Aldnoah Zero

Warning – Spoilers Below

Zenko and I both agree here. Yes, we know it’s one of the most recent mecha anime, but it really stands out. Yes, even over Evangelion (it was close though). Before I go into Aldnoah Zero, I need to explain a little bit about mecha anime. I love the genre, even though I realize that most of it is highly, highly flawed. That said, there are two general approaches to mecha anime – the Original Gundam approach and the Gundam Wing approach. Each camp has a fairly strong fanbase. The approaches are radically different and result in two different kinds of anime.

Under the Original Gundam approach, the mechs are little more than tools of war – really cool tanks. They suffer from limitations and vulnerabilities. Yes, there are machine upgrades and more advanced models, but they are “better tanks,” rather than flashy weapons. The main focus is usually on larger political themes, while characters serve to give perspective and highlight everything going on around them. The overall tone is darker and more realistic… or as realistic as you can be with giant robots shooting each other.

The Gundam Wing approach is often described as “the rule of cool.” These series focus on the pilots and treat their machines almost as characters in themselves. The result is super-powered machines that can do really neat things, often while wading through hordes of “small fry.” Why does it have a scythe? Cuz it’s cool, and is descriptive of the character of the pilot and the machine.

Now to Aldnoah Zero. It is a worthy successor to the Original Gundam approach. The mechs are cool, but they’re not the star of the show. Even the Martian mechs, while powerful, suffer from weaknesses, including hubris. The mech fighting often involves some very clever tactics and strategies. What keeps you on the edge of your seat is not the heroes thinking “how spectacularly am I going to blow up the enemy mech?” It’s “how am I going to not die in this situation?” In that same line, the whole tone and mood of the world is very definitely that we are following the losing side.

Now, I have heard a good amount of complaints about the main character, and cast, being too flat. I think this avoids the bulk of the problems that plague the mecha genre. Most mecha characters detract from what’s going on by either mistaking mental problems for character depth (lookin’ at you Gundam 00) or the characters are too whiny and angst-ridden. The characters in Aldnoah Zero become really interesting when the spotlight is on them and their place in the world. One thing that we both greatly appreciated was that the “princess sweepstakes” trope didn’t apply here. Really, the character/ politics focus in the second season was what clinched this anime as our favorite mecha anime.

Some final thoughts – this anime includes both the artist group Kalafina and the composer Sawano Hiroyuki (man, we love that guy.) Also, how many anime start off like this?

“Let Justice Be Done, Through the Heaven’s Fall”

Zenko’s Honorable Mention

Robot Family – Tonari no Seki-kun.
This is their theme song. I’m serious.

The term “best” is incredibly vague. We don’t think there’s any one particular villain that is “better” than all the others, in all ways, because the villains are all serving different roles. Some are klutzy, some are pure evil, some are misguided, while others are just pests. For that matter, what is a “villain?” Villains are antagonists, but more. They are full characters with ambitions, personalities, and goals. This distinguishes them from mere antagonists, who are effectively speed bumps on the hero’s path – antagonists are really only characters in relation to the hero. A villain will act whether the hero is there or not because he is a character on his own, rather than a foil for the hero.

Thus out of respect for the diverse and varied nature of villany, we agreed to break this into categories that showcase some excellent examples of different “best villains”.

Warning – Spoilers Below

Envy – Most empty
Fullmetal alchemist brotherhood

Empty villains act because they are searching for something to fulfill them. For all the derisions and verbal abuse of humans that come out of Envy’s mouth, he/she secretly longs to be one of them and understand and stand up for who he truly is, just like they do. But he can’t and never will. He is literally nothing but envy, bluffing away his own emptiness, never to find himself in the hoards of which he is made.

Harime Nui – Most Frightening
Kill-la-kill

Some characters inspire fear whenever they’re around. There’s no better way to describe Nui than her character theme – a saccharine melody that brings with it a crushing force of power, absolutely to be feared. She’s always in control. Every evil deed, every diabolical act Nui commits is because she wants to. And when she flips her lid, boy does she become even more dangerous.

Chonoire Schwartz VI – most intriguing
Witch craft works

Intriguing villains have an air of mystery surrounding them, obscuring them in a way that makes them fascinating. It is difficult to say exactly why or what Chronoire is doing, but to make trouble and looking classy doing it. She’s clearly an exceptionally powerful witch, and yet wholly mysterious. We don’t know her backstory or her motives. Chronnoire is very capable, knowledgeable, and displays herself in public as a respectful young lady, accompanied by her familiar crocodile gentleman, Seras.

Makishima Shogo – Most insidious
Psycho Pass

These characters cause harm in a way that isn’t easily noticed – they are subtle and often harmfully enticing. Wicked and brilliant, Makishima Shogo is testing other people to see their inner will, including you, the viewer. However, he’s an exceptionally thoughtful villain, acting to oppose a society he sees as flawed. Many a viewer may find it uncomfortable that they agree with him.

Slaine Troyard – Most accidental Villain
Aldnoah Zero

He never set out to be a villain. He never thought he’d be one – he just sort of found himself there. He is the Martian army’s whipping boy who got himself so far in over his head that the consequences of his actions gained enough momentum to pass him. He made great leaps of poor decisions just to try to keep control of the situation. Again, one of Zenko’s favorites for being a lost character.

Szilard Quates – Most Greedy
Baccano

Characters marked by an intense desire, normally self-serving. Everything this guy does is purely for himself. Gaining immortality isn’t enough for him. No, he then wants to be the only immortal. He creates other immortals solely for the purpose of consuming them to acquire knowledge. Heck, even his creation of Ennis is self-serving.