#kenta character analysis

[sky-of-dusk]

Hello! Have you ever noticed the parallels between Kenta saving Benkei in Episode 9 and Ginga saving Kenta in Episode 1?

Hello!

More than a parallel, it's (for me) the highlight of Kenta's evolution between the episode 1 and 9.

He and Benkei (who are mirrors in the first episodes) are characterized by an impressive growth in the first arc of Beyblade Metal Fusion.

About Ginga saving Kenta (episode 1)

This scene has for purpose to introduce the hero of the show. Kenta is a normal kid, with a passion for Beyblade, a couple of friends and big dreams. He's easy to identify with for viewers, or at least to watch fondly (contrary to Ginga, at this point, who keeps his distances with the other characters as well as the audience).

Kenta is attacked by the Face Hunters on his way home. He's forced to accept their challenge, knowing he'll lose, and is afraid the whole time (which is normal, one little kid cornered and mocked by a bunch of teenagers is bound to be afraid).

Kenta is good at Beyblade, since he won a tournament (as small as it is), but not strong enough to defend himself.

Ginga is a whole different category as a blader. He defeats easily Benkei and five Face Hunters, who are said to terrify the whole city. Him saving Kenta is followed by a victory even more impressive: the one against 100 Face Hunters.

About Kenta saving Benkei (episode 9)

Kenta does swoop in to save Benkei, as Ginga did for him. It not only highlights the fact Kenta evolved quickly in a short amount of time, but it also puts forward his courage (that showed for the first time to defend Ginga from Hikaru) and his forgiveness. Not so long ago, Benkei was the one bullying him like this and yet he does not hesitate to come to his help.

His entrance shows he's one step closer to his goal: becoming a blader like Ginga.

Closer... but not here yet. And he's aware of his limitations. It shows when he moves Bull away from Leone's path instead of trying to attack Leone directly. He knows he's no match for Kyouya.

For a matter of fact, Kenta and Benkei lose. This defeat, however, doesn't point out their weakness, but Kyouya's progress as a blader after working with Daidouji and overcoming the Wolf Canyon.

But thanks to Kenta's intervention, Bull isn't destroyed by Leone. Then, thanks to Benkei, Bull and Sagittario aren't crushed by Kyouya. Their teamwork and support allow them to avoid the worst for a blader: losing their beys.

[mach-speed-spin]

Beyblade character design analysis: Kenta Yumiya

Masterpost here. Now let's take a look at Kenta, who somehow went from getting beaten up by the Face Hunters to gaining Ryuga's respect

Starting with the hair, it's green. This has nothing to do with his bey, but the green, and more specifically this shade, make Kenta stand out. The rest of Kenta's design is fairly generic, to the point where some actual background characters have more captivating designs (like Django), so the hair helps set him apart from someone like Osamu. Green is one of the lesser-used hair colors in mfb, and the characters with green hair all have a very dark shade (like Kyoya). Kenta is the exception, which catches our attention when the rest of his design doesn't

Kenta wears a yellow shirt with a blue stripe. The yellow-green-blue color scheme looks like the Brazilian flag (insert joke about the time the Garcias jumped Yu). The design itself is quite plain, but the colors are bright enough to make Kenta not seem like a background character. He's still a generic audience surrogate in design (and character, at least at the start), but without being too generic as to be mistaken for a background character

He lacks gloves or a visible belt, which are accessories used by most bladers. This makes his design seem more generic, and it's on purpose because almost everyone else has at least one of these 2. However, Kenta does have a belt that holds his launcher, which is just not seen very much. He is a strong blader, but doesn't seem like it at first

Kenta wears shorts. There's nothing I can really say about them other than they contribute to his child look (I mean, he is a child, but he looks way younger than almost everyone else)

His shoes are unremarkable, but unlike some other footwear, seems like something a real-life kid would wear, cementing Kenta's role as an audience surrogate for the first few episodes (though he grows out of it fairly quickly)

His hair in Fury is mostly the same, but altered slightly to be a little more detailed. This is still the same Kenta from the previous seasons, but he's older and more mature. He also becomes a lot more important to the plot in Fury. Despite having less screentime than in Fusion, his contributions are a lot bigger

His shirt gets a redesign. The new style makes him look older, which is the primary purpose. The blue stripe is also gone and instead we have a white, vertical stripe. With his redesign being more detailed in general, the blue stripe loses its purpose of making Kenta stand out as an important character. The white gives it just as much detail, if not more, but isn't as flashy. Plus, Flash Sagittario's facebolt has white in the center, unlike Flame's. Subtle foreshadowing maybe?

Kenta wears pants that are rolled up to look kinda like shorts. It makes him look older while retaining most elements from his original design. Despite how much Kenta grew over the course of the series, at his core he's still the same

His shoes are a little more detailed but still essentially the same. Not much I can say about them

[irisviel101]

Sounds intense. Surprised how well thought out you made this. In your opinion, what makes the Ryuga/Kenta work out so well in Fury?

Thanks!

About Kenta and Ryuuga, well, to me, it seems like the perfect conclusions of their character arcs over the first two seasons.

We meet Kenta in Metal Fusion as this wimpy little kid with big dreams and a big heart and we see him grow stronger and braver throughout the season. His fight against Reiji in the Battle Bladers is a great example of how much he grows in just that season alone. The Kenta from the beginning of Metal Fusion would never be able to stand up to Reiji; he would never be able to look at this really terrifying opponent who has crushed people way stronger than Kenta and challenge him bravely, to the point where his determination unsettles even Reiji.

And in Metal Fury, this character growth reaches its peak when Kenta, feeling like he's not good enoguh to help put by staying with his friends, decides to follow Ryuuga and convince him to join them. The Ryuuga who is way stronger than him and has given no indication thus far that he would ever even listen to Kenta. But Kenta looks at this guy and just follows him around stubbornly to the point where even Ryuuga has to resign himself to having Kenta around all the time, travels with him and argues with him. Kenta fights Ryuuga and forces Ryuuga to acknowledge him, and he, of all people, earns Kenta's respect and perhaps even his friendship.

The Kenta of season one would never have been able to do this, and the fact that this is the same scared little kid that whose introduction to the series is being bullied around by a street gang of all things is honestly astounding. Back then, the thought of Kenta even holding his own against Ryuuga was downright laughable, which makes his character growth in Metal Fury all the more apparent and satisfying.

For Ryuuga, he's introduced in Metal Fusion as the main antagonist and he is, for the majority of the season, downright evil. He "kills" Ryo in Gingka's flashback, steals power from several bladers, absolutely destroys Hikaru, Tsubasa and Kyoya to the point where Hikaru develops PTSD severe enough that she has to quit bayblade, and he abandons Yuu to Reiji's mercy when the latter has had nothing but the utmost respect for him until that point. So, yeah, he's almost completely evil in Metal Fusion. That is, until he's freed from the Dark Power at the end of the first season.

Fast forward to Metal Masters where he's gained control over the Dark Power and is much more mellow and reasonable. He's still not on Gingka's side and any help he provides in this season is simply because he's repaying his previous debts (infecting Tsubasa with the Dark Power which he helps by teaching Tsubasa how to overcome it, and training Gingka for his battle with Julian to repay Gingka helping him defeat the Dark Power by defeating him in the Battle Bladers when it took over him completely). And the only reason he helps with the Spiral Force is because of his own grudge against Ziggurat for manipulating him through Doji behind the scenes in season one, and because the Earth would pretty much be destroyed if he didn't and Ryuuga kind of needs the Earth to live.

So, up until this point, Ryuuga has always either been an antagonist (Metal Fusion) or an absurdly strong unlikely ally only due to circumstances (Metal Masters).

That's why him slowly sort of befriending Kenta in Metal Fury is so important for his character. It opens up a side of him that we haven't got to see yet. Sure, Ryuuga mostly seems to ignore him because, well, he's Ryuuga and he is not a friendly person, but it doesn't change the fact that he eventually starts taking Kenta along with him while using L-Drago's lightning to teleport to and from places (Better Island for example) and that he basically camps with him, counting on him to gather firewood at one point if I remember correctly. Still, while he's begun to warm up to Kenta at a glacial pace, Ryuuga still does his own thing and mostly just takes Kenta along for the ride; that is, until Kenta puts his foot down and fights him, earning his respect in that fight by being one of the very few people who can get him to fight seriously.

Still, Ryuuga tries to fight Rago on his own because pride has always been Ryuuga's biggest flaw and he's never been one to work in a team. Yet, in his final moments, when he finally sees the consequences of his actions, Ryuuga chooses to give up his Star Fragment and give it to Kenta, solidifying the fact that he sees Kenta as someone worthy of his power, and perhaps even his friendship. And for someone like Ryuuga, who has always done his own thing up until now, that's saying a lot.

[gloomforrestrunes]

how does the main cast feel about their birthday? do their feelings change through the series?

i cant really answer this in the context of canon because birthdays arent really celebrated! its moreso coming of age ceremonies, and its mostly just nobles and high ranking animals that do that kind of stuff. im sure there are some outliers here and there.

but i can answer this in the context of the human au!

laxo and kenta both grew up in a household that was unable to fully celebrate birthdays due to finances, so their answers are a bit complicated. laxo probably has more negative feelings about his birthday since he associates it with putting a burden on others to give him something, which stems from his dad always trying to get him something when he was still around, and laxo always noticing how stressed he was about doing so. kenta's feelings about it are a bit more positive. even though raven never did anything for her birthday outside of a cold acknowledgement, laxo always tried his best to give her something, which was usually one of his homemade flower charms. i like to think that little tradition of him giving her homemade things extends into their adulthood. c: laxo, on the other hand, constantly tells the people around him not to get him anything when his birthday comes around, because people giving him gifts makes him feel bad. he definitely gets better about letting people be kind to him as the story goes on.

maya is a twin, so she shares her birthday with her brother, axel. because of this, she always associated her birthday as something that she shares with him. so when they lose touch after she runs away, she cant shake that association. as such, she cant help but feel shame whenever her birthday comes around, even though she's steadfast in believing that running from home was the best thing for her. i think the only way for her to completely shake that feeling is to get closure from him.

after his mom died, kane always saw his birthday as something that wasn't for him, but for the people who were throwing the celebration, namely feli. you can imagine that she goes all out with the festivities, while making passing comments about her expectations of him as he gets older. when his mom was alive, his birthdays were a lot more personal and actually about him. but when he started living with feli, they just became hollow and superficial, turning into another reminder of her crushing expectations for him. so the excitement he feels for them turns into dread. im sure that changes once he gets away from that toxicity. c:

[mrcompass]

A critic of the Legendary Bladers concept.

The concept of the Legendary Blader is central to Beyblade: Metal Fury, playing a significant role in shaping the third part of the MFB series. Through this, new characters, themes, lore, and ideas were introduced. In this analysis, I will explore the Legendary Blader concept by focusing on three key points.

The star fragment and bey obsolescence

The Star Fragment is obviously a central element for the Legendary Bladers, as it is what sets them apart from other Bladers. The Star Fragment serves as a convenient excuse to evolve the Beys of pre-existing characters: Gingka, Kyoya, Ryuga, and later Kenta. Evolutions in the MFB anime are actually quite rare. Unlike the manga, characters don’t evolve their Beys through progress or special events. In fact, it’s more common for a character to change part of their Bey (like Chaoxin), and sometimes characters even change them entirely (like Zeo and Toby). However, the latter case was due to their need for a fresh start after being subjected to Hades Inc. Masamune received an evolved version of his Unicorno thanks to Coach Steel’s modifications, but he did this precisely because he learned Gingka’s Pegasus had evolved and wanted to become a Legendary Blader. Finally, Ryuga was able to evolve Lightning L-Drago into Meteo L-Drago by conquering the dark power.

This illustrates that in the Metal Saga, Beys are an essential part of a character’s identity, and they don’t often change them. Beys are considered partners and are too deeply intertwined with the supernatural and the characters themselves (after all, the characters’ designs are based on their Beys) to be modified on a whim. For example, it would be strange for Kyoya or Gingka to ask Madoka to modify their Beys, given the values they hold for them.

This is actually a disadvantage for MFB, as the goal of the anime is to sell Beyblades. As a result, whenever you introduce a prominent Beyblade that you really want to sell, you have to create a new character. This might cause issues with character development, considering the number of characters already in the show and the limited number of episodes.

This is where the Star Fragment is a genius move: it allows the Beys of previous characters to evolve into the new 4D system. This way, they can present the new system as special. Additionally, it was already established that Beys are made of meteorite material, so a fragment of the same thing powering the Beys seems logical.

This doesn’t mean the concept is perfect, though. The first problem is that it is reserved for only a select few, and the evolutions only apply to pre-existing characters. This actually limits the new system to a handful of people: the Legendary Bladers, the Nemesis Bladers, Ryuto, and Masamune. The second issue is that it clearly sets these characters apart from all the others. Even though some of the Fusion characters were outclassed by Gingka and his group, as demonstrated in Battle Bladers, there was still hope for them to come back stronger and remain relevant in the show. After all, Tsubasa and Yu maintained consistent roles in later seasons, and Tobio even returned during the Destroyer Dome.

But now that we have a group of Bladers certified as the "strongest in the world" thanks to the Star Fragment, the hope for other characters to shine, surpass the Legendary Bladers with their own skills, or even create tension in a match has been demolished. The proof is that no Legendary Blader has ever lost to a non-Legendary Blader, and no holder of a 4D Beyblade has lost to a Blader with a non-4D Bey. For example, Yuki was able to beat Cycnus, and Johannes was able to outplay Dashan.

This perfectly illustrates what I call "Bey obsolescence," which refers to a new kind of Bey or system eclipsing the others within the same generation. For example, in Fusion, characters with Beys using plastic fusion wheels played a relevant part, yet in Metal Masters, these Beys are reserved for background characters. This kind of Bey was used by Kenta’s friends, whom we don’t see anymore after Fusion, as well as Hikaru and Hyoma. The latter two were strong enough to defeat Kenta at one point and participate in Battle Bladers, but they are the only participants of that tournament who have given up competitive Beyblading.

Of course, there’s the factor of their trauma, but Tsubasa overcame the dark power, and they could have had their roles switched with others in Battle Bladers. However, it didn’t happen, and I think the explanation is that it was simply convenient to reduce the presence of two characters using an obsolete system to make more room for new Bladers and Beys. As conspiratorial as it might sound, if you look at any team in the World Championship, none of them—not even Team Desert Blaze—used plastic wheels. This obsolescence is real, as seen in Zero-G, where the generic Beys use the Ray and Spiral fusion wheels, which were once used by prominent characters.

I think Metal Fury is painfully aware of this and tries its best to counteract it, mainly by showing close fights, like Gingka vs. Kenta in Beyster Island or Kyoya vs. Yu. In a way, it works. It’s almost impressive how these characters can hold their own with their Metal Fusion Beyblades against Legendary Bladers.Another point the anime insists on is that Gingka and Kyoya needed to learn how to use their new 4D Beys. Before their defeats against Ryuga, they often relied on mode changes, much like Johannes and the rest of the Nemesis Bladers did. It’s notable that Johannes, Pluto, Hershel, and Cycnus don’t have a special move, and for the latter three, they don’t even have a Bey-beast or aura. These are characters who over-rely on their Beys’ abilities rather than fully utilizing their potential. This is presented as the “wrong way” to use a 4D Bey. It’s also noteworthy that Kyoya and Kenta created their special moves by defeating one of these Bladers. So, in a way, the anime tries to tell us that while it’s great to have a powerful new Bey, if you just rely on mode changes, you’re not going to get very far.

So, even though the Star Fragment is a great idea for changing the Bey system, it kind of limits the possibility of characters benefiting from it. Especially considering that only four characters received drastic evolutions. It also confirms the tendency to leave characters behind, depending on their beys. Nonetheless the series finale addresses this issue by having all the Bladers transfer their power to Gingka.

The Legendary Bladers and Character Development

The second point that needs huglight is the legendary blader themselves and how they perforemd as characters. This is not about critizing the choice of these characters for the legendary blader postion but rather seeing if there is more to them than their title and if they are developped. Now characters developpment is all well and good but it is better if a charatcers is fleshed out so they can stand out more.

Gingka, Kyoya, Ryuga and Kenta

On the eleven people that received a star fragment only four were introduced in a previous season: Kyoya, Gingka and Ryuga and Kenta. All fo them were well established charcters and they all had their time to shine in the season. Kyoya had his little arc, Gingka put an end to Nemesis thanks to all the blader ijn the world and Ryuga and Kenta built a bond with each other. We actually saw more of Ryuga, how he trains and how he lives thanks to his tribulations. For Kenta this was the occasion to grow stronger but also distance himself from Gingka and the rest of the group, which allowed him to stand out more and gained independance. Bulding a relationship between Kenta and Ryuga was obviously surprising and welcomed. As the two had never really interacted with each other and are actually very different. We have Ryuga who was always strong and narcistic and Kenta who built slowly but surely his strenght and tries his best to help friends whenever he can. His journey with Ryuga is actually refreshing and unexpected. In my opinion it is the most succesfull things metal fury did. Reagarding their selections as legendary blader I think it what obvious they would be selected. Kyoya, Gingka and Ryuga are the strongest blader in the world with a lot of achievement to their credit like battle blader and tghe world championship. Kenta succeding to Ryuga as the lengadry blader of summer is a perfect consluon to his charcters journey not only in fury but in the whole series as well.

Yuki

Yuki was introduced very early in the season, being one of the first characters to appear in Metal Fury. Much like Kenta, Yuki starts off by being attacked, unable to defend himself until Gingka intervenes. They quickly become friends. After Kenta left the group, Yuki somewhat filled his role without replacing him. Yuki has elements that set him apart—he is determined, enjoys astronomy, and uses his passions to his advantage (like when he figured out how to open the door of Dynamis's temple). He is intelligent and loyal. However, his biggest weakness is his lack of confidence in himself as a Blader.

After he became a Legendary Blader, he participated in the Tag Team tournament alongside Gingka, and his confidence improved—a trend that continued over time. Overall, Yuki was a well-developed character; he had time to be properly fleshed out, and he actually grew during the season.

The main issue comes when it’s revealed that Yuki is a descendant of one of the Bladers who fought Nemesis in the past, which allowed him to gain the star fragment. Yuki’s reaction is one of pride and joy, as one might expect. However, for me, this was a missed opportunity for introspection. He’s supposed to be a clever and level-headed character, yet he never questions the influence of destiny on his life. Was he always destined to become friends with Gingka? Are his achievements only due to his ancestors? This could have led to Yuki affirming himself—not in opposition to his fate, but as his own person. This would have been a nice way to parallel Rago and Pluto, who mindlessly follow the prophecy of their own ancestor.

Aguma

Regarding the case of Aguma, I believe he also benefited from an earlier introduction compared to the other Legendary Bladers. He is also the first to join Nemesis, which sets him apart from the others. Aguma is part of the Beylin Fist, a rebel faction of the Beylin Temple. He wishes for his faction to get the recognition they deserve, which is why he allies himself with Johannes, who promised that in the "New World," the Beylin Fist would become the one and only school for Beyblade. This integrates Aguma and the rest of his clan into the world of MFB by using the pre-existing Beylin Temple.

Though Aguma does not develop a rivalry with Dashan, he does have an antagonistic relationship with Kyoya, which plays into Kyoya's solo arc. By being one of the antagonists during Metal Fury alongside Johannes, Aguma manages to stand on his own and gain some individuality. After his successive losses to Kyoya, King, and Tithi, as well as Pluto's betrayal, Aguma faces an internal crisis about what to do next: help the Legendary Bladers, do nothing, or side with Nemesis.

This moment of introspection could have been a positive turning point, if it hadn’t been interrupted in the worst way possible. Dynamis reveals that Aguma's ancestor sided with Hades in the past, before switching sides to join the Legendary Bladers after an encounter with Tithi's ancestor. Because of this, it feels like all of Aguma's choices have been dictated by fate, as he ends up replicating the same mistakes his ancestor did. This makes him seem more like a puppet of fate rather than a fully developed character.

King

King was introduced around the middle of the season. Like Yuki and Aguma, he participated in two tournaments, showcasing his performance to the viewers. The most important aspect of King is the friendship he built with Masamune. In my opinion, they complement each other very well, as seen during their battle against Hershel, and King quickly became a part of Team Dungeon.

Of course, King suffers from the same circumstances as the other Solar System Bladers, but what counteracts this is his genuine love for Beyblade, much like Masamune and Gingka. Additionally, his ancestry never got in the way of his actions or choices, and he didn’t seem to place much importance on it. Even if he wasn’t a Legendary Blader, he still had a unique Beyblade, Variares, that can spin in both directions, which already makes him stand out.

In summary, King is a very unique, iconic, and well-integrated character.

Dynamis

Dynamis first appeared in the arc just before the Beyster Island tournament, and he didn’t participate in it. Just like in the manga, he doesn’t have much screen time compared to the previous Legendary Bladers. I think this is due to the fact that his primary purpose is to deliver the lore behind the Legendary Bladers, making it harder to dissociate him from that role.

Later on, Dynamis gets possessed by a dark power, which might be an allusion to Tsubasa’s dark power arc. This is fitting since Zeus, represented by Dynamis's Beyblade Jupiter, has an eagle as its symbolic animal.

Dynamis’s main problem is that he doesn’t have any real meaningful relationships with other characters, making him feel more like a plot device.

Chris

Chris was also introduced fairly late in the season, but fortunately, he has a backstory. He suffered a similar situation to King, being ostracized and abandoned because of his strength, which alludes to the fact that Legendary Bladers in the manga aren’t allowed to participate in tournaments due to their overwhelming power. Unlike the other Bladers of the four seasons, Chris wasn’t introduced in previous seasons, nor did he have an impressive record before winning Beyster Island. He suffered from unfortunate circumstances that prevented him from going to the World Championship.

However, Chris brings with him an interesting concept—that of a mercenary Blader. This is relatively new to the series, and it seems to fit well in a world where Beyblade holds such a significant place. It’s almost strange that we didn’t see more variations of what a Blader can do outside of just fighting in tournaments. Unfortunately, this concept was introduced far too late to be fully explored, especially considering Chris seemingly gives up the mercenary way. After he lost to Gingka and sided with the Legendary Bladers, it appears Chris turned over a new leaf, but since this happened just before the final fight against Nemesis, we didn’t have enough time to appreciate his development.

Tithi

Tithi was the last Legendary Blader to be introduced. What’s original about his introduction is that, unlike the others, he isn’t found by Gingka but by Kyoya and Yu. From the start, we get a good sense of his personality—he’s a shy kid who just wants friends to play Beyblade with, a feeling Yu understands well. Their bonding was very sweet to watch and helped reintroduce Yu into the new season.

During battle, we see that Tithi has a joyful personality. He can be unpredictable and a little wild at times. Of course, who could forget him annoying Kyoya by calling him "Tatakyo/Yoyo"? Tithi later battled Aguma, which contributed to Aguma's doubts (along with Pluto’s betrayal).

Overall, I think Tithi was fleshed out well, but the problem is that he was introduced so late in the season that it feels like he was mercilessly thrown into the Nemesis crisis. Think about it—he was just a little kid minding his own business, finally finding a friend to play Beyblade with, and less than two days later, he’s forced to face this universe's version of Satan. However, his potential was clearly wasted, especially considering he stayed with Dynamis, with whom he had almost no interactions.

Rago

Rago is one of the main antagonists of Metal Fury, and he is also the only Legendary Blader to be truly evil. He appears in the latter part of the season, which seems at odds with how the anime presents him—as the ultimate villain Gingka and the rest must face. Rago is merely the man who wields Nemesis, nothing more and nothing less. He shares similarities with previous main Blader antagonists like Ryuga and Damian by being narcissistic, boastful, and insulting. However, Rago's issue is that he didn’t have the same buildup as Ryuga did in Metal Fusion. He feels like a character pulled from a catalog, especially considering that he appears alongside the Nemesis Bladers.

Though he endangered the entire world and kills Ryuga, there’s no progression to his evil actions. The problem is that we already know he wants to destroy the planet and end all life. In contrast, Ryuga's actions in Metal Fusion became increasingly unhinged, making us fear and anticipate his next move. However, Rago has something that sets him apart from other villains—he's not Gingka's villain but Ryuga's. There isn’t much of a parallel between Gingka and Rago. The Legendary Bladers of the Solar System, much like Rago, are bound by fate, while Ryuga is different.

Ryuga wanted to bury his past in the Dark Nebula, particularly the time he was possessed by L-Drago. Then, in Metal Fury, Doji returns alongside a new Blader who controls a seemingly unstoppable dark artifact that just absorbed L-Drago’s power. Ryuga feels insulted, but the main reason he fights Rago is because he sees himself—Metal Fusion Ryuga—in him and wants to destroy that part of himself. Additionally, Rago is a threat to his supremacy in the Beyblade world, so if Ryuga wants to live up to his title, he must either fight him or die trying.

Overall, I think Rago is a pretty solid antagonist. He serves his purpose, and while his fight with Ryuga meant more for the latter’s character, it allows Rago to be more integrated into the story.

Most of the new characters who became Legendary Bladers serve their purpose well; they are unique characters. Some are more integrated than others into the wider MFB canon. However, they all would have benefitted from more time to be fleshed out, particularly Dynamis and Chris. The new lore surrounding them adds more substance to the series, but at the same time, the over-reliance on it and on fate hurt some of these characters badly (like Yuki and Aguma). The main problem is that Metal Fury was 12 episodes shorter than the previous two seasons. With that amount of additional episodes, the new characters could have benefitted greatly from further development. In summary, this is a big waste of potential, and most of them don’t succeed at being more than just Legendary Bladers.

Gingka Hagane and the concept of fate.

The concept of fate and supernatural forces has always been present in Metal Fight Beyblade. In Metal Fusion, we had Ryutaro, who had visions about the future, while in Metal Masters, Julian and Damian used a vague concept of fate to justify their positions and why they should win. Despite this, Gingka was able to beat them all and even overcame fate. Ryutaro had a vision of an apocalyptic future, but after his losses to Gingka in Battle Bladers, he saw that a different path was possible. Madoka's computer predicted that Gingka had less than a 1% chance to win against L-Drago, yet he succeeded. Finally, let's not forget that King Hades' prophecy hadn’t fully realized itself because Gingka and the whole world defeated Nemesis. The point is that Gingka has a habit of triumphing over fate and preconceived ideas. For him, being a blader is about fighting with his heart, loving his Bey, and getting back up when he loses—it’s how he becomes powerful. Yet, in Metal Fury, some of the most powerful bladers are those who have special ancestors and a star fragment in their Bey. The reason the star fragment chooses those particular bladers is related to fate, as the attribution was tied to the prophecy and is known by Dynamis. This use of the concept of fate and predetermined power in Metal Fury fundamentally undermines the themes that were built in previous seasons of Metal Fight Beyblade. Gingka’s story in Metal Fusion and Metal Masters was about defying odds, challenging fate, and rising through sheer willpower and love for the sport.

The concept of the Legendary Blader brought some fresh elements to Metal Fury but ultimately constrained the series. While it introduced new characters and deeper lore, the overreliance on fate limited the potential for character growth and reduced the tension in battles. Characters like Yuki and Aguma were overshadowed by their predetermined roles, while others, like Dynamis and Chris, suffered from lack of development due to the shortened season. While there were positive developments, such as the evolving relationship between Ryuga and Kenta or the bond between King and Masamune, Metal Fury ultimately fell into the same trap as its predecessor by superficially handling an expanded cast. The season reflects a broader fatigue with the Metal Saga, struggling to balance the introduction of new elements with the need for meaningful character development.

[danceofthephilos]

"Repent and Make Efforts"

Kaoru's calligraphy display in episode 5 is very obviously targeted, but between natural difficulties in translating idioms, changes made in the English dub, and misunderstandings of the general meaning of "repentance", exactly what he's communicating often gets lost in translation - which is a shame, because it's not only a very telling moment about Kaoru's own feelings about Adam, but one that ends up being very important to the themes of the entire show and many of the central character arcs.

To give some quick establishing information, what Kaoru is writing in this scene is a called a yojijukugo (四字熟語), or four-character idiom - set idiomatic phrases that are very similar to (and originate from) Chinese chengyu (成语), which you may be familiar with if you've read any linguistic analysis of danmei. Four-character idioms are very common subjects for calligraphers like Kaoru, and the ways they can be used in speech make them very difficult to translate concisely. The particular idiom Kaoru has written here, read from right to left, is 悔悟奮發, a real four-character idiom (though usually written 悔悟憤発 in modern Japanese - Kaoru is using the Chinese hanzi.)

Read kaigo funpatsu, both the Crunchyroll subs and the dub translate this as "repent and make efforts", which is... fine enough given the complexity of translating yojijukugo. It's quite a literal translation, looking at the phrase broken down into its components - 悔悟 can indeed be translated to "repentance", and 奮發 means "to exert oneself." As an idiom, it means "to regret one's mistakes, and work hard to recover." It generally refers to remorse, but can also mean coming back from a loss. In this exchange from a Japanese website explaining the use of the idiom, it's used to describe recovering after a loss in a competition:

Tomoko: You must be in high spirits, to be practicing on your day off. Kenta: Everyone was shocked when I was eliminated in the first round of that tournament the other day. Next time I'll get my revenge. Tomoko: Oh, so you're trying to make a comeback*, good luck!

(*in a perfect example of how difficult yojijukugo can be to translate when used in regular speech, a translation as literal as "repent and make efforts" would sound very silly in English here.)

And this idiomatic meaning is how Kaoru explains it - and where I believe some misunderstandings are originating from, both due to the overall interpretation of the word "repent", as well as changes in nuance in the explanation given in the dub. To begin with, let's look at Kaoru's dialog in Japanese. (Due to him immediately explaining the meaning, I chose to leave kaigo funpatsu untranslated, unlike the official subs.)

And the same dialog in the dub:

It should be apparent just from this that Kaoru in the original and Kaoru in the dub are saying completely different things. Originally, Kaoru makes no mention of making peace with people that have been hurt, because that isn't what kaigo funpatsu is referring to. Kaigo is personal, internal regret - kaigo funpatsu is about self-reflection, recognizing one's mistakes and striving to do better, considering your past in order to take your next steps in the future. That could involve making amends with wronged parties, but it's not part of it inherently - Kaoru's original dialog doesn't even allude to people being hurt at all, because it's not relevant to the idiom.

It's here that I believe the word "repent" is causing some trip-ups: it's being taken in the Christian sense of atonement or penance, an action done to achieve forgiveness from others or redeem oneself for sinning, but Kaoru is simply talking about realizing you've done something wrong and feeling remorse for it. (Or, specifically, about Adam realizing he's done something wrong and feeling remorse for it.)

And while his last line in the dub is at least a bit more in the spirit of kaigo funpatsu, it's still missing what is at the heart of Kaoru's feelings about this idiom, and about the man it's clearly targeted at - the idea of coming back from one's mistakes, something that does not come up in the dub at all. The first word Kaoru uses, bankai (挽回), does mean "to recover", but also "to regain what was lost" or "to return to the original state." Torimodosu (取り戻す), as well, specifically means to regain something that was lost - in fact, it's the very same word Tadashi uses when speaking of Adam "regaining his love."

Kaoru is not asking Adam to personally make things up to him, or to anyone - Kaoru, at heart, believes in Adam, and believes that he can, and should, still come back from everything. Even in the finale - after the Full Swing Kiss, after his naive hopes of simply returning to how things were in high school are shattered - his first concern is still for Langa to make Adam understand that.

Like with Kenta in the example exchange above, kaigo funpatsu isn't about Adam atoning for his sins - it's a call for him to recognize he screwed up and move forward without making the same mistakes.

And he does, or at least he's beginning to take those steps. He recognizes the mistake that matters most to the themes of the story, and that led to everything that happened in his life since - that he lost sight of the innocent love for skating he had as a child.

He finally admits what Tadashi meant to him;

he directly defies his abusive family's wishes by working against Takano rather than throwing Tadashi under the bus;

and he finally shows up as Adam in daylight, on someone else's "turf", to celebrate his own defeat - reaching out to his former friends and gracefully accepting loss, things he refused to do even an episode prior.

He may not be begging for forgiveness, and with this coming at the very end of the series there's a long road still ahead of him, but he's recognizing that he did things wrong and he's making an effort to move forward in a better way - and in doing that he's regained the most important thing he lost, his love of skating.

And Adam isn't the only one whose character arc kaigo funpatsu describes, either. Reki regrets his mistakes...

...and comes back from them.

Langa recognizes his mistakes and comes back from them - and is even able to help Adam do the same.

Tadashi, more clearly spelled out than anyone, recognizes his mistakes...

...and he's able to come back from them, too.

None of these resolutions involve big direct apologies, or any kind of penance to earn forgiveness. (Personal forgiveness isn't something SK8 takes much interest in dwelling on or making characters earn in the first place, and its approach to forgiveness could easily be a whole other meta in and of itself.) They don't have to, because in the end, Kaoru's idiom is not only a message to Adam - one that he ultimately does receive, if a bit later than Kaoru hoped - but a moment that spells out a big part of the show's thesis.

Everyone is going to do things wrong in their life, one way or another - but anyone who regrets their mistakes and makes an effort to do better should be able to recover from them and regain what they lost.

Only season 2 can show us what moving forward is going to look like, but when it comes to what counts to the core narrative, everyone's taken the first steps.

[soyellowcurtainsthen]

Who’s the man at the prison gate in the Pit Babe Series 2 Trailer?!?!?

Hi, I’m an idiot with an internet connection So, here is my totally accurate and scientifically sound analysis in support of my theory that it’s Pete. Grab your tinfoil hats friends and follow me down the rabbit hole.

First, I’m going to need you to turn your brain off and live in a world with me in which we won’t even consider that this is a new character who has not been introduced yet ( jokes on me because change2561 would pull this type of thing).

Now we need to narrow down the pool of candidates from our currently known characters. Obviously if our Prison throuple of Kenta, Winner and Dean are out of prison and spying on the X-Hunter squad we can safely assume the person who got them out isn’t likely to be in the inner circle of the X-Hunter team, so we can safely disregard Babe, Charlie, Alan, Jeff, North, Sonic, and Kim. Now we have three players in the running- Way, Pete and Tony.

So let’s get to narrowing this down, behold Exhibit A

Our man in black stays out of focus for most of the clip, but from what we can see it seems that this man is dressed in a suit and as we never see Way ever dressed in those types of clothes the whole season I think it’s fair to also vote him off the Island.

Now to our final two candidates, it’s time to analyse some heights baby!!! We are going to use Kenta as a control subject, height wise, for this as he is the most likely of the prison throuple to have had scenes with both the remaining candidates.

So let’s start with Tony, it’s ridiculously difficult to get shots of these two together where Kenta isn’t half a mile behind and throwing off the perspective because of that, but I tried my best.

As you can see from these over the shoulder shots, Tony and Kenta’s eye level looks to be about the same, with them being almost exactly the same height ( Tony being slightly taller at a push). With this shot also confirming that they are very similar in height to each other.

Moving onto Pete, we can see that our baby boys have a bit of a height difference, with Kenta being the shorter of the two. His eyeline whenever talking to Pete is directed upward.

Now let’s head back to the original shot of the mystery man’s back and use our new found knowledge, and attempt to solve this by using the ancient scientific method of drawing lines on pictures.

As Winner isn’t standing at full height I’m disregarding him from the experiment, much like I wish I could disregard him from the narrative completely.

So let’s draw onto our screenshot where Kenta and Dean’s eyeline should land if they were looking at someone that was of similar height to them.

And now let’s draw where their actual eyeline ends up, taking into consideration where our mystery man’s shoulders are to give us a rough estimate of where their eyeline should land if they were looking at his face, which they are.

Now as you can see from my totally foolproof scientific method, both of their eyelines are pointed slightly upward indicating that the person on the other side of the gate is taller than both Kenta and Dean. Now there is only one of our candidates who is taller than Kenta and that leaves us with only on option left… Pete.

I rest my case.

( Also just on the logical side, why would Tony get the man who betrayed him and stabbed him out of jail, like that makes no narrative sense)

[le-trash-prince]

OKAY

OKAY OKAY OKAY

I GOTTA YELL MY FEELINGS OUT BEFORE I PUT MY ANALYSIS HAT ON

I LOVE HIM????? HE LACKS CONVICTION AND I LOVE HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Trying to convince everyone (himself included) that he’s loyal to Tony above all else, meanwhile he let Jeff escape!

He let Pete get away, TWICE!

He’s trying to let all these little things slip by unnoticed, trying to reduce the harm while still participating in the cycle and refusing to free himself

I have a lot of things to say about this scene but most of all I KNEW KENTA WAS HELPING JEFF

But also I agree with Babe THINK OF THE FUCKING CHILDREN KENTA!!!

You will not catch me ignoring Kenta’s crimes because they are central to his character and the inner conflict that defines his arc!

I know he’s about to truly step the fuck up in the last episode though, this is the shape of the story and I will not be convinced otherwise. He has already agreed to help X-Hunter by the time he is on his knees in front of Tony, I just fucking know it.

Words cannot express how much I enjoyed this scene I ate up EVERY FUCKING SECOND OF THIS. Sorry but I am EXTREMELY WEAK FOR THIS SHIT. Beg harder Kenta, please! Make him feel more worthless Tony, PLEASE! There is no point in me having a pathetically loyal dog coded blorbo if we don’t lean into his pathetically loyal dogginess as much as possible. Watching him beg this terrible heartless man for validation that he will never receive PROVIDES ME MENTAL ENRICHMENT ACTUALLY.

I have more to say about this scene I have WORDS I HAVE SO MANY WORDS

If Kenta doesn’t get to be the one to stab Tony I will be VERY sad. Everyone deserves to stab Tony but Kenta is the knife.

Will he finally get out of the house next week, though? Will I get the opportunity for missing scene fic where he and Kim share a room? Will I get a product placement scene of them brushing their teeth together? PROBABLY NOT but a dude can dream!!

I’ll be honest I was pacing so frantically before this episode I went out and did some fucking gardening. But even with no KimKenta scenes I enjoyed the shit out of this and I have eaten well thank you Pit Babe for making me lose my mind yet again, I’m gonna go dive into more cohesive thoughts soon!!

[binary5tar1117]

i saw your reblog and you're right!!!!! people who like vegas don't really have a reason to hate way LOL not that they need to have a reason to dislike a character but vegas and way aren't that dissimilar. one of way's many tragedies is that he's never been free from tony in the first place as much as he would like to think he is. he's such a poor little meowmeow.

I love Way and Vegas. My love for bad boys taken to the extreme maybe 😅

I probably don't engage with characters the way I'm supposed to. Media analysis is not actually my strong suit so I'm not very good at defending my problematic favs but sometimes I make an attempt.

But yeah the fact that Way was in this in between of being half free until Tony decides to yank his leash back. Kenta was on such a short leash he didn't think of escaping for a long time, Babe and others actually escape, but Way is stuck in the in-between of seeing what freedom would be like without actually having it. ... or at least that's how it seems to me.

[huntunderironskies]

Talking about utterly incoherent things to 99% of anyone who follows me here because it's too early in the morning to remember how to log into the account where I talk about weeb shit (also it's a little saltier than what I usually post but they aren't real people so I am allowed to be bitchy I think) and I want to vomit this out as quickly as possible before the VGC regionals start in like less than a half hour below the cut.

I guess this TECHNICALLY counts as spoilers for the upcoming prri season but it's just matchups and everyone is already screaming about them and only one of you (to my knowledge) cares about incredibly niche edgy idol boy stuff. I will save your dash with a cut anyway.

Well, we all knew we were getting a Visty v. 1NM8 matchup at some point but that's, uh, sooner than anticipated. Free my boys, they're probably gonna lose in a landslide, Stellas are insane. RIP you funky little lab experiments. To be fair 1NM8 is one of the least popular units because people in this fandom tend to have bad taste and they tend to come across as a heel unit even when Kei is kind of objectively in the right about Phantom Lives (thank you Cory for also being correct about this.)

At least TCW got pitched a softball, I'd be shocked if they lose to Amprule. I think the one thing that Amprule has going for them is IIRC someone did an analysis of voting trends and while there are significantly fewer Amprule fans which is why they've consistently lost every matchup they've been in, the reason their matches aren't absolute blowouts all the time is because Mushikera contribute a wildly disproportionate amount of points compared to everyone else who usually splits their voting points. Though, to be honest the only other match they'd even stand a chance in is vs. Visty as well especially since I'm expecting Stellas to dump all their points into the 1NM8 matchup. But hey, two wins is the most they've ever gotten in any season so, we're still on trend! It's hard out here having good taste.

This is by far the matchup that makes the least sense narratively but part of that is also the writers doing a bad job of giving Amprule any character relationships outside of BAE so you couldn't really get a grudgematch going yet. I'm assuming they're keeping some of the other narratively important rivalries in their back pocket for later so we're probably gonna see BAE vs. czmz grudgematch 3.0 somewhere towards the end.

I can't be the only one who thought gklk vs. Amprule would've been really funny though, right? Incredibly one-sided in favor of gklk but also Kenta and Dongha would fucking H A T E each other.

[ladyryukyo]

(Its curedeity) top 5 most maligned characters in beyblade. Which have gotten it worst?

oh god i'm no good at character analysis like that, why do you give me the hard questions deity??

pls no judgement i'm winging this in a completely subjective and tailored to me specifically manner (meaning this is only about characters i already care about, sorry your fave probably isnt in this lol)

1. yu

i loved yu to death in fusion and then he was soo boring in masters and fury. what happened man i wanted to see him be cool in the world championships and instead he had to learn a lesson in humility or sth?? fuck that. let him beat up older and more experienced bladers until they regret ever having challenged this feral gremlin of a child.

2. benkei

i think benkei had potential to be so much more than just kyoya's sidekick but they never explored this. they never gave benkei merit on his own, only as someone's (usually kyoya's) best friend, and even as part of team wildfang he was more a mascot than an actual player tbh. they say he's gotten stronger but then he gets flattened in every fight he enters ever. i'm so sad about this

3. hikaru

yes ofc hikaru is in this list, we all hate what they did with hikaru. one of the few female bladers, very competent in a very badass way and then they make her basically a secretary who never has narrative weight again. it would have honestly been so cool if hikaru had been a legendary blader, not just to have a woman at all in that lineup or simply see her fighting again (although those are part of it), but also to explore her thoughts about why she gave up blading and what she thinks about having to take it up again, basically being forced to do it. i do have an AU for this but it's pretty old. gotta think about this more.

4. hyoma

another character i was sad to see shelved after he fulfilled his purpose in his single arc in fusion. especially as a childhood friend of gingka's he originally brought in a whole new dynamic to the main cast. plus, his rivalries with other people would have been cool i bet, esp since there already was a foundation with kyoya. then, the show made such a huge deal about koma village and that could have been really well executed with hyoma's help as well. just,, what other mysteries does koma village have? what is it like living there? what kind of people live there? etc. etc.

5. ryuga

fuck off yes i'm mad that they killed him at the end of fury. they just couldnt handle having a character that was stronger than their protagonist around. they gave him character development for a micro second and then immediately crushed him to dust i mean wtf!! and kenta had to watch it happen!! thats not okay!!

a few honorary mentions: kyoya (fury destroyed all his character development since fusion for what??), madoka, the garcias

[mach-speed-spin]

Maybe a smaller request but perhaps Kenta's Yumiya evolution in design, unless you find it too boring to analyse, which like, is fair.

His design surprisingly had quite a bit to it

[ozoraslegend]

Now, after I have dealt with ...annoying problems, let's continue our analysis!

It's Takato and Takuya now. They are my favorite to write about, as their characters and dynamic are just interesting. To be contract to Taichi as the noon and Daisuke as the afternoon, Takato is the night and Takuya is the dawn. The four seasons have the very similar writing style, so their characters are also very go against archetypes despite of having the seemingly tropes. So, that's the start!

Matsuda Takato:

I must admit, this post happens as one inspires me to write about whether Takato is introvert or extrovert, and here, and there, and we get this.

He is my preference, because he just shows both two tendencies: he is a fan, and so must be reading manga and watching anime, and cook bread, and write arts, and so he should be an introvert, right?

But he also looks like he enjoys spending time with Jianliang and Ruki, and just make an introduction of Guilmon to his friends, so it's a bit extrovert?

The way his theme song implied many things about his mental, but his duo with Guilmon song shows a lot of exciting atmosphere, basically opposite each other, completely don't help.

I mean, he is ten years old. Any interpretation can be considered as right, but let's dive into it.

1) Seek less stimulation vs Seek greater stimulation

"Seek less stimulation".

Takato is inherently imaginative and creative. While he wanted to be like characters he saw on TV, his natural inclination seems to be towards quieter, more focused activities rather than actively seeking high-energy environments.

2) Recharge, reflect in quiet vs Energize around people

50/50.

He is not the kind of an aloof one, but Takato often processes his feelings and the overwhelming situations he faces internally. The level of how he cries in the early part of Tamers is almost equal to Yamato, and that itself is saying something. While he deeply values his friendships with Jianliang and Ruki, he doesn't seem to draw his primary energy from large group interactions. He needs time to think and feel. And the theme of Tamers about personal development and the way the main trio is just three members also support this.

3) Think before speaking vs Think out loud

"Think before speaking".

Especially early on, Takato is quite reserved. He's not typically impulsive in his speech, though strong emotions can sometimes overwhelm his reserved nature. Despite of also being quite cheerful, we clearly can't see how Takato can just say anything he thinks, right?

4) Value 1:1 friendships vs Large social network

"Value 1:1 friendships". Takato's most significant bonds are incredibly deep and personal – primarily with Guilmon, and then extending to Jianliang and Ruki. His focus is on the quality and depth of these core relationships rather than maintaining a wide, less intimate social circle. He actually doesn't have deep links to Ryou, Hirokazu and Kenta, and I won't mention his relationship with Juri.

5) Favor independence vs Thrive in teams, crowds

50/50? While Takato works effectively with Jianliang and Ruki, and their teamwork becomes crucial, much of his strength stems from his personal bond with Guilmon and his internal growth. He is capable of independent thought and action, but also understands the necessity of relying on his friends.

6) Avoid center of attention vs Enjoy center of attention

A bit funny, this is another 50/50.

Does he like being focused on? Not quite. But does he like the feeling when he has a Digimon? Yeah, certainly.

He really acts quite proudly when finally having a chance to become the hero he wants to be. He shows off Guilmon to his friends, and seems happy to see their reactions. And that specific episode where he becomes a bit too proudful and gets a lesson of humility.

So, it's a bit of both here.

7) Value deep experience vs Value broad experience

"Value deep experience".

His character development arc is characterized by a profound dive into his relationship with Guilmon, the nature of Digimon, and the heavy responsibilities he carries. It's about the depth and impact of these specific experiences. He doesn't become an idealistic hero, but he had do things that his past self can't, and it brings the theme of Tamers about how partnership can help anyone become the hero they want to become.

So, we get 5,5/7 to the introvert polar. Quite high, but we can see how he still has a bit tendency of extrovert.

Now, for MBTI.

Introvert (I).

It's three features of Intuition for Takato: "Imagine the possibilities of how thing could be, enjoys the ideas and concepts for their own sakes, like to describe things in a figurative, poetic way.", but only one of Sensing (pay attentions to concrete facts and ideas).

That's why MBTI is somewhat confusing, Takato looks like Sensing at first glance, right?

But it leans on Intuition (N) for him.

An easy one next: it's Feeling (F) over Thinking.

The final: it's Perceiving (P) more than Judging.

So we get INFP (The Mediator / Healer). Although the label sounds weird, it should be Artist, right? But think back, Takato's arts are not that pretty :)

Put that joke aside, definition: "Sensitive, creative, idealistic, perceptive, caring, loyal. Value inner harmony and personal growth, focus on dreams and possibilities." Sounds completely fitted, here!

The first consistent one here, it's INFP for Matsuda Takato.

Kanbara Takuya

1) Seek less stimulation vs Seek greater stimulation

"Seek greater stimulation".

Takuya readily jumps into action, embraces challenges, and seems fueled by activity and excitement. He's not one to sit back if there's adventure to be had.

2) Recharge, reflect in quiet vs Energize around people

"Energize around people".

He clearly thrives in the group dynamic, taking charge, interacting energetically with the others, and drawing motivation from their shared quest. Extensive quiet time doesn't seem like his preferred way to recharge.

3) Think before speaking vs Think out loud

"Think out loud".

Takuya is often impulsive, speaking his mind readily and acting on instinct. His thoughts and feelings are usually quite apparent, sometimes leading to friction but also driving action.

4) Value 1:1 friendships vs Large social network

50/50.

Frontier is a bit of both, so it also affects Takuya here. It's basically about "here, we have a group of misfitted chaos children, do you want to see how they become heroes?". Takuya doesn't seem like he has a large social network, actually, it's more of his Frontier gang than anything. Saying so, it's not completely 1:1, so with me it's both for him.

5) Favor independence vs Thrive in teams, crowds

With a quite simliar reason. 50/50.

6) Avoid center of attention vs Enjoy center of attention

"Enjoy center of attention".

While not necessarily vain, Takuya is comfortable being the focus of action. He doesn't shy away from the spotlight inherent in his role as the Warrior of Flame. (Although he is less of the leader and more of the one who pushes them with will. The strategy is more of Junpei and the groups than him.)

7) Value deep experience vs Value broad experience

"Value broad experience".

Takuya seems more focused on engaging with the world directly, trying things, and reacting to immediate situations rather than deep, prolonged contemplation. His approach is about active participation and experiencing things as they come.

So, it's 6/7 for him to be an extrovert. It's too easy for him, as Frontier somewhat follows the tropes of Sentai.

MBTI:

Extrovert (E)

Sensing (S). It's all four features: focuses on the reality of how things are, pays attention to concrete facts and details, prefers ideas that have practical applications, likes to describe things in a specific, literal way.

Feeling (F), although he does has some good plans...

With the chaotic, troubling nature of the Frontier gang, Judging is thrown out the window, so it's Perceiving (P).

So, ESFP (The Performer/Entertainer). Playful, enthusiastic, friendly, spontaneous, tactful, flexible. Have strong common sense, enjoy helping people in tangible ways. Sounds completely like Takuya.

(But an interesting fact: isn't this one of Daisuke's type I just aligned? So, yeah, that's why there're fics where Daisuke and Takuya are cousins. Somehow they are so alike and different in very many ways.)

Like I say, this is just headcanon. You can interprete whatever you want. Will post about others later~

Have a good day, everyone!

Introverts, extroverts and MBTI

In some ways, it is so easy and convenient to put a character in tropes, as it will make you have a quick way to compare, introduce or criticize them… And it is one of the things I don't like. The 9 protagonists are the one being affected the worst by these kind of archetypes and tropes. But like I say, it does be convenient.

So, this post is about whether they are introverts or extroverts, and what is their personality in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Remember this is headcanon.

First, about introverts, extroverts and Myers-Brigges Type Indicator. "Extroversion tends to be manifested in outgoing, talkative, energetic behavior, whereas introversion is manifested in more reflective and reserved behavior.", which is not a really correct definition. So to identify, I will use seven criterias for introverts vs extroverts. 1) Seek less stimulation vs Seek greater stimulation

2) Recharge, reflect in quiet vs Energize around people

3) Think before speaking vs Think out loud

4) Value 1:1 friendships vs Large social network

5) Favor independence vs Thrive in teams, crowds

6) Avoid center of attention vs Enjoy center of attention

7) Value deep experience vs Value broad experience Notice: Introvert is NOT shyness or social anxiety disorder.

Next, MBTI. It is more of an entertaining thing than an effective tool in psychologic, so just don't consider this indicator as something 100% correct and scientific. Don't hear the claim of MBTI is a scientific method using in psychology, no, it's not.

Yagami Taichi

Let's start with the original one. As the symbol of Digimon, his personality is especially easy to misread! And I don't consider my read of him is headcanon, so just read this for fun!

1) Seek less stimulation vs Seek greater stimulation

"Seek less stimulation". Why? He seems hothead. The keyword is "seem". Adventure tends to go against tropes although they look really fitted in them. Taichi, somehow, is a kind of teasing, and comfortable one. You can easily see this in 02, but in Adventure, you also can get how he is really not too seek of stimulation. If others are safe, he is really not fond of doing things.

2) Recharge, reflect in quiet vs Energize around people

"Recharge, reflect in quiet"

He brings a really excited, charmed atmosphere; but he doesn't get much stimulation from it. Do you see Taichi invites all others to his home like the way the 02 kids do? Not while. He LIKES spending time with his friends: it's just sometimes he wanted to take off his responsibility and relax with his family.

3) Think before speaking vs Think out loud

It's a bit 50/50 for this. He does plan everything, it's just that Taichi thinks everything will be find, and so he misjudges, and misjudges badly. He doesn't think before speaking or think out loud, so this is a draw.

4) Value 1:1 friendships vs Large social network

"Large social network"

I mean, this is a bit obvious. Adventure group is not close as the 02 group, but they are really friends. And you can see how the group just... departs when Taichi isn't there. He is the anchor for all of them, and really value all his friends, Chosen Children or just normal guys in his soccer team.

5) Favor independence vs Thrive in teams, crowds

"Thrive in teams, crowds"

Taichi has very, very good leadership skills. Although it's a bit because of situation in Adventure for why he is the leader, but it's clearly he showed how he is good in a team.

6) Avoid center of attention vs Enjoy center of attention

7) Value deep experience vs Value broad experience

50/50 for both. I don't think he is any of these, but a mix of them.

And... we get 3.5/7. A good number, with me. He is not really clear, and so we can interpret him as introvert or extrovert.

Now for MBTI.

It's both Introversion (I) and Extroversion (E). (Interesting facts: Both Yagamis are fitted for I and E, surprisingly.)

Taichi focuses on the reality of how things are, prefers ideas that have practical applications, likes to describe things in a specific, literal way... three checks for S (Sensing). But he also notices the big picture, sees how everything connects... N(Intuition).

But I'm more leaning on S here.

Thinking vs Feeling... Personally I think Taichi is kind of indifference, not because he doesn't care, but because he thinks they can get over it. He is also really stubborn and finding out flaws to win arguments about him, somehow logical and level-headed. I will put him in Thinking over Feeling, so Thinking (T).

Prefer to leave options opened, see flexibly, make things up as he goes (that's why he seems impulsive, he thinks but less than enough), enjoy surprise... All checks for Perceiving (P) over Judging.

So, we get either ISTP (The Crafter/Virtuoso) or ESTP (The Persuader/Entrepreneur).

...Eh? Like I said, MBTI is not a good system. And Taichi is a complex character, so both labels sound wrong.

So let's read the definition. I will bold what sounds wrong.

ISTP: Action-oriented, logical, analytical, spontaneous, reserved, independent. Enjoy adventure, skilled at understanding how mechanical things work.

ESTP: Outgoing, realistic, action-oriented, curious, versatile, spontaneous. Pragmatic problem solver and skillful negotiators.

That's why I don't choose I or E, but both. They complete each other. (If you ask about "skillful negotiators", remember what Taichi would become in the 02 epilogue.)

So it's ISTP/ESTP for Yagami Taichi.

Motomiya Daisuke

He should be easy, right? Just a lesser copy version of Taichi, and Takeru is the better leader... Sometimes a part of fandom can be annoying. Daisuke is a straightforward one, but he is complexed, just like his senpai.

1) Seek less stimulation vs Seek greater stimulation

"Seek greater stimulation". It's not that he is a glory hound, or an impulsive one. It's just that Daisuke wants others' affirmation and recognition. Before meeting the 02 cast, in the outer canon sources, he says that he has many friends, but hasn't had any close friends.

2) Recharge, reflect in quiet vs Energize around people

"Energize around people"

I mean, 02 is a season about how social friends can improve each other. It is easy to see how Daisuke is happy when spending time with his friends and senpai.

3) Think before speaking vs Think out loud

"Think out loud"

Daisuke is quite easy to read: he is really straightforward and simpleminded, although in a different way to typical "dumb boy" tropes. Actually, you can read his surface emotion: not his true feeling. But I lean on this. To be honest, self-interpret will be more efficient for you to understand him.

4) Value 1:1 friendships vs Large social network

"Large social network"

I mean, this is actually obvious. You can see how the 02 kids just go out and have fun, being truely close social friends.

5) Favor independence vs Thrive in teams, crowds

"Thrive in teams, crowds"

Self-explain.

6) Avoid center of attention vs Enjoy center of attention

50/50. He doesn't really enjoy when others all focus on him, but he also wants others to be close with him and just recognize him as who he is.

7) Value deep experience vs Value broad experience

50/50 for both. Like Taichi, I don't think he is any of these, but a mix of them.

And... we get 6/7 for extrovert.

MBTI. Now I feel a (slight) headache.

Extrovert, like I just present.

Daisuke is the type of person who just thinks of things like what he senses, pay attention to details. He is also kind of practical, and describe things in a literal way (opposite to how Takeru just has a (^^) face.)

How about Intuition? He sounds so, right? But MBTI is not meant to understand in a literal way. "Imagine the possibilities of how thing could be, notice the big picture, see how everything connects, like to describe things in a figurative, poetic way." All these signals of Intuition clearly aren't shown in Daisuke. The only one fits is to enjoy ideas and concepts for their own sake.

So, I lean more on Sensing (S).

It's easy to put him in Feeling (F): Daisuke just put his heart outside. He really cares about how his actions will affects others, is ready to forgive Ken, creates a harmonic force to his group, like to please others and point out the best in people, be a warm and empathetic person.

Now, the difficult part: Judging vs Perceiving. Shouldn't understand Judging in literal way, though.

Prefer to have his senpai create a suitable plan and respect them, you may don't think it's Judging behavior, but it is. Even I was surprised when finding out it.

But Daisuke also likes to improvise and makes things up as he goes, and his personality just suggest he should be in Perceiving.

Actually, I will get both.

So, we get ESFJ(The Caregiver/Consul)/ESFP(The Performer/Entertainer). Both sounds a bit weird, you know?

Like previous times, I will bold what sounds wrong.

ESFJ: Friendly, outgoing, reliable, conscientious, organized, practical. Seeks to be helpful and please others, enjoy being active and productive.

ESFP: Playful, enthusiastic, friendly, spontaneous, tactful, flexible. Have strong common sense, enjoy helping people in tangible ways.

(The main reason of why I add Judging is just for "Seeks to be helpful and please others". It's just so specific of Daisuke that I can't help but use it.)

So, ESFJ/ESFP for Motomiya Daisuke.

Like I say, this is just headcanon. You can interprete whatever you want. I will just write about Taichi and Daisuke for today. Will post about others later.

(And don't tell me about why is using MBTI for if I just don't choose only one, if you do, go out.)

Thanks of @guardiandua91 for inspiring me to do this! Have a good day, everyone!

[gloomforrestrunes]

i dunno if it was suggested before, but... specie swap AU.

like, what if kane was a cat, laxo was a dog etc...

and now it made me thinking - every animal has a symbolic meaning, right?

cat usually means independence = laxo is striving to be free and live on his own rules and not to be enslaved by anyone.

dog symbolises loyalty = kane is loyal, but in the same time feli and vis want him to be devoted, and he is like "dog on chain", especially later after the first volume ofc - and he is miserable due to it, as dogs on chains are (luckily kane breaks from the chain, i hope he does u are loved kane remember)

leopard symbolises royalty, but in same time destruction = fits feli ngl (despite her not being royalty but high in hierarchy)

wolves are also perceived as imposing, often nobly animals, but they are also symbolising danger, greed and cruelty = fits the blackwood family, but the negative things especially fit nex and maybe vis too?

even the sin councils's species kinda make sense basing on sins they represent! (at least in my eyes)

changing their species might change our characters' symbolism too, however it can also make us look at them and analyse from different light. for example swapping kane and laxo's species in specie swap AU would still make sense basing on their stories.

i'm very sorry for such a long question (or rather analysis at this point) but this made me thinking, especially after you said that in runes you try to put symbolism everywhere 😅 (fans of symbolism in stories, unite)

and you probably haven't thought that much about species and it's me exaggerating things but that's okay, i wanted to share my thought with you and ask what do you think?

OUGH.... i love this analysis so much. and i actually have thought about my choice in species! perhaps not initially (since i first created these characters when i was like ten) but since developing the story properly thinking about how my character's species and how they relate to their respective arcs happened to work pretty damn perfectly!!

even with maya in a way- snow leopards are seen as graceful, brave, and taking initiative. but her characters subverts that expectation because she is cowardly, brash, and fearful of commitment.

and of course its not hard to think about kenta, who is a literal mixture of a cat and dog. born and trained to be devoted and loyal yet being unable to shake her need for independence and freedom.

so in that sense, a species swap au would certainly be interesting!!! definitely never feel sorry for sending long asks these are literally my favorite ones to get! :D

[sky-of-dusk]

Fun fact : Kyouya is a more respectful opponent than Hikaru

When Kyouya met Benkei, before Metal Fusion, he taunted him a little (well, that's Kyouya after all) but he accepted his first challenge. He defeated him easily, with only one strike of Leone, not even using a special move. But even after that, he didn’t belittle him. He turned back, ready to go off when Benkei asked for his revenge. And he accepted. Kyouya accepted every challenge of Benkei (several dozens), without saying he's delusional, despite Benkei's words and winning easily. And he ended up approving his obstinacy.

No matter how many times he falls, he keeps getting back up.

And Kyouya accepted when Benkei decided to follow him around to improve his blader’s skill. Then, after months of training, Benkei finally faced him again at the Battle Bladers, and Kyouya still won. Benkei’s disheartened to see his efforts didn’t pay but Kyouya showed himself encouraging.

You're stronger than you were. (...) But you better get even stronger so you're ready for our next battle.

Kyouya has respect for people who don’t give up and try hard. He rewards them by fighting seriously.

Hikaru was the contrary. She believed that once she had won against an opponent, he didn't worth her time anymore. She used to belittle her opponents. When Kenta asked her to accept his challenges, she refused because she had already defeat him. She only accepted when he put his Bey-Points at stake. As soon as he didn't have a point left, she stopped launching her bey. 

Kenta: What's wrong?

Hikaru: I don't have a reason to battle with you anymore.

And when Kenta asked her a new duel, after his training with, she wanted to refuse, but ended up accepting because he was ready to stay in the middle of her path.

“Get out of my way. (...) I have no interest in weak opponents.”

When Kenta won their duel, she remembered what her mother said about challenging stronger blader. It was the first thing that mellow her. Then, Ginga challenged her and congratulated her for her skills, despite winning (the second step that allowed her to be a better blader, having fun in duel and respecting her opponent).

[gillianthecat]

re: The Novelist

c.c. @petrichoraline @sadday4sure @thewayofsubtext @waitmyturtles

I liked it. I liked it quite a lot. I'm still processing (/starting Mood Indigo), so I'm not sure if I have much I can articulate about it yet.

All I knew about it going in was the basic premise (pornography writer and his assistant) and that it was from the other side of Japan's BL traditions, meaning that it was "dark," contained dubcon, and was high heat. So I wasn't sure if it even was a romance or would have any sort of happy ending and thus I kept my heart to myself for the first few episodes, not trusting the show with it. I watched with a more analytical mindset at the beginning, which morphed into a love for the characters as they showed their own hearts.

Perhaps if I'd gone in unaware I would have found it dark and disturbing, but as it was a found it more aching and melancholy than anything else. The dubcon was no worse than other shows I've seen, and fit the story and the themes better than many (I won't get into those comparisons here). There was angst and loneliness and lashing out, but the power never felt overly weighted toward Kijima's side, despite Kuzami's youth and relative innocence, and the tangle of debts and their work relationship.

The actors were all excellent. I was relieved to see that my newfound love Izuka Kenta (who I'd seen for all of 5 minutes of screen time in Candy Color Parodox) is in fact very good actor, and brought nuance and strength and complex desires to the part of Kuzami.

I can't help but comparing shows to other shows these days, so here is what I was thinking while watching this one. The Novelist came out favorably, if it was a comparison of quality.

There is of course the use of dubcon, for which my only other real reference point are Thai BL, and that analysis is a multi-tentacled beast that is would get me off track for the rest of this post, so I won't start on it. I will say that one thing I noticed was that the pornographic fantasies were generally (all?) dubcon ones, and that both affected my interpretation of the characters' feelings about the real dubcon scene (because they both were into dubcon in fantasy), and habituated me to seeing dubcon in the show by the time the fifth episode came around. The other thing I guess I will say is that it feels different to me, easier to tolerate and move past, to see one character violate another out of sadness and fear and the desire to push someone away and hold them close at the same time. In real life absolutely no, the reason for ignoring consent matters not, but seeing it in a story I can work with that.

And then there are the pornographic fantasies, which were used so interestingly here. They were our (and seemingly Kuzami's) introduction to desire and sex. They usually featured other actors portraying the porn characters, which at first bothered me - I wanted more time with Kijima and Kuzami as they wrote together - but then came to make sense, for reasons I can't articulate now. The show's seduction of us followed Kijima's only half intentional seduction of Kuzami. It lured us in with his voice dryly describing lurid sex acts, sounding humorous at first, but soon grew more genuinely erotic as the music and the cinematography and Kijima's voice changed. And there was something about the way the porn fantasies provided both distance from the characters and simultaneously made them seem even more vulnerable, their minds laid even more bare than their bodies, that created this uncomfortable, seductive eroticism of the show. Kijima was arousing Kuzami while still pretending Kuzami's arousal was meaningless to him.

Which was part of why I didn't know what to expect from the show at first. Was this going to be an overcast and complicated story of self-discovery, about how Kuzami was changed by one summer with this seductive twisted older man? It wasn't until Kido showed up and Kijima fell slightly to pieces, that I understood that it would be both their stories, and that I could hope for romance rather than just sexual awaking, even though I wasn't yet sure of a happy ending.

The fantasies too changed over the course of the series, going from the ones about men and women that Kijima wrote, to Kuzami's fantasies of the two of them, and then disappeared altogether, as they stopped wanting a fantasy and started their convoluted paths to wanting and seeing each other's real selves, not the fantasy version.

(The comparison about fantasies in my mind, which I probably only thought of due to a coincidence of timing, was to the innocent romantic fantasies of My School President. Which despite the very different content, share a similar role of showing the character's desires to the audience, and of pointing to the contrast between unrealistic fantasy and the reality of loving and being loved by another actual human being with their own subjectivity in the world.) (This honest dive into arousal while creating erotic art in collaboration with someone desired was what I was vaguely hoping for, though did not expect, from Oh! My Assistant. So I was glad to have it done so well here.)

Closely connected to the fantasies was how much the show was about writing. Both literally, a good portion of screen time was spent watching Kuzami writing Kanji and listening to to Kijima recite the words of the novel, and in that Kijima's story was about his journey as a writer. I felt the pain of his not being able to write, I felt the isolation of "writer" being his only identity, his only sense of self. This was what I wanted from Happy Ending Romance, which frustratingly did not feel like it was really about writers. This very much did. I could dig deeper into why it felt that way, but this post is already much longer than I meant for it to be.

The focus of the story was so tightly held on Kuzami and Kijima in their time together that fevered summer. We learned very little about them beyond their moments together. And I think that works. It builds the heightened intensity of their connection with each other, like they're living in a world apart from the rest. Kijima seems to have been living in this isolation for most of his life, while Kuzami apparently has friends and classes and a life outside this bubble, but it is Kijima whose backstory we end up learning more about. In a less nuanced show Kuzami would be almost a blank slate, ready to be molded* by Kijima's desires, but Izuka Kenta and the subtleties of the script imbue him with a quiet strength. At the beginning he doesn't yet know what he wants, but when he figures it out he has a solidity of purpose that won't let him be pushed around.

*yes it's a mixed metaphor but I didn't like any of the matching sets I could think of

And he sees Kijima, because he so desperately want to. Once he figures out that it's Kijima he wants, he works so hard to get under his mask and see him. Despite Kijima doing his damnedest not to be seen. Takezai Terunosuke is excellent in the role, playing both the Mona Lisa mask and the broken man beneath, and showing the cracks to get there. When he broke down in tears, back to Kuzami... I cried. This show, which I thought was going to be about how Kuzami was changed by their time together, ended up being about how Kijima was changed by him.

I feel like I'm talking circles around the center of them, but there is so much that could be said, so many ways to examine their relationship.

Oh! and the cinematography/editing/sound/etc! So good. I kept thinking about everyone's brilliant responses to my questions on this post, and really noticed the use of wide long shots and letting the actors come in and out of frame. It served the story well.

This was my first "dark" JBL, and I want to watch more now, to better put this show in context.

Fuck, y'all. This was supposed to be a single paragraph simply stating that I liked the show. And maybe naming a few topics I found interesting. Instead it swelled into this, and still feels very incomplete. But I will leave the rest for another day. Especially as I expect I will have an even more thoughts on the characters after watching the rest of the series.