#will try to post before the new year

[world-smitten]

Into the Ring Final Thoughts

contains spoilers

a lot of kdramas really flop w/ the 16-episode format, but when a show works, it works and suddenly 16 episodes feel like the platonic ideal for a short-form television narrative. The drama never settled into one mode for too long - like Se-ra, it felt unpredictable and new, and it had enough momentum to carry it easily and sweetly into its conclusion. Episode 16 is a near-perfect ending.

Bringing back the councilwoman who gave up her campaign for Se-ra is one of the sweetest, most satisfying bookends I've ever seen in a story. What a wonderful way to emphasise solidarity between older and younger generations; what a wonderful way to show support between women.

Jo Maeng-deok, what a prick. Wonderfully understated performance by Ahn Nae-sang, who injects each line with a combination of smug, aloof world-weariness. A sensible douchebag who seems signficantly smarter than the goons he surrounds himself with, which means that his moments of petty short-sightendness are as revealing as the moments where the narrative occassionally invites us to pity him. He loves his sons, but he also uses them against his opponents, and one weighs far heavier than the other. I love it when bad parents don't get redemption via the child's forgiveness. And when Maeng-deok is finally brought down, the story doesn't revel in his political defeat. Kong-myung should never have been put in that position - divulging private details about his family to the public, in order to "defeat" his father; a lesser drama would have been too caught up in giving its audience catharsis to really care. But Maeng-deok's fall, and the final, permanent separation between him and his surviving son, are sad eventualities, portrayed quietly. It was here that I came to not only love, but to respect this show.

At the start of the drama, there are two women in local politics. By the end of the drama, there are three women - Goo Se-ra leaves the council, but her friend - a single mom - takes her place. In Into the Ring, politics is inertia, circular. But this small change - one more woman in politics - is still potential for further change. Similarly, I was struck by Hee-soo's final scene - still grinding, still aspiring, still stuck in the same place, with little faith from her colleagues. But a child shouts out that he'll vote for her when he's old enough, and you see the way it lights her up (communicated almost soundlessly through Yoo Da-in's brilliant acting). Progress is slow, being a responsible politician is difficult and unrewarding, but it has to be done because it's always worth doing. I can't wait to see more of Moon Hyun-kyung's work in the future.

"Even if it's slow, let's go together."

[floccinaucinihilipilificationa]

Hello may 31th anon! Look at that, another year behind us and a new one to come. Have a nice day! ₍՞◌′ᵕ‵ू◌₎♡

[marigraphia]

Hey remember when Kory was a Justice League member with a bangin' costume

[mechazushi]

Kaiju Number 8 Incorrect Quotes <take9>

Mina: Hey Kafka! Are you wearing your running bottoms. . . and your hoodie? Reno: Kafka, are you going running? Kafka: . . . *nods* *leaves* Kikoru: Have fun! *Kafka leaves the room* Reno: Oh my god, what is wrong with Kafka right now? Soshiro: Yeah, is he okay? Kikoru: Kafka is going for a run. If anything, we should be asking what is right with him. Mina: Kafka only goes running if he's upset and he's wearing his sad hoodie, and by the looks of it, it's been washed, which is bone chilling. Kikoru: He's fine. Everything's okay. Iharu: I JUST PASSED KAFKA ON THE STREET, RUNNING ON PURPOSE! OH MY GOD!!!! Kikoru: . . . Maybe I was wrong. Iharu: *halfway out a window, shouting* KAFKA! ARE YOU OKAY? Iharu: I SEE YOU! AND I LOVE YOU! Kikoru: In my defense, no one here emotes in a normal way Soshiro: Yeah, that's fair.

[o0o0thorn0o0o]

It’s that time of year again!!!

The amount of times Ibis crashed on me ;~; (still sorting out the storage issues—at a slug’s pace, ‘cause other things be preoccupying my mind), but it was worth it!! I’m very much proud, very much pleased, with how it came out this year if I do say so myself! Ahhh, all that struggling with and “refinding” my art style this year was not for naught!!

I think of my previous years, 2021 is my favorite, but it’s officially been replaced now 😌 I feel so content rn (please don’t let this be a short moodlet, eheh)

That said, I do think I prefer last year’s hands. They were also a pain this time—primarily Yukiko’s right hand…

Anywho, previous versions (+ “base-color” version + a close-up ‘cause why not) under the cut (after some more rambling, eheh):

I was really struggling to start this—I restarted it 3 times essentially—so I’m also really happy with how it came out in that regard. As such (plus the crashes), I’m a wee bit late this year, but only by a few days; I really don’t mind it for once, haha.

I noticed I was going in a certain direction over the years with Yukiko’s hairstyle and the light source, and not the one I intended. Realized that this year, so I fixed those trends:

Tried to make the light source more behind and adjusted it’s position to match with the scene in my head more (though, if I really wanted to be truthful to that, she’d be in one of the other ballgowns I designed for her since she wears this specific one for her first meeting with Gakushuu in this AU, whereas the idea for this scene is supposed to be from when they’re much more familiar with each other later on. But, uh, I like this dress wayyy too much, so let’s just ignore that, haha). I was actually thinking of finally implementing a proper bg this year—even sketched it (mainly for perspective, though)—but I really wanted to just get this done, haha, but also… I didn’t want to deal with more crashes… Perhaps next year… but don’t quote me on that, haha.

As for the hair, the strands that bunch up the rest of Yukiko’s hair—I noticed I was placing them too low. How I imagine her hairstyle to be is that they eventually connect up to her bun (I should definitely sketch a back view concept of this design, mainly so I don’t forget stuff like these, eheh, and to visualize just what in the world is going on… but that’s something distant future me will worry about… if she remembers, of course ^^;). But they’re also supposed the same length as the rest of her hair, so… yeah… I thought this would make her hair less fluffier, which would’ve saddened me, haha, but it didn’t! That said, I have a feeling I’ll possibly make it less voluminous next year… Seems a bit too thick… but idk. I like drawing thick hair, haha.

Oh, also, if you’ll notice: I decided to simplify her underskirt design last year, and… yeah, no, I reverted that change, haha.

Mannn, I am in such a mood to draw more “A Brothers’ Quarrel” stuff/AC Kingdom AU stuff in general (like designing some proper outfits for Gakushuu and Karma finally (they’re the main characters, and Yukiko only appears for a specific part of the AU, yet who do I draw the most…? XD), drawing her horse, Camellia, drawing her in her other dresses, finally getting around to drawing her ladies-in-waiting designs in that other Kingdom AU (just how long ago did I post the traditional sketches of them? Yikes…), etc, etc), but I’ve got too much stuff to get finished before the end of the year. I really need to pick up the pace, eheh.

[teenytraveler]

Happy New Year 2024! ✨

Best wishes from Anya and her lil bro Jamie 🥹🫶

A bit belated but I wanted it to be the first drawing of this year!!

You can see the scrapped version (which I didn't end up going for simply bc of the lack of time) under the cut

[azaracyy]

but the world as she knows no longer exists. digimon survive week 2024 day 1: a new world thoughts under cut. spoilers alert. if you haven't completed the game, proceed at your own risk. you have been warned.

i feel so much for miyuki. the girl who got lost and forgotten. even the best possible ending offered in the game leaves many questions as open possibilities. how is she going to live her life now? how will she deal with living in a new world where it's nothing like the one she used to live in? pretty sure nearly all of the people she knew are no longer alive. her younger brother is now an elderly. this is why digimon survive deserves a sequel. i need to know all that lol. here is my personal headcanon / wish, though: exploring how miyuki, at the core, struggles with everything, including accepting the current reality she is in. despite starting to get used to living in the modern world, she can never, for one, imagine her younger brother dying before her. haru, her only family whom she likely can't even communicate properly with in public without people turning heads and wondering why the old man calls the young girl "big sis". that's probably when something can happen involving takuma co. as they themselves try/struggle to integrate their kemonogami partners into daily life, where it could ultimately end with miyuki getting to "catch up" or get turned into the age and appearance she is supposed to be (i'm delusional) if someone already explored and/or wrote a fic about it, please link it to me... if you who are reading this plans to write about it, please tag me when you finish it... i'm more desperate than i look haha 😭

[stick-by-me]

Me.

From this shop here!

More like this from my collection: Cat | Bear | Ferret

[mooph]

i decided to redraw ghost cole for like. the millionth time! i cant get enough of this guy

get him out of there !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[aquanutart]

I absolutely LOVE the Squirtle/Wartortle illustrations by kantaro in Pokemon 151!

The Squirtle jumping so joyfully from the rock into the ocean, the colors are STUNNING! I love the contrast of the Squirtle's aqua blue framed in the vivid orange sky, the soft bit of blue reflecting in its shell and its tail just catching the sun, how little and squishy its body looks as it launches itself towards the water with such tremendous excitement!

The lineless style of the background gives me the feel of a travel poster and I sense the tropical environment around it from the rocks and trees framing the corners, the waterfall splashing with as much energy as the Squirtle!

The layered blues on the surface of the water and the bubbles rising at the corner make me FEEL the liquid rising to meet the Squirtle--I can just feel how the next moment it's going to break through and be immersed in a cool island swim!

And the Wartortle running along the sunset beach, this is somehow everything I always imagined for Wartortle! I adore the way the rich purple melts into the warm red/orange sky, the matching purple clouds and shadows in the foreground, and how the dimming sunlight glows red on Wartortle's deep blues!

I love how the yellow and orange of the sky illuminate the lapping waves, I can just feel the gentle motion of the sea at dusk. The aqua color of the ocean matches Wartortle's ears and tail and sets off the red-orange sand, I just love how the colors are here!

Wartortle looks so round and squishy, I love its happiness as it goes frolicking through the shallows, chasing the bubbles caught in the setting sun! The shine and deep shadow on its shell give it an almost jewel texture like real tortoise shell; I love the silhouetted splash Wartortle leaves as it goes running across the shore. It's so full of energy and delight at the end of a gorgeous day! The colors in these are SO vivid and harmonized and the style is so cute and bursting with energy and joy. I just LOVE it (also Squirtle is my starter)

[raiiny-bay]

more outtakes

[todayisafridaynight]

spare kissu

[pkmoth]

having swap au thoughts. *slaps roof of claus* there's so much mental illness in this guy. im gonna blow up everyone in the room and then myself

[wardingshout]

I love them lots

[bellaaldamas]

@stupidrant this is the official, SMS approved (hopefully) gif everyone should use whenever they encounter a fandom troll.

[tigergender]

I'm so peeved that literally every aspect of the Gerudo in BOTW/TOTK serves to make me mad bc I love the Gerudo desert and I think that some of the most interesting NPCs to speak to are Gerudo.........alas