#anime adaptation when /j

[weezering-your-posts]

You just got Weezer'd!

Happy dunmeshi farcille day here’s that one meme

[aashi-heartfilia]

Where can I read "Kusuriya no Hitorigoto" Light Novel?

Since a lot of you have been asking this question lately, here is everything you need to know in brief...

What is a Web Novel (WN) and Light Novel (LN)?

A WN is basically weekly chapters released by the main author on a weekly basis. You can find it on a lot of Japanese sites. Some amazing people also translate them on a regular basis and post those chapters. LN is a compilation of WN chapters. A number of Chapters from the WN are taken, translated, properly rewritten and edited to publish a final LN. It has a few illustrations as well like the one you can see below...

Manga, Light Novel and Anime

Basically, the LN is taken and illustrated by an artist and we call it a manga. And when the manga has reached a certain number of Chapters, and gained a lot of popularity, it is converted into an anime. So that's the flow of things. We have

WN -> LN -> Manga -> Anime

I think that clears up a lot of misunderstandings. Firstly, the WN is published on a weekly basis, some chapters from WN are taken and translated properly to make a LN. The LN is illustrated by an artist to make the manga and the manga is generally adapted to make the anime.

In case of 'Kusuriya no Hitorigoto' or 'The Apothecary Diaries', the anime is doing a great job of adapting the overall story because not only are they properly animating every scene from the manga but also adding their own scenes from the LN.

Where can I read WN, LN and Manga?

WNs are the hardest to find, since they are released on a weekly basis by the Japanese author. They are written in Japanese and a few fans translate them for everyone. You can find it here...

(They have translated chapters of vol 10, 11 and 12)

The LN has reached until vol 9 and vol 10 is scheduled to release in Jan 2024. Currently, there is no source where you can find it for free (not that I know of, because even I have purchased the e book from Amazon) though the first few pages are available to read for free! So you can check them out!

Where did the Anime, Manga left off?

The Manga has reached ch 68. If you want to start reading the light novel from where the manga left off, you can start reading from vol 4, chapter 4.

The Anime has released ep 12 and it has covered manga material till ch 20, if you want to read manga after finishing the anime.

If you have any other questions regarding the LN, WN, Anime or Manga, feel free to ask!

~ Sunshine

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

I love the fourth wall of Idia creating Twisted Wonderland with the SSR cards, keys, Yuu and Grimm as strategies, and so on. That's literally the best part (although my most favorite is Lilia being Silver's father revelation)

I know it's just recently but I can't wait to see how the anime and manga gonna pull this off.

[You can read my thoughts on the book 7 chapter 13 part 1 update here!]

When we thought Yana was the mind behind Twisted Wonderland and turns out it was actually Idia Shroud all along... 🤡 He was so extra designing his cheat tool like a mobile gacha game though 😭 even going to the mirror chamber and rigging the rolls to summon his classmates in a flashy way?? Never call anyone a drama queen again because Idia has stolen that crown/j

It's nice that we finally have the "Lilia is my dad" lore told to everyone in the main cast of students! We already saw Silver revealing this to Yuu and Grim before (I think during Lilia's dream?) so I don't think it had as much of a strong impact on me the second time around. I wonder if this will play into his Dawn Armor form later? Or (as many fans speculate) if Silver will feel comfortable formally adopting the Vanrouge surname by the end of book 7?

A fourth wall break like this 💦 I really do wonder how the manga and anime would frame it... It'll end up being an excellent advertisement for the mobile game no matter how it's done, I guess 😂 Probably too early to think about it now though, Ruler of the Abyss adaptations probably won't come to us for a few years.

I love the fourth wall of Idia creating Twisted Wonderland with the SSR cards, keys, Yuu and Grimm as strategies, and so on.

[sagittariusmarz]

ℍ𝕠𝕨 𝕕𝕠 𝕡𝕖𝕠𝕡𝕝𝕖 𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 𝕪𝕠𝕦? (ℙ𝔸ℂ)

ℙile 1

(Angel number 133) People view you as someone who’s emotional and unpredictable, sometimes you try to distract yourself from things you’re not happy about. Some people view you as pessimistic and some think that you like to hide your emotions or you don’t like showing them but it’s hard for you, people view you as someone who’s hard to please or you don’t smile often. People view you as very feminine or you have very feminine features, people really like your chest area and legs especially if they’re long. People view you as someone who’s hard doesn’t keep up with social media or you don’t care about online drama, people view you as someone who’s talented or multitalented but you don’t realize it. People view you as someone who’s very fair and you like standing up for what’s right. Signs- Leo/scorpio. Initials- Z, H, J

ℙile 2

People view you as someone who’s addicting or intense, they view you as very attractive and they think you attract a lot of people. People assume you’re very experienced in love or you have a lot of suitors, people view you as someone who’s good at keeping secrets or you have a lot of secrets. People view you as likeable and they think you have a lot of feminine energy around you or you attract a lot of feminine energy, people may assume that you like the same sex but you attractive to anyone. People think you’re someone who breaks hearts instead of getting your heart broken, people view you as someone who’s very resourceful and adaptable. People view you as someone who’s always smiling or laughing and most of the time you look happy, people view you as someone with strong feminine energy. People think you have nice lips or teeth, they think you have a nice chest area especially if it’s smaller or perky. People view you as mature and you’re good at seeing through people and their lies, people think you’re very consistent and you don’t really like change. People think you’re all for women being in power and women equality, people view you as a good baker or you really like bread or carbs. People view you as someone who’s very protective of their heart and feelings, people view you as sneaky. Signs- Virgo/cancer. Initials- Y, C, H, U, Q

ℙile 3

People view you as someone who’s very supportive of LGBTQ+ rights (trans rights specifically?) people view you as someone who has a lot of masculine energy or you have masculine features. People view you as someone who’s grateful and finds the sliver lining in any situation, people view you as someone who likes sweets and animals (specifically cats). People view you as someone who’s a good manifestor and you’re good at getting what you want, people think you work hard and you stay motivated when it’s comes to your goals. People view you as someone who doesn’t have many limitations and you always go beyond your limits so you can grow. People view you as someone who’s an optimist and you don’t like showing when your said or upset, people view you as fair and you love to match energy of others. People think family is important to you and they have a big influence on your life or your decisions, people think you’re honest and you don’t have a lot of secrets or you just like to stay out of trouble. People think you’re good at adapting in chaos and you know how stay calm while everyone else is panicking, people view you as someone who’s very looks good in darker colors like black, purple, and dark green. People view you as someone who has dark features or your features really pop out/very distinctive, people view you as someone who has a lot of attention online social media or you could easily get a lot of attention online. People think you would get a lot of attention if you made spiritual content. Signs- Leo, Sagittarius, Libra. Initals- Y, O, N, M, F

Personal readings always available!

Divider by @thecutestgrotto

[thislittlekumquat]

Realizing there are probably folks on here who have ZERO idea why Baldroy has a British accent in the north american english dub.

Way back in 2010 when they were putting the dub together, and the manga was only barely past circus arc, Ian Sinclair, who ADR directed parts of s1 and also voiced Baldroy, had to make a lot of decisions about accents. In a commentary episode he and J Michael Tatum did (the first hound village episode, I believe), he talks about how there is a flashback sequence in the final s1 anime arc where Baldroy is shown wearing what appears to the average viewer as a British redcoat uniform as a British soldier prior to being headhunted by Sebastian. It was shortly after Ian Sinclair made the assumption he was British (like the rest of the white characters in the story thus far) and recorded the show with that accent, that someone brought it to his attention that it had been revealed in the manga in a part of the series that was not being adapted to anime (circus arc) that Baldroy was actually American. He and J Michael Tatum sort of laughed about the blunder and were like. Well. These things happen, but it's a minor character and there's just this one season so it won't be too crazy of a mistake bc nothing in the anime is in conflict with the voice decision.

Lol.

[animefeminist]

J Michael Tatum discusses returning to Spice and Wolf, dubbing philosophy, and Ouran's queer legacy

J Michael Tatum is a juggernaut of the English dubbing sphere. He started out as a secondary character in 2005’s Samurai 7, a mecha-flavored adaptation of the Kurosawa film, and from there went on to play multiple iconic roles, including Sebastian Michaelis, Scar, Okabe Rintaro, and Isaac Dion. Most importantly for today’s discussion, however, are his turns as traveling merchant Kraft Lawrence (Spice and Wolf) and host club manager (and Shadow King) Ohtori Kyoya (Ouran High School Host Club).

We sat down with Tatum to talk about radical recent changes in the dubbing industry, what it’s like being a highly visible gay voice actor, and Ouran’s enduring appeal.

Anime Feminist: Just to start off with something probably a lot of folks have asked you at this point: but what’s it like playing Lawrence again after all these years?

J Michael Tatum: Oh, such a gift. BrIna and I both—Brina Palencia, who plays Holo–so love those characters and that franchise that we’ve been dreaming of getting to revisit them for years because we never really got to finish it. And we loved it so much that we came back for the audiobook when they asked us even though we don’t typically do audiobooks, because they’re very time-consuming. But we love those characters so much we couldn’t resist. And then now [there’s] the reboot, so it is lovely.

It’s always such a wonderful feeling to get to come back to characters that you feel a relationship with, that you feel akin to. Now, I’m older, hopefully a little wiser and have more tricks up my sleeve that we can bring to the performance that I wouldn’t have thought of when I was, you know, 18 years younger. I’m also just so glad that here I am, pushing 50, and I could still play him. [Laughs]

Read it at Anime Feminist!

[tiffanys-aus-and-headcanons]

Terrible Visions

A scrambled timeline is a timeline that has proceeded much like ours, except that some particular facet has been mixed up all over the place. For example, in the scrambled timeline we will consider today, our world's fictional stories have been told by different people, and in different ways.

Bryan Lee O'Malley, in this alternate timeline, is best known as the cartoonist responsible for Homestuck, a popular comic series about a group of children who become embroiled in a cosmic-scale video game known as Sburb. Although Homestuck is probably most often associated with the cult classic Edgar Wright-directed film adaptation released in 2016, the comics themselves are highly-regarded, and the film brought a new audience to them. Netflix has commissioned an animated continuation, The Homestuck Epilogues, which is due to be released soon.

Andrew Hussie, on the other hand, is a figure you're likelier to know if you're overly online. His "MS Paint Adventures" series - most notably including Scott Pilgrim Vs The World, which is kind of like Homestuck but weirder and hornier - have firmly remained a fixture of obsessive Twitter fandom culture. It doesn't help that the best-known iteration, Scott Pilgrim Vs The World, is infamous for stretching thousands of pages of meandering digressions out of a simple and focused narrative starting point. Scott Pilgrim fans have developed something of a toxic reputation, which is not entirely deserved - although of course Knives discourse is interminable, and back in the fandom's heyday there were reportedly incidents of fans assaulting each other "for being evil exes".

Scott Pilgrim fandom was very big back in the day, though, and consequently it was a nexus for other creative figures who would go on to surpass Hussie. Perhaps foremost among these is indie developer Toby Fox. He was literally living in Hussie's basement when he produced ROSEQUARTZ, a universally-beloved retro Goonies-like RPG about a human hybrid boy born to a race of gem-based aliens. He's now developing an episodic spiritual successor, RAZORQUEST, with more overtly dark themes. It revolves around an inheritance dispute among a demon-summoning family.

Other foundational figures in this timeline's internet culture include Alison Bechdel, who helped get the webcomic scene started. Although she's now more seriously acclaimed for her personal memoirs, her gaming webcomic Press Start To Dyke, which premiered in 1998, was once everywhere. It had a broad appeal, and at its height, it was common to see even straight guys sharing pages from it. Time has not been especially kind to it, though, and at this point its main legacy is test.png, a meme spawned by one of the comic's most ill-advised pages.

Then there's John C. McCrae, more often known by his pseudonym Wildbow. A prolific and reclusive author of doorstopping "web serials" - long-form fiction published online - McCrae's best-known serial is still his first, Wind, a noir superhero story set in an alternate history where capes are mostly just a subculture of unpowered vigilantes. Wind landed in a culture already rife with comic book deconstructions, like Alan Moore's 2002 graphic novel Worm Turns, but it nonetheless managed to stand out from the pack with its extensive cast of characters and its themes of coordination problems and the end of the world. Later McCrae web serials include Part (the first "Otherverse" serial; an urban fantasy story about a couple who die in a car accident and find that they have become ghosts), Tear (a "biopunk" story set in a collapsing underwater city), Warn (the controversial Wind sequel), and Play (the second "Otherverse" serial, set in a small Indiana town that helps hide a psychic girl from the CIA).

Last and perhaps least, we should discuss J. K. Rowling. Far and away the most famous of any of these authors, Rowling's name is inseparable from the YA series that she debuted with, the Luz Noceda books, which remain her one successful work. Although it was heavily derivative of older fantasy novels - like Jill Murphy's Academy For Little Witches, or Philip Pullman's Methods Of Rationality trilogy - Luz Noceda was still a monumental and unprecedented success in the publishing industry, and the film adaptations were consistent blockbusters. The final book, Luz Noceda and the Watcher of Rain, contained some allusions to a romantic relationship between Luz and her recently-redeemed associate Amity. Rowling confirmed that this was her intent in subsequent interviews and indicated that she had fought her publishers for it; the film would then go on to escalate matters slightly further.

There have been many lengthy and heated online arguments as to whether the references in the book itself constitute text or mere subtext. Whatever your stance on this discourse, a new complication has been introduced recently: although she has put out no official statement on the matter as of yet, it has become quite apparent from Rowling's shrinking network of contacts and her conspicuous silences that she is certainly TERF-sympathetic, and likely an outright TERF herself. For many, this is leading to a critical reevaluation of the social values inherent in the Luz Noceda series; others, to say the least, are holding off on that kind of reappraisal.

Anyway, Scott Pilgrim just beat Luz Noceda in a Twitter poll for Most Gay Media, and people are piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiissed

[techramonic]

The Culture in Morality: Dylan Klebold Journal Analysis, 2.

Below is a quote from Dylan's journal that stands out to me. The first part: the evidence of desperation to cleanse impurities. With this, I can garner that Dylan seems to have a deluded sense of morality. Second: It looks like he is trying to blend in with the general population. It’s not only him who thinks this way, so do other individuals. It’s as if he is trying to attain unity or solidarity from the act of “cleansing himself morally”. Moreso, attempting to be "human". 

Humanity: Ethics and Morality

According to Emile Durkheim, one of the founding fathers of sociology, morality reflects the organization of society and binds it together. It serves as an agent that bridges the divide between individuals. Morality, in essence, consists of principles distinguishing between good and bad.

Charles Darwin’s "The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex," published in 1871, asserts:

“I fully subscribe to the judgment of those writers who maintain that of all the differences between man and the lower animals the moral sense or conscience is by far the most important.”

Since then, an influx of questions has arisen regarding the relative importance of culture and biology in determining morality. Whether the moral sense is derived from either of two aspects:

the moral rules humans accept as behavioral guides (assessing right or wrong); or

the biological basis of ethics (consciousness of actions and consequences)

Ethics has an established difference from morality. It is the notion of doing a rather practical or pragmatic action, while morality is the idea of being driven to do good. An ethical code does not have to be moral to be justified, but must be feasible or convenient. This means that as long as an idea is practical, whether it is considered to be good or bad, it is ethical.

In an essay by Francisco J. Ayala titled "The Difference of Being Human: Morality," he proposes that the capacity for ethics is a necessary attribute of human nature, while moral codes are products of cultural evolution. Ethical behavior is a byproduct of man's intellectual prowess—a nurtured quality fostered by natural selection. Morality did not emerge as an adaptation but as an exaptation, developing into a function different from its original purpose. This is explained by the presence of three biological conditions for ethical behavior that allow humans to have a moral sense: ability to anticipate the consequences of one’s actions, to make value judgments, and to choose between alternative courses of action.

Moral codes, compared to Ethical codes, are outcomes of cultural evolution, accounting for the diversity of cultural norms among populations and their evolution over time. People accept standards according to which their conduct is judged as either right or wrong, good or evil. These norms vary, however, some norms, such as do not kill, are widespread and perhaps universal. This explanation suggests that while it is inherent to be ethical, morality arises from cultural and sociological factors created out of normative behavior. From this, we can assert that humans all inherently have the ethics that guide them throughout their lives. What makes them interconnected however is the presence of morality that acts as a framework to keep them bonded together and functioning.

Moral Exclusion

With that, it is easy to say that humans are human because of biological factors that distinguish them from the animalia kingdom. However, we can also observe that humans also deny others of the capability of being human even if we are from the same species. Time and time again, we can observe that humans are susceptible to dehumanizing others. So really, why is that?

Most cases, we confer personhood upon each other when we criticize others using a sort of check-list: morality. It is technically a learned culture that allows us to be bonded together and function as an entire whole. What I do, you do, and vice-versa. However, not always can it unite us because other times it can also alienate others. Sometimes, distorting morality itself by using it as a tool to exclude those who do not fit into certain categories of moral preference.

Since it is a culture that evolves through time, there are aspects of it that are different from individual to individual and culture to culture. This means that what can be bad can also be good to others and vice-versa. Not everything is in one standard that's applicable to all because not everything is practical for everyone. Ethically speaking, when we acknowledge other people’s complexities outside the standard black-and-white "good or bad " spectrum, we feel more connected. We realize that we are human because we have the ability to rationalize and do what is pragmatic.

Dylan’s Difference and Indifference

Dylan believed he was outside the norm, devoid of humanity, and different from everyone else. He was ethical in the sense that he understood the consequences of his actions and could make determinations about them. He knew the consequences of taking lives and taking his own life. With this, it is already enough to consider him as human. He could rationalize, therefore he is human.

One of the reasons why he does not feel that he is human is because he lacks the connection others have. Morality being a culture has brought people together and as I have previously stated, also excludes others. I believe that he subscribed to the belief that to be human, one must be moral so they could fit in with society. This creates an internal conflict. Humans are no strangers to latching unto vices because to them, it is pragmatic. We smoke, we drink, and we do things others consider immoral because we think it helps us.

With morality, a tangible framework is provided for achieving a purpose. It is an established system that offers a good reason to quit vices in exchange for acceptance. Dylan sees this difference as a weapon hindering him from being included. He acts like others to be accepted and, supposedly, be happy with this acceptance.

[momtaku]

Thoughts on the Attack on Titan Musical

tl:dr; It's been two weeks but I am still not over it.

When I posted the photo of myself holding the playbill of the Attack on Titan musical the most common reaction was "WHAT???", so I guess some background might be good to start with.

Yes, the Attack on Musical is a thing. It was first performed in Japan in January 2023 with shows in Osaka and Tokyo. When it was announced that a second run of the musical would include New York City, I pounced on tickets.

See, it's real! This is my video of the closing number. We were allowed to record this.

The New York run was at the New York City Center which seats about 2200 people. There were a total of 4 shows the weekend of Oct 12. I attended the Saturday matinee. The style of this production is known 2.5D, and is incredibly popular in Japan. I did some checking and this is the first time a 2.5D anime adaptation has appeared outside of Asia. Did Attack on Titan work as a musical?

Surprisingly yes, although I think anyone who wandered in off the streets would've been thoroughly confused. The themes that attracted most of us to the series translate wonderfully to the stage, and despite knowing the story well, they managed to make it feel fresh. Carla's death, for instance. When she realized she was trapped and facing certain death, her song to Eren and Mikasa was a children's lullaby about survival. That portion of the manga always hit me hard, but the desperation, horror and love set to a lullaby? Damn it musical, you made me cry.

The original scene of Hange leading a Titan Biology class might be my favorite of the entire show. The actor who played Hange was the perfect amount of unhinged and delightful as they dance across the table while the 104th answered a pop quiz. (And yes to "they" since the playbill specifically mentions that the actor in the role was known for her portrayal of nonbinary characters.) It was genuinely hilarious.

The musical covers the first 11 chapters of the manga, stopping in the "Struggle for Trost" arc, where the plan for Eren to plug the hole in the wall was conceived but not yet executed. I remember reading that portion of the manga years ago and feeling that same sense of optimism. So the musical ends on a high. Humans finally have a way to win against the titans, It felt like a strange place to end, knowing what ultimately happens in the story, so I wondered if the intention is for a part 2 musical adaptation.

(btw, the staging of "can you plug the hole" had Eren and Levi kneeling closely on the floor together with a manly shoulder clasp looking earnestly at each other. It had me looking at my very ereri friend with raised eyebrows. It was for sure her favorite moment.) What was the performance like?

The short run 2.5D musicals don't have the polish or production budget of a true broadway musical, but it was still wildly entertaining. Since the director is known for breakdance and hiphop, there was plenty of that. The dance numbers were fun. The songs were catchy.

Rather than try to describe it, here's a TikTok review that shows off the 3dmg, the titans, and that two minute head spin that no one could shut up about.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by mixed feelings (@mixed.feelings)

Also, the cast could not have been for perfect. I mean LOOK AT THEM!

From this tweet

Who was in attendance?

As I mentioned before, this was a first in many ways so it attracted people from all over the world. While I was opening my blind box items, I met a group older women from Japan who'd travelled to New York from Tokyo and had purchased tickets to every single NY performance. Their English wasn't great, and my Japanese is nonexistent, but what surprised me the most wasn't their dedication to the show, but that they seemed genuinely surprised to see me. I don't know if that was because I too am an older fan like them, or if they weren't expecting equally passionate westerners at the show but I tend to think it was both. I suspect the Japanese fandom has no idea how big this series is outside of Japan, or that it attracts such a diverse audience.

My podcast partner Luna was sitting next to two women who'd flown in from California. They knew nothing about Attack on Titan but were fans of the actor who played Eren. Since it was his first time performing outside of Japan, they came solely to see him.

On my flight home was a 22 year old wearing an Attack on Titan musical t-shirt. We started talking and I learned it was his first time in New York, his first time seeing a broadway musical, and his first time traveling alone. He just loves the series that much.

In general the audience was much younger than what you'd normally see at a broadway show and 100% more excited. Plenty of people were in cosplay or else wearing Attack on Titan clothing. The atmosphere was insane.

My merch haul

The mug and t-shirt sold out before the second show so I was glad I was there early to snag them. The playbill is selling on Mercari for almost $50. Sadly my poster didn't survive the trip home. It cracked in about 50 places.

Did you do anything else in NYC

Aside from hanging out with so many of my favorite people, the Kodansha Popup House was going on. It was incredibly cool.

We met up with James from the Titan Teatime podcast. I think the plan is do a joint podcast in a few weeks to get everyone's thoughts . I'll post more about that if it actually happens.

Final Thoughts

Rumor has it that the show's successful New York run could mean it will branch out further. If it goes to London, nothing will stop me from being there. It was that much fun, and I can't wait to share the experience with my European friends.

[guidaozongshi]

On Sakura and SasuSaku's apparent popularity in the eastern fandom

One of the widely regurgitated talking points in favour of the Sasuke/Sakura relationship is that it is the most popular Naruto pairing in Japan and that Sakura is a very popular character but western fans apparently fail to understand the nuances of their relationship unlike their eastern counterparts. These claims range from half-truths to complete nonsense

Firstly, let's talk about Sakura's reception in Japan.

Kishimoto infamously said that girls would come up to him to complain about Sakura and that he really struggled to make her likeable. But you don't need his statements to arrive at the conclusion that she is not well received.

Take a look at the Naruto Character popularity polls by Shounen Jump taken during the run of the manga.

Character Poll 1 , as of Chapter 60

1. Kakashi Hatake – 22,692 votes

2. Naruto Uzumaki – 16,729 votes

3. Sasuke Uchiha – 13,674 votes

4. Iruka Umino – 7,128 votes

5. Sakura Haruno – 3,055 votes

Naruto had just started to take off , with Team 7 being the main focus, yet look at the difference in votes for the members. Iruka, a character that barely appears overtook Sakura. What's ironic is that this will be the highest position she would ever receive because her popularity gets worse.

Character Poll 2 , as of Chapter 107

1. Naruto Uzumaki – 2,788 votes

2. Kakashi Hatake – 2,635 votes

.

14. Sakura Haruno – 359 votes

14th Position! Despite the fact she is from a trio of characters that are the most focused on. Not only the other Konoha rookies rank above her but even Gambunta ( the frog ) overtakes her.

In Character poll 3 , 4 ( chapter 199 ), 5 ( chapter 245 ), 6 ( chapter 292 ) and 7 ( chapter 531 ) her ranking becomes 9 , 10 , 8 , 12 and 12 respectively , while the other Team 7 members never leave Top 4. Characters with less panels and appearances repeatedly overtake her.

It is not an exaggeration to say that she was widely disliked as a main character. She has been repeatedly bashed, on Japanese online forums as well as by the author. ( more on this later )

All this of course doesn't mean that she doesn't have a fanbase, oh she has! a very loyal one and a particular kind at that . Women who love Sakura tend to be fans of Shoujo/Josei , something you can notice if you have come across SasuSaku artworks.

When Naruto ended , the majority of their comments were congratulating Sakura on her long one sided crush being finally reciprocated and how happy they were for her. Sasuke fans couldn't care less about the relationship as her character has hardly any effect on his story ( that is, until Gaiden came along and angered many people)

There is a noticeable difference in how JP artists portray their relationship in comparison to their western counterpart. The former portrays it as a 'puppy love' like between an idol and a fan. The appeal of the relationship comes from Sasuke, who is the classical male ideal and Sakura who is deeply ' loyal' to him , who then gets rewarded for it. It is one of the reasons why it only shot up in popularity post-ending.

On the other hand, the latter seems to believe that Sakura is Sasuke's equal, that she challenges and influences Sasuke, despite the fact that she becomes a doormat in front of him and according to Sakura's own words she couldn't come close to Sasuke's heart.

I have discussed why some Japanese fans like Sasuke/Sakura as it may appeal to their taste but these fans don't make much of the fanbase.

Case in point, one of the most hyped SasuSaku material i.e Sasuke Retsuden only managed to sell about 17k copies for the weeks it charted, in Comparison Naruto J Novels 1-7 sold about 470K when it was in circulation back in 2008.

Even the manga adaptation piggybacking on the anime couldn't even sell 40K copies for the first volume.

There was a time when Sasuke's name alone would be enough for a manga to sell out but the truth is that not only the majority of Naruto fans have moved on since 2015, even the loyal fans aren't interested in this content.

After Gaiden came out, Both Sakura and her relationship received harsh criticism, the 2channel threads kept bashing her and Kishimoto of the poor handling of the relationship.

Some of the snippets

"..with the release of Gaiden, the author just had worsened what was already bad. I guess he lost his willpower to write.”

“I was expecting before Sasuke and Sakura’s feelings would be shown in Gaiden but was edited out...because back time I thought I saw some spoilers that Sasuke and Sakura had gotten closer.

But now there’s no way there was some edit, no, this whole thing is a fucking lie.”

"A natural progress of loving, to slowly get accustomed and come to love someone, yeah I can’t imagine this with Sasu/Saku. Such extremely weird couple, how are they supposed to get used with each other over time? This is the vibe I get.

This relationship feels weird in my head, maybe I’m asking for too much to find a reason behind this.

But Kishimoto’s Sasu/Saku bonds is completely empty, I guess it’s funny that there’s nothing to add in it.”

"Sakura’s feelings is over the top terrible. She’s able to be happy with this..”

The thread is VERY long but you get the gist of it.

Fun fact : In 2015 Sasuke/Sakura was 6th most voted couple that should Break-Up by Japnese readers

Accusing others of not understanding their relationship because they apparently don't get their supposedly "culturally contextual relationship" is quite stupid and laughable because it's also hated by many Japanese people. It's only popular with a specific set of audience.

Which brings me to the other argument.

"Sasuke/Sakura is the most popular Naruto couple in Japan"

While this might be true today, it has not always been the case. Sasuke/Sakura shot in popularity post-Naruto ending while the most popular pairing throughout the run of the series (Sasuke/Naruto) declined. ( If anybody has the pixiv stats from 2012/13 , please feel free to add)

Take a look at this Naruto couple ranking list in Japan from 2012 ( the rankings are based on Google Japan results if I am not wrong)

サスナル (SasuNaru) —- 166,000 res.

ナルサス (NaruSasu) —- 78,400 res.

サスサク (SasuSaku) —- 54,700 res.

There's quite a large gap.

Even in 2016, 2 years after Naruto ended and many Sasuke/Naruto artists deleted their artworks or moved on from the fandom , it still rivaled SasuSaku in popularity on pixiv

SasuNaruSasu サスナルサス 9.502 works

SasuSaku サスサク 8.150 works

For other East Asian countries, I wrote about how SasuNaruSasu is the largest pairing in China with no close second . I am unfortunately not familiar with the Korean fandom.

I will make a separate post for the Chinese Naruto fandom but they are very brutal against the Sasuke/Sakura relationship.

This is the general sentiment there :

Sasuke married Sakura to atone for his mistakes

10 K Likes

[buggy1999]

★Weird R&J Adaptations★

…

Gnomeo & Juliet (2011)

Pretty much everyone knows this version already and it’s really cute!! They play around with the gnome idea really well in my opinion

Romeo & Juliet: Sealed With A Kiss (2006)

This is strangely one of the most accurate depictions of Romeo and Juliet for kids??😭 it retains many of the aspects of the original play, Romeo and Juliet’s dynamic is really sweet, and it’s so charming considering that it was made by only one guy. The only sin the committed was making Mercutio straight, but other than that it’s kind of peak??

ShakesQueer(2015)

ShakesQueer was so unhinged I love it😭 it’s so funny watching both of the plays as a Shakespeare enjoyer because both have almost nothing from their original plays, I’m still wondering why they changed Romeo’s name to Romy when Rose is RIGHT there. It was honestly giving John Waters and I love it for that

Shakespeare The Animated Tales: Romeo & Juliet(1992)

If you need really pretty versions of Shakespeare plays, I highly recommend this series, especially their hamlet adaptation, but you could tell that they kinda gave up on R&J😭 it’s kind of the weaker adaptations they did, but there’s a lot of funny moments in there, like Romeo doing his little happy jump or the entirety of the battle between Mercutio and Tybalt and for some reason Mercutio looks like Frank N Furter and a horse

Romeo & Juliet & Vampires(2010)

I found out about this one after it jumpscared me while I scrolling through Pinterest. I’m so glad that all R&J fans agree that Juliet would be the vampire, but unfortunately this book is like really boring,

Romeus & Juliet (2012)

I love this so much your honor you don’t understand, it’s like I opened an artifact, again I really like how everyone in the R&J fandom agrees with vampire Juliet

WOA Fairy Tales R&J??(2024)

I-I don’t- I can explain?? They made Romeo the vampire this time which is really interesting

Romanoff & Juliet(1961)

COMMUNISM

Manga Shakespeare: Romeo & Juliet

This one really gives similar vibes to shows like Kapp Mikey or My Life Me and I kinda like the archaic anime style, other than that though it’s a pretty straightforward adaptation except for some reason the deaths are really brutal for some reason😭

Romeo &Juliet By Willie Shakespeare as Performed By Monsters and company(1985)

I had to dig through the depths of the internet in order to find this one and it was so worth it, they’re so silly in this version and the ending is actually insane😭 I love their little monster designs so much and they had a cute little poster of this short where it reenacted the birth of Venus with the little creatures like aghhhh they’re so cute

…

I have so many more of these, some that I can’t even find, so if you’d like a part 2 let me know!! My brain is shut down at the moment if you couldn’t tell

[aziulpre]

Hi Nakamura!

Do you have time to answer something of mine and advise me about it? You see, I love your art, your merchandise, and everything else.

How was your process of adapting to the Omniverse style? Was it difficult?

And well, I wanted some advice about it because I've always liked Ben and I'm curious about your process, and that's it.

Sure, well... about Cartoon style, as I've mentioned since my beginnings, my design has always been similar to Omniverse, so it was not difficult for me.

Especially since I've always been a fan of Derrick J. Wyatt (Unfortunately I knew him half year before his death) and cartoon stylized style from Cartoon Network (like DC animated series).

Also, I am a character designer so I handle different styles...

which makes it easier to imitate (but keeping my style, so that it's recognizable that it's mine).

Something funny about UAF style... many people hate it, but when it comes to drawing it, it's actually very similar to Omniverse 🤣 the only distinction would be the "proportions" of the body. Nobody believes me Hahahah

The only advice I can say: if you want to improve, draw every day. About learning, you have to find the best way that fits you. When I was a kiddo, what worked a lot for me was looking at art from series and trying to imitate it (in fact, famous painters often imitate real landscapes). Over time, or just in a drawing, start adding your own details and you'll find your style.

I say "imitate" instead of copy, because "copy" means you just reflect what you see on paper/screen: There is no difference and that is not creative. It may work for learning or even animation, but it isn't recommended if you want to be "independent" (I don't know what the correct word is) but It's a way that many or few people can know that it belongs to you. The good example is that people who know my art recognize my comics, but when someone just looks at a drawing out of the corner of their eye they think it's a scene from Ben 10 series.

If you already know how to draw, it's good to see many references. In my case, I often look at lighting references and muscles or a thin body to be able to correctly capture the color and proportions (especially the realistic muscles, because it's a little difficult for me... that works for me in Anime style or detailed drawings).

[cooketimm]

Hardboiled #10-25 (1990-98) cover artwork by Bruce Timm

Interview from Cool Stuff Magazine #1 (1995):

Gary Lovisi: Much of your work is characterized by raw, intense energy and action, or beautiful women in stylish, dangerous settings. Some is obviously influenced by the pulps.

Bruce Timm: I’m big pulp fan, have been since the early 70s, when I started reading Doc Savage and Avenger reprints. I can’t really say how they’ve influenced my artwork much, except when doing pulp-homage stuff like the Bob Price books. But I do sometimes wish I was born decades earlier so I could have worked for some of the old pulps, which was why it was so much fun doing the Price stuff, and the «mock 50s» paperback covers for your Gryphon Books.

The hero pulps — Doc Savage, The Spider, The Shadow, etc — did have a big impact on my approach to the Batman cartoons. It’s something I tried to inject into the show from early on, the atmosphere, danger and illicit excitement, and especially that Norvell Page-type feeling of impending doom — the «doomed city» mood. It’s also why I set the sense in a timeless, 40s-styled world of big cars, padded shoulders, gangsters, shadowy streets, etc. I only wish we’d gone farther with it.  

For instance, my original version of Batman himself was actually close to the Shadow: rarely seen close-up, speaking in short, clipped phrases, more mysterious, literally. I wanted to play him cold and remote, almost unhuman. But the network and our various story editors would have none of that!  «We need to humanize him», «He needs to have a sense of humor», «We need to more about Bruce Wayne, the person», etc! Whereas I could care less about Bruce Wayne! He’s much more fascinating if you don’t know what he’s thinking, or what drives him.

A few «Shadowy» touches did survive. Batman is rarely seen be the public, almost never on TV. Even when dealing with the police, he’s usually off in shadows conferring with Commissioner Gordon only. And when he’s in the Batcave, he’s almost always in costume. My way of saying he’s Batman, not the other guy, not Bruce Wayne. Like Lamon Cranston, his true, «legal» identity is a facade.

I’ d love to do straight-ahead pulp hero adaptation someday. Doc or The Shadow or The Spider, either in comics or animation, without the senseless updating and over-explaining «character development» like in the Alec Baldwin-Shadow-fiasco-film.  

Gary Lovisi: Your stunning covers for my Hardboiled mag are very popular with everyone who sees them. What are your feelings on hardboiled crime-related art?

Bruce Timm: It’s hard, actually, to define «crime-fiction» art. There’s pulp crime-fiction art, and digest crime-fiction art, both of which cross over with paperback crime-fiction art. Basically, I’m a fan of good illustration. Period. Regardless of subject matter. Composition, emotionally intensity, color and lighting effects are what I look for. And pretty girls, of course!   

My favorite pulp crime artist is H. J. Ward, hands down. Gorgeous gals in twisty curvy poses, painted in luscious, creamy, wet-on-wet oil technique. My favorite paperback artists include Robert McGinnis, Robert Maguire, and Mitchell Hooks, the usual suspects.

My approach to the Hardboiled covers is different from my earlier «homage» work. When the covers were black and white, I used to experiment with different b&w textures, coquille board, zip-a-tone, xeroxed newsprint, whatever worked. Now that I’m doing them in color, I’m trying to make them as exciting and eye-catching as possible, with loud color, sexy gals, exaggerated action, and simple, graphic, almost cartoony styling.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Somehow there's this glitch where everyone lose their eyes and it's hillarious yet terrifying. They have no eyes

abhfbyourae For those who don't know, something got Fucked Up when the Twst JP server updated to include Relax in Room Ruggie. This is how Ruggie exacts his revenge on The Rich/j Anyway, this resulted in a ton of buggy messes with the live 2D models of all the characters, mostly in the eyes and mouths. In some cases, they were entirely missing and in other cases, only partially loaded. (KJLABLHDBOIYARBI EVEN THE TSUMS WERE AFFECTED...)

It’s like one of those zombie apocalypse or infection AUs… 😭

chsjvejwjwkw Malleus missing his horns reminds me of the German girl in the Black Butler Emerald Witch arc… It’s anime adaptation is airing right now, and there’s a scene where she sits in a chair with massive horns. It’s giving “she claimed dragon!Malleus’s horns as ornaments for her furniture” 😭

jcsbsiwneke This one is as a particularly scary image… Imagine of the students possessed by ghosts in Endless Halloween Night looked like this?? 😭

Then there’s the cases where the eyes are entirely sclera (the white part)! These ones didn’t bother me as much because it’s a pretty common animanga trope for the eyes to go white and blank when you’re in despair, shocked, or panicked. It suits the characters in some cases. For example, Vil being appalled by his peers’ lack of grace, Jamil being scared of a bug, and Idia freaking out over socializing.

[sagittariusmarz]

What’s your masculine energy like (pac)

*Your masculine traits

*How your masculine energy influences others

*How your masculine energy helps balance out your feminine energy

*Likes, comments, and reblogs are always appreciated

*Please remember to follow me so you can see more content🤗🫶🏾

──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────

𝘗𝘪𝘭𝘦 1

I see that your masculine energy is creative and ambitious, you can use your masculine energy to manifest. Your masculine energy helps you dream big and it’s motivational. I see that your masculine energy is pure and maybe childlike, I see that one of your masculine traits is your voice or your sense of humor. Your masculine energy can be mysterious and unpredictable, your masculine energy is good at adapting and creating things that are original and unique. One of your masculine traits is the way you can manipulate or trick others, you have a little bit of trickster energy. Your optimism and your ability to see the good in anything or anyone is a masculine trait of yours. When you’re short tempered or impatient that’s a masculine trait, i see that your masculine energy comes out when you’re sexually frustrated and super horny. Your sexual masculine energy is very blunt and clear with their desires and interests, your sexual masculine energy can be dominate/aggressive. You’re good at getting what you want when you use your masculine energy, your sexual masculine energy may prefer quickies and short term connections with different people. I see that your sexual masculine energy may not be into romance or charming others but more of getting what they want being a little selfish. People may be attracted to your back, hair, arms and muscles. Being a good kisser may be a masculine trait of yours. For some of you being detached from romance/ deep feelings or being “heartbreaker” is a masculine trait of yours, I see that if you crush on alot of people and having a lot of romantic interests it’s a masculine trait of yours. Your masculine energy influences others because it draws others in, people are drawn to your masculine energy and it makes them want to talk to you or get to know you. I see that your masculine energy can bring balance to conflicts and to other people’s life, people may come to you for advice because of your masculine energy. Your masculine energy can influence others by making them overthink and question themselves, your masculine energy can make others self conscious. Your masculine energy can surprise people and give others anxiety, your masculine energy can stress people out and make them feel guilty/worried. Your masculine energy influences people to be more motivated, ambitious, and optimistic. Your masculine energy balances out your feminine energy by making you more logical and mature, your masculine energy protects you from being too naive and helps create strong boundaries. Your masculine energy balances out your feminine energy by keeping you humble and grounded, it also protects you from getting into conflicts and drama. Signs- Taurus/capricorn, Aries in 6th house/ Pisces in 9th house. Initials- P, U, N, G, E, J.

𝘗𝘪𝘭𝘦 2

I see that your creativity, passion, originality, and artistic talent is a masculine trait of yours, you’re good at thinking outside of the box and doing unique things. I see that your aggressiveness and the way you can intimidate others is a masculine trait of yours, your athletic abilities and the way you like to stay physically active is a masculine trait of yours. Being in nature and enjoying being outside is a masculine trait of yours, animals may be drawn to you and get along with you because of your masculine energy. For some of you if you have addictive behavior then it’s a masculine trait of yours, for some of you your body or physical strength is a masculine trait of yours. You may not be good at manifesting or influencing others with your masculine energy, I see that your sexual masculine energy is dominant but calm. You may be good at calming down feisty partners, I see that you can be dominant without being aggressive. Your sexual masculine energy attracts feminine energy that is strong willed, sharp tounged and witty, you may have a high stamina because of your masculine energy/ your masculine energy is gentle and strong. You may be a procrastinator because of your masculine energy, your masculine energy may be shy, cautious, and obsessive. Your sexual masculine energy likes to be aroused in all senses but especially with smell, taste, and touch. Your masculine energy may be attracted to soft skin, nice smells, nice hands/small hands, long hair/curly or wavy hair. I see that people are attracted to your facial hair or features, lips, eyebrows/eyes, body, and style because of your masculine energy. Your masculine energy balances out your feminine energy by giving you confidence and inner strength or courage, your masculine energy balances out your feminine energy by making you see things from different perspectives and giving you ideas about your long term goals/success. I see that your masculine energy protects you from being in long term unstable situations that are stressful or harmful, your masculine energy helps you protect yourself and stand up for yourself/set healthy boundaries. Your masculine energy influences others by giving them strength and hope, your masculine energy influences others to be more sensitive and verbal about their feelings. Your masculine energy makes others feel comfortable but it can also cause drama or conflict, your masculine energy can bring others good luck or bad luck depending on how you’re treated. Your masculine energy attracts new love and crushes, I see that people get horny for you because of your masculine energy. Your masculine energy makes others want to spy on you or get to know more, your masculine energy helps balance out your sexual energy. Signs- Capricorn/leo, libra in 12th house/ Pisces in 10th house. Initials- Z, U, M

𝘗𝘪𝘭𝘦 3

I see that you may be judgmental, logical, a heavy thinker, helpful, talkative, knowledgeable, romantic, loyal and charming because of your masculine energy, I see that you could be good at mediating situations and bringing peace. I see that you may be good at seducing others and getting what you want from others because of your masculine energy, I see that people may confide in you or gossip with you because of your masculine energy. You may not be too spiritual/intuitive or religious and that’s a masculine trait of yours, being trustworthy and honest/fair is a masculine trait of yours. Your sexual masculine energy likes making their partner happy and enjoys making them cum or cum first, pleasing your partner in multiple ways may turn you on because of your masculine energy. Your sexual masculine energy likes to dominate others or challenge others dominance, your sexual masculine energy doesn’t mind submitting but prefers to be dominant. Your masculine energy is self reliant and independent but your sexual masculine energy may be attracted to others who are like that as well, your sexual masculine energy may be attracted to shy, nurturing and successful energy. Your sexual masculine energy is fair/ honest and is attracted to balance, your masculine energy may attract submissive energy and people who like to be taken care/catered to. Your sexual masculine energy is curious and likes experimenting, your masculine energy may be attracted to long legs/arms, tall people, big chest, toned body, round butts, and long hair. People may be attracted to your voice, body, muscles, hands, head/face because of your masculine energy, your masculine energy influences others to make wild or risky decisions and causes them question themselves and overthink. Your masculine energy influences others to stay optimistic about tough situations they’re in, it influences others to give people second chances and not to give up. Your masculine energy can give others clarity and helps others see things from different perspectives when they can’t on their own, your masculine energy gives others confidence. Your masculine energy helps balance out your feminine energy by pushing you to grow or change for the better, your masculine energy balances out your feminine energy by helping you make quick decisions and be more decisive. Your masculine energy draws others in and gives you good luck, your masculine energy helps you makes friends. Your masculine energy balances out your feminine energy by helping you save and not overindulge or be more financially stable/grounded, your masculine energy helps you seem more approachable or nice. Signs- Sagittarius/virgo, Virgo in 4th house/leo in 2nd house. Initials- Q, Z, B, X, V

Personal reading always available!

Divider by @uzmacchiato

[scotianostra]

On December 27th 1904 J M Barrie's play "Peter Pan" premiered at the Duke of York Theatre, London.

J.M. Barrie created his character based on his older brother, David, who died in an ice-skating accident the day before his 14th birthday. His mother and brother thought of him as forever a boy. The "boy who wouldn't grow up"

The story of free-spirited and mischievous young boy who can fly and never grows up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood having adventures on the mythical island of Neverland as the leader of the Lost Boys, interacting with fairies, pirates, mermaids, Native Americans, and occasionally ordinary children from the world outside Neverland.

Peter Pan has become a cultural icon symbolizing youthful innocence and escapism. In addition to two distinct works by Barrie, the character has been featured in a variety of media and merchandise, both adapting and expanding on Barrie's works. These include a 1953 animated film, a 2003 dramatic/live-action film, a television series and many other works.

J. M. Barrie first used Peter Pan 2 years before, as a character in a section of The Little White Bird, an adult novel where he appears as a seven-day-old baby in the chapter entitled Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens. Following the success of the 1904 play, Barrie's publishers, Hodder and Stoughton, extracted chapters 13–18 of The Little White Bird and republished them in 1906 under the title Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, with the addition of illustrations by Arthur Rackham.

Barrie never described Peter's appearance in detail, even in his novel, leaving it to the imagination of the reader and the interpretation of anyone adapting the character. In the play, Peter's outfit is made of autumn leaves and cobwebs. His name and playing the flute or pipes suggest the mythological character Pan. Barrie mentions in Peter and Wendy that Peter Pan still had all his "first teeth".He describes him as a beautiful boy with a beautiful smile, "clad in skeleton leaves and the juices that flow from trees"

Traditionally, the character has been played on stage by a petite adult woman. In the original productions in the UK, Peter Pan's costume was a reddish tunic and dark green tights, such as that worn by Nina Boucicault in 1904. This costume is exhibited in Barrie's Birthplace museum at Kirriemuir.

In the Disney films, Peter wears an outfit that consists of a short-sleeved green tunic and tights apparently made of cloth, and a cap with a red feather in it. He has pointed elf-like ears, brown eyes and his hair is red. In Hook , the character is played as an adult by Robin Williams, with blue eyes and dark brown hair; in flashbacks to him in his youth, his hair is light brown. In this film his ears appear pointed only when he is Peter Pan, not as Peter Banning. His Pan attire resembles the Disney outfit (minus the cap). In the live-action 2003 Peter Pan film, he is portrayed by Jeremy Sumpter, who has blond hair and blue-green eyes. His outfit is made of leaves and vines.

Barrie commissioned a statue of Peter Pan by sculptor George Frampton which was erected overnight in Kensington Gardens on 30 April 1912 as a May Day surprise to the children of London. Seven statues have been cast from the original mould, they are in, Egmont Park, Brussels, Belgium, Bowring Park, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada, Bowring Park, Johnson Park, Camden, New Jersey, USA, Queens Gardens, Perth, Western Australia, Sefton Park, Liverpool, and Glenn Gould Park, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Various other statues have appeared around the world, including three in Scotland, the first is at Mearnskirk Hospital for children in Glasgow, the first superintendent of the hospital, Dr John A Wilson, was a school friend of Barrie, the other one in Scotland is of course in Kirriemuir, one in the main town square and the other in the Peter Pan Garden by Barrie's Birthplace, now owned by the National Trust of Scotland.

The most famous of the other statues is at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, who JM Barrie gifted the rights to the play in 1929, the copyright first expired in the UK (and the rest of Europe) in 1987, 50 years after Barrie’s death, but the government of the day made an amendment to the copyright act giving Great Ormond Street Hospital the unique right to royalties from stage performances of Peter Pan (and any adaptation of the play) as well as from publications, audio books, ebooks, radio broadcasts and films of the story of Peter Pan, in perpetuity.