The year of 2017 was another kind year to anime, with a lot of quality shows airing across the four seasons. This list is well balanced, with multiple anime coming from all four seasons. This crop of anime is particularly strong, featuring favorites such as March Comes in Like A Lion, Made in Abyss and My Hero Academia.
Attack on Titan and Gintama also retuned with strong seasons that fans thoroughly enjoyed. With these amazing anime on show, 2017 was definitely good to anime fans; at least, that's what MyAnimeList indicates.
10 FOOD WARS 3RD PLATE 8.41
The third season of Food Wars see's Souma throw down the gauntlet as he attempts to challenge Totsuki Academy's Elite Ten. The Moon Festival affords the students an opportunity to compete against each other. They all open their own stalls and do battle to see who can sell the most food.
This premise provided intrigue for much of the season by presenting another important obstacle along the road to being a good chef. It's good and all being a good chef, but season 3 of Food Wars highlights the importance of also being able to attract customers.
9 ATTACK ON TITAN SEASON 2 8.43
In 2017, Attack on Titan returned and unveiled even more secrets concerning the history of the fight between humans and titans. This season is tasked with building on the hype developed in the first season, and largely does this using solid animation and storytelling.
Despite being shorter than its first season, this season of Attack on Titan does a good job of presenting the characters to the audience, with this season's character arcs being better written. This season also does a good job of setting up the story for it's future evolution.
8 LAND OF THE LUSTROUS 8.44
Land of the Lustrous follows the story of a young, fragile gem known as Phosphophyllite, who, despite her weak exterior, deeply desires to help her friends with their war efforts. This story takes place in a beautiful world where each Gem is tasked with protecting their world from invaders, who seek to use their bodies as jewellery and ornaments.
Phos, as the gem is known to her friends, fails in her attempt to fight, but she spends the series finding other ways to play an important role. A beautiful story that reminds the audience that every person has their individual paths in which they're meant to follow.
7 MY HERO ACADEMIA SEASON 2 8.65
Season two of My Hero Academia focuses on UA's world-famous sports festival. This event is often a platform for young heroes to announce themselves to the world. Often, heroes choose their sidekicks based on a student's performance over the festival.
This means that its a pivotal part of each young heroes journey. This season spends time exploring the main cast even more, with brilliant character work being done with Todoroki and Midoriya.
6 NATSUME'S BOOK OF FRIENDS SEASON 6 8.70
Natsume comes back for a sixth season and, as always, it was brilliant from start to finish. As nefarious forces keep coming at Natsume for his 'Book Of Friends', he is backed more and more into a corner. As he begins to lean on others, his burden begins to lift. This brings him closer to the peaceful life he wants.
But, due to the overwhelming allure of the Book, Natsume will never be able to live a life of complete peace. Season six explores more of Natsume's life, posing new and interesting questions and problems for him to solve.
5 DESCENDING STORIES: SHOUWA GENROKU RAKUGO SHINJU 2ND SEASON 8.79
This second season focuses on Yakumo the 8th and Yotaro, as they both struggle with Rakugou and life. Yotaro is still one of the fastest rising stars but, for some reason, his performances seem to be lacking something. Yotaro must explore himself deeply to get to the root of the problem.
Throughout the season, he struggles to define his own style and he must work on this to save himself. Yakumo the 8th is now old and fears he might be on the decline and, as one of the old guard, he worries what might happen if his decline continues. This was another intense and exciting season of Rakugo, well done!
4 MADE IN ABYSS 8.84
Made in Abyss is an epic fantasy story that takes us straight into the belly of the beast. The Abyss is filled with mysterious creatures and holds many important secrets. This sparks curiosity and that curiosity, overtime, gave birth to Cave Raiders. Cave Raiders are people brave enough to adventure through the abyss, despite its many dangers.
Made in Abyss depicts the journey of Riko an Reg, as they attempt to journey to the bottom of the Abyss. This is a superb story with well written and developed characters. The Abyss can be a lovely place, but it can also be frightening, as Reg and Riko find the deeper they go.
3 OWARIMONOGATARI 2ND SEASON 8.95
Koyomi Araragi starts the season spending time helping out Ougi Oshino, solving one of the school's many mysteries. This goes well and Koyomi manages to uncover some forgotten details regarding his past. As usual, much of the season is spent exploring the different mysteries of the Monogatari world.
Throughout the season, Koyomi is given assistance from a number of allies as he delves deeper into the mysteries of this world. The series continues to explore all the loose ends it needs to tie before ending. This is another solid season that any fan of the franchise should rewatch time and again.
2 GINTAMA 5TH SEASON 8.96
This season spreads more light on the Tendoushuu, a secret organization ran by Utsuro. His organization controls many factions behind the scene and their influence grows as the season continues.
Having joined the resistance, Gintoki is sent on a mission to find the whereabouts of the missing Takasugi. This season presents revelation after revelation, on top of the stellar comedy. As the season reaches a boiling point, interested parties gather on Rakuyou to do battle.
1 MARCH COMES IN LIKE A LION SECOND SEASON 9.02
Upon moving to Tokyo to get away from his stifling foster family, Rei Kiriyama meets three sisters: Hakari, Hinata and Momo. After meeting these three, his life would ever change. For much of his life, Rei struggled to form outside bonds but, after being cared for by the sisters, he begins to come out of his shell.
This not only makes him happier but it also improves his Shogi, a game in which Rei has been a gifted player at since his youth. This is a superb story to watch unfold and well-deserving of the top spot. It blends an interesting sport with brilliant storytelling, leaving the audience wanting more.