TV Asahi's Top 25 Voice Actors

Although NHK's Top 100 Best Anime and Best Anime Songs are still open, TV Asahi has listed the Top 25 Anime Voice Actors, according to Anime-Now.

The complete list is below, along with one or two series the voice actor/actress is best known for.

1: Kōichi Yamadera (Beerus, Dragon Ball Super; Spike Speigel, Cowboy Bebop)

2. Masako Nozawa (Son Goku, Dragon Ball)

3. Keiji Fujiwara (Hughes, Fullmetal Alchemist)

4. Miyuki Sawashiro (Fujiko Mine, Lupin III)

5. Tomokazu Seiki (Domon Kasshu, G Gundam; Gilgamesh, Fate/Stay Night)

6. Mayumi Tanaka (Monkey D. Luffy, One Piece; Kuririn, Dragon Ball)

7. Minami Takayama (Conan, Detective Conan)

8. Ryusei Nakao (Frieza, Dragon Ball Z)

9. Toshio Furukawa (Piccolo, Dragon Ball Z)

10. Akio Otsuka (Anavel Gato, Mobile Suit Gundam 0083; Solid Snake, Metal Gear Solid)

11. Megumi Hayashibara (Rei Ayanami, Neon Genesis Evangelion; Ranma Saotome (female), Ranma 1/2)

12. Toshiyuki Morikawa (Yoshikage Kira, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)

13. Hidekatzu Shibata (King Bradley, Fullmetal Alchemist)

14. Junichi Suwabe (Dandy, Space Dandy)

15. Kotono Mitsuishi (Usagi Tsukino/Sailor Moon, Sailor Moon)

16. Akiko Yajima (Shin-chan, Crayon Shin-chan; Relena Peacecraft, Gundam Wing)

17. Yoshiko Sakakibara (Sir Integra, Hellsing; Haman Karn, Gundam ZZ)

18. Kiyoshi Kobayashi (Daisuke Jigen, Lupin III)

19. Yoku Shioya (Will A. Zeppeli, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)

20. Shigeru Chiba (Pilaf, Dragon Ball; Kazuma Kuwabara, Yu Yu Hakusho)

21. Noriko Hidaka (Noriko Takaya, Gunbuster; Akane Tendo, Ranma 1/2)

22. Akira Kamiya (Kenshiro, Fist of The North Star; Roy Fokker, Macross)

23. Kaneta Komotsuki (Suneo, Doraemon)

24. Yuji Mitsuya (Kaioshin, Dragon Ball Z; Virgo Shaka, Saint Seiya)

25 (tie). Hiroaki Hirata (Kotetsu Kaburagi/Wild Tiger, Tiger & Bunny)

25 (tie). Sumi Shimamoto (Kanata Izumi, Lucky Star)

MPX's Top 10 Best TV Anime of 2016

As 2016 comes to a close, most people who do media stuff, be it on Print, TV, Radio, or the Internet, tend to look back at the best and worst moments of the year. Others would give their Top 5, or Top 100 or whatever number they could come up with. So out of tradition, and it's something I haven't done before in MPX, I'll go for the latter and give my picks for Top 10. In this case, my picks for the Top 10 Best TV Anime of 2016.

In 2016 alone, there are over 220 new Anime shows that premiered in Japan. That doesn't include the other long list of long-running Anime like One Piece or Naruto. Then the numerous direct-to-video Anime or ones exclusively on the Internet, or the films. So that's a LOT of Anime out there in one year alone! I don't think there's a human on this planet who would be willing to binge-watch every Anime that came out this year. I certainly can't watch with my busy schedule, so I have to be pretty picky on what Anime I would watch in 2016.

And that's the beauty of Anime. Unlike Animation in other parts of world, particularly the West, Anime in Japan is divided into a series of categories, genres, and demographics. So there definitely is something for everyone out there. So looking back and filtering using only Anime that came on Japanese TV, I watched a grand total of 17. (actually it's 16, as one isn't really Anime, but I consider it personally as such, anyways)

So out of the 17, I picked 10 as my Top favorites. The ones that don't make the cut are, in random order:

- Dragon Ball Super
- Macross Delta
- The TV version of Gundam Unicorn
- Ninja Slayer
- Space Patrol Luluco
- Taboo Tattoo
- and Thunderbolt Fantasy. (I would've picked this as my top show of 2016, but because it's really not anime, and even though I say it is, it has to be bumped off)

Now without further ado, here is MPX's Top 10 Best TV Anime of 2016:

Suspending Episode Reviews For Now

The last couple of days (weeks, actually) has been especially hard for me personally that I've chosen to suspend my episode reviews for all my recent anime at least until I've gotten a better hand of the situation. I will continue to do full series reviews, and I plan to do that for Ajin, Drifters, Keijo, and Diamond is Unbreakable. I'm also working on an incredibly long review of Bee & Puppycat after seeing the final episodes and, if time willing, I'll do my Top Animes of 2016, of which I may put it out either before or after New Year's Day.

So again, sorry for being quiet, but please look forward to my future posts (and videos) soon.

Iron-Blooded Orphans Best Series for December by NewType Magazine

So this scan from the December issue of Newtype Magazine lists Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans as the Top Anime series among readers for the month. In addition, Mikazuki Augus and Orga Itsuka land at Nos. 1 and 4 respectively for "Most Favorite Male Character", while Kudelia Aina Bernstein lands on No.5 for the "Most Favorite Female Character" category.

The translated list as follows:

Most Favorite Male Character
1. Mikazuki Augus (Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans)
2. Kirito (Sword Art Online)
3. Araragi Koyomi (Monogatari Series)
4. Orga Itsuka (Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans)
5. Taki Tachibana (Your Name)
6. Jotaro Kujo (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable)
7. Char Aznable (Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin)
8. Hayate Immelman (Macross Delta)
9. Gintoki Sakata (Gintama)
10. Kira Yamato (Gundam SEED)


Most Favorite Female Character
1. Tsubasa Hanekawa (Monogatari Series)
2. Saber (Fate/stay night UBW)
3. Mitsuha Miyamizu (Your Name)
4. Shinobu Oshino (Monogatari Series)
5. Kudelia Aina Bernstein (Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans)
6. Asuna (Sword Art Online)
7. Rem (Re:Zero)
8. Yui Hirasawa (K-On!)
9. Megumi Kato (Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend)
10. Hitagi Senjougahara (Monogatari Series)


Most Favorite Anime Series
1. Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans
2. Monogatari Series
3. Your Name
4. Kore no Katachi
5. Hibike Euphonium 2
6. Bungou Stray Dogs
7. Macross Delta
8. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable
9. Brave Witches
10. Drifers

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure - Diamond is Unbreakable Ep. 36 Thoughts

Calling it now. Yoshikage Kira, or by his current alias Kosaku Kawajiri, is the top ranked villain of the JoJo series. That is because he has done something no previous villain (or probably even ones after Diamond is Unbreakable) has ever done before - defeating the Joestars. It's shocking, I know, but not without context, which I will explain in this review.

First off, this week's episode of Diamond is Unbreakable gave more details as to the functionality of Killer Queen's third ability, "Bites The Dust". They are as follows:

- Anyone who asks Hayato about Yoshikage, or sees Killer Queen in Hayato, are all killed automatically by Bites The Dust.

- Bites The Dust appears to be immune against all Stand attacks, as featured when Josuke, Jotaro, Okuyasu, and Koichi, attack at once.

- After Bites The Dust claims its latest victim, the time loop is activated and things go back an hour and a half earlier.

- Whatever happens prior to the time loop are bound to happen no matter what direction Hayato takes.

- Bites The Dust will protect the carrier from any harm, even if the carrier chooses to commit suicide.

- Yoshikage will notice the time loop, but is unaware of the details surrounding it.

- Only Yoshikage can remove Bites The Dust from its carrier.

- This is merely an assumption, but it seems that Bites The Dust only gets inside non-Stand users as a carrier. It is unknown if Stand Users can be carriers as well.

We then knew Yoshikage's ultimate plan. By using Hayato and having him indirectly attack the Joestars, he will then remove Bites The Dust in the next time loop after the events occur, causing the fates of the Joestars to be permanent. This leaves very little options for Hayato as the only way he can prevent all of this from ever happening is by either killing Yoshikage himself, or somehow force him to remove Bites the Dust before the said events take place. Not an easy feat when you're a non-Stand User against one who is also a very cunning Serial Killer.

And that is what I like about Yoshikage Kira. He's the one you love to hate because of all the things he has done and gets away with it. Creator Hirohiko Araki has created a villain that even Hollywood would love to adapt in whatever stuff they are doing.

It's amazing how the fate of the Joestars, and the downfall of Yoshikage, rests firmly on Hayato's hands when everything is stacked against him as he is at such a disadvantage already. For a moment, it elevates the underdog trope we see in many works as Hayato makes one last attempt to stop Yoshikage and Bites The Dust once and for all, only to see it fail. Or is this another one of Araki's signature misdirections and Hayato came up with a backup plan.

We can only find out in the next episode, that is aptly named "Crazy Diamond is Unbreakable". I find it hard to believe the series is about to end very soon, as this has been quite an amazing ride. Diamond is Unbreakable is clearly a contender for Anime of The Year.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure - Diamond is Unbreakable Ep. 35 Thoughts

This week's episode of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable (JBA: DiU) is, no pun intended, 'bizarre', as I had to actually watch it repeatedly to get a grasp as to what was going.

When we last saw JBA, Hayato Kawajiri has discovered that his father Kosaku (aka Yoshikakge Kira) isn't what he seems and throws a leverage that would keep Kosaku from killing him and his mother, Shinobu. However, in the very opening of the episode, we found out that Yoshikage already killed Hayato and hid his corpse. Then Yoshikage's father arrives and warns his son that the Joestars are now on to him. Yoshikage starts to panic as he has no intention of leaving Morioh until the Arrow, which gives anyone it hits a Stand, acts on its own and hits Yoshikage once again.

Full Disclosure: I never read the JBA manga, so I do not know if at some point, there would be an explanation with regards to the origins of the Bow and Arrow, as it was responsible for most of the Stand Users featured from Stardust Crusaders onwards. Obviously, the Joestars were never hit with the Arrow, but managed to have their own Stands anyway. Some say that was the result of the evolution of the Hamon/Ripple technique when Jonathan Joestar learned it from Will. A Zeppeli back in Phantom Blood.

Back to the episode, later on we see Hayato alive and well and is just about to start his day. He still remembers what happened the night he was killed, while he notices Kosaku with a new hairdo and full of confidence. He's so confident he revealed his real identity to Hayato and even claims that no one can rival him now. Hayato would later run into Rohan, who uses his Heaven's Door on Hayato to find out what he knows. Hayato, within his writing, warns Rohan not to go further. Rohan ignores and learns the truth.

Then out of nowhere, Killer Queen comes up and we learn that the Arrow gave Yoshikage a new ability for Killer Queen called "Bite The Dust", made to prevent Hayato from telling anyone Kosaku's true identity by killing those who do learn about it. So Rohan dies in the most horrible way possible just as the rest of the gang are gathering up.

After Rohan is killed, Hayato wakes up and realizes he's repeating the same event as before. Basically, each time Bites The Dust is activated, it turns back time by one hour, creating a time loop. So now Hayato is stuck in the time loop while Kosaku continues his business. This time loop may have also been the cause of Hayato somehow ending up alive after Kosaku kills him the night before.

I'm quite shocked Rohan ends up not only getting killed off, but is destined to die in each time loop. He's actually my most favorite character in Diamond is Unbreakable and it's gut-wrenching to see him in his fate, which is far worse than how half of Jotaro's group ended up in Stardust Crusaders. I wonder how will Hayato get out of this, given he knows nothing about stands, and how will the Joestars learn of not only Yoshikage's new identity, but also his new ability?

And speaking of Yoshikage, the guy continues to show how incredibly cunning he is and fearful is his Killer Queen. He's basically reached a point where he surpasses even DIO himself. Not to make a VS Battle discussion, but I cannot see how DIO would beat Yoshikage when the former can only stop time while the latter can create explosions and even trap his victims in an infinite time loop.

There's only a few episodes left in Diamond is Unbreakable, and wondering how the Joestars can overcome Yoshikage and his Killer Queen becomes even more interesting. I do hope the Joestars do finish Yoshikage off and avenge Rohan's death.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure - Diamond is Unbreakable Ep. 34 Thoughts

This is perhaps the longest arc out of everything we see in Diamond is Unbreakable. I honestly can’t recall anything in this series, or in Stardust Crusaders, with an arc lasting more than 4 episodes. Nevertheless, the Day of July 15th has finally reached its conclusion.

We begin with Rohan’s dealing with the Stand, Cheap Trick (weirdly, the sub version I watched correctly used the name rather than alternative “Cheap Trap”. Either Cheap Trick has no issues using his name in the anime and lets it slide, or I’m watching the version that uses the names correctly regardless of the copyright issue).  We learn that Cheap Trick isn’t really much and just annoys the user with his banter, and any attempts to physically remove him forcefully would result in Cheap Trick literally ripping the user’s back. Unfortunately, due to the several bad encounters Rohan has made with Josuke and co., none seems eager to help him with his predicament, even with Koichi.  Rohan has no choice but to make his way to the Morioh Grand Hotel and seek help from Jotaro (who we know is out looking for Yoshikage Kira).

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure creator Hirohiko Araki has somehow mastered the art of misdirection, which has become one of the staples of the series. In my experience, as the plot unfolds, I never really gave notice on the misdirection the show makes, even though it has been pretty commonplace. Araki does it again when Rohan made Cheap Trick believe he was going to see Jotaro, but in fact he went to the Ghost Alley where Reimi Sugimoto is, and used one of the forbidden rules of the alley (never look back when leaving the area) to have Cheap Trick trapped and free Rohan. As a bonus, Reimi provided clues as to Yoshikage’s new identity.

In the second half of the episode, Yoshikage, as Kosaku Kawajiri, gives in to his murderous urge after being harassed by a local couple. We are then reminded as to why he’s one of the most feared antagonists throughout JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, even more frightening than Dio himself, after he kills off the boyfriend using Killer Queen and, by just conversation and gesture alone, scares the living hell out of the girlfriend, and the audience. Anime has struggled with horror because of the format being mostly 2D and could not be as convincing as live-action. But the way Yoshikage deals with the woman before ‘poofing’ her is far more frightening than any of the horror films I’ve seen this year.

But Yoshikage’s urge may be his undoing as his latest murder has been caught on tape by the young Hayato Kawajiri. This leads to a scary and somewhat awkward situation, of Yoshikage and Hayato sharing a bath together with the latter intent on killing him there. But Hayato reveals he has ANOTHER camera filing them in the shower and caught Yoshikakge’s intent on killing him, giving Hayato the leverage he needs to survive.

This episode is an example of the strangeness of Japan’s censorship policy towards certain scenes. Much of the graphic scenery has been blackened out if not done off-screen. But nudity, at least in Hayato’s case, is not an issue and we get to see him full frontal, compared to Yoshikage, who is censored. There have been other anime where graphic violence is ok to show, but not nudity. How times have changed from decades ago, I guess.

At any rate, the show is inching closer to its eventual conclusion. I’m curious as to how Hayato can keep himself alive, not knowing anything about Stands, and how Josuke and the gang finally catch up on Yoshikage. The suspense is another thing that makes JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure a great series and the next episode just can’t come soon enough.