#kino dark icons

[starshapedpetals]

new merch line. you know the drill

first of all, i don’t hate this line. I think most of the boys are drawn pretty well. but what a strange concept? the diaboys.. as priests? “dark” anti christ priests but still.. strange? it’s unique at least?

my only real complaint with ayato is how his mouth looks weird. c’mon he’s a vampire, show me the fangs. c’mon let him do the iconic bite the glove thing. it actually frustrates me how they missed that opportunity 😭 overall, he looks fine to me. there’s no detail i’m particularly drooling over. except for this one very specific detail that has me drooling over the triplets. & it’s the… halo?? like look at the triplets next to each other. ayato in the middle with his brothers on the side. i LOVE the way they’re turned with him in the middle 😫 on that note, i hate how shuu is at the end. if they just swapped subaru & shuu’s placements, we could’ve kept up with the turn thing the triplets + reiji were doing. 

kanato looks a bit off, right? is it just me or are his eyebags less dark..? idk but he looks a bit off, to me at least. also.. is that teddy? kanato has been seen with more bears in the recent merch lines, but this one kinda looks like teddy.. except he’s so dark brown?? anyways, as off as he looks to me, i still really like him. he’s grown on me the more i look at him, i think he looks pretty, & i like the pose. also kanato with earring <3

shuu’s face is very very pretty, despite that there’s nothing really that interesting about his design to me. now he doesn’t look bad at all, just a tad boring in my opinion. other then that i’m crazy about how pretty they drew his face & hair <3

why is reiji so hot rn?? the face, the pose, the chained glasses, the ascot, my god reiji pull it back sir you are a priest. i originally thought his hair looked a little flat but i think that might’ve just been me. anyways, i love him so much <3

kou is so cute looking!! i think his priest getup looks so nice & pretty on him! i’m also a bit pink & black biased, but aside from that, i really do like him. i’m very pleased with this kou. he looks cute to me <3 i like his pose too <3

azusa so pretty like when does he not look ethereal? & yknow how much i love azusa with wings <3 i love how his wings have bandages on them. it’s so azusa. i don’t really like the design of the knife but oh well he still looks pretty

carla looks alright :/ i’m a bit disappointed tbh. I always love the black ribbon in his hair, but it’s just meh here. of course i love seeing it, but not my favorite appearance of it 😔 i really don’t like the weird wind blowing thing that’s going on with him. especially with this video quality, some of his details look bad to me. like that specific strand of hair blown too close to his mouth. looks fine in higher quality, & up close, but at quick glance.. not so much. i also just don’t love the angle. it could’ve been better (imo) but he’s fine overall

KINO IS JUST GIVING IN THAT POSE. he’s got the most unique pose so he stands out the most. i’m also a fan of how his color complements the black. he just looks so fucking pretty to me & i just love his tongue sticking out. he’s one of my favorite looks tbh i just love him

notes since photo limit & don’t have much to say abt them;

i’m living for laito in that shade of green 😫 i think his hair & face look so pretty here. i wish i had more to say since i really do like how he looks here. also, i cannot stop thinking about that church scene 😭

subaru’s pose feels familiar? like not from DL but maybe it’s inspired by a religious figure?? it’s been days & I still can’t figure it out? he’s alright. his hair is a bit too flat looking for me. i like how the hints of red on his outfit look

i’m so sorry ruki fans but i personally really don’t care for this design. he’s giving a little too much priest for me 😭 pls don’t crucify me

i’m a really big fan of the way yuma’s clothes hug his figure. it’s so so pretty. nothing else in particular catches my fancy sadly.

i’m sorry but i really don’t like how thick shin’s eyepatch is? i feel like they’ve done this before & i really don’t like it. other then that he’s fine? nothing too wow in my opinion but not horrible looking

[soulmatebracket]

Soulmate Bracket: Preliminary Round! [Side B]

Provided reasoning under cut:

Sailor Moon & Tuxedo Mask:

They dated in the silver millennium, then were reincarnated on earth in the 20th century and found each other and dated once again. 

Aight so like ten thousand years ago there was a kingdom on the moon and the Princess of the Moon Princess Serenity fell in love with the Prince of the Earth, Prince Endymion. But when the forces of darkness lead by a former palace maid turned vessel of evil (bc she also wanted Endymion but thats neither here nor there) turned the people of the Earth against the Moon Endymion braved enemy territory to warn the people of the moon and while the Moon fell and Serenity and Endymion were killed they were sent to reincarnate on Earth and become Usagi and Mamoru respectively. They have a superhero romance as Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask, and get together relatively early and then just.. stay together. it's great they're great. they're both total nerds and its adorable. They even have an arc in one version of the anime where they question if they're just together because of their past lives and do they actually love each other FOR each other and all that and it's really interesting and makes their relationship feel even more believable when they come back together in the end bc they're not just following a predetermined path. and it's great. and in the manga there's a line that directly says 'even if we're reborn and we don't look or act the same we'll find each other. and then we'll fall in love again' if anyone deserves to take the crown in this bracket it's the nerds

in love for two lifetimes so far! also they'll canonically be reincarnated over and over so their future looks pretty good

Iconic couple. (SPOILERS) Were previously Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion in their past lives, people from completely separate lives (The Moon and Earth), but both die tragically. They reincarnate into modern day Earth, and slowly fall for each other again, unaware of their pasts. Battle couple <3. I was so emotionally invested in their story as a kid, maybe its just the nostalgia but they also do become immortal and have a kid together and rule over their new kingdom in an age of peace so do with that what you will

Inner Senshi:

I think this works really well as both platonic and/or romantic. They were all very close friends (some could be interpreted as romantic) in their past lives and then after they were reincarnated (thousands or years later) they all find each other again, and will find each other over and over again.

listen. usamamo is the big reincarnation romance ship in Sailor Moon and it's SO valid. but also just as valid is Usagi and all of her friends, some of whom she is gay for bc she is the Bi Icon of This and Every Time. They reincarnate to find their princess.

[christopblog]

CHRIS 2022 TOP 10 ALBUMS 

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Carly Rae Jepsen - The Loneliest Time 

She's back baybee! Though it grew on me significantly, her previous 2019 album Dedicated was a bit of a let down after I'd gotten really into EMOTION. The Loneliest Time doesn't come close to EMOTION, but I might like it better than Dedicated, this is a really great helping of extremely catchy pop without too many misses. More of an even, consistent good without major highlights though. Western Wind, and Go Find Yourself Or Whatever are the best.

Weyes Blood - And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow She's back baybee! One of the most unique vocalists out there, I was very excited for Ms. Blood's follow up album to her excellent 2019 Titanic Rising and was not let down! Though maybe slightly weaker, Hearts Aglow brings incredible songwriting, excellent instrumental production, and more of her iconic voice and singing style. Very pretty, if you like Baroque pop/chamber folk or whatever the fuck genre she is check it out. Opening track and God Turn Me Into a Flower are the highlights.

The Smile - A Light For Attracting Attention 

He's back babyee! Featuring pioneer sadboy Thom Yorke and guitarist Jonny Greenwood, The Smile looks, feels, and sounds exactly like what it is, half of Radiohead. And since Yorke is in that half, that's honestly good enough for a pretty excellent album. Not quite Radiohead tier, maybe better than some of their weaker releases. Radiohead 2!

Florence + The Machine - Dance Fever She's back, baybee! This one was pretty close to cracking the top 10, I think this is Florence's strongest release since HBHBHB, and wayyyyy better than High as Hope. This is definitely her Bovid album, creating a much more intimate atmosphere than some of her previous, more grand releases, and I think the introspection really suits her. Getting to see a lot of these songs live also helped, what a fucking great concert. Cassandra, Free, and My Love are the best, but honestly there are very few misses.

Hikaru Utada - Bad Mode 

They're back, baybee! This is definitely their Bovid album, creating a much more intimate atmosphere than some of their previous, more grand releases, and I think the introspection really suits them. It's funny that I get to just copy and paste that, because strangely it fits both of these albums very well. I think this is easily Hikki's best in years, I really love some of the longer ballads that have extended instrumental sections. Somewhere Near Marseilles clocks in at kino length aka 11:54, legendary stuff.

Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You

The bit doesn't fit for this one unfortunately it's a band. This is easily the most hot and cold release on this list, this fucker is 80 minutes, and I think some of the weaker cuts could have been left off the table for a tighter album experience. Adrienne Lenker continues to prove herself one of the best songwriters alive right now though, and while this is not nearly as tight as her solo project from 2020, some of that brilliance shines through in a few tracks. Time Escaping, Little Things, and Simulation Swarm are some of the best songs of the entire year, seriously, go check them out. Folk's in a good place with them at the top, tbh. TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2022: 

10. Hatchie - Giving the World Away

This album feels deeply nostalgic for a certain sound and era of pop, somewhere in the 90s, and I can feel that despite having not really listened to much music in that era. What really elevates this album is the production and mixing, which is just fucking phenomenal. Jangly reverbed guitars, synths, and Hatchie's great vocals create this layered, harmonic, blissful pop that I cannot get enough of. This is one of those albums you just throw on and vibe to hard the whole time, zero skips, all gas. I'm very excited to see what she'll make in the future, she's clearly extremely talented. Track highlights: Lights On, This Enchanted, Quicksand, The Key, Til We Run Out of Air. Common Australia W

9. Naked Flames - Miracle in Transit

I get in the mood for house music sometimes, especially for late night gaming sessions, or when I'm working on some kind of creative project. House provides something that I can throw on and not pay attention to the nuances of the track, but let them sort of wash over me and impress the themes and ideas over time. This album was literally so good I kept stopping what I was doing to jam out to the beats, this goes fucking ridiculous. It's like the soundtrack to some indie game that was never released from the early 2000s, games like Sonic are a clear inspiration. If you're into electronic music game soundtracks, you absolutely have to give this album a spin, I'm looking at both of you Juan and Claire. Probably my biggest single recommend for both of you. If you want a test, throw on Pan Matsuri or Visiting Corners. I'm literally skimming through the songs right now and popping off at how good the grooves and beats are on this thing, it's so textured and layered and delightful.

8. Alvvays - Blue Rev 

So, I think I listened to their extremely popular sophmore album Antisocialites a few years ago because I have it rated on RYM, but I never saved any of the songs, I think I liked it okay but it didn't leave much of an impression. So, suffice it to say I was surprised when this new one blew me the fuck away. This is superb indie pop. A great mix of noise, with some shoegaze thrown in there too, wonderful guitar playing, and top notch songwriting. I think one complaint would be that the songs tend to blend together in my mind, there's a similar sound throughout the album, but that sound is a good sound so that doesn't end up being a problem for me. Even despite that, there are a few melodies that really sink into my brain and get lodged there, like Many Mirrors, and Tile by Tile. Belinda Says is an incredible piece of songwriting, too. I think I was a little hotter on this after the first listen than I have been since revisiting it, which is why it's lower on the overall list, still, don't miss it if you like this kind of stuff.

7. The Beths - Expert in a Dying Field

 What's that? Oh, it's the sound of the Beths cementing themselves as one of my favorite bands of all time with another stellar album. Crazy, they just keep doing it, huh! This band has a real talent for a style of quirky, witty, deadpan lyrics that trend melancholic in a way that somehow hits me directly in the feelings every time. This is likely due to their knack for writing music that elevates the lyrics emotionally in a way that I really don't experience with many other acts. Power pop at it's finest, I adore Elizabeth Stoke's voice and could listen to it forever, but the rest of the band backing vocals lead to some amazing harmonies too. Using a pretty simple rock band structure, they like to lean into different styles like punk, ballads, and just good old fashioned rock'n'roll too. I hope they keep this up, and I'm very excited to see them in concert in March. (this is still probably my least favorite album of the three so far, but it's close, they're all amazing) extremely common new zealand W

6. Kessoku Band - Self Titled

Do not let your eyes deceive you, this is not an anime soundtrack, this is a proper J-rock album from Bocchi and the band. I just want to point out that Tricot did release an album this year, which was good, but did not make my list. This made my list. If this was a real band releasing their debut J-rock album I would be praising them as one of the best new groups coming out of Japan, and I promise I mean that genuinely and not just because I gave Bocchi the anime a 10. It's admittedly difficult to separate my enjoyment of these songs from their appearances in the anime, but I maintain that without context I would like this music just as much, it's very my shit. This is genuinely amazing songwriting, a full album's worth of catchy bangers, zero skips, and listen to Bocchi fucking shred dude!! that's MY guitarhero. I also absolutely have to shout out the track カラカラ, which was written by Ikkyu, the lead guitarist and singer of Tricot. This song is literally just a Tricot song performed by Kessoku Band, and is probably my favorite unofficial Tricot song of the year, beating out all the real ones they released. anyway, season 2 when? Especially if it means I get more of this.

5. Vylet Pony - Can Opener's Notebook: Fish Whisperer

It is time to post cringe! I have ascended past cringe, this is so good that I no longer am capable of feeling cringe! Praise be! Seriously though, I mostly included Vylet's last album Cutiemarks and the Things That Bind Us at the 10th spot on my list last year as a meme, Little Simz probably deserved it for her album. Not to disparage Cutiemarks, I think it's amazing, I still listen to it all the time, but all of this is to say that, clearly, I don't need to dedicate a meme slot to a horse album this year. This thing deserves its spot here, 1000%. Fish Whisperer is a narrative concept album that tells a story about a marine biologist horse that leaves home to pursue her dream of becoming a musician, and juggling that dream with her work which she also loves. It's a surprisingly compelling narrative that flows well from song to song, you could probably miss it if you're not paying close attention, or if you don't read the blurb Vylet put on her bandcamp page, but I think it makes some of the songs hit harder. Even after such a short period of time, this album shows some serious improvement on Cutiemarks, with much better lyricism and songwriting, which was probably my biggest issue. Her production continues to be stellar, but evolves into something even greater, offering some of my favorite pieces of electronic music of all time. Vylet is stupidly talented, showcasing singing, guitar playing, rock and roll, and phenomenal EDM/indietronica skills too. It's fucked up how good this album is guys, I really cannot sing its praises enough. If you want a sample, listen to the three song run from The Yak Song to Typewriter, or maybe just Fish Whisperer. 2nd best horse album of all time.

4. De todas las flores - Natalia Lafourcade

Okay, I have to do a disclaimer here, I have listened to this album all the way through 1 time. It came out pretty recently, and I saw a lot of buzz, so I finally got around to it a few weeks ago and was extremely impressed, but I don't have nearly a good enough handle on it to evaluate it as fairly against some of the other albums on here. Real Fantano heads in the chat probably know that this was his AOTY, and I really can't fault him for that choice even if there were  a few more I liked more. This album is a powerhouse, just phenomenal, jazzy singer songwriter latin music. Incredible instrumentation and production, I think this one has a lot of depth that I'll be unpacking for a while. Maybe I'll come back and rearrange the order as I listen to this one more, but this is where it slots in mostly out of sheer respect over familiarity.

3. Black Midi - Hellfire 

Okay, as we get into the top 3 I want everyone to know that these three albums are close to interchangeable, it was very, very hard to rank them against each other. Especially spots number 3 and 1, which are frequently compared to and pitted against each other because they're both recent sensations in the underground rock scene in the UK, and have released albums around the same time twice now. I liked Cavalcade when it came out, I was really impressed with the crazy instrumentation and great singing, but wasn't quite blown away like everyone else was. Then we get Hellfire. Holy shit. This is fucking Prog baby, but it's twisted and evil and new and exciting, I have literally never heard anything like this album before in my life. The speed at which the playing can change on you at the turn of a hat is a little mind-boggling, and the bombastic playing is matched by Geordie Greep's one of a kind voice, which I think is the only style that could ever go with this kind of music. What unfolds is a descent into Hell, through narrative driven prog tracks covering all kinds of sin and debauchery, of war and death, soliders, love, lust, prostituation, racing, and one of the best closing tracks I've ever heard in my life. The theatrics are turned up to 12, it really does feel like I'm watching some kind of stage play while listening to this. Also, I cannot praise Greep's singing enough, his voice surprises you after all the raucous shouting to reveal he's got one like, a nearly operatic, angelic voice when he wants to bust it out. Some of the best parts of the album are when he does both on the same track, like in Sugar/Tzu. The vocal work on The Race Is About To Begin is probably the single most impressive performance this year, and maybe this decade so far. Writing this is making me think maybe this is my AOTY so I need to stop before it all gets mixed up. Logan listen to this or I will kill you in real life.

2. Silvana Estrada - Marchita

Originally my number 1 spot, like, I literally wrote out the Ants From Up There blurb and then changed my mind, don't let any of that detract from this album. What an incredible piece of music, Silvana is has one of my favorite voices out there, the way she flawlessly delivers each lyric, shifting from pitch to pitch is mesmerizing. This is obviously right up my alley, singer songwriter folk is one of my favorite genres, if my Ichiko Aoba addiction didn't make that obvious. Even if I was predisposed to like this, I still fell in love with this album over the course of this year, revisiting these intimate songs that mostly consist of her singing and guitar playing, occasionally joined by other instruments, all of which is flawless. This album is also special to me, because it was one of the first pieces of music I really connected to Elli with. Our tastes don't always line up very well, but she got just as into her as I did this year, and sharing that with her for what felt like the first time was extremely cool. Not much more to say, this thing is just beautiful front to back.

1. Black Country, New Road - Ants From Up There 

This was easily my most anticipated album of 2022. After their breakout debut last year, For The First Time which has ascended to favorite status very quickly, I was excited to see what new tom foolery this group would get up to. Unfortunately, just as the album released, we got news that the lead singer Isaac Wood would be leaving the band, cutting short what could have been an incredibly promising career. I'm not sure how much of that decision was looming on his mind as he and the band wrote this album, but somehow it feels like the swan song that it ended up being, a much more emotionally driven, bittersweet, loving, lonely thing than their first. The band's incredible instrumental talent is back on full display, outshining even my favorite performances on FTFT somehow, which is a gargantuan achievement. There are multiple points listening to this album where I tear up a little bit, it's just so heartwrenching. This group is so fucking talented, and they're bringing their best on every single track, especially Isaac, who's singing and vocals continue to floor me. This album is an artistic achievement, a modern classic, that, I think will be remembered long past this year, or even this decade. I'm still excited to see what the band does without Isaac in the future, as he's hardly the only member, but it'll be different. And that's okay, I think. What a way to go out. And that’s it, it was a very good year for music! Thanks for reading if you did, I had fun writing this! 

[denimbex1986]

'When the new film by British director Andrew Haigh celebrated its Austrian premiere at the Viennale, we also heard stories about storms of tears in the cinema. “ All of Us Strangers ” has nothing in common with cheesy Hollywood melodramas. The bittersweet plot unfolds far from the usual manipulative emotional strategies. Haigh wraps the queer love story in a hallucinatory narrative in which the boundaries between day and night, fantasy and reality are blurred.

In general, you can hardly find comparable works, even after long consideration. The closest thing that comes to mind for the writer of these lines is the cinema of Hong Kong director Wong Kar-Wai. Celebrated art house milestones like “Fallen Angels” or “Happy Together” were the visual counterpart to the then popular trip-hop sound in the 1990s.

Delayed beats and lascivious chants dominated this music genre, the mood was reminiscent of drugged moments at dawn. Trip hop has been hailed as the perfect bedroom soundtrack. And it was also about the day after, about the hangover mood and the melancholy. In this sense, “All of Us Strangers” is something like trip hop for the eyes.

Very vivid ghosts next door The opening sequence is reminiscent of iconic videos from Massive Attack or Tricky. A middle-aged man (Andrew Scott) lives in a brand new London high-rise, seemingly all alone, drifting through the corridors and, isolated in his apartment, writing a script about his own childhood in the 1980s.

The alienation surrounding this character is palpable, like in a stylish science fiction dystopia, but “All of Us Strangers” seems to be set in the present. One day, author Adam meets another lonely soul, the younger Harry (Paul Mescal). A love story and sex affair is brewing. The two men soon exchange intimate secrets, but Adam initially hides an important part of his everyday life from his friend: his parents.

Adam visits his former parents' house in the suburbs at irregular intervals - and suddenly the light is on in the living room. We viewers know: Mom and dad died together in an accident when the son was still a child. Nevertheless, Andrew Scott sits quite naturally as a traumatized loner in front of Claire Foy and Jamie Bell, who embody very lively ghosts next door. There are discussions at the kitchen table: about the boy's peculiarities, about important family moments, and also about queerness; The guardians preserved in the 80s represent even more conservative worldviews.

Chemistry between lost souls “All of Us Strangers” seamlessly combines motifs from ghost films (without any horror or threats) with a relationship drama, shines with hypnotic club scenes and pop quotes. This mix is ​​held together by fantastic actors. Claire Foy sparkles in the mother role, oscillating between tenderness and severity.

But it is Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal who really burn themselves into the retina. The former, who subscribes to flamboyant characters on TV series (“Sherlock”, “Fleabag”), fascinates here as a quiet poster boy of urban loneliness. His young colleague plays his way into the upper shooting star league with charm and wistfulness at the same time. The chemistry between these lost souls alone is worth going to the cinema.

Everything about this journey through the interpersonal Twilight Zone (very loosely based on a book by the Japanese writer Taichi Yamada) is intoxicating. Extremely stylish but never confusing images, great dialogues and music that oscillates between euphoric 80s and 90s homage.

In the end, so much warmth flares up in the deepest darkness, so much power of love , that your heart and eyes overflow; Don't forget the tissues. A big recommendation for “All of Us Strangers”, one of the most magical films of today: pure trip hop for the senses.'

[fangsforiris]

I’m in love. Idk how I didn’t come across this sooner but I love Alice in Wonderland, Alice Madness (the horror video game franchise) and anything whimsical with a dark side of any sort.

Can we please take a moment to truly appreciate Laito as the Mad Hatter? I love the hat and everything about his outfit is perfect.

Also— Ayato, Laito, Subaru and Shin (?)

THE BLACK PAINTED NAILS?? Iconic at best.

Subaru as the White Rabbit? Perfect.

Azusa and Kino’s small crowns? Especially Azusa’s— I absolutely adore!!

(Also if they both are the only ones with crowns is it safe to assume that Kino is the King of Wonderland, whilst Azusa his Queen? Just a small foreshadowed ship?? Rejet??)

Yūma’s hair was the first thing I noticed about his character art, it’s so covering and fluffed out, more than his usual and it suits him so well.

Shū— just godsent. The small mice ears? He’s too precious. I assume this is a play on the Hare (a character present in one of the Mad Hatters tea parties.)

Shin, I assume is the one with the Cheshire Cat’s fur surrounding his arm he stretches upwards to display his cane or whip (?) of some sort. Again, so perfectly suited. I also noticed the Cheshire’s signature grin on the collar of his shirt, displaying that he is the Cheshire Cat. His outfit pulls it together with the stitching on the shoulder. (I’m particularly a big fan of that!)

He just looks so pretty in this official art, his eye patch does wonders and I’m not sure why it is that I’m particularly attached to his art.

But I wonder if Reiji would’ve done better as the Cheshire Cat, considering how they are an ambiguous entity which constantly hides their true agenda. (Something Reiji wishes for himself often.)

I love how Kou’s holding the cards, he could be a jack of all trades, or it could be foreshadowing of his all seeing truth eye. Whatever the cards predict is the truth. Although that’s more in the tarot card department, but still an interesting point.

And his earrings? I have no idea why I’m so obsessed with them, but they work perfectly with him. (They have hearts, that’s why.)

Kanato’s Teddy in the small corner of his outfit, hidden away for all eyes to see is so him. He tends to be protective, always stating that we should not look at him. I love that small character touch, truly brings it to life. Just noticed his jester hat that’s hidden slightly by Ayato’s bunny ears. Perhaps Kanato is the Court Jester?

Ruki seems to be an official guard of some sort, perhaps one of the heart deck guards from the playing cards. (An 8 of hearts cars on his right collar, followed by 3 diamonds.)

Another thing is that the Mukami’s all have hearts in their design, with Ruki and his heart bracket/appendage on his cuff of the jacket (which is notably a broken heart, stating that perhaps he’s has his heart broken or expectations low) and the heart cards on his shoulder,

Yūma’s heart on his sleeve metaphor (side of his actual heart I assume or just on the right when switching perspectives) and his sexy ass chocker (stealing from Shū’s playbook of course),

Kou’s heart earrings and cards he’s holding on his hand (like a metaphor for him capturing your [MC/Yui/Eve’s] heart),

and finally Azusa’s large heart in the middle of his chest, small heart point on the crown adorned atop of his head and 3 of hearts card hidden in his crown.

**These 4 also have gloves on, with the exception of Kino.

Whilst the Sakamaki’s mainly sport clubs and diamonds. (With exception of Carla— 9 of diamonds hidden in his hat.)

(Subaru has clubs cards 7&3, along with a Diamond chain link.

Shū has both club and diamond buttons on his vest, along with a miniature cutout of a club near the golden brooch of roses— this can perhaps note that they are each others favourite or less annoying brother[?] displaying their closer than most relationship, especially between the complex family dynamics.

Kanato’s jester hat holds a small dark maroon spade charm, also adding him to this list— otherwise there isn’t anything to connect him to this pairing of substantial lore value. Perhaps, Subaru— as Subaru is fond of his singing and is the one person who Kanato chooses to confide in about his trauma in the games.

Ayato, located on his sleeve and cards 9, A&7 show spades [9&A] and diamonds [7]. He also has a clubs button on his vest, similar to Shū. Considering how his and Shū’s are quite similar, it might mean that they could be the top contenders for the throne, simple foreshadowing in their childhoods and the parallels between them. [their mothers both wanting them to be the perfect heir.]

However, Shū carries a gold crown emblem on his suit, specifically his tie, just like most of the cast— but the most prominent is the rose golden brooch that him and Carla share— again, they’re both the successors of their family lineage, first in line and eldest. This is meant to show parallels between two very similar positions, but 2 very different experiences/sides.

Laito, similar to Shū exactly, has a sash of the club and diamond buttons. Along with a spade or two on the cuff of his sleeve whilst he does his signature topping off his hat. However, an interesting point is that hidden between the sash is an ace of clubs.

And in front of his character? An ace of hearts. Depending on what game you play, aces hold an important role. They can be used as wildcards and even a joker. This brings us to seeing Laito in a new light. A wildcard in iys purest form. And sure— with this revelation we can challenge the same idea with Kanato, as he DOES have the jester apparel.

But, it’s important to note that Laito is known as the heart breaker, so having something as double sided as this goes with his entire brand. The one who’s chill about everything and does what he wants whilst hiding under his fake persona to deal with his own traumas [given to us by Shū when stating that Laito is a ‘fake pervert.’]

It’s also good to note that both Ayato and Laito share the similarity of the spades on the cuff of their sleeve.

Reiji, has no similarities to anyone. Displaying his estrangement to his family and perhaps how disconnected he feels despite doing almost anything and everything to ensure that the house they live in is a home worthy of the princes and children of Karlheinz.)

Yūma and Kino just so happen to have the same sword brooch, I’m unsure what the correlation is between those 2 so if you stars might know, don’t be afraid to comment your thoughts!!

The main clock in the picture is also set at a minute or so before 2 (Roman numerals), whilst the larger hand (minutes) is set in the middle of 10 and 11. Meaning the time shown is around 1:53 either PM or AM, but most likely AM since, well— vampires.

Oh, last thing!! I noticed that Subaru has a key around his clock, bunny ribbon brooch. So does Ayato. They both have the same brooch, and have something to do with time. (Perhaps it goes into the fandoms standards— and how they have the most character development and are the top contenders for ML [Male Lead]?)

These 2 also are the only ones with black defined bunny ears, hence the clock keeping and time reference highlighted on them.

Anyways— Select characters have a small place for a lock, as if it needs a specific key to open it.

These characters are:

Laito (the sash with the locket button alongside the club and diamond),

Shū (in the middle of the buttons— same as Laito),

Kino (on the right side of his gold-ish collar),

Shin (near the stitching of his shoulder just a few spots below),

Azusa (connected to his crown brooch),

and Kou (on his dark purple collar).

That’s all, just small things I noticed about the official art + an unasked for analysis!!

Hope you stars have an amazing day or night!!

Side Note: I cannot be the only one who knows Yui would’ve bodied and suited this theme. I feel as though she could be used with more versatility.

Dark Alice in Dream

Source: X (Twitter)

[t8kyoe]

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ‧₊˚✩ ! KINO 、DARK 𝖬𝖮𝖮𝖣𝖡𝖮𝖠𝖱𝖣.

like or reblog if you save.

don't repost.

@neogotmycolors.

[bayonetts]

♡̶⠀👽⠀！ー dark ɩɔɵɳs⠀🈦⠀⠀﹅

㈺⠀⠀♥︎ˀ⠀lɩ͟kə y ɾ͟əɓ͟lɵ͟g⠀！ᜊ⠀⠀🗣

───────⠀✧ ’⠀🐦⠀ㄖ⠀࿐

𓍯⠀✧ ’ 📁⠀㈺⠀⠀❑¹⠀🕤 pasqua aes

[phantomchick]

Just watched Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust!

It was so so so much fun!

Okay so what's interesting about this one is that unlike the 1985 movie which Ashi productions (now Studio Reed) made, this is a madhouse film.

For those who don't know, Madhouse was seriously putting itself on the map in the 80s and 90s with famous gems like Barefoot Gen, Perfect Blue and Legend of the Galactic Heroes: My Conquest is the Sea of Stars (which was the first animated adaptation of the LOTGH and preceded the now very famous anime series). Aside from that it also co-animated works like My Neighbour Totoro and Ocean Waves with Ghibli!

So it's no surprise that they were picked to start working on Vampire Hunter D's sort of sequel film in 1997. When Bloodlust was released in April of 2001 it would go out alongside the likes of iconic anime movies such as Metropolis (May 26, 2001), Spirited Away (July 20, 2001, co-animated with Studio Ghibli) and Millennium Actress (July 28, 2001)! Making this movie certifiably smack dab in the middle of the Madhouse golden age.

For a great analysis of the supposed downfall of Madhouse studio there's this youtube video which I highly rec.

Anyway I think Bloodlust was definitely a return to the more gothic/gritty tones of their 80s works such as Wicked City, Demon City Shinjuku and Bride of Deimos. But with a little less bombast and a lot more elegance, as befits a tale of noble (and not so noble) vampires. It's definitely all in on the gothicism still but it goes down a lot smoother than its edgier predecessors do.

So this is D in Bloodlust ^ They kept the novel illustrator on for character design again and you can really see the difference in this one from both his novel illustration design and the 1985 art in the same pose. It's like a happy middle now. He's still that same recognisable figure, but here he's got a graceful dark beauty even when he's just awkwardly standing there. He blends seamlessly into the gorgeous animation of the film.

Speaking of awkward! I love how simultaneously good and bad he is with the side characters in this film. His interactions with the world around him (and with his trusty hand) are one of the best parts of the film for me. Though the fight scenes make it a close run race.

Speaking of animation!

Holy crap, my dudes!

Everytime I paused it there was an artwork in front of me!

Even the minor antagonists are visually magnificent.

It's been over 20 years since this film released but you wouldn't know it by how clear cut and wow the animation is. The clever use of camera angles and cuts, the stylish art and creative action sequences; all of it contributes to why this film is one of anime's Greatest Classics.

The story is also great and very moving! To the point I don't want to spoil anything.

D's competence in this film kind of gives the impression (either on intentionally or unintentionally) that he's matured and grown in the time since the 1985 film, where he gets hurt more often in combat. If I had to compare it to anything it's like the difference between Batman: Year One and some of the Legends of The Dark Knight, especially arcs like Gothic(#6-10) Destroyer (#27) and Stories (#94). It's still got that same gritty noir vibe but it's also brings a more established/competent feel to the character. The worldbuilding was also insanely good and left me craving more.

It's a love letter to vampire stories, and to the reality of the humans who have to live in a world alongside them.

And, it's another one off the list!

Vampire Hunter D (1985 OVA)

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2001 movie)

FMA: Brotherhood (OVA collection, 2009–2010)

Kino’s Journey 2003 (13 eps)

Hakujuden (1958)

Rose of Versailles s1 (1979) (10 eps)

Batman: Gotham Knights (2008 movie)

Summer Wars (2009 movie)

Serial Experiments Lain (1998) (13 eps)

Rose of Versailles s2 (10 eps)

Next up:

Let's try Kino's Journey. it's a slowpaced travel story that I've heard little to nothing about but love the look of!

Anime Watchlist #4

So Vampire Hunter D is a great movie that adapts the content of a Japanese novel, it's animation falls into the dated but creative category.

This is D our titular vampire hunter ^ It tells an atmospheric vampire story, with a soundtrack and voice actors (and the sub is infinitely more tolerable than the dub so that's what I watched) that conquer the clunky animation's problems and draw you into the story. The characters are each intriguing in their own right and the main character/hero D is extremely fun. This is a film that isn't afraid to be dramatic or ridiculous and it invites you to take its crazy cast of contorted and vicious monsters as serious threats.

According to wikipedia, the director Toyoo Ashida stated that his intention for the film was to create an OVA that people who had been tired from studying or working hard would enjoy watching, instead of watching something that would make them "feel even more tired".

Yoshitaka Amano, the illustrator of the original novels, acted as character designer for the OVA. However, alternative designs were provided by Ashida (who also acted as the film's animation director), and elements from both artists’ works were combined to create final designs by the animators. Personally I think the novel style illustrations would've been too difficult to animate at this point in time but they're definitely beautiful and it's interesting how they were simplified and adapted for the sake of the anime.

Apparently an acclaimed pop artist called Tetsuya Komuro was responsible for the film's soundtrack, and also performed the film's ending theme, "Your Song", with his fellow members of TM Network. Which makes sense because the soundtrack definitely adds to the film's overall quality, so it's clear they really cared about that part.

The fight scenes are necessarily limited in dynamism because of the older animation but they still manage to stay tense, entertaining and engaging, the writing really goes a long way and you can feel the passion for the project. It's easy to forget that everything from the characters to the stills of the environment are hand-painted.

Don't get me wrong.

It's not a game-changing masterpiece experience in line with Akira or Ghost in The Shell by any measure, but it's a really good film and well worth a watch if you can adapt to the art style and accept the premise of melodramatic spooky vampire threats for the sake of 80 minutes worth of a good time. So that's one off the list:

Vampire Hunter D (1985 OVA)

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2001 movie)

FMA: Brotherhood (OVA collection, 2009–2010)

Kino’s Journey 2003 (13 eps)

Hakujuden (1958)

Rose of Versailles s1 (1979) (10 eps)

Batman: Gotham Knights (2008 movie)

Summer Wars (2009 movie)

Serial Experiments Lain (1998) (13 eps)

Rose of Versailles s2 (10 eps)

Next up. I'm loving the character of D and want to see more of him so let's go for Bloodlust!

How big of a difference will 16 years make?

[jaemluvs]

⌗ › 美しい写真 ♥︎ ， 好過 🍵 ︕

[pentagonicos]

⠀⎙  ›  𝘄𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗼𝗸 & 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗼 icons 𓂃 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗼𝘆𝘀.

⠀trick or treat? 🕷

like or reblog if u use.

don't repost my edit, please!

[yizaicons]

          𐐪  kino pack   ♡   6 icons + 1 header

       #120x120↷

[matttsato-web]

bienvenue au romantisme

⤹ クッキー ꧑૭૭ᦺɓ૭ᥲ𐑾ᦺ 𓂃 💭

⌗͢ꕤ! ﹫𝐛𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐚𝐚𝟎𝟎𝟏 🖇՚⠀𖠗 ᝢ⃗▓ت︎▒▓⃨༉

» 𝙻Ꭵ𝗄ᦸ 𝚘𝚛 𝚛ᦸ𝚋𝗅𝚘𝚐, 𝗉𝗅𝗌 ! ▓⃨♡▒⃛ ༄

♡⃡⃠ ﹙🥞﹚ᥕᥲẜẜᥣᦸ꯲ ᕱ⑅ᕱ

﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

[fractalflare]

903 MAKOTO KINO ICONS / SAILOR MOON

TOU – Icons are free to use, free to edit, with or without credit, likes and reblogs are appreciated but not required. Icons are sorted into folders for each season and each movie! Please don’t re-upload or claim as your own. Please let me know if any links are broken so I can fix them as soon as I’m able — DOWNLOAD

[t3ddiurs4]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀◜🕦⃨⠀𓂅⠀ ⃗  ▒᪶ ꭐ꯭꯭әl꯭c꯭о꯭m꯭e ♡⃨⠀⣭ 𝟴𝟝◝

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀㓳᪶達᪶情᪶⠀ˇ 🧾⠀҂⃨⠀言⃨語꯭熱⠀꒱⠀🥋᪶⠀↺

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀◟◑﹐﹙芽⃨倒⃨走꯭㽬⃨﹚➛ 𓋲⠀㓳済作❕◞

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀﹌﹋﹌﹋﹌﹋﹌﹋﹌﹋﹌﹋﹌﹋﹌﹋﹌

[xiuminghao]

kino layouts.