:anime: An Attempted Prediction of the American Anime Awards

About one night separates us from the big night, where anime efforts in the U.S. finally get their dues. The American Anime Awards, in their aloof first outing, have produced a rather suitable list of honors (already did two posts concerning the problems, so I'll eschew repeating them here). And since it wouldn't be an awards ceremony without predictions, I'll try to pry into the minds of the mysterious judges and find out who the winners will be (marked via " > "), while wishing who I want would want to win (via " * ").


Best Actor

*Johnny Yong Bosch (Akira, Bleach, Eureka 7)
Crispin Freeman (Hellsing Ultimate, Noein, Revolutionary Girl Utena)
Richard Hayworth (Rurouni Kenshin)
Yuri Lowenthal (Naruto)
>Vic Mignogna (Fullmetal Alchemist, Macross)


Best Actress

Luci Christian (Princess Tutu)
Susan Dalian (Naruto)
>*Mary Elizabeth (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG)
Maile Flanagan (Naruto)
Michelle Ruff (Bleach, Lupin the 3rd)


Best Actor in a Comedy

>Greg Ayres (Negima, Nerima Daikon Brothers)
>*Johnny Yong Bosch (Akira) [No, no...I only kid...]
Liam O'Brien (Comic Party, DNA Squared, Girls Bravo)
*Tony Oliver (Lupin III)
Dave Wittenberg (Zatch Bell)


Best Actress in a Comedy

>Laura Bailey (Kodocha)
Luci Christian (Desert Punk, Negima, Nerima Daikon Brothers)
Debi Derryberry (Zatch Bell)
Hillary Haag (Paniponi Dash)
*Michelle Ruff (Lupin the 3rd)


Best Cast

FLCL
>Fullmetal Alchemist
*Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG
Inuyasha
*Naruto [2nd choice...like I'm allowed to do that]


Best DVD Package Design

*Bleach Vol. 1
>Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
Fullmetal Alchemist
>Hellsing Ultimate 1--Limited Edition Steelcase [2nd choice...like they're allowed to do that...well, who knows...]
Naruto Uncut Box Set Vol. 1


Best Anime Theme Song

*Asterisk (Bleach)
Heart of Sword--Yoake Mae (Rurouni Kenshin)
Rewrite (Fullmetal Alchemist)
>Ride on Shooting Star (FLCL)
Rise (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig)


Best Comedy Anime

Ah! My Goddess TV
*FLCL
>Kodocha
Ranma 1/2
Tenchi Muyo OVA


Best Anime Feature

>*Akira
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
Fullmetal Alchemist--The Movie
Inuyasha Movie 4: Fire on Mystic Island
Pokemon Movie 8: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew


Best Short Series

Elfen Lied
*FLCL
>Gravitation TV
Hellsing Ultimate
Ranma 1/2 OAV


Best Long Series

>Fullmetal Alchemist
Inuyasha
Naruto
Rurouni Kenshin
*Samurai Champloo


Best Manga

Bleach
>Death Note
*Fruits Basket
Naruto
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days


Hard quite to tell what the winners will be, considering how ghostly the whole decision process has been. In all honesty, though, I haven't really watched/read any of the Best Anime Feature or Best Manga nominees, so my choices are primaily based on who I would like to see win, basically because they are older, well-respected titles that some of the younger or newer fans have not yet experienced.

The awards start at 9 PM, with a (portioned?) live webcast on IGN, followed by a full broadcast on The Anime Network on the 23rd of March.