By Osmar Montiel: Staff Writer
On February 19th 2021, The popular anime streaming service Crunchyroll held their annual awards show, aptly named “Anime Awards”. These awards are decided by fans voting days prior. With over 70 million registered users, there is certainly a large sample size.
- Best Character design: Mayuka Itou from Toilet Bound Hanako-Kun
With such an…interesting name, I had never given this a watch before. Still, this supernatural comedy is undoubtedly filled with charm as we follow Nene and Mayuka as first years in high school on their adventures with the Spirit that haunts the bathroom. I recommend this to anyone who wants a laugh and to be amazed by the design done by Aidalro.
- Best animation & Best Director: Keep your hands off Eizouken
Keep your hands off Eizouken managed to grab the best animation award and the best director. With Masaaki Yuasa of Devilman Crybaby fame in the director’s chair and Robot Communications North River behind the animation team, the show follows Midori Asakusa. Asakusa is an aspiring anime creator and drags her friend Sayaka Kanamori to an anime screening on campus when they see a classmate being chased by men in black suits, so they help her. I don’t like the art style, But I’d have to be insane not to agree that the characters’ animating is very detailed and impressive.
- Best fight scene and performance by English voice actor: Deku Vs. Overhaul from My Hero Acadamia
This show is a personal favorite; with this fight being my favorite in the show, finding out this one made my day. Because the show is top-rated and because I’ve talked about the show before, I’ll simply talk about the fight’s plot. This fight sees Deku fighting to protect Eri, a seven-year-old girl who can rewind people in time, from overhaul, a Yakuza member looking to exploit and enslave the child. This fight is CHARGED. Not only is it well animated, with clear repercussions, it’s also fascinating to see Deku, a lighthearted and loving hero character, turn into a character with such righteous anger at the villain. Something that only seems to happen when he is protecting children. This season also saw Zeno Robinson get the best performance by an English voice actor.
- Best couple TONIKAWA: Over the moon for you
This show wins the best couple for a reason; following Nasa and Tsukasa Yuzaki’s relationship as newlyweds, this show can have some genuinely moving moments interlaced with the comedic moments the show offers. Their relationship can feel real at times. Give this show a watch if you want to laugh and feel alone at the same time.
- Best performance by a Japanese Voice actor & best fantasy: Re-zero starting life in another world
Yusuke Kobayashi, as Natsuki Subaru, earned this award for his performance in Re-zero playing the protagonist. An Isekai with a unique spin, Re-Zero doesn’t imagine the protagonist as an extremely powerful character, but only having a single ability, the ability to leap through time and avoid his death. This unique take is partly why the show also snagged the best fantasy award.
- Best Comedy: Love is war?
Love is war follows a game of wits between the student council president and vice president Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya. The show has its funny moments. With both characters try to get the other to confess their feelings without revealing their own.
- Best Score: Tower of God
While at first glance Tower of god seems like your usual shonen, watching it gets you Hooked quickly. This is in no small part due to the soundtrack by Kevin Penkin. This score is simply excellent. Take the time to listen to it by itself. That’s what I’m doing while writing this. Trust me; you won’t regret it.
- Best Antagonist, Best Ending sequence, And Anime of the Year: Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen, What is there to say? Jujutsu Kaisen, the only show to win not just two but three awards. These 19 Episodes have captured millions, and with good reason. The story is simple enough to follow for newer anime watchers, with Enough nuance to keep veteran watchers entertained. The show follows Yuji Itadori, a first-year sorcerer and newfound host of a powerful curse named Ryomen Sukuna. He teams up with other sorcerers to dispel the curse, although it would kill him in the process. Isadora must learn to fight both other supernatural beings and his inner curse. With Stellar animation and fantastic fights, this show is sure to be held in high esteem long after its run is done.
