To say that Haruhi Suzumiya (The Melachonholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) is a bit of an attention whore is a grave understatement. Haruhi lusts for attention. She demands notability. She wants all eyes on her like Tupac. To Haruhi, the world should and must revolve around only on her. (of course, she’s God after all, so she’s not. She’s not wrong to think that [despite unaware of her godly reality wrapping powers]). Every day, she makes an effort to be noticed, to have people know her name, and who she is. She doesn’t care if people speak of her in a negative light; it keeps her name circulating. She loves it.
Haruhi doesn’t want to fade in the background. She does not want be average, or one of faceless many in the world. Haruhi’s drive is to become extraordinary and different from the rest of the world. To understand this drive, we must look at her flashback scene from episode 13 of season 1.
‘So I figure I would change myself in middle school. Let the world know that I wasn’t a girl content with sitting around and waiting.’ -Haruhi Suzumiya
As they’re walking home from school, Haruhi tells Kyon the story of her family going a baseball game as a child. Haruhi was amazed at the sight of the overflowing, sold out stadium. She believed that the entire population of Japan came together at the venue to watch baseball. When she asked her dad about the number of people in attendance, he told her around 200,000 people. These people, including herself, only made up very small fraction Japan’s population (around 128 million during the show’s original run in 2006). After returning home from the game, she did the math, breaking down the attendance , compared it to the entire population of Japan, and discovered that it only made one two-thousandth of the population of Japan.
Haruhi was just one of many. A drop in the massive and everlasting ocean.
Realizing this, she no longer felt special. Haruhi was just like everyone else; doing the same shit (brushing her teeth, eating breakfast, going to school, etc.). Life became boring. What’s life when you’re just like everyone else? Maybe in the world, there was somebody amazing, unique, and extraordinary And yet, it wasn’t her.
At this revelation, Haruhi had to stand out from the rest of the world. She to get up and demand change by her own will. To not become content with being average. She had to make her mark in the world by any means. To court attention at all cost.
‘Be obsessed or be average.’
-Grant Cardone, American CEO, Author, and motivation speaker
Later, Haruhi set out to achieve her dream of being noticed and not average. On her first day of high school, she proudly introduces herself and states that she isn’t interested normal humans. Rather, she wants to meet with time travelers, aliens, and espers. This caused a stir in her homeroom, making people think just who the fuck is this childish girl, and why does she still believe in such things at the age of 15?
Throughout the series, Haruhi attempts (and mostly succeed at) various actions to be noticed. She devolved a system to change her hairdo by style (she even went as far to wear a different hair ribbion each day). She stripped down from her school uniform into her gym clothes, not caring if her male peers were watching. She attempted to join every school club, only to dip out from each and forming her own club: The SOS Brigade. She stole the show at her school festival, filling in for a sick guitarist ( revealing that she’s an amazing musician in her own right). All in the name of courting attention. She places herself at the center of it all, regardless of what others may think.
So, remember from this past Monday (6/5/17) when an anonymous 2chan poster leaked information on Dragon Ball Super Eps. 95-98 with full episode titles, summuary, and staff listings? Well, there’s a funny thing about the information. Two of the episodes information was confirmed “fake”. However, the “faker” managed to accurately guess three of the episodes titles and information correctly. Yes. Despite the 2chan leaker bullshiting us on two episodes, somehow, he figured out the titles of the episodes and the summary without flaw. There’s even more to this new mystery!
As of right now there isn’t any information about Frieza betraying Team Universe 7 and joining Team Universe 4. That has yet to be confirmed or deny. Yamcha replacing Frieza and making a come has also not yet been confirmed or deny (even with Toru Furya’s tweet detailing his voice work as Yamcha), and Locca’s Tower tweet confirming that they’re working on a new ending theme for Super. Either way, the “faker” succeeded in great timing with those moves.
Ken Xyro’s Leak and Scan comparisons translation. Notice anything about Eps. 94, 97, and 98 in both sections?
Real shit; I cannot hate on the dude who created the bullshit leaks. This person is obviously well researched with his information on the Toei staff (as he correctly “leaked” Toshio Yoshitaka writing Episode 94) for Super. It’s clear that the guy put forth the effort to study the staff and strategically line up the staff members to each episode’s leak, real or fake.
In any case, here what we know so far.
CONFIRMED:
*Toshio Yoshitaka will be the writer for Dragon Ball Super Ep. 94
*Episode 97’s Leaked Title “Who Will Survive? Tournament of Power Begins!” (Title is slightly different. There’s a kanji that is not used in the official title but that’s it).
*Episode 98’s title undecided.
*Locca’s Tower working on a new ending theme
*Toru Furuya’s tweet
DENIED:
*Episode 96’s Leaked Title “Emergency AGAIN! HE Is The Last Warrior”
*Episode 95’s leaked title “Goku and Frieza Unite – The Secret Trap of Universe 4″ (NOTE: Frieza still slaughter the assassins)
UNSURE:
*Yamcha’s return. Furuya may be recording lines for the new Dragon Ball Fighters video game as Yamcha.
*Frieza’s betrayal.
MISC:
*Toshio Yoshitaka states that 2chan leaks are fake, however, the fandom is split on his comment. He could be trying to be secretive about the Tournament of Power information, or doesn’t want to risk losing his job.
*Toei Animation have been known to create fake spoilers and leaks to confuse the fandom
*Toei Animation may be keeping things under wrap to avoid spread of information.
DBS Eps. 95-98 Japanese TV Guide summaries scan
CONCLUSION:
I honestly can not hate on the fake leaks. Dude is incredibly smart and played the entire fandom, including longtime respected members who actively debunk fake leaks. It’s possible that Toei might be creating fake leaks to build hype, but we do not know just yet These fake leaks are now more advance as we got people naming staff and creating legit sounding episode titles and summaries, so be careful if you see a leak. In all honestly, this makes things exciting by the day.
Anyways, I’m out! Just wanted to update you guys on what’s going on with the Super leaks! Thanks for reading I’m going to bed. I got work in the morning.
The second opening theme song of Dragon Ball Super, performed by Kiyoshi Hikawa (signed with Nippon Columbia). Debuted in Dragon Ball Super on Episode 77, the start of the Universe Survival Arc.
Kiyoshi Hikawa
‘Get excited! To space, let’s go!
The latest obsession! Join the flow?
I’ll hold in my hand’
Too anime for me to analyze
‘I wanna laugh like a crazy!
I’m used to bein’ confused!’
When you’re so used to going through the same bullshit day in and day out, not receiving any results that makes you happy, you can only just simply laugh as if you’re insane. Besides, you’re used to dealing with confusion (may it be from general life bullshit or what not). It’s second nature, why not laugh about it? ‘I can’t get no satisfaction’
Goku in his Super Saiyan God form. A form in which he was ultimately unsatisfied with (which lead to Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan, or Super Saiyan Blue).
This is Goku to a tee. He is consistent with is training for self improvement and he is always seeking new, stronger warriors as he’s not satisfied with his current state of power. His drive to become stronger and combat against people as strong or stronger than himself is one of the catalyze of the Tournament of Power.
In the real world, this can be applied to anyone with drive and passion. People who reach their personal best want more in life, thus feeling unsatisfied. This create a desire to push themselves to a new heights, to explore new things to curb the thirst as to speak.
(This is my favorite line of the song, as it describes my nature of wanting more in life)
‘(woo-hoo) Boredom
(woo-hoo) Becomes a stone
Before it gets too heavy and falls (Let’s fly high)’
Stones are heavy. Stone can drag you, slowing down your process or your entire life. Bored people, people who aren’t doing anything with their lives, are dragged down by it. When people apply their dreams, drive, passion, and thoughts into action, they do not allow any stones to drag them down. In fact they refuse to be dragged down.
In short, be obsessed with your passions, or be average and boring.
‘(woo-hoo) Let’s spread
(woo-hoo) Our wings of excitement’
Open your wings and soar high. Let others know about your excitement and influence them. ‘Let’s go to the next world’
Goku achieving Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan
Go to the next level in life. Do you want to stay in the same place as always No? Then go do something about it!
‘The door of possibilities is still locked
Oh well, I’ll break through the wall again’
Opportunities. Advancements. Desires. At times, they’re locked behind a closed doors, blocking your path to achieve greatness. Sometimes, you have to force your way to gain what you want in life, may it be breaking down walls or destroying road blocks. Those who are used to facing roadblocks and locked doors in life just tend to say “screw it” and destroy the barriers as usual.
‘Now! Shoot past the limit! Shout “It’s piece of cake”!
The Invinclbe Me is waiting there’
Again, Goku to a tee. As Beerus stated in the “Battle of the Gods” movie, Goku is a fighting genius. A title Goku truly earned has he has shot past his personal limits with his Super Saiyan forms, discovering new forms of Super Saiyan overtime.
In the real world, those who push themselves will always go past their limits, achieving new heights no matter what.
Tupac said it best; “Real niggas do what they wanna do, bitch niggas do what they can do.”
‘Dragon Ball Super!’
It’s the name of the fucking anime it’s not deep at all. ‘Even Zen-Oh Sama will be blown away!’
It’s not that deep. Lord Zen-Oh is a kid who can be impressed very easily. Granted, he was super excited from watching the exhibition fights earlier in the arc. Perhaps he will be blown away by the tournament.
In my last post, I explored bullying as a possible source of Kale’s rage, which served as a catalyst for her faux “Legendary Super Saiyan” state. Supported by theories such as her shyness , timid nature, and socially withdrawn, I theorized that Kale may had been bullied in the past, and bottled her anger of being bullied within her. Bottled up until Cabba managed to enrage her, sending her over the edge, and triggering her transformation. Caulifla managed to chill her friend out, telling her that she wasn’t into Cabba romantically (which Cabba assumed was the source of Kale’s anger from his interactions with Caulifa). Hearing this, Kale reverts to her normal state and passes out with a smile on her face. Kale was pleased to know that the two weren’t that close and that her mentor respects her. Maybe Kale likes Caulifa beyond that of a friendly relationship, and seeing Cabba and Caulfia all chummy with each other might had been the cause of her rage.
Is jealously the true link to Kale’s rage? Let’s examine this theory!
In the previously episode, Kale is “spying” on Cabba training Cauifla to become a Super Saiyan. She smiles when Caulifla snaps on Cabba for making her angry. Kale becomes at awe, amazement ,and admiration when Cauifla obtains Super Saiyan with ease. Kale is impressed by her mentor’s achievement, but beats herself up as she states she could never be a Super Saiyan like her. Later (in the following episode), Cabba and Caulifla are encouraging Kale how to become a Super Saiyan. Cabba attempts first. He focus his energy and displays the Super Saiyan form to Kale, who is completely unimpressed by his power.
Caulifla encouraging Kale.
When Caulifla shows Kale her Super Saiyan transformation, she starts blushing and flash a bashful smile towards her. It’s clear that Kale is more impressed by Caulifla’s efforts. Perhaps Kale has a secret gay crush on Caulifla or just really looks up to her.
Either way, Kale has a strong interest towards Cauifla. Too strong maybe, as Kale ggets rather jealous with Cabba and Caulifla’s interaction. Kale assume that they’re too friendly just to be that close. It’s possible that Kale gets jealous quick. A little too jealous for the good of her friend’s sake, and her own sake.
Kale: The Yandere
Kale’s jealously (and inner rage) hits maximum when Cabba and Caulifla are trying their absolute damn best to help Kale tap into the power of the Super Saiyan. After a barrage of insults by Cabba, Kale becomes agitated and discouraged. She loses hope of becoming a Super Saiyan, telling Caulifla that she’ll never reach that level, and that she’s just an useless and pathetic excuse for a Saiyan. Cabba’s words triggered Kale’s emotional state, causing her power to soar. She loses control of all sense and self awareness and finally achieves the Super Saiyan transformation! However, there’s something quiet different about transformation compared to Cabba and Caulifla.
Kale transform into a hulking monster, influcned by her rage and jealously. She focus her attention towards Cabba, and vows to make him her first victim. She lunges at the man with furious anger, completely ignoring Caulifla, who seems to be pretty excited that her friend achieve a greater level of Super Saiyan. As Cabba and Caulifla tries to combat against the berserk Kale, Cabba theorized that Kale’s rage is rooted in assuming that Cabba and Cauifla were a bit wee too close to be just friends.
Caulifla just scoffs at Cabba’s theory and tells Kale that she isn’t so cheap that she would be romantically involved with such a low class Saiyan like Cabba (ouch). Kale hears this, and stops her attack. Caulifla then praises Kale, admiring her superior power. Kale calms down, reverts to her base form, loses consciousness, and falls towards earth. As Kale is falling , Caulifla rushes towards her, catching her in her arms. Cauilfla praises her friend once more, smiling at her sweetly. Despite her unconscious state, Kale herself wears a warm smile across her face , happy to know that Caulifla and Cabba aren’t an item as she originally believed, and her mentor lauding her power.
With the examples provided, I can conclude that Kale’s initial transformation was inspired by her jealously towards Cabba. She assumed that Cabba was romantically close with Caulifla (whom I can assume Kale may have a possible crush on). In addition of Cabba’s insults and her own frustration of feeling useless and fear of failure, Kale unlocked her Super Saiyan form out of pure hatred, jealously, and rage. Thankfully, with Cauilfla’s calm words of respect, and reassuring her that she does not like Cabba, Kale managed to snap out of her rage.
With that all said I hope you’ve enjoy reading my theories on Kale’s power as much as I’ve enjoyed analysiing and writing about it! Stick around for more theories and thoughts on Dragon Ball and other anime series in the future!
Chibi-Usa is a real ass friend. Even when Hotaru was revealed as Sailor Saturn (AKA Purple Sailor Moon), the solider of destruction, Chibi-Usa stuck by her side. The kid even put herself the way of a combined World Shaking-Deep Submerge-Dead Scream, an attack that would had certainly kill her, just to protect her friend (Saturn!Hotaru would had tanked it but still) Most of ya fake ass niggas out there wouldn’t help your friend if they jumped by some weak ass bitches.
When Chibi-Usa had her Pure Heart snatched from her body (or her crystal thing stolen in the manga by Mistress 9 idunno what’s it called) by Hotaru (under the influence of Mistress 9), she was happy that her friend was “safe”, putting Hotaru’s well-being first, and hers last.
Personally, I would question my selection of friends after this, but that’s just me.
Next, there’s the opening scene in episode 31 of S where Chibi-Usa goes off on Pluto (somebody who is like a second mother to her), telling the Senshi of Time that Hotaru is her best friend, and that she does not deserve to be harmed Following that, in her fury, Chibi-Usa tells Pluto that she hates her, thinking that Pluto and the two lesbian incestuous cousins Outer Sailor Scouts took Hotaru away or something.
Chibi-Usa is truly a real ass friend.
‘Friends – how many of us have them? Friends – ones we can depend on Friends – how many of us have them? Friends – before we go any further, let’s be Friends’
-Whodini: Friends (1984 hip-hop single)
With Hotaru’s character arc in Infinity came Chibi-Usa’s character evolution (which I’m too drunk to actually analyze how their friendship caused this). The start of Chibi-Usa’s new development can be pinpointed to when they first meet on that faithful day at some park. Chibi-Usa’s cheap looking hat is swept away off her head by the wind. The wind carries her hat near a frail looking goth kid, around 12 years of age or so, reading a book or whatever the fuck gothic lookin’ Japanese kids like her do in spare time at the park.
The girl notices the hat heading to the river for and rushes towards it to save it. Perhaps the girl thought if she could save Chibi-Usa’s hat, she can finally have a friend for once in her sad life and not be completely miserable in her loneliness. For her selfless hat saving duties of the day, the Good Samaritan is rewarded with a seizure. Good job Chibi-Usa you almost killed a girl.
Kids, this is why you don’t do shit for people you don’t know.
That aside, Chibi-Usa thanks her newest bestest friend in the whole wide world, Hotaru Tomoe (mostly due to the writing of their newfound friendship felling forced, but that’s for another alcohol fuled night). Chibi-Usa finally made a new friend despite having friends prior to meeting the weird ass lonely girl in the park, but something felt special about this meeting. That or Chibi-Usa sensed Hotaru had no friends and she wanted to be nice cuz Hotaru looks like a bullied white kid that would shoot up a school, hang herself in her closet, or both.
(Don’t get me started on manga Hotaru holy fuck she was ready to die I’m not talking about that Biggie Smalls album)
After the monster-of-the-week (or a primitive Daimon if you’re going by the manga or the Crystal anime) gets bodied by Sailor Moon (but not before beating Chibi-Usa’s ass) , we learn that Hotaru has a secret that made her lonely in the first place: entry level healing factor powers. Like, she can only heal minor scratches and cuts. Not like Wolverine level healing factor where he can restore his entire body from their just their his damn skeleton in a matters of seconds.
Hotaru can just heal minor shit, that’s it. No wonder your peers bullied you growing up*, your healing powers suck. Even your new best friend Chibi-Usa wasn’t impressed by yours powers. She’s a fuckin’ time traveling magical girl from the future, and her mom is like some goddess version of Classic Doctor Strange on steroids (as if Classic Doctor Strange wasn’t on magical steroids already) with reality wrapping powers and bullshit hax. You tried Hotaru. You tried.
*(Hotaru also got bullied cuz she had violent mood swings from being possessed by an evil space alien bitch and viciously attacked a classmate but that’s’ not important)
My drunken inner asshole aside, Chibi-Usa was impressed by Hotaru’s powers. Finally, there was somebody her age who had powers as well. Hell in fact, Chibi didn’t find Hotaru’s powers weird or creepy at all. She found it cool. Hotaru finally felt accepted, even if it just by one person. Baby steps kid. Baby steps.
Homura and Madoka: A1s since Day 1.
Over the course of S, 90s Homura and Madoka grew closer. Chibi-Usa gets Hotaru out of the house more often to go to fun cool places, hang out with Usagi’s crew and other shit to help Hotaru not feel like she has a worthless, sad life.
Chibi-Usa also introduce Hotaru to weed as well cuz Hotaru needs to smoke. And she also needs to go see a mental health counselor jesus fucking chirst.
Anyways, the alcohol is taking it’s toll on me, and I gotta work in the morning. I hope you enjoy my drunken freewrite as much as my liver enjoyed taking punishment from alcoholic drinks just because I thought it would be great to write about fictional anime girls while drunks!
Viniq-Martell combo gonna have ya thinkin’ ya can destroy galaxies like Saturn. Drink created at Anime Central 2017.
2 oz Viniq Liqueur
1oz Blue Raspberry Vodka
1oz Strawberry Vodka
2oz Blueberry Liqueur
Splash of Martell Congac
Splash of lime juice
Combine all ingredients in a shaker and strain over Old Fashioned glass. Serve cold. Like Saturn.
Alternate version (not pictured)
1oz Strawberry Vodka
2oz Viniq
1oz blue raspberry vodka
1oz Martell Congac (or any other congac)
2 oz Blueberry liqueur
6 oz Sprite
Combine all ingredients sans Sprite in Collins glass. Top with Sprite
Please enjoy responsibility. Must be 21+ to consume.
NOTE: This freewrite is based off memories of my experience with the When They Cry series (Higurashi and Umineko) I am too lazy to check if what I said are correct . I may have some information wrong.
I’ve always enjoy characters that started out as heroes, but grew into villains. It’s interesting to see what events have such an impact on them that they decided to say “fuck it”, evolving into a villain. Some become villains due to an incident. Others as a result of losing their hope and giving up on their goals.
I feel like Rika Furude from Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni (When The Cicadas Cry) is such a heroine-turn-villain by the factors previously mentioned. Tragic factors that caused the young child to become the sadistic witch, Bernkastel.
Oh innocent Rika. So full of hope and optimism despite a fucked up life.
Rika had a pretty fucked up life despite being so young. She’s theorized to be the queen carrier of the Hinamizawa Syndrone (a virus that cause victims to go into a psychiatric rage, increase anxiety, and commit violent homicidal and suicidal acts), her parents are dead, she can’t escape a timeloop that ends with her death, is an alcoholic at the age of 9, and she also tried to stab Santa Clause to death.
Seriously she really did try to murder Santa Claus.
Initially, Rika started out as an optimistic and happy child, She believed she could prevent the endless June 1983 tragic events. She wouldn’t give up, no matter how bleak each situation felt. Even when Hanyuu (her ancestor ghost or whatever the fuck she is) flat out told her in the Massacre Arc that she and her friends will die, she just simply brush her aside, stating that she will defeat fate.
Rika in her alcoholic rage.
Of course, Rika failed and Hanyuu was once again right. Her friends got gun down by Miyo (the series’s true villain, who also had a fucked up childhood) and Rika got gutted by the crazed nurse-turned-terrorist. Rika was proven wrong once again. Don’t have hope children or you’ll end up like Rika.
Keep thinkin’ that kiddo.
After a few oh let’s say hundred years’ worth of losing and watching her friends and love ones die , Rika’s mind and views changed. Once a girl full of hope was slowly becoming hopeless. Overtime, she stop caring about fighting against fate and saving her friends. She became numb and cold. Emotionless even.
She became Bernkastel, the witch of Miracles; A collection of hopeless Rikas from different worlds and timelines fused into one sadistic being.
‘Lord, I don’t cry no more Don’t look to the sky no more Have mercy on me Have mercy on my soul Somewhere my heart turned cold’
Bernkastel is one of the main villains of Umineko no Naku Koro ni (When The Seagulls Cry), the spiritual successor to Higurashi (which I’m not gonna go into in-depth details with both series about their relation. It’s fucking crazy). Simply put, Bernkastel is a piece of shit. She loves fucking with people, playing mind games with them. She use people for her personal gain. She’ll act like she’s your friend and ally, only to fuck you over at the end. Ange Ushiromiya (a girl with her own tragic past and pain) had to learn that shit the hard way.
Boy did she learn the hard way.
Best Umineko girl
Simply put, Bern doesn’t give a fuck about you. Only herself. Maybe her lover Lambdadelta and her teacher Featherine. But that’s it. Bernkastel is the type of person who has clearly been through some shit. Horrible shit that changed her. The way she deals with that shit is by passing her own pain upon others to make her feel better about herself. She wants others to experience the pain she went through from her past. A past she really hates.
To conclude this unorganized freewrite, horrible events creates horrible people who started out nice and heroic. Rika was an innocent carefree girl, and yet due to being a victim one too many time, became a horrible corrupted being who had her point of view destroyed.
Gotta love room parties. Where else can you find a normally socially awkward Uthena cosplayer drunk off shots of Hennessy flirting with other women, a Future Trunks cosplayer high off coke that he snorted off a Hex Maniac cosplayer’s ass, and two stoned Persona fans talk about who’s best girl(s) in Persona 5? (the answer: Tae and Ohya)
Yea, you could visit multiple room parties. That’s cool and all. But, what is cooler is hosting your own room party. You can become the source of otaku debauchery! I’ll teach you how!
Cosplaying nerds aren’t innocent. Also this blog does NOT promote illegal drug usage.
The Hotel
To host a room party, you obviously need a hotel room. Make you have booked a room. Location is key. You want to host your party at the primary convention hotel. Hosting at the secondary hotel isn’t bad either, just as long as it’s not too far from the main hotel(s). Ain’t nobody gonna drive 20 minutes to your lame ass hotel party. A suite, a large single king-size room, or two rooms that are linked are best choices for room partying (depending on how the size of the party you’re planning).
If the convention hotel has a dedicated floor/wing/etc. for parties, request a room on that floor. Some hotels will move your room to the party floor for free, while others require an additional fee (around an extra $100 a night).
Anime Nebraskon (Omaha), Anime Weekend Atlanta (Atlanta), DragonCon (Altanta) , and Archon (St. Louis) are conventions that I’ve personally attended in which they have a select floor or wing for partying.
Hospitality
If you were Rika from Higurashi you’d be an alcoholic too.
The job of a host is showing as much hospitality to your guests as possible. Greet everyone with a smile. Show them respect. Make them feel comfortable and welcomed. This means cleaning the room hours before the party and throughout it, having liquor, juices, soda, food, and water available (which I will cover later). Talk to as many of your guests as possible. Be friendly. Trust me, doing these things will net you repeat visitors for future parties.
Cleaning Supplies
Spills and party fouls happen. It’s unavoidable, but that doesn’t mean you can’t clean up (plus, you don’t want cleaning fees on your bill). Cleaning supplies will help you in the long run, and plus, cleaning goes hand-in-hand with hospitality.
Here what you’ll need:
Trashbags: Hotel trashbags are small, weak, and will overflow quick. You want something that’s heavy duty, like Hefty trashbags. 3-7 heavy duty trashbags should be more than enough for your party. Tie a trashbag on the door handle for easy access for trash and waifus alike.
Paper Towels: Paper towels are godsend for messes. Get something strong and absorbent like Brawny or Bounty.
Tip: Don’t use the hotel towels. You’ll need them to dry yourself off , after you’ve washed off the shame of sleeping with that Black Lady (Sailor Moon) cosplayer after the party ended. You know, the one who was way into character calling you “daddy” while you were raw dogging her from behind.
Sleep with crazy. Don’t date crazy.
Dish Soap: For difficult stains. Plus the best dish soap smells good.
Disinfection Wipes: Great way to kill germs and reduce con pluage from unwashed, unhealthy virgin nerds.
Febreze: Because people don’t fucking shower at conventions.
Having these simple cleaning products will help you in the long run. You don’t need everything on the list, but it’s useful to have at least trash bags, dish soap, febreze, and paper towels on stand by.
Food and Drinks:
What’s a party without food or drinks? A rather boring one, run by a host who’s most likely a freeloader, expecting others to bring things but not providing anything in exchange. Nobody likes those type of people. You gotta have your own set of food and drinks at your party.
Here what you’ll need:
Alcohol (LEGAL DISCLAIMER: DO NOT SERVE ANYONE UNDER 21)
3 Bottles of plain Vodka
2 Bottles of plain White Rum
2 Bottles of Dark Rum
1 bottle of tequila
1 bottle of gin
1 bottle of Triple Sec
1 bottle of Schnapps
1-3 bottles of Liquer (Peach, Sour Apple, Midori, coffee, etc.)
1 bottle of Rumchata
1 bottle/box or red wine
1 bottle/box or white wine
Case of beer (24-36 pack work best)
1-6 bottles of fruit flavored vodka/rum (pineapple, mango, raspberry, etc.)
Juices:
Orange Juice
Pineapple Juice
Apple juice
Fruit Juice/Punch
Lemon/Lime juice
Cranberry Juice
Sweet and Sour Mix
Tonic
Sodas:
Coke
Lemon-Lime
Dr. Pepper
Ginger Ale
Root beer
Club soda
24-36 case of bottled water
On the food end, pizza and chicken wings work well. You can order 1-3 pounds of wings and 5 boxes of cheap pizza for an entire party. Convince party goers to put in on the food. Don’t let others mooch off your shit.
Promotion
Nobody will come to your party if they’re unaware. You must promote it. Create a Facebook event. Speak to people at the convention. Networking is key. Now, if room partying is against hotel rules, keep it on the low. Only tell a very select few people that you can trust.
Besides, you don’t want your party shut down because you let the wrong people in.
Oh, this can happen too. Don’t violate disturbing the peace laws.
Rules
As a host, you gotta have rules. Yeah, parties can be chaotic, that’s a given. But you need to lay down some rules and have order to ensure a safe and happy party for you and your guests.
My general rules:
Respect the host and host’s room
Don’t be a creep and make others uncomfortable
Don’t fuck/sleep on my/our bed
Don’t steal. You steal you’re getting your ass beat and booted.
Keep noise at a reasonable level to prevent noise complaints.
No smoking unless it’s a smoking floor, 420 friendly hotel, etc. Also match me. I’ll match you too.
No one under 21 (if serving alcohol)
Just simple universal rules that should work. You can add your own rules for your party depending on the nature.
Hope these tips help! Feel free to apply them to your own parties. Be safe and have fun this con season! If you have any suggestions and advice, please post them in the comments section below!
This past week, news from 2channel (Japanese image board) surfaced citing the return Freeza to Dragon Ball Super (DBS) for the Universe Survival Arc. I didn’t care at first; the major Dragon Ball YouTubers (Geekdom 101, Qaadman’s Land, Dragon Ball Nation, etc.) I follow and trust didn’t believe it was legit news. The lack of a secondary and more trustworthy source made it less believable. It’s 2channel. Any ol’ (Japanese-reading) nerd can post some fake ass shit on there and pass it off as “legit” news.
However, long-time Dragon Ball news translator Herms98 posted his translations of the upcoming Japanese TV Guide Dragon Ball Super episode synopsis; confirming the return of ruthless tyrant. Freeza will replace Majin Buu in the Tournament of Power (whom once again, has gone to sleep right before a major tournament).
Japanese TV Guide “spoilers” for Dragon Ball Super Ep. 90-93
I’m honestly not happy with Freeza returning. I mean yeah, having a different warrior outside of Goku’s clique representing Universe 7 is refreshing. We didn’t need ten warriors from Earth as a team that suppose to represent a vast universe.
Yet, Freeza replacing Buu just seems like lazy writing on Toei’s end. The Majin Buu falling asleep trick is old. We’ve seen Freeza returned ten times throughout the series. We get it; Toei has a hard on for Freeza. Some of us fans do not.
Toei, please end the Freeza dicking riding session.
While I’m not happy Freeza is coming back, I do look forward to his interactions with the Z Warriors. Especially with the ones he has a storied history with (Piccolo, Krillin, Goku, and of course Vegeta: prince of no one). Piccolo’s home planet was invaded by this man. Krillin pretty much has PTSD from Freeza torturing and killing him. Vegeta and Goku’s entire race was wiped out by this dude; with Vegeta being misled about Freeza’s killing his.
I doubt Freeza wants to work with past enemies, but if it means getting out of that damn cocoon surrounded by pretty stuffed animals and fairies as a bargain, then I guess he’ll have to work with folks he don’t like.
But seriously Toei stop the dick riding of Freeza.
SOURCES:
Herms98’s translation of Freeza’s return
Spoilers for DBS eps 90-93. Yes, it's true: Fortuneteller Baba will be making a long-awaited return appearance! pic.twitter.com/HBU19IpOps
“Queen Rei” is the perfect title for Rei. Throughout episode 8 of the Doom Tree arc (The Festival is For Me?! Queen Rei Sings With Passion), she earns her queenly title through her musician passion and bossy attitude. Using her title and pull, she uses her school’s festival to produce and direct her own concert. It’s all about her. Despite her seemly effortless drive, in reality, she struggled. A struggle she hides with boastful bragging.
In the beginning of the episode, we see the queen doing what she does best: being a boss. She demands order and productivity; snapping on underclassmen for idling around. She yells at another student worker for leaving audio gear lying around. She is pissed by the incorrect stage lighting during her rehearsal. Frustrated, Rei tells everyone to break.
Her (possibly gay) fangirls don’t seem to mind the yelling and bossing around). At least their senpai noticed them.
During her break, Rei boasts of her hard work to friends Usagi and Ami (whom were watching her rehearsal). She proudly admits to taking advantage of her status of head executive committee of the student council; using it to promote her concert and music. Music that she produced herself.
Queen Rei truly earned that title. She’s like Beyonce or Janet Jackson even. Some may not agree with Rei’s attitude and directing style however.
Real shit from a real music legend.
Later, the queen and her circle regrouped at Hikawa Shrine, discussing on the festival and her concert. Ami remarks at Rei’s hard work. She assumed that it took Rei many hours to produce music. Rei gloats again, telling the nerd that her own natural talent made the work effortless.
Yet, Rei’s inner thoughts tell an opposite story. She struggled.
Her frustration spoke as she slam her hands down the keyboard. She snatches early drafts of her music off the piano, tossing it in trash. Finally, Rei lays her head down, holding back tears. The young girl feels defeated. Defeated, and disappointed.
‘I should give up. It’s not worth it anymore. Nobody will like this.’
All creative types can relate to this.
I can imagine her thinking such these things. Her early prideful talk was a cover for her insecurities and struggles. Nevertheless, she managed to overcome the insecurities, producing music that she’s proud of.
The episode transitions to concert day. Rei is warmly greeted with cheers from peers and friends alike. She thanks her fans and introduces herself in third person, referring herself as “Rei-Chan”. She gotta feed her ego like like another great artist, Kanye West.
She knows, she so fucking gifted.
Rei starts performing. Everything is all well. All well until resident alien fuckboy Ail does his usual Cardian summoning. The Cardian of the week: Seiren.
The Sailor Scouts do their usual “attack the bad guy” routine, only to fail once again. Rei transform into Mars, talk shit about how the monster ruined her concert, harmed her fans, and vows to end the threat. Mars attack Seiren, setting her on fire, but the monster puts her out with her water magic.
All hope seems lost until Moonlight Knight appears; offering his weekly self-help guru bullshit motivation advice (with the week’s topic being on a beautiful melody at the soundless part of the universe and requests Mars to sing that melody for him one day). Moonlight Knight launches at Seiren, whom dodges his attack, and knocks over Mars’s music, destroying it.
(Thanks Moonlight Knight! You ruined everything yet again.)
Mars is saddened and pissed. Hours of her dedication, love, passion, overcoming self-doubts, and her achievement: destroyed. This wasn’t just some random, untalented asshole or hater talking shit about her works; somebody ruined her hard work.
It’s like if somebody snatched your art or notebook out of your hands Tearing pages out from it in front of your face. All of your passion and dedication into your craft is in ruins.
Mars’s anger brought forth a new power: Fire Soul Bird. With the new power and her rage, Mars attacks Seiren with furious anger…which her firely passion only disabled the monster just so Sailor Moon can get the kill.
Because Sailor Moon must always wins. Just like 2010 John Cena.
After defeating Seiren, Queen Rei (or Rei-Chan) resumed her concert (which nobody seems to question why they let her continued it after the monster attack). She steals Moonlight Knight’s inspirational line about a star singing in a soundless universe (all great artists gotta steal at least a few things), and closes her concert out with a cheesy sounding 90s love song in which I could not give two fucks about.
Rei is truly a passionate queen. From between her bossing folks around and pouring her soul into her music, Rei shines and she lets her shine be noticed. As queen, we see that she has influences and is quite bossy on the stage. With her passion, we see her pride, joy, and overcoming insecurities with her music (even if she did hide the insecurties from her friends).
I wonder, how Queen Beryl could let her love for King Endymion consumed her so much, that she allowed herself to be control by Metalia, and murdered an entire kingdom. Did she felt entitled to his love or something? I understand love can make you do many a crazy things, and boy did this woman did some crazy ass shit.
Beryl caused a young girl to commit suicide after murdering her family and friends. Not just muderer that girl’s love ones, but she also slaughtered an entire kingdom. All because she couldn’t get some dick from the dude she was crushing on.
Maybe Endymion and Beryl had a small chat one day and my dude knew she was crazy as fuck, and was like “Nah.”
This woman was a low-level sage who overtime, became corrupted by power and love. Unrequited love mind you. She legit thought she could let a king fall in love with her commoner ass.
Girl who the fuck you think you are? Stay in your place.
But forreal, how did her seemly innocent crush evolved into pure jealously and hatred towards Princess Serenity? Why was she driven to the point of mass murder over love?
“What you won’t do for love” doesn’t mean slaughter an entire population, Beryl. I’m sure Bobby Caldwell wasn’t on that shit when he wrote that song.
These are the things I think about on my off day, when I make no plans to kick it with the homeboys, and I have nothing better to do but to overthink about fictional Japanese cartoon and comic characters while listening to vaporwave.
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.
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:
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!
Yuki The Snowman 