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armansanimeaddiction · 1 year

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Urusei Yatsura 2 : Dreams and Desires

Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer was the beginning of the now critically acclaimed Mamoru Oshii’s signature style of directing. However, at the time, critics and fans alike were less sympathetic towards the young director, feeling that the plot divulged too far from Rumiko Takahashi’s beloved rom-com. Nevertheless, contemporary viewers and film makers have taken large influence from this classic, inspiring later Western movie projects such as Groundhog Day and Inception.

Oshii’s main theme throughout the movie is the melancholies of youth; how we want to experience an endless amount of fun, like a summer holiday that never ends, but also how it isn’t all that it chalks up to be. The movie also draws on philosophical ideas of existentialism and scepticism, though these are not explored in as much depth. The best way to critically analyse the film is to look at it through the lens of having a good time with you friends, and what we might try to do to preserve that.

One of the main motifs of the movie originates from the folk story of Urashima Taro, which may not be common knowledge amongst Western viewers, but I’ll go through it later.

If you haven’t watched this movie, I would highly recommend it. I thought it was an amazing watch; the visuals and soundtrack are amazing and it will have you engaged the whole way through. You don’t need to have watched any of the other movies or anime beforehand, though knowing some of the context would help

(It goes without saying there will be spoilers)

In order to make sense of what happens in the movie, we need to first look at the plot twist which happens in the last act of the film, since this underpins everything else that happens in the movie.

By the end of the movie, it is revealed that ever since the beginning, everything that has happened has been a dream, facilitated the dream demon known as Mujaki, and instigated by Lum’s desires. In a flashback, it is shown that Lum wishes to have fun that never ends with her friends and Mujaki hence begins the dream to fulfil those wishes. Knowing and understanding this fundamental plot point makes it more obvious why events earlier on in the film transpire the way they do.

Going back to the beginning, the movie opens on the night before the school festival. The main cast of the movie are working tirelessly to finish their classes stand. Whilst they have been at it for a very long time, they are also having a lot of fun. Oshii noted in an interview that this reflected the staff working on the prior TV anime adaptation of the manga; they were young, often pulling all-nighters to finish the episode before it was due to air.

However, this charade all comes crashing down with the first twist of the movie; its revealed that (at least since the very start of the movie, if not longer) that they have been reliving the same exact day in a time loop. The first character to make this realisation is Onsen-Mark, who in his dialogue with Sakura, notes that they can’t remember what they did yesterday, in addition to the imagery of his dusty apartment demonstrating how long he hasn’t been back in. The rest of the crew makes this realisation once they try to leave the school to go back home; all their efforts lead them back to where they started.

Looking at this through the lens of Lum’s wishes, it makes sense why they have been time looping; they have been having fun with each other, for an endless amount of time, which is exactly what Lum wanted.

It is important to note though however, that at this point in the movie it’s not wholly obvious that the characters are in a dream.

Whilst wondering about what to do next, the crew takes Shuutaro’s Harrier to explore if they can go beyond where they initially tried to go by normal methods of transport. However, this is where they make the shocking discovery that the section of the town they have been on is actually on the back of a giant stone turtle, which has been travelling through space. This is the reference to the story of Urashima Taro.

The story of Urashima Taro is a Japanese folk tale, originating from the Muromachi and Edo periods of Japan. In the story, the titular fisherman saves a turtle from being killed and returns it back to the sea. The next day, he meets a large turtle emerging from the sea; as it turns out, the turtle he had saved was the daughter of the emperor of the sea, and they invited him to their palace to thank him. There, he meets the princess, now a beautiful woman. They have a lot of fun together for what initially seems to be three days, but when Taro wants to leave, the princess gives him a small box, telling him never to open it. When he makes it back to the shore, Taro is shocked to see that the world has changed so much since he left; all the people he knew are dead and his home is gone. It turned out that whilst it seemed he had only spent 3 days with the princess, it was in fact 300 years. Washed over with grief and sadness, Taro opens the box, only to turn into an old man; the princess had locked away his old age in there.

Going back to Urusei Yatsura, the main function of the turtle in the context of the movie is to allow a significant amount of time to pass, in addition to being a nice reference to an old folk tale. The cast all fly on the plane off the turtles back, but when they return, the town has turned into an apocalyptic wasteland. An important detail to note is that they see Cherry (a monk, and Sakura’s cousin) and Onsen Mark engraved into the underbelly of the turtle.

Whilst the setting is not that important (Oshii notes in an interview that it seemed fun), the reason why the change in setting occurs is. Once the characters make the realisation that the day before the festival has all been an illusion, which also breaks Lum’s desire of having fun. Had they have stayed in that festival, they would no longer have been having fun, rather being preoccupied by trying to escape the illusion. To circumvent this problem, Mujaki changes the setting completely, which distracts them enough for Lum’s desires to be fulfilled once again.

Once they have settled into this new world, all but two of the characters feel contempt with their new situation. This raises an issue; why would they want this to end, even if it were an illusion? They have never been able to have this much fun before.

Again, going back to an interview, Oshii says that this is meant to reflect how he wanted his youth to be like; wanting vacations to never end is a common desire amongst young people, and he wanted to illustrate this in the movie.

However, even in paradise, not everything is perfect. Throughout the movie, but most potently at this point in the film, characters have been disappearing from the world. Cherry was never present from the start, Onsen Mark disappears soon after the movie begins, and whilst in the wasteland, Shinobu and Ryunosuke disappear.

Again, going back to Lum’s desires, it makes sense why this happens. In one way or another, these characters have been able to (or have the ability to) violate the integrity of Lum’s wishes. Cherry, being a monk, would have likely been able to see through the illusion, so Mujaki had no choice but to remove him as soon as possible. Onsen-Mark is the one to initially see through the illusion (and the students don’t really like him much anyways) so Mujaki removes him too. Finally, whilst in the wasteland, Shinobu is a much bigger help to Ataru’s mother than Lum, which seems to spite her, so Mujaki removes her to keep Lum happy. For similar reasons, Ryunosuke is removed, since Ataru would have been attracted towards her, again making Lum jealous and unhappy.

The final act of the film is somewhat difficult to analyse through the lens of Lum’s desires; after all this is where the wool is removed from our eyes, and we see the world for what it is. Once they make the realisation that they have just been living in a dream, Mujaki knows that he won’t be able to fulfil Lum’s desires anymore, and so the dream must end. Nevertheless, the sequence is a visual and sensory marvel, and you can see the DNA of Inception and Paprika in this short sequence, which I think is what Oshii was going for. If they were to just wake up, it would seem a bit anti-climactic, but this way of ending the film is very exciting.

The film ends on a happy note, as the cast wakes up from the dream on the day of the festival. However, we see Mujaki working on the clock again, saying he will keep an eye on these two, which leaves a lot open to the viewer, again like the ending of inception.

I don’t think Oshii really had a message he wanted to send to the viewer in this movie, but the visuals and plot progression in the movie are what I think make it a great watch. It started Oshii’s bejewelled film career, and you can see what he took from this initial project. It’s safe to say that without this, we wouldn’t have classics like Ghost in the Shell and Jin-Roh

If you want further reading on the movie, there are two interviews which I have referenced throughout this piece:

#anime #philosophy #essay #classic #mamoru oshii #movie

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2021131192021 · 4 years

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Omen

Theme: Angst

Fandom: Urusei Yatsura

AN: First time I post something here, I usually post thing on FF.net or Ao3, but here it’s just “oneshot/preview” idk, but anyway, it’s connected to a fanfic I’m currently writing, you can read it here

Lum still remembered that old man who’d asked her who she was and said that he’d come back and get her. But even though this had scared her at the time, she knew that there’d been no reason for her to be worried.

"Don't worry. No one’ll take you from. I'll be there to save you," were the words of a person who’d give his life for her.

Two months ago, a strange event had happened. A man from the World of Darkness had kidnapped her in order to marry her, because her great-grandfather had made a promise to a mysterious person he’d met long ago. Of course, the wedding hadn’t taken place, since her fiancé had come to save her.

Her fiancé… Yes, she was engaged. After all, she’d promised him that.

"When I come back from my mission and you’ll win against Earth, I’d like to take you as my bride."

"Yes, I promise..." she’d said those words to him, mostly because she wished she could forget about her ex-boyfriend, who was still harassing her. "I’ll win and it’ll be mine. We’ll rule Earth together."

Now, a year later, but also two months after being kidnapped, Earth was hers.

In her room, which was in her palace, she could see that the sky was beginning to turn a little red, meaning the sun was about to set. Turning around, she looked at her wedding dress, a traditional dress from Oni culture.

In a few day, she’d be married to her fiance. The one… Wait.

Why, when she’d envisioned her wedding, was the man with her not the one she’d expected?

She looked out of the window again. Since she won the game of tag, she’d always felt a strange emptiness in her chest. Something was missing. But what exactly? It was as if sometimes she was looking for something.

Later, she’d left her palace, flying around the city as the people around her gazed at her curiously, whether they were humans or Oni. She passed some Oni soldiers who recognized her and they were all yelling for her to get back to the palace as soon as possible, since her place wasn’t outside.

She didn't listen to them, continuing on her way towards something. Something attracted her.

Something was missing and she had to find it.

She paused for a moment in front of a store window, looking in a direction she could take. But out of the corner of her eye, she could sense that the reflection in the window wasn’t hers. She quickly turned her head to look at it and for a short moment she thought she saw a boy around her her age reacting like her in the reflection, though it quickly changed to her reflection.

The surprise was only short lived, as Oni soldiers were catching up to her. She resumed her flight. The sky was getting darker, although it still slightly red.

She’d flown far enough to get to the old Tomobiki, the original town before she came to settle here. The city was almost a ruin, but many people were still living here.

She noticed from looking at the city that people were fighting, as well as that Oni soldiers had reached her. She expected them to simply order her to come back, but instead they started throwing lassos at her so she wouldn't escape. She struggled, sending electricity at them. She hit everyone who tried to get too close to her, not stopping to resist their attempts at capturing her.

She didn't notice that the more time she spent fighting them, the more the area was set on fire. The fire was raging and no one, except those who could fly, could escape.

With a much stronger lightning bolt from the sky, all her opponents were on the ground. She had to take a few deeps breaths, exhausted from what she’d just done. But when she blinked, she finally realized what she’d actually done. The Oni who’d fainted were no longer Oni, but just humans. And none of them seemed to breathe.

She examined them. A boy dressed in a white suit, but covered with traces of blood, and holding a katana. A woman in a Miko's outfit. These people seemed familiar to her.

She raised her head to look at the sky, seeing several Oni ships arrive, ready for a new conquest.

She heard footsteps behind her, making her turn her head and see someone approaching her with a very happy look. In his left hand was a scepter that was giving off a very powerful light.

"Bravo, Lum,” he said when he was finally in front of her. "Now you’ve to erase the only error of this world."

He gave her his scepter and took her by the shoulders in order to turn her around, showing her something that was in front of them, but a small distance away.

She could see a human, still alive, trembling like a small animal on his knees. She moved closer to him as he didn't move, but his eyes were terrified of her. She saw the details of his head better, brown hair, brown eye or golden. She couldn't really see, but what was certain was that he was pitying her, looking at her like a puppy who was crying.

"Do it, Lum. Show me that you’re worthy to be the leader of your people."

She raised her arms above her head so she could hit him with the scepter. So that she could end his life.

"Lum…" he began to speak, his voice shaking. She froze, not liking hearing him talk like that.

"I promised you that I’d never forget you, Lum…" tears fell from his eyes, as he nearly choked on his own voice. "Why didn't you keep that promise to me?"

The boy's body began to glow and as she wanted to ask who he was, she blinked, but he was gone.

His disappearance gave her chills and tears started to form in her eyes. She let go of the scepter remorsefully, the flames around her continuing to spread. Dropping to her knees, she began to scream.

Electricity ran through her body and began to explode all around her.

"Lum?! What’re you doing?!"

Someone started to shake her and she opened her eyes, seeing the boy she was sleeping with in the same house looking at her very seriously, but also with anger. She started to cry and feel into his arms for comfort.

"It was horrible!" she cried as she was resting her head against his shoulder. "I was so scared!"

She’d expected him to push her away, but instead he hugged her timidly, stroking the back of her head. "It's nothing, Lum. It was just a nightmare and everything’s fine…"

Tears streamed down her face and onto his pajamas.

"I’d win the Earth. It’ll be mine and we’ll rule it together," these words came back to haunt her in the darkness of her mind. She began to squeeze the boy she was holding very tight.

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

Invader was looking at the sky, his valiant general having left alone to go into space. He knew perfectly well where he was going. There was nothing he could do to defend them or even simply help them. He was far too powerful, as he’d taken the Luciole with him. How do you beat a man with such dark intent who also possesses the power of a star?

"May the gods forgive me…" he whispered, never stopping to look at the blue sky.

#Urusei Yatsura #Lum Invader #fanfiction #one shot #fanfic tag

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translationandbetrayals · 5 years

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ALIIEEEENZZZ!! in anime (A very, very confused rant about a anime and “power relations” tropes between humans and aliens)

So I just finished watching Planet With and it was sort of interesting, it cannot be said that it has the best story, soundtrack or graphic arts (be it animation, character design, backgrounds, etc) but certainly interesting because it got me thinking about how aliens are depicted in anime compared to other media.

Planet With:

If you do not know what anime show I am talking about, Planet With is a science fiction series that is about a alien boy with amnesia and a big cat that eats the eats the boy and then transforms into a neko-mecha… oh yeah and there is also a vegetarian maid.

Fig 1.- The main characters of the anime Planet With

I will try to make this as spoilers-free as possible but in interest of this post I find it sadly inolvidable to talk about the aliens in this anime… By the way, this is your last spoiler warning: 3, 2, 1…

The main conflict in Planet With has to do with the evolutionary stage of telepathy, when a species begins to become psychically sensitive there two main evolutionary paths that can be taken by the collective and individuals of the species: evolving for love or evolving for power. Nebula, a collective of various and diverse alien species and races have evolved via the path of love but have seen what has happened to those who chose the evolutionary path for power which results in a “dragon”, Nebula tends to be a little bit jumpy about dragons because once upon a time there was a very big galactic dragon that did the minor naughty sin of GENOCIDE OF AN ENTIRE PLANET.

When the humans start evolving into telepaths, Nebula cannot help but notice that the humans are following the evolutionary path of power and it is from here where the interaction between Nebula and Humanity begins. Typically at this stage the story will present the aliens as something completely negative, since most story that talk about opposing ideals and ideologies display the conflict in a reductive manner, one sad being common sense and the other simply bad, mad, and silly (An example of this would be Thanos plan to solve all of the universes problem in the film Avengers Infinity War). Surprisingly Planet With presents the aliens and their meddling in human affairs with quite some nuanced:

Fig.2.- Examples of the “bizarre taste” of the aliens

1.- The political splintering of a alien polis because of a mutual problem:

Nebula is in essence a pacifist civilization, they believe in diplomacy, collectivism and love (You can see this reflected in their bizzare taste), it makes sense that their “arch enemy” is the dragon, which is a being of pure empowerment of the individual but crazed with his own sense of justice fueled by individualism. Despite all of the positive aspects it has to be said that Nebula has been traumatized by the actions of the Dragon and this results in desperate and extreme conclusions when it comes to a possible new dragon (This coming from the new human telepaths). This results in the sealing faction (being led by a big white dog) which concludes that the humans have to have their evolution sealed (this means trapping the entire human species into a eternal dream state where all of their ambitions and fantasies are satisfied, killing their ambition and wish to grow, connect and evolve), but there are those that believe that being this extreme is aggressive and hypocritical of a civilization that claims to have evolved from love, these are the pacifist faction (who are led by a big blue cat).

2.- The position of each faction of Nebula is clear and honest:

What I love about the political conflict is that it is obvious that the two alien factions are annoyed by their political opponents but they do not use pseudo-over the top-unnecessary-philosophy to justify their position or criticize the other one, in fact the sealing faction is able to convince some humans to help them because of past events that gives them some credibility (the same can be said about the pacifist faction).

Fig.3.- Leaders of the two Nebula factions (Left: pacifist faction; Right: sealing faction)

3.- The problem of a “intervention of a foreign power” is addressed

Of course, the series those conclude that one of the factions is wrong and the other is right and this would be a “black and white” situation but this anime is self aware of the political context of its story. One of the human telepaths (the most powerful of them) has some extreme political ideas about individualism but does make a good criticism about Nebula when he is fighting against the sealing faction: “You are imposing forcefully your values onto us, how is that not a invasion?” This is a fair criticism, since one must ask as a citizen of a nation that decides to get involved in a different countries conflict “Why do we intervene into others problems? Are we justified in doing so? Does our actions reflect what we claim are our good willed intentions?” We can see these questions revealing certain military interventions in our reality being not only problematic but tragic (You may pick any of the United States wars against terror/evil/danger). But in the anime I would personally say that the intervention of Nebula (in the context of the complete story) is not only necessary but is actually beneficial to the human species because, you know: diversity.

One last thing I wish to clarify about the multiple conflicts and interactions between the Nebula factions and the human species is that it is not a battle of opposing ideologies or the nationalistic supremacy of any of the sides, because in the end of the day all of the characters (except for the dragon) want the best for humanity but simply disagree what is actually the best; I will admit, this is a not only a optimistic but a ideal (even utopian) political situacion, it kinda of gives me a weird Star Treky vibe. And I really appreciate that, since this kind of depiction of the political + social relationship between aliens and humans in a anime is actually quite rare. How rare? Well I am glad you ask because I made a list!

I would argue that most relationships between aliens and humans in media is one of power, be it technological, physical, social, spiritual, or the capacity of one market to commodify almost anything. Unless it is a situation where the humans and aliens are sort of equals in terms of power (and even if this is the case…), typically the relationship will result in one group abusing the other; be it a invading them, eating them, exterminating them, changing them or commodifying the population (be this slavery, food stock or tokenism). This tendencies is related to what aliens usually represent in media: the other, the unknown, the powerful, the grand administrator, the madness, the colonist or the colonized. The list that will be presented below is based on this argument of mine (This list is composed mostly of anime that I have watched, so no this list does not contain all anime that depicts hostile aliens):

Some anime that depicts Hostile alien tropes (Includes Spoilers):

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann: Aliens wants to oppress us

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Aliens wants to change us against our will

Guilty Crown: Aliens wants to change us against our will

Darling in the Franx: Aliens wants to invade us

One Punch Man: Aliens wants to invade us

Dragon Ball Z: Aliens wants to invade us*

Eureka Seven: Humans are a eco-hazard towards Aliens

Eureka Seven AO: Aliens wants to change us against our will

Suisei no Gargantia: Aliens wants to exterminate us + Humans are a eco-hazard towards Aliens

Gantz: Aliens wants to invade us + commodify us + eat us

World Trigger: Aliens wants to invade us

Sidonia no Kishi: Aliens wants to eat us

Gundam 00: A Wakening of the Trailblazer: Aliens wants to change us against our will (But hey, we kinda of like it in the end)

Terra Formars: Aliens wants to exterminate us

Kill la Kill: Aliens wants to invade us + change us against our will + wants to eat us

Bokurano: Aliens wants commodify us*

RahXephon: Aliens wants to change us against our will

Sailor Moon*: Aliens wants to invade us + eat us*

Heroic Age: Aliens wants to exterminate us

Sousei no Aquarion: Aliens wants commodify us

Aquarion Evol: Aliens wants to invade us + commodify us (To be more precise they want to steal all of the women)

Top wo Nerae! Gunbuster: Aliens wants to exterminate us

Top wo Nerae2! Diebuster: Aliens wants to exterminate us

Uchuu Senkan Yamato 2199: Aliens wants to exterminate us

Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse: Aliens wants to eat us

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (I think it’s a anime?): Aliens wants to eat us (kinda)

Blue Gender*: "Aliens" wants to eat us

Captain Earth: Aliens wants to invade us?

Rinne no Lagrange: Aliens wants to invade us + oppress us

The Macross Franchise: Aliens wants to invade us

Finfa Kikoutai Majestic Prince: Aliens wants to invade us

Kurogane no Linebarrels: “”Aliens”” wants to change us against our will

Seikai no Monshou: Aliens wants to invade us + oppress us

Godzila (cgi animated trilogy): Aliens are a hazard + change us against our will

Soukyuu no Fafner: Aliens wants to eat us* + change us against our will

Neppuu Kairiku Bushi Road*: Aliens are a hazard

Ultra man: Aliens are a hazard

Sky Girls: Aliens wants to eat us?

Argento Soma: Aliens wants to exterminate us

Sentou Yousei Yukikaze: Aliens wants to invade us

Gunparade March: Aliens wants to invade us

Silent Mobius: Aliens wants to invade us

I:Wish you Were here: Aliens wants to change us against our will

Reideen: Aliens wants to invade us

Gene Shaft: Aliens wants to exterminate us

Starship Troopers (ova+movies): Aliens wants to invade us

And we can keep on going

Of course there are some exceptions like :

Seikaisuru Kado: Alien in a space cube comes to help humanity

Level E: Comedy where some aliens are nice, some are not and others are simply mad

Urusei Yatsura: It is a romantic comedy…

Oban Star-Racers: All galactic species/races are “““fairly””” competing on a space race (but of course there is stigmas and tensions between the participants)

Red Line*: Again a space race

Space Dandy: Comedy where some aliens are nice, some are not and others are simply mad

Tetsuwan Birdy Decode*: Some aliens are responsible space cops (or citizens) while others are criminals

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Total:

Hostile Aliens Tropes: 49 tropes out of 46 animes

Aliens wants to invade us: 17

Aliens wants to oppress us: 3

Aliens wants to eat us: 9

Aliens wants to exterminate us: 8

Aliens wants commodify us: 3

Aliens wants to change us against our will: 10

Aliens are a hazard: 3

Humans are a eco-hazard towards Aliens: 2

Exceptions: 7

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IMPORTAN VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1CQ7Vwz8Eo

Pedro Pons

#Anime #Sci-Fi #submission

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thearkhound · 5 years

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Letters to the MSX

Letters to the MSX (MSXにおくる手紙/MSX ni okuru tegami) is an article that was published in the final issue of MSX-FAN magazine (dated August 1995), in which the publication sent out a questionnaire to various people within the video game, computing and consumer electronics industries (from companies such as Micro Cabin, Compile, Game Arts, Sony and Matsushita), asking them about their involvement with the MSX and their thoughts about the platform, which was being discontinued from the market after 12 years in the market.

Originally I only intended to translate Hideo Kojima’s answers to the questionnaire, but then I decided to do the whole article because not only does it bring a lot of insight to the MSX culture in Japan, but it also provides a picture of how the computer industry was back in the mid-90′s and where it was heading. This is why it took me a while to publish this translation (and why I have been inactive on Twitter for almost a month now), since it was not only quite a long article, but there’s also quite a bit of technical jargon and idioms that I wanted to make sure I would get right.

Anyway, I hope that you will enjoy it.

Introduction

We sent out this questionnaire to as many companies as possible who were involved with the MSX via fax or PC. We wanted to publish the thoughts of the people who were involved during that period. We do believe this will lead to our next step.

The contents of the questionnaires are as follows. Please read them fully and compare them.

The text has been printed the way it was sent to us, but editor’s notes have also been in parts that we believe might be too difficult for some readers to comprehend. The text after the red circle is written by the editorial department to introduce the developer who answered the questionnaire, followed by their answers to each question. If the answers to question 1 and 4 given by the person in the previous section, then “same as above” will written in its place.

MSX-FAN Final Questionnaire

Company’s name

Name and current department

Job(s) during the MSX era

Most notable MSX products by the company

Your most nostalgic MSX moment and why

Words you wish to impart to MSX-FAN readers

Bonus/ Secrets, inside stories or such you wish to share

Tokihiro Naito

We can’t help but feel from reading Mr. Naito’s comment that the MSX was a machine that everyone made good use of. With such powerful talents, his games have served as an inspiration to numerous players. Before long, people learn about the enjoyment of creating games just like Mr. Naito... We feel it’s quite a wonderful chain.

T&E Soft

Tokihiro Naito, Development Division

DD Club/Pattern Editor Programming and Manual Manuscript Creation, Undead Line/Game Design. Hydlide/Game Design and Direction, Hydlide 3/Main Programming, Rune Worth/Game and Direction. I feel there were more projects (I’ve worked on), but I don’t remember any of them.

3D Golf Simulation, Hydlide series, Laydock series, Daiva, Psy-O-Blade, Rune Worth, DD Club, T&E Disk Magazine, and more

Laydock/ The truth is that I want to talk about everything I’ve worked on, but this particular title left the most lasting impression. This had an unexpectedly short development time, meaning that it was released even before the new MSX hardware. However, the developing target was pretty unstable, and with the hardware and BIOS specifications changing everyday, it led to a difficult development period. The person in charge was all (^ ^;

The MSX was a very interesting job for me. The MSX was probably the first time I was introduced to the concept of a VDP at such an early stage. Since the MSX was also the first machine I’ve ever experienced the use of sprites with, it was personally very fun. Even though MSX-FAN might be gone now, I hope many people will still use the MSX as a starting machine for programming or for making CGI.

DD Club contained a tool called SPEN, which was not a product by the company. It was actually a hobby program I designed in my home for over two years. At any rate, the name stood for Special Pattern Editor for Naito. This program was given free of charge to T&E Soft as my dedication to them./During the development of Laydock, I received a new BIOS-ROM from ASCII almost everyday, but every time the BIOS was changed it would cause the game to stop running, and we had to cool out the prototype MSX2 computer with a paper fan while programming as soon as it was overheating./ The 800 kanji fonts for the MSX1 version of Hydlide III that were on a 7x8 pixel format were in fact created by me. Were they hard to read? I’m sorry if that was the case./ There are many more unrevealed inside stories, but... (Editor’s Note 1: We this much content, we can’t publish this letter without cutting off some parts. Hmm...) (Editor’s Note 2: Hmm, I wonder if the other editor has seen that one last sentence.) (^ ^;

Akira Misoda

In the MSX world there is Micro Cabin. Nothing else needs to be said. We are grateful to them for many things. We thank them for porting Princess Maker to the MSX. And in addition to providing software for our supplemental disks, we learned many things from Mr. Nakano as the lecturer for our Picture Story & Movie Classroom articles. Producer Misoda has made an effort to backup all the above. I don’t think the Princess Maker port would’ve happened without his influence.

Micro Cabin

Akira Misoda, 1st R&D Department

Producer & Programmer of Campaign Daisenryaku. Programmer of The Tower of Cabin. Producer of Princess Maker.

Fray, Xak, Xak II, Maison Ikkoku, Urusei Yatsura, Daisenryaku, Super Daisenryaku, Princess Maker, Illusion City, The Tower of Gazzel.

This doesn’t have anything to do with the MSX version specifically, but Xak was the first game I programmed desperately after I’ve joined the company. I gave the rough source code to Mr. Nakatsu when he joined the company to produce the MSX version, but I’m still impressed that such a difficult code to understand could be ported so well.

The MSX is a hardware that has raised many people. There are quite a few people at Micro Cabin who used to be MSX users before joining the company. With the proper knowhow, you could make games on the MSX without having to purchase any expensive add-on (compared to other platforms). In that sense, it’s such a great loss that another platform that has produced game-making geniuses (!?) is disappearing from the industry. I might be exaggerating a bit, but... I really feel that way.

I’ve worked on the MSX prior to joining Micro Cabin. I did around four outsourced jobs from three different companies, and two of them were for Micro Cabin.

Yasuhiko Nakatsu

Programmers are said to stay up all night, tend to run away and are all unusual men, but there is no one who makes good products that keeps his deadlines, sleeps on time, and provides gentle guidance to everyone. We at the editorial department asked for such a person to serve as our lecturer for our picture story show articles. We are grateful to Mr. Nakatsu for everything he did to us and we apologize for asking too much of him. We are truly sorry for that.

Same as above

Yasuhiko Nakatsu, 1st R&D Department

Planning, programming, writing

Same as above.

I have many fond memories of software that came out on the MSX. Among there was this software called Su**s Gri... Oops! I’ve almost mentioned something I shouldn’t. My bad. My bad. Personally, Illusion City was my most memorable game when it comes to the most hardships I have to endure.

Thank you for publishing my articles after such a long period. For those who are not good at programming at BASIC, please look up any back issues and try your best at creating a picture story. The MSX was a machine with many ways to enjoy oneself. I look forward to future activities with the platform.

I was the one responsible for raising the memory of the A1-GT to 512Kb. Thanks to that, the machine was able to play MIDI without the burden of access time. I’m truly grateful at everyone in Matsushita.

Hitoshi Suenaga

Rather than introduce the person, I thought it would be more fitting to introduce his projects. He’s a talented genius responsible for the character designs in Micro Cabin.

Same as above

Hitoshi Suenaga, 2nd R&D Department

Xak 1, Fray, Daisenryaku, Illusion City

Same as above

Xak 1, since it was the first MSX project I ever worked on after joining the company.

I am grateful to everyone who supported our work, as well as everyone answered the questionnaire. While it’s sad that the world will go on without the MSX, I will still use it for my hobbies and personal work. In fact the character units in the 3DO version of Konpeki no Kantai were drawn on my MSX computer and then converted to the console.

If you want to be honest, if ASCII had asked for my input, I would’ve balanced out the hardware specifications of the MSX turbo R a bit more and I think the platform would’ve been around a bit longer. When I learned about the MSX turbo R’s hardware specifications after unveiling conference, I began crying on my bed... I’m serious! The MSX2 was a serviceable upgrade from the MSX1, but after that...

Katsuya Nagai

Mr. Nagai made one MSX software after the other while in Micro Cabin thanks to his love for the MSX and the effort he made to program every day and night.

Same as above.

Katsuya Nagai, 1st R&D Department

Programmed the opening and ending of Xak I. Also made the fighting minigame in The Tower of Cabin.

Same as above.

I was involved with Xak I as soon as I’ve joined the company.

Even though we are no longer making MSX games, we hope you’ll still support Micro Cabin in the future.

The Fray vs. Pixie minigame from The Tower of Cabin was ported from the PC-9801 version and I got to draw the animation patterns of a special move that was planned for the game. However, not all the animation frames could fit into the game’s memory, so I ended up using the regular patterns instead.

Naoko Arakawa

When talking about the TAKERU software vending machines, there is Ms. Arakawa. She was always full of energy when we met her during events. She even worked together with our editorial staff on the Sorcerian port, which is a project that brings us deep memories. She also worked on Sorcerian Relay, which is included in this final issue. Since it’s just a relay race game featuring characters from Sorcerian created by the editorial staff, it might not be anything special, but... We would be grateful is she re-releases more classic MSX software via TAKERU.

Xing

Naoko Arakawa, TAKERU Executive Office (sales division G)

Sales promotion of MSX software for TAKERU

Sorcerian, BURAI Vol. 2, ect.

Thanks to the news announcement from MSX-FAN, our game reprinting project attracted attention from many users, which evolved into the TAKERU Meisaku Bunko (Masterpiece Library) series. We;re now re-releasing PC-9801 and X68000 games on TAKERU as well, becoming an important pillar of our service more than ever. I think it was all thanks to the planning of MSX-FAN and our MSX users.

I truly salute MSX users for their passion, enthusiasm and creative urge. While we gathered many games for our reprint series, there were still quite a few things that left a bit to be desired (like why we didn’t include games from a certain company or why we didn’t include a particular title). There were many games that did not come out on TAKERU due to various circumstances, so we apologize for that. From now on we’ll do our best to have software reach MSX users via TAKERU, even if it’s just a few game. Please support us.

I have strong memories of sneaking out to see the A-Bomb Dome while I was en route to the MSX Festival in Hiroshima. On another occasion, I was photographed by a professional for the first time when I was interviewed by Mr. Tokita and Mr. Sasaya. The photo looked like a portrait than any normal photo. It’s one of my most treasured possessions.

Akkii

Falcon is a company that undertook a substantial role in the porting of Sorcerian that MSX-FAN and TAKERU (Brother) helped produce. Their president, Ms. Midori Ito, while working for Yamaha to promote the MSX, unexpectedly ended up becoming a programmer herself and before long she ended up marrying Mr. Kazuhiko Ito, who was employed at Micro Cabin at the time. The two ended up forming their own software development company. Answering in this section is Mr. Moribe, who was the lead graphic designer.

Tierheit (aka Falcon)

Akkii, Planning & Development Department - Development Section 2

Pixel art, debugging, intermediary with TAKERU’s executive officer, and many other jobs

Sorcerian, Sengoku Sorcerian, Pyramid Sorcerian

All of it, of course. It was the first company I’ve joined and the first job I was employed at.

The ending of Sorcerian was very anti-climatic. I’m sorry about that. Of course, the MSX is a hardware that exists because of its users. Even if this magazine will no longer be in print, the MSX scene will remain active as long as there are users, especially when it comes graphic designing (personally). Good luck!

Well there’s something I want to say, but... Oh no!

Yoshihide

I often used to go to the MSX Fair. I used to work at Osaka, bu moved back to Tokyo along with my wife last year. I want to know if the secret title was Dragon Spirit or Valkyrie.

Namco

Yoshihide, Consumer Sales Department - Promotion Division

MSX software sales and PR activities (including planning). Since there weren’t that many people, I did a bit of everything.

Return of Ishtar, Xevious: Farland Saga, Pac-Mania, ect. We also did the Disk NG series too.

For Xevious, I remember doing a bit of everything ranging from joining in the planning, production, advertising, distribution, sales and public relations.

I wish good luck to everyone involved with the MSX at Namco (including our users).

There were many games that we announced, but didn’t get released. On one hand I think it’s regrettable, but on the other hand it’s a bit horrifying.

Masamitsu Niitani

It’s because of Disk Station magazine that the MSX became an interesting world. It’s because of them that we had the Puyo Puyo series and Carbunkle. With its low-price, the fun-packed Disk Station was a brilliant plan that managed to rejuvenate an industry that has hit a rut. It was always a pleasure to deal with President Niitani himself when calling the company, even if it was the middle of the night.

Compile

Masamitsu Niitani, President

Planner, Producer, Graphic Designer, Programmer

Guardic, Madō Monogatari, Nyanpi, Golvellius, Rune Master, Adventure of Randar, Disk Station

Disk Station

Let’s walk with the times

I want to talk to Mr. Nishii of ASCII about his thoughts on the MSX.

Yoichi Miyaji

The founders of Game Arts got their start as part-timers at ASCII back in the old days. Because of their talent, they quickly formed their own company, where they gave birth to Thexder. At any rate, we had a chance to seriously think about developing for the MSX with Mr. Miyaji.

Game Arts

Yoichi Miyaji, President

Producer

Thexder, Fire Hawk, the Gyuwamburaa Jikō Chūshinha series, the Sum series

The debugging of the MSX-BASIC rom was carried out back when the founders of Game Arts were employed at ASCII. I think the BASIC was made extremely well.

I treasured the MSX like it was my own child. I did my best with the belief that the MSX was a better hardware than the Famicom (NES). It’s been more than 10 years (ed’s note: 12 years precisely), the age of the Famicom is over now and it’s time to let the MSX go too. It’s truly been a long time.

Satoshi Uesaka

Mr. Uesaka was the one who originally created the card concentration game called Card Desu as soon as MSX-FAN started including supplemental disks on each issue. It had an edit function in hopes that it would lead to a series of edited works, but not many edited versions were made and the whole thing amounted to nothing.

Same as above.

Satoshi Uesaka, Section Chief of Development

Producer, Director, Programmer, Pixel Artist, Scripter... I did many things.

Same as above.

The Sum series ended with 14 games that were released in a span of a single year.

Never forget your dreams, even when they end. (plagiarized)

Kamiji

BIT2′s president Mr. Kuribayashi was observing various creative tools for the PC-9801 one day when said that he would make his own versions to surpass them on the MSX. So he ended up making the CGI tool Graphsaurus, the FM music tool Synthesaurus and the MIDI tool Midisaurus. Without these tools there would’ve been no CGI contest on MSX-FAN and no MIDI Sandogaza column. In Mr. Kuribayashi’s place, this questionnaire was answered by saleswoman Ms. Kamiji.

BIT²

Kamiji, Sales

Accounting

Graphsaurus, Synthesaurus, Famicle Parodic

When they started putting all their efforts into the Turbo R and GT was when the MSX started sinking.

We still wanted to make MSX software, but since not many people were buying them anymore, we had to discontinue them.

Toshikazu Awano

While persistently providing software for the MSX, he also provided his invaluable insights on the MSX during the MSX Symposium (see our June 1991 issue). It seems he got into this world from the records industry, but has since be transferred into KOEI’s U.S. subsidiary and is now busy selling English versions of the Nobugana’s Ambition series for consoles.

Koei

Toshikazu Awano, Koei Corporation (of America)

Head of Sales

Nobunaga’s Ambition, Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Nobunaga’s Ambition II came out when I’ve joined the company and since it sold pretty well, it left me with a strong impression.

Our company used to sell MSX soft until very late, but when we discontinued them, we suddenly receiving porting requests from MSX users. Many of them were specifically middle and high schoolers with a strong sense of appreciation.

Tatsuo Matsuda

As someone who greatly loves the MSX beyond all else, he aspired to turn it into a machine that gives everyone the opportunity to bloom their talents. That is, even if you’re not rich or you live in a rural area, you should be able to use the MSX to awaken your hidden talent by creating CGI and music or get the opportunity to express yourself.

ASCII

Tatsuo Matsuda, Multimedia Department Promotion Manager

Promotion for MSX Sales

MSX

We have shipped over 4 million home computers to young people around the world, including Japan.

I want you to become smart Japanese people with unique personalities who could work around the world.

There are still many people using the MSX around the world. The MSX should be classified as a computer, not a game console. I’m very pleased that many people have learned about computers from this platform and have found employment through it.

Hitoshi Suzuki

Everyone who was involved with MSX has called him a genius. Without his genius, perhaps MSX wouldn’t had gotten such a good BASIC program. Nevertheless, he’s a truly wonderful person with a sense of humor who made Basic-kun as a side-project

Same as above.

Hitoshi Suzuki, Director of Digital System Division and Silicon Software Development

Listener to Mr. Matsuda’s complaints and causing uproars at parties.

I haven’t really done that much (Ed’s Note: He did a lot. Many of the programming for tools and systems used by the MSX were done by him.)

Yukiko Okada’s suicide haunted me. (Ed’s Note: At the time of her death, she was appearing in the advertising of a certain company.)

Our youth is a brief moment that only shines once. The memories that have gone through all of us at a rapid-pace will shine within me forever. And on my deathbed, I will utter “Em...Ess...Ex” as my last words.

There’s a huge mouse in Osaka. (Ed’s Note:It seems that the three main proponents of the MSX platform (Mr. Yamashita, Mr. Matsuda, Mr. Suzuki) once went to a business trip in Osaka. Nobody truly knows what happened there, but it seems that Mr. Matsuda was nicknamed Mr. Mouse after a certain incident. Don’t tell anyone, you meanie!)

Shingo Tamura

Mr. Tamura joined Sony at the midst of the audioboom. He was responsible for the famed live recording machine Densuke. Afterward, he became involved with the MSX and was in charge of the PalmTop. Even though Mr. Tamura is the section chief with a scary reputation, he’s actually a romantic who likes the stars, nature and soba noodles. We thought about what Sony means as a company with stuff such as sending mail through the internet in this day. Is it linked to their merchandising? We also wanted to emphasize the MSX’s side as a cool PC.

Sony

Shingo Murata, Planning and Development of Merchandising

Sales Chief of Planning and Development of Hardware, Software and Peripherals

The HB-55 was the first HiTBiT promoted by Saeko Matsuda. The HB-F1 was a budget-priced MSX2 computer that retailed at 32,800 yen. The HB-F1XD is an MSX2 with a floppy disk drive that retailed at 54,800 yen. In terms of games, there was The Wiz, which was perhaps a famed Sony original.

There was a software called Igo Club that was an online go game, and a Kanji Video Titler. There was also a BASIC-learning kit aimed at an industrial-level (after applying for the correspondence education, you would be sent an MSX with a handbook).

Every middle schooler who got their start on the MSX dreamed differently from Famicom owners. They could learn how to program or how to make a software run to their own accord. They continued in their creative endeavors now, even now as adults. If they can have home terminals like that in the 21st century, I think we can once again stir up some creativity. As long as people have dreams, we’ll embark on new challenges.

We tried to make and sell all kinds of products. The hardware is a business that really ought to make use of the software. With that in mind, we couldn’t make the DC machine (Ed’s note:a portable device) because the resolution was a bit overly optimistic and there were too many constraints. I would like to thank my subordinates, editor-in-chief Ms. Kitane and her staff, and my good friends at Sakurakai (Ed’s note: a liaison between multiple MSX hardware manufacturers that gathered once in every month, where they would improve on the good points, reflect on the bad ones and collaborate with each other. It was last held in May ‘95), even if they would normally be suspected of bid-rigging. And of course, everyone at ASCII. It was thanks to the MSX that I had a bond we all of the above people. And what would become of Mr. Kurami, our MSX historian at Sony who served as our walking encyclopedia? Thanks!

Naoya Kurami

Mr. Kurami is a delicate perfect fit for Sony’s corporate image. Everytime he received a call from our editorial department, he always winced momentarily whenever it was some kind of difficult call... Despite that, he seems to have what appears to be a poster of Saeko-chan...

Same as above.

Naoya Kurami, Vice Director of Planning and Development of Merchandising

Planning and Promotion of hardware, software and peripherals

Same as above

I don’t know if it can be said that its directly MSX-related, but do you know the stock-trading computer HB-T600 or the online go software Igo Club? Either way, studying stocks and studying go was a painful experience. And considering all that, the results were not quite good.

Well, for better or worse I spent the last ten years of my life working on the MSX. With this information now out on an MSX-related magazine, I feel a bit embarrassed. By the way, I own a train poster of Ms. Seiko Matsuda (advertising for our HiTBiT computers) as a souvenir from the past. I thought about selling it for a high price... I would like to thank all of editors at MSX-FAN and all of its readers. It’s been such a long time.

Hideaki Yagami

We, at the editorial staff, get the impression that the people at Matsushita are very serious and diligent. Both, their hardware and software are designed with the need to bring enjoyment to their users without betraying their expectations. Only Matsushita machines are strong against instantaneous blackouts and their PACs (Pana Amusement Cartridges) might had been a manifestation of that mentality. Under such circumstances, Mr. Yagami (who is also skilled at skiing) was pretty good at gaining the trust of the software house (not just for the debugging meetings) and still is to this day.

Matsushita

Hideaki Yagami, Software Development Department of the Interactive Media Division

Development & Planning of Software at the Pana Amusement Production

The FS-5500F2 is famous for being the first MSX computer with 2 disk drives. The FS-A1 was a budget-pridced MSX2 that retailed 29,800 yen. The PACs were MSX cartridges containing S-RAM backup. Other products include the CF-XXX series, the FM-PAC, a Bowling System and an educational system aimed for Russia (that’s a secret)

The AshGuine series were a series of games starring the first character made by our company. We made the games all-night at the development site with the developers from the various companies involved to decide on the content of each game, their packaging and the posters.

When the MSX was brought to this world, a personal computer meant for the users something that could run the program they made, not just the packaged software they bought from a store. In today’s world, computers take many shape in order to support the needs of the world, but in spite of that it’s no longer easy to program by yourself, even if you own a PC. Even though PCs are becoming much closer to humans now, I can’t helped but feel a sense of nostalgia when the distance between them was more primitive, that is to say when a PC was just a programming tool. Back then the PC was the embodiment of a user’s dreams full of possibilities. It could be said that people who lived through the era when PCs were born are living witnesses of a valuable era that brought fruit to a trend of rapid creation and evolution. Keep those memories of freshness in mind and continue dreaming, seeking the possibilities of new challenges.

I wonder if there was any other unified effort between multiple home electronics manufacturers to promote a unified standard (MSX). MSX-FAN may have ended with this issue, but for the hardware manufacturers I think it was an era of everyone pursuing the dream of a single unified standard of PC. To all the companies that provided software, I’m truly grateful. I’m also grateful to Ms. Kitane and the rest of the editors of Tokuma for being there until the end. And finally, I would like to thank of all the MSX users who supported the platform.

Kazuaki Hiraga

Mr. Hiraga was suddenly put in charge of the MSX in a matter of months and became a familiar figure in ten years, leaving quite an impression. He has the personality you would expect. He plays Gekitotsu Pennant Race pretty well too. He also planned to lend out MSX computers to a culture festival. Thanks to that, he experienced a “ghost incident” in the Kanazawa Inn. At any rate, he held a mini-4WD competition to bring excitement to the event and played games with other users. In a sense, he was a familiar and energetic face to the MSX.

Same as above.

Kazuaki Hiraga, Software Development Department of the Interactive Media Division

As a member of the PAP, I’ve worked as a contact for various software providers and at the same time I was involved in the development of original software and peripherals (such as the PACs). I also planned and managed nationwide events. I was Pana Amusement Club member no. 0001! By the way, the Amusement Club began business around the time Vampire Killer came out

Same as above.

At the beginning many hardware manufacturers created MSX machines, but in the end it became a fateful confrontation between Matsushita and Sony. Right now our Panasonic-branded products are selling quite well, especially our TVs and videos, but our no. 1 product in Japan is the “A1″. This symbolizes the magnitude of expectations that Matsushita applies to its products.

Looking at the current software industry, there are quite a few people who joined the industry from the MSX, so I feel it’s a big deal. in that sense, I appreciate all those people who are still passionate about the MSX and I’m eagerly awaiting even more people to become experts in the field of software development.

Thanks to the MSX, I have a nice family (ed’s note: Mr. Hiraga met his wife when she was the host of an MSX event. They now have a child together). It was also fun to go through various events nationwide and talk to representatives of software houses and magazines. Everyone gave it their best during the 4WD races in particular. (ed’s note:Mr. Naito of T&E Soft is known for using a turbo mode technique that connected batteries in a serial format.) One of the packaging illustrators for the AshGuine series was the now-famous Teppei Sasakura (who at the time was an unknown). Looking at the prices of Mr. Sasakura’s works recently, I tried to look for the original painting, but it’s nowhere to be found. Ah!

Masao Ito

Mr. Ito is an obliging person who planned out products he thought of while working on Matsushita’s hardware designs. If things are any indication, we believe he made the FM-PAC by embracing a headfirst approach. Within the people at Matsushita who supported the MSX until the end, Mr. Ito has been patiently answering various questions from our editorial staff up until this final issue.

Same as above.

Masao Ito, Planning and Selling of Foreign Software for the Interactive Media Division (I’m making 3DO stuff now).

First I worked on hardware designs. But then I acted as a jack-of-all-trades, examining the MSX standards at the same time. At the the end, I was responsible for product planning, as well as in charge of designing domestic and overseas systems.

Same as above

In Russia, I almost got arrested by the Moscow police one time after spending several consecutive nights bowling there.

The MSX was a cost-effective platform. It was useful in various ways if you knew how to use it well. While the MSX’s days are numbered, its ideal still remains true. The concept will surely be revived in the future (don’t hesitate to ask in which form).

I did quite a lot of things, but for some reason I am still an unknown in this industry. The PAC and FM-PAC cartridges were possible thanks to me! By the way, I’m still waiting to receive my own PAC and FM-PAC from the company.

Yuya Iwakiri

Mr. Iwakiri is a gentleman who organized many MSX events that gave us the chance to gather everyone. He supported up us until the end.

Same as above.

Yuya Iwakiri, Public Relations Department Editorial Department

As a professional, I’m a latecomer to the MSX when I was employed in 1989. In my private life, the first MSX computer I touched was a so-called King Kong word processor, which was a unique experience. Because I came from an advertising background, I focused on the planning and organizing of MSX fairs, where I involved in the creations of catalogs and advertisement (thinking about it though, the job was rather lonely since MSX-FAN was practically the only MSX-focused media remaining by that point), as well as the promotion and advertising of word processors (such as the UI series and the SLALA model).

Same as above.

For me, it’s perhaps the FS-A1GT, which ended up becoming the last MSX machine ever produced. The slight hopes of everyone who had an affection for the MSX, such as Ms. Kitagane, whom I have a strong rapport with, and the various celebrities (in every sense of the word) from all sorts of software house starting with Mr. Tanaka (director general of Micro Cabin), were gathered thanks at the nationwide fairs thanks to this machine. Until the bitter end, there was hope for another model, hope for the uncertain future of the MSX... Even though I knew how it was going to end, I still couldn’t help but feel a sense of bitterness when it was over. It was like falling in love with someone you were forbidden to, like a feudal lord and a peasant or Romeo & Juliet...I thought about why I was given a job during such a moment.

There’s always one way or another to do things because of the mischief of the age. I don’t want to ponder any “what ifs”, “perhaps” and “if only”, but just like life, I still wonder if the MSX could ever return to the starting line... I’m sure everyone involved with the MSX is thinking this as well. In this age in which Microsoft is now threatening IBM’s grasp of the PC market, it would wonderful to imagine the MSX engine from Japan taking over the world.

My kids (ages 6 and 4) play all sorts of gaming platforms. The Game Boy, the Super Famicom and the 3DO. But they really like MSX games over everything else. Perhaps they inherited my preference and nostalgia for MSX games... DNA is quite a scary thing. Anyway, I’m truly grateful to all the MSX fans around the world! Until we’ll meet again.

Masayuki Takeuchi

“Study hard and play hard” is a saying that suits this person. That’s because studying and playing are truly above-average.

Same as above.

Masayuki Takeuchi, Interactive Media Division Software Development Department Promotion and Planning Section

Planning for advertising and sales promotion.

Same as above

Before PCs became widespread, we put out the first MSX word processor with a built-in printer, which was a pretty successful product. Another product we put out was the A1, a budget-priced MSX2 computer sold at 29,800 yen. In order to promote the A1 at the time, we did several publicity campaigns such as a truck that traveled all over the country and the advertising character AshGuine. They were pretty memorable ad campaigns.

I'm sorry that it’s over. However, I’m truly grateful that people still appreciate the MSX to this day.

There was a golf game from Hudson that was pretty popular where you could switch between a professional and amateur mode. There was also a shooting game called Zanac, in which I made a bet with another employee named S-kun, who offered me a yen for each point I made. He owes me 2.4 million.

Taro Sugimoto

Even though Panasonic has officially ceased advertising their MSX computers in our magazine, they continue to publish advertisement for their U1 word processors. Perhaps they did out of obligation, but I feel they cherish their users more than that. Some members of their MSX development team has since moved on to the 3DO, but they still demonstrate their power even in their word processors. Because my nickname among my seniors was also “Taro”, I would often ignore people calling me out during MSX events if they didn’t attach my surname.

Same as above.

Taro Sugimoto, I.T. Division Commercial Affairs

I was doing promotion and advertisement under Takeuchi, Iwakiri and Hiraga, all whom I’ve received regards individually. In particular I was in charge of the MSX game events that were held once in every season. Since I was employed by the sales and promotion department, I never got around to making my own product, but I did write a utility book for an A1 peripheral. As a freshman employee at the time, it was my first experience with a PC, so it was extremely memorable.

Same as above.

The above-mentioned event. While I still organize events nowadays, the MSX Festival was the basis for everything. I used to travel all around the country, ate various delicacies and became acquainted with various representatives of software publishers, including Ms. Kitane, all whom have become valuable assets to me. I still treasured the t-shirt and sweatshirt that were produced for those events.

I’m currently in charge of advertising and managing promotion for our word processors and MSX-FAN could help us out by published our ads in each issue... I think. I’m sorry.

While organizing an event in Osaka, there was lack of manpower, so I helped out while wearing a sweatshirt. I was already in my second year within the company and I ran into a college acquaintance at the venue and he asked me “you’re still working as a part-timer.” Anyway, please support our word processors.

Hideo Kojima

When one hears the name Konami, a mountain of memories pop up. Konami has been releasing software vigorously since the beginning of the MSX’s lifespan and they always had an amazing quality to them. We have wonderful memories of games such as the fun Antarctic Adventure and Space Manbow, which turned out to be a good game despite constant delays thanks to the commitment of the developers. It seems that Konami carries the philosophy during development that one has to observe games that are hits or duds, and understand why they sell or not. As a result, Konami has created the most splendid games in the world. In such circumstances, Mr. Kojima created a new kind of game with a scenario for the PC market that wouldn’t had been possible in an arcade environment.

Konami

Hideo Kojima, Development Section 5

Planning, writing, direction, and a few character designs

For Kojima: Metal Gear, Snatcher, Solid Snake. For Konami in general: the Nemesis series, the Knightmare trilogy, Yie-Ar Kung-Fu, Space Manbow, Penguin Adventure, The Goonies, and many more.

My most memorable project was the original Metal Gear. Back then I was a rookie who didn’t know to distinguish between his right and his left, so I didn’t know how to make a game at the time. I didn’t even know how to get assistance from people. I had no credibility as a planner (since my previous game proposal got rejected). I think it was pretty reckless of me to create a new type of game. I had nothing but enthusiasm to drive me.

With the MSX, there was a sense of “learning together” and “living together.” In particular, I was full of feelings that I shared with players during my youth. My game development career was never in the limelight, so I don’t know how much the sincere opinions of all my players have encouraged and supported me. Even now I’m still encouraged by the correspondences of players from those days. I think there’s some sort of coexistence that goes beyond the framework between a receiver and a sender.

Each year new talent enter the game industry. Among them are many people that choose this path by being inspired by the MSX. At the very the least they inherited a burning passion for the MSX. The users (receivers) and developers (senders) will always remember the “sensation” of that time. If they have “pride”, then I’m sure the game industry will move towards a good direction.

#MSX-FAN #Hideo_Kojima #Konami #MSX #Micro_Cabin #Game_Arts #T&E_Soft #Namco

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thebardisabird · 6 years

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@phoofbingo You got it love! I did the best I could! Under the cut~

Osomatsu

“You want me to what now?” he called out from the hallway. You were busy fixing your wig just right and rolled your eyes when you had to repeat yourself.

“Cosplay with me, dummy. There’s a costume contest in Shibuya and first place wins money!” you let a sly grin cross your lips, knowing full well he’d do just about anything for some dough. Your sentiments were proven correct as he burst through your bedroom door, determined look on his face.

“Who am I dressing up as?” tone serious as he stared in your direction.

You didn’t miss his eyes as he looked over you in your bathrobe. That charming smile crossed his face, “That’s your costume? I don’t know if we’re gonna win with you in a bathrobe, babe. Though the hair makes you look kinda cute!”

Your eyes rolled once more as you handed him his costume. He flipped through the clothing curiously; simple enough - white half-button down, blue slacks, white shoes. It looked like regular clothing.

“What are we even going as?” he asked, slipping his sweatshirt over his head in order to switch it for the other.

“It’s an old anime, Urusei Yatsura. We’re gonna dress as the two main characters. It’s a little before our time, but it was a really good anime.”

You heard him humming in agreement as he had his back to you, adjusting the pants on. Slipping off the bathrobe, you glanced over your costume in the nearby mirror. That money was basically yours, you had Lum’s look in the freakin’ bag!

“Alright babe, I’m do- holy shit” he started, stopping only when he looked in your direction. Seeing you sport the skimpy tiger-stripe outfit nearly made his nose bleed.

“You look hot!” exclaimed Osomatsu, greedily eyeing your body. You felt a wave of shyness wash over you under his gaze.

“When we win, I wanna be the one to take that off you!”

God how you wish you could shock the hell out of him.

Karamatsu

You brushed his hair to side gently, meticulously trying to recreate Ataru’s part to the best of your ability. It helped that your boyfriend was very close in visage to him as is. He had no problems dressing up with you, though he was a little disappointed he couldn’t wear his shades or leather jacket.

“It has to be accurate, Kara” you reminded him, spritzing a little hairspray at the top of his head.

“But my love, it’s only Totoko’s Halloween party,” he pouted, and when you narrowed your eyes at him he stuttered back his words, “I-I-I mean shouldn’t the t-true costumes be our real selves?”

Then came the cool guy routine, “Heh...truly the masks we wear everyday would make for a great Halloween ensemble.”

You giggled, kissing his nose, “Nice try, smart guy.”

He bashfully tittered, blushing a little when you came close to his face to fix his collar.

“There,” you finally said. Had to pat yourself on the back for this one, he mimicked Ataru pretty damn close. Now for you to change. You excused yourself, taking careful preparation to make sure every detail was in place. The endless hours of teasing that bluish-green wig and sewing your outfit from scratch was finally catching up to you as you sighed in front of the sink. It would all be worth it though; to see everyone stare at your costumes in awe made you feel proud of your handiwork.

You adjusted the horns into your wig and took one good last look making sure everything was in place.

“All done, darling! Let’s get ready to go to Totoko’s!” you called out to him.

You knew he’d love the costume on you, as it was pretty revealing, but accentuated your curves very well.

You didn’t however, expect to have to pick up your boyfriend off the floor.

Choromatsu

“Oh wow, that’s a classic!” he said, doting on your idea. You had came to him with a cosplay idea for Akatsukon next month. Knowing Choromatsu to be a little more in tune with anime (and his otaku culture that you rode him for when you first met him), you weren’t surprised when he recognized the cosplay costumes right away. You both agreed to try on the costumes as soon as you got yours in the mail. His costume was fairly easy to replicate, nothing a regular guy wouldn’t wear.

He came to your apartment first day of Akatsukon with a bagel in hand for you for breakfast. When you heard the doorbell ring, you inwardly cursed still needing to put your wig and makeup on. You pulled your long carding around your body and ran to let Choromatsu in. Playfully you whistled, earning a deep blush from your boyfriend. He pulled off Ataru pretty nicely! You thanked him for the bagel, munching on it immediately as you let him in.

“I-I asked Todomatsu to help me with my hair. I knew I wasn’t going to get it right...” he said shyly. He motioned over himself, eyes gauging you for a reaction, “How does it look?”

You laughed softly, puling him gently by the collar for a kiss, “You look great, Choro...thank you for cosplaying with me.”

He barely squeaked out a ‘You’re Welcome’ before you were off to the bathroom to complete your costume. A few brush strokes to your wig and some green eyeshadow was the last of your finishing touches before you were truly ready. You exhaled, the excitement for the convention finally bubbling up inside you.

“Okay Choromatsu! Off we go!” You opened up the cardigan, and pulled your crossbody bag over your chest.

He made a choked noise at the sight of your outfit and you giggled. Sure it was showing quite a bit of skin, but he had to applaud your accuracy. At the sound of your laughter he relaxed. This was a couples cosplay after all, and he was sure you’d be happily holding onto his arm just like in the anime.

Ichimatsu

He wasn’t big on cosplays and you knew that. So made sense of your hesitance to ask him. However the manga store from down the block was doing a free photoshoot for any couple dressed as anime characters and you couldn’t say no. Clutching the costume nervously, you headed toward the Matsuno’s living room. Thankfully his brothers were out playing pachinko, so he was alone, playing with one of the neighborhood cats as he usually did.

“Ichi?” you said, barely above a whisper. When he turned to you, he half-smiled. He lifted himself off the floor, arms coming around in a gentle embrace.

“You sounded nervous over the phone...what’s wrong?”

Any other person would think by his tone of voice he was coming off as callous, but you knew better, there was genuine concern in his monotonic voice.

You were ready to nestle into his embrace when he realized your arms weren’t available to return his hug. He looked down to see you holding some clothes.

“What are those?” he asked, head bobbing to the side. You were starting to sweat bullets now, the need for explanation presented to you. Without thinking you shoved the clothes into his chest,

“PLEASECOSPLAYWITHMEIWANNATAKECUTEPICTURES”

He was taken aback, half by your shouting, half by your request. Ichimatsu’s face flushed as he hesitantly took the clothes. They looked like something he used to wear as a kid, or maybe something his dad would wear now; but they were simple enough for him to wear without complaint.

“O-Okay...but who am I supposed to be?” his eyes trailed toward the floor, a little embarrassed he didn’t understand.

You quickly pulled out your phone, scrolling to show him the ensembles you wanted to wear with him.

“The anime is called Urusei Yatsura...I was thinking we could go as Lum and Ataru...” your face was growing more red by the second; but you paled in comparison to when you finally looked at him.

He had a devilish grin on his face as he eyed over the photo of Lum on your phone. You? In that little outfit? What he’d give to see you dressed like a cute oni girl. He was also lowkey pretty thrilled that you wanted to take pictures with him - but he wasn’t going to lie that you in your cosplay outfit played right into a wicked fantasy.

“You know what?...” he purred, “Sure. I’ll dress up with you.”

He leaned in close, eyes narrowed in a smug look, “Just promise me you’ll wear it more than once”

He freaked out when you fainted.

Jyushimatsu

“Costumes?! I love costumes! What are we gonna be?!” he was bouncing on your bed as you rummaged through your closet.

“Lum and Ataru, from that old anime Urusei Yatsura.” you explained, pulling out your tiger striped strapless top, “I was thinking we could dress up when we handed candy to the kids!”

He hopped up, taking you in his arms and twirling you around, “Okay Okay! Let’s do it! Where’s my costume?”

You handed him his outfit, thankful you knew his sizes already so you were sure they’d fit him just fine. He thanked you with a kiss, hurriedly yanking on the white button down.

“Ah? But where your costume? Aren’t you gonna change?” he asked, that cheek splitting grin tilting with his head. You booped his nose,

“I’m gonna change now, just get the candy ready. It’s almost trick or treating time”, with that, you turned toward the bathroom. About 20 minutes had passed before you finally finished fussing with your wig. Just some shadow and false eyelashes to complete the look and you were done. You laughed softly to yourself when you heard tiny voices yelling trick or treat accompanied by your boyfriends shouting of “HAPPY HALLOWEEN, HERE YOU GO!”

When you were finally done, you joined him at the front door, grabbing fistfuls of candy to give to the next set of young ones. At the sight of you his cheeks turned pink, eyes widening a little.

“Sexy! I didn’t know your costume looked like that!”

You giggled softly at his ogling, dropping candy into the thankful kids’ baskets and shutting the door. Hands on your hips you stuck your tongue out at him playfully,

“Does it look good on me?”

He lifted you in his arms, pressing kisses all over your face, “I love you, sexy demon lady!”

Your eyes rolled, but you laughed anyway, you’d have to remind him later of the characters names.

Todomatsu

“But I wanted to go as Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Moon together” Todomatsu whined, head falling onto the pillow.

“You should’ve said that before, Totty, I already made my cosplay.” you shook your head at your drama queen boyfriend.

He huffed, “I don’t even know this anime, isn’t it like super old or something?”

You sighed at his reaction, the cute little asshole. If he was going to make this difficult, then you had no choice. Playfully humming, you pretended you were in deep thought. Then you snapped your fingers quickly, getting his attention.

“Okay...fine. You don’t have to dress up with me.” You didn’t miss the look of silent, relieved victory.

“I guess...” you drawled out, face turning to him with an evil smirk, “Atsushi will just have to come with instead.”

The instant horror on his face was almost enough to make you feel terrible until he screamed, “GIVE ME THAT COSTUME!”

Half an hour later and he was looking over the outfit in your mirror. It actually wasn’t half bad - the fashion was a little dated for his tastes, but he had to admit he could pull it off. It gave him sort of a preppy look and he was okay with it.

“See? Wasn’t gonna kill you to cosplay with me, now was it?”

He was about to refute you with something sly, but when he saw you there in your tiger-striped bikini outfit, he lost his words. Only a slight blush and then a low giggle,

“No, but you’re killing me with that outfit, cutie~”

You both laughed softly when he took you in for a kiss.

#ososan #osomatsu san #osomatsu san fanfic #osomatsu san fanfiction #osomatsu san headcanons #osomatsu san scenarios #fic request #urusei yatsura #ataru moroboshi #lum invader #osomatsu san imagines

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mysticdragon3md3 · 4 years

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reactions to Demon Slayer KNY ep8-14

12:15 PM 9/21/2020 Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba ep8

Wow. Tanjiro actually called out to Kibutsuji Muzan, since he had to let him get away! O.O I was hoping he'd do that, but usually that doesn't happen.

So his alias is Tsukihiko?

Aw, demons who are moved by Tanjiro's empathy for the guy was who transformed! ;u;

Oh, interesting! A simultaneous reason for why Tanjiro's family was attacked in the middle of nowhere and why his father was gone.

I've often daydreamed of my OC's blood effecting people with such instantaneous infection that all their cells melt simultaneously, but I've never seen a series fulfill my daydream before.

Tamayo and Yushiro.

When did Tamayo learn that Nezuko was asleep for 2 years? We wern't even told she was asleep for 2 years. O.o?

Is this Yushiro character indicative of the type of humor this manga-ka injects into all his non-action scenes? I hope it doesn't get too annoying. But if it does, it would explain why my brother doesn't like Zenitsu(?). . . .

------------------------------------------- 12:48 PM 9/21/2020 Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba ep9

I know they wanted Yushiro's beheading to be shocking, but he's a demon and we've seen demons regenerate quickly throughout the series.

I like that Nezuko and Tanjiro are fighting like a team now, as a given, even when they haven't been forced into a last resort.

Why are they recapping this deal to retrieve blood? I know in a weekly manga, a recap like that is necessary, but is teh manga just trying to buy time/filler?

Suzumaru sucks at close quarters combat.

I still don't like the idea of Nezuko being hypnotized to see other people as her family. If the imagery was overlapping her family onto people, without Kurokodaki's hypnosis explaination, then that imagery would be used to understand what Nezuko is thinking/feeling, even though she can't talk anymore. It would be touching that she gets reminded of the family she lot and of wanting to protect people as deeply as her own family, to prevent a repetition of her family's tragedy. There would be so much emotion throughout all of it, in thinking about Nezuko's motivations through everything. But with that Kurokodaki hypnosis explaination, it takes away her agency and all the emotions behind the possible motivations. ;_;

Time to kick some dush into those eyes.

But if he got the neck, won't the whole body disappear before they can get a blood sample? I wonder if the previously chopped off arms from Suzumaru still have blood samples in them? Or did they disappear?

Wait. Is her name Suzumaru or Susamaru?

If Yahaba an Suzumaru only just met but they fight so in sync, does that mean the blood from Kibutsuji Muzan inside them makes them sync up? . . .

7:27 PM 9/24/2020 Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba

Going to leave ep9 playing, while I go get food, since I've seen this ep before.

The animation in the fights is really good, and I'm very glad for Tanjiro when he fights well, because I don't want him to die. But suddenly shouting these moves, that we've never specifically seen before, then instantly winning, sometimes feels like a "magic" deus ex machina. I mean, his training episodes help, but we didn't see him learning specific moves. Maybe I'm just too accustomed to older Shonen anime being very specific with its training. Ranma 1/2, Bleach, etc.

"Let's practice our teamwork, Nezuko!" Now I wish Nezuko was awake during Tanjiro's training instead of asleep for 2 years. I still can't believe it was TWO YEARS. The series didn't give that sense at all until Tanjiro specifically said how long she was asleep. It would have been so cool of Nezuko was helping Tanjiro with his training, and essentially training alongside him. Ah, well. Their teamwork now is so endearing. . . .

7:58 PM 9/24/2020 Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba ep10

REally showing the toll a battle has on TAnjiro. I always watch movie reviews criticizing modern movies for NOT doing this. Good to see a good example of it being done, that isn't Die Hard.

It's good to hear a character say that this power of Nezuko's is "her own". I'm really stuck on that Kurokodaki hypnosis suggestion taking away a sense of Nezuko's agency/motivations. But if this series could do more to suggest that Nezuko has her own feelings and motivations to protect people and fight, that would vastly improve things. I want to forget that Kurokodaki hypnosis thing.

Ack! He said not to move! Please don't turn into a trap! ...Thankfully, it didn't. Maybe i have that expectation from Western storytelling, since it's so rooted in moralistic religious cultures? Naw, even the "2 Sons of the Sun" story used that disobeying trope. Anyway, I really appreciate how often, even after each battle, this series takes the time to show Tanijro showing empathy. And high levels of empathy too, when he can even risk expressing empathy for an enemy! *o* This is one of my favorite archetypes/tropes. ;u;

Suzumaru asking for her temari...Was she turned into a demon when she was a kid then grew as a demon? "Just like a little kid"? So is Nezuko after becoming a demon. And that morphed demon during Tanjiro's exam had childhood memory flashbacks before he died. Do people's minds just get rebooted when they become demons or something? They revert to childish mentalities?

"At first, I didn't like the idea of Nezuko being under a spell, but since it looks like she has a will of her own, I'm glad that---" I was about to write that even though I don't like the plot device of Kurokodaki's hypnosis on Nezuko, taking away her agency and the sense that she decides her actions and thus still has her own motivations---I was ok with this scene because her being affectionate to Tamayo and Yushiro was just so cute. But now the scene is burying itself into that hypnosis plot point. -.-; Still a very heartfelt scene though! ;U;!!!

I'm glad Tanjiro took Nezuko's wishes into account.

Zenitsu is giving me Miroku flashbacks. How did I put up with Miroku's running gag for so long anyway? Especially considering now that I'm just soooooooo terribly sick of the cliche of "sexual harassment as humor and running gags". Is it because I worshiped Rumiko Takahashi and was so used to it? Is it because I could always be confident that perverts in Takahashi series would immediately get pummelled, since Inuyasha had its roots in Takahashi's slapstick sensibilities? I mean, if since Takahashi series are so slapstick, even when her series got more series, like INuyasha, if a pervert was bieng especially annoying, you could still count on them being punted into the sky or at least beaten until they couldn't move. Well, usually, they could twitch, but that was about it. And if they were beaten half to death and left out all night, well, that was common enough to be counted upon when needed. Because seriously, after Ranma 1/2 and Urusei Yatsura, if there's going to be a pervert, then they sure as hell better be satisfingly beaten half to death. I guess that slapstick extreme is the only way I'll accept that trope as a running gag. Though, I still prefer if it didn't happen. Like, I enjoy seeing Happosai suffering, but I'd prefer to not see him at all.

8:38 PM 9/24/2020 ep over. I'll take a break from KNY for now because I need to multitask.

I know I've been writing most of my negative criticism reactions to watching this series so far, but I really am enjoying it. The animation is beautiful, the protagonists are endearing, the music is so good, I've been listening to the opening theme song on loop, during my daily walks this week. I gotta write down more of my positive reactions. . . .

12:51 AM 9/26/2020 Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba ep11

I think I'm beginning to see why Kuya doesn't like Zenitsu.

Sometimes I have to wonder about Shonen manga-ka or the Shonen genre, when it seems to always default to using "harassing women", "chasing after disinterested women", and "whining about getting girls" as "humor". Hell, even Persona 5 used that cliche for their humor thru Ryuji---and I love that character despite that!

Though my brother is probably annoyed by Zenitsu's whining more than by his girl-chasing cliche.

So Zenitsu's "power" is hearing? lol Are all the protagonists in the Demon Slayer Corps going to have "magically unsuual senses"? lol

This episode had too many slow downs up until this point, but I will always appreciate the story slowing down to emphasize Tanjiro's emathy. ^-^

I'll admit, this series really loves it's funny faces. But it doesn't fit sometimes. It's not like Soul Eater, where humor was clearly the manga-ka's forte, and they were forcing themselves to do a Shonen action series.

Maybe this would be funnier if I didn't already know spoilers about Zenitsu actually being good with a sword.

Wait. Inosuke?????? That's his name right? They all met in this one episode by CHANCE???????????????? I thought they would get assigned to the same headquarters for Demon Slayers or something.

Did this demon not mean to trap humans into his house? That doesn't sound right...

Everyone's really in their own little worlds huh? This demon, Inosuke,...everybody is just parallel talking towards each other. Odd. . . .

1:45 PM 9/27/2020 Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba ep12

All I hear from the fandom is that "Inosuke is a good boy". So what's with this callous stepping on a kid?

I know Zenitsu's freak-out scenes are meant to be humor and the seiyuu is obviously having fun with it, but these scenes really should be cut SHORTER. It's not that funny. Dragging out such a mediocre joke AND as a RUNNING GAG is getting really tiresome. It's bad enough that it's starting to turn me unsympathetic to someone who is justifyably afraid. Who was the editor telling the manga-ka or the direction who thought that dragging these jokes out was "soooooooooo funny"??????????

I can't figure out if I like or dislike this series! Mou! Now I know why I initially tried several times to watch this series and wasn't compelled to binge or watch more...until I consciously tried to catch up on it recently...just because it's popular and I like the opening theme and animation. ~_~; Previously, I thought that maybe all my reactions to each episode so far had just _seemed_ negative, because I was forgetting to write down the positives. But now, I'm beginning to think maybe I'm just not having that much fun with this series. Though it's true that I was compelled to watch it today, I was excited to watch more...now that I actually am, I'm just not having so much fun. Maybe I just don't like Zenitsu and Inosuke. So far, at least. Maybe I only really liked Tanjiro and Nezuko. Reminds me of Bleach: I thought I loved _the series_; turns out I only liked Rukia and Ichigo, and when the series focused less on them, I got disinterested and dropped the series.

Well, at least Zenitsu is protective towards the kid. He's selfless...sometimes.

So...Is he really sleep-fighting?

Listen. I know it was probaby someone's idea to really drag out Zenitsu's cowardice to make his excellent sword attack more shocking. But that joke was not worth it. ~.~;

I'm sorry, but exposition only just now, about how much pain Tanjiro is in, just to put more tension into this fight, is not going to cut it. Yeah, there have been a few foreshadowings of Tanjiro being in a lot of pain. He even straight up told Zenitsu that his leg and rib(s) are still broken. But "telling, not showing" was just as ineffecitve then as this monologue meant to build tension in this fight's resolutiion, right now. ~.~; If Tanjiro's pain and previous injuries were supposed to make this fight tense, the outcome of his victory less certain, then the episodes so far should have been peppering asides of him secretly flinching with pain and secretly trying so hard to put on a brave face UP THROUGH THIS ENTIRE TIME. It should have been so obvious, that going into this fight with the tsuzumi demon, the audience would have *already known* that this was a worry, even at the start of just going into the fight---even at the NOTION of going into ANY possible fight! But instead, we get this monologue, with barely any foreshadowing to suppot it beforehand, that's supposed to *suddenly* convince us that this fight has higher risks that any previous fight? I call sudden editor changes to the manga. ~.~;;;;;;;;;;

"YOu're the eldest daughter, but don't just endure it, come talking to me"? Tanjiro deserves to not just endure it too! ;o;! I mean, he's alone right now and does need to endure it, but when Nezuko or anyone else is around he deserves someone to lean on too! ;o;!!! . . .

10:44 PM 9/28/2020 Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba ep13

Well, I like that this series continues to emphasize Tanjiro's empathy, even for demons. Actually kind of reminds me of the yokai genre more than the demon-hunting genre, which is a compliment. But even that's starting to get forced, just like last episode's last minute tension about Tanjiro's broken bones. Why would Tanjiro try not to step on the writings/papers? Why would he suddenly ask for the demon Kyougai's name?? Not that I didn't enjoy it. But c'mon...

This series is just so cloud so being something great, that every faint failing bothers me. The production is great, I love the 2 main characters, the character design is good,...Why do I keep finding things to be annoyed with? I worry that I've just become a grumpy butt. ~__~;;; Maybe I just can't enjoy Shonen series anymore??? I did move to almost exclusively watching iyashikei genres... Ugh. I don't know. Because this series totally has objective problems!!! Not deal-breakers, but everyone has built up this series as warranting fanatasim, and I'm just not feeling it.

So why is Zenitsu suddenly brave when it comes to protecting Tanjiro's box? He doesn't know Nezuko's in there yet, right?

Oh, so Inosuke isn't totally heartless. HE stopped his sword at Zenitsu's neck.

Oh, that's right. Zenitsu's "superpower" is his hearing. He already knows a demon is inside Nezuko's box.

I dunno. I just can't buy Zenitsu fighting so hard for Nezuko's box, jsut because he knows Tanjiro is exceptionally gentle. Zenitsu has spent all this time unwilling to fight demons, even when more was at stake than Tanjiro's box. It's just so inconsistent, I can't feel the stakes that these scenes want me to feel. I'm so disassociated and non-immersed.

Like right now. Inosuke is so sick of this he's going to skewer both Zenitsu and Nezuko's box simultaneously? We just saw him unwilling to follow through on that same bluff!

omg I _WISH_ I was just being too nit-picky! But lately this series has been proving to me why I asn't compelled to continue this series after the first time I tried it, until maybe the 2nd or 3rd time I gave it a try.

Maybe I just am fed up with everyone who's not Tanjiro and Nezuko. When the series was just their adventures, I loved it. Even though it was just repeating old Shonen tropes that I had seen too many times, after all my years---I just didn't care. Because I liked spending time with Tanjiro and Nezuko SO much. But now Zenitsu is being annoying, Inosuke is not being the "good boy" I kept hearing he is, and the writing is contradictory, last-minute,...blehhhhh... I WANT TO LIKE THIS SERIES SO MUCH!!! Why does it have to keep getting in the way of that? . . .

5:10 PM 10/5/2020 Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba ep14

I can't stop thinking about all those anitubers who called Inosuke "best boy" and "goodest boy", in contrast to what a bullying asshole he's been so far. Incidentally, bullies are my biggest pet peeve. I've dropped SERIES for that reason. If I can drop HeroAca after giving it 3-4 tries, because any glimpse of Bakugo was enough to piss me off for the rest of my day, don't think you're immune, Kimetsu no Yaiba!

Is this supposed to be enjoyable? I know this fight between Inosuke and Tanjiro is animated beautifully and martial arts anime used to be my obsession, but I do not want to see more of this character. Especially in a fighting scene, a scene that is designed to somehow make him subconsciously look cool. I know what you're doing. He's not cool. He's being an asshole. This isn't a scene or a character I want to see more of. This is like in Ironman 2 when the director said in interviews how well the actor who played Hammer oes the "greasy salesman" act---But why do I want to watch more of a greasy salesman!?! I don't! A serial killer can do their murders impressively well; doesn't mean I enjoy seeing all these murders happen in front of me! Inosuke is getting all these "cool" Shonen genre tropes layered onto him, but no. He's not cool.

The thing that pisses me off is the idea that Inosuke clearly is being portrayed as those battle-hungry characters who want to become stronger and constantly test their strength. YA CAN'T ACTUALLY IMPROVE IF YOU TAKE ON WEAK OR UNWILLING OPPONENTS, YA DOOF!!!!! That's like rule #2 of any martial arts or battle manga/anime! Why do you think so many anime have the "bad guy who becomes reluctant ally/rival" type? It's because they're waiting for that proper duel where they've both agreed to fight to their fullest and not hold back. You can't get that from an unwilling opponent and getitng it from a weak opponent is worthless! GAwd! Inosuke is pissing me off more, the longer this duel goes on. It's such a shame that such good animation has to go to a fight that don't want to see more of. Cut this short!

My one reprieve is that at least Tanjiro is intensely angry at his bullying, enough to reflect my own anger. Yet, he keeps his Compassion and True Strength unassuaged by Inosuke's provocations.

Oh no...I just realized that the way Inosuke is acting in this episode is one of my other highest pet peeves: Assholes who confuse Power with Strength. Strength is defined in 2 ways: 1) A soul pattern that will not assimilate into another's pattern. In other words, a resolve that won't fall under the influence of someone else's mindset. The ability to retain one's own will. 2) The ability to do the hard thing, the difficult thing. Guess what falls into both categories of Strength? COMPASSION. That's why people with True Strength act with decorum. It's why I love that one of Confucius's 8 virtues is Courtesy. Having consideration for everyone, at all times, in everything, is the most difficult thing in the world. And anyone that can keep to that with unfaltering resolve, is The Strongest. Compassion is not easy for the Weak. It's difficult. Only the Strong can demonstrate that level of Compassion. Only the Strong can risk being Kind, can bear the exposed vulnerabilities of Kindness, and continue to act with Compassion even after being hurt, betrayed, or taken advantage of, for offering Kindness. That's why jerks who confuse Power with Strength, piss me off. They're idiots, who don't recognize that attacking is inherently an action of Fear and Weakness.

Ah, wait. I see. When Tanjiro chided Inosuke for aggrivating his rib wounds... Inosuke is self-destructive. He's just taking it out on everyone else. Ugh...

Huh. Delayed reaction.

Wow. I thought Inosuke's unmasked face was a spoiler for much later in the series.

I love that Tanjiro probably honestly is concerned about Inosuke's rib injuries and totally doesn't think he's being condescending or passive-aggressive to Inosuke.

So only 1 of the siblings has Marechi blood? I hope they plant wiseria plants all over their house.

See that scene of Zenitsu crying and being quickly silenced by Tanjiro? Most of his grovelling was at a distance and quickly cut off. That's what we need more of. For both Zenitsu's supposed "comedy" and Inosuke's bullying.

Is there a difference between the 3 futons to even fight over???

That "severe" joke was funny though.

I appreciate the faster pace fo this episode, but the jokes are starting to wear down.

Kindness has a specific scent now. lol

I imagine that hearing Zenitsu crying for so long, so often, is how ProfessorThorgi described Spiderman sometimes being written with nothing but quips, and you don't notice how annoying such dialogue is while reading, but when you hear it, it's just grating. ~.~;;

I've been bitching so much about this series. Do I even like it? Why am I watching? Maybe I should drop it? But I really like Tanjiro and Nezuko. The animation production and music themes are beautiful. And I haven't watched a Shonen action series in so long, and I think I really need one to help get through my depression...

I know this Demon Slayer Corps Academy omake is supposed to be cute, but don't remind me about the whole "dye your hair black" "But this is my real hair color" bullshit. Fuck Harmony. Wrong things are wrong! Sorry, but I'm American, and I'm going to fetishize Justice! Pretending everything is ok and just going along with the loudest authority, no matter how cruel and inconsidering they are, is what makes the whole of society miserable! Fuck that shit!

#reactions #md3watches #md3 watches demon slayer kimetsu no yaiba #confused with myself #processing thoughts

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darlingthebaka · 7 years

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Fandom Favorite

Rules: Choose any three favourite fandoms(in random order) and answer the questions. Then tag some friends.

Tagged by both @artistefish and @danaty-consolation

Thank you both for tagging me! Now let’s begin cause hooo boy!

My favs: Urusei Yatsura, Ranma 1/2, Rinne

The first character I loved:-

1. LUM! She was crazy at first, yeah, but that’s what I liked about her! Plus her shenanigans with Ataru and Shinobu in the beginning were just too funny. But omggg when her personality changed I was like YES! She’s so pure and cute, but she still can act like her old self sometimes, which is fine by me OHO.

2.RANMA SAOTOME. LIKE??? WHEN HE WALKED IN THE ROOM I JUST KNEW HE WAS GONNA BE MY FAVE. He is just a pure cinnamon roll. Ok sometimes he can be a jerk, but I love him ok? I felt so bad for him when Akane cancelled their friendship in the first chapter/episode after she found out about his curse. Like HOW DARE??? Also, I like how awkward and shy he can get despite being this great martial artist! He’s so cute like ahhhhh! Honestly, I just love his heart of gold and his willingness to help anyone in need. ALSO CAT RANMA IS A CUTIE!!!

3. RINNE! There was just something about this mysterious red-haired boy that made me like him the most in the first chapter/episode of the series. I know! HE’S SO CHILL!!! Yeah, unlike his predecessors, Rinne is so damn chill in the beginning. Plus he respects Sakura the moment he meets her like asdfghjkl!

The characters I never expected to love so much:-

1. ATARU MOROBOSHI- *cRACKS KNUCKLES* I hated this goof ball so much in the beginning, but after episode 44, HO-HO- HOLY SHIT NEW FAVE. I mean Ataru was growing on me after the famous Christmas eve episode and the Imo-chan episode, but episode 44 just changed my entire perspective of him! It showed me a side to him that was compassionate and can very well be hurt. Not gonna lie, the first time I watched that episode I was crying with Ataru when he was on the ground crying cause omg???? NO DON’T YOU CRY! You’re supposed to be the COMEDIC RELIEFFFF. Before I knew it I was calling him my son lol. Anyone who has followed me for at least a year can tell that I love this idiot so much.

2. AKANE! She honestly frustrated me so much in the beginning. How dare you cancel a friendship with Ranma because he’s not a girl asdfg-. But after a couple of episodes/chapters I began to warm up to her. Especially once she got over her “I hate men” complex. She’s so sweet and kind, but will beat the crap out of anyone who messes with her! My bad ass martial arts girl!

3. SABATO- Frick. HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO YOUR SON!? Yeah, he’s an ass, but HOLY HELL HE’S HILARIOUS! I couldn’t help but love him. Everytime he returns I get so happy...and then I feel bad cause that means Rinne is about to suffer ;w;

The character I relate to the most:-

1. Hmmmmmm. Ataru? IM NOT A PERVERT THO! I have the worse luck sometimes, plus I take things for granted just like him. I also relate to the fact that I’m really lonely when I’m not around the people I love. Although in Ataru’s case it’s just one person.(Lum e.e) On the plus side, I can be funny and have sarcastic humor. I am also low-key intelligent. The only thing I wish I had in common was not die if I was struck by lightning. Ataru you lucky bastard.

2. RYOGA- I have A HORRIBLE SENSE OF DIRECTION! And also I can get lonely too as stated before.

3. Rinne- I’m poor and whenever I get money it just goes away so quickly so VERY RELATABLE CHARACTER.

A character I liked at first but not so much anymore:-

1. NO ONE lol

2. Shampoo- Cause at first she reminded me of Lum then it got to the point where I just found her kind of annoying??? I like her more in the anime tho.

3. Everyone in Rinne makes me laugh so once again no one.

A character I did not like at first but they have grown on you (By a lot)

1. Mendou- RICH KID WHO THINKS HE’S BETTER THAN EVERYONE is actually just rich Ataru. I hated him because he was just soooo annoying. He also tried to kill Ataru in the beginning. I didn’t like Ataru during Mendou’s introduction, BUT YOU CAN’T KILL HIM MENDOU! I began to like Mendou more because throughout the series you can actually see that he starts to care more about the people around him, INCLUDING ATARU fite meeee. He still can be a douche sometimes ofc.

2. Ouo No one...surprisingly.

3. Sakura- Ok so when I first got into Rinne I was one of the fans who hated how seemingly unemotional she was. Plus I low-key hated the fact that she wasn’t like her predecessors. But once I had gotten over that and the anime had kicked off she started growing on me. ESPECIALLY since now that I can hear her speak, I can see that she’s more chill than unemotional. Also her personality adds to the comedy of Rinne!

Three OTPS!:

1. Do I even- ok... ATARU X LUM! THE GROWTH BETWEEN THESE TWO STILL ASTOUNDS ME 5.YEARS. LATER AFTER COMPLETING THIS SERIES! Honestly, their relationship still has me shook to this day. Like I could watch an early Ataru X Lum episode and then a latter one and it’s so obvious how much they have grown. Their relationship went from dysfunctional to a pure domestic relationship. Like I just get so happy cause in the latter half of the series Ataru and Lum can just chill together and be at ease with each other. Until Asshole Moroboshi flirts e.e That aside, I also like how when they have an argument you can actually see the hurt it causes them both. Especially Ataru since like before he met Lum I’m 99% sure he was a lonely kid. Sure he had Shinobu, but like she didn’t live with him. And if I had a mom who told me she wished I wasn’t born CONSTANTLY I’d be hella depressed. OK OK I’m done. OTP FOR LYFE!

Shinobu/Inaba- THEY ARE SO CUTE TOGETHER! I’m low-key pissed that the flower arc from the manga didn’t get animated tho...It was so important ;w;

And finally in an au where Lum doesn’t exist or come to earth or something.... Ataru x Mendou ouo’’ Don’t kill me. Not gonna lie...artists on pixiv made me ship this...PLUS EPISODE 131 WAS HELLA GAY FITE ME. And then they were other moments in the series that made me think they’d be a good couple lol.

2. WITHOUT WORDS! YOUR HAND IN MINE’S ENOUGH!! ;W;!! RanmaXAkane! Ahhhhh! These two are my babies! They have honestly been through so much together! Their relationship is hella better in the manga though. I cried during some arcs like holy shit.

Ryoga x Akari- cRIES! IM ON THIS ARC BUT i HAVENT READ IT BUT BASED ON SPOILERS...OTP.

Don’t kill me pt2...

Ranma x Ryoga: So that fishing rod arc aha AHAHAHAHA. Plus the fan art on tumblr made me ship them even harder lol.

3. Ghost hunters I MEAN RINSAKU! Honestly, my heart just flutters whenever Rinne acts all lovey dovey around Sakura. She honestly brings out the best in him. Rumiko....you better give them a happy ending like their predecessors e.e

Matsugo x Rinne: PLEASE, THEY ARE SO CUTE??? When I watched Matsugo’s introductory episode I was just making inhuman noises THE ENTIRE TIME. If Rinne hadn’t met Sakura these two would be hitting it off right after the reunion tbfh. I honestly wish there was more content for this ship???

Sabato x Money: :^)

THANKS FOR TAGGING MEH. ouo’’ sorry if I got too excited with some of these.

Tagging: @hibikiryouga @lamupika @sobtektor @milkychew @tomobiki

IF Y'ALL WANT AND ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO!!

#if i made yall cringe then good #all according to keikaku #urusei yatsura #ranma 1/2 #kyoukai no rinne

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recentanimenews · 7 years

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FEATURE: Humanity's Worst, Front and Center on the Anime Stage

Humanity's Worst, Front and Center on the Anime Stage

By Ian Mertz

There is a sadistic thrill that comes with watching people acting against our ingrained sense of morals, or better yet, against society's standards of good in favor of our secret rebellious desires. When Lupin the Third came on the anime scene in the early 70's, with its titular pragmatic thief, it was a huge shift from the model of protagonists who embodied the forces of absolute moral good. Even the punks who so often popped up as the stars in early sports classics brought a bit of that wild side out in the show, let alone more aggressively amoral characters like the swashbuckling interstellar Cobra or the hitman Golgo 13. Flash forward to 2017, and as if an old otaku made a poorly worded deal with the devil we got a season of protagonists who moonlight as terrible human beings, with both hilarious comic headliners and bone-chilling pragmatists coming to call. These are their stories.

KONOSUBA -God's blessing on this wonderful world! 2

Back in the 80's and 90's, prominent writers such as Rumiko Takahashi and Yoshihiro Togashi noticed that if they wanted to make their protagonist funny, one thing they could do is make their protagonist kind of a dick. Characters like Yu Yu Hakusho's Yusuke Urameshi, Ghost Sweeper Mikami's Tadao Yokoshima, and Urusei Yatsura's Ataru Moroboshi were all generally moral people, but had many of the failings one would expect of a teenage boy: perverted, insensitive, and just generally causing trouble. Again, they had a baseline morality usually shown through their devoted love interest, who indirectly acted as their anchor, someone who brought out the best in our hopeless hero.

The first show on our list, KONOSUBA -God's blessing on this wonderful world!, tosses that morality out the window, and instead of a love interest just lets the whole harem get in on the amoral fun. Adventurer Kazuma Satou is just as lecherous and abrasive as any rom-com hero, but instead of a soft spoken heroine to bring out the non-existent goodness in his heart, he gets three companions at least as bad as him. It turns out having characters who are generally good on the inside is better for character development and storytelling, but when you take that away from them the result is plain hilarious, especially with the sense of comedic timing the show has honed over its last season.

Of the three the show mostly centers on Aqua, the goddess Kazuma forcibly brought on his adventures. She is the only one in the show with a tongue as sharp as Kazuma's, and neither of them will let the other's failures go unnoticed, nor their own successes go without a good long stretch of gloating. When Aqua purifies a great spirit rooted to the world against his will, she spends the rest of the episode reveling in her almighty powers as a goddess right in front of Kazuma's face; when it turns out the purification also set a horde of monsters upon the city in the process, Kazuma's insults bring her to the verge of tears.

The other two provide endless fuel for Kazuma's morally abhorrent personality too. While the masochistic holy crusader Darkness left the center stage for a while at the start of this season's KONOSUBA -God's blessing on this wonderful world! 2, she is back and in rare form, having gone so far into the realm of fetishizing her own pain and humiliation that Kazuma can no longer even insult her without feeding her complex further. The crowd favorite, the explosion junkie Megumin, has also been stepping up as perfect fodder for Kazuma this season. It's a mark of both great writing and the author's particular penchant for creating human trash when the show's greatest exposition thus far this season is that Megumin spent her younger years taking some kid's lunch money after class.

Masamune-kun's Revenge

And maybe it's a mark of a good anime season that she isn't the only character stealing people's lunch. One of the more popular romantic comedies this season, Masamune-kun's Revenge features a burgeoning couple who would be right at home with the KONOSUBA -God's blessing on this wonderful world! cast. I say burgeoning because they aren't a couple at the start of the story, nor do either of them like each other, and not in a simple Ranma ½ -style tsundere mismatch. Masamune Makabe wants nothing more than to be asked out by the school idol Aki Adagaki, who is notorious for hating men and rejecting them in cruel and mortifying ways. His motivation? To mortify her right back, the girl who teased him when they were kids. He completely reworked his appearance to the point where he's a heartthrob among the girls, but he passes up his chances at love for that one shot of sweet karmic justice.

And despite how comically petty he is for even trying, Aki sells herself as such a terrible person that we can't even blame him. Besides sticking all the boys who ask her out with insulting, albeit meticulously researched, monikers, she also eats both her share of lunch and most of her best friend's bread on top. Good for her that she eats healthy, but the self-absorbed way she orders her friend to buy her more food, away from the prying eyes of the other girls who respect her so highly, makes us want Masamune to take her down a peg too.

Or such is the premise. In reality while KONOSUBA -God's blessing on this wonderful world!'s cast is designed to be irredeemable, as we dive a bit deeper into Masamune and Aki we get to see a bit of their softer sides, on guard due to their past experiences (with each other), but prone to slipping up all the same. Masamune, focused on his revenge plot, learns through shoujo manga and botches his plans so often and so thoroughly that he ends up needing coaching from an insider in Aki's life. Meanwhile Aki is so clueless that she not only proudly wears cosplay to her first “date” with Masamune, but she derides him for thinking that that's wrong. As they both continue to hurdle towards ruining each other's lives again, the comedy and romance we're treated to is sometimes enough to hope they learn to be less petty and narcissistic, or it would be if it weren't so amusing to watch their misguided battle.

Saga of Tanya the Evil

But not all this season's terrible people are funny. Sometimes being registered as a terrible person implies something more akin to that title. Sometimes we are given a character who is genuinely morally repugnant, the kind of person who would get their family killed for a dollar and a pat on the back. These are the people outside the realm of 80's comedy; these are the people who would more likely show up on a police blotter, or worse, a thousand documentaries asking what went wrong. Thankfully in Saga of Tanya the Evil, it's easy to see what went wrong: someone gave that person a gun, a uniform, and an incentive to kill.

When even the title registers Tanya, a girl who was given too much power in the army as a result of her abnormally developed magical powers, as “evil,” there's a pretty clear message being sent to us the viewers. There is little to no room for sympathizing with her, which is made worse by the fact that we understand her completely. She is vindictive, setting up a group of soldiers who disobeyed her to be killed by the enemy in the next attack. She chooses every word to better her chances at staying safe and away from the front line, whether it be to her superior officers or to her friends celebrating a new birth in their household. We see her pushed to the brink of death in a fight, and we see the unbridled joy she feels at letting her powers loose on anyone who bleeds red and looks at her the wrong way.

But we also see her slip up, either tricked by those who are wise to her manipulative words or tripped up in her own ambitions. As Tanya is rising to power, the show is shaping up to be something we don't see to often in anime: a classic Greek fall from hubris. As we dive into her thought processes and motivations, we start to see all the fatal flaws that will inevitably come back to her, all the ways in which she won't learn from her mistakes while they're small. Besides the well-choreographed action and the detail put into Tanya's crazed facial expressions, the true gem of the show is watching Tanya's character, as a textbook case in greed, ambition, psychopathy, and if all goes well, in a fall from grace.

Scum's Wish

On that note, I would be remiss to not at least mention the crown jewel of this season's lineup of amoral characters. I read the manga for Scum's Wish a few years ago, and was thoroughly caught up in how shockingly awful—yet shockingly believable—the entire cast was. Each character sets out to outdo the last, while at the center lies a single doomed couple: Hanabi Yasuraoka and Mugi Awaya, the power couple of the school. To their friends and classmates both of them are perfect, and perfect for each other. But they share no love between them; both are only out to soothe their loneliness over loving someone else. For Hanabi it's her brother, a schoolteacher who has a crush on Mugi's tutor from afar. For Mugi of course, it's that very tutor, who seems aloof to the whole situation save for being very attuned to Hanabi's moods.

A love polygon develops with these four and a whole slew of their friends, each of whom is willing to use, bully, and manipulate one another to feel just a little less lonely in the world. Just as surprising as the explicit sexual encounters between the characters are the ways in which the script captures their thoughts, their disgusting and distasteful ways of getting one another to give up their other loves, their other friendships, even their mental state of being. It's not haphazard, nor is it solely a statement on the evil in people's hearts. It is perfectly balanced and calculated to show their desperation, and how they try to navigate love and friendship in the wrong way.

This season's adaptation adds an additional layer to the manga, namely framing it as tragic. In particular Hanabi's character flaws are downplayed in comparison to the other characters, and she serves as the main focus through which we see the story, which develops her character so well that despite having seen her original manga personality I even started to feel bad for her at some point. Soft watercolor notes in the artwork, reordering events and changing up the pacing, and good use of soundtrack make her romance with Mugi into a fully fledged romantic tragedy, one from which there's no straight answer, with no clear line between bad people and misguided friends, as both bring her pain all the same.

The following series are available for viewing NOW on Crunchyroll!

KONOSUBA -God's blessing on this wonderful world! 2

Masamune-kun's Revenge

Saga of Tanya the Evil

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Ian Mertz is a graduate student in Toronto. He works in Computer Science though, so don't take his opinions on anime too seriously.

By: [email protected]

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

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mysticdragon3md3 · 7 years

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thoughts after Yuri on Ice ep7

1:15 AM 11/25/2016 Honestly, I've been reluctant to post about Yuri on Ice ep7, because the fandom is so focused on the romance, especially in this episode, but I don't see Victuri ready for that step yet. And more importantly, there are other things, some more important things, going on in this series.

6:25 AM 11/21/2016 I have to admit that before I watched Yuri on Ice ep7, I had seen the spoiler screengrabs on Tumblr. After ep6, I just wanted to see what the fandom was like! I totally wasn't looking for spoilers! ;o; Everyone was posting screengrabs of the most spoilery moment in ep7. -.-; Fortunately, I've been mostly immune to spoilers for the majority of my life. (It wasn't until Madoka Magica when I discovered spoilers were finally effecting me.) For me, the value of a series is in every scene's ability to be an enjoyable experience, each and every time it's re-watched. So I don't really care about knowing what happens. To me, what counts is if the series is actually able to make me _feel_ what happens, with its presentation. So I thought, "What the heck, I'll just go ahead and watch ep7, without writing my reactions during it." After all, there's not much surprise for me to document in my reactions, when the most spoilery moment was already spoiled.

But I will say that I was surprised to see the YOI fandom so gung-ho about this new series being like a flagship of homosexual romance anime. It felt strange to me, because I had been aware of the yaoi/BL/shonen ai genre(s) for the longest time. Not that that genre is realistic enough to count as an actual "homosexual romance" to take seriously. Yuri on Ice is able to differentiate itself from those pre-established BL and Romance genres, because it was marketed as a mainstream anime. (In this post-Haikyuu era, lots of manga publishers and anime producers seem to be betting on the "sports anime" genre for their next popular series. Much in the same way that after Bleach and Death Note became popular, Shinigami became a copied trend, along with strong, no-nonsense heroines with short dark hair, styled after Rukia Kuchiki, like Tokiko Tsumura, Ryo Miyakozuka, Mikasa Ackerman, etc.) With that mainstream marketing, Yuri on Ice was able to get a lot of eyeballs on it, which necessitated that it smooth out a lot of the niche quirks from the BL genre. Actually, the series isn't rooted in the BL genre nor is it basing itself as a primarily Romance genre story, so that's probably what actually saved it from the unrealistic melodramatic cliches of the BL and Romance genres. According to Tweets from both the director and writer, they initially wanted to avoid a romance story, especially a heterosexual romance, because both had been overdone and they were tired of all the associated cliches. (Especially in Japan, where stringent gender roles had mapped out a whole overused outline of heterosexual romance stories.) But when the writer noticed the characters taking on a life of their own and taking the story to a romantic leaning, the director simply encouraged that they just go with it and let the characters do what they want. The story _organically_ evolved into containing a homosexual romance. Still, it's also trying to juggle "character study", "sports anime", and Romance, all at once. Because of that, even though the series is gradually embracing more romantic elements, Yuri on Ice is able to avoid being predominated by a lot of the trite "harlequinn novel"-esque cliches from the BL and Romance genres. Yuri on Ice feels more like a Drama that happens to have some romance, rather than _just_ a Romance with all the cliche unbelievable melodrama. In addition, Yuri on Ice is also trying to be a "sports anime", so it has no time to waste on becoming a primarily Romance genre series. Though I still feel that Yuri on Ice isn't exactly an effective "sports anime", it is still enough of a "sports anime" to keep the story from becoming nothing but a Romance genre story. Which I'm glad for, because like the writer, I'm getting tired of those cliches too (unless there's a good reason to pursue them). So I was very surprised to see the YOI fandom so incredibly focused on the romantic subplot of the story.

Not that Yuri on Ice doesn't have a few Romance genre cliches. Like I noted in my reactions to episodes 1-5, so much of Victor's first appearance in Hasetsu, insisting on becoming Yuri's coach, is just too reminiscent of the "otherworldly girl" subgenre (what TV Tropes calls the "Magical Girlfriend" trope). A specific section of the "harem anime" genre, it usually involves some unbelievably attractive girl, coming out of no where, from a completely different world, to insistently attach herself to the passive, herbivore protagonist, thus turning his world upside-down, with her "powers", lack of familiarity with the mundane, and the people from her world, following after her. (If Yuri on Ice had stayed to that formula, Yurio would have stayed in Hasetsu, living with Yuri, Victor, and Katsuki family, all together.) Urusei Yatsura, Ah! Megami-sama, Tenchi Muyo, Saber Marionette J, Wish, etc. Very specific cliches and tropes from that genre, are preformed by Victor, despite the writer's interviews saying that she wanted to avoid Romance genre cliches. Thank goodness that was her intention, because she kept the cliches to a subtle minimum, yet still kept enough, to use what was effective about them: comedy and plot progression. Even in episode 7, she kept the cliche "manly" trait of "I don't know what to do when people cry in front of me", because "manly men aren't experienced enough with emotions to know how to handle the intensity of crying"---as the misleading stereotype goes. ^^;;;;; Also in episode 7, Victor was threatening to enact another cliche, the BL genre "kiss to calm you down". But even in that scene, you could still sense the writer's reluctance to let Romance genre tropes take the wheel. She put a stop to that trope by writing Yuri as shouting back to Victor what would really be appropriate, rather than just allowing a big splash-page kiss, that editors usually tell their manga-ka to bait readers with, through fanservice. That was refreshing. Sure, 1 or 2 scenes later, the writer let Victor fully enact a different BL/Romance/Shoujo manga trope, the "dramatic tackle-kiss out of no where", but I feel it was appropriate to the moment. Whereas, in the BL, Romance, and Shoujo genres, such a cliche is usually baseless or given little supporting context...other than cheesecake fanservice to snare an audience.

Honestly, after ep7, the YOI fandom became a minefield. Any criticism or differing interpretation of Victuri seems to be taken as a homophobic statement. So I've been reluctant to post anything about Yuri on Ice anymore. But my blog is a record of my fandom, for *me*. It serves as _my memory_, so I should post what I want. And what I want to acknowledge is that even though I would love some Victuri, Yuri is an inexperienced, unromantically-inclined virgin, and that archetype, in anime and manga, has repeatedly been used for much more slow-burn love stories, where that archetype often doesn't even realize they are in love. (Ryo McClean from Fake; Sawako Kuronuma from Kimi ni Todoke; etc.) It's very much unlike the usual Romance genre, where all characters are constantly looking for love, know it when they feel it, and often even jump too soon into misinterpreted relationships, based on false assumptions of love's presence. And for those of us who relate to characters whose lives don't revolve completely around Romance, for those of us who relate to the unromantically-inclined, passive protagonist, there's preference for seeing a story develop solid reasons and at a gradual pace, to allow for emotionally visceral processing. That is what the pure-hearted, inexperienced virgin archetype often provides in their romance stories, and it'd be a shame to turn him into another dime-a-dozen rom-com protagonist. I mean, if virgin little innocent Yuri actually fell in love, I'd expect the story to show the full weight of that realization _ON-SCREEN_ and give it the time for dramatic weight. I think anything less, like off-screen implication or narrative exposition dump, would be an insult to Victuri and to any fans of Katsuki Yuri. Even the fact that the YOI series is trying to be a "sports anime" doesn't excuse it from relegating its romantic subplot offscreen, especially the milestone points of a romantic subplot. YOI, in my opinion, has functioned more as a "character study" story than anything else. And as such, a romantic relationship involving the protagonist, is too important of a life event, to give sub-parr portrayal, through limited time and mere on-screen implications. Katsuki Yuri is a character who started the series feeling alone, and his whole arc seems to be growing into realizing he is not alone, by (re-)forging bonds with other people. The most intense type of human relationships is romantic, and with such significance, especially in relation to Yuri's type of character development, if YOI doesn't portray his realization into love, on-screen and given all the time it needs in portrayal, for the full emotional impact---especially for a "character study"---I will pitch a fit. I want my Victuri to have the red carpet rolled out for its portrayal and given all the luxurious prep it deserves. Anything less, like simply laying responsibility on the audience to just assume things about the most important relationship in Katsuki Yuri's life, and I will be beyond disappointed.

#md3 watches yuri on ice

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