With the end of 2013 only a little more than a week away, it is about time to go through all titles reviewed during the year to determine what ones stood out among the crowd in my “Release of the Year 2013” awards. While there are many awards up for grabs in the secondary and specialization categories, there are two major awards which have the most contenders – Australian Anime Release of the Year 2013 and Video Game of the Year 2013.
While titles are still eligible to be nominated until Christmas Day 2013 – take a look at the anime titles below that stand the chance to walk away as The Otaku’s Study Australian Anime Release of the Year 2013. Grades mean nothing, with the only thing separating winning titles being the uniqueness of the experience they deliver. What ones will be victorious? Find out at the end of the year!
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Requirements to be Eligible for Australian Anime Release of the Year 2013
- The series MUST have been published in Australia during 2013.
- Must be a first release in the region, not a re-release or budget priced pack.
- Only physical releases are permissible. Simulcast / Digital releases will be counted as a Japanese Anime Release.
- Must have received at least an A- grade when being reviewed.
- The first collection in the series must have been released in 2013.
- As of Christmas Day 2013, at least half the series must have been released in Australia.
- The series must have not won any previous awards in previous years.
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Bakemonogatari (Hanabee Entertainment)
It may not appeal to everyone, and with its heavier emphasis on dialogue does at times require your full attention towards reading subtitles rather than appreciating everything else take makes Bakemonogatari enjoyable. However if you overlook this fact, there is much to enjoy about the series’ three arcs so far in regards to development, the unfolding plot and the character personalities. (Review on the 17th August 2013)
Dusk Maiden of Amnesia (Hanabee Entertainment)
With a small character cast and a well-paced storyline, Dusk Maiden of Amnesia is a perfect anime series for someone wanting to just watch a series and not have to feel obligated to look through its source material to fully appreciate the happenings. The fact that they packed this installment to the brim with additional goodies doesn’t hurt either. Overall a great anime series that blends romance, drama, comedy and school life well while also keeping you engaged and attentive from start to end. (Review on the 24th July 2013)
Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine
Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine is as much an experience as it is a series to be enjoyed for its storyline. While I would have relished the opportunity to have more incite into earlier iterations that have been present in the series’ 40 year history, I thoroughly enjoyed this seven / eight episode collection and am eager to see how it continues on. I mentioned in my review of Princess Knight yesterday that there is or at least needs to be a growing trend in anime publishers to consider the classics as well as the newer titles. Lupin the Third is one of those titles I would like to see released in Australia. Anime publisher Eastern Star released the first TV series last year in North America, meaning that the localization resources do at least exist for this to be a possibility. (Review on the 4th November 2013)
Mawaru Penguindrum (Siren Visual)
While trying to encompass so many genres within such a complicated plot may have resulted in failure, Kunihiko Ikuhara (Of Sailor Moon and Revolutionary Girl Utena acclaim) managed to produce a series that harmonized all the elements together with a focus on fate and family well alongside the accompanying music and visuals. While it may not be perfect and riddled with occasional pacing issues and areas where viewers can potentially get lost, it is something I could happily recommend watching. and hey, at the very least you can sit down and count just how many references to penguins are made throughout each of the episodes. (Review on the 21st July 2013)
Persona 4 The Animation (Madman Entertainment)
To wrap up this series of three reviews, while there were a few aspects that could have been revised or tweaked Persona 4 the Animation ended up being a rather enjoyable anime adaptation that kept to the source material very well. A memorable cast of characters and events were backed up well by a harmony of school life and action elements that didn’t compromise one for the other. Newcomers to the series may want to check out the game first to be able to fully appreciate the series, but I take it that if you have reached this far in the series this is no longer an issue. (Review on the 1st September 2013)
Tiger & Bunny (Siren Visual)
Overall I was glad to finally see that after such a long wait, Viz Media and Siren Visual were able to get this series out to their respective regions. While it may not do so harmoniously all the time, Tiger & Bunny is a good merger of comical elements that build upon cliches in the super hero genre and more serious plotlines from the writers own mind. But overall the series has shown me that there is still much that can be done with the super hero genre and here’s hoping for future installments – especially considering it leaves its ending right open for one. (Review on the 25th June 2013)
Wolf Children (Madman Entertainment)
Especially after watching so many fantasy and action anime series as of late, Wolf Children was a refreshing and emotional release that should appeal to the wider market of film fans. He clearly identified the purpose of his storyline and delivered it to perfection, even if it may not be the heart-warming tale that I was initially led to believe it was. With high production quality in tow, this is easily one of the top films I have watched this year – and will be a strong contender for my Australian Anime Release of the Year 2013. (Review on the 15th December 2013)
