As it is now New Year’s Eve and there are less than 12 hours remaining in the year, it is time for me to crown the winners of The Otaku’s Study’s two longest running annual awards – ‘Australian Anime Release of the Year 2015’ and ‘Video Game of the Year 2015’. This year we have seen titles released from four anime publishers in Australia: Madman Entertainment, Siren Visual, Hanabee and Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment – all of which have brought some memorable titles to store shelves. As is the case every year, it has been an absolute challenge deciding which three titles would take home the bronze, silver and gold ranks this time around.
As the usual means of stalling, here is a quick look at the criteria for an anime series to be considered for this award:
- The series MUST have been published in Australia during 2015 by either Madman Entertainment, Siren Visual, Hanabee Entertainment or Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
- 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 2014 and published in Australia during 2015, it would still be permissible.
- Although online streaming and simulcasting has risen in Australia during 2015, only physical releases are covered by this award.
- The final volume/collection/episode in the season MUST have been released during 2015.
- The series must have not won any awards in previous years.
- Due to time limitations at certain points during the year, there will possibly be some titles listed below which have yet to receive a full review on The Otaku’s Study. However, I have completely watched all series considered for this award, and have put them all through the same score algorithm I use to calculate a final score when writing a review. These titles, alongside others, should be receiving mini graded reviews in the next couple of weeks.
The winner of this year’s award will be joining the below winners in The Otaku’s Study Hall of Fame:
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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
2014
- WataMote: No Matter How I Look at It, It’s You Guys’ Fault I’m Not Popular – Hanabee
- Monster – Siren Visual
- Attack on Titan – Madman Entertainment
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Without further ado, the winners of Australian Anime Release of the Year 2015 are:
BRONZE AWARD
Nagi no Asukara: A Lull in the Sea from Siren Visual
Nagi no Asukara: A Lull in the Sea was, in my opinion, one of Siren Visual’s major releases for 2015. Not only have the company made the entire 26-episode series available on DVD and Blu-ray formats, but also opened orders for Australian and New Zealand anime fans to get their hands on the North American Premium Edition set at a really good price. I can see why they opted to provide a little extra attention to this series, as it provides an emotional, memorable and incredibly satisfying storyline overall. Complemented by an intriguing concept which sets it apart from your typical school-life romantic drama, good visuals and excellent English voice casting – there were very few issues I had with this title.
Due to the closure of their middle school, four students from the sea, Manaka Mukaido, Hikari Sakishima, Chisaki Hiradaira and Kaname Isaki, must attend middle school on and, despite the growing tensions between the Sea Village and their neighbours on land. While getting used to their new lives, these four, along with their new friend from school, Tsumugu Kihara, plan to pun on an Ofunehiki, a festival traditionally organised by the leaders of the two villages, in an attempt to keep the peace.
SILVER AWARD
No Game No Life from Hanabee
Hanabee Entertainment have released two anime series during 2015 which are set in worlds where games and challenges are used to settle disputes: ‘Problem Children are Coming From Another World Aren’t They’ and ‘No Game No Life’. While I did enjoy both titles, in the end it was No Game No Life which proved to be the superior series and well deserving of my Silver Award. While the concept about a world ruled by the power of games might not be completely unique, No Game No Life does shine when it comes to presenting the lore surrounding its world, presenting/developing its characters and delivering an aesthetically pleasing experience. Unlike both Gold and Bronze winners of this year’s award, No Game No Life only sets the foundations for what should be extended in additional seasons. Given that the light novel is still ongoing and the anime seems to have been well received, let’s hope to hear more about this series in 2016.
Just as their urban legend suggests the siblings Sora and Shiro are gods when it comes to gaming. Blazing across the internet they are known as NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) gamers. Until one day, a boy calling himself “God” introduces them to a parallel fantasy world where every race must resolve their disagreements through gaming. Can the siblings uphold their winning streak and become the salvation of all humanity in the process? The odds aren’t in their favour, but Shiro and Sora are going to duel till the end in No Game, No Life.
GOLD AWARD
Space Dandy from Madman Entertainment
In the end, it was almost impossible to find a reason why Space Dandy was not my Australian Anime Release of the Year 2015. While I am not always a fan of episodic storyline structures in anime, almost every self-contained tale in the 26-episode series worked off a creative idea, proving to be well constructed and presented overall. Complemented by a fantastic English dub featuring the likes of Ian Sinclair (Dandy), Alison Viktorin (QT) and Joel McDonald (Meow), and high production values, Space Dandy proved to be a blissful journey through space.
Space Dandy is a dandy in space! This dreamy adventurer with a to-die-for pompadour travels across the galaxy in search of aliens no one has ever laid eyes on. Each new species he discovers earns him a hefty reward, but this dandy has to be quick on his feet because it’s first come – first served! Accompanied by his sidekicks, a rundown robot named QT and Meow the cat-looking space alien, Dandy bravely explores unknown worlds inhabited by a variety aliens. Join the best dressed alien hunter in all of space and time as he embarks on an adventure that ends at the edge of the universe!
