Welcome to Lunatic Antics! We may be crazy, but at least we have each other.

We are officially on the clock for this year’s edition of Saimoe.  Our contributors this year will be colour-coded for your convenience once again. Staff predictions are in bold, with personal votes in italics.

Seishi, chaosprophet, KholdStare, uis, Teiran, Alice, overfunk

Let's get the party started

A-Block

A1-1: This probably the most underwhelming match I’ve seen to start Saimoe. Kureha will need quite a salvo to take down Miki’s aura.

A1-2: Here’s our first chance at a split, but I don’t think Working!! fans will let it happen this early. If it somehow does happen, look for Hiiragi to capitalize

A1-3: Hidamari Sketch has proven to be one of Saimoe’s most consistent performers, and this group should be no exception.

A1-4: All four are decently-placed qualifiers, I can see Hanyuu winning this with a slight scratch on her horns.

A1-5: Thus, To-Love-Ru‘s eternal screwjob continues. Why did it have to be snakes?

A1-6: Isn’t it sad, Secchan?

A1-7: Tsubasa and Ikaros placed 6th and 7th respectively in the same preliminary group. The kitty has more lives to use and should pull this one out again.

A1-8: Hard to say here…Karen was in a relatively weak preliminary group, but should win here on enough series mojo.

A1-9: Nazuna is gonna get worked.

A2-1: Not even a sword can repel sunglasses!Yuno from a block final.

A2-2: If there’s any place for this bracket to go wrong, it’d be right here. However, I believe Yui’s superior [s]string[/s] firepower should be enough to take down any chance Nadeko has.

A2-3: Nagi doesn’t even need a split to win this.

AF: Despite getting ganked in her block final last year, Nagi is still one of the strongest characters in this year’s competition; she should accumulate the least amount of hate in order to take down the defending tournament runner-up.

Extended Staff Analysis

Dark Horse picks: Nazuna Takanashi, Nazuna Takanashi, Nadeko Sengoku, Nazuna Takanashi, Nadeko Sengoku, Nadeko Sengoku

Personal favourites: Nagi Sanzenin, Setsuna Sakurazaki, Yui Hirasawa, Yui Hirasawa, Yui Hirasawa, Tsubasa Hanekawa

Finalists and Winners:  Yuno/Yui Hirasawa/Nagi Sanzenin, Yuno/Yui Hirasawa/Nagi Sanzenin, Yuno/Yui Hirasawa/Nagi Sanzenin, Yuno/Nadeko Sengoku/Nagi Sanzenin, Yuno/Yui Hirasawa/Nagi Sanzenin, Yuno/Yui Hirasawa/Nagi Sanzenin

Staff Notes

chaosprophet: Group A is very important to me, as it has Hirasawa Yui, my second priority for this year’s Saimoe and the one that actually has a decent chance. Unfortunately, I’m probably biased when I say Yui will win this group, although I truly believe she has the strength, even more with an airing series; although, sincerely I could see either Yui, Nagi or Nadeko getting this group. Anyone else and I guess some cardboard burgers would do well for dinner.

overfunk: The expected strong contenders are Yui, Nagi and Yuno, in this order. We have two runner-ups here, though the difference is Yui being recent material. Yuno is there but misses that special spark that would allow her to transcend. Among the newcomers, we have Nadeko, Hiiragi and you could even throw in Nymph and Icarus, which were well received in their groups too. Considering how Saimoe works, I see a strong chance of Nadeko overcoming Yui, despite what I outlined above. You can try to rationalize Saimoe, but Saimoe is a natural force, unpredictable and prone to screw people’s lives. I can see Nagi fans giving Nadeko a push, considering Hina was unable to overcome Yui last time…

Alice: Nutbladder to victory, yo. I believe it. I really do. Nazuna is going to throw us all by beating Nagi in the first round–probably after a split vote Working!! loss in A1-2–and then Yunocchi will win from there. Nagi had her chance at the top! She’s gotta move aside with how old Hayate no Gotoku is now. (Though by that logic we’ll be seeing Nadeko through to win Group A…ha ha ha.) Man I don’t care, all I want to see is some interesting people get through, not the people just about everyone is predicting.

B-Block

B1-1: Everybody remembers the stripper…just enough to send her through second prelims despite being in a top-tier show; meanwhile, Kaede finished 4th in a group that was won by the Railgun herself.

B1-2: No more nasty plots for Miki and Kaho. Fortune status – [x] told [ ] not told

B1-3: This is unquestionably the first heartbeater of the tournament. Yuri finished a few spots behind Shana in a prelim group clouded by massive fake votes. Both characters are legitimate threats to win this block.

B1-4: Has the Haruhi fanbase fully recovered from last year’s debacle? Not even the movie will give Mikuru enough umph to make it past Mayoi.

B1-5: Nanoha will have to go at full power right from the start in this battle of two expert magicians.

B1-6: Even if miracles don’t exist, Bern can at least take pride in dragging Beato down with her.

B1-7: Isumi got lost and ended up in the second round arena.

B1-8: Here’s yet another test for the Haruhi fanbase, though Ryouko will need a lot more than just a killer instinct to compete.

B1-9: Himari seems considerably more popular than Kuesu, but a slight split should allow Senoob to cruise through.

B2-1: Clannad has dimished just slightly due to only an OVA being eligible this year…not that Shana really needed another edge to her blade.

B2-2: Befriended at the mahjong table, befriended at the Saimoe table. The Legend of Ikeda grows ever stronger.

B2-3: Looks like Isumi will have to [s]exorcise a vampire[/s] fight her way through after all.

BF: In a one-on-one between Nanoha and Shana, the Flame Haze gets the advantage; however, in this situation I think faction voting will play a key factor. MSLN is experienced enough to pull this out.

Extended Staff Analysis

Dark Horse picks: Yuri Nakamura, Nazuna, Yuri Nakamura, Yuri Nakamura, Yuri Nakamura, Yuri Nakamura

Personal Favourites: Nanoha Takamachi, Beatrice, Tohsaka Rin, Kana Ikeda, Yuri Nakamura/Kana Ikeda/Nanoha Takamachi, Shana

Finalists and Winners: Nanoha Takamachi/Shana/Isumi Saginomiya, Nanoha Takamachi/Shana/Isumi Saginomiya, Nanoha Takamachi/Shana/Isumi Saginomiya, Nanoha Takamachi/Shana/Isumi Saginomiya, Nanoha Takamachi/Shana/Isumi Saginomiya, Nanoha Takamachi/Shana/Isumi Saginomiya

Staff Notes

overfunk: Oh boy. We have seasoned war veterans such as Shana and Nanoha heading the pack, with promising rookies such as Mayoi and Yuri are there to bust your bracket too. Add to the mix mildly successful characters from the 2009 highest tier series, such as Isumi and Ikeda, and we have ourselves a party. Poor beloved oldies such as Tama-nee and Rin won’t be able to stand the heat, as opposed of people new to Saimoe would think (which is every year). Normally, one should say Shana/Nanoha/Isumi and call it a day. But this is Saimoe. I won’t be surprised at all with a final consisting of Yuri/Ikeda/Isumi (2 of 3 repeating last year’s block final). We do have to remind ourselves that Shana and Nanoha have a mystical aura about them that makes them rather good at the game, dominating the arts of backstabbing and fake voting.

Alice: And by that logic I mentioned above (in Block A), Yuri is going to slam Shana. You’re old, Shana. Your newest series sucks. And Angel Beats has some damned good popularity. And then Hidamari Power will shine through with one of the new ultra-moe-moe Nutbladder girls (and seriously, Nazuna is almost worse than Yuno in this sense) and go on to the final. Of course, Nanoha is gonna befriend everyone well and good, so who cares? Her movie’s really popular; I reckon that’ll help. Oh yeah, and obligatory ISN’T IT SAD, UMINEKO ;_;

Teiran: It’s never simple with Shana.  Yurippe was always going to be a tough out on her own merits, and it’s all too easy for me to entertain visions of a tactical assassination.  After that–if there is an “after that” for the Flame Haze–Nanoha awaits, as she always seems to.  I have to believe, though; otherwise, what’s the point?

chaosprophet: My top for Block B is Tohsaka Rin although she was really unlucky to get Nanoha on the very first round. She should be immediately befriended. Nanoha should have her way open, at least until she meets Shana. I’m predicting Shana here but I think Nanoha has a chance of beating her. Shana should have an easy time against Yuri but that confidence may backfire. If Yuri gets through Shana she may even end up with the momentum to beat Nanoha. Isumi should also get to the block finals but I don’t think she has much if a chance against the opponents she will encounter there.