#because i have been pissed about dog rui for years

[bittertomato]

Favorite and Least Favorite Cards: Rinmeikan edition

Tomoe Tamao

Favorite: Kaguya. The moon is truly beautiful tonight. Nice kimono from the back I guess (I don't remember what she looks like from the front xD). Her expression is pretty nice too. Yes I love angst.

Least fave: Cheerleader aka Reika Jinguji. Ma'am is your back okay? And what is with that upskirt shot? I'll give you points for the lights, confetti, and ponytail but the anatomy and pose just make this absolutely bleh.

Otonashi Ichie

Fave: The Sun. I do like how she's situated; as if she's floating in the water or something. The ribbon "ends" trailing behind her (what are words) adds a nice touch.. I think the lighting also illuminates her colors pretty well.

Least fave: 2* original. This is one of those cases where the original 2 star is so bad that it stands out among all others. Tries but fails to capture her main personality trait (ie. being playful), the hair parting makes her face seem to have a weird proportion, and overall boring art as expected from the original 2 star cards.

Akikaze Rui

Fave: Onikage. If there's one thing ReLive gets right in their card art, it's the moon. Another example of how the colors and backdrop compliment the character well. Fully showcasing how long Rui's sword actually is; man oodachi are great. Not a fan of how short the shorts (or whatever they are) are, but I'm always a sucker for scarves. The sleeves are stupidly wide but at least they look flowy, unlike whatever the fuck Reindeer Karen's are.

Least fave: Stage Girl. Besides the fact that it's just her original stage girl outfit so the costume isn't new, the pose just seems wrong. There's too much emphasis on the fingerless gloves+sleeves, the face is weirdly proportioned, and for some reason the teal of her outfit bugs me here. The latter might be because of how it contrasts with the shining water in the background.

Honorable mention: Laelaps Hound. This came very close to the above least fave, but wins out because it's a new costume. Unfortunately, it's a terrible costume with very plain patterns. Also, why does she have paws as footwear? No one else had that?? And idk if this was intentional, but the angle and color of the white top makes her chest stand out.

Tanaka Yuyuko

Fave: Fuma Kotaro. Again, the moon! The fire! SCARF. She should not be showing that much thigh, but the badassery of the backdrop with the curves of the scarf make this worth. Ninja Yuyuko definitely suits her.

Least fave: Okita Souji. Was not impressed. The pose gives off more of an impression of lazy lethargy than desperation from the character's tuberculous (or whatever dangerous situation she's in). Unlike other cards, the lighting also didn't really help illuminate this card. Figuratively at least; if anything it puts too much emphasis on the blue of the outfit, which I don't care for.

Honorable mention: Oyuyu. Seriously why do all the Christmas unit designs suck so much?

Yumeoji Fumi

Fave: Benzaiten. No moon this time but the sun is so beautiful. I just think the colors pair well together. And best of all, Fumi really does look like she's embodying a goddess enjoying her leisure time.

Least fave: Stage Girl. The rest of her cards are honestly mediocre but this stood out since it isn't a different costume to her default stage girl outfit. And again, not a fan of these upskirt shots.

TANGENT

It is a shame that I've labeled two Stage Girl cards as my least faves, but that's sort of inevitable. These cards don't bring anything new to the table except maybe a novel background. So if it has nothing to make it stand out (ie. backdrop, colors, pose, etc) then it'll definitely be at the bottom of the barrel. Just how it is.

Revue Starlight ReLive Favorite/Least Favorite Cards

Saw this on Twitter but got no requests because what is popularity, so I'm just going to dump my answers for all the characters here.

Hey, Tumblr's a safe space for sadness, right? xD

Seisho

Rinmeikan

Frontier

Siegfeld

Seiran

[courage-a-word-of-justice]

ACCA 2 | Nanbaka 16 | SGRS 16 | Marginal #4 2 | Classicaloid 15 | Blue Exorcist: Kyoto Saga 2 - 3 | D Gray Man Hallow 1 | ReLIFE 2 - 6

The idea for D Gray Man Hallow from now on: Once all 2016 shows are done (rewatches or not), expect the 2016 ranking.

(ACCA 2)

What in Dante’s Inferno? I’m properly listening to the OP as it was intended in the anime…and it doesn’t quite look like what I expected.

I don’t like tomatoes, so no bread for me.

This is a cute…albeit unconventional way to introduce the series’ core concepts. Also, acorn berets.

Kabocha = pumpkin, while murasaki = purple. That’s made from purple lettuce, so I don’t blame ‘em for calling it that.

Mushroomhead = Rail.

I thought ACCA paid really high if he got cigarettes for free.

Oh no, is Nino going to go against Jean?

Bihinshitsu = equipment room.

2m 22 cm is over 6 foot…wow.

Walnut-topped cake filled with nuts.

The systems managers seem really incompetent…I suspect something’s up.

The guys all deilberately seem to have the same face.

A-hah. As I thought. (Dang you, title spoiler.)

If this ED were to evolve, it would be even better than Yuri on Ice’s OP. (That’s saying something.) Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be happening…

Doesn’t seem like there’ll be any title spoilers next time either.

(Nanbaka 16)

I’m less likely to skip Rin! Rin! Hi! Hi! than some of the other Ops when I’m watching. That does make it slightly unwieldy as a rewatching show, though.

“Wow, he’s trash.” – Dat me.

Samon has a brother?

In a world full of filial piety, the worst one can do is to insult someone else’s family.

I’m not very good with “kept secret” stories, which is why I’m trying to do “Next to Me” well enough…at least to my standards, anyway. My standards are very high, you know.

They must’ve done something to the snacks…

(Showa Genroku: Sukeroku Futatabi-hen 3)

The fireworks are so lifelike in this ep!

Daiku Shirabe…I found out about the story from an ANN article, so I should’ve seen its appearance coming…“Tamaya” is something you yell during fireworks displays. Apparently it was the name of a fireworks company somewhere along the line.

The flattening refers to how Yota had to bow for forgiveness, but I think I kinda explained that already.

“Shinuchissei”…Yota seems to slur the end of his sentences.

I actually went “WHAT?!” at Yota not being fazed by the big daddy boss.

Note for later: The baby (I heard his name was Shinnosuke) was born November 23rd.

The jazz soundtrack really sells this show.

...so this is the rant from Daiku Shirabe. It’s fast (compared to even the usual), but it has lots of heart. Plus the showcasing of the tattoo really did its significance justice.

I think the bridge is called Matsubashi (Pine Bridge).

Yota could’ve fabricated the shaking of his hands.…wow. Yota has such yaoi hands. Just what you’d expect from a former BL artist.

I thought Yakumo was more of a cat person. Whose dog is Hanako?

Aw. I felt sorry for Matsuda, even if I have a suspicion he feigned those tears. Well, regardless, now I know Matsuda has grandkids anyway…so win win.

I knew he was either summoning the master Sukeroku II pissed off or Sukeroku himself.

“Tou-chan” was an unexpected nickname I didn’t think Konatsu would use.

Update: I thought about it, and even Shinnosuke’s name takes after the legacy. Remember? Sukeroku used to be called Shin! 

(Marginal #4 2)

One of the things that makes this show stand out is the space-styled episode titles.

Ooh. Pretty cherry blossoms.

Pan shots. Of course.

I know this isn’t the sort of show that gets too much coverage, and I even think it looks a bit ugly at times (not to mention a bit weird) but when you’re not caught up on most of the other big idol shows, this is the best you can do.

I think game boy (orange twin…er, aka R)’s trying too hard with his terms.

Now that Atom is talking about heart, it really does look like he’s a Toshiki Masuda character through and through, although he doesn’t look very angry when he sounds angry. I’ll chalk that up to the art department.

“Don’t think, feel” seems to be attributed to lots of places, so I don’t know the original source. However, since game boy (um, aka R) cites a movie star, it’s apparently Bruce Lee (if my Google-fu serves me right).

L makes stuff sound deeeeep.

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?! Rui wasn’t surprised by the juice.

Atom is such a Ryuu sometimes...

…okay, enough with the underwear jokes…The twin jokes are a bit weird. Plus the ships can be smelt from a mile away…but that’s not enough to save a show.

“Ore-sama”? I only just realised Atom uses such a term.

Enough about the lucky underwear! *flips table*

Oh, I saw Ayanokouji in the background at one point.

I’m with Rui most times, including the need for deduction.

I’m still questioning the sanity of someone who wrote an entire episode plot about lucky underwear.

Alright, since I feel brain dead after that, I’m going to drop it, meaning ACCA is the show that forges ahead. Well, I’m lucky I was hoping to watch FLCL to fill in the gap once I’m done with my 3 remaining rewatches at this point in time (ReLIFE, D Gray Man, Morose Mononokean). The latter two will have, from ep 7, fresh impressions, so hopefully you can look forward to them.  

(Classicaloid 15)

Selfies: a worldwide phenomenon…I never got into that stuff, but if I were to analyse ‘em, I’d say they tap into the human need to be self centred.

There’s something sad about seeing someone rejected, eve if that someone is a piece of trash like Sousuke…

The game the Classicaloids are playing appears to be a game of Life.

Unfortunately, Kanae’s right…again. Sad life for you, Sousuke.

Motz literally became a flippin’ Akoya, right down to wearing a dress. Plus, the Amazon brigade came back.

Aw, I really felt for the glasses guy, even if briefly.

“Basics of Programming”? Don’t need that for Garage Band, Sousuke.

Hanted house and cosplay café...

…eh? Tchaiko still calls herself a former member of Cla:Kla?

Oh. I never realised until now, but Hamamatsu + festival (matsuri) = Hamamatsuri.

With that song (Sousuke’s song), it’s a sad blooper reel.

(Blue Exorcist: Kyoto Saga ep 2)

I got a wallpaper of Shima trying not to laugh (it was from the official Blue Exorcist anime page, but only for a period around Shima’s b’day). So this ep is where it comes from.

“Bon” means “young master” anyway, so it doesn’t matter.

“…a herbal tea antidote…”

Kyoto is meant to be the imperial capital…at least around the 1700s, it was the imperial capital.

Mamushi means “pit viper”. She’s not one to mess with.

He’s got some reflexes, that Ryuji.

Uwabami is also a type of snake…I forgot which one though.

Wait, Uwabami’s the man?! Uwabami was a woman in Oumagadoki Zoo…

Seriously, are they all getting drunk on juice…? Oh, okay. So that’s what happened.

(ep 3)

Rin’s shirt says “Sankyu” in goroawase and English, LOL.

Even if you love weeds, please don’t smoke ‘em, kids.

I thought Rin was going to pull a Shaft head tilt out of nowhere when he looked back at Konekomaru.

Update: For efficiency, the tag for this one is “Chesarka watches AoEx”. However, I don’t normally refer to it as such. I’d probably refer to it as “Ao Eku” if I wee speaking (due to the season 1 DVD extras), but “Blue Exorcist” is the shortest mode of the name I’d use in typing format.

(D Gray Man Hallow ep 1)

I am familiar with this source material, so do be aware of that. However, I didn’t finish the anime the first time around, so do be aware of that too.

Sometimes the art style for this anime can be a little off. The noses can be a little too pointy and too close to the eyes, so on and so forth.Allen doesn’t even look like he’s blushing with this art style too…that’s a bit of a disappointment.

Even the golems have it in for each other…LOL.

Johnny has apparently been stealing the spotlight for quite some time, but I haven’t noticed it all that much. Probably because I read volumes 21 – 24 in one go…

I think.Cross Marian looks more like Grelle (Black Butler) than ever in colour.

Why does Lenalee have such a short skirt?

When even the masked guy has a sweatdrop, you know there’s trouble.

(ReLIFE ep 2)

Unfortunately for Kariu, I understand there is no “next time”…

I’ve found out even at 18, people don’t judge two people of different gender sitting together eating lunch…of course, cultural standards notwithstanding.

Stud earrings are fine if you play sports, I think.

According to Google-sensei, it’s only about $11, my country’s money. It’s not that much if you work…but knowing Japanese standards (which say you should focus on getting into uni before getting a job), it does seem a bit much for someone who doesn’t work and doesn’t get any allowance. So in a weird way, it does make sense to me.

...but you took Kariu’s hand when she offered you the rubber, Arata?

Hey, that joke was in Erased too.

Kazu-kun = Karamatsu…kinda. LOL.

I always seemed to understand Hishiron, and yet also understand Arata to some extent too. Maybe I’m the perfect in-between for these two. Probably because I tend to break off friendships as soon as the year ends, and yet prior friendships are a core part to my social strategy.

Unfortuately, the downside to “minimalistic” is that it’s obvious when it goes off model.

LINE sticker…LOL. LINE’s very popular in Japan.

(ep 3)

I’ve wondered whether Yayoi Sou is a lady or not. Considering the circumstances, it probably is that Sensei is a female.

Hideyo is the dude on the 1000 note, obviously.

Ah…fitness tests. The bane of youth. No one says “stupid loud” though.

Oh. Tamarai’s there around the time of Asaji’s throw.

Lookit that rabbit on Usa-sensei’s shirt. No one says “crazy athletic” either…you outdated subbers.

Akira (Inukai) is kinda like Yurio, come to think of it, eh?

Didn’t you just say it yourself (about you being old) though, Arata?

Yoake literally had a blank face there, LOL.

There appears to be a Sato GP on the way to Aoba. Huh.

Ah…a show’s a real classic if it makes you laugh every time…

(ep 4)

Where’s the guy who does sad interpretations of OPs and EDs? (This guy.)

I know your feels, Kariu. (see the Tumblr debacle for an instance of this)

There appears to be something about whales near the fishtank.

The cityscapes in this are so nice.

There’s a map of Japan on one wall of Kaizaki’s place.

Go forth, young Kariu! Pick up your fallen balls! (teehee)

CGI balls, LOL.

It’s creepy (but also dramatic) when the lights of the eyes are the last to move.

(ep 5)

Sumire! Her name means “violet” (the flower).

There are some nuances lost in translation, like yappari and the levels of formality…but those are typically lost.

This “lecture” is probably the highest point you can get in the show (so far). It’s times like this you can really see an author’s strengths in storytelling.

The piano really sells the Hishiro/Kaizaki meeting.

What a strange angle that “lean to the left” shot is.

I’ve found out swear words have a lot of leeway when it comes to levels of “oh no”. These swar words include yabai and temee. Due to the context of Wan! and the fact it was Chuuya who kept using them, I went with the nastier variants [in my scanlating days] but sometimes a non-swearing variant is enough. However, kirai (to dislike) is pretty nasty if you use it in Japanese.

Kaizaki’s delivery of these lines really sells their comedic effect. The electronic keyboard makes it sound like night, but also makes it sound 1) like night and 2) creepy, for some reason.

Freeter is almost as bad as NEET, Kaizaki.

There appears to be a 100 man (10 thousand) coin bank behind Yoake, which makes that...1000000 yen. (chorus in back: One million yen?!)

(ep 6)

Apparently someone tried to type the same Japanese words into Google and didn’t get the same results, LOL.

Hishiron uses a Mac, LOL.

“Thanks for having us” probably isn’t the right words for it. Ojamashimasu means “sorry for intruding”, but it sounds heavily formal when translated, so I can see why the subbers did what they did though.

*laughs* MDs (minidiscs)? I know what they are, even though they’re meant to be completely dead by now. Apparently they’re a product of the 90s that never caught on..although I admit I’ve never used an MD in my life, let alone held one. It does kinda look like a floppy disc, though. (chorus in back: You poke through old stuff too much, don’t you?)

Those fadeout cups are so cool! I want one.

Ah, maths. The sad thing about my life is that up until a certain point I was good at maths. Then the hard stuff came up and I started to fail.

I thought it was Third Street Oga was talking about, but it’s 3rd chome, sort of like a suburb.

Knowing An, she may have deliberately put Oga out of the way for her own purposes…if you know what I mean.

CGI car just ruined the suspenseful mood, dangit.

Sometimes I just turn off my volume and turn on some music on Spotify. That way, you can make your own soundtrack.

Why did Arata have such a dumb face in the thought bubble?

Wow, she’s a real fujoshi, that one [An].

“Dude”? I cringe so much at her use of it, despite the fact I use it myself. 

You liar, Onoya. Knowing who subject 1 was means that I know they couldn’t have even thought about that part…

[hydtrash-blog]

Introduction - In which a drama from China inspires me to blog

So I’ve been obsessed with Hana Yori Dango for the last ten years or so.

It was my gateway drama: from the Japanese drama starring Mao Inoue and Matsumoto Jun, I quickly devoured the other adaptations of this story, and then dove fully into Asian drama fandom with wild abandon. Ten years later, my tastes have expanded and refined themselves, but I remain HYD trash.

This brings me to last month, when I learned about the latest adaptation of HYD, this time from mainland China. Needless to say, I immediately began watching, and I have so much to say. So much! But sadly, no one to say it to, as most of my friends aren’t into Asian dramas (and those who are are currently living in different time zones, so squeeing over Cute Moments is done at odd hours and usually belatedly). So here I am: blogging about it.

I’ll be playing catch-up with Meteor Garden 2018, as I’m starting this about 22 episodes into its 48 episode run. I would have loved to start with a recap series of Hana Yori Dango and Meteor Garden (Taiwan) first, to contextualize my thoughts, but hopefully if you’re reading this, you’re familiar enough with the story that you’ll know what I mean when I start talking about red cards and such nonsense.

But in case you aren’t: the drama I’ll be talking about to start off with is Meteor Garden, a mainland Chinese reboot of the Taiwanese drama of the same name, which itself is an adaptation of the Japanese manga Hana Yori Dango. Having only watched the Taiwanese version once, I have retained very little of what went down (though, being familiar with all of the major plot points of HYD, I can piece together the general story…maybe just not the order in which everything happened. Again, maybe one day I’ll recap a rewatch of it). Since this is a reboot of an adaptation, let’s outline the basic plot of the original, so that we all know what we’re working with.

The Japanese manga follows the story of Makino Tsukushi, a poor, fiery-tempered student of Eitoku Academy, a prestigious school populated by the rich and privileged students of Tokyo. Of those students, the four richest, most popular, and most-admired boys, collectively known as F4 (or Flower Four), rule the school. F4 are led by the arrogant and cruel Domyouji Tsukasa, who terrorizes the student body by periodically sending individual students a red tag whenever they piss him off or get in his way. The red tag brands the student as a general target for harassment and hazing, until said student drops out of Eitoku. Inevitably, Makino receives a red card after she stands up for her friend, who spills food on Domyouji. However, despite the intense bullying she faces, from the student body and Domyouji himself, Makino refuses to back down, and soon Domyouji finds himself drawn to her, especially when he realizes she can’t be bought or won over by his wealth. From these troubling begins springs a reluctant romance, dogged by numerous obstacles and conflicts, from Domyouji’s domineering personality to Makino’s crush on his best friend, Hanazawa Rui.

Basically… it’s a lot. It’s cliché. I love it.

It’s also very popular. As you’ve probably gathered, it’s been adapted numerous times, notably in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and mainland China (technically twice, but one of those adaptations only kinda counts... but we’ll get into that later). So there will be a lot of material to work with as we go on.

I do feel compelled to address the fact that this story (and, by extension, all of its adaptations) is extremely problematic. Like, incredibly so, at points. And I’ll be getting into that more as I go through the recaps, because I think it’s important to look at the entertainment we consume critically. But I also hope that we can all still have fun with this story, as there are some pretty heart-warming moments to be had, and let’s face it, it’s addicting as fuck. Like I said before: ten years later, and I’m still coming back for another hit.

So, now that the introductions are out of the way, onto the recaps! Please don’t forget to let me know your thoughts as we go through. Also! As an English (only) speaker, I am relying heavily on subtitles and the internet as I watch, so if you speak Mandarin (or Korean, or Japanese, etc., as we move through the different adaptations), and you spot something isn’t translated quite right, or some nuance is lost, please let me know! I’m always happy to learn from the experts!