Return of the Tsundere

It’s about damn time. Com’on, Tsundere is moe. What was everyone thinking for the past few years last year?! So after winning – Suiseiseki and also claiming third – Shana (and Rin Tosaka in eighth?! Kidding me?) in 2006 and only second – Nagi last year… this year, it’s the return of the tsundere – All hail Kagamin, because she is the winner of the 2008 Anime Saimoe Tournament..

アニメ最萌トーナメント – Anime Saimoe Tournament is the annual online voting contest held by 2ch to vote for the most moe anime character of the year. Here’s a look at how the competition went this year:-

On 18th August, there were 289 characters nominated and they were divided into 8 different groups:

Fuko claimed the winner of Group A after beating Hanyu from Higurashi-Kai (Group Final), Haruka from Minami-ke (Group Semis), Ginga and Fate from Nanoha Strikers (2nd Round) and Konoe from Shana II and Raimei from Nabari no Ou (1st Round). Also in the same group, Abiru and Kiri from Zetsubo Sensei, C.C. from Code Geass, Aiko from True Tears, Toma from Minami-ke, San from Seto no Hanayome, Nanaka from D.C. II, Kei from ef, Eriko from KimiKiss, Chizuru from Kanokon and others.

In Group B, Kirino emerged victorious after dueling with Mikan from To Love-Ru (Group Final), Lunar from Seto no Hanayome (Group Semis), Asami from Myself;Yourself and Flora from (Nanatsuiro) (2nd Round) , Ellis from El Cazador and Ume Sensei (lol!) from Hidamari (1st Round). Shirley, Nunnally from Code Geass, Haruhi from Suzumiya Haruhi, Coopa from Druaga, Yuko from ef, Kaguya from Gintama, Ryou and Yukine from Clannad, etc. were also in the same group.

And oh Kagamin, winning Group C convincingly by no less than 400 majority votes, crushing Kyou from Clannad (Group Final), Amu from Shugo Chara (Group Semis), Mizore from Rosario and Yuka from Minami-ke (2nd Round), Sanae from Clannad and Shion from Higurashi (1st Round). Kaguya and Tianzi from Code Geass, Kana from Minami-ke, Tamaki from To Heart 2, Honami and Manami from Rental Magica, Rin and Kafuka from Zetsubo, Louise from Zero no Tsukaima, etc. stood no chance against Kagamin.

Next is Tomoyo, bested Miyako from Hidamari (Group Final), Konata from Lucky Star (Group Semis), Kotomi also from Clannad and Yoshinoya Sensei from HIdamari (2nd Round),  Sheryl from Macross F and Chigusa (huh?!) from Shana (1st Round) to claim Group D. Others in Group D were Nora from Wolf and Spice, Setsuna from School Days, Yumi from KimiKiss, Yume from D.C. II, Sayako from Code Geass, Haruna from To Love-Ru, Rahzel from Hatenkou Yugi, etc.

In Group E, Tamaki beat Shana from Shana (Group Final), Chiaki from Minami-ke (Group Semis), Horo from Wolf and Spice (what?) and Koko from D.C. II (2nd Round), Sayako also from Bamboo Blade and Anzelotte from Night Wizard (1st Round). Also in Group E were Otoha from Sky Girls, Ranka from Macross F, Siesta from Zero no Tsukaima, Mikan from Rental Magica, Ai from Zetsubo Sensei, Hiromi from True Tears, Yukari from Rosario, Akira from Lucky Star, etc.

Nagisa is the winner of Group F, after having beaten Yagami from Nanoho (Group Final), Hatenayousei (huh?) from Challenge 1st Year Student (Group Semis), Sumi from Moetan and Athena from ARIA (2nd Round), Karen from Code Geass and Kanata from Lucky Star (1st Round) – woo, tough round. Also in Group F, Sasara and Ikuno from To Heart 2, Clan Clang from Macross F, Miyako from ef, Machi from Airantou, Kaere from Zetsubo, Ayano from Lucky Star, Izumi from Hayate, etc.

Next up is Tsukasa, winner of Group G. She bested Akari from ARIA (Group Final), Nagi from Hayate (Group Semis), Mana from sola and Beal from Night Wizard (2nd Round), Cornelia from Code Geass and Yayoi from Idolmaster (1st Round). Anya from Code Geass, Yukari (huh?) from Lucky Star, Koyori from sola, Yin from Darker than Black, Manaka from To Heart 2, Chihiro from ef, Manabi from Manabi, and Satoko from Higurashi are among others that were in Group G.

And finally, the last of the last eight, Hinagiku is the winner of Group H. She defeated Noe from True Tears (Group Final), Eika from Sky Girls (Group Semis), Misao from Lucky Star and Yaya from Shugo Chara (2nd Round), Raichou from Kyoran Kazoku Nikki and Alice from ARIA (1st Round). Mei from Clannad, Chiri from Zetsubo, Suzu from Airantou, Patricia from Lucky Star, Matoi from Zetsubo, Akeno from Seto no Hanayome, Ayane from Airantou, etc.

In the last eight, Kagami defeated Tomoyo, Nagisa bested Tamaki, Tsukasa beat Fuko and Hinagiku ousted Kirino. A fierce battle between Tsukasa and Hinagiku ended with Tsukasa joining her sister Kagami, who defeated Nagisa with a 200 majority vote, in the final. The final voting ended on 2nd November, Kagami with 1037 votes and Tsukasa 976.

It’s a shame though no one from outside Japan can vote for their favorite characters, since the contest was limited to Japan only. Who’s your saimoe character?