anime of the year

WHAT THE FUCK VTBFVE^RTHNYULIBESCVU QWA$@AQVVQUQUUVQ WHY DID SOLO LEVALING WINNNNNN 

In all seriousness, this is one of 2 things 

First, imaa  drop some background: solo leveling won in 6 categories I have watched and read all of the contenders, and I thinkit'st crazy it won anything at all. 

The first category it won was best protagonist, and that alone was enough to make me want to bite off all my fingers. I think instead it should have been Laows from Dungeon Meshi. The protagonist from Solo Leveling was nothing special. To be honest, I can't remember a thing about his personality. All I can remember is that he was weak, and now he's the strongest. Laows, however, is a character driven by passion. His love for exploration and his desire to belong without sacrificing what makes him himself is something many people, both men and women, can relate to. I believe he lost in this category simply because of the solo leveling appeal that I'm strong and perfect and don't need to change, to young men who struggle with identity. This blows bc a lot of them should learn something from Laows and his desire to learn more and keep going, no matter what. 

The second category it won in was for best new series. Wtf it beat out DanDaDan and dungeon meshi. Say what you want, but both those shows presented us with something new and interesting, as well as having a lovable supporting cast. They were funny,y and they made you laugh and cry. Truly something new for the community to enjoy but NO insed we pick the same shit we have had for years. Solo leveling falls into the same power fantasy trope that so many before have fallen into. We as a community were given a super natural love story about the pains of young men and wwomenand a story about fantasy ecology from the perspective of a dungeon crawl cooking show about the importance of community.Unfortunatelyy, neither reserved recognition because solo leveling won. 

i can personally see why it was a contender for best action anime. For me, it was mostly the animation that made the fights enjoyable.Butt that and the best closing sequence I can accept. 

What I can't expect is solo leveling victory in anime of the year. The other contenders were Dungen Meshie, Dandadan, Feriren Beond Jornys End, and Apothicary Diaries. All of which make a great case,e but for me it would have to be Freiren or Apothicary Diaries. Apothecary direse is a murder mystery set in an imperial Chinese court from the perspective of the court apothecary. The show follows complex topics of gender, social class, imperialismam while maintaining alight-heartedd feel because the main character is the silliest I've ever seen. Freiren is a high fantasy story about what happens after the party beats the demon king. With their adventure over,r the elf must come to terms that she will live hundreds more years. After the passing of the hero, she traveled 80 years ago.Shee sets off with a young mage and warrior to visit the land of souls and retrace her party's footsteps. From their famous adventure. As they travel, the elf and her amazing supporting cast understandtheire love and cope with their grief. aAsyou know from erler solo leveling beat both of these. it's not like the animation is bad.Thee animation on all 3 is amazing; however,r the story content on the other 2 is much better. 

Then how did solo leveling win??? There are 2 potential reasons 

1. solo leveling is the equivalent of anime junk food. its something you can sit an turn your brain off wile watching. its something comforting that you don't need to think to hard about. i get it its nice but dose it make something anime of the year NO. 

2. I don't want this to be true, but the community has quite a track record with it. sexisam.Ii hate to be the one to yell at things, but Iwon'tt ignore the possibility thait'sts therThethe other contenders had one thing in common: complexfemalel main or important supportingcharacterssTheyey had their own drive and push on the story, and there are people in this community who like to treat it like a boys club.Historyy shows that female leads tend to make men in the anime community uncomfortable, as well as topics like race and social class.Topicss like this are not present in solo leveling, with the main female doing one thing and one thing only,y praising the main man. I hope to god that this is not what is happening. 

if solo leveling is coming you enjoy I'm not attacking you personally <3