Kita ze Inbou! - キタぜ陰謀!

The second part of AIA ‘08 focuses now on what makes a show unique and that is the numerous amount of characters, each with their own personalities, preferences, hobbies, you name it. They give life to the show and they are the stars that get seiyuu their money in their wallets. For this year, we’ve added a seiyuu of the year, for male and female, because we just love our seiyuu and they deserve our kudos.

Best Male Character

Winner: Lelouch vi Britannia from CODE GEASS Lelouch of the Rebellion R2

ALL HAIL LELOUCH! What’s that I hear? “But Leon, you chose Lelouch last year”? Well, that’s true but honestly when thinking about which male characters stood out in 2008, my mind kept coming back to Lelouch. Sure, CODE GEASS R2 had some insanity going on in it near the end but it doesn’t change the fact that he is easily one of the best characters written in the past few years. Seeing him grow from a normal student with elite chess skills to a masked freedom fighter and finally to Emperor was a wonderful journey. We watched him make decisions that ranged from relatively simple to insanely difficult. His most amazing feat, however, is easily Zero Requiem. Up to the very last episode I had no idea what the hell he was trying to do but when it all hit me right before his death, I couldn’t help but feel the tears start to flow. Not only because he sacrificed himself for his friends but that he realized that he had to somehow make up for what happened to Euphie, Shirley, and all the suffering he caused while he was trying to make a better world. It’s not often that I like male leads but Lelouch is easily one of the few who have earned a place in my memory as one of the most dynamic and well-crafted main characters I’ve ever come across in all forms of media.

Winner: Akiba Meguru of Kannagi

Honorable Mention: Sunohara Youhei of CLANNAD ~AFTER STORY~

Akiba is quite possibly the most deepest otaku ever, in the traditional sense and in the modern sense, and you don’t see that a lot at all. Even his family name is “Akiba.” Should that really be a coincidence? In any case, I just think he’s a really humorous character. You can always count on him to lighten up the mood and make way for laughter. I love this guy ever since he ranted about the rottenness of the filthy otaku dwelling, despite the fact that he is an otaku himself; just a rather clean otaku, if you will. Kakihara Tetsuya sure knows how to play his characters awesomely, and Akiba is certainly no exception. Don’t forget, “It’s a Sony!”

Now, after seeing how awesome Sunohara’s arc was, you just gotta love the guy even more. He’s got a cute imouto, and he’s pure comic relief. See the way he totally steals the show when he’s there? Outside his jester-like personality, though, the other side of him is a sight to see. Like Tomoya, he’s had his time of delinquency and bitterness, as we’ve seen in his past. Honestly though, I started appreciating him since the original Clannad’s Episode 15 when he made an outburst. Perhaps if he wasn’t so gullible (though that’s his charm, really), I would’ve given the gold to him, but I had to hand it to the other blond fellow.

Winner: Kogarashi from Kamen no Maid Guy

Honorable mention: Lelouch vi Britannia from CODE GEASS Lelouch of the Rebellion R2

Is there anything this guy can’t do? He has giant pecs, has shark teeth, wears a maid outfit, and has 31 different senses. He may be invincible but he makes the show more than just a simple run of the mill slapstick comedy. Kukuku…

As much as I was disappointed from Code Geass’ latest outing, I cannot deny the fact Lelouch was probably the most prominent character this year, just not as Kogarashi. While he does evolve and goes beyond protecting his sister, his true self isn’t very clear and at the end of the series, you still do not understand what his goals are, but it was at least entertaining to see his rise and demise… and rise… and demise… you get the picture.

Winner: Lelouch vi Britannia from CODE GEASS Lelouch of the Rebellion R2

Surprise, surprise. Through the show’s ups and downs we’ve seen a lot from Lelouch. From how deep down the abyss his resolve will drag him to how high up the peak he can rise through cunning and deceit. We’ve seen him grown through both seasons and I’m one who has felt attached to him and the many other characters in the show. It was touching seeing him developing from fighting solely for his sister to fighting for his friends and the entire world. But due to all the underhanded things he’s done throughout the show, his death was imminent and we all knew that. But even still, we BAWWW’d as he died for our sins because we all wished for a happy ending for him. For me, Lelouch will remain as one of the best and most FABULOUS male protagonists for years to come.

Best Female Character

Winner: Nagi from Kannagi

Honorable Mention: Sheryl Nome from Macross FRONTIER

Nagi is God. She came, she saw, and she conquered. She pushed everyone else in the competition out of the way and put them to shame. Her dialogue is absolutely brilliant and her ability to switch personalities on the fly can not be described as anything other than “WIN”. Seriously, who else can blame a separate personality for gluing a stick in the center of a table and almost get away with it while giving off some of the most hilarious expressions and jumbled words of all time? Also, like Youko mentioned, I can’t remember the last time I’ve heard a female character just up and call someone a piece of shit. She’s hardcore! Uh oh, Haruhi! You’re in trouuuuuuuuuuuble!

Winner: Nagi from Kannagi

Move over Haruhi, there’s a new God. She has blue hair, a magical exorcism staff, a NEET, loves puns, and best of all, she’s got nice thighs. Who would’ve thought a being born from a sacred tree carving would turn out to be so appealing? I bet Jin didn’t! She may have a bossy attitude at times, but she’s got her own set of rebuttals that just makes me laugh. Bluntly calling Jin a stupid piece of shit and telling him he’s a boobian that should go back to Planet Tits? Impressions of a teenage drama too pure-pure boy? She’s undoubtedly godly, but she’s very human too, with the same feelings as basically any girl. Love her or hate her, she has left an impact to all. And I just can’t get enough of her awesome speech structure.

Winner: Maka Albarn from Soul Eater

Female protagonists in a Shounen anime is as rare as good filler in Naruto. The reason why Maka is my favorite is because deep down inside her tough exterior, she is just a regular teenager that has regular problems with friends and family. People hate her voice actress, but I think that’s what makes Maka sound more like a young teenager rather than a damsel in distress. Her chemistry with Soul is what makes not only her character, but the entire show worth watching every episode.

Winner: Kushieda Minori from Toradora!

Oh Horie Yui. Hearing your voice always sounds familiar and relaxing. And to hear you voice the eccentric and energetic Minorin, it just amplified the cuteness to her character. What can I say about Minorin? Well, she’s probably a factor to why I watch this show. She brings life to it with her oddities and antics. She has her peculiar moments, and she has her sweet and touching moments. And I love her for all that she is. But I think what I love most about her is that she always tries to have a smile on her face no matter the situation. She won’t show her weaknesses and will keep on smiling whether for herself or her friends. And that’s something I really admire.

Best Cast

Winner: Kannagi, CODE GEASS Lelouch of the Rebellion R2

I could not choose between these two. Both Kannagi and CODE GEASS had marvelous casts and strong seiyuu presence. You know you have a strong cast when the seiyuu are capable making the characters feel like living and breathing people who you could just reach out and touch (whether you take that as literal or figurative is up to you). These two shows also illustrate that size doesn’t matter when it comes to a cast. Kannagi’s is relatively small when compared to CODE GEASS R2’s huge list. All that matters in the end are the characters themselves, the manner in which they are written, and without a doubt their seiyuu. Nagi/Haruka, Lelouch/Jun, C.C./Yukana, and Tsugumi/Miyuki are the prime examples of why both casts are the winners in my eyes.

Winner: Kannagi

Honorable mention: Garei -zero-

Kannagi brought out a good balance of male and female characters alike, which I don’t see much nowadays. Aside from the three heroines (two gods and the childhood friend), we have the awesome art club, consisting of Too pure-pure boy, a hulk with artistic talent, vocal talent, but an innocent heart, an Akiba addict, a perverted fujoshi-in-training, and a lady that always has her eyes closed. The interactions and adventures they have with each other are astoundingly hilarious and entertaining to watch, it just never gets old. It’s quite amazing that you’ll see the together at some point, whether it’s at Jin’s house or in the club room or in a karaoke box, they’re like one giant family.

Yet again, Ga-rei displays another awesome thing about itself, and that is the cast. Kagura and Yomi had some of the greatest character development ever, and the agency also had some of the wildest and respectful characters, like Kazuki, Kouji, Noriyuki, Ayame and Kiri, and even the Nabuu brothers. Their time in the limelight was enough for me to know that these guys were the best of the best. But I gotta say as well, for one episode only, the 4th Special Division from the SDPA were all colorful characters. It would’ve been great to have Natuski and Tooru as the main protagonists, but man did they fool us good. Mami-chan and Natsuki were gone too, too soon.

Winner: CODE GEASS Lelouch of the Rebellion R2

Code Geass, as far as most of you already know, is an epic show. Sunrise knows and they weren’t really holding off. Getting big name actors such as Yuuko Gotou and Shinichiro Hoshi definitely strengthened an already strong cast featuring Jun Fukuyama, Ami Koshimizu, and dare I say… Norio effin’ Wakamoto?

Winner: CODE GEASS Lelouch of the Rebellion R2

Sunrise didn’t hold back when creating the cast for this show, because it’s fucking huge. Oh how I lol’d when half of the Rounds turned out to be fodder and how they introduced a bunch of other characters (Chinese Federation) they tried to make important but ended up in the shadows after their use. That being said, there are a lot of characters who I simply adore and love (Lelouch, Kallen, C.C.) and of course those I hate (Gino). The driving force of the show is the characters and it’s what keeps me coming back for more. The core cast is loveable and it’s hard to not become attached to them over the course of two seasons. It’s big and diverse enough for everybody to have at least one favorite character. And amazingly, the characters are strong enough to redeem themselves from undying hate to love (Rollo, Suzaku) and vise-versa in an instant.

Male Seiyuu of the Year

Winner: Tomokazu Seki

Tomokazu Seki is awesome. The guy is Sagara Sousuke AND Miyata. That said, I’ve found the characters he has played this year to be absolutely entertaining and hilarious. Chiaki is definitely among my favorite of his most recent roles. I just love the way he reacts to Nodame and his self-monologues are brilliant. Ryuuji is pretty different from Chiaki but is also among the best of Tomokazu Seki’s roles. I mean, have you heard him when he gets super anal about being flawless clean? I thought so.

Winner: Midorikawa Hikaru

I was unsure of which male seiyuu did the best this year, but I really think Hikaru shined (no pun intended) from his roles as not only Xingke (GEASS), but also as Yusuke (CLANNAD). I thought Xingke was a really impressive character because it was said that he had the intelligence of Lelouch and the fighting maneuverability of Suzaku, a deadly combo IMO, and he certainly showed he was capable in both brains and brawn. Underneath this rough appearance is his soft side, the one that protects Tianzi with all his might.

I actually didn’t recognize him as Yusuke until after R2, but when I did, I started paying attention to Yusuke a bit more thanks to the current arc running, but I really think he did an awesome job as comic relief in the first AFTER STORY episode where he was declaring a speech during baseball. His voice is deep, yet very strong, and every time I hear it, I get that vibe. I do wonder if he’ll have any future roles because I enjoy hearing him a lot. I recently looked up info on him and found out that he actually is the voice of Marth. Yup, the very same Marth from Fire Emblem, the the handsome sword-wielding, royal prince we love using in SSBM.

Winner: Rikiya Koyama

Despite the fact this year we had Jun Fukuyama starring in six different anime just in the spring season, I have to give it to Rikiya Koyama. He was first introduced as Captain Yamato from Naruto Shippuuden, but this year he showed much bigger diversity by voicing two great characters: Shinigami-sama from Soul Eater and Kogarashi from Kamen no Maid Guy. Seriously, that’s the same guy?! Most seiyuu stick to the same voice and just change the pitch a little, but Koyama-san just went all over the board with great comical timing and perhaps the funniest performance I remember akin to Norio Wakamoto.

Honorable Mention: Tomokazu Seki

The guy is definitely one of the best in the biz and he had a good year as well. Besides the fact he did a stellar job with Chiaki in Nodame Cantabille: Paris Chapter, I also liked his more innocent role as Ren Uesugi in They Are My Noble Masters, a conventional yet effective little anime. He can do drama and comedy, and not many can pull it off.

Winner: Tomokazu Seki

Tomokazu Seki’s two biggest roles this year were probably Chiaki from Nodame Cantabile and Ryuuji from Toradora! which are both romance comedies. If you’re familiar with his roles, when you hear this guy yell, you know it’s him. One thing I noticed while watching Toradora! was the “Chiaki” yell from Ryuuji. It’s like they paired up Chiaki with teh Rie. Tomokazu is actually a lot more well-known than I thought he was. When I looked him up, I was surprised at what he’s done in the past; from Sagara Sousuke (Full Metal Panic!) to Miyata Ichiro (Hajime no Ippo). He usually plays serious yet cynical characters, but can really make the comedy shine as shown in Nodame Cantabile.

Female Seiyuu of the Year

Winner: Tomatsu Haruka

Honorable mention: Endo Aya

What can I say? Haruka did a great job with Lala in TLR but her break-out role this year is definitely Nagi by far. If I wasnt’ already in love with her voice and talent before Kannagi, she definitely slayed me in the very first episode. Her talent is amazing and among the best I’ve heard in all my years of anime. Seriously, her range is just insane and her singing even more insane. She’s also super cute. There is no way she doesn’t deserve to be female seiyuu of 2008 unless you’re, well, deaf. Did I mention that she’s SUPER cute?

Winner: Tomatsu Haruka
She’s not to plain and her love is real, that’s Haruka for you. Her role as Nagi is definitely her most prominent one and is one to be remembered forever. Her execution is great and the way she handles all of Nagi’s different moods is outstanding in my eyes. Not to mention she displays her vocal range with the OP and ED theme. I think she’s impressed many, many people, and, like Nagi, has gathered many devotees. I think I’m beginning to melt too…

Winner: Kaori Nazuka

Kaori Nazuka is able to be sweet and delicate like Mamiko Noto, yet still has some impact in her voice like Ami Koshimizu. What’s great about the characters she voices is the emotion that is instantly injected into them. Her performance as Tsubaki, in particular, was some of the more memorable parts of Soul Eater, especially Episode 10.

Winner: Tomatsu Haruka

A seiyuu + singer is a dynamite combination as Tomatsu Haruka has demonstrated in Kannagi. She performs both the OP and ED for the show and both allow her to show off her great vocal range. And of course there’s Nagi, whom she skillfully handles; from Nagi’s usual antics to her sweet, serious moments. From start to finish, she shines and it’s hard to not take notice of her stellar voice work. I look forward to her future roles as either a seiyuu, singer, or both.

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