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happy birthday! 🎉

Thank you so much!

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It’s my birthday today!

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POV: You're an anime fan in 2007

Also testing a new pen!

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the MOST iconic 20 seconds of any anime dub i’ve ever experienced

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Maniattemasu! postcard-- Asuka Magazine (08/2003)

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Me walking into work:

My headphones:

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It's my day off today, I'm gonna spend the whole day relaxing🐰🌛✨

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It’s incredibly important to me that the anime decided to include this scene that wasn’t in the manga. In the manga, Maomao does pass out in Jinshi’s lap after saving him from what was obviously an assassination attempt.

HOWEVER, the manga cuts off at this point, keeping strictly in Maomao’s perspective, and cuts straight to when she regains consciousness in bed after being treated for her injuries. The manga doesn’t show how she got back. They SAY how, and she briefly mentions, “wow that must have been embarrassing; he carried me back,” but we don’t SEE it. We don’t get to feel the true impact of what that means. But the anime DID show us, and holy shit.

They SHOW us how taboo this is. They show Jinshi carrying her out of the temple, after a public attempt on his life.

They show us the shock and horror on Lakan’s face as Jinshi silently walks past him. Horror at the state his daughter is in, horror at another man—a man with a status he could never dare to question—staking such a public claim over his child, horror at the fact that he could never have this level of closeness with her (as Maomao would never allow it).

Everyone hides their gazes, as is their custom when someone of his rank passes by, but the air is different this time. Jinshi is furious, he’s terrified, and he could not give a single shit about how inappropriate it looks to these palace officials.

The shot that slowly follows her trail of blood—even though it’s a small detail—that in particular leaves such a intense impression of how poignant this is for him.

Maomao talked about this scene in the manga like it was nothing to her. She did what she set out to do: she saved the person who was targeted by the attack. She didn’t even know the target would be someone she knew. But she has no idea that this happened afterwards as a result of her bravery. To her, it likely wasn’t even an act of bravery at all. She acted on impulse; she did what she knew was the right thing to do.

The anime didn’t need to include this, because the manga didn’t show it. But damn, I’m so glad they did.

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i just started apothecary diaries! im loving it so far, it's kinda reminding me of shirayukihime. what's your fav part of the series/manga? ☺️

Hey, thanks so much for the ask! Personally, my favorite parts of the series have to be Maomao (obviously!!) and the way her relationship develops with Jinshi. I love that Maomao is brilliant but also imperfect. She’s allowed to be a bit selfish, especially in regard to her love of medicine. Any time she gets the opportunity to focus on her interests, she takes it, even if it’s done out of an interest in the medicinal aspect of it and not necessarily because it helps other people, and I honestly love that about her! She’s cunning, brave, but also has no sense of self-preservation at times, and you love her for it anyway.

Also, whenever she’s geeking out about the strange things she loves that nobody else seems to understand, it warms my heart. Whenever she does that little “dance” (you know the one), I’m reminded of certain personal experiences of my own that endears me to her further (don’t feel like elaborating or over-explaining. I’ll just say I’m neurodivergent and leave it at that). She’s blunt, and likes more than anything to be left alone, but Jinshi always has some use for her, whether she likes it or not. He can’t help but to find her captivating, and I mean, why wouldn’t he?

Some very notable people find her to be a valuable asset and a reliable friend, but her relationship with Jinshi feels special. She’s the only one he can act his age around. He’s in a situation where he forced to be professional, becoming, and proper at all times, and yet when she’s involved, that childish side of him seems to poke out, and I think it’s sweet. He loves the parts of her that others judge or find unseemly—he loves her for her!

Overall, I think that the central elements that make the series compelling are Maomao (obviously), her relationship to Jinshi, and the overall world-building. You can tell that lot of thought was put behind the story and its setting and everything is purposeful. It’s my favorite manga I’ve read in awhile, which is saying something.

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“Dead Moon” - Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon SuperS - BGM

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Ready for the eclipse, hope nothing weird happens

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