Anime Saimoe Tournament 2012 – Main Bracket and PV

How come Inori isn’t here :?

Last year, a season that had a lack of huge forces from veterans ended with the rise of one of the most dominating newcomer teams in Saimoe history sweeping a medals podium for the first time.  Mami Tomoe held off 288 other candidates to become the third magical girl champion in ten years.  In this, the eleventh year, the veterans have tipped the scales back in their favor.  It looks to be an All-Star showdown, as some of Saimoe’s greatest fighters have reassembled for potentially the biggest clash they would see.
A mere mention of a voice seiyuu can tremble fear in their opponents.  All four of her famous roles are here at once for the only time, with two sub-knights and many other side characters to support them.  One has been a past champion, and four others have at least one Elite Eight title—can Kugimiya conquer all again?
Many of the returning contenders are back for redemption.  Whether their last appearance is the previous year or as long as four years ago, they feel like they have the luckiest draw to score victory.  Seven members of the aforementioned four-year ago team were shut out primarily because they were in a mecha plot with very little resemblance to their franchise.  With a glorious return in the summer 2011 season, how far will the 765 All-stars go in the bracket?  Can Kibitou Gakuen finally push one of their haremettes into the quarterfinals?   Can some underachievers put last year behind them to upset others?
A team cannot necessarily just be strong.  To get a championship requires huge support behind a central character, something that at least four schools within a same series cannot garner in the past.  Now with a new record amount of characters in the main draw, how will this faction fare with their cast mixed with new faces?
Other fighters are well-established already—the voters liked them in the past but now feel their times are over.  Their fans wish to rekindle their glory again.  The girls of Sakura Gakuen and Hinamizawa want to end winless droughts for their teams.  For Yamabuki, another quest for an Elite Eight berth has begun anew, as the longest tenured team without such an honor.  The Nasuverse has bequeathed five characters into the battle.  With a cameo appearance last year, can Lovecraft’s abominations concoct a major scare?
Let’s not forget that there are still strong newcomers out there to mingle with the veterans.  Eight members (and someone with red hair buns who claims to be a teammate) representing an Amusement Club can steal glory.  A Neighbors Club, despite their members’ quarrels, can unite to win.   Several are curious about how the next Kyoto product will fare.  Several horror-related shows are out to assassinate the competition.  Keishin Elementary sends their top-ranking team in the hopes of bringing home the glory.  The crew of the Bentenmaru looks to plunder some spots, while part of a Kamogawa power trio look to warm up for this and next year.
There are many other factions in the fray not mentioned, and we may yet see a surprise contender emerge.  As the 289 final fighters parade into the grand arena, among them 3 past champions and 11 Elite Eight berths, some know the gauntlet before, some are testing the waters, and some may be in for a shock.  The giant banner (held by eight girls representing more famous teams not competing this year) rises and the flame lights.  What kind of conspiracies, controversies, and emotions will each fighter and voter feel this year?  The fate of the identity of Saimoe’s next champion lies in the hands of the voters.

Be prepared for another long text wall…
Noticeably absent from the tournament are the Black Rock Shooter team (probably because Japan saw the adaptation as greatly flawed) and Inori of Guilty Crown.  Mahora is in ruins because Eva-sama’s 1st-round loss last year marked the final appearance for Negima! in Saimoe for the now-completed manga.  Also, several groups are missing at least one component of their teams.  Nichijou’s Mai has been trolled, Rinne no Lagrange’s Muginami is absent, and Ben-to is missing half their core, to name a few.
What do you know, team Saki continues to break records.  43 representatives for the mahjong girls make a new record over Negima!’s 35 in 2005.  The random draw has also produced a three-way civil war for them in the first round for the first time, and worse yet, involves two main Achiga characters (2010 saw a similar situation in the second round of a block).  If the first two battles in Block G go as planned, then history will repeat itself with Nodocchi dueling Stealth Momo.  Another offbeat record appears in that eight mute characters have made a Saimoe knockout phase, the most in any one tournament, and all of whom are from Saki.
Despite the vast field, team Saki isn’t scot-free.  Block A can see Saki v. Kodomo v. Taco-tan in the 3rd round, but many other marquee matchups involving them will occur in the first two rounds (the aforementioned Momo v. Nodocchi, Kuro v. Ryuuka, Ako v. Arata).  Block D has the most Saki people, but the only strong one there is Captain Mihoko.  Kana-nyan is the weakest of the eight top veterans and the only one at the difficult block H, so the chances for an all-Saki quarterfinal rest on her.
This year’s Group of Death is Block F, with six first preliminary winners (Kuro, Kirame, Nyarlko, Ryuuka, Eru, Ririchiyo), five of whom are in the bracket’s lower half.  Although Block C has no preliminary winners, that doesn’t mean it’s an easy block, especially if you are from Tamayura or Astarotte.  All four of the former and both of the latter are in Block C and would unfortunately be blown apart by their competition.  Other big losers of the random draw include team Hidamari, who might finish winless (Yuno’s 1st-round victory streak will end at 5, Nori and Sae are drawn in the same battle, Nazuna has to fight the strong Yozora, Hiro might upset Erio but it isn’t likely, and Miyako has a tough fight against Takane) and team Ro-Kyu-Bu (Tomoka must battle Miki and Hinata may go through, but no one else is strong enough).
If you support 765 Pro, the good news is that all of them are in separate battles, but whether any of them will get into the Elite Eight is up in the air.  Team Hayate is looking good (aside from the Hamster), with Hina expected to win her block, Nagi maybe needing to navigate a minefield that is Block D, and Maria with an easy first two rounds.  Team Nyarlko also looks to be a promising contender despite their leader in Block F.  Team Yuru-Yuri also seems to luck out: Akari may have a smooth course until running into Toki, Kyouko has to face Shizuno first but has a relatively easy path afterward, and Yui F. may also reach far.
All 6 Kugimiya Knights (Shana, Nagi, Taiga, Louise, Lotte, Aria) cannot all reach the quarterfinal thanks to Block D, because Nagi and Louise are both there.  One Kugimiya role notably missing is Gintama’s Kagura, out in the final second preliminary.  Last year’s biggest shock was Shana being upset in round 1 by unheralded Yuuko of A Channel.  This year sees Shana as the most vulnerable Kugimiya Knight despite being the original—both Izumi and Mizuki can potentially douse the Flame Haze while the others have easier first rounds.  Also, in Block G round 3, Aria may have to duel Nodocchi—if that happens, this would be the sixth Kugimiya role Nodocchi would face in her career.
Some potential rematches can occur later in Block E: Taiga v. Yui H. in the second round (2009 Grand Final), and Charlotte v. Erio in the block final (2011 round 1).  Yui may also face Hinagiku in the third round, the same round as in 2009.  Block C can also possibly see Lotte v. Erica in the third round (2011 quarterfinal).
Now my predictions for the Elite Eight: A: Koromo over Saki (not Kobato, because Toki is playing the same day if everything goes right), B: Toki over Akari, C: Kyouko over Astarotte, D: Nagi over Mihoko, E: Hinagiku over Yuu, F: Kirame over Nyarlko (I have Kuro and Ryuuka falling in a split vote), G: Nodoka over Ika, H: Sena over Shana.  I suspect the Block B final may also determine the overall winner.

why yukimura is here ^_^U

Thanks, but this time I won’t be able to post as frequently.  I’ll still chime in whenever I can.

Voting strategy: bump every KugiRie

I first discovered Saimoe here on this site a few years back, and have been religiously following it ever since.  I am so glad it’s still being covered by this super awesome site and am looking forward to a majestic season of clashes.  That and of course Anon-kun’s excellent play-by-play.

Accidentally watched half of side-A but haven’t seen the original. Didn’t think it was massively popular tbh

The first day of the tournament is here.  Cecilia’s native country has just finished hosting the greatest sporting event of the world, and now it’s time for her to engage in a fight for her own medals.  With the IS faction getting weaker, however, can she do it?  Smile Pretty Cure is a wild-card that can surprise.  Cecilia should edge out Cure Beauty though because Lingyin is here on the same day.  It’s a tougher battle for the Chinese representative, because Mahiru and Miya are both strong upper mid-carders, and I have Mahiru finally getting her round 1 win she was denied of two years ago.  A-01 should come down to Saki against Maho, with the victory to the former and starting a series of successful victories for the mahjong girls.