‘Real niggas do what they wanna do, bitch niggas do what they can.’ -Tupac
Ken Kubo of Gainax’s 1991 animated/live-action comedy-documentary “Otaku no Video” is someone who otaku can relate to. He’s otaku and proud – and wants the world to know. He’s passionate about otaku culture. So passionate in fact, he winds up quitting tennis, drops out of college, and becomes a full pledge, full time otaku with best friend Tanaka. After being dumped by his girlfriend Yoshiko, being belittled by normies for his passion, and unsuccessful job hunts, he declares that he’ll become a total otaku. He yearns to be not just a total otaku, but the ultimate otaku – The Otaking. Inspired by Ken’s declaration, Tanaka too quits job hunting and joins him on the quest to achieving their dreams.
The two start a figurine production company from Tanaka’s house. Day and night non-stop, the two stay on their grind, selling garage kits to fellow otaku. Overtime, their small two-man company grew from a small business into a giant multi-million company, becoming the leading company for figurine production. Not happy with just owning a big business, Ken envisions a theme park for otaku, by otaku – Otakuland.
Ken thinks and dreams big. He wins big, no matter what. Even after losin his company to greedy bankers, Ken doens’t give up and thinks of winning again. He bounces back from rock bottom, and starts grind the all over again. he builds himself up agian and obtain massive success beyond his initial success off his figurine company. After finding an animation studio and creating an anime series that took the world by storm, Ken not only brought back his old company, but becomes the most richest and successful man in history – thanks to his passion.
Ken’s journey to the top as an otkau and businessman inspires me greatly. As otakus, we are often criticized and ridicule for our passion. We’re told to grow up, stop watching cartoons, or whatever bullshit people pull out their ass who don’t understand our love for anime. But we don’t let that shit get to us. We don’t change just to be accepted by those who don’t get us. Instead, we keep and stay to our otaku roots and raise above the naysayers, like Ken himself.
It was the Fall of 2009. Current, but lessen known (by the mainstream) anime series were appearing on YouTube. Suddenly, I had access to shows that I otherwise couldn’t. Browsing YouTube, a peculiar anime caught my attention : The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (THMOS). I was previously hipped to the series thanks to 4chan’s /a/ and various anime message boards. Otaku communities everywhere were praising it, so I figured I couldn’t go wrong watching it.
Haruhi and Kyon. In the background: Yuki and Mikiru
The titular character, Haruhi, is interesting. She’s egoistical – nobody couldn’t compare to her (in her mind at least). The normal and average bores her. Haruhi’s only interested in the extraordinary. Haruhi wants the world to revolve around her. She believes the world is her stage. In fact, the world belongs to Haruhi – literally.
If you ever watched TMOHS then can you really fault Haruhi for her views? I mean, if you had a realization at age nine that you’re just one in the world of billions, you start questioning your reason of existence as well. You’d want the world to notice that you’re not just a nobody, but a somebody. You would want to stand out from everyone.
‘Have you ever realized just how insignificant your existence on this planet really is’
-Haruhi
The moment that I realized that Haruhi would become one of my favorite female character came at episode 13 of the first season.
Walking home from school, Haruhi tells Kyon a story from her childhood. The event of her and her family attending baseball game catalyzed her need for notability. Haruhi was amazed by the sight of the overflowing, sold out stadium. She perceived that the entire population of Japan was gathered there. In reality, as revealed by her father, the attendance was 200,000 people – only a small fraction Japan’s population.
This shocked Haruhi, causing her to break the population numbers down deeper. After arriving home from the game, she starts breaking down the numbers driving her into fractions. She discovered that the attendance was merely two-thousandth of Japan’s total population at the time (128 million in 2006). Haruhi thus concluded that she was merely one person in a world of endless billions. She was just like everyone else – nothing more. Upon this realization, Haruhi understood that in order to stand out, she must do it herself.
Sitting around waiting for change wasn’t a choice.
So, in her first year of high school, Haruhi made every effort to stand out and leave her mark. Even if people were bother by her actions, thought if she was weird or crazy, she wouldn’t stop. In fact the thoughts of others didn’t bother her. Haruhi is doing her without holding back. That what makes her stand out – her self- expression.
Her want of notability.
Watching Haruhi drive herself towards her goals without fear inspired me to do the same. I wanted to stand out and let the world know I here. That I will drive myself to make my mark upon the world. The drive to stand out. That’s what I want from life.
That is why Haruhi Suzumiya is my favorite female protagonist.
‘ I’d let the world know I wasn’t a girl who was happy sitting around waiting. And I’ve done my best to become that person. ‘
Let me tell you something; I love villains who’re the catalysis of their series, like Lord Frieza of Dragon Ball Z. Frieza man, he was the direct cause Goku’s grand expanding adventure. If it wasn’t for Frieza aligning and betraying the Saiyans, Goku would had never been sent to Earth to conquer it (which of course he never did). To say that the Dragon Ball series would had been different would be an unbelievable understatement.
There wouldn’t be anyone to stop the Red Ribbion Army’s ambition of world domination. Goku and Piccolo Jr. wouldn’t had their epic match at the Tenkaichi Budokai. Cell wouldn’t had been created (as Cell had both Goku and Frieza’s DNA). Beerus would had never gone to Earth to search for the Super Saiyan God. The list can keep going on how much things would had been different if Frieza wasn’t around.
Frieza is the key of the almost everything that went down in the series.
Besides his domino effect on the series, what makes Frieza perhaps one of the best anieme antagonist, or at the very least the best villain in the DB series, is his psychotic, sadistic nature and his pure evilness.
I mean, Frieza does not give a literal fuck. He has no conscious about his ill, brutal actions. Torturing helpless children to death or blowing them up. Killing surrendering men as they beg for their life while in tears. Laughing in joy in the destruction he causes throughout the universe. He has no care about anything he does. He simply loves what he does best – killing and causing pain.
In fact, using pain, as well as fear, torture, murder, and destruction is how he build his empire. There (for the most part) are no negotiations or win-win with him; It’s either you work for him, reign over your planet, or he’s gonna kill you, the planet’s entire population, and reign over it.
Regardless, he’s getting what he desires.
Frieza – you’re truly the worst.
‘Unresisting, the people run and hide
Even those who bow to him are burnt to cinders
Genocide, armed oppression
The dictator laughs as he tramples them’
Kinzo Ushiromiya; the patriarch of the (in)famous multi-billion dollar Ushiromiya family. He’s a superior demon summoner and black magic user, owner of the private island of gold: Rokkenjima, diligent businessman, and an abusive, psychotic piece of shit. This man, boy. Let me tell you why I hate this how horrible dude.
Prior to the Umineko series, he lost his lover, Beatrice Castiglioni (who died during childbirth) and was grief stricken. Honoring her, he named their (illegitimate) daughter “Beatrice”, after the mother. Cool. Whatever helps you overcome grief . What’s not fucking cool was Kinzo raping and impregnating his teenage daughter – because she resembled his lover.
That’s fucking sick.
Beatrice Castiglioni. Kinzo’s late mistress.Beatrice Ushiromiya – daughter of Kinzo. She’s a lovely, charismatic young lass with cowtits and is a huge fan of weird, outlandish kinky BDSM play.
Oh, it gets worse. This wouldn’t be the last time he abused his children. Yes. Children. I did say Beatrice was his love child. So, what about his real children? Well, to “toughen up” the others (Kruass, Eva, Rudolf, and Rosa) for the real and business world, he physically, emotionally and psychologically abused them. Naturally, his abusive ways caused his children to disdain him. Worse, his children would pass down the cycle of abusive towards their own, and in many causes, the siblings would abuse each other – Kruass (the eldest) being the worst offender.
Third Generation Ushiromiyas. From left-to-right: Eva (2nd child) Rudolph (3rd child), Kruass (Eldest Child), and Rosa (youngest child)
Kinzo lifting and chocking Kruass
Due to Kinzo’s abusive parenting and teachings, Krauss emulated his dad’s abuse. He would emotionally bullying his little sister, Eva (as well as being sexist towards her). This created much disdain in and anger in her heart, which she passes down to her husband, the kind-hearted Hideyoshi (who loves Eva to death), and her only child, George. Further in the future, Eva passes the abuse down to her niece, Ange, but more on her later. Let’s focus on Eva’s sister, Rosa.
Rosa (just like her only sister Eva), was too abused by not only Kinzo and Krauss, but her other siblings as well (due to her status as the youngest). Lacking someone to hurt in their family to soothe her rage, she had nobody to further the chain of abuse, until she had her daughter, Maria. Rosa (never recovered or attacking her pain in a healthy matter) starts to abuse Maria, verbally and physically beating her.
fate/rosa
See how Kinzo’s chain of abuse goes further? Kinzo abuses Krauss, whom abuses Rosa, who in turn abuses her daughter, Maria. Now his grandchildren are affected by the abuse her created. Speaking of his grandchildren, let’s go back to series best girl Ange.
Ange smiling for once in her life.
So Ange. Her entire family (sans Eva) was massacred on Rokkenjima (due to Kinzo’s bullshit), leaving her orphaned. Eva, being the “good” aunt that she is, adopts Ange. The two somewhat got along, until the stress of her family’s deaths (as well as the media accusing her for their murders) took its toll on her. Eva in turn, took her anger out on Ange, putting her through the same abusive treatment as her father did her. This ruined Ange’s already troubling mental state. Due to Eva’s abuse (among other things), Ange would grow to hate herself, becoming suicidal. In one scene, Ange is seen lashing out on her best friend, Mammon and her sisters. She calls them “useless” and wish that they all die.
Even after his death, Kinzo’s abusive cycle continues.
Remember how I said that the massacre of Rokkenjima was due to Kinzo’s bullsht in the last paragraph? Well, Kinzo is not above having his own family members killed for his own desires.
As mentioned earlier, Kinzo dedicated his life to learning summoning and black magic, and studying occult spells. His plan was to master black magic in order to revive Beatrice. Not his lover Beatrice, but their daughter. The same daughter that he raped. He wants to see her once more So, he successfully revives Beatrice, right? However, as exchange for her revival, Kinzo must sacrifice a few people.
Six members of the Ushiromiya family sacrificed to Beatrice
Kinzo selects his own family members as sacrifices. He seems them as vultures after his riches. He believes his nether children nor his grandchildren gives a damn about him (as they rightfully should not), and wants them all dead. Beatrice kills them for him, nad in turns – kills her abuser Kinzo.
Kinzo burning alive by Beatrice;s magic.
Kinzo if you think about it, is the main source of his entire family’s pain and suffering, from him raping his daughter, abusing his children. The same abuse in which was passed on to his kids down to their own. By direct and indirection action, he ruined his family.
Fuck you Kinzo.
AFTERWORD
Whew. I didn’t expect this post to go on that long, but I figure I would provide details and proof to show how much I despise this dude. This would had been much longer if I would had gotten drunk to write about how much I hate Kinzo as I originally planned lmfao (all the liquor stores in my area were closed at the time of writing the first draft.. You know those 3 o’ clock A.M. alcohol laws can be.
Ahh late 90s/early 2000s English anime dubbing. Cloverway way cool with a nine year old girl trying to hook up with a horse, but two lesbians Sailor Scouts dating and loving each other was wrong. So rather just censor them just a little bit as say best friends (who were a tad wee too close to be just best friends), let’s make them cousins. In fact, let’s not just make them cousins, but also keep their original Japanese never incestuous-in-the-first-place lesbian relationship intact – thus creating two cousins who were fucking each other like they’re from Alabama, USA.
Great job Cloverway!
Ya younger Sailor Moon fans best be happy ya didn’t have to deal with such awful (and homophobic) censorship. These niggas just could had called them best friends (who were a wee bit too close to be just friends) but cousins? Sigh.
“My first kiss was with was Brad, the cutest guy in school” lmfao get that bullshit out my face.
But yea, Haruka and Michiru, they’re my favorite anime couple because of how well written they are as a same sex couple. I love how they were treated like a normal everyday couple, and not like some freak show just because they were homosexuals. (Remember kids, this was the 90s when homosexual and minority characters were written as jokes or “magical”.)
Haruka and Michiru’s relationship also felt legit, like what you see any other couple do in real life – holding hands, teasing each other, natural chemistry off each other, etc. It didn’t felt force at all – like a real relationship.
Hope you enjoy this quick post. Tell me in the comments section below who are some of your favorite anime couples!
You only get one shot. If the first episode of an anime doesn’t impress me – it’s getting dropped.
Did Kakegurui’s first episode impressed me, or did I have to drop it? Let’s find out! Summary
In Hyakkau Private Academy, status is everything. Gambling is law. Money rules all.
‘Cash rules everything around me.
C.R.E.A.M. get the money
Dollar dollar bill ya’ll’
-Wu Tang Clan
Students with high status are royally treated and rewarded. The low aren’t considered human – treated as pets and furniture. To obtain the high status, you must gamble. Money. Power. Respect. Anything and everything you want in Hyakkau can be obtained – but only if you gamble.
We’re presented with the risk/reward premises of Kakegurui early on through an intense game of Poker between two students: the sadistic gambling queen Mary Saotome, and the lowly Ryota Suzui. The two are to their last cards, breathing heavily, and sweating hard, fatigued from the game. Ryota reveals his hand in confidence: full house. Upon seeing his hand, Mary starts giggling, her face inhumanly twisted.
She reveals her winning hand – Royal Straight Flush.
“Too bad!” she shouts in victory.
Coldly, Mary encourages Ryota to keep his spirit up, despite the hardships he has been through the day. Then, she calls him “Pochi” – his new name. Ryota is no longer human. He is a “dog”. A house pet. His hope, faith, and humanity: gone. Retaining it all is a fool’s game.
Or so did he believe, until a girl named Yumeko Jabami arrived.
Yumeko Jabami: a seemingly sweet and modest girl.
The scene transition to Yumeko introducing herself to her new classmates, wishing to befriend them all. Immediately, she becomes popular. Her male peers are captivated by her cuteness and friendliness. Even Ryota himself is charmed by her sweet presence and beautiful appearance. As a new student, Yumeko needs somebody to show her around. Ryota, due to his class rep status, is selected by his teacher to help her around. He happily accepts his new duty. Yumeko tells him that it’s nice to meet him, with him agreeing likewise. Despite his new status as Mary’s house pet, Ryota’s luck is starting to change.
Speaking of Mary, she jealous of Yumeko’s instant popularity. She doesn’t like the new transfer student. She stares her with disdain.
So far, three characters have been introduced and established. Ryota, the main male character and house pet of the callous supporting character, Mary, and finally, the new student and main female character, Yumeko, who has her first hater in the form of Mary. It’s fairly obvious that Ryota and Yumeko will have the most interactions and their relationship will evolve into friendly terms. We can assume through Mary’s anger towards Yumeko that they’ll have a rivalry. First episode in and we’re already got some good bits served to us and even a possible hook for us to go past the fist episode rather than dropping it.
Let’s move forward.
After class, Ryota gives Yumeko a tour of the school. She’s at awe at its beauty, expressing her happiness of her transfer to him. Next, she notices Ryota’s dog tag around his neck – the name “Pochi” engraved on it. She questions him why he’s wearing it, to which he doesn’t respond, turning his back towards her out of embarrassment. He doesn’t want to let her know about his status as a pet. After a few seconds of silence, he asks Yumeko if she ever gambled before. Yumeko replies innocently, telling him she knows the rules of gambling through Poker and Mahjong.
Ryota replies to her answer. He starts breaking down how gambling is not just the school’s tradition, but it’s the backbone of it. After school, the rich kids turn the school into a massive gambling hall. He tries to warn her that the rich kids will try to invite her to gamble, but is suddenly stopped by her. She finds the idea of gambling in school fun and starts to giggle madly. Ryota looks at her with shock.
There seems to be more about Yumeko than what she lets on.
Later, while socializing with her new peers, Yumeko is challenged by Mary to a gambling match: a game of rock-paper-scissors in card game form. Mary seeks to humiliate Yumeko for stealing her spotlight, and sets her up as her latest sucker. Yumeko, unaware of Mary’s plan, accepts her challenge. Everyone is at abuzz about the challenge, and prep the classroom, transforming it into a gambling den. After the room is set up, Mary explains the rules of voting-rock-paper-scissors to Yumeko.
Both girls play their first card. Mary draws scissors and Yumeko draws rock, winning the first round. Mary congrats Yumeko on her first win and allows her to place the next bet. Yumeko boldly bets 50 chips (valued at 50,000 yen); a move that surprises and socks everyone. Yumeko is chill about her bold move, thinking nothing of it. Both girls draw rock from their hands, resulting in a tie. They continue, Mary playing rock once more and Yumeko with scissors. Obviously, Mary wins. Following that, Yumeko wins the next round, betting 50 chips once again. After that, Yumeko starts to lose each hand, losing all her chips in the process, but again, she’s still in her calm and chill state.
Mary starts celebrating her apparent victory, She asks Yumeko if she want to continue her losing streak. Yumeko doesn’t reply, which prompts Mary to start laughing at and taunting her opponent, asking her if she has cold feet. Mary’s an incredibly arrogant and prideful player. She enjoys taunting her opponent and thinks herself as a paragon of superiority.
I like that. Mary, you’re the second best girl so far.
Yumeko, still stoic and calm, informs Mary that the game has just truly started. She requests one final match, which Mary (cockily) agrees to. Mary believes she’s can force her into an unpayable debt, thus forcing Yumeko to become her new pet. Mary starts praising herself and calls Yumeko foolish. She can’t believe Yumeko wants to play against her once more. She then questions the “foolish” Yumeko how could she possibly continue the game if she doesn’t have any chips left.
Yumeko may not have any chips left, but she has something much more exciting to offer – money.
Yumeko bets real cash – 10,000,000 yen (USD $88,760 as of July 20th 2017) in stacks to be exact. Mary is shocked – offended even. She starts to lose her mind, demanding Yumeko to explain why she carries so much cash on her. She assumes that Yumeko can’t afford to gamble such an outlandish amount of money away on a simple game. She didn’t expect her seemingly naïve and innocent opponent to take the game to a serious route.
She calls Yumeko crazy, but the girl doesn’t seem to be mind being called crazy. In fact, she loves it. She becomes enthusiastic about the new risks. Her eyes start to glow red, demonic like even. She explains how the lifeblood of money rules the world. She gets excited explaining to Mary how the risk and craziness of gambling makes the game even more fun. Yumeko loves money. Yumeko loves high risks. Yumeko loves insanity.
Yumeko loves gambling.
‘Maddness is the essence of gambling, isn’t it?’
-Yumeko Jabemi
(Alright. So Yumeko’s true personality [or at least parts of it] is revealed. She ins’t this modest and humble girl that she originally lead everyone to believe (althrough the OP animation foreshadow that, but whatever). Like a seasoned gambler, she conceals her hard earned knowledge of the game. Yumeko (obviously) is a different person when she takes a game seriously, taking a simple friendly game to high risk and rewards levels – because she loves it.
I’m hooked. No need to drop this anime on episode 1.)
Mary is enraged. She believes Yumeko is mocking her with her reckless behavior, and refuses her offer. Unemotionally, Yumeko taunts her – asking Mary if she has cold as she did her. Pissed, Mary accepts and regains her confidence. She believes that she can still win; entrusting her victory in the fact her classmate are voting in her favor (of course, Mary does have them in her pockets, taking advantage of their needs and wants).
However, Yumeko is hip to Mary plans and exposes her.
Yumeko figures that Mary has about 10-20 people voting in her favor – a fact she hid poorly. Yumeko notices that Mary was playing the same cards twice, mixed her cards while she wasn’t betting, and their peers’ reacting to their plays, sending each other signals to inform Mary on which card to play. She finishes with telling her that she can’t fool anyone if she isn’t prepared to lose money. Mary becomes enraged once more. Her plans broken down and revealed! But, she believes that Yumeko is merely bluffing! She couldn’t be that clever! She has no proof that Mary’s trying to play the system! With her egotistical mindset, Mary believes she can still win. She plays her final card: Paper. She slams her card down with the highest of confidence – but it’s all for naught.
Yumeko, with her sweet and friendly smile, reveals her winning card: Scissors.
Everyone starts to freak out in shock. Mary, the gambling queen of Hyakkau , has been dethroned. She starts to blank out, withdrawn in her thoughts. She just lost 10,000,000 yen – which she lacks. Yumeko demands that she pay up ASAP In shame, Mary bows her head, grits her teeth, and confesses to the victor that she lacks the money. Yumeko (back to her normal innocent nature), tells Mary that the joy of the game and it stakes was payment enough. She cheerfully leaves the room, expressing her hopes that her new classmates will treat her as an equal.
IMPRESSIONS
For a first episode, Kakegurui is excellent, and right on the jump! I like how we’re treated to the premise right away: gambling is law and status. An example of the risk and reward of obtaining victory or losing are presented – with Suzui becoming a pet to Mary, and Mary owing debt to Yumeko after losing to her. Like gambling itself, matches are exciting and the excitement factor is increased when the stakes are higher, as we see with Yumeko betting cash rather than simple plastic chips.
One thing that I’ve noticed that makes me enjoy the anime is the facial expressions of each characters and how it’s link to their reaction. Yumeko with her eyes widing, twisted smile, and facial blushing as she explains how much gambling gives her pleasure, or with Mary’s anger towards defeat expressed through her gritting her teeth, body trembling, lips quivering, and eye twitching.
I am looking forward to how this anime will playout throughout the summer season as it looks promising and refreshing (by my taste). Once completed, I’ll give the series an in-depth review and possible analysis in the future!
So, to answer my question: Did Kakeugurui impressed me?
Yes! Yes it did!
If you have any anime I should watch this season, please let me know in the comment section below! I need to build up my anime game this year!
Ahh anime crushes. Yes crushes, as in more than one. I’m an expert when it comes to anime waifus. I believe, no, I know have a superior eagle eye when it comes to spotting a good series waifu. So, how many waifus do I have?
A lot (sadly). I won’t go over all of them, as I have to get ready for work soon, so I’m just going to focus on my first four anime crushes from my childhood: Sabrina from Pokemon, Hotaru Tomoe and Ami Mizuno from Sailor Moon, and Washu from Tenchi Muyo.
Sabrina
Sabrina is pretty damn interesting. As a kid, I loved that she has some cool ass psychic powers; a trait that set her apart from the rest of the gym leaders. There was also that stern, cruel, almost sadistic look she had on her face throughout her arc that I really like. She also had a whip and called herself the Mistress of Psychic Pokemon…alright so that may explain a few things about myself that I probably should not had posted here.
Also her laugh was cute:
Hotaru Tomoe/Sailor Saturn
Worse girl
Me having a fictional crush on Hotaru as a kid may had been the first sign that I low high-key would have a thing for quiet, “creepy” and “weird” girls.
Also as Saturn, I love her cold, serious look – incredibly opposite from her civilian personality.
Ami Mizuno/Sailor Mercury
Sailor Mercury may had been the first sign that I’d high-key have a thing for dorky, bookworm computer nerd girls.
Washu
While I’m on the subject of smart, nerdy girls, Washu is the best. My number one favorite thing about her besides her smarts, was how incredibly cocky and prideful she was towards herself. This woman even created two puppets modeled after her that would celebrate her genius each time she did something amazing (that some shit I would do).
There’s also this infamous scene from the OVA that solidifed her waifu status for me:
So fellow weeaboos, who’re your anime crushes? Feel free to comment in the comment sections below!
So far, Kakegurui is excellent! I like how episode 1 presents the series premise is presented right away: gambling is law. status is everything, and winning or losing has their risk and rewards.
The gambling matches are exciting, full of energy, and I love how there are details to the character’s facial expression and body language during a game.
I’m looking forward to how this anime will play out this season. Expect a in-depth review of the series once the first season is completed.
Reigen Arataka of Mob Pyscho 100 is truly a supportive character. Throughout the series, he offers and lends his advice and knowledge to Mob, helping him grow into a better person both in terms of his powers and overal life. He’s like a life coach. A life coach who scams people using his gift of the silver tongue, but a life coach regardless.
While he has no qualms or guilt about scamming others with his bullshit “psychic” business , he isn’t a terrible person. In fact, he’s rather a very caring and kind person, as we see with his interactions with Mob. Reigen helps the introvert Mob interact with people, lending an ear to his problems, and help him come to grips with his extraordinary ESP powers; suggesting that he uses his powers to help others and himself.
Reigan even risked his life for Mob; taking a “fatal” sword strike from Scar member Sakurai – but not before telling Mob not to give in to the murderous intent and vengeful feelings from watching his friends being hurt (he does not want Mob to live a life of regret).
As an adult who may have used my own silver tongue as a dirty method to get my way too use my knowledge and charm to help others, I like Reigen. I see parallels of his personality with my own: the willingness of helping others through solid advice, a caring heart, speaking the real, blunt truth, and somebody who wants to see people do better in their lives (and tricking stupid people and taking advantage of their oblivious nature). In addition, Reigen is the only adult supporting character in the series, so that’s a bonus. I would love to be a mentor to the next generation and guide them through life like he does with Mob and his friends.
Reigan is truly a supportive character. Yea, he might be a bit of a scam artist who swindles folks out of their cash with straight up lies, but he’s not a bad person. He legitimately wants to help people in need as well as seeing the best out of Mob.
Reigan, you’re an alright guy!
‘Why do you have to be like them? You’re the protagonist of your own life, aren’t you?’
Laughing at the suffering of fictional characters is comedy, right?
As somebody with a rather terrible sense of humor, I can find humor in even the most horrible of situations. Besides, comedy is what help us human cope. To help you cope with whatever you may be going through, here are just a few of my favorite comedic characters.
Hotaru Tomoe (Sailor Moon)
Her entire existence is a cruel joke from God. Or Queen Serenity whoever the fuck is their deity in that universe.
Follow me on Instagram!
Yes. So fans can have someone to feel sorry for.
Ange Ushiromiya (Umineko no naku Koro ni)
She can crack jokes about people’s hairstyles and declare her aunt as a living joke, but her life? A comedy waiting to happen.
Homura Akemi (Madoka Magica)
Oh you miserable time lesbian. It’s so funny and cute that you thought you could save Madoka.
In her defense, she had legit reasons to become a demon and a psychopath.
Yamcha (Dragon Ball Z)
Do I need to say more.
Guys. Life is too short to be mad and sad all the time. Laugh a little, even if you need to laugh at the pain and suffering of fictional characters!
I am totally in the “Kyubey did nothing wrong” camp. Dude did warned those girls that the lifestyle of the magical girl isn’t one of sunshine and happiness. Hell, I mean Madoka had to learn that the hard way; watching Mami get decapitated like an ISIS victim. But hey, shit happens man. Sailor Moon had her daughter Chibi-Usa die in her arms. Utena lost her parents as a kid and was kinda suicidal after that.
That’s how the magical girl world works.
I also can’t stand all ya armchair ethics analyzing idiots who say Kyubey was tricking girls to become magical girls. He wasn’t tricking them. He was simply encouraging their dreams of becoming a somebody in the world rather than a nobody.
It wasn’t like he was pimping them out to Johns on the streets or anything.
Besides, ain’t his fault those dumbass girls didn’t read the contract in full. There was more than likely a death/personal injury wavier within the contract – perhaps in very small print. But still. He shouldn’t be blamed for what Madoka and her crew went through. That nigga was just doing his job, man. Never got why people hated on him.
He was just a neutral observer of the unvierse. Nothing more. Nothing less.
If an anime has to warn you to not copy anything you see from it, you know it’s going to be great!
Cromartie High School is a 2003 nonsense comedy anime from studio Production I.G.’s 2003, based off Eiji Nonaka’s comedy manga of the same name. The series centers around Takashi Kamiyama (a well manner mommy’s boy student) and Cromartie High’s colorful slew of teenage delinquents and their everyday life (characters includes: the “mute” singer Freedie, [parody of the Queen’s frontman Freedie Mercury], Mechazawa; an android whom everyone sans Takashi thinks he’s a normal human student, and a giant unnamed ape who cooks sushi.
Freedie
Admittedly, it’s has been quiet a while since I last saw this series, and I can not recall most of the episodes due to I was under the influence of a few substance watching it at a friend’s studio apartment years back. While you do not need alcohol or pot to enjoy this show, I will say it makes for a great stoner anime show with its nonsense humor.
An anime directed by Akiyuki Shinbo that features a (justified) tsundere, a perverted tomboy, and a cute nerdy bookworm catgirl? I’m set!
From left to right – Book nerd Felicia Hardy, Solid Snake, unoriginal harem male MC, annoying brat, weight disorder mentally ill girl, and confused lesbian possibly bi fan service girl.
Bakemonogatari (lit. Ghost Story) is studio Shaft 2009’s anime adaption of Japanese novelist Nisio Isin’s long running light novel series “Monogatari”. The series centers on high schooler Arargi who (after surviving an vampire attack) gets involved with a couple of girls to help deal with their supernatural problems.
One day, Araagi was chilling and at school doing whatever when his classmate, the withdrawal Hitagi, falls from the top of the stairs (after slipping on a banana peel). Being the good kid that he is, he catches her, only to discover that she’s near weightless. In order to keep him quiet about her disorder Hitagi threatens Araragi, stapling the inside of his cheek; warning him to stay far from her.
This is Hitagi. She has crabs.
Rather than ignoring her warning, Araragi chases after her, and shows off his healing factor (a power he gained from being bitten from the vampire). Hitagi is shocked; the wound she inflicted on him has completely healed! Araragi offers to help Hitagi with her weightlessne introducing him to his mentor and supernatural advisor, Meme.
Homeless bum Meme
Throughout the series, Hitagi and Arargi join forces; tackling series of supernatural cases with other girls and their oddities with as his classmates the athletic (and perverted) Suruga and the nerdy bookworm Tsubasa, the wandering ghost girl, Mayoi, and his sister’s friend, Nadeko. Each girl’s oddity has an unique symbolism tied to them such as Hitagi staple to represent the crab, Mayoi’s bookbage to represent the snail, and Suruga’s arm and brute strength to represent the monkey.
Best girl but she’s also a furry so some points docked.
The Monogatari series is great if you are looking for a story driven and artsy supernatural anime. There isn’t much action but Shinbo’s famous bold and outlandish directing style and the diverse cast of characters will make up for the lack of it.
Check it out on Crunchyroll or other forms of streaming websites.
Watashi ga Motenai no wa fuck this long ass title (lit. No Matter How I Look at It, It’s Your Fault I’m Not Popular) is Studio Silver Link’s 2013 animated adaption of the same long ass titled manga by mangka Nico Tanigawa. It stars Tomoko Kuroki; a socially awkward, unpopular fujoshi (female otaku [lit. rotten girl]) loner who loves spending time browsing (and shitposting) on the internet , playing eroge visual novels, hating her life, and hating on people doing better than her.
You see, Tomoko hates people. Well, popular people. This is ironic, given her drive to become popular.
No you won’t.
Tomoko considers herself to be superior compared to her normies peers, thus she believes that she’s entitled to have popularity. She demands it…but she applies minimal effort towards gaining it. She blames others for her failures and lack of popularity. Throughout the series, Tomoko tries different (cringe worthy) methods to become popular. She tries to act like the cool silent character in fiction. Doesn’t work. She thinks playing hentai games will make her look cute. It only makes her a pervert. She even uses a vacuum cleaner to to give herself hickeys to impress her little cousin. That only results in her mom slapping her across her face.
If you mom ever gave you this look you knew what was going to happen next.
All her attempts of popularity end in failure. The only thing it does for her is increase her depression. Speaking of mental health disorders, Tomoko clearly suffers from anxiety, which hinders her quest for popularity.
Now, I don’t have social anxiety myself. I can’t imagine how crippling such a disorder is. However, you can tell that Tomoko suffers from it. Simple things ,such as ordering food or buying a book, is an ordeal for the young girl. Even muttering a simple “goodbye” to a teacher takes a lot for Tomoko. Maybe her yearning to become popular is a way to overcome her social anxiety, but her mental health is blocks her from holding even the simplest conversation.
Even saying a simple “goodbye” is a milestone for her
Perhaps, it’s anxiety’s fault that she isn’t popular.
‘I’m the best at playing alone, playing alone, playing alone
Who, who, who, who, who is at fault? (Who is at fault?)
Lonely, lonely, I laugh alone
What… it’s not my fault!’
-No Matter How I Look at It, It’s not My Fault (Watamote ED 1)
Eh. I’m a man who doesn’t get himself in drama (although I sure love watching and knowing about it cause I’m nosy), so I don’t watch drama anime. I’m also not big on romantic anime; I find them to be boring. So instead, I’m going to focus on my favorite romantic episode: Hitagi and Araragi’s date (Bakemonogatari Ep. 12)
Despite my dislike for romantic scenes, Hitagi and Araragi’s romance feels real. They’ve grown as not only characters, but as close friends. Romantic partners even. This episode provides us with an insight on the more softer, delicate side of Hitagi. She learns to opening herself and trusting others – things that she has difficulty with due to her rape trauma and her mother’s betrayal. In this episode, we do not just see Hitagi as the harsh, blunt tsundere, but rather, a young girl, finally happy with her life.
Happy to fall in love with someone whom she can open her heart to.
The episode starts with Hitagi and Araragi joyfully having lunch. Hitagi declares that they’ll go on a date after, to the surprise of Araragi. Confused, Araragi doesn’t know how to process this unexpected event. Rather than to respond, he stuffs his face with food. Hitagi sees this as that she may have been forceful, so she rephrases her date request as a question.
She tries various methods of the question, but Araragi continues eating, ignoring her. Confused by the silence, Hitagi asks him if he doesn’t want to go on a date. He replies with that he wants to. Pleased, Hitagi crafts up the plan for their date. Araragi seems pleased too, as he was just “ignoring” her initial request to see how she would react.
Later that night, the two are picked up by Hitagi’s pops (who drives them to their date spot). During the ride, Araragi appears nervous (naturally, he’s in the same with his girlfriend’s father). Hitagi gets on his case, asking why he’s nervous, if he loves her and why. Mind you, she’s doing this in front of her dad, so She’s putting him on the spot – but it works. Her interrogation turns into a lovely, lively chat between herself and Arargi.
After a few minutes, they arrive at a natural park – the location of their date. Hitagi gets out and walks towards an unseen spot, but not before suggesting Araragi to talk with her dad. Araargi gets nervous at the idea.
Her father decides to break the ice with gentle teasing; jokingly asking Araargi to take care of his daughter. After that, he states that it’s been so long since he saw Hitagi so happy and carefree. He expresses his regrets for not being there for Hitagi after her sexual assault (due to his workaholic nature). He reveals that Hitagi has been more active with him and his life stating that she requested his help for their date. He also states that Hitagi has started opening her once closed heart – all thanks to Araragi.
Arargi is surprised by this. He tells him that it was Hitagi who helped herself. The dad replies with rebuttal, telling the kid that he indeed had influenced her change, that he was with her when she needed somebody the most.
‘The most important thing is just being there when you’re needed.’
-Hitagi’s dad.
Time passes as the two continue to talk. Hitagi returns and tells Araragi that she’s ready. She escorts him through the woods (while forcing his head down). After the short trek, the duo stops at the middle of a field with a blanket on the ground. Hitagi asks Araaragi to close his eyes and lay down on the blanket. Next, she ask him to open his eyes. Upon opening his eyes he is greeted with an alluring sight – a boundless starry sky.
Following a series of questions and requests (such as her offering her body to him), Hitagi explains how she’s afraid that Araragi may do something similar to her rapist (possibly triggering a flashback we can assume). She’s afraid that an innocent physical action from him might result in her hating him.
She’s afraid of losing him. She fears losing a valued friend – a friend she grew to trust and love. A friend that she can open up to. Hitagi tells Araragi that she’s happy that she was able to meet him during her days of misfortune. How he never left her side despite her personal issues in life.
Then, she reveals that the section of the park is the same spot where her family spent many times with each other during the happier days of their lives. This spot, she holds close to her heart – a treasured spot. Finally, she asks Araragi to be her first kiss. The two stare at one another, happy to be in each one’s presence holding hands.
Hitagi has finally opened her heart. She has finally find happiness after years of a betrayal, misfortunes, physical sickness, and anger.
‘The sting in my words that shut you up
Ended up stabbing my heart
Before I knew it…it hurts
This is your fault.’
-From Staple Stable (Bakemonogatari OP 1)
Of course my black ass would write a Sailor Saturn centered post.
So, “A Bright Shooting Star! Saturn, and the Messiah.” This is one of my favorite episodes in my personal anime viewership history. There’s just so much build up in this episode leading up to epic debut of Sailor Saturn – solider of destruction. There’s the drama the Outer Scouts wanting Sailor Moon to kill Hotaru (as Mistress 9) to save the world, as well as the two gettin’ on her case for being optimistic and idealistic. Next, you have the pain of Souichi, Hotaru father, and his desperate struggle to restore her. Finally, there’s Hotaru herself (as Saturn) sacrificing herself to save not only the world itself, but her father and best (and only) friend Chibi-Usa. The episode is one of the most emotional of the series as well as one of the highest quality ranging from voice acting, animation, music, story, and direction.
Let me break this episode down for you as I’ll focus more on the story.
Instead of Usagi’s normal narration before the episode’s start, it’s Hotaru who takes up the role. Everybody’s favorite depressing emo goth kid talks about how anyone can be a messiah. That anyone can be a savoir if they love and care about people. She ends her monologue with “I’ll make sure to save you!!” Keep this in mind: Sailor Moon S’s key narration theme is messiah and saviors. Messiahs tend to die for a cause.
Hotaru is going to die.
It’s not a spoiler if their evil counterpart confirms it!
Afterwards, the episode starts. We see Sailor Moon attempting to reach out to Hotaru (whose body has been taken over by Mistress 9). However, Mistress 9 tells her that she’s dead. Moon doesn’t believe this, but Sailor Neptune and Uranus take Mistress 9’s statement as fact. The two decide to kill Mistress 9 with a combined World Shaking/Deep Submerged attack. Sailor Moon jumps in front of Mistress 9 (optimistic that Hotaru is still alive), and the blonde idiot takes the blast for her.
Even Mistress 9 was impressed by her heroic actions and thanks her for it. She’s such a polite woman.
Fasting forward, Mistress 9 captures Uranus and Neptune with her overflowing, living hair and starts to violently choke them, demanding Moon to hand over the Holy Grail or she’ll kill them both. Moon whips out the Holy Grail (much to the Outer Scouts’ protest) and starts to walk over to the Daimon. As she walks over to her, Souichi appears behind Sailor Moon.
Mistress 9 sees a chance.
Neptune is used to being choked by Uranus in the bedroom, so she’s rather unaffected by this. Irritated even.
She collapse in pain, clutching her chest and her breath labored. Using Hotaru’s voice, Mistress 9 pleads with Souichi and Usagi to give her the Holy Grail. In between breaths, she explains that she needs the Holy Grail to restore herself as “Hotaru”. Usagi, a paragon of common sense, doesn’t realize this is merely a bait and switch, and agrees to “Hotaru”’s wishes. She gives Souichi the Grail to give to his “daughter”. With a cold smile, Mistress 9 snatches the Grail away from him, gains a power boast from it, and blows everyone away. All hope seems lost as Mistress 9 holds the Holy Grail in her hands.
‘Good warriors make others come to them, and do not go to others.’
-Zhang Yu, 8th Century scholar
Next, Mistress 9 starts talking that good shit on how she has the Holy Grail, and that Sailor Moon can’t do anything to stop her or Pharaoh 90. Mistress 9 then places the Grail inside a machine and summons forth Pharaoh 90. The immerse force of his summoning not only destroy most of the Mugen District, but the Holy Grail itself.
Usagi Tsukino, you’re a stupid idiot.
This is the same girl who gets poor grades as often as we breath. We shouldn’t be shock for her to fall for obvious bait.
Everyone’s morale drops. The Outers Scouts berates Moon for her stupidity, and the Inner Scouts (fighting other Daimons outside) are getting bodied by other Daimons. Usagi (still not losing hope) whips out her staff, firing an energy beam towards the appoaraching Pharaoh 90. Pharaoh 90 is unaffected, fires an energy beam back, knocking Usagi out. Mistress 9 talks more shit, poppin’ off at their success. Pharaoh 90 gives Mistress 9 his thanks by blasting her with an energy beam as thanks for her services.
When you find out you were just the side piece.
Once more, Sailor Moon jumps in front of Mistress 9, taking the full force of Pharaoh 90’s blast to protect Hotaru and Souichi (whom too was protecting her) Hotaru, (who regained control of her “body”) and Souchi share a tender father-daughter moment. Hotaru tells her dad that she forgives him for fucking up her life (despite that it wans’t his fault) . We then get a sappy flashback of the two in happier times. Ya know, to make us feel sorry for Souichi being an idiot for playing God and messing around with the law of physics, which got them in this situation in the first place.
“Daddy, when I grow up, I want you to not have played God and killed me in a freak accident, also a pony.” (joke made by Pretty Solider Project)
Disgusted by their sappy cheesy moment, Mistress 9 gets pissed and attempts to regain control of Hotaru’s body. The two starts struggling for control until Hotaru overpowers Mistress 9. She declares that she must protect her dad and Chibi-Usa, awakens the spirit of Sailor Saturn and kills Mistress 9, destroying the body of the alien…which was also her body as well.
Whoops.
Following that, Sailor Saturn visits a dying Chibi-Usa at her dad’s house (Hotaru had a crush on Mamoru and was stalking him for a minute, that’s how she knew his address) and return her Pure Heart, telling her “My bad about stealing your pure heart and killing you.”, and thanks her for not being creep out by her weird powers. Oh, and making the final days of her short life enjoyable with her presence and kindness. That too.
“My bad about almost killing your kid I hope this weird jewel thing makes up for it.”
Sailor Saturn then returns to the Mugen District (completely destroyed by Pharaoh 90). The Outer Scouts starts freaking out, assuming that Saturn will destroy the world, and they lose hope. Saturn greets Sailor Moon with a warm, but sorrowful smile. She thanks her for protecting her and informs her that she’s no longer Hotaru, but the soldier of destruction. She proceeds to jump into the core of Pharaoh 90 and tells Moon that in order to kill him, she must use her powers to its fullest and sacrifice her life.
Sailor Moon tries to stop her, but Saturn shoves her Glaive in her face. She doesn’t say anything, but her threatening posture and silence is enough to convince Moon to back off. Saturn simple tells Moon “farewell” and jump into the core of Pharoh 90. Moon tries to enter Pharoh 90’s but is pushed back by its power. Out of desperation, she attempts to transform into Super Sailor Moon without the Holy Grail, but she can’t. She attempts again, but nothing happens. She tries once more, out of pure frustration, sadness, and desperation. She is in tears, begging for the transformation, slamming her fist on the ground.
She wants to save Hotaru. She doesn’t want her young life to be cut so short.
Sensing the pleads of their leader, the Sailor Scouts (including the Outer Scouts) lend their power to Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon attempts to transform, this time, with success. Super Sailor Moon enters the core of Pharaoh 90 as a final effort save Hotaru. The massive combined power of Saturn and Moon proved too much for Pharoh 90, killing him.
The episode ends with everything restored to normal. The Sailor Scouts begin to regain conscious. Uranus and Neptune look around in silence, still stunned at what has transpired. Finally, Super Sailor Moon appears, blank, and emotionless. In her arms rest a young baby. That baby – a reincarted Hotaru. Usagi was successful in saving not only just her friend, but her daughter’s best friend as well.
Episode 125 of Sailor Moon S is one of my favorite anime episodes due to the emotional build up. Usagi still held on to the hope that she could save her friend despite the Outer Scouts tellin her to give it up. Even when at her lowest point of the battle with her losing the Holy Grail and the world being slowly destroyed, Usagi still held to that hope. Usagi’s Hope that would pay off in large with Hotaru overpowering and destorying Mistress 9, transforming as Sailor Saturn, and saving the world. I could go further by explaining how the flawless animation, the excellent voice acting, and amazing soundtrack worked in synergy for such a masterpiece, but that would take a great while for me to break down, and I believe provided more than enough reasons to explain my love for this episode.
‘If you have a bit of courage, people can really be soldiers.
If you have feelings for other people….anyone can be a messiah.
No matter how much you changed, please don’t forget that there are people who care for you.’
![[Coalgirls]_Bakemonogatari_12_(1920x1080_Blu-Ray_FLAC)_[95BB247A].mkv_snapshot_18.12_[2014.07.08_01.11.35]](https://yukithesnowman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/coalgirls_bakemonogatari_12_1920x1080_blu-ray_flac_95bb247a-mkv_snapshot_18-12_2014-07-08_01-11-35.jpg?w=760)
Yuki The Snowman 