#need to rewatch the show for the 1000th time but I love how no one likes Chase. at all

[skipppppy]

They bully him relentlessly

[cheeseandbretboy]

JOKER (2019) AND JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX (2024) SPOILERS !!!

still trying to sift through my thoughts but i liked joker 2. i dont get how the ratings are so bad?? were people expecting a romance???? a fun movie? i mean even i was surprised by the depressing end but im really glad it happened because thats what joker 2019 was about too. arthur was never the actual 'joker' we see in dc films, and we knew that. his whole story is tragic but a lot of people missed that in the first movie. the second speaks on that to humanise arthur (even though thats what they literally tried to do in the first one?? didnt work i guess) and shame those who use him as a symbol for misogyny and incel stuff. i think what most people are mad about is how hes not as 'villainy' as the other jokers BUT AGAIN he was never the true joker and im confused as to how people missed that !! personally i loved how it shows that even after he's secured himself the identity of joker he's still repeatedly exploited as he was before that, and he has to come to terms with it. harleys character was really surprising for me because usually she's the one being manipulated by joker- in this case it was the other way around. especially interesting was how joker was the one who sung 'bewitched' about harley (the original song is sung about a man, so they had to change he/him to she/her) and the scene of joker and harley's show where she continues singing 'to love somebody' without looking at him, instead basking in the attention the audience gives her. people were expecting a twisted sexy romance between them but instead we were given something really uncomfortable and unnerving- like that sex scene. her character also gives insight into parasocial relationships and how weird and dangerous they can get. she never really knew arthur- she knew joker. the film starts with us finally happy that he 'for once in his life, has someone who needs him' and ends with us absolutely distraught. in the first movie, he says stuff like 'you dont listen' and 'i never knew i existed' and STILL after becoming an infamous killer, getting a show about him, EVERYONE talking about him, he's still not seen. there are just so many things the film points out about its fanbase (incels, parasocial relationships, identity, the glamourisation/sexualisation of violence, columbiners, exploitation etc etc) and i guess people don't like that. they want capitalism=bad, 'men have it so bad', and mm gore! which is fair- i loved it too- but it doesnt hurt to delve into the identity of 'joker' (whatever that is) and how that influences its viewers. its quite meta i like it a lot. they didnt care that the ratings would be awful because they had to speak on what the first movie did to people

oh also the intertextuality is just amazing. the songs are great, like i mentioned before with changing the female and male roles with 'bewitched', and even though i absolutely hate musicals this really worked fo rme. i think it's because musicals often have songs smack bam in the middle of realistic scenes and the singing just ruins it for me- but in joker 2 they're more often a part of arthur's fantasies so it was actually better. i wasnt sure about the musical element at first but after rewatching joker for like the 1000th time i realised how much its intertwined in the first movie- we just never really paid attention to it. the end of 'gonna build a mountain' was amazing (you have to pay attention to the lyrics), 'the joker' was great, and the few instances of violence we see from arthur while hes singing is really entertaining i love it sm. i keep mentioning 'betwitched' but i love it. 'she is cold, i agree, she can laugh, and i love it' ahh. i loved the intertextuality with nolan's the dark knight. a lot of people hate it, but i think people should be more flexible with inspiration and interweaving similar but different stories into films. just because it follows a similar story doesnt mean that it should either perfectly fit the mould of nolan's batman, but neither does it mean they should abandon it altogether either. harvey dent really surprised me, and even though he was a pretty minor character i loved the few references to nolan's batman they give (like his gory face after the explosion at court being a possible villain origin story). most obvious is the end though, where arthur is gutted by that inmate who admires him. the use of the joke was amazing and i was really surprised by how he got stabbed. you can see in this moment that arthur has been relieved of his identity of 'joker' and can finally rest as himself, just a mentally ill guy with a history of tragic abuse. when lee and his fans betray him (the real life ones too hilariously) we realise no one truly saw or loved him, and he couldn't deal with that. so, the identity of joker was passed on to that inmate- "ah, what a fine young son to take my place"- while he cuts a glasgow smile into his face. in felt this was sort of missing from joker 2019, so im really glad they used ledger's joker as inspiration for this inmate.

there's a lot more to talk about, ESPECIALLY gary's reappearance which im so so glad about, it really fleshed out his character. when he walked up to the stand, you can see people whispering and laughing at him- arthur never made fun of him. it really helps to make people question what constitutes a bad person. sure, these people didn't kill 6 people, but how easy would it be for them just not to laugh? it showed arthur's empathy, and how uncomfortable he was with admitting to it when trying to paint himself as the joker. "you were the only one who was nice to me" was said by arthur in the first movie when he kills randal and gary says something similar to him during court.

anyways wow that was great people are mad the 2nd movie is as depressing as the first (if not more). at the end ofthe first, arthur has a whole revolution loving him, and we did the same. at the end of the second we realise we never truly knew him, but exploited his character.

[dreamchasernina]

So since the fandom has come back to life and there is not enough Kataang content on this app I will start sharing my two cents. Yay.

I want to start off by saying that as the show was airing, I, as a 10 year old, did kinda ship Zutara. Let’s face it, that scene in the catacombs was a turning point for a lot of shippers. But that was before I saw the final season a couple of years later. When I rewatched the show as a whole, as a teenager I was over Zutara, honestly their interaction kind of felt awkward to me, because they were enemies for so long. So I was all for Kataang. Now, that I’ve rewatched it for like a 1000th time, as a 28 year old, I finally see Kataang for the amazing pairing that it is.

Anyway, I’m not here to hate on anyone, you can ship whoever you like, and I love Zuko so you will not see me slandering his character here. Plus I don't feel the need to hate dump on a character to make my ship feel superior (*cough* unlike some Zutara shippers *cough*).

Ok, so. I feel that when people think of Katara, and her part in the show, they remember her as the responsible one in the group, the "mother" of the group, the sensible and caring one. Yes, when Katara’s mother died she had to step in and take the responsibility of the mother in the family, like Sokka says in the Runaway, and that stayed with her throughout the show. But, I hate that that’s the only thing she’s remembered for, because that’s just the result of her trauma. I feel like most people ignore a very crucial part of her character. Yes, she is the responsible in the group, but when she gets a chance to just be a kid, that's what she is.

People forget about the fun loving side of Katara. The one that goes penguin sledding and remembers how she hasn’t done it in a long time because life hasn’t allowed her to. The side of Katara that gets obsessed with Aunt Wu’s prediction because she is just a regular girl who’s fascinated by her love life, and dreams about what her future husband might be like. The girl that tries flying on the glider with Teo. The girl that relaxes on Appa and lets the hippie girl braid her hair, completely forgetting about the next task in their journey. People forget the side of her that dances in a cave, forgetting about the war and just enjoying life. Let’s not ignore that whenever Katara has a chance, she just enjoys being a kid, not just a badasss waterbender travelling with the Avatar.

And when Katara brings that side out, you know who’s right by her side? Aang. He’s not just by her side, he’s the one initiating those little fun moments. Penguin sledding is his idea, he’s the one to remind her that even though she’s been through a lot, and has a lot of responsibilities, she’s still a kid. He’s the one to organize the dance party, in a middle of a war, in the enemy's terrorory, he still finds a way for them just to be kids. And she’s right there with him, dancing. He’s also taking part in her obsession with Aunt Wu, not belittling or making fun of her faith, but taking part in it. Also sitting right next to her in a flower crown and enjoying the music the hippies play.

You cannot ignore that part of Katara, the part that shines when she’s comfortable, the part that just wants to be a regular kid and have fun. And that’s the part that Aang brings out in her. He’s the Avatar, the weight of the world is literally on his shoulders, but he still finds a way to enjoy life and be a kid, even after going through the worst trauma you can imagine. And he’s there to remind her that even if you’ve experienced the worst, you can still find joy in the little things. She literally says in the first episode - Aang brought something we haven’t had in a long time - fun. And that’s what he brings to her, this light, and that’s why she’s so drawn to him.

Isn’t that what we want for Katara, after the war is over? To just let herself be a kid, not to miss out on that part of her life, now that she doesn’t have to worry about their survival? And the best person to bring this joy and childlike wonder back into her life is Aang. And that’s why I think that Aang is truly the best one Katara could have ended up with.

[recentanimenews]

FEATURE SERIES: My Favorite One Piece Arc with Maffew

  I love One Piece and I love talking to people who love One Piece. And with the series going on 23 years now, there is a whole lot to talk about. As the series is about to publish its 1000th chapter, a true feat in and of itself, we thought we should reflect upon the high-seas adventure and sit down with some notable names in the One Piece fan community and chat about the arcs they found to be especially important, or just ones they really, really liked.

  Welcome to the next article in the series "My Favorite One Piece Arc!"

  My next guest in this series is Maffew, creator of the popular pro wrestling web series Botchamania. For my chat with him, he chose the Alabasta Arc, in which Luffy and his crew not only have to save a desert kingdom but also topple Baroque Works and its powerful leader Crocodile.

  A note on spoilers: If you haven't seen the Alabasta arc yet, this interview does contain major plot points. Watch the Alabasta arc starting RIGHT HERE if you'd like to catch up or rewatch!

    Dan Dockery: So I guess my first basic question is, let’s say for some reason, I got to the end of Drum Island and I said “Well, One Piece ends here for me. This seems like a good finale.” What would you tell me to keep me going into the Alabasta Arc in one sentence?

  Maffew: Well, after Chopper has made all the kids cry, you’ll need pickin’ up.

  That’s pretty good! What was the impetus for you getting into One Piece? What made you want to jump into an anime that’s nearly one thousand episodes long at this point?

  I think I tried watching it on YouTube back in 2009, and I just couldn’t get into it. At that point in my life, I wasn’t ready for a character like Luffy and his adventures, and I couldn’t wait for the villains he fought to kill him. So I dropped it. A year later, I’m in Germany and this wrestler ACH was doing a Q&A panel for this German wrestling organization called WXW. And ACH is a REALLY big One Piece fan, and even dresses up as Luffy in New Japan and Ring of Honor. And I was like “Hey, you watching JoJo?” because that was my thing at the time, and he was like “No, no. Just One Piece.” I said, “What else are you watching?” “Just One Piece.” And I’m like “Wait, what? Just the one?” But he was sellin’ it to me like he was a One Piece ad on QVC. And guys like Steve Yurko are so passionate about it, and if one person tells ya to watch something, you’re like “Eh, whatever,” but if five people tell you, you start to pay attention. So I’m gonna blame ACH and my good friend Steve Yurko for this.

    What do you like about this arc in particular?

  You get so much wonderful worldbuilding. They go to Alabasta, meet up with Mr. 2, and it’s one of those cool interactions where they’re meeting, but they don’t know who they are meeting exactly, like when they meet Blackbeard in Jaya. So later on, they’re like “Oh, it’s THEM!” There’s a real sense of everything not being really pre-determined at this point. It’s building everything through a bunch of pirates just doing stuff. Ace shows up, knocks out some assassins so he can get his royalty checks.

  That’s such a funny way to put it.

  Then we get Kung-Fu Dugongs, and they’re a pretty pure expression of One Piece. They’re all synchronized, they’re adorable, they play their part amid all the serious stuff, and they’re completely ridiculous, but they work anyway. And it’s with Alabasta that Eiichiro Oda starts to perfect the tropes that he puts into place throughout, with the new islands, the new leader who everyone loves but is actually a bad person, the crew having to deal with him and the Navy, them having to help put someone back in their position, etc. And even though, on paper, it reads like “Well, he’s gotta beat this dude and this dude and this dude,” it’s so much more chaotic and less formulaic than you’d expect. It keeps things interesting. 

  I agree. I like how he takes all of these pieces and he’s consistent with them, but Oda always plays around with how he sets them up.

    But it’s all a foot massage before the real reason to watch Alabasta: Sir Croc. 

  Are you a big fan of him? That dude is so cool, conniving and powerful. He’s kinda the perfect villain. 

  Back when I was being miserable and first watching One Piece, I really liked him. I like the design, the sand powers that could actually pose a threat. I always appreciate it when a villain provides actual tension. It’s like why I think Goldeneye is still the best James Bond film. Because Alec Trevelyan is constantly reminding Bond “Remember, I could kill you. I’m from the same place as you. I can take your exploding watch and just, eh, I’ll stop that then. Thank you.” And Luffy loses twice to him in the three-match structure that really works here as it did for wrestling in the 70s.

  How so?

  So you’d have somebody like champion Bruno Sammartino and someone like Ivan Koloff or one of the Wild Samoans or Stan Stasiak. They’d have one match where the hero would beat Bruno by disqualification. Bruno’s still around to fight, but he’s lost. Luffy survives being thrown in the sand, but he’s been beaten. Then they have the second match, where Bruno would win because the villain would just give up and leave and get counted out. Luffy attacks Crocodile with water, but it’s not enough, and Crocodile just kinda leaves Luffy thinking it’s all done. And then Bruno would be like “Oh no ya don’t. Next time, you won’t be able to escape, because we’re gonna be in a cage match.” And then Bruno wins, just like Luffy wins by punching Crocodile up through that giant enclosed space. He escapes the cage.

      It’s just so satisfying and that’s a great way to describe it. So, villains in the series have had extensive crew members before, but they haven’t been as recognizable and colorful as Croc’s crew, Baroque Works. Do you have a favorite member?

  They’re all good in their own way, but at this point, I’m gonna go with Mr. 2. Eh, that’s probably too obvious an answer…

  Mr. 2 is a lot of people’s favorite member. 

  Oh, who cares. I’ll go with Mr. 2. I like how Mr. 2 interacts with everyone, having fun with the boys and fighting Sanji with kicks but respecting him. 

  So, in this arc, there’s a lot of government intrigue and a revolution is about to happen, and everyone’s dissatisfied with their perception of the monarchy. How did you react to all of this political drama in One Piece? 

  Well, it’s great because you have Vivi, and you get to learn her motivations and because she’s on the crew, it gives you a reason to care for the crew and how all of the political intrigue affects them. Without her, you’d just hear about a war and say “Oh, sorry about that. Hope it goes well.” And with all this lore being thrown at you because you have Vivi and that connection, it’s adding to the main conflict, rather than distracting.

  Yeah, Vivi really grounds it all with a personal attachment. Because otherwise it’s just savin’ the kingdom, which is cool and they’re good for it, but it doesn’t have the same impact. So, they did this back in the Arlong Park arc, but what returns here is the kind of 1 vs 1 match structure, where a member or members of the enemy crew are matched up against a Straw Hat or Hats. Mr. 1 has knife body parts, so he’s obviously gonna fight Zoro. Mr. 2 kicks and Sanji kicks, etc. What do you think about that kind of matchmaking, because it’s also a little wrestling-esque.

    Yeah, right, like if you have D-Generation X fighting the Nation of Domination, you can’t just have The Rock fighting Triple H. Ya gotta have D’Lo Brown vs X-Pac and The Godfather vs Billy Gunn. I like it because the characters feel like they have to prove themselves, like Zoro’s a swordsman, and he’s gotta test himself against another swordsman. And Usopp does it when he fights Mr. 4 and Miss Merry Christmas with Chopper, because they have a weird dynamic and they’re fighting two people and they have no clue what they’re up against. 

  So, at the end of the arc, they do the iconic “We can’t let Vivi become associated with pirates so we’ll hold up the X symbols on our arms in solidarity” pose. What did you think about that? Because it’s one of the most famous images in One Piece, and it’s hard to avoid it, even if you’ve never watched the series. Was that your first time seeing it?

  It actually was. And I’m glad you brought this up because I was watching it and I thought “Wait, they’re just going? They’re not even keeping the duck?” And then they do that with the X and the original opening starts playing and I get goosebumps just remembering it. That really hit me. Because it finally got me really emotionally invested in the series. Made me feel a bit cheeky. 

      ONE PIECE LIGHTNING ROUND!

  So, considering you’re such a huge pro wrestling fan, your lightning round is gonna be a bit different. I’m gonna say a Straw Hat that’s in the crew at this point and you tell me which wrestler they’re the most like. You can also tell me what time period they’d fit the most in, since wrestler personalities tend to change. So, Luffy?

  Gotta be Cena. Specifically? With Luffy’s attitude? Probably 2015 defending-the-United States-Championship John Cena.

  Zoro?

  He’s all business, he likes to fight. So I gotta go with Cesaro.

  Sanji?

  Going with Eddie Guerrero.

  Usopp?

  That character is all over wrestling - the underdog who isn’t very good and uses every trick in the book to win. Gonna go with MJF. He had one of my favorite matches of this year against Cody Rhodes and he just had to use EVERYTHING to beat him - brass knuckles, distraction, chairs, everything he could to get that win. But he could be MJF, could be The Miz, could be Mikey Whipwreck from ECW, take your pick.

  Nami?

  Hmmm. Becky Lynch. 

  Chopper?

  KeMonito 

  Robin?

  Oh, she shows up after being booed for ages and you’re supposed to like her, so 2019 Charlotte Flair.

      Stay tuned for the next installment of "My Favorite One Piece Arc" as we speak with One Piece's official English manga translator Stephen Paul on his favorite One Piece arc: Skypiea!!

      Daniel Dockery is a Senior Staff Writer for Crunchyroll. Follow him on Twitter!

  Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features!

By: Daniel Dockery

[kabutoraiger]

I read somewhere that Ankh was supposed to be a villain but kids started to send him coins or something so they had to turn him into a good guy (sort of). What do you think Kobayashi's original plan was? Or do you think she managed to bring that plan back with the betrayal arc? But I too would've loved if Hina was more important. I still hate that 'birth of a kamen rider' episode. Aside from that ooo was good but for some reason I feel like it lacks /something/ for me. The ending was great tho.

it’s so hard to imagine full-on villain ankh and i have no idea what the gameplan could’ve been with that... he’s just such an endearingly funny little bastard throughout the show. how could i have taken him seriously as the big bad? 

i guess if painted as like a tragic thing. ankh convinced against all reasoning that eiji is like, going down the same path as the original ooo and they have to be enemies or else his existence is at stake. could’ve been interesting and very fraught but i’m glad we got the story we did instead. and yeah she might’ve worked some initial concepts in during that part of the show.

(which episode is that? the bizarro 1000th ep meta one? been too long for me to remember it well so i can’t really commiserate on that... i definitely need to rewatch soon - there’s a chance my overall ooo opinions might change a bit a 2nd time around.)

[animebw]

My Current Top 10 Anime Of All Time

Welcome, ladies, gentlemen, and everyone in between, to the 1000th post of The Anime Binge-Watcher! It’s been a long and winding road getting here, but I’ll save my more complete, sincere thoughts for my true one-year anniversary come this May. For now, to celebrate the completion of many projects, including finishing up the Gintama anime and re-watching Angel Beats, I figured I would celebrate this momentous occasion by sharing my current anime top 10 list! Chances are you’ll have seen me talk about a lot of the shows on this list before, and I’ll include links on all the ones I’ve done a full watch for. So if you’re looking for a way to pass the time, feel free to catch up on me talking about some of my favorite Chinese cartoons.

Cool? Cool. Click the “Keep Reading” bar to see what ten anime hold a truly special place in my heart!

#10: Cardcaptor Sakura

It’s the mark of a good kid’s TV show that I first watched Cardcaptor Sakura as a 20-year-old adult and I still thought it was absolutely stunning. And the story of fourth-grader Sakura Kinomoto’s quest to capture a set of magical cards set loose in her hometown isn’t just one of the best kids’ shows I’ve ever seen, it’s far and away the best show about kids I’ve seen. It tackles the troubles and worries of childhood, from losing a loved one to dealing with an unrequited crush, with the respect and dignity they deserve, reminding you that being a kid can really, truly suck at times, but in the end, you’ll definitely be alright. Add to that a fantastically forward-looking acceptance of love of all shapes, sizes, and orientations, and you have yourself a recipe for a truly magical coming-of-age tale, no matter how old you are when you encounter it.

#9: Toradora

This is a show I desperately need to rewatch to better figure out where it fits in my hierarchy. But it still deserves a place on my top list for being the definitive anime rom-com. By embracing the archetypes and conventions of its genre and imbuing them all with life, purpose, and understanding, it crafts an iconic exploration of teen romance that all challengers must measure up against. Taiga and Ryuji are still the romance to beat, and the trials and pitfalls of teenage connection have never felt more human.

#8: Hunter x Hunter

Yu Yu Hakusho was one of the earliest shows I watched for this blog, and my (very) long-time readers may recall how often I referenced Hunter x Hunter, the next work from the same author, while talking about it. That’s as close as I’ll likely ever come to talking about Togashi’s masterpiece in any detail on this blog, so let it be known that while Yu Yu Hakusho represents the best of what classic shonen can achieve, the swirling dervish of chaos and imagination that is Hunter x Hunter is the absolute pinnacle of shonen storytelling. Dark, twisted, unhinged, tonally somewhere between a fantasy adventure and a bloodsoaked carnival sideshow, and endlessly imaginative, the story of Gon and Killua’s free-wheeling journey through a dangerous world represents character-driven storytelling at its best, the narrative pulled along solely by the whims of its many interlocking players in directions that never cease to stun, delight, and horrify in equal measure. This is one brutal, uncompromising journey, but it’s worth every painful step.

#7: Clannad After Story

The first Clannad was already a stone-cold classic, fusing the best of Jun Maeda’s trademark bathos-soaked sentimentality with Kyoto Animation’s killer melancholy production values. But with After Story, this franchise did something truly remarkable: it grew up with its characters. By letting its teenage cast enter the adult world, exploring how their lives and relationships evolved with time, this sequel broke the confines of what it was capable of, and the result is the single most iconic anime tearjerker of all time. Rich with complex emotion and heartbreaking humanity, with a substantial handful of my biggest cry moments ever, After Story is proof of just how important the undiscovered paths in life and storytelling alike can be, if we’re only brave enough to take that step.

#6: Chuunibyou

If I were to describe my relationship to the Chuunibyou franchise in one word, it would be “comfort food”. There’s no better way to put it; this story of two hopeless high school dreamers colliding and falling in love is absolutely fucking delightful, putting a smile on my face with more regularity than any other show. Rikka Takanashi’s enthusiasm for the chuuni delusions that drive her life is an infectious reminder of how much fun it can be to just let yourself be stupid, and her relationship with Yuuta, aside from just being so fucking adorable I could pinch their cheeks endlessly, serves as anime’s best metatextual argument for the importance of its own goofy, nonsensical existence. This medium has the potential to do so much good, and Chuunibyou is the best argument it has in its favor.

#5: Sound Euphonium

What does it take to be the single best show from the single best animation studio working today? Nothing more or less than perfection, naturally. Sound Euphonium is everything that Kyoto Animation has been building towards its entire existence, turning the everyday toils of a high school concert band into the most intimately human exploration of ambition and passion I’ve ever seen. Tomoyo Kurosawa’s performance Kumiko Oumae alone is quite possibly the single best anime performance ever, full of endless nuance and vitality that brings this adrift teenager to stunning, electrifying life. And that’s the beauty of this show in a nutshell. Never before has ordinary life felt so magical, meaningful, and massive. It also has one of the most giddily wonderful lesbian romances I’ve ever seen, which is 100% canon and I will fight anyone who disagrees.

#4: Neon Genesis Evangelion

Let’s be real, it can’t be an anime top list without Eva rearing its pitted, rusting head somewhere. But can you blame me? Twenty years and one re-watch later, Evangelion is still every once the masterpiece it once was, a shockingly powerful deconstruction of the mecha genre that explores depression, sexuality, connection, isolation, death, rebirth, and the meaning of life itself with an uncompromisingly clear eye. This show is hard to watch at times, the emotions so messy and raw and vulnerable that you feel like you’re invading someone’s privacy. But you can’t look away, because the metaphysical and metatextual journey the characters take you on is never anything less than breathtaking. And, of course, Asuka Langley Soryu remains my favorite fictional character of all time, a girl whose trauma is so achingly close to mine that I can’t help but see my own journey to self-actualization reflected through her eyes. What a remarkable, stunning piece of art.

#3: Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood

I’ve already spent countless words on this show during my lengthy re-watch of it, so to keep things short, FMA Brotherhood isn’t just the pinnacle of anime adventure stories, it’s an indisputable classic of the fantasy canon, fit to stand alongside Lord of the Rings, Narnia, and all the rest. It’s got something for everyone: action, adventure, romance, mystery, political themes, philosophy, comedy, horror, despair, optimism, kickass ladies, and all of it done better than at least 90% percent of other stories. If you’re new anime, this is the perfect place to start; no other show will give you so much good in such an easily digestible package.

#2: Angel Beats

Yes, believe it or not, my former favorite anime has finally been dethroned. Not for any failure on its part; despite my recently finished re-watch revealing a few more warts than I remembered, Angel Beats is still an unfathomably beautiful piece of pop art, capturing the essence of life and its meaning better than any other story I’ve seen. Its tale of dead teenagers trying to find something of worth in the lives they left behind makes me laugh my ass off and drown in tears, often at the exact same time. Jun Maeda’s sentimental writing has never been more sincere, nor his ethos of the power of life more soul-enriching. If you don’t come out the other side feeling even the slightest bit rejuvinated, I don’t want to know you. So why did it slip a spot? What masterpiece was so overwhelmingly transcendent as to take its place?

I mean, do you even have to ask?

#1: Gintama

This has been a long time coming.

Gintama has defined my anime-watching experience for the past six months,just around two-thirds of all the time I’ve spent on this blog at all. From its humble beginnings, it only grew and grew, surpassing its limits again and again, until it blossomed into the single most powerful, soaring, meaningful, endlessly imaginative, stunningly crafted, hilarious, heartbreaking, all-encompassing, and inspiring fictional story I’ve ever seen. There’s no genre it won’t explore, no heights it won’t surpass, no tired trope it won’t kick into the dust until it reforms as something truer and more meaningful than ever. Gintama restores my faith in the power of storytelling and all the good it can do. It makes me hopeful of everything that fiction can accomplish. It’s a sprawling epic of lost souls finding their way back home, fighting against impossible odds, doubting themselves, losing their way, and figuring out who they want to be. It’s a stunning tribute to the potential of humanity with the single best ensemble cast in all of fiction, including a not-insubstantial handful of my all-time favorite characters. And it achieves all that while still being an irreverent, goofy lark at the expense of Japanese pop culture, filled with toilet humor that actually makes me laugh, batshit ideas just crazy enough to work, battles so epic they literally leave me screaming, emotions so raw and powerful that just a girl and an umbrella can reduce me to tears, and a world of possibility I never want to leave. Gintama is everything. And it does it all so fucking perfectly. What a goddamn triumph.

Thank you all for 1000 posts of this ridiculous experiment. The fact that my writing’s actually connected with you means more to me than I could ever express. Love and Peace, folks. Here’s to 1000 more.

[the-real-xmonster]

The Olympic Ladies’ Queue - Part 3 (The Jumps)

Do you think evgenia will ever work to fix her jumps, or more specifically, her flutz? :/ I adore her, but I don't like how it almost seems like she's taking advantage of the whole system ignoring what should be called out, which to me, makes me question that athlete's true values for their sport. Like why hasn't anyone advised her to correct it?? Her coach?? Anyone?? Is she aware herself that her lutz is always taken off on the wrong edge? I just don't get it :(

You have to understand, first, that a wrong Lutz edge is one of the hardest jump errors to fix. In fact, this entire time I’ve been watching skating, I can hardly name you any skater, at all, man or lady, who was able to definitively fix their Lutz edge. There are skaters whom I have seen being able to change their Lutz takeoff from inside to flat and sometimes marginally outside (Mao Asada in the later stages of her career, for example), but from a flutz to a technically sound, unquestionable Lutz? No.

I can assure you that Janny herself and everybody around her knows she has that issue. I can also tell you: she’s trying everything she physically can right now, to fix it during competition.  

See how she went in for that Lutz by skating backward on a long outside lobe with that loop-like entry? Also see how hard she tried to angle her knee out right before the takeoff? I am not trying to make excuses for her. Technically speaking and from a scoring perspective, that Lutz was still ultimately taken off from a wrong edge and Janny should have been called for it. But it is very unfair, and incorrect, to say that she was not trying her damnedest to avoid that error. 

As to the reason why she needs to include a triple Lutz in her program, I’ve discussed it before, but in the end it boils down to Base Value. In the ladies’ field, with the absence of quads and largely triple Axels, a lady simply cannot hope to stay competitive without at least one 3Lz in her routines.

Probably the 1000th ask about Evgenia you've received these days, but I just rewatched the FS. It was so magical! I usually view Evgenia as a bit cheesy and over-dramatic with her expression, but then that FS, she really showed the heart-breaking, tragic of Anna Karenina. Aside from that, I wanna ask that, almost every time she jumps, it looks like she's using all of her strength, throwing her body into a jump, is that what "muscled jump" is?

Kind of a newbie to understanding FS but your blog has been so helpful! Maybe an odd question though-I've seen a lot about Janny's jumps being "muscled," and am a little confused about why that's bad. There's been a lot of light shed on how pervasive eating disorders are among skaters, it seems like the expectation for women to be frail yet capable of unthinkable physical feats is not going to help progress this issue in a positive direction. Makes it seem like the focus is on the appearance of the skater more so than their capabilities or performance. As I said, I'm new and I assume I might be missing something, but the phrasing has really stood out to me as rather paradoxical considering what is expected of these skaters. Thoughts?? --- @illuminati-by-nature

I wish Evgenia would take a year off and learn to jump properly so she can have longevity, her body will only hold up to muscling her jumps for so long and her technique won’t stand up to her gaining any weight which is a health crisis waiting to happen, and she’s already so skinny. I love her skating so much and I want her to have a long career which is already so hard for Russian ladies, and with the amount of junior powerhouses Eteri has turned out this season... 🙁 --- @acrownofbloodandroses

Right, so just to clear this up, "muscling a jump” is different from “using your whole body in a jump”. Utilizing your entire body for the takeoff is what you should do in figure skating jump. Spread your body out, initiate the takeoff, then bring your body in as fast as you can to accelerate the rotation - that’s the principle of conservation of angular momentum and it’s the physics behind all figure skating jumps and spins.

What “muscling” is, and why it’s bad, can be seen here, via a comparison between Janny’s 3F-3T and Kaetlyn’s:

There are two issues with Janny’s jumps: one, she tends to rotate her upper body before she picks, and two, she brings her leg up very high and slams it down to increase the impact. See in that first highlighted frame how high Janny’s picking leg was compared to Kaetlyn’s? Janny has that habit with the toe loop as well, so in the second highlighted frame, you can see she had to bend forward on her landing to kick her leg up, compared to the much more natural landing position of Kaetlyn. This also results in Kaetlyn taking less time to, first, initiate her flip, and, two, follow up with her toe. 

Here, watch them in real time and pay attention to the difference in their flows:

I am using Kaetlyn’s combo as an example here also because I want to show that good figure skating jumps do not require the ladies to be stick-thin. Kaetlyn’s physique is a great display of power, energy, and athleticism, and she’s one of the best jumpers in the ladies’ field. Her jumps have great ice coverage so she doesn’t have to rely on rotational speed alone to complete her revolutions. She depends instead on technique, speed, and the efficiency of her air position.

Throwing in here another very good 3F-3T combo:

Check out Kaori’s picking technique: light, quick, and completely in sync with her upper body movement. Look at how fast she got into a tight air position. See how she applied the same technique to her triple toe loop and see how it resulted in the amazing height she got on that second jump. I can tell you that there are plenty of men who would kill to have that sort of quality 3T at the end of their combo. And I’m sure you can agree with me that Kaori isn’t a fragile-looking lady either. 

So, to sum up: the bad news is: eating disorder is a real and persistent issue in ladies’ figure skating, but the good news is: no, girls DO NOT have to be thin in order to jump beautifully. As competitive athletes, all of our ladies do have to monitor their weight very carefully, but rather than how thin they are, it’s how efficiently they use their athletic body that is the key to good figure skating jumps. 

[luccie-eclair]

I can't watch Inuyasha again and here's why

I'll straight up tell you that Inuyasha was actually the first anime I ever watched (either that or Pokemon the original seasons, but one of the 2) and I started watching it when I was about 4(???). I didn't know wtf was happening but I thought it was better than Dora, so fuck it. That was what got me into anime basically.

In middle school, with a more... developed mind, I sat down and actually binged the entire series everyday after school until I finished. Though, I didn't watch all of the movies (the one where Kagome and Inuyasha kissed was the one I watched). I loved the series. I was a diehard fan of it and part of me still is today.

I tried to rewatch over summer before moving to Florida for college and... I honestly couldn't even get through season one. Like, don't get me wrong. It's not a horrible show, at least not like a lot of people nowadays say, but there's a lot that I just don't want to live through again. I'd rather keep the nice memories that I originally had of it and not rewatch it. Like, there are parts of the show that I absolutely hated and just wondered "why tf... just why????"

Case in point: the main reason why I can't watch it again is because of that dumbass love square routine that was forced down our throats every other episode. You know exactly what I'm talking about! Note: this is a huge exaggeration, but you'll get the picture.

1) Kagome and Inuyasha literally say how much they care about each other and how much the other means to them in these weird, but sort of sweet gestures that totally mean something. Inuyasha: "I'm totally over Kikyo. She's trash and probably working for Naraku anyway. Kagome matters more."

2) Kikyo (a character that I honestly found to be pointless. Like, she was mostly there to stir up drama between Kagome and Inuyasha and that was dumb. I know there's more to her than that, but...). She's resurrected for 1000th time (seriously, either stay dead or live and be useful. You can't do both). And kind of leads Inuyasha on just a tad. "I hate you. I want nothing to do with you. You're trash. You ruined my life even though I'm alive for 500th time. I wish I never fell for you." Angry hate kiss or low key confesses to still partially having those feelings. Leaves Inuyasha alone while he's still clearly in love with her.

3) Kagome just "coincidentally" sees the whole scene where Kikyo confesses or lets Inuyasha kiss/hug her. Is heartbroken. Goes back to present time. Claims not to care even though that's why she left. "I don't care about him. He's trash. I should just go back to having a normal life. I don't even like him." Thinks about him and rants about him to all of her friends and family 24/7. Spaces out in class thinking about him. Let's be real, there's no way you're missing for 99% of the school year and still think you're graduating, just repeat the grade it's okay.

3) Kagome's "crush" (distraction) comes in and hangs out with her because he's genuinely interested in her. "He's great. I like him. He's so much better than Inuyasha. Inuyasha is a player and he's trash. I can't stand him. But I totally still love him".

4) Inuyasha goes to the present to basically beg for Kagome to come back and follows her around. "Kagome, babe. You know I love you. I don't even care about Kikyo. She's trash. She's in the past. [Insert everything fuckbois say]"

5) Kagome eventually goes back but "Only because Shippo and others need me and to make sure the villagers are okay" or some heartfelt crap that totally isn't true.

6) Inuyasha: "Psh. You don't have to. I didn't want you back. Psh. I don't care. Stupid girl." [Bonus: Kagome says "Sit, Boy!"]

7) Return to #1 and repeat.

For real though, it was just a line of the those 3 leading people/each other on for a good portion of it with actual plot sprinkled in and that got old so fast. It made me dislike the characters because they would do this. All. The. Time.

Kikyo: either live, be useful, and find yourself a significant other that ISN'T Inuyasha and stop fucking with him or die and stay dead. You can't do both.

Inuyasha: you deserve better than Kikyo. She doesn't/ does like you. Who has time for that back and forth bs? She dies at the end of this episode anyway, so don't waste your time. And stop treating Kagome like a side hoe.

Kagome: Inuyasha is lying to you. He's not over his ex. He still loves her. You're a distraction. He is just going to switch between you two. You're being treated like a side hoe wanting to be a main. You're better than that. Move tf on. Your crush deserves better than being pushed to the side. Either date him or say you're not into him. Can't do both.

Kagome's crush (I don't remember his name, don't feel like searching it): Kagome is fucking gone for most of the school year and is probably failing all of her classes. She's really attached to this dude who's kind of leading her on and she's doing the same to you. Move on.

I'm sorry. Like, I know I'm exaggerating a lot, but that just got so... ugh, infuriating and annoying. The series isn't terrible. For it's time, it was actually very good, but there were things about it that just sucked. I can't revisit it again. You certainly don't have to agree and I will 100% respect your opinion on that, but this has just bugged me so much lately.

[priestfibre23-blog]

Happy Cubsgiving! Here are 5 plays I’m thankful for from 2018

I’m still not entirely over the way the Cubs ended their 2018 season. It bugs me that they never really got to celebrate a 95-win season. And while there were a few moments to celebrate in the Wild Card game, as extra innings continued the feeling of “Oh no, bats. Not again...” was palpable at Wrigley Field. That not with a bang, but a whimper feeling tended to overshadow the fact that a lot of great things happened in 2018.

Since we’re in the middle of the long baseball drought of the offseason, I decided to take a look back on a few of the plays that made the Cubs season awesome. Here they are, in no particular order, five plays I’m thankful for from 2018.

5. Anthony Rizzo’s 1000th career game

I had to work on July 26 so like I do a few dozen times during the regular season I listened to this game on the radio. Things didn’t sound good for the Cubs, who trailed the Diamondbacks 6-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth. But Brad Boxberger just didn’t have it that day and after walking Ben Zobrist to start the frame he proceeded to give up three hard hit balls to the next three batters. Javier Baez hit a drive to deep center that the Diamondbacks ran down, but no one was going to be able to run down what happened next.

The legend of David Bote began on this day when he drove a game tying HR to left center, but most people will need to be reminded of that because Rizzo followed that up with a monstrous walk-off blast [VIDEO].

This is the greatest Cubs team of my lifetime and the heart of that team is Anthony Rizzo. He was here for 100-loss seasons. His charity work runs deep through the city. Even the small moments of controversy have revolved around Rizzo standing up for teammates or playing the game with a competitive spirit. He is building a legacy as one of the great all time Cubs. Great players seem to have storybook moments and Rizzo hitting a walkoff home run in his 1000th game is one of those moments.

4. Walkoff grand slams (yes, plural)

Speaking of walkoffs and David Bote, 2018 was the year of the comeback for the Cubs and twice they managed to do that with a grand slam. Both times it came from unlikely players.

Jason Heyward’s offense improved markedly in 2018 but he’s still not close to the player the Cubs thought they were getting when they signed him in 2015. When he came to the plate on June 6 the Cubs were down to their last out. They were also down 5-3 to the Phillies. I have been unapologetically #TeamHeyward since the beginning, but I confess, I did not expect what happened next [VIDEO].

It was an incredible and well-deserved moment for a player that has struggled at times. I almost wrote I couldn’t think of a player who deserved it more, but then...

Let’s get back to this Bote kid. A lot of words have been written about David Bote, how he got to the big leagues, his work ethic and his penchant for the dramatic. But as I said at the time, this home run is the most exciting moment I’ve ever witnessed at a baseball game. It was truly remarkable and I definitely want to see it again [VIDEO].

Oh, and one of the best parts of rewatching these videos? Albert Almora Jr. was on base for both grand slams. Both times he raises his hands above his head almost instantly. He clearly knows they’re gone. You know what they say about watching outfielders to find out if it’s really a home run? Well, apparently Almora can see that even when he’s standing on base in the infield.

3. Willson Contreras celebrates his bobblehead day

Not all memorable grand slams are walkoffs and Willson Contreras had a great one on his bobblehead day this year, but he wasn’t even close to done. A second home run, a double, a single and seven RBIs later, he was done [VIDEO].

As you all know I love the numbers. Entering the series against the South Siders on May 11 Willson was slashing .246/.326/.407, by the end of the game he was slashing .268/.343/.488. Adding 81 points to your SLG in a single day is something I’d expect from an everyday player in mid-April, not mid-May. That particular series was good for Willson who followed up the 4 for 5 day on the 11th with a 3 for 5 day on the 12th. By the time the White Sox left Wrigley on the 13th Willson was slashing .275/.349/.504 and well on the way to making his case to be an all star.

2. Kyle Schwarber: plus defender

Willson Contreras wasn’t the only player showing off on May 11. Kyle Schwarber made this outstanding throw to gun down Nicky Delmonico. One of many similar plays the Cubs left fielder would make in 2018 [VIDEO].

I mean, look at the smile as Schwarber runs off the field. He loves these guys running on him.

Kyle Schwarber smiles after throwing out Nicky Delmonico

MLB

It’s almost as if everyone got so worked up with the “Kyle Schwarber is a bad outfielder” narrative that they forgot he was a catcher with a great arm. It seemed like every team thought they should try to run on Kyle and every few games, Kyle proved it was a bad idea. Here he is gunning down Francisco Lindor at second 12 days later [VIDEO].

I mean, he even makes a nice slide on that play. Oh, and Schwarbs isn’t close to done. I know you want to see him throw out Harrison Bader:

Defensive metrics have their shortcomings, but Kyle Schwarber finished the season second in the National League in UZR and first in the National League in UZR 150. He was tied with Andrew Benintendi for first in MLB with 11 assists from left field. Kyle Schwarber: plus defender is for real, and if people keep testing his arm there are going to be a lot more people looking like Harrison Bader when they are thrown out:

Harrison Bader reacts to being gunned down at second by Kyle Schwarber

MLB

1. Javier Baez steals the show

Javier Baez had a career year in 2018 and finished second in MVP voting as a result. He did everything. He played outstanding defense. He hit 34 home runs. He slashed .290/.326/.554.

He also stole 21 bases, including home. Twice.

I already wrote a couple thousand words on these two plays earlier this year, so I really tried to keep this section brief. But before I let the videos of Javy stealing home take center stage I wanted to take a look at how rare it is to steal home twice in the same season.

No Cubs player has stolen home twice in a single season in more than 40 years. Seeing multiple plays like this in the same season is very rare, indeed.

Both times Javy stole home in 2018 were variations of the same trick play. Incredibly, as you’ll see in the videos below, it looks like only the Mets were tricked [VIDEO]:

Matz and Gonzalez clearly missed the play and were caught flat footed. Keith Hernandez talked about the play for another half inning he was so floored. The Tigers, on the other hand, seemed to know exactly what was coming, and Javy stole home anyway [VIDEO]:

Something tells me el Mago still has a lot more tricks up his sleeve for 2019.

What other Cubs moments were you thankful for in 2018? Share in the comments and have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.

Source: https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/11/22/18107099/happy-cubsgiving-thankful-2018-thanksgiving

[recentanimenews]

FEATURE SERIES: My Favorite One Piece Arc with Stephen Paul

  I love One Piece and I love talking to people who love One Piece. And with the series going on 23 years now, there is a whole lot to talk about. As the series is about to publish its 1000th chapter, a true feat in and of itself, we thought we should reflect upon the high-seas adventure and sit down with some notable names in the One Piece fan community and chat about the arcs they found to be especially important, or just ones they really, really liked.

  Welcome to the last installment in the series "My Favorite One Piece Arc!"

  My final guest in this series is Stephen Paul, One Piece translator for Weekly Shonen Jump. For my chat with him, he chose the Skypiea arc, in which the Straw Hats soar up to an island in the clouds, and soon find themselves dealing with both a long-lasting feud and a man with lightning powers and a god complex.

  A note on spoilers: If you haven't seen the Skypiea arc yet, this interview does contain major plot points. Watch the Skypiea arc starting RIGHT HERE if you'd like to catch up or rewatch!

    Dan Dockery: Let’s say that, for some reason, I get to the end of the Jaya arc, and the Straw Hats are about ride the Knock-Up Stream, and I decide “Eh, One Piece might as well end here. I think it’s said what it needs to say.” What do you tell me, in one sentence, to keep me going to Skypiea?

  Stephen Paul: I would say “Don’t you wanna see One Piece’s take on Indiana Jones?” That would be my hook.

  Yeah! Skypiea’s my favorite arc, and it’s got a sense of pure adventure, so I could see that. I adore it, and it’s the storyline I want to revisit the most often. When did you first get into One Piece, by the way?

  I got into One Piece in 1999.

  Oh, wow. Where in the story was that?

  I first saw it when I picked up an issue of Weekly Shonen Jump at a Japanese bookstore in San Diego. I was doing a high school report on manga for my Japanese class, and Luffy was on the cover, and it was during the Arlong arc where they’re fighting in Arlong Park. And I didn’t really know anything about it, but it was on the cover, so I figured it was the hot, new thing, and later that year, I was doing a student exchange in Japan and I bought the first few volumes. 

    That’s a pretty good place to start. Arlong Park is pretty much the “Crap or get off the pot” arc.

  Yeah, if it’s not doing anything for you by then, I think you’re out of luck. But it really hooked me around the Baratie arc when Mihawk shows up for the first time because it was beginning to structure this big story to come with this huge world. 

  So they go up to Skypiea, and there are islands made of clouds, Nami’s riding on the Waver, Usopp nearly falls though, it’s pretty fantastic. What were your thoughts on this new location? Because One Piece has a very strong internal logic for itself and you’re not like “Clouds?!? THAT wouldn’t be physically possible,” so you immediately accept it. But what was your first reaction?

  It’s really fun. At this point in the story, it’s the most prominent example of the rush of newness and intricate culture and architecture. It’s like taking someone from the World War I era and showing them all the consumer goods that are available in the 60s. And then Eiichiro Oda does this little thing where Nami rides over near the jungle and there’s a hint of foreboding. And it tells you “Yeah, we’re having fun now, but it’s not going to last.” All of it is really deftly done.

  Speaking of foreboding, Skypiea is Enel’s domain. And he’s probably my second favorite villain and when I watched One Piece for the first time back in college in 2008, I was fascinated by him. There were so many online discussions about him that said stuff like “ACTUALLY, he’d have the highest bounty of anyone ever if he had a bounty,” and “He’s actually the strongest character.” And he was cool to me, but not in the same way that Crocodile was. Crocodile was cool because he acted cool, but you’re just kind of in awe of Enel. What did you think of him?

  It’s interesting because he doesn’t get revealed for a while. He’s just a menacing presence until his reveal that he’s like this evil Roman emperor on the sofa with a banana. And he seems very aloof. 

  I think the series does such a good job with Enel, because there’s this elaborate sky island with all of this dream-like stuff, but everyone is scared of something. They’re all terrified of this kind of unknowable power. 

  Yeah, he strikes fear in people, but he’s such an aloof character in terms of his personality. He’s megalomaniacal, but he’s not really into monologuing like Caesar Clown or Spandam. He doesn’t delight in mockery. He just does what he wants with the people under his sway. I think that’s why it’s so effective when he finally gets shook by Luffy resisting his power. It’s why the Enel eyes gag works so well. Because up until then, he’s never panicked in the slightest. He’s god. He’s got that confidence in himself. 

    At this point, in the anime and manga, I feel like I kind of wait for the Enel eyes moments. It’s such an unforgettable visual. But I remember thinking before it “Well, Luffy is rubber, and I got a D in high school chemistry, but I think that would mean that he’d resist Enel’s shocks.” And then he did. Did you call it before it happened?

  I think if I was just marathoning the whole series, it’s something that might’ve snuck up on me. But because I was reading week to week, it’s something that I saw people talking about online and expecting. They took it into account, and when it finally happened, it was fun because Oda never mentioned it beforehand. He never had a character say “Wait, rubber doesn’t conduct electricity.” He waits for the experiment to happen before the results are made clear to the audience.

  So Enel has his own group of pirates, and one pirate that I’ve never heard anyone say a good word about is Satori and his Ordeal of Balls. I need your Satori hot take: Is he good? Are you annoyed by him? Because I’ve heard people mention Satori as the thing that broke their ambition to finish the story. They get to him jumping around and dancing and just drop out.

  I think my take on Satori is similar to my take on Foxy: It’s impossible to take him seriously. And it’s definitely a change-up in tone when he’s introduced. But I actually enjoy that now, because once you know not to take him too seriously, there’s a bunch of good comic moments in the battle with him. 

    One reason I like it is because Sanji gets the KO. He’s teaming with Luffy, but Luffy doesn’t finish him. But this arc is the first big one where Robin is part of the crew. And you get a few cool Robin moments, like when she just basically eviscerates Yama or her interactions with the crew. How do you feel about Robin’s evolving role?

  I feel like Oda does a balancing act with this arc, where it is the first time she’s together with a new group of people. So there’s an awkward distance there. She’s still mysterious and she’s still dangerous to everyone. There’s still traces of the Miss All Sunday there, as you see with her fight with Yama and Zoro’s skepticism of her. 

  Yeah, in Alabasta, they go a long way to make her Devil Fruit power as horrifying as possible. And Oda is still easing her into the Robin that she’ll become, but there are definitely traces of “Whoa, these creepy arms are basically horror movie weapons” rather than “Whoa, Robin is so cool,” which is where she’ll end up. So you have the big Survival Game, and it really ramps up the action. What’s your opinion on it, as I think it’s really cool.

  He paces it pretty well, so it feels really natural when you get down to the last few characters at the ruins. 

  Feels very Battle Royale. Around here is where we get the flashback, though, and it’s the first big flashback that doesn’t include any Straw Hat Pirate, or any companion to the Straw Hats. And it’s a real history lesson, and I can see it being kind of a gamble. Like, you might watch and think “Okay, move it along. Is Luffy gonna show up as a baby or something? Get back to the action.” What do you think of it as this huge bit of world-building that isn’t directly related to the Straw Hats?

    It’s something that’s indispensable to this story arc and it’s one that I appreciate more and more as time goes on. If you view this arc as just the story of the Straw Hats going up in the sky to find gold and beat a bad guy, it seems like it has nothing to do with the arc. But if you engage with the arc on its own terms, the flashback is explaining what the soul of the arc is, which is of these people and cultures meeting and then being ripped apart in the same way that the island was ripped apart when it was launched into the sky. 

  So we finally see Enel’s big ark, which he’s going to use to help destroy Skypiea. It’s probably the most direct world-ending scheme of any One Piece villain. But Luffy has a big golden ball attached to his fist, he runs up the vine, he punches Enel, and you have this moment where Luffy’s shadow is in the clouds and Cricket sees it. And more than anything, it’s Cricket’s victory, because he knew the lore, he believed in it, and now his dream is being vindicated. How do you feel about this iconic moment, which is now a piece of One Piece iconography?

  The ending of this and Alabasta are probably the two best examples of the climactic blow that Luffy strikes. His fists representing the symbolic righting of wrongs in such an elegant way. Like when he punches Crocodile up through Alubarna, it basically makes it rain. And here, the blow that defeats Enel is the blow that rings the bell that lets Cricket know that the story of the two lineages, the Montblanc family and the Shandorian people, has finally become whole again. 

  When you finished Skypiea, did you know immediately that it would be your favorite arc?

  I remember it being very satisfying when it ended, but I was also very excited for what was coming next. The Going Merry was all busted up and they needed to find a new shipmate to fix it. And since this arc didn’t provide that new crew member, I just wanted to get to that. But as I said, it was my first time reading it on a week-to-week basis, and the richness of getting a new chapter and having a week to think about it, really imprinted on me. And the stuff that I go back to I appreciate more and more.

    I mentioned the Indiana Jones aspect of a rascally, roguish guy exploring and finding the treasure. And there has to be a bad guy who also wants the treasure, and thus it makes it okay for us to want it because we have to save it. But in most cases, the treasure usually ends up in a museum or an FBI vault or whatever. But what this story arc does so well is that is that, unlike many of these stories, the Skypiea arc actually asks “Well what about the people that created this thing?” What about the inhabitants? It’s never their story, too. So it’s a very colonial style of story structure.

  But in the flashback that brings them all together, Noland is a botanist, and when he makes contact with the Shandorians, they’re suffering from a disease that they don’t know how to treat and all they can do is pray to the gods for help. So Noland helps them out and the way that the story plays out, it becomes clear that it’s not about Noland being more advanced and bringing his gifts to the less-advanced people. It’s about Noland helping them because he is a man of good character. He even gets executed by his own people because he refuses to be less than a good man.

  It’s not the enlightened versus the un-enlightened. It’s a story about character and their friendship that they form, which is brought whole again when Luffy beats Enel. It’s such a different take on that pulp serial style of adventure.

  ONE PIECE LIGHTNING ROUND!

  Favorite character?

  Gotta be Luffy, but I also really like Robin

  Favorite villain?

  Crocodile 

  If you had to live on one island, which would you pick?

  Water 7 seems pretty chill.

  If you could have any Devil Fruit power?

  It’d be pretty nice to have Mansherry’s healing powers. You wouldn’t have to rely on the medical insurance system.

  One Piece moment that made you cry the hardest?

  Probably Nami’s flashback. Oda really shivs you in the gut.

  One Piece moment that made you cheer the loudest?

  The ringing the bell, and all the way that resonates with the characters. That’s hard for me to top.

    And that concludes the My Favorite One Piece Arc series. If you've kept up with them so far, I truly appreciate it. And if you've missed some, all six of them are linked below for you to peruse. One Piece has always been very special to me, but for the most part, my time at Crunchyroll has been spent giving you my perspective on it and my perspective only. And that's neat. I'm truly thankful to have a platform that allows me to discuss the things that I find most fascinating and exciting about one of the greatest anime/manga franchises of all time. That said, I am a very, very, very small part of the One Piece community. A drop in the Grand Line, if you will. So, I decided to reach out, and talk to other creators/fans about their experiences and what they appreciate about this wonderful series. And I was delighted to see everyone bring their own unique tastes and personality to the table. They're all wonderful people, and I am so proud to not just have them as collaborators, but as friends as well. 

  One frequent question I saw over the course of this series was "Where is Water 7/Enies Lobby?" It's one of the greatest story arcs in fiction itself, and to some, it seemed like an oversight to not include it. Well, that's not by my design. When I first came up with the idea for My Favorite One Piece Arc, I immediately feared that everyone I reached out to would simultaneously dogpile upon Enies Lobby, forcing me to draw straws or auction it off to whoever bid the most thrilling idea. But...no one did. No one from this list chose Enies Lobby. This seemingly random (and ultimately inspired) array of six arcs were the interviewees' first choices. That said, if we ever do a "Season 2" of My Favorite One Piece Arc, I think you'll be pretty happy with who I have in mind for the discussion of such a monumental storyline.

  Anyway, keep watching/reading One Piece. It's at a really great spot in both the manga and the anime (Did y'all see that fight between Big Mom and Kaido? You went hard, Toei, and I appreciate it,) and I imagine it's gonna close out 2020 with a bang.

  Hot take: One Piece? It's good. 

    CHECK OUT ALL OF THE "MY FAVORITE ONE PIECE ARC" INTERVIEWS RIGHT HERE!

        Daniel Dockery is a Senior Staff Writer for Crunchyroll. Follow him on Twitter!

  Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features!

By: Daniel Dockery