#tokonome mamori

[epergeci]

💖THE VALKYRIE DRIEVE POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 💖

cute mamori w crayons

gayass

mirei is so cute aaaw

i had a dream where i met them and i hugged mamori! (we became friends!)

momoka!!!! i love her too

she deserves better!

sus art 🤔🤔🤔😏😏😏😏😏😳😳😳

some little doodles

[variouspolltournaments]

[imglowinginthedarkness]

valkyrie drive: mermaid is one of the dumbest animes ive ever seen. it is also my favorite ive watched the whole thing six times

[spacevixenmusic]

Source: Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid [2015]

[johannepetereric]

Ha. She’s called “Mamori” cuz “mammary” for boobs XD

[erinptah]

Something I've been meaning to draw since the moment I finished Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid -- Ultimate Mirei having a bonding moment with Ultimate Adora. (yes, I know Mirei [redacted for Valkyrie Drive spoilers] to make the final form, but explaining the details would drag down the joke)

[prof-kenny]

[ashitano-hikari-blog]

I never played Soul Calibur, but I want Mirei and Mamori as crossover characters.

[iceafterdeath]

[epergeci]

OKAY I JUST DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE!! WHO LIKE VALKYRIE DRIVE MERMAID!!!!!!!?!??!!??!?????!? LIKE ACTUAL GAYS?!? im so happy!!!!!!!!!

MIREI!!!!!!!! ( ifucked up her face on the first one sorry my love BUT HER HAND!! SO HOT!! )

mirei's (in real life probably impossible to wear) swimsuit and mamori being gay abt it

pretty old mamori art

school doodles of mirei cuz im sooo gay!!!!!!

older drawings of mirei and a REALLY old one of mamori but its funny ig

[variouspolltournaments]

Submissions open for the Femslash Tournament.

SUBMISSIONS CLOSED

Submit a Femslash ship and (if you want) propaganda through ask or submit a post.

Any and all femslash ship counts. Canon? Fanon? Crossover? Polyamory? It all counts so long as it's femslash. If the ship has a ship name, make sure to include it in your submission.

Currently the submissions will be closing on the 21st of October.

Top 4 submissions in both sections are the ones I submitted myself.

@tournament-announcer

Submissions in bold have propaganda, submissions not in bold do not have propaganda. Whether they do or do not have some already, you are still free to submit some.

I am still looking for a mod for this blog, find out more information here.

SUBMISSIONS:

Anya Hepburn/Tsumugi Harudori/Meme Tatane (Soul Eater Not)

Taramorgan: Tara Bryck/Morgan Fischer (Heart of the Woods)

Jane Darling/Melody (Peter Pan 2/The Little Mermaid 2)

Yuexian: Lin Wanyue/Li Xian (Female General and Eldest Princess)

Melokuro/Kuromelo: My Melody/Kuromi (Sanrio)

Tara Jones/Darcy Olsson (Heartstopper)

Marlana: Alana Bloom/Margot Verger (Hannibal)

Lumity: Luz Noceda/Amity Blight (The Owl House)

Rupphire: Ruby/Sapphire (Steven Universe)

Lambdabern: Bernkastel/Lambdadelta (Umineko No Naku Koro Ni)

Miirena: Mion Sonozaki/Rena Ryūgu (Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni)

Grandeur/Scarab (Wings of Fire)

Squirrelflight/Nightcloud (Warrior Cats)

Sashanarcy: Sasha Waybright/Anne Boonchuy/Marcy Wu (Amphibia)

Camileda: Camila Noceda and Eda Clawthorne (The Owl House)

Ruby/Glacier/Thorn (Wings of Fire)

Camilith: Camila Noceda/Lilith Clawthorne (The Owl House)

Konagami: Izumi Konata/Hiiragi Kagami (Lucky Star)

Sunny/Fatespeaker (Wings of Fire)

Peril/Fatespeaker (Wings of Fire)

Sunny/Peril/Fatespeaker (Wings of Fire)

Moonwatcher/Tamarin (Wings of Fire)

Turtle Tail/Storm (Warrior Cats)

Star Flower/Violet Dawn (Warrior Cats)

Ferncloud/Daisy (Warrior Cats)

Bumble/Misty (Warrior Cats)

Willow/Norma (The Owl House/Dead End: Paranormal Park)

Julerose: Juleka Couffaine/Rose Lavaillant (Miraculous Ladybug)

Spinnetossa: Spinnerella/Netossa (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power)

Heathertail/Cinderheart (Warrior Cats)

Bristlefrost/Sunbeam (Warrior Cats)

Sunny/Lynx (Wings of Fire)

Whiteout/Clearsight (Wings of Fire)

Sundew/Willow (Wings of Fire)

Foeslayer/Jerboa III (Wings of Fire)

Burnet/Silverspot (Wings of Fire)

Rooney/Pip (Loveless)

SunandMoonShipping: Espeon/Sylveon (Pokémon)

Orca/Tourmaline (Wings of Fire)

Cricket/Luna (Wings of Fire)

Dovewing/Briarlight (Warrior Cats)

Princess/Violet (Warrior Cats)

Quince/Nutmeg (Warrior Cats)

Sandstorm/Silverstream (Warrior Cats)

Squirrelflight/Jessy (Warrior Cats)

Glory/Snowfall (Wings of Fire)

Bluestar/Yellowfang (Warrior Cats)

Yukio/Ellie Phimister (Deadpool)

Amanda Young/Lynn Denlon (Saw 3)

Wan/Pleng (Affair the Series)

Haruka/Mirai (Senran Kagura)

Haruka/Hibari (Senran Kagura)

Hibari/Yagyu (Senran Kagura)

Asuka/Homura (Senran Kagura)

Hikage/Katsuragi (Senran Kagura)

Ryoubi/Ryouna (Senran Kagura)

Miyabi/Imu (Senran Kagura)

Daidouji/Rin (Senran Kagura)

Mirei Shikishima/Mamori Tokonome (Valkyrie Drive)

Rain Hasumi/Lady J (Valkyrie Drive)

Aoi Miyasato/Momoko Kouzuki (Valkyrie Drive)

Kibami Saejima/Ichiha Shirasu (Valkyrie Drive)

Hyouko Yundou/Fubata Kirii (Valkyrie Drive)

Kasumi Shigure/Hibiki Kenjo (Valkyrie Drive)

Nimi Minimi/Noe Oya (Valkyrie Drive)

Momoka Sagara/E9/D5 (Valkyrie Drive)

Charlotte Scherzen/Ange/Miranda/Marianne/Monroe (Valkyrie Drive)

Ongsa/Sun (23.5 The Series)

Luna/Aylin (23.5 The Series)

Inkpa: Ink/Pa (Bad Buddy)

Sam/Mon (GAP: The Series)

Princess Anin/Lady Pin (The Loyal Pin)

Rin Namiki/Misa Aoi (Kandagawa Jet Girls)

Kaguya Shijyuin/Kuromaru Manpuku (Kandagawa Jet Girls)

Jennifer Peach/Emily Orange (Kandagawa Jet Girls)

Pan Ziyu/Pan Dina (Kandagawa Jet Girls)

Mantatsu Shiraishi/Yuzu Midorikawa (Kandagawa Jet Girls)

Fuka Tamaki/Inori Misuda (Kandagawa Jet Girls)

Leina Vance/Elina Vance (Queen’s Blade)

Leina Vance/Risty (Queen’s Blade)

Leina Vance/Echidna (Queen’s Blade)

Echidna/Irma (Queen’s Blade)

Menace/Anarista (Queen’s Blade)

Tomoe/Shizuka (Queen’s Blade)

Lucifer/Leviathan (Sin: Seven Mortal Sins)

Lucifer/Maria Tostsuka (Sin: Seven Mortal Sins)

Belial/Astaroth (Sin: Seven Mortal Sins)

Ekaterina "Katja" Kurae/Hana Katsuragi (Seikon no Qwaser)

Ekaterina "Katja" Kurae/Lulu Shiizaki (Seikon no Qwaser)

Ekaterina "Katja" Kurae/Ayame Satsuki (Seikon no Qwaser)

Fangrai: Lightning Farron/Oerba Yun Fang (Final Fantasy)

Rachnera Arachnera/Lilith (Monster Musume)

Arashiko Yuuno/Yumi Mamiya (MM!)

Ryuko Matoi/Mako Makanshoku (Kill la Kill)

Satsuki Kiryuin/Nonon Jakuzure (Kill la Kill)

Ragyo Kiryuin/Nui Harime (Kill la Kill)

Kanna Kamui/Riko Saikawa (Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid)

Madohomu: Madoka Kaname/Homura Akemi (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

Scanty Daemon/Kneesocks Daemon (Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt)

Utena Hiiragi/Kiwi Araga (Gushing Over Magical Girls)

Utena Hiiragi/Sayo Minakami (Gushing Over Magical Girls)

Matama Akoya/Nemo Anemo (Gushing Over Magical Girls)

Poison Ivy/Harley Quinn (DC Comics)

Atsuko "Akko" Kagari/Diana Cavendish (Little Witch Academia)

Ursula Callistis/Croix Meridies (Little Witch Academia)

Ruegard: Clarisse La Rue/Silena Beauregard (Percy Jackson and the Olympians)

Theyna: Thalia Grace/Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano (Trials of Apollo)

Emmiphine: Josephine/Hemithea (Trials of Apollo)

Edeleth: Edelgard/F!Byleth (Fire Emblem Three Houses)

Doropetra: Dorothea/Petra (Fire Emblem Three Houses)

Cathmir: Catherine/Shamir (Fire Emblem Three Houses)

Melinoe/Eris (Hades 2)

Melinoe/Arachne (Hades 2)

Melinoe/Nemesis (Hades 2)

Liu Qianqiao/Luo Fumeng (Word of Honor)

Du Pusa/Qiao Luohan (Word of Honor)

Farcille: Falin/Marcille (Dungeon Meshi)

Shiirena: Shion Sonozaki/Rena Ryuugu (Higurashi When They Cry)

Evanatsu: Eva Ushiromiya/Natsuhi Ushiromiya (Umineko When They Cry)

Eriange: Erika Furudo/Ange Ushiromiya (Umineko When They Cry)

Angemammon: Ange Ushiromiya/Mammon (Umineko When They Cry)

Asumu Ushiromiya/Kyrie Ushiromiya (Umineko When They Cry)

Gaap/Beatrice (Umineko When They Cry)

Jessisayo: Jessica Ushiromiya/Sayo (Umineko When They Cry)

Felicidette: Felicity Clements/Odette Leliefeld (The Checquy Files/Stiletto)

Myfantay: Myfanwy Thomas/Shantay Petoskey (The Checquy Files/The Rook)

Lakemura: Barbara Lake/Nomura (Trollhunters/Tales of Arcadia)

Attolia Irene/Eddis Helen (The Queen’s Thief)

Sophie Devereaux/Parker (Leverage)

Elhani: Eleanor Shellstrop/Tahani al-Jamil (The Good Place)

Mailee: Mai/Ty Lee (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Feyberry: Maya Fey/Regina Berry (Ace Attorney)

Faraskye: Kay Faraday/Ema Skye (Ace Attorney)

Franziskay: Franziska von Karma/Kay Faraday (Ace Attorney)

Feychols: Maya Fey/Penny Nichols (Ace Attorney)

Mayema/Emamaya: Ema Skye/Maya Fey (Ace Attorney)

SmittenShipping: Jupiter/Mars (Pokemon Platinum)

KogamoShipping: Kris/Leaf (Pokemon Crystal/Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen)

KansasShipping: Lyra/Whitney (Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver)

Pipabeth: Piper McLean/Annabeth Chase (The Heroes of Olympus/Camp Half-Blood Chronicles)

Reynabeth: Reyna Ramirez-Arellano/Annabeth Chase (The Heroes of Olympus/Camp Half-Blood Chronicles)

Theyna: Thalia Grace/Reyna Ramirez-Arellano (The Heroes of Olympus/Camp Half-Blood Chronicles)

Rachabeth: Rachel Dare/Annabeth Chase (Percy Jackson and the Olympians/Camp Half-Blood Chronicles)

Clarabeth: Clarisse La Rue/Annabeth Chase (Percy Jackson and the Olympians/Camp Half-Blood Chronicles)

Pipachel: Piper McLean/Rachel Dare (The Heroes of Olympus/Camp Half-Blood Chronicles)

Junithena: Juniper Woods/Athena Cykes (Ace Attorney)

Lanamia: Lana Skye/Mia Fey (Ace Attorney)

Goulstrade/Ghoulstrade: Maria Gorey/Gina Lestrade (The Great Ace Attorney)

Susahao/Susarei: Susato Mikotoba/Haori Murasame (The Great Ace Attorney)

Rika Furude/Satoko Hojo (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni)

Rosine/Jill (Berserk)

Scandal Savage/Knockout (DC Comics)

Chifusa Manyuu/Kaede (Manyuu Hikenchou)

Ranamon/Shutumon (Digimon)

Angewomon/LadyDevimon (Digimon)

Flare Corona/Lucy Heartfilia (Fairy Tail)

Nyaruko/Kuuko (Haiyore! Nyaruko-san)

Mari Kurihara/Meiko Shiraki (Prison School)

Andromaquynh: Andromache the Scythian/Quynh (The Old Guard)

Tyzula: Azula/Ty Lee (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Hinata Hino/Mao Nonosaka (Future Diary)

Kiwako Flugel Makina/Kyoko Kasuga (Deadman Wonderland)

Moka Akashiya/Yukari Sendo (Rosario + Vampire)

Mion Sonozaki/Rika Furude (Hinamizawa Bus Stop)

Glitra: Glimmer/Catra (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power)

Kyosaya: Kyoko Sakura/Sayaka Miki (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

Eloise Bridgerton/Cressida Cowper (Bridgerton)

Kuroki Tomoko/Emiri Ucchi (Watamote)

Morgwen: Morgana/Gwen (Merlin)

Nanny Ogg/Granny Weatherwax (Discworld)

Eleanor Vance/Theodora "Theo" (The Haunting of Hill House)

Stephcass: Stephanie Brown/Cassandra Cain (DC Comics)

Kajemac: KJ Brandman/Mac Coyle (Paper Girls)

Kinsey Locke/Jackie Veda (Locke and Key)

Maria Salazar/Saya Kuroki (Deadly Class)

Celia St. James/Evelyn Hugo (The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo)

Velaphne: Daphne/Velma (Scooby-Doo)

Sam/Clover/Alex (Totally Spies)

Darcy/Icy/Storm (Winx Club)

Cornelia Hale/Irma Lair (W.I.T.C.H)

Palasaki: Niko/Crystal Palace (Dead Boy Detectives)

NightButcher: Night Nurse/Jenny (Dead Boy Detectives)

Holly Munro/Lucy Carlyle (Lockwood and Co)

Hollstein: Carmilla Karnstein/Laura Hollis (Carmilla)

Miryem Mandelstam/Irina (Spinning Silver)

Bloomella: Bloom/Stella (Winx Club)

Shoot: Sameen Shaw/Root (Person of Interest)

Ninej: Nina Zennik/Inej Ghafa (Six of Crows/Grishaverse/Shadow and Bone)

Rosemary Harper/Sissix Seshkethet (Wayfarers/The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet)

Tisabel: Tamsin/Isabel (Wayfarers/Record of a Spaceborn Few)

Jane 23 a.k.a Pepper/Jane 64 (Wayfarers/A Closed and Common Orbit)

Alexis Chopper/Jacqueline "Jack" Wolcott (Wayward Children/Down Among the Sticks and Bones)

Arya/Nasuada (The Inheritance/Eragon)

Brianna/Meggie (Inkworld series/Inkheart)

Emma Woodhouse/Jane Fairfax (Emma)

Fanny Price/Molly Crawford (Mansfield Park)

Georgiana Darcy/Lydia Bennet (Pride and Prejudice)

Viola/Olivia (Twelfth Night)

Lottiana: Princess Tiana/Charlotte La Bouff (The Princess and the Frog)

Minsy: Minnie/Daisy (Disney)

Peaisy: Princess Peach/Princess Daisy (Super Mario)

Wenclair: Wednesday Adams/Enid Sinclair (Wednesday)

Cher Horowitz/Dionne Davenport (Clueless)

Calzona: Callie Torres/Arizona Robbins (Grey's Anatomy)

Nomanita: Nomi Marks/Amanita Caplan (Sense8)

Cophine: Delphine Cormier/Cosima Niehaus (Orphan Black)

Aelita Schaeffer/Yumi Ishiyama (Code Lyoko)

Gwen Cooper/Toshiko "Tosh" Sato (Torchwood)

Missy/Clara Oswald (Doctor Who)

Jenny Flint/Madame Vastra (Doctor Who)

Ristelle: Rita/Estelle (Tales of Vesperia)

Jamie Moriarty/Joan Watson (Elementary)

Dani Clayton/Jamie Taylor (The Haunting of Bly Manor)

Dr. Victorine LaFourcade/Dr. Alessandra Ruiz (The Fall of the House of Usher)

Babitha: Tabitha Galavan/Barbara Kean (Gotham)

Eve/Mazikeen (Lucifer)

Rockie: Robin Buckley/Vicki (Stranger Things)

Ferncloud/Brightheart (Warrior Cats)

EnchantmentShipping: Wigglytuff/Chansey (Pokémon)

Thasmin: Thirteen Doctor/Yasmin "Yaz" Khan (Doctor Who)

Clizzy: Clary Fray/Isabelle Lightwood (Shadowhunters)

Katya Goncharova/Sofia Modigliani (Goncharov)

Alicia Florrick/Kalinda Sharma (The Good Wife)

Evalise: Annalise Keating/Eve Rothko (How to Get Away with Murder)

Asha/Farsight (Wings of Fire)

Beth Ann Stanton/April Warner (Why Women Kill)

Bree Van de Kamp/Gabrielle "Gaby" Solis (Desperate Housewives)

Amileia: Amilyn Holdo/Leia Organa (Star Wars)

Reyrose: Rey/Rose Tico (Star Wars)

Amaya/Janai (The Dragon Prince)

Willow Rosenberg/Tara McClay (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Stella/Tabitha (Scarlet Hollow)

Amana Asakura/Nina Yuungai/Ryou Hiruma (Kiss and White Lily For My Dearest Girl)

Yui Kusanagi/Yui Komori (Kamigami no Asobi/Diabolik Lovers)

Chaggily: Charlie Morningstar/Vaggie/Emily (Hazbin Hotel)

RoyalHalo: Charlie Morningstar/Emily (Hazbin Hotel)

Eposette: Cosette Fauchelevent/Eponine Thénardier (Les Misérables)

Dolly Bantry/Jane Marple (Miss Marple books/adaptations)

Hermia/Helena (A Midsummer Night's Dream)

Brengela: Temperance Brennan x Angela Montenegro (Bones)

Christine Daaé/Meg Giry (The Phantom of the Opera)

Bess Marvin/Lisbeth (Nancy Drew)

Elizabeth "Mac" MacMillan/Phryne Fisher (Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries)

Arwyn: Arwen/Éowyn (Lord of the Rings)

Danbeau: Carol Danvers/Maria Rambeau (Marvel)

Yennaia: Yennefer/Tissaia (The Witcher)

Monica Reyes/Dana Scully (The X-Files)

Ambteen: Amber Volakis/Remy "Thirteen" Hadley (House M.D.)

Kitty Winter/Joan Watson (Elementary)

Trissefer: Triss/Yennefer (The Witcher)

Linda Martin/Mazikeen (Lucifer)

Meradd: Meredith Grey/Addison Montgomery (Grey's Anatomy)

BabsQuinn: Harley Quinn/Barbara Gordon (DCU)

Smugbug: Lisa Wilbourn aka Tattletale/Taylor Hebert aka Skitter (Worm/Parahumans)

Wolfspider: Taylor Hebert aka Skitter/Rachel Lindt aka Bitch (Worm/Parahumans)

Maria Gorey/Haori Murasame (The Great Ace Attorney)

[therealkatekane]

My Journey through Yuri, Part II

So, to be fair, this is the first anime that kicked off my midlife discovery of anime. And while Symphogear holds the top spot in my heart, Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid is a very, very close second. Symphogear fulfills my need for warm fluffy fuzzies and adventure. Valkyrie fulfills my need for... everything else: lesbians, sex, lesbian sex, humor, over-the-top-ridiculous premises, zero male characters, and just... literally everything. If Symphogear is comfort food, then Valkyrie is my favorite meal that is hella bad for me, but I just don’t care.

I don’t even remember how I stumbled onto this anime, but I thank the fucking gods that I did. I found it, watched the entire series one night, and again the next two nights with the girls. Also, thanks to this show, Diana taught me two important anime terms: ecchi and oppai. We’ll start here:

And so it begins...

Let me start here: you best be grown for this post. And you best be grown if you’re watching this show because damn they is a lot of sex.

The whole premise of this show is that girls infected with the Arm Virus are quarantined on islands away from the rest of the world. Infected girls can be either Extars or Liberators. Extars transform into weapons (”Arms”) that Liberators use or “drive.” And in order to transform, Extars must be sexually stimulated by a compatible Liberator. Yup.

I was actually concerned at first because I thought this setup had a lot of potential to have all the attitudes and ideas I find super squicky in anime (and in media in general): questionable consent, objectification, toxic relationships, etc. But I was pleasantly surprised that consent is actually addressed really well in the series, and overall, I thought it handled excellently so I wasn’t squicked out at all.

So, onto the characters:

Above you see our two main characters: Mamori, the red head, is an Extar. The blond, Mirei, is a Liberator. And as is seen above, they were meant for each other. That being said, bless Mirei and her heart of gold, because Mamori is real simple. If I have one complaint about this show, it’s that Mamori is that annoyingly innocent and oblivious and simple protagonist. You know the one. She’s that dog you have that can’t figure out how to push open a door with its nose even though it’s already mostly open anyway and whines until you get up and cross the room and push it open the remaining three inches so she can come in. Lord love her, she’s adorable and sweet, but just... not bright.

But Mirei is phenomenal. Despite Mamori’s obliviousness, Mirei is immediately staunchly devoted to her. All she wants to do is protect Mamori. She is tall and mysterious and proves to be a badass fighter in her first thirty seconds on screen. You can’t help but fall in love with her strength and stubbornness. And I’m a sucker for the strong but silent and awkward types. 

What I like best about their relationship is how Mirei automatically does whatever she thinks is in Mamori’s best interests or aligns with her desires from word one. She sees Mamori under attack, she places herself between her and her attacker. Mamori complains about a character being cruel to another, Mirei moves to put a stop to it. Mamori asks Mirei not to hurt some one, so she doesn’t. I’m not a big fan of “love at first sight” type shit, but I can’t help but just fucking adore Mirei’s instant devotion to Mamori. Not just her, but to her thoughts and feelings.

Next up, we have the dynamic duo referred to as “Lady Lady.”

Oh, I cannot say enough about these two. Lady Rain and Lady J. Both are both Liberators and Extars, able to switch between roles as the situation dictates. SWITCH, get it?? One transforms into a sword/gun and the other a badass motorcycle. They claim it isn’t the sex that allows them transform but the strength of their bond. It’s actually quite beautiful how dedicated they are to one another. Former members of a paramilitary government organization, they chose exile and quarantine over being tools of others.

Next up, we’ve got Meifon. Meifon is a schemer obsessed with making a buck. What I adore about her is that she is an asexual/aromantic character. On an island where everyone is fucking everyone all the time. It is such an interesting idea of how someone who doesn’t experience sexual arousal/stimulation in a “typical” way functions on an island where sex is so highly prioritized. It was a really neat idea that I was surprised to see the show tackle. While it isn’t addressed in a super deep or meaningful way, it is an unexpected and nice touch.

The “Governor.” Normally, I am all about avoiding spoilers, but I was surprised that we were supposed to think the governor is a dude. I know sometimes it can be hard to tell in anime, and I am guilty of more than once being like “What a super hot lady!” and it ended up being a fella and cue disappointment. But Akira was clearly a woman from the first time we see her. It wasn’t until the fourth episode that I learned she was supposed to be a “man.” She is so clearly a lady. If you can’t figure that out in ten seconds, you’re as simple as Mamori, bless your heart.

I feel it’s a missed opportunity for Akira not to be trans, but she’s not. She’s just pretending to be a fella for power, to stand out on an island full of women. It would have been a lot more interesting and compelling in my humble opinion. But whatever.

I could go on and on about all the many fantastic characters on this show, but there are a few other things I want to talk about.

1. I usually prefer the original Japanese voice actors, but this is one of the rare times when the opposite is true. The English voice acting is on point, very well acted, and an utter delight. Mirei in particular has a fantastic dead-pan delivery that I adore.

2. This show is hysterically funny. I laughed so hard so many times. Especially during the episode “Giant Girl, Little Heart.” I mean... just look at this:

The giant girl’s name is Nimi Minimi. I can’t even. Dear god. It’s so funny. I have a great appreciation for anything that can make me laugh. There are a lot of jokes about pitching and catching. And this is an actual quote from this episode: “Nimi, you’re the only one who can catch my fastball. Only you can catch my body and soul!” It’s classic.

3. The power and relationship dynamics are very interesting. Poly seems to be a pretty readily accepted practice. Platonic “driving” seems to be a thing. Consent is approached several different ways, and each is very interesting. Another thing this show does well is examine the problems inherent in such a system. It isn’t all girls kissing girls and touchy touchy fun times. There is a lot included on how that power can be abused and what corruption may look like in a hyper-sexualized state. So, maybe trigger warning? I’m pretty sensitive, but I did not find it trigger-y. It was actually nice to see such abuse of power highlighted as abuse without a veiled attempt to make it okay because it’s sexy times between two (or more) women.

4. Story/plot/etc - I’ll be real. The bar was really low when I initially started this. I mean, I didn’t expect much given the premise, but ended up being very pleasantly surprised. The story is reasonably compelling and more thought out than expected. There are more complexities than I anticipated, and it all wraps up neatly at the end of the series in a satisfying way. 

So, I guess that wraps up Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid. Conclusion: Watch it. It’s beautifully NSFW and unashamedly queer. There needs to be more anime like it. I think next I’ll write about Flip Flappers as it was recommended to me on my last post, and it currently holds the number three spot in my heart.

Today marks the fourth week of working from home, so please please please keep the recommendations coming. I have literally nothing to do but work and watch anime, and I’m super grateful for the recs I received already. Thanks. :-)

[bold-lady-boss]

[a-titty-ninja]

[prof-kenny]

[trebol-de-tres-hojas]