Aside from having a down year in anime, I haven’t really gotten around to watching a full slew of anime as I’ve wanted to in 2012. Part of it has to do with growing up and chasing opportunities overseas, and part of it has to do with my narrowing down what I want to watch as opposed to squeezing in time for every released title over the course of the year.

But even with a reduced lineup, I found a few that stood out to me this past year. My choice wasn’t easy to make, but if I had to go down to the smallest of reasons, Ano Natsu de Matteru would get my vote for best anime of the year.

Michael Bay’s got nothing on Remon, staying true to the title to the very end.

How can you top all that mushy stuff? With an action-packed ending, how else?! 

I feel like my standards for a romance anime has skyrocketed. 

There’s no helping it: I’m so in love with this series.

Pretty soon, all but one arrow might point the other way. 

The dynamite drink returns. 

Psst, I hear that a new rival is showing herself. Oh wait, was that supposed to be a secret? 

Remon, why must you troll on about the alien girl meeting the human boy? 

Kirishima-kun. *snap* Kirishima-kun. *snap* Ufufufu~ this is fun.

It didn’t take too long before a committed emotional investment was necessary to grasp the true taste of AnoNatsu.

The dynamite drink. Just what is in that thing?

Let’s see now: KOTOKO writing the OP, Nagi singing the ED, writers of the Onegai series, director of AnoHana, alien-like pet thingy? Sounds like a must watch, and a must review.