Voting will take place here, with links found through our front page, our social media accounts, and here.

During the length of the voting period, one vote (1) per email.

The Nakama Podcast reserves the right to disqualify, block, or remove any votes which they determine at their discretion to be the result of vote tampering. Any votes received after the voting period has ended will not be counted.

The voting period will close on April 8th, 2023, and the results will be streamed at the end of the month on April 29th on the Nakama Podcast YouTube channel! And if you can’t be there for the premiere, the awards audio will be posted as a regular episode of the podcast!

Judges are chosen based on relation to the podcast and expertise in the subject. The current judges are all either hosts, writers, or friends of the show, and judge selection in the future will extend to other professionals in the industry, and other friends of the show.

Categories for the first year were picked by hosts and staff at The Nakama Podcast, Salad Bytes Media, and Studio Crxss. Categories for subsequent years may be added by request from members of the community, feedback from listeners, as well as future guests and partners.

BEST ORIGINAL ANIME

An anime which has not been directly adapted from any existing narrative material. This means that anime within an existing IP, but not based on any stories in print or any other visual media still qualifies, as well as any anime that currently does have a narrative media surrounding the same story, so long as the anime was produced before the other media. (i.e. a light novel or mobile game based on the anime, not the other way around.)

BIGGEST SURPRISE

The animes that exceeded our judges’ expectations the most. This doesn’t mean the anime has to be perfect, it just has to surpass expectations on some level, be it overall quality, animation, music, or theme.

BEST MUSIC

The best intro, outro, or central musical element in a program. The music doesn’t have to be original to the anime, it just has to be attached in such a way that it is important to the plot or guides a crucial moment or framing.

BEST COMEDY

Any show that consists of jokes, sketches, satire, or is otherwise humorous. This category can share nominees with other categories if the nominee fits squarely between to genres. (i.e. action-comedies, and rom-coms.)

BEST ACTION

Any show that frequently showcases fighting, tense scenarios, daring escapes, or otherwise displays a relationship with the story where the style or “cool factor” of a scene takes precedence over emotional development or characterization.

BEST ROMANCE

Any show that centers around the development of emotional and/or romantic elements between two or more characters as a central element of the plot.

BEST SPORTS

Any show that displays the development of athletic abilities as a central element of the plot in the context of sport, or utilizes team sports as a means of developing character and emotional connections for the audience.

BEST SLICE-OF-LIFE

Any show that displays a mundane or otherwise ordinary element of life as a tool for plot development. These characters aren’t winning wars or fighting monsters; they’re building relationships and a stronger sense of self through everyday actions, like fishing, grocery shopping, or building a park bench.

BEST ISEKAI

Defined as “another world”, isekai is a genre which centers around a character who has travelled from one world, time, or dimension to another. (e.g. Alice in Wonderland, The Chronicles of Narnia, or the Matrix.)

BEST FANTASY

Any show which utilizes a fantastical setting, encompassing environments that are traditionally considered “low fantasy”, like Conan the Barbarian (mostly human characters, very little magical elements) to environments one would label “high fantasy”, like The Lord of the Rings (humans, elves, dwarves, etc. Medieval architecture, tons of magic.)

BEST LIGHT NOVEL

Any show which has been directly adapted from a light novel, or claims a light novel as its primary source.

BEST WAIFU

Only the best women in anime over the last year. These characters are here not solely because of their attractive designs, but also their utility as characters. Some might make you drool, others might tug at your heartstrings!

BEST HUSBANDO

Only the best men in anime over the last year. These characters are here not solely because of their attractive designs, but also their utility as characters. Some might make you drool, others might tug at your heartstrings!

BEST ART DIRECTION

Anime that have showcased a unique art style, consistent quality, and/or a unique mood. A lot of animes look good, but these ones are gorgeous!

THE KEVIN AWARD FOR BEST ANIME PET

In honor of the podcast’s wonderful mascot Kevin, we’re presenting an award for the best pet in an anime for the year. The term “pet” is used loosely, and we’re considering any animal, as long as it has been the focus of a joke, emotional beat, dramatic element, or otherwise.