#kimi gushes about manga

[yanderefan-kimi]

Kurobe Makoto and the path of cruelty

Heeey yall this isn't something I normally do but I thought I'd finally live up to my username and start talking about some yandere characters! I was recently rereading this series in anticipation for it resuming soon when this panel (the second image) caught my eyes again, so I decided to rant a bit about this, so here goes *cracks knuckles*

Just a small disclaimer: I'm not an art history major or anything like that, I literally just googled this painting and read the wikipedia article because it fascinated me

Okay so let's start with a VERY brief description of this series, since I don't believe it has been officially translated yet so I don't know how many people have heard of it:

This is デスゲーム漫画の黒幕殺人鬼の妹に転生して失敗した (which basically translates to "I Reincarnated As The Mastermind's Little Sister from a Death Game Manga and Failed") which was originally a web novel by Inaida Sou and was adapted to manga form by Pepu.

I won't go too deeply into the details because I think it's the sort of story that's more fun to read yourself, but the basic premise is that Kurobe Mai, the protagonist, has reincarnated into one of her favorite manga series... which was unfortunate, since it happens to be a Death Game series and she happens to be the first victim. Her older step-brother, Makoto, is a psychopath and the mastermind behind said Death Game in the manga. With a year until the start of the manga, Mai's determined to stop her brother, but her actions cause him to develop an abnormal obsession with her...

In chapter 13, the two stop by an art museum that was showing a medical science exhibit (split into three sections: Exploring the Body, Disease and Death, & Love and Life.) They're both looking around until Makoto comes to a stop at this painting in the 2nd section of the exhibit and stares at it silently for a while. That is, William Hogarth's: The Reward of Cruelty - which is his final work in his Four Stages of Cruelty series (warning if you want to look this up, the paintings are a bit gruesome and unpleasant, on purpose.)

The Four Stages depicts the story of the fictional character Nero as he walks down the path of cruelty. In the First Stage, he's torturing a dog as a child. In the Second Stage, he goes on to beat his horse as an adult. In Cruelty in Perfection, he moves on to theft and murder. Finally, in The Reward of Cruelty, Nero has been hung for his crimes and his corpse publicly mutilated by surgeons.

These paintings were much different from Hogarth's other works because he wanted to shock and deter his audience. He was dismayed over the casual acts of cruelty he witnessed and wanted to warn others that the inevitable end of the path of cruelty was death as retribution.

I thought it was interesting how Makoto chose this specific painting to stare at. Sure, he was fascinated by the macabre, but I think it was likely because he realized that he was walking that path of cruelty himself.

Ever since he was young, he found everyone and everything to be dull and uninteresting. He never struggled at anything, could easily read others, and couldn't empathize with anyone. The only thing that excited him was death. So he started torturing and killing insects, but like all addictions, it was never enough. Soon enough he started desiring for bigger, harder targets. Like a cat, or a dog... or a human.

Makoto realizes that his desire for death and pain was far from normal, but he also felt no desire to change himself. I wonder if he was staring at that painting like he was looking at his inevitable end. Throughout the series, he's been devising various schemes to get Mai's attention (as well as juggling between wanting to kiss her and kill her), but she always strives to surprise him, so what if he fails? What if he succeeds? Was there nothing awaiting the end of his journey other than his early death?

After he's been staring at the painting for a while, Mai comes up behind Makoto and asks if he's finding the exhibit interesting and if he's feeling better. He hugs her, saying that he's fine, and the two go home without ever stepping into the third section (Love and Life.) Now, he's been getting more and more touchy-feely towards Mai with each chapter, but I felt like this hug was a bit... softer. Like he wanted some reassurance that he wasn't at that final stage of cruelty, that he hasn't gotten his "reward" yet.

Anyways, I'm just really fascinated by this scene since it was pretty much glossed over in the web novel, so it was something that Pepu-sensei decided to add in for a reason. Now we're at the gushing part of the post cuz I really think Pepu-sensei is incredibly skilled at panel/scene composition in manga and it's fun to analyze specific scenes and guess the reasoning behind them. (I am vaguely referencing the center spread from the first chapter, which I might talk about later but it's really great, trust me)

Basically, I really love this series (PLUS Inaida-sensei is one of my fav authors and I love Pepu-sensei's art sm) and I really can't wait to see where it goes. It has a good following so we're actually gonna get a whole extra volume and I'm so excited to see what new arc they're gonna throw at us!! And and I'm super excited to see how some scenes in the finale are gonna play out and I should probably stop gushing or I will never finish this post lol.

(if you like yandere, I highly suggest this series!! Plus this is the only series with Kurobe Mai so... 👀)

#デスゲーム漫画の黒幕殺人鬼の妹に転生して失敗した #Death Game Manga no Kuromaku Satsujinki no Imouto ni Tensai Shite Shippai Shita #i sure hope I wrote that romanji correctly #yandere #kimi gushes about manga #and yanderes #aka kimi gushes about yanderes in manga #i dunno how to tag this lol

[lauraagrace]

I love these two precious little beans so much!! 🥹

Recently filmed a video gushing about how Kimi ni Todoke is the series that ultimately got me into and hooked on shoujo manga.

Forever thankful that I read their story because it will always be part of my manga journey! 🧡

YouTube Video Review: https://youtu.be/kx6yGKQ_B7Q

#kimi ni todoke #kimi ni todoke from me to you #君に届け #Karuho Shiina #shoujo manga #manga cover #manga community #manga recommendation #sawako kuronuma #from me to you #sawako x kazehaya #kimi ni todoke sawako #shōta kazehaya #kazehaya shouta #kimi ni todoke kazehaya #shoujo community #shojo beat #shoujo romance #shoujo recommendation #romance manga #shoujo #manga covers #manga couple #manga #anime couple #manga art #shojo manga

[taohs]

Hi Aki!! it was me all along, your animanga secret santa hehehe. So answering the rest of our last conversation will be a lot more easier. As for the recommended shoujos, I highly suggest Kimi ni Todoke, Kaichou wa Maid-sama, Bokura ga Ita, and Lovely Complex! Those are all older shoujos but to me that's like the golden age of shoujos 2000s-2010s, now a days we don't get many new good ones but luckily next year is looking so good!! there's already gonna be 3 manga adaptions of shoujos in Janurary and Feburary (they are The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague, Yamada-kun to Lv999 no Koi wo Suru, and A Galaxy Next Door!) ((im definitely checking them all out)) and Ouran Highschool is such a classic I highly rec finishing that one!

omg ugh, if I had the money for fashion I would 10000% dabble in k-fashion!! I just love how fashionable their outfits are while at the time looking for fancy, clean, fresh! Cardigansssssss yes yes yes, if I also had more of those I'd be drenched in cardigans but I wear a lot of hoodies during the colder months! I agree with all of that about christmas, I just wish it would snow here ;0;;;;; I feel like it always snows towards the end of winter because right now its just super super cold D: my favorite season is definitely Fall, it's just that literal perfect time of the year. You know the warm in the mornings and colder at night, the crunchy leaves, the pumpkin pies, all of that pre-winter stuff I love hehe :>

ayo we couldn't be more in common, I used to be obsessed with BTS too and the first group I listened to in kpop was 2ne1 with their I am the Best song :D but I TOO am now just a girl group listener and tend to dabble in older girl groups and newer ones too :)) aoa I feel like I should dive into their songs more because I just know of their hit title tracks but I'm sure they have a lot of good bsides. Itzy, twice and mamamoo I am all familiar with, they are good in all their respects. I feel like I like twices bsides more though I rarely listen to them. I am a hugeeeeeeee fan of Girls' Generation, they are my number 1. I also love Red Velvet, Aespa, KARA, and New Jeans! Honestly to me most bg these days just sound all the same, there isn't much new in their pot and I just was never too fond of them like I was of ggs :3

This time of us getting to know each other more was so nice! When I got assigned you I think I like gasped in joy because I was shocked I got a mutual! I feel honored being able to make a gift for you, I think I say it a lot in the tags of reblogging your works but I really love your style of coloring! The way of coloring, the textures you add, there are little points you add to them too that you can just tell it was made by you, I love that so much ;3; Thank you for being a content creator and showing us your unique craft, I hope you have many more years of doing the things you love! I hope you love your gift >.< !!

your gift here

ALYSSA! hello hello!! ♡♡♡ before i gush about the gift again (AND YOU!!) let me answer the conversation first hehe. all of those shoujos you mentioned looks really good! i've seen a few gifsets of them before and i have no doubt that it's good as people says c: now that i have motivation to start i will definitely add those to my watchlist! i will come to bother you once i finish them sorry in advance. the artstyle for the new shoujos coming out all looks so pretty, i really look forward to them, especially if you're going to be making gifsets of it too! :>

omg yesss k-fashion beauty is so pretty but also so expensive (for good reasons haha). i also love hoodies during winter!! they are so comfy and warm and i always wear them at home :D omg yes fall is a wonderful season too, it's the perfect balance between warm and cold. although in my area, it gets super cold in the morning and then gets warmer at night, so it's the opposite from you!! i always dress warmly when i go to work and then end up suffocating from the heat later on in the day >_<

OMG NO WAY WE HAVE SO MUCH COMMON? i can’t believe we’re so similar especially regarding kpop 👀 snsd was the first kpop group that i fell in love with i believe, i got hooked with their songs gee and oh!! (both classics) i get so much nostalgia listening to them, they still sound sooo good after all these years :’) did you have an ultimate bias in kpop? also you’re so right about ggs, they just hit differently compared to many boy groups. i also feel like a lot of them has their distinct style of music that sets them apart from everyone else! 

i've said this before but it really has been wonderful talking to you! especially since we haven't had chances to interact much before so this event has been extra special 🥺 you’re such a sweet and kind person and i really loved getting to know you more!! the gift is so so gorgeous and i’m still crying over it now. thank you so much for everything once again alyssa! ♡♡♡ ilysm!!!

#mokacheer #answered #my cutie mutuals ☀️ #secret santa #last time i can use this tag ; ^ ; </3

[recentanimenews]

Manga the Week of 5/25/22

SEAN: It’s only the end of May but the heat here is making it feel like mid-July. What about the manga? Well…

The debut from Yen On is Warlords of Sigrdrifa Rusalka, a light novel based on the popular anime series. As with a lot of other anime series, humanity is under siege and only badass but also very attractive women can save us.

ASH: I mean, I do like badass women…

SEAN: Also from Yen On: The Girl I Saved on the Train Turned Out to Be My Childhood Friend 2, High School DxD 7, High School Prodigies Have It Easy Even in Another World! 6, I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level 12, Magical Girl Raising Project 13, The Saga of Tanya the Evil 10, and A Sister’s All You Need 12.

Yen Press had a lot of its print releases which had been delayed due to the ongoing problem with getting print books done come out next week, so we have SEVEN debuts. Let’s break them down.

I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in The Real World, Too (Isekai de Cheat Skill o Te ni Shita Ore wa, Genjitsu Sekai o mo Musou Suru – Level Up wa Jinsei o Kaeta) had its light novel mentioned in last week’s Manga the Week of, so I can’t even make the same sad snarky jokes. It runs in Dengeki Comic Regulus.

In the Land of Leadale (Leadale no Daichi nite) runs in the horribly titled Dengeki Playstation, and is, of course, based on the light novels Yen is also releasing.

Let’s Go Karaoke! (Karaoke Iko!) is a one-shot manga from Comic Beam. A boy from the school choir ends up with a scary job… he’s giving voice lessons to a yakuza! This is apparently not BL but is BL-adjacent.

MICHELLE: Hm. This is the first on the list to interest me even moderately.

ANNA: I mean, I enjoy singing, BL-adjacent manga, and yakuza.

ASH: Same, same!

MELINDA: Okay, what, I think I need this. Like. Delivered directly to my brain.

SEAN: Lost Lad London is also from Comic Beam, and is a mystery about a detective and a college student trying to track down a murderer. This is award winning AND Comic Beam, so even more of a must-read than usual.

MICHELLE: Okay, now this is up my street.

ANNA: Also curious about this!

ASH: Me, too!

MELINDA: Oooooooh.

SEAN: The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady (Tensei Oujo to Tensai Reijou no Mahou Kakumei) is based on a light novel I really enjoyed. I wonder how the manga compares? It runs in Dengeki Maoh. Lotsa Dengeki this week.

MonsTABOO is a Big Gangan series about a girl who recklessly tries to find monsters – reckless ever since her mother was killed by one. That makes it all the more weird when she comes across one, she asks to date the monster instead.

ASH: I am at least vaguely curious.

SEAN: The Wolf Never Sleeps (Ookami wa Nemuranai) is from Young Ace Up!, and it’s an isekai, but at least he’s a grizzled veteran and swordsman who already fights monsters, and not random Japanese dude.

Yen Press also has Cheeky Brat 3, Cirque Du Freak: The Manga Omnibus 6, The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess 5, The Devil Is a Part-Timer! 18, Final Fantasy Lost Stranger 7, Karneval 13, Mieruko-chan 5, Murciélago 19, Play It Cool, Guys 3, Smokin’ Parade 10 (the final volume), and Trinity Seven 25.

Viz has some titles out this week, likely due to those same printing issues. We see Fullmetal Alchemist: Fullmetal Edition 17, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Part 5–Golden Wind 4, Star Wars: The High Republic: Edge of Balance 2, and Urusei Yatsura 14. And, digitally, WITCH WATCH 2, which I continue to shill for.

ASH: Still need to give that series a try (and catch up on a few of these others, too.)

SEAN: Tokyopop has a new BL one-shot, this one from Gush. Tomorrow, Make Me Yours (Ashita Kimi no Mono ni Shite) is about an average boy who loves the cool, confident kid in his class. Sadly, a girl has a crush on said cool kid, so he tries to distance himself. But when he does confess, the other guy does as well!

Seven Seas debuts The Weakest Contestant of All Space and Time (Zenjikuu Senbatsu Saijaku Saiteihen Ketteisen), a survival manga that runs in Comic Earth Star. There are other interesting points about it, but survival manga, so meh.

ASH: I can sometimes go for an intriguing survival manga.

SEAN: Seven Seas also has Headhunted to Another World: From Salaryman to Big Four! 3, The Masterful Cat Is Depressed Again Today 4, and Seaside Stranger 3.

MICHELLE: I really need to read Seaside Stranger.

ASH: Likewise.

SEAN: One Peace Books gives us Hinamatsuri 15.

The print debut for Kodansha Manga is Phantom of the Idol (Kami Kuzu ☆ Idol), a Zero-Sum Online title about a lazy, surly idol and his meeting with a peppy, happy, and dead girl.

MICHELLE: Well, I am sold by this description.

ANNA: This sounds amazing.

MELINDA: Oh, hello.

SEAN: We also get the first volume of A Silent Voice Complete Collector’s Edition, which collects the first half of the series in a large hardcover which also has drafts, interviews, and other bonus content.

ASH: I’m really looking forward to this release and the extra content; the series is so good.

SEAN: Also in print: Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card 11 and The Seven Deadly Sins: Four Knights of the Apocalypse 3.

MICHELLE: I legitimately did not realize that Clear Card was still going.

ANNA: Me too, I’m just going to sit here in a corner and lament never getting an ending to X/1999.

MICHELLE: FOR REAL.

ASH: Right??

MELINDA: *heavy sigh*

SEAN: Two digital debuts. Koigakubo-kun Stole My First Time (Koigakubo-kun ni wa Hajimete wo Ubawaremashita), a Palcy shoujo series about a gamer girl who is rather annoyed that all her gamer friends are getting married and having kids. Is her hot new work colleague the answer? This is by the author of With the Sheikh in His Harem.

Our Fake Marriage: Rosé (Usokon Rosé) is, of course, a spinoff of Our Fake Marriage, and runs in Ane Friend. Our heroine is determined to reject her family’s attempts to set her up with this guy… but…

Also digital: Back When You Called Us Devils 13 (OK, *this* is the final volume), DAYS 29, Harem Marriage 17, Nighttime for Just Us Two 2, Otherworldly Munchkin: Let’s Speedrun the Dungeon with Only 1 HP! 5, Saint Young Men 18, Shojo Fight 18 (we seem to have caught up, given this is 11 months after 17), What I Love About You 9 (the final volume), and WIND BREAKER 2.

MICHELLE: How did Harem Marriage get up to volume seventeen already?!

SEAN: Kaiten Books gives us the 6th manga volume of Loner Life in Another World.

Lotsa print from J-Novel Club. We get An Archdemon’s Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride 12, Ascendance of a Bookworm 12, both Vol. 2 and 3 of The Faraway Paladin’s novel, How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord 14, I Shall Survive Using Potions’s 7th manga volume, Infinite Dendrogram 15, My Friend’s Little Sister Has It In For Me! 4, Tearmoon Empire 5, and The Unwanted Undead Adventurer’s 5th manga volume.

ASH: I feel like just got my hands on the first volume of Faraway Paladin!

SEAN: As for digital, we get Altina the Sword Princess 14 (not the final volume, but the series has not had a new book in years), Chillin’ in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat Powers 5, I’ll Never Set Foot in That House Again! 4, Lazy Dungeon Master 16, Perry Rhodan NEO 8, Prison Life is Easy for a Villainess 2 (the final volume), and Private Tutor to the Duke’s Daughter 3.

Ghost Ship gives us Manga Diary of a Male Porn Star 2 and The Witches of Adamas 2.

And we get Airship, which has, in print, Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear 10.

And digitally we get Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear 11 and Loner Life in Another World 2.

Oooof. A double dose of Loner Life. That’ll be fun. What else are we having?

By: Sean Gaffney

#Anime #News #Manga Bookshelf

[durotoswrites]

Anime Recommendations?

I’m finishing up Inuyasha.  I’d like to watch something new, but there are so many anime out there I get overwhelmed.  I grew up obsessed with Sailor Moon and Hamtaro.  I like lighthearted humor paired with romance and drama, like Kodocha or the old Fruits Basket manga.  (I heard the remake of the anime was good.  Maybe I should watch that next?)  

What about Sailor Moon?  I’d really like to rewatch that one.  What version do y’all like the best?  I was thinking of watching the original subbed.  I just don’t want it to feel long and drawn out from all the transformation scenes.

I heard Ouran Host Club is pretty good?  I’ve also seen people post stuff with a chubby, poofy calico cat that looks pretty cute. Anyway, I’d love to hear any recommendations.  I tend to prefer the aesthetic of the older stuff in general, but I’m open to watching/reading something newer.

Some other anime I really enjoy to give you an idea of my taste:

Arakawa Under the Bridge

Azumanga Daioh

I loved the manga “Chi’s Sweet Home” but the anime wasn’t for me

Cardcaptor Sakura

Cowboy Bebop

Hare + Guu

Kimi Ni Todoke

Madoka (I enjoyed it, but it was a little dark for my tastes)

Neon Genesis Evangelion (Not my typical genre, but I loved the themes)

Paranoia Agent (I absolutely loved it, but it was at my limit for how dark I wanna go)

Stein’s Gate

TLDR: I’m looking for a new anime/manga to watch/read.  I’d love to hear you gush about your favorites and send along recommendations!

#anime #manga #asking for recommendations

[animebw]

Binge-Watching: Ore Monogatari, Episodes 1-3

And so we begin! In which I gush over one of my favorite genres, Takeo is the gentlest of giants, and Sunakawa provokes a discussion of what it should mean to be a man.

MY CHEEKS HURT

You know what doesn’t get enough attention in today’s anime landscape? Adaptations of shojo romance manga. Amid all the various genres and demographics that proliferate the medium- shonen jump, isekai, light novel adaptations, Webtoons, even the rare mecha anime still clinging on for dear life- it feels like shojo anime have pretty much gone dormant since Kimi ni Todoke back at the start of the decade. And that’s a criminal shame, because when done well, this genre makes me happy like nothing else does. Yes, I’m a self-professed romantic slut, but the spirit of shojo is in more than the romance. It’s the belief in the inherent goodness of ordinary people, how these stories portray loving worlds grounded in the realities of basic human empathy, where mostly everyone does their best for each other because most people aren’t built to be at war with each other all the time. Shojo anime are the kinds of anime I wish I could live in, hanging out with these characters and their relationships over the course of an ordinary, extraordinary life. And I actually didn’t realize Ore Monogatari was based on a shojo manga until well into the first couple episodes when I realized, “Wait a second, what other genre would handle a train molester scenario with this much tact and kindness?” Once I realized, though? The rest was history.

Yes, folks, we’ve finally got another show on this blog that I think I’m going to whole-heartedly love. Ore Monogatari won me effortlessly from pretty much the first few scenes and only got better from there. God, everything about this show just makes me so fucking happy. The OP is adorable! The characters are adorable! Their relationships are adorable! The animation is gorgeous (Courtesy of Madhouse and their deep appreciation for thickly textured, lived-in production design)! And what’s more, the story instantly bypassed by one real issue with shojo anime; the endless will-they-won’t-they. No ridiculously contrived scenarios to keep the inevitable from happening this time around; Takeo and Yamato are officially together before the end of episode 3, and there don’t seem to be any signs of them breaking up. So not only do we finally have another legitimately great shojo on our hands, we have a legitimately great shojo that fixes the genre’s biggest flaw right from the outset and gets right to the gooey couple adorableness. The only thing that could make this show more my speed is if one of the side characters is a girl who could easily kick my ass. What a wonderful time to be alive.

Fairytale Prince

For the moment, though, Ore Monogatari’s focus is very compact. The only real characters we’ve met are Takeo, Yamata and Sunakawa, with camoes from a couple of their parents and teachers. This tight focus lets the show develop them all fabulously, to the point they feel almost fully fleshed out already. And my god, what an absolutely lovable set of dorks they are. The protagonist Takeo, in particular, is one of the most endearingly earnest male romantic leads I’ve ever seen in anime. He’s a big softie who cries when he’s emotional, has great relationships with his middle school kouhai, and throws himself into being a good person with the intensity and stoicism of a samurai on a mission for his shogun. No matter how many times it lands him in trouble, (”Yesterday, I got reported to the cops.”) or how overbearing he accidentally ends up being (”Personal space, dude.”), or how much of his own happiness he has to leave aside, he’s 100% committed to helping the people he cares about. It’s a blast to watch him throw himself so passionately into doing the right thing, even when he has to turn on the hulking rage to punish someone who deserves to get some justice knocked into them: Being good is something he puts his whole heart and soul into, and I love seeing the good he puts into the world just by virtue of not half-assing anything. No matter how much it hurts, his heart is always in the right place.

And that actually gives this opening arc a real sense of pathos. Because he’s kind of a big, scary hulk, he tends to give the wrong impression with his intensity, and he hasn’t exactly been lucky in love as a result. All the female attention goes to the aloof pretty boy Sunawara, even the girls Takeo’s crushing on. At this point, he’s accepted that he’s just not gonna be lucky with girls. So when Yamata enters his life and shows even the slightest hint of maybe being into Sunakawa, he instantly decides that 1) She must be crushing on him like everyone on else, and 2) No matter how sad that makes him, he’s going to be the best damn wingman he can possibly be. He’s constantly assailed with his developing attraction to Yamata, but he never lets that conflict show; if he really loves Yamata and wants to make her happy, then the right thing to do is help her get together with the person she’s in love with. ”Well, I got some cake, and it was delicious,” he says, “so it’s okay.” As long as he can still be a part of her life, then he can find the strength to do what he believes to be the right thing. But it’s clear that his feelings for Yamata aren’t just some crush he can shove down and ignore. Even when he’s literally starting to get crushed to death under a falling beam, he’s still trying to convince himself that going for the beam instead of Yamata was the right choice, because at least this way, she’ll be alright. You just feel so sorry for the guy; he’s such a great dude, and he’s completely unable to have faith in himself because of all his bad experiences.

Of course, because Takeo’s gotten used to Sunakawa always coming out on top in these situations, he’s completely unable to see the obvious signs that he’s the one Yamata’s in love with (Let’s be real, most girls don’t text “It’s a beautiful day!” as a Good Morning message to the best friend of the guy they’re crushing on). And oh my fucking god, I adore this fucking disaster. She’s a flustered bundle of nerves and shyness (”Actually, am I creepy for showing up out of nowhere?!”), but she’s just as intense as Takeo in her own way. Whether it’s running after him so hard she breaks into a thick sweat, throwing her all into making sweets and cakes for him and filling them with little prizes, bursting into mutual tears with him over what a great fucking guy Sunakawa is, or trying to lift the goddamn concrete beam with him (”I’m... actually... pretty strong... myself!”), she’s just as committed as him to throwing herself 100% into whatever she’s doing, no matter how panicked or flustered it makes her. Even when Takeo’s ignorance makes her cry, she doesn’t want to give up on him, and she breaks through her shame to shout over and over again about how much the loves him. He may be about double her size, but they’re nevertheless perfect for each other. Two adorable, earnest idiots who treat doing the right thing as their lifelong mission, and they’re already officially a couple. God, I can’t wait to spend more time with them.

All Hail the Blue Ogre

And yet, hilariously enough, my favorite character so far isn’t either of the leads; it’s Sunakwa. The show actually sets up a really good intrigue with him in the early episodes; why does a gentle, loving giant like Takeo get along so well with someone who seems, well, kind of a jackass? The answer, it turns out, is because Suna is the literal personification of the Bro Code. Ever since they were friends in childhood, Suna has always had Takeo’s back, even when he had to make himself look stupid to do so. He helped Takeo out of trouble, he shared in his embarrassment, he was there for him every step of the way. And most importantly, the reason he was always so blunt and nasty in turning girls down? It’s because he knew that all of those girls were saying mean things about Takeo behind his back. And what kind of self-respecting man would go out with someone who talks crap about their friend? Christ, the moment that bomb dropped, I was sorry I ever doubted him. The aloof pretty boy who gets all the girls ended up being just as much a hilarious do-gooder as the other two. Even as Takeo’s 100% committing to being Suna’s wingman, Suna’s just as committed to helping Yamata and Takeo end up together. He’s the blue ogre of the classic fairy tale through and through, happily falling on whatever swords he needs to so that his friend can be happy.

Actually, now that I think about it, the way Sunakawa and Takeo’s friendship plays out is kind of a wonderful portrayal of masculinity. So many stories fall back on regressive ideas of what it means to “be a man,” especially in anime. But in Ore Monogatari, whenever someone talks about what it means to “be a man,” it’s always in regards to something that men should be. When Takeo’s clobbering the gross train molester, he explicitly calls him a “pathetic excuse for a man” because of his predatory actions. He also says “that’s what a real man does” when he commits to being Suna’s wingman and not pressuring Yamata with his own feelings. And Suna’s own desire to see Takeo happy is described as manly as well, as something that men and friend are just supposed to do: be happy for the people they care about and work to do right by them. Suna doesn’t even have to angst over it, he just takes it as a given that Takeo’s happiness is important to him, because, well, why wouldn’t it be? If they’re friends, it only makes sense they’d want the best for each other, without jealousy or pettiness or competitiveness getting in the way. And Takeo, for his part, is constantly complimenting Suna for his attractiveness, showing no shame about admiring a platonic friend in such an openly sincere way. (”Girls, this is what he looks like when he smiles.”) Time and again, the male characters in this show talk about masculinity as a positive force, something that’s meant to be used for kindness and compassion and building each other up instead of tearing each other down. It’s a masculinity that doesn’t seek to shut down emotions, but embrace and celebrate them. And it’s all baked right into the foundation of who these characters are and the way the show wants you to think about them. We need more portrayals of masculinity like this, in anime and everywhere else. If more boys were raised to be like Takeo and Sunakawa, the world would be a batter place.

Odds and Ends

-Holy shit he was even cuter as a kid

-There’s a lot of good uses of flashbacks in the first episode that flow with the action instead of disrupting it. I like it.

-”He ignored me?” HIS FUCKING FACE ASKJDHASKJDH

-Hold on, Takeo’s VA also voiced Julius from Re:Zero?! Good lord, the range.

-”I’m pretty sure you don’t bake them with your hands.” Lol, these manga splashes are hilarious.

-”Yep. Whenever I look at this tree, I see an ass.” sdkhsdfjhsdf what

-”Oh hey, it’s a guy’s ass! Why didn’t I notice that before?” what is this show

-”When I think about date planning, it’s a drag.” Honestly, I feel that.

-”THEY’RE MOVING AROUND!” He’s so enthusiastic oh my GOD

-”Sumo wrestler, huh? I’m flattered.” pfft

-”Takeo, you’re walking into a telephone pole.” I’m losing my shit help

-”Takeo, you’re stuck.” I’M LOSING MY SHIT HELP

-”BECAUSE YOU’RE ATTRACTIVE!” “...thanks, man.” I’m fucking dying

-he’s too big to fit under the bed askdjhaskjdhaskjdh

-Okay, the confession scene was wonderful, but then Suga just slipping back into his earphones in the foreground left me in stiches. Fuck me, I love him.

And with that, we’re on our way! God, this is gonna be a good November. See you next time!

#anime #the anime binge-watcher #tabw #ore monogatari #my love story

[okaywa]

About me

Hello! Thank you for reading my works! 

my main is @e-eh

-my name is Elzi 

-I’m 19, Aries, INTP-T

-She/her 

-I’m a sophomore pre-law political science major

-I haven't done a face reveal and probably won't ever do one

-I have a dog named Bill Murray and I will gush about him all day and show you pictures if you ask about him

Currently:

-Learning Spanish 

-Writing for Haikyuu only 

-Improving my art 

-Watching Kimi Ni Todoke, MHA, and maid sama

-Reading a variety of fics, manhwas/mangas, and textbooks :(

Favorite(s): 

-From Haikyuu: Oikawa, Iwaizumi, and Tendou (but I honestly love all the HQ boys)

-Others: Usui, Kyo Sohma, Shoto Kazehaya, and Ryu Sanada

-Foods: mm, leaf. Burritos, sushi, cheesy potatoes, mango, hummus

-Drinks: Matcha tea, (iced) coffee, fruit smoothies, water

-Type of music: I listen to a wide range but my favorites are indie, alternative rock, 80/90′s punk and rap. 

-weather: gusty cold rainy days that I can sit inside during with a hot drink

-movie: a silent voice

Hobbies: 

-Longboarding 

-Drawing (digital, traditional, and painting)

-Reading/writing

#about #directory #navi

[agentdarcylewis]

hey have you ever wondered “what if kimi ni todoke, but everyone is a little bit more of an asshole, all the characters have personal issues, the main couple kisses in ep 1 and gets together in ep 2, and there are 100% more cats”??

then you should watch say i love you!!!! the anime is only 13 eps and both the subbed and dubbed versions are rly great! its one of the only anime ive watched that features a couple actually trying to work through a relationship together rather than have a slow burn. the main character has issues making friends, just like knt, but her exile is self-imposed. body image issues and insecurity in relationships are discussed, and characters explicitly have sex (although off screen). there’s also a manga if you prefer that medium (although i haven’t read it yet)!

what im saying is please watch say i love you! cause it’s one of my fave series and it’s super underrated (and also i want to gush about it with someone :3c)

#it is SO good But there are a lot of triggers so hmu if ur interested #i own it on bluray and I've watched it multiple times #im starting a rewatch #SOOOO GREAT!! #THERES A CAT NAMED MARSHMALLOW IN IT TOO!!!! #this and high school debut are the best established relationship shoujo #the secret life of olivias #sily

[recentanimenews]

Manga the Week of 2/24/21

SEAN: As I write this, Texas is being hit with blizzards. Why not curl up… in your dark house with no power… with some manga?

Airship gives us the print volume of the 2nd I’m in Love with the Villainess, and also a print volume for Skeleton Knight in Another World 8.

ASH: I haven’t finished reading the first volume of I’m in Love with the Villainess quite yet, but I suspect I’ll want to pick up the second.

SEAN: Denpa’s site says that The Girl with the Sanpaku Eyes 2 is out next week.

J-Novel Club has a trio of light novels. By the Grace of the Gods 6, Campfire Cooking in Another World 9, and The Greatest Magicmaster’s Retirement Plan 8.

On the manga side, they have The Faraway Paladin 4 and Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles 5.

Kodansha has two print debuts, though we’ve seen them both digitally before. Cells at Work: Baby! is essentially the superdeformed version of the series.

ASH: I enjoyed the original series, but haven’t managed to keep up with all the spinoffs!

SEAN: A Sign of Affection (Yubisaki to Renren) is one that I’ve gushed about before, but here I am gushing about it again. This story of a boy and girl meeting and falling in love, it’s all about communication, as our heroine is hearing impaired, and our globe trotting hero does not know sign language. Fans of Kimi ni Todoke should check this out.

MICHELLE: I missed this when it was a digital debut, so I’m grateful for a second chance at it.

ANNA: Amazingly, this is one of the very few Kodansha digital titles that I have read, and it is absolutely wonderful. It is by suu Morishita, so fans of Shortcake Cake should absolutely pick it up. I’m sure I bought the first couple volumes digitally due to Sean’s gushing and just never posted about it. Morishita does some wonderfully innovative storytelling as the two main characters figure out how to communicate with each other, and the hearing-impaired heroine is portrayed with great sensitivity. I’m so rooting for Yuki and her first real romance!!

ASH: I’m really looking forward to reading this one now that it’s in print. Can’t pass it up with recommendations like that.

MELINDA: Well, how can I possibly resist after that glowing recommendation?

SEAN: Also in print: Heaven’s Design Team 3. The anime is currently airing.

ASH: I have legitimately learned things about animal life reading this series.

SEAN: Digitally the debut is How Do You Do, Koharu? (Gokigenyou, Koharu-san), by the author of (and in the same universe as) Say I Love You. Koharu (the younger sister of Yamato, the male lead in Say I Love You) prefers to keep her friends solely on the digital side… till she’s tempted by a follower who she might want to be more than just friends with. This runs, of course, in Dessert. I hope it is a bit less drama-filled than its parent series.

MICHELLE: I’d seen this one on the release calendar but didn’t realize it had any connection to Say I Love You. Interesting!

SEAN: We also see DAYS 22, Harem Marriage 2, Maid in Honey 6 (the final volume), My Best () Butler 6, My Unique Skill Makes Me OP Even at Level 1 2, Shangri-La Frontier 2, What I Love About You 3, and When We’re in Love 5.

Seven Seas’s biggest debut may be one that came out first nearly 10 years ago. After a period where it seemed that you couldn’t go a week without a new volume, the Alice in the Country of _________ series vanished, allegedly due to licensing difficulties with the original creator. But now it’s back… in digital form! It’s getting rolled out over several weeks. This week we get The Clockmaker’s Story and Love Labyrinth of Thorns (Julius) and The Mad Hatter’s Late Night Tea Party 1 & 2 (Blood).

ANNA: I think I’m tapped out of Alice in the Country of stories but I’m amused to see these being released again.

ASH: Oh, wow! I had somehow previously missed this news.

SEAN: In actual new titles, the debut is Doughnuts Under a Crescent Moon (Kaketa Tsuki to Donuts), a yuri office romance story that runs in Comic Yuri Hime. Always happy to see more non-high school students.

And there is The Ancient Magus’ Bride: Wizard’s Blue 2, Days of Love at Seagull Villa 2, Failed Princesses 3, and How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift? 5.

MICHELLE: I still haven’t even read volume 1 of Seagull Villa!

SEAN: Square Enix Manga debuts Ragna Crimson, a Gangan Joker title whose summary has the words “dark fantasy” and “revenge-fueled quest” and I stopped caring.

In much better Square Enix manga news, we get A Man and His Cat 3.

MICHELLE: Yay!

MELINDA: Yes!

SEAN: Apologies to Tentai Books, I missed their debut light novel which is actually out later this week. World Teacher: Special Agent in Another World (World Teacher: Isekaishiki Kyouiku Agent) is another of those books where the plot is described by the title.

Tokyopop has a debut. The Cat Proposed (Bakeneko Katatte Sourou) is a one-shot BL title from Canna. A man watches a play and sees one of the actors has cat ears. Turns out he’s a bakeneko, and has chosen our protagonist as his spouse!

There’s also the 3rd and final volume of Still Sick.

Vertical has Ajin: Demi-Human 16 and Bakemonogatari’s 7th manga volume.

Yen On has had a few date shifts (try to contain your shock), but we do get a few new volumes this week… and two old ones, as Haruhi Suzumiya 3 and 4 get reprints. 4 is considered the series’ high point.

And there is Do You Love Your Mom (and Her Two-Hit, Multi-Target Attacks?) 8, The Greatest Demon Lord Is Reborn As a Typical Nobody 5, In the Land of Leadale 2, Konosuba 13, and May These Leaden Battlegrounds Leave No Trace 3.

There’s also a Yen Press title I missed last week, as it’s out this Saturday. Megumi Hayashibara’s The Characters Taught Me Everything: Living Life One Episode at a Time is her new memoir, and Yen is putting it out digitally the same day it comes out in Japan!

ASH: I really hope this is released in print at some point, too! It should be really good.

SEAN: Because of various delays and date shifts, Yen Press has FIVE manga debuts next week. We start with Adachi & Shimamura, the manga version of which we’ve already seen the light novel and the anime. Please enjoy Adachi’s gay panic and Shimamura’s attempts to be a functioning human being in a new medium. This runs in Dengeki Daioh.

Days on Fes is a series about two friends going to rock festivals, and that’s about all it is, from what I hear. Sounds like a Laid-Back Camp vibe. This runs in Comic Newtype.

ASH: Oh, that could fun.

MELINDA: I might be into this? As someone who used to go to a lot of music festivals, that is.

SEAN: The Girl without a Face (Kao ga Nai Onnanoko) is a one-shot from Comic Beam. A boy and girl are in love. She’s a bit… expressionless – literally – but that’s just fine. This looks both cute and spooky?

ASH: This could be fun, too!

SEAN: Golden Japanesque – A Splendid Yokohama Romance is the sort of josei title folks were BEGGING for ten years ago. It runs in Flowers’ online magazine, and its author did Kare First Love, for Viz fans with long memories. A Meiji-era title about a half-Japanese girl who’s discriminated against and the boy who thinks she’s a fairy-tale character.

MICHELLE: Ooh! I actually do own all of Kare First Love, as it happens.

ANNA: I am a Viz fan with a long memory and I think I own most of Kare First Love too. I am officially intrigued and will be picking this up.

ASH: Same!

MELINDA: Same here!

SEAN: Lastly there is ID:Invaded #Brake-Broken, a title which hurts me when I try to say it out loud. It’s the sequel to the anime, and runs in Young Ace.

We also get Eniale & Dewiela 2, Mieruko-chan 2, Overlord: The Undead King-Oh! 6, The Saga of Tanya the Evil 13, Slasher Maidens 2, Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun 7, The White Cat’s Revenge as Plotted from the Dragon King’s Lap 2, and A Witch’s Love at the End of the World 2.

ASH: I’ll likely be picking up a few of those, too.

SEAN: What manga melts the weather all around you?

By: Sean Gaffney

#Anime #News #Manga Bookshelf