Aidan: A lot of things can happen in a decade, though two of those things appear not to be flying cars and self-tying shoes. Ten years is a long time and a lot of anime has been made. Just going by an average of 30 shows a season, in ten years that would mean 1200 anime series made. 360,000 minutes of entertainment, though don’t check my math on that. To consider the amount of work that has gone into the creation of so many shows is truly mind boggling and is worth my utmost respect. So late as we are to the party, we decided to make a list of the top fifty shows of the decade. Take note that this list was the product of all writers voting, so any complaints about what should be here or why something isn’t higher on the list can be reserved for the democratic process. This is mainly just a list for fun and maybe a resource for anyone to take a peek at a show or movie they might have missed. So to cap off this decade of shounen brawls, otherworldly reincarnation, animated waifus and all of the emotions, let us reel off some of our personal favorites. And may there be many decades of anime to come to show the world just what animation is capable of.
#50: Girls’ Last Tour
Aidan: When it’s all over, when the last day falls and our history ends with a bang or a whimper, it’s a wonder who will wander our monoliths of civilisation after we are dead and gone. Girls’ Last Tour’s setting is an easy way to get cold hard depression, with it being about two girls wandering through the world after everything is over, the very world alien and devoid of any meaning to both them and us. However, in a twist, the story – while not shying away from the bleakness of the situation – instead focuses on them finding small rays of happiness in the last days of earth. Naturally if everything is already over, then why bother getting sad over it? So for a show set after the unspecified apocalypse, it’s surprisingly upbeat, making for a relaxing watch. It makes you think that if these girls can cheerfully sing, “It’s hopeless!” in the worst situation, whatever has you down is small stuff in comparison.
Mario: Girls’ Last Tour falls within my favorite new trend that emerged in the anime medium over the last decade: dark moe anime. Set in a post-apocalyptic world where the human race is almost extinct, our two girls wander around the world in their Kettenkrad looking for food and shelter. If it sounds a bit bleak and minimalist, rest assured that Girls’ Last Tour is at its heart a slice-of-life show about those girls having a relaxing time in that world. The show could be entertaining and soothing enough with just those factors, but it has more tricks up its sleeves. More often than not, Girls’ Last Tour ponders some basic philosophical questions about our own existence, our purpose in life and even what life is itself. Moreover, the anime adaptation enhances this show further with consistent audio-visual production and great attention to detail. Depressing and comforting at the same time, Girls’ Last Tour is a rare show that produces unique charms and distinctive tones, while always keeping its feet firmly on the ground.