Anime in 2018 had plenty of crazy moments. From great action to sad emotional scenes. There were also some good epic moments that sent chills down your spine. * Some Spoilers ahead*

Here are the top 5 moments of anime in 2018:

5. Violet Evergarden Displays Emotion

Anime: Violet Evergarden

Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Slice of Life

Studio: Kyoto Animation

Season: Winter 2018

Episodes: 13

Moment

Context

Violet Evergarden was abandoned as a child and was adopted by a navy officer, Dietfried Bougainvillea. She was trained as a soldier and has difficulty expressing her emotions. She goes to work as an Auto Memory Doll, which is a ghostwriter who writes for people who cannot write and they help convey the emotions of the people that hires them.

Violet goes to a mansion to write for a young girl named Anne who lives with her sick mother. Anne’s mother has hired Violet for seven days to write letters, but Anne is not told what the letters are about or who they are for.  The letters are to be delivered to Anne on her birthdays for the next fifty years. Violet becomes overcome with emotion at the thought of Anne having to live alone after her mother’s death.

This is a poignant scene and it is very significant as it shows Violet crying and displaying huge emotion for the first time in the series.

4.  Levi vs Kenny Chase Scene

Anime: Attack on Titan Season 3

Genre: Action, Drama, Fantasy, Military, Mystery, Shounen, Super Power

Studio: Wit Studio

Season: Summer 2018

Episodes: 12

Moment

Context

Levi is feeling anxious and uneasy after talking to Nifa, a new member assigned to him. He begins warning him about the serial killer, Kenny the Ripper, who he knew from his past. Kenny suddenly appears and makes a grand appearance. Kenny and his allies chase Levi across the rooftop.

Season 3 of Attack on Titan was not expected to be filled with action. Rather, this season was suppose to focus more on the politics and include humans fighting humans. So for the second episode of Attack On Titan Season 3 to show this major action sequence, and for it to be executed so well, was great for viewers.

This Levi and Kenny’s chase scene displayed a bunch of complex sequences and amazing shots. Takayuki Hirao, who worked on the storyboard for this episode and is a frequent collaborator of Tetsuro Araki (chief director of Attack On Titan Season 3) knocked this scene out of the park. Arifumi Imai (main action animator) was able to implement the 3D background and 2D animation in an exciting way that was appropriate for this thrilling scene.

Anyone who is a fan of action and animation can appreciate this scene. Definitely one of the top moments of 2018.

3. Sakuta’s Confession

Anime: Seishun Buta Yarou wa Bunny Girl Senpai no Yume wo Minai

Genre: Comedy, Romance, School, Supernatural

Studio: CloverWorks

Season: Fall 2018

Episodes: 13

Moment

Context

Mai Sakurajima has a condition called Adolescence Syndrome, where no one seems to notice her except for Sakuta Azusagawa. Sakuta also faces the threat of not knowing she exists. The situation is similar to the paradoxical thought experiment Schrödinger’s cat. Mai exists and doesn’t exist at the same time, so in order for people to acknowledge her existence, Sakuta has to do something that makes it hard for people to deny her existence.

Sakuta confessing his love to Mai is a top 3 anime moment in 2018. It was done as a last resort and it just shows sometimes you have to put it all out there to get what you want. This is an embarrassing and yet heartfelt scene.

2. The Rebirth of Hououin Kyouma !

Anime: Steins;Gate 0

Genre: Sci-fi, Thriller

Studio: White Fox

Season: Spring 2018

Episodes: 23

Moment

Context

After Rintaro Okabe fails to save Makise Kurisu, he is filled with sadness and dread. This also affects other characters because they are used to Okabe’s quirky and mad scientist persona, Hououin Kyouma. 

Okabe eventually finds the will to go back in the past and begin a grueling journey of changing the future. It is in this moment Hououin Kyouma reawakens and he manages to get everyone to buy in and help change the future.

One of the great reasons this scene is so great is because of the nostalgia of Steins;Gate. It was seven years ago since the series debuted and seeing Okabe in his mad scientist person was refreshing. Furthermore, Okabe was so depressed for most of the series, seeing him come back to his usual self was the ultimate payoff.

1. All Might Uses The United States of SMASH

Anime: Boku no Hero Academia (My Hero Academia) 3rd Season

Genre: Action, Comedy, School, Shounen, Super Power

Studio: Bones

Season: Spring 2018

Episodes: 25

Moment

Context

All For One, the mastermind behind the League of Villains, was hyped up for much of the series. Finally, he makes an appearance in season 3. And boy was it an appearance. The tension, the soundtrack, and his voice were all epic. All Might and All For One finally clashed and an epic battle ensures.

All Might has always used his quirk One For All to use all types of powerful, physical moves. This includes Detroit Smash,  Double Detroit Smash, Texas Smash, Oklahoma Smash, California Smash, New Hampshire, and Carolina Smash. The United States of Smash was the move most My Hero Academia fans were anticipating.

All Might using the United States of Smash was powerful, hardcore and epic. The fight between All Might and All For One was a pivotal moment in My Hero Academia and just sends chills down the viewers spine. Simply incredible and it was THE best moment of anime in 2018.