#inspired by a recent detective manga i read

[animalinvestigator]

any manga recommendations?

yessss oh my gosh always, gladly. so honored you would ask little ol me about such a thing... i haven't been reading much lately so here's just a little list of things ive picked up in the past few months or things i've liked for a long time..... all of them are on mangadex so just look em up... Im editing this to put them under the cut sorry i didn't do it before ive been on the clock for like 4 hours and im tired Lights cigarette

fool night yasuda kasumi !!! it's currently ongoing and i recently got caught up... if i had to describe it in two words.. "post-chainsawman." it's very similar in a lot of ways, but has very different priorities.. what i really like about it is that it has kind of a tighter focus on the "poverty and capitalism" angle that chainsawman definitely covers but doesn't really devote its full attention to. in a world where the sun no longer shines, plants can't grow, so humans are constantly at a deficit of oxygen... to combat this, government facilities offer a payout to desperate people who can't afford to live if they allow themselves to be "transflorated" -- basically fed on by a magical spiritual plant that will eventually kill them and release oxygen in their stead. one such desperate person undergoes the procedure only to find he has the special ability to communicate with transflorated bodies after theyve passed... and then he becomes a Plants Detective and shenanigans ensue. Super good it made me cry... art is beautiful..... definitely worth a read if youre looking to pick up something ongoing

babel no toshokan by tsubana - stumbled upon this after reading the artist's other work "wakusei closet" on a whim... this shorter story is much preferred and has engraved itself deeply on my heart. a girl with a strange set of beliefs about reality enters a strange relationship with a boy who can read everything that's ever been written just by touching an identical sheath of paper..... seriously so good. give it a go if you want something short and sweet

planet laika & scorched earth of love by mayuri yoshida, this is a short manga and one shot bundled with it that has been one of my favorites for like FOUR YEARS NOW!!! mayuri yoshida's sickly cute animal people + loving intricate lineart combine to create a really unique visual aesthetic. its about the titular laika , as in, the dog launched into space, who has since become the ruler of a planet of dogs, and her plot to take revenge on humanity. also she has a lesbian wife. the one shot is so good too SO DONT MISS IT!!!

anyone who has heard me talk about comics for the past year or so probably knows i've been trying to get Just yknow everybody on earth to read dead dead demon's dedededestruction by inio asano. nothing i could ever possibly say about it could do it justice it's seriously my favorite manga of all time. it's about being in love with your best friend and the end of the world and aliens and politics and the internet and stuff. asano's art is truly breathtaking and unlike anything else on earth, the characters are all infectiously lovable, and it's just like... endlessly life affirming and heals my heart in a way i have a hard time articulating.

and last one... not strictly manga but i have really enjoyed keeping up with wanan's webcomic no home recently... its a long one, but i read about 275 chapters of it in like 3 days, because it's that hard to put down, LOL... extremely inspiring character writing and also just insanely fun, eunyung became an all time favorite character of mine on impact and it has one of those casts where you can't help but have fun watching them be together in literally any situation. it's about a bunch of kids with shitty family situations trying to figure out to learn to live with eachother. its an extremely good example of mundane character drama being written so compellingly that it will make you start slamming your head on walls at work. Speaking from experience.

miscellany... everyone tells you to read witch hat atelier, do it its good... everyone tells you to read dungeon meshi do that its good... Chainsaw man part 2 is getting crazy right now ...... uhhh... i have a billion more so if none of those interest you let me know and i'll share more. thank yew so much for your interest in my opinions and i hope there's something here you can appreciate!!!~~

[theswordwizard]

for the 'top 5' ask post: top 5 books?

HMMM I've been reading mostly nonfiction lately so I would say:

The Internet Does Not Exist (E-flux Journal) - It's a collection of essays from different people talking about technology in ways that really opened my mind a lot to how I think about systems. They also published The Wretched of the Screen by Hito Steyerl which is a collection of her essays on 'the politics of the image,' and I always love her writings.

New Dark Age: Technology and the End of the Future by James Bridle, which is about how we as a collection of societies haven't prepared for the radical increases in computational power we've achieved, and how they actually make it more difficult to understand the world as we're overwhelmed with data. Incredibly informative on a lot of different interweaving topics.

This is a manga but I just finished Billy Bat by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki. It's almost a detective story? A Japanese-American comic artist in America learns that he might have copied a character from a manga in Japan and takes a trip to check. 100 or so chapters later astronaut speaks to the cartoon character drawn on the moon and chooses whether to end the world or not. I don't think it's officially released in English so I read a scanlation online somewhere (I don't think it's particularly hard to find though).

The Queer Art of Failure by Jack Halberstam, which was honestly a primary inspiration to actually making Butchverse as a semi-serious series of essays. It proposes alternatives to the mainstream, the heteropatriarchal, the accepted, and blending together high theory and low culture in a really comprehensible read. He also wrote Female Masculinity, which I reference a lot in Butchverse.

I recently finished Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer, and if you liked the movie you will definitely like the book. INCREDIBLY suspenseful even after watching the movie, it's pretty different. The next two books in the series aren't as heavy-hitters IMO, but I know a lot of people that really like them so I think they're worth reading.

If you want a really great narrative that's essentially a book with some images and REALLY good music, I'm still halfway through Umineko (use the original graphics!!!) and it is possibly the GOAT.

[aliteralchicken]

You talk a lot about dead boy detectives which I know nothing about but I think it sounds interesting. Do you have any recommendations for getting into it?

the dead boy detectives don’t have many appearances and most of the the appearances they do have always tend to give a little run down on their history so it’s pretty easy to get into where ever

a lot of their appearances are single panel, a couple pages or as minor characters but their major appearances are:

• sandman issue 25

•childrens crusade

• sandman presents dead boy detectives

•the dead boy detectives volume 1

• the deadboy detectives in: run ragged

•the dead boy detectives volume 2

•the sandman universe: dead boy detectives

And out of those series:

sandman issue 25: tells you how they met and how they died, they’re not detectives yet it’s very much an origin issue, it’s got some pretty dark and heavy themes compared so if that’s not your thing this can be skipped as their origin gets summarized in flashbacks quite often

children's crusade: their first case, expands more on the boys personalities, but unlike the others this is an event book rather than a solo, there’s a lot of characters to keep up with but the boys do get a decent amount of page time

the sandman presents deadboy detectives, the dead boy detectives volume 1 and run ragged are all case books, they don’t really stand out as much as the rest on the list but they all have their own thing,

sp:dbd was their first solo kind of experimented with where the comics should take the boys from here, dbd:1 is a manga and aimed towards younger readers and run ragged is an enjoyable detective story that somehow gives the boys more school related trauma than they already had

the dead boy detectives volume 2 is a pretty imperative read, it introduces Crystal, the story and art is amazing and it’s a bit of love letter to all the previous series, it’s got references for long time fans, explains things well for new readers and has a lot of fun plots and characters, if you read anything I’d suggest reading this

the sandman universe: deadboy detectives is their most recent comic, only just finishing back in June, its heavily inspired by dbd:2 it’s a good detective story with some great horror and gore, the lettering is amazing, it learns more into the boys emotions and thoughts than the previous comics and from this comic they’re getting set up to possibly be in more DC sandman universe black label in the future

And before their upcoming show which the trailer should drop any day now they have a single live action appearance in doom patrol season 3 “dead patrol” the boys are older, their personalities are slightly more exaggerated and their origins aren’t completely faithful to the comics but it is a very enjoyable episode

[bl4ckr0se-3006]

Looking for a Sherlock related Rp. I would playing to some degree my own take on Arrhur Conan Doyle’s famous detective, who I honestly adore. My version of Sherlock is based on the books and the Benedict Cumberbatch Sherlock and I recently started watching the Anime Moriarity the Patriot, which I am being honest I love and no it has not changed the way I view Sherlock in the slightest.

Trigger warning: Drug abuse/addiction and Mental illness, smoking and drug overdose.

For this RP I would be looking for my partner to play John Watson and Mrs Hudson (yes Mrs Hudson not Miss Hudson, this isn’t entirely based on Moriarty th let Patriot, it does also to some degree have links to the Benedict Cumberbatch Sherlock TV Show and I personally fell like having the 221B landlady as an old lady makes more sense.)

These first 3 pictures above show to some degree the physical appearance of Sherlock I am wanting to use for this Rp. Since Benedict Cumberbatch has Sectoral Hereochrimia that makes his eyes both blue and green at the same time I play Sherlock with Sectoral Hereochrimia and blue-green eyes also. The bottom image shows what his eyes look like when blue. The top one is without freckles, I used Faceapp to add the freckles and top one and middle two show what his eyes look like when green. One of the middles ones has freckles. And one of them shows full suit. I got the images off Pixai art generator. The pictures below show the Benedict Cumberbatch Sherlock and Morairty the Patriot Sherlock who inspired my own view of Sherlock as I want to play him.

Do I have plot ideas for this well I am glad you asked. I am happy to come up with one together. Or I do have one plot idea which we can use, however trigger warning the plot would contain drug use/addiction on Sherlock’s part, as well as I would be playing Sherlock to be High Functioning Autistic and have Bipolar Disorder also. As well as I would play Sherlock as having an IQ of 190.

The plot idea:

John moves back into 221B Baker street following Mary’s death, with his baby daughter to find the place is a complete mess, which of course the mess is Sherlock’s fault, since the house he was living in with Mary was two large. Sherlock of course wouldn’t be expecting this and maybe the two weren’t really talking to begin with at the time. But we’d go from there. I do have one scene in mind where Sherlock would either be drunk or high before he’d end up accidentally admitting to having feelings for John if you’re interested please pm me. This can work for a platonic without the scene where Sherlock gets drunk/high or romantic with that scene.

I want to keep with Mary’s main storyline from the Benedict Cumberbatch Sherlock Tv Show though the setting can be either Victorian or Modern. I don’t mind. We can discuss in Pms. I would ask that my partner be familiar with The Sherlock Holmes books, the Benedict Cumberbatch Tv show adaptation of Sherlock and Moriarty the Patriot Anime, I have yet to finish the anime and yet to read the manga. I am currently reading the Arthur Conan Doyle books and have finished the Benedict Cumberbatch adaptation of Sherlock.

The head cannons which for Sherlock I want to use for this rp are:

1. He is Asexual and Biromantic, he can fall in love though doesn’t really understand it. That’s why he tends to act the way he does around Molly.

2. He is Autistic, specifically High Functioning Autistic (this one is kind of recognized in canon anyway, John brings up a reference to it). It’s not impossible for someone who I’d autistic to be a genius, it can happen and honestly I picked up several signs in Sherlock which led me to accept this headcannon, and I am a strong believer in it. I could go on a rant about it but this isn’t that kind of post this post is simply to set out the Headcannons I have for Sherlock.

3. He suffers from Bipolar Disorder. He swings between hypomania and depression and in general his mood swings in combination with the fact he’s neurodivergent make him almost impossible to deal with by the wrong people - for example Sargent Sally Donovan and Philip Anderson (For the Benedict Cumberbatch Adaptation of Sherlock) and Assistant Inspector Gregson (For Moriarty the Patriot) - for my Sherlock all of them, being three such people.

[desultory-novice]

Clamp, yes! I'm a huge Clamp fan! (They were the character designers for Code Geass. And I was a Code Geass dork but I mostly love their manga work like CCS, Clover, Wish... I dream of being able to come up with and draw outfits like theirs.)

Funny, I always thought of myself as more Digimon inspired than Pokemon, but I could go either way! I wouldn't be surprised if there was a dash of Yugioh and Detective Conan in there too! Precure as well! (Before anyone asks, Fresh is my favorite but I like Smile and Princess and Delicious Party and like... all of them.)

I've also been trying to work more Miyazaki into my studies because, imo, he's a master at making diverse face and body type look beautiful when so many anime characters can get... cookie cutter-y.

Speaking of classics, I've been reading Please Save My Earth and a couple other of the older landmark shoujo manga. They're SO good and that retro style is just...I love it!! (If you start seeing more vertical panels in MariPav, that's 100% inspired by PSME.)

And of course, I've been watching various recent stuff too just to study how gorgeous and fluid modern animation is! (...Shame about all the horrible, awful work-abuse problems in the industry...)

(1) Not so much an anime influence, but the character designer for the anime adaptation of Rayearth, Ishida Atsuko, is one of my favorite illustrators! I'm a former "Tales of" fan so I also love Kosuke Fujishima and Inomata Mutsumi! Even if I can't draw like either of them. And speaking of character designers I don't have a chance in heck of ever learning to draw like, I love love love the work of Tomomi Kobayashi, who works with Square Enix on the SaGa games!

[vyragosa]

Hi Vyra!

I adore your art and I found you a few years ago, when you were the only one who liked Limbo while everyone else hated him. So I was very happy to find another soul who loved him just as I do :)

Since we share the same tastes, I wanted to ask, what are some mangas that you like? I’ve recently picked up The Ghost and the Lady and I LOVED it! And I vaguely remember that you did answer an ask that was a little similar to this but I couldn’t find it and I think my memory could’ve been off.

Thank you and have a great day/night!

🥺

zomg....first of all thank you for such a sweet message and yes

GHOST AND LADY IS THE BEST, ONCE AGAIN, I HAVE THE VOLUMES ON MY DESK LITERALLY IN EYESIGHT CAUSE THAT'S HOW IMPORTANT IT IS

from same author you have, karakuri circus (found family, powerful) and souboutei must be destroyed (can't pinpoint how to describe it other than my friend fucking read all chapters in two day more mere mention, it has it all)

in the same genre of, mystery horror surrealist weird loving emotional focusing on the bonds of people through horror

i will never stop reccommending demon detective nougami neuro, same author as assassination classroom but i'm a purist, it was the first ever manga i read too so it's very important to me in general if familiar you can imagine how this author is comedy horror and bizarre but never strays from the most humane feelings, i will now recommend his newest work and currently published ELUSIVE SAMURAI. it's historical drama this time and fucking honestly, goes just as hard and the research is thorough as well while having the surrealist comedy, real fucking good (+ neuro is without a doubt one of the main inspirations of the Great hasendow)

dorohedoro because it's dorohedoro.

magilumiere co (adult corporate magical girl, really fuckin well done)

daisuke igarashi's saru fucked me up but i'm not sure you can find it easily which sucks, i don't even have the volumes myself

i haven't read much recently actually but that should be it!

[vampirecatsw]

Intro and My Links

(for mobile + other users)

Hi, My name is Cyn (he/him), it's nice to meet you!

THIS BLOG IS NOT SPOILER FREE

You might have seen me around Ao3 as secret_werewolves, leaving little comments on everyone's works

I like to lurk around discord servers, fandoms, devour fanfictions, and reblog things. My main fandom is Detective Conan / Magic Kaito, although I do explore some other ones.

I sometimes draw too, but since life has gotten very hectic recently, I'm taking things slower

FEEL FREE TO SEND ME ASKS ABOUT AUS, OCS OR ANYTHING. I'D BE GLAD TO ANSWER THEM!!!

~

My Art (Tumblr tag): https://vampirecatsw.tumblr.com/tagged/cyn%20draws

New!!: My new art blog yay! https://cyndraws.tumblr.com

Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/users/secret_werewolves  Fanfiction.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/u/10181337/ Deviantart: https://www.deviantart.com/secret-werewolves

~

My tags:

#cyn draws -> my art. I might also use #my art

#cyn talks / cyn speaks -> not much of a distinction since I often tag both. But cyn talks is for chatting, and cyn speaks is for original posts.

#cyn answers -> answering asks

Usually first name, last name for characters

#fic recs -> fic recs! Feel free to also browse my ao3 bookmarks or links on my fanfiction.net profile

#transmigrator kaito au -> my own au! I post under this tag (on both accounts, so click 'see all of tumblr'). Feel free to check out the link below and to follow the tag <3

~

This seems pretty popular so I'll put this here too. If I find another fic, I'll update it in this post. Happy reading~

Kaito pov/Kaito centric fanfic recommendations list:

~

Planned future projects:

Start writing fanfics hahaha. First I gotta get over my self esteem and start writing planssss. I do admire everyone who writes, but I really don't want to run out of steam halfway through projects. And if I'm gonna write, I wanna get into the habit of planning! It also allows for tiny details to be hinted in later, super satisfying >v<

Rn I'm super busy with uni so aaaa they might take a while

~

WIP Ideas in my brain, may or may not be actually posted. But definitely feel free to ask me questions about them!

Please send asks, I'm actually begging like please

- Kirby oc + anime au! (i have a series of monstrous documents with meticulous detail, it's getting ridiculous at this point adfghj. But I do need to watch the anime first). I have somehow ended up making an entire au around an oc haha. I'm taking some inspiration from other fandoms and fanworks.

- Dcmk oc/self inserts/transmigration aus (Shinichi/Conan, Kaito, detective boys, maybe some others. We need more of these in this fandom)

- Kaito transmigration au (Kaishin, platonic or romantic not decided yet)

https://vampirecatsw.tumblr.com/tagged/transmigrator%20kaito%20au

Inspired by 'Entirely Out of Spite' by Bgtea, a Genshin fanfic. Would highly recommend! https://archiveofourown.org/works/30349320/chapters/74816049 And also "Scum Villain Self-Saving System" too, since EOoS is inspired by it in turn. I'm crying since writing is just Not Happening XDDD The funniest thing about this au is Kaito being extra giddy to meet Shin/Cone and being a fanboy in general

Kaitou / phantom thief oc Look he just slaps, idk how to explain XD

~

Ok, bye! Hope everyone is doing well! I'm going back to work now because uni is using me like its ragdoll in those flash games lol

[dream-cartographer]

6/08/2024

There was a big 3d animated dog with blonde fur and saggy cheeks that had those triangle hats that spirits wear in manga/anime. It was the backdoor of my house and its skin kept peeling off and back on the dog. The skin would peel of like a banana and end at the tail then it would form a dog made entirely out of skin at the other end so the flesh dog and the skin dog were attached at the tail. After a while the skin dog would reverse back onto the flesh dog to form one dog again and the process would repeat. I was scared of the dog but scared in the way someone is scared of a bug so I opened the back door and stood in the backyard because I knew the dog would follow me. The dog teleported behind me when i wasn't looking and so I ran back into the house and closed the door because the dog couldn't teleport through a door (I knew all of this for some reason). Then my mom came in and was mad at me because "i told u not to keep the doors open bcus things could enter the house"

And then I woke up.

So, this dream kinda scared me when I woke up this morning but as i had breakfast I realised what happened and that's what inspired me to make this blog!

Here's what happened:

Some days ago I finished reading all "the casagrandes" comics. their family dog Lalo was the dog in my dream.

the dog was 3d not drawn because I also watched the detective pikachu movie a few weeks ago

The day before yesterday I read the first issue of a josei manga about an overworked suicidal woman and her guardian angel. The guardian angel had the triangle hat

There's a popular tiktok I saw about a person that owns a small lizard that molted forming a similar sized lizard out of dead skin

I saw another popular tiktok about someone helping their snake molt by peeling off the skin. They tried to make it satisfying by peeling the skin like a banana resulting in a long piece of skin hanging off the snake's tail and then continously reversing and playing the video

Watched a youtube video about those rugs that are made out of skinned animals recently. I also watched one about taxidermy

I watched a streamer play "outer wilds" a while back and the player uses the games quantum mechanics to teleport objects and themselves by looking another way or closing their eyes

I'm scared of large insects and solved a similar problem with a beetle in my bedroom before by running out and leaving the beetle outside when it followed me, running back in and closing the door

my mother has told me multiple times to close the doors and windows earlier than usual in the evening (bcus i forget) because it's been colder and raining in the afternoon often these days and small animals like geckos have been taking shelter in the house

DREAM MAPPED

[preeningpisces]

ENFP/ENTP, 7w6 I think??? I get wildly different results everytime I take that test lmao

Leo Sun, Pisces Moon, Scorpio Rising

Currently Reading (and hating): The Fisherman

Currently Watching: Interview With The Vampire

Currently Playing: Overwatch (I’m disappointed in me too)

Current Favorite Song: Run & NFWMB - Hozier

Some fun facts:

Played piano for 13 years, but haven’t played since like 2020 bc I don’t have a piano

Epileptic - I come with a vibrate mode

I go insane over astrology - pls talk to me about it I’ll piss myself

I have older parents so I like a lot of old movies/music

In a bookclub!

☼ My Pisces moon is in the 3rd house, which rules writing, so I thought it was perfect to theme the blog around :3

☼ I love love love horror books and video games, and hope to reflect my love for darker themes in writing once I gain more confidence. I'm kind of a wuss when it comes to movies but I'm slowly working my way through them

☼ I only recently came across the term Yumejoshi & the self-ship community, even though it’s something I’ve done as long as I can remember, so I’m exploring that! I don’t take it very seriously tho I’m gonna be real. It’s just fun for me

Things that inspire me: Cosmic horror! Soulsborne/Elden Ring, Fear and Hunger, Dye - Fantasy, Beserk, gothic romance, music, dreams pretty often tbh

An Assortment of Faves

Anime: Mushi Shi!!! My fave of all time. FMAB, Nana, Chainsaw Man, Mononoke, Count of Monte Cristo, Kami-Sama Kiss, Soul Eater, Katekyo Hitman Reborn, Gekken Shojo Nozaki-Kun, Ouran Highschool Hostclub

Manga: Tokyo Ghoul, Blood on the Tracks, Dorohedoro

TV shows: Fleabag, BoJack Horseman, Hannibal, Midnight Mass, Interview with the Vampire, Avatar, Gravity Falls, What We Do in the Shadows, Bobs Burgers, Face Off, Drag Race

Books: Between Two Fires, Migrations, The Haar, Misery, The Seed, Edgar Allen Poe, Lovecraft

Video Games: Skyrim, Wolf Among Us, Dragon Age, Soulsborne / Elden Ring, Fear and Hunger, Sims, Overwatch (rip), Animal Crossing, Baldur's Gate 3, way too many indie horror games to list here but I’ll list Kohlat

Movies: Amadeus, The Ritual, Babe, As Above So Below, Bride and Prejudice, Interview with the Vampire, The Princess Bride, Arsenic and Old Lace, Song of the Sea, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Prince of Egypt, Origin, Howl’s Moving Castle, Nausicaa, Princess Mononoke, Room with a View, Scream, Most Detective Poirot movies

Music: Cosmo Sheldrake, Mrs. Piss, Dance Gavin Dance, Hozier, Doja Cat, Sza, Slipknot, Heart, Credence Clearwater Revival, Queen, EXO, Fuji Kaze, Herb Alpert, Ethel Cain, Julie

Art Creds:

Middle | Right

[g0nta-g0kuhara]

[The following was taken from under the cut] "I’ll say I think ndrv3 is definitely heavily inspired by Umineko. Kodaka has actually already done an intentional Umineko reference before, all the way back in dr1 with a joke involving “small bombs,” so I really wouldn’t put it past him to have intentionally borrowed from Umineko for the sake of this game. Like ndrv3, Umineko deals heavily with themes such as “reality vs. fiction,” “truth vs. lies,” and a varied cast of characters from the self-sacrificing and well-intentioned to the really, downright horrible.

In my own opinion though, I don’t quite think there is no “definite” answer to the truth in ndrv3, so much as there’s an encouragement to the players to try and shift their views between multiple “conflicting truths,” and try to decide on the one that fits best. Umineko was much the same, in that even though interpretation of the truth is very much left up to the readers and even encouraged to be gently left “in the catbox” so that the central character of the story doesn’t have their wishes disturbed, there was still the truth. And that truth has been given progressively more and more hints and recently outright confirmation in the manga adaptation.

I think that’s what Kodaka is very much getting at with ndrv3. There is probably a “definite” truth, which might be awful and horrifying and even more depressing than the end of ndrv3 already let on (and it was pretty intentionally depressing to begin with), but also the players are encouraged to realize that lies and “illusions” can often be used to “become a new reality” of sorts, and shape the world around them.

I’m really glad you brought Umineko up at all though, because honestly, I wouldn’t have had nearly as fun of a time playing ndrv3 or understood it nearly as well if I hadn’t been through all the same twists and turns before. Even in terms of understanding Ouma, who is arguably one of the biggest mysteries that ndrv3 presents along with the epilogue itself, Umineko helped me to understand him immensely better than I would have had I gone in blind. But because the central character of Umineko is an “evil witch” who takes credit for crimes which “someone else did,” and her entire façade of cruelty, chaos, and sadistic enjoyment is actually a tentative hope that the detective might understand her even as she ruins her own chances in the game she’s playing—well, you can understand probably why this all sounds very familiar.

Even in terms of controversial endings or stories that leave you feeling unsatisfied and with a sort of bittersweet aftertaste, these two works are extremely similar. If anything, Umineko’s “truth,” as well as the solution it presents in the final episode, makes ndrv3 look quite mild. I really do feel like Kodaka wanted to take Umineko as an overall concept and run with it in more “funky wacky DR terms.”

Umineko is a story that challenges you to throw your preconceptions out the window and realize that characters aren’t always what they seem. And although it has a mechanic where only certain words “can be trusted” and it might seem as though anything else could be a lie, you are still distinctly encouraged to believe in and take those non-guaranteed words at face value, because at some point you can’t distrust everything in the story.

Reading Umineko was an experience that really did change how I view mysteries and even how I think about things on a very personal basis. I’ve said a few times that mysteries only become solvable when you believe they can be solved, and when you trust that the author has definitely included all the points of evidence and hints that you need, and Umineko was indeed the series that encouraged this way of thinking for me. Reading it was an extremely wild but fulfilling experience, and it’s made my experience of ndrv3 even more enjoyable than it would have already been.

I really hope more people might get into either Umineko or ndrv3 thinking of the two as very similar works which focus on similar themes. It would help a lot of people’s understanding of the game, I think.

There’s a lot more fun sprite comparison to be had, but that’s probably best left for another day."

Considering various things in the prologue and epilogue, along with the games themes, I don't think NDRV3 really has a "definite" answer to the truth, as much as the wish to have the audience decide what the truth means. It's a lot like Umienko When They Cry in that regard.

Oh boy, I’m actually really happy that you brought upUmineko, anon! I’ve been kind of slipping in references to it for a while inthe tags on some of my posts, but now that you’ve given me a reason to talkabout it, I guess I really can’t hide that I’m a huge When They Cry fan ingeneral!

For those who aren’t familiar with Umineko, it’s a murdermystery visual novel by Ryukishi07, and it’s on exactly the same sort of level of hyperawareness and meta as ndrv3,if not a little moreso. The series is long—it’s split into eight separatevisual novel “episodes,” and altogether it’s far longer than the entirety ofndrv3, even counting bonus mode content. But for anyone who enjoys seriesinvolving murder mysteries, fourth-wall breaking and meta awareness from thecharacters, and a really good story full of lots of plot twists from start tofinish, I’d recommend checking it out if you’re curious.

I’m going to talk about both series at length under the read more, but even for people who don’t know anything about Umineko, I’d recommend at least reading this, because the two works are heavily similar and how I tackled ndrv3 as a mystery was very similar to how I learned to tackle mysteries from Umineko.

Keep reading

[detectivereads]

Book challenge 2023- 2024

Hi everyone and Happy New Year,

Ok at the end of last year, 2023, I set up a reading challenge for myself that I had a small goal of reading 70 books this year and my large goal was to read 90.

Unfortunately, I hit some major reading slumps this year and I only managed to read 63 books (I was close!)

So, I am setting my next reading challenge for 2024 to a bit smaller goal so I think for my small goal I am going to try to shoot for 65 books and my large goal will be 80. But I am not going to try and complete this goal I read for fun. I would like to see how much I read in a year and see if I can beat last year’s score.

I am also thinking about setting smaller challenges for myself that will keep me from burning out.

Challenges:

Read a romance (I am a cozy mystery/light novel/ manga/ fantasy reader this is something, I am worried about.)

Read a horror (I am particular about my horror, I like the classic horror, but I going to try and find something not classic)

Read a fantasy book (I am hoping for a new Legends and Lattes book in the series I am reading Bookshops & Bonedust)

I also want to find a new mystery that is not really a cozy mystery. (I’m also reading The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.)

I am also going to try and read a few classics that I have accumulated over the years. The two I want read is the Cthulhu mythos and Dracula.

As the year goes on, I will add to my challenges.

Books that I am looking forward to this year:

Spongebob SquarePants Mysteries #3 Stage fright by David Lewman - when I came across this series it was like looking back on my childhood, I love Spongebob and him being a detective is the best. I was worried that these books weren’t going to be great, but I was sorely wrong, I love this series I hope this book series will have a lot of books.

Any new Case Closed by Gosho Aoyama- this is one of my top MVB (Most Valuable Books) I can’t put into words how amazing this manga series is.

Nancy Drew Diaries book #25 What Disappears in Vegas by Carolyn Keene- Nancy Drew is always a must she is the sleuth that got me into the genre.

Noodle Shop Mysteries Peking Duck and Cover by Vivien Chien- this is another MVB I love the Noodle Shop Mysteries.

Shady Hollow Summers End by Juneau Black- ok the last book to me forever to find but I got it, and when I went online to see if they have released the next book (book 5) I saw this cover and I screamed. Another MVB for sure. I finished reading the last book and it ripped my heart out at the end.

The Swifts: A gallery of Rogues by Beth Lincoln- this is book 2 in the Swifts series I loved the first book so much and I was praying that the author would give us another book and I can’t wait to get my hands on it.

A Bakeshop Mystery A Smoking Bun by Ellie Alexander- in 2023 I started reading the Bakeshop Mysteries because it seems to be one of the popular books that I keep coming across and I collected all the other books in the series. I love this series very much.

Dungeon Academy Last Best Hope by Madeleine Roux- I got my hands on the first two books, I have recently got into D&D, and I wanted to get inspiration for making my character, I am so glad getting this book series. I am hoping that 2024 will give more D&D books like this one.

The Invisible man and his-soon-to be Wife vol 3- I am dying to know what happens to Yuki and the others at the agency.

The Adventure Zone: The Suffering Game by Griffin McElroy, Clint McElroy, Justine McElroy, Travis McElroy & Carey Pietsch- Book 6 in the series,  I love this series the fun adventures are always something to look forward too.

What I hope to see in 2024

There hasn’t been any information release this is just me hoping that the series will come out with another book.

An Ice Cream Shop Mystery- I read the other books I love this series I couldn’t put the books down when I read them.

A Cheese Shop Mystery- I love this series, the characters are so interesting, and each book was so interesting I hope book 5 is around the corner.

A Grilled Cheese Mystery- this is what I think of Cozy grilled cheese sandwiches and reading a murder mystery book. This series and the Cheese shop mystery series I always have to have a either a sandwich or cheese cubes close by.

New Books that Have caught my eye:

So far, I found one book that looks interesting.

Ill-Fated Fortune by Jennifer J. Chow- I think I am trying to find a book that will be another good series like the Noodle Shop Mysteries, and this one the premise sounds interesting.

Finally, videogames, I love detective games here are some of the games I am looking forward too this year:

Tin Tin Reporter the Pharoh Cigars

Touch Detective

Nancy Drew game 34 Mystery of the 7 keys (I am praying that they are coming out next year)

Chicken Police into the Hive

[butdriampagliacci]

hi omg i really love "wildfire"!!! i'm so curious about the behind-the-scenes process behind it. what media inspired you to write it? what's the revision process like and how long does it usually take? what part did u find the most difficult to write? when did you start writing the outline + first draft? are you the type to finish a rough draft of an entire long fic before revising or do you take it chapter by chapter? i have so many questions pls infodump as much as u want about the behind the scenes of the fic i'm so hooked on the story i've been sharing it to all of my mutuals. thank you again for creating it <3

OMG first of all, thank you! I love talking about writing, so infodump I shall!

As far as inspiration goes, I love mysteries and detective stories in general. Some that stand out to me as influencing wildfire are the manga FAKE by Sanami Matoh and Beyond Evil, a kdrama that I highly recommend. Lots of twists and turns in that one. (And of course I like Knives Out and Glass Onion haha, there's a little bit of that too with how Diluc is helping Lumine.) I also have a playlist I made for the fic. If y'all ever want to see that, let me know~

I started writing the fic in September after rotating the idea in my brain for about a year. Initially I wasn't planning on posting it, since people can get pretty heated about kaeluc so it was just for my own amusement. But after talking to friends about it and realizing how much I was enjoying myself, I figured I should go ahead and make an AO3 account and publish it. Seeing other people enjoying it too makes me so happy it's unreal!

Re: the process--I tend to go chapter by chapter, usually with a bit of a buffer. In other words, I try to stay ahead of the most recent chapter, so if chapter 4 is ready to be posted, I'm already working on chapter 5 and so on. I actually started out with a substantial buffer and had about 5 chapters written before I posted the first one. I've got a document called "Misc" where I write scenes out of order or further along in the story to place later. Also, this is going to sound insane, but I don't really outline--at least not strictly. I have a document called "plot notes" to remind myself of certain important clues, the timeline, anything that I came up with while brainstorming. I know what's going to happen in the broad sense (like the solution to the mystery, I know where Aether is haha) but I like to give myself a little freedom to make creative decisions as I work. Sometimes I'll plan for something to happen, but then it doesn't really fit. For example, I had the flashback where Kaeya and Diluc almost kissed as teenagers completed for a while, but had trouble deciding which chapter it should go.

I'm often editing as I go. If I'm writing and the scene feels wrong or the dialogue is off, I'll cut and paste it into my "outtakes and deleted scenes" doc so I can still keep what I like or change my mind later. I re-read the previous chapter to try and keep things consistent and make sure to read my draft before I post to catch whatever I can. (I don't have a beta so any typos or other mistakes are on me TvT) The most difficult parts to write are anything involving actual procedure lmao I do my best to make it seem believable, but I take about as much artistic license as a detective show would. I prefer amateur/gentleman detective stories to police procedurals so that's the vibe I'm going for (despite Kaeya having access to actual law enforcement resources). That, and action scenes aksjdfosdjfoj If you can't already tell, I'm a dialogue/character writer.

As far as how long it takes to write and revise, I can usually finish a 3-4k chapter in roughly a week. That's thanks to my severe brainworms hahahaha I'm lucky to have a lot of free time right now and a slow paced job :> Although I know how the fic will end and the major twists, I'm not sure how long it will take to get there, but we've already crossed the 50k mark, so there's going to be plenty more content haha

Anyway, I've probably talked enough for now but I'm always down to chat fic and writing haha Thank you again for reading and sharing the story! I appreciate it so much~

[sosugasweet]

a concept: a detective agency consisting of akaashi and bokuto.

just. imagine it. akaashi in a sweater and dress shirt combo, bokuto wearing a dress shirt but collar open, sleeves rolled up, and tie nowhere to be found.

akaashi is the calm one, always thinking two steps ahead. he manages the budget. makes good friends with the neighbors.

bokuto is always rushing about. he is willing to help the little girl on the street find her missing dog, or the grandma at the grocery store find her brooch. the jobs he gets often don’t make them any money, but bokuto’s just like that.

they end up doing odd jobs to make money to keep the agency afloat, like mowing other people’s lawns, cleaning up the trash on the street, folding pizza boxes, and recycling old cans.

sometimes it gets to the point where their utilities get shut off and then akaashi takes matters into his own hands. it’s hard to find jobs though, so akaashi gets to posting things on the internet. eventually they kind of become an “odd jobs” organization (bokuto has been hired as a handyman several times) but when push comes to shove, solving mysteries and getting to the bottom of a case is what gets their blood pumping.

bokuto rescues the young daughter of the mayor from falling into the river one day and the mayor wants to hold a ceremony/grand dinner in thanks. but bokuto declines, says that he was just passing by and did what anyone would do. the mayor still wants to thank them somehow, so akaashi says that if he’s interested, they could use a new poster to advertise the agency and the daughter would be perfect for the job.

she makes them a poster out of construction paper, markers, and glitter. they stick it right outside the front door of the building, and every now and then, she comes over after school to chat and draw on the sidewalk with chalk.

[ruanbaijie]

Thank you so much for your blog, love reading it..... do you mind if I ask recs for either cnovel or cdrama or kdrama? I actually start from an anime/manga lover and now want to try other things.... Do you know manga Akatsuki no Yona? It's about a princess that was running away with her bodyguard in search for the 4 dragons (that turns out to be in human form and become her extra bodyguards)....She tried to take over again her kingdom from her cousin and along the way getting to know and helping the people of her kingdom.... Do you know either media (novel or drama) that had premise like this...? Sorry for the long ask...Thanks again....

ahhh okay first of all, all my apologies for taking eons to respond to this (ノ*°▽°*) I’ve had a hectic past few weeks and I didn’t want to rush through a response for this, so I finally managed to find some time this weekend hehe

welcome to cdramas and kdramas! (o^▽^o) I’ve done a rec for danmei (bl cnovels) here before; I don’t know enough non-bl cnovels to be able to recommend any but I’m currently slowly reading my way through quan zhi gao shou (the king’s avatar) which is about esports >5 million words rip me

I’ve watched akatsuki no yona! wwaaaaayyy back, and I really enjoyed it too! I don’t know if there are any media that have a similar premise to it though... so what I’m gonna do below is to just recommend kdramas I feel are worth the watch and also add in a point or two if I feel there are any similarities! someone else asked me about cdrama recs too shortly after your ask and I’ve answered them here, also putting in a point on two for any similarities

disclaimers!

I haven’t watched a lot of kdramas recently (as compared to past few years) so a lot of the recs you’ll see here are from a few years ago

I prefer shows with action, mystery, monsters (think vampires and zombies), sci-fi, crime, so if you’re looking for romcoms and slice of life, I’m the last person you should be asking (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)

nevertheless, I’ve split the recs below according to completed, plan to watch, and shows I’m not planning to watch now but I know that are very highly recommended

synopses, genres, and tags from mydramalist

completed + MY FAVES (i.e. I will scream at you to watch it now)

Fifteen years ago, a young girl was kidnapped on the way from school, and Park Hae Yeong, who was an elementary school student at that time, witnessed the crime. A few days later, the girl was found dead, and the police were not able to find the culprit. As time went by, Hae Yeong started distrusting the police. Fifteen years later, Hae Yeong is now a police officer and criminal profiler. One day, he finds a walkie-talkie that allows him to get in contact with Detective Lee Jae Han who is in the past. Police officers Hae Yeong, Jae Han, and Cha So Hyun then set out on a journey to solve cold cases.

Genres: thriller, mystery, sci-fi

Tags: different timelines, Hwaseong Serial Murders, murder, criminal profiler, serial killer, investigation, death, tragic past, corruption, suspense

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsdJLm7Swkw

this show is so fucking good like

you know a show is good when it inspires not one, not two, but THREE remakes (japanese, chinese, thai)

I also personally like to think that it inspired a lot of kdramas with a similar premise (crime solving + serial killer + past-present wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff) that came after it

Kim Shin was once an unbeatable general in Goryeo's military who died a tragic death. He now possesses immortality but is tired of living while everyone else around him dies. For 900 years, Kim Shin has searched for his bride, a mortal who can pull out the sword and end his life. One day, he encounters Ji Eun Tak, a positive, upbeat high school student who can see the dead and has gone through tragic events, yet still stays strong. She claims to be the Goblin's bride who can end his immortal life, but what appears to be an easy task, only gets complicated, as the two fall in love.

Genres: comedy, romance, fantasy, melodrama

Tags: supernatural, interspecies romance, dokkaebi, fate, tearjerker, bromance, death, heartfelt, true love

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tOxnroOTWU

I was obsessed with this when it was airing and I happened to also be in south korea at that time and it was such an experience getting the merch and seeing posters everywhere and going all the way to the filming locations to geek out (lol)

might be similar to ANY because of... bickering bromance (idk now that I think about it kim shin and wang yeo low key remind me of hak and jaeha)

As the leader of a crime investigation team, Han Tae Joo has propelled his career and risen through the ranks by trusting data over all else. One day, while investigating a serial murder case, he has an accident. When he wakes up, he suddenly finds himself in the winter of 1988. He doesn't know why, but he's now a detective appointed to work at a police station in a small city. To get back to the present day, Han Tae Joo tries to solve the case.

Genres: action, mystery, psychological, comedy

Tags: 1980s, police procedural, bromance, strong friendship, hallucination, serial killer, coma

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBfKn188dmE

another really good detective show that involves time stuff! but this one is a remake of the UK drama of the same name

ends in a cliffhanger that I found absolutely delicious

might be similar to ANY because of... found family

No sooner does the Joseon King succumb to smallpox, do the rumours of his death begin. The Cho Clan, the clan of the pregnant Queen and her father, Chief State Councillor Cho Hak Joo, declares the Crown Prince a traitor. Questioning the circumstances surrounding the King’s death, the Crown Prince and his guard, Moo Young, set forth to locate Lee Seung Hui, the last physician to treat his father. But the two end up stuck with Assistant Physician Seo Bi and a mysterious man named Young Shin in a village plagued with a terrifying disease.

Genres: thriller, historical, horror, political

Tags: Joseon Dynasty, power struggle, gore, survival, corruption, zombies

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l-yByZpaaM

really clever take on zombies!

and because it’s a sageuk (historical kdrama) of course they had to somehow weave some form of political struggle into it as well

also has a second season, a movie, and an upcoming third season

might be similar to ANY because of... badass female lead who absolutely kicks ass and also uses a bow and arrow (though she only appeared in the movie so far), political struggle for the crown

Kim Hae Il is a Catholic priest. He makes spiteful remarks and he can be rude to others. Koo Dae Young is a detective. He talks a lot and he is also timid. Park Kyung Sun is a prosecutor. She is smart and beautiful. She is also ambitious as a prosecutor and good at her job. The three of them team up and work together to solve a murder case involving a senior Catholic priest.

Genres: action, mystery, comedy, crime

Tags: bromance, church, strong friendship, PTSD, sismance, corruption

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-qk-Xqf-B0

look, there are many kdramas with the “comedy” genre tagged to them

but this one is just absolutely fucking funny

the king of them all (tied with mr. queen - see below) 

loads of action, loads of humour!

might be similar to ANY because of... found family

A zombie and a writer team up to solve crimes in this thrilling drama that explores what happens when someone actually comes back to life. After being secretly buried on a hill, Moo Young comes back to life as a zombie thanks to illegally dumped medical waste. With his memory gone, he eventually accepts reality and does whatever he can to walk and look like a human. Luckily, his peculiarly developed sense of smell allows him to position himself as one of the prominent businesses in the field of private investigation, finding the bodies of those who are reported missing. Sun Ji, who once was a writer for a TV show that deals with issues regarding current affairs, is employed as a part-time assistant at Moo Young’s agency. While being emotional, hot-tempered, and willing to stamp out justice at all costs, Sun Ji finds out that Moo Young is a zombie. As she helps the zombie detective look for the traces of his lost memories, she comes to realise how Moo Young is related to one of her previous cases.

Genres: thriller, mystery, comedy, fantasy

Tags: investigation, writer, suspense, zombies, drama, horror, detective fiction

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyTSICDokjE

it says zombie but this drama is an entirely different ball game from kingdom

kingdom is what you can expect from a traditional zombie show: horror, suspense, gore

this one... is a more sanitised, human version

also really funny (ah gotta love kdrama comedies) with an underlying mystery!

Jang Bong Hwan is a South Korean chef who has risen up the ranks to cook for the country’s top politicians in the Blue House’s presidential residences. After a serious accident, he finds himself in the body of the young queen, Kim So Yong, when whisked away to an era deep in Korea’s past. While Queen Kim So Yong’s husband is the reigning monarch, King Cheol Jong, he is so in name only. The late King Sunjo’s Queen, Sun Won, has taken advantage of King Cheol Jong’s better nature, and is ruling the realm in his name. And she faces competition from her own brother, Kim Jwa Guen, who also has designs on power. Queen Kim So Yong will come to discover that her husband harbours some secrets, and is not as gentle and meek as he seems…

Genres: historical, comedy, romance, fantasy

Tags: transmigration, Joseon Dynasty, time travel, body swap, gender swap, power struggle

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dImREPX_Pbk

one of the best, most ridiculous, most hilarious sageuks I’ve watched

kdramas have this uncanny ability of making you really hate the antagonists (which this one had too of course), but the main female (well...) lead was just too damn hilarious

might be similar to ANY because of... badass female lead who kicks ass

Following the death of his family in an accident, loner Cha Hyun Soo moves to a new apartment. His quiet life is soon disturbed by strange incidents that start occurring in his apartment, and throughout Korea. As people start to turn into monsters, Hyun Soo and the other residents try to survive.

Genres: horror, drama, sci-fi, supernatural

Tags: monsters, gore, survival, character development, supernatural phenomena, trauma, school bullying, attempted suicide

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcH81Bzuxz0

because I am a sucker for monster shows (especially where the main lead happens to be the monster who is Trying To Hide Their Identity or Trying To Restrain Themselves Around The Normal Humans) this one was absolutely up my alley

nose bleeding is a huge part of the show though, so if you can’t take very bloody scenes, it’s best to sit this one out

there’s going to be a second season!

Yoon Sae Bom is a special agent with quick wits and reflexes and another special quality. She earns the opportunity to move into a new apartment set aside for civil servants in a coveted apartment complex by pretending to marry high school friend Jung Yi Hyun. Yi Hyun is a detective investigating the spread of a mysterious disease. They are trapped in their apartment building when Han Tae Seok, head of the task force to control the spread of the disease, orders the complex to be sealed off from the rest of the city. Quarantine and disease reveal a social caste system, bringing out the best and worst of the apartment residents.

Genres: action, thriller, drama, fantasy

Tags: disease, virus, survival, fake marriage, discrimination, slow burn romance, infectious disease, illness

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2EiCIyY54I

I’m currently rewatching this hehehehe 

I first got interested in this because some people called it a zombie show

but looking at mdl, they’ve tagged it more as “disease”, “illness”; personally I felt the “monsters” in this show were more like vampires than zombies

repeating my point from sweet home since it completely applies to here as well: because I am a sucker for monster shows (especially where the main lead happens to be the monster who is Trying To Hide Their Identity or Trying To Restrain Themselves Around The Normal Humans) this one was absolutely up my alley

yoon sae bom and jung yi hyun (aka girlboss and malewife) are THE ABSOLUTE BEST I LOVE THEM SO MUCH YOUR HONOUR

might be similar to ANY because of... badass female lead who kicks A LOT of ass, found family

A high school becomes ground zero for a zombie virus outbreak. Trapped students must fight their way out — or turn into one of the rabid infected.

Genres: action, thriller, horror, sci-fi

Tags: zombies, survival, death, gore, school, virus, slight romance, zombie apocalypse, high school

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzD2DS1fe6Y

very bloody, very gory

a zombie show that is very true to the zombie genre (vs. zombie detective and happiness from above)

might be similar to ANY because of... badass female characters

completed

Geum Jan Di comes from a poor family who owns a dry-cleaning shop. One day, she visits Shinhwa High School, a prestigious school for the wealthy, and saves a student trying to commit suicide because of bullying. For her heroic act, Jan Di receives a swimming scholarship and starts attending the school. In Shinhwa High, she meets the notorious F4, the most popular and powerful group of boys at the school, consisting of Gu Jun Pyo; the leader of F4 and heir to the Shinhwa Group, Yoon Ji Hu; the grandson of a former president of Korea, So Yi Jung; a skilled potter who comes from a family that owns the country's biggest art museum, and Song Woo Bin; whose family runs the country's largest construction company. Her life at school starts out miserable, as she doesn't fit in with other students because of her status, and later becomes worse when she is labeled as the new bullying target of the F4.

Genres: comedy, romance, youth, drama

Tags: school bullying, love triangle, high school, evil parental figure, reverse-harem, first love

Fanmade trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUuPWK01JZs

I wouldn’t normally recommend this but... I put it in because of the reverse harem trope that’s kinda similar to ANY... (ง ื▿ ื)ว

this was the second kdrama I ever watched (the first being jewel in the palace because my mum happened to be watching it lol)

remake of the japanese manga hana yori dango

After receiving an anonymous letter stating that someone will die, eight students at the elite boarding school, Susin High School, nicknamed "Prison High", decided to remain at school for the 8 days of winter break. To accompany them, a teacher is forced to remain. On their first night, a psychologist named Kim Yo Han takes refuge at the school after being involved in a car accident nearby. Due to the snowstorm, the roads are closed and he is forced to spend the winter holiday with them. However, at a time when everyone else is celebrating Christmas Eve, the students realise that the anonymous letters they each received were not the result of a harmless prank; and there is a murderer in their midst.

Genres: thriller, mystery, psychological, youth

Tags: Christmas, high school, student, moral ambiguity, psychologist, drug usage, trapped, depression, deafness

Fanmade trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCAc1soe3ZM

unlike what the name suggests, I found this drama quite “dark”

Shin Ji Hyun was enjoying absolute bliss as she was about to marry her fiancé, Kang Min Ho, but her perfect life is shattered when she gets into a car accident that leaves her in a coma. She is given a second chance at life by a person called The Scheduler, but it comes with a condition: she has to find three people outside of her family who would cry genuine tears for her. In order to do this, she borrows the body of Yi Kyung, a part-time employee at a convenience store for 49 days.

Genres: romance, drama, melodrama, supernatural

Tags: body swap, second chance, coma, death, car accident, flashback to past, depression, tragic past

Fanmade trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em-pRRFI-Mk

will make you cry A LOT

not usually the genre I go for (I think I picked it up because of the supernatural aspect) but I found myself really enjoying it!

Choi Kang Chi is a half-human and half-mythical-creature who was adopted by the lord of the Hundred Years Inn. He was the son of Gu Wol Ryung, the guardian spirit of Jiri Mountain, and the human Yoon Seo Hwa. Dam Yeo Wool is a martial arts master and daughter of the leader of a secret organisation protecting the region. She was sent to the Hundred Years Inn to observe and protect its lord. They met at the Hundred Years Inn, the most popular inn in the region, and fell in love with each other despite Choi Kang Chi being a half-human. When their world turned into chaos, it is up to Choi Kang Chi to put it back into order; and up to Dam Yeo Wool to ensure that Choi Kang Chi's half-mythical-creature side does not get the best of him.

Genres: action, historical, romance, fantasy

Tags: interspecies romance, nine-tailed fox, superhuman strength, revenge, cross-dressing, love triangle, death of a parent

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itROM2-fy6Q

god I was so hyperfixated over this when I watched it

though tbh I preferred the secondary couple over the main couple and cried more over them than the latter ahaha

might be similar to ANY because of... badass female lead who kicks ass

Eun Dae Gu, Uh Soo Sun, Park Tae Il and Ji Gook - otherwise known as the P4 - are the new recruits in the violent crime unit at Gangnam Police Station. These rookies are neither enthusiastic nor passionate about their new jobs and have joined the crime squad for varying but unbefitting reasons. They are led by an erratic and hot-headed Seo Pan Suk who wants nothing more than to wash his hands of the incompetent new recruits.

Genres: action, mystery, comedy, drama

Tags: revenge, death of a parent, tragic past, childhood acquaintance, teamwork, police procedural, bromance, murder

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRSVxIMdrEo

A traumatic childhood experience leaves Cha Do Hyeon, suffering from memory loss and dissociation. The latter has resulted in the creation of seven distinct personalities. Wanting to regain control over his life, he asks Oh Ri Jin, a first-year psychiatric resident, to help him, but she eventually falls in love with one of his personalities. Ri Jin’s twin brother, Oh Ri On, a famous mystery novelist, investigates Do Hyeon and his family.

Genres: psychological, comedy, romance, drama

Tags: dissociative identity disorder, trauma, boss-employee relationship, mental health, PTSD, psychiatry

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkLlJk2hsoc

again, not my usual genres, but I started watching it back then because of all the really good reviews it was getting

in which ji sung acts like... at least 7 different characters

In 1986, Park Gwang Ho works as an excellent and enthusiastic detective. His life changes when he’s pursuing leads in a serial homicide case and then passes through a time portal, which transports him to present day Seoul. He meets a new partner Kim Sun Jae, an elite detective who happens to be a bit eccentric, but is one highly skilled investigator. The detective duo will also find help in psychology professor, Shin Jae Yi.

Genres: thriller, mystery, sci-fi, fantasy

Tags: time travel, murder, criminal profiler, serial killer, bromance, hidden identity, character development, slight romance

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WI0ukjqsKQ

another crime drama with sci-fi time elements!

also another really enjoyable and addictive one

Taking place in both the present year 2017 and in the year 2037, when people believe that their future depends on humans controlling and regulating their emotions, this drama is a sci-fi mystery. When alien visitors arrive on Earth, humans learn new skills from them and take advantage of them; what ensues is a story of alliance, resistance, and love. Each episode will contain two shorter stories, the first part set in 2017 and called “Beta Project,” with the second set in 2037 and called “Grand New World.”

Genres: thriller, mystery, sci-fi

Tags: future, alien, bromance, kidnapping, character development, human experimentation

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWlO0cQbuyg

Nestled deep in the heart of Seoul’s thriving downtown sits a curious hotel, the like of which no one has ever seen before. Old beyond measure, the building has stood for millennia, an ever-present testament to the fact that things are not always what they seem. Running this hotel is Jang Man Wol, a greedy, suspicious soul who has spent the past thousand years acting as the establishment’s CEO. Bound to the hotel by a deity who keeps her there to save her from going berserk and self-destruction with rage, hatred and thirst for revenge. Her only hope of escape is if she could let go of her resentment and hatred, and find love. Trapped in her resentment for a betrayal, Man Wol is doomed to spend all of the eternity running this odd establishment, catering to the needs of the most peculiar clientele. Things take an interesting turn when Goo Chan Sung shows up. Once the youngest assistant manager ever to work at a multinational hotel corporation, Chan Sung finds himself forced to manage the Hotel del Luna because of a deal his father made with Man Wol years ago. Excellent with managing money, he starts to put Jang's excessive spending and disastrous finance situation in order, that may be exactly what this odd establishment and its cursed CEO needs.

Genres: horror, comedy, romance, fantasy

Tags: boss-employee relationship, ghost, supernatural, hotel

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IjMTR2DxlA

Dong Baek has an extraordinary ability. He can peer into the memories of whoever he touches. With his supernatural power, get it done attitude, and eye-pleasing looks, he is fervently revered worldwide as a superstar detective. However, when his punches meet with suspects before words, he can be a bit of a headache to his comrades. Starting from the age of twenty, Han Sun Mi is the youngest to have passed the bar exam, obtain a doctorate in criminal psychology, and become a senior superintendent in the police force. Having solved five cold cases that even a detective with supernatural powers couldn't do, she is a genius profiler. She has a secret that drives her to do what she does. These two highly-skilled professionals meet their match—a serial killer with abilities that transcend theirs combined. It's going to be a fight worth watching.

Genres: action, thriller, mystery, supernatural

Tags: serial killer, criminal profiler, supernatural power, investigation, cult

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq7APoxy3uA

one of the kdramas that I watched recently (past 1-2 years) that I really enjoyed!

though the antagonist (as you can see from the poster) was a bit creepy

A story where ten people get the chance to go back in time by one year, but unexpectedly mysterious situations start to arise when their fates are changed and twisted in the process. Ji Hyung Joo is a detective in the violent crimes division. He used to be part of the traffic police but was promoted when he arrested a wanted criminal. It's been seven years since the change, and he's a talented individual who always knows how to relax. Though he is happy at first to have the chance to go back in time by one year and "reset" his life, he begins to search for the truth when a series of mysterious events befall on the group of people he goes back in time with.

Genres: thriller, mystery, drama, fantasy

Tags: time travel, suspense, murder, fate, supernatural, lying, psychiatrist, bromance

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOqOBJpqVX0

I’m just gonna say... plot twist

Lee Gon is the third Korean emperor of his generation. His citizens regard him as the perfect leader. But behind this flawless appearance, hides a deep wound. When he was eight years old, his father was murdered before his eyes following a coup. Today, instead of respecting his filial duty, he prefers to escape the palace to attend university conferences. During one of his escapades, he sees himself propelled into a parallel world where he meets Jeong Tae Eul, an inspector with whom he teams up with to defeat the criminals but also close the door between their two worlds.

Genres: mystery, romance, drama, sci-fi

Tags: parallel universe, doppelganger, royal family, royalty, murder, monarchy, treason

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWRtVkheXVc

from the same writer as goblin, you can see her similar touch in terms of the romance and fantastical world building

“Mystic Pop-Up Bar” is based on a popular webtoon of the same name and tells the story of a mysterious pojangmacha (outdoor drinking establishment) run by a prickly woman and an innocent part-timer who visit customers in their dreams to help resolve their problems.

Genres: mystery, comedy, family, fantasy

Tags: afterlife, tragic past, grudge, spirit, special power, family relationship, flashback to past, food

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0RfpPHksRA

another drama with a familiar set-up (helping ghosts with their unresolved grudges), but I found this one in particular very hilarious yet also heartwarming 

The mythical nine-tailed fox, or gumiho, Lee Yeon had to settle in the city many centuries ago. Able to transform into human form, he eradicates supernatural beings that threaten the mortal world. His real aim is to find the reincarnation of his lost first love. The talented television producer Nam Ji Ah works in a show that features urban myths. In the past, her parents were involved in a mysterious car accident and disappeared, and she suspects that Lee Yeon might be connected with this accident. The half-brother to Lee Yeon is the captivating Lee Rang. Despite being half-human himself, he harbours a deep-seated contempt for all people. For sport, he will unleash his seductive prowess upon his human-du-jour, by promising to grant them their wishes, only to trick them into paying a hefty price for their earthly desires.

Genres: thriller, horror, romance, fantasy

Tags: nine-tailed fox, reincarnation, supernatural, sibling rivalry, immortal, interspecies romance, imoogi, death of a lover, mythical being

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCqhd_u2-xY

Tells the story of demon hunters called Counters who come to earth under the guise of being employees at a noodle restaurant in order to capture evil spirits that have returned to earth in pursuit of eternal life. So Moon is the youngest of the Counters. After suffering from a mysterious car accident as a child, he eventually becomes a central figure among the Counters. Do Ha Na has the ability to sense the locations of evil spirits, even those that are hundreds of kilometres away. She can also read memories of others through touch and works with So Moon to do away with evil spirits. Ga Mo Tak is a Counter with incredible strength. He’s a former police officer who lost his memory seven years ago after an accident and is unable to stand idle in the face of injustice. Ga Mo Tak is also So Moon’s mentor. Chu Mae Ok is a Counter with healing abilities. Outwardly, she’s the chef of the noodle restaurant, but among the Counters, she is the emotional pillar of the group. Choi Jang Mool is the oldest Counter. He’s in charge of all of the Counters’ expenses, and he is a living legend among the Counters in Korea.

Genres: action, mystery, drama, supernatural

Tags: special power, evil spirit, spirit, school bullying, childhood trauma

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI55SRM6uhs

A 70-year-old with a dream and a 23-year-old with a gift lift each other out of harsh realities and rise to the challenge of becoming ballerinos. Shim Deok Chool has had a life long dreaming of performing ballet. He is 70-years-old and retired from his job as a post office employee. Due to life situations, he put aside his dream of becoming a ballet dancer and worked a normal job to support his family. Now, Shim Deok Chool makes the decision to pursue his dream again. His family, including his wife and adult children, are not happy with his decision, but Shim Deok Chool does not waver in pursuing his life long dream. He joins a ballet company to learn ballet. There, he meets Lee Chae Rok. Lee Chae Rok is a 23-year-old man. While growing up, he played different sports like baseball, swimming, and soccer, but he wasn't talented in any of those activities. He then became interested in ballet. His mother was a ballet dancer, but she died from a disease when Lee Chae Rok was young. His father later went bankrupt. Lee Chae Rok learned that he has a talent for ballet, but, after pursuing ballet, he barely has contact with his father and he has a hard time supporting himself financially. Going through hard times, his desire for ballet fades away. At this time, Sim Deok Chool appears in front of him.

Genres: friendship, life, drama, family

Tags: ballet, dream, life lesson, old-young generation, unusual friendship, father-son relationship, second chance, grandpa-granddaughter relationship, married couple

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtK3Vtw4rno

I didn’t expect to start watching let alone complete this drama given how it’s not my usual genre (I started watching for song kang hahahahah)

but it’s a really heartwarming and touching drama (god the number of times I cried) and brings a fairly different take from other shows which are usually told from the perspective of much younger mains

Do Gi has lived more honestly than anyone else as an officer in the Special Forces. Yet, when a serial killer murders his mother, he spends his days in agony. While feeling wronged and broken, Do Gi meets Jang Sung Chul, who recruits Do Gi to work for his company, Rainbow Taxi. Far from an ordinary taxi service, Rainbow Taxi is a secret organization that avenges victims whom the law didn’t protect. Here, Do Gi becomes a star driver who delivers satisfying revenge. Meanwhile, Ha Na is a prosecutor who investigates Rainbow Taxi. She is furious with their lawless behaviour, but at the same time, she feels confused to see them solve cases that the law cannot. Between those who believe that revenge embodies true justice and those who pursue the outlaws, Do Gi seeks what justice truly means.

Genres: action, thriller, mystery, drama

Tags: revenge, investigation, secret organisation, antihero

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hnnhq_fTV5c

lee je hoon is A GEM in this

might be similar to ANY because of... the revenge theme. I can’t really remember if the revenge theme in ANY was a very important one (I’d watched it a while back) but in this kdrama, it’s the entire basis of the story

Set in a dystopian version of present-day Korea where daily life is chaos and society has collapsed to the point that people openly voice their distrust and hatred for their leaders. In this world bereft of law and order, Head Trial Judge Kang signals the need for change. His courtroom is the subject of a reality show where he mercilessly punishes the guilty, earning him the "Devil Judge" nickname. As a divisive figure with an aura of mystery that belies his true identity and ambitions, the public is unsure whether he is a true hero or someone, knowingly sowing the seeds of discontent in his courtroom. A bitter rivalry has taken shape between the "Devil Judge" and the highly ambitious Jung Sun Ah, who has risen from poverty to become a corporate social responsibility foundation director. Into this turbulent world enter two childhood friends on a quest for true justice: rookie Judge Kim Ga On and Police Officer Yoon Soo Hyun. Do they have what it takes to challenge both the scheming Jung Sun Ah and the notorious "Devil Judge"?

Genres: mystery, law, crime, drama

Tags: judge, tough past, dystopia, antihero, bromance, courtroom, corruption

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZKLRQBoXTs

tbh I found this a little too dramatic for my liking, but it’s an enjoyable watch nevertheless!

might be similar to ANY because of... revenge

plan to watch

Set during the end of the Goryeo period to the early Joseon period. Two friends aim their swords against one another due to differences in opinion about "my country." Seo Hwi is a warrior. His father Seo Geom is a famous commander. Seo Hwi does not compromise when it comes to injustice. His life devolves into a hellish existence, but he still holds a smile. Nam Sun Ho is smart and a talented figure. Because his mother was born into the lowest class, Nam Sun Ho is looked down upon by other people. He wants to pass the military service examination. Due to a corruption scandal involving his father, Nam Sun Ho loses his dream. Making things worse, he comes into conflict with Seo Hwi over a misunderstanding.

Genres: action, historical, romance, drama

Tags: friendship, bromance, Joseon Dynasty, power struggle, war, first love, evil parental figure

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khANmq-3Too

Soo Yeol, the competent ‘bad boy’ on the police squad, regains his humanity after meeting K, the righteous but ‘crazy’ guy. Despite having a mere high school diploma, Soo Yeol is an accomplished member of the Anti Corruption Unit. He’s ambitious, so he chooses pet cases of his superiors and produces their desired outcomes. Often that means turning a blind eye to injustice, especially if it stands in the way of those preferred results. With promotion time looming and without anyone’s backing, Soo Yeol fears exclusion once again. Congressman Do Yoo Gon had given him some hope of advancement but dashed when the righteous but crazy K entered his life.

Genres: action, thriller, mystery

Tags: injustice, corruption, investigation, policeman, slight comedy, crime solving, antihero, police department

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC0M6aAJg-A

not currently in my to watch queue but that I’ve heard good reviews for

Bok Joo is a weightlifter who is pursuing her dream of winning the gold medal but she then finds romance for the first time in her life. While she is a woman who trains with heavy steel weights, she is also very feminine when it comes to relationships. Focusing solely on weightlifting would jeopardise her relationship but leaving her weightlifting career for love would keep her from attaining her dreams. Can she find a way to have love as well as glory at the age of 20? The characters within this drama are elite athletes in weightlifting, swimming and rhythmic gymnastics who work hard to reach their goals in life. It covers their coming-of-age stories and relationships through hectic life.

Genres: comedy, romance, youth, sports

Tags: college life, dream, friends to lovers, weightlifting, bantering relationship, campus romance, tomboy, swimming

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t5dLenA85Y

The stories of people going through their days that are seemingly ordinary but actually special, at the hospital, a place known as the microcosm of life, where someone is being born and someone's life meets their ending. The five doctors are long-time friends of 20 years who started their undergrad in 1999 in the same medical school and now are colleagues in the same hospital and have a band together.

Genres: friendship, romance, life, medical

Tags: strong friendship, best friends, hospital, slow romance, multiple couples, slight romance, bromance

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqIM2cenBAs

Moon Gang Tae is a community health worker at a psychiatric ward who was blessed with everything including a great body, smarts, ability to sympathize with others, patience, ability to react quickly, stamina, and more. Meanwhile, Ko Moon Young is a popular writer of children’s literature who, due to suffering from an antisocial personality disorder, seems extremely selfish, arrogant, and rude. Moon Gang Tae denies love and Ko Moon Young doesn’t know it. The two defy fate and fall in love, finding their souls and identities in the process.

Genres: psychological, comedy, romance, drama

Tags: melodrama, mental health, emotionally wounded, healing, psychiatry, childhood connection

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89i-Fn2CqQg

At the age of eight, Park Joo Hyeong went to Italy after being adopted. He is now an adult and known as Vincenzo Cassano to the Mafia, who employs him as a consigliere. Because mafia factions are at war with each other, he flees to South Korea, where he gets involved with lawyer Hong Cha Young. She is the type of attorney who will do anything to win a case. Now back in his motherland, he gives an unrivalled conglomerate a taste of its own medicine with a side of justice.

Genres: comedy, law, crime, drama

Tags: mafia, revenge, injustice, bromance, father-daughter relationship

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S12-4mXCNj4

Geu Roo is a young autistic man. He works for his father’s business “Move To Heaven.” Their job is to arrange items left by deceased people. One day, Geu Roo's own father dies. Geu Roo is left alone, but his uncle Sang Koo suddenly appears in front of him. Sang Koo is a cold man. He was a martial artist who fought in underground matches. He went to prison because of what happened at his fight. Sang Koo now becomes Geu Roo’s guardian. They run “Move To Heaven” together.

Genres: life, drama, family

Tags: autism, uncle-nephew relationship, death, savant syndrome, mourning, tearjerker, father-son relationship, life lesson, ex-convict

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-er_AJioOA

[marshmallowgoop]

Magic Kaito vs. Magic Kaito 1412

I’m not sure if I ever finished all twelve episodes, but I first watched at least a handful of the original Magic Kaito specials about a decade ago, and I remember really enjoying them. Superhero stories are among my favorites, and while both Magic Kaito and its sister series Detective Conan overlap with the genre in various ways—after all, Conan’s glasses were literally inspired by Clark Kent—Kaito’s flashy costume alone pushes his adventures more in that direction. So, maybe it’s no wonder that, back in the day, I kind of considered Magic Kaito my preferred series of the two.

Recently, I’ve got a reignited interest in the DCMK world (evidently). And it’s not a bad time to have a reignited interest, because English-language accessibility for this universe is much better now than it was ten years ago. Conan’s getting new movie dubs, and Kaito’s newer, expanded TV series, Magic Kaito 1412, is freely available on Crunchyroll. Obviously, I had to give it a shot.

I wasn’t impressed. Far from it. I chalked up my old fondness to nostalgia goggles. Kid the Phantom Thief is simply more enjoyable in Detective Conan than in his own thing, I figured.

But a few weeks ago, those old specials went up on Crunchyroll Germany. And it took me a while, but I finally decided to figure out the truth, once and for all. Have my tastes totally changed, or has Magic Kaito anime not always been Like That?

I was impressed. I watched all of one episode, and I enjoyed it so much more than 1412.

Which surprised me! Just examining the first episodes of both series, they’re honestly practically identical. They cover the same story beats almost exactly. Kaito’s introduction is even consistently him being disgusting to Aoko—behavior that, nauseatingly, convinced me that Mineta of the My Hero Academia series would actually be adored if he were conventionally attractive.

But as it turns out, that’s relevant to why the original Magic Kaito strikes me as far more palatable. Kaito’s actions towards Aoko are still indefensible in the old special, but he doesn’t repeat them on his teacher, and there are repercussions. Unlike in 1412, Kaito doesn’t get away with his harassment because his teacher finds him charming; in fact, Aoko even later notes that he “should be thankful [he] [wasn’t] expelled,” implying that he was indeed punished harshly for what he did. While Aoko assures Kaito’s mother that he didn’t get in trouble in 1412, in the original special, it’s clear that being cute isn’t enough to give him a free pass for disrupting class and being gross.

Further, in a more general sense, the tone of both series is of course goofy overall, but the characters in the old Magic Kaito feel much more like human beings than the cartoonish caricatures portrayed in 1412. A scene especially missing from the new show is a quiet one where Kaito and Aoko walk together after school. With the sun hanging low in the sky and a sparkling river flowing beside them, Kaito expresses his disappointment in how his magic trick didn’t exactly end as planned. “I guess I need to work on my finale,” he bemoans, but Aoko is more concerned with why he feels the need to pull these ridiculous stunts in the first place.

She quickly gets her answer. One of the exuberant little kids who had run by them earlier falls over and cries, and Kaito doesn’t hesitate to cheer him up with magic. And Aoko watches. She sees the way the little boy’s face lights up. She sees how he runs off again with renewed energy. And she smiles. She doesn’t say it, but the audience gets the message.

Oh. That’s why Kaito’s a magician. That’s why Aoko walks by his side.

I won’t claim to fully comprehend Kaito’s character. I haven’t read the manga, it’s been years since I’ve seen more than the first episode of these old specials, I’ve only watched about 20% of 1412, and for as much as I’ve been posting about Detective Conan lately, I’m (maybe humorously) about the farthest thing from current and would only be able to tell you about Kid’s first appearance in that show. But when Kaito returns to his empty home in the original series, and when he announces that he’s there to nobody at all, and when he welcomes himself back, all with a smile and a cheerfulness to his tone, I deeply feel his loneliness. I feel the weight of his lost father. I feel that, even if some of his tricks are inappropriate and inexcusable, he does them because he wants to make people laugh. He doesn’t want anyone to feel as sad and alone as he’s felt.

Maybe I missed it, but I didn’t get any of that from Magic Kaito 1412.

And they’re small things, they really are. But they make a world of difference. Even Jii, who really only becomes more than just a mysterious figure in the episode’s closing minutes, feels more like a tangible person in the special. He loudly gasps for breath after performing the magical, fantastical feats of his old friend, and it’s such a tiny, minuscule detail, but when watching, I feel it so strongly. I literally understand the strain of Toichi’s loss on Jii, too.

Beyond narrative decisions—and there are others that I much prefer in the old series, such as how Kaito links his failed magic trick to his father’s “poker face” philosophy, and how Kaito uses a successful variation of his earlier trick to escape the police as Kid the Phantom Thief—I also just simply prefer the original art style. Magic Kaito 1412 is slick and shiny and modern, but in being so, it strikes me as much more generic than the older-styled 2010 special. Shot compositions also feel more powerful in the first anime; just consider how differently the two series handle what is arguably the emotional height of the entire episode:

[Image descriptions: A series of four comparison images examining how the 2010 Magic Kaito series and the 2014 Magic Kaito 1412 portray the same sequence of events. In both, Kaito asks Jii, “Dad was murdered?! Was my dad... a thief? Was he Kid the Phantom Thief?” Kaito then says, “I see...” End image descriptions.]

While the dialogue is essentially unchanged, the old show’s use of close-ups expresses the tension of the scene spectacularly. You can see the terror in Kaito’s eyes. You can see how the thought of his father being a thief is so distressing that merely asking the question is painful and heartwrenching. You can see the sweat on Kaito’s face. You can see in great detail how much he struggles to grapple with this new truth.

Magic Kaito 1412 is significantly more distanced. And there’s power in that decision, too. The revelation is overwhelming. It’s hard to take. Kaito may want to get away from it, but he can’t.

However, I resonate more with how the original series handles the moment. Seeing how everything affects Kaito way up close speaks much more to me—and there are still some fantastic long shots, too:

[Image descriptions: Two screenshots from the original Magic Kaito series. Both are distanced long shots. In the first image, Kaito and Jii kneel on the ground. Kaito’s hands are on Jii’s shoulders. In the second image, Kaito stands, facing away from Jii, while Jii remains on the ground in shame. They wear identical outfits in both images, and their capes blow in the wind. End image descriptions.]

Gotta love those capes.

Overall, my feelings on Magic Kaito as a whole could probably be best described as somewhat mixed. And I’m kind of new here, and I don’t even know when it’s appropriate to use the #dcmk tag, so I of course don’t have the slightest clue about how popular or unpopular my opinion that the 2010 Magic Kaito series ranks above 2014′s Magic Kaito 1412 is. 

But skipping down memory lane and revisiting the old show was pleasantly surprising. Maybe my affection for Magic Kaito will never reach the highs it once had all those years ago, but it was almost comforting to find that my tastes haven’t changed all that much—rather, it’s Magic Kaito itself that’s changed.

[defectiveconantoy]

I was inspired by recent posts from @detectivegeekshin, @meitanteisachi, and @shinranposting.

This might have been discussed before, but are most of these CoAi shippers and Ran haters younger fans, or did they discover Detective Conan much later into the story?

I read multiple complaints about the newer movies, that they make Ran look bad or reduce her to a whiny damsel in distress. Another take is how Ran receives a lack of character development, or how the anime writers implicitly push CoAi.

That’s sad to hear, as someone who’s most familiar with the earlier episodes. I’m fairly new to the DCMK fandom and don’t bother watching the newer movies or anime episodes (except for the school trip arc).

I first got into Detective Conan in 2004 as the English dubbed show Case Closed, forgot about it, then got interested again over a decade later. I never got past the first 170 or so episodes and the first movie, before Haibara, Akai, Amuro, Sera Masumi, or Mary were added into the story. Any knowledge I have of the newer stuff is through the manga and the fandom on YouTube, Reddit, or here on Tumblr.

Thanks to the 90s-era episodes, I got used to watching the version of Ran who’s sweet, relatable, takes care of her dad and Conan, and kicks some ass when necessary. She showed a variety of emotions while still maintaining a down to earth personality. Ran also tried her best to be sympathetic towards people she hardly knew, even murderers.

Ran is also loyal and adores Shinichi. She may not share his interests or have Haibara’s deadpan personality, but time after time, she is always there for Shinichi. She often visited his home and cared for him. Hell, she even let him into her home as Conan, a complete stranger, and offered to donate her blood when he was seriously injured. She never guilts Conan or Shinichi about any of this. That is much more valuable to me than being on the same intellectual level or cracking snarky jokes at your friends. When times are bad, being intellectually equal is useless when you need a person’s support. Shinichi probably also notices this in Ran (hopefully).

It kind of hurts when people call Ran a “devil unicorn,” wish for her death, or hope to see Shinichi break up with her and go with Shiho. Why would you hate such a kind character? Unless the newer Conan content is really that bad when it comes to writing Ran’s story.