As it is now New Year’s Eve and all minor awards have been given out, it is time for both major awards in the annual “The Otaku’s Study End of the Year Awards” event to be handed out. These two awards: “Australian Anime Release of the Year 2014” and “Video Game of the Year 2014”, cover the two main topics on The Otaku’s Study during this year.
Last week I announced eleven anime series published between Madman Entertainment, Siren Visual and Hanabee Entertainment in Australia, all of which were worthy of becoming my Australian Anime Release of the Year. Over the last week I have gone through all these series for a second time, and after much deliberation have come up with my top three – that will be given either a Bronze, Silver or Gold award.
But first, as a generic means of stalling, let’s take a look at the criteria for an anime series to be considered:
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Requirements to be Eligible for Australian Anime Release of the Year 2014
- The series MUST have been published in Australia during 2014 by either Madman Entertainment, Siren Visual, Hanabee Entertainment or Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment in 2014.
- Must be a first release in the region, not a re-release or budget priced pack. If it was released in North America or Japan during 2013 and published in Australia during 2014, it would be permissible.
- Although online streaming and simulcasting has risen in Australia during 2014, only physical releases are covered by this award.
- The series must have received at least a final grade of A- in its review. UNLESS a grade of A+ was been awarded to its Storyline / Character Development criteria.
- The final volume/collection/episode in the season MUST have been released during 2014.
- The series must have not won any awards in previous years.
- Due to severe time restraints in the latter half of this year, there will be some titles listed that have yet to receive a full review on The Otaku’s Study. I have however watched all the series listed below, and have given the unreviewed ones a full score (As you would expect to see in any regular review). These titles, alongside others, will be receiving mini graded reviews in the next couple of weeks.
Rule #7 will be exclusive to 2014, as my time should be much freer in 2015. All other rules will likely carry over to 2015 and beyond.
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This is the fourth year that this particular award has been given out. Therefore, those titles receiving an award will be joining the below winners in The Otaku’s Study Hall of Fame from previous years:
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The Otaku’s Study Australian Anime Release of the Year Awards // Previous Winners
2011
- Dennou Coil – Siren Visual
- Eden of the East – Madman Entertainment
- DuRaRaRa!! – Siren Visual
2012
- Puella Magi Madoka Magica – Madman Entertainment
- Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai – Siren Visual
- Cardcaptor Sakura (Uncut and Japanese Dubbed) – Madman Entertainment
2013
- Tiger & Bunny – Siren Visual
- Wolf Children – Madman Entertainment
- Bakemonogatari – Hanabee Entertianment
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Bronze Award: Attack on Titan from Madman Entertainment
As usual, Australian publisher Madman Entertainment have offered anime fans a plethora of anime series across 2014 that were a combination of both quality and quantity. While there were multiple highlights in their 2014 release slate, the most impressive was easily their two half-season collection’s for Attack on Titan. This 25-episode series offers an action-filled and emotional dark fantasy series, which sees the remnants of human society fight against giant humanoid beings known as Titans. The high production value and satisfying storyline makes Attack on Titan a deserving recipient of my Bronze Award for 2014.
Many years ago, the last remnants of humanity were forced to retreat behind the towering walls of a fortified city to escape the massive, man-eating Titans that roamed the land outside their fortress. Only the heroic members of the Scouting Legion dared to stray beyond the safety of the walls, but even those brave warriors seldom returned alive. Those within the city clung to the illusion of a peaceful existence until the day that dream was shattered, and their slim chance at survival was reduced to one horrifying choice: kill – or be devoured!
Silver Award: Monster from Siren Visual
Siren Visual is renown for being a niche anime publisher, and while other publishers may attempt to keep with the latest trends from Japan, Siren like acquiring the rights to niche series that are usually distinct from anything else available on the Australian market… if not an English-Language exclusive to Australia. One of their biggest releases in 2014 was for Monster, a 74-episode anime adaptation of Naoki Urasawa’s mystery / psychological thriller manga.
Although it may show its age a little bit and might not hold the attention of a casual audience for more than a couple of episodes, Monster is definitely a complex “thinking persons” anime. It is a series that is worth viewing multiple times to fully appreciate every aspect of its plot, and provided enough to award it the very first “A+” grade ever on The Otaku’s Study.
Even though I am still uncertain if I should have boosted Monster up to the Gold Award, the series is nevertheless a very strong Silver Award recipient. With Siren Visual releasing many classic series in 2015, I look forward to even greater releases.
What would you do if a child you saved grew up to be a monster?
An ice-cold killer is on the loose, and Dr. Kenzo Tenma is the only one who can stop him!
Tenma, a brilliant neurosurgeon with a promising future, risks his career to save the life of a critically wounded young boy named Johan. When the boy reappears nine years later in the midst of a string of unusual serial murders, Tenma must go on the run from the police who suspect him to be the killer.
Gold Award: WataMote: No Matter How I Look at it, It’s You Guys’ Fault I’m Not Popular from Hanabee
This has most probably been the hardest year to choose what my top three Australian anime releases are – with all four publishers offering a strong line-up of titles over the past twelve months. Choosing a winner is easily the most difficult to decide, but after spending an entire day tossing up between Monster from Siren Visual and WataMote from Hanabee Entertainment, WataMote eventually came out on top.
This twelve-episode anime is an adaptation of the original slice-of-life / comedy manga by Nico Tanigawa, and is one of the most distinct series of its genre to date. Although I can understand that its approach towards social anxiety can be controversial and discomforting to some, its is nevertheless an oddly compelling comedy that left mee hooked from start to finish. WataMote focuses on social outcast Tomoko as she begins her journey through the High School years where being popular is important to many, and those who are unpopular may struggle to fit in.
It is near impossible to do the series justice in a couple of paragraphs, so I encourage you to check out the first few episodes on the Hanabee VOD website, to see for yourself why this is my Australian Anime Release of the Year 2014. Its uniqueness, effective use of Tomoko as the heroine and a kick-ass opening theme are the main reasons why WataMote has come out on top in 2014.
Popularity isn’t a choice, it’s a lifestyle.
Tomoko Kuroki’s lack of social life is all due to others incompetence. After all, having clocked up hundreds of hours in dating sim games, Tomoko is well prepared for any situation that life happens to throw her way.
So when it’s three months into Tomoko’s high school life and she hasn’t made a single friend, least of all spoken to anyone, something has to change. Does the blame however lie in others or does Tomoko need to properly look at herself in the mirror?
