2012 Anime Year In Review
I try to do this every year and every year I change the categories.
2012 was an interesting year as it was the first year in awhile where so many series I followed were multiple cour. Many will be running into 2013 but for the ones that ran most of 2012 (as in now the new ongoing fall shows) I am still going to count them now. Perhaps they will be counted again in 2013 if they should be.
I did long explanations for my favorite series but then I started to get lazy and just listed things. XD
Favorite Series of 2012 Overall
Chihayafuru
Chihayafuru actually began airing in 2011 and while it was on my list last year as best ongoing series if I had to redo my 2011 list I would probably now choose Chihayafuru over Penguindrum. I still have a great fondness for Penguindrum (enough to happily buy it) but I suppose my feelings for it have not remained as strong as my feelings for Chihayafuru.
Penguindrum might be a favorite of the year, Chihayafuru is a favorite of all time that is the difference. For anyone looking for a great new anime series and you haven't watched Chihayafuru yet then you are really missing out. It reminds me a bit of Hikaru no Go without the ghost aspect but with that strong inspiring character development. It's beautiful, touching, and moving and sometimes great series like this are not rewarded but I am happy to say Chihayafuru will be getting a 2nd season and it's manga sales have increased putting it in the top 30 sales wise. So yeah I couldn't be more thrilled.
Favorite Sequel of 2012
Natsume Yuujinchou Shi
Well anyone reading this journal lately should have expected this one. I think Shi was one of the strongest seasons for the series yet. The last 3 episodes were especially incredible and Shi had by far my favorite finale of 2012. I love the individual folklorish stories of the youkai but what I love most about Natsume Yuujinchou is the grow of Natsume Takashi. I like how his character growth is subtle and never in your face but over 5 years I followed this series I watched Natsume being able to open himself up more & grow closer to others around him (both human & youkai). And really that is what I think Natsume is at its core a story about making that connection with others eve if that first step is hard or even if it might be painful when it's time to say goodbye. I hope there will be a season 5 but if not I am now happily reading the manga (not sure why it took me so long).
Favorite Actual 2012 Series
Tsuritama
As in a series that is new and started and ended in 2012 XD
Tsuritama was pure and absolute joy for 12 weeks. Perhaps there were characters who I was not fond of at first but towards the end I grew to love everyone. I can say this is a series about epic fishing & wacky aliens but really at its core its a story about friendship, family, and the sense of community. It also wins my award for best tale of friendship. The series took place in the little island of Enoshima and the island was just as much a character in the series. Directed by Nakamura, who also directed another favorite series of mine Mononoke now I am honestly not sure which of his I can say is my favorite.
But I think I have to also praise the head writer Toshiya Ono who used his own personal experiences & difficulties in making friends in High School to tell this tale. It was a personal story from the heart & really it showed.
Favorite Ongoing 2012 Series
Shirokuma Cafe
When I started Shirokuma Cafe I thought it was only going to be one cour. I had my doubts of staying interested for that long because me and comedy do not mix. In the end Shirokuma Cafe turned out to be 50 episodes and will be continuing for one cour into 2013. Now I am actually sad that is over because I want more. Not since Azumanga Daioh have a loved a comedy series and its characters this much. Of course humor is very subjective so I can't even say this will make you laugh but for me its the clever mix of character humor, general wit, absurdity, and yes even heart warmness that really does it for me week after week. Of course not every episode is a winner but I can't think of an episode that I wouldn't want to watch again.
Series from 2012 that didn't quite make the cut but I still highly enjoyed/am enjoying: Fate Zero, Hyouka, Uchuu Kyoudai, Uta Koi. so these will all be honorable mentions
As for the Fall Season I am actually still working my way through them. Only My Little Monster & Kamisama Kiss will finish this fall but while I did enjoy watching them I don't think they would make honorable mentions.
As for ongoing series that started in the fall I am watching: Ixion Saga, Shin Sekai Yori, Magi, & Psycho Pass and while I enjoy all of these I think Psycho Pass at the moment is my favorite but this has been going back & forth and Urobuchi (who I generally enjoy as a writer) never leaves me completely satisfied. Also as someone not usually interested in the villains, Makishima of Psycho Pass has me completely enthralled (although it's too soon to put him on a favorite character list).
Favorite Male Characters
Taichi (Chihayafuru)
Natsume (Natsume Yuujinchou)
Favorite Female Characters
Sasako (Polar Bear Cafe)
Serika (Uchuu Kyoudai)
The Cast of real historical poets/writers in Uta Koi
Favorite Relationships
Waver & Rider in Fate Zero
The 4 main guys in Tsuritama
Quite honestly I can't say I have a strong romantic ship this year. I guess my favorites would be Mutta/Serika, Sasako/Handa, & Oreki/Chitanda but I don't know if any of these would be OTP's are anything like that.
Favorite Minor Character
Furuya (Uchuu Kyoudai)
Favorite Seiyuu Cast & Overall Cast of Characters
Shirokuma Cafe
Favoite Seiyuu
Kamiya Hiroshi (always liked him but became especially obsessed with him this year).
Favorite Finale
Natsume Yuujinchou Shi
Best US Video Release
Natsume Yuujinchou Season 1 by NIS America
Best Licensing Announcement
Rose of Versailles (actually made me cry)
Best Films
One Piece Film Z & Rurouni Kenshin Live Action (both of which I saw in Japan, well Ruroken on the plane so the experience might add to why they are on this list)
Best Musical Moment
Sakamichi no Apollon Cultural Festival Medley (series kind of disappointed me but this scene was magical)
Too many opening to decide from so not going to bother. But as for endings, Takaramono the ending song from Natsume is probably the one I listen to the most. I also really love the sequence for the 2nd Hyouka ending. It's one of the reasons I finally sat down and watched the series (and I am glad I did).
And not to be negative but
worst show to become popular
Sword Art Online :/ (pretty much everything I dislike about anime is this series)
Best Setting
Tsuritama as I said previously, Enoshima felt like a character in the series itself. Was really happy to visit it on my trip to Japan.
Best Animation/Art Design
Hyouka
Best Anime News
2nd season of Chihayafuru XD
New Series I am looking forward to for 2013
Well besides more Chihayafuru this winter; Maoyuu Maou Yuusha also in the winter & Karneval in the spring.
Oh and assuming the newly announced Silver Spoon will be a 2013 series.
2012 was an interesting year as it was the first year in awhile where so many series I followed were multiple cour. Many will be running into 2013 but for the ones that ran most of 2012 (as in now the new ongoing fall shows) I am still going to count them now. Perhaps they will be counted again in 2013 if they should be.
I did long explanations for my favorite series but then I started to get lazy and just listed things. XD
Favorite Series of 2012 Overall
Chihayafuru
Chihayafuru actually began airing in 2011 and while it was on my list last year as best ongoing series if I had to redo my 2011 list I would probably now choose Chihayafuru over Penguindrum. I still have a great fondness for Penguindrum (enough to happily buy it) but I suppose my feelings for it have not remained as strong as my feelings for Chihayafuru.
Penguindrum might be a favorite of the year, Chihayafuru is a favorite of all time that is the difference. For anyone looking for a great new anime series and you haven't watched Chihayafuru yet then you are really missing out. It reminds me a bit of Hikaru no Go without the ghost aspect but with that strong inspiring character development. It's beautiful, touching, and moving and sometimes great series like this are not rewarded but I am happy to say Chihayafuru will be getting a 2nd season and it's manga sales have increased putting it in the top 30 sales wise. So yeah I couldn't be more thrilled.
Favorite Sequel of 2012
Natsume Yuujinchou Shi
Well anyone reading this journal lately should have expected this one. I think Shi was one of the strongest seasons for the series yet. The last 3 episodes were especially incredible and Shi had by far my favorite finale of 2012. I love the individual folklorish stories of the youkai but what I love most about Natsume Yuujinchou is the grow of Natsume Takashi. I like how his character growth is subtle and never in your face but over 5 years I followed this series I watched Natsume being able to open himself up more & grow closer to others around him (both human & youkai). And really that is what I think Natsume is at its core a story about making that connection with others eve if that first step is hard or even if it might be painful when it's time to say goodbye. I hope there will be a season 5 but if not I am now happily reading the manga (not sure why it took me so long).
Favorite Actual 2012 Series
Tsuritama
As in a series that is new and started and ended in 2012 XD
Tsuritama was pure and absolute joy for 12 weeks. Perhaps there were characters who I was not fond of at first but towards the end I grew to love everyone. I can say this is a series about epic fishing & wacky aliens but really at its core its a story about friendship, family, and the sense of community. It also wins my award for best tale of friendship. The series took place in the little island of Enoshima and the island was just as much a character in the series. Directed by Nakamura, who also directed another favorite series of mine Mononoke now I am honestly not sure which of his I can say is my favorite.
But I think I have to also praise the head writer Toshiya Ono who used his own personal experiences & difficulties in making friends in High School to tell this tale. It was a personal story from the heart & really it showed.
Favorite Ongoing 2012 Series
Shirokuma Cafe
When I started Shirokuma Cafe I thought it was only going to be one cour. I had my doubts of staying interested for that long because me and comedy do not mix. In the end Shirokuma Cafe turned out to be 50 episodes and will be continuing for one cour into 2013. Now I am actually sad that is over because I want more. Not since Azumanga Daioh have a loved a comedy series and its characters this much. Of course humor is very subjective so I can't even say this will make you laugh but for me its the clever mix of character humor, general wit, absurdity, and yes even heart warmness that really does it for me week after week. Of course not every episode is a winner but I can't think of an episode that I wouldn't want to watch again.
Series from 2012 that didn't quite make the cut but I still highly enjoyed/am enjoying: Fate Zero, Hyouka, Uchuu Kyoudai, Uta Koi. so these will all be honorable mentions
As for the Fall Season I am actually still working my way through them. Only My Little Monster & Kamisama Kiss will finish this fall but while I did enjoy watching them I don't think they would make honorable mentions.
As for ongoing series that started in the fall I am watching: Ixion Saga, Shin Sekai Yori, Magi, & Psycho Pass and while I enjoy all of these I think Psycho Pass at the moment is my favorite but this has been going back & forth and Urobuchi (who I generally enjoy as a writer) never leaves me completely satisfied. Also as someone not usually interested in the villains, Makishima of Psycho Pass has me completely enthralled (although it's too soon to put him on a favorite character list).
Favorite Male Characters
Taichi (Chihayafuru)
Natsume (Natsume Yuujinchou)
Favorite Female Characters
Sasako (Polar Bear Cafe)
Serika (Uchuu Kyoudai)
The Cast of real historical poets/writers in Uta Koi
Favorite Relationships
Waver & Rider in Fate Zero
The 4 main guys in Tsuritama
Quite honestly I can't say I have a strong romantic ship this year. I guess my favorites would be Mutta/Serika, Sasako/Handa, & Oreki/Chitanda but I don't know if any of these would be OTP's are anything like that.
Favorite Minor Character
Furuya (Uchuu Kyoudai)
Favorite Seiyuu Cast & Overall Cast of Characters
Shirokuma Cafe
Favoite Seiyuu
Kamiya Hiroshi (always liked him but became especially obsessed with him this year).
Favorite Finale
Natsume Yuujinchou Shi
Best US Video Release
Natsume Yuujinchou Season 1 by NIS America
Best Licensing Announcement
Rose of Versailles (actually made me cry)
Best Films
One Piece Film Z & Rurouni Kenshin Live Action (both of which I saw in Japan, well Ruroken on the plane so the experience might add to why they are on this list)
Best Musical Moment
Sakamichi no Apollon Cultural Festival Medley (series kind of disappointed me but this scene was magical)
Too many opening to decide from so not going to bother. But as for endings, Takaramono the ending song from Natsume is probably the one I listen to the most. I also really love the sequence for the 2nd Hyouka ending. It's one of the reasons I finally sat down and watched the series (and I am glad I did).
And not to be negative but
worst show to become popular
Sword Art Online :/ (pretty much everything I dislike about anime is this series)
Best Setting
Tsuritama as I said previously, Enoshima felt like a character in the series itself. Was really happy to visit it on my trip to Japan.
Best Animation/Art Design
Hyouka
Best Anime News
2nd season of Chihayafuru XD
New Series I am looking forward to for 2013
Well besides more Chihayafuru this winter; Maoyuu Maou Yuusha also in the winter & Karneval in the spring.
Oh and assuming the newly announced Silver Spoon will be a 2013 series.