Take into account that Wizard is basing this off Domestic release (which brings up some odd questions that I'll bring up at the end)
I'll be dissecting this in groups of 10

On to the list...
 

50 Area 88
49 Golgo 13 the Professional
48 The Guyver
47 Pokemon
46 Cardcaptor Sakura/Cardcaptors
45 Speed Racer: the Movie
44 The Original Dirty Pair
43 Bastard!!
42 Roujin Z
41 Kimba the White Lion
 

What is “Area 88” doing on this list? I mean I like it and all but god, on a top 50 list where so many other things were ignored?

It is good to see the Dirty Pair make an appearance on this list as they are a classic from the 80’s. “Speed Racer: The Movie” has no place on this list at all. Yes, “Mach Go! Go! Go!” is a classic but they chose some of the worst episodes to make a “Movie” out of. The only other complaint I have I “Roujin Z”. I think it is excellent but a top 50 selection when there are other more popular titles is just ridiculous.

Note the appearance of “Kimba the White Lion”, the first appearance of Osamu “Manga No Kamisama” Tezuka.
 

40 Fatal Fury
39 Gigantor Retrospective 30
38 Trigun
37 Street Fighter II: the Animated Movie
36 Devil Man
35 Samurai X
34 Patlabor the Movie I
33 The Original Voltron Defender of the Universe
32 Gatchaman
31 Wicked City
 

As much as I detest most of Masami Obari’s work I cannot deny that “Fatal Fury” belongs on this list due its popularity. “Gatchaman” on the other hand is way to low on this list; it is a top 10 selection. For the love of god can we please just call “Samurai X” by its real name (“Rurouni Kenshin”).
As for “Wicked City”, yeah its nice to look at but god, is it friggin awful! Of all the Rin Taro material to go with… WHY THAT?!?
I am happy to see Devilman on the list, glad to see Go Nagai gets some respect in America
The rest of this section is fine.
 

30 The Vision of Escaflowne
29 Royal Space Force: Wings of Honneamise
28 Oh My Goddess!
27 Sailormoon: the Series
26 .The Castle of Cagliostro
25 Blue Submarine No. 6
24 Riding Bean
23 Giant Robo
22 Dagger of Kamui
21 Cowboy Bebop
 

“Riding Bean” at 24? Now, I like “Riding bean” but having it at 24 is a bit much (considering that there are 2 more projects by Kenichi Sonoada that didn’t make the cut and should have!)
“Wings of Honneamise” is a top 10 selection as is “Castle Of Cagliostro”. I feel “Cowboy Bebop” should be in the top 20 but 21 is nothing to be ashamed of, especially for a show that is so new.
“Dagger of Kamui” was a nice surprise but damn, I figured “Sailormoon” in the top 15”. I can’t imagine why “Blue Sub #6 is this high.
 
 

20 Vampire Hunter D
19 Grave of the Fireflies
18 Revolutionary Girl Utena
17 Ranma 1/2: the TV Series
16 Fist of the North Star: the Series
15 Galaxy Express 999: the Signature Edition
14 Tenchi Muyo
13 Perfect Blue
12 Kiki's Delivery Service
11 Ninja Scroll
 

“Fist of The Northstar” is in the top 20, I know somewhere Steve Bunche is saying “Fuck Yeah!”. I’m Very happy with the selection of “Galaxy Express 999”and “Kiki’s Delivery Service”. I’m annoyed that “Grave of The Fireflies” is not in the top 5, yup the Wizard staff is on CRACK!
“Ninja Scroll” should not even be on this list. It is an insult to “Dagger of Kamui”, a real epic and just another example of Wizard sticking their nose up Studio madhouse ass.
 

10 Astroboy 30th Anniversary Collector's Series
9 Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer
8 Robotech: the Macross Saga
7 Neon Genesis Evangelion
6 Dragonball Z: TV Series
5 Princess Mononoke
4 Ghost in the Shell
3 Star Blazers: the Quest for Iscandar
2 Original Mobile Suit Gundam
1 Akira
 

The esteemed top 10.
Let’s do this from 10 to 1.

10. “Astroboy” is the second Osamu Tezuka entry and it deserves its spot in the top 10. without “Astroboy” and Tezuka the animation industry in japan would not be the juggernaut it is today.

9.“Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer” – I LOVE this movie! I love “Urusei Yatsura” as a whole but this film is a masterpiece as it features the work of both Mamoru Oshii and Rin Taro. A magnificent film that you should watch whether you like anime or not.

8. “Robotech: The Macross Saga” – Either you include all of Robotech or just forget it. This is not worthy of the top 10 though. Macross Plus on the other hand IS a top 10 entry. “Robotech” should be in the late 20’s and not in the ranks of the elite.

7.“Neon Genesis Evangelion” -SIGH- I am not an Evangelion fan. I respect it but I refuse to sit there and listen to people tell me how “original” EVA is when the same story was used in both “Original Gundam” and “Panzer World Galient”. Still, EVA is the product that saved ADV Films from bankruptcy (they paid through the nose for it and made all their money back). EVA made ADV the license juggernaut it is today. It DESERVES its spot on this list despite my bias.

6.”Dragonball Z” is a powerhouse. “Dragonball Z” made Cartoon Network’s “Toonami” a #1 rated show. “Dragonball Z”, when you look beyond the never ending fight sequences, is a masterpiece of storytelling. Is it deserving of a top 10 selection? Absolutely. I just hope when the rest of Original Dragonball airs that the geniuses at Wizard realize that it is one continuing story.

5.”Princess Mononoke” – This is my personal #2. Stunning and lyrical I nits storytelling, This is director Hayao Miyazaki’s greatest work. Dean when wour children are at least 7-10 years of age you should watch this with them. For the rest of you with children or palnning ot have children, you owe it ot them as a parent to show them this masterpiece.

4. “Ghost In The Shell” – Mamoru Oshii’s muddled interpretation of Masamune Shirow’s manga is not a top 10 selection. It plods in the middle and does not remain faithful ot the original characters in the least. It has glimpses of greatness but never delivers.

3.”Star Blazers: The Quest For Iscandar” – Once again, either include ALL of the Star Blazers story or do not bother to list it. It pains me to say this, especially given my love for the work of Leijii Matsumoto, but “Star Blazers” does not belong in the top 10. It was a flop in the US. It hurts me to say those words… god I love “Uchuu Senkan Yamato” but the US translation is just not a top 10 pick

2. “Original Mobile suit Gundam” – Gundam just might be the most important anime ever in Japan but… this is not out I nthe states yet. It will be in 2 months but is not out NOW. It hasn’t even begun its Cartoon Network run and Wizard declares it #2? Perhaps in a year this will be true but not right now. When this does air it will be sooo much better than “Gundam Wing” ever could hope to be story wise. Animation wise however is another matter. “Original Gundam” is from 1978-79, you do the math and figure out how dated the animation is.

1.”Akira” – The winner and all around champeen! People can call it dated (not really), people can sayy it is confusing and doesn’t make sense (it does, just pay attention and it makes perfect sense) but it cannot change the fact that Japanese animation boom for the last 12 years is traced back to “Akira”. If “Akira” had not been released in the states then the anime invasion of the 90’s would not have resulted in “The Third Anime Wave” hitting the states. Kneel down and worship “Akira” as the masterpiece that so many fail to realize. Akira is to the late 80’s/early 90’s anime scene what Osamu Tezuka was to late 50’s-early was to manga… the standard bearer by which all others should and will be judged.

Glaring Omissions From the Wizard List:

Macross Plus – It gave us the best Macross soundtrack EVER and a great story. It sold like crazy when first released in the US. How does this miss the cut?

Bubblegum Crisis – The original OVA series was what drew many US fans to anime in the early 90’s. It was so popular that even the live concert film was released in the states. This doesn’t make the list but “Ninja Scroll” does? It is a sad day when T&A make a list over great story.

Fushigi Yuugi – HELLO! Fan demand was so high for this that Pioneer scrambled for the rights. The best full length Shojo story released in the states.

Aim For The Top! Gunbuster! – THE MOST GLARING OMISSION! The fact that this is not a top 15 selection is slap a in the face to Gainax and every anime fan out there. This is a must see, this is a classic and this will make you either cry or say “Oh my god…” by the time it is over

Urusei Yatsura: The TV Series – Ummm… how can you include the movie and not include the TV series that spawned? I mean that makes no sense!

Kimagure Orange Road – ummm… the 2000 preorders needed to get this series released in the US is proof enough that it belongs on this list!

Devil Hunter Yoko – Without Yoko ADV never would have gotten off the ground.
 

Serial Experiment Lain – right this isn’t popular… it is only the most heralded series of the past 3 years…

Conclusion:

The people at Wizard are idiots. Yes they make some good choices and even the right choices as far as position sometimes but the glaring omissions of what I have listed as well as at least 10 other series not named just shows you that the lack of expertise that the Wizard staff has in the field of anime is miniscule. Maybe if they had anime fans who have been watching since 1986 instead of 1996 then we’d have a better slant on things. Maybe if this list was compiled by fans who survived on 3rd – 6th generation copies of some of the worst shows out there then we’d get a realistic list. But no, Wizard sits atop the world of geek fandom casting its judgment on what is good… well fuck them!