And here it is! Not an editorial masterpiece but did you really expect that form me? :p
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Mimmi's Ten Favorite Anime of the Decade
1) RahXephon
Visually, emotionally and audibly, this anime blew me out of orbit. (Not having seen Evangelion probably allowed me to enjoy it to the fullest of its splendor.) Shinmaru has already made an excellent bullet point on RahXephon that mirrors my impressions so go read his post :p It's interesting to note that the dubbing cast of RahXephon is just as good as the original seiyuus (even though I prefer the latter).
2) Tokyo Magnitude 8.0
Broke my heart twice as much as "Clannad" did. Despite the fact that it's a slow paced show I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, fully emerged in the characters and their journey. The disgustingly accurate portrayal of human behaviour in a crisis got under my skin but (thankfully) it was beautifully balanced by supporting characters that exhibited tremendous selflessness. A barrage of emotional onslaught, no punches are held back or glossed over. I especially liked how they toyed with all of the cast just to drive home the point that no one was safe, continuously keeping you guessing who'd survive and thus leading to an all the more hard hitting end.
3) Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
Never before have I witnessed (and surrendered to) such an epic show that completely bowls you over with beyond-over-the-top boombastic fantasticness. The progression of its story line is insane, which makes me feel even more insane for accepting it without qualms or objections! I've briefly wondered what it would have been like if Kamina hadn't died but it's a true test of the shows' strength that it doesn't rely on one person alone.
4) Clannad + After story
This show lulls you in with its premise of good hearted fun and sweetness only to swipe the rug from under your feet later on, punching you in the face a couple of times for good measure. It magically evolves from the setting of a harem anime into a somber drama that feels incredibly fresh. If fans had their way there'd be a "continuation" with Fuuko and Ushio as the main stars :D
5) Saiunkoku Monogatari
Despite a heavy emphasis on politics it's really easy to hooked on, thanks to an interesting set of characters and its settings. Being fairly slow paced gives you time to get acquainted with not only the people but all the political/financial jive they're packing in there. So far there's been two seasons and I'm eagerly awaiting moooooore.
6) Kaiba
Whoa. Just whoa. A really interesting take on 'identity' and a 'humans worth', presented as "character has 'amnesia' and doesn't know who he/she is" with the premise of being able to switch bodies while still retaining your 'self' and the possibility to tamper with peoples memories. The animation is refreshingly quirky and I adore the soundtrack. "Hentai" warning on episode two (or maybe it was episode 3) >.>
7) Ouran High School Host Club
I find it funny how they put the emphasis on the characters eccentrically dramatic shenanigans/behaviour instead of taking the easy way by playing up their individual sorrows more. That calculated move give those moments an edge when they do pop up. Ouran has an awesome set of characters (not to mention the seiyuus voicing them!) with hilarious/heart warming interaction amongst them and the contrast between Haruhi's humble background compared to the host club members (plus their outrageousness) lends itself to magnificent comedy.
8) Kaleido Star
What Shinmaru said. Sora has to fight every step of the way, despite being marked as a Star by Fool, and she does it with an undeterred determination that never gets old. I could easily sit through more seasons of "Kaleido Star". The end to its second season "New Wings" is the most uplifting and inspiring scene that you'll see for a long time.
9) ef - a tale of memories + melodies
I knew the entire plot/story line of "memories" going into it but was pleasantly surprised when those special moments still delivered on the same level as it would've had I gone in completely blind. The artistic explosion in both "memories" and "melodies" is a joy to watch, while simultaneously further heightening the themes of loneliness/suffering.
10) Yakitate! Japan
Stupendously funny and boasts an abundance of puns. It's an experience that can't be explained - it must be enjoyed first hand.
Honorable mentions: Digimon - Digital Monsters, Higashi no Eden, Hikaru no Go, Honey and Clover, Nabari no Ou, Pandora Hearts, Princess Tutu, Skip Beat, Todadora!, Library Wars, Trigun, xxxHolic + Kei, Mouryou no Hako.
