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2ch Forum's Saimoe Tournament 2012 Round 3: Groups A-H

The Anime Saimoe Tournament is an annual poll in which users from Japan's 2channel message board vote on the most moe female anime character of the past year.

Almost any female character in a television anime, anime film, original video anime (OVA), or web anime released in Japan between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012 is eligible for the tournament. The main exceptions are characters from 18+ anime, who are not eligible.

Foreigners are technically capable of participating in the tournament; English-language instructions on how to vote have been provided by the Anime Saimoe fan site.

The results for groups A through H went as follows, with vote counts:

(Group A) 10/7: * Saki Miyanagi - Saki Episode of Side A - 321 (Winner) Kobato Hasegawa - Haganai - 245 (Group B) 10/7: * Akari Akaza - Yuruyuri - 385 (Winner) Mei Misaki - Another - 217 (Group C) 10/9: * Hisa Takei - Saki Episode of Side A - 334 (Winner) Cthugha - Haiyore! Nyaruko-san - 272 (Group D) 10/9: * Louise de la Valliere - Familiar of Zero F - 306 (Winner) Nagi Sanzenin - Hayate the Combat Butler! Heaven Is a Place on Earth - 269 (Group E) 10/11: * Sanya V. Litvyak - Strike Witches (movie) - 285 (Winner) Sakuno Uryuu - Mashiroiro Symphony - 219 (Group F) 10/11: *Kuro Matsumi - Saki Episode of Side A - 361 (Winner) Ririchiyo Shirakiin - Inu x Boku Secret Service - 232 (Group G) 10/13: * Nodoka Haramura - Saki Episode of Side A - 305 (Winner) Hitagi Senjougahara - Nisemonogatari - 185 (Group H) 10/13: Sena Kashiwazaki - Haganai - 286 (Winner) Mio Akiyama - K-on! (movie) - 158

(Group A) 10/8: * Koromo Amae - Saki Episode of Side A - 287 (Winner) Yuuki Kataoka - Saki Episode of Side A - 207 (Group B) 10/8: *Toki Onjouji - Saki Episode of Side A - 361 (Winner) Iori Minase - The Idolm@ster - 195 (Group C) 10/10: * Yayoi Kise - Smile Pretty Cure - 267 (Winner) Astarotte Ygvar - Astarotte's Toy - 171 (Group D) 10/10: * Hinata Hakamada - Ro-Kyu-Bu! - 246 (Winner) Chihaya Kisaragi - The Idolm@ster - 199 (Group E) 10/12: * Yuu Matsumi - Saki Episode of Side A - 350 (Winner) Charlotte Dunois - Infinite Stratos Encore: Koi ni Kogareru Rokujūsō - 197 (Group F) 10/12: * Kirame Hanada - Saki Episode of Side A - 299 (Winner) Yui Funami - Yuruyuri - 271 (Group G) 10/14: *Ako Atarashi - Saki Episode of Side A - 383 (Winner) Tsukihi Araragi - Nisemonogatari - 211 (Group H) 10/14: * Shana - Shakugan no Shana III (Final) - 291 (Winner) Airi Kashii - Ro-Kyu-Bu! - 287

At the end of the third round of Saimoe, only 16 girls remain. Over half still in represent mahjong anime Saki Achiga-hen Episode of Side-A. While seven shows — Haganai, Ro-Kyu-Bu!, Shakugan no Shana III (Final), Smile Pretty Cure, Strike Witches, Yuruyuri and Familiar of Zero F — all have one entry left in the tournament. Missing from top 16 are members from the show The Idolm@ster, where eight singers advanced to the second round but all were quickly eliminated over the next two rounds.

The top 10 vote-getters from the third round are as follows:

1. Akari Akaza - Yuruyuri - 385
2. Ako Atarashi - Saki Episode of Side A - 383
3. Toki Onjouji - Saki Episode of Side A - 361
4. Kuro Matsumi - Saki Episode of Side A - 361
5. Yuu Matsumi - Saki Episode of Side A - 350
6. Hisa Takei - Saki Episode of Side A - 334
7. Saki Miyanaga - Saki Episode of Side A - 321
8. Louise de la Valliere - Familiar of Zero F - 306
9. Nodoka Haramura - Saki Episode of Side A - 305
10. Kirame Hanada - Saki Episode of Side A - 299

Given the way the brackets played out this tournament, at least three Saki characters will advance to Top 8 via Groups A (Saki vs. Koromo), F (Kirame vs. Kuro) and G (Nodoka vs. Ako) matchups. Conversely, at least two spots in Top 8 will not be taken up by Saki entries via Groups D (Hinata vs. Louise) and H (Shana vs. Sena).

Seven of the remaining entries are considered veterans to the tournament. Most notable are Louise de la Valliere (Quarter-finalist/Top 8, 2009), Shana (Quarter-finalist/Top 8, 2010), Koromo Amae (Semi-finalist/Top 4, 2010) and Nodoka Haramura (Semi-finalist/Top 4, 2010). Ironically, the three returning Saimoe champions — Azusa Nakano (K-On!, 2010); Taiga Aisaka (Toradora, 2009); and Rika Furude (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, 2007) — were all eliminated in the second round of the tournament

Only voice actresses Yui Ogura (Toki Onjouji, Hinata Hakamada) and Rie Kugimiya (Louise De La Valliere, Shana) still have two characters left in the tournament, while the rest of the field only have one girl left.

For a look back at this year's previous results, ANN's reports can be found below:

• Introduction: (Introduction)
• First Round Voting: (Groups A, B), (Groups C, D), (Groups E, F), (Groups G, H)
• Second Round Voting: (Groups A-D), (Groups E-H)

Saimoe 2012 is taking a two-day break starting Wednesday, October 24, after Top 8 is determined. ANN's next report will take place some time after that day with the results for those groups.

Update: Hisa Takei's vote count corrected. Thanks, FD2Raptor