rayveos

[rayveos]

All hail the phoenix queen | x 

[rayveos]

This shot was taken back in 2017, but I still can’t get over the feeling it gives me whenever I look at it. The bustling noise along with the gust of air in the middle of the streets. The numerous vehicles coming from all directions with flashing lights. The darkening skies that made the lights outstanding on your eyes. This is Manila. 

P.S. This was captured as I’m being pulled by my friends to go faster as we cross the roads. Yes, it’s dangerous. I know. But I got this so, yey. 

[rayveos]

Why ‘Guilty Crown’ Remains To Be My Favorite Anime

HELL YES THIS POST IS DEDICATED TO GUILTY CROWN. 

And before you tell me how many flaws this anime have and how unsatisfying the ending was, I want to remind you that this is an appreciation post for this underrated anime. No hate comment could change my mind since I’ve watched it back on 2016. 

Shall we go back to the main point now? 

PLOT. Alright. Like any other animes, Guilty Crown had its flaws too. However, I’m sure you can’t deny that a character who started as a coward (in the beginning of the anime itself) obtaning a ‘Power of Kings’ is something. And it’s not your usual power that you can match on other abilities of our favorite hollywood heroes and comics champions. His power is basically drawing people’s hearts out and materializing them into voids which can be useful weapons and necessities. And these voids reflect its owners’ fears, personality, and character. 

***VOIDS. It’s like, “what will your heart look like if it was an object?” Personally, I’m in love with Inori’s beautiful Singer’s Sword while the explanation behind Shu’s always breaks me. They didn’t specifically elaborate why Inori’s is a sword but let’s remind ourselves that Inori was originally created as a vessel to contain Mana’s mind. So, I guess the Singer’s Sword is also an animation of Mana’s heart too. 

What I find interesting about the Singer’s Sword is that it contains strong abilities such as being a protective barrier for its carrier and as the sharpest longsword. I can’t help but always fangirl on the first episode wherein the sword is too powerful that it could create a huge flash of light up to the skies. There’s also one in the fourth episode wherein it can destroy anything it will touch onto, regardless of the direction of its attack. 

ANIMATION. I’m not that of an expert, technically speaking. You may hate or bash this anime you want but dude, it’s one of the prettiest animations you could ever see. I don’t know if it’s just me but the waves coming from anyone who possesses the power of the Void Genome and Inori when she’s singing are like the black transparent tapes on cassettes. The colors are wonderfully chosen too as they’re not flashy or painful to watch. 

If I’m going to choose my favorite episodes that contain the best animations of it, I would choose the first, second, fourth, nineteenth, and the last episode. The place where there is like a flower garden, the one where Shu and Inori spends their alone time after taking leadership of the school, is also gorgeous. The glow on that scene emphasizes how genuine their love is and how beautifully flawed Shu’s character behind his fierce leadership (of course, Hare). 

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. Sure, there are characters that go back and forth from being good to bad and vice versa. It may be uncomfortable to some but as for me, I think it’s pretty realistic in some aspects. Yes, this is supposed-to-be an anime. Nevertheless, it doesn’t invalidate the creators’ desire to put more reality in it. Sometimes, I think the other viewers are reacting the way they did on Akame ga Kill. 

In wars, just like how the setting of the Guilty Crown is post-apocalyptic and on the verge of having another one, casualties are quite understandable. Student Council President Kohouin also had her change of heart when she fell in love with Gai and when she ended up envying the studentry’s support to Shu after he proposed an action plan. It’s natural that an elite daughter of the family who has been the center of attention for a long time to turn to the bad side when the spotlight was taken from her. Ayase’s moving on moment is also a strike. She didn’t succumb to her guilt and sadness for losing Gai. Instead, she asked help from Shu to prove to herself that she is indeed useful. 

The best character development award goes to Shu, obviously. When he was a kid, he’s this jolly person who encourages others to be courageous and brave. After the tragedy the Lost Christmas inflicted, there’s no doubt that it will traumatize him and became this isolated person we get introduced on the first episode. Living in the shadows like that for years, there’s a tendency that they get well-attached to the first person who gave them attention and faith, hence his growing affection to Inori. 

The naivety on Shu’s side during Gai’s planning of operation is on point too. That would be the first reaction of ignorant people who believes that everything should be solved with peace and diplomacy. Again, on their time, it was chaotic and there are abusive officials that plan on bringing the next apocalypse. The way he stood up for the Funeral Parlor members after Gai died fell on the right place too. He was influenced by Gai and I’m sure that after everything what happened and after remembering his past, he won’t let others get harassed or hurt too. 

Hare’s death remains to be the biggest turning point for me. Given her strong belief to Shu’s kindness, she’s like a symbolism of Shu’s good side, the part that kept Shu’s inner struggles in check. When she died and Shu declared to become king, I clapped until the episode ends. The subsequent display of his flaws as a human is wonderful. His wrath, the cold treatment, the way he controlled the school and its students. I’m not saying they are nice things. BUT they kept his development moving. It’s not about embracing the bad side but accepting it as a part of you. It’s an ugliness that even Inori recognized as beautiful because in the end, the world has both its beauty and flaws, like a human being.

MUSIC. I will fight anyone who tells me that this anime’s soundtrack is not good. All of the songs they used in the anime are in my playlists! My personal favorite is Bios and Departure Blessings though. I remember I have a friend who has a similar voice to Inori’s voice actress. We became friends because we’re both in love with Guilty Crown. She would sing Departure Blessings a lot when we walk together. 

ENDING. As much as I’d like for Shu to die with Inori, the ending didn’t disappoint me or anything. Actually, when I read its summary and explanation, it made sense. It was an unexpected sacrifice from Inori as she have always preferred to be together with Shu. Even so, we have to admit that they are the most unfortunate pair. Inori is human-made vessel for someone else. Someone who is supposed to be emotionless and everlastingly obedient. Meanwhile, Shu is the Adam that Mana appointed even he was still on their mother’s womb. He was already destined to yield the power of the king. I think the reason why Gai is furious when Shu took the power on the first episode is not because he wants it to be his. He’s only making sure that Shu won’t suffer the fate he is destined to have due to Mana’s mind deterioration back then— which is to be the next Adam and bring forth the next generation and its evolution. 

That is why them being the couple in the center of all chaos, taking back all the virus’ traces and giving back the voids he used, made perfectly sense. The song ‘Release my soul’ is also a tribute to their love story. Since Inori is not really supposed to exist via natural means, I understand how she chose to allow Shu to continue living instead of dying with her. Shu is still young, after all. He has a future waiting for him, one that Inori can’t possibly have naturally because in the first place, she is not human. You do remember that part when she went berserk, right? 

As for the blindness, it came from Inori who was on that time was consumed by Mana. Mana being affected by Inori’s interference on the final battle, the physical body they share was greatly infected by the virus that it caused blindness. When Shu decided to take everything on his hands to end it once and for all, he also took Inori’s blindness as a part of sacrificing themselves. It’s Inori’s last minute sacrifice that mattered. The red threads which are symbolism of destiny/fate are also the same object that tangled Shu’s and Inori’s fates forever. By taking this, Shu also took Inori’s soul before it can also be destroyed along with her physical body. The blindness is simply a reminder that Inori was there. It was Inori’s blindness. It’s a bittersweet ending. The body no longer exists but her soul remains with the one she loves. Together, in the inner mind and consciousness, they are on each other’s arms. 

Credits to the owners of these photos. I do not own anything except for this long appreciation post. 

[rayveos]

What I’ve Read This Quarantine (Part 1: Who Made Me A Princess)

The pandemic has greatly affected our daily routine and of course, it is inevitable to get bored. Worse, we get bored but we don’t have any idea what to do. If you haven’t tried reading manhwa/manhua yet your entire life, I beg you not to deprive yourself some good reads! Not only are they entertaining, they are also helpful for aspiring writers who are suffering from writers’ block. 

This is why I thought of compiling beautiful stories! (Anyway, for those are still confused, manhua and manhwa are different versions of manga. Manhua, for the most part, is made in China, while Manhwa is made in Korea.) 

Here we go then! Let’s go for the first! 

Title: Who Made Me A Princess / Suddenly, I Became A Princess One Day 

Author/Artist: Plutus, Spoon.

Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Isekai, Romance

Status: Ongoing (But the novel has been long finished) 

Synopsis: There’s bedtime story called ‘A Lovely Princess’ in modern time. Of course, it has a happy ending, but not for Princess Athanasia, the protagonist’s sister. She was falsely accused of poisoning Jeanette (the protagonist), which led to her father, Claude de Alger Obelia to execute her. The emperor never mourned for her death despite her name being cleared of accusations afterward, declaring that he never considered Athanasia as his daughter. But then, the woman who was reading this bedtime story is transported to the story and is born as Athanasia. Still with her memory about the story intact, she’s determined to change her fate as Athanasia through all possible methods she can find. 

What to expect: 

1) You might’ve seen this poster somewhere else and thought that it will be about incest. NOPE. (But sometimes I wish it is) Athanasia and Claude is the best father-daughter team I could think of. And we have two male leads here that will fight for her love. That is of course, if Claude will allow it. 😏

2) This story will make you drool even for the antagonists because they are looking so fine! Not to mention I have this immediate crush on silver-haired and blue-eyed characters. I assure you, no matter the age of the characters in this story, you won’t be able to deny the quality of their looks. (Yes, thank you for the artist for blessing our eyes with gorgeous artworks.) 

3) Plutos is also the artist/author behind Beware of the Brothers. From what I gathered, Hari Ernst (the protagonist of “Beware of the Brothers”) is living the same timeline and universe, but not the same country as Athanasia. Hari’s brother once studied in the same institution as Ijekiel (a male lead in Who Made Me A Princess). Athanasia’s marriage and final partner was also mentioned on the novel version of “Beware of the Brothers.” [No spoilers!] 

4) It’s difficult to choose between the two male leads, though personally, I’m Team Lucas. (We can talk about him later on because one post won’t be enough for Lucas, yaaaas)

5) To be honest, the development of the story was very well done. For someone who’s a daddy’s girl, my heart flutters watching Athy to slowly feel affection to Claude and vice-versa. Claude may look cold but he’s a softie inside. Yieeee!

6) There are awesome secondary characters such as Felix and Lily! They’re both badass in their own way and sometimes, I consider them main characters too because of how big their roles are in Athanasia’s and Claude’s lives. Needless to say, there’s a ship sailing for these two uwu.

7) The plot is not entirely predictable. Being isekai-ed is always a source of mystery and thrill. It’s not everyday you get transported to a different world and be a princess, right? However, in Athanasia’s case, the reason for this transportation is quite obvious at first... until you get to the middle and realize that there’s more to it that you already know. 

8) Most of the chapters are full of sweetness except for when the storm came. I can’t tell what kind of conflict it will be but I cried for it. Like literally. Damn, Claude.

9) The Imperial Family of Obelian Empire has the best eye color I have ever seen. I mean, I adore red, blue, gold, etc. But those crystal eyes, ugh! The eye color’s name is Cerulean Blue, by the way! There’s a quick briefing on the first chapters why only the Royal Family members have that. So far, I think her eye color is the most popular among manhwas/manhuas. In Instagram, you can check some pretty cool edits where they replace particular characters from other stories with her eyes. :) 

10) There are scenes where magic is involved. But it hasn’t been that elaborated or explored yet except for Lucas’ explanations and Athanasia’s research on the later chapters. 

This story is really beautiful and it will remain as one of my top ten! You can read it various sites. You can check these links out: (M1) (M2)

Don’t forget to support it too on its official home: https://www.tappytoon.com/series/whoprincess/1

Which manhwa/manhua should I share next? Or do you have any topics you want me to tackle? Feel free to leave me a message on my board or to leave a request if you want to! :)