ISML Preliminaries Have Begun! Plus, Some Anime Insights
Ξ January 31st, 2010 | → 0 Comments | ∇ The Anime Annals |
Just a quick little heads-up for those interested in getting in on The 2010 International Saimoe League from the start: the first Preliminary Match has begun today, and only runs for one full day, ending at 15:00 on the 1st, so time to get your votes in! Go here to begin!
And here’s KholdStare’s Promotional Video for it:
A couple of minor things to note: Not all of the girls pictured are contestants; they’re just moe~ 
Also, the music is from the series Ichigo Mashimaro, and its star(let)s can be seen starting at around 0:45 into it. Good job, KS!
Here’s my voting tally, taken from the Ballot Page’s results (after you’ve voted, you can copy various codes to use in blogs, forums and websites). Basically, each Arena has three contestants to choose from, plus an option to abstain if you wish. BTW, I don’t abstain 
And remember: YMMV (Your Moe May (and will) Vary)!
ARENA 01: Abstained Akiyama Mio [Ryōgi Shiki] Senō Natsuru
ARENA 02: Abstained Kawasumi Mai Yuno [Ichinose Kotomi]
ARENA 03: Abstained Kotegawa Yui [Uiharu Kazari] Felli Loss
ARENA 04: Abstained [Senjōgahara Hitagi] Louise Vallière Sōryū Asuka Langley
ARENA 05: Abstained [Kamio Misuzu] Fujibayashi Ryō Kotobuki Tsumugi
ARENA 06: Abstained Sawachika Eri [Sanzen'in Nagi] Winry Rockbell
ARENA 07: Abstained Shiina Mafuyu Takei Hisa [Sonozaki Shion]
ARENA 08: Abstained [Kurata Sayuri] Lambdadelta Maria
ARENA 09: Abstained [Hinaichigo] Sangō Shizuku Kusakabe Misuzu
ARENA 10: Abstained Sakurano Kurimu Ryūgū Rena [Shindō Chihiro]
ARENA 11: Abstained [Bernkastel] Lisa Alice
ARENA 12: Abstained Niche [Hiiragi Tsukasa] Kirishima Akari
ARENA 13: Abstained [Suigintou] Tainaka Ritsu Ranka Lee
ARENA 14: Abstained Yin Nagi [Furukawa Nagisa]
ARENA 15: Abstained Chii Saber [Tsukimiya Ayu]
ARENA 16: Abstained [Holo] Kushieda Minori Tsuruya
ARENA 17: Abstained [Sōseiseki] Yoko Littner Ikaros
ARENA 18: Abstained [Daidōji Tomoyo] Konjiki no Yami Kirishima Kotone
ARENA 19: Abstained [Sengoku Nadeko] Suō Pavlichenko Enma Ai
ARENA 20: Abstained Yagami Hayate Mishima Akane [Ibuki Fūko]
ARENA 21: Abstained [Miyamura Miyako] Hirasawa Ui Erurū
ARENA 22: Abstained [Kuronuma Sawako] Sunohara Mei Nishizawa Ayumu
ARENA 23: Abstained [Amae Koromo] Shirayuki Mizore Beatrice
ARENA 24: Abstained Chiba Kirino [Nymph] Isayama Yomi
ARENA 25: Abstained Takamachi Nanoha Ushiromiya Maria [Shihō Matsuri]
ARENA 26: Abstained [Mizuno Kaede] Sakurazaki Setsuna Izumi Konata
ARENA 27: Abstained Yūki Mikan C.C. [Hachikuji Mayoi]
Every so often I still encounter people here who just don’t (or won’t) get the fascination with anime that fans in the U.S. (and countries outside of Japan) have. As this also has a lot to do with the moe sub-phenomenon, I’ll add it here, courtesy of John Opplinger of Anime Nation’s Blog, in his “Ask John” column (emphasis in the following is mine):
Question:
Could you give me some insight into what makes Americans like anime? What is it about this foreign art that Americans find appealing?
Answer:
In my own estimation, one of the major drawing points anime has over American cartoons is its emphasis on characterizations. The bright colors and fantastic look of anime attract viewers initially, and some people will argue that it’s the outrageous action, violence and sensationalism that attract Americans to anime, but shows like Sailormoon and Tenchi Muyo which are popular on TV now have relatively little of that. The most fundamental difference between anime and American cartoons is that anime is always grounded in its characters. American cartoons will place characters in a situation. Anime places situations around characters. Many anime shows have a continuing story, while very nearly all American cartoons are episodic, created specifically to be a series of individual, stand-alone stories rather than small pieces of a whole. Even in the case of anime series that are episodic, the characters develop and change from episode to episode. Anime, therefore, engenders more personal involvement between the show and the viewer than typical American cartoons do. Live-action programs commonly feature a continuing story and developing characters, you may argue, so why do anime fans still cling so tenaciously to anime rather than to live-action? Anime, when compared to live-action, can provide more involvement and interaction than even live-action because anime is so obviously fantasy that it allows for suspension of disbelief, and allows for role-playing with much greater ease than live-action programs do. When watching a live-action program, a viewer may think, “I wouldn’t do that,” or “I wouldn’t be there or wouldn’t say that,” because live-action is so familiar that a viewer can imagine him/herself as a part of the situation on screen, or alienate them self from the characters on screen, i.e. “Those beautiful people would never hang out with me,” or “I’d never be caught dead with those dumb people.” With anime, it’s simply easier to place oneself amidst the action because the action is so far apart from our natural expectations, prejudices and assumptions.
Well said, John!
I plan on doing one or two Posts this week (time permitting) that will put these comments to good use in highlighting the shows I’m following in this Winter Season and the reasons why, and then hope to follow that up with another in the “AMV’d” series highlighting one of the most powerful “personally involving” series I’ve ever come across, the ef – a fairy tale of the two pair of anime, namely, ef – a tale of memories, and ef – a tale of melodies. These are two truly captivating shows, at times breathtakingly so (pretty literally in several scenes), that anyone who appreciates character-driven stories of emotional depth will love. That doesn’t even take into account the visual effect (and Affect)! But more on these tales when the time comes
Until then, enjoy (and behave) yourselves 