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ecargmura · 2 months ago

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Senpai Is An Otokonoko Episode 12 Review + Final Thoughts - Who Makoto Wants To Be

The anime ends a little too happy from what I was expecting, but it’s still a nice one regardless! I’m glad that Makoto is able to have closure on the biggest issue of his current life: who he wants to be. I did like his answer!

Meeting his maternal grandfather, Hide-chan, was a big factor for Makoto to find an answer. Hide-chan is just like Makoto, a man who likes crossdressing and cute things. At first, he hid his fondness, but his daughter Mika (Makoto’s mom) caught him one day when she was a teenager coming back from school and seeing crossdressers on her way back. Mika was a girl who loved cute and feminine things; I love the little detail of young Mika basically being a female version of Makoto. However, her fondness for girly things comes to an end when she finds her father styling his hair just like how she did at home. He told her that he always had been envious of her and that’s how Mika stopped being girly and ended up the way she is. She even cut ties with him after her mother died. I get that Mika was born in a time period where gender roles were a lot more conservative and stricter, so it is a bit understandable why she got grossed out by her dad, but that doesn’t mean her actions were right.

Hide-chan is the coolest grandpa ever. He makes all sorts of cute dresses and even makes his meals super cute! He’s really living his best life. However, he’s a bit aloof. Fortunately, he’s not lonely as he’s friends with the makeup artist next door. It was nice seeing grandfather and grandson bonding despite them meeting each other for the first time; heck, Ryuji was even surprised he had a grandfather. I honestly need a side-story for Hide-chan! He’s super sweet despite his aloof demeanor!

While Mika has not been a good mother to Makoto, at least, the biggest fortune in her life has been meeting Makoto’s father, Takahiro. Man, Makoto’s dad is seriously a W father. He never once berates Mika for her behavior, but he always reassures her and tries to give his opinions on the matter. For him, what matters most is that Makoto is happy. I love how he showed the school trip videos he got from Ryuji and I guess my opinion on Makoto’s mom has increase just a bit when she loosens up when they went shopping together.

In the case of Saki, she and her mom go on a trip together and are having a good time. It’s nice that Saki’s emotional scars over her family issues are healing up a bit, but it doesn’t feel as if they’re fully resolved yet. There’s still the issue of Grandma Aoi’s wariness towards Saki’s mom and that Saki accidentally blurted out that she’d like to go on a trip with both of her parents… It’s too bad that none of Saki’s issues have been truly resolved. It feels a little too open-ended for me.

All in all, I think the finale was very good closure for Makoto as he found his answer on who he wants to be: himself. He’s just Makoto. Gender doesn’t matter for him. He’s him, I think that’s the perfect answer. It just sucks that I have to wait until the movie comes out for him to resolve whatever romantic feelings he has with Saki and if she’ll actually reciprocate them.

Final Thoughts

I came to watching this anime because I liked the premise and was satisfied with what I was watching. I think it did a great job tackling rather sensitive topics like gender identity and sexuality. Makoto struggles with his gender identity while Saki and Ryuji struggle with their sexualities. Not only that, it is a youthful story about teenagers tackling down these walls.

However, I do admit that some topics are handled a bit too flimsily for my liking. For example, the story treated Ryuji so horribly. He’s struggling with his feelings for Makoto and whether he sees himself as gay or not, but all he gets is Makoto asking him out on the pretense that he doesn’t want lose “what’s normal” to him. They get a sort of messy breakup and not Ryuji has to walk on eggshells on whenever Saki and Makoto bring up each other in a topic.

Regarding Saki, her bisexuality doesn’t really get talked about after the first few episodes as she realizes that her feelings are more that she longs for someone special regarding her family issues. Okay, that’s fine, but I’d like it if she’s actually call out her parents about their abandoning her for once. She’s way too accepting of everything around her that it does get a little frustrating.

Other than that, I did like everything else about the anime. The characters are nice, except for the bully who exposed Makoto’s gender because he couldn’t take no for an answer.. The music is nice. The animation does get a little wonky when it switches from regular art to goofy chibi art, but the regular animation is gorgeous in terms of coloring, so I’ll let it slide. The opening song is probably the best this season because it’s just so catchy.

The voice cast was splendid though. Shuichiro Umeda and Akira Sekine are rising stars, but they should be in more projects because they were that good. Umeda was especially good because he has the high tone to sound effeminate. Sekine’s voice is a little higher-pitched than how she voiced Sora Harewataru, but it does fit her character. Having Yuma Uchida voice his second gay boy this season was hilarious, but he did an excellent job with Ryuji. The side cast was good too!

Overall, I think this was a good anime with queer elements. It’s not the perfect story, but it’s still good for what it tells. I just wish the story treated Ryuji better… I might jus buy the manga or read it digitally if it’s available. What are your thoughts on this anime as a whole?

#senpai is an otokonoko #senpai wa otokonoko #Makoto hanaoka #saki aoi #Ryuji taiga #saki's mom #Mika hanaoka #Takahiro hanaoka #hide-chan #review #anime #anime review #ecargmura #arum journal #final thoughts

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pjsk-story-summaries · 9 months ago

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Wonderlands x Showtime Main Story Summary

TL;DR: Tenma Tsukasa, an egotistical aspiring actor, auditions for a cast member position at Phoenix Wonderland. He is picked up by Otori Emu, an optimistic dreamer, at the run-down Wonder Stage. They encounter the mysterious director Kamishiro Rui performing alone within the park, who upon invitation into the troupe also brings along his shy childhood friend Kusanagi Nene.

The four of them work to put on a show, but disaster strikes when Robonene runs out of battery halfway through the show. Tsukasa yells at Nene out of frustration, sparking Rui to leave the troupe.

Tsukasa goes to the SEKAI to reflect, where he finds Usa-chan, one of the plushies, crying. Through his attempts to cheer her up, he finally remembers the true reason he wanted to be a star: to make others smile, especially his dear younger sister.

Tsukasa apologizes to Emu and Nene, who both decide to rejoin the troupe; however, Rui is not convinced. The three of them put on a new show in the SEKAI that ultimately causes Rui a change of heart, officially re-forming Wonderlands x Showtime.

Official English Youtube upload / Song (The World Hasn't Even Started Yet) / Animation

Chapter 0: The story begins with Tsukasa narrating about the show he had seen as a little kid with Saki, sparking his dream to be a star that makes everybody smile. After a hard cut to the present day, we find Tsukasa preparing for an audition at Phoenix Wonderland. Saki comes up to talk to him, which eventually reaches her asking why he wanted to become a star in the first place. Tsukasa can't remember. Suddenly, his phone flashes with the new Untitled song, transporting him to SEKAI. Miku and KAITO introduce themselves and the place, but Tsukasa denies it all.

Chapter 1: Tsukasa arrives at his interview. He introduces himself with his standard stardom speech, shocking the interviewers but catching the ear of a certain onlooker. A short time later, Tsukasa receives his acceptance letter with arrogant pride. Both Rui and Nene overhear him talking to himself about it, but don't interact. Kigurumi (Mascot) leads Tsukasa over to the Wonder Stage, much to the latter's disappointment. Suddenly, Emu leaps down from the rooftop and reveals she's the one who invited Tsukasa.

Chapter 2: Emu had specially requested Tsukasa after he failed the initial audition. Tsukasa is less than impressed with the current state of the run-down stage and lack of an audience. He tries giving Emu his autograph before leaving, but Emu tackles him instead, saying she had made a promise to do shows at this stage specifically. Suddenly, the stage projector switched on to reveal Miku. When trying to call and resign, Emu finds Untitled and clicks it, sending the both of them to SEKAI.

Chapter 3: Tsukasa encounters Mikudayo, who soon reveals herself to be the actual Miku. She pushes him into the show tent, where KAITO and Emu are preparing for a show. The Virtual Singers explain the concept of SEKAI. Tsukasa insists he knows what his true feelings are, but the Virtual Singer's aren't so convinced. Usa-chan, a talking stuffed rabbit, also introduces herself. Tsukasa panics and passes out.

Chapter 4: After regaining consciousness, Tsukasa demands to leave the SEKAI. Emu promises to help find Tsukasa's phone only if he promises to do shows at the Wonder Stage with her, to which he reluctantly agrees. Back in the real world, Kigurumi attacks Tsukasa for "kidnapping" Emu, intimidating him to the point where he fears going back on his word to help her out. Tsukasa and Emu then set off to find more cast members. They find some small robots, who lead the pair to Rui's performance.

Chapter 5: Rui begins telling the tale of an alchemist who loves theater. However, his story is cut short by Security chasing him out. The next day, Tsukasa learned the strange performer is a new transfer to his school. Rui had been waiting for him on the rooftop, following his movements with a drone. Impressed, Tsukasa offers him a spot in his new troupe as director. Rui declines.

Chapter 6: Rui explains that he wants to do the shows he wants to do, ones that exist to make the audience happy. Tsukasa affirms that he'd perform any role given to him "to 12,000% satisfaction". Rui catches a glimpse of Nene walking down below. He decides to accept the offer, if and only if Tsukasa would take one other member. Later, Tsukasa takes Rui to the Wonder Stage and introduces him to Emu. The two instantly hit it off.

Chapter 7: Rui introduces the other two to Robonene. Tsukasa is hesitant on the concept, but after Nene's display of skill, he reluctantly agrees to accept her in (though he's more worried of losing the limelight than anything else). Afterwards, Rui and Nene chat about the new adventure in front of them.

Chapter 8: Tsukasa and Saki chat. When things take a melancholy turn, Tsukasa begins reciting script lines to cheer her up. Saki thanks him and talks about how he always used to do shows like this when they were little, especially with a small bunny plushie. The next day, Tsukasa brings the rest of the troupe the newly completed show script, along with a proposal for a troupe name. It was bad and immediately shot down. Through Emu's ramblings, Rui suggests naming their troupe after the different worlds the stage can become through showtime. Emu adds an x to represent the multiplying wonderlands, giving birth to Wonderlands x Showtime.

Chapter 9: Rui runs over the script with everyone and suggests some extreme stunt ideas, much to Tsukasa's horror. Nene tells Emu about Rui's history with this, and how most people avoided him afterwards. Despite the outlandish ideas, Tsukasa and Emu warm up to them. Later, Nene comments on how much happier Rui looks now. The next day, the troupe works together on the show. Emu suggests going to "that place" to look for inspiration and sends the four of them to SEKAI.

Chapter 10: Rui immediately begins analyzing the SEKAI and wanders off. KAITO gives Tsukasa and Emu advice while Miku greets the real Nene hiding somewhere else. Nene's too shy to have a conversation, however. Before the four leave SEKAI, Miku again questions what being a star means to Tsukasa, who's true feelings are still unknown.

Chapter 11: Wonderlands x Showtime finishes rehearsals for their show. Emu thanks Tsukasa and the others for performing shows with her here at this stage. Rui and Nene stay late to rehearse a little longer. The next day arrives, and the show begins.

Chapter 12: The play starts off as a hit! Halfway through Nene's song, however, Robonene loses power and crashes into Tsukasa. They try their best to recover, but any momentum they had gained was lost. The play was ruined.

Chapter 13: Tsukasa lashes out at Nene for the mistake. Rui tries taking the blame instead, while Emu desperately tries keeping the peace. Despite Rui's insistence, Tsukasa continues his outrage. Nene runs off. Rui tells Tsukasa that "you can't stage great shows alone", and that Tsukasa's selfishness means he will never become a star. Rui officially quits the troupe. Later, Rui goes to apologize to Nene for making her join the troupe. Tsukasa goes to the SEKAI for advice.

Chapter 14: Tsukasa runs into Usa-chan crying. Though his dance only made things worse, he managed to distract her by immitating Emu's wonderhoy. He spins it to form an improv play and invites Usa-chan to join along, to which she happily agrees. After playing for some time, Tsukasa notices the name "Saki" written under her foot. Tsukasa finally realizes the SEKAI is full of things from his memories, and a memory of him cheering up a sick Saki in a hospital room. Tsukasa finally remembers his true wish to make others happy, and how grateful he is to have met the other members of Wonderlands x Showtime. Tsukasa resolves to set things right with them.

Chapter 15: Tsukasa finds Emu by the ferris wheel, so they ride together. Emu tells Tsukasa about how her grandfather had built Phoenix Wonderland and the Wonder Stage specifically, but had sadly passed away a year prior. Emu's family would save the Wonder Stage if Emu managed to attract enough visitors by the end of spring break, but since their show only made everyone sad, she'll have to say goodbye to it. Tsukasa tells Emu that she's a part of everyone needing to be happy and asks if they can try to save the stage one more time. Back at the Wonder Stage, Nene went to retrieve Robonene and reminisces on how much she'll miss theater again.

Chapter 16: Emu and Tsukasa find Nene singing on the stage. Nene runs away, causing the two to chase her around the park. After Emu catches her by jumping from a gate, Tsukasa formally apologizes for what he said and asks if she would want to rejoin the troupe. Nene tells the two about how she had messed up the lines of her performance when she was young and became too anxious to stand on the stage anymore. Tsukasa tells her that making mistakes is how we get better, and that he's truly sorry for yelling at her for trying to learn. Nene officially rejoins the troupe.

Chapter 17: Nene reveals she and Rui are neighbors and takes the two to meet him. They find him continuing the story of the alchemist on the street: the alchemist had found acceptance through their shows, though short-lived. The townsfolk and alchemist simply thought differently, so they left, leaving the alchemist all alone once again. Tsukasa tries to apologize to Rui, but he doesn't believe he's changed yet and leaves. Emu and Nene don't want to give up on him, either.

Chapter 18: Rui walks around the streets, remembering the fear and harsh words of his past classmates over his show ideas. Suddenly, Emu, Tsukasa, and Nene ambush him and send them all to SEKAI. They begin a play made specially for him. A traveling troupe consisting of an arrogant showman, stubborn clown, and shy songstress meet a lonely alchemist and invite him to the troupe. The alchemist builds a doll for the songstress to sing behind and other inventions. However, when the doll broke during a show, the showman lashed out and broke apart the troupe. A cute fairy had reminded the showman of his true desire to make people happy through shows, driving him to make ammends with the rest of his troupe. Though the clown and songstress agreed to come back, the alchemist didn't believe him. The three decided to make a play to show him their true feelings. KAITO asks Rui what he thinks will happen next, to which he questions if they thought this would really work through just a monologue. Fortunately, the alchemist is now here to help them improve.

Chapter 19: Suddenly, Tsukasa's phone flashes as Untitled changes into a song: The World Hasn't Even Started Yet. Tsukasa asks if the others would sing it with him, since the song is just as much theirs as it is his own. Afterwards, he thanks Miku and KAITO for their help before returning to the real world. Emu finally tells the others about the fate of the Wonder Stage, but they realize there's still hope to save it. They put their show back together and begin saving the stage once again with an enthusiastic wonderhoy!

Chapter 20: All of their remaining shows went spectacularly, even though they had to do so many in a row. Their efforts had paid off, however; the Wonder Stage was officially saved! Wonderlands x Showtime decides to keep putting on shows there, too. The story ends with Emu and Tsukasa's laughter echoing in the distance, all the way into SEKAI.

Card Stories: Tsukasa / Emu / Nene / Rui

Virtual Singer Chapter 1 (Pre-Chapter 0): Miku, KAITO, and the plushies prepare a show to help Tsukasa remember his true feelings. Miku runs off to put on the Mikudayo costume to match with the plushies. There's one of KAITO, too, but he refuses to put it on. Tsukasa finally arrives in the SEKAI, but Miku is now stuck in the Mikudayo costume.

Virtual Singer Chapter 2 (After Chapter 4): Miku is disappointed she couldn't put on a show with Tsukasa and Emu, so to cheer her up, KAITO puts on a magic show for her. KAITO teaches Miku some magic tricks after. Miku is a bit sad that the show has to end, but KAITO reminds her that without an ending, there can be no beginning.

Virtual Singer Chapter 3 (Concurrent with Chapter 14): Usa-chan is upset Tsukasa didn't remember her. Miku and KAITO decide to put on a show to cheer her up, but it doesn't work to well. Tsukasa arrives in the SEKAI halfway through, but before the Virtual Singers can greet him, they find a crying Usa-chan already talking to him. Miku goes to help, but KAITO stops her, opting to watch things play out instead.

Virtual Singer Chapter 4 (After Chapter 20): Wonderlands x Showtime goes to SEKAI to thank the Virtual Singers for their help, and to ask if they could watch one of their shows for inspiration. They decide to put one on in the flying train. Emu and Miku fall out the window, so Tsukasa, KAITO, Rui, and Nenerobo save them.

#project sekai #wonderlands x showtime #main story #tenma tsukasa #otori emu #kusanagi nene #kamishiro rui #wxs miku #wxs kaito #wxs kigurumi #<- aka mascot #wxs usa-chan #saki shows up in the opening and chapter 8!#SORRY CHAPTER 18 IS SO LONG i really like that story....

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