Poll question is tough...but overall, I'd say Code Geass takes it for me.The mecha aspect was important, but it definitely played second fiddle to the fantasy and political parts of the story. It was extremely well written, and the characters' motivations were relatable, even if I didn't agree with them all. It had character death, but all of it was crucial to advance the story, rather than just for shock value or closure.
TTGL is a close second. I loved how insane the scope was, the character progression (Simon's development was fantastic), and how well-written the dialogue was. It also seemed to parody its own genre, which is something I find amusing. The reason Code Geass edges it out is mostly because of the ending. I find it annoying to use character death purely for closure, especially when your universe relies so much on absurdity and pseudo-science. It made it really hard for me to accept that said character had to die.
Oh, and for the record, my favorite anime cat is my real cat's namesake.
NNID: Zephyr25 / PSN: Zephyr--25 / Switch: SW-4450-3680-7334
