Year in Review 2012: N-listing

Let’s get to it.

Top 12 TV anime!

From A1 Pictures - Happy New Years

  1. Tsuritama
  2. Jintai
  3. Tari Tari
  4. Chihayafuru
  5. Fate/Zero
  6. Joshiraku
  7. Girls und Panzer
  8. Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou
  9. Mouretsu Pirates
  10. Hyouka
  11. Sengoku Collection
  12. Nisemonogatari

Honorable mentions go to movies like Eva Q, Letter to Momo, Wolf Children, K-ON and what have you. Yuru Yuri almost made it–trust me on this. There are possibly a couple shows this ongoing season that could also make this list alongside Girls und Panzer, but they haven’t ended yet.

Remarkable TV anime 2012 but didn’t make my top list! (Not ranked)

  • Ano Natsu de matteru – Love the nostalgia, but lacked that something.
  • Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere – Fun show but ultimately a problematic experience
  • Aquarion Evol – Fun way to wrap up the Aquarion experience, but it’s…Aquarion.
  • Another – More horror needs to be done this way, too bad it cannot be taken seriously
  • Guilty Crown – Well.
  • Mirai Nikki – Batshit Insane on TV
  • Lupin the III: Fujiko – Showing more people what’s great but critically flawed with Sayo Yamamoto’s stuff.
  • Upotte – I will never look at some guns the same ever again
  • Oda Nobuna – This is good entertainment.
  • Kids on the Slope – Great show except it’s super boring
  • Natsuiro Kiseki – Finally, the Sphere anime that was suppose to exist, even if by artifice.
  • Kuroko’s Basketball – Not bad at all, but who set up us the bomb?

Twelve 2012 protagonists that are chuunibyou – I felt like listing how the protagonists are sick with chuunibyou. Ranked by quality of their delusions.

  1. Muuta (Space Bros) – I am an astronaut! – He wanted to be one, he became one after hard work and pluck. And it’s a great achievement.
  2. Marika (Mouretsu Pirates) – I am a space pirate! – She is a space pirate, and got to be one only because of hard work, humility and a studious attitude befitting a model young lady of her status.
  3. Godou (Campigone!) – I kick butts and kiss! I ran out of things to kiss! – I think this is pretty quality, do you not agree? Sure beats Mikado (DRRR) etc.
  4. Shugo (Nakaimo) – I am a milti-millionare with a bunch of sluts who I have to choose for a wife, and they are also future CEOs, accountants, board members, etc. – At least, this delusion is worth having, since it’s not likely ever to be true for anyone, and only worth having as a delusion and not a real life sort of thing.
  5. Panda (Polar Bear Cafe) – I am panda! – It’s pretty good overall, even if it’s a little tame.
  6. Satoshi (Hyouka) – I am a database! – I’d love to have this guy as my coworker.
  7. Rito (To-love-ru) – Not only I have an interstellar harem, I run into my harem posed in compromising situations week in and week out – Beats Akito’s (see below). And it’s not too horrible I guess.
  8. Akito (Oniai) – I am a pro incest fiction writer with a harem (IMOUTO included)! – I mean, okay. Sisucon is one thing, sisucon fiction? That’s just a shade or 50 OTT.
  9. Haruyuki (Accel World) – I am a talented gamer in a relationship with someone I admire – well, at least porky works hard and has help to overcome some realistic and sensible difficulties. But I docked him for having too much help at times! Like Yuniko…
  10. Shuu (Guilty Crown) – I am magic Hitler with a girlfriend straight out of youtube! – Who ever wants to be that? But it’s darn cool. At least we can’t accuse him for being unoriginal.
  11. Kirito (SAO) – I am an awesome gamer at this MMORPG with a perfect waifu! – It’s a pretty good fantasy to be “stuck” playing a game you love for a few years, with a doctor’s note. But that’s the only redeeming part of this story. I dock Kirito mainly for the tack-on and pedestrian revenge-satisfaction angle.
  12. Oreki (Hyouka) – I am Sherlock but lazier! – He’s savvy but ultimately applies his talents incorrectly–eg., spent it on petty, worthless things. While he might not be the lamest chuu2 in 2012 it’s pretty darn lame, and it reflects on his rank. Good thing there’s a Chitanda to right that ship.

Twelve MFWs and Feels in 2012 worth sharing (because, like, why not?). By MFW I mean “My face when” as in the net speak of describing a situation in order to express a feeling. MFWs are prefaced by MFW.

  • When Tonari ni… comes on the MP3 player while driving through the snow.
  • MFW Tonari ni Jazz version comes on the MP3 player while driving through the snow.
  • Beating Kazahana on master mode the first time.
  • After watching an episode of Girls und Panzer
  • MFW watching Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou
  • Last episode of Fate/Zero.
  • Winning the auction for Fate/Zero script.
  • MFW rocking out @ Kotoko’s concert
  • KBBQ after Jam Project concert (after midnight, breaking ~12hr “fast”)
  • MFW watching Oniai OP for the first time
  • When LiSA began doing her thing on the AX 2012 Red Carpet
  • When I bought my first iM@S DLC

Twelve things about Sawa Osaki that I liked.

  • She’s no Hiromi
  • Well-use of her wiles
  • Eager and enthusiastic
  • Appropriately temperamental
  • A real buddy
  • Can sing, and does
  • Can dance
  • Can ride the horse
  • Can work a bow & arrow
  • Takes off clothes & put them on!
  • Is not Noe
  • Has a good style

And the rest–the top 12 female characters:

  • Nobuna (Oda Nobuna) – My Girlfriend is the President, right?
  • Yukari (Girls und Panzer) – Good girl runner up
  • Nyarko – The Old Moe One.
  • Ringo (Seitokai no Ichizon) – She is invincible.
  • Kukuru (Joshiraku) – Stylish!
  • Eureka (E7Ao) – Kaori Nazuka’s got a child since Eureka 7, and so did her most beloved character.
  • Yuno (Mirai Nikki) – Well, this one is just hard to top.
  • Remon (Anonatsu) – She looks good in black
  • Inaban (Kokoro Connect) – So intense!
  • Sig (Upotte) – Just a lot of admirable qualities!
  • Saki (Natsuiro Kiseki) – Wins the 2012 Good Girl award.
  • Frau (Robotic;notes) – This girl is something special

2012 Seiyuu spotlights – just some names that jumped out at me as I look back to the shows I watched this year. All of them had at least one outstanding role.

  • Shiori Mikami
  • Rumi Oukubo
  • Sumire Uesuka
  • Haruka Tomatsu
  • Ayahi Takagaki
  • Mai Nakahara
  • Mikako Komatsu
  • Azami Asakura
  • Yumi Hara
  • Kana Asumi
  • Kana Hanazawa
  • Kaori Ishihara

My 2012 iDOLM@STER character ranking–this includes all aspects of the game and fandom so far–including how I feel about the live shows, the fans, and what else is out there. Naturally I’m excluding Kotori, but all the new and Dearly Stars characters will not get much of a nod simply because they just don’t have that much content to them.

  1. Makoto
  2. Miki
  3. Takane
  4. Mami/Ami
  5. Ritsuko
  6. Iori
  7. Yukiho
  8. Haruka
  9. Hibiki
  10. Chihaya
  11. Yayoi
  12. Azusa

Iori sure made a big jump!

Twelve figures I received year. I wish it was also the 12 figures I paid for this year, but alas. At least I think I did better this year than last year…

  • Fate/Tiger Colosseum – Saber Lion – Nendoroid #050 (Good Smile Company)
  • The iDOLM@STER- Amami Haruka – 1/7 – Angelic Island ver. (Kotobukiya)
  • The iDOLM@STER – Hoshii Miki – 1/7 – Angelic Island ver. (Kotobukiya)
  • The iDOLM@STER – Kikuchi Makoto – 1/7 – Angelic Island ver. (Kotobukiya)
  • IS: Infinite Stratos – Charlotte Dunois – 4-Leaves – 1/7 – Bunny Style (Kotobukiya)
  • Fate/Hollow Ataraxia – Saber Alter – Beach Queens – 1/10 – Swimsuit ver. (Wave)
  • Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt – Knee Socks – SIF EX (Yamato)
  • Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai – Honma Meiko – 1/7 – Swimsuit ver. (Max Factory)
  • Fate/Zero – Saber – 1/8 – Motored Cuirassier (Good Smile Company)
  • IS: Infinite Stratos – Shinonono Houki – Beach Queens – 1/10 – Swimsuit ver. (Wave)
  • Rurouni Kenshin – Saitou Hajime – G.E.M. – 1/8 (MegaHouse)
  • Vocaloid – Hatsune Miku – 1/8 – Love is War DX ver. (Good Smile Company)
  • Fate/Unlimited Codes – Saber Lily – 1/7 – Distant Avalon (Good Smile Company)

I’ve managed to sell some. What’s left is still available here. I’ll take down the sticky post.

Twelve seiyuu in my XCOM playthrough (I didn’t have 12 dead ones, so I listed them randomly starting with the dead ones):

  • Aya Hisakawa
  • Aki Toyosaki
  • Yumi Hara
  • Kotono Mitsuishi
  • Sumire Uesuka
  • Hisako Kanemoto
  • Yuko Gotoh
  • Aya Hirano
  • Haruka Tomatsu
  • Yuu Hisakawa
  • Ayahi Takagaki
  • Yui Ogura

Twelve industry notes for 2012:

  • Kickstarters for manga, and then the Kickstarter for a Production IG project
  • Aniplex USA strategy seems to make some headway, various interviews indicate
  • Bandai stops taking retail orders, various streaming licenses revert, and other things come to a head.
  • Nicovideo reverts entirely back to JP, opens up multilingual UI
  • Way too many seiyuu idol debuts. Way.
  • Bamco wets foot for oversea moe game market by … trademarking?
  • Eva 3.0 tops some questionably relevant box office statistics in 2012, along with other anime films.
  • That Japan Expo stuff begins US invasion via NorCal expansion.
  • Ijime Connect was sad but what’s more sad is how it ruins a perfectly okay anime.
  • Urobuchi is making a ton of crap in the next 5 years is good news for everyone
  • Oscar jockey means low-key, high-artistry animu films will all squeeze for nominations in 2013.
  • Viki, Tezuka Pro and Nozomi make the old new.

Taking stock of seiyuu. Females only. See this biglobe poll for details and inspiration, but the below list (ranked) is just my own personal observation. I’m sure if I watched different shows in 2012 or went to or watched different people’s lives, it would change.

  1. Kana Hanazawa
  2. Miyuki Sawashiro
  3. Kana Asumi
  4. Ai Kayano
  5. Kaori Ishihara
  6. Ayahi Tagakagi
  7. Yui Ogura
  8. Aki Toyosaki
  9. Kanae Itou
  10. Rumi Ookubo
  11. Saori Hayami
  12. Mai Nakahara

Special notes for Yuki Aoi, Haruka Tomatsu, Satomi Satou and most of YRYR cast for making it big but not making it on the list. And yes, Mariya Ise is always on my radar too. Newbie notes for Mikako Komatsu, Asami Seto, Sachika Misawa, and Ibuki Kido for splashing noobs on the radar, and maybe I can put Aimi Terakawa in there too. Props to Fumiko Orikasa, Ai Nonaka (HNNNNG), Aya Hirano, Yuuka Nanri and Haruko Momoi for coming to America, signing my stuff and answering various questions. Major props to all iM@S (main games) seiyuu for getting me to pay for your work-product. You deserved it!

And that’s it!

Year in review 2012:


13 Responses to “Year in Review 2012: N-listing”

  • praestlin

    I think I can forgive Haru for being a Chuu2 Marty Stu, mainly because being lucky despite being fat is an unexplored fantasy. The scorn some folks heap on fatties in real life (i.e. acting like it’s completely their fault) is bad enough, so they/we deserve a bit of escapism, no?

    If nothing else, his fantasy feels more warranted than Kirito’s.

    Also, your Im@as ranking is the correct one, though I’d put my Chihaya at #4 because I don’t like the twins.

    Lastly, the 2nd loveliest part about Frau is that Aki calls her “Frau Bow”. HNNNG

  • jpmeyer

    1) Did you turn some Russian man into Uesaka lolololol
    2) Hmm, an existential question: is the lamest chuu2 the one that focuses on petty stuff or on embarrassing stuff?
    3) lolololol Tari Tari…::checks ethnicity:: oh wait, I see, nm

    • omo

      I think I have turned it into some Russian man, but (s)he died so I can’t check anymore.

      Lamest chuu2 is open to your interpretation

  • schneider

    MFW I watched the Oniai OP thanks to this post

  • Telliamed

    Mystery Girlfriend X didn’t float your boat? And Maayu Uchida really stood out for me, but only because I was big on Sankarea.

    BTW, I created a blog to do that weekly Aria thing, for those who wanted to follow along.

    • omo

      Mysterious GF X was interesting for about 5 episodes. I think the problem(?) with it was I read the first couple volumes of the manga a long time ago and it took out all the shock/surprise factor the anime could have offered. I guess I just don’t have that kind of fetish? Or am desensitized?

      GL on the aria thing.

  • omo

    Just to leave a note for Author–
    http://ani-nouto.animeblogger.net/2013/01/03/omo-and-kuro-on-2012/
    I had AKB0048 on the list in a couple places at first but they got edged out. I think the kawamori-isms are worthwhile; making wota into militias, or the mic-saber–all great things. But Natsuiro Kiseki is the better idol pop driver at the end of the day.

  • TheBigN

    For some reason I thought that Danshi Koukousei was a 2011 show. Not sure if that’s a good thing or not.

    Of your top 12, any that were “pleasant surprises” compared to initial impressions?

    • omo

      “Plesant surprises”? Sure.
      Danshi Koukousei – I didn’t expect to be able to take this show seriously.
      Girls und Panzer – I…uh.
      Sengoku Collection – I didn’t expect to be able to take this show seriously.
      Tsuritama – It actually makes sense.

      Now of course “initial” reaction can be varied. Tsuritama was pretty clear from the onset that it’ll be a keeper, but obviously I went into the show with some expectation in mind given who is its creator. Sengoku Collection was a giant case of being mislead by the pilot episode. I didn’t really expect Nichibros to be anything, like Kill Me Baby. And Girls und Panzer was actually pretty spot on, it just executed better than what I expected.

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