#whether it be in the manga or the official arts itself

[lazysublimeengineer]

Born to be a prince in a shoujo manga. Force to be a sassy striker in shounen manga.

Get a guy who can do both

[dorky-kawa]

Is the avant mv really predicting the jjk ending? - an analysis

There's no way to be sure, but on the other hand, it sure is racking up to be a lot of strange coincidences if not. People have made several observations that the MV seemed to have foreshadowed Nobara's return all along, while others have made other theories on how the MV may be telling us of the return of the glorious blue-eyed king.

Putting the stuff about our blue-eyed king aside (we'll return to it), the MV was scarily accurate about Nobara's return.

But one thing that I noticed from the latest chapter is that the MV may have also showed us Sukuna's defeat months ago.

References from the MV -> chapter 268:

In a brief panel of the MV, there is a blob that looks similar enough to the Sukuna blob we saw this chapter. The blob is coughing up black ink/blood? as if it were punched, almost like Sukuna taking damage from Yuji's black flash.

Sequence in the MV:

Also, at the start of the sequence, there appears a pair of hands holding on to the blob, just like Yuji holding Sukuna with both hands as Sukuna faded away.

Now, if this convinces you snippets of jjk's ending have been hidden in this MV, it gets interesting regarding what else this MV might be foretelling. Interpreting an MV is a subjective art, but users on twitter have pointed out another sequence in the MV in which a portrait with two eyes (that have clouds floating in them) becomes blotted with ink over one of the eye.

This connects to the suspicious amount of official content with Gojo that only has one eye opened. Why do you keep drawing him with only one eye, Gege?

In the end, what does it mean for Gojo? No idea. Some people are saying he's coming back with a binding vow that requires him to give up an eye/Six Eyes. You can probably find the theories on twitter. What would be the purpose of him coming back at the end of the story? Who knows.

— but the picture is there, and depending on whether you're convinced or not, the MV seems to have referenced the jjk ending in it, so it might be worth it to check it out to see if we can figure out more about the ending before it's ending in 3 chapters anyways.

As an aside, this post is just talking about whether we can rely on the MV to predict the ending; the MV itself has other panels that refer to canon events in the manga. It's pretty cool - check it out on Youtube if you have the time.

Also, in case anyone is not familiar with how the MV predicted Nobara's return:

References from the MV -> chapter 266-267

[tamelee]

First of all, hi, how have you been? :)

So there is this Sasusaku account on Twitter who loves to use novels to defend their ship. I know, nothing new.

But this person recently made a thread to debunk the idea that novels are not canon, and their thesis was that every work published by Shueisha is canon because they have ownership of Naruto; therefore, saying the novels are not canon is the same as saying the Naruto manga isn't canon either (according to them).

I know you have talked about this before, so I apologize if this ask comes off as repetitive and/or annoying, but I was just interested in knowing your opinion since you know more about these topics, so feel free to ignore this ask if you want to!

Have a nice day ^^

Hi! Doing alright thank you ^^! 

“every work published by Shueisha is canon because they have ownership of Naruto; therefore, saying the novels are not canon is the same as saying the Naruto manga isn't canon either”

Oh yes, of course. 

Which means that aside from the novels that retcon the original, the… 

Random, OOC storylines in games 

Third-party interpretations, subjectively written data-books or fan-books

Merch, promotional art and other marketing material 

Filler episodes/Movies

Dash generation Manga or whatever 

Sasuke- and Lee’s chibi-adventures Manga

etc—

...are also all canon.

[click to enlarge]

Because "Shueisha published it".

Please make it make sense.

“But this person recently made a thread to debunk the idea that novels are not canon, and their thesis was that every work published by Shueisha is canon because they have ownership of Naruto; therefore, saying the novels are not canon is the same as saying the Naruto manga isn't canon either ”

No.

This is an incredibly flawed argument, because it’s already a non-negotiable fact that the Naruto Manga is canon. It just is. No question about it whatsoever.  

CANON=

The Naruto Manga is the authoritative framework that is the source material. This holds things like the rules, core elements of the story like: characters, themes, messages, the author’s intent etc- And fundamental canon holds the most significance of all within a franchise and provides consistency to the fictional universe in case publishing companies decide to expand on it.. 

By nature its intent is to reflect the original author’s vision; the Naruto Manga = Kishimoto’s vision. 

And everything that doesn’t align with it is simply not canon. 

Therefore the only thing left to argue about is whether legal “ownership” by itself can determine whether something is canon or not. But that isn’t how you measure it alone because it ignores actual canon. I mean yeah, who would’ve thought you’d have to look at canon in order to determine whether something is canon??? 🤯 Wild, huh?

So no: you can’t and that’s not how it works.  

Everything Shueisha decides or publishes through their distributors is official. 

It is official because they are copyright-holders and own the intellectual property (IP) at large which has many different aspects to it. They do own most of them in order to manage it all.

But not everything that is official is canon.

These are two entirely different things.

In fact, the only thing they themselves consider to truly be part of the ‘official’ timeline (which would establish ‘canon’ if it wasn’t such a retcon either) on the official site is Brt. It’s technically canon because chapter 700 exists, though it still makes no sense as it doesn’t stack up against the other 699 chapters and it still means nothing in terms of actual storytelling. Alas:

And even if they did claim ‘canon’, it’s only as significant as the source makes it out to be. Not the amount of profit they can make because they are legally allowed to exploit the work as much as possible through distributions, adaptations, translations, trademarks at JPO and handing out licenses left and right to third-party organizations (‘Namco Bandai’ for example) which then get their own rights or having entire licensing devisions handle individual IP regarding characters (yes your little blorbo is intellectual property) who manage it in terms of advertisements, marketing/promotion and merchandising (think about these pop-up shops), like: ShoPro

*Shueisha used to be owned by Shogakukan if I’m not mistaken and then separated at some point

It’s a business. And an insanely large one at that. They own so much more than you’d think, it’s a HUGE company (2nd largest publisher in Japan I believe) that doesn’t only own multiple magazines like Shonen Jump and its Manga, they also published the ‘weekly playboy’ and publishes things like many (light/erotic/graphic) novels and nsfw picture-books/manga etc. They will do anything as a business to make sure to profit commercially as is legally permitted within the established contract that varies per published IP and which they’re incredibly tight-lipped about. 

In the case of Naruto’s franchise, information that came after the Manga constantly contradicts not just actual canon, but also each other. Contradictions can’t all be canon or equally as significant at the same time because it needs a source— which we have; the Naruto Manga. It’s what holds the most significance.

That’s how you measure whether something is actually canon or not. 

“… therefore, saying the novels are not canon is the same as saying the Naruto manga isn't canon either”

Besides, if this was true, then canon wouldn’t even exist. Jfc. 

And yes, you can expand on canon like I said. That’s the whole point. It indicates a framework that allows publishing companies to stay consistent and keep their audience happy if they care to do so. But consistency in story or consistency in business doesn’t mean the same thing because it's motivated by two entirely different motives. The willingness to sacrifice artistic work and its audience in order to profit from it financially literally kills creativity in the industry as well as opportunities and it gives them way too much power. The stuff that’s coming out lately is garbage and it’s mostly thanks to people pointing fingers at someone random with their eyes closed, unconcerned about the consequences, and grant them and the business the authority to decide whatever the hell they want about things that already exist— and it never improves. (I’m always free to rant more about it but yk.) 

Like the person you’ve quoted, the motive isn’t to actually convince people that their terrible novels are canon, it’s that canon should give a ship in this case some significance when there wasn’t in the first place. To "fix" something that didn't need any fixing. It has nothing to do with the actual story. 

But canon does because it just is.

Non-negotiable.

Oh! you have a nice day too🌷 I apologize for the rants ><

[khofiecloud]

how to preserve your mental health at school

School is probably one of the most mentally taxing things a teen can go through. It certainly is mine. With the pressure to be the best, to get ahead, and to generally succeed, it's hard to not be affected. The mental strain is unavoidable, and I struggled with it for most of my school years, but over time that has led me to find tips that could help anyone going through this cope.

There are a few signs that can tell you whether or not you are being severely affected. You might be unmotivated and apathetic throughout the school day, and just because of school itself. You might feel like crying in school during the whole day and every day. Reasons can range from academic pressure to bullying and social ostracization to feeling inferior to your over achieving classmates.(If it's bullying, please tell someone who can help you) But here's some tips that might help based on what I learned from experience:

Find a piece of comfort (that you can come back to whenever you feel bad) .It can be a show, anime, song , movie, fanfic, manga , book, food, piece of clothing, or really just about anything (my recs are saiki k, ghibli songs and movies) . It’s best to have multiple just in case you get too used to 1 of them.

Get a support system: the way you can get this may differ based on your specific problem but here’s some ideas : make new friends offline or online (best app is slowly) and strengthen your existing relationships with friends and family.

Find a 3rd place which is not electronic: A third place is any public area away from homes and school/work ,where people meet and interact in an open environment. But the real challenge is not making your 3rd place your device .It's hard but here are some ideas for a 3rd place : libraries, arcades, gym, yoga place, sport club, skateparks, playgrounds, parks, coffee shops and cafes, bodegas. Make sure to choose a place where you feel comfortable. 

Get enough sleep: being tired will just make you feel so much worse. Never underestimate the power of a good night's sleep. Just to make it extra too, listen to some calming music, light candles and wear your fanciest sleepwear.

Put your mind on other things and focus on finding things that'll make you proud of yourself: You could get new hobbies, especially creative ones since those allow you to express yourself easily. Some examples are crocheting, embroidery, drawing, painting, sculpting, pottery, dancing, writing music, performance art and writing (stories, poetry, essays)

Take a leap of faith: create or design something based on your interests and skills and share it with the world. This can develop into being your own personal extracurricular activity. It might be scary but that's what makes it so rewarding in the end.

1) Video editing : post videos on your favorite subject and post on tiktok or youtube 2) Fashion and Photography : take pictures of yourself wearing cute clothes (or just your fav ones) and post them on your social media 3) Painting and Sustainability : paint an exhibit and display it in public 4) Volunteering and Social Media: make and run the official Instagram account of a local business 5) Gaming : make a game on roblox 6) Reading: start a book review blog These are just a few pretty ambitious ideas. You don’t have to follow these. Create your own project, it all depends on who you are. Take the best out of all of you (pieces of your soul) and create a masterpiece. If you don't have any interests (post on tips coming soon) just make something out of your skills . Make sure to only take on a project if you have time and resources.

Lastly, this is a tip I got from Quora. It’s to make a slow nights document. You can write this down on paper or open a doc and write down your comforts, favorite movie, favorite art pieces, places you’d like to go in the future, what you think your life will be in 10 years and so on. Just write things that will make you you.

School can make you feel drained, insecure and hurt for so many reasons. It may end up in you being numb and apathetic. In most cases, the problems you have can’t be solved by just forcing yourself to look at the bright side or forcing yourself to avoid or ignore them. They are real issues. And when asking for tips on the internet isn’t enough, I hope this post will help you. It probably didn’t solve all your problems, but I hope it showed you a way to go. Thank you for reading and Good Luck 

[fullscoreshenanigans]

Debating whether to make the criminally underexplored platonic dynamics polls into a tournament (with the top two or three from the Grace Field kids, Goldy Pond crew, Lambda/Paradise Hideout gang, and free-for-all rounds advancing to a final round).

I'm also taking suggestions for any of these, either in the reblogs or replies of this post, or as asks or in a DM. The requirement is a panel of the two characters interacting* in the manga or a piece of official Demizu art must be included in the suggestion, or in lieu of the picture itself, the chapter citation of where the panel is in the manga.

Notes: • One suggestion per person per poll on a first come, first serve basis. 11 options per poll, with #12 being "other." • Adam, Emma, Lucas, and Yuugo are eligible characters for the GP poll. • Lucas & Oliver, Yuugo & Emma, Yuugo & Ray, and Gillian & Nigel are ineligible dynamics for any of the polls. • Free-for-all is technically everything not covered in the three prior polls (e.g., Nigel & Yvette, Gilda & Violet, Pepe & Ray, etc. If there's enough interest in a demon-exclusive poll, it can be a separate fifth poll. Otherwise, stuff like Leuvis & Sonju goes here.) • *"Interaction" preferably being them talking or engaging in something together intentionally, but if you want to stretch it, it can be two characters just conveniently standing next to each other (because the potential is there Shirai throw us a bone.)

[tomobikicentral]

Hai darlings! Welcome to Tomobiki central! This is a blog which archives anything and everything Urusei Yatsura, both old stuff and new!! This blog was made specifically so fans can avoid spam posts and make it easier to find the best Urusei Yatsura content on Tumblr.

What will be reblogged here?

Everything! as long as it's not low effort, that is.

What counts as low effort?

Posts like screenshots with no text added (unless it's a screenshot which is a meme within itself), or non oc fanart with no source added, official art with no description as to what it is, low quality textposts etc. Also, your post should clearly be recognizable as something from Urusei Yatsura, and not look like something from another anime (as it should have something like characters or some kind if sign that it is from UY). Posts with only links won't be reblogged as well, unless it's a link to a fanfic (but make sure to mention that!). Posts which send unnecessary hate about the series (or anything really) will not be reblogged either since it may create discourse, however meaningful criticism is allowed.

Why was my post not reblogged even though I followed the above criteria?

That would be possibly because I've either missed it or it didn't show up in the tags. You can message or send an ask to inform me.

What about NSFW posts?

NSFW will be reblogged only if it's with the series' own restrictions (that is, the most which can be shown would be nude breasts, though over-fetishism of that won't be reblogged either). Anything over these restrictions, censored or not will not be reblogged. If you don't want to see the NSFW posts, you can simply filter out the tag 'nsfw'.

Why should I follow this blog?

Of course, whether you follow or not is up to you! But following this blog is going to be very helpful to those who create UY content since it allows their posts to get noticed and appreciated more: the more followers this blog has, the more notes they will get. And not to mention, you'll get more UY to enjoy!

How do I find a specific type of content on this blog (for example, only remake related or only fanart)?

The tags will help with those! Posts will be divided in two different ways: a) according to what type of media they are from (manga, original {anime}, remake or even the video games!! However if there is no sign of which media it is from it will be tagged as 'unspecified'.) and b) based in what type of content it is (fanart, official, edit, gif, video, etc.). You can search with the help of these tags and find what you're looking for!

That's all I can think for FAQs, if there's anything else, I'll edit and add to this post.

This blog is still new so it will take time to fill it up with a lot of UY. Please reblog this post so more UY fans will be able to know about this blog. If you have any queries, feel free to contact me here or on my main (@yumedoca ). Have a cosmically great day ahead!! 🌟

[ashxketchum]

HI BEYFAM

I want to share some updates for those who are not chronically online on japanese beytwt about Beyblade Bar, since some shit went down this weekend.

On Friday around 6PM JST, a link went up showcasing the menu and goods for the collaboration cafe...and it was lackluster to say the least. The link was very quickly taken down, with some doubt casted over whether it was a mistake of the info being released too early or the images were not the finalised ideas but something early on from planning stage. I myself wasn't online at the time this happened, so I didn't see the exact info but I got to know through artists I follow that the menu was very overpriced for basic stuff like croissant was priced at 1500 yen and roll cakes at 1000 yen.

Most Japanese fans felt that compared to the Bar that took place in 2019, there was no creativity used for the menu plus the difference in price was astounding. I did not myself see the goods images uploaded but from what I have gathered, it had used the basic profile art of the characters we've seen for years (S1 design for Takao and Kai that too) which isn't anything to be happy about either because if you see the other collabs organised by andGallery on their twitter page, you can tell that they do know how to put in proper effort.

After people started posting about getting cancellations, 'cuz even if they do want that Black Dranzer X, it seems wasteful to join the collab cafe for just that prize, the link was then taken down, but I'm assuming that some Japanese fans did go ahead with cancelling their reservations.

Which is what most likely prompted this apology posted by the organiser a full day later. They've said that the info shared on the link was incorrect and based on prototype ideas. They've prepared a Beyblade experience area, an exhibition of all Beyblades from each gen, a display featuring artwork/original autographs by all manga artists from Beybalde franchises and they'll reveal all the official information by 2nd August. After this tweet, Adachi sensei (Metal Fight mangaka) also tweeted saying that he's worked hard on the new art for Beyblade Bar and he's looking forward for fans to experience it.

Adachi sensei's words at least add some weight to andGallery's claim, but fans are not happy yet. The event starts on 10th August, revealing the info just a week-10 days before of the event is inconvenient to the people who are planning trips from afar for this experience, if the quality is still not worth it, their plans would sort of go to waste. Especially when the norm is to post goods picture at least a month prior to the event start date.

Considering that this is the 25th Anniversary event for the franchise and the only collaboration cafe planned for the year so far, the handling is just extremely shoddy and honestly disappointing for many fans. andGallery also celebrated Digimon's 25th Anniversary earlier in the year but things were smooth sailing with that event. So either the fault lies with Takara Tomy/Beyblade team coordinating with andGallery or the cafe itself.

Either way, this has turned out to be a disheartening affair for most fans, and I hope andGallery + Beyblade staff pull it together to organise a collaboration worthy of the 25th Anniversary tag.

[mistbow]

Mikleo’s Blessing

SOREY: Say, Mikleo. You made a pact, so I will be a vessel for you to dwell in, right? MIKLEO: Yeah. MIKLEO: Though I’m still not quite sure what kind of blessing I can grant to you. SOREY: Hm~ SOREY: I have an idea of what it might be... I think. MIKLEO: ...Hmm.

Seraphim are mysterious beings, even they themselves might not truly know the nature of themselves and their powers. What is at least known, is that each seraph can grant their own blessing.

Mikleo, as a young seraph (who might even be considered a baby in terms of seraph years), has always been depicted as someone who knows virtually almost nothing about being a seraph, even perhaps his own blessing. So I will try to surmise his blessing from hints from the game itself as well as supplemental materials (manga, novel, etc.).

Blessings, What They Are

To start, the idea of seraphim’s blessings in Zestiria is modeled after the beings they’re directly inspired by, kami, and the blessings that they grant, which can be seen as both blessing or something that brings upon harm, depending on how you look at it. The way they show how blessings work in the game can be a bit confusing, so let’s look how the official books define it.

First off, the Official World Guidance:

加護

天族は「加護」という形で、人々��さまざまな影響を与える。加護の内容は天族によって異なり、人々にとって必ずしもありがたいものではないこともある。それなら「災厄」と呼ばれるが、本質は同じ。たとえば天族サイモンが加護を与えると、その人物は望む夢を見ることができる。その幻に酔い、現実から逃避する人間もいるだろうが、それを加護ととるか災厄ととるかはその人次第といえる。

Blessings

Seraphim influence humans in various ways in the form of “blessings.” The blessings themselves vary from one seraph to another, and they may not always be appreciated by humans. In that case, they are called “disasters,” but they are essentially the same blessings. For example, if Seraph Symonne gives her blessing to a human, that human can have the dream they desire. Some people may be intoxicated by this illusion and escape from reality, but it is up to the individual to decide whether to take this as a blessing or a disaster.

Then the Perfect Guide:

天族の加護

天族は自然世界の根源に由来する力を持ち、自然現象の一環として創造・産出できる。この働きかけは天族の「加護」として、古くから人々の信心や崇拝の対象となってきた。よく知られているのは五大神信仰にもある「地水火風」の力だが、それ以上にもおよそすべての自然現象、人智の及ばない出来事は、加護によるものと言える。

加護の力と災い

天族の加護は多くの場合、人間にとって恩恵となるが、まれに人を傷つけ追い詰めることもある。風の天族デゼルや幻を操る天族サイモンの加護の資質がそれにあたり、彼らは加護を与えれば与えるほど災いを呼び、いわば人を不幸にする。こうした天族は「疫病神」とも言われ、その存在を人間が感知するかしないかに関わらず、禍事として疎んじられる。

Seraphim’s Blessings

Seraphim possess powers that originate from roots of the natural world, and they can create and produce those powers as a part of natural phenomena. These workings have long been the object of people’s piety and worship as the “blessings” of seraphim. What is well-known is the power of “earth, water, fire, and wind” which is also a part of the Five Lords faith, however, even more than that, almost all natural phenomena and events beyond mortal understanding can be attributed to blessings.

The Power of Blessings and Disasters

Seraphim’s blessings are often a boon to humans, but in rare cases they can also hurt and drive people away. The qualities of the blessings of Dezel, a wind seraph, and Symonne, a seraph that manipulates illusions, are such, that the more blessings they give, the more they bring misfortune, so to speak. These seraphim are also known as “yakubyougami,” and whether humans perceive their presence or not, they are shunned as disasters.

They more or less say the same thing, and the general idea is really the same as the blessings of kami. In the novel, Zaveid also elaborated on what blessings can be like:

「人を不幸にする加護ねぇ。まぁ、そういう天族もいるだろうな」

「そうなのか⁉」

聞いていたミクリオが身を乗り出す。

「まぁ、《加護》っていうからいいもんに聞こえるけど、結局は”人間側から見たら”って話なわけよ。天族の天響術がそれぞれ違うように、《加護》も様々だ。たとえば《植物の育成を助ける》って加護をもつ天族がいた場合、その天族と一緒にいる人間のまわりじゃ、植物が勢いよく育つ。その人間が農作物を作っているなら《恵み》と感じるだろうが、旅人だったらなんの効果もない。もしくは行く先がいつだって草ぼうぼうで《不運》って感じるかもな」

「じゃあ、デゼルの《加護》が不幸を招くっていうのは、どういう作用だったんだろう。サイモンはデゼルの願いが不幸を招いたと言っていたけど……」

「あいつの願いが不幸を招く？なんだそりゃ」

眉をひそめたザビーダに、スレイはサイモンの幻想で見せられたデゼルの過去について話した。聞き終えたザビーダは、頭をがしがしと乱暴にかき、深く息を吐いた。

「これは俺の憶測だが、たぶんデゼルの加護は《旅に恵まれる》だったんじゃねぇかな。風の天族にはそういう《旅》に関する加護を持つやつが多いんだ。デゼルの加護によって《風の傭兵団》の実績はローランス皇室に認められ、定住することになった。するとデゼルの《加護》は傭兵団にとっちゃマイナスの方向へ作用をはじめて、結果、傭兵団は解放。ロゼたちは別の形で旅を始めることになった……。《加護》ってのは、天族が人間と一緒にいたいと思えば、天族本人の意志を離れて発動する。幸せになってほしいと思う相手を不幸にするなら、そいつはたしかに”業”と呼べるかもしれないな」

“A blessing that brings misfortune to people, huh? Well, I guess there are some seraphim like that.”

“Is that so!?”

Mikleo, who was listening, leaned forward.

“Well, blessings sound like a good thing, but in the end, it depends on how the humans see it. Just as the seraphic artes differ from one seraph to another, so do the blessings. For example, if there is a seraph with the blessing to help make plants grow, then plants will grow vigorously around the person who is with that seraph. If the person is a farmer, they may feel it is a blessing, but if he is a traveler, it might as well have no effect. If anything, perhaps they’ll feel unlucky because there’s always grass wherever you go.”

“So how did Dezel’s blessing work to bring upon misfortune? Symonne did say that Dezel’s wish brought upon misfortune....”

“His wish bringing on misfortune? What the hell is that?”

To Zaveid, who raised his eyebrows, Sorey told him about Dezel’s past, as shown to him in Symonne’s illusion. When Zaveid finished listening, he scratched his head and deeply exhaled.

“This is just my guess, but maybe Dezel’s blessing is ‘good fortune for travelling.’ Many wind seraphim have such travel-related blessings after all. The achievements of the Windriders, thanks to Dezel’s blessing, were recognized by the Rolance royal family, and they settled in. Then Dezel’s blessing began to have a negative effect on the Windriders, and as a result, they were released. So Rose and her group started travelling again in a different way.... When a seraph wants to be with a human, their blessing will activate against their own will. If you want someone to be happy yet you bring misfortune to them, I guess you can call it ‘karma’.”

As well as an extra information:

「ザビーダ、よくわかるな」

驚くミクリオにザビーダは片目をつぶってみせた。

「長く生きてりゃ、いろんな奴と出会うからな。そういうのも自然とわかるようになる。……にしても、昔は《加護》の知識も当たり前だったんだがな、人と天族にこれだけ距離ができた今となっちゃ、埋もれた真実になっちまったか」

長命の天族が少し遠い目をして呟いた一言が、スレイの胸にずしりと刻まれる。

“Zaveid, you know a lot.”

Zaveid closed one of his eyes to the surprised Mikleo.

“If you live long enough, you will meet all kinds of people. And you will naturally know those things... even then, in the past, knowledge of ‘blessing’ used to be commonplace, but now that there’s such a distance between humans and seraphim, it’s become a buried truth.”

The long-lived seraph muttered those few words with a slightly distant look in his eyes, and those words were engraved in Sorey’s heart with a heavy thud.

So a relatively really young seraph like Mikleo naturally wouldn’t know about the details of blessings, since on top of everything, the only human he’d only known in life up until recently was Sorey anyway. Of course he never really cared about those when he thought he had no need of it, as someone living only among seraphim in Elysia, with practically no humans to give his blessing to.

(Or is there one...?)

To summarize:

Depending on the human who feels it, blessings can be a good thing, or be seen as misfortune. It’s on the human, which means the human is the one more likely to perceive [sense] it too, if they are conscious of it. Someone with a high resonance and pure heart like Sorey is sensitive to seraphim, so it’s very likely he can recognize it too, even if Mikleo is not aware of his own blessing.

Blessings vary from one seraph to another, but they seem to be related to their element (Dezel) and powers (Symonne).

Knowledge of it used to be commonplace but not anymore, presumably because of the distance that grew between humans and seraphim, there was no need for either to really know about each other, let alone blessings.

The more a seraph wants to be with a human, the more their blessing activates without the seraph’s control.

Almost all natural phenomena and events beyond mortal understanding can be attributed to blessings. Very important here.

Sorey, Heldalf’s Biological, Illegitimate Son

I know, I know, this theory is controversial... and a lot of people seem to consider this to be canon to manga only, however, what people don’t know is that the manga (along with the novel) was directly supervised by Hase, the director of the game and the lead creative, and Yamamoto, the head writer of the game. Shiramine even said that under such supervision, she rearranged the story, so that Zestiria could be enjoyed from another angle, and that every panel, every word was carefully chosen to tell this other version of Zestiria, because it would’ve been boring if it was telling the same story as the game, she thought, as an adaptation.

And I’m inclined to believe her words, since she seemed to be aware of stuff that a lot of official Tales stuff didn’t seem to be aware of. For example, if you pay attention to the positioning of Sorey and Mikleo in the manga, she seemed to be aware that Sorey is the Right (the human, the physical, the body) and Mikleo is the Left (the seraph, the spiritual, the heart) to each other, which a lot of other stuff got wrong, including TOZX. This is the kind of stuff that she would be conscious of if she knew about it, which she did.

Besides, I think the hints were in the game all along. Hase, the game director, told us directly to read between the lines, because everything is there for a purpose in Zestiria, so he’d be happy if we read too much into it. It might not be spelled outright, but there’s a reason why some things are inserted here and there. I think piecing Zestiria together through various media is also his way to have something for the fans to come to their own conclusion, to their own answer, on what Zestiria is really about.

With that in mind...

HELDALF: (Those eyes...) SELENE: Please get your head up. SELENE: You haven’t been eating properly again anyway, have you?

Selene said “again”, implying this is not the first nor second time she met up with him. That’s not even addressing the elephant in the room, in that Heldalf finally remembered about Selene, suddenly, when he saw Sorey [when Sorey is finally reflected in his eye].

SELENE: If you walk around with such a tired look on your face, everyone in the village will feel down too. HELDALF: Do you not despair the reality of this invasion? SELENE: I will not despair. HELDALF: (Why do I remember this now...?) SELENE: If we despair... what will guide the children who are born in this village and will eventually leave it? HELDALF: (That which shone alone in the darkness....) SELENE: As long as we do not give up hope, the future will be nurtured there. HELDALF: (That figure....)

There’s a lot to unpack here, but the biggest giveaway is that Selene touched her pregnant belly, wearing what seems to be maternity clothes, talking about the future of the children. Theirs too, perhaps.

HELDALF: (Selene...)

She was really the last thing he remembered before his last breath, and why is that, especially if she was not an important person to him? (By the by, we’ll get into this later, but Heldalf is said to be a family-loving person.)

For the part where I say the game also has hints for this, I’d like to bring your attention to this skit, where the trio talked about Heldalf’s portrait:

ロゼ「ふうん……案外渋いオジサマだね」 スレイ「うん。オレたちの父親くらいの年齢かな」 ミクリオ「二十年以上前の時点で、ね」

ROSE: Hm. Makes him look like a pretty distinguished gentleman, actually. SOREY: Yeah. He looks maybe the same age as our dads, don’t you think? MIKLEO: Or at least, that's how old he was 20-ish years ago.

Again, deliberate wording. When wondering about his age, Sorey told Rose that he looked like he could be their fathers’ age, to which Mikleo brought up “around 20 years ago”, give or take a few years.

More than 20 years ago was when Michael stopped being the Shepherd and founded Camlann Village, then 17 years ago was when the Age of Chaos began. But 17 is a specific number, and no one talked that specifically, so 20 years is a close approximate.

Which brings us to the beginning of it all.

ミューズ「あなた方が来てからの半年……こんなのは守ってるなんて言いません！　軟禁です！」

MUSE: You have occupied our village for half a year now! This isn’t protection... It’s house arrest!

Keep this in mind: the Rolance army had been around in the village for about half a year. The army was hostile against the villagers, despite claiming to protect them. Muse was already holding a baby.

ゼンライ「この災厄が影響して早産となったのであろうか。母も子も報われんのう……」 ゼンライ「……これも縁か」 渋る天族「人間の子ですよ！」 ゼンライ「この世に生まれ落ちた瞬間にあるのは器の差だけの事よ」 マイセン「ですが、これほどの未熟児……持って数ヶ月では……」 ゼンライ「 ……かもしれんのう」

ZENRUS: Born far too early, by the looks of it. Poor mother and child... Neither of you deserved this. ZENRUS: Perhaps this too is fate... RELUCTANT SERAPH: That child’s a human! ZENRUS: Are we not all the same when we first breathe this air, save for the vessel we chance into? MASON: But a child born so premature won't last but a few months. ZENRUS: Probably so.

Sorey, the human baby, was noted to be born prematurely. I’d also like to note that this sentence, この災厄が影響して早産となったのであろうか, directly attributed his premature birth to “this calamity” right after the scene in which Heldalf was cursed to be a hellion, the beginning of him becoming the Lord of Calamity. This will be relevant later on.

だが不意にゼンライは足を止めた。炎の音以外に、かすかだが別の音が聞こえたのだ。見遺れば、息絶えた女が胸の中に守るようにして赤子を抱いていた。災厄が影響して早産となったのだろう。赤子は生後間もない未熟児であった。泣く気力もないようだったが、それでも生きようと微かな呼吸を繰り返している。

「これも縁か……」

ゼンライは愛用のキセルの先を赤子へと向けた。すると、赤子を包むように小さな加護領域が展開され、ふわりと浮かび上がる。小さな加護領域は宙に浮かんだまま、ゆりかごのように揺れ、赤子を守った。

「ゼンライ様⁉ まさか、人間の子を助けるのですか⁉」

「この世に生まれ落ちた瞬間にあるのは、器の差だけの事よ」

渋る天族にゼンライは微笑み、さらに先へ進もうとしたときだ。

However, Zenrus suddenly stopped in his tracks. Besides the sound of flames, another sound was heard, albeit faint. When he looked over, he saw a woman who had died and was holding a baby in her arms, as if to protect it in her chest. Born far too early, must have been because of the calamity. The baby was premature. He seemed to have no energy to cry, yet he was still breathing faintly, trying to live.

“Perhaps this too is fate....”

Zenrus pointed the tip of his beloved pipe at the baby. Then, a small domain of blessing unfolded and floated gently, as if encompassing the baby. The small domain of blessing remained suspended in the air, swaying like a cradle, protecting the baby.

“Lord Zenrus!? Don’t tell me we’re going to save a human child!?”

“Are we not all the same when we first breathe this air, save for the vessel we chance into?”

Zenrus smiled at the reluctant seraph, about to move on ahead.

The novel went about the event almost the same way but confirmed that Zenrus used a domain of blessing to protect the baby.

Then Muse appeared right before Zenrus.

ミューズ「その子は……？」 ミューズ「セレンの……？ 身籠もっていたなんて…… 」

MUSE: Who’s that child? MUSE: Selene’s? Could it be she... She was with child?

Despite seemingly knowing Selene (and Camlann was said to be Michael’s family, which had to mean that they were at least a tight-knit community, especially since the village hid a secret that Maotelus was moved there), Muse wasn’t even aware Selene was pregnant. It’d make sense for Selene to try and hide her pregnancy if she had a baby with the leader of an army that was hostile against the villagers, lest she be seen as a traitor of sorts. Not to mention the fact that the baby was premature, and since the army had only been in the village for half a year, it’d still fit the timeline. Again, every line, every word is deliberate.

No changes for this in the novel. The manga went a bit differently, but conveyed the same idea.

MUSE: Selene!? MUSE: Could it be... you were with a child...? MUSE: He’s still breathing MUSE: He’s so tiny... he wasn’t ready to be born yet. It must have been due to all the stress... ZENRUS: Perhaps this too is fate... I will take care of this child too. ZENRUS: (Though, premature as he is, if he will survive....)

Of note: pregnancy that was not known to Muse, and Sorey’s premature birth.

This illustration for the manga countdown also gives us an idea that Muse and Selene were at least close:

Why is this all relevant? A passage on the Curse of Eternal Solitude should explain this (as seen in one of the Earthen Historia): 

孤独の呪いは、彼の唯一の救いであった家族にも牙をむく。両親は病死し、二人の弟が戦で命を落とす。息子のひとりは火事で死亡し、別の息子と娘は首を吊って自殺した。さらに妻と幼い子ども3人が、馬車に轢かれて他界。12人の家族のうち、11人を短い期間で失ってしまった。悲しみに暮れるヘルダルフに残された希望は側室と、彼女がその身に宿した子どもだけだった。

唯一の希望だった、ヘルダルフと側室のあいだに生まれた新たな命。しかし、孤独の呪いから逃れることはできない。生まれた赤子は人間ではなく、醜い鬼子だったのだ。あまりの衝撃に、ヘルダルフは自ら赤子の命を奪う。

The curse of solitude also bared its fangs on his family, which had been his sole salvation. His parents died of illness and his two younger brothers fell in war. One of his sons died in the fire, another son and a daughter committed suicide by hanging themselves. In addition, his wife and three young children passed away after being run by a horse wagon, leaving him to lose 11 of his 12 family members in a short period of time. The only hope left for Heldalf, who was lost in grief, was his concubine and the child she bore in her womb.

That was his only hope, the new life born between Heldalf and his concubine. However, there was no escaping the curse of solitude. The baby that was born was not a human, but an ugly demon child. To his great shock, Heldalf took the baby’s life himself.

The Curse of Eternal Solitude did not only turn Heldalf into a hellion unkillable by regular means, but also seemed to kill the people close and precious to him, which are his family. This family is not only his lawful one, since even his concubine and the baby from that concubine were affected by the curse as well, which meant it should’ve affected Selene and Sorey if she had a relationship with him and he was blood-related to him. And sure enough, Selene died, and her death always was seen after the scene where Heldalf was cursed, whether in the game, novel, or manga. However, for Sorey, Zenrus saved him in time before even the curse took effect (the curse seems to not take effect immediately, but it still managed to kill most of Heldalf’s family in a short amount of time), as he enveloped him in his domain of blessing, even though he wasn’t sure if Sorey would survive anyway in that state (he did, thankfully).

Sorey himself was aware that Zenrus was the one who saved him from “the brink of death” (Taizen page):

高い空の下で、ジイジは世界だった。

戦火に斃れた母から月足らずで生れ落ち、灼けた地面に投げ出されたまま、死の淵にあった自分を救ってくれた人。

Under the tall sky, Gramps was my whole world.

The one who saved me from the brink of death, as I was born less than a month after my mother died in a war and left me on the scorched ground.

Mikleo, the Healer and Protector

So then, where does Mikleo fit into all of this? When it was Zenrus anyway who saved Sorey? I would like to remind you, though, that since then, when Zenrus took over both Sorey and Mikleo, Sorey had never left his domain (Elysia was under his domain) until he left on a journey to the land below with Mikleo.

So I would like to propose this: Zenrus let Sorey survive the curse and grow under his domain, and everything afterwards, where Zenrus’ blessing cannot be felt anymore, it’s thanks to Mikleo.

(How he managed to grow healthy and strong, taller and more well-built than Mikleo, despite being born premature? Probably Mikleo as well.)

A seraph’s blessing is related to their element and powers, as well as influenced by their personal feelings. Healing abilities are often mainly associated with the element of Water, whether it’s Tales or other stuff. If we look at Mikleo, gameplay-wise, it’s the more obvious that he is intended as the Healer of the game, even if all the seraphim can heal, because it’s his designated role. And his healing is single-target too, which means it’s meant for one person only.

This is what the battle tutorial for his character says:

And this is what the description for Water Armatization says:

I’d also like to mention that the very basic of his healing artes, Resilient Aid, buffs the target’s Arte Defense stat as well:

This is sort of important, because as said in the description, how much a healing arte heals depends upon the target’s Arte Defense; the more of that stat they have, the more they get healed.

(His Map Action, Spectral Cloak, is also the only one that is protective in nature.)

I’d also like to look at Rays, but before that, let me explain what the deal is with Rays just so people who don’t play it can get it. The Tales characters you see in Rays are essentially the same as the ones in the original game canon; to put it simply, they are basically copied from their own canon selves, but get to live different lives in Rays canon. That’s the premise of Rays being a crossover.

Second of all, there’s a concept called Overray MA in Rays. Story-wise, Overray basically represents past and future possibilities that the character holds. In the case of Sorey, normally, because of the laws in Rays world, he can’t perform Armatization, so to work around this, at the time, he was able to use Water Armatization with Mikleo through Overray MA. That’s the gist of it.

What’s interesting is gameplay-wise. Here, I’d also like to mention that Udou Tatsurou, one of the lead designers in Zestiria, is himself the director of Rays. Udocchi, as he’s affectionately called by his peers and fans, is known for trying to integrate story elements in his gameplay, since he says that players rarely read manuals or help pages written by the devs, so he feels that they would pay more attention if it were said by their favorite characters (from an interview). In Zestiria, you could see this in the form of the Enemy Book conversations, or when your partner tries to tell you what to pay attention to in the battle, or the Monoliths, skits relating to the gameplay (e.g., skits about equipment fusion, that skit talking about elemental rock-paper-scissor relationship in the form of Edna and Mikleo talking about seraph weapons—nicely integrating worldbuilding into indirect gameplay explanation), etc.

Rays itself is known for neat details that only fans of original games would immediately notice and appreciate. For example, in the case of Zestiria, when you use Sorey’s Overray MA (so basically the Water Armatus), if you use earphones especially, you can hear Sorey’s voice from the right side and Mikleo’s voice from the left side. So Rays is definitely aware of the whole “Sorey being the Right (the Human, the Physical, the Body) and Mikleo being the Left (the Seraph, the Spiritual, the Heart) to each other” thing, despite, again, not many people (not even a lot of the official side people) being aware of this.

So how does all of this relate to his Overray MA, gameplay-wise? You see, the gameplay for Overray MA is basically that if you activate the MA, you will get special effects for a duration after it.

The special effect for Sorey’s Overray MA is “damage user receives cut to 1/4 for 15 seconds” which means, in this context, after Sorey calls Mikleo to Armatize with him (and Mikleo is there only for the MA), he de-Armatizes (back to just Sorey alone) and receives this effect, which reduces the damage that Sorey receives, to just 1/4 of it. That’s a huge amount of damage reduction (75%), and Sorey gets to enjoy this benefit. I choose to read this as Mikleo granting his blessing after their Armatization.

Which fits his personal feelings on this whole matter, anyway, if you read what he had to say about Sorey in his Taizen page:

幼なじみは里のみなの中でただひとり、あるべき力を欠いていた。弱く脆い、それが 「人間」 というものなのだと知らさてからは、彼と一緒にいるのが自分の役目だと信じて疑わなかった。

My childhood friend was the only one who lacked the power that he should have had, among everyone in our village. Weak and fragile; that is what it means to be “human,” and once I learned that, I believed without a doubt that it was my duty to be with him.

[...]

水は染まりやすく、いとも簡単にこぼれ出る。ささやかな迷いから穢れをたやすく寄せ付けて、己に触れる多くを濁らせてしまう。しかしまた、水は何かに寄り添うとき、己のありようをさまざまに変え、洗い濯ぎ、清めもできる。友の痛みが己を打ちのめす不幸のように心を抉るというのなら、怒り戸惑い、無力に涙しても、水の力を司るこの手で、友の道を妨げるあらゆる困難を排し、その歩みを穢れのないものにして見せよう。

Water is easily tainted and easily spills out. It easily attracts malevolence from the slightest hesitation and muddies the many things it touches. However, water can also wash, rinse, and purify itself when it comes close to something else, changing the way it is in various ways. If my friend’s pain gnaws at his heart like the misfortune that overwhelms him, if he is angry and confused, if he weeps helplessly, then with these hands that control the power of water, I will remove every obstacle in my friend’s path and make his steps untainted.

Finally, there’s also something in the original game that can also be connected to this whole thing. If you remember this title:

Peas in a Pod

Always there for you. Sign of a relationship where neither party even has to think about what they mean to each other.

It’s actually another idiom entirely in Japanese, 水魚の交わり, and if I were to translate things more literally:

水魚の交わり

側に居て当たり前。互いがどんな存在か考えるまでもない。そんな関係。

Like Water and Fish

It’s only natural to be by your side. Neither party even has to think about what they mean to each other. It’s that kind of relationship.

“水魚の交わり” as a saying refers to a relationship so close that it is inseparable, like how fish cannot live without water. However, taken more literally (which is why I tried to retranslate this in the first place), I personally infer this as Mikleo being the water (because of his association with the element) to Sorey’s fish.

The miracle of Sorey living despite of the curse is because Mikleo is there. Ironic, since Mikleo was also the very sacrifice used to curse Heldalf to his eternal solitude himself, but then this creates a cyclical relationship between Sorey, Mikleo, and Heldalf as well. Everything is interconnected, yet this will stay buried and unknown in the larger scheme, in history.

(Sorry for my ugly diagram, lol.)

MIKLEO: Still though, it’s thanks to Gramps and the others that we’ve come this far, and that you’ve grown up from such a small boy to such a fine man.

スレイ「なかなか美味いよな！宿屋の料理 」 ミクリオ「ああ。料理店を兼ねているのはいいな」 ミクリオ「一石二鳥だし、これからもお世話になりそうだ」 ライラ「ミクリオさんは、食事をなさるのですね？」 スレイ「はは、当たり前でしょ」 ミクリオ「いや。天族は食事をとる必要はない」 スレイ「ええっ！？ジイジたちもみんな食べてたじゃないか」 ミクリオ「あれは、スレイに人間らしい生活をさせるためだって言ってた」 スレイ「そうだったのか……」

SOREY: Oh, man, this is the best food I’ve had in ages! MIKLEO: Yeah. A quality inn and a quality restaurant, all in one. MIKLEO: Smart combination there. I have a feeling we’re going to be regular customers. LAILAH: Mikleo, do you eat? SOREY: Hah! Sometimes he even breathes! MIKLEO: What she means is, seraphim don’t actually have to eat to survive. SOREY: What?! But you, Gramps, everyone back in Elysia ate food all the time... MIKLEO: Gramps said that it was because we wanted you to experience life like a human. SOREY: Oh... I... I didn’t know...

As much as he is the child of miracles, one who always goes against all odds, in the world of Zestiria, everything has a reason behind it, even if that reason might be beyond what humans could understand. In this case, I want to believe that those miracles are because Sorey has his family and friends, in Elysia, in elsewhere. I’m so glad he was able to grow healthily to be a kind person despite his poor birth circumstances, but more than anything, that he was surrounded by such loving family and friends. Sorey is truly blessed, even centuries into the future.

馬場　そしてミクリオが違う姿で登場し、冒頭のシチュエーションと同じようにガクっといくときに、手をふっと差し伸べるあのシルエットがね。

長谷　あそこに至るまでおそらく数百年は経っていますからね。

馬場　スレイがあそこまで冒険して、決断して、眠りについてまた出会うという流れは、ミクリオがあってこそだと思うので。

長谷　人間と天族の共存を象徴するのがあの2人の絆なので、どういう決着にするかはいろんなアイデアが出ましたね。

BABA: And then Mikleo appears, looking different, and just like the situation at the beginning of the game, when he falls down, there is that silhouette of that person holding out his hand.

HASE: It probably takes a several hundred years to get there.

BABA: I think Mikleo is exactly the reason why Sorey could get there; could go on such an adventure, make his decision, go to sleep, and then meet him again.

HASE: Since the bond between the two symbolizes the coexistence of humans and seraphim, there were many ideas on how to put a conclusion to their story.

[heyyallitsbeth]

Hiya, your post about that Izuku from my hero academia came across my dash and I'm kinda interested to read why you think she's trans. Thank you :)

Ah well, it's been years so the best I can do is guess at why myself haha.

Most likely it comes down to confirmation bias.

I most likely started with looking at official art of Izuku in Mirko's outfit, Izuku in the cheer uniform, in the Wild Wild Pussycats uniform, etc, they do this a lot (which in it of itself is an indicator) and thinking "huh what if?". So from the base of "well heres this, lets see if we can find evidence in the series to back it up, whether circumstantial or allegorical" One could argue Izuku's quest to become a hero despite the circumstances of their birth, defying their biology to become who they want to, is in itself, tangentially related to being transgender. But that is a stretch. They often are portrayed as less "boyish" than the other male cast, as well as getting partnered up with girls frequently. Female cast is also typically more comfortable with Izuku than other members of the male cast. This is also circumstantial, as with as many characters as there are, they dont all interact with eachother.

I honestly dont remember a lot of the show/manga anymore. It has been years. The old me couldve probably given you episodes with timestamps, manga chapters and pages, and screenshots, so i apologize.

and thinking about it, i think my one friend may have just said "if you left Jirou in a room alone with Izuku for an hour, she would be able to swap his gender" and i think i may have just on gut instinct said "yeah that sounds right" and went with it.

[yookimi]

PORTRAYAL DIVERGENCE : INUMAKI TOGE .

various points of difference in my portrayal vs. canon .

my inumaki is a sandy blonde and has golden eyes . this stems from some of the official art that was released a while ago that stuck with me , i think it suits him .

my inumkai can talk in more than ingredients . the best way for me to explain this is that he can speak as long as its not commands - he is able to control how his cursed energy imbues itself into his speech. this doesn't change the way that his throat still gets sore and sensitive, while he's able to control it to an extent, there are leaks where his cursed speech is activated without it being intentional. this leads him to stay partially mute for a majority of the time when he needs to communicate. he knows sign language but still opts to use his ingredient talk vs. the sign language.

im still trying to decide on post shibuya. in terms of whether or not his arm remains gone and missing, im aware that in the manga he has still lost his arm but i go back and forth on whether or not cursed reversal technique could regenerate his arm over time. i'll update this later when i decide but i did want to touch on this, just in case i have a thread post Shibuya and describe him having both arms.

[yuseirra]

I do think deeply when I read a work. Of course, whether my ways of thinking is a common way of experiencing a story is up for debate, but I take it seriously.

I’m not incapable of seeing a story as a whole and summarizing it. I’ve done that kind of analysis several times before.

Onk, however, is simply unfinished. You can’t properly evaluate something unfinished—it should be returned, rewritten, and resubmitted. That’s what this is.

It’s not that it’s incomprehensible. Actually, it lines up really well with mythology. But then it makes me wonder, "Was I supposed to know Japanese mythology to understand this manga?" Like, seriously? (No, really, Kamiki overlaps with a specific god so much that it feels intentional. Down to the detail of not being officially married to his wife in the myth—there’s speculation among the people, but it’s never confirmed. And, in the myth, there’s a story of this god drowning. I think that’s why Kamiki drowned in the story, but I’m not even sure he’s actually dead himself. We didn’t see his body. I feel like he might have survived, unlike Aqua. So many things about this character are too strange and he was never explained. What if the author intends to use him somewhere else?;; I doubt this but my friend was suggesting this a pretty serious manner and it made me ponder)

Oh, and did you know? Just yesterday, I found out that Sarutahiko has this characteristic of his eyes sparkling brightly. Apparently, his eyes literally shine, as if something is in it.

Even so… leaving aside whether it’s a masterpiece, a failure, or something in between, the fact remains that this story doesn’t provide the necessary explanations within itself. You can’t understand what’s going on without analyzing it on your own.

A friend suggested that some of the shared settings might be explained in other works by the same author, but…

"Should I care?" That’s the thought that crossed my mind, it made me genuinely frustrated. That’s the author’s business, not the readers’. People spend their money and time expecting to see a complete story. This is just wrong. You shouldn’t write stories this way. If they needed to work on something else, they should’ve put this on hiatus. Even so, when it comes to serialized works that are published for years, sold as volumes, and turned into merchandise—this is unacceptable. No matter what, you need to tie up loose ends. This story wasn’t tied up; it was just left hanging.

That’s how I feel about this piece right now.

I think I understand what kind of mindset led the writers into writing like this. But I don’t want to be so understanding about it, because I actually cared so much thus far. It makes me angry and very frustrated. I’m not usually the kind of reader who fights with authors, but this kind of ending makes me feel like, “Is the author trying to pick a fight with me?” It really feels that way. It’s too much. The author is so mean. Maybe not intentionally, but still, how could someone treat their readers—especially the ones who truly love their work—like this? Knowing and still being careless is worse. This kind of author doesn’t deserve readers who genuinely care for their work.

They should do it properly. Don’t just brush things off vaguely. Whether it turns out great or terrible, sincerity is visible if it's there. But as I watched the ending, all I could think was, “Ah, they’ve really given up.” I get what they’re trying to say, but they’ve just dropped the ball here.

Is it just their personality? Like, they have something they want to say but are afraid of being clear about it, so they’re just like, “Oh well, that’s how it was, I guess!” and then quietly leave without a plan for what’s next. There are probably people like that in the world. Must be a comfortable way to live. But then don’t use such heavy material if you don’t have a plan! Why didn’t they just end it at Volume 1?

I’ll take some more time to think about it and work on my own art.

Reading this manga made me realize I really need to write my own story. So, I’m finally planning to create something original. Before I die, I want to share my story with the world too.

[doujinshi24]

The Role of Doujinshi in Anime and Manga Conventions: A Creative Showcase

Anime and manga conventions have become a hub for fan culture, drawing thousands of enthusiasts from around the world to celebrate their love for anime, manga, video games, and other forms of pop culture. Among the many exciting aspects of these events is the vibrant presence of doujinshi—fan-made comics, manga, and other creative works that showcase the talent and passion of independent artists.

Doujinshi has long been an integral part of these conventions, providing a platform for fans to express their creativity and share their unique interpretations of popular anime, manga, and video game characters. From small, handmade zines to large, professionally printed volumes, doujinshi offers an avenue for fans to create and consume art that often falls outside the scope of mainstream media.

In this article, we will explore the role of doujinshi in anime and manga conventions, its impact on convention culture, and how these events serve as a creative showcase for both aspiring and established artists.

1. A Showcase for Independent Artists

At the heart of the doujinshi movement is the concept of self-publishing. For many artists, conventions provide the perfect opportunity to showcase their work to a broader audience, gain recognition, and network with others in the fan community. Unlike traditional publishing, doujinshi is largely created, produced, and sold by individual artists or small groups, allowing for a great deal of artistic freedom. See here 同人誌

Anime and manga conventions, often held annually, serve as one of the most prominent platforms for these self-published creators to display their doujinshi. These conventions offer dedicated spaces—such as "doujinshi halls" or "artist alleys"—where creators can set up booths and sell their works directly to fans. These venues allow artists to reach an audience that might otherwise never come across their creations, helping them gain fans, sell their works, and sometimes even launch successful careers in the wider comic or manga industry.

For many fans, purchasing doujinshi at conventions is an exciting opportunity to discover new talent and explore unique interpretations of their favorite anime, manga, or video game franchises. Fans often appreciate the passion and creativity that go into these independent works, and for many, doujinshi represents an essential part of convention culture.

2. Doujinshi as a Means of Fandom Expression

Doujinshi is not only a form of artistic expression but also a powerful way for fans to engage with their favorite franchises. Many doujinshi are inspired by popular anime, manga, or video games, and they offer fans the chance to explore alternate storylines, character developments, or "what if" scenarios that official works may never cover. For example, fans can create doujinshi that explore relationships between characters that are not represented in the original source material or delve deeper into background stories that were only briefly touched upon in the original works.

In this way, doujinshi becomes a form of personal expression, allowing fans to add their own voice to the larger cultural conversation around their favorite series. Whether it’s re-imagining a story’s ending, writing fanfiction-style adventures, or drawing characters in more intimate or romantic situations, doujinshi helps fans explore their own interpretations and fantasies.

At conventions, these creative works become a celebration of fandom itself, providing a space where fans can come together and appreciate the creativity of others. This shared sense of community fosters a sense of belonging, as fans bond over common interests, themes, and characters.

3. The Diversity of Themes and Styles

One of the most exciting aspects of doujinshi at conventions is the vast diversity of themes, styles, and genres on display. While many doujinshi are inspired by popular anime or manga, the medium is not limited to any single genre or artistic style. Artists use doujinshi as a way to experiment with different forms of storytelling and art techniques, from traditional manga-style black-and-white drawings to full-color, digitally enhanced illustrations. This diversity adds richness to the doujinshi scene, offering fans a chance to explore creative interpretations of their favorite franchises.

In addition to the typical genres found in anime and manga, doujinshi frequently explores niche topics and subgenres, such as:

Yaoi/Boys' Love (BL): Focusing on romantic or sexual relationships between male characters, this genre is a mainstay of doujinshi culture and is a favorite among many fans.

Yuri/Girls' Love (GL): Exploring romantic or sexual relationships between female characters, yuri is another popular genre in doujinshi and is often featured at conventions.

Futanari: This subgenre often features characters with both male and female anatomy, exploring themes of gender identity and sexuality.

Hentai: While controversial, hentai (explicit sexual content) can sometimes be found in doujinshi at conventions, though many conventions have strict guidelines about the types of adult material that can be sold.

Crossovers and Alternate Universes (AU): Many doujinshi works involve crossovers, mash-ups, or alternate universe scenarios, allowing for creative and imaginative reinterpretations of well-loved characters and storylines.

This wide range of themes and genres ensures that there’s something for every fan to discover at a convention. Whether someone is looking for romance, action, humor, or more mature themes, doujinshi offers something for every taste.

4. Doujinshi as a Catalyst for Networking and Collaboration

Beyond the chance to showcase their own works, conventions also provide an invaluable opportunity for doujinshi creators to connect with one another. These events often serve as a gathering place for like-minded artists and writers, allowing them to collaborate, share ideas, and even form partnerships for future projects.

Networking is an important part of convention culture, and doujinshi creators can often find themselves inspired by other artists, learning new techniques, or gaining advice on the business side of self-publishing. In fact, many professional manga artists and illustrators got their start in the doujinshi scene before breaking into the commercial industry.

For fans, these connections can also help them discover new creators and emerging trends within the doujinshi world. For example, discovering an artist's booth at a convention can lead to the discovery of a series or creator that wasn't on their radar before, further expanding the fan community.

5. The Appeal of Limited Editions and Exclusives

A unique aspect of doujinshi at conventions is the presence of limited edition works, exclusive releases, or convention-specific prints. These rare items often become highly sought-after by fans, adding an element of excitement and exclusivity to the convention experience.

Artists often release special editions of their doujinshi that are only available at conventions, creating a sense of urgency among fans to purchase their works before they sell out. These limited releases can include additional content, unique artwork, or even custom merchandise, making them highly desirable for collectors.

For fans, purchasing these exclusive doujinshi is often seen as a way to support independent artists and own a piece of fan-made history. These works become prized possessions, cherished for their uniqueness and the connection they offer to the artist and the fandom.

Conclusion

Doujinshi plays a central role in anime and manga conventions, offering a creative and inclusive space for fans to express themselves and celebrate their favorite series. These fan-made works serve as a showcase of artistic talent, providing an avenue for independent creators to reach new audiences and share their interpretations of beloved characters and stories. Whether through exploring alternative narratives, experimenting with different genres, or pushing the boundaries of art and storytelling, doujinshi offers a rich and dynamic addition to the convention experience.

For both creators and fans, doujinshi is more than just a hobby; it’s a celebration of creativity, passion, and fandom. As conventions continue to grow, doujinshi will undoubtedly remain an essential part of the anime and manga landscape, fostering community, collaboration, and artistic innovation for years to come.

[demonslayedher]

My answers will likely not be very unhinged! Thank you for the tag, even if it was already forever ago. Although I don't usually respond to tags because my blog is already bogged down enough in content as it is, this blog exists BECAUSE I write Kimetsu no Yaiba fanfic. And gosh dang it, I love them.

1. Pick one of your fanfics.

The Pillar Training Oath

In the early glow of a new friendship, Sanemi and Giyuu swear an oath at Oyakata-sama's grave to honor their fallen Pillars by fulfilling their training. Over the grueling months that follow that glow begins to fade, and navigating a friendship weighed with trauma and limited by their marks proves to be almost as difficult as the training itself. Like any good friendship this fic comes with fun and emotion, but with these two Former Pillars it also comes with a good dose of awkwardness. Many of the other Pillars join in spirit, while other surviving cast members would rather stop these two before they hurt themselves with this absurd training venture.

2. Answer the questions honestly so we get your vibes.

Here be some Qs:

🖊What's your fanfic titled? What does this reference?

It references the premise of the fic, and the arc that it pays post-canon (spoilery) homage to!

I've been trying to get myself to only say "Hashira" since it seems that is the terms used in the official English version, as opposed to "Pillar," which I always assumed it was. (I made the mistake of assuming everyone knows who I mean when I say "Oyakata-sama," too.)

📖Let's talk about genre and tropes. What are you drawing from?

B R O M A N C E

I am so weak to Bromance, dude. I guess I'm drawing from any martial-arts related genre that has sections dedicated to training routines and the character growth that stems from them (Jin Yong, is that you there in my writing next to Gotouge?). And if there's a name for the trope of bringing in a bunch of cameos to root them on (or try to stop them), then yeah, that too. Also, a little bit of taking care of others when they are sick/injured, because I am very weak to that trope.

🛳Any pairings or ships -aside from the obvious -your readers should look forward to? This can be romantic, or platonic, even.

It should be obvious but B R O O O O O M A N C E

This includes side bromances that are already established in canon (like Tanjiro and everybody except Sanemi) or that we know will be established post-canon (like Giyuu & Tengen, with Sanemi choosing to exclude himself). Also really liked slipping in Sanemi hanging out with the Ubuyashiki children out of fondness for them, and Kanao opening up a line of communication with Giyuu. Also, I loved writing Mitsuri's family so much, and this was long before Ufotable made me love her parents even more.

💡What other works, be it literature or shows, inspire the ~vibes~ of your fic?

Hmm...... I try really hard to emulate the style of KnY (whether I'm thinking of the manga, the anime, or the light novels), so I'm not conscious of any others, but in the scenes when Sanemi is sick, I'm probably pulling from something I've seen somewhere.

🎵If your fanfic was an anime, what would you use as the opening theme? What about your end theme?

Since this fic is direct homage to the Hashira-geiko Arc, I would want new themes with the My First Story x Hyde combo. The OP would start out with some homage to the clip of Giyuu & Sanemi sparring in the "Mugen" OP (back when they had all their digits and still wore Corp uniforms, how nostalgic). The ending theme would be nice and sappy with a bunch of Sanemi & Giyuu flashback stills like the "Shirogane" and "Koi Kogare" ending themes. The OP would be more energetic in paying homage to the lingering influence of those who are lost, starting with Oyakata-sama, but the EN would be more sentimental, especially with artsy, spoilery Genya references. But it would still end on kind of a happy note with Giyuu and Sanemi smiling and being bros.

🎼Any other notes on the soundtrack?

Gotta emulate the style of canon! Especially the Giyuu & Sanemi related BGM!

🛫What are some departures your fanfic is making from the canon?

As much as I was able, I did not make departures with this one, as I really wanted it to be taking a plausible post-canon content. That was why I specifically waited to write it until after the second fanbook was released, so that I could get all the details right. (And then it gave me new details to work with??? Like Giyuu & Tengen friendship? I was like??? Ok????? And??? Sanemi hikes up mountains to leave snacks for Kamado children like he is Santa Claus????? Alright?????)

🔍Let's say your readers are on a scavenger hunt. What should they be paying extra attention to?

They are trying to sound positive about the future, but is being blase really positive? Paying attention to how the speak of their futures will make the final chapter pay off more!

📏Are we talking one-shot, short series or slow burn? Care to explain your process?

Short series--this story had goals to hit, and it hit them in only as many chapters as it needed to (in the end, nine chapters). I've had some fics that meander for the sake of incorporating more angles and characters, but in general, I write in a plot-oriented way with a specific ending in mind. I also tend to complete a full rough draft before I begin posting a fic, both because I want to guarantee it will go somewhere instead of fizzling out, and because I'm a "write it all in one go or don't write at all" kind of writer. I took 11 days to write the 45,374 word first draft of this one. I then give myself time to let each chapter ferment a bit in my brain before posting, and I tend to add a lot in the editing stage.

I'm bored and in the mood for procrastinating. Let's see if I can create a semi-decent tag post.

Tag people you want to respond to this, mmkay?

---

The Demon Slayer Fanfic Tag

1. Pick one of your fanfics.

2. Answer the questions honestly so we get your vibes.

Here be some Qs:

🖊What's your fanfic titled? What does this reference?

📖Let's talk about genre and tropes. What are you drawing from?

🛳Any pairings or ships -aside from the obvious -your readers should look forward to? This can be romantic, or platonic, even.

💡What other works, be it literature or shows, inspire the ~vibes~ of your fic?

🎵If your fanfic was an anime, what would you use as the opening theme? What about your end theme?

🎼Any other notes on the soundtrack?

🛫What are some departures your fanfic is making from the canon?

🔍Let's say your readers are on a scavenger hunt. What should they be paying extra attention to?

📏Are we talking one-shot, short series or slow burn? Care to explain your process?

[raamitsu]

HOLY MF SHIT-

Finally! I was able to successfully finished reading this theory. Fr it was sucha long ass one and I wasn't sure whether I could be able to finish it. Therefore, I'll try my best to shorten everything I wanted to say or maybe not

I actually loved the idea of someone tackling the smallest yet essential topic such as Nickname(s). It have always been obvious that it plays a major part in our life. We also tend to give ourselves one or a few. Just like a human with different sides + persona, nicknames function the same way. In fact, it is like a switch button to adjust our entire personality according to our surroundings, mostly probably the case.

I made a tweet that touched the same topic last July. To simplify, nickname is a "mask" that covers the real identity of ourselves, thus its existence itself is not real.

Manjiro is a real human while Mikey is a persona. He first created it because he overheard Shinichiro’s conversation with their grandpa and he talked about making Emma happy, so he decided to have a nickname just to make Emma feel comfortable. Since then, “Mikey” has become a safe place for her.

Skipped thru the amazing analysis towards Mikey and everything, however, just like any other TR fans who read the theory, I also unable to agree with the theorist regarding Shinichiro. Let me reassure you guys that Shinichiro is not a real person, therefore spamming OP with negativism and slanders thru DM/ask is an absolute childish and immature. If you wish to express disagreement, please do it with manners.

This could be a collective agreement that the only thing in the manga canon where we become so frustrated and impatient is the way we lack of Shin’s POVs. Similar to what OP mentioned in the theory, we only saw a glimpse of him and his little background story, but the fact that he even appeared in some of the character’s POVs proved that he was more than just a huge influence. There is no POV that were stated or shown in the manga depicted him as a bad guy. Not even once, and yes we all could collectively agree that he is not a perfect brother and he will never be. Why? Just like the question itself, “He’s a good guy but leading a gang?” Well, that’s nothing new. We have a whole dumb, pathetic but kindhearted dude named Takemichi as the ONLY parallel to Shinichiro, just like some of the characters claimed him to be. Takemichi even made it this far as Toman’s 2nd Gen President. Their characterization were explicitly made to be both weak at fight and love, but executing a strong aura of leadership and “never-give-up” attitude, so that should be enough evidences already. Let’s say Shin really was a bad guy, why he was in Mikey’s mind when he’s about to jump off the building? If he’s the type to make a character’s whole existence feels shitty or unimportant, that would have been obvious in the beginning but he didn’t. Wakui would have hinted any displeased expressions or reactions on any characters that have a close relationship with him, but he didn’t. Characters that mentioned his name always has a connotation of respect towards him and that’s because he’s a prominent delinquent and the most respected figure back in his days, until now he was still a very impactful character for some others, for example: Inupi.

Mikey, Draken, Baji, Emma, Inupi, even Izana, as one of the antagonists in the manga series, adored him dearly. Such theory are not sitting right with me but I still do respect OP’s efforts for other amazing analysis. I’d like to add some more regarding Shin; There are multiple official arts from Wakui himself that whenever he drew him, he often showed Shin’s soft side with his siblings. There is no single hidden hint towards anything creepy or mysterious at him. Wakui might be intending to save the best for last so let’s hope that we’ll get Mikey’s POVs. who knows we could see more of Shin in it?

There are another two POVs we’re looking forward; Haruchiyo and Hanma’s. Hopefully we’ll get them all since theirs are important too.

[note-boom]

Getting Around Here...

All right, we’ve reached the point where I’ve been told I have 1000 posts on here, so I’m gonna make a navigation/what’s this blog about post so I don’t go insane...

What’s This Blog About?

Basically this started as a realization that I was saving way too many BSD-related links on the app I use to keep track of all my obsessions, reactions to things, etc. So I figured a Tumblr blog would be the solution, and now this is my archive of things I would usually just save as a link elsewhere (plus some thoughts of my own to spice it up a bit.)

Navigation Stuff

Now how do I tag things for future explorations?

Fandom Tags: #bsd, #bungo stray dogs, #bungou stray dogs (will be updated if I switch/tack on other fandoms)

Character Tags: In general, I just use [acronym] [character’s most used name]. Like #bsd atsushi. Sometimes, I use two like #bsd edgar allan poe/#bsd poe or #bsd gogol/#bsd nikolai gogol but only when I’m not sure what their most used name is. There’s also #bsd characters (for unnamed characters or just incorrect quotes) this one (when there are too many characters to tag) and group specific tags (armed detective agency, port mafia, bsd guild, soukoku, shin soukoku, there’s no naming consistency)

Meta Tags: #bsd musings (for literally anything that contemplates bsd) #bsd theories (for theories, specifically) #character analysis (metas about characters)

Specific Media Tags: #bsd official art, #manga things (anything that features the manga panels) #anime things (anything that features anime screenshots and the like) #light novel things (anything referring to the light novels) #stage play things (anything featuring stuff about the stage play) #bsd fanart, #bsd edits, #bsd gifset, #bsd fanfic. Of course, there will also be tags for the light novels specifically, which is usually just bsd [light novel name], and wan.

Additional Tags: #humor, #alternate universe, #crossover, #random fandom spamdom (generally fandom related either because of my tags or the post’s contents itself) #bsd fandom slander (mostly a subset of humor that lovingly slanders the characters) #not fandom spam (has nothing to do with the fandom specifically) #spitting nonsense (my posts) #rambling in the tags sorry (when I get a bit TOO carried away) #note re-reblogs (currently nonexistent but the time will come...i advise blocking this tag lest you wake up to find 50 posts rereblogged because I didn't want to queue them...)

Spoilers tags will be tagged bsd spoilers (for all of them), manga spoilers/bsd manga spoilers, and anime spoilers/bsd anime spoilers.

In (Rambly) Conclusion

Why am I writing this like a three-point thesis...ah never mind.

And that’s how I sort out my obsession with this stupid show. If any other piece of media seizes me by the throat like BSD has, then I’ll probably start posting about it here (but my fixations are usually short lived and thus onto main sideblog they go).

I tend to...ramble in the tags a lot, which I mildly feel bad for (there’s a reason why I generally just privately save things). So if you’re seeing this because I spam reblogged you and you wondered who in the world was crowding your notifs with tags, I’m sorry. I also try not to crawl out of the tags too much, though, just do so if they don’t fit my rambles (oops....)

I try and lessen the blow by slapping most everything on the queue (but I don’t tag what I queue, let there be CHAOS), so maybe that helps a bit?

That said, I DO love tags, so feel free to spam reblog whatever you want from here and comment-tag as much as you want...I LOVE seeing people say stuff (whether I agree or not, this IS just for fun). I don’t usually use the comment/reply section or the like button because I don’t actually do anything in my main blog (I just work off sideblogs, heh), so I’ll likely abuse the reblog button a lot or just hope my vibes of appreciation are psychically felt.

OH RIGHT!! Asks are always open. Feel free to scream at me about literally anything, ask anything, or share cool links and shiny stuff I can reblog/save (the last one especially because I am a magpie of fandom things). I generally have to be asked things to talk about them, so I do warn you that the right ask can really get me going.

And with that, back to spamming I go!

[epicspheal]

SPHEAL YOU SEEING THIS????

So, I was getting back into my SWSH hyperfixtation today and went to the official website to get inspo for some art stuff. And I see sonia’s new outfit for masters EX. And it made me wonder, does this indicate that tsareena was a part of her Pokémon team?

Idk ; i know there is little to no chance we’ll ever canonically see her entire team unless it’s mentioned in the anime or the manga but it still makes me wonder. Why would they maker a rival to Leon when she has no clear team in the story? Did something happen? Or is it just a plot hole? Anyway, it’s fun to toy around with the idea. her new outfit looks great tho and well designed. :000

Hi there @kitsuna21! Yes, I did see that, and I did a little cheer. Sonia looks so great in that outfit, and it's great that she has an alt alongside Nessa, Leon, and Raihan (now we need Piers to get one). To answer your question about whether or not this means she had a Tsareena (and a shiny one at that), I'd say it's very likely. Pokemon Masters is an interesting blend of canon and non-canon. Things that happen on the island itself, such as the PML league and the new villain arc, aren't canon to the main series. However, the trainer details have actually been confirmed to be canon. So Raihan, in his anniversary alt talking about how he met his Flygon, is a canon detail, as is Blue talking about how he's known as the Phantom Champion. Then, of course, there are the Pokemon choices for the trainers in the sync pairs. That's a bit of the grey area too. Obviously, Pokemon that are shown in-game (or the anime like Cynthia's Kommo-o) case are canon. But some of the alts/sygna suits are in a grey area. A lot of the legendary alts are non-canon (and I have some gripes with the legendary alts, but that's for another post), but some are (like N's being a reference to him having either Reshiram or Zekrom, depending on the version of the gen 5 games you play, to May being able to meet a Latias in ORAS canonically). With all of Sonia's team being unknown except for Yamper and the fact that Tsareena is not super rare/legendary, I'd say it's highly likely that she canonically has one. It'd be nice if we get to see her show off one in the Pokespe manga since things are starting to heat up there To answer your question about why they made Sonia Leon's rival, it's about making narrative parallels between the young adults (Nessa, Sonia, Leon, and Raihan) and the kids (Victor/Gloria, Hop, Bede, and Marnie). Sonia, like Hop, ends up leaving Pokemon training to do research while Leon and Victor/Gloria become champions. Many people in the Pokemon world have retired from training and thus don't show their full teams. One of the best examples of that is Professor Oak, who was Agatha's rival back in the day (and in some adaptations is confirmed to be a league champion), yet we've never seen his team outside of a Nidorino. He's not interested in battling like that anymore, so he doesn't feel the need to show off his time. I feel Sonia is the same way. I don't think anything bad happened to her team; she just doesn't feel the need to show off her entire team. Now, of course, I would love for us to see more of her team because in the manga, at least it's confirmed Leon has never beaten her in battle, so I'd love to see her team composition. Not to mention there are a bunch of G-max Pokemon that haven't gotten a debut under a trainer, and I feel like she would likely have one G-max-capable Pokemon on her team. And I just want to see more researchers (and female researchers at that) show their battling chops.