Well, another year has come and gone, and with 2008 at an end is it once again time for us to share with you some of the highlights of the year. Thus, I am very proud to present to you the 13th Annual Epic Win Best of the Year Anime Award Show, where the awards are made up and the points don’t matter!

Although I felt that this year in anime didn’t have as much to offer as last year, with no new series that really stood out head and shoulders above the others the way Gurren Lagann or Lucky Star did, it nevertheless brought a number of interesting and entertaining moments.

As always, keep in mind that these awards are completely based on our own opinions and preferences. Guaranteed 100% biased, no middleman, factory direct to you from Epic Win! In addition, we’re extremely flexible about what we consider allowable from 2008. Basically, if episodes aired within the last 12 months, it’s fair game.

Now, that said, obviously the two of us can’t watch everything by ourselves, and especially this last year we haven’t even been able to keep up with all the shows we would have liked to, so if you feel that we left out something important, or if you have a different recommendation for a particular category, by all means lay it on us.

Spoiler Alert: We’ll do our best to keep major spoilers to a minimum, but we of course will be discussing the details of many shows that aired this year, so take this as fair warning that there will be some spoilers in the awards.

We’ve done our best to try to catalog the best moments from the past twelve months, but what with the tedious encumbrances of school and work there’s definitely some things we’ve missed. Despite that, there’s been enough stimulating anime this season to warrant another dosage of Epic Ranking.

Best Sidekick Critter

Winner: Aria-shachou, Aria the Origination

Ahh, I remember the very first time I saw the Aria manga, back when I was living in Tokyo. I was browsing through the local Book-Off and stumbled across this series with gorgeous cover art and cute female gondoliers. When I opened it up and saw President Aria staring back at me I must say, it was quite a shock.

And with those huge walnut shells he calls eyebrows, the big blue rings around his eyes, and the weird noises he makes, who isn’t a bit perturbed the first time they see him? I think pretty much everyone’s first reaction is, “What the heck?!”

But it’s funny the way President Aria grows on you. For a character who can’t really talk and doesn’t do much, he really is one of the more memorable elements of the show. Whether it’s doing calisthenics while wearing a Chansey costume, trying to keep Maa-shachou from chomping onto his fluffy stomach, or just having dinner with Akari and Alicia, everything he does is entertaining and heartwarming.

There’s a point at which I think we all have said, “Surely a mischievous cat with a hilarious chapeau would be better suited to the role of president.”

In fact, just think of all the economic woe that could’ve been avoided on Wall Street with the whole sub-prime market and the credit swap fiasco if bank CEOs were replaced with amusing felines. Perhaps we can all take a lesson from the fine folks at Aria company and start appointing more sensible and trustworthy presidents like Aria-shachou.

Most Portable Sidekick

Winner: Pipe Fox, xxxHolic Kei

While President Aria has also shown that he can be handy in a pinch, sometimes you just need a sidekick with some firepower. Fortunately for Kimihiro Watanuki, who has an amazing propensity for getting himself into trouble, when in a bad situation he can rely on a partner who is packing some serious heat – literally.

The kuda kitsune, or pipe fox, is everything you could wish for from an animal sidekick. It comes in chibi travel size, which is both highly convenient and discreet. It is also adorably cute and makes for a excellent fashion accessory and talking point – great for picking up the ladies.

Repeat after me: this is not a pokemon, this is not a pokemon.

And then, when thinks get dicey, it just transforms, rolls out, and lays waste to your enemies. Quite handy, no?

Moses, I cannot think of all the times I’ve thought to myself, “Wouldn’t it be nice if I could have my fearsome fire breathing fox spirit in a convenient travel size?” I mean, lugging around a full size fox spirit can quite cumbersome.

However, good ol’ Watanuki is fortunate enough to have the companionship of the pipe fox, a much more manageably sized means of immortal fox spirit destruction. Seriously, this critter alone is reason enough to watch the series. Add on top of that, the fact that a verbally abusive, drunken Mokona is also part of the show and…I mean, if that’s not enough of a recommendation for you I don’t know what is.

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Best Genki Girl

Winner: Miyako, Hidamari Sketch x365

The Tsuruya-chan and Asa-sempai Memorial “Genki Girl” Award is given each year to the character who best exemplifies a lifestyle and attitude that’s characterized by pure, unmitigated, over-the-top genkiness. Green hair is preferable, but not required.

Miyako is a personal favorite of mine because, unlike many of the typical “genki girl” character stereotypes found in anime, she is not only fun and energetic, she’s also portrayed in a way that’s actually believable. While Yoshinoya-sensei probably tops her in sheer energy and volume, Yoshinoya also comes across as a very one dimensional character, one that exists purely for comedic purposes.

Miyako, on the other hand – she may say and do unexpected things and exhibit an unusual amount of pep, it’s just a part of her uninhibited, spontaneous lifestyle, and she doesn’t hesisate to explain her philosophy on life to her friends. In the episode where Yuno’s newfound cat wanders away, Miyako comforts her by reminding her that “To be free is the most important thing.”

It’s this facet of Hidamari Sketch, the ability to take fairly standard character archetypes and turn them into believable, multi-faceted characters, that makes it such an engaging show. And without a doubt, Miyako is one of the highlight characters of series. She puts so much heart into both her art and her friendships that you can’t help but come away feeling better after seeing her goofy smile as she draws a sketch or tells yet another funny story around the kotatsu.

And after all, anybody who can still be genki while lying on the roof sunbathing with cats deserves some kind of award. =D

Most Educational

Winner: Spice and Wolf

If there’s one thing that’s inevitable it’s this: there’s going to be a time in your life when you’ll be asked about the rigors of a mercantilist economy with a currency based upon precious metals. And after that, you’ll likely be asked to explain the possible problems posed by rival currencies with inferior metal grades, and the unscrupulous business practices involved with the various related transactions.

Thankfully if you’ve watched Spice and Wolf, you’ll have no problem providing an explanation. Heck, you might even be able to talk about it over a slice of sunshine pie. Spice and Wolf had great characters, but the fact that they integrated such a complex economic system within the world of the story is really quite impressive. Who says cartoons can’t teach you anything?

And not only did they integrate it into the story, they were able to convey these many subtle nuances of economics in a way that did not overwhelm the poor reader. With good use of diagrams and other visual aids, as well as some excellent witty banter, it helped make that information relevant in a way was both entertaining and informative.

Best Slice-of-Life Manga

Winner: Yotsuba&

Yotsuba& is one of those rare series that I think most anyone can appreciate and enjoy. It has such a simple brand of humor, such an endearing cast, and such a great way of bringing out the hilarity that can be found in ordinary life. This year in particular has been really excellent for the manga, with some its best chapters yet.

My personal favorite is a scene in volume 8 where Jumbo lets Yotsuba ride on his shoulders, and then pulls his jacket up above his head and over Yotsuba’s body, making it look as though Yotsuba is really huge and tall. The two of them then rampage around for a while, smacking into doorframes and harrassing the locals. It’s one of those goofy things that you might really do if you were hanging out with a little kid, but it’s drawn and portrayed in such a silly way that becomes absolutely hilarious.

Azuma-sensei has really outdone himself with this series overall, and I have to say, I’d also love to nominate Yotsuba& for Manga Series Most in Need of An Anime Adaptation. Come on Azuma-sensei, pretty please?

It might seem a bit dubious to suggest that a series involving the whimsical adventures of a rambunctious four year old is such an addictive experience, but if you’ve spent anytime reading the Yotsuba& manga, I’m certain you can sympathize.

I read the first two graphic novel volumes in Japanese and since, unlike my cohort, my skill with the moon runes and Japanese vocabulary is roughly at the level of Yotsuba herself, I felt somehow more connected to the story. Hopefully it wasn’t because it took me roughly an hour per chapter to plow through the stories.

No, I’d like to think that when I’m in Japan I’m something of a kindred spirit of Yotsuba: a completely oblivious naïve child, easily fascinated by anything and everything, and with utterly no sense of direction. Yotsuba is one of those series that simply makes you laugh on virtually every single page. Not only is the art perfect at capturing the zaniness of Yotsuba’s character and expressions, but the overall cast is excellent as well.

Best Slice-of-Life Anime

Winner: Aria the Origination

Runner up: Hidamari Sketch

Aria is one of those rare, brilliant series that can take a premise that sounds completely absurd on paper and make it into something memorable and magical. It takes a bizarre, extraordinary futuristic setting in which Mars has been terraformed into a water planet, and then uses that as a backdrop to tell a completely ordinary day-to-day story.

In doing so, it examines the hopes, joys, and struggles of normal day-to-day life through rose-tinted lenses. It’s the poster child what are referred to as “iyashikei”, or “healing” series. Heck, it seems it can take even the most hardened of cynics and bring them to reconsider their ways.

Every episode contains plenty of light comedy, with President Aria making funny faces, Alice overusing the word “dekkai”, and Aika forbidding the use of embarrassing comments. At the same time, every episode takes time to portray some innately human experience in an encouraging and upbeat way.

The peaceful music, the soft pastel colors, and the uplifting comments made by the cast as they face the challenges of life remind us to always look for the best in life, to always put our best foot forward, and to always keep a smile on our faces…also hazukashii serifu kinshi! For myself!

This final season of the anime really served to bring things full circle in many ways. It’s been great to watch the characters grow and develop and finally see the fruits of their labor. The series came to a very fitting conclusion, true to the spirit of simple yet poignant storytelling it has maintained since the beginning, and while I’m sad to see it end, I’m also happy to see it come to a conclusion.

To put it succinctly, Aria is a series that inspires a feeling of relaxation usually reserved for enjoying a glass of chilled sake while soaking in a steaming onsen.  Wonderful music, gorgeous art, and incredible voice acting – what’s to keep you from feeling dekkai relaxed?

It’s really a one of a kind show, with excellent artwork, excellent storytelling and pacing, excellent voice acting, and simply spectacular soundtrack. I just can’t find words to praise it enough. All I can say is, go watch it! Watch it now! It is a good shrubbery!