Year in Review: She’s Going the Distance, a Great Feat of Strength

December 25th, 2008

Going to mention a list of 12 lists of 12 items each. So a nested list. All 144 items. Annotated for the most part. Don’t ask me why I use these pronouns the way I do…

Set #1: Above Mediocrity

A lot of shows in 2008, I thought, were decent enough to be enjoyed but I just couldn’t get to them. This is a list of anime that I half-dropped, half-didn’t, and would love to watch them if I could live in a 25-hour day every day (in no particular order):

  1. Casshern Sins - Maybe I can live with a compilation of all the action scenes? But you are so much more to the show than that. It also makes me want to play the new Megaman. Guh.
  2. Wagaya no Oinari-sama - Saori Hayami. Moe. I think I’m going to melt.
  3. Chi’s Sweet Home - It’s something I might end up watching, going back. But sorry, I just wasn’t in the mood for you in 2008 regardless how awesome you were
  4. Yozakura Quartet - You were picture-perfect mediocrity, but there was something special about you that makes me want to watch you…be mediocre.
  5. Kamen no Maid Guy - Yes, it’s a one-trick pony, but it’s a pretty awesome trick…
  6. Blassreiter - Many judged you by your cover. Few had the patience to get rewarded by your epic-styledramatic writing.
  7. Sekirei - I think watching Kanokon broke me for you, although I’m not sure if you were as ground-breaking as that.
  8. Kuroshitsuji - There was no reason for me to not watch you and enjoyable your girl-pandering narrative…oh wait. But yea, Maa~ya.
  9. Penguin Musume ♥ Heart - Yea… for some people, you are the best thing from Hidamari Sketch condensed, and made into its own show. But sorry, you’re too much of a good thing!
  10. Kyouran Kazoku Nikki - …I think you’re just too much. But maybe I’m not just in the mood.
  11. Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto - Natsu no Sora - I’m not done with you yet; despite totally not feeling like the first series, you’ve got your own style and it isn’t a bad thing.
  12. Akane-iro ni Somaru Saka - Considering I actually finished DCIISS…you should be piece of cake.

Set #2: Characters to Carry On

This is a list of characters that really made an impression on me:

  1. Hiromi Yuasa - See list #11.
  2. Lelouch “Lulu” Lamperouge - Two things about him: Wanted, Dead or Alive.
  3. Krauser II/Negishi - What can I say? I’m a simpleton who is easily impressed by fast raping and murdering. And maybe even good swedish pop?
  4. Koopa - Minorin’s best performance yet! So adorable but fun. Also, need Koopa cameo in next season of Druaga.
  5. Haruka Nogizaka -Tenderness.
  6. Excalibur - I understand Excalibur just fine…
  7. Sheryl Nome - If Alto couldn’t choose, at least I know I could.
  8. Birdy - Arita Shion is the best next-episode preview announcer this year. Chiba has one of the more enjoyable silly voice in the industry.
  9. Asako Shibasaki - Sexiest librarian ever.
  10. Horo - Amisuke’s best performance yet! Also, from a good anime in these tough economic times.
  11. Wang Liu Min - While her Dress Per Episde count has long been overtaken by Michiko, it has been impressive acting like some evil overlord.
  12. Chizuru Minamoto - She’s not so memorable as Kouta, but all I hear in my head while I was watching Kanokon was Kouta’s pleads to Chizuru about stopping. In Mamiko Noto’s voice. Like, “Chizuru-san! Please stop!” Sigh.

Set #3: Characters to Forget

This is a list of characters that made an impression on me, but it probably won’t be long before I forget them. If I have already? But at least, I can’t forget what I never really took note of in the first place, so these imaginary people are of good standing in my book. In no particular order:

  1. Kirino Chiba - Easily the most likable character in the show. Like Minorin (below) but she’s just…cuter. More likable. I don’t know, maybe because I feel like her somewhat.
  2. Minori “Minorin” Kushieda - Not my favorite girl in the show, but all that fan activity is quite memorable. Till the fad fades I guess.
  3. Makina Hoshimura - As of this writing she just merely impresses with her flare and raw power, but I have not finished the show yet… and it’s better to include the second half of the series probably, before making the final call.
  4. Mizuki Hayama - First time ever that I liked a side pony tail character. What a perky, adorable thing.
  5. Ariabart Tytania - He’s just full of lulz. You feel good about him doing well, you feel sorry for him when he’s obviously mismatched (but not necessarily deserving or in the wrong) by his brothers, and generally he’s a bit of a goofy stiff that probably should be doing something else for a living.
  6. Maori Kimizuka - Rally Vincent, reincarnated into a teenage tsundere.
  7. Shinkurou Kurenai - Kurenai was great! And for a lead character, he was a part of the charm it despite how the girls are really the spotlight. And he did something interesting at the end… And, the Miyuki Sawashiro factor.
  8. Takako Kimura - She stole the show with one scene! EPIC. And it’s not even out of character for her!
  9. Fooco - She’s such a visually impressive character, although being a prostitute kind of helps. It’s like someone took a tip from Type-Moon’s Takeuchi for character design and buffed it up to Production IG feature-film quality.
  10. Erica Patricia Takanami a.k.a.(Council) Secretary General - She is…the face of Holon. Holon is this adorable domestic servant who’s got a hint of personality, but I sympathized with Shota, especially when they finally go over the back story between Shota and Erica. But at some point, Holon, to Shota, was just a fantasy about Erica. It’s unclear, even if Holon is/becomes a different person, Shota’s relationship with Erica and Holon will change after the end of the series. In other words, it’s unsustainable. A lot about what Shota feels about Holon and Erica are out of Erica’s own neglect of her person. In a way, too, what happens between Holon and Shota are a reflection of Erica’s own situation, personality, and individuality. Then again, Erica, like the rest of the top brass in that show, are super workaholics, so who knows.
  11. Athena Glory - She sings, has an adorable underling, and is the giver of PROMOOOTIONS. I like the way she works.
  12. Haru Nishimura - She’s adorable. Adorable. And the show’s not even over yet! Just the right mix of personality and wholesome goodness.

Set #4: Best OP/ED sequence

Straightforward. But the criteria I use is not as much. Impressiveness, music, direction, production quality, technical direction, narrative, and it has to be enjoyable. Again, in no particular order:

  1. Kaiba OP - totally nonsense and confusing but turns out to be the best … caption in an anime I’ve seen in a long time. Almost like a da capo to the piece if the show was a piece of music.
  2. Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu OP - Well directed, if budget.
  3. Kannagi OP - That dance…is just the best dance performance compared to all the dancing OP/ED this year. As if Nagi came to life! The song wasn’t bad enough to subtract from it, and the animation quality is tops and the tongue-in-cheek factor seals the deal.
  4. Macross Frontier ED - Ep 6 - It’s almost as a good moment with Starship Operators with that cross fade, and it looks way better.
  5. Macross Frontier OP2 - Mainly for the “through the looking glass” scene. Music was good but not that special.
  6. Zoku Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei OP…s - Was as whacked as the first season, but once more with feeling. Probably not as good though.
  7. ef - a tale of melodies OP - This is totally “once more, with feeling” except it only comes through repetition and variation. When the OP sequence is so intimately a part of the show yet it’s still a separate thing, I’m not sure how to fairly compare it with others. Needless to say you just have to watch the show…
  8. True Tears OP - Well directed, catchy OP song.
  9. Xam’d OP -Very well directed, catchy OP song, and it doesn’t spoil everything in the OP despite having all of the show within it!
  10. Gundam 00 OP2 - Tomoko is so hardcore~
  11. Aria the Origination ED - So colorful, bright, and pretty sounding.
  12. Kemeko Deluxe ED - It’s just bat-crazy nuts.

Notable mentions: Mission-E OP, Shikabane Hime: AKA OP, Real Drive ED, Mnemosyne ED, Gundam 00 ED2, Toradora OP, Rosario to Vampire 2 OP.

Set #5: Business as usual

The top 12 most interesting business moves (at least the ones I remember) this year, in no particular order:

  1. Funi’s license rescue - an epic win for the most part, but who knows the long term effects of this move.
  2. Crunchyroll + TV Tokyo + others, going legit - People whine, but they don’t move the bottom line now do they.
  3. PSN with Xam’d, exclusive and HD - You know where I stand on this.
  4. Funi on Hulu, Joost, and others for free streaming - \o/
  5. Newtype USA died - ;_;
  6. The Fansubbing panel @ Otakon - Please do this again
  7. Kurogami’s international dub release - actually not THAT interesting, because iATV is weak.
  8. Broccoli USA folds - FLCL?? Who’s going to make it now? And manga?
  9. GONZO goes streaming with day-date releases with selected broadcast - Did it work?
  10. Viz releases their crap on Hulu, Joost, and others for free streaming - \o/ #2
  11. Anime moves to Blu-Ray en masse in Japan - Good for importers if the USD:YEN ratio isn’t crap…
  12. More Gundam on America TV - Gundam is always quintessential anime, and people can actually enjoy that stuff on Cartoon Network.

Set #6: Twelve stupid (and not-so stupid) things fans do that irritated me

I’ll try to just explain what it is instead of giving you an example of what it usually looks like. You can guess why it bothers me.

  1. Not understanding why CrunchyRoll’s paid-for DTO didn’t make a difference on the legal issues plaguing it.
  2. Not taking into account of different countries in counting torrent and download stats for US-centric economic analysis.
  3. Not understanding the subtle (and not-so subtle) differences between the US version and the Japanese version of the same named corporate entity(ies).
  4. Not realizing that adaptations to anime (from games, manga, novels, etc) can vary greatly starting from the initial planning stages of the original works.
  5. Not realizing that the industry is generally better off when fans pay more for their anime.
  6. Not able to tell the difference between an original versus an upscale.
  7. Having no grasp of the history of fansubbing in the US.
  8. Having no grasp of the anime industry in the US.
  9. Whining about things they don’t want to buy by irrationally devaluing said things (ie. sour grapes).
  10. Thinking the Xam’d episodes out there are fansubs.
  11. Indiscriminately use words like “otaku” or “hentai” and many others.
  12. Whining about how expensive things are.

Set #7: 12 Scenes to Remember

Just a list of scenes I found myself still remembering at the year’s end. In no order:

  1. Kemeko DX: MARVELOUS! - It’s burned into my mind.
  2. Detroit Metal City: Krauser rapes the Tokyo Tower - I think this is the point in the OAV series that my mind flipped and I started to laugh at it instead of with it. If you get what I’m saying.
  3. Kaiba: Vanilla’s redemption - I think this is self-explanatory.
  4. Macross Frontier: What ’bout My Star? @ Forno, duet version - Well, it’s more the music and not the shoulder-to-shoulder dance routine. But it’s cool to get a nod in the show proper.
  5. True Tears: The Bra-grab with toes - You know the rules…and so do I.
  6. Ga-Rei Zero: The end of episode 1 - I thought it was a great OSHI moment.
  7. The Sky Crawlers: the Bowling scene - There is just something to the way these Kildrens swagger down the lane and do their thing. Suito is so hot in that scene, and the other two are appropriately hilarious.
  8. ef - A Tale of Melodies: Because of that woman, I … x4 - Ensemble interconnectedness wrapped in artsy fartsy visuals.
  9. CLANNAD After Story: “Call me Onii-chan”! - Converting people into sisucon since 2008.
  10. Aria the Origination: PROMOOOTION -Because it’s orange, she is legendary.
  11. Kanokon: The eva parody - Somehow I have to come to this crappy show to see one of the best Evangelion parody ever in a commercial work. That’s just sad.
  12. Kimikiss Pure Rouge: Kazuki’s practice run, Eriko Floored - Of scenes that makes me want to cry, this came the closest.

Runner up: Genius Party (the entire thing), would be included if not for 2007-ness. I guess Genius Party 2 would be included but I haven’t seen that yet.

Set #8: 12 Episodes to Remember

Getting bored yet? Same as last set, but looking at the whole episode. As an aside, I think looking at TV anime series on this scale makes more sense; TV anime tends to be uneven and it’s more meaningful to narrow down to exactly what’s good about a show. In no order:

  1. Hyakko: Hair day (ep. 8) - Somehow, the idea works.
  2. Kannagi: Lolikko Cutie & It’s A Sony! (ep. 7) - This one just wins overall.
  3. Code Geass R2: The Very End (ep. 26) - This one saves a show from being totally disappointing, a tall task for a little episode.
  4. Kanokon: Losing your boob-ligion (part 2) (ep. 8?) - For the pure traumatic factor
  5. Zoku Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei: Episode 4… - Yeah.
  6. Tower of Druaga: How to Make Your Own Adventure (ep. 1) - Perfect amount of tongue in cheek.
  7. Kurenai: The Musical (ep. 6) - Best filler episode of 2008.
  8. Aria the Origination: Atora, Anzu and Ayumi (ep. 4) - Makes Akari actually credible!
  9. Kurenai: The emo-over (ep. 10) - My favorite episode in 2008.
  10. Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu: Natsukomi (ep. 6) - Dig it for the references!
  11. Strike Witches: Bottomless in Britannia (ep. 6) - For the fans…yeah.
  12. Macross Frontier: Battle Frontier’s sucker punch sequence, and the rest of the episode (ep. 26) - For the inner /m/an.

Set #9: Stuff I don’t really care about

A list of anime that lots of people watched but I didn’t this year. In no order: (And really, how can I order it? In the order of apathy?)

  1. Naruto Shippuden
  2. D. Grey Man
  3. One Piece
  4. Slayers Revolution
  5. Junjo Romantica (and S2)
  6. Kyo Kara Maoh S3
  7. xxxHolic: Kei
  8. Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (spot the odd one out…)
  9. Precure
  10. Reborn!
  11. Bleach
  12. Shugo Chara

Set #10: 12 old shows for me in 2008

Moving to more personal selections (aren’t they all really personal anyways? It’s not like I can make a list and include things I haven’t seen), I’ve seen plenty of old shows this year (or in the process of viewing them).I think I actually watched just 12 of them, exactly. And some of them are more 2007 than old.

  1. Mobile Suit Gundam: 08th MS Team - totally blog-worthy, but at the same time it’s not like I would write about a story like this. It seems really…simple.
  2. Simoun - The nightmares of the Chor Tempest haunt across space and time. Especially when it’s $14 a DVD.
  3. To-Heart - I should give away my extra copy. But I am too lazy to run a giveaway. But yes, this is good stuff. Like fine wine, it ages well.
  4. Ookiku Furikabutte - Okay, so it’s licensed and it’s called “Big Windup.” But I’ve not heard a bleep about it since. I want my baseball damn it. It is also the last 2-cor series that I marathoned like a mofo, finishing it in about a week. A work week! Yes, we love Momokan, and yes, it’s totally fujoshi wonderland material, but I don’t really care compared to the gay jokes you can make about playing small ball baseball.
  5. Suzumiya Haruhi no Uutsu - Believe it or not, it’s still a decent show. But there’s just no gloss that it had 2 years ago.
  6. Touka Gettan - On the other hand, this show is all gloss. God, Saori Hayami is so wub. And it’s confusing. Maybe all those Casshern people can take a lesson from this.
  7. Tweeny Witches - It’s rather good, but not really compelling.
  8. Manabi Straight - Just as I remembered it to be.
  9. Beyond the Clouds, a Place Promised in Our Early Days - Actually finally owning a copy of this, legitimately, it’s quite the treat to see on BRD.
  10. Hidamari Sketch - Doing it calendar style. I like it a lot. But I don’t think I’ll watch x365 that way.
  11. Genius Party - I should just buy the DVDs. Maybe eventually.
  12. Five Centimeters per Second - The blu-ray is not as good as seeing it in theaters, but man, it just doesn’t get old!

Set #11: 12 things about Hiromi Yuasa that are remarkable.

Why Hiromi Yuasa? Because there needs be more fans for her. Like all those people who would cheer for Ami-chan. Anyways, in no particular order…

  1. Sister?
  2. Not sister?
  3. SHE USES A COMPUTER!!!!111BBQ
  4. Optionally, meganemoe.
  5. Dented personality + traumatic childhood experience = passive aggressive angst.
  6. Delicate yet fierce.
  7. More complicated than Aiko.
  8. Less weird than Noe.
  9. Not annoying.
  10. Athletic.
  11. Responsible.
  12. Flexible.

Set #12: Random thoughts about 2008 for the anime scene.

Really, just nonsense now.

  1. Cooperation is the way to greater fun, joy, and profit. Not bitter bickering and one-upsmanship.
  2. Industry loves fans if fans aren’t so bitter, and act like craaaaazy belltower sniper ex-husbands-type ignoramuses.
  3. Old anime are still good.
  4. Waiting is fine, but day-date releases are awesome. There’s a perverse joy waiting for the latest episode of Xam’d to show up, because it would make you the very small handful people in the world who are watching it before…small handful of people in the world who are watching it later. It’s kind of like Nagi and virginity, except it actually makes sense.
  5. I actually enjoying importing blu-ray anime from Japan if it comes with a translation. It’s expensive, but the quality is very high. Seems like a fair exchange usually where as this is not as often the case with American releases.
  6. I’m too old for Facebook’s nonsense (more like, I hate the UI and can’t be bothered to learn it), but somehow I can deal with Twitter. I don’t get it.
  7. Google Reader is awesome, you should be following blogs with that (or some equally or more capable RSS reader).
  8. I wish I had more time to spend with some of the blogger types I met this year. Really could talk to them about all kinds of stuff. You guys are very cool in general!
  9. I lol too much. But I think that’s because I’m having a good time usually.
  10. I really need to make it to Japan sometime next year.
  11. Happy holidays! Merry Christmas! Blessed are my readers who gleams insight about the one who inspires me, and it’s my sincere wish that those around you are blessed by the same.
  12. T-minus 7 days until the next time Momotato updates! WE ARE SO EXCITED!!

Year in Review 2008:



Posted by omo in Toshokan Sensou, Soul Eater, Kaiba, Kurenai, Macross, Spice and Wolf, True Tears, Shigofumi, Tower of Druaga, Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto, Kannagi, Kemeko DX, The Sky Crawlers, Hyakko, Itazura na Kiss, Strike Witches, Xam'd, Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu, ef, Kimikiss, Seiyuu, Idol, Pop, Simoun, Aria, Suzumiya Haruhi no Uuutsu, English-Language Modern Visual Fandom, Popular Culture, Christian Living, Blogging, Conventions and Concerts, Manabi Straight, Byousoku 5CM, Clannad, Gundam, Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei, Nodame Cantabile, Hidamari Sketch, Touka Gettan, Modern Visual Culture with 10 comments. Trackback link here.

10 Comments for 'Year in Review: She’s Going the Distance, a Great Feat of Strength'

  1. TheBigN
    2:16 AM, December 25th, 2008

    >>Hyakko: Hair day (ep. 7?)

    Episode 8, I believe. It’s been my favorite episode of Hyakko as well.

    And rocking list of lists. I don’t feel like I have to say anymore than that. :P d(”d)

  2. digitalboy
    2:31 AM, December 25th, 2008

    Epic of lists, obviously way too much to comment on any individual point, but list 12 was thoroughly awesome and in some ways heartwarming. Happy holidays, Omo!!! Your fans look forward to another year of your great blogging!!!

  3. Hinano
    4:56 PM, December 25th, 2008

    Nice list, I like the blogging advice at the end, I bet I know who #2 was for LOLOL

  4. dm
    9:51 PM, December 25th, 2008

    > I really need to make it to Japan sometime next year.

    So… winter holidays in Kyoto next year? That’s my plan (though exchange rates may put a bump in that).

    Lovely list of lists.

  5. jpmeyer
    10:47 PM, December 25th, 2008

    RAPE IS A FUNDAMENTALLY BAD STORY ELEMENT

  6. omo
    11:55 PM, December 25th, 2008

    LOL @ jp & hinano

    dm: winter holiday is the right time frame, but I’ll probably do the customary otaku stuff. Kyoto is kind of second tier, and really would be feasible only if I sign up for a tour. But who knows. Odds are I will plan things out ahead of time and see who I can tag along with, and what everyone wants to do once they’re there.

  7. animemiz
    3:29 AM, December 26th, 2008

    Wow… what a set of lists… I wish that I remember the anime I watched in the spring time.. >_

  8. lelangir
    9:04 AM, December 26th, 2008

    7 More complicated than Aiko.
    8 Less weird than Noe.
    9 Not annoying.

    YES

  9. xau
    7:52 PM, January 3rd, 2009

    HIROMI FTW!

  10. The 13th Day of Christmas 2008 – and the rest… @ Mega Megane Moé
    2:47 PM, July 20th, 2009

    […] much from here on out it’s a bunch of miscellaneous lists, much like omo’s absolutely massive list-in-list marvel, in which I shine the spotlight on a few different […]

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