Tumgik
#i have other complaints informed more by the book tour i attended but that's another post
aroaceleovaldez · 8 months
Text
I think one of the best examples of what went wrong with TSATS is from the book tour I attended -
At one point during the event, Mark Oshiro made a comment about Nico's card collection. Specifically, they joked that Nico collecting cards was a sign that he was gay, because clearly he was only collecting the cards to look at the men on the art (which ends up being a note made in the actual book itself).
I've said a lot that you cannot divorce PJO from neurodivergence and disability. You just can't. And I stand by that. If you remove the neurodivergence and disability aspects from PJO it is no longer PJO because that's the foundation the entire series is built upon - representing neurodiverse and disabled students and kids. If you do not understand that or try to ignore it you have missed the most fundamental aspect of PJO as a series and everything else falls apart. (This is actually a trend that begins occurring mid/late-HoO and throughout TOA and that's where I say the main series begins to feel like it's no longer itself, but that's a rant for another day.)
You cannot divorce any of the demigod PJO characters from being ADHD/dyslexic. It is a core part of their characters. You cannot separate Nico di Angelo from the fact that he is ADHD/dyslexic. If you agree with Nico being autistic-coded or not, he is explicitly ADHD, and MythoMagic as we're introduced to it with him is clearly his hyperfixation if not his special interest. It just is. MythoMagic with Nico is the main ADHD/autistic trait we see presented with him. You cannot erase that. You cannot say "Nico only collected cards because he's gay" because then you are removing the fact that Nico is ADHD and you have missed the entire point of the series. Failed step 1.
TSATS does things like this so often throughout the book. (Ex: None of the characters stim, ever. The closest we get is Will bouncing his leg in one scene, but that's heavily implied to purely be him feeling anxious in that moment and nothing else. Nico even gives up his most iconic stim object and it's replaced with a coin he explicitly never stims with. He only ever touches it, never stims with it.) The book refuses to acknowledge that Nico and Will (and Annabeth and Percy and Piper and etc etc etc) are ADHD and dyslexic (and autistic-coded, in Nico's case). And if it does even remotely acknowledge those themes, it does so in the most ableist ways possible (infantilizing Nico, blaming Nico for his own ostracization, magically healing all of Nico's problems, implying Percy is only bad at school because he's disinterested and lazy, etc). And that happens because they started on the wrong foundation. They treated the characters' neurodivergence and disabilities as secondary and optional rather than the literal foundations the entire series was built upon and it shows.
408 notes · View notes
southeastasianists · 4 years
Link
It is 42 years already since the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime!
45 years ago, on 17 April 1975, the Khmer Rouge (KR) regime took power, lasting until 6 January 1979. At least 1.7 million people are believed to have died from starvation, torture, execution and forced labor over those three years, 8 months, and 20 days. In order to find justice and reconciliation for the victims, The Extraordinary Chamber in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) began in 2006, after 9 years of negotiations between the Royal Government of Cambodia and the United Nations. The role is to prosecute senior leaders and those most responsible for crimes committed during the KR regime.
Four primary cases have been investigated at the ECCC since it began, with some divided into parts. At the time of writing, Case 001, Case 002/1 have passed final verdicts, Case 002/2 is under appeal and some are ongoing.
Outreach programs in Transitional Justice
It is around 10 years since the ECCC in Cambodia began hearing its first case. At the beginning of proceedings, updated information is shared by the ECCC with non-NGOs in Cambodia through outreach programs, so that updates on each case reached people living in remote areas. Outreach platforms used different methods but very often they included the voice of vitcim. Survivors shared their experiences in the KR regime at the ECCC or NGO-led forums, regardless of whether they are Vietnamese, Cham or Khmer. Some outreach programs include documentary short films or television programs on the KR regimes.
As the court is located in Cambodia, members of the broader public are able to attend proceedings. Based on Public Affairs Outreach Figures 2009 to 2017, there have been 55,129 participants so far in programs run by the court, including court visits, study tours, and 98,230 students attending school lectures.
The ECCC is the first international court in which victims have had the opportunity to participate in the process of procedure. In the Internal Rules of the ECCC, victims are able to file complaints before the ECCC, and they can be recognized as a Civil Party if they suffered harm during the regime.
From my observations, while survivors often become emotional when speaking about the past, they also feel that younger generations need to know and learn from the past to prevent genocide in future.
In the “Justice and Reconciliation for the Victims of the Khmer Rouge?” report, a survivor said : “I feel believed as I was given a chance to give testimony about what I have been through during a very cruel regime, I feel relieved that I can show the younger generation they must not allow this type of regime to happen again.”
The survivors are witness who can tell the youth that this regime happened, even if they don’t know much about the structure at the top levels or the overall strategy of the regime. They can at least describe their experiences and how they suffered. In this way, it is a supplement to the ECCC’s findings.
After many years working in this field, I am used to hearing the opinion from survivors that their children do not believe them because, they say, “Khmer could not kill Khmer.” During outreach programs and discussions, the question often is raised: “why did they killed Khmers? Why do they need to force people to work hard? Why did they have to evacuate people from one place to another?” Thus, the young people need to gain understanding and to hear more about what happened during this regime from different perspectives. However, although 45 years has passed since this regime began, it can still be hard for survivors to break their silence. It remains hard to recall the past.
In our interview with Soeung Phearak, a media reporter, he said “I used to hear about the Tribunal [the ECCC]  from the television or radio but I never heard what my mum faced during the Khmer Rouge regime. I really want to hear what my mum suffered during the Khmer Rouge regime, but she always skipped over what happened…She is the most important evidence of what she suffered.”
How the ECCC contribute to the history education in formal education?
Article 65 of the Cambodian Constitution, in the chapter on Education, Culture and Social Affairs, declares that the state shall “promote the right of the citizen to a quality education at all levels and shall take every measure to progressively make this education available to all the citizens.”
The history of KR regime is delivered in the existing curriculum in high schools. As the textbook was created prior to the beginning of public hearings, it does not currently include any information taken from the tribunal.
In order to promote the history of Cambodia during the KR regime, a reparations project was included in the judgement of Case 002/1, which proposed the “inclusion of a chapter on forced population movement and executions at Tuol Po Chrey within the Cambodian school curriculum”. Since this curriculum update is on-going it is supplemented by Documentation Center of Cambodia Programs (DC-Cam).  DC-Cam has compiled a history textbook, teachers’ guide book and other materials for lecturers in order to transfer knowledge to students across Cambodia.
The ECCC process in each case is slow and thorough, from the investigation process through to  the verdict. Thus, the materials or evidence used during proceedings and written in those judgements is often extensive. In the Pre-Trial Chamber  approximately 1,000 documents in Khmer French and English were put before the Chamber and subject to examination. It was no different in Case 002/01, with approximately 5,824 pieces of documentary evidence include documents, audio and video recording and written evidence witnesses, experts and Civil Parties. In Case 002/02, the documents subject to examination stretched to over 82,000 pages. These sources will be contained in archives like the Legal Documentation Centre, DC-Cam and Bophana Center, so that future generations and members of the public are able to access them.
On the topic of how of the ECCC passess knowledge to the youth, there are different opinions. Youk Chhang, director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia,  was quoted in the Phnom Penh Post in 2018: “the ECCC is a court of law, not a history department,” he said, saying seeing the tribunal as a teaching tool “completely undermines” the years and millions invested in it. “Its legacy is justice… to prosecute the Khmer Rouge leaders.”
By contrast, Keo Duong, a history lecturer and member of the committee revising the text-book for formal education, explains that:
“Decisions in the judgement are based on multiple sources and evidence in order to make a careful conclusions. It is a solid reference for Cambodian history and of course, formal education. I’m now a member of history textbook writing committee. I write about the DK history for formal education and one of the sources I use is ECCC sources and judgements. For example, the lesson on S-21, the number of people who were at S-21, the crimes committed by top leaders, reports or primary sources that have been used in the court and so on.”
Conclusion
We urge the Ministry of Education and the relevant departments to include information from the ECCC and the existing curriculum as soon as possible, and to teach this in a critical way, so as not only to remember but also to understand.
6 notes · View notes
yukiwrites · 4 years
Text
Many of Their Kind
Thank you for the support as always, @xpegasusuniverse! This is such an interesting topic, I got a bit carried away, heehee!
Summary: Seteth and Flayn were summoned to Askr after hearing all about it from Byleth. The older brother, overprotective as ever, would only allow his little sister to remain there once he was absolutely sure it would be safe, though Flayn couldn’t be happier to be able to meet new people, especially those with whom she and Seteth shared an unexpected bond with, the manaketes.
Commission info HERE and HERE!
______________________________
New Heroes from other worlds arrived practically daily on Askr, especially after the Summoner's Breidablik was magically enhanced during the recent skirmishes.
They amounted to the point that Kiran himself was unable to welcome and indulge them all until they were used to their day-to-day at the Order of Heroes, so the other people in charge also took it upon themselves to help the Heroes accommodate themselves as quickly as possible.
Anna, Sharena and Alfonse shared those duties mostly equally; the Crown Prince had his own royal duties to attend to, so he was more often than not too busy to help. Though since that was expected, Sharena and Anna didn't seem to mind the added task on their shoulders.
That particular morning, it was Anna's turn to walk the new heroes through the castle, though the newly arrived pair seemed to have other ideas in mind. 
Seteth and Flayn was how they had presented themselves, though Anna could swear she had seen their picture in the book depicting Fódlan's history under other aliases entirely.
The young woman looked around eagerly, ooh-ing and aaah-ing at every detail. "Look, Brother!" She nudged the tall man, pointing at this or that vase or decoration. "Even the architecture itself differs on its fundamentals! Everything here is so interesting!"
"Indeed." The green-haired man replied curtly, though warmly enough not to dismiss the girl's enthusiasm. "However, try not to attract much attention, Flayn, for we are still unaware of our role here as... 'Heroes'." He said the last word with contempt, though Anna could discern a large amount of worry in his tone, rather than disdain.
"Annnd here we have the, well, let's call it 'Administration Wing', for now. I don't think we ever gave it a name apart from 'Western Wing' now that I think about it." Anna concluded the hurried tour, simply going through the motions of doing so as her brain searched for the piece of information regarding those two that she was forgetting. "You seem to have more than a few questions, so I'll welcome you to my office so we can talk more leisurely."
"That would be ideal, Commander. I thank you." Seteth bobbed his head to the sides in compliance, nudging Flayn along the corridor towards Anna's study.
Once there, the man barely waited for Anna to take her seat behind the desk to ask. "I have heard from Professor Byleth that this world is very peculiar in its deepest roots."
"Yes?" Anna tilted her head in question.
"To speak bluntly, I have heard that a few of whom we've considered enemies in Fódlan are here as allies, instead. Namely, the," he glanced at Flayn with a painful expression, "Death Knight."
The young woman looked down in visible distress, digging her nails on her skirt. "You see, Commander, that man has attacked me on occasion and ever since then I- I have been terrified of him."
"It is as my sister says. How can I trust the integrity of an Order, otherworldly as it may be, that employs villains within their ranks? How do you maintain order within your own organization by having mutual enemies fighting on the same side of the battlefield?"
Anna took one index to her lips, looking up in thought. "That is a valid concern, good people," she said matter-of-factly, somehow seeming to remember something and jumping out of her seat to browser the bookshelf to her left. "However, unfounded. Every Hero summoned by Kiran's -- ah, he's our Summoner, I believe you met him immediately after crossing the portal to our world -- weapon is bound by the Pact of Non-aggression." She picked two or three volumes from the shelves, placing them on her desk as she sat back on her chair.
Flayn and Seteth exchanged curious glances, choosing to remain in silence to allow Anna to continue.
The Commander opened the first volume, its cover decorated in a pale silver. "You see, it's physically impossible for a Hero to harm another one within Askrian grounds. Well, even outside our borders -- as long as they were summoned by Breidablik, they're bound to this. We employ many, ah, unique characters from opposing sides of the same war, so we have heard no small amount of complaints on this matter. Yet, there has never been a case of a fight breaking out since their own bodies are subjugated by the Pact." She looked through a sentence or another, muttering a few ah-s of understanding. "There is also a potent, ancient magic protecting each and every one of you -- as long as you are under our command, you are under no peril of death."
"I would ask you to explain this further, Commander. How can one avoid death just by being in an unfamiliar world?"
Anna looked from the book to the duo, her mind finally clear on her suspicious. "You and your, ah... sister," she took a dignified pause to assert the two of them that she not only was aware of their most guarded secret but that she was willing to keep it so, "as any other Hero summoned to this world, are, let's say, a 'borrowed' power from your original world. We pluck you out of there to fight for us here, but this does not change at all your role nor your history back whence you came. For that to happen, the magic here protects you on an intimate level -- although you can be injured and forced to retreat the battlefield, no wounds you retain will be fatal. After all, your life -- or death -- only concerns your original world."
Seteth took one hand to his chin in thought as Flayn looked down at her own hands, pensive. "Most interesting," the man muttered, his interest piqued. "I would rather avoid sending my sister to battle altogether; she is a healer first and foremost, you see. Since you've just told us that the wounds aren't fatal..."
"Well, having field healers certainly helps with the progression of battle." Anna interrupted, knowing where Seteth wanted to take the conversation to. "But, of course, it'll ultimately depend on you whether you choose to fight for us or not. Kiran's weapon also has the power to server the, ah, 'heroic' bonds binding you to Askr -- meaning he can send you back home with a snap of his fingers, anytime you want."
Narrowing his eyes, the man took a moment to think, then sighed. "I see."
Feeling increasingly antsy, Flayn looked from Seteth to Anna. "Um, you are not planning to have Lord Kiran send me back on my own, are you, Brother? I will have no such thing, I say!"
"Flayn-"
"We are finally in a place where we can be ourselves, under no peril to our lives! And it is such a wonderful place! Have you not heard the curious songs of the birds or the different color of the sky once we crossed over? I simply must explore it all for myself! I am most too weary of being alone for so long, Brother! I beg you to say such thought of returning me alone has not crossed your mind!"
Seteth looked down in visible distress. "I would, dear Flayn, but it'd be a lie. I just worry for you so-"
"Well, worry no more, for our dear Commander Anna cleared all and any doubts you had regarding this world! Has she not?" Flayn got up with a bounce, her curls dancing over her shoulders. "It is time for us to make ourselves acquainted with the askrian ways of life, for as long as we are needed here." She curtsied elegantly to Anna before turning her back to the Commander, heading to the door. "I thank you for your time, Commander, however we must take our leave."
"Flayn!" Seteth scrambled on his feet, barely bowing to Anna before running after his sister. "Do not walk away like this, young lady! What poor manners!" He scolded as they walked through the door, leaving Anna to her books.
"There's still so much to happen with these two," she absent-mindedly caressed the silver book she had just read. "I hope their time here can help them enrich themselves for what's to come."
"Ah, the very air in here feels different in my lungs!" Flayn twirled around herself as she headed towards the garden, lured by the clear atmosphere. "Do you not feel it so, Brother?"
Panting, Seteth sighed loudly. "Flayn, just because this world might be safer than where we came from, it does not mean you can frolic around on your own! I beg you to always be with me whenever you want to take a walk... I fear for you, even if you are protected by this ancient magic of this place's."
Feeling rather bad for running like that, Flayn looked down, sheepish. "Forgive me, Brother. I know all you care about it my safety, but I assure you that I am more than capable of taking care of myself, especially in this unfamiliar world."
"It's precisely because this is an unfamiliar world that I worry even more-"
"Oh!" A surprised gasp came from beside them, right a bit ahead into the garden. "Are you two new Heroes? It's not always that we welcome more dragons into the fray!"
Flayn widened her eyes so much she felt they were bulging out. "D-dragons? W-whyever would you assume that about us, dear stranger?" She tried her best to act meek, stepping just a bit behind Seteth's shoulder.
The owner of the voice, a silver-haired, pointy-eared woman tilted her head in confusion. "Huh? Did I get it wrong? I can clearly feel it..."
Way more used to keeping his poker face, Seteth simply cleared his throat. "I'm afraid we haven't met yet, Lady...?"
"Ah, how boorish of me! I'm Corrin, nice to meet you!" She curtsied with the grace of a noble, despite wearing a strange-looking armor. "I can turn into a dragon, so that's why I assumed you two were the same. Something about your vibes..."
Flayn stared at Corrin's exposed ears, somehow wanting to do the same with her own. It's been so long since she felt the wind without fearing her hair going up! "I am Flayn, dear Corrin. Nice to meet you."
"Seteth. It's my pleasure."
Corrin smiled gleefully. "Can I ask where are you guys from? Ever since coming here, I've found so many shape-shifters from all over! I always thought I was alone in this, but finding other people that share this burden has made it lighter, somehow."
"Burden?" Flayn asked innocently, exchanging glances with Seteth.
"Oh, look at me babble! Sorry about that." She looked down in distress for half a second before shaking her head to do away with any negative thoughts. "I still have much to learn from those manaketes -- ah, that's how some of the other dragon shape-shifters call themselves in their worlds -- so it's no wonder I got you guys mixed up with actual shape-shifters."
"There are more? More people who can turn to beasts- to dragons? In this world and in many others?" Flayn stepped away from Seteth's protection, taking Corrin's hand in unabashed excitement.
"Why, yes! Do you want to meet them? They were going to teach me lots of stuff today just at that gazebo over there, in the middle of the garden."
"Oh, I would dearly love to meet them! They can impart much knowledge, can they not? I am eager to learn more and more!"
"Yes!" Corrin squeezed Flayn's hand, matching her excitement down to her giddy steps. "They as wise as they are old -- some of them are over 3,000 years old!"
"Three thous-" Seteth choked. Could these creatures be the exact same as the ones back in their own world? How did they manage to retain their draconic forms for so long? How fundamentally different were they from the children of the goddess, if there were any changes at all?
Even Seteth was getting excited about it, if he could be honest.
Once they arrived, however, Seteth couldn't help but scowl so deeply he even let out a 'that's it?' under his breath.
The 'ancient beings' waiting for them looked no older than children -- though their ears were immensely longer than Corrin's.
"I'm here, Nowi! Tiki and Fae, too! Good afternoon!" Corrin giggled as she pulled Flayn to the middle of the girls, who all welcomed them with excited bounces and hugs.
"You brought us another dragon friend!!" Nowi jumped in Flayn's arms, digging her face into the taller girl's chest. "This world is THE BEST, did you know? I struggled so much to find dragon friends back in Ylisse, but I just instantly found so many friends the moment I was summoned! IT'S THE BEST!" She giggled happily, twirling Flayn about.
"Well, you met me, though! The not-me, me." A young, green-haired girl -- Tiki -- smiled, also diving into the hug.
"Uh-huh, but that was wayyyy later. I was lonely for a long time, you know! A thousand years!"
Flayn gasped. "So it is true that you are all ancient beings-"
"I'm five!" Fae got on her tiptoes to pull Flayn's skirt. "Five hundred!"
"My, and your youth hasn't changed at all!" Flayn patted the little girl's head, truly already at home amidst these strangers -- they shared something akin to a bond that no one else but themselves had: the blood of immortals and their burdens.
“It warms the heart to see the young ones chatting so happily, doesn’t it?” Bantu said as though he had simply materialized beside Seteth.
“Gah-” The green-haired man flinched. “Since when-”
“Ohoho, I’ve been here the whole time, my lad.” Bantu smiled. “Let us have a seat, shall we? It fits us old men better to simply watch over the younger generation as they bloom on their own, don’t you agree?”
Seteth glanced at Flayn’s genuine smile, one he hadn’t seen in many an age. He allowed himself to smile as well, shaking his head slightly. “You are right. Let us converse over there, friendly stranger. I also have much to ask regarding your- no, our kind.”
48 notes · View notes
Text
KTMF Recap!!
Just completed a great weekend in Los Angeles, where I attended both the Epik High show and the Korea Times Music Festival! Below is a summary of the two events and some thoughts.
First, Epik High are such legends and I really had been eyeing their tour dates for awhile now trying to decide if/when to see them. Luckily, in the end, I decided to go. It was really great and they played so many great older songs of theirs. I highly recommend seeing them if you get the chance. They were so fun to watch!
Next, for KTMF, I was there to see SuJu, of course, and also, Taemin. I was also very much looking forward to seeing Kim Yongchul, who was one of the emcees. He was hysterical, definitely a good choice to emcee the event!
Tumblr media
I saw a few people on Twitter either lamenting that seeing Super Junior only as part of a larger festival where they'd only do a few songs didn't seem worth it, or feeling really unsure about whether it would be worth it or not. It's true, it's not a Super Show, but SJ never phones in a performance, either. Even during KCON NY last year, everyone was talking about how they tore it up. Additionally, as veterans of kpop, they usually get more songs than some if the more junior groups. My recommendation is, if you can logistically and financially manage to go, and there is at least one other act you're really interested in seeing, it is worth it to see SJ in a festival setting. Of course, it depends on your individual situation.
Another thing I wanted to bring up is the camaraderie. All fandoms have their toxic moments, kpop for SURE does, but for the most part, festivals like these put people in a really jovial mood, and people tend to hype each other up. Case in point, Shawol saw my SJ shirt and were like, "Do you want a Taemin banner? Also, all the other ELF are over there!" I even met one of my lovely readers there! What's up, Rachel! 💙
But back to the show. I was seated in the Pool Circle section, which is the very front section. My seat was 5 rows from the stage. A Lovelyz fan boy came over to talk to me and advised me that people in the Pool always moved closer to the stage when their favorite act was performing, and it was a pretty casual setup where you didn't have to stay in your seat. In addition, he pointed to this ledge a couple of rows behind me and said that the performers would walk on this ledge and that it was a part of the extended stage! This was exciting news, but I tried to manage my expectations and not get my hopes up.
This is another thing to put on the Pros list if you're trying to decide whether you should attend KTMF next year. As I found out, since it wasn't a Super Show and you weren't competing with an entire stadium full of ELF, people from other fandoms respectfully hang back so the true fans can get as close to the stage as possible.
Someone had spotted the lineup and set list prominently displayed on one of the official video cameras and people were sharing pics of it so that we knew in which order the performers were going on stage. Everyone shared this information with each other, so all of us in the pool knew SJ was going to close the second half, and we knew their setlist.
I befriended two awesome ELF, one who was Hyukjae biased and one who was Wookie biased. We strategized before the show started and decided that we'd be up by the stage for the first couple of songs and then run to the back extended stage/ledge for the last couple of songs.
Halfway through the set of the group who performed before SJ, my two new ELF friends and I stood up, light sticks in hand, in preparation. A few other ELF leapt up and joined us. Then, I spotted Shindong waiting in the wings. There's Shindong! I said, and everyone standing turned to look, then we all booked it to the barrier between us and the stage to wait.
The view from that close was phenomenal!! I was soooo happy to finally see Ryeowook up close (Wookie, anneyong!)! He's gorgeous, they all are. Donghae was killing me softly with his outfit, props to the stylist who put him in that. I feel #blessed to have seen Hyukjae in a sheer shirt and therefore his nipples in person (sorry not sorry). 🙏 These are my co-biases, folks!
During the ments, I put my camera down and noticed that they were trying to make eye contact with each of us ELF in front. I felt self-conscious but also so grateful. I already have done Hi-Touch with them, but it was not any easier being in their presence and in their gazes again.
When I heard the beginning of Miracle, I knew they were going to start running around, so I started running too! My ELF friends from before were tearing up and down with me, apologies to anyone we scrambled past trying to get to them! 😂🤦🏾‍♀️ At one point, Donghae was on the ledge with his back to me and his butt was right in my face, basically (this is not a complaint). I noticed him running towards a group of people on one end of the front stage (he is so fast, y'all!), and he was starting to bend down to high five them and shake hands. I went running to him, and got there just as it looked like he was about to straighten back up and go back to the middle of the stage. But I called out, Donghae! And he looked at me, smiled in recognition (from like 3 minutes ago when he was trying to make eye contact with us) and gripped my hand soooo firmly! It was so warm and smooth in his leather glove!
You guys. DONGHAE GRABBED MY HAND! AGAIN!!
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
I know from prior experience that they all have super soft hands!
After they went off stage, it was a 30 min break before the second half. I looked over at my ELF friends, and we all grabbed each other and started jumping up and down screaming, omg! omg! The Hyukjae biased one had had her hand grabbed by Hyukjae. The Ryeowook biased one had had her hand grabbed by Ryeowook, and she was crying. Honestly, it was just so much! I can't express it.
💙💙💙💙💙💙
"Oh my God, we still have TAEMIN to see after this?!?!" said the Hyuk biased ELF. We weren't sure how we were going to make it through that performance on top of everything else, we were going to need SEVERAL moments.
This post is already too long, so I will just say, I was still very close to Taemin, but stuck near one side of the stage so that other Shawol could be front and center. I finally got to use my Shinee lightstick!! Taemin's dancing is UNBELIEVABLE. Like. Damn. That little Squishface can move! My fan cams for him are a total mess because I just kept watching him with my actual eyes, instead of through my camera, so there are key moments where you can't even see him because I didn't aim the camera properly. 😂
Thanks for reading if you made it this far, let's all see them at SS8!!
Tumblr media
Gif from one of my fan cams!
Tumblr media
Talented squishface!
12 notes · View notes
Text
Underrated Anime Series (Part One)
I can’t say that this will be the only part, but I don’t know when the next part will come! “Underrated” is a little broad. 
My definition means that I haven’t met a whole lot of people that have watched it, and I haven’t seen a whole lot of content or it on this website. Of course, you might not agree with this list. If there’s one missing, it’s probably because I haven’t watched it (Mushishi, 3-Gatsu no Lion, etc.). 
In order to qualify, I watched 12+ episodes or the complete series (only Honey and Clover remains uncompleted for now). 
NO ANIME MOVIES! That’s over here “Underrated Anime Movies (Take One)”
The descriptions, general information, and recommendations are generally provided by MyAnimeList with some editing done.
This list started off small then swelled out of control. It took me a long time. Hopefully, you can find a new anime to like on this list! Prepare for a long post!
Hachimitsu to Clover / Honey and Clover
Tumblr media
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Josei, Romance, Slice of Life Studios: J.C.Staff Length: 24 episodes (23 min per ep)
Three poor college guys live in a rundown apartment building. Shinobu is a mysterious, quirky person, who does things on a whim. Takumi is passionate both in work and love, and Yuuta is a simple person with simple dreams and desires. They meet a girl named Hagumi who is friends with Ayumi. Hagumi is a petite young-looking girl (basically, what the internet calls a loli). Ayumi is a beautiful and talented young lady. Together, they all try to get through college life and romance.
Similar Anime: - Nodame Cantabile: College students from artistic faculties both overcome personal hardship while finding their own personal romance. - 3-Gatsu no Lion: From the same creator and mangaka, the slice of life way of telling the stories of these dynamic characters and the differences and contrasts between the two stories definitely make them unique in their own right.
This is a great anime with a light palette, a simple yet stunning soundtrack, and a great story that brings realism and charming characters together. With strong performances from the voice actors, you will notice notable names like Tomokazu Sugita and Hiroshi Kamiya. To me, this was one of Sugita’s best roles. It showed me a more dramatic, vulnerable, and emotional side of his acting which was probably shown in Gintama a few hundred episodes in.
My complaints are that the pacing is a little slow sometimes (as expected with a slice-of-life series), and I didn’t like Hagu much because the internet poisons those types of characters (lolis). It makes her romances very shady and uncomfortable for me. You also might be deterred if you don’t like the genre.
Death Parade
Tumblr media
Studios: Madhouse Genres: Game, Mystery, Psychological, Drama, Thriller Length: 12 episodes (23 min per ep)
This originally came from a short film called Death Billiards which was part of the Young Animator Training Project's Anime Mirai 2013. This series is basically a young animator’s film being made into a series, and I think that’s awesome. It has the same director as Mob Psycho 100 despite being a dramatic series with no comedy.
After death, you arrive at a bar with no memory of how you died. Without heaven or hell, there stand two options: reincarnation or the void. To decide, you play a game like bowling, darts, or pool. Winner gets reincarnation while the loser is sent into the void. Welcome to death! Don’t be fooled by the opening, this anime is not happy.
Similar Anime: - Jigoku Shoujo: Divine punishment is delivered by emotionless beings. Each episode seems to have its own cast with an overarching storyline even though Jigoku Shoujo is a lot longer. - Psycho-Pass: Even though I haven’t watched this one, both touch on very philosophical subjects that contain the idea of the difference between right and wrong and the lines in between. They are both psychological thrillers.
This anime was one that introduces a new story every episode but has an overarching plot that wraps it together. Its development is done well. The characters may seem blank, but that’s for the sake of the new characters that come with each episode. It can be felt to be very emotional so have your tissues at hand for the finale (I didn’t cry, but I hear it was really sad?)
The art fits the plotline perfectly. The voice acting is strong with a cast that is filled with notable names like Tomoaki Maeno and Asami Seto, but there are many names in the supporting cast as well.
The side plot seems poorly done at times, and there are plot elements that are introduced that indicate another season, but we won’t be having one. There is pretty much no happiness to be found here.
Barakamon
Tumblr media
Studios: Kinema Citrus Genres: Slice of life, comedy Length: 12 episodes (23 min per ep)
Handa is a calligraphy prodigy who is sent to the Goto Islands as punishment for punching a veteran judge who called his work “unoriginal”. He must find inspiration and learn the ways of his new life.
Similar Anime: - Poco Udon World/Sweetness and Lightning: I’m not including Usagi Drop because of the manga. SCARRED ME FOR LIFE. These are all about people who fall into a single-parent situation. - Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso: Both are about child prodigies who have to explore life beyond the book, but Shigatsu takes a more romantic drama kind of approach. *Gin no Saji: [ON THIS LIST - Please look at both anime entries to see why!]
This is one of my favourite anime out there! Its story is relatable to many people who grew up with expectations. It’s about a guy who gets wisped into a life he never asked for and experiences a taste of the childhood he never had. This is one of the first anime I recommend to anyone of any age especially if they’ve never watched anime before. I think this was the first anime I showed to my own mom, and she enjoyed it.
Gakkou Gurashi!
Tumblr media
Studios: Lerche Genres: Psychological, Slice of Life, School, Horror, Mystery Length: 12 episodes (24 min per ep)
Yuki loves school so much that she never wants to leave! But it’s not as if she can. She’s part of the School Living Club which consists of the president Yuuri, Kurumi, Miki, Sakura-sensei, and the club dog Taroumaru all live at school. Despite the illusions of Yuki’s imagination, the real purpose of the School Living Club is to escape from the shocking and disturbing truth: the girls are in the middle of a zombie apocalypse and have barricaded themselves inside the school as the sole survivors.
Similar Anime: - Madoka Magica/Higurashi: I haven’t watched Madoka and Higurashi, but they both use cute as a facade to hide the darker themes and horrors behind everything. “Moe moe kyun”? More like “moe moe kill”. (I’m going to be kicked in the balls for that) - Girls’ Last Tour: I haven’t watched Girls’ Last Tour, but I know they have post-apocalyptic cute girls doing normal things. They all only have each other and try to enjoy each day peacefully. - Angel Beats: Both shows present normal high school students who live in excruciating circumstances that all hide a deeper meaning. This show has less cutesy moe stuff though.
It delivers on the promised cute elements. I even tried recommending it to a friend who likes Love Live! Let’s just say, there are some differences. The voice actresses do a great job, and I actually found this anime kind of scary (although I get scared too easily).
Gin no Saji / Silver Spoon
Tumblr media
Studios: A-1 Pictures Genres: Comedy, Slice of Life, School, Shounen Length: 11 episodes (23 min per ep)
Hachiken is a studious and diligent student who found it unbearable to live with the expectations of his parents and society. With his entry into high school, he decides to attend a unique boarding school in the countryside. The new environment isn’t what he expects, and along with meeting his new classmates and surroundings, he tries to adjust while trying to survive his new life.
Similar Anime: - Fullmetal Alchemist: This is an unexpected entry, but they have the same creator! Both are beautifully developed stories with lovable characters that you get attached to. Hiromu Arakawa is a genius in her own right, and this story has her art and her brilliant storytelling. *Barakamon: [ON THIS LIST - Please look at both anime entries to see why!]
The voice acting here is great too, and the animation does its job well, but the real magic here is in the storytelling and the characters. I love the entire cast so much. Each of them are realistic and hardworking despite having their own quirky attributes. The setting and the meaning of every line of dialogue really sticks with me. The morals in both Barakamon and Gin no Saji are ones that I will never forget. The only reason why I don’t actively recommend this is because it is a farm, and those with weak stomaches might not like the idea of dealing with farm animals that get eaten, but if that’s the case, why eat meat at all? No animals are killed on-screen.
Hai to Gensou no Grimgar
Tumblr media
Studios: A-1 Pictures Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Isekai Length: 12 episodes (24 min per ep)
*Isekai = Term used for fictional stories where characters are thrown into a new (usually fantasy RPG-style) world
Thrown into a foreign land with nothing but hazy memories and the knowledge of their name, a group of strangers is given no other choice than fight and eliminate anything that threatens the peace in their new world, Grimgar. This is no game—there are no redos or respawns; it is kill or be killed. It is now up to this ragtag group of unlikely fighters to survive together.
Similar Anime: - Sword Art Online/Goblin Slayer: They are of the same genre, but Grimgar does a better job than both combined (but I dislike SAO and Goblin Slayer). - Tate no Yuusha: Another Isekai anime (like SAO and Goblin) except unlike the two other similar anime, these ones are both done well. Tate no Yuusha already has a following.
The voice acting here is great, and we see Hosoya playing the main role for once! The art and animation are done well. This anime takes a far slower approach comparing to other Isekai anime. They spend more time on the emotional burdens of each of the characters and their slower adjustments. While that’s a turnoff to some, they make you view the lives of these former normal citizens and make you wonder whether you’d be able to survive these circumstances, and if you don’t like that... well... there is the fan-service I guess.
Hinamatsuri
Tumblr media
Studios: feel. Genres: Comedy, Seinen, Slice of LIfe, Supernatural Length: 12 episodes (23 min per ep)
Yakuza member Nitta is rudely interrupted when a young female esper barges into his life. He quickly finds himself being a caregiver and parental figure to the girl. The unlikely duo lives life unconventionally as circumstances change and everyday chaos ensues.
Similar Anime: - Mob Psycho 100: The number of similarities often go unnoticed, but they are both about shady adults (a conman and a yakuza) taking in a young esper (Mob and Hina) with hilarious stories. YOU MUST WATCH BOTH. - Gintama: Odd choice, I know. Both are quite similar in terms of humour. Gintama takes the shounen route while Hinamatsuri is a seinen series.
The majority of this voice cast are newbies (meaning people I’ve never heard of before), and honestly, they do such a great job that I genuinely thought that these people were seasoned veterans. Same with the studio. I don’t usually see them take on these kinds of projects (with most of their things being basic Slice of Life). The faces are hilarious. The characters are hilarious (thanks to brilliant writing and voice casts). It was so much fun to watch. I had to conceal my laughter at 2am because I was secretly binge-watching this. I failed multiple times. 
Net-juu no Susume
Tumblr media
Studios: Signal.MD Genres: Game, Comedy, Romance Length: 10 episodes (23 min per ep)
30-year-old Moriko Morioka is unemployed—and she couldn't be happier. Having quit her job of over 11 years, Moriko quickly turns to online games. With the pesky societal obligations of the real world out of the way, she dives into the realm of an MMO. Life online and in the real world intertwine.
Similar Anime: *Wotakoi: [ON THIS LIST - Please look at both anime entries to see why!] *ReLIFE: [ON THIS LIST - Please look at both anime entries to see why!]
This oddly relatable and adorable (don’t know what other words to use) romance between two people who meet online is honestly so pure, but let’s not forget that one of the high-ranking staff members of this anime is... uh... less than wholesome. 
Kazuyoshi Yaginumi (director) is a Holocaust denier and a supremacist who has radical political views. But hey, if you’ve watched the third season of Natsume’s Book of Friends, Naruto, No. 6, Tokyo Magnitude 8.0, Hotarubi no Mori e, Black Bullet, Beck, or Akira, I hate to break it to you, but he was a part of all of them. I found this out after I watched the anime. I probably would not have watched this if I knew. But if you dismiss the anime that this man has worked on, you are truly missing out. Let’s not forget that he wasn’t the only person working on these projects, and he isn’t the creator, but let’s pray that he isn’t hired to do anything else!!! I don’t know of any other major work he got after this one (aired in 2017)
Wotakoi
Tumblr media
Studios: A-1 Pictures Genres: Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life Length: 11 episodes (22 min per ep)
Narumi Momose finds herself running late for her first day of work at a new office. She makes a promise to herself that none of her coworkers will find out about her dark secret: that she is an otaku and a fujoshi. This goes wrong when she runs into Hirotaka Nifuji, a friend from middle school. Luckily for her, the only witnesses to this slip-up are Hanako Koyanagi and Tarou Kabakura who are otaku as well. But what happens when otaku date each other?
Similar Anime: *Net-juu no Susume: [ON THIS LIST - Please look at both anime entries to see why!] *Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun: I constantly swear on this anime because I like both of these anime a lot.
I liked this one better than Net-juu no Susume, but that isn’t because of the director of the other one. I like this one for its cast of characters, its use of references that go beyond the gaming world (although this anime touches on it too), and the fact that there are different type of otaku out there. I seriously understood more references than I would’ve liked. 
No. 6
Tumblr media
Studios: Bones Genres: Action, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Drama Length: 11 episodes (23 min per ep)
Many years ago, after the end of a bloody world war, mankind took shelter in six city-states that were peaceful and perfect... at least on the surface. However, Shion—an elite resident of the city-state No. 6—has an encounter with a mysterious boy, Nezumi who lived in the desolate wasteland beyond the walls of the supposed utopia. Despite knowing that the other boy was a fugitive, Shion decided to take him in for the night and protect him, which resulted in drastic consequences. Now, a long time after their life-altering first meeting, Shion and Nezumi are finally brought together once again—the former elite and the boy on the run are about to embark on an adventure that will, in time, reveal the shattering secrets of No. 6.
Similar Anime: - Banana Fish: I haven’t completely watched Banana Fish, but it features the darker sides of society with loads of casualties.  *Zankyou no Terror: [ON THIS LIST - Please look at both anime entries to see why!]
Hosoya and Kaji are both amazing in this anime. This anime meant a lot to both of them. Hosoya wanted to give up voice acting while Kaji was a fan of the original series and was hyped to hear its news for adaptation. This heartwrenching story suffers from the whole “rush this bad adaptation”, but as someone who doesn’t read manga/novels, this anime is a great look into the inside of this intricate universe. Again, most of the shortcomings have to do with poor pacing and toned down storytelling (and toned down violence) which come from being badly adapted from the source material, but even after taking away all that good stuff, we’re still left with a pretty good anime. Just don’t cry... too hard... yeah.
Kimi to Boku 
Tumblr media
Studios: J.C. Staff Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, School, Shounen, Slice of Life Length: 13 episodes (24 min per ep)
Four high school boys, who have known each other since childhood, hang out together in school every day in their mundane lives. There's the handsome twins Yuuki and Yuuta Asaba, the gentle Shun Matsuoka, and the calm class head Kaname Tsukahara. Although they have become used to a lack of excitement in their lives, the addition of a new transfer student, Chizuru Tachibana, may add a little more adventure to their routine.
Similar Anime: *Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou: [ON THIS LIST - Please look at both anime entries to see why!] *Hachimitsu to Clover: [ON THIS LIST - Please look at both anime entries to see why!]
While I wouldn’t classify this as a complete shounen nor would I call it a shoujo, it achieves a happy medium with enough anime cliches to call it an anime and enough ordinary elements for me to truly feel that it can be relatable. It has a really nice OST that’s sung by Aoi Shouta at times. We have a stacked and entertaining voice cast, and the story is slow but nice. It pulls more at the slice of life side rather than romance.
Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou / Daily Life of High School Boys
Tumblr media
Studios: Sunrise Genres: Comedy, School, Shounen, Slice of Life Length: 12 episodes (24 min per ep)
Hidenori, Yoshitake, and Tadakuni are just an everyday trio of ordinary guys trying to pass the time, but who said everyday life couldn't be interesting? 
Similar Anime: *Nichijou: [ON THIS LIST - Please look at both anime entries to see why!] *Kimi to Boku: [ON THIS LIST - Please look at both anime entries to see why!] *Gintama: The shows do share a number of voice actors, the humour is similar, and the general nonsensical writing will draw audiences from both sides.
Here’s the more comedic and strictly non-romantic side of Kimi to Boku. This one is probably relatable in way that shouldn’t be shared with the general public. Unlike the other Nichijou (with girls and by Kyoto Animation), this one doesn’t rely on the animation. It relies on humour in its writing. There aren’t any really good female characters in this anime. It does focus on three guys and their antics though. And I mean, is anyone in this anime really a winner?
Natsume Yuujinchou / Natsume’s Book of Friends
Tumblr media
Studios: Brain's Base Genres: Slice of Life, Supernatural, Drama, Fantasy, Shoujo Length: 12 episodes (24 min per ep)
Takashi Natsume has had a connection with youkai all his life and soon discovers that his deceased grandmother Reiko had passed on to him the Yuujinchou, or "Book of Friends," which contains the names of the spirits whom she brought under her control. This makes him a target of enraged youkai that want their names back. His only companion is a self-proclaimed bodyguard named Madara. Fondly referred to as Nyanko-sensei, Madara is a mysterious, pint-sized feline spirit who has his own reasons for sticking with the boy.
Similar Anime: *Mushishi: I haven’t watched Mushishi (even though it’s on my watch later list). It contains similar ideas and concepts. *Hotarubi no Mori e: Same creator/mangaka! Yuki Midorikawa has taken her masterful storytelling to other stories, and Hotarubi has a wonderful anime movie that manages to get you with the feels in less than an hour.
I know this anime gets a lot of attention already, but I feel like I haven’t met a whole lot of people who’ve watched it. A shoujo without romance? It’s unusual, but this definitely works out. The simple art works in its favour, and its music is beautiful. This anime has a way of making all of its stories resonate, and if you aren’t going to watch it for the youkais’ stories, watch it for Nyanko-sensei. He’s honestly the best.
Sakamichi no Apollon / Kids on the Slope
Tumblr media
Studios: Tezuka Productions, MAPPA Genres: Drama, Josei, Music, Romance, School Length: 12 episodes (22 min per ep)
Introverted classical pianist Kaoru Nishimi has just arrived in Kyushu for his first year of high school. Having constantly moved from place to place since his childhood, he abandons all hope of fitting in, preparing himself for another lonely, meaningless year until he encounters the notorious delinquent Sentarou Kawabuchi. Kaoru begins playing the piano at after-school jazz sessions, located in the basement of fellow student Ritsuko Mukae's family-owned record shop.
Similar Anime: - Your Lie in April/Shigatsu no Kimi no Uso: Both anime are about classical musicians breaking out of their shells in beautifully written stories. Sakamichi no Apollon is arguably more serious and take on a bit of a darker and more mature tone since Shigatsu is a shounen anime while Sakamichi is a josei. *Kimi to Boku: [ON THIS LIST - Please look at both anime entries to see why!]
This anime suffers the same thing that No. 6 does. The story gets watered down and condensed to fit the short-episode format, and so much is left out in terms of pacing. The voice acting in this is phenomenal. Ryohei Kimura and Yoshimasa Hosoya do not disappoint. Yuuka Nanri barely has any other lead roles, but she does an okay job here too. Yoko Kanno on score composition is one of the best decisions to be made for this anime even if jazz isn’t her main genre of choice. She composed everything masterfully. I wouldn’t have thought that she did it if I didn’t see it on the staff list. Those things are the reasons why I liked this anime so much. The OST and voice acting are good enough for me to recommend this anime despite (like No. 6), the adaptation quality not being that great. Even taking that stuff away, we are still left with a great anime.
ReLIFE
Tumblr media
Studios: TMS Entertainment Genres: Slice of Life, Romance, School Length: 13 episodes (23 min per ep)
Hopeless 27-year-old loser Arata Kaizaki bounces around from one job to another after quitting his first company. He meets Ryou Yoake who offers Arata the opportunity to change his life for the better with the help of a mysterious pill. Arata takes it and awakens to find that his appearance has reverted to that of a 17-year-old. He takes part in a unique experiment and must attend high school as a transfer student for one year. Arata struggles to adjust to his hectic new lifestyle and avoid repeating his past mistakes, all while slowly discovering more about his fellow classmates and himself.
Similar Anime: - Erased: Both anime are about adults reliving their past and trying to make amends for past mistakes that they’ve made. Erased takes more of the murder mystery route while ReLIFE stays in a simpler slice of life style. *Net-juu no Susume: [ON THIS LIST - Please look at both anime entries to see why!]
This anime suffers the same thing that No. 6 and Sakamichi no Apollon does. The story gets watered down and condensed to fit the short-episode format, and so much is left out in terms of pacing that they had to fit hundreds of chapters into the second season which had FOUR episodes. This one has an awesome casts which mixes experienced voice actors with newer ones. This was one of Yuuma Uchida’s first major roles, and we see new(er) people like Reina Ueda and Himika Akaneya mixed in too. In terms of experienced voice actors, we can look forward to Kensho Ono and Ai Kayano playing the main characters along with Haruka Tomatsu and Ryohei Kimura also playing major characters along with appearances from Noriaki Sugiyama, Daisuke Namikawa, and Miyuki Sawashiro. With a bunch of new EDs with practically every episode and an OST that people seem to love or hate (jazz piano riffs have to be your thing, and I liked it), the music is hit and miss. For me, it was a hit. The jazz soundtrack is out-of-place but unique. It takes a sharp contrast, and it isn’t bad music. 
Senyuu
Tumblr media
[This anime is on the “Anime with Short Episodes” list]
Studios: Ordet, LIDENFILMS Genres: Action, Comedy, Parody, Fantasy, Shounen Length: 13 episodes (4 min per ep)
In a story we’ve all heard before, the demon lord is sealed until things go amiss! Amateur adventurer Alba Frühling and sadistic talented soldier Ross must go defeat monsters and seal the demons away.
Similar Anime: - Saiki: Both episodes have short run-time and derive their humour from parodying genres. Senyuu takes the RPG adventure genre and flips it on its head while Saiki takes overpowered espers and pulls it like Hinamatsuri and Mob Psycho 100. - Konosuba: I know this is strange coming from someone who actually detests Konosuba. I couldn’t stand the characters that were flawed to the point where I couldn’t like them no matter how hard I tried. Both take the RPG adventure world and parody it to the point where you wonder why these flawed buffoons are trusted with anything.
This anime is one of my favourite short anime out there. With a short run-time of four minutes, it quickly got me invested in the story and the characters. It was so funny that I found myself binge-watching both seasons and the OVAs within the same day. Yuuichi Nakamura and Hiro Shimono provide their perfect performances for this anime. The other cast members contribute a lot as well with other names like Ai Kayano, Yumi Uchiyama, Takahiro Sakurai, Kenichi Suzumura, and others. Hiroshi Kamiya also takes the lead role in the OVAs. Overall, it’s a great watch when you have no patience for 24-minute episodes.
Honobono Log
Tumblr media
[This anime is on the “Anime with Short Episodes” list]
Studios: Fanworks Genres: Romance, Slice of life Length: 10 episodes (2 min per ep)
Insights into couples, why they’re better than being single, and why you’re just a sad loner.
This is actually based off a picture book.
Similar Anime: NONE!  I truly haven’t seen an anime like this around. While Tsurezure has its similarities in short-run time and romance, this one is vastly different. Dareka no Manazashi is too different to say it’s similar. Both are short (although Dareka no Manazashi is a short film) and about life, but Dareka no Manazashi is different because it focuses on one person doesn’t have romance and relies on more of the “growing up” part whereas Honobono relies on each specific situation.
This anime is another one of my favourite short anime out there. With a short run-time of two minutes, they manage to guilt-trip you for being alone and single. Of course, not all of them are about cute couple stuff, but some are about family and growing up. Miyu Irino and Asami Seto do an amazing job, and the OP is really nice and adds to the heartwarming factor of this anime.
Zankyou no Terror
Tumblr media
Studios: MAPPA Genres: Thriller, Psychological, Drama Length: 11 episodes (22 min per ep)
Six months after a mysterious unsolved terror attack, a strange video makes its way onto the internet. In it, two teenage boys who identify themselves only as "Sphinx" challenge the police, threatening to cause destruction and mayhem across Tokyo. The police struggle to act effectively against these terrorists, with Detective Kenjirou Shibazaki caught in the middle of it all. The two boys behind the masked figures of Sphinx are known as Nine and Twelve, and they stand strong in a world of deception and secrets while they make the city fall around them, all in the hopes of burying their own tragic truth.
Similar Anime: - Death Note: I haven’t actually watched Death Note (haha), but they are both similar. I know that much. Both are about the police lagging behind some teenager as they wreak havoc, but while Light Yagami has a god-complex, Sphinx has its own secrets. - Psycho-Pass: I haven’t watched this one either, but both take on philosophical ideas that make you wonder whether society should be run one way or another. They are both centred around law enforcement and the detainment of those who step out of line.
Yoko Kanno provides yet another stunning masterpiece for this anime’s score which really drives the anime further. Along with extremely strong art style from Studio MAPPA, it creates for a very mysterious and eerie tone that fit the anime so well. The voice acting from the two leads and the detective are amazing, but I can’t say they have good female characters in this anime, and without good characters, I can’t say there was good voice acting on their parts, although, Megumi Han did sound pretty good in her given role. Soma Saito and Kaito Ishikawa are both close in real life, and it almost transcends onto the screen in this anime.
The story is riveting even if it’s been done before. It’s not the most unique in that right, but I still found myself finding these characters to be human. It was well-paced too and didn’t feel dragged or rushed for the most part. Shinichiro Watanabe directed and created this, and you might know him for Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Kids on the Slope, Space Dandy, and more, and he certainly does not disappoint with this anime.
13 notes · View notes
noxtms · 3 years
Photo
Tumblr media
❝       AMORTENTIA finally opens its doors this week, and you don’t need the gift of second sight to see the greatness in their future ! i was lucky enough to be given a private tour of the refurbished & freshly charmed building by the visionary behind it all, madam amare - and it definitely didn’t disappoint. the themed rooms are an absolute delight, and the drinks menu ( lineup wholly dependent on the room you find yourself in ! ) puts the three broomsticks to shame ! i don’t want to spoil the treat you’re in for when you make your way through those lacquered doors for the very first time, but make no mistake : i fully encourage you to put aside your inhibitions and get down there as soon as possible ! you won’t want to be the last person you know having the full amortentia experience !       ❞
WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE :  
young wix have been complaining for years that there’s nothing worth doing for their age group on diagon alley. with no trendy hangout spots available, their business has long been taken elsewhere & into the streets of muggle london, which has never been ideal, but has always been the best they had available. their complaints were always valid, of course, but nothing ever really seemed likely to change until last october when the poison apple on knockturn alley was at the center of a newsworthy event. the successful nightclub ran into difficulties pretty immediately, when it became obvious that even though the werewolf attack had nothing to do with the location of the club... no one wanted to risk it, anymore. it took a long time for business to pick back up again, and eventually, the poison apple began to draw crowds again - but it was too late. one woman saw a rare business opportunity in their brief period of suffering, and like it or not - the concept of amortentia, soon to turn into their only real competition, was born. 
DIAGON ALLEY’S newest and only nightclub opens its doors this week in what first appears to be a cramped stone building but boasts over a dozen themed rooms in the spaces that have been charmed to be twice - sometimes three, four times - the size. among them, there’s one dedicated to cabaret, another that looks exactly like a stereotypical muggle speakeasy. everything in the aptly named love room is bubblegum pink, and small amounts of their namesake potion is added to hidden vaporisers - it’s not enough to do anything too worrying, but they’ve got research to back up the theory that walking in and smelling your deepest desired is the best way to sell drinks. there’s a room of mirrors, a dance hall of strobe lights, a classy rooftop lounge - and the vip area with its silver shelves of expensive liquors, private dj & blacklight covered dancefloor was booked out months in advance of opening by mikaela karkaroff for her shared birthday. 
whether you got your invite ( and the rooms password ) for the karkaroff twins bash, are part of the weasley family pub crawl for percy, are joining the gang to celebrate theodore’s belated birthday & draco’s early OR, godric forgive, are just looking for a night on the town - there’s something for everyone at AMORTENTIA, and on opening night, the back of hand stamp ( a bright pink picture of a familiar vial of potion ) is the hottest ticket in town. 
OUT OF CHARACTER:
information regarding mini event requests can be found in the server that i’ll link you all to when i link this post, but i’d just like to take this opportunity to explain the concept as thoroughly as i can ! we’ve always had the ic channels ( and enjoyed them ), and i’ve always wanted to find a way to incorporate member driven events to an rp where ... members feel comfortable enough to approach me about them, and where they’re able to be given their dues ! discord - and your willingness to engage with what i put down - has encouraged me to try this one more time, and trial the concept of what i’m gonna dub ‘mini events’.
they’ll run the same amount of time as any other & they’ll be treated as seriously, but they’re going to be based in their own server opposed to on the dash. you’ll have full control of the server - no worries there, you’ll be able to create channels for private & open conversations - and you’ll be able to rapidfire, but it’s allowing an opportunity to have something fresh to get into without overwhelming you, on the dash. they’re not meant to take away from regular rping at all - just keep the juices going, and provide an easier setting for anyone who might be on hiatus, or who just wants to do even more writing but can’t on mobile ! 
i’ve always been looking for the best middleground between ... under stimulated and over, and i’m really looking forward to trialing this new idea ! this first mini comes from me, and future ones will have to come from you, that’s where the ‘member driven’ comes in - but we’ll discuss it more later ! maybe do a vote ! for now, please just enjoy the amortentia opening ! 
the event starts today ( with the posting of this message ) and will end two weeks from now. 
on dash does not have to be paused, and please keep in mind that no event threads should be posted on the dash.  
it’s up to you whether your characters would attend or not, but i definitely encourage everyone to give it a whirl ! even if you’re just creating outfits and posting them in the relevant channel, you’re giving it a chance ! 
if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to message the main ! please like this post once you’ve read it.
12 notes · View notes
newagesispage · 5 years
Text
                                                                          OCTOBER    2019  
 PAGE RIB
 Stephen King has released yet another: The Institute
*****
Salmon Rushdie has given us Quichotte
*****
October 1: Jimmy Carter is 95!! Go Jimmy
*****
For some new discoveries and theories on the often told tale, check out Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA and the secret history of the 60,s by Tom O’Neill.
*****
Metallica has cancelled their tour.
*****
The Creamery Bridge in Vermont was closed for a time because of a Sasquatch scare.
*****
Days alert: Woo Hoo!! Dr. Rolf is back!! ** Why do they keep using that ‘WET PAINT’ sign all over the town square? A joke?  Really painting the sets and they just leave them up for an inside laugh? ** The Shah/Jen story was good.. it showed what a good actor he really was. He was always so blah! It’s funny that as he left us , we finally get his back story. He even mentioned Norman Bates. ** Stefan is out.  Claire is in.  I loved Dr. Rolf’s “pro life” line. Will many of the young girls get pregnant, ( think Lani, Ciara, Gabi, Sarah, Haley and Kristen) and will all the babies get mixed up and will Days jump a year ahead? Well, that’s the rumor. ** What is up with Hope?
*****
Senator Chuck Grassley is applying for his second bailout since October for the farm he owns. ** $30 billion in welfare has been given to farmers.
*****
This whole vaping scare is not really a surprise. Why do companies have to be so greedy and fill these with nicotine anyway? Why do good flavors have to be taken off the market because parents can’t keep them away from the kids? Can’t we have fun flavored simple mist in a vaping apparatus that has no dangerous chemicals? So many people just need that occasional outlet and something to do when relaxing.
*****
Spy devices were found near the White House. They believe Israelis are responsible.
*****
Word is that around Liberty University, Jerry Falwell Jr. uses fear in dealing with staff and sends them pictures of his wife in sexual situations.
****
They need to make a biopic about Rickie Lee Jones and it should star Hillary Swank. JS
*****
A CIA source has been pulled from Russia they say because Trump can’t be trusted not to tell Putin who he is. The operative is the agent who confirmed the interference in the 2016 election and has worked there for decades.
*****
Rose McGowan and some of the Me too movers and shakers would like Lisa Bloom to be disbarred after her dealings with Harvey Weinstein.
*****
Mark Sanford is running for President.
*****
Sarah Palin’s husband has filed for divorce.
*****
Stacey Dash was arrested for domestic battery in Florida.
*****
Stranger Things has been renewed for season 4.
*****
Hey.. Robert King.. Glad that U R back!
*****
People from Alabama were calling the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in a panic after scary clown 45 included them in the path of Hurricane Dorian. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross threatened to fire meteorologists who contradicted the idiot.
*****
John Legend and Chrissy Teigen got into it with the Pres. She called him a pussy ass bitch.
*****
In the 80’s, 80% of our clothing were made here in the U.S., now it is 3%.
*****
The House Judiciary committee is holding hearings about hush money to Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels.
*****
Conversion therapy leader, McKrae Game has announced he is gay.
*****
It is odd that we don’t hear more about women who are addicted to crime shows. It is such a thing.
*****
Weight Watchers is not WW. OK.
*****
North Carolina’s political maps have been deemed unconstitutional and must be redrawn.
*****
In Nashville, Rev. Dan Reehil has banned Harry Potter books at the St. Edwards School
*****
Why does Fallon imitate his guests all the time? He is always repeating what they do much like a child would.
*****
Scary Clown’s personal assistant, Madeline Westerhout is out.** John Bolton is out.
*****
$32.50 for a Trump key chain? What?
*****
SNL started off the season with a bang. Woody Harrelson hosted and ended by showing support for Greta Thunberg. The next hosts will be Phoebe Waller- Bridge, David harbor, Kristen Stewart and Eddie Murphy.
*****
A man was chopping down an old diseased tree when a cannonball fell out of it. This particular cannonball in a tree was near a home that was used as a hospital during the first battel of independence, Mo. in the Civil War.
*****
In Kentucky, Mitch McConnell said yes to treasury funds for an aluminum plant backed by a Russian oligarch. He said no to treasury funds for coal miner’s health care and pensions.
*****
Joe Biden pledges to take no fossil fuel money but then attended a fundraiser hosted by Andrew Goldman, founder of Natural Gas Company, Western LNG.** It’s so sad, Biden leads which makes it seem that the people who pay the least attention decide who is going to run this place.** He really has to stop saying, “Look”,  all the time.
*****
The Sept. 12 Dem debate was exciting, I loved the kudos that Biden and then others gave to Beto for his actions in Texas after the shootings.  Other than that Biden seemed to stumble a lot especially with his, “make sure the kids hear words” stuff. O’Rourke seems to have finally hit his stride with, “Hell yes, we’re gonna take your AR-15���s.”  I’m not even sure I agree but I loved so much that he had the guts to say it. I’m in! His only real problem was the color of his tie, it washed him out. Later, Briscoe Cain sent a tweet to Beto: My AR-15 is ready for you.** Yang, as usual was not given enough time but he did calm the others when they wanted to spar. He spoke so clearly and did not sidestep.  He had a great point with the U.S. not starting wars because we are not too good at rebuilding. Case in point: Puerto Rico. He also proposed $100 in democracy dollars so people can participate and give to the candidates they believe in. He seemed to tear up when talking about missing his son’s first day at school.  His salesmen pitch like giveaway was too much though. ** Buttigieg had a good idea with his ‘community rural visas’ to bring immigration everywhere.** Warren and Sanders were straight forward with no real surprises. Gotta thank Bernie for reminding us that he didn’t vote for Bush’s war or Trumps military spending bills and the crowd seemed to love him. Both at the debate and after (like Bari Weiss on Maher’s overtime), people keep calling Bernie ‘President’. Accidents? ** Harris was cool and calm but seemed a bit scripted.  She was the only one to really bring up Trump. ** Protestors had to be cleared as Biden started his final words. They were yelling, “We are DACA recipients. Our lives are at risk.” I’m sure it had to unnerve him as he began to talk of his sad life and his family. The late night comics said that he did a good job but I didn’t think so.** Klobachar told us a lot about herself. I think I learned the most about her. Castro, who I really liked a lot at the first debate, should just get out after this performance. ** Why was Rahm Emanuel there?** The Trump campaign sent a banner flying over Texas  Southern University. ** DeBlasio is out.
*****
By the end of September, Warren is #1 in New Hampshire. She is 2 points behind in the nation and Yang is #4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“We will no longer sell the AR-15 to the public.”- Colt   Thanks Beto!!  A simple candidate has made more positive change than Scary Clown. Stop being so scared Dems, change can happen!
*****
When Warren was on Colbert she said,” Why don’t we just quit now and do a selfie line?  The selfies are the most fun about this. Really? The night before, after her rally she selfied for 4 hours.
*****
Young people will propel the changes in the views of this country. The young demographic thinks differently on guns and climate and the young usually rule eventually. VOTE!!
*****
An intelligence official filed a formal whistle blower complaint against our ruthless Archie Bunker on steroids about his interaction with a foreign leader. It seems that it was a phone call with Ukraine’s Zelinski about the Biden’s but things are still unfolding.  Did he pressure people to work with Guilliani? The transcript is out and Pelosi has started a formal impeachment inquiry. When the WH sent talking points to their republican colleagues to try to calm the waters, they accidently sent them to the Dems too.  The WH also moved the info to a private server as we now know there is even more stuff there. Wouldn’t it be justice if the private server brought him down? ** Blame is flying everywhere. Trump has thrown Barr and Rudy and even Pence into the mess. Rudy tells us that he went to the Ukraine for the state department but they say no! He has been so rude and unhinged on the talk circuit. He has now been subpoened.** Joseph Maguire, acting director of National intelligence was only on the job a few days when he was informed of the whistleblower complaint. He was questioned all day in hearings and was very polite. Both sides could calm down on the snarky.** The Secretary of State is basically holding down 3 jobs.  The WH is quite under staffed  and there is talk that they may bring in outside people to handle the situation but Trump does not want that.  The campaign is where they will really fight, that is where all their money is. ** The ambassador to Ukraine has stepped down.**
*****
Now word is that Trump and Barr tried to get Australian PM Scott Morrison to look into those who were behind the Russia investigation. Pompeo is now getting pulled in too. It is really like the tin foil hat conspiracy guy down the street is running this country.
*****
Never compare your insides to someone else’s outside.  -Thank you Rob Lowe
*****
Hillary and Chelsea are headed out to promote their new book, Gutsy Women. It is impeccable timing but I am sure she is so sick of talking about the big blowhard elephant in the room. It really is time to hear from her again.
*****
Law and Order SVO started its 21st season with a little nod to Gunsmoke. What a great touch.
*****
Has the military really spent $200,000 on Trump’s Scottish resort?
*****
What’s up with the Cleveland Browns? They are winning.
*****
4 feet of snow in September in Montana?
*****
Seth Meyers went too far with his Rudy hate. I am a bit disturbed that Seth, Maher and Colbert get nearly as bold in the other direction as Fox News. Yes, these are evil people running the country and there is enough that they do without calling them out on things that are not your business.  About Rudy marrying a second cousin, Seth said “that’s awful.” Don’t pass your prejudice and judgement on these people like others do on color and religion et al. Cousins can marry, it’s not illegal and how might that make the children of cousins feel?  
*****
Pennsylvania  Senator Michael Folmer was arrested for child porn that was on his computer and has since resigned.  I am sure that if he went on Fox and said nice things about the fearless leader that he could get a job in the White House. It seems to be the way it is done, Fox is the audition.
*****
Robert C. O’Brien is the new National Security Advisor.
*****
The family of John Dillinger do not believe that he is in the grave. A body id buried in Indianapolis but they have asked for an exhumation.
*****
Millions came out on the 20th to ask for action on climate change. Go Greta Thunberg !! Some are spinning it that since she is autistic, she has been abused by her parents by being forced into her activism. I have seen no evidence this. She makes more sense than most leaders on the subject. Fox’s Michael Knowles even called her mentally ill and has since apologized. Thoughts? ** Central America is starving to death because of the impact of climate change. Reports from the Trump administration prove this and aid has been cut off which causes migration.
*****
Trump us jumping into bed with Saudi Arabia who has the 5th largest defense budget in the world. Troops are being sent to Iran.
*****
Doc Martin is here with its 9th season. The dog will fall in love. The Doc and Louisa’s relationship is doing well as their careers are shifting. It all just reminds me how much I want to live in Cornwall.
*****
The biggest grossing tours of all time as of this year are. 1. Ed Sheeran: The Divide 2. U: 360 3. Stones: A Bigger Bang 4. Guns N Roses: Not in this lifetime 5. Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams 6. Roger Waters: The Wall 7. AC/DC: Black Ice 8. Stones: No Filter 9. Bruno Mars: 24K 10. Madonna: Sticky and Sweet
*****
James Corden put Bill Maher in his place. Fat shaming is as wrong as any other. Bullying is never funny. The week after Maher’s rant, Michael Moore went on and had lost some weight. Hmmm.
*****
Hiking with Kevin has the best guests, there is really a cross section of all kinds of people.  A hike seems to break down defenses and the stories are great!!
*****
The North Dakota pipeline spill that was said to be 10 gallons worth was really millions of gallons.
*****
Almost Family is a show about a sperm donor. It is good to see Tim Hutton again.
*****
A woman gets a late night show.. check out A Little Late with Lilly Singh.
*****
Prodigal Son stars Michael Sheen as a serial killer called The Surgeon.
*****
Julian Fellowes will bring us The Gilded Age about 1885 New York.
*****
Some are freaking about all the official stays at Trump properties. The whole thing is a ridiculous mess. Mitch and the boys would be screaming to the heavens if this was a different President. The really sad part is that the crews that are just there to help POTUS and the VP say the stays are so costly that their expenses won’t even cover food. ** Did a Glasgow refueling stop finally tip off the house oversight committee to the far reach of all these expenditures?** They claim there is never anything to hide. Why do they always hide everything?
*****
Demi Moore has a new tell all titled Inside Out that seems full of revelations.
*****
Check out the saga of the Donald J. Trump state park in NY which is really nothing more than a tax write off full of overgrown land and abandoned old buildings.
*****
Check out the Art Bell vault.
*****
Scary Clown was going to meet with the Taliban at Camp David as 9/11 was upon us.** The Taliban says their doors re open.**Word is that the congressional inquiry into 9/11 has 28 redacted pages which showed evidence of the Saudi’s involvement in the attacks.
*****
Scottish courts ruled that Boris Johnson illegally suspended parliament.
*****
From his reaction, Colbert behaves like Letterman in that a guest should dress a certain way. Personally, I like Conan’s casual ways. Now, I like Colbert but he also seems to push people to talk politics when they don’t really want to. Move on!
*****
“We are in a very difficult situation at the moment, especially in the U.S., where all the environmental controls that were put in place, that were just about adequate have been rolled back by the current administration so much that they are being wiped out.” –Mick Jagger
*****
“When you’re 85 years old and you have children and grandchildren, you will leave them nothing if we don’t vote these people out of office in Brazil, in London, in Washington. They are ruining the world.” –Donald Sutherland
*****
Check out the new film, The Burnt Orange Heresy.
*****
Finn Wittrock, Paul Giamatti and Amy Irving will appear in A Mouthful of Air.
*****
“The lungs of the earth are in flames.” – Leo Dicaprio. The Amazon, the world’s most diverse eco system is getting no help from its own leaders and they won’t accept help from the G7. It’s all about building more crap to them. It is as if three fourths of the U.S. was on fire.** Wouldn’t it be a great idea if Jeff Bezos, who has taken flak for not paying taxes and for workers conditions would step up and pledge a huge sum to help save the rainforest that bears its name?? The world needs heroes.
*****
Better Call Saul has wrapped season 5.
*****
Hasbro has bought Death Row Records.
*****
The San Francisco board of supervisors has declared the NRA a terrorist organization.
*****
New SNL cast member Shane Gillis who was in hot water after racist remarks surfaced, has been let go before he ever hit the stage.
*****
Mike Pence claims he was bit by American Pharoah but his trainer is not too sure about that.
*****
Obama Netflix?
*****
Kieran Culkin and Jazz Charton had a little girl that they named Kinsey Sioux.
*****
Dollface on Hulu looks interesting.
*****
In sexual harassment news: Brett Kavanaugh has been hit with other allegations. Not all accusations are coming from the victims.** Placido Domingo has been accused by 20 women of unwanted advances.
*****
The71st Emmys have come and gone. There is a lot to celebrate in television right now with over 500 scripted original shows. Highlights include Norman Lear winning for Live in front of a studio audience: Norman Lears’s All in the Family and The Jeffersons to become the oldest winner ever at 97. Other winners were Leaving Neverland for best doc.  Glow won for stunt coordination. Succession won for their theme and for writing. RuPaul won for reality host and Drag Race won for show. Russian Doll took home cinematoghraphy. Carpool Karaoke : When Corden met McCartney:Live from Liverpool took home a statue. Peter Dinklage won for best supporting actor, Fleabag won big and Game of Thrones took home the top prize.  Other winners were Bill Hader, Patricia Arquette, Ben Whishaw, Billy Porter and Jodie Comer.  SNL with Adam Sandler and Last Week Tonight were winners.  I was so excited to see that Ozark won for Julia Garner and Bateman for directing. Succession won for directing.  I thought  the fashion went wrong with Amy Poehler, and Dascha Polanco. There was awesome fashion with Regina King, Viola Davis, Maya Rudolph, Bob Odenkirk, Billy Porter, Angela Bassett, Michelle Williams, Kerry Washington, Zendaya, Sarah Silverman, Catherine Zeta- Jones, Karamo Brown, Gwyneth Paltro, Catherine O’Hara, Emilia Clarke, Phoebe Waller Bridge and Niecy Nash.** The In memoriam was fucked up when they honored Andre Previn  but showed a very much alive Leonard Slacken. Let me run that part of the show, they are always messing that up. It may not matter much longer because the ratings were so low. It is already a shame that they don’t broadcast the daytime Emmy’s.
*****
R.I.P. Jim Leavelle, Carol Lynley, T Boone Pickens, Daniel Johnston, Robert Frank, Ric Ocasek, Eddie Money, Sander Vanocur , Peter Lindbergh, Robert Haunter, Jacques Chirac , Jose Jose , Bob Esty, Wayne Fitzgerald, Jessye Norman and Cokie Roberts.
0 notes