#leedee reacts

[leedee013]

Given

Holy shit

I love this anime with my whole heart!!!!

I recommend this anime to anyone and everyone, but would like to mention that despite its humor and delightful characters, this is a series that contains some very heavy material. There’s mentioned suicide and mentioned emotionally manipulative relationships (to which degree varies depending on whether you’re watching the movie or the main anime). However, this is a story of love above all else; about learning to love again, love others platonically as well as romantically, love yourself, and love what you do.

With that being said, as per usual, this post will now contain some pretty intense spoilers! You’ve been warned!

I really fucking love this anime for many reasons, but here is a list detailing why!

The MUSIC

As a born music nerd, I have to admit that the focus on music in general throughout this series is wonderfully done. I don’t know much about band music in the way it’s presented in this series, but the passion that these characters have for what they do is admirable. I also love how the series doesn’t rely entirely on stereotypes and instead creates an environment with diverse interests and styles! I do wish there was more racial and gender diversity, but this anime delivers SO MANY QUEER RELATIONSHIPS that it’s still a win in my book. I do hope we see more female musicians in the future of this series, however! It would also be amazing to see trans musicians!! But the general rock vibe of the show is great! I’m a fan of almost all the music that’s in this series, and while I might not enjoy listening to the outro as much as the intro, it’s still a great song.

2. The Relationships

I fucking love Mafuyu and Uenoyama okay

I’m not sure how I really feel about Mafuyu and Yuki but I also don’t have enough of an emotional attachment to Yuki to be able to say much about it

Mafuyu has to learn how to live again. He’s not only lost his boyfriend, but he’s lost one of his oldest and closest friends. Their relationship was one of incredible mutual vulnerability, and their love was rooted in years of support and comfort. He’s fallen out of touch with his other friends. He blames himself for what happened. And what’s worse is that he’s given something that was precious to that person he loved and lost, and has no idea whether it would be better to use it or let it gather dust.

Uenoyama, bless his gay heart, is complacent. Talented, yes, but almost completely without motivation. He’s got the story of a typical gifted child, where he feels as though he can’t get better and has fallen into the trap of plateauing. He’s got a few good friends and is pretty good looking (aka definitely has many girls that fangirl over him), and is overall doing well in life.

And this, my friends, is how you build my favorite kind of ship.

Because both of them are so talented and wonderful, and they recognize that in each other. They help bring out the best in each other, but aren’t afraid of addressing their worse qualities either.

One of the best parts of the core relationships/ships that I LOVE is how frequently consent is brought up. They’re constantly asking each other for permission before doing anything that might move their relationship in a different direction, and listen to each other if one of them isn’t acting like they’re comfortable. They don’t force themselves on each other.

Aki straight up admits that he’s not in a great mental state and takes the time to become more stable and in-control of himself and who he wants to be, all so that he can enter a new relationship without feeling guilty about the kind of person he is (was). The emotional intelligence in this series, despite how fucking stupid these characters occasionally are, is beyond needing to be defined. And it’s not made to look easy. It’s HARD for them to get over these mental obstacles and habits and ways of thinking. But the main characters support each other and end up providing valuable advice.

Plus, their relationships are so goddamn cute?

Mafuyama will legitimately make my teeth rot from how sweet they are

ALSO HAVE I MENTIONED

LIKE

IT’S FUCKING

CANON

THIS SHOW IS THE ANTITHESIS OF QUEERBAITING

IT’S JUST REALLY REALLY FUCKING GAY

3. It’s fucking hilarious

For those of you who are familiar with my other anime/media review posts, this is a common theme in the shows that I typically end up enjoying. This is a heavy show with heavy themes and very serious topics. However, it’s brimming with hilarious scenarios, interactions, and overall dialogue. It’s never used as something insensitive or tone deaf, but rather as a visual or textual gag that makes the characters feel real and relatable.

Perfect.

4. Animation

This show is relatively new, and the animation is GORGEOUSLY DONE. I am still in awe of the style of this show, and in love with its way of conveying the weight of actions differently depending on the context.

In conclusion, if you haven’t seen it but read this entire thing—watch it now please you’ll laugh you’ll cry and you’ll want to do it all over again immediately after.

[leedee013]

Hi I just finished Banana Fish and am IN PAIN

Long story short, for those of you who don’t want spoilers—

I actually liked this show a lot more than I thought I would. I’d recommend it to others, but only if you’re prepared for some anxiety-driven and uncomfortable scenes/episodes. The amount of times I’ve screamed at this show shouldn’t be legal. So consider yourself warned.

Also, because there are very heavy themes that are prevalent throughout the show, this post will discuss themes that may be triggering for others. Below is a quick overview of some of these topics:

Rape

Sexual assault

Homophobia

Violence

Street violence

Murder

Forced Separation

Sexual Trauma

Please be aware: there are massive spoilers for Banana Fish below.

LET MY GAY MAFIA BABIES BE HAPPY?!

THAT WAS SUCH A FUCKING STUPID AND POINTLESS DECISION ON BEHALF OF THE AUTHORS AT THE END?

LIKE

WTF?!

W H Y

LET ASH BE HAPPY!!!!!!

LET EIJI BE HAPPY!!!!!!

LET THEM LIVE TOGETHER IN JAPAN AND LEARN TO HEAL TOGETHER!!!!

LET ASH FUCKING HEAL AND GROW OLD WITH THE MAN HE ACTUALLY LOVES!!!

LET HIM HAVE A FAMILY THAT ACTUALLY CARES ABOUT HIM?!!!!

LET HIM FUCKING BE HAPPY FOR FUCK’S SAKE LIKE IDK WHAT THE POINT WAS AND I’M MAD BECAUSE IT WASN’T EVEN SENSICAL AND ALSO RANDOM AND AND AND AND

Anyway hi in case you can’t tell I’ve gotten very emotionally invested in this mafia show despite usually not liking that genre, and I really loved some aspects of the show while also hating other aspects of it. I still have mixed feelings but one thing's for sure: this story is enthralling and nail biting. I never once felt like I was bored with the storyline or the characters, and I was ensnared until the very end.

Something I love

How much Eiji and Ash love each other

Something I hate

The perpetuation of harmful stereotypes regarding the LGBTQ+ community.

Like, I couldn’t stop hating how much this show really relies on older men raping younger boys, which I know is something that happens, but I think it would have been worth representing female characters doing this as well. Instead, by only presenting the audience with male characters, it perpetuates the stereotypes that gay people are:

Rapists

Child rapists

Perverts

And it’s a core part of the show. Banana Fish wouldn’t exist in the way it does if Ash’s trauma hadn’t affected the way he sees the world and feels about himself. It’s also an important part of the real world that has been notoriously ignored and unspoken. However, by exclusively placing men in the positions of power, it leans heavily into that idea that gay men are predatory. I also feel as though it would have been better to represent this issue and bring proper attention to the scale of it by having women present in these positions of power. Because boys and men can be raped, but I think it’s important to remind the audience that rapists are not exclusively men, either.

Additionally, where the fuck are the female characters? There are 24 episodes and I can only think of three female characters that are named and mentioned more than once. +1 for racial inclusitivioty, -1 for gender exclusion.

Something I love

This is connected to my above critique in a way, but I really do appreciate how this show sheds light on male rape survivors. It’s a topic that is unfortunately not spoken of and dismissed far too much.

Additionally, I appreciate the attention that’s given to rape survivors in general, especially when Ash and Jessica talk to each other about their recovery periods. It’s a powerful moment, and I think that they addressed Jessica’s rape in a way that wasn’t invalidating any of Ash’s suffering. They create a bond of support for each other in a very short period of time, which I really love.

Something I kinda hate

There’s some fucked up shit in this anime, which is fine, I’m used to that, but the focal point of the show being the drug called Banana Fish loses a lot of focus in the second season. I found many plot loopholes in this season, which really drive me up a wall.

Also, wtf is up with the lack of explaining the passage of time?

Something I REALLY LOVE

I really appreciate how much praise Ash is given for his intelligence, not by any of the fuckers who hurt him, but by his friends and his boyfriend. He’s a fucking genius who is a former sex worker, and the attention this show calls for in regards to sex worker rights is amazing.

Another aspect of this show that I love is how Ash is shown to be special because he is able to love others, despite what he’s gone through. He’s willing to love and be loved, rather than be ruled by hatred. And I think that’s really damn beautiful.

Something small that I’m not a fan of

I’m not a fan of how little we saw of Yut-Lung in season two. I think he’s a fascinating character that deserves a lot more attention, and didn’t get the same chance to really shine as Arthur in season one, despite being presented as the “new main minor antagonist.” I wanted to see so much more of him actually doing things rather than having other people do it for him.

Something small that I really love

How Ash and Eiji’s relationship shifts from being seen as a true weakness to being a source of strength. Eiji gives Ash the feeling of being a normal person. But Ash revives Eiji’s passion and drive, enabling him to do things he never would have had the guts to do otherwise.

Another unrelated thing that I ADORE is the unabashed slander of the US government and White House. It's beautiful, and I love how much corruption is shown throughout.

I’m legitimately mad at this show, though. The ending is nonsensical and serves no purpose other than to bury a gay character and ruin what could have been the most beautiful resolution to a fucked up life. There’s no lesson behind it. Ash literally felt as though him being at Eiji’s side would have jeopardized his safety, and had legitimate reasons to fear that that would be the case. Then, when Ash finally cracks and starts to run to the airport because he doesn’t want to let fear control him anymore, he gets fucking stabbed because he “let his guard down”? That’s fucking cheap, lazy writing, and I hate that a story that enthralled me so much for the past few DAYS would end on such a pointless note. I wouldn’t be nearly as upset about Ash dying as I am if it had been for a reason. If Ash had died while saving the hostages, then Eiji’s letter was read by Sing, that would have been a much more powerful and effective ending. Instead, the authors decided to be cowards. I also wouldn’t be nearly as upset if the image of birds would have had a role in the last few minutes of the show. It would have tied up the story so much better, especially since Ash always associates Eiji with being able to fly.

Long story short I’m mad because I’m disappointed in the 1) lack of female characters in general and 2) lackluster ending to what would otherwise have been one of my favorite shows. But damn, what a ride.

PS thanks @ Eiji for giving Ash the hugs I wanted to give him

[leedee013]

Demon Slayer/Kimetsu no Yaiba - Review

I never thought I'd find a character that is as sweet and endearing as Alphonse Elric (or even more so) but lemme tell you, I'm in love with so many characters from Demon Slayer/Kimetsu no Yaiba. #1 is Tanjiro and Nezuko Kamado. #2 is Kyojuro Rengoku.

My Spoiler-free-ish Summary:

My spoiler-free review: 11/10 would recommend this anime. It's moving, it's powerful, it's funny, it's disturbing, it's beautifully animated. It can get pretty graphic at times, but it does a brilliant job of making you get sucked into that world. I was personally not a fan of the art style, but the storyline is so fantastic that I didn't even mind it. In fact, I actually like it now. Besides, the style is consistent enough that it works, and the somewhat child-like appearance of most of the characters regardless of age adds to its horror elements. I'd put it on the same level of anime/story telling as Fullmetal Alchemist (Brotherhood), actually, especially with the similarities in central questions and in-depth world-building. Demon Slayer, like Fullmetal Alchemist (Brotherhood), questions what it means to be human, to be resilient, and most importantly (in my opinion), emphasizes the power of compassion. The world it builds has a simple core of rules that's easy enough to understand, but simple enough that it can be further explored.

That's it for spoiler-free! Please watch this show on your own before reading the rest--you'll thank me later!

Alright, let’s get down to the details. I love this series almost as much as FMA, which is saying a LOT. However, I still have some issues with it.

For one, as much as I love the art style, it’s difficult for me to determine how old the characters are. They’re all drawn with the same, childlike facial structure, regardless of how old they actually are. And it works for this kind of a story, and makes the horror aspects of the show that much more disturbing, but it’s a personal preference that made me push the series off much longer than I otherwise would have. Which is unfortunate!!!! Once again, it’s a personal preference that I learned to overlook as I grew more and more accustomed to it, and I found a new appreciation for it as I watched more of it.

Another problem that I have with the series is the way injuries are treated during fights. I get that this displays the resilience, strength, and discipline of the Hashira and their breathing techniques, but I feel as though the injuries that they sustain in some of these battles should be treated more seriously. For fuck’s sake, Tanjiro breaks his leg and walks on it for an entire arc without it affecting his movements, for the most part. It snapped me out of the world and made me feel as though their pain isn’t significant, which shouldn’t be the case. And there ARE times when the injuries are addressed as serious problems, like when the Squad(TM) get housed at the butterfly manor, but unless they’re visible injuries, I feel as though they get forgotten. It would be much more interesting to see how the characters adjust their attacks to prevent further injury, rather than watching them either strain themselves or injure themselves more in the process. And I understand that there are times when these characters CAN’T sacrifice that time to heal, or when they need to push through the pain in order to survive a fight, but I feel as though this problem could be fixed by introducing more prominent backup options for these fighters. There are times when you do need to sacrifice your own health in order to survive, but I feel as though the show, for all its really amazing and healthy messages it sends about what it means to be masculine or to love, sends a dangerous one in this regard. Maybe it’s just because I was in dance and watched people brush off injuries and end up hurting themselves more in the process, but I’m not a big fan of it being treated like no big deal.

Additionally, I know they're fan favorites, but I'm not really too invested in Zenitsu and Inosuke, so I'm not gonna talk about them too much in this post. I love them, but not enough that I can say they're a reason I come back to the series. I hope that in the future we can see more growth in their characters rather than having them just be comedic relief.

Now, as I mentioned right at the top of this post, I LOVE this series. And I love it for so, so many reasons.

First off, I’d like to point at Tanjiro Kamada, aka the sweetest of cinnamon rolls. He’s a fleshed out character with a heart of such pure gold that you can see it shining through a few layers of clothing. He gives off that same warm feeling as sitting in the sunlight coming in through a window. Somehow this series has a character whose moral compass is locked and who’s super kind and compassionate and strong and super powerful but doesn’t become a Mary Sue of sorts. I am in awe. And I think it’s primarily because he’s simply a GOOD PERSON. And I love some good person but are they really but they definitely are but are they really? grey level of morality in a character, but Tanjiro has suffered tremendous losses in his life, even before his home is attacked. His father died, and as the eldest brother of this swarm of siblings, he takes on that parental/guardian role without a single complaint because he loves them. He doesn’t suggest that Nezuko should be taking on more of that responsibility. And that willingness to be responsible is so admirable. Additionally, this establishes how much he cares for and loves his family, which makes their losses hit him and the viewers even harder. We understand that the peaceful, loving place that he treasured is gone. And I think that by knowing this side of Tanjiro, we can greater appreciate his persistence in looking for a cure for Nezuko, or his steadfast belief that everyone has good in them, or how he refuses to give up on anyone.

Another thing that I adore about Tanjiro is how he takes society’s understanding of what is and isn’t masculine and slams it against the wall. He cries, and he cries openly. He openly shows his emotions, is ALWAYS kind, and he doesn’t use violence without a purpose. He’s always respectful and isn’t afraid to make sure people know that he cares about them. Even when he kills demons he makes sure to give them a genuine compliment or comfort them in some way, which is beyond kindness. That’s seeing the best in everyone without overlooking their bad.

Another thing I love about this series is Nezuko. She is not only queen of my heart but also queen of badassery and napping. Maybe it’s just because I’m an only child, but I also love how much Nezuko cares for her brother and how much Tanjiro cares for his sister. It’s like, I think that if people just handed me any series with a leading fantastic sibling duo in a fantasy setting it would be an instant favorite. It worked for Fullmetal and it’s working again with Demon Slayer. I also love how the creator decided that Nezuko can change her size/age/shape depending on what she feels she needs or how much energy she has left. I love that she can be a small child one second and a ripped lady the next. I also adore how she kicks everything. Never skip leg day, folks.

She’s a badass and anyone who denies it either can’t comprehend that or aren’t paying attention. And no, I don’t take critiques on that statement. Because yes, she’s sometimes shown to be adorable and somewhat of a sidekick-figure to Tanjiro, but more often than not, she kicks ass and doesn’t bother taking names. And although Tanjiro gets most of the credit, she proves time and time again that she is incredibly strong, as powerful as her brother (or more), and fully capable of defending herself. She saves Tanjiro’s life so many times, and I personally like to think of Nezuko as the one saving him rather than the other way around. Tanjiro defends her with his life and I will too.

Another thing I love is that each character is incredibly unique and engaging. It’s hard to have such a huge number of characters and make each one of them special, yet this series succeeds. And the design of each character is also just... so good. They’re all so versatile and expressive and fit their personalities so well. Even when the designs are over the top or incredibly intricate, they work because of the style and they work because of the character’s personality. The one that immediately comes to mind is Tanjiro and his ability to be the softest and goodest boy while also being the toughest boy. Or how Rengoku is fiery in every sense: warm, passionate, fierce, destructive. Nezuko can be sweet and almost overly feminine, then absolutely terrifying, and I love how the pink in her eyes gets more or less intense. It’s such a great detail. I could go on, but hopefully my point is clear.

I also have to say that I love how Tanjiro's optimism and general compassion isn't seen as a weakness. In fact, I love how compassion is regarded instead as a noble quality that's admirable. It shares this message with Fullmetal Alchemist (manga and): Brotherhood, and I will never not have an actual weakness for it. Our Best Boy Tanjiro, Hashira Shinobu Kocho, Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku... they all share this trait, even if their compassion takes on different forms and isn't always seen as such.

Also, Ufotable studio has earned my respect. This series is simply eye candy. More like eye crack. It's such a beautifully animated series, and you can tell that they had SO much fun animating these fight scenes and backgrounds and UGH it's just so damn pretty.

Thanks for reading!