#chibi kas is adorable kas

[wispisstillverybored67]

Beauty Is Devotion

So, what do you wanna do, what's your point of view? There's a party, screw it, do you wanna go? A handshake with you, what's your point of view? I'm on top of you, I don't wanna go 'Cause I really wanna stay at your house

Time: 9:30 pm. Decently warm on the beach. Nyeh... This is the life. It's just me and Aceto, hopelessly in love with each other. The guys can bite me. This is where it's at! He's the man of my dreams! He's not even one of us... he worships the boss! Oh, if only this moment can be frozen in time... It's just the two of us, embracing each other in the sand, without a care in the world, praising each other, without a care in the world.

"Oh, Paulla..." He sighed, utterly blissful. "I swear, not a single soul will hurt you. I'll kill anyone who bothers you...!"

"Then... It'll be the same for me. I want to show you our world, someday. Even if the guys bare their Stands at your windpipe, and those adorable little eyes... I'll see them through," I'm serious. The guys can kiss my ass, with their distrust of everyone. They're my best friends, but they can shut the hell up on my boyfriend. Doppio has no credibles...?! You wouldn't know "credible" if you were the head of a conglomerate, and your name was Ra... Lost my train of thought.

"Even to Risotto?"

"Even Nero! Ah..." The usual motions will be done. Smushing his face into my chest, and tracing my fingers delicately through his hair. ~🎵

"Ah, Doppio... My dearly devoted love. My adorable little lover. Sweet, violent, beloved Doppio... What would I give for you to meet my big sis,"

"You said her name was Ane, right? She sounds so nice whenever you talk about her... Both of you are just so, so sweet..." He sighed. Did we both blush, or were we already blushing? Love abounds, ah...

"Hey, Paulla?" Sticking his face up, he gave me a Look.

"What's up?"

"D'ya think that... That maybe you can call... call me by my first name?" And with this, he was flushed even pinker then typical for him. By his first name... Aceto. Now this is something! I don't think anyone calls him that... But you knew that by now, right? I haven't actually heard it out loud before... Do you think the boss calls him by his first name? I don't think so.

"You mean it?" I guess it makes sense, even though we've only been dating for a bit. On account of how hopelessly in love we are...! It hit me, finally.

"...!" What else am I gonna say? "Oui, mon amour!" You know, we both agree that French is without a doubt, one of the most romantic languages there is. We've never actually met a Frenchman, naturally, so it's new, beautiful.

"Aceto, then? You really could have just asked me earlier, you know," I sighed, moving his little lick out of his face. And that just made him blush all the more. I kind of did so, too. "You're just adorable when you blush, Aceto..." ~🎵

"And I thought you NEVER blush...! Hahahaha..." Hmm, you know what I'm in the mood for? Heheheh...

Laughing it off after a moment, I sat up rather suddenly, leaving him stumped. As he went up as well, I gave him a Look.

"Don't tell anyone you heard this from me, 'kay? Hmm~🎵" Let's begin now.

"Totsuzen ni mō upside down Sekai wa kawari dasu Inori mo todokanai Boku ga kawari dasu~🎵" I simply chose a laxer song. Do you know what it's called? He seemed a bit confused at the song itself.

"You've heard me sing it a couple of times... There's no chance someone like YOU can forget it," I remarked. "It's one song I've become fond of while I was still in Japan. Before I moved back here, you know..." Oh, I HATE cover stories!

"...That one I'm thinking of, yeah? I mean, if you wanna..." He sighs. I ought to teach him the proper words...

"Kimi wa matomete hachiletet-tsuzukete Chibi-un ga dome ka wakaranuku naru Naki-sedakedo makitakunaikara🎵" He was a little shy when it came to singing, but in my presence, he just couldn't resist!

"O-shi-e-te~" All together, now...

"Yoru ni haseru kono yurameki to Omoinomama ni tobimawatte Motto jiyū ni kakete ikou yo Hoshi o miagete sa~🎵" Ah... That was a nice bit!

"It's fun, right, Aceto?" He nodded a "yes". A perfect night! !! It's time... Make your move, now...

I turned to him, he was picking sand out of his eye, somehow managing to get some in. When he saw me, he was even more confused. Moving closer, closer, closer, yet closer... Soon, we met each other at a borderline unwise closeness. Sighing, I prepped myself for a kiss. Open up, he'll know when it gets there-

Hmm?! Aha! Come to mama, now...

"Torurururururururu!" What.

"!! Fuck, sorry, one sec. Uh..." Didn't you tell the boss not to call you now?! We're having a moment here...!

Scrambling for something, I would've told him that there's a payphone over there on the beach, but Aceto, my poor sweet dumbass Aceto, chooses to use my leg as a phone.

"Ugh, why the hell is a phone over here...?" Sighing, he made the call. What is WITH him, honestly? *dreamy sigh*

"Boss! What the hell?! Didn't I already tell you a hundred times not to CALL ME AT THIS TIME?! I'm in the middle of something here!" This looks a little dirty from afar... This is funny! He's the only one I've ever seen talk to the boss like that! Though it's also uncomfortable, 'cuz his calls tend to take a while...

"Eh?! Fine, fine, fine. Got it. *Click!* Oh." He stumbled out of his little phone-daze, realizing what he's using. Quickly dropping my leg, he hastily looked around and stood up. Wonder what he needed him for?

"Shit, sorry Paulla, Boss needs me for something. Somethin' came up and I gotta go-" Quickly and awkwardly, he left without elaborating. Oh well. There's always then. "Aceto..." I complained.

"See you tomorrow, then? I'll text you when I get home!" Heading to the promenade, I pulled out my own phone.

"Hey. Big Sis. Guess what?"

"I have a boyfriend!"

"Yeah! He's just the cutest! I met him at school, and we hit it off! He's not a classmate, though, technically. And he's SO protective...! I LOVE him!"

She was surprised to hear the good news, but was very happy to hear. I really, really need to introduce the two! Maybe I can introduce the guys, too.

Time to head back home.

Then it hits me.

He's the first to have enacted such emotions in me.

Not even Big Sis or the guys could have pulled that off.

I don't believe in fate, or anything like that.

But maybe, we were intended to meet, you know? I can feel it.

He'll have a place in the Golden Land. I'm sure of it.

______________________________________________________________

That smell... I know it well.

Something is off. The air is filled with the scent of spicy-sweet, metal, and death. Do you know what that means?

NERO! He must've been watching me the whole night with his Stand! Walking further up to the start of the route to the hideout, I picked up the sound of footsteps. 2... no, 9 of them.

You gotta be kidding me... Everyone was watching?! Okay, Illuso, Nero himself, and Gelato I can get. The first and last of those three have straight up told me "What do you see in him?!", and the last one is one case on his own, but Prosciutto? Pesci? Ghiaccio? Melone? Sorbet? Sorbet does NOT give a shit on who I date. He's the only one who calls me "Izza"! "Izza"! That one gains nothing from this! None of the guys do! They kinda remind me of my parents, hehe...! My ma HAS been a misanthropic recluse for at least 9 years.

I clapped my hands together. Dare to dance with these gauntlets? Who wants to feel the full force of Smooth Criminal's despair first? Dare to dance?

Facing the direction I heard the footsteps in, then I made my move.

"You've done well to make it here! I should've expected as much... FROM THE LAUGHING STOCKS OF PASSIONE!!" Run all you want, I decide the truth!

[phucnghinguyenhoang1]

[chibi-pix]

Ah, another night of watching Voltron Force (2011) has me loving Vince more and more!  Anyway! Tonight was episodes 4 through 6. Just a few, yes, I know. Anyway! Shall we get this started?

Episode 4.  Lance: Is this the kind of science that can smash, burn, and/or explode? Pidge almost sounding annoyed: Yes. I don’t know why this had me amused so much. It just did. And I adored seeing Pidge work with the monitors. And then Coran coming in for a crash landing. At first I was worried about him. But that hastiness he showed in wanting to get to the control room. Sus. Among Us brain is calling him an impostor. Though the team leaving the cadets in “Coran” ‘s care, my brain went “Coran, Coran, the babysitting man!”.  Vince also acting weird with hearing a voice and glowy. Something is up. And I’m both excited for and worried about my baby boy.  I was hoping when they found out about that not being Coran, Vince would shock him. But the audible whimper-gasp that I made when he was blasted. I mean, I know I want Vince whump, but seeing it actually hurts. Precious baby... And then Vince having that trance moment. And seeing Alfor ghosty? And a weird emblem thing to put with his voltrcom was intriguing.  Also. Keith and Lance suck at teamwork. At least the others have their backs.  And my amusement at Coran holding roboCoroan’s head. “My, that’s... unsettling.

Okay, time for episode five! “We’re being treated like kids!” Um... Daniel? Darling? You are kids? Right? I mean, you can’t be older than sixteen, right? I’d venture more at fifteen. Which is amusing because VLD Pidge is apparently fifteen. Oh, a crossover with that would be amusing and them seeing a kid piloting a lion. And then deciding to head to Doom. That’s a horrible idea. You don’t have a full team, you’re just starting out.  And Lotor. Giant. Buff. Angry. And covered in gross glowing purple pustules. Don’t do drugs, kids, or you end up like Lotor. And try not to be reanimated from the dead, either. That doesn’t go well. Ever. Twasn’t a surprise when the kids got captured. And Maahox... the dude is a bundle of heebies and jeebies! A full set! And Vince’s voltcom reacting to the haggarium... I know I want whump, but don’t hurt my precious baby boy!  Oh look, Lotor is still a creeper wanting Allura.  “Too late for the heads up, trying to avoid the heads off.” I love the humour in this series. It has my highly amused and grinning.  One of them. WHAT IS VINCE!? Though... no spoilers. This is just my brain screaming. “You’ll pass out long before we get to the really painful tests.” Maahox... your attempt at being comforting was not comforting.  At least Larmina wrecked Maahox. Good hit!  Time to escape and steal some Haggarium!  I’m going to be honest. I was hoping Vince could do something again to help Voltron in their fight against Lotor, especially after Lotor literally cut the lions up! How is that a thing!?  WHat I did not expect, though, was Vince making Voltron rearrange itself! “Um, did you guys know that Vince glows?” Lance is definitely caught off guard.  I loved Lotor getting shot by Lance’s Voltron guns. Then Lotor being rereanimated. “-destroy Voltron!” Bonks into glass. Perfection.

Now onto episode 6! I thought Hunk was building a hot rod. But it’s just a really cool grill! Until it incinerated the food. Then got blown up when it went haywire and left the castle. ka-BOOM.  Vince trying to train with his powers... and he has no confidence. Poor baby... and it’s not going well. At least it was a simulator and they weren’t truly in danger.  And Hunk feels left out. He doesn’t have a cadet and Lance and Keith are like a couple of dads or something getting after their risk taking son.  But at least Hunk gets to bond with the kids! And I’m glad he found a way to bond with Larmina, especially music. Bonding through music is a wonderful thing!  “The rules are there are no rules! Except don’t kill each other.” C’mon, Hunk, where’s the fun in that? At least Mama always told my siblings and me to try not to leave bloodstains in the house.  Wadbot robeast is a bad thing. And I think Hunk called Pidge “pigeon”? Right before Pidge pointed out that he was a genius.  In the end, it was nice seeing the cadets bond with Hunk more, even showing him their lair. Such a happy episode.  Also, the bonding of trying to wreck each other and then destroy wadebots? So much fun! Beats a food fight.

Anyway! I’m pleased with watching this show. It has me amused. Sometimes I sit and wonder “how have I not watched this sooner? Or when it came out?” But then I remembered the year. 2011. I didn’t have access to cartoon channels in my room. That explains it.  I’m still left with some questions. But some of the bigger ones. Just how old are these kids and do their parents, especially Vince and Daniel’s, know where they’re at?! What their kids are doing? I mean, Lance practically just kidnapped them and took them to Arus! 

Okay, that’s it for the night. I hope y’all enjoy this next part of Chibi watches.  Until next time!

[recentanimenews]

Demon Slayer Exhibition Reveals Key and Gift Art by Koyoharu Gotouge

This autumn, Demon Slayer fans can immerse themselves in the beautiful art of the manga, penned by artist Koyoharu Gotouge. An upcoming exhibition will display both classic and new works by the manga-ka, and the latest news drop shows a few more of those pieces.

  The event has released a new key visual, drawn by Gotouge and featuring series stars Nezuko and Tanjiro with flowers and an adorable little frog:

    Visitors to the Tokyo leg of the exhibition's tour will receive a special mini-paper with more new art from Gotouge — this time of cheerful chibi Kamado siblings:

    Mock-ups of two of the rooms in the exhibition are also available:

    Look out for more announcements from the event, including previews of exclusive merchandise sporting new artwork by Gotouge.

  The exhibition will run at the Mori Arts Center Gallery from October 26 to December 12, and at GRAND FRONT OSAKA from July 14 to September 4, 2022.

  Source: Comic Natalie

    Watch Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba on Crunchyroll!

  By: Kara Dennison

[sambart93]

2019.01.06 Johnny’s West ‘WESTV’ in Yokohama Arena [Report]

So I managed to go to their YokoAri concert 2 years in a row now! Last year’s con report can be found here. And now onto my report!!

SET LIST

スタートダッシュ

ええじゃないか

パーリパーリパリ-カタカナを叫べ-

アカツキ

Drift!!

WESTV VTR Corner

Skit Corner (Horoscopes)

赤いマフラー

粉もん

月詠人

僕らの軌跡〜ジャニーズWEST列島縦断〜

Melody Mix of ズンドコパラダイス, プリンシパルの君へ and Ya!Hot!Hot!

バンバンッ！

ホメチギリスト

〜MC〜

まちがっちゃいない

ONI-CHAN

100% I Love You

愛の奴隷

アカンLOVE〜純情愛やで〜

Another VTR

YSSB

傷だらけの愛

We are WEST

青空願ってまた明日

アンコール

OH!LALA

人生はすばらしい

ラキセブン

Wアンコール

パリピポアンセム

*I assume fans will recognise and know these songs so I saw no need to Romaji-fy them. You can just copy and paste and find them online to listen to anyway xD

PreShow

Me and my friend had a feeling that we would have arena seats, which we didn’t want, we wanted stands so we could high five them like we did last year, BUT as we predicted, we did end up with arena seats: 4th row from the stage and to the right side which meant we got the stages AND the right-side hanamichi too!! We meant we were less than 2 meters (less than 6 feet) away from the boys at multiple points throughout the entire concert. That means, I was closer to them than Nonchan is from his head to the floor xD We were so close that some of the boys gave us a decent amount of attention. It’s weird how confident we both were. Out of 15,000+ seats we were sure we’d gotten a seat in arena. Insane. I swear I’m 50% psychic with the shit I can predict xD

During the last 15 - 20 minutes or so, whatever instrumental West song that was playing, a lot of the crowd started singing the song. The main three were Ee Janai Ka, Horumon, and one more that unfortunately I cannot think of right now. When we were singing along to Ee Janai Ka, we got to the iconic ‘Mou Ikkai!’ line and the ENTIRE audience yelled it out. Everyone then burst into laughter at the massive volume difference at that point xD

Also there was a giant TV on the main stage that was inflatable. And just before the show started, I said to my friend ‘I bet that TV collapses down and the boys come out of it.’

♡ (1) START DASH : I was right! There was backlighting that showed the boys shadows inside the tv and then the tv deflated and split apart and voilà the boys appeared! I really love their opening outfits so much! ♡(2) Ee Janai Ka : They were front/center stage for this song. My favourite part is of course the moment where all the audience (once again) yells ‘Mou Ikkai (One More Time)!’.

Just before Akatsuki (so the boys had time to change) we got member introductions and of course I only remember Hamada, Junta and Akito’s xD Hamada’s was something along the lines of ‘even though I’m already 30, I’m still getting acne! So please ignore my face today! And my leg hurts! Being 30 sucks...’. Akito’s was obviously playing with the crowd, he got us doing a mexican wave ‘wooo’ starting from my section and he went around with his finger pointing around the stadium and so different areas were woo-ing xD Junta’s was: Junta: Jasmin! Nakama Junta! Is everyone okay? Good! ... Those who are single, are you okay? Audience: (big) YES!!!! Junta: Those who are wives, are you okay? Audience (small response) Yes! Junta: Okusaaaaaaan!!! (means ‘wife’ in Japanese. But Junta has an ‘Okusan’ segment on one of his TV shows so that’s this reference).

♡(4)Akatsuki : There was a very short VTR here of the red moon so they could change into sparkly, glittery red pants and jacket for this song. ♡(6) WESTV VTR Corner : I don’t know how I’m going to explain this but this VTR is where most of their Higawari/Daily Changes are. There are about 4 different clips: TV Shopping, A Newscaster, A Panda Segment, Eating Soumen (Cold Noodles). And each show it’s a different member doing something different. So at the show I was at: TV Shopping Item Showcaser: Ryuusei - he got an item and had to guess what the item was used for. Obviously he got it wrong xD Newscaster: KamiChan - who introduced and then watched the panda segment and was just laughing the entire time. Panda Announcer: Junta, Panda Wrangler: Ryuusei(?), Panda: Shige Eating Soumen: Junta - but he sucked it in too fast and had to spit it all out in one go. Everyone died laughing.

♡(7) Skit Corner (Horoscopes) : Every one of them was dressed up as a different horoscopes ---- I realise DAYS later that it corresponds to most of their actual birthday horoscopes! Silly me!

Gemini: Shige and Akito dressed as Female Twins (Blue Dress for Akito and Pink Dress for Shige) Cancer: KamiChan as a Crab Sagittarius: HamaChan as a Horse (which is very fitting for him xD) Libra: Junta in Greek-like clothing, holding two trays Leo: Ryuusei as a Lion with a Lion hat on. Leo: Nonchan as a Chinese Lion (Chinese Dragon)

They came on stage in order of: Junta, Kami, Ryuusei, Hamada, NonChan, Shige&Akito pair (from what I remember). And Ryuusei’s introduction was very funny because Junta kept calling him the Japanese for ‘Leo’ and Ryuusei was like ‘no no no no no. I’m not a Leo! I’m a.... *deep whisper* LION’ and he did this about three time and the crowd went crazy xD The main story of this skit is about the Twins being upset about being called ‘ugly’ online, thanks to KamiChan being able to surf ‘Wester’ (West + Twitter) even though he has claws for hands xD and while everyone agrees that Akito is ugly, Ryuusei actually falls for Shige and confesses his love. But because Shige is used to being called ugly, he thinks Ryuusei is making fun so Shige runs away with Ryuusei running after him. Eventually Shige accepts Ryuusei’s love, BUT before that, Akito is like ‘and which of you remaining gentlemen will take me?’ to which Junta, Kami, Hama and Non talk about it and decide to attempt to murder Akito with Hama’s bow and arrow instead! But the arrow misses, and unfortunately it goes past Akito and continues on it’s journey and finally hits Shiga, and Shige falls down. While Shige is dying, he accepts Ryuusei’s love but Ryuusei is all sad that Shige is dying in his arms. They start singing one of their ballads/love songs slowly (the audience is crying with laughter by this point) and when it ends, Shige wakes up ‘eh? That’s odd... I was suppose to die... but I’m alive!’ and he takes the arrow out of his chest! Happily ever after! The best part of this skit was the boys absolutely losing it themselves. When it got to a serious scene between Ryuusei and Shige, Shige couldn’t keep a straight face and was laughing his lines out and Ryuusei was trying so hard too! But at one point they were hugging each other and were just stood there laughing at the ridiculousness of it all xD

♡(8) Akai Muffler : There is an animated story going on in the background during this song and at the end the credits say ‘Drawn by: Akito’. It is a beautiful and adorable drawing! HamaChan was on my side during this ballad and it was nice watching/seeing him mime along to the words when it wasn’t his part.

♡(10) Tsukuyomi Bito : Given my background of stages and musicals, I had high expectations for this and I had a vision of what this song should look like and I was not let down. They started behind a screen and were backlit so we could see their shadows. Then we they revealed themselves they were in fighting-style kimonos and had swords. In the mid-instrumental section, they had giant screen come down and they had a sword fight which was backlit and shadowed again, but we also had the side screens of the stadium showing us them behind the screen fighting, which was great! And to finish the song, both of them did a backflip off the stage which was NICE!

♡(13) Melody Mix : I was quite sad that we got this mix. It felt very jumpy and very rushed. The concert itself was short to begin with (barely 2 hours) so why not just do all the songs fully? ♡(15) Homechigi List : This is their new song and they wore their new outfits for this song too! It was very easy to figure out when the audience’s yelling parts were so we quickly got into the song and yelled our parts xD It’s a really funny song, a super cute dance, the outfits are great! I am excited for this single release at the end of January!

♡(16) 〜MC〜 : Where do I start with this one... I’ll try and remember and list as much as I can about it.

- Shige personally attacked Ryuusei today. Saying: ‘I’m really bad at remembering dances, I always stop too soon to... But recently, Ryuusei is also bad at remembering the dances!!’ and he turned to KamiChan ‘Kamiyama san! He’s bad too right?!’ and KamiChan replied ‘Ryuusei is a little bad recently yeah...’ and Shige was like ‘YAY!!!’ xD

- They also asked KamiChan how he comes up with the different dances and he replied ‘A little me inside my head is dancing’, to which they replied ‘EVEN MORE small(er than you are now -- because he’s the chibi of the group)?!’ and KamiChan was like ‘there was no need for you to comment on my height!’ 

- Akito also brought up KamiChan’s performance in Othello and he brought up (what I think is) everyone’s favourite part ‘KamiChan looked so cool the entire play! But when you were playing with the giant ball you looked especially cool!!’ which is so many favourite people’s part of the play.

- There was a small thing I noticed when Junta was talking and had his whole forearm showing; it looked like he had a giant scratch mark running down the entirety of his forearm. He wasn’t bothered by it and he never messed with it but it looked like maybe he’d scratch it the recently. But I hope I was imagining things, and if not, I hope he’s okay!

- The final thing I remember was when they talked about what they did for Bounen Kai (End of Year Party). They all went to Yakiniku and they talked about the amount of rice Akito was able to eat. Apparently he ate: Big Bowl -> -> Medium -> Rice in Soup -> Medium Bowl. ALL OF RICE! Akito said ‘after finishing the rice with soup, I didn’t think I could eat anymore but HamaChan said ‘You can still keep going’ so he ordered me a medium bowl of rice. I didn’t think I could eat anymore! .. I ate it all.’ The entire audience was just flabbergasted at how much he can eat! I can barely eat ONE SMALL bowl of rice myself! xD

♡(17) Machigacchainai :  Before they performed this song, Shige explained how this song came about: “Last year, I was having a bit of a tough time. Nothing was going right. But HamaChan came to me and told me it was going to be okay. So then I came up with this song. If you’re having a tough time, if you’re every having a bad time, I hope you can remember this song and think it’s going to be okay, because it will.”. We had Shige on keyboard, HamaChan on acoustic guitar and we had KamiChan on percussion. From the second half of the song, Shige’s face was just completely lit up and he couldn’t stop smiling. There was another adorable moment where one of them (either Shige or HamaChan) messed up a little, but Shige immediately responded with a ‘it’s okay’ over the mic so softly and the continued right through, which I think is adorable too!

♡(18) ONI-CHAN : This was so cute! They had mannequins on a bench and they did all the actions from the songs in it. The entire audience was lit either yellow or blue which looks great! OniiChan was really adorable with their cute pink outfits, and when one was singing, the other was dancing and it was a really nice dance -- apparently KamiChan came up with it (no surprise there! He is the KING of dances!). I really enjoyed all the duet/trio song performances this time around!

♡(19) Ai no Dorei : I don’t know how to explain this one... just look for papa pics and watch the dvd! ... OMG the fucking god this performance! SHIT! FUUUUCK! Seriously! It was like some Adekan x Hikari Litchee Club cross over! It was amazing!! I fucking loved it! I love how they got this performance green lit! They were all in BDSM-like clothing, with bars/jail around them in the center stage and they were doing things like pulling at their outfit straps, or slapping their own butts, it was just.... just a nosebleed-fess and the entire crowd couldn’t stop dying from it! SO MUCH SKIN o_O 

♡(20) AKAN Love ~ Junjou Ai ya de ~ : There is always a part in this song where one-by-one the members do their own dance moves and the rest of the members and the entire audience has to copy them after it. And in true Junta style he did his ‘boobies jump’ move again, and he was watching his part of the audience the entire song but they were so embarrassed to do it in front of him xD but everywhere else (that wasn’t his part of the crowd) were super going for it xD And then after his part there’s always a Junta yelling moment so he bowed and yelled “Gomennasaaaiiiiii / I’m soooorrrryyyyy!!!!!’ for that moment xD Junta and his fucking boobs move *cries of laughter*.

♡(22) YSSB : This was the song in the concert that got me totally and completely into the concert. I’m usually when conscious at concerts and never really fully enjoy - especially in a giant stadium, it’s very easy to get to fixated on ‘where is my oshi?’ and it’s very easy to get annoyed and distracted and blocked by the people around you, but as soon as YSSB started I was completely INTO IT. I was finally jumping and screaming and yelling from this part to the end of the entire concert. This is SO GOOD live! I absolutely love the outfits, I love the dance, I love their voices as they sing this song, it’s such a well performed and such a FUN song! 

So because I finally got fully immersed in the concert from this point, I don’t really remember much about the songs or what people did, I was just completely and totally enjoying myself.

♡(29) パリピポアンセム :  This was the moment where I got the biggest amount of Junta fanservice and I am so thankful for it! He definitely stayed with us way longer than he should have done! == He actually stopped to smile and wave at us (me and my friend) BIG TIME. He waved a lot and seriously wait until we had reacted, finished reacting and giving him a thanks, before he moved on! He was definitely there for longer than he should’ve been and I’m so happy about it! He had spotted us way, way earlier in the show to but he had given us only a small wave them. I guess he was saving it for this amazing moment!! Thank you so much Junta *dies*

And that’s the concert! Although, I have a few every notes that I can’t quiet remember where they go or don’t have a place to specifically put.

Extra Notes:

♡ At the beginning of the show I didn’t like KamiChan’s hair (I thought it was a tad long) but by the end of the show it had really grown on me xD not important but wanted to mention it.

♡ Towards the beginning, NonChan came down our side of the stage and got on the toroko (the moving trolleys). it was here that I noticed just how damn skinny NonChan is!! His arms are TINY!

♡ Also can we appreciate how pretty HamaChan is! He is so good looking! I always knew he was good looking but for some reason in person he’s just so much more good looking! And I really liked his hair at this concert! He’s currently off work sick with influenza so please send him so love!

♡ Speaking of HamaChan! During the first lot of Encore, he was at the stage where we were, and while he was singing, he put his leg up on part of the stage setting wall so he could stretch it out and kept it there for ages while he sang which was very funny xD away from his mic, he told the fans nearby ‘my leg hurts! I’m getting old’ so sweet.

♡ The girl in front of us was a huge Akito fan and she had a bunch of uchiwas for him to read and react to, so towards the end of the show (near the final greetings and such) he spent his entire time on our side of the stage reading her messages and doing all her requests. At one point he did something that made me burst out hard into laughter, and I saw that he saw me and then he proceeded to laugh out loud too xD 

♡ Akito is the BEST at fan service! He does literally anything for his fans! He high fives them, waves, makes funny faces, shakes their hands, literally anything! I really regret not going through my plan of getting his uchiwa and drawing a mustache on it! At the next con I’ll definitely be holding TWO uchiwas! Also he is a very naughty person. He has a habit of air banging (thrusting his hips in the air) for fanservice and it’s parts hilarious and part ‘oh my! how could you?!’ xD

*

And that really is all! Hope you enjoyed the report!

[zire-7]

A Totally Biased Review of Under Your Spell

I've heard a lot of grumblings about how 'straight-forward' and 'un-relateable' Under Your Spell (UYS for short) is. These grumblers would be very right about it...except that y'all need to dust off your imaginations, cause you're way off. Granted, it is seemingly easy to interpret each of the songs' meanings and it doesn't transport you to a magical fairy tale land; unlike the rest of TBM's discography.  Those are two very excellent points in your favor, grumblers. However, its not a place that we're exploring but, a person's emotions. Perhaps even a person who lives in those worlds we've visited. Or those two murder kids from Happy Birthday got hitched and now they're getting divorced.

It could be about a bad break up or a psycho stalker that kidnaps their victims makes the victim fall in love with them (Stockholm syndrome) and then murders them. A very dark and bloody version of Beauty and the Beast. Another interpretation could be, someone who escaped from the psycho stalker, has Stockholm syndrome, and is currently undergoing therapy to overcome it. Another impression I got from UYS is an exploration into First Love and the mark it leaves on you. Whether one half of the whole died, they broke-up, or stayed together through thick and thin. The love doesn't have to be romantic either, it could be family, friends, and even strangers.  That's just the feel of UYS as whole, each song can have a thousand different interpretations.  

Without further ado, the songs...

One

There is a xylophone and it is awesome. The use of it to open the song is wholly unexpected, but it works to give the song a very 'Caribbean island' vibe. I love how well the xylophone blends with the other instruments. Chibi's vocals are air-y and light but melancholy and heavy at the same time.  The lyrics weave a tale of loneliness and heartbreak, a grieving widow,  a betrayal of trust, isolation and captivity, the futility of finding a meaningful relationship that won't end in tears or bloodshed.

Favorite Lyrics: Caught up in the waves, in death of a day. Sing like sirens in shadows. As blue turns to gray, in youth and decay, turning oceans to shallows.

Rating: 10 Broken Hearts. I live for that xylophone opening and the delivery of the lyrics.

Under Your Spell

This song is breath taking in its subtlety. The synths are soothing and very peaceful at the onset. Everything is soft, soothing, and peaceful. From the vocals to the drums, guitars, and bass. The first verse is more intense which sets the tone for the rest of the song. There is emphasis on the vocals, never a bad thing, that casts a spell(I couldn't resist, sue me) over the listener(To be fair we're all under TBM's spell). If its at all possible, and yes it is, this song is even more melancholy than One. The imagery of the lyrics is very open to interpretation(I'll list the one that stood out in my mind).

Paints a picture of domestic abuse or Stockholm Syndrome with alarming clarity (I haven't been in either of these situations. This song is, hopefully, the closest that I'll ever get.).

Favorite Lyrics: You're the promise that degraded every hope and dream. You're the whisper at the end of every hopeless scream. After all the years of turning love to empty rage, all you wanted was for me to help you turn the page.

Rating: 20 Broken Hearts. Despite it's melancholy and haunting imagery of love gone horribly wrong, its a damn fine song.

All of Nothing

A moment of silence than 'ka-pow' into a song about one-sided romance, arguably, it has the best synths of the album(definitely my favorite sounds). Hell all the instruments send chills up and down my spine. However, none of that compares to the cutting vocals. None of it. Chibi sings this with the express purpose of making you feel like you're the one in the song, morning the loss of this romance from hell. Betrayal, heartbreak, longing, anger, and hatred its all visceral. The chorus though...leaves me dead AF.

There are three impressions that's get stuck in my head any time I've listened to this. The first one, one person falls for their soulmate, becomes involved with said soulmate, and then soulmate turns out to be an asshat that's just using them.

The second one isn't going to be what you're expecting and is also pretty damn accurate(In my humble opinion). It perfectly describes the emotional turmoil that lesbians experience with straight girl crushes (Bi woman with straight girl crush experience). Though in the song's lyrics and imagery, the emotions are more accurate for the 'straight girl is curious and is willing to experiment with their best friend' and 'straight girl is straight and proceeds to verbally destroy their best friend'.  

(For any hetero  peeps reading, yes people do toy with LGBT+ folks like this and it hurts like a bitch. At least have the decency to still be a friend after emotionally fucking us up.)

The third one, a creepy psycho stalker falls in love with the person they are stalking and the victim does something to upset the stalker, stalker proceeds to violently murder them for the perceived slight.

Favorite Lyrics: I was looking for an ending when I fell into you, you were like a dream; cause you never came true. You said it all meant nothing to you. Now you turn around and tear me just for something to do. You like to make it bleed, but you never cut through. You say it all means nothing to you

Rating: All the broken hearts. ALL OF THEM. Repeat for days, listen to it until my ears bleed, and if ever I'm stranded on an island with a magical iPod that can only have one song on it; this be the song.

Without You

These vocals are killing me, in the absolutely best way possible. They are angelic, light, enchanting, and cutting. Ugh...the whole song is longing for the loss of your other half. The accompanying instruments are ever as always fantastic. Although, I loathe the first half of the instrumental break down after the some very nice 'ahs', so much. Its so 80s but not good 80s. Just the first half, the second half is amazing.  The spirit of this song is heart wrenching.

Two high school sweethearts are in a car crash and one of them dies. Proceeds to haunt the other, waiting to be reunited.  Or one of them joins the military and is killed in action. Two young lovers are in a life threatening situation: stranded in the mountains, trapped in a collapsed building, or separated in a hostage situation. One of them is killed trying to save the other.

Favorite Lyrics: Bitter tears flow through eternity, lovers play out another tragedy. And you tell me, hold on. Hold on, I hear you say, hold on. Hold on, I'll come back for you. I will wait for you, tomorrow never comes, it can't be true. Life is not the same now, without you

Rating: 40 Broken Hearts. Loss, longing, and love.

Counterpane

Drums, bass, and vocals, oh my(the guitars are excellent too)! This triangle of pure kick to the face opens one of the two songs that are more synth rock than synth pop. Never fear the synths are there, just more jamming out than dance the night away. It will make you want to get up and go, and do some head banging too. I love the synths and bass for the bridge they accentuate the vocals so well(I could go on and on for days about it.). I know I've been waxing poetic about the vocals but,  they are so damn amazing. They are strong and, as I've said, a kick to the face.  The. Bridge. Is. So. Mother. Fucking. Exceptional.

The love starts off strong in the relationship but one of them no longer loves the other. However the miserable party stays in the relationship. Getting more and more miserable as time passes until they cut and run(Dear John...).

Favorite Lyrics:  We're at the edge of the world again. Time will never heal the distance. Been here before when we were innocent. Building this modern prison for so long.  We’re at the edge of the world again. A step back is a step forward. Been here before, when we were innocent. I saw the signs, but I couldn’t find the words. Now we’re stuck in a wasteland. Everyone in the dark adores you. So much regret for things I never said. I should’ve left. I always meant to.

Rating: 50 Broken hearts. A break up song...or bad decisions made even worse because no one wants to hurt a person they once loved.

Unkind

Ugh...these vocals are perfect. I know, I know, I'm a broken record but, but they're so amazing and make me feel so much. They breathe life into the lyrics. Don't get me started on the amazing 80s vibe; Without You had its bad 80s moment, but this right here, tis good 80s(Though I am biased on what constitutes good 80s). Its vibe is more synth rock than synth pop, but nowhere near as 'kick in the face' as Counterpane. On second thought its got some 'ka-pow' and kick to it. Lyrically its very 'cat and mouse'. For some its the chase, not the romance. These people leave a trail of broken hearts and revenge fueled hate behind them.

It is a brutal glimpse into the unfairness of love and the fickle nature of it, in others. Or it could be the jaded and cynical heart, of someone whose been burned by past lovers one time too many.

Favorite Lyrics: You're never too far from my mind's eye. I search for the meaning between your words. A gentle poison to calm my soul. We dance in the halls of our twilight.

Rating: 60 Jaded Hearts of varying stages of 'I want to love you, but you're going to be a disappointment eventually and I don't want to get attached'. I live for this song's instrumental breakdowns.  

Games

The. Vocals. Are. So. Damn. Perfect. I know, I know but its true(blame TBM for how perfect and on point they are with every song on this album). There's a hint of wistfulness and whimsy to each line to combat the hopelessness and despair in the lyrics; a juxtaposition of darkness and light(Classic TBM). That harshly whispered refrain after the bridge though... I do love the synth and drum combo that we're hit with at the beginning. Now this song is definitely a 'longing for someone' or 'I've been in too many bad romances and am going to play the same games that were played on me'.

A young romantic that's been disillusioned to the euphoric life changing experience of love, one partner at a time.  Until they are cold and no longer believe in love anymore, they live to spread the misery.  Or the young romantic keeps falling in love and their lovers die over and over again.  The young romantic is strung along by someone else for no other purpose than to be played with.

A grieving widow taunted by the memories of the love they once had with their spouse.

Favorite Lyrics: Trace the lines, anesthetize. In the night another scar is left behind. I want the stars in your eyes, I'll take the stars from your eyes.

Rating: 70 Broken Hearts. Catchy AF. Though its usually only 'I want the stars in your eyes' that gets stuck in my head. Normally I don't mind when its the entire song, but one line is a huge 'No'. I use it as an excuse to blare TBM(not that I ever need an excuse to blare TBM.).

Hex

This will get your body moving. This is a song that has energy to give and it doesn't care about what you want. Your head will be nodding to those drums and you will sing along to the lyrics(even if your tone def AF, you'll sing along). From the opening refrain to the last, the vocals are spellbinding(PUNS!!!). The chorus is up in the rafters before coming down to grace us mere mortals with singer friendly octaves. The synth breakdown on the bridge is killer(Reminiscent of Play with Fire's synths mixed with a hint of the Halloween theme 'Michael Meyers psycho' remix. Oh look, more puns!). The. Drums. Are. Excellent. The whole song is  perfection(Fight Me!).

I'd like to designate this song as the theme for the relationship between Harley Quinn and the Joker.

Three words: Break Up Anthem. Though the serial killers take things to a more 'bloody' and 'copious piles of bodies' level than normal people. In all seriousness though, the emotions this song address that everyone has, will, and does feel after a bad break up or a good one, it still painful. Or someone cheated and the wounded party plots their revenge(they catch the 'stalking and violently murder' bug).

Favorite Lyrics: Binds of hex and magic, a sight to blur your open eyes. Blinding love so tragic, tonight your heart is broken. Supernatural. I'll be the one that you let behind the wall. Supernatural. I'll be the one that will watch you as you fall.

Rating: Infinite Broken hearts. Its way too epic for mere numbers. No matter who you are, this song is relevant AF.  Another Catchy tune.

No Tomorrow

Misleading AF opening with intense drums and wicked synths to a nice slow lullaby esque melody. All the verses' vocals even sound like a lullaby. Then 'ka-boom' into the chorus of murder and mayhem with harsh growl-y vocals (I love them so much). The second synth rock and or metal song. This is almost a 'circle pit' (Or ya know, a mosh pit. WTF is this 'circle pit' bullshit.) song.  I lied about the wicked synths at the beginning, they are wicked, but the ones right before the last chorus(be still my heart)...those are some wicked synths; on par with All Of Nothing's. Out of all the songs that play with dark and light, this one has it all: the intense opening, the soft lullaby melody, the harsh growl-y vocals, the soft, breathy, and angelic vocals, and the imagery of the lyrics both the harshness and the softness.

At first listen it sounds like a 'i'm going to murder you' break up song. However, it struck me as a song about a dissolving relationship or a one night stand, one is becoming empty and meaningless and the other is empty and meaningless.  Or a friendship crashing and burning, friends fight but if one is using the other....it can get ugly (I've been there).

Another impression is that these are the lies we tell ourselves to survive the roller-coaster ride of agony where about get on.

Favorite Lyrics: You pretend that you want somebody, I'll pretend that I need someone. You pretend you could love somebody, just know you're not the only one. You don't want somebody, I don't need someone. You can't love somebody, you're the only one.

Rating: 90 Unbroken hearts. Its like two songs in one. A true master piece. The lies we tell ourselves to survive heartache.

The Lowest Low

I dislike it. Its bad 80s, even worst than Without You's bad 80s, and it puts me to sleep. I DO like the lyrics and the vocals but that is all I like about it. It could also be the similarities it shares with Movie from WWS(; a song I also dislike with a passion).  This song is so not my jam. The synths are too blah. Everything is so slow, I can't listen to it often. Bleh.

I did like it a whole lot more, but by much, when I really listened to the lyrics and it reminded me of Howl's Moving Castle(its a movie and anime for those who have never heard of it). This song can sum up the whole movie's story-line, its quite magical. A whirl wind romance that ends in an abrupt way, leaving a very broken individual behind to piece themselves back together.

Favorite Lyrics: When you collapse all the colours changes, like a hexagon storm. Look for my reflection and can't see my face. I killed my past just to be reborn.

Rating: 10 Broken hearts. It gets skipped a lot. Sorry, not sorry. This song is not for me. But DO NOT let my 'Negative Nancy' attitude dissuade you from giving it a listen. It might be just the right song for you.  

Endless

What's the best way to follow up bad 80s? With good 80s, and that is exactly what this song is. Its uplifting and fast paced that serves to lift you free of the quagmire left in the wake of The Lowest Low(No, it does not change my feelings for the song when taking the juxtaposition of both songs into consideration.). Like Hex it has energy to burn, and if Hex didn't get you off your feet, this one will. The delivery of the vocals add depth to the song's pacing and acts like Nos, at least for the chorus. The tempo calms a little for the verses before taking off again. The tempo through out the song and instrumental breakdown, you know the one, remind me of that scene in Ghost Rider (Where the two riders are racing across the desert leaving behind a trail of flames).

This song is not about bad romances, longing, loss, despair, or break ups. Its hope and moving forward. In the first ten songs you're bogged down and shackled by the negativity, this one helps you sprout wings and soar to the highest cloud. And of course two high school sweethearts have weathered the good and bad times; they're still going strong.

Favorite Lyrics: Cast upon shores of fire, blood and water collide. Tears that drown my desire wash away in your tide. All rivers lead into a dark and endless sea. Memories bleed into a cold and dreamless sleep.

Rating: 11 Beautiful hearts. An anthem of hope that details the recovery from those blindsiding hurts.

Score:

Love and hate are the beat of the heart and we are slaves to the tempo.

The Heart of the Matter (I regret nothing!)

Here we are on the other side of what is, essentially, a break up album; TBM style. It doesn't pull punches, it isn't afraid to get into the nitty-gritty of how awful people are in the face of the two strongest emotions that humanity can feel, it uplifts as much as it drags us under, and it is an exquisite work of art(There was a pun, but I resisted).    

Yeah its straight-forward and doesn't take you to another world, but it explores the Ouroboros of Love and Hate; an infinite loop. It takes us into the emotions felt by all of humanity. The dark and twisted desires, the cruel games people play, the helpless longing we feel toward our fellow humans, and the light at the end of the tunnel.

As to the impressions I've given you, THOSE ARE PURELY MINE. They don't have to be yours and you can disagree with them(don't be a TROLL about it though). That is what is so great about this album, its straight forward enough that we COULD agree on the imagery of the lyrics or the story it tells, but its still TBM enough to have depth; to be more than a 'straight forward break up' album.  

Oh sure, you can even say, “But its not relateable or relevant to me.” Give it time, in a few years it will be relateable and relevant as fuck.  

[king-hassan-blog1]

Of the moe-blob anime that has been on my radar for a while was Gochuumon wa Usagi desu ka

Along with the advent of constant bashing of numerous Anime fans increasingly being distraught by the quality of moe-blob Anime taking over the vast majority of seasons since 2011, its telling that genre has longer overstayed its greet. I'm one these people that just does not look closely at the trends taking place , and simply goes toward something with a great open mind whatever the tag the Anime simply so happens are categorized in. There is constantly this sense with surprise always lurking holdings and liabilities genre I discover. Of the moe-blob Anime that's on my radar for a little bit was Is the Order a Rabbit season 2 review.

With its debut with 2014, Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka, As i thought, was a superb first season to get started introducing the thrown of girls that him and i would follow on their ordinary and lovely daily lives. What kept people from loving it was eventually that it appeared like a very "safe" moe-blob Anime. The antics together with situations from share of the episodes don't really grab me even though how I would probably hold my moe-blob Anime for a higher standard than a lot of people do. Going inside season 2, I was hoping that Studio developing Gochuumon, White Fox, would make an attempt to add more depth in the cuteness and probably some subtle dynamics depth. Now seems like my wish has been definitely granted while i was finished for it.

Gochuumon is, mostly, the most handsome coated Anime you may ever feast ones eyes upon. The girls are generally about as kawaii together with cuddle worthy may possibly literally get asphyxiated by the quality of kawaii essence that will pervades the surroundings. This does not only include how adorable the type designs are. Into the voice acting talent that's on here: Ayane Sakura, Inori Minase, Maaya Uchida, Risa Taneda, Satami Sato, Kayano Ai, Sora Tokui, Rie Murakawa, and Saori Hayami creating a supporting appearance. These perform their roles very well and at their own most heart inducting cutest. The cute catchphrases most of the girls repeat and their particular quirks offer several charm that captivates want you to watch more these girls say cheeky and cute discussion.

As slice with life Anime set off, there is virtually no plot to analyze on. All you must go on may be to analyze how that characters grow upon you on an psychological and mental level. Some of them do make an attempt to add development over the show, nevertheless sometimes they always keep them static, that can succeed on as well side. Gochuumon fits more relating to the latter side, however there does exist some level with development. Not exactly in the individual characters, but from their relationships to one another that starts to expand on the cute and uproarious situations. The 2nd months provides more to produce the relationships come to feel genuine from precisely how these girls treasure the other as friends. I even seemed like I was close with each other as I seen their progression from these episodes from months 1 to months 2. That kind of closeness you sense when you see Anime that center around a grouping of friends and you may feel attached in the direction of, whether it end up comedic or striking in tone, is usually a great sign that you really did a superior job writing-wise.

For any individual characters independently, they are virtually as charming together with adorable as in advance of in season 1. Usually there are some new things with season 2 that provide our previous people more material to extend their likability. This consists of how their people have different edges for many years that we do not ever thought before, like Rize-chan experiencing an adorable shyness to help her when she's attempted to get hold of cuddled by people and Chino-chan getting senior from the mindset of Cocoa along with the others. There is a more substantial emphasis on Chino-chan together with her friends Megumi together with Maya than with season 1 i always was appreciated to find the writers not ignoring most of the supporting cast. I would also adore to mention a the brand new character that truly won my cardiovascular system this year and that is certainly Cocoa's big sibling, Moka-chan. Seeing her hoping cuddle the crazy things that girls and see them often was an utter riot and adorable to find. My only intend is, if you will have a season 3 since I'm writing the following, that they give her much more screen-time than in advance of.

Moe-blob Anime art work is prototypical, with girls big eyes as large as their hands, bright colored and shiny locks, and small figures despite how old they are. Sometimes I feel since I can get high away from the cuteness of Gochuumon, that's how strong the moe can usually get from this exhibit. Now, how does may well this be distinctive from all the Anime like the idea? To me, it all boils down to how properly the animators tend to make a scene that involve a simple chibi quip along with the right timing and using hilarious facial expression to brew a cute moe Anime lovely. Gochuumon does the following well from precisely how expressive the people emotions are that will feel charming to find from the vast majority of scenes in that show. Although I probably would not say the art work hasn't changed considerably, there certainly seems like it has more pizzazz for it, but this might just be from how longer I've seen months 1. Nevertheless, because I've heated up to these characters entering season 2, the humor together with expressive art began to grow on people better.

I just had to mention yet another thing that I think can be a sentiment of why is Gochuumon the ultimate "watch to produce yourself happy" Anime. Although music in the show is not really super special to help even remember, the OP together with especially the ED are remarkable to speak about the least. The OP together with ED both possess a sugar coated J-Pop vibe to your singing and words that fit well along with the atmosphere of the show for an adorable slice with life moe Anime. The ED may be one of my own top five most loved EDs of any sort of Anime ever. Having its infectious vocals, habit, lyrics, and really adorable dancing just by our three bit of elementary girls Chino, Megumi, together with Maya, there is no song that is known that could restrain your depression for the whole day.

Though you cannot assume all jokes guarantee fun, Gochuumon season 2 is adequate, along with months 1, to warrant that distinction of being some of those great Anime that's best to see when feeling down in order to put on at the time of bed. Most slice with life are for any purpose, but Gochuumon is the one that proves to be one that could be like that and be enjoyable while doing so. There is not a chance this review can sway several anti-moe brigade into being keen on going anywhere near Gochuumon which includes a ten-foot pole. But then, nothing will.

[athyrabunlord]

Aqours 1st Live LV Thoughts

It’s a rainy day (typical Vancouver weather)

My throat is sore from all the screaming (srsly actual screaming)

Both my arms are disabled after 3 hours of waving the glowsticks

It’s wet and cold af and I’m hungry (I came straight to the theatre after work so no dinner), so I’m eating hot cup noodle LOL

Even after all of the above, I’M SO EUPHORIC AF LIKE OMFG WHATTA EXPERIENCE I need to ramble asap nvm I have to wake up for work in… 4 hours LOL

Very long rambling under the cut:

I went to the Theatre straight after work because I was worried about the lineup and, boy, I made the right decision because 5minutes after I got there, the line suddenly quadrupled the original length.

Yes bad pic I know, but at least I remembered to snap a shot before chatting with nearby nice fellow livers! I have to say, I was surprised by the male:female ratio - I’m certain it was 65%-35%!! or even more girls!

Anyway, as we were lining up, I saw people who brought their nesoberis, badges, keychains etc., while I only have a lonely orca keychain on my purse because, hey I did come straight from work, there’s only so much gear I can bring conveniently XD;;; Someone brought a boom box and blasting songs, so when Aozora came on we were all doing calls on the sidewalk, lolol!!

Once we got in, we got that nice Aqours post cards with the girls’ signatures +_+ and the back looks like this:

yes I still use iPhone 4S as my main phone so excuse the quality

and we also get one smol glowstick for free! I snapped mine way before the LV started lmao, but it was a brilliant purple Mari color XD

I made friends with a few Livers and chatted a bit with the girl beside me (we both adore Honoka and Chika, loving them as the leaders and technically neither of us could pick a fav girl because we love them all!!). Maa, I told her my fav girl is orca (because I fangirl her the most and I did bring her keychain XD), so she gave me an extra glowstick that’s green - Kanan’s color! So I ended up having #kanamari glowsticks lmfao I’m such trash

Before LV started tho, we decided to move to the front (I think the 2nd row in fact) and later on that was def the right decision because lmao I stood up the majority of the LV , sorry for the people behind us several rows back XD;;;;;;

A nice guy was handing out a copy of teamonibe’s fan callbook!

To the left, there are a bunch of hardcore(?) guys with the UO sticks (a box in fact), ready to get rollin’. I thought they would disturb/decrease enjoyment of the LV but, I was wrong! For me at least, their hoarse cries, cheers and sincere calls really added to the LV experience so for that, I’m thankful they were there!

As the theatre fills up (not completely full tho), the guy with the boombox continues to play music and… well, when Psychic Fire played, I friggin’ just lost it LOOOOOL FooFOO!!! BIBI BIBI BIBIBI!!!!!!!!! My HP nearly turned grass-green before the LV even started X’DD From that moment my switch turned off and I’m total Liver mode.

We did calls with the background music, but when the Intro screen came on, we all lost it and started cheering as each girl came on the screen. I vaguely remember standing up and cheering (read: screaming) Kanan and Dia >_>;;;

Aozora is the opener and GDI I DEFINITELY SCREECHED LIKE HOLY SHIT BIG SCREEN HIGH DEFINITION MY AWESOME GALS THAT’S AQOURS FFFFFFFCKKKKKKKK

I was all sweaty and I can feel the ache in my arms after the song ended. XD!!! Maa, I was (willingly) spoiled by all the twitter and posts so I knew exactly what lineup are the songs. Even then, that trepidation and excitement as the intro to KoiAq came on. *_* SHUKASHUU HER SMILE IS BRILLIANT SHE EXTENDS MY LIFE BY SEVERAL YEARS LIKE OMFG SHE’S SO, SO CUTE

Ahem, member intro time. Gawd, now, this is what makes LV sooo much fun! Doing the call/response with the VAs! Due to all the niconamas, I know each by heart and it was amazing to actually scream my adoration for them, especially with fellow fans!!! I also notice Aikyan, Shukashuu and Anchan are the most popular (at least around my area which is the front, I have no idea what’s going on with the mid + backrows loooooool)

I myself bounced up and fcking SCREAMED MIKAN, MIKAN, MI~KA~N with Anchan’s call lmaoooo (and let out a very girly screech when suwawa hugged shukashuu in her intro lmfao I can’t help it)

Aqours Heroes is a very fun song to do calls with but lmao my HP was definitely dark red by then X’DDDD So grateful for the intermission. My respect for the VAs spiked again for having such stamina!

The intermission chibis are so darn cute. I finally understood why people said they’re upgraded compared to previous LL concerts - the eyes and expressions are def way more animated! Mari’s （＞ω＜） is beyond cute.

Hand in Hand is a very fun song, I remember twirling my glowsticks like an idiot but this was also when I noticed my purple glowstick is dying OTL

Daisuki has quite the uniformed calls, or at least we’re able to grasp the rhythm better than HiH. The MC afterwards was adorabs. Sks is criminally kawaii.

Yume de Yozora is beautiful. I don’t remember much except that it really is beautiful, something you just sit back and enjoy.

Another intermission. The Ramen vs Shuumai vs Curry bit was hilarious af xD I wasn’t able to concentrate much tho because I knew the subunit songs are next and based on the fanarts and magazine photos, I already know I’ll die.

GenkiZenkaiDDD came on and I was deceased. Followers of this blog should know I’m utter CYR garbage and fck, no, really, Anchan, Shukashuu, Shokunin AiAi absolutely slayed me. The outfits really, really look good on them, photos alone do not do them justice. DDD is such a fun song and we all had a blast! I remember actually, jumping, many times (as in my feet really left the ground…) I LOVE CYARON *actually roared that near the end of DDD I was garbage I cannot be stopped xD;;;

The MC, well, I don’t know how I survived it because I love them so much like omfg???? The girl in my row, a You/Sks fan, also ded like me. The fanboys around us were slaughtered. I distinctively remember hearing a hoarse cry of bliss at how cute they were. RIP that gentleman lmao.

Next, perhaps I’m biased af because this is my fav song, but Yozora is breathtaking. Beautiful, mesmerizing, each of their facial expressions and movements, holy sht. Shukashuu’s solo ballet bridge, fccccck.

The Dun-Dun-DunDun! for Torikoriko Please came on and I instantly hopped back onto my feet. If my screams at Suwawa and Arisha-sama annoyed anyone then I apologize here XD;;; Like I said, my switch turned off. I’m normally a quiet girl (surprise surprise) but I think I had screamed several years worth of shrieks tonight…

But yes, Arisha is… like, wow. Goddess much? (Many fanboys perished here yes) And that bit where Suwawa fixed Arisha’s hair so naturally and smoothly too like wtf just happened?!?!?!?!?! (unfortunately I only heard myself scream at that. So yes, the person who screamed then was me.)

Tokimeki, a goddess song, was indeed a goddess song here. It was also beautiful and ethereal. My soul was healed and I can die happily(again)

Strawberry Trapper, expected, was the most popular song but, hey, I was shrieking my lungs out too! They were sooooooooooo fcking cool! Aikyan, Rkk, Ainyan really nailed this song! The whole theatre was in uproar and deservedly so

MC showcases how smol and adorabs Ainyan is. I love her. I understand why Suwawa cuddles her so much because I wanna give her hagus too. Also, Aikyan was in total Yohane-sama mode. The guy behind me, a total Aikyan-tard, was killed several times throughout this MC

GNGK was a really fun song to do calls! It doesn’t deplete your HP drastically but still a lot XD

Intermission was a condensed anime summary up until ep9. During the YouChika scenes, my new friend smiled “YouChika Confirmed yo” and I returned that same grin “YouChika is real yo”. Fcuk yeah! (P.S. we both ship YouRiko too tho lmfao). The ChikaRiko window scene got a lot of cheers. My heart was filled with warmth at all the cheers at the μ's  mentions/scenes. I was the one who screeched Honoka if anyone heard X”D;;;;;; I also went batshit crazy at the kanamari hug scene I’M NOT SORRY FOR WAVING MY KANAMARI GLOWSTICKS LIKE THE GARBAGE I AM

Mijuku Dreamer. :’D don’t have much to say here - it’s everything I’ve wanted for this godly song with the godly outfits. The ThirdYears Hug near the end is 10 harasho

Finally, the long awaited, OmoiYo. We’re all already cheering for Rikyako when she got up to the piano. But omfg?? The close up shot of her swiping the piano keys in the intro like holy fck so badass????? RIKYAKO!!!! (I remember screaming her name until my voice went hoarse and I had to shut up for a while lmfao)

MC was great. Aikyan was great. KyanAi was adorabs. onee-sama was onee-sama. Shukashuu welcoming rkk back made the YouRiko fan inside me roll (along with fellow fans beside me lmao)

Todokanai is another fun song to do calls for. Since I recovered quite a bit of my HP earlier, I went back to actually jumping and screaming >_>;;;

Intermission again, more anime summary. We all did Mari’s “Oh my god, oh my god, OH MY GOD” bit X’DDD it was fun af

MiraiTicket outfits are godsend. The musical before the song is sooo well-acted. Those who didn’t like the anime part or felt it odd/out of place (like myself), would surely have their opinion changed after this. Anchan truly is a natural. Also, again, YouChika confirmed yo >8D

WE SAY YOSORO~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KimiKoko surprised me - it got me, really, really hyped up. The calls are really fun to do and we were all very united in this. Those leapfrog jumps tho. Gawd, I’m so proud of my girls :’D

Encore time - a guy behind my row was shouting “A~sore~!” after each of our “Enco-ru!” XDDD Funny af. This is also when the UO guys are prepping the next box of of UOs… oh and did I mention one of them was wearing a Shiitake suit/outfit?

The Encore animation was great. I remember Shiny-ing with Mari, and screamed Kanan and flailing my (still alive) green glowstick. And, ofc, Yosoro, Ganbaruby, and Mirai zura~

PopsHeart, I love this song!!! I already practiced through the MiniLive so, yup, I was back to jumping and shrieking and used up 2/3 of my HP flailing but goddam it’s such a fun song!!!!!

ED is a very popular song~ We’re all pretty much singing and serenading throughout this bit, especially Singing My Song for my Dream~ Also, Anchan and Arisha hugged. This is very important.

Closing MC. Off the top of my head, I remember screaming Ainyan when smolshiny is trying her best holding her tears ;A; and definitely screeched my throat sore for King’s tears. Again, I went batshit crazy at Suwawa. Sorry for the people around me again XD;;;;;

Last but not least ofc, was Anchan. Iono, when she thanked the audience for the live, my eyes felt damp. If I wasn’t so hyped (and dehydrated then), I might have actually cried. This must be the Live feels? I can’t really describe it - it’s a myriad of emotions, happy to be here to enjoy this, with fellow fans… it truly is amazing.

0>1 as the last song, we were def all jumping at this point. The UO guys went all out, so did we XDDDDD

Overall, this had been an incredible experience for me. Never had I had the opportunity to express my love for a fandom so much, so earnestly and full-heartedly, surrounded by strangers who also at that moment then were all connected by our mutual love for Aqours.

I had a lot of fun, it was definitely a fantastic night. I sincerely wish there will be more opportunities like this in Canada/Vancouver for future LLS events, and I also urge fellow fans to attend such events because, honestly, you don’t know what you’ve been missing out just watching niconamas etc.

P.S. even as I’m typing this, my green glow stick is still alive… how… I guess Kanan’s stamina being limitless is realz yo

[mysticdragon3md3]

Welcome to the Ballroom ep1

In which I go from really liking the show, to getting very confused by character inconsistency for the sake of the genre’s typical story progression/pace. o~o?

I like this show!  ^o^  The protagonist is super relatable and adorable!  Sengoku-san had me laughing soon into the episode!  ("Excuse to get close to girls"?  C'mon man.  LOL)  And I'm intrigued by Shizuku's situation.  If she's so dedicated to dance that she's protective of it vs people who don't take it seriously, but the teachers think she hasn't decided on any life path yet, then why is she keeping her passion for dancing a secret?  Are her parents ashamed of her dancing?  How is she going to the dance studio so often without them knowing?  Do her parents actually permit her to dance, but expect to her grow out of it as a career?  o.o?????  

And is it just me, or do Fujita and Shizuku remind anyone else of Haikyuu's Hinata and Shimizu?  They've all got such similar character designs!  Even Shizuku's name is smilar to Haikyuu's Shimizu Kiyoko!  ^o^  Well, I who didn't see that coming?  The manga industry does ride trends.  When Bleach became popular Otomen and lots of other series came out with smiliarly designed characters.  Suddenly, all the female mentor characters were no nonsense bad asses with short, dark hair, just like Rukia Kuchiki.  And the entire Shonen genre had become so trendy through Bleach, Naruto, and Death Note, that even Shojo manga-ka were being told by their editors to make a "Shonen series".  Even Watase Yuu, whose series are "all girly all the time" suddenly had a male protagonist series.  That was crazy.  (Especially since the male protagonists still had all the stereotypically "girly" problems.)  And most of all, Soul Eater homaged all 3, Bleach, Naruto, and Death Note.  The manga/anime/Japanese videogame industries ride trends.  I seriously doubt Persona 5 would have had a volleyball character, if Haikyuu hadn't made the sport so popular.  And that's not to mention all the articles I've read about the sudden interest in practicing swordplay, among women in Japan, after Touken Ranbu became popular.  And let's not forget the rekijo (female history geeks) were mostly spurred by manga/anime set in the Sengoku Era.  Anyway, it might be fun to imagine a Hinata type of character in this predictably romantic character set-up.  

There's something weird about this direction in the 2nd half of the episode.  I had really liked it so far.  But that imagery of Fujita being impressed by the dance competition DVD was really jarring.  Now that I think about it, I don't think there was any other imagery that surreal, so far yet in the episode.  I know it's meant to really sell the impact of pro dancing on Fujita, but it was mostly just odd.  The episode so far, hadn't eased me into that much surrealism.  So far, the episode had portrayed all the emotions with very realistic, yet very effective use of minutia, detail, and subtlety.  But that revelation moment's jarring oddness was too distracting to take seriously.  

And now this scene with Fujita saying he wants to sign up for dance lessons, even though he's _thinking_ with absolute certainty, "I can't do this"?  The juxtaposition is too odd.  I feel like the camera work is changing to contrast the Fujita asking for lessons and the Fujita rattling off a list of very realistic reasons why I CAN'T take lessons, to make them seem like 2 different people...But when has this character showed that dichotomy so far during his character set-up?  There was that one moment when he glared at the bullies, but it was very small and very quickly covered up by his submissive personality.  This is just too much contrast at once!  Another jarring contradiction.  

I don't want to be jarred out of this series though.  Everything from the character design to the animation, says that this series will carry a tone of subtlety, a recognition of the significance of the little things...Everything I love about the "slice of life" genre.  But unless that genre sets up very early and very often that it can switch back and forth between squishy chibis and serious scenes, it's all too much to take during the last third of the introductory episode.  I mean, look at all the lines defining each character's eyes and facial expressions!  The sakuga for every pointed toe on the dance floor!  This is the kind of thing that usually gets left in the manga, but doesn't get translated into an anime adaptation.  *o*  Everything about the line work, the lighting, the music (or lack of), the solidly drawn characters with such realistic volume and weight, the set-ups of the scenes are all just so realistic, that when this show does surreal imagery or unbelievable character actions...it just feels unrelated to everything that's been set up so far.  I'm really confused.  ~_~  

I don't know...this is really weird.  I know that the "reluctant teacher" is a time-honored trope since the story of the Daruma's disciple...But is it really fitting to set up this adversity to the protagonist's spirit, when the episode hasn't satisfactorily set-up a determined will for the protagonist?  I don't feel invested in Fujita persisting in The Box, or even dancing in general.  Usually in sports anime, the protagonist's introduction at least establishes his determination, so that during the training, we're cheering for him.  But even Fujita doesn't know what he really wants.  How can we?  Sure, there's been those sequences of him impressed by dance, but there have been a lot MORE scenes of him feeling wishy-washy and not even *that* determined to find something to be passionate about.  The amount of screentime spent on portraying something matters; it determines the emotional impact.  He was doing more sulking than exploring options.  He followed Shizuku to the dance studio _by accident_.  He was just wandering, directionless, and only slightly curious about her.  In fact, the most passionate I've seen Fujita during his initial introduction, was when he saw Shizuku also hadn't decided on her career form in the teacher's office.  He just liked that he had a comrade in his directionless indecision.  I feel like Fujita is motivated more by that fear of being alone at the bottom, more than a fascination with dance---even after that surreal impressed sequence.  

But I understand.  The entire premise of this series is that the protagonist needs to find something to be passionate about.  That dictates that he start out as a character who is listless and directionless.  But did the episode have to spend so much time establishing that listlessness, that it's hard to believe he's suddenly passionate about something, when the episode came to that?  If this were a more typical sports anime about "a protagonist who gets into ballroom dancing because he wants to find *something* to be passionate about", I feel like the protagonist would more typically have been the enthusiastic type, running around, trying anything and everything, for a place to belong.  His lack of passion wouldn't have been a problem, but finding an outlet for that passion would have been the conflict to resolve.  But I see that this series was trying to be different.  By not giving Fujita an inherent drive for anything, despite not knowing what to direct that determination towards, his character arc becomes more focused on finding passion, rather than finding an expression for passion.  Still, maybe that sports manga cliche, became a cliche, because it's just so effective.  ^^;  

I mean, the story *needed* Fujita to start his dancing lessons, so it essentially turned him into someone else, during that scene where he asked to join the dance studio. Someone who would definitely set him on the path into dance. Shouldn't the series have drawn that out longer, so it would have been more believable for him to start dancing?  But, no.  You can just see where the first chapter of the manga was about to end, and they needed to get the plot rolling, ending on that cliffhanger of him being accepting into classes, so readers would look forward to him tackling challenges.  That's just how the weekly manga is structured.  Every week, new first chapters of new manga series are all competing to get a spot in the next month's issue, to continue on as a series.  

Maybe the set-up of this series would have been better served emphasizing portrayals of the joy Fujita should feel at finding any passion or direction in life.  There should have been a series of little struggles and tiny, mundane discoveries of finding a passion---Maybe even spending time defining multiple interpretations of what Passion is.  And you can't tell me that this series wouldn't know how to portray the minute, subtle, everyday things.  That's what it's been doing with every animation of its characters faces and even taking the time to shadow the unique curves of individual characters' facial features.  And this series's tone has been "slice of life" overall, THE genre for portraying the significance in every tiny moment.  If this series had established Fujita by a series of little moments of direction/passion which bring him great joy, then it would have built up to the moment when Dance impressed him.  

Right now I'm not sure why *THIS* character should garner my investment in *THIS* task.  I like this character, but I'm not so sure dancing should be his direction in life.  And yet the story is already moving along, assuming we're already invested.  Please don't do this to me, show.  I already like this character.  Yuri on Ice did the same thing to me, empathizing with the protagonist but losing me on the sport in question.  This can't happen AGAIN so soon.  ~.~;  At least Yuri on Ice kept me invested in the "character study" side of the story.  But who is this Fujita?  Is he the same Fujita that was introduced at the beginning of this episode?  Has the story given me adequate reason to believe in this drastic change in his personality or at least his actions?  I'm just really confused.  

I mean, normally I love these moments when the sports anime protagonist pushes through a wall through sheer determination, but this is Fujita we're talking about?  Where would that determination even come from?  I don't understand how he's such a different---completely different character all of a sudden.  Sure, you can say because he's so impressed by dancing and he's finally found something he wants to be passionate about.  But a jarring, surreal sequence that felt like someone had changed the channel to another series, then a scene where Fujita's actions were COMPLETELY OPPOSITE from what he was thinking AND what he had been narrating all the way up to that point, aren't enough to sell me.  It wasn't effective.  Not emotionally, not logically.  It was someone else.  Who is this???  

I mean the only way this series might get by now, is if Fujita turns out to be some sort of prodigy, like Yui from K-on.  Someone who can keep progressing and performing the thematic activity of the series, even without any logical resolve and determination.  The problem is that Fujita is male.  And that makes him a "Shonen genre" protagonist.  They always have to have that "manly" determination and resolve.  ...But I just don't buy why he's having resolve about dancing.  I just don't buy it yet.  I mean, I love watching it, I love watching these type of "determination pushing through adversity" scenes, that's why I love the Shonen genre.  But there's some real dissonance going on there.  @_@???  

But damn, the direction of this series, when it comes to individual movements is great!  ^o^  

I mean, I love these training cliches, sports anime cliches, and plucky shonen protagonist cliches---I love these themes of determination---but...Does it really fit?  I mean, I paused the episode to get some tea, and when I came back, the training scene with The Box reads well, in and of itself.  But is increasing the effectiveness of a scene by divorcing it from everything else that's been established since the beginning of the episode, of this series, really considered "effective" (storytelling)?  Even Sengoku-san has made a sudden change from altruistic, happy-go-lucky, admirable "manly" guy to abrasive, "reluctant mentor".  This series has some serious character-consistency issues.  o~o  

Maybe this story assumes too much.  It assumes that the viewer is from a culture where there is constant pressure from a young age, to already know your path in life.  Even by junior high, Fujita's grade level, having a completely blank career form is already very late and very concerning.  As discussed in a Mother's Basement video essay about My Hero Academia (https://youtu.be/LmRfmJqE0kM), the pressure of choosing career early in life and the weight of indecision is a visceral, every day, concern in every Japanese youngster's life, from may age 11 to onwards and forever.   I'm sure most Japanese don't need a story to "prove" to them why they should care so much about this character's concern for direction in life.  With the Japanese audience's real life background, they're probably already impatient for him to find his passion and rooting for every second Fujita inches closer towards a passion.  But I'm American.  A story needs to sell those themes to me, needs to make me care, needs to be emotionally effective in establishing those assumptions, so I will be invested in the rest of the story, that his built on those assumptions.  

I'm sorry.  I really like Fujita, Welcome to the Ballroom is beautifully animated and art directed, and I want to look forward to continuing this series.  But I'm kind of indifferent.  *sigh*  

I'm probably still going to get Fujita's Nendoroid though.