Well, folks, you did it: After a nice fuckton of feedback and then three rolling rounds of voting, we got down to your collective community picks for the Best of 2019. There are loads of differences between the first time I did this and now, not the least of which being the level of sophistication and organization in the process, but it all comes back to the whole purpose of this site: To build a community that gives people who aren’t Japanese an easier way into the idol world and a quicker route to understanding — and supporting — these incredible performers. This year’s award winners really sum up that last part, too, I think, because while 2019 isn’t going to be remembered all that fondly by most folks, it was in fact full of great work, memorable people and big developments in this world we love in common.

Without further ado! Continue reading →

Thank you all who voted so far in the Best of 2019 — we have one final ballot to release. Folks are showing up left and right to support their favorites, very literally one of the most gratifying things I’ve seen all year. You all love your idols without a doubt, as it should be.

Ballot #1 is now closed, #2 closes at midnight or thereabouts, and this one will close after tomorrow. We saved some of the best hardware for last, so flex those voting muscles and call your friends and tell them to get in here! Continue reading →

Dang, you guys are really cracking at these ballots! After just one day on Ballot #1, we’re already well on a pace to break the all-time participation record in the Best Of, and I don’t even have door prizes to give out this year! Same situation today as yesterday: Vote, do it honorably, and gnash your teeth over those who just barely didn’t make the cut as finalists.

#1 closes after today, and this one will close after tomorrow, which is also when #3 goes live for its two days in the sun. Who’s going to shock the world and take home hardware that nobody would have expected? Probably nobody because this is a popularity contest! Continue reading →

Here we go! Ballot #1 up and ready for action. The community votes are what make up the official Best Of, so take this entirely too seriously and get your friends involved. Rules? There are no rules! Actually just kidding: The prevailing “respect other people” vibe that goes into The Rules around here pertains, of course, and as a result ballot-stuffing will result in things being invalidated. We have our ways of knowing!  Continue reading →

Hell yeah, it’s everybody’s least favorite part of the year again! That’s right — it’s time for community voting in the Homicidols Best Of 2019! Or, more accurately, right now it’s not yet time to vote: It’s time for Maniac to ponderously explain the convoluted process by which you will vote, dampening both your enthusiasm and expectations! Continue reading →