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#thank you for a great series honestly one of the most solid from start to finish
josyuss · 2 years
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king
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maochira · 1 year
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YOUR HCS ARE GREAT, SUN. IMAGINE READER DATING SHIDOU RYUSEI AND THE PARENT FIGURES FIND OUT OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP WHEN SHIDOU MAKES A COMMENT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAINING ABOUT READER.
HELLO ANON DID YOU LOOK RIGHT INTO MY BRAIN WHILE I WAS ASLEEP OR HOW DID YOU KNOW I WROTE SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR MYSELF WITH MY BLUE LOCK OC AND NOA LITERALLY 2 WEEKS AGO???? Also if you like Shidou here's some relationship headcanons I posted about him recently!!!
Also thank you very much!!! I'm so happy people are enjoying my headcanons!!!
Masterlist of the father figure series (I recommend reading at least the first part before this)
Tags: gn!reader, reader is dating Shidou (based), father figures are confused and concerned (also based), I love Shidou so much thanks for letting me write him indirectly, occasional swear words, I get very feral over Shidou so my writing style is less in order in this one, Shidou my beloved cockroach (can you guys tell I love Shidou very very much? Please request more with him)
Noel Noa
-how did you and Shidou end up together? No fucking idea but it's Shidou so let's not ask too many questions alright?
-Bastard München vs PxG match. Shidou says something. Uh. Well. Something Shidou would say. RIGHT WHILE LOOKING INTO YOUR DIRECTION.
-Noa is playing on the field right now. And when he realizes what Shidou said was directed at you. Uhm.
-let's say Noa had to hold himself back from fouling him
-as soon as Noa leaves the field he walks to you and asks if you're alright and if you're uncomfortable by what Shidou said and. AND. THEN YOU...
-you tell Noa you and Shidou are dating and he can barely process the information. How? What? WHY??? All that running through his head
-despite the match still going on, Noa starts asking you all sorts of questions about Shidou. He tries to stay calm and you can hear his voice is a little more strict than usual
-he's so concerned that out of all Blue Lock players, your boyfriend is FUCKING SHIDOU RYUSEI
-but you reassure him it's okay and the relationship is going well
-get used to that reassuring because Noa will ask literally EVERY DAY multiple times about your relationship
Chris Prince
-Manshine City vs PxMatch, halftime break
-Shidou comes up to you and says something Shidou would say to you, while Chris is standing a few meters away, talking to Loki
-"LOKI YOU LET YOUR TEAMMEMBER SPEAK LIKE THAT???"-Chris, probably
-then the overprotective dad mode kicks in
-Chris walks over to you and Shidou, giving him a death stare. Shidou just grins
-to you, the whole situation is kind of funny so you burst out in laughter while Chris starts telling Shidou he should NOT say things like that about you
-"Oh, but they like it."-Shidou.
-Chris then looks at you and. Honestly, you're slowly getting embarrassed. You tell him Shidou is your boyfriend
-Chris is so confused because??? How??? So almost as an instinct his response is an immediate "no he isn't" which causes you to get more embarrassed and Shidou to laugh his ass off
-when the halftime break is over, Chris goes on the field to play and he's playing more aggressively than usual, which confuses you a bit
-later, when you're back in your room Chris starts asking you all sorts of questions about your relationship and it takes you a while to get him to calm down and not be overly worried about you anymore
Lavinho
-FC Barcha vs PxG match
-Shidou said all sorts of stuff during the match, and afterwards, he came to you and says something like "all of that was dedicated to you" AND LAVINHO CAN NOT BELIEVE HIS EARS
-probably starts yelling at Shidou for a solid minute while you try to get Lavinho's attention
-you calmly explain that it's okay because Shidou is your boyfriend and-
-Lavinho can not believe his ears (part 2)
-he takes you back to your room and makes you explain yourself. Most importantly he wants to know why you didn't tell him earlier about your relationship
-"Shidou said not to tell anyone because he thinks it's funnier if everyone finds out on their own."-you (took this directly from my OC x Shidou thing HEH)
-honestly Lavinho thinks that's funny as well so it's okay for him
-he'd like Shidou's sense of humour I think?? So he actually comes to terms with you and your boyfriend quite fast
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maxwellatoms · 7 months
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Congratulations, one of your characters made a cameo appearance in my midlife crisis!
This takes a little time to explain, but on the art web site FurAffinity, living users are represented with a tilde, while living impaired users get an infinity symbol in front of their names. I was at a low point in my life when I drew this, and thought about what would happen when the Grim Reaper eventually closed the loop.
Anyway. This was supposed to be for questions, so I'll ask one. The career of an animator seems to be nomadic... they'll spend some time developing a series for Cartoon Network, then move to Disney, then migrate to Nickelodeon, only to return where they started (cough cough CH Greenblatt cough).
Any reason, or reasons, why this happens? Honestly, I have a difficult time understanding why anyone would go to Nickelodeon to start a show, given the way so many artists have been treated by the network in the past. Do all the networks act like this?
Just curious. Thanks for your time, and for the years of entertainment.
You guys look great together, but no loop closings please!
Gotta bilde the tilde, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, yeah... Animators all know that Other Studios have Other Problems. It's not at all uncommon to hear someone say, "I'm about ready for new problems".
I spent most of my career (until the wonders of the recent mega-merger) at WB, so I've really only known WB problems (with a light sprinkling of Disney Troubles). I've asked friends like C.H. Greenblatt and Jessica Borutski about the long-haul at Nick, so I have a basic idea what the culture is like. But if I land at Nick in five years, it could be a completely different set of circumstances and maybe even a completely different set of employers.
I know maybe three studio execs with solid careers who've spent the majority of their time at one studio. Most of the time, the low level executive track is even more of a meat grinder than the creative track. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that the middle-management meat grinder is the cause of the creative meat grinder.
The job of an executive is to make impressive decisions that dazzle their superiors and shareholders. If you've just been hired to replace someone and have inherited a stack of 32 animation bibles in various stages of development with assorted creators, are you really going to just continue going through that pile? I mean, you're replacing someone for a reason, right? So probably better just to toss that whole pile of animation bibles in the trash and start again. Because you're going to look like an idiot if even a single one of those fails. And if it succeeds, it just makes your predecessor look smart, which steals some of your shine. So you axe those creators and all of their support goes away and the cycle begins anew.
During my career, these executive turnovers (and the following creative turnovers) happen about every four or five years. With a little luck, it takes (in my experience) about two years to get a show through development to pilot, and then another year to decide if it's going to be a series. In short, there is precious little time where a creator/EP can interface with and rely on a competent executive to champion them. If you don't have that, you're not going anywhere.
I'm not sure how anything gets made. From the inside, development is always trickle-down sweaty desperation. I guess somehow, every now and then, a neurodivergent 23 year old slips through the cracks and makes a kid's show about The Grim Reaper. It could all be luck.
There are definitely execs who love animation and have made it their life's work. But there are also people who just got into the business as, say, a personal assistant and hasn't watched an animated cartoon since they were six, but suddenly find themselves in control of many millions of dollars worth of IP. There are execs who think of entertainment only as a commodity and who literally don't understand why creatives feel so passionate about "just cartoons" but will remind you "how lucky you are to work in entertainment" if you ask for a raise.
In short, the problems are usually management related. And those problems are mostly the same across studios, with the occasional Infamous Despot you want to avoid at all costs. The good news is that said Despot probably won't last five years.
There are perks at the different studios too. Proximity to decent food. Occasional amusement park passes. Friday morning bagels. The sort of stuff that hopefully nobody is taking a job specifically for.
At the end of the day, there are three or four big studios we can work for. There are also a smattering of smaller indie studios which... make content for those three or four other studios anyway.
The long and short of it is that there's just not a lot of choice where we can work or who we work for. We definitely talk to each other and the studio culture does weigh heavily when you're deciding where to go. Assuming you have the luxury of choice. It all kind of sucks, and it all kind of sucks in the same way. But sometimes you get bagels.
Stay Frisky!
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stormblessed95 · 3 months
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Hi how are you fine I hope,...umm do you have a list of Manga or Anime that I could read or watch? If you have a list to start off with on your blog I would greatly appreciate. I used to read manga all the time but life happened so if you don't mind thank you...Happy Holidays.
I'm still new and haven't seen so much! Here is what I'll do, I'll give you a list of what I've seen and what I thought about it though!! It'll go like this:
Media Title (version I've seen it in, anime or manga, etc): my thoughts
and then you can take them as recs or not lol
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood (anime): SO GOOD. It was the second anime I watched ever and it's what really got me hooked. Lol it's just pure good solid story telling and is just truly amazing in every way. I love it so much
Ouran High School Host Club (anime): it was fine. Lol good moments, funny moments, cute moments. Lots of weird ass tropes that I didn't love lol. Good palate cleanser but not my favorite and not one I continued to really spend time thinking about after
Demon Slayer (anime & manga): a new obsession after I watched it. I had to then go read it because I was obsessed with the story and couldn't wait. The most beautiful animation too. Tragic and hopeful and amazing. Made me cry a few times and does flashback so well lol
Yuri on Ice (anime): so good. So cute. So gay. I have posts on this anime on here from when I was watching it. Lmao I'll just link that here. I'm still obsessed.
Spy x Family (anime & manga): I actually read the manga first and then found the anime and it's just so wholesomely wonderful in every aspect. I love the story so much. I love the romance. The slowburn is so slow is painfully good. I ship it SO HARD. The domestic family life of a Spy, assassin and telepath is everything I didn't know I needed
Buddy Daddys (anime): 2 dude (they make a good ship too honestly lol) assassins accidental baby acquisition. It's as funny as it sounds with some surprisingly dark and sad and emotional backstories and moments. Just a really great time. Short and quick watch too. Link to my rec post too
The Yakuzas Guide to Babysitting (anime): it was okay. Lol cute and fun but nothing that stuck with me. Found this one off my Spy Family and Buddy Daddy's high while looking for something similar lol
The Ice Guy and his Cool Female Colleague (anime): cute and fun but man some of the episodes dragged and were a little slow. The romance was just okay too but had some really adorable moments
Sasaki to Miyano (anime): SO CUTE. God the whole premise is the BL romance and the slow burn is soooo slow but istg. The tropes are so good too. The importance to consent is beautiful. Literal BL tropes all over the place as the MCs is a BL fan and introduced his LI to BL lol my rec post here. And my post over a clip of the new movie too.
A Silent Voice (anime movie): excellent movie. Sad as fuck. I cried so much. Lol all the trigger warnings though. Please read the trigger warnings
Your Name (anime movie): excellent movie. I still think about it all the time. I just read a book that pulled inspo from this movie. I had tears STREAMING DOWN MY FACE at the end.
Sk8 the Infinity (anime): so good. So wholesome. So gay (it's canon gay, fight with the wall, I don't care lol) just a little show about skateboarding. Who knew it would be SO GOOD. My rec post. My matchablossom brain rot post
Naurto, Naruto Shippuden (anime): OBSESSED. I watched this show with my partner as part of his "I'm introducing you to anime" series he has for me. Lol and clearly he was going to introduce me to the classics. Yes One Piece and Bleach are on his lists for us to watch together too.
Haikyuu!! (anime & manga): Look, with this being the 3rd sports anime I watched, I'm convinced all sports animes create so many ships low-key on purpose. Lmfao in all honesty though, it's so good. Never in my life would I have imagined getting so invested into volleyball. But here I am.
Jujutsu Kaisen (anime and I'm starting the manga now too): IM SO OBSESSED ITS NO LONGER FUNNY AND THIS SHOW IS SO MEAN LATELY. I had to go buy the manga because I CANNOT HANDLE WAITING FOR NEW EPISODES OH MY GOD. WISH ME LUCK READING I GUESS My post
Bungo Stray Dogs (anime): I started this show for Dazai. Found him on TikTok. Stayed for the weird ass powers and the absolute utter nonsense that is this whole world. Nothing makes sense and we are all just here for the vibes. Yes I fucking love it, thanks lmfao My post
Link Click (donghua): started this on a whim because I got a random rec video on my algorithm and found it on Crunchyroll and I was told it was gay. There is so little gayness in the grand scheme of this show I felt so unprepared for what it was. Lmao I have never in my life had a show hit me so hard in my emotions off the bat EVERY SINGLE TIME. BUT ITS SO GOOD?? I told my husband I start each episode going "so how are you making me cry this time link clink??" The twists twist so hard it hurts, but in a way I love. I need the next season like now. my God.
Blue Eye Samurai (anime sort of): my NEWEST obsession. I NEED SEASON 2 PLEASE. I said sort of about anime because it is animated and it's set in Japan, but it's not from Japan so it's not really an anime.... Lol but it's on Netflix. It's not for children. And it's so good. Go watch it. Only 8 episodes. The story is immaculate. My post
Inuyasha (manga): read the manga and thoroughly enjoyed myself as a super fast and fun read!! Really just there a good time lmao
Yona of the Dawn (manga): SO CUTE and yet intense too. My sister put me on this one as one of the first manga series I started reading and I just ate it all up. If we ignore some of the weirder tropes it throws at you in the beginning, it's just fabulous lol I love it
Mo Dao Zu Shi (donghua): read the books, watched the donghua, watched the live action too lol. The brain rot is SO REAL. Like these characters live rent free forever. Thanks. You can find tons of posts for MDZS and TGCF(heaven Official's blessing) in my master list on my other blog @moonofthesurvivor
Heaven Official's Blessing (donghua): SAME AS MDZS THATS ALL LMAO
No. 6 (anime): loved it, sci-fi dystopian madness and so gay. My rec post here
Given (anime): so gay.... So sad.... So healing... That kiss though! That backstory! The songs are actually so good! I love that it's just a band full of gay people. My post here too
Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess (anime): politics meets isekai (done well) meets lesbian romance, meets magical epic battles and showdowns, meets badass ladies saving the world. Literally everything you could want
Hunter x Hunter (anime): I am watching this one now and have been for a little bit. This is the current one I'm watching with my partner in his list of animes he wants to introduce me too. I'm having SO MUCH FUN with this one but I also am hurting a little. Lol yes he warned me about the ants. Yes I'm not having fun with this arc. Thanks for asking. I can report back when we finish 😂
And for those who will want to know yes, I've got lots on my list to still watch and work through. Lol I'm always open to taking more suggestions though too!!
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blackjack-15 · 3 months
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Hi I just got through reading all of your liveblogging posts about The Bear! It was a delight to read all of your real-time predictions that ended up coming true, you really had this show’s number from the jump lol. Do you have any predictions for next season? Most fans think Carm and Syd are headed for an explosive confrontation, but are any other storylines, scenes, character beats, etc. that you think we might see?
This is super nice of you, anon! thank you so much for following my chaotic ramblings XD and hey it's a lot easier to know what might happen in the show when they've got such competent writers/directors! tho they surprised me a fair number of times (i don't think i'll be over the interplay/intercuts of claire, carmy, and syd at the end of 2X07/start of 2X08 any time soon), which keeps things fun
as far as predictions for next season...i think it's hard to say without having the first five minutes of S3 in front of me (they do such a good job setting up the tone and conflicts of the season in the first little bit of S1 and S2!), but i've got
a couple things i'm pretty sure about:
-more REM songs (only thing i'm 100% positive on)
-more kitchen/cooking time for our mains, especially carmy. last season's renovations + cliche john hughes nonsense kept him mostly out of the kitchen from ep 3 on, and i'm 99% sure he'll be back with a knife in hand come S3
-nat giving birth to a girl (i'd love it but am not solid on predicting she'd be named some derivative of 'mary' (or a name meaning 'victory', such as nicole), given the berzatto family prayer).
i know the temptation for her to have a boy named after michael is strong b/c it's TV, but this series (rightly, in my mind) tends away from Lionizing the Dead simply b/c they're dead, and after spending S2 breaking down mikey (and showing mikey and nat's relationship, which like ever berzatto relationship wasn't super healthy), i'm hopeful and trusting the writers to avoid this. it wouldn't make me hate the show or anything, but it would honestly disappoint me unless done in a way (i honestly can't think of what way) that would make it okay. plus pete kinda screams girldad to me, and seeing carmy and richie with a little niece would be incredibly precious
-sydcarmy dustup of some kind, but i doubt it'll be as explosive as we've seen in the past, mostly b/c syd was stressed but exhilarated by success at friends & family and b/c i think carmy's (lack of) mental health will be brought up in relation to it
-solidifying of a secondary staff at the bear to let our regulars breathe a bit and have the bear feel like a real, functioning kitchen, not a mom and pop greasy spoon -- this started at the end of s2 but it needs to continue
-cicero setting the tone of the first few months of The Bear (and probably his commentary on carmy's relationships) -- we're not out of the realm of Complete and Utter Failure yet, lads, and the money is gonna come due -- whether by the guise of Friendly Uncle Jimmy visiting with Nat, or the mask of Cicero the Loan Shark coming out in full force
-art storyline with carmy figuring out what will replace the awful painting (i'm going to guess it'll be something of his design, but it'll at least be something he feels represents him, given the comments last season)
-major theme of carmy figuring out what he wants vs what others want for him. him analyzing his relationship with claire by himself -- or, my preference, talking it out with Tina, who he seems to be able to open up to pretty well -- is part of this
things that have to happen but i have no idea how/to what resolution:
-carmy and richie addressing the "donna" fight/comment. it's gonna be multi-ep (neither one is great at complimenting the other to their face and tend to do it behind the other's back, but richie is especially bad at it), and it's gonna hurt.
-pete spilling the beans to Someone (not nat but not sure who) about donna being at f&f
-resident claire's poor little hurt feelings from trespassing into the kitchen and eavesdropping on then leaving carmy in the middle of a really, really bad attack (yes i'm phrasing it that way because it's true <3)
-something about tiff's upcoming wedding (marcus getting contracted/recommended to make dessert for it would be painful but oh so crunchy)
-carmy meets syd's dad. he's proud of her and her success and you know he's gonna want to meet her business partner
nebulous predictions:
-ebra's storyline with him carving out a niche at the sandwich window getting screentime
-tina coming more into her own and maybe getting a designated storyline (about what? no idea)
-more gary nonsense. man lives the wildest life and we see almost none of it
-carmy working through what cooking means to him and what it means in relation to the bear/the berzattos/sydney
-nat's water breaks/she goes into labor at the bear. not sure the baby will actually be born there (i'd guess probably not on the whole), but the process will Begin there
-syd distraction/love interest storyline. not even her dating particularly, just her attention being Split and having the shoe be on the other foot for carmy as they navigate what being business partners means outside the kitchen
-fak time. he's a little uncertain, a little wandering in the restaurant, and he was a major...antagonistic force, let's say? in S2. his place in the world of the bear needs clarification and harmony, and his identity needs solidity and sureness
things that aren't impossible/improbable but would be a Little Treat for Me specifically:
-chef jess being invited to the bear by richie (let the man have people outside the bear and his kid/ex! garrett may come too i'll allow it)
-the return of louie my beloved (helping out at the sandwich window? he makes a good foil to Young Carmy, so i would like to see him more -- carmy in Full Mentorship would be a thing to see, and it would be a being-better-than-mikey-was-to-him thing as well. it's narratively crunchy and provides lots of room for growth, but can be done in ways that don't involve louie, so that's why it's here)
-syd's best meal + comment about being a regular at The Beef coming back. do i think they eventually will? yes. am i aware that my desire for them is prolly stronger than it narratively should be be predicted? also yes. could this easily be combined with carmy meeting syd's dad? yes and i will break the sound barrier
-carmy drawing a dish syd comes up with. a hand-drawn menu for the bear would be Incredible, and syd's face looking at a sistine-chapel-style drawing of a dish she came up with? tremendous, chef
thing that i want to be brought up more than Anything but don't predict it'll be touched (at least directly):
-carmy yelling for syd during his attack in the walk-in (i'm sorry you can't have the man yelling "MARCUS GET ME SYD. GET ME SYD" and expect me not to want it on a billboard
that got long, sorry anon, but there we go -- 4am rambling off-the-cuff about S3...only months to go, hopefully....
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minijenn · 3 months
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Jen Tortures Herself With Every Dreamworks Animated Movie Ever: Madagascar
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So I haven't seen this movie in years, even tho I used to watch it all the time as a kid. And let me tell ya'll.. it's even funnier than I remembered it being! Like seriously, I think they strained any opportunities for humor out of Shark Tale and put it all into this movie, because I honestly think it might even rival Shrek 2 as Dreamworks' best comedy (so far at least).
So what's the story? Marty the zebra, Alex the lion, Gloria the hippo, and Melman the giraffe life at the Central Park Zoo, until Marty has himself a Midlife Crisis and through a series of comedic disasters (involving a certain group of iconic Penguins), lands the squad in the wilds of Madagascar. Chaos ensues and its some of the funniest chaos Dreamworks has had to offer (again so far).
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The characters are all great here. There isn't a single one of them I didn't like. Marty is a goofball, who genuinely has some really solid moments of friendship with Alex, who definately has the most Dramatic Conflict in the movie thanks to his carnivorous instincts coming out. Melman and Gloria are also pretty great (I swear, Melman's whole hypocondriact thing got some of the biggest laughs from me), and so are the Penguins (they don't get a lot of screen time, but they shine when they do) and King Julian, who is probably the funniest character in the damn movie, and that's saying something given this cast.
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The animation leans into the comedy so well, with a lot of rapid movements and insanely well-timed slapstick. The highly stylized character designs lend themselves well to that too, even if I think there were a few frames where they looked... a little uncanny as a result. The soundtrack is also really solid! A lot less pop songs this time around, but the few that are there fit really well into the story (I Like to Move It Move It is a certified Bop by the way, fucking fight me).
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The story itself works really well. It's simple, tightly focused on developing its characters, and that's really what I like to see! It really hones in on the friendship between Marty and Alex especially, and the dynamic they have is a really fun one to watch play out. There were a few moments of actually compelling drama too, especially heading into the third act.
Something interesting about this movie is that I think its the first Dreamworks movie to not really have any actuall villain? I mean sure, there's the fossa, but they're not really characters, more just an obstacle that needs to be taken care of in the final climax above all else. Instead, the plot is driven by conflict between the main characters, something that I think is really fresh for a Dreamworks movie. It's also, aside from Prince of Egypt, the second Dreamworks movie to not be driven by a "because woman" plot, so that also shakes their usual formula up really nicely.
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As a whole, Madacasgar is great! I'm very surprised its not more ingrained into meme culture, because it has the kind of humor that I think really appeals to everyone. Check it out if you haven't, cause its a very solid start to the second of Dreamworks many, many ongoing series.
Overall Rating: 8/10
Verdict: Eat Ass Everyday
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Previous Review (Shark Tale)
Next Review (Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit)
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linklethehistorian · 1 year
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Linkle, I must know, what are your thoughts on Mori as a character? His actions and motivations?? Id love to hear your opinion, btw that last chapter of cherish was great!! I loved it so much!!!
Ahhh hello there, anon, thank you so much! 🥺😭💕💖🥰 It’s such an honor to get a message like this from someone who is reading the fic. 💕🥺💖🥰💕🥺💖🥰 I’m so glad you liked Chapter 12; it definitely has one of my own personal favorite scenes, tbh (but I won’t take up your time talking about that right now lol). Having a fan base for Cherish is truly lovely; I’m so blessed by each and every one of you. 🥺💖
As for your question, I’m always happy to share!
Before I say anything at all on my opinion, though, I’m first going to make it clear that I am completely setting aside that one…particular matter that has been discussed to death by the fandom for the moment, because I fear far too many people tend to forget that it is entirely possible to make any remotely positive commentary on a fictional character without that actually somehow meaning you condone his alleged…preferences. For the people in the back that need to hear this out loud to be set at ease: I in absolutely no way do.
Now with that out of the way for a bit, let’s talk about the rest of Mori. I’ll throw it under the cut, though, both for length and for potential spoilers of multiple light novels (Dark Era, Fifteen, Storm Bringer, etc.) and obviously the manga up to his last appearance in current arc. Oh and obviously the typical Mori-related trigger subjects. Yeah.
Honestly, on a general note, these days I think Mori as a character is super cool; I’m not sure where precisely I’d rate him on the list of characters because I honestly like nearly every character in BSD and think they’re pretty awesomely written, but on a general scale of 1 to 10, he’s a very solid 8 or 9 for me.
My first introduction to him was…admittedly not at all the best possible representation of him.
When I first joined the fandom, I began my journey through the series by watching the anime adaption of Dark Era, at the behest of a dear friend who said I would be best off doing so before I watched the rest of the show (of which there were only two seasons at the time) and then reading the manga, in order to get the best and most meaningful experience; it is not something I remotely regret, and in honesty, I would probably wholeheartedly recommend any new people to do the same, if they intended to start with the anime. Regardless, though, this decision did have the impact of making me immediately strongly dislike Mori as a person from the very start, given what he did to the orphans, Oda, and Dazai by extension.
Really, I wouldn’t say that I came to see him in any particular shades of grey motivation-wise until I watched the episode titled Double Black, in which there was the first reference of what would have become of the Port Mafia and Yokohama as a whole had he not usurped the throne to the organization so many years ago.
After that, I began to look at him with a bit more understanding and curiosity, horrible and ruthless though his nature may still mostly have been. Fifteen (specifically the light novel, NOT the anime) — which it should be said, I think is the best existing canon representation of Mori in terms of giving us a good look at his thoughts and motivations — only amplified that outlook and interest for me, and I think it alone is largely to thank for why I enjoy him as a character as much as I do in current time.
Although he’s definitely not someone I’d feel particularly comfortable writing an entire story solely around — as I don’t believe I’m expert nor absurdly passionate enough to do so compared to some genuine Mori fans that I know are out there out there — I nevertheless really, really do enjoy writing him, especially in Cherish (which is only the second time I’ve written him, if I’m honest — at least, in anything I’d consider publishing, anyway).
There’s just so much potential in him plot and personality-wise; he is incredibly flexible of a person in terms of his thoughts, mannerisms, motivations, and actions, which makes it super fun to explore and play around with when telling a story. I’d say he easily has one of the most fun personalities among the BSD ensemble, purely because of utterly unpredictable it can be; on one hand, he has moments where (at least outwardly) is capable of being extremely friendly, outgoing, generous and unassuming, and yet on the other, he is very much always inwardly observant of all that is going on around him and capable of quickly switching to being cold, calculating, and openly cruel at the drop of a hat. But even then, usually, his cruelty doesn’t come in the form of physical violence; it’s often emotional manipulation, intimidation, taking your fears and weaknesses and using them against you to get him whatever he feels he needs in the present moment. Sometimes, it isn’t even outwardly visible that the switch of gears happened; he knows how to poison you in the sweetest and most unassuming yet effective way possible — whether that poison is literal or metaphorical. He’s definitely the kind of person who could sing you to sing to sleep every night and kiss your cheek every morning even as he’s secretly plotting your demise. lol
That being said, I think a lot of the fandom, in their hatred for him as a person, tends to mischaracterize him a lot, rather than looking at it objectively. I’ve seen a lot of fics and general fandom takes that portray him as a sadistic person who is cruel simply for the sake of being cruel and does terrible things to others purely for the enjoyment factor, but that is 100% not who Mori is; canonically, Mori does what he does mostly, if not entirely, out of what he feels is necessity as the leader of the organization. Now, I’m not saying there may not be parts of him that enjoy certain things he does — it’s certainly more than possible, and even highly probable — but his actions as godfather are driven by achieving what he feels is the optimal solution, not by personal pleasure and amusement; as a matter of fact, in Fifteen, he even made it clear when speaking to Chuuya that he fully acknowledges a lot of what he does is morally reprehensible — he just feels that it is his duty to commit these atrocities for the ‘greater good’ of the organization, and that the end therefore justifies the means.
The thing is, there is a character in BSD who is exactly the way this portion of the fandom characterizes Mori, and he was even a member of the Port Mafia, so if people really wanted to canonically explore this dynamic of a character who wholly gets off on tormenting people, causing suffering and probing others’ heads rather than doing it as just a business practice, they absolutely could still do it and be true to canon by writing about said other character; it’s just that it’s not a convenient truth that a lot of the fandom wants or likes to face — because that would mean acknowledging that it was everyone’s beloved Dazai and not the oh-so-despised Mori who used to think in such a sick and twisted way during his days in the criminal underworld.
Granted, some people do write both characters very well and very accurately, and I applaud them, but I do find it frustrating when the fandom reduces either Mori to this purely evil, sadistic villain who is bad just for the sake of being bad, because he is so much more interesting as he truly is in canon.
It’s this dichotomy where his dedication to the overall well-being of his people and company is admirable and even understandable, yet at the same time his individual actions when you look at them from a moral perspective are pretty much all morally reprehensible in some way, shape, or form — if not in every way. The same is true of his time in the army; as a general concept, his desire to protect Japan during the Great War was on the whole admirable and understandable, we know that he was well-meaning about it, but at the same time, no matter how desperate the situation was, what he did to Yosano and his entire army was absolutely disgusting and unacceptable — especially because it came so easily to him to do it and he made no apologies for it nor expressed any guilt over the suffering he caused later on.
Do I think Mori is, on the whole, a good person? Absolutely not. Do I think that he sometimes has the best of intentions in mind with his schemes? In the grander scheme of things, yes; it’s just that he mostly doesn’t care who or how many he has to hurt to achieve that so long as it’s slightly less than his net gain from doing it, which in turn cancels out things enough to prevent him from ever being labeled as being or acting as a “good person” at any moment.
I think the best, most objective description of him is to say that he’s pragmatic and ruthless.
…And then obviously there’s the part that everyone in the fandom discusses to death — about the main universe version of him being into little girls. Not a whole lot to say about that; it’s gross, it’s wrong, it’s unforgivable, it’s morally reprehensible, and it’s chilling and disturbing and it definitely completely disqualifies him from being labeled a good person even if he had been able to earn that title from something he did somewhere along the way.
That being said — and I know this is probably going to be controversial to a lot of the fandom, so let me say upfront that I’m not saying that that isn’t 100% a valid and understandable reading of who he is and the way he feels based on all the evidence throughout the series, nor am I trying to convince anyone otherwise — purely because it is fiction and therefore all made up to begin with, at least for my own personal comfort, I typically choose in my own personal readings to just look at him as someone with a particular weakness for little girls because he’s fatherly — although I make no effort to claim that to be the objective truth, nor does such interpretation affect or influence any of my writings in any way; it’s simply the way I prefer to engage with BSD on my own personal time — outside of my writings.
As a matter of fact, in my one fic, Bittersweet Belief, he was intentionally written with the intention of being portrayed as a groomer, and in Cherish, his ‘tastes’ will be portrayed no less nor more suspicious than how they are in canon, and therefore it will never be fully, directly addressed, but may be interpreted however you wish.
I do not need people coming to me providing evidence of why they believe there is no way to look at it differently, as again, I am not arguing that it is objectively untrue in any way that Mori is written to be a pedo in BSD, and when in public spaces among other people talking about it I don’t even try to say otherwise, much less convince anyone of it. I understand fandom etiquette and I am not trying to erase anything about him from others’ perceptions in order to make him more “likable”. I am just engaging with BSD, whenever I am personally reading it and watching it, in the way that is more comfortable for me. Nothing more, nothing less.
Anyway, yeah, Mori’s a super fun character to write and observe in the BSD world! I think there’s a lot of depth to him and he’s very well-written — probably among my top past antagonists purely for the super interesting personality and the purely pragmatic outlook to life and business.
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lnkedmyheart · 4 months
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Do you mind if I ask your top 10 favorite characters (can be male or female) from all of the media that you loved (can be anime/manga, books, movies or tv series)? And why do you love them? Thanks....
In no specific order. Did i take this opportunity to post pics of these characters? Yes.
Revy (Black Lagoon)
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A dual wielding gunslinger from Roanapur. She is badass and deeply unhinged. A seriously traumatized woman with solid character flaws and a weirdly pseudo romantic relationship with the guy she kidnapped for a ransom and is now desperately trying to protect without realizing that she can't save his innocence, because he was never innocent and pure.
Fredrica Sawyer (Black Lagoon)
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A cleaner from Roanapur, uses a chainsaw as her primary weapon, cannot talk due to a severe injury to her larynx and uses a voice synthesizer. An adorable and creepy goth girl who may or may not have in universe ties to the Texas Chainsaw massacre. Which yes, implies that black lagoon is set in the same universe as the TCM movies.
Dazai Osamu (BSD)
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Love the depiction of depression and mental health problems with the guy. Love how he is constantly present everywhere and is seen through everyone else's perspective and yet we know so little about him. He is a dork and a brat and so annoying. He is usually aloof and distant but deep down has the capacity to be tender and kind that is only seen in the rare moments of vulnerability. But he is so hopeful and yet completely convinced he deserves nothing.
Chuuya Nakahara (BSD)
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He's such a tragic character like his life is one compromise after another as he gets pushed further and further into a bad situation but he will not let that stop him from making the best out of his situation. His compassion and empathy for even those who hurt him is so powerful but his brutality and intelligence is another aspect that makes him stand out against the other characters of his kind. And then you have his incredible loyalty where he will cross all boundaries to protect those he considers his people. Gorgeous characterization honestly.
Yato (Noragami)
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Another extremely tragic character and one who is trying so hard to change his fate despite everything. My guy does NOT catch a single break through the centuries he has been alive and he is still so hopeful. Not to mention letting Bishamon despise him for so long just to protect Kazuma, a guy he barely knew at the time. UGH. And his whole thing for Hiyori and his affection for Yukine. Kill me!
Yukine (Noragami)
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This was the first time I cried honestly. His backstory had me curled up in my bed unable to eat for an entire day. And his growth from an annoying unlikeable brat to one of the most lovable characters is crazy. Also no, I will never not cry over Yukine calling Yato 'dad'.
Jeremy Pascal (Tales from the Gas Station)
I didnt realize how much I liked him till I thought he died. In that regard I'm like Jack I guess, neither of us realised how much we cared for this adorkable himbo ex cultist. The fact that he is genuinely heartbroken that his suicide cult abandoned him and committed without him is so...oddly endearing and just the energy he adds is charming. He's also such a great friend to Jack, man better start appreciating him more.
Sorey (Tales of Zestiria)
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This is my son. And my sun. He is the most precious, sweetest boy to me. Aside from being ridiculously gay about Mikleo, the guy is what you'd think is a typical hero figure in such a setting. Pure, celibate, sweet and even tempered etc. But he is snarky as hell, constantly teases others, is NOT oblivious contrary to popular opinion. He is also irritable. I also love that he is an archaeology nerd.
Irma Lair (W.I.T.C.H)
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I dont remember too much about her but I always really liked her. Enough that she is still amongst my absolute favorites. It probably helps that she was made wlw in the tv series and has some shippy moments with Cornelia in particular.
Balalaika (Black lagoon)
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Listen, she is an ex military woman, who went MIA with her entire squad of loyal soldiers and now runs the fucking mafia in Roanapur. Woman is gorgeous and has acid burn scars all down her face and body. And she is terrifying. She will break necks with a smile and values loyalty and efficiency above all else. But she is such a deeply damaged woman who deserved better. But see, the people in Roanapur are there cause this is their last stand before they end up dead.
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chipper-daily · 27 days
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top five invader zim episodes?
Hello! Thank you so much for the ask! I loved your list btw, you have impeccable taste in IZ episodes
I have to do some serious soul searching here- I'll stick to official released episodes because otherwise the Trial, Ten Minutes to Doom, Mopiness of Doom, and Return of Keef (not necessarily in that order) would bump some of these off the list
The top spot HAS to go to the Frycook What Came From All That Space, it's so fun. I love Foodcourtia, I love Sizz Lorr, I love the Zim backstory, if an IZ episode includes space shenanigans I'm already in.
Backseat Drivers from Beyond the Stars, another fantastic space(-ish) episode, we get lots of great Red & Purple screentime, I cackled at Zim & Dib's interactions here (like Dib trying to fend off the Takship with a rake), we're introduced to 777, just solid writing all around
This list is so hard I'm actually going to cheat and put the two major holiday specials in this slot together: Halloween Spectacular of Spooky Doom AND the Most Horrible X-Mas Ever, because no one does holiday specials like Invader Zim
Speaking of holiday specials, Tak the Hideous New Girl, because I love Tak so much, and it breaks my heart the series was cancelled before we got to see more of her (Honestly I'm really debating if this belongs in the 3 or 4 spot)
Megadoomer, it's just a really funny episode, and it encapsulates Zim & Dib's entire dynamic in one short, neat segment: it starts with some incredible alien technology & ends with them slapfighting each other on someone's lawn. It's a great single episode to show someone who's never seen IZ before to give them a solid idea of what the rest of the series is like
I have. SO many honourable mentions here it's basically the entire series. Just looking at the episode list on Wikipedia makes me want to sit down and watch it all again. Thank you again for the ask!
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bookofmirth · 9 months
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hi! sorry to come into your inbox with Gwynriel since I know they are not really your preferred ship, but I just love your insights!🙈
I really hope they will be endgame and I can't wait for their story to be told, but I am also anxious about it... What I mean is, since the series is transitioning into adult, there is a lot of pressure from the audience for the sex scenes (esp. with Sarah dropping the bomb of Az being a freak in bed) and I'm afraid the sex will be rushed between them, before they are (at least somewhat) healed and ready. Their interactions right now are just so healthy and wholesome. 🥺 and personally I would hate if they would go into a Nessian kind of "just sex" arrangement (honestly this was so annoying in acosf!! "Thanks for the ride Nes" ?? ouch Cassian... 😑).
I would love a friends to lovers plotline for them, they both have severe traumas and need healing first outside of a romantic relationship - especially Az! I'm not worried about how Gwyn's trauma will be handled bc I'm sure Az will be the most patient, understanding and attentive lover, I'm just worried that if the sex comes too early on it will mess up their overall dynamic if that makes sense 😅
I honestly can't handle another Nessian where it's painfully obvious they are head over heals for each other but they are in denial for half a book claiming "just sex" 😫 Also if Az pulls a "you are better off without me" I will scream 😑
I hope they will build a very solid friendship first that can transition into love, but I think that would take a bit of time. I wouldn't mind waiting for the sex scenes between them and them not jumping into it like Nessian. (I have this headcanon where Az goes to a pleasure hall in the beginning of the book to get his freak on to get it out of his system a bit 🤭)
Anyways, so I just wanted to hear your thoughts on this - do you think there will be pressure for the sex, since now the series is considered adult?
Many thanks and have a nice day!
Hello! Thanks for acknowledging that there at the beginning. It was very thoughtful of you.
I just can't see them having a friends with benefits situation! With Gwyn, she's interested in sex and reading romance books. As far as romance, I'm not sure what she wants. She comes to the world with such a different view of sex than the human characters had, like she took participation in one of the sexy rites for granted, she just happened to not be able to participate.
And with Az, from what we know, all he's had are secretive flings. I can't see his endgame starting that way, in the dark, behind closed doors, "casual". I just think he'd need something different, and it will probably make him a bit off-kilter to finally combine romance and sex, since his experience rarely (never?) had those two things together, with one person.
I don't think there will be pressure for sex, given that sjm has written fade-to-black (I'm thinking elorcan, by then the series was full on sexy) and there is zero sex (that I can remember) in hoeab. She says things in her interviews that don't make it into books, like the threesome scene in acosf that she wrote and left out, I think she wrote rowaelin smut for herself prior to them getting together in canon. But what happens in the books needs to make sense for the larger context of where the characters are at emotionally, and how the plot is pushing them together or driving them apart. And that includes sex.
I'm genuinely so curious how the romantic feelings will develop because it does seem right now that Gwyn is flirty, and Az totally seems like the type to be oblivious about it ("you're the new ribbon, Az") so IDK!!! I absolutely agree with you and would love a friends-to-lovers situation because I think it would give them emotional vulnerability and support followed by intense trust would lead to such a great moment of "OH." Imagine the "OH" if they are friends and fiercely competitive and working together and then idk, one day one of them looks at the other just a little bit differently.
Imagine he does go to the pleasure hall and finds himself thinking of Gwyn. :D "OH."
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ciaossu-imagines · 10 months
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Hi !
Just passing by to say that I really enjoy your writing! It's always so fun to read. I would like to read even more from you. Would you recommend any of your the other series you write for to me considering that I have read khr and bsd ?
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Aww, thank you so much dear!! That's so nice to hear and I'm so glad you enjoy it! And it flatters me so much that you want to read more of it!
Now, as for recommendations, I will say that every single fandom I write for is one that I would recommend. I write for each of them because I love them and honestly do think they're amazing, in terms of story or character, but there's also caveats to each of them! So I'm just going to do the reasons I think you should check them out and what I think are their downfalls that might make them not your particular thing, just in case anyone else was wondering the same thing!
K PROJECT is definitely a huge one on here, and chances are that if you liked BSD and KHR, you probably will like this one too. It has a pretty art style and a tendency, much like the others, to have very bishie characters and cool uses of powers. The story is solid the entire way through and honestly, everyone will be able to find a character in this large cast of them who they really do love. Add onto that that, for the most part, the K fandom is large for an older anime, and really a very, chill, accepting fandom. Drawbacks: There is more noticeable fanservice in regards to female characters. And it is a big one to get into - on top of a two season anime, there are films, light novels, manga spin-offs (and honestly, Memory of Red is such a love of mine, same with Days of Blue)...I'm not saying that you have to consume all the content, just that there is a lot of it out there, if you do tend to be someone who really does need to read/watch everything for a show you enjoy, and some of it is hard to find.
NANBAKA is one I dearly love. It starts off a lot like KHR did, as a gag comedy series with some action elements and, a lot like KHR, shifts itself into a shounen with comedic elements. Again, much like KHR and BSD, you'll find a cast of very bishie men, and I do like all the female characters introduced so far, who are all smartly written. Again, it's another story with a huge cast of characters, so there really is something for everyone. It's got two seasons of its anime, and the manga isn't wildly ahead of where it's last anime season stopped (though I've only read until 192, where my manga app stopped, though I recently got a source to read further, so I'm planning on doing that), and I do feel you get pretty much the same story either reading or watching. Drawbacks: The first three episodes for sure are a bit of a slog to get through unless you really like gag comedy. Much like the Daily Life Arc in KHR, it's mostly just introducing characters. At episode four, the story for the first season starts to really shape up, but episode seven is pure filler for the most part and always seems really disjointed to me. For episode eight onwards, I was hooked - so hooked I had to go read the manga for more. I will also say that it has a very unique art style and character design, with a lot of very bright colours used, so if a very soft, pretty art style is something you're after, this might not be your cuppa.
WELCOME TO DEMON SCHOOL, IRUMA-KUN! is a more recent fandom of mine but a great one. It's one where I watched the anime first and am now just reading the manga, so I'm warning that most of these opinions are based mostly on the anime, which is three seasons long, so a bit more of a commitment than some of my other fandoms. I don't know how to really explain it, but it has a really nostalgic feel to me. It takes me back to when One Piece, Naruto and Bleach were these major things in anime. I feel like Iruma really has that classic shounen feel to it in some ways. I feel like, if you like shounen overall as a genre, you're going to end up liking this show. Drawbacks: That being said, there are drawbacks. Again, it's a bigger commitment and I do feel like Iruma, the anime at least, does have some serious pacing issues at times. If you are someone sensitive to pacing in your stories and need the story to progress rapidly from one thing to the next, you might not enjoy this one so much.
SERVAMP is one that I do think any fans of KHR and BSD will like. It's got a similar art style, really cool uses of powers, interesting characters, and a solid story. Drawbacks: The anime ended while the manga continued. While the anime was a good adaption of the manga up to the point where the anime ended, it does have a different storyline near the ending, because they just didn't have more material to work with. So, while it's a short anime, easy to watch with only 12 episodes, and is a really good show on its own, I will write about characters as a manga reader, with all the new twists and turns and all the new characters introduced so you might find yourself lost on some things as a strictly only anime person, if you are one.
SAIYUKI has been such a long time fandom of mine. I read the manga, but I think the anime adaptions have mostly been fantastic, though they do censor quite a bit. The characters are insanely easy to connect with and love, the story is well thought out and paced well. You can watch the original starter anime on youtube here. Drawbacks: That being said, there are definite drawbacks. It is an older series, with the art reflecting that. And it's a huge series, with there being multiple parts to it - the original Saiyuki, Saiyuki Gaiden (exploring the character's past lives), Saiyuki Reload, Saiyuki Reload Bast, Saiyuki Ibun (a prequel that explores the story of an important side character)...and another, major drawback, is that, much like Hunter x Hunter for example, I really don't think that there's ever going to be a solid ending for this series.
MYSTIC MESSENGER has so many interesting characters, and unlike some other otome games, the story is so incredibly well-developed, thought through so well, and it really has a way of breaking your heart at moments, with some fantastic character development and story arcs. Drawbacks: It is an otome game, so you do have to like those, and I argue that it's an otome game that takes a shit-ton of commitment to play, more so than any other game I've played.
IKEMEN REVOLUTION has beautiful art, interesting characters, and some of the routes they came out with had such amazing storylines. You will definitely find a favourite character. Drawbacks: It's an otome game, so you do have to enjoy those. Some of the routes can be a little bland, and because it's not getting any new content, there's a chance the person who ends up being your favourite might not ever have a route (FUCKING GIVE ME A BLANC ROUTE!!!)
EYESHIELD 21 is, in my opinion, everything a sports series should be. There's interesting and complex characters, well developed character relationships, exciting moments, moments that break your heart, and you really, really grow connected to some of these characters so easily. It spoiled me on a lot of other sports series, honestly. Like KHR, it really undergoes a fantastic art evolution which is also really interesting to see. Drawbacks: It's a sports manga, so you have to like that sort of thing. Also, I say manga because, while it does have an anime, I do think the anime has to be one of the ugliest I've seen and they did my favourites so dirty.
THE OUTSIDERS is a novel I've loved since grade nine. I love the story, the characters and their relationships with each other, the dynamics between those who were born with privilege and those born in poverty. All around, a fantastically written book. Drawbacks: It's going to break your heart towards the end.
RONIN WARRIORS is a long, long, LONG time love of mine. It's cheesy, it's fun, it's got a good overall story and I love the characters to death. It's easy to find, with the series on YouTube here. Drawbacks: It is an old anime, with the art, voice acting, and animation style reflecting that. I also find that the anime took a bit to get going, and I honestly find myself rewatching the OVA's a lot more than the actual series. I love all three but Gaiden is my favourite, and I probably suggest trying the movie first to see if you connect with the characters, since it takes a lot less time.
KEKKAISHI info. Drawbacks: I really don't think you can get as good a story or as much of an impact without reading the manga, which does take a little bit to really get going. I do remember the first volume being really slow and a bit of a slog to get going, though it's a slog that is well worth it for the story you get in the end and the interesting, complex, realistic characters you get and the amazing powers and power systems you do find in it.
GETBACKERS is a really fun anime. It has these wonderful, fascinating characters with well-developed and interesting relationships among themselves. The story line is really solid and well-paced. The power system is really cool, and in the anime, the fanservice isn't too unbearable. Drawbacks: This is one where I honestly couldn't finish the manga because of the horrific amount of gratitutious fanservice on the part of their female characters, so I do recommend the anime, which can be found here on YouTube. I do warn that it is an older anime, and the art can lean that way at times, though I still personally enjoy it!
BLUSH BLUSH is my go-to relax and forget the world game. It is technically an otome game, though one with a lot of grinding elements and it doesn't really have too much in the way of actual character routes, having more of a general storyline and fun dialogue. Drawbacks: You really do have to enjoy those kinds of games, and some characters and things like the fully voiced DLC and the 18+ DLC that allows you to see the guys naked do cost actual money.
CLASS OF THE TITANS is a really fantastic Canadian cartoon. It's an older one, but I really don't think that impacts it negatively at all, since the art was really unique and well done, the animation still holds up, the characters themselves are wonderful. Also, for Greek mythology nerds, you'll have fun with this series! You can find the first season here! Drawbacks: Worst ending to the series and worst final arc I've ever seen, but that is just my own personal opinions and I know some people who loved it.
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN is arguably one of my favourite superhero cartoons. It was done by Disney XD, with a fun art style, good voice acting talent, and the fact that it's set in high-school is a definite difference from a lot of the typical superhero cartoons and something that really did work in its favour. It's humorous, the characters are great and they each really do get their moment in the spotlight. Drawbacks: It is a cartoon, not an anime, and that might not appeal to some people, and it might be a bit difficult to find.
There are also some fandoms I love and would honestly love to write for and add to the fandom list on here, but that I'm not sure if there'd be any interest in, so I'm just going to briefly list them here!
DOGS: BULLETS & CARNAGE - fantastic manga, though definitely goes to some dark, dark places and if you're someone who can't really stomach things that are more on the seinen side, I definitely don't recommend viewing it.
BLACK CAT - It's a pretty solid anime, but I really do feel you get a much better story and a much better look at the characters in the manga. However, just watching, it's still really good but again, as with a lot of my other fandoms, this is very much an older one, so the art style does reflect that.
HUNTER X HUNTER - Both as an anime and as a manga, it's a fantastic story, full of fascinating, complex characters and is definitely a shounen classic for a reason. However, much like Saiyuki above, I really don't think we're ever going to get a proper ending for Hunter x Hunter, just my personal opinion, and that is something that might bother some people.
KARNEVAL - It's a really pretty show and manga. The art is gorgeous, and the story is interesting, though I feel some of the characters do fall a bit flat at times.
THE ROYAL TUTOR - Fantastic show, beautiful manga. You're going to find a favourite character with no issues, because they're all unique and charming. However, it can be a little too slice of life or non-action packed for your typical shounen fan.
GANGSTA. - Fantastic show but an amazing manga. That being said, much like Dogs: Bullets & Carnage, it goes into some dark places and does have some things that might go over the line for some people.
PSYCHO-PASS - I cannot say enough good things about this and if you liked the character designs in KHR, you'll likely love these. However, again, it definitely crosses some lines that people might not be able to handle.
THE MIGHTY DUCKS - I love them, but honestly, I'll admit - it's a set of three hockey movies from the 90's, made for kids, so I doubt anyone else still remembers and loves them.
THE COVENANT - Long live the Sons of Ipswich! This is just a really fun movie, full of really pretty guys and some good action scenes, an interesting premise, and it's one of my favourites but...it's corny as hell and I admit that.
DATE WARP is a fun otome game that doesn't take a long time to play, has an interesting story line, and some really, really great characters! However, it is an otome game, so you have to enjoy those, and the art isn't as polished as it is in some other otomes.
SEDUCE ME THE OTOME is another really great otome game, with a sequel game that really, really fleshed out the storyline and characters so well. However, again, it's an otome game so you have to enjoy those and the art is very unique compared to some of the art used in other fandoms.
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I was a bit bummed out by Engage but with all your post on it I tried the older FE games, and it's really great so far! Do you have any recommendations or favorite characters? :D
Nice! I'm loving Engage, but that's very related to (1) nostalgia, and (2) liking a game more battle-focused after Three Houses' story-focus. (It's nice to have best of both worlds on one system!) What have you started playing?
If you're just looking to learn the ropes of FE gameplay, both FE7 (just "Fire Emblem" outside of Japan, the first released elsewhere) and Awakening are decent starting points for the general structure. Both also have really solid characters and simple-but-fun plots (which are handled without the over-the-top dramatics of Engage). FE7 outside of Japan has added intro chapters to help players get used to the genre (where your "lord" is Lyn, before Eliwood and Hector are introduced as the lords for the original game). The translation is a little uneven sometimes (and sloppy at others), but it's a very solid introduction if you have access to a GBA/DS/DSLite (or want to emulate).
Awakening is easier to get access to (since it's more recent and on 3DS), and is also a nice, solid intro to FE gameplay. It also has more bonus maps/DLC that extend gameplay and let you nab extra characters (both from older games and from Awakening itself). Honestly, Awakening seems likely to remain my favorite game in the series: it's just all-around fun. Good plot (if not a complex one), great characters (and DLC to flesh them out more), fun gameplay, multiple difficulty options, and some DLC that lets you obtain ways to boost levels/supports/money/weapons/classes, if you're into that. I've put in close to 1,000 hours in Awakening - due to the support system, there are all sorts of ways to mess around with how you play the game and use certain characters.
Sacred Stones (FE8, the second released outside of Japan for GBA) is a lot of fun, and has a brief route split if you like to play more than once, but if you want to try a GBA game, FE7 is probably the better starting point, for the Lyn chapters. (Especially because managing the convoy and items is clunky in the GBA games compared to later ones, so the intro chapters help before you have to figure out inventory management and gameplay!)
Path of Radiance and Radiant Dawn (on Gamecube and Wii, respectively) had the most complex plot since Genealogy of the Holy War (which was not released outside of Japan). The problem with them is that they are all but impossible to track down for a reasonable price - both bombed spectacularly at release, so copies are scarce. Emulation is usually the way newcomers to the series go if they want to tackle the Radiant games.
Shadow Dragon is a remake of the very first game, but it hardly added anything beyond updated portraits and battlefield grids so you don't accidentally wander somewhere where you'll get your butt kicked if you mathed wrong. 😅 It's on DS, and I'm honestly not sure how easy it is to find now. It sold so poorly that FE12 (a remake of FE3, Mystery of the Emblem) once again was Japan-only. Which sucks, because FE12 actually beefed up characters and plot! Shadow Dragon would be a good place to get the hang of gameplay, but its story is more Final Fantasy 1 than Final Fantasy 6. 🤷‍♀️
If you can't find (or emulate) FE7, Awakening is a solid place to start. It eases you into gameplay, lets you grind (either for free, especially if you play on Normal, or with paid DLC), lets you choose Casual (no permadeath - characters come back next chapter if "killed") or Classic (permadeath - pick a god and pray) and has, in purely mathematical terms, an epic buttload of characters to choose from if some *cough*Vaike*cough* aren't to your liking. Just, uh... listen to Severa. Trust me. Listen. To. Severa. You can thank me later.
Fates has fuuuuuun battles and some really amusing joke weapons (it's Azura with the broom! But wait - wait! She's out, she's out, Jakob came in from the side with pebbles! Victory! Victory to the angry butler!!! 😱), but the plot and some other stuff is... well. The monkeys with typewriters were going to manage Shakespeare, but then they ate too many pot brownies and we got Fates instead. Have fun killing goo daddy with your flaming chainsaw sword! Fates also has three different routes, which can be a bit confusing if you don't know how they differ. (Birthright is the "easy" route, Conquest will kick your ass six ways from Sunday and add a seventh kick at chapter 10, and Revelation was written frantically after the monkeys demanded a union and walked out of the job.)
Shadows of Valentia is the last of the 3DS games, and a remake of the second game (Gaiden, never released outside of Japan). It's... weird. Fully voiced, which is very cool (especially since the cast is solid), and has some interesting twists on the FE formula (like dungeons and Mila's Turnwheel, which lets you go back a number of turns without having to restart the whole map), but the plot remains pretty early-90s-JRPG, and they opted to keep in a fuckton of water maps and desert maps that are insanely tedious. Reclassing also feels a bit clunky after the relative freedom of Awakening and Fates. It's definitely well done, but I wouldn't recommend it as an intro to the series.
Same goes for Three Houses: except for the way the battlefield functions, it is very different from the other games. It is darker, attempts more complexity than it should have (at the expense of some plotpoints left dangling in all routes), and has four different routes that, with one exception, force you to choose the route after a single battle and barebones intro to the characters. It also has a loooooot of stuff you can micromanage and/or waste time on and a weird (by FE standards) recruitment system. Great game, all four routes, but a little more than Intelligent Systems could juggle. (This is especially obvious if you pick the Black Eagles.) It's also quite easy, by FE standards, outside of some paralogues (side battles) and the DLC (which was very, very simple compared to Awakening, Fates, and Shadows of Valentia, though a lot of fun if you like a challenge!).
Awakening, Fates, Shadows of Valentia, and Three Houses (like Engage) all give you a choice of male or female avatar, and Casual or Classic mode. (Fates also has Phoenix mode, but ew. No. Bad.) All also have DLC. With DLC in mind, remember that the 3DS eShop goes down for new purchases as of the end of March of this year. If you get Awakening, Fates, or Shadows of Valentia, buy the DLC now if you think you'll want it! (It adds new characters, new weapons, some additional lore and/or character development, and some silly stuff like beach chapters. 🤣)
Honestly, if Engage is all you've tried, I'd say go with Awakening (the game Lucina is from) or FE7 (where, as mentioned above, Lyn is from). Your call! Both are good intros without so much management and bloat they get overwhelming. And none of the choices you make will drastically alter the rest of the game! Awakening should also still be easy to find, compared to what came before.
Favorite characters? Pegasus knight has been my favorite class since I started playing, and my all-time favorite character is Cordelia. I also love Ninian, Rebecca, Lyn, Serra (all from FE7), Eirika, Seth, L'arachel, Lute (all from FE7), the Whitewings (Palla, Catria, and Est, who are in FE1, 2, 3, 11, 12, and 15), Caeda (FE1, 3, 11, and 12), Nephenee (FE9, 10) Olivia, Inigo, Severa, Lucina (FE13), Laslow, Selena, Soleil, Reina, Flora, Jakob (FE14), Mathilda, Clair, Mae, Boey (FE15), Edelgard, Dimitri, Hapi, Lysithea, Constance, Ingrid, Seteth, FERDINAND VON AEGIR (FE16), and I'm still deciding on the new game, but Chloé and Etie are great thus far in what I've played. If I had to pick top three of all time, I'd probably go with Cordelia, Inigo/Laslow, and Edelgard.
There are a handful of spin-off games (Fire Emblem Heroes, two Warriors games, and Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE), but they're all very different from the core of Fire Emblem proper. Fun, but not a good intro to the series (and like Engage, they rely on knowledge of past games/characters).
Longest answer ever, but I hope it helps you figure out which way you'd like to go next! You may enjoy Engage more when you know the Emblems better. 😁
Happy strategizing!
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tanenigiri · 2 years
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Review #5: I Hear the Sunspot (Volume 1)
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Japanese title: ひだまりが聴こえる (Hidamari ga Kikoeru)
Story and art: Yuki Fumino
English publisher: One Peace Books
Number of volumes: 5 in English, 6 in Japanese (ongoing)
What’s a wall to someone who’s willing to jump over it?
(This review contains story spoilers.)
Sometimes you come across a book (or a movie or a TV series) with a premise that’s so interesting that it’s almost begging you to read (or watch) it. Sure, you don’t know if the execution will live up to your initial hype, but it’s worth it to see how they treat that premise and see it through.
That was the feeling I got when I came across I Hear the Sunspot - its premise was so unlike any of the other manga I’ve read or watched by then (and that still holds true now) that I knew I had to put it on my to-read list right away. I might've been a bit hasty with my decision, but I figured it was worth it to see just how the dynamic of a hard-of-hearing boy and his note-taker plays out. And in any case, if I didn’t like the first volume, I could just drop it, right?
Thankfully, this first volume exceeded all of my expectations. As I mentioned above, Kohei is a college student experiencing hearing problems that makes it difficult for him to take down notes in his class. Because of a chance meeting, he runs into Taichi, a student from a different department who takes on various jobs to make ends meet. Thanks to Kohei’s great lunches and Taichi’s insatiable appetite, they form an agreement where Taichi takes notes in class and Kohei gives him free lunches in return.
While it’s easy to see this as the start of a back-and-forth that leads to an eventual romance, the story takes a very interesting turn before talking about Kohei’s attraction to Taichi. Because his disability came so suddenly to him - as opposed to something he was born with - Kohei had a hard time adjusting to his new reality, which severely affected his social life and emotional well-being. Because of this, and amplified by some unfortunate encounters with his old schoolmates, Kohei decides to shut himself off from the world, even going as far as to calling people who don’t share his disability as living on “the other side.”
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Taichi picks up on Kohei’s self-induced seclusion rather quickly and proceeds to help him break out of it in any way he can, whether it’s bringing him to the school’s cafeteria or inviting him to play in a baseball game. Despite what others say about him - Kohei is said to have very good looks but his cold personality drives most people away - Taichi doesn’t think twice about giving Kohei the tools to slowly break down the walls he built around himself.
There’s also something to be said about how Taichi doesn’t really have a “solid” reason to act like this to Kohei - he doesn’t have a disabled family member, and initially, he’s not at all doing it out of infatuation. Rather, he’s simply reaching out to Kohei and helping him deal with his issues because, in his mind, that’s the right thing to do. The most concrete reason he says in the story is that he wants to see him smile more, and even then, this is already after several instances where he goes out of his way to help Kohei with his issues. Taichi is just, quite frankly, someone who’s sensitive enough to recognize that Kohei has different needs but doesn’t alienate him because of them.
I’ve found characters like Taichi incredibly rare among the stories I've read so far, as most drastic actions like what he does come with tragic backstories or a flashback scene that shows that they’ve been pining for the other long before the events of the story even started. To have a character who’s just genuinely kind and shows a lot of empathy is honestly very refreshing, and it’s a character trait that I think this story really nails down. Taichi might have his own flaws that he has to work through - though that’s given more focus in later volumes - but you can never take his open-mindedness and caring personality away from him.
And it’s in that context where Kohei’s attraction begins, and you can’t blame him - here’s a literal gift from the heavens who suddenly understands what he’s going through and doesn’t ridicule him for it. But with his newfound attraction, he finds himself once again in unfamiliar social territory. Unfortunately, because of a misunderstanding involving a girl, this leads him to going back to his old ways of secluding himself from the world - and secluding himself from Taichi.
Thankfully, Taichi is having none of that and proceeds to talk to him about it - both indirectly and directly - which eventually leads to Kohei confessing his feelings and kissing Taichi. The volume is already ending at this point, though it gives us a curious little bonus chapter that shows Taichi admitting to himself that he didn’t necessarily hate the kiss. It’s a curious way to end the volume, and it’s even more interesting when you find out in the afterword that this is how the story was originally going to end. I’m thankful that it didn’t go down that route, but if it did, I do think that I’d find it a nice note to end on, as it lets the reader fill in the blanks now that we know that Kohei's feelings of affection aren’t necessarily one-sided.
While there isn’t a lot to work with in terms of the romance - which the mangaka even alludes to in the afterword - I Hear the Sunspot more than makes up for it with how it presents its two main leads. They’re very fascinating, and in Kohei’s case, it’s not just because he has a disability. Rather, it’s how the story uses this disability to shape his personality and present his flaws, and it does so in a very believable way that it never feels like he was made hard-of-hearing for the sake of it. And, after all, that’s the type of treatment that Taichi would want for Kohei.
Random thoughts that I couldn’t fit elsewhere:
I should definitely note that I’m going into this story as someone who doesn’t have a physical disability, so my praise for the narrative does miss out on a lot of context that someone who does have a similar condition as Kohei would pick up on. Most of the other comments I’ve read online have good things to say about how Kohei is presented, and I definitely agree with them, but I’m of course curious how someone closer to Kohei’s situation would react to his portrayal here.
You’ll notice that I don’t talk about any other characters outside of the main pair in this review, and that’s because the story doesn’t actually give too much focus on anyone besides the two of them. I find future volumes actually having the opposite issue of having a bunch of characters sharing the limelight, and I do think I prefer how this first volume deals with its cast. There are some side characters thrown in to add conflict as well as flesh out dynamics, and while I would’ve wanted to find out more about some of them, I do think streamlining the plot to just Kohei and Taichi was a good call here.
It becomes a more apparent image in later volumes, but like I mentioned above, Kohei refers to Taichi in an early chapter as someone who lives on “the other side.” The same chapter depicts these two sides in a few ways, but the most notable one is a pair of curtains. And to see Kohei open these curtains at the very end of the chapter is such a powerful image that I really wanted to highlight it.
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Thanks for reading! I still think I Hear the Sunspot has one of the most unique premises of the genre, and it definitely doesn’t disappoint on the execution side. I have a review lined up for the next volume in the series - Theory of Happiness - though I’m still going back-and-forth about whether or not I should review the three Limit volumes.
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lavenderhoodie22 · 8 months
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POKEMON PRESENTS: My overall opinion :3
So that Presents was a very mixed bag for some, for others it was great. I personally liked it very much. Especially with my brand new Mew but I get that some people were disspointed because there was no new "legends" announced. But I want everyone that reads this post to keep something in mind.
THERE WON'T BE ANY NEW TITLE FOR THE MAIN SERIES ANYTIME SOON.
Why? Because the DLC is still in development, Paldea barely came out last November and usually new main series title are announced at the beginning of the year to then be released during the fall/holidays.
Most of the announcemets were expected but what I wanna focus on is the new DLC reveals and features. Starting off with Applin and Duraludon new evolutions.
Dipplin is not a regional form for Applin. It's an Evolution let's make that clear. It's red, it's round, it's cute and I love it. I wanna know if it's good on VCG even tho I don't really play competitive much, still it would be nice to know if it's viable.
Archaludon looks weird but I get it. Duraludon looks like a building itself and so did it's Gigantamax form. Honestly 9/10 solid design and i'm very sure it could make itself a good dps on Duos.
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Moving onto some of the DLC things i've noticed on the few hours I've been looking at people's opinions and info that has/is been spread. Miraidon and Koraidon will be able to fly but it has to be unlocked first. In the trailer of Part 2 Indigo Disk, they said that there is a challenge in which Miraidon/Koraidon will gain the ability to fly temporarily but they hinted that it could be unlocked, meaning will probably be able to use it as a permanent ability later on.
NEW PARADOX FORMS! Raikou amd Cobalion have new paradox forms named Raging Bolt and Iron Crown. Personally it's about they made the Violet paradox pokemon some justice. Iron Crown look espectacular, the design is clean but not bland like most of the Irons. Overall it's a 10/10 must have on my team. Raging Bolt on the other hand wasn't well recieved, I understand they are basing the legendary dogs off of Dinosaurs but we gotta admit Raging bolt looks kinda funny. I give it a 7/10 on a scale of how cool it looks.
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Mew VS Mewtwo Tera Raid!!!!! I'm so happy I finally got Mew in the game! I've been wanting one for a while now, ever since I got the Vmax Mew deck for the TCG and now I finally have it and for none the less. I wanna do this raid now 'cause I'm excited for it. Mewtwo's rivalry with Mew affecting the raid by giving Mew a special boost, it's such a cool detail. The boost will make Mew stronger and supposedly it will max out it's stats at the beginning of the raid?! Idk if that's correct but it's what I saw/heard on socials.
NEW TERA FORMS?! Ogerpon and Terapagos have new terastal forms and the look amazing! It is rumored that they won't be the only ones with new terastal forms. I heard that the Paldean starter will receive one as well and the kitakami trio too. Those are just rumors and "leaks" I heard of, not sure how true they might but right now the seem very posible.
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And to close off this very long post, THE DESCENDANTS/KIN! Perrin is one of the many new characters introduced in the trailer but what sets her apart from the rest? She is Adaman's descendant. If you played Legends Arceus you know very well who Adaman is and the reason for his popularity within the community. Nex lt is Drayton whom I believe wholeheartedly that he is related to Drayden from Pkm Black & White. In case you don't know or forgotten Drayden is the dragon type gym leader in tje Unova Region and one of my favorite characters in the franchise. I hope they hint to their families/ancestors in the DLC it would such a nice and cool detail.
That's all for now, if you read this far let me know if you are hype for the fyture DLC and as always Thank you for reading!
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myfirstisthefourth · 1 year
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Getting to Know Your BL Mutuals:
I was tagged by @piningbisexuals Thank you for the tag. It took some thought and effort because I've watched So Many BLs this year and Not Nearly All of the same ones others got to. I'm also not as eloquent describing things as @absolutebl or @piningbisexuals so y'all bear with me. 😁🙄👍❤️
rules: answer the questions and @ some people. include the tag 'g2ky BL mutuals 2022' on your post so we can find everyone's answer.
BLs That Took You by Surprise this year:
1) DNA Says Love You: Produced by Taiwan this one turned out quite different from what I expected based on the trailer and I mean that in a good way. It was a Beautiful story, well crafted and terrifically acted.
2) Color Rush 2: Korea picked up a new habit this year and started giving us sequels. Now, I know everyone was disappointed not to have the original couple back, but the way they continued the story was what I loved the most. They built on the first and got into more of the backgrounds and societies response to those who are different. A third installment is planned and I hope it gets made if only because I want to know what happens. 😁
3) On Cloud Nine: A Thai BL that almost no one watched I think. Another one that was not what you expected based on the trailer. I enjoyed it for it's unique storytelling, beautiful cinematography, and the twist you may or may not deduce along the way.
4) Blueming: Though produced by South Korea it was unlike the bulk of their BLs. There was more depth to the story, the actors were lovely, and it was shot Beautifully.
BLs that You Were Disappointed With:
I guess I'm lowbrow because I don't get disappointed a lot. I take it for what it is. That being said, there were a couple.
1) Check Out: I watched the entire series and it didn't help. They managed to take the great chemistry and UST of Ep 00 and turn it into a self indulgent whine-fest. It could have been so much better if they hadn't tried so hard shooting for depth and coming up far short imo.
2) Cupid's Last Wish: It pains me to put this one here because I Love EarthMix together. I also watched this entire series and at least they did get together in the end. They made Mix's character So Unlikeable...the Entire Time. And then the whole body swap business. It just didn't work well, all of it. A disappointing follow-up to 1000 Stars. I honestly hope their next series is better.
Favorite BLs of the Year:
1) Not Me: A Stellar series all around! I Love OffGun and I was so excited to see them in something so very different from their usual sort of roles. The fact that the series was truly risky for the amount of social commentary and impact it had only added to the enjoyment. The actors ALL Killed these roles and I was just left in awe watching them week after week. Seeing the awards piling up for this series here at the end of the year is also So Gratifying because They Deserve It!!
2) Kinneporsche: I didn't Just like it for the high heat. I truly enjoyed seeing a Different kind of story being done by Thailand. The relationships and the story were solid and enjoyable with plenty of twists and turns to keep us engaged. The acting was Marvelous, the Chemistry Insane, and I look forward to season 2...if it ever gets produced.
3) Semantic Error: Another South Korea BL that seemed to break the standard mold. Gorgeous Chemistry between the leads and an Unlikely love story made it a winner for me.
Favorite BL Couples:
I have Years of Favs but I'll stick to This year. LOL
1) OffGun is Always gonna be on this list. They just keep getting better and better.
2) OhmFluke have Had Me since UWMA and I am So Happy we're getting More of them this year.
3) EarthMix I Love their chemistry in general and I Know they have the acting chops to pull off great work. Just hoping for some better stories for them
4) BossNouel A Totally new pair this year, they Ate their roles Up with Tantalizing chemistry. I hope we see More from them.
5) MileApo and BibleBuild They crafted relationships that made an impact with Superb acting and Unreal chemistry. Give them More to do because they are up to it.
6) Kim Ji Woong & Yoon Seo Bin They have been Marvelous together this year. So Enjoyable! Korea gave us two very different series with them and we can only hope they'll give us more.
7) BounPrem got my attention in UWMA and I am Thrilled to finally be seeing them in their own series to follow-up on UWMA. I have loved seeing them all over this year, in Brilliant cameos and short series alike.
Non BL Favorites This Year
Some of these are gonna be Bromance we Wish Were BL but I enjoyed them all the same. Also, some may have been produced in 2021 but I just got to watch them this year.
1) Devil Judge: Just Wow! A Dystopian drama from Korea with an Insane story and Brilliant acting, it kept me on the edge of my seat until the end.
2) Remember You: A Thai drama with Tay Tawan, Petch, and Aun. Another one that kept me on the edge of my seat. An intense murder mystery series with family drama and the unexpected thrown in.
3) Kei & Yaku: Abunei Aibou: Japan gave us a Great show with this one. A cop and a Yakuza boss have to join forces and Wow! This is one I Wish they would give us a sequel for just to have More of them together
4) Under the Skin: A Chinese drama that very much gave me Sherlock vibes. A cop and a Forensic artist are forced to work together despite a rocky history but the unique skill of the artist makes all the difference to their cases. Loved it!
Tagging @negrowhat @meglaroque @heretherebedork @earthpodd @mysticmerc-awesome and @skaryneko
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zachsgamejournal · 2 years
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COMPLETED: AER: Memories of Old
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Another of my type of games. It's got the essential elements: exploration, platforming, puzzles, and story. As much as I enjoyed it, though, it was a bit shallow. Not really in a bad way, just--I want more!
I will say--this is essentially what I expected from Skyward Sword. So void filled.
Let's start with what I love about the game:
Open World
Exploration
Great Mood
No Combat Necessary
Story
Graphics/Style
No so great:
Short
Nothing to do...
Graphics/Style
Starting in the rear here. I dig blocky graphics, so I was very accepting of this game's style. But to be hyper-critical: it wasn't blocky enough. Most of the environments are fine, but I think the characters still had too many polygons. Closer to PS2 than PS1. I would have preferred PS1.
But I found it really intriguing how they don't really use textures. Similar to classic, early PS1/N64 games--every polygon is a solid color. The character faces lack eyes or any detail. I don't mind it, and I'm impressed with how they make it work. There are a few patterns, when necessary--but not in a way that looks out of whack.
But even with the blocky, no-texture graphics--the animations are great. And the camera work, when on the rare occasion there's a "cut-scene", is perfect for the tone and project. While the graphical style was to minimize resources required--it's pulled off expertly.
Open World/Exploration
The game world is quite impressive. It's a series of floating islands amongst the clouds and there are A LOT of islands of varying sizes and shapes. Immediately I was like YES--this is what Skyward sword was supposed to be! In truth, some of the islands feel nearly as large as the playable "ground" areas of Skyward sword--so obviously it can be achieved. The game also cleverly uses clouds to hide sections. Maybe this hides loading, but at the very least it helps makes sections feel "isolated", like how Disney World's Magic Kingdom somehow makes each "kingdom" feel...I don't know. Isolated. Not able to describe it well right now.
The game is actually quite linear, but they let you "discover" where to go--much like Ocarina of time. The clues are pretty direct, but there's always a little mystery that can only be resolved through genuine discovery.
But sadly, only about 5-10% of the game world is used (or at least required). And that's the biggest sin of the game. It's so interesting and well crafted, but the majority of the world just goes to waste. I wish there was some sort of collection mechanism. It would be...silly, but at least it would have inspired exploring this awesome world.
Actually, what they should have done is had several characters that send you on side questions. Maybe a map-maker wants you to find certain landmarks and report back. Or there's an archaeologist that wants you to unravel some history and what not. This would allow the game to stay focus but also inspire the player to explore the world with purpose.
Did I mention you can turn into a bird and fly. It's pretty awesome. Just like in Skyward Sword, you flap around--but it actually uses airplane controls, thank god!
Story/Mood
The story is pretty straight forward but interesting. And honestly, it's up to snuff with most AAA games that are basically just self-indulgent 20 minute cut scene fests meant to cover up their lack of depth and originality with "production value".
Maybe that's harsh.
I think this game is, potentially, tearing down christianity a bit. Basically there was a creator and then there multiple gods and talking animals. But then a group of violent extremist decided there was one god-king and that all other gods were trash. Then they started going around murdering people and burning sacred texts and stuff.
Also, I think AER is supposed to be a resource of power, or something...I don't know.
There's a bit of sadness in the game. Moral seems to be that there's not really evil, but that mankind can develop a void that corrupts their view of the world. And a lot of the immortal beings that offer their help have to essentially die to give it. So interesting.
Short
The worst part of the game is also a strength. It's short. Really short. I probably spent 2-3 hours playing and that included getting lost a few times. It doesn't bother me, I like short games if the experience is "full". And I think this game succeeds in that. But with as large as the world is--it could have had much more. I think that more should have been optional, but to have nothing...that was disappointing.
Dungeons
The dungeons are ok. They're VERY large--like, why do they need to be this big. I think some of the layout could be confusing, but I figured it out without much trouble. I think for younger or newer gamers, these dungeons would be too advanced. But for an experience user it wasn't so bad.
No Combat
Mad respect for excluding combat. I think I briefly read this was a complaint, as it would have filled out the experience--but it truly would have just been filler. Combat should be meaningful, and I thought it was great not to have it. Not everyone wants to fight their way through an experience. Like, they cheaply could have hidden weapons and equipment around the world and had enemies of different levels requiring the player to grind and level up, and suddenly the 3 hour game would be 9 hours and all that empty space would have been filled in. But at the same time, it would have just been filler that added time more than value.
Conclusion
I really enjoyed it. And I could totally see myself playing it again one afternoon just to enjoy the magical simplicity of it. I'd love to see these game devs make more projects that are similar!
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