#badass anime 2018

[captainfreelance1]

My Attempt rotoscoping I call Amymation and the inspiration for it Paralympic Snowboader Amy Purdy.

[femalemonsterhunter]

I'm very sorry for the fact that I feel so inactive rn on every social app/site like Insta and DA themselves regarding posting to something like my finished drawings for several reasons 😭💀💀, or somehow I forgot to even post this finished drawing I made in two or three weeks ago.

Also, here's my art style/AU version but (probably or not) the first attempt of CatDog from the eponymous Nickelodeon cartoon show, however, I somewhat deliberately just separated them as instead of trying to draw them as originally conjoined twins, which I can't do for such good reasons. And plus, I even thoughtfully headcanoned their full name, if it's that simple.

Yeah, I more or less remember when I liked this cartoon show SO much when I first saw it on TV with Ukrainian in my school age (and ofc, as I recall, there was also a one Russian language for the voice of Cat), and then ofc in my adolescence, but still in a school age ‘till 2017, somewhere in 2015 to 2016 (if I don’t even know than I remember) as I used to use on big bro’s old laptop as in every way re-watched every episode of CatDog and even drew barely a lot like in my Star Heart Heart (basically known as “Girl and Friends” since was cringy ass old but former name of my Crossover AU project ‘till 2018 or 2019 its name was literally changed to ”Star Heart” atm, apparently) version and others, and ofc I had a constant but weird crush on Cliff, cuz I have no idea how to explain it, but he is still for me a toughy awesome and totally badass dog guy on the list of favorite villains 🙈. And regardless of the fact that he still bullying Cat for all sorts of unclear reasons.

Anyway, any of you guys have also seen this cartoon show before since your childhood or something?

And still, I hope you enjoy my version of CatDog so honestly.

Art and idea names and more for the main CatDog characters are belongs to me (C)

Cat and Dog from the CatDog are belongs to Peter Hannan and his eponymous production/Nickelodeon Animation Studio/Serom Animation/Rough Daft Korea (C)

[readingtheentrails]

10 characters/10 fandoms/10 tags

Tagged by @missmacfire, thank you!

Okay, let's go!

1. Larissa Weems - Wednesday (2022)

Look, I'm obviously gonna pick Larissa first because I have made some genuine friends through the Larissa/Gwendoline fandom and that means she is my #1 baby girl/Menace Principal.

2. Moiraine Damodred - The Wheel of Time (2021)

It was hard to decide between Moiraine and Siuan, honestly, but Moiraine won out just because we get so much more screen time with her. She was the reason I came back to tumblr in the first place and I have such a lovely and supportive discord community thanks to her/the show. Her dedication to the mission about all else just gets me so 🫠

3. Aloy - Horizon Zero Dawn (2017)/Horizon Forbidden West (2022)

Aloy best girl 😍😍😍 I think the Horizon series might be my favourite games of all time. They are so much fun to play, the story is so interesting and Aloy is a great protagonist. She is strong, independent and doesn't bother trying to fit in. She does her own thing and I really respect that.

4. Xena - Xena Warrior Princess (1995)

Xena was so special to me as a little baby gay. The thirst I experienced was unbelievable but because her relationship with Gabrielle was (barely) subtext, it was safe for me to watch in a conservative rural environment.

5. Utena Tenjou - Revolutionary Girl Utena (1997)

This prince saves herself! Utena is iconic and this anime is one of the first shows that ever got me thinking about gender roles and patriarchy. Utena doesn't always get it right but she does try her best to help her friends.

6. Astarion - Baldur's Gate 3 (2023)

Look, I just love him. I would let him devour me with no regrets. I'm still in Act 1 of the game and he has absolutely seduced me with his charm.

7. Nadja of Antipaxos - What We Do In The Shadows (2019)

I cannot get enough of Nadja. The perfect all-powerful absolute idiot. Her own worst enemy. My beloved girlfail queen 👑.

8. The Captain - Ghosts (2019)

I love the Captain so very much. He's from an era when he literally would have been imprisoned for being open about his sexuality so he's so repressed and uptight but we see these little glimpses that are just wonderful and he's played with such care.

9. Kassandra - Assassin's Creed Odyssey (2018)

I still can't believe there are people out there who choose to play as Alexios when Kassandra is right there! She's amazing, such a badass and I never want to play another AC game because no other protagonist will ever be as good as her (also Ubisoft is evil).

10. Tissaia de Vries - The Witcher (2019)

Look, I just obviously have a thing for teachers who are a bit mean. Sorry not sorry to be a stereotype!

No pressure tagging @dianneking @weemssapphic @h-doodles @beaujes and anyone else who sees this and wants to do it

[tired-lamb]

reirei x goigoi animatic idea

you know those animation memes from 2016-2018?? the idea I have in mind is similar to that format. I think this song really fits goigoi and reirei’s dynamic esp with their whole badass wife and pathetic (/aff) wet cat husband thing going on.

I imagine in the chorus when the ensemble sings “la-la-la-lies” its goigoi’s buddies singing it, so cheezi, chungu, nduli, tamka, you know the gang. and then at the last part of the chorus where it goes “I’m the King of Fools ‘cause baby youre the Queen of White Lies” I just picture a really dopey and completely smitten looking goigoi while he’s looking at reirei.

I’ve got more ideas for this that I’m not really sure how to put into words, but thought I’d share what I could anyway. tagging @spinnysocks and @devilsrecreation bcoz these two have made me a sucker for reirei x goigoi x]. feel free to add on any more ideas!

[spopsalt]

The ones I sent earlier I more or leas grouped by a theme of why I hate them. But I can’t really categorize them anymore. So I bring you…

More miscellaneous She-Ra pins I found while sorting through Pinterest that made me want to die and my commentary on them. Pt. 1

Idk if this is a joke about Catra hurting Adora, or a joke about Adora ‘letting’ Catra hurt her. Either way, I don’t like it. I really feel like this is another ‘Adora=Dumb’ jokes.

Congratulations, you found the only four frames of Adora smiling in this scene, amongst a sea of shots of her being visibly uncomfortable. Personally, I don’t see it as a smile, more of her trying to put on a brave or determined face. But you could also easily chalk these frames up to an animation error. Not that a C//A Stan would listen. You get the idea.

A lot of people say Catra is trying to make Adora jealous here. Nevermind the fact that both her and Catra are teens here, and Entrapta is in her late 20s/early 30s. Also, I find it odd how touchy Catra is and how much she manipulates Entrapta. If the ages were reversed, Catra would look like some sort of ephebophile or groomer. But Entrapta is the adult, and autistic. I’m not sure what that’s to imply. All I know is to me, it reads like a weird situation where the teen is being a predator to the adult, because the adult is autistic and therefore ‘younger’ than the teen. I’m not sure who wrote Catra and Entrapta’s interactions or if they realize how fucked up it is, least of all a show for kids. But suffice to say, I don’t like it.

This one is a fun little exception. I don’t hate the meme itself. But I do hate the fact that it’s right. 2018 Sea Hawk on his own is fine, but I’ll now and forever be slightly pissed off knowing that OG Sea Hawk was a badass, and now we have an arsonist who can’t take anything seriously and who’s only motivation for anything is Mermista. I’m not saying the new SH is bad, but I am saying the OG one is a million times better for numerous reasons.

Another case of sexualizing a minor. And would you look at that, it specifically says ‘small Adora’. Good God, they’re getting younger. I honestly can’t think of a better way they could indirectly say they’re doing this on purpose. It reminds me of that one episode of Helluva Boss at the summer camp, and how ‘Milard’ was being sent nudes despite people thinking it’s a tween they’re sending them to. The fact ‘Milard’ made the same meme face doesn’t help.

Wow. thay's a lot. For number 1: Adora literally looks terrified and uncomfortabe when Catra is attacking her??? She isn't thinking it's cute???

For number 2: She was smiling because she was playing along with Catra's act? You can tell that the smile is very forced, but noooo she secretly loved the dance despite the fact that she was visably uncomfortable.

For number 3: Again, like what you said this was in season 1, soooo Catra would been 17 while Entrapta was in her 30s...yikes. Also yeah Catra is wayyyy too touchy with Entrapta, like touching her hair and like leaning up against her and stuff like that...if the ages were reveresed, people wouldn't be thinking it's some cute thing

For number 4: I think this was a joke, but it still literally made me feel sick <3

[bardicevista]

Rating: Mature

Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Category:. M/M

Fandoms: 呪術廻戦 | Jujutsu Kaisen (Manga), 呪術廻戦 | Jujutsu Kaisen (Anime)

Relationships: Gojo Satoru/Itadori Yuuji, Gojo Satoru & Itadori Yuuji, Getou Suguru & Itadori Yuuji, Ieiri Shoko & Itadori Yuuji, Itadori Yuuji & Nanami Kento, Itadori Yuuji & Yaga Masamichi, Fushiguro Toji & Itadori Yuuji

Characters: Itadori Yuuji, Gojo Satoru, Getou Suguru, Ieiri Shoko, Nanami Kento, Haibara Yu (Jujutsu Kaisen), Yaga Masamichi, Itadori Jin, Itadori Wasuke, Fushiguro Toji, Kong Shiu, Fushiguro Megumi, Kugisaki Nobara

Additional Tags: Time Travel Fix-It, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Canon-Typical Violence, Itadori Yuuji Needs a Hug, Gojo Satoru is a Little Shit, Getou Suguru is So Done, Ieiri Shoko is a Good Friend, Sukuna | Ryoumen Sukuna is His Own Warning, Pre-Star Plasma Vessel | Hidden Inventory Arc (Jujutsu Kaisen), Overpowered Itadori Yuuji, Badass Itadori Yuuji, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, No Beta We Die Like Itadori Jin

Summary:

In the wake of a devastating battle, Itadori Yuuji finds himself grappling with a grief that the world around him seems to have left behind. December 24, 2018, is a date etched into his memory, a reminder of the lives lost and the justice he yearns to serve.

As his friends and the rest of society appear to heal and progress, Yuuji remains anchored to that fateful day, unable to escape the haunting echoes of unfinished business and what ifs.

When an unexpected opportunity arises to address one of the many problems that keep him up at night, Yuuji seizes it despite his own moral objections. He doesn't expect the ripple effects of his choice, as that decision sets the course of his new life.

-

Or: Yuuji grieves too hard, space and time decides to do something about it.

[komotionlessqueenmm]

PART ONE

Okay so this is a list of my headcanon/preferences, with links leading to each post. I give a basic summary of the headcanon/preference, then what fandom it belongs to, and who from said fandom is involved. Plus whether or not it was requested, just because.

1.) You ask if you can peg them. (X)

• It (Movie 2017)

• The Bowers gang.

(NOT REQUESTED)

--

2.)They react to the phrase "Fuck me running." (X)

• Vikings (TV series 2013)

• Ragnar, Rollo, Harald, Halfdan, Ivar, Björn, Ubbe, Hvitserk, Alfred.

(NOT REQUESTED)

--

3.) They react to you telling them you're allergic to bullshit. (X)

• Vikings (TV series 2013)

• Ragnar, Rollo, Harald, Halfdan, Ivar, Björn, Ubbe, Hvitserk, Alfred.

(NOT REQUESTED)

--

4.) You ask if you can peg them. (X)

• Horror movies addition.

• Dr. Herbert West (Re-animator 1985), Dr. Daniel Schreber (Dark City 1998), Ash Williams (Evil Dead 1981), Stu Macher (Scream 1996), Bo Sinclair (Wax Museum 2005), Eric Draven (The Crow 1994), Otis Driftwood (House of a Thousand Corpses 2003), Djinn (Wishmaster 1997), Josh Lambert (Insidious 2010).

(NOT REQUESTED)

--

5.) How do they feel about you being more badass than them? (X)

• Assassins Creed (Video game series)

• Altaïr Ibn-LaʼAhad, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, Connor Kenway, Edward Kenway, Jacob Frye, Bayek, Desmond Miles.

(NOT REQUESTED)

--

6.) They react to you telling them to bruise your esophagus. (X)

• American Gods (TV series 2017)

• Mad Sweeny, Shadow Moon, Mr. World, Technical Boy, Low-Key Lyesmith.

(NOT REQUESTED)

--

7.) They react to you telling them "I wanna choke on your dick until I pass out." PART ONE (X) PART TWO (X)

• Miscellaneous fandom's

• DIDN'T WANNA LIST THEM ALL, JUST LOOK INTO THEM YOURSELF LOL. (ALL AND ALL THERE ARE 14 PEOPLE)

(NOT REQUESTED)

--

8.) They develop a mommy kink, & along with a bit of a lactation kink, because of how busty you are. (X)

• It (Movie 2017)

• The Bowers gang

(NOT REQUESTED)

--

9.) You let them design your next tattoo. (X)

• The Lost Boys (Movie 1987)

• David, Marko, Paul, Dwayne.

(NOT REQUESTED)

--

UNLISTED : How would each of the bowers gang react if the other members walked in while they’re being pegged/fingered/eaten out. (X)

• It (Movies 2017)

• Bowers gang

(REQUESTED)

--

10.) The basics of their yandere obsession with you. (X)

• Type O Negative (Band)

• Peter Steele.

(NOT REQUESTED)

--

11.) Basic relationship headcanons. (X)

• The Black Phone (Movie 2021) crossed with Stranger Things (TV series 2016)

• Vance Hopper.

(NOT REQUESTED)

--

12.) The basics of their yandere obsession with you. (X)

• Star Wars (Solo triplets)

• Kylo Ren, Ben Solo, Matt Solo.

(NOT REQUESTED)

--

13.) How would magni and modi handle their child being named Thor’s successor? (X)

• God of War (Video game 2018)

• Magni, Modi.

(REQUESTED)

--

14.) What is the relationship between magni and modi’s children and their family? (X)

• God of War (Video game 2018)

• Magni, Modi.

(REQUESTED)

--

15.) Magni, Modi, and Baldurs children reacting to their parents death. (X)

• God of War (Video game 2018)

• Magni, Modi, Baldur.

(REQUESTED)

--

16.) Freya learning she is a grandmother. (Baldurs daughter) (X)

• God of War (Video game 2018)

• Baldur, Freya.

(REQUESTED)

--

17.) Will Kratos take you in after the death of your father Modi? (X)

• God of War (Video game 2018)

• Modi, Kratos, Atreus, Mimir.

(REQUESTED)

--

18.) How will they react when you die in place of them? (X)

• God of War (Video game 2018)

• Magni, Modi, Baldur.

(REQUESTED)

--

19.) Romantic headcanons. (X)

• God of War (Video game 2018)

• Baldur, Magni, Modi.

(REQUESTED)

--

20.) How do they react to you having visions of dark things? (X)

• God of War (Video game 2018)

• Modi, Baldur.

(REQUESTED)

--

21.) They react to finding out you're pregnant with their child. (X)

• God of War (Video game 2018)

• Magni, Modi, Baldur.

(REQUESTED)

--

22.) They react to finding out you're pregnant with their child. (X)

• Actors.

• Tom Cruise, Antony Starr.

(REQUESTED)

--

23.) The basics of their yandere obsession with you. (X)

• The Witcher (TV series 2019)

• Geralt.

(NOT REQUESTED)

--

24.) They react to you yelling "VIBE CHECK!" as you hit a victim with a baseball bat. (X)

• Slashers addition.

• DIDN'T WANNA LIST THEM ALL, JUST LOOK INTO THEM YOURSELF LOL. (ALL AND ALL THERE ARE 23 PEOPLE)

(NOT REQUESTED)

--

25.) How do they react when you ask them to lay on top of you for the first time in your relationship. (X)

• Slipknot (Band)

• Corey Taylor, Joey Jordison, Mick Thomson, Sid Wilson, Jim Root.

(NOT REQUESTED)

--

26.) Romantic headcanons (X)

• Resident Evil 7 Biohazard (Video game 2017)

• Lucas Baker

(REQUESTED)

--

27.) He reacts to you being an absolute tech wiz. (X)

• Resident Evil 7 Biohazard (Video game 2017)

• Lucas Baker

(REQUESTED)

--

28.) Being Rocky's little sister, and falling for Ivan Drago. (X)

• Rocky IV (Movie 1985)

• Ivan Drago

(REQUESTED)

--

29.) Platonic relationship with The Grabber. (X)

• The Black Phone (Movie 2022)

• Albert Shaw

(REQUESTED)

--

30.) Syd is a dilf/gilf. (X)

• Cocaine Bear (Movie 2023)

• Syd White

(REQUESTED)

--

31.) He's got a breeding kink. (X)

• Batman Forever (Movie 1995)

• Dick Grayson

(NOT REQUESTED)

--

32.) He loves his plus size sweetheart. (X)

• Rocky IV (Movie 1985)

• Ivan Drago

(REQUESTED)

--

33.) Reactions to their partners nipples being pierced. (X)

• Miscellaneous fandoms

• DIDN'T WANNA LIST THEM ALL, JUST LOOK INTO THEM YOURSELF LOL. (ALL AND ALL THERE ARE 9 PEOPLE)

(NOT REQUESTED)

--

34.) What is Valentine's Day like with them? (X)

• Miscellaneous fandoms

• DIDN'T WANNA LIST THEM ALL, JUST LOOK INTO THEM YOURSELF LOL. (ALL AND ALL THERE ARE 9 PEOPLE)

(NOT REQUESTED)

--

[duhragonball]

I am not sure why you decided to cover Evangelion all of a sudden, but I am hella old like you and haven't watched it for whatever reason either. (which was strange because it was all the rage back at school thousands of years ago)

Not sure why this series eluded you also, but anyway I just want to thank you for this opportunity as I have decided to watch along. Looking forward to seeing more of your analysis.

Do you have any other bucket list 90s anime series that you have some interest in covering? I recently got around to Martian Successor Nabisco myself because the theme song is amazing

PS: You're a chemist right? Please make some crazy chemical that will make oldness go away for your sake and mine, it's 2024 I can't believe we haven't invented immortality yet

Thank you for reading.

I don't remember exactly when I first heard of NGE, but I'm pretty sure it was in the late 90s, probably in the Diamond Previews or Wizard Magazine. As I got deeper into comic book collecting, I bought both of those publications, and as anime started to gain a foothold in North American nerd culture, I started to see more and more anime/manga products referenced or advertised in Wizard and Previews.

I pretty much despised anime in the early 90s, mostly thanks to poor localizations of shows like Superbook and Speed Racer, which made the whole genre look like a bad joke. I remember those ads for "Japanimation" that tried so hard to make it sound badass and cool, but the ads were so corny that they ended up making the stuff look even dumber. By 1997 or so I had kind of learned to tolerate it as a concept, although I still had no interest in it. Sailor Moon was on Toonami, but it seemed like they only put it in the block to add a certain variety to the show. Vintage superhero fare, Thundercats, Sailor Moon, and that Johnny Quest show with CGI. Then they added an obscure show called Dragon Ball Z to the lineup, and that slowly won me over.

By 2000 I was tuning into Toonami mainly for Batman and Superman TAS, and getting hooked on DBZ and Tenchi Muyo! at the same time. I refer to these as the "Four Horsemen of Toonami" for that reason. In 2001 I started writing a Superman/Tenchi crossover, which basically cemented my status as a huge weeb. (Luffa is just a continuation of my effort to do fanfics of the Four Horsemen block of Toonami.*)

Anyway, somewhere in this period I probably started seeing merch for Rei and Asuka in their plugsuits or whatever they're called. I might have seen the Evas but let's be real, a mech wouldn't have stood out much in a genre full of giant robots. I'd see ads for things like Eva and Revolutionary Girl Utena and wonder just what the hell these things were about, but I also just shrugged and accepted that I would probably never find out, since anime was expensive and difficult to find, and I wasn't going to go out of my way just to satisfy idle curiosity. Back in those days, anime was an investment, and I wasn't going to pay thirty bucks for three episodes of something unless I knew it would be good. I tried a few things like Noir and Excel Saga, but only because I had a fairly decent idea what I was getting into.

By 2016, I had more disposable income, and this blog was pretty well established as a way to spend my free time, so I started looking for new things to watch. I checked out Hellsing Ultimate mostly so I'd be able to understand the jokes in Hellsing Ultimate Abridged. I checked out JJBA because it was red hot at the time, and everyone was talking about who their favorite Jojo was, and I wanted to know what that meant. I checked out Utena because I got a tip that it was available for free on YouTube, and I watched the first season of Sailor Moon. I didn't do all of that in 2016. It probably took me until 2018 to get all that watched.

So it was probably somewhere in there that I gave serious thought to tracking down Neon Genesis Evangelion, because it's one of those that I always wondered about, and now I had the means to actually find it and watch it, and I had enough anime experience that I felt reasonably confident that I could appreciate it. I suspect that I could have screened it between 1997 and 2010 I just would have been confused. But I've seen people talk about it for a lot of years, and probably a lot of that's been on tumblr, and it's just one of those things that's been on the fringes of my pop culture awareness.

I think NGE finally became available on Netflix in 2020 or something? But there were fans complaining about the dubs and the subs, so I thought I should hold off for a while. In 2021 I finally just said "fuck it" and bought a used copy of the "Perfect Collection" on DVD. My thing was, if I was going to watch this, I wanted to get it right the first time. I've savored Dragon Ball for decades by watching the dub, then the subs, but if I'm going to try out new stuff I don't want to have to keep going back to get the "true" experience.

I'm doing it now mainly because I hadn't had time before. I've been caught up in other things, and 2024 looked wide open, so I started thinking about things I've been putting off that I really wanted to do, and this was one of the first things I thought of. I just want to scratch that itch, and even if this show turns out to be awful, at least I can have the satisfaction of knowing I finally saw for myself.

As far as other old anime titles, I don't have any immediate plans. I still need to watch the Akira movie, but I read the manga so that sort of damped my interest in checking out the movie version. Galaxy Express 999 is on my bucket list, kind of for the same reasons as Evangelion and Utena, where I used to see ads for it and wondered what it was about. Fist of the North Star also interests me, because it has a kickass theme song, and I'm pretty sure it had a profound influence on the early years of JJBA. But I probably won't get around to them for a while.

Ultimately, there's only so much I can do with the time I have on this planet. There is no elixir of life, and unless they let you watch anime in heaven, I have to set priorities. One gripe with anime that I still retain from my youth is that it's pretty damn impenetrable. What I mean by that is that you can't even remotely judge a title by its cover, and so much of this stuff runs together that it's impossible to tell what would appeal to me and what isn't worth my time. I think that's why I've let popular culture and memes guide me in recent years. Stuff like JoJo Fridays and "Bitch, I Drink People" are tips that these shows had lasting appeal, and you don't make an impression like that without having a solid story. They can put a bunch of boobs on a DVD cover, but they can't draw a picture of the stuff that counts.

[guardian-angel12]

so after hunting down the 2017-2018 Tumblr people who actually loved the Ravagers I want to say some of these head canons are amazing, even more so that most the fans agree on a lot of them for certain characters.

Yondu when he was younger was a total attention hog, (still is, just has bigger priorities) but he was the type to do stuff just to get Stakar to notice, the kind to poke Martinex awake at three am to ask dumb questions, also a mommas boy and respected Aleta most. secretly just wants a hug but will burn something down for fun.

Aleta is like the Hera Syndulla/ Queen Elenor from Brave of the Ravagers, just way more unhinged. Total badass mom and like everyone knows you don't mess around with her. which I think is amazing because seeing all the Stakar and Aleta head canons about him acting like a puppy and doing exactly what she says is hilarious.

Martinex is the stressed out older brother, a little bit nerdy but in the background (likes science, books, mechanics etc) gets into dumb shit with Yondu only because he was trying to get him OUT of it. I like how they usually say he's quiet and gentle, or really unhinged. its a great duality.

Stakar is the mostly-serious but not really, stern but not dad who would walk on water if his wife told him to, burn down the multiverse for his kids and be back before dinner. its amazing honestly

Charlie is the laid back uncle, he likes to watch and make minimal snarky comments as Stakar chases his kids two emotionally stunted men around the galaxy and all the way to Timbuktu, putting out their fires and trying to stay mad. he's also the one that'll try and get Marty and Yondu out of trouble. Literally no one hates him.

Krugarr is just a sweetheart, but then all knowing when the times appropriate. He's a hugger and the innocent one but will also destroy you. Probably likes babies and small animals. Sends good morning and goodnight texts to everyone every day. Also makes sure everyone is taking care of themselves.

Mainframe is the family puppy, and also the little sister. She's the Chopper of it but sunshine rather than grump. the one who's sweet and commits arson. has Martinex wrapped around her non existent finger but trolls Yondu. She's the one that goes "and you're all gonna die 😊💖" probably an emoji abuser.

[redtalksaboutstuffandthings]

Anime Ramble 2: Banana Fish is mid

So, once again I'm going to use this empty blog to ramble incessantly about something that only matters to me. Specifically, the gay romance in a crime thriller anime. It took up my thoughts all day, today, and if I don't write them down I'm going to explode.

Banana Fish was written in the 1980's, but received an anime adaptation in 2018. And having watched the whole thing through, I fully believe that the story was written in the 80's. It has a very 1980's idea of what gay people look like and do, and I mean that in all the worst ways.

(Content Warning: Sexual Assault, Pedophilia, Homophobia. It's a deep hole we're going down.)

Banana Fish is the story of Ash Lynx, a runaway mafia hitman with a 200 IQ who is a crack shot with a revolver, spends his free time at the New York Central Library, and whose kill count exceeded his age somewhere around the time he was 15. His romantic interest is Eiji, Japanese photographer and the show's resident Very Good Boy.

Ash is gay. Or at least, that's how he's presented. He has an estranged relationship with his father, which apparently happened sometime after Ash was repeatedly assaulted by an adult, when he was eleven, and Ash was eventually forced to kill his abuser. Why is Ash's father so distant and harsh, even though he knows all of the stuff that happened to his youngest son? Unsure. The show asks the question, and there's a slight hint that a reconciliation is possible, but ultimately Ash's father isn't on screen long enough to provide a clear answer.

If I were a cynical person, I would point out that "a history of being a sexual abuse victim" and "an abusive father figure" are two very common "reasons" given by bigots who want to explain why gay people exist and why their state of mind is a mental health issue. This would have been especially true in the 80's, where homosexuality was only recently removed from the DSM as a mental disorder. However, I'm not a cynical person. I'll just assume that the writers just didn't have enough time to give us a compelling reason.

ASH AND EIJI ARE CUTE TOGETHER, I GUESS

The relationship between our two leads has quite a few nice points going for it. Ash makes a big deal about how tragic his past is and how he can't trust anyone, but around Eiji he's allowed to be his authentic self, without fear of judgment or betrayal. Their interactions together, particularly in safe moments where there isn't a bad guy to fight, is a very realistic depiction of what two good friends might get up to, when they're alone together. They enjoy each other's company, have a lot of cute moments, and there are even what I would identify as clear moments of emotional intimacy, that made for compelling viewing. I do, however, have two main issues with it.

The first is a phenomenon I'm beginning to see quite frequently, in the world of yaoi. It's what I refer to as the "Uke's dillemma." I can understand what Ash gets out of the relationship. A person who accepts him for him, who can look past his violent existence and treat him like a human being is something valuable and healing to him, and the show makes no bones about that. However, I find myself less able to answer what Eiji is getting, from the relationship.

His only real flaw as a character that Ash might be able to address is the temporary loss of his confidence, that he experienced before meeting Ash. That basically gets resolved a few episodes in, with a scene where he has to help save multiple people, including Ash. For the rest of the show, it really feels like Eiji is purely there for Ash's sake. He, being (as I mentioned previously) a Very Good Boy, sees a person who's clearly suffering, underneath the mask of a totally cool badass mafia assassin, and decides to show Ash the milk of human kindness in order to heal his pain and remind him that he's actually a person, and not just a wild animal that needs to be put down.

And while that's cute and cool and very much worth putting to film, that's not exactly a good reason to enter into a romantic relationship with someone. In fact, that feels more like a good reason to adopt a shelter animal.

0/10. NO HAND HOLDING

The second problem with the romantic relationship between our two leads is that... it's not really a romantic relationship. Like, make no mistake. It's not like I was expecting these two boys to spend their free time with their hands down each other's pants. However, they don't really do anything that indicates that they're in a relationship. They spend a lot of time together. They're clearly willing to throw down, when the other is in danger. They even share a few moments of genuine tenderness. But spending time and being emotionally intimate with your friend isn't gay, no matter what the dude-bros tell you, and neither they nor anyone around them seem to give any sort of indication that they should be read as being romantically involved.

Okay, they kiss, once, but I'll get to that in a second.

By itself, this isn't a big deal. It might even be a point in the show's favor. Considering how sleazy they make the world of gay people, how overloaded the plot is with sexual assaults and horrible, senseless violence, the fact that they make the relationship we're meant to root for wholesome? Not the worst decision.

It's a little weird, though. I mean, this was the chance for the show to show us what a good gay relationship might look like. It's a chance to show how Ash would engage with a partner he genuinely loves, when there isn't a gun to his head. A chance to present what a healthy, constructive relationship could look like, even in an environment as ugly as Banana Fish's. And what they gave us... was a very good friendship. Like, an outstanding friendship. A friendship I would happily defend, were it lucky enough to come my way. But that's all it is. You could honestly walk away from the show with the idea in your head that Eiji was straight, and was only staying close to Ash because he's a Very Good Boy and could see it was what Ash needed.

But... I'm overthinking this, maybe. A friendship is a good thing to put on screen, I think. Besides, even if they don't ever say the "L" word, there's enough subtext for you to be able to make the educated guess that they love each other. I don't need to give this any more thought. I could just sit back, and enjoy the wholesome vibes of Boy Assassin and Very Good Boy.

BUT IF I WERE A CYNICAL PERSON...

The show presents gay sexuality as being "bad." I'm not even sensationalizing. Ash's first crimes, his first acts of evil that send him down the violent road he finds himself on, happen as a direct result of being raped as a child and needing to defend himself. The show's main antagonist is a sadistic gay mob boss who's obsessed with owning Ash like a collector's item. Sexual assault and rape are employed or threatened by every throwaway minion who has any sort of power over the protagonists. The cast can be split into three groups: people who rape and abuse people, the victims of abuse... and Ash, who half the time is in the victim category, but the other half of the time uses sexuality as a cover for dishonest behavior.

Ash is openly sexual, at times, but these are always in controlled moments. Often, it's to distract or to call in a bad guy, so he can incapacitate or kill them when they're off guard. That time we get our big kiss between Ash and Eiji, it was all part of a clever ruse on Ash's part to sneak a message out of prison, and not an actual expression of love. For Ash, sex is either something that happens to him, or that he uses to get something he wants.

So, imagine the opportunity presented in front of us, here. Ash has a Very Good Boy, around. One who will not judge him, won't betray him, and who he can finally be his genuine self with. And when given that opportunity, the writer's apparently decided that their perfect gay relationship, the relationship Ash was going to have with his designated soulmate... is one that can easily be mistaken for generic friendship. One where you complain about food, together, but you sleep in separate beds. Where you call your partner "big brother" and only ever touch them when you're having a nervous breakdown and (understandably) need to be held. Where you never say the "love" part out loud, and none of your friends say it out loud, either.

And... I'm not a cynic. I'm not. But if I were, I could have a field day with this. I could write the entire world of Banana Fish as the sort of Gay Experience Conspiracy Theorycrafting that was absolutely rife in the mid and late 20th century. Because it seems like what the writers are suggesting is that the key to being happy as a gay character is to not be gay.

Being gay, according to the writers of Banana Fish, is a sort of corruption, that happens because you were abused and traumatized. Only bad people express thoughts that could be construed as gay sexuality, and in every case it's just meant to serve some greater purpose. Breaking a person's spirit. Getting them vulnerable so they can be killed. And when you find somebody who can finally let you heal from your trauma, all you ever wanna do is take Japanese lessons with your Very Good Boy friend who isn't your boyfriend. Let me just make that last part clear. He's just your very good friend, who just so happens to be a Very Good Boy, and the two of you don't even hold hands.

And then when it's time for your Very Good Boy friend to leave, to go to Japan and back to his regular Very Good Boy life, the moment you even think about going after him, you're gonna get stabbed in the street and murdered, as the consequences of your evil lifestyle finally catch up with you.

((Spoiler alert, btw.))

THAT'S HOW I'D READ IT, IF I WERE A CYNICAL PERSON

Luckily, I'm not a cynical person. I'm sure it's just a coincidence that all that could be inferred from a casual viewing. Surely, I'm just mad that the anime tagged with "gay" and "romance" didn't have enough obvious romance in it.

In conclusion, Banana Fish is a competently animated and drawn crime thriller. It's protagonist is a Mary Sue, but for the story it's telling that's not the worst thing he could be. Any sort of conspiracy theories I have about the writers and their opinion of gay people are probably irrelevant. 6/10. Watched it while I was sick. Killed time while the virus was being killed.

[spop-romanticizes-abuse]

Let's admit it, 2018 She-Ra is a cash grab and nothing else. It might have good characters, badass villains, and a great story but then the framing of the Adora and Catra’s relationship got so bad that people believe Catra is only a victim when she committed so many crimes. There is also the disabled representation that is outrageous and as bad if not worse as romanticizing abuse using Adora and Catra.

At this point, if the team wanted some fast money, they could've made a quick documentary about the 80s She-Ra and that's all. I bet that if the team had been more focused on giving the audience proper LGBT+ representation, disabled representation, consistent redemption, and healing-from-abuse arcs, instead of filling their pockets, this show would've been acclaimed for the right things.

honestly, it's just an expensive but badly written fanfiction. that's what it is. it has very amateur writing at certain parts and really overused and somewhat problematic tropes. like i've mentioned before, the whole "i can fix him" (in this case, her) trope is used in original fictions but even more so in fanfictions. similarly, the whole "autistic prodigy that everyone finds annoying" it's been done over and over again, and it's not a good look.

a lot can be said about the lack of research regarding disability/neurodivergent representation, the unnecessary fanservice, coddling of certain characters and the simplification of complex themes like war, grief and abuse. it is very reminiscent of certain fanfictions i've read that were written by middle schoolers, except that this had an entire writing team consisting of what should be competent adults.

the animation was nice and certain parts of the show were good but overall, it doesn't even feel like it's she-ra. i don't know much about the 80s she-ra but the reboot changed the characters and story so much, they might as well be original characters. there was really no reason for this to be she-ra. in the same vein as the new velma or wednesday, it is profiting off of already popular shows, but by taking away everything that made it special in the first place.

[madhattersez]

K-POP BIAS CHALLENGE: JAN 2023

(PART 1 OF 2 BECAUSE I'M RIDICULOUS)

Okay, I should start by saying that this is a two-parter because I'm a doofy Pan that can get attached to members of groups even if I just casually listen to them (Seriously, though - K-Pop is a wonderland for Pans because there are just SO many incredible personalities out there, UGH).

I made all the gifs below to show you the exact moment I knew they were for me. Enjoy!

Chaeyoung (Twice) Soyeon (GI-DLE)

This sounds impossible, but I think Chae will be my ultimate bias, like, for as long as I live. We're going on over 5 years now that she has not only been my bias in Twice, but she has been shining over all other groups as well.

When I found Twice (which was my final step before finally tumbling all the way into the rabbithole of K-Pop), it was the "TT" video. Nayeon immediately caught my attention and I was fairly smitten. I think this is probably the case for all Twice fans at first, because she's a literal Siren. Like you read about in mythology.

However, Chaeyoung took over the second I saw the above part of the "Likey" video, which was my favorite song from them for such a long, long time. The swaggy rapping in a simple hoodie with all that trademark badass/adorable energy? Hook, line, and sinker. It's been her ever since.

Fast forward to nowadays, where she's only gotten more incredible, having the most writing credits in the group, an ever-growing amount of unique, artsy tattoos (which is still fairly taboo for idols), and absolute, unedited realness when she speaks (in her hypnotically deep voice, no less). I love her quirky art. I love her laid back views on life. I love her dancing, singing, and rapping, I love her goofy laugh. I love that her teeth aren't "perfect." I just love her.

Please check her wispy, beautiful "Off My Face" cover below. I literally well up whenever I sing along to this song:

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When it comes to (G)I-dle, there was never any competition. It's Soyeon all the way.

Look, there is going to be a lot of rappers on this list since I was a Hip Hop dude myself back in the day - I can recognize the talent and approach. When it comes to confidence in their ability, there's not many more in the world with as much as this tiny titan.

I had heard a lot of I-dle's music previously without really digging into the group or finding out much about them, which was my stupid, stupid mistake, hah.

It was when K/DA debuted that I finally started paying good attention. This is the fictional K-Pop group from League of Legends that releases music with incredible production, vocals, and animated music videos. It definitely helps that they invited Soyeon and Miyeon from I-dle in for some authenticity and talent, but all the ladies are great.

Soyeon immediately captured me in the clip above as she catwalked her way (with a smirk) out onto the stage at the utterly massive 2018 League of Legends World Championships.

It was a really rad performance that had me looking up everything about her afterwards, and finally led me to becoming fan of (G)I-dle as well.

She also unflinchingly pushes boundaries for what is "acceptable" for idols and women in the game in general.

I'd love to present a sassy collab with her and a few fellow badasses called "Is This Bad Bitch Number?" Her English is sometimes very... interesting, but the confidence in it is unmatched! That's all that counts, right?

However, I'd also like to present to you just how much she positively hates vegetables. They are seriously trying to kill her or something:

Yeah, she's a disaster. Hahaha.

CL (2NE1) HyunA (4Minute)

Awwww shit, it's CL from 2NE1. 2NE1 was dope - Their song "Come Back Home" is a favorite, but the classic "Falling in Love" should be on anyone's feel good playlist. CL stuck out like a sore big toe, though. Way above the rest for me.

Currently, she's been doing solo stuff for years. While 2NE1 was still around, CL stole me away like a damned thief with one of her early solo tracks "The Baddest Female." The clip above that got me was from the video for it.

The smooth-as-hell verses and the obviously slayer visuals caught me, but that little audible gasp shown at the end of the gif? She practically tossed me over a cliff, y'all.

Super swag at all times, she is also super involved in the fashion industry and often brings ridiculous Lady Gaga-ish looks and sets into her projects.

Recommended video to start you off on your own CL journey? Why, "Hello, Bitches," of course:

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Next up is HyunA, originally from 4Minute. 4Minute was a super rad group and the vast majority of their songs were fantastic.

Mostly doing solo stuff now (like CL above), HyunA always stood out from the rest. I don't know if it's her fantastic dancing, her unhinged attitude, or her lunatic eyes, but she scooped me up immediately as I watched the first few seconds of the "Crazy" music video, which is where I clipped the gif.

She was in an at least attempted secret relationship with labelmate (and hot as hell artist himself) Dawn for several years until their label kicked them out because of it, and Psy (You know, "Gangnam Style" Psy) swooped them both up for his label. The couple released an EP together that was adorable and sexy and amazing... Sadly, they also recently broke up, which tore me up a bit. :/

I could show you at least a dozen videos of her I really enjoy, but one that has always stuck with me to show all of her characteristics at once has been "Ice Cream," which - whoa - is now 10 years old:

I bet that one's gonna be in your head the rest of the day. You're welcome.

Karina (Aespa) Tsuki (Billlie)

I have lots of mixed emotions and opinions about Aespa. Most of the stuff I have issues with are on the part of their label, though, not them.

That being said, Karina has only ever had positives for me. Visuals. Dancing. Vocals. Kindness. Politness. She's really amazing to watch in candid videos especially because she just seems like a super great person in general.

She's also a superfan of a lot of groups she ends up collaborating or interacting with, and is adorable about it. That being said, she's also very mature about business-related stuff - A great public leader.

This clip from the Savage video is where I knew it had to be her.

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Awwwwww it's time to talk about Tsuki. Tsuki Tsuki Tsuki. Will you just look at her?! You know what? I'm just going to stop right here and show you the whole video my gif is from. Maybe you'll instantly fall in love, too:

Have you ever seen maximum effort before? Well, now you have! Haha. Tsuki is like the living equivilent of how you feel when your favorite song comes on and you're dancing alone in your room, all by yourself, no inhibitions.

She just makes me indescribably happy with her enthusiasm and joy of performing. And those facial expressions, d'awwwww.

She's from a group called Billlie - Yes, that's with three "Ls." They have a great selection of hits. I suggest checking out "Ring Ma Bell" for some Rock flavor, too. You'll notice Tsuki sticking out there as well.

Who am I kidding? She's all you'll be able to focus on, no matter what the group is doing.

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Jennie (Blackpink) Fatou (Blackswan)

Well, everybody knows Blackpink, even non-K-Pop folks. I think BTS and Blackpink have got to be the biggest draws to introducing people to the genre.

I was a Lisa bias from the very start, but when Jennie released her first solo track (Read: "Solo"), I switched before the video was even over. It was this scene, right here in the laundromat.

Jennie is so swaggy. So is Lisa, of course, but the swag... uh... meter? It tipped to Jennie for me here and has only gotten heavier since. And to be rapping all cool like this in some stylish underwear while soap suds rain down? And that eye roll. Fucking ridiculous, sign me up for that newsletter, no confirmation email needed.

Plus, I have a thing for laundromats just in general - Check that out here.

While this video is where it all happened, I'd instead like to show off her fantastic choreo performance version instead, because it's even more incredible:

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Whewwww, I'm sorry, was I talking about swag again? Because Fatou has it in spaaaades.

The first and only Senegalese idol in K-Pop, she obviously stands out and has all the associated hurdles to overcome because of it. Fuck any and all racists and haters - She is killer at what she does and stands out in the group because of her constant quality performances.

Her rapping? Top notch. Her singing? Striking. Her hater deflection skills? Strong. Her height? Nice.

Unfortunately, a lot of folks may never discover her or the group she's currently in (Blackswan), because the label they are on has been really rough at keeping things together and there has been unending drama surrounding the group, creating a revolving door of members.

The "Close to Me" video is a great watch - That's where the jail scene from the gif above came from. That's when I knew that Fatou was undeniable for me.

Gain (Brown Eyed Girls) Suga (BTS)

Goodness, Gain is dangrous. She hails from all the way back in the... First? Second? One-and-a-Half-th generation of K-Pop? Anyway, she's from the retro (but still around) group Brown Eyed Girls.

The video from this clip will explain everything, I think. It's from a song called "Warm Hole." And, yup, it's exactly what it sounds like. These ladies were pushing sex positivity in Korea a long time before this, but they laid it on thick here in 2015. And Gain is right there, front and center of the charge.

The sultriness of a mysterious lady with a murder mystery to unfold, sauntering into a 1940s detective's office? Check. Bunny suit? Check. Winks? I can't possibly count that high. Being super cute on top of all this? Yeah, she got me.

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Oh, look, it's time to put BTS on the list, haha. Thanks to everyone gliding in and reading this post just because of the BTS tag, I'm sure. <3

For the longest time, RM seemed like the only one for me in BTS, though J-Hope's always been hanging upside-down from the rafters above, ready to strike at any time. That was, until I saw Suga's solo video (under the "Augst D" pseudonym) for "Daechwita." That's what this sweet-ass gif is from.

The video features Suga as an Aladdin-style street rat, but he also plays a badass, sword-swinging king. They both are ruthless and want to kill each other. I can't even possibly explain how radical the video is, so just watch it already:

Yeah, um, I'm sorry RM. You are super talented and all that, and much respect to the paths you've opened and the collaborations with other fresh rappers out there, but... It's gonna be a whole packet of natural Suga for me.

Mia (Everglow) Yeji (Itzy)

Jesus, are we almost done with this list? This... part one of this list...? Haha. Apologies. I'm geekin' out over here!

Everglow is incredibly talented. Honestly, I want to say that they should be at (in the very least, but probably more than) Aespa's level of reach and popularity. I'm not sure why they're not picked up more, but they don't seem to get many promotions from their label.

Regardless, I know Everglow is amazing, and I enjoy them as such. Now, if you hadn't heard them before, maybe you'll give them a try, too? Please do.

When I started listening to them, the super tall (she's, like, one of the top three tallest current idols) bombshell that is Aisha found me through the monitor and got my attention right away. She was my bias for a good chunk of time.

Then "La Di Da" came out. Even after seeing the music video, Aisha was right there. Then, like some sort of dark magic, I saw this Studio Choom version above - Right here at this very moment in the performance, my bias to Mia flipped like a switch. It's... Hmph. Was it the snarl on her lips while her hands covered her intense eyes for just a flash? Yeah, I'm pretty sure that was it.

Something just... unlocked? I went back and watched everything. The music videos, the candid stuff. Somehow, some way, it was Mia all along! She's so incredibly warm and caring and for sure a top dancer in the entire industry.

Look, I know Sihyeon is technically the leader of Everglow... But it really seems that Mia holds everything together and is an incredibly hard worker who obviously struggles a bit to realize her potential and impact. I see that in her. And it's something that makes me love her more.

Just look at her effortlessly pull off this choreo, even extensive and difficult floor stuff (what Marvel comic book metal are your knees made out of?!) without any imperfections:

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To end part one of this absolutely unintentional monster of a post, let's talk about Hwang Yeji, the powerhouse leader of Itzy and the "secret weapon" of JYP.

Chaeyoung as my ultimate bias? Sure. Unwavering. But... If I had to pick anyone to even come close to that position, it would be Yeji. Absolutely.

A super compassionate leader who is always so on point in taking care of her sisters, she never misses a beat. I think she's probably the wisest, most intuitive, most protective, most active leader of any group in K-Pop I've seen. Both personal and business-wise.

When it comes to talent, it's like a superpower with her. I say that, because off-stage, she is a super nerdy fuckin' goofball who is polite to a fault and who can't stop giggling to save her life. On stage, she is an absolute moster. The light turns green and she instantly turns serious, becoming one of the top 5 dancers and vocalists in the entire genre. It's like a She-Hulk transformation without any of the green. And Light Fury instead of She-Hulk. Supporting documentation:

Anyway, to balance out the absolutely incredible human being she is, her fierceness on stage is rarely matched. From the second I saw her (the gif above literally shows some of the first seconds of the song and she had me instantly hooked with her unique looks and attitude), I've been so into her.

Until I wasn't... My bias switched to Ryujin for quite some time. Whoops. And, uh... then it switched to Chaeryeong for a stretch... Look, I can't tell you how hard it is to pick and stick with a bias in Itzy. They are so incredibly leveled out.

However, Itzy's first Japanese single "Voltage" hit the net last year and there's this one part where Yeji raps, but she starts by literally GROWLING. Fuck, nope, I hit the floor. Literally. Totally unfair sneak attack. Dead. NO DISASSEMBLE JOHNNY 5.

That was it. Fucking done. Yeji forever now, no more switches, hahaha!

Again, she can be such a confident, stage-killing monster, but then she turns around and almost burns down the company dorm microwaving chocolate while being a total Squishmallow:

She's just the best.

---------------------------------

Well, I had to work on this (and the next post) over and over again as it drafted for a week, so I'm happy to say that Tumblr's draft feature WORKS, y'all. I'm a believer. Haha.

See you in part 2!

[theblurbwitchproject]

Circe by Madeline Miller

Published: April 10, 2018 Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

The Author

Madeline Miller was born in Boston and grew up in New York City and Philadelphia. She attended Brown University, where she earned her BA and MA in Classics. She has been teaching and tutoring Latin, Greek and Shakespeare to high school students for over fifteen years. The Song of Achilles was her first novel and was a New York Times bestseller. Her second novel, Circe, was an instant #1 New York Times bestseller and won multiple awards.

˗ˏˋ ´ˎ˗

The Story

In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. Circe is a strange child - not powerful and terrible, like her father, nor gorgeous and mercenary like her mother. Scorned and rejected, Circe grows up in the shadows, at home in neither the world of gods or mortals. But Circe has a dark power of her own: witchcraft. When her gift threatens the gods, she is banished to the island of Aiaia where she hones her occult craft, casting spells, gathering strange herbs and taming wild beasts. Yet a woman who stands alone will never be left in peace for long - and among her island's guests is an unexpected visitor: the mortal Odysseus, for whom Circe will risk everything.

˗ˏˋ ´ˎ˗

The Vibe: feminine empowerment, self-discovery, natural magic, epic story on personal level

The Style: retelling, greek mythology, character driven, standalone, single pov, immortal protagonist

Trigger Warnings: rape, torture, incest, arranged marriage, body horror, childbirth, graphic caesarean, violence, multiple character deaths, animal death, shipwreck

˗ˏˋ ´ˎ˗

The Review

One resolution I made for 2023 was to try out the mythical retelling genre that has exploded in popularity in recent years. Until now I hadn’t dipped my toe into the waters of ancient myths told in a modern format, and it has been a fun experience. I started my journey with Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes, which is a retelling of Medusa’s story. Then I picked up Ariadne by Jennifer Saint which explores the life of the titular Ariadne, her relationship with Theseus and the tale of the Minotaur. I purposely left Circe for last, as it is the highest rated of the three novels, and it’s about a witch. Yes please.

Circe takes the reader on an extraordinary journey through the mythical world of ancient Greece, all through the eyes of one of the most compelling and formidable characters in Greek mythology; Circe the witch of Aiaia. Madeline Miller's ability to breathe life into ancient stories is really very impressive. Circe felt so real, I truly enjoyed the time I spent with her on her journey of self discovery.

"No wonder I have been so slow, I thought. All this while I have been a weaver without wool, a ship without the sea. Yet now look where I sail."

Being honest, Circe doesn't really need my endorsement; it's already an award winning novel with 90k+ reviews on Goodreads, but I'll add my two cents anyway as it is a tale about a classic witch. Being super honest, before reading Stone Blind, Ariadne and Circe I had a shockingly basic knowledge of Greek mythology (although I've been to Ithaca and was already familiar with Odysseus, and who doesn't know Medusa's story?) I had a great time experiencing all these tales in retelling form, but Miller's prose and pacing was by far my favourite. I feel like I came away from the story with a perfectly developed image of Circe's character, and a strong idea of why she is perceived the way she is by different types of people.

One of the my favourite aspects of Circe is how the story celebrates the strength of femininity. Circe's journey is one of self-discovery and empowerment, breaking free from the confines of the traditional roles assigned to women in ancient times. From the meek young Naead she was at the beginning, Circe evolves into a strong and resilient woman, shaping her destiny with courage and determination (and some super badass magical skills). She steps into her own power in such an organic way; her slow growth from downtrodden girl to powerful sorceress makes it all the more rewarding when she finally begins to shape her magical abilities and claim her space in the world. I particularly liked the representation of her magic in the story; it's innate but also requires a lot of work, trial and error. It's exactly the sort of natural magic I enjoy reading about. Plus, she has a lioness familiar which is just insanely badass.

“Let me say what sorcery is not: it is not divine power, which comes with a thought and a blink. It must be made and worked, planned and searched out, dug up, dried, chopped and ground, cooked, spoken over, and sung. Even after all that, it can fail, as gods do not.”

The various relationships between Circe and other iconic figures from mythology, such as Hermes, Odysseus, and Athena are all rich and dynamic, driving the narrative with drama and intrigue. Athena's lurking presence in the second half of the story was a definite highlight; she's just so scary. Some of the relationships Circe formed, especially her bond with Daedalus, were heartbreaking and lovely all at once thanks to the humans' mortality paired with Circe's immortality. (I was so concerned that the loom Daedalus gifted to her would be damaged at some point, it was honestly a little silly!) Miller has great skill in drawing characters as rounded beings rather than one dimensional caricatures which I have seen in other retellings. The number of famous characters presented does not feel forced; each slots perfectly into the narrative at the right moment and creates a rich tapestry of Circe's life in exile.

While Circe becomes a powerful witch, using the craft of Pharmakeia to turn aggressive men to swine and to protect her child from the malice of Athena, she is still unable to prevent the loss of those mortals she loves to the infinite time she inhabits as an immortal. On the winding path to the novels' end we witness as Circe grows from a nymph who longs for acceptance into a powerful goddess who is hardened to the deceptions and politics of ancient life. We understand her. We feel bittersweet vindication at her actions as she finally lives life in a way that makes sense to her. She is flawed, she is strong and we completely understand how she came to be this way.

"It is a common saying that women are delicate creatures, flowers, eggs, anything that may be crushed in a moment's carelessness. If I had ever believed it, I no longer did."

Ultimately, Circe is a testament to the enduring power of myth and the timeless nature of human emotion. It's a story about love, loss, resilience, and the beauty of embracing one's true identity. It was an endeavour to read; a story that covers generations as if they were weeks, portraying immortals and mortals with skill and precision. If you want to dip your toe into mythical retellings, this is certainly one to try. It's worth it, believe me.

Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗

[Goodreads]

[scrunkore]

Scrunkore Media "Thread" 2023: Part 2

welcome back to the scrunko core

14) Ib (Switch, 2023)

One of the real classics of RPG Maker horror games, upgraded for the modern age in just a few little ways that manage to keep the experience feeling as it should. Ib has a perfectly bizarre and creepy atmosphere, making really good use out of its excellent concept of being trapped in a living art gallery, with decent enough puzzles to keep you engaged throughout. I'm a big fan of its vibes and its exploration of loneliness and art in general, and it has a really strong trio of characters and various different endings that I found myself liking a lot. Now's as good a time as any to check this game out. [4.5★]

15) Everything Everywhere All At Once (Movie, 2022)

Kind of a critical darling as well as an audience favourite around when it came out, and yeah, I agree with everyone else - this movie is fantastic. Really good and creative direction in an absolutely wild ride through parallel universes, family and generational trauma that I'm told can hit really hard for the Chinese-American demographic and others like it but can be enjoyed by just about anyone. It uses its ideas pretty much perfectly, and it has a whole multiverse of them to play with; I was fully engaged throughout the whole experience. It deserved those awards. [5★]

16) Fire Punch (Manga, 2016-2018)

Tatsuki Fujimoto's earlier manga series, wrapping up just before his biggest claim to fame began, really can feel like Chainsaw Man's fucked up older brother - and it kind of is, really. It does touch on some of the same things, but the world is even harsher and the suffering even greater, and the overall mood can seem a lot more nihilistic, but there is hope in there still. It's also a harder read than Chainsaw Man, but it stands alone as a rough tale of struggling through an apocalyptic world, and it gets bonus points from me for its heartbreaking trans character I don't want to spoil. I'm not sure how much I'd recommend it, with the particular kinds of misery involved feeling gratuitous at times, but I am glad I read it. [4★]

17) Super Lesbian Animal RPG (PC, 2022)

The title kind of says it all here, this is a superb RPG about anthro animal girls in lesbian relationships, and it does an excellent job at delivering exactly that with a lot more besides. The whole cast is likeable, even the asshole characters, and the story is a mix of really good fun and powerful emotional beats, naturally being queer as hell to boot. I really appreciate the gameplay too, it's by default a fairly easy game until pretty late, but it's quite well-balanced and goes out of its way to ensure you'll never even think about grinding (levels cap at 30, even), plus a lot of the fights are just really fun. Excellent visuals and incredible soundtrack too, just a perfectly well-rounded super lesbian animal RPG that I have no real complaints with at all. [5★]

18) Tembo the Badass Elephant (PC, 2015)

A little controversial back when it released for daring to be a Game Freak game not on either of the Nintendo consoles in circulation at the time, this game is... well, it's fine. Just a decent enough 2D action platformer that feels like if you modded Wario into a Sonic game with how you can speed through levels smashing up everything in your way, but the level design and even the odd boss fight reminds me of some of the worst parts of Sonic games at times, so I'm not super fond of it. It does have plenty of charm though, with a fun cartoony artstyle and some 3D setpieces that do make one wonder why it wasn't on 3DS. Controlling a badass action hero elephant saving as many people as possible is a neat idea, too. [3★]

19) Picross 3D (DS, 2009)

There have been many different takes on Picross over the years, under many different names as well, but almost nobody has done it quite like HAL did with Picross 3D. It feels like a whole different breed of puzzle, and it is indeed nothing like regular 2D Picross - the transformation into cube-based puzzles makes things far more advanced, often more difficult, and a lot more rewarding. There's not much more to this game other than the massive amount of puzzles to solve and the option to create your own, but it doesn't really need anything else. Some puzzles are extremely hard, but that's alright, and the game is the perfect fit for the DS hardware. [4★]

20) Picross 3D Round 2 (3DS, 2015)

I technically played this a bit later, but I think it makes sense to put this next to the first game. HAL managed to do it again, innovating further on the 3D Picross concept with different shapes that you can turn blocks into - a simple change, but one that goes surprisingly far towards making the game more enjoyable. It's a lot comfier with its presentation too, and there's even some surprisingly great music in there. Not much more to it than that, but it's still filled to the brim with a huge amount of puzzles, including bonus special Amiibo unlocks (there is a homebrew program to bypass this), and that's all I can ask of it once again. I'd hope for a third round, but I don't know that I'd like it as much without stylus controls... [4.5★]

21) The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog (PC, 2023)

Sonic coming out of nowhere on April Fool's with a shockingly high-effort "joke" project was unexpected, but that blue hedgehog does have a way of blindsiding you. The game is a small but lovingly made point-and-click revolving around a murder mystery party with a few fun twists happening towards the end, and it's pretty funny for the most part, so that's the "joke" part down. On top of that, it has a really solid grasp of the characters and how to write them, seemingly on par with the IDW comics, which is more than we've seen from most of the games until fairly recently. It's something of a breath of fresh air, with plenty of fanservice, and my only real complaint is the "THINK!" segments being kind of... not very good. But as a whole, this game is really nice, and I hope they do more creative projects like this in the future. They even got the "self-insert" protagonist right, because they're such a weird and silly one. They should murder Sonic more often! [4★]

22-23) Escaped Chasm/Dweller's Empty Path (PC, 2019/2020)

I'd like to group these together, because they're kind of part of the same interesting project from Temmie Chang (yes, the Undertale Temmie). Both very short RPG Maker games with zero combat and a focus on exploring all the dialogue and plot you can get out of them. Both games have their dark elements, but Escaped Chasm definitely has the most - it's got some upsetting bits, and the ending is rather bittersweet, but I did enjoy the short tale of the lonely girl. It kind of serves as a prequel to Dweller's Empty Path, though you won't know it until you see a certain part. Speaking of which, that game is pretty nice, mostly just being a walking simulator that you can end at any time by going to bed, but there is quite a bit of dialogue for you to see that fleshes out the world and characters, with hints at what might be to come in the future. Both games adopt a Game Boy style pixel art look with minimal colour palettes and I kind of like that about them, and the developer managed to rope in Toby Fox and Camellia for musical contributions, which is awesome. Overall, the games feel like they're setting up something rather interesting, also being rather interesting in themselves, and I hope Temmie is able to do more with this in the future. [3.5★]

24) OFF (PC, 2008)

Another certified RPG Maker classic that has somehow never been re-released in any form, unless you count the official English translation from 2011, and it's certainly an odd one. The vibes are deeply unsettling throughout, the morality of the protagonist is dubious at best, and it has all kinds of strange setpieces showcasing the utterly bizarre lore of its equally bizarre world. It's kind of hard to tell what it's even really about, but it contains themes relating to religion, illness, capitalism and more besides. There are even multiple endings, including a random joke one serving as a "reward" for beating a strange and lengthy secret boss, and honestly I think the game is more of a weird French art piece than anything else. The puzzles and battle system do kind of suck in several areas, so it's all about the feeling of the game in the end, and it certainly made me feel... something. I don't think anyone completely understands this game, but I do like what it tries to do, and I respect it. [3.5★]

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[cthulhubert]

Catching the Record of Lodoss War OVAs on some channel's "animidnight" block was a formative experience for young me, and its design choices were scarred into my mind as the fundamental fantasy aesthetic. Which, uh, didn't exactly make me an odd one out anywhere because it hews closely to the ISO fantasy mold (and indeed helped make the mold).

"Record of Lodoss War" (I'm using quotes to indicate the literal phrase) is one of those odd-ball translation choices that ended up being iconic, just ever so slightly nonsensical, it stuck in the minds of kids like me that watched it young. A transliteration of the Japanese is Lodoss-tou Senki. -tou just means island; "senki" could credibly be translated as (and this may shock you) 'war record'. It's a specific term in Japanese that refers to the record an officer or attached scribe kept of the battles a military force took part in ("battle chronicle" is also a good translationand by metonymy is used for "military history"). As you might imagine, it's still popular in manga and novel names.

It started out as, not quite a novel, but a "RePlay", a record of the events of a table top RPG campaign, published in a magazine (Comptiq focused on computer games, but apparently content was content, and Lodoss got hugely popular). The mid-eighties predecessor to Critical Role, basically. It did really well, which makes sense, given that the dungeon master and the players were all published writers (the DM would publish what's called the first domestic Japanese high fantasy novels, Rune Soldier, in the same setting). It started out in D&D, but would also be played in Tunnels and Trolls and RuneQuest. In 1989, they ended up publishing their own set of rules, called Record of Lodoss War Companion, and later, Swordworld RPG (2.5edition came out in 2018!).

A series that was inspired and distilled a lot of the concepts that were and would remain popular in high fantasy settings in both Japan and America and then probably inspired another generation of iterations when the anime came back to America.

Some day maybe I'll watch the anime again, it finally got an English Blu-Ray remaster in 2017. I've read the manga and some of the novelizations in the mean time and, to be honest, they were pretty middle of the road, nostalgia notwithstanding.

Thank you for reading my ramble that was intended to be a short introduction to a short video game review.

A 2D exploration platformer with RPG elements (levels, stats, different bows and weapons to equip).

Briefly: a beautiful game. No flaws, but nothing that stands out either.

This game is beautiful. If you like the pixel aesthetic at all, I think you'll also love it. Critical hit in my visual sensibilities. It looks like Symphony of the Night looks in my nostalgia painted memories. The only note: it doesn't exactly take any risks, design wise, but if it did, that wouldn't be very true to the source material would it?

The music works.

Combat is pretty fun, if a bit easy. There are seven elements, you get wind and fire options for your basic attacks, and spells and special bows for the rest. Swapping elements changes your resistances too. The different types of weapons (long sword, knife, two-handed, spear, and throwing) offer some variety, as do the attractive designs. That said, for a melee based game like this, I prefer slightly more technical and challenging combat. Hollow Knight's a good example of my sweet spot, and Blasphemous is also well in my strike zone.

Movement is basically okay. You have to feel like a badass when you leave an after image trailing behind you. The wind element comes with the ability to hover (move slowly in mid air at up to your maximum jump height above ground or water), and they do a couple fun things with that. Other than that, it's all pretty straight-forward, which is a little disappointing.

They do some fun occasional fun puzzles with the archery.

Individual room design was fun sometimes, but the overall map design was lackluster. Yet another victim of the trend where leadership says, "Adding metroidvania tag increases sales, so do it," and design can only respond, "If we take a linear game, fold the map up in a spiral, and occasionally make you back track, that makes a fun exploration experience right?" It's been done worse but it's still not great.

This sort of game tends not to have a lot of story, but what there was was pretty good. One of those cases where the writers have a "twist" in mind, but did not intend for the player to be confused about it at all, just the character. The dramatic irony still makes the pay off satisfying.

It took me about 12 hours to 100%. It's on PC for 20$, which might be worth it. The Switch and PS4 versions are full price games, which is faintly baffling for a game so short, no matter how pretty and nostalgic.

And that's why I've shared so many words with my dash over what's ultimately a decent game; because of the anchor its series dropped in my heart in childhood.

Thank you for reading.

[briannacarmel]

📍PINNED POST📍

My name is Brianna Carmel. I am a 25-year old DIY musician + show promoter from Sacramento, CA who is in a few different projects.

I'd consider my main project to be my sadcore indie pop band, @bloomingheads.

We're in the middle of recording our debut album, but we've been around for a couple years, technically since late 2018. In the two years that we played shows nonstop before our current recording hiatus, we've opened for bands like Walter Etc., Crywank, and Hoity-Toity.

Here is our song Axis Access, which we submitted to NPR's Tiny Desk Contest.

I also recently joined my bandmate Josiah's main project, @little-tiny-knife. This band is very much their brainchild, a chiptune folk punk act whose music has touched my heart since I met them in 2016.

As you can see in a couple of these photos, LTK is technically a 3-piece; our bassist Jim is currently away doing Real Adult Things™️, but we're hoping for him to join us for our next show on April 2nd--we'll be opening for Local News Legend, with our friend Ash Bricky, at Golden Bear (21+).

Our debut single, Tired of Driving, is available now on spotify + bandcamp, and our next upcoming single, Roll Up Your Sleeves, is, quite frankly, a banger. Here's proof:

I'm also a solo artist in my spare time, I have been writing by myself since I was 16 and releasing my own music since I was 20.

I consider myself a singer-songwriter with a folk punk soul. My most recent solo release, the Building Blocks EP, has been described by @musicshelfwithmustard as "deeply personal and vulnerable ... as each track builds up and escalates into situations that should make a human feel uncomfortable."

In addition to all of this, I book + promote DIY shows in the Sacramento-area, under the moniker 916 Growth Gigs. I imagine this info is useless to anyone who isn't a DIY band touring through Sacramento, but, under this moniker, I am in the process of curating a compilation album of Paramore covers by queer DIY bands, to be released on bandcamp during pride month this year. All proceeds will benefit the HRC Foundation.

Currently, 16 tracks have been claimed, and it's looking to be a badass tracklist so far!

Here's a list of things I mainly post about // corresponding tags (may be updated as time goes on)...

@bloomingheads // #blooming heads

@little-tiny-knife // #little tiny knife

my solo project // #solo

my face/life stuff/thoughts I shoot into the void // #personal?

QUEERMORE comp album updates // #queermore updates

I also reblog posts about bands + media that I enjoy; Paramore is my special interest, I really enjoy nerdy shit like Doctor Who, Star Trek, various anime series, etc.

If you enjoy my content and would like to support me directly, consider supporting me on patreon for a mere $2/mo.?