Welcome back to my personal favorite anime list! If you haven't read the first part, I would recommend reading it first here: https://www.theodysseyonline.com/top-ten-favorite-... As I mentioned last time, remember that this is a list of MY favorite anime. That doesn't mean that I necessarily think they are the best, just my favorites. So, without further ado, let's continue on.

5. One Punch Man

If you have hung out with me over the past year, there's a decent chance that I talked about this one at some point. One Punch Man is an anime about a man named Saitama who has become the strongest man in the world. Despite this, he is not recognized as an official hero. The show follows him striving to earn recognition while also dealing with a litany of ridiculous villains. This show is a wonderful twist on the traditional superhero narrative. Instead of having to work hard to beat his enemies, Saitama can kill anyone with a single punch. Knowing this, the creators mix in a lot of humor that compliments the action. This show is a marvel to watch if you've ever enjoyed superheroes simply because it does everything differently.

4. Soul Eater

When I was in high school, I worked at a movie theater. One night, they had me on a closing shift that didn't finish up until roughly 1:30 AM. I was incredibly tired and drained from the day when I arrived home, so I turned on the tv, not knowing what to expect. This show just so happened to be on and peaked my interest. Flash forward a few years, and now I've finally actually finished it. Soul Eater is an anime about a school that is designed to teach young students to fight demonic creatures. In this school, there are two kinds of people: Meisters and weapons. Some of the students can transform into weapon form that the meisters can use to hunt various evils. The characters in this show are what really sell me. Death the Kid, the son of Death himself, is a joy to watch. In addition, the concept is fascinating. This show walks a thin line between light and dark, making it a fascinating watch.

3. My Bride is a Mermaid

And here's where everyone realizes that I watch too many romantic comedies. This anime is about a young boy named Nagasumi who goes on a vacation to the Seto sea. He attempts to prove to his dad that he can swim and ends up drowning in the process. As everything goes dark, a mermaid, Sun Seto, appears and saves him. It is revealed that if a human sees a mermaid, either the human or the mermaid has to die. Another solution is proposed by Sun's mother: the two could get married. Hilarious adventures ensue. Now, I know that premise is silly, but hear me out. This was the first anime that I found, that I got other people into. I love this show so much because it is something I found myself. The comedy is wonderful, and the characters are lovable, particularly Nagasumi and Sun. There are some lewd moments that I mostly avoid, though, so be warned.

2. Ouran High School Host Club

First episode spoilers ahead:

Now that I finished talking about My Bride, allow me to talk about another romantic comedy. Ouran High School Host Club is a story about a girl named Haruhi who looks rather androgynous. Because of this, she is mistaken for a boy. Accidentally, she breaks a very expensive vase and is forced to join Ouran high schools' Host Club. The Host Club's mission is to give women a taste of romance without actual relationships. When it is revealed that Haruhi is a girl, the club attempts to hide this fact from their guests. Most of the humor in this show stems from this simple misunderstanding. Tamaki, the club's president, wants to date Haruhi for most of the show, but he rarely admits this, even to himself. While this show is absolutely hilarious, that's not the reason it's so high on this list. This show is what is called a "reverse harem," an anime where many guys are fighting for the affection of one woman. Usually these shows have bland leads and overly sexualized situations. Ouran, though, has a strong female lead and very few provocative scenes. It turns the genre on its head, and more importantly, it actually has amazing characters that deal with real issues. I started watching this show for its humor, but I kept watching because there were real problems being addressed. Real issues are dealt with, and I love it.

Honorable Mentions

Ni Sekoi

A "harem" anime that, like Ouran, breaks the trend by having a strong lead, this time male.

Naruto

My original favorite anime. I don't enjoy it much anymore, but I did love it as a child.

Pokemon (Season 1)

The original season of Pokemon was a wonderful experience for me as a child. I love the series still, but I only love the games, not the anime. The anime's a bit tired now.

1. Fairy Tail

Episode one spoilers ahead.

Welcome to what everyone loved in 2012 and hates now. Well, I guess not everyone hates it since I still love it. Fairy Tail is an anime about a girl named Lucy who wants to join the titular guild. She's a wizard with the ability to summon powerful creatures based off constellations. As she is making her way towards the guild, she meets a young wizard named Natsu. Lucy tells Natsu that the legendary "Salamander" is in town, a powerful wizard who can control fire. As events roll along, it is revealed that Salamander is kidnapping women. Natsu and Lucy attempt to free these women, and it is revealed that Natsu is the real "Salamander." They run the criminals out of town, and Natsu invites Lucy to join the Fairy Tail guild. This show is the reason I watch anime. I've mentioned a couple of times now that there were a few shows I watched as a child, and I've mentioned a few that I watch as an adult. There's a gap in there, and that's because I didn't watch any anime for a time. I didn't care about the genre at all until my friend, who I refer to as Woof, introduced me to Fairy Tail. Since then, I've started watching numerous anime, and it all stems from Fairy Tail. Sadly, the show is frequently ragged on for having a formulaic model that is often resolved through the power of friendship. But I disagree with much of the criticism. This show is built on the concept that friendship is a glue that ties people together stronger than anything else. I love that message, even if some find it a bit cliche. Regardless, if it weren't for Fairy Tail, none of these anime would be on the list besides Bobobo-bo bo-bobo. For that reason, as well as for the message that I love, it gets my top billing.

What do you think? I know that many will disagree with my top choice, so what are your favorite anime? I would love to know. No two people are the same, and few have similar tastes. Heck, I'm likely going to have to hide from Panda and Woof for my choices on this list. Regardless, I hope you enjoyed it, and if you would like to see more lists like this, then tell me. I'd be happy to make them.