#Otaku review

[1nternetangel]

Figure review: Lucky star FREEing mini figures ^_^ I love theseee theyre my only lucky star figures so far! They all come with a second hand pose that you can switch out :3 the only issue is that the parts of the figure come apart easily, but that makes sense since im pretty sure these r older figs. Overall they are super cute and look nice next to my larger figures =^_^= 10/10

[mastacell]

I Wasn't Ready. DANDADAN Episode 7 Review

[angeloftheodd]

“Let’s play!” - Princess Peach 👑🎀✌️🌸

The world needed a new game with Princess Peach as the protagonist and it’s so sweet! 💘 Princess Peach: Showtime! is a cute game that has something for everyone. 🫶 I finished the game with my partner earlier this week. 😸 I love all the different Peach personas and looks! 🥰 I thought the Detective Peach levels were harder than the final boss. 🕵️‍♀️ I 10/10 recommend this game. 💯 Thanks, Nintendo! 💖

🍒 My Instagram (angel0fthe0dd) 🍒

🫐 My Xitter (GhiaWasHere) 🫐

[beneaththetangles]

Film Review: The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim

In the 21 years since Peter Jackson’s monumental trilogy of masterpieces, The Lord of the Rings content has been a mixed bag. But when news broke out that The Lord of the Rings was getting an anime prequel movie canon to Peter Jackson’s trilogy, I couldn’t help but get excited.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is the largest global premiere of an anime feature film in history. It is directed by anime veteran Kenji Kamiyama (Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade, Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex) and stars Brian Cox, Gaia Wise, and Miranda Otto reprising her role as Eowyn in the form of narrator. The film is set 183 years before The Fellowship of the Ring and tells the tale of the house of Helm Hammerhand (Brian Cox), the legendary king of Rohan, for whom Helm’s Deep in The Two Towers is named.  After Freca (Shaun Dooley), the lord of the Dunlendings, approaches Helm with a proposal of marriage between his son Wulf (Luca Pasqualino) and Helm’s daughter Hera (Gaia Wise), Helm kills Freca, leaving Wulf an enemy of Helm’s house in search of revenge. Wulf’s war of vengeance leads Helm and the people of Rohan to make a last stand in the stronghold of the Hornburg as Hera leads the resistance against Wulf and his army.

So is The War of the Rohirrim worthy of the Peter Jackson trilogy’s legacy? Yes… mostly.

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[mysticdragon3md3]

Back then, it was the era of "edgy and dark". Comic books tried to fit "extreme" and "X" into every new superhero name. Everyone wanted to be grimdark and violent, like Spawn, Venom, and The Dark Knight Returns. "Vulnerability? Whimsy? I don't know them!" That's essentially what that era was. So all these comic book fans, trying to be so "super serious" and "super cool" did not like the light-hearted party tone of Marvel vs Capcom 2's music. Those were weird times. "I Wanna Take You For A Ride" is great. And I love 8-Bit Big Band's cover of it.

[animehouse-moe]

Mahou Shoujo Magical Destroyer: Opening

You can watch the opening here.

Yeah, this is just a post about the opening (the episode will come later), because this is arguably the closest we can get to a perfect representation of the essence of Inagawa's work. It's.... stunning. It's art.

So, I think to begin I'll sort of preface what the theme of the opening (and of the work overall) actually is. It's a bit of a mouthful, but it's about the stifling of individual expression due to societal and cultural expectations that weigh on each person. In essence, breaking out of the shell that has been forcibly placed on someone, in this case, Magical Girls.

Let's get it started then, shall we? Sort of surprising is the fact that the 4 girls in the start of the opening are driving along the beach in a car with the top down, not a real care in the world. But, in concert with the existence of water throughout the episode, this is only the surface of the characters. What is shown on the outside, what can remain above the surface. It dulls the feeling of freedom, makes you realize the restrictions placed on them so that they can be afforded that freedom.

Of note in this seen, we see that Anarchy has a fruit in her hand. But, before she eats it she pushes a hole into it, allowing some of the juice to escape. To me, this is obvious symbolism for their interests. They don't want what everyone else wants. Nobody wants a damaged fruit in the same way that nobody wants a magical girl that isn't "pure" or "right". It's her acting out against the norms of society and fighting her way towards what she wants.

Next, we have an interesting scene with Otaku Hero. We find a fish in a glass of water, confined by its surroundings, trapped within. Nowhere to go, no way to move forward, Otaku Hero puts the fish in his mouth. Is it faith? Submission? Something else entirely? Whatever it is between man and fish, it is a relationship of dependence. For the fish to exist within its trapped surroundings, it requires Otaku Hero. It's "freedom" is dependent on being saved by another. And at the end of the day, it just ends up deposited in someone else's glass. For all its struggles, it remains confined. Even in the face of a Hero, the fish cannot escape its glass.

And this is exactly what the opening tells us about the girls. Sure, in the "regular" forms they're afforded some type of freedom, but if they want to express their "other" sides which don't conform, they're left trapped. They only become Magical Girls when underwater. Only when drowning beneath the tide of expectations and requirements, sinking deeper into the abyss of societal and cultural norms forced upon them are they themselves.

And this is where Otaku Hero comes into play. He is the first to betray expectations. He delivers the fish to its new form of confinement, and punches the man holding the glass. Wandering, he finds the girls underwater, decorated by ribbons or threads that connect them to Otaku Hero. Now this is a double-edged sword. It shows how Otaku Hero is their "savior", but also what drags them to the bottom of the ocean of expectations and requirements that they sink in.

Regardless of his connection and nature to the girls, just like with the fish, he reaches out for them, but this time he "frees" them. To what degree are they really free if it's at the hands of a savior though? Of someone that perpetuates the preconceptions and norms that suffocate the girls?

Regardless, their true form is unleashed in something that is needed to be experienced to be understood. Violence, vulgarity, depravity, flirtation, teasing, killing, breaking apart, atomized. It is the representation of all the repression that faces the girls. It's a breakdown of reality and society that allows the individual true freedom of expression.

So, I'm no expert with the meaning of flowers, but each Magical Girl here holds their own type of flower (as does Otaku Hero later down the road), which most certainly relates to their stories somehow. I'm just not sure how because I don't know all of the flowers that adorn the various characters.

And lastly, we finished off with a recreation of The Last Supper, with Otaku Hero at the center. In line with the rest of Inagawa's work, he mocks religion here. He jokes about The Last Supper, about Otaku Hero being the lord and savior of his story, and the Magical Girls being his apostles in what can only be inferred is akin to a religious war between humanity and Otakus. It's a hilarious mockery, of both religion and Otaku Hero. Of the concept of a savior, of the expectations placed upon those that don't conform to expectations. The magical girls are once more "normal", and forced to side at this table, glares cast downward, for the sake of Otaku Hero.

And don't even get me started on stuff like the music. The whole thing is a rage against establishment and society, as it talks about rioting, rampaging, and all manner of other things.

Just an outstanding opening that exemplifies the core of Inagawa's opus, of his form of expression in media. It's a love letter to not just art, but specific his art.

[penguintruth]

Some of my old Dragon Ball Z videos, edited for YouTube standards.

[cadencewishes]

(´๑•_•๑)

[macabresymphonies]

Edomae Elf really suprised me after the first episode. I expected it to be a show around the level of Umaru-chan where we are just meant to marvel at the cutness of being a shut-in dumbsterfire, but the subtle themes of a changing world? Contemplations on mortality and what it means to live forever? Finding an anchor in things that remain unchanged? Like what are these deep-ass themes doing in my comedy slice of life, count me in. Still confused why elfs of all things, but it sort of fits? Like maybe the reverse isekai scenario and the most traditional enviorment possible (shinto shrine) clashing is really on theme.

[curried-mermaid]

A Review: The Disabled Tyrant's Beloved Pet Fish Vol. 1

Author: Xue Shan Fei Hu Publishers: Seven Seas Entertainment Age Group: Teen Genre: Danmei, Boy Love, Historical Fantasy, Isekai, Drama, Friendship Type: Danmei, Light Novel

Content Warnings: Political Backstabbery, some violence Spoilers ahead

Plot

He’s the perfect catch…or he would be if he wasn’t the pet fish of the future tyrant emperor. 

Li Yu wakes up to find he’s been transmigrated into the body of a fish. The less-than-helpful (even scammy) Moe Pet System tells him he has to change the tyrant’s personality, changing the future. Only… he’s just a pet fish, how the hell is he supposed to do that? 

Li Yu quickly learns that if he doesn’t follow the quests he’ll turn into fish bones and ash. If he accomplishes these quests he’ll be human again. Now, if only he could find a way to catch the tyrant’s attention before this cat eats him! 

I found this plot a great read. The challenges that Li Yu is up against and how he handles them are unique and refreshing. There’s plenty of comedy in this along with seriousness. As shown by these examples taken from the book (some of my favorite lines):

“…someone had stolen both His Highness’s fish and his underwear? There was clearly something wrong with this thief” (187).  “Li Yu continued to act like a cute little squid in the face of Prince Jing’s fish-targeted eye lasers” (250-251). *for reference Li Yu ended up in an ink bowl after they found some ink on him.

This series does an excellent job balancing the comedy and serious story telling, along with some sparks flying (as we expect from a danmei). 

Character Development

Li Yu is an interesting character of a human turned fish. He’s very relatable in that he freaks out about things, worries about others, but always comes up with a plan to accomplish his goals. He tries to be meticulous but he always misses something, creating clues for Prince Jing to put together throughout the novel. Li Yu can be mature and also childish. His character makes for a fun read. 

Prince Jing is mute and technically the heir to the throne, but he doesn’t qualify since he’s mute. He’s cold, doesn’t care about others, is a violence then questions later type of person, but also very intelligent. As he interacts with his pet fish, we see him become softer over the course of the series. It’s very endearing. 

Wang Xi is Prince Jing’s eunuch caretaker. He’s cared for him since he was little and knows what all of his movements and emotions mean. He’s in essence, the translator for Prince Jing and the rest of the world. He’s very loyal to his master and willingly does his job. 

The secondary characters and antagonists are all interesting characters, even if some of them follow typical historical drama cliches. What makes it fascinating to interact with these characters is how they react to Li Yu, his relationship with Prince Jing, and how Li Yu chooses to deal with them. 

World-building

The world-building is subtle at first as we only get descriptions when Li Yu can see. This isn’t very much as he’s kept in a porcelain container until the emperor gifts Prince Jing with a large crystal fish tank. This world is based off a web novel that Li Yu was following before he was transmigrated. He knows what plot points he needs to be aware of and how it’ll affect Prince Jing. The original web novel has Prince Jing fall in love with a delicate concubine, Chu Yanyu. Only that doesn’t happen this round (mostly from Li Yu being in Prince Jing’s life). Li Yu learns from this experience that the major plot will change but sub-plots will still continue. This gives him the drive to help prevent death to secondary characters, especially ones he likes such as Prince Jing’s cousin, Ye Qinghuan, one of the only family members that Prince Jing lets visit him. 

Themes

Everyone needs a companion that can understand them and reach their heart. While this is a semi-serious danmei, I feel like this theme works really well. It’s only after changing the story so Prince Jing has a pet fish that he begins to change. He sees some of himself in this fish, a pet that cannot express itself but with a few gestures and looks, just as he does. 

Observations & Predictions

Li Yu will continue to warn and help Prince Jing navigate the different plots happening around him, while developing a stronger bond with him. We already have hints of sparks flying between the two (at least on Prince Jing’s side). It’ll be interesting to see what happens as Li Yu uses his abilities to transform into his temporary human form. Will he interact with him on purpose or continue to make it seem like accidents? 

I’d love to see their relationship blossom into something more than a bromance. We may get that, but Li Yu will have to go through an emotional arc to realize those feelings and come to terms with it. He may refuse them at first as he was supposed to be with Chu Yanyu according to the plot (even though that plot no longer exists). 

I see Prince Jing developing stronger feelings for him, and maybe even trying to put the moves on Li Yu in his human form. 

I found the writing for this really strong. The unique voice of Li Yu moves the story really well. Anyone who likes Danmei (boy love) should give this a read. 

Recommendations

Similar Plot:

Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System By: Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Historical Danmei:

Ballad of Sword and Wine By: Tan Jiu Qing

The Husky and His White Cat By: Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou

Stars of Chaos By: Priest

Heaven’s Official Blessing By: Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation By: Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Danmei, but not published in English (have to find translations online)

The Emperor’s Favorite Imperial Concubine is an O By: Gu Zhijun

Transmigrated as the Villain’s Cat By: Su Zening

After Playing the Fool and Marrying the Blind Villain By: Nei Sei

[yousei-no-mori]

Ijiranaide, Nagatoro-san - Rant

I am currently watching season 2 and I have some thoughts (about both seasons).

First of all why did I start watching this anime? Erm... So I know what the target audience is, it's people who self insert as Naoto and want to date Nagatoro. As for me? Oh, it's the other way around. I think Naoto is cute and I want to bully him. I thought maybe my female friends were similar but the only friend I have who read the manga wants to make out with Nagatoro. Sorry, I forgot lesbians exist.

Uh, anyway yeah Naoto is cute and I want to be Nagatoro. Not sure if girls like me watching this was intended since these anime are usually made for lonely dudes, lol. Anyone else feel like me though?

The scrunkly.

Okay, so, my thoughts on season 1... Lemme check the episodes to bring back my memory a little bit, as I watched that to calm down from the stress that is social work during last Winter.

The first two episodes made me really scared to watch this series, for real. Nagatoro just straight up mentally tortured Naoto, and not in the hot way. I felt really bad for him because I know what it's like to be the shy nerd kid. Anyways at around episode 3, I think, Nagatoro starts showing her softer side more. And she hardcore crushes on Naoto.

The dynamic between Nagatoro and Naoto is really cute in my opinion, even if it is very simple. Nagatoro has her first crush because she finally found a guy that doesn't bore her to death but she doesn't know how to handle it so she bullies the fuck out of him. Naoto is pretty much the opposite? He doesn't really realize how much he likes Nagatoro sometimes and thinks he would rather not be around her. He tries to manage that by fighting her off in which classic anime romcom things happen. You know the "Holy crap you did something on accident, PERVERT!" thing, except it sometimes works really well. Maybe it's just because I think both of them are really cute, but I like when they have their little "Oh god, we both fucked up" moments.

Then there's the more obvious romance aspects and they're by far my favorite. The momens of honesty and the cute glances... Yep, they're adorable. I don't want to give away too much, sorry. Just know it's, in my opinion, the best thing in the series.

I don't care for the side characters by the way, but they can be enertaining when they point out how obviously both of our main characters are trying to "prove" that they don't like each other. They're the audience, the "just kiss already!" guys.

Also funny face cute. I like when she snaps. I like her. The cutesy. Okay no, for real, I love when Naoto and Nagatoro support or protect each other when they really need it. They can be a bitshitty towards each other sometimes but in the end they're actually kinda... healthy? Like Nagatoro is creepy but I love when the girl is a creep instad of the guy, since Naoto is actively watching out not to disturb Nagatoro. And how she will constantly accuse him of being a creep makes sense later when you realize that she's actually much worse than him, lol.

Okay let's get to season 2, since I keep using too many screencaps of that season anyway.

Oh boy, another anime studio took over with season 2 (now OLM, before it was Telecom) and it's very noticeable. The animation is stiff and sometimes just straight up doesn't move right, the art is a lot more bland, in season 1 there were a lot of beautiful warm colors and lineart, and the voice direction is very strange... That and also our main characters seem to regress a bit? Now being overly flustered over small things that they would've been fine with in season 1? I get it, they're supposed to be cute and awkward but it's the classic romcom regression...

I'm in the middle of watching season 2 and sadly the things I loved in season 1 just aren't that apparent anymore. It's still cute and I love Naoto and Nagatoro together, but I can hardly pay attention to that when Naoto is animated like Chargeman Ken.

^ little appreciation for the beautiful lighting in season 1!?

Anyway, Ijiranaide, Nagatoro-san will forever be my biggest guilty-pleasure comfort anime and I'm only a little ashamed.

Love ya

[1nternetangel]

Figure review: Hatsune Miku AMP+ Figure Birthday 2023 ver <333 Honestly this figure was kind of an impulse buy and I kind of regret it... (T ω T) I mean it's very nice and well made but it's just not my style (；ω；) I do love the addition of the microphone she's holding tho! The pose is cute but a little strange... and I just don't love the eyes or the hair too much... Im sorry miku I give u a 5/10 T_T

[mastacell]

WTF of A Lot of SH!!!D!! DANDADAN Episode 9 Review

[theacstories]

Things get electrifrying in the 3rd Hunt of Ichi the Witch!

[beneaththetangles]

First Impression: Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron

This two-hour documentary follows Miyazaki as he makes The Boy and the Heron. Besides behind-the-scenes material from his latest film production, we see a lot of older footage of Miyazaki, as well as short clips from his movies. These clips are edited together thematically, based on whatever Miyazaki is pondering at a given moment, which he does quite a lot of throughout the documentary! Tragically, while he was working on the film, several of his colleagues passed away, and others fought battles with cancer. The loss that seems to have affected him the most was the death of his long-time friend and fellow Ghibli director Isao Takahata. He reveals that The Boy and the Heron is largely about Takahata. Death is the most prominent theme in this documentary, as we see Miyazaki reflect on his own mortality as well. The Miyazaki in this documentary seems more tired and confused than we’ve seen in previous specials, but also more considerate, so that those who’ve seen him harshly criticize the work of his animators before might be surprised at the almost total absence of this side of him here. He seems to have mellowed with age, appearing less tense and more willing to delegate work to others, while also being determined to keep working on his films. After each of his projects since Princess Mononoke, Miyazaki has announced his retirement. But this time, he almost immediately started working on a new project. It’s wonderful to see that he is more resolved than ever before!

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[movieanimex]

Blue Lock Season 2 Offical Trailer | MovieAnimeX