#Itou Shizuka

[seiyuu-gallery]

[haveyouseenthisseries-poll]

[who-do-i-know-this-man-s3]

⚠️Vote for whomever YOU DO NOT KNOW⚠️‼️

[keischreiber]

I've been contemplating what Kristina would sound like. Spending a good couple of hours on it, I decided to go with:

Shizuka Itou: 16 year old Kristina Shizuka Itou: 20 year old and above Kristina: Civil; Strict and serious; Chibi Theater & Junior High

Bonus: Amamiya Sora: Singing voice

[berrychanx]

Magical Nyan Nyan Taruto OP Single

Download Here

The opening song "Kyou no Hana" (Today's Flower) is sung by Masumi Itou who you may know from Orange & Lemons, the same singer for the Azumanga Daioh Opening and Ending or even the Ending song of Humanity Has Declined (Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita) or the unknwon Umi Monogatari Ending Song (next CD to be rip and uploaded)

I love Masumi Itou songs so much, for a couple of years that I've been collecting her anime singles but decided to store them online in case I end up loosing them. Single Contains

Kyou No Hana by Masumi Itou

Kyou No Hana Instrumental

Hana Uta no Hareruya! (Ending Song) Masumi Itou Version Taruto Theme Shizuka no Machi (This Quiet Town) BGM

Synopsis

Taruto is a little cat who has just moved to a new city with her master's family. Taruto spends her days making friends and exploring her new home town. She also has a knack for getting herself into trouble. And it turns out that Taruto just might be a legendary magical princess. Almost none of Taruto’s friends believe that she can use magic or that she’s a princess, but Taruto is determined to prove it to them. But Taruto's magic is so unpredictable, you never know what's going to happen when she uses it.

[imasallstars]

INTERDIMENSION FESTIVAL: IDOLM@STER★♥LOVE LIVE! UTA GASSEN

Information regarding the first IJIGEN FES 2023 live has been revealed! The live will occur in the TOKYO DOME on the 9th and 10th of December 2023. This first fes will feature three branches of IDOLM@STER performing with four branches of Love Live!

The voice providers participating in this stop are as follows:

DAY 1 ONLY

IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS 　Kotomi Aihara (Shiki Ichinose), Hiromi Igarashi (Anzu Futaba), Asami Takano (Frederica Miyamoto), Yuki Nakashima (Yuuki Otokura), Yuko Iida (Kanade Hayami), Honoka Inoue (Nanami Asari), Sumire Uesaka (Anastasia), Aya Suzaki (Minami Nitta), Miyu Tomita (Akira Sunazuka), Ru Thing (Syuko Shiomi), Teru Ikuta (Natalia), Hina Tachibana (Nagi Hisakawa), Nanami Yamashita (Yui Ohtsuki) IDOLM@STER MILLION LIVE 　Haruka Yamazaki (Mirai Kasuga), Azusa Tadokoro (Shizuka Mogami), Machico (Tsubasa Ibuki), Momo Asakura (Serika Hakozaki), Kotori Koiwai (Tomoka Tenkubashi), Atsuki Nakamura (Roco Handa), Emi Hirayama (Reika Kitakami), Yui Watanabe (Nao Yokoyama) IDOLM@STER SHINY COLORS 　Karin Isobe (Kogane Tsukioka), Chisa Suginuma (Mamimi Tanaka), Anna Yamaki (Sakuya Shirase), Shio Watanabe (Yuika Mitsumine), Yuina Mizuki (Kiriko Yukoku), Honoka Kuroki (Amana Osaki), Ryoko Maekawa (Tenka Osaki), Noriko Shibasaki (Chiyuki Kuwayama), Yuu Wakui (Toru Asakura), Rio Tsuchiya (Madoka Higuchi), Saran Tajima (Koito Fukumaru), Miho Okasaki (Hinana Ichikawa), Azusa Shizuki (Nichika Nanakusa), Aya Yamane (Mikoto Aketa)

DAY 2 ONLY

IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS 　Ayaka Ohashi (Uzuki Shimamura), Ayaka Fukuhara (Rin Shibuya), Sayuri Hara (Mio Honda), Amina Sato (Arisu Tachibana), Tomoyo Kurosawa (Miria Akagi), Hana Tamegai (Risa Matoba), Makoto Koichi (Haru Yuuki), Asaka Imai (Chie Sasaki), Natsumi Haruse (Kaoru Ryuzaki), Misaki Kuno (Nina Ichihara), Yuri Komori (Koharu Koga), Mina Nakazawa (Yukimi Sajo), Maki Hanatani (Kozue Yusa) IDOLM@STER MILLION LIVE 　Aimi (Julia), Miku Itou (Yuriko Nanao), Ibuki Kido (Kana Yabuki), Arisa Kori (Kaori Sakuramori), Yuri Komagata (Sayoko Takayama), Rie Suegara (Fuka Toyokawa), Saki Minami (Tsumugi Shiraishi), Rikako Yamaguchi (Rio Momose) IDOLM@STER SHINY COLORS 　Hitomi Sekine (Mano Sakuragi), Reina Kondo (Hiori Kazano), Mayu Mineda (Meguru Hachimiya), Hiyori Konno (Kaho Komiya), Haruka Shiraishi (Chiyoko Sonoda), Mariko Nagai (Juri Saijo), Wakana Maruoka (Rinze Morino), Akiho Suzumoto (Natsuha Arisugawa), Yuki Tanaka (Asahi Serizawa), Eri Yukimura (Fuyuko Mayuzumi), Sayaka Kitahara (Mei Izumi), Rina Kawaguchi (Luca Ikaruga), Haruna Mikawa (Hana Suzuki), Rena Ozawa (Haruki Iketa)

DAY 1&2

AQOURS (LOVE LIVE! SUNSHINE!!) 　Anju Inami (Chika Takami), Rikako Aida (Riko Sakurauchi), Nanaka Suwa (Kana Matsuura), Arisa Komiya (Dia Kurosawa), Shukai Saito (You Watanabe), Aika Kobayashi (Yoshiko Tsushima), Kanako Takatsuki (Hanamaru Kunikida), Aina Suzuki (Mari Ohara), Ai Furihata (Ruby Kurosawa) NIJIGASAKU SCHOOL IDOL CLUB 　Aguri Ohnishi (Ayumu Uehara), Mayu Sagara (Kasumi Nakasu), Kaori Maede (Shizuku Osaka), Miyu Kubota (Karin Asaka), Natsumi Murakami (Ai Miyashia), Akari Kito (Kanata Konoe), Coco Hayashi (Setsuna Imura), Maria Sashide (Emma Verde), Chiemi Tanaka (Rina Tennoji), Moeka Koizumi (Shioriko Mifune), Shu Uchida (Mia Taylor), Akina Homoto (Zhong Lanzhu). 　Support Member: Hinaki Yano (Yu Takasaki) Liella! (LOVE LIVE! SUPERSTAR!!) 　Sayuri Date (Kanon Shibuya), Liyuu (Keke Tang), Nako Misaki (Chisato Arashi), Naomi Payton (Sumire Heanna), Nagisa Aoyama (Ren Hazuki), Nozomi Suzuhara (Kinako Sakurakoji), Akana Yabushima (Mei Yoneme), Wakana Okuma (Shiki Wakana), Aya Emori (Natsumi Onitsuka), Yuina (Wien Margarete), Sakura Sakakura (Tomari Onitsuka) HASUNOSORA SCHOOL IDOL CLUB 　Nirei Nozomi (Kaho Hinoshita), Kokona Nonaka (Sayaka Murano), Nina Hanamiya (Kozue Otomune), Kotoka Sasaki (Tsuzuri Yugiri), Kanna Kan (Rurino Osawa), Kona Tsukine (Megumi Fujishima)

[weeb-polls-with-pip]

AUTISTIC ANIME GIRLS BONUS BRACKET MATCHUPS!

*This bracket will run for the duration of December, while the autistic anime boys submission form is open.

Preliminary Matches (COMPLETE):

Kosuzu Motoori (Touhou Suzunaan ~ Forbidden Scrollery) VS Hiyori Tamura (Lucky Star)

Nano Eiai (The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You) VS Umika Konohoshi (Stardust Telepath)

Natsuhi Ushiromiya (Umineko When They Cry) VS Misuzu Kamio (Air)

Terakomari Gandesblood (The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess) VS Shizuka Yoshimoto (The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You)

Round 1 Matches (COMPLETE):

Hime Shirayuki/Cure Princess (Happiness Charge Pretty Cure!) VS Kosuzu Motoori (Touhou Suzunaan ~ Forbidden Scrollery)

Riamu Yumemi (THE iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls) VS Shiida (Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun)

Mira Hanayashiki (Sekkou Boys) VS Miki Takekasa (After School Dice Club)

Kotoko Watatsumugi (Urahara) VS R. Dorothy Wayneright (The Big O)

Uta (Bubble) VS Umika Konohoshi (Stardust Telepath)

Rikka Takanashi (Love, Chuunibyou & Other Delusions!) VS Mikoto Urabe (Mysterious Girlfriend X)

Android 18 (Dragon Ball) VS Ginga (Change 123)

Gold Ship (Uma Musume Pretty Derby) VS Kuon Ichinose (Persona 5)

Natsuhi Ushiromiya (Umineko When They Cry) VS Haruhi Suzumiya (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya)

Sora Harewataru/Cure Sky (Hirogaru Sky! Pretty Cure) VS Eru Chitanda (Hyouka)

Noel Vermillion (BlazBlue) VS Ami Itou (Liar Satsuki Can See Death)

Safu (No.6) VS Yuu Morisawa (Creamy Mami)

Aira Harune (Pretty Rhythm: Aurora Dream) VS Shizuka Yoshimoto (The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You)

Megumin (KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!) VS Violet Evergarden (Violet Evergarden)

Edelgard von Hresvelg (Fire Emblem) VS Bridget (Guilty Gear)

Emiru Aisaki/Cure Ma Cherie (HUGtto! Pretty Cure) VS Rin Tezuka (Katawa Shoujo)

Round 2 Matches (COMPLETE):

Hime Shirayuki/Cure Princess (Happiness Charge Pretty Cure!) VS Shiida (Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun)

Miki Takekasa (After School Dice Club) VS R. Dorothy Wayneright (The Big O)

Rikka Takanashi (Love, Chuunibyou & Other Delusions!) VS Umika Konohoshi (Stardust Telepath)

Kuon Ichinose (Persona 5) VS Ginga (Change 123)

Sora Harewataru/Cure Sky (Hirogaru Sky! Pretty Cure) VS Natsuhi Ushiromiya (Umineko When They Cry)

Safu (No.6) VS Ami Itou (Liar Satsuki Can See Death)

Violet Evergarden (Violet Evergarden) VS Shizuka Yoshimoto (The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You)

Bridget (Guilty Gear) VS Rin Tezuka (Katawa Shoujo)

Round 3 Matches (COMPLETE):

Hime Shirayuki/Cure Princess (Happiness Charge Pretty Cure!) VS R. Dorothy Wayneright (The Big O)

Kuon Ichinose (Persona 5) VS Rikka Takanashi (Love, Chuunibyou & Other Delusions!)

Natsuhi Ushiromiya (Umineko When They Cry) VS Safu (No.6)

Bridget (Guilty Gear) VS Shizuka Yoshimoto (The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You)

Round 4 Matches (COMPLETE):

Hime Shirayuki/Cure Princess (Happiness Charge Pretty Cure!) VS Rikka Takanashi (Love, Chuunibyou & Other Delusions!)

Bridget (Guilty Gear) VS Natsuhi Ushiromiya (Umineko When They Cry)

FINAL MATCH (COMPLETE):

Bridget (Guilty Gear) VS Hime Shirayuki/Cure Princess (Happiness Charge Pretty Cure!)

[incandescentia]

Just listing all my OC's JP voice claims here, don't mind me.

Renge: Itou Shizuka (she can do typical normal genki girl voice especially earlier in her career, but it seems people know her more as the sexy femme fatale oneesan lady voice better because of Kafka/Akeno perhaps that's how Renge would sound if she is older) Tsuruhime: Ishikawa Yui (that's right she's basically 2B and Mikasa, some of her deeper sounding roles) Megohime/Aika: Uchida Maaya (Katarina is definitely closer to modern day Mego aka Aika, but Futaba is her in her tsun-tsun moment. Idk how to describe it but she has Katarina's voice speaking in Fischl/Ranko's ojousama flair usually)

[yuuniee]

“Yahoo~! Are you new here? Make yourself comfortable while I prepare something to nibble on!”

[picrew]

Name: Sakae Satou

Japanese: 佐藤栄 (satou sakae)

Age: 18

Birthday: 20th March (Pisces)

Height: 184 cm

Dominant Hand: Right

Homeland: Tokyo, Japan

Family: Unnamed mother, unnamed father, twin brother

Voiced by: Shizuka Itou

Nicknames/Aliases: Dame ??? (Rook), Salmon (Floyd), Miss Satou (Her former teacher and classmates)

Grade: Freshman/2nd year

Class: 2-D (No. 18)

Club: NRC Newspaper Club

Best Subject: None

Hobbies: Streaming

Pet Peeves: Ruined things

Favorite Food: Pork Buns

Least Favorite Food: Asparagus

Talent: Stage make-up

Unique Magic: “Mind Mirror”

Basically, it allows her to enter someone’s Mindscape (a.k.a their inner mind). In there, she can see their secrets, their fears and even some of their memories if she pushes hard enough. However, it consumes a lot of magic and it can physically hurt her if she overuses it.

[picrew]

———

Her Rebirth Mark is in the shape of X with thorns.

———

❥ Fun Facts:

She seems to be there when Yuu/MC comes to Ramshackle. This is because she came there a year before them.

She hails from an extremely rich family who owns several companies.

Whatever she wanted, she got it. If she wanted a car, her father would buy for her. If she wanted a new house, her father would buy it for her. Her father always wanted the best for her. He even put her in most prestigious schools and college. I guess you can say she is a spoiled child.

She seems to follow all the trends in the internet, especially when it comes to dresses and hairstyles. That’s why she has tons of clothes.

She is close friends with Yuusuke and was actually the first person to help him adjust to the new place he is in.

[more facts are yet to come !!]

- last updated: 7th july 2024

[ruyalarincadisi]

1, 62, and 91

hiiii thank you :3 1: 6 of the songs you listen to most? song questions are always the hardest fr. let's see... i'm glad you're evil too-pinocchiop, skyclad observer-itou kanako, mabushii dna dake-zutomayo, she-dodie, shizuka no umi-plastic tree, world.execute (me)-mili

62: What’s your favourite animal? CATS!!! but if that's a boring answer we can say i love foxes and crows a lot too :3 (and dinosaurs) 91: You accidentally eat some radioactive vegetables. They were good, and what’s even cooler is that they endow you with the super-power of your choice! What is that power? this is another popular answer lol but i think invisibility would be the best for me <3 not only because of i don't want people to look at me but it would make dangerous situations easier to escape. or i wouldn't be in dangerous situations most of the time because people can't see me. it'd be great for my anxiety

[allen-san]

Seiyuu : Shizuka Itou / Ai Kakuma ( 2016 )

Prénom : Lenalee .

Nom : Lee .

Origine : chinoise .

Taille : 1,66 m .

Poids : 48 kg .

Âge : 16 ans, anniversaire : 20 février .

Groupe sanguin : B .

Lenalee est la sœur de Komui. Après l'assassinat de leurs parents, elle prit conscience qu'elle était compatible avec l'Innocence, c'est ainsi qu'elle devient l'hôte des « Bottes Noires ». Elle fut enlevée à son frère et privée de sa liberté lorsqu'un exorciste remarqua son don. Il lui faudra attendre que Komui rejoigne lui aussi le quartier général des exorcistes pour qu'elle cesse de considérer ce lieu comme une prison. L'Ordre deviendra peu à peu sa « famille » et comme elle le dit elle-même, lorsqu'elle s'imagine le monde, elle voit un puzzle formé de ses amis. La chose la plus importante à ses yeux est de les protéger. Elle semble avoir des sentiments envers Allen .

Innocence : Dark Boots

De type équipement, les Bottes Noires ont l'apparence anodine de bottes normales mais modifient leur structure au passage en mode combat et font d'elle une exorciste puissante.

Au niveau 1 :

Ce sont juste des bottes noires qui brillent d'un halo vert. Lenalee peut alors voler comme bon lui semble, sauter à des hauteurs vertigineuses et trancher de l'Akuma comme si elle coupait du beurre.

Au niveau 2 :

Deux disques ornés de croix apparaissent de chaque côté des bottes. Lenalee devient alors encore plus rapide et puissante, basant ses attaques sur sa vitesse qui peut atteindre et même dépasser celle du son (technique de « Oto Kaze ») .

Lors d'un combat contre un Akuma de niveau 3, Lenalee sera prête à se sacrifier pour ses amis et augmentera la puissance de son Innocence jusqu'au seuil critique. L'Innocence la sauvera en se cristallisant tout autour de son corps. A son réveil, Lenalee ne pourra plus l'activer et son taux de synchronisation sera inférieur à 10%. Par sécurité, Hevlaska lui reprendra son Innocence le temps qu'elle soit capable de se resynchroniser avec elle.

Type Cristallin :

Il s'agit d'un nouveau type d'Innocence qui utilise le sang et le cristallise pour le transformer en Arme Anti-Akuma .

[seiyuu-gallery]

[haveyouseenthisseries-poll]

[historyhermann]

Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear Season 2 Review

Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear is an anime which combines the fantasy comedy, isekai, and iyashikei genres. It is based on an ongoing 19-volume Japanese light novel series written by Kumanano and illustrated by 029. This series is produced by Japanese animation studio EMT Squared. Hisashi Ishii and Yuu Nobuta are series directors. This review will have spoilers.

Reprinted from Pop Culture Maniacs and Wayback Machine. This was the thirty-sixth article I wrote for Pop Culture Maniacs. This post was originally published on June 23, 2023.

The show's first season introduces Yuna (voiced by Maki Kawase), a bored teenager reincarnated in a fantasy world. The higher power (voiced by Shizuka Itou) gifts her an all-powerful, but comical, bear suit. She tries to adapt to her new life and finds it more fulfilling than anything she had on Earth. In the process, she becomes close to Fina (voiced by Azumi Waki), a 10-year-old girl and Crimonia town resident. Fina soon becomes her work partner and her sister. She is drawn to another ten-year-old named Noire "Noa" Foschurose (voiced by Rina Hidaka), who founds a fan club for the bears that Yuna uses to defeat monsters (Kumakyū and Kumayuru). The younger sister of Fina, Shuri (voiced by Miyu Tomita), and granddaughter of Gran Farrengram, Misana "Misa" Farrengram (voiced by Satomi Amano) also become her friends. Along the way, Yuna meets nobles, maids, fellow adventurers, and princesses.

Although the series is an isekai, it is more like I've Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level, than any other series out there. Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear is arguably an iyashikei, a Japanese slice-of-life work which portrays characters in calm environments. Such works have less focus on the plot or characters, but more on an immersive setting and worldbuilding. It is unlike other anime in the same genre, as few are fantasy comedies, and none, that I'm aware of, are isekai.

This makes Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear unique. There's no focus on romance, music, camping, or mystery, as other iyashikei have done. Instead, Yuna is only trying to enjoy her life, with the help of her friends, and her bears Kumakyū and Kumayuru. Thanks to her bear powers she can even create structures, like houses to live in. The series has strong yuri subtext primarily manifested in the close relationship between Yuna and Fina. Also, female characters far outnumber male ones.

The laid-back tone of the series offsets other more drama-filled anime, such as The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady, Ippon Again!, Kubo Won't Let Me Be Invisible, and The Dangers in My Heart. The same can be said of Western animation such as Villainous, RWBY, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, and Velma.

The second season of Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear, also known as Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear Punch, is much more than that. It continues the plotlines from the first season. In the first episode of this season, there are flashbacks to remind the audience what happened. Yuna has become a bit of a celebrity and is called "Bear sis". While she isn't used to this, she doesn't shirk away from helping others. She even drives away orcs from a honey tree, so that she can have honey on her pancakes at a local cafe.

Yuna is often pulled into the world of nobles. Her fan club includes princesses Flora (voiced by Hina Kino), Noa, and Misa. Even the local feudal lord of Crimonia, Cliff Foschurose (voiced by Kōji Yusa), owes her favors. As such, she agrees to make picture books for those in the castle, but not anyone outside of it. This contrasts with the goal of Myne, in Ascendance of a Bookworm, who wants to provide books to the masses. At one point, Yuna caves to pressure and reluctantly agrees to a task given to her by noble Eleanora Foschurose (voiced by Yuiko Tatsumi): guarding students of the royal academy for firsthand training.

The latter duty, predictably, annoys Yuna, as she is comfortable with her simple life in Crimonia. The arc with the students, compromising the second and third episodes, lampoons incorrect judgment of others. Two students, Cattleya and Marix, voiced by Misuzu Yamada and Misato Matsuoka respectfully, think that Yuna is a spoiled and rich lady, and not even an adventurer. In contrast, Yuna finds it exhausting to be around people her age.

As often happens, Yuna easily defeats the beast, known as a black tiger, and takes the pelt for herself, thanks to her bear equipment. The lesson is that no one should judge someone else based on their looks. Such an empowering statement rings true when watched today or any time in the future.

While some children in Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear work, these children are enthusiastic about their work. In the fourth episode, Sherry (voiced by Kozue Yūki) makes a cushion for Yuna and aprons for those at the Bear-themed diner. She later becomes an apprentice at a tailor's shop. Since Sherry is enjoying her work as an apprentice, for which she is probably paid, I'm entirely convinced it is child labor. 

Child labor is often defined as any work which deprives children of their childhood, interferes with school attendance. It can also be any work which is harmful mentally, physically, morally, or socially. I'm not sure if Sherry's work is affecting her personal development or health. Her duties are akin to assisting a family business. Arguably, her work is contributing to her development as a child and providing experience and skills. It may even be preparing her to become a productive person later in her life, as an adult. Furthermore, she is not enslaved nor engaged in illicit activities.

Sometimes, the isekai nature of Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear is stronger than at other times. In the fifth episode of this season, Yuna learns that Fina can't cut through the skin of a black tiger with her current knife, and is determined to get a mithril knife. However, to do that, she has to fight golems in a cave, which are blocking access to the resource. While she collaborates with other adventurers, she ends up clearing the cave and getting what she is after by herself. She even receives a finds a substance named Bearmonite. She later believes that the God of the world set up the whole situation so she could get a reward. At another point, she even admits that the mithril knives remind of her previous life as a shut-in gamer.

As for Fina, her fear of nobles may be symbolic of her desire to be at Yuna's side no matter what. For example, she is terrified of people trying to make her wear expensive clothes. She is afraid if the clothes are ripped, she will be chastised. Adding to this, she worries about accidentally offending the King. As it turns out, the nobles don't mind her. They ease her nervousness. Even the King thinks that Yuna is annoyed with him! He believes that Fina is more well-mannered than Yuna. When she ends up spilling orange juice on her clothes, her worry fades away. It turns out that those at the castle are just as messy as her.

Otherwise, food and eating are another key part of the Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear story. This is exemplified by Yuna winning over the mother of Fina. The latter is annoyed that Yuna wants to give Fina an expensive mithril knife. Yuna makes her strawberry shortcake, which she calls "devil's dessert". In another episode, Yuna works with Nerin (voiced by Saki Ichimura) and others to bake the same dessert. She gives the same dessert to those within the castle. In the same episode, a maid named Lala helps her and Fina brew tea together, and the royal chef, Zeref (voiced by Taichi Takeda), thanks Yuna for previous recipes.

This plotline reminded me of the slice-of-life comedy drama, Antique Bakery, the only cooking anime I've watched, and the centrality of food in the Laid-Back Camp, an adventure iyashikei, and in series such as Is the Order a Rabbit?, Tokyo Mew Mew (and the sequel), and Sweetness & Lightning. I also immediately thought of the third ending sequence of Cardcaptor Sakura, set to the song Fruits Candy by Megumi Kojima. The sequence depicts protagonists Sakura Kinomoto, Tomoyo Daidouji, and Kero as baking (and decorating) a cake together. In fact, it is my favorite ending sequence of that magical girl anime.

Another important theme is the message that overwork is not a positive. In the ninth episode of Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear, characters discourage Sherry from tiring herself out. This is like I've Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level, mentioned earlier in this article, which is strongly against overwork. In this series, Yuna likes her easy life, and doesn't do more work than she has to. She likely encourages others to do the same.

The last few episodes, comprising the final series arc, are more dramatic. Fina, Yuna, Cliff, and Noa all go to the castle where Misa and the rest of the Farrengram family are living. There is conflict with nobles, including the Salbard family, who control half of Sheelin. The Farrengram family control the other half. The Salbard family want to take over the entire city for themselves. Thanks to her friendship with the nobles in Crimonia, Yuna easily navigates through this class conflict. She even brings in the royal chef of Zelef to ensure that the birthday celebration of Misa goes as planned.

In this arc, one of the worst characters, Gajurud (voiced by Yasuhiro Mamiya), is introduced. He is arrogant, brash, and likes to get his way. He falls right into a trap, since Zelef promises to report the insults that Gajurud hurled at him, and the food, back to the King. Gajurud's lackeys even abandon him and claim their taste was off because of colds. His awful son, Juliane (voiced by Yōko Fujita), declares he will strike back. It appears, at first, that this attack will occur when Yuna is wearing a dress, for the first time. She is only wearing some of her bear gear, making her a bit more vulnerable.

The final episode of Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear dashes the latter possibility. Yuna, wearing her bear suit, races to save Misa. The latter was kidnapped by the arrogant son of Gajurud, Juliane, with the help of the bodyguard, Brad. This all makes for an enjoyable action sequence. Yuna busts into the Salbard family mansion, beats up two nobles (Juliane and Gajurud), and clocks the bodyguard, after he underestimates her. As often happens in this series, characters underestimate how powerful Yuna is. They believe they can commit heinous acts because they see her as a kid in a bear suit.

This perception is incorrect. Yuna fights to protect her friends and those she cares about. She has a license to do this, to an extent, thanks to support from friendly nobles. In fact, Eleanora helps in this case, by arresting Gajurud and Juliane, with the help of royal guards. The mansion is then searched to retroactively uncover evidence to justify their arrest. This is an intense use of royal power, but is justified by the fact that they kidnapped Misa, and three other children from around the city.

Yuna cares about other people. In the final episode, she hugs and comforts Misa. Understandably, Misa is terrified after she was brazenly kidnapped. Yuna also reunites Misa with Fina and Noa, following her rescue. These actions make Cliff, and the Farrengram family, eternally grateful. Misa, Noa, and Fina even start to believe that Yuna is a goddess. She accepts this, to an extent, even when she is called the goddess of bears.

The final episode of Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear ends nicely and ties up loose ends. However, retributive justice is shown uncritically. Gajurud and his son, Juliane, are imprisoned. They are given the death penalty after a "mountain of evidence" results in their convictions. Brad is imprisoned, exiled, and stripped of his title. Furthermore, the Salbard family property is confiscated, and the economy recovers. Adding to this, Misa's father becomes sole leader of Sheelin. All of this makes sense, considering the crimes of Gajurud, Juliane, and Brad.

In a large part, this reinforces retributive justice paradigms. The punishment of the nobles is imposed, without possibility of remorse. The state unilaterally declares what is, and isn't, a crime. In some ways, Yuna is in league with the criminal system of this medieval world. There is the presumed widespread belief that those accused of crimes cannot be rehabilitated.

The series doesn't turn these paradigms on their head like Villainous. The ending could have depicted restorative justice as being applied to the villains. Unfortunately, the writers didn't want to go that route. This isn't a shock, considering there are few examples of this in fiction, other than depictions in documentaries, podcasts, or films such as Red Dust. Furthermore, there is still continued debate over this approach to crime.

On the other hand, Yuna's violence is primarily defensive and meant to protect her friends. She doesn't go on rampages against any villains, but chooses when and where she acts violently. She lashes out at Gajurud, Juliane, Brad, and their guards. Understandably, she is furious they kidnapped one of her friends and hurt her friends in the process. No one can fault her for that.

Apart from what I've mentioned previously about this series, Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear shines through is in its voiced acting. Maki Kawase, Azumi Waki, and Rina Hidaka, who voice three of the protagonists, are known for their voice work in Tamayomi, Kandagawa Jet Girls, A Centaur's Life, Michiko & Hatchin, YuruYuri, and Ms. Vampire Who Lives in My Neighborhood.

More prominently, Kawase voiced Shima Iwashita in Bocchi the Rock!. Waki previously voiced Flatorte in I've Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level, Tsukimi Teruya in The Aquatope on White Sand, and Takumi in Do It Yourself!! Hidaka lent her voice as Kobachi Osaragi in Kaguya-sama: Love Is War?, Ren Yamai in Komi Can't Communicate, and Himi Akane in Princess Connect! Re:Dive, to name a few.

Voice actors, such as Miyu Tomita, Satomi Amano, Hina Kino, Kōji Yusa, Yuiko Tatsumi, Misuzu Yamada, Misato Matsuoka, Kozue Yūki, Saki Ichimura, Taichi Takeda, Shizuka Itou, Yasuhiro Mamiya, and Yōko Fujita, make the series stronger. Some appeared in series like Otherside Picnic, Miss Kuroitsu from the Monster Development Department, or Too Cute Crisis, or lent their voices to characters in Tropical-Rouge! Pretty Cure, Princess Principal, Management of a Novice Alchemist, and Bodacious Space Pirates.

The studio EMT Squared, which produced the series, is known for four series directed by Hisashi Ishii, and another he did with Yuu Nobota: I'm Quitting Heroing. The show's composer, Shigeo Komori, is known as a writer, lyricist, video game director, and producer. Series writer Takashi Aoshima has worked on series such as Love Lab, Love Tyrant, Karin, and Petite Princess Yucie.

The present series ends with a scene in which Fina and Yuna declare "we're home" and smile. The pages of a book close, showing that this book/series has ended, that this chapter is over. If a third season of Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear were produced, it would continue the story of Fina, Yuna, and their friends, reopening the book for all.

The first and second season of Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear are currently streaming on Crunchyroll and Hulu.

© 2023 Burkely Hermann. All rights reserved.

[lady-byleth]

I found a video from FEW3H that featured a scene with fem!Byleth, and I have to say, she’s even cuter when voiced. We were robbed in Three Houses.

Like, Byleth gets voiced in battle, but it’s such a waste that they aren’t voiced in any other context. It would have made the game even better.

Ugh I know right?! I love her kinda stilted, chopped off way of speaking so much, it suits her character so well (at least that's how Itou Shizuka voices her, I dunno what language you play/watch in)

And it would've really helped drive her personality development home if they'd let her VAs start out speaking very monotonous and get more animated over time

What a wasted opportunity, especially considering the protagonists before and after are all at least partially voiced

[flicksnfilms]

Parallel World Pharmacy (2022)

Plot premise:  Isekai Yakkyoku World-class medical researcher Kanji Yakutani lost his little sister to a tumor years ago due to ineffective treatment. To honor her legacy, he has dedicated his research to developing new medications for such conditions. But as fate would have it, he overworks himself and passes away at the age of 31, only to be given a second chance at life in another world.

When he wakes up, Kanji finds himself in the body of a 10-year-old boy named Falma de Médicis, the son of an esteemed family of medical practitioners in the Sain Fleuve Empire. Bearing the mark of a deity's divine blessing, Falma is capable of performing a unique divine art, allowing him to create and reduce any substance with the knowledge of its chemical properties.

After reading through some pharmacology books, Falma realizes that this world is operating on similar medical practices as in ancient times. He also learns that medicine is an exclusive privilege to the nobility, depriving commoners of proper medical care. Using the knowledge from his past life and the divine abilities granted to him, Falma resolves to make medicine available to those who need it—irrespective of class.

Network: Diomedéa Episodes (and episode length): 12 (24 mins) Creator: Takayama Liz Cast: Toyosaki Aki, Ueda Reina, Hondo Kaede, Itou Shizuka, Nomura Kenji, Tobita Nobuo, Suzuki Takuma, Naganawa Maria, Hanae Natsuki IMDB | RottenTomatoes | fandom info

± It's a small and yet interesting twist to an isekai. On the surface that the original Yakutani was a pharmacist doesn't seem to be a big detail but as soon as we find out about the world he winds up in, it turns out to be a significant detail in that world. It's also very fun that unlike other isekai, there's no monsters and mostly no fighting and it's just a mostly slice of life thing for Falma.