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theanimeview · 3 years

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My Dress-Up Darling (Review)

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Title: My Dress-Up Darling | OFFICIAL TRAILER

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oveGY6h6T8&ab_channel=CrunchyrollCollection

By: Beata Garrett | @zhongxia246

My Dress-Up Darling has a lot of things going for it. What has drawn me to the series is its message of respecting people’s hobbies, its depiction of the work and dedication involved in cosplaying, and the sweet burgeoning romance between Wakana and Marin. It’s also undoubtedly fanservice-y, with close-ups that linger on Marin’s exposed body–sometimes it’s minimal, but other times it can take up a full episode like Episode 2.

I advise viewers to weigh these two things against one another if they decide to watch the anime. It’s a delight to watch Wakana and Marin share their interests in hina dolls and cosplay respectively, and see them develop feelings for one another as they become physically and emotionally close. While the fanservice can be off-putting, the physical touching is always consensual.

Source: Episode 1, My Dress-Up Darling

The two also share a bond that’s built on respect, admiration, and loneliness from having no one else to talk to about their respective passions. Both Wakana and Marin keep their hobbies a secret due to social pressure from their peers and the fear of rejection.

For Wakana, he’s unable to share his love for hina dolls because of an incident in his childhood where a girl called him creepy. Marin, meanwhile, is popular but doesn’t have any friends that take her hobbies seriously. People are surprised that she's interested in anime, manga, and video games, and don’t take her seriously. When she meets Wakana, she’s overjoyed to find someone that’s willing to talk to her about the things she loves.

Source: Episode 3, My Dress-Up Darling

I really enjoy the passion that radiates from the two leads as they bond over cosplay, and begin working together. Marin’s desire to cosplay is only hindered by her inability to sew but is clearly shown in the way she rants about her favorite games and anime. Her reasoning behind cosplay will probably strike a chord with cosplayers that watch the show when she says lines like this:

Source: Episode 1, My Dress-Up Darling

Another aspect of the show that may appeal to cosplayers and regular people is the show’s depiction of creating a cosplay outfit. My Dress-Up Darling takes viewers from the beginning stages of a concept to scouting the materials and then actually sewing them:

Source: Episode 3, My Dress-Up Darling

For their first joint effort, Marin and Wakana go fabric shopping and the two discuss how much detail goes into even choosing the fabric. Cosplay is not just looking at a picture and trying to replicate it shallowly but considers the context for the character’s costuming too.

Source: Episode 3, My Dress-Up Darling

Even shopping for the materials takes up money and time as one store doesn’t carry everything a cosplayer may need. They may have to find the right fabric at one place then buy wigs at a different store (and maybe cut the wigs to suit the character) and even consider what kind of lingerie to use with the outfit. Cosplayers may consider the eye shapes of their chosen characters too, as we see in Episode 4 (image below). The amount of detail that goes into a cosplay is astounding and My Dress-Up Darling lovingly depicts this well.

Source: Episode 4, My Dress-Up Darling

The show also doesn’t look away from how exhausting it can be. In Episode 4, Wakana is overwhelmed as the deadline for the outfit approaches amidst issues like his grandfather’s hospitalization, exams, and tours of his family’s shop. He and Marin are still students, and it’s very realistic to see how the desire to accomplish multiple things can lead to burnout and self-doubt.

In the midst of a breakdown, Wakana remembers why he started loving hina dolls and wanted to help Marin by remembering what his grandfather said to him as a kid:

Source: Episode 4, My Dress-Up Darling

This memory motivates Wakana to continue working and he meets all his deadlines, which includes completing Marin’s outfit. When Marin comes over to check it, the two grow closer as Wakana realizes he should’ve been more open with her about the struggle he was going through as a partner. It’s an important moment for the two as friends and collaborators, and a nice reminder for creatives to not push themselves past their limit and for partner transparency.

Source: Episode 4, My Dress-Up Darling

After their honest talk, they move onto makeup and Marin actually puts the outfit on, marking it their first official cosplay. It’s gorgeous, and knowing all the hard work the two put in and seeing how excited they are is very endearing.

I’ve also read the manga and look forward to the anime approaching aspects like photographing cosplay and the subversive gender norms that can exist in the community.

Source: Episode 3, My Dress-Up Darling

They touched upon it a bit more in Episode 5, wherein the duo goes to a cosplay convention.

Source: Episode 5, My Dress-Up Darling

Episode 5 is also an important step in introducing the two to a whole world of people that enjoy cosplay as much as them. There is a genuine sense of community and respect in the event, and it’s delightful to see people’s admiration of Wakana’s work and Marin’s modeling skills.

Source: Episode 5, My Dress-Up Darling

After the event, the romance really hits the show like a freight train. It’s a little jarring because Marin is suddenly attracted to Wakana, but she’s so shy and funny about it I can overlook this.

Source: Episode 6, My Dress-Up Darling

Something that is difficult to overlook, however, is how the fanservice takes a more disgusting turn. In Episode 6, we’re introduced to Sajuna, a famous cosplayer Marin looks up to. Wakana’s grandfather sees her outside the house, assumes she’s a friend of his who came to see him, and lets the girl take a shower because it’s raining. Cue Wakana stumbling across her naked after her shower. She slips on the wet floor and it’s incredibly uncomfortable—not only because she is a minor like Marin but also because she’s known for cosplaying younger girls because of her petite physique, so it feels somehow even grosser that she was used for fanservice.

The scene is made worse when Wakana compares her to a hina doll because she’s “completely smooth.” It really puts me off for the rest of the season because I know Sajuna will continue to be sexualized and put on display, especially when she’s cosplaying middle school characters.

Source: Episode 6, My Dress-Up Darling

I’ve also noticed that My Dress-Up Darling ironically undercuts its positive message that cosplay is for everyone by focusing on certain body types and beauty standards. In Episode 6, Marin explains why she won’t cosplay a certain character: “I do think ignoring that and cosplaying characters you love anyway is valid, too…but in my case, I love her so much that I don’t want to destroy her image” (Episode 6, My Dress-Up Darling).

Source: Episode 6, My Dress-Up Darling

The diversity of cosplayers is incredible, and it shouldn’t be limited to body types or those that perfectly fit a character’s image. However, My Dress-Up Darling wants to preach this message, like in Episode 5, without practicing it. None of the girls we’ve seen or will see in the show are unattractive and they all fit the ideal cosplay standard they’re set to.

The show seems to say that cosplay is for everyone but some are just better at it than others because of how they look. It’s unfortunate considering how welcoming the show has been before in inviting anyone to cosplay, and it puts a dent in my enthusiasm for My Dress-Up Darling.

Overall, it’s an anime with a cute opening and ending that has enough romantic subplot and detailed insight into the world of cosplaying to keep a wide variety of viewers interested. But it also comes with the sexualization of minors and the opening hints at a future cosplay that will involve skin-darkening. It’s a shame because I would otherwise love this anime.

#My Dress-Up Darling #Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru #Winter 2022 Anime #Review #CloverWorks #analysis

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ssscentral · 3 years

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Drawing Blood [Taehyung x Reader]

Summary: An attempt to get over a two year crush on your friend (and a suspected vampire) leads to interesting discoveries.

genre: angst, fluff, supernatural, vampire, god

warnings: death mentioned in passing

wc: 3.8k

member: Lillia || @moccahobi

a/n: Happy (late) birthday @voiceswithoutlips!

You fell into your bed, a headache developing as you screamed into your pillow. You’d hoped that a date would help clear up some of your emotional constipation like some detox but instead you were left even more confused and torn. That date was so nice.

Sure, you hadn’t been on many dates or even socialized much since you finally got a deadline for your next manuscript (and it in many ways felt more like two friends hanging out than a romantic date… but it was just one date… that could change). This was also by far one of the best dates you’d had. Jungkook was such a gentleman and you had so much fun.

You’d only met Jungkook last week, the man talking you up at the cafe you were writing at. He exuded confidence and you were drawn in by his detailed tattoos and soft voice (it’d helped as well that you could have sworn that you recognized him vaguely, although you couldn’t place where). Next thing you knew, the two of you were texting and excitedly making plans for a date at a small pizza shop that you immediately fell in love with. He was apparently a picky eater with a sensitive stomach, which reminded you so much of two of your friends (Seokjin and Taehyung), so he only had a few slices of pizza and one of the fancy drinks the shop sold (you suspected that Jungkook was a vampire and the drink was some fancy blood based drink but didn’t want to pry). Unlike Jungkook, you stuck with a simple soda to wash down your pizza, and unlike Jungkook you weren’t limited to a few foods (a perk of being a minor god probably).

In fact, Jungkook got a hoot at just how much you could eat (you didn’t tell him yet since it was just the first date, but as a minor god, you needed to eat a lot since you burned so much energy) and you got a hoot out of slowly eating the pizza as he eyed it with hunger. The man had a sensitive stomach, not a lack of taste and the pizza was damn good.

That being said, the night seemed to pass in the blink of an eye and soon enough the pizza shop was closing and Jungkook was walking you home. You offered for him to come in since the two of you were having so much fun but he didn’t take you up on that offer . Jungkook simply kissed you sweetly and said goodbye.

A sigh left you as you thought about the kiss, a ghost of the kiss still caressing your own lips still tingling at the idea of it.

Jungkook was so sweet!

But you didn’t think the two of you clicked romantically. At least not this date. You’d probably give it a few more dates, a seed of hope whispering to you that he might be what you need to get over a long term crush. That being said, what if he developed feelings and you didn’t and then a potential friendship was ruined?

It was an amazing date but the more you reflected on it, the less it felt like his romantic passes hit you as much. Sure, you felt giddy because of his soft kiss and the many compliments but was that because of Jungkook or because you wanted affection?

You’d been holding out for your crush to ask you out for so long and only recently settled on the idea that, despite the flirtyness of some conversations, he probably didn’t like you one bit. Seokjin was the one who urged you to go on a date with Jungkook. Seokjin was also the only one who knew about your crush on your mutual friend.

A comfort did come to you in the fact that Jungkook was busy tonight. You didn’t have to text him expressing how much you enjoyed the date yet. You had time to think through stuff and hopefully have a better understanding of what you did want.

With that thought in mind, you tried to clear your mind and fall asleep but after an hour, you still couldn’t. So you did what any logical insomniac did:

You rolled over and opened discord. Only one of your friends, Taehyung, was online and while you were torn about talking to your crush about your date, you also knew that he was dying to hear how your date went. Even if he was a tad suspicious about Jungkook (“who would just… walk up to you and talk?! That is extroverted… and extroverts are scary”), he was curious. Plus, with how sweet Jungkook was during the date, you were fairly positive that Taehyung would have to love Jungkook.

Right?

The more you thought about it, the less sure you were.

You shook your head.

Taehyung was an oddball you’d met back when you were a regular at the local library. He was the main person who worked night shifts and you were one of the few people who liked to be at the library at night. After a week of him stuttering welcome and goodbye when you were in the library, you finally worked up the nerve to strike up a conversation about a manga he was reading.

That was basically the start of your friendship with him.

After that night, he would help you procrastinate on your work by reading mangas together and that then evolved to getting breakfast together some mornings after his shift. Not surprisingly, that also evolved into a small crush. He was funny and kind and sweet and good looking. That being said, you didn’t think he liked you back. Sometimes he’d flirt but for the most part he actually seemed to not care about romance which is understandable. You had an inkling that he was a supernatural being of sorts and you understood how hard it was to indulge in romance when humans were often very scared of the supernatural. It took you so long before you even contemplated going on a date with non-gods (and even gods because relationships got messy between gods).

Despite your crush, he was a good friends and he was bound to be up at this time, unlike Seokjin or Jisoo. If you messaged one of them, they’d probably wake up just to scold you for being up so late.

Talking with Taehyung hadn’t turned out how you’d hoped though. You tried to show only the best parts so that he’d trust Jungkook more (and maybe also to try and make Taehyung jealous) but it seemed as if even the idealized store made Jungkook seem even more suspicious and you found yourself stopping Taehyung in the middle of a tangent, your headache growing. You liked Jungkook. You were still unsure if you liked him romantically but you did like him in a friendly manner… what was Taehyung seeing that was so strange?

Hell.

You thought that they were fairly similar.

Both seemed to work late nights. They both enjoyed dark red drinks. They both had an interest in fashion. They both had a similar humor. Both enjoyed games. You could go on. They were very similar.

Did they have some past conflict?

Taehyung was often overly protective of you. It was a struggle to have him accept your friendship with Seokjin but he was never this suspicious. Although that could have been because you were fairly positive they were friends before you became friends with either of them.

You tossed over in your bed, your mind becoming more clouded.

There were other friends that Seokjin and Taehyung shared that Taehyung was fairly determined to not let you meet. You had an inkling that Seokjin and Taehyung were either the same supernatural creature or were opposites which could explain why they fought… but Taehyung’s other friends? He chose them as friends, right? They would like each other. A tight knot formed in your stomach as you thought more about it. Taehyung didn’t have a problem with other people you were friends with (and some you knew for a fact were supernatural beings as well)… only those he knew previously… who from what you’ve seen in pictures, were fairly attractive bachelors…

Did Taehyung have a crush on you?

Well… fuck… that would make sense.

His original reasoning for not wanting you to go on a date was because Jungkook was extraverted… but so was Chae and Mina. He often checked in to make sure you got places safely and always jumped to hang with you. From what you’d gathered from some bruises that Seokjin and Taehyung sported shortly before Taehyung became ok with you being friends with Seokjin, there was also some sort of fight there. The more you thought about it, the more you were sure that the two fought shortly before Taehyung became ok with you two being friends.

The possible fight was just so odd in general. You brushed it off because both seemed to be fine but it most definitely made you a tad apprehensive of the two and you practically avoided them for a month after that. If it hadn’t been for them working to show that they were close for almost a year after that, you would have been close to dropping both of them.

Did that mean that Seokjin was trying to come onto you at first?

The knot in your stomach tightened uncomfortably.

He was friendly and somewhat flirty, but no more than he was for others! Were you just so oblivious?

No. You were fairly positive that he didn’t try to come onto you. Sure he was flirty for a little at the beginning of your friendship, but it dropped soon into your friendship.

Taehyung has known you for at least three years now though… Why hasn’t he made a move?

You got up anxiously. There was no way you’d be able to sleep tonight. Thoughts were racing through your head at the speed of professional track and field runners and they were all making you more anxious and confused. Nothing was adding up properly and a headache was blooming the longer you dwelled on it all… but you couldn’t stop thinking about it.

By five in the morning, you were exhausted and just wanted an answer.

Which is what led to you doing one of the most ballsy things in your life.

You texted Taehyung (in a long rambling paragraph) asking if he liked you romantically.

He most definitely saw it and shortly after went offline (or invisible). Surely he got off at 4:30 unless the next person was late. He should have time to respond. You took a deep breath and went to your small and shabby kitchen to grab a glass of water, hopeful that the water would add clarity to the confusion you were feeling.

As you sipped from your chipped cup, you tried to distract your mind from the many scenarios that were running through your mind. Every five seconds, your mind would stray again and you were once again forced to refocus on the world around you.

In another moment of focus on the present moment, an incessant knock at your door made you jump in shock. The knocking scared you at first (because who in their right mind would possibly be at your house at five in the morning) until you noticed the knocks happening in a pattern.

It was Taehyung.

The man child could never resist knocking in a pattern even if it was a serious situation. But why was he at your house?

If he didn’t have a crush on you, he could just text you that.

If he did… maybe that would warrant coming over?

Or maybe he was so mortified at you even thinking that you liked him.

Fuck. You hoped that wasn’t the case.

“Yeah! Open the door!” Taehyung’s shout pulled you out of your worries and you rushed over to let him in.

His work and home were both at least three kilometers away from your house and yet when you opened the door, he seemed to have barely broken a sweat nor was he gasping for air (which just further verified to you that he was some sort of supernatural creature). If you didn’t know his habits after work, you would have thought that he was already in your area when you texted.

“I don’t want to go out with you.” He stated as soon as he entered your house, his shoulders tense and eyes wide.

“Ok? You could have just texted me that.”

His wording was confusing but nonetheless, it cut like a sword. He didn’t like you and didn’t want to go out with you. It stung a little (maybe a lot… you did have a crush on him for a whole two years after all) to know that he didn’t like you but you’d been trying to accept that for a while so it was really just a confirmation of what you already knew.

It wasn’t important.

He was just a good friend. You were friends. Nothing more. Besides, you were hopefully starting something with Jungkook. It was good that Taehyung didn’t like you.

Totally.

You didn’t like him.

You didn’t want a relationship with him.

It wasn’t like you’d been crushing on him for a while.

“I did want to explain why I am so protective of you though. We’ve been friends for three years. I think you deserve to know at this point.”

“Taehyung… what?” You were conflicted at what he said, wanting an answer for his strange actions but also nervous for how this might change your relationship.

Before Taehyung continued, you led him to your living room, him taking a seat in a large chair that practically swallowed him whole as he brought his knees to his chest, and you taking a seat on a matching chair, leaning forwards in your seat.

He stilled as he spared you a quick glance and took a shaky breath in, “You know how humans and supernatural beings live together? Like… not a lot is shared and most talk about it is on the downlow?”

“Are you a supernatural being?”

He nodded slowly, not meeting your eyes, “I am a vampire… but not like a sparkly one or something!”

You snorted at that comment, “Taehyung, I have seen you in the sunlight. I know you don’t sparkle… I know some about vampires… but not a ton. Does it hurt to go into the sun? Clearly you don’t burst into flames but I thought it burnt.”

“Well… it irritates and we can get really bad sun burns…” Taehyung shifts uncomfortably, “We do some stuff to help mitigate it. Like the more skin we cover up, the less contact we will have with the sun.”

“Oh! Do you all have rings blessed by witches to help you venture into the sun?”

“No? Where did you hear that?” Taehyung laughs and shakes his head.

“A show?”

At that, more tension seemed to leave him as he laughed more and shook his head, “Nah. I mean… There is some jewelry that can help… but not really because a spell is on them.”

“Ok… so why does this relate to me going out with Taehyung? Wh-” And then it clicked.

“Is Jungkook a vampire? Wait… is Seokjin a vampire? Is that why you didn’t want us to be friends? But if he is… then what made you change your mind? Why are we even friends if you are suspicious about… wait… even if Jungkook and Seokjin are vampires, why didn’t you want us to be friends or date?”

A blush rose on Taehyung’s face as you kept stammering, “I am honestly surprised that you didn’t realize we were vampires earlier… especially after Seokjin-hyung and I’s bruises healed so quickly after our fight.”

“I mean… I’ve honestly had suspicions that you three were some sort of supernatural beings.”

“Really?”

“You all have weak stomachs. I rarely see you drink anything other than some nondescript red drink. You all work night shifts mostly.”

Taehyung laughed awkwardly, “I should talk to them about varying up their habits… I hope no one else has found out.”

“Are the three of you in the same coven?”

“Yeah”

You nodded slowly.

“So you’re… you’re not upset that we kept it from you?”

“I was more upset that you even fucking faught Seokjin! He’s part of your coven and your friend.”

“Yeah… I was…” Taehyung coughed and blushed more, “I fought him because I was worried. Seokjin doesn’t always have the best track record with humans. I mean… that was a while ago but still.”

Your brows furrowed some, visions of what Seokjin could have possibly done quickly playing through your mind like a movie going x5 the speed.

Older supernatural beings often didn’t have the best track record. You’d most definitely killed some beings in your time… but now you were tentatively curious and anxious about what he might have done.

You’d ask Seokjin later.

“Well… I was avoiding you after that so I didn’t really pay much attention to how fast your injuries healed. I was just glad that they healed.” You said, choosing to gloss over his comment on Seokjin.

He laughed, “Yeah. I figured. But… our fight… it was about you.” He coughed again, “I was worried about what he wanted with you. I don’t really remember how it became a fist fight… but he was teasing me about… stuff and then it devolved… but we’re good now. We have fights every once in a while. He is part of my coven and we’re bound to have some… conflict with how long we’ve been around.”

“What did he tease you about… if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Oh… Uh. Nothing really.” Taehyung was practically as red as a tomato now.

You knew he was covering for something but you didn’t have it in you to probe more on that topic at the moment.

“So you were apprehensive about Seokjin because he has, in the past, not been the best with humans… why are you so worried about Jungkook then? He seems like a nice guy to me. Didn’t give me any creepy vibes… although Seokjin didn’t.”

“Uh… well he is also in my coven.” Taehyung finished softly, eyeing you shyly once again.

You eyed him from where you were now sitting in your kitchen, waiting for him to continue.

Yet Taehyung didn’t continue.

He just continued to shyly glance at you before looking away, his face practically radiating heat from how badly he was blushing.

Your heart sped up some.

Being part of his coven should be a good thing, right?

Covens are like family… So why was going on a date with Jungkook so bad?

Why was Taehyung talking about humans so much?

Why was Taehyung blushing so much?

What was it that Seokjin brought up that led to a physical conflict?

You asked about him having a crush on you. Why did he say he didn’t want to date you instead of him not having a crush on you? Were you just reading too much into it?

“Why is that of importance?” You finally asked when a whole minute passed and Taehyung didn’t continue.

“Well… uh… I might not have told the whole truth when I arrived?” His voice was soft and cautious as he kept eyeing you cautiously, “I… Uh… I said I didn’t want to go out with you… but uh… I do…”

You couldn’t hear what he said after that though, his voice too soft as he looked away shyly (curse you not being born as a being with sensitive hearing).

“What? Can you repeat? I didn’t hear the ending.”

Taehyung coughed and took a deep breath, “I d-do like you… I just… because I am a vampire I won’t die. You… a human will… I… I’ve had a past relationship that happened like that… and I can’t handle that again.”

You took a deep breath, your mind even more confused than before, and grabbed his hand gently, “Taehyung, I am so sorry you had past relationships like that, but… you thought I was human?”

He nodded slowly, his brows furrowed in confusion.

“I… I’m a minor god? Didn’t I tell you that I spoke for the trees once?”

“What?”

“I am a minor god… I rule over the forests of this region… I’ve been around for at least a century… Probably more but I didn’t keep track of time until I left the woods.”

His eyes were wide as he stared at you, slowly blinking.

You nodded slowly, “Here I thought that all the talk in my manuscripts about the woods made it obvious that I was in some way connected to them.”

A slow blink.

“Or what about the time that we literally were in a park and I told you to stop climbing the trees because they were weak.”

Another slow blink.

“All my plants?”

“I literally just thought you were a plant loving person. I’ve met more of those types of people. Hell, Namjoon hyung, another person in my coven, is obsessed with plants.”

This time it was your turn to slowly blink.

“What about the trips I do to shrines? The gifts delivered to my house?”

“I just assumed you were spiritual and popular with readers.”

“Either way… your worry about me dying? Not likely. It’s possible like it’s possible for you to die… but not really something that is likely to happen.”

Taehyung simply looked at you wide eyed, his jaw slack and shoulders sagging. A small laugh left you at his expression as you gently patted his hand, “So… you have a crush on me?”

“Bu-I” Taehyung shook his head slowly, not looking you in the eyes, “Yes? But you are dating Jungkook now so I guess I missed my chance?”

At that you took a deep breath in, “I mean… if I am honest… I had fun with Jungkook but I really only accepted a date because I was trying to get over a crush I have on this really cute vampire… I had suspected him to be one for a tad but didn’t bring it up because I really didn’t think he liked me back.”

“Do you like Seokjin?” Taehyung interjected, his eyes wide as he gripped your hands tightly, “He said that he’d make you like him! He literally kept flirting with you and trying to make passes until I confronted him! Damn it!”

“Taehyung. I don’t like Seokjin-- although I did suspect him to be a vampire too. I like you. And while I had fun with Jungkook, I felt no romantic feelings for him on the date.”

“I- really?”

You nodded.

“And the chances of you passing are low?”

You nodded.

A heavy sigh left Taehyung and it was like he was deflating, “Thank fuck.”

You pulled him into a tight hug, laughing lightly at his comment, “So… with all that out in the air… Would you like to go on a date with me later today, Taehyung?”

“I might appreciate you telling Jungkook that there will be no future dates first… but yes.”

“Thank fuck. I think that’s something I can do easily.”

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hold-my-hand-kuroo · 4 years

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tendou as my favorite naruto!! openings-

it’s midnight where i am right now, so a big hbd to one of my favorite nerds!! here’s something quick and dumb that i did while i’m still functioning,,,this is what he would’ve wanted, i’m sure of it.

also before someone @’s me, i have more than four favorite naruto openings, but i just don’t have the time to write them all- (i am a “lovers” supremacist though).

pairing: tendou satori x reader

i. “We’ve pretended to forget the things we held dear, so we can just laugh and say it’s nothing.”

Tendou can’t say that quitting volleyball after high school was a bad idea. No longer does he have to ache throughout his legs and arms, and no longer does he have to practice inside a stuffy gym until the sun was gone. He can finally rest on the weekends or take time to work on assignments before midnight. It’s liberating and less stressful on his part. Plus, even if he slightly missed volleyball from time to time, he could just watch one of Ushijima’s games during his now-open weekends. For sure, Tendou can’t say that he regrets leaving the sport.

But he also can’t say that he doesn’t miss his paradise.

His favorite spot at university is the secluded spot in the back, hidden away from most students. It’s where you find him during long breaks in between classes or during lunch, and it’s where you sit under the shade of a tall tree, watching Tendou as he bounces the volleyball back and forth against the brick wall. The sound is soft, gentle, and steady, and it helps you concentrate on your work. Sometimes, after the long, grueling hours of an all-nighter, you find the noise to be lulling, almost hypnotic. It wasn’t hard for you to nod off.

Today is no exception. Procrastinating and leaving your final papers to the night before wasn’t your best idea, and after what seemed to be the strangest period of limbo, drifting between dozing off and waking up, you found yourself finally submitting and missing your entire night’s worth of sleep. You take your lunch break as an opportunity to finally get some rest, and when you round the corner, Tendou’s already there. He’s humming a tune, fingers pressing against the white ball. Hearing your footsteps, he turns and gives you a wide smile. Even then, he doesn’t stop tossing the ball.

“You look terrible,” he comments, stifling his laughter. You groan, settling against the wood of the tree but make no effort to respond. Tendou changes his song, picking a melody that is more calming while continuing to play. The gentle breeze sets you into a deep slumber with the redhead acting as your lullaby.

When you wake up, you find yourself leaning against his shoulder. Your eyes flutter open and then close almost immediately at the sudden intrusion of sunlight. Tendou chuckles from beside you, placing his hand over your closed lids and whistling to himself. Feeling around for his other hand, you trace your fingertips over his own, lingering touches dancing on his skin. You can tell that he’s in a good mood based on the song he’s humming. It was either that or the kiss he places on your cheek after letting you open your eyes.

“Satori?” you murmur, voice still tinged with drowsiness. He pauses his singing, signaling you to finish your thought. “Why aren’t you in the volleyball club?”

“Babe, are you getting sick of me? Or do you just hate me?” he laughs. “I’d run out of time to breathe, let alone see you on the regular.”

“You don’t miss it?”

“Are you really asking me if I miss being bruised all over and struggling to meet deadlines?” He laughs again and pokes your face with a teasing glint in his eye. “Y/N, I’m hurt!”

“You seem to like it a lot considering that you’re literally playing on your own every day.” You put extra emphasis on the last two words and give him a knowing look. Tendou just shakes his head.

“Nah. I only played in high school because joining a club was required. I don’t really care about it now.” His response is simple, less wordy than his usual elaborations, so you let the topic rest. Closing your eyes again, you take part in the humming. The melodies, completely different, clash like day and night, and it makes both of you laugh.

Tendou watches as you fall back to sleep, eyes filled with fondness. In truth, maybe Tendou misses his volleyball club a little bit. His paradise. Not the sport itself per se, but the people around him. It was hard finding classmates that didn’t find him utterly repulsive, so he wasn’t surprised that he fit well into a team that was filled with nothing but the most eccentric people he has ever met. Ushijima and his love affair with volleyball and Semi with his drive to risk it all were standouts, but he supposes that there were others too. Yeah, he misses them more than he’d like to admit, and he misses spending all his waking hours with them. Just a little.

“You stopped humming.” It’s more of a comment on your part rather a complaint, but you can tell by his jolt that you had unintentionally snapped him out of his deep thoughts. “There’s nothing wrong with missing high school, you know?”

“No, it’s okay.” He lies through his teeth, and you’re aware, but you decide to stay quiet.

ii. “I will never let go of your hand. Tell me what is on your mind.”

Tendou works hard because he knows he’s not enough. Because he feels undeserving.

When you waltzed into his life, he hardly had any time to prepare. It’s the first time someone has ever liked him back, and he’s still surprised to this day. Tendou’s not sure which qualities exactly that have caught your interest, but he’s almost 100% sure that your taste is terrible. There isn’t a day that goes by where he doesn’t think that the person holding your hand on the street could be someone so much more attractive, so much more appealing. Someone who didn’t make kids hide whenever they saw him or someone who could embrace you and say with full confidence that you deserved each other. You don’t need someone that constantly makes you worry. You definitely don’t need a guy like him.

He knows your entire schedule and pays special attention to your free periods so that he can visit you. His head is now space for him to keep notes on every little thing about you from your pet peeves to your favorite snacks. It’s counterintuitive for sure, thinking that he’s not worth your time but also desperately trying to keep a hold of you. It’s paradoxical, he knows, but he’s stuck in a limbo of wishing you the very best while also craving your touch and affection at any moment given in time. It’s selfish, and he finds himself wondering if the title of ‘Monster’ is fitting after all.

“Are you sure you’re okay like this?” he asks nervously one Saturday with you sitting by his side. You look at him curiously, setting your book down.

“What do you mean?” His eyes become shifty, looking away.

“I mean, aren’t you bored just reading manga at my house?” he asks, chuckling nervously. “We could go to that restaurant you wanted to go to instead-“

“We’re always doing the things I want though, Satori,” you whine. “That’s why today’s date is something you like. You’ve been wanting to catch up with this series for a while now, right?”

“Yeah, but-,” he tries to protest, frowning, but you just shake your head, silencing him. You don’t know much about the series, but you whenever you see Tendou’s eyes glitter at something particularly cool that his favorite characters did, your heart becomes warm. It’s incredibly endearing, and you definitely want to spend all day just watching him pursue his interests instead of fussing over you. You want to know more about his hobbies, his likes, and dislikes, but he’s oddly reserved about those topics.

“Which character is your favorite?” You ask in hopes of having Tendou open up and maybe give you a passionate rant, a sight you’ve been wanting to see for a while now. Nudging at his lanky arm, you crawl under, placing yourself in his lap. He immediately sets the volume down and pulls you into a tight embrace, balancing his chin on top of your head. You’re not upset about it, but you’re just a little disappointed. You were hoping that he’d keep reading.

“Do you know any of the characters?” he responds teasingly. You shake your head and pick up the book. “I can start from the beginning if you want-“

“No, no, no! Keep reading.” You’re urging him to continue, practically holding the pages over your head so that he can see them. Tendou laughs, shifts his chin to your shoulder, and complies, taking hold of the book once again. You’re not sure if he’s actually paying attention to the storyline since he keeps peppering you with kisses every few pages or so, but this is a good start. “What’s going on?”

“Curious, are we?” He clears his throat and points to one of the characters. “You see this guy over here? He’s the villain. My favorite, since you asked.”

“Is he…your type?”

“You’re my type,” Tendou coos, stifling another fit of laughter. He continues describing the plot, however, going through what has developed since volume one, each pivotal character, his favorite moments, and unbelievably deep analysis on symbols and events. He’s usually a chatty person, but you’ve never seen him rave over something so personal to who he is as a person. It wasn’t like when he would talk endlessly about something funny that happened or something he saw. Rather, his glow and animated gestures, his sense of comfort, and his lack of restraint keep you mesmerized, and it’s then that you realize that Tendou rarely talks about his hobbies in front of you. You wish he would.

“This is nice,” you murmur, returning a kiss onto his cheek. He immediately stiffens, and you’re a little bit startled. “What’s wrong?”

“Sorry for rambling,” he says rather on edge. He quickly closes the manga, arms returning to wrap around your body. “It was boring listening to me just talk about-“

“I thought it was cute though.” You sigh and turn around to face him. Pressing your nose to his, your lips are just barely a few millimeters apart from his. “I could listen to you talk about this all day, Satori.”

Tendou’s not sure if it’s the kiss that you press on his lips that intoxicates him or if it’s the fact that you smell like his shampoo, but for a moment, he feels himself wondering if it’d be okay to let you in onto his hobbies, his likes, his dislikes, and everything that he tries so hard to keep from you in fear of driving you away. Just for a second, he thinks that maybe, just maybe, it’d be fine for him to open up.

iii. “You cried just now like a sobbing child. Even if the future becomes invisible, I will protect you.”

An angel. That’s what Tendou thinks you are when you let him rest his head on your chest and wrap your arms around his shoulders, pulling him even closer into your comforting warmth. He’s calmed by the gentle rise and fall of your breathing and the soft beating of your heart. The way your fingers rake through his hair, the way your humming fills the emptiness, you’re his safe haven, his sanctuary. His new paradise. He likes how you just seem to know what’s wrong, because he hates to complain, especially to you. He would much rather prefer making you laugh with a funny joke or story, but for now, he lets you play with his hair and caress his back.

You’re humming the song that he often sings for you when you’re feeling down. While you’re not exactly the perfect vocalist, straining at some high parts, you wonder if it helps Tendou at all, even if minimally. He cries quietly, and you wonder if it’s because he’s spent years being sad alone. The thought pains your heart, so instead, you take his palm and place it against your lips, quietly whispering praise. Things about him being more than enough and things that you wonder if he’d laugh at, you pour your sincerity into it all. You know he’ll tell you when he’s ready, so you find a way to pass the time.

“Let’s take a bath, Satori,” you mumble into his hair, waiting to see if he’s willing to get off of you. His movement is slow, reluctant, but you do feel him nodding, getting off of you with his head hung low. He doesn’t mean to be so down, so annoying, and he doesn’t hold it against you if you get irritated. But you don’t, and he feels like he’s the luckiest man in the world. “I’ll wash your hair for you. Come on.”

He holds your hand all the way to the bathroom, refusing to lose contact from the warmth of your skin. Even when the two of you are getting undressed, he’s quickly back to leaning into you in the tub. It’s a little bit difficult since his limbs are so long and lanky, but with a bit of curling up on Tendou’s part, you make enough space for yourself. He practically sinks into your fingers rubbing through his scalp, and you see his shoulders begin to lose their tension. You hum, satisfied, and work the soap around his body, helping him wash up. The smile that spreads across your face when he starts humming back is wide. You feel a little bit dumb, but you’re just so relieved that Tendou’s energy is finally back. The giggles that spill from your lips as he splashes about practically pour out from your pretty lips that Tendou wants to kiss so, so badly, but he decides to wait for a more comfortable position.

He hates to admit it, but he loves the feeling of being pampered. Granted, he was always more of a giver, but he supposes that being on the receiving side of things isn’t as bad as he initially thought, especially when you take the towel to rub against his hair and sit him down on the couch with hairdryer in hand.

“My hair is gonna get all puffy if you use that,” is the first complete sentence that leaves his mouth after returning home that night. He lacks his usual energy, but you don’t blame him. Rather, his soft chuckle sends your own spirits flying. “I’ll look ridiculous.”

“Really?” you muse, plugging in the device despite his protests. “I think you’ll be cute, all fluffy and stuff.”

“Why don’t you get a pet or something instead then?”

“Wouldn’t you get jealous if I paid too much attention to a cat over you?”

He pretends to think hard, then nods his head rapidly. You giggle again, maneuvering the hairdryer around his head. The machine is a little loud, but you can hear Tendou back to his usual humming, moving his body around ever so slightly just to make your task a lot harder than it was supposed to be. You watch as he swings left and then right with a certain mischievousness about him, twiddling with his fingers and then casually flipping on the television to his favorite channel. You’re not sure if he actually likes the show that’s being broadcasted or just the BGM, as he never really watched it and would much rather prefer to listen to the audio only while doing something else.

“Babe, can this be our song,” he jokes before going back to sing the opening lyrics to the children’s show.

“Satori, I don’t even know this show,” you reply, trying to sound exasperated as possible. He knows you’re pretending though and raises a curious brow. Then, he breaks into a grin. “I don’t have a good feeling about this-“

“What do you want to watch then?” His question is abrupt, but his eyes glint impishly. You’d be nervous if you weren’t overjoyed at his newly regained energy. “You sound like you want to do something else.”

“You’ll catch a cold,” you try to scold, but he pays no head, grabbing the hairdryer out of your hand and shutting it off. He tugs at the chord gently, unplugging it all together, and reaches for your waist. He places you securely on your lap. You can only stammer short retorts that are muffled by the energetic kisses he places all over your face. He relishes in every giggle and every squeal that escapes your mouth. Even the ways your eyes crinkle when you’re smiling makes his heart go insane. Suddenly, he stops to rest his forehead against yours. Your gaze almost absorbs him completely, but he doesn’t have qualms about that part.

“What’s wrong, Satori?” you ask, barely above a whisper.

He takes a deep breath. “Do you…mind if I vent a little?”

“You know you never have to ask for permission about that, right?” You kiss him on each of his eyes, each a little bit puffy, and then on his cheek. “I’m all ears.”

iv. “So keep trying to break free to that blue, blue sky.”

It’s always a fun, albeit loud, time when Tendou invites his old Shiratorizawa friends over for his reunion parties. You don’t mind at all, of course, considering that you were the one who encouraged this gathering in the first place. To be honest, you’re a little bit curious about how he acts around his closest friends that he talks so much about. You even wonder if a man like Ushijima Wakatoshi, the one you only see on TV or in interviews, is actually as funny as Tendou makes him out to be. In other words, you expect your home to be loud, but what you didn’t expect was that it’d be loud over you.

“Guys, Y/N’s super-duper gorgeous, right?” he asks for what seemed like the thousandth time that night. He’s set on making Ushijima give in to the fact that you’re the most beautiful person in the entire universe, but you wonder how many times you have to witness the professional’s utter silence at the question before Tendou would give up. “Toshi, you should just give it up already and say it!”

“I haven’t seen every single person in this universe, so I can’t answer,” his friend answers, brushing him off. Shirabu snorts from Ushijima’s side.

“Boo,” Tendou whines, kissing your face. From the corner of your eye, you catching Goshiki gagging. “Can’t you be a little bit more excited over the love of my life?”

“We are excited.” Semi chuckles, whacking Tendou a few times on the back to which the red-head responds with feigned pain. “But we know you’ll start sulking if we go overboard with the compliments.”

“I do not sulk that easily!” Tendou huffs, chest puffed out, and slaps Semi back. He only laughs. “I can’t believe I’m being bullied by a guy with no sense of style at all!”

“I asked you about this jacket before I bought it, and you told me it was fine!”

“You shouldn’t have asked him at all.” Shirabu smirks from across the table, arms crossed. “I bet this smart ass thought it was Y/N texting him instead of you, Semi.”

“You didn’t have to do him like that,” Kawanishi mumbles from beside the former setter. Still, that doesn’t wipe away the smirks they’re both wearing, and Tendou can only chuckle sheepishly.

“Well, what am I supposed to when Y/N looks good in anything?” Tendou sighs. His exasperation and added theatrical flair make you giggle even though you’re slightly embarrassed that he’s showing off to everyone from his old team. “Semi Semi, if it was Y/N wearing that jacket, it’d look great. You? Not so much.”

“That’s the most roundabout way of insulting me.” Shirabu and Kawanishi snicker quietly, earning a glare from Semi that goes ignored. “I suddenly remember why all the underclassmen thought you were such a hassle, Tendou.”

You turn to him in fascination. It wasn’t a surprise to you that he liked to tease and poke fun of other people, but you never thought that he was a bully. You initially had imagined Tendou to be a well-respected senior based on his reputation as a middle-blocker. Never in a million years did you think that it was the exact opposite.

“Goshiki, is that true?” you turn to ask, and the younger man nods emphatically. He’s agreeing with Semi so much that his nods make his hair fly all over the place, earning a loud laugh from Tendou.

“Y/N, Tendou was the absolute worst,” Goshiki answers, setting down his drink so forcefully that it almost spills. “He’d always ignore us when we did something good, but then he’d compliment us for absolutely nothing. It messed me up so much that instead of expecting him to cheer for landing a really good serve, I waited for praise for turning off the lights or something. Tendou was awful.”

“That was probably you being dumb, but I do agree that Tendou was never quiet during practice.” Shirabu grimaces, but you’re not sure if it’s because he just remembered something particularly annoying or if it’s because he’s agreeing with Goshiki. “I never want to go back.”

“I remember one time, he thought it’d be funny to salt the water,” Kawanishi mutters and the entire table breaks into a loud groan. “Yeah, I think I have to agree with you guys. Tendou was a handful.”

From beside you, you hear Tendou tsking and catching him wagging a disapproving finger. “Guys, you can’t insult Y/N like that! I’m gonna beat you guys up if you keep going on.”

“Dude, we get it.” Semi punches him once on the arm and then another time for good measure. “You’re married. You’ve told us a million times.”

“There’s that and the fact that we were, you know, at the wedding,” Shirabu sighs.

“Congratulations.” Ushijima’s comment is a little out of place, especially since the ceremony was already a month ago, and he had been one of the first people that Tendou told, but you only smile and thank him again. “It was an honor to be the best man.”

“Toshi, you don’t have to be so formal, you know?” Tendou grins, resting his chin on his hand. From underneath the table, you feel his other hand reach for yours, running his digits over the silver band sitting on your ring finger. “But really, I’m just reminding you guys that Y/N and I are married. I wouldn’t be surprised if you forgot since you’re all always so busy.”

“Oh, what would I give to forget you?” Shirabu sighs, earning another chuckle from Kawanishi and even Semi.

You laugh at the playful banter between Tendou and his friends. You squeeze his hand gently, and even while he’s participating in a heated debate with Semi over the gray-haired man’s best album, your husband makes sure to return your squeeze. In full truth, Tendou’s still aware of every little thing that you do. It’s one of the many things that have stayed the same over the years. He still sings, and he still likes to mess up your hair, but most importantly, he makes it a point to keep remembering everything about you. Tendou’s aware that something in him has changed, so he reasons that maybe you had your little changes too. And he’d remember all of them.

“Hey, spill the tea, Y/N,” Semi jokes. “Doesn’t Tendou make for a terrible husband?”

“Yeah right,” Tendou scoffs. His grin doesn’t falter and only widens when you shake your head at Semi. “That’s absolutely correct! I’m the best husband ever."

#haikyuu #haikyuu!!#haikyuu x reader #satori tendou #tendou satori #tendou #tendou x reader #satori tendou x reader #tendou satori x reader #shiratorizawa #happy birthday tendou!!#nerd!!#lol how do you write dialogue???

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ghastinc · 5 years

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Regarding when the final chapter of SNK will drop

There will be no spoilers in this post and it will instead just be speculative of when the last chapter of SNK will release. This all is under the assumption that SNK ends with the normal volume format so it is possible a volume could be stretched to fit in an extra chapter or an epilogue for all we know. So now I will show the dates and refer to prior evidence

So these are the chapters that will mark when volumes end. Now obviously SNK isn't ending next month so we can immediately cross off June of 2019 (volume 29 conclusion). So that leaves us with October 2019 (volume 30 conclusion), February 2020 (Volume 31 conclusion), June 2020 (Volume 32 conclusion), and October 2020 (Volume 33 conclusion).

This is all under the assumption the manga does not extend into 2021. Speaking of which, Hajime has stated the manga will most likely be finished before the Olympic games start. When do they start you might ask?

If Hajime is true to his word that eliminates October of 2020 off the board. So this leaves us with October of 2019, February of 2020, and June of 2020. Now as for which one of these is debatable and up to the reader.

If it is October that would mean the manga only has 5 chapters to conclude which is very unlikely if you are reading currently. Im not saying it's impossible but it would be very difficult not to try to rush.

But things get interesting because it has been annouced SNK's ending will be shown at a exhibit:

https://comicbook.com/anime/2019/05/06/attack-on-titan-ending-reveal-manga-event/

This kinda complicates everything because if the ending is revealed then it would mean the story would most likely not be ending in a volume format. However do notice that it mentions something about an audio experience. So there's a couple of ways to interpret this

1. This will have audio of the final chapter that's released. This could mean that the last chapter is released in June and they do this exhibit to enhance the experience (while also meeting the original deadline).

2. This is a "preview" of the ending and if we go by volume formats it means the series would most likely end in October of 2020 (but not meeting the original deadline).

3. SNK ends on chapter 131, breaking volume format, in July and is exhibited with a special experience.

It's hard to tell when this series will actually end because there's a lot of wildcard factors. We know the final panel has been planned so there is probably some rough draft of an ending that is being built towards. On the other hand we all know how Hajime likes to change his mind.

If you ask me, here's my thoughts:

It is definitely not ending this year because it would simply result in a rushed ending. We will definitely see Volume 30 (chapters 119-122) and im 99% sure Volume 31 (chapters 123-126) will also come into fruition. Volume 32 however im not so sure of with the revelation of the ending being revealed at an exhibit.

I would say June of 2019 is an optimal ending point because it would be finished before the conclusion of the 2nd quarter of 2020 but we all know Hajime can do some crazy shit. But that would mean if he wants to end on a volume that itd have to be in October, but he's revealing the ending in July? So this kind of puts a dent in the volume theory as ill dub it. So what are the possibilities?

1. SNK ends in June or October going along with the regular format

2. SNK ends in an irregular format and ends somewhere from June of 2020 to October of 2020.

3. The Final Chapter will be longer than usual and may take a little bit longer to make than a regular chapter. It would be probably the length of 2 chapters and would release in July (meaning we'd not get a chapter in June of 2020) which coincides with the exhibit. There's other variations of dates but this is the one that lines up the most.

I would be very happy to hear other theories on this matter but these are what I have came up with.

#snk #snk 117 #attack on titan

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felipesmithart · 7 years

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Anime News Network - Inside The Manga Industry with Felipe Smith, American Mangaka (Part II)

In the second part of our interview (find part one here), Smith explains how manga distorted his expectations of life in Tokyo a bit, how working with Kodansha got him to look harder at genres and audiences, and what four crucial tips must be followed by any American otaku hoping to work in Japan, too.

Did working through Kodansha's demands for PEEPO CHOO develop any skills you've found useful on subsequent projects?

The quick and simple answer is a huge, resounding... yes! The rigorous schedule and incessant deadlines I kept while creating manga in the Japanese market actually prepared me to work full-time simultaneously in two industries back in the US! Upon my return in 2012, I was hired by Nickelodeon as a storyboard artist – and later character designer – for the Ninja Turtles animated TV show.

During that time, I was approached by Marvel to revamp the Ghost Rider franchise. I created Robbie Reyes, wrote 21 issues of his monthly comic, drew two of them and illustrated covers for ten of them.

So, from 2013 to 2017, I worked in both animation and comics full-time, at the same time. It was a bit nightmarish, but definitely worth the effort. And it was a possibility, in part, thanks to my Japanese publishing boot camp experience.

With that “double-duty” wrapped this year, you've turned to a new project Death Metal Zombie Cop, which was funded through Kickstarter. How does it differ from your recent output?

[It's] my return to creator-owned comics and I'm very excited about it. I've been developing it since the end of PEEPO CHOO back in 2011. In creating it, I'm applying everything I've learned from the Japanese and American comic markets and I can't wait to release it!

You've said you got the idea while wrapping up PEEPO CHOO. What was the inspiration?

...A combination of factors. The most important of which is the need to tap into an identifiable genre with an established audience. Neither of my previous graphic novel series, MBQ or PEEPO CHOO, fit neatly into any genre. I could say, with no real risk of sounding bumptious, that both titles are pretty singular in their approach and subject matter – something I've always strived for. But, by the same token, though well-received, they did not reach a tremendously expansive audience, either.

Did your run on Ghost Rider shape the idea, too?

In contrast, [it's] probably my most-read comic book series to date. It's very true that because it is a Marvel book – and an expansion on a well-known franchise – it already had significant interest and an expectant fan base before its release. But I believe that genre specificity had a great deal to do with its greater success, as well. All-New Ghost Rider is an anti-hero “action” comic with elements of horror. Those are two tried-and-true genres with an important audience, and well-established tropes upon which to expand.

Sounds like these projects got you to consider potential audiences in different ways?

A fanbase is the life of a creator, and is essential to his or her existence and prosperity. A good creator will foster and grow a fanbase independently. But fitting neatly into genres – as was [explained to me] in Japan – can help a creator unite his fanbase with greater speed and efficacy. Thus, upon finishing PEEPO CHOO – and after four original series pitch rejections – I decided to try my best to find a story I could be invested in and tell effectively that would also fit in a designated, easy-to-identify genre… for once! [Laughs]

So, I picked horror and action – genres I've always liked – and then added “cops and crooks,” which is also a personal favorite of mine. What's funny is that the “zombie” genre element didn't really come into play until later in the development of the pitch, but once I found that piece of the puzzle, my mind was blown. I had never created a story with any supernatural elements, because I'd always strayed away from superheroes. But now, I found myself with a whole new set of storytelling possibilities and I got really excited.

So, your horizons were expanded, both literally and figuratively, after having to see the notion of genre from a different angle over in Japan?

As I mentioned earlier, the one series that caught the interest of my Japanese editor was also the one I eventually decided would most likely find a better place with a Western audience, and it was Death Metal Zombie Cop. As I also mentioned, upon my return to the US, Nickelodeon hired me on TMNT, and then I got a call from Marvel. And when the editor mentioned that he'd like me to pitch him an idea for a Ghost Rider in a car [as opposed to on his traditional motorcycle], and that I was pretty much free to create everything from the ground up… I had a few things I was dying to test out on the American direct market audience.

Now that I'm finally putting together Death Metal Zombie Cop, I can't say I'm really approaching it very differently than my previous creator-owned work. The major difference is that this series will be in full-color and I plan to release 24-page monthly issues, like an American comic series.

PEEPO CHOO explored the misconceptions American otaku have about Japan. How might manga give US readers – and aspiring creators – a skewed view of life across the Pacific?

That's a good question. Although I've found that the largest portion of Japanese manga stories take place somewhere in real-life Japan, near real-life Japanese landmarks and during some time in real Japanese history – whether it be past or present – in my experience, a great number of the “Japanese” characters portrayed in these manga do not truly reflect the character and behavior I've observed in the Japanese people.

What shaped your expectations before moving there, then?

...My only real perspective on Japanese culture, like that of many Westerners, was derived from what I saw on their TV shows, live-action or animated, read in manga or magazines, or from any Japanese person I happened to meet. Obviously, first-hand conversation and discussion with people is your best bet, when it comes to trying to understand or familiarize yourself with their culture.

Having lived and worked with Japanese people in LA, I was lucky to learn their culture in action, first-hand. The more I learned, the more I realized that the fictional manga characters I presumed to be realistic because of their true-to-life surrounding locations and attire were anything but.

What specific details might ring more realistic?

[If you are] the least bit observant, you'll see that people do not hug very often, nor high-five each other. “High-touch” is how it's referred to in Japan. And, in my experience, unless there's celebration or alcohol involved, they're rarely prone to any kind of loud outbursts of emotion, wild arm or body gesticulation, or very expressive facial communication. It only takes watching a bit of Japanese TV carefully to discern who is being a TV character and who is just a person [that] happened to be filmed by the camera.

In contrast, a huge number of characters in all media [all over the world] behave astoundingly differently from the norm. Imagine if every person you saw on TV behaved and talked like Ace Ventura, Pet Detective. You'd find that pretty strange. This is a topic I brought up to my editors on more than one occasion...

Were you trying to strike the right balance of realism and surrealism?

The concept of “reality” is something that I believed was essential to establishing a believable story scenario. The way characters behave and react to situations is a reflection of that reality. So, if I ever wrote a scene about a person riding a public bus, I would want all the details to be right and make sense…

“Does this person pay with coins or with a card?”

“If they're approached by an inebriated or deranged homeless person, what would they most likely say?”

“If they witnessed someone stealing from or hurting another, what would they do?”

If the character reacts to any of these situations in a plausible manner, then it's realistic, and therefore based on reality. Unless it's a comedy. In [that] case, we are now playing with the conventions of what would normally occur and turning them on their side.

Did this anthropology study reveal even more about the manga business, in turn?

...Partly because I'm a foreigner, I found myself noticing more and more that these characters on TV, in movies and in manga… in many cases [they] displayed very uncharacteristic behaviors that did not match what I saw on the streets in real life. This truly confounded me, because I realized that my telling of reality in a story seemed to actually be of little importance in the overall scheme of manga storytelling! [Laughs]

I remember telling my editor, “Where's the reality in these stories? People don't own guns in Tokyo. People aren't this outspoken. People don't behave like this here. This isn't real. What's this based on? It's not reality!”

My editor simply answered, “Who cares about reality? As long as it's interesting [and entertaining], it's good.”

Sounds like you went through a process of enlightenment, much like the characters in PEEPO CHOO?

Unlike Milton [the manga's otaku protagonist from Southside Chicago], it was obvious to me that one cannot equate a country's cultural reality to its popular entertainment. [Still], I had no idea how oddly removed from reality I'd find certain aspects of everyday Japanese storytelling – be it in manga or just regular TV. I guess I learned that when it comes to Japanese entertainment, we should seek [it expressly as entertainment], rather than [as] “reality” or “truth”. [Laughs].

How was the series received by Japanese readers? Any surprises?

PEEPO CHOO was positively received by reviewers as a series worthy of merit for being the first of its kind. It also confused some readers, who took to the 2chan internet forums to discuss it and me as a creator. Some speculated that I was just a Japanese mangaka who wrote under a gaijin-poi “foreigner-like” pen-name to try to get attention. Others did a little internet research, found my earlier work – photos of me – and commented on how “he looks more like a soccer player than a mangaka!” [Laughs]

I remember my editor mentioning that some readers wrote in to the magazine commenting on my art – which they liked – and on how they had a hard time understanding the motivations of some of my American characters.

Speaking its reception, if anybody types “Felipe Smith Japan” into YouTube's searchbar, they'll find some interesting videos, won't they?

PEEPO CHOO also received some TV coverage on a few shows, including NHK's documentary show Manga No Genba – “The Place of Comic Creation” – which filmed me working in my apartment and walking around Tokyo running daily errands. [I was also on the] comedic duo Oriraji's show Manga No Hi – “Comics Day” – in which I had five minutes to pitch my series' premise to a panel of judges live, in Japanese.

Did you encounter any misconceptions about America throughout this?

...Upon meeting me for the first time, my editor assumed I owned firearms in the US – which I don't – and a few more silly things that escape me at the moment. [Laughs] But, encountering strange misconceptions and being asked outlandish questions by locals is pretty common when you're a Westerner living in Japan. It's something you just kinda grow used to.

What advice do you have for any American cartoonists who'd like to follow in your footsteps?

“Eat your veggies, get your sleep, learn Japanese and get to work!”

Creating manga professionally for a major publisher has a quantifiable effect on you mentally and physically due to its rigorous schedule, so it's important for you to eat healthy and get proper rest as much as possible. Sitting in a seat for 12 to 18 hours a day can have a lasting negative effect on you if you let it, so stay active and pay attention to your health.

Do they need to go to the lengths you went to, though – flying over and taking residency in Tokyo?

I've said it before, and I'll say it again… you don't need to be in Japan to create manga. But, if for some reason you want to do it in Japan, you need to speak the language in order to articulate your ideas to an editor. If that's taken care of, and your series concept is accepted, get ready to write and draw non-stop for very long periods of time – rain or shine, for as long as your series goes, regardless of whether you feel like it or not.

With no exaggeration or intent to dissuade, I can tell you from my own personal experience that a professional mangaka has little time for anything other than making manga. I can say, with honesty, that within the arts, it's a profession best suited for a very particular kind of artistic maniac.

#Felipe Smith #Peepo Choo #Japan #Manga #Kodansha #Felipe Smith Comics #Felipe Smith Art #フェリーペスミス #ピポチュー #漫画

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saturdayam · 6 years

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Our 1st manga from CHINA returns....

XERO: King of Thieves was a HIT when it debuted as a single PILOT Chapter from the extraordinary up and coming creator, Jin Chan Yum Wai.

This confidant charming concept about not just a thief but a KING of thieves who had ALREADY conquered everything he was seeking -- was a SUPER FUN read. We were equally excited that the series featured a CHINESE HERO. Saturday AM's strength is in producing strong original manga work that is DIVERSE and it was with great JOY that we learned that Jin was going to continue the unique series EXCLUSIVELY within Saturday AM!

While Jin was wrapping up a SUCCESSFUL KICKSTARTER for his 1st title, HIGH SCHOOL ROMANCE, we were able to steal a few minutes from him to answer questions with him about the ONGOING SERIES beginning within Saturday AM issue #89 (the continuation of our #summerofmanga).

4 QUESTIONS with XERO creator: JIN!!

1. What did you like and dislike about the XERO pilot chapter now that you can look back on it?

A: I'm mostly really happy with the original XERO short story. Since it was very different from my previous comics work, I was trying different storytelling techniques and pushed the camera angles as far as I could go. My biggest regret is probably the lack of characters, if you include Bag there are only 3 characters, but this was a decision mostly to keep the story as small as possible and be able to hit my deadline.

2. The character really struck a nerve with people loving his design as well as the character of BAG. Can you tell us what your inspirations were with both XERO and Bag in terms of the design?

A: Xero's outfit was inspired by some clothing that martial artists wear back in ancient China, the character that appears on Xero's back is “零” which is the Chinese character for the number zero. Xero's devilish appearance comes from the fact I wanted him to look "cool". The cool look is usually designated to the Vegeta/Sasuke type character and I just wanted the main character to be the "cool" one.

Bag originally looked like a cute simple round monster with bag straps, but after looking at one of my own bags I realized there were cool ways to depict emotion using the bag flap, so I made him look more like a regular bag.

3. What do you hope the series can accomplish now that it will run regularly in Saturday AM?

A: World Building. That's the big one. I want to flesh out the world of Xero so it feels alive and well thought out. The other thing is FUN. I want this series to be fun, and hopefully, keep you smiling ear to ear.

4. What can you tell us (tease) about the plot for this new series?

A: The series will kick off with Xero trying to find a solution to his Bag problem, though as you can imagine there will be struggles along the way. You will also start seeing more of the world of Xero, we will meet new characters and some from Xero's past which was hinted in the original short. There will be lots of action, adventure and most importantly fun! I hope everyone checks it out and enjoys the ride.

#xero #china #saturday am #diverse manga #diversity #summerofmanga

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yumblrgram · 7 years

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I have another crazy Watanabe-sensei Yowamshi Pedal psychoanalysis. In my last rant about Imaizumi's lost love, I mentioned Teshima and Aoyagi, and how they represented the abilities of the author. Someone asked me what I meant by that, and I guess I'll write down what I've thought about T2 so far while reading the comic: T2 are his abilities.

*Teshima is how the author sees his abilities as a cyclist.

*Aoyagi is how the author sees his abilities as an artist.

I’ll try to back these claims up with evidence below. When Teshima first met Aoyagi, they were both on the lower end of average and could barely keep up with everyone else.

Aoyagi is a sprinter (Watanabe is known for his very quick drawing style...usually done drawing for the day before noon and then his assistants clean it all up). His problem is that he overdoes it and gets overwhemled very easily. He looks up to Todokoro senpai with a sense of longing: he wants to be bigger, flashier, skillful, and number one! He also is talented but has no inspiration, and is almost completely mute. Without Teshima, he cannot express himself to others in his world. Early on in the comic, he can only express himself to the reader through his smart-ass facial expressions and that can only be drawn, not written. Aoyagi mentions later in the comic when he starts to talk more, that he would be nowhere without Teshima's dreams. Oh yeah, and in the Pedal universe he is also an excellent artist as well with a perfect score in illustration class. More than once in the universe, he is depicted as an artist. Canonically, his favorite activity outside of cycling is visiting art galleries.

Teshima is an average cyclist, but believes he has no natural talent. He thrives on wanting to be an elite, and his desperate longing to do so is really the only thing keeping him in the game. In order to stay relevant in the biking world as more than an average cyclist, he needs Aoyagi's talent. Teshima takes storytelling initiative: He meets people, does impressions, is a natural leader and wants to ultimately help others. Watanabe has said himself that “Teshima is the character that fires him up/is the character that he wants to become, because he himself is average (in regards to cycling).” I don’t need to psychoanalyze that Teshima is supposed to represent his abilities as a cyclist, because he admits it with his words! Also, and this is huge supportive evidence of what I’m talking about: Watanabe himself rides a Cannondale, and that’s Teshima’s bike!

This pair likely represents the fact that Sensei is a biking star mostly because of his drawing skills in regards to Yowamushi Pedal (Teshima needs Aoyagi), but without cycling on a regular basis, he would have nothing to draw, and no story to tell (Aoyagi needs Teshima). At the moment he sees himself as a manga-ka and an athlete, and neither without both. His abilities are a team of two.

If the evidence for the two characters being art and cycling is strong enough, you can see the author using them to overcome some struggles:

The fact that Aoyagi is always on the podium while Teshima is the one who planned out his strategy signifies his booming success as a manga-ka but with biking as the entire base of it. When his artistic manifestation Aoyagi has guilt over being the consistent winner between the two of them, Teshima takes his hand and tells him that the only thing that matters is that they're up there with the elite.

When T2 failed to cross the finish line and injured themselves during the first story arc, it was meant to be a sort of sacrifice to show the reader that for every winner, there must be a loser. The sad part about this scene was the fact that Tadokoro, who I'm pretty sure represents masculinity to the author, had to be there too. That moment probably represented a time when the author's abilities weren't strong enough to achieve a goal in the past (a deadline, race, relationship, opportunity, etc) and he felt like a personal failure as a man. This is why the three of them had to cry together, not just Teshima and Aoyagi.

As the second years became third-years, their designs changed. I know that editors are often the ones responsible for this, but in the manga it's a significant enough change for it to be of the author's own volition: He is finally getting confidence in his abilities! This might have to do with the fact that Yowamushi Pedal was a huge success.

Aoyagi has grown, is more beautiful, talks more, has new powers, and is able to change styles and shapes to a hilarious degree. What has happened is that Sensei's drawing abilities have gotten massively better than they used to be when Yowamushi Pedal first started. I'm sure the author knows it, and gets more pleased as he looks down at his work. This is why he lets Aoyagi shine more, and uses him to showcase his different drawing techniques in the manga. He even has illustrative premonitions now, for instance when he was afraid of Doubashi.

Teshima is also more confident, but admittedly not as much as Aoyagi. Working hard and being average hurts. Still, he has accepted that he is an average cyclist as long as he can influence others around him to try their best. This is his leadership ability, and it's also Watanabe's ability. He now knows that he has influenced tons of people to go out and try to ride a bike even if they feel average. There's less anger in this character than there was before, and that has to do with the fact that Watanabe-sensei has made peace with his role as a cyclist in his life.

******

I know this all sounds crazy, but I don’t think that all stories are like direct reflections of the author like this one is. For example, Haikyuu or Baby Steps is less of a therapy piece and is more about the main characters and highschool sports. Harry Potter on the other hand is a therapy piece, and so is One Piece and especially Yowamushi Pedal.

I have a feeling that if the original female Kotori girl was the main character instead of Onoda, Yowamushi Pedal wouldn’t be as much of a self-reflection of the author. It would have been more of a cute, romantic, more formulaic sports manga. Onoda being there feels like him being able to teleport into his issues and deal with them. He’s working his way up to Manami.

Onoda is him in the present allowing him to deal with his past, Makishima is his physical appearance, Tadokoro is masculinity, and he's not psychologically in a spot to be able to deal with what Manami is yet but I think he'll get there eventually.

Quick side note on Manami: Watanabe originally intended for Manami to be the "evil bad guy antagonist," but according to him, that evil couldn't come out on the paper. He also mentions that Manami is the hardest character for him to draw, and he blames that on the fact that Manami has a lot of hair. This is coming from a guy who draws *Midousuji*. I believe that subconsciously, Sensei is actually scared of what Manami represents. This is why he finds him difficult to draw. I have a pretty good idea of what I think it is, and it's the foundation of why I think Sensei is (successfully) working out his demons in the manga.

#Yowamushi Pedal #aoyagi hajime #teshima junta #T2 #Yowapeda #Delve into the subconcious mind

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poemofeverybodyssouls · 7 years

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Atlus Is Currently Hiring! Interview With "Persona" Character Designer Shigenori Soejima #DESKWATCH

2017.04.28

#DESKWATCH is a project that shines the spotlight on creators of illustrations, manga, anime, videos, music…. and their work environment. Discover how these gems of creativity are born, and what kind of tools professional creators use through photos and interviews!

Interview & article by Momoka Ito (vi) Pictures by Satopon

This time we visited Atlus, the video game studio behind groundbreaking titles such as Shin Megami Tensei, Persona and Etrian Odyssey. We were also lucky enough to have the chance to interview Shigenori Soejima, character designer for the Persona series and art director of Atlus new project Project Re Fantasy. We asked him about his illustrations and about the way he does design.

▲ Project Re Fantasy is a brand new project that is still under development. It's produced by Katsura Hashino, who also produced Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne, and character designer Shigenori Soejima tagged along.

We also heard that Atlus is looking for new staff, and we decided to give you all a chance by creating a special platform on pixiv to make your entry! In you're interested, please check the application form at the end of the article.

▲ This time we visited Soejima's workspace, a.k.a. the "P・STUDIO" floor.. At the entrance, we were greeted by Persona 4 mascotte Teddie and a vending machine.

I started to work at Atlus right after graduating. What is it like to work at Atlus?

-- I guess every video game fan already knows what Atlus is, but can you tell us something about your company? What are your most representative titles?

The most famous ones are without any doubt Shin Megami Tensei and the Persona series. Other representative titles are the Etrian Odyssey series and the most recent Catherine.

-- How did you start working at Atlus?

It was 1995. I just graduated, and Atlus had just started to produce Revelations: Persona. I started working there as a designer, but at the time the separation between tasks wasn't so harsh so I ended up doing a little bit of everything. Even pixel art.

-- Why did you choose Atlus?

It was because it wasn't such a big company at the time. (laughs) I thought if I were to enter a big company, I wouldn't have had much freedom to do whatever I pleased. On the other hand, at a company like Atlus I had many opportunities to give my contribution.

-- What software are you using mainly?

Paint Tool SAI and Photoshop.

For the part where I use my pen tablet, I use SAI. So lines, coloring... I use Photoshop mainly to adjust the colors and to add special effects. Sometimes I also use CLIP STUDIO.

-- Do you use a LCD tablet or a regular one?

I've been using a regular tablet for the longest time, 'cause I didn't like the idea of hiding my illustrations with my hand. However, I heard so many times about how great LCD tablets are that I'm thinking to get one. (laughs) I'm a creature of habit. If there's a device I like to use, I'll keep using even after it gets obsolete. Other members of the staff, though, use much newer things.

▲ His PC is a Windows 7, Intel Core i7 - 6700 32GB memory at 3.4 GHz. Soejima's favorite pen tablet is an "Intuos 3" from 10 years ago. A good workman does not blame his tools!

-- What are your must-have items?

My headphones. I use BOSE and AKG. The latter are the result of a collaboration between AKG and Persona 5.

▲ These "AKG K845BT" feature Persona 5 character Sakura Futaba.

-- Since headphones are your must-have item, I imagine you listen to a lot of music while you work!

Yes, mainly video game music. Or better, the music from the game I'm currently working for.

The atmosphere of my illustrations changes quite a lot according to what kind of music I'm listening, so I always try to get the BGM music data in advance to use it while I'm drawing.

-- I see, so you're using the BGM of the title you're working on. I'm kinda jealous of your work environment!

Creators can move freely at Atlus

-- If you're a creator, you have two choices: to work as a freelancer and to work for a company. Can you tell us the advantages and disadvantages of being an employee?

One of the advantages is that you have always people around you. If you're working as a freelancer, you always have to contact your editor via phone or chat. If you work for a company, though, everyone is already there - you just need to go to their office and you can talk to them right away.

▲ In the company's common space, we found plenty of "P・STUDIO" paraphernalia.

▲ Daiichi Production, the studio behind "Shin Megami Tensei" and "Etrian Odyssey", has a shared tatami space inside the office.

▲ The common space of Studio Zero, the studio working on"Project Re Fantasy". The layout facilitates the communication between each floor.

▲ A one-of-a-kind controller to commemorate the advent of Persona 5 sent from someone who works at Atlus USA. We need this...!

When you're a creator of any kind, it can be hard to complete a project or gather all necessary ideas by yourself. Having a group of people around you can really help!

Also, you can get all the equipment you need. If you tell someone "I need this thing for my work", they're gonna buy it for you. And I'm not only talking about hardware - they'll gather resources and whatever else you need. One of the merits of working in a company is that the environment built around you is thought for work.

However, the thing I like the most is the dynamism that working for a game company creates. Many brains mean many ideas, many illustrations, many people involved in the game. I really love this about Atlus.

The disadvantage is... Having a last train home. (laughs) There are limitations on how much we can work, so if I end up staying too late someone is gonna get angry at me.

But let's think about it. You need to learn self-management this way, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.

-- Can you tell us something more about Atlus work rules?

Core time is from 11 until 16. During that time span, you should be at the company. But since work hours are flexible, they tend not to be too strict. You can get to work early in the morning and go home 8 hours later, or you can get to the office just in time for core time, at 11 o'clock.

-- It's nice to have that kind of freedom! How many hours do you work?

When deadlines are approaching, I can work all day every day... (laughs) But basically, I work according to the rules.

-- What do you do in order to rest your eyes and hands?

I think it's really important to choose the perfect chair. My company really values a nice work environment, so everyone is usually sitting on a very nice chair.

Us designers, unlike illustrations, don't really keep drawing for hours and hours. We often look at materials and resources or have meetings. That's why I don't think the burden on our bodies is too big.

What are the limitations on character design? Joys and sorrows of group work

-- Can you tell what goes inside the head of a character designer? How can you become good at it?

"Character design" means to create the setting for a certain character, but I think that the ability to draw is a prerequisite in order to be able to convey all their characteristics.

A thing I realized when I entered this company is that even if you're good at drawing, that doesn't mean you will make a good character designer. Competitions inside the company can get pretty harsh, but sometimes it can happen that designs from people who can't draw end up being adopted. For the initial concept, stick figures are usually better than super detailed characters.

It might be hard to get good at design if you're not that good at drawing, but I'm pretty sure that "drawing skills" and "design skills" are two completely different things. I realized all these things after joining Atlus, and since then I've always been drawing to increase my skills as a designer.

-- What is the best way to increase your skills as a designer?

Of course, it's important to observe what's around you... But there's something less vague that you could do. Personally, I started from asking myself: "What's the thing that I enjoy the most?" I think when you start drawing something you're always influenced by what's popular at that time. Then, you start looking for ways to be different from the popular creators. However, you don't always get results right away. I was even scolded by my boss because I couldn't find a satisfying output, a way to be different. (laughs) He told me to just be myself and to draw what I felt like drawing. Since that moment I started actively thinking about how to create something that was different from whatever came in the past. I started to find the things I was missing. It's important to continuously try to perfect yourself, both by studying and by finding new interests.

▲ Even a successful designer like Soejima was scolded at the start of his career.

-- What's the most fun thing about character design?

To give shape to a character that has only a vague image gives me a blast every time.

Characters are not something that I make on my own, but that our team creates together. I like sharing what I made with the team, and everyone usually reacts with "Oh, so this is what this character was like!"

When I have to design a character, I start with written indications. Going from that to an actual physical image... That's the most fun that I have during my job.

-- And what's the most frustrating thing?

Since design is quite different from plain art, there are many things that I have to consider when creating a character. I have to think that that same character will be made into a 3D model and animated... And if, for example, character A and character B are brothers they should resemble each other. I have to base my drawings on character settings, and that leads to some limitations. It's very hard to respect those limitations while creating a good character.

▲ Character creation is something that various members of the staff collaborate on. It doesn't matter how small a character is, there's always much thought going into it.

-- I think that the designs for "personas" appearing in the Persona series are very cool and stylish. How are these creatures born?

The first thing that I consider is what kind of impression that persona will leave when it meets the eye of the player.

Do you want it to be cool? Scary? I mix different ingredients according to the kind of persona I want to create.

However, designs that are too easy to understand can end up resulting quite boring. I like to add elements that create a little mystery... I want the players to think "why does this persona look like this?". My intent is not only to create good looking creatures but also to make the player curious about the original setting for each of them.

-- What would you recommend to all those who're aiming for a career as an illustrator or character designer?

I think the best method to learn something is "to make it into a job". If you only do something as a hobby, you'll tend to be biased towards things you like.

By entering a company, you'll have the chance to draw both things from your specialty field and things outside of it.

When I joined Atlus I was quite confident about my skills, but I can't say the same about drawing something outside my field of interest. I remember clearly what one of my senpai said to me back then: "Soejima, you pretend like you can draw anything, but you actually can't draw at all". (laughs) So instead of working at your desk and thinking "I'd like to make this into a job one day", get out there and make it into a job. And I hope you will choose our company!

youtube

▲ Soejima drew Persona 5 character Makoto Niijima just for us. How beautiful is this!?

Atlus is currently hiring! Apply through pixiv!

-- I would like to ask you something about recruiting. What made you decide to recruit new staff?

After Persona 5 was released, the same team is considering to work on another project, Project Re Fantasy by Studio Zero, which I'm working on as an art director. Apart from that, Atlus is planning to launch a new project for Shin Megami Tensei 25th anniversary, but we don't have enough staff to cover all that...

We are especially looking for artists, and we heard that the best place to find them is a certain treasure cave called pixiv.

▲ Studio Zero, the freshly established studio that deals with Atlus new project. To stimulate further growth and to follow the tradition of existing Atlus projects, they are hiring new personnel.

-- Is this offer limited to newly graduated students?

No, we don't really care about that. You can apply even if you're in the middle of your career, or if you were a student quite a few years ago. People who are currently working as freelancers are also welcome to apply. We are looking for graphic creators to join our team at Atlus.

-- Isn't gonna be hard to get hired at a company like Atlus, that produces such original games?

Thank you for complimenting our company. However, it's not like people without original ideas can't find a job at Atlus! And it's not like you have to know anything and everything about Atlus if you want to join. If you played Shin Megami Tensei you probably have this image of Atlas as a super serious company, but rest assured that the creators and members of the staff are only serious when doing their job. (laughs) We are very passionate about creating original contents, but as a team we are pretty standard. It's a regular company.The tendency is to join everyone's forces when it comes to creating a new title. If you're interested in this creative side of the production, please apply! So if you're interested in becoming a character designer or an illustrator, we will be more than happy to have you!

-- Thank you so much! And to all artists out there who dream to work at Atlus... Please send your application using the form below!

★ ATLUS - Creators Wanted! Application Form ★

Make your dreams come true "right now", and not "some other day"!

Such a wholesome interview, the one we had with Atlus character designer Soejima! He told us that, rather than practice at your desk, it's way better to just find a job to get your skills up! Is it just a chance that Atlus is currently hiring new creators and staff? If you want to have a chance to make your dreams come true right now, don't miss this unique opportunity! #DESKWATCH checks out the inspiring desks of creators and observes as they strive to deliver the best quality work.

#Persona 5 #Shigenori Soejima #character designer #Pixivision #Deskwatch #interview #Atlus #P-Studio #Studio Zero #Project Re Fantasy #hiring #looking for artists #pixiv #long post

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