9 anime · avg brightness 0.488 · dark opening

2011 contains the dataset's brightest anime (Nichijou, 0.689) and the gravitational center of the decade's visual identity crisis: Madoka Magica. The same year produced anime's most gleefully overlit comedy and its darkest magical girl deconstruction. Shaft's Madoka uses color as weapon — the pastel costume design weaponized against the audience's expectations. The industry's range in 2011 has never been matched.