juliko25 | Entries tagged with 2015

So...2019 is about to end, and a new decade is ahead of us. I've decided to make my own list of my personal favorite anime and game for every year in the decade. I'm only gonna limit it to one per year, as adding more would just make it bloated.

Favorite Anime of 2010: Heartcatch Pretty Cure
Favorite Anime of 2011: AnoHana
Favorite Anime of 2012: Natsuiro Kiseki
Favorite Anime of 2013: Tamayura: More Aggressive
Favorite Anime of 2014: Yona of the Dawn
Favorite Anime of 2015: Snow White with the Red Hair
Favorite Anime of 2016: Show By Rock!
Favorite Anime of 2017: Girls Last Tour
Favorite Anime of 2018: A Place Further Than The Universe (I REALLY wanted to put Card Captor Sakura: Clear Card on here, but because of it's God awful ending ruining it, I chose Yorimoi instead)
Favorite Anime of 2019: The Promised Neverland

Favorite Game of 2010: Pokemon Black and White
Favorite Game of 2011: Final Fantasy 4 (PSP version)
Favorite Game of 2012: Katawa Shoujo
Favorite Game of 2013: Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky
Favorite Game of 2014: Child of Light
Favorite Game of 2015: Tales of Zestiria
Favorite Game of 2016: Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns
Favorite Game of 2017: Pokemon Ultra Sun and Moon
Favorite Game of 2018: Octopath Traveler
Favorite Game of 2019: Pokemon Sword and Shield

Current Mood: excited
Current Music: Caro - The Edge of Dawn

I already talked about my adventures at Otakon 2015 earlier in the year, so I'll have you guys check it out for yourselves.

When I first heard that there were such things as anime conventions ten years ago, I thought they were just silly pipe dreams. I didn't think such things were possible. But then my dad and I went to AnimeNEXT in 2005, and I had found my Nirvana. Since then, my family and I went to one every year, namely because I just wanted to be among people like myself without being judged or criticized for being who I am and loving the things I do. My first anime conventions were great, but when my dad and I went to Otakon in 2008, my expectations were blown away.

We had gone there again in 2009 and 2011, and lots of things happened since there. We couldn't go to Otakon anymore until 2015. Honestly? After how terrible 2014 had been, and how crappy the summer of 2015 had been due to various real life and internet events, I really needed something like Otakon to cheer me up, especially because my grandma came with us that year and she became more interested in learning more about my interests in anime and manga. I managed to save more money for this particular convention than any other year, I bought more stuff, I finally got to meet Bryce Papenbrook, I got to see some awesome panels and learned about The Study of Anime, and a lot of other things! It even beat Otakon 2011 as my best convention year.

If I ever get a job, and I seriously want to, I want to try saving even more for conventions and going to them. Because I'm not gonna be young forever, and I want to enjoy my life as much as possible, anime conventions included.

Moment #1: Returning to Otakon and remembering how awesome it was to go there, and cons in general.

Current Mood: content
Current Music: Toshihiko Sahashi - Believe in Love

This past year, I finally sat down and watched what is considered the greatest shoujo anime of all time: Rose of Versailles...and I agree with them. It is awesome. Even more so when you look at its history. Back in the 60s-70s, it was believed that little girls couldn't handle serious stuff on TV such as violence, evil characters, etc., which is considered a very misogynistic view today, whether it was magical girl shows or plain shoujo, some eras weren't kind to women in any country. But that all changed for the better when Riyoko Ikeda penned her masterpiece, The Rose of Versailles. Oscar is hailed as not just a great main character for her three-dimensional personality, her flaws, strengths, charisma, and for being awesome, but as a feminist icon showing that women don't need to be bound by strict gender roles and can be whatever the heck they want.

Many anime have been inspired by Rose of Versailles, such as Revolutionary Girl Utena, and its influence continues to pepper other shows, even today. However, there aren't many shows with strong female characters with plenty of weaknesses to balance them out, and many radical fans feel women absolutely need to be nothing but strong and emotionless in order to be liked, which isn't true. I'm not a feminist, but there are plenty of cartoons that show females being strong and that have well rounded personalities that can resonate with everyone if given the chance. (My Little Pony's not gonna be on here because everyone knows what it's done and I love MLP no matter what)

Snow White with the Red Hair is one of the more recent fantasy shoujo anime to come out in the last year or so. The red haired girl, Shirayuki, isn't a damsel in distress like the original Snow White fairytale. She's mentally strong despite lack of physical strength, she works a job that she loves and knows a lot about (medicine, namely herbal remedies), works to earn her privileges in her new surroundings, doesn't get everything handed to her on a silver platter, and does all she can to help others, even though she has her own issues regarding her future and her past.

Yona of the Dawn has seen decent popularity as of late, and is much more of an action show. Yona was a spoiled, fallen princess whose world is thrown in upheaval when her cousin, Soo Won, kills her father and kicks her out of her kingdom for reasons she doesn't understand. Feeling terrible for being so unaware of what the world is like outside the castle, Yona vows to become a stronger person, take back her kingdom, and reclaim her place as the future ruler, this time with the help of new friends who will stand by her side. I don't think I need to explain much more than that.

Moment #2: The shoujo genre's glorious return and the growing popularity of well rounded female characters in cartoons.

(more to come soon)

Current Mood: giddy
Current Music: Toshihiko Sahashi - Believe in Love

Since 2015's almost over, I'm putting both 2015 and 2016 on here.

1. Miss Monochrome (all seasons)
It's super short and sweet, and it's not great, but its a nice little time killer.

2. Smile Pretty Cure
I intended to watch this when it first came out 3-4 years ago, but dropped it due to other obligations. Now that I'm done with school, I can finally watch it...and honestly, after seeing the utter trainwreck that is Happiness Charge, I've come to appreciate Smile a lot more now. Heck, even its super peppy and cutesy ending song ("Yay! Yay! Yay!") is way better than both of HapiCha's ending songs put together! And no, I'm not watching Glitter Force.

3. Kamisama Minarai: Himitsu no Cocotama
It's so freaking cute, and it's an anime about Shintoism and Shintoist beliefs about objects and nature! I am so watching it!

4. Poyopoyo
It's also short and sweet and really freaking cute.

If someone told me years ago that I'd love Sailor Moon and become part of its fandom, I would have called them crazy!

( Moon Prism Power, Make Up! )

Current Mood: sleepy

My love for Pokemon continues to dominate my life. In fact, I joined the Pokemon fandom recently. And I'm serious, after all the abuse that the Pretty Cure fandom put me through, I am glad I joined this fandom, because the people in this fandom (at least, from what I've seen on Fanfiction.net and Bulbagarden) are sooooooo much nicer, sensible, more mature, more understanding, and more rational than other fandoms I've been in. Other Pokemon stuff has happened, too. The XY anime is proving to be better than other seasons. The original Pokemon games, Red, Blue, and Yellow, are coming to the 3DS Virtual Console in February 2016 (and I'm buying them all). I even started my own Pokemon fan series, Pokemon: A Marvelous Journey, which has garnered a lot of praise and good criticism, and the reviewers and fans have been absolutely awesome. I've gotten back into buying Pokemon cards, I'm following online stores that have rare Pokemon merchandise not seen anywhere else (which I'll buy if my Dad sets me up with a PayPal account), all that stuff!

I think the Pokemon fandom is where I truly belong.

Moment #4: Finding a place in the Pokemon fandom and making my love for Pokemon evolve.

Current Mood: happy
Current Music: Kokia - True Sound

I, along with many other kids, watched and adored Digimon. I was one of the minority in that I watched and loved both Pokemon and Digimon. This article only goes to show how loved and adored Digimon is all across the globe. I mean, come on? Kids pairing up with cute monsters and saving the world from evil villains and some not-so-evil-just-misunderstood? A show that actually dealt with realistic, mature issues such as divorce, loneliness, death, etc.? It gave kids something to relate to, me included! I've loved Digimon since I was a kid, and I still do. I even wrote an (admittedly bad and still incomplete) Digimon fan fic series based on my favorite series, Tamers. My favorite Digimon is Lopmon, and I own Tamers on DVD. I've seen reruns of all the seasons (except Data Squad's dub and the rest of Fusion). We all thought the original series had ended.

That is, until one day, a series of movies was announced. Enter Digimon Adventure Tri, a six-movie sequel to both the original and Adventure 02, telling a brand new story.

To say the fans, old and new, rejoiced would be the colossal understatement of the century. Everyone exploded at the announcement. After over a decade, the original Digidestined are back with new tales to tell! Some are a bit miffed that the original cast for the humans haven't returned, the new art style, and new storylines, but I for one am absolutely psyched to see my favorite characters back on the screen (especially my faves TK and Kari!).

Welcome back, kids. You're all grown up now. The tale of the Digidestined goes on! And so it begins, a new adventure.

Moment #5: Digimon Adventure Tri and the return of my childhood.

Current Mood: happy
Current Music: Conni Ellisor - Blackberry Winter

I've been a fan of anime since I was little, but I've always been self-conscious about showing my family my anime and books, or even watching/reading with them. At first, I was just shy about it, but then I gradually learned of the stigmas associated with being an anime fan. My parents were okay with my interests, and even went to anime conventions with me, but I was still apprehensive about showing them the anime and books I watched/read. I remember my sister getting on my case because she caught me watching an episode of Gravitation. But a few months ago, my grandmother of all people told me she wanted to read a manga.

I kid you not. MY GRANDMOTHER, my 89-year-old grandmother, who survived the bombings in England, is said to be very traditionalist (according to my mom, but I don't believe it), survived breast cancer, and is completely disconnected from modern media news, said she wanted to read a manga.

I couldn't miss this chance. Since I had a manga with me at the time I visited her, Les Miserables, I thought it'd be the perfect manga to have her try out, since she was familiar with the source material (she read the book and saw the 1980s commercial) and the book itself had a detailed tutorial on how to read right-to-left. Now, three months later, I got my book back from her, and she says she liked it!

When she comes over on December, I'm definitely showing her more, along with making plans to watch movies with her, such as Kaguya, Whisper of the Heart, or Song of the Sea.

Moment #6: Finally sharing my interests with a member of my family.

Current Music: Kokia - Follow The Nightingale

Let's just say that when I was young, I thought anime gave me everything I ever wanted in cartoons. Anime gave me the stimulation I needed: lush animation, three-dimensional characters who I could care about, compelling stories, and everything else. I thought Western animation was going down a downward spiral, especially since Code Lyoko got cancelled and CN started going into its CN Real phase. I didn't even like many cartoons at the time, because anime was all I watched anymore, and I thought it'd be all I needed. But now that even anime is going through a bad phase (the wish fulfillment harem anime full of boobs and panties and stupid sexual situations), it seems Western cartoons are making a comeback, not just from America, but from other countries as well, such as France and Belgium.

I saw an episode of a French cartoon from 1985 called Clementine recently, and I hear it's really good. But there's no subtitles, so I'll have to watch it RAW when I can. I liked what I did see. I have heard that Lolirock is really good, and it's actually being subtitled, so I might watch that when I get the chance. Miraculous Ladybug has won over many fans, and is coming to Nickelodeon in December. I saw the 2G promo video and while I'm bummed they ditched the 2D style, I like the 3D CGI version, and really, anything that tries to have some kind of substance rather than just be another dumb gross-out comedy show with no substance is good enough for me, so I'm definitely checking out Ladybug (Also, Bryce Papenbrook is in the English dub. That's reason enough to watch it for me!). Steven Universe has totally won my heart recently, and My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic is still going strong. My graphic novel class made us read a graphic novel called Persepolis, which had been adapted into a movie, and I fell in love with both (and own both the comic and the DVD!)!

However, for me, the rise of Western animation that's NOT from America began when I heard about Song of the Sea. I wasn't sure what to think of it at first, but I saw the trailer on YouTube and something about it just touched me. After that, I convinced my dad and I to watch it in our local theaters. After seeing it, I knew I just had to get the DVD for myself...and now I do.

Moment #7: Witnessing the glorious return/rebirth of serious Western animation.

Current Mood: creative
Current Music: Conni Ellisor - Blackberry Winter

Some time a couple years ago, I transferred to another school. It had Japanese classes, and I thought it'd be nice to learn it. As of today, I have finished all three levels of Japanese classes, and am almost finished with fourth year Japanese, which is a reading class. So what do I think about it now? I thought I'd like it, but now I absolutely hate it. Too much Kanji to memorize and translate! I can't even pass daily Kanji quizzes no matter how hard I study! I swear, if I have to see one more thing of Kanji I'm going to throw myself out a window! I can't wait to be done with these classes!

Moment #8: Finishing those blasted Japanese classes once and for all!

Current Mood: aggravated
Current Music: Kokia - True Sound

I had lost all faith in Cartoon Network even before its CN Real period. The shows they were churning out just weren't good. In a way, I think they're still stuck in their fumble. However! CN is showing signs of change, and one sign of that change is a certain anime-inspired show called Steven Universe. I had seen commercials for it, and I was convinced that I would HATE it. I thought it'd be another stupid, bland, gross-out comedy show like Breadwinners and Uncle Grandpa, since that's what kids networks seem to like nowadays, much to the consternation of its fans. But many people around me were praising it up the wazoo, even my favorite internet critics. Curious, I decided to check it out for myself and see if its as good as everyone says.

And they were right. Boy, am I glad I became an SU fan!

Moment #9: Believing in Steven!

Current Mood: happy
Current Music: MILK - Mother: For The Earthian

Ever since I started my My Anime List account in 2010, I wanted to see more of what anime had to offer. But then I realized over the years that I had devoured an OBSCENE amount of anime. That has its drawbacks, sure, I get that, but only recently did I start keeping track of just how many I watched. Now, as of this year, I have watched and completed exactly 274 anime titles, OVAs and movies included! That's right, I'm almost at 300 anime! How weird is that?!

Moment #10: Completing over 200 Anime.

Current Mood: awake
Current Music: ShinganCrimsonZ - Falling Roses

So...yeah, in order to finish my Japanese requirements, I needed to write a Capstone paper. Considering the fan that I am, I figured anime would be a great subject, as its related to Japan and it's something that I enjoy, and I find that I do better on assignments when they're about something that I enjoy and know a lot about. I decided to do it on the censorship of anime, arguing that we should leave it as is, as you can see in the One Piece alteration images I borrowed. Did I fail or pass?

The answer is...I passed! So my paper is helping me graduate!

Moment #11: Passing my Capstone requirement with a 20 page paper on anime.

Current Mood: aggravated

Yes, anime fans. The impossible can happen. There are shows out there that look so cliche and fan-servicey and dumb and worthless, but turn out to be so gleefully good and fun that you can't help but love it, flawed as they are. It's definitely not a masterpiece, but Show By Rock is definitely one of those anime.

I didn't watch it on its first run, as I had other anime to watch and had other obligations. But then I heard about it and, once I confirmed it didn't have underwear shots or boob groping (I tend to ask that whenever I want to check out a new anime as I don't want to be blindsided or tricked. That's the reason I don't watch Nagi no Asukara and still won't), I put it on my watchlist. And...now it's become my favorite guilty pleasure! But I'll definitely admit: it has a LOT of flaws. All of the characters are one dimensional and get almost ZERO development or insight into their previous lives or backstories, the setting is interesting but it is almost never developed, the music flip-flops from being good to sub-par, the ending is a hot mess, and subplots only get mentioned and never touched upon ever again. I'm thinking about writing a fan fic for Show By Rock and expanding on those elements. But at this point, my Pokemon fan fic takes priority. Oh well. We all know it's never gonna get a second season...

Wait! A second season has been announced?!

*does my happy/victory dance*

Also, ShingancrimsonZ are best band. Don't you forget that, peeps!

On that note, WHEN IS FUNI GONNA RELEASE THIS ON DVD?!? The dub's complete! Why isn't it out on DVD already so I can buy it?!

Moment #12: Show By Rock and it's second season announcement.

Current Music: ShinganCrimsonZ - New World Order

I'm not gonna categorize them this time.

1. Rose of Versailles
Everybody and their dog kept telling me how good this is. So many of my friends absolutely love it. I figured, why not? I need to see something grand and passionate again. And sure enough, I love it. I don't know if it'll be on my top favorites list or not, as I only got to episode 17, but I'll watch it more and see. Also, Madame Du Barry is annoying.

2. Attack on Titan: Junior High
Yes, it's a spin-off. No, I don't care. It's cute and funny, the manga is really good and self-aware, and it has a kick-butt soundtrack. I need some cute comedy in my life to push away the sadness and despair.

3. Aikatsu
Still on season 3. I'll get back to it when school becomes less stressful. I'll never stop loving Aikatsu.

4. Trapp Ikka Monogatari
Because I need some World Masterpiece Theater awesomeness in my life.

5. Yona of the Dawn
I hear everybody say this is great, so why not?

15. Show By Rock
14. Attack on Titan
13. Natsu-iro Kiseki
12. Aikatsu
11. Pretty Cure franchise
10. Tonde Buurin
9. Sukitte Ii na yo
8. Mamoru Hosoda movies
7. Jewelpet Twinkle
6. After War Gundam X
5. Popolocrois
4. Tsuritama
3. Bokurano
2. AnoHana
1. Fancy Lala

Current Mood: contemplative
Current Music: Zeta Gundam music

Forgot to make one of these.

1. Show By Rock!!
It's...interesting. It's kinda dumb and stupid, and not particularly good, but it's not bad either, though I think the high pitched voices really grate on my ears.

2. Yu-Gi-Oh Season Zero
I used to be a HUGE fan of Yu-Gi-Oh when I was a kid. Not so much anymore though, and all the seasons after it are...kinda bad, from what I hear. But I've heard everyone say this season is really good, and I have nothing better to watch, so I might as well watch it.

3. Aikatsu Season 3
Yes, I am still watching Aikatsu. No, I will never get tired of it. Akari is awesome.

4. Snow White With The Red Hair
The manga had been on my radar for some time, but I never got to reading it. With the anime airing right now, I have an excuse to get into it, and wow, the anime is so good! I'm already in love with it! Shirayuki is shaping up to be a great main character. Heck, all the characters are great so far!

Current Mood: curious
Current Music: Junko Minagawa - Tsubasa wo Daite

It's 9:52 PM here, and as of now, I'm about to hit the hay. I just got back from Otakon 2015, and I have to say, while it definitely could have gone better for a number of reasons, it was definitely not just one of the best conventions I've been to in years, but a really great pick me up in general. My whole family came with me! Namely my dad, my mom, and my grandma. It had been almost four years since we last came here, but it hasn't changed one bit. Here's what I managed to buy

CardCaptor Sakura Premium DVD set
Sailor Moon Season 1 part 2 DVD set
Sailor Moon R part 1 DVD set
Les Miserables manga (the one made by Udon Entertainment)
From Far Away manga volumes 10, 11, 12, and 14
Natsume Yuujinchou manga volumes 12-15
Pokemon Special manga volume 23
A Chibiusa cell phone charm
A Sailor Saturn cell phone charm
A pretty bowl
A bear cup
A Lucario glass cup
A Cutemon doll
A Deerling doll
A Diancie doll
A Doraemon doll
A pink place mat
A pokemon hat
Two Earthbound figures, one of Paula and another of Jeff
A tiny Sylveon figure
Two Happiness Charge Precure pendants
A Madoka Magica shirt
A Sailor Saturn shirt
A Sailor Saturn mini figurine
A Sailor Uranus mini figurine
A Cutemon keychain

I managed to buy way more this year than any other year! I saved over $800, and I came back with $16. Pretty cool, huh? Anyway, unlike Matsuricon, I didn't get to meet most of the people I wanted to. The autograph lines were too long, and I had to choose who to meet. I chose Bryce Papenbrook. I went to a panel called Papenbrook: Efforts and Reactions, where he and Lex Lang talk about doing sound effects such as grunting, screaming, panting, etc. It was fun! I bought a little Charmander doll and gave it to him, and he liked it! I wasn't able to get my picture taken with him though. Well, technically, I did get one, but it came out really bad. I wasn't able to meet neither Toyonaga nor Sandy Fox due to scheduling conflicts, but even so, I'm happy I got to meet Papenbrook.

While waiting for that panel to start, however, I sat in on the panel before that which was called Kill La Kill: Honnouji Academics. It was super interesting! These two people analyzed Kill La Kill's themes and imagery in great detail and compared the characters and their actions to those of great Japanese Gods or demons etc. It was super fun! I'm not a Kill La Kill fan, but it was really cool to see someone analyze a series like that, and I wish more people would do it more often. Considering I've heard nothing but hate for it on Tumblr claiming it to be harmful and misogynistic to women, it's refreshing to see it interpreted in this kind of fashion. I've heard they've done detailed analysises on Kill La Kill before, but using World War II and Yamato myth imagery, so I ought to keep up with their stuff. They sound really cool!

Definitely one of the better conventions I went to in my years of going, and I'm really happy I went, not just to finally be someplace where I can be happy, but it was just a really great pick me up from some stuff I've been going through. It felt great to just talk to people and not worry about offending them or running into annoying SJWs. Plus, I managed to get some inspiration back, so I can go back to working on my fan fics, maybe even start one I've been planning out since I was really little! What's more, school's almost out, so I'll have off all August! Yay! Overall, I had a really great time, and now I better save for the next con!

Kill la Kill: Honnouji Academics [F+]

Last year, StudyofAnime panelists Charles and Katriel explored images of the Yamato myth and World War 2 narrative imagery in Kill la Kill. This year, they revisit the material, focusing this time on Muromachi period storytelling, companion tales of the otogi-zoshi, and explorations into Japanese myths of prosperity, aristocracy, and rebellion.

Otakon is coming up in a week. Yay. I'd be happier, but my whiny mom ruined my day by complaining about no batteries in the remote. She's sooooo convinced Dad and I don't do anything around the house. What a hypocrite she can be sometimes. I hate it when she gets like this.

Well, she's not going to get in the way of my meeting Bryce Papenbrook. No ma'am.

Current Mood: irritated
Current Music: Junko Minagawa - Tsubasa wo Daite

1. Aikatsu
This is actually good?! Awesome! But the CGI burns my eyes!

2. Goldfish Warning
IT'S FUNNY THATS WHY

3. Gundam 0080: War In The Pocket
I dunno. It looks good and its easy to understand.

4. Jungle Emperor (1989)
It's subbed on YouTube! I can't miss this chance!

5. Go! Princess Pretty Cure
It's awesome! The animation is stellar, the characters aren't annoying, Puff is cute as heck, the music is great, and I can't wait to watch more! It's already proving to be so much better than Happiness Charge so far, and that's saying something!