Yesterday's round went more or less as expected, with a couple of the Lucky Star characters doing far better than they did in the first round; this makes sense, as they've actually appeared in more than the opening dance sequence now. ;p Interestingly, no Negima girls made it in.

Today's favorites are Lutecia, Tokiko, Shion from Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru, maybe one of the Simoun or Mai-Otome characters. Tokiko has tsundere moe, though with a slightly disfiguring scar (but hell, Balalaika made it) and standard "female lead in a shounen action show" uselessness... Lutecia is yet another bloody StrikerS character, but at the same time, she's pretty damned cute (think Rider from FSN at ten). Orihime has the same problem as Tokiko, bigger bust but no school uniform moe... ah well.
Top 16 go on to the main tournament:

1位　330 votes Barasuisyou@Rozen Maiden Ouverture
2位　291 votes Kukroi Nanako@Lucky Star
3位　252 votes Akira E. Ferrari@ARIA The NATURAL
4位　233 votes Nadie@EL CAZADOR DE LA BRUJA
5位　231 votes Carim Gracia@Mahou Syoujo Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS
6位　209 votes Pachira@Renkin Sankyuu Magical? Poka~n
7位　205 votes Hijiri Misaki(Red Loli)@Saint October
8位　199 votes Kakizaki Megu@Rozen Maiden Ouverture
9位　187 votes Balalaika@BLACK LAGOON The Second Barrage
10位　185 votes Onimaru Miki@Muteki Kanban Musume
11位　183 votes Shigure Ama@SHUFFLE! MEMORIES
11位　183 votes Minazuki Karen(Cure Aqua)@Yes! PreCure5
13位　182 votes Alice L. Malvin@Pumpkin Scissors
14位　179 votes Lirio@EL CAZADOR DE LA BRUJA
15位　175 votes Yamada Asu@Binbou Shimai Monogatari
16位　174 votes Minagishi Ayano@Lucky Star

Today's round:

<<リシアンサス（シア）＠SHUFFLE！ MEMORIES>>(Lisianthus(Sia)@SHUFFLE! MEMORIES)
<<神河繭子＠sola>>(Kamikawa Mayuko@sola)
<<劉備玄徳＠一騎当千 〜Dragon Destiny〜>>(Ryuubi Gentoku@Ikkitousen ~Dragon Destiny~)
<<烏丸ちとせ＠ギャラクシーエンジェる〜ん>>(Karasuma Chitose@Galaxy Angel-Rune)
<<デ・ジ・キャラット（でじこ）＠ウィンターガーデン>>(Di Gi Charat(Dejiko)@Winter Garden)
<<榊瑞樹＠らぶドル 〜Lovely Idol〜>>(Sakaki Mizuki@Lovedol ~Lovely Idol~)
<<ミナト（エマ・スプリングレイン）＠ZEGAPAIN>>(Minato@ZEGAPAIN)
<<アンバー＠Darker than BLACK -黒の契約者->>(Amber@Darker than BLACK -Kuro no Keiyakusya-)
<<マシロ・ブラン・ド・ヴィントブルーム＠舞−乙HiME Zwei>>(Mashiro Blan de Windbloom@Mai-Otome Zwei)
<<呂蒙子明＠一騎当千 〜Dragon Destiny〜>>(Ryomou Shimei@Ikkitousen ~Dragon Destiny~)
<<高良ゆかり＠らき☆すた>>(Takara Yukari@Lucky Star)
<<座敷童＠xxxHOLiC>>(Zashikiwarashi@xxxHOLiC)
<<小笠原祥子＠マリア様がみてる OVA>>(Ogasawara Sachiko@Maria-sama ga Miteru OVA)
<<ルーテシア＠魔法少女リリカルなのはStrikerS>>(Lutecia@Mahou Syoujo Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS)
<<魔王（マオウ・ザ・グレートステイジアン・オブ・阿部（仮））＠ハヤテのごとく！>>(Maou(Ma ou the Greatstagean of Abe(temporary))@Hayate the Combat Butler)
<<津村斗貴子＠武装錬金>>(Tsumura Tokiko@Busourenkin)
<<ウルド＠ああっ女神さまっ それぞれの翼>>(Urd@Ah My Goddess Sorezore no Tsubasa)
<<春日つかさ＠ときめきメモリアル Only Love>>(Kasuga Tsukasa@Tokimeki Memorial Only Love)
<<遠山翠＠夜明け前より瑠璃色な Crescent Love>>(Tooyama Midori@Yoake Mae Yori Ruriiro na Crescent Love)
<<アイ＠ARIA The NATURAL>>(Ai@ARIA The NATURAL)
<<砕蜂＠BLEACH>>(Soifon@BLEACH)
<<磯野フネ＠サザエさん>>(Isono Fune@Sazae-san)
<<守東由美子（守東由利子）＠桃華月憚>>(Kamiazuma Yumiko(Kamiazuma Yuriko)@Touka Gettan)
<<野々宮舞＠らぶドル 〜Lovely Idol〜>>(Nonomiya Mai@Lovedol ~Lovely Idol~)
<<せんだん＠いぬかみっ！>>(Sendan@Inukami!)
<<ネヴィリル＠シムーン>>(Neviril@Simoun)
<<フラノ＠いぬかみっ！>>(Furano@Inukami!)
<<コゼット＠レ・ミゼラブル 少女コゼット>>(Cosete@Le Miserables Shoujo Cosete)
<<コレット・ブルーネル＠OVA テイルズ オブ シンフォニア THE ANIMATION>>(Collet Brunel@OVA Tales of Symphonia THE ANIMATION)
<<うめ先生＠ひだまりスケッチ>>(Ume-sensei@Hidamari Sketch)
<<ロッティ・ゲラー＠奏光のストレイン>>(Lotti Gellar@Soukou no Strain)
<<井上織姫＠BLEACH>>(Inoue Orihime@BLEACH)
<<来栖とまり＠かしまし 〜ガール・ミーツ・ガール〜>>(Kurusu Tomari@Kashimashi ~Girl Meets Girl~)
<<ハイドラ＠円盤皇女ワるきゅーレ 時と夢と銀河の宴>>(Hydra@UFO Princess valkyrie Toki to Ginga no Utage)
<<スクルド＠ああっ女神さまっ それぞれの翼>>(Skuld@Ah My Goddess Sorezore no Tsubasa)
<<村上夏美＠ネギま！？>>(Murakami Natsumi@Negima!?)
<<栞のクラスメイト＠Kanon>>(Shiori's Classmate@Kanon)
<<十条紫苑＠乙女はお姉さまに恋してる>>(Juujou Shion@Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru)
<<天宮小百合＠ときめきメモリアル Only Love>>(Amamiya Sayuri@Tokimeki Memorial Only Love)
<<リモネ＠シムーン>>(Rimone@Simoun)
<<佐倉紗絵＠sola>>(Sakura Sae@sola)
<<竹田久美子（くーちゃん）＠アニマル横町>>(Takeda Kumiko(Ku-chan)@Animal Yokochou)
<<春日野うらら（キュアレモネード）＠Yes！プリキュア5>>(Kasugano Urara(Cure Lemonade)@Yes! PreCure5)
<<エルウィン＠シャイニング・ティアーズ×ウィンド>>(Elwyn@Shining Tears x Wind)
<<鳴滝史伽＠ネギま！？>>(Narutaki Fumika@Negima!?)
<<アリカ・ユメミヤ＠舞−乙HiME Zwei>>(Arika Yumemiya@Mai-Otome Zwei)
<<カレハ＠SHUFFLE！ MEMORIES>>(Kareha@SHUFFLE! MEMORIES)
<<シズル・ヴィオーラ＠舞−乙HiME Zwei>>(Shizuru Viola@Mai-Otome Zwei)
<<角沢多佳子＠がくえんゆーとぴあ まなびストレート！>>(Kakuzawa Takako@Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight!)

Posted by: Avatar_exADV at 01:21 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
Post contains 248 words, total size 10 kb.

1 I also wouldn't underestimate the popularity of Sendan@Inukami, who made it into the main tournament last year and even won in the first round.  She seems to still have lots of Japanese fans rooting for her, and a very unscientific sampling of ballots so far today shows her getting lots of attention, so I'd expect her to place high.

Also keep an eye on Kasuga Tsukasa@Tokimeki Memorial Only Love, who pulled in a good percentage of the first prelim's votes even considering that group's particularly strong competition, and Amber@Darker than Black, who despite not having had much screen time has already managed to secure a surprisingly loyal fanbase.

Posted by: 0rion at July 28, 2007 02:26 PM (9e2pT)

2 Which one was Amber? Was that the cosplaying detective girl? It's not a good sign when I can't recognize the name of someone from a show I watched... ;p

When I'm doing color commentary, the only things I can go off are shows I've seen or heard about, and the past voting records I have on-hand, which ain't comprehensive - after all, that's one of the reasons to pay attention to this thing. So heads-up are appreciated.

Posted by: Avatar_exADV at July 28, 2007 04:49 PM (PyY3O)

3 Amber is the blond girl with the baseball cap that's appeared in episodes 15&16 so far, who has the power to stop time.

And no problem, just trying to fill out the predictions for the round, since no one person can be up to date on single every character in every show.

I appreciate you providing the pre/post-round analysis and flavor text; makes the game that much more interesting.

In addition, I forgot to mention earlier that Lisianthus from Shuffle stands an excellent chance of qualifying; she placed 13th in the first prelim, and I've seen her name showing up pretty frequently in the voting thread today as well. I don't pay much attention to Mai-Otome, but I've noticed a surprising number votes for the Mai-Otome cast as well, so I wouldn't be surprised if at least one of them continued on to the next round.

Posted by: 0rion at July 28, 2007 05:11 PM (9e2pT)

4 Ah, that explains it... stopped watching when it got picked up, but I've seen her in screen shots.

Not really all that enthusiastic about the chances of the Mai-Otome crowd. They qualified a bunch of characters last year, but absolutely got creamed across the board. Part of that was unlucky - their toughest people tended to run into a Rozen or a Nanoha character early - but part was just lack of support. And to hear tell, the last season wasn't an improvement...

Didn't watch more than an episode or two of Shuffle - it's in the "will watch it if I can borrow it from somebody" stack, or maybe if Funi put it up for a really good sale. No real reason, just didn't get into it.

Posted by: Avatar_exADV at July 28, 2007 05:42 PM (PyY3O)

5

IIRC, Primula from Shuffle got past the first round. I don't remember if she's in the second round or made it to the final.

I guess I understand: an autistic loli with lavender twintails and a dolly; almost the epitome of moe. But for crying out loud; even God and the Devil are afraid of her! Is it moe to represent a danger to the physical structure of the universe?

Posted by: Steven Den Beste at July 29, 2007 01:49 AM (+rSRq)

6

Rats, I posted this in the wrong thread. Could you delete the other copy, please?

I just went back and looked through the results again.

Not only did Pachira (the vampire) get in, so did Uma (the witch) and Liru (the werewolf) from Magipoka. I didn't notice if Aika (the android) also qualified, but I wouldn't be surprised either way.

Wilhelmina was in the top 8 in her bracket? Ye Gods. Gotta be a deliberate voting bloc.

Hirai Yukari from Shakugan no Shana made it through the first round. That's really, really strange -- because she dies in the first episode.

When it comes to Strawberry Marshmallow, the voters are nuts. Ana got in, and that's completely justified. Miu got in, and that's questionable. Nobue got in, and that's really weird, because Matsuri did not? Matsuri is the Goddess of Kawaii. She puts Chiyo-chan to shame. And Nobue isn't cute at all, at least by comparison. What in hell were they thinking? Maybe Matsuri got a tough bracket or something. (Or did you miss her?

Posted by: Steven Den Beste at July 29, 2007 02:08 AM (+rSRq)

7 I didn't start keeping track of these here on the first day, so it's possible her round came up early; but the recap had all the top 1-8 finishers in it, so she definitely wasn't in that. Could just be a tough bracket - there was one with three Kanon characters and multiple Rozen and StrikerS characters, for example.

It's a little early for strategic voting, I think. Looked up Wilhemina's first round, and it wasn't terribly strong - Ana and Ginga took 1-2, and third through ninth had a pretty tight grouping of votes. (Ironically, Nobue came in eighth in that round, Saki from Hayate ninth, and Pachira tenth! Talk about topical results.)

Posted by: Avatar_exADV at July 29, 2007 01:43 PM (OltDj)

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