2006 Anime Championships!

[plaidwolf]

It is almost time for the New Year which means it is getting close to March…

For the fifth year, Wolfie is starting work on the Anime Championships, Anime March Madness….where 65 animes will compete in a single-elimination tourney to determine the 2006 Champion

As per previous years here at AOD...Wolfie is looking for the fans to nominate new animes for slots in the field of 65…..to refresh memories and to ensure we have a good chance for new teams to be considered, here are all the teams that have competed in the previous four years:

801TTS Airbats
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#11 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #6 Azumanga Daioh in the first round

Ah! My Goddess!
Appearances: Four
Overall Tournament Record: 3-4
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#7 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #2 Princess Nine in second round

Ai Yori Aoshi
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#10 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #7 Kamakaze Kaitou Jeanne in first round

Akazukin ChaCha
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 2-2
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#12 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost in Regional Semi-finals to #1 Fushigi Yuugi

Akira
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 0-2
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#14 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #3 Pokemon in first round

Amazing Nurse Nanako
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2002 (#13 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #4 Fushigi Yuugi in first round

Angel Links
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2002 (#9 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #8 Kaitou St Tail in first round

Angelic Layer
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 6-2
Final Fours: 2004
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#5 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost in second round to #4 InuYasha

Ayashi no Ceres
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2002 (#5 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #12 Hyper Dolls in first round

Azumanga Daioh
Appearances: Three
Overall Tournament Record: 7-2
Final Fours: 2005
Championships: 2005
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#1 seed, Far East Region Champions)
Result: Defeated Tokyo Champion Fushigi Yuugi in 2005 Anime Championship Game

Battle Athletes
Appearances: Four
Overall Tournament Record: 7-4
Final Fours: 2005
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#5 seed, Okinawa Region Champions)
Result: Lost to Far East Region Champion Azumanga Daioh in Anime Final Four

Beyblade
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#11 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #6 Super Gals in first round

Bible Black
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 0-2
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#12 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #5 Excel Saga in the first round

Big O
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 1-1
Last in Tournament: 2002 (#4 seed Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #12 Hyper Dolls in second round

Blue Submarine
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2002 (#14 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #3 Trigun in first round

Boogiepop Phantom
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 0-2
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#13 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #4 Sailor Moon in first round

Bubblegum Crisis
Appearances: Four
Overall Tournament Record: 3-4
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#9 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #1 DragonBall Z in second round

Card Captor Sakura
Appearances: Four
Overall Tournament Record: 4-4
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#5 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #12 Akazukin ChaCha in first round

Cat Girl Nuku Nuku
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#12 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #5 Battle Athletes in first round

City Hunter
Appearances: Four
Overall Tournament Record: 4-4
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#10 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #6 Kaitou St Tail in Regional semi-finals

Chobits
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 3-2
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#1 seed in Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #2 Haunted Junction in Far East Regional Final

Comic Party
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#16 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #1 DragonBall Z in first round

Corrector Yui
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#5 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #12 RahXephon in first round

Cutey Honey
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2002 (#14 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #3 Mobile Suit Gundam in first round

Denshin Mamotte
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2003 (#13 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #4 Inu Yasha in first round

Detective Conan (Case Closed)
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#10 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost in first round to #7 Irresponsible Captain Tylor

Devil Lady
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#15 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #2 Digimon in the first round

Di Gi Charot
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 3-2
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#11 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost in second round to #3 Mobile Suit Gundam

Digimon
Appearances: Four
Overall Tournament Record: 5-4
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#2 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #7 Please Teacher in second round

Dominion Tank Police
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2002 (#14 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #3 Bubblegum Crisis in first round

Dragonball Z
Appearances: Four
Overall Tournament Record: 10-4
Final Fours: 2004
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#1 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #5 Battle Athletes in Regional Semi-finals

Earth Girl Arujana
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 1-1
Last in Tournament: 2003 (#16 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Defeated Trouble Chocolate in play-in game, lost to #1 Escaflowne in first round

El Hazard
Appearances: Three
Overall Tournament Record: 0-3
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#13 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost in first round to #4 Gatekeepers

Escaflowne
Appearances: Four
Overall Tournament Record: 8-4
Final Fours: 2003
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#8 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #9 Galaxy Angel in the first round

Evangelion
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2003 (#10 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #7 Battle Athletes in first round

Excel Saga
Appearances: Three
Overall Tournament Record: 8-2
Final Fours: 2003
Championships: 2003
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#4 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #13 To Heart in first round

Fancy Lala
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#11 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #6 Kaitou St Tail in first round

Final Fantasy Unlimited
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#16 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #1 Project A-Ko in first round

Flint, the Time Detective
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 2-2
Last in Tournament: 2003 (#13 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost in second round to #5 Kaitou St Tail

Fruits Basket
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 1-2
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#12 seed Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #4 Digimon in second round

Fushigi Yuugi
Appearances: Four
Overall Tournament Record: 10-4
Final Fours: 2005
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#1 seed, Tokyo Region Champions)
Result: Lost to Okinawa Region Champion Azumanga Daioh in Anime Championship game

Gatchaman
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2002 (#13 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost in first round to #4 Big O

Galaxy Angels
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 3-2
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#9 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #1 Fushigi Yuugi in second round

Gatekeepers
Appearances: Three
Overall Tournament Record: 1-3
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#4 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost in second round to #12 Akazukin ChaCha

Ghost in the Shell
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#12 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #5 Vandread in second round

Girl Next Door:
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 1-1
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#16 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Defeated #16 KO Beast in play-in game, lost to #1 Princess Nine in first round

Great Teacher Onizuka
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2003 (#16 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #1 Princess Nine in first round

Gunsmith Cats
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 0-2
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#15 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #2 Pokemon in the first round

Hammataro
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in tournament: 2003 (#14 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #3 Magic Knight Rayearth in first round

Hand Maid May
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2002 (#10 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost in first round to #7 Magic Knight Rayearth

Happy Lesson
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#13 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #4 Utena in second round

Haunted Junction
Appearances: Four
Overall Tournament Record: 7-4
Final Fours: 2004
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#2 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #3 Mobile Suit Gundam in Regional semi-finals

Heat Guy J
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 1-1
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#16 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Defeated Jungle Emperor Leo in play-in game, lost to #1 Azumanga Daioh in first round

Hellsing
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2003 (#14 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #3 Dragonball Z in first round

Hyper Dolls
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 4-2
Last in Tournament: 2003 (#6 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #3 Kareshi Kanojyo in second round

Idol Project
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2003 (#15 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #2 Utena in first round

Inu Yasha
Appearances: Three
Overall Tournament Record: 5-3
Final Fours: 2005
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#4 seed Kyoto Region Champions)
Result: Lost to Tokyo Region Champion Fushigi Yuugi in Anime Final Four

Iria
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2002 (#16 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #1 Ah! My Goddess in first round

Irresponsible Captain Tylor
Appearances: Four
Overall Tournament Record: 3-4
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#7 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost in second round to #2 Haunted Junction

Jubei-Chan
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2002 (#15 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost in first round to #2 Slayers

Jungle Emperor Leo
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#16 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #16 Heat Guy J in play-in game

Kaitou St Tail
Appearances: Four
Overall Tournament Record: 7-4
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#6 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #1 Azumanga Daioh in Regional Championship

Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 1-2
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#7 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #2 Haunted Junction in second round

Kareshi Kanojyo
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 4-2
Final Fours: 2003
Last in Tournament: 2003 (#3 seed, Tokyo Region Champions)
Result: Lost to Kyoto Region Champion Sailor Moon in 2003 Anime Final Four

Kiki’s Delivery Service
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 0-2
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#16 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost in first round to #1 Mospeada

Kimagure Orange Road
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 2-2
Last in Tournament: 2003 (#8 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost in second round to #1 Urusei Yatsura

KO Beast
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#16 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #16 Girl Next Door in play-in game

La Blue Girl
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2003 (#16 seed Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #1 Urusei Yatsura in first round

Lain
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2003 (#15 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #2 Trigun in first round

Love Hina
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2002 (#9 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost in first round to #8 Outlaw Star

Lupin the Third
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 0-2
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#14 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #3 Mobile Suit Gundam in first round

Mach GoGoGo
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#15 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #2 Haunted Junction in first round

Macross
Appearances: Three
Overall Tournament Record: 9-2
Final Fours: 2002
Championships: 2002
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#4 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #5 Excel Saga in second round

Magic Knights Rayearth
Appearances: Three
Overall Tournament Record: 5-3
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#7 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #1 Dragon Ball Z in Okinawa Regional Finals

Magic Users Club
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 1-2
Last in Tournament: 2003 (#11 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #6 Macross in first round

Magical Project S
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 0-2
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#6 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #11 DigiCharot in first round

Mahoromatic
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 0-2
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#10 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #7 Maison Ikkoku in the first round

Mai-HiME
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 1-1
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#14 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #6 Kaitou St Tail in second round

Maison Ikkoku
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 1-1
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#7 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #2 Slayers in second round

Majocco Club
Appearances : One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#12 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #5 Angelic Layer in first round

Martian Successor Nadesico
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#10 seed Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #7 Ah! My Goddess in first round

Mobile Suit Gundam
Appearances: Four
Overall Tournament Record: 8-4
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#3 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #1 Fushigi Yuugi in Regional Championship

Mospeada
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 2-2
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#1 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #4 InuYasha in Regional Semi-finals

Naruto
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 0-2
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#11 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #6 Riding Bean in first round

One Piece
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 0-2
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#15 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #2 Slayers in first round

Outlaw Star
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 2-2
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#11 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #6 Rorouni Kenshin in first round

Patlabor
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 0-2
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#12 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost in first round to #5 Fushigi Yuugi

Ping Pong Club
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2002 (#16 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to Sakura Diaries in play-in game

Please Teacher
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 3-1
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#7 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #4 InuYasha in Regional Final

Pokemon
Appearances: Four
Overall Tournament Record: 3-4
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#3 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #6 Rurouni Kenshin in second round

Porco Rosso
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2002 (#10 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #7 Digimon in first round

Princess Mononoke/Mononoke Hime
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 6-2
Final Fours: 2002
Last in Tournament: 2003 (#7 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #2 Trigun in first round

Princess Nine
Appearances: Four
Overall Tournament Record: 9-4
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#2 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #5 Battle Athletes in Regional Championship

Princess Rouge
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#16 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #1 Chobits in first round

Project A-Ko
Appearances: Four
Overall Tournament Record: 3-4
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#8 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #9 Bubblegum Crisis in first round

RahXephon
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 2-2
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#8 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost in second round to #1 Mospeada

Ranma ½
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 3-2
Last in Tournament: 2003 (#8 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #9 Riding Bean in first round

Riding Bean
Appearances: Four
Overall Tournament Record: 2-4
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#6 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #2 Princess Nine in Regional Semi-finals

Ronin Warriors
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 3-1
Last in Tournament: 2002 (#10 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #5 Mononoke Hime in Okinawa Regional Finals

Rorouni Kenshin
Appearances: Three
Overall Tournament Record: 3-3
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#6 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #7 Please Teacher in Regional semi-finals

Rune Soldier
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#14 seed Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #3 Urusei Yatsura in first round

s-Cry-ed
Appearances : One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament : 2005 (#15 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #2 Haunted Junction in first round

Sailor Moon
Appearances: Four
Overall Tournament Record: 12-3
Final Fours: 2002, 2003
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#3 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #14 Mai-HiME in first round

Sailor Victory
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 0-2
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#13 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #4 InuYasha in first round

Saint Seiya / Knights of the Zodiac
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#16 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #1 DragonBall Z in the first round

Sakura Diaries
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 1-1
Last in Tournament: 2002 (#16 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Defeated Ping Pong Club in play-in game, lost in first round to #1 Macross

Sister Princess
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#16 seed Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #1 Fushigi Yuugi in first round

Slam Dunk
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 0-2
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#11 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #6 Kaitou St Tail in first round

Slayers
Appearances: Four
Overall Tournament Record: 12-3
Final Fours: 2004
Championships: 2004
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#2 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #10 City Hunter in second round

Space Pirate Mito
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#13 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost in first round to #4 Digimon

Spirited Away
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 2-1
Last in Tournament: 2003 (#10 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #3 Excel Saga in regional semi-finals

Strawberry Eggs
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 1-1
Last in Tournament: 2003 (#10 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost in second round to #2 Sailor Moon

Steam Detectives
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#15 seed Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #2 Princess Nine in first round

Super Gals
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 2-1
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#6 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #2 Slayers in regional semi-finals

Tenchi Muyo
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 1-1
Last in Tournament: 2002 (#3 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #11 Irresponsible Captain Tylor in second round

Tennis no Ohjisama/ Prince of Tennis
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#14 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost in first round to #3 Escaflowne

Tiny Sugar Snow Fairy
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2003 (#12 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #5 Kaitou St Tail in first round

To Heart
Appearances: Three
Overall Tournament Record: 1-3
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#13 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #5 Battle Athletes in second round

Trigun
Appearances: Four
Overall Tournament Record: 6-4
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#9 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #8 RahXephon in first round

Trouble Chocolate
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in tournament: 2003 (#16 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to Earth Girl Arujuna in play-in game

Tsukakage Ran
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 2-1
Last in Tournament: 2003 (#12 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #1 Urusei Yatsura in regional semi-finals

Urusei Yatsura
Appearances: Three
Overall Tournament Record: 8-3
Final Fours: 2002
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#3 seed, Okinawa Region )
Result: Lost to #6 Riding Bean in second round

Utena
Appearances: Four
Overall Tournament Record: 2-4
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#4 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #5 Vandread in second round

Vampire Princess Miyu
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 0-2
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#8 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #9 Yawara in first round

Vandread
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 2-1
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#5 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #1 Azumanga Daioh in regional semi-finals

Venus 5
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 1-1
Last in Tournament: 2002 (#11 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #3 Mobile Suit Gundam in second round

Venus Wars
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 0-2
Last in Tournament: 2003 (#14 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #3 Kareshi Kanojyo in first round

Video Girl Ai
Appearances: Three
Overall Tournament Record: 0-3
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#7 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #10 City Hunter in first round

Voogies Angel
Appearances: Three
Overall Tournament Record: 1-3
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#10 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #7 Please, Teacher in first round

Wedding Peach
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 1-1
Last in Tournament: 2003 (#11 seed Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #3 DragonBall Z in second round

Weiss Kruz
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 0-2
Last in Tournament: 2003 (#13 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #4 Fushigi Yuugi in first round

Wild Arms
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2002 (#15 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #2 Bubblegum Crisis in first round

Wild Cardz
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2002 (#15 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #2 Card Captor Sakura in first round

Witch Hunter Robin
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 1-1
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#8 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #1 Dragon Ball Z in second round

‘X’
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 1-1
Last in Tournament: 2003 (#9 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #1 Escaflowne in second round

Yawara
Appearances: One
Overall Tournament Record: 1-1
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#9 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #1 Azumanga Daioh in second round

You’re Under Arrest!
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 2-2
Last in Tournament: 2003 (#5 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #1 Mobile Suit Gundam in regional semi-finals

Yu Gi Oh!
Appearances: Two
Overall Tournament Record: 0-2
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#13 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #4 Ah! My Goddess in first round


Let the nominations begin!

[ape2020]

How about:

Moonlight Lady: A little private school in the north.

Mezzo: A div II school that moved up to div I just recently

Kodocha: Fresh off acedemic probation.

Magical Meow Meow Taruto: Former vet vocational school now a fully accredited college.

GXP: Part of the Tenchi Muyo unviscity system.

-ape2020

[Victor Lewandowski]

My nominations for new teams:

Cromartie High School (How could I forget these badasses?) /images/graemlins/stunned0.gif
E's Otherwise
Girls Bravo
Godannar
Ikki Tousen - Didn't make the field last year
Maburaho
Sensei no Ojikan (Doki Doki School Hours) - Mika-sensei vs. Chiyo-chan (a matchup that I'd love to see) /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[TnAdct1]

For your consideration:

-Cowboy Bebop
-Doki Doki School Hour
-Fullmetal Alchemist
-Kodocha
-Negima (heck, the show even has a basketball player as one of Negi's students)
-Pani Poni Dash
-Saber Marionette J

[Hunter Sopko]

Some surprising ones not on there... ::Tacks on a few others to the surprise list::

FLCL
Gunbuster
Grave of the Fireflies
Gankutsuou
Last Exile
Beck
Kakurenbo

[ayareiko]

Mai-Otome
Pretty Cure
Gunslinger Girl
Maria-sama ga Miteru
Yami to Boushi to Hon no Tabibito
Mahoraba
School Rumble
Rozen Maiden
D.C. ~Da Capo~
Kannazuki no Miko

Has any decision has been made for the venues? I'll nominate Garderobe (Mai-Otome) and Lilian Academy (Marimite) as possible sites.

[ScorpioEyez]

I'm nominating (in order of preference):

Petite Princess Yucie
Madlax
La Portrait De Petite Cossette
Please Twins

[plaidwolf]

[ QUOTE ]
Aya Reiko said:

Has any decision has been made for the venues? I'll nominate Garderobe (Mai-Otome) and Lilian Academy (Marimite) as possible sites.

[/ QUOTE ]

The Final Four for the next two years (06 and 2007) will be hosted by the Tokyo Egg Dome.

This year's Regionals will be hosted by the following schools: Seijou High School (CCS), Ohtari Academy (Utena), Kama Kita High School (Escaflowne), and Musashino Kichijoji Higashi High School (GTO)

We havent made any selections yet for the 2007 Regionals....so your suggestions are taken

[TnAdct1]

[ QUOTE ]
Plaid Wolf said:
[ QUOTE ]
Aya Reiko said:

Has any decision has been made for the venues? I'll nominate Garderobe (Mai-Otome) and Lilian Academy (Marimite) as possible sites.

[/ QUOTE ]

The Final Four for the next two years (06 and 2007) will be hosted by the Tokyo Egg Dome.

This year's Regionals will be hosted by the following schools: Seijou High School (CCS), Ohtari Academy (Utena), Kama Kita High School (Escaflowne), and Musashino Kichijoji Higashi High School (GTO)

We havent made any selections yet for the 2007 Regionals....so your suggestions are taken

[/ QUOTE ]

With that in mind, I nominate Mahora Academy (Negima) and Peach Moon Institution (Pani Poni Dash) as possible venues for 2007.

EDIT: Corrected the name of the school in Pani Poni Dash after realizing that I confused the name of the school with another anime done by the same company behind PPD.

[plaidwolf]

*makes notes of site suggestions for future tourneys...*

[plaidwolf]

*lovetaps this thread back to the top.....Wolfie needs a few more suggestions!

[Victor Lewandowski]

[ QUOTE ]
Plaid Wolf said:
*lovetaps this thread back to the top.....Wolfie needs a few more suggestions!

[/ QUOTE ]

Here's some more teams:

* D.N.Angel
* Scrapped Princess

[Dylonius Funk]

<ul type="square"> 1. Full Metal Panic:Fumoffu. 2. Yu Yu Hakusho 3. Samurai Champloo 4. Sakura Taisen [/list]

[plaidwolf]

Wolfie would like one more thing....if anyone would care to try to take on this project, i would be eternally grateful.

Is there anyone who would like to try their hand at designing the Anime Championship Logo for this year?

Use any anime character, even a generic one....and be sure the following words appear:

"Road to the Anime Final Four....Tokyo Egg Dome 2006"

Thanks!

[LOUiE]

Here's a definite on the bubble nomination:

Rozen Maiden

[plaidwolf]

ok, everyone...i have down the suggestions so far....

LAST CHANCE for any new nominees...I need any new ones by February 14 when i will set up the annual 'Lucky Dog' poll....

[bci110]

These haven't been nominated yet:

DearS
Kita e. ~Diamond Dust Drops~
Texhnolyze
Yumeria

[plaidwolf]

Thanks for all your suggestions....Wolfie has set them aside and will be looking at them for inclusion into the Championship Tourney next month...and early next week, we will do the 'Lucky Dog' poll....which popular anime title deserves to be hooked up with a different team? (Two years ago, Azumanga Daioh was the Lucky Dog and parlayed their second chance into the 2005 Championship, last year Vampire Princess Miyu was the 'Lucky Dog' and didnt do so well, losing in the first round...

BUT...

i know many of you fans are asking "How are things shaping up? Where does my favorite anime stand in the process?" Rather than go through all that, what we WILL do is continuation of last year, with our Feb 10 edition of "Last Four In, Last Four Out" for the bubble teams


Last Four In:

Card Captor Sakura
Project A-Ko
Kimagore Orange Road
Witch Hunter Robin

Last Four Out:

Super Gals
Ah! My Goddess
Naruto
Lupin the Third

A LOT can change in the last month, so, stay tuned!

[plaidwolf]

Well, its time for the Annual Lucky Dog Poll.....

simple question &gt; These are animes that have appeared once in the Anime Chamnpionships...and their team is having a lousy year...

Which anime should get a new team?

[plaidwolf]

*casual bump*

[Nylock]

* casual lock *
no bumping allowed

[plaidwolf]

whoops....sorry about that! ^^()

Just wanted to make sure the fans had a chance to vote their choices!

*chastened PW*

[plaidwolf]

Well, as we mentioned last week, things can change fast as animes jockey for position (and notice) over the last month of the season, all trying to get the attention of the Selection Committee...

So, without further ado, let us presnt the Feb 17 edition of "Last Four In, Last Four Out":

Last Four In:

1. Ah! My Goddess
2. Mononoke Hime
3. 801 TTS Airbats
4. Evangelion


Last Four Out:
1. InuYasha
2. Lupin the Third
3. Macross
4. Naruto

[The Plaid Wolf!]

The 2006 Lucky Dog...based upon the fans voting here and at the Moonwings site (the first home of the Tournament in 2002)....is...

LOVE HINA!!!

Congratulations to Naru and her squad...we will see how they fare on Selection Sunday!!

[ScorpioEyez]

hehe I hope Naru doesn't get fouled out with her patented "Naru punch!"

[plaidwolf]

offtopicforum-ML-1299591-ML-

[plaidwolf]

Tune in tonight between 630-730P (EST) to see the unveiling of the field of 65 animes who will be competing for the 2006 Anime Championship...

Will Azumanga Daioh be the first anime to successfully defend their championship? What Cinderella teams will stage a surprising run like both Akazukin ChaCha and Onegai Teacher did last year? And will we have classics like last year's epic double-overtime Regional final between Princess Nine and Battle Athletes?

All will be revealed starting tonight!

See you then!

[plaidwolf]

*opening music cues and a nattily-attired wolf appears on your screen*

Hello, everyone in AOD and to our viewers on tape delay in Moonwings, welcome to the Fifth Annual Selection Show...I know everyone is waiting to fill out their brackets, but before we go, let us show you some of the teams awaiting word if they are selected to go

*shots of the casts from Ah! My Goddess, Kaitou St Tail, Card Captor Sakura...*

plus those who already know they are going, but are eagerly awaiting the word where they are going and who they are playing...

*shots of the casts of Fullmetal Alchemist, (Alphonse Elric is holding a sign saying 'We want Dragonball')and then the Magic Users Club...*

So, lets not keep you waiting any longer....here we go! The four regional top seeds are....

...Dragonball Z is rated as the Number 1 seed overall, and is #1 in the Okinawa Region. The Slayers, 2004 champions, will be the second #1 seed out of the Tokyo Region. Vandread, only making their second appearance ever, is the third #1 seed and will be headed to the Kyoto Region Finally the last #1 is Kamikaze Kaitou Jeannie, the highest seed EVER given an unlicensed anime and they will come out of the Far East Region!


Now, lets go to the Okinawa Region, the regionals to be hosted by Utena's Ohtari Academy.....

1. Dragonball Z
16 DearS, making their tourney debut

8. Majocco Club
9. Magic User's Club (The Users jump up in joy when they see their names on the big screen...)

5 Excel Saga, based upon a huge run, playing their way from all the way out to all the way in
12 Scrapped Princess

4. Magical Project S
13 FLCL, making their tourney debut

The lower half of the brackets...

2. Escaflowne
15 El Hazard

7 Kimagure Orange Road
10. City Hunter

6 Onegai Teacher
11. The Irresponsible Captain Tylor

3. Martian Successor Nadesico
14 Night Shift Nurses, another tourney rookie


Now, the winner of that region will play the winner of this region, the Far East. Regionals will be held at Escaflowne's Kama Kita High...

1. Kamikaze Kaitou Jeannie
16. Cromartie High School

8. Girls Bravo
9. MAI-Hime

5. Trigun
12. Ronin Warriors, back after a four-year absence.

4. Sailor Moon
13. Yu Yu Hakusho, yet another rookie

The lower half of the brackets

2. Outlaw Star
15 Fullmetal Alchemist (They jump up yelling...)

7 Kareshi Kanyojo (His and Her Circumstances), back after their Final Four run in 2003
10. Card Captor Sakura (at this Sakura jumps out of her chair
shrieking and lands in Li's arms)

6. Princess Mononoke
11 Amazing Nurse Nanako, back for the first time since 2002

3. Pokemon
14 Magic Knight Rayearth


That is half the field...now to the other half...

The Tokyo Region is up next with regionals to be held at CCS' Seijou High School...

1. The Slayers
16. Mezzo, and quite the task on hand

8. Princess Nine
9. DiGiCharot (a rematch of the memorable Round 2 upset in 2004)

5 Mosepeada
12 Lupin the Third

4 Fushigi Yuugi
13 801 TTS Airbats

The lower half of the brackets are as follows

2 Love Hina (the Lucky Dog winner)
15 Akira

7 Kodocha, another new anime
10 Witch Hunter Robin

6. Battle Athletes
11. Samurai Champloo another tourney newbie

3 Azumanga Daioh
14 Patlabor

Seventeen more slots to go...

The final region is the Kyoto Region, the Regionals to be hosted by GTO's Musashino Kichijoji Higashi High School...
1. Vandread
16a Wild Arms
16b Jubei-Chan

8 Gundam
9 Kaitou St Tail (Meimei and Seira embrace...)

5 Galaxy Angels
12 Kiki's Delivery Service

4 Gatekeepers
13 RahXephon

Eight more slots to go...

2. Big O
15 Gatchaman (they played each other in 2002's opening round...neither made it back until now)

7 Shichinin no Nana (Seven of Seven) a high seed
10 Slam Dunk

6. Urusei Yatsura
11 Akazukin ChaCha

3. Utena
14 Plastic Little, another newbie

Well, that is our field of 65


The top 4 seeds in each region are as follows:

OKINAWA
1. Dragonball Z
2. Escaflowne
3. Martian Successor Nadesico
4. Magical Project S

FAR EAST
1. Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne
2. Outlaw Star
3. Pokemon
4. Sailor Moon

TOKYO
1. The Slayers
2. Love Hina
3. Azumanga Daioh
4. Fushigi Yuugi

KYOTO
1. Vandread
2. Big O
3. Utena
4. Gatekeepers

No newbies among the top 16, but the Big O and Love Hina had both been gone since 2002...


Finally, the burst bubbles...Voogie's Angel and Ah! My Goddess were not picked by the committee...

*cut to Belldandy* "Well, if we were not meant to be picked, it was not going to happen..."

Well, we will see you tomorrow night with the official bracket links and capsules of each of the 65 animes

Tuesday night, we will have the play-in game between Wild Arms and Jubei-Chan and post the Thursday/Friday schedules....

See you then. Buckle your seatbelts and enjoy the 3-week ride!

[bci110]

What are the Regional match-ups for the Anime Championship semifinals? I assume that it's Okinawa vs. Far East and Tokyo vs. Kyoto, correct?

[plaidwolf]

[ QUOTE ]
bci110 said:
What are the Regional match-ups for the Anime Championship semifinals? I assume that it's Okinawa vs. Far East and Tokyo vs. Kyoto, correct?

[/ QUOTE ]

You are correct

[Mr. Nail Bat]

[ QUOTE ]
Plaid Wolf said:
5 Mosepeada
12 Lupin the Third

[/ QUOTE ]

Go, Lupin! Hopefully he can figure out how to steal mecha.

[ QUOTE ]

7 Shichinin no Nana (Seven of Seven) a high seed


[/ QUOTE ]

That is the most-fitting seed ever.

[bci110]

[ QUOTE ]
Plaid Wolf said:
4. Sailor Moon
13. Yu Yu Hakusho, yet another rookie


[/ QUOTE ]

This to me is the most interesting matchup, considering that the creators of these two series are married to each other! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[plaidwolf]

Here is the link to the brackets

http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=147904&amp;tclass=

Team Capusles tonight by region

[plaidwolf]

1. Dragonball Z
Appearances: Fifth
Overall Tournament Record: 10-4
Final Fours: 2004
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#1 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #5 Battle Athletes in Regional Semi-finals
Outlook: One of the perennial heavy favorites in the tournament. Deep, powerful and very disciplined. Very adaptable to any style of play that may be used against them. A definite threat to win it all.

2. Escaflowne
Appearances: Fifth
Overall Tournament Record: 8-4
Final Fours: 2003
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#8 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #9 Galaxy Angel in the first round
Outlook: A favorable draw to the Regionals, and will certainly challenge DragonBallZ if both make it that far.. Deep and powerful, they will not be intimidated by anyone’s style of play. They will not an easy opponent to take out, the team that beats them will have to be playing their A+ game

3. Martian Successor Nadesico
Appearances: Second
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#10 seed Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #7 Ah! My Goddess in first round
Outlook: One of the deepest teams in the tourney. Earned a high seed, and could win a couple of games. Came on strong at the end of the season after a year of discontent, including dissension between the star Yurika and her father.

4. Magical Project S
Appearances: Third
Overall Tournament Record: 0-2
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#6 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #11 DigiCharot in first round
Outlook: Another highly-touted team that has failed to produce. Sasami and Misa form a formidable tandem, so they are to be taken lightly at your peril.

5. Excel Saga
Appearances: Fourth
Overall Tournament Record: 8-2
Final Fours: 2003
Championships: 2003
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#4 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #13 To Heart in first round
Outlook: Team Comeback…the other story of a team that was left for dead a week ago, but won their way back into the tournament. They expended so much effort in getting here, one has to wonder how much is left for the tournament itself. A possible early upset victim as last year.

6. Onegai (Please) Teacher
Appearances: Second
Overall Tournament Record: 3-1
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#7 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #4 InuYasha in Regional Final
Outlook: A very uneven year for the Teachers….seems they had a target on their backside all season and often got the best games out of their opponents. Not likely to repeat their magical run of last year, but can definitely win a couple of games

7. Kimagure Orange Road
Appearances: Third
Overall Tournament Record: 2-2
Last in Tournament: 2003 (#8 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost in second round to #1 Urusei Yatsura
Outlook: Madoka and Kasuga make their return to action. Deep and plays well together. Not quite as talented as the other teams, relies on teamwork to compensate to any shortcomings The Power occasionally helps, but on occasion, it backfires on Kasuga. Will be a tough out.

8. Majocco Club
Appearances : Second
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#12 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #5 Angelic Layer in first round
Outlook: A sterling season against some subpar competition relegated the Studio Perriot All-Stars to a low seed. Magic Girl Umi, Creamy Mami, Pelshia, and Pastel Yumi and the clown-face all hope to improve on last years early exit. Underestimate this team at your peril.

9. Magic Users Club
Appearances: Third
Overall Tournament Record: 1-2
Last in Tournament: 2003 (#11 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #6 Macross in first round
Outlook: A nightmare matchup for whomever they meet up with. Sae carries this team and they manage to hang in there in tough games while she finds ways to win. Will definitely be a tough out, no matter where they go.

10. City Hunter
Appearances: Fifth
Overall Tournament Record: 4-4
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#10 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #6 Kaitou St Tail in Regional semi-finals
Outlook: Not an especially deep team, at times they struggled against opponents using magic. They do have tournament experience however. They don’t figure to get very far, but won’t be an easy team to take out either.

11. Irresponsible Captain Tylor
Appearances: Fifth
Overall Tournament Record: 3-4
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#7 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost in second round to #2 Haunted Junction
Outlook: After a surprising 2002 run, this team hasn’t fared well since. Even with their team issues with the Captain, depth and experience will make this squad a prickly foe for any team to deal with. Given their draw, they could win a game or two.

12. Scrapped Princess
Appearances: First
Outlook: Pacifica Cassul leads this unusual team into the tournament. A fairly deep team that knows how to play for a purpose, they will not be an easy out for any opponent. A potential bracket-buster

13. FLCL
Appearances: First
Outlook: Another team that uses a variety of styles of play to confound opponents and win games. Some talent is here, Nandaba Naota and Haruhara Haruko being the main stars around which the team plays. They are very happy to be here, but their stay may not be long.

14. Night Shift Nurses
Appearances: First
Outlook: The lone hentai in this year’s field. No hentai has won in the tournament since Girl Next Door won the 2004 play-in game. The Nurses wont match that.

15. El Hazard
Appearances: Fourth
Overall Tournament Record: 0-3
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#13 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost in first round to #4 Gatekeepers
Outlook: An adventure anime that was a bit overmatched last year, but given their overall team depth, seeding and draw, they will be fortunate to snatch a victory .

16. DearS
Appearances: First
Outlook: A fairly deep team that does have some chemistry between them. Unfortunately, they are matched up against the one team noone wants to open with, so they will be one-and-done. A possible Lucky Dog Candidate for 2007

[plaidwolf]

1. Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne
Appearances: Third
Overall Tournament Record: 1-2
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#7 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #2 Haunted Junction in second round
Outlook: The highest seed ever given to an unlicensed anime. While their conference was weak, they played a power non-conference schedule that offset any problems. But even so, they haven’t played any top-notch competition in three months, so they are seen as the weakest of the top seeds. Even so, their draw shows a reasonable path to the Regionals if they play well.

2. Outlaw Star
Appearances: Third
Overall Tournament Record: 2-2
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#11 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #6 Rorouni Kenshin in first round
Outlook: They seem to have put things together this year. Their positioning seems to indicate that they could have easily been a #1 seed themselves. They will have to guard against over-confidence against their opening round opponent.

3. Pokemon
Appearances: Fifth
Overall Tournament Record: 3-4
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#3 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #6 Rurouni Kenshin in second round
Outlook: The deepest team in the tourney, drawing upon a roster of well over 150 monsters and players. They have yet to catch that one break needed to get out of the sub-regionals…maybe 2006 will be their year finally

4. Sailor Moon
Appearances: Fifth
Overall Tournament Record: 12-4
Final Fours: 2002, 2003
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#3 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #14 Mai-HiME in first round
Outlook: Back after a horrible start in December, maybe due to some emotional hangover from last year’s jarring opening-round loss. But once they got their heads back on, and started rolling, the Senshi played like they usually do. Very deep team. They will go only as far as Usagi Tsukino can take them. The Anime Final Four is still possible given this region’s set-up..

5. Trigun
Appearances: Fifth
Overall Tournament Record: 6-4
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#9 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #8 RahXephon in first round
Outlook: Vash the Stampede and his crew are back to try again. Last year we commented that they couldn’t get past the Sweet 16 and as a result, they bombed out in the opening round. All we will say this year is they can play with anyone, and lose to anyone….

6. Princess Mononoke/Mononoke Hime
Appearances: Third
Overall Tournament Record: 6-2
Final Fours: 2002
Last in Tournament: 2003 (#7 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #2 Trigun in second round
Outlook: They looked all the way out as recently as two weeks ago, but played their way back in with an impressive flurry of wins. Teamwork sometimes is spotty, but when they are all working together, they can beat anyone. Conversely, if they are NOT playing together, they can lose to anyone. A tough team to figure out

7. Kareshi Kanojyo
Appearances: Third
Overall Tournament Record: 4-2
Final Fours: 2003
Last in Tournament: 2003 (#3 seed, Tokyo Region Champions)
Result: Lost to Kyoto Region Champion Sailor Moon in 2003 Anime Final Four
Outlook: Back in the tournament after injuries ruined their last two seasons. Deep and smart, this team can make the Final Four again with some breaks. Given their last two years, we think this squad will be a tough out for anyone

8. Girls Bravo
Appearances: First
Outlook: Yukinari leads this team into their first appearance. Average depth, the backups are serviceable, but not great. This is one of those teams that could either run deep or exit early. If they survive their opener, could be a tough match for the Kamikazes in the next round

9. Mai-HiME
Appearances: Second
Overall Tournament Record: 1-1
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#14 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #6 Kaitou St Tail in second round
Outlook: One of last years Cinderella stories returns with an appropriately higher seed in recognition of their accomplishments. May not do as well this year…very hard to sneak up on people two years in a row. Will be a tough out.

10. Card Captor Sakura
Appearances: Fifth
Overall Tournament Record: 4-4
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#5 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #12 Akazukin ChaCha in first round
Outlook: Not very tall, height comes off the bench. Good teamwork. A very shaky season with a late slide almost saw them left out on Selection Sunday. As a lower seed, they have done very well…as a high seed, not so well. This year…? Not likely to get beyond the second round.

11. Amazing Nurse Nanako
Appearances: Second
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2002 (#13 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #4 Fushigi Yuugi in first round
Outlook: A mess of a team that seems to lack focus for stretches at a time. Relies too much on the jiggle factor to distract opponents. Not likely to be more than one-and-done given the lack of chemistry and teamwork.

12. Ronin Warriors
Appearances: Second
Overall Tournament Record: 3-1
Last in Tournament: 2002 (#10 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #5 Mononoke Hime in Okinawa Regional Finals
Outlook: Another team back after a lengthy absence. This team has power, depth and teamwork. Four years ago, made a magical run to the Elite Eight…the ingredients are still there for yet another deep run. This could be the #12 we see advance yearly…

13. Yu Yu Hakusho
Appearances: First
Outlook: Another team making their long-awaited debut. Deep, but not always the smoothest of teamwork. Yuske and the Spirits will be a tough out for their opponents

14. Magic Knights Rayearth
Appearances: Fourth
Overall Tournament Record: 5-3
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#7 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #1 Dragon Ball Z in Okinawa Regional Finals
Outlook: All was well until they hit an incredible string of losses. Righted themselves in time to get a tourney bid, but they will be sorely tested by the depth of their opening opponent. They won’t go quietly

15. Fullmetal Alchemist
Appearance: First
Outlook: Welcome to the Anime Tournament! They got a tough draw for their first opener. Led ably by Edward Eldric, the Alchemists will be a tough out, but they don’t have the depth to stay with the higher seeded teams.

16 Cromartie High School
Appearance: First
Outlook: Takashi Kamiyama leads the badasses into the tournament. Unfortunately, their draw means that they are not likely to win their opener, but they won’t go away without a fight…literally if needed!

[plaidwolf]

1. The Slayers
Appearances: Fifth
Overall Tournament Record: 12-3
Final Fours: 2004
Championships: 2004
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#2 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #10 City Hunter in second round
Outlook: When they are on, they are scary…when they are off, they will keep lesser opponents in the game. Whether the ‘on’ or ‘off’ team shows up in the second round will indicate how far they will go…One of the favorites this year as long as star Lina Inverse can keep the team focused on regaining the championship they won two years ago

2. Love Hina
Appearances: Second
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2002 (#9 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost in first round to #8 Outlaw Star
Outlook: Winner of the Lucky Dog, the Hinas got a high seed even though they lack recent tourney experience. They seem to have a favorable draw to the Sweet 16, but it is hard to see then getting further than that. A late season slump raises further questions A weakness is star player Naru Nasegawa’s proclivity for technical fouls towards one of her teammates.

3. Azumanga Daioh
Appearances: Fourth
Overall Tournament Record: 7-2
Final Fours: 2005
Championships: 2005
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#1 seed, Far East Region Champions)
Result: Defeated Tokyo Champion Fushigi Yuugi in 2005 Anime Championship Game
Outlook: The champs were rocked early in the year, but have come on as of late. As always, the team is evenly split between strength and weakness. Chiyo-chan will have her hands full again this year with the minuses. But if The Slayers falter anywhere along the way, this squad may make it out of the region

4. Fushigi Yuugi
Appearances: Fifth
Overall Tournament Record: 10-4
Final Fours: 2005
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#1 seed, Tokyo Region Champions)
Result: Lost to Okinawa Region Champion Azumanga Daioh in Anime Championship game
Outlook: The runner-up squad from last year is back for another crack at the top. They have a good draw to the Sweet Sixteen, but with the Slayers looming in the Regionals, it is hard seeing them getting back to the Final Four this year. Miaka’s proclivity to getting in trouble can be a distraction. Deep and can be focused when the teamwork is good. The Airbats will pose a stiff challenge

5. Mospeada
Appearances: Third
Overall Tournament Record: 2-2
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#1 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #4 InuYasha in Regional Semi-finals
Outlook: Got roundly smacked last year in the Sweet 16 by a team that thought THEY deserved the top seed. Not as highly seeded this year and it may be just as well. Flying under the radar all year, they could be a sleeper team that may catch us unawares…or be just as likely the #5 that always gets tossed in the opening round.

6. Battle Athletes
Appearances: Fifth
Overall Tournament Record: 7-4
Final Fours: 2005
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#5 seed, Okinawa Region Champions)
Result: Lost to Far East Region Champion Azumanga Daioh in Anime Final Four
Outlook: The Athletes are a team that struggled through part of the year, but managed to right themselves enough to get back in the tourney. A possible Final Four rematch with the defending champion Azumanga Daioh in Round two may make their tourney stay this year rather short

7. Kodocha
Appearances: First
Outlook: A very young team making their tourney debut. Led by 11-year old star Sana Kurata, this team can also be a bit prone to coming apart in pressure situations as the teamwork isn’t always there. Witch Hunter Robin will be a tough draw for them

8. Princess Nine
Appearances: Fifth
Overall Tournament Record: 9-4
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#2 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #5 Battle Athletes in Regional Championship
Outlook: A long strange journey for this girls squad. They had a definite off-year, but still have that championship-talent. A much lower seed than they are accustomed to earning this year, we will see how well that goes with their opening round opponent, which will bring back some bad memories

9. Di Gi Charot
Appearances: Third
Overall Tournament Record: 3-2
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#11 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost in second round to #3 Mobile Suit Gundam
Outlook: The kawaii idols are back in the tournament. Had some trouble this year with high-level competition, and their schedule was fairly weak, but showed enough late to earn a bid. Their opening match-up with the Princesses may bring back some memories, but with the Slayers looming in the next round, it is hard to see them going beyond the opening weekend.

10. Witch Hunter Robin
Appearances: Second
Overall Tournament Record: 1-1
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#8 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #1 Dragon Ball Z in second round
Outlook: One of the last teams invited to go dancing, Robin and her crew know they need to show more than one-and done. They got a fairly easy draw for their opener, and may even get to the Regionals if things work out.

11. Samurai Champloo
Appearances: First
Outlook: Not an especially deep team. No real depth. Questionable team chemistry in spite of the efforts of Fuu and Momo. They should be happy to just be here if they don’t kill each other first. They drew tourney-tested Battle Athletes in their opener, so they will likely be one-and-done.

12. Lupin the Third
Appearances: Third
Overall Tournament Record: 0-2
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#14 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #3 Mobile Suit Gundam in first round
Outlook: The noble thieves are back (somehow ‘stealing a bid’) in the tourney. Team chemistry isn’t always there due to distrust among some of the team members, but they were able to do enough to earn a bid afterall. Lupin couldn’t steal a Gundam last year, so no real reason to think differently this year against Mosepaeda.

13. 801TTS Airbats
Appearances: Second
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#11 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #6 Azumanga Daioh in the first round
Outlook: Not an especially deep team, (they only have 7 regulars) but are well-disciplined and have teamwork going for them. A potential bracket-buster that can make some unlucky higher seed’s life miserable. Fushigi Yuugi will pose a stiff test for them

14. Patlabor
Appearances: Third
Overall Tournament Record: 0-2
Last in Tournament: 2004 (#12 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost in first round to #5 Fushigi Yuugi
Outlook: The armored cops are back after a one-year absence from the tournament. They do have some depth, but are not very athletic overall. They will need a favorable draw to advance very far

15. Akira
Appearances: Third
Overall Tournament Record: 0-2
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#14 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #3 Pokemon in first round
Outlook: A very loose assortment of characters that barely function together as a team. The Colonel has his hands full with this bunch, as they were very fortunate to make the tourney again. They were able to show better against Pokemon last year than their first appearance. They will hang around early, but may not have the ability to stay late in the game with a top-seeded team

16. Mezzo
Appearance: First
Outlook: A small team without much depth. They just made their first appearance in the tourney, but sadly, it will be a short one as they will be matched against one of the super-power teams. This job may be too dangerous for them!

[plaidwolf]

1. Vandread
Appearances: Second
Overall Tournament Record: 2-1
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#5 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #1 Azumanga Daioh in regional semi-finals
Outlook: Earning such a high seed is indicative of the kind of year they have had. They have no set starting lineup which allows them to play mix-and-match depending upon their opponent to great effect. Had the eventual champions on the ropes late in last years tourney when their luck ran out. They look to improve upon that…anything less than the Anime Final Four this year will be a failed season to them

2. Big O
Appearances: Second
Overall Tournament Record: 1-1
Last in Tournament: 2002 (#4 seed Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost to #12 Hyper Dolls in second round
Outlook: Been away from the tourney for quite a while, so we aren’t sure how Roger Smith and his team will respond to the pressure of a one-and-done situation. Not very deep, but well disciplined. Either of their possible second round opponents will pose some serious matchup issues….

3. Utena
Appearances: Fifth
Overall Tournament Record: 2-4
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#4 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #5 Vandread in second round
Outlook: The Queen of the early high-seed exit, the Utenas try again to do what has been expected for so long…actually have a tourney worth noting. It is possible that they might not get there, they have been so close for so long…that gold ring may simply be out of reach. Their draw hints at yet another possible early exit…

4. Gatekeepers
Appearances: Fourth
Overall Tournament Record: 1-3
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#4 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost in second round to #12 Akazukin ChaCha
Outlook: A tourney veteran that once again seems poised for a deep run. A run to the Sweet Sixteen isn’t out of the question for this team, but they could also flame out early like last year. They seem to play to the level of their competition which is a bad idea in a tournament setting..

5. Galaxy Angels
Appearances: Third
Overall Tournament Record: 3-2
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#9 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #1 Fushigi Yuugi in second round
Outlook: Ok, ok, NOW we believe! Based upon their last two tournaments, this squad has definitely earned a higher seed and respect. A tight-knit ensemble that should pose a pretty fair test for anyone unfortunate enough to have them in their brackets.

6. Urusei Yatsura
Appearances: Fourth
Overall Tournament Record: 8-3
Final Fours: 2002
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#3 seed, Okinawa Region )
Result: Lost to #6 Riding Bean in second round
Outlook: A classic anime with a chaotic approach to games that keep opponents off balance. Could win six games as long as Lum keeps Ataru’s mind on business and not on the ladies of the opposing teams. Has the depth to go all the way with the right breaks

7. Shichinin no Nana (Seven of Seven)
Appearance: First
Outlook: A deep team that provides five quality starters and two quality backups that are all the same person! Grampa keeps this team in some semblance of order. Could this team be this year’s Onegai Teacher with a deep tourney run to match? Watch them…they could be for real…

8. Mobile Suit Gundam
Appearances: Fifth
Overall Tournament Record: 8-4
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#3 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost to #1 Fushigi Yuugi in Regional Championship
Outlook: A tough year for this veteran anime. They somehow played their way in, but we don’t see them lasting too long this year. If the Tails don’t get them, Vandread likely will.

9. Kaitou St Tail
Appearances: Fifth
Overall Tournament Record: 7-4
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#6 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #1 Azumanga Daioh in Regional Championship
Outlook: Another veteran team that somehow managed to just sneak into the tourney. They had a roller-coaster year, punctuated by a free fall seeing them lose most of their last 10 games. Like with Gundam, the survivor of this 8-9 game wont last long against Vandread…

10. Slam Dunk
Appearances: Third
Overall Tournament Record: 0-2
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#11 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost to #6 Kaitou St Tail in first round
Outlook: Still seeking their first tourney win. In spite of their low seeding, their opening game is definitely winnable with a few breaks.

11. Akazukin ChaCha
Appearances: Third
Overall Tournament Record: 2-2
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#12 seed, Tokyo Region)
Result: Lost in Regional Semi-finals to #1 Fushigi Yuugi
Outlook: The Rodney Dangerfield of the tourney…still no respect after the tournament run they had last year. While they may win their opener, it is hard to see them sneaking up on anyone this time around.

12. Kiki’s Delivery Service
Appearances: Third
Overall Tournament Record: 0-2
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#16 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost in first round to #1 Mospeada
Outlook: This anime is pretty much average in their depth and abilities. They do work very well as a team in minimizing their liabilities and magnifying strengths. Facing another tourney veteran who has won is not the way to win your first game, so they will likely be gone quickly

13. RahXephon
Appearances: Third
Overall Tournament Record: 2-2
Last in Tournament: 2005 (#8 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost in second round to #1 Mospeada
Outlook: Didn’t have as good a year in the WPI (Wolfie Power Index), thanks to a flimsy schedule that was drawn up by Mr Softee, and the Committee punished them with a much lower seed than last year. For further punishment, they will be taking on one of the top seeds. They will be gone quickly

14. Plastic Little
Appearance: First
Outlook: One of the old-time animes finally making their tourney debut. Fair depth on the bench and the teamwork is good. They may have finally made the field of 65, but Captain Tita won’t allow her squad to fall into the ‘just-happy-to-be-here’ syndrome. They will be a tough out for someone

15. Gatchaman
Appearances: Second
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2002 (#13 seed, Kyoto Region)
Result: Lost in first round to #4 Big O
Outlook: More proof the Committee has a sense of humor…another rematch from a previous tournament. Because of their lack of recent tournament experience, the G-Force will have their hands full with their opening round opponent

16A. Wild Arms
Appearances: Second
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2002 (#15 seed, Okinawa Region)
Result: Lost to #2 Bubblegum Crisis in first round

16B. Jubei-Chan
Appearances: Second
Overall Tournament Record: 0-1
Last in Tournament: 2002 (#15 seed, Far East Region)
Result: Lost in first round to #2 Slayers

Both 16s suffer from lack of recent tourney experience, and were previously rated at the same seeding level. The ‘winner’ will advance to play patsy for Vandread in Round One

[plaidwolf]

[ QUOTE ]
bci110 said:
[ QUOTE ]
Plaid Wolf said:
4. Sailor Moon
13. Yu Yu Hakusho, yet another rookie


[/ QUOTE ]

This to me is the most interesting matchup, considering that the creators of these two series are married to each other! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Hmmm....wonder who sleeps where depending upon the winner...

"Psst...Youske! I dont care HOW you do it...find a non-obvious way to LOSE! I dont want to sleep on the couch tonight!!!"

[ScorpioEyez]

Go Princess Nine! Go Azumanga Daioh! Go Team Sea Slug! *cheers*

[plaidwolf]

Good evening everyone and welcome back to Tourney Central, where nothing stops the Anime Championships…not crashing computers, slow connections or even pissed-off girlfriends….uh, hehehe!

Tonights Madness started with the play-in game between Jubei-Chan and Wild Arms for the right to take on #1 Vandread on Friday.

The game started off fairly evenly, but by the mid-part of the half, the Arms used several blocks by Dr Keil and some hot shooting to gradually pull to a halftime lead of 15. The second half started fairly even, with Jeyu unable to lead her team in closing the gap. Suddenly at the 12-minute mark, the gap was 20. The Arms maintained their lead as time slowly ran out on the spunky ninja girl and her team. (Making only 1/3 of the scoring shots will NOT help you win when the other guys are hitting near half of theirs…) Slowly, the realization dawned on the ninjas that this game was out of reach, their failure to reduce the halftime margin in the first five minutes of the second half was to be their undoing…

As a result the Arms will advance to play #1 Vandread in the first round…and here is our lineups for the first round….

THURSDAY March 16

Okinawa Region
#1 Dragonball Z vs #16 DearS
#4 Magical Project S vs #13 FLCL
#5 Excel Saga vs #12 Scrapped Princess
#8 Majocco Club vs #9 Magic Users Club

Far East Region
#2 Outlaw Star vs #15 Fullmetal Alchemist
#3 Pokemon vs #14 Magic Knight Rayearth
#6 Mononoke Hime vs #11 Amazing Nurse Nanako
#7 Kareshi Kanyojo vs #10 Card Captor Sakura

Tokyo Region
#2 Love Hina vs #15 Akira
#4 Fushigi Yuugi vs #13 801 TTS Airbats
#5 Mosepaeda vs #12 Lupin the Third
#7 Kodocha vs #10 Witch Hunter Robin

Kyoto Region
#3 Utena vs #14 Plastic Little
#4 Gatekeepers vs #13 RahXephon
#5 Galaxy Angels vs #12 Kiki’s Delivery Service
#6 Urusei Yatsura vs #11 Akazukin ChaCha


FRIDAY March 17

Okinawa Region
#2 Escaflowne vs #15 El Hazard
#3 Martian Successor Nadesico vs #14 Night Shift Nurses
#6 Onegai Teacher vs #11 Irresponsible Captain Tylor
#7 Kimagure Orange Road vs #10 City Hunter

Far East Region
#1 Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne vs #16 Cromartie High School
#4 Sailor Moon vs #13 Yu Yu Hakusho
#5 Trigun vs #12 Ronin Warriors
#8 Girls Bravo vs #9 Mai-HiME

Tokyo Region
#1 Slayers vs #16 Mezzo
#3 Azumanga Daioh vs #14 Patlabor
#6 Battle Athetes vs #11 Samurai Champloo
#8 Princess Nine vs #9 DiGi Charot

Kyoto Region
#1 Vandread vs #16 Wild Arms
#2 Big O vs #15 Gatchaman
#7 Shichinin no Nana vs #10 Slam Dunk
#8 Mobile Suit Gundam vs #9 Kaitou St Tail


The Madness starts on Thursday on AOD Sports! See you Thursday night for our Day One wrap-up show!

And to follow the brackets:

http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=147904&amp;tclass=

[plaidwolf]

Good evening everyone and welcome back to Tournament Central in our studios in Tokyo….we are pleased to bring you AOD Sports continuing coverage of the 2006 Anime Championships….

We had a full slate of action today with 16 games from the four regions…favorites, underdogs, and controversial choices marked last Sunday’s Selection Show. Let’s see how it shook out on Day One…

Lets start with the Kyoto Region where all four games wrapped up early.

Our opening game saw #6 seed Urusei Yatsura taking on one of last year’s Cinderella stories, #11 Akazukin Chacha. The ChaCha’s made last years Sweet Sixteen before bowing out to eventual runner-up Fushigi Yuugi. The ChaChas started off fast and midway through the first half held a substantial lead. It looked like the Yatsuras were in for a long day when they put on a rally that closed the gap to just a single score at the half. Just after the half, the ChaChas blew the game wide open, and while the Yatsuras, led by the incomparable Lum, closed the gap to 6, they were unable to get any closer before the ChaChas held on for the upset victory.

The ChanChas will take on #3 Utena who had a comparably easy time with #14 Plastic Little. The Littles, making their tourney debut, gamely made it close in the first half, trailing by only 6 at the break. But in the second half, clearly disgusted with their first half performance, the Utenas, led by the game’s leading scorer Juri, blew away the Little’s challenge and advances easily to the next round.

#4 Gatekeepers took on #13 RahXephon in whgat turned out to be a double-overtime barn-burner…the RaX stormed back from a double-deficit margin to take the lead in the waning seconds before a questionable call at the end of regulation allowed the Keepers to tie the game and force overtime. The Rax jumped to a lead in the first overtime, but the Keepers rallied and were able to force a second overtime. By then, the Rax were out of gas and faltered to allow the Keepers to take a much harder than expected victory.

They will take on the winner of #5 Galaxy Angels and #12 Kiki’s Delivery Service. The Angels the last two seasons, have provided upsets for the fans. In large part, due to their record, they were rewarded with a high seed by the Committee. BUT….would the magic of the Number 12 hold?

The little witch and her teammates were overwhelmed in their tourney appearance last year, but evidently, put the experience to good use in a game where they never trailed and never appeared to be intimidated by their opponents who mounted several comebnack attempts, but were never able to get closer than three before Kiki led her team to the more comfortable margin of victory and a second-round date with the Gatekeepers on Saturday.

Now, lets turn our attention to the Tokyo Region.

The first game saw #7 Kodocha take on #10 Witch Hunter Robin. We would like to say this game was close, but we cant lie that badly…the Kodochas ran off to a quick lead, led virtually the entire game, and after building a 20-point margin, the closest the Hunters could get was 11, before the final margin of 20.

They will take on #2 Love Hina, the Lucky Dog winner, who is making their first tourney appearance in four years. They had a tough back-and-forth battle with #15 Akira who kept playing the favorites even throughout the contest, and even took a lead before a late-game cold-spell sealed their fate. The Hinas weren’t shooting any better and it looked like overtime yet again until Shinobu hit a miracle off-balance shot with less than a second to left to get the victory!

Our next game saw last year’s runner-up, #4 Fushigi Yuugi take on #13 801TTS Airbats. This game saw the Yuugis lead pretty much most of the game, but the Airbats never gave up. Even though they were able to get close enough in the second half to make the game interesting (and make the Yuugis sweat a bit), they weren’t able to make up the deficit. The Yuugis win, but not quite as easily as expected.

The final game tonight featured #5 Mosepaeda taking on #12 Lupin the Third. This game was failr close as the thieves made things interesting for a while, but they simply didn’t have the ability to keep up with the Peadas. The final margin was indicative more of the level of play as the game progressed. Thus, the Peadas avoid the #12 jinx and survice to play Fuushigi Yuugi on Saturday.


The Far East Region saw four more games today

The first game saw #7 Kareshi Kanyojo, who hadn’t made the tourney since their Final Four run back in 2003 , going up against the #10 Card Captor Sakura. The Sakuras raced to an early lead and looked like they were going to blow the Kanos right out of the gym. But the Kanos got hot after the half and quickly closed the gap and even took the lead., but the Sakuras retook the lead and managed to hold on in spite of giving the Kanos several chances late in the game to retake the lead. Thus, Sakura leads her team to the next round where they will face…

#2 Outlaw Star. #15 Fullmetal Alchemist provided the formal opposition and in fact, played the Stars tough for the first 19 minutes of the first half…but a late burst in the last minute of the opening half put the Stars well ahead…and they picked right back up in the second half to quickly put the game away.

Our third game say #3 Pokemon take on #14 Magic Knight Rayearth, back after their Elite Eight run of two years ago. The Knights had played their way into the field and wanted to prove they still belonged. They stayed pretty even with the Pokemons in the opening half and managed to get a small working lead early in the second stanza. Thye managed to hold off every Pokemon run until, clearly wearing out the thinner Knights with their superior depth, they finally regained the lead with under two minutes left, and somehow managed to hang on.

The pocket monsters will take on #6 Mononoke Hime who outlasted #11 Amazing Nurse Nanako in a spirited, but very sloppy back and forth battle that wasn’t decided until the last seconds. This is the Himes first tournament victory since 2003.


Finally the Okinawa Region kicked off…

#4 Magical Project S kicked off against #13 FLCL. The Coolies, playing in their first tourney, didn’t show any jitters and battled the Projects in a tight game, even taking a slight lead into the half. We don’t know what was said at the half, but the Projects came out after the half, tied the game and then quickly shot to a large lead. The Coolies fought back and managed to trim the lead to three, but led by Sasami, the Projects extended the lead back to a more comfortable margin and cruise to the victory.

The next game saw #8 Majocco Club take on #9 Magic Users Club in a terrific battle that seesawed back and forth in the opening half. Early in the seond half, the Users bolted to a huge 18-point lead, led by Sae’s shooting. Amazingly, the Majoccos didn’t fold as their balanced effort from Pastel Umi, Pelsia and Creamy Mami allowed them to stage an equally impressive comeback. This game went nip and tuck to the end which has numerous ties and leads changes, keeping the fans buzzing when it ended in a tie. The extra session was equally exciting as the Users managed to get a small lead in the last minute, but the Majoccos were able to regain the lead in the last seconds. They will play the winner of the #1 DragonballZ/#16 DearS winner.

Our third game saw #5 Excel Saga, the 2003 champions, take on #12 Scrapped Princess. This game was less competitive than the final score would hint, as the Excels, clearly worn out emotionally by their frantic rally into the tournament, had no answers for a Princess squad making the most of their tourney debut. While the Excels made a few runs to close the gap, the Princess easily held off the former champions and sent them to another opening round loss. Thus another #5 bites the dust at the hands of a #12…the Princesses will take on #4 Magical Project S on Saturday.

The last game from this region saw #1 DragonballZ cruise to a fairly easy win over a game, but overmatched #16 DearS. They will take on #8 Majocco Club on Saturday…

Wow! What a day and the madness is just starting!

16 more games tomorrow!

See you tomorrow night for our wrap-up show!

[plaidwolf]

Good evening everyone and welcome back to Tourney Central here at AOD Sports…we have just completed Day Two of the 2006 Anime Championships….we had some classics yesterday plus the upsets and barnburners…would today be any different? Lets get right to the action…

Lets start with the Kyoto Region…

Action tipped off with #2 seed Big O taking on #15 seed Gatchaman…both animes had not been in the tourney since 2002, when they met each other in the opening round, Big O prevailing then. Much of this game, the O’s were in serious trouble…the Gatchamen were simply not intimidated by the Big O, nor were the O’s scoring with any great consistency. Finally Major Dastun takes control of the game allowing the O’s to retake the lead and maintain it, even though they never had any margin to work with. The Gatchamen closes to 3 with 7 minutes left, but never were able to fully catch up. Thus, the Big O advances to the second round on Sunday…

Their opponent would be the winner of the matchup between #7 Shichinin no Nana (Seven of Seven) and #10 Slam Dunk….the Dunkers had been to this tourney three straight years so simply being here was no longer enough, they wanted a win. They were led early on by their star player, Akagi Takenori, as they bolted to a 7-point lead on the Nanas in the opening half. But the swarming Nanas somehow shut him down, and soon retook the lead. They were able to hold on the rest of the way in spite of many efforts by the Dunkers to close the gap , and advance to the second round to face the Big O…

The next game was the 8-9 matchup between Mobile Suit Gundam and Kaitou St Tail. Given the team’s results last year (both made the Elite Eight), a tight game was expected, but once the Gundams took the lead, they never let up and the Tails, were simply unable to keep pace. They fell behind early bymore than 20…while they were able to close the gap to 11 with a halftime deficit of 12, the Gundams simply refused to allow the Tails back into the game and gradually stretched the margin to 19, which was the final margin of victory. The Gundams advance…

Our final opening round game in this region was #1 Vandread against #16 Wild Arms, winners of Tuesday’s play-in game. This game started of incredibly slowly as neither team could seemingly buy a score…but as the game progressed, the fans, sensing the possibility of a historic 16-over-1 upset, started cheering the underdogs on. Throughout the game, the Arms never led the Vandreads establish any kind of control or run that would put the game out of reach, which made it easy for the neutral fans to switch their support. The Arms gave everything they had and then some in trying to pull off the shocker as Sheyenne tried to rally his team from a halftime deficit, pulling the Arms within six, but then they slowly started to fade as the Vandreads, led by Dita and Hibiki, managed to hang on and foil the upset bid….

Next we go to the Far East Region…

Action started with #8 Girls Bravo taking on #9 Mai-HiME. The Himes advanced to the second round last year upsetting Sailor Moon and the Bravos were making their tourney debut. Led by Mai Tokiha, the Himes led much of the way in this game, but started to lose steam late in the contest, allowing the Bravos to tie the score. While the Himes shooting went ice cold, the Bravos were unable to take advantage of that, and they paid for that failure when the Himes scored the last points of the game to secure their second consecutive trip to the second round.

They will take on #1 Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne, who had a difficult time early with the badasses of #16 Cromartie High School, but a spectacular score by Kusakabe Maron ignited a 20-2 run that put the Kaitous comfortably ahead and they maintained that margin through the rest of the game to advance easily. Maron said afterward seeing some of the upsets reminded the team about the nature of this tournament, and they didn’t want to be the first #1 to bow to a #16.

Elsewhere, #5 Trigun took on #12 Ronin Warriors in a rematch from the 2002 Sweet Sixteen game (the Warriors prevailed in that game only to fall to eventual runner-up Mononoke Hime the next game). Vash and his teammates ensured there would be no additional #12s advancing as they never trailed in this game, and a 23-5 run buried the Warriors. The Stampedes were able to put the game in cruise control the rest of the way and advance to the next round.

Finally, #4 Sailor Moon took on #13 Yu Yu Hakusho…..this game wasn’t really that close as the Hakushos led pretty much throughout the game and easily repelled several Senshi efforts to get back into the game before securing the victory. (We suspect someone will be sleeping on the couch tonight because of the result…) After making the Anime Final Four in the first two years of the tourney, the Senshi have now been knocked out in the opening round the last two years

Now, let us look at games played in the Okinawa Region.

First up is the game between #3 Martian Successor Nadesico and the lone hentai in the field, #14 Night Shift Nurses. This game started as a seeming rout, with the Nurses falling behind early by 14, then after rallying to get back in the game at the half (down by 4), they fell behind by 17 early in the second half. They uses hot shooting and clutch defense to fight their way back into the game, but things still looked bad when they found themselves down 2 in the waning seconds until Narumi Jinguji hit a fallaway shot off a miss with a half second to go. A final desperation heave was missed badly and the biggest upset in the tournament has been made!

The Nurses will next take on one of last years surprise teams, #6 Onegai Teacher, who easily got past the #11 Irresponsible Captain Tylor in the late session. Tylor later admitted that they ran into a ‘buzzsaw’ after seeing his veteran team dismantled so easily.

The nightcap saw #7 Kimagure Orange Road take on #10 City Hunter. The Oranges rode into the tournament riding the hot shooting of Ayakawa Madoka, but the Hunters neutralized her and didn’t allow any of the other Orange players to take up the slack. The game was a back and forth affair with the Hunters down six, then they went on a run to take the lead, then the Oranges answered to tie the game in the waning minutes before some clutch shooting by Kaori Makimura sealed the game.

They will take on the winner of #2 Escaflowne and #15 El Hazard. This game was a nip-and-tuck battle throughout as the Hazards played the game pretty tightly and refused to allow the Flownes to get into their game. While they never let the Flownes get out of sight until the last minutes, the Hazards were never able to close the gap enough to really threaten the outcome. So Escaflowne survives a tough game…

Finally, the Tokyo Region….

The first game saw #6 Battle Athletes, one of last years Final Four teams, square off with upstart #11 Samurai Champloo. This was a major surprise in that the Athletes never seemed to get their game in gear while the Samurai never backed down from their higher seeded competition. While the Athletes did lead the game late, there was never the sense that they had control and the Samurai retook the lead quickly and never let go as the margin never shrank below 6 the rest of the way.

They will take on defending champion #3 Azumanga Daioh who held off a feisty #14 Patlabor in a see-saw game that wasn’t decided until the closing seconds…the armored cops played the champs pretty evenly and the game wasn’t decided until the last minute. Patlabor was valiant in a crushing defeat, but the champs move on…

#1 Slayers took on #16 Mezzo and this game was a dandy…for much of the game the heavy underdogs had the Slayers back on their heels, trailing by one at the half. The Mezzos came out in the second half and actually held a 12 point lead over an anime many felt might win it all this year. The fans were teased earlier by the possibility of a #16 win, but this one was much more real. Lina Inverse, juggling the lineups, finally found the combination that resulted in a 20-4 run that restored normalcy to the proceedings. The Slayers won but the final score was not as comfortable as it seemed

They will take on the winner of the nightcap, #8 Princess Nine vs #9 DiGi Charot. This game was a rematch from two years ago except this time, the Princesses came out on top in yet another back and forth affair that saw the Princess take the lead early in the second half and while the Princesses never trailed again, they never shook the Charots until the final buzzer…

Wow! Well, we had a LOT of games not be decided until the last minute which is exciting for the fans (but stressful for the players and coaches!) We look for more tomorrow and Sunday….the second round match-ups tomorrow will look like this:

Okinawa Region:
#1 DragonballZ vs #8 Majocco Club
#4 Magical Project S vs #12 Scrapped Princess

Far East Region:
#2 Outlaw Star vs #10 Card Captor Sakura
#3 Pokemon vs #6 Mononoke Hime

Tokyo Region
#2 Love Hina vs #7 Kodocha
#4 Fushigi Yuugi vs #5 Mosepaeda

Kyoto Region:
#3 Utena vs #11 Akazukin ChaCha
#4 Gatekeepers vs #12 Kiki’s Delivery Service

Sundays matchups are:

Okinawa Region:
#2 Escaflowne vs #10 City Hunter
#6 Onegai Teacher vs #14 Night Shift Nurses

Far East Region:
#1 Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne vs #9 Mai-HiME
#5 Trigun vs #13 Yu Yu Hakusho

Tokyo Region
#1 Slayers vs #8 Princess Nine
#11 Samurai Champloo

Kyoto Region:
#1 Vandread vs #8 Mobile Suit Gundam
#2 Big O vs #7 Shichinin no Nana

See you tomorrow night for the Wrap-up Show!

[plaidwolf]

Good evening everyone.,…welcome back to Tourney Central as we start second round action in the 2006 Anime Championships….will the games be as good as the opening round games? Let us take a look…

In the Okinawa Region, #1 DragonBallZ took on #8 Majocco Club. Depending upon your rooting interest, the DBZers easily disposed of the 80s magic girls, leading throughout the game. A magin of one was disrupted by a 17-4 run that put the Joccos behind for good. While they managed to keep the game from becoming a blowout, they were never really able to seriously threaten the lead. The DBZers return to the Sweet 16 where they will take on the winner of the next game

#4 Magical Project S took on #12 Scrapped Princess in the other game in this region. . This game started off as a potential laugher for the S’s, but the Princesses battled back with a 17-0 run to tie the game at the half. The second half was more of the same and the S’s appeared to be in control, but a late run put the Princesses up by two with seconds left. Pixy Misa made a 3 to put the S’s ahead, and the Pacifica was unable to get any kind of shot off as time expired. Magical Project S now goes to the Sweet 16 for the first time against Dragonball Z on Thursday night….as we see Sasami and Misa embrace at midcourt before going to congratulate the losing team…

The Tokyo Region had two games today. First up, #2 Love Hina took on the upstart #7 Kodocha. This game was a tightly contested affair throughout with neither team able to establish much of an edge on the other, or keep one for long. The Hinas did manage a late 5-point lead, but the Kodochas rallied to tie late. After trading scores, the Kodochas retook the lead and held it to the end…while the Hinas got close twice before the end, they weren’t able to retake the lead as free throws sealed the deal for the upstarts. They will take on the winner of tomorrow’s #3 Azumanga Daioh-#11 Samurai Champloo contest.

The other game had #4 Fushigi Yuugi up against #5 Mosepaeda. The Yuugis were runner-up last year and looking for a chance to go back to the Sweet 16, but they got off to a horrible start where they couldn’t buy a score as the Paedas ran off a huge margin. Then suddenly, they couldn’t miss as led by Tamahome, the Yuugis close to 2 at the half…..the excited Yuugis ran off the court at the half, while the Paedas wondered what hit them. The second half started with the Yuugis picking up right where they left off, leaving fans to wonder if Mosepaeda was going to be run out of the gym…when the Yuugis suddenly went ice cold! The Paedas took full advantage of the chance, tying the game late. Mint Rubble hit late free throws, and a late attempt by Miaka to tie the game went awry as the Paedas went into full celebration! They will take on the winner of tomorrow’s #1 Slayers- #8 Princess Nine game

The Kyoto Region had two games on tap.

#3 Utena, queen of the early exits, took on #11 Akazukin ChaCha, one of last years Cinderellas. The Utenas took an early lead and never gave it up…they maintained a double-digit lead from midway in the opening half to the end of the game as the ChaChas had no answer for the Utenas newfound ability to win. Hence the Utenas FINALLY get to the Sweet 16 for the very first time in five years of tourney action filled with first and second round losses! They will play the winner of tomorrow’s #2 Big O and #7 Shichinin no Nana contest.

The other game had #4 Gatekeepers taking on #12 Kiki’s Delivery Service. While the little witch kept her team in the game throughout the first half, the Keepers blew the game open early in the second half and cruised to an easy win, marked by fans booing as the starters were kept in at game’s end…Like the Utenas, the Keepers finally escape opening weekend and advance to the Sweet 16. They will play the winner of #1 Vandread and #8 Mobile Suit Gundam.

Finally, the Far East Region ended action tonight.

#2 Outlaw Star took on #10 Card Captor Sakura. This game was much closer than anyone expected as the Sakuras employed a slow-down game that frustrated the higher-powered Stars throughout. In spite of the strategy, the Stars ran off to a large lead. At that point, the Sakuras switched defenses and suddenly forced enough mistakes to allow them to climb right back into the game. The Sakuras finally took the lead and the rest of the half was back and forth and ended in a tie. Early in the second half, we saw more of the same, but then the Stars went on yet another run that threatend to blow the game open, but the Sakuras respond and finally close the gap to 1 twice in the final minute, but they couldn’t retake the lead. As a result, the Stars head to their first Regionals since 2002 where they will take on the winner of the next game…

The other game had #3 Pokemon taking on #6 Mononoke Hime. This game was fairly close throughout until partway through the second half when the Pokemon, taking advantage of their depth, put on a mini-run that extended the lead to double digits. The Himes put on a run to close the gap, but their luck soon ran out. The Himes hit a ploy to trade 2 for 3 and it almost worked in pulling out the game, but at the end the Himes had no answers for the wave after wave of pocket monsters thrown in the lineup. Pokemon finally gets into the Sweet 16 as well. They will play #2 Outlaw Star next…

That is it for tonight…tune in tomorrow night as we winnow the field down to the Sweet Sixteen of Anime!

http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=147904

[plaidwolf]

Good evening everyone, and welcome back to Tourney Central! Today, we come to the end of the second round of tourney action and end this day with our Sweet Sixteen of anime…

The opening game from the Far East Region had #5 Trigun taking on #13 Yu Yu Hakusho, surprise winners over #4 Sailor Moon. Trigun had been in the tourney all five years, this was the Haku’s first trip…yet the outcome was not what was expected. The Hakus raced off to an early lead. The Triguns looked like the rookies as they continually turned the ball over, missed shot and committed silly mistakes and lost composure several times. While they were able to cut the margin to one, the Hakus went on a run early in the second half to assert control of the game…and the Triguns never got closer than 4 after that.

They will take on #1 seed Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne who had no real trouble disposing of #9 Mai-HiME. The Himes led early when star player Mai Tokiha picked up her second foul at a crucial time..the Kamikazes went on a massive run that put the Himes down by 9…and while she returned to the game six minutes later, the damage was done to the scoreboard and they were not able to really close the gap in any meaningful way.

Tokyo Region action had #1 Slayers taking on #8 Princess Nine. The game saw the Slayers take control early then hang on at the end in the face of a desperate comeback effort to advance to the Sweet Sixteen next weekend. The Slayers had control of the game at the half, leading by a dozen, and led by 13 midway through the second half when the Princesses staged their rally. They closed to 8 with 7 minutes left and never really went away the rest of the game. While they closed to gap to two twice in the last minute, they were never able to get the stop they desperately needed to climb back into the lead. The Slayers will take on #5 Mosepaeda next weekend.

The other Tokyo game had defending champion #3 Azumanga Daioh taking on #11 Samurai Champloo. The champs had the Samurai on the ropes early with a 16-2 edge, but failed to deliver a knockout punch. The Samurai changed their defensive approach and the results allowed them to climb back into the game and trail by 7 at the half. The Samurai, led by Fuu, ran off 8 points to start the second half and while the defending champs never quit, they were definitely rocked. They did manage to retake the lead briefly, but their early momentum was clearly gone as the Samurai maintained control, if not a comfortable lead, to the end of the game. We have yet ANOTHER new team in the Sweet Sixteen! The Samurais will take on #7 Kodocha in the Regionals…

Okinawa Region action had #6 Onegai Teacher taking on the lone hentai, #14 Night Shift Nurses.. While the Nurses overcame a double-digit second half deficit on Friday, they couldn’t escape from the box they were put in by the Teachers this day, a 16-3 run keying the 21 point halftime lead. While they extended that lead after the break, the Nurses started really hustling to try to climb back into the game, closing the gap to 8, but they couldn’t get any closer. The Teachers thus advance to play #2 Escaflowne

The Flownes got off to as fast start against the surprised Hunters and led by a dozen halfway through the opening half. The Hunters stormed back and close within 2 before the Flownes extended their halftime lead to 5. The Hunters were still behind by 5 early in the second half when the Flownes, led by Hitomi, exploded on a run that left the Hunters down by 16, a margin they kept for the rest of the game.

The Kyoto Region ended second round action with #2 Big O taking on #7 Shichinin no Nana. The Nanas wasted little time in showing they meant to hang around as they ran off to an early 10-point lead on the O’s, and built that into a 13-point margin at the half.
The O’s could get no closer than 6 points the rest of the way before the swarming Nanas salted the game into their win column. The Nanas will take on #3 Utena next weekend.

#1 Vandread took on #8 Mobile Suit Gundam. This game started off as a laugher, but turned into nail-biter at the finish as the Gundams refused to lose and the Vandreads had trouble putting them away…a trait that cost them in last year’s tournament and almost cost them tonight as the Gundams stormed back to within two in the last minutes before losing. The Vandreads will now take on #4 Gatekeepers

Well, we are now at our Sweet Sixteen of Anime….Tune back in Thuirsday night as we start the Regionals as we head to the Elite Eight and then by next Sunday night, the Anime Final Four!

Thursday:
Okinawa Region
#1 Dragonball Z vs #4 Magical Project S
#2 Escaflowne vs #6 Onegai Teacher

Far East Region
#1 Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne vs #13 Yu Yu Hakusho
#2 Outlaw Star vs #3 Pokemon

Friday
Tokyo Region:
#1 Slayers vs #5 Mosepaeda
#7 Kodocha vs #11 Samurai Champloo

Kyoto Region
#1 Vandread vs #4 Gatekeepers
# 3 Utena vs #7 Shichinin no Nana (Seven of Seven)

Of our 16 teams, we have 8 animes that had never made it this far before….how will so much new blood affect things?

See you next Thursday night to find out!


http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=147904

[ScorpioEyez]

/images/graemlins/cry00000.gif Both my teams are out already?!?!?

[plaidwolf]

[ QUOTE ]
ScorpioEyez said:
/images/graemlins/cry00000.gif Both my teams are out already?!?!?

[/ QUOTE ]

there, there...*pat, pat*... that is ok...i am sure you arent the only fan whose teams took a heavy dive this past weekend...

[rainking187]

[ QUOTE ]
Plaid Wolf said:http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=147904

[/ QUOTE ]

There's actually a website that lets you make your own brackets? The internet never ceases to amaze me.

[plaidwolf]

Tonight, the 2006 Anime Championships resume with our Sweet Sixteen of Anime competing to see who heads tom the Elite Eight for Championship Weekend...and by SUnday night, we will have our Final Four...

Tonight's games:

Okinawa Region
#1 Dragonball Z vs #4 Magical Project S :
#2 Escaflowne vs #6 Onegai Teacher

Three veteran teams and one newbie made it this far. Will Pretty Sammy and Pixy Misa have what it takes to knock off Goku, Vegita and their squad? Or will the tourney-tough DBZers prevail? And what of the nightcap between Escaflowne and Please Teacher? Will there be a close game? Will Kei Kusanagi put up a career night? Or will he 'standstill' at a crucial time like he did last year against InuYasha with the Final Four at stake?

Far East Region
#1 Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne vs #13 Yu Yu Hakusho
#2 Outlaw Star vs #3 Pokemon

Only one of these teams has ever made it this far in the history of Anime March Madness (Outlaw Star in 2002). More questions: Will the Kaitous become the first unlicensed anime to play for a ticket to the Anime Final Four? Or will Yusuke be able to rally his team one more time to yet another upset? And the other game, will the Pokemons finally be able to get over the hump and prove they arent yesterdays monsters? Or will the Outlaws prevail?

We will know tonight. See you afterwards for our wrap-up show!

[plaidwolf]

Good evening and welcome back to Tourney Central…we are resuming our journey down AOD Sports coverage of the Road to the Anime Final Four, the 2006 Anime Championships…tonight, we begin the Regionals

First, we go to Utena’s Ohtari Academy for the Okinawa Regionals…

Our first game matches #1 Dragonball Z taking on #4 Magical Project S. While there wasn’t much scoring in the first ten minutes, there was plenty of action to keep the fans buzzing…Pixy Misa picked up two quick fouls at the midway point, but the rest of the team responded to take the lead, somehow confusing the more experienced DBZers with their style of play. The Projects manage to hold off a late DBZ run and head off the court at the half with the lead! Right after the half Misa picked up her third foul. At this point, Goku hasn’t done much, with Vegita doing much of the work to keep his team in the game. At the midway point, the Projects lead starts to dwindle as they go cold and the DBZers start to whittle away. Helping this was Misa picking up foul #4! The DBZers respond with a huge rally that gives them the lead! Then Vegita picks up HIS fourth foul and the Projects quickly rally back. The DBZers retake the lead on a score by Goku, but Sasami responds and the Projects head back in front. The rest of the game was a nail-biter as the Projects streaky foul shooting gave the DBZers some hope, but in the end, Misa makes rthe needed shots and the top anime in the tournament is finished!

Magical Project S, whom in their previous tourney appearances hadn’t even gotten out of the opening round, is now headed to the Elite Eight!

Their opponent would be the survivor of the #2 Escaflowne-#6 Onegai Teacher match-up…The Flownes went on a early tear to take a lead. After a shaky start, the Teachers find their shooting touch, so the game settled down. The Teachers grab a brief lead midway through the half, but go cold allowing the Flownes to extend the lead. After the half, the Teachers fought their way back with an early run, and within minutes retook the lead. After some back and forth scoring, the Flownes pulled back ahead with five minutes left….while the lead was never very big, they were able to maintain it to almost the end. Kei ties the game with seconds left, but Hitomi hits the game winner as time runs out! The Teachers are stunned as the Flownes celebrate their win!

Your Okinawa Regional Championship on Saturday: #2 Escaflowne against #4 Magical Project S

Next, we head out to the Far East Regionals at Escaflowne’s Kama Kita High.

Our opening game has #1 Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne taking on the lowest seed still alive, #13 Yu Yu Hakusho. The Kaitous show they meant business early by jumping off to a fast lead. The Hakushos, after a sloppy start that could be attributed to nerves that resulted in numerous turnovers, regrouped and managed to make more of a competitive game, even tying the game late in the first half. But the Kaitous retake a narrow lead into the half. After the half, the Kaitous follow their path of the first half to try to deliver the knockout punch to the upstarts, and push the lead to double-digits. Youske picks up a crucial foul and has to stay in because the situation is becoming a bit desperate for the Cinderellas…for a while they are scoring but they cant stop the Kaitous either, so they aren’t able to make any headway in reducing the margin as precious minutes tick away. In desperation they try to change defensive tactics, but all it does is slow down the Kaitous, not stop them…while they are able to close to a dozen, they cannot get any closer.

Your winner, #1 Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne

Next game matches #2 Outlaw Star and #3 Pokemon. The Pokemon, knowing how hard it was for them to even get this far, seem determined not to let this one get away as they jumped all over the Stars early. The Stars briefly close the gap some midway through the half, but in the space of a minute, the Pokemon lead is a dozen. But the Stars won’t quit….led by Gene Starwind, the Stars quickly cut the deficit in half and get right back in the game, but they suddenly go cold and the pocket monsters use their depth to push the lead back to double-digits, which they maintain to the half. The second half opened with a Star run to cut the deficit to single digits. But the monsters respond and led by Pikachu, take the lead back out again to double digits. But the Stars refuse to go away, and once again start whittling away at the lead and close to 7 several times. Finally with two minutes left, the Stars cut the gap to five on a put-back by Jim Hawking. The Stars let one chance to cut the lead further slip away on a strange call, then on their next possession, they cut the gap to 3 with 50 second left! Then a foul was called on Psyduck! Jim converts the tosses to trail by one! Then on the imbounds pass, Hilda steals the ball and hits the go-ahead score with 9 seconds left! The stunned Pokemon try to hurry the ball up the floor but lose it to defensive pressure, and are forced to foul with 5 seconds left! After the inbounds toss, Gene is fouled and converts one toss and a desperation Pokemon heave and shot fail! The Outlaw Star have overcome a 17-point deficit to win the game! The stunned Pokemon cannot believe what just hit them, while the Stars are overjoyed at winning a game that probably some thought was lost!

So…….*wipes sweat off the brow!*…we have our championship game for this region on Saturday as #1 Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne vs #2 Outlaw Star! That should be some game!


Wow! After tonight, can tomorrow match this? Tune in to our games…

Tokyo Region:
#1 Slayers vs #5 Mosepaeda
#7 Kodocha vs #11 Samurai Champloo

Kyoto Region
#1 Vandread vs #4 Gatekeepers
# 3 Utena vs #7 Shichinin no Nana (Seven of Seven)

http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=147904

See you then!

[plaidwolf]

Good evening everyone and welcome back to Tourney Central as we continue along the Road to the Anime Final Four…we had some great games last night to get half of our Elite Eight….how about tonight as we winnow the field down?

Tonight, semi-final action in the Kyoto Region starts off with #1 Vandread taking on #4 Gatekeepers.

The Keepers ran off to an early lead, playing defense and frustrating the Vandreads while building a double-digit lead in the first five minutes. Unfortuantely, their torrid scoring faded and while they still are playing good defense, the Vandreads are closing the gap some as the half rolls along. Suddenly at the 4 minute mark, the Keepers build a 15 point lead, but the Vandreads whittle the lead back down to 4 by the half!

The second half starts and the Vandreads suddenly tie the game! But the Keepers retake the lead, and slowly rebuild their margin over the next several minutes to 9 with 9 minutes to go. But the lead is whittled back to 4 not quite four minutes later, and the Vandreads finally take the lead for the first time tonight with 1:50 to go and then build it to three, but the Keepers tie the game with 22 seconds left. No further scoring, so we have overtime!

The Vandreads jump to a fast five point lead in overtime, but the Keepers cut the margin to 1 twice in the extra session, until they have the chance to win. They convert their chance, but on the ensuing possession, the Vandreads take advantage of a defensive lapse to retake the lead and the following desperation shot falls short!

Your winner, #1 Vandread!

They will take on the winner of the game matching #3 Utena and #7 Shichinin no Nana . The game starts off fairly tight as the Nanas start asserting their teamwork in building a seven point lead. But led by Utena and Juri, the Utenas took the lead, but both teams ended the half shooting cold, but the Nanas lead by 2 at the break.

The second half started slowly, then the Utenas started to build a lead. But Grumpy Nana brings the Nanas within 2. Juri responds to push the Utenas back in front, leaving the Nanas just trying to hang close until they regain their feet. Then the Utenas went cold and the Nanas tied the game yet again! The game slows, but the Utenas take the lead yet again, but once again the Nanas tie with 3 minutes left, then retake the lead with just over a minute. Miki converts a 3-point play and the Utenas lead by 2! The Nanas fail to tie and fre tosses add window dressing to the Utena’s well-savored and hard fought victory!.

The other Region seeing action is the Tokyo Region

First is the battle of the Cinderellas, #7 Kodocha against #11 Samurai Champloo. Toe to toe, they battled for the golden slipper and the chance to move on.

The Samurai start the game off on a nice foot, scoring seemingly at will, and getting a large lead before the Kodochas can even get on the board. Almost four minutes are gone before the Kodochas finally score. Things get worse as the Samurai build their lead into double digits by the 12-minute mark, completely outplaying the bewildered Kodochas who seem a bit lost on this stage. They finally seem to get things in gear, and when the Samurai hit a cold spell, cut the deficit to single digits with just under seven minutes left. But they cannot take full advantage of their opportunity as the Samurai recover their shooting touch, and rebuild their lead to 16 at the half.

After the half, the lead is extended even further as it becomes obvious that the Kodochas have no real answers for what the Samurai are doing. But, the Samurai go cold again and the Kodochas close to a dozen down….back and forth the margin extends and contracts…when the margin is down to a dozen again, three more precious minutes have run off the clock. But the Samurai once again respond and extend their lead. Again, the Kodochas narrow the gap to ten with just over 8 minutes left. But two quick scores increase the margin back to 15….finally with three minutes left, it becomes obvious that the winner is set. The Kodochas FINALLY get the margin under ten, but there is less than two minutes to play and a bad pass with 90 seconds left pretty much seals their fate. They finally get the margin to 7 as close as they have been since the opening minutes, but the horse was long gone from the barn. The Kodocha’s season comes to an end as the #11 Samurai pull off yet another upset and advance to the Regional Championship on Sunday against the Mosepeada/Slayers winner..

The nightcap starts off as an entertaining back-and-forth battle between two high-powered animes, but as the half progresses, the Paedas find a groove while the Slayers cant seem to get a grip on things…and early 5-point Slayer lead dissolves into a back and forth battle with neither team able to get any decisive edge. Suddenly, Lina Inverse gets T’ed up for throwing a hissy fit and the Paedas take advantage to grab a 6-point lead which grows to 10 fairly quickly. But the Slayers manage to narrow the gap to 5 by the half.

The second half starts with more misery for the Slayers as the Paedas regain a double-digit lead in less than 2 minutes, thanks in part to the Slayers inability to keep from the turnovers…each turnover the Paedas gratefully cash in for points to the lead. The turning point occurs at the 14 minute mark when Gourry and Stick Bernard both get T’ed . The Slayers at that point seem reenergized and within minute draw to a tie with the Paedas, and the game is back and forth the rest of the way. The Paedas also find themselves in serious foul trouble…in spite of this, they seem to have a nice margin with seconds remaining, but a miracle shot by Inverse send the game into OT…

The OT session is wide-open with both teams trying to find an advantage, but the foul trouble that had been piling up all through the second half finally takes its toll on the Paedas…a late steal almost snatched the win but the Slayers stole the ball back…at that point, the game was decided and the Slayers escape again from a determined opponent!

Well, another night of tight contests! We now have our Elite Eight!


Championship Weekend starts on Saturday as we hadn out the first two tickets to the Anime Final Four next weekend! We start with the Okinawa Region Championship between #2 Escaflowne and #4 Magical Project S. Also the Far East Regional Championship between #1 Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne and #2 Outlaw Star

Sunday the last two passes are given to the winner of the Tokyo Region Championship between #1 Slayers and #11 Samurai Champloo….the Kyoto Region Championship will be decided between #1 Vandread and #3 Utena!

See you tomorrow night!

[plaidwolf]

Here is the reports from Tourney Central from today action as we will end the day with half of our Anime Final Four...be a sort report tonight as real-life work does interfere with the fun...(BLEAH!)

First up is the championship of the Okinawa Region, #2 Escaflowne who somehow survived a shootout with #6 Onegai Teacher, taking on #4 Magical Project S who upset the #1 seed Dragonball Z.

This game was nip and tuck all the way, with 11 lead changes and neither team able to deliver the knockout punch to the other...After a halftime tie, the Flownes were able to hang tough in spite of off-performances by Hitori and Van...Misa and Sasami botched three tries to win in regulation so off to overtime we go!

In the overtime, Misa scored the first hoop, and they never trailed again...quickly, the Flownes were down 7 and never got closer than 5 the rest of the way...the game ends with Sasami and Misa hugging at center court and Ryo-Ohki hopping all around excitedly..

Your Okinawa Regional Champion&gt; MAGICAL PROJECT S

They will play the winner of the next Championship game, from the Far East Region: We are pitting #1 Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne against #2 Outlaw Star....The Kaitous, the last of the unlicensed animes, havent been really tested all tournament in wiping out their first three opponents, most recently #13 Yu Yu Hakusho....the Stars staged one of the great escape acts of all time against #3 Pokemon in winning from behind in dramatic fashion Thursday night.

After the Kaitous took an early lead, the Stars took back the lead...little did we know that try as they might, the Kaitous would never catch up, having to endure a huge shooting slump, and magnified by Maron and Fin Fish both getting into major foul trouble...the Stars take a bit of a lead into the half. The second half is more misery for the Kaitous who not only can't buy baskets, but they are getting deeper and deeper into foul trouble....the only reason they hadnt been blown out of the gym was the fact the Stars hadnt been converting their opportunities either. Finally, late in the game, the Kaitous make an effort and twice cut the gap to four, but are unable to make anymore headway...the Stars extend their lead out as time runs out.....Maron and her teammates are watching forlornly as time slowly runs out on their best chance to get to the Anime Final Four...the other Stars are celebrating their first trip to the Anime Final Four as Gene Starwind offers condolances to the crestfallen Maron...

Your Far East Region Champions &gt; OUTLAW STAR

Join us tomorrow as we hand out the last two tickets to the Final Four

First, the Tokyo Region CHampionship with #1 Slayers vs #11 Samurai Champloo

We then go to the Kyoto Regional Final featuring #1 Vandread vs #3 Utena for the last ticket to the Anime Final Four

See you then!

[plaidwolf]

Good evening everyone and welcome back to Tourney Central...today we han out the final two tickets to the Anime Final Four.....who would join Otlaw Star and Magical Project S?

Our first game is the Tokyo Regional Championship between #1 Slayers, 2004 Champions looking to reclaim their crown and #11 Samurai Champloo, the last of the newbie teams, and lowest seed still standing...

The Slayers get off to a good start and take the early advantage...While they are able to hold the lead, they are unable to shake off the pesky Samurai, who stage a scoring run of their own late in the half and actually take the lead! The Slayers respond with a massive scoring run that sees them gain a double digit lead, but they are able to hold that lead at 9 at the half.

The Samurai come out in the second half and start to whittle away at the lead, and finally catch the #1 seed, twice tying then finally taking the lead with 11 Minutes left. After furious back and forth action where neither team would give. the Samurai took a late lead and while the Slayers did get a tying score as time ended in regulation, the newbies acted like the veteran team in the overtime as they never trailed...

In an upset, your winner and Tokyo Region Cmapions &gt; SAMURAI CHAMPLOO!

In ouir final game for the day, the Kyoto Region was to be decided between #1 Vandread and #3 Utena.

The game started fairly closely then the Utenas sprinted to a bit of a lead and the Vandreads cut the margin....this pattern was to repeat itself several times in the game as the Vandreads were forced by foul trouble to alter their style of play. But they were able to narrow trhe gap by the half. But the Uyenas, led by Juri and Anthy, refused to allow the Vandreads to cut the gap any further and the margin again was stretched out. The Vandreads made one more try to get back into the game, but the 7 point margin was soon increased back to 11...and the Utenas coasted from there

Your winner...and Kyoto Regional Champions &gt; UTENA


Well, we now have our Final Four....

Tune in next Friday Night for AOD Sports Special "Road to the Anime Final Four" with recaps and team analysis....then on Saturday, our Anime Semifinals

#4 Magical Project S vs #2 Outlaw Star

then

#3 Utena vs #11 Samurai Champloo


http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=147904

See you then!

[plaidwolf]

man, it is APPALLING how bad my typing gets when i am in the dark! @_@

Thankfully, it is my final AOD-Sports-post-while-at-work for another year...the 2007 Championships!

[plaidwolf]

Good evening everyone and welcome back to Tourney Central…this has been an exciting tournament this year, one of the best we have had in our five years broadcasting this event. But with 61 games in the books, and 61 animes on the sidelines, who is left standing…and how did they get here?

Lets take a look at our four Regional Champions…

Representing the Tokyo Region is Samurai Champloo, unheralded at the start of the tournament.

Road to the Anime Final Four: #11 seed, Tokyo Region
First Round: Defeated #6 Battle Athletes
Second Round: Defeated #3 Azumanga Daioh
Regional Semi-Finals; Defeated #7 Kodocha
Regional Championship: Defeated #1 Slayers

Starting Lineup:
Fuu
Jin
Mugen
Sunflower Samuri
Manzo the Saw

Top Reserves:
Momo
Sara
Kariya
Mariya

****************************
Next, lets look at the Kyoto Region Champions, Revolutionary Girl Utena.

Road to the Anime Final Four: #3 seed, Kyoto Region
First Round: Defeated #14 Plastic Little
Second Round: Defeated #11 Akazukin ChaCha
Regional Semi-Finals: Defeated #7 Shichinin no Nana
Regional Championship: Defeated #1 Vandread

Starting Lineup
Utena Tenjo
Anthy Himemiya
Touga Kiryuu
Jury Arisugawa
Miki Kaoru

Top Reserves
Nanami Kiryuu
Kyoichi Saionji
Kozue Kaoru
Wakaba Shinohara

****************************
Now, a look at Magical Project S, the champions of the Okinawa Region….

Road to the Final Four: # 4 seed, Okinawa Region
First Round: Defeated #13 FLCL
Second Round: Defeated #12 Scrapped Princess
Regional Semi-Finals: Defeated #1 DragonBall Z
Regional Championship: Defeated #2 Escaflowne

Starting Lineup:
Sasami Kawai/Pretty Sammy
Misao/Pixy Misa
Tsumani
Rumyia
Romio

Top Reserves:
Ginjii Kawai
Hinoko Kawai
Mihoshi
Kiyone

***************************

Finally a look at the champions of the Far East Region, Outlaw Star

Road to the Final Four: #2 seed, Far East Region
First Round: Defeated #15 Fullmetal Alchemist
Second Round: Defeated #10 Card Captor Sakura
Regional Semi-Finals: Defeated #3 Pokemon
Regional Championship: Defeated #1 Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne

Starting Lineup
Gene Starwind
Jim Hawking
Melfina
Aisha Clan Clan
Twilight Suzuka

Top Reserves
Hot Ice Hilda
Fred Luo
Gwen Khan

*********************

Our Anime Semi-Final games tomorrow night start off with Samurai Champloo against Revolutionary Girl Utena and followed shortly after game end by the nightcap, Outlaw Star takes on Magical Project S with the winners meeting on Monday night in the Anime Championship Game.

See you tomorrow night with our post-game report!

[plaidwolf]

Good evening everyone and welcome to the Tokyo Egg Dome, host site of this year’s Anime Final Four…tonight, we have our two Anime Semi-finals playing to see who gets to go for the championship on Monday night,

Our first game featured the plucky Samurai Champloo, champions of the Tokyo Region, playing the Kyoto Region champs, Revolutionary Girl Utena…

The Samurai led early, thanks to an opening basket by Fuu. The Utenas retook the lead, and over the next several minutes, made the Samurai play like the tourney newbies they really were in building a 10-point lead. But then the Utenas hit a cold spell, and the Samurai tried to get back into the game. They were able to close to 1, but were unable to retake the lead with 4 minutes left in the opening half when a shot went awry…the Utenas went right back, and a score by Miki seemed to restore some normalcy as the Utenas took a narrow lead into the half. The Samurai were telling each other they had a chance as they ran off the court…the Utenas knew they were lucky to be up, as poorly as they had played…

The second half started with a bang as Miki picked up where he left off, and suddenly the lead was 12! They were hitting shots and the Samurai were unable to buy scores. The Utenas were able to stretch their lead to as many as 19. The Samurai were able to cut the margin to 9, but could get no closer the rest of the way. They missed too many easy shots that fell for them in other games allowing them to win as they had…the game ended with the Utenas playing keep-away much of the last three minutes

Thus the end came for the plucky Samurai, one of the last animes invited to the Big Dance…during their run, they knocked off half of last year’s Final Four, and the last two champions, but their magic ride ended one game short of the glory.

As for the Utenas, after so many early exits over they years, THEIR magic ride goes on into the Championship game Monday night against the winner of the second game…

Far East Region Champion Outlaw Star against Okinawa Region Champion Magical Project S…

This game started on an ominous way for the Projects as they turned the ball over early and the Stars, led by Gene and Jim, take advantage to build an early lead. The Projects are seemingly stunned by the sudden turn of events…they had beaten top-notch competition in DragonBall Z and Escaflowne in winning their way into this game, but the Stars seem to be playing from another planet tonight, and the Projects have no answers…Sasami and Misa are both ineffective, and nobody else is picking up the slack to keep the team in the game. The Stars run off excitedly at the half, up 15.

The second half, things went from bad to worse for the Projects…a huge scoring run for the Stars put Sasami’s team down by more than 20 early in the second half, and they were still ineffective on both ends. Demoralized, the Projects are playing as hard as they can, but the shots simply refuse to fall. The Stars, sensing the win, start to let the clock melt down with 13 minutes left. While the Stars aren’t piling on the points, the Projects are not able to cut into the lead enough to have any realistic hope of coming back before the clock mercifully runs out…with Sasami sitting on the bench at the end, holding her head in her hands, crying her heart out as Tsunami and her parents try to console her. Mindful of the youth of their opponents, the Stars show class by not celebrating too openly…Jim is reminding them “We still have one more to play…”

Well, our 2006 Championship Game is set…..Revolutionary Girl Utena against Outlaw Star…

Join us Monday evening for our pre-game show “Prelude to a Championship’ followed by our post-game coverage…for all of us at AOD Sports, good night, and see you on Monday!

http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=147904

[plaidwolf]

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the Tokyo Egg Dome, site of tonight’s Anime Championship game between the Kyoto Regional Champions, Revolutionary Girl Utena, and the Champions of the Far East Region, Outlaw Star! Who will claim the biggest prize in Anime…and all the bragging rights inherent with the Championship?

We have had an exciting three weeks of action that concludes tonight with the crowning of a new champion for 2006. We know how these two animes got here….who has the edge for tonight’s game?

1. Experience: The Utenas have been in the Tourney all five years it has been played, but had never gotten beyond the second round prior to this year. The Stars made the Sweet 16 in the inaugural tourney in 2002, but this is as far as they had gotten in their three trips. Utenas have the edge on overall experience, Stars have a slight edge on how far they have gone...the ability to adjust to a bigger stage and stay within the game plan is what is key tonight. Hard to say more since it appeared neither of the other two teams showed up Saturday night. EDGE: OUTLAW STAR

2. Team Chemistry: Both teams have internal rivalries, but the Utena squad knows how to pull together when things are most crucial. Bit of a higher distrust factor among the Stars. EDGE: UTENA

3. Team Depth: The Utenas can go 10 deep if necessary (although ChuChu is listed on the team roster as the 10th player, he is more of an emergency fill-in than substitute). The Stars go 8 deep, but have managed their playing time well. EDGE: Even

4. Coaching: Both teams have great natural leadership abilities. Utena leads by example, Jim leads much the same way. No real edge to either team. EDGE: Even

5. Intangibles: It has been said that in each Championship run, the eventual champ has that ‘near-death’ experience, where somehow they turn all-but-certain defeat into legendary victory. While the Utenas were pushed by Shichinin no Nana in the Regional Semi-finals, they never were really in that life-or death struggle. The Stars, however escaped that major 17-point deficit in the second half of their Sweet 16 game against Pokemon (the Pocket monster team is STILL looking at each other “How could we lose? How DID we lose?”), so at this point, they have to feel like they are playing with house money…

Also, while the Utenas have been successful in dictating the pace of their games, the Stars have been able to impose their will on the other teams….in addition, they can play both a fast-paced as well as slow-down games equally well so the Utena’s ability to adjust on the fly will be tested tonight…in addition, the Stars completely took an otherwise excellent Project S team right out of their game within three minutes in the Anime Semi-finals by messing with their minds to the point the game was essentially over by the 5 minute mark...of the FIRST half. EDGE: HUGE edge to OUTLAW STAR]

Well, that is how we see it. Our prediction is that while the Utenas may hang in there for a while, in the end, the Stars’ ability to adapt their play to their opponents will prove to be too much…and Gene, Jim and the rest of the Stars will be cutting down the nets tonight

See you late tonight for our post-game wrap-up show!



PS&gt; Heard a rumor that one of the Forum Admins bet his entire AOD paycheck on a bracket showing that 'Night Shift Nurses' would go all the way...

any truth to that rumor?

*wolf snickers*

[plaidwolf]

Welcome back to the Tokyo Egg Dome, site of tonight’s Anime Championship Game between Outlaw Star and Revolutionary Girl Utena…..and we have a new champion!

How did it go down?

The teams traded scores in the opening minutes as they were busy seeing what the other team was about. Then led by Juri, the Utenas take control of the game…the Stars aren’t playing the defense that marked their previous tournament games as the shots are coming far too easy for the Utenas. But Jim gets the Stars going and their fans are back into the game, but the Utenas stretch the lead to 10. This isn’t looking good for the Stars as the defenses they are using aren’t working as they had against Magical Project S on Saturday. Then Gene picks up his third foul! The air seems to have gone out of the Stars as only Jim, Gene and Melfina have scored…seven player have already scored for the Utenas…it is getting bad that the Star players are psyching themselves out and missing makeable shots. The half ends with the Utenas holding a 11 point lead and totally dominant.

We don’t know what was said in the locker room at the half, but the Utenas came out like a house afire, determined to finish what they started in the opening half, and quickly moved further ahead. Nothing the Stars are trying defensively is really working and with 13 minutes left, the lead is 20. But midway through the second half, the Stars reach back to try to recapture the magic of their Pokemon game and quickly cut the lead to 14 with over 8 minutes left on a score by Gene….while the Stars cut the deficit to 12, precious minutes tick away…they are unable to cut the deficit any further as the Utenas match score for score over the end of the game…Anthy dribbles off the last seconds as if to say “This tournament is OVER!’ and that is it!

Your winner…and 2006 Anime Champions….REVOLUTIONARY GIRL UTENA!!!!

Utena and Anthy are hugging at center court…Juri has tears in her eyes and on the bench, Miki closes his watch for the final time with a satisfied look on his face….the other Utenas are bathed in confetti as they celebrate a long-due championship!

Meanwhile the dejected Stars trudge off the court….how discouraging for them to have come so far, and to be unable to credibly compete when it mattered most…

Well, that wraps up the fifth annual Anime March Madness Tournament, and the fourth year AOD has carried the tourney in its entirety. This year especially, we have seen many heartwarming stories, and heartbreaks as well…this emotional roller-coaster of highs and lows is described as one of the greatest times in sports, and after this year, we have to agree. This mad March, with 65 animes in 64 games gave us more drama per square inch than any tourney so far, and we can only hope the 2007 Championships are just as exciting. For many of the animes, just being part of the Big Dance was their One Shining Moment, for others, they had higher expectations. While there could be only one winner, there were no losers…many animes popped up out of relative obscurity for their moment on center stage...and for some of them, they won’t be forgotten anytime soon….teams like Kodocha, Shichinin no Nana, and Samurai Champloo, who stunned everyone as the first double-digit seed to make the Anime Final Four. But in the end, it was Utena, who put together the kind of performance we long thought they should in winning their first championship. Applause as well to Outlaw Star, who overcame the biggest second half deficit to win a game, and used that experience as a springboard to the Championship…while they didn’t win, they showed a lot of mettle to get this far…

As we close out our broadcast, lets review some of the highlights of this year’s Anime Championships… and good night from AOD Sports until next year when we will again bring you the Anime Draft 2007, and the 2007 Anime Championships…see you next year!

(background music starts to play…as many scenes are cut in tune to the music..)

&gt;Kero-Chan looks up at a scoreboard
&gt;ChuChu is dancing with a cheerleader
&gt;Fans holding up signs “Lets Go Team Sea Slug!”
&gt;The Starlights playing a pregame concert….
&gt;Ruby the Hedgehog is jumping on the scorer’s table
&gt;PeroPero is sleeping on the sidelines by Yukino’s foot
&gt;Ryo-Ohki looks directly into the camera
&gt;More cheerleaders wave as the Kodocha’s run onto the court for their game
&gt;Fans are dancing in the stands during a time-out
&gt;The Cromarties are bumping chests to get psyched up
&gt;Lupin checking out some cheerleaders…
&gt;A referee is holding the ball
&gt;Mokona is playing on the floor with Pikachu
&gt;The Nanas are doing pregame rituals
&gt;Lum shaking ChaCha’s hand during pre-game introductions
&gt;Chiyo-chan is shaking her body loose before the tipoff…

“Well, the ball is tipped…”
&gt;A ball is tossed
“And there you are”
&gt;Excel is running up the court, trailed by Hyatt
“You’re running for your life”
&gt;Sailor Jupiter is running after a made score against Yu Yu Hakusho
“You’re a shooting star”
&gt;Kaitou St Tail is running down the court at full speed…
“And all the years”
&gt;The Majoccos are hugging excitedly as time is running down in their game…
“No one knows
&gt;A bewildered Osaka is looking around
“Just how hard you worked,
&gt;Kiki makes as score against the Galaxy Angels
But now it shows!”
&gt;The Mai-HiME team celebrates their win over Girls Bravo….

“In one shining moment”
&gt;Captain Tito looks at the stands.
It’s all on the line”
&gt;Sheyenne is exhorting his Wild Arms teammates during a time-out
“In one shining moment
&gt;Maron is exhorting the fans to cheer
“It’s frozen in time”
&gt;Gohan soars over a stunned Creamy Mami for a score

“The time is short”
&gt;Vash the Stampede looks upward
“And the road is long”
&gt; A back shot of Pastel Umi running back down the floor
“In a blink of an eye”
&gt;MKR’s Fuu is winking at the camera
“That moment is gone”
&gt;DBZ’s Goku looks frustrated trying to keep pace with Pretty Sammy

“And when it’s done”
&gt;The Nanas celebrate a win over the Big O…
“Win or lose”
&gt;Sasami is crying on the bench after her team loses in the Final Four
“You always did your best”
&gt;The Mezzo team is dejected after their opening loss against the Slayers
“Because inside you knew”
&gt;Akazukin ChaCha is celebrating her team’s win over Urusei Yatsura

“That in one shining moment”
&gt;Utena is sharing a pre-game laugh with Miki
“You reached deep inside”
&gt;Mugen runs past Gourry to a score…
“One shining moment”
&gt;Pixy Misa celebrates a score over Van and Hitori
You knew you were alive”
&gt;Jin and Fuu hug excitedly when they realize they are headed to the Anime Final Four

“Feel the beat of your heart”
&gt;CCS’ Sakura holds her hand to herself
“Feel the wind in your face”
&gt;The wind blows through KOR’s Modoka Ayakawa’s hair
“It’s more than a contest”
&gt;Five Pokemon swarm defensively all over the Star’s Gene….
“It’s more than a race”
&gt;Magic Users Club Sae is running hard against Majocco’s Pelsia
(more background music)
&gt;Night Shift Nurse’s Narumi Jinguji hits a fall-away shot off a miss with a half second to go to upset Martian Successor Nadesico.
&gt;Love Hina’s Shinobu hits a miracle off-balance shot with less than a second to left to get the victory!
&gt; The Slayers’s Lina Inverse hits a miracle shot to send the game with Mosepaeda into OT…
&gt;Onegai Teacher’s Kei ties the game with seconds left, but Escaflowne’s Hitomi runs back down the floor and hits the game winner as time runs out! The Teachers are stunned as the Flownes celebrate their win!

“And when it’s done”
&gt;View of the Tokyo Egg Dome court and all the fans
“Win or lose”
&gt;Juri holding her arms up in victory
&gt;Samurai Champloo’s Fuu looking down
“You always did your best
Because inside you knew”
&gt;Gene holding one finger upward as the final seconds tick off as Pixy Misa collapses on the court behind him in despair…
“In one shining moment”
&gt;Utena and Gene jump at the tip-off
“You reached for the sky”
&gt;Anthy and Jim chase after a loose ball..
“In one shining moment”
&gt;Touga blocks a shot by Suzuka
“You knew, yeah”
&gt;Gene slam down the ball
“In one shining moment”
&gt;Jim looks shocked at a referee’s call…
“You’re willing to fly”
&gt;Anthy hits a long shot…
“In one shining moment, you knew”
&gt;The Utena reserves all have happy looks on their faces as they watch the court
“One shining moment……”
&gt;Jubilant Utena players are seen celebrating…

(Announcer): It is all over….and Revolutionary Girl Utena is the 2006 Anime Champions!” as confetti floats down upon jubilant Utenas holding the Championship trophy at center court for the winning team photo….


*fade out.......*

[plaidwolf]

Now that we have allowed Revolutionary Girl Utena to bask in the glory of outlasting 64 other animes to win this years championship, it is time to look at the Tournament itself and see if any tweaking needs to take place...

to wit:

Since the first tourney in 2002, other than the Lucky Dog winners, the teams and their anime hookups have been the same. I had often debated changing the team/anime matches, but held off for the sake of some sort of continuity...

...BUT...

as noted in the Anime Draft followup thread, viewership was down this year...maybe too much going on at once, who knows...

Anyway the poll question here is simple enough...the results wont be binding, BUT it will weigh heavily on how we run the 2007 Championships...

[Victor Lewandowski]

Of the animes currently in your field (the ones paired with teams already), how many of the series are (going by Japanese air or release date):

Series from before 1995:
Series between 1995 and 2000:
Series from 2001 to Present:

If the series crosses over give it the benefit of the more recent time period.

[plaidwolf]

That is a good question.....

I will definitely have to research this based upon the animes that have appeared in the five years of the tourney....but i dont think very many prior to 1995 have made it in...

*starts digging away*

[plaidwolf]

[ QUOTE ]
Victor Lewandowski said:
Of the animes currently in your field (the ones paired with teams already), how many of the series are (going by Japanese air or release date):

Series from before 1995:
Series between 1995 and 2000:
Series from 2001 to Present:

If the series crosses over give it the benefit of the more recent time period.

[/ QUOTE ]

It is gonna take a bit longer than i have right now with two jobs and the like...the poll here will be over by the time i can complete the suggested task....so once i complte it, i may redo the poll...