#I animated a whole verse of a song in two days

[theonehitwonder]

I am officially in the final editing stages of making the animatic!

[bobaboob]

my first animation and it's diluc, who's surprised

[early post for aprilluc day 29: family <3]

thoughts under the cut!

this has been in the drafts for an ENTIRE year skjkdj i planned this out in rough sketches last april when i was wine drunk and then drew and animated the whole thing in like three days and here we are. i've never animated before so learning that aspect of clip studio paint was kinda frustrating but i'm pretty happy with what i was able to accomplish!

this whole song fits him so well and i have plans to animate the next two verses as well with jean and diluc so. stay posted

[topfsecret]

Dress to Impress Lana Lore: Why her?

Post Date: 1 November 2024

special thanks to youtuber callmehhaley for her video "SECRETS In The LANA LORE QUEST & Breakdown! *STORY EXPLAINED?* | Dress To Impress Halloween Update"

also thank you to youtuber izzzyzzz for her video "The Dress To Impress Horror ARG Explained"

For my thoughts on Nurse Julie from the Halloween Update, feel free to visit TopfSecret's Lana Lore Tag!

.

Why Did Agamemnon Choose Lana?

At first, it's easy to say that Agamemnon symbolizes the predatory people in the fashion industry. The early Lana lore cements this interpretation. Agamemnon's minions exploited Lana's sickness, roping her into a job so she can pay her medical bills, before trapping her in the whole Awakening business.

But the Halloween Update reveal that Agamemnon may have caused Lana's illness in the first place is... wild. It doesn't undo the above interpretation, especially with the shadowy cult stuff. But why Lana? Why not take someone who's already got a terminal illness? There's plenty of desperate people to take advantage of in this age of capitalism.

The song "Temptation" may have the answers. It's reaching a little bit, but please bear with me!

Let me tell you a story of betrayal Between two people unalike There was a goddess, who was immortal against a jealousy of a warrior and when the time came for a judgement There were more wrongs than a right There was no solace, no immunity banished from who he used to be

So, there's precedent in greek mythology of mortals being punished for wanting to surpass/being better than the gods, for example Arachne - being turned into a spider for defeating Athena in a weaving contest. There's also precedent of mortals being punished for cheating death (wanting immortality), as in the case of Sisyphus - doomed to push a boulder up a hill for eternity because he trapped Thanatos (personification of death) and prevented him from taking Sisyphus' soul.

So it's not a stretch to say that Agamemnon isn't a new figure. I can't say if he's literally mythological Agamemnon, but he could be? From wikipedia: "Agamemnon has slain an animal sacred to Artemis, and subsequently boasts that he is her equal in hunting."

ummm... yeah. That's punishment material, babey. A warrior (well, hunter) of sorts being jealous of Artemis' immortality... makes sense, but not quite.

Regardless, in my opinion, DTI Agamemnon is old enough to have been jealous of a goddess' immortality, trying to get it, and then being punished for it. I'm guessing his punishment is being denied a physical form, doomed to be a ghost forever (since he wants immortality so much). My rationale: he's seen as hallucinations and dark shadows in the Halloween Update, which is probably the earliest chronologically (since it talks about Lana's leaving her house and her hospital days).

He only got a physical form after sacrificing multiple souls (seen in the earlier updates), such as the Fortress Security Footage #1. It's not his "ultimate" form, though, which is why he keeps trying to get more sacrifices.

For the temptation in his heart His life was doomed right from the start He wanted more than what he got But it was locked away

Well, duh. Immortality is locked away from mortals for a reason. If his life is "doomed from the start", it could be that DTI Agamemnon is based on (or is actually) mythological Agamemnon, where his entire family has been doomed due to the actions of his ancestor, Tantalus.

Obsessed with immortality He wanted to live eternally Wanted to make himself a God and now he's locked away

This explains itself. He may have been locked away by the goddess that he was jealous of back in the first verse.

So he planned to sneak into the palace and consume what wasn't his he thought you made it, with all his malice but he was caught in carelessness

"Sneak into the palace" could have not been literal, because I have no idea what the literal equivalent is. However, a palace and a fortress can be equated in some way - which may mean that he's creating The Fortress to consume what wasn't his (souls of the innocent).

How about "He thought you made it, with all his malice, but he was caught in carelessness."?

Well.

This is where my speculation goes to an unhinged place.

Ready? Of course you are.

So: I think Lana may have been related to whoever goddess punished Agamemnon in the first place. Whether she's the goddess' descendant, or a reincarnation, or simply an unlucky mortal chosen for a quest, Lana Dress to Impress may have divine purpose.

That's why Agamemnon chose Lana as his main collaborator/pawn instead of other terminally ill young women (or others whom he thinks is easily exploited). He wanted to get revenge on the goddess that punished him in the first place, so he took it out on Lana.

I think "he thought you made it, with all his malice" means that Agamemnon has the impression that Lana made it (the Fortress) for him.

"But he was caught in carelessness" because he assumed wrong. In truth, Lana made the whole thing to stop him - at least at first, before he started influencing her. In the previous updates, we see that Lana made the whole Saudade/Coterie thing to stop the Awakening. It could've been a prophecy, or something driven inside her because of her divine heritage. Her obsession with ancient Greek mythology could be explained by her unknowingly reaching for her birthright/quest hints/etc.. (Although, that goddess would not be Artemis, I think.)

I think Lana made all that stuff to stop him and the Awakening as soon as she left the hospital. She thought she was free! She wants to, has to, fight back against him!

But of course, Agamemnon is still stalking her, waiting until the right time to influence her again, to make her work for him instead.

now the time came for a judgement and he pleaded for his life he would be banished, and stay immortal if only he sacrificed a few souls

The problem is, I still don't really know how these lines fit. "Stay immortal if only he sacrificed a few souls" wouldn't make sense if the gods didn't want him to be immortal as more than an incorporeal shadow/hallucination.

Maybe he knew, somehow, that he had to sacrifice a few souls to become immortal (not only tangible, but also having an Ultimate Form through the Awakening)? Did he know that innately? Or did someone else, a greater force, tell him? I really don't know. We probably need more information.

If you're a bigger Greek mythology nerd than we are (which is probably the case - do let us know if I missed some important part of the Agamemnon mythological lore.)

Thank you all so much for reading!

.

To see more Dress to Impress ARG thoughts:

TopfSecret's Lana Lore Tag

[1tsteatime]

Thoughts on ‘Tear you down | Down in the workshop sequel’ because I have no one else to rant to about it

Okay this is the best my singing monsters fanmade song by a MILE.

Granted there’s not a ton of competition, but the production value on this thing is insane, especially compared to its predecessor.

Whail sounds absolutely beautiful, the harmonies blend so well together and their solo talking about how they tried to escape before was downright (dare I say it) ethereal.

The other quads also blew me away. Rhysmuth was SO GOOD. I don’t know what I was expecting for his voice, but it was so out there and it REALLY worked. I’ve had his bigification verse stuck in my head all day, and it makes so much sense that he wouldn’t sing per say, just rap. Also the Lego take down was so funny.

I adorrrred Oogiddy’s voice. Not usually my favourite workshop monster, and I saw some people say they couldn’t understand them with the voice effects, but I thought it was perfect. Really liked their brief duet with Rhysmuth, and just the way they spoke worked so well.

PENTUMBRA. NAILED THE VOICE. The shadow jumping in for ‘run! Jump! Duck and hide!’ Was so cool, and in general was just a joy to listen to.

Venshun- okay okay a few things. If I have a tiny nitpick, I will say a few of the ‘YOU THINK YOU CAN STOP ME?’ Lines sounded a biiiiiit corny, just in comparison to the other lines. But in general, loved him. His screams at the end sounded like genuine peril and throughout the whole song he felt like a very real threat. Whoever voiced him did an amazing job. I also love the hammer and construction sound affects, lovely touch.

The one part of the song that annoys me is the triples’ harmony in the first verse.

Their two lines ‘ahhhhh’ and ‘with the machine’ are REALLY off tune, and it throws off the whole first verse for me. I wouldn’t mind so much if the rest of the song was also a similar level of unsteadiness, but considering how clean everything else is, I’m really surprised they didnt go for another take, or try to tune it up.

That’s my only complaint.

Okay okay speaking of the triples. I love their voices. Yoreek and Flasque in particular sound REALLY good, and I love X’rt’s as well. Also also, BEMEEBETH.

Aw I wish we could have gotten more from him, and MPG did such a good job voicing him!!! I felt there was a lot of quiet power behind the the lines, and it made a very nice finale.

Finally, I want to talk about the different art styles in the video. Holy shit- the art in this was incredible. From the animatic style frames to the Lego (again loved it) to BeMeebeth’s fully animated scene, the whole thing came together beautifully.

That’s my thoughts. If anyone reads the whole thing, hope you agree lol. What were your guys’ thoughts on the song??

[katakaluptastrophy]

TLT meta post suggestion: explain the biblical significance of Paul to someone who knows jackshit about Christianity?

Paul is what happens when a clever person with establishment clout has a searing moment of metaphysical transformation that allows them to become a real nuisance...

The very TL;DNR version of Paul in Christianity (Bible!Paul, if you will) is that he was once an observant Jew called Saul who was involved in persecuting the early church. But one day, while enthusiastically doing this, he is struck blind by a huge flash of light and hears the voice of Jesus. From that point on he is known as "Paul", becomes an enthusiastic follower of Jesus, and helps to spread the gospel. Specifically, he is referred to as the 'apostle to the gentiles', taking the teachings of Jesus beyond its early Jewish roots to the wider Mediterranean world.

On a basic level, Necro!Paul being 'Paul' is probably a reference to that blazing moment of transformation - Bible!Paul is both continuity and change: the same passion, but expressed very differently. Well-educated, willing to cause trouble, and energised by something beyond the human norm.

But it's their speech to Ianthe where the Biblical stuff really starts to come through. It's worth noting that letters written by Bible!Paul (or 'written by him') account for nearly half of the books of the Christian New Testament and are hugely foundational in Christian theology.

And Necro!Paul's speech to Ianthe is full of Biblical references:

"I know how hard it is for you to kick against the goad," said the new person. "But there are more worlds than this. Come with us. We are the love that is perfected by death - but even death will be no more; death can also die."

That first line, 'kick against the goad', is a direct reference to Paul's 'Road to Damascus' moment where he hears Jesus:

I saw in the way a light from heaven above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me, and them that were in company with me. And when we were all fallen down on the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew tongue: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the goad. And I said: Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord answered: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. - Acts 26:13-15

To kick against the goad (or, in the slightly more colourful language of the KJV 'kick against the pricks') is to engage in an excercise in futility. It's a reference to an ox goad, a sharp instrument used to steer oxen in farming, which would hurt the animal if it tried to kick against it instead of following where it was being directed.

It's an acknowledgement that Ianthe is doing something that rubs profoundly up against the metaphysical grain, that her own proud self-direction will only hurt her in the end.

'More worlds than this' is a reference to Hamlet, which Dulcie of course also quotes in TUG. (Hamlet rather seems to haunt the question of the River Beyond, but that's not what we're discussing right now...)

'We are the love that is perfected by death' is, I suspect, meant to reference two different Bible verses. The first is:

Put me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thy arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy as hard as hell, the lamps thereof are fire and flames. - Song of Solomon 8:6

Despite centuries of the church trying to claim that it's about the spiritual relationship between God and man, the Song of Solomon is now generally accepted to be a sexy poem about sex. So that's an interesting thing for the fusion of Palamedes and Camilla to quote... But perhaps more salient here is what's contrasted to the strength of love and death, which is jealousy and hell. Ianthe is being offered a chance at redemption - which is of course Bible!Paul's whole thing - which she summarily rejects. I'm sure, given NTN ending with Harrow going off to, one assumes, er, harrow hell, that this won't be relevant at all...

The other verse that 'love that is perfected by death' may be referencing is:

In this is the charity of God perfected with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment: because as he is, we also are in this world. Fear is not in charity: but perfect charity casteth out fear, because fear hath pain. And he that feareth, is not perfected in charity. Let us therefore love God, because God first hath loved us. If any man say, I love God, and hateth his brother; he is a liar. For he that loveth not his brother, whom he seeth, how can he love God, whom he seeth not? And this commandment we have from God, that he, who loveth God, love also his brother. - 1 John 4:17-21

The quotation in the Douay-Rhiems translation (apparently the preferred translation of lesbian necromancers in space, if Gideon the Ninth is anything to go by) is a little opaque, but 'charity' is an old timey way of translating 'love'. Essentially, this passage says that those who love God and are loved by God do not need to fear the day of judgement, and clarifies a bit about what it means to love God.

There are two things that are important.

The first is that this is from 1 John. There are five Biblical texts associated with St John: the Gospel of John, the Book of Revelation, and three Epistles (letters). Revelation is John's vision of the end of the world - and if you're wondering whether it's relevant that The Locked Tomb features a guy called John who ends the world, yes, it is - but the Epistles were written right at the end of his life. And 1 John has two themes that might be relevant to The Locked Tomb: the first is the question of what it means to love god (spoiler: the answer is not 'dinner and a movie'), and the second is whether your actions matter.

The second thing that might be relevant here is that just before this in 1 John 4, there is a warning about not heeding false prophets. Specifically, it warns about the antichrist. You know, the thing Necro!John says he was repeatedly accused of being? The point is that love - love properly understood - can protect you from the wiles of the antichrist. Probably not a relevant theme as we head off into the 'you have not yet begun to witness the horrors of love' book where people are presumably facing down a pretender god...

The final part of Paul's speech to Ianthe - 'death will be no more' - is also Johannine: this time from Revelation:

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes: and death shall be no more, nor mourning, nor crying, nor sorrow shall be any more, for the former things are passed away. - Revelation 21:4

This comes from a section where the Biblical John watches as the old world is destroyed and the new Jerusalem descends from Heaven. Death and sorrow are ended, and the righteous will rule with God. The sinful have a less fun time of it, involving fire and brimstone and 'the second death'. If that sounds familiar, it's because Necro!John cribbed that particular bit when making up his shoddy Space Catholicism (TM). (The implications of this really deserves a much longer treatment, so watch this space...)

One of the nice things about Tamsyn Muir's Biblical parallels is they're not generally exact. But it's perhaps relevant to note that amongst Bible!Paul's rather dramatic adventures are quite a few instances of casting demons out of people, starting at least one riot, shipwreck, and an "Incident at Antioch". Also...it's probably not relevant that the writings of St Paul were the turning point in the conversion of St Augustine...specifically a section about how the end of the world is nigh so you'd better get your act together...

All in all, Paul is...a very niche joke about Plato, hopefully not a joke about Dune, and mostly very, very apocalyptic. A new beginning at the end of the world! An offer of redemption to those swimming against the current! A warning to false gods! A sign that the end is nigh! All of which suggests Alecto the Ninth is going to be a wild ride (as if we didn't know that already).

[madrone33]

I have been CHILLING this week post-Vengeance saga release! I managed to avoid debilitating stress and anxiety from the onslaught of fan stuff by simply avoiding all social media for the first two days, so it's been good!

However, I am now BACK, dumping my immediate reaction of the saga from a week ago. I thought I was ready. I was not ready. 600 Strike blew my mind. I was left staring blankly at my ceiling. Jorge please rest sometime, I'm begging you. The amount of talent beaming through my screen is exhausting even me.

Also, to every cast member and collaborator and behind the scenes person: y'all are amazing. Like seriously. I hope you all get a yummy drink and a cozy blanket and just. Bask in the satisfaction of a job well done. Hats off to y'all fr.

Anyways! I keysmashed the following at around midnight, 14 hours before the livestream ('cause australia is the superior timezone /j). Be warned there's LOTS of swearing 'cause sleep deprivation + incoherent excitement lol

AHHH IT'S GO TIME

Ok it's starting the same as the Goodspeed festival showed. Tho, the first lead in sound thing reminds me of Lucids.

Gorgeous vocals. Hate Calypso, love Wangui fr

"Let me speak!" She really doesn't care about his feelings huh. I noticed in LIP as well, she always makes it about her, which is absolutely in character.

Those ensemble harmonies tho!!

"... You do?" Girl you literally told him to lie smh

"Why in the world won't you love me too?" 'Cause he has a WIFE

IT'S HERMES TIME

FSA melody? YO??

"Cause I had one goal in mind..." the silence where the crew's chorus would come in is PAINFUL

BAG?? HERMES!!

"Hello old friend!" Grinning so hard rn

"Well it's a little bit ✨dangerous✨" AHHH IT'S HAPPENING

Fingertapping and headbopping to this chorus

"Put your whole braiin in it!" I love how he says that sm

"And lastly the wind bag" NEW STUFF

WINIONS

Wow ok I did not expect the wind bag to show up again. Tho it makes sense; this is probs the storm that Ody told Sirenelope kept blocking the way home

ODY SINGING THE CHORUS!!!!

RUTHLESSNESS MENTION

"Hermes! Thank you" AHHH THE CALLBACK! He sounds so tired and like down to his bones grateful this time 🥺

"I'm not the one who fought for you!" MY EYES WIDENED SO FAR. WE ALMOST GOT AN ATHENA NAMEDROP. I'll settle for the reference to her

Okeee. Charybdis!!

Oooh it's just like in the reference vid. No lyrics for this start part!

The 5/4 is amazing. And the electric guitar!!

God this song is SO BADASS

LETS GOOOO ODY!!!

ahhh I KNEW there'd be some sort of soft KYFC esque "I can't wait to make some new memories" type verse AND I WAS RIGHT

he sees ithaca!! Oh god poseidon's gonna show up isn't he

my heart's beating so fast i'm scared

PENELOPEEE

the ELECTRONIC DISTORTION OH NO IT'S HIM

RIGHT INTO GET IN THE WATER AHHH

"Coward" AHHHH I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE FINALY HEARING THIS FOR REAL

"That's when our paths collide!" THE RASP

"Now get in the water" Oh shiiiit here we go

the choir is so eerie

"GET IN THE WATER" THE GROWL

"aren't you tired poseidon" ooh it's this part!!

ha he changed it to ten years instead of eight like the demo had XD

"maybe you can learn to forgive" the line from that one snippet!

"No" oop

"DIE" DAMN that deep echo!!

*underwater sounds* oh shit ody's fucking dying

NO! FUCKING POLITES

EURY

ANTICLEA

FUCK YOU JORGE

THE CREW

WAITING??? EXCUSE ME WTF

AHHHHHH WHY TF DOES JAY LOVE HURTING US SO

HUH? HUH??? WHAT WAS THAT! AND THERE'S A FUCKING AD. Probs good, I need the break but WAHT. I KNEW he'd do another fucking polites reference gods damnit jorge WHEN I CATCH YOU

Ok time to hear 600 strike. Holy shit we're here

ELECTRIC GUITAR LETS GOOO

Aeolus theme. IS HE GONNA OPEN THE WIND BAG AGAIN??

600 MEN MOTIF HOLY SHIT

ANIME SCREAM

HOly shit there's magic sounds happening. I'm really curious about whatever Jorge's cooking up for the animatic in the livestream, 'cause I have no clue what's happening rn 👀

"For every comrade!" FSA melody!

"all those _ who were slaughtered by your hand" hmm I can't quite hear what he's saying there?

wait wait wait he's ACTUALLY using the power of his 600 men!!

"You idiot" damn lol

DIFFERENT BEAST ODY HOLY SHIT

is that a blade sound effect?

WAIT DID HE JUST STAB HIM WITH HIS OWN TRIDENT

HOLY SHIT ODY

HOLY FUCK

POP OFF ODY

OMG "MONSTER" AND THEN "RUTHLESSNESS"

BRO HE'S BEGGING??

*trident drops* hot damn ody

"Next to my wife." OHHHHHHH MIC DROP

Holy FUCK that was crazy

I'm gonna listen to it again.

Ok but holy shit Odysseus literally just tortured a god until he gave in?? Daym ody

Tho I like how he tries using open arms first, and then ruthlessness. He's kinda found a balance? I say kinda, 'cause he went hard on the ruthlessness, but since he sincerely tried to ask Poseidon to just drop the whole thing already, his later actions in 600 Strike feel more warranted.

I honestly don't know how Jorge keeps doing it. He just keeps topping himself! Like! Thunder Bringer? And then God Games?? And now Six Hundred Strike??? They just keep getting better! Banger after banger, like!! How.

Wait I just wanna. Sit with it. Imma lie down and stare at the ceiling for a bit, aight?

... I am shooketh.

But BRO THAT WAS INSANE! ODY FUCKED HIM UPPP

AMAZING BRAVO EXTRODINARY INCREDIBLE SHOWSTOPPING GORGEOUS WONDERFUL HOW DARE YOU

[celestialgalaxyglow]

Mulan Rewrite

I recently rewatched Mulan, the 1998 animated movie not the thing Disney made in 2020, and got hit with some creativity about a few things I would change.

In my rewrite the start of the movie is basically the same till Mulan runs away: the Huns attack the Great Wall, the Emperor sends out the conscription order, we meet Mulan, Honor to Us All, matchmaker, Reflection, Chi-Fu arrives with the conscription order, Mulan and her dad argue, Mulan runs way, Ancestors awake and Mushu decides to go after Mulan himself.

The only change I would make to the beginning of the movie is give Mulan two younger siblings. I'm taking this from the original Ballad of Hua Mulan (yes in the Ballad Mulan's sister is older, but I want Mulan to be the oldest sibling.) The Ballad doesn't give the brother and sister names so I'm calling them Hua Chun (12F) and Hua Wei (10M) they serve as another reason for Mulan to war in her dad's place, because her siblings are still young and need him in their lives. Mulan is 16.

So Mulan runs away, and after a few days, she sees the army camp in the distance. This is when Mulan and Mushu meet. Mushu is still the comic relief but is also really helpful. He points out that Mulan hasn't even come up with a fake name, and Mulan, after thinking for a bit she decides on Ping. Mulan explains that Ping was a friend of her dad's who served with him in the army and died in battle after saving his life.

Anyways Ping enters the army camp and is completely out of his element. Hijinks ensue, the rice is spilled, and the general of the army shows up.

Some explain. In this version Shang is a regular soldier, he is the son of a respected general and has promise to one day be a good general himself, but right now he's serving as a the assistant to the general overseeing this band of recruits.

Back to the story, General Jiao asks who's responsible for the mess, and everyone blames Ping. He's surprised to learn that "Ping" is the son of war hero Hua Zhou and says that he has very large shoes to fill, and so far, he's failing.

Skip to the next day and I'll Make a Man Out of You. During the song through day-night cycles its going to show that several days have gone by, about a week or two. By the end Ping earns the respect of his fellow soldiers, and Shang who Ping starts becoming friends with. General Jiao is impressed with Ping and tells him that he has his father's intelligence.

Shang approaches Ping and complements him for getting on General Jiao's good side. They talk for a bit, and Ping asks why Shang is overseeing some recruits rather than leading his own army to battle. Shang explains that about a month ago, he accidently launched one of their rockets into an armory, causing the whole place to blow up, and he was sent to the camp as a sort of punishment. Ping laughs, and Shang, embarrassed, asks Ping not to tell anyone, Ping agrees on the grounds that Shang beats him in a race to a tree on top of a nearby hill. Shang accepts the challenge, and the two race, Shang wins, Ping agrees to keep their previous conversation a secret. The two start walking back towards the camp and as they do Shang looks at Ping, this cute recruit that he's started seeing in a strange new light, and he unknowingly started reaching for his hand but as soon as their hands touch Shang pulls away. Ping apologizes, but Shang tells him not to think about it.

The next day, the army gets mobilization orders, real ones not ones made up by Muchu and Cri Kee, and the army packs up and starts marching towards the front. During A Girl Worth Fighting For, Ping opts to sing along to not draw too much attention to himself. I think he'd say something along the lines of, "A girl well versed in philosophy, who always speaks her mind." This gets a chuckle out of the others, and Shang says he respects Ping's taste.

The army sees the destroyed village and the battle field, General Jiao orders everyone to search for survivors. While searching, Ping finds the girl's doll and picks it up. Ping eventually meets back up with the army as Chien Po returns with General Li's helmet and sword and gives them to Shang. Shang sticks the sword to the ground and places his dad's helmet on it, kneels down, and says a silent prayer. General Jiao gives Shang his condolences, but quickly orders the army to head out, saying they have to head towards the Tung Shao Pass to intercept the Huns before they reach the Imperial City. As the army starts to move, Ping kneels down next to Shang and hugs him, Shang hugs him back. Then Shang sees the doll, takes it, and rests it against his dad's sword. Shang and Ping get up and join the rest of the army.

As the army moves through the Tung Shao Pass, they are discovered by the Huns and a battle ensues. The Huns have larger numbers and the edge in the battle. With only one rocket left, Ping takes it, runs in front of the army, and aims it towards a high snow-covered mountain top. By the time Ping is able to launch the rocket, Shan Yu almost reaches Ping. Shan Yu taunts Ping, mocking him for missing at point-blank range, and Ping grins. Shan Yu looks back to see the rocket hit the mountain and the start of the avalanche. Furious,Shang Yu attacks Ping.

Then we have the scene where Ping saves Shang when they fall off the cliff. After reaching safe ground, Shang, thanks Ping, calling him the craziest man he's ever met. But not long after Ping passes out front the wound he got from Shan Yu.

After waking up, Mulan's identity is revealed. Chi Fu demands Mulan be executed, but General Jiao lets her live, saying she saved everyone's life but still leaves her alone in the mountain.

Mulan is ready to turn home when she discovers the Shan Fu, and a few Huns survived the avalanche. She rides towards the city and tries to warn Shang and General Jiao of an attack, but they both silently ignore her. A while later, the Huns attack and capture the Emperor. While trying to save the Emperor, General Jiao is injured by Shan Yu. Shang takes the lead of the rescue mission, and he and a few soldiers try to break down the doors of the palace using brute force.

Mulan arrives on the scene and draws their attention, saving she has an idea. Yao, Ling, and Chien Po quickly follow her, followed by Shang. They scale pillars and enter the palace, specifically the wing where the concubines live. Mulan has Yao, Ling, and Chien Po as concubines to distract the guards so she and Shang can reach Shan Fu and the Emperor.

A fight ensues, Shan Fu's remaining Huns are apprehended, Yao, Ling, and Chien Po escape with the Emperor, and Mulan cuts the rope so Shan Fu can't follow them. Shan Fu goes to kill Shang when Mulan reviles herself to be the soldier that destroyed Shang Fu's army. Shang Fu furious chases her across the palace till they get on the roof. Looking around, Mulan sees the tower with the fireworks and asks Mushu to get her the largest one.

As Mushu gets the rocket, Mulan and Shan Fu fight, and eventually, she disarms him using her hand fan, just in time for Mushu to arrive and light the rocket. The rocket sends Shan Fu flying to the firework tower and is blown up. Mulan, Muchu, and Cri-Kee safely get off the roof before the explosion and land on the steps to the Palace.

Shang runs up to Mulan and hugs her, glad she's safe. Shang tells her that using the fireworks was an insane idea. Mulan laughs, saying she got the idea from him. Shang laughs, embarrassed, and reminds Mulan she promised to keep his accident a secret, Mulan tells him his secret is safe with her. Then Yao, Ling, and Chien Po show up and congratulate Mulan. They're followed by General Jiao, who congratulates Mulan, telling her she is as great a soldier as her father.

Then Chi Fu shows up and berates Shang, Yao, Ling, Chien Po, and General Jiao telling them to stand aside. Shang stands up to defend Mulan when the Emperor shows up.

The Emperor silently tells tells them to step aside and looks at Mulan. Mulan bows to him as he goes on his speech on all the laws Mulan has broken in the last few weeks "I've heard a great deal about you Hua Mulan, you stole your father's armor, ran away from home, impersonated a soldier, deceived your commanding officer, dishonored the Chinese army, destroyed my palace, and... you have saved us all." Then the Emperor bows to Mulan as everyone else in courtyard kowtows to Mulan.

The Emperor offers Mulan a job in his council, but Mulan asks to go back home. The Emperor accepts and gives her his medallion and the sword of Shan Fu.

As she leaves, Mulan hugs Yao, Ling, and Chien Po, General Jiao shakes her hand, and then she goes to Shang, who tells her, "You fight good." Mulan sadly walks past him as she mounts Khan and rides home as the crowd cheers.

Shang looks at Mulan riding away as the Emperor walks towards him. At first, the Emperor tries to be nice and says, "The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all." Seeing that Shang is not getting the hint, the Emperor talks bluntly and tells Shang."You don't meet a girl like that every dynasty!" and walks away.

Cut to a few says later at the Hua residence. Mulan arrives home to see her dad sitting in the garden under the cheery blossom tree. Hua Zhou is shocked to see her, but before he can say kneels before him and gives him the sword of Shan Yu and the Emperor's medallion. Zhou throws them aside and hugs Mulan, telling her, "The greatest gift in honor is having you for a daughter."

Mulan's siblings run to her and hug her. They immediately start asking Mulan questions about her adventure, and Zhou tells them to give Mulan some room to breathe.

We switch to Mulan's mom and grandma looking at the other with the Grandma, saying that Mulan should have brought a man. At that moment, Shang shows up, asking if Mulan lives there, and the Hua Li and Grandma Hua point toward Mulan.

Shang walks towards Mulan and Zhou. Shang bows to Hua Zhou. After seeing Mulan, he tries to give her back her helmet but starts to panic a little. Mulan looks at her dad, who silently gives her a go-ahead. Mulan takes the helmet and invites Shang to stay for dinner. Grandma Hua in the background invites Shang to stay forever. Shang accepts, despite having Chun and Wei glaring at him from behind Mulan.

The Ancestors restore Muchus' status as a Hua family guardian.

End of movie.

Overall I didn't make that many changes mostly adding a few extra scenes here and there. But Mulan is already almost flawless, so there's not much that does need change.

During the credits, I would add in a few drawings showing what all the characters are up to after the war. Mulan is home, teaching some local kids some basic marshal arts techniques like she did at the beginning of Mulan II. Shang is now a general training soldiers. Mushu's statue is proudly displayed among the Hua family gradians. And so on for other major characters like Yao, Ling, and Chien Po.

[rosetyler42]

Here's a mixed bag of some crossovers I found while looking through my Sorting folder that I don't think I ever posted here!

1. Bendy meets Bendy! I did this gag after watching Everyone Knows It's Bendy and thinking it'd be funny if Fosters Bendy tried to frame Bendy for a crime yeah didn't commit (considering what else Bendy's been through.) Possible WIR-Verse or an AU where Bendy and friends ended up at Fosters after the studio's closure. As @lovelylivelyv said, Bendy's definitely gonna give the guy the scare of his life for this.

(Side note: While Foster's Bendy is a terrible lil shit as a character, Animation-wise I LOVE how he can go from very malicious to over-the-top innocence.)

2. Reuben and Jackie Khones! Two somewhat lazy, wise-cracking, sandwich-loving cartoon characters I could definitely see getting along. (Outside of their treatment of Wilt. Unlike Jackie, Reuben would see no reason to pick on a nice guy like Wilt, that's like kicking puppies.)

3. XD A hilarious WIR-Verse bit inspired by The Big Cheese. Somehow, Cheese wandered into Bendy and the Ink Machine without getting killed and most likely only got spooked by Sammy singing about Sheep. Don't ask how he made it in there, but Alice will definitely return him back to Fosters unharmed.

(Though...maybe tied up gagged to stop the annoying constant screams and running off. XD Alice might be a mom, nicer and far less murderous than Susan, but...she's a toon with some skewed thinking and would still find Cheese annoying. Even of she doesn't want to KILL him.)

4. Another in the "Don't ask how this happened" column: Bugs offering to help fellow hounded underdog Boris the Wolf deal with his "Angel Dame" problem.

5. This one came from the similarities and contrasts between Coraline and Destination: Imagination. Considering Coraline's experience was with a child-eating demon and The World was just a child looking for a friend (and the Beldam luring her in and spying on her with a doll) I thought it'd be interesting to have these two meet.

6. Some Coraline v Vanellope argument about Vanny leaving Sugar Rush for Slaughter Race. Both girls are in some ways important to their games and very adventurous, clever, and rebellious. But Coraline's learned what running off to live in a fantasy world and leaving family and responsibility behind can mean, what disasters that can bring, and doesn't want Vanny to make the same mistake. Whereas Vanny sees herself as just another racer, bullied her whole life and thought if as just a mistake, who doesn't really fit in there and feels meant for other things.

9. XD Here's an amusing AU: What if Coraline met Pinky and the Brain in the Other World somehow, thinking they were Other World mice since they could talk like she first mistakes the cat? Brain and Pinky most likely were on some take over the world scheme but I could see them trying to help this girl not get eaten by an obvious predator. Bonus, added by a question from @lovelylivelyv : Coraline actually wouldn't be thrown much by Brain's obvious spelling out of his identity and intentions. It's not the weirdest thing she's heard that day, and she might assume he either means THIS world or Her real world, whichever one she doesn't like more when he says it. Which...might bother him a bit, even as much as he appreciates the child's intellect.

7+8 I love the idea of Ki from "Mars Needs Moms" and @lovelylivelyv and I's version of Alice meeting. Two old-timey style characters somewhat unfamiliar with contemporary human culture but with a fascination with color and plants though growing up in a barren mono-color world. 7 shows Ki modified her color tags for the Cycle as a gift for Alice, while Alice shows an excited Ki a flower she grew herself.

10. Some messing around with Pinky and the Brain and my Drakgo shipchild OC, Lily Lipsky! Inspired by Two Mice and a Baby and the History song. I know Brain's not really good with kids normally, but with Lily being a evil genius child prodigy with intentions for World Domination who actually seems to LIKE him and UNDERSTAND his lessons...I feel they'd get along pretty well. Bonus: Pinky as usual, not paying attention and staring at a picture of Pharphignewton as a shout out to @lovelylivelyv 's ship.

@chytag @candyheartedchy (Ok, I know you're not into Reuben anymore and Jackie's an enemy, but I did draw Reuben and Bugs here.) @black-ak9 @hotelt-resurrection @serial-serializednovelreader @heartsong1994 @sammy-lawrence-my-beloved @gothicthundra @midnightcaptions @sweet-or-sarcastic @flowery-laser-blasts @inkiedraws @inkhyaena @inkspottie @inkwelldevil @thedopedemon @thedobermutt @thedemonsurfer @themangolover724 @blo0st4r

[capsizedskeleton]

epic the musical live review over a few days ft. getting high during storm saga

TROY SAGA thunder bringer was one of the first songs i heard so going to the horse and the infant and hearing don't make me do this please don't make me do this!!! i didn't know that was a callback reminds me of pathologic is great and here's why, where hbomberguy points out child murder is such a taboo and it's that game's opener (depending on the character) here it's the musical's opener fffuck okay ruthlessness was also one of the first songs i heard so "600 men under my command" after i know it will become at least 43 then 0 is hghhhhh. esp when they're similar melodies, the first time the number is mentioned in full speed ahead

CYCLOPS SAGA so i watched a few animatics of these as well before troy saga just bc mmm animatics and oh recontextualized w the last two songs of the saga thats. hm. IIIIII AM YOUR DARKEST MOMENT all the uses of die with the last sound stretched out emphasizing the eye sound oough remember them. remember us. remember me OOHHH ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT THAT. ARE YOU SURE

STORM got up to the first few animatics i ended up watching. by now i might be able to categorize the animators? gigi as Action, Cinema, wolfy as a few lines seeming delicate and shape so solidly, nealillustrator as the GOAT (ok im biased they've only got thunder bringer but it's really good and i know them from bnha animatics ok), ximena as line. color. solid expression fav things from various ruthlessness animatics: poseidon being a shadow horse with front-facing eyes, a spiky merman but tentacles on bottom, literally water that could form into different things, only his hair being water, a horse, a guy, the stageplay version, everyone having different amounts of frames and different styles, like every!! time i watch an animatic i spot a new good take, beauty in everryy style, all the goregous water animation, capturing odysseus, submerging him, putting him in a whirlpool. that man is now a truly soggy cat am i insane or is there wind blowing in the last verse of that. after what have you done. maybe ive just had shit earbuds before. brutal

i got caught up in listening to done for even though that was skipping ahead. i am going to eat gigi's animatic whole. the corresponding basslines for each character how ody's replaces circe's?? now watching there are other ways. the two together as a beautiful story in 6 minutes is amazing

CIRCE normal now i like done for and there are other ways a lot more than puppeteer. this seems to be a pattern in which songs i like in each saga eury's bit leading up to "a woman" reallyyyyy sounds like hamilton wouldn't you like beat drop??? done for and there are other ways are fucking brilliant they're a whole story like i said before. ill say it again. absolutely entrancing. love the take that circe's about to kill ody before he rejects her and starts going on about his wife. also the transition after "that prophet is dead" bungggg and then the backing track hghh i am going to eat the melodic motifs i am going to swallow the chords whole AAAAGHHH

underworld again. weaker start, but oooh full speed ahead a bit of a reprise moment there and ody's mom i did not expect that. left for too long wandered too far gods REPRISE OF I SEE A SONG OF PAST ROMANCE HELLOOOO halfway into no longer you and OOOOOHHHH FUCK this shit HITS despite everything it's NOT you

NO MONSTER THE SLIP INTO CORRUPTION gigi i would die for you and this sequence. you know the one

THUNDER suffering is so good (normal sentence) i love the back and forth the you know im too shy the tone change at the lair of scylla listened to different beast on the train (first time listening to a song w/o animatic at first) and oooh the switch up!!!! we're in it now! DIFFERENT BEAST NOW HE'S A DIFFERENT BEAAST NOWWWWWW scylla.... oho the harmony. mutiny ok the opening i fw but why tf is eurylochus upset about the six men sacrifice when he was the one who suggested with circe that they just leave the men behind. also luck runs out callback i love my reprises why is helios lowk brushed over like i wouldve expected odysseus or eurylochus to talk about heyyy dont anger the gods like we did before thunder bringer slay. we already know. the bumping beat from the horse and the infant we knowwww. it's a little funny mutiny is RIGHT before thunder bringer like. hey crew you just stabbed him you should be a little less surprised he chooses to sacrifice yall. not even chosen. not even zeus was surprised by odysseus' immediate reaction

MISC. THOUGHTS

talked to a few friends while making this, wrote the sentence "i can feel the old greek mythology elementary/middle school neurons firing up again" because i CAN feel them god and it's also like watching musical animatics after school except im not 13 and deeply lonely this time. decided to write a fic of what happens between each saga and in a bit of wondering for that decided to look up the actual story of the odyssey (shmoop is not perfect but it is decent) and wow that's a lot of changes made from the original that contribute to a well-characterized musical! god it's such a good time. is this what dracula daily people felt like, reliving an old (relative to present) story and relishing in the Themes?

FAV SONG(S) FROM EACH SAGA

the horse and the infant

survive, remember them

ruthlessness

done for

no longer you (the OPPOSITE of that undertale quote)

different beast, thunder bringer

TLDR

excited for wisdom saga !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[koruga]

Okay actually but what colour are Fizz's fingers. I want to say they're naturally black and he puts something on it, because in Oops, when he gets a new arm it has black fingers as opposed to the white fingers on the other side.

He wakes up with black hands,

and spends most of the day with white fingers.

For some reason, though, while singing, his fingers go black for one shot.

Earlier, in Ozzie's, his hands are pure black, but the knuckles are pink.

(The rings around his arms go in and out in this episode, but some of it might just be perspective.)

Well, at least mostly -- there's exactly one shot where his fingers are coloured differently, and it's right after he and Asmodeus but into the song.

In this shot, at least, it seems to be mainly for contrast, which makes total sense.

In Mammon's Magnificent Musical Mid-Season Special, though?

His fingers are all over the place.

It starts with the standard of his fingers all black, which I'm guessing is the standard for him.

Throughout the competition, they mostly stay that way, save for the pie competition, which seems to be a whole costume so I can give it a pass.

But then...Two Minutes Notice.

It starts off with Fizz in black, as seems to be standard for him.

Once he starts tearing his clothes off, though, they seem to...change.

Then he sings his fun song, and at the end of the first verse, we get this shot,

which immediately transitions into this shot.

This one is just particularly egregious because of the juxtaposition. It's the same thing from different angles, and it just has me transfixed.

It's mostly white fingers for the rest of the scene, with a few exceptions,

but it's mostly white fingers for the rest of the episode.

In the new trailer, he seems to have gone back to black full-time.

This isn't even bothering to get into his scarring, which seems to change with every appearance, but at least that I understand. That's splotches around a place we don't normally see, but the thing is, the fingers could have an in-universe explanation beyond simple animation errors. Like he probably does have both arms as options or something, I could buy that! But what is happening.

[tooningin]

2012 Lorax Rewrite

The movie would open up with the scrapped Thneedville song. In the visual department, there would be this subtle yet noticeable sense of sadness and resignation from the citizens, indicating that maybe they regret their plastic dystopia, but are too far gone to change.

As for the song itself, Ted would be given a verse at the end, expressing his dissatisfaction with the lifestyle Thneedville has, and wondering if its really too late.

The song ends, and he then walks home and finds his family gushing over the new oxygen masks they’ve invented. Ted tries to tell them that instead of celebrating these oxygen masks, they should see the fact that they’re needed as a massive red flag, but his points are dismissed as jokes. Ted’s dad then hands him some packages with the oxygen masks to deliver

Ted rides his bike around Thneedville, further hammering in just how messed up the society is. Everyone happily accepts their oxygen mask delivery… Except for the girl that was Ted’s GF (Who I’ll just be referring to as Taylor Swift)

Taylor Swift’s reaction surprises Ted, who was used to the enthusiastic reactions from the customers. He asks her why, and she explains that she feels like a prisoner in the town of Thneedville, and yearns for a world where products aren’t being shoved down her throat (It wouldn’t be this on the nose I swear) Ted relates, and the two bond over this. Taylor Swift is called inside her home, and right before she heads in, she tells Ted that she’s happy that she’s not alone in her beliefs.

With this, Ted decides to leave for the Truffula Tree woods in the middle of the night. He’s not the only one who hates what the world has become, and if he can show proof, everyone will agree, and maybe, just maybe, Thneedville could have a better future

But once he arrives he sees the woods with zero Truffula trees and almost devoid of life, save for a tiny handful of struggling animals. At first Ted tries to tell himself that this state is just in this specific part of the woods, but as he wanders through the woods, this is all proven wrong.

At the end of the trail, Ted finds the Onceler’s house, and he bitterly tells Ted to leave, stating that the world is destroyed, and that he should just go back to Thneedville.

But Ted ain’t havin any of that. He wants to know how exactly the world came to be the way it is.

And with this, the Onceler begrudgingly begins his tale.

We flashback to a young Onceler and his family. They run a failing clothes business, one that’s doing so bad, they’re on the brink of poverty

One day the Onceler decided to go on a walk, and that’s when he found the Truffula forest. He’s awestruck by the beauty of the place and all the life in it, but it’s the truffula trees that really catch his attention.

He grabs on to some of the tree’s leaves/material/whatever and decides that maybe he and his family should try making clothes with its material. He gets ready to chop the tree down, but the Lorax jumps out and stops him. Lorax berates the Onceler for attempting to chop down the tree, to which the Onceler says it’s not a big deal, after all it’s just one little tree. How bad could he possibly be?

The Lorax grabs the Onceler’s hand and takes him around the woods, explaining how one little thing could affect the whole forest, and the importance of preserving the environment through song. However he does have some sympathy for the Onceler’s situation and allows him to take a small amount of the Truffula’s leaves.

The Onceler walks back home, but on the way, trips on a rock. He gets up and is about to pick up the Truffula’s leaves, but notices it coiled up. He places it on his head, and fiddles around some more with it, and gets the idea for the Thneeds. He runs home, and tells his family about his idea, who, having been backed into a corner in terms of financial stability, decide to give it a shot.

And the Thneeds end up being an overnight sensation, so much so that the family is soon pulled out of poverty. Talk of the Thneeds spreads, and soon, everyone wants one.

With the demand for Thneeds being so high, The Onceler begins taking more and more of the Truffula trees. Lorax worries about the effects, but tries to be somewhat lenient, after all, the Onceler and his family are no longer poor, much to the animals’ chagrin. But it isn’t long before the rapid success and profitability of the Thneeds gets to the Onceler’s head. He puts the money towards expensive stuff things that only benefit him, chopping down more Truffulas than necessary, and overall forgets the whole reason he began the whole Thneed thing in the first place: His family, who in his obsession with chasing profits and fame, he has pushed out. At this point the Lorax decides to put his foot down, the Onceler isn’t using Truffulas to provide for him and his family anymore.

With a montage of the amount of trees being chopped, the sky progressively getting foggier, and Thneedville’s growth, we transition into the one and only, “Biggering”

As we know, in this song, the Onceler knows damn well what he’s doing, but justifies it to himself. The song would end with the final Truffula tree being cut down, and the Onceler, seeing everything he’s done, the pain he caused, would have an absolute breakdown, one of both happiness and sadness. Happiness cause, as he would tell him himself, he has everything now, his biggered his business to the point where now he has an empire, and sadness because what all that stands for, and cost the world as a whole. Basically think that one scene with Simon from Infinity Train.

We then flashback to the present, with The Onceler looking to the side in shame, and Ted looking to the Onceler in pure horror. He tries to proclaim the Onceler an absolute monster, but is unable to bring the words out due to how much shock he is in, and instead turns around and is about to run back to Thneedville in tears, but before he does so, The Onceler gives him the last Truffula seed.

By the time Ted returns to Thneedville, the Sun is almost up, and upon seeing Taylor Swift sitting on the front steps, he rushes to her and tells her what he has learnt before revealing the Truffula seed the Onceler gave him. Together they plant it, and sit together watching life in the plastic wasteland of Thneedville go on

[sailorspica]

reijean v-day 💝⚔️

see vee's prompt graphic for this. i tag anyone in any fandom, i want to hear about your OTP!!

💝 favorite canon scene:

these panels in the 57th scouting expedition right here.

in the anime the only internal monologue we get is from jearmin, which is a big rewatch tell of oh shit! why are reiner's thoughts private (armored hehe). but the ONE time, ONE time we get reiner's thoughts in this arc in the manga... it's about jean. and it's not like he takes over narration like armin did when he encounters annie alone, or like jean does once these three meet up. it's just one stray 💭 of "jean really... is different."

sure, other characters note jean's maturity since joining the corps, but recognition from reiner stands out here as a vote of confidence from marcel!reiner, AND four years later: when he still describes jean as "an irresponsible jerk who only ever thought of himself," even though reiner knows first hand that jean grew so, so much after trost. and it's his fault.

💝 a song that reminds you of them:

i previously posted SASAMI's I Was a Window, but another one that screams reijean to me is Till Death by Japanese Breakfast. briefly, it's about marriage, but she wrote a whole book about the context that this song and her relationship come from, which i highly recommend.

so many images in it are so post-rumbling to me: "get these days to go by like the swaying of a ship," (the studio recording starts with ocean sounds); "sing me to sleep, soothe this insomnia"; "your embrace healing my wounds / teach me to breathe, teach me to move." the beginning of verse 2, "steering on hostile waves of panic, like fighting a wheel that pulls to the right" makes me think of a later jbrekkie song, Slide Tackle, which IS reiner.

💝 favorite official picture/graphic:

back to back on the vol. 32 alliance cover baby!!

💝 favorite fanfic:

i have to say two:

vermin by @oxygenbefore1775: delicious cadet days, delicious fucked up time in reiner POV, delicious, smart tangling with the technological/material/cultural gaps between the walls and the rest of the world. how much of RBA's deep cover is culture shock? the total lack of guile jean has while running roughshod over the land mines in reiner's head with just "bunny." god.

from shiganshina with love by @fromriches-tosin: this is really the one that lured me in. it feels like a locked room, three-hander play, when even being in the wide open air (well, not reiner) is claustrophobic because two characters are intertwined and dug into one another. and as someone who has inhaled shelves' worth of eruri fic and doujinshi, vee's levi is one of my favorites.

💝 favorite fanart:

oh, this and everything by @mikibagels. one thing about reijean that goes so hard is jean's growth spurt, cadet and post-rumbling reijean both have height difference. similar vein, @valmendy illustrating reiner's flirting from never let me go: "i feel like i missed out on my little brother growing up." hello???

💝 why i ship:

i binged the anime so late, just in time for season 4, and when the finale came out i could hardly think of anything other than "we're scouts, we don't know when to quit."

back in my day (i'm turning 27 this month), one dude beating up another in shounen launched a ship, a fleet of ships, and kept it afloat for years, but yams gave us their more obvious, huge interactions in the last... fifteen chapters. but there's so much history between them that screams to be noticed on initial reread and rewatch: the reijearmin (horrendous throuple name) date that was the female titan arc, that jean keeps his cool when the 104th hop on the armored as reibert and ymir try to flee, the whole return to shiganshina, the echo i come back to of "the jean kirchstein i know only thinks of himself."

with jean's OVA, they're the characters whose moms we see the most of besides carla jaeger??? the difference between karina and jean's mother is vast, yet their sons turned out so similar, despite it all. so caring, so haunted by that care. jean takes his leadership in the post-time skip survey corps so seriously, he agonizes over his field leadership in trost, while reiner feels like he killed marcel and bertolt and doomed annie, and in his lowest, lowest moments still manages to protect and worry for falco and gabi.

also, another big why: you people. this is such a cozy pontoon. 😘 happy valentine's day!!!

[ecargmura]

Tadaima, Okaeri Episode 2 Review - Yukku and Hi-kun

I feel like I am way too hyper fixated on this show to the point that I listened and watched the opening song throughout the entire last week. The first episode was cute and now, the second episode, is also cute. It’s mainly family slice-of-life in an omegaverse setting. The slice of life feels more notable in the first half of the episode where it feels like vignettes of Yuuki befriending Hikari and becoming the baby’s unofficial older brother and Masaki’s unofficial little brother in a way.

I’ve been snooping around Youtube reactions and social media and some people had been wary of Yuuki when he was introduced in the ending of the first episode. I was legit shaking my head at their comments because Yuuki is the opposite of his first impression and legitimately a fan-favorite character in the fanbase. Like, the readers really liked him to the point that he even got his own romance subplot with Matsuo. The subplot between them is even evident in the opening where they are shown together.

But yeah, Yuuki’s a great character. He’s gloomy and anti-social, but he’s proof that Hikari’s innocence can melt even the coldest of hearts. He never had friends growing up, but the Fujiyoshi family become his friends, which is sweet. Hiromu even pointed out that they sudden have a big kid in their atmosphere now. Masaki gets attached to Yuuki because he had reminded him of his old self where he was supposed a lot more self-deprecative and even rejected Hiromu’s confession when the latter had confessed to him in the past. Hikari’s attachment to Yuuki seems to be that he likes people with Masaki’s aura in a way? Like Masaki and Yuuki are similar in vibes, but Masaki’s a lot happier as he has a family. There’s a reason why Hikari doesn’t like Matsuo despite knowing him longer; the baby is almost two and he already has a preference. If you’re wondering, Yuuki is a Beta, so he’s not affected by an omega’s pheromones compared to Hiromu who’s an Alpha; Matsuo is also an Alpha. Also, notice how Yuuki isn’t really as shy or withdrawn as he was with Hikari or Masaki when Matsuo is around him.

The second half of the episode dives into more of the omegaverse lore as Masaki goes into heat and is out the whole day. This means Hiromu has to watch Hikari by himself, so he has to enlist the help of Matsuo and Yuuki who visited out of worry. As Yuuki and Hikari play around, the three discuss about heats and how it’s hard to deal with even for omegas themselves. It’s even harder for the Fujiyoshi family as they have no one else to rely upon during the heat cycle as Masaki’s parents passed away and Hiromu is estranged from his own. Yuuki does comment how there are a lot of difficulties when marrying those of different sexes as it’d be harder to find someone to rely on. Fortunately, the Fujiyoshi family has Yuuki and Matsuo to rely on during these times now, so that’s good.

It was heartbreaking to see what Masaki looks like while suffering through his heat. He legit looks haggard, complete with dark circles and such. While the grown-ups understand the gists of the heat cycle and what omegas go through, Hikari thinks Masaki is sick and in pain, which is why he cried a lot harder after seeing him in a rough state. Hikari’s still innocent to the world of omegaverse which is why his mind comprehends things a bit differently than adults. Also, it was interesting to see how Hiromu reacted to Masaki’s heat as it is the first time the heat cycle is shown in animated form. I think it’s animated well as an omega’s heat reacts to an alpha’s instincts, which was what happened with Hiromu. Also, I do like that while this story is an omegaverse one, the verse lore is present but only when it revolves around the adults. With kids, Hikari exists because of omegaverse logic, but he’s just a normal kid outside of the complexities of the world.

Also, fun fact of the day, Yuuki’s mother is voiced by Yuna Kamakura, who was in Gakuen Babysitters (the character design for Tadaima Okaeri is also the CD of Gakuen Babysitters) as Midori’s mom and she was also in Sasaki and Miyano (the director of TadaOka was the director of SasaMiya) as Sasaki’s sister. I always see her name in the most unexpected places but she seems rather talented because I didn’t recognize her voice at all until I saw her mention her role in a QRT of a post. I do hope she gets that big break because she’s talented!

Speaking of voice acting, I want to praise the voice actors in this episode. They did a really great job here. I did like how Masaki’s voice actor Atsushi Tamaru had a playful tone when he and Hikari were in the supermarket and Hikari wanted to buy milk with his favorite anime character on it. Hiromu’s voice actor, Toshiyuki Morikawa, changes from playful when around Hikari to serious when with others was nice to listen to! Atsumi Tanezaki always makes Hikari be so adorable that it’s crazy how she’s able to produce such a voice. Yuuki and Matsuo’s voice actors did a great job here.

Anyways, this was a cute episode in spite of the somber vibes of the second half due to Masaki’s heat. Hikari is always adorable as heck and I legit gushed during the scene where he was copying everyone by huddling and covering his eyes like them. Next episode will be a bit of conflict as someone seems to come into the picture. While I know who it is, wait and find out next week! What are your thoughts on this episode?

[autisticempathydaemon]

Hello! I hope you’re doing well! This is for your redacted match-up game since I thought it looked fun to do :)

(I also wanted to mention that it’s really fun seeing what songs you pick for the match-ups and has introduced me to some new favorites)(No pressure to do this quickly ofc <3)

What song are you fixated on at the moment? What lyric or verse, and why? A totally basic song, but I’ve resparked my obsession with Taylor Swift’s song “Wildest Dreams”. I love the lyrics “Staring at the sunset, babe / Red lips and rosy cheeks / Say you'll see me again / Even if it's just in your wildest dreams”. The whole song is very, like, yearning and honestly does remind me of a vibrant sunset just before it softens into a pink and yellow glow. And I like the “wildest dreams” lyric because I daydream a lot. Not to mention, I enjoy the music video for it.

What is your Enneagram type? Type 9w1

Do you love gargantuan Youtube video essays, and if so, which is your favorite and why? I like watching long videos in general. Sometimes it’s just gameplay, sometimes it’s social commentary, sometimes it’s ghost hunting videos, sometimes it’s something that randomly popped up in my for you page and looked interesting. The most recent one I watched was “Exploring the Secret Lesbian World of Interwar Paris” by Kaz Rowe.

Tell me about your childhood imaginary friend. I didn’t really have one, but I pretended to have an imaginary “boyfriend”. People at my elementary school were obsessed with dating for some reason even though we were, like, 8 and so that’s the main reason why I said it was a bf. (It’s also funny bcuz now I’m listening to imaginary boyfriends).

What is your go-to way to fall asleep? If I’m too awake from an exciting/busy day I’ll watch youtube videos to calm down. I sleep with my childhood stuffed animal. I feel bad if I don’t and hugging it makes me feel better. I also usually sleep with a night light because I hate not being able to see things if I wake up in the middle of the night. 

If you had to change your name, what would it be, and why? (In tandem, if you have changed your name, why did you pick that one?) Well, I like the name “Meri”. But if I actually had to change my name, I’d probably just switch my middle name and first name with each other, since I like them well enough.

What is your favorite of Redacted’s audios, and why? I really like David’s “Watching a Scary Movie With Your Alpha Werewolf” audio. I love his laughs so much (I could  s q u e a l  into a pillow)! It’s also really calming in the sense that it’s relaxing in a fun way (just chilling and watching a movie), so I go back to it a lot.

What Redacted boy holds no appeal to you, and why? Like, not the one you hate but the one who you don’t get the hype for. (I won’t judge, I promise.) Ollie. He’s really sweet and I don’t hate him at all, but I can only watch two of his audios in a row before wanting to change to something else. 

Tell me about that one book/movie/tv show you know all the words to. Oh! I have one for each of these: If it’s a book, then “The Princess and the Fangirl” by Ashley Poston. If it’s a TV show, then “Gravity Falls” (I watch it as a summer solstice tradition). And if it’s a movie, then “Miss Congeniality (2000)” (I love those 90s/2000s romance and comedy movies). 

Which Redacted boy are you platonically attracted to? Like- forget dating, which dude do you want to be your best friend? I totally get the romantic appeal of Sam, but I would like him as a friend because he’s very down-to-earth, caring and I like his vibes. (I'd also include Caelum, I DON'T want to date him at all, but he's a cute little guy that makes me smile a lot).

Do you have a go-to thing you ramble about when you’re tired, and if so, what is it? (For example, my boyfriend knows I’m ready to sleep when I start talking about space.) I don’t think I ramble about anything. I’m pretty quiet when I’m tired. Although, sometimes I do get “slap happy” and find a lot of things hilarious before I eventually get to the exhausted point of ‘no-talking’.

Tell me your go-to gas station and drink combo. KitKats and Coca-Cola (slushie or the actual drink)!!

Tell me about your favorite playlist at the moment. One of my private playlists that’s a mix of 2010s EDM and pop, 90s and 2000s rock, alternative music and country songs.

What’s your guilty pleasure media, and why? Listening to Redacted Audio is the biggest, and also reading/writing fanfiction. It’s embarrassing to talk to any of my IRL friends or family about it even though I’m fully supportive and excited about discussing all of those things, it's just the weird reputation it carries.

And whatever else you think tells me about who you are! I’m introverted. I have two cats! (I didn't realize how many cat lovers were in this fandom). I believe that I’m biromantic and demisexual. Some things I like to do are: write, read, go camping with friends (I love hanging out, playing card games, swimming and eating campfire food), doing karaoke, and playing dress up in costumes/outfits I’ve collected over the years. Sometimes I’ll draw or paint but not as often. I often have dance parties or a good cry to de-stress (which are like two different vibes XD but it works). The video games I like to play are Minecraft, Stardew Valley, and The Sims. I like to take quizzes. I used to take Buzzfeed and Quotev quizzes a lot when I was younger, but now I mostly go on uquiz. (I like pressing buttons).

I also really like paleontology. I can watch ghost hunting videos (as stated before) BUT I cannot do horror movies. I’m assuming it’s because I get too involved with the movie, and ghost hunting does not have as high of stakes. I guess I would describe myself as someone that is pretty quiet until you get to know me. I tend to be very watchful and cautious when I’m out in public with friends or family (which probably comes from my ‘older sibling need’ to make sure that the younger ones don’t get kidnapped or hurt). I count myself as an early bird, since I wake up around 6-7am most days. My style is pretty casual, maybe sometimes dark academia inspired if I’m feeling stylish. And my main love languages are quality time and words of affirmation. (I hope all of that helps!)

Your entry gave me so much trouble in the most delightful way. You paint me a picture of someone so easy to get along with that it was hard for me to pick one redacted suitor over the other. In the end, looking at the charming ways you’d contrast one another, I like Asher for you best.

You’re a cat person; he’s a literal dog person. You’re an introvert; he’s an extrovert. You’re an older sibling, he’s a younger sibling. You’re a morning person; he’s sleeping in till noon if you let him. You’re a cozy gamer; he’s an FPS, COD kind of guy. Yet, you two get along so well. Type Nines are characterized by a desire for peace and quiet, typical of an older sibling, and Asher as the emotionally intelligent beta of the Shaw Pack would be able to provide that. One thing that particularly convinced me was your love languages in that Asher strikes me as one of the most verbally affectionate and forthcoming of the redacted men and would be best suited for your love of words of affirmation.

That’s not to say he doesn’t indulge your need for quality time either; he’s perfect for that. Asher loves your cats, and they love him (once they get used to his shifted form). He orders pizza and wings for your romcom movie nights, most of which he hasn’t seen yet but is super happy to watch them for the first time with you. He’s always down for a good karaoke sess, whether you asked for one or not. He picks up and gets good at Stardew Valley immediately, especially when he finds out y’all can work on the same farm and that he can craft you a wedding ring. (That is, when he’s not trying to get himself an NPC husband. He is down bad for all those men, but he has a soft spot for Shane, can’t tell you why.)

Song:

We're making out inside crashed cars/ We're sleeping through all our memories/ I used to waste my time dreaming of being alive (now I only waste my time dreaming of you)/ Turn off the lights and turn off the shyness/ 'Cause all of our moves make up for the silence/ And oh, the way your makeup stains my pillowcase/ Like I'll never be the same

If you love 90’s/00’s rock and alternative, and I’ve given you Asher, could I give you anything other than a Fall Out Boy song? Obviously not, especially this era and track of Fall Out Boy. There’s something about their older songs that capture young, first love in the best, most singable way. Also, the title is a reference to the romance classic movie, Casablanca, and that coincidence really cinched my choice.

Runner-ups:

Huxley would be a gorgeous partner and runner-up for an early bird who loves camping. He’s also one of my favorite picks for someone on the ace spectrum; he just gives that vibe. (I’m also an asexual who loves Huxley, so that may be my bias coming through.) David is also a runner-up, one who almost beat out Asher except for the fact Asher would be more outwardly affectionate off the bat and would like your cats more.

Read this post and send me an ask if you’d like a match-up of your own! 💌

[acaciapines]

for the ask game, answer whichever of these speak to you the most: 4, 5, 11, 14 :D

HI ASH MY LOVE ASH.

oh they ALWAYS speak to me. i answer All. i will not be contained.

4. How many WIPs do you have right now?

actually shockingly few! ever since i finished my big owl house editing pass back in june i've not done a whole lot in terms of projects...and recently i've been playing rain world so instead of writing im playing rain world like 24/7. currently my only main project is the dess raises kris au, and in that 'verse the only thing i'm writing right now is a dess/chara relationship study. i WOULD finish it, but, uh. rain world. (<- guy who is trying so hard not to write rain world fic. i probably wont but also i am always tormented by ideas. but consider i have to tell the story of my slugpup scooter SCOOTER I WONT EVER FORGET YOU--)

5. What's a fic idea you've had that you will never write?

probably countless that i do not remember right now! but digging around through my drafts, i've got a few deltarune daemon aus that won't ever see the light of day...one of them was a fangame where the player played as one of kris's two daemons, and the other was a fic where ralsei was kris's daemon. the ideas from there have basically been repurposed elsewhere--a lot of my kris&ralsei stuff went into various works, and the fangame stuff is being reworked into the dess raises kris au.

beyond that, in terms of things that are actually abandoned and won't be used elsewhere, there are so many daemon aus that i've left behind for one reason or another, though the gravity falls transcendence au is the one that i think was the best...that one postcanon his dark materials fic i was gonna write where lyra and pan return to will's world and cause general shenanigans there with him and kirjava...a vera-centric son of sea foam wings of fire au because vera is the love of my life and i was rereading wings of fire bc i felt nostalgic....oh my god fantasy high SOPHOMORE YEAR FIC, which i tried to start TWICE, once from fig's pov and once from ayda's that was their road trip back home and i have some very funny snippets from...MY INFINITY TRAIN DAEMON AU WAIT THAT ONE STILL GOES SO HARD ACTUALLY. okay drop everything ive ever said the fact that i never wrote my infinity train book two daemon au is a travesty. i was cooking with that one.

11. Do you have specific playlists for writing fics?

sort of! i usually always have at least one or two songs i connect to any given fic, but in terms of what i listen to when actually WRITING, it's changed over the years. i used to put on compilations of video game music--usually utdr, pmd, and then just whatever got recommended to me lol--then i did like. those character playlists people make on youtube? mostly bc they tended to pull from the same pool of songs so it became good background noise lol. now i use the youtube mix or whatever its called for a similar reason--it tends to play the same handful of songs ive listened to a lot, so they dont distract me.

14. If you could see one of your fics adapted into a visual medium, such as comic or film, which fan fic would you pick?

oh i LOVE this question, and it would be without a doubt my nimona daemon au oh, are you at all like me. nimona itself is obviously both a comic and a movie, and i'd say animated film since the fic follows the movie plot more--i think there'd be a LOT of really cool scenes you could get with that fic. i also think i could make killer animatics based on my fics if i could draw good enough <3 and thats not a joke i have scripts and sketch storyboards and everything. maybe one day i'll finish one of those.

[nayialovecat]

Wish Songs

Ok. Let me make it clear: I haven't watched the movie "Wish" made by Disney. I'm planning on doing it, but after seeing so many reviews and hearing plot summaries (including from my best friend, Titatotrix), I'm having a hard time getting around to it. However, I'm going to do it so that I can insult this film legally.

However, as part of getting used to the idea of ​​watching this animated crap, I started by getting to know the songs... and oh, these songs alone hurt me so much that I have to share it.

If by any chance there are Wish fans in the room, I'm sorry - but there is nothing good about this movie. Well, maybe one or two things. You'll see soon.

By the way, just by listening to the songs and analyzing the lyrics, music, framing, colours, and in combination this with the stories I listened to about the plot and the logical errors pointed out - I came up with a certain conspiracy theory (no, not that the script was written by AI, and the graphic design of the film was too - but that's a good conspiracy theory too.) However, I will present it in another entry - when I finally watch this damn movie. And for now, the songs.

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Welcome To Rosas

Oo, "The Family Madrigal" but worse. Well, the music is ok, but the whole thing is so... secondary idea. In other words, from the middle of the song, when I was just listening (not watching yet) to it, I felt like "this is the opening song, which makes a rude exposition sung by the young main character of the movie with the choir and (probably) choreography - WHAT DOES THIS REMINDER ME?".

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At All Cost

A love song at the beginning of the movie? Oh boy, one of them will turn out to be the bad guy here! (Reference to Frozen, in case anyone didn't catch it.)

This is a love song. Don't tell me otherwise. In addition, it's a very boring love song, where in the second verse (when Asha's vocals came in) I was like "is this still going on? why?". But it's a love song and it's one of Disney's worse and more boring love songs.

Wait... Isn't she minor and he isn't married? FFFFFFF!

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The Wish

Ok, this one is quite catchy and enjoyable, listening to it doesn't make me want to bang my head against the wall. Although Polish (my native) version is terrible both in terms of lyrics and performance.

Still, it's a pretty cool song that I haven't been able to get out of my head for a few days now and I've been humming the chorus. So taken out of the plot context and without the verses, it's pretty cool.

In the context of the movie, this song makes no sense at all. And I know this without even watching the movie itself - I know this from the first song, which presents Rosas as a paradise on earth. WHAT IS TO CHANGE HERE? Seriously, am I the only one who feels like the main character is a spoiled brat who's angry that she didn't get what she wanted, so now she's bitching at everyone and has to fuck something up? (But more about this when I watch the movie and write down my conspiracy theory. Wait for it :3)

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I'm A Star

This song exists. This could even be a reason to want to scratch out your own eyes 'cause they bleed anyway. Ears too.

The lyrics are so stupid that all I heard was "blah blah cute talking animals, 'cause a princess has to talk to animals".

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This Is A Thanks I Get?!

WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?! The first lines of the text - where before was the king a self-absorbed narcissist? And what caused his reaction to the light show to be "someone is trying to betray me, so from now on I will be evil"?! Ok, this song is not only stupid, but also terribly done - in a completely different style, not keeping the atmosphere of the movie. I was counting on more songs in the rhythms of "Welcome to Rosas".

Apart from the plot - my first association: Maui and his song "You're welcome"? My second association when the chorus and choruses came on: that terrible song with reindeers from Frozen 2, which I stubbornly push out of my brain and pretend it doesn't exist. Disney, why, when you plagiarize your own works, choose something like this?

Let's get back to the plot of the song, 'cause this is where I started to wonder... Magnifico sings that he fulfilled 14 wishes in one year - how big is this damn city if he didn't exceed the limit by fulfilling 10-14 wishes a year? My point is... how many people turn 18 there every year? The city doesn't look like a metropolis with a million inhabitants! And there are quite a lot of unfulfilled wishes there! How come, I ask?

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Knowing What I Know Now

Yay! Finally! A villain song! And it's quite cool, seriously... catchy, rythmic, really nice. Although the Polish text version hurts a bit, especially with strange text connections.

Yes. This is a villain's song. And no one will convince me otherwise. Look at the colours. Look at the tone. Look at the manipulation of images and information by Asha, Star and that irritating goat. Look again at the colours. And then play "The Mob Song" from "Beauty and the Beast." I don't give a damn what the song is actually called - for me it's called "The Mob Song 2".

Don't believe me? Look at Asha's face in every other scene. This is not the face of the good character, but the face of Scar in the song "Be Prepared". Her way of scaring other reminds me of Mother Gothel from "Tangled" (Mother Knows Best). Damn, this is a villain song like no other! And I like it :3

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The Wish (Reprise)

It only exists to add choruses and 'cause they didn't feel like explaining why all these things were happening.

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Well, we've come to the end. Two relatively good songs, all the rest are autoplagiarisms or painful experiences for the ears and/or eyes.

You have the right to have your own opinion - this is mine. Please, respect it.

You can also guess from my comments what my conspiracy theory is - I honestly can't wait to present it, but this - in addition to watching this terrible movie - requires me to review a dozen other Disney films and take appropriate screenshots to my argument was coloured with illustrations. Lucky I have Disney+. Wait for this! I think it will be worth it!