It’s that time again, as subscribers of Crunchyroll vote for the best anime of the previous year. Below we make some of our picks and make our case for each of them. The winners were be announced on February 16.
Best Protagonist : Joe (MEGALOBOX)
The man known simply known as Junk Dog when the story has one of the hardest life imaginable. It seems like Joe will be taken by anyone he trusts. Through hard work and a desire to better himself, Joe puts himself in the driver’s seat of his destiny.
Best Antagonist : Ryo Asuka (Devilman Crybaby)
Ryo is hiding a lot of secrets. When you understand that he is behind everything, he drops any facade of being a nice guy. What makes him even more terrifying is that he believes everything he is doing is right. No one is safe if they are in his path.
Best Boy: Sakuta Azusagawa (Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai)
There are Best Boys and then there is Sakuta. A young man who gets the chance of a lifetime dropped in his lap, he never tries to take advantage of the situation. He is about helping those who need help and never asks for anything in return.
Best Girl: Mai Sakurajima (Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai)
What’s a Best Boy without his Best Girl? Mai may have started the series as an invisible actress, but she is a real girl. Playful, wearing a bunny costume to see when she can be seen, and thoughtful, telling Sakuta his life will be complicated if she stays around. Mai, life will be interesting and fun as long as you are here.
Best Opening Sequence: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind Fighting Gold – Coda Yasuhiro Kimura
Jojo has always had the most interesting songs and title sequences. While it’s the end sequences that get most of the love, this opening sequence strikes a perfect balence and let’s the audience know what type of show they are in for. Stunning, it is almost a piece of art.
Best Ending Sequence: MEGALOBOX Kakatte Koi yo – NakamuraEmi You Moriyama
Sometimes, a simple approach is the best for the credits of a show. With a hard strung guitar and neon lights, Megalobox gives a us a minute to relax after the action. It feels like a song that is a favorite at one of the bars Joe would frequent.
Best VA Performance (Japanese): Soma Saito as Honda-san Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san
If you don’t speak the language, you are looking for acting that makes you feel what the character is saying. Soma Saito brings the right amount of sudden excitement and unbearable burden to the voice of a bookseller who is wondering what he did wrong to have this job.
Best VA Performance (English): Erica Mendez as
Retsuko in Aggretsuko
In the hands of a less talented actress, Retsuko would have become a joke. Erica Mendez brings the sweet and the hard parts of her personality tolife. In the end, this voice makes you root for the red panda with the death metal loving soul.
Anime of the Year: ZOMBIE LAND SAGA Studio: MAPPA
I’ve made my case why this anime was such a surprise in a earlier article. Why it deserves the top prize is simple: Any time an anime pulls you in for what you think it is going to be about, completely switch gears and you still continue to watch? The show must be doing something right.
Check out the other nominees and categories here: https://bit.ly/2RMiKpH