Using the description of the “Best Editorial Blog” in the Anime Blog Awards’s webpage, we get an idea about how editorial blogs should epitomize in their entries.

“Editorial blogs express a “deeper” opinion of its editors or publishers on anime than other types of blogs. Many of these entries often provide large personal insight into the exploration of various themes in anime and anime culture.”

Let’s present Impz’s personal view to the three deserving blogs in our community as voted by bloggers, for bloggers. Let us congratulate these winners who have done well, and get a glimpse from my perspective of these excellent examples of thinktanks in anime blogging. On site news, I included a new plugin where any comments replied from the creator of an entry will be bold, so you know that we are actually replying to you. Hope this little change helps. ^^

Gold Award - The Animachronism

If there is ever a blog that reached meteoric heights within a short period of time from its birth (other than Epic Win that turned into Epic Fail), it must be the Animachronism. Sharply worded paragraphs are to be expected from the creator, IKnight (Daniel), with his intensive amounts of painkiller drugs that aimed to numb his mind. Everyone knows that a numbed mind is always better than one clear of thought, for no one in their right mind will write a long thesis to analyze anime themes. That’s what he does, and with some pride as well.

Not one to shy from entries that are hardly mainstream reading, he goes on anything that can spark discussion. It takes a blogger who knows his anime to blog on Crest of the Star, mind you. I bet that any normal reader below the age of 18 has no clue what this anime is about. I am not a hardcore anime fan by any measure, and I must admit that I have never watched a single episode of it as well. It is not a site for oldbies, however, as most of the entries are not aimed to give you a brain freeze. It’s intelligence in bite-size dosages.

I must admit that I am not an avid reader of the Animachronism, but I hardly read any editorial blogs due to my lack of intelligence to absorb arguments and thoughts. Nonetheless, this is something that is perhaps prevalent in editorial blogs: the quality of commentators in their blogs. Often, good editorial blogs find good company in equally competent comments and readers who are willing to share. That, to me, is the mark of a good anime blog. The Animachronism proudly fulfills this promise.

To The Animachronism, the ABA is proud to present you the Gold Award for the Blogger’s choice in the category of Best Editorial Blog.

Silver Award - RIUVA - Research Institute for Unicultural Visual Arts

RIUVA will be a blog that will consistently be mentioned in this ongoing award ceremony due to its multi-winning performance in the 1st inaugural Anime Blog Awards. However, no one should even doubt that its performance is rigged because it is led by the indomitable TJ_han who has created a niche of humor and satire with his editorial pieces.

RIUVA, being a team blog, is spearheaded by TJ_han, with a group of competent bloggers like LianYL, Ascaloth and Kokanaden. Of my knowledge, RIUVA is a place where you are not likely to find sophisticated philosophy about the world or seeing the theories of sociology and political economies discussed (thank god for that!). It does not try to be smart but readable to make you laugh at its dibs at everything and anything. Must editorials always be filled with sheer intimidation in words? RIUVA is probably asking this question subliminally.

TJ_Han, as a person, is totally awesome. He makes you laugh, just like how he does in his blog. I have the huge privilege to meet him in real life quite a while ago, and he’s a very wonderful person to say the very least. I mean, anyone who has a Tripleman for a mascot can hardly be faulted. A manly mascot means a manly approach to things, if you allow me to speak some rubbish.

To RIUVA, the ABA is proud to present you the Silver Award for the Blogger’s choice in the category of Best Editorial Blog.

Bronze Award - Hop Step Jump

Hands up for anyone who does not know who Jeff Lawson is? Jeff of Hop Step Jump (Nowhere Anime Blog for those who are older) is one of the most respected anime bloggers by any measure. I admit that I am a secret fanboy for him, and he has been one of the inspirations (other than Sea Slugs Team) that resulted in the creation of T.H.A.T Anime Blog. Clean and slick, it does not have any pretense in its writing. It is just a place for self-reflection and indulgence, for the author and its readers.

If you must categorize a blogger into a specific anime, Hop Step Jump is definitely Aria the Animation/Natural/Origination. It does not try to impress you with great writing or vocabulary, but always leave a food for thought in every single entry. It is not trying to tell you what to do, but simply what is there to do or understand in the world of anime. Hop Step Jump is simply a place for you to enjoy anime in its purest form, to understand why a certain anime deserves your attention at the very least. Isn’t that what we, as anime blog critics aim to do? To inform or promote good shows?

Despite my great respect for him, I must say with a tinge of sadness that I do not have that many interactions with him in private messages. Nonetheless, Hop Step Jump always remains as a sanctuary for those who are feeling the fast pace of life, and wishes to slow down a little. What is life, if full of care, if we have no time to stop and stare? A often used cliche, but an accurate portrayal of the articles in this anime blog.

To Hop Step Jump, the ABA is proud to present you the Bronze Award for the Blogger’s choice in the category of Best Editorial Blog.

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