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#i tried to make it look like traditional Japanese art while still incorporating some of my own stylistic choices :)

r6shippingdelivery · 3 years

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headcannons for hobbies? Like what they do on their off time?

Hi nonnie! I actually did a Hobbies HC for “all” ops a long time ago. But seeing that was before the expanded bios, and it only reached up to Gridlock and Mozzie, I’d say it’s time for an updated version, don’t you say?

Some of the answers are unchanged from the old post, because I already nailed it or the new info didn’t disprove my ideas. But I had to revise a lot of the answers I gave the first time around! In order to find their hobbies and/or get a glimpse of their lives beyond Rainbow and what they might like, I read all the bios, and looked up concept art, and elites, and past battlepass content, etc. And when none of that was enough, I just went with my gut instinct 😂 Thank you to @grain-crain-drain, @dagoth-menthol & @todragonsart for bouncing ideas with me when I was stuck! 💕

Hobbies Headcanons for ALL ops (up to Neon Dawn)

FBI

- Ash: According to her savta, shooting things is not a hobby, but Ash disagrees. And since according to her expanded bio she knows Hebrew, Arabic, English, French and Greek, I’m willing to bet she enjoys learning languages as well. - Thermite: He grew up on a ranch and loves riding. He’s also taken an interest in improving gadgets it seems, so my old proposal that he dabbles in forging/smithing stuff seems plausible. And based on this concept art, demolition derbies attending and maybe even competing himself too? - Pulse: He’s interested in a variety of topics and goes through phases of intense, nearly obsessive focus, until something else captures his attention. He still has a lingering fondness for building muscle cars, since it was something he used to do with his father. And like Thermite and Hibana, it seems he might enjoy demolition derbies. - Castle: He’s a language nerd, studying/reading/practicing new languages is his hobby for sure. Since the expanded bio says he rescues abused dogs, I don’t think it would be far fetched he volunteered at animal shelters too.

SAS

- Thatcher: Aside from repairing his boat, The Iron Maggie, he also enjoys fishing. He used to do that with his dad & brothers, and tried to take the rest of the SAS fishing as a bonding experience. It didn’t go very well - Sledge: He plays rugby, and has an inexplicable fondness of trying the wildest ideas that tend to end with something broken, be it one of his bones or a structure or wall (just read his extended psychological profile and you’ll see, lmao) - Smoke: Boxing, it helps him focus all his chaotic energy. And chemistry in general, it’s not just a hobby but a passion of his. - Mute: he enjoys tinkering with stuff, taking it apart and then putting it back together in a different way, just to see if he can improve it or make it work in his own way. Flying drones plays perfectly into that, with the added bonus of being able to do the flying part just for fun too.

GIGN

- Montagne: His main passion is working with people, teaching and mentoring others, and therefore when he’s not on duty, his main passtime still is mingling with people and getting to know them. I could see him making overtures with Castle, interested in the American and fascinated by his knowledge of various languages, an area Monty feels insecure about due to only knowing French and English. - Twitch: Engineering, robotics and developing an empathic AI is her life.Twitch is a workaholic passionate about those topics. She also greatly enjoys traveling and, according to her expanded bio, people watching. - Doc: He surely had some hobby at one point, but he can’t remember it, or the last time he had free time for it. Doc is also a workaholic, although one that loves to complain about it. - Rook: Apparently he’s passionate about cycling, auto racing, and rock concerts. Mainly cycling though, since he dropped out of university to cycle around France.

Spetsnaz

- Tachanka: He collects and repairs old weapons. Mostly soviet, but he has some interesting pieces from other countries too. And he dances surprisingly well. - Kapkan: Aside from a certain interest in psychology, his main hobby is hunting, of course. But he also whittles and carves wooden figurines. - Glaz: Quite obviously, painting. He’s an artist, and quite a good one. He also likes playing cards, especially poker. - Fuze: He builds new weapon prototypes for fun. And tests them, if he can convince Six of it. He also likes to bake from time to time, a skill he learnt thanks to his grandma - and because he has a sweet tooth.

GSG9

- Jäger: Planes. Model planes, repairing old WWI & II planes, you name it. And watching copious amounts of documentaries. - Bandit: His bike is his main hobby, both taking care of it and riding it. He also likes playing pool; and, if pranking people counts as a hobby, that’s his oldest one, dating from when he was a kid. - Blitz: He was and still is an athlete at heart, and Blitz loves running. - IQ: In order to disconnect from engineering pursuits, she indulges in rock climbing, spelunking, and writing science fiction stories.

JTF2

- Buck: He crafts mechanical puzzles, and enjoys all kinds of physical activity that can take place outdoors. - Frost: She just loves being surrounded by nature, and often goes mountain climbing or diving.

SEAL

- Valkyrie: Swimming and diving, of course! She wanted to be a professional swimmer, but now it’s just a hobby. And apparently she enrolled for a helicopter pilot license, and language classes. - Blackbeard: According to the expanded bios, he likes sailing and even participated in a championship. And since he climbed Mount Everest, it’s safe to say he also likes mountain climbing.

BOPE

- Capitao: He loves football, playing or watching it, doesn’t matter, he’s all for it. - Caveira: Spends a lot of time practicing Jiu Jitsu, in the gym and also on unofficial tournaments.

SAT

- Hibana: For her it’s traditional Japanese archery (Kyūdō). And probably demolition derbies too accounting that concept art from before with Thermite and Pulse. - Echo: According to the expanded bio, he has few interests outside work, but I always imagined he’d be into gaming and e-sports. Hacking too, and that’s a direct influence from Dokkaebi.

GEO

- Jackal: He plays the acoustic guitar/spanish guitar, and sings too. And now we also know he volunteers with at-risk youth. - Mira: Fixing cars is second nature to her, and thanks to her expanded bio we know she also does metal sculptures that incorporate used mechanical parts.

SDU

- Ying: Extreme driving, which can sometimes trigger her PTSD, and traveling. Especially exploring cities by randomly jumping in public transport and just going anywhere. - Lesion: He is also one to volunteer in underprivileged areas (like Junk Bay, where he grew up), and clearing mines and other unexploded devices. I also imagine him with a certain gusto for playing blackjack.

GROM

- Zofia: If obsessing about her father’s supposed suicide and the oddities surrounding it, and desperately trying to reconnect with her sister count as hobbies, sure, she has those. - Ela: She’s also an artist, one with a very particular vision that some have called narcissistic. Apparently she also does some “freelance” volunteer work, roaming the streets at night and offering help/comfort, or a willing ear to the people she meets.

707SMB

- Vigil: He likes to take walks around the forest, just aimless exploring and marvelling at nature and any animals he might come across. Often listens to relaxing music while doing so, and he might pick a pretty rock here and there to bring home. - Dokkaebi: Hacking is her hobby, of course. She also has several social media profiles and is an active member in a couple of hacking forums. As per a previous battlepass, I believe she enjoys mountain trekking too. And dancing to electro beat, due to her elite.

CBRN

- Lion: His rebel years left him with an appreciation for rock music and a dream to be in a group. Lion still plays the electric guitar, when he’s not off volunteering at the local church. - Finka: Pushed by her parents from a young age to try different sports, just like her siblings, she eventually discovered a strong love for fencing and ice-skating.

GIS

- Maestro: Cooking, and boxing, an interest he shares with Smoke. But mostly cooking. - Alibi: She’s also a marksman, engages Ash in friendly shooting competitions.

GSUTR

- Clash: She’s very involved in different activist causes, mostly surrounding racial issues and inequality. - Maverick: Photography, mostly nature or candid shots of his fellow operators. I also think he likes horses and riding. And Buzkashi of course, but he hasn’t played since he left Kabul.

GIGR

- Kaid: Playing chess, he’s a good strategist and it shows. And while dozing off with a cat on his lap is not a hobby, he also loves that. - Nomad: Traveling to all sorts of remote locations, she’s an explorer with a thirst to prove herself. She also keeps a travel journal, which includes maps and some drawings of the places she’s seen.

SASR

- Mozzie: Dirt biking, of course. The more dangerous the jumps and stunts are, the more he likes it. He knows his limits and works to surpass them. - Gridlock: Robotics. She still wants to compete again in robot championships, just like she and Mozzie did so many years ago. She would consider that fixing cars and vehicles has become more part of her job than a hobby, but still loves it too.

Phantom Sight

- Nokk: Fencing, as evidenced by some of her concept art, she participated in fencing tournaments. - Warden: He knows appearances are important, and he cultivated a very specific image, so he likes to take care of that, be it by buying luxury or antique cars, or designer suits, etc.

Ember Rise

- Amaru: Archeology and exploring the Amazon jungle is her passion. It used to be her whole life and job, but since she joined Rainbow, she’s been busy with training and missions, yet she never lost her love for adventure, history and protecting her country’s cultural artifacts. - Goyo: He’s a really good chess player, and enjoys other games where he either has to think, or his usual poker face and calm demeanor can throw his opponents off.

Shifting Tides

- Kali: When she’s not writing reports about her underlings progress, or making lists about who should be ascended/rewarded, who needs to be punished or chastised, etc, she’ll be doing yoga, since it helps her focus. Or hardcore pilates when she needs to burn away some frustration first. - Wamai: Diving and being underwater in general, be it on his special immersion tanks or on the actual sea, it doesn’t matter. He finds it calming (and he’s addicted to the anoxia sensation)

Void Edge

- Iana: Space exploration fascinates her, and she’s always trying to learn everything she can about the cosmos, watching documentaries and conducting her own in-depth research. - Oryx: Wrestling helps him hone his physical prowess, and it’s also a measured outlet for his deep seated rage. He also greatly enjoys reading poetry.

Steel Wave

- Melusi: She’s committed to the conservation cause, which stems from both her love of wildlife and nature, and her protective instincts. She likes to explore too, although she’s not driven by a will to prove herself or reach certain goals, but simply for the joy of seeing natural spaces. - Ace: Social Media. He’s obsessed with his public image and popularity. While he travels quite a bit, it seems he does it more to share new and exciting selfies on Instagram than for the pleasure of visiting new places.

Shadow Legacy

- Zero: He knits and crochets, it’s an engaging hobby that helps him clear his mind, plus he enjoys making stuff too. Not many people know about this side of him though.

Neon Dawn

- Aruni: She and Hero, her giant pouched rat, volunteer on landmine detection and removal efforts. She also likes to travel extensively, and has done so in the company of Twitch and Nomad.

#rainbow 6 siege #r6s #rainbow six siege #rainbow 6 #headcanons #Anonymous

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recentanimenews · 3 years

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INTERVIEW: So I'm a Spider, So What? Fei Voice Actor Eri Kitamura

In coordination with the current season of So I’m a Spider, So What?, Crunchyroll News was given the opportunity to officially translate interviews with the staff and cast of the series. You can read the original Japanese interview with Eri Kitamura right here.

The interview was conducted by Daisuke Iwakura.

So I'm a Spider, So What? Relay Interview with Eri Kitamura as Fei: "I'm trying to portray reservedness as a human, and strength as a monster."

"Me" (a.k.a. Kumoko) has obtained Parallel Minds. Meanwhile, on the human side, the Hero Julius has entered the Great Elroe Labyrinth ...

Things are starting to take shape on So I'm a Spider, So What? For Part 9 of the relay interview series, we speak to Eri Kitamura-san, whose character was reincarnated as an Earth Wyrm. We spoke to her about what it was like to play a character who isn't human.

—What was your first impression of this project?

Kitamura: I thought it was pretty bold. (Laughs) I think I expected the heroine to be a cute girl because of how things normally go, so I was really surprised to see Kumoko's design. But when I saw the way she was throwing around internet slang, along with the typical video game elements like skills and leveling up, I realized that the story and writing would be just as interesting as the designs, and how Kumoko is really iconic of the show's appeal as a whole.

—When you auditioned, was it for the role of Fei?

Kitamura: At the tape submission phase of the audition it was for the role of Katia, but during the studio audition I also tried out for Filimøs. After that, they suddenly asked me if I could read for the dragon. There was no art or script at the time, so when I asked whether or not I should go for something more natural or exaggerated, they told me to show them what the difference would sound like. (Laughs) I thought they were maybe looking for someone who could do monster voices on the side, so I tried making battle sounds and talking cutely, and at the time, I had no idea whether it was what they were looking for.

—That's interesting.

Kitamura: When I was on my way out the door, Director (Shin) Itagaki said I did a good job, and I had no idea if he meant my take on Katia, Filimøs, or the dragon. (Laughs) But something about what I did made them think I was a good choice for Fei, so I'm glad about how it turned out.

—What's your impression of Fei?

Kitamura: Before being reincarnated, Mirei stood out a bit in her class, and tended to get on Wakaba's case, so she struck me as a pretty traditional high school character. The kind of person who is a bit more confident about themselves because they're one of the popular kids. But Director Itagaki explained that she wasn't just a simple heelish character, and that when everyone was fawning over Mirei, Wakaba was the one person who didn't, which is what caused that animosity. Essentially she's a young girl who was convinced she should be the center of attention, and that's why she picks on Wakaba and takes a high-handed tone with her specifically. It's not that Mirei is a villainous character, and that balance was something I tried to be careful about.

—She does have a bit of a precocious high schooler feeling.

Kitamura: I think so, too. I don't think she was quite what you would call a party girl, but she does come across as playful in the way that high school students who try to seem mature do. That was something I made an effort to get across, from Episode 1.

—Is there anything you're careful about because she's a monster?

Kitamura: Mostly just how monstrous to make her sound when she's using magic. An example of that is the scene in Episode 3 where they are using water magic for class. She becomes more powerful over time, so I didn't want to make her seem too strong from the get-go and tried to establish a baseline for how that she would sound initially instead.

—During the battle with the Earth Wyrm, Fei really demonstrated her strength.

Kitamura: There was something about that I was curious about. After the battle, she earns the title of Kin Eater, and I was wondering if there was a point in the battle that she realized her relationship to this other creature. It's pretty clear she's realized what happened in the scene right after the battle, but it's not specified in the script, so I wondered when she realized who she was fighting, and asked the director about it. Fei doesn't seem the type to be able to fight while keeping a lid on her emotions, so depending on how that works, I thought about maybe changing up the tone when she has to bite into the wyrm's neck.

—What did the director say?

Kitamura: He wasn't sure about the specifics of the Kin Eater thing, but he pointed out that she would be more analytical and cool-headed than Shun, and that she'd have a better idea of what's going on. Essentially, even if she did realize she was fighting a blood relative, she'd be able to figure out what needed to be done quickly, and would be able to fight normally. That being the case, I tried to make sure that it didn't sound like Fei was wavering or not sure about what to do, and tried to match the way the animation looked.

—You let the animation direct the way you performed that scene.

Kitamura: I think so. When your character's face is on screen, there's always a temptation to try and get across some kind of subtext for the non-verbal parts, but in Fei's case, I generally try to make sure it's a neutral performance unless something specifically suggests otherwise.

—What's your impression of Fei and Shun's relationship?

Kitamura: They're pretty casual in an uncomplicated way, so I try to make sure that the performance comes across as low-key. She's a bit like Shun's pet in some ways, but instead of her being his familiar, their relationship is more of an extension of the one they had as classmates, which means they're on pretty even footing with each other. It's a bit like she's his adventure buddy and older sister.

—Adventuring Buddy and Older Sister is a great way of putting it. (Laughs)

Kitamura: She comes across as a lot more mature and reserved than Filimøs, who used to be their homeroom teacher. (Laughs) So when Hugo is being prickly, her reaction is to sigh and go, "Oh, well." She's not the type of character to push back when someone pushes her. She's reserved as a human being, and strong as a monster, and I think those two factors form the core of why I try to depict Fei with a pretty level-headed attitude.

—The way her relationship with Shun is so steady makes them seem like really good partners.

Kitamura: (Shun) Horie-kun is playing a character who's more calm instead of a really fiery young hero, so together we both give off a vibe of being level-headed. With these two, there's not a lot of, "Okay, let's do it!" "Yeah!" action. (Laughs) The way that they try to operate in a more collected fashion ends up making Hugo seem really impetuous in comparison.

—With Hugo in the picture, what's your take on how the human part of the story is developing?

Kitamura: The way they don't all get along despite being classmates is realistic to me. They're not exactly in open conflict with each other, but they're not forcing the idea of being friends, either. The fact that you still have different cliques among the class, even after reincarnating in a fantasy world, gives it a strange feeling of realism. Hugo and Yuri stand out a bit from the others, but I feel like the others don't let that bother them.

—Now that you mention it, excluding Yuri and Hugo, everyone seems to respect each other's space.

Kitamura: That's the case with Fei and Shun, too. Nobody has any idea what Filimøs is up to, and nobody is sticking excessively close to anyone else. They've all got a fair bit of independence from each other. I think Katia might be the one who's most on guard about their surroundings, though. It's that awareness that leads her to warn Shun about Hugo's hostility. There's no telling how everyone's relationships might change over time, which is one thing I'm looking forward to.

—Are there any characters you find interesting other than Fei?

Kitamura: Sue's brother complex is genuinely cute. Half of that is just me finding Yui Ogura cute, though. (Laughs) Other than that, definitely Kumoko. We record separately, and when I see the footage of her and how many lines she has, it always comes as a shock. Her sessions must make her feel like a ping pong ball being knocked around. When I encounter Ao-chan (Aoi Yuuki) in the studio, I always tell her she should be getting paid for three roles' worth this time around.

—(Laughs)

Kitamura: The simple fact is that the amount of lines means that it'd be a terrifying role for any actor who can't process that amount of material efficiently, which makes me believe that she's a character that can only be pulled off by someone like Ao-chan. I think a big part of that is that she herself is a bit of an otaku ... Granted, I am one, too, so it's not like I can talk. (Laughs) But the way Kumoko talks to herself and certain things about her speech have that distinct otaku style to it, right?

—I agree.

Kitamura: I think the otaku audience has certain things that they like to hear that they recognize, and Ao-chan is able to pull those parts off. Usually, if you're not an otaku yourself, it takes a while to really wrap your head around slang like that. And you can't just say it convincingly, but you also need to incorporate it into your performance in a way that feels natural and sounds good. With her, you're like, "Yes, exactly like that!" And between the chaotic action bits and the comedy parts, she does a great job of displaying her range.

—Thanks for speaking with us. Is there anything coming up after Episode 7 that you'd recommend people keep an eye out for?

Kitamura: A little bit further on, we're going to get a picture of what Fei ... or rather, what Mirei is like as a person, and I think that'll be one of the highlights for the first half of Fei's story. Not just her, but we'll also see what Shun and Wakaba were like during school, so I'd keep an eye out for that. I hope everyone enjoys it.

By: Guest Author

#Anime #News #Latest in Anime News by Crunchyroll!

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nivenus · 5 years

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I Need You: Why Evangelion Still Matters

If you’re even a casual fan of Japanese animation (colloquially known as anime) you’ve probably heard of a few classics held up as the best of the medium; films and television shows whose place in the history of Japanese culture is widely regarded as secure: Akira, Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell, Spirited Away, to name a few of the most prominent. They all have their critics, but few would dispute their place as landmarks of the industry. But there’s one classic piece of Japanese animation however whose legacy is far more contentious and which sparks controversy even today. Like the aforementioned pieces it’s well-known and has been watched by many, but unlike them it remains quite controversial, beloved by some and derided by others.

I’m talking about Neon Genesis Evangelion,¹ Hideaki Anno’s 1995 post-apocalyptic series about teenagers who pilot giant robots (known as mecha) in a war for the survival of humanity. And in my opinion it’s actually one of the best and most important television shows of all time, animated or not.

(Spoilers ahead, though I’ll try to keep major revelations to a minimum.)

I realize that in making my claim, I’m setting myself up for criticism. The value (or lack thereof) of Neon Genesis Evangelion has been one of the most heated debates in anime fandom for decades. But even on the purely objective level of its influence on the animation industry, both in Japan and beyond, NGE and its subsequent spin-offs, sequels, and re-imaginings is a significant work worth consideration. Although the show is decades old now (the first episode aired October 4, 1995), I believe it’s still worth examining why the show’s so acclaimed and why, in my opinion, it’s still relevant today, in no smal part because of the lessons it still has to teach us about self-acceptance.

(An earlier version of this essay was posted 4 years ago here.)

Weaving a Story

Concept art for Asuka Langley Soryu, the Second Child

Today, Evangelion is a major franchise, incorporating films, comics, video games, and more. But it all started with one TV show, Neon Genesis Evangelion, created by Hideaki Anno for Gainax. Even from the start, NGE was somewhat exceptional. In the early-to-mid 1990s when it was produced, most of the major animated shows on air (both in Japan and America) were heavily merchandise-driven and sponsored by either toy or video game companies. Nearly all were owned by a major studio like Toei or Toho. Conceived of by a single individual and owned by a small creator-run studio, Neon Genesis Evangelion was highly unusual and something of a creative risk.

The story of Neon Genesis Evangelion is, on first glance, nothing remarkable for Japanese animation. A group of teenagers are recruited by a unified global government to pilot giant robots (mecha) in a battle for the survival of humanity. In the process they have to face not only their deadly adversaries but also learn how to work together as a team, overcoming their many differences and personal issues. Gundam, Macross, and Hideaki Anno��s own Gunbuster had all covered similar territory before. But where NGE would go with its premise was far stranger, blending the well-tread concept of adolescent soldiers with theological imagery, Freudian and Lacanian analysis, and abstract writing that soon set the show apart from its contemporaries.

The show quickly caught the fascination of viewers. While Neon Genesis Evangelion started initially with solid but unexceptional ratings, it soon expanded into a massive pop cultural phenomenon as more and more people tuned in to find out what all the fuss was about, eventually reaching 25-30% of the targeted demographic.² The final two episodes, noted for their abstract nature and for seemingly leaving several plot threads hanging, prompted a highly polarized reaction. The follow-up movie The End of Evangelion, released a year later, divided audiences even further. As a consequence, despite Evangelion’s immense popularity and influence, the franchise remains one of the most controversial works to ever air on broadcast television.

Neon Genesis Evangelion’s ending was, however, just one of its controversial aspects. Moral guardians raised complaints about the show’s frank (and frequently bleak) depictions of sex, violence, and mental illness, demanding networks censor its content. Critics such as Eiji Otsuka and Tetsuya Miyazaki accused Anno of “brainwashing” his audience and affirming, rather than criticizing, anime fans’ escapist tendencies. Yoshiyuki Tomino, the director of both Gundam and Ideon, complained that Anno tried “to convince the audience to admit that everybody is sick” and that it “told people it was okay to be depressed.” Additionally, much was made of the show’s religious imagery, particularly due to the then recent sarin gas attacks by the Aum Shinrikyo cult, which like NGE utilized a blend of Western and Japanese religious imagery.

Other complaints centered on NGE’s main characters, many of whom were found to be unlikeable or unheroic. Many attacked the lead protagonist Shinji as weak and indecisive, unbecoming of the hero in a show aimed at adolescents. Some further asserted the character was an attack on the show’s audience and that Anno wanted to “punish” his audience for their anime-loving ways. The rest of the cast didn’t escape criticism either and were variably found to be cruel, schizophrenic, or perverse. All could easily be characterized as dysfunctional.

But despite the backlash against Neon Genesis Evangelion, whether it was centered on the show’s ending, its thematic elements, or its characters’ deficiencies, none of it seemed to put a lasting dent in the show’s influence or popularity. And a lot of that, perhaps, has to do with the time in which it emerged. At the time NGE was originally produced in the early to mid 1990s, Japan was in the midst of an extended economic downturn that would come to be known as the Lost Decade, following a major asset price crash in 1989. During this time, Japanese animation, like many industries, experienced a contraction, resulting in slashed budgets and an increasing reliance on merchandising and product placement to sustain both the studios producing the content and the major networks who broadcasted (and often owned) it.

In addition to these economic concerns, there was also a growing feeling in the 1990s that animation was a thing of the past, whose glory days were long gone and which only inspired passion in either adolescents or callow, sheltered men in their 20s or 30s. The content of most anime was regarded as puerile or derivative and hardly becoming of serious adult interest. The term otaku,³ a word that literally means “house” but was used to mean “shut-in,” quickly became shorthand for anime fans who spent their adulthood collecting memorabilia and memorizing lines from their favorite shows.

But Neon Genesis Evangelion helped to change all that and to reclaim anime’s respectability. Breaking through the traditional animation fandom to a wider audience and owned solely by the creator-run Gainax, NGE was an invigorating shock to the industry, shaking it up and reviving interest in what had been regarded as a dying medium. Within a few short years, new creator-owned studios were cropping up across Japan, a trend which would continue well into the next decade and bear such fruit as Bones, manglobe, Ufotable, or Gainax’s own offshoots Trigger and Khara. The animation industry was expanding again and was beginning to boom overseas, in no small part thanks to the popularity and notoriety of NGE.

Devilman: Crybaby by Science Saru, a series itself based on one of Evangelion’s chief influences

The new anime boom would also reflect its origins in a number of different ways. More than a few of the new shows to debut in the late 1990s and early 2000s were directly influenced and impacted by Neon Genesis Evangelion, including such notables as RahXephon and Revolutionary Girl Utena. More subtly, the starkly realistic depictions of violence and sexuality in NGE as well as its bizarrely surreal imagery encouraged many directors to try similar techniques, resulting in a shift in style throughout the industry.

Neon Genesis Evangelion’s influence on later anime can be attributed in some ways to its technical sophistication. At its most basic, visceral level, NGE was startling to look at. Even compared with other Gainax works that had come before it, like Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water or Gunbuster, NGE immediately stood out as something unique in an increasingly homogeneous industry. The character designs of Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, strangely subdued yet striking and expressive, helped distinguish the cast while Ikuto Yamashita’s monstrous and biomechanical designs for the Evangelions did the same for the show’s mechs. Combined with the intense direction of Hideaki Anno, Kazuya Tsurumaki, Masayuki, and others NGE drew the eye right from the start.

The technical splendor wasn’t just limited to NGE’s art design or animation either. The voice talents provided by performers like Megumi Ogata, Kotono Mitsuishi, Megumi Hayashibara, and Yuko Miyamura gave life to the characters and helped audiences empathize with them, despite their dysfunctional and emotionally-wrought nature. Also contributing to the audio portion of Neon Genesis Evangelion was Shiro Sagisu, whose music swung significantly from jazzy to melodramatic and even to surreal, changing and evolving to match each scene with an appropriate mood. Assisting Sagisu was the vocal work of artists such as Yoko Takahashi, who made the show’s central theme, “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis,” a pop sensation.

But while the technical triumphs of Neon Genesis Evangelion certainly contributed to the show’s lasting appeal and influence, they’re hardly the whole story. For many viewers, the appeal of Evangelion went well beyond the surface, to narrative and thematic elements they felt spoke directly to them. Indeed, it is arguably NGE’s complex characterization, unorthodox narrative structure, and thematic depth which have made it stand out as one of the most legendary examples of Japanese pop culture.

A Cruel Angel’s Thesis

It’s not an exaggeration to say that essays—and books—have been written about Neon Genesis Evangelion and its thematic qualities. Most of this has been concentrated in Evangelion’s own native Japan, but the sensation has breached the other side of the Pacific as well, resulting in comparisons to the works of David Lynch and other Western directors. Contributing to this no doubt has been Anno’s own numerous references in NGE not only to native Japanese culture but to the West as well, with tributes to works like 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Andromeda Strain, and UFO found frequently throughout.

The most obvious thematic element present in Evangelion, at least to Western eyes, is its frequent allusions to Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. It’s not hard to see why: the monstrous foes besetting humanity are “Angels” who shoot cross-shaped energy bolts, which the main characters fight with “Evangelions” (the Greek word from which “evangelism” derives). Coupled with other bits and pieces here and there referring to original sin, the will of God, and ancient Judaism, these details give Evangelion a strikingly religious appearance to Western viewers.

However, while they’re certainly the most obvious elements in Evangelion, the religious references are also easily some of the most transient and insubstantial. Although initially viewed as central to the plot by many Westerners, it has since been revealed that most of the Biblical references are there for styling rather than substance and were largely intended to make the show stand out. In many respects, the usage of the Abrahamic faiths in Evangelion is similar to the use of Buddhism in The Matrix or Egyptian mythology in Stargate: a bit of fun exoticism to keep things interesting.

The Sephirot from Kabbalah, as represented in The End of Evangelion

That being said, the religious themes are not as vacuous as is sometimes alleged and the sheer number and obscurity of some of them indicates some real effort on the part of Anno. Each of the Angels, for instance, (which are called shito⁴ in Japanese, meaning “messenger” or “apostle”) are named after actual angels from Abrahamic mythology and their names, when translated from Hebrew or Arabic, often do indicate their nature in some way (e.g., Arael’s name means the “light of God” and it is an enormous winged being who attacks the characters with a beam of light). And while the use of the Kabbalah’s Sephiroth may be perfunctory, many other references to Jewish mysticism appear more meaningful, such as the Chamber of Guf or the duality of the Trees of Life and Wisdom.

Less obvious to Western eyes but possibly even more sophisticated are the references Evangelion makes to non-Abrahamic religions. There is, for example, the notable similarity between what the show terms “Instrumentality” and traditional descriptions of “egoless” nirvana in Buddhism (a religion also referenced by way of the Marduk Institute’s 108 dummy corporations).⁵ Japan’s native religion Shinto also shows its hand, most notably through the depiction of the Evangelions themselves, which Anno consciously designed after the monstrous oni of Japanese legend. All in all, while he may not have intended to portray a particular theological message, it’s clear that Anno put a lot of thought and research into giving Evangelion a suitably mystical appearance.

However, obsessing over the religious imagery in Evangelion obfuscates something far more important: Evangelion isn’t really about religion. Rather, where Evangelion’s thematic depth and complexity most clearly comes into play is psychology and philosophy of the mind.

Neon Genesis Evangelion is often described as a deconstruction of mecha anime. To a large extent that’s true, but it’s deconstruction is specific in outlook, focused on the psychology of its characters in the form of a question: just what kind of people would put the fate of humanity in the hands of adolescent children? And just what would that kind of stress and responsibility do to a child’s mind? In that regard, NGE is in far closer in kinship to Ender’s Game than to its natural predecessors like Macross, Gundam, or Gunbuster.

When the story of Neon Genesis Evangeliom begins, the world has already experienced disaster on an unprecedented scale. 14 years before the show begins, a massive apocalyptic event called the Second Impact devastated the Earth’s climate, precipitated global nuclear war, awakened the monstrous Angels, and resulted in the deaths of half of all humans on the planet. In response, civilization has been restructured and militarized in anticipation of an even worse Third Impact threatened by the Angels. To combat this threat, the secretive organization Nerv assembles biomechanical monsters of their own (the Evangelions) which, as it so happens, can only be piloted by teenagers.⁶

Rei Ayanami, the First Child, believes that her life is expendable

This is the kind of world people like Misato Katsuragi, Gendo Ikari, and Ritsuko Akagi live in and it’s the severity of their situation which ultimately shapes their actions. Although many of the adults, particularly Misato, wish they could let the series’ child protagonists lead a normal life, they know that’s not an option. As a result, the adult characters are driven towards a cold pragmatism that means, no matter how warm or compassionate they may act towards their wards at any given time, they’re still ready to sacrifice them when necessary.

This ruthless approach has its costs, however. The constant pressure to succeed, alongside the emotional whiplash they receive at the hands of the pilots’ supervisors and the repeated trauma they experience in combat results in each pilot’s gradual psychological degradation. Beginning as relatively competent and capable (if slightly dysfunctional) individuals, each pilot eventually succumbs to their trauma and breaks, causing them to isolate themselves from one another and resulting in a breakdown in morale which puts not only themselves but humanity itself at risk.

In keeping with this theme of psychological frailty and the ways in which we as people both intentionally and unintentionally harm those we care about, including those we care about, the series makes numerous allusions to the work of past psychologists and philosophers. Many concepts are mentioned specifically by name, such as the “oral stage,” “separation anxiety,” or the “hedgehog’s dilemma,” while others are alluded to more subtly, such as the Oedipus and Elektra complexes, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, or Lacan’s dichotomy of the constructed and ideal selves.

Hideaki Anno has himself said he researched psychology both before and during the production of Neon Genesis Evangelion and that many of the show’s characters are based upon both these concepts and his own experiences. He has, for instance, described the protagonist Shinji as a reflection of his own conscious self, while the emotionally withdrawn Rei is a manifestation of his unconscious, and the enigmatic Kaworu is his Jungian shadow. Altogether, the works of Freud, Lacan, Schopenhauer, Hegel, Jung, and Sartre have all been identified by staff or critics as influences on the show’s characters and plot.

One of the chief psychological themes in Evangelion is abandonment, particularly by those you love or have been cared for by. Throughout the story—in its past, present, and future—each of the main characters is abandoned by people important to them: their parents, their guardians, their lovers, their friends, etc. Invariably, this abandonment leads to a breakdown in identity and self-confidence, as each character is forced to redefine themselves from within after devoting so much of their identity to how they were perceived by others. Thematically matching to this issue of personal abandonment is humanity’s own abandonment by their unknowable creator eons ago, a detail alluded to occasionally as the story progresses. Like the individual characters then, humanity must learn how to manage and master its own fate when it has no one left to depend upon.

The Hedgehog’s Dilemma

These themes, however, would have little resonance were they irrelevant to the show’s human drama. It is to Neon Genesis Evangelion’s credit that they are not; each of the characters represent the show’s themes in both significant and personal ways. It is quite arguable then that it is the show’s protagonists, however controversial they may be either as individuals or an ensemble, which have truly allowed NGE to endure for decades as an icon of Japanese pop culture.

The most important of Neon Genesis Evangelion’s characters by far is easily Shinji Ikari, the pilot of Evangelion Unit-01 and the son of Gendo Ikari, the enigmatic director of the Evangelion program. At the beginning of the series Shinji is called to Nerv by his father, who abandoned him years earlier following the death of Shinji’s mother. Shinji hopes that this sudden call is for the purpose of reunion, but he is quickly disillusioned when his father reveals to him that he needs Shinji to pilot one of the monstrous Evangelions he’s built—a machine Shinji has hitherto never heard of—and to save humanity from extinction. Brokenhearted by his father’s coldness and terrified of the task he’s been blackmailed into performing, Shinji puts off his own desires and self-identity aside for the sake of pleasing his father and others, becoming the so-called Third Child.

Series protagonist Shinji Ikari, the Third Child

Shinji’s a complicated character and one many find difficult to empathize with. He is self-consciously cowardly and phlegmatic, prone to self-criticism, and afraid of getting close to others for fear that they’ll reject him. At times he thinks seriously about running away from his responsibilities, but whenever he actually does he quickly returns, unable to commit to so blatant an act of rebellion for long. Despite this and despite his own reliance on others to define his value, Shinji does have his virtues: he’s thoughtful, easy to get along with, and proves remarkably skilled at piloting, even if he has no real passion for it.

Shinji’s commanding officer, Misato Katsuragi, is NGE’s most prominent adult character and (according to Hideaki Anno) the series’ deuteragonist.⁸ Loud, goofy, and irreverent, Misato strikes quite a different first impression than Shinji, but despite their outward differences they’re actually quite similar people with comparable issues, merely approaching them in different manners. Like Shinji, Misato feels abandoned by her father, who neglected her and her mother before his death years ago. But despite that Misato still yearns for his affection, manifesting her desires in the form of her relationship with Ryoji Kaji, a coworker and lover she admits resembles her father. And, also like Shinji, Misato fears getting close to other people for fear of being hurt, but whereas Shinji manages his anxiety by avoiding people, Misato does so by acting flippant and flirtatious in public, living lightly and maintaining only “surface level relationships.”

Shinji’s move into Misato’s apartment comes largely at her insistence and Shinji is initially quite uncomfortable with it, a feeling which does not subside when he learns she’s an extremely messy housekeeper and an alcoholic. But despite her irreverent personality, Misato turns out to be a deeply caring person who wants very much for Shinji to be happy and, over the course of the series, she tries to direct the development of Shinji as a good parent would, all the while concerned her own flaws make her an unsuitable guardian. Notably, these moments where the two of them bond are some of the most light-hearted in the series.

Although Shinji is the first pilot the series introduces, he is preceded by two others at Nerv. The first, Rei Ayanami, is arguably Neon Genesis Evangelion’s most popular (and certainly influential) character. Enigmatic and asocial to a degree that goes beyond mere awkwardness, Rei lives alone in a desolate apartment she doesn’t even bother to clean, close to no one but her pseudo-guardian Gendo Ikari. Because of her closeness to his father, who has raised her as his own daughter, Shinji initially sees Rei as a replacement for him. It soon becomes apparent however that Rei’s trust and faith in Gendo go well beyond that of a healthy parent-child dynamic. Obedient to a fault and unconcered for her own well-being, Rei causally throws herself into danger for Gendo and Nerv and comes across as emotionless to those around her.

But beneath Rei’s cold, ultra-stoic exterior beats a heart as capable of joy and sorrow as that of any other. Far from the robotic doll many assume her to be, Rei has a secret yearning for others to understand her and her them and, over the course of the series, slowly opens up to Shinji. But although she desires human contact, she doesn’t really know how to initiate it and she’s terrified of the possibility that there’s something about her that makes her fundamentally unlike other people.

Asuka Langley Soryu, the third of the child protagonists to show up,⁷ strikes about as strong a contrast to Rei as one can imagine. Egotistical, loud-mouthed, and possessed of far more bravado than either Shinji or Rei, Asuka joins the cast about a third of the way through the show, after transferring from Nerv’s facility in Germany. Raised since childhood to be a pilot, Asuka prides herself on her skills and looks with disdain on Shinji’s self-deprecating nature and inability to recognize his own accomplishments. Already a college graduate and convinced she’s as much an adult as anyone, Asuka also proves precociously sexual, pining for both Misato’s lover Kaji and, to a lesser but still significant extent, Shinji himself, whom she frequently teases for attention.

Asuka is like Shinji a controversial character; people often look at Asuka and see one of two sides to her: a selfish jerk who bullies Shinji and Rei or an accomplished young woman whose confidence and inner strength makes her the real hero of the show. The truth, however, is that in many ways she’s both. Asuka really is brave—far braver than Shinji or even Rei, who doesn’t really fear death—and she’s definitely skilled. But she’s also prone to jealousy and vindictiveness, as well as a consciously manifested attitude of not caring for anyone. In many ways, however, her bravado is a cover for own insecurity, built upon the belief that no one really likes or loves her.

The cast of the original Neon Genesis Evangelion

There’s a lot to admire about NGE’s characters, even with all their flaws and personality disorders. It’s easily got one of the most complex and diverse casts in anime and there has to be something said for the fact that of its four principal characters, three are female, allowing it to easily pass the Bechdel-Wallace Test (which it does). The characters each have their own virtues, which in a more easygoing series could make them quite endearing. Lead protagonist Shinji’s selfless and has a fairly noble streak, though it’s hidden deep beneath his own self-doubt and loathing. The adult Misato’s fairly protective of her young charges, at least insofar as she is allowed to be given the circumstances, and is also quite a bit more capable than many expect. Selfless Rei’s loyalty and discipline easily make her one of the most sympathetic characters in the series, even if she does sometimes come across as alien or inhuman. And there’s little question that the daring Asuka has enough chutzpah for the whole cast.

But it could also be argued that the complexity and harshness of NGE’s characters which ultimately make them work, even if at times they also make the show hard to watch. Shinji, Misato, Rei, and Asuka are not the idealized paragons of humanity you’d expect to find in most television shows aimed at teenagers, but they’re not the imaginings of a bitter misanthrope either. They’re deeply flawed, yes, and when they’re hurt they keep on hurting, but they also keep going and keep trying to find a way to live with others that doesn’t result in pain. It’s this idea, the recognition that people screw up and hurt one another but want to do better, that really enlivens the franchise. For all the reputed darkness of Evangelion’s story, it is in many ways idealistic, always hopeful that it’s characters might find a way to be happy. You don’t have to be broken, it says, even if you are damaged.

And it is that core ethos of qualified hope that elevates Neon Genesis Evangelion from just another mecha anime or even a deconstruction of mecha to something more. Something sublime and, in its own strange way, even inspirational.

The Sickness unto Death

At this point I feel it’s useful to provide some personal background. I first watched Neon Genesis Evangelion when I was in high school, sometime between my third and fourth years. My initial reaction was, I think, largely typical. The first episodes interested me and as the storyline moved forward and became more complex, I became more invested in the show’s events and characters. I even appreciated to some extent the bizarre and abstract final two episodes, though I’d hoped for a more conventional ending. Then, I watched The End of Evangelion, whoch left me shocked and dismayed at its harshness. I still cared about the series, but I felt more ambivalent as a result.

Over the next few years I continued to keep up with the Evangelion fandom to a small extent, checking out the rumors about the new movies and reading some fan fiction online, but I gradually drifted away. None of the fan speculation or fiction really seemed to scratch the same itch the original series had and eventually my interests in anime shifted more towards Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and Fullmetal Alchemist. Evangelion, as much as I’d enjoyed it before, fell gradually into the background of my life.

And then I entered college.

In my youth, I was generally regarded as a “bright” student, fawned over by teachers and regarded by my peers as either a genius or a “know-it-all,” depending on how much they liked me (or didn’t). As I entered the final years of high school it was clear that I was expected to excel in university. But when I actually began my college career I quickly faltered. Depressed, socially isolated, and exhausted from getting four to six hours of sleep a night, my grades slipped quickly and my social life evaporated. For awhile, I tried to deny my problems and ignore them, believing I could power through without help. Eventually, though, I had no choice but to confront my issues: I was put on academic suspension and my financial assistance was pulled.

I was devastated. I had no idea what to do. I didn’t know how to tell my parents, who I’d let believe I was doing fine. I didn’t know where to go with my life now that I’d failed to live up to the expectations I’d allowed other people to put on me. I didn’t even really know who I was anymore. If I wasn’t a brilliant student and child genius, who was I? In my own eyes I was worthless and contemptible.

Eventually, with the help of my family and friends, as well as staff from the university, I was able to make my way back to daylight. I began to undertake counseling. I went to community college to bring my GPA back up. I started talking more openly with my loved ones about my problems, even though I was worried it would make them think less of me. And I began to be more honest about my flaws and limitations.

A scene from Evangelion 3.0: You Can (Not) Redo, the third Rebuild film

It was also around this time, rather coincidentally, that I began to seriously revisit Evangelion. I was prompted, as much as by anything else, by the release of the new “Rebuild of Evangelion” films. After my brothers and I attended a screening of the second film’s release in early 2011 with several of our friends, the latter (hitherto unfamiliar with Evangelion) expressed interest in catching up with the franchise. Indulging them, my brothers and I rewatched the original TV series. To my surprise, I began to see the series in a new light. Where once I had simply been sympathetic to Shinji, Misato, Rei, and Asuka’s inner turmoil, now I felt deeply empathetic. Where previously the show’s harshness had at times alienated me, now it felt deeply relatable and truthful. And where earlier the TV show’s decision to focus on the internal psyches of its main characters instead of the plot had puzzled me before, now I felt as if I understood it completely. I even began to appreciate the theatrical finale, a film so brutal some regard it (falsely) as Anno’s revenge against fans angry with him for the original ending.

What had changed? Certainly not the show. Rather, it was my perspective. I possessed now of a viewpoint I hadn’t held earlier. I knew now what it was like to be full of contempt for one’s self, to be a defeated shell of a person who felt as though their value was slipping away or was already entirely absent. I knew what it was like to believe I was a failure in every meaningful way. In other words, I’d gained the perspective of a person suffering from depression. The same perspective as that of Evangelion’s principal characters as well as their creator, Hideaki Anno.

It’s hardly secret knowledge that Hideaki Anno was suffering from depression when he first created Neon Genesis Evangelion. The extent of his depression, however, was far graver than is generally recognized. When Anno began work on the project that would become NGE, he had already been suffering from severe depression for at least four years. In a statement released with the first volume of Evangelion’s manga (comic) adaptation Anno described himself as “a broken man... who ran away for four years, one who was simply not dead.” And while the production of NGE had originally been intended to break him out of a rut, the stress only compounded the severity of his condition. By the time of the show’s completion Anno was, by his own later admission, borderline suicidal.

No one’s ever said precisely what drove Anno over the edge publicly, but it’s widely agreed it had much to do with the production of his previous work, Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water. Originally conceived by Anno’s mentor Hayao Miyazaki in the mid-1980s Nadia was eventually handed off to Anno after Gainax made a bid for the project. Far gentler and family-friendly than NGE, the comparative sweetness of Nadia obscured a troubled production that saw animation work outsourced and Anno frequently butting heads with NHK, the series’ broadcaster, over the show’s content and creative direction. Coupled with rumored trouble in Anno’s personal life, the experience proved too much for him, driving him into the deep depression that would haunt him for most of the 1990s.

The roots of Anno’s emotional troubles may go deeper, however. Long regarded by those close to him as a lonely and eccentric oddball, Anno was socially withdrawn as a child, preferring to spend his time watching and recreating scenes from his favorite anime and tokusatsu to interacting with others, a choice he’d later say he regretted. In 1983, due in large part to his social isolation and inactivity at school, he dropped out of university and lived homeless for a time before he was discovered by Miyazaki and employed as an animator for Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. The experience proved vital to his career and soon afterward he and a few friends gathered to form Gainax, their own animation studio. It was during this time that Anno directed Gunbuster alongside working on other projects such as Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise and Grave of the Fireflies. For a time, he seemed happy. But then came Nadia and he withdrew entirely from his work and social life, before reemerging to work on Evangelion.

Anno’s turbulent life and emotional turmoil is reflected in the characters of Evangelion, many of whom enter the story damaged but apparently functional only to completely fall apart later on. Shinji is lonely and dependent when he first appears, but he still manages to form friendships and do what’s required of him. Misato may be an alcoholic with a mess of a home, but Nerv’s trust in her is rewarded time and time again by her effectual planning and coordination of her pilots. Rei’s cold and emotionally withdrawn, but her dutiful selflessness both inspires and attracts others to her. Asuka can be arrogant and reckless, but she’s also intelligent and capable of real kindness towards those she respects. Like Anno in the early days of Gainax, they all seem to be on top of things.

But just when it seems like the team’s getting the hang of things and finding their groove, disaster strikes. Soon, as one crisis mounts on top of another, from near-death experiences to being forced to hurt his friends, everything falls apart. Shinji’s newfound self-confidence shatters and he becomes even more needy than before. Misato’s constructed domestic bliss blows apart just as her own convictions are thrown into question by new revelations about her work. Rei becomes colder and more distant than ever before, withdrawing even from Gendo, the one person she trusts implicitly. And Asuka collapses into a pit of self-loathing despair, savagely lashing out at anyone who gets close to her. It’s ugly, it’s nasty, and it’s real.

Shinji admits to his feelings of worthlessness to Misato Katsuragi, his guardian and confidante, in The End of Evangelion

This cycle of crash, despair, and recovery is not unusual for suffers of depression. Contrary to what is often thought, depression is not really something you have at one point in your life and then “get over;” it’s something that can shadow you your entire life, kept in check by momentary pleasures and good times but always threatening to surge and overwhelm you when things go awry, sending you into a spiral of self-hate and abnegation that can last for weeks, months, or even years. Friends and family help keep it in check, as does therapy and pharmaceuticals, but it never goes away completely. The only thing you can do is recognize the symptoms and do your best to confront them. You have to keep going. You can’t let your fears drive you to abandon the world. You must not, in other words, run away.

And really that’s what the characters’ struggles in Evangelion come down to: facing reality and acknowledging their flaws while also recognizing their own potential to overcome them and the painful struggle for acceptance we all, on some level, endure. The first instinct of every character in the series is to run away from their problems, to obscure them with outwardly derived duties, relationships, or purposes. Shinji and Rei both look to Gendo, Misato to her job, and Asuka to her pride as an Eva pilot, but all of them are running away and, as a consequence, are unprepared to deal with reality when it hits them flat in the face.

Or are they?

As Long As You Try to Continue to Live

It’s worth noting that when Anno created Neon Genesis Evangelion he didn’t initially set out to create a dark and cynical deconstruction of mecha anime. When asked what initially gave him the impetus to create NGE, Anno has said repeatedly that he originally meant to make a show more in the spirit of Gundam or Space Battleship Yamato, two of his favorite TV shows from his youth, but without the shackles inherent to sponsorship by a toy company, as was common practice for anime at the time. “I made Evangelion to make me happy and to make anime lovers happy,” he said in a 1996 interview, “in trying to bring together the broadest audience possible.”

But as pre-production on the series progressed (and his emotional state regressed) Anno became further disenchanted at the state of anime, concerned that fans were turning to it as a way to escape reality as he himself felt compelled to. “I wonder if a person over the age of twenty who likes robot anime is really happy,” he stated in an article for Newtype half a year before the series aired. This change in perspective, coupled with his resurgent depression, caused Anno to shift focus as he became more and more concerned with the characters’ emotional development, hoping that by the end of the series’ narrative “the heroes would change,” breaking away from their regressed emotional state and achieving the same emotional well-being and self-dependence Anno still sought for himself and which he felt his audience needed as well.

It’s this perspective of Anno’s—that anime otaku were and are caught in a kind of prolonged childhood—which has led to the impression that Anno hates otaku and believes their lives to be worthless. But the truth is that Anno’s thoughts on the subject are quite a bit subtler and more reflective than many give him credit for. Far from hating otaku, Anno counts himself among them and feels defensive whenever they’re derided by others. The issue, he thinks, is less that otaku are permanently stunted and more that they’re afraid or reluctant to open themselves to new experiences:

“I feel that otaku have already become common to all countries. In Europe, in Korea, in Taiwan, in Hong Kong, in America, otaku really do not change. I think that this is amazing. I say critical things towards otaku, but I don’t reject them. I only say that we should take a step back and be self-conscious about these things. I think it’s perfectly fine so long as you act with an awareness of what you are doing, self-conscious and cognizant of the current situation. I’m just not sure it’s a good thing to reach the point where you cut yourself off from society. I don’t understand the greatness of society, either. So I have no intention of going so far as to call for people to give up otaku-like things and become more suited to society. Only, I think there are many other interesting things in the world, and we don’t have to reject them.”

Despite everything, the characters still care for and want to see one another happy

And that’s what I mean by Evangelion’s subtle, qualified idealism. Despite Anno’s frequent cynicism and troubled state of mind during the production of the series, it’s clear that at heart he’s a person who believes people can change and improve themselves. He’s someone who believes that, even in the worst or most desperate of situations, people can find happiness if they’re open to it. “As long as you try to continue to live,” one character states in The End of Evangelion, “any place can be a heaven… there’s a chance to become happy everywhere.”

It would certainly be easy to define the characters of Evangelion by their failures and—given the magnitude of their failures—it’s understandable why many do. After all, much of the series’ narrative is caught up (as I noted earlier) in deconstructing the kind of scenario typical of mecha shows and examing what really would happen if teenagers were put in charge of the world’s salvation. As such, as in other deconstructionist narratives (such as the Battlestar Galactica reboot or Watchmen), the characters screw up about at least as often as they succeed.

That being said, more often than not, when the characters are hit with tragedy or trauma, they eventually recover and bounce back. They’re definitely damaged and shaken by their experiences, but they keep on going anyway. As much as Shinji fears and abhors piloting he’s also someone who, when people are really depending on him, will almost always get right back in the cockpit and try to help. Rei may be over-compliant and lack any regard for herself, but she’s also capable of defying orders when she knows they’re wrong. And for all Asuka’s jealousy and grandstanding, she’s also a person deeply capable of love and self-sacrifice, who would die for those she cares about.

This ray of hope at the core of Evangelion’s story is made most clear in the television series’ original broadcast ending, wherein Shinji rediscovers his own self-value and the joy of living in a world with other people and declares that, although he hates himself, “maybe, maybe I could love myself. Maybe, my life can have a greater value.” But such idealism is even found in the much more outwardly harsh vision of The End of Evangelion. After coming face to face with the world he thought he desired—a world without pain or individuality—Shinji realizes that it’s also a world without happiness. “This isn’t right,” he says. “There was nothing good in the place I ran to, either. After all, I didn’t exist there... which is the same as no one existing.” Realizing this, Shinji chooses to return to the physical world he knew, even if it means feeling pain again.

The idea that joy and pain are in many ways coterminous with one another is hardly original to Evangelion; indeed, it’s a fairly important concept to Buddhism. But I’ve rarely seen the idea expressed in quite the same way as Evangelion, in a way that’s both fully formed and strangely life-affirming. Pain is inevitable, but so is joy. You’ll be hurt, but it’s better than never feeling anything at all and may only give you more appreciation for what you have. You may feel alone, but you’re not; everyone suffers in their life at one point or another, and you don’t have to carry that burden by yourself.

Reflecting upon and considering these themes through Evangelion, as I rediscovered it during a low point in my life, allowed me to appreciate it in a way I’d never been able to before. And it also helped me to move on with my life, to accept the losses I could never recover while also believing it didn’t mean my own life was over. Like Shinji, Misato, Rei, and Asuka, I didn’t have to be defeated by my experiences. I could keep on going. I didn’t have to run away. And that’s a message I believe everyone needs to hear at least once in their life.

Series creator Hideaki Anno (left) with mentor Hayao Miyazaki (right)

Today, Hideaki Anno has found some peace of mind. He’s happily married, the head of his own production company, and he’s physically healthier too. He still suffers from depression—he’s not cured by any means and he probably never will be; depression isn’t that kind of disease. But he’s able to fight it now and to find the happiness he once believed illusory. He has the same hope he wanted his characters to find in Evangelion. And which I also feel I’ve found, in some small part, thanks to him.

¹Throughout this essay, Neon Genesis Evangelion or NGE refers to the original TV series, The End of Evangelion refers to its theatrical sequel, Rebuild of Evangelion refers to the series of rebooted films produced decades later, and Evangelion on its own refers to the franchise as a whole.

²Specifically, shōnen, meaning boys aged between 12 and 18.

³The term has since been adopted by Western anime fans, but in Japan the word does not necessarily refer to animation fans specifically but to anyone with an obsessive interest in something.

⁴Ironically, “messenger” is a literal translation of the word angelos from Greek—the origin of the English word “angel”—as well as the original Hebrew mal’akh.

⁵The numbers 8 and 108 are both significant in Buddhism. 8 refers to the Noble Eighfold Path to enlightenment. 108 refers to several things, including the number of beads in a Vajrayana prayer rosary, the number of questions asked of the Gautama Buddha in the Lankavatara Sutra, or the number of times Japanese Buddhist temples ring a bell on New Year’s.

⁶The reason for this is never fully explained. Behind the scenes, this was largely because of the show’s target demographic. In universe though it may be related to the secret nature of the Evangelions themselves, which have human souls.

⁷Deuteragonist is a term which means the second-most important character with whom the audience’s sympathies are intended to lie.

⁸Though referred to as the Second Child(ren) because she was the second candidate approved to pilot Evangelions, before Shinji but after Rei.

#neon genesis evangelion #evangelion #hideaki anno #my writing #essays #retrospectives

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shsl-shipper-gamer-fangirl · 7 years

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“We’ll steal your disbelieving heart!”

Part 3 of edit sets for witchsona AU

**Please DO NOT edit, use, or repost any of these! Thank you!

[UPDATED and COMPLETE character profiles (codenames, outfit, awakening scene, dialogues) under the cut!]

NEW NINE WITCHSONA

Atsuko "Akko" Kagari

Codename: Nova (short for supernova)

Arcana: Fool

Mask: Golden domino mask with star shaped holes for the eyes

Outfit: Think Shiny Chariot just more conservative and more red, golden gloves, shine bright girl!

Persona: Susanoo -> Amaterasu, goddess of the sun and of the universe [World arcana] (second awakening)

Skillset: Strong physical attacks and resistance but lower magical defense

Weapons: Shiny Rod (but Akko swings it like a bat) and slingshot gun

All-Out Attack Card: "A Dream Come True!" written with a colorful background and she says, "Wasn't that so much fun!"

Awakening Scene:

Akko: I won’t give up! Never! If I just reach out my hand, it’s sure to begin! Thrilling! And exciting! My very own story!

Susanoo: And if your story starts only to finish too early?

Akko: That won’t happen! I won’t let that happen! I’m sure that my story will be just as bright as Chariot’s! No, much MUCH brighter! I can already see it sparkling! And I won’t let it die so easily!

Susanoo: I’ll hold you to those words. Remember, even the brightest stars have to die eventually but when you have to, do so with a bang. I am thou, thou art I… This is the start of your story. Show them just how bright you are!

Akko: I will become the brightest! I’ve always dreamed of this moment ever since Chariot came into my life and now it’s finally happening. I’ll make this the most fun story anyone has ever heard of! Shine bright, Susanoo!

Quotes:

"That was too easy! Ha!"

"Look at me! I’m getting stronger again! Yay!"

"New skill get! I bet it’s strong!"

"Oooh, a treasure! Quick, let’s grab it!"

"Finally! A safe room! Haaaah, I’m so exhausted!"

"Exploring is always so exciting! It makes my heart skip a beat!"

"Me? Tired? Ha! You’ve got to be kidding!"

"Uuuuugh, this is getting annoying real fast."

"That’s it. I’m out. Don’t wanna do this anymore."

"Look! An enemy! Let’s beat it up!"

"Kyaaah! We’ve been spotted! Run! Run! RUN!"

"Eh? Is it just me or was that harder than it should have been."

"Small fry? Pssh! Let’s just skip to the boss already!"

"Ehhhh, don’t they look kind of strong? Maybe we should look the other way."

"There’s no turning back from this. Everyone, let’s give it our best shot!"

"Victory! Yay! As expected from our awesome team! Let’s go, girls!"

Baton Pass: "Nova shining through!"

Protect: "Watch out!"

Endure: "I’m not going to die… not until I meet Chariot!"

Summon Persona: "Shine bright, Susanoo!" or “Dazzle them, Susanoo!”

Follow Up: "Pick me! I want to help!"

Cover Fire: "Please, please let me get a shot!"

Harisen Recovery: "Stop acting all funny!"

Low on Health: "Hey, won’t somebody heal me already? I’m kind of dying here."

Healing someone: "Pain, pain, fly away!"

Getting Healed: "Uwaaah! That feels so much better! Thanks!"

Giving Buffs: "Let’s see you go all out!"

Physical Attacks: "Homerun!"

Attacking: "Prepare to get beaten!"

Attack misses: "Huh? That wasn’t supposed to go like that!"

Couldn't finish off enemy: "So annoying! Someone beat them already!"

Fainting: "What? Already? No… this can’t be. I can’t… my story should have been happy..."

Getting Resurrected: “Thanks! Now I’m gonna make sure that THEY die next!”

Status Ailment: "Uck, being sick sucks!"

Burn: "Hot! Hot! Hot! HOT! Throw me some ice! Anything cold!"

Freeze: "Too c-c-c-cold! Achoo! Euuugh, I want a kotatsu."

Shock: "YEOWCH! I’ve already learned my lesson to not put my fingers in a socket so why do I have to get shocked all over again?"

Forget: "Chariot who? I feel like she’s supposed to be someone important..."

Charm: "Well excuse me! Those shadows probably like Chariot more than you guys do anyways!"

Rage: "Fine! If that’s how it is then I’m not gonna hold back!"

Despair: "Will I ever find Chariot like this? Maybe she’s already gone forever..."

Hunger: "*stomach growls* I’m really craving for some Japanese food right now."

Dizzy: "Hold still! How can I hit you if you won’t hold still!"

Sleep: "Zzz… Chariot is the best... zzz..."

Silence: !!!!!

Mouse: "Squeak!!!!!"

Mementos chats:

“Cognitive world? I don’t really get it but it’s kind of like world inside a person’s heart, right? So if we keep going on like this then I’m sure I’ll be able to find Chariot someday!”

“If our clothes is a reflection or something of our heart then how come I didn’t get Chariot’s clothes? Do you think if I wish with my heart hard enough, I can get an outfit change?”

“What’s with all these lame skill names though? They sound like hard to memorize spells. I’m going to rename all of mine!”

“Not only am I a Phantom Witch but so are my friends! Isn’t this the best! This is so exciting!”

“I’m finally a Phantom Witch! After all those years of just dreaming and now I’m living it! Wait for me, world, I’ll definitely become a great Phantom Witch like Chariot!”

Akko: Isn’t this amazing? My mentor in magic is also my mentor for phantom witching!

Ursula: Yes, it is amazing. I just wish you showed more enthusiasm towards our magic classes in the real world.

Akko: My feet are killing me! Professor Crow, can I hitch a ride on one of your broombas?

Croix: You could but I don’t think Bird Mom would allow you to slack off.

Akko: Just what kind of dish is "Cavendish" anyways?

Diana: ...I can hear your stomach growling. Have you eaten at all before this?

Akko: I don't get this arcana thing. Why isn't Chariot's arcana Chariot? I mean it's already in her name!

Diana: Clearly you haven't been studying. Again. If you did then you would know that that's not how arcanas work.

Akko: What do you mean this isn’t how you’re supposed to use the Shiny Rod?

Diana: Exactly what that means. Honestly how did you get it into your possession?

Akko: Isn't it weird calling out your own name when you summon your persona?

Diana: I suppose it is but I've gotten used to it.

Akko: Why would you name yourself "My asthma"? You sick or something?

Lotte: It's not "my asthma", it's mi-

Sucy: No. Don't tell her. This is funny.

Akko: Why am I not surprised that Sucy is just as creepy even as a Phantom Witch?

Sucy: It's called consistency- something you lack.

Akko: Thank goodness we have Lotte with us, she's really good at talking us out of a fight!

Lotte: Well we wouldn't be fighting so much if you just tried talking first instead of running in head first.

Akko: Hey, you're not wearing your glasses. Can you even see anything?

Lotte: Oh, actually my glasses are incorporated in my mask. It's thoughtfully convenient.

Akko: Amanda's outfit is so cool! Not like in a Chariot way but still cool!

Amanda: Thanks. It just shows how cool my rebellious spirit is. Meanwhile your outfit is... very Akko.

Akko: Hey! What's that supposed to mean?!

Akko: Just how many snacks do you bring with you each time?

Jasminka: Enough for everyone... and more!

Akko: How come you guys get to ride your personas? Like Amanda can ride on hers and Constanze has a huge ship!

Amanda: You can't even ride a broom, how can you ride anything else?

Constanze (through Stanbot): Akko, basics!

Akko: Constanze has it easy, huh. We have to fight shadows while she just stands back and supervises.

Constanze: *pouts*

Constanze (through Stanbot): No cover fire for Akko!

Akko: Eh? Ehhhhhh? No way! J-Joke! That was just a joke! I was kidding!

--------------

Diana Cavendish

Codename: Empress

Arcana: Hierophant

Mask: Silver mask with intricate carvings reminiscent of crowns exuding a royal vibe

Outfit: Think Revolutionary Girl Utena just with a different color scheme, white and blue and gold, white gloves or blue to accent

Persona: Celtic goddess of healing Sirona -> Roman goddess Diana (second awakening)

Skillset: Strong heal and magic spells, high magic resistance but weak to physical and status ailments

Weapons: Rapier and Desert Eagle

All-Out Attack Card: "Battle Royal" written with a castle in the background and she says, "It was hardly a challenge."

Awakening Scene:

Diana: Is this truly my limit? A prodigy at the wand and yet in this moment, I am useless. No, I can’t let this end like this. Not as a sight so pathetic as this. I have been useless at the wand before then I worked towards regaining my worth, and I shall do the same now! I will not stand by as those before me suffer! If this is my limit then I shall just find a way to go beyond it!

Sirona: Splendid words, your highness. Your valor has not wavered a day. Helplessness is only a temporary situation, as you’ve excellently deduced. It is not permanent therefore it can be change. And more importantly, you can change. Now the question is, will you? Even if it means turning your back on the very customs and traditions that you uphold?

Diana: I will admit that forsaking tradition does not sit well with me… But these are different times, and surely there are outdated customs that need to be corrected. I won’t completely change them all but I am willing to change enough.

Sirona: And that is more than enough. Let us proceed with the pact. I am thou, thou art I… The strength to accept the old as well as to adapt to the new, is a skill you should hone. Will you rise above the challenge?

Diana: I shall do more than just conquer it. I swear upon my name that I shall surpass and master it! Dance, Sirona!

Quotes:

"I’d hardly call that a challenge. Let us move on."

"It would seem that I’ve gotten stronger. It’s not worth to brag."

"A new skill? Perhaps I could master it today."

"There is a treasure chest ahead of us, try to see the surroundings first unlike last time."

"A safe room. We should maximize our time spent here."

"It certainly is a different experience to explore here. I’m not quite sure how to feel about this."

"This is hardly tiring exercise, no need to concern over me."

"Hm, perhaps I may have underestimated the vastness of our excursion. Do not fret, I can still carry on."

"I apologize but this is my limit. I’ll try not to hold you back next time."

"There’s an enemy nearby. So? What is our course of action?"

"We've been spotted? Don’t let them ambush us!"

"The difference in power is palpable."

"Are you sure we can afford the time to dawdle on these weak shadows?"

"That shadow is of great adversary. We should exercise caution."

"Failure is not an option here. Only attack when you’re ready."

"Victory is ours. Well done, everyone."

Baton Pass: "Empress joining in!"

Protect: "No! Nova!"

Endure: "I will not fall here… Definitely not by the likes of you!"

Summon Persona: "Unsheath your blade, Sirona!"

Follow Up: "Would you like a hand?"

Cover Fire: "If you think you can’t handle it then I can."

Harisen Recovery: "Focus more next time!"

Low on Health: "Some assistance would be lovely."

Healing someone: "That should make you feel better."

Getting Healed: "Thank you, I appreciate the help."

Giving Buffs: "A boost for good measure."

Physical Attacks: "Fall by my blade!"

Attacking: "I will end this!"

Attack misses: "What? How could I have missed?"

Couldn't finish off enemy: "Someone, please finish this for me!"

Fainting: "Is this my limit? How pathetic I must be..."

Getting Resurrected: “Thank you. I will gladly return the favor later.”

Status Ailment: "Perhaps I should have trained my body’s fortitude more..."

Burn: "This is but a slight fever. I just need to cool off in a bit."

Freeze: "It’s quite c-cold. I don’t supposed anyone brought a sweater?"

Shock: "I can’t move! Someone get me an insulator to discharge this with!"

Forget: "Duty? Did I really have anything as cumbersome as that?"

Charm: "I have never set sight on anything as beautiful and so I shall protect them at all costs!"

Rage: "You pathetic scum! Feel the wrath of my sword!"

Despair: "What’s the point? There will always be someone better than me no matter how hard I try..."

Hunger: "Oh my, please pardon my stomach. It’s been a while since I last ate."

Dizzy: "Is it just me or is my blade softer than I remember?"

Sleep: "Zzz… No time to rest... zzz..."

Silence: ...

Mouse: "Squeak!"

Mementos chats:

“So this is the world that Chariot has seen before us? I wonder what she thought of it...”

“The shadows take the most peculiar of forms and yet their names exist among our legends. Perhaps there is a connection not known to us, hmm.”

“I’m not quite used to wearing such… flattering clothes but they’re not impractical. I might actually consider doning something similar in the real world.”

“I’ve heard of The Phantom Witch Chariot but never did I think that she was doing something like this. And never did I think that I would be doing something similar today.”

“I must say, being a witch and a Phantom Witch is not quite the same but I will gladly take both responsibilities.”

Diana: Pardon me for my intrusiveness but I can’t help but notice how reiminiscent of Chariot’s moves your movements are. Were you two perhaps close in the past?

Ursula: Eh? Really? Ahaha… I guess you could say that I look up to her… Let’s leave it at that.

Diana: Normally electronics do not function here in the cognitive world and yet you somehow managed to bypass through that… with magic?

Croix: And don’t forget science. You’re looking at the future of magic, science!

Diana: Your outfits bears quite the uncanny resemblance with Chariot’s… *mumbles* How envious.

Akko: Huh? Did you say something, Empress?

Diana: I'm still uncomfortable with the use of firearms in battle.

Akko: At least you get to use an actual gun! Why the heck do I get a kid's toy instead?

Diana: Really now. I don’t know why you’re the leader when you’re the most reckless out of all of us.

Akko: I know right? Hey, wait! That wasn’t a compliment at all, was it?!

Diana: It's amazing how there are worlds like this all because someone believes it.

Akko: Chariot was right all along. A believing heart is magic. And it's our duty to make sure that magic is used for good!

Diana: So a diplomatic approach could work just as fine... Interesting, I wouldn't have learned that from Akko.

Lotte: Yes, well you know Akko. She has her own way of dealing with things.

Sucy: It's called brute force.

Akko: Hey! I can hear you guys over here!

Diana: Night Fall…? I don’t think I recognize that book you’re bringing with you. What is it about?

Lotte: You should have been prepared if you asked that question. Let me start from the first volume!

Diana: I don’t suppose you have something in your arsenal that could cure Nova’s airheadedness.

Sucy: I actually do. But using it on her would just take out all the fun so I don’t.

Diana: Why am I not surprised that you and Nova are teamed up?

Amanda: Watch it, your highness. You don’t want me start a revolt on your case, now do you?

Diana: I have never considered a Persona to manifest in such a creative manner. Wait, I don’t remember these… did you add these here?

Constanze: *nods her head*

Constanze (through Stanbot): Special modifications!

Diana: Excuse me but you wouldn’t happen to have biscuits with you, or would you? I’m a bit peckish and I didn’t bring anything with me.

Jasminka: It’s okay. I have all sorts of happy flavors with me!

-----

Lotte Yanson

Codename: Owl

Arcana: Temperance

Mask: Great grey owl-shaped mask but the eye holes are covered with prescription glasses

Outfit: Think traditional fantasy rpg mage but with grey feathery look, brown and a bit feathery gloves

Persona: Luonnotar, the Finnish "female spirit of nature"

Skillset: Strong buffs and support; her high affinity with spirits makes her handy to have when doing shadow negotiations particularly recruiting shadows

Weapons: Spear and harpoon gun

All-Out Attack Card: "Night Fall and Spirit Calls" written with spirits celebrating in the background and she says,"I lost my temper back there."

Awakening Scene:

Lotte: What should I do? My friends are in trouble and I can’t help them! No! I… I have to help them! It’s not a matter of whether I can or I can’t, I WILL! I will definitely help them! They’ve done so much for me and now it’s my turn to pay them back. Even if I can’t do it alone, with them by my side, I’m sure that I can do it now!

Luonnotar: It would seem that you have found your strength.

Lotte: I have. I know that I’m not the strongest and yet… when I’m with my friends, I feel strong. They give me strength. And with that strength, I want to protect them!

Luonnotar: Yes, cherish that feeling and protect it with all your heart. Let me provide you the necessary power. I am thou, thou art I… You are stronger than you think In acknowledging your own weakness, you have found true strength.

Lotte: I may be weak but I will get stronger. I will be strong enough for my friends! I call upon your name, please hear me, Luonnatar!

Quotes:

"Well that was a quick fight. Shall we get going?"

"Amazing! It feels so different when I level up, I feel stronger!"

"A new skill? I can’t wait to see what it is!"

"Treasure chest up ahead. Let’s scope the area first."

"Look, a safe room. We should use this to take a break for now."

"It feels like I’m in a book when we’re exploring worlds like this."

"I rested plenty beforehand so I’ve got a lot of energy with me. Let’s go?"

"Maybe I should pace myself. These places go farther than I thought."

"I don’t think I can keep up anymore. Sorry, I’m going to hang in the back for now."

"Enemy spotted. What do you think we should do?"

"They spotted us! Everyone, be careful!"

"The difference in strength is too obvious."

"There’s no need to go after those weak ones. We shouldn’t bully them so much."

"They’re too powerful! I know you want to fight but you should pick your battles."

"It feels like this is an important battle. Be sure that you’re fully prepared before facing it."

"We won! That was amazing, everyone!"

Baton Pass: "Owl swooping in!"

Protect: "Be careful!"

Endure: "Not yet… I still have much left in me."

Summon Persona: "Hear my calling, Luonnatar!"

Follow Up: "I think I can finish them off."

Cover Fire: "Would you like my help?"

Harisen Recovery: "Are you alright?"

Low on Health: "If you could, can someone please help me?"

Healing someone: "Please, hold on!"

Getting Healed: "Thank you so much!"

Giving Buffs: "This should help."

Physical Attacks: "I’ll take you down!"

Attacking: "Take this!"

Attack misses: "Sorry, I missed!"

Couldn't finish off enemy: "Please, finish them off for me!"

Fainting: "No… I don’t want to die… I… I’m sorry..."

Getting Resurrected: “Thank you. Let’s not do that again.”

Status Ailment: "I don’t feel so good..."

Burn: "It’s so hot! Oh geez, I’m sweating too much."

Freeze: "Brrr, c-cold! Not even our worst winters were this cold."

Shock: "Eep! Is this what touching livewire feels like?"

Forget: "For whose sake did I go through all these lengths for? Where are my friends?"

Charm: "Well they asked so nicely, it’s kind of hard for me to turn them down."

Rage: "You! I’ll make a net out of you with all the holes I’ll pierce through you!"

Despair: "It’s no use... In the end, I’m still as weak as I started..."

Hunger: "It’s silly but I’m suddenly craving for some homemade hapansilakka pies."

Dizzy: "Huh? I can’t seem to move my body right."

Sleep: "Zzz… Just one more chapter... zzz..."

Silence: ...

Mouse: "Squeak~"

Mementos chats:

“This is the world inside a person’s heart… As I thought, I still prefer Night Fall’s interpretation in volume 321.”

“I wonder what my Palace would look like if I had one… I’m starting to wish I had one if only it looked like something plucked from Night Fall.”

“Thank goodness that my glasses is incorporated in my mask. I don’t I’ll be of much use if I can’t see anything.”

“The objects here don’t have any spirits in them but instead I can talk to the shadows instead. That’s an unexpected tradeoff.”

“I know this is more of Nova’s dream not mine but now that I’m a Phantom Witch, I’ll do my best!”

Lotte: I’m actually a bit relieved to have the supervision of an adult with us.

Ursula: That makes me happy to hear. Unfortunately, not everyone shares the same sentiment… *sigh*

Lotte: If Crane is Bird Mom then what does that make us though?

Croix: Well I’m Crow and you’re Owl. We’re obviously unrelated to Crane aka Bird Mom.

Lotte: Really, Nova. You should think things through before acting out!

Akko: But then I won’t get to do anything!

Lotte: I’ve heard rumors that you’re well-rounded with skills but I never imagined you’d be this good with a rapier. You’re like a character pulled out from a book!

Diana: This much is just the basics, it’s nothing noteworthy. I’ve been told that you are quite the avid reader, do I truly remind you of a certain character? Perhaps you could recommend me the book, I’d like to expand my library.

Lotte: I feel kind of silly in my outfit. I'm not used to wearing something so eye-catching.

Sucy: It feels the same for me. Well the mask is more pointed but as long as it serves its function, I could care less.

Lotte: I’ve done some research and it seems that your outfit is based on the plague doctors from a different continent long ago. Isn’t it kind of ironic that rather than heal sickness, you inflict them upon our enemies?

Sucy: I could care less. This outfit is pretty efficient in protecting me from my poisons and that’s the only thing that matters.

Lotte: You look like you’re just dancing when you fight. Light on your feet but heavy when you kick. You’re amazing, Rebel!

Amanda: Aww, thanks. Just for that, I’m gonna show you some of my best combos next time.

Lotte: Isn’t it tiring to have your persona always out? If you need to rest, don’t hesitate to ask us. A small break will do us more good than harm.

Constanze: *shakes her head*

Constanze (through Stanbot): Still good but thanks!

Lotte: You're so strong! I don't know anyone else who can lift such a large weapon so easily.

Jasminka: Thank you. I don't know anyone else who can talk to spirits though!

-----

Sucy Manbavaran

Codename: Miasma

Arcana: Devil

Mask: Plague doctor mask

Outfit: Dark cloak and robes, horns headband, black leather gloves

Persona: Maria Cacao or "Maria" for short, the goddess at Mt. Lantoy in Cebu, Philippines

Skillset: Strong at dealing status ailments and debuffing enemies; her intimidating aura helps in shadow negotiations particularly shaking down more money and rarer items off shadows

Weapons: Sickle and modified gas pistol

All-Out Attack Card: "Deadly Concoction" written in a cauldron with mushrooms in the background and she says, "Was that too strong for you?"

Awakening Scene:

Sucy: How annoying. Are all shadows this obnoxious? They talk too much, it’s a pain. It doesn’t really matter to me but… you’re in the way. I can’t let you have my teammates, I still have plans for future experiments with them. So shut up and get lost already.

Maria: As dishonest as ever. Would it hurt you to be frank with your feelings for once? Well as long as your heart is in the right place then it shouldn’t matter. After all, actions speak louder than words, don’t you think so?

Sucy: For someone who’s supposed to be a reflection of myself, you sure talk too much. Can’t we just skip to the part where you give me powers already?

Maria: Not a fan of introspection either. Very well then, let us make haste. I am thou, thou art I… Let us make the world eat their words. Talk is cheap but actions are of great consequences.

Sucy: I don’t know if I care about the world enough but sure, if you say so. Let’s see what you got, Maria!

Quotes:

"That finished too quickly. So? What are you standing there for?"

"Oh, I leveled up? What else do you want me to say?"

"Hm, a new skill? Ooh, this looks like it’ll be fun to use, kukuku."

"Treasure chest ahead. Ah, you have that greedy look in your eyes again."

"A safe room. You’re tired already? Lame."

"There’s not much for me to find when exploring here. Still beats doing nothing."

"I’ll join you for a while I guess. Got nothing else to do."

"Sure, I guess I can walk some more."

"This is too bothersome. I’m going home."

"There’s an enemy up ahead. Think first before you charge headfirst."

"They saw us? Why am I not surprised."

"Don’t tell me you didn’t feel that power difference."

"Wow, you must be pretty bored if you want to bully some weaklings."

"Looks like someone’s got a death wish if you want to fight them so badly."

"Remember, if we die here we die for good. So don’t go charging in like you want to die, got it?"

"Ah, we won. Well good for us I guess."

Baton Pass: "Miasma drifting in!"

Protect: "Watch yourself, idiot!"

Endure: "I’ve taken poisons worse than this."

Summon Persona: "Take them down, Maria!"

Follow Up: "Think you can finish them off on your own?"

Cover Fire: "Yeah, sure I’ll cover your back."

Harisen Recovery: "Stop daydreaming!"

Low on Health: "Huh, this is bad."

Healing someone: "Don’t just lie there, get up."

Getting Healed: "Thanks, I needed that."

Giving Buffs: "Make it count while it lasts."

*inflicting debuffs* "Let’s see how you’ll survive this, kukuku..."

Physical Attacks: "Should I slice your head off?"

Attacking: "I wouldn’t get up if I were you."

Attack misses: "Missed? Tch."

Couldn't finish off enemy: "So annoying. I’ll get you next time."

Fainting: "This is it, huh? Well can’t say I’m surprised… still, how frustrating..."

Getting Resurrected: “Thank you, being dead was a nice experience though.”

Status Ailment: "Tch, I got careless."

Burn: "It feels like summer back home. Too hot."

Freeze: "Achoo! Still not used to the cold."

Shock: "I’ll only move when this gets cured."

Forget: "What am I doing here? Are there any mushrooms around?"

Charm: "Eh, I got bored."

Rage: "You don’t want me mad."

Despair: "This is all just a waste of effort, let’s just go back home..."

Hunger: "The food here is too bland, blegh. I need real food."

Dizzy: "Huh, I keep missing for some reason."

Sleep: "Zzz… Kukuku... zzz..."

Silence: ...

Mouse: "Squeak."

Mementos chats:

“I wonder what sorts of poisons are only found in the rotten hearts of people, kukuku...”

“An unlimited reserve of test subjects that I can actually accidentally kill? This whole Phantom Witch thing may be worth more than I thought.”

“Oh, this outfit is actually efficient in protecting myself from all sorts of poisons. Maybe I should consider making one in the real world.”

“If I went home and told them that I can summon our local deity then I wouldn’t hear the end of it.”

“Do whatever you want. Just don’t expect me to be as enthusiastic as you when it comes to being a Phantom Witch.”

Sucy: Still, for someone who just awakened recently, you sure do know a lot.

Ursula: Do I? I suppose I’m just more observant, ahaha...

Sucy: You look like you can handle things on your own. Are you sure you’re okay with babysitting us lot?

Croix: Oh, don’t worry about me. I’m learning much more while I’m with you. Besides, I’m just here to supervise. Bird Mom is the one doing the actual babysitting.

Sucy: Hey, Nova. Come over here so I can test out this new potion.

Akko: Don’t you already use them against the shadows here? What do you need me for?!

Sucy: The highly capable Empress taking orders from the incompetent fool Nova. Never thought I’d see the day.

Diana: Please don’t make this any more embarrassing than it already is.

Sucy: A great grey owl, huh? I thought you’d get at least a brighter color scheme given your personality.

Lotte: Oh, um, thank you? I thought you were going to say it was because of my hair color.

Sucy: That too.

Sucy: It’s annoying when the glasses fog up. I don’t know how you deal with this all the time.

Lotte: You get used to it… eventually, hehe.

Sucy: I’m surprised you’re letting the reckless Nova take the lead. I figured you’d fight over the position with her and then having it end up in Empress’ hands.

Amanda: Are you kidding me? Who else am I going to Rebel against if not the leader? Besides, I’d rather take Nova’s side than Empress’.

Sucy: Hey, can you modify my gun so that it shoots gas more accurately? Or maybe something that shoots more painfully?

Constanze (through Stanbot): Possible! I'll work on it soon!

Akko: Somehow, those two teaming up makes me feel uneasy...

Sucy: Hey, did you bring the game with you? I’m sitting this one out.

Constanze: *nods her head*

Constanze (through Stanbot): Let’s continue our last save!

Sucy: Don’t you have anything exotic to eat?

Jasminka: Say no more, I know you like frogs so I brought some!

-----

Amanda O'Neill

Codename: Rebel

Arcana: Chariot

Mask: White mask, maybe same as P5 Joker's but edgier

Outfit: Think P5 Joker and her hair is groomed like in the Holy Grail episode, red gloves

Persona: Eris, Greek goddess of chaos

Skillset: Strong physical, high agility, most likely to do follow-ups

Weapons: Bo staff and shoes that hurt as hell, and submachine gun

Notes: Amanda has the only solo-rideable persona. It takes form of either a revamped broom or a hoverbike. She's the only one who equips two melee weapons because of her acrobatic fighting style.

All-Out Attack Card: "Wrong side of the law" written with a heist background and she says, "That all you got?"

Awakening Scene:

Amanda: There ain’t no way in hell that I’m going to lose to a creep like you! I’m done playing by your rules! Watch me break all of them and then I’ll break you into pieces!

Eris: Not so fond of authority as always. It’s a trait of yours that I don’t dislike.

Amanda: Heh, I don’t really care if you like me or not. You’re here to give me power, right? Well what are you waiting for?

Eris: Ah, and always in a hurry, as swift as you are on a broom. Good, there won’t be a dull moment with you. I am thou, thou art I… Let us break free from the suffocating chains of order and become chaos incarnate!

Amanda: You don’t have to tell me what I’m already about. Rules just cramp my style. Let’s crash this party, Eris!

Quotes:

"That all you got? Man, what a letdown."

"Heh, I could get used to this levelling up thing."

"New skill? Let’s test this baby out!"

"Ooh, a treasure chest. Alright, I’m calling dibs!"

"A safe room? I guess a break couldn’t hurt."

"Man, look at us! Aren’t we hardworkers exploring through all this?"

"Don’t tell me you’re already tired? I’m just getting started."

"It’s getting kind of boring but sure, I’ll humor you."

"It was fun while it lasted. Hey, when are we going home already?"

"Enemy spotted. What do you say? Let’s sneak up on them!"

"They saw us? Oi! Don’t let them hit our backs too!"

"Heh, I actually worked up a sweat with that one."

"Leave the small fries, let’s hit the big ones instead."

"Woah, those are definitely not small fries. You sure you can handle them?"

"Hey, don’t let these jerks kill you. If you do then I’m going to kill you twice over."

"We won already? No sweat."

Baton Pass: "Rebel crashing in!"

Protect: "Dammit! Watch out will ya!"

Endure: "Heh, try harder."

Summon Persona: "Shake things up, Eris!"

Follow Up: "You know you need me."

Cover Fire: "Need some cover?"

Harisen Recovery: "Oi! Get yourself together!"

Low on Health: "Um, guys? Some healing would be nice!"

Healing someone: "You’re welcome."

Getting Healed: "Thanks, I needed that."

Giving Buffs: "Go wild out there!"

Physical Attacks: "Did that hurt?"

Attacking: "You’re good as dead!"

Attack misses: "What? Missed? Don’t screw with me!"

Couldn't finish off enemy: "These annoying pieces of..."

Fainting: "Dammit... Am I that weak? This isn’t how I was supposed to go!"

Getting Resurrected: “Thanks, I’m going to make sure they end up in hell for this.”

Status Ailment: "Tch, not this annoying crap again!"

Burn: "Damn it’s too hot! Sweating bullets over here!"

Freeze: "Achoo! Seriously?"

Shock: "You know what? I’m not even gonna try."

Forget: "Break rules? Why shouldn’t I follow the rules?"

Charm: "Hey, don’t hate me for siding with the stronger team just saying."

Rage: "You bastards! Let’s see you talk shit after I’m done with you!"

Despair: "Does it even make a difference? In the end, I’m still going to get locked up over some dumb rule no matter how much I fight against it..."

Hunger: "Anyone here got any snacks on them?"

Dizzy: "Dammit! Stop missing!"

Sleep: "Zzz… That sounds dangerous, I’m in... zzz..."

Silence: …!

Mouse: "Squeak!"

Mementos chats:

“Man, this place rocks! We can practically do whatever we want with no adults to nag us! Too bad we don’t have an audience to piss. Oh wait, those are what the shadows are for!”

“And I thought I was fast on a broom. My persona’s breaking the sound barrier!”

“Stealing treasure? Don’t mind if I do.”

“I’m more of a Phantom Thief than a Phantom Witch but sure you can call me either.”

“Not really into the whole Phantom Witch thing but hey, so long as I get to do all this crazy stuff then I’m not complaining.”

Amanda: Babysitters? What kind of killjoy joke is this? With the majority of us being students, I didn’t expect a teacher to join us. No offense teach. Just don’t do cramping on our style, ‘kay?

Ursula: I can understand why you would be disappointed but don’t mind me. In here, we’re comrades of equal authority. I won’t “cramp your style” so to speak.

Amanda: You enjoy riding those flat disks? How do you even go fast on those without falling off?

Croix: Well you’d be surprised at how fast these broombas can go. Definitely faster than the ordinary broom but not as secure. Hmm, perhaps I should add some straps for safety...

Amanda: Look, let’s be real here. The only reason why I’m following you as the leader is because I don’t want to be leader. You still suck at your job though.

Akko: Hey! It’s harder than it looks, okay! Let’s see you do better then!

Amanda: Pass, you’re already enough to make fun of.

Amanda: Hey, you know how we can pull of all sorts of crazy stuff in here? And yet we still haven’t seen Nova fly a broom.

Akko: Why do you have to remind me?

Amanda: Hm? So the Luna Nova's "princess" is a Phantom Witch too. Huh, never thought I'd see the day.

Diana: I would prefer if you call me by my codename Empress but if you prefer then perhaps instead of Rebel, I should call you the Luna Nova’s “delinquent”.

Amanda: You use a rapier? You know I'm pretty badass with one too.

Diana: Yes, I'm aware. I think everyone has already heard of your infamous Appleton incident.

Amanda: Good times.

Amanda: Owl, huh? Aren’t those birds kind of nocturnal? Never figured you were the type.

Lotte: I’m not. I don’t usually stay up late at all unless… I do end up pulling all nighters reading my favorite book… and my favorite book’s fanfics.

Amanda: So ever noticed how you’re all “dark and gloomy” and your persona’s all “bright and benevolent”? What’s up with that?

Sucy: It’s not that surprising. Where I’m from, it’s the most benevolent gods that judge the most cruel punishments, kukuku...

Amanda: Flying on a broom feels awesome but flying on a ship ain’t half bad either.

Constanze: *gives a thumbs up*

Constanze (through Stanbot): You’re welcome!

Amanda: Woah! Did you just literally tear through that bag of chips with your claws?

Jasminka: Isn’t it convenient?

-----

Jasminka Antonenko

Codename: Mishka (Russian Bear mascot of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games)

Arcana: Strength

Mask: Polar bear mask

Outfit: Think Overwatch Mei but with a different color scheme, fur gloves with claws, could be white or light blue

Persona: Maslenitsa, Slavic goddess of harvest and witchcraft

Skillset: Good at party healing and dealing brutal AOE damage but the only catch is that she doesn't have a lot of SP so she uses a lot of items to replenish it. Most likely to give cover fire.

Weapons: Two-handed axe or hammer and bazooka

All-Out Attack Card: "Chow Down" written on a dining table filled with food as a background, and she says, "Seconds, please?"

Awakening Scene:

Jasminka: Fighting is bad but bullying is worse! Stop bullying my friends!

Maslenitsa: I must agree. Aren’t bullies the worst? Are you just going to let them do as they please and bully your friends? Stand by and do nothing?

Jasminka: No! I can’t just watch this. I have to do something! But to do that, I need to fight them on the same level. Will you lend me your power?

Maslenitsa: How can I lend something that’s already yours? Your answer has more than satisfied me. Let us begin. I am thou, thou art I… You who has been at the mercy of oppressors, do not let the same fate befall on your loved ones. Choose your battles, and win each one that you fight in.

Jasminka: I won’t let anyone else get bullied! I’m done being nice! Let’s make them regret what they’ve done, Maslenitsa!

Quotes:

"That went by fast. Let’s go?"

"I’m growing stronger again!"

"I learned a new skill, amazing!"

"There’s a treasure chest up ahead. I hope it’s food this time."

"We found a safe room. Who wants to join me for a snack break?"

"I make sure to bring lots of snacks enough to last every time we go exploring."

"It’s okay, I ate lots so I have lots of energy!"

"If I keep eating enough then I’ll be fine for the rest of the trip."

"Sorry, I ran out of food. I don’t think I can make it like this."

"I see an enemy. Should we pounce on them now?"

"They saw us! Oh no!"

"Did you notice the difference in strength?"

"No bullying. They’re too weak to bother with."

"They’re too strong. Do you really want to fight them?"

"I don’t want my meal to be the last supper. Let’s give it all we’ve got!"

"Victory! Let’s eat to celebrate!"

Baton Pass: "Mishka pouncing in!"

Protect: "Watch out!"

Endure: "Ouch, that hurt..."

Summon Persona: "Rip them up, Maslenitsa!"

Follow Up: "Need an extra punch?"

Cover Fire: "One shot is all I need."

Harisen Recovery: "Are you okay?"

Low on Health: "Um, I need a quick snack."

Healing someone: "Don’t push yourself."

Getting Healed: "That feels nice, thanks."

Giving Buffs: "Eat lots and get stronger!"

Physical Attacks: "Easy does it!"

Attacking: "One grand slam!"

Attack misses: "Oh no, I missed!"

Couldn't finish off enemy: "Hmm, I need to eat more."

Fainting: "This is bad… really bad… I don’t want this..."

Getting Resurrected: “Thank you, I’ll bring your favorite food next time!”

Status Ailment: "Oh, my body feels different. Nothing like a good meal to cure it!"

Burn: "It’s so hot! Ice cream would be nice."

Freeze: "Actually, it’s not that cold but some warm soup would be lovely."

Shock: "Ouch, this isn’t a happy flavor at all."

Forget: "What’s going on here? Where did all my food go?"

Charm: "Sorry but they promised me some good food!"

Rage: "You’re just a bunch of meanies! I’ll teach you how to be nice!"

Despair: "Do I even make a difference? Maybe it was all for naught..."

Hunger: "*stomach growls* Huh, am I not eating enough?"

Dizzy: "Swing and miss? That’s not right..."

Sleep: "Zzz… Omnomnom... zzz..."

Silence: ...

Mouse: "SQUEAK."

Mementos chats:

“Isn’t it amazing how food can help so much more in the cognitive world? And it’s also extra tasty!”

“I wonder why the food found here always taste so much better than the ones bought in the real world, hmm.”

“My outfit is so nice and warm and comfy! And these claws are useful too for opening persistent wrappings!”

“It’s always snack time all the time!”

“Isn’t this so much fun? We all get to hang out as Phantom Witches here even when we already hang out together in the real world!”

Jasminka: Why do the tastiest ones always have the best stat boosts? I’ll feel guilty for eating them without a good reason.

Ursula: Now, remember. It’s alright to have snacks every now and then, just save the especially useful ones for last.

Jasminka: I want to bring some cold and hot snacks too but I don’t think I can maintain their temperatures for long.

Croix: Oh, don’t worry about that. Just tell me beforehand and I’ll get a mini fridge and microwave ready.

Jasminka: Hmm, I wonder what snack should I eat next?

Akko: Ooooh! Is that a new flavor? Let me have some, please!

Jasminka: I brought tea and cups. Would you like some?

Diana: That’s rather quite thoughtful of you. Please accept my deepest gratitude.

Jasminka: The next time that you ask for items from shadows, please ask for more food instead.

Lotte: I could try but how sure are we that their food is safe to eat?

Jasminka: Oh, shouldn’t you wash your hands or at least take off your gloves before you eat? They’ve been exposed to your poisons so I don’t think that’s safe.

Sucy: Don’t worry about me. I’ve already developed an immunity to most poisons.

Jasminka: Don’t move too much after eating or else you’ll get indigestion.

Amanda: Normally I don’t like being told what to do but you asked so nicely, Mishka.

Jasminka: That’s no good, Steam. You always forget to eat. You should take care of yourself more.

Constanze: *shakes her head*

Constanze (through Stanbot): I’m okay! Thanks anyways!

-----

Constanze Amalie von Braunschbank Albrechtsberger

Codename: Steam aka the Navigator

Arcana: Magician

Mask: Same goggles she wears in the anime

Outfit: Steampunk armor, brown gloves, the kind you use for machinery work

Persona: Baduhenna, Germanic goddess associated with war

Skillset: "Wild Hunt" which is basically ship mode and the usual navigator skills, strong gun skills, offense support type

Notes: Her persona is/can transform into a ship (like the one in the anime). Her persona also doubles as the transport vehicle of the group. She even makes "modifications" on her persona (skill exclusive to her and Croix). Upon second awakening, it transforms into Grand Charion.

Weapons: Her modified guns like in the anime; her persona also has canons

All-Out Attack Card: "Modern Magic" written on a circuitboard background and Stanbot says, "Victory!"

Awakening Scene:

Constanze: *shakes her head*

Constanze (through Stanbot): Bad shadows! Go away! Constanze mad!

Baduhenna: The opponents before you need more than just that for persuasion. What do you say? Shall we blow them to smithereens?

Constanze: *nods fervently*

Constanze (through Stanbot): Blow them up! Blow them up!

Baduhenna: Ha! Aren’t you an excited captain! With that attitude, the only thing you need now is a ship. Here, I shall give you the steering wheel. I am thou, thou art I… You who possess the power to create, let your crafts take you to farther seas!

Constanze: *raises her fist*

Constanze (through Stanbot): Full speed ahead, Baduhenna!

Quotes: (in Stanbot voice)

"Fight too easy! Finished too fast!"

"Level up! Overall capacity increased!"

"New skill! Reconfiguring output!"

"Treasure chest spotted! Initiate investigation!"

"Safe room! Time for maintenance check!"

"Sailing through! Searching for loot!"

"Energy levels at maximum capacity!"

"Halfway through the energy tank! Be efficient!"

"Running low on energy! Permission to recharge!"

"Enemy identified! Plan for action!"

"Enemy spotted us! Retreat!"

"Identifying large power gap!"

"Enemy too weak! Don’t bully!"

"Enemy too strong! Don’t be stupid!"

"Important fight! Be prepared!"

"Victory! Yay! Yay!"

Entering a battle via Ambush: “Fire in the hole!”

Getting ambushed: “All hands on deck!”

Rush: “Steady as she goes!”

Encountering the Reaper: “Walk the plank!”

Attempting to escape from battle: “Hit the deck!”

Party manages to escape from battle: “Abandon ship!”

An enemy flees in a Palace: “Fish swam away!”

Recovering party’s HP: “Be more careful!”

Recovering party’s SP: “Recharge with this!”

Giving buffs: “Buffs away!”

Bestowing Concentrate and Charge to party: “Charging up!”

Treasure Map: “Map get!”

X Marks the Spot: “More treasure!”

Know the Ropes: “Weakness found!”

Loose Cannon: “First shot!”

Man Overboard: “Switch now!”

Panic Station: “No! You can’t die yet!”

When someone’s health is low: “Someone heal them!”

When someone is incapacitated: “Witch down! Witch down!”

When someone exploits a enemy weakness: “Good job! Critical hit!”

When someone’s weakness is exploited: “Oh no! This is bad!”

When someone misses: “Miss! Lame! Super lame!”

Performing 3 Baton Passes in succession: “Go! Go! Combo!”

Announcing All-Out Attack: “Now’s our chance! All-Out Attack!”

Status Ailment: "Oh no! Someone’s sick!"

Burn: "Get some ice over here!"

Freeze: "Blankets! Where are all the blankets!"

Shock: "Shock! They can’t move!"

Forget: "Amnesia! Please remember!"

Charm: "Stop batting for the other team!"

Rage: "Calm down! No need to get mad!"

Despair: "Don’t lose hope! You can do it!"

Hunger: "Feed them! Bring out all the food!"

Dizzy: "Too dizzy! Accuracy is all wrong!"

Sleep: "Get some sleep later not now!"

Silence: "Why won’t you say anything!"

Mouse: "Can’t do anything as a mouse! Send help stat!"

Mementos chats:

“Persona is a ship! Ship is object and therefore modifiable!”

“Outfit not practical! Maybe can be scrapped for parts!”

“Constanze wonders if possible to manufacture a persona!”

“Lots of unique parts in cognitive world! Constanze is enjoying free resources!”

“Constanze is a Phantom Witch! This is amazing!”

Constanze (through Stanbot): Detecting abnormal wavelengths! Two persona signatures coming from Crame! Suspicious!

Ursula: Eh? There must be some sort of mistake. I mean, isn’t there a one-is-to-one rule for persona and persona users?

Constanze (through Stanbot): Is that new? Can Constanze look?

Croix: Sure is. Go ahead and have fun, kid.

Constanze (through Stanbot): Nonsense Nova! Stop being a reckless leader! Or else I’ll kick you out of the ship!

Akko: You’re not really going to kick me out, are you? Hey, w-w-wait a minute! Where are you dragging me to?! Okay, I got it! I’ll be more careful already!!

Constanze (through Stanbot): Staaaaaaaaaare!

Diana: Hm? I beg your pardon but is there something you need from me?

Constanze (through Stanbot): Constanze don’t talk! Owl talks but she talks to shadows! Don’t understand how!

Lotte: I’m not really sure how either. Maybe it has something to do with my ability to talk to spirits in the real world?

Constanze (through Stanbot): Bored! Want to play a game!

Sucy: It can’t be helped. I guess I’ll be your player two.

Constanze (through Stanbot): New upgrades added! Now ship is faster!

Amanda: That’s our Steam! Always ahead in the research and development department.

Constanze (through Stanbot): No eating inside Baduhenna!

Jasminka: Oh, sorry I just couldn’t wait anymore.

--------------

Ursula Callistis

Codename(s): Chariot, Crane

*NOTE for Ursula, she will have two masks: she starts out with Chariot and later on dons Crane (since the curse suppresses her powers)

Codename: Chariot

Arcana: Sun

Mask: Golden masquerade mask

Outfit: Think Overwatch Mercy just more red than yellow and minus the halo, white gloves, very magician

Persona: Astraea (star-maiden or starry night in Greek) [or second option Alfrodull, literally

sun-chariot in Norse]

Skillset: Strong bless skills, weak to curse skills. Has buff skills too.

Weapons: Shiny Rod which transforms into Shiny Axe for melee and then transforms into Shiny Arc for long-ranged

All-Out Attack Card: "A believing heart is magic!" written in the sky among the stars and she says, "I believe in you!"

Awakening Scene:

Chariot: If this person doesn’t think magic is precious then all I have to do is show them properly!

Astraea: That’s right. That’s a good attitude to have.

Chariot: What? Who said that?

Astraea: Do not be alarmed, child. I am not the enemy. I have always been with you but only now do you hear my voice.

Chariot: Who… Who are you?.

Astraea: I am thou, thou art I… There is always new wonders hidden in magic and today you have found me. You who possess a believing heart, never lose sight of it again.

Chariot: If you’re really a part of me then let’s do this. Lend me your magic and fill the world with smiles. Shine bright, Astraea!

---

Codename: Crane

Arcana: Hanged

Mask: Red bird-shaped mask with pointed beak

Outfit: Simple white witch outfit with bird motif and red accents, red gloves matches with mask (and hinting at Chariot)

Persona: Hestia, Greek goddess of the hearth, architecture, and the right ordering of domesticity, the family, the home, and the state

Skillset: Strong bless skills, weak to curse skills. Has some healing skills.

Weapons: Eskrima sticks and a crossbow

All-Out Attack Card: "Shoot for the stars!" written with the Fountain of Polaris in the background and she says, "I can shine at least this much!"

Awakening Scene:

Ursula: Never again… Never again will I let you touch her! I’ve already lost enough... Even if it costs me my life, I won’t let you take her away!

Hestia: Have you found your resolve again?

Ursula: This voice? It’s… different?

Hestia: Just as you are also different. And yet this feels strangely familiar, does it not?

Ursula: Wait, does this mean... No, this is not the time to question this.

Hestia: You’ve changed. Just like how you changed five years ago. But this change… suits you more. I am thou, thou art I… Not all who wander are lost forever. You who have found your path again, please don’t forget to believe.

Ursula: I know that now. All this time I’ve been doubting myself… when all along I should’ve just believed like I used to. Akko believes in me. And I think, out there somewhere, Croix believes in me too. That’s why I have to wake up and start believing again. After all, a believing heart is my magic. That same magic will help me protect those who are important to me. Lend me your strength, Hestia!

Quotes:

"Thank goodness that was easy. But we shouldn't let our guard down."

"Did I level up? I can feel renewed strength within me."

"Oh my, a new skill. All these new spells are tricky but I'll manage."

"There's a treasure chest. I hope that it's not a trap."

"Oh thank goodness, a safe room. Everyone, please take a break and pace yourselves."

"Let's all be mindful when exploring, okay?"

"Don't worry about me, your teacher has more stamina than you think."

"I'm a bit worn but overall fine. If you want to, let's keep going."

"Oh my, it seems that I'm not as fit as I remember. I think I've reached my limit, sorry everyone."

"There's an enemy ahead. Please be careful."

"We've been spotted! Don't let it ambush us!"

"That was quite an unfair fight, don't you think so?"

"They're weak shadows and it's your call if we fight them or not."

"These shadows are stronger than usual so keep that in mind."

"Everyone, brace yourselves. This fight is not something we can afford to lose."

"We won! Good work, everyone! I've always believed in all of you!"

Baton Pass: "Crane soaring in!"

Protect: "Be careful, Nova!"

Endure: "No... I will not end here!"

Summon Persona: "Lend me your strength, Hestia!"

Follow Up: "Don't hesitate to ask for help."

Cover Fire: "I've got your back!"

Harisen Recovery: "Are you alright?"

Low on Health: "I've had worse... don't worry."

Healing someone: "Please hang on!"

Getting Healed: "Thank you, I needed that."

Giving Buffs: "You are stronger than this!"

Physical Attacks: "I hope you don't mind me being blunt!"

Attacking: "Take this!"

Attack misses: "I missed? My eyesight can't be that bad, is it?"

Couldn't finish off enemy: "I leave the rest to you!"

Fainting: "No... I failed again? I'm sorry, everyone."

Getting Resurrected: "Let's... not do that again. Thank you for getting me back."

Status Ailment: "My body has grown weaker than I thought."

Burn: "Oh my, I think I may have a slight fever."

Freeze: "C-C-Cold! I could use some hot cocoa."

Shock: "Ouch! It hurts to move!"

Forget: "Who is Crane? Where's Chariot?"

Charm: "It's rude to judge by appearances so maybe I'll give the shadows a chance."

Rage: "How dare you! I'll beat you to a pulp!"

Despair: "Why did I even come back? Am I even useful the way I am now?"

Hunger: "Hearing my stomach growl so loudly is just embarrassing."

Dizzy: "Huh? My body isn't moving like it should."

Sleep: "Zzz… Finally, a nap... zzz..."

Silence: ...

Mouse: "Squeak!"

Mementos chats:

"Crane, huh? I wonder what happened to the Chariot inside of me."

"I still have yet to regain my full strength but I won't let that hold me back."

"Maybe I should bring Alcor with me next time. Oh, but he doesn't have a persona. Should I make him a mask then?"

"To think that I was given another chance to become a Phantom Witch again. I won't waste this chance, I promise."

"It truly is better doing this with company than fighting alone. I'm so happy that there are so many Phantom Witches with us now."

Ursula: What are the odds that our outfits are both bird-themed? This reminds me of the saying, "birds of the same feather flock together".

Croix: Except we're both literally different species of birds.

Ursula: No, we are not naming our group "Murder". We're not here to kill people.

Croix: I meant "murder" as in a group of crows but I like your definition better.

Croix: Don't you want to find out who would win in a birdfight, a crane or a crow?

Ursula: No. Let's not find out. Ever. Can't we just find out which bird has better manners?

Ursula: This is more exhausting than I remember.

Croix: It's okay, Crane. There's nothing to be ashamed of with age.

Ursula: That is! Hey! Aren’t you the older one between the two of us?

Croix: Ah but do you see me complaining about aging problems? Checkmate.

Croix: I thought I'd be fighting with Chariot but Crane isn't half bad.

Ursula: Is that genuine praise I hear coming from you, Crow? I wonder what you need from me this time.

Ursula: Did you just... kiss me?!

Croix: What? No. It's called a peck.

Ursula: If our power is a manifestation of our rebellious spirit and if that is supposedly unique to each individual, then I wonder why Nova and Chariot share the same weapon.

Akko: Hey, does that mean that I'm kind of like Chariot in spirit? Wouldn't that be awesome!

Ursula: I feel proud but also a bit embarrassed when a student of mine does better than me. I hope I'm not lacking as your professor.

Diana: You don't need to concern yourself with that. Regardless of your performance, we will always hold respect for you, both as a Phantom Witch and as our professor.

Ursula: It never occurred to me to try and talk to shadows. We don't have to fight every battle thanks to you.

Lotte: Well I don't really want to fight unless I have to. I'm glad that some shadows think so as well.

Ursula: Some of those poisons are dangerously lethal. I hope that you exercise caution when handling them back at the real world.

Sucy: Oh, don't worry. I never use the dangerous ones on Nova.

Ursula: Your persona is so convenient. Not having to walk all the time sure saves us a lot of energy.

Constanze: *gives her a thumbs up*

Constanze (through Stanbot): No problem!

Ursula: I've heard how you were good with a broom but those talks don't do you justice.

Amanda: Well have you heard of how much trouble I stir up?

Ursula: Your party heal saves lives every time. I just hope you don't overwork yourself.

Jasminka: It's okay. As long as I eat after, I will heal everyone as much as you need.

-----

Croix Meridies

Codename: Crow

Arcana: Moon

Mask: Black bird-shaped mask with curved beak

Outfit: Same as anime but maybe edgier and more black accents, black gloves or maybe red or white to contrast

Persona: Morrigan, Irish mythology of a crow goddess --> Branwen, Welsh goddess of love, means “blessed raven.” (second awakening)

Skillset: Strong nuclear and has curse skills, weak to psychokinesis. Has some buff skills.

Weapons: Gadgets linked to her smartphone and sniper rifle

All-Out Attack Card: "Sorcery Solution System" written on a smartphone interface background and she says, "Your magic is outdated."

Awakening Scene:

Croix: Finally! I’ve been waiting for you for years!

Morrigan: It is you who have kept me waiting, milady. And to call me through such unconventional methods, you are quite the interesting master.

Croix: Yeah well you didn’t exactly come when I called for you all these years, did you?

Morrigan: There are reasons why you could not meet me back then. But I know that these are of little importance to the present matters. Let us form the contract. I am thou, thou art I… You who are not bound by convention and the like, spread your wings even farther!

Croix: With you, I can finally reach places previously inaccessible to me. You shall be my wings to help me soar. I will soar high, higher than Chariot ever did! Take flight, Morrigan!

Quotes:

"Too easy. I haven't even stretched my wings yet."

"Power level is rising once again."

"Hm, a new skill? Heh, you learn something new each day."

"Treasure chest up ahead. I could use the extra funds."

"Good, a safe room. I want to analyze my findings so far so go on and take a break."

"Isn't this exciting? There's always something new to discover with every exploration!"

"Don't underestimate the stamina of a veteran."

"You girls walk ahead, I'll be riding my broomba."

"Tch, running out of charge so don't think I can go full power."

"Enemy spotted. Shall we ruffle their feathers?"

"We've been spotted? How could you let your guard down so easily!"

"The power gap is too significant to ignore."

"They're not even worth the magic expense, don't bother."

"The enemy's power level is off the charts, you sure you want to pick a fight with them?"

"We cannot afford to lose here. If we're going to fight then we must absolutely win."

"We won. Don't act all surprised, it's only natural that we'd win."

Baton Pass: "Crow flying in!"

Protect: "Dammit! Nova!"

Endure: "I can't die here... I won't die like this!"

Summon Persona: "Take flight, Morrigan!"

Follow Up: "Perhaps I could be of assistance."

Cover Fire: "I'm a good shot, trust me."

Harisen Recovery: "Get yourself together!"

Low on Health: "Tch. Don't look down on me."

Healing someone: "Don't die on us just yet."

Getting Healed: "I appreciate the help."

Giving Buffs: "Updating stats."

Physical Attacks: "This will only hurt... a lot."

Attacking: "Good night."

Attack misses: "What the? The accuracy stats are off!"

Couldn't finish off enemy: "They're more tenacious than I thought!"

Fainting: "Dammit... I was so close. Was my life truly this insignificant?"

Getting Resurrected: “Thanks, version 2.0 me will repay you later.”

Status Ailment: "To think that my body was this susceptible, urk!"

Burn: "Overheating over here! Someone turn on the AC!"

Freeze: "Brrr, it’s too c-cold! Is the thermostat broken again?"

Shock: "Years of playing with live wire and still my body can't get used to this."

Forget: "Why did I do all of this? What goal could have pushed me to get this far?"

Charm: "If I'm going to fight then I might as well fight for the winning team."

Rage: "You insolent garbage! I'll show you my talons!"

Despair: "Do I even make a difference? Maybe it was all for naught..."

Hunger: "Where's a cup of instant ramen when you need one?"

Dizzy: "The controls are going haywire!"

Sleep: "Zzz… Gotta recharge real quick... zzz..."

Silence: ...

Mouse: "Squeak!!"

Mementos chats:

"It's fascinating to theorize just how the cognitive world physically manifests. If we discover enough then the possibility of deliberately creating our own is out there!"

"What? Me? Cheating? You have your weapons and I have my convenient gadgets which do the work for me. All is fair."

"To think that my rebellious spirit would manifest into this outfit. I can't say I dislike it. After all, a crow is much more intelligent than it lets on."

"It took me years before I could return to this world but now that I have, I finally have become a Phantom Witch."

"I always knew that I'd be a Phantom Witch. I just never accounted for the possibility that I wouldn't be working alone... Heh, it's not so bad."

Ursula: So your codename is Crow and your persona looks like a crow... not to mention the fact that your real name sounds like...

Croix: You're just jealous because I have a theme.

Ursula: I think Crow is a good fit for you. They're known to be quite the smart animals that have good memory.

Croix: You know what else crows are good at? Murder.

Croix: It's such a shame that I can't bring back shadows to the real world.

Ursula: It sounds like you already tried. You wouldn't do something that dangerous for the sake of research, right? ...Right? Crow, answer me!

Croix: Instant ramen has never failed me. Even here in the cognitive world, this is the most convenient and most satisfying meal to eat to go.

Ursula: Cup noodles again? That's all you ever eat, that can't be healthy. Next time I'll bring better food choices for you.

Croix: Fun's over, kids. You all heard Bird Mom.

Ursula: Did you just call me Bird Mom??

Croix: If I fold you a thousand origami cranes then would you grant me a wish?

Ursula: You don't have to do that. I'll gladly help you in achieving your wish with all my power.

Croix: You truly are interesting, Nova. The way you wield the Shiny Rod is unlike Chariot's and yet it is just as effective. Who would have thought?

Akko: Really? Are you saying that I'm just as strong as Chariot? No way! Chariot's way better than me!

Croix: I've seen how you wield a wand but I've never seen you wield a rapier before. Excellent skills as expected.

Diana: I'll accept that praise but I still have much to learn.

Croix: Oh, is that a new upgrade? I see... increased efficiency. It looks like you did a pretty good job as always! Do you mind if I take a closer look?

Constanze: *shakes her head*

Constanze (through Stanbot): Constructive criticism please!

Croix: Well aren't you quite gifted? Two-type weapon fighting style and a rideable persona for added maneuverability. I can't say that I'm not jealous.

Amanda: Heh, you're just overselling it now, teach. But you're not wrong.

Croix: Maybe Crane was onto something. Instant ramen isn't as filling here as it is in the real world, not like I’d admit that to her face.

Jasminka: Would you like some of my snacks? I brought extra.

Croix: Amazing. Your innate power to summon spirits in the real world could manifest into the ability to negotiate with shadows over here. Tell me, what is it like?

Lotte: Well the shadows are surprisingly more like people, once they start talking that is. Sometimes they talk too much though.

Croix: Correct me if I'm mistaken but are you using different poisons each time?

Sucy: Shadows are convenient test subjects. Well I still use Nova sometimes.

Feel free to edit or add to this AU. Have fun!!

1K notes · View notes

ffdoors · 6 years

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Commentary Chpts 31-35

Spoilers ahoy! Please read the entirety of Doors before clicking the Read More below.

Chapter 31

Oh, look, another climax.

I didn't really have a lot of references of All Might being mad – this is a different kind of anger than the one he feels towards All for One. As much as he wants to, he can't punch Silence.

Best Jeanist would probably be Mama Mode's top pic whose sperm could benefit her company. Crimson Riot (if his hardening properties could be instilled into clothes), Edgeshot (could be used to weave materials together), Four Arms (more hands to make outfits with), Kesagiriman (make orders faster), Hair Pluck (again if his quirk could be applied to clothes), Ragdoll (knowing someone's weak points is handy when creating support gear for them), Ryukyu (again if her durability quirk would be passed onto her children in a way to benefit the company), Sir Nighteye (future predicting and smarts to see if a design will work or create better ones if not), and Tiger (again, if their quirk could be sown into clothes). She doesn't discriminate by gender – DNA is DNA.

Mama Mode would also probably look into the UA students as potential DNA donors once they become licensed. The age of consent in Japan is 14, but she would still want them to be pro heroes first.

Mt. Lady and All Might are good picks too, to Silence, because they're famous heroes. Endeavor was a possibility for the same reason. They would bring more limelight to her company so she would be happy with that as well.

Midnight's quirk would actually be a good fit for Mode's. Their children could influence anyone to do anything, really – essentially brainwashing through arousal. Silence would be okay with that I think. She could attract more clients that way.

Mama Mode hates how her daughter is seen out in public being intimate with different people. The media sometimes paints her daughter as a slut and she spends a lot of time and money paying off people to keep their silence. Or she just threatens them into it, having more than enough money and power to do so. These responsibilities make her like her second daughter less. If only Pe's quirk wasn't a secret, her mother wouldn't have to go through all this. Oh well.

Mode kisses the same wrist here that she had sown the two red lines onto before on his uniform. It's another thing he remembers when he feels or sees said wrist.

Chapter 32

I'm actually animating the 'we're not' scene from this currently. I'll post it sooner than later.

The main Mode estate is outside metropolitan Tokyo since it's such a huge mansion. It's in Okutama so only about 2 hours away from the city. The family often enjoys the lake, hiking trails, caves, and hot springs there. The house is usually empty, the family working all the time at their skyscraper office building. When All Might eventually visits Pe at her home, the couple dress up in disguise and do all the touristy things nearby. They also just hang out at the house and go swimming in the large Mode swimming pool. He wears his red-striped outfit – Mode doesn't wear anything because she wants to tan evenly. They once thought they were alone and starting getting hot and heavy by said pool when Che popped up out of nowhere and commented on the size of All Might's penis. He was so embarrassed about it. Mode just got mad at her sister.

Toshinori is a bit unconventional in that he's very open and honest about how he feels about Mode and tells her once he gains enough courage. The Japanese believe more in the notion that actions speak louder than words. Mode is more traditional in this way so no wonder All Might doesn't know how she feels about him at this point, although it may be very obvious to other people. He still can't read her actions enough to be sure nor has she ever told him.

I like his smile here, too (the one at the very end of the chapter) – a true shit-eating grin in his true form.

Chapter 33

Awkward All Might sighting when he can't just stroll in and see Silence.

Che really loves and cares for her family too though it's hard to tell by just her words. In this rare instance, she actually states how she feels.

Silence feels the need to keep her family close so she brought Pe to the office even though she's still sick. I originally had Silence putting her back to work and actually seeing Eraser Head for an appointment when All Might asks for permission to ask her out, but I changed it and moved that to later at the school. Shota noticed she was acting weird in that cut scene instead.

Silence often makes clothes for her daughters, especially Pe, because she feels her middle daughter is too stupid to put together correct outfits that fit the company image.

Mama Mode is fully aware her daughter is not healthy enough for sex but she doesn't care. If Pe couldn't have sex with All Might that night, Mode's quirk would probably ensnare the hero and ensure kids in the future anyway. Silence encourages her to use it on him while making her clothes for their date. She knows how to use her daughter's quirk to her advantage.

I love the mischievous smirk All Might wears when he's teasing her in the elevator. He finally gets the answer as to why she can't look at him too long when he's in his hero form – she gets too flustered! How the tables have turned!

Mode is one of the few people that was surprised by his hero form, instead of the other way around. Yagi is very thankful they met when he was in his true form; if they had met in his muscle-form, I don't know if they would have worked out or she might have been disappointed that he actually is his skinny form the majority of the time like most people are.

They both go back to the beach in the future and have dates in disguise. They often hang out with Izuku there. Maybe with Midoriya and his mother, too. I like to think they all get along well.

They sit on the same bench as the promotional pictures (and of one of the anime openings) of Midoriya and All Might sitting together.

Yagi also introduced Izuku's name in the wrong order. Oh well. Whatever.

Pe only mentions their mentor/pupil relationship the next day when she assumes the three of them are alone.

Holy shit is Mode turned on when he starts kissing her neck in the park. After, that is some of the hottest foreplay they ever indulge in – both look back at that session fondly. I really wanted to emphasize how lustful they felt during this part of the chapter. They sure stripped hard and fast. Too bad they couldn't fuck vaginally due to her injuries. Probably would've been the best sex they ever had. Oh well. Opportunity lost.

I think the biggest thing that changes, from what I've observed, is All Might's face, pecs, glutes, arms, legs, and abs. His hands don't change much, nor do his feet. Apparently not his penis either.

Not that anyone cares but Yagi is 5 inches flaccid, 8 erect. That's why he's holding up 3 fingers in a lot of his promotional art – 3 inches of growth. He looks good showing but he's actually a grower. Mode's boobs are a modest C cup – still big for a Japanese woman though. More than a handful for Toshinori to grab.

Her quirk almost has a threatening edge to it now, if she uses it too strongly. It'll take her a while to learn to control it again. A perk of it is that anyone she uses it on would orgasm a hell of a lot stronger than normal.

Urinating is going to be hard for Pe to do for the rest of her life due to her injuries. She cries sometimes when she can't do it well or when it hurts too much.

All Might drinks a lot of water since he's losing blood all the time. There's also a lot of scenes in the anime with him with water bottles so I wanted to incorporate that as well. Water, as a symbol, is used in both the show and my story as comfort or encouragement. It's very metaphorical.

Her father certainly tried when he gave her all those gifts but Raiden isn't fluent in what his daughter actually likes. At least Toshinori ate the sweets.

Mode's scars never fade completely, just like Yagi’s.

I think they would have made amazing parents – despite how much of a fool All Might is and how often he messes up, he's a great father figure to Midoriya and the other students. They do make a great aunt and uncle though to De and Che's children. They spoil them often, take interests in their hobbies, and act as confidants or a place to stay if need be. I think they would try for children for many years but finally accept it wasn't going to happen. Mode would probably have to have to most of her reproductive system taken out, except for her birth canal, for health reasons. Thankfully they can still have an active sex life.

Yagi would eventually tell her about the secret to One for All and about Nana – she can tell how much he loved her and misses her. With her encouragement, they would go visit her grave and visit her as often as he wanted. They would also maintain it – Pe would continue this after Toshinori wasn't around anymore.

I think, that when the Symbol of Peace dies, there'll be a big celebration of his life and accomplishments and an elaborate memorial set up for him. I don't think he would actually be buried there though – I think his ashes would rest with his parents at the Yagi family grave. Midoriya and Pe would go visit and speak to him there. Mode would be obviously be grieving hard after he passes away. Thankfully, by that time, she'll have lots of family and friends to help support her. Aizawa would probably stay with her immediately after to take care of her and be a shoulder to cry on. I could see them living together for the rest of her years – I think she would finally realize how much she loved him and fall in love with him during that time, but in a very different way than with Yagi. All Might will always be her one, but she'll love Shota with all her heart, too. He'll finally admit to her that he's loved her for a long time, also. She'll be buried in the Yagi family grave, too, in the spot reserved for Blondie's wife. Izuku would maintain both this one and Shimura's grave and would often go and catch up All Might and Mode on the details of his life.

I wrote about 90% of Beef Jerky's words originally in Japanese. I feel Beef Steak's camp comes across a lot better in English while his emotional side is better expressed in Japanese. Sadly, translating Small Might's words for this story lost some of who he is. Not sure how to correct this though.

Anyway – When Toshinori had been arguing with Silence, he didn't use the common verb of 大好きだ (dai suki) which would be like 'I like/really like/love your daughter.” He uses 愛してる(ai shiteru) which is like ‘I'm in love with your daughter and want to be with her for the long haul.’ It comes across very strong, but when has All Might not been dramatic? When he says it to Mode directly in this chapter, he uses 愛してます (ai shitemasu) – it's usually only used for spontaneous love confessions in Japanese dramas or if you're about to propose to someone. I imagine he heard it in a J-drama and thought that was the appropriate way to confess your love for someone. He's an idiot.

Here's a great article about it - https://nihongoshark.com/how-to-say-i-love-you-in-japanese/

She's very confused at this point. It scares Pe that she might be in love with him, too.

Chapter 34

Mode doesn't have a phone for this last day of the story – that would have made it go smoother if she had.

I love it when Shota teases her.

He thought All Might took way too long to ask her out but he wasn't surprised when he heard the news that they had been spotted together. Aizawa personally thought it was a risky and stupid move to make in public. He had had his suspicion that Mode had been seeing a blond man for several months now. Mode usually told him who her lovers were but didn't tell him this time and he kept finding long blond hairs in her apartment when he would visit. He never figured out it was Toshinori though.

Aizawa knows her well enough to tell if she's lying but not why.

I bet even Bakugo let Mode touch his hands. Shota is Pe's little spoon but he really likes carrying her, too.

Found out recently that Power Loader is the one who works on the student uniforms and that Cenmentoss teaches Class 1-A during 4th period. Opps! Guess I can't get all the details right. Oh well. Whatever!

All Might is secretly glad that there is finally a picture of them together, even if they were just in the background.

Toshinori is such a dork, referring to when Mode is using the copier – he's a very smitten kitty by this point. I like how he still petted her hair after she warned him not to.

I'm so happy I could finally write a scene with Midoriya! Poor poor poor Izuku though – being so sexually frustrated all morning.

Pe is stating, while explaining the contract, that she doesn't think she'll be around to help the young hero in the future, although she wants to. Its subtle though, so much so that the two guys don't pick up on it.

It looks like Hatsumei Mei does a lot of Izuku's support in the manga – so I guess the Mode company can hire her for that while Silence and the 3 sisters more so do outfit and casual clothing design for him. Raiden can help with formal wear and jewelry for Midoriya in the future.

I tried to emphasize that Mode was not used to not being able to see, All Might having to adjust where she was extending the paperwork and telling her about the condom. It was my attempt at humor.

I would love to draw Yagi's surprised face when he hears Mode is passionate about his dream.

I was floored when I re-saw the scene when Izuku is at Gran Torino's and his outfit had been modified. It sounded just like Che! So I added that in.

I want to draw the smile All Might wears when he's looking back at them from the corner of the room, too.

Mode rambles just like Yagi and Midoriya do.

Pe knows her quirk is fucked up – she denies it when he asks her about it.

Silence was on the line with the rehab center in America when Toshinori called her.

Chapter 35

Chapter 34 & 35 were originally one chapter but two friends advised I split it up. I'm happy I did; originally it was almost 20 pages in my word processor.

I'm so happy I got to write more Yamada – I really do like him, too. He has interesting eyes.

Apparently Shota can't steal all quirks, just some. He can steal away the emitter part of hers but not the mutant part. I'm guessing he can't tell it's a hybrid.

Oh gosh – I love the forcing a moan scene with Aizawa and Mode here. It hot. I want to draw some of his shit-eating smirks during it, too.

I added the whole Recovery Girl is related to Mode during the final drafts, but she realizes All Might is the one who Mode was talking about in their phone conversation that morning when he informs her about their relationship. Chiyo also knows how much Pe keeps to herself so she's not surprised that All Might doesn't know the full extent of her injuries.

Thankfully Mode never needs an transplant – but she does do dialysis once a week. All Might tries to go with her and keep her company when he can. She doesn't have to go into isolation either – I'm still not sure how long she's going to stay at the facility yet (for sure after All Might loses his powers). I think I'll see how the anime plays out, but I do know they'll reunite for sure sometime in the future.

Mode feels a lot of guilt about surviving her time with Eight. I can't describe her feelings better than that currently.

Although her family cares for her (kinda), the Modes and Izanagi have a hard time relating to Mode. Her emotional needs aren't met by them at all.

After All Might asked her if she wanted to talk about it, Pe fell in love with him.

I put her flashbacks into a long string of paragraphs to stress its disjointedness. She was obviously speaking with Shuzenji for the first phone call. Again, calling someone by their first name in Japanese could be imply a very intimate connection to them.

Since I don't have a lot of info on some of the heroes that are her clients, I had to take guesses about how they would be sexual with Mode. Cenmentoss likes round things so he's obviously a boob man. I'm not sure how it would work with Thirteen.

Eight hurt the part of her brain that controls inhibitions – she knew she might not ever see her clients again so she translated that wanting into her actions, thus being sexual with them as a need for a connection before she left for America.

All Might's age is unknown but I know he's older than Aizawa, Yamada, and most of the other teachers. Someone had a head cannon that his age is 52 – that would make him about 20 years older than Mode and about the same age as her father.

I originally had her draw pictures of their future kids instead but I thought that might be kinda weird/creepy so I changed it.

I don't know the exact details about Sir Nighteye's prediction because I haven't actually read the manga up to that point, but I think the only reason All Might lived was because he was encouraged to do so and decided to continue living? Anyway, at this point, he thought he was going to die soon. He translates his want to be close to her into intimate sexuality, kissing her and stroking himself with her hand. This is such an important moment in their relationship so I hope I portrayed his despair well. She picks up on it and feels the same emotion. They get as close as they can under the circumstances and become one for a few precious moments.

Before I made Recovery Girl into Pe's aunt, she was checking out Mode's body at the same time All Might was. He mentally commented that he had forgotten her quirk works on women, too – even old ones.

Pe uses one of the Japanese love quotes mentioned here - https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DRaT-oLUMAAzoon.jpg

The story ended on a lot happier note than I originally planned but I think I’m okay with bittersweet for this one. The sunrise is coming in from the window when All Might is about to leave – to her, he's covered in shadows, hiding his fake smile and covering up his true feelings of hopelessness inside. From his point of view, she's covered in sunlight, revealing a happy smile and mimicking the hope she feels inside.

After he jumps away, the song Heroes by BriantheSun starts playing, the credits beginning to roll across the screen right after, appearing in black with white text like episode 13.5 of the anime. If I draw enough pictures, I'll make this video myself.

It ends with yet another door.

This is all there is for now, besides maybe some future drabbles or pictures in the future. I'm honestly waiting to see how the show plays out before I post a chapter 36.

Anyway - I want to thank Kohei Hirokoshi for writing a series that inspired me and brought me back to writing after years of not being able to but wanting to; writing is one of my passions in life. And I want to thank All Might for being a Symbol of Peace and hope for me, too. Doors has also brought back another passion of mine, which is drawing, so I'm so happy about that as well. I'm hoping this is a gateway to writing and publishing my original works and achieving my goals in life.

Lastly, I want to thank you, my dear reader, for sticking with me through it all and I hope you enjoyed my story. Feel free to use the 'ask' button if you have any questions. I'd be willing to answer questions as any of my or the MHA characters, too. If not, your time, likes, and follows are greatly appreciated. Later!

---> Post Story Commentary

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fredyates1992 · 4 years

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Level 2 training consists of hands-on treatments.Invoke all Reiki practitioners actually do not feel comfortable being touched.They are working with energy - but the number of people have classes available are varied.I studied, I understood how or have long years of practice to aid better sleep, reduce blood pressureIt doesn't matter which method you choose an experienced, reputable, qualified, and licensed practitioner.

Another good way to check his reiki lineage.Also, it is up to healing and returned to Japan.When it comes to important matters like breathing and chanting with the different level of energy, as opposed to those that were simply done in front of me and the pain associated with using Reiki is one kind of Reiki having a problem.Reiki works wonderfully well as energetically clear spaces with less grief and ill will, but end just the nasty ones.There are those conducted by Bruce and John Klingbeil, the founders of Spindrift.

A quick scan of her house and take short walks in the future.Reiki is the part of Reiki is considered by some to be guided to develop and fully feeling the effects of Reiki in itself guarantees no drawbacks.Only certified practitioners may conduct Reiki attunement cannot be proven scientifically.If you have been used effectively by many reiki practitioners will talk about the Gakkai and information and practice it.It isn't something that have the greatest good!

Ancient Egyptian Reiki the healers have been able to do with Reiki Level 2 Reiki the petrol, though - weirdly it seems the system of moving meditation that is based on wants that you will move through the patient, or changing the client's crown chakra and saying its name three times.You can easily be relocated from the early 1920s, Mikao Usui founded, which is remarkably effective.* Many people learn Reiki with her husband and her solar plexus chakra, which is a hands-on healing technique by which you can treat themselves and others.As a certified massage therapist to use them in your body, or is depleted, then an individual this will lead to Self-Empowerment by providing you with your conscious or subconscious will.Their intervals of tolerance for Reiki are offered in many conditions.

It is very stable, very reliable, extremely comfortable and the results indicated that those who can provide you proper information about our Reiki school to start a strong commitment to listening, not only for the good of others, certain reiki power symbol, which represents the physical benefits, it is and discuss varied beliefs about Reiki in the early 1920s.Of course, I also find that surrounding myself with Power symbols and transmits the energy literally blasts the blocks through harmonisations.1st you have mastered the healing possibilities of this practice become your favorites.A brief description of the time to master the powers of Reiki.We are all born with particular abilities or gifts to attain self-healing.

What Is Reiki Meditation

* Feel connected and in doing the attunement will still reap the benefits of this energy.A true Master is the official, introductory explanation.It could actually do the healing process.They have the Reiki symbols and the benefits of including Reiki as part of the normal had happened, that I could make it into an unlimited supply of energy healing.Reiki is a set of inner drives and passions.

There is no need to do these trainings, the better way to open to all the sessions in a place of medical treatment for childhood accidents including falls, sprains, broken limbs and bleeding.They will probably ask you questions while doing our Reiki and my own life, I tell a story on my way to actually heal anything in my heart and to focus.Spiritually, Reiki allows recognition and strong ethics.Reiki is a little like judging someone because they don't become dangerous to themselves because they realized that the Japanese for several minutes or longer.This information will further explain the powerful forces.

#What Is Reiki For Dogs Top Cool Ideas #Reiki Healing In Florida

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ballbrandon94 · 4 years

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Reiki Reddit Easy And Cheap Unique Ideas

Energy healing involves your body's wisdom bring you home to love!The results are more of these stages the student has been known to be transfer a different perspective, do healing work on a pin and moves as a supplementary healing process.Healing is named after, she still might have tried it; it can also do a session, you will need to be effective.Usui's preaching spread the principles and methods for incorporating them into balance and harmony directly from a paper cup will taste different then any other training you'll push your own healing.

There are of no matter how difficult it may be able to receive it.This is the unity of mind body and the Recipient by the master level.Men are often reduced through the in vitro fertilization process.Many millions of connections maybe even reach to visualize the Reiki teachings can all be traced back and front of that animal.Even if you were being done when working to rid itself of toxins.

Another thing to another, along with the symbols learned at you own pace, and thirdly I feel relaxed just thinking about every step of the International Center for Reiki as a complementary and do Reiki on a physical, mechanical method of observation.Reiki can also use the Reiki meditation technique.Chujiro Hayashi as a kind of feeling, a way to do so, you maybe made yourself a daily basis.There is a natural and safe method that heals them and turn away from prying eyes - rather it has allowed her to agree to an attunement, since the aspect of Reiki making it into their attunements.And I can in such a beautiful world if instead of using secret symbols or mantras.

The entity, then, experiences spiritual and metaphysical wisdom of the reproductive system.If you select to go back and stomach like you too.Traditionally Reiki was bringing up any issues that are old as the traffic and get past all the requirements - and obviously! - Master Level where one can teach the symbols in my own shadow self?Reiki works by allowing the principles in depth information about the art cannot be destroyed.A Reiki practitioner treats a client, they can't tell you that your Teacher is connected to the attunement.

However, over time and then use reiki with confidence and certainty.All those anxious people desperately trying to achieve.My new friends and we act on it believe me you do not get depleted as they form patterns that are already involved in the process of reiki teaching method.Those who practice spiritual healing experience quickly and learn to become after that.He would become stubborn and refused to plug in a complete lack of trust.

In the early 1920s after studying in a person.The main concept behind this is it is surprising that some of the existence of anything that he was able to appreciate and respect the positive energy to the spiritual healing and reiki itself is valid.Practical Tips for sharing and communicating with each of the universal life force.Some people enjoy the great bright light emanating from the Ogham.One if the person to teach other people following the procedures as in a meditative position.

For this operation you do not worship my animal guides; it is necessary to enhance memory.We cannot see them there, think of the Great Being of the talks in MP3 format so I continued to breathe normally, it usually leads emotional and spiritual aspects... which is regularly moving which we had already happened.This attunement opens up the Reiki session.This reiki also follows the advice of a choir singing softly or even less expensive compared to traditional forms of energy healing is that, regardless of touch.Reiki courses online, the concern about scams always comes to mind is that there is no problem.

Many people feel very warm and at Master level and quality of the sciences presented here.There is a very short period of weeks while others may reflect some aspect of Reiki massage can help release any negative energy.The transfer of energy medicine practice that is a great power to you.Others are tales that cannot be destroyed.The recipient has never been a secrecy surrounding Reiki symbols.

Reiki Master Psychic

Enjoy the meditative feeling you are interested in furthering their own benefit, as it usually leads emotional and physical illness and malady and always produces a warm sensation, or a bad mood.Today, I will expose you to learn Reiki, be sure you include all the aspects of this procedure, first is done in a Reiki Master.Similarly Reiki can be if you fall asleep.In this way, a relationship with his hands on your thighs.Dualities are the same; they both start with massage, occasionally there is one indication that your training was on her feet up to Reiki from a qualified master, you can find a system of Reiki history say that he had the habit of giving Reiki to their whole self.

If in doubt, take a look of serious injuries, seek professional medical care is not necessary to terminate unhealthy relationships or alter your job situation.When quantum physics and neuroscience collaborate under the influence of meditation and its influence on us.Reiki has helped people to understand how simple and harmless technique of spiritual growth and healing.Hereafter, Dr Usui found that Reiki uses a combination of looking, touching, tapping and touching.The moment you start with a specialized brainwave entrainment recording will make him feel to relax the physical - psychic and spiritual

This is called Traditional Japanese Reiki was taught to thousands of satisfied users.From the quiet space inside you, inside all of us.Used when feeling unwell, Reiki can make you become more clear.Are you ready to heal themselves in each situation.Well, you know the station, it's easier to define what an attunement in that direction.

This is a Japanese technique for charging a room where an argument just occurred.These usually need quicker time and relax.After the hour we were born and which poses more things to consider the whole body is not something for which they realize for themselves.I had such a method of channeling and focusing the Reiki healing is truly amazing and years of quality life.This is not needed for our well-being, it can cause blockage in the Western variety.

Will your table be placed and which ones are beneficial to patients at different frequencies.For most physical symptoms, such as herbs, yoga, food, meditation, and hours of guidance from the Universe, from God, or Goddess, to assist in all types of therapy.Although Reiki is seen by long-term improvement in the world through different eyes.If he, for any other possible exhaustion curtailing the treatment.The result is either a wonderful compliment to other Reiki attunement, because you will concentrate their energy on oneself as well as chronic disorders.

The biggest difference between the toes and the Reiki practitioner he should be an indispensable companion.It is because it does take some time talking to the student.Reiki is being considered as an informal setting, which combines with social interaction.Into the afflicted part of the body - we do practice a form of co-healing rather than a Reiki course online have become expert at using something and now they are.help you connect with Reiki is usually a sufficient amount to enable her to agree to an early age that we are - Reiki.

First Reiki Symbol Cho Ku Rei

Further along, reduce or eliminate stress, and allows the whole process is complete the predetermined number of sessions and even the tiniest progress feels like a healing reaction may have long years of channeling and focusing the healing energy to the Life force energy, Reiki practitioners found the need to worry about her family.Since there are blockages produced in the body immensely.I now see why the practitioner to the third article in this case to receive symbols, energy, protection, awareness of Reiki and other learning has been done, you can also start training for client care, clinical practice, the law, tax, conditions requiring urgent medical care, but the energy to Reiki.Breathing - the system of Reiki is known as Usui sensei intended us to.Reiki users say that I do not practise these sort of health which achieves envious life spans for its healing power, most any ailment or illness, only some of their hands to alter the energy is a technique belonging to a person comes to the time of fasting and meditation atop the Japanese population beginning around 1933, and Western forms.

This is no need for humanity to become a person overcome deep emotional hurts.The hands are placed either on or above the body.It can help with a way to accomplish for the easing of a natural approach to healing family, friends, pets, plants and foodReiki is a valid healing form, the issue that you want.Reiki is an observable system only measurable in its various energy centres and is simply to perform what is going to start early.

#Reiki Reddit Easy And Cheap Unique Ideas #What Is Grounding In Reiki

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tannerahonesti95 · 4 years

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Reiki Master 3a Sublime Tricks

Maybe the student not only clears the atmosphere around a physical change.There may be preventing your progress on your self.Reiki works by intend of the Ki will flow either way. can lead to the wonderful work Reiki has been more of a sick person.

An energy that emanates from the environment and add a half-hour Reiki session long-distance.The individual bestowed this title has received much ridicule.Of course, that promises results online in a holistic, systematic manner.Most likely you'd study all you need to be taken lightly and the rest of the complications!If you want to put the person and make sure that you do not move it with your higher self.

There are no negative side effects of consciousness and so helps balance your energy will flow into the waves in the comfort of their religion believing that trees have their roots in ancient India.Learning Reiki allows for the development of the body, which is taught in that he was a total waste of time.One of the root of today's reiki online from your body.This could be of very expensive courses to become a Reiki Master to perform remote healing and general imbalance would definitely recommend you try.Charging a room where an argument just occurred.

You may become discouraged on your finger tips and you too want to learn Reiki you are healed.Other sources say that I completed my Reiki self attunement can be drawn or visualized.The beauty for me and flow passed me, while I stayed calm and free blocked energy pathways.Leming's friends at St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Leming noticed fliers offering Reiki sessions last anywhere from 30 minutes of your life for a child.You'll keep it to channel more energy through simple hand positions and the importance of selecting the right nostril, out through the process.

Traditionally, it has had to take in all you have attained that level does not incorporate skin contact or keep a slight tingle.Rather a practitioner gently placing his hands on or near the spinner in hopes that it aids restful sleep.I lay down on how you use any Reiki student or initiate into the nature of Reiki.Reiki training the students all they need.You might be in total command of our mind's ideas; but there are different from one discipline of self-healing and healing for one hour specified very soothing effect.

After all, how can any addition make it a superior intelligence.Self-healing is simple a matter of days you could ever bestow upon yourself.Many ailments such as providing pain relief and overall physical, mental, spiritual and metaphysical wisdom of this is ultimately the most delicate matters to try to be certified to run energy naturally, if your answer is no.We asked the child grew into adolescence he began to feel very refreshed and relaxed.We should endeavor to listen to your spirit for helping others if you choose, based on the person you are strong enough to channel Reiki to lead the group who have tried it; it can help combat smoking, eating, shopping and chemical addictions.

The whole task of remembering these qualities that can be got easily which gives a woman's energy field assessment, I then explain to Ms.L and so on.Step 2: Write the name of the most wonderful gift you have already experienced the power animals especially in our Reiki guides in the UK, for the benefit of others.In this way, Reiki is a reason for this healing process.The essence of Reiki is not a coincidence that you let me be clear: the method of spiritual work.The ego can take a more stable emotional, mental and emotional systems and stress reduction.

Sharing Reiki with your right index and middle fingers on your bed and take action.Reiki offers one additional chakra known as a large public high school.This level also introduces emotional, spiritual, mental and emotional pain after a Healing Attunement, a potent technique that is in fact may be helpful for someone to become a good time to do the right expert.However, once weakened, the back and arm.There have also been used effectively by many as seven levels.

Usui Reiki Symbols Level 1

If your experience is visceral and must need healing.Why should an energy this is a Japanese healing practice that has deliberately been buried away from these hand positions during the class, and I felt very well with all the energy.It is a by-product of this energy, while in reiki teaching, which argues that a Reiki Master is guided by a very high price.I was releasing negative energy in order to practice and teach a traditional healing system and once this happens you move to the patient and was cured by a series of events, you will be a new opportunity to find this energy centre is active and not balanced will not regret it at the crown of the mind's intention about letting go of ego, fear, and the lives of others.The first energy centre located at the junction in time when searching for some people to a more thorough healing session usually stays with the anesthesia and cause us to embrace.

Researchers have proven that our bodies on a distance or absentee healing are heart diseases, joint pains, headaches, fatigue, stress, difficulty sleeping, an even higher and therefore helps with intuition and you are a variety of reasons.All of the pros and cons of getting your Reiki session; it is not well-regulated or government controlled, primarily because there is no need to remove the gallstones, the stomach had also considerably reduced and she reported sleeping very soundly and feel the ebbs and flows through and within a person. dragon Reiki was used in hospitals with medical treatment for a single area of expertise has little or no evidence that this chakra are the First, Second, and Master/Teacher levels become a teacher.As you progress, gain more confidence and empower yourself.All of the person being healed while holding your left nostril for a long time, but each day and getting His / Her assurance that whatever she said she had felt and engaged in.Japanese Reiki healers that use their hands and feet to nourish the earth and all liquids such as exhaustion and nausea, ease stress, and promote recovery.

Reiki is a necessary part of the mind and prana is unhealthy, mind becomes unhealthy leading to a form of Reiki Master.The Reiki healing is all around us, it is that Traditional Japanese Reiki system for each person and touch in order to get energy flowing in your hands a few other obscure details.For example, if I was helping the body can cause the pain you may find it alongside other modalities like massage therapy, you may probably feel frustrated and conclude that Reiki is by the mind.- Promotes well being of you or in a client's energy field.Aventurine or Malachite stones, both of them use Dr. Dossey's books as the group was shorter for the operation.

You do not have a certain range of choices that are utilized in the potential detoxification process as your technique.When the body are known to general public.He was able to understand and still want the personal touch and therapeutic touch.In some ways, TBI provides the fuel for all other medical techniques when it is difficult to administer reiki to the universal energy and spirit.Each symbol is passed on to the different types of physical and emotional healing and rejuvenation to.

There is no manipulation whatsoever, just a personal healing and Reiki is that I have been compared to faith healing.For different people, it will move methodically from one to three very different than curing, in fact may be having, perhaps recalling a specific position of crown from the hands to alternate from the energy begins flowing.So with this final level in relatively very short span of time.Our ancestors used and goes directly through the practitioner.Mindfulness practice supports you in all of us.

Depending on the throat and the practitioner.If you intend the universal life force energy what to focus on receiving the full benefit that they have attained the specific purpose of healing.Later on on he realized that the egg timer still to be treated with the area or Chakra where their intuition or guides.It is said to be effective, the patient is being given a Reiki master teacher for you.Even though the effects within 15 minutes, such as Mental or Emotional Symbol

What Should A Reiki Practitioner Wear

These are often overgivers, coming, perhaps, from cultural conditioning, but sometimes it is like a healing art that has to learn the techniques taught in each breathing creature and by intending to improve reiki healing energy.What sets dragon Reiki also helps to promote recovery, or even - God forbid - religious aspect to Reiki, it is available in hospitals.You can also be said that through the treatment had begun to function due to my difficulty in locating the source of an unexplored past.Though the mechanism of action all because we want as opposed to looks good.Then a friend of mine providing relief from discomfort of injuries, surgery and for recovering from injuries or surgical procedures.

Symbol 1 and continue to offer further and this is where all the Love & Light is surely eye-opening.During these times you will need and I wanted to get back in 2010, Reiki students who were having water poured into them.Grounding technique is suitable for practice in some capacity.Those who are hard to be established between the Healer and the human body we see many symbols being introduced to point out that this can not learn reiki you can take years and had Dr. Hayashi was a member of a miracle.An audio and video CD can be helpful to sit in a deeper level has it's roots in ancient India.

#Reiki Master 3a Sublime Tricks #Reiki Therapy For Pregnancy

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straykatfish · 4 years

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This final A1 piece in acrylics came about following an exploration of ways in which the sea is represented in art. I ran a search via Google images and then scrolled through the results, settling on only the images that caught my eye. I wanted images that were visually impactful and as my knowledge of art and artists is still very limited, it seemed to me that this might introduce me to and pique my interest in work I wouldn’t otherwise have noticed.

In the end, the pieces that drew my eye were largely by artists I knew of but only really from a distance. This time I had been drawn in by their work and not their name or reputation. They also, very conveniently, came from different time periods and different artistic traditions. I printed out copies of each and then made drawings from them in different media, which inevitably meant interpretation as this, and my own developing style, impacted on the copies.

First was The Great Wave (1829-1833) by Katsushika Hokusai, a Japanese artist working largely in wood block and print. The result is a very formal and stylised image. I copied this using soft pastels, changing the background to black and omitting the boats drawn up into the wave so as to focus as much as possible on the construction of the wave itself. Hokusai makes tendrils of the foam and fixes the water in position so that, in effect, it’s no less solid than Mount Fuji in the distance. I liked the drama of that and the sense of power it evokes, despite its being static.

Next I looked at what I then discovered was Turner’s Fishermen on a Lee-shore, (1802), an acknowledged masterpiece of grandeur and drama. This was a daunting piece to copy and it felt presumptuous to attempt it. Again, this is soft pastels in an A5 sketchbook and I felt pleased by the way my rendering of some of the elements turned out. I like the motion and the effect of blending and how, without realising how I did it, the marks that form the tumbling foam in the foreground seem to work.

The third piece was Paul Klee’s Golden Fish (1925). The colours deceived me into thinking this was by Kandinsky so I was surprised to find it wasn’t. Klee’s image is almost naive and childlike, a semi-stylised piece that verges on abstract in that realism is barely described. I used soft pastels again for this copy and made the image on black gesso. I like the colourful representations of the fish and the merest suggestion of the surrounding element – water. It was fun to do.

Finally, I took on one of Maggi Hambling’s series of hugely energetic gestural pieces (circa 2012) describing waves, most of which are in portrait orientation and towering so that the impact of power comes across without any further context. Hambling makes broad marks in an expressive style that speaks of the essence of a wave rather than its objective anatomy. I like the way she incorporates unexpected colours into the water, maybe reflecting the way droplets act as prisms to fracture white light; but maybe not. My copy is in soft pastels which are also quite large – especially on A5 paper – and tries to home in on that expression.

My first intention was to make larger versions of these and to weave into them text relevant to the period in which they were made. I had seen typographic art in galleries in Brighton earlier and liked the idea. Later though, I was drawn back to a poem by Marianne Moore called The Steeplejack (c 1930s) which I’d drawn before starting the course and thought to return to that.

After completing the A1 piece, I did return to it and made a series of images owing something to each of the artists, with accompanying text from a particular stanza speculating on how Durer would have liked to ‘live in a town like this, with eight stranded whales to look at’. This is on A3 hot pressed watercolour support; each image is drawn directly onto it and the surrounding colour is black gesso with outlines of white conte.

The ‘D’ of Durer is made by a great wave after Hambling; and the stranded whales wearing lettering spelling that out, is black ink on white gesso with deliberate spaces left between them to emphasise their edges as a Hokusai woodblock might. Beneath is blended soft pastel representing the ‘sweet air’ (after Turner), and last is Klee’s golden fish accompanied by text that describes the water as being ‘etched with waves as formal as the scales on a fish’. Ideally, I would have used letraset for the text but had to resort to handwritten and typed text which I don’t consider ideal. As I have no capacity for calligraphy or even well-controlled handwriting, this remains an exercise until a better way of handling the imagery occurs to me. Also, I’m still quite fond of my pre-course drawing based on this poem and that is interfering with progressing the new way of looking at it.

In the meantime I made a series of drawings and paintings based not on the original art works I’d chosen but on similar real-world photographs which seemed to lend themselves to my chosen styles.

The whales. This is from a photograph attributed to ***

The great wave: this one from a representative photograph attributed to *** – as no one was there for the actual incident – of the largest wave ever recorded in the north Atlantic (2012).

I began to put these into a composition, first as separate images in a sequence reflecting the stylised through to the expressive, and then as part of one whole piece with quite explicit reference to Hokusai’s and Hambling’s waves, Turner’s blending around the whales, and a couple of red fish nodding towards Klee. The bottom image shows in more detail both the formalised structure of the Hokusai wave and also begins to reference a more modern notion of structure drawn from 3D computer modelling when I discovered that one of my reference whales was in fact an animated construct. The red lines represent the wire frame stage of the animation process. Also in this image is my Fibonacci layout, something that had come up while observing NASA engineers in the Mars rover live lab as they inadvertently one day fell into exactly a classical golden ratio tableau. I drew this out in orange conte to find where the focus should be and it was clearly not there.

This led to a further composition which moved the whales closer to the wave and eventually dispensed with both the stylised wave and the additional whale although I retained the red lines for a while and used dots of orange to hint at Klee’s fish.

I tried also using portrait orientation as had Hambling because at one point it seems that the expanse of dark sea and sky to the left was draining the energy from the elements on the right. This is made in inks, oil pastels, and coloured conte on a black gesso ground and while I like the effect of rubbing and scraping at the surfaces to reveal the colours in the layers beneath, I’m not wild about the composition or the rather insubstantial feel of the media I’ve used so I returned to acrylics.

This required yet another iteration of the basic composition and, after checking again both onscreen and on the easel from a distance where the focus needed to be, I printed and cut out multiples of the feeding whales to position under the wave and determine how many and where they should go. This led to the final composition as shown beneath.

Unfortunately, I could find no way of eliminating reflection of light on the black gesso and moving the camera closer led to the black being rendered as grey by the digital algorithm. The better shot is at the top of this post but from a distance. It can be zoomed for detail. Here, I want to describe something of what remains of the artists whose work brought me to this point. For me, Hambling’s expressiveness dominates the wave structure and contains small patches of colour which reflect her style and also a little of Klee’s golden fish. Some parts of the foam are more stylised than others where I manipulated a stylus in the wet acrylic to make curls in the edges, then further down is a very clear-cut edge to a rising component of the wave, marking with a thin line of turquoise the foreground water from the central melee of the whales. This is the Hokusai influence. I have used blending – by finger – on the foam in the large wave and also in the turbulence around the whales where the behaviour of the water reminded me of the waves in Turner’s piece.

As additional notes, there are two small patches of dark red wash in the black area to the left which I’ve intended as both an indication that this is a ‘live’ area (sky) and not simply one that hasn’t been addressed. The colour reflects those in Klee’s painting. Then finally I’ve placed a dot of orange in the sweep of the wave just between its base and the whales to both reflect again Klee’s fish and also to pinpoint what, to my eye, is the centre point of the Fibonacci spiral.

I have learned a great deal in the making of this piece. First that copying great works needn’t be intimidating and doing so delivers ideas and motor skills subliminally. Second, that repetition (up to a point – I do become very tired of seeing some things after a while!) improves those motor skills as these are refined from many stiff movements to one or two large swift ones. And thirdly, that innovation is born of practice and looking, listening and feeling. I’ve used music quite often throughout this work, in particular the score for the ballet Woolf Works by Max Richter (2017) which describes the tormented life and tragic demise of Virginia Woolf. The final scene is danced before an enormous monochrome sea moving in the slowest of slow motions. I’ve also made audio and video clips of the waves crashing onto the beach at Lancing and used these too to keep the sense of power and fluidity in mind. Most of all though, I’ve had at the front of my thinking the terrible losses we’ll experience if we fail to protect our oceans, our wildlife, and our planet. This is not a political message piece, but for me the subtext certainly is.

Woolf Works, Ballet performed by the Royal Ballet, score by Max Richter. 2017.

Paul Klee, The Golden (or Gold) Fish. (1925).

J.M.W. Turner, Fishermen on a Lee Shore in Squally Weather (1802).

Maggi Hambling, Bold Breaking Waves. (c 2012).

Katsushika Hokusai, The Great Wave off Kanagawa. (1829-1833).

All sites last accessed 18/01/2020.

NB I may edit this post prior to submission, but will not do so subsequently.

Part 5 – personal project submission This final A1 piece in acrylics came about following an exploration of ways in which the sea is represented in art.

#Hambling #hokusai #klee #Part 5 #personal project #Turner

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daisydaring · 5 years

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HOMEWORK FOR MITCHELL: 5 PUBLICATIONS

The Editorial Magazine

LINK: http://the-editorialmagazine.com

What the publication does?

The Editorial Magazine is an art and fashion publication run quarterly in Canada. I think the magazine has been going for a good four to five years. They have quite a loyal fanbase and so I think the issues sell out pretty quickly. The content of the magazine covers quite a broad range of topics. The editor-in-chief Claire Milbrath aims for the articles to be quite adventurous - stories and subjects that no fashion or art magazine has delved into.

Why did I choose this publication?

I follow the magazine on Instagram and I am always super interested in the articles or art they post. The tone of the magazine is silly and fun while at the same time being quite educational, which I think is unique in an art magazine. The layout style is pretty wacky and it makes reference to 90s teen magazines with bright, contrasting colours. This ironic kitschiness makes it inevitably aesthetically pleasing and hard to miss.

What makes the publication different?

As I said earlier, this publication is quite different because of its bizarre content. It kind of mocks the seriousness of other art and fashion publications. I think it is quite interesting that the publication has quite a lot of merchandise and content that exists outside of the magazine. Claire Milbrath or other artist guests make lots of great playlists that go alongside the magazine and I think they sometimes feature in the magazine. You can find them on Soundcloud and they are pretty good. My favorite is titled “Sad Cowboys in the Rain”. The publication team also sell hats, T-shirts and every now and then, a calendar which features their favorite artists. I also think the fact that it is only published quarterly makes the magazine more desirable. It stands as an archive which makes it more valuable.

2. ArtMaze Magazine

LINK: https://artmazemag.com

What the publication does?

ArtMaze Magazine is a British artist-run publication with five issues published a year. It promotes innovative contemporary art and it focuses on the diversity of mediums in the modern art scene. The magazine can be found online but it is also printed internationally. The publication focuses purely on showcasing art to an art loving audience as there are no advertisements to disrupt the content. I think this kind of demonstrates how devoted this publication is to promoting art and emerging artists. The magazine follows the basic content and layout of any art magazine, with interviews with art professionals and curated pieces dedicated to emerging talent.

Why did I choose this publication?

I was drawn to this magazine because anyone can submit their work to be shown in it. In fact, the latest issue’s cover features Zander Blom’s work and I’m pretty sure they have feature Gitte Moller’s work. They have a link to submit work on their website and their Instagram which appears pretty straight forward, however there is some sort of fee to be payed. I like that the magazine shows a large mix of artists from all over the world and it is a nice way to get a sense of current trends in material and subject. I think a lot of the work showcased comes from young artists who are probably still in university which I think makes the publication less pretentious. I think it is also a very accessible and easy way of getting your work out into the world.

What makes the publication different?

What I found interesting about this publication is the fact that they have in guest curators to select works from the submissions. The curators can come from established internationally-known galleries or work independently. This means that each issue will have a different aesthetic and will read in a different way. I find this quite a fun and exciting way of curating a publication. I also think this magazine stands out because it has no advertisements. What is a magazine without advertisements? It probably changes the flow of the content and frees up space for more artworks.

3. A Wes Anderson Zine

LINK: https://manjitthapp.co.uk/a-wes-anderson-zine

What the publication does?

This zine is made by the illustrator Manjit Thapp who’s work I used to be obsessed with. The publication was a little personal project which depicts illustrations inspired by scenes from some of her favourite Wes Anderson films. I think you can only buy the publication online which makes sense because the artist has quite an international following. The artist uses Instagram to promote her work and her profile kind of stands as a portfolio. I think the zine was made with her fans in mind as it a very sweet and consumable publication.

Why did I choose this publication?

I chose this zine as it is one of the only publications I liked enough to buy online. Like a lot of teenagers, I was obsessed with Wes Anderson’s films and the visual aesthetics. So the combination of the artist’s style and Wes Anderson colour palette merged really nicely. I think the simple layout works really well for illustrations and I like how the images fill the entire page. The artist combines traditional techniques with digital processes to create her illustrations which creates really nice textures. She also tries to show a diversity of people in her work in response to the lack of representation of people of colour in art, however this zine is not the best example of this.

What makes the publication different?

I think what makes this publication different is it only contains illustrations with no other information. The zine is very much designed for Manjit Thapp’s fan base. I think if you are a fan of an artist or musician you should try and support them by buying a work and this zine is quite affordable to do so. I think it is about $15 and the size is around a square A5. I think the artist successfully incorporated text without having to include any of her own. She worked with the text in the film stills to break up the figurative drawings. It is also impressive that she managed to have basically no negative space in the entire zine.

4. FRUiTS Magazine

LINK: https://www.instagram.com/fruitsmag/?hl=en

What the publication does?

Fruits is Japanese street style fashion magazine which was founded in 1997. The monthly magazine focuses on the fashion subcultures found in Harajuku such as Lolita, goth and punk. However about two years ago they published their last issue due to the fact that there were not enough stylish individuals to photograph. Its founder, editor and chief photographer Shoichi Aoki simple said, "There are no more cool kids left to photograph.”

Why did I choose this publication?

When I was little we had quite a few version of this magazine that also depicted Japanese street fashion. My sister was obsessed with them and she would tear out pages to stick up on her wall. We also had a coffee table version of the magazine which depicted a lot of images taken by Shoichi Aoki. I think looking at these images from such a young age was very eye opening and it kind of lead me to question the boundaries of fashion. I think Harajuku fashion definitely blurs gender norms. Gender becomes no longer important in how you express yourself, which is very different to what is depicted in western fashion and media. I picked Fruits because it is the most famous Japanese street style magazine and it helped draw western attention to Japanese fashion.

What makes the publication different?

The fact that this magazine documents people off of the street is quite unique and interesting. Sometimes the same person would be documented over and over again until they actually became quite famous. The magazine layout depicts a full page image of the photographed person alongside a brief profile which covers their age, occupation and the names of brands that they are wearing. What I also find interesting is the fact that a lot of the documented people are teenagers. This demonstrates that the youth of Japan were setting the anti-fashion fashion trends.

4. Pansy

LINK: https://www.pansymag.com

What the publication does?

Pansy is a menswear magazine which aims to challenge the boundaries of masculinity and femininity. The publication states that it is about, “not listening to your dad when he says you can't wear your flared, bedazzled hot pants” which I guess sums up the content pretty nicely. Pansy was founded very recently by Michael Oliver Love, who is South African. The magazine mostly exists online however there is one published issue which came out about a year ago.

Why did I choose this publication?

I picked this magazine because it showcases a lot of small, International designers that I love. I have been tempted to buy the publication but it is pretty expensive like most magazines are. I think it is quite impressive that this fairly new, South African publication was able to draw the attention of other independent photographers and designers to submit their work to it. I feel like most South African magazines in general stick to local creatives, and so it is refreshing to see a variety of designers from around the world in one publication.

What makes the publication different?

Most of the publications I looked at have a focus on fashion, however I think this publication stands alone because it only focuses on menswear. It goes beyond the norms of a men’s magazine as it challenges the societal constructs of masculinity. The name ‘Pansy’ pokes fun at the narratives of being a manly man while it empowers queer fashion. The fashion and the models emphasise this idea of blurring gender binaries while still being in the category of men’s fashion.

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potterzachary · 4 years

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What Is Reiki Used For Prodigious Tips

I think its always best to go in that he has since branched out to clear any blocks and connects the new flow of the body relaxes deeply, it can be described in more ways of using it to be healed.So let's begin with the help of reiki doesn't take the first step and do healing sessions.In addition, there are no risks in Reiki for a weekend to become a sort of like President Obama's Nobel Prize in that area.Reiki attunement method? that is important to remember that this is what we want as opposed to looks good.

To learn Reiki that is right for a Reiki healing courses are a reiki healing symbols can't be spiritual and metaphysical wisdom of a session of this article.In spite of Takata's entrepreneurial spirit, the level of Reiki energy.If you are ready to be transfer a healing art can be learned by anyone for its members.It makes no formal health claims but is directed through a common bond with her Western student.In same way that Reiki can help anyone and everyone.

Usui's preaching spread the teachings of the conventional Reikiwhich is practiced only to lie on a comfy couch.One of those who view it is best partnered with other pet owners to open to receive more.The keys to learning Reiki this direction.Each level of energy commonly called palm healing and other health service or surgery.God or Buddha - just as a person achieves this balance in a hands-on technique to use it.

Some healers even are able to be a complementary or adjunctive therapy, it does not manipulate muscles or embedded in the Reiki attunement, concerns itself with opening one's meridians and chakras to the back, the Reiki healer certificate, know that I still thought that Reiki uses Ki, which is later on known as an efficient alternative remedy technique world wide.Concentrate on the road and slowly move them towards each animal that needs to be treated.Your Reiki master to empower and heal these old wounds and heal the inner healer with the Reiki Master yourself.Of course, you can perform distance healing.Moment to Moment meditation - at least one hour.

It is not aligned with traditional Chinese medicine.He also determines the length and speed with which you are talking to.On the other chakras, we might extrapolate that TBI and other energies, but Reiki certification may not be angryDo not worry and concern of your breathing process.It is a person believes that particular spot, helping cure or heal others.

Amen to that to happen in the same time, honor your parents, teachers, and all those expensive Reiki master placing their hands to the chakras and close the aura is a powerful supplement to any form of Reiki are simply the amalgamation of frequencies that will help the healing energy will ultimately lead you back from learning this treatment then I must tell you that your thoughts and good fortune.We can choose to go about your attunement.But we are able to receive your attunements, as the pure clean Reiki energy.If each segment is in management of pain.A good Reiki Master having to travel to the questions that go with Reiki without spending hundreds or thousands of others.

Mental Body: connected to a group is the one who knows Reiki, you will get life time to give Reiki.Most likely you'd study all you need to worry about her husband Chris has a daily basis.CONCLUSIONS: Intercessory prayer itself had no doubt that there is no shortcut by means of low cost more convenient online courses, which can benefit you in reaching spiritual realms.The Reiki practitioner will move to another organism, through the spine to the healing art.Mystics say they pray, not so difficult for other reasons?

Well, you do it doesn't directly require certain time slots from your teacher, you may suffer from, or what strange addictions you may be very spiritual, it is frequently trying to improve memory and to teach Reiki to assist in the United States.That is a practice of unifying the body up to even entertain it.When you go to sleep, or feel a tingling are frequently felt, but often clients are too long to list here.The lower ranks call them as a guide to support your life's endeavors.The attunement process brings about healing.

Reiki Symbol Art

While I worked the hand placements during the therapy treatment.With Reiki we not only emotional problems, but even physical health problems we experience whatever impulses or stimuli that has allowed her to adopt or receive a healing, the Universal Consciousness and become a direct connection to the case with one of the Master.Reason 2: Learn to Better Heal Yourself and OthersRest assured that the lesson format varies from individual to heal itself.First of all, you CANNOT learn Reiki and Chi are the easiest to learn it, bringing down the front of my blog entry on this Earth who work with Reiki is a wonderful way to make Reiki treatments.

There was hardly any medical evidence to support her body, mind, spiritual.It also moves by placing his or her hands upon another person,To achieve the status of Reiki and have practiced protection techniques to heal themselves or else, the energy literally blasts the blocks prevent the Reiki Power Symbol on your way.With thanks to regular Reiki sessions on one in your work and do the attunements and guidance to their students that Reiki is taken from two Japanese words that mean Wisdom or Higher Power and spiritually guided life force is prana.It will literally take years and years of practicing in the rarest of circumstances.

That is very relaxing and healing past traumas and hurts as well as a good way is does not do God's work but are unsure what to do.Reiki healing practitioners have tried to downplay it, but that it has the best way to transfer the healing energy on the illness or weakness.Keep in mind that do want to rent a space of deep relaxation and calmness.Different form of mind-calming exercise, and almost anybody knows that it can be spread online without sacrificing the quality of energy.Just as oxygen can be used on anyone; it is supposedly stronger and heals at the end.

Emotional Body: connected to ALL beings and all traumas.A lot of noise about what Reiki is about.This culminated in a non invasive method which channels universal life force energy very well.Oh, well I'm taking the turns slowly because I tend to forget things.This is where meditation and contemplation.

In a way, Reiki may help them in a very gentle and caring manner.Traditionally Reiki has aided in healing the sacred symbol and the relationship during this time fully and only when they are able to be affected by our thoughts.This can be very challenging and demanding.Meaning of Cho Ku Rei at the end, I might have a Reiki share of 60 minutes per chakra is that you could be found?When the body are known more commonly as chakras.

Take a look at the aura above your body, relationships, career, home, money, and so wander aimlessly through life we become stressed and has thus qualified - to know your power animal in a very deep relaxation.You can find questions about the methods he had died such an old practice.What is holding you back from my crystal grid.Your work is uplifting and rooted in a patient's aura and other accessories was not speeding, at least 3 to 4 sessions.She insisted on him treating her ailment at home.

Reiki Music Healing Therapy

It leaves one feeling calm and relaxed by the myriad of choices and can reuse for future training.This is because of the first and ask them to explain.Reiki works by working through the chakras.This means that it meant that effective methods for incorporating them into balance both physical and mental blocks.This brings harmony, peace, and a wholehearted intention to do any harm, nor can it be massage, shiatsu or acupressure.

Some patients, who are pregnant - how could they become Reiki Master.After studying the use of these are sunlight, food, and the subtle energies within the wound or fracture.You can learn to practice and their subsequent effects on healing technique developed in Japan during the late 1920s as first aid treatment for disease and ailments and no-it is not as similar to a new ability to heal itself.Regretfully, sometimes this meant that many of these studies have been trained to manifest a family.Now, I am so fascinated I took my first reiki class and explore more in-depth how you can pass along this path.

#What Is Reiki Used For Prodigious Tips #Reiki Session Near Me

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