#another anime con 2017

[the-bar-sinister]

Fanfiction | Self Ship | Whump

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Archive of our Own account

👉 he/they | queer | married | adult | elder millennial

👉 plural | fictionkin (serious/spiritual) 

👉 Muti shipper | Poly shipper

No DNI we block at will 🫡

Please do not send us asks about babies, pregnancy, or raising children.

Source fandoms: Resident Evil, One Piece, Metal Gear, Marvel Comics, Persona games, Slayers anime, GTA V, Great/Ace Attorney, Homestuck, Danganronpa, Fire Emblem Three Houses, Urusei Yatsura, Digimon, Girls Frontline, Steven Universe, Pathologic, Jem & The Holograms, Peter Pan, Welcome to Demon School, Disgaea, Sherlock Holmes media

non-source fandoms: Invader Zim, ABC’s Lost, Twin Peaks, Silent Hill, Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, Vampire Chronicles (books), Doctor Who Labyrinth, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Final Fantasy (4-9), Pokemon, Black Lagoon, Miami Vice, Bioshock, Bioshock Infinite, Prey 2017, Dishonored, Call of Duty, Red Dead Redemption, Frankenstein, the Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Gargoyles, Fallout New Vegas

Favorite genres: horror, mystery, thriller, noir, crime fiction, psychological thriller, supernatural horror, sci fi horror, gothic lit

Shipping, plurality and squick explanations under the cut.

Our ships: We are a polyshipper and a multishipper. We ship multiple characters together in the same context, in the same relationship, in the same fics etc.

A "ship" for us does not equal in OTP or an ideal relationship. We use the word "ship" to denote any romantic or sexual relationship between two characters, even when that relationship is unhealthy, toxic, twisted, and bad for one or both participants. Ships are a narrative tool, not something aspirational. 

Plurality: We are a plural system– many people living together in one body. We have been plural since we were children, and we have been blogging about our plurality for 15+ years.

Please do  not use psychiatric or pathologizing terminology for our plurality. We do not refer to ourselves with terms like DID, alter, or introject, and our system members do not have defined roles.

Our preferred terminology is: plural, system member, and fictive.

System members tend to sign or tag posts and refer to one another with a two emoji 'signature' rather than a name. Unsigned posts are understood to be a product of multiple members or a joint consensus. 

squicks / tropes we prefer to avoid

non-con of any kind (but especially underage non-con and non-con incest) 

pregnancy & babies (especially as the joyful and expected result of a romantic hetero-presenting relationship)

nonbinary or trans characters deciding it's better for them to perform their assigned gender at birth

Characters submitting to the will of a lawful aligned god.

Parental control and discipline being shown as narratively positive and correct 

characters giving up their careers and aspirations and 'settling down' when they fall in love

prophecies that are unavoidable and/or narratively depicted as inherently good and just

characters following the life-path set out for them by their parents/following in their parents footsteps

filial duty and filial piety in general

pretty much anything to do with traditional family structures, gender roles, and lawful aligned religion, honestly

wing whump / characters having their monstrous or inhuman traits harmed

monstrous or inhuman characters becoming human (especially when presented as positive)

soul destruction / soul death

characters being metaphysically kept apart for all time

any kind of 'conversion therapy' or metaphorical conversion therapy (especially being portrayed as positive)

We are: 

non-christian | magical practitioner | chaotic neutral

polyamorous  | largely aplatonic

trauma survivor | abuse survivor

Weird | Freakish | Monstrous

[slashingdisneypasta]

Non / Disney Villains x Reader || Headcanons [PART 2]

More characters, more kinks- I hope you find something here! ^^ A part 2 to this post.

Topic: SMUT- again.

Warnings/kinks: NOT. SFW, I can tell ya that much!! Ruts, panty-sniffing and stealing, somnophillia, sex work, alien fucking, probable size difference, riding, tentacle sex, dub-con roleplay, cybug!king candy/turbo??, legit breeding, referenced non-con (Just saying you couldn't get away if you wanted to), monster fucking, one-night-stand, orgasm denial and edging, dumbification and teasing, hypnotism and possible non-con, voice kink, betrothal, age difference, sexual sacrifice?, Step Mother/Step 'Child' (Not really a child!!!! An adult!!!!!), finger-sucking kink, and manhandling.

Includes: Sheriff of Nottinhgam, Mr Scroop, Captain Gantu, Scar, Wheezy Weasel, Ursula, King Candy, Eris (Sinbad; Legend of the Seven Sea's), Steelbeak (2017), Smartass Weasel, Kaa, Shere Khan, Mr Swackhammer, Shan Yu, Queen Narissa, Prince John, and Oogie Boogie.

Okay, the Sheriff of Nottingham may not seem to be the type to be hounded by his animal instincts but he does indeed experience heats. It starts out pretty tame, he just starts to particularly enjoy your smell when you're around, getting a little more touchey feely with you and perking up when you're around- but then he's taking your underwear to work and visiting you multiple times throughout the day, and finally- he's got his snout buried in between your legs when you wake up in the morning. He couldn't help himself!, sorry.

The next time that Silver's crew turns up at your work (The Brothel), its Scroop that gets to you first. Now 'kind' is not a word you would use to describe this one but he is still experienced- the way that old alien uses your body that night is damn practised. He roughly spreads your legs to the perfect angles to receive his selfish thrusts, the mean smirk on his face punctuates all the awful things he says to you in just a way that has you even more turned on, and the cold way he looks at you sends tingles straight up your spine. When he leaves in the morning, the only tip he offers you is a warning not to leave here- he'll be back sometime.

I know someone has mentioned this before, but riding Captain Gantu?? He is so stressed and just needs to be enveloped by something nice, and hot, and all-encompassing for a good long while. Your cunt/ass is his first choice, so impale yourself on his huge cock and slowly rock your hips. Don't let it go too quick, either- Make it last for hours, just live with the full feeling for as long as you can. And watch the stress leave his body.

Scar's a dom but he expects you to do all the work- And call him your majesty, hm? The only time that he'll service you, is when he thinks you're going to leave him or he wants something from you. Then the manipulative little shit will prove how king-like he really actually is... at oral. His licks dipping into you/leading up your length are lazy but deep, and purposeful, and strong, and he takes his damn time, too- dragging out your pleasure and your perfect orgasm until you're twitching and writhing underneath him. Until he's good and ready (A.K.A, when he's sure you're so absolutely tongue-drunk you'll agree to anything). And oh, he loves the sight of you like this. He thinks, maybe he should do this more often... then shrugs. We'll see.

Another lazy one is Wheezy. You wouldn't think he has much sex drive, and to be honest it is rather low- or was. When he saw you, though, he knew he wanted you. And he wanted to make you feel good. He wont lift a finger until he deems it necessary, those cold eyes just watching you undress while he stands fully clothed and smokes, the tiniest smirk on his face. He might feel tired enough to even just keep standing there and let you suck him off, first. But then he knows he has to give back, though, so lie down now baby. Spread your pretty legs. Or he'll sit down at the edge of the bed himself and pat his lap, getting you to straddle him and ride him. His movements will be slow, but methodical.

And we've reached the tentacle sex and roleplay segment- with Ursula, of course. You get to be the innocent beach-goer and she gets to feel you up like you don't know eachother. Imagine you're relaxing, laying on a rock a little further out from the beach, in the deeper waters, with your eyes closed against the warm sun when something tubular and slimy prods and slips around the confines of your bikini bottoms- enough creeping over you lips. Because she's lubed up quite enough from being underwater and you've been slowly getting wetter and wetter waiting on her, it doesn't take long at all before one fat tentacle is pumping into and massaging your meaty walls, your back arched up, your shaking hands gripping at the rock and the towel beneath you and your moans muffled by the second tentacle gripping and squeezing around your mouth. Your orgasm is silent, explosive, and Ursula promises more later before disappearing back into the depths of the sea..

CYBUG KING CANDY FUCKS LIKE A DAMN RABBIT. Any time and anywhere- you are his mate and sometimes he wants you so bad that he drools... Luckily for him- he's so ginormous that you couldn't get away from him even if you wanted to. So he has you. And he can take you and shove his huge, seemingly eternally hard cock into your tiny perfect hole whenever he pleases- which is very very often. Also every time he mates with you, the intent is to breed, to make a horde of little him's and you's, because you're just so perfect and he loves you and- godddddddddddddddd he wants you so bad. Lay down gum drop, he needs you again now~

Like with Sinbad, Eris makes it no secret that she wants you. It probably wouldn't change her intent to use you and probably ruin your life for some chaos~~ But if you wanted to, she would happily spend a night with you. Unlike Sinbad? You go for it. Her mouth tastes sweet like ambrosia and she kisses deeply, stroking your tongue almost soothingly... before she edges you for hours, denying your orgasm until you cry for her. She's the goddess of chaos, cutie... what'd you expect? She's going to destroy you.

Oh my goodness, Syndrome is such a dick. He has you, his assistant and lover, going about business (At MEETINGS, with important potential BUYERS) with a powerful vibrator inside you that he has the remote for in his pocket. Most of the day its on, but on a lower mode, just steadily turning you on and making you sensitive so when other people ask you for things they find that you act... really nervous, and awkward. They figure its just nerves, though. Syndrome'll turn it up so you're dangerously close to just cumming on the spot when he asks you for something and you'll feel his eyes and smug smirk on you as you go to do that thing, legs shaking and just desperately trying to control yourself. And no- you cant go to the bathroom. This is very important meeting, Y/N. Damn.

Steelbeak LOVES dumbification. Just making you as cock-drunk (1) as fucking possible so he's the smart one, for once. And he's a big guy- so he can absolutely plow you until you're absolute mush. Definitely takes advantage of that, because he just Loves having you whine and not even be able to answer the simplest of questions as he slows down again to a terribly maddening speed and tucks some hair behind your ear- like what's four plus four baby??... What's our address?? Sugar, where we at right now? ... What time is it? ... Heh, no baby that's so wrong! He'll chuckle, when all you can manage is to beg him and call his name, squeezing tight around him. With you grinding against him and clenching him so freaken good he wont be able to hold off from giving you what you want for too long, but- It gives him such a trip and makes him so happy while it lasts. So when he gives you that look at the end of the day... you know you're in for a long night.

On how Smartass listens to Greasy a whole lot more then anyone thought: You thought being with the gangster was going to pretty boring; You know, vanilla. You would get undressed, you'd kiss, he'd get off and you would fake it. But... good lord, you haven't even managed to get all your clothes off and you've already had an orgasm?? And he's not done???? Smartass knows exactly where the erogenous zones are and abuses them relentlessly. He's not gentle, of course, he touches your skin roughly and sneers in your face- but good god the way he uses his tongue is downright disgusting. In a textbook way, because he's not a big fuckboy and he just knows this stuff in theory- but fuck! it works.

Kaa... well I think you know where we're going with this one. You know we had to discuss it. Kaa and Hypnotism~~ Whether you're going into it having asked him for it, having wandered into the depths of the jungle in search for him, or you're just a poor~ unfortunate~ lost soul that accidentally found yourself in his coils- you will be totally at his mercy. This snake has a dark, dirty, demented mind despite the gentle sound of his voice, and he'll have plenty of creative ideas for what you can do for him: Starting with bending over at the waist to pick some flowers for him like a sweetheart while he 'watches over you'~ to holding your own legs open nice and wide for him~

Shere. Khan's. Voice. He knows what his voice does to you, and he definitely abuses the advantage. He loves to prowl up silently behind you when your attentions are preoccupied and speak directly into your ear- making your squeak, or gasp, or sigh. Its just adorable. He also talks a lot during your private times~ together; Giving you directions, like- raise your behind, darling., Open your mouth, would you~ , and Take a walk, darling... lets see if you struggle at all. If not... well we aren't finished with each other, are we?

Imagine being the only other Larger Sized One of the alien species on moron mountain- this is because of evolution. And it means that you're supposed to be sacrificed married to Swackhammer. Become his partner. Now, imagine your wedding night. You don't know him very well, you've barley spent any real time with him... and he's peeling away your clothes and touching you like he owns you. Like you're his. He smokes in your face, too, and presses his mouth to your skin greedily, licking up and tasting you. And yet... you find yourself keening into him, arching your back towards him, moaning into his mouth... is this biology, or do you like this gross old man???

You're a sacrifice to Shan Yu from the people in a village who desperately want to be safe. So they take you from your bed one night, and throw you out into the snow before him in just your sleep-wear. You willingly, though, go with him when he flashes a dark smirk down. You willingly sleep in the same tent as him. And you willingly allow him to take you inside it every night, moaning loud enough to keep the other men awake. Since you were a virgin when you were given over, you know only the pleasures that he can provide to you and you know that makes you the naïve, sweet, innocent one of the group of men around you everyday, and you do get teased (And desired. Coveted. Watched). But when Shan Yu has you moaning like a very common whore in the nights, his mouth worshipping your cunt/cock or his powerful manhood grinding against you- you cant bring yourself to give a fuck.

Oh my lord- Step Mother Queen Narissa!! Your father is a King, and she married him to develop her wealth and power, but you're the one that truly intrigued her. You reminded her of herself, when she was younger... prettier... untouched. Well... mostly untouched. Her fingers are buried inside you/curled firmly around you most every night, but... that's just a little fun between the two of you.

Prince John for sure has a finger sucking kink, for sure. Just tuck your thumb over his bottom teeth while you stroke him down there, or offer your pinky to him while your other slips under his tunic, or have him clean up all your fingers after he made a mess of them. He's quite good at it.

Oogie Boogie and manhandling!!! Yes!!! I've read stuff with this before but I love it. He throws you around like a sack of potatoes! Wrapping his canvas arm around your wrist or your waist and tugging you in quite suddenly against him, shoving you down onto that table so he can 'assess' you~, dragging you to him from across the floor or that table by your leg, grabbing you and twirling you back to him as if its all just a game... Anything to keep you close, keep his face and his chuckles against your neck, his 'hand' pressed against your hot as fuck crotch.

~

(... yeahhh that pun may have been intended)

[alicenpai]

art thoughts lately!! particularly about con prep ..

- i am getting tired of drawing chibis during con prep season 😔 like i mentioned before, i think im "good" at drawing them, but they are kind of uninteresting to draw. and i get bored after a while! i think that's why charms burn me out so fast. luckily my last "specialty" merch design was just submitted so . i can move on to prints and other designs now

- i still like designing charms but i think i might try portrait charms. which means that like . my charm catalogue will cover a less broad range of fandoms (?) bc portraits will take a lot more work + harder to draw characters i don't know well

- might also still do buttons bc i like the idea of having low cost options on my table (i.e. canadian con goers tend to have a lower purchasing power?) although i think i may have been under charging...... i might have to raise the price by a few cents, because again, they do take time to draw. i put unnecessary amounts of detailing in them . it sparks joy ok 😔 anything priced under like. $10 (?) will be a low cost merch option and i like the idea of still having my art be "accessible" and not just like. having $15-20 charms and prints

- i also want to lean more into like. stickers in the style of the baccano sheet i drew last year! i think it's a lot of fun to interpret a favourite series in this graphic design style. a lot of work and research but yeah

- i hate lineart again so it might be time to learn how to clean sketches again

- might also be time to crank out the chisel brushes again - whenever i see artists using the chisel brush it makes me miss my 2017-18 era art sm .... there's such a delicious flow in chisel brushes .. part of the reason i stopped using them is 1. i was getting tired of using the brush (though i think my 2019 art was a bit tame compared to the previous year), and 2. complications on my computer with photoshop and then having to move on to clip. i can't replicate the tilt sensitivity of my ps brushes (specifically the helen chen brushes) in clip ^__T so i had to learn to wield another set of favourite brushes. i know clip also has chisel brushes but this one was my favourite aughhgh. will have to dive into the brush settings window for like 2 hours again ..

- overall, im really looking forward to stickers and prints the most! esp prints! i have a greater vision of what i want to capture in my art, after doing the Halloween piece and the pandora hearts twin mirrors piece. i want to push my art in a more illustrative direction (thank you miss shirahama kamome of witch hat atelier you have changed my life), if it works out. ill definitely have to toss the old prints that don't suit my style anymore, though ill see about doing a "last call" to see if anyone wants em during anime north 🤔 if not they will be recycled hehe

[nightfurmoon]

I think Alan should never have trusted CN and Warner Bros because it lessens the chances of Villainous continuing...I mean since 2019 after the pilot episode came out, they don't release new content every 2/3 years and by force, many people leave the fandom and this risks the fact that Villainous will be canceled one day or another despite the fact that this show has a lot of potential and that it was popular in 2017-2019. (I hope I'm wrong but it can unfortunately be very likely if they continue at this rate!) The best thing is that Alan should have done like Vivziepop or Daria Cohen for example to make Villainous an independent series and could release the episodes once it's ready!

Uhm it's not so easy, anon. Not all animation is the same, some productions cost more than others, and also having internet presence beforehand like Viv's case helps a lot. Alan had absolutely none. He couldn't just release his shorts on YouTube on some random account and hope that it somehow got popular. There wouldn't be TV shows if it was that easy xD Besides, it's not like YouTube pays enough for a full blown animation production. They need to take donations (kickstarter, patreon) or sell merch, and you're entirely dependent on the audience and marketing, so it's not a safe bet. Even then most of the times it's not enough, animation costs A LOT if you want it to be of the same quality as Villainous is, for example. Also, Alan's dream was to have his show on CN bc that's what he watched as a kid.

There's no better or worse choice when it comes to animation, there are just choices with pros and cons. It's not an easy world at all, much less now. So all we can do is support the shows we like and they'll continue.

[rockinimpalapie]

Can I ask you your experience at conventions? Did you meet J2M or just Misha?

Hi! Of course you can. I have a lot to share. I met J2M and many of the other cast members (you can ask me about interaction with any specific cast member in other messages, if you'd like. I love getting asks). It wasn't their fault specifically, but I didn't have what I'd call a "good time" at these conventions. I went to multiple because I hoped that my experience would be better. That it would be different this time... and it wasn't. There's always loud music during photo ops and autographs. It was too loud to talk or tell them the pose that I wanted for photo ops. It was too loud for them to hear me say "thank you". This is a long reply, so I put the experiences under the "keep reading".

Before I talk about my experiences with J2M, I would like to begin with saying that I don't hate any of them. I'm not a fan of CE conventions, but I don't necessarily hate them, either. Would I go to another CE con? Not likely. Many people have amazing experiences at these conventions, but I just found CE conventions to be highly overstimulating.

With Misha, even when I wasn't with that toxic waste monster of a friend (who will remain unnamed because even though I feel that people should be warned about her, I'll never say her name because that's just not the kind of woman I grew to be), he was always focused on someone else. It wasn't his handler (lol, that makes him sound like a zoo animal, but that's what that person was called!) or the photographer... it was always another fan who hadn't left yet. So while other fans might've had a great experience with him, if I was right after them, I got the short end of the stick. 50/50, I can't blame him, but also... I can, a little. That other fan's time was up in the panel Q&A.

Jensen has always been my favorite. I'm a "Dean girl", through and through. I don't think it's enough to be called a "stan", though. I had the most positive experiences with him. His attention was on me, he called me sweetheart, gave me a hug, and during autos at VanCon, when my voice began to shake as I was trying to talk to him (nothing heavy, I'm just a nervous, shaky person), he held my hands and said just what I needed to hear in that moment (that I was a strong, smart, and beautiful person and that I could do this, and could do anything). He did not even have to do that. I wasn't expecting it. He wasn't obligated to say a thing. I was so blown away (and a bit confused) by his kindness.

Most of my interactions with Jared were pretty awkward. At MinnCon 2017, I brought a poster for them all to autograph. I wasn't aware that it was photoshopped until Jared said something about it. He said, about Castiel, something like, "oh, the ugly angel guy in the trench coat wasn't even there for that photo". He then ignored me and looked past me (when it was still my turn) at my toxic waste monster friend and said, "and you brought me such a beautiful woman!". Oh. Huh. Okay. Whatever.

At VanCon 2019, I had a J2 op that I shared with a stranger to cut costs. This was an awkward experience but ... not all negative. I was 330 lbs and hated the way that I looked. I just wanted a hug from Jensen, that was it, so I told him that I didn't want to show my face, and Jared overheard. At my solo Jared op, he asked me if I wanted a hug, and he gave me a hug (one that hid my face), and I was confused because I didn't see the flash. That's the photo I thought I wanted; what gives? Then, he held me at arms' length and said, "No. I want to see your pretty face." That was oddly sweet, and it ended up being a really cute photo.

I was one of the first people in Silver to get Jared's autograph at VanCon 2019. Like with Misha, I told Jared about my autism and how I appreciated him and how kind and patient he was with me, and while I wasn't expecting much (because he has no obligation to say anything either), I got even less. He just nodded and said, "thank you" and turned his attention to the next person. At the time, that felt... not good. I wasn't upset, nervous, crying, etc., and I just felt... brushed off. I don't know how so many people get so much more attention, not that I wanted it, I was just... y'know, I don't even know why I felt the need to disclose the autism. I think I just felt bad for causing (what I thought was) a problem during photo ops, and just... not being able to make solid eye contact or talk or act like a normal person. Before therapy, it was hard not to feel like a problem, so... I was always apologizing, explaining myself, overexplaining, letting people walk all over me, etc., I am the way that I am because of a disability.

This reply is getting unexpectedly long. If you need me to elaborate on anything or have any other questions, I'd love to hear from you.

[hotmonkeelove]

My Anime Frontier '23 Odyssey

I probably shouldn't say it was an odyssey, as I was only there on Friday. It sure felt like one, though! First off, look who I stumbled upon:

Other than that, the only Black Butler stuff I saw were the Book of Circus and Book of Murder dvds (which I bought), the live action film dvd (which I passed on), and someone cosplaying Ciel in his female disguise. There might have been more stuff in the booths, but I was too anxious and in too much pain to browse more. So that was the only merchandise I bought. I did get a bag of chips and a soda for lunch, and refilled the bottle with water the rest of the time. The convention centre had those fountains that are specifically for that purpose.

I got to attend Steve Blum's panel and the Naruto cosplay meetup. I was the only one in a Boruto version costume and the only Anko. The majority there were Akatsuki. No one was mean to me, which I'm grateful for. A few actually asked for my picture and complimented my costume. I was also not the only disabled person there, so I didn't feel so awkward. Still, I was too shy to initiate conversations on my own. Being by myself and not knowing anyone there kept me in my shell. (I went to a con alone in 2017, but still ran into plenty of my old Rocky Horror friends.)

Anyway, here's my Anko cosplay. The bust on the dress was quite weird and we didn't have enough time to alter it correctly. The vintage bangles I bought won't fit over my right hand due to my arthritic knuckles (they fit the left, though), so we had to improvise with fabric and interfacing. Also, I had to get a second wig from a local shoppe, as I screwed up the first one.

I still had time before the uber was to fetch me, so I got Steve Blum's autograph and photos then. (By the way, he was incredibly nice and did an Orochimaru voice without me even asking him to!) Good thing, too, as uber cancelled my trip for Sunday morning, which was the last straw for me. The ride back on Friday night was nearly an hour late as the app kept glitching and wouldn't give proper directions or updates. I could see on my phone it was acting up, so I know it wasn't the driver's fault. But after that, the stress of finishing my cosplay on time, my wig being very uncomfortable, and being so sore from the walking, then another uber problem, I decided to spend Sunday at home.

But now for the kicker. While uploading my pictures with Steve Blum from my digital camera earlier this week, my laptop crashed and fried the memory card. I managed not to cry, but I was quite down. It was the whole reason I was attending the con! Fortunately, my partner (who is a saint!) was able to eventually recover them. So now I can at long last share them here!

And with that, I will likely spend a few more years on break from cons. Also, I'm kind of broke now.

[crtter]

Hey dude, I followed you accidentally and stayed for the meme content but I must ask: what is Otomatsu? Is it current? Is it old? Is there a plot? I appreciate your enthusiasm for it but I honestly don’t know what is going on.

Oh! Osomatsu-kun (which could be translated into “Little Osomatsu”) is a manga that ran from the early 60s to the early 90s in Japan, written by Fujio Akatsuka, who’s sometimes referred to as the father of gag manga. It’s pretty slapstick and centers around the daily lives of the Matsuno brothers, who are identical sextuplets along with a supporting cast of characters such as Iyami, a local con man who’s always trying to swindle them out of their money, Chibita, a street urchin kid who’s always competing with them, Totoko, a short-tempered girl they have a crush on Dekapan, a mad scientist that exclusively wears boxers and nothing else, between others.

This manga was aimed at kids and teens and was adapted into an anime twice: once in 1966 and once in 1988.

In 2015, however, to celebrate Akatsuka’s posthumous 80th birthday, the manga was retooled into an anime again, this time named Osomatsu-san (also known as Mr. Osomatsu) and aimed at teens and adults. It again centers on the daily lives of the Matsuno sextuplets, who are now young adults with pretty distinct personalities from one another and chronically unemployed.

It was a big commercial success so, in addition to the first season that was planned, it got a second season in 2017 and a third season in 2020 with the addition of a 2019 movie, a 2022 movie and a third movie planned for July 2023! Also, the first two seasons were dubbed in English in 2018 and 2019. So while Osomatsu-kun is old, Osomatsu-san is is pretty recent and there’s still content coming out! I talk a lot about it because Iyami is like… my favorite fictional character in anything ever, heh. The con man guy, I mean.

There’s not THAT much of a plot, though! -kun works kind of like Looney Tunes or Tom and Jerry cartoons do: the characters stay the same but the situation they’re in changes. So the characters might or might not already know each other, some stories are set in different time periods and the like. -san has slightly more of a continuity but marginally so.

[kylesvariouslistsandstuff]

This weekend’s MCU developments, fresh out of Comic-Con and on DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE's massive opening weekend, seem to indicate that Disney's trying to make the year 2026 - as I've mentioned before - into their proverbial next 2019.

A repeat of a year where they just dominated with billion dollar smashes, with few valleys in-between... They made *bank* with CAPTAIN MARVEL, AVENGERS: ENDGAME, ALADDIN, TOY STORY 4, THE LION KING, FROZEN II, and STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER.

Of course, that was a rare occasion where the planets pretty much aligned for them... CAPTAIN MARVEL directly preceded ENDGAME, and of course ENDGAME was the big climax to the entire "Infinity Saga" of the MCU: Three phases, 11 years of movies, all down to that one big battle. ALADDIN and LION KING were remakes of some of Disney's most iconic and beloved animated films. TOY STORY 4, following up the huge smash that was TOY STORY 3 by almost a decade, almost as long of a wait between 2 & 3. FROZEN II, sequel to their animated phenomenon. RISE OF SKYWALKER was the end of the entire Skywalker Saga, 9 movies across five decades...

I think they keep wanting to recreate that, even though the 2020s are a much different time from this past decade, and some of those "brands" are now kinda stale...

So they revealed at Comic-Con that AVENGERS 5 has dropped the Kang stuff altogether, the Russo Brothers have returned to direct (along with SECRET WARS, arriving 2027), Dr. Doom is now the main villain and is played by none other than Robert Downey Jr., and it's called AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY. A lot of fans, from what I understand, are very mixed on this. Some feel it's desperation at this point, after their Kang/multiverse plans for phases 4-6 just didn't seem to pan out, and arguably weren't planned too well in advance - Majors accusations or no Majors accusations. So, go to an iconic villain who has been portrayed in live-action before, and get the beloved actor who played Tony Stark to make his grand return as this all-time Marvel villain that could very well be a thinly-written portrayal that strips the character of what makes him compelling and richly-written in the comics... Maybe, we don't know, the movie's far from being done... But the announcement definitely caught me off guard.

But yeah, add that to 2026... A year with, tentatively, two new STAR WARS movies: THE MANDALORIAN & GROGU, and an untitled movie about Rey 15 years after the events of RISE OF SKYWALKER. Familiar faces. Also TOY STORY 5. And a live-action remake of the beloved MOANA... Though, somewhat differentiating 2026 from 2019 is the possibility of new original movies from the two animation studios: A Pixar in the spring, and a WDAS in the autumn. In 2019, both studios only offered up sequels. There are a couple other slots Disney has for 2026 as well, which will likely go to some 20th Century/Searchlight movies. 2019 was when Disney finished their acquisition of 20th Century, and... The line-up that year was either movies they didn't give a damn about, or just didn't cut it. That was the year of... DARK PHOENIX, STUBER, THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN... Movies that didn't get greenlit under Disney's watch, but these 2026 movies will be, so maybe those will do better for them.

So yes, I can kinda tell that Iger's Disney is still chasing that 2019 high. Surefire hits based on old favorites, but I think in the case of the MCU, it really isn't - say - 2017 anymore. Announce both DOOMSDAY and SECRET WARS back then, and the roof is blown off the joint. But we're in 2024 now, and while Deadpool teaming up with Hugh Jackman's iconic go as Wolverine is expectedly doing amazing business, Captain Marvel joining forces with Ms. Marvel and Rambeau (two characters largely established in two Disney+ shows) did horribly, as did a third Ant-Man movie. CAPTAIN AMERICA 4 without Chris Evans, this THUNDERBOLTS* thing, and another go at Marvel's First Family could reverse this, maybe not... Tellingly, BLADE - still ostensibly scheduled for November of next year - didn't get a mention at all during the presentation. We know it has been held up, that they just can't seem to crack what was already done w/o pools full of Disney money back in the 1990s... Maybe it goes to show that something as neat as Blade falls apart when you try to force it into the fractured framework of the MCU. BLADE would've had a much easier time, I feel, if it were being developed during the first two phases w/o Ike Perlmutter around.

I guess at this point, it either opens in fall 2026 after DOOMSDAY releases, or it'll debut after SECRET WARS. I don't know anymore. The MCU was certainly imperfect from the word-go, but the character interactions and dynamics, the fun soap opera-like tricks, and often memorable moments got us through the big tangle of it all. The novelty of this big cinematic universe with all these characters from multiple movies crossing over was just such a real novelty circa 2010-2019, it was done on a scale that no one really saw beforehand. But that has now worn off, what with many of the OGs having died or left. It's not too late to reinvent it, and go a new direction after SECRET WARS. One that doesn't recreate what came before.

I think audiences have gravitated towards that kind of superhero movie now... The likes of the SPIDER-VERSE movies, THE BATMAN, etc. Both a handful of recent MCUs and the last of the old DC movie-verse films largely got rejected, so the tricks of the 2010s no longer work. It's about personal stakes and distinct style and a vision now. Unless it's a pre-established portrayal of a character that audiences love (like Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool and Jackman's Wolverine), you gotta be more than just a garden variety CG spectacle. It's why I'm curious as to how James Gunn and Peter Safran will launch the live-action end of their new DC Universe. Do SUPERMAN, SUPERGIRL: WOMAN OF TOMORROW, THE AUTHORITY, BRAVE AND THE BOLD, etc. all stand out on their own? Or do they feel like episodes with little to no visual/storytelling differences?

Either Marvel Studios are onto something, or this is some last-ditch attempt to drum up a lot of interest again and make the end of Phase 5 and all of Phase 6 flop-less. Less MARVELS, more GUARDIANS/DEADPOOL 3-sized stuff.

What caught **my** interest the most were the details revealed about their new Fantastic Four film, now titled THE FANTASTIC 4: FIRST STEPS. Continuing their little way of differentiating their movies from the adaptations that came before. Fantastic Four already had two* iterations (*not counting the unreleased 1994 Roger Corman film), the 2005 movie was called FANTASTIC FOUR, as was the 2015 movie, though everyone calls it FANT4STIC. This tells you it's the Marvel Studios MCU F4 movie! Just like how their Hulk movie was THE INCREDIBLE HULK, five years after the release of the 2003 movie HULK. And how their first Spider-Man solo movie added the subtitle HOMECOMING. Also, it's like we get an F4 every 10 years now. The Tim Story-directed movie with Chris Evans in 2005, the next version in 2015, and now this version. Next year. 2025.

It had been teased that this film would have a more '60s flavor to it, which always made sense, given that the Fantastic Four debuted in the early 1960s and directly correlated with space age exploration. The setting of this film is described as a sort-of '60s retro future, and the first look at it certainly confirms it... And what's more, Michael Giacchino is doing the score.

This is literally THE INCREDIBLES!

I remember for many years, some people joked that they didn't need to make a "good" Fantastic Four movie. One already existed: THE INCREDIBLES. And of course, THE INCREDIBLES is highly inspired by the same space age aesthetics that inform the original F4 comics and most superhero/sci-fi stuff of that era. They both have stretchy and invisible characters. And Giacchino did the score for that film. Brad Bird grew up during that period, and it's all over his animated classic. Tim Story's FANTASTIC FOUR was in post-production when THE INCREDIBLES came out, and he had made changes to his movie, fearing similarities that were always inevitable.

So maybe this 2025 movie, part of the MCU, finally works. That Marvel's First Family finally works as a live-action movie, and can stand on its own in a world where an amazing animated equivalent exists. Matt Shakman directs, who helmed WANDAVISION, which had three episodes heavily patterned after sitcoms made in the '50s, '60s, and '70s, so maybe I'll quite like this movie. It's the one future MCU movie, outside of BLADE, that actually has my interest.

[goblins-riddles-or-frocks]

Is Berserk actually good or is it more like catered to your specific tastes? The art is really pretty lol

omg that’s actually a tough question. I think it depends highly on like individual tolerance for grimdark content and its variety of flaws? because Bersek, imo, is very deeply flawed. but the core story is legitimately good. idk how familiar you are with it’s reputation or what you’ve gathered from what I’ve mentioned offhandedly but this is a series notorious for being very dark and unpleasant. and it just depends on like. where the line is for you.

the other issue is that it’s not very accessible? the manga is still ongoing and hasn’t wrapped up any of the main conflict since it started in the 80s. the mangaka died last year I think? or the year before?and now his close friend who claims he told him the entire plot has taken over. it’s in hardcore uncharted waters wrt where it’s going and the quality of the wrap up.

meanwhile there have been 2.5 anime adaptations all of the exact same arc. and that arc itself wraps nothing up lmao.

the way the manga works, you’re introduced to the protagonist Guts who’s this really bitter jaded person who has some sort of curse and is being hunted by malevolent creatures who in turn destroy the lives of anyone who help him or who he might even momentarily get close to. and we learn that he has a very bitter nemesis in Griffith. and the set up is just very traditional grimdark fantasy. very gross on purpose etc. then eventually we get the golden age arc, which is an origin story of how Guts came to be cursed and what the source of his animosity with Griffith is. it literally ends with disaster and everything going to hell. there’s no sense of conclusion there because it’s not meant to be conclusive. but that also happens to be the only arc animated!

there was technically one 2017 anime adaptation that attempts to pick up where the golden age arc left off but it’s literally unwatchable. we don’t talk about Berserk 2017.

anyway but yeah that means if you get into it and want to know what happens, that only leaves the manga.

but circling back to discussion of content, on the one hand Berserk is *about* trauma. but on the other it’s also very bad about trauma! it’s also very bad about how it treats SA. which. there is a lot of. the mangaka got better about it over the years but it’s literally just like what is your tolerance. what are you willing to put up with for the sake of a story. and whether that story ends up appealing to you.

I think of all ways to get into it the 1997 anime is definitely the best. it’s simply not as graphic because of mainstream 90s studio standards and also the other adaptations leave out really fucking important character moments. and it makes me mad lol. it’s also just prettier imo.

and past that point it’s down to whether you like care enough about how things go down after to read the manga.

there’s also currently a remastered/expanded version of another golden age arc adaptation being serialized (hence there being 2.5 adaptations) and there’s some sort of countdown going on there site for December that some people have been theorizing means a new anime might be coming out? so idk maybe there will be news there.

so idk! I don’t think I can personally guess how much you would like the story vs your tolerance for its bullshit to recommend it or suggest you don’t watch it. like, I would have outright just recced the 97 anime to you but uh yeah the issue is ending and how it kind of feels like there isn’t one 😂

anyway I would personally call the larger story good based on how I weigh its flaws and merits. and I think that’s true for a lot of people who are into it, and it’s been incredibly influential. it’s definitely an acclaimed series? but I think it’s also very possible to weigh those pros and cons differently and a lot of people do! it just really depends on where you personally draw the line.

[advrik]

The Switch Era

So I just finished watching Arlo's latest video about the Switch. You know, the console that not only helped him but also several other personalities get off the ground over the past six years?

I watched this, and I was reminiscing about my time not only with the console itself but that nigh unbearable level of hype that led up to the console's release on March 3rd, 2017.

I recall getting up at 6am the day after the first Nintendo Switch presentation to go hang out outside of the local Gamestop to wait to be the first inside to get a pre-order on the basic grey console. But only after I had stayed up 'til 3am the night before to also pre-order a console on Amazon, along with the Breath of the Wild special edition and the Zelda amiibo (along with a few accessories).

Now at the time, I owned a Wii U and a PS4 but seldom touched either one for reasons of their main purpose. I wasn't playing games on them. I had grown to dislike playing games on my television at the time. I was focused heavily on playing my 3DS while I played a movie on my PS4 or had Youtube going on the Wii U. I was having a falling out with console gaming, and boy was it a hard fall. The Switch was the final straw for me to grasp and hold onto the one hobby that had been with me all my life.

And then launch day came. I took the weekend off from work and just played Zelda and Bomberman the whole entire time, entirely in handheld mode.

And you know what? I was revolutionary. To have something that looked and played like Zelda: Breath of the Wild in the palm of my hand was H-U-G-E at the time. Especially stepping up from the 3DS.

Combined with just the general overall hype surrounding the console and the increasing resurgence of Nintendo in the general gaming space, it seemed at the time that gaming might have been saved for me, and that handheld may have been the trick.

Over the span of the console's biggest years, I amassed close to 100 physical games for the Switch and well over 100 in digital form. I collected all kinds of accessories from grips to an assortment of Joy-Con colors, carry cases, and decals. You name it, I probably had. I even managed to snag the New York Nintendo World Store launch press goodies like the pin and lanyard.

I played primarily in handheld mode because it allowed for comfort and didn't strain my eyes like playing on my TV would, as it was pretty far away from my bed.

Now I have always said that the sole reason I buy Nintendo consoles is always - ALWAYS - for Animal Crossing and that everything else was just extra, and that was especially true.

For the span of time between the launch of Animal Crossing New Horizons(and the beginning of the ongoing pandemic), my Switch was an Animal Crossing machine only. I played nothing else. Amassing 100 hours in the first week alone, and I also took an unpaid week off work for, which was probably one of the best weeks in recent memory. (Well, up until this past month when I flat out told the abusive manager at that same job that I was quitting this past month, but that's a different story for another time)

I went on to document my first year with New Horizons in my 'Welcome to Brickhedge' video series on Youtube, something I plan to rewatch and reminisce over very soon.

So now here we are, the day after the Switch officially went over the hill as far as console lifespans go and the world is eagerly awaiting to see what Nintendo plans to do next and if a more powerful version of the system is in the cards or not.

Where do I currently stand?

Well, I no longer stan the Switch like I used to. Over the past month, I sold off the majority of my non-first-party titles. Several sets of Joy-Cons, the Pro Controller, and even my Animal Crossing-themed console. As Arlo said in his video, the excitement just isn't there anymore. The Switch isn't as exciting as it once was, not because the novelty of a portable console has worn off, oh no. Having that kind of power in your hands is not going to be exciting to me and is what ultimately saves the hobby for me.

The Switch feels extremely outdated now in its capabilities, and with the recent rise of the Steam Deck and other portable PCs, outside of first-party stuff, playing my Switch just isn't as enticing as it once was.

Enter: The Deck

I picked up a Steam Deck last month because I was simply tired of not getting to play major third party releases. Cloud versions were not acceptable, and the often time longer wait time one had to endure for a Switch version to drop (coughFinalFantasyPixelRemasterscough) was no longer cutting it.

The Steam Deck feels, for me at least, every bit as exciting as the Switch was when it launched. Being able to play current releases like the Resident Evil 2 remake and Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order in proper handheld form is so amazing.

And don't even get me started on the crazy emulation capabilities of this beast.

I have maybe picked up my Switch twice since I bought my Deck. But that isn't to say I've completely abandoned my Switch, as I have yet to still pick up and play Bayonetta 3. I also away the launch of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and the upcoming Pokemon Scarlet/Violet DLC, but beyond that? There's nothing the Switch is offering that I can't already get on Deck.

Will I get the inevitable Switch successor when it comes out? Absolutely, but I think I will wait until the next Animal Crossing game is announced before I do so. I've been spoiled rotten by all that the Deck can do, and I hardly believe Nintendo would willingly put out anything half as open and capable as this device.

In closing: I loved my Switch and I will always, always look back on the time I spent with it fondly. It was great to see Nintendo on top again after Wii U tanked them and their name, and I hope whatever they do next can recapture the dimming light the current Switch is losing.

[sailorstarr-chan4]

Anime Update: Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple

Episodes: 50 Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars Favorite Characters: Miu Fūrinji, plus every single Master living at Ryōzanpaku (yes, even the old pervert, Kensei Ma. Every shounen anime's gotta have one >.>) Favorite Pairing: Kenichi x Miu (predictable, but I'm a sucker for Friends to Lovers) Pros: Great action, hilarious dub acting, just a good ol' fun romp. There's a lot of laugh out loud moments, and the majority of annoying tropes are either short-lived or subverted. It's just so entertaining, it's not hard not to binge-watch. Cons: If you're not a fan of shounen cliches, this won't be the series for you, because it is VERY by the numbers. If you're a sucker for this kind of thing, it's a perfectly fine example of a martial arts anime, if not downright underrated. That said, the writing is definitely of its time and is Low-Key Misogynistic, yes, even with several kickass ladies. Strong women does not equal feminism. Recommended for: Shounen/martial arts anime fans who are not snobs. Or really, any anime fan who isn't a snob lol.

~~~

This is just such a fun series. It's not original, deep, or complex in any shape or form, but I highly enjoyed myself with every single episode. It helped that the actors were clearly having a BALL with their characters and scripts, and there were so many lines that lived rent-free in my brain and continued to make me giggle days later.

Fun fact: for nearly a decade, I knew of one hilarious scene that basically summed up Cat People and was often shared among anime fans in a "this is YOU" way lol.

(Seriously, even without context, it's still hilarious AF)

For years, the clip was posted as "The Greatest Scene in Anime" or something along those lines, but after it was taken down, it took me forever to hunt down another version of the clip, let alone the anime title. Then, last month, I felt the urge to finally provide context to one of my favorite out-of-context anime scenes, and started watching the series.

And just like that, I was hooked.

I haven't completed an anime that was more than 26 episodes that fast since the first season of Shugo Chara! in 2017, or the entire Black Butler anime franchise (including OVAs and movies) in 2019.

Be warned: the fanservice is fairly shameless. Tame compared to some other titles out there, of course, but what's there is pretty..... in your face. Plus, there's a lot of.... confusing ideas about fighting women. On one hand, Kenichi (our protagonist) has a principle against fighting girls EVEN IF THEY'RE ACTUAL FIGHTERS, which is annoying/sexist enough. On the other hand, his love interest, best friend, and housemate, Miu, kicks his ass on the regular whenever they spar during training sessions together. Like????? I can't tell if Kenichi is just an idiot, or if he respects Miu's abilities so much he puts on a whole level than "other girls" (which is also Problematic, but in different ways). It's weirdly confusing and is never really addressed, other than angrily by the other women trying to fight Kenichi, and that can painted as Crazy Strong Man-Hating Women shit..... *siiiiiigh* Ohhh, the early 2000s..... >.>"

With all that in mind, do I still recommend this series? Honestly.... kinda??? But only if you're just looking for mindless entertainment. Do not expect deep revelations or nuanced characters. This series knows its audience, and knows its style, and is all the more refreshing for it. It doesn't try to be anything other than what it is: a fun, kickass series about martial arts, fighting to protect others, and the Power of Friendship.

Don't think too hard about it, and just enjoy the ride.

[smqazi]

چوںکفرازکعبہخیزدکجاماندمسلمانی،حافظشیرازی

SA BUILDING A NEW RELIGION, NEW ISLAM, AN INNOVATION (BID’AH), WHICH IS FORBIDDEN ACCORDING TO ISLAMIC LAW...

WHEN KUFR (POLYTHEISM) RISES FROM THE HOME OF THE KA’BAH, WHERE DO BOTH ISLAM AND MUSLIMS GO?

Here some reforms implemented by western educated and trained Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.of Saudi Arabia, that will likely have the biggest impact on the conservative kingdom.

1. Women's driving ban lifted

Saudi Arabia shocked many in the kingdom late September when it was announced a long-standing and controversial ban on women driving in the Saudi Arabia would be lifted in 2018.

2. Saudi's first ever Comic Con

Saudi Arabia's first "Comic Con" event - a US-based pop culture movement - was held in February. The three day festival of anime, pop art, video gaming and film-related events was the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia.

3. Stadiums open to Saudi women

In another landmark move, Saudi Arabia announced its decision to allow women to enter sports stadiums for the first time from next year.

The ultra-conservative kingdom - which has some of the world's tightest restrictions on women - has long barred women from sports arenas by strict rules on segregation.

4. Entertainment city planned

Riyadh announced plans to build an 'entertainment city' outside the capital, Riyadh. The 334sq km park will include a safari, sports facilities, theme park and other activities.

Saudi Arabia also announced it will build a series of theme parks in the Kingdom with US-based developer Six Flags involved in the projects.

5. Music concerts allowed

A series of concerts by international and Arab artists were hosted in Saudi Arabia in 2017 including the first exclusively female music concert with a performance from Lebanese singer Hiba Tawaji.

Saudis spent billions of dollars annually to see movies, attend concerts and visit amusement parks in neighbouring tourist hubs of Bahrain and Dubai.

6. Cinema ban lifted

For the first time in 35 years, cinemas in Saudi Arabia opened their doors to the public.

7. Tourist Visas

With promises of new entertainment facilities, theme parks, cinemas, concerts and water parks, and the promotion of Saudi Arabia's historical sites, all that was missing was the ever-elusive tourist visa. The government approved a tourist visa program in October.

8. Mixed-gender national day celebrations

The kingdom's national day in September saw women allowed to enter the Riyadh's main stadium to join in with celebrations for the first time.

The presence of women at the King Fahd Stadium marked a departure from previous celebrations in the Gulf kingdom.

Women were allowed to enter the stadium, a previously male-only venue used mostly for football matches. Women and their families were seated separately from single men but it allowed them to watch a musical show and a play on Saudi history.

9. Yoga

Fitness enthusiasts in Saudi Arabia can rejoice - yoga is officially back on the program.

The Saudi ministry of trade and industry has officially approved the teaching of yoga and listed it under their sports activities.

Those wishing to practice or teach yoga can now collect a license from the ministry. Fun times for yogis.

1

10. Saudi Arabia abolishes flogging

Saudi Arabia has abolished flogging as a punishment, the state human rights commission said Saturday, hailing a “major step forward” in the reform program.

Court-ordered floggings in Saudi Arabia — sometimes extending to hundreds of lashes — have long drawn condemnation from human rights groups.

[drmaqazi]

چوںکفرازکعبہخیزدکجاماندمسلمانی،حافظشیرازی

SA BUILDING A NEW RELIGION, NEW ISLAM, AN INNOVATION (BID’AH), WHICH IS FORBIDDEN ACCORDING TO ISLAMIC LAW...

WHEN KUFR (POLYTHEISM) RISES FROM THE HOME OF THE KA’BAH, WHERE DO BOTH ISLAM AND MUSLIMS GO?

Here some reforms implemented by western educated and trained Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.of Saudi Arabia, that will likely have the biggest impact on the conservative kingdom.

1. Women's driving ban lifted

Saudi Arabia shocked many in the kingdom late September when it was announced a long-standing and controversial ban on women driving in the Saudi Arabia would be lifted in 2018.

2. Saudi's first ever Comic Con

Saudi Arabia's first "Comic Con" event - a US-based pop culture movement - was held in February. The three day festival of anime, pop art, video gaming and film-related events was the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia.

3. Stadiums open to Saudi women

In another landmark move, Saudi Arabia announced its decision to allow women to enter sports stadiums for the first time from next year.

The ultra-conservative kingdom - which has some of the world's tightest restrictions on women - has long barred women from sports arenas by strict rules on segregation.

4. Entertainment city planned

Riyadh announced plans to build an 'entertainment city' outside the capital, Riyadh. The 334sq km park will include a safari, sports facilities, theme park and other activities.

Saudi Arabia also announced it will build a series of theme parks in the Kingdom with US-based developer Six Flags involved in the projects.

5. Music concerts allowed

A series of concerts by international and Arab artists were hosted in Saudi Arabia in 2017 including the first exclusively female music concert with a performance from Lebanese singer Hiba Tawaji.

Saudis spent billions of dollars annually to see movies, attend concerts and visit amusement parks in neighbouring tourist hubs of Bahrain and Dubai.

6. Cinema ban lifted

For the first time in 35 years, cinemas in Saudi Arabia opened their doors to the public.

7. Tourist Visas

With promises of new entertainment facilities, theme parks, cinemas, concerts and water parks, and the promotion of Saudi Arabia's historical sites, all that was missing was the ever-elusive tourist visa. The government approved a tourist visa program in October.

8. Mixed-gender national day celebrations

The kingdom's national day in September saw women allowed to enter the Riyadh's main stadium to join in with celebrations for the first time.

The presence of women at the King Fahd Stadium marked a departure from previous celebrations in the Gulf kingdom.

Women were allowed to enter the stadium, a previously male-only venue used mostly for football matches. Women and their families were seated separately from single men but it allowed them to watch a musical show and a play on Saudi history.

9. Yoga

Fitness enthusiasts in Saudi Arabia can rejoice - yoga is officially back on the program.

The Saudi ministry of trade and industry has officially approved the teaching of yoga and listed it under their sports activities.

Those wishing to practice or teach yoga can now collect a license from the ministry. Fun times for yogis.

10. Saudi Arabia abolishes flogging

Saudi Arabia has abolished flogging as a punishment, the state human rights commission said Saturday, hailing a “major step forward” in the reform program.

Court-ordered floggings in Saudi Arabia — sometimes extending to hundreds of lashes — have long drawn condemnation from human rights groups.

[teragames]

Habrá anime de "The Daily Life of a Middle-Aged Online Shopper in Another World"

Las novelas ligeras "The Daily Life of a Middle-Aged Online Shopper in Another World" (@arafotsuhan) tendrán una adaptación al anime en donde se revelaron los primeros promocionales.

Un nuevo héroe isekai tendrá su propio anime en 2025, ¡y su poder son las compras online! La serie The Daily Life of a Middle-Aged Online Shopper in Another World confirmó hoy que habrá una adaptación al anime en 2025. Hifumi Asakura escribió la serie original, que se publicó por primera vez en el sitio web Shosetsuka ni Naro entre 2017 y 2021. En 2018 se publicó una versión en novela ligera con…

[clipsie]

Sometimes I just want to scream

I think I'm stuck in my head right now so I just gotta get it out somewhere. There are many things in my life I am truly happy about. For example, my job is one. I greatly enjoy my job these days, I'm happy to be in the industry I am because I recognize, especially watching friends try to get jobs and fail, that I am extroadinarily lucky in that end.

God damn, though, so much more in my life in frustrating. I hate my living situation. I'll never be able to afford a home given the cost of living here. I just want to be able to have my own space. Feel comfortable in a space but I doubt I ever will unless I live alone.

That makes the other part frustrating. I always feel hopelessly alone. I have good friends, I know this, and I am thankful for them. Hell, I just went to Portugal last month with a friend I haven't seen since 2017. Despite all this and having a family that will have an hour long call with me on a whim, I just feel so alone. I think part of this is making it to 35 and never having been in a relationship of any sort. Add that to the fact I find it very difficult to open up completely to people. There are bits and pieces I doubt people I hold dear will ever know about for one reason or another. Don't get me wrong, I had an opportunity for a long distance not too long ago but the idea and logistics terrifies me (plus I just didn't feel that way about them in the end though I worry I handled that badly).

Then there is my health. I don't have the best health and I'm a recently found out about diabetic, which is fine. It's already hard enough for me to understand when I need help and accept it. Hell, I have to be on medication so I don't get migraines already (though some break through), which! Symptoms of low blood sugar are wildly similar to migraine symptoms. Do I know where the diabetes came from? I know most people would blame my lifestyle and how much I weighed but I doubt that's all the reasons. I'm not genetically inclined as far as I am aware, either. Maybe it's stuff from the past few years but I also was maybe in this road my whole fucking life and getting Covid in 2022 probably set the ball properly running, that and losing my appendix in 2020 after having unknown about appendicitis the year before (I only know because of how bad my appendix was the second round and the symptoms being THE SAME). Should note, I've never been an inactive person despite my genetic predisposition to being overweight. But, man, I've found having it so weirdly isolating? I'm really feeling it today. I guess I could become friends with others in the same situation but I'd hate it? I don't know how to describe it but I'd fucking hate it. I just want to silently chug along with my fucked up body that has been trying to creatively end me since I was a wee baby through the strangest of methods.

I just feel lonely today. May delete later.

Also, I tend to just chug along alone or wiyh a few people in my fandom life, soooo. Though I am volunteering at the anime con next month.

Also, I fucking hate salad and miss soda. I've already found a snack to replace ice cream (not that I ate it much) and I still hate most desserts and candy anyway. Salad, though, the dressings are all terrible.

[pico-digital-studios]

Into, Across and Beyond!: Nature of Alternate Universes

In this post, I'll discuss the nature of each alternate universe and how they all differ from each other, and our world, in their own ways.

So, aside from the obvious point that there's always a variant of Sonic, one of his accomplices or another counterpart, as the lead hero of a universe, there's quite a few differences between worlds. For beginners, Dimension MP-2021's universe varies quite a lot from our own in these ways:

There are alternate universe equivalents to real-life products we use consistently. Chaos Cola is the main swap-in for Coca-Cola in most universes, though: in MP-2021, this is "Rola-Cola", it is "Chaos Soda" in CR-2017 and NS-2021, and "Crackin' Coke" in NM-1973.

G.U.N. has a presence in a few universes, though its presence in MP-2021 is instead cited as "S.I.G.U." (South Island Guardian Units). Likewise, MeteorTech, not owned by Robotnik in this universe, is dubbed Comet-Innovation.

As mentioned in the SEGANet post, YouTube is cited as "SEGATube" for SEGA universes (and any linked to them), and is better managed and less prone to allowing bots to cause people trouble.

TV idents are NOT treated as an afterthought in the SEGA universes, and brands are put as a core focus rather than simplicity. For instance, the UKTV Yesterday and W idents are more memorable in these cases.

In MP-2021, Tumblr is still dubbed Tumblelogs. Between universes, the whole Twitter/X name choice varies; for more peaceful areas, it's just Twitter, and in more run-down places like Moebius and New Yolk, it's X. However, in odd cases, they've decided to run with BOTH, dubbing it "TwiXter".

The Blue Man Group is the Green Man Group in MP-2021.

O2 is instead H2O in that same universe, same with T-Mobile being S-Mobile and EE being "GG".

As discussed in my MP-2021 post, most areas in that dimension are all on one island, with only Angel Island and the Death Egg separate from it. Most other dimensions instead have a whole vast world around them.

OMT!Tails, when SAGE (Sonic Amateur Games Expo) and SHC (Sonic Hacking Contest) are mentioned off-handedly by CR!Sonic, doesn't know what either is, since he has PAX and Trinoc*coN respectively in his universe.

Fast food restaurants McDonald's and Burger King are instead dubbed "McLovely's" and "Burger Monarchy" respectively in MP-2021.

Pop culture as OMT!Tails knows it is vastly different compared to other worlds; in his universe, there's a marble-run comedy starring Chris Pratt called Don't Lose Your Marbles, the sequel to Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (Toon Platoon) actually managed to release in MP-2021, and Zootopia got its own sequel, subtitled "Furrious Unity".

The Planet Hollywood restaurant and resort chain is instead dubbed "Planet Staroak" in MP-2021, with the "Staroak" location off-island being the heart of the area's film industry.

Other changes for other set universes include:

Errorverse (EV-2019)

The more classic cartoons in the Errorverse went their own way from companies like Disney and Warner Bros., and expanded Toontown into a full-blown Toontopia where any classic cartoon can live and flourish.

The age rating badge in the Errorverse is outright PEGI instead of the ESRB.

Fazbear Entertainment underwent new management in the Errorverse after the Pizzaplex disaster and changed its ways with new pizzerias without trying to cover up what happened.

The BBC in the Errorverse is instead the GBC (Global Broadcasting Corporation), having its own library of TV channels and radio stations.

Dimension ELE-2023

Like Elemental, this universe splits different people by their different elements, with Sonic hailing from water (despite, ironically, it being his worst fear) and Amy Rose hailing from fire.

Miscellaneous

All dimensions comprising mainly of 2D artwork (with or without toon physics; anime-based works and animated storybooks count) all class as "Tooniverses". The main ones are Mr. Needlemouse's dimension, BK!Amy's Camelot, the three classic Sonic cartoons and Sonic X.

Likewise, any live-action Sonic content (like the Movie universe) also counts as a separate Tooniverse.