Ten Anime with the Best Writing

So, after doing my Three Days, Three Quotes Tag, I was struck with an idea. Why not do a list of some of the best well written anime?

I will include two quotes and a short sentence or two for each.

There will be a few spoilers ahead, just warning you.

Most of these quotes and images were found on All Anime Manga Quotes, a fantastic site for anime and manga quotes!

10. Whisper of the Heart:

(In case the picture doesn’t load)

“No one should expect perfection when they are first starting out. When you become an artist, you are like that rock. You are in a raw, natural state with hidden gems inside. You have to dig down deep and find the emerald studs the way inside you. And that’s just the beginning.  Once you found your gem, you have to polish them. It takes a lot of hard work. Oh, and here’s the tricky part. Look at the crack at the geo. You see that big green crystal there? You could spend years polishing that and it wouldn’t be worth much at all. The smaller crystals are much more valuable and there are maybe some deeper inside that we can’t see which are even more precious.”- Shirou Nishi

“You’re wonderful. There’s no need to rush. Please take your time to polish your talent.” – Shirou Nishi

A very underrated Ghibli film that is at once inspirational, a slice of life and a romantic dramedy.

9. Puella Magi Madoka Magica

“If someone ever tells me it’s a mistake to have hope, well, then, I’ll just tell them they’re wrong.And I’ll keep telling them ’til they believe! No matter how many times it takes.”

—Madoka Kaname

“I don’t deserve it. You need a better role model. I just pretend to be cool. When I’m scared or hurt, there’s no one I can talk to. All I can do is cry on my own. It’s not fun being a Magical Girl.”

— Mami Tomoe

An insane, total deconstruction of the Magical Girl Genre, with dark plot twists, interesting characters, and stunning animation.

8. Baccano!

“Mercy and compassion are virtues that only the strong are privileged to possess. And I am strong.” -Claire Stanfield

“The times when you cry are when you have to try your hardest. That’s why I decided I’ll cry in general. Then, when I have to shed tears for a time when I really want to cry, my tears would have run dry.”- Jacuzzi Splot

(Blogger’s Note: Why did I rank Durarara!! above this? Probably because I read a few DRRR light novels.)

Three non linear, related stories set in Prohibition Era America. One involves a girl searching for her brother, another involves alchemy and immortality, and another a gang war on a train stalked by a Rail Tracer. Sound crazy enough?

7. Kiki’s Delivery Service

“We can fly with our spirit.”- Kiki

“Trusting your spirit. That’s exactly what I’m talking about. That same spirit is what makes me paint, and makes your friend bake. I suppose it must be a power given by God. Sometimes we suffer for it.”- Ursula

A cute, charming Ghibli movie that is completely relatable today. Magic can be considered a metaphor for many things, especially arts and other hobbies.

6. Durarara!!

“Because the world isn’t as cruel as you take it to be.”- Celty Sturluson

“The only way to truly escape the mundane is for you to constantly be evolving. Whether you choose to aim high, or aim low. Enjoy each day for what it is.”- Izaya Orihara

A city in Japan that hosts gangsters, thrill seekers, an informant, a Dullahan, and overly ambitious students written by the same guy who created Baccano. Expect characters who always have a major secret too.

5. Death Note

“Risking your life and doing something that could easily rob you of your are life are exact opposites.”- L

Light: “L…”

L: “Kira…”

Both: “I will hunt you down wherever you’re hiding, and I will eliminate you! I am justice!”

Blogger’s Note; I read somewhere that the man who created Death Note didn’t even have all the details of the story thought out before he began to write. It’s amazing the story was as good as it was.

A story that involves a metaphorical chess match between a genius student with a God complex who wants to rule the world and the equally ingenious detective who is tracking him down. It takes its time, but it’s engrossing.

4. Fate/Zero

“Don’t be so impatient. Waiting is also an important part of war!”- Rider

“If you do evil out of a hatred for evil, that rage and hate will merely birth new conflict.”- Saber

Think The Hunger Games, except with fantastic, mythological, legendary (and sometimes historical) figures, psychological mind games, and philosophical discussions. Oh, and plenty of disturbing (but interesting) twists.

3. Psycho Pass

“It’s not the final judgment of ‘good’ and ‘evil’ that’s important. What matters is that you come to that decision yourself. That you agonize over it and eventually accept it.”- Akane Tsunemori

“Books are not something you just read words in. They’re also a tool to adjust your senses.”- Shogo Makishima (That awkward moment when you relate with a terrorist…)

A psychological mystery dystopia with complex thoughts that relate to the world we live in now. If you want to watch a crime series about a future with fascinating, philosophical characters that seems all too plausible, check this one out.

image from Manga Anime Pic Quotes

2. Steins;Gate

“I’ve only lived 18 years, but I don’t want to change any of them. They’re all part of my life, even the failures.”- Makise Kurisu

“No one knows what the future holds. It has infinite potential, proven by this encounter. This is surely the choice of Steins;Gate.”- Okabe Rintarou

This is nothing like your usual time travel story. This deals with the consequences of time travel, but also other unique ideas, beautifully well written characters, and enough feels and plot twists to feel like a punch to the gut. The first half seems slow and comedic, but the last half is a whirlwind of emotions and twists.

1. Monster

“Can you see me now? I know you can barely see anything now, but when I’m this close to you, what do you see? What can you see when you look into my eyes? I was born in a town that was straight out of a fairy tale. Many people died there. And when I walked away, I held hands with my other self. To me, it seemed like we were the only two people in the whole world. Neither of us possessed a real name.”- Johan Liebert

“Right now the world is full of pain, but everything will be all right…I know it. The bad things can’t keep happening forever. We have to do our part to stop them.”- Anna Liebert

The dialogue in this series is what truly made it my number one choice. The idea is fascinating enough (a doctor finds out a child he saved may have grown up to be a serial killer) but it’s the words, both subbed and dubbed, that send chills up my spine. Also, while this is a thriller, it isn’t totally dark; there are sweet episodes, and one of the main messages is of hope.