#BANANA FISH REVIEW

[imagine-fight-write]

Funny Banana Fish Trivia

*This is short version of the beginning of this post:

Also, there are different gifs because I'm lazy and can't find things.

As promised, I will now explain the hilarious mystery of the duck I mention in the last post. (And add the rest of this section tomorrow, because it’s late & work exists.)

So, the duck.

(Baby ducks are so adorable!)

The scene in question is It’s on the bottom of pg. 69 of Vol. 1 of Banana Fish.

Dino is holding either a book or folder. We see a beautiful shot of Angie (one of his bodyguards / goons) and his fabulous mustache, also his classic 80s elbow patch.

It is a den. Or a study. Yes, there are books on the walls.

But it is not a library.

Because I refuse to agree it is anything else, because the thought of Dino Golzine in a library, such a glorious, wonderful place, full of imagination, learning, hope and murder, hurts my soul.

Yes, I said murder. Because Agatha Christie.

Anyway, in the bottom panel showing the study, there is a desk.

On the desk is a partly carved, wooden duck, set on a piece of paper or cloth, with obvious shavings around it. And I know it’s a duck & not a goose because it’s neck isn’t long enough for a goose (see below, and note how the bill is different from the adorable baby duck above.)

I just - I just found this so absolutely hilarious and fascinating when I discovered it last week in a re-read (see, this is why you re-read things!)

I bet you we will never find out why. It’s just a thing he’s doing, probably to relax, because carving is very soothing (unless you have a fear of cutting yourself.) Also, it’s such a, I don’t know, casual hobby to have, after his snobby & expensive wine knowledge & orchids.

And of course, being Dino Golzine, he’s not just using a pocket knife. It’s an actual carving utensil that you could buy at a crafts store. Because why not.

Dino Golzine. Carver of wooden ducks.

I love it.

[talesofmari]

This review made me emotional 🥲

banana fish review!

this show is “start here” by caitlyn siehl animated.

(spoilers ahead!)

first things first: the animation was amazing! everyone act surprised! i haven’t been to new york in god knows how long but i think it captured a lot of its charm and not so charming parts well. i thought the pacing was pretty good. definitely got kinda slow at times, but with the heavy content, the tempo helped ease the story. every character was well fleshed out, the plot was complex and entertaining, and deeply thoughtful. (bring back 24 episode seasons!)

now i’m really gonna go on a tangent here: ASH LYNX. what a character. obviously a very tragic end, but one that i think he’s satisfied with. everything about his story is tragic really. he wasn’t made for the world he was forced into. he wasn’t a beast, a leopard, or a peacock— he was a boy who wanted to survive. he was soft and kind and tender, but he needed to prove his value in a dangerous world.

it hurts the most when ash talks about eiji. how he wanted something real, someone who only wanted his company and nothing else. how ash could barely stand who he’d become, but he would do it all for eiji. and while everyone feared him, he found a peer who was innocent and curious and wanted to protect him and not be protected.

it hurts because he’d rather love and die than hate and rule. how at the end of it all, ash would’ve gone with eiji. but instead of fighting again, he went back into the library to finish reading his letter. (because he believed deep down, he didn’t deserve eiji.)

but eiji is so unique. stupidly brave at times, entirely earnest, and tries his very best to understand ash. when ash said he needs him because he has everything he doesn’t… that one hurt. he doesn’t exist for ash’s salvation, but eiji wouldn’t mind it either.

also wanna say how sick and twisted it is they compare ash to a peacock. all feathers, beautiful, but can’t fly well. and what made him so enamored by eiji? he saw him fly.

this show really twists the heart strings! i can see why it has such a loyal fan base. long live yearning and soulmates!!!

banana fish- 9.5/10

ash and eiji: there is no me without you.

[fly-boy-in-the-sky]

Banana Fish & Films PART 1

Recommendations based on aesthetics, themes, decade etc…

These are just my personal recommendations for movies similar to Banana Fish. Most of these films from 1960-90s revolving around some sort of street culture gangs, prostitution, trafficking, drugs all that good stuff…also a few of these I haven’t watched in years so the description may be a little off LOL

TAXI DRIVER 1976

“All the animals come out at night. Whores, skunk-pussies, buggers, queens, fairies, dopers, junkies. Sick and venal.”

Taxi Driver follows a former Vietnam solider insomniac 26-year-old Travis (Robert De Niro) who takes night shifts as a cab driver in NYC. The story is mostly told through his inner monologue, where he talks about his his loneliness and depression along with telling stories of his interactions with his customers. He crosses paths with a 12-year-old prostitute Iris, (Jodie Foster) whom he tries rescuing from her situation.

This film was recommended by Yoshida.

THE WARRIORS 1979

“Since when the fuck are you a diplomat?”

After being blamed for the killing of a rival gang leader in the Bronx, the Warriors have dozens of New York City street gangs are out for revenge battling over turf that ranges from Bronx to Coney Island where the Warriors reside.

STREETWISE 1984

“No one to tell you where to go or what to do.”

A documentary on Street Kids in Seattle Washington 1984. Many of the teenagers do dangerous hustling gigs to survive on the streets.

There’s a story about a girl who is a prostitute with her mother’s knowledge, though her mother is against the idea she doesn’t stop her since it brings in money. Similar situation with Ash and his father..I have seen people say “I can’t believe his father would do that!” or that it’s totally unrealistic. Unfortunately these terrible things do happen, and even though Banana Fish is fictional and exaggerated, the crimes featured are really not far off for the time. Child exploitation human trafficking was huge, that’s one of the reasons how the milk carton missing persons started back in the eighties, especially through mafia/politicians in Europe.

PLATOON 1986

“Any way you cut it, Barnes is a fucking murderer.”

This movie was recommended by Yoshida.

Chris Taylor (Charlie Seen) leaves university to enlist in the Vietnam war. His experiences in combat fades his idealisms of what war is really about and what the troops are fighting this war for. His two Sargents, Barnes (Tom Berneger) and Elias (Williem Dafoe) are constantly arguing together over their morals. Barnes has violent approaches and believes the villagers are harboring Vietcong, while Elias has a more sympathetic view of the villagers and the war. Their disagreements began putting soldiers up against each other, as well as the enemies.

CRUISING 1980

“They told me that there was some... special assignment... and that I was right for it.”

Steve Burns (Al Pacino) is tasked to go undercover cop as a gay man infiltrating New York’s S&M clubs for a psychopath who’s been violently killing homosexuals. Steve begins immersing himself in the subculture and club hopping. While this is going down, he becomes increasingly distant with his girlfriend and the police forces homophobia becomes more apparent as the case goes on.

KING OF NEW YORK 1990

“ I spent half my life in prison. I never got away with anything, and I never killed anybody that didn't deserve it.”

The biggest Kingpin of the underground Frank White (Christopher Walken) just got released from prison. He’s different from most gangsters though. He shares his benefits with the poor, opening children’s hospitals and protecting the wellbeing of underprivileged citizens. Though the streets are much tougher than before. The mafia, Chinatown and Colombian gangs are running the streets partaking in child human trafficking and prostitution, unnecessary killings and racketeering. Frank’s not a fan of how they do business, and puts an end to it.

One of my favorites..the ending even ends similar to Banana Fish and there’s these two gay ass cop partners that the one kisses him towards the end (no spoilerrr) Frank is a super morally grey gangster and very similar to Ash in his beliefs. Film features many famous 90s actors. Must watch.

THE OUTSIDERS 1983

“I used to talk about killing myself all the time, man. But I don't wanna die now. It ain't long enough. Sixteen years ain't gonna be long enough.”

Based on the novel of the same name, an American classic most of us had to read in middle school.

A teenage gang in 1960s Oklahoma, the Greasers have constant clashes with another rival gang the Socs. When Ponyboy (C. Thomas Howell) and Johnny (Ralph Macchio) get into a brawl that leads to the death of a Soc member, they are forced to run away into hiding. With help from their friend Dally (Matt Dillon) he tells them a place out in the rural part of town they can hide until the situation dies down. They are eventually forced to return back to their town after a tragic incident with Johnny happens, and they’re subjected to the consequences of their violent lives once again.

[notexactlyrocketscience]

I've been a longtime Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju fanatic. The historical theme is so well-done, it's engaging, the messy queer vibes are immaculate. I also love Banana Fish for its grungy city ambience, heart-wrenching romance and suspense.

I just finished watching Monster, which to me felt like a combination of the two (plus several other elements of course). It's seinen but honestly you could have fooled me—Women characters play prominent roles and are written to feel so real. There are subtle feminist undertones throughout, and sexual assault is very, very rarely used as a plot point. There's no service, and bodies are drawn so beautifully. There is a sense of precision towards each character’s race, backstory, and personality that also reflects in their design, no matter how unimportant they are. (Kenzo Tenma in particular was so swoon-worthy in the plain, fresh, Ghibli-esque way.)

Highly, highly recommended. Go watch it on Netflix, right now.

(The animation is already spectacular, but there are also upscaled versions of the episodes available online somewhere if you'd like better quality.)

[supervent]

Damn. There are series and games I love. But the plot... When some of the characters have their terrible fate sealed, so randomly...

Spoilers for Banana Fish and LA Noire ahead...

Like, whenever they kill the guys seeking a form of redemption, goddamn, I hate these... And yet those are great stories. But do I want to rewatch or replay these ?! Nah. Or if anything, I'll stop before the actual end I think.

Ash Lynx, Cole Phelps. Squished by fate like little flies. RIP. The first one definitely hurted more somehow. Good kid at heart. Cole ? Yeah, he seems antipathic a lot of the times, but you can tell that he's tired of stupid honors. I've read comments saying his cheating doesn't make sense but oh boy... Would you talk to your wife about the shock of seeing your mate's exploded body ? Burned screaming civilians ? Yeah, no. But the traumatic past is clearly something shared with Elsa. Anyway...

For both, I have to say I'm not a fan of not giving them the peace of mind they deserved after having tortured lives.

If there's a graveyard for fictional characters, well let them actually rest in peace.

Well developed stories but GODDAMN. Authors, who hurted you ?

[los-gatitos-luciran-muy-lindos]

ೃ⁀➷ * Character Song Association * | * Character : Ash Lynx * \♡˳ Banana Fish ♡˳/

⋅ʚBODIESɞ⋅

.︶⚘ ੈ ‧₊✩ ‧₊✩ ੈ ‧⚘︶

[strxnged]

here's the elaborate schedule for today: binge half of banana fish and review bio in time for my test tomorrow

[chaoslynx]

we didn't make the tumblr anime year in review list </3

[imagine-fight-write]

Clarification for the Bronson & Charlie joke, since Tumblr isn't letting me change the post directly.

Someone pointed out to me modern readers might be offended.

Which is valid!

Yet I also took it to mean:

A) Bronson is completely oblivious (like me, which is how I originally took it)

B) Bronson likes to play match-maker with his co-workers, but also cares about them, since the person liking Charlie at the bordega is the important part

C) Bronson doesn't care they are a man

BANANA FISH REVIEW - Part 7, Vol. 1

Edit: Reposting because I posted this without pictures????

I blame my internet.

Welcome to my in-depth gushing review of Banana Fish! If you want Part 1, See here:

https://imagine-fight-write.tumblr.com/post/626474762734092288/random-banana-fish-review-vol-1-part-1

Also I apologize. I thought I was going to post this last weekend but work happened. And then I was *kidnapped

*Not actually kidnapped, that was a joke. (Maybe I shouldn't use that as a joke.) I was just helping family members.

to help load up junk and take it home & then unload it. By the time I was done I was so exhausted & dirty, I seriously didn't want to do anything else for the little rest of the day that was left.

Supposedly it was expensive junk, but it looked old & rusted to me. Idk.

And then I got a really bad sinus infection (had to go to the doc & everything) & work has basically eaten up all my time.

And I'm bound & determined to finish writing a novel this year!

But that doesn't matter, because

I am so excited everyone!

Today we meet Eiji & Ibe!

#Eiji has the best fashion sense. Look at that jacket.

#I want it

There's also not a lot of singular gifs of him. Disappointment!

And there's almost no gifs of Ibe! This is probably the best one.

#I am mad Ibe is a great character!

And maybe we'll meet Max too, depending on how far I get.

Here is my favorite gif of Max. I have no idea what's going on, but I am intrigued! Also, Ash in the nurse's outfit makes me laugh every time.

Max & Ibe are the best partners in crime / not dad's to Ash & Eiji. I love them so much. They are just the best.

#LOL, no. I'm going to guess Ash has to save them. They try so hard but Ash is a femme fatale Rambo with all the enemies.

#actually mostly just Dino, who is the worst

*Ash & Eiji are the best too, but they obviously get more love & attention being, you know, the main characters. So I just want to point out how amazing Max & Ibe are.

Also, I'm not sure if Ibe has kids of his own (?), but we the readers know Max does. But it doesn't matter. They are the best dads.

Slight recap: Um . . .

Ash & Mr. Merridth (the no longer a doctor guy) have a hilarious, sick burns conversation, Dino is the murdering worst #like always (and is carving a wooden duck) # I have an entire post, & the autopsy Black guy, Gordon, at the end is hillarious.

Also, maybe I mentioned Ash laying down the law with his gang & showing how great a shot he is. Which is important & will come up later. Multiple times.

Now on to Part 7! (The lucky number.)

So, top of pg.72, the detectives, cops, inspectors, ???

er, whatever they are ---

#i pay attention so well

are talking. The Chief mentions Jerry Watts, that politician guy waayyy back in the 1st part, who murdered his bodyguard & then slashed his own throat. Whose death will be called a suicide (even though it clearly isn't.)

The Chief also mentions the "guests coming from Japan".

#this is one of the 1st gifs to pop up when I typed in "japan".

#imagine if everyone in this story was a lady or a girl, but otherwise be the same person - how would the story change? stay the same?

#Dino as a lady mob boss - go!

#I wrote that story

Anyway.

Charlie will go pick them up. He's also going to see Lobo. Max Lobo.

Max was sparingly mentioned way back on pg. 23, where Charlie mentions Max wrote a letter & can't come to see their Japanese guests Max invited because reasons (it's hilarious).

I'll correct myself later if I'm wrong, but Max is a work associate to Charlie & co. I think???

They might also just be friends, but I'm not sure.

#friends for the win

Also, am I the only one who thinks it's weird that Charlie refers to him by his last name? Just me? I mean, Max Lobo is a cool name, but still.

Anyway, we learn Max's life is sucking at the moment, since he's currently going through a divorce & custody battle for their kid.

In the 80s. Ouch.

And finally, we have a wonderful joke at the bottom of the page.

Inspector Bronson, to Charlie, "Isn't it about time you settled down? How about that girl in the bodega? I think she's got a thing for you."

Charlie, "Inspector, that's a man."

*Bodega is a small, street corner convince store, by the way. I had to look that up.

#it's not probably not this gif, but I don't care it's cozy

Bodega also a beautiful sounding word.

#though I'm probably pronouncing it wrong in my head

And on pg. 173 we meet Ibe & Eiji!!!!

I loved how the translation conveyed they were speaking Japanese by a string of untranslated Japanese kanji (??? I think?) followed by a carrot symbol < > when they speak, as opposed to a regular dialogue bubble when they speak English.

And (later) Ibe's nervousness is indicated not only in his expression, actions, & sweat beads but also how he meshes Japanese and English together. I love it.

There's a great dialog exchange:

Eiji, "Look at all the tourists."

Ibe, "Well, I guess we're two more."

Charlie appears (his face, top of pg 74, is kinda scary).

To his question, Ibe verifies he's Ibe, while thinking "Am I being mugged?" while Eiji wonders, "Is everyone blonde here?" which is hilarious.

We discover Eiji understands English really well (and probably better than Ibe) before Ibe asks the $10000 question:

"Where's Mr. Lobo?"

And Charlie's like, uh, well, Max is in jail.

Which is hilarious to me. For some reason.

#and guess why he's in prison?

Also Ibe & Eiji's reactions are priceless & exactly what mine would be if I went to an entirely different country, only to discover my contact was in jail.

We then cut to Charlie visiting Max in jail.

#because what are chapters

#no seriously, Banana Fish doesn't have chapters

Max seems to be doing alright. Considering what happens later, I speculate it's either

A) Bravado

B) True, because he has contacts & such, or

C) He's also a Vietnam vet, & if Rambo taught me anything, it's that you don't mess with them / mess with them to your peril.

Max has such great lines. In response to learning Inspector Jenkins having diabetes, he goes,

"Still, he's an inspiration to us all. Only man to drink the station's coffee black and live."

He also gives this wisdom to Charlie,

"Don't ever get married, Charlie. And if you ever do get married, for God's sake, don't get divorced."

We learn Charlie's in the can because he punched a cop. And he's talking to a cop, who he's clearly friends with. I love how Banana Fish always pokes at both sides of an issue.

Anyway, Max gets down to brass tacks. He's got an article for Charlie to read, by an Army Intelligence officer, Steven Johnson.

#guess who he is

He mentions banana fish & Charlie asks about it. I love the contrast between Charlie asking about it in the middle panel of pg. 78, contrasted with Max silhouetted in all black and grim. Max quotes the article,

"It remains unclear whether banana fish signified an individual person or an organization, but in either case it is believed to refer to those involved with a particular narcotics route active throughout the Mekong Delta region."

And it gets better. Because Charlie asks why Max is interested in all this. Max reveals he was in the same unit as Griffin.

Ash's brother. Who went crazy & killed everyone except Max & the sergeant.

And Max reveals Griffin said something to him after he finished shooting.

"I saw banana fish."

Duh duh duh!

#what is it??????

So naturally Max is curious about this "banana fish" mentioned in the article. Steven Johnson says he's going to start investigating it based on a lead he found in Los Angeles he found this year & once he gets out of jail, Max is going to chat him up.

Except Charlie looks at his profile & says,

"No, you're not going to talk to this guy."

Max, "Why the hell not, Charlie?"

His expression is great, (bottom of pg. 81) so is the flare of light and dark in the panel with Charlie's response:

"Because I saw him dead this morning."

Duh duh duh!

#the kitten is so cute I had to use it twice

So! We have learned so many things! Max was in the same unit Griffin was & was there when he went "crazy." Max is curious about banana fish.

And the banana fish guy Ash found in the beginning, which started this whole thing, is Steven Johnson, who'd been investigating banana fish before Dino sent Ash's (former) gang members to kill him.

But this only leads to more questions. How is Dino involved? What does he plan to use it for if all it does is make people go crazy? Why is banana fish showing up now, 12 years after the incident with Griffin?

I'm going to end here, because this post is super long. I want to point out before I go something I missed the 1st time I read this, which is Charlie became a cop specifically to counter all the awfulness brought about by drug use.

Max also has this great line, pg.79,

"It seemed like the country was drowning in dope. And a lot of it was cut with God knows what - people going to the hospital, the psych war, or just right into the body bag."

Akimi Yoshida's #the author's stance on this is clear. And intense.

Remember as always, this was written during the 80s, when this story is set. I find this snap shot fascinating.

Until next time, hope you have a marvelous day!

#yes I like cats, why do you ask?

[mx-sinisters]

sin's year in review; 2023

read in 2023 ➤ banana fish (1985-1994)

[pucksandpower]

Charles Leclerc x fashion designer!Reader - Instagram AU

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scuderiaferrari we’re always up for more red

yourbestfriend hottest couple

tiptoptifosi that photo of charles is doing things to me

charles_leclerc

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charles_leclerc 🧡

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pierregasly 🧡

charles_leclerc do you even know what this is about?

pierregasly no but i was feeling left out

keepingupwithleclerc i’m sensing a trend

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landonorris you should have used a photo of charles in the banana suit

yourusername serious oversight on my part

georgerussell63 i’m disappointed, we expect better from you

charles_leclerc

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charles_leclerc 💚

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pierregasly trying your hand at modeling?

yourusername i prefer to make clothes instead of posing in them but charles might have a future in it

charles_leclerc driver by day, model by night

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carlossainz55 charles acting like he’s never seen fish before

yourusername he’s a big fan of finding nemo

leclercify he even looks good swimming 😵‍💫

charles_leclerc

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charles_leclerc 💜

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yourusername that second photo was right before we found out i’m allergic to hydrangeas 🫣

charles_leclerc it was definitely a memorable date

yourusername lovely picnic up until that point

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f1wagupdates Y/N Y/L/N made her Fashion Week debut yesterday to rave reviews. It seems that the colorful collection was teased by her and Charles’ mysterious posts these past few weeks

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f1wagupdates More from Y/N’s post-show interview: “This collection was really personal and inspired by my relationship. It’s meant to be a play on the saying ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ because when I’m with him, it really feels like every color in the universe is so much brighter. I think I managed to shape those feelings into clothing that others can enjoy and reflect on.”

leclercdefender their romance is everything

loyallyleclerc charles designed a helmet to celebrate their anniversary a few months ago and now y/n designed a collection inspired by their love. it’s too much to handle 😭

[pierrotdoesnteat]

NUTRITION JOURNALS: VITAMINS (PT 1/2)

HOW MANY VITAMINS ARE THERE?

- there are thirteen (13) essential vitamins; vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pathogenic acid (B5), biotin (B7), and folate (B9). these are the ones i'll focus on in this past, and it will be a longer post.

WHAT IS VITAMIN A?

- vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that supports your immune system, vision, reproductive health, and fetal growth. there are two forms of vitamin A; preformed vitamin A which are found in things like dairy, liver, and fish, and provitamin A carotenoids which can be found in fruits, vegetables, and oils. - The recommended daily amount of vitamin A is 900 micrograms (mcg) for adult men and 700 mcg for adult women.

WHAT IS VITAMIN B6?

- vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is important for normal brain development and for keeping the nervous system and immune system healthy. Food sources of vitamin B6 include poultry, fish, potatoes, chickpeas, bananas and fortified cereals. - vitamin B6 has been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and helps your body to make DNA, hemoglobin, and neurotransmitters. - in addition to low iron, low vitamin B6 has been linked to anemia, which i dont imagine i need to tell yall is incredibly common in disordered people. - because B6 is connected to neurotransmitters, it can help regulate mood and even aid sleep. One study showed that higher vitamin B6 intake is associated with lower depression and anxiety risk in females, but not males. - vitamin B6 also helps your body maintain normal levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that helps to build proteins. - vitamin B6 supplementation specifically has been shown to improve body composition – your ratio of lean muscle to fat. it has also been linked with higher muscle mass and lower body fat levels. in particular, vitamin B6 supplementation has been linked to lower-body weight loss, with a reduced amount of fat across the hips and waist.

WHAT IS VITAMIN B12?

- vitamin B-12 (cobalamin) plays an essential role in red blood cell formation, cell metabolism, nerve function and the production of DNA, the molecules inside cells that carry genetic information. - sources of vitamin B-12 include poultry, meat, fish and dairy products. Vitamin B-12 is also added to some foods, such as fortified breakfast cereals, and is available as an oral supplement. - some studies suggest that vitamin B12 could affect body fat and metabolism. one review concluded that vitamin B12 plays a key role in fat metabolism, noting that a deficiency could be linked to increased fat accumulation and obesity. take this with a grain of salt, though, because there is limited research on the topic. - vitamin B12 plays a role in serotonin production, so a deficiency may be connected with clinical depression. this may feel irrelevant, but your physical and mental health are really complexly connected. taking care of one can help improve the other.

WHAT IS VITAMIN C?

- vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a nutrient your body needs to form blood vessels, cartilage, muscle and collagen in bones. vitamin C is also vital to your body's healing process. additionally, it is an antioxidant that helps protect your cells against the effects of free radicals- molecules produced when your body breaks down food or is exposed to tobacco smoke and radiation from the sun, x-rays or other sources. - vitamin C is found in citrus fruits, berries, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, brussel sprouts, broccoli and spinach. - vitamin C helps your body to absorb iron in foods like beans and spinach, who's bio-availability is lower. - although vitamin C doesn't necessarily cause weight loss, it seems to be related to body weight. getting sufficient amounts of vitamin C increases body fat oxidation during moderate-intensity exercise. - another critical function of vitamin C is synthesizing carnitine, which transports long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria that produce energy.

WHAT IS VITAMIN D?

- there are different forms of vitamin D, including ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) and cholecalciferol (vitamin D3). vitamin D is found in fish, eggs, and fortified milk. It's also made in the skin when exposed to sunlight. during periods of sunlight, vitamin D is stored in fat and then released when sunlight is not available. - your body can only absorb calcium, the primary component of bone, when vitamin D is present. Vitamin D also regulates many other cellular functions in your body. Its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neuro-protective properties support immune health, muscle function and brain cell activity. - vitamin D might play an important role in regulating mood and decreasing the risk of depression, and some studies suggest there may be a link between vitamin D and obesity, though more research is needed to verify this.

WHAT IS VITAMIN E?

- vitamin E is a nutrient that's important to vision, reproduction, and the health of your blood, brain and skin. vitamin E deficiency can cause nerve pain (neuropathy). - foods rich in vitamin E include canola oil, olive oil, margarine, almonds and peanuts. You can also get vitamin E from meats, dairy, leafy greens and fortified cereals. - getting enough vitamin E may help prevent oxidative stress and cellular damage. oxidative stress occurs when there’s an imbalance between your body’s antioxidant defenses and the production and accumulation of compounds called reactive oxygen species (ROS). this can lead to cellular damage and increased disease risk.

WHAT IS VITAMIN K?

- vitamin K is actually a group of compounds, with the most important ones being vitamin K1 and vitamin K2. vitamin K1 is obtained from leafy greens and some other vegetables. vitamin K2 is a group of compounds largely obtained from meats, cheeses, and eggs and synthesized by bacteria. - vitamin K's key role is to help heal injuries through blood clotting and strengthen bones by making four proteins among the 13 that are needed for blood clotting (coagulation) and osteocalcin.

[saezurumurmurs]

Please help us shape 2023!

Calling BL Readers and Watchers…

Can you fill this out for the cause? Know folks that read or watch BL or both?

Like and reblog this post many times! Sharing is caring!

Feel free to ask us anything in the comments also!

We appreciate it so much!

[uninformedartist]

I love how r2 and viv’s response is to just blame people for watching episode 4, no ownership and just dodging responsibility, there was no warning till people were getting mad and upset enough that prime put a warning. Had people not leaked the animated segment of poison and warning people about it than people would have no idea that there was SA.

Again instead of just saying on her platform there was SA in the episode and viewer discretion is advised, viv ran to threads like a coward to shame people for leaking episode 4. and got into a three day triad with SA survivors

Which leads me to believe prime and a24 had no idea there was SA in the show, or that prime is trying advertise HH as an animated musical instead of an adult animated show.

if you have rpe kinks all power to you, but your not being queer progressive for putting into a show and dividing people on what’s ok and what isn’t. The fact tha people are divided and avoid episode 4 or walking on thin ice when it comes to episode 4 shows that it was handled badly. Moral Orel, Tuca and Bertie, silent hill 2 and banana fish, and revolutionary girl utena never had this problem because SA was never shown it was heavily implied and we saw the aftermath and trauma it did to the characters assaulted because the act itself didn’t matter, it was the aftermath and recovery.

This, just all of this. Also sums up a bit on R2's interview aswell (still working on that review).

Ty for this anon.

[fangxin-guoshi]

Banana fish re-review ~

I did a rewatch of banana fish and oh my God I forgot how good this series was. Considering the original manga came out in the 80's in JAPAN, it was SO ahead of its time. One of the best depictions of gay characters I've ever seen in Japanese media, even by today's standards.

Some more silly thoughts:

Like yoshida just casually dropped a manga with an insanely progressive take on the bl genre by showing a complex queer interracial relationship with incredibly well-written characters. Honestly the fact that ash and eiji's relationship wasn't explicitly defined as romantic is a plus imo. Not being able to rely on obvious romantic gestures like kissing, hand-holding, romantic confessions, etc. actually forces the writer to develop their relationship without that crutch to lean on. That's why ash and eiji's relationship is so good, because it doesn't rely on surface-level romance to get across the fact that they love each other and instead use subtlety and little nuances in their interactions. It's obvious from the subtext and how much they're shown to care for each other.

Not to mention the great depiction of black characters (I know portraying black characters non-offensively is like, the bare minimum, but may I remind you this is the EIGHTIES in JAPAN, and there are so many CURRENT animes that have an issue with it).

I mean yea does it have its flaws? Sure. Ash's admittedly very lame "lynx" title that comes with many wildcat metaphors, eiji being a bit passive in the first half, sort of cringe portrayal of America, etc. but my God the way she handles the trauma and character dynamics is incredible.

Ok so I did have a uh... Not really a criticism but something that I noticed that got me thinking. I feel like some shows use dark subject matter as a bit of an easy way to evoke an emotional reaction from the audience. Sometimes authors give characters horrible backstories as a way to make the audience THINK the character is complex and interesting but in reality it's a bit of a lazy writing tactic. Low effort high reward kind of thing. Banana fish obviously does have brutal subject matter and ash is really put through the ringer, but I love that yoshida doesn't let that become the axis of his character. He has trauma that greatly impacts him, but he's also super developed on his own apart from that. When I think about Ash's character, I don't immediately think about the traumatic backstory parts. The balance between how significantly the trauma affects him vs making sure that's not the ONLY part of his character is extremely well-executed.

Scenes that stuck out to me (not including asheiji ones bc it goes without saying theyre all amazing)

- the interrogator playing Ash's tapes after being arrested ("later, movie star" was the most brutal line ever omg)

- max burning the photos of ash (underrated moment this was SO good),

- any and all interactions between sing and blanca (they're such an unlikely duo peak comedy right there)

- the convo between sing and yut lung in the last episode

- ash stabbing the guy in the dick with a fork

- callback to ^^^, ash stabbing the banana with a fork

- Ash's breakdown in front of dino (ep 19 I believe)

- the entirety of ash escaping from the "mental hospital" and then having to go rescue ibe and max lmaooo

- ash brutally murdering Abraham(?, the redhead guy) by blowing abt a thousand holes in him w a machine gun as payback for shorter

- ash shooting shorter

- running joke of max being Ash's dad

- everyone constantly manhandling yut lung by yanking on his hair (dude get a haircut)

- ash immediately going to shoot himself no hesitation after yut lung told him he wouldn't hurt eiji if he did so (technically asheiji but I'm keeping it since this was a yut lung and ash scene)

- "what does this picture look like?" "Your wife"

- eiji's cute stupid little outfit he wore when he went to go find shorter in Chinatown

I also have a confession:

I LOVE yut lung. Him being paralleled with ash, but instead of finding love he let hate consume him because he had no one unlike ash who had eiji was just devastating but in a good way.

So yea those are my messy thoughts after finishing it. I'd argue that it was probably one of the best pieces of queer media to exist at the time. In the world. And one of my personal favorite pieces of queer media ever.

[ecargmura]

Twilight Out Of Focus Episode 12 Review + Final Thoughts - Their Red Thread

What do you mean we’re at the part of the season where all the shows are going to end? What do you mean that I have to part ways with Twilight Out of Focus? *sigh* I love but also hate it when seasonal shows end. It’s nice that it ends so that it’d be a nice memory, but parting ways with it also hurts, you know?

Anyways, I do like that the issues Hisamao face in the finale is Hisashi’s growing insecurities. At first, he never really expressed or showed his insecure side, but now that he’s in a happy relationship with Mao and that he’s expanding his horizons as a member of the drama club, his doubts are growing. He’s afraid of losing Mao and his worth as an actor. He knows he isn’t the best actor and that he knows that people will break up over small things in the future. Mao, on the other hand, also has his insecurities. He’s frustrated that he’s passive when it comes to initiating kisses and sex and that he wants to take the lead at times. However, he also wants to be there for Hisashi when he’s vulnerable. I do like that even though they’re happy together, there are still doubts and fears as they’re still young and uncertain of what the future holds. However, Mao has this aura of sincerity in a way that if he declares something, it’ll surely happen. Given how they’re very good at communicating, I can see them lasting forever. They complete each other in a way, you know? Hisamao is essentially a sad boy x sad boy comforter ship that I enjoy a lot.

I feel like they went all out for the animation quality in terms of scenery because the part where they were filming Hisashi was really pretty. The sky looked gorgeous! The sunset was gorgeous too. It did feel like it was a nice way to close things off for the main couple and for the main couple too. I also love that there was a lot of callbacks to the first episode like the three promises and how it begins and ends with the film club filming Hisashi.

I also like that the post-credit scene finally has Hisashi coming out to the film club—he’s the one who tells Mao’s friends that they’re dating. I think it’s a nice closure to all the secrets he’s been hiding since the beginning. From the start, he didn’t want people to know he’s gay because of prejudice and stigma, but being with Mao changed all that as he feels as if he’s comfortable with letting them know. I think it’s good development on Hisashi’s part.

Overall, this final episode is a good way to close off Hisamao and the entire anime as a whole. I guess if I had a complaint, it’d be that we don’t really see an update with the other ships, but it makes sense because Hisamao is the main ship, after all.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I just hope that people’s thoughts about Twilight Out of Focus being a Banana Fish AU died down and that they see it as its own thing. I think that all the Banana Fish comparisons got annoying super fast, honestly. I know that comparisons are inevitable at times, but I still can’t deny it gets annoying too.

Regardless, I did really like this show. It reminded me of my favorite BL anime Sekaiichi Hatsukoi with the three ships format and takes place in one setting and what not. It also doesn’t help that both animes are animated by Studio DEEN. I guess my attachment to this show was that I was looking something to ease my longing for Sekakoi. I do feel like Studio DEEN has improved from its previous BL works, but it also feels like they’re still doing their usual formula when it comes to BL anime and I think it’s a staple for them. I don’t really know if Studio DEEN is considered a big name or if this production is considered high quality.

Twilight Out of Focus was also the reason why Crunchyroll decided to disable comments because weirdos couldn’t mind their own business and had to be jerks about watching a BL anime when they could’ve just pressed the back button. Honestly, the people who get too noisy about watching BL animes are the worst. You don’t see me complaining about having to watch the craziest shows.

One thing I’ve noticed often is that the anime loves using slide panels in a way that it shows off the “film” premise of the show. It’s not as terrible as how Whisper Me A Love Song uses it. It does make the anime feel like more like a moving manga at times, but I get that the studio has a limited budget as they were working on another show that was airing at the same time. Also, it is sort of hard to animate the manga without making it too complicated or too simple, so what they got was pretty good. I was just surprised that they added in the hanky-panky scenes because they usually censor those—they censored the naughty scenes in Cherry Magic and in Tadaima Okaeri…and the latter was also animated by Studio DEEN.

I do like that each ship brings out different dynamics. Hisamao is roommates/friends to lovers; JinGii is enemies/rivals to lovers mixed with roommates; ReiShion is looking for love to falling in love sort of thing. They all give different vibes and not a rinse and repeat of the same tropes. I applaud Jyanome for giving three different pairs within the same setting and making them be different. It would’ve been boring if they were the same three ships.

Speaking of the author, I do like how they write the characters. They’re not too cliche and not too stereotypical in terms of BL tropes. For example, Hisashi and Mao is like the bad boy x nice boy trope, but Hisashi is a bit more vulnerable and delicate compared to the typical BL seme. He gives off an uke feel, yet isn’t an uke at all. Mao is more composed and straightforward, but gives uke vibes as he has to be the one to complement Hisashi. Jin also doesn’t feel like a seme as he’s more sensitive and wimpy while Giichi is bold and confident. Of the three couples, ReiShion give off the most typical seme and uke tropes, but they’re also written in a way that they avert said tropes too with Rei being nerdy and not that physically strong while Shion is effeminate but also super strong and capable of anything.

The voice actors were STACKED. Holy heck. The main cast reprised their roles from the drama CD, but still, it’s a solid cast that would be a huge waste NOT to use. The main couple are voiced by Yuma Uchida and Yoshitsugu Matsuoka. They’re BL regulars, so they know how to give out the emotions and the fruitiness. Also, why do I feel like a lot of BL adaptations usually have Uchida in them? Matsuoka is always a solid pick for anything really. He’s very versatile. For Uchida, it’s one of the rare times he’s playing against type and voices a very quiet character, but he did a good job showing off Hisashi’s vulnerability but also the shyness he gets when around Mao. JinGii are voiced by Makoto Furukawa and Masatomo Nakazawa. Furukawa is also another BL regular. I do like that he gives Jin a very pompous and arrogant feel, but also shows off his sensitive sides super well. I feel like I mainly see Nakazawa in BL anime as he was also Haruki in Given, but he’s super underrated and should be in more works, whether they be BL or not. ReiShion are voiced by Takuya Eguchi and Soma Saito, both BL regulars. Heck, getting the most effeminate character to be voiced by the BL Princess (Saito) is practically a golden ticket for a must-watch BL. Like how Uchida is playing against type, Eguchi is also playing against type as he voiced Rei who’s quieter than most of his usual roles. It’s really nice to see these voice actors playing to their strengths but taking it to new heights but also seeing some of them play against type and see how they adapt. Heck, if you think the main cast is stacked, the supporting cast is also stacked with names like Takeo Otsuka and Kent Ito and Gen Satou to name a few. What I’m saying is that you’re likely to see the names of the side characters in various animes because they’re names you do see pop up often. Twilight Out of Focus is definitely a treat for voice actor fans. The English dub cast is good too! If you like Cherry Magic, the English VAs for the Tsugemina pair reunite as Rei and Shion.

While the soundtrack isn’t bad, I do think that sometimes, the music is a bit misplaced. I also notice a lot of repetitive usage of certain tracks, which isn’t bad, but it also sort of does feel out of place. Regardless, I do like the songs. The opening and ending songs could’ve definitely switched, but I don’t mind if they weren’t.

Do I have any major gripes with the show? Well, my major complaint is not with the show itself but with Tumblr. If you don’t know, I also post my reviews on Tumblr but my Twilight Out of Focus reviews never show up there for some reason. I guess I feel like my reviews for this show aren’t as getting as much traction as I want them to in a sense?

Other than that, this is a nice BL shows for newbies and long-time fans of the genre. 2024 has been quite a year with three back-to-back seasonal BLs. Fall 2024 won’t have a BL, but it makes sense as it’s way too stacked to stick one in, but who knows how long it’ll take for them to announce more BL anime. So far the ones we’ll be getting next year are The Summer Hikaru Died and Go For It, Nakamura! Given that BL is getting popular, I do hope that the anime industry do announce and animate more BLs. I’ll be there to watch any of them when they air!

If you watched Twilight Out of Focus from beginning to end, what are your thoughts on the anime as a whole?