamut (maybe the most underhyped show of the year, i’m eagerly waiting for the next show from Mappa)
- Sword Art Online II (okok… i know, this one is not objective at all and this season could have been better, but i’m an SAO addict, nothink can be done about it)
Honorable Mentions (should have been 10 picks !)
- Akame Ga Kill (never boring, can’t wait to see who will die on the next episode)
- Hitsugi no Chaika (Bones, what else ?)
- Log Horizon (Database ! Too bad the animation isn’t on par with the universe and story behind LH)
- Amagi Brillant Park (Kyoani is back ! At least they’re Free from the K-On niche.)
- Aldnoha Zero (Or… give me the f***ing OST already, i don’t care about the show !)
December 29, 2014 at 7:42 amKyousuke
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Anime
Fate Kaleid Liner
Kuroko no Basket 2
Mekaku City
No Game No Life
Tokyo Ravens
Honorable Mention
- Akame ga Kill
- Amagi Brilliant Park
- Aldnoah Zero
- Why Fate UBW isn’t here ?
Movie
HxH Last Mission
Little Busters EX (OAV)
Madoka Magica III
Persona 3 Spring
Sora no Otoshimono
December 29, 2014 at 8:13 amDragonite88
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Thank you for the in-depth and through anime feedback.
You Guys have really made it another great year and we hope that you continue to write and bring us more of your views.
Thanks RC writers. Happy New Year to you guys.
December 29, 2014 at 8:34 amBelias
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Why can’t I give my five votes to HunterxHunter?
December 29, 2014 at 9:04 amRockmanshii
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Please add Yozakura Quartet Tsuki ni Naku in the ova/movies list, I want to vote for it.
December 29, 2014 at 9:32 amSephil
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Just 1 Shingeki no Bahamut.
December 29, 2014 at 9:33 amFinch
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HxH
Space Dandy
Gin no Saji
No Game No Life
Noragami
December 29, 2014 at 10:25 amKiritsugu
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Watching this list, i noticed that this was a better year than i thought, with some really awesome animes.
Sidonia no Kenshi, Aldnoah Zero, Akame ga Kill, Tokyo Ravens, Tokyo Ghoul, Terra Formars, Zankyou no Terror, UBW, Isshuukan Friends, Hitsugi no Chaika, Rokujouma no Shinryakusha and of course Psycho Pass Extended Version…
I must say that even in the OVA department it was actually quite good with Date a Live: Encore, Watashi ga Motenai no wa Dō Kangaetemo Omaera ga Warui! and Buddy Complex taking the prize :)
December 29, 2014 at 10:29 amUrahara
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#1 : Hunter x Hunter
#2 : Barakamon
#3 : Mushishi
#4 : Tokyo ghoul
#5 : Psycho pass
December 29, 2014 at 1:53 pmInfinity Orbit
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I’ll cast my votes for Locodol, SoniAni and GochiUsa fir shows; even though these shows weren’t well covered here, they were relaxing and worth watching in every regard. As for OVAs, Gundam Unicorn and Girls und Panzer are my picks.
December 29, 2014 at 4:17 pmDave
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A failure to cast at least one vote for Tonari no Seki-kun is an admission that you’ve lost your inner child. That is all.
December 29, 2014 at 5:07 pmHochmeister
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Shingeki no Bahamut: From now on this is my gold standard for game adaptions. Practically everything was done right; characters, pacing, action, plot, animation, and music. I particularly loved its homages to western movies and fantasy, they’re rarely done in anime, let alone so well.
Kill la Kill: High voltage action, comedy, and fanservice. Kill la Kill may not have been a particularly deep story or philosophical work, but it was a ton of fun with some nice messages underneath.
No Game No Life: This was a trashy, fanservice riddled, reference-laden, self-insert wish fulfillment power fantasy, but I’ll be darned if it wasn’t absolutely hilarious and engaging.
Sidonia no Kishi: Space operas, let alone of the hard sci-fi variety are not terribly common in anime. Even less common are good ones like Sidonia. It had an excellent plot, solid characters, and great action sequences throughout.
Ore, Twintails ni Narimasu: I can’t decide if this show is stupidly brilliant or brilliantly stupid, but either way I found it utterly hilarious. Like Kill la Kill it takes a ridiculous premise and runs with it, delivering action and comedy while sneaking in some moral lessons and subtle jabs at anime culture.
December 30, 2014 at 1:18 pmflCer
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@Twintails
I wouldn’t call those ‘subtle’ jabs at anime culture. Those were as explicit as they can get. I loved how they used them. Creepy bugs with fetishes that they announce with pride. I’m with you on this as part of my top 5 picks.
December 31, 2014 at 8:55 amHochmeister
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True, now that I think about it, subtle is perhaps the least suitable word for describing Twintails. Self-deprecating perhaps.
December 31, 2014 at 5:13 pmnightlord
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Ore twintails is not brilliantly stupid nor stupidly brilliant, it’s just plain stupid, the comedy is dull and every “joke” is predictable and retarded, all the supposed humor and that thing of “making fun of some tropes” is just bad executed. The production values and the overall quality is terrible, the animation started fine but became shit, the music was generic and the characters were just plain boring. Most people actually watched it because of the tag “gender bender”, I was not enough mentally ill to “enjoy” this thing.
December 29, 2014 at 7:38 pmMgMaster
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Reading most of the previous comments I’m starting to think that just like me, some people forgot about Bahamut since it wasn’t finished when the poll was made > <
December 29, 2014 at 9:20 pmYakumoHaku
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Uchuu Kyoudai – Probably one of the most educational anime I have watched in a while
No Game No Life – Word
Kill la Kill – Fashion comes at a cost
Nagi no Asukara – I am so glad that it is not R.D.G.
Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun – Chiyo-chan, fighto
December 29, 2014 at 9:39 pmAtsu
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My top 5 picks would be -
HxH
Haikyuu!!
Barakamon
No Game No Life
Mushishi Zoku Shou
December 29, 2014 at 10:53 pmwfseg
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Shingeki no Bahamut (Rage of Bahamut)
Kill La Kill
Barakamon
No Game No Life
Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun
December 29, 2014 at 11:16 pmdeVaras
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What should win: Mushishi Zoku Shou
What is going to win: Akama ga Kill
December 30, 2014 at 7:22 amShrubbery
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1. Mushishi Zoku Shou (Masterpiece, when this aired I had yet to watch the first season. I’m so glad my eye fell on this series)
2. No Game No Life (What can I say, the shots angles and rising tension of some of the games was very well executed. Hoping for that second season)
3. Aldnoah.ZERO (Urobutcher made a great first and last episode
4. Log Horizon (Log Horizon makes any MMO player want to play his/her favorite MMO again. The story is very well written imo)
5. Space Dandy (This is imo a big mixture of everything anime can and has to offer. A piece of art)
Honourable mentions
- Kill la Kill
- Zankyou no Terror
- Tokyo Ghoul
- Barakamon
There are many more, but this is the top of this year!
December 30, 2014 at 8:28 amdrzero7
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Akame no Kill!
Hanamonogatari + Tsukimonogatari
Kill la Kill
Log Horizon
No Game No Life
December 30, 2014 at 12:27 pmAnonymousperson
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No UBW?
December 30, 2014 at 2:11 pmSAOforever!!kirit0NYANN
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MY GOG MY GOD I LOVE SAO EVER.
MY EPIC TOP—-
1 SWORD ART ONLINE 2-3-4
2 TOKYO GOUL
3 TOKYO ESP
4 GLASSLIP. FCK YOU NAGI NO AZUKARA
5 FATE KALEID LINER PRISMA ILYA 2WEIIIIIIII
6 DATE ALIVE 2
7 DRAMAtical Murder
8 Hitsugi no Chaika LOLI!!
9 Inazuma Eleven GO MARIO Galaxy
10 Log Horizon 2 BY MY DEEN, FUCK YOU UFOTABLE
11 Mahou Sensou
12 NORIN
13 PUPA CENSORED VESION
FUK ME KIRITO-KUN..
December 30, 2014 at 2:11 pmSantmahou
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Aldnoah
Bokura wa minna kawaisou
HunterxHunter 2011
No Game No Life
Uchuu kyoudai
December 30, 2014 at 2:46 pmAndré
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1. Barakamon
2. Bokura wa Minna Kawaisou
3. Log Horizon
4. Amagi Brilliant Park
5. Inou-Battle wa Nichijou no Naka de (this one was a hard choice… There are about 8 shows that I could put in this position)
December 30, 2014 at 4:12 pmCarma
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A great year for anime, I wish I could have saw more.
Respectfully, my top 5:
1. Haikyuu!!
2. Barakamon
3. Gekkan Shouko Nozaki-Kun
4. Shingeki no Bahamut
5. Space Dandy
December 30, 2014 at 7:56 pmTrombe
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1.Ping-
2.Pong
3.The
4.Animation
5.Space Brothers.
For movies ‘d go with Jigen Daisuke’s grave. I didn’t watch many though.
December 31, 2014 at 9:32 amKingofConquerors
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we need more ping pong love here.
December 30, 2014 at 8:21 pmDarthtabby
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Shingeki no Bahamut
Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-Kun
Sword Art Online II
Amagi Brilliant Park
Hitsugi no Chaika (both seasons)
Akatsuki no Yona and Shirobako would have been contenders if they had been completed. I know my list is heavily slanted towards the end of the year, but I consider the most recent anime season to be one of the best in a long time, and I found a lot of the shows I liked earlier in the year to be ultimately disappointing.
December 30, 2014 at 9:38 pmkondee
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The two anime that I personally truly hold personal to my heart are JoJo: Stardust Crusaders and Ping Pong the Animation.
I don’t think I will be truly prepared for the second cour of JoJo. The fights are inventive and watching the protagonists travel around the world, bond, and get themselves in wacky situations make it truly memorable. Araki’s imagination is limitless.
Ping Pong The Animation caught me by surprise. I did get into Ping Pong at some point with a friend but I found it to be more then just about Ping Pong. The characters were well written and the story was great and leaves you feeling spiritually uplifted. The art style can turn off some people but the emotions it can garner out of you as each character comes to terms with their dilemmas and find what they can get out of life is worth the watch.
My other 3 votes go to HxH(It’s HxH), Mushishi Zoku Shou (Very beautiful stories with the poignant ones really sticking to you), and Hajime No Ippo:Rising (Sawamura Ryuhei has gotta be one of the most despicable and memorable villains).
December 30, 2014 at 10:43 pmRoy
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Hard to choose best 5 but I’d have to pick:
* Mushishi Zoku Shou – AOTY, glad my favorite anime has returned and will finish beautifully with a movie in the summer.
* Shingeki no Bahamut Genesis – Was not expecting it to be that fucking epic. Good job Mappa!
* Barakamon – Very enjoyable and a surprise hit for me
* Nagi no Asukara – One of PA Works best works imo
* Dead tie between Noragami and Sidonia no Kishi
December 30, 2014 at 11:24 pmpeeyaj
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Hunter x Hunter 2011 is the greatest shonen anime ever and one of the greatest anime of all time.
December 31, 2014 at 8:25 amnichibotsu-kaeru
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i could only pick 2 for the anime part and 1 for the ova/movie part, there must have been more then 2 animes worth mentioning from this year(tokyo ghoul doesn’t do it in my books yet ive seen the small hype) hope the best of 2014 puts me in a good direction for what i could catch up on :D
December 31, 2014 at 8:27 amnichibotsu-kaeru
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and for once i didn’t vote for the monogatari series, i felt hanamonogatari was crap and haven’t watched tsukimonogatari yet
December 31, 2014 at 8:35 amnichibotsu-kaeru
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silly me i forgot to write what i voted for, sidonia no kishi and kill la kill
December 31, 2014 at 8:39 amkaye
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Hunter x Hunter is a good choice, if you’re looking. It’s a cut above most shonen anime I’ve seen. And based on the comments, a lot agree.
December 31, 2014 at 9:31 amKingofConquerors
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Series :
Ping Pong The Animation
Mushishi Zoku Shou
Uchuu Kyoudai
Jojo
Gin no Saji
Movies/OVAs
Kaze Tachinu
Kara no Kyoukai Mirai Fukuin
Puella Magi Madoka Magica Movie 3
Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn Movie 7
Kaguya-Hime Monogatari
All in all hasn’t been a great year for anime. Though on The Movie/OVA front the quality of the stuff has improved from last year.
December 31, 2014 at 1:33 pmMatroid
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My votes for Best Anime 2014:
1. Hunter x Hunter (2011) (One of the greatest manga stories of all time! This re-make is nothing short of excellent!)
2. Kill la Kill
3. Uchuu Kyoudai
4. Haikyuu!!
5. Ping Pong the Animation
Regrets: Golden Time, PSYCHO-PASS 2, Mushishi Zoku Shou, Log Horizon, Sword Art Online II, Hanamonogatari + Tsukimonogatari, Yowamushi Pedal, Tonari no Seki-kun, and many others…
My votes for Best OVA/Movie 2014:
1. Rakuen Tsuihou: Expelled from Paradise (If you like Suisei you’ll love this one!)
2. Kaze Tachinu
3. Suisei no Gargantia: Meguru Kouro, Haruka OVA (Episode 1)
4. Kaguya-hime no Monogatari
5. Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai Movie
Regrets: Ghost in the Shell ARISE Border 3 + 4
December 31, 2014 at 3:15 pmRockmanshii
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1 Pretty Rhythm Rainbow Live. Masterpiece. Ending wasn’t as over the top as season2′s though.
2 Gundam Build Fighters. Another masterpiece
3 Ryuugajou Nanana no Maizokin
4 Persona 4 The Golden
5 Kenzen Robo Daimidaler
1 Kaguya Hime no Monogatari, dominates everything in every aspect by far.
2 Moretsu Pirates Abyss of Hyperspace, I hope there’s a second season soon.
3 Tiger & Bunny The Rising, idem
4 Yozakura Quartet Tsuki ni Naku 2&3. Really great animation.(Couldn’t vote for it since you guys didn’t add it but no worries)
5 Pretty Rhythm movie. Only ~10 minutes of new content but had some of the funniest things I saw this year
There was tons of good shows this year, still a lot I wanna watch.
December 31, 2014 at 3:52 pmEclipze
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#1-5 In no particular order:
Mikakunin de Shinkoukei
Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun
Haikyuu!!
Barakamon
Shingeki no Bahamut
#6-15 (also not in order):
Gin no Saji S2
Ping Pong the Animation
Hunter x Hunter (2011)
Yowamushi Pedal
Log Horizon
Kuroshitsuji -Book of Circus-
Sidonia no Kishi
Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii
Nobunagun
Tokyo Ghoul
December 31, 2014 at 7:40 pmTanz
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I only voted Kingdom c8
January 1, 2015 at 1:28 amDafuq
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Ping Pong AOTY.
January 1, 2015 at 5:58 amechykr
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A technical question, why is Aldnoah Zero (part one) listed but not Fate Stay Night UBW (part one)? Both are similar in that they’re only the first half of a 24 episode series which have taken a break.
January 1, 2015 at 8:27 ambossarvin
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Aldnoah
Gin No Saji
Gekkan Shojo Nozaki Kun
Haikyuu
Shigatsu Wa Kimi No Uso
January 1, 2015 at 12:05 pmTchaika
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If I could I would’ve voted 20 or so, but oh well.
After a process of elimination I finally voted for those:
Mushishi Zoku Shou
Jojo
Haikyuu!!
Amagi Brilliant Park
SAO II
Log Horizon, Chaika, Akame and a few others were also close. Good thing Yona is not on the list, because I would on my wits’ end. TOO MANY GOOD SERIES.
January 1, 2015 at 8:01 pmShushi
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Can’t wait for the results and the “Best of 2014″!
January 3, 2015 at 10:41 pmmootab
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umm…where are the results? I don’t see a post for Best of Anime 2014 in the “best of anime” section.
January 3, 2015 at 10:54 pmStilts
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Patience. We’re working on it. It should be out soon(TM).
January 4, 2015 at 7:51 amBlackShock_
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No Game No Life
Nagi no Asukara
Tokyo Ghoul
Amagi Brillant Park
SAO 2
I feel 2014 lacks a “series of the year”
January 4, 2015 at 11:55 pmStreamQ
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2014 was super shitty for anime..
January 4, 2015 at 11:56 pmStreamQ
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except for Haikyuu!
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