One Piece Live Action TV Series

I was honestly surprised to hear this news. While I haven't yet to watch the live-action Attack on Titan, I don't hear the dissents that the Hollywood Ghost in the Shell and Dragon Ball Evolution did. I haven't watch the live action FMA yet either but while I don't have the bad feelings that the Death Note adaptation gave me...I felt indifferent. Ace Attorney is the most faithful of all the adaptations right down to the silliness while still meshing well with the dark features the director is known for.

One Piece is long as heck. It's not even half-way finished because the Straw Hats still need to find the last two Road Poneglyphs and let's not forget the very fact that we still haven't reached the World War yet, the Games of Thrones-esque when we have some form of the Red Wedding in the latest arc. The anime had all but caught up to the current manga by now. Oda has even teased he could go for another decade and did you recall that he would die for OP? Look I love OP and enjoyed it and even now with the current arc, I still deeply enjoy the passion and writing that Oda puts his heart and soul into.

I just wonder how are they going to execute this? Because One Piece's world runs on nonsense and unpredictability. The world-building is incredible not just in the individual islands and the seas but also the entire world's history. It's also full of passion with lots of crying. Actors, you are going to cry a lot...messily as possible too because the crying scenes in OP aren't pretty like a single tear dropping down a pretty face, no, everybody cried like a fountain. Messily. Maybe that's why the Midoriya's tears are like this to the point that it might be a secondary quirk.

However, they do know just how crazy the world is, right? You are going to need a lot of CGI, animatronics, makeup, and a whole lot of special effect in order to match the world. You are going to need CGI for the main character who uses his body almost every single chapter, be it fighting or normal everyday activities like catching an apple or swinging himself up the mast. Not to mention, Brook himself. How about incredibly large characters like Kuma or Moria? I think you can find an actor for Akainu or Fujitora or Aokiji. Heck, you can find actors for the dwarves, merpeople and giants. Each island is designed exaggeratedly like Whole Cake Island or Impel Down is basically the Alcatraz. Seriously, there are so many things I can name that needs CGI in general. You are going to need CGI for Devil fruit users after all. I'm not talking about Bentham's Devil fruit users because actors can act that role.

Are you going to pull in all the stops for this one? Devil fruits, islands, people? You must go full on Games of Thrones, go Pirates of the Caribbean on this. If you honestly want to go all out, you have to get the best of everything from special effects to actors.

Normal islands like Little Garden or those in East Blue and Paradise (Drum, Alabasta, Whiskey Peak, Twin Capes, even Reverse Mountain, Little Garden, Jaya, Skypeia, Sabaody) can be done normally. Although you have to do with the dinosaurs in Little Garden though. Sanji and Zoro outright caught dinosaurs. How about the Sea Kings monsters for god's sake? How about the wolves in the Skypeia arc?

How long would the series be? We know that they are going right back at the beginning in East Blue. East Blue is relatively easy to do because the sets (aside from property damage...so much property damage...) are easy to create. You can even reuse, repaint, remake sets.

...Though in Whole Cake Island, you must make a lot of edible pastries because well...you know...actors will need to eat them.

Just how the fuck is they going to do sets like Water 7 which is practically Venice? I think they can do Thriller Bark but lots of makeup for the zombies. They can do Marineford including the iceberg Mihawke chopped.

Do you know just how much property damage there is in OP? So much property damage from swords slashes, punches, devil fruit powers... Had you seen the damage in Alabasta? Dressrosa?

How about technology? Thousand Sunny has so much tech involved from the Gaon Cannon to the Channels. We are talking about submarines here, folks. You can build individual sets after all but you have to use again. However, since we are explicitly shown ship's deck frequently where most of the action takes place including the Grand Line's wild weather. I know the sea is dangerous but you don't have the luxury of animation.

How about the costuming? There is loads of fanservice in OP from the Cyborg Franky who wears one pair of speedos and he only has one to Nami who doesn't even mind showing off her body. Hell, Nami and Robin are well-regarded as beautiful in-universe. Amazon Lily is practically littering with beautiful women of all shapes and sizes. How about Chopper? He has so many forms of the love of Godoka? There are notable jokes that are there like Kaku's nose that compared to Usopp's nose. The character designs cannot translate well into live-action. How on earth are you going to do Usopp's trademark nose? Duval? Insane character designs that would take a lot of effort in order to translate into real life? I think you guys can do Pica or even Big Mom but you would have difficulty with Duval or Usopp. Plot-driven characters like Duval is going to be difficult to recreate. Like Sanji is capable of being a plastic surgeon based on his kicks alone.

The series is ridiculous. I hope you don't tone it down one bit. Because it is high on powerful emotion and exaggeration. It's by no means realistic...it's realistic when it wants to. For example, Sanji's blood loss and the necessity to supply the blood.

It's not like they can actually match the character design-wise. You can't possibly match characters like Lola. How on earth are you going to do characters that have trademarks like Brook's afro and Franky's pompadour? Or the Square Sisters?

On actors and actresses, are you going to stick with white people despite the fact OP is not quite our own? There are places that are certainly inspired by real-life nations like Dressrosa with Spain and Italy or Zoro's hometown as Japan. In fact, there is still Japanese food still existing there with onigiri; people literally eat Japanese style for the most part including bandits living in the mountains. You could get actors from many nationalities because there is the very fact that Oda has given his characters nationalities if they exist in this world.

You can do Paulie. Hell, you can even do Hancock.

You have to be pragmatic about this adaptation after all. You can't recreate everything when the anime and manga are doing just fine. There are things you can do without trouble like the sets in East Blue or even Reverse Mountain. You are going to have to do CGI with Laboon though.

As for romance, it's open season. Unlike Naruto or Bleach which I ship SNS and Ichiruki, I don't have much inclination. Yes, I do like LuNa and ZoSan but beyond that, there are relatively little ship wars. I am utterly grateful because Oda pretty much made sure of that beyond the characters he made married or definitely lovers (Chiffon and Bege or Roger and Rouge) but he certainly left potentials in the wake after all. People still ship LawLu or LuHan or Luffy with a harem of the girls he attracted from his journey. In the OP fandom, people ship whatever they want.

Unlike in other fandoms where they would argue whether or not you can ship it based on age/whatever context and the canonicity of a pairing from age to whatever the heck you think of (I am looking at you, VLD fandom), the OP is free game. Nobody cares about who or what you ship together.

There are so little ship wars in OP that fans would rather argue which pairing would be the endgame. Yes, there are still wars a la the form of dismantling or ship sinking. You do know that regardless of ship sinking or dismantling, people can still ship, right? People still ship pairings like Katniss X Gale or RoyEd or AlEd or DeanCas when the canon says that it is nil. Regardless of whether or not the individual shippers are swayed by the argument, let it be known that it is still shipping. Shipping is subjective and should not be taken seriously. One of OP's themes is friendship so don't think for a second there will be romance. I doubt there will be an endgame couple(s).

I just worry what Hollywood would in terms of romance. They might as well tease many couples or imply an endgame couple at the end.

The series is incredibly silly and whimsical. It's insane and things like Sanji's poster ending up being a real person in the end or a talking skeleton or a talking reindeer is considered apples. We got people who can kill others by turning into candy or becoming the element of the devil fruit they ate. We are talking about characters who are not normal in design. You can get actors for characters drawn in realistic proportions and yes that includes the ladies but you would have a hard time finding an actor for Duval. You guys can even do Jimbei or any Fishman for that matter, mermaids should be fine too.

The show relies intensively on flashbacks which means child actors. Unless you get incredible actors like Stranger Things (that is still disbelieving because how on earth they manage to get together such an incredible group of child actors?), you must be thorough in your search.

I just worry a lot about this project because OP is huge in all respects. You would need brevity in order to get the essentials of each arc out. Everything is interlocked so you can't really skimp on the details unless it is absolutely necessary.

Unless you want to fall into the pacing issue the special Episodes did.

Now the series is still heavily Japanese influenced despite its western setting. When I say it's Japanese media, it's still Japanese media regardless. Cowboy Bebop is still Japanese influenced although it might not look like it. Tiger and Bunny are still Japanese despite looking every bit like a superhero show.

Regardless of its western setting (it sets around the 1500s, last I calculated), it's still Japanese in its form. Japanese names are still littered about, Japanese culture and expectations are still there albeit in less volume than Naruto... Even the Funi dub doesn't skimp the Japanese, using the names and culture. Zoro's home island is more Japanese than Cocoyashi or Dawn. You are going to need to use the Japanese names and culture that is in there, regardless of its western premise.

To be honest, I still don't like to think Jimbe as part of the Straw Hats. I can get used to the idea someday.

But I just wanted another girl into the crowd. Certainly, they have female allies including Vivi but just another girl, please. There are female pirates and the women in OP is certainly well-developed.

Just another girl...please.

We already got Jimbe who does fit the template of a Straw Hat down to losing somebody important in their life that they loved immensely. There are just too many hints that Jimbei will join the crew.

Between Jimbei and Carrot, it's a toss-up and it's more likely Jimbei than Carrot.

Doesn't mean I have to like it.

Death is the only way for Jimbe for not joining the Straw Hats.

Either he or Carrot.

Now ten members are the supposed limit. Remember that OP was supposed to end within five years, Oda had not expected the major phenomenon... It is still a valid interpretation that there will only be ten members in total. But there is another one where the cap might be at ten members.

Oda has a tendency to split the Straw Hats. Just be lucky we're not following the number of pirates as saying the Heart Pirates at 20 members or the Tonta Corps at 200 or the Charlotte Family at over a hundred family members. I would personally put an estimated number of 12 members for the Straw Hats, no more, no less.

Can you believe the Wano arc is coming soon?! We first heard of Wano as far back as Thriller Bark and now we're heading to Wano right after Whole Cake Island. I cannot wait for the arc to start!

And now the second season for Tiger and Bunny is finally greenlit! Finally! Seriously, I thought a second season would not come. There were merch of course, pretty cute ones too.

And yes, I am well aware it is the merch that supports the anime. OP has so much going for its franchise including actual lectures and published analysis! Oda pretty sure wasn't expecting that.

I mean if my works were as well-regarded as OP, I will die continuously inside while staring in awe. If my works ever get that point.

First Impressions: Uchuu Sentai Kyuranger

I believe this is the first actual space-themed Sentai series for a while now as in taking place in literal space. Gokaiger takes place in space when in flashbacks, using the same technique as One Piece.

So far as I know the current generation of Super Sentai, there is at least two series that are influenced or shouting out to One Piece. One Piece is the DB of our current generation after all and to this day, it maintained the passion and well-written status. While Naruto's first part has a lot of passion that includes well-written that I can barely see in Part 2 where I can see a war between mangaka and editors, Bleach's passion only falls through when it comes to the cool stuff and the writing just continues to fall in a way that at first doesn't seem much but just falls down the drain the passing arc.

I'm sorry about that. I couldn't help but compare the former Big Three. Seriously, I think My Hero Academia took one of the spots but I can't remember the last one of the current trio. While Haikyuu is still popular and maintained the writing with the current arc at Springs Nationals, I don't think it is one of the Big Three. Haikyuu is certainly popular with the sports manga with KnB out of the running due to its ending.

I'm getting off-topic.

It has an interesting premise with most of the rangers being aliens. Gokaiger only has one human among them as a ranger. While the staple of bad guys taking over and the good guys popping up to save and protect, it takes it up to eleven. This time, the universe was taken over including Earth and the Empire growing and growing.

Hopefully, unlike Gokaiger's enemy aliens, these guys are tough as nails and actually earn the title of the Conqueror of the Universe. Gokaiger's best villain will always be Basco, the most interesting of all the villains.

The first episode was rushed but they got the essentials out. Hell, in the first episode, they have two new rangers and the next episode was not as rushed. The second episode was better paced with the two new rangers being partners.

We have a female green ranger now!

The rangers this time around are based on star constellations, befitting its space theme. It's interesting to see they expanded beyond the normal pool of constellations.

I also liked the references to other media, particularly Star Trek. One ranger is basically a Spock reference.

The suits are bulky and don't look good aesthetically. The helmets are cool but not so much the upper half of the suit. It just looks bulky and doesn't allow much mobility. The colors didn't mesh well either, having too much of the actual ranger color and not enough black/white. I think it was supposed to be an astronaut-looking uniform.

The transformation trinket is bulky too. While I pretty much prefer unique or less bulky transformation trinkets (In PGSM, the transformation trinkets are bracelets and as much as I loathe Jungle Fury's morphers, they're unique even if I can break them...or lose them), I understand that a point of Super Sentai was to sell toys. But it doesn't look good in my opinion.

Why not make any morphers? I am glad that the cellphone morphers, while popular, is not in this one. I prefer unique ones like the Goseiger rangers or the bracelets from PGSM. I understand the transformation trinkets were to make toys. I get it. But parents and kids are not rich like the one-percenters.

Now I have a feeling that Saban will adapt Kyuranger into PR for the next season. I mean they can now pick whatever season to adapt and Kyuranger is right up their alley for adaptation.

Edit: So I heard the latest will be a Gobusters adaptation... Holy Godoka! I didn't expect that adaptation. I know that Saban is free to adapt whatever they choose now but choosing to adapt Gobusters is surprising.

Now having two ranger teams on the same show isn't exactly new. Toei had done before.

Although, this will be the first sentai team that will be phantom thief themed. I want to see how they will go about it. Will they go all out with the phantom thieves with the media before

I am interested to see how they are going to take this premise. Phantom thieves in Japanese media tends to be romantic; just look at the shortlived Kaitou Kid and the radical Persona 5. Yes, even P5 where even the titular thieves questioned the morality of their actions, they are still romantic figures that the world only knew one guy is the leader of the Phantom Thieves of Heart. Whether they actually believe it or not is a different thing entirely.

The point seemed to be a rivalry between the teams. From what I kept getting, the two teams seemed to focus on each other more than the monsters they are fighting against. These guys seemed to be adult rangers rather than teens.

The basic plot was released. I just wonder how much they are going to go with it. They could go all out with the two teams actually teaming up. Since there are two red rangers, there'll be conflict about how they run the team or because they are leaders fighting for whatever they think it is right.

I think justice would play a theme in this one. It's pretty obvious. Even Detective Conan has that though not in large amounts.

From the little sneaks, the morphers are bulky. I get the point is to sell toys but too bulky. You would think phantom thieves would have less than noticeable morphers. Phantom Thieves in Japanese media do tend to be flashy while keeping covert actions well to do. Even in Persona 5, we do see these guys do flashy stuff such as send a calling card with no evidence of DNA everywhere and make a huge announcement in every radio waves in Japan. Seriously, the disguises Kaitou Kid took up is ridiculous. I would think a much better morpher could be a pen or a ring, something that connects to the thievery in general. At least, the Sailor Moon transformation trinkets tend to sneak under the radar with pens, broaches, and whatnot. Miraculous Ladybug has earrings, rings, combs, and others I can't remember right now but at least they don't stick out like a sore thumb like a bulky gun. I consider the gun morphers cool if well-designed. In P5, the point of transformation was the apps/worlds. Look at SPD/Dekaranger, they used police IDs or in a form of at least. It's a decent morpher and convenient for a police-themed team. The Patoranger has gun-like morphers that are fitting but still too large.

I think I heard the Lupinranger's morphers were supposed to be safecracking or in the look of that is. Regardless, it's still bulky. I wish I don't have to say that word but still...bulky is the morphers this season.

More thought went into the suits though. The Lupinrangers definitely has the phantom thief image going for them with the tie, cape, and top hat imagery; the black does mesh well with the colors with the inside of the cape being white. The Patorangers has the police imagery with the badge on top of their helmets (seriously, the helmets are basically placements of the usual top hat/police cap) and the upper suit looking like one of those uniforms; however, it has too much color and little white to complete it. It's straightforward and simple.

I get the point is to have them foils with the opposite of everything. However, with foils, you understand it is like a mirror. However, it will be difficult for them to get their acts together. I don't see the phantom thieves in this series not dropping their thievery anytime soon. Seriously, I can see them getting a friendly rivalry later on with the final episode being a bookend with the two teams this time teasing each other while the phantom thieves escape with their prize.

I really wonder if Saban can really tackle something like this if they chose to adapt it. Americans have a different view on phantom thieves after all as opposed to the romantic phantom thieves in Japanese media. It would be nice to see Saban try their damnest at this because of well phantom thieves as a ranger team in the PR canon. This is the first phantom thief-themed sentai team in history so I want to see how Saban does this one. I really want to see it adapted here in America.

What I Look For In a Dub

The sub vs dub is a trite and stupid conflict. You would understand that some things can't be translated well enough or something they have to make it better to understand or to match the mouth flaps or just about anything you can think of in a dubbing. Even Miraculous Ladybug has this trouble because they are dubbing something that still has the original plot, spirit, and characterization in mind. I am not asking a word-for-word dubbing that includes the culture that might fly over their heads or something.

I don't hate dubs. I grew up with the dub of Pokemon, Yugioh, and Digimon for Godoka's sake. As a kid, I was unaware of 4Kids' infamy. At the time, all I could think was how cool the Pokemon contests and battles were. Even before starting to watch the original series with subs, I still don't get the hate on dubs.

Yes, I am well aware of terrible dubs. I kept a mental list of awful dubs out there (Cardcaptor Sakura Nelvana Dub, One Piece 4Kids Dub (the VAs are talented, just 4Kids doesn't have the talent), Free! (like OP, has talents onboard but the failure to keep the spirit of the original... They got the slice of life tone down and kept the dramatic moments. However, it felt more like an abridged series and 50% Off is a better abridged despite my dislike towards abridged in general. The stupid lines like the backstroke all days comment is disingenuous to a series that garnered recognition beyond the fact it's aimed at girls.)).

And decent ones (Tiger and Bunny, Naruto, One Piece Funi Dub).

And awesome ones (Fullmetal Alchemist, Cowboy Bebop, My Hero Academia).

Looking, dubbing is hard work. Scripting to make a natural flow of conversation without making it awkward or finding voice actors who can work with the script and interpret in the right direction is a difficult task. Translating cultural contexts is hard; either they have to make it in their country's context or outright change the context. In fansubs, at least they can explain in little notes.

Seriously, there is a major difference where someone has a major handle on a series in which they do whatever they wanted and a known production which has a lot of material which they have to understand and translate.

Look at Voltron Legendary Defender where the staff created the story, cherrypicking things from previous incarnations and make it their own. Sure there are writing problems that I don't blame the creators for because the writers they hired aren't as great as say the writers of Gravity Falls or Over the Garden Wall. VLD S4 might as well be considered filler despite its plottiness; when you concentrate on the plot too much, you will neglect the characters. Let your characters take the front row seat, not the plot. Even Osomatsu-san, a gag anime, have their characters at the forefront in their most dramatic pieces like "The Letter" or "Jyushimatsu Falls In Love". Even in their most funny pieces like "The Karamatsu Incident" where Karamatsu was kidnapped by Chibita in an act of revenge, there was clearly something there for the characters where we see a friendship between Karamatsu and Chibita and the brothers' lack of concern for their second eldest. This is one of the major problems with VLD's writing; when they focus on characters, it's great in S3 but when they don't...well...you saw the disaster that is S4. I didn't hear an announcement of season 5 yet so I think the criticism is very bad enough for the team to get together that all they are releasing now is some character stuff. The writers must have been hit hard by the criticisms and try their hardest to rewrite and refine the scripts.

Much like adapting a manga into an anime or adapting anime into film, adapting Japanese culture in the text is difficult. Some could be subtle social commentary such as the Japanese western superheroes anime (Tiger and Bunny, HeroAca, OPM). Or outright Japanese culture, expectations. There is a reason why Power Rangers Samurai failed in that respect because American feminism is different from Japanese feminism.

I don't hate dubs just because I know how difficult it is to dub. Even the dubs I don't like just makes me meh nowadays and just tell other people to make their choice to see it or not. Look I watched bad movies like Manos: The Hands of Fate and The Room because I want to.

Sometimes a dub can improve on the original series. Just look at Ghost Stories, a mediocre anime that is best described food-wise a sloppy cheeseburger. The dub is a grilled cheese sandwich with eggs. Like it's not a delicacy or a rare treat but it's still something glorious to witness in its full cookery.

Like that's a dub job that everyone can get behind.

Think dubbing as another art form unto itself.

I never actually watched the Animax CCS dub, the second one after Nelvana's failed dub Cardcaptors. For CCS, the only other dub I ever watched for them was when Funi came in and dubbed the Sealed Card movie, a dub that is decent and managed to make the same spirit of the original CCS came through.

Just because I have a laidback attitude towards the existence of dubbing does not mean I have my own requirements for a dub. Like any show that originated elsewhere like France, I need to see the original in order to see what they are aiming for. With added research on culture, history, etc.

• The naturality and flow, staying within the confines of the context of the show (setting, world, conversation). If the dialogue is somehow so ridiculous, they have to make it work. If there is something Japanese-based joke based on language, they have to adapt it somehow. I still don't get the Deku thing in the Funi dub of MHA where Uraraka said the nickname was cute rather than having the nickname's alternate reading; it took place in Japan that Funi did not take away so why change the alternate reading to something that a girl thinks is a cute nickname? Also, I don't get why they change takoyaki to octopus fritters? 
• Did they manage canon well? How are they going to adapt it without losing the actual canonical events and dialogue? If they have to change the dialogue in order to fit the mouth-flaps, they still have to make it close enough to the original dialogue. 
• Does the voice acting do well? Do the voices fit some extent? It is voice acting after all; there is a reason why Andrea Romano is regarded as the Queen of animation/DC. Look at Ian Sinclair's Brook in the Funi's dub of One Piece; his personality, laugh, everything was perfection and I can listen to his laugh all day.

Yeah, voice acting is low on the list because I'm far more concerned about how they execute the Japanese aspects (will they keep it or not? Because if they are keeping it, they still have to match the mouth-flaps and make the dialogue flow with the mouth-flaps. Or they will keep the setting and try to pass it off as some radio tower or something? Despite it being an obvious Japanese trademark? When I was a kid, even I recognize the Tokyo Tower is nowhere located in America.)

Now I am more concerned about the world they lived in. I don't nitpick at how the Haikyuu dub used the American system for height or use of dude. At least, their usage of dude is not as insistent as in the Free! dub.

I want dubs to do well.

Which is why I am surprised to not see dubs for popular anime like Osomatsu-san. Free! got a dub due to its popularity but Haikyuu finally got a dub just last year with the second season dub pushed back in March or April for quality control just like how Atlus pushed back the localization for Persona 5.

I mean Funi is still dubbing One Piece! They are behind the actual Japanese which is nearly 900 at this point. They're nowhere close to the Dressrosa arc at all.

CCS Clear Card has a Funi dub coming soon and of course, I am going to watch it. When Funi got the dub and dubbed only the second movie, it was a good dub in a short amount of time; the voices fit the characters and they got the spirit down.

How addicting is this series and I'm talking about the GBBO, isn't it? It's also relaxing to watch them bake and experiment pastries.

And make me crave the pastries and desserts.

First Impressions: CCS Clear Card Arc anime

So I watched the first episode of the series and I greatly enjoyed it.

There are many callbacks to the original series. There is one soundtrack that always accompanied Yamazaki's storytelling and the OST came back! In addition, the title cards and the breaks to the commercial cards are similar to the original series.

The original seiyuus are back and they are just as great now as they were before.

I just have one question: Is this a mashup of the anime and manga? Is it a continuation of the anime adaptation?

Because it sure as hell doesn't have the same amount of cards.

I checked! Looking at the manga version, there are fewer cards because, in the manga, only 19 exists. However, in the anime version, 52 or 53 if you count the Hope Card exists. And in the anime of CCS Clear Card, there are more cards there in the conversation with Yue. Hell, when we see the cards in Sakura hands, it's looked like a full deck rather than just a two dozen cards. I think I would notice fewer cards.

Not to mention, we are treated to the flashback of the airport goodbye with Syaoran giving Sakura the teddy bear. And Sakura did not make the teddy bear then. Wei was even featured in that flashback in the same place he was in that airport goodbye scene! They are in the exact same clothes, position, everything is exactly like the final episode of the original series! And it's in the style of the new anime series! We explicitly see him not carrying the pink Sakura teddy bear!

When we got dialogue in the flashback, it sure as hell wasn't the same as in the OVA where the pair exchanged whether or not they can name the bear after the other. It was Sakura and only Sakura who asked she can name the bear after him.

Hell, there was a brief recap which shows the first episode, the Shadow, the Watery, the Time, Final Judgment, Eriol's first appearance, the SyaoSaku swing scene, the teddy bear exhibition, the transformation of Light/Dark, and the last episode!

The original team came back! From writer to the animation studio! And I'm sure as hell they didn't forget the original series! They would have to pick the montage out!

Then what about the OVA then which basically is the manga version? It basically says the Prologue for Godoka's sake! What the couple wore in that episode is different from their airport goodbye in the anime!

In the same episode, we see Sakura sewing up the teddy bear with Kero explicitly saying that she was doing before his return to Hong Kong. She was even wearing the same outfit she wore on the airport goodbye! She didn't wear the same outfit as in the Prologue! But the previous flashback regarding the couple was the airport goodbye! And Sakura clearly did not bring the bear along on that airport goodbye! When Syaoran was going back to Hong Kong just the same in the bus trip when he retrieves the Sakura teddy bear in the manga!

Now, in the anime version, Syaoran returned to Tomoeda temporarily for Sakura to confess her feelings to him in the Sealed Card movie. That is the only time Sakura have to craft her teddy bear before he returned to Hong Kong and make the promise he made in the manga. She could have given the teddy bear then.

And we heard the conversation in the manga where Syaoran promised Sakura when he finishes with business in Hong Kong, he will come back.

I know my CLAMP, okay. It's just honestly confusing to see the recap and the references to the last episode with no connection to the manga beyond the teddy bears and by that, I mean the Sakura teddy bear.

I guess I have to see more. If it is indeed a mashup of the anime and the manga. Or a continuation of the anime.

I mean I would need to see the cards, any card usage that is not of the 19 manga version, that would explicitly tell me.

Or Meiling will come.

Or any reference to past adventures that was in the expanded animeverse. Even a reference to the Sealed Card events.

I'm sorry for the rant. It's just been tickling my mind since I watched the episode.

Regardless, I deeply enjoyed the first episode. I can see some differences between anime and manga and hope that continued.

Edit: Having seen the second episode, there was indeed mentions of Wei and Meiling! So this does take place in the anime continuity!

I wonder....

Imagine the potential of this could come from this!

Admittedly, my investment in the Dabi Todoroki Theory stemmed from story potential. 

As of now, Midoriya and Bakugou have personal stakes in the coming battle. Midoriya due to his connection with All Might and his relationship thus. Bakugou due to the fact his interactions with VA. Stain impacted the society certainly and his presence was felt in-story despite his incarceration.

Look at it this way: In Miraculous Ladybug, we are invested in the Agreste fucked-up plotline due to Adrien himself. Adrien has personal stakes in the plot because you know, angst with a father who has a goal in mind who may or may not want to warp the world for his own goals. Marinette has a crush on Adrien and knew little about the Agreste disaster. All she knows is his father is distant but caring. Her only connection to the entire plot was her crush on Adrien. I am not talking about character development here, folks. I am talking about personal stakes in the plot. Most of the time, Marinette felt like she is on the outside, looking in the conflict. Seriously, her main interactions with the plot were due to her saving the day, interactions with Adrien and Gabriel, and possibly meeting new superheroes. 

Others don't have much beyond their standard fights against VA. Okay, so the Hideout Raid Arc has severely impacted everyone. Remember Tsui's tears. Remember how Aizawa cannot expel the class. That is how bad the arc affected everyone. 

Every arc is building up the tension. I mean right now, the current arc is based on Todoroki and Bakugou passing the Hero License Exam with others while Deku and others who participated in the mission recover. Those guys need the rest for now until the plot moving again. 

So to say a brother is a villain and on the VA no less? Then Shouto Todoroki has personal stakes! That meant his backstory will soon become a part of the plot possibly due to the fact it was Dabi's motivation. 

If to say a classmate, a particular close classmate is a villain and a spy the entire time? Then the entire class has personal stakes on the plot! They want their friend back or to understand what is his thought process for even joining VA well before UA. 

Beyond just doing the right thing to stop the bad guys, tension, and stakes building up, I felt that people should have personal stakes in the future battle at hand. 

Seriously, if the Dabi Theory is true, then it will be great for Shouto! Character-wise because just imagine the plot interweaving well with the Sports Festival arc. The Hideout Raid arc did well with the Sports Festival arc in terms of Endeavor. 

We see Shouto's character development since the Sports Festival arc. I am interested to see how his story could be taken beyond the abuse with a brother taking the helm of villainy to take down their dad, damn the law. Doesn't help that Dabi is a killer. 

I want to know more of the class beyond just peeks of their character development in certain parts of the arc. 

Fanfic Recs: CCS AUs

Let me tell you this: I will read CCS AU's like no tomorrow. If I even see a oneshot of such an AU, you bet I am going to read it. My love for CLAMP is right there in my username for the love of Godoka. On that note, Yes, I will see every magical boy/girl imagining of a particular work anywhere, fanfic or otherwise. The magical girl genre has a soft spot for me and no, I don't consider it feminism on the Japanese feminism bar. Hell, I don't consider CLAMP much feminist either (yes, they got guys breaking barriers with their house husband tendencies and the fact their soulmates is both het and same-sex) yet they are still one of my favorites. I simply enjoy the genre and just let me enjoy something I like without the cries of feminism or any other -isms. Yes, people should take a stance to be more diverse and progressive but having that does not mean it would automatically be good. Big Hero 6 has problems with its race, both in the comics and the movie, but the story is solid enough. I do understand the necessity of diverse media but can't people just enjoy something regardless of lack of progressiveness? I'm annoyed to see people put down flawed characters and designate entirely by their bad traits. I saw this across fandoms from VLD to HeroAca. It's annoying and I made it a point to not interact with fandoms.

And yes, I love CCS far too much. I love both the anime and manga. I am currently reading the Clear Card arc and I am loving it. I will see the anime adaptation as well.

I mean the OVA is closer to the manga after all. And it's not like they are doing the reboot a la FMAB treatment. The anime is fine on its own and all they need is just a special. Considering how CLAMP has creative control in the original anime, I am not surprised. Come on, CCS Sealed Card is basically one big hint to the beginning of TRC. CLAMP didn't disown it, unlike the TRC anime.

I think I heard a dub about a CCS Clear Card dub. Given my dislike for the Cardcaptors dub, imagine my surprise when I heard the dub for the second movie. From then onward, I am expecting a pretty good dub from Funi. I mean they got MHA under their belt with legit good dubbing and I know they can do the pretty good dub. Even Haikyuu got a pretty good dub job; admittedly,  I know it comes from another studio but still the quality of the HQ dub in comparison to Free...is amazing. At least in HQ, it sounds natural and flowed well. While Free! is a bad dub under Funi's care, I'm still optimistic about the future dubs.

Anyways, let's get moving.

brilliant lights will cease to burn (by my hands I'll reignite them): Midoriya Izuku is quirkless. This, he knows very well. This is also what he knows: Weekends and vacations are reserved for walking neighborhood dogs. The elderly are the most powerful people on Earth. Local gods are picky eaters. Trust is a feeble, feeble thing. Magical cards are incredibly difficult to seal, especially when the world thinks you're a vigilante. Heroes are not magicians, but magicians can be heroes. Becoming a Cardcaptor-slash-magician wasn't on Izuku's bucket list, but he'll be damned if he doesn't make the best of it.

Review: It basically Deku as the Cardcaptor and future Master of the Cards. We are going to see him capture the cards, pass the Final Judgment, officially become the Master, meet Yue, and transform the cards into Deku Cards.

However, as expected of Deku, he wanted to learn more about magic and get a handle on magic. He's just done in this situation right now: being an accidental vigilante (because he is the only one who seals them) and now getting caught up in situations that he shouldn't be doing like getting arrested or meeting spirits and yokais. It's amusing though because due to the new chaos in his life, Deku now has such a busy schedule. It's hilarious because his secret keepers called him a magical boy, even giving him a magical girl-inspired outfit. His fans commented on how cute he looked in his new costume. Most of his gadgets are also magical-girl-inspired too with the exception of smoke bombs. Then there's the issue of his magical potential to become an incredible magician.

I enjoyed how the fic made a part of the city an Expy of Tomoeda. Deku is basically the Kinomotos here, helping the people. It does help that his new wish was similar to Sakura was to make everyone happy and to smile. Like everyone who met Deku like him enough to protect him from the securities because they know Deku is the kindest, sweetest, gentlest person they know who was willing to help anyone.

I noticed that the heroes who helped and saw Deku's actions as heroic because they can see they can barely do any damage to these 'villains'. And they are so out of their depth. They don't consider magic existing or that this might be something they can't handle. They are doing their jobs as heroes and I feel they are being the scapegoats just because they don't have the capability to fight these so-called villains. Everything thinks Deku has a quirk even though those who knew Deku knew he is using something that is not a quirk. Even Kacchan knew this and probably just laughing in the faces of the media who think it's a team. The fans are way too hard on the pro heroes and don't know the details that Deku and his secret keepers knew. Deku doesn't blame the heroes or his fans for their lack of knowledge of the world of magic. The magic that is far more powerful than any quirk they know and have.

Speaking of magic, this magic was based entirely on CLAMP canon. Like CLAMP, it crossovers with xxxHolic, the main staple of the CLAMP universe. Let me tell you this: it's very spoilerific if you don't know CLAMP canon. Just a warning. If you know your CLAMP, you would recognize certain events and rules and such and such. Seriously, I was internally screaming when I saw the fic was using CLAMP's famous rule of names.

I make this a problem with the MHA fandom and their refusal to see Kacchan as a flawed character. He's an asshole but he's an interesting and well-written asshole. The narrative does not excuse his actions. Hell, his only friend in UA is Kirishima. He was nearly killed, kidnapped, his rescue was shown in full HD in front of Japan, he got punched in the face metaphorically and physically by his classmates and Deku especially, failed the Hero License Exam, didn't even have a Hero Internship. This fic made Deku and Bakugou's relationship on a standstill with Deku actively avoiding Bakugou until he does something in his life that is not being a huge ass. Deku called him an anomaly and didn't deny or confirm they are friends. It wasn't bashing which is a good thing. The only thing I can describe Bakugou in the fic and his relationship with Cardcaptor Deku is a standstill.

While Mineta hasn't appeared, I will say this: do not bash him. Punish him for his sexual harassment or paint his actions as bad that he either didn't realize because he's a teenage boy or that he could redeem himself; Make him the butt monkey or punish him repeatedly each arc or time like Kacchan in canon; make him take responsibility for his actions! Just don't bash him, please don't. Character bashing is one of the least creative things an author should do.

At it isn't bashing.

The OC's are nicely done. They are their own individuals and because of their friendship with Deku, they are protective of him and cheered him on. They don't know why Deku is doing this but they are supportive of him and will protect him.

Honestly, I can't wait to see the Final Judgment and the change into Deku Cards. Really, I rather want to have people actively help him, an active hand in his card capturing duties and later the Deku cards.

Inheritance of Cards and Demons: When Kinomoto Sakura died, she set it up so that her cards would go to the person who not only deserved them but needed them. Vanishing across dimensions, they reappear in Assiah. Just in time for new Junior High School student Okumura Rin to find them. And so the cycle begins again. But when the new Master is also the Son of Satan, nothing is going to be easy.

Review: Unlike the other fic that has some reference to CCS, this is a fic that takes a lot including the romantic portion. This fic is more CCS than the other fic. Hell, both of these fics even took on Sakura's invincibility spell as their own and her wishes as their own. And they're both the successors of the Sakura Cards, now Rin/Deku Cards.

The other fic employed more CLAMP stuff than this one though. While both build upon the canon of the magic of the CLAMP world, this one just referenced events. The other fic doesn't reference the events as much as they have the people instead because the people made all the difference and of course, these people won't say anything unless asked or have to take a lesson or anything. I felt it was more like a bit of trivia and have so little impact on the story as much. Hell, even referencing the fact the worlds seemed to be breaking down in the TRC due to Fei Wong Reed's machinations with Mephisto knowing about it just made it trivial. The only thing CLAMP-like that made any sense and made things more viable was Yuuko's quote of hitsuzen. Any other thing the fic references of CLAMP was too trivial and didn't impact the story at all. At least Rin spread the idea of inevitability to his friends.

This is just a nitpick but sometimes sentences repeat itself or could have been better phrased. Some sentences tell outright rather than let the action speak for itself. I know it's not a manga but at least show the actions rather than stating the obvious. It's nitpicky. Sometimes it can be best to tell when it is most effective (see Shouto Todoroki) but show, don't tell is still an effective rule of thumb.

Due to the changes the world of CLAMP made to the BA, Rin matured better and freer from his ordeals. His family has no clue why he was acting the way he is, out of touch with his maturity. He even has friends by his side, no matter how much he tried to push them away.

I think the best feature of the fic would be character development. Everyone matured one way or another. Rin is much different from canon Rin because of his experiences as a magician. Considering that we're in quite a whammy chapter in Aoex, this fic doesn't excuse the fact Yukio can be an ass and had serious issues. Rin knew about these issues and hoped his brother went to him to talk at least but alas, Yukio defected to the enemies' side with all the madness he cannot control. Even with the new revelations, Mephisto kept... I think it's inevitable Yukio would go to Lucifer's side. I mean the foreshadowing and the hints had been growing in large amounts. In this fic, the pair finally reconciled and talked it out before Yukio fell into a downward spiral.

Nothing can say more canon divergence than the fact it has well-written individualistic OC's. I love the OC's a lot, even those who would have been expies of their counterparts in the original CCS series. Both fics have well-defined OC's that fit into the fic's canon.

I also like how the fic expanded on new cards and worldbuilding. Now, the crossovers extended to even Detective Conan and Lyrical Nanoha. Although like the CLAMP thing, it's like trivia and has zero impact on the actual story but the worldbuilding. Worldbuilding is exactly that but not to the point of needless impact. The OC's have more impact on the plot, even if they only appeared for a couple chapters. Their presence was felt by the characters that even the original Aoex cast knew this. Even in the ending, we got the OC's there with Naoko frightening the shit out of Todo.

It's a long read although I'm sure people who read fanfics would find it a fast read though.

And that's all I suppose. Maybe my next Fanfic Rec Post would be Magical Girl AUs.

Progress Review: Battlesleep

Transformers: Okay, I do like the franchise enough. Like the Twilight series, the Bay films also make me laugh and mock them; admittedly, they're both my guilty pleasures...well except for the Breaking Dawn films though because it was not fun. As for the Animated series, I do like it. It's fun but it felt incomplete. There is good writing and then there's writing that makes me roll my eyes (the ladies for example). I enjoyed the comedy.

Let's move on quickly to the fanfic in question.

Battlesleep: Megatron escaping from prison was, of course, Sentinel's frag-up. What Optimus didn't count on was being kidnapped by the warlord on his way out. Now halfway across the galaxy, Optimus must discover the reason behind Megatron's reluctance to kill him, and with it a secret of his species' biology that may hold the key to peace between Autobots and Decepticons.

This is both a fic rec and a progress fic review. I wouldn't put on the blog in the first place. I'm already broke when I don't have the time for leisurely read books

Let's start with the easier stuff first. Normally I will put the positives and negatives in separate sections but this piece of fanfiction needed an explanation. Just the complications and the world-building.

The women bots are greatly depicted for what they are and should have been depicted. You would think that a Transformers show in the early 2000s would be more progressive but no. Competent just as their mech counterparts and just as wonderful. It does help that these femme bots are varied in personality too.

I love the buddy cop dynamic between Sari and Sentinel Prime, comedy duo. They are hilarious, playing off each other with their wit and sarcasm. Both are essentially bringing the best out of each other and I love it so much.

The fic also did a job, not ignoring and romanticizing the Decepticons' awful actions. If they want a second chance from their would-be breeders, they would have to earn a second chance. Don't romanticize horrible actions. In a way, the fic rebutted the fandom's sympathy towards the Decepticons. Seriously, this is not Star Wars, guys, where you can actually sympathize with the Sith and/or enemies where the Jedi are exceptionally complacent and self-righteous above good and evil. That was not fun, just watching the prequels and related media regarding the Jedi; if there was one thing that George Lucas and his crew made consistently, it was the hypocrisy and complacency of the Jedi. While Mr. Lucas was a Yoda stan, the other writers made it damn clear that with the exception of a few like Qui-Gon, most of the Jedi are clearly more hypocritical and lacked the understanding of the world they deemed theirs.

The world-building is awesome. Cybertron is usually depicted as some kind of dystopian society but the Decepticon is much worse. Some explanation is down below but certainly, the world-building aspect is one of the best parts.

There's also a nice reference to Steven Universe, implying that it might have the Gems and the Homeworld.

There is a lot of good things to look forward to. I love seeing the Autobots' side, the rescuers, the Sari and Sentinel Prime, and the Decepticons. And that includes the potential romances. Each perspective is awesome to look forward to. While I honestly love the Sari and Sentinel Prime interactions the most, the other sides of the story aren't half-bad either.

Now let's get going to the harder stuff. I would need a lot of good alcohol for this.

The world-building aspect, as I stated before, is utterly awesome. The parallels to human culture is a nice touch, providing social commentaries such as sexism (on both sides) and racism.

They are still alien robots, just to be clear.

Because they are aliens, this fic takes full advantage of its cracky nature and made a semi-serious fic. Like I said, this fic tried to tell how to not ignore horrible actions. I mean it's Decepticons here.

So this fic has mech preg where robots get pregnant. I think it's a Transformers-unique trope because AO3 only has Transformers in that tag.

Here's the gist: Long before the Allspark even came into the possession of these alien robots, the continuation of their species depending on a breeder/seeder society. Cyclonus also stated that injury and death in childbirth were common before he came into existence. When the Allspark made it possible without death and injury to streamline the process of life, the war began.

Now the current generations of Bots have no fucking clue of their ancestry (to the point even the most educated of the Bots have the idea they are not compatible) while those who are on Con space likely knew about that detail. The very old, like so very old Cybertronians knew about this fact; I think that due to the fact the war had gone on for so long, they don't see how the war would be resolved easily.

At this rate, it will become a Romeo and Juliet case with their leaders or former thereof with Megazarak.

Let it be known that the authors have no intention of basing the Cybertronian biology in human biology. It's similar but not really. According to the authors, it's complicated and no parallels are to be made to human reproduction. It's the closest analogy that most readers made but if the authors said it's complicated, then everything had yet to be explained in full detail.

C'mon, they are robots, which in this fic, can reproduce sexually. It meant all the works including childbirth apparently.

Now we don't know which Bot will be the first in years. It could mean Optimus or Minimus. Blurr doesn't seem likely since it's a subplot and Blurr clearly has issues with his former lover trying to kill him.

For right now as of the current update, not much of the biology is explained in too much detail. We got the gist of it when we got the explanation of the gender dimorphism,

And I think that's enough for now because I don't think a review would get enough of what a glorious read the fic is.

Just read it. You would like it or enjoy it.

...This dub is magnificent. It's right up there with the best dubs like FMA and Cowboy Bebop. I am not talking about the kind of quality dub those two anime has; I'm talking about the infamy of this dub that is so amazing.

Fanfic Recs: Hikaru no GO

Hikaru no Go is one of the best sports manga/anime I read; yes, it's still a sports anime/manga because the type of game is still a game, no matter how abstract. It's high on my list of recommendations for that particular genre. Hopefully, one of my cousins watched this series because I'm rewatching this again.

The manga abruptly ended with an open ending. Sure we got hints of the future (character development, conflicts, etc) but we know that Hikago would not be continued unless we have fanfiction or doujins. Seriously, the series ended with a match between Hikaru and Akira in the second round at the Young Lions Tournament. With no result named. The last picture was Hikaru slamming the go stone on the board. It was so abrupt that I felt that it wasn't meant to be an open ending. Even the anime ended just prior to the Hokuto cup with a montage. The Hokuto cup though managed all the way up until we even get the tournament itself. I wonder how long the series was supposed to be before it was canceled. I wonder if there is another world out there where Hikago continued.

It was strange. I personally thought there was a new arc brewing with Waya expressing insecurity, Hikaru's path in achieving the Hand of God and surpassing Toya and Sai, new insei, Honda's fear in the go pro world, Ochi's struggle for recognition, Akira's struggle to get out of his father's shadow, the New Wave and that's I can name off the top of my head. Something is there for new arcs and it abruptly ended. While there is closure, there isn't enough to consider the many things that had hinted beforehand.

I just wonder why it ended so abruptly. I heard disjointed theories like Korea didn't like how Japan seemed to prostrate themselves on a pedestal in a fictional go world. Did they read the manga? China and Korea are doing fine; hell, in the final arc, Korea won. Also, I heard it was because Sai not being there for another reason. I don't know the exact reason for its sudden cancellation but I wish there was an official canon following this because I know my narrative.

There are still flaws - characters, once Hikaru finished an arc, are almost never seen again (and if they were, they are mostly seen on side-stories or when we get peeks of them like we see Tsutsui's character development and I'm pretty sure he is popular in some way or another with a confident edge), not enough female go players (sure we got peeks of female pros in the official games in the epilogue and the games but no word on the female titles). Sure there are female go players (even a named figure, Sakurano Chieko, but we don't know whether or not she has a title). Then there's the abrupt ending that I couldn't help but feel it wasn't meant to be. Unlike Bleach and Naruto's endings which feel unnatural, Hikago's ending was just so...abrupt. There is no way of putting about it since we kept getting hints of a new arc. I mean it made little sense to end it like when we should have ended it not with insei (which I guess supposed to be part of the New Wave and emphasized that since the last chapter dealt so little with Hikaru and Sai). Hell, I understand you are trying to make both Hikaru and Akira as the head of Japan's New Wave.

Also, what is TV tropes spreading lies about Hikaru never winning against Akira? Do you know the narrative? Over and over again, we hear Akira wanting to climb so Hikaru would never catch up to him and his utter faith in Hikaru. Just because the current canon we got Akira always winning does not mean that Hikaru would not win in the future; in fact, his future was so very bright, gaining titles and already he is held on the same level his rival has due to his incredible performance at the Hokuto Cup. Hikaru's goal was to catch up to Akira and find the Hand of God. He was destined to find the Hand of God, which the gods led him to Sai and go. The gods would not waste efforts to have two geniuses. Kuwabara outright said they were geniuses and equals. The author made it a point of calling it Eternal Rivals. So to say that Hikaru would never beat Akira is like saying May would never beat Drew. Do you understand the narrative at all? Isumi or Waya or Ochi or Nase or Fuku wasn't meant to find the Hand of God; hell, it wasn't their goal because they wanted to be pros and make it there, not achieve something they have no interest in. Ochi's goal was to be a rival of Akira.

No, I don't ship anybody in Hikago. No, I don't hate the dub; some of the voices were pretty monotone but others do have a great job.

The Neverending Road by Leitbur: Hikaru's journey through the world of pros continues, facing opponents new and old as well as the challenges of the heart. It takes place after the series ends.

Review: It's been dormant for a while now, probably dead at this rate.

I like the love triangle execution in this one. Hikaru has two girls after him which none of his friends envied him for because they do not want to be in his place; they envied him for his impressive records as a pro but not in the romantic life because they are fine in that route, thank you. Even Waya has a girl chasing after him even though the girl is a pre-teen and poor Waya forced to pay for everything. At least the love triangle. It also helped that it also dealt with the futures of these girls in the Japanese cultural expectations. Japanese feminism is different from American feminism. And I'm not going to talk about that especially since Nase is a go pro in this one and I don't know Akari's future.

I do like how it takes the girls into consideration. These girls, while imploring interest in the MC, have their own goals and personality. They are mature girls who are friends with each other and didn't want to hurt each other. Hikaru didn't want to hurt them because he's oblivious to their love until they confessed. I actually like the chapter where the trio compared themselves to characters in Romeo and Juliet, identifying themselves as Rosaline. I actually think the romance actually enhanced the plot despite it being a subplot. If you want Japanese feminism, look at Persona 4.

This is more slice-of-life despite the pros and the amateurs. I mean we have Hikaru worrying about his love life along with the fact his desire to win and achieve the Hand of God. Then we have Waya and Ochi's insecurities besides the two Princes of Go.

The character development is really great. Each character wanted to surpass them or at least beat the two prodigies of Go, unaware that the two prodigies are under heavy pressure to live up to their mentor/father's shadow. Only one person knows Hikaru is Sai's student and that is the former Meijin himself, Touya Koyo. I really like the scene where he encouraged him. Hikaru still has character development to go through because he is still in stasis.

The overall drama is alright. I just wish it has more levity. Teasing Hikaru or Waya on their love lives don't quite seem to make an impression for comedy. I liked Waya's reactions to a girl's whims and the two Princes of Go's petty fighting. There isn't much levity or a balance of drama and comedy. Drama needs comedy to lighten the mood; this is why I really dislike the DCEU until WW.

At first, the chapters didn't have breaks on mobile. It was hard to see the change of POV/setting until you actually read it. Later chapters managed to have breaks thankfully. It was quibble since it could have something, anything to show breaks between a conversation between two pros, then a match. Admittedly, sometimes it's hard to see the difference when some chapters didn't even have breaks unless you read it.

I can appreciate how much thought the author put on the matches. It can get technical that the author's notes did their best to explain. I also appreciate the research of the Japanese in this. I understand you want to emphasize how the Japanese put so much stock on gender roles that the Japanese feminists are trying hard to break.

There is just an issue that bugged me in the story: I understand that Hikaru wants to keep his status as a student of Sai a secret although players who seemed his work and compared them to the Saint of NetGo have their suspicions, some more civilly than most but still. I understand that you want to keep Sai's memory alive in your Go, Hikaru. I just...can you just reveal that Sai is dead? It's not like he's coming back in this fic aside from mentioning his name by Hikaru and others. Unlike the other fic in which I can see Sai coming back, it's unlikely Sai came back to Hikaru via a new body. You could just reveal that he is dead on the NetGo site. Hell, you could have a new account on the NetGo site and just say in a memorial for him or something. This is why Ogata was so insistent on a game with Sai. Regardless, whether or not Sai trained you, Hikaru still managed to achieve a high level of Go comparable to the other Prince of Go, Akira Touya in just three years, the time you spent together with Sai. That is nothing to scoff at; even Sai would say you are a prodigy. Just because you haven't started at a young age doesn't designate you immediately as a prodigy. Akira is a prodigy and so are you, Hikaru. You still start out at a relatively young age and reached a level that only a prodigy can reach. I am getting off-topic but Hikaru, it's fine to reveal Sai is dead anonymously. It doesn't have to be your official NetGo account.

Unless Hikaru still hasn't come to terms with Sai's death, I don't see why he can't say that Sai is dead officially.

There are other flaws too. I mean it's not my favorite Hikago fic, not even the next one I'm recommending either. I deeply enjoyed the next one more than this one, to be honest. Both have their flaws and virtues and...

I love this movie.

Side-stories: Waya and Isumi's trip to China; Nase's Pro Exam; an original character's Shinshodan.

My favorite of the lot was the trip to China. These side-stories expounded or expanded on what happened when we're not following Hikaru. Sure we got POV shots from various characters but we're mostly following the titular Hikaru.

Paper Cranes by spontaneite: Two years passed before Hikaru admitted, reluctantly, that possession by a spirit seemed to have long-lasting side effects which probably won't go away on its own.

So if a new chapter is uploaded, check the author's Tumblr.

Review: Think of this as a Natsume Yuujinchou just with Hikago. It's not xxxHolic or Blue Exorcist or any anime/manga that dealt a lot with Japanese mythology (and there are many) including Spirited Away. The closest thing I could think of to compare is Natsume Yuujinchou. In this, Hikaru is not only growing up but also dealing with his spiritual sensitivity. I just love Hikaru's BS so much, trolling his friends because they haven't picked up fully. Even Akari was able to pick up the pace of his BS to the point she just goes along with the flow. She's not his best friend for nothing, a position that nobody envied because, in their opinion, Hikaru is weird as fuck. Everyone is just trying to deal with this eccentric boy whose crazy antics made them feel they lost years of their life.

I really like the employment of Japanese mythology in here. It reminded me of a lot of the other Japanese shows that used Japanese mythology. I love mythology like no tomorrow. I will read fairy tales including the most obscure. Over the Garden Wall won my heart on the fairytale aspect. Anything resembling fairytale would make my watchlist I am always dying to take a class on mythology soon.

Right now, it's still ongoing. I can't say any more than just read it alone for its good humor.

Check the TV Tropes for details.

Character - Arcana

Hikaru - Fool

Sai - Hanged Man

Akira - Death

Akari - Strength

Waya - Magician

Isumi - Chariot

Fandom, Save Me From Fandom Politics of Today

The current fandom culture is...stupid. Trends invading spaces, with known fandom history (that is interesting to read), and overtaking to the point entitled brats to think they can control the space. What a mob mentality...

I entered fandom when I was 12ish, close to 13. A freaking decade I spent in the background; I saw shipping wars, a minor 'discourse' that doesn't take over the entire community, the insistence of shipping something you need to, fun theories, etc. The thing is that is internet space with fandoms being niches.

Before I even heard of Archive of Our Own, I read fanfiction on Fanfiction.Net. That had become my mainstay for a while until I moved to college. I mostly read Gen fics or the popular het ships since there are a lot more there than m/m unless they are popular fandoms like Hetalia.

On FF.Net, I have seen tags on summaries like Slash, Rape, and all kinds of kinks. They are warning you for a reason. I actually avoided all things sex (because at that time, I was still debating on whom I am attracted to) but I read a lot of violence. I didn't hurt the authors for even writing the thing; if they're writing in the first place, it could mean it was for titillation and for the enjoyment of others and just because it's fun to explore. It's 'problematic' but it remains on the internet with tags for all to see. Even Don't like (the summary explaining everything, the tags, etc), Don't Read say it outright it's your choice. I read long fics and anything to do with my ship. If the site doesn't have it, I go to another site to find it. I barely even read slash fiction there.

As for the anti 'movement', if you can call it that (seriously, they are only attacking fandoms just for having something fandoms has like being a bubble of exploration of problematic and fluffy material instead of you know teaching nuanced critical thinking of recognizing potential predators. That is more beneficial than protecting a hypothetical 'child'), I think I first saw them arise in 2013-14. The first anti-fandom I came into contact with is Anti-Freeze Team, an anti-Frozen group. This group does bring up legit points such as the unoriginal storytelling and lack of worldbuilding for example. However, this is also the same group that hates on ships like Elsanna, Hanna, Helsa, Kristanna, and Jelsa. Look I understand if your friend harass you into pairing a particular ship or you think the ship is disgusting, but don't hurt other people. Criticize all you want but stay in your lane and don't hurt anybody who actually used shipping for fun and exploration and coping because guess what? They're utterly fictional, belonging in a niche. While I do admit Kristanna does look problematic, the fact it is underwritten is the failure since Hanna seemed to have more development. So I took away from this group of antis is that they have legit grievances that are necessary to be talked about. Just they are taking it on the wrong people. Do they even know what shipping even is? They seemed to think canon is the way when not really fanon is called fanon for a reason. Jelsa is a crack crossover ship for a reason. People shipped Jack with Hiccup and you don't see that hurting Dreamworks in any capacity. People should also stop saying 'queerbaiting' too because it was thrown around so easily and to get caught up in your shipping is bad when you are dealing with canon and canon is not the end-all of all shipping. The argument I have seen was 'IT'S CANON!' - guess what? Canon matters so little to shipping, which is subjective. There is no reason why one should adhere to canon for shipping evidence. Sure, go ahead but don't confuse canon with your headcanons.

And that was just the start of anti's, folks. They gained more and more momentum from the mob mentality, negativity, SJW, and purity culture. There are literally antis for anything you can think of: Naruto, Bleach, FMA, Voltron, feminism, shipping, anything.

Purity culture is toxic. Purity does not exist. Even Shakespeare knew his character Bianca in Taming of the Shrew. Hell, depicting problematic material does not mean the person is in support of it. Are you saying that George R.R. Martin supported incest? He's a liberal. Fanfiction writers have a whole laundry list involving kinks, standard kinks too, and they're just sex.

Don't get me going into age gap relationships in fiction. Now, modern shipping culture seemed to mean that any age difference and I do any of them including two full grown adults like an 80-year-old with a 60-year-old and that's pedophilia. Um, they're both adults? Do you even understand the word, adult, or the word, pedophilia? Do you even understand the world is not America-centric? Are American teenagers and young adults that entitled and self-centered to not see that the world does not revolve around their morals or what they believe to be taught? Do you just confuse statutory rape with pedophilia?

Hey, no matter how much you criticize some fandom practices, be glad they are a niche and aren't as widespread. Seriously, A/B/O dynamics are an internet creation, similar to the Humans are Space Orcs threads. I doubt a lot of people actually know or care A/B/O actually means. Hell, as a whole, I cared as much as I do piloting a plane which is NOTHING!!!! Seriously, I don't care much for A/B/O at all. Sure we can theorize what made it popular or appealing; people are allowed to hate it or not care much for it.

Do you understand how reality works? Purity does not exist. The Victorians tried to push for that and guess what? It didn't work. People regarded fandom as a niche. Do I have to point out how people were surprised by Trekkies and Star Wars fanatics? Do I have to point out to you there are specific groups of people who go to conventions in cosplay (I still need to work on my Kaitou Kid cosplay) and panels? There are groups of fans who buy tickets or outright traveled to see them live? Does anyone remember how fans were even treated outside of the fandom sphere? And that's not getting into America's depiction of geekdom. Even with The Big Bang Theory's less than amazing depiction of nerds, at least they got right the fact that it is a niche. Their coworkers may or may not get the references but at least they get it was nerdy. Seriously, if The Big Bang Theory got it right, then you, the consumer, are doing it wrong.

This is why I don't get antis. Fandom doesn't have anything in reality. It's a niche. It's not as widespread as you think it is.

That makes them no different from sports fans. Sports fans are a niche. Sports had become a part of our culture to the point of almost a military ceremony beforehand. Sports is really just a ball bouncing around to person to person.

Back then, people ship whatever they wanted. Sure, there is ship hate then and the occasional ship war but none that overtook the fanbase unless they are popular in some fashion. Back then, fandoms have been toxic. Back then, fans expressed fanart regardless of what canon says. Back then, canon meant nothing to fans. It is called fanon for a reason! Back then, people celebrated their interests and just indulged. Back then, you don't need to reveal personal information to strangers just to allow you to even have your indulgence. I seriously hate that because these guys are preying on the vulnerable to release personal information. It's one thing, revealing age and zodiac sign but beyond that...yeah, you're setting yourself up for vulnerable situations.

That is more horrifying than an A/B/O fantasy. Seriously, at least those A/B/O fics don't hide they are basically sex fantasies. What these guys aren't hiding is that they are abusing vulnerable people who simply want to explore.

Now, it's canon is the priority regardless fanon still exists (seriously there is still the perception of a fanon character versus a canonical characterization. I mean it's hilarious in the VLD fandom where before Keith's Vlog, people see Keith as this arrogant boy who got everything on a silver platter despite his ancestral issues despite people saying that interpretation is wrong on all accounts. And this is a fandom that has all the modern fandom trends come together in a bad mess and a fandom that seemed to think they are the best in controlling others including thinking they can also police in AO3 including lambasting anyone posting mpreg in a supposedly pure ship....are you kidding? It is not called AO3 for nothing and do you not know the history of fandom and AO3?). Now, it's buzz words thrown around so easily that the actual people who committed the crimes slipped under the radar and crimes overlooked. Now, it's purity all over the place. Now, it's the normalization of abusive techniques and mob mentality over people who simply have different life experiences thus preferences. Now, it's a 'crime' to post things that are normal to humans even as far back as the great intellectuals like Plato arguing about Patroclus and Achilles. Seriously, this happened. Now, fanfiction seemed to be policed where safe spaces like AO3 are being attacked. Now, cathartic fiction should never be written according to stupid entitled children who only have a surface education of the world, who confused terms and laws, who failed to recognize fiction is a place to explore, unlike nonfiction.

Believe me, I began learning so many things about the world once I exited high school. I took a class in sociology. I learned reliable information from various sources to extend my learning if my classes or school of education did not teach such a thing. I am currently looking for a goddamn job.

Entitled spoiled brats of teens to the early twenties who think they can control other people are a major problem. Even older people who should know better than to bully to the point of creating multiple blogs to have 'receipts' of people who committed a horrendous crime of fanart or shipping something, designating them as disgusting people who committed those deeds despite the fact that they are simply fandom-based ships that will not hurt the canon. Not even caring to listen to criticism, they deemed themselves morally right to the point that sane people outside of fandom space called them out for their horrendous behavior from non-fans!

While I do consider Steven Universe enjoyable and its messages do need to be said especially in a time where hate and controversies are so easy to stir up especially when everything started to get political regardless of the author's intention to just have fun, the insane fans gave the sane fans a bad reputation. Harassing crewmen and artists (who have no say in the story but they can say which they ship) is disrespectful over a fucking fanon ship. YOU don't get a say in canon. YOU don't own it officially. You are simply creating headcanons that you confused canon for.

Steven Universe is made for everyone. How the hell does self-righteous POC, LGBTQIA+, and whatever identity and sex you identify with own that? In gatekeeping, you are making people force away something they'll enjoy and interact with people who share that interest. Avatar the Last Airbender comics outright mocked fake fans and gatekeepers, for Godoka's sake. Creators including those who aren't even involved in the final process are 'exposed' by these gatekeepers as these not great people who deserve none of the praise. I just...wow...

In VLD fandom, one of the youngest fandoms I was seen, these anti-shippers or at least a small percentage of them sent death threats over which is strictly fanon (Klance is fanon, guys. Shipping isn't canon. Sure we would love some canon backing such as intimacy and teamwork but those are interpretations. Unless something that is undeniably romantic like Kataang's continuous interest although admittedly getting LGBT media unless you are LGBT yourself regardless you is inclusive and treat everyone like equals are difficult to identify. People didn't see Korrasami or Solangelo but they will admit it is canon. They don't like it but they'll move on. They might criticize how it's handled and such and such. They are allowed to hate it. They are not allowed to hate people who are inclusive to even write them. Are you saying that the VLD supported pedophilia? No, Josh Keaton explicitly said they have to learn the definition of pedophilia. His friends particularly Shada and Bex are fine with their Klance shipping. And they're all friends. Montgomery and Dos Santos said that all ships are valid. And they are friends with the VAs. Alex Hirsch basically said that all ships are valid alongside headcanons despite his mocking of well everything really from shippers to Tumblr itself.  I'll mock Tumblr myself and more like mock its purity no-boundaries sjw minority that pushed an agenda that is impossible to achieve because they have such little knowledge of fandom in general. Just because a ship is canon does not negate other ships; if people ship NH and SS, that means people can ship SNS or Narusaku. I will repeat this to death: you guys don't need canon for your shipping. Ship whatever you want; but if you seriously want canon, you cannot confuse canon with headcanon. Headcanon: Keith is Korean, Lance is bi. What is canon is something like this: Keith is Galra, Lance has a beauty routine, Hunk loves to cook.)

And this is the same fandom which has a strong anti-Shaladin policing community to the point that the anti-Shaladins who remained on their lanes look so bad. They would rather have a fanon couple like Shlav (which again they can ship; I personally don't care much of it) but refuse age difference relationships that are normal in high school and real life. I just don't get their logic here. They'll allow an obvious fanon ship but something that even resembled a real relationship between two people who even has just as much as two year age difference even though it's so freaking common in real life. My mom and dad have an 11-year difference. I have a friend who then was a sophomore dated a senior. Another person on Tumblr met her husband when she was 19. Other people even commented that when she was 18, her 16-year-old boyfriend abused her. So...yeah....age differences in relationships make no difference in reality. Sane people would call them out for their SJW agenda that no longer resembled reality and more like a fantasyland full of arrogant snot-nosed brats who know far too little of the world. They'll be laughed off in reality.

They are forgetting that people still ship SasuNaruSasu despite the manga ending or jumping the shark or anything really. They forgot that people still ship Pokeshipping despite Misty not appearing since her last appearance in AG. They forgot that people still ship Ichiruki despite Rukia not even appearing in the manga in years. They freaking forgot that people still ship Johnlock despite canon and creators pretty much shamed them for even liking them together. They forgot that Spirk is one of the oldest slash couples out there and had not hurt any movement in the real life like LGBT parades and protests in real life events that have an impact on the conscienceness. They didn't hurt the actual movement itself!

Seriously from what I gleaned, Matt is a discourse now for shipping. WTF, now it's Maladin and I just... We just saw a canonical Matt expressing a crush on Allura and now that's bad. What is wrong with shipping a guy who simply has a crush on her? Regardless of your preferences, it's a fucking ship on fandom. You guys can still ship Matt to anyone! Age is utterly meaningless in shipping fandom! Age them up or make them animals or put them in Amestris or cross them into the world of ATLA or gender-switch or bodyswap or make them pirates or put them in modern day! Ship Matt with Lance, Allura, Pidge, whoever the fuck you want! Just don't hurt anybody, you stupid fandom!

Also fandoms, please for the love of Shakespeare, do not put too much stake in theories and expect it to be canon. You can love a theory. I'm a lover of Wild Mass Guessing and love it when the writers proved me wrong or right or outright troll us. People can create lovingly detailed theories out of anything. Hell, there are crack theories like Miss Fizz from The Magical School Bus is a Time Lord. That's fun! Don't sit on a throne, expecting special treatment just because you have a theory you firmly believe to be true.

Shipping meta is best described as a reach at any point in time (even one of the Klance analyzers, who does not participate in meta much or fandom much admitted it was pushing it and she doesn't watch the show for the ships!) but just fanon fun. Don't get invested in fanon to expect things from canon. Because the creators hint at one thing does not mean that it is the thing you strongly desired. You guys don't need to pick canon. Canon is simply the backbone or not of all the backbone. Mycroft and Greg Lestrade were paired up precisely because of a passing comment from Greg. I shipped Sam X Mercedes and people shipped Sam X Blaine and Kurt X Puck? And you know what, it's all fine!

Fanon means to explore things that canon will not or would not or could not explain in great detail. You can literally explore anything. Coffee shops au's are so common you can literally find them in every fandom to date.

My headcanon for Suyin's father is Sokka. So by that headcanon, they're both terrible parents! Then again, they cannot be Kataang. Aside from me being a happy Tokka shipper, it's still a headcanon. The creators admitted that unlike Katara and Aang, the others' lives (i.e. Zuko, Sokka, Toph, Suki) are left up to interpretation. This was supported by the comics which the creators themselves have spoken to the writers. Hell, LoK made that pretty clear that we still don't know what happened to Suki. Katara could have at least mention Suki but literally none. Therefore, Sokka being Toph's daughter's father is still right in our books. Hell, aside from harassment from fans, the creators are pretty cool with the fandom using their material and encourage them.

How I wish all creators to actually see fanfiction as a creative writing medium? People aren't making money off of it. People are afraid of getting their asses sued off. While Anne Rice started to take a stance towards tolerating fanfiction, her actions in the past erred multiple people and made it into fandom history. Not even Stephanie Meyer didn't sue E.L. James (I never been so grateful. That will be so messy).

Seriously, fandom is a niche. It had not impacted anybody at all. In fandom history, fandoms in the past have been treated like it's an awful thing. Sure certain number of fans are awful and unrepentant about their doings. But there will be the sane fans and the casual fans who simply enjoyed the work. Fandom is voluntary. Either you join it or you don't. If a fan is being dumb for one reason or another, don't interact with them, just don't for your peace of mind.

I'm actively avoiding the VLD fandom and I feel guilty about that since I know antis are a clear minority to the point that even normal fans and casual fans could easily see what's wrong. I'm sure they're nice people to talk to in said fandom. I just wish that the vocal part of the minority doesn't warp fandom to the point fandom can't even do fandom anymore. Only fandom that these selfish entitled brats think they can police.

You know, before fandom adopted the word discourse, the previous word was wank. I guess discourse sounded more mature. Some topics they discussed may be nice like speculation of the hidden clues in Gravity Falls. Some might be so stupid like shipping wars. The Maladin and Shaladin discourse are so stupid I just cannot believe they think they are the police when they are the monsters of the night. Why the fuck would you care about ships when it doesn't even fucking matter outside of fandom space? People look at fandom ships as what fandoms usually do. Why the fuck do you think how the news circulate of a blackmail to the creators on a fucking ship to become canon? You do not own the work. All you do is stupid shit upon stupid shit.

Assholes in fandom will always exist. Trolling and G.I.F.T will always be on the Internet.

It is your responsibility to consume the Internet and its purposes. There is worse stuff than fandom shipping stuff you deemed incest, pedophilia, and abuse. There are porn sites out there that required no official account, literally easy access with no credit card and believe me when I say that. I even accidentally came across porn sites now and then, but I avoid it. There are videos out there that show awful stuff in history like says a filmed suicide.

Think what happened on Persona 5 where one guy died on public television. Those things will be posted on Youtube and circulate. That is far worse than any fanart that depicted a character having sex with a fucking towel or having fictional characters having sex in general, anyone. Imagine watching someone die onscreen in real life and it's not fiction. So yeah, don't think for a fact you're doing any good.

Representation doesn't really help LGBT rights and the movement. Sure we need inclusion in the western society and we need to see more marginalized people actually treated as equals from both ends. There are marginalized people who expect you to treat them as godsend just because of their sex and identity. We are looking for basic human decency here. There is a reason why people have such a backlash against the Steven Universe, Undertale, and VLD fandoms whenever they start to harass VA's and creators. Representation is helpful to the extent for people who want to see themselves in their shoes. Vietnamese people are so underrepresented in western culture; Vietnamese media is totally different because it aimed towards the people of Vietnam just like how Japanese media does to Japanese people. When I look at ML's Kim and TJ's Cheshire, I am relieved to see that I am at least represented in the west. Do you ever wonder why the Persona series are so successful in the first place? Even with its political messages? Even with its progressive thinking? I'm pretty sure people are outright reacting to what Persona 5 have to say about the society in question. P5 was radical, even having one of the villains being an expy for Shinzo Abe, someone that the crew at Atlus certainly disagreed with and hated.

Just you stupid young teenagers to barely young adults, you are not fighting for a good cause. If you want to fight for the good cause, go protest or donate or help actual nonprofit organizations or actually research stuff. There is a difference between fandom, a niche because seriously these cons are basically that a niche and actual porn. Porn that has actual children involved, the porn industry that actually affected society, porn that is easily found on the internet. Fanfiction and fanart are remarkably tamed because while shaped by society, it is not harmful to anybody. For example, Kylux is popular but it was influenced by racism and misogyny however unwitting. Anybody outside of fandom space knew that. People called out the insane fans who spit venom at the creators and fans for their actions. Why do you think the SU fandom has now been called a toxic wasteland by the public outside of fandom? Even the sane SU fans have that hovering over their heads.

Now Tumblr does have a problem that the staff desperately needed to work on, making sure to have no misinformation spreading - seriously, looking at you, antis - and SJW purity gatekeeping.

Why can't people on Tumblr get it through their heads that people aren't perfect? That their purity idealism is impossible to reach?

I don't see their 'movement' dying down anytime soon.

Seriously Reylo or whatever ship that had gained lots of hate from antis, go free, create your fanworks and enjoy it! For what character is called a problematic fave, go and have them as your favorite character! If your character is a villain, care less about what people wanted perfection when your interpretation counts just as much!

Now excuse me, I will be playing Legend of Zelda: The Breath of the Wild. I want to explore the world they have to offer.

And to watch Miraculous Ladybug S2.

Because I'm a huge Pokemon nut, I'm going to buy Ultra Sun and Moon. Hey, it's the first game I ever played in my life and I remained playing the flagship games.