I honestly prefer series with real people than animations or cartoons, but in this case I'm gonna write about anime, not 'cause it's my favorite between these two, it's only because I have to admit that I have a weird relationship with the anime.
I really don't like anime, 'cause I don't know I simple don't like it, but exist a couple an exceptions that I have been obsessioned and I saw all of the season or in some case I even bought it. Some examples are Dragon Ball ( original, Z and GT), Ranmma 1/2, Inuyasha, Slam Dunk, Fullmetal Alchemist, School Days, Clannad (original and after story) and some other more. This last one called Clannad from the Key company it make me cry like a river (and I don't cry with this kind of things) specially the second season, the first it's not very good but you have to see it to understand the second, so it's kind my favorite anime.
I'm not gonna tell the story 'cause really get me emocional, but if you wanna see it in youtube are the two season complete
Here I left you the ending of the anime, it's not very related with it but I left you any way 'cause I love it, it's so cute https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I6YfDGDOc4
(Here is some images from the anime)