2009 was a rough year for me anime-wise. I didn’t watch everything that came out but just enough to get by. I finished some but postponed just as much about halfway through them. That said, this particular edition of the awards was tough for me since I just barely saw enough to contribute to each genre. However I did try my best to make it just in time! Rest assured though that the others were on their toes throughout the year and tried their hardest to decide which anime should win over their hearts for each genre. So let’s get the ball rolling with the opening entry of the 3rd annual Anime Inbou Awards 2009!

Best Action

Winner: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

There weren’t much shows I watched that pulled off action as epic as FMA. It has the direction, the animation, the characters and multiple styles of fighting with most involving alchemy. Some were familiar due to the first series and others are completely new to me since I refused to follow the manga in hopes of it being animated later some day (and obviously it happened). BONES really knows what they’re doing when it comes to action and it shines pretty bright with Brotherhood.

Winner: Fullmetal Alchemist

Out of anything in 2009, FMA was really the only anime where the action was superbly done in direction and animation. Because the new anime is now using manga material, it feels like any fight came fresh out of the oven, but the taste is that much sweeter when it looks this good. Heck, even in the OP sequences, there are some really cool fighting scenes. I don’t follow the manga, so it’s pretty much all new to me. Nonetheless, BONES does an excellent job with the new FMA.

Winner: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Brotherhood cemented BONES as one of my favorite animation companies of recent memory. Brotherhood is a pure joy to see not only for the intriguing plot, but also for the beautifully choreographed action scenes that easily top the original. While I always was on the limbo with the first show, the second one, which is surprisingly more underrated, is clearly a winner.

Winner: Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger

Nothing says action like two guys trying to beat the hell out of each other in a confined arena. While only 1/3 of the length as the first season, New Challenger contained some of the best fights in the entire series. Date vs Ricardo was a sight to behold and worthy of the hype. And of course, Takamura vs Hawk which was the most anticipated fight for manga readers did not disappoint. The action was intense, gritty, and just outright manly. Madhouse pulled out all the stops for that one and it was everything that fans wanted. One of the reasons I love the action in Ippo is that it always keeps me at the edge of my seat. It’s not over until the ref says so and anything can happen till then.

Best Comedy

Winner: Kuuchuu Buranko/Trapeze

Kuuchuu Buranko/Trapeze was surprisingly much more hilarious than I thought it would be. It’s main character, Ichiro Irabu, is the main source of the comedy along with Mayumi and the rest of the cast rounding out some of the funniest stuff I’ve seen throughout last year. Whether Irabu was forcing injections on his patients via Mayumi or screwing around with them while they were living their daily lives and trying ot overcome their disorders, I was laughing. Anyone who can watch this and not laugh is not human!

Winner: Zan Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei

I’m not the hugest fan of Mr. Despair, and some of the jokes can be very obscure; however, as far as comedy goes, the usual exaggerations of real life is always a kicker and the interactions between the characters are just really weird yet funny. I found myself liking this season a bit more than the last two when it came to the stories. Also gotta hand it to SHAFT for always sneaking in satire in the text.

Winner: Natsu no Arashi!

This was a tough category but I decided to go with Natsu no Arashi. Granted as the series went along the humor stopped, but to me, when it tried to be funny, it just left the best impression. It’s worth a watch even if only for the crazy cast of character. Heck, even Jun’s voice by Maka’s seiyuu didn’t bother me!

Winner: Akikan!

Out of all the shows I watched this year, Akikan! has to be the one with the most QUALITY in it. But that didn’t stop me from coming back for each episode for the laughs. The plot is absolutely absurd and the characters are weird with their unique fetishes, but still I watched. Most of the laughs come from the main character (who is voiced by Fukuyama Jun) and he provides all sorts of sexual perversions that kept my inner 10 year old amused. The supporting cast is composed of all sorts of weird as well with a comedic sidekick nicknamed Gigolo, a witch, and female warriors born from juice cans. Yes, juice cans. And yet somehow it all works so well.

Best Drama

Winner: Tokyo Magnitude 8.0

Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 was one of the more interesting shows for me in 2009 and I think it’s because it was one of the few shows I’ve seen where it really made me feel everything from the very start. I’ve never experienced an earthquake before and as of this writing there was one that happened close to where I live. In short both left me feeling that anyone who has to go through such an experience and survives has to be strong to cope with the aftermath. Much respect to BONES yet again for being able to touch people’s hearts through animation with characters like Mirai and Yuuki and their struggle for survival.

Winner: Tokyo Magnitude 8.0

Who would’ve thought a show about earthquakes would be so interesting? The concept is simple and yet it was never really touched upon until this series showed up on the Richter scale. Experiencing the earthquake was one thing, coping with it is another. Having never experience an earthquake this huge, it got me thinking just how terrible it is to be in Mirai and Yuuki’s situation. The show also put strong emphasis towards family and faith, both which were displayed greatly throughout the show.

Winner: Tokyo Magnitude 8.0

Tokyotude is another reason why BONES dominated this year. I believe it had one of the most heartbreaking episodes this year (episode 2) and like a real life disaster, you want to look away, but it’s just impossible. The fact they managed to move viewers with such imagery only proves how well this anime worked.

Winner: Clannad ~After Story~

lol I remember breaking the chain last year with Clannad as well (though for a different category). Anyways, fortunately I had the privilege to blog both Clannad ~AS~ and Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 this year and both were simply great shows, especially in the drama genre. This was a hard choice, but in the end I felt I had to give this Clannad. The characters managed to draw me in much more and easily and when shit hit the fan in the second half I found myself in a wreck too. I cried at least twice if I remember correctly. And not just during a sad moment, but during a joyous moment as well. The show knew where to play my heart strings and it did it wonderfully. Not even the dragon ball reset end can take that away from me.

Best Fantasy/Supernatural

Winner: Pandora Hearts/Bakemonogatari

Fantasy/Supernatural almost always turns out to be one of the more interesting genres for me. That said, Pandora Hearts and Bakemonogatari really stood out last year. Both shows are great at what they do: dazzle with fantasy and the supernatural. I really couldn’t choose between them so I went with both. Pandora Hearts had a great cast of characters of which my favorites were Alice, Oz, Echo, and Gil. I found the setting was great as well and the way death was handled seemed a lot more mature than most manga that aren’t “hardcore serious”. Bakemonogatari had me boggled from the start when Hitagi said she had no weight, pulled out her stationery, and went to town on Koyomi. Really recommended to those who loves Japanese folklore, myths, and deities.

Winner: Bakemonogatari

When you think of supernatural, you think of demons and other creatures of ancient myth, or mysterious people with superpowers. When I think of Bakemonogatari, I don’t get the same vibe, yet it’s essentially full of the same thing. Granted, I don’t think it’s the greatest thing evaaar, but NisiOisin’s work is always clever and unique from the rest, as is SHAFT’s presentation of the show.

Winner: Pandora Hearts

This was an interesting category because I have a lot of ideas of show that fit, but overall after grinding lots of gears, I went with Pandora Hearts. There is just something about this show that worked well. The characters, the settings, the music and most importantly that eerie atmosphere. Plus, gotta love Break.

Winner: Bakemonogatari

Bakemonogatari easily came to mind for its memorable use of oddities and folklore. The reason for that is mainly that the supernatural element is used in a way where it’s integrated in the characters as part of who they are. The oddities featured in the show serve as complements to the characters; and I like how the focus isn’t just on the supernatural element that’s binded to everyone but also on the people themselves who bring out that element.

Best Romance

Winner: Kimi ni Todoke

It’s only halfway done, but Kimi ni Todoke is shaping up to be one of the best of 2009. The show tends to take things at a slow pace, which is acceptable as it builds up the characters that we want to know and love, especially if they’re people like Sawako. Speaking of her, the concept of “love” is still something she isn’t used to dealing with just yet, but where we are now, I think the romance aspect of the show will unfold and leave us moved.

Winner: Hatsukoi Limited

Ichigo 100%, the anime at least, is hated by many. I admit I didn’t hate it as much as others (Maybe because I am a sucker for Satsuki), but for those who did, Hatsukoi Limited is a great remedy. What’s great about it is the huge of characters that still get at least an episode for development, which is a harder task it might seem. I did wish it wasn’t rush towards the end, because it could’ve been a classic.

Winner: Toradora

I think the second half Toradora could have been much better. Especially without the shitty drama plaguing it. But even with that negative, the romance aspect was something that was building up nicely and something I looked forward to the conclusion of. Sure I think Minori and Ami were much better, but for some reason I wasn’t bothered by the loli-esque Taiga (voiced by Rie of course) winning out in the end. The pairing felt right and it’s been a while since I watched/read a romance series that didn’t give me a rage end.

Best Sci-Fi

Winner: Basquash!

As far as Sci-Fi goes I think that Basquash! captured it the best throughout the year. Come on, playing basketball in mecha? Living creatures being used as decorative clothing such as hats and glasses? A massive neon-moon that acts like a mini-planet? It’s all too awesome to deny. Don’t get me started on the Bigfoots either because then I’d be forced to threaten some scientists into creating one just for me.

Winner: Basquash!

One of the things I like about Basquash! a lot are the Bigfoots because they remind me of the robot from MegasXLR. The mecha design is pretty neat. Just about all the tech in the show seems very futuristic. Even the alphabet gets a makeover. Perhaps my favorite thing is Mooneyes’s appearance. It would be a cold day in hell when our moon becomes populated like that, and brighter even. Admittedly, the show wasn’t really anything to do with scientific stuff, but seeing the Bigfoots jump around always got me fascinated.

Winner: Birdy the Mighty Decode 02

Birdy is pretty much a show that stretches oneself’s imagination. While the first series experimented it, the second managed to pretty much elevate everything about it. Action, Setting, Character Development and even the Animation is a lot better this time around. No doubt it’s my favorite this year.

Winner: Darker than BLACK: Ryuusei no Gemini

While I still can’t say that the series ended on a good note for me, I really enjoyed the overall package that the Darker than BLACK series has once again given me. The sci-fi setting is incredibly intriguing thanks to the cast and mystique surrounding the Gates and contractors. Add on top the rogue and conspiracy themes implemented, and BONES has a winner on their hands that’s genuinely exciting.

Best Sports

Winner: One Outs

Sports anime isn’t usually my scene but One Outs really blew me away. I reviewed it mid-2009 and pretty much stand by what I had to say there. I don’t think anyone has to even like baseball (heck they can even hate it) to end up loving this show. Tokuchi is without a doubt the star of the show and comes up with all sorts of psychological weapons throughout every episode. One Outs is one of the few shows I can actually remember that had me waiting on each episode every week because I wanted to see what happened next so badly. It can be addicting if you’re not careful but then again with a show this great why would you? One Outs takes the crown as Best Sports Anime of 2009 with ease if you ask me. I would love a second season if there is material remaining for it to be made!

Winner: Cross Game

I feel like I might be making my choices based entirely different from the genre itself. I enjoy Cross Game for its character interaction more than the games. That being said, I do actually enjoy the matches so far. The match against Ryouou definitely got me pumped up. We see the gang training and practicing, and it pays off when we get to see what they do on the field or at the bat. Seeing Aoba stuck at the sidelines is a real bummer, but with the latest episodes involving the female players, I continue looking forward to future games.

Winner: Cross Game

I always ask myself, Blade, What’s with your affinity to baseball anime? It really came down between Cross Game and One Outs, but I decided to go with the former, mainly because the characters grew on me quicker and it probably had one of the most emotional first episodes to any show I have seen in a long time. Most sports show can simulate a good game, but Cross Game went beyond that, hence it’s my pick.

Winner: One Outs

There were quite a few sports anime showcased this year. I’m actually more surprised at how many I watched. In any case, when thinking of my choice for this specific award, I tried to think of an anime that stood out for its take on the theme and I eventually came to One Outs. The new season of Ippo was good overall, but it didn’t have the same charm that made me fall in love with the first season. And while I love Cross Game, that’s a show that I see shines more for it’s character interaction like Youko mentioned above. One Outs is an anime that I just kept coming back for more for the sports involved. How will the main character handle this situation? What’s going to happen next? One Outs’ take on the baseball genre is very intriguing because like Hagiwara Masato’s other two famous roles, the main character gives the show a psychological vibe to an unlikely theme. And that can be very addicting.