#sayonara 2020

[mokacheer]

[rubbersoul333]

[ihearthes]

.

[jess-total-mess]

I went digging through youtube, old posts, and shitty websites, along with my memories, and here you go! Hopefully these are accurate.

2013 — Unoffical Tumblr event “Mishapocalypse” happened, an online flash mob event wherein which Tumblrinas change their profile pictures to a specific picture of Misha Collins of Supernatural fame.

2014 — Users were given the option to get Tumblr Pro for free, and those who accepted were given top hats on their icons. Prompty after this, @staff announced that “Everyone with a top hat is now marked for account deletion. This is the only way we could destroy this horrible website. Happy April Fools day.”

2015 — The “Executive Suite 2016 Productivity Edition” essentially changed Tumblr into office software, allowing spreadsheets for memes, calculators that gave incorrect answers, and Coppy. Who gave “helpful tips”.

2016 — Tumblr voted to select the “new lizard king”, from Rick, Debrah, Mop and Wretched Tooth. However, more famously, an edited @staff post reads “for april fools we’re deleting this entire site sayonara you weeaboo shits”.

2017 — The Tumblr Horse Game was a feature that, when clicked, took users to a game wherein you had to collect shit from a pixelated horse. If you failed to do so, the horse died.

2018 — The answer to Bitcoin, is Tumblcoin! A parody of crytocurency.

2019 — Tumblr Memories, in which Tumbeasts were set loose. Remember them? The mascot from 2011, for service interruption announcements.

2020 — There was seemingly no prank this year. This was COVID-19.

2021 — Tumblr released “non-fungible tumblcryptids”, a parody of NFTs. There was a supposedly limited amount of them.

2022 — A light switch, when activated, would open up a variety of colourful things on the desktop dashboard, including a “Summon Crab!” button, which would summon a crab when activated. Other buttons made different sounds.

2023 — A feature similar to the Discord reaction function was temporarily added, using basic emojis.

2024 — Every user was given the option to opt-in to the boop o meter, and could boop, super boop, and evil boop other users who also opted in, earning up to three badges by doing so.

[geomains]

genshin impact (2020) ✴ sayonara eri (2022) ✴ chainsaw man (2022)

[ryuichirou]

what fandoms were you in long before twisted wonderland? I mean like over 10 years ago.

Anon, thank you for this question because it made us sit down and actually look through the albums of my old art and write a list LOL We thought it’d take like 30 minutes tops + 10 minutes to write all of this down, but it took 2+ hours yikes… So sorry, no other replies today :(

And made us realise just how much we revisit certain fandoms 🤦‍♂️ I guess we’re loyal!

Some of them were just very brief phases when we watched/rewatched something, I drew like 5 sketches for this thing and we moved on after about a week. But it was still prominent enough for us to feel like “Oh right, Ryu was drawing (this) back then”. Damn, 2013-2016 were insane, we were jumping around so much… When did these people have time to watch and draw so much shit??

Since this blog is very old, you can find some of my very old shitty fanart for a lot of those here. In all honesty, I really want to draw fanart on some of the more obscure and old ones again… if you have questions about any of this, feel free to ask!

2007: W.I.T.C.H., Oban Star Racers, Naruto lol my very young years

2008: Petshop of Horrors, Yami no Matsuei, Gravitation

2009: Hetalia, Vocaloid

2010: Vocaloid, Terra e��, Shoujo Kakumei Utena, Hetalia

2011: Terra e, Kaze to Ki no Uta, Sound Horizon, Hetalia, Magi (mostly Judal), Kuroshitsuji (a little bit)

2012: Homestuck, Prince of Tennis, Sengoku Basara, Sound Horizon, DC (Batman + Robin, mostly Tim Drake), Thor, Danny Phantom, Amnesia: The Dark Descent, ATLA, Adventure time, D. Gray-Man

2013: Ed Edd n Eddy, Sound Horizon, Penumbra Overture, Lucius, Thor, Hetalia, Dan Vs, Hannibal, Shingeki no Kyojin, Death Note, Bakuman, Neon Genesis Evangelion, South Park, Durarara, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Litchi Hikari Club, Hellsing Ultimate, Yami no Matsuei, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, Game of Thrones, Hannibal, the Simpsons

2014: Kuroko no Basket, Hadaka Shitsuji, Hoozuki no Reitetsu, Gravitation, Shingeki no Kyojin, Tytania, Panty&Stocking, Soul Eater, Bleach, Kill la Kill, Hellsing Ultimate, Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood,  Ace Attorney (trilogy + Apollo Justice), Priapus (by Mentaiko/Itto lol I drew him a lot), Togainu no Chi, Outlast, Daria, Scooby Doo, Haikyuu, DMMD, Katekyō Hitman Reborn, Tokyo Ghoul, Free, Kuroshitsuji, Psycho-Pass, Yowamushi Pedal (HUGE!!!!!), D. Gray-man, One-Punch Man

2015: Metalocalypse, ATLOK, Gravity Falls, Guns n’ Roses (yeah the band), Hannibal, Steven Universe, View Askewniverse, the Addams family, Ace Attorney Dual Destinies, DMMD, Life is Strange, Over the Garden Wall, Rick & Morty, South Park, Miraculous Ladybug, Undertale, Watchmen

2016: Supernatural, Peanuts, Osomatsu-san, Outlast, Until Dawn, BioShock Infinite, Code Geass, LoTR, Game of Thrones, Hetalia, House MD, Zootopia, Shingeki no Kyojin, D. Gray-man, Hellsing Ultimate, LA Noir, Percy Jackson books, South Park

2017: American Horror Story, Danganronpa, Neon Genesis Evangelion, ATLA, Homestuck, Yuri on Ice (super briefly), Outlast 2, D. Gray-man, DMMD, Hetalia, Gravitation, Monster, Dream Daddy, Junji Ito, Boku no Hero Academia, Osomatsu-san, South Park, Hannibal

2018: Voltron, Danganronpa, Devilman (Crybaby and classic), Homestuck, Berserk, Gravitation, Bungo Stray Dogs (briefly), Gintama, Hellsing Ultimate, Hetalia, BTS, Priapus (he came back), LoTR, Togainu no Chi, Sweet Pool, Detroit Become Human

2019: Tanya Grotter books, Hannibal, Homestuck, D.Gray-man, Hunter x Hunter, Danganronpa, Durarara, ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept., Soul Eater, ATLA, Witcher 3, Shingeki no Kyojin

2020: Shingeki no Kyojin, briefly Uncharted 4 and BioShock Infinite

2021: Shingeki no Kyojin, ATLA, Sk8, Jujutsu Kaisen, Squid Game

2022: The Great Ace Attorney, Sadistic Beauty, Hades, Mirai Nikki (suddenly), Akira, Encanto, the Gray House (the House In Which, it’s a book),  Cowboy Beebop, Fight Club, It (2017), Stranger Things, LoTR, Uncharted, Hetalia, Frozen (more like Hans/Anna lol), Kuroshitsuji, Twisted Wonderland

2023-2024: Mostly Twisted Wonderland, but we also posted some Scott Pilgrim stuff at the very beginning of this year.

I guess this is it. Woah…

[yuzukahibiscus]

"A Top Star as sparkling as the seven colours of the rainbow" — Yuzuka Rei's Sayonara Show and press conference after the Closing Performance at the Grand Theatre

(Source from Fujingahou)

The tragic of the crown prince, the pianist bestowed with talent and beauty, the hero who became the first Roman emperor...She who played these various roles gorgeously is the (former) Flower Troupe Top Star Yuzuka Rei.

"Arc en ciel~The Rainbow Over Paris" is her graduation performance, which had her closing performance in the Takarazuka Grand Theatre on March 24. After the musical, she performed in "Yuzuka Rei's Sayonara Show" and in the press conference, and here is a report of the enthusiasm on present scene.

A sophisticated beauty, an elegant expression. Stage performances with Flower Troupe Top Star Yuzuka Rei will always be artistic in any moment, a charm that melts the audiences' hearts.

Yuzuka entered the revue in spring 15 years ago, and she was a stylish otokoyaku who received much attention early on with her gorgeous beauty and excellent dance. She received hit roles like Domyouji Tsukasa in "Boys Over Flowers" and became the Top Star in 2020. Her Top Star debut performance "Haikara-san ga Tooru" was affected by the pandemic and was faced with the trials of opening the performances after a 4-month delay.

Later on in the next 4 years, Yuzuka was calm and reliable to lead Flower Troupe no matter the time. This time, the Top Star will play the role Marcel – a talented dancer who sang the song "Sunk but not wavering" dignifiedly during the Nazi German invasion of Paris – written by the director Koike Shuuichirou. On the closing performance, she wraps her arms around her friends' shoulders and her eyes were filled with strength, believing in a bright future ahead with confidence.

After the musical, with the support of a full-housed audience, the "Yuzuka Rei Sayonara Show" began. Rising from the stage, Yuzuka appeared as the second lieutenant Ijjuin Shinobu, whom she had starred in her representative performance of "Haikara-san ga Tooru" in 2017 and 2020. The theatre was filled with people cheering in joy and a great round of applause! Ijjuin Shinobu returns to the Takarazuka Grand Theatre in the season of cherry blossoms. With the bright and clear sounds, Yuzuka sang "Taisho Romance Love Song" and "My Haikara-san", to which she later mentioned in the press conference, "It made me recall how I felt for the audience during the Top Star debut performance in the Grand Theatre. That is very important to me, and I wanted to meet everyone as the second lieutenant again". Of course, Yuzuka still wore her military uniform, reenacting the scene by holding the bouquet of flowers and reciting her lines. Yuzuka walked slowly on the silver bridge as the second lieutenant, which moved many fans.

Next is followed by Hoshikaze Madoka, the Flower Troupe Top Musumeyaku who is also graduating. She sang theme song of "The Fascination" gorgeously, the first performance of her as a Flower Troupe Top Musumeyaku after transferring from a Cosmos Troupe Top Musumeyaku. Later on, Hoshikaze also sang "In My Dreams" from "Anastasia", a symbolic work of hers in Cosmos Troupe, with her beautiful voice echoing in the theatre.

As if wound by the thread of fate, Yuzuka and Hoshikaze became the Top Combi towards the end of their Takarazuka life. They sang a duet "Fireworks are glittering, sparkling" in their Top Combi debut performance "Genroku Baroque Rock". Their clear voices bring an emotional resonation to the song. Then, a chandelier is slowly drawn down and they danced to the classical and gorgeous song of "CHEEK TO CHEEK" in "TOP HAT". With dry ice smoke on the ground, the pair showcased the high-speed lift turns and the audience applauded enthusiastically for them.

As a show star, Yuzuka always captivated the audience with her vibrant dance genres. She played the beast with razor gaze and wild charms in "Cool Beast!!". While roaring and singing, the Flower Troupe stars cross the silver bridge, standing next to Yuzuka who wore a red costume which showed her beauty. You could feel how passionate the theatre became with the sound of enormous clapping. In a next scene, they performed "Black Eyes" from the black tails scene of "Haikara-san ga Tooru". Yuzuka went up to the grand staircase alone in silence and posed, an aesthetic from the silhouette of her body. That is how she captures the audience's attention easily.

Together with the next (current) Flower Troupe Top Star Towaki Sea, they performed a casual interaction showing the men's frienship from a number of "A Battlefield for the Two of Us" and they later shared a firm handshake. Before the Sayonara Show, the kumichou Mikaze Maira read a letter from Yuzuka, "(Towaki transferred from Snow Troupe) Even before she came to Flower Troupe, I had wanted to work with her". And in the press conference, she spoke warmly, "I'm excited to what kind of troupe she will create, and I will be looking forward and watching from afar."

For the climax and finale of the Sayonara Show is a number from "Fashionable Empire" where the Flower Troupe members embraced and interacted with Yuzuka. In the end, all Flower Troupe members sang "Let us live in this moment!!" powerfully, and completing the performance brightly. As each of the graduates descended from grand staircase and gave their speech in the graduation ceremony, they were Misato Reina, Aira Miko, Hozumi Mahiro, Maizuki Nagisa. Hoshikaze Madoka later appeared and expressed her gratitude for her 10 years of her Takarazuka life. She also mentioned her encounter with Yuzuka was like receiving light from her. As she spoke with such a clear expression, you could feel how strong their trust is towards each other.

Then finally, as the Flower Troupe members called "Rei-san!" and she responded with "here~", Yuzuka appeared. Different from other graduating members, she appeared in the black suits that is a signature costume for otokoyaku and came down the grand staircase slowly. She received the graduation bouquet of flowers from "Minami Maito of Senka". When her name was announced, the Grand Theatre reacted greatly. Till last year, it had already been almost 14 years that the otokoyaku star Minami had spent the time with Yuzuka in Flower Troupe honing and polishing their skills, so when she appeared, it was a surprise to the audience. Yuzuka hugged Minami and Minami also showed an emotional expression, and you could feel the depths of time the two had spent together.

Yuzuka then delivered her speech.

"I just kept on running. It was a journey that I devoted all of my youth to. Entering the revue for 15 years, I have only continued running with all my might. Facing uphills and downhills, even after there was finally a clear road for me, I have been in deep frustrations. When I faced muddy paths, my footsteps become heavy, and there were days when I couldn't move forward.  But in the midst of running these paths, many wonderful sceneries are waiting for me.  Either it's how we all became united as one, or that I accomplished something, at each turning point, there were sceneries that were imprinted in my heart. In the road ahead, there will definitely be sceneries that I've worked hard for, waiting for me. And that scenery is something I can see on this stage now. To me, this scenery is my favourite one. Be it the dazzling eyes of the audience, the shining scenery as far as my eyes could see... Whatever I perform on stage, the audience would always look and respond with me with their shimmering eyes, and I'd be so happy with these interactions.  These footsteps, (that once were heavy) will become lighter. If I could see such happy scenery in the place I've arrived in, I have no regrets in remain. I will never forget this wonderful scenery in my lifetime."

She then addressed her appreciation to the teachers, the staff members, the Senka members, her classmates, the Flower Troupe members, her parents and her brothers and continued to say,

"I am saying farewell to this Takarazuka Grand Theatre full of memories I am saying goodbye to this wonderful scenery in Takarazuka Grand Theatre.  For all who have loved the Flower Troupe otokoyaku Yuzuka Rei through the Takarazuka Grand Theatre, I would like to express my appreciation for these 15 years. Sincerely, truly, thank you all."

(Here is Hoshikaze Madoka's speech)

"10 years ago, I've started my life as a stage performer in this place. With classmates who spent through happiness and sorrow with me, Cosmos Troupe members who taught me everything from square one when I was still an underclassmen, to the teachers and staff members. To the Flower Troupe members who embraced me warmly and filled my world with the colours of joy. There have been many wonderful encounters in Takarazuka, to which these people have taught me and guided me. And to Yuzuka-san. Meeting with Yuzuka-san alone is such an important tredasure in my life. No matter what circumstances I am facing she will never let go of my hand and never stop walking with me and always continues to shine bright and I am filled with gratitude in my heart. To my dearest family, and to the fans who continued to shower me with warm love. It's thanks to everyone that I am able to move forward and keep on walking with a smile. To all who have gave me such great sentiments of happiness, I would like to express my sincerest love and gratitude. Thank you all so much.

Afterwards, the Flower Troupe members were seen crying and smiling, but Yuzuka was seen to be smiling brightly from start to finish, her whole body contained in happiness. There were 6 curtain calls, and she mentioned the story of how in New Year's Eve in 2023, she went walking with Hoshikaze and saw rainbows on that day, "In 'Haikara-san ga Tooru' and also in 'Arc en ciel', both musicals have rainbows in the lyrics of their songs, so rainbows have a special meaning for me". Even the mention of this fantastic "rainbow-talk" is very Yuzuka-like.

The ceremony after the press conference was also held in a calm manner. "Today I woke up with such blissful feelings. Now that everything is done I am relieved, but at the same time I have the desire to want to hug the Flower Troupe members, the audience and all these days that I've lived in the past tightly" and spoke with such satisfaction. About the Takarazuka Grand Theatre, she looked back on the path she has gone and said, "It's a place full of my important memories. A place where I had to face myself, facing and exploring challenges and struggles. It is no doubt an important place where 'Yuzuka Rei' was created."

She chose to give her final speech in black tails because "this is the formal costume for otokoyaku, and I love the black tails without any particular ornament more than any kind of costume. I thought how much I wanted to wear the formal otokoyaku costume in the Grand Theatre for my last time, so I've chosen this costume". And when she talked about how she felt from coming down the Grand Staricase, "I am only overwhelmed with gratitude that expands in my heart. It's special because it is irreplaceable to anything." A day that is filled more with joy than with regret.

"Rather than crying, this moment is imprinted in my heart. Everything is truly so lovey."

Yuzuka stays bright even towards the end, as she left the conference with a clear expression as beautiful as the seven colours of the rainbow. In addition to her smart brilliance and elegance of her Flower Troupe otokoyaku, she has a sense of humour and honesty that is loved by others, thereby being a star that has good sense and sensitivity to things. No matter if she plays a fairy or a young soldier, a mysterious adolescent, a pianist in the Romanticist era, her many roles have made an impact on stage. After the Tokyo Closing Performance in the Tokyo Takarazuka Theatre on May 26, "otokoyaku Yuzuka Rei" will reach her last act. We hope to remember her last moments firmly.

[ineffable-opinions]

Omegaverse BL in Japan (Part 2)

[Summary of these posts: 1 2 . Corrections and critique are welcome.]

Omegaverse is a popular enough genre in Japanese BL to warrant dedicated labels from even major publishers. For example: Libre publication’s label Be x Boy Omegaverse. This is in addition to specialized anthologies.

Popular Works

Romantic Joutou by Moriyo

Kashikomarimashita, Destiny by Sachimo

Highschool setting

Abarenbo Honey by Tobidase Kevin – cute and sexy, delinquents romance

Sayonara Koibito, Mata Kite Tomodachi by Yoha – class president x transfer student; serious and dark

Office setting

Kurui Naku no wa Boku no Ban by Kusabi Keri – younger subordinate x older boss; pretty and moody

Soredemo Suki Desu Kasahara-san by Omaru – coworkers romance; erotic and heartwarming

Beastman

Pendulum: Kemonohito Omegaverse by Hasumi Hana – beastman x human with special ability; sweet with a tinge of melancholy 

Omegaverse with children

Oyasuminasai no Ato wa by Kabano Sakadachi – nursery school principal x single father; sweet with a tinge of melancholy 

Tadaima Okaeri by Ichikawa Ichi – salaryman x househusband; heartwarming and soothing

Other than "α x Ω"

Sukijanaitte Hyakkai Tonaeta by Kabano Sakadachi – main CP: α x α. Side CPs: α x Ω & Ω x Ω

Boku no High Spec Kareshi-sama by Yotsuashi - Ω x α

(source)

Growth of omegaverse in commercial BL

As with most things in Japanese BL, omegaverse first boomed in doujin works around 2014-15 period and then spread to commercial works. 2015-16 was a pivotal year for child-rearing and omegaverse BL with the publication of Welcome Home (ただいま、おかえり Tadaima, Okaeri byIchikawa Ichi.

It has been serialized in Fusion Product's Omegaverse Project anthology magazine since November 2015 and has been collected in four tankōbon volumes [first volume was published in 2016]. The series is published in English by Manga Club. An anime television series adaptation produced by Studio Deen is set to premiere in April 2024. (source: wikipedia)

In 2022, by May, 80 works had been published. Previous year, there was a dip in number of new omegaverse works published after rapid increase since 2019. In 2020, 8 times more works were published with omegaverse setting compared to when it debuted.

How does this compare to the total number of BL publications?

The proportion of omegaverse continues to be small compared to the total. In 2020, there were 160 omegaverse works out of nearly 3500 BL works. One out of every 20 BL works belongs to omegaverse. This is fairly significant for a single setting / sub-genre.

Year-wise trends and corresponding popular pairings

[Total number of works only indicate how many iterations of that pairing showed up in the market, it doesn’t indicate how well they did commercially or popularity-wise. Popularity is discussed below.]

2015 – Diversification Era

α×Ω 9

β×Ω 3

α×α 1

Other×Ω 1

2015 was the year when omegaverse works began to appear in the commercial BL market, emerging out of doujin BL boom. While α×Ω pairing was obviously the first kind of pairing to become popular, β×Ω pairing wasn’t too far behind.

Omegaverse is not limited to α×Ω pairing alone. The wide range of possibilities omegaverse offered was explored early on. It can be said that the [pairing] diversity is one of the reasons for its explosive popularity.

There seems to be high affinity between BL and omegaverse, as both share unique worldviews and settings while being highly versatile, ranging from fantasy to modern day works.

It was the period when omegaverse was being tested as a setting based off on how far narratives can go without breaking the premise that Ω is the uke and α is the seme.

Overall tendency was to highlight the discrimination against Ω and the preferential treatment towards α in an easy-to-understand manner. Omegaverse as a setting was in its infancy. It was probably thought that exaggeration [of key characteristics] would popularize omegaverse.

Notable works:

Romantic Joutou

sayonara koibito matakite tomodachi

2016 – Early Odo Reversal Era

α×Ω 13

α×β 2

Ω×α 1

β×Ω 2

β×α 2

α×α 1

Ω×Ω 1

Most highly rated work of that year kashikomarimashita destiny - Devotion to death is an α×β work. Seemingly, breaking the rules can be considered a standard practice in the omegaverse BL.

As omegaverse become more popular, many a masterpiece such as Kuruinakunowa Boku No Ban and Tadaima Okaeri were created.

Compared to previous year, 2016 was witness to many epoch-making works such as Pendulum - Beastman Omegaverse, which married beastman setting with omegaverse setting.

Another notable work is Boku No High Spec Kareshisama that had a path-breaking Ω seme. It also had a β×α side pairing.

The works published in 2016 pretty much covered every possible combination in the Omegaverse.

2017 - Serious Works Era

α×Ω 17

α×α 1

Ω×Ω 1

α×β 1

β×Ω 3

Ω×α 1

In 2017, the omegaverse became even more popular than in 2016.

Continuing from the previous year, omegaverse kept exploring various possibilities. It was in 2017 that omegaverse established itself as a new genre that goes beyond the framework of special settings.

The first volume of Akabeko's Shonen no Kyoukai series, published that year, brought omegaverse close to the real world. It was around that time the setting of [secondary] gender tests being conducted at schools, which later became commonplace, first appeared. Consequently, compared to the previous years, more realistic and serious works were produced.

It’s no longer about “poor Ω and alpha who has it all”! The number of characters that went beyond typical omegaverse attributes increased, and genders combinations also diversified.

There was no set standard marking this period. The foundation laid in the years before finally paid off and the sub-genre flourished and spread.

2018 Omegaverse Boom Period

α×Ω 20

α×α 1

β×Ω 1

Other×α 1

α×Other 1

In 2018, the number of Omegaverse works has increased explosively! Total number of omegaverse BL works produced that year was more double that of previous year. A variety of settings and fetishes emerged due to an overwhelming increase in the number of artists.

While α×Ω continues to enjoy steady popularity Megumi To Tsugumi at the top, other types of pairing were also increasingly well received due to the appeal of particular works.

The aforementioned Megumi to Tsugumi and Omae No Koi Wa Ore No Mono had Ω who did not conform to the ‘cute and protected’ image instead were bigger and badder than your average α.

Omae No Koi Wa Ore No Mono

The number of works that had gap between gender attributes and individual characteristics increased. Settings also diversified. The buds of the previous year have bloomed, including beastmen, threesomes, and inc3st!

Around this time, works published the previous year or earlier got sequels and CD dramas. It also became a trend to have spin-offs of α x Ω works to have other pairings...

2019 Back-to-roots Era

α × Ω 23

Ω×Ω 1

β×Ω 2

α×α 3

α×β 1

The total number of omegaverse works in 2019 surpassed previous year count by nearly 80 books. In addition to the continuation of popular works from the previous year, it was no longer unusual to see α×α pairing or β-seme.

Marriage themed work Yukyu Omega was published.

The first volume of the child-rearing omegaverse series Kiraide Isasete was published in 2019.

It was the year that the omegaverse wave entered a new stage, just like the lives of the characters in them. That year also saw the publication of Ousama Alpha To Puppy Love that explored the themes of child-rearing and childbirth, which were relatively untouched in other BL settings prior to the omegaverse boom.

2020 Odo Omegaverse Era

α × Ω 23

β×Ω 1

The total amount of work increased yet again in 2020. The popularity enjoyed by α×Ω pairing was stronger than ever. Many of the popular series featured α×Ω pairing too. Of course, there are some works featuring other pairings, but the omegaverse odo (royal road progression) is still strong.

Even with α×Ω pairing, the attributes that were once like a chasm between characters started to come together「圧倒的攻め×圧倒的受け」「精神的にはほぼ攻め×攻め」.

The fact that some of the most popular works from the past have continued churning out newer volumes suggests that the omegaverse genre in BL will continue to grow!

There have also been some bold stories with enigmatic developments, such as Rebirth, reasserting the endless possibilities of the omegaverse.

2021 – Meta-omegaverse Era

α × Ω 17

β×Ω 1

Ω×α 1

In the year 2021 too α×Ω pair reigns in popularity. Works with a strong storyline continued to be well-received, continuing from the previous year. Works with a strong meta element, such as Kamisamananka Shinjinai Bokua No Eden was published that year.

Boku No Tsugai Ha Thoroughbred Omega explored whether or not to disclose gender – bringing in the choice not to tell. This thought-provoking addition to omegaverse is probably a reflection of reality.

2020 also saw more works that places emphasize on different scenarios and have less explicit content than in the past. In recent years, various other verses have sprouted from omegaverse such as Dom/Sub verse.

2022

α × Ω 18

α × β 2

α×Others 1

The omegaverse has established itself as a major [sub]genre. It is expected that α × Ω pairing will continue to dominate!

Fusion with new genres is steadily progressing! The Mibu No Tsugai series is a time travel BL that combined omegaverse with historical setting (late Edo period). It is clear that the omegaverse setting has become so well-established that addition of elements and setting do not affect accessibility of the subgenre.

Other notable works:

Omega Ni Dake Ha Naritakunai – isekai into an omegaverse manga

Kuzu, Omega ni Tensei by Saitou Kuzu – isekai into omegaverse

Omegaverse is easily malleable and combines well with other sub-genres and settings.

(source)

PART 1

PART 2 (you are here)

[vexx-ation]

Hi! Just a few recommendations for the 365 albums project, hope you check them out :3

Ugly Boy - Kawai Sprite

Chuckie Finster - Kawai Sprite

Dos - Kawai Sprite

MOTOMAMI - Rosalía

2030 - LOUTA

ENCHASTRE - LOUTA

CARAVANA - WOS

Metronomy Forever - Metronomy

Avalancha de Éxitos - Café Tacvba

Actual life (April 14th - December 17 2020) - Fred again..

Porfiado - El Cuarteto de Nos

Algo Tiene Que Cambiar - Alan Stutton y las criaturitas de la ansiedad

Wolf - Tyler The Creator

Los Sueños de Nube - Rojuu

Come In - Weatherday

DATA - Tainy

SAYONARA - Álvaro Díaz

Funeral - Arcade Fire

omg you are my hero QuQ. Added all these to the queue!! Expect reviews for these to start coming out around early 2025-- I switched my project from 365 to 1000 albums because I just loved the project so much :)

Just an FYI, but I'm only including 1 album per artist in the 1000 album count-- but I will be doing bonus reviews for all the repeat artists, so I'll get to all of these eventually! Thanks again!!

[canmom]

L'aventure de Canmom à Annecy - Vendredi 2: The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes

It's almost a week since the day now but here's more Annecy writeups! I will be republishing this whole series in a very fancy filterable way on canmom.art soon, so look out for that!

Friday's second act was the new anime film The Tunnel to Summer, The Exit of Goodbyes (夏へのトンネル、さよならの出口 Natsu he Tonneru, Sayonara no Deguchi), a title which conveniently only uses kanji from the first ~10 levels of Wanikani so it's nice and easy to read. That said, this showing had both English and French subtitles, so I didn't need to lean on my Japanese knowledge this time. Here's a trailer...

This film seems to have been out in Japan for long enough that it's already available on nyaa (GJM are working on a sub), but this was actually my first time hearing about it. It was originally a light novel by Mei Hachimoku, then a manga, and now an anime film by Tomohisa Taguchi.

Taguchi has a pretty good track record as a director, although mostly stuff I've not seen. In fact the only of his works I've seen before is the original series Akudama Drive (2020), which is a very stylish scifi heist anime. He also directed the recent Bleach film, and the 2017 Kino's Journey TV anime, as well as a number of adaptations of the Persona games.

As seems to be customary for screenings at the Bonlieu Grand Salle, he and one of the producers (I regret that I didn't make a note of which of the three) came on stage before the film to comment a little. [That guy on the left - I'm not sure his name but he seems to be one of the main people running Annecy, since he introduced most of the films and carried out interviews at most of the Grand Salle screenings I went to.]

Taguchi remarked that most of his previous work has been action, so this more grounded romance film was a big change of pace. He spoke about wanting to capture the loneliness of the two main characters. The animation was carried out at Studio CLAP, a young studio whose previous work is Pompo the Cinephile, which we watched on Animation Night 123.

This film actually ended up winning the 'Paul Grimault Award', one of the three awards bestowed to feature films, which is named after a French animator who I presently mostly know from the bus stop by Cinema Pathé; at some point I gotta dig in more lmao.

So, with all that introduction... what sort of film was it? I went in expecting a solidly made summer movie in the Makoto Shinkai idiom... and that is indeed precisely what I got.

The story concerns two highschoolers, Kaoru (our main viewpoint character) and Anzu. Kaoru is a boy whose sister died when he was young, leading to his parents breaking up and his father falling into alcoholism. Since she was attempting to retrieve a beetle for him, he blames himself for the death - a sentiment shared by his father. Anzu meanwhile is a new transfer student who arrives at the school and immediately makes waves by acting standoffish towards the other students. She has aspirations to become a mangaka, following in the footsteps of her grandfather, but this has estranged her from the rest of her family who disapproved of his lack of success. So she severely doubts her own talent.

The pair meet on a rainy day waiting for a train that is delayed by hitting a deer, at which Kaoru lends Anzu his umbrella. This train stop becomes a recurring motif throughout the film, symbolising the evolution of their relationship. The other major element is a local legend of the 'Urashima Tunnel', which can grant wishes, at the price that time is drastically slowed down inside the tunnel, so that seconds inside the tunnel pass as hours outside. Kaoru discovers the tunnel is in fact real, and might give him a way to save his sister; Anzu follows him and the pair start researching the properties of the tunnel (e.g. its effect on phone communications), and draw up a plan to enter it and get what they want, even if it sends them thousands of years into the future.

Naturally they grow closer together and start to form a romantic relationship. Kaoru learns about Anzu's manga, and comes to the conclusion that she doesn't lack talent at all - and he also knows (somehow) that the tunnel is not capable of bestowing talent, only restoring things that were lost. So in the end (spoilers!) Kaoru enters the tunnel in secret without Anzu knowing. Eight years pass on the outside during which Anzu becomes a successful mangaka, still eaten by her highschool relationship; inside over a matter of minutes Kaoru finds his sister, and spends a little time with her, before realising that actually what he really needs is to be with Anzu, so he texts her and starts running back. They reunite near the entrance of the tunnel, smooch, and live happily ever after (even though Kaoru is still a high schooler and there's an eight year age gap lmao, this just straight up isn't even mentioned as a potential issue).

Generally I enjoyed the buildup a lot more than the final act. That this kind of movie centres on a heterosexual relationship is inevitable, but Anzu and Kaoru's hesitant relationship is genuine and sweet - the scene where Kaoru is reading Anzu's manga as she anxiously waits for his opinion is especially well observed. The pair's efforts, led by Anzu, to analyse the properties of the tunnel through experimentation is fun, since that's precisely what I would do if confronted with a magical tunnel of time dilation. That said, the central fantastical conceit, the time dilation tunnel, doesn't feel like an especially interesting metaphor.

Compared to the films of Makoto Shinkai, which visually and narratively it hews very close to (complete with the coloured highlights), the notable divergence is that the couple don't end up separated and do get their happy ending. Kaoru's decision to break their compact and leave Anzu alone outside the tunnel for eight years ultimately... just doesn't matter too much. He realises he needs to move on, says goodbye to his sister, and reunites with Anzu. I think it might be more interesting if Anzu actually ended up moving on and starting a different relationship and Kaoru had to face up to the fact that he has thrown away his one connection, but then I'm a miserable bitch who loves suffering lmao. Alternatively, I think it would be really cool if they actually did send themselves thousands of years into the future, although it would put this film into a very different genre.

In any case, the ending to this film ultimately left me a little cold. Yay, breeding pair got together.

Even so, it was absolutely an entertaining film; the environments are suitably beautiful, the animation is solid. Whether you'd enjoy it will probably depend how much you enjoy the "summer movie magical romance" subgenre. If you like Makoto Shinkai's movies, you'll probably like this one. If you hate Makoto Shinkai's movies, I expect you'd feel much the same about this one.

Speaking of Makoto Shinkai, I was a little surprised not to see Suzume in competition. But in general it seems pretty random which anime studios decide to submit their work to Annecy. Some studios like Science Saru have a pretty close relationship with the festival, others seem to ignore it entirely. (Perhaps it is a case of like, for smaller studios it's a valuable chance for promotion, but Makoto Shinkai is basically guaranteed a massive worldwide audience so he doesn't need to bother to come out to France?)

[arale2126]

this song sums up all my ships pretty well

Farewell the one I love the most Farewell the one I love the most The one I still love the most

How vexing How devastating You won't return anymore Even so, you are still the one I love most

I may not ever be able to forget anything To throw away anything I hate how miserable, pitiful and weak I feel

Farewell the one I love most Farewell the one I love most Always, you are the one I love the most Always, you will always be the one I love the most

I won't cry now Don't cry now Our hearts grow apart Even so, you are still the one I love most

I keep on saying it's the end Keep on saying it until the end Tears, stop flowing So what you will remember Would be my last smile

Farewell the one I love most Farewell the one I love most Always, you are the one I love the most Always, you will always be the one I love the most Always, always, you will forever be the one I love the most

[littleeyesofpallas]

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

Comic ZERO-SUM[コミック ゼロサム]

Koutei Heika no Senzoku Shishohime[皇帝陛下の専属司書姫]

Okaa-sama no Iutoori![お母様の言うとおり！]

Ouji-sama ni Dekiai Sarete Komattemasu[王子様に溺愛されて困ってます]

Sono Akuyaku Reijou wa Kouryakuhon wo Tazusaete iru[その悪役令嬢は攻略本を携えている]

Kuuki ga "yomeru" shinnyuushain to buaisou na senpai[空気が「読める」新入社員と無愛想な先輩]

Ayakashi Kazoku no Youko Reijou, Onmyouji to Seiryaku Kekkon suru[あやかし華族の妖狐令嬢、陰陽師と政略結婚する]

Tensei Oujo wa Ai yori Ryouchi ga Hoshii no de Seiryaku Kekkon wo Kibou shimasu![転生王女は愛より領地が欲しいので政略結婚を希望します！]

Ochikobore Shiro Madoushi CECILl wa Taishougai no Hazu deshita[落ちこぼれ白魔導士セシルは対象外のはずでした]

The disliked wife wants to divorce a hero general![嫌われ妻は、英雄将軍と離婚したい! ]

Binbou Danshaku Reijou no Ryouchi Kaikaku [貧乏男爵令嬢の領地改革]

The court lady of the emperor is hoped for as his bride[皇帝つき女官は花嫁として望まれ中]

Kami Sakka Murasaki Shikibu no Arienai Hibi [神作家・紫式部のありえない日々]

Let's go on the evil runway.[悪の華道を行きましょう]

THE DARK MAID DOMINATES![闇メイドが支配する！]

Kaseimadoushi no Isekaiseikatsu[家政魔導士の異世界生活]

Watashi no Oshi ga Kyou mo Saikou ni Toutoi node, Zenryoku de Shiawase ni suru![私の推しが今日も最高に尊いので、全力で幸せにする！]

Kamikatari ni Sayonara wo[神騙りにさよならを]

Teito Ayakashi Yashiki no Keiyaku Hanayome[帝都あやかし屋敷の契約花嫁]

Hime-sama, Muri Desu![姫様、無理です！]

Suterare Danshaku Reijou wa Kurokishi-sama no Oki ni Iri[捨てられ男爵令嬢は黒騎士様のお気に入り]

Imouto ni Konyakusha wo Toraretara, Juuna Ouji ni Kyuukon saremashita[妹に婚約者を取られたら、獣な王子に求婚されました]

Takabisha Koujo wa Damattenai[高飛車皇女は黙ってない]

Dekasegi Reijou no Konyaku Soudou Jiki Koushaku-sama wa Fianse ni Aisaretakute Hisshidesu.[出稼ぎ令嬢の婚約騒動　次期公爵様は婚約者に愛されたくて必死です。]

Ouhi-sama ga Otoko da to Kidzuita Watashi ga, Zenryoku de Inpei Kousakusasete Itadakimasu![王妃様が男だと気づいた私が、全力で隠蔽工作させていただきます！]

Okitsune-sama no Irui Konintan[お狐様の異類婚姻譚]

Koukyuu no Chouki wa Shichisai no Uranaishi[後宮の寵姫は七彩の占師]

Futsutsuka na Akujo dewa Gozaimasu ga[ふつつかな悪女ではございますが ]

I'm a cruel saint woman but i want to help my beloved husband. (However I am disliked by him)[悪虐聖女ですが、愛する旦那さまのお役に立ちたいです。（とはいえ、嫌われているのですが）]

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes lead to Doom![乙女ゲームの破滅フラグしかない悪役令嬢に転生してしまった…]

Princess of the Bibliophile[虫かぶり姫]

Ryukishi no Okiniiri[竜騎士のお気に入り]

Soku Taijou Shitai Wakiyaku na no ni, Netotte Shimatta Ouji-sama ga Nigashite Kuremasen[即退場したい脇役なのに、寝取ってしまった王子様が逃がしてくれません]

Kokuryuu Heika no Seiryaku Hanayome - Majo desu ga, Tasuketa Ryuu ni Yomeiri Saserare sou desu[黒竜陛下の政略花嫁 魔女ですが、助けた竜に嫁入りさせられそうです]

Douse Suterareru no nara, Saigo ni Suki ni Sasete Itadakimasu[どうせ捨てられるのなら、最後に好きにさせていただきます]

MODERN CINDERELLA DOES NOT DROP SHOESi.[昨今のシンデレラは靴を落とさない。]

Ochikobore Majo to Koi wo Shiranai Tensai Majutsushi[落ちこぼれ魔女と恋を知らない天才魔術師]

Paradox Live Stage Battle “COMIC”

HAIGAKURA[ハイガクラ]

Jamasha no Youdesuga, Ouji no Chuushoku wa Watashi ga Tsukuru Youdesu[邪魔者のようですが、王子の昼食は私が作るようです]

Sannengo Rikon suru Hazu ga, Naze ka Dekiaisaretemasu[三年後離婚するはずが、なぜか溺愛されてます]

Konyakusha ni Sobahi to shite Riyousareru Kurai Nara Majutsushi-sama no Houshou to narimasu[婚約者に側妃として利用されるくらいなら魔術師様の褒賞となります]

Please find this Love[どうかこの恋を見つけて]

MARIELLE CLARAC Engagement[マリエル・クララックの婚約]

YANKII Manga ni Tensei shitara Naze ka Souchou ni Ezukesareteimasu.[ヤンキー漫画に転生したら、何故か総長に餌付けされてます。]

Hikikomori Reijou wa Hanashi no wakaru Seijuuban[引きこもり令嬢は話のわかる聖獣番]

Job-Changing! Pritender Lady ⇀ Lovely Dr.[まがいもの令嬢から愛され薬師になりました]

Akuyaku no Goreisoku no Dounika shitai Nichijou[悪役のご令息のどうにかしたい日常]

Yobai wo Ketsui Shita Reijou desuga Machigaete RiIVAL Koushaku Otouto no BED ni Mogurikonde Shimaimashita[夜這いを決意した令嬢ですが間違えてライバル侯爵弟のベッドにもぐりこんでしまいました]

Mid Boss Lady wants to enjoy second life[中ボス令嬢は、退場後の人生を謳歌する（予定）。]

Koukyuuhi wa Ryuujin no Ikenie Hanayome Goshinsenzan Monogatari[後宮妃は龍神の生贄花嫁 五神山物語]

IKEMEN oneko wa Haruta ni Kawaretai [イケメンおねこは晴田に飼われたい]

And they lived happily ever after[嵌められましたが、幸せになりました　傷物令嬢と陽だまりの魔導師]

Juujin Kishi no Kyuuai Jijou[獣人騎士の求愛事情]

Kogitsune, Warawara Inarishin no Makanai Meshi Itadakimasutsu![こぎつね、わらわら　稲荷神のまかない飯　いただきますっ！]

LUCE and White Contract[ルーチェと白の契約]

Kare ni Irai shite wa ikemasen[彼に依頼してはいけません]

AYAKA Muzzle Flash Back!![あやか Muzzle Flash Back!!]

White of a wedding ceremony[花燭の白]

Tensei Shitara Akuyaku Reijou datta no de Hiki NEET ni narimasu[転生したら悪役令嬢だったので引きニートになります]

Higeki no Genkyou to naru Saikyou Gedou LASTBOSS Joou wa Tami no Tame ni Tsukushimasu. To the Savior[悲劇の元凶となる最強外道ラスボス女王は民の為に尽くします。 To The Savior]

Outaishi-hi ni nante naritakunai!! Konyakusha-hen[王太子妃になんてなりたくない!! 婚約者編]

It's always darkest before the dawn[何時何分地球が何回まわったら]

Akuyaku Reijou to Kichiku Kishi[悪役令嬢と鬼畜騎士]

ROYAL TAILOR ―Oukyuu no Saihoushi―[ロイヤルテーラー　―王宮の裁縫師―]

Kokou no Bocchi Reijou wa Hatsukoi Ouji ni Furaretai[孤高のぼっち令嬢は初恋王子にふられたい]

Kage no Eiyuu no Chiyugakari[影の英雄の治癒係]

Oni no Tsumadoi[鬼の妻問い]

KO-SERUTERU no Ryuujutsushi ~Kotatsu Boukenki~[コーセルテルの竜術士～子竜冒険記��]

Kami KUZU ☆ IDOL[神クズ☆アイドル]

She is addicted to him and vice versa[姫君は若き将軍に溺れる]

Kiniro no CORDA STARLIGHT ORCHESTRA[金色のコルダ スターライトオーケストラ]

Saiyuki RELOAD BLAST[最遊記RELOAD BLAST]

Kotonakare Reijou no Oishii Keiyaku Jijou ~Konyaku Haki wo Saretara, Outaishidenka to Gohan-ya wo Suru koto ni Narimashita!?~[事なかれ令嬢のおいしい契約事情 ～婚約破棄をされたら、王太子殿下とごはん屋をすることになりました!?～]

Fiance of Wizard[魔法使いの婚約者 ～Eternally Yours～]

Three days of the countess who found out she is a decoy[一目惚れと言われたのに実は囮だと知った伯爵令嬢の三日間]

A Love story in Virtual Reailty[VRおじさんの初恋]

Juujin-taichou no (Kari) Konyaku Jijou[獣人隊長の（仮）婚約事情]

[sleepy-monochrome-prince]

2022 Favorite Manga

It was generally an odd year for me in terms of reading manga. For several months I just had no desire to read anything. I’m sure it was due to depression (2022 started off...rough). I got a second wind around October so most of these I actually read just in the past three months.

Sayonara Sorcier by Hozumi (2012)

Astral Project - Tsuki no Hikari by Takeya Shuji & marginal (2005)

SHY by Miki Bukimi (2019)

Hinomaru Zumou by Kawada (2014)

Darwin’s Game (2012)

Change the World (2018)

Batman Justice Buster (2020)

Wind Breaker (2021)

Prison Hearts (2015)

My Home Hero (2017)

[jexofficial]

THE TRUTH BE TOLD (2020)

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION

POISON FOR LOVE

WITHOUT YOU

ALL THE WAYS

SAYONARA

SPACE BOY

VOICES IN MY HEAD

MINE

ORDINARY FOR YOU

GHOST

DANGERFIELD

THE TRUTH BE TOLD

[daikenkki]

SAYONARA! (Miraitowa and Someity with Tokyo 2020) by MasterBronyFun

[12uminoumi12]

PART 1

PART 2

Song: March

By: ウミ の 海

Nagurigaki BEAT album

January 25, 2017

Tokyoholic

JAM album

June 28, 2017

Traffic

Digital Single

October 30, 2019

Nomad

Digital Single

December 4, 2019

Badge

Digital Single

December 8, 2019

Yakimochi

NOMAD Album

December 11, 2019

Nomad

Honky Tonk Rhapsody

Komainu

Old School

Yakimochi

Itoshi no Eri

Point of Departure

Badge

Batsu Game

Umbrella

Pianomad

Potential

Digital Single

December 20, 2019

Omoide Dorobo

Digital Single

October 16, 2020

Silence

kitchen

Digital Single

January 6, 2021

I don't understand

Digital Single

January 23, 2021

Wakaba

Note album

January 27, 2021

Top note

Tokyoholic

kitchen

Highball

Kono Sekai ni Sayonara

Omoide Dorobo

Middle note

Madoromi

Silence

Wakaba

Scarecrow

I Don't Understand

Last Note