Animage - The Anime Grand Prix

Although the quick association with Anime, you may not recognize what is this after all. Animage is a Japanese anime and entertainment magazine which Tokuma Shoten began publishing in July 1978. Quite a few manga was serialized in this magazine, such the renowned Nausiccä of the Valley of the Wind from 1982 through 1994. In spite of this, you may be thinking what’s so big about it… well I just considered that Animage and one of its relevant creations (the Anime Grand Prix) would fit as an interesting and appropriate subject to open the first article in our blog.

What is the Anime Grand Prix? It’s an annual prize, determined by the Animage readers’ votes to the anime of the year, counting with several secondary awards, such for the characters, songs or even the selection for the best episode of the year. This event started right a few after the unleashing of the magazine, in 1979, and the first prize was announced at the issue 1980 January (frequently announced at the next year’s June issue every year). And this turned the Anime Grand Prix as one remarkable pillar in the story of the Japanese animation – it’s probably the oldest one with such a height and likely, the royal link between the fans and their celebration of the work from many directors and authors until the half of the 90’s. This method to recognize the best works annually, will find some rivals at the second half of the 90’s and at the beginnings of the new century, such as the Animation Kobe Event and the Tokyo International Anime Fair.

Is this a threat to the rule of Animage main event?

Well, both Animation Kobe and the Tokyo International Anime Fair work in a different way and have their own selection processes. In my opinion this fact, and besides the query that I lifted, just have to be excellent for us, as it gives another views and break with the honorable (and yet) monopoly, of the fans. Having this said, it’s fair to say that after Animage, I will also approach the other main events and establishing here their results, as I still consider, that this brings interest and deserves to come out more often than it already seems to be.