"Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu" is more a coming-of-age story than a romantic comedy. While its art, lighting, and sound direction are all fantastic, it’s the rewarding storytelling and characters that truly elevates the show in ways that others fail to.

Its main characters are Kyoutarou, a self-imposed loner who harbors the belief that he is misunderstood and could never belong anywhere, and Anna, a seemingly flawless girl who silently grapples with jealousy, anxiety, and the fear of her own eccentricities.

As the show is told through Kyoutarou’s perspective, Anna’s complexities are initially obscured. But over the course of both seasons, Kyoutarou is “cured” of his dilusions little-by-little, with each step of his growth communicated to him and made an example of.

“Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu” is a show with real payoff. It serves as a powerful reminder of love’s ability to transform us. That the will to change is always within reach. That growing up is messy, painful, and full of uncertainty. That the world you showed me was incredibly beautiful.

"Makeine" nails the art of homage while adding its own flair to become something only it could ever be and accomplish. It is one of the freshest takes on unrequited love in anime and a love letter to the medium itself, brimming with subtle animation details that show an immense level of care.

The music feels perfectly in sync with the story, as if a live band is underscoring each emotional beat. Anna, Lemon, and Chika are brilliantly expressive, fun, and unforgettable. Their seiyuus shine, imbuing each character with depth and energy that feels like witnessing a defining moment for their careers.

“Makeine” is a show of clear winners and losers — it wouldn’t be about losing heroines otherwise. At times the vulnerability on display can be tough to watch. “Makeine” is a story of love and making friends, but it’s also a story about loneliness, self-loathing, and heartbreak. It strikes a delicate balance between over-the-top humor and a lingering sense of melancholy that left a lasting impression.

There’s so much that makes “Makeine” exceptional, it’s hard to put into words. It’s a show you can admire for its near-perfection and walk away loving its characters even more. It’s a good story, but it’s more inspiring as a piece of art.

"Girls Band Cry" had a challenging start, with its unapologetic use of 3DCGI and the lack of an official English translation. It was illegal to watch one of the best shows of the season from outside of Japan.

The story follows a runaway girl who forms a band with her favorite artist. While the plot isn’t its central focus, the show excels in raw emotional depth, character interactions, and music that is both memorable and defies expectations. Uniquely, both the music and voice acting are produced and performed by the actual band members. It adds to the show’s authenticity.

The characters in the show are, for the most part, adults in all but name. Dropouts, quitters, and loners working real jobs, each with personal struggles that feel relatable. Inner conflicts aren’t always neatly resolved, which makes their journeys feel genuine. This messiness is what makes you root for them — both as individuals and as a band. Episode 11, in particular, was an emotional high point for me.

“Girls Band Cry” sets a new standard for 3DCGI animation, and Toei Animation’s innovative approach, combined with its emotional storytelling and excellent music, make it a standout not only in music anime but in anime as a whole.

"Gimai Seikatsu" is less about sibling taboo and more a story of Saki, the beautiful daughter of a single, absent, well-meaning parent. Saki is reserved and hesitant to trust others, often the target of cruel rumors because of her lack of friends and choices in fashion. She has this unspoken, nihilistic outlook on her life, accepting this as the way things are and how she is expected to behave.

Through her mother’s remarriage, she meets Yuta, likely the first male figure in her life to show genuine interest in her well-being, future, and her true self. Though the story is told through Yuta, it is further deepened through Saki’s personal diary and inner-thoughts, where she vulnerably reflects on life, shame, hate, and her dependence on Yuta.

It is a slow-paced, introspective show that can be difficult to make sense of at times. Conversations are often punctuated by long silences, later enhanced by its beautiful, deeply emotional musical compositions and framing. Many scenes only make full sense after Saki revisits her diary, allowing her to recontextualize her actions and emotions.

Several people have put into better, more intelligent words about how artful “Gimai Seikatsu” and its visual storytelling are. But at its core, “Gimai Seikatsu” is a charming romance that respects its characters. And a heartfelt story about family.

"Shoushimin Series" is a difficult show to discuss, but not for any profound reason. It’s an adaptation of short stories by the author of Hyouka with only 10 episodes in its first season.

It spends much of its runtime hinting at something deeper happening beneath the surface between its two lead characters, but it doesn’t truly deliver on anything until its final episodes. This is where the show breaks its promise of becoming ordinary spectacularly.

“Shoushimin Series” strives for artistic flair, with captivating compositions, magically shifting scenery, and beautiful music. All while its story focuses on Jougorou’s clever, lateral solutions to mundane puzzles and classroom mysteries. For most of the show, the story really is ordinary. It’s only as you watch more, you further understand these characters and their twisted dependence on each other.

The season ends on a melancholic note. It’s not the show you will expect, but this is perfectly fine. And what started off as a show about enjoying sweets became a story I don’t think I’ll ever forget.

"Oomuro-ke" is the epitome of CGDCT. Anyone around in the early 2010s knows how important "YRYR" was, in both its aesthetics and popularizing yuri themes in a light-hearted way with its focus on friendship and away from explicit relationships.

Those strengths are on full display, with possibly the series’ most chaotic and endearing character dynamics across both movies.

It is a warm, comforting, movie duology for fans of the source material and “Yuru Yuri”. “Oomuro-ke” probably has no business on being featured this prominently on an end of year list. But “Oomuro-ke” is fun and without pretension, and it’s precisely this that makes it even more special.