#i always loved this part of the shinsengumi crisis arc

[courtesanofdeath]

[ridley-was-a-cat]

What I Watched This Week – 12/4-12/10

Lycoris Recoil - Being a veteran of the great 2021 Wonder Egg Priority debacle, I was hesitant to watch this original featuring cute girls doing violent things while it was airing, because I didn't want to get attached to something that was gonna twist its ankle and catch fire on the landing. In the months since it aired, I didn't hear any horror stories, so I figured it was safe. I can definitely see why this was as popular as it was. The visuals are sparkling - not only is it animated well, but the character designs pop and all the action scenes are framed perfectly - and the sound design is fantastic, giving all the gun and explosion sounds the appropriate feel. However, I can't help but come away with the feeling that this was an 8/10 anime carrying a story that is a 6/10 at best. There's just multiple points that completely crumble if you think about them for five minutes, there's a jaw-droppingly stupid episode centered on the girls' underwear, and I just categorically reject the suggestion that summarily executing criminals would keep crime low or that the organization tasked with carrying out these killings would be the good guys in a story. 7/10

No.6 - I dithered so long on watching this because I wasn't sure if it had a tragic ending, which I don't enjoy watching, that the license expired and it fell off streaming. I finally decided that I wanted to watch something with two guys who kiss that isn't a BL or a romance more than I wanted to avoid the risk of a tear-jerker. It's interesting that I decided to watch this the same week I watched Lycoris Recoil, because the settings were fairly similar in their overbearing police state and government manipulation of information. I definitely preferred how this series made it explicitly clear that the government was both completely in the wrong, and not keeping crime down at all with its murderous policies. Both of our main characters are victims of the system, one a criminalized underdog, the other a fallen elite, and they set out together to fight the city in their own way. I haven't read the novel or the manga, but I have to assume that adapting nine volumes in eleven episodes condensed the story quite a bit, which might explain why the final episodes in particular felt like a speed run. I still really enjoyed the characters, the setting, and the ideas behind the story despite the rushing in parts. 7/10

Gintama Ep.101-125 - I was already down pretty bad for Sougo, but somehow the Shinsengumi Crisis arc made me love him even more. Like, trigger-happy sadist Sougo who is always trying to murder his boss is highly entertaining, but sword-wielding "I'm not stuck in here with you, you're stuck in here with me" Sougo on that train car is the sort of thing I watch shounen anime for. I also enjoyed the Monkey Hunter episodes, where everyone met up in the video game to get back at the aliens who turned their body parts into different kinds of screwdrivers. I'd love to see the brainstorming meeting that idea fell out of.

[claymorecut]

I've seen people writing long metas and appreciation posts about a lot of Gintama characters but there is one character, I still haven't read much metas about. Kondo Isao.

If we talk about the storyline, Kondo is as important as any other character in the Gintama storyline but it always appeared to me that he's very underrated among fans. Most of the time, Kondo's just a gag character, used for just dick jokes and is a stalker gorilla and is more of a comic relief. But talking about a comic relief, mostly every character in Gintama is a comic relief. But it's the character's depth and relevance in the story that makes them so much more appealing.

Kondo Isao being no different.

If we throw aside all Kondo's stalking jokes and nakedness, what do we get? A genuine, calm, pure-hearted, kind, lovable, firm and respected leader- the chief of Shinsengumi. Without him, there would be no Shinsengumi. And it's been shown over and over again how influential of a character he is, whether it's the very first time when Hijikata fought Gintoki for Kondo's sake or that one time where Kondo took a bullet for some toad bastard and later how Hijikata and Okita, together, were making a barbecue out of that amanto, just for Kondo's sake, saying something like it weren't for that man, they'd be nothing but just a bunch of thugs. Or the Shinsengumi Crisis arc when the whole Shinsengumi went bazooka when they found out that Itou was actually planning to kill Kondo (remember the train scene with Sougo, hell, he was pissed af!) or the Farewell Shinsengumi arc which just beautifully crushed everybody's heart .

Talking about his influence on the Shinsengumi, Kondo is not just shown as their leader but also as a father/brother figure to the whole Shinsengumi. He binds them all together; without him they're lost. Kondo knows the meaning of being a true leader, he knows about his responsibilities and that it's not just only about him, he carries all these men together. He's a calm and collected personality, whether it is during the time when the Shinsengumi was providing security to that disgraceful toad who was bad-mouthing him over and over again or the time during the Mitsuba arc when he punched Sougo, knocking senses into him even when he was so damn agitated or handing himself over quietly to the Mimawarigumi when the Shinsengumi was away for the Shogun's funeral. These moments prove that he's the wisest amongst all; rather than letting his anger take the best of him and being reckless, he thinks it all through, patiently while making his choices. And that's one of the most important characteristic to be a leader.

Kondo's kind and generous character is also not invisible. Time and time again it's been shown how pure-hearted man he is. Whether it's his comrades, enemies, the Yorozuya or Otae, it's been made clear how good of a man he is. His crying face during the Shinsengumi Crisis arc when he's crying out for all his men, yelling he isn't worth dying for when all his were risking their lives for his sake or his genuine love for Otae, eating her dark matter happily and accepting her for who she is without any hesitancy or him running for Hijikata and Okita's aid during the Mitsuba arc, the Baragaki arc and the Rokakku arc immediately or simply helping the Yorozuya out of prison during the Courtesan of a Nation arc and fighting alongside them against Sadasada or leaving the Shinsengumi behind just so they can live on during the FS arc while he gets executed or his forgiving nature towards Itou and Sasaki who actually tried to kill him, because they were envious of him, that they could never be the man Kondo Isao was.

Now looking back at Kondo's past, yeah, it isn't as painful as Gintoki and Hijikata but still, he was always trashed by others, was mocked over and over again and was called a thief. Think how hurtful it can be for a child who just keeps on hearing trash from people and is actually called a thief, when he's done nothing close to it (well, other than him ogling at radishes because of his weird radish-fetish....)? He wasn't some honorable child to begin with; he was brash, animalistic and often heard shit from his parents. And yet, he fought all of this. He met his master, improved himself and when he thought he was abandoned by the man who accepted and taught him everything, he didn't forego. Rather than giving up, he now was determined to become stronger, to make a name for himself. He fought himself, tried to become a better person, struggled and became more stronger, inherited his father's dojo, taught sword skills to others, brought all those country samurai to Edo, formed the Shinsengumi with them and brought the best out of not just his men, but himself as well.

If it weren't for Kondo, Hijikata would still be the same ol' thug, swinging his sword aimlessly at whoever he wanted, wherever he wanted. If it weren't for Kondo, Sougo would be the same loner kid. If it weren't for Kondo, Yamazaki would still be the same Mountain Zaki. If it weren't for Kondo, maybe all these Shinsengumi members would still be aimlessly wandering somewhere. If it weren't for Kondo, there would be no Shinsengumi. It all started with Kondo. He is the core, the root and without him, his men are lost. He is the heart and soul who binds them all together, he is the man who gave them a purpose. Those country samurais who had no name, no education but just their swords. It was because of him, they found an aim for themselves. They found a reason for themselves. They found a name "Shinsengumi", they found respect, they found morals, they found honour, all just because of that man. No matter how much shit Kondo gets, his men are deadly loyal to him. Just because for the man he is. They look up to him, care for him, and I think, love him the most in the whole world because he's the one who gave them all, not just name and fame, but a family as well. He's respected, not just by his comrades but his enemies as well. Itou wanted to be a part of his Shinsengumi, Katsura actually went to that prison just so he could get Kondo and Matsudaira out. Even Isaburo stated what kind of a man Kondo Isao is, "gentle yet firm, a deadly combination" and that he wanted to be a better person than him. Tae almost getting her neck slashed by Nobunobu while defending Kondo's honour spoke how much of a great person he was, that almost everybody was willing to risk their lives for his sake. Gintoki seeing Shoyou in Kondo was a huge parallel, depicting the fact that just like how he was lost without Shoyou, the Shinsengumi would be lost without Kondo. Gintoki telling Hijikata that they could still save what they loved the most and that it's still not too late for them like him was crushing. Seeing Kondo dead (I know he wasn't) while all the Shinsengumi members, especially Hijikata and Sougo, stared at his body, heartbroken (you know you cried there!!). One can easily say how important Kondo is to all of them, how they just fell on their knees, devastated, when they all saw him dead in front of their eyes.

All this is brilliantly done by Sorachi, he never disrespected any of his character and proved their significance in his story. Even though he used Kondo as a comic relief most of the time, just like Shigeshige, he made it pretty clear that these two have a great impact on the characters, on the storyline. Yes, Kondo doesn't have one of those glorious single fights like Hijikata and Okita have but at the same time, it doesn't look very necessary as well. He may not be the best swordsman but that doesn't mean he isn't strong enough to kick ass. Hell, he runs this freakin' huge ass police organisation, he ain't no dumb monkey. Him pinning two yatos singlehandedly with just his sword during the SA arc and fighting alongside Zura against those Narakus may looked brief but in both of them, Kondo was really badass. His idiotic personality speaks badass, his men aren't blind. They know what he is and there's no need for any conformation. Also how in the FS arc, Kondo not for once abandoned Katsura or his men. Rather leaving the Mimawarigumi members to die, he actually helped them on the battlefield; him paying respects to Isaburo at the end of the FS arc with all other Shinsengumi and Mimawarigumi members speaks his genuine leadership qualities. His impact on his men, the Shinsengumi, and other characters is enough to tell how great of a man Kondo really is. His kind personality, saying "a leader is nothing without his men" and that he just wants to see his men live while he becomes another stepping stone for them is remarkable. He's a genuine, down-to-earth person who never sees himself as a leader or a superior but as an equal to his men. He's a man who's idiotic but at the same time, wise and lovable. He's the kind of person everybody can easily rely onto, he's the kind of a man who'll definitely watch your back during hard times, he's the man on whom you'll always lean on to cry, he's the man who will love you wholeheartedly but at the same time can punch senses into you and he's the man you will follow anywhere.

He's the embodiment of leadership in this series, and really, he's a man worth dying for!

[animebw]

Binge-Watching: Gintama, Episodes 139-141

Goddamn it, why do I keep doing this to myself? Why do I always run out of time halfway through the most jaw-dropping arcs and have to cliffhanger myself until next time? WELL ANYWAY HERE’S THE FIRST HALF OF ONE OF THE COOLEST FUCKING ARCS THE SHOW’S EVER DONE HOLY SHIT

Gasping for Air

I’m going to be perfectly honest, I entirely intended episodes 139 and 140 to be part of my last Gintama post. My plan was to watch up to episode 140, make one long post covering 6 episodes, and then call it a night. But then I actually watched it, and about halfway through, I realized that there was no way 140 would be an acceptable stopping point. There was no way I could lump those last two episodes in with the previous four and call it there.

Because honest to god, the arc I’ve just stumbled into might end up being the most epic arc Gintama’s ever pulled.

Holy shit. Just, holy shit. Not since the Shinsengumi Crisis arc have I been left this breathless by the show. In all honesty, as much as I’ve loved some of the smaller arcs and more intimately-focused character studies we’ve been getting from the show lately, I have fucking missed the adrenaline rush of its massive, multi-episode clusterfucks of utter badass insanity. Aliens vs Yakuza, the Benizakura arc, the Robot Takeover arc, the Yagyu Clan arc... whenever GIntama decides to let its inhibitions down and unleash the full fury of its capacity for awesome upon the world, it results in some of the most awe-inspiring setpieces ever put to animation. And now, the City of Night arc has done something truly remarkable: it’s fused the intimate character focus of the show’s recent output with the epic-scale conflict of one of its earlier cannonballs of yes. The result is pulse-pounding, gut-wrenching, deeply affecting, and utterly, 100% Gintama. And we’re only halfway through it. This. Is. Going. To. Be. Fucking. AMAZING.

So let’s talk about why.

The City of Endless Night

It’s become an interesting trend as of late that the element that instigates the conflict of Gintama’s major arcs is almost never its eventual focus. A stranded-on-a-deserted-island episode gives way to an undersea battle royale, a horror-comedy trip to a haunted inn ends up as a Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure episode, and so on. The initial spark just serves as a jumping-off point for the true meat of the story to take over. But this time, that doesn’t seem to be the case. Not only is young Seita’s quest to reconnect with his mother in the underground city the driving force of the narrative, it’s the driving force of the themes behind it. You get a real sense of how much shit this kid’s put up with in his life, just to get the slimmest chance of seeing someone he isn’t even sure is his mother. It’s clear from pretty much the first moment he spills his guts to the Odd Jobs team that this is someone we’re gonna love rooting for. Serious props to his VA, because she nailed his desperate, too-mature-for-his-age world-weariness so freaking well. But this arc’s real secret weapon is the underground city itself, and what it represents for him.

Yoshiwara is one of the most fascinating locales Gintama has ever visited. An underground city where dirty politicians come to engage in crooked dealings, a world cut off from the world with its own customs, attitude, and culture. The city-spanning red light district feels like an actual community, with people who genuinely know the place and everyone else in it, where a silver-haired samurai can give a pair of scumbags a good hard ass-kicking and everyone takes it in stride. There’s a fascinating sense of history to this place, like it’s existed long before we first set eyes on it and could exist long after we turn our gaze away. I could spend hours just exploring the streets learning as much as I could about it; that’s how well-realized it feels. But it’s also got a very distinct, very dark national character that colors every single interaction our protagonists have with it.

Yoshiwara is a haven from the outside world, but it’s also a prison. Once a courtesan enters and becomes privy to the seediest and most secretive political dealings in the nation, it’s too dangerous for her to ever leave. If you’re a lost soul or a corrupt bastard, this place will give you the home you always wanted. But for anyone else, it will truly live up to its title as the City of Night. It cuts its inhabitants off from the sky and the light of the sun, trapping them in a never-ending despair. It’s a place of crushed hopes, broken dreams, and long-dead spirits, where it takes a hell of a lot of strength just to live another day. But Hinowa, Seita’s mother, has mastered that strength. Through sheer force of will, she has become the sun that gives hope to all the other lost souls trapped down there with her, giving them a purpose to keep living for. That is the light that Seita is striving for; the light of purpose that he is more than the scruffy kid picking pockets in dark alleys. It’s the light of moving on, of waking up every day and getting out of bed, leaving the past day behind you. It’s no wonder Gintoki so unusually eager to help this kid; the light he’s striving for is the same light Gintoki’s been following his entire life.

Enter the Champions

But of course, it could never be that simple. Because a place as untethered from consequences as Yoshiwara is bound to attract the kinds of people even the Yakuza would fear to tread upon. And holy shit, I was not ready for the sight of another Chinese-style umbrella awaiting our crew in the bowels of the city. As it turns out, this place is under the control of none other than the goddamn king of Kagura’s warrior clan: Housen, Master of the Yato, King of the Night. The only other Yato we’ve seen besides her was her father, a man who has since renounced his clan’s warrior ways and made an attempt to be a galactic warrior for peace. But if there was ever a time to truly bring them into the focus as proper antagonists, this was it. In a way, Kagura’s personal arc has been tied to that symbol of the sun as well, fighting to escape from the influence of her dark upbringings to become someone who can look up at the sky smiling every day. So it’s only fitting that it’s now, during an arc centered around that concept, that these savage warriors bound by blood and tradition finally step into the spotlight.

And Jesus fucking Christ, they are terrifying. You know that if even Kagura is scared of facing an opponent you’re gonna be in for a rough time, and these motherfuckers deliver. Every single word of warning we’ve heard about them over the show’s run has been proven true. They’re not just brutal, uncompromising fighters; they are the single most cavalierly destructive force we’ve seen on this show. They utterly curb-stomp Gintoki’s entire team in just a few seconds of bone-crushing animation. Housen and Kamui explode into combat at the drop of a hat, only stopping when their comrades sacrifice an arm and a life to calm them down. And what does their surviving ally have to say after his arm is torn off and his friend pierced through the chest? ”An arm and a life is a fair price to pay to stop your fight.” Every single thing these bastards do oozes blood and violence. If the intent was to raise the stakes as high as they possibly could for when our heroes finally fight these monsters, well done, because I am fucking TERRIFIED.

Oh, Brother

And then, of course, there’s the cherry on top of this bloody sundae: Kamui, the Yato leading the expedition to Housen’s lair, the mysterious figure in the newest OP, is none other than Kagura’s goddamn brother. You know, the one we heard about all the way back in the Aliens vs Yakuza arc, who was so incredibly bloodthirsty even Umibozu was scared of him? And he lives up to that reputation with every time he gleefully pummels his foe into the dirt. He is the Yato mindset personified: battle and bloodlust is the sun that he looks up to every day. He relishes any chance he can get to lock horns with a worthy foe. Even his own father- the one Yato strong and determined enough to clash toe to toe with the King of the Night himself for days on end (before calling a stalemate to take a dump, because of course he did)- is weak in his eyes for loving his family. And interestingly enough, he despises Housen for taking his retirement in a city that is symbolically shut off from that higher purpose. In his eyes, the king of his clan has forged himself a prison of endless night that he must either abandon for honor’s sake or, barring that, be forcibly removed from in the most blood-spattered way possible.

But he’s gonna have to get through Kagura first.

Kagura has fought through hell and back to escape the specter of her past, and she’ll be damned if her bastard of a brother is gonna drag her back into it. Her kick-ass payback meted out on the asshole at the end of episode 141 (”Don’t put me on the same level as those rednecks. I’m 100% city girl.”) is just a taste of the pain she’s going to put Kamui through for daring to fuck with the people she cares about. And I can already tell it’s going to knock my goddamn socks off. It’s time to fight for the sun that’s been taken by the lost souls of the City of Night; it’s time to bring this broken, bleeding city and all it stands for crashing to the ground. In just three episodes, I am about as hyped as I’ve ever been to see what happens next. If it keeps this level of quality up for the rest of its apparently four remaining episodes... well, Gintama might just top itself yet again.

Odds and Ends

-This new ED is spectacular. It captures the dark grandeur of this arc so freaking well.

-”You’re a hundred years too early to be stealing my wallet.” Trope subversion for the win!

-get rekt Shinpachi

-”I’ll add that to my data!” Holy Christ, I forgot how much I love Tama.

-”What happened to your accent?” “It’s been a while since I appeared, so I forgot about it.” asjkdhaskjd

-I’m in love with the leader of the elite ninja guard. She catches onto Gintoki’s nonsense so freaking well.

-Jesus Christ, Gintoki is so self-conscious about his flubbed rescue. It’s amazing.

-”Lord Hosen may be the one to burst.” “His crotch?” This was exactly what I needed after the intensity of the last fifteen minutes holy shit

-”She’s better off not knowing, right?” I LOVE THIS RUNNING JOKE SO MUCH

-”Dynamite boobs” I swear to GOD Gin-san

-Oh fuck my life, I just realized Kamui looks like a redheaded Edward Elric. What the fuck do I do with this knowledge?

Man, Tuesday cannot come here fast enough. See you next time for the epic conclusion!

[sakuya123draws]

for the end of year meme: 1, 8, 10, 14, 20 !! Please and thank you!

OH MAH GOD IT’S LATE!!! (I am so sorry @nalufever I finally got around to answering asks and I’m starting with the most recent ones!! It’s appropriate as they are for the “End of the year” meme I reblogged!)

 Anyways, without further ado, let’s answer these lovely questions~! >w

1. First things first, did you have a good year?

A: Well, I guess that is the first thing to ask when jumping from one year to the other! ^_^ If I’m being honest the year started out really bad. Lots of family problems, stress from college and my horrible relationship was weighing me down and draining me of my energy. I never want to blame anything on anyone, but I was in a dysfunctional relationship with someone and I finally got out of it around April. It’s a long story, but I don’t feel like dwelling on that stuff. I’m stronger now! (I mean I “hope” so ^ ^;) I was happy that I got in the honours roll for my first year which gave me entry to showing my artwork to judges at the college I got to! It was an amazing experience and I made some cool friends along the way! It’s a small class, but we’re like a family. :D As for my actual family, I lost my grandma…She was an inspiration to me and even today I will always show my appreciation for my grandparents! Other than that, my family had gotten better and we can finally understand each other a bit more when it comes to communication which is always a plus!! :3 Even on here with Tumblr being who it is, I still have lots of friends that didn’t leave and I’m happy to see they are better from last year! In short, (cause you can see THIS is a paragraph xD) I think the year was wishy-washy! It was all over the place, but it made up for it at the end to be called “good”. ^v^

8. Which fashion trends did you hate?

(I thought of him when I thought of the word fashion xD Don’t kill me, I LOVE Max

A: Even though my mom is a lady who lives by fashion, I can’t say I know the styles of 2018! ;w; I looked up a source (well you know Vogue and all that jazz :/) to base my opinion on. I only think this would be easier if I could say what I “loved”, but it’s a hate one so gotta be mean xD lol. I mean I never “hate” anything, so I’m gonna give it a shot. 

One thing I don’t like about fashion trends if I’m being frank is that it’s usually clothes on the runway. Many styles I see based on Vogue’s source are styles I can’t see the everyday person wearing. Personally, I wouldn’t wear half of those designs outside. That’s just me. My sense of style is a hybrid of my mom’s fashion she wears/sells, 80′s-90′s fashions and cutesy outfits. (that I think I’d look bad in ;w;) I’m gonna give a small bullet point list. (I know I always say small xD)

 Arty Impressions - This was the first one on the article I read. From what I can gather it’s fashion with famous works printed on it. (Artworks, for example, Andy Warhol’s, screenprints) I mean I can see the connection, but for me wearing something with a reproduced art piece is hard for me to personally wear. LIke it has to be done like how T-shirts have a design in the middle or small embellishments on it to make me wear it. The example I saw is fun and creative, but for me, I couldn’t see myself liking/wearing those pieces. It depends. 5/10? I guess xD

Plastic/see-through material - This honestly has been a reoccurring style that I have seen. It’s become more prominent now according to last year’s trends. I can’t stand the “see-through” look. I don’t know what it is, but it’s just too awkward to wear outside. LIke people will defend that you can wear what you want, but for ME and ME Only, I can’t wear those kinds of stuff. I would feel very scared/concerned with how I look. (Even to myself) If you don’t know what I am referring to, I mean like that umbrella looking material. (I’ve added the source in the paragraph above for this question! ^_^)

Geometric/Flannel Print - I can never see myself liking the flannel scene. For pyjamas, no problem! To wear outside, I can’t bring myself to do that. You can see me in an old sweater, but flannel I don’t think any of my friends have seen me in that xD I just can’t say it’s aesthetically pleasing to me. I have a problem liking this style. Maybe I will when I get older, but as I’m young and creative I see myself wearing clothes for the young generation! :P (my mom says that anyways xD lol) The clothes that make you feel like partying, even though you don’t go outside like me xD lol 

As much as I love talking about fashion, I think I would bore everyone with my opinions. xD (You’re definitely not here for these are you? xD If so, thank you) 

10. What song sums up this year for you?

A: I don’t have a definite answer, but I went through a lot of things. Many times I wanted to be in a dream world…Like to escape everything. All the pain and depression. I still feel that way, but in 2018 it was WAY worse. This song I originally heard in Silent Hill: Downpour (A GAME I LOVE ;w;) was a song I thought of when I see this question. I think it’s a great song! sad, but I’d recommend it. The singer’s voice is lovely. It invokes so many emotions in me ;w; (I’ll give a youtube link) 

Ed Harcourt - From Every Sphere

14. Favorite new TV show?

(I HAD to make it this guy >w

WARNING: HUGE ANSWER BELOW!

A: Well, as you may know, I don’t watch many shows anymore. I mostly play video games, but for the sake of this amazing question, I’ll say what anime(s) I did enjoy last year! I don’t think I’ve ever loved an anime as much as I love Gintama. It’s really funny because I originally “disliked” Gintama. It was a naive thing for the young me to have said at the time. I judged the show so harshly after seeing anime (IMO) being shat on with the usual themes and scenes I ALWAYS see. I began to give up on anime as a whole. My story starts when I was pissed at my brother telling me, “Gintama is amazing Tash, trust me you’ll regret hating it.” I answered with my normal response of, “ sure Ja, you ALWAYS say that. How will this be any different?” Maybe I shouldn’t have said that…Well, it’s too late now for present-day me. My brother showed me all the “humorous” parts first. (I honestly felt like he tricked me, but the show really starts that way xD) Anyways, we eventually watched a few episodes and I told him I didn’t understand the humour. (it’s honestly hard to get into if you’re not open-minded or don’t understand the comedy Sorachi uses) Until he decided to hit me with his ace, “The Shinsengumi Crisis Arc”. All I can say is, a different side of me was born. I started to see what a show could truly offer if it was done right, the way I wanted to see it. It’s hard to explain, but without Gintama’s sad/inspirational/happy/stupid/clever story writing/arcs I don’t think I would have ever gotten through 2018. I haven’t finished the episodes as of its recent update, but I really learned a lot from the show. I want to give a HUGE shoutout to Sorachi for writing this masterpiece and I would 10000% recommend it to ANYONE! It’s a show that changed my views on people’s situations and lives. I think all the arcs are amazingly written and so far I don’t think I’ll ever get bored of it! It really got me in the feels. I can honestly say that if you can’t feel after seeing an arc in Gintama, you haven’t felt. It’s that amazing! (Then AGAIN, it’s an opinion not everyone will sadly share xD) Also, I am really enjoying Bleach! I’m sad at how it ended in terms of what things happened and I honestly hope Kubo will be ok. I loved his episodes and the earliest ones really touched my heart like Gintama. He’s also really great at making me cry every episode! :P

(GOD SORRY FOR THE ESSAY AND STUPID STORY LINES xD I’m sorry I can’t add a RM for this b/c then everything under can’t be seen like the other answers ;w;) 

20. Did you develop a new obsession?

Well…YES! Many obsessions!! The real question is which is the one that I obsess over the most? Well I’ll put some bullet points to hopefully make it smaller xD

First of all, I don’t want to say it but I’ve taken a “liking” (what an understatement lol) to Gin Ichimaru from Bleach~! >////

I think everyone knows, but I have an obsession with cute/pink/pretty stuff. (Can it be called that?) I just LOVE pastel colours or pinks/blues/purples. Those kinds of soft colours you see in Hello Kitty toys or Fairy Kei/Kawaii merch (if I’m correct xD) I just have a HUGE soft spot for childhood stuff! I literally still act like a kid xD lol I don’t think I’ll be growing up anytime soon haha xD lol I just love to collect them! :) 

Vaporwave I guess has become a new obsession and old art styles of the past! I just can’t stop being in awe at those marble statues! The curvature and bodies are so magnificent! >w

So many different art styles that are brought to this world! :D This is the truth! I absolutely love most styles I see on here and whenever I encounter them! >w

Other than that, I don’t think I have any other obsessions I know about :P Sorry, I’m super boring xD That’s the art student life lol (only me guys xD dw)

THANK YOU SO SO MUCH FOR MESSAGING ME AND SENDING THIS AMAZING ASK YOU AWESOME PERSON!!! @nalufever I am so happy to have gotten something from you and I hope you’ve had a great Christmas and Happy New Year, friend!! I hope you stay happy and healthy this year!! All the best to you! Thank so much once again for taking the time :)

If anyone else is interested, you can send me something as well~!

Take care from me and Happy New Years everyone!!!

Saku~!

[razberryyum]

Dear Gintama gods and Sorachi-sama AND Fukuda-san,

I just wanted to say how truly happy I am that we’re getting this second live action movie that is covering the Shinsengumi Crisis Arc. I still can’t believe this is a reality: I have wanted the live action to be about the Crisis Arc probably as far back as when the first movie was announced and I started to see the cast come together. I feel so unbelievably blessed that my wish has come true, thanks to you. It’s miracles like this that make me feel that my prayers are effective and they do cosmically reach you somehow. I cannot wait to read about fellow Gintama fans’ experience watching this movie, and I can only hope that us fans here in the United States or other countries will eventually get to enjoy this wonderful gift as well. 

I fervently hope that this movie once again does well enough again in the box office so that we can get a THIRD live action movie, with the same core cast, especially the wonderful actors/actresses who so beautifully bring to life our beloved Yorozuya, our Shinsengumi boys, Zura, Elizabeth, and Tae-chan. I look forward to seeing how the new members of the cast fare as their characters in this movie and if they are just as stellar, I hope they will get to come back as well (well, unless their character is dead, RIP). 

Since I’m feeling extra delusional today, I hope you don’t mind me starting my prayers now for the next movie now, because I firmly believe Gintama live action deserves to be a trilogy and I truly hope it will happen: please adapt the Vacation Arc AND the Soul-Switch Arc next. You can easily cover both arcs in one movie...or the Vacation arc can be a miniseries while the Soul-Switch Arc is the actual movie. I don’t know if I will be able to survive the sense of euphoria I would experience if you were to fulfill my wish yet again, but I will try my best...at least until I get to see the movie. Your consideration is greatly appreciated. 

Yours truly,

A silly fangirl with yaoi dreams

(^3^)

PS: Admittedly, the Soul-Switch Arc is light on cool fight scenes, so if that is a must-have ingredient for the next movie, then I would be more than happy to recommend adapting the Yagyuu Arc instead...as long as you are able to find a way to include Zura and Elizabeth, like you are doing for the Crisis arc, because I really love their live action counterparts and I want them to always be a part of the live action movies.

[saitouh]

I wrote this ↓↓↓ in 2017. It was in my drafts and I never published. I’m publishing it now with edits and additions. (because i lost my fcking patience with this fandom)

For years and years a certain faction of the western fandom that gintamajustaway bitch and her gang like luno and whatever the fck their convoluted ass usernames are love to tout spit bullshit about how unpopular “Red Spider Arc” was. They also dragged the entire Japan into it, saying “JAPANESE FANS HATE IT” (all or most japanese fans hate it) “THE SALES ARE SO BAD” (without posting proof) and therefore “it just proved what a ~mistake~ that arc was!” “And it’s also a fixer arc” (added for emphasis - 2018)

BUT, according to them aero, Yoshiwara in Flames was sooo awesome! Why? Because Tsukuyo wasn’t in love with Gintoki yet!!! She was SUCH A FIGHTER!!!! Oooooo~

(As if she wasn’t a fighter in Red Spider? As if she didn’t fight her best in Red Spider and didn’t tell gintoki to run in Red Spider just like she asked gin to run in YIF and as if she didn’t save gintoki TWICE in Red Spider just like she did in YIF) (again, added for emphasis - 2018)

Gintoki was fcking incapacitated by Jiraia and he fell into the water. If Tsukuyo had not thrown a kunai and impaled Jiraia’s hand, Jiraia would have gone after him with a final blow and Gintoki would have been dead. 

I’m sure you would be ecstatic if Hijikata were the one hanging there by the wrists on metal cuffs and Gintoki shows up to rescue his Mayo Dinner and that’s when he’s going to lick Mayo Dinner’s pink nips until he shivers like dandelion feathers on a windy day. 

Would you call Hijikata useless then? HMMM? Did u all call him useless in Shinsengumi Crisis Arc when he couldn’t fight and was waiting for Gintoki and the Yorozuya babies to save him, HMMM??? WHY ARE YOU ALL SO SYMPATHETIC TOWARDS HIJIKATA'S state of mind and feelings, but trash Tsukuyo's ?

Below are the DVD sales comparison tables for both arcs. Yoshiwara in Flames were released in Season 3. Red Spider was released in Season 4.

The figures are sorted according to their total sales volume for that season and ranked for that season. 

From the rankings in its own season, Red Spider actually did better than Yoshiwara in Flames. The Red Spider Arc, ranked (fcking) 3rd in total sales among ALL THE OTHER ARCS FOR THAT ENTIRE SEASON 4.

Compare it to YIF, which was ranked 6th to dead last in S3.  

If only sales numbers are absolute an indicator for which characters are hated in the series, it would be so easy for everyone. But alas, sales figures aren’t always a preferential indicator. Sales usually are only an economic indicator.

Gintama isn’t the only series that saw its DVD sales declining as the years drone on. That happens to ALL long-running series.

(So cut your dumbfck bullshit that has no basis or supporting evidence that Tsukuyo is the SOLE reason for gintama’s decline, because it makes you look like a desperate idiot) - 2018

Table below shows Gintama° season. The long awaited Gintama° season. The season everyone was waiting for right after Enchousen. The season everyone got excited over and howled and cried as if crack cocaine was gushing through their bloodstream at high velocity. 

The sales? Didn’t even reach 5 digits.

What reason are you going to come up with for these sales? Which character are you going to blame this time for this?

Do you feel better by stuffing your skulls with lies? I guess you feel even better when you stuff other people’s skulls with your lies, too. Do you think if you repeat the lies long enough they would actually become true? HMMM?

Love Incense Arc DVD (PART 1 ONLY) have already sold this much:

But some asshole that stupid bitch gintamajustaway who loved to clog up tsukuyo’s tag in the past (still doing it) by talking shit about her (lies about her unpopularity despite repeated evidence proving the contrary - 2018), posted that little bit to “prove” how badly the DVD sold in comparison with the tankoubon volume WITHOUT the DVD.

“THEY LOST MONEY JUST BY MAKING THIS DVD!” she screamed.

Yeah, and they decided to split this Love Incense Arc in TWO DVDs and do it twice. They want to lose money twice! WOW!

Really? You really think you’re so much more clever than these people who have been in the DVD-producing industry for almost two decades?  

Now this is from crunchyroll, teaching u how to read DVD sales:

These two pics are a repeat of the above link BLAHBLAHBLAH. But I like to post it just to rub it into your face.

Now go and cry about how I am accusing you of hating Tsukuyo when you have all that shit insulting her out in the open. Go and act like you have always loved Tsukuyo by reblogging edits of her and making edits now, and asking your crony to draw art of her when in previous years you've never done any of that shit. Oh, except that one gintsuki fic which you keep reminding people about, so you can use it as a shield to absolve yourself from blame. You really are shameless and a disgusting person.

i know you ship gintsu, but don't you think sorachi was trolling the fanbase? lol. like idk but the sales for the manga is the worst anyone has ever seen, so thats sayin something.

OK… This reply is almost a week late..  I was quite busy and didn’t have the time to respond. And when I did have some time, I was too lazy.

I thought of ignoring this, but at the same time I also felt I’ve had enough of people trashing Tsukuyo since the Red Spider Arc.

I don’t know if you’re still around to read this, anon. It’s going to be really, really long.

Keep reading

[roi-chan]

Top 5 emotional video game or anime moments!

OH MAN. This might get spoilery?? I’LL NAME THE SERIES AND ALL THAT BEFORE I REALLY NAME WHAT IT WAS, and also i watch everything 600 years after it’s been out so it’s probably not a surprise.

1. JJBA. Battle Tendency. Caesar. IF YOU DUNNO WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT, YOU CLEARLY HAVEN’T SEEN IT YET. //CRIES INTO HANDS// I cried reading it in the manga. Then the episode came out and to. This. Fucking. Day. I bawl my eyes out. I’ve seen it like, 4 different times. Nope, each time. I’m a sobbing mess. Especially bc Caesar is definitely one of my fave JJBA charas, which says a lot since I’m on Jojolion now!

2. Gintama. Shinsengumi Crisis Arc. I MEAN, A LOT OF SHIT IN GINTAMA HAS GOT ME TO CRY, BUT HOLY FUCK THIS ARC??? Especially the end, with the fight between Hijikata and Itou?? FIGHT WITH HONOR AND SHIT AND IDK HOLY FUCK THAT WHOLE ARC HAD ME WITH SOME SILENT TEARS BRUH.

3. Oyasumi Punpun. OK THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN #1 YOU GUYS. I’M ACTUALLY REALLY SCARED TO REREAD THIS FUCKING SERIES. Let me tell you a story. A couple of years ago, a whole bunch of chapters towards the end came out around Christmas. My family does a Christmas Eve get together every year, for dinner. Early in the day, I decided, oh boy! I’m gonna read the chapters! I cried. I dressed real cute, went to the party. Sat on the couch aND BIT MY LIP, TRIED SO HARD NOT T O CRY. Came home, laid down. Half an hour later, I BAWLED. INTO MY PILLOW. Like straight up, I had to turn the pillow around. Because of. Fucking. Seki. HIS WHOLE... FUCKING... THING GOD I’M SO UPSET.  Idc, Oyasumi Punpun was incredible to read and the wonderful bleak feelings it left me with, this raw realism, it was so fucking refreshing and interesting. Such a roller coaster from start to end. It’ll always have such a strong place in my heart.

4. The Last of Us. THE BEGINNING, WITH SARAH. The first time I played I was like dang, feels bad man. BUT THE SECODN TIME, I SOFTLY CRIED?? HOLY SHIT JOEL, you deserve so much more. And also like, during the hospital scene at the end where he’s like “It’s gonna be ok baby girl” and all that crap?? OR EVEN WHEN ELLIE WAS CAUGHT BY HUNTERS AND WAS KILLING THAT GUY AND HE CALLED HER BABY GIRL FOR THE FIRST TIME?? Idk man that hits hard, he grew attached... :( [btw, HYPE FOR TLOU2!!)

5. Tales of Xillia. IMMA BE THAT PERSON, but honestly this will forever stick with  me. Alvin and Jude’s fight scene. It is literally the defining point of their relationship and their characters as far as I’m concerned. It made the entire game for me. It made me adore those two, as well as love Leia so much. But that’s just my favorite part of the game. Lets talk about Alvin, as a whole. This man catches no fucknig breaks. One part that actually hurt my heart was when [spoiler alerts from here on out!] Milla sacrifices herself, and he looks up and is like... it’s still there. hE CAN’T GO HOME. //THROWS SELF ON GROUND// That look on his face hit me in the gut. Here is this mercenary, tough through and through. And all he wants is to go home with his mom. But he can’t. She fucking dies and he’s all alone. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? EVEN AT THE END, WHEN MILLA IS LIKE lol ok i’m god now. :) Alvin is the only one who is hurt by this?? Jude, yes, but he’s like. I accept, I’m so happy! The world is in better hands! Or whatever, but Alvin. He just found companionship with the others. He found friends and people he can actually trust. But then Milla decides to leave them- just another person to leave Alvin in the cold.

//HOLDS UP MY HANDS, I’M SORRY XILLIA GETS ME RAELLY EMOTIONAL.

Tbh I’m a very emotional person, these are the first things I could think of? I’m sure if I sat down and looked through my video game collection, and remembered all the manga and anime I’ve consumed, I’d have a ton to share lol.

[animebw]

Binge-Watching: Gintama, Episodes 156-159

It’s time for a TOOOOOOURNAMENT AAAAAARC! In which we explore fandom’s dark side, this show has officially stopped giving a fuck, and I finally get my due for the Shinsengumi Crisis arc.

Vindication

So, hey.

Remember the Shinsengumi Crisis arc that started right around the 100 episode mark? And I thought it was really freaking amazing, except for like the first episode where Hijikata is just doing dumb cringe comedy and turning into an otaku for some reason? And I opined that the arc might have been stronger if the weakness that the demon sword was supposedly pulling out of him had legitimate ties to the person we already knew he was, leading to a greater emotional impact?

*evil grin*

Well, the events of this arc come to pass because the weak-willed otaku that the sword awakened in Hijikata is still hanging around, a part of him that he can’t wish away into oblivion. So now, he’s trying to conquer this weakness by fulfilling all its desires, making peace with the parts of himself that he hates by becoming the king of all otaku, satiating and thus dispelling his weaker half.

ahahahahah.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Oh, YES! Fuck yes! THIS is what I wanted from Hijikata back in the Shinsengumi Crisis arc! This is legitimately interesting, compelling psychological drama, posing a fascinating question on how we overcome our weaknesses and learn to grow from them. It plays off of previously established character flaws to introduce a fascinating new dimension to Hijikata’s endless quest for control over himself and the world around him. Gintama just went back to the well of one of its most frustrating oversights, learned from it, and used it as the backbone of an explosive new arc. GOD, it feels good to be vindicated. Well, show, you win once again. There is no hurdle you can’t overcome. Well done.

This Garden is Everyone’s!

Alright, alright, that’s enough self-fellatio on my part. Let’s actually talk about the meat of this arc, because it touches on themes that Gintama’s tackled before with Otsu at the center. Shinpachi’s relationship with Otsu and her fan club has always been one of the show’s more subtly interesting conceits, as it touches on the idea of who gets to dictate the terms of fandom. Let’s be real, some fanbases are pants-shittingly awful about avoiding gate-keeping. Star Wars, Batman, and Jojo’s, to name a few, are notorious for a small but vocal minority of fans that will scream about how you must enjoy the object of fan worship their way, or else you’re not a real fan. And it ties into broader cultural issues with male fans especially being violently possessive of their fandoms against the perceived “threat” posed by women and minorities enjoying the things they love in different ways than they do. Looking back, Shinpachi’s always been right on the edge of this unsavory side of fandom; remember that one arc where Otsu was gripped by the “scandal” of having a romantic life outside the pure, virginal image Japanese idols are often held to? It was clear that despite Shinpachi’s refusal to let this deviation destroy his devotion to her and her music, part of him deep down was uncomfortable at the idea. And even back during the Yagyu Clan arc, he was forced to consider if his desperation to get his sister back from Kyubei was actually for her sake or just because he didn’t want to give up the closest woman in his life.

I don’t mean any of this as a criticism, to be clear. on the contrary, showing Shinpachi grappling with these uncomfortable feelings and trying to rise above them has always been one of the most interesting, inspiring parts of his character. And with the tournament to select the “official” Ostu Fan Club now underway, these ideas are all coming back to the surface once again (most notably by Gintoki, who seems to consider it his sword duty to lambast Shinpachi’s slavish devotion to an idol who will never personally return his affections). The competition is starting to bring out Shinpachi’s worst tendencies; he can’t accept ceding “power” in this fandom to the more inclusive, everything-goes model Hijikata’s proposing. Honestly, it’s kind of remarkable that a show as meta as Gintama has gone on for this long without fully exploring the ways in which fandom interacts with the media it idolizes, so this story was a long time coming. I have no idea how it’ll end up, but something tells me Shinpachi’s in for a heavy dose of reality when all is said and done. Trying to dictate other people’s enjoyment of something you like is shitty; let people like things. We’ll all be better off for it.

(Also, ten points to you if you get the reference in this section’s title)

TOOOOOOOOURNAMENT AAAAAAAAAARC!

But forget all that noise, because this ain’t the only long-overdue first for Gintama: we’re finally getting an official tournament arc! Sure, we’ve had shonen-esque battles of wits in similar veins before, but we’ve never had a real structured series of escalating challenges with everyone fighting for a single prize. And Gintama looks to be bringing the thunder to this arc, will all the close shaves, reversals, last-minute saves, and “this was all according to my plan!”s it can muster. We’ve got Okita running sabotage to illegally knock one of Shinpachi’s teammates out of the race in a dick move so classic it would feel right at home in DBZ, only for Gintoki to pull an equally shady substitution in the form of a delightfully American lunkhead (”Why does his compensation become French bread after three hours?”). We’ve still got plenty of time to go before the tournament comes to a close, so I look forward to seeing all the crazy shenanigans it’s going to dissolve into. Just nobody tell Toguro.

Behold, My Field of Fucks, and See that It Is Barren

I mentioned last time that Gintama is so at home with itself by this point that it doesn’t owe anyone anything; it’s totally fine just marching to its own beat and assuming you’ll be along for the ride. That sense only grows stronger in these episodes, as the show is starting to devolve into the most outright trolling we’ve seen from it yet. Episode 156 is literally just a single static shot with one character moving around in it, using the conceit of a private street stall where you can air your grievances to hide the characters from the audience as they engage in verbal back-and-forth while trying not to let the others catch on to who they really are. It’s audacious in its intentional laziness, almost daring you to call it out for such a bizarre episode conceit. And then, to top the whole thing off, it reveals at the end that these characters we’ve been hearing the voices of are just some random nobodies who just happen to share the voices of a bunch of the show’s core cast. It’s a big ol’ middle finger at the idea of actually trying, and as a result, it’s flipping hilarious, utilizing the negative space and limitations to wring out some fantastic gags (”I’ve never heard of a killer who stabs people with green onions!”).

There’s also the utterly bizarre male idol group that’s been opening episodes lately, a parody so off-kilter and specific that its sheer nonsensical nature becomes unbelievably fascinating. It’s an entire joke at the expense of its own existence, mocking the laziness and baffling thought process that only barely justifies its presence (”Who the hell actually watches this segment?” “No one could possibly want it. The staff came up with it on a whim!”). And when, in the third iteration of the joke, the normally robotically cheerful audience falls crippingly silent, I damn near peed my pants laughing. Not to mention the opening skit of episode 156, a weird melding of Charlie Chaplin and South Park that I’m still trying to fully wrap my head around. At this point, Gintama has dropped any pretense of giving a fuck and is just pulling whatever batshit crazy idea it can come up with out of a hat and throwing it against the wall. It’s insane, it’s nonsensical, it’s so, so, dumb, and I love every single second of it. This is pure, unfiltered essence of Gintama, spooling uninhibited from the creator’s imaginations and filling my life with idiosyncratic wonder. Never change, Gintama. Never change.

Odds and Ends

-”Besides, the audience is watching.” Don’t worry, Gin-san, I’ll keep all the embarrassing secrets you tell me!

-”They must be enhancer type Nen power.” asldkjalskdja

-”Smegy Sammy.” “Isn’t abbreviating it a little too cruel?” Oh, bless your poor soul.

-EXCUSE THE FUCK ME WHAT’S WITH THE RANDOM JUSTAWAY IN THE SOUP

-Damn, Otsu, your new singles are fire! And I loved the energy in the concert editing; you could feel the crowd’s enthusiasm!

-”DON’T GIVE IT A NON-ENDING!” Somebody tell me the manga actually ended this plotline there and the anime is continuing the Otsu Wars story on its own. Please, I want this to be a thing that happened so much.

-”We’re just recycling, aren’t we?” Yyyyyyep.

-”Would you eat Otsu’s shit?” GIN-SAN NO

-You know, he’s not wrong. Loving someone means loving their entirety, not just the pretty parts.

-”I obviously harbor a complex about that!” askjdhasdasd

-”Scram, the queen’s passing through!” Even Kagura knows she’s the best.

-”There’s an old guy with a scythe hanging onto him! Is that okay?” MY SIDES

-God, I love when GIntoki goes full Engrish. It brings back all the best Jojo memories.

-”Tomokazu, do a better job of singing.” askdhaskjdhaksda

We’re just halfway through this arc, and I intend to finish it tonight. See you all later!