i've seen a few messages thrown your way about the whole YOI situation, but no one else i know is talking about it... i was wondering if you could explain what's happened? i'm guessing the movie is just stuck in limbo or something due to censorship??
There is a lot of fuzziness around it and lack of detail, but yes it is in limbo due to corporate headassery. Mappa doesn't want to focus on it because they're too busy being greedy for shounen franchises. Avex and Mappa both wanted a major international release, but that included Russia and China and Sayo and Kubo were not having a YOI without lgbt+ content. Of course they could just say 'okay we won't release it in those countries', but the suits are too fucking greedy for that. Never mind that it would still be a massive hit even if it wasn't able to be released in every country where YOI was popular. And if there was any content taking place in the present timeline, considering Victor and Yuuri are literally engaged, a film without lgbt+ content would also be massively OOC, obviously.
I've even heard they're having some problems with some of the skaters who were involved being really obnoxious about how much of their handprint is going to be visible on the final product.
YOI's MASSIVE popularity may also be part of its downfall. If it was just a moderate hit, we prob would have had an (uncensored) second season years ago, before Mappa even had a chance to pick up JJK, AoT, or CSM. But it was a hit of unprecedented proportions for a show not geared at cishet men, and not just in Japan, but as an international phenomenon.
Mappa and Avex wanted everything after that; the success, the money, the skater guest stars (tho I'm sure Sayo and Kubo wanted that part too LOL), etc., but they weren't willing to commit further to the aspects of the series that made it so beloved (though these aspects were okay when the show was just niche of course). No doubt they also know how important the romance aspect is to fans, so they also can't release a YOI without that. But they won't release one with it. That leaves us with nothing, at least for now.
I feel so bad for Kubo and Sayo. This was their passion project, and the most successful thing they've ever created. They pushed hard against attempts at censorship in the original series, something they easily could have lost their jobs for doing. And they were proven right. Not only did people want to see it, but people adored it. I hope every day that the suits will just release the IP so Kubo and Sayo can take it to a new studio who actually gives a shit (Wit studio maybe???? I'm looking at you).
I JUST FINISHED THE DLC THAT THE EPILOGUE IS ALREADY OUT ?!?!? AAAAAAAAH I DONT CARE I HAVE FINALS NEXT WEEK I'M SO EMOTIONFULL !!!!
Kieran's character developement was delicious, kicking his ass with ogerpon was nice, but seeing warm up again, throw a masterball AND THE SUNRISE SCENE OMG. Also Carmine doesn't get enough recognition, her character devellopement was more subtle but oh so good too !
Oh my gosh it's finally done!! I've been obsessing over this video for a few days now and ahhh I'm so excited that it's finished and I can share it with people!!
And of course I know Hardison is insanely competent at anything and everything, but this song just fit his personality so perfectly, I had to make the video! No insult towards him, just a fun and silly video that I can't stop dancing along with. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
anyway while i'm thinking about it i will never understand people who are like "why would you ever watch a movie/read a book/play the same game/etc. more than one when there are always new media to experience, it's just a waste of time" because like. how else are you supposed to fully appreciate the themes and narratives, the artistic choices made, your personal feelings and interpretations and the creator's intentions, the nuances of the story and the characters? every time i revisit a story i already know, i realize there's something i missed last time. i always discover there's more to learn if i'm willing to keep looking for it. there's nothing more exciting to me than searching the same cave for more hidden treasure.
This Piece is easily my favorite you've ever done, I think about it so often. The soft hazey feeling, the cozy feeling of the bed, the pure gaze of Vasco, AGH.
So I just had to make a Moodboard of it, I hope you enjoy.