#Princess Iwasaki | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

stardust-swan · 2 months

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can you go more in depth on beauty secrets by geishas? i’ve always found them so interesting.

Geisha are very secretive about their inner lives, so it's hard to know for sure things like exactly what they would have done during their skincare routine or what kind of perfume they used, but we do know about their makeup, hair, and clothing. A lot of this information comes from the most successful geiko of Kyoto, Mineko Iwasaki's memoir Geisha, A Life (also known as Geisha of Gion), which was controversial among her peers as she revealed a lot of behind the scenes info on what life as a geisha is like. It's a very interesting read if you're interested in the inner lives of geisha. It can be downloaded on Libgen.

The Geisha Ideal

Mineko Iwasaki described how a geisha is meant to look:

She has the classic looks of a Heian princess, as though she might have stepped out of an eleventh-century scroll painting. Her face is a perfect oval. Her skin is white and flawless, her hair black as a raven’s wing. Her brows are half moons, her mouth a delicate rosebud. Her neck is long and sensuous, her figure gently rounded.

Makeup

Geisha wear highly stylised makeup derived from the kabuki tradition.

Foundation: Bintsuke oil paste is applied to the face, neck, and upper back as a base.

White Makeup: White face powder, made of rice powder, is mixed with water to form a paste. The face, neck, and upper chest are painted. Three stripes on the back of the neck are left unpainted in order to emphasize its slenderness, as in Japan the nape of the neck is considered beautiful. If wearing ordinary kimonos instead of formal outfit, only two lines will be left unpainted.

Eyebrows and eyes: As their eyebrows have been covered up by the white makeup, they are redrawn in pencil or charcoal. Black eyeliner is worn on the top lash line. Maiko (trainee geisha) use distinctive red eye makeup, whereas as geisha wear black eye makeup or may use subtle red makeup at the start of their brows. A crescent moon eyebrow shape is preferred.

Blush: Maiko wear pink blush on their cheeks, whereas geishas faces are completely white.

Lips: Maiko only paint one of their lips, while geisha paint both lips. They use a bold red lipstick which is derived from the red safflower, mixing it with water (and some also add sugar). They use a brush to paint a shape a bit smaller than their natural lip shape, as small lips are considered delicate. Tatcha has a lipstick called Kyoto Red which is in the same shade of red that geishas use.

Older geisha typically only wear a full face of makeup for performances and special occasions.

In the past, geisha would paint their teeth black, but today it is very uncommon, although some Kyoto geisha still practice it.

Hair

There are different hairstyles for different stages of a geisha's career.

Junior maiko wear the wareshinobu (split peach) style.

Senior maiko wear the ofuku style

Yakko is worn for formal events

Katsuyama is worn for one month before and one month after the Gion Festival in July

The sakko is worn in the final month of a maiko's training. On their very last day as a maiko, the tie holding their topknot is ritually cut off.

After becoming geisha, they wear the shimada hairstyle, an elaborate high chignon.

Mineko Iwasaki's description of the wareshinobu style:

The hair is swept up and sculpted into a mass on the top of the head that is secured by red silk bands (kanoko) front and back and decorated with kanzashi, the stick pin ornaments so distinctive of the karyukai look. It is said that this simple, elegant style showcases the curve of the young girl’s neck and the freshness of her features to their best advantage.

To preserve their elaborate hairstyles, geisha would sleep on a rectangular lacquered wooden pillow topped with a narrow cushion. If a girl found it difficult to sleep on these pillows, the maids would sprinkle rice bran around the pillow, so that if the girl removed the pillow, bits of bran would stick to the pomade in her hair, forcing her to have to go to the hairdressers again. Geisha would visit the hairdressers every five days.

These days geisha just wear wigs, which as well as being more convenient, also prevent bald spots from forming, a common problem geisha in the past dealt with due to constant stress on the roots of their hair. Maiko are still required to use their real hair.

Geisha also got their faces shaved when they went to the hairdresser.

As well as wearing their hair in elaborate styles, geisha also decorate them with ornaments. This description is of the first set of hair ornaments Mineko Iwasaki wore:

I wore two hairpins tipped with silk plum blossoms (because it was February) on the sides of the back of the bun, a pair of silver flutters (bira) on the sides in front, an orange blossom pin (tachibana) on top, and a long pin tipped with balls of red coral (akadama) and jade, inserted horizontally through the base.

Maiko wear colourful hair ornaments with flower motifs that change every month.

Full-fledged geisha don't wear as many hair ornaments, just a simple comb and hairpins, and their hairpins aren't as elaborate as the ones worn by maikos.

The hair ornaments serve purposes other than just decoration. The pointed ends of the pins are used to protect geisha from attacks, and the coral ornaments worn in colder months are used to test whether sake has been poisoned as coral breaks in the presence of poison.

Fashion

Maiko wear more elaborate outfits than geisha do in order to compensate for their lack of expertise and knowledge. Mineko Iwasaki described one of her maiko outfits this way:

My kimono was made out of figured satin in variegated turquoise. The heavy hem of the train was dyed in shades of burnt orange, against which floated a drift of pine needles, maple leaves, cherry blossoms and chrysanthemum petals. My obi was made of black damask decorated with swallowtail butterflies. I wore a matching obi clasp of a swallowtail butterfly fashioned out of silver.

I carried the traditional handbag called a kago, which has a basketweave base topped by a drawstring pouch of colorful tie dyed silk, shibori, which is made by tying silk into a myriad of minute knots with thread before it is dyed. The result is a stunning dappled effect. Kyoto is famous for this technique. It is the one that was practiced by my mother.

The shibori of my handbag was pale peach and sported a design of cabbage butterflies. It held my dancing fan (decorated with the three red diamonds of the Konoe family [close advisers to the emperor] painted on a gold background), a red-and-white hand towel decorated in a matching pattern, a boxwood comb, and various other accessories. All of these were encased in covers made from the same silk as the bag, and all of them were monogrammed.

Maiko wear a collar called eri, which is hand-sewn onto the nagajuban (a robe worn under the kimono) for each wearing. These red collars tell a story in and of themselves. They are made from silk that has been finely embroidered with white, silver, and gold thread. The younger one is the less dense the embroidery and the more visible the red of the silk. As one matures, the appliqué becomes heavier until little red (a symbol of childhood) can be seen. The progression continues until the day one “turns one’s collar” from maiko to geiko and begins to wear a white collar instead of a red one.

Under their clothes, geisha wear two rectangular undergarments made of cotton, one wrapped tight around the chest and the other wrapped tight around the hips. This helps flattens and smoothes the lines of the kimono. Next comes a long cotton hip wrap, like a half-slip, then a pair of long bloomers to preserve modesty should the front fold of the kimono open.

Next comes the hadajuban, a loose blouselike garment that follows the lines of the kimono. A maiko’s hadajuban has a red collar. Over this, a full length under robe is worn called a nagajuban. Mineko Iwasaki described hers as being "made from tie-died silk figured with a fan-shaped pattern and embroidered with an assortment of flowers."

After their undergarments are on, the kimono and obi (sash) are put on. Their kimono and obi have different designs for each season. For example, in summer, a kimono with hydrangeas might be worn and in Autumn a kimono with maple leaves might be worn. Kimonos for the winter months are made from thicker silk than kimonos for the warm months.

Geisha wear kimonos with more subdued colours and shorter obis than maiko do. A maiko's long obi will sometimes have the crest of the okiya she lives in on it. The clothes worn by geisha and maiko alike are made of expensive silk and are tailor made.

Geisha aren't dressed by themselves, but rather they have professional dressers who dress them every day. The dressers must ensure perfection, and they are the ones who bear the blame if anything is missing, out of place, or seasonally inappropriate.

Mineko describes a maiko's shoes as thus:

Kimono are always worn with either wooden or leather sandals. Okobo, 6-inch-high clog-like wooden sandals, are a distinctive part of a maiko’s outfit. The height of the sandal is a counterbalance to the dangling ends of the maiko’s long obi. Okobo are difficult to walk in, but the mincing gait they ensure is thought to add to the maiko’s allure.

Maiko and geiko always wear white tabi socks. The big toe of the tabi is separated, like a mitten, so that the toes can grip the sandal easily. We wear socks one size smaller than our shoe size, which leads a neat and dainty appearance to the foot.

First year maiko's shoes have little bells dangling from them that makes a sound when they move. Geisha wear flat zori or geta rather than okobo.

The finishing touches to a geisha's outfit are a kimono bag and a fan.

Skincare

We don't know what geisha did when they were sat in front of their mirrors after removing makeup, but we can speculate based on the kind of skincare Japanese women used in times past.

Translucent, white skin was a Japanese ideal of feminine beauty, so they might have used whitening face creams. Camellia oil is commonly used as a cleanser, moisturiser, and to remove makeup in Japan. Rice bran is also used as a cleanser (it's good for dissolving binsuke) and ground azuki beans are used as an exfoliater. Cooled green tea, full of antioxidants, is used as a toner. Squalane and seaweed are used as moisturizers. Parasols are used to protect the skin from the sun.

Mineko Iwasaki describes a bath she took after a long day:

I lowered myself gingerly into the steaming water and soaked until my skin was supple. Then I got out of the tub and, with a bucket and hot water from a spigot in the wall, washed thoroughly with soap and water. Next I rubbed myself all over with a net pouch filled with rice bran. Rice bran contains a significant amount of Vitamin B and is great for the skin. Then I got back in the tub for a final soak.

Geisha also bathe in onsens.

Perfume

We do know geisha wear perfume, but specific fragrances are hard to pin down.

Guerlain made a perfume called "Yakko," inspired by the geisha Sadayakko, who was the first geisha to travel Europe, inspired Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly, and licensed her name to a range of beauty products. It's hard to find any information on the Yakko perfume or what notes it contained, but Guerlain's famous Mitsouko perfume came out in 1919. Inspired by Japan, it contains bergamot, peach, jasmine, rose, and spices.

In the early 20th century, perfumes by French designers like Guerlain, Coty, Chanel and Patou became fashionable among upper class Japanese women, so it's possible geisha used fragrances from these houses to further enhance their allure.

Mineko Iwasaki described one of the first geisha she knew as wearing strong perfume, which caused a cloud of scent to waft into the room every time she fluttered her fan, so perhaps in times past geisha wore perfumes with loud projection that helped them be noticed. In modern Japan, strong perfume is unpopular, as it can bother people on public transport and interfere with the smell and taste of food in restaurants. Geisha, being the perfect hostesses, may not choose a heavy perfume in the modern era so as to follow etiquette and not disturb their clients while they're enjoying a nice meal. Brands known for their light perfumes like Maison Margiela and Diptyque are top-sellers in Japan.

Until the mid 19th century in Japan, it was common for women to scent their kimonos by leaving them on top of an incense burner in a small cage.

Geisha and oiran (courtesans) would carry pieces of scented wood in their sleeves, and would rub scented powder into their hands and necks.

Misc

Mineko Iwasaki described carrying a handbag which contained her fan, a hand towel, lipstick, comb, and a small cushion. Every item had its own carrying case made from Eriman red silk and monogrammed in white with the characters for Mineko.

Shiseido, a brand which is still going strong today, was founded in Japan in 1872. Among their most popular early cosmetics were scented hair tonics and floral perfumes, which were considered to contribute to the brand's luxurious image, helping to make it popular with Japan's upper class. Geisha were at the forefront of beauty and sophistication, so while there's no documentation of it, it's likely that some of their products found their way into the toilettes of geisha due to its prominence in early 20th century Japan and sophisticated image.

A big part of the geisha's appeal isn't just her looks, but her demeanor, the way she moves, and her conversational skills. Geisha train in dance and traditional Japanese arts and are experts at having sophisticated conversations. Not going to go into too much detail as it's its own topic, but it's good to remember that a big part of their mystique comes from their talent, grace and etiquette, not just their physical beauty. They're the full package, not just part of it.

#ask #geisha #beauty

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yurimother · 1 year

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'Yuri Is My Job!' Anime Premieres

On Thursday, April 6, the first episode of Passione and Studio Lings Yuri anime Yuri Is My Job! (Watashi no Yuri wa Oshigoto Desu!) premiered in Japan on AT-X and streamed on Crunchyroll internationally. The anime is based on the manga of the same name by Miman.

The series description on Crunchyroll reads:

Worried about her reputation, Hime covers shifts for a cafe manager she accidentally injures to maintain her picture-perfect princess image. But this cafe has a peculiar theme—private school. To put on her best barista schoolgirl act, she��ll be trained by the most graceful girl there, Mitsuki. Under her guidance, Hime’s feelings start to brew, but there’s just one problem—Mitsuki can’t stand her!

Yuri Is My Job! parodies themes and elements of shoujo and Class-S Yuri works, such as the catholic school setting of the cafe, the use of a foreign language, and the "Schwestern" system between girls of the fictional school.

The anime stars Yui Ogura as Hime Shiraki and Sumire Uesaka as Mitsuki Yano. Additional cast includes:

Minami Tanaka

Makoto Koichi

Yukari Tamura

Asami Seto

The anime is directed by Hijiri Sanpei, with script supervision by Naoki Hayashi and character designs by Taisuke Iwasaki.

The original Yuri is My Job! manga began serializing in Ichijinsha’s Comic Yuri Hime in November 2016. Ichijinsha publishes 11 bound volumes in Japanese. Kodansha Licenses the manga in English and will release the 11th translated volume in June.

Crunchyroll is streaming the series internationally with subtitles available in English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Russian. New episodes are released every Thursday. You can stream the first episode today.

#yuri #anime #yuri is my job!#girls love #lgbt #lgbtq #lgbtq+#yuri anime #queer #gay #lesbian #lesbians #gl #romance #manga

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1ovede1uxe · 2 months

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il mare eterno nella mia anima // the eternal sea within my soul - a personal analysis

I know I said a battle tendency ost analysis was coming, but things got in the way, so here's my two cents on my most played song in the past few months. this is messy, and just my personal analysis based on the notes I've taken.

these are opinions, I have no confirmation over any of this, just theories on what the composers could've been going for!

I'm open to any discussion, constructive criticism, or other theories!

At its most basic level, il mare eterno nella mia anima (I'll abbreviate it as 'il mare' for simplicity's sake) is an aria. For those who may not know, an aria is a solo piece sung in a large-scale vocal work, like an oratorio or an opera. They often showcase a character's thoughts and feelings. They can also be compared to soliloquies, allowing for a deeper understanding of the character, or an opportunity for the character to show off and come into themselves.

As I was doing research for this, thanks to the JoJo Wiki on this piece, I realized that there are some similarities to melody/chord structure to Nessun Dorma from Puccini's Turandot. Both could be considered ballads of longing (one for the princess, one for victory), the difference in messages though is that Nessun Dorma is an aria of victory and confidence, and don't get me wrong, il mare does exude confidence, however, serves as more of a eulogy, one dramatic enough for a character such as Caesar. I honestly feel as if Il Mare is a more delicate take, despite the boldness of the piece it's inspired by.

where I hear the most similarities: 0:45-1:15 (chord changes, melody, accompaniment), 1:58-2:15 (the accompaniment), 2:35-end, melody in brass, the last brass ascending hit is reminiscent of the closing "peak" of il mare (2:40), which instead of leaving it open-ended, il mare resolves.

Keeping this in mind, and under the assumption that 'il mare' is from Caesar's perspective, the lyrics of this piece are really something to focus on

soffia dolcemente un venticello, spirate nel mio cor, mia dea fortuna // a light breeze gently blows in, expire in my heart, my goddess of fortune

Quite honestly, the "light breeze" could be a reference to Wamuu's attacks if you honestly want to see it that way, thus implying that he would consider himself fortunate that he would be the one to take on all the damage from Wamuu, rather than Joseph and Lisa Lisa.

However, the other avenue, my belief, reflects on Caesar's change from delinquency to the person he's become today. the light breeze being his one-off chance to see his father again, the situation pushing him to train under Lisa Lisa and grow. He considers himself beyond fortunate for the chance he was granted, and now he realizes what it all led up to, laying it all on the line for the Joestars as his Zeppeli family destiny foretells. On an emotional level, reconnecting with his family, which he struggled to connect before.

sulla volta celeste, c'è il mare eterno nella mia anima // beyond the blue sky, there lies the eternal sea within my soul

The sea is often considered a peaceful place, and beyond the blue sky obviously refers to heaven. Caesar is at peace with the way he's going out and why.

con un sol fulmine, capirai tal leggenda, quando pensi a me, sempre bisbiglierò // with one bolt of lightning, you will know of my legend, whenever you think of me, i shall always whisper

The bolt of lightning could be referencing Hamon, if taken in a more literal sense. Knowing of Caesar's legend is very much reminiscent of the legacy he wants to leave. on top of this, he wants to be remembered, he doesn't want his sacrifice to go to waste. The whisper is a remnant of his impact on the journey ahead, the boost of power to Joseph, even through the clever use of his headband.

sulla volta celeste, c'è il mare eterno nella mia anima // beyond the blue sky, there lies the eternal sea within my soul

ovunque tu vada, ovunque io vada, c'è il mio amor nella tua vita, c'è l'amor nella tua giornata // wherever you go, wherever I go, my love lies deep within your life, my love remains in your days

caejose caejose caejose This plays especially into the relationship between Joseph and Caesar, or honestly, the relationship between the Zeppelis and Joestars. the love and support of the Zeppelis to the Joestars extends generations and even universes. their sacrifices will never be forgotten or lost in time. Caesar's sacrifice to Joseph will never be forgotten by him and help him through his journey. Yes, this is basically in the previous verse, but this really places the focus on the bond between Joseph and Caesar in my eyes.

basta un tuo sorriso, un tuo sol sorriso // it takes just one of your smiles, one single smile

Joseph, even when with enemies, is a goofy and smiley guy. To Caesar, Joseph's "smile" is worth all of this. His smile of success and victory and positivity towards their collective efforts. Caesar does what needs to be done to ensure this message carries, which aligns with his legacy as a Zeppeli; his support shines through Joseph's success.

non morirà l'alma mia. è immortal! non serve versar lacrime // my soul shall never die. it is immortal! it is no use shedding tears for me

Caesar wants Joseph and Lisa Lisa to push on, knowing if they stop to mourn they'll lose time. He knows his sacrifice was necessary, and that it was fate, and he smiles upon them, his gifts and soul will live on with them.

This piece was written with Caesar's final moments in mind, so I can imagine this came as a reference first before the rest of the soundtrack. The melodic motif (the triplet, one) can be heard elsewhere in the soundtrack, specifically the piece "Pain Just Like Strange Rain," which plays with Caesar in the series more than any other character (it played once when Straizo kills himself in the first episode, but the rest of the times correlate with Caesar, such as Mark's death, Caesar goes to the hotel, and Caesar's backstory). The melodic motif could be signifying Caesar's internal struggle, because once the motif returns in "Il Mare" the triplet ends and continues upwards, as well as the accompaniment, as opposed to "Pain," which it goes up then down, and also provides a much more tense and haunting feel, with an introspective vibe. This could signify Caesar's comfort and resolution to who he is, and that he feels less conflicted about himself, as Il Mare is a more elegant and happier sounding piece, despite what it accompanies.

edits to come, hope this was good, I've exclusively been listening to the battle tendency OST and also Turandot the last week working on this.

#Spotify #soundtrack analysis #battle tendency OST #caejose #caesar zeppeli #joseph joestar #il mare eterno nella mia anima #opera #jjba part 2 #jojos bizarre adventure #jojo no kimyō na bōken

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uenodivision · 10 months

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Hypnosis Mic Shuffle Team, Vol. 3 (Part 4) (Cont.)

Prince & Princess

Kirumi "Crystal" Mayeda

Eldrid "Valkyrie" Iwasaki

Doesn't Matter (How Much Time)

youtube

Black Shrine

Yuriko "Black Dahlia" Kuromiya

Nadya "Vipera" Kuromiya

Worthy of the Name (Rap Battle)

youtube

Secretive Masterminds

Queen Card

Kanon "Mz. Hyde" Hojo

One Division At a Time (Remix)

youtube

Secret Lovers

Yorii "Sireen" Sakuma

Elliot "MC Nanashi" Shimizu

Kureha "Eclipse" Koizumi

Kanra "D. Vil" Akemi

My Shining Star (Take My Hand)

youtube

Master & Expert

Miho "Iron Maiden" Kobayashi

Goro "The Expert" Eguchi

Obey Me (Iron Maiden Solo)

youtube

Peace and Quiet

Makina "Screen Shot" Setsukura

Nikki "1-Up" Yoshie

Miku "Hex 13" Shirazuki

Leave Us (To Our Monotony)

youtube

Divine Intervention

Masa "The Father" Judice

Oki "ATLAS" Teagan

Juu "10" Judice

Eiji "MC Mogul" Noguchi

God Makes Us Better (Than You)

youtube

Three Wise Women

Anika "Rush Hour" Kiyozaki

Chinami "Oracle" Chinen

Aira "Nightingale" Otonashi

Paradice

The Misanthropes

Akari "Cinder" Himura

Juu "10" Judice

Wet Em’ Up (Pow, Pow!) (Remix)

youtube

Cyber Sound

Aiko "A.I.-ko 1.0" Shinomiya

Saburo "MC L.B." Yamada

Masuzō "Malphas" Shinomiya

Ageha "A.D.A." Shinozaki

Synthetic Planet

youtube

@takatsuki-division @taito-division @edogawa-division @minato-division01 @minato-division03 @shizuokadivision @setagaya-division @saitama-division @shinagawa-division @akihabara-division03 @akihabaradivision @ginza-division @ota-division @nerima-division @katsushika-division

#hypmic #hypmic oc #hypnosis mic oc #hypnosis mic #hypnosis microphone #collab event #shuffle album #shuffle team #Youtube #hypnosis mic shuffle team 2023

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mused-like-roses · 3 months

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⭐

Send a " ⭐ " and I will list muses I would be interested in throwing at yours, or potential muse combinations if you are also a multi. ~ @historias-multorum

// Under read more because it miiiight be a long one:

Ace Attorney ~ All muses (Top 3; Mia Fey, Phoenix Wright, Dick Gumshoe) (All muses/Top 3 for Miles Edgeworth & L Lawliet, Phoenix Wright for Ulala)

Azumanga Daioh ~ All muses (For Minami Iwasaki & Haku Yowane)

Bleach ~ Orihime Inoue (For Byakuya Kuchiki), Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez (For any of your muses)

BNHA ~ Izuku "Deku" Midoriya (For Momo Yaoyorozu), Shoto Todoroki (For Tsuyu Asui), Rumi Usagiyama (For Shota Aizawa)

Castlevania ~ Trevor Belmont & Sypha Belnades (For Abel Nightroad and Alucard Tepes) // Also Trinity Blood was AMAZING

Chainsaw Man ~ All muses (For Aki Hayakawa)

Final Fantasy ~ Cloud Strife, Aerith Gainsborough, Tifa Lockhart, Cid Highwind, Yuffie Kisaragi (For Axel)

Jujutsu Kaisen ~ All muses (For your JJK muses. There's too many good combinations we could make with them lmao) / Kento Nanami (For Hinata Hyuuga), Toji Fushiguro (For Ino Yamanaka)

Kingdom Hearts ~ Kairi & Literally anyone in Organization XIII (For Axel)

Lucky Star ~ Lemme just set my sideblog here for a sec; @konckona (For Minami Iwasaki & Haku Yowane)

Naruto ~ Sasuke Uchiha (For Tenten & the Uchihas), Madara Uchiha (For Hana Inuzuka & the Uchihas) Kiba Inuzuka (For Ino Yamanaka), Kakashi Hatake (For any of your muses. Too many good choices, can't decide), Literally anyone in the Akatsuki (For Itachi Uchiha)

One Piece ~ Portgas D Ace (For Jewelry Bonney), Crocodile (For Vinsmoke Reiju), Shanks (For Makino), Literally any of the Straw Hats (For any of your muses)

Resident Evil ~ All muses (For your Resident Evil Village muses)

Sonic ~ All muses (Top 3; Sonic, Shadow, Knuckles) (For your Sonic & Crash Bandicoot muses, and Ulala)

Street Fighter ~ Chun-Li (For Jonathon Joestar. He better not think I forgot about him eyeing Chun >:3)

Super Mario ~ All muses (Top 3; Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach) (For your Sonic muses)

#; 𝖔𝖔𝖈 #historias multorum #// You have like so many good choices lmao

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the-one-and-only-moldy-cheese · 3 months

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Belle (2021 film)

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Belle (竜とそばかすの姫, Ryū to Sobakasu no Hime, literally The Dragon and the Freckled Princess) is a 2021 Japanese animated science fantasy film written and directed by Mamoru Hosoda and produced by Studio Chizu. The story is inspired by the 1756 French fairy tale Beauty and the Beast by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont as well as the 1991 Disney animated film.[2]

Belle

Theatrical release poster

Japanese name

Kanji

竜とそばかすの姫

Literal meaning

The Dragon and the Freckled Princess

Transcriptions

Directed by

Mamoru Hosoda

Written by

Mamoru Hosoda

Produced by

Nozomu Takahashi

Yuichiro Saito

Toshimi Tanio

Genki Kawamura

Starring

Kaho Nakamura

Ryō Narita

Shōta Sometani

Tina Tamashiro

Lilas Ikuta

Kōji Yakusho

Takeru Satoh

Edited by

Shigeru Nishiyama

Music by

Taisei Iwasaki

Ludvig Forssell

Yuta Bandoh

Miho Sakai

Production

company

Studio Chizu

Distributed by

Toho

Release dates

July 15, 2021 (Cannes)

July 16, 2021 (Japan)

Running time

121 minutes

Country

Japan

Language

Japanese

Box office

$64.7 million[1]

Belle premiered on July 15, 2021, at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival,[3] where it was well-received by critics with a standing ovation that lasted fourteen minutes.[4] The film was additionally dubbed into foreign languages (English, Chinese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, French, Greek, German and Polish). It was released theatrically in Japan on July 16, 2021. Belle is the third-highest-grossing Japanese film of 2021, accounting for ¥6.53 billion in box-office rankings as of December 12, 2021.[5][6]

Plot

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Suzu Naito is a third-year high school student living in the rural Kōchi Prefecture of Japan, with a lost passion for singing and songwriting. As a child, Suzu witnessed her mother rescue a girl from a flooding river at the cost of her own life and thus resents her for "abandoning" her for a stranger's child. Suzu remains in contact with a group of older choir teachers who were her mother's friends but is alienated from most of her classmates, except her childhood crush and self-appointed protector Shinobu Hisatake, popular girl Ruka Watanabe, sportsman Shinjiro "Kamishin" Chikami, and her genius best friend Hiroka "Hiro" Betsuyaku.

At Hiro's insistence, Suzu signs into the popular virtual world "U" and is appointed a beautiful avatar with freckles (through the AI engine's biometric analysis[7]), whom she names "Bell", the English translation of her own name. Upon logging in, she finds herself capable of singing again. With the assistance of Hiro, who appoints herself Bell's manager and producer, Bell becomes a hit on U's music charts, and people start referring to her as "Belle", meaning "beautiful" in French.

During one of Belle's concerts, an infamously strong and near-unbeatable user, "The Dragon" (or "The Beast"), arrives, fleeing from the Justices, a vigilante group led by the self-righteous Justin, who fight the Dragon and accuse him of disturbing the peace of U. Justin plans to unveil the Dragon's identity to the public using a specialized program mostly reserved for U's owners. Intrigued by the Dragon, Suzu begins to gather information about him. She discovers that he is popular amongst children, who consider him to be their hero. She meets the Dragon and his five guardians AIs. Belle and the Dragon grow close. In the real world, Ruka confides to Suzu that she has a crush on Kamishin. Suzu helps the two confess their feelings.

In U, Justin captures and interrogates Belle, threatening to unveil her identity to the world if she refuses to cooperate. The Dragon's AIs rescue Belle, but their intervention allows Justin and his group to locate the Dragon's castle and burn it down. The Dragon flees before Belle can find him. Suzu and Hiro work to find out the Dragon's real identity before Justin can and warn him. They find out the Dragon is a third-year junior high school student named Kei who is being physically and verbally abused by his father; Kei's protectiveness over his younger brother, Tomo is what gives the Dragon his unbeatable strength in U. Suzu contacts Kei offering help. Kei does not believe that she is Belle, and generally distrusts everyone who offers him help, since nobody has ever followed through. Shinobu, Ruka, Kamishin, and the choir teachers reveal their knowledge of Belle's true identity and urge Suzu to sing to gain Kei's trust. Suzu unveils herself to the world in the U and sings. Tomo convinces Kei to trust her and they try to contact her again. When Kei's father sees that evidence of his abuse has been posted online, he terminates their internet connection before Kei can tell Suzu their address.

Using context clues, Ruka and Kamishin deduce that Kei's hometown is Kawasaki, Kanagawa, near Tokyo. Since authorities cannot intervene on abuse charges until 48 hours have passed, Suzu locates Kei and Tomo on her own and protects them from their father. The next day, she and her father warmly greet each other at the station. Shinobu praises Suzu for her bravery and deciding she no longer needs his protection, finally feels free to pursue the relationship he has always wanted with her. Finally understanding her mother's selfless actions, Suzu makes peace with her death.

Voice cast

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Character Cast Summary

Japanese English[8]

Suzu Naito / Belle Kaho Nakamura[9] Kylie McNeill A third-year high school student who lost the will to sing after the death of her mother. She is known as Belle in U.

Kei / Dragon Takeru Satoh[10] Paul Castro Jr. A third-year middle school student who is being abused by his father. He is known as the beast in U.

Tomo / Angel HANA Bentley Griffin Kei's innocent and frail younger brother. He is known as the Angel in U.

Hiroka "Hiro-chan" Betsuyaku Lilas Ikuta Jessica DiCicco Suzu's best friend and manager of her identity as Belle.

Suzu's father Kōji Yakusho[11] Ben Lepley Suzu's widowed father who she feels distant from.

Shinobu Hisatake Ryo Narita Manny Jacinto Suzu's crush since elementary school.

Shinjiro "Kamishin" Chikami Shota Sometani Brandon Engman Suzu's friend who has a passion for canoeing.

Ruka Watanabe Tina Tamashiro Hunter Schafer The popular girl in Suzu's class.

Justin Toshiyuki Morikawa Chace Crawford The leader of the Justices, a group of corps that are proclaiming themselves the unofficial protectors of justice and order within the virtual online space of "U".

Okumoto Fuyumi Sakamoto Ellyn Stern

Jellinek Kenjiro Tsuda Andrew Kishino

Swan Mami Koyama Noelle McGrath

Muitarō Hitokawa / Tokoraemaru Mamoru Miyano David Chen

Kita Michiko Shimizu Jessica Gee George

Yoshitani Ryoko Moriyama Barbara Goodson

Hatanaka Sachiyo Nakao Martha Harms

Nakai Yoshimi Iwasaki Wendee Lee

Suzu's mother Sumi Shimamoto[12] Julie Nathanson

Kei and Tomo's Father/Kakeshi Kun Ken Ishiguro Kiff VandenHeuvel

Peggie Sue ermhoi Cristina Vee

Production

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While Studio Chizu worked on the project, they had help from veteran Disney animator and character designer Jin Kim and Michael Camacho on the design of Belle and studio Cartoon Saloon for the background work of the world of U.[13][14]

Hosoda initially intended for Belle to be a musical, but considered the idea difficult due to Japan not having a culture of making musicals. However, he still wanted music to be central to the film, so he searched for a protagonist who could sing. He stated that he preferred the same person doing both speaking and singing voices to make it convincing and searched for a singer who could express their feelings through song and move people, even if they don't understand Japanese. He then found Kaho Nakamura, whom he considered relatively unknown, but a perfect choice for the role. Hosoda stated that Nakamura was also involved in writing lyrics, so she could feel the lyrics she was singing.[15]

Release

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GKIDS acquired North American distribution rights in June 2021, and released the film theatrically with a nationwide release date of January 14, 2022,[16] and previews in select IMAX theaters on January 12,[17] [18]

Sale rights to the film outside Japan were handled by French company Charades who pre-sold the rights internationally, including Kismet in Australia and New Zealand, Anime Limited in the UK,[19][20] Ireland and France (with Wild Bunch), and Koch Media in Italy and German-speaking territories. The deal size was due to the popularity of Japanese anime and the international status of Mamoru Hosoda.[21]

Music

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Main article: Belle (soundtrack)

The music for the series was composed by Taisei Iwasaki, Ludvig Forssell, and Yuta Bandoh. The soundtrack album was released on August 18, 2021, by Ariola Japan.[22][23]

Reception

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Box office

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Belle is the third-highest-grossing Japanese film of 2021, accounting for ¥6.53 billion in box-office rakings as of December 12, 2021.[5][6]

In the film's U.S. opening weekend it made $1.6 million from 1,326 theaters, and a total of $1.8 million over the four-day Martin Luther King Day holiday frame.[24][25] The film dropped out of the box office top ten in its second weekend with $570,213.[26] The film was released on May 17, 2022, on DVD & Blu-ray by GKids (through its distribution partner Shout! Factory).[27]

Critical response

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 95% of 129 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.9/10. The website's consensus reads: "A remarkable story brought to life with dazzling animation, Belle finds writer-director Mamoru Hosoda setting a brilliant new benchmark."[28] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 83 out of 100, based on 31 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[29] American audiences polled by PostTrak gave the film an 86% positive score, with 63% saying they would definitely recommend it.[30]

At the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, the film received a 14-minute-standing ovation.[31][32] Joe Morgenstern wrote for The Wall Street Journal that "There's too much plot for the film to manage, but its heart, and sumptuous art, are so firmly in the right place that its appeal comes through sweet and clear."[33] Manohla Dargis of The New York Times praised the visual quality, character development, worldbuilding, and called the film "unfailingly touching."[34] Justin Chang of the Los Angeles Times praised the visuals and story, writing "It’s a tale as old as time and as newfangled as TikTok, in which the virtual world, though packed with fantasy and artifice, can bring startling truths to the surface."[35]

Accolades

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The film has received five Annie Award nominations, including one for Best Independent Animated Feature. Its total makes it the second most nominations for a Japanese anime film ever at the awards, tied with Ghost in the Shell (1995), and behind Suzume (2022) and The Boy and the Heron (2023).

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.

Sitges Film Festival October 6, 2021 Best Feature Belle Nominated [36]

[37]

Grand Honorary Award Mamoru Hosoda Won

Locarno Festival August 9, 2021 Locarno Festival Kids Award Belle, Mamoru Hosoda Won [38]

[39]

Animation Is Film Festival October 26, 2021 Special Jury Prize Belle Won [40]

Fancine2021 November 18, 2021 Best Feature Film Nominated [41]

[42]

Best Sound Design Won

Public's Choice Award For Best Feature Film Won

Gato Rabioso Award Won

Utopiales2021 November 30, 2021 Cinema International Feature Film Competition Jury Prize Won [43]

Detroit Film Critics Society December 6, 2021 Best Animated Feature Nominated [44]

Chicago Film Critics Association December 15, 2021 Best Animated Feature Nominated [45]

Audience Award Best Feature Won [46]

Hawaii International Film Festival December 3, 2021 Audience Award Best Feature Won [47]

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards December 18, 2021 Best Animated Film Runner-up [48]

New Mexico Film Critics December 21, 2021 Best Animated Feature Runner-up [49]

Florida Film Critics Circle December 22, 2021 Best Animated Feature Nominated [50]

San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle January 10, 2022 Best Animated Feature Nominated [51]

Austin Film Critics Association January 11, 2022 Best Animated Film Nominated [52]

Best Voice Acting/Animated/Digital Performance Kaho Nakamura Nominated

Crunchyroll Anime Awards February 9, 2022 Best Film Belle Nominated [53]

Gold Open February 23, 2022 Gold List Best Animation Feature Belle Honorable Mention[note 1] [54]

VFX-Japan Awards March 3, 2022 Excellence Award - Animated Theatrical Film Category Belle Won [55]

[56]

Japan Academy Film Prize March 11, 2022 Animation of the Year Belle Nominated [57]

Outstanding Achievement in Music Taisei Iwasaki, Ludvig Forssell, Yuta Bandoh Won

Annie Awards March 12, 2022 Best Animated Feature — Independent Belle Nominated [58]

Outstanding Achievement for Animated Effects in an Animated Production Ryo Horibe, Yohei Shimozawa Nominated

Outstanding Achievement for Directing in an Animated Feature Production Mamoru Hosoda Nominated

Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Feature Production Nominated

Outstanding Achievement for Production Design in an Animated Feature Production Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart, Alice Dieudonné, Almu Redondo, Maria Pareja Nominated

Anifilm May 18, 2022 The Best Feature Film for Children Belle Won [59]

Cartoons on the Bay June 4, 2022 Best Writing Award Won [60]

Animafest Zagreb July 9, 2022 Best Animated Feature Nominated [61]

Uruguayan Film Critics Association December 16, 2022 Best Animated Feature Won [62]

Golden Tomatoes Award 2022 January 13, 2023 Best Animated Movies 6th place [63]

Best Foreign-Language Movies 9th place [64]

Best Wide Release Movies 13th place [65]

Cultural influence

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After the release of the film, Ochi, Kōchi in Kōchi Prefecture, which served as the prototype for filming, was certified by the Anime Tourism Association as one of the "88 Japanese Anime Mecca I Want to Visit".[66][67] The Kochi Prefectural Tourism Bureau plans movie sightseeing routes to attract tourists with movie locations.[68]

Belle was included in a high school art textbook released in Japan as a teaching example of animation production, and passed the audit of Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in March 2023. This textbook will be used as a high school art textbook to be launched in 2024.[69][70][71]

Footnotes

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Tied with《Flee (film)》

References

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"Mamoru Hosoda On Creating A Virtual 'Beauty And The Beast' For 'Belle' [Interview]". January 17, 2022. Archived from the original on April 8, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2022.

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Osmond, Andrew (January 18, 2022). "Mamoru Hosoda Talks Belle". NEO. No. 216. pp. 42, 44.

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"音楽｜「竜とそばかすの姫」公式サイト". 「竜とそばかすの姫」公式サイト（ryu-to-sobakasu-no-hime.jp） (in Japanese). スタジオ地図 Studio Chizu. 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2024.

"NEWS｜「竜とそばかすの姫」公式サイト". 「竜とそばかすの姫」公式サイト（ryu-to-sobakasu-no-hime.jp） (in Japanese and English). スタジオ地図 Studio Chizu. July 30, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2024.

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"Domestic 2022 Weekend 2 | January 14–17, 2022 – Martin Luther King Jr. weekend (US)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2022.

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Mateo, Alex (February 28, 2022). "GKIDS Releases Belle Anime Film Digitally on May 3, Home Video on May 17". Archived from the original on July 9, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2022.

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Steen, Emma (July 19, 2021). "Japanese anime Belle receives a 14-minute standing ovation at Cannes". Time Out. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2022.

Baron, Reuben (July 16, 2021). "Mamoru Hosoda's Belle Gets 14-Minute Standing Ovation at Cannes". CBR. Archived from the original on July 16, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2022.

Morgenstern, Joe (January 13, 2022). "'Belle' Review: Reality's Beautiful Bite". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on July 10, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2022.

Dargis, Manohla (January 13, 2022). "'Belle' Review: Soaring and Singing Over the Online Rainbow". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2022.

Chang, Justin (January 13, 2022). "Review: 'Belle' is a striking virtual reality riff on 'Beauty and the Beast'". LA Times. Archived from the original on January 13, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2022.

"Sitges Film Festival kicks off, with 11 days of horror, fantasy and animation". SPAIN in ENGLISH. October 6, 2021. Archived from the original on July 9, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2021.

"SITGES 2021 WINNERS: 'LAMB', SITGES 2021 BEST FEATURE LENGHT [sic] FILMS". SPAIN in ENGLISH. October 17, 2021. Archived from the original on July 10, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2022.

"Mamoru Hosoda to Receive the First Locarno Kids Award". The Locarno Film Festival. July 26, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2021.

"Mamoru Hosoda's Anime Film BELLE Wins Inaugural Locarno Kids Award". July 28, 2021. Archived from the original on May 12, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2021.

Giardina, Carolyn (October 26, 2021). "'Flee' Wins Grand Prize At Animation Is Film Festival". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 17, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2021.

"FANCINE TURNS ITS 31ST EDITION INTO A SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN FILM EXPERIMENT". Fancine. November 18, 2021. Archived from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2021.

"31ST FANCINE WINNERS". Fancine. November 18, 2021. Archived from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2021.

"LES UTOPIALES Palmarès 2021". LES UTOPIALES (in French). November 30, 2021. Archived from the original on December 12, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2021.

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Tallerico, Brian (December 13, 2021). "West Side Story Leads the 2021 Chicago Critics Nominees". RogerEbert.com. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2021.

Tallerico, Brian (November 15, 2021). "Chicago Film Critics Association Announces CHICAGO CRITICS FILM FESTIVAL Audience Award Winners, 2022 Festival Dates". Archived from the original on July 9, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2021.

"HIFF41 AUDIENCE AWARDS ANNOUNCEMENT". HIFF. December 3, 2021. Archived from the original on July 10, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2021.

Shanfield, Ethan; Murphy, J. Kim (December 18, 2021). "'Drive My Car' and 'The Power of the Dog' Win Top Prizes at L.A. Film Critics Association Awards 2021 (Full List)". Variety. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved December 19, 2021.

"Precursor: 6th New Mexico Critics Awards (2021)". Cinemasight.com. December 13, 2021. Archived from the original on July 9, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2021.

Neglia, Matt (December 15, 2021). "The 2021 Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) Nominations". NextBigPicture. Archived from the original on December 16, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2021.

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Neglia, Matt (January 4, 2022). "The 2021 Austin Film Critics Association (AFCA) Nominations". Next Big Picture. Archived from the original on January 4, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2022.

Loveridge, Lynzee (January 18, 2022). "Crunchyroll Announces Nominees for 6th Annual Anime Awards". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022.

"Gold List2022". February 23, 2022. Archived from the original on July 9, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.

Hodgkins, Crystalyn (February 2, 2022). "VFX-Japan Awards Reveal 2022 Nominees". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.

Pineda, Rafael Antonio (March 5, 2022). "Belle, Rurouni Kenshin The Final Films Win VFX-Japan Awards". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.

Mateo, Alex (March 11, 2022). "Evangelion 3.0+1.0 Film Wins Japan Academy Film Prizes' Animation of the Year". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 11, 2022. Retrieved March 11, 2022.

Pedersen, Erik (December 21, 2021). "Annie Awards Nominations: 'Raya And The Last Dragon' & 'Encanto' Lead Field For Animation Prizes". Deadline. Archived from the original on March 7, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2021.

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"ryū to sobakasu no hime / belle" (in Croatian). June 12, 2022. Archived from the original on July 9, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2022.

"El Observador Estas son las mejores películas del 2022 según los críticos uruguayos". El Observador (in Spanish). December 16, 2022. Archived from the original on December 17, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2022.

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映画「竜とそばかすの姫」物語の舞台高知へ。. よさこいネット/映画「竜とそばかすの姫」スペシャルタイアップサイト (in Japanese). 公益財団法人高知県観光コンベンション協会. July 24, 2021. Archived from the original on January 16, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2021.

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大谷翔平、小学校の教科書でも引っ張りだこ…打撃で算数の活用法紹介 (in Japanese). 體育報知. March 29, 2023. Archived from the original on April 3, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.

大令和6年度使用高校教科書特集 (in Japanese). 教育新聞. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2023.

External links

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Official website (in Japanese)

Belle at Anime News Network's encyclopedia

Belle at IMDb Edit this at Wikidata

2 notes · View notes

le0lama · 4 months

Text

Fanart de Princess♂️ (FAKE TYPE.)

Cette illustration est un fanart de Princess♂️, un personnage créé pour les clips de TOPHAMHAT-KYO (FAKE TYPE.).

Depuis 2 mois, j'écoute en boucle les chansons du duo Fake Type, c'est devenu ma drogue xD c'est un duo de J-pop, leur style est plutôt électro rap excentrique, on les reconnaît immédiatement, même quand leurs chansons sont interprétées par d'autres chanteurs ^^ Le duo est composé de TOPHAMHAT-KYO, auteur et chanteur, et DYES IWASAKI, le compositeur.

Le personnage que j'ai dessiné est donc un personnage de TOPHAMHAT-KYO, créé il y a environ 3 ans pour une petite série de 3 chansons ("Princess♂️", "Mister Jewel Box" et "Kruel Kreator"). Princess revient dans le clip de la reprise par Fake Type de "Fleeting Lullaby", chanson écrite et composée par Fake Type et initialement interprétée par Ado dans le film "One Piece Red".

Bref, je suis pas là pour faire un exposé x'D c'est juste que j'adore leur univers, et j'ai personne pour en parler 😭 y a pas grand monde qui écoute de la J-pop dans mon entourage 🥲 Si jamais ça vois intéresse, je vous conseille d'écouter la chanson Fake Land, elle représente bien leur style excentrique (et perso c'est ma préférée ^^).

#art #blue #bleu #princess♂️#FT_ART #fake type #tophamhatkyo #jpop #jpop icons #music #fanart #girl #character #character art

6 notes · View notes

viviane-lefay · 8 months

Text

Fandom Meme

I guess this here needed an update. It’s been a while ... several years to be precise.

If you want to do this, too, feel welcome to. ^^

—

FAVOURITE …

LITERATURE

Fantasy & Sci-Fi

J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, etc.

M.Z. Bradley’s Avalon-Novels & Firebrand

J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter

Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles

Medieval & Antique Literature, Myth & Folklore

Ovid’s Metamorphoses

The Edda

Nibelungenlied

works of Walther von der Vogelweide

Arthurian Romances - like Erec, Iwein, Parzival, etc.

Gregorius

Aeneasroman

Iliad & Odyssee

Murasaki Shikibu’s “Genji Monogatari” (the language is really beautiful, but I can’t stand the protagonist, old philanderer that he is)

some Classics

Pride & Prejudice

Wuthering Heights

The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders

The Picture of Dorian Grey

Dracula

Faust I+II

Macbeth

The Life and Opinions of Tomcat Murr

works of the Brothers Grimm

Siddharta

some “regular” novels

Paulo Coelho’s “The Alchemist”, “Brida”

Nobara Takemoto’s “Shimotsuma Monogatari”

some fanfiction

“Father’s Heart” & “Process of Elimination” by Fern Withy

“Antiquity’s Corollary” by gonnabefamous

biographical books

Mineko Iwasaki’s “Geisha of Gion”

Paramahansa Yogananda’s “Autobiography of a Yogi”

Baird T. Spalding’s “Life and Teachings of the Masters of the East”

interesting non-fiction

such as science-related books / websites

those of a more metaphysical & occult subject matter

or those about more controversial topics, such as Extraterrestrials, so-called “conspiracy theories”, and the like (Problem!? Your loss. I don’t see why I shouldn’t look into these topics. It certainly is interesting, and it’s quite arrogant to assume we have it all figured out. Besides, no one says you have to believe anything you read, but it sure can’t hurt to approach things with a more open mind, and to just look where evidence leads us, when it presents itself.)

SHOWS

Fantasy

Game of Thrones (until D&D started messing things up)

Princess Fantaghiró

Buffy

Wednesday (it`s not too bad, but still quite entertaining)

Sci-Fi

Star Wars - The Clone Wars

The Mandalorian

Star Trek TOS

Doctor Who

some Asian dramas

Gou - Himetachi no Sengoku

Atsu-Hime

Ryomaden

Neko Samurai

some Animé

Avatar - The Last Airbender

several works of Hayao Miyazaki

Leiji Matsumoto’s “Queen Millenia” & “Maetel Legend”

Sailor Moon

Naruto (not anymore, but I still keep it here, for nostalgia reasons)

FANDOM QUESTIONS

DO YOU PREFER REAL-LIFE OR ANIMATED SHOWS?

Both, although there is a definite bias towards the former.

With the latter it greatly depends on the overall quality of the show, as well as the style in which it is presented.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST FANDOM?

As a child I had quite some:

Disney Ducks, Pippi Longstocking, Ronja Rovarsdóttir, Princess Fantaghirò, Queen Millenia, and The Addams Family.

While I never was a gamer myself, I very much loved to watch others play games - especially the classic Sonic games, as well as the Super Mario ones … which you can (somewhat) call a childhood fandom of mine, too.

WHAT’S THE LONGEST YOU’VE EVER BEEN IN A FANDOM? WHAT FANDOM WAS IT?

I'm in the Star Wars fandom since the age of twelve, which, in fact, was some years before the prequels came out. (yes, I'm a little older than most of you here, just in case you were wondering ... the same age as RotJ to be precise)

WHAT WAS THE FIRST THING YOU EVER CONTRIBUTED TO A FANDOM?

A drawing of Princess Leia, if I remember correctly.

A PERSON WHO GOT YOU INTO A FANDOM. WHAT FANDOM DID THEY PULL YOU INTO?

@mikeilo got me interested in Prince Phobos (W.I.T.C.H.) several years ago, but to say that I was “involved” in the fandom is a bit too much. It was more about this particular character, though.

NAME A FANDOM YOU DIDN’T CARE / THINK ABOUT UNTIL YOU SAW IT ALL OVER TUMBLR.

No idea.

Tbh, I hardly search for fandom stuff on Tumblr - given experience showed me that the majority here and I don’t get along, taste-wise.

HAS TUMBLR CAUSED YOU TO STOP LIKING ANY FANDOMS? IF SO, WHICH AND WHY?

No, why should I let a community affect my love for a fandom!? It’s not the fandoms’ / characters’ / authors’ fault that some people are just plain disagreeable and obtrusive.

If anything, it has just reinforced my aversion against the things I disliked from the get-go - especially if there is some “activist” fanaticism, connected with aggressive, proselytizing behaviour involved.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR CURRENT FANDOM(S)?

Ambivalent.

There are some obnoxious brats, which should be ignored at best. Drama is a waste of time and energy!

Then again, there are also some very nice people out there.

Most of the time I prefer to have just a few contacts, anyway - i.e. like-minded ones I & my preferences & convictions get along with. Those, I do appreciate greatly, though.

5 FAVOURITE CHARACTERS FROM 5 DIFFERENT FANDOMS.

Star Wars

Darth Vader / Anakin Skywalker, Leia Organa, Padmé Amidala, Luke Skywalker, Mara Jade-Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Satine Kryze, Bo-Katan Kryze, Merrin, Asajj Ventress, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, Dagan Gera, Santari Khri, Cal Kestis, Arc Trooper Fives, Captain Rex, Hondo Ohnaka, Greez Dritus, Firmus Piett, Chewbacca, R2D2

Tolkien

Mairon / Sauron (my headcanon version, that is), Nienna, Aulë, Olórin, Aiwendil, Rúmil of Tirion, Finrod, Glorfindel, Maglor, Thranduil, Tauriel, Lúthien, Galadriel, Nerdanel, Haleth, Eowyn, Faramir, Aragorn, Kili, Samwise

Harry Potter

Severus Snape, Luna Lovegood, Fred & George Weasley, Hagrid, Andromeda Tonks, Regulus Black, Leta Lestrange, the genuinely nice Slytherin students that JKR forgot to mention, Queenie Goldstein, Newt Scamander

Avatar - The last Airbender

Ozai, Ursa, Zuko, Iroh, Katara, Toph, Suki, Sokka, Ty Lee, Aang, Kyoshi, Roku, Master Piandao, Cabbage Guy, Appa

Legend of Zelda

Link, Zelda, Midna, Impa, Purah, Robbie, Urbosa, Riju, Patricia, Revali, Teba, Tulin, Kass, Mipha, Sidon, Yona, Dorephan, Daruk, Yunobo, Bludo, Deku Tree, Terrako, Epona, some Koroks & Bokos (they're a bit anoying, but cute)

Only five characters per section, wasn’t it!? … Nevermind.

A CHARACTER YOU USED TO DISLIKE BUT EVENTUALLY LIKED

Jaime Lannister (book version)

A CHARACTER YOU USED TO LIKE BUT EVENTUALLY DISLIKED

Loki

THE CHARACTER EVERYONE ELSE LOVES THAT YOU DON'T

Melkor

James Potter

Sheldon Cooper

AN EXAMPLE OF A CHARACTER YOU RELATE TO AND WHY

There are many characters I can relate to for one reason or another - my fav villains, for instance, but I think I'll choose a completely different example here (one not even from a fandom of mine), because of an aspect we share, also in regards to rl experiences. It's about something we both did to achieve a desired end, even though the means were a bit different.

So, my pick is Yennefer of Vengerberg.

Why!?

There is a lovely fanmade song about her, and there is one line that describes it quite nicely.

No more explanations here - I'll just let the lyrics speak for themselves:

"I paid in blood so I'd be beautiful"

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE FEMALE / MALE SHIPS?

Mairon & Morvanië (an OC of mine - the “Vani” I happen to mention sometimes)

Finrod Felagund & Amarië

Beren Erchamion & Lúthien Tinúviel

Aragorn Elessar & Arwen Undómiel

Anakin Skywalker & Padmé Amidala

Dagan Gera & Santari Khri

Cal & Merrin

Obi-Wan Kenobi & Satine Kryze

Spock & Uhura

Ivo Robotnik & Adelia Sigrún Sharpe (another OC)

Ozai & Ursa

Zuko & Katara

Link & Zelda

King Boo & Hellen Gravely

Hades & Persephone

Vlad Dracula & Mina Harker

Gomez & Morticia Addams

Rhett Butler & Scarlett O'Hara

Mr. Darcy & Lizzie Bennett

Spike & Buffy Summers

Severus Snape & Lily Evans

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE MALE / MALE OR FEMALE / FEMALE SHIPS?

Albus Dumbledore / Gellert Grindelwald

Willow Rosenberg / Tara Maclay

I can’t say that I’m all that emotionally involved in any of these, though, other than finding them somewhat interesting regarding the dynamic between the characters.

If these weren’t canonical pairings already, I would probably never even have thought of them as a romantic shipping constellation at all, as it’s a theme that neither concerns, nor interests me when it comes to the dynamic between characters of the same sex.

Friendships are an entirely different matter, though. But that wasn’t the subject of this question here, was it!?

DO YOU HAVE ANY 3-WAY SHIPS? IF SO, WHAT?

No! I don’t like this theme at all.

A PAIRING YOU SHIP THAT YOU DON’T THINK ANYONE ELSE SHIPS.

My OC / canon ones … alas. T_T

WHAT’S A SHIP THAT YOU WANT TO SHIP PUBLICLY, BUT EVERYONE ON TUMBLR HATES IT, SO YOU KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT ABOUT IT?

I’m just doing my thing. If anyone doesn’t like it then that isn’t my problem.

EXAMPLES OF NON-SEXUAL/-ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP DYNAMICS THAT YOU LIKE

PARENT & CHILD

Darth Vader & Leia Organa - The father / daughter dynamic between these two has always fascinated me a lot.

Mairon & Alcanis - The "vaniron" kid, also a complicated case. (OC headcanon)

Ozai & Zuko - Dramatic ...

Severus Snape & Harry Potter - I love the snily ship, so I headcanon Snape as Harry's biological father, because why not ... it's interesting.

CLOSE FRIENDSHIPS

Anakin & Obi-Wan & Ahsoka

Luke & Han

Cal & Cere & Greez & BD-1

Cal & Dagan

Frodo & Sam

Finrod & Beren

Fingon & Maedhros

Ratbag & Ranger (from the Tolkien-based "Shadows of War" game - the only known orc friendship)

YOUR FAVOURITE THEMES / FANDOM TRENDS.

fantastical / mythological elements

As someone who has always been fascinated by ancient myths, I can’t help but love this stuff.

occult / magical elements

Given I am interested in these subjects, I very much like to see, and incorporate, these themes in the fictional universes and characters I like.

anachronistic elements / fusion of different historical period styles

For example, say, Cyber Victorian (garments that combine Victorian era designs with a Matrix style twist, plus futuristic technology, and a setting in a likewise futuristic world)

scientifically sound elements and reasoning

I think this is a quite important aspect, especially in sci-fi.

philosophically inspiring + visionary elements

Such as caste-free social structures & natural law anarchy (not to be confused with the “rule of force” one, let alone the woke version).

scientists, explorers, philosophers & (martial) artists

I just happen to enjoy seeing these types of characters.

sarcasm, dry humour & banter

It certainly adds some “spice” to the mixture.

characters with a scorpionic & virgoan influence

Many of my faves have this, especially the scorpionic one.

depth and complexity in character portrayal & a well thought-out backstory

Should be a given, but unfortunately isn't, more often than not - especially these days. Shame!

complicated, long and well thought-out redemption arcs

If not canon, I’ll do it myself.

I've always been fascinated by the concept of redemption.

In connexion with my favourite villains, it is a theme I am quite obsessed with and can't do without, as I find evil as such not appealing at all.

In fact, what makes these characters attractive to me is their power & potential, and not their misuse of it. The process of redemption finally brings said potential out and puts it to good use, which I find deeply satisfying.

Plus there is also the element of defying the forces of darkness, who always twist and pervert - and this is the ultimate solution to it, making everyone and everything whole again. Redemption arcs are a great "f**k you" to said forces & I love them all the more for that!

happy developments & outcomes for my faves

Because I simply can't have it otherwise.

villain/anti-hero & (anti-)heroine pairings (or vice versa)

It’s a dynamic that I find particularly intriguing - always have - also regarding the redemption theme.

partners that are of equal rank in a relationship - plus healthy relationships, for a change

Especially where you least expect it (see pairing constellation), and where both partners had to work on themselves to achieve it (i.e. realism doesn’t hurt, now does it!?).

happy and loving (not to mention enduringly passionate) committed relationships / marriage

Just like Morticia & Gomez ... *sigh*

monogamous unions + fidelity

Guys as committed as Anakin, Snape, and Gomez are the best!

eternal love / twin flames / soulmates / however you want to call it

Regarding OTPs this theme is an absolute must!

het content

Why yes, that’s just my personal preference, as that is something I can actually relate to.

not overly sexualized portrayals of relationships

I just don't want to see the explicit content (graphic description of genitals, for instance). Most of the time it's enough when it's just hinted at.

Or if you want to write about the sexual act, then at least express yourself in a more pleasant manner - it doesn't always have to be this crude, pornified language.

If anything, make the characters make love - with all the emotional intensity, intimacy, and tenderness that should be there - and not just plain fuck, like mere beasts.

portrayal of female characters where being badass and being feminine isn’t mutually exclusive

Because it is NOT!

physical beauty / perfection + humility

I can't stand it when people are smug about something such as winning the genetic lottery - be proud of your actual achievements, but not about something like this ... if anything be grateful for your luck.

the apotheosis theme

Mortality sucks ... and who wouldn’t want to ditch everything awful that comes with it!? Like diseases, aging - begone!

INVENT A RANDOM AU FOR ANY FANDOM (WE ALWAYS NEED MORE IDEAS).

Star Wars

Darth Vader doesn’t die and gets the chance for an actual redemption arc, atoning for his ill deeds as the Dark Lord - as an act of purification and reclaiming his original, true name - as well as helping the Alliance free the galaxy. (given how powerful he is, his contribution would be immense)

more importantly - he finally has the opportunity to make up with and actually get to know his children - especially Leia. That has always bugged me a great deal. Ani didn’t even get the chance to talk to his daughter. There is just too much focus on the father-son dynamic anyway. Nothing against Luke – love him, but it’s just not right that Leia was being left out of it almost entirely. Plus she is the one that resembles her father more (personality-wise) after all. I’d so have loved to see a confrontation of these two. (not to mention some cute father-daughter moments, eventually)

~*~

I also made an AU for an OTP of mine (Dagan Gera & Santari Khri) from the Jedi : Survivor - Game

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