Top 10 Anime Moments
of 2015
Written by: ClayDragon & Shiggins
Following on from our Top 10 Anime Characters of 2015, we’re taking a
look at the singular moments that made us laugh, cheer and cry this year. There
were a number of memorable scenes this year, with a number of them easily
becoming the defining moment for their respective series. As long as the scene
in question aired this year, it’s fair game for this list.
Side note: Whilst we made an effort to watch lots of shows that
started airing this year, we couldn’t see them all. So if there’s a moment that
you think should be on this list but isn’t, then it’s probably because we never
got around to watching it, as opposed to us not liking it.
As is this the case with many of these lists, SPOILER ALERT. You have
been warned.
10.) Meeting
in the Snow (Nisekoi:) (Written by: ClayDragon)
Onodera is one of those Nisekoi
characters that you just want to hug. Upon finding out that her crush Raku is
planning on going to a different high school than her, she decides to apply for
his school as well in the hopes that she’ll end up being able to spend more
time with him – despite the fact that they’d never been able to say anything
more than ‘hello’ or ‘goodbye’ before. With this goal in mind, Onodera devotes
all her time to studying in order to pass the school’s entrance exam.
 |
| Oh, just kiss already, dammit!! |
Sadly, she ends up failing the exam despite her best efforts, and the
realisation that she’ll never be able to see Raku again hits her hard. Utterly
heartbroken, she sits alone on a park bench in the middle of winter, and is only
broken out of her depression by the timely arrival of Raku himself. The two end
up sitting together, and in what could be seen as a red-string-of-fate
reference, Raku shares his scarf with her for a while. Just as the two are
about to confess their feelings for each other, Onodera gets a phone call to
say that she’s been admitted from the school’s waiting list.
 |
| And they lived happily ever after...right? Please? |
This is one of those scenes that almost perfectly encapsulates what
the show’s about – heartwarming moments, a bit of humour, and a contrived coincidence
that just so happens to stop Onodera from confessing. It shows us the exact
moment when the relationship between Raku and Onodera upgraded from simple
classmates to actual friends, and it’s a remarkably touching scene for both
characters as they realise that they’ll be able to spend more time together
after all.
9.) Super
Saiyan God (Dragon Ball Super) (Written by: ClayDragon)
First, there was the original Super Saiyan. Then, there was Super
Saiyan 2. After that, there was Super Saiyan 3. And finally, in the canon film Battle of Gods, we were introduced to
the next true stage of a Saiyan’s power – Super Saiyan God (no, Super Saiyan 4
does not count). And when we found out that Dragon
Ball Super was going to adapt the most recent films, we were all curious as
to how it would handle Goku’s transformation into a Saiyan powerful enough to
go toe-to-toe with a genuine deity.
 |
| Sadly, this is the most useful that Gohan will be for a while. |
Thankfully, it did not disappoint. At first, it’s just a standard case
of some golden auras surrounding the five Saiyans (and Videl). But then the
sweeping orchestral music starts up, the sky is covered in golden clouds,
whirlpools form in the sea, and as everyone is covered in a blue light and a
hole opens up in the sky, it finally happens. Goku steps forwards with his
fancy red hair and confronts Beerus as a Super Saiyan God.
 |
| It's strange how evil he looks with red eyes. |
Let’s face it, this transformation was just amazing. The choir in the
background, the golden sky – everything about this scene suggest someone
ascending to godhood (which I suppose is exactly what happens). Whilst the
original Super Saiyan transformation brought about lightning strikes and storm
clouds, it’s a much more serene affair this time around, and it was good to see
the Super Saiyan God transformation given the scope and weight that it
deserved.
8.) Reverse
Counter (Nanatsu no Taizai) (Written by: Shiggins)
A series that I feel deserves far more recognition than it gets, Nanatsu no Taizai ended its first season
with a bang. Although technically, the one bang was several bangs and whooshes
and zaps all piled together to create a super-bang that ultimately destroyed
the demonic villain Hendrickson who had transformed into a new evil being of
hatred and was about to decimate the kingdom and everybody in it... but a bang
it was!
 |
| The power of Christ kicks your ass! |
I hope you were prepared for spoilers because this section is a
bit of a big 'un. After spending a few episodes providing a sincere beatdown to
the main characters, known as the Seven Deadly Sins, Hendrickson is seeming to
be unstoppable. He's abandoned and betrayed all his allies, turned several of
his minions into demonic monsters, transformed several times to become more and
more like a demon from a more coloured version of Hell, and when all hope is
lost, the season ends with Meliodas unleashing his final attack.
 |
| It's not fanservice! He's male! |
It's another battle finale to a great series that I'm sure we've
all seen before. Some are great, and others are crap. Nanatsu no Taizai gets the more positive ranking due to some
resounding music, beautifully bright visual animation and by using a fairly
ingenious method of involving every character within this climax. Nobody is
left out and it's certainly enjoyable to watch a purple Satan get blown up by
the light.
7.) Love
Nectar (Shimoneta) (Written by: Shiggins)
You people had to see this coming. Probably the most infamous
entry on this list, Shimoneta's “Love
Nectar” set the internet aflame, with shock and awe as people were unsure
whether they should howl with laughter or call their therapist after having a
cry in the shower while eating whatever comfort food they have to hand... just
so long as they aren't cookies.
 |
| Millie's Cookies shares either plummeted or skyrocketed after this scene. |
For those who aren't scarred yet, allow me to get to cutting. Shimoneta is a story about people who
aren't used to the ways of perversion or sexuality, so lack basic education
about what to do when turned on or romantically connected to someone. In the
case of the precious student council president Anna, this lack of knowledge
results in her trying to provide affection and love to her crush... through her
own ‘love nectar’ cookies.
 |
| Yes. It's exactly what you think it is. |
Although there are several scenes before and after that show
Anna's break due to the power of lady-boners, the ‘love nectar’ inside the
cookies is the true beginning of it all. It's hilarious, disturbing and a sign
of many things to come. Bottles of her essence, literally ripping off zippers
with her teeth, and threatening to stab her best friend out of a paranoid
jealousy are just some of the treats you'll have in store for you if you watch
this series, and it all begins with a simple gift from a yandere.
6.) Wendy Activates
Dragon Force (Fairy Tail) (Written by: Shiggins)
The newest anime adaptation of Fairy
Tail has been very controversial. The animation changes are apparent and
obvious, the amazing music from the last series is gone and been replaced with
an acceptable score, and there a few changes to the overall story that the
original anime would have never wasted time doing, such as somewhat censoring
fanservice. However, none of these are a problem so long as the series still
looks damn impressive when it counts. And as proven here, it most definitely is
not a problem.
 |
| Sorry, this must be from Wendy's magical girl spinoff... oh wait. |
We were really tempted to choose the battle of Silver and Gray,
but seeing as how Wendy's Dragon Force is the ultimate culmination of her
development, breaking down her past self completely and revealing the utterly
new manifestation that is a strong and confident Wendy Marvell, we felt this
was more appropriate. Her battle with Ezel in this form is cool on its own, but
since it's the final nail in the coffin that was once her shyness, we just adore
it.
 |
| I think we just found the next form of Pedobear. |
Destroying the bomb that is Face might seem like a minor victory within the arc
of Tartaros, but it was impressive nonetheless. Loads of fast-paced action,
great effects (despite the anime being really fucking annoying these days and
making all the colours faded... but that's a rant for another day), and some
interesting transformations make this entire section definitely worth your
precious time. It's not like you’ve got anything better to do.
5.) Saitama’s
Serious Punch (One Punch Man) (Written by: Shiggins)
Fuck you, One Punch Man.
I wanted to hate your lack of story and shallow development, but you made it
impossible! Someone gave you the greatest animation company in Japan, and some
badass straight-shooting action that made everybody and their disappointed
mothers cry out in satisfying ecstasy. In short, it's too awesome, especially
given that it only has an average budget for only 12 episodes.
 |
| Where's a Keanu Reeves "whoa" when you need one? |
The idea of fighting aliens for a big finale isn't exactly
inventive, but then again, we don't watch One
Punch Man to see unique philosophies or debatable arguments that will
impact the way we look at life and ourselves. We watch it to see Saitama blow
shit up! And after literally being punched into the moon, Saitama does
just that.
 |
| "I'm a comedy character!" |
Utter devastation of the highest order. It's nothing short of
ravishing! Saitama's toughest opponent yet, who was able to actually damage
Saitama to an interesting degree, could not withstand this punch. Not only does
it defeat the alien king Boros, but it destroys him. It is a gorgeous sight,
with the clouds parting and...and… do I even need to describe it? It's pure
glory in artistic form! One. Fucking. Punch. Of glory!
4.) Aligula
Kidnaps Leo (Blood Blockade Battlefront)
(Written by: Shiggins)
This damn series... It's too fucking good for... well, for its own
good. So good in fact that it took much debate and arguing for us to come to a
conclusion for what our BBB entry
should be, and we're still not sure we can sleep at night due to the
possibility we made some semblance of a mistake. Nevertheless, here is our
final decision: Aligula's beautiful car smashing up Hellsalem’s Lot while she
asks for... love stories!
 |
| Aligula at her finest... Wait, is it Aligula? Aligura? Alibaba? |
Yes, while some would probably choose the glorious Ode to Joy moment or the boxing match,
both featuring God's manliest gift Klaus, we went for something that's
ironically simpler. Yes, the blindfolded one-eyed monstrosity riding a
devastating truck and ordering her captive Leo to tell her stories about his
past is surprisingly more simple than a werewolf man punching an alien-looking
thing. See, we love this scene because it so easily captures what BBB is and what it's capable of.
 |
| ...WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?! |
During this scene, we see Aligula tell Leo her own ‘tragic’
backstory of how she loved two men. Sadly, one was ugly and the other one had a
crap personality, so she spliced them together horrifically and with brutal
force to make a perfect man. Then they abandoned her! Those monsters! However,
she's a romantic and wants Leo to talk, which results in him hinting about a
currently blooming romance in the series that is just darling. Add in some
hilarious editing and fast movements to go alongside the wonderful
personalities on display here, and you have a scene that's as adorable as it is
maniacal. Just like Blood Blockade
Battlefront as a whole.
3.) Chiyuki’s Choice (Death Parade) (Written by: ClayDragon)
If you were given the option to sacrifice a random person’s life in order
to save your own, what would you do? Would you kill a person you’d likely never
meet just so you could live? This is the choice Decim gives to Chiyuki in the
final episode of Death Parade. After
Chiyuki sees firsthand the impact her suicide had on her mother’s life, Decim
gives her a button. Press it, and she will come back to life at the cost of
someone else’s.
 |
| I was going to put a funny caption here, but that would just ruin everything about this moment. |
Just as Chiyuki is about to go through with it, she remembers every
soul she met since she first arrived in the afterlife and finds herself unable
to press the button. Even though she’d never meet the person who she’d end up
killing, that person would be important to someone, and this realisation pushes
Chiyuki to ask Decim to press the button in her place. Not only does this cement
Chiyuki’s development, but it forces Decim’s repressed emotions to the surface,
causing him to break down in tears as he admits to Chiyuki that it was just a
test to determine if she should be sent to heaven.
 |
| MY FEELINGS. |
2.) Yato Gets
a Shrine (Noragami Aragoto) (Written by: ClayDragon)
Yato has long been portrayed as being rather greedy and ambitious when
it comes to money, as he constantly proclaims that his goal is to become the
most-worshipped god in Japan. Sadly, the main flaw in this plan is that very
few humans even know he exists. Despite acting like his small number of
followers doesn’t bother him that much, it becomes apparent in the second season
of Noragami that he’s actually more
troubled by this than he lets on.
 |
| "It's a bit too small to live in, though." |
So it’s a wonderfully touching moment when Hiyori gives him a gift
that turns out to be a shrine of his very own. Despite the fact that it’s tiny
and obviously hand-made, the gesture is enough to bring Yato to tears as he
realises that he has people who treasure him. The fact that Hiyori spent enough
effort on it that her hands are covered in scratches and plasters only helps to
make the gift even more special.
 |
| D'awww. |
Yato has never really shown his vulnerable side before, so to see him
start crying with joy was as unexpected as it was heartwarming. Whilst the
shrine doesn’t mean much to Hiyori, it means the whole world to Yato, and he
begins to treasure it above all else. It really shows how much Hiyori cares for
Yato, and given that he’s been after a shrine for centuries, this wonderful
moment is easily the signature scene for this season of Noragami.
1.) Omnimon
Appears (Digimon Adventure tri.) (Written by: ClayDragon)
This moment may not be particularly heartwarming or funny for the
characters involved, but who cares? Since Omnimon first appeared in the Digimon Adventure movie back in 2000, he
became an instant fan-favourite due to his cool design, sheer power, and
general badassery. Fast forward 15 years, and we finally got to see him again
in the first Digimon Adventure tri
movie. And what a moment it was.
 |
| And zero fucks were given that day. |
After a massive hole between the real world and the Digiworld opens up
in the middle of a stadium, the Digidestined come face-to-face with Alphamon,
one of the strongest Digimon out there. Despite their best efforts, Alphamon
utterly beats the crap out of them without any effort until WarGreymon and
MetalGarurumon DNA Digivolve into Omnimon, forcing him to fight for real. After
giving us the battle we were all waiting for, Alphamon retreats back into the
Digiworld, leaving behind a lot of rubble and a lot of happy Digimon fans.
 |
| *Squeals like a little girl* |
This entry is just nostalgia, pure and simple. But who cares? It was brilliant. When Digimon Adventure tri was first announced, a lot of people were
sceptical, and rightly so. But the first movie laid any unease to rest, and
Omnimon’s grand introduction was the icing on the cake. Gorgeously animated,
beautifully scored, and epic in every way, this scene showed better than any
other that Digimon was back with a
bang.
Honourable Mentions:
 |
| Gintoki 'Assisting' With A Suicide (Gintama 2015) |
 |
| Mikado Stabs Aoba (Durarara x2) |
 |
| Final Ferris Wheel Ride (Plastic Memories) |
 |
| Nao Cooks For Yuu (Charlotte) |
 |
| Love Forever (Cute High Earth Defence Club LOVE!) |
 |
| Really, this entire fight was awesome from start to finish. |
Thanks for reading!
ClayDragon:
ClayDragon is currently studying Physics at university, and is constantly bewildered by it. The main method of contacting him is his Gmail account at claydragon.on@gmail.com. He has an ask.fm account at ask.fm/ClayDragon. When not playing games or reading, he can be found with his head in his hands whilst trying in vain to understand quantum physics. He remembers sleeping once, long ago.
Shiggins:[Admin] .
Shiggins enjoys many strange forms of communication, especially those including cosplayers or presents or videos. However, until that wonderful day comes when people care enough to give him things for being him, you can contact him on his Skype; shigginsishere. He can also respond to you if you contact him through GMails at shigginsishere@gmail.com, and you can find out about him or ask him stuff on ask.fm/shigginsishere.
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