If it hasn't been mentioned yet it is in the top ten.
15. Zoids
This is how I wanted Transformers to be if crossed with Gundam. I grew up with this and it serves as my favourite war anime, how is not licensed.
14. Cardcaptor Sakura
The best solo magical girl in anime, a character that has stayed consistently charming throughout her history and arguably Clamp's best anime.
13. Girls Und Panzer
More tank action and a sport I want to see in real life, a series I can never get tired of and a fantastic tribute to the old metal soldiers of World War II.
12. Riding Bean/Gunsmith Cats
Put together into one as it's same universe. Both shows are an epic showcase of fast cars, gun fights and explosions all set to a Chicago style soundtrack. Would've been number one had it been longer.
11. Little Witch Academia
Growing up I watched the Worst Witch, a series I rate better than Harry Potter. Little Witch Academia scratches a nostalgia itch of the Worst Witch and adds a unique art style and fun characters, I cannot praise this series enough and it only missed the top ten due to me not quite finishing it.
Were now on the final review of the A-Z review season, and what better way to end than to return to an anime close to my heart, it's Zoids!
The story takes place on a colonized planet named Zi, about a boy named Van who one day discovers a mysterious girl and a robot dinosaur known as an Organoid. After naming the girl Fiona and the Organoid Zeke, Van accidentally activates a bigger robot known as a Zoid, which resembles a Beast Wars Transformer in non human shape, unfortunately this draws him into an ongoing war between two factions the Helic Republic & the Guylos Empire; with help from a mercenary named Irvine and a transporter named Moonbay, the group try and resolve the war while discovering Fiona's past.
Zoids is the anime that bridges the gap created between Gundam and Transformers, it's not quite as angsty as Gundam gets but not nearly as cheesy as Transformers, so the middle ground not only suits it well it makes it look like the better show of the three. The mechs look fantastic and look absolute genius in design, each incorporating it's own unique weapons; the characters are a mixed bag, nothing against the main characters per say and Raven is one of anime's best anti heroes, but the main villains like Prozen and later Hiltz are quite bland and not very interesting, this extends to the supporting cast as well, as most of them can't hold too many scenes on their own, exception given to Karl Schubaltz who is awesome. As for the action, it's pretty epic and not afraid to hold back on the violence, a couple of really dramatic scenes including Fiona screaming after Van gets shot as well as any scene with the Death Stinger & Death Saurer in are guaranteed to get your blood pumping.
It has funny moments as well, Moonbay's transporter song comes to mind as well as some of her mad schemes for getting out of situations including using her Gustav as a wedding car.
There are some things that Zoids doesn't do well in, again it's supporting cast isn't the best at holding scenes together, some plots tend to have a few holes left in them and the CGI is a little shaky but overall it's a good series, decent dub with some memorable performances from Raven especially.
Final Verdict: It's fantastic to watch and fills a void left by Transformers and Gundam when they aren't around, bit shaky with it's support cast and plot holes are often ignored but it's still an amazing anime.
Free Trivia: The franchise actually started in 1982 as Mechabonica, an original model kit from that era goes for thousands.
