Best in Class

[Bytor]

So I thought it might be interesting to see what everyone's favorite in each genre is. And please, I know it's hard but pick your favorite in each category, but don't list many different shows per category. So, categories are as follows:

Action

Adventure

Comedy

Drama

Ecchi

Fantasy

Harem

Historical

Mecha

Romance

Science Fiction

Seinen/Mature

Shoujo

Shounen

Slice of Life

Sports

[neonie]

Action-Nanoha

Adventure-Sword Art Online

Comedy-Hataraku Maou-sama!

Drama-Mawaru Penguindrum

Ecchi-To Love-Ru

Fantasy-Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic

Harem-To Love-Ru

Historical-Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita

Mecha-Strike Witches

Romance-Shakugan no Shana

Science Fiction-Accel World

Seinen/Mature-GoSick

Shoujo-Yumeiro Pâtissière

Shounen-Soul Eater

Slice of Life-Gj-Bu

Sports-Saki

This was quite an exercise. I enjoyed it. I feel like I even learned these answers as I was thinking about them.

[Down]

Let's try this.

Action -> Darker than Black

Adventure -> Samurai Champloo

Comedy -> Gintama

Drama -> Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magika... probably... Mawaru Penguindrum if it counts.

Ecchi -> Bakemonogatari (is probably the only one I like)

Fantasy -> Kara no Kyoukai (though I guess you meant med-fan by that, but my list couldn't do without this)

Harem -> I don't like Harem. Tsukihime if it does count, but that's kinda cheating.

Historical -> Good question. I don't watch those a lot.

Mecha -> Evangelion. There are concurrents but... yeah no.

Romance -> Eureka Seven features my favorite romance ever. I don't watch much purely romance-oriented shows though.

Science Fiction -> Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. Though it's hard, because it's one my favorite categories.

Seinen/Mature -> Kino no Tabi (again not sure we have the same definition)

Shoujo -> Card Captor Sakura

Shounen -> Hunter x Hunter is my favourite ever.

Slice of Life -> Lucky Star

Sports -> Chihayafuru by miles.

[Lewycool]

Action - Black lagoon (Don't normally watch action)

Adventure - Yu-Gi-Oh! (The only adventure I can think of)

Comedy - Great Teacher Onizuka

Drama - Shuffle!

Ecchi - Sora no Otoshimono

Fantasy - Clannad: After Story

Harem - Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai

Historical - Aoi Bungaku Series

Mecha - Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid ( I don't really watch mecha)

Romance - Clannad

Science Fiction - Steins;Gate

Seinen/Mature - Monster

Shoujo - Yuru Yuri

Shounen - Seitokai Yakuindomo

Slice of Life - Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai

Sports - Don't watch sports

Music - Detroit Metal City

[atchikotchi]

Action - Ima, Soko ni Iru Boku

Adventure - Sword Art Online

Comedy - Aiura ( i can't leave out Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou as well)

Drama - Air

Ecchi - Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko (behold the moe-ness!)

Fantasy - Sora no Otoshimono

Harem - The World God Only Knows

Historical - none

Mecha - Suisei no Garugantia

Romance - Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun

Science Fiction - eehh i guess Saikano

Seinen/Mature - None

Shoujo - Bungaku Shoujo (see what i did there?)

Shounen - Baka To Test

Slice of Life - Honey and Clover

Sports - eehh not really interested in sports anime

[HiveMind]

Let's give this a go.

Action -> Full Metal Panic

Adventure -> Sword Art Online

Comedy -> Zero no Tsukaima

Drama -> Air

Ecchi -> To Love-Ru

Fantasy -> Sora no Otoshimono

Harem -> The World God Only Knows

Historical -> None

Mecha -> None

Romance -> Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!

Science Fiction -> Accel World

Seinen/Mature -> None

Shoujo -> None

Shounen -> Blue Exorcist

Slice of Life -> Clannad

Sports -> Free!(?)

[Eldin]

Action - Samurai 7

Adventure - Spice and Wolf

Comedy - Is This a Zombie?!

Drama - Tytania

Ecchi - Heaven's Lost Property

Fantasy - Hataraku Maou-San

Harem - Ouran Host Club

Historical - Oda Nabuna no Yabou

Mecha - Gun X Sword

Romance - Arakawa Under the Bridge

Science Fiction - Outlaw Star

Slice of Life - Working!

Sports - Rou Kyuu Bu!

[solidbatman]

Action: Gurren Lagann

Adventure: Chrono Crusade Havent seen many adventure anime

Comedy: Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei

Drama: ef: A Tale of Memories

Ecchi: Monogatari Series

Fantasy: Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica

Harem: Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai

Historical: N/A

Mecha: Gurren Lagann

Romance: Clannad: After Story

Science Fiction: Cencoroll

Seinen/Mature: ?

Shoujo: ?

Shounen: ?

Slice of Life: Usagi Drop

Sports: N/A

[Ryoji]

Hmm great topic. Not sure if I can choose 1 anime as best in genre. Let me give it some thought

[Zalor]

Action = Hellsing Ultimate (Oh the blood and gore! This was actually one of my first animes)

Adventure = Spice and Wolf

Comedy= School Rumble

Drama= Kanon 2006

Ecchi= Meh...

Fantasy= Berserk (Pretty realistic for the most part, but since there were demons I think it could qualify as fanatsy)

Harem= Kanon 2006

Historical= Baccano

Mecha= Neon Genesis Evangelion

Romance= Ef~ a tale of memories

Science Fiction= Code Geass (The Mechs should qualify this as science fiction. But if it doesn't, than I would say Steins;Gate).

Seinen/Mature= Monster/Beserk/Kaiji (My favorite genre).

Shoujo= ???

Shounen= Death Note

Slice of Life= Lucky Star

Sports= Akagi

I saw someone say Saki! I'll try to keep this a short rant, but I hate the attention Saki gets, when Akagi is a way darker, mature, and I would even say better Mahjong anime. (Yet Saki is relatively well known, while the superior Akagi remains in obscurity). I'm sorry, my hatred escaped it's leash again, I'll shut up now.

[Sparkker]

Action- Highschool DxD

Adventure- Fairy Tail (Can't think of anything else, SAO too overused

Comedy- Haiyore! Nyaruko-san

Drama- Clannad (XDDD)

Ecchi- Highschool DxD

Fantasy- Aria the Natural/ Animation

Harem- Oda Nobuna no Yabou

Historical- Oda Nobuna no Yabou

Mecha- Date A Live

Romance- Date A Live

Science Fiction- Date A Live

Seinen/Mature- Haganai

Shoujo- Cardcaptor Sakura (Though I haven't finished it)

Shounen- Seitokai Yakuindomo

Slice of Life- Lucky Star

Sports- Ro-Kyu-Bu!

Sorry for DaL spam, Well, I haven't watched that much sci-fi or mecha.> Maybe I have, but didn't know it was or didn't really care if it is..

PS: This was made with no effort so don't wonder if the titles are too mainstream. The first good anime that comes to my mind is put down, no second choices..

[Forythos]

Action Trigun

Adventure Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Comedy Thermae Romae

Drama Clannad : After Story

Ecchi To-Love Ru

Fantasy Wolf's Rain

Harem DNA²

Historical Sword of the Stranger

Mecha Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

Romance Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!

Science Fiction Steins;Gate

Seinen/Mature Monster

Shoujo Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica

Shounen Dragon Ball (the first series, not Z)

Slice of Life Cromartie High School

Sports Cross Game

[Rairu-kun]

I tried...I tried but I couldn't even name my favorite action.

[Kaguya]

Mine, huh. Well, it should be those:

Action- SnS? (couldn't think of anything better...)

Adventure- Fate Zero

Comedy- Nichijou

Drama- Clannad

Romance: School Days (gotta love that ending)

Fantasy- Toaru Kagaku no Railgun (tecnho babble for the win!)

Mecha- Gurren Lagann

Science Fiction- Steins Gate (obviously enough)

Shoujo- Mahou shoujo madoka magika

Shounen- Persona

I couldn't remember an anime I found remarkable about the other genres.

[Supah Kawaii Weeaboo]

Action: Black Lagoon. (Seems like a homage to ridiculous '80s movies.)

Adventure: Laputa - Castle in the Sky. (A great film that was hugely influential.)

Comedy: Dr. Slump Arale-chan. (The 1981 TV series wasn't fansubbed until recently, but it holds up quite well.)

Drama: X TV. (Unlike Clamp's manga, it actually ended. Unlike the movie, the ending was halfway decent.)

Ecchi: Seitokai Yakuindomo. (Wall-to-wall dirty jokes.)

Fantasy: Rune Soldier Louie. (I thought it had a more consistent tone than Slayers or Lodoss War.)

Harem: Kimikiss Pure Rouge (though the TV series is borderline harem, as it has three male leads).

Historical: Hyouge Mono. (A little-known series about a soldier who loves art and tea. Excellent seinen with NO teenagers.)

Mecha: the original Gunbuster OAVs (each episode is different, and the ending is fascinating).

Romance: Maison Ikkoku. (It's slow, but this classic series ends well.)

Science Fiction: Mahoromatic. (The tone shifts can be frustating, but this show grows from a light sci-fi comedy into a drama.)

Seinen/Mature: The Unlimited Hyoubu Kyousuke. (An interesting Zettai Karen Children spinoff that tells fascinating stories about antagonists.)

Shoujo: Revolutionary Girl Utena. (I enjoyed every "what was that??" moment.)

Shounen: Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood. (Based on a quality manga that *ended*, and ended well!)

Slice of Life: Diamond Daydreams, aka Diamond Dust Drops. (Vaguely similar to the Kita E games. Has several interesting stories to tell.)

Sports: Ookiku Furikabutte, aka Big Windup. (No superpowers. Lots of emphasis on technique.)

There was no mention of josei, so for that category I'd have to say Nodame Cantabile.

Also, no mention of horror. Though I don't typically watch horror series...

Finally, anyone for a category such as "indescribable" or "genre mash-up"?

[Commissar Badass]

Action

Winner: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

Honorable Mention: Trigun

Adventure

Winner: Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Honorable Mention: Katanagatari

Comedy

Winner: Baka to Test

Honorable Mention: Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai

Drama

Winner: Ef~ A Tale of Memories

Honorable Mention: Clannad

Ecchi

Winner: Kore wa Zombie Desu Ka?

Honorable Mention: Onii-chan Dakedo Ai Sae Areba Kankeinai yo ne!

Fantasy

Winner: Spice and Wolf

Honorable Mention: Aria

Harem

Winner: Love Hina

Honorable Mention: Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai

Historical

Winner: Dantalian no Shoka

Honorable Mention: n/a

Horror/Thriller

Winner: Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica

Honorable Mention: Higurashi

Mecha

Winner: Gundam 08th MS Team

Honorable Mention: Ghost in the Shell

Romance

Winner: Spice and Wolf

Honorable Mention: Ef~ A Tale of Memories

Science Fiction

Winner: Steins:Gate

Honorable Mention: Cowboy Bebop

Seinen/Mature

Winner: Ghost in the Shell

Honorable Mention: Berserk

Shoujo

Winner: Kimi no Todoke

Honorable Mention: Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun

Shounen

Winner: Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Honorable Mention: Samurai Champloo

Slice of Life

Winner: Welcome to the NHK

Honorable Mention: Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko

Sports

Winner: Hajime no Ippo

Honorable Mention: n/a

[kuroyuri]

((First I'll say I'm not really good at specifying anime genre so let me know if I got something wrong))

Action : Shingeki no Kyojin (is it ok to list an ongoing anime?)

Adventure : Jormungand

Comedy : Carnival Phantasm (only if you're familiar with Type-Moon's works), and Ixion Saga DT

Drama : Little Busters!

Ecchi : Highschool DxD

Fantasy : Fate/Zero

Harem : Highschool DxD

Historical : Sengoku Basara?

Mecha : Ginga Kikoutai Majestic Prince

Mystery : Another

Romance : ok this is pretty hard because I'm not into romance (the romance is not the factor that made me like the anime), but if I have to pick one then I'm sorry but I'm going to choose Kono Danshi, Ningyo Hiroimashita

Science Fiction : To Aru Majutsu no Index

Seinen/Mature : Kuuchuu Buranko, and Lupin The Third: Mine Fujiko to iu Onna

Shoujo : Karneval

Shounen : Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro

Slice of Life : Hourou Musuko, and Tari Tari

Sports : Ookiku Furikabutte

Supernatural : Shinsekai Yori

[Guest]

Action : 
Adventure : Sword art Online
Comedy : K-on
Drama : Elfen lied
Ecchi : Campione ( ? )
Fantasy : Angle beats
Harem : The world god only knows
Historical : None
Mecha : Suisei no gargantia
Romance : Hentai ouji to warawanai neko/ Chuunibyou demo koi ga shitai
Science Fiction : None
Seinen/Mature : Another ( ? )
Shoujo : None
Shounen : None
Slice of Life : Sakurasou no pet na kanojo
Sports : None

 

I don't really know, i only watch Comedy, romance, Slice of life stuff most of the time. So I don't have many categories to fill in

[suikashoujo]

Action- Gunslinger Girl
Adventure- BTOOOM!
Comedy- Jungle wa Itsumo Hare nochi Guu
Drama- Clannad
Ecchi- Bokusatsu Tenshi Dokuro-Chan
Fantasy- Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Harem- Shuffle!
Historical-(Manga example, since I don't know of any historical anime I've seen) Sakura no Ichiban!
Mecha- Full Metal Panic
Romance- Kimi ga Nozomu Eien
Science Fiction- Bokurano
Seinen/Mature- School Days
Shoujo- Full Moon wo Sagashite
Shounen- Yu-Gi-Oh!
Slice of Life- Azumanga Daioh
Sports- None (I hate sports, so I keep them out of my anime)

[MellowMadman11]

Action : Black Lagoon

Adventure :  Kino's Journey
Comedy : Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei

Drama : Paradise Kiss

Ecchi : Maria Holic
Fantasy : Mushi-shi
Harem : Love Hina

Historical : Samurai Champloo
Mecha : Gurren Lagann
Romance : His and Her Circumstances
Science Fiction : Cowboy Bebop
Seinen/Mature : Hellsing
Shoujo : Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun
Shounen : Bubblegum Crisis
Slice of Life : Welcome to the NHK
Sports : Bamboo Blade