#thanks again fukkatsu!

[avampyone]

I forgot to post here, but a gorgeous com of Hemlocke from @fukkatsu-sumi !

I'd hit a really low point in my life about a year ago with a lot of heavy RL issues. It wasn't easy but glad to be in a better and more content place now, so, I treated myself - I've always loved their art. I definitely recommend them!

[archoneddzs15]

Sega Saturn - Hexen: Beyond Heretic

Title: Hexen: Beyond Heretic / ヘクセン

Developer: id Software / Raven Software Corporation / Atod AB

Publisher: Game Bank

Release date: 26 March 1998

Catalogue No.: T-18612G

Genre: First Person Shooter

We all know that the Saturn got a bad wrap for first person style games from the world's gaming press thanks to that utter crap port of Doom (which was beset by some corporate interference from John Carmack that led to the Saturn port being released the way it was). Thankfully Lobotomy Software proved to use all that the Saturn could bring its fans a fast and smooth first-person action game with Exhumed or Seireki 1999 Pharaoh no Fukkatsu as it's known in Japan, or Power Slave as it's known in the US. After that came the fantastic port of Quake, again thanks to those very talented guys at Lobotomy. Then we heard that Raven Software was going to bring us Hexen. Could it be as silky smooth as Lobotomy's games or would it be a steaming heap of crap like Rage's Doom port? Actually, neither. Saturn Hexen while not silky smooth is still quite playable. Raven has done a decent job at porting this game to the Saturn. True, Lobotomy probably could have done it better but as it stands it's not all that bad.

Over the PC original, this Saturn version has a lovely CG intro explaining the story behind Hexen in detail as well as some very nice red book CD audio tracks to accompany the action. Of course, the PC version of the game does have the benefit of mouse controls which is something the Saturn port is missing. Not sure why though since the Saturn does have a mouse accessory. Still, analog fans will be happy to know that Saturn Hexen is fully 3D analog controller compatible.

[communistsister]

Thanks @nepetranssexual and @stanwixbuster for the tags to shuffle and post 10 recent songs.

George Barnett - LOVESTRUCK

Tove Lo - No One Dies From Love

Kim Petras - Wrong Turn

saoirse dream - catherine never broke again

Oklou - fall

Radiohead - Burn The Witch

Koichi Sugiyama - Fukkatsu no Ideon

Dabu - Death Spiral (from the Dwarf Fortress OST)

brakence - caffeine

Mitski - That's Our Lamp

Never know who to tag so if you see this, tag, you're it.

got tagged by @neumoegen to put my music on shuffle and post the first ten songs here :)

Kokpelli Face Tattoo - AJJ

Empty - Metric

Dreaming - Blondie

Außer Dir - Wir Sind Helden

Sick Muse - Metric

Dance Hall - Modest Mouse

It's Getting Boring by the Sea - Blood Red Shoes

Something Wicked - Sea Power

Polygonadwanaland (all of it) - KGLW

Bright Phoebus - The Watersons

Thanks for the tag :) passing it on to @lutzlig, @graumuenzen, @21stcenturyschizoidfag, @dystopianserenity, @communistsister and @coyotedrawcoyote !

[lovingalways37]

My Love ^3^ ♥

[naughtyservant]

Yeah I"m here again!.... But no to post new art ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I've been a little depressed to work on digital art, but I've been working on traditional art; so as soon as I feel better I'll resume my posts ^^

But today I'm here cause @dumdumdrawstumtums tagged me to participate in a little challenge (A big honor! Thanks you so much!)

Rules: Tag 9 people you want to know more about

Top 3 favorite ships: I think this is the hardest one to everybody. In my case I have romantic/erotic ships and NSFW/Vore ships. For the first case Inaho x Slain (Aldnoah Zero), Suzaku x Lelouch (Code Geass) and Touya x Yukito (Sakura Card Captor) are my favs. For second case I think Luka x Adrien / Viperion x Chat Noir (Miraculous Ladybug), Odd x Ulrich/William (Code Lyoko) and Natsu x Gray (Fairy Tail) are really good options. Of course I have morr OTP's but these are the ones I could think for the moment

Last song listened to: Gaya Gaya Puto Maya - Len Kagamine & Dasu. Dasu is without any doubt my favorite artist so I listen to all her songs every single day hehehe

Last movie watched: Fukkatsu no Lelouch (Lelouch of the Ressurection)

Whenever you want Rebuild of Evangelion: 3.0 +1.0

Reading: Shadow Hunters: City of fallen angels

What food I'm craving right now: Nutella Milkshake (/O_O)/

Tags: It's hard to tag someone that has not been tagged at this point so I'll try to don't make double mentions and tag less people cause I'm a bad boy who doesn't follow the rules (? (But I don't make promises e_e) @putthebreadinthebreadbasket @hs-artist @thelittleddemoncat @ashlovehart @xxsnowyknightxx

[miselizadarcy]

Myu review 1: 1993 Gaiden Dark Kingdom Fukkatsu Hen!

I am a big fan of Sailor Moon and when in  2012-13 (i think) i found that they were musicals based on the manga and the series( that went between 1993 to 2005) i was so happy. I began watching them on youtube when it was announce in 2013 a revival of the musicals due to the 20th aniversary of the serie/manga. To be honest i watched this last musicals all in order and i love it, but when it came with the old ones i only watched the first stage (anzamoon) and some bits of Fumina, none of Miyuki (sadly) and some things of Marina. So thank you to this quarentine and to @sailorzakuro​ who encouraged me i decided to review the first, second and third stage of the musical (that is the Bandai era) and then i will do the same with the Nelke´s one. 

Before i began, please consider that this is my opinion about it, you can have another and that is more than fine. So please respect what are you going to read below. Also  since it is not my area of expertise  i am not judging the singing of the actress (all i am going to say about it is: i like it/i don´t) i will leave that for the fans who knows and understands it. Feel free to message me if you see something that is wrong or even to talk to me... more than happy to meet more myu fan. 

So the first thing that i have to say about this musical is that i have a couple of issues with it. I know i should be soft because it was the first one and i will, i promise. But there are some problems (i think) with the screenplay. It was made perfectly clear that this musical takes places after the first season of SM ended in Japan. So, having that in mind here are my questions: Why the shenshis did not rembember their past life? . In the serie this happened, we have a episode with it, so it made no sense (at least for me) that the girls remember  nothing about their previous life. I mean, they know who beryl and the shitennou are... idk they messed up that i think. It works if you have not watched the first season i guess, but otherwise, it was weird. Another question is what kind of relationship have Usagi and Mamoru? Are they friends?. Because he called her “usako” and she “mamo-chan” and i thought that if they are calling each other that way... maybe there were something more than friends?. I do not know maybe i am being very critical about this (LOL) but you have to admit that some things are off (if i am wrong with this please, please, correct me). 

Leaving all this behind, i have to say that it is a nice musical. Anzamoon is cute (althought i think she went very hard with the crybaby moments) and looked so young but her voice is amazing...gosh!.. Her moon was very poor tbh (and i hate saying this because i love anza with all my heart), her Usagi needed more work too, but it was her first musical... so she was pretty good. The one thing i have to say about her is that the very first moment you see her, you know she is having the time of her life, enjoying herself and i really love that. We barely see anything from Ami/Ayako & Mako/Kanoto wich is bad and sad but i think they were ok. Rei/Hikoro... i have opposite feelings about her because she had their great moments but then she behaved like Minako, so let´s say that i would like to see more of her because i do not think it is fair to criticize her based only in one musical. Minako/Nana my sweet dear girl, i love her so much. I know, I KNOW she is not the Minako we are used to, but she reminded me of S1 Minako  (sweet but mature ) and i love it. It ´s pretty early but i Nana is one of my fav Minako/Venus. Luna&Artemis Ok so i am not a big fan of them being in stage, they look weird (the nogimyu´s luna  was worst for me) and also they do not move as cast, maybe Artemis... but yeah. Tuxedo/Mizuki unpopular opinnion  her but i really, really like him. Again he reminded me of S1 Mamoru and was soo god, also he had a very good chemistry with Anza.His voice was pretty tbh, he sound so refined and sofisticated. The Shitennou were good, they were based on the anime so it was a little rare and strange when Nephrire talked about Naru-Chan or when  Zoisite said that was in love with Kunzite when you totally see that Minako and Kunzite were a thing in the past as the rest of the girls with the others. Lastly Beryl/ Yuri was very good,( but i like her more in the upcomings musicals) the only thing that bothered me (not because of her necessary) was her costumes, gosh she looks awful in some scenes.

I like this musical, really.When i saw it for the first time i loved it and since i love the fist arc (again another unpopular opinion) i am always more than happy to see any adaptation of it. I watched it yesterday again after a couple of months i and have so much fun. Yes i know that i complained about the script but aside that, the musicals is very good. I love how Sailor Moon is so special and grand that it have a lot of representations and i will never get tired of them. Sera myu is amazing, really. 

So this is my review, please fell free to message me sharing your opinions. If you have not watched Sera myu, please do it. You can find them in youtube for sure!! 

Again thank you so much @sailorzakuro​ for being so cool and so kind to me!

[ilovenioumasaharu]

It arrived earlier than I expected! I'm so happy!!!! 💕😭 I was so eager to go home early yesterday because it arrived already. Somehow my passion and spirit lifted up a bit because of Niou 💕 I have been waiting for him for months 😍

I also watched the BG last night and it was super duper freakin' awesome!! I'm so happy they followed the anime so during Niou's Match, I started singing Rikkaimyu songs such as Fukkatsu Golden Pair, Petenshi daa nanto demo ie and Oishi no Territory XD Rikkaimyu is 💖💖💖💖💖

Lastly, I know Niou is nowhere to be found on the Otefes DVD but since I heard that Kanechan and Katobe will be guesting and singing character songs and vice versa, I had to buy it (even tho im completely broke rn). I've been dreaming of this collab ever since i found out about tenimyu hihi 💕

Anyhow, I'll make another appreciation post on my personal blog later 💕

~o~o~o~

I know it has been a while since I posted but I strongly recommend @beansproutsong for goods proxy especially on crane and kuji goods. She is super duper nice and very accommodating! Just don't give her too much trouble ;)

Thank you again so so much!! 💖

[shoushatohaisha]

report: haikyuu!! summer week day 5 part 1 (shinka no natsu)

previously: day 1 (shoen) day 2 (itadaki no keshiki) day 3 (karasuno, fukkatsu!!) day 4 (shousha to haisha)

guests: kagechan, fucchi, shouri, takumi

(...the haikyuu day event sure did wipe everything else from my brain, wow. but. i'll do my best...!)

so when the cast first ran out, shouri wasn't there – he just hung back without telling anyone because kagechan kept looking back at the wings and cracking up and takumi looked like he wanted to die. this was, of course, so that after kagechan welcomed the audience to haikyuu summer week, shouri could stroll out dramatically and say "HEY, YOUR SENPAI IS HERE. your senpai in this event. and in haikyuu. your senpai." ok shouri.

kagechan was nominally the MC and he did an impressive job fighting the black hole of attention that is kondou-kun for control. XD but... shouri: who's the MC anyway kagechan: it's me?? it's obviously me? fucchi: i mean, we don't know yet. shouri: i was the MC for karasuno fukkatsu so i'll kindly let one of you first-timers do it – takumi, you want to MC right? takumi: ……...yeah………sure…….... shouri: he does. i can see it in his face.

then they did janken and fucchi won so he briefly took over, just long enough to skip to the end of the script – "how did you all enjoy the screening today??" kagechan: this is as far as we rehearsed.

during cheer practice we did shouri's dumb high school cheer again. for him. not kuroo. XD

when we practiced the "volleyball, haikyuu" bit they briefly mentioned how strong the impact of adding "ue wo miageru" was – i think it was shouri maybe? who said that when first reading the script it jumped right out at him and made him like, reflexively want to look at the ceiling. ...and that the returning cast kept messing up in rehearsal, for a while there would always be several people who forgot to say "ue wo miageru" and went straight to "kyuugi de aru", lol.

and shouri ALMOST got us to do his "nyan nyanya nyan nyan nyan" cheer for nekoma, he got all the way through explaining it to everyone else, and telling us that he'd gotten whistled off for it the other day, and asking the ref for permission, and through one round of tobe tobe karasuno / hey hey fukuro / ike ike nekoma nya nya-- ...and got whistled off. XD

meanwhile, takumi kept sliding off toward the edge of the stage and shouri would be like "GET BACK HERE" and pull him into the middle. and then get distracted harassing someone and takumi would slide away again. much like with naoki, he got pulled into doing a lot more choreo than he would have otherwise simply by virtue of being in proximity to shouri, lol. (i heard the girls behind me at hajimari no kyojin that night laughing about "poor higashi-kun", haha.) only whereas naoki played the straight man aloud, takumi just silently, like, grinned and bore it.

having said that, during the screening shouri was obviously Peak Shouri, but hilariously enough he TIRED HIMSELF OUT by running around so much so i actually don't think it was as over the top as karasuno fukkatsu.

specifically, it was the scenes at coach ukai's that killed him, he and takumi came out as the elementary school kids bouncing around and acting super dumb and then shouri started running around doing every one of the tempos and eventually he had to like, wipe his face and lean over and brace himself he was breathing so hard. shouri u noodle.

takumi also made shouri act out bokuto's part so he could be konoha. it was cute, the way they were careful to respect that it was kouki on screen but that takumi took over the role later without making it seem awkward or unnatural. like during the bit where bokuto yells "the moment you think you can hit a strong spike, that's your chance" -- "kyouretsu na ippatsu ga uteru to omotta shunkan ga...kouki!" -- shouri jumped up and yelled "KOUKI!!!!" along with him and jabbed his finger excitedly at the screen. he brought it up in the aftertalk too. "HAHA IT WAS SO FUNNY TO SEE KOUKI YELLING HIS OWN NAME. :D"

ok back to the beginning tho. unsurprisingly, they had a lot of fun with the hamlet scene – kagechan's timing for running out, lifting his hand slowly, and reciting "SOSHITE, YOKUASA" was BEAT perfect, it got a massive laugh from the audience.

for the opening, they all did their own parts of course – fucchi running out to yell "KIYOKO-SAN" was a joy to behold – but shouri also did sarukui, hips and all, which was sure Something.

when takechan came out to explain the "school rules", shouri literally just galloped across the stage and disappeared into the wings opposite, it was like he couldn't bear to be off stage. XD at first fucchi was as bouncy as shouri, doing all the choreo and super star rolling thunder etc, but eventually he calmed down and sat there watching the screening super seriously, sometimes he was the only one out there.

meanwhile, the ladies made their first appearance! let me tell you, you have never seen such a group of fangirls over saeko/kiyoko-san, i thought everyone in the audience was gonna literally swoon at saeko's first appearnce. self included, obvs. (ofc everyone loved yacchan but that was more of a "you're adorable" and less of a "please wreck me" vibe.) it was also extremely satisfying to yell "akaaaAAAAshi" in one's best bokuto voice along with one thousand other people. and during the exam prep, "norio" also got his own round of character cheers. XD

when yachi yells "murabito b mo tatakaemasu!!" shouri ran out with a cardboard sign that read "MURABITO B", held it up proudly to cheers, then spent several minutes trying to get it to stay upright on one of the chairs. ("nice fight!" someone in the audience called.) murabito b remained on stage in support for the rest of the screening.

for "kageyama's not breathing!" kagechan flopped dramatically to the stage…. and then takumi ran out to do cpr! only it was such like, soft, gentle cpr that kagechan sat up and burst into laughter. in the car with saeko-neesan, kagechan pretended to fall asleep, and then acted out waking up, putting in eyedrops, etc. "ohayou," fucchi told him solemnly.

kagechan and fucchi did a great job with the synchro attack and then with all of karasuno's ending match/group number choreo. hilariously, all four of them started to do the final choreo that includes a bit of each school's signature moves and shouri forgot to do nekoma's. XD "it wasn't that long ago, idk why it's so hard to remember!" he said later, and having witnessed him reenact practically the entirety of karasuno fukkatsu i too wondered the same thing.

oh oh! when karasuno are doing the wheelbarrel walks, kagechan "wheeled" fucchi out all the way across the stage – then when they reached the wings, fucchi held himself up with one arm for several seconds while gesturing at kagechan and without taking a break they reversed course and "walked" back across the stage. from which i conclude that kid has amazing arm strength!

AND THEN.

during the last practice match against fukurodani, as kageyama debates whether to try out the new quick with hinata...

...suga kenta ran on stage, said "yannai no?" and ran off.

IT'S NOT LIKE WE DIDN'T ALL KNOW HE WAS THERE but oh my god the screeching, holy shit. again, self very much included. knowing how much kenta loves that line, i should have known that would be too much for him to resist. and yet. dies. it was incredible.

hilariously, the cast, who were pointing and laughing in shock just like everyone else, didn't acknowledge this surprise until the very end of the aftertalk. "ah yes, someone who… resembled… that orange-haired person on stage… appeared earlier, huh. briefly."

speaking of the aftertalk!

takumi talked about how this play was his stage debut: shouri: he cried ALL THE TIME. he cried at our first cast meeting. he cried on opening night... our takumi's grown so much! :') takumi: ……..….thanks. takumi: i was too nervous to enjoy anything until the play opened tbh. shouri: dude you're nervous right now. takumi: ……..yeah.

apparently during rehearsal takumi was repeatedly told to speak up more during fukurodani's group scenes – no one could hear him contribute to "hey hey hey" etc. but once the show actually opened and they could hear the audience reactions to fukurodani and everything he got less nervous and it became a lot more fun.

shouri: yeah, you had sarukui and everything, lol… i heard the audience calling "kawaii!!" when he appeared earlier and honestly if that's what you call cute... audience: KAWAII kagechan: seriously, i need a dictionary for this.

then shouri pointed out that although in the source material the characters don't use first names that much, in the last barbecue scene ken-chan alone would come on super strong and go around addressing all the characters by their first name. "OI, TETSUROU. TETSUROU. HAVE SOME MORE MEAT." so even though they weren't miked he was so loud that during these serious conversations you can hear him in the background going "TETSUROU. TETSUROU."

OH fucchi told us that "super star rolling thunder" was originallly "stardust rolling thunder"… because fucchi's agency is stardust promotions. XD fucchi: and in that scene i'm with ino hiroki-kun and nagao shizune-chan fucchi: and, you know, they sparkle fucchi: like stardust

apparently he got the go-ahead from worry-san, but not from the higher ups, precisely because of stardust promotions. XD shouri: then why don't you do it now? stardust rolling thunder. fucchi: i, wai-- fucchi: fucchi: fucchi: :| shouri: ^___^ fucchi: i knew it.

from which i conclude fucchi had tried to get out of doing it during their MC planning or something. XD

fucchi: you have to be the sparkles shouri: but i'm watanabe fucchi: -_- shouri: get takumi too fucchi: takumi, what's your agency? takumi: beaco-- fucchi: it's fine, it's fine, over there please

final messages: takumi's was very polite and respectful as he thanked the audience, it was cute. shouri said that watching shinka no natsu made him fondly remember all the work the different schools did to grow as a team and learn to communicate with each other during that summer – it was their irl summer of evolution. fucchi pointed out that he and kagechan will reach their hundredth haikyuu show during the saikyou no team! and kagechan said that he was here sitting in audience -- "right around there" – watching for the shoen dress rehearsal so it was really special to be here in aiia as a proper part of engeki haikyuu. :)

hajimari no kyojin next, then some off-camera stories from event night! THE GOAL LINE IS IN SIGHT. thanks so much for the nice comments, i really appreciate them, and i've been enjoying reading your capslocky tags. :D

[dbzebra]

I don’t like the oversaturation and comic relief that frieza has become like frieza has always been methodical and calculating and a good villain now it just seems like he’s one of the group. Fukkatsu no F was good for a frieza comeback but now at this point it’s getting annoying like he’s not a villain anymore like??? I’m afraid the same thing will happen to Cell and any other huge villain they already did it with Broly. What are your thoughts on Frieza today?

Me either. Tbh, I didnt even like Resurrection F. Freeza came back only to die again. (At the time of the movie it really seemed pointless. Just a cash grab.) like the dude trains for 4 months and hes stronger than a hypothetical SSJ3 Vegetto. That tells me, that going by DBS logic Freeza could’ve did like 3 push-ups on Namek waiting for the Ginyu Force and he wouldve been muuuuch stronger than Goku even after turning SSJ. it’s just lazy.

But they kept bringing him back again and again im just so SICK OF HIM. He doesnt add anything new, they’re just repeating the same shit over and over because they seemingly dont know how to do anything new, and are just relying on fanservice and nostalgia. 

He’s still a villain (thank god, id cry if he turned good) but hes a joke. in the movie Gogeta just lets him fly off like he did nothing wrong. Like an old Saturday morning cartoon villain “GR ILL GET YOU NEXT TIME” its just so lame.

Im dreading the day they inevtiably bring back Cooler, Janemba and Turles but reboot them to be good guys like the did with this new Broly.  🙄🙄🙄

[kondou-shouri]

【Blog Translation】Engeki Haikyuu!! Hajimari no Kyojin, Thank You

T/N: Lots of tears were shed while I was reading and translating this blog post 😭 Please DO NOT report this translation anywhere else without permission

Good evening!!

It’s been a while!

Even though I had other jobs along with my stage performances, everyday had been influenced by Haikyuu.

It’s been a long 43 performances.

And yesterday we reached the final show.

Thank you to everyone who supported us all throughout the 43 performances!

This was the most number of productions we had for Engeki Haikyuu!!. Hajimari no Kyojin.

Even though I said that it was long, surprisingly it felt like it was shorter than usual.

Why, you ask?

It’s because I’ve always appeared on the next production, and talked about how in the next 3 months there would be another Haikyuu. But this time, I won’t be appearing in the next stage, “Saikyou no Basho”

I’ve been on stage until now, why am I not performing until the end!

is what I’ve thought of in beginning

Because the end was already visible, it seemed like everyday was a countdown, especially starting from the Osaka performances.

My home is Gekidan Patch.

When I return to Osaka, my home, Patch, will be waiting for me.

For half a year, I’ve appeared and performed in Haikyuu!!, so was that my home in Tokyo? I also thought of it

3 months, 4 times

That’s almost a year!

It means that I’ve been with everyone everyday, right??

I guess that’s where the attachment is coming from~

In that home, Karasuno High School has always been present.

And this will be the last Haikyuu!! that I’m with them.

Even though saying “So this is bye bye, huh” was something simple at the start, as the reality of the end came closer, the loneliness increased so much.

My body felt tired, but I didn’t want it to end

There were lots of crying during closing party, I also openly shed my own tears.

Why did I cry so much? I can’t even remember properly lol

Karasuno was the opponent who burned a tremendous sense of rivalry for us in Nekoma.

Karasuno, Fukkatsu!

Shinka no Natsu

It’s a sense of challenge that we consumed together.

It was a good rivalry.

And yesterday, we bid farewell to it.

I don’t exactly know if it’s right to say that we’re bidding farewell or not

But, well, it’s a farewell on standing on the same stage.

I’ve always been with them on stage, and at the stage side. 

I’ve made this production with them, and supported them

For the next performance, I will be supporting them from the audience seats.

From the first time I appeared in Haikyuu!!, I can imagine how harsh the rehearsals will be and how they will build it up from there. I’m really looking forward to it!

Kousuke, Kenji!!

Bring down Karasuno!!

Thank you for supporting all the 43 performances!!

I had a yakiniku closing party with Karasuno,

and then joined in with Johzenji, Wakutani Minami, and Fukurodani’s closing party.

It was a nice day.

This is a nice picture from when we were chatting

We’re a mess haha

This kid always said that we should go to his dressing room lol

If you like, you can still contact me to do the same lol

I’ll do my best to be able to co-star with you again!!

Ah, I was told yesterday to tell Suga Kenta that I like him very much, but that’s kinda embarrassing, so I didn’t lol

I have so many stories with my best partner

I don’t even know which one to tell

but we’ll be meeting again soon lol

Maybe be in a week or so.

At any rate,

I’m relieved that I finished this run safely.

I got back in Osaka, and starting tomorrow I’ll be doing work with Patch.

The next day will be 「ラヴ戦争」 rehearsals!

New things will begin to start again.

Please look forward to my future activities as well!!

Ah, P.S.

I said in the curtain call that I wanted to do the Battle at the Trash Heap again

It was Kuroo’s dream, but it has become mine too.

Although it won’t happen on stage, it will always be my dream!

Please support Haikyuu!! from here on out!!

See you!!

Please “like” or comment, okay?

[tomoyanosekai]

復活~Moldbreaker~ (Fukkatsu: Revival)

“Everything happens for a reason.”

As I look back through my bookshelf, there’s a lot of souvenirs that I’ve collected throughout my life. However, the one thing that I’ve been overlooking until it recently caught my eye was a small, stuffed animal octopus that I bought when I was in Japan. “Japan.” Two years ago on this exact day of this writing, I made the official announcement that I would be going to Aomori, Japan for two months. The more I think about it, It’s hard to believe that Japan happened two years ago. A lot of things happened in between then and now. Instead of looking back at two years ago, I would like to focus on the last two months. To give a quick summary: February was when nothing happened, and March was a month dedicated to learning more about myself through what I unabashedly enjoy despite feeling lonely. In short: the last two months were especially hard. However, if February and March were months where I felt defeated, I can say that April was a reminder of why I keep reaching out and how strong I really am, even if life gets filled with setbacks and becomes harder to live through day by day.

To start at the beginning of April and also pick up from the end of last month’s post, I wrote that I had entered a photography contest dedicated to Kamen Rider figure photography. Although last month was mostly spent alone, I spent a lot of my time everyday by taking pictures of every main character from the past 50 years of Kamen Rider to celebrate the franchise’s 50th anniversary. Coincidentally, there was also a photography contest being announced as part of the festivities. Even though I entered and put in my best and most ambitious shots, I didn’t win or even place within the contest. But despite that, it didn’t bother me that I didn’t win, and if anything, I was proud to show my talent and creativity to the world. Among the three days of coverage, my work was shown off two out of the three days and got very good remarks from the judges along with the larger figure photography community. Nonetheless, even though I was busy learning more about myself, there’s something that can’t be ignored despite that: I felt lonely and burnt out.  

“Trying to reach out to friends has already been difficult since many of them haven’t been available for a multitude of reasons. At some point, I stopped reaching out to friends, and friends mostly stopped communicating with me or never really reached out at all to begin with.”

- “Where do I even begin here?” (February 28, 2021)

Simply put: I felt alone. Although I initially wrote this back in February, this was ultimately how I felt throughout all of February, most of March, and even now. There was no life for me to live outside of going to work or being at home; I had no choice but to stay where I was and live in monotony. When I did try to reach out to friends at times, everyone I tried to reach out to was usually busy and I had to figure out how to deal with these feelings that yearned for a community. On top of that, the thing I eventually began to notice was that no one was really reaching out since I figured they either forgot about me or they were expecting me to reach out to them; two horrible mindsets that didn’t help at all and only contributed to me feeling even more burnt out and pessimistic. However, even as I felt defeated and pessimistic, something deep inside kept pushing me to constantly reach out again and again despite feeling burnt out. 

“To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us.”

- Tim Keller, The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God

As I look at this stuffed animal octopus on my table as I write this post, it reminds me of why I chose to buy myself this octopus as a souvenir two years ago. This stuffed octopus came from a set of souvenirs that I bought for a group of my close friends coming off the aftermath of some hard times. As I returned from my trip overseas two months later, I had to return and see a very close knit friend group split before my eyes and had to figure out what it meant for me going forward after coming back from Japan and thinking that things would be restored by the time I returned. I bought a stuffed animal for each one of my friends in that group since each stuffed animal reminded me of them in some capacity while I was gone. Although I can’t remember the animals or the reasons why I bought the stuffed animals, I can still clearly remember why I chose to give myself the octopus. For me, the octopus with its many tentacles represented the many hands I would use to reach out to everyone and stay connected despite everyone being so scattered. Even now, I’m still using these hands of mine to reach out to other people despite feeling defeated and tired. 

"Stand tall and be proud. No matter how weak or unworthy you feel, set your heart ablaze, grit your teeth and move forward. If you just curl up in a ball and hide, time will pass you by. It won't stop for you while you wallow in your grief."

- Kyojuro Rengoku, Kimetsu no Yaiba -Demon Slayer- The Movie: Mugen Train

Despite feeling so defeated and alone, I continued to reach out, and I think God allows everything to happen for a reason at the right time. As I reunited with many friends in person and through video chat this past month, the one thing they all said was that they were grateful that I was so persistent in reaching out and wanting to meet up. The most encouraging thing for me this past month was when a group of friends that I hadn’t seen in two years was finally reunited, and that was all thanks to God for giving me the persistence and patience to plan something so that we could all meet up again. Likewise, even though I was reunited with my close friends, God still found a way for me to use these connections from two years ago. Very recently, one of my friends from my home church connected me with their friend who is also be going out to Japan to do missions in June; specifically at Hirosaki Nozomi Christ Church in Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan just as I went two years ago. Unlike me who had no idea what I would be getting myself into, I was able to share about my experiences in Japan and help better prepare them for what they were heading into. As I reflect on these connections with people in my life, I see and realize even more now that God has given me a heart that continually loves other people.

Much in that same aspect or continually reaching out to my friends, I finally took the chance to do something that I had always wanted to do for a while: reach out to my extended family; specifically one of my younger cousins. Something I noticed within my family is that although we don’t really have problems or personal squabbles in my family, but in that same regard, we aren’t really “close” where we try to get to know each other on a deeper level. I think within my whole family, I believe there is more of an emphasis on accomplishments since we’re all known by our accomplishments, and not for “who we are.” To give a rundown, this list is obviously NOT how I define myself or define my cousins at all in any general setting, but I believe this is about a 90% accurate reading of how each of my cousins see each other in regards to a family gathering setting (and conveniently grouped by family.)

Cousin 1 : The smartest cousin who majored in Engineering and is continually aiming for the stars (and can almost literally do anything); the family genius.

Cousin 2: The sassy, sarcastic and super athletic cousin with a dry sense of humor who works for Google

Cousin 3 (My brother): The cousin who’s the butt of all jokes at family gatherings and is deeply involved in the Japanese American Community

Cousin 4 (Me): The geeky cousin who went to Bible College but worked part time at a Ramen restaurant and now works customer service (the one who’s always asked to pray during family gatherings.)

Cousin 5: The gifted cousin who’s attractive and athletic and went to college on a full ride academic  scholarship

Cousin 6: The cousin who’s about to head to college but is still trying to find his place

Cousin 10: The youngest cousin/baby of the family with so much untapped potential

Cousin 7: The super smart/literary and quiet cousin who’s aiming to be a doctor

Cousins 8 and 9: The hilarious twins; one athletic and extroverted twin and the other twin who’s introverted and very book smart 

Although I’m not super close to most of my cousins, the only ones I can feel closer with are cousins 7-9, especially since we attended the same church, I had the chance to share a bit about my life beyond my accomplishments, and also had the chance to cook with them in the past. For those reasons alone, I feel like that of an older brother to them. This time however, the cousin I wanted to reach out to and eventually hung out with was my sixth cousin; the cousin who’s still trying to find his place and also doesn’t get along well with his father. As I met up with him, I shared a bit about my life and showed him how I live it. Through this meeting alone, I think I was able to give him some sense of relief and I really enjoyed getting to know him on a deeper level. Taking a step back: I’m extremely normal and average in comparison to all of them. But despite being normal, I think I put more of an emphasis on love and relationships rather than pure ambition, drive and accomplishments. Even though I seem more normal than all of my cousins, I want my normal-ness to break the mold and become someone who can bring my whole family closer than something more surface level. 

Just as I am reminded that this octopus on my desk has many arms and can reach out in six different ways, I still continue to reach out to anyone and everyone because God has given me this heart that loves other people. One of the strongest qualities that God has blessed me with is a heart of kindness. As I go forward into another month, I want to do as Jesus did where John writes about Jesus in John 15:12, 

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."

- John 15:12

I want to continue reaching out as far as I can and continually find new ways to break the mold. 

“From here on out, it’s my stage!”

[hentaihunblog-blog]

SPRING ANIME 2018 PREVIEW

New Post has been published on https://hentaihun.com/blog/2018/03/26/spring-anime-2018-preview/

SPRING ANIME 2018 PREVIEW

Continuing Titles (Bolded: Currently Covering) Basilisk: Ouka Ninpouchou, BEATLESS, Black Clover, Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card-hen,  Classica Loid 2, Darling in the Franxx, GARO VANISHING LINE, Grancrest Senki, Hakyuu Houshin Engi, Hugtto! Precure, Nanatsu no Taizai: Imashime no Fukkatsu, Saiki Kusuo no Ψ Nan 2 (TV-Short), Toji no Miko, Yowamushi Pedal: GLORY LINE, Yu-Gi-Oh VRAINS

Excluded Spring 2018 Titles: Beyblade Burst Chouzetsu, Future Card Buddyfight X: All-Star Fight, Puzzle & Dragon,  Akkun to Kanojo Alice or Alice (TV-Short), Amai Choubatsu: Watashi wa Kanshu Senyou Pet (TV-Short), Keifuku-san (TV-Short) Koneko no Chii: Ponponra Daibouken 2 (TV-Short), Kuroneko Monroe (TV-Short), Nobunaga no Shinobi: Anegawa Ishiyama-hen (TV-Short), Omae wa Mada Gunma wo Shiranai (TV-Short), Tachibanakan to Lie Angle (TV-Short), To Be Hero 2 (TV-Short), Uchuu Senkan Tiramisu (TV-Short), Usagi no Mathew (TV-Short)

Resources: Anichart, ANN, CR, LiveChart, MAL, MoeTron

Writers on Season Hiatus: Nikolita, MoonNyte

~*~

Spring has come, and you know what that means? A new season! Please welcome our three newest additions to the team, Fuzzy, Shadow, and Tsuyoku, along a surprise return of one of our former writers, MidnightDevont! 

We would also like to note, in this edition of the Season Preview, due the lack of interest from the team, we have elected to exclude TV-SHORTS. Due to the the shows being as short as 3 minutes or 15 minutes long, we have also decided TV-Shorts are regarded as an Optional Side Project for the writers to pick up on the side if it garners their interest. So even though they may not be on the preview, there may be a writer or two who will may cover one anyways.

We are also aware about the rise of Netflix exclusive anime titles that can sometimes slip off the radar. If you see a Netflix exclusive anime you wish to bring to our attention, give us a shout at FAQ + Ask the Team!

3D Kanojo: Real Girl

Animation Company: Hoods Entertainment Website: http://www.3dkanojo-anime.com/ Genre: Romance Airing Date: April 4, 2018 Summary: Hikari Tsutsui is a high school boy who is satisfied with the virtual girls he encounters in anime and games. He does not have many friends and he lives in his own world. One day, when he is stuck on pool cleaning duty, he is approached by Iroha, a “real girl” who is showy and popular with boys. Trailer: CM 1 | PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: I am pretty sure I read a bit of this manga at some point, but I lost interest in it.

Berry: Characters like the main guy always annoy me and make me cringe, so I don’t think I’d like this show.

MidnightDevont: This is all kinds of not my kind of show. First off, the protag sounds really annoying, vague Dangan Ronpa reference but it’s like if Hifumi Yamada got hot and suddenly met a 3D girl he was interested in. No. Thank. You. I might give it a watch down the line if people start telling me that it’s any good but it’s not something I’d cover. Hard pass.

Pandora: Nah, but It seems like it will be funny like World Only God Knows. I loved that one.

Aplus: Hmm, yes. ‘Satisfied’ with virtual girls. This looks like one of the increasingly popular anime themes that try to go meta/ends up trash talking all anime fans. It looks a bit boring to me personally, but I’m always down to give it a shot. I mean, even if he ends up liking the IRL girl… it’s still a 2D person, so… win-win?

Fuzzy: I usually enjoy romcom type shows, but I don’t really see anything that piques my interest on this one. 

Shadow: Hmm, this could potentially be interesting and I’m always up for a romantic comedy.

Tsuyoku: The old 2D > 3D debate made into anime! A part of me feels a little bit curious, but I don’t particularly like the designs and overall it just looks bland, so pass.

Aikatsu Friends!

Animation Company: Bandai Namco Pictures Website: http://www.aikatsu.com/friends/teaser/ Genre: Music Airing Date: April 5, 2018 Summary: “Let’s go, together! Head for the goal, Diamond Friends!!” The new anime will have a theme of “Aikatsu with your friends!” and will center on a new protagonist named Aine Yuuki, who is good at making friends, and is enrolled in Star Harmony Academy’s general education track. She befriends Mio Minato, the school’s top idol, and becomes an idol herself. Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: I never gotten into the Aikatsu series. It is too bad because they always have adorable character designs.

Berry: I had only watched a bit of the previous season, Aikatsu Stars, and thought it was cute and the music in it was pretty good. I fell behind on it but I love the designs here, so I’m gonna check it out!

MidnightDevont: IDOL ANIME, female idols? HAHAHAHAHA, HAHAHAHA, I had this talk the other day. I’m pretty much an exclusive ‘male idol’ anime kinda gal.

Pandora: They still making these?

Aplus: I will always give music anime a shot. I’ve regretted it more times than I’ve enjoyed it but, hey, they can’t all be winners, right?

Fuzzy: Not a really big fan of the art style, but the PV has some nice voice acting, so maybe it’ll have good songs? Still a no though. 

Shadow: Too many girls looking way too colorful and too moe. Was never into female idol animes so this is definitely a no go.

Tsuyoku: I have very little interest in idol anime in general and although this seems cute, I doubt it’ll be the exception, so I doubt I’ll check it out.

Amanchu! Advance (S2)

Animation Company: J.C. Staff Website: http://amanchu-anime.com/ Genre: Comedy Slice of Life Airing Date: April 7, 2018 Summary: The second season of Amanchu! Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: I watched the first episode of the first season, and then forgot about it. I intend to get around to watch it at some point though.

Berry: Didn’t watch the first season. I watched the first episode and that girl with the green hair kept making that weird fish face with the giant smile and it was creepy.

MidnightDevont: Didn’t watch the first season, not even sure what it’s about. Not gonna lie, the art is pretty though. This might be something I double back and look at.

Pandora: Never seen this first season.

Aplus: Never heard of this show before. To be fair, Slice of life is my kryptonite. It’s the one genre I just can never get into even if I want to. It’s like the sims of anime. I’m good.

Fuzzy: Didn’t watch the first season, but the PV does look promising. Really pretty and seems to have a nice cozy vibe. Probably won’t touch it though. 

Shadow: I didn’t watch the first season.

Tsuyoku: I’ll be watching this, as I watched the first season and the OVA, but I don’t have much interest in blogging about it because it’s not a show that makes me want to say a lot about it.

Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu HAPPY KISS

Animation Company: Studio Comet Website: http://boueibu.com/hk/index.html Genre: Slice of Life, Comedy, Parody, Magic, School Airing Date: April 9, 2018 Summary: (Spin-Off Series)  Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: I couldn’t get into the original series, so I suspect I won’t like the spin-off either.

Berry: Saw the first season but not the second season. It was a fun watch but I don’t think I’d watch more.

MidnightDevont: -sighs- Well, I covered season 1 back in the day. I’ve watched season 2 and the OVA…I am genuinely curious about this entirely new cast and what they are going to do with the reality show plot threads from the original series and if they’re going to go down the more musical route of the second season. Which I genuinely enjoyed,So, sign me up.

Pandora: I watched the first season, and then I never watched the second season. I probably should. The first season was pretty funny, though, back in the day.

Aplus: Wow. If that picture isn’t enough to get someone interested, then I don’t know what is. There’s always one of these in every season. Just a bunch of bros, hanging out and drinking milk. Not my idea of a good night-in. I’m going to hard pass on this. 

Fuzzy: Nope, does not seem like my type of show at all. 

Shadow: I attempted to watch the first season of this with a friend but I honestly couldn’t watch more than three episodes.

Tsuyoku: Back in the day I would have watched this just for the voice actors, but I don’t really have the patient for it anymore.

Possible Bloggers: MidnightDevont

Boku no Hero Academia 3

Animation Company: BONES Website: http://heroaca.com/ Genre: Action Comedy Airing Date: April 7, 2018 Summary: The third season of Boku no Hero Academia. Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

disTeam Impression

Eva: STARES AT BACKLOG … I really should be reading the manga and getting around to watch this show already….

Berry: This show is more fun to watch than to blog, so HOO BOY. HERE WE GO I CAN’T WAIT FOR MORE. Second season was absolutely amazing so I can’t even imagine what’s in store next (i don’t read manga).

MidnightDevont: Hmmmm, seems like Oki had been covering the other seasons. With her on hiatus…-snakes around the series- Seriously though! I love Hero Academia so much and my friend has me REALLY hyped up for the third season. So if none of the other bloggers want it, I’ll take it for sure!

Pandora: Nope. Everyone loves this show, but I only able to get through 3 episode. I don’t remember why though, it’s been awhile.

Aplus: Well, well, well. Here we are again. I have to agree with some of the other writers on this. Incredibly fun show to watch and that almost makes me not want to blog it. Sometimes shutting my brain off is the best choice.

Fuzzy: Okay, super excited for BnHA. Definitely one of my recent favorites and very excited for the content it’s covering, but I’m fine with just watching along.

Shadow: I have been so HYPED about this series and hoo boy, this season is going to be INTENSE. I’m sure a bunch of people would want to blog about this and I just want to enjoy watching it.

Tsuyoku: I’ll probably wait for the whole season to finish airing before I marathon it, so I won’t be following weekly, but I’m as hyped as everyone else!

Possible Bloggers: MidnightDevont

Butlers ~Chitose Momotose Monogatari~

Animation Company: SILVER LINK. Website: http://www.butlers-anime.com/ Genre: Action, Comedy Airing Date: April 12, 2018 Summary: Koma Jinguji (Jay) is the smart and handsome student council president. His elegant smile captures the hearts of women. Tsubasa Hayakawa is a multi-talented and gentle shop assistant at a café. His cafe latte with owl latte art is very popular with female customers. The two men travel through time to fight their archenemy. The charming “Butlers,” as they are called, fight supernatural battles and also experience a slapstick comedic life at their academy. Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: I am not entirely sure what to think of it, but it sounds and looks pretty cool. I will probably check this one out at some point or another.

Berry: This actually looks decent. And the slapstick comedy part throws me off because the PV looked pretty cool. I’ll probably check it out.

MidnightDevont: THIS SOMEHOW PASSED ENTIRELY UNDER MY RADAR! This sounds amazing! I have a ton of other things i’m thinking of putting my name down under for wanting to blog though. That is the only thing holding me back from throwing myself down as a possible blogger for this! I’ll be watching for sure though! Maybe if nobody else wants it i’ll look into covering it….AH! WHY IS THIS SEASON LOOKING SO GOOD?

Pandora: Seem interesting. I probably could watch for the comedy.

Aplus: Now, generally anything with the words ‘monogatari’ in the title gets me interested. It’s sort of like a Pavlovian response at this point. I will definitely give this show a chance, but the comedy-action balance is a hard thing to get right. I will hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

Fuzzy: I like the premise, reminds me a bit of Sakamoto-kun except now there are two less Sakamotos, which is more than one whole Sakamoto I guess? Probably a pass though. 

Shadow: The premise does seem interesting and I wouldn’t mind giving it a look. But I’m a bit hesitant about it as well since Silver Link is a very hit or miss studio. Not to mention my sense of humor is… strange. I’m either dying laughing or it just kind of passes over my head. I think I’ll just be content watching this to see where it goes and if it tickles my funny bone.

Tsuyoku: I’m not interested in these butlers. I don’t know why, but the PV makes it seems really serious, yet there’s comedy in the summary. I find the contrast jarring.

Possible Bloggers: MidnightDevont

Caligula

Animation Company: Satelight Website: http://caligula-anime.com/ Genre: Action, Sci-Fi Airing Date: April 8, 2018 Summary: The Caligula Effect is set in a virtual reality program known as “Mobius”, created so people can escape pain in their lives and live in an idyllic high school setting, forced to live out their 3 years Indefinitely. The main protagonist is one of a group who realize that they are in a virtual world, and form the “Go-Home Club”, a group dedicated to escaping from Mobius and its god-like overseer program, a vocal program called “μ”. They oppose the “Ostinato Musicians”, a group who supports μ and sees the Go-Home Club as traitors. Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: I was this close to buying the game, but changed my mind about it. So I might watch this, wouldn’t hurt to try- but I don’t have any major expectations from it.

Berry: Yeah, this could be a hit or miss. Like, it has the potential to be great but it could just as easily fuck up bad if handled wrong. I will tread cautiously on this one.

MidnightDevont: ….This sounds like Sword Art and Ready Player One had a baby, and it sounds kind of cool. -slams head on table- STOP TEMPTING ME WITH SHOWS SPRING SEASON. Alright, moderation is a thing…pass…pass…

Pandora: I feel like this will be one of shows that had a good idea, but they are somehow going to fail at episode 6. Interesting, though, nonetheless.

Aplus: History repeats itself. In this case, that means I am 100% going to watch this to completion and it will more likely than not get lost in its own premise and sputter out before anything actually happens. I wholeheartedly look forward to it. Plus, it’s ironic, isn’t it? The people there are using VR to escape the pain in their lives and I’m using the show to do the same…..

Fuzzy: It looks alright, a definite “maybe it’ll be a hit?” or “maybe it’ll be like the other twenty mediocre shows that are like it.” Not worth it in my opinion. Pass.

Shadow: This looks like one of the edge lords of the season and could be an interesting watch… as long as there is good writing which is definitely a 50/50 with most animes of this caliber. So pass.

Tsuyoku: Definitely looks like the kind of show I would check out! Though learning it’s based off a game put me off slightly, so now I’m on the fence about it.

Possible Bloggers: Aplus

Captain Tsubasa (2018)

Animation Company: David Production Website: http://ball-ha-tomodachi.com/ Genre: Action, Sports, Shounen Airing Date: April 3, 2018 Summary: Captain Tsubasa is the passionate story of an elementary school student whose thoughts and dreams revolve almost entirely around the love of soccer. 11-year-old Tsubasa Oozora started playing football at a very young age, and while it was mostly just a recreational sport for his friends, for him, it developed into something of an obsession. In order to pursue his dream to the best of his elementary school abilities, Tsubasa moves with his mother to Nankatsu city, which is well-known for its excellent elementary school soccer teams. But although he was easily the best in his old town, Nankatsu has a lot more competition, and he will need all of his skill and talent in order to stand out from this new crowd. He encounters not only rivals, but also new friends like the pretty girl Sanae Nakazawa and the talented goalkeeper, Genzo Wakabayashi, who shares the same passion as Tsubasa, and will prove to be a treasured friend in helping him push towards his dreams. Representing Japan in the FIFA World Cup is Tsubasa’s ultimate dream, but it will take a lot more than talent to reach it. Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: I remember watching a bit of the original series during my “Sports Anime Marathon” I pulled one summer! 😀 I don’t think I ever completed it though…

Berry: I’ve always wanted to get into Captain Tsubasa but never did, but with a reboot and an easier way to watch, then heck yes! I love soccer and love sports anime, so I’m excited! I also love that they still stuck close to the original art style. Btw, 2018 World Cup this summer and I am PUMPED! >:)

MidnightDevont: Oh look, at last, something I could care less about…I’ve seen a total of 3 sports anime i’ve enjoyed and this does not look like it would be one of them.

Pandora: Nope. Sports

Aplus: I think soccer is the final ‘major sport’ I have yet to find a good anime for. Days and Clean Freak Aoyama just didn’t do it for me. Baseball, basketball, volleyball, swimming, ping pong, and more have already been covered. I hope this can enter my sports hall of fame. I 

Fuzzy: Never watched Tsubasa. YET! So pass.

Shadow: Seems like there’s been a trend of revamping old anime. Unfortunately I never got into this series in the past nor do I have much of an interest now. Pass.

Tsuyoku: I watched some of the original Captain Tsubasa on TV as a kid and I remember enjoying it, but I’m not really interested in getting back into it now. I’m more of a baseball person than a soccer person.

Comic Girls

Animation Company: Nexus Website: http://comic-girls.com/ Genre: Slice of Life, Comedy Airing Date: April 5, 2018 Summary: The manga’s story centers on the 15-year-old high school student and manga creator Kaoruko Moeta, who uses the pen name Chaos. After ranking at the bottom of a reader survey, Kaoruko’s editor recommends that she enter an all-female dormitory for manga creators. Kaoruko’s roommates are shoujo manga creator Koyume Koizuka, teen romance manga creator Ruki Irokawa, and shounen manga creator Tsubasa Katsuki. The girls support each other as they work to become better manga creators. Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: I like the sound of it, but I am not sure if it will keep me interested from start to finish.

Berry: This is just going to be like another New Game where it’s less about making manga and more about the cute girls doing nothing. Boo, no thanks.

MidnightDevont: Wow, I can taste the cute rainbows and fluffiness from here…I might die from sugar overdose. Please, send help. No..um, pass, thanks.

Pandora: Looks interesting, only because I like to make comics. Probably won’t watch it though.

Aplus: Cute girls doing cute things? No one else is on board with this? Damn. It looks like a manga edition of New Game. Hopefully it’s as interesting and addresses the hardships of the industry as well as flaunting moe blobs. 

Fuzzy: Moebloberinos, not my thing. 

Shadow: Again, I’m not one for cute girls doing cute things aside from a few exceptions. Pass.

Tsuyoku: I’ll probably be checking this one out since I find these kind of shows educational, but I’m not very interested in blogging about it.

Cutie Honey Universe

Animation Company: Production Reed Website: http://cutiehoney-u.com/ Genre: Action, Comedy, Magic, Ecchi, Sci-Fi, Shoujo Airing Date: April 8, 2018 Summary: Honey Kisaragi appears to be an ordinary girl attending St. Chapel Academy, but in reality she’s the “Warrior of Love” Cutie Honey, a super-powered android created by Dr. Kisaragi. Honey and her allies investigate the evil schemes of Panther Claw, a criminal secret society, but Honey doesn’t realize that the leader of Panther Claw is already closer than she thinks… Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: I am liking the trend of old school titles making a comeback! 😀 Although I’m not big with ecchi, I will probably be tuning in for this one. I did watch a bit of the original series.

Berry: The original 80’s OP is catchy as hell, but I’m not an ecchi person so no thanks.

MidnightDevont: HONEY FLASH! While I’ve never been a Cutie Honey fan outside of listening to it’s super catchy opening. I hope someone covers it so I can read about it at least, I’ll pass, but I hope this classic gets some love.

Pandora: Looks cool and retro. I like old school shows like Dirty Pair and stuff like that.

Aplus: The resurgence of this type of animation is very cool! I probably won’t blog it, but I will definitely check it out. Tasteful ecchi is always a plus in my book.

Fuzzy: I’ve heard great things about the original Cutie Honey. But I think it’s a pass for me. 

Shadow: Ecchi is a no go for me.

Tsuyoku: I never watched the original Cutie Honey, but I’ve always wanted to get into it, seems like this might be the perfect time for it! I really like how it looks and I’m familiar with other works of Go Nagai, so I’m curious to see if this kept his essence. Definitely picking this one up!

Possible Bloggers: Tsuyoku

Devil’s Line

Animation Company: Platinum Vision Website: http://devilsline.jp/ Genre: Action, Drama, Horror, Romance, Supernatural Airing Date: April 7, 2018 Summary: Tsukasa, a college student, is rescued from an attack by a devil, one of many vampires that can blend in among the human population. Anzai, her savior, is a half-devil who exploits his supernatural gifts as a member of a shadowy police task force that specializes in devil-related crime in Tokyo. As Anzai continues to keep guard over Tsukasa, the two quickly forge a tentative bond—one that Anzai fears will test his iron-clad rule of never drinking human blood… Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: Funny story, so I actually started reading the manga on a whim after I saw the announcement. The story and some of the characters interesting, but there are a lot of nasty stuff that happens in this series. That being said, I don’t see myself watching this.

Berry: It looks like a worse Tokyo Ghoul, so no. And I didn’t even like Tokyo Ghoul.

MidnightDevont: Huh, honestly I am conflicted. While this sounds like it would be entirely up my ally…it also has that ‘i’d lose interest quickly’ feel that I get every time I try to go back and watch Tokyo Ghoul…So it’s a pass for now. If I later hear that it’s good, maybe i’ll do a retro review or something.

Pandora: Reminded of Tokyo Ghoul, but I feel like I need more horror in my life. Too much comedy is bad for you, I guess. Gotta find something new and different.

Aplus: Ehhh, this looks ok I guess. I don’t get the ‘horror’ genre of anime. I haven’t been spooked yet despite watching a few horror titles. This is maybe a ‘binge at the end of the season depending on what I hear about this show’ show.

Fuzzy: I’m willing to give it a shot. Once again probably a strong hit or miss, but I like the music in the preview. What’s that you say? Music in a PV is a bad way to judge? Nonsense. 

Shadow: I am a complete baby when it comes to horror. The last time I tried to attempt horror, I lasted maybe three minutes into the first episode of Tokyo Ghoul until a jump scare happened and I NOPED out of that real fast. So I’ll pass on this.

Tsuyoku: It looks edgy and mysterious, but also average and forgettable. I’ll definitely pass on this one.

Possible Bloggers: Fuzzy

Dorei-ku The Animation

Animation Company: Zero-G Website: http://doreiku-anime.com/ Genre: Drama, Psychological Airing Date: April 12, 2018 Summary: What if you could enslave anyone you ever wanted? Well, this comes close. The SCM lets you enslave anyone who is also wearing an SCM, at a price. One must win over the other, at the cost of anything, in order for the other to become their slave.  Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: How about nO! UGH. Definitely not my cup of tea.

Berry: Bitch what is this? Lmao. This looks trashy as hell. It’s also creepy and nasty sounding.

MidnightDevont:  I am at least doing a first impressions on this. I don’t know why, but I am SUPER intrigued…it reminds me of Kakegurui in that sense and I LOVE the character designs. 

Pandora: Hey! It’s seems weird. I’ll watch it.

Aplus: Now horror may not be my thing, but I can always get behind a nice psychological tag! I won’t enter the fray, but I’ll definitely be watching alongside whichever of the other bloggers ends up deciding to cover this show.

Fuzzy: Reminds me of Kakegurui also, but Kakegurui was enough Kakegurui for me. Pass!

Shadow: After watching the PV, I don’t think this is my cup of tea. So no thanks.

Tsuyoku: Towards the end of Fall 2017 I did a check on the 2018 charts and this was one of the few that stood out. It’s definitely weird, so I find it intriguing. I’d be interested in check it out.

Possible Bloggers: MidnightDevont, Tsuyoku

Full Metal Panic! Invisible Victory

Animation Company: Xebec Website: http://fullmeta-iv.com/ Genre: Action Mecha Sci-Fi Airing Date: April 13, 2018 Summary: N/A – Coming Soon… Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: I am desperately trying to remember when I last watched this series…. OH MY GOD, THE LAST SEASON WAS IN 2005?! I’m pretty sure I watched it when it was complete, so it must’ve been 2006… I’m pretty sure of it! I’m going to have to binge watch the previous seasons again!

Berry: No mecha for me, but hey good for the fans.

MidnightDevont: Mecha anime, studio? Not Trigger, also I have never watched a FMP series in my life…pass. 

Pandora: Eww. Mecha.

Aplus: Haven’t watched any previous iterations, so this is a no go. I generally pass on mecha anyway. Trigger was my only exception, with TTGL being the deal breaker. I finally thought I found my ‘in’ into mechas. Then I watched Darling in the Franxx. Trigger is no longer the exception.

Fuzzy: This one’s been waiting for a long time, but I’m not too invested in FMP. Pass! 

Shadow: I’ve heard of this series but I was never interested in it.

Tsuyoku: I’ve never watched any of the previous ones and although it seems cool, I’d probably not play the catch up game on it yet.

Gegege no Kitaro

Animation Company: Toei Animation Website: http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/kitaro/ Genre: Comedy, Supernatural Airing Date: April 1, 2018 Summary: The story is set in the modern-day Japan, when people almost forget about yokai. Various phenomenons that cannot be explained by science start occurring frequently, and adult people are rushing around in confusion by groundless rumors. To settle the situations, 13-year-old girl Mana Inuyama sends a letter via the “Yokai Post,” then Kitaro appears with the iconic sounds of his geta, “Karan Koron.” Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: I never watched this series, and I can’t imagine that I will start now.

Berry: Not sure what to make of this. If people say it’s good, I would check it out.

MidnightDevont: The art is kind of weird and the summery um, sounds nothing like something I would enjoy. I’ll pass on this one.

Pandora: That art tho. But anyways, people need to start coming up with other ideas and stop remaking everything. Thanks.

Aplus: I have no idea what’s happening. I can’t even tell if it’s a good kind of weird or a bad kind. I’ll need to watch it to see for sure. The last yokai based show I watched was Yokai Apartments and that was a huge mistake so yokai-themed shows leave a bad taste in my mouth right now. Hopefully this show will change that!

Fuzzy: A bit too crazy for me. Pass.

Shadow: This looks super bizarre. Like I can’t tell if it wants to be creepy or funny with the character designs. I don’t think this is something I’d want to invest my time in.

Tsuyoku: This actually looks kind of cool to me and I’ve been digging some of the old stuff remakes that have been popping up lately, like Mahoujin Guru Guru last year, but although I might check it out, I don’t think I’ll cover it.

Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu -Die Neue These- Kaikou

Animation Company: Production I.G Website: http://gineiden-anime.com/ Genre: Action, Military, Sci-Fi, Drama Airing Date: April 3, 2018 Summary: In humanity’s distant future, two interstellar states—the monarchic Galactic Empire and the democratic Free Planets Alliance—are embroiled in a never-ending war. The story focuses on the exploits of rivals Reinhard von Müsel and Yang Wen Li as they rise to power and fame in the Galactic Empire and the Free Planets Alliance.  Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: Surprisingly I don’t believe I have ever watched Legend of the Galactic Heroes series- OH WAIT A MINUTE. JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, I WAS THIS CLOSE TO PICKING UP THE NOVEL!!!! I didn’t realize…. oh my god, I have some serious catching up to do!

Berry: Now THIS is another classic that many people talk about and that I’ve always wanted to watch. This is another one I’ve been excited for.

MidnightDevont: It sounds like boring space politics with pretty boys to me. So i’ll be passing this one by.

Pandora: Nope. I don’t particular like space dramas.

Aplus: I desperately want to watch this, but I have not even started the original show. The void of the ‘Plan to Watch List’ is too strong. 

Fuzzy: The reboot of my favorite show of all time? I need this. Let’s see if this lives up to the expectations set by the first!

Shadow: I was never a fan of space themes (aside from Star Wars at least). If people say it’s really good later on, maybe I’ll watch it. But for now, pass.

Tsuyoku: I’m still about mid-way in watching the original show, which is amazing and totally up my alley, so I’ll be definitely watching this one. I’ve been looking forward to it since last year!

Possible Bloggers: Fuzzy

Golden Kamui

Animation Company: Geno Studio Website: http://kamuy-anime.com/ Genre: Adventure, Drama, Romance Airing Date: April 9, 2018 Summary: In the early twentieth century, Russo-Japanese War veteran Saichi “Immortal” Sugimoto scratches out a meager existence during the postwar gold rush in the wilderness of Hokkaido. When he stumbles across a map to a fortune in hidden Ainu gold, he sets off on a treacherous quest to find it. But Sugimoto is not the only interested party, and everyone who knows about the gold will kill to possess it! Faced with the harsh conditions of the northern wilderness, ruthless criminals and rogue Japanese soldiers, Sugimoto will need all his skills and luck—and the help of an Ainu girl named Asirpa—to survive. Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: This might just be too violent for me… otherwise, I would definitely watch it.

Berry: I’ve wondered about this series as the manga is pretty popular and people say it’s good, so this is going to be one of the few shows I sign up for this season.

MidnightDevont:  I don’t know how to feel about this one. I have no real strong feelings towards it one way or the other…it seems to me like a show that will pass into obscurity and maybe one or two people will look back fondly and go “Yeah, I remember that show.” and smile…but not me…not me. 

Pandora: Nope. Historical.

Aplus: I will probably watch this. Like Fuzzy mentions, it does seem to err on being violent for the sake of violence rather than establishing actual substance. I’m always ready to be proven wrong though. 

Fuzzy: I like how different the premise is. But the PV seems like edge central with a lot of blood, but not a lot of substance. Pass. 

Shadow: Looks too intense and dark for my liking. Pass.

Tsuyoku: Pretty intense indeed, which I don’t dislike, but I’m usually not that much into historical anime and if I do watch it, it’ll probably be after it finishes airing.

Possible Bloggers: Berry

Gundam Build Divers

Animation Company: Sunrise Website: http://gundam-bd.net/ Genre: Action, Mecha, Sci-Fi Airing Date: April 3, 2018 Summary: The Gunpla Force Battle Tournament is a big event held in GBN once per year. Competing in the final round are Avalon, led by the champion Kyoya Kujo, and the elite 7th Panzer Division led by the cunning Rommel. Starting with Kyoya’s Gundam AGE II Magnum, a variety of Gunpla take to the field to determine which is the strongest force! Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: I love Gundam, but I don’t love Gundam Builders. Eh, maybe I’ll try again.

Berry: Not a Gundam or mecha person, I don’t know how many times I have to say this.

MidnightDevont:  Mecha, studio? Still not animated by Studio Trigger? Nope, couldn’t care less then. 

Pandora: Nope. Mecha.

Aplus: Mecha. Gundam. No.

Fuzzy: Haven’t dipped in the ocean of Gundam yet. Pass!

Shadow: Not the biggest mecha or Gundam fan, so no thanks.

Tsuyoku: I like Gundam, but I’ve never watched Gundam Builders and I don’t think that’s changing any time soon.

Gurazeni

Animation Company: Studio DEEN Website: https://www.bs-sptv.com/gurazeni/ Genre: Sports Airing Date: April , 2018 Summary: The “baseball money survival” story focuses on a baseball team that operates as a highly-stratified society, where the player’s performance determines his annual salary. The story follows an eight-year relief pitcher with an odd left-handed side-arm throw as he fights to survive under the team’s strict system. Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: Oh you have my attention! It is a very different take from the usual sports anime we are used to! I will have to check this one out!

Berry: Another sport I love is baseball so again, I love this. Though the art style doesn’t really match the serious premise?

MidnightDevont: TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME! Honestly though, this does look like your different kind of sports anime. Perhaps this is the rare one that will catch my attention and I’ll enjoy it. That being said, I’m still taking a hard pass on covering it. 

Pandora: Interesting premise, but it’s sports and those always end up boring.

Aplus: Sports = automatic checking out. Whether or not I’ll keep up with it is another story. 

Fuzzy: Seems like it could be funny and has potential, but I’m pretty picky with sports anime, so nope. 

Shadow: I may give this a look since I’ve learned after Kuroko to give sports anime a chance, but I don’t think I would be that interested in blogging about it.

Tsuyoku: As a baseball anime fan, I’m definitely checking this one out! It also helps the cast is adult and it seems to include some of the problems of his professional life. I can’t tell yet if I’ll stick to it, but I’d want to give it a try at least.

Possible Bloggers: Tsuyoku

High School DxD HERO (S4)

Animation Company: Passione Website: http://www.haremking.tv/ Genre: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Romance Airing Date: April 10, 2018 Summary: The fourth season of High School DxD. Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: I will never watch this, period. On the side note, looks like another studio it picked it up! I wonder what fans think of the newly adapted character designs?

Berry: Yeah I really wonder what fans think of the new art style. They look like babies now. Either way, yeah nah.

MidnightDevont: Despite Oki’s best efforts to tell me that this series is actually way better then I would think it is. I still have yet to watch this series previous seasons, so I’ll pass. 

Pandora: Ay! I haven’t finished watching the third season, but I liked this show. It’s not just ecchi and craziness, it was an interesting story mixed in. About to finish watching it, just for this.

Aplus: I begrudgingly watched the first 3 seasons at the behest of a friend who swore by it. I do enjoy tasteful ecchi, but this show went a little too far over the line. When the ecchi becomes your main power source for getting stronger and drives the plot, I’m out. But this looks really cool… the new art style is really up my alley… I’ll let Pandora cover it, but I will most likely end up watching (and still not enjoying) this series.

Fuzzy: One day someone will convince me to give this a chance, but it is not this day. Pass!

Shadow: Yeah, no thanks. Ecchi usually equates to nope for me. Everyone looks really pretty I must say though.

Tsuyoku: I’m going to openly admit I always mix this up with other shows, that’s how small my interest in it is. Pass.

Possible Bloggers: Pandora

Hinamatsuri

Animation Company: feel. Website: http://hina-matsuri.net/ Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Slice of Life Airing Date: April 6, 2018 Summary: The comedy manga centers around a super-powered girl named Hina and Nitta, a young member of the yakuza. Hina suddenly appears in Nitta’s room and threatens him with her extraordinary powers. However, they end up living together. Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: For some reason this reminds me a bit of Level E…. It’s probably just me. Definitely looks like it will be a funny one!

Berry: No thanks.

MidnightDevont: Does…this picture have an E.T. reference? pfft. That’s kind of funny. Still, I think i’ll pass on this one for now. 

Pandora: The picture has an E.T. reference( when that movie is still revelant??) Interesting though.

Aplus: I laughed so I feel obligated to watch now. Comedies are always a huge hit or miss though. Anything to keep reality at bay. 

Fuzzy: Seems like it could be pretty funny! Willing to give it a shot. 

Shadow: When I first saw the cover image to this anime my mind immediately went: E.T.??? I may want to give it a couple episodes to see how it is. Who knows, maybe it’ll be a diamond in the rough. With that said, I don’t think I’ll be blogging about it.

Tsuyoku: Wow, this looks really funny! The art style is very nice and appealing to me too. It had slipped under my radar since the E.T. reference poster doesn’t really stand out to me much, but the PV convinced me. Not sure I’ll stick to it though.

Possible Bloggers: Fuzzy

Hisone to Maso-tan

Animation Company: BONES Website: http://hisomaso.com/ Genre: Military, Fantasy Airing Date: April 13, 2018 Summary: Straightforward and innocent Hisone Amakasu is a Self-Defense Force rookie stationed at the Air Self-Defense Force’s Gifu Base. She was struggling with the fact that she sometimes hurts people unintentionally by her innocent words and decided to join the Air Self-Defence Force, hoping to maintain a certain distance from people. This decision led her to a fateful encounter which profoundly changed her life. It was the “OTF” dragon hidden in the base and it chose Hisone as his pilot. When it soared into the sky with Hisone, her fate as a dragon pilot was decided. It is said that dragons have a key to the future of the world… Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: I am not particularly a huge fan of the art style, but I’m willing to give it a shot.

Berry: Interesting art but where is your nose?! This looks interesting though and it’s Bones so what could go wrong?

MidnightDevont:  Cute girls and military situations are barely ever my cup of tea. See Saga of Tanya the evil for the only exception to this rule. I’ll pass on this one, even if there is a cute dragon. On that note, does the dragon look like anime toothless to anyone else? 

Pandora: The artwork is cool, but no.

Aplus: Yeah, I guess. Really have no strong opinion on this in either direction which probably means it’ll be great or really boring because my first impressions are usually incredibly off-target. 

Fuzzy: Ehhh, nothing about it makes me interested. 

Shadow: The art style looks interesting, but the fact that almost all the people in this series seems to be missing a nose is throwing me off a bit. I’ll probably look at the first episode but I’ll have to pass on blogging about this.

Tsuyoku: Original anime by Bones with series composition by Mari Okada? Nice and different-looking artwork? Check and check! I’ll be picking this one up since it seems character-oriented and has a touching vibe to it.

Possible Bloggers: Tsuyoku

Hoozuki no Reitetsu 2: Part II

Animation Company: Studio DEEN Website: http://www.hozukino-reitetsu.com/ Genre: Comedy Fantasy Supernatural Airing Date: April 8, 2018 Summary: The second cour of Hoozuki no Reitetsu 2 Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: Never liked it.

Berry: Couldn’t get into this series.

MidnightDevont: I’m conflicted, I liked season one well enough but not really enough to go back to it…so i want to pass…but at the same time…eh. I’ll pass. 

Pandora: Never seen season one.

Aplus: I’ve never heard of this show. It looks cool enough that I’d start watching it by accident while randomly browsing, but not cool enough that I’d decide to specifically start watching the show.

Fuzzy: Never heard of this, never touched season 1, so pass. 

Shadow: I didn’t watch the first season of this so no thanks.

Tsuyoku: I’ve always thought the character designs for this are awesome, but it’s never been enough to get me into it.

Inazuma Eleven: Ares no Tenbin

Animation Company: OLM Website: http://www.inazuma.jp/ares/ Genre: Sports Airing Date: April 6, 2018 Summary: The story is set after the first Inazuma Eleven, but will take place in a parallel world from all other Inazuma Eleven games apart from the first because the story has taken a different course. In the story, protagonist Asuto Inamori’s soccer club is disbanded after the school’s soccer field is destroyed. He and friends go to Tokyo to attend Daimon-chuu (Daimon Junior High) to play soccer. Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: This is one of the few soccer ones I could never get into.

Berry: I’ve always hated the designs in this show.

MidnightDevont: didn’t see the FIRST Inazuma Eleven…not gonna see this one either. 

Pandora: No sports up in here.

Aplus: Sports = automatic checking out. I actually never saw the original series but, like I mentioned with the other soccer show airing this season, I really want to find a solid soccer anime. Out of all the sports anime I watch, soccer is the only sport I’ve actively played (for over a decade now) and am invested in so I guess my standards are just a bit higher.

Fuzzy: Maybe I’d watch this if I was ten. But not now. Pass!

Shadow: Some of the character designs are a little too out there for me. Not to mention I didn’t even watch the original series of this, so I’ll have to pass.

Tsuyoku: I’ve never seen the original so I don’t think I’d pick up this one up and there’s plenty other titles that interest me more.

Isekai Izakaya: Koto Aitheria no Izakaya Nobu.

Animation Company: Sunrise Website: https://r.gnavi.co.jp/nobu/ Genre: Fantasy Airing Date: April 13, 2018 Summary: There’s a bar called “Nobu” located in Kyoto, Japan. In it is a door that is connected to a bar in another world. The visitors include denizens of the other world, and customers seek out its excellent “Toriaezu Nama” ale and cuisine. Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: Nothing about this is grabbing my attention.

Berry: This is literally like that other show with the restaurant, it’s literally the same thing. What the heck.

MidnightDevont: Huh, cute, good premise…if I wasn’t holding out to jump on three more very specific shows I might toss myself as a possible blogger on this one. 

Pandora: Hmm. The question is ” Is it going to be funny?”

Aplus: Wait, what? Did the isekai restaurant anime just not do well so they decided to remake it? What is happening? No, I won’t watch this. The other show was so horribly boring. Why would I subject myself to it again?

Fuzzy: This seems interesting and I love izakaya dens. Might take it up!

Shadow: Hmm, the premise sounds very similar to another anime a couple seasons ago. I may give it a watch, but I’ll pass on blogging.

Tsuyoku: I might watch this after the season ends, but I don’t think I’ll keep with it weekly or be interested in blogging about it.

Possible Bloggers: Fuzzy

Juushinki Pandora

Animation Company: Satelight Website: http://www.project-pandora.jp/ Genre: Mecha, Sci-Fi Airing Date: March 29, 2018 (Netflix Premiere) |April 4, 2018 (TV Premiere) Summary: The new series is set in a near-future world where the boundary between human being and AI is vague. A rapid biological evolution, similar to “Cambrian Explosion,” is caused by one incident. This incident turns into the genesis of a new jostle for supremacy, and the influence of the evolution goes beyond biological framework and spreads to various kinds of materials and technologies. The era of massive evolution involving diverse existences, such as human, machines, and biotechnologies, is coming. Characters fight an existential war in such a world. Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: Well I don’t have a whole lot of expectations for this one, but I will be checking it out. But ugh, I wish Satelight could just improve the quality of their CG… It looks so dated.

Berry: No no no, where’s there’s too much going on in the synopsis, then that’s baaaaad. Keep your expectations low.

MidnightDevont: Alright, follow with me this time. It’s a mecha series…is it animated by STUDIO TRIGGER? Then I. don’t. Care. I have liked 3 mecha’s in my 20+ years of watching anime and they have been by Gainax[which fractured into studio Trigger], been a parody or are a currently airing show named ‘Darling in the Franxx’.

Pandora: No mecha and no apolcalyses.

Aplus: Looks like I’ll binge it, feel meh about it, and forget all the characters names and the plot a few weeks later because it ends up being cut short due to episode limits and ends up being an advertisement to read the source material.

Fuzzy: The synopsis alone is very very anime. Doesn’t seem like it’ll be anything special. Pass.  

Shadow: Sounds like a lot is going on in this plot and that rarely amounts to actual good writing. Unless I hear otherwise, I’m probably not going to be watching this. So, pass.

Tsuyoku: It seems to me like this will be the kind of show that will focus more in the action scenes than in trying to get across what’s going on. Not very interested at the moment.

Kakuriyo no Yadomeshi

Animation Company: GONZO Website: http://kakuriyo-anime.com/ Genre: Supernatural Airing Date: April 2, 2018 Summary: Female college student Aoi inherited her deceased grandfather’s ability to see ayakashi. One day, while Aoi is feeding some ayakashi, a demon appears! He declares that Aoi’s grandfather owed a great debt, and as compensation, Aoi must marry the demon! Aoi refuses, and decides to pay off the debt by working. Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: Oh man when I first heard about this one, I knew I had to watch it. SIGN ME UP! Oh how I’d love to read the novel!

Berry: Definitely got Kamisama Kiss vibes as well and that series (before it fucked up) was great. This looks up my alley.

MidnightDevont:  Oh wow, the art here is super pretty. Like, that is some amazing promotional art. The plot however does not seem like my thing. Cute, but not my thing. So i’ll leave this one to the others!

Pandora: Nah.

Aplus: Looks nice. That’s about it. Sorry sakura blossoms. You won’t win me over this time.

Fuzzy: Looks interesting, and I love anime with ayakashi, but I’ll just watch it casually. 

Shadow: One glance at the PV and I immediately got Kamisama Kiss vibes from it. I have to say, I’m a little intrigued by this so I may just want to give this a go.

Tsuyoku: This isn’t the type of show I usually watch, but I might give it an episode or two to see if it holds my attention. The art is nice, even if it’s simple.

Possible Bloggers: Eva, Shadow

Kiratto Pri☆Chan

Animation Company: Tatsunoko Production, Dongwoo A&E Website: http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/prichan/ Genre: Magic, Music, Shoujo, Slice of Life Airing Date: April 8, 2018 Summary: First-year middle school girls Mirai Momoyama and Emo Moegi are two aspiring idols who decide to use the “Pri☆Chan System,” a system used by famous people and companies to broadcast content. Like many girls starting their own channels and uploading content, the pair decide to become their own producers, starting their own channel in an attempt to become Pri☆Chan idols. Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: I think the only Pripara “related” series I watched was Pretty Rhythm: Aurora Dream. I haven’t watched anything else ever since.

Berry: Again with kiddie idol shows, I did watch a bit of PriPara and loved it but fell behind. Don’t know if I’ll follow this one though.

MidnightDevont:  A magical girl series, but not either one of the ones I am holding out for. Cute, but pass. 

Pandora: Nope. I don’t really like too many idol shows.

Aplus: I’m not saying I will absolutely never watch this show. I’m just saying it’ll be a dark, dark time when my go-to anime is a middle school girl (that look like they’re 5) idol show.

Fuzzy: Yeah, no. 

Shadow: I think my limit of overly cutesy girls was Shugo Chara (which wasn’t too cutsey), and that was a while ago. So I’m gonna have to pass on this.

Tsuyoku: Not interested in this. Idol magical girls are not particularly my thing.

Possible Bloggers:

Ladyspo

Animation Company: *TBA Website: N/A Genre: Sci-Fi, Comedy Airing Date: April 10, 2018 Summary: The anime is a science-fiction comedy where various pro sports bounty hunters fight each other in sporting events. The story centers on Arigetti, Korupi, and Sabina, three women in a team who participate in various sports. Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: I can’t see myself liking this at all.

Berry: This looks like it could get trashy so I might pass on this one.

MidnightDevont:  Sci-fi…sports…hunters…IS THIS HUNTER X HUNTER? Wait, it’s not? What do you mean the manga is still on hiatus? Don’t get my hopes up? NOOOOOOOOOO. 

Pandora: Sports. I’ma need to pass.

Aplus: Yup. I’m in. It’s so mysterious, I just don’t see how it could go wrong.

Fuzzy: I might’ve been interested, but the title makes me think it’ll be like Keijo. Pass. 

Shadow: What even is this? Doesn’t seem like it’ll be up my alley so, pass.

Tsuyoku: I’m not sure what to think of this! An original anime with no studio, no PV, barely any information, it could frankly be a mess. It seems kind of interesting, though so I might give the first episode a look to get a better idea.

Possible Bloggers: Aplus

Last Period: Owarinaki Rasen no Monogatari

Animation Company: J.C. Staff Website: http://lastperiod.jp/ Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Magic, Fantasy Airing Date: April 12, 2018 Summary: The story takes place in a world where fantastic beasts called “Spirals” are born from isolation. Those who can defeat the beasts are called “Periods.” Haru is an apprentice Period who belongs to the Arc End 8th Branch. However, after a mysterious theft incident, there is an economic collapse, and the Arc End headquarters abandons the 8th Division, leaving only three Periods left, including Haru. Haru and the other two Periods start their work to rebuild the 8th Division. Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: I am not feeling this one. It doesn’t grab my attention.

Berry: Eeeehhhhhh…doesn’t seem like my kind of show.

MidnightDevont:  Spirals? Is this Gurren Lagann? Just kidding, this sounds cute and all, but once again I am holding out grabbing any more spots until I see the three series I really want to sink my teeth into. 

Pandora: Nope. Don’t feel like it because it looks like the main characters will catch Ls.

Aplus: I’m into it. Will definitely check out. Will I blog it? No, probably not. It’s so close to being too childish.  

Fuzzy: A bit too cutesey daisy for me. Not just a bit. A lot. Pass! 

Shadow: This looks WAAAAYYYY too moe and kiddish for my liking. Pass.

Tsuyoku: This looks cute! Way too cute though, so I’ll pass.

:

Layton Mystery Tanteisha: Katori no Nazotoki File

Animation Company: LIDENFILMS Website: https://www.layton-anime.jp/ Genre: Mystery, Comedy, Kids Airing Date: April 8, 2018 Summary: 50 Puzzling Episodes, One Gentlewoman Extraordinaire and a Whole Load of New Mysteries coming to the small screen in 2018!  Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: Never played any of the Layton games, but I am curious how it will turn out. I can see myself watching a few episodes.

Berry: Never played the Layton games but I always wanted to. Good for the fans!

MidnightDevont: Well, it can’t be any worse then the movie right? That being said, I’m not big on Layton and 50 episodes is a lot. So pass. 

Pandora: Nope. Couldn’t even play that game on the DS. So hard back in the day when I was ten because it was puzzle based.

Aplus: I’m not super into the mystery/puzzle genre. I still need to figure my own life out first. You feel me?

Fuzzy: I really should get into Layton one day. But I’m not too big a mystery guy. Pass!

Shadow: I was about to say, this style looks a lot like Dr. Layton. I never got into that series and I’m not huge on mystery anyways so I’ll give this a pass.

Tsuyoku: I’m a huge Professor Layton fan and a huge mystery fan so I’m pretty excited about this, but that episode count is terrifying.

Lost Song

Animation Company: Dwango & LIDENFILMS Website: http://lost-song.com/ Genre: Fantasy Airing Date: March 31, 2018 2018 (Netflix Premiere) | April 7, 2018  (TV Premiere) Summary: Rin is an energetic girl who loves to eat and lives in a verdant frontier village. Deep within the royal palace in the bustling capital city, the songstress Finis spends her days in solitude. Both share a special power no other person has. A miraculous power that can heal wounds, create water and stir the wind — the power of song. Guided by destiny, the two young women each face an arduous journey with the power of song. The shadow of war looms over the kingdom, tainting even the miraculous songs with the blood of innocents. Loved ones meet their deaths as silent screams echo through a stone prison. Trailer:  PV 1 | PV 2

Team Impression

Eva: Musical Fantasy? Well that’s hard to pass now isn’t it! But the CG… cringes Stupid pet-peeves…. I will try my best to ignore it.

Berry: This slipped under my radar! This actually looks quite nice. CG is a little off putting, but the story grabs enough of my attention. Don’t know if I’ll cover it but I’ll think about it.

MidnightDevont: Is this Fire Emblem? It looks like Fire Emblem. All joking aside, it um, sounds interesting sort of? Not sure if I want to cover it, but I might watch the first episode out of curiosity. 

Pandora: Eh…not my cup of tea.

Aplus: A musical anime is something I’ve been waiting for! I also like the CG in it. In general, the quality of CG has been improving and I’m happy to be documenting it’s rise into mainstream. Infini-T Force and Houseki no Kuni are just two amazing examples of what can be done. Definitely checking this out. Come along for this sing-along journey with meeeee!

Fuzzy: It seems interesting, I’m not too turned off by the CG, and I love music in anime. Might watch the first episode. 

Shadow: I almost made up my mind on not even bothering with this with the cg dancing in the trailer. But I may want to give it a watch since I’m a huge fantasy fan, for at least a couple episodes to see if it’s any good. Probably won’t blog it though.

Tsuyoku: The designs are nice and the setting seems a little intriguing, but it’s not interesting enough to me.

Possible Bloggers: Aplus

Lostorage Conflated WIXOSS (S2)

Animation Company: J.C. Staff Website: http://lostorage-wixoss.com/ Genre: Game, Psychological Airing Date: April 7, 2018 Summary: The second season of Lostorage incited WIXOSS. Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: I haven’t seen the first season, but I haven’t heard good things about it either…

Berry: WIXOSS is a fantastic series that should have ended after selector spread WIXOSS. Lostorage was unnecessary and was so bad that I couldn’t even finish it. They even brought the original characters back for this, HOW DARE THEY.

MidnightDevont: Didn’t watch the first season, despite how interesting it sounded to me. I heard it was actually pretty bad, can anyone confirm?

Pandora: No, Wixxoss for me. One episode and I was done with that franchise.

Aplus: I don’t have enough time to binge the first season. I’ve been meaning to for a while now, ever since I found out this show existed! I’m weak…

Fuzzy: Never been a Wixoss fan. Pass!

Shadow: I never saw the first season so, pass.

Tsuyoku: I am familiar with this franchise in the sense that I know it exists, that’s as far as I’m willing to go.

Lupin III: Part V

Animation Company: Telecom Animation Film Website: https://lupin-pt5.com/ Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy Airing Date: April 4, 2018 Summary: In the new series, Lupin III will travel to France — the home of his grandfather and namesake, Maurice Leblanc’s master thief character Arsène Lupin. Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: I used to enjoy the Lupin series, but I am not really into it anymore.

Berry: Have never seen a single Lupin, though I feel that I would enjoy it a lot. Frankly, I think it’s too late to catch up.

MidnightDevont:  I do love Lupin, but it’s been forever and a day since i’ve actually watched a series for him. I’ll pass, but you keep doing you Lupin! 

Pandora: My brother was watching it on Adult Swim, but it was 2am, so I have never seen it before. I heard it was good.

Aplus: Lupin is one of the few series I’m 100% positive I would love and I have no idea why I haven’t even attempted to watch it yet. I have to pass, but maybe this will ignite the fire in me to actually watch.

Fuzzy: Haven’t dabbled in Lupin yet, so pass!

Shadow: I may want to pick this up eventually since it’s a huge inspiration for a certain game that I love. But for now, pass.

Tsuyoku: I’ve seen a handful of Lupin movies and the artsy Fujiko Mine show, so I’m familiar with the cast and I like them, but I’d have to let others gauge out this show’s quality before I decide to give it a watch.

Mahou Shoujo Ore

Animation Company: Pierrot Plus Website: http://magicalgirl-ore.com/ Genre: Comedy Fantasy Mahou Shoujo Airing Date: April 2, 2018 Summary: Saki Uno is a high school girl and rookie idol who has a crush on Mohiro, her best friend’s older brother. When Mohiro is kidnapped by demons, Saki hastily makes a shady contract to be able to transform into a magical girl, which transforms her body into that of a handsome man. Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: I KNOW I ASKED FOR MORE TRADITIONAL MAGICAL GIRL SHOWS… BUT… BUT… I CAN’T. WHAT IS THIS MADNESS?! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! I NEED TO WATCH THIS!

Berry: You thought the memes would end after Pop Team Epic? WRONG! THIS IS THE TYPE OF SHIT I’M TALKING ABOUT!!

MidnightDevont: HERE IT IS, ONE OF THE SHOWS I’VE BEEN HOLDING OUT FOR! YES, YES, PLEASE. SIGN ME UP, THIS SHOW HAS HAD MY INTEREST SINCE THE FIRST PV DROPPED. I AM ALL KINDS OF HYPED FOR THIS MADNESS!

Pandora: Nope, but it’s looks like some weird stuff I’d watch.

Aplus: This is what we’ve come to?

Fuzzy: No words. This is a pass from me. 

Shadow: Watching the trailer for this made my brain melt a little and I don’t think I’d be able to handle the madness this series is guaranteed to bring XD;.

Tsuyoku: This sounds really insane but also hilarious, so I might give it a try.

Possible Bloggers: Eva, MidnightDevont

Mahou Shoujo Site

Animation Company: production doA Website: http://mahoushoujyo-anime.com/ Genre: Drama, Horror, Psychological, Supernatural Airing Date: April 7, 2018 Summary: Asagiri Aya is a young girl who has fallen victim to bullies at her school. Looking for a way to escape her troubles, she looks to the internet for distraction, when a mysterious website called “Magical Girl Site” appears. Simply viewing the page is all it takes to hurtle Aya headlong into the deadly world of the Magical Girl Apocalypse. There, it’s fight or die, against a seemingly endless array of savagely adorable, frilly-skirted killing machines, each armed with magical powers and an unquenchable thirst for blood and chaos.  Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: Oh joy, another DARK!Magical Girl series! Can we have the nice and fluffy ones again? I’m so done with the dark ones. I just want more of the fluffy, magical girl romance!

Berry: So it’s Magical Girl Raising Project but even more brutal and violent. Well then sign me the fuck up please!

MidnightDevont:  oh joy, ANOTHER Dark magical girl series. Please, sign me up. This is another one that has had my interest for some time now and one of the ones I was hinting I wanted to gobble up earlier. 

Pandora: Nope. Madoka was too much for me.

Aplus: I completely agree with Midnight on this. I think dark themes in shows that typically aren’t dark are great! I will be excitedly watching this.

Fuzzy: Ehh, magical girls and edge? I’m not too confident in that combination usually. A pass. 

Shadow: Looks like another edge lord of the season and after seeing several uncomfortable images from the trailer (because I’m a huge horror baby), I’m giving this a big no thank you.

Tsuyoku: Eh, I’m not sure this would keep me interested long enough for me to have strong opinions about it.

Possible Bloggers: MidnightDevont

Major 2nd

Animation Company: NHK Enterprises Website: http://www.shopro.co.jp/tv/major2nd/ Genre: Comedy Drama Sports Airing Date: April 7, 2018 Summary: Daigo is born as the son of Gorou, a father who is too great. What path will Daigo, who is burdened with great expectations, take in baseball? Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: I can’t remember if I watched the original series… I don’t think I did…. adds Major to Animes to Marathon

Berry: Feel like I’d have to watch the original Major to fully appreciate this, so I’ll have to pass for now.

MidnightDevont:  GET ME SOME PEANUTS AND CRACKJACKS. I DON’T CARE…about this show at all. Pass please. 

Pandora: Nope. Sports, yet again..

Aplus: Sure, just pile on the sports! I will also have to marathon the original series before I watch this.

Fuzzy: I hate baseball. 

Shadow: This almost sounds like Boruto in a way lol. This season sure has a lot of baseball though. Nothing really sticks out to me reading the summary or from watching the trailer. Pass.

Tsuyoku: I love baseball but Major is so so so long that I’ve been putting it off for a while and now they go and start a new one. Sob.

Megalo Box

Animation Company: TMS Entertainment Website: http://megalobox.com/ Genre: Action, Drama, Shounen, Slice of Life, Sports Airing Date: April 5, 2018 Summary: (Ashita no Joe 50th anniversary project.) JD (Junk Dog) participates in fixed boxing matches in an underground ring in order to live. Today, he enters the ring again, but he encounters a certain person. JD wants to take on a challenge that risks everything. Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: Boxing? I don’t like boxing, but this one looks interesting!

Berry: Hmm, very interesting. Lots of good sports shows this season of sports I actually care about!

MidnightDevont:  Put me in Rocky, on second thought, take me out Rocky! No thanks, boxing isn’t even a sport I enjoy in real life. 

Pandora: Nope. More Sports…

Aplus: Yessss. Give. Me. More. Sports.

Fuzzy: Looks like it might be alright, could give it a shot!

Shadow: I was never really interested in watching boxing and I honestly would rather just watch people beat the crap out of each other with their bare fists, which I can find literally anywhere else. So this’ll be a pass for me.

Tsuyoku: I really really like how this looks! It seems it has no connection to Ashita no Joe, it’s just like a loose homage, but man if it doesn’t look cool. I’ll watch it for sure.

Possible Bloggers: Fuzzy

Nil Admirari no Tenbin

Animation Company: Zero-G Website: http://nilad-anime.com/ Genre: Romance Airing Date: April 1, 2018 Summary: The Taishou era didn’t end in 15 years, but went on for another 25. In order to protect her waning family, a girl resolves to marry a man she doesn’t even know the name of. However, just before the marriage was to take place, the girl’s younger brother mysteriously committed suicide by self-immolation and was found holding an old book in his hands. Appearing before the bewildered young girl was the “Imperial Library Intelligence Asset Management Bureau,” more commonly referred to as “Fukurou.” According to these men, there exists “Maremono,” which are books that greatly affect their readers. On top of that, ever since the incident involving the girl’s younger brother, she unwittingly gains the ability to see “Auras” (the sentiments of the Maremono which manifest as bright lights and are usually invisible to humans). It was as though fate were trying to drag the young girl in its flames. And then, even though apprehensive, the girl chooses to venture outside her bird cage. Jealousy, hatred, scorn, compassion, and love. What awaited the girl was the darkness of betrayal that had already begun to bewitchingly inlay the imperial capital. Toyed by and swayed within that darkness, will the young girl finally reach the truth after her struggles, or…? Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: Not gonna lie, I have been eyeing this game for a while now. So since I can’t play it, I sure do want to watch it! Only it comes out on Sundays. FML.

Berry: Damn this sounds intense! I hope this is good because reverse harems usually end up bad.

MidnightDevont:  Once again the art is gorgeous, but I can’t drum up any actual interest in the plot. 

Pandora: I saw historical and I was out. I just don’t really like history, don’t get me wrong.

Aplus: I am pretty selective with harems (reverse or not). I will check this out though. Looks intense and dark. 

Fuzzy: Yeah the art is great, but I’m not hooked onto anything else. No thanks. 

Shadow: Is this a reverse harem? watches trailer THIS IS DEFINITELY A REVERSE HAREM. Which means this obligates me to at least watch one episode to see if it’s worth keeping up with. But due to the track record of reverse harems ending up not that good, I’ll give this one a pass on blogging.

Tsuyoku: Reverse harem based on a game means I’m out.

Possible Bloggers: Eva

Persona 5 The Animation

Animation Company: A-1 Pictures Website: http://p5a.jp/ Genre: Action Fantasy Supernatural Airing Date: April 7, 2018 Summary: Ren Amamiya is about to enter his second year after transferring to Shujin Academy in Tokyo. Following a particular incident, his Persona awakens, and together with his friends they form the “Phantom Thieves of Hearts” to reform hearts of corrupt adults by stealing the source of their distorted desires. Meanwhile, bizarre and inexplicable crimes have been popping up one after another… Living an ordinary high school life in Tokyo during the day, the group maneuvers the metropolitan city as Phantom Thieves after hours. Let the curtain rise for this grand, picaresque story! Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: ALL BOARD THE HYPE TRAINNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!~ IT LOOKS SO GORGEOUS! I need to play the game already, it’s been stuck in my backlog… ; v ;||||

Berry: Now THIS….THIS….THIS. Persona 5 is the only Persona game I’ve ever played, but let me tell you how much I loved this game. It’s story was amazing, the characters were all simply fantastic, it had fun gameplay, the soundtrack is out of this world. It was a really sexy game with a lot of personality and I love it to death. I’m also a little scared because I know that anime adaptations of video games are usually almost always bad, but I really want to be optimistic for P5. It’s just so damn GOOD.

MidnightDevont: I am super conflicted on this. i’ve played the game twice, I love it. All of the art they have put out has looked amazing, the PV looked great, the hype train is all kinds of real…but I am a realist. Let’s face it, anime adaptations of games are almost never good. They suffer greatly from time constraints and trying to condense plot points and almost always end up subpar at best. [see Persona 4 the animation for more details]. That being said, I want to check this out really badly BECAUSE I loved Persona 5 so much. It was a great game, with great characters and I think the anime will be able to drum up at LEAST half the charm. I’m putting myself down as a possible blogger and hoping that I don’t come out crying. Oddly, this is not the last show i”ve been hinting I want…so I lied earlier. There were four shows. 

Pandora: Never watched or played Persona at all.

Aplus: I think the rest of the team has the hype-train covered… never seen it/played it…

Fuzzy: I’ve always wanted to play the game but my lack of PS4 made it impossible. Alas, I will settle for watching the anime. Definitely won’t take this one up since I think someone who has preexisting game knowledge would be better suited. 

Shadow: HOLY. CRAP. I have been WAITING for this anime since being introduced to this game! And while I am hesitant after what happened with Persona 4 (which honestly wasn’t as bad as it could have been, but it wasn’t great), I love the characters way too much to not watch this. And as much as I’d love to cover this, I won’t step on anyone’s toes if they want it more.

Tsuyoku: So stoked about Persona 5! I will not be able to play this one, so I’ll only get the anime experience this time around which means I hope it’s really awesome and well done.

Possible Bloggers: Berry, MidnightDevont, Shadow

Piano no Mori

Animation Company: Fukushima Gainax Website: http://piano-anime.jp/ Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Music, School, Seinen Airing Date: April 8, 2018 Summary: A tranquil tale about two boys from very different upbringings. On one hand you have Kai, born as the son of a prostitute, who’s been playing the abandoned piano in the forest near his home ever since he was young. And on the other you have Shuuhei, practically breast-fed by the piano as the son of a family of prestigious pianists. Yet it is their common bond with the piano that eventually intertwines their paths in life. Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: Music and a good story? You have my attention.

Berry: This is another one that immediately caught my attention. The premise is so interesting and it sounds like there’s going to be lots of drama and emotions. Two boys with such polar upbringings, how will they interact and what will they learn from each other? It just makes me excited thinking about it!

MidnightDevont:  …holy hell this sounds adorable and like it had potential for sadness and shipping. I won’t be covering it, but i will be checking it out. 

Pandora: Nope. Seems kinda sad.

Aplus: Ah yes, the old ‘piano in the woods’ story. Classic. I like the potential idea of 2 styles of training competing and ultimately influencing each other. Kind of like Kids On the Slope and the mix of classical and jazz music. That being said, I don’t think I will be covering this. I’ll probably just be envious the whole time about how much I want to learn how to play the piano. I guess I’ll go wander off into the woods…

Fuzzy: I think the old movie version of this has been on my plan to watch for like three years. Sorry but pass. 

Shadow: Hmm, not sure how I feel about this. Sounds interesting enough to give it one episode, but I probably won’t be covering it.

Tsuyoku: I’ll be watching this one casually because I’m interested in the characters.

Possible Bloggers: Berry

Rokuhoudou Yotsuiro Biyori

Animation Company: ZEXCS Website: http://rokuhoudou-anime.jp/ Genre: Slice of Life Airing Date: April 10, 2018 Summary: Four men—Gure, Sui, Tokitaka, and Tsubaki—each help run a Japanese tea shop together called Rokuhoudou. When one visits the shop, they are greeted warmly, is served tea, and are often helped with any problems they may have.  Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: I wonder if I am not just not into the whole “Happy Food Shop” animes? Wait, have I ever been????

Berry: Not very appealing and sounds a bit boring.

MidnightDevont:  …zzzzz…huh? oh sorry, I fell asleep because of how boring this sounds. The animation looks pretty though…

Pandora: Are they going to do odd jobs like Gintama? Out of their tea shop? For customers?

Aplus: Yeah… pass. The cat and the pigeon head in the picture almost got me. Not this time.

Fuzzy: No thank you. I have Bartender for this. 

Shadow: Hm, none of the character designs are that appealing and it really just sounds like a more dull version of Ouran High School Host Club so, nope.

Tsuyoku: The cast seems huge and in general it doesn’t seem appealing to me.

Saredo Tsumibito wa Ryuu to Odoru

Animation Company: Seven Arcs Website: http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/sareryu/ Genre: Action, Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi Airing Date: April 5, 2018 Summary: The series takes place in an alternate world, staged mostly in the city of Eridana, whose territory is half in the Tseberun Dragon Empire, and half in the Lapetodes Seven Cities Alliance. Each half is separated by the Orielal River. In this world, special abilities called spell formulas (咒式, jushiki) exist, which are essentially chemical reactions augmented through special weapons that cause a magic spell-like effect. These special weapons are called Magic Staff weapons, and are as varied as regular weapons are. Spell formulists use these spell formulas to fight with “Beasts of Abhorrent Form,” natural creatures that use spell formulas and pose a threat to humans, such as Dragons, Aions, or Enormes. The story focuses on the two main characters, Gaius Sorel and Gigina Ashley-Bufh, the only two employees of spell formulist dispatch office Ashley-Bufh & Sorel Co. They are met with a variety of requests from a variety of clients, all requiring the adept use of spell formulas.” Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: As complicated as it sounds, I intend to check this one out. But I right now I don’t see myself blogging it.

Berry: Again, too much going on in the synopsis. No way.

MidnightDevont:  This is another one that looks really pretty and honestly the premise sounds kind of neat, but because of the sheer amount of other things I am putting my name down on. I’m gonna pass, but I might watch it anyway. 

Pandora: Nope. I’m not even sure if I like fantasy shows..

Aplus: I almost want to write it off for trying to put such an unnecessarily complex idea into the synopsis. That being said, the hour-long intro videos of the Fate series put me off from watching it for a while but I ended up loving them. This is difficult…

Fuzzy: Once again, the synopsis is super ANIME. Looks gorgeous, but still gonna give it a pass. 

Shadow: I’d probably watch the first episode to see if anything would come of it, but I’ll probably just pass on blogging.

Tsuyoku: It’s always weird to me when there’s fantasy and sci-fi tags at the same time. Overall I’m still not into whatever is going on here.

Shiyan Pin Jiating

Animation Company: Big Firebird Cultural Media Co., Ltd. Website: http://frankenstein-family.animen.com.tw/ Genre: Sci-Fi, Supernatural Airing Date: April 9, 2018 Summary: A scientist couple has been arrested for conducting illegal studies, allegedly for performing genetic modification on five of their children. Youngest children, Dannis, is the only one who grew up as a normal human, and has become the only family member who has to tend to rest of the members and to try to find a medicine to turn them into normal humans again. Dog human, plant gene, spider web gene, as well as mind reading, how will these family members who grew up in the laboratory survive in the outside world?! Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: This show has been delayed for quite a now, nice to finally see it back on the board!

Berry: Finally! I’ve been wondering where this show has been. I was excited for this one because it sounds so good so it’s about time. Looks to be a possibly heartbreaking show with a strong family bond, which I love watching.

MidnightDevont:  This could go one of two ways, it could be super cute and heart warming or it could be a trainwreck…only time will tell. I’ll be keeping an ear to the ground for word on this one, but I won’t be actively seeking it out. 

Pandora: I was supossed to do this one seasons ago. I’ll give it a nice first impression.

Aplus: So, this is where the data from Nina went? Good to see Shou Tucker’s work finally being acknowledged in the scientific community.

Fuzzy: If this goes well, I see it being amazing. I mean that spider web and plant girl designs are great! But it’s something I’ll wait on before picking up. Also that dog human hmmm. Pass!

Shadow: This could be the heartwarming, family feels anime I need… or it could just turn horribly wrong. Either way, I’ll give it a couple episodes, but I don’t foresee myself blogging this.

Tsuyoku: The character designs and the concepts are interesting and cool, but the fact that has been delayed gives me bad vibes.

Possible Bloggers: Pandora

Shokugeki no Souma: San no Sara – Tootsuki Ressha-hen (2nd Cour of S3)

Animation Company: J.C. Staff Website: http://shokugekinosoma.com/ Genre: Comedy, Ecchi Airing Date: April 9, 2018 Summary: The second cour of the third season of Shokugeki no Souma. Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: W

Berry: Never liked this series.

MidnightDevont: I really need to watch the other seasons of this show eventually. I hear that it’s really good…

Pandora: This is still going on? My brother is ready for this season, though.

Aplus: Eh, I was pretty disappointed with this show recently. Maybe that was more of a setup season though, so I won’t judge it too harshly. I sincerely hope it gets back on track, but I’m not really feeling it.

Fuzzy: Love Shokugeki. Not caught up in the manga, but the show hasn’t really disappointed me yet, so let’s keep the train moving! I’m fine with taking it! 

Shadow: Didn’t watch the first two seasons so a pass for me.

Tsuyoku: Ah! I forgot to watch the first cour to this season… I definitely need to catch up.

Possible Bloggers: Fuzzy

Souten no Ken: REGENESIS

Animation Company: POLYGON PICTURES Website: http://www.souten-regenesis.com/ Genre: Action, Historical, Martial Arts Airing Date: April 10, 2018 Summary: A mysterious man known as “the King of Death” roams the streets of pre-war Shanghai in this action-packed prequel to Fist of the North Star. Shanghai in the 1930s is a dangerous place. Foreign governments and Chinese factions have carved the city into different quarters, each with its own laws and government, and all rife with corruption. As the major powers vie for political control, the streets are left to local gangs. Life is cheap, and death is always near. In days past, one man walked these mean streets battling the forces of evil. He was known only as Yan Wang, “the King of Death.” Few knew who he really was, but many knew that he was a master of Hokuto Shinken – Fist of the North Star – a lethal martial art. He disappeared years ago after dispatching the city’s worst gangsters, and is now rumored to be in Japan. Various people have come to Japan in search of him, but who will find him first? Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: Pass.

Berry: I keep telling myself I’ll get to watching Fist of the North Star, I mean Hulu has the entire series there. But I still haven’t!! Grrrrrrrr! I swear I will!

MidnightDevont:  My thoughts looking at the art ‘It reminds me of Jojo or Fist of the North Star’, my thoughts after finishing reading the description. ‘So basically, it’s a sequel to Fist of the North Star’…which I was never really a fan of.  May it be meme’d as much as it’s predecessor I suppose? 

Pandora: Nope. Saw historical tag.

Aplus: A prequel to Fist of the North Star? My god. The memes. I’ll check it out, but that’s probably about it. Never actually saw the original so I have never been too invested.

Fuzzy: Omae wa mou shindeiru. That is basically a summary of the chances of me watching this. Pass. 

Shadow: Not a fan of the art style so, pass.

Tsuyoku: Passing on this one even though I think it’s great they got a reboot of sorts.

Steins;Gate 0

Animation Company: White Fox Website: http://www.steinsgate.tv/index.html Genre: Drama, Sci-Fic, Thriller Airing Date: April , 2018 Summary: The dark untold story of Steins;Gate that leads with the eccentric mad scientist Okabe, struggling to recover from a failed attempt at rescuing Kurisu. He decides to give up and abandons his lively scientist alter ego, in pursuit to forget the past. When all seems to be normal, he is seemingly pulled back into the past by meeting an acquaintance of Kurisu, who tells him that they have begun testing a device that stores the memory of a human and creates a simulation of them with their characteristics and personalities. Okabe begins testing and finds out that the simulation of Kurisu has brought back anguish and some new unexpected tragedies. Zero is a side story that explores events from the Beta Attractor Field’s future that contribute in making the end of the original story possible.  Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: Whoops, it’s been years, but I have still yet to watch the original Steins;Gate- I even have the game! And I haven’t played it yet halp!

Berry: I’m one of the very few people that DID NOT like Steins;Gate. It was extremely boring, so boring that I couldn’t even finish the show. I couldn’t force myself anymore. Go ahead and roast me but I can’t stand Steins;Gate. 😐

MidnightDevont: -deep breath, pyrodactyl shriek- IT’S HERE, IT’S HERE. IT’S HERE, THIS ISN’T A DRILL. GET YOUR PHONES AND YOUR MICROWAVE TIME MACHINES. STEINS;GATE 0 IS HERE AND I AM 300 KINDS OF READY. My only regret in life right now is that as a returning writer I can’t shotgun this, if I could. I would. I want this so badly, I would sell my soul to cover this. I love Steins;Gate. I’ve watched the original anime multiple times, played the VN, watched the movie and dear LORD the black suit Okabe. I haven’t played the VN for 0 yet, but I want too so badly. Possible blogger? YES, ABSOLUTELY YES!

Pandora: Never watched this show or played the game.

Aplus: I will almost definitely get burned alive for this, but I’m really not a fan of the original. I’ve tried watching it maybe 3 times and lost interest every time. The farthest I got was 8 episodes in. Needless to say, definite pass. 

Fuzzy: Steins; Gate 0? The next installment of the series that pretty much got me SUPER hooked onto anime? Of course I’ll watch it, and i have no doubt I’ll love it! But I don’t want to pick it up, I’ll just give it a nice slow watch. Maybe play the VN before I delve in, but considering how long the VN is, the chances are very slim. Pass! 

Shadow: I should watch the original series, but I probably won’t due to general laziness.

Tsuyoku: It took me years to finally cave and watch Steins;Gate because I was dead set on playing the VN and eventually came to terms with the fact that I wouldn’t. It was love at first watch! I watched everything that was available in like a month and once I found out this new one was coming out, I knew it’d be hardcore high priority watch.

Possible Bloggers: MidnightDevont, Tsuyoku

Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online

Animation Company: Studio 3Hz Website: http://gungale-online.net/ Genre: Action, Fantasy, Game, Military, Sci-Fi Airing Date: April 7, 2018 Summary: Karen Kohiruimaki always felt out of place in the real world. Due to her extreme height, she found it hard to make friends with other girls her age. Everything changes when she’s introduced to VR and Gun Gale Online. In GGO, Karen is free to play the cute, chibi avatar of her dreams! Can Karen find friendship in this bullet-ridden MMO…? Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: Eh, I am not big on the SAO series in general, so I am a bit skeptical of whether or not I will like this one.

Berry: Okay, here’s a series I love shitting on. SAO is absolute garbage and deserves to burn. Although this is tempting because Kirito’s dumbass isn’t in it, but…this is SAO. I’m not even going to risk it.

MidnightDevont: Oh um, I need to watch season 2 still. I’d probably grab this if I was up to date, but I’m not…

Pandora: Nope. Don’t like Sword Art Online. I watched the first episode and was like “Nah.”

Aplus: Hehehe. Everyone needs a guilty pleasure now and again. For some people it’s cat girl maids. For me it’s watching shows that can only be described as ‘basic’. What’s that? An OP character who’s flawless and ends conflict before it begins with his charm and overwhelming strength? This is another turn off your brain show, so I will be watching, but not blogging.

Fuzzy: I don’t think I’ll ever watch Sword Art without the main cast. Need me some Kirito. Pass. 

Shadow: Hmm, I might give this a watch since Kirito won’t be the main focus. But I’ll pass on blogging.

Tsuyoku: I’ve watched a total of 5 SAO episodes. It was okay, but I never continued so I’ll pass on this one too.

Tada-kun wa Koi wo Shinai

Animation Company: Doga Kobo Website: http://tadakoi.tv/ Genre: Romance Airing Date: April 5, 2018 Summary: In the story, Mitsuyoshi Tada, a boy who has never known love, is taking pictures of the cherry blossoms in full bloom when he meets Teresa Wagner, a transfer student from Luxembourg. Upon arriving in Japan, she got lost, separated from her travel companion. Mitsuyoshi helps her and brings her to his grandfather’s coffee shop. Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: Oh my god, my heart is fluttering. I think this might be the one show I will cover from this season!

Berry: The PV gave me goosebumps. Wow, it looks gorgeous! The colors are soft and the movements are fluid. This looks extremely adorable and promising!

MidnightDevont:  Oh wow, this sounds and looks really cute. I’ve got enough i’m signed up for, so Eva can have it…but bless my heart this show sounds adorable. 

Pandora: Romance! Good Art! But at the same time, looks historical..

Aplus: I always say I don’t like romances. Then I watch them and get hooked immediately. Happened with After the Rain this season and I’m sure it’ll happen with this show next season.

Fuzzy: This show looks amazing, and I dig the vibe of the PV! But I’ve got a good number already signed up. Take it Eva!

Shadow: I saw the pv for this and it looks absolutely gorgeous! I’ll probably stay tuned for it, but Eva can take this one.

Tsuyoku: I found out about this one about 2 weeks ago and I’ve been looking forward to it ever since! It’ll probably be one of those shows I love and hate to watch.

Possible Bloggers: Eva

Tokyo Ghoul:re

Animation Company: Studio Pierrot Website: http://www.marv.jp/special/tokyoghoul/ Genre: Action, Horror, Mystery, Supernatural, Psychological Airing Date: April 3, 2018 Summary: Two years have passed since the CCG’s raid on Anteiku. Although the atmosphere in Tokyo has changed drastically due to the increased influence of the CCG, ghouls continue to pose a problem as they have begun taking caution, especially the terrorist organization Aogiri Tree, who acknowledge the CCG’s growing threat to their existence. The creation of a special team, known as the Quinx Squad, may provide the CCG with the push they need to exterminate Tokyo’s unwanted residents. As humans who have undergone surgery in order to make use of the special abilities of ghouls, they participate in operations to eradicate the dangerous creatures. The leader of this group, Haise Sasaki, is a half-ghoul, half-human who has been trained by famed special class investigator, Kishou Arima. However, there’s more to this young man than meets the eye, as unknown memories claw at his mind, slowly reminding him of the person he used to be. Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2

Team Impression

Eva: I really need to get around to reading the manga series… I know I am missing out.

Berry: Remember I said I didn’t like Tokyo Ghoul? More like I hate it, but you get the picture.

MidnightDevont:  Right um…so remember earlier when I mentioned I struggle immensely to watch Tokyo Ghoul despite it being just about everything I like in anime. That applies here…I just…don’t think I could. 

Pandora: Ay! What up! I’m watching this. I need some horror in my life. And I watched the rest of the Tokyo Ghoul. I wasn’t about to blog it, but everyone going to watch the first 3 episodes. Everyone hated root A, but seriously the author wanted to see this story a little differently, which I love.

Aplus: I don’t care what PV, review, or whatever comes out. After the ending of the last series, I won’t, nay, I can’t, trust this show without hard evidence. It looks soo cool though.

Fuzzy: Never read the manga, and I didn’t really like the original Tokyo Ghoul, so pass. That cover looks sick though. 

Shadow: Considering I never made it past the first three minutes of the first episode in the first season because I’m a pathetic, scaredy baby, pass.

Tsuyoku: I’ve been meaning to pick up the first Tokyo Ghoul manga for like 2 years and it hasn’t happened yeat. I don’t see that changing for this one.

Possible Bloggers: Pandora

Uma Musume Pretty Derby

Animation Company: P.A. Works Website: http://anime-umamusume.jp/ Genre: Sports Airing Date: April 1, 2018 Summary: The game’s concept begins with Uma Musume (Horse Girls), girls endowed with excellent running capability, and who aim to become top idols and compete in the national sports entertainment show “Twinkle Series.” Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: ….. It looks cute and all but… what a bizarre combination….

Berry: I know this is a fake Miyazaki quote, but he was right, anime was a fucking mistake.

MidnightDevont: What did I just read? 

Pandora: No. What is up with sports this season. Everyone calm down with the sports.

Aplus: Yesss. Give me more sports. Horses or not, I’m digging the animation and art.

Fuzzy: Horse girls? That’s my feti-Pass. 

Shadow: Um, what?

Tsuyoku: I have no idea what is going on with this one, but even though the art is pretty cute I don’t want to find out.

Wakaokami wa Shougakusei!

Animation Company: Madhouse Website: http://www.waka-okami.jp/ Genre: Supernatural Airing Date: April 8, 2018 Summary: 12-year-old Oriko Seki, who lost her parents in a car accident, ended up living in her grandmother’s Onsen Ryokan “Haru no Ya.” With the ghost “Uribou” cohabitating with her and all the other odds, she ended up training to be a young female innkeeper. At first, she didn’t like the training, but gradually felt her admiration for her title and began to train seriously. Thus, the growth of the young warrior Oriko begins. Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: No. Pass. Not interested.

Berry: Looks harmless and cute, but maybe too kiddie for me.

MidnightDevont: words do not begin to describe how uninterested I am in this.

Pandora: Nah, but it looks cute.

Aplus: Nope.

Fuzzy: Yeah, not feeling this at all. Pass. 

Shadow: I think I’ve given up on watching series that star twelve year olds.

Tsuyoku: This looks really cute and like someone I could enjoy! I might watch it casually.

Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii

Animation Company: A-1 Pictures Website: http://wotakoi-anime.com/ Genre: Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life Airing Date: April 12, 2018 Summary: The story centers on the awkward romantic comedy between Narumi, a female office worker who hides her fujoshi lifestyle, and Hirotaka, a handsome and capable company man who is secretly a game otaku. Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: I read a bit of this manga a while back, it is quite charming!!! I will be watching this one!

Berry: Hmmm….I’m not too sure on this one. Surprisingly it’s not making me crazy for it.

MidnightDevont:  Oh darn, it’s cute…and i relate to the main girl…and it’s animated by A-1….I know I said no more but….just in case one of my other shows gets shotgunned or I need to step aside and let someone else take one….

Pandora:  I like that, but I’m going to let everyone blog it like I did with After the Rain.

Aplus: I’m good. The fujoshi life ain’t for me. Anytime something like that is used it becomes the entire character rather than a trait of the character and, unlike other traits, I can’t relate to it at all.

Fuzzy: I might pick it up if I hear good things about it, but otherwise I got too much on my plate. Pass.

Shadow: I absolutely LOVE the manga for this and I made a rather embarrassing noise when I saw this on the list next season. It’s so freaking adorable and it’s definitely on my list to watch.

Tsuyoku: Kyaa! It’s finally here! I’ve been looking forward to this since it was announced. Can’t wait to check it out.

Possible Bloggers: MidnightDevont, Shadow

Yokai Watch: Shadow Side

Animation Company: S Website: http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/youkai-watch-ss/ Genre: Comedy, Demons, Kids, Supernatural Airing Date: April 13, 2018 Summary: Keisuke is a fifth grader who does not believe in ghosts, UFOs, or even yo-kai. Lately, he has noticed that Natsume has been coming home late, and one day decides to tail her. When he discovers that Natsume goes to a yo-kai detective agency, Natsume is forced to involve Keisuke in her activities. Trailer: PV 1 | PV 2 | PV 3

Team Impression

Eva: I haven’t actually watched any of Yokai Watch yet, so I guess should probably get around to see if it entertains me?

Berry: I saw like one half episode of Yokai Watch on TV and it actually made me laugh out loud. I can see why people like this series, but I’m not sure if I’d ever get into it.

MidnightDevont:  Never did get into Yokai Watch….

Pandora: Nope. Do people still watch Yokai Watch???

Aplus: Too many “nevers” in this reaction section. It’s so negative. I’ve always… been a fan of watching shows… that aren’t this one. That’s more positive, right? 

Fuzzy: Doesn’t interest me in any way. I do love yokai, but not enough to make me watch this. 

Shadow: Never got into it. Pass.

Tsuyoku: I’ve never watched Youkai Watch despite constant peer pressure, so I doubt this will change that.

Overall Thoughts

Eva: Welp, talk about a bad time to have your hands full! This season is looking great, but I am in a bit of a pinch because Darling in the Franxx, Hugtto! Precure, Yu-Gi-Oh VRAINS are all carrying over into the Spring. With my current life schedule, I may be forced to pick only one title from this season, and I decided it will most likely be Tada-kun wa Koi wo Shinai. No question about it. Nevertheless it is frustrating to only pick one when there’s so many titles that have caught my attention, so maybe I can whip some magic together and make something work. The ones I will be keeping my close eye on this season will be Full Metal Panic! Invisible Victory, Kakuriyo no Yadomeshi, Mahou Shoujo Ore, Nil Admirari no Tenbin, Persona 5 The Animation, Piano no Mori, Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii! 

Berry: At first I thought the Spring season looked pretty boring but now that I’ve gone through this preview, it’s actually looking pretty good. There’s lots of different type of shows, and luckily for me lots of interesting looking sports anime with some reboots! That said, I didn’t sign up for that much because I kind of want to be on the down low this season. I’m working more on myself with job searching and such, you know, being a productive member of society, so I can’t swamp myself with too many shows. I only really wanted to do two shows, with Persona 5 being an absolute must, and picking between either Golden Kamui or Piano no Mori but I kind of want to do all three of them. Even worse, I might even pick up Lost Song, or at least do a Quick Look for it. I still don’t know what to do so I’m going to have to think about it. But, if anyone wants to share any other those shows (most likely Persona), then that’ll lighten the load and that could let me handle another show. We’ll see!

MidnightDevont:  THREE THOUSAND YEARS WILL GIVE YOU SUCH A CRINK IN THE NECK. I’m back from my supposed retirement [who could keep me from watching anime and blogging forever right?] and ready to cover shows. 9 shows, 9 shows my name is down on. This season is bursting with potential for good anime and I’m not even exactly sure how my brain is going to handle it all. I am so happy to be back and writing for the site at the beginning of such a promising looking season. I’m just hoping I can either split coverage on some of these or I am going to burn myself out for sure. Though, that being said, my biggest hype trains of the season are Steins;Gate 0, Persona 5, Mahou Shoujo Site, Mahou Ore and Hero Academia season 3. The others are just vague interests or things that sounded really neat or fun to me. I am hyped to bring you coverage and watch good anime! 

Pandora: Okay. Too many remakes/reboots, too many sports, too many historicals, too many idols, and too many fantasies. Ugh. What a mess up in here. Come up with better ideas or actually animate manga/ideas people really want instead of making remakes( just thought of shows that would be nice animes). I have found some ones I like including Devil’s Line,Shiyan Pin Jiating (Jikkenhin Kazoku) and Tokyo Ghoul:re to detox from watching too much comedy. And thay slavery one(Dorei-ku The Animation), also looks pretty good to be honest. I also still have Saiki, so I still have comedy. I’m just sort of disapointed, I didn’t really want to watch too much of anything this season.

Aplus: I wasn’t here for the last season (or two?) and I’ve become a very jaded old man in a very short amount of time. Everything in the lineup looks just OK. I’m really not expecting any gems out of this season. Maybe my low expectations will make it so I am pleasantly surprised. I personally see the increase in sports to be a great thing, the historical pieces are up my alley, and I always look forward to the action/adventure shows! While there were a bunch I would’ve like to have covered, due to time restraints, I will be checking out these three for first impressions (at least): Caligula, Lost Song, and Ladyspo. I mentioned my reasoning under each individual show but, to sum it up, I think Caligula will either be very, very good OR get completely lost in it’s own plot and do absolutely nothing with it’s time. I am excited to document that journey whether it be into the hall of fame or on a flaming, sinking ship. Lost Song and Ladyspo both just seem like shows I’ll enjoy. While the latter (even after researching on my own) has basically NO information available, I can’t see how some ladies playing sports for money could go wrong. Another Keijo? Sure, why not. Oh, it’s just another sports show? OK, that’s totally fine by me! See? It’s a win-win! Regardless, I’m glad to be back after my short, short hiatus and I’m looking forward to laughing, crying, and just generally being confused with everyone.

Fuzzy: Alright! Let’s go SPRING 2018! This is actually a pretty great season, with romances, a reverse harem, a lot of sports. It’s like crazy diverse. I guess I’m most excited for the reboot of Legend of the Galactic Heroes, and although pretty much everyone is skeptical on the reboot, I have hope! Please don’t mess it up. Please. With Persona 5 and Steins;Gate 0 the anime community will definitely be busy this season, and of course there’s the big dog of shounen, My Hero Academia. But yeah, the season seems really good and I am excited for my first season as writer! 

Shadow: Freaking HYPED for a few of these titles such as Third Season of My Hero Academia, Persona 5 and Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii. There do seem to be a lot of other potentially interesting ones as well. I’m always hesitant going into a new season after such a good previous one, so it’s going to take some getting used to with these new shows. I’m excited to see what hidden gems there are this season though!

Tsuyoku: Very polarizing season lineup for me! I’m either really cold or hot on everything, very few titles I’m neutral about, but let’s ignore the riff-raff and focus on the amazing! I’m really looking forward to possibly blogging Cutie Honey Universe, Steins; Gate 0, Hisone to Maso-tan, Gurazeni and Dorei-ku the Animation. Besides these titles I’ll also for sure be watching Boku no Hero Academia 3, Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu -Die Neue These- Kaikou, Hinamatsuri; Megalo Box, Persona 5, Tada-kun wa Koi wo Shinai, Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii and then there’s a few more I might check out for the heck of it!

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[maggiezw]

Arashi’s 18th Anniversary Challenge

Tagged by @pknumba1 Thank you! These are some interesting questions :) 

1. Which year did you became an Arashian? Winter 2014

2. Which member baited you and how? Jun. I first saw him in that weird movie (Boku wa Imoto ni Koi o Suru) I remember that I thought “What a handsome actor♥” At that time I didn’t know he was in a boyband. Then I saw Hana Yori Dango and you know the rest :)

3.  Who is your ichiban when you started? Jun, obviousy. I wasn’t a fan of jpop before, but because I liked Jun I started listening to Arashi but I mostly used to listen Jun solos. 

& if you changed, Who is your Ichiban now? Sho. After I felt tired of listening the same Jun solos over and over again, I started to observe the other members in their variety shows. At the end I came up with the conclusion that Sho has to be the the chosen one and dropped Jun- forgive me Jun :(

4. What was your first concert when you became a fan? Popcorn.

5. Emoticon your Arashi rank? Um, how is that? Do I have to rank them and put emojis according to my feelings for them? Oh well: 1. Sho: ✨😍🍑💯👌🔥💕🌟; 2. Nino: 😭😭👏✨💯😭😭; 3. Ohno: 💕☺️💯✨; 4. Aiba: ☀️🌈✨💐🌷💚😊💯; 5. Jun: ✨👌🤔💃✨ 💯

6. Your first Arashi official merchandise? Haven’t bought anything yet 

7. Fave Concert (the one you keep on repeat mode)? Blast in Miyagi

8. Fave Song (group) from your favorite concert? Hadashi no Mirai, Hatenai Sora

9. Give me your FAVORITE QUOTE FROM A SONG & WHO SAID IT that has help you and has been your source of strength? The rap part in Kaze no Mukou e: 

“For myself, who kept on believing For everyone who laid their dreams on mine For my family I offer words of thanks “I believe” As much as my strength allows The pressure will one day be my sustenance The pain will be my sustenance I won’t lose to rain or wind, and that pain and pressure will be For the sake of this day I’ll embrace your share of wishes too And climb the stairs, looking up all the way No matter how hard, no matter how much it hurts, I’ll bear it Imagining myself showered with cheering voices I'll go beyond it all Climbing to the summit as my hopes fly before me”

10. TOP 5 Favorite Arashi GROUP SONG? In non particular order: 1. Pikanchi Double 2. Wonder-Love 3. Take Off!!!, 4. Fukkatsu Love, 5. Miles Away

11. TOP 5 fave dramas of your ichiban?

1. Kazoku Game  2.  Yamada Taro Monogatari  3. Yoiko no Mikata 4. Nazotoki wa Dinner no Ato de  5. The Quiz Show 2.

 12. Give me your 2 fave songs from each boy? Ohno: Akatsuki, Rain; Sho: Rolling Days, Hip Pop Boogie; Aiba: Janakute, Mr Funk; Nino: Mata kyo to onaji ashita ga kuru, 20825 Nichi Me no Kyoku Jun: STAY GOLD, Baby Blue

13. Fave games played in VS Arashi? Kicking Sniper & Cliff Climb

14. Favorite Album? (the one on repeat mode) On repeat mode right now is Are You Happy?

15. Fave PV? Fukkatsu Love

16. Do you own any outfit similar to your ichiban’s outfit? NAH XD

17. Given a chance you meet the boys, what will you tell them? Nothing really, I’m shy plus I would be thinking I’m being annoying if I say something. I’d probably just smile and say hi and then run away lol 

18. How will you celebrate the boys Anniversary this year? In tumblr, reblogging stuff probably lol

        Tagging: @matakyou @stormymochi @heyninomiya @xdestroying @yamakaze-arashi @ninoneen and everyone who likes arashi :) 

[thethera-rossa]

Arashi 18th anniversary challenge

I was tagged by friend (on fb) to do this challenge. I have to answer these 18 questions ecause Arashi are turning 18 ( as me XD ) this year 😊 I am sharing my answers here as well... Jaaaa hajimemashouuuu  😃

*1.Which year did you became an Arashian? = end of 2014/ start of 2015 

*2. Which member baited you and how? =Oh-chan. :3 I watched Maou and fell in love with Truth song ♥ I became interested who sing that beautiful song and found Arashi.

*3. Who is your ichiban when you started? = aaah yadaaaa... I dont like that “ichiban” thing at all. I love ‘em all, demo Ohno-kun will always be little bit more special cos he brought me to fandom.  & if you changed, Who is your Ichiban now? =ehm as I said all of them XD 

*4. What was your first concert when you became a fan? =My very first con was Hawaii blast (20015) ♥ and I am so glad it was this special con. I could see all the love, strong friendship, hard work and emotions which connects Arashi. 

*5. Emoticon your Arashi rank? = 🌈 ( I love them equally :3 that’s why I used “rainbow”) 

*6. Your first Arashi official merchandise? = Fukkatsu love LE ♥♥♥

*7. Fave Concert (the one you keep on repeat mode) ? = Love, 5x10, Digi, Japonism, Hawaii Blast (I simply can’t choose just 1 )

*8. Fave Song (group) from your favorite concert?  = Japonism-  BOKURA GA TSUNAIDEIKU                                                      =5x10- 5x10                                                                                                        =Love- Ai wo utaou                                                                                         =Popcorn- refrain, facedown

Oh yeah, A RA SHI, PARADOX? Troublemaker  in every con XD 

*9. Give me your FAVORITE QUOTE FROM A SONG & WHO SAID IT that has help you and has been your source of strength? 

aaah so difficult to choose :P

“Smile again, thank you Smile again, we were born while crying But we're probably strong in a pinch” /Kansha kangeki ame arashi/  

People are people　You are yourself When you tried to compare them, you were losing The strength not to be defeated by yourself It will break through any wall                                                                                      At times, it's okay to cry                                                                                             It's also okay to show your weak points                                                                   But don't give up there  You can still do it　                                                           That dream of the future  /Fight song/

*10. TOP 5 Favorite Arashi GROUP SONG? (aah I love all their songs XD) = 1.Truth 2.Kansha kangeki 3.Happiness 4.be with you 5.Daylight

*11. TOP 5 fave dramas of your ichiban? 

Um I am sorry but I will change it... fave drama of each member XD 

Ohno: Maou                                                                                                            Sho: Kazoku game                                                                                                 Aiba: My girl                                                                                                            Nino: Yamada Taro Monogatari                                                                             Jun: Smile

*12. Give me your 2 fave songs from each boy?

= Nino: Doko ni demo aru uta,  Mata Kyou to Onaji Asu ga Kuru =Ohno: Rain, Take me faraway  =Aiba: Namida no Nagareboshi, Hello Goodbye =Sakurai: Taboo, Rolling days =Jun: Yabai yabai yabai, Shake it!

*13. Fave games played in VS Arashi? = Cliff Climbing, kicking sniper,pinball runner (I like all XD)

*14. Favorite Album? ( the one on repeat mode). = hmm LOVE i think... but Digi and Popcorn as well 

*15. Fave PV? = Happiness, Fukkatsu LOVE, Truth, Dont you get it, Endless game, Daylight (actually I love all the PVs ♥)

*16. Do you own any outfit similar to your ichiban's outfit? =Unfortunately no. 

*17. Given a chance you meet the boys, what will you tell them?                     Well if I met them I think I wont be able to speak but this I would really love to tell them...

Nino- I really like your carefree and sarcasticly-funny way of seeing the world or problems. For someone like me, who is always worried even about small things I am really jealous of that. 

Ohno- For me you are the most versatile talented artist of 21st century. And no, you are not that ordinary as you think you are. Please accept the fact you are amazing talented person  Ohno-san. Thank you for staying with Arashi.

Jun- Thank you for making amazing concerts. For someone like me who is not able to go to see you live it is great way how to see you perform. Even through PC I can feel like I am there with you and other fans. Only Arashi has this power.

Aiba- I wish I was always so cheerful and optimistic as you are. I wish to be that type of person who brings happiness and is always kind to others. I really adore you for that Aiba-kun. 

Sho- I really respect you the most among Arashi. I am always amazed how many things you were able to accomplish. I adore your will power, ambitions and never giving up mind. You are inspiration for many young people. 

*18. How will you celebrate the boys Anniversary this year?                     hmm I still did not think of anything special , but I am sure I will watch cons and maybe rewatch PIKANCHI? but definitely I will spend that day fangirling and listening to Arashi songs...and I will post to tumblr, lj etc XD 

yattaaa!! dekitaaaa!! ♥ so Arahi will turn 18 huh? I even dont relized it... I am happy that I did this small challenge. It was fun. I wont tag anybody. If somebody wants do it , douzo :)

[shoushatohaisha]

report: haikyuu!! summer week day 3 (karasuno, fukkatsu!!)

previously: day 1 (shoen) day 2 (itadaki no keshiki)

guests: shouri, naoki, shou, acchan

it's been really interesting to see how each screening has a different flavor depending on the show and the guests. for example, the first two shows were very much influenced by the interaction between the audience and the screened content, while the first act of this event was not so much a screening of "karasuno, fukkatsu!" as it was a live-action show of "kondou shouri, fukkatsu!" like. oh my god. I THOUGHT KENTA WAS BAD ABOUT REENACTING CHOREO at least he stayed seated half the time, shouri was straight up diving and rolling across the stage for every single one of nekoma's matches plus some of his white coat scenes as well. because if you put him in front of an audience this is just what happens.

BUT I DIGRESS. let us begin at the beginning.

first let me apologize for the fact that the first act will be light on shou and acchan because i was way up front, meaning i could only watch one half of the stage at a time, and it was real hard to watch anything other than The Kondou Shouri Hour. but more about them in the second act and aftertalk!!! ...also, i'm not gonna lie, i did not absorb a lot of the first five minutes or so because i was like, entranced by naoki's face. good lord that man has cheekbones. ANYWAY.

shouri: tbh this is the first time i've had a script to MC an event… honestly, who needs it. (tosses the clipboard over his shoulder)

he also mentioned he was at the screening the night before to figure out how this whole cheering thing worked, WHICH WOULD EXPLAIN THE PART WHERE RYOUTAROU AND JUSTIN WERE CLEARLY LAUGHING AT SOMEONE IN THE WINGS fldajfkldjf i thought at the time it was juudai and sonde, or maybe that kenta was there again (…i mean, he was, lol), but i bet it was shouri.

so then it was time for cheering practice. nice kill, nice receive, jump serve… shouri: oh and then when someone gets a point, cheer for them. you know like, I-I ZO, KU-RO-O, O-TO-KO-MA-E (roughly "NICE, KUROO, YOU'RE THE MAN") naoki: LOL WASN'T THAT YOUR CHEER IN HIGH SCHOOL shouri: yes :D shouri: ii zo, shouri, otokomae!! naoki: oh my god shouri: …let's do it now :D naoki: WE REALLY DON'T HAVE TO shouri: (already backing up for a run up) naoki: ok. cheer for kuroo, ok. shouri: no, for shouri :D naoki: ……………. shouri: (runs up and does a massive jump spike) audience: I-I ZO, SHO-U-RI, O-TO-KO-MA-E!! sound tech: (WHISTLE BLOWS)

to explain the whistle thing – so each night when the cast got too far off track or were going too long, a ref's whistle would sound. the previous two nights, it happened once or twice. how many times did shouri get whistled off? A LOT.

of course we practiced the datekou cheers as well! shouri: datekou, please show them how to do it acchan: but i mean, in the actual show, nekoma-san did this part, right shouri: right!! we did!! in the white coats acchan: so we'd like to leave it to you now ok thank you :) shouri: ...wait

(in the end they both did it.)

they then cued up the next screen… which was the entire datekou vs karasuno rap. XD shou: look. the rap is long and complicated, it's tiring, i'm sure it would be tough to do the whole thing. but even if you can't. everyone just please be sure to do sakunami's line. "funk it block." naoki: and yamaguchi's. shoubu no wakareMEEEE.

then shouri started explaining the special cheers/moves he thought up that he wanted us to do flfjaf;djkfdf. when nekoma sway back back and forth to their theme he wanted us to wave our thundersticks in time. "I THOUGHT THIS UP A MONTH AGO," he said proudly. "I WAS REALLY EXCITED FOR THIS EVENT!!!"

shouri: and here's another one i thought up a month ago shouri: in the manga there's a cheer that goes ike ike nekoma, right. so this is what i want us to do -- shouri: ike ike nekoma, nyan nyanya nyanyanyan! (waves cat paws) sound tech: (WHISTLE)

as before we ended by chanting ose ose nekoma / go go datekou except this time after about two seconds shouri and shou were like, yelling out at the top of their lungs running around the stage while naoki maded increasingly desperate whistling motions toward the sound booth. shouri: let's do it again! naoki: ISN'T THIS ENOUGH shouri: IM THE MC I MAKE THE RULES naoki: kansai people are terrifying. shouri: (super thick kansaiben) I'LL DO ANYTHING FOR A LAUGH

(and that, incidentally, is the difference between what shouri and kenta were doing w/r/t choreo -- you get the impression that this is probably how kenta watches these shows at home whereas put shouri in front of an audience, even if that audience is two people, and he can't help but perform. his and takato's consistently over the top ad libs suddenly make so much sense…)

all this, and the actual screening hadn't even started. deep breaths.

tonight the audience started calling out "furudate haruichi!" "worry-san!" "nakayashiki-kun!" when their names appeared on screen just like they were some of the players, it was cute. XD also even though kiyoko wasn't yet physically present, every time she "appeared" off stage the audience swooned "KIYOKO-SAAAAN".

so for the opening, of course they came out and did their own parts (props to acchan and shou for how well synced they were with the screen, their timing was super impressive) but then they all took turns doing not just a little bit of the rest but EVERYONE else's. iirc shouri was oikawa, naoki was iwa-chan, shouri was daichi, naoki was suga, shou was asahi, acchan was tanaka and ennoshita (the timing broke down a little bit here XD), naoki was takechan, shouri was ukai, naoki was kageyama, and shouri was hinata.

it was funny because like, when they first start doing other characters naoki was like, laughing at himself, still a little self-conscious but by the time he ran out to do kageyama's jump he was super into it and getting huge amounts of air lol. that was sort of the pattern of the night, naoki was clearly enjoying himself and excited in a normal person way but then kept getting dragged into increasingly weird shit by shouri and by the end would be like FINE LET'S GO LET'S DO IT.

as previously mentioned this resulted in them reenacting the vast majority of nekoma's choreo in full, in the center of the stage. flips and rolls and dives and all. shouri also kept forgetting this was not, like, a concert or something and would literally be bouncing up and down waving his thundersticks when he wasn't actively dancing. but then he got all embarrassed during kuroo's "that sparkling stage…!" speech and walked off stage... but BARELY, he was hovering so close in the wings that i could still see him ahaha. the closest he could physically force himself to actually leaving the spotlight. XD in contrast, naoki was so embarrassed during his first couple lines/closeup that he tied his nekoma towel around his face, walked off stage, and didn't come back for a full minute. hee.

shouri also made naoki leave the stage with him so that they could walk back on for nekoma's pre-match entrance, this time with shouri wearing his jacket specifically so he could reenact the dramatic toss and catch, which he then intentionally dropped a la the DVD blooper roll, as naoki took hinata's role of pointing at it in shock.

naoki was also apparently the "voice" of kiyoko behind the "tobe!" flag, shouri was very excited to make sure we knew that. OH for the first scene between kuroo and kenma, SHOU came out as kenma with shouri trailing after him measuring the height difference between the two of them and making exaggerated confused faces. and after nekoma waved goodbye and left the stage after the practice match was over, naoki also waved goodbye and walked off but shouri was so caught up in watching that he didn't notice naoki was gone for at least a minute and then did a huge doubletake at the empty chair. XD

last but not least, for the kurotsukki fans out there, i know you're reading this, during the practice montage at the end of act 1 shouri acted out tsukki's bit standing there tossing a volleyball with one hand like :|, and his attempt at a bored tsukki expression was hilarious, shouri's face just doesn't do that naturally. XD

so while the first act was like a show on stage we were watching, the second act was, of all the screenings so far, the most like an actual proper call-and-response cheering event. first was the tokonami match, of course, and honestly the biggest compliment to how well and effectively this match was staged is that there was zero snark – instead, i heard several people sniffling -- and the applause after ikejiri walked off stage went on for a long, long time.

but then the datekou match had so much for the audience to do! there was a LOT of cheering and chanting to take part in, and of course acchan and shou acted out big scenes like aone and futakuchi's "lock ON", the big blocks, "TEPPEKI DA" etc. by the end acchan was just on his feet making frustrated faces when he got blocked out ahaha. but this is the part that felt closest to actually being part of the student cheering squad at a volleyball game… if part of the cheers were a rap.

(at some point shouri and naoki came back on stage as well, and to be fair to them, for a split second when they came out again i was like OH NO LET THE DATEKOU KIDS HAVE THEIR CHANCE TO SHINE but while shouri did get very into reenacting their choreo he stayed off to the side and didn't distract from the main characters. thanks kondou-kun. XD

daichi: like [iwaizumi] said, datekou are really strong acchan: ^__^ (nod) suga: three months ago their iron wall totally destroyed us acchan: ^____^ (nodnod) suga: to be honest, we still haven't wiped out the fear from that time acchan: ^________^ (nodnodnod)

my favorite part about datekou, though, was at the end, when we got our first real emotional casualties of summer week. so first, aone's handshake with hinata also got a really, really long ovation, and shou started to look super emotional. then the datekou third years' retirement scene happened. because i know kimura atsushi, i was locked on (heh) to him from the moment it began, and was therefore able to watch in real time as his mouth slowly turned down and his face crumpled and his eyes glinted with tears. then when moniwa started talking about how next year's iron wall would be even stronger, he suddenly stood up and just nodded emphatically at every line but couldn't even smile. acchan i love u.

another sweet thing was that during that scene, the final "we played… we played volleyball!" scene with the losers, shou just took a long, slow look around the audience with this really gentle expression and later in the aftertalk he said he could see people crying and that he was really touched and grateful.

so, speaking of the aftertalk!

shouri and naoki also talked about aiia closing and how it felt kind of destined that it was where they had both their haikyuu debut and now their last haikyuu event. naoki: appearing as members of the cheering squad. shouri: as the ensemble cast. naoki: shouri, you were definitely the loudest person here. shouri: because i'm the MC!

they dragged-slash-complimented shou for his scary aone face. "yeah, i'm kind of scared by myself when i see the recording tbh because it's not like i could SEE myself when i was made up on stage." acchan: but off stage he's really nice!! naoki: yeah, you always gave off this kind of sweet idiotic air in the dressing room. shou: …actually… something like that happened today…

and then he explained how during the scene when aone is blocked out by hinata and lands with a thump back on stage, he reenacted it today… and when he landed in a crouch, his pants tore. XDD CUE EVERYONE DUCKING BEHIND HIM AND LIFTING UP THE SHIRT TIED AROUND HIS WAIST TO CHECK OUT THE TEAR AND FALL AROUND LAUGHING like literally naoki was lying on the stage paralyzed with laughter. shouri kindly demonstrated to us exactly where and how large the tear was, thanks shouri. "lucky i wore a shirt around my waist today!" shou said.

acchan also explained how he and shou did different variations on the "lock ON" on asahi, so of course shouri made them demonstrate – and they did one in which futakuchi tries to push aone's arm down, it pops back up, and futakuchi then walks his fingers cutesily up aone's arm as he says "yamenasai!"

then naoki told us about how during the scene when hinata spikes with his eyes open, one day takeru came up to him and said super seriously, "what's the deal with hinata closing his eyes? don't you normally spike with your eyes open?" naoki explained there was a line about how he hits with his eyes closed earlier, to which takeru replied, "i didn't hear anything about that, idk what you're talking about" and that was when naoki realized he was speaking as yaku. "i get staying in character but he WENT OUT OF HIS WAY TO ASK ME ABOUT IT."

speaking of, shouri also said that the show was just around the time the volume with the nekoma third years' backstory came out so that if you watch the full stage recording you'll see kuroo and yaku squabbling and kai trying to break them up in the background and such.

then, another takeru story, for one particular scene when the nekoma cast was holding up the iron wall it was always incredibly hot, because they'd already worked themselves into a sweat during their actual match as nekoma, then they'd have to put on these long white coats, so it was unbearable… and then on top of that, takeru would come over and like. squish up next to him. and it would be even MORE hot. so naoki would be like, "pssst get away from me" and takeru would just sit crouch there dead still staring straight ahead. "i got SO MAD AT HIM."

so that’s why today takeru was tweeting "…what did shouri and naoki say about me." XD

finally, their final messages! that's when shou said the bit i mentioned earlier about how moving it was to see the fans' reaction, and added "I'M DEFINITELY COMING BACK i mean i don't know if that's actually possible BUT I DEFINITELY WELL." acchan fell all over his own words and then was like I CAN'T PUT HOW GRATEFUL I AM INTO WORDS i love haikyuu bye. naoki said how how grateful he is that his first and last experiences at aiia were both, specifically, "karasuno, fukkatsu." and shouri just talked about how WOW HAIKYUU'S AMAZING WORRY KINOSHITA IS AMAZING. (naoki: just pretend he's an alien or something, ok guys?) and then, also, that he owes his career to the show basically and is super grateful and proud to have been involved.

OH, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST -- the sound tech got the last laugh on shouri. they thanked us for coming and bowed... and then the credits music didn't start like it did for everyone else, they had to start singing it themselves – "da da DAH da da da DAH da da da DAH da da da dah" while shouri yelled at the sound booth "HEY, DON'T PUNISH ME" until the tech took pity on them and cued up the music. then shouri purposely "tripped" and fell going off stage, naoki held back shou and acchan from going back to help him, and they got whistled off one last time. XD

…the end. jesus that was a lot, how the hell are we going to get through shinka no natsu as led by shouri, we're all gonna die.

tonight: shousha to haisha………………. pray 4 me. see you tomorrow!!

[shoushatohaisha]

report: haikyuu!! summer week day 5 part 2 (hajimari no kyojin)

(sorry for the delay! i moved home from japan to the states the day after… technically the day of posting the last report so obviously it's been. Busy. last one tho!! ♥)

previously: day 1 (shoen) day 2 (itadaki no keshiki) day 3 (karasuno, fukkatsu!!) day 4 (shousha to haisha) day 5 part 1 (shinka no natsu)

guests: kenta, keita, funaki masahide, yanagihara rin

Hoo Boy this was by the most outright emotional of all the screenings so far. like, shousha to haisha was intense, but the content was intimately familiar by now. the impact of this was fresh -- and we all knew it was the end, you know? the end of our happy little week, obviously, but also the beginning of the end for karasuno. over the week all those showings had built up this tidal wave of Feelings it then unleashed here, aha. so that the cheering was right on the edge of desperate, like there were real results on the line. self extremely included. this was our last chance, in all kinds of ways.

(i, aware that i would be leaving the country in two days, was perhaps a little more desperate! but it sure as hell wasn't just me. cheering along at the top of our lungs to the opening/closing karasuno jog i described here… it was. a lot.)

of course the reaction to certain parts were as you'd expect. there was dead silence for ennoshita's big scene(s). the cheers for his receives were like nothing else. when ennoshita tells yamaguchi "let's fight together" kenta reeled backward like he'd taken a physical hit. (my son, i love you.) and of course kenta and kt were emoting all over the place for that whole storyline – kt was wiping his eyes after daichi had to leave the court, and then they both teared up over "thank you for coming back" and "captain ni tsunagenakya!"

and of course when it came to rin and funaki they had their own moments – rin obviously got misty-eyed when all of wakutani started losing their shit, lol, and funaki surprised me by wiping his eyes after misaki's goodbye to johzenji. (my guess from daisenshuuraku was right, btw, momo was crying irl during that scene. awww.)

OK BUT BACK TO THE BEGINNING sorry.

once again kt was tricked into dashing out before everyone else. XD kt: um this is not how rehearsal went. kenta: what are you talking about? :( funaki: this is just like we practiced. rin: (nods furiously) kenta: isn't it? kt: ………yes. fine.

so they accidentally grabbed the afternoon's MC script, whoops. which i'm sure kenta noticed as soon as he glanced at it, but didn't turn a hair until it was time for their self-introductions. "playing kageyama tobio, i'm kageyama tatsuya—" kt: playing nishinoya yuu i'm fuchino yuuto ^_^ funaki: hahahaha PLAYING KUROO TETSUROU IM KONDOU SHOURI audience: (CHEERS) rin: (squints at script) playing konoha akinori im… (mutters) ….azuma… takumi…? kenta: ….you were IN A PLAY WITH HIM rin: is that wrong kenta: what have you been calling him all this time rin: …………azuma…..kun………. kenta: and what did he say to that rin: …"yes?" funaki: well he does seem like he'd just roll with that kenta: IT'S HIGASHI HIS NAME IS HIGASHI

kenta: i was the MC for the shoen screening, but earlier this week, rather than do it twice himself, ryoutarou turned it over to yamagiwa kaito-kun-- audience: (bursts into giggles) kenta: …yeah so i thought maybe tonight i'd give someone else a cha-- funaki: ME I WANT TO kenta: --ok here you go funaki: wait what kenta: you looked like you really wanted to so funaki: I SUPER DO :D funaki: so uh (flips pages) next uh -- kenta: r u srs

i was SOOO fond of funaki omg what a friendly bro ahhh. so cheery and good-natured. :D (can u tell i like em dumb and smiley, apparently.) whereas rin-kun was… endearingly ditzy. XD (is he an ex-johnny's? he kind of had that air. it was like looking at ueda tatsuya circa 2005. in no small part because of the wakunan towel tucked into his waistband, which draped to the floor.)

funaki: don't forget to call the player's names during the starting order, like "terushima!" or "terushii!" or "yuuji!"

funaki: so next we'll practice cheers! i, the MC – yeah yeah yeah (rapper pose) -- kenta: masakki! kt: masakki! (like. funaki + masahide = masakki? apparently? i was unfamiliar with this nickname.) funaki: ok now yanagihara-kun's gonna lead the cheer practice rin: nice to meet you i'm MC rin ^_^ rin: where were we again? kenta: rin: wait right. this is. a cheer screening. so we want you to cheer! kenta: they know that. rin: kenta: rin: wait ok i remembered!! audience: GANBARE rin: :D;;

it took SEVERAL MORE FALSE STARTS before we actually got to the cheer practice. poor rin-kun. XD but he wasn't like, shy or embarrassed like takumi-kun he just. was kind of a ditz. "NO WAIT :D lemme try again :D wait where are we? :D"

kt: ARE YOU FIRED UP audience: WHOO funaki: ARE YOU READY TO GO audience: WHOOOO kenta: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE FOOD audience: tamago kake gohan!!

the screening: abovementioned emotions aside, plenty of dancing and choreo as you would espect, especially from funaki. rin apparently was young terushima in the flashbacks! so he and funaki did all the double terushima scenes together. and rin did all of his white coat dance choreo as well.

during the opening, kenta joined rin so he wouldn’t have to do the wakunan choreo alone. XD and funaki and rin played kiyoko-san and yachi ahahaha. then when hinata and ushiwaka begin to turn on the revolving stage, kenta started scuttling around stage trying to "revolve" himself with limited success.

yamaguchi: (snubs shimada's high five) kenta: don't mind!!

despite kenta's gleeful delight in audience comebacks, there were understandably few of them from either him or us because it was everyone's first time watching the show since daisenshuuraku! the demon elementary school children did get this massive cheer that made kenta almost fall out of his chair laughing. ditto akaashi's "michi wo tsukurimasu no de" – that was one of the most full-throated mass "KYAA"s i've ever heard (again… self… included…) and kenta thought it was HILARIOUS.

i myself was reminded all over again what a great show this was, ugh. blah blah I Love Kawahara Kazuma digression aside, please take it as read, IN ADDITION i know i briefly talked about the, like, emotional sensitivity kouhei brought to playing tanaka but fjkdlajfd the close ups on his face made it so much worse, ffffffff. GOD. dude's emotions were A Lot. just. please. gimme the dvd already.

i was also so caught up in nekoma vs fukurodani the first time i watched that i didn't notice how well kuroo and kenma's final scenes onstage functioned as a goodbye for takato and shouri. when you've been in four consecutive shows, you deserve to go out on a meaningful note. (yes ofc we don't know what the future holds etc etc but.) shouri's delivery of "you're our brain, and our spine, and our heartbeat." fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff murder me.

ahem ok. the aftertalk:

funaki said that he was used to watching videos of himself on stage to review and practice with, but it was the first time watching from a normal spectator's perspective. "oh, THAT'S how that came across." and that the effect made him cry.

rin had a really nice thing to say about how watching really impressed on him how haikyuu stage in particular is a work that is dependent on everyone's contributions combined – i.e. it's not just the lead characters, it's the combined effect of the characters in the spotlight and the characters in the background and the white coat ensemble and the technical staff that make haikyuu stage the unique production it is. (this was hard for rin to express in japanese, tbh, so idk how well i'm getting it across in english but his point was that when he says "it's a show we all create together" he's not referring to ideas or feelings but quite literally saying that everyone's contributions on stage are necessary to make haikyuu stage what it is.)

and kenta talked about how (attending every single screening as he did, lol) it was great preparation for saikyou no team to have had the chance to look back on each different production -- especially to look back on the schools and characters that appeared in just one show and carry their feelings forward to the next play.

…then they discussed how quickly rin's hair had grown back since daisenshuuraku. XD rin: tbh… i was emotionally moved when i first looked in the mirror and saw myself with hair.

then as soon as keita prompted them for backstage stories kenta was like GOKU. DEFINITELY GOKU. apparently at daisenshuuraku he started crying before wakunan even huddled up for their pre-show cheer. "I CAN'T HANDLE IT, IT'S TOO MUCH." kenta: i was watching this like R U KIDDING ME WE HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED YET rin: ahaha during the show as well, idk if this is good or bad, but he was always crying, like – there's a bit where hanayama calls "takeru!" as he makes a toss rin: and goku was always like "(sobs) TAKERU!!" kenta: ONE TIME HE CRIED SO MUCH HE SHORTED OUT HIS MIC audience: EHHHHH? kenta: how did that many tears even GET there funaki: probably the sweat plus the crying rin: incredible. kenta: that's haikyuu stage. so much sweat and tears we destroy our mics.

rin also told us about the wakunan red bull rule. they did a lot of team practice on their own, and people were chronically "just barely" late – i.e., never more than a few minutes, but it was enough to throw off practice. so they instituted a rule that whoever was "just barely" late had to buy the rest of the team red bulls. to this day, as they're preparing for their august 25 event… whoever's late has to buy everyone else red bulls. rin: we also took a lot of purikura together kenta: yeah they had such a reputation that whenever they were late karasuno would be like YOU WERE TAKING PURIKURA AGAIN WEREN'T YOU

then for johzenji funaki told the story of "The Take Two Incident", in which during johzenji's ad libs he fucked up his lines two shows in a row – and the second time was so bad he thought "what would terushima do???", straight up yelled "TAKE TWO" and started over. after which kenta collared him backstage like "did you seriously fuckin do that???" funaki: i reflected deeply on my actions.

johzenji also had iizaka, who's a pretty reticent and quiet character. but he had to do something on stage when johzenji was… being johzenji. so karasuno came up with a quirk for him: every time johzenji successfully scored or blocked he would pump his fists and happily yell "MAAA." (5 foot nothing suga kenta reenacting this was delightful, fyi.) kenta: he played the nakashima household's father too. nakashima masayoshi. nakashima… MAA… sayoshi…

THEN, UGH, keita talked about how he gave the post-curtain call greeting for maeraku (i.e. the second-to-last show, the one before senshuuraku). and of course in the greeting he talked about leaving and coming back – and as he did, suga kenta appeared on stage behind him with exactly the same staging/lighting/sound that daichi does during the play, and said daichi's line, "tanaka keita, thank you for coming back." at which point (in the greeting) keita broke down in tears. he somehow managed to relate this story to us without more than a suspiciously husky voice, haha.

(PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD INCLUDE THIS ON THE DVD)

final messages:

rin started off by talking about what a warm atmosphere haikyuu stage has – not only is the production itself good, the people involved in the production are good. this is particularly notable because of the number of people involved. productions with this many people are usually difficult in all kinds of ways – and in his opinion this production is as welcoming and smoothly run as it is thanks to suga kenta. rin: i mean, we're the same age, so as a goal -- well he's not my goal but— kenta: excuse u?? rin: WAIT NO kenta: U COMPLIMENTED ME AND THEN rin: no that's not what i meant!! kenta: WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME HUH (mock flounces off stage) rin: PLEASE LET ME DO IT ONE MORE TIME

(takeru's line, "mou ikkai yarasete kure yo" XD)

he then nicely cleaned it up into what he meant to say about how much he respects kenta and how grateful he was to be part of haikyuu stage.

funaki: WELP JOHZENJI LOST so. that's. my first and last appearance in haikyuu stage. but. tbh. watching this. i really. want to be in it again. i want. to go back. BUT I CAN'T. but all of us in johzenji will do our best in our different venues so maybe we'll meet again. thanks for loving our play so much.

keita: (deep breath) lone audience member: okaeri <3 keita: tadaima :) keita managed to get through his without tearing up… i think. (i love him!!!!) he talked about how of course during a normal show one gets energized and encouraged by the audience's applause, but the energy from these screenings were different and even more direct. "it was like we were all a team." ;___;

and kenta talked about how enjoyable it was to share the emotions of a match directly with everyone, and that looking back on all the productions so far, he was reminded of all the friends and companions that got them this far, including of course the audience. :)

and that's a wrap for the summer week screenings! as i said before, i'll write up a little report about the haikyuu day event – they did an aftertalk after the livestream ended just for the theater – but it should be relatively short compared to these monsters. thanks for tuning in, everyone! ♥♥♥