Matt Schley
January 4, 2016 
Thought you were done with end-of-year lists, did you? Just one more, we promise: this one was too interesting to pass up.
We bring you a lot of lists sharing the opinions of your Japanese anime-watching peers, but they’re often limited to rankings of characters or series. Those are interesting, no doubt, but this list caught our attention for being a little bit different.
This time, pollmeisters Charapedia asked their readers to list the most memorable pieces of anime news in 2015. What news from around the anime world shocked, thrilled and excited Japanese anime fans – and did you feel the same way? Here’s the list:
15. Girls und Panzer der Film gets released
The Girls und Panzer film was delayed several times, originally announced for 2014, then summer 2015, before finally being released in November.
14. Saori Hayami debuts as a singer
Hayami, a voice actress active since 2007, debuted as a singer in 2015 with the opening song for Snow White with the Red Hair, “Yasashii Kibou” (“Bright Hopes”).
13. Free! gets a film
The Free! prequel film, High☆Speed!, debuted in December. Here’s our review.
12. Kuroko’s Basketball gets a film and stage play
11. Uta no Prince-sama gets a fourth season
Still no word on an airdate.
10. Is the Order a Rabbit? gets a second season
Adds an extra question mark.
9. Gintama begins its final arc next year
Gintama manga-ka sent a letter to December Jump Festa event that stated the Gintama arc that starts in 2016 may be it for the long-running manga.
8. Osomatsu-san becomes a huge hit
Not bad for a series based on a manga from the 60s.
7. Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 4 (Diamond is Unbreakable) anime announced
Josuke Higashikata coming to your TV soon.
6. Sword Art Online film announced
5. Love Live! film released, becomes a hit
Also nabs $115,840 in limited release in the U.S.
4. Kizumonogatari film release date announced
First of three films hits Japanese theaters January 8.
3. Osomatsu-san episode 1 causes controversy
Skirted too close to the anime it was parodying; won’t be included on the home video release.
2. Love Live’s μ’s appear on Kohaku, announce breakup (?)
1. Voice actress Miyu Matsuki dies
Hidamari Sketch’s Yoshinoya-sensei was 38.
Some good, some bad… how about you, OUSAers? What was the most memorable news for you in 2015?
Source: Charapedia
Related Stories:
Japanese Fans Rank The Best Anime Films of 2015
Quite a year for animation
This time, it’s from the guys over at Anime Anime, who have asked their readers to rank the top ten anime films of 2015. And just what did they choose?…
Japanese Fans Rank The Best Anime Characters Of 2015
Osomatsu, Gintama win the year
Ah, end-of-year lists. Many, they are.
Our favorite pollmasters Charapedia have gotten in on the end-of-year game by asking their readers: who were the bes…
Japanese Fans Rank Their Winter 2016 Anime Hype
Which series are Japanese fans most looking forward to?
With the new year comes a new season of winter anime, and Japanese anime fans are already feeling the hype...
