rolluptheclouds

[rolluptheclouds]

oh no I've been too busy to open my notifications and now there are 33 why did i post those eyeshield thoughts last week

(it's been a while because this used to happen on twitter and sometimes i felt anxious when i got a lot of notifications cos I'd worry they're all people disagreeing with me)

[rolluptheclouds]

[rolluptheclouds]

[rolluptheclouds]

Day 7: passport (by Anya)

[rolluptheclouds]

i feel like it says something about us as a species that somebody worked real hard to invent 3D printing when i think anyone who has ever used a printer would agree with me that we have not really gotten our arms around 2D printing yet. we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

[rolluptheclouds]

So great to know there is a skunkdex

Shun Imai from Oddtaxi has been added to the skunkdex!

[rolluptheclouds]

Secure your spot today!

[rolluptheclouds]

Removing watermarks and credit (e.g from posts) really indicates to me that those people value aesthetic over human effort, effort born out of the creator's passion or expression.

Regarding scans and watermarks

Yesterday, a SxF clear file scan made by my friend @xxscarletxrosexx (who had allowed me to share the scan on my blog here) was reposted on Twitter with her watermark clearly removed. She wrote an insightful post about how, despite what many people think, it does take a good amount of work to obtain and scan rare collectibles like this. As someone who makes a lot of scans with watermarks, I want to offer my thoughts on the topic.

For those who have followed me since my blog started, you may have noticed that my watermarks have "evolved" over time. This was in response to, of course, my scans getting reposted without credit (my old watermarks were easy to crop/edit out). I know some people take issue with putting watermarks on official art because we technically didn't "create" it. But that doesn't mean time and effort wasn't put into making the scan. To me, it's similar to people who take photos of exclusive events or people who make gifs...while they didn't create the subjects of these things, they still created the presentation of it. For people who take and share exclusive photos, they spent time, effort, and money not just on going to that location and taking the photos, but posting them in a presentable way online for others to enjoy. For people who make gifs, it again takes a lot of time and effort to create, edit, and present the gifs in an attractive way on social media. In both these cases, while these people didn't draw, animate, design, etc, the subject of their photos or gifs, there was still self-imposed work and creative effort behind it, which I think deserves some recognition. It's the same with making scans...I didn't personally draw the images I scan (and I make this clear by including "scanned by..." in my watermarks) but I still made the presentation of it - the scan - which does take time and effort; I bought a Canon TS6300 scanner a while back particularly for this purpose, I often have to finagle with the books I scan to make sure they're properly flattened so the scans aren't blurry or crooked (have to redo them sometimes when this happens), and if little pieces of lint or other blemishes get in the scanner, I either have to scan them again or use photo editing software to fix them. And while I paid for all the books, posters, etc, I scan with my own money, sometimes just obtaining certain rare collectibles not only takes money, but a lot of dedication to obtain! The Twiyor chara fine graph I recently posted about is a perfect example of how much work can go into acquiring a rare item...and I have no obligation to scan the merch I get. I could just enjoy them on my own and only share quick, low-quality photos from my phone. But I like making scans because I know other people enjoy them 🙂 I also know that many people don't have the means or funds to get this kind of merch, so it's nice to let them have enjoyment from it second-hand through my scans! Sometimes I buy merch only or mostly for the purpose of making scans because I know that artwork isn't currently available in an official artbook or anywhere else.

Since I make so many scans, I just accept the fact that they will get reposted without any mention of me or my blog...which I don't mind that much since that's what the watermarks are for - they're to show people who see the scan where it came from, and if they choose to go to that site, they'll be able to find even more scans to enjoy! But if someone actually removes a watermark, it's like they so adamantly believe that the person who made the scan doesn't deserve any recognition for their time, effort, money, etc, put into it that they're going to spend their own time to remove any trace of that person from the scan...I mean, I can't say it's the most heinous act in the world, but it's disrespectful and just plain not nice. I try not to let it bother me, but it is hurtful to see someone else get recognition for something you put work into. But I just keep things in perspective and tell myself that at least I'm not an artist whose creations are getting posted all over the place without credit (I always cringe at all the uncredited fan art I see on Facebook groups and YouTube music compilations. It's so out of control 😔)

Anyway, I hope I've properly illustrated here that it does take a good amount of time and effort to make scans. I don't think I deserve as much recognition for it as an artist who actually draws the images they post, but I still think this kind of content sharing deserves some credit, even if it's just leaving a watermark intact.

[rolluptheclouds]

Pure white, pitch black…

both deafening.

[rolluptheclouds]

Es21PromptBingo 🍌 N4: Banana Split 🍌

... I mean who else was I supposed to give the banana theme to.

[rolluptheclouds]

(About)

[spoilers for Eyeshield 21 manga]

So, I did find those fics after all, and binged them over, I dunno, a month or so (￣▽￣)

It stuck out to me how some of the fic writer fandom had pegged Mamori as “oblivious”. About half of the team also took a while to figure out Sena's secret, including those who found out earlier but not because they guessed it but because of the reveal preceding the Death March. So I thought this a bit of an unfair characterisation, as Mamori is pretty sharp enough in other areas of their team management. But, once we’ve reached Sena's public reveal, it’s almost shocking that Mamori still didn’t know about Sena’s secret.

In the earlier part of the manga, Mamori notices Sena missing during games. Surely she would notice that it was a pattern?

She has looked out for him since elementary school and would likely recognise his movements and body language even if he were dressed differently. Heck, their friend Riku, who they haven't seen since elementary school, deduces Sena’s alter ego immediately.

I guess simply, it's Rule of Funny or a form of the Oblivious Younger (in this case, Older) Sibling trope. It's just... for fun, guys. A gag. I guess.

I do like to think that as Mamori becomes absorbed in her role as team manager, she stopped looking out for Sena during the games. Is this also part of the shift she personally goes through, where supporting Hiruma became more important than looking out for Sena?

Even at their school field day, she sees Sena during the competition, and she has her usual thought about protecting him - but it’s one of the few times she hesitates.

[rolluptheclouds]

(About)

[spoilers for Eyeshield 21 manga]

The Zokugaku Chameleons captain asks Hiruma what’s the difference between them - two team captains who use violence and intimidation to push their teams - and it surprisingly made me feel for him. What is the difference? Is it clear enough to us, the readers?

Hiruma, hearing this question, runs through flashbacks of his team, discussing something in the clubhouse, or a moment with Kurita and Musashi as they write about their dream on the side of a school TV.

Is it as simple and cliched as "the power of friendship"? But that’s why I think Hiruma somehow - despite his own dirty tricks - manages to authentically lead and inspire his team towards his dream, such that the dream becomes theirs. Sena joined almost via coercion, but then the dream became Sena’s too (or at least, he works loyally towards it as he starts to have his own dream, to beat Shin).

Everyone else joins with something to aim for, and I think Hiruma is able to strengthen their convictions even as he retains the use of his “demonic” tactics to escalate their training. By halfway through the story, none of the regular members, not even the Ha-ha brothers, are there by force or by deception.

Despite his non-ethical ways, his anti-hero positioning, is Hiruma actually a great leader? Is that the difference between him and Habashira?

[rolluptheclouds]

WHEW i didn't think i was gonna make it

Here's my gift for @annja514 for the es 2022 winter gift exchange!! Couldn't have asked for a better recipient haha. Hope I did your girl justice!

I had so much fun participating, much thanks to @eyeshields for facilitating!

some very important details below the cut

very important thanks for ur attention

[rolluptheclouds]

One thing I've always admired about the Spy x Family manga is its excellent use of paneling + flow. Usually it's for comedic effect and throws punches at you by quickly tossing various panels at you, like the early Loid-Anya interactions, but this chapter was stifling. You get all these close ups of the characters' faces and how they don't ever talk because that's the point— they don't talk. It's conveying that feeling of dread when you inspect your family member's faces to see what they want to do but nothing ever happens but you have to keep looking anyway to gauge them. It's a long, awkward, suffocating family dinner and the only one who emerges somewhat happy is the 6yo who doesn't completely grasp the family dynamics (although he is certainly not unaware).

I really think this is one important advantage the manga has over the anime (and text). Its paneling is on point and elevates the tone. Be it Anya's quirky oneliners or Loid's dramatic exasperation towards Anya or Yor's fight on the cruise or the Desmond family dinner. SxF of course has interesting action scenes but a lot of the chapters are more slice-of-life and/or comedic, and SxF utilises the panels to pace the comedy. I genuinely think this is one of Endo's strengths as a mangaka.

[rolluptheclouds]

I am pretty prone to this

You don't need to spiritualize and/or pathologize every aspect of your life.

Please leave yourself room to simply be a weird little animal.

[rolluptheclouds]

(About)

[spoilers for Eyeshield 21 manga]

When Sena comes into his own as an American football player, even though it is eventual, it always feels natural. Sena chooses those moments by himself - when he wants to to be faster than Shin, when he realises how much he wants to go up against Panther. Often, he surprises Hiruma with these moments. I love that about our shorter-than-average protagonist.

It shows that there is some fate, really, in Sena coming into the sphere of the Devil Bats. Hiruma is lucky to have spotted him that first time, racing from his bullies; and in the first place, Sena was in fact inspired by Kurita to stand up to them! You can see the extent of which Hiruma manipulates circumstances, escalating and scheming to make things happen - and yet, just as many things help to move the Devil Bats along because of Kurita’s passion and Sena’s sincere determination.

It's Sena who draws in half of the Devil Bats team & supporting team? He brought in Ishimaru, Mamori, Monta, Suzuna, Taki. Sena even indirectly brought the Ha-ha brothers, who in other circumstances might have probably never considered playing American football - Hiruma has dirt on them after they were chasing Sena.

Sena also helped to carry Yukimitsu during the Death March, although Yukimitsu's even being part of the team was one of Hiruma’s quiet acts of kindness, as Yukimitsu would’ve failed the Tokyo Tower trial otherwise.

Kurita of course drew in Sena to the club, and also Komusubi, and indirectly motivated the Ha-ha brothers to stay, as they have a minor rivalry with Komusubi. (Though ultimately the Ha-ha brothers - Jumonji in particular - are driven by wanting to achieve something for themselves, after having spent much of their school lives as juvenile delinquents and being seen as "trash".)

[rolluptheclouds]

[spoilers for Eyeshield 21 manga]

I re-read Eyeshield 21 this year and it's.. really wild to me that I last read it 20 years ago. I read about halfway through the series - pretty far cos I'd read the Death March arc (pretty pivotal point for many of the players) and at least as far as Sena's public reveal. I never watched the anime.

It was odd to try and find fanfic for a series that ended in 2009. I learned that people still upload to Fanfiction.net. I waded through LJ a bit, too. I wanted to find a certain ship and found there are some enthusiastic fans still drawing and writing for them, bless them. Keeping an old ship alive is tough. 😭

I had thoughts about ES21. I hope these make sense to other fans as I'm going to put them up. This is completely without looking up other ES21 discourse, analyses or headcanons, so I don't know what general fandom perspectives are other than what I found through fanfic.