You don't need me reminding you how awful the year was. Heck I'm so dang tired of everyone out there saying, "Oh this the year unlike any other...oh this year is gonna be a little bit different....blah blah blah....." yes we know........BUZZ OFF!!!!
Well, now that's out of the way, here is the annual list
Best Animated Feature
Unfortunately with COVID-19, very few movies were able to make it to theaters. Many of them ended up on streaming as shutdowns happened. Had it not been for that, Soul could easily have taken the top spot. Sadly, that is not going to be the case.
By process of elimination, Onward takes the top spot. It was a movie people looked forward to and had an interesting take considering it's Pixar. It's not a very powerful top spot however, as it's not one everyone will be talking about. The only good thing about movie theaters shutting down when they did is that there wasn't any Worst animated feature this year. Sonic the Hedgehog was on track for being the worst, but the fans stood up and demanded change, and it has become a more tolerable movie with some claims of it being a love letter to the 90's.
Best Animated TV series
Streaming isn't just killing the movie theaters, but over the years, it took its toll on TV networks. More specifically, the cable companies are suffering. Many stations are trying to have the best new shows, and while that may be so, how much do you wanna bet most of these views are from streaming either on demand or perhaps some other means such as Amazon Video and itunes? I only know this because some of The Casagrandes epsiodes debuted on Amazon first, NO AIR DATE YET for Nickelodeon (what's more, extended clips from said show and episodes ended up on official Youtube videos). Nevertheless, because of the pandemic it was more easier to order animated shows since everything can be done at home.
This has become a surprise hit for Disney as the fanbase grew like wildfire since its premiere. Of course, some of that fanbase is freaking out over possible LGTB relationships, and controversies arose over the ever so popular "prom" episode. Perhaps cartoons are now trying to fuel the shipping wars fire. Even the slightest touch of each other gets a ship, which could prove very dangerous. Nevertheless, this fantasy has become a fan favorite and should be respected as such. Major shout outs to The Loud House and The Casagrandes as I have now become a fan of both (especially The Loud House). They have given me something new to enjoy. Expect some sort of blog post about them in the near future.
Worst Animated TV series
With networks ordering so many shows now because of the pandemic, that means an excellent chance for some stinkers, and yes, there were a few, but this one takes the cake.
Finally, Teen Titans Go has been dethroned after 3 years. Even though Cartoon Network still reruns this over and over again, it hasn't been as bad as reruns of Gumball, despite no new episodes, take up a good chunk of the schedule now. Meanwhile, Cartoon Network's reboot of this year, Thundercats Roar, takes the top spot. All it does is trash on the original series even going so far as to say if you don't like this new series, you're a poopy head. It didn't work and it failed miserably hardly ever airing on Cartoon Network. Syfy's Magical Girl Friendship Squad comes a very close second due to its terrible quality. Sadly, we can expect more crap from both networks, but there is hope with TV now that Me TV has the Toon in with Me show coming soon with reruns of your favorites from the golden age, and it looks like some shows are right on track to becoming the next big hit for TV. However, it's gonna be an uphill battle
Best Streaming series
Streaming has also gotten tighter and in need of animated content, and the competition is getting stronger with Netflix, Hulu, and now Disney + and HBO Max. This year's big winner is....
Looney Tunes Cartoons
The long awaited reboot of the classic series proved successful. Paying homage to the classic Looney Tunes of the 1940's, it has everything you can think of in a classic Looney Tunes cartoon. Looney Tunes quickly became HBO Max's #1 show bringing a full steam ahead to the franchise which includes next year's new Space Jam movie. Animaniacs comes a close second with its reboot, though mixed reactions about constant Trump jokes and the original creator not in charge cost it some points, and The Adventures of Mickey Mouse continues where Mickey Mouse Shorts left off with its unique original style. And for the kiddies on Youtube, of course, there is the massive hit that is Cocomelon.
Worst streaming series
Cleopatra in Space
This series on Peacock, yet another new streaming channel, was not well anticipated to say the least. It doesn't seem like the most terrible thing in the world, but it does scream "cheap" and "kiddie". In fact, Peacock's collection of cartoons compared to Disney+ and HBO Max is very lackluster to say the least. Just overall a nothing burger. Moving on.
Best anime series
This category is based on productions made only in and for audiences in Japan, though American streaming companies are taking bets right now as anime becomes more and more profitable. This year's winner is clear cut.
Demon Slayer
If you want to talk about the biggest anime title right now, look no further than Demon Slayer. This manga is cleaning up big time and sales involving the anime is just as close. Even a recent study in Japan shows that Japanese kids are looking up to these characters more than they are their own teachers or even their own mom and dad (what?!). And that's not to say everything else was terrible as Attack on Titan and My Hero Academia were hits again as well as Madoka Magica's latest series, Magia Record. Covid-19 may have impacted anime causing delays, but it didn't hurt its spirit.
Best anime feature
Demon Slayer
What again?! Well, when Japanese box offices opened up again, the Demon Slayer movie dominated. So much so that it is passing Spirited Away in box office numbers.....during a global pandemic even. And for the same reason why the series is the number one anime right now with manga sales very high and admiration of the characters are extremely high. We will be seeing Demon Slayer for a long time, especially now that Attack on Titan is coming to an end
Best anime dub
To be honest, I haven't really been watching much anime this year. I could easily pick my favorite as the best, but I think I have to be honest with this one.
NEARLY EVERY SINGLE DUB
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| Magia Record was one of several new dubs for 2020 |
Why? Simple: accommodation. Everyone figured out during the pandemic in their own way how to make their own in home studio to record their lines from home. That's why we have dubs for new anime like Magia Record, who by the way brought back the original cast and some new ones for new characters, which by the way note to self: finish the anime.
Worst anime dub
But there was a bad moment in anime adaptation history, and this was it (NOTE: content warning ahead)
It's not because it was a bad dub, rather it was a moment when Funimation failed the fans by saying they're going to adapt this, and at the last minute during its simuldub, they pulled the plug and pulled the license, moreover, saying no to dubbing it. Had they said no earlier, it wouldn't have been an issue, but they givith then that takeith???? Is Interspecies Reviewer a good anime, no...it's dirty as sin...maybe more than sin. Was it what the fans wanted at that time, yes it was, and for Funimation to back out on the fans is disrespectful to the fans, and who knows what kind of devious plans that they have next.....other than buying Crunchyroll. Remember, Sony is censor happy.
Best DVD/Blu-ray
If I may quote from The Bugs Bunny Video Guide: "After a crazy year that saw a pandemic single-handedly shut down and redefine the film industry and an intense culture war accumulating in a vicious presidential election, it would be understandable if animation fans got lost in the shuffle. But on the contrary, classic-cartoon collectors have been treated to a variety of long-awaited releases in just the past month, the likes of Disney+ and HBO Max are promising various theatrical animated films to debut on their respective services, and classic Warner Bros. and MGM cartoons are set to make their grand return to broadcast television." And boy what home video releases did we ever get from Warner Bros., Thunderbean, and others. This year we have a 3 WAY TIE
The first two are from the Tex Avery Screwball Classics series. This makes it the 3rd year in a row for Warner Archive. The most requested cartoons to be out on home video for Warner Bros. are finally out and have been restored and remastered. Plus, each disc is entertaining because hey....they're Tex Avery cartoons, what could possibly go wrong. These two discs showcase the very best of Tex Avery when he was over at MGM, changing the animation game forever. Yet another hit from Warner Archive.
But if you thought that the Home Entertainment department's recent Bugs Bunny Blu-ray release has been devalued as a top contender as a result, think again. Because this is a celebration of the 80th Anniversary of Warner Bros.' most famous cartoon character. 20 essential cartoons followed by 40 new to Blu-ray were on here, plus some excellent Blu-ray bonus material (except for the Funko....sorry)
It's that time of the year
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