AniTAY’s Top Anime of 2021: Part Three, The Top Ten

Here we are: the best of the best. AniTAY’s overall picks for the ten best anime of 2021. They are:

Tied for 9th Place (32 points each):

Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time-Two first place votes

SSSS.Dynazenon-One first place vote

8th Place (38 points):

Megalobox 2: Nomad-Two first place votes

Tied for 6th Place (47 points each):

Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid S

Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World Season 2 Part 2

5th Place (50 points):

86-One first place vote

4th Place (53 points):

Laid-Back Camp Season 2-Three first place votes

3rd Place (54 points):

Jujutsu Kaisen-Two first place votes

2nd Place (58 points):

Jobless Reincarnation

1st Place (70 points):

Odd Taxi- Three first place votes

With a solid lead, AniTAY’s pick for anime of the year for 2021, is Odd Taxi.

Various musings and final thoughts:

• While the number of votes for first place may look nowhere near as colossal as the number Deca-Dence won with for the previous year end poll, I imagine the sheer number of anime that aired during 2021 (which was a big increase over 2020) has something to do with the point spread being not quite so… exponential this time around.
• However, the number tally for cracking into the top ten remains the same as it was last year at 32 points. 30-ish appears to be the magic line necessary to cross to get into the winners circle…
• The final ten can usually be a close race, and this was no exception. While one more ballot wouldn’t have changed what got first place, it could’ve not only changed the final order, but even have gotten in something from as low as 16th place into the final ten. If you’re a fan of fruba, zombie idol shows, or even horse-girls… tough break.
• As for what did make the top ten, three whole mecha entries made it in, which I feel backs up my claim from early last year of 2021 being a mini resurgence for the genre. Well earned, Eva 4.0, Dynazenon, and 86 eighty-six 86 eighty-six…
• Not only did the final ten have its most ties ever, but the poll also saw its highest ever three way tie of 12th place, between Fruba 3, Kageki Shoujo, and Zombie Land Saga Revenge. In normal years, the teens are where ties usually dry up.
• A big congratulations to Evangelion 3.0+1.0 for being the first anime film to ever crack the top ten in one of these polls!
• Very strong showings from Dragon Maid, Megalobox, Yuru Camp, and Re:zero, for shows that managed to stay in the top ten. It’s easy for sequels to see a decrease in votes from year to year (as fruba demonstrated all too well, sadly), so for these four to still place so high… well done them.
• And well done to Jujutsu Kaisen for finishing extremely well for a show that originally started in 2020. There’s hope yet for Ranking of Kings to do well in the next poll.
• And the “place for votes” title goes to both Kemono Jihen and Shadows House, for both placing 19th with nineteen votes each. “Nineteen, more like nice-teen.”
• Final thought: I’m rather satisfied with the final results. Six of my own picks finished in the final ten (including my overall top pick), I still had a good number of people contribute ballots in the end, and the overall winner is a show I really liked, and that I’m very happy to see didn’t get forgotten by the end of the insanely packed year that was 2021. Odd Taxi not only tied with the most picks for first place, but it also appeared the most on ballots, finding a spot on ten of the twenty-two total ballots submitted. Here’s to hoping this quirky, wonderful show’s luck holds out through the crunchyroll awards…

And there you have it. AniTAY’s top anime of 2021. Stay healthy and safe in the months to come, and best of luck and wishes to you all.

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