T5W#281-Top 5 Best Titles Ive Reviewed in 2020

Well it has been a year, hasn’t it?  It’s been tough for everyone, myself included.  But throughout out the pandemics and losses, I’ve stayed committed to this blog to lift everyones spirits and my own and I’m thankful ive had the Anime Corner to work on for all this time.  Much of 2021 is in the books and ready for posting and I’ll talk more of that in my New Years Day post soon.  Looking back on 2020 though, I’m amazed I got to watch and review as much as I did.  Thankfully, not everything was as bad as Gundam Seed Destiny or Gundam AGE.  We’ve had some winners and as tradition dictates, this, the last Wednesday of the year, is when I give those titles their proper due.  So I present to you my Top 5 Best Titles Ive Reviewed in 2020, may we remember them more fondly than most other things that have happened in this God awful year. 

#5-Ronin Warriors 

Nostalgia goggles didn’t factor into this: this Toonami classic is even better than I remembered.  Ryo, Sage, Rowen, Kento and Cye’s neverending battle against Talpa and the Dynasty still holds up surprisingly well.  It’s all out action but well thought out and more methodical than you think.  And while the main team of Super Samurai might not get the best character development, their arch nemesis turned guardian angel, Anubis, got an arc that I never expected to leave me feeling so emotional.  The follow up OVAs might’ve varied in quality.  But the OG Legendary Armor Samurai Troopers is more than worthy of the “legend” in its title.

 

#4-After War Gundam X

I’ll go more into detail about this one in my final thoughts in the Series Finale tomorrow.  But as it stands: Gundam X is a definite hidden gem in the Gundam franchise.  The premise is solid: an apocalyptic yet hopeful “what if” to the One Year War.  The cast is likeable and Garrod Ran is one of the best pilots in the Gundam multiverse.  And his romance with Tifa Adil is one for the ages.  Again, more on this tomorrow but here’s hoping those two kids get their happy ending.

 

#3-Psycho Pass 3

Despite lacking a crucial set of anthology films, aka Sinners of the System, to fill in some gaps, Psycho Pass 3 was easily what Psycho Pass 2 should have been to begin with.  This season took an even deeper look at the political and societal issues that complicated the Sybil Systems existence.  We got introduced to an almost entirely new team of Inspectors and Enforcers (honestly something that should be done each season), with the bromance between Arata and Kei being this seasons beating heart.  There were even some welcome returns, even if their appearances raised more questions in the process.  Most importantly: Psycho Pass 3 was just good in general…and the First Inspector follow up movie wasn’t so bad either.

 

#2-My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising

TBH if there was ever a time for My Hero Academia, it was 2020.  While Season Four, in my opinion, didn’t quite reach the heights of Season Three, Heroes Rising, surpassed its predceeding film in every single aspect.  The story did a much better job making use of the whole of Class 1-A and giving everyone time to shine.  At the core though, this was a movie with the spotlight mostly on Deku and Bakugo and it’s a testament to how far they’ve come since Episode One.  Heroes Rising alone could be the reason anyone could get into My Hero Academia, even if they aren’t aware of what’s going on in the main story.  It’s everything Two Heroes wanted to be and more…far more…PLUS ULTRA!!!

 

#1-Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin

The prequel to Gundam is one of the most epic entries in the franchises history.  Char Aznable may have the lead throughout most of it, but The Origin spends just as much time building up the powder keg that is the countdown to the One Year War.  Events hinted at or whispered in the original series get their screentime and characters like Gharma and Dozle Zabi get added depth that could change the way you look at them in Mobile Suit Gundam.  The animation kicks so much ass, in fact it solidifies that the 2010’s were an amazing decade for Gundam overall.  You wouldn’t think that the lead up to the One Year War could be worthy of an extended series of its own…but honestly, once you watch Gundam: The Origin, you’ll jump right into Mobile Suit Gundam next and watch it again with a greater appreciation for the care and excitement The Origin’s backstory now brings to it.