Even the name of this anime can summon one of the greatest openings of all time.
Ikki is a typical punk kid who gets into hundreds of scraps but after getting humiliated by a gang wearing a new form of skating gear known as air treks, his adopted sisters take pity on him and introduce him to the world of Air Treks and the very gang like world it has created; becoming entranced by the extreme skating craze, Ikki forms an air trek team with his friends and a couple of former rivals called Kogarasumaru as he aims to dismantle the establishment on his way to the top, completely unaware that Ikki's adopted sisters are part of a more legendary team known as Sleeping Forest.
The art style, the setup, the lore, they didn't need to go hard on it but hard they did and my god is it over complicated but still friggin awesome yet not much of the manga was covered in the anime.
I dabbled in skater culture in my teen years and I discovered Air Gear a little too late to really push that interest further, the aesthetic, that killer opening and some of the best urban art of display, it's a perfect canvas of the edgy 00s.
Dub was fine, prefer the sub.
Final Verdict: Finishing this series can be a chore but the experience is a good look into the early 2000s culture, there are very few other shows in any genre that could do the same.
Were not far off now, there will be 25 left by the end of the day
40. Inazuma Eleven
A true spectacle of sport, weirdly based on an rpg of all things, Inazuma Eleven takes the high power shots of the game and ramps it up to eleven.
39. Hamtaro
The ultimate safe anime of the late 90s, the little Hamtaro and friends try and solve problems and try and make sense of what their owners are saying.
38. Jojo's Bizarre Adventure
With a style no one can equal and one of the few soundtracks reliant on Western music, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure is an absolute over the top joy.
37. Air Gear
One of my biggest inspirations for story writing, from the awesome soundtrack to the utterly absurd story, Air Gear is one flying anime.
36. Gundam Seed
It's probably the only Gundam series to really take both the old and new of the franchise and fuse it into one great war epic. Would've been way higher if not for Destiny.
Wow it has been a while since I last did a top ten, hopefully this will jump start my inspiration as it's been a bit lacking lately. This is the top ten best anime teams.
Honorable Mentions
Team Anglerfish from Girls Und Panzer: A small unit among a much bigger team which aren't all good.
501st Joint Fighter Wing from Strike Witches: Suffers from Miracle Rookie Syndrome.
Vividred Team from Vividred Operation: Also suffers from Miracle Rookie Syndrome.
The Blitz Team from Zoids: Yep also suffers from Miracle Rookie Syndrome.
The Sailor Scouts from Sailor Moon: Bettered by Smile Precure.
Mew Mews from Tokyo Mew Mew: Bettered by Smile Precure.
Class 2-F from Baka + Test: Despite rattling better teams they still have a low success rate.
InoShikaCho from Naruto: Spent much of Naruto separated when Shikamaru was promoted to Chuunin.
The Knight Sabers from Bubblegum Crisis Old & New: Simply overlooked.
Nadesico Crew from Martian Successor Nadesico: Would collapse without Ruri Hoshino.
The Slayers from Slayers: Couldn't operate without Lina Inverse.
Imperial Floral Assault Unit from Sakura Wars: Too many moments of internal conflict and bullying when Sakura Shinguji joined.
Masamune Date's Army from Sengoku Basara: Date has a tendency to get distracted fighting Yukimura.
10. Inazuma Eleven from Inazuma Eleven
A team forged by a charismatic goalkeeper, the Inazuma Eleven took underdog and ran with it becoming the best of the best, there are plenty of player switches throughout the series run but Endou's spirit is what makes the team work and anyone including former rivals can join no problem.
9. The Original Digi-Destined from Digimon
A group of kids united with their Digimon to save the Digital and Human worlds, while many teams have followed from season one, it's the original that's always been the strongest and best although some kudos for Digimon Frontier's team for coming closest to the original formula.
8. Smile Precure Team from Smile Precure
I had a hard time choosing from several magical girl teams and eventually settled on the Smile Precure team, while most teams in the Precure Universe has a tendency to build a team around it's leader the Smile Precure team compliment each other much better as none of it's members really had any trouble joining, they didn't suffer with 6th Ranger syndrome (A character and possible former enemy joining the team and being stronger than the others) and up to the finale they finished with probably the most epic group attack in the series.
7. Warrior Strike Team from Burn Up Franchise
If there was any team with emphasis on balance and specialist skills it's the Warrior Strike Team, led by a tough boss and filled with the most crazy yet highly skilled officers, law doesn't stand much of a chance in Police Town.
6. Bladebreakers from Beyblade
Despite splitting up during Season 3, the Bladebreakers are probably the best team in terms of sports and competitive toys, in fact it was the split that made their bond that much stronger as they led teams that they formerly defeated into glory, followed by a reunion for a final battle no one will forget anytime soon. Wish their successors had the same credentials.
5. Team Natsu from Fairy Tail
A team consisting of Fairy Tail's strongest was always going to be something incredible and Natsu and co certainly don't disappoint. Backed up with an option to add extra members depending on season is a nice bonus to keep this team strong, it would be higher except recent chapters have shown the team separated more often.
4. Kogarasumaru from Air Gear
A team built on respect is difficult especially when Ikki had a tough start to life as a Storm RIder but not willing to give in and very keen to stick to a set squad of riders, Kogarasumaru has managed to conquer the Roads and their kings.
3. Team RWBY from RWBY
Because the show is a web series and not released on a major tv network, I do not judge RWBY as a cartoon but since it has a Japanese home release I will judge it as an Anime which is how all cartoons are judged in Japan anyway, confusing yes but it means I can put it on these lists.
Beacon Academy's most famous team is a little bit shaky with their interactions but their team play is only surpassed by number 2 on this list, as some of the most incredible feats in the series have only been possible through team coordinated attacks making them one of the hardest teams to defeat in any series let alone RWBY.
2. Strawhat Pirates from One Piece
Luffy's handpicked crew is impressive, each with their own backstory and options to have guest members, Luffy has never been short of power; even separated Luffy can still forge powerful alliances to topple the World Order and still continue with his crew even after losing his brother which nearly broke his spirit. Many complain about One Piece's length but it's only backed up by a great team and I still have good memories of the Strawhat's team beatdown on Thriller Bark.
1. 11th Division from Bleach
Now a team has to be three things, strong, command respect among it's members and has to have a steady order, while most teams in the Gotei 13 have their issues the 11th Division doesn't. Led by the fight loving Zaraki Kenpachi, the 11th Division is the only team led by a non Bankai user, yet still has members who can use Bankai that are below Captain and Assistant Captain, despite the obvious gains of it's lower members only a couple of characters have left for bigger things, two notable ones being Renji Abarai and the other being Retsu Unohana (Retsu's association with the 11th Division is spoiler so I won't continue) everyone else respects the way the current Zaraki Kenpachi runs things and are happy not to change that order. The other teams on this list and in the honorable mentions have faults and moments which question the effectiveness of the teams while the 11th Division is consistent and always commands respect and earns you more kudos as a lower member as it gears you up for better things the only known team to do that without being a so called "Miracle Rookie".
