Top 10 Cutest Anime Girls Of Winter 2016

Greetings, everyone! This year has gotten off to an exciting start with the addition of what seems like over nine-thousand new girls to love and adore. And, of course, what better way to really get the year started than to sort out the best of the best in my first "Top 10" of the year. For those of you that haven't read one of my "Cutest Girls" articles before, allow me to break it down and once again change the rules concerning how the girls are ranked.

In previous installments of this series, I have limited the amount of characters per show that can make it onto this list. This time, however, I don't care. I thought it would be wrong to discriminate against cuteness just because of other cuteness that would make things seem more varied. So, in theory, every single girl on this countdown could be from one series now. Will that happen? Absolutely not. But it COULD.

Anyway, I am ranking the girls based on not only their appearance but their personalities, voices, etc. Because of this, I obviously can not incorporate girls from series that I have not seen. So don't yell at me if I omit your favorite girl. Or do yell at me. I don't care.

LET'S GET THINGS STARTED!

10) Airi Katagiri

Anime: Erased

CV: Chinatsu Akasaki

Airi didn't really leave an impression on me until the second time you come across her in Erased. At first, my thoughts were, "Oh look, it's just another overly-friendly and suspiciously trustworthy girl". But quickly throughout the series, she starts to grow on you. As soon as it's evident that she's not just some random obliviously nice girl, she's actually pretty great. Plus, there's a certain degree of realism to her character that most of the other girls on this list don't possess. Good job, Airi. Good job.

9) Yuuka Kobayakawa

Anime: Girls Beyond The Wasteland

CV: Kana Hanazawa

I'm not normally into the overly-sporty type...But I AM into the childhood friend type so that totally cancels it out. Yuuka is one of the first characters you'll come across in Girls Beyond The Wasteland, and from that point on she will stick to you like glue. Being nothing but the rambunxious and incredibly loud girl for the first few episodes, her development is a bit slow to accelerate. But once it does, Yuuka spirals into this adorable, love-struck teen that is so desirable it hurts. Why do male characters in anime always have to be so dense? Bunta, just get with her already! UGH!

8) Izumi Reina

Anime: Myriad Colors Phantom World

CV: Saori Hayami

If you are one of those people that think there are cuter girls in Phantom World than Reina, then you are wrong. Sorry, that's just how it is. Reina is, in many ways, the actual embodiment of cute itself. She's actually so cute that she was able to make it in here instead of the red-haired and totally badass Minase Koito. And, I just want to remind you, badass girls with red hair nearly ALWAYS fight their way into my heart. Anyway, Izumi locked in a spot in this top 10 during the fourth episode of the series in which she grows rabbit ears and does cute rabbit-related things with her rabbit parents. Did someone say, "Cuteness overload?"

7) Mashiro Arisaka

Anime: AOKANA: Four Rhythm Across The Blue

CV: Nozomi Yamamoto

There was absolutely no way Mashiro was getting left off this countdown. Just look at her. She's almost perfect. And you know what makes her even more perfect? The fact that she is also kind of a lesbian maybe. It still leaves hope! Mashiro's family also runs an udon shop so if you date her you get free soup literally all the time and that is probably the best thing you can look for in a girl. And, I'm sure you've noticed by now, but she has purple eyes. Not enough girls have purple eyes! Needless to say, Mashiro quickly snuck her way into my heart and I'm totally cool with her just hugging it all day long.

6) Yume

Anime: Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash

CV: Mikako Komatsu

If there's anything out there that will attract me to a woman, it's archery. That's right. I'm attracted to archery. And even though Yume isn't really a genius when it comes to handling a bow, she's still one of the cutest girls I have seen in a while. She keeps her head up when things get tough, but it doesn't stop her from bottling up her feelings and having them eat away at her heart. Yume, I will heal your emotional wounds for you. I won't even charge you gold for it. Just give me your love. Please.

5) Aqua

Anime: KONOSUBA

CV: Sora Amamiya

Aqua is another girl I didn't expect to like nearly as much I do. She is also the only girl on this list that is also a god. You know what the pluses are for dating a god? Literally everything. Gods do whatever they want. That is until they get sucked into an alternate reality where no one really knows or cares what they actually are. But that just makes them cuter! Aqua struggles doing whatever she can for money just to survive. Hell, she even sleeps in a stable. And if you think that all of this would take a toll on her emotional state...well then you would be right. She's miserable. But it's just so adorable and you can't help but want to squeeze her! Also, you should be proud of me for doing this whole paragraph without mentioning her skirt.

4) Misaki Tobisawa

Anime: AOKANA: Four Rhythm Across The Blue

CV: Azumi Asakura

Misaki, much like her almost-lesbian counterpart and holder of the #7 position, Mashiro Arisaka, is a force to be reckoned with in terms of cuteness. The difference here, though, is that Misaki is currently battling a fit of depression in AOKANA. And if there is anything that makes me love a girl more than pure unadulterated cuteness, it's pure unadulterated cuteness with slight undertones of sadness and helplessness. Because now, instead of just loving the girl, I can love her AND help her. And with Misaki, I want to just hold her and tell her everything is okay. She also likes cats and I have three of those, so if she came over to my house she would have something to do. When is liking cats ever a bad thing?

3) Megumin

Anime: KONOSUBA

CV: Rie Takahashi

And so arrives the best girl in KONOSUBA. Megumin is an extremely powerful mage with a case of chuunibyou that only has one drawback -- after she uses her magic she can no longer walk and must be carried home. I'd be totally cool with doing that though because there is no way she's more than like 85lbs tops. She also wears an eyepatch sometimes. Not because it restricts her power or anything like that, it just looks cool. I mean, she's kind of right. Who doesn't like eyepatches? Megumin is the kind of girl that's sensitive about her size, boosting her cuteness up two or three notches. And I just noticed something -- is there even any reason for her to be wearing a belt? I highly doubt the bottom half of her robe is going to fall off. Anyway, if I was launched into the world of KONOSUBA, you can bet your ass that I would choose Megumin as my first partner. Any chance to carry her home is good enough for me.

2) Saya Endou

Anime: Dagashi Kashi

CV: Manami Numakura

Long hair, check. Cool earrings, check. Hair clip, check. Crazy eyes that stare deep into your soul but still possess a glimpse of love, check. Saya was one of my favorite girls of the season the second I laid eyes on her. Then, she became even better when you find out that she works in a coffee shop. Now, you guys only know me from this website, so there's no reason that you would understand or appreciate my love for coffee. But I assure you, that love is almost as strong, if not stronger, than my love for the girls on this list. Saya is absolutely one of the most adorable girls I have encountered for a number of reasons. But the biggest one (Apart from the whole coffee thing) would be that she acts, in no way, the way she looks like she would. Saya is a hopeless romantic that is so in love with the main character in Dagashi Kashi that it will crush your heart. WHY AM I NOT HIM? In fact, if Saya came out any other season, she would probably have no trouble taking the #1 spot. However, this season has a girl that is not only cuter, but much much more important.

Winter 2016 Champion: 1) Kayo Hinazuki

Anime: Erased

CV: Aoi Yuuki

Okay, okay, put your guns down. I need to clarify something before we get into why I chose a 10-year old as the cutest girl of the season. The fact of the matter is that Kayo is cute in a way that surpasses that of the other nine girls on this list. She isn't the kind of cute where my thought process is, "I want to marry you and love you forever". She is the type of girl that I (And so many others) feel the need to protect and shelter. Like a little sister. Kayo has gone through more in just the few years of her existence than most people will in a lifetime. So this isn't me saying that she's the most attractive girl of the season, but the most endearing and the most important. She's the only girl out there right now that you can really connect to and feel sorry for. And every week while I'm waiting for Thursday to roll around, I'm thinking about how much I want things to get better for this poor little girl. Kei Sanbe, the creator of the series, has created a character that can be idolized in way that is rarely done in anime and manga. For all of these reasons, I feel like it would be a crime to not label Kayo as the "Cutest" girl of the season. Every single one of us that has gotten to know her over the past two months truly, truly cares for her. That is something special.

And there you have it, everyone. The 10 cutest girls from the past three months. Feel free to change your desktops, wallpapers, etc.

See you again at the end of next season for another "Cutest Girls"

Feel free to read the rest of my stuff until then!

AOKANA: Four Rhythm Across The Blue Episode #7 Review

The fear of losing something shows that you enjoy it.

What They Say:

The Kunahama Institute is one of the first in the world to give out new anti-gravity footwear to its students. Not only does this invention change the way the basic world functions, with students now being able to shoot across the sky, but it also gives birth to a new sport -- The Flying Circus. Asuka Kurashina is a new transfer student at Kunahama who has never wanted anything more than the ability to fly. Suddenly mixed in with students who have already mastered the art of flight, Asuka must overcome physical and mental barriers as she adapts to a new environment filled with new people, all while trying to master a new way of life.

The Review:

Content: (Please note that the content portion of the review may contain spoilers)

The finals are here. No, not the test finals that anime characters seem to dread more than real people -- the finals of the spring tournament. With two-time reigning champion, Shindou Kazunari slated to go up against Inui Saki, a first-time tourney player in Japan, there is a clear favorite to win the match. However, Saki and her second have a trick up their sleeves (Or spandex). Once the match begins, Saki launches an all-out battle of the wits against Shindou, controlling him every step of the way. As the match goes on, the reigning champion falls into a deficit that becomes deeper and deeper by the second. And before he can even think about turning the tide, the whistle is blown and Inui Saki is the new champion in a match that was deemed "The upset of the century."

Now, you'd think that out of anyone, Shindou would be the person to take this loss the hardest. But in all actuality, it's Misaki Tobisawa off on the sidelines that's about to be hit by a wave of despair. (I still can't really figure out why, though. I'll never understand girls). Anyway, following Shindou's loss, Misaki is devastated. Now, on top of Shindou already paying more attention to Asuka than her, there is some random third girl thrown into the fray that is actually able to beat him. We don't really figure out exactly why Misaki is taking everything so harshly, but I think it's safe to ascertain that she just feels extremely insignificant compared to some of the other players out there. That becomes extremely evident in the following days.

Deciding to distance herself from her team for the time being, Misaki spends some much-needed time at home, picking tomatoes and ignoring text messages. As days go by, no one from Kunahama can even reach her. After drowning her sorrows in some shopping at a nearby mall, Misaki encounters none other than Shindou himself, as the two wind up trying to escape the rain. Of course, this lights a fire somewhere inside Misaki that ultimately results in her asking Shindou why he was so complacent with losing. His response, however, is actually extremely logical and very dissimilar to how viewers perceive him up to this point. For a brief moment in time, he is the philosophical embodiment of hope and perseverance that Misaki should have needed to talk to in order to cope with her deteriorating emotional state. However, instead of drawing inspiration from him, she leeches negativity, dwelling on one very important thing that he said, "If I stop having fun, I'll just quit".

The next day, as Asuka and the others meet up near their clubhouse/school bus, Madoka (Who is also the new team captain) crashes through the trees with some disturbing news. In the midst of the confusion, she displays a resignation letter from Misaki, who apparently no longer has interest in playing flying circus. Of course, this sparks a short bit of hysteria from the girls (Particularly Mashiro, who can barely even get words out) that basically forces the episode to end on a note that can parallel Misaki's emotional state -- distraught.

In Summary:

Even though we get to witness the final round of the spring tournament (Which, in itself, was exciting), this episode seems to mellow down that tone of the past several weeks. The excitement is tossed to the side and, instead, the focal point becomes just how much Misaki Tobisawa was impacted by recent events. Character development is prevalent in this episode for both Misaki and Shindou, and we even get a glimpse into yet another side that we haven't seen from the previous champion. Personally, I'm impressed to see just how far Shindou has come, considering he's just a side character. One more interesting thing about this episode is just how little Masaya has to do with it. If I'm recalling correctly, he only had a few lines in the entire episode. On the other hand, we get to see a bit more of Madoka who is quickly becoming my favorite girl on the show. Oh, and also, there is some fanservice again. Hooray.

Grade: B+

Streamed By: Crunchyroll

AOKANA: Four Rhythm Across The Blue Episode #6 Review

I never knew Shindou was capable of making such expressions!

What They Say:

The Kunahama Institute is one of the first in the world to give out new anti-gravity footwear to its students. Not only does this invention change the way the basic world functions, with students now being able to shoot across the sky, but it also gives birth to a new sport -- The Flying Circus. Asuka Kurashina is a new transfer student at Kunahama who has never wanted anything more than the ability to fly. Suddenly mixed in with students who have already mastered the art of flight, Asuka must overcome physical and mental barriers as she adapts to a new environment filled with new people, all while trying to master a new way of life.

The Review:

Content: (Please note that the content portion of the review may contain spoilers)

The tournament rages on as both Asuka and Misaki make it to the next round. Now, on one of the hottest days of the year, these two girls must compete with not only their opponents but themselves as they try and fight their way to the finals. The question is: Can Kunahama truly compete with all of these other schools with more advanced flying circus teams? I mean, they've only been operating for a month or two!

As this week's episode starts, Asuka is already in a heated battle with the devilish Kasumi Kurobuchi. Even though their fight is at a stalemate upon our introduction to it, Asuka quickly turns the tide and surprises Kasumi (And even her own teammates) as she overcomes a sticky situation and ultimately tacks on another win for Kunahama. Following that, it is revealed that Misaki will be going up against none other than Shindou Kazunari again. Crap. Well, there goes that victory. There's no way this is even going to be close.

But then it was. Even though the match started off in Shindou's favor, Misaki was able to pool her efforts with Masaya (Commanding her from the ground) and actually make a match of this after all. After turning around a three-point deficit, Misaki transforms this particular round of the tournament into a non-stop dogfight as she piles point after point on to her score. However, this doesn't last for long as Shindou realizes the situation he's in and puts on his game face. Or, at least, what we think his game face is at this point in time. Needless to say, Shindou reclaims his lead with less than a minute left and pushes Misaki into the losers' bracket as he advances to the next round to face off against...Uh-oh, it's Asuka.

After a quick pep-talk and some mediocre fanservice in the locker room, Asuka is ready to face off against the Takafuji captain and reigning national champion. And, of course, that match starts just the way that you'd expect it to, with Shindou exploding to the first buoy as Asuka heads to cut him off. This time around, though, Shindou isn't playing games. He's so focused on winning that he starts busting out moves we haven't even heard of yet (IE: The Cobra and the Suicida). With his curiosity about Asuka peaking, its as if he's waiting for her creativity to be unleashed. Even with that being said, when she finally does get crafty, he isn't able to counter it. Asuka starts unloading air-kick turn after air-kick turn and ultimately air-combo'ing Shindou to the point where he can barely retaliate. But her combo can only last so long as on her fourth consecutive special move, Shindou recovers and retaliates, launching Asuka into the water. Kind of. I'm not really sure, there was a huge splash...but then she wasn't wet. Can anyone tell me how that works?

The most interesting part of what happens after lies in the reaction from the national champion. Noticing that he is in a tough spot, he lets out his true colors. The loudest noise of the series so far escapes his mouth as he screams in a fit of rage before shooting off toward the pink-haired flying fish girl. Blinded by madness and desire to win, Shindou manages to score a few more points as Asuka is helplessly slammed into the again (Kind of) again. From this point, it isn't long until the buzzer goes off and Takafuji wins the round.

Now, you'd think that the team would be happy about how well Asuka did. And they are -- except for one person. Misaki. After the match, she just stands at her team's tent with tears pooling up in her eyes. And frankly, they didn't look like tears of joy. The way it seems is that Misaki is not only personally offended by Shindou's attitude toward Asuka compared to herself, but she is also incredibly upset. If this is actually what's going on (Which I'm sure we'll find out next episode), this might play a huge role in determining Misaki's psychological state and emotional well-being. And even though this could be the drama that I have been waiting for, it still hurts knowing that it's my favorite girl who is feeling the burn.

In Summary:

This installment of AOKANA serves as the obvious follow-up to the first tournament of the season. With some exciting action and further development of the flying circus, the sixth episode isn't a break by any means. In terms of pacing and suspense, this is perhaps the heaviest episode so far. Only one new side-character is introduced, but I doubt she will even matter because she literally only had two or three lines. Apart from that, though, the sixth episode was a predictable yet still entertaining experience that ends on a subtle cliffhanger for us all to look forward to.

Grade: B

Streamed By: Crunchyroll