2012 Year-Ender: Coolest Characters
Shana, Azunyan and Inori walk into a bar…
Day three of the Metanorn Year-Ender awards! Next up we focus on the characters that live and breath in some of our favorite animes of 2012. This is where you get to pick the best sidekicks, villain, and of course the ever popular main character! So what kind of characters did you love to watch this year? There were certainly a lot of entertaining ones to choose from.
As an update, so far the following Year-Ender posts are out and open for nominations:
Aki wants you to vote for your favorite characters of 2012!
Shows that are acceptable for nomination of the anime year 2012 are from Winter ’12 to Fall ’12 anime series. This does not include animes that will continue on into the Winter ’13 season that are 20+ episodes.
nominate as many as you want for each award or just one if you are having trouble choosing. As well, if you can, please add why you chose that nomination.
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Best Wingman (Male Supporting Role)
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Best Gurlfried (Female Supporting Role)
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Wicked Villain
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Kick Ass Main Dude (Main role)
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Fantastic Lead Female (Main Role)
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Romantic Couples Are Moe
Onward to the next set of awards!
About Foshizzel
Is huge anime fan from Florida! who loves to watch anime and also enjoys drawing and collecting pictures, my favorite genre of anime has to be Mecha, there is just something awesome about giant robots beating the crap out of each other! Other than that type of show, I love a good comedy or action series :D
POWUH: Meta Resident and Metanorn's Hime-chan~ with 1758 comments
Wicked villain – Makishima from Psycho-pass
Kick-ass male lead – Kougami, guess from where :3
Moe couple – Hazuki and Rokka from Natsuyuki
I think, that’s it…. TT^TT I’m pathetic this year, I know. But at least I have a good suggestion for these 3 nominations :3
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Female Lead:
Kyouno Madoka – Rinne no Lagrange. The ultimate Determinator. If she wants it done, it’s going to get done.
Urabe Mikoto – Nazo no Kanojo X. Enigmatic, captivating, drove a show that was weird, wonderful, and terrific. Also, had a voice that made you stand up and take notice of every word of the relative few she said.
Mizutani Shizuku – Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun. Maybe not the best at figuring out how to deal with her feelings and balance her life, but someone that can always be counted on.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Male Lead:
Ousawa Akatsuki – Hagure Yuusha no Sexual Harassment. That they put a guy like him in a series was great. Basically, he couldn’t lose, just so much more powerful than anyone else. Was an awesome way to have the show go.
Otonashi Io – Acchi Kocchi. Cool, the object of Tsumiki’s affection, and able to make all the girls nosebleed with just a word. If only he’d been more overt with Tsumiki…
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Also:
Houtarou Oreki – Hyouka. Smooth, cool, wants to be left alone, and just overcome with awesomeness.
Oojima Yuuki – Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate. A harem show lead who could manage to talk to girls without being embarrassed and flustered, without falling on them with his face up their skirts and his hands on their boobs. Not really his fault that the show really fizzled when push came to shove.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Romantic Couples:
Urabe Mikoto and Tsubaki Akira – Nazo no Kanojo X. I don’t know if they fit any ‘moe’ description, but romantic was everywhere, even if they didn’t so much as kiss throughout the entire series. The whole show was about coming to understand this person you love, and who loves you, and what that all means.
Takanashi Rikka and Togashi Yuuta – Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai. Even though Yuuta almost blew it, he gathered it back together to make a great save. Two people who really should be together.
Tachibana Mei and Kurosawa Yamato – Sukitte ii na yo. Another show where they were a couple the whole series, which gave a great change to the normal shoujo framing of ‘will they get together or won’t they?’ This meant the show could work through the reference frame of “how does a couple deal with setbacks” rather than two people who just want to be a couple.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Female Supporting Character:
Oka Ayuko – Nazo no Kanojo X. The person who wormed her way into frienship with Urabe, and became a huge catalyst for Urabe and Tsubaki’s relationship movement.
Akiyama Yukari – Girls und Panzer. Sometimes a bit lovestruck with Miho, but always ready to be her right-hand man and do whatever it takes to give Oarai the advantage.
Isuzu Hana – Girls und Panzer. The rock that Team Ankou is built on, the support that Miho needs to lead Oarai to victory, and worked through her own personal hardships with being disowned.
Natsume Asako – Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun. Almost a lead character, Asako had to work through her own friendship issues to try to be a friend to Shizuku, who didn’t really want to have friends.
POWUH: iLurker with 1 comments
Fantastic Lead Female – Rikka from Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!
Romantic Couples Are Moe – Rikka and Yuuta.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Best Wingman (Male Supporting Role):
Orito (Kore wa Zombie Desu ka? Of the Dead)
Kuroh Yatogami ([K])
Mikoto Suoh ([K])
Yata Misaki ([K])
Best Gurlfried (Female Supporting Role):
Seraphim (Kore wa Zombie Desu ka? Of the Dead)
Yuki Yoshida (Kore wa Zombie Desu ka? Of the Dead)
Lan (Rinne no Lagrange)
Muginami (Rinne no Lagrange)
Cryska Barchenowa (Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse)
Inia Sestina (Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse)
Cui Yifei (Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse)
Wicked Villain:
Seiji Noumi (Accel World)
Sugou (Sword Art Online)
Truth (Eureka Seven AO)
Kick Ass Main Dude (Main role):
Akatsuki Ousawa (Hagure Yuusha no Estetica)
Yuuya Bridges (Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse)
Ayumu Aikawa (Kore wa Zombie Desu ka? Of the Dead)
Houtarou Oreki (Hyouka)
Koyomi Araragi (Nisemonogatari)
Fantastic Lead Female (Main Role):
Koko Hekmatyar (Jormungand)
Rias Gremory (High School DxD)
Yuuko Kanoe (Tasogare Otome x Amnesia)
Yui Takamura (Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse)
Madoka Kyouno (Rinne no Lagrange)
Nobuna Oda (Oda Nobuna no Yabou)
POWUH: Meta Resident and Metanorn's Hime-chan~ with 1758 comments
Oh, oh! I totally forgot about Ayumu! He’s definitely worthy of the title xD <3
POWUH: iLurker with 14 comments
(So things like From the New World and Zetsuen no Tempest don’t count?)
Best Wingman (Male Supporting Role)
Yamada, the pride of DUCK (Tsuritama)
Best Gurlfried (Female Supporting Role)
Y (Humanity Has Declined)
Wicked Villain
oddly, I can’t think of one in particular that stands out
Kick Ass Main Dude (Main role)
Kiritsugu (Fate/Zero)
Fantastic Lead Female (Main Role)
Sensei (the protagonist of Humanity Has Declined)
Romantic Couples Are Moe
Tsumiki and Io (Acchi Kocchi)
Can we suggest more than one? Romantic couples are easy to suggest…
Nanami and Tomoe (Kamisama Kiss)
Kouichi and Mei (Another)
Yamato and Mei (Sukitte Ii na yo)
Mary (Masako) and Chizuru (Kimi to Boku)
Oh, and how can we forget Yashiro and Kuroh? :> (K)
POWUH: Meta Resident and Metanorn's Hime-chan~ with 1758 comments
Hey, I just thought about it – no ultra annoying character award ??? 😀 that would have loads of suggestions xD
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I think that would probably fit the description of a lot of weak hearted leads, male and female alike. We might all end up with a monster of a list.
POWUH: Meta Resident and Metanorn's Hime-chan~ with 1758 comments
Yeah, the possible size of that list is a little scary, but still. And it would be also interesting to make a collage of annoying moments. Provided, there will probably be a lot of material 🙂 I just think it’s an interesting idea ^^
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Here’s another award that could factor in: Most perverted character. The nominations would roll in like a flash flood.
POWUH: Meta Resident and Metanorn's Hime-chan~ with 1758 comments
Yeah 😀 though choosing a winner would most likely be a pain lol
POWUH: iLurker with 4 comments
Hi guys.
Best Wingman (Male Supporting Role):
Fukube Satoshi (Hyouka)
Rider/Iskandar (Fate/Zero)
Kawabuchi Sentarou (Sakamichi no Apollon)
Klein (Sword Art Online)
Yata Misaki (K)
Best Gurlfried (Female Supporting Role)
Nibutani Shinka (Chuunibyou demo koi ga shitai!)
Dekomori Sanae (Chuunibyou demo koi ga shitai!)
Okita Sawa (Tari Tari)
Ibara Mayaka (Hyouka)
Uryuu Minene (Mirai Nikki)
Wicked Villain
Kotomine Kirei (Fate/Zero)
Heartseed (Kokoro Connect)
Kaiki Deshuu (Nisemonogatari)
Kayaba Akihiko/Heathcliff (Sword Art Online)
Nobuyuki Sugou/Oberon (Sword Art Online)
Kick Ass Main Dude (Main role)
Emiya Kiritsugu (Fate/Zero)
Oreki Houtarou (Hyouka)
Nishimi Kaoru (Sakamichi no Apollon)
Yatogami Kuroh (K)
Togashi Yuuta (Chuunibyou demo koi ga shitai)
Fantastic Lead Female (Main Role)
Chitanda Eru (Hyouka)
Inaba Himeko (Kokoro Connect)
Gasai Yuno (Mirai Nikki)
Saber/Arturia Pendragon (Fate/Zero)
Yuuki Asuna (Sword Art Online)
Romantic Couples Are Moe
Kirigaya Kazuto x Yuuki Asuna (Sword Art Online)
Togashi Yuuta x Takanashi Rikka (Chuunibyou demo koi ga shitai!)
Kurosawa Yamato x Tachibana Mei (Sukitte ii na yo)
Arita Haruyuki x Kuroyukihime (Accel World)
Amano Yukiteru x Gasai Yuno (Mirai Nikki)
Super difficult decisions to make, especially for the lead roles. Other roles cannot be ignored, and the honorable mentions are:
Male characters:
Amano Yukiteru (Mirai Nikki)
Archer/Gilgamesh, Kariya Matou, Tohsaka Tokiomi (Fate/Zero)
Fushimi Saruhiko, Munakata Reisi, Suoh Mikoto (K)
Araragi Koyomi (Nisemonogatari)
Kurosawa Yamato (Sukitte ii na yo)
Female characters:
Irisviel von Einzbern (Fate/Zero)
Yui (Sword Art Online)
Sakai Wakana, Miyamoto Konatsu (Tari Tari)
Nagase Iori, Kiriyama Yui (Kokoro Connect)
All the girls (Nisemonogatari)
All the girls (Natsuiro Kiseki)
POWUH: iLurker with 13 comments
Wicked Villain
Misogi Kumagawa.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
All I can think of for Villains are atrocious, not wicked, villains. There’s no way that Noumi, or Sugou, or Moid, or Nyarlko’s brother, or even Urara (from Tsuritama) were really ‘villains’ worthy of a ‘best of the year’ title. I didn’t really watch any shows with anyone deserving until this season, and everyone pales in comparison to Makishima (who’s not eligible).
So someone who watched some of those grittier shows is gonna have to cover this one.
POWUH: 500-599 with 543 comments
Villain: Caster of Fate/Zero. Yuck. Yuck. Yuck. Anyone who kills children just should go be the villain.
Main dude: Kirito.
Best female lead: Saber and Asuna.
Romantic Couple: Mei and Yamato (Sukitte.)
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
I don’t even know if Metanorn writers can vote in these things, but Best Gurlfriend? Obviously Truck-chan deserves to win this one. I can’t think of a better character from Guilty Crown.
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
Oh, Meta Team can definitely nominate their choices too and man, who can get one over Truck-chan? She is sorely missed!
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
YES! Go for it <3
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
Ayase > Most of them!
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Ayase for the win! But can we also fit Tsugumi in?
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
Really, no mention of DIO still?! The Phantom Blood arc is done for so I’m nominating him as one of this year’s most awesome villain. I’ll come back for more.
POWUH: iLurker with 5 comments
Best Wingman (Male Supporting Role): Rider (Fate/Zero)
Best Gurlfried (Female Supporting Role): Neko (K)
Wicked Villain: Dio Brando (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)
Kick Ass Main Dude (Main role): Emiya Kiritsugu (Fate/Zero)
Fantastic Lead Female (Main Role): Asuna (Sword Art Online)
Romantic Couples Are Moe: Kiritsugi\ Irisviel von Einzbern (Fate/Zero)
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
My nomination is only one:
Kobayashi (Fate/Zero)
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
LOL! A TRUE WINGMAN.
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
I should nominate a lot! Maybe later…
POWUH: 700-799 and Parkouring Fanboy with 776 comments
Best Wingman (Male Supporting Role)
I liked the energetic manic pixie dream boys this year, i.e. Haru from Tsuritama and Satoshi Fukube from Hyouka. The equally manic Kuroh Yatogami from K was pretty cool as well.
Best Gurlfried (Female Supporting Role)
Mayaka Ibara from Hyouka and Kuuko from Haiyore! Nyaruko-san. Uryuu Minene from the great Future Diary was such a badass, managing to survive to the end despite being the 2nd episode villain. And boy did people die easily in that show.
Wicked Villain
Yuno Gasai from Future Diary is a great one. Her tying up Yuki to take care of him was unforgettable. Kaiki Deishuu from Nisemonogatari is sure to be a fan favorite too. Urara, the epic alien fish villain of Tsuritama was lovable, and I loved that his big intro closed out the series. I was also a fan of K‘s antagonist the Colorless King, who proved to be an extremely cunning and resilient foe.
Kick Ass Main Dude (Main role)
I ended up really liking Yashiro from K. The amnesia story is pretty cliche by now, but I loved his happy go lucky attitude throughout the whole ordeal, and he was a good guy in the end. Koyomi Araragi brushed his sister’s teeth in Nisemonogatari.
Fantastic Lead Female (Main Role)
Nyaruko from Haiyore! Nyaruko-san and Koko Hekmatyar from Jormungand were 2 white-haired beauties who made their shows so much better when taking the spotlight. Can’t forget the title character Mikoto Urabe from Mysterious Girlfriend X. All the comediennes from Joshiraku deserve mention, but I have to highlight Buratei Marii for being the poor butt of every joke, often featuring her butt. Speaking of bloody, Yuno Gasai of Future Diary really showed us why she was the yandere, the one by which all others are measured. Also, I love the heart, courage, and cunning of Miho Nishizumi of Girls und Panzer. Karen Araragi let her brother brush her teeth in Nisemonogatari
Romantic Couples Are Moe
Koyomi Araragi & Hitagi Senjougahara from Nisemonogatari is a nice one, though the recent Nekomonogatari might have people wishing for Koyomi Araragi & Tsubasa Hanekawa. Akira Tsubaki & Mikoto Urabe were what drove all of Mysterious Girlfriend X, and they did a wonderful job of carrying an entire series. The wonderfully dysfunctional Yuno & Yuki team/couple was one of the many highlights of Future Diary. And can’t forget Hyouka’s main couple, the entire driver of the show, Eru Chitanda & Houtarou Oreki. Though Satoshi Fukube & Mayaka Ibara were quite cute as well.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
Still safe! Here are mine (in no particular order):
Best Wingman (Male Supporting Role)
Aquarion EVOL – Andy W. Hole: This man will find you a hole, every single time. orz (at the pun).
Papa no Iu Koto wo Kikinasai! – Nimura Kouichi: Textbook wingman. He’s like the ultimate player, but he’s on your side.
Sword Art Online – Klein: It’s a pinch! Klein appears! You can advance!
Best Gurlfried (Female Supporting Role)
Nisemonogatari – Shinobu: Ka-ka! Self-explanatory.
Mouretsu Pirates – Kurihara Chiaki: Tsun pirate who will help you become a (legal) pirate overlord!
Ano Natsu de Matteru – Yamano Remon: MIB! I didn’t see that coming, but still badass.
Dog Days’ – Yukikaze Panettone: Fox deity who can dish out some serious power. Did I mention she’s also a ninja?
Sword Art Online – Yui: YUUUUUUIIIIIIIIII!!!!!! The awesomest daughter anyone could wish for.
Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon II – Neito Mitotsudaira: Nate and Tori’s scenes were so cute and fun! Especially when Tori was pampering her after her fight ^^ And her loyalty to Tori (from his classroom promise, damn, I teared up when the whole class sided with Tori as he was walking down the steps in S1).
Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon II – Aoi Kimi: The world strongest dancer!
Wicked Villain
Accel World – Noumi Seiji: I’ve never felt so much rage towards an evil character.
Inu x Boku SS – Shoukiin Kagerou: Are you S or M?
Kick Ass Main Dude (Main role)
No nominations. I didn’t find any main characters that just impressed me in 2012, there were some good characters, but nothing outstanding (besides Zetsuen no Tempest, but that’s still airing).
Fantastic Lead Female (Main Role)
Tari Tari – Okita Sawa: Fashionable, cute, strong, and a great dancer! ^^
Yuruyuri ♪♪ – Toshinou Kyouko/Akaza Akari: One who’s super optimistic (we need more of you people!) and selfish, makes for hilarious interactions, and the other puts Mr. Invisible to shame.
Romantic Couples Are Moe
Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun – ShizukuxYamaken: Forget Haru. Yamaken was a much more interesting character.
Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo – MashiroxSorata: Even if Sorata was beta most of the time, they are really cute together!
Tari Tari – SawaxTaichi: You’re a lucky man, Taichi.
Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate – YukixChisato/Satsuki: I deny the Chisato ending. It.Did.Not.Happen. Chisato’s acting skills and Satsuki’s teasing ways ^^
Sword Art Online – KiritoxSachi: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! ;_;
Oda Nobuna no Yabou – YoshiharuxNobuna: An interesting twist and they are cute together (when Nobuna isn’t acting tsundere)
Ano Natsu de Matteru – KaitoxKanna: So cute! Why are some of the best pairings note the ones shown? While Ichika wasn’t bad, Kanna > Ichika hands down.
Kore wa Zombie Desu ka? OF THE DEAD – AyumuxTaeko/Yuki/Sera: Taeko – so cute (twin tails!) Yuki – so cute (ninja bonus and great wife abilities) Sera – 100% abuse satisfaction.
Accel World – HaruyukixKuroyukihime/Chiyuri: I’d be more supportive of these pairings if Haruyuki wasn’t so beta and ball-less. I think I raged at him more than Noumi. He’s up there with most useless MC with OH MA SHOE.
Eureka Seven: AO – AoxFleur: Not quite sure, for most of the series there wasn’t any indication of amy romatic pairing. But the end had me rooting for them, but alas =(
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
Hm, maybe one (or two) nomination(s) for male lead:
Acchi Kochi – Otonashi Io: Jumping out of a second floor window and those pen-twirling skills? And he’s a natural lady-killer!
Nisemonogatari – Koyomi Araragi: Totally forgot about Arararagi-kun. ><
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
You can’t go wrong with Koyomi Araragi. He makes incest look acceptable. His infamous toothbrush scene will make him go down in anime history.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
Mistake on the Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate pairing, should be:
YukixMifuyu/Satsuki: I deny the Chisato ending. It.Did.Not.Happen. Mifuyu’s acting skills and Satsuki’s teasing ways ^^
And also bolding fail orz.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I didn’t mind the Yuki x Chisato ending, but I liked Satsuki better.