matt hackmann - web developer - artist - nerd

Here we are at the final day of the year and our little anime awards show. So, here they are and we'll see you on the other side!

Best Show of 2011

Chris - Steins;Gate

Time travel stories are amazing, and this is something I've always known. However, Steins Gate -- a show I started watching out of idle curiosity - has confirmed how badass I think they are. Why is that, exactly? Sit your ass down and I'll tell you.

Like all good time travel stories, the show starts out all, "Huh?" then proceeds to, "Ah!" and ends on a "I FUCKING UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING NOW." You know what really helps these temporal feelings along? A refreshing cast of badass and well developed characters -- surprisingly light on school girls -- teams up with the plot to create a story so badass that you will sit down on the stoop of your Manhattan apartment and think like a GODDAMN MAN.

Convinced yet? Not enough info for your tastes? TOUGH SHIT. Absorb it through every orifice and be glad you did.

Welcome back, and now for installment two of the 2011 Best of Anime Awards (Part 1, if you missed it).

Best Character

It's that time of year again. That is, the end of the year and the beginning of another. As has become a normal thing for my website, I am here doing reviews of anime series I watched during the year. However, I will be changing it up a bit and instead of reviewing everything, things will be done in a categorized award fashion. Joining me again this year are my brothers Jeff and Chris. So, without further ado, let's begin!

Why the Hell did I Watch That?

Chris - First half of the first episode of We Without Wings

I'll be honest, I watched the first episode of this show because I wanted to see some mad panty shots. What did I get? An initial two minutes of fan service that made me uncomfortable, followed by ten minutes of a couple of dick weeds in a bar having a boring ass conversation.

I will never get those twelve minutes of my life back.

A few months back, my two youngest bros and myself had a little art battle which I summarily won quite handily. This weekend, as I was visiting my folks, we held another one. Same premise: each person chooses a picture, all three must draw said picture to the best of their ability. All laying around my iPad, the battle began.

I would've figured Joe would have this in the bag as he draws Wind Waker Link A LOT and without reference, even. But, such was not to be. As can be seen, I got a little bored waiting for everybody to finish.

Now, I will go on record and say I didn't like the chosen picture much, but there it is. I'd actually call this a three way tie because we all hit and miss aspects of the picture (there's something going on with the eyes on mine).

Joe decided to sit this one out for whatever reason pretty much leaving me the winner by default. Both Steve and I quit prematurely because we were getting bored with the whole thing. I'm just happy mine doesn't look "lumpy" and even Chris agreed.

So, there it is. Our second art battle with me, yet again, taking away the trophy. I think next time we should try not copying a source image and just toss out a subject to draw. It could very well level the playing field. All in good fun, though.

Today was the first of our three day long anime convention that is Tokyo in Tulsa. Before you ask, I did not cosplay today. That will be for tomorrow, the largest and busiest day of the con. So far, this year has far and away kicked the pants off of TnT last year. The panels have been better so far (thank you, Todd Haberkorn; you are truly hilarious) and the fact that they acquired the convention center over the cramped hotel has made it much nicer, though it's still cramped. Good times were had and I hope tomorrow will go even better.

But, you want pictures. So pictures you will have. Hit them after the break.