And Saimoe 2008 has officially started! Thanks to CI for the heads-up, read his post for full credits. Now according to him, the preliminaries happen in rounds, whereby for those not nominated (only 9 out of the full list in each group) will drop to a second round and their groups will be reshuffled with those who did not make it in out of the other 20 (yes you read right, this is only the first group and each group of 20 is this long).Here is the full list of Group 1. You can read the entries yourself, so I will only list the ones I know or of series I have seen of here, as well as my impressions. Thanks to Ando of AnimeSuki for the list.Alisa (Soul Eater)I do not remember there being an Alisa, so I did a slight check and it appears she might have been one of the two bargirls in the first episode. If anyone would like to correct me, please do. ANN lists her as being only in episode 1, but if she appears in another episode as well, then she would be the bargirl on the right in episode 1 in the scene with Death Scythe.Kuchiki Rukia (Bleach)WHY HALO THAR RUKIA. She has been in every year of Saimoe, IIRC. So yeah, expect her to get far because of Bleachtards fans. Personally, I never did like her.Miaya Emi (Real Drive)Not going to bother to check lol. And if in Real Drive I do not remember who it was, it is likely the girl will not get far too.Yuma (Claymore)I do not even remember a Yuma in Claymore, must be really minor. Out of the count you go.Segawa Izumi (Hayate no Gotoku!)Are oh eff el. Not that it was unexpected but...Izumi? No.Atoru (Tenpou Ibun Ayakashi Ayashi)Thought this was the trap in Ayakashi Ayashi, but I was mistaken. Atoru is the little girl that Ryuudou actually somehow likes at the end of the series. This character was also played by Orikasa Fumiko, the same seiyuu as Rukia above. I actually kind of like Atoru in the series, so not too bad a count. But whether she will get in or not is another matter.Minami Touma (Minami-ke)Lol, she got in, which was to be expected though. But for a tomboyish character in a moe tournament, you can expect that Touma will not get far.Jean (Claymore)WTF? Even Jean gets in? Then Priscilla's awakened form better get in. No.Kirie (Crystal Blaze)ANN lists her as one of the main characters, but I do not exactly recall her from either side, but likely that she works for that secret organization. If so, no. Only girl worthy in that show was Sara anyway. Then again, Sara would hardly be considered moe in this tournament.Ise Nanao (Bleach)Nanao-chan~! She might just get in.Clare (Claymore)I have now resigned myself to the fact that Clare should be spelt this way instead of Claire. Also, she is definitely going in, because of her fame. Not interested in her though.Shirahama Honoka (Shijou Saikyou no Deshi Kenichi)WAHAHA. HONOKA! If the series was more well-know then she would have a chance, but up against the giants of the moe and loli world, Honoka pales. Unfortunately for her, because she was quite the humorous character as Kenichi's sister.ヴィーチャ・プガチョーワ (Sky Girls)Lol, the listing for it in the English translation by the side is somehow in Russian, so I have no idea who this is from Sky Girls. If someone can enlighten me then I would know whether or not this girl has a chance.Emeria (Claymore)Who the fly? Unless you mean Miria, I remember no such character in the anime. So if it was Miria, way to go, but no, you will not be able to make it in thanks to the general fanboygasm towards other series.Mikogami Haruko (Sky Girls)Lol pink-haired goodness. Unfortunately Eika beats the shit out of her any day and Otoha's moeness wins, so Haruko will not be able to get in.Flat-chested girl of Swimming Club (Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch)Got to love these descriptions. And no.Suzuhara Kanon (Kaze no Stigma)Since this fail shit was some time ago, I can only guess that this girl is the loli killer. If it is...she might have a chance. But I doubt it. Out you go.Kayanuma Kiko (Darker than Black)I saw this coming. Kiko's moeness might actually get her in. I would not mind if she does.Character who looks like Kobayashi Excel (Hayate no Gotoku!)If characters like this can get in, Hayate is positively teeming with them. A huge no.Nakatani Saaya (Real Drive)I think this is one of Aoi's friends. If so, both of them look weird. Out.Satou Mie (BLUE DROP: Tenshitachi no Gikyoku)Since it has been a long time since I watched it, and also, unfinished series FTL, not too sure who Satou is, but I am thinking if it is a minor character, then no point. The only worthy character in BLUE DROP of being inside Saimoe, IMHO, is Hagino. End of story.Harukaze Chiharu (Hayate no Gotoku!)Oops. I cannot remember who this was. Someone enlighten me so I can give a decent rating and a more accurate description.That ends my roundup for the characters or series I do know and can somewhat identify with. However looking at the full list there are characters from many other series that I am sure will do better. Not many hopefuls in this first list and not many mains either. None that I will also root for in a fanboygasm nice way. If you want to vote, head on over to the link of the full list at top, the voting links are inside.Image at top is of Hinagiku from Hayate no Gotoku! by the way, she is not in this round, but whatever group she is in, I expect her to get in, and make it to quite a high position in the tournament.Prelims Round 1,Panther
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