If you have not already listened to the podcast of this category, this is the final results, so this will spoil the course of the discussion on that podcast! Be warned!
I fought it a bit, but our winner deserved the win, and I knew it from the start. But I’m not doing my job if I don’t push back a little, you know? Had to give it the old Flunked Out of College try. Here’s our top three:
The Winner
Sorawo Kamikoshi (Otherside Picnic)
As you go down this list, you may notice a theme for our top three this year- messy people. People who have been toxic, and are dealing with that. And boy, Sorawo is probably the worst one year. Sorawo is stubborn, selfish, jealous, petty, and mean. Damn don’t I relate! I mean mostly. She goes too far sometimes. Listen don’t give me that look, I’m a good person!
Sorawo is just an incredible picture of a young adult- she barely knows what she wants, she hates going out of her comfort zone, she holds a grudge, and despite all this she is capable of acts of compassion and kindness that still don’t feel out of character. Add in that she’s a disaster lesbian and you’ve got a total picture: Sorawo is a snapshot of a person who thought they were starting to figure out who they were, but now might be more confused about it than ever. Bless her.
The Runners-Up
Miorine Rembran (Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury
There’s no doubt that one of the three of us watching more of your show gives you better odds on this list, and I watched all of G-Witch’s first season thanks to Oops More Anime. Kyrie watched some too, though she’s not through the season just yet. With how the season wrapped up (don’t worry, I won’t spoil) I wouldn’t tolerate Suletta on this list, but Miorine remains a strong character.
The Management Queen’s daddy issues have made her a girl who struggles with emotions other than anger and hostility, despite being a naturally kind person. They’ve made her lowkey abusive despite sincerely wanting to help. And they’ve made her completely disarmed and confused by vulnerable honesty, despite deep down craving the safety of showing that herself. A classic tsundere perhaps, but trope terms like that mask and shave away distinction. Despite a familiar archetype, there’s a warmth and charm to Miorine you can’t deny.
Sunset Shimmer (My Little Pony: Equestria Girls)
Y’know, I didn’t expect to be sitting here writing this. Let’s get one thing clear off the bat- the original Equestria Girls is necessary setup for this character’s payoff, but it isn’t really that movie that earned Sunset this spot. It’s the sequel, Rainbow Rocks- a movie so many worlds better than its predecessor it’s hard to imagine they came from the same team.
I don’t know about you folks, but I’ve done things in my life I’m not proud of. And there’s a certain wish fulfillment in seeing how cartoons love to just forgive and forget, isn’t there? Seeing Vegeta, Gaara, Asajj Ventruss and more be instantly accepted as Good Guys Now with no further questions is nice, and fun! But Rainbow Rocks shows a more bittersweet and honest version of it- even if they forgive you, they can’t forget. And despite the best intentions, people keep accidentally (or not) splashing your past sins in your face.
I am sure a lot of people are rolling their eyes that Sunset Shimmer was even considered for nomination, let alone making it into the top three. All I can say is… you’re wrong. There is more heart and consideration in the writing of this character than a hundred isekai, and I’m not even an isekai hater.
Week 2 of the Gimmick Awards rolls on! Tomorrow, I (Six) will be posting my personal Game of the Year list, and then on Wednesday we have our next Award. It’ll be That’s Our Jam, our annual music celebration. That’s Our Jam is always game music only, but this year it has a counterpart that will follow soon after….
Our art for the Gimmick Awards 2022 is a commission from @inkopolis on Twitter.
