2021 has seen a lot of anime series, either continuing stories from previous years, or some new ones for people to watch. In the winter season of 2021, “Attack on Titan season 4,” “Re:Zero season 2,” “Jujutsu Kaisen,” “The quintessential quintuplets season 2,”  and, “Horiyama,” were some of the most popular anime of that season with more to come towards the middle and end of the year. “Odd Taxi,” and “Eighty-Six,” were some of spring’s heavy hitters and regarded as some of the best new anime to come out in the year, along with, “Jujutsu Kaisen.” During the fall season, “Komi can’t communicate,” and “Mieruko-chan,” were two very anticipated shows for the comedy and horror genre. 

So, out of all these highly rated, brand new shows, what did the students here at Morton East think was the best?

84 students took a survey and were given the option to choose what they think is the best anime of 2021. 24 picked “Attack on Titan,” which is no surprise. With studio MAPPA in control of this new season, despite only having less than a year to work on it, it was highly praised and people were ready for part two and the “Chainsaw Man,” adaptation they would also be working on.

“Jujutsu Kaisen,” was another show MAPPA worked on and with 18 total votes, it exceeded expectations as a new show, with its manga running for a few years now, and a movie they recently released.

“Chainsaw Man,” and “The Quintessential quintuplets season 2,” tied with 11 votes, and funny enough shows that a masterpiece like “Chainsaw man,” tied with one of, if the best and wholesome harem anime to air in recent memory. With the official MAPPA anime adaptation for “Chainsaw Man,” (pray for the 200+ MAPPA employees) and Studio Bibury movie adaptation for the remaining parts of Quints, only time will tell which of these two totally diffrent series would take off.

5 people here at Morton East know what pain, suffering, loving oneself, growing as a person, and learning from your mistakes is, because “Re:Zero season 2,” went from being a great isekai when it first aired in 2016, became a masterpiece that Studio White Fox had adapted from the original light novel. No other words for this amazing series.

Another 5 students picked Horiyama. Not much to say about other than it was a nice, wholesome, slice of life romance. Nice.

“Eighty Six,” and “Komi can’t communicate,” tied with 3 votes each and it’s honestly surprising that 3 other people watched an amazing show like “Eighty Six”, and 3 others decided to risk their lives that is going on Netflix to watch Komi. Rest in peace for those who are unable to watch Komi. They were both really great shows.

Finally, “Odd Taxi,” and “Mieruko-chan,” tied with 2 votes. Seeing as “Odd Taxi,” was looked at as a “Beastars,” knock off, and “Meiruko-Chan” was animated by the same studio that brought you a certain 2018 high school show, they were both great to watch. “Odd Taxi,” had a story that kept viewers on the edge to uncover a mystery, and “Mieruko-Chan” was just a fun horror comedy to watch.

That concludes the best 2021 anime of the year. Maybe we’ll get something totally original that blows everyone away in 2022. Or we’ll just get more basic isekai and harem stories like we have been for the past god knows how long.