I write about why you should have a greater appreciation for wacky Japanese cartoons and the otaku culture revolving around it.
I also co-host a Black Nerd Empowerment podcast with my friend The TV Guru over at http://swarthynerd.libsyn.com/ and create off-color memes about crap tier anime over at https://www.facebook.com/yukithesnowman/
We nerds are goofy. You’d think that from experiencing rejection and exclusion by non-nerds, we would be welcoming of our fellow nerds nerds. But nah, we’re not. Some indulge in repeating the same exclusion and rejection cycle they faced in the past to other nerds. Elitist nerds will play the gate keeping game; allowing certain “real” nerds in their circle.
Others will quiz people who they deem fake; asking questions and checking if a person is knowledgeable to their personal level. This essay will explore gate keeping, quizzing, and understanding the causality of such acts.
Gatekeeping is common, yet old practice, existing before the social media and nerd culture boom. Gatekeeping is the act of not allowing certain people into the community; fearing that they’re fake, attention seeking fans (nerds blessed with good looks are often accused of being fake), or casual fans who don’t appreciate the source material.
Example: Some Shin Megami Tensei (SMT) fans believe you’re not a real fan of the SMT series if you started out on Persona, or haven’t branched out to other games of the franchise. Some hardcore SMT fans have belittle, mock, and excluded the newcomers; judging them for not starting or being interested with the archaic (but fun) early games such as SMT 2 or Megami Tensei.
Elitists feel that to be a real fan, you must have outlandish amount of experience and knowledge before joining their ranks. It’s really just their insecurities speaking. They’re afraid of the inclusive.
But hey! What’s a great way to cope with your insecurities? Showcasing your superior, yet unimportant knowledge by quizzing folks! Elitists quiz others on topics that only the truly hardcore (virgin) nerd knows. They’ll ask things like “Who was Akira Toriyama’s first editor”, or “What comic issue did Raven (Teen Titans) debut”? It’s a test to prove you’re worthy to call yourself a real fan. Honestly, it’s stupid and it makes you come off as an asshole.
You know some useless nerd trivial. Congratulations. Nobody is trying to play your quiz game. Nigga you ain’t Alex Trebek.
It’s articles like these that make me an borderline alcoholic.
When compared to their male counterparts, female nerds are more likely to be subjected to quizzing. These beta ass males can’t believe that women have nerdy hobbies and interests, so they gotta drill them to see if they’re not “fake”.
Oh, you’re a pretty girl at a comic book shop who takes care of her personal hygiene, rock a My Hero Academia snapback, and wear a Captain America shirt because you’re a legit fan of the comics before the movies because your dad passed down his Captain America comics to you? If you’re a real Captain America fan, then name the main staff who worked on the June ’97 issue of Captain America!
Can’t answer? You must be a fake nerd girl. Girls don’t read comics!
I mean, I get that these dudes are (probably) still mad about being bullied and rejected for being nerds by girls back in their high and middle school days, but let that shit go. Don’t become the bully fucking with a chick just because she’s a nerd and you assume she’s not a real fan. Go get help or something bruh.
While I do not agree with the gatekeeping, nerd checks, and quizzing, I can somewhat understand why they do such actions. Nerds were/are ridiculed, bullied, and mock for their hobbies for decades. Prior to the recent nerd boom, nerds weren’t accepted by the mainstream. Having nerdy interests was considered weird; nobody wanted to fuck with you. People were on that “Oh I’m a nerd!” game, only to play the real nerds and hurt them for being nerdy.
When you’ve been bullied and teased for your hobbies, you tend to be defensive. It’s a shame that people are like this, but it happens.
Maybe if these elitists weren’t so hurt. Not saying what they’re doing is right though.
We nerds are goofy. You’d think we would be more welcoming of other nerds to our circle. Sadly, with elitism, quizzing, and “nerd checking”, this isn’t the case in our community. Quizzing and nerd checking may leave out some and expose “fake” nerds, but is it worth making newcomers feel excluded?
I can understand why the elitist do this due to ill experiences, however, you got to let go of the past. Past experiences shouldn’t’ determine that everyone on that fake shit based off assumptions.
I would say it’s possible to end this but that would require humanity to end as well.
As I’m about to sit down at the busstop bench after grocery shopping, a woman asked me a question. Normally, I’m annoyed by strangers asking me shit while I am minding my own business, but my gut was like “listen to this person”. She asked me why do men feel the need to catcall and holla at women for sexual favors. I was thrown off by this question, given I don’t catcall women or try to talk to them for sex (plus you don’t do that in general towards women on some respect shit). I replied with “people, mainly men, are stupid and ain’t go respect for women.”
She followed up with “I’m from Arkansas and I never had men catcall me and try to offer me for sex down there, but here in St. Louis, I had different dudes asking me for that shit. I don’t sell my body! I make an honest living. I don’t like this.” I explain to her that St. Louis folks (for the most part), are ignorant and tend to be on some stupid ass shit for no reason (catcalling is an universal thing yes but I can assume the Southern parts of America are on that respect thing, compared to St. Louis and the Midwest from what Southerners have told me coming up here)
I can’t say I understand her pain because I’m not a woman, and will never experience the bullshit women go through, but at the same time, it upset me that this woman had to deal with this.
I don’t get it. Why do dudes feel entitled to do goofy ass shit like cat calling towards women? I mean yea, I had holla at a woman with a rather vulgar line (a line I can’t really repeat here) when I was 16 and trying to fit in with the boys, but now that I’m a grown ass man, I don’t see the joy of making a woman uncomfortable with tasteless words, yelling with pretty much harassment. At what point when dudes felt entitled to say such fucked up things to women?
(Regular nerd related posts will return later tonight)
Taking the first step is scary. You get nervous, have doubts, lose confidence, and fears hold you back. Once you knock those negative feelings aside, you must take a plunge. You must take that first step. Nothing will ever happen to you if you don’t move forward. You won’t get anywhere in life that way.
‘You never gone make it if you never rolled a dice
Take the first step, that was Doctor King’s advice’
Things will get easier as you take that step and move forward. The other day, I took the first steps to forward and invest into my dreams. I decided to run two ads on my Facebook page for two recent projects I’m proud of. The first is my analysis on the Sailor Moon S narrative themes, and my analysis on Bakemonogatari’s Hitagi’s mental health. Yea, instant success and engagement won’t happen overnight, it’s a long process. A process I must stick with long term if I want long term success.
It’s a risky thing to do; investing money into a Facebook ad in hopes that people will read my writings and spread it around. But what’s life without taking risks? What’s life without taking that first step? If you do not take that risk, that gamble, you’ll never move forward in life. You’ll never be successful.
Recently, I came across my new phase; “Work While They Sleep, Grind While They Party”. To break it down to even simpler terms, take advantage of your rivals and competition’s partying and sleeping ways. Work your ass off while these sleep and party. Get a head start of the game before the others.
A couple of my posts (such as my Sailor Moon Infinity analysis and my recent analysis of Hitagi Sengahara’s mental health analysis), were done at night, for about 2-5 hours a night. Other were done at night and the next morning, with me taking a 6-7 hour sleep form between those time, and before I head to work.
I like this phase. It’s a movation tool to work harder to reach my goals. Moviation for me to work on my passion so I donot have to work for anyone else in my life.
Yea it sucks to sacrifice nights of partying, and hours of sleep, but I rather spend the nights working on my blog, posts, and learning about the anime industry I want to make a name out myself. A legacy even. .
Don’t get me wrong: partying with yout friends every once-in-a-awhile is cool. You shouldn’t isolate yourself from the crew. Sometimes, you need a night to relax and enjoy yourself. Just don’t makie it an hobby.
Work while they grind. Learn while they sleep. It’ll be worth it for your futre.
TRIGGER WARNING: Rape, molestation, and child abuse mentioned. If you’re bothered by these things, please please please, for the sake of your mental health, do not read on. Thank you.
A traumatic incident can screw up one’s mind. It creates defense mechanisms, anxiety, and trust issues. Hitagi Senjougahara, main heroine of the anime and light novel series “Monogatari”, experienced such things. To repay a debt owed to a cult, Hitagai’s mother set her up to be molested and rape by a high ranking cultist. Hitagi resisted, hitting the cultist with a spiked shoe. Afterwards, her dad filed for divorce, and Hitagi haven’t spoke to her mom since.
Overtime, Hitagi grew distance, hostile, and untrusting of others.
‘And now you’re kinda cold to the people you met Cause of something that was done to you by some creep.’ –Whodini: Friends (1984 hip-hop single).
Throughout the “Hitagi Crab” arc , we learn of the condition and causality of Hitagi’s literal weightlessness, as well as her hostile nature. After Araragi (series’s main hero) saves her from an otherwise fatal fall, he discovers that she’s weightless. In fear that he might run his mouth about her state, Hitagi attacks him. She shoves a mini stapler inside his mouth, stapling his check.
After removing the lodged staple from his check, Araragi reveals his healing factor. Hitagi was shock that there was somebody like her (in terms of weirdness). Araragi offers to help her regain her weight, taken by a god crab spirit.
As Araragi and Hitagi bike to Oshino’s (friend of and occult advisor to Araragi) residence, the two engaged in an interesting conversation. Hitagi refers herself as a tsundere (otaku slang for a character who’s hostile and cold initially, but grows softer and warm towards close ones overtime). This fits her well. Hitagi is cold, distanced, and hostile due to her mental trauma and physical condition. With Araragi’s reveling his powers, understanding her situation, and knowing someone who could help her, Hitagi gradually warms up.
Right!
There are two points I want to explore here:
Prior to meeting Oshino, Araragi asks Hitagi if he could hold on to her school supplies (which double as her weaponry). She responds “You set me up, right?”, pauses, and surrender her goods. At the second point, upom meeting Oshino, Hitagi asks if he could save her. Oshino responds with that only she could save herself. Hitagi snaps on him, stating that five people prior told her the same thing, only to try to scam her. She then asks Oshino if he was a scammer himself, which he only laughs off her (somewhat baseless) fears.
This made me wonder: are her worries defense mechanisms? If so, you can’t blame her. Victims of traumatic experiences tend to be more defensive and aggressive towards others. Traumatic experiences can changed one’s point of view, as Oshino pointed out to Hitagi about hers.
‘If I trust a person so easily, I don’t know how many times I would’ve been tricked.” -Hitagi Senjouhara
Fasting forward to episode 2’s ritual scene, Oshino asks Hitagi a series of questions. The first few are basic: school life, date of birth, and favorite author. All to each she answered unhesitating. When asked about her most painful memory of her life however, Hitagi freezes up, taking a sharp breath. Regaining herself, Hitagi painfully recalls the attempted sexual assault. She brings up that her mother was punished because she fought back against the cultist.
Her parents divorced soon after. Hitagi felt guilt for her resistance, blaming herself for breaking the family apart (of course, it wasn’t her fault). She felt anger towards her mom; she did not save her. Oshino tells her that these were her feelings, feelings that she can’t transfer to others.
Feelings that she must carry the burden on her shoulders.
In their conversation, Oshino uses the word “omoi”, which can either mean “Feelings” or Weight” (depending on the kanji). What I like about the word usage is the symbolism of the meaning. The feelings caused by horrific, traumatic experiences are a heavy weight to carry. You go through life blaming yourself when you should not, closing yourself off from others and being on edge; unsure if people will hurt you physically, or emotionally.
A weight that you can never get rid of; just only overcome it with proper help and support.
At the end of the ritual, Hitagi confronts the crab god whom stripped her weight. Hitagi freaks out. Her breathing is heavy, eyes widen. Her body is frozen in fear , muscles tensed. Hitagi asks if anyone else can see the crab, which the others reply with that they cannot.
Hitagi shuts down right as the crab attacks. Oshino rescues Hitagi and destroy the spirit. He explains the crab is the result of her mental state. Finally, after thanking him, she breaks down and starts to cry uncontrollably.
Hitagi’s freezing, fears, tense body language, breathing heavily, avoidance of the crab, and crying made me think: was she having a PTSD flashback of the attempted rape? Yeah I mean, the crab is a supernatural force for storytellin, but her response to not confront it, in addition to her being asked about her most painful life experience, can be debated in favor of this theory.
When triggered, victims of traumatic events experienced symptoms such as heavy breathing, feelings of tightness, emotional break downs, and avoidance of anything that reminds them of the incident to name a few examples.
After Hitagi regain her composure, Oshino tells her that despite how much she longs for her family to return, and her desires to remove the pain, those things will never happen. She must learn how to overcome it and grow stronger. At the end, she gained a new friend (and eventually boyfriend) in Araragi and gain her “weight” back as well.
‘Ohhh…tired of the strain and the pain’
‘There’s so much pain…’ -2pac: Pain (1994 rap single)
Special thanks and shout out to my homeboy Mr. Y giving me advice and tips and checking if my info on mental health was correct. Check out his blog here:
Until recently, I never understood why Raven meditate to control her emotions (and powers). As we know in the show (and comics I assume), her powers are linked to her emotional state. If her emotions go haywire, her powers will get the best of her, pretty much fucking things up.
People with emotional problems such as anger management issues (something I’m sadly an expert in) can control their emotions by meditating; relaxing their mind and body. With the help of mediation, you can calm yourself down (as well as deep breathing, counting slowly to 10, and focusing your anger on something postive, etc).
In short, Raven’s meditation to control herself is an reflection on how there is truth in fiction. She controls her emotions. She doesn’t allow her emotions to control her.
Being in the creative field (and my ever-growing internet popularity), gaining and encountering hate is a natural (but fun) thing. It’s the order of life , something that will only end when humanity ends. As somebody who doesn’t get mad, jealous, or hateful towards successful people, I never got the joy of hating off somebody else’s success or passion. I find inspiration in those who are doing better than I am. It just means I need to keep pushing to reach their level.
A grown ass woman in her 30s with a 6-digit salary career about to hate on a 12-year-old kid. That’s fucking sad.
Recently, I’ve been gaining some hate from both internet niggas, and a member of my own blood family. Although I’m not (completely) mad at these haters, I find their hate funny. These fools that are hating on me are doing way better in their lives compared to my own life. They have careers, wives/girlfriends, their own cars and houses while I’m struggling.
And yet, they take the time out of their own apparently “successful” and “happy” lives to talk down on me. The family member hater has a newfound hobby of reminding me of my past failures and is belittling me about my current situation. Funny thing, this dude won’t offer me advice or support to get out of this situation (granted this dude had an arrest warrant out for him last year, and he screwed over his roommates rent money the year before, so take that how you want to)
Guess it’s easier to put down others than to lift them up (a depressing issue in the Black community).
Their hate got me wondering though: I must be doing something right with my passion and drive to better myself. The haters don’t like that. They rather see me be stuck forever, than me to make progress in life. They fear the fact that one day, I’ll prove their bullshit wrong.
Fear and paranoid is a bitch ha ha ha. But real shit, haters are goofy.
‘I’m just enjoying my mother fuckin’ life that’s all. I advise you to do the same.’
I’m a huge fan of the Infinity arc of Sailor Moon. I love it. It’s my favorite arc of the franchise and was my first exposure to the series. The soundtrack is amazing, the characters are lovable, and there are a slew of amazing scenes. It is just a wonderful addition to the lore of the Sailor Moon series.
However, I think one thing that some people may have overlooked about this arc is the theatrical and narrative themes. I believe that if one were to analyze and break down the arc’s themes, they could gain a better appreciation for it.
Join me as I go in-depth in the themes of the Infinity Arc. I hope that after reading this article, you’ll gain greater love for arguably the best arc of the series.
PART 1
Science and Technology
‘Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.’
The theme of science and technology is one of the best things of the arc. It’s a refreshing addition to the lore of the series. While prior villains Queen Beryl and Wiseman were versed in magical arts, Infinity Arc villain Professor Tomoe used science and technology to combat against the Sailor Scouts’.
From genetically engineering superhumans such as the Witches 5 (manga and Crystal anime), transforming his own daughter into a cyborg, implanting himself with an alien egg, and constantly performing experiments, Tomoe had various tools of in his arsenal in relation to science. I mean hell, the man was even blacklisted from the scientific community for his illegal and unethical experiments (manga and Crystal).
The brilliant Tomoe wasn’t alone in using science against the Scouts. His assistant, Eudial had her own tool set as well.
Toasty!!
Eudial (of the Witches 5) fought the Scouts using her own tools such as poison gas, a shotgun that exacted a victim’s Pure Heart, a flame thrower that even surpass the strength of the Sailor Scouts, and perhaps her most dangerous tool; her wits and mind.
While she wasn’t a total genius like her superior, her wisdom could not be ignored. The woman even wrote a computer program that hunted down possible owners of pure hearts and the Holy Talismans. In addition, she built a super computer made from peach cans. Hell, she even worked on dimension transporter device in her downtime.
Granted, she did realize there were fatal flaws with the device. Something that her hater I mean partner Mimete learned the hard way. Boy did she learn the hard way.
It was at this moment that she knew, she fucked up.
I can’t forget the more science fiction elements of Sailor Moon S. The invasion of the Daimons felt like something out of sci-fi movie; strange aliens from a foreign galaxy attempting to take the world over, using humans as their host. Or whatever cheesy plot they thought of.
Even Mistress 9’s theme sounds like a track from a sci-fi film:
I wonder, was Naoko Takeuchi and the Toei writing staff were on a sci-fi kick during the development of the Infinity manga and anime arc? The sci-fi aesthesis are way obvious. Cyberpunk and sci-fi culture were dominating and influential in the anime and manga culture of the early 90s. I would not be shocked if Naoko and Toei were influenced by the cyberpunk culuture for the arc. In any case, the sci-fi elements were a breath of fresh air after compared to two anime season and manga arcs of magic and fantasy. It brought something new to the series.
PART 2
Father and Daughter
Father, you left me but I never left you
I needed you, you didn’t need me
So I, I just gotta tell you
Goodbye, goodbye – John Lennon “Mother”
The father and daughter narrative isn’t anything new in the series. You have Usagi and her pops, Kenji. Then we have Chibi-Usa, and her dad, Mamoru (and of course, Chibi-Usa’s dark persona Black Lady with her Electra Complex with Mamoru).
When he finally lets you call him “daddy”.
Those examples of fathers-and-daughters are stable. However, with the introduction of Hotaru,it broke the mold of the stable father/daughter relationship in Sailor Moon (excluding Rei and her dad, but that’s for another alcohol fuled writing)
The manga and the original anime continuity depict Hotaru and Souichi’s relationship in polar opposites. To put it nicely, Souichi was a piece of shit to Hotaru in the manga. The selfish asshole viewed his daughter’s injuries resulted from a fire in his lab as a blessing. Taking advantage of the newfound “blessings”, Souichi fitted Hotaru with cybernetic implants, as well as genetically modified her by infusing the kid with the egg of Daimon Mistress 9 (given to him by Master Pharaoh 90). Souichi’s selfish actions, and his desire for revenge ruined not only Hotaru’s body, but her life as well.
Hotaru had some well… daddy issues. She went off on her dad, frustrated with him for allowing Kaorinite in their house. She also moped about her dad being consistently away, focused on his research rather than her. Thus, Hotaru felt lonely.
Just an average day in the Tomoe household.
It doesn’t help Souichi’s case that he only cared about Hotaru to awaken Mistress 9. In addition, he only saw Hotaru as a science experiment, a perfect hybrid of cybernetic, genetic, and alien technology. Yea, the dude saved his daughter’s life. Yet, he only did it to make her into a living puppet.
Sometimes, family ain’t shit.
There’s something else Kaori likes to suck up from her dad but this is a Christian run blog. There are h-doujins of these two online if you’re into that.
‘Back when I was a child
Before life removed all the innocence
My father would lift me high
And dance with my mother and me’
When “Take Your Daughter to Work Day” goes horribly wrong.
When it comes to their relationship in the first anime, Hotaru and Souichi were close. The two loved each other dearly. Souichi gave up his freewill to Germatoid , in order to Hotaru’s life, who lost it in a lab explosion. Souichi was supportive of Hotaru, always there for her and made the girl his number one priority.
Despite not being his fault, Souichi regretted ruining Hotaru’s life. In his defenese, he wasn’t unaware that Germtoid made her a vessel for Mistress 9. Souichi even risked his own life to protect Hotaru, taking blows from Mistress 9 and attempted to restore his kid (Even though Mistress 9 used Hotaru’s voice to trick him and Sailor Moon).
While I’m on the subject on Mistress 9, I love the more sinister side of Hotaru and Souichi’s relationship; Germatoid and Mistress 9. Although indirect, they did have some interactions while under the possession of their alien overlords.
It’s strange to think how opposite their relationship were when comparing the anime and manga. Souichi was willing to save Hotaru, even if it meant becoming a servant to Germatoid. While he was noble for doing so, it did spite him, as Hotaru would become Mistress 9’s vessel. Souichi had enormous remorse for allowing Hotaru to be possessed, despite he knew it wasn’t his fault. Unfortunately his manga counterpart did not share that guilt. He felt prideful about his actions, thinking of Hotaru as just a project and not his daughter.
PART 3
Conflict and Division
Sailor Moon: Civil War
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
-WAR “Why Can’t We Be Friends”
Most fictional team up will have their time of division and conflict. The nWo splitting between the nWo Black/White and nWo Black/Red, the Avengers splitting up between Team Iron Man and Team Captain America, and Spider-Man and Venom’s team splitting during the events of Maximum Carnage. It’s bound to happen.
With the introduction of the Outer Scouts, and their goal of saving the world by any means, including sacrificing the wielders of the Pure Heart Crystal, the Inner Scouts will face their biggest problem yet: Inner conflict and division. It doesn’t help that the problem increased with Hotaru revealed as the Messiah of Destruction, but more on that later.
I love the clash between the two teams. Right from the jump, the Outers didn’t play with Usagi’s optimistic, idealistic views. Hell, they flat out told her to stop being childish and selfish; bigger things were at stake.
Episode 21 of Infinity arc, “The Death of Uranus Neptune?!” expands on this:
Usagi is desperately pleading Haruka and Michiru to join forces with the Inner Scouts. You can feel her emotions as she wants the pair to unite with her team. Usagi wants nothing more but to unify her friends. Despite Usagi positive attitude, Haruka snatches Usagi’s transformation brooch and gives the girl a chilling warning:
“Don’t ever show yourself in front of us ever again…Sailor Moon. Or else.”
Haruka and Michiru ain’t playing games, even if it meant threatening to kill Usagi to save the world.
Speaking of killing, The Outers had no issue with wanting to kill a sickly 12-year-old child, Hotaru Tomoe, whom was confirmed to be the Messiah of Silence, Sailor Saturn. The second Saturn awakens in Hotaru, the trio went on the attack, not caring if this was a damn kid. They wanted her dead, for the sake of the great good.
By the way, Hotaru is the best friend of Chibi-Usa, who just happens to be the future daughter of Usagi. One of the Outer Senshi is Setsuna/Pluto, who just happens to be a second mother to Chibi-Usa.
So this whole “Kill Hotaru” thing was going to be fun for all parties involved, right? Two group of allies and friends split into two opposing teams. You have one team aiming to save the person because it wasn’t their fault that they are a puppet for the bad guy. Then, you have the other team wanted to kill the person regardless.
Hell, even our heroes weren’t the only ones with team work issues. The Witches 5 (anime) weren’t too keen on sticking together. Mimete and Eudial had their beef with one another. In Eudial’s defense, Mimete was a complete and jealous idiot who wasn’t shit. Their beef escalated to life-ending heights, with Mimete destroying the break system in Eudial’s station wagon, leading her to a watery death.
Mimete’s petty shit starting would catch up to her, leading to her own death at the hands of another member of the Witches 5, Tellu. You see, Mimete thought she was slick, calling up Tellu and pretending to be Professor Tomoe (using a voice changer), reliving Tellu of her duties. All so she could could take Tellu’s spot in the upcoming mission.
Tellu wasn’t playing that shit. Boy, she wasn’t playing that shit.
Man, it’s such a damn shame that even the bad guys, who are supposed to work together in order to defeat the good guys, are beefing.
Teamwork makes the dream work but not with these fools…
Messiah of Creation. Messiah of Destruction. They’re like ying and yang; one can’t exist without the other. Sailor Moon is the fabled as the messiah; the one whom will bring hope and salvation against the taboo messiah of destruction and death; Sailor Saturn.
We are introduced to the Messiah of Destruction in Rei’s horrifying premonition. The world is frozen, painted in red. Rei, (the only person who isn’t frozen), spots a destruction force of light and energy approaching. It’s dreadful. As Rei is violently pushed back by the energy, a light shines behind her. She turns to it and in despair ask is it the Messiah.
The light ignores her cry. Rei can only watch as the darkness consumes her allies the world. Never get your hopes up, children.
As the series progress, additional information of the Messiah of Destruction are presented. In episode 30 of S, we are revisited by Rei’s nightmare. This time, there’s a feminine figure with a scythe (hmm…), standing on a cliff menacingly, illumined in a bright white light. Rei’s vision ends with the figure violently descending towards Rei, bringing her scythe down on the girl ending with blood splatter.
Rei awakens, recalling the dream. She notices the figure has a recognizable face, but quite can’t put her finger on who it is. It’s totally not Hotaru as Sailor Saturn who’s the malevolent messiah. Trust me; I have never misled people on the internet.
Not Hotaru.
As for the true Messiah, she is hinted as Sailor Moon. After Neptune’s death, and the revelation of the two being the Talimans wielders, Uranus questions the Messiah. She asks their deaths were divine punishment for their crimes of their mission. In her despair, she envisioned the messiah, whom in actuality is an untransformed Usagi.
Usagi envisioned as the messiah is fitting. Time and time again, Usagi is willing to put her own life on the line for both the world, and her loved ones. Usagi even risked her life to save Uranus, the same person who threatened her earlier in the episode.
When the Outers tried to kill Hotaru, Usagi pushed the girl out of the way of a combine energy blast that may had otherwise killed her. Usagi defends her new friend, stating that it’s not her fault that she is Saturn, and that she shouldn’t have to die.
Usagi still had the drive to protect Hotaru, even after her transformation to Mistress 9. Usagi took an energy blast from Pharaoh 90 head on, (who attempted to kill Mistress 9). Before that, Usagi attempted to restore Hotaru back to normal by giving her the Holy Grail. Granted, it was a trick from Mistress 9 (who was using Hotaru’s voice) to manipulate Usagi into giving her the Grail.
Finally, Usagi tried to save Hotaru (as Saturn), who jumped into the core of Pharoh 90 to kill him and save the world. Despite being warned by Saturn that she may not survive inside Pharoh 90, Usagi still went in. While Usagi “failed” to save Hotaru, who had died using her destruction powers, Usagi managed to recover a reincarnated, newly born Hotaru.
By the way, did you notice that both Saturn and Moon were introduced as messiahs at right around the same time? It’s like both the Toei writing staff and Takeuchi knew how to directed these two to meet at the end of the arc. It gives a sense of duality with Saturn, being the Messiah of Destruction, the one who would end the world, and Sailor Moon, the Messiah of Creation, the one who will save it. Of course however, Sailor Saturn became the savoir of the world, sacrificing her life in the progress.
‘If you have feelings for other people…anyone can be a messiah.”
-Hotaru Tomoe
Sailor Moon S Episode 36
PART 5
Sacrifice
‘Logic dictates that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few…or the one’
-Spock
Star Trek
The narrative theme of sacrifice returns in Sailor Moon Infinity and boy, do they shove it down our throats. From Uranus and Neptune’s willingness to sacrifice the live of pure heart owners, to the two losing their own lives to ensure the world’s protection, to Profressor Tomoe surrendering his freewill to save Hotaru in the anime, to Hotaru herself giving up her life to save the world, sacrifice plays a huge role in Infinity.
As previously mentioned, Uranus and Neptune’s prime objective was to track down the Holy Talismans, sealed within three Pure Hearts. The Three Holy Talismans (The Mirror, The Sword, and The Garnet Orb) were tools to summoning The Holy Grail (or Sailor Saturn in the manga/Crystal anime). Once summoned, the true Messiah will use the Grail’s everlasting power to stop the threating silence and Messiah of Destruction. However, in order to unseal the Holy Talismans, the Pure Heart owners had to be sacrificed.
As time went on, Uranus and Neptune were revealed to be the wielders of two Talismans (by Eudial). Upon her death, Neptune ‘s Pure Heart transformed to the Deep Aqua Mirror. Once Uranus realized she too held a Pure Heart, she took her own life to exact it, in hopes that Usagi will use the Talismans to summon the Holy Grail and save the world.
(Of course Uranus and Neptune were brought back to life, so their sacrifices were somewhat meaningless.)
After concluding that Hotaru was Sailor Saturn, the Outer Scouts decided they needed to kill her in order to prevent the world’s destruction from Saturn. Take an innocent girl’s life to save countless others.
It’s heavy, isn’t it?
I do find this funny: the Outer Scouts wanted to sacrifice Hotaru life. The Inner Scouts were all gung-ho against it. Despite the conflicted groups’ back-and-forth aguring, Hotaru ‘s life was still sacrificed. Just not in the way anyone expected. After Hotaru accepts that she is Sailor Saturn, she jumps into the core of Pharaoh 90, and destroys him, killing herself in the progress, but saving the world and her friends (and of course her father in the first anime).
While sacrifice was always a theme prior and after, I love how it’s portrayed in the Infinity Arc. It wasn’t just about Usagi, or the other Scouts putting their own lives on the line. Others may have their own life sacrifice if needed be. Eventually, one life was taken to save the lives of countless others. This arc did brought up the ethics of sacrifice. It is like to to say is if really okay to (unwilling) sacrifice one person’s life to save the lives of others.
Conclusion
Sailor Moon S/Infinity is my most beloved and favorite of the series. The narrative themes oof this arc made it interesting and analyzing the themes makes it a renewing experience. The Science and Technology theme was refreshing in a magic based series. The paralles of the father-daughter relationship of Hotaru and Souichi from the anime and manga were conflciting, The Outer Senshi brought in something that the Inner Scouts never dealt with in the past: division and in-fighting. The Messiahs gave the arc a near religious side to the series. Finally, the sacrifice theme presented the issue of is it ethic to take a life of a person to others.
On the surface Sailor Moon S appears to be that of a simple shoujo magical girl series but once you dig into the narrative themes with an analytical mindset you’ll uncover that there are hidden meanings behind this excellent arc.
I hope with this in-depth look of the themes of S you have gained a better apperication for the season as much as I have. Thank you for taking the time out of your life to read this article.
Thanks to everyone who supported and believed in me. Thank you so much.
With the 2017 convention season starting (and me still angry with people whom won’t shower at these things), I figure that I’ll be nice and give some helpful advice to survive the convention year. These tips and advice come from my own personal experience such as budgeting, taking care of me, and saving money. I hope you’ll apply these tips for your convention plans.
The Hotel
An example of chilling in the hotel during downtime.
Generally, the convention’s social media page(s) and website will post booking information such as the start date of booking for hotel(s) blocks (reversed sections of the hotel for the event staff, guests, and attendees) . Once the reservation dates are revealed, mark your calendar. The night before hotel reservation begins, set an alarm up to an hour early than the time the hotel will accept reservation. Have your credit/debit card information ready. If you’re a rewards member of the hotel company (I.E. Hilton HHonors), have that information ready as well. You may gain points or a discount for being a rewards member.
If booking by phone, please note that everyone and their moms are going to do the same. You may get put on hold, and there is a chance you may not get the room. Please, please, PLEASE, do not go off on the operator if this happens. It’s not their fault. Be kind to them.
Some hotels may require an one night deposit upon reservation. This is to prevent last minute cancellation and people hustling and flipping the room(s) to others at a higher price than the average (although the latter is still possible. Make every dollar.). You best be fully committed.
The Badge
My Anime Central 2016 badge (do not post images of your ACEN 2017 badges on social media. They’ll banned you from the convention.)
Now that you’ve booked with the hotel, it’s time to pre-register for the badge! If possible, buy the badge as early as possible when pricing is at its cheapest. It’s a smart investment.
Think about it: Would you rather invest that $45 on the badge right now, when it is at its cheapest and not worry about saving up, or would you want to stand in line for hours, and pay $75 for the at-the-door prices? That was $75 for extra food, a cool ass Mystic Gohan figurine at the dealers room, or at least two top shelf liquor for a room party.
If you cannot afford the badge right then and now, stack up and budget for the next tier price. If the next tier price is $50 in about two months and a week, put aside $10 aside each paycheck for five pay periods, or $25 aside for two pay periods. Then, once you got your money straight, buy the badge.
Seriously, you do not want to buy at the door. You’ll lose more money and time that way.
The 3-6-1 Rule
Three meals a day. Six hours of sleep. One bath a day. You think something as simple as taking care of your hygiene, eating, and sleep are easy tasks. Indeed they are! However, you have those few who don’t follow this rule (especially the bathing part). To those who will follow these rules, I’ll break it down for ya. 3 Meals a Day: It’s that simple. Have a healthy breakfast to provide energy until lunch time. Toast, yogurt, eggs, nuts, grains, etc. If your hotel offer free breakfast, take advantage of that, even if its food you do not enjoy. Your favorite food is free food.
For lunch, I tend to go with something between a light and heavy meal. A sandwich with chips and another side is a nice go-to lunch meal. It’s not a bank breaker and it doesn’t leave me feeling tired or sluggish because I ate more than I could handle. Dinner is where you want to eat something heavy, especially if you’re going to be going to a room party with alcohol, the rave, or doing many night time convention things. I recommend pizza, pasta, fried chicken, etc. Do not eat too heavily though.
Another helpful tip: Snack between meals such as fruits, nuts, and those fancy multi-grain bars. Drink plenty of water as well. The key is to have energy and not feel like shit because you haven’t eaten at all. Ramen and pockey does not qualify as meals.
Yes another helpful tip: If your hotel has a full kitchen (stove, oven, fridge, etc.) and you know how to cook, cook your own meals. It’s a money saving tactic and you’ll have leftovers throughout the day.
Six hours of sleep: Please, get some rest. You should sleep for about 8 hours a day, but 6 hours isn’t too bad. If you’re running a panel or event, get as much rest as you can. There is no shame in resting up and missing out on a few things at the convention to keep alert and active.
Sleep Tip: Powernaps are wonderful. If need be, take at least 30-45 minutes every couple of hours to powernap. If you’re doing something major such as hosting or partying, try to get at least 1-2 hours of sleep. Your body and energy levels will thank you.
Nebraskon’s mascot has the right idea! (This blog does not condone the act of vandalism)
1 Bath/Shower a Day: There is absolutely no goddamn reason for you not to shower or bathe before going out in public. A convention is not exempted. Nobody is trying to smell your nasty ass because you did not want to shower and use hygiene products. If you’re a cosplayer, plan on changing clothes, or sweat a lot, please take a shower before and after an outfit change.
The best Fate/Zero girl takes bath. Why don’t you?
It’s 2017 and we are still debating if people should shower and take care of their hygiene. Yay for human evolution.
Showering Tip: Beer showers are fun. And an early sign you might be an alcoholic. Go me!
Having a beer while taking a shower/bath is relaxing as hell. I suggest that you’ll do this, my 21+ drinking followers!
But seriously, fuckin’ take a shower and use deodorant.
Budgeting
Unlimited Budget Works
Ah the fun part for us adults: budgeting for the convention. In general, the plan is to stack up save up, and split funds for the event. No one’s budget will be alike from the other guy. This is normal. Here’s an example of my budget for Wizard World St. Louis:
Badge: $50
Hotel: $217 ($73 for my share between three people)
Food: $60
Misc: $200 (Not required. For things such as dealer room, liquor/mixers for room party, “vices”, etc.)
Total: $383 ($183 if I removed the miscellaneous items)
Paydays until Wizard: 2
Friend owes me $66. Use that for the badge
Save $51.14 per check. Since I’m using the money I’m owed for the badge, this isn’t a huge blow to the budget. Take another $51.14 from income taxes.
Simple budget, yes. Admittedly, my math may not be right and I’m too lazy to whip out my calculator to get the correct total amount. You get the picture here. Just manage your money correctly and save up.
If you’re splitting hotel costs, pay up. Nobody likes a mooch.
You don’t wanna end up in this situation if you have yet to pay for your share of a room.
Let me say this: If you cannot afford to go to a convention, don’t go. If you have needs such as bills to be paid, medical expenses, etc., take care of that first. Skip out on the convention if your money isn’t right. It’s not worth going broke or screwing up your money just to go to a convention.
The convention ain’t going anywhere soon. Wait until your money is right and go to the next convention.
‘Let me tell you something: You gotta find the balance between having fun and having funds.’ –Nino Brown (American rapper)
I hope my tips will help you in this convention season. If you have anything else to add please feel free to state them in the comments section!
Have a fun and safe time at the convention(s) you’re going to this year!
Matoko: Asian Ghost. Mira: The White Shell. In the movie, it’s revealed that Mira (or The Major) was in fact, Matoko, before the mind-to-body transfer. Matoko was an Asian runaway girl who was kidnapped by Hanka units, along with several other runaway children of Japanese heritage. After destroying her body, extracting her mind, and injecting it with false memories give her motivation to fight terrorists, Matoko was given the body of that of a white woman.
Prior to that reveal however, Mira runs into an older Asian lady. The lady welcomes Mira in her house, offering tea. As the lady and Mira speaks, the lady remarks that Mria’s body language and verbal tones reminds her of her dead daughter, Matoko. It’s incredibly eerie to the woman.
Hmm…
Anyway, While I’m happy Matoko wasn’t “white washed” (completely), the scene made me think: Was this all social commentary on the white washing of iconic ethic characters? You have Matoko, an Asian woman inside the cybernetic body of a white woman.
Matoko/The Major, an Asian anime character (we assumed), is portrayed by Scarlett Johansson, an white actress.
Manga Matoko. My personal favorite design of The Major.
In a sense, it’s meta. Film Matoko is Asian but why is she in a white body? Why are iconic anime characters of Japanese descent are being portrayed by White actors in Hollywood.
It’s probably not that deep or meta. Hell, perhaps they changed things around to cover up any edvidances of white washing. Perhaps this was just all apart of the plan.
These were just merely thoughts I played around with at 2 in the morning when I had nothing better to do but to overthink an action film based on a comic book.
DISCLAIMER: I’m Black. Not Asian. I don’t speak for Asian-Americans, Asians, or all people of color. White washing is an issue in American films. I am not okay with it. We all have different views on this shit.
(Gotta get that shit outta the way before people SJWs tumblrinas get mad or 4channers think I’ll support their bullshit I already got people mad at me on Facebook lmfao)
So, a funny story on how I discovered that these two weren’t cousins, but unrelated lovers. Gotta love 90s anime dubbing censorship.
Back around in late 2001, I legit thought Uranus and Neptune being lesbians was a fanmade rumor. To me, they were just cousins whom interactions were just a bit wee too close to be cousins. While browsing the now defunct SailorMoon.org message boards, there were a post about how Neptune and Urnaus weren’t cousins, but a LGBT couple.
Due to prior trust issues with the anime community from finding out that Dragon Ball AF was a fan made project (Thanks Kanzenshuu!), I didn’t believe they were lesbians. I refused to believe they were gay as hell! The internet is full of liars and nerds who want to make up bullshit for their sick nasty, OTP incest fanfiction! I decided to dig deeper, discovering sources from fansites such as Sailor Moon Uncensored and Suburban Senshi (one of the longest running Sailor Moon fansites).
It took me nearly an entire day of using 56k dial up services to accept the fact that they were unrelated lovers and not everything is a fan made rumor. Their hand holding scene should had been my first clue. But I was an innocent 11-year-old kid at the time.
This was my first clue and it went over my head. Fuck you Cloverway.
For the convention season, please take a shower or bath before you head to an anime/comic/sci-fi con. Nobody is trying to smell your nasty, unwashed, unclean ass because you refuse to take care of basic personal hygiene. Body odor is not cute and nobody isn’t trying to get sick because your ass do not wanna hop in the shower for 15 minutes and put on some deodorant.
Trust me, I legit had asthma attacks from overpowering B.O. from unwashed nerds at cons. It ain’t fun.
It is 2017 and i should not tell people this but this is the state of the convention community as of this writing. Hell there’s even a debate on the Anime Boston Facebook group on if people should shower before heading to a convention. An convention group. Having a debate. On if you should shower or not.
I never got the “There Episodes Rule” of the anime community. The “logic” behind this rule is that you should give a series three episodes to see if it gets good, or worthy enough to continue.
I personally believe that a show should be good and make a great impression on the first episode. The first episode should at least have a few things in it that should match your taste so you don’t have to wait for a show to get good.
If I don’t think a show is good on the first episode, I ain’t gonna waste my time on the series. I have way too many shows on my backlog to get through to worry about shows I’m gonna dropped of the first episode.
Pic related: Attack on Titan, a show I wasted nine episodes on waiting for it to get good lol.
The more I play the shitty ass Sailor Moon fighting game, the more pissed I get at how this game was pretty much wasted potential. It had so much going for it.
I’m dicking around in training mode of this trash ass, broken ass game playing as Neptune (she plays like Street Fighter’s Ken). As I’m playing her I’m discovering footies, spacing, crossups, and dash cancels, shit commonly found in fighting games today. Or back then. Whatever.
“Why? Why is the game so ass? This game has so many deep shit you find in other games like this. What the fuck happen Angel?” I said to myself, utterly disappointed
Sailor Saturn has two pokes, making her like Karin from Street Fighter if Karin was emo, carried a giant spear, and had borderline daddy issues. Saturn is the fuckin’ space and footies queen of the game. You can also play her as a keep away/zoning type with her projectiles and Silent Glaive. Too bad Saturn is so broken and unfair that she’s banned.
(Granted Super S, where she is playable, is an incredibly trash game that is not an enjoyable experience like the anime so that doesn’t even matter lmfao)
Sailor Uranus’s exclusive forward dash can be use as a tool for an unbreakable infinite combo if linked right. If you get this off somebody they’re gonna rage quit.
Sailor Moon’s exclusive super jump dash thingly can be use to chase down zoners and keep-away players. Mini-Moon has a double jump that can be used to get out of a bad situation such as a projectile war.
Like seriously, how can a SNES fighting game that was made in 1996 that has so many tools but be so goddamn ass?
I’m currently working on my next major writing project on the narrative themes of Sailor Moon S. I’m stuck on figuring out the messiah theme in Sailor Moon S/Infinity.
I’m confused on who was considered to be the true Messiah: Saturn, who is the Messiah of Silence (who also did saved the world at the cost of her life) or Sailor Moon, who was the fabled Messiah Uranus and Neptune spoke of throughout the arc.
Great character design is important for any animated show. Character design gives subtle context clues on how a character will be portray in either his or her role and personality throughout the series. Small details can draw a viewer to a character, possibility relating to said character on a deeper level.
On a Shin Megami Tensei/Persona group I’m a member of, there was a “Who’s your Persona 5 Waifu?” topic (I’m trash I know).
I chose Tae and Chihaya based on the information their character design gave me, despite not yet playing Persona 5. I love Tae’s darker, edgier alternate style while I enjoy Chihaya’s more laid back, mellow, and carefree design.
Chihaya Mifune (Persona 5)
Plus their subcultures that the two portrayed (Tae’s alternate style and Chihaya’s hippie style) are consider “weird” and “strange” by modern standards and I’m a man who is attractive by the weird. There’s that to factor in.
Let’s take Tae’s design (plus I don’t have much time to analyze Chihaya before work):
The immediate visual clue we see in her design is her lab coat and clip board in her left hand. This gives a hint to the viewer that there is a great chance that she is involved with the medical or science field.
If we were to analyze her details further, we can see that she sports a stubbed chocker, dark eyeliner, a necklace with a metal capsule attached, a kinda low-top dress (dunno what they’re call I ain’t a fashion guru) that is high above her knees, a red belt with metal open circles, and platform sandals with exposing straps. Her hair is unkempt and short, colored with a combination of dark blue and black with jagged edges and blunt bangs.
From this, we can assume that Tae is into the alternate scene. The dark hair, eyeliner, and choker can support my claims. We can also guess that she may have a sharp, blunt, and aggressive personality. All details that lured me into her character design. She is also liberal in her fashion despite working in a professional field such as the medical industry.
To think I could figure this woman out from just analyzing her character art and I haven’t Persona 5 yet. I’m proud of myself!
…if I am wrong please correct me about this theory and analyze on Tae.
Character design is important and done right can easily lure a viewer to a character that fits their niche(s). Small visual details and clues can tell much more about a character than words and prior information could provide. REFERENCE:
Super Eyepatch Wolf – What Makes a Great Character Design
Yuki The Snowman 