Lurker > pyresword

Gun's & Roses
only my railgun

No time for writeups the next few days but these are both classics

Period
Kawaki wo Ameku

I'm not personally as big a fan of Unravel as a lot of people, but that feels like another very strong r1 match

I like Lloyd but Rean is also very good, especially in CS3 through Reverie

catesdb posted...

this one, i did see coming

I saw it coming but because I played the games out of order :(

Rixia so good. I liked this chapter a lot.

Shiki no Uta
God only knows Daisanmaku

Very sad TWGOK had to get fed to Evangelion like this. Love the contrast between the different parts of the TWGOK OP though.

Catch You Catch Me
Tabi no Tochuu

I don't really like anything about database and I've never gotten the love for it. I guess I don't really have a problem with the visuals, but I can't stand the song and the visuals at least fail to do anything to make up for it. For Catch You Catch Me I like the cute style of the song a lot. Very pleasant OP.

Tabi no Tochuu is my 2nd favorite OP of all time, and since my my 1st died to RNG at 3 nominations I guess this is my darling of the contest. Gorgeous vocals--especially the harmonized section--and the visuals really give off the feeling of going on an adventure through the unknown. Random thing and I don't know why, but I really love the section where the rolling coin transitions into rolling wagon in time with the piano notes. Very cool effect. On the other hand, Wiseman Theme is is a very fun OP all around and I think it works pretty well also, but as the above might suggest there was very little chance of my ever voting for it in this match.

ambiguous
Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari

Namae no nai Kaibutsu is a totally pleasant ED, but I have relatively middling feelings on the song which prevents it from leaving too much of an impression. For the Kill la Kill OP, I can't say I have positive feelings about some of the Studio Trigger weirdness, but I still think there's a bit more to like here regardless.

Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari definitely one of my favorites. Cute, stylized animation with a very catchy and heartfelt song. The tie-in to the ED Bakemonogatari does in episode 12 is also one of the greatest anime sequences ever (in part due to the ED itself, to be clear) and really elevates this in my head, but even if for contest purposes you want me to cover my eyes and pretend that didn't happen it's still an easy vote here. Realize a totally reasonable and good OP but it's way out of its league in this match.

I don't know if the series always does a great job of showcasing this but Lloyd is definitely one of the most observant characters characters. I think it's cool because it always reminds you that he is in fact a detective by training and not just some super powered fighter like a lot of the other major characters. (Ok probably being a real detective is nothing like being a fictional detective anyways but let's ignore that)

ZeldaTPLink posted...

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/6/8/9/AAO9CbAAEyUh.jpg

Tio 100% most cultured character in the series

Nana Hitsuji
The Real Folk Blues

The Perfect Insider ED isn't quite as good as the OP (which--yes--I know is also in the contest) but it's still great. Good song with some very cool visuals. I don't think I knew what Conway's Game of Life or the context behind it was when I first watched the show, but it definitely makes this ED even cooler especially in-context. (Side note: Some neat ideas but I think the show flubs the execution a lot--do not recommend). The One Piece OP is fine but I don't care much for the song and the visuals can only help it so much.

Tomadoi->Recipe is a mostly cool song with some really creative visuals and a lot of personality. Pleasantly surprised by this one, but unfortunately it's up against an all-timer. The Real Folk Blues would be better with some better visuals, but honestly the gritty photograph style also kind of works for this particular show such that it doesn't get knocked down that much. And the song itself is just fantastic.

Tbh I think Wild Side will run away with matches until it has to face either Hikaru Nara (probably) or Magia.

Brand New World
Utauyo!! MIRACLE

Both songs in match 1 are really great, upbeat, fun shounen OP's. The visuals of Brand New World make it work much better as an opening theme for me though.

Match 2 is weird. I've never been huge on Sawano vocal themes and gravityWall particularly just feels very middling and non-substantial even as a Re:Creators fan. It's safe but doesn't really have any impact, which I don't think is where OP's really want to be. In contrast, if anything I'd say I dislike the song in Utauyo!! Miracle, but it 100% gives the show a strong sense of personality and makes this a pretty easy vote.

Also definitely agree on the Bang Dream cover of Ready Steady Go being much better.

Kiri
Wild Side

I don't really like either OP in the first match and rather than dwell on why I'll just leave it at that.

Match 2 is the match of great songs with visual styles I don't care at all for. Wild Side kind of fits thematically though so I think it gets the edge here.

My ranking is Randy > Lloyd/Tio > Elie but they're all pretty good.

Also definitely agree on this point

This party is definitely more than the sum of the individuals though.

MacArrowny posted...

You'll run into dead ends frequently enough that I'd probably stay on one as long as possible

Yeah this is what I'd say also. Switching around too much can also be a pain if there's some quartz or whatever that you're also trying to rotate between groups.

Hikaru Nara
ODDTAXI

Hikaru Nara has always been a favorite of mine. I really have a thing for harmonized vocals in anime OP's and this definitely falls into that niche.

Magia is a great song that works even better in the context of the show, but the ED could be a lot better though if there was more to the visuals. The color effects are cool but unfortunately underwhelming compared to the actual show. ODDTAXI is most likely a weaker song but as an opening it does an incredible job setting the tone for the show. Visuals are very cool as well. Wouldn't be upset if either won here though.

(I should also say that I suspect a not insignificant number of people would say the same thing about whatever I were to use my auto-include on, hypothetically)

People already use their normal nominations on songs I find utterly reprehensible so that argument is more or less falling on deaf ears.

Disgaea is my go to example for this because I adore the game from a creative standpoint, but I am not really a tactics RPG fan and just never was actually able to have fun playing the game.

Kara no Kokoro
Dango Daikazoku

Great Days is also great and I'd have voted it over either entry in the first match pretty handily, but Dango Daikazoku is a legitimate contender for best OP/ED of all time. I only didn't nominate it because I assumed it would do poorly so I'm glad some people had more faith in it than I did. At least to me though a lot of the appeal is how it ties in to the themes of the show, along with the fact that it's reprising one of the best musical motifs.

I suspect adding auto-include would be a more significant positive change for those in support than it would be a negative change for those against.

My personal opinion is against auto-include but it seems like a good idea to have a vote/poll on the issue and do whatever the majority wants, or something similar.

This feels like a show that's fallen out of relevance, but after years I finally got around to starting Gosick. Mostly because the OP/ED contest reminded me how awesome the ending theme was. (The ED did not make it into the contest but I did try...)

3 episodes in and the show is pretty good. Something about the style at least gave me the impression that the show would be a bit stiff, but this was definitely wrong. The show is very lively, and I love the dynamic between the 2 leads and Victorique especially. The mystery for the first arc was also quite exciting--for some reason I was expecting closer to Hyouka in style, which is a show I didn't end up liking all that much.

I unironically like Shalashaska don't @ me

Hot Coldman is the worst but the other options definitely aren't lacking in competition

voltch posted...

I swear Crossing Field is half the reason why I stuck by SAO

Honestly this is true for me also and it's why I have such a large amount of respect for specifically the OP.

pyresword posted...

Caught up on Mushoku Tensei.

I know there was some worry beforehand about season 2 due to staff changing or whatever, but the show is still great.

I say this and then the episode that aired today was...not great. Moreso because of writing weirdness than anything with the adaptation, but still.

ZeldaTPLink posted...

I have been recruited into fishing. Another trails protagonist has fallen

you mean ascended

Tag

Star

I feel like I wouldn't have said this if I saw the prompt anywhere other than a GameFAQ's forum though.

Caught up on Mushoku Tensei.

I know there was some worry beforehand about season 2 due to staff changing or whatever, but the show is still great.

My memory is that the prologue is by far the shortest of the chapters.

I am a big Lloyd fan personally but he's definitely not the most popular SSS character overall.

ZeldaTPLink posted...

on our way to the lawyer's office, we run into some guy with glasses who is also a massive jerk. these aren't lacking in this game, huh

I actually don't remember this part or who this is at all. Is this Dudley? (a green haired guy) That's my best guess I suppose.

I was hoping someone would nominate Again. I do like Period about the same overall but it's just carried by the song being awesome, whereas Again really has that classic anime opening vibe to it; I don't know. The visuals are fantastic and it just feels very nostalgic.

That went a lot better than I was expecting honestly, and it looks like most of the 3's will end up making it unless I suck at counting

Everyone knows the real power players in Zemuria are the Fisherman's Guild and the secret cabal of news reporters

The church? Ouroboros? The Erebonian Empire? All small-timers.

Will drop a few of mine for some great stuff I assumed I wouldn't have to support:

DROP
ED1 - Hibari - ASCA - Lord El-Melloi II's Case Files: Rail Zeppelin Grace Note
OP 1 - DREAM SOLISTER - TRUE - Sound! Euphonium

ADD
OP1 - Hikaru Nara - Goose House - Your Lie in April
OP1 - Gun's & Roses - Paradise Lunch - Baccano

This was a pretty good contest I think. Somewhat lackluster winner but definitely not the worst, and I'm thrilled Dancing Mad and Sunleth were finally able to retire. Last Specter's Theme was also a really cool song that I don't think I'd actually heard before the contest.

Wasn't able to be as active as the past few years due to also dealing with my last semester of grad school, but hopefully next year I'll have a bit more time.

Thanks as always for hosting things!

Gankutsuou OP >>> Gankutsuou ED but I already know the OP will get no support

Tag.

Hope you like playing as the not-Bracer of the Crossbell police department who are totally not Bracers I swear. (Ok to be fair the game actually does treat it like a real difference; I just think it's funny how the series keeps coming up with ways to give the main character bracer-like tasks because it is an RPG)

I generally viewed Arios as more comparable to Cassius than to Loewe. Loewe is on his own level of edge. Of course, he does not hold a candle to Cassius but then again almost no one does.

I will go ahead and make these by bold votes

Changing from single nomination to double:
OP 1 - Koko - Tamurapan - Kyousougiga
OP 1 - Tabi no Tochuu - Kiyoura Natsumi - Spice and Wolf
OP 1 - God only knows Daisanmaku - Oratorio The World God Only Knows - The World God Only Knows
ED 1 - Kirameku Hamabe - Yuiko Ohara - Land of the Lustrous
ED 1 - Resuscitated Hope - Lisa Komine - Gosick

ready

ED5 - In the Back Room - syudou - Chainsawman
ED1 - The Real Folk Blues - SEATBELTS - Cowboy Bebop
OP 4 - Period - Chemistry - Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
OP 1 - Inferno - Mrs. Green Apple - Fire Force

I like the Sky arc the most but all the games are great.

Will add some support to some stuff probably tonight but also wanted to throw this one in that I forgot about, since I like the song too much not to.

ED1 - Hibari - ASCA - Lord El-Melloi II's Case Files: Rail Zeppelin Grace Note

the one who knocks

I was going through to listen to some of the ones I wasn't familiar with and I noticed Roba accidentally listed the same song twice (The ZLS one). I think it got counted twice also though it's worth double checking.

The Last Specter's Theme

Solid finals I guess. Last Specter's Theme would be a great winner and Back in Time would at least be acceptable even if I'd probably rank it as one of the weaker champions.

HanOfTheNekos posted...

https://voca.ro/1jBd4DjRj93Q

"Ski" is pronounced like in the 4th "sing" variant that you identify as ridiculous, so if people voting the 3rd/4th option in this poll aren't pronouncing "sing" like that then they've answered incorrectly.

My first thought was fuck but I definitely wish it had been ALL OF ME

As I typed that up I realize when using the "-ing" suffix I have a tendency to drop the g sound entirely but for the purposes of the above post pretend that doesn't happen.

I live in Ohio right now and can confirm Cincinnati specifically has an accent that is not a Chicago accent.

I'm interpreting the say/ski options as being the words "saying" and "seeing" but with the i sound removed which is very distinctly not how I say the words sang or sing, and again I don't even think I'm even capable of saying "sayng" or "seeng" without just automatically adding an i or really proceeding slowly.