A Very GLORIO 2016: Jel’s Best Anime Moments of the Year

2016 was bad. Watching the world fall apart has made something as silly as writing about cartoons difficult to focus on at times. Still, it’s good to have a way to escape and anime has been good for that. In fact, I’d say this is the best overall year of anime we’ve had since 2011. I certainly had fun compiling my annual list of favorite moments and it was hard to narrow down to ten… so I decided not to. Hey, it’s my list and I will do what I want. So enjoy the list and stay tuned for the rest of the week as the rest of the crew shares their highlights from this year.

Sound! Euphonium 2 Episode 9

With Asuka’s future hanging in the balance, the band is counting on Kumiko to convince her to come back. They meet up at Asuka’s house to study and, for perhaps the first time, they have a real conversation.

Sound! Euphonium 2 Episode 8

Asuka continues to miss practice, putting her participation in the Nationals in jeopardy. Kumiko is stuck home with a cold and must confront Mamiko, who has finally explained her reason for leaving college.

Sound! Euphonium 2 Episode 7

Asuka’s mother arrives at school and demands that she quits the band to focus on her entrance exams. With the prospect of losing their leader looming over their hands, the band has trouble staying focused on practice.

Sound! Euphonium 2 Episode 6

The band takes a break after the competition to participate in the school cultural festival. The fun doesn’t last long though as a typhoon rolls into town, both literally and figuratively for Kumiko.

Sound! Euphonium 2 Episode 4

Kumiko can’t bring herself to tell Nozomi about Miyore, but the weight of keeping the secret begins to affect her focus. The situation reaches a breaking point when a still unaware Nozomi decides to talk to Miyore herself.

Sound! Euphonium 2 Episode 3

Band camp is brutal as the grueling practices and internal drama intensify. After Asuka reveals her reason for not accepting Nozomi and learning some huge details about Taki-sensei’s past, Kumiko finds herself with a lot of secrets to keep.

Sound! Euphonium 2 Episode 2

The girls use their last free day before camp to relax at the pool, but DRAMA never takes a day off. After talking to Nozomi, Natsuki, and Mizore, Kumiko is determined (sort of) to figure out why Asuka will not approve Nozomi’s return.