#artist: akira complex

[haveyoulistenedtothisalbum-poll]

Tracklist:

Intro • Feel My Energy • The Rolling • Cyber True Color • Hands Up • Good Time • message within the rift • UFO • I Wanna Dance • Venom • JUNK • Moonsault • Like a Roulette • Devotion • Acid Virus • Outro

Spotify ♪ Bandcamp ♪ YouTube

[sappho-rose]

~Hirano to Kagiura

[shiki-aki]

Any ShikiAki doujinshi recc? I've only read the tentacle one

THE FACT THAT I INSTANTLY KNEW WHICH DJ YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT WHEN YOU SAID "the tentacle one" LMAOOOO I LOVE THAT ONE IT'S REALLY HOT and Shiki is just so dom in it...

ohhh but this is a really fun question, thanks for asking! I do have some personal favorite Shikiaki doujinshi, but if you have time and are really hungry for content, I also recommend checking out all the Shikiaki doujinshi here: https://myreadingmanga.info/togainu-no-chi-dj/

Anyway I do have a few that I love to reread (and I'm gonna use this as an opportunity to gush about them lol) so I'll list them here. They're not in any particular order (except for the first one which definitely takes the spot as my favorite).

Ragdoll

(I recommend you actually read this doujinshi first before reading my thoughts here because I end up spoilering it oops, SORRY HAHA. I just have so many thoughts on this doujinshi and I love talking about it!)

This is my all-time favorite Shikiaki doujinshi because it's the one that really made me take a closer look at Shikiaki and search for the nuances in Shiki's route, back when I first finished Shiki's route. I think this artist truly understood the Shikiaki dynamic and the themes in Shiki's route, and it shows in their writing. Like I can't stress how important this doujinshi is to me lol, if it wasn't for this I would have likely just dropped Shikiaki as a ship and moved on, because yes on a surface level, Shikiaki does seem very shallow; I won't deny that, but when you dig deeper, you'll find that there's so many layers to the ship? I know that sounds incredibly cliche, but hey, that's what my meta is for lmao, so that I can actually explain my thought process behind why this ship is actually quite complex.

The artist nailed it in exploring the "possession" theme in the Shikiaki dynamic and how Shiki hides his true feelings for Akira behind framing it as Akira being his possession, but Shiki is also obsessed with who Akira is as a person and values him for the traits he has. Essentially it plays with the theme of Shiki objectifying, but also humanizing Akira at the same time, and like... the contradiction is just amazing because like I said in my meta, it adds nuance and depth to characters when they act in seemingly contradictory ways.

But the doujinshi doesn't just stop there; it also touches upon Akira's characterization and the theme of him obeying his own will, which I think is important when it comes to wanting to understand ED1. It's not that Akira follows his abuser because he's in love with Shiki; he follows Shiki out of his own free will, because Shiki was the only one to truly accept him and see him for who he is, and that's why Akira will accept Shiki for who he is, even if Shiki is in a catatonic state. Also this doujinshi opened my eyes to seeing how Shiki was the one to "bring back Akira's will to live," which is definitely a point I harp on a lot in my meta lolll.

This doujinshi also made me understand Akira's character arc, with Akira appreciating the beauty of nature for what it is in ED1, and how he wants Shiki to do the same. It shows the duality between them: neither Shiki nor Akira appreciated life for what it is, or even the fact of living. Shiki was too hellbent on his goal and pursued it in a self-destructive manner, while Akira viewed life as meaningless and didn't see a reason to pursue anything in life. So at the end of their character arcs, both Akira AND Shiki need to realize the importance of living in the moment so they can finally have a fulfilling life together.

tldr: this doujinshi changed my life and it's the reason why I'm stuck in Shikiaki hell

2. Amber Sunlight Lit Up the Jade Dewdrops

(GOD THE COVER ART IS JUST GORGEOUS)

This doujinshi is drawn by the same artist who did "Ragdoll," so you already know it's gonna be good lol. I love the angst in this, but also the soft fluff. Again this artist understands the Shikiaki dynamic really well and what their brand of subtle intimacy would look like. I do think Shiki is slightly OOC here, but only because the scenario itself falls into OOC territory (Shiki catching a cold lol). Otherwise I think the artist did extremely well in still executing the idea they wanted to draw while keeping Shiki's and Akira's characterizations intact.

3. Babelist

I love this ED2 doujinshi because of how possessive Shiki is lmao, like straight up, this is what I reread whenever I want to see Shiki acting super unhinged and possessive. It's just a really good portrayal of Shiki and Akira's dynamic in ED2, with Akira being loyal to Shiki (but also trying to maintain an air of professionalism between them despite their private, intimate relationship) and Shiki giving absolutely zero fucks and just wanting to show off to everyone in the army how Akira is his lmao.

4. A3

This is the first Shikiaki doujinshi I ever read and I'm glad it was my first because it's definitely unique. It essentially weaves all 3 Akiras from the EDs together into one universe and shows what kind of dynamic Shiki has with each Akira. What I adore about this doujinshi is how it shows that, despite how different in personality each Akira is, Shiki loves all of them in the end because they're still Akira. The line at the end of the doujinshi, "You're all mine. However, the one who was captured is..." just straight up makes my heart quiver because of how Shiki-esque it is. It may look like Shiki is the one in control of the relationship because he's the dom and he "owns" Akira, but his heart was captured by Akira and he's chained by the feelings he has for Akira. Essentially just a subtle but very elegant way of showing how Akira has power over Shiki, too.

5. Inushiki

Drawn by the same artist who did "A3," this is such a heartwarming, wholesome, and fluffy doujinshi. I definitely like to reread it a lot because it's one of the few Shikiaki doujinshi that isn't downright angsty lol, it's just so domestic and cute. Also Shiki with dog ears and a tail is just... mwah. He's gorgeous <3. And of course it isn't Shiki if he's not possessive (and horny) as fuck lmao. This is the one doujinshi that I so desperately wish there was a sequel of because it's just so adorable it makes me roll around in bed T_T.

6. Lost End

This one is more on the smutty side, but the art is really good! This artist is quite well known for their TnC doujinshi (they don't only draw Shikiaki but other ships as well so yeah a bit of fun for everybody xD). My favorite part is the ending though... definitely love to see Shiki and Akira having a soft moment together (and Akira wanting to touch Shiki is just. adorable). I don't know, I just really like Shiki being soft and affectionate with Akira after he wakes up in ED1 (*¯︶¯*).

7. Evil Lova

I think you might enjoy this one in particular as it focuses on Shiki and Akira's domestic fluffy life after Shiki wakes up. It's quite short but it still shows Akira taking care of Shiki and worrying over him lol.

8. Insert

This is a direct continuation of "Evil Lova" but instead of Akira taking care of Shiki, it's Shiki being pissed that Akira is babying him, so Shiki decides to turn the tables and take care of Akira instead xD. Again it's short but it's still super fun and sweet to read about. I definitely like to headcanon that Shiki would be annoyed at Akira coddling him after he wakes up in ED1, but he understands that it's Akira's form of affection lol.

9. Black Milk

This one is a unique spin on the Dog!Akira from the Arbitro end, where Shiki manages to whisk Akira away from the Palace lmao. It leans on the smutty side but I like how the artist showed Shiki's discomfort with Akira being physically affectionate with him. Kinda emphasizes Shiki's tsundere side and how he's not used to being kissed or touched so affectionately, but he lets Akira touch him anyway <3 (and Akira remembering Shiki's name is just. aww).

10. Mill Milk

This is a direct continuation of "Black Milk." Again, leans on the smutty side, but also some humorous moments here and there lol. I really like Akira licking Shiki like a dog and Shiki allowing him to, tbh I feel like it's something we wouldn't really see in Shiki's canon route/EDs, but I totally vibe with it lol. Plus it leans into the "dog" aspect for Akira and Shiki's route is the one where the master/pet dynamic is heavily explored. (also the nipple sucking is. excellent.)

AAAAAAAAAAAA ANYWAY SORRY THIS ENDED UP BEING SO LONG WOW I didn't mean to go on a tangent and rec so many doujinshi lmao but I hope you enjoy reading them!!! and thank you again for the ask :3 sorry I have so many Shikiaki thoughts lol

[brainbuffering]

Top New Manga of 2024!

Another year has come to an end, so it's time to talk about all the great manga that came out this year! So in no particular order, these are my Top 6 New Manga of the Year!

In the Name of the Mermaid Princess by Writer Yoshino Fumikawa and Artist Miya Tashiro

T: Junko Goda, Adap: Shaenon K. Garrity, L: Susan Daigle-Leach, E: Annette Roman Publisher: Shojo Beat

“In the classic fairy tale, a mermaid princess gives up her special abilities for love. What happens if she doesn’t? Princess Mio is betrothed to Prince Chika. However, they’ve never met, and he doesn’t know her secret—she’s a mermaid! When her tutor, Yuri, takes her out of the castle to meet her subjects, Mio begins to accept her true self. But Yuri has a secret too… And when Mio tells her father, the king, she wants to live life openly as a mermaid, he punishes her. How can she stay true to herself? Plus, a bonus story about a royal subject with wings!”

This series was an absolute surprise to me! I always keep an eye out for new Shojo releases, but I accept that I am not the target audience for all of them. I assumed that was the case here, Mermaid Princesses were something I felt was in my past. Yet I took a chance on it on the Viz Media App and felt an immediate kinship with Mio! The story of the Unhumans' struggles for safety and respect really resonated with me as a disabled person. The series acts as a great “Disability Metaphor 101” for younger readers. With solid artwork, an enchanting story, and really moving and relatable moments it’s definitely been my highlight of the year! 

Otonari Complex by Saku Nonomura

T: Jenny McKeon, Adap: Carly Smith, L: Aidan Clarke, E: Kristina Korpus Publisher: SevenSeas

“Kuji Akira and Ninomiya Makoto are childhood friends and neighbors. Since Akira is “handsome” for a girl and Makoto is “pretty” for a boy, their gender presentation is often confused. As they try to untangle their complex feelings about themselves and each other, they find out their friends are crushing on them, too. It’s a complicated childhood friend love story!”

This was one of the series I was most looking forward to this year and it did not disappoint! “Gender Fuckery” has been a key component of all good Shojo since it began! From Princess Knight to Rose of Versailles to Fruits Basket, narratives about people discovering their gender identity, and playing around with what that means, are some of the most beloved. This was the year that I finally came out to my family as Gender Queer, so a having a book that has such a complex look at the notion of gender and gender identity in such a queer way was wonderful. I especially loved the way it explored body dysmorphia and misgendering. When Makoto presents as female, they WANT to have folks use she/her pronouns for them! Even if they still identify as a cis-man throughout the book. Meanwhile Akira chooses to present masculine, but when she gets misgendered as a boy she doesn’t experience the same euphoria that Makoto does. For her, it’s something painful and shaming. Volume 2 hasn't shipped to me yet, but I’m very much looking forward to seeing how these two love birds’ gender journey goes. 

Tank Chair by Manabu Yashiro

T: Max Greenway L: Evan Hayden  E: Maggie Le Publisher: Kodansha

“Shizuka takes on the most dangerous of assassin jobs, but she's not the one doing the killing. Rather, it's her brother, Nagi, a strong assassin who took a bullet to protect his sister, leaving him in a comatose state and having to use a wheelchair. However, Shizuka has figured out the key to waking her brother up: he must be faced with killing intent! Thus begins a violent journey of recovery, battling the most dangerous foes!”

I’ve already written about why I loved Tank Chair so much, but it’s worth repeating that whilst series like “A Sign of Affection” and “Blade Girl” are still great to have for disabled representation in popular media – nothing quite beats the euphoria I felt reading Tank Chair and seeing people get viciously murdered with disabled rage fueled Boudica spikes.

Magical Girl Dandelion by Kaeru Mizuho

T: Mei Amaki L: Finn K Publisher: Viz Media (App)

“Magical girls and villains are enemies, but can neophyte Tanpopo's bond with the villain Shade topple that destiny?”

To my knowledge, this is the first Shojo Manga that Viz have been simul-publishing from the get go! And they absolutely picked a superstar to start! Western Manga Fans have been chomping at the bit for more magical girl series to get localised into English, and this has not disappointed! Whilst series like Cardcaptor Sakura and Sailor Moon take a few chapters to get to their darker tones, Magical Girl Dandelion gets to it right off the bat! With cool battle sequences, fun character designs, and the battle between good and evil being morally murky from the start – Dandelion has the potential to be one of the all time greats!

Tokyo These Days by Taiyo Matsumoto

T: Michael Arias L: Deron Bennett Publisher: Viz

“After 30 years as a manga editor, Kazuo Shiozawa suddenly quits. Although he feels early retirement is the only way to atone for his failures as an editor, the manga world isn’t done with him. On his final day as an editor, Shiozawa takes a train he’s ridden hundreds of times to impart some last advice to a manga creator whose work he used to edit. Later, he is drawn to return to a bookshop at the request of a junior editor who wants his help dealing with an incorrigible manga creator who used to be edited by Shiozawa and now refuses to work with anyone else. For Shiozawa, Tokyo these days is full of memory and is cocooned in the inescapable bonds among manga creators, their editors, art, and life itself.”

A slow, thoughtful manga that gives you plenty of time to breathe and contemplate. The slower, and more mature pace was a great break from my usual diet of high energy action adventure romance. The book is a somber look at what it is to work in the manga industry in present day Japan, how it has changed over the decades, and what it means to age out of a business that’s famous for working their most talented artists to an early grave.

Colette Decides To Die by Alto Yukimura

T: Max Greenway L: Inori Fukada Trant E: Nancy Thistlethwaite Publisher: Shojo Beat

“Colette meets Hades, a fellow workaholic, while he is ill in bed with a rash and fever. After treating his condition, she learns about the work he does and what drives him, in turn renewing her sense of purpose as an apothecary. Colette is sent back to her own world, but is this the last she will see of Hades?”

This was one of those series that half my social media feed seemed to be absolutely begging to get published in English. And having read the first two volumes, I can see why! Whilst I don’t think it’s doing anything revolutionary, it’s still a cosy story of two people who struggle with self care falling in love and providing support, with a fun backdrop of greek mythology (although the lack of accuracy would make academics rage harder than at Disney’s Hercules) which makes it absolutely peek HanaYume. And heaven knows how much I love HanaYume! 

[the-far-bright-center]

"The film’s deeply visual emphasis also plays out in linear and direct relation to the previous prequels: The Phantom Menace is characterized mostly by the warm tones of Tatooine and Naboo, with the majority of scenes occurring in bright sunlight; Attack of the Clones balances evening and late daytime scenes, its palette dominated by the steely grays and blues of Coruscant and Kamino to underline the moral relativity of its central character; finally, Revenge of the Sith plays out predominantly at dusk and at nighttime, frequently situating its characters in political chambers designed according to the film’s “evil” tones of black and red. So too does the style of composition and movement bolster the film’s tonality: even in the midst of their narrative complexities, Menace and Clones are punctuated frequently with rousing set pieces, lending the films an exciting forward momentum. Contrarily, Revenge of the Sith submerges itself in the discomforting particulars of faltering political systems and fatal misunderstandings. The aforementioned opening provides the film’s only sequence of pure “escape,” and even that sequence takes a moment to fester in Anakin’s decaying sense of morality. Much of the film devotes itself to conversations with impossibly high stakes, dialogue delivered in a kind of blunt efficiency that recalls silent cinema; the words are functional, serving only to supplant the audiovisual power on display. When characters speak, they speak broadly and dramatically, leaving no room for confusion: “You’re breaking my heart”; “from my point of view, the Jedi are evil.” The performances also frequently hearken back to older styles: when Palpatine transforms into the treacherous Emperor we remember from Jedi, actor Ian McDiarmid exudes the expressive excess of kabuki theatre, a style lent famous cinematic context by Akira Kurosawa in Throne of Blood (1958) and Ran (1985).

Given the newly expansive potential afforded by digital technology, Lucas is no longer limited to simple filmic references. In Revenge of the Sith, he boldly visualizes his interests in classical mythology and literature; to be sure, the prequels recall the tragedies of Shakespeare, perhaps most evidently in Palpatine’s similarities to Othello’s Iago. However, Lucas digs deeper and further into the past when he depicts Anakin and Obi-Wan Kenobi duelling across the volcanic vistas of Mustafar. When discussing this scene, it is crucial to acknowledge Camille Paglia’s wonderful and laudatory piece in Glittering Images. Indeed, it is in this scene that the film’s awe-striking and unprecedented anachronism totally takes over: painting his images digitally, Lucas taps into our knowledge of Dante, of the legend of Faust, the Christian Hell and the Greek Hades, of the metaphoric burning of Icarus’s wings in the form of Anakin’s smoldering body. Appropriately, John Williams’s score moves further from Korngold-echoing whimsy with each successive prequel, and in Sith it acquires operatic overtones. Never one to divide “high” art from “low,” Lucas draws from every available well of visual representation to craft this uniquely digital genre entertainment, a film that is broadly drawn in its emotional strokes but rigorous in its cinematic grammar. The starkly outlined divisions established by the five preceding films break down in the Mustafar sequence, emphasized by the combatants’ matching lightsabers. It is almost as if we are watching the mythic Star Wars world burning down, an epic downfall of elemental gestures. We can no longer perceive this man, Anakin Skywalker, as an enigmatic monster in a robotic suit; not now that we have seen him weeping with rage at the network of choices and obstacles that led him to hell. If only every myth were graced with such far-ranging moral gradients; Anakin chooses evil, because it seems to him like the only right choice at the time. Now that is tragedy."

[jariten]

April 2024 Roundup

A little delayed but I will try to keep it short. Did some quick catch up on stand alones and made some progress on various series. But I couldn't resist the siren call of the anthologies so I just have to mention those.

Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai I was really delighted to see licensed but when it dropped I forgot about it.... Or had to put it off for money reasons, I forget. But with a sweet discount code I finally grabbed all 5 volumes of part 1: Disciples of Avan starring the plucky Dai who was raised by monsters freed from the control of the evil lord who was defeated by the Hero and his party. Riku Sanjo's art also goes really well with Akira Toriyama's monster designs while overall having an identity of its own. With a story unique from the games it doesn't just feel like a quick buck manga tie on the game series but a representative work in RPG style fantasy manga from the 1980s and a great read for anyone who wants to be more familiar with manga from that decadeUnfortunately only 5 of 25 volumes of this edition are out for reasons Viz has not publicly disclosed so I will refrain from speculating. But it was comforting to know that Viz's release isn't the only international edition in limbo. Hopefully something gets worked out in the near future.

Okinawa by Susumu Higa also had a long and rocky path to the store shelves. I pre-ordered it I think in 2019 then that was cancelled, then the translation got a digital release then the print version was back on then, finally, in 2023 I saw it in stores. Finally read it and its a great companion to Shigeru Mizuki's Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths as a wartime criticism of the Japanese army, while the second part serving as a commentary and look into the recent history of Okinawa as a region still existing under soft occupation of the United States army.

Megami Tachi to (With Goddesses) is an anthology of stories written by Katsuo Kawai adapted by various female manga artists. I'm not familiar with his work so I won't go on to describe his style and oeuvre but the involvement of Yamaji Ebine made me want to check it out (her story is about a woman put in charge of taking care of a shrine and its kami, which turns out to be the bare empty basement of an apartment complex). I really liked the variety of stories taking place across various time periods and locations and how each manga artist's own individual styles stood out with the absurdist scripts. And to keep to the collaborative spirit while making his own contribution Kawai himself drew a story based on a script by movie director Satoko Yokohama about the day in the life of an old actor. Was also delighted to find out this collection contained the pro debut work of Yuriko Hara, who'd go on to make Cocoon Entwined!

Wakaba no Rhapsody is a companion to Hana to Waltz, two anthologies highlighting the new talents in the magazines Asuka and Aokishi. The big name draw is Kaoru Mori but I was very impressed by the artistic prowess of all the featured artists, whose impact was heightened by the HUGE trim size of the volumes. Featured in both volumes was Akira Shouno whose one shot collection Good Night Field I read last year and was very fascinated by. Especially the recurring immortal vampire and the yukionna he regularly visits. Really hoping the rest of the featured artists get their own one shot collection in the near future, but while waiting for those I might check out some of their long form series.

[mayamidnightmelody]

Cyberpunk

Cyberpunk, a subgenre of science fiction, emerged in the late 20th century and is characterized by its focus on advanced technology, cybernetics, and a dystopian society. This genre, often described as a fusion of "high-tech and low-life," juxtaposes the rapid advancements in technology with stark social decay, inequality, and corruption.

The origins of cyberpunk can be traced back to early influential works, with Philip K. Dick's "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" (1968) laying some of the groundwork. However, the term "cyberpunk" itself was popularized by Bruce Bethke's 1983 short story of the same name. It was William Gibson's novel "Neuromancer" (1984), though, that truly defined the genre, introducing seminal concepts like cyberspace and artificial intelligence and setting the tone for the cyberpunk aesthetic and narrative style.

At the heart of cyberpunk are several key themes. One prominent theme is the intersection of technology and human augmentation, where characters often possess cybernetic enhancements. This fusion of human and machine raises profound questions about identity, humanity, and the ethical implications of technological progress. Dystopian societies are another central element, typically depicted as futures where corporations hold more power than governments. These settings are dark, gritty, and oppressive, highlighting the dire consequences of unchecked capitalism and technological misuse.

Protagonists in cyberpunk stories are frequently hackers, rebels, or anti-heroes who navigate the seedy underbelly of society. These characters, often fighting against corrupt systems, embody a sense of rebellion and resistance. The concept of virtual reality, or cyberspace, is also central to many cyberpunk narratives, exploring both the possibilities and dangers of immersive digital worlds, where cyberspace becomes a battleground for control and freedom.

Visually, cyberpunk is heavily influenced by film noir, characterized by neon lights, rain-soaked streets, and a blend of futuristic and retro elements. Iconic films like Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" (1982) and anime such as "Akira" (1988) and "Ghost in the Shell" (1995) have been pivotal in shaping the genre's aesthetic, creating a distinct and enduring visual style.

The influence of cyberpunk extends into modern interpretations through video games, fashion, and music. Contemporary works like the game "Cyberpunk 2077" and the series "Altered Carbon" bring cyberpunk themes to today's audiences, delving into issues like surveillance, data privacy, and the impact of AI on society. In fashion and art, cyberpunk inspires a unique style that blends futuristic elements with punk and grunge aesthetics, incorporating leather, metallic fabrics, and tech-infused accessories. Artists often depict sprawling, neon-lit cityscapes and cyborg characters, capturing the essence of cyberpunk's vision of the future.

Cyberpunk remains a relevant and influential genre, offering a critical lens through which to examine the complexities of our relationship with technology. Its exploration of the intersection between humanity and machinery, the implications of a tech-dominated future, and its distinctive style ensure that cyberpunk continues to be a compelling and thought-provoking genre.

[trashexplorer]

BLCD Review: Tsunaida Koi no Kanaekata

Title: Tsunaida Koi no Kanaekata (繋いだ恋の叶え方)

Release Date: 2021/08/25

Shop: CD + Manga

Author/Artist: Yoshio Akira

Cast:

Shingaki Tarusuke x Eguchi Takuya

Nakajima Yoshiki

Oi Marie

Synopsis: The bane of my existence. Adaptation of the second installment of the same name.

Review Proper

When I was dying of an ear infection back in December, I had the most vivid dream of Morpheus from The Sandman sitting at the foot of my bed telling me that my life was one of his tools that he needed back. In exchange for my life, Morpheus promised me he would go back in time to stop me from making a mistake that I wished I hadn't done.

I chose working on this fucking thing.

Don't get me wrong, Tsunaida had the best plot out of the series and all of Yoshio Akira's works. I'd even go as far as saying it's one of the best releases of its time—it was nominated for Best Series in the 2021 chilchil awards for a reason (it was robbed, I tell you). It's just my life has gone downhill since I picked this up. HAHAHAHAHA Not to mention, older Chesk was bad and cringe. I'm sorry for arguing with you over this series, Kimmy. It wasn't worth it.

This series is still ongoing, only god knows why. I got so sick of it to the point that I started hating Yoshio Akira and forgetting all about the plot, so I didn't expect myself to cry during the climax HAHAHAHAHAHA FUCK WHY WAS THIS STILL SO GOOD???? I'M ANNOYED I still hate it tho

I forgot just how painful this was. I'm at this point in my life where if that would happen to me, I would just LEAVE.

Anyway, onto the topic of the BLCD...

I didn't think it was going to be possible, but Shingaki really changed his Hara-san tone!!! Thank god! This is it! This was exactly the tone I envisioned his Hara-san would be in! I'm not sure if it's 'cause everyone from the producers (except the director) and the sound team was changed, but Tsunaida and Kanawanu are worlds apart. I usually dislike inconsistencies in series with multiple installments, but I'll let this slide. Let's all just pretend that Kanawanu doesn't exist.😌

Egu also went a pitch higher in this. It's still far from what I wanted for Kaoru, but he was able to make the role his own. I'm not sure if it's because of the change in the mixing, but Egu finally sounds like he was recording with everyone here. I said in my review for Kanawanu that he wasn't syncing with his own brother, Kakeru, and it turns out that Egu actually was voicing Kakeru too lmao. How can you not sync with yourself, man? But that just means that the mixing for Kanawanu was that bad. I haven't listened to Tabete mo Oishikuarimasen yet, but I feel like Egu and Shingaki should've been nominated for Tsunaida. I mean, Shingaki is a queen as Yashiro and his nomination is deserved, but let's all put those older series to rest now. 😂

I also missed Nakajiki as Keiji-san!!! He promised to bring Hiro along next time, so if I'm not hearing Saitou Souma in Musunda, I will riot! No, I didn't check the cast list.

The BLCD is pretty accurate to the manga, save for that extra bathroom sex in Track 2. It's quite long, but there isn't any complex dialogue, so I suggest just closing your eyes and absorbing the bathroom bambo. 😌 I actually wished it was longer toward the ending chapter because I felt that it was rushed in the manga, but alas. I've read Renta's license, and it's accurate as well. In conclusion, get this if you like the series. 100% recommend!

[lilyvalerieorchard]

Letters to Lily #2

From TheCrimsonAsshole

Dear Lily.

I find it really unfair that you've dismissed the entire Anime medium as "misogynist pornography" all because you think ONE particularly infamous Hentai film represents all of Anime.

You couldn't be more wrong.

There are brilliant anime films like:

Akira

Ghost In The Shell

Perfect Blue

Millennium Actress

Tokyo Godfathers

Paprika

Tekkonkinkreet

The Animatrix

Metropolis

Memories

Macross Plus

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

Clueless

Mean Girls

Highlander

Pulp Fiction

Scarface

As well as anime series like:

Robotech

Cowboy Bebop

Outlaw Star

Trigun

The Big O

Gundam Wing

Neon Genisis Evangelion

Tenchi Muyo

Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex

Death Note

Paranoia Agent

Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Seinfeld

How I met Your Mother

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

The Office

Breaking Bad

Better Call Saul

The Bear

Come one, step out of your comfort zone for once! Anime is a fantastic, diverse medium capable of things beyond your imagination! It will make you experience animation in a brand new artistic and cultural perspective!

....

How DARE you try to expand my narrow perspective! To challenge my shallow beliefs!

Giving me RECOMENDATIONS!?!

INSOLENT CREATURE! YOU WILL SUFFER! YOU WILL-

[fangbangerghoul]

One of my biggest inspirations and nostalgic creators passed away and I'm deeply sadden by it. Dragon Ball is just an over the top fighting show to a lot but with action Akira Toriyama showed growth, personality, and complexity. The desire to personally achieve goals that others deem unattainable and to treat everyone with the same respect(minus a few early on problematic themes). You see his work in everything and everywhere. If you're anime fan you've seen his greats in some way or another. The 9 year old me was captivated by dragon ball and dragon ball z and it will forever remain my favorite.

His work will forever inspire me as an artist and I know for generations to come his work will forever have an influence.

RIP to the GOAT

[canmom]

l'aventure de canmom à annecy - épisode DEUX - mardi 1: Hyakuemu

today started with something pretty cool - I went to a 'making of' session for the upcoming anime film ひゃくえむ (Hyakuemu, lit. 100m) by the team behind On-gaku: My Sound.

The panel consisted of director Kenji Iwaisawa, char designer/sakkan Keisuke Kojima, art director and bg artist Keikankun Yamaguchi and producer Akane Taketsugu. They answered questions in Japanese, which was then interpreted into French, and if you had the phone app, interpreted again from French into English simultaneously, which meant it was a bit of a game of telephone but it worked surprisingly well.

The film is using a pretty unusual rotoscope process: much like The Case of Hana and Alice, it's filmed and edited in live action, which is then used as a basis for animation at a reduced framerate.

The character designs are fairly stylised compared to the live action, and the animation process seems to follow a fairly traditional process of roughs - sakkan corrections - keys - inbetweens, with the twist that it's all done digitally inside clip studio.

They made a fairly detailed comparison to On-gaku - which I evidently need to see asap, these guys are legit. By comparison they described this as a larger team, and the film as a much more realist style, and more of a commercial than a personal project. Still it's definitely a small team, with only one person apparently responsible for both live action and comp.

Art director Yamaguchi is evidently very talented, but she spoke about feeling inexperienced at the style demanded by the film (though she was the sole colourist for years on On-gaku), and having to experiment a lot. All the film's bgs are painted physically in watercolour for the warmth this brings, based on detailed tracings of photos. She showed one very complex bg animation sequence with 29 drawings, and Iwaisawa apologised for making her do it. They talked about taking inspiration from the backgrounds in Akira.

Kojima showed various settei, and talked about how he'd adjust performances during animation.

Iwaisawa described how they cast actors that resembled the manga characters and dressed them in rough costumes for animation reference, and also directing them to act in a more exaggerated, theatrical style. He also mentioned his excitement at certain sequences, describing the film's ending as like a rock festival. He described his main reason for using rotoscope as the energy he'd be able to get by editing the live action footage prior to animation, as well as his prior experience using rotoscope for short films.

They didn't show a ton of footage but apparently the film is about 75% done, with the live action fully shot. At the end they asked if anyone was interested in working on the film and got a flood of volunteers. All in all it seems like the perfect case of how to do a rotoscope film, and I'm really excited to see it next year - maybe it will hit the same as Slam Dunk.

[conarcoin]

rip akira complex :( people are being so awful in the replies of the tweet, i cannot imagine being so hateful and bitter to reply nasty things to a tweet announcing the death of a beloved artist in the rhythm game community just because said artist happened to be trans

[oreolesbian]

right but a lot of the criticism i’ve seen of oppenheimer isn’t that the movie oppenheimer isn’t about the victims but that a movie about oppenheimer & not the victims is what got made

I have definitely seen both of those criticisms. And while there’s merit to ask for films about the victims of the atomic bombings - that’s just the thing. There are films about the victims of the bombs. Many, many films (not to say there can’t be more made today - but to act like this narrative has never been addressed is false). Several of them Japanese films - which I would argue is the crucial POV for comprehending a tragedy that happened in Japan. An American film made by American people is not really the film to be evaluating how the Japanese experienced the atomic bombs. Does that mean a film can’t be made by Americans? Of course not. But one would hope there would be voices consulted and researched.

But to say that there can’t be a film about the man who directly led to the tragedy itself is a bad faith argument. There’s absolutely no reason both stories can’t be told. What would be a mistake would be if Oppenheimer was this big grand-standing story that made everyone who created the bomb look like a hero - the thing people are accusing this film of being. But that’s not what the film is. It’s a character study on a very complex historical figure. It is not glorifying him or the tragedy or the war. And it directly not showing the repercussions on others is both the point and lets the film escape any exploitativeness.

I’m not claiming to be an expert on this entire historical event, but it is very clear to me that saying this film shouldn’t exist is not even trying to engage with the text. Two things can exist. If people feel so strongly about having a narrative on both ends, then they should be talking about films that do talk about the bombings impact, not saying this one film is somehow taking away from the other conversation.

Nolan is not making a story about the victims, and he never claimed to be doing so. He does not have to tell that story either, especially when he probably isn’t the right person to do so.

If anything, the people asking about a film directly about the victims in Los Alamos is a better argument. There is definitely a story to be told there and I would encourage one to be told. However, just because that’s not what Oppenheimer is about doesn’t mean it is somehow morally corrupt or a bad film for that reason. Historical films are easily picked apart because they can always address more, and there are some historical films that get facts wrong in a genuine needs-to-be-fact-checked way, sometimes with intent to avoid controversy and other times to contribute to a narrative being shaped. But it’s also relevant to acknowledge that the focus of Oppenheimer is not the bomb. Or its impacts. Critique the film on its historical shortcomings if need be (I wouldn’t be the person to know all of that in detail), that’s all well and dandy. But this film on its own is a very focused lens idea, not the broad one.

Anyway:

• Hiroshima (1953) dir. Hideo Sekigawa

• Black Rain (1989) dir. Shôhei Imamura

• Barefoot Gen (1983) dir. Mori Masaki (I believe the original manga has many adaptations, but this was the first)

• Rhapsody in August (1991) dir. Akira Kurosawa

• Children of Hiroshima (1952) dir. Kaneto Shindō

• Hiroshima Mon Amour (1959) dir. Alain Resnais

and common misconception that Grave of the Fireflies (1988) dir. Isao Takahata is about the atomic bombings - it’s more about the overall carpet bombings and the toll of WWII in general

hell - the entire kaiju genre is birthed from the artistic response to the atomic bombings : Godzilla (1954) dir. Ishirō Honda

^ these are just some I’ve heard of through my own knowledge / looking some up. can’t attest to their quality - but films like this do exist

[2dkapsddr]

October 3rd, 2024 - Arcaea

due to not yet having achieved my FTR PM #200 goal (i tried yesterday, but just couldn't get it...), i'm still prohibited from getting any other FTR PMs until further notice . that said, i got a really close attempt this morning while waiting for a class (that i ended up skipping completely), that being a 1-lost choke on Chromafill [FTR-10]!!! sure it's a 10.0 (which i honestly wasn't expecting, but ah well, it makes sense), but it's insanely impressive anyways... ohyeah, and also completely irrelevant score on Lucid Traveler [FTR-10]

i was expecting this trend to keep up for some more time, given how inconsistent i was at accuracy and how mentally taxing this goal i had was going to be. but my passion for the song and its artist triumphed any hardship and any obstacle i've encountered or would've encountered on this journey. no matter how long it took or how insane it drove me, i was going to get this. and so, after finishing my calc homework just in the nick of time, i went on an attempt spree. my previous attempts lasting a little over half an hour each, i was expecting this one to go the same. and yet, after only around 15-20 minutes... i was finally blessed with this score to close it out.

Relentless [FTR-8], MAX PM, as FTR/ETR PM #200

Thank you for everything, Akira Complex.

[webbedphantom]

NAME: Aaron Amamiya

AGE: 17 (verse dependant)

SPECIES: Metahuman / Meta-Awakened Human

GENDER: Male

ORIENTATION: Straight

PROFESSION: Student, Handyman, Medical Test Subject (Only in Closer-to-Canon since his powers would screw with the results), Cashier, Florist, Restaurant Worker, Whatever you'd call his job at Untouchables, Speech Assistant?, and Independent Inventor. (Also Vigilante/Phantom Thief, but he doesn't exactly get paid for those)

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{PHYSICAL ASPECTS}

BODY TYPE: Tall with an athletic build, though his muscles are easily hidden under his clothes, so to most he just looks like your average scrawny nerd. Even when his muscles are showing, it doesn't properly convey how strong he actually is, and combined with his sleeker build, makes him significantly faster than most people on his level of strength.

EYES: Grey-ish Blue

SKIN: Average? I don't really know what else to put here

HEIGHT: 5'9 (5'11 as an adult)

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{FAMILY}

FAMILY: Akira Amamiya (Father, Deceased), Cereza Amamiya (Mother, Deceased), Mika Amamiya (Aunt/Surrogate Mother), and Seiji Amamiya (Uncle, who isn't on speaking terms with him). He does have some relatives on his mom's side in Britain, but they don't want anything to do with him, as they never approved of his father. As for non-blood related family, Sojiro Sakura is someone he sees as his father in most verses, and the Phantom Thieves are basically family in his eyes.

SIBLINGS: None biologically, but Futaba and Morgana (since he can't really consider him a pet) are definitely who he sees as his siblings. You could also put a lot of his counterparts/alternate Jokers here, as that is how he sees them in most instances.

ANY PETS?: Can't count Morgana, so no, none currently. His Aunt and Uncle used to have a dog, but he ran away when he was 10. He'd love to get a pet, but considering his whole superhero thing, he probably wouldn't be able to take care of it very well. He barely takes care of himself sometimes-

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{SKILLS}

Aaron is a mechanical engineering genius, able to combine the fantastical elements of cognitive psi-ence with modern technology to phenomenal results, and all with stuff he finds at thrift stores or dumpster diving. He's found ways to store cognitive magic to be remotely triggered later, to break cognitive magic down to its base elements, allowing it to be changed into a completely different element, and in Closer-to-Canon, store allied shadows onto cards to be used as one time use summons (albeit with the help of the Velvet Room). Outside of the cognitive, he's made various technical breakthroughs, such as nanotechnology, hover skates, kinetic energy storage, and more. (though most of these are done in his college/adult years) He's often able to reverse engineer advanced technology just by looking it, thanks to his in-depth knowledge of mechanics and his third eye, with the only exception he's come across so far being Anti-Shadow Weapons like Aigis.

On the topic of his powers, he's become quite an adept and agile fighter. With the help of his friends, specifically Makoto and Ryuji, he's learned a number of different fighting techniques and has come up with a wide range of uses for his abilities, creating a fighting style all his own. It's thanks to this, alongside the general oddities of his abilities in general, that he's been able to take down opponents far stronger than him. Even when he's outgunned or outmatched, he's never out for the count.

Futaba has also taught him some coding and computer science, but he's nowhere near her level.

Finally, we have his artistic side. He's been drawing blueprints for most of his life, and as such has become quite the skilled artist, able to sketch, carve, or mold any number of complex and detailed objects. Though, because of his roots in blueprints and mechanisms, he struggles with drawing animals or people. Unless they're deliberately simple or cartoonish, they tend to look either crude or uncanny, so he tries to avoid doing so whenever possible.

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{LIKES}

COLORS: Reds, blues, blacks, with accents of white, at least for himself. In general, anything vibrant and colorful is something he'll enjoy, especially if contrasting colors are used, to make things stand out more. He's also quite fond of the colors associated with his teammates.

SMELLS: Sweets, flowers, fruits, fresh produce, coffee and curry, mechanical oil, metal, plastic, (basically anything he'd typically smell when working on a project at his desk), and sweat (in specific contexts). Also in verses where he's dating someone, his girlfriend. Any smell that reminds him of her, honestly. He finds it comforting.

SOUNDS: Wind rushing past his ears, the bustling city streets as he swings overhead, the sound of his fist smacking across some scumbag's face, the various panicked ways the criminals shout "IT'S SPIDER-MAN!! GET 'EM!!," metal clanking together, screws or bolts being fastened into place, gears and mechanisms working as designed, the whir of Iwai's 3D Printer in the backroom of the shop, the bell chiming at Leblanc when one of his friends arrive, and the voices of his loved ones.

TEXTURES: The materials of his costume, the rubber grips on his tool handles, the softness of his bed after a long night out, the polished metal of a finished project, and if he's dating someone, the feeling of their skin and hair, especially the skin on their hands.

If you can't tell, a lot of his favorite things are in some way related to things or people that he loves. He's a very sentimental guy, and he loves the people in his life so much, that anything that reminds him of them is something he'll enjoy

FOOD: Leblanc Curry and Coffee, Scrambled Eggs, Ham and Cheese Omelettes, Big Bang Burger (in timelines where he never attempts the challenge), the local sushi joint he saved from getting robbed that offers him free meals from time to time, Korean Barbecue, and "Fish & chips"

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: yes [ ] || rarely [ X ] || no [ ] (as an adult his increased metabolism makes it difficult for him to even get tipsy, so he doesn't really see the point)

FAVORITES: His teammates, Sojiro, his Aunt Mika, anything mechanical, old Sega games and hardware (he collects them), Crush 40, Sonic the Hedgehog, Jet Set Radio, NiGHTS, Soul Caliber, DC Comics, American superhero comics in general, and pretty much anything he makes for his friends.

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{OTHER DETAILS}

SMOKES?: yes [ ] || no [ X ] || occasionally [ ]

DRUGS?: yes [ ] || no (unless they're prescribed/from Takemi) [ X ] || occasionally [ ]

DRIVER'S LICENSE?: yes [ ] || no [ X ] (depends on the verse, but usually no. He doesn't think he needs one

EVER BEEN ARRESTED?: yes [ X ] || no [ ] || almost/detained [ ]

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DONE, now tag 15 other people to do it.

Tagged by: @sylviareviar like 4 months ago (sorry-)

Tagging: @caramialunaestelle (Makoto, or any of your Persona muses if you've already done this for her), @epitomees (Sumi or Sae), @fatexbound (Haru or Naoto), @oraclememehacker (Futaba or Wakaba), @electricea (if you haven't already), and anyone else who wants to because I don't like tagging people and 5 is my limit

[maddmuses]

mun is superior, pass it on.

Basics

Name: Madd, Maddlynn Maddithan, Maddie, Maddster, The Maddest, Waffles, Maddwaffles, Maddest One Around Age: 27+2 we ain't countin' them COVID years Gender: pebsi (fluid)

Favorites

Food(s): Barbacoa, Tacos, Tomato, Steak, Corn on The Cob, Salsa, Mint Ice Cream, Stroganoff, (still true af untouched except ig we can add caldo de res which I have been really about lately) Drink(s): Bepsi, Milk even tho it hurt me, Coors, Vanilla Bepis (even tho I can't fucking find it) Book(s): The Legends of Drizzt, Percy Jackson and The Olympians, The Heroes of Olympus, Assorted D&D Manuals, Any decent Graphic Novel, Strong Manga series; Hajime no Ippo, Eyeshield 21, Boku no Hero Academia, Bleach, Dragon Ball, Hikaru no Go, Yu Yu Hakusho, Yu-Gi-Oh/GX, Naruto, Slam Dunk, karate shoukoushi kohinata minoru, One Piece. We also addin' Chainsaw Man Favorite Author(s): R.A Salvatore, Ed Greenwood, Akira Toryiama, Tite Kubo, Masashi Kishimoto, Oda, Rowling (Pre-TERF) nah fuck that bitch not even pre-TERF she was wildly overrated, Tolkien Song(s): We don’t have time to be here all day, I’ll list some recent listens; Ocean Avenue - Yellow Card, No Flex Zone - Karmin and Watsky, I’m Something Else - SomethingelseYT, Dammit - Blink182, Punk Rock 101 - Blink182, Almost - Bowling For Soup, Stan - Eminem feat. Elton John, Absolutely - Nine Days, Simple Plan - Summer Paradise, So many Ninjasexparty songs, Rambe - Slow, Rambe - Don’t Greed, Zombie Love Song - YFM, Maroon 5 - Sugar, Reunion - Busted, Year 3000 - Busted Honestly those all slapped so imma add a few more recents: Montero, Good 4 u, My Nonfiction, Boyfriend Complex, anything by the nerdcore rappers

Movie(s): The New Guy, Spider-Man Homecoming (okay just that whole trilogy was best honestly), Spider-Verses too, Star Wars: A New Hope, Ed, Edd, ‘n Eddy: Big Picture Show, Hairspray (Musical)

TV Show(s): AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Ed, Edd, ‘n Eddy, The anime adaptations of most of the manga I listed above, Ash Vs. The Evil Dead, King of The Hill, South Park (It fell off), Community, One-Punch Man, Gravity Falls, Scrubs, Venture Bros., Bob’s Burgers, Futurama, Daria, Star Vs. The Forces of Evil, The Boondocks, Saturday night Live when it’s decent, King of The Hill, Futurama, The Conners, As Told By Ginger, The Bear

Band/group(s): Busted, Blink 182, Maroon 5, Sum 41, Bowling For Soup, Ninja Sex Party Solo Artist(s): Rambe, Owl City, Billy Joel Place(s): Oregon, San Diego School Subject(s): Drawing, English, History Sport(s): Boxing, Karate, Football Male Actor: ?????????? Female Actor:  ???????????? I CAN LIST CRUSHES I GUESS BUT YOU DIDN’T ASK I DON’T THINK ABOUT ACTORS THAT MUCH

Life

Best Friend: Brandon (no longer roommate, he still isn’t on tumblr) Significant Other: Am the Single Pringle ;'( Siblings: TONS Dream Job:  Online Content Creator, Teacher, Professor Tattoos: Nada Piercings: Nope Languages: English, Spanglish, Spanish Lite

Tumblr

Reason Behind URL: Well Madd is a component to my standard web handle maddwaffles, for prefix being appropriated from an ex while we were dating (it was a cute thing because we matched) that just hasn’t really evaded me. When it was yallneedahero I would have a more clever answer for you. Reason Behind Icon: I love Isane Nami and you should too # of Posts: 20,535!!!! HOLY SHIT BEFORE IT WAS ONLY 5,235 I SCALE SO HARD Why You Joined: idk!?!!?!?!?!? # of Blogs: P much just this one now

tagging: @pick-your-poison-please @burdenedreverance @midnightactual @waspandr @thundertempo @linklewinklewoman @rangikuxmatsumoto @baiika @auburniivenus @badassbarmaid tagged by: stole from @orihimex and stealing again