Well the best part of your anime next to story is good character design.  Here are some tips for your own personal anime.

Here is the design behind one of the newest and latest greatest character.

 

Yeah I know this is not the best animation you will find but break it down and think of the possibilites.

This man made a feature length movie in 5 months.    Imagine taking a year, sprucing up the models and modeling.  It is quite possible to make something awesome in less than a year.