allie-horikawa

[allie-horikawa]

Growing up with your starters

Artist:  esasi8794 / Twitter

[allie-horikawa]

ok i’m going to try to articulate this as best as i can.

let’s say this character, i’ll call him fred for the sake of efficiency, is gay. he is canonically gay. in the original source material, he is blatantly homosexual. even if he never says straight out “i’m gay”, he still dates guys and talks about how much he loves men and author says later “yeah i never explicitly wrote it in the book, but he’s gay”, so you get it. he’s gay. now say someone writes a fic about fred where he’s straight. they don’t even try to hide it. and it isn’t just one person. it’s a whole part of the fandom that chooses to ignore the fact that he’s canonically gay and instead write fred as straight. they write him as having explicitly romantic and sexual relationships with women.

we all know that that isn’t cool. you can’t just be like “well i choose to interpret fred as straight, cuz that’s just how he comes off to me.” we would all point at that and say “hey you know you’re being kinda homophobic right. you know you’re purposely taking away representation from a marginalized group of people right. you know that’s not cool right.” we all agree on that? yeah? great.

now stay with me through this next part.

let’s say that fred isn’t gay. let’s say he’s aroace. he is conanically aroace. in the original source material, he is blatantly aromantic and asexual. even if he never says straight out “i’m aroace”, he still exhibits disinterest in men and women and talks about how much he hates romance and people in general and the author says later “yeah i never explicitly wrote it in the book, but he’s aroace”, so you get it. he’s aroace. now say someone writes a fic about fred where he’s gay or bi. they don’t even try to hide it. and it isn’t just one person. it’s a whole part of the fandom that chooses to ignore the fact that he’s canonically aroace and instead write him as gay. they write him as having explicitly romantic and sexual relationships with men.

this is where i’m going to lose some of you, but: these two situations are equally bad. it doesn’t matter that in the second situation, they are writing fred as a part of another marginalized community. because, here’s the thing, the aroace community is at the very least just as marginalized as the gay community. the aroace community is actively excluded not only from the straight community but also from the lgbtq+ community. plus, it doesn’t matter who is taking away the representation. you’re still taking away representation. people just aren’t as quick to jump and point it out because people don’t want to admit that gay and bi people can be just as aphobic as straight people can be homophobic.

if you haven’t figured it out yet, this post is more specifically about raphael santiago from the shadowhunter chronicles. i need people to understand that while writing fics about raphael and simon as a couple is fun and all, you’re still taking away representation from aroace people by ignoring his canon sexuality. and that’s not okay.

i’m not trying to tell you what you can or can’t write, or what you can or can’t read and enjoy. i’m just asking that you take a look around and realize that there are plenty of other characters to write about whose sexuality isn’t already a source of fucking discourse in twenty fucking twenty-one. i’m not trying to shame people who write about raphael and simon. i’m not calling you a bad person. i honestly believe that this issue stems less from malicious aphobia and more from simple ignorance. i’m just asking that see this and don’t immediately dismiss it. i’m asking that you see this and think about it.

tldr; writing canonically aroace characters as gay is just as bad as writing canonically gay characters as straight. that’s not to say you’re a bad person for doing this or reading about it, but please remember that there are other characters to write/read about whose sexualities aren’t already a huge debate in the community.

finally, i’m totally open to intellectual conversations about this topic, but if you’re just gonna come at me with blatant aphobia and zero interest in a productive conversation, you’ll be blocked, no questions asked.

[allie-horikawa]

y’all valid as heck

[allie-horikawa]

[allie-horikawa]

Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu: Anime vs Manga

So, I know I was supposed to post this a few months ago, but to be honest, I’ve been having a hard time dealing with a depressive episode, but here I am trying to pull myself together, and I thought analyzing something I love would be of help, so here I am.

With that said, let’s start:

Episode 2 v Chapter 2-3

Something I always thought was funny but weird, is that chapter 2 starts with this omake:

Anyway, the 2nd episode of the manga starts right after the touken danshi defeated the retrograde army, the manga takes part of that in its second chapter, so the swords are called for battle on this chapter. Now the second episode starts when they’re running to the castle while, in this part, the manga takes the time for the Saniwa to explain the touken danshi what their new mission is, and also...

So, everyone knows they have to prove themselves in order to be selected as captain, but also the decision of putting them together as an unit has already been made, so they have to put some extra effort to get chosen as the leader.

The next big change between formats is that, in the anime Mutsunokami comfronts the retrograde army with Yangen and Tonbokiri’s help only and they cut to show Kane-san, Kunihiro, the Saniwa and Konnosuke arriving to the scene after the others are gone, the manga shows us they just arrived a few moments later.

And the result of that was an argument similar to the one they had on episode 4 in the anime.

I think this change works for the narrative. In the anime, I got to feel Mutsunokami refused to follow Kane-san orders only because they were the swords of 2 men that were enemies, or even just because they didn’t stand each other. With this we see since the beginning they have different philosophies, that they can’t tolerate the same things, and that Mutsunokami is also willing to fight the way he thinks is right, by himself.

But I also think this was usefull to the Saniwa, as a way to observe the swords reaction to the situation, what each one stands for, and what each one needs to learn from eachother, so, after Konnosuke questions the selection of members for this unit, the Saniwa is pretty confident, this is going to work. On the other hand, it’s pretty obvious the Saniwa decieded who the captain would be after listening to Kane-san’s plan of action, so maybe trusted the uchigatana would be a wise leader for the rest of them, knowing how to guide them and how to proceed in every situation they could get involved during missions.

The next change, that can be kind of obvious is that, when they are reunited after defeating the retrograde army, in the anime they’re just trying to guess what the intentions of the enemy are.

In the manga, as they were told the result of this mission would determine who the captain will be, they talk about how they did.

Basically, the one who atively wanted to be captain was Mutsunokami, therefore his reaction after the Saniwa announced the decision.

Another thing we can get from here is that Kane-san wasn’t actallu trying to get to be chosen as captain, and Mutsunokami is upset about that, but I do think Saniwa chose Kane-san because, well, “give the power to those who don’t want it”, and also we all know, at this point of the story, Mutsunokami would actually change the story in order to save everyone.

As I said, these interactions make more sense to me as why Mutsunokami doesn’t want to follow Kane-san orders. I mean, in the anime is obvious they aren’t bff, but they have a more playful attitude towards each other.

The part where the Saniwa is affected by staying too much time in the past stays pretty much the same, so let’s move forward to the inn part, and the start of the manga 3rd episode. 

While in the anime, the fisrt introduction we have at their time in the inn is Mutsunokami waking up (wich actually happens after a couple of pages in the manga) to take breakfast, the first thing we see on this chapter of the manga is this:

In the anime, we see Kane-san left a note for the rest of the team, but in the manga we get to see the actual leaving, where there was no note, but Yagen and Tombokiri aren’t actually asleep, but pretending to be, so they acknowledge his captain leaving, and the new member following him. This coud be taken as him not taking them on count not even to let them know what he’s doing, but I get the vibes he’s just used to do the things by himself, also we can say he was just taking the responsability as captain and letting his unit rest, trusting he would return soon enough. What he didn’t take on count was Kunihiro waking up to following him. I guess we all can conclude he just wanted to stay by his partner side, and who would blame him? - either if you want to see this as a romantic or a fraternal way- this was one of the very few times they will get to spend time only the two of them from now on.

Another thing we got to see in the anime is that, even though they’re not used to be around these persons like this, but it’s not like it is uncomfortable for them, also, Kane-san seems to have some temple and be in control of the situation.

In the manga, we can feel the tension in the air, and that Kane-san doesn’t know what to do quite well.

Here’s where Kane-san deciedes to do the “introduction” thing.

I’d like to high light how the expressions and body language gives us a deeper reflection of each one’s personality. I like to think this version of Kane-san is more relaxed and not that much in control, Mutsunokami is kinda sassy (at least to me), and Kunihiro is even more polite (and cute).

Also, they gwt to have more interaction with each other since the beginning -and all along the manga- like this one:

The reason I like this part (that wasn’t in the anime), is because they -specially Mutsunokami- try to integrate the newbie to te group, also Kane-san gets protective of the boy, in his own way. Besides, Kunihiro tries to distract them and be a mediator so they don’t start a figth. This gives us a look of how the future interactios of these 3 will be.

Another small reaction that wasn’t in the anime is when Mutsunokami shows off his gun.

In the anime there’s no reaction, but here we see this actually shakes the wakisahi, and his partner notices. I think this is a sneak peek of the trauma the boy has with his master death.

From here, there’s no major changes inbetween both formats except for this conversation at the harbor:

Also, the end of the episode is the same of the chapter, so next post I’ll do the comparison of episode 3 and chapter 4-5.

Also, I want to apologize if this post was not as good as you expected, I don’t feel well yet, but I decieded to try and continue with this “series”, else it felt like I would drop this project again, just as a lot of things. I’llmtry to do a better job next time.

Extras:

Short cuts (editing):

- Part 1: https://url2.cl/fL4hu

#touken ranbu #touken ranbu online #katsugeki touken ranbu #katsugeki #horikawa kunihiro #izumunokami kanesada #Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki #Yagen Toushirou #tonbokiri #katsugeki saniwa #anime #anime vs manga #manga #anime rant #manga rant

[allie-horikawa]

I know it may have a lot of mistakes, but I really love the final result of this drawing (specially since I didn't draw Kane-san for a whole year).

#touken ranbu #katsugeki touken ranbu #touken ranbu hanamaru #izumunokami kanesada #Izuminokami #fan art #digital drawing #digital art #yukata #I really missed drawing him

[allie-horikawa]

[allie-horikawa]

Chibi Kunihiro bc yeah. Hope this is cute enough

#touken ranbu #katsugeki touken ranbu #horikawa kunihiro #fan art #touken danshi #touken ranbu online #touken ranbu hanamaru #Chibi #Anime #Manga #Digital art #Illustration

[allie-horikawa]

Enjoying summer

#touken ranbu #katsugeki touken ranbu #horikawa kunihiro #fan art #touken ranbu online #Hanamaru #digital art #digital drawing

[allie-horikawa]

So it’s 2020 can we talk about how Avatar portrays femininity as well as just gender in general?  You have Katara, Toph, Suki, and like 800 other amazing female characters who are out here being warriors and making a point that women can be incredible fighters too, and there’s an episode that addresses this explicitly where Katara duels Pakku and basically explodes his reductive view of women (best scene in the whole thing is when everyone carts her in to apologize to him.) And there’s a lot about women being encouraged to take part in traditionally masculine spaces, particularly again with Toph and Katara. Katara is great too because the show doesn’t draw a dichotomy between a fighter and a healer. Katara can be gentle and motherly and a good shoulder to cry on, while also being a hundred percent badass. 

But then also the show is really good (albeit a bit subtler) about the value in men embracing traditionally feminine traits and activities.  Our main character is pacifist vegetarian soft-boi who wears flower crowns and makes jewelry and spends a lot of time talking about his feelings and he is by and far the most morally sound character in the series who is completely at ease with who he is. 

Then you have Sokka who a lot of people have pointed out has an arc that’s basically “chug respect women juice,” and part of that arc includes him wearing the Kiyoshi uniform, something he feels emasculates him, (and which the show makes a joke about tbf) but then they turn it around and make the ensemble genuinely badass. 

And then sweet Zuko who is absolutely someone who is portrayed as caring and sensitive in his childhood (by no small part due to his mother’s influence) who is raised in probably the most toxically masculine environment in the show. The Fire Nation might have women in its ranks, but feminine traits like compassion, mercy, and basically any emotion that isn’t a desire for destruction are seen as disgraceful. It’s notable what gets Zuko banished is his refusal to fight his own father, and how that is labeled disrespectful. 

It’s also notable that the people and places that change Zuko are more feminine in nature. He works in a shop, cleaning and preparing tea. He meets two young women who drastically change his view on Earth Kingdom civilians. He spends time helping a family with children. And through all this he’s there with Iroh, a guy who enjoys music, culture, and natural beauty, who’s sensitive and dedicated to humble acts of kindness for others, and who Ozai dismisses as an embarassing failure. 

And the show ends with Zuko ditching all this toxicity and just being the guy he wants to be. He even hugs Aang at the end, something Season 1 Zuko would never do with anybody. Our boy hugs!

Like the show doesn’t just empower women by letting them fight, it also shows the power and value in emotional vulnerability and compassion that is usually only reserved for women. It empowers women to fight and kick ass while also deconstructing toxic masculinity. 

Tl:dr: Avatar says let women fight, and let men be emotionally open with each other and hug!

[allie-horikawa]

Just a reminder that I’m an Adult™ and if that makes you feel uncomfortable feel free to:

unfollow me

ask me to unfollow you

block me

I won’t get mad or anything. It’s important to make sure you feel comfortable and secure.

[allie-horikawa]

Me on Fourth of July like

[allie-horikawa]

here's a drawing to "celebrate" Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu 3rd anniversary.

I wasn't going to post anything today (yup, depression hit back), but at the end it was like "go and draw something decent for once", so here it is.

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Reference:

🌸Arms/hands: @kusaka719 (Twitter)

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#touken ranbu #katsugeki touken ranbu #horikawakunihiro #hori #fan art #touken danshi #tourabu #touken ranbu online #sketch #sketchbook #Doodle #Anime #Manga #illustration #Katsugeki Touken Ranbu anniversary #I missed drawing my son

[allie-horikawa]

do people really still think states are reopening because coronavirus is under control and becoming less common ??? the re-opening is literally just for money. nothing has changed in real life to warrant it other than concerns about the economy.

[allie-horikawa]

“Will you still fight by my side, even with a captain like me?”

“I am your partner, Kane-san.”

#izuminokami kanesada #horikawa kunihiro #touken ranbu #katsugeki touken ranbu #Manga VS anime #I love both versions tho

[allie-horikawa]

HTTYD in Fantastic Beast AU

*bonus : Jack Frost as Graves*  

[allie-horikawa]

When you're writing and you suddenly realize you don't know what happens next