Anime Review by Madoka’s Ribbon
[{ MINOR SPOILER ALERT AHEAD!!}]
“The destruction of Planet Earth, people suffering from water scarcity, and a donuts lover with a multi-billion double dollar bounty who wants to eradicate the evil for the benefit of common good.“
Weird as it sounds, Trigun has DEFINITELY shown all of these scenarios.
Originally, Trigun was a manga series; a product of Yasuhiro Nightow’s exceptional imagination. It was serialized in Tokuma Shoten’s Shonen Captain in 1995. After becoming a worldwide hit, Trigun was adapted into an anime with a total of twenty-six episodes in 1998. Consequently, Trigun also caught the attention of Filipino weebs and it was Tagalized and aired in the Philippines by GMA7 from October 2000 to April 2001. (Source: The Ultimate Adventures of Ryuseii, 2015)
The story revolves around a well-known gunslinger named Vash the Stampede (aka Humanoid Typhoon) who travels from town-to-town in hopes of escaping the bounty hunters who want to capture him. Amazingly, he was able to help and be a heroic figure to the residents of each town that he visit, who were being terrorized by abusive villains, as he go along in his journey. Moreover, dark secrets about his mysterious past are waiting to unfold as he fights face-to-face with a bunch of worthy opponents.
It takes place in a fictional planet called Gunsmoke, where most of the people live in dire conditions; food and water shortage is rampant. It only shows how Earth was greatly destroyed that humanity is desperate enough to start a new life in a distant planet where there is no soil, and heat is unbearable.
Our protagonist Vash, has a sharp eye when it comes to shooting his enemies. Despite his formidable skills, he has a pure heart and he cannot fathom killing people, no matter how despicable a certain person is. He believes that there is still a good side in each human being. Aside from that, his spiky blonde hair, cuteness, cool personality, and his tagline: “LOVE AND PEACE!” makes him an iconic anime character. (Surely, you have seen this rather adorable photo of our protagonist, nomming on that yummy donut!)
Indeed, Trigun is a must-watch. Its space western vibes would attract anime fans who like wild-west genre, especially those who already watched Cowboy Bebop. Also, the soundtracks in this action-packed anime would surely please the ears of rock and roll music lovers. “Fool’s Paradise” and “Big Bluff” are the soundtracks that literally made me feel like I am a cow girl with a loaded revolver on her hand.
I highly recommend the series to those who are eager to learn a moral lesson in every show that they binge-watch. Trigun will teach its potential viewers about love and consideration to other people. Vash’s character will no doubt be relatable as he is the type of person who shows joyfulness and spreads hope – not until you learn the whole story about his identity.
So, what are you waiting for? If Trigun is your cup of tea, then might as well try to watch it. It’s certainly an eye opener and provides topics that are sure to be a great conversation starter!
Ja-nee!
Written by: Madoka’s Ribbon
[ MINOR SPOILER ALERT AHEAD!!]
More often than not, life becomes too bumpy of a road for us. It is sad to say that many give up on life—I, for one, also had these thoughts on bad days, of wanting to run away from problems, and such. But there is always the thought of ‘things will get better’ that always—ALWAYS, pulls me back to remind me to take a breath before taking another small step forward.
At first glance, A Whisker Away seemed like a movie that showcased just that kind of situation. But I did think that the protagonist’s problems seem so small. Who would even worry so much about their love life, right? Then again, no one goes from 0 to 100 real quick. Different kinds of problems build up slowly, and it is not always obvious.
Nakitai Watashi wa Neko wo Kaburu (泣きたい私は猫をかぶる) better known by its English title, “A Whisker Away” is Studio Colorido’s second original animated film, directed by Junichi Sato and Tomotaka Shibayama. It was initially intended to be delivered in Japanese theatres toward the beginning of June 2020; however, it was pulled out because of the threat of the pandemic. Netflix came to the rescue and purchased the film and was, at long last, delivered to the public on June 18, 2020—this meant that the audience would be from any corner of the world, not just Japan as was initially planned.
Characters ( 8/10 )
Young love is truly a wonderful thing. And just like in this case, it is so sweetly portrayed as a whole—although there are some character flaws if you could call them so, that ticked me off as I watched this movie numerous times.
Miyo Sasaki, nicknamed “Muge” by her friends, is shown as an excessively attached, tenacious sort of individual—this differs significantly with her love interest, Kento Hinode, who is a reserved person. What strengthens the bond over the two? It is that Muge can speak out her mind, and defend the people who are most important to her. Hinode has the same qualities, albeit shown only towards his family. Despite the difference between their personality, the two still match some of their core values, making it easier for them to get closer.
However, Muge’s actions towards Hinode became a little too unsettling as soon as I got farther and farther into watching. Some of her behaviours are unexplained in the movie and if you are not one to go through details and over-analyzing characters, then you are either going to go with the flow of the movie and ignore those character holes, or you are going to be like me—slightly annoyed by the over clinginess of our main heroine. But then again, these are middle-schoolers—times change quickly, so, such behaviour may be normal to others in this day and age?
Plot ( 9/10 )
The story is otherwise a straight forward romance movie, save for a couple of magical twists every now and then. Our main girl is in love with a boy in her class and shows her affection towards him in any way that she can. She eventually meets a cat spirit who sells her a mask that will transform her into a cat, thus letting her spend more time with her crush. But this, of course, comes with a hefty price. The girl then comes to the issue of whether she’d rather be loved as a cat or remain as a human who may or may never understand what it is to be loved.
Truth be told, the idea of turning into a different being is not new anymore. Just by looking at any country’s culture, one can see that this bestial transformation is no original, but it remains a fascinating idea nonetheless.
But what makes the story feel surreal is how it tackles hiding our true self just so we can be adored and accepted. Muge has been rejected all the time by her crush and yet remains unfazed by it—or at least, acts like it. She keeps ‘masking’ her emotions so that her friend won’t get worried. Even heavier than that, she hides her emotions from her own father and step-mother, who just wants to connect with her. That, to me, really hits home— harder than the romance theme of the movie.
Art ( 9/10 )
Studio Colorido is the same studio that animated “Fumiko’s Confession,” “Penguin Highway,” and “Pokemon: Twilight Wings.” The smooth and life-like motion of characters is what makes their animation stand out. Sceneries from the real Tokoname, Japan are included in the shots of the movie, making it feel like reality is imbued with a sense of fiction. Overall, it is not as brightly colored and nausea-inducing as it does not bode well with the pace and story. It even included a Cat Island in the story, which is a cool touch, as a homage to Japan’s countless cat islands.
Sound ( 10/10 )
The theme song and ending song were both performed by a Japanese rock duo, Yorushika. Both “Hana ni Bourei” (Ghost in a Flower) and “Usotsuki”(The Lying Moon), are originals made especially for the film. I regularly listen to their songs, so, when they premiered Hana ni Bourei on YouTube, I was quick to watch and listen to it. When played, the first thing that you see are clips from the movie itself. It is very ear-catching but did very well not to spoil too much in its MV. I even got LSS-ed from it! Needless to say, it certainly garnered people’s interest with its bittersweet tune.
Overall Thoughts?
So what is there to say about A Whisker Away? I am not one to watch romance movies frequently but it certainly piqued my interest. The animation style is very soft with how each frame moved fluidly. Though it is hard for me to relate to the characters’ personalities, it was easy to imagine myself in their situation— that was how much the movie moved my emotions. The movie did a great job incorporating the characters’ intentions into what their situations turn into, may it be good or bad. Still, I wish they would have given a little more spotlight to Muge’s family to strengthen the impact of the body switch between her and her stepmother’s cat. I am glad that the twists felt refreshing instead of being predictable. Despite its imperfections, I do believe that this is a good example of a feel-good movie. If you are a hopeless romantic, maybe Muge and Hinode’s story can drive some hope into your own love life. Or if you are like our charming heroine, always hiding your true emotion, then maybe this is a sign for you to finally open up. After all, life is not always about finding a sweetheart or having strong relationships with those that you care for— but also about loving and understanding yourself.
Despite the pandemic, the release of A Whisker Away, along with many other series, brought a little bit of sense of normality— especially with the help of Netflix. Times are rough so it is nice to be able to unwind and gain awareness of how we feel in mind, body, and spirit. A Whisker Away is definitely going to be in my recommendation list. Heck, I could watch it over and over again without getting tired of the magic within the movie. And that little magic is something that can really help us through these tough times.
Author – Ozwald
It came down… pretty suddenly, huh?
Kou Mabuchi, Ao Haru Ride
Ao Haru Ride (Blue Spring Ride) in as well as can be expected portray itself as a shoujo. The idea of a youth young lady building up a pulverize towards a kid is something that has been done again and again previously. It likewise has a feeling of guiltlessness as the youthful Futaba Yoshioka considers young men to be fierce. The main exemption is a kid named Kou Tanaka, whom she sees as delicate. The issue is that a straightforward misconception prompts a detachment between the two as Tanaka move from the school. The encounters that Futaba imparted to Tanaka is a fortune. However, that fortune right currently is covered away until one day…
Based on the manga of a similar name made by Io Sakisaka, the arrangement portrays a show that hits shoujo at its very center. Perceived maybe for her character plans from the film, HAL, and the manga Strobe Edge—Ao Haru Ride likewise stands apart all alone in an assortment of ways. It takes one of the most exemplary classifications and steers it into a course with genuineness, dramatization, and a show brimming with enchant. The ideal opportunity for Spring is one of those seasons when youth sprouts. Ao Haru Ride follows a gathering of characters that get interconnected in an account of youthful love and growing up.
The story rotates a gathering of characters during their school days. It is anything but difficult to state that school is a setting for individuals to grow up and maybe change themselves. Futaba attempts to do precisely that as she puts forth an attempt to be less girly. Her activities express stronger than words excessively—for example when she intentionally eats more than gives off an impression of being to make light of her girly side. The companions she has made basically can likewise be viewed as the extreme group as they alienate her later on.
In any case, Futaba is a veritable kind young lady as appeared through her relationship with Yuri, a pretty schoolmate who is detested by different young ladies—different characters joining the story incorporates the solitary wolf Shuko Murao and the fiery Aya Kominato. Above all, Kou returns, however, now passes by the name “Kou Mabuchi.” This is not the main change, however. In contrast to his delicate self, the new Kou makes a 180-degree character change with his wry conduct and cold motions. Truly, you’re likely asking yourself what on the planet occurred, is not that so?
Parts that can make you drew into the characters are the decent variety. Pretty much every character has an alternate character; yet, they all become aspect of the story that gets interconnected here and there. A short circular segment during the show, likewise, gets the principal characters together on an outdoor trip where they should all things considered work together to succeed. It takes on advancement courses as conditions are purchased up between characters as they develop closer. Models incorporate Kou and Yuuri—where, the last appears to feel more towards him than only a companion. Essentially, Shuuko additionally starts to open up additional in the wake of admitting her inclinations. In any case, the show associates connections in a practical way that can be relatable. Ever considered how love sprouts between specific individuals? Ao Haru Ride presses the catches between the characters to the two shows and tells precisely, simply, that.
Maybe the most unmistakable relationship all through the show is among Kou and Futaba. All things considered, there is such a great amount of differentiation in their characters that an important connection between the two just is by all accounts incomprehensible. There is a great deal of prodding and mockery between the couple regardless of a conspicuous common fascination. Desire is additionally a simple inclination that the two characters feel all through the show during different situations. In any case, for what is worth, their relationship will start an inquisitive intrigue.
The “will they or won’t they?” will be one of those inquiries watchers will pose to themselves a great deal of the time—their story cuts in the heart now, and again when minutes are broken by false impressions or interferences. In any case, the show has beauty and soul and isn’t hesitant to pull out minutes that move them nearer together.
Then again, Kou’s activities frequently differentiate what he says. Fundamentally, he is one of those folks that are not in effect completely legitimate with himself and battles to be nearer with others. This unmistakable difference to his youth self is a fascinating understanding to see as Futaba attempts to recollect their occasions together. Discussing which, Futaba’s sentiments likewise reemerges as she becomes acquainted with the current Kou. While his character as a companion has transformed, she perceives that he is as yet a similar individual she comes to cherish. With a profundity of flashbacks, it is anything but difficult to perceive how these two can interface together regardless of being so altogether different.
No relationship can be without errors and love triangles. Ao Haru Ride does not break a long way from that as it follows the platitude. The catch is that Futaba doesn’t wish to offend others notwithstanding her own.
An aspect of the story portrays her internal battles to inform a companion concerning what she feels towards the kid. Furthermore, in the event that you surmise right, that companion likewise shares similar sentiments as the kid he succumbed to. Abnormal minutes must be acknowledged for pleasure or this show will haunt you like a ticking delayed bomb. Fortunately, the show doesn’t play on a watcher’s understanding excessively. In any event, when it gets somewhat scary, the show actually can oversee by with its astute humor and emotional exchanges. They are regularly carefree with no stun esteem or profane situations. The slight issue at times, however, is the manner in which it attempts, particularly with its exchanges during discussions. While the dramatization can get enthusiastic and feel practical, it has void rushes and unsurprising results. Besides, there’s little you can feel on occasion due to the generalizations. Also, in light of the fact that Kou and Futaba are the primary centers, there’s an undeniable absence of portrayal of different characters.
We do not discover a lot about different characters other than who they are on a superficial level and their characteristics. By and large, they feel less customary as the love triangle is all the more a plot gadget to move Kou and Futaba nearer together. The blow-back is the one that is harmed as they become a gun grain; without the real injury.
Other than sentiment, companionship and family esteems are, likewise, investigated. The fundamental young lady threesome (Futaba, Yuuri, Murao) regularly connects in manners that young ladies ought to resemble. The key distinction is that Futaba’s new companions treat her with real earnestness. I believe it is obvious to perceive how they interface with various interests. They additionally open up with trustworthiness and help each other out when help is required the most. Then again, there is likewise some family association among Kou and his sibling Yoichi Tanaka. This is not highly investigated inside and out yet shows that the two offer an association notwithstanding their various characters. Simply, understand that it very well may be dull, and the abnormal gatherings regularly feel static with a little intrigue. Fortunately, this is lit up by the humor of the show. Playing as a class jokester of sorts, Aya Kominato regularly lights up the arrangement with his enthusiasm. A recognizable factor about him is the way that he doesn’t have a lot of social issues dissimilar to a considerable lot of the others. His conspicuous pound on Murao is frequently observed as a parody alleviation as the last gives little consideration to his advances. While this appears to be interesting, the risky advancement between the couple is nearly non-existent.
Once more, the fundamental focal point of the show is Futaba and Kou so do not anticipate a lot of profundity on the others; in any event, not on a similar level as those two youth fowls.
Craftsmanship keeps up a young appearance all through the arrangement. The foundation unifies on the topic of Spring with the effortless climate, sense of taste structure, and basic, yet persuading symbolism. The outside and climate have peculiarities with their consistency. Flashbacks are cunningly brightened with quality like water paint to outline youth.
Be that as it may, character plans are moderate. Most characters look solid, and developments are restricted. There is less much spotlight on how the characters look yet rather than the minutes they catch. Significant scenes have longer concentration with a chill off time before a change.
I think the reason for this is to make new recollections and show how characters make of them during those short yet significant minutes. Yet, regardless, studio Production I.G. brings its first-rate A-game with regards to by and large liveliness variation.
The soundtrack is shockingly solid in any event, for a shoujo arrangement, for example, this. Both the OP and ED melodies have brilliant symbolism and imagery. The OP tune has both vitality and a girly-like inclination while the ED melody portrays all the more a montage. OST is all around coordinated during key minutes to draw out the best message of what they are inspired to do. Certain foundation melodies are additionally played that further uplift significant minutes.
This typically applies to scenes when characters’ associations are by all accounts at their nearest nearly in the event that they are in their little world. The character voice quirk merits acclaim just as we see a sharp difference between the previous Kou Tanaka and Kou Mabuchi. Shuuko is additionally observable for her cool idiosyncrasy as a solitary wolf yet gradually adjusts to a more earnest young lady through her change. Then again, Futaba’s voice can be bothering to tune in on occasion with her generalization.
For a shoujo arrangement, Ao Haru Ride is shockingly all around organized dependent on its story. It has the look and feel of what a shoujo arrangement ought to be with its characters, visuals, and other, normally, observed sayings. While the show does not describe everybody at a similar level, it is intriguing to perceive how their carries on with become interconnected through one and another.
What is more, through that, relationships are built up that can be never-ending. The show likewise does well with its authenticity and burns through a brief period to substance out what it’s attempting to do with the reason. In reality, the show does not walk a long way from where it starts as we see the relationship improvement among Futaba and Kou. An issue may emerge that causes the crowd to ask themselves, “was that it?” or when the story feels dull.
In any case, with what it has presented in its sleeves, I can say that Ao Haru Ride is certainly a ride worth taking.
Author – KamehameNayah
The future is now, old man. Gone are the days when the only way to watch anime was to stay tuned on channels like HERO or AniMax. Nowadays, there are many different ways to watch anime—you can watch episodes on streaming websites like Funimation and Crunchyroll, and you can buy physical copies on Blu-Ray or DVD. There might be a TV channel dedicated to fan-favorites. Nowadays, some legal distributors on YouTube, like, MuseAsia have entire series up for free.
All of these options have one thing in common— they are legal, legitimate ways to watch anime. “So, what can I expect from this?” you may ask. Well, you get to watch it in the highest possible quality. Subtitles are provided either by the creators themselves or by expert linguists. All in all, these can be considered the official way/s to watch anime.
But, what if, a series that you want is not there? What if it is locked behind a paywall or subscription service? What if all official means of watching anime is not available in your country? What if you desire to sail the seven seas with your band of merry, eye-patch wearing pals? Hey, FAOS. Mark Kim here. Do you want to live life on the edge?
Piracy is nothing new—the consumer gets the product for free while the company does not directly make any money from them. Anime pirate sites are no different. The user gets to watch their desired series without paying a single cent while the studio does not get anything. Because unlike Western television programming, the creators do not get paid much for having their series hosted on their channel. The only way these companies will profit is if the viewer were to buy physical copies and or merchandise of the series.
On the 14th of August 2020, both KissManga and KissAnime have shut down due to Japan enforcing stricter piracy laws. One of the said laws punishes individuals who intentionally download illegal uploads of the manga.
So, what does this mean for the future of the anime industry? Will this drastically affect it for centuries? Well, not really. People claim that the industry is dying because piracy is making them lose millions of dollars a year—yeah, no. First of all, piracy is not killing the anime industry because manga and anime do not make the most profit for the creators. The real breadwinners are physical media and merchandise. Honorable mentions include streaming sites, games, mobile apps, and localization. So no, those millions of dollars lost barely make a dent in the total earnings, which have reported to be 19 billion dollars. The industry will be just fine with or without piracy. And it certainly will not die any time soon.
Piracy is, sort of, a gray area—it can be both beneficial and harmful. It is mostly a personal preference whether or not you choose to pirate. Because realistically, it will not make that much of a difference. (However, I personally still want to support my favorite creators, and I do so by buying some of their merchandise and spreading the word of their series.) To each their own, I suppose.
TL: DR This will not change the anime industry. But I will still miss KissAnime.
Author – Mark Kim
Let me start with a little story. While I was watching Mob Psycho 100 some months ago, I uttered to myself, “Man, this show is freaking amazing—this goes into my top 5 favorites.” And that is when I realized that I have a jumbled list of what I consider my top 5 favorite series. I have watched a good number of shows, and almost all of them I end up liking, but I was not entirely sure how to rank them all from most favorite to least favorite.
So without further ado, here is my personal Top 5 favorite Anime of all time and the reasons why I hold them in such high regard. Please, keep in mind that this is my personal opinion and does not reflect that of other fellow anime fans.
This show has a special place in my heart not only as a weeb but also as a person who is obsessed with cars. The show follows the story of high school student Takumi Fujiwara as he finds his passion for driving and street racing through delivering tofu for his father’s tofu shop business. With his dad, Bunta Fujiwara’s trusty old Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE86–of which is an 80’s Toyota Corolla on steroids, and one of the most iconic Japanese sports cars ever made thanks to this very show, Takumi finds himself falling in love with the art of street racing and overall becoming one of the greatest street racers in all of Japan.
What made me love Initial D the most is how it portrayed Japanese car culture. Seeing Takumi beat racers that drive iconic and legendary Japanese cars (like the Mazda RX-7, Nissan Skyline GT-R, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Honda S2000, and the like) with an old Toyota Corolla is an enjoyable sight to see. I guess I have a thing for underdogs kicking the asses of professionals, and since this show revolves around cars, of course, I will include this in my top 5’s. I am, after all, a JDM weeb. (author’s note: JDM means ‘Japanese Domestic Market’ and is a term for Japanese car enthusiasts to determine whether or not the car parts or the car itself is from Japan.)
Would I recommend this show? Definitely. Even if you’re not into cars, I am sure you will enjoy watching the races and knowing about how cars work. Though the CG animation for the First and Second Stage (or first and second season) looks very much outdated because of computer limitations in the ’90s and early 2000s, the intensity of the scenes is more than enough to make up for it.
An absolute masterpiece of a show. Here we follow the journey of a powerful psychic Shigeo KageyamaAKA Mob. Though Mob is an extremely powerful psychic, he has a problem–he loses control of his terrifying power once his emotions reach their breaking point.
This show is very personal to me. We occasionally see a number flashing in the screen whenever Mob gets harmed physically or mentally, and whenever it reaches or exceeds 100%, he wreaks havoc. I am aware of how a lot of people (myself included) relate to this. We bottle up what we feel because we are afraid of hurting others, and when that bottle we filled our frustrations with reaches its limits, it destroys itself—much like when a human being breaks down. And that is why this show will always be one of my favorites.
Would I recommend this? Absolutely. It has everything you want in an anime–god-tier animation and art style! It has wonderful and relatable characters (especially Arataka Reigen GOD I love this man), and most of all, an amazing story. I highly recommend that you give this one a try.
I can’t even begin to describe how much I am in love this show. Here we see a romantic-comedy story between student council president Miyuki Shirogane and his vice president Kaguya Shinomiya. They both like each other, but their pride prevents them from confessing to one another, and so they resort to mind games where both of them find themselves in comedic situations.
The mind games our protagonists play isn’t the only reason I love this show–it’s the characters, the development of their relationships, and their interactions. There are bits where the romance takes a break, and we see how our cast grows, and they become emotional bits that are sure to make your heart crack. This show could turn into a dramatic story, and I am more than okay with it.
The characterization is its strongest suit. It starts as a funny rom-com, but as the story progresses, you will see how each of the cast individually grows and how the character gets fleshed out. It’s one of the best I have read and seen yet, and it just so proves that this isn’t just any typical rom-com series. Characters like Yu Ishigami, Ai Hayasaka, Chika Fujiwara, and Miko Iino are also as interesting as loveable as our main protagonists with their unique and quirky personalities.
Would I recommend this? 100%. If you want an addicting, light-hearted comedic series that will give you butterflies in your tummy, then this is a must-watch for you.
The greatest anime I have ever watched. Period. The storyline, the lessons, the characters, the pacing, the action, the comedic and emotional moments, the set-up for the climax—everything else about this series is just straight up marvelous. How it utilizes philosophy and morality in the story is one of this series’ greatest strengths besides how our main characters grew. Its final episodes are one of, if not, the best I have seen in any series. Its ending gave me emotions I never knew are real, and the satisfaction you feel after finishing the series is one that I will not forget in a long time. Truly a must-watch masterpiece, and I recommend that you give it a shot.
Now before we proceed to my ultimate favorite, here are some honorable mentions.
My all-time favorite anime— the one that I have been very passionate about for a year now. It has everything I wanted in a series; a great story, amazingly written characters, iconic and legendary fights, unique concepts, cool character designs, etc. For me to list everything I love about this series, I would have to write a new editorial for this, or even a full-length video essay explaining everything.
JoJo’s strength is its unique concept of Stand abilities. If Naruto has Ninjutsu, DragonBall has Saiyan forms, My Hero Academia has quirks then JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’s main abilities are Stands; although, they do not appear until the third part of the series, Stardust Crusaders. It is an ability that reflects its user’s soul and spirit and is usually named after a song, a band, or an album typically from the ’70s to ’80s, and thus, made me start listening to songs from that time. The characters, and their enemies, use their stands in such witty and tactful ways, and they contribute to making almost all fights in JoJo iconic and exciting to watch.
As I watch more series and read more mangas, I’m more than sure that some will end up replacing the series I have listed in this top 5 list. However, this isn’t just a personal Top Five list—this is also a list of anime series I recommend you to binge-watch because I’m more than sure that it will all be worth your time.
Author – Sherlock Morioh
Do you ever wonder if you could get to make the opening for a series you have watched since childhood? Well, Mafumafu has done just that with the release of the latest opening for Pokemon’s anime series, After the Rain – 1・2・3.
For those who are unfamiliar with the term, Utaite refers to people who cover songs and upload them to either YouTube, Nico Nico Douga, or both. They are based on Utattemita, which quite literally means Tried to Sing. What makes each singer stand out is their style for each one gives the song their twist. Some make use of their incredible vocal range by adding harmonics and growls—notable examples are Araki and Mafumafu. While others like Nqrse and Hashiyan add rap sections to the song.
After the Rainor AtR is an utaite collaboration unit (or indie-pop group depending on whom you ask) consisting of two members, Mafumafu and Soraru. Mafumafu has an almost feminine-like voice with an impressive range to boot. Soraru, on the other hand, has more of an ikemen (cool guy) kind of voice. The unit was formed in 2014 and has covered dozens of songs. While song covers are their primary form of content, they also have vlogs, let’s plays, challenges, and more. After the Rain regularly collaborates with other collaboration units, one example being Urata and Sakata’s unit UraSaka, forming SoraMafuUraSaka.
I feel like I do not need to explain Pokemon because every single person on this planet has heard of it, but I will still give a short recap. Pokemon (or Pocket Monsters) is a video-game series that has spawned its manga and anime series, movies, merchandise, and spinoff games. The story usually goes like this: you are a child who leaves home at the age of ten. You explore the entire region together with your Pokemon. Along the way, you humiliate grown adults and terrorists. What makes this series of RPG’s unique is the large selection of characters. Each game has at least 100 different Pokemon to catch and train. It is a very personalized adventure, with no two teams being alike.
Pokemon’s mascot, but he’s fat because fat Pikachu is the best.
Mafumafu has a good relationship with Pokemon, and he has made a couple of videos showing his knowledge of the series. He claims to be a master of the series, being able to memorize all of their cries. As of this writing, he has successfully proven that for the first and second generations.
And here we are back to the present. On the 17th of November, 2019, After the Rain has released their new opening for the Pokemon animated series. The song itself is full of energy and positivity. It does its job of inspiring you to go on an adventure. Several references can be heard, such as the several Pokemon cries and Nintendo’s GameBoy start-up sound. All in all, it is nostalgia mixed with modernity. It is a love letter to all the generations of games and the people who grew up playing them (Myself included, Generation III is the best, fight me). Both Pokemon and After the Rain is growing, and I am glad that I got to see them work together. Here is to more collaborations with them in the future.
Live your life to the fullest, make the most out of every moment. And most importantly, have fun.
Author – Mark Kim
Have you ever heard of a story of the sheep and the wolf where the wolf pretends to be a sheep and tries to eat the innocent sheep? You will now be going to experience how to be a “sheep” or a “wolf” in a game entitled Among Us. It will test your trust towards your group/peers to identify who among you are the impostor.
Among Us is an American science-fiction murder multi-player game developed and published by Innerslothon July 15, 2018, for IOS and Android users, and on August 18, 2018, on PC and Steam. Just like the game Mafia, Among Us is a game that lets you deduce who among your playmates is the Innocent or the Impostor. It will surely turn you and your playmates into detectives, and actors or actresses.
The game has three maps so the players could enjoy the game in a different setting, namely The Skeld, Mira HQ, and Polus. The Skeld is the first map established. It is set on a spaceship, where the crew takes their trip to space. The second map, the Mira HQ, was released on August 8, 2019, where it is set on a space station. The third map is the Polus, which was released on November 12, 2019, where it was set on a purple planet. Instead of having vents like in The Skeld and Mira HQ, Polus only has holes, as an escape route of the impostor. Every player has a chance to be a crewmate, so they must find the impostor who joined among them.
Players can customize their characters in the game. They can choose from 12 available colors: Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink, White, Black, Cyan, Purple, Lime, Brown, and Orange. Players can also choose their skin, hats, and pets to make the appearance of the chosen character livelier.
Among Us, players can be consist of 4 to 10 players in which the player can be either the crewmate or the impostor. The crewmates must know who among them is the killer, and do certain tasks to win. The impostor shall kill their playmates, do sabotages, and pretend to do a task—to win the game. A good game, is it not? This will test your deduction skills and your trust among your peers.
Author – Tenshi-chan
Hunter x Hunter (Pronounced as HunterHunter) is a Japanese manga Shounen, Action, Adventure with the usual plot-devices but with a pretty unique concept of hunting. A series written and illustrated by Yoshihiro Togashi and was serialized in Weekly Shounen Jump Magazine since March 1988. The manga series was also first animated in 1999 with 62 episodes has a remake in 2011 with 148 episodes.
The story follows a young boy named Gon Freecss that lives on a small island and learns that his father, whom he does not remember, is an extremely famous man and has become somewhat of an amazing hunter. Gon takes the hunter exam to seek out his father—but on the way, while teaming up with three other candidates, Kurapica, Leorio, and Killua, he learns that there is more to becoming a hunter and the challenges that he must face will be beyond his imaginations. One day, he discovers that the father he had always been told was dead, was alive, and well. His Father, Ging, is a Hunter–a member of society’s elite with a license to go anywhere or do almost anything. Gon, determined to follow in his father’s footsteps, decides to take the Hunter Examination and eventually find his father to prove himself as a Hunter in his own right. But on the way, he learns that there is more to becoming a Hunter than previously thought, and the challenges that he must face are considered the toughest in the world.
The manga series starts on hiatus since 2006 and goes back for months with 12 chapters. After that, the series will go back for another hiatus, and goes back with another 12 chapters, and so on. As of 2018, 390 chapters are already been published, and after that, no latest chapters are released. Togashi already confirmed that the storyboards of the 10 new chapters are done, and he will start working with it soon—depending on his current health status.
In the past, the reason why Togashi (Mangaka) starts going on hiatuses is because of ill health and other circumstances issues. Another thing is that the mangaka does not like using assistants and prefers to draw everything himself. He is infamous for not meeting his weekly deadlines and releasing chapters with rough artwork. Manga Enthusiast starts to recommend that his wife, Naoko Takeuchi, (author of the well-known manga and anime series, Sailor Moon) must continue Togashi’s work—but there is no confirmation whether Togashi or his wife will accept the said recommendation.
There is no telling when the HxH will resume, but fans are already sure in themselves that the series isn’t over yet. After all, Togashi itself addresses concerns about his series ending without any resolution. He hopes to bring HxH to a close.
I also need to think about wrapping up Hunter x Hunter once and for all. There have been lots of times when it stops showing up on the pages of Shonen Jump, and I’m sure people are wondering what I’m going. But just as a comedian doesn’t show up on TV for awhile sometimes, he’s still working somewhere else, and I’m working every day
Togashi said in a recent interview
Sometimes, I’m not sure which will expire first, the series or me.
Author – Jeantarou
One Piece is a famous long-running anime series written by Eiichiro Oda it has received praise in the anime and manga industry in terms of storytelling, style, characterization, humor, and especially, it’s world-building. This particular manga has broken publishing records, including the highest initial print run of any book or literature in Japan.
In 2015, the official website for Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece manga said that the One Piece has set the Guinness World Record for “the most copies published for the same comic book series by a single author.” It is a growing manga for sure every single year, selling a million copies throughout the world.
We can, therefore, conclude that One Piece is one of the highest-selling manga of all time, and it can probably be the highest-grossing book worldwide if it goes on and on.
Let’s proceed to our main topic, shall we? The information with regards to the final arc was teased in an advertisement for the upcoming One Piece Magazine Volume 10, which was placed in this year’s 35th issue of Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump (Released on August 1, 2020). They’ve said that the arc next to Wano will be the “Final Arc.” Where the questions and mysteries will finally be revealed (the mysteries are plenty, Oda is fond of giving us mind games lol)
Although this is a piece of official information and was shown in the recent volume, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the series is ending soon.
Oda said in an interview back in 2019 that he wanted to end the story in 5 years, and WSJ didn’t give any information as to how close the stated ‘Final Arc’ is. Aside from that, he said in an interview back in 2016 that One Piece is already 70% finished.
That was the time they released the movie One piece: Strong world. Right now, Oda has no statement regarding One Piece’s final arc—we can’t be so sure that the next arc will be the closing arc for One Piece.
In any case, this series is bound to end eventually, and we shouldn’t expect that this manga will last long for another decade. Oda spent years writing this great piece of art, and we can only hope that he will take his time to reveal all the mysteries that he well thought of, and let’s enjoy his work up until the end.
Author – Hinode
Japanese shōjo manga series is composed and showed by Natsuki Takaya. It was serialized in the semi-month to month Japanese magazine Hana to Yume, distributed by Hakusensha, from 1998 to 2006. The title of the arrangement is taken from a children’s game, Fruits Basket, in which the members sit all around, and the leader of the game names every individual after a kind of fruit. When the name of a kid’s fruit is called—that kid gets up and needs to locate another seat.
Natsuki Takaya named a large portion of the twelve Somas reviled by zodiac creatures after bygone names of month in the previous Japanese lunisolar schedule that compares to their zodiac creature. The special cases are Kureno and Momiji, whose names were traded unintentionally; Kyo, in light of the fact that he’s the feline, isn’t a piece of the official zodiac.
[First Series – 2001]
Coordinated by Akitaro Daichi, the 26-scene Fruits Basket anime arrangement was enlivened by Studio Deen and delivered by NAS and TV Tokyo. It debuted on TV Tokyo on 5 July 2001, with the last scene broadcasting on 27 December 2001. A few pieces of the plot strayed from the manga and were depicted in an unexpected way, for example, Momiji and Shigure’s characteristics. All through creation, Daichi and Takaya ran into differences, including the cast, shading subtleties, and Daichi’s narrating style, driving Takaya to loathe the arrangement.
Funimation circulated the series with their English name on the Funimation Channel just as on Colors TV and authorized it for Region 1 DVD discharge.
[Second Series – 2019]
Another anime transformation was declared in November 2018. Funimation declared that the new transformation would air in April 2019, and would adjust the whole manga. For the Japanese variant, because of Takaya’s difference and disillusionment with the staff and studio over the first anime, the new variation includes another cast and staff, with TMS Entertainment taking care of the creation. Yoshihide Ibata is coordinating the arrangement, with Taku Kishimoto taking care of the arrangement piece and Masaru Shindou taking care of character plans. Interestingly, the English name highlights a significant number of the English voice entertainers that voiced in the main Fruits Basket arrangement.
The new series’ first season is recorded for 25 scenes. Crunchyroll is streaming the English-captioned adaptation, while Funimation is streaming the English-named rendition. Scenes 9 and 10 were briefly postponed universally because of the French Open tennis competition inclusion in Japan. The second season premiered on 7 April 2020.
The Fruits Basket manga arrangement is one of the top manga series in both Japan and the US. In excess of 18 million duplicates have been sold in Japan. It is Tokyopop’s top-rated manga series, with more than 2 million duplicates sold starting in 2006. The fifteenth volume of the English delivery rose to the fifteenth situation on the USA Today Top 150 Bestselling Books, which is the most elevated position at any point accomplished by a volume of the manga in the United States.
The Fruits Basket manga got the 2001 Kodansha Manga Award in the shōjo manga class and the “Best Manga” grant at the 2007 American Anime Awards. In 2001, the Fruits Basket anime won an Animage Anime Grand Prix grant.
Critics have lauded the general story in Fruits Basket as being scholarly, with even the moderately carefree first volume giving indications at something more obscure out of sight that makes the peruser “question all that occurs.” Some felt the series was drawing near to over-burdening perusers with anxiety in later volumes and scrutinized the credulity of the sheer number of awful guardians in the series. As one analyst noted: “in the realm of Fruits Basket, great guardians are as normal as penguins in the Sahara—everyone is either careless, covering, savage, damaging, misinformed, or dead.” Takaya figures out how to adjust the arrangement’s comedic components with the more sensational and terrible minutes, making it an enthralling and drawing in the story.
After Tokyopop stopped tasks, the manga’s print status grieved regardless of proceeded with reader request. Funimation, who holds the rights to the TV series, crusaded hard for a subsequent season—however, creator Natsuki Takaya was resolved: there would be not any more vivified Fruits Basket.
In April 2005, Funimation Entertainment began a venture calling for fans of the show to assist them with collapsing 1,000 origami paper cranes. In Japanese fables, making 1,000 paper cranes would allow somebody a desire. At the point when they had at any rate 1,000 cranes, Funimation sent the cranes and photos of the occasions to Studio Deen and Hakusensha to attempt to persuade the organization to deliver a second series of the Fruits Basket anime.
Fans effectively folded the necessary 1,000 cranes before the finish of the 2005 show season, beginning, in any event, a 13-year hole that finished in the declaration of the new Fruits Basket anime in 2018.
The first adaptation depends on incomplete material, so they needed to make their unique completion. Some Zodiac signs didn’t find the opportunity to show up in the principal variation. The manga spin-off, Fruits Basket Another, has a ton of things that expand upon the closure of the first manga. In contrast to the first arrangement, the new Fruits Basket will cover the whole story of the manga.
Fruits Basket 2019 gives the story another opportunity with much a bigger number of feels-filled scenes than previously. A large portion of the first cast is back voicing their jobs, the series additionally flaunts more current liveliness, and Masaru Yokoyama formed an amazing soundtrack for this change.
Author – KamehameNayah
Fatima Antipolo Otaku Society