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recentanimenews · 3 years

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INTERVIEW: Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid and the Directors' Legacy

Additional reporting by Kyle Cardine

On July 7th, Kyoto Animation released the first episode of Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid S, the second season of the Dragon Maid franchise. This marked not only the return of a fan-favorite series, but the comeback of the globally beloved studio as a whole. We wrote on Kyoto Animation’s indomitable spirit in our interview with studio president Hideaki Hatta last year, and now we see that spirit communicated through Dragon Maid’s incredible dual capacity for intricately animated sequences and depth of emotional expression.

On the occasion of both Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid and Kyoto Animation’s latest return to anime, Crunchyroll News had the opportunity to talk with Tatsuya Ishihara, the director of the second season of the series, about Dragon Maid’s return, his responsibilities as incoming director and more.

Ishihara the Director

Tatsuya Ishihara is a long-time Kyoto Animation director who has produced some of anime’s sharpest comedy sequences alongside some of the most emotionally resonant, often in the same series. “I’ve had experience with works that combine comical and serious aspects, and I like them,” Ishihara said when asked about this continuing theme. “I find them rather fun and easy to do.” Though it may be humble, his answer gestures towards his immense talent for finding the poignant within the comedic, as well as the comedic within the poignant, a talent we can trace through his entire career with the studio.

In 2005, Ishihara made his directorial debut at Kyoto Animation with the adaptation of the Key Visual novel Air. His philosophy of negotiating his own interpretation of a work with audience expectation can be seen throughout his career, starting with Air and continuing into adaptations of two more Key visual novels—Kanon and the acclaimed Clannad. “I’m not an artist trying to express my own sense of self. I’m thinking of the viewers and their expectations. My job as director is to marry my own interpretation of a work with viewer expectations,” Ishihara would later say in the Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions limited edition box set booklet.

However, the first title in which Ishihara’s incredible talent would truly be embraced by the masses in the West is inarguably 2006’s The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. A series absolutely packed with incredible comedy, supernatural intrigue, disarming drama, and pleasurable slice-of-life, Haruhi is dense with directorial flair. Ishihara’s ability to deftly maneuver between comedy and drama truly struck the zeitgeist in mid ‘00s Western anime fandom, to the point where Haruhi cosplayers and “Hare Hare Yukai” flash mobs were inescapable.

Ishihara’s credits continue on to include a second season of Haruhi, legendary comedies Nichijou (2011) and the aforementioned Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions (2012), and the coming-of-age drama Sound! Euphonium. All of these series embody Ishihara’s talent for balancing drama and comedy as well as his philosophy of mediating between his artistic expression and giving the audience what they want in different, equally affecting ways, and it is this body of experience that Ishihara has taken with him into his work on Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid S.

Ishihara and Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid S

The relationship between Kyoto Animation and the Dragon Maid manga series was formed quite early. According to a Futabasha editorial representative we spoke to in the making of this article, the publisher received an offer from Kyoto Animation to produce the adaptation shortly after the first volume was released. In January 2017, the studio released the first episode of Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid, quickly met with a warm embrace by fans.

The life that Tohru and Kobayashi build together is one full of warmth and laughter, woven from the comedy and drama that comes from the differences between the humans and dragons of the series. Despite the supernatural beings that make up half of its cast, the true magic of the series can be found in the deeply touching depictions of everyday life, a place where KyoAni is particularly adept. “In the anime, Kanna’s familiarity with everyday life was more emphasized,” Dragon Maid manga author Coolkyousinnjya said to Crunchyroll News. “There were more details, and a lot of things amazed me when I watched it.”

リリイベお疲れ様でしたー　すごくよかったです pic.twitter.com/FW5pkCtiD4

— クール教信者＠夏アニメ「小林さんちのメイドラゴンS」「ピーチボーイリバーサイド」「平穏世代の韋駄天達 (@coolkyou2) July 24, 2021

An illustration from Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid creator Coolkyousinnjya

Before we begin to talk about Ishihara’s involvement in Dragon Maid, we must address a painful, necessary truth: Tatsuya Ishihara did not direct the first season of the series. Rather, it was the late director Yasuhiro Takemoto who first helmed the title. Takemoto directed many of Kyoto Animation’s most defining and iconic works, beginning with the initial two episodes of the 2002 Nurse Witch Komugi OVA (the only two that were produced by Kyoto Animation), 2003’s Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu and its 2005 sequel Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid. He then directed the lion’s share of the absolutely iconic Lucky Star (2007), Hyouka (2012), Amagi Brilliant Park (2014), and, of course, season one of Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid. Throughout all of his work, but especially in Nurse Witch Komugi, Lucky Star, and Dragon Maid, you can see an absolute adoration for and celebration of otaku culture.

“I'm trying to keep the style of Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid that the first anime series and the original work have,” said Ishihara. “I'm taking over from the previous series, so I'm trying not to change the atmosphere.” And, as any fan of the first season will tell you, he has succeeded. From the pitch-perfect fish-out-of-water comedy to the jaw-dropping non-sequitur fight scenes to the sudden moments of deeply human empathy between Kobayashi and the dragons—everything that worked about the first season works here, too.

“I think it is my role to take over and convey the ‘feelings’ of the staff from the previous season while directing this season,” said Ishihara.

Yasuhiro Takemoto’s affinity for a specific period of otaku culture is woven through the first season of the series, especially with the protagonist Kobayashi and the characters Takiya and Fafnir. That aspect of the series identity is carried on in Ishihara’s season as well. “I thought I might be able to have an otaku talk with Takiya and Kobayashi-san, but their ages are so far apart from mine that I might not be able to talk with them,” said Ishihara when asked which member of the Kobayashi cast he would spend a night talking with. “That's actually been happening a lot in real life lately, which makes me sad. That's why I think it's Lucoa. She is kind and seems to be willing to listen to me.”

The comedic set up of the question was undercut with a surprising poignancy at Ishihara’s admittance that otaku culture is moving on from the form he is familiar with. That same emotional resonance is coincidentally echoed in the first episode of Dragon Maid S, when Kobayashi says, “People don’t use the word moe very much anymore, but they’ve kept the spirit of those times.”

Ishihara and the Core of Kyoto Animation

When the name Kyoto Animation is brought up to me, I immediately think of Sound! Euphonium’s Kumiko Oumae, her face contorting in frustration as she runs through the streets of her town, unable to hold herself back from screaming “I want to improve!” out loud. I imagine, for many anime fans, similar scenes come to mind—pathos, love, laughter, tears, all written on the faces of characters rendered in ways few other studios can. To quote Clannad’s first ending theme, “All that’s happy and all that’s sad rolled into one.”

The craft on display in Dragon Maid S is, of course, apparent to anyone that watches even a few seconds of an episode. Effortlessly shifting from subtle character acting and loving renderings of scenic everyday life to mind-melting supernatural battles featuring some of the best fight choreography of the year.

How can one team balance the demands of such polar opposite tendencies in a series? “Even in animation,” Tatsuya Ishihara responded, “if the setting of the work is close to reality, the movements of the characters will be limited to realistic theatrics. However, animation is supposed to be freer, and the designs, movements, and theatrics of the characters themselves should be exaggerated. In this respect, Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid is a fantasy, so it is easy to make use of the original characteristics of animation. By exaggerating the movements and expressions of the characters, I try to make them even more humorous and convey their feelings.” Animation is the medium, not film, and Ishihara and his team are making full use of it.

Animation, no matter how impressive, must be in service of a story to reach something beyond pure spectacle. The staff of Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid S understands the characters and their feelings, their situations, their histories, and what they care about. Ishihara understands the power that can come from a story about two groups of people with seemingly irreconcilable differences coming together to build a life of found family.

“It is normal that you and others are different, so it is important to accept that and to acknowledge each other's diversity,” said Ishihara. In the age of the Internet, I think we have come to realize that people around the world are not united, but rather that there are people with many different ways of thinking. One of my favorite lines is when Fafnir says ‘The common sense of this [human's] world doesn’t completely mesh with our [dragons'] understanding’ and Tohru responds to him by saying ‘but isn’t reconciling that kind of fun?’”

For the past few years, increasingly, I have felt like we are all living in a broken world; People are divided by distance, ideology, and disease. The climate is changing. And reporting about these topics crashes against us constantly, each day feeling as if it brings more bad news than the last. But I have found refuge in the works of Kyoto Animation, as have many others. In the stories this studio has told, fans are able to see the beauty that can be found in life, no matter the circumstances. Sometimes, in the midst of a reality that seems grim and harsh, you need to be reminded that there is still love and fun to be found. Sometimes, all it takes to bring you to that state of mind is the story of a woman and the dragon that loves her.

TVアニメ「#小林さんちのメイドラゴンＳ」第1話『新たなるドラゴン、イルル！（またよろしくお願いします）』をご覧いただきありがとうございました❣ Illustration：石原立也（監督）#maidragon pic.twitter.com/49wE3HeLrS

— TVアニメ「小林さんちのメイドラゴンＳ」公式 (@maidragon_anime) July 7, 2021

Episode One Thank You Illustration from Tatsuya Ishihara

“I’m sure many of you were worried, but we were able to release Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid without any issues,” said Ishihara. “I would like to continue to create enjoyable works, so please have fun.”

Cayla Coats is the Editor-in-Chief of Crunchyroll News EN. She tweets @ceicocat.

Kyle Cardine is a Managing Editor for Crunchyroll. You can find his Twitter here.

By: Cayla Coats

#Anime #News #Latest in Anime News by Crunchyroll!

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sabineelectricheart · 3 years

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The Oracle Vault [Pt. 1]

Summary: Byleth and Sylvain take refuge from the cold and prying eyes at the Abyss.

Rating: K+ - Suitable for more mature childen, 9 years and older, with minor action violence without serious injury. May contain mild coarse language. Should not contain any adult themes.

Words: 2435

Notes: So, a new series. I hope you enjoy this one, too.

The Oracle vault.

The large, stone salon was tucked somewhere on the face of the stone that held up the monastery main buildings. A wrong turn away from the Abyss settlements, the chilly, mysterious room had always elicited some strange regard from the new Archbishop.

Before the war, Rhea would use the room to make predictions about the future and the wishes of her mother, trying to communicate with the Blue Sea Star. The monks tasked with the prophecies used all sorts of methods, from magical objects, narcotic substances and, mainly, ritual dancing. So much so, the White Heron Cup was usually held to identify students with a particular talent for it, as, upon victory, they were brought here to further education in magic.

Of course, the former Archbishop’s attention to it was uneven. At the dawn of the Church of Seiros, Rhea would invest heavily upon the art, hoping to bring forth Sothis through their magic. After the Four Apostles failed so shamefully and were purged away from the religion, the woman started investing in Crestology and alchemy instead, returning every so often, after another failed experiment and lidden with guilt for perverting her mother’s creations in such a manner, hoping for absolution and guidance.

Byleth does not know why she cares for this room, as she is unsure about its power to predict the future and the will of the Goddess. She understands why she appreciates the gardens and gazebos, and do have fond memories of her old classroom, but, prior to the war, she had never even heard of this place.

It was far more contrasting from the others, consisting simply of stone walls and arched ceilings, a large empty space in the middle, as if what should go there was yet to appear. On the dark and damp corners, mismatched tapestries draped in ruffles from the walls in bursting colours, equally so in the various sizes cushions and chairs with rugs to match. Other objects as pebbles, scales, magically-infused items and strange clothing were discarded around, as well.

Regardless, it laid empty and forgotten. The Oracle mages and dancers were seen by Edelgard as the consubstantiation of everything that was wrong and corrupt about the Church, just short of the Immaculate One in foulness, and so made her personal business their systematic persecution and murder. Seteth said it was unlikely any of them managed to survive, and if not, they had no news of any of them. Their art is mostly lost, and it elicits a bit of a melancholy in Byleth’s heart, knowing that.

“Why is it that we are coming here?” Sylvain asks with a sigh, trailing behind her as Byleth ascend the last few steps of the winding spiral staircase.

The green-haired woman turns to him with a slight wicked grin and a raised brow, a look he soon returned as he grasped her hand in his own.

“I think we could do with a change of scenery, after all.” She responds with some ease. “I am growing rather tired of the Goddess Tower and the Star Terrace.”

“What is wrong with the Goddess Tower?” He scoffs in faux offense, his brows furrowing as she tugged him along with her into the vacant room as he looks over his shoulder once more.

“It is far too cold and cloudy to go up there tonight. Besides, this is one of my favourite rooms in the whole monastery if you must know. You will survive mingling with the Abyss people just this once, Sylvain.” She jests light-heartedly, releasing his hand to skip ahead of him as he groaned at her sudden absence and he had no choice but to follow her.

Though, he felt that he would follow her anywhere, and this was a proven fact with the conflict that came to a head only a few Moons prior.

“And if I do not?” He calls after her just to be difficult, pinching a piece of red velvet fabric between his fingers before his eyes roam back to her.

Byleth turns on her heel and purse her lips at him, narrowing her gaze as she fights her bemused smile. She shakes her head as he holds her stare in just the same manner, his head tilting and eyes squinting as he challenged her and she readily gave up on suppressing her grin for a moment longer.

“You did not have to join me if this is not to your taste, you know?” The Archbishop says, and he rolls his eyes as he tugs her close to him by a gentle grip on her hand. “If you have such a strong opinion of my wards, you are more than welcome to turn around and leave, but I have a feeling you would miss me too much if you did.”

The horseman silenced her very logical words with a kiss, her chuckle dwindling as she relaxed against him. His kiss was soft and tender as he hummed against her lips, his hand coming to brush her hair behind her ear as his lips moved from her own to sweep across her cheek. They linger just under her jaw before pressing chastely under her ear, his nose brushing over her skin.

“Must you always pick on me, darling?” Sylvain murmurs, his breath tickling against the shell of her ear.

Her soft laughter starts up again at his words, pulling his attention back to her gaze as he pulls back to look at her. She rests her hands on his chest, her fingers splaying across the azure fabric of his wool-lidded coat and smoothing over his furred collar.

“Yes, I think I must.” The woman concludes and, with that, she turned away from him and left his loose embrace much to his dismay.

She walks over to the centre of the salon, and twirls around slowly, taking in the static air buzzing on her skin. She knows her companion can feel the magic, too, and was just being a contrarian for sport. Besides, they were deep underground, behind complex magically-protected doors. If there is a private, unassuming room in all of Garreg Mach, this is probably it.

Sylvain watched as she smiled contently, her eyes falling closed as she tips her head back and bask in the peace that came with nightfall. In the enchantment of the room. For it was the time where they could love one another as freely as they would like, for as many hours as the moon remained in the deep navy sky. He wanted desperately to love her in the light of day, without fear of prying eyes and listening ears, but she knew why things were the way they were.

The House of Gautier were devout followers of the Church and loyal subjects of the Kingdom. The Margrave’s assistance on the Homefront during the war against the Empire was undeniable, and absolutely invaluable on their struggle for resistance.

However, for all the decoration and respect the family has amassed throughout their existence, and above all the more recent achievements, are believed by the current house head to be thanks to their Crest, and its consequent ability to yield the Lance of Ruin. As such, the blood must be protected with all zeal.

In Fódlan, that usually meant inbreeding, but the House of Gautier has not birthed a girl in one hundred and fifty years, and so incest was a material unpracticality, even between cousins. So, it was established a rotation between the Crest houses of the Kingdom: Blaiddyd, Dominic, Galatea and Fraldarius. It was believed that, through this system, the family would profit from the influx of blessed blood, but no one other Crest would be able to supplant the Gautier, as it happens from time to time with noble children.

In this regard, while Byleth carries a valuable and powerful Crest, coveted by many houses throughout the continent, a match between her and the only heir to Gautier seemed like an existential threat to the Margrave. Not only she carried the Crest of Flames, the sign of the Goddess’ favour, the Church documents seemed to indicate that both her parents carried the Crest of Seiros. They would certainly overpower the Minor Crest of Gautier the old noble and his son carried.

While Byleth cannot say for certain which Crest her children would bear, or even if they would bear one at all, or even still if she is able to have children of her own, the Church does know of ways to make one carry any Crest. From blood reconstruction surgery, to Crest Stone rituals, to even a valuable collection of Dragon Seals hidden away, if there is a pressing need for a bearer of the Crest of Gautier, she is guaranteed of its supply.

Nevertheless, it was widely agreed amongst the war generals that Crests were an undesirable feature of their society, and they should be let naturally purge away in the coming centuries. She cannot go back on such an important and consensual position for her own personal gain, especially if it means announcing to the world that the Church could have granted Crests to anyone all this time.

So, Sylvain’s father pressured him to sever his ties with his girlfriend, he is constantly pressured to wed either Annette or Ingrid, and they continue their liaison under the clandestine guard of the Garreg Mach nights. It was not a situation that would be left standing for long, but the dices will fall where they must, and Byleth has decided to deal with them as they do.

For now, to his great delight, the nobleman watched the way the torchlight glowed against her divine beauty as it shines against her verdant hair, falling like a protective veil over her head. It danced across his girlfriend’s unmarred and soft skin, as soft and jovial as a new-born’s, in bitter spite of the many years of probations she endured.

Such an ethereal beauty left him wondering how someone so perfect could love someone so flawed. He found himself to be an anchor tied to her at times, his grievous mistakes and current standing in the nobility something he felt kept her from thriving the way he knew she would, the way she deserved. She already was, far more than he could say for himself.

His girlfriend still had that unsettling unfazed look on her face, that tendency of over-rationalize what is said, but, as he grew accustomed to it, he found it more endearing than disturbing. In her own way, she radiates warmth and, above all, acceptance, something he so desperately craved and found he could not keep himself from. To him, she was the embodiment of sunshine and he felt he was quite the opposite, rather bringing storms and rain. Yet still, she chose to love him in spite of it.

He felt guilty, really.

Guilt for having a father who made her feel like their relationship was in jeopardy without ever having the displeasure of meeting the man. For not being able to love her as fully and openly as he so desired.

“Are you going to join me or are you going to stare all night?” Byleth quips, breaking him from his pestering thoughts.

His gaze flickered from the vacant spot she once stood in to where she sat on purple velvet cushioned stool. She smiled as the crystal sphere flowed before her and a grin of his own tugged at the corner of his mouth. He took a seat on the small crimson stool right next to her, finding himself a bit too tall for such a small seating arrangement but he decided against complaining.

The sphere before she contained a fog-like haze that swirled around much like the clouds many floors above their heads.

“Just what are we doing?” He asks, an amused smirk on his lips as he raised a brow.

The green-haired woman shrugs. “As the Archbishop, I suppose I should be proficient in every aspect of the religion I am expected to lead. Perhaps I would be able to see something on these. I was told they were quite easy to operate, in fact.”

“Are you having any luck with it?” He asks, as his girlfriend peers ever closer to the object.

“Unfortunately, no.” She says, laughing at his scrunched nose and the way he gripped her stool and tugged her closer with one swift pull. “Tell me, what will our future be in five years’ time?”

He chuckles, shaking his head fondly as he looked from the crystal to her. “That is quite simple, I do not need some silly crystal to tell me that.”

She raises her brow in amused curiosity. “Is that so? What lays ahead, Oracle?”

The redhead nobleman looks at her attentively, his smirk softening to an adoring smile. “Of course, Your Grace. The future is that I will love you as long as you will have me, and even more.”

Byleth nearly rolled her eyes at his sappy words, but she found them too earnest and the look on his face far too endearing to do so. She cannot deny the fact that she appreciates his steadfastness, too, but she also did not have it in her to miss an opportunity to tease him.

“Is that so? The crystal ball seems to disagree from you. As I see here, I shall sustain a wart on my nose in the next five years, and you, heartbroken from the lost beauty of mine, shall flee with a travelling minstrel.” She jests, and he rolls his eyes as he fights his smile.

“I am convinced you love to torment me.” He frowns, even in spite of his half-amusement from the stupid joke.

Despite the light-hearted moment, he finds he cannot enjoy it fully with the worry weighing heavy on his mind. Her question was merely playful, but it had been one that frequented his thoughts far more than he cared to ever admit, more than he ever will admit.

In a perfect world, one there were no Crests, that there was someone to shoulder the responsibilities he is so eager to shirk, Sylvain would have felt confident with the idea of loving her for the rest of his life. Would have felt rather excited for their future together because he loved she entirely too much for his own good.

However, it was much too difficult to indulge in thinking of such dreams when there were things in particular pressing down on his shoulders.

That one night in particular, to be specific, he would never forget that.

*_*_*_*_*

The Oracle Vault Masterlist

Fire Emblem Masterlist

Three Houses Masterlist

#fire emblem #Sylvain Gautier

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redschillzone · 4 years

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Flight Logs (Poe Dameron x Reader)

(Gif found here!)

Pairing: Poe Dameron x Reader

Word Count: 4.5k Words

Warnings: Suggested themes, maybe a curse word or two

Summary: While Poe is away on a mission, reader goes ahead and re-reads the logs the two have had.

A/N: My first Poe one-shot. I love him and I hope I did him justice. Enjoy! :)

You couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped your lips as you sat on top of the grass covered hangar, the starry sky lighting up as much as it could to be your light in the dark. You made sure to bring with you an extra lantern or two to provide more light as you laid out the flight logs in front of you, putting a small rock on them to make sure they didn’t blow away in the cool night breeze. You were currently re-reading old flight logs between you and Poe from over the years; He managed to sneak you the extra copies he made to read whenever he was away after giving the others to Major Taslin Brance, a communications officer who wanted the logs to fill in any gaps in the Resistance records they had on file. This just so happened to be one of those times where you pulled out the logs and made your way out of the base to sit and re-read them. He was currently away on a month long mission, and you were missing him dearly as you had on several nights; You knew what he was doing was important for the Resistance, between recruiting members to just gathering supplies to taking down squadrons of First Order. You couldn’t help the small sigh that escaped you as you remembered the night before he left as if it was yesterday.

——————-

“So.. I’ll be leaving early in the morning for that mission I told you about.” Poe told you as you rested your head on his chest, his fingers gently running through your hair as you listened to his heart beat; It was calm and steady, relaxing even as you listened to him talk, his voice vibrating through his chest. You two just got through one of the greatest love making sessions you’ve ever had, and this is what he decided to talk about afterwards. You knew he was thinking of going on the mission, I mean, Leia herself recommended him to go. He was the greatest pilot in the Resistance, how could she not want him to go? You hummed lowly in response, drawing small shapes on his chest as you listened to him talk.

“Are you going to be okay while I’m gone?” He asked, looking down at you as he stopped the movements in your hair. It caused you to look up at him, his chocolate brown eyes still soft and full of love for you as he searched your eyes for some kind of answer. You couldn’t help but smile and lean up to peck his lips.

“Yeah, I think I’m going to be okay babe.” You told him, watching as the small smile spread on his face as he pulled you into a short, passionate kiss. You shut your eyes as your lips moved against his, and you shifted yourself so you were straddling his hips once more. He pulled away first and couldn’t help but laugh as he looked over your naked body.

“Another round?” He teased, a grin on his face as you smirked and leaned over, beginning to kiss at his neck.

“Let’s go, Commander Dameron.” You whispered in his ear, causing him to groan below you as his hands were placed on your hips and you were flipped onto your back, pinned to the bed once more as Poe gladly took control.

——————-

You blushed at the memory and shook your head, picking up a few of the logs and scanned them over. You had been dating Poe for over three years now, and no matter what mission he was sent on or how long he was away, he always gave you his jacket to hold onto. It was his little way of saying ‘Hold onto that for me, because I’m returning for it later.’ You wore it constantly while he was away as he intended you would; It was his way of staying with you while he was gone. And when he returned, you’d return it with a small smirk and a “Welcome back, Commander.” before giving him a quick ‘welcome back’ kiss. It was just a thing you two started doing and it just stuck throughout the years. You currently had his jacket wrapped around your shoulders now as you looked over the logs, his scent surrounding you and calming you as you read through the many flight logs he had given you. It wasn’t long before you began to chuckle lightly, tightening his jacket around your form as a breeze blew past, causing a few of the papers to rustle.

“Oh my Maker, Poe. You managed to find this log? I thought this one was lost forever.” You told yourself as you laid back against the blanket you brought with you, your eyes scanning over the words. You two were on a supply run, heading to the planet Yavin 4 to gather up some medical supplies that were desperately needed within the Resistance. It was the first time you and Poe were put on a mission together alone, as it was only going to take about two days for the whole trip and Leia didn’t want all of Black Squadron being away for it.

——————-

“I hate this ship.” You mumbled to yourself as you flew one of the few Resistance cargo ships; Your x-wing was far too small to carry the medical supplies you and Poe were being sent out to get, so this was the second best thing the Resistance had to offer with what little they had.

“I think it suits you well, easy to fly and very easy to spot.” Poe spoke through the comms, a laugh leaving him as you felt a blush creep on your face before you bit back at the sassy, dark haired pilot.

“Oh really? Then why don’t you come over here and fly this thing if you’re as great of a pilot as you called yourself.” You spoke through the comm, shifting your gaze over to the black and orange x-wing that flew just beside you; It’s colors sticking out greatly as the blue hues of hyperspace contrasted against it. All you could hear was the laughter through the comm as he continued to fly through hyperspace beside you.

“Nah, I don’t fly such big, bulky ships, sweetheart. I like them small and fast.” He grinned, to which BB-8 beeped at him, almost as if calling him out and stating that that was a lie and he’d fly just about any ship he was given.

“Buddy come on, agree with me on this one.” He commented, to which you just shook your head and kept the ship on its current course. It was your first official mission alone with the Poe Dameron, and you didn’t want to fuck it up in the slightest. After all, you had your own reputation to uphold.

You were the commander for Grey squadron, a group of four pilots that used a series of StealthX x-wings to recon close to the First Order Dreadnoughts and gather what information you could about them before fleeing and returning to base. The ships were slightly smaller than the usual x-wings, and because they were crafted with equipment that hid the ship both visually and from the sensors, they were perfect for the recon missions. Leia had made the comment that they were once used by her brother Luke and by his New Jedi Order back in the day, but you never really knew if she was being serious or was just saying it to keep your spirits up during these dark times. You always told yourself you’d try and look into it, but never had the time to do so.

“So.. Commander (L/N)…” Poe started, shifting in his seat as he watched the scanners in case you had any unexpected visitors coming out of hyperspace.

“Yes Commander Dameron?” You spoke through the comm, urging him to continue his question.

“Are you seeing anyone?” He spoke, which caused you to laugh at his question. Was this what he was asking? Sure it was a bit of a flight to Yavin 4, even if you were in hyperspace right now it was still going to take some time. You just guessed he was trying to pass the time by asking silly questions to keep you two entertained, and to be honest it was working quite well.

“Mm.. Not at the moment, no.” You answered honestly before you added onto your answer.

“I had dated someone at one point though, about a year or two before I joined the Resistance. They weren’t exactly the kind of person I thought they were going to be later on down the line so I broke it off with them.” You told him as you leaned back in your seat, watching as the various blue hues flickered past you. You always found hyperspace to be oddly calming and you never really knew why. You could hear Poe hum on the other end before he spoke up.

“Must have been some asshole to lose someone like you.” He spoke, which caused a blush to grow across your face once more. Was he going to start flirting with you? And if so, was he going to mean the words he said? I mean, you weren’t going to object to it but you didn’t want to be just another person in his bed that he would throw to the side once he was satisfied with you. If you were going to date him, or try too, you wanted to actually get to know him. Not the hotshot pilot the Resistance knows as it’s greatest pilot.

“What about you? You date anyone Commander?” You spoke, glancing down at the controls of the ship before you glanced over towards his x-wing. It was quiet for a bit before he spoke up.

“No need for titles, just call me Poe.” He started off before he continued his sentence.

“And yeah, I did. It was way back in the day when I was still a teenager. She was.. She was something else but eventually I needed to move on with my life, find out what I was really meant to do. I left her and all that behind me.” He spoke in a tone that you couldn’t quite put your finger on, but it was a mixture of what seemed to be a hint of sadness and relief all at the same time.

“I’m sorry, I probably shouldn’t have asked-” You started, but were quickly cut off.

“No, no it’s fine (Y/N). Besides, if I didn’t leave her and that life behind I wouldn’t have met BB-8 or anyone else in the Resistance, you included.” He added on, to which BB-8 beeped happily at him and the male chuckled.

“Yeah I know, it’s a scary thought that you could have been with some other pilot.” He spoke, to which you smiled. He loved BB-8. Their little partnership was adorable to you and you couldn’t help but love the way he treated BB-8 as though he was his own son; He treated the droid as something more, which was something pilots rarely did. You loved watching as BB-8 would zoom across the hangar to see Poe whenever the two were apart for a debriefing or Poe was called somewhere the small droid couldn’t follow. It was just the cutest sight to see Poe get down on one knee and rub the droids belly as though he were a pet, the way the two would carefully bonk their heads together as if they were separated for years at a time. It was adorable, and you wished to have a partnership like that, whether it be with a droid or a person.

“Well, I’m glad you’re here Poe.” You said with a smile, to which Poe couldn’t help the smile that spread across his own face along with a small blush. Anytime you complimented him he couldn’t help but feel the butterflies grow in his stomach. He admired the way you led your squadron, how well you got along with others in the Resistance and how you cared for the well being of everyone there. You would urge others to take breaks when needed, to take the time to not only recover physically but mentally. You were fighting a war for crying out loud, it was bound to take a mental toll on everyone eventually. You even did it to him one time and he actually took your word for it after a couple days of convincing. He never got to thank you for it but Maker, he had never felt better then the day after he took that time to rest and recover. He felt recharged and more than ready to take on the First Order and anything they threw at him.

“Yeah, I am too.” He spoke before something on his control panel began to beep, alerting him that the two of you were about to exit out of hyperspace and arrive at Yavin 4.

“We’re here, seems clear of any First Order. Should be a quick trip, so long as nobody knows I’m home.” He said as he sat himself up; You sat up as well and grabbed the controls for the ship. The smile was still on your face as you came out of hyperspace; Maybe Poe Dameron wasn’t as bad as you made him out to be, and maybe you were beginning to fall for the sassy, dark haired pilot after all.

——————-

You couldn’t help the smile that crossed your features as you put the logs aside, going and rolling onto your side to grab the rock you’ve been using to make sure the logs didn’t go flying off. You hummed lowly as you continued to skim through a few other logs; Some just being simple conversations between missions with his squadron while others were just battle logs or reports. You stopped on a few particular logs though and hummed lowly as your eyes scanned them over.

“These were from when you talked to BB-8 about your mom and dad…” You spoke to Poe as if he was there beside you. Even though he was nowhere around you, it was one of the things you began to do whenever he was away. It may seem strange to some people, but to you it helped you stay grounded while he was gone. You scanned over the words quietly, chewing on your lower lip quietly.

——————-

Poe gave a low hum as he continued to fly through hyperspace, glancing over his controls every so often as he let his mind wander about. It had been about two months since you and him got together, and he couldn’t have been happier. He loved you deeply, and when he asked you on a date to the cantina after a very rough mission, he was so glad you agreed. You both took the time to really get to know each other; How you came from a family that had no military experience whatsoever, how you were a lone child who just loved to fix up droids in your spare time. Poe couldn’t help but find it amusing that you took to droids instead of people but was also amazed that you took to flying instead of being a mechanic. You had said you didn’t want to be stuck on the ground forever, and flying was your way of being free. He honestly couldn’t have worded that better himself.

When you asked him about his family, he was a bit hesitant but eventually told you it all. How his father was a soldier and his mother a pilot; How they fell in love during a mission and once the war was won, retired to Yavin 4 to live out their lives. He told you how even though they were retired, his mom still flew her A-wing as part of a civilian defense for the planet. He spoke highly of her, mentioned how he would join her on flights when he was around two or three, even let him mess around with the controls of her ship. Even back then he liked to test the limits of things, and he was just a small child. But he couldn’t help but go quiet and you could have sworn you saw tears in his eyes when he brought up that she passed away when he was only eight years old and it just became him and his dad.

Even now as he flew, he couldn’t help the few tears that welled in his eyes as he thought of his mother. He missed her so much and with each passing day he did his best to hopefully make her proud. Would she be proud of him for what he’s done so far? Maker, he hoped she was. He lifted his head a bit as he heard a few beeps coming from behind him and gave a small chuckled.

“Yeah- Yeah I’m okay buddy, just lost in my thoughts is all.” He spoke, to which BB-8 beeped a couple more times at him.

“Just.. Thinking of my mom is all, bud. Her sense of adventure, her love of freedom- Her piloting skills as well, that she could fly anything with wings- She was my hero growing up. And now that I think about it, (Y/N) reminds me so much of her.” Poe couldn’t help the bit of laughter that escaped him. You were beginning to remind him bit by bit of his mother with how well your piloting was, how you always spoke of freedom even in the darkest of times, how well you commanded your squadron. It was almost as if his mom had sent you to him herself, and he wouldn’t doubt it for a second if she had.

“What I’d give to have another flight with her.. Or at least have her meet (Y/N)…” Poe spoke lowly, moving a hand up to his chest to gently pat the spot where his mother’s ring was, letting out a shaky breath as he shut his eyes for a few moments. It was the only thing he had left of his mothers, and more often than not whenever he was stressed he would move a hand up to grip it. It had a soothing effect on him, helped keep him grounded and put him back where he needed to be. One day he’d give it away to his future wife or husband, but until then it would remain with him and around his neck.

A few beeps came from the orange and white droid, to which Poe gave a nod.

“Oh yeah, she would have loved you both for sure. My dad though? Well.. He’s one of the toughest and kindest soldiers I’ve ever known. He’s the reason I’m the man I am today. He never liked to fly, preferred to have his feet on the ground then in a ship.” Poe laughed a bit before he continued on.

“One day I’ll take you and (Y/N) back to Yavin 4 to meet him. But until then, we’ve got a war to win bud.” He spoke, sitting up as BB-8 beeped in agreement.

“Let’s just hope we live long enough to see it won.” Poe spoke before he exited out of hyperspace.

——————-

You couldn’t help but wipe a few tears away of your own as you finished up those logs. You really did wish you could have met Shara; You’re almost positive the two of you would have gotten along great whether it was talking about flight strategies or talking about Poe when he was younger, you two would have talked about it all. Carefully you sat up, adjusting Poe’s jacket around you once more as you placed those logs with the rest before you skimmed through a few more, an eyebrow suddenly being raised to a new one that seemed to have been added. Did Poe add on to these before he left or did someone else put them in with yours? Nobody else knew about these, or at least you had hoped so. Poe said he was the only one who currently knew about you having the extra set of flight logs. You couldn’t help but hum as your eyes scanned over the page within your hand; It was recently dated, maybe about a week or two back. If that was the case, then this was from Poe’s current mission and your eyes couldn’t help but widen as you read the log over, your eyes glued to the page.

——————-

“We’ll be home soon pal, I promise.” Poe spoke to the orange and white droid as they beeped dejectedly. This mission was a long one not only on Poe, but on his droid as well. BB-8 was so over this mission already; After damn near almost being shot, falling off a cliff, almost being stepped on. This droid was over it and he beeped a few more times at Poe to voice his opinion.

“I know bud- I wanna be home too. I’m sure (Y/N) wants us home too.” Poe spoke as he glanced at the console of his ship, humming lowly as he glanced back at BB-8; The two were in hyperspace once more, the various hues of blue flashing past them.

“Hey BB-8, I wanna ask you something.” Poe started, to which the droid’s attention was now put on him as he beeped.

“I.. Was thinking.. When this whole crazy war is over.. I wanna ask (Y/N) to marry me. You think they’d agree?” Poe said, awaiting for the droid’s answer as he moved his hand up to the ring around his neck. He felt like (Y/N) was the one; I mean, after three years of dating how could he not get that feeling? He felt as though his mom would be proud of his decision and (Y/N) had met his father, who welcomed her with open arms and loved her to bits. It was probably very stupid to ask, but Poe wanted to see what BB-8 would say; The droid was one of his best friend’s after all. After a few moments, BB-8 beeped his response.

“Yeah, I think they’ll agree too. I just wanted to hear what you thought about it.” Poe laughed as the droid beeped at him; He wanted this war to be over with already. He wanted to settle down with (Y/N) so they could start their little family and just live in the whole ‘Happily ever after’ kind of life. He knew it was probably stupid to think of, but he wanted his own little family. Whether you wanted kids or not he didn’t know, but he hoped that by the time this war was over you’d maybe want one or two. He couldn’t help another laugh that escaped him as BB-8 beeped once more.

“You want a mom that bad, buddy? Isn’t she already your mom since we’re dating?” He joked with the droid, watching as they exited hyperspace. The droid beeped at him, saying that she was but it wasn’t an official thing yet. He just laughed away at the droid before he began to calm himself down.

“Alright, we’ll see how it goes then.” He told the droid as they flew to their destined planet.

——————-

Poe wanted to marry you. He said it, and it was right in front of you and your heart was beating so fast. You couldn’t help the tears that began to fill your eyes once more as you held the piece of paper close to your chest, sniffling a bit as you looked up at the starry sky. Poe Dameron, the greatest pilot in the Resistance and the man that won your heart, wanted to marry you. You couldn’t have been happier. You took a few deep breaths and removed the paper from your chest before you collected your logs and put them back in order. It was as you were cleaning up that you heard the hum of an x-wing; It’s engine growing louder as it drew closer to your position. You looked up and you couldn’t help the grin that spread across your face as you took note of the very familiar colors of black and orange. Poe was home.

Quickly you made your way down from where you sat and ran over to the X-wing as it landed, Poe making his way out. It wasn’t long before he heard your shoes colliding with the ground and he quickly turned to watch you, opening his arms for you as you all but jumped into his arms. He wrapped his arms around you in a tight hug, laughing a bit as he kept you close. Carefully he put you back down on the ground as he kept you close to his chest, humming as he pressed a few quick kisses to your head.

“Kriff, I missed you, baby..” Poe spoke, pulling away to look at you and blinked when he noticed you wearing his jacket. He couldn’t help but chuckle.

“I see you’re comfy yet again.” He teased, to which you blushed and punched his arm. You looked down as you felt something collide with your leg and smiled as you watched BB-8 look up at you, beeping happily now that he was home.

“Welcome back, BB-8. I’ve missed you too bud.” You spoke with a small laugh, turning to kneel down and rub at his belly, carefully pressing your forehead against the droid’s head. Poe couldn’t help but smile as he watched you, love flooding through his veins as he watched. You loved his droid, you loved him, you loved his crazy stunts and plans; And he loved you just as much.

Once you were done giving the droid it’s much needed attention, you got to your feet once more and turned to Poe, wrapping your arms around his neck.

“So.. I was reading through the logs while you were gone, if you haven’t noticed why I’m up at this ungodly hour.” You started, watching as Poe gave a small nod, wrapping his arms around your waist to keep you close to him.

“I figured as much, but please. Continue.” He spoke, moving his head down to occasionally kiss at your cheeks, your nose, or your forehead. You couldn’t help but smile as he showered you in kisses that were desperately needed.

“I came across one.. A recent one. And the answer is yes.” You spoke, watching as the man tensed before he pulled away to look at you with wide eyes. He knew what you were answering, but he didn’t know how you knew.

“I.. You..” He started, to which you gave a chuckle and pecked his lips.

“I’ll gladly marry you, Poe Dameron.” You grinned, to which the pilot couldn’t help but laugh and pull you into a kiss, one you gladly returned. He moved his hands up to place them on your cheeks, his eyes shut as he just focused all his attention on you.

He had his answer now, he now knows what you would say, and he couldn’t have been happier with your decision to marry him.

#Star Wars #Poe Dameron x Reader #Poe Dameron Imagine #Poe Dameron Headcanon #The Force Awakens #The Last Jedi #The Rise Of Skywalker #Oscar Isaac #Oscar Isaac x Reader

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levelrazearts · 5 years

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Sun and Moon

So, just watched the last episode of the SM series, specifically the subbed cause I was waiting for it to come out so I could write this, making this the 6th fully completed series that I've watched of the pokeani, with XY, OS, Orange Islands, DP, and BW, which is the order that I watched them in cause I am chaos incarnate, but I've got to say, I thoroughly enjoyed every single episode that this series produced, which is a first given how I felt about the previous series, and I'm really glad that I experienced this as it was still continuing and not after the fact. From seeing Alola for the first time to seeing Brock and Misty show up to the Ultra Guardians to the Alolan League, I'm very glad that this series went the way that it went and chose to do things differently than other series did, and that's in part due to how the games had gone so yay. Guess I'll go over some of the highlights now.

Spoilers Below, thoust have been warned.

The characters, my god, the characters really helped this show become an emotional rollercoaster both in joy and sadness.

Ash and Pikachu: The boy and his best friend are back and for the first time is in a mainly non-changing setting, taking a break from traveling while also exploring the Alolan region and all that it all has to offer. His training and experience is still there which was nice to see after XY, and his battling effeciency has definitely improved, with only a couple of loses here and there. Here it's almost as if they're both home, which is what Alola is all about, home and family, which allows them to both grow in ways we haven't seen them grow before. And let me say as someone who is a real big fan of electro ball, electro web is the perfect replacement for it, acting as a defensive move really helped provide some interesting combos in and out of battle, which really helped in the end. And let's not forget, seeing these two finally achieve their dream of winning a League after 22 years, it's a real heart warming moment, especially for those who have grown with this series since day 1 like me (more or less lol). This was a relaxing and reinvigorating journey for them, one they desperately needed and one that they deserved, along with all their accomplishments throughout.

Kukui and Burnet: Sure when Kukui was first introduced, I was a bit iffy on seeing him host Ash and Pikachu as it felt just a little bit weird, but seeing him grow into a father figure for Ash was something that I didn't know I needed, and with the introduction and later marriage of Burnet, it was also a great family relationship between everyone that we hadn't really gotten to see Ash experience due to his absent father and considerable amount of time away from his mother, and to see that just about every other character in the series acknowledge that Ash was a lot like Kukui was really heartwarming, even from people such as Guzma and Nanu. I hope we get to see more of these two and their family to-be in the new series.

Ash's Pokemon: I'm putting this all as one cause really, they were all great and this is the best way to say it, they were his closest 'Mons to date, with Ash putting as much love and care into their training as possible, and the results were a strong and reliable team that were also family. With Rowlet, it was a bond of listening and acceptance, wanting to stay as a basic evolution so he could stay in Ash's bag and sleep, Rockruff having a found a forever home and someone who helped to push him further with his limits and later his troubles in battling, Kitten finding trust again as well as someone with love forever, and being able to evolve due to that love and determination, Piople in a promise to return home, gaining a second home and family, and Meltan finding his place in the world, a best friend in Rolwet, and evolving to Melmetal, pushing as hard as he can for those he love. It really was/is everyone at their best and true-est. You also have the family pets with this setup in a bird, dog, and cat with a beautiful purple birb and metal protector. Seeing them stay in Alola, as much as it hurts, I think is the right choice for Ash to have made, for they're as much of a family to the professors as Ash was, and will continue to be, and I love that.

Kiawe: THIS FIRE BOY IS MY FAVORITE. I can not express how much this character has grown on me, especially within just the first season. At first, I thought he was going to be the serious-stick to the rules kinda guy, and I'm not a big fan of those, but then he started to lighten up, episode by episode, and then came the Dugtrio episode, and from there on out, he was my favorite. He's just written really well, super funny especially with his expressions, and overall a lot like Ash, but more focused on responsibilities. Not to mention, he's loyal to everyone, as seen in the Tapu Fini arc, which is one of my favorite episodes/arcs. All of his Pokemon were great too, Turtanator especially, as much as I love both his Marowak and Charizard, I feel that Turtanator was his best, in both personality and relationship wise, not to mention he was just to cute. Seeing him working on becoming an Island Kahuna is really befitting of his character as he greatly respects traditions and is the perfect role model for any youngin looking to be a challenger or trainer.

Lillie and family: So much growth, and so much more to go I feel, Lillie was a real great character to add in and I'm so glad that they went in a different direction than what the game had held and her overall arch from being someone who was afraid to touch a Pokemon, to now wanting to set off to find her father, truely a beautiful story, and her mother and brother also were great characters in their own right, as both supportive and riverly and both fueling her desire to become better than before, it's great to see the theme of family carry over into what is the supporting cast, making them feel more important than ever and I love it. Her relationship with her Vulpix (Snowy) was really touching and watching them both grow was more so. And seeing her be able to reunite with Magearna and by extension, her father through memory was so heartbreaking, I really hope we get to see the conclusion to their trip. As for Lusamine, I'm again, really glad they went a different route with her, making her a caring yet grieving mother instead of a careless one, and she was a definite highlight whenever on screen. And Gladion was just as much so, seeing him loosen up throughout the series was a blessing and reuniting with his father's Zoroark was just as heartbreaking, but seeing him in the semi-finals of the league, bursting with laughter with Ash at the amount of fun they were having, was really sweet and so in character with who he had become. Again, I really hope we get to see the conclusion to their trip to find Mohn.

Lana: She's the Meme Queen and my second favorite of the cast. Her constant joking contradicts her almost serious tone and allows her to be one of the most humorous of the cast, and I love it. While she didn't have to many arcs throughout the series, she was a strong Battler and fought for what was right no matter the risk, and I like that. Her dedication to making sure everyone was okay and safe while at the same time having fun was a neat touch. Her Poplio was also pretty fun, and seeing it evolve into a Brionne and later Primarima was a great growth to someone who was seen on the lower side of the spectrum in regards to power, and now it holds the spot of one the more powerful Pokemon within the group. And the addition of her Eevee (Sandy) is just heartwarming, and that haircut is to freaking adorable. Time will hopefully tell if it'll evolve or not, and I hope we do see that come to fruition, along with the search for Manaphy. Overall a joy of a character.

Mallow: An aspiring chef while not that much of a goal, was definitely a new direction to go in regards to a menu for both people and Pokemon, but I feel her growth came most in the form of both her Bounsweet and Tapu Fini arc, in how her Bounsweet evolved to help their friends, which is derived from her wanting to help others as much as possible, which I find to be perfect. And the Tapu Fini arc, well I guess it's more of an episode, really explores the trauma that she faced when she lost her mother and her regrets of having said things that shouldn't be said, and later gratitude for her mother leading to a Shamin appearing before her was really one of the most heartbreaking parts of this whole series, and even in writing this I was beginning to tear up. And while Shamin has now left, I do think it's message has remained in that one should be grateful for all that is now in the moment instead of grieving on the past forever, to make amends were possible, and to look to better the future, hence the Human/Pokemon menu/resutsrant she's hoping to bring to life. A great amount of growth in such a short time, this is a goal again I hope we get to see sometime in the future, as she's the only one to stay in Alola (unless Kiawe is as well which not to sure on that).

Sophocles: Easily the most panicked of the group, it was great to see him find his footing whenever he could and stand his ground, and improve his battling skills, which was really a testament to just how smart he his. Little by little, he has grown into a stronger and braver person and I love that. His Togedemaru was also the funniest Pokemon throughout the whole series next to Turtanator I think, and seeing him grow with his Chargabug and later Vikavolt was really something special. Becoming an Astronaut is also something that his growth has led him to be able to do, as the journey to space requires a lot of training to become stronger to overcome the effects of zero-g and as well as bravery to venture out that far, and just like with everyone else, fits him perfectly. And as much anxiety as he has, he's always been able to overcome it, be it with the help of his Pokemon or his friends, it's really admirable. What's more to say about him? He's going to achieve great things just like Clermont before him I believe.

Team Rocket Gang: I think this is the most that I've liked them in a long time, mainly due to them not causing as much trouble as before, and that's thanks to Bewear, who was able to change them into less-troublesome people and I hope we see that carry over into the new series, and eventually see them leave TR for good to start their own lives for better and worse. Mimikyu and Mareanie were also great highlights in both their personalities and abilities, and seeing them be left behind with Bewear and Stuffle feels right even though it hurts just as much. I will certainly miss bear mom.

Rotom-Dex: A character I initially didn't like, turned out to have grown on me, and I'm glad he was there, as he was like a brother to Ash in a sense, and was a bit of comic relief at times, a I enjoy him a lot more than his debut which is good. I'm sad to see him go as I was hoping that was him in the SwiSh promo images, but who knows, maybe it is. I would certainly hope to see him again in the future. As for now, him mapping out a new land is a good fit for him, and he deserves his job.

Honorable mentions

Hau: His voice is perfect. His desire to become better is pure, and while untrained, he's got a lot of potential for sure. I really hope we get to see him again

Guzma: A perfect antagonist, who only appeared in like what, 10 episodes? but I wish we had more of him to be able to grow with, cause there's potential there for it. Here's hoping that we get a more informative conclusion to him in the future.

The stories: From being in a school, to saving a second reality, this has got to be one of the best written series for Pokemon. Starting off in a primary location and slowly visiting each and every other island was a new approach and I'm glad that it was done as such, cause again it greatly highlights the familial aspects of it all, and how much Alola means to the people and Pokemon that inhabit it. If I had to choose my favorite arc, it would probably be the Tapu Fini arc (Poni Island arc, as I'm now remembering what it's actually called) as it greatly highlights all of the characters and allows them to grow in their own, as well as mess with our emotions and I'm all about being forced to cry. That, and the Alolan League Arc, it's just so rewarding to see Kukui's dream come true, and as a result to see one of Ash and Pikachu's biggest dreams come true, not to mention that Pikachu vs Tapu Koko battle is so beautifully animated. Seeing this class become closer and closer was truely something that Pokemon hadn't tried as hard to do before, and I'm really glad they were able to do it here. And again, by changing the format of traveling to staying mainly stationary, you get a sense of home with Kukui's house as resting place, the Pokemon School as a daily experience, the city as a whole as a part of something close. Again, it's something Pokemon was missing and again, I'm glad they were able to do it right by this. If there were any negatives that I had, I guess it would have to be A. The promotional material for when this was first starting up didn't do it justice, as it put me off from watching this, and I hate that, cause this is all great. B. Would have to be that we weren't able to see any of Ash's previous companions return like Brock and Misty or even experience their reactions to Ash finally becoming a Regional Champion, but hopefully we'll be able to see that with this new series.

The animation: OH MY GOD IT'S THE BEST. This is some of the best that the series has ever produced and I'll be hard pressed to say I don't think it can ever be topped. Especially with the final league battle, Pikachu vs Tapu Koko, seriously one of the best fights ever. There are also so many hilarious facial features that this art style was able to pull off and I thank the people responsible for that because I still get a lot of good laughs from them, I really don't think any of it could have been pulled off with the BW/XY art style, as much as I love that one, I feel that this is truely superior.

Z-moves: I was wondering how this would be handled as in the games, the z-crystal acts as a held item for the Pokemon, and it seems to not be the case here, as shown with Rowlet and his Everstone, which I like, along with that as epic as the move name appearing on screen whenever the z-moves is performed, I do like it not being there in the dub. Also seeing that only one z-moves can be performed unless with assistance from the Tapu's was a nice touch too. As far as favorite z-moves goes, it has to be either Gaurdian of Alola, or 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt, my gosh those two are so beautiful looking and good and just seeing them clash was aaaaaaah, the best thing ever. I hope they can treat Dynamaxing right just as they did Z-moves.

Overall: This is my favorite Poke series to date, topping out the previous holder of XY, with how much love and attention was put into it, the overall result is one that anyone can jump into and instantly fall in love with. I highly recommend this series to any and everyone, it's just that good. I also recommend listening to the Japanese songs cause they kick ass so much omg. Like, Type: Wild, is my jam right now omg. A perfect 100 across the board. Really sad it came to an end, but grateful that it happened. Here's to SwiSh, hope you can be just as good.

#Pokemon #alola #gen 7 pokemon #review #long post sorry

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whenimgoodandready · 7 years

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✳SVTFOE, Behind the Scenes of “The Battle for Mewni” Part 7

(smart phone video turns on to reveal the inside of a moving tour guide bus going around the studio lot. It pans to Star)

“What goes on Starlings!? I’m here goin’ for a ride around the lot and I wanna show you some places u haven’t seen before! OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!”

(the bus stops and Star moves the camera to a POV of her exiting and the bus)

“Thanks Sir!”

(the driver smiles, waves good-bye and drives off. Star pans the camera around to studio rows)

“You see, not only is “Star vs. The Forces of Evil” filmed here, but a lot of other Disney/Disney XD channel shows!“ (see shows each studio and it’s logos) “There’s “Milo Murphy’s Law” (a pistachio cart is outside of it, a herd of llamas and the right side of the studio roof broken and on fire), “Star Wars Rebels” (a spaceship model is outside of it) and “Tangled:The Series” (a dress rack and a long blonde wig is surrounding the studio. Star moves the video to herself and laughs) “Yeah, it’s a wig! But Rapunzel’s super nice! Also check this!”

(the camera turns off. It turns back on and we see Star outside of a different area of the studio lot)

(sing song voice) “Here we are in the studio lot of talk shows! (speaking) “Where talk shows are held” (moves her face close to the camera) “Toffee is making a guest appearance on Jimmy Fallon and so” (whispers) “I wanted u guys to see it before it airs”, (puts her index finger to her lips) “SHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

(Star moves the camera to the studio and we get a POV shot of her walking behind it. We see her approach a door and then her hand reaching the knob opening it. The inside is dark and we hear laughter. The camera pans to the left, then to the right where there’s a faint light and we hear Jimmy’s voice)

“Yes, thank you ladies and gentlemen, thank you!”

(the camera moves closer to right and we see a background of a cityscape and peaking from behind it, we see Jimmy Fallon at the desk and Toffee sitting in the guest seat also the audience applauding. We hear Stars voice)

(gasps and talks quietly) “Oh my gosh, you guys, he’s really there! Toffee is talking to Jimmy Fallon! Shoosh! Shoosh! Shoosh! Shoosh! Shoosh!”

(Jimmy turns to Toffee) “Hey Toffee, I know we’re at the start of July and everything, but whaddaya say you sing us a song!?” (hands Toffee a microphone and the audience cheers. Toffee look embarrassed)

“No, no, no, no. Jimmy I can’t”

(Jimmy nudges the mic towards Toffee)

“Awe, C'mon!” (the audience cheers on)

(Toffee blushes and turns his head away)

“Seriously, I can’t!”

(Jimmy continues to hold the mic out for Toffee as the audience continues to cheer. We hear Star speak smugly)

“He’s not gonna do it”

(Toffee smirks and takes the mic)

“Okay, fine, I’ll do it”

(Jimmy looks pleased and the audience cheers and applauds. Star sounds bewildered)

“Huh, well whadaya know?”

(Toffee taps the mic and we hear it sound. He turns to Jimmy)

“It’s working right?”

“Yes, it’s on” (Jimmy turns to a sound guy off screen) “Start the music!”

(The audience cheers. We hear Star)

“OOOOOOOOH, I am SO keeping this taping!”

(Toffee clears his throat, sits up straight and the music to “Santa Clause Is Coming to Town” plays)

🎶You better watch out

(Toffees voice is smooth as silk)

You better not cry

You better not pout I’m telling you why

Santa Claus is coming to town🎶

(a little laughter is heard from the audience)

🎶He’s making a list

He’s checking it twice

He’s going to find out who’s cheek he should slice

(the audience laughs. Toffee has a smirking look on his face throughout the whole song)

Santa Claus is coming to town🎶

🎶He sees you when you’re sleeping

Jimmy:(tries to hide his discomfort by smiling) “I’m scared right now”

He knows when you’re awake

He knows if you’ve been bad or good so be good for goodness sake🎶

(Jimmy nods vigorously now showing his discomfort)

🎶You better watch out

You better not cry

Jimmy:(gestures around) “He-He’s talking to everybody”

You better not pout I’m telling you why

Random Woman from the audience: "Why!?”

Santa Claus will kill you if you’re bad🎶

(Jimmy stops the singing)

Jimmy:“Hey hey hey, no no”

Toffee:“Was that good!?”

“Yeah, that was real good, Toffee everyone!”

(the audience cheers/applauds with Jimmy as Toffee bows his head. The camera pans to Stars face and she’s stunned. She pauses for a moment)

“Okaaaaaaay, Note to Self:Make sure to convince Daron not to let Toffee in our Christmas special ever” (nervously smiles) “Let’s get outta here now”

(the camera turns off. It turns back on and we see the Butterfly castle with a large green screen background behind it. We hear Star make trumpet noises)

“Baa baa baa baa BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! The Butterfly Castle! Isn’t it beautiful! It took the set designers months to construct it! Marco joked about turning it into a casino!” (laughs. Star pans the camera to the right) “Oh! And over here we have Ludo’s kingdom!” (Ludo previous kingdom from Season 1 is shown standing with a green screen background)

“Spooooooooooooooky! The explosives team had a lot of fun blowing that place up! But we used a different location and set design to make it look like it blew up cuz Daron wanted to show it to tourists” (pans the camera to the left) “And over there we have The Cloud Kingdom!” (a pastel pink/purple cloud filled area with plastic diamonds attached to them and a rainbow is shown with a pink background. Star sighs dreamingly)

“It’s like heaven……….in a studio lot! You’ll be seeing that a lot in the show when Marco and I see Pony Heads family in one episode! That rainbow there is a real slide we rode for the Season 3 theme song opening, watch!” (the camera is shaking into a standing position and we see Star run into view and to the left. Climbing noises are heard then sliding. Star comes into view again finishing the slide) “Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!”

(laughs and dusts off her young Queen Moon dress) “Jeremy loves playing around with it on break!” (runs up to the camera with her face in a close up) “You guys wanna see the Butterfly Castle!?” (She grins and picks up her smart phone camera. We see her POV running to the door of the Butterfly Castle. She stops in front of it. She moves the camera to face her)

“Now when I open this door, I want you all to imagine your favorite magical tune playing while you’re looking around…….like the harp!” (Star moves the camera to the door again and opens it. We enter slowly and see the long diamond pattern carpet leading to the Queen Moon and King Rivers thrones. The camera pans up and we see the crystal chandelier. The camera pans down and moves to the right and we see large spade shaped windows. It pans to the left and we see the stairway where we were first introduced to Star and the huge portrait of The Butterfly Family. The camera pans upward so we could see the whole thing) “I look so……….so…………melancholy” (the camera pans to the left and we see the magic mirror and Stars reflection holding her smart phone. She notices and waves to herself. She walks over to the mirror. She speaks all queenly) “Mirror, mirror, on the wall, call Dominoes!”

Magic Mirror:“Calling Dominoes”

(Star laughs) “I know right! It actually operates like a real phone!”

Magic Mirror:(a young woman in a uniform shows) “Hello, Dominoes pizza, how may I take your order?”

“Uh, yeah, I'd like a Honolulu Hawaiian pizza with some breadsticks, a bottle of Coke and a chocolate lava cake please”

“Alright and where to deliver?”

“Studio Lot #9 at 2100 Riverside Drive!”

“Thank you, we’ll send for delivery”

(the magic mirror turns off. Star shrugs at her reflection smiling)

“I got hungry”

(She keeps the camera on her as she walks)

“So that was The Butterfly Castle for you! Those stairs don’t lead anywhere, but an empty unfinished hallway cuz we never filmed anything passed the throne room and-” (gasps as her irises shrink) “OH MY GOSH!” (she pans the camera to a corner of the room and we see a balloon stand with many balloons of Hekapoo, Omnitraxus and Rhombulus and their eyes hollowed out in black) “Why didn’t I notice that before!?” (we see a running motion straight to the balloons and Stars hand picks ‘em all up. She turns the camera to her) “Aren’t they cool! Daron had me and the cast pass these out to the kids during the tour!” (grimaces up at them) “Although, they’re a little freaky…..”(pans the camera back up to the balloons) “…….if you ask me. I mean, that’s some dark comedy sh*t right here, huh?, carrying your dead friends as balloons! Coo-coo!” (turns the camera back to her laughing) “but, I’m sure some people find that funny”

(Star walks to the door and exits The Butterfly Castle continuing her walk) “So Starlings, whattaya wanna see next!? The School? The Forest of Certain Death? TOFFEES TRAILER?!”

“Star!”

(Star hears a voice and moves her camera to whole set of Mewni as we see a little girl running toward her. She stops in front of Star and pants. She looks up at Star)

“Star! There you are! Where were you!?”

“Oh! Hey Amy! Everyone, this is Amy Vendrosian, remember her!? She’s that little girl that Gustav was staying with at her place with her family in “The Other Exchange Student”! Isn’t she cute!? Say Hi Amy!“

(Amy smiles and waves) "Hello!” (gets serious) “Star, Daron needs you to shoot the next scene! She was really mad that she couldn’t find you! You gotta hurry!”

“Okay, okay, I’ll go back to the studio, here” (hands Amy all the Magic High Commission balloons) “hold these” (we see a running motion around the set. Suddenly, there’s a scream. Star stops) “Huh?”

(the camera turns around and we only The Butterfly Castle. There’s a far scream)

“STAR!”

(the camera pans up and we see Amy floating away with all the balloons she’s desperately clinging onto for life. Star whimpers)

“Oh sh*t!”

(camera turns off)

#svtfoe #the battle for mewni #behind the scenes part 7

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nitemice · 7 years

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Hey, here's my latest post over on my main blog:

For the record, I had never heard of Jen Gloeckner before 4 months ago, when I received an email, asking me to review her new album VINE. They described it as “hypnotically captivating, and spellbinding music”, and compared it to Twin Peaks, so was intrigued. Plus, there was a song called Ginger Ale!

My first reaction when I found an unsolicited email in my inbox, asking me to review an album by an artist I had never heard of was flattery. I was amazed and thrilled that, whoever this was, like what I did enough that they thought I should review their work. As time when on though I was a bit hesitant, especially since VINE seemed to be getting a fair amount of positive press already. Additionally, this request for review came at a pretty hectic time, as I was already in the middle of reviewing two other albums: Sumo Cyco’s Opus Mar and Paramore’s After Laughter. Luckily, the predicted delay wasn’t a problem for them, so I got onto this review as soon as I could.

One of the most curious parts of my email exchange leading up to my review, was when I asked how they had come up with me as a candidate to review VINE. They mentioned that they had found me through my review of Garbage’s Strange Little Birds. I didn’t think much of it at the time, except that it was a surprise to me that, out of all my reviews they would have been endeared to me by one where I was as scathing as that. But it did make some sense in the end.

Because I’d never heard of Jen Gloeckner before, I couldn’t do what I usually do in my other album reviews, where I list songs each track reminded me of from the artist’s previous albums. However, I’ve tried to still do this with whatever songs came to mind. I’ve also given each track a rank on this album, as well as a comment. Plus, there’s an overview of the album as a whole at the bottom.

1. Vine

Reminds me of: Imogen Heap – Lifeline [Sparks] Rank on this album: 8 Vine sounds like the opening theme to a spooky TV show. There’s a forlorn quality to vocals, laid over a soft, curious piano riff. These elements, together with reoccurring scraping, clinking chain noises, fill the track with intrigue and set the tone clearly for the ensuing album.

2. Firefly (War Dance)

Reminds me of: Half Life 2 OST Rank on this album: 11 An instrumental track, Firefly (War Dance) is well described by that title. The percussion and the throb of the bass give the song a war-like march or chant feeling. Wordless voices, guitars, synths and reverb effects all mix together in an ebb and flow, mimicking the effect of a fly or a swarm of insects circling your head.

3. Breathe

Reminds me of: Leah – Calling [The World Ends With You OST] Rank on this album: 2 Breathe opens with breathy vocalisations that switch left and right, as if to test your speakers. The vocals are simple and clear, with an echo-y reverb that gives the song a mystical, molasses-like feel. These vocals stuck in my head like honey, and I found myself humming the tune throughout the day. The track switches to an early bridge, which moves towards a Middle Eastern sound, with a crazy electric violin solo. The track doesn’t really follow expected verse-chorus structure, so after the bridge, it seems to start again from the chorus-like verse until it loops out.

4. Ginger Ale

Reminds me of: Megan Washington – Yellow & Blue [There There] Rank on this album: 6 Ginger Ale alternates between calm, serene sections dominated by overlapping voices singing in a round-robin-style echo with call-and-response-like emphasis, and instrumental sections dominated by a marching beat with a little syncopation. A deep, almost horn-like cello plays the song out.

5. The Last Thought

Reminds me of: Clare Bowditch and the Feeding Set – Between the Tea and the Toast [The Moon Looked On], Clare Bowditch and the Feeding Set – Starry Picking Night [What Was Left] Rank on this album: 9 The Last Thought is a romantic, dreamy tune with an oriental flavour, driven forwards by a low, slow swing. The chorus is surrounded by a bundle of catchy “la la”s.

6. Blowing Through

Reminds me of: Paula Carino – First Come the Joggers [Aquacade], Olympia – Honey [Self Talk] Rank on this album: 5 Blowing Through sort of feels like a really slow surf rock song, crossed with a blues ballad, as a soulful guitar carries the melody. A 60s-style flute flutter through every now and then, to add to the dreaminess of it all, and cello fills out the sound.

7. Counting Sheep

Reminds me of: Chromatics – Shadow [Twin Peaks (Music From The Limited Event Series)] Rank on this album: 10 I nearly fell asleep listening to Counting Sheep. Its plodding pace, romantic lyrics and deep instrumentation puts me into a drowsy trance. Every note drips with reverberations that seem to vibrate through your whole head. The cello solo that forms the bridge echoes the main melody.

8. Prayers

Reminds me of: Garbage – Magnetized [Strange Little Birds] Rank on this album: 1 Prayers caught my attention immediately as it opens with a mechanical, buzzing effects. This transitions to a more melodious sound, that forms a fun syncopated rhythm, by rapidly swapping between two industrial-like sound effects. As the verse kicks in, the vibe changes, but even the gravelly nature of the vocals seem to pick up on what has been laid out before it, and comes back around near the chorus. From here, more and more musical elements are layered on until a light drum break kicks in to close the song with a fade out.

9. Colors

Reminds me of: Paramore – Future [Paramore], Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Despair [Mosquito] Rank on this album: 7 Colors is a heavily rhythmic, acoustic-feeling song, with emotive vocals and many layers of piano, guitar and percussion. Echo effects are used sparingly to give vocals and some instruments more body and ambience.

10. Row With The Flow

Reminds me of: Kate Nash – The Lion, The Devil & The Spider [Merry Happy] Rank on this album: 3 Row With The Flow* is characterised by the choral layering of voices, each distinct, ranging from very deep and devilish to the high and sweet, to the solemn and gravelly. Initially I didn’t realise it, but these many voices are actually other artists (I’ve also never heard of): Angela Mattson, and Henry Padovani. This mixture of voices, along with the twang of a cowboy-like guitar, gives the song a sense of menace and melody, perfectly suited to an episode of Twin Peaks, especially the recent continuation season.

11. Sold

Reminds me of: Garbage – Sugar [We Are Not Your Kind Of People] Rank on this album: 4 Even though some of the lyrics are hard to decipher, Sold is catchy enough that the chorus got stuck in my head. The gravelly, breathy voice, atmospheric percussion and bright guitar riffs combine for one of the sunnier sounding tracks on this album, although I don’t think this is reflected in the lyrics.

After listening through VINE a few times, I started to understand why I had been asked to review it. While not a pair you would normally compare, there were a number of similarities between Garbage’s Strange Little Birds and this album. Imagine, if you’d like, Strange Little Birds with all of the rock elements removed, and all the atmospheric elements turned up to 11 and stretched to their limit. That would put you somewhere in the realm of VINE. As you may recall, I didn’t love a lot of those experimental effects when Garbage used them, so it’s kind of weird to be reviewing an album that is so heavy with them.

That said, within this context, not only did those elements fit in better, but I even enjoyed them most of the time. This is because they are an essential element of the type of sound Jen Gloeckner is going for here. Her music, on this album at least, is heavily atmospheric and somewhat surreal. I believe it’s what could be described as ambient pop or dream pop. As someone who hasn’t heard very much of this type of music, it’s hard to describe. Throughout my listening, various sections bought different other artists to mind: Garbage and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs for their intensity and varied musical elements over the years, Nerina Pallot and Metric for their wistful yet abstract lyricism, and Imogen Heap for her proclivity for experimental sounds.

That’s not to say that VINE is monotonal; far from it. Every track has so many musical sources to it: from guitars and vocals, to strings and keys, to the echo and reverb effects. Each time a new element is introduced, it just adds a new layer to the rich tapestry of sound that forms each song. Some moments can seem busy and crowded with different components, all busting to be heard. These moments give the songs are unique intensity that is managed well, and feels quite natural as none of these sounds come out of nowhere. They build up over the course of the track, and layer on to a fever pitch.

Not only are the songs filled with many and varied elements, but the album as a whole covers a variety of forms and moods. Sweet to seductive, melancholy to malice, playful to powerful, it seems to cover it all. Listening to VINE while going about my daily life made me feel like I was living in an episode of the new Twin Peaks. It’s got the suspensefulness, the sense of unease and unpredictability. It got the intensity, like there’s some unseen force lurking around any corner. It’s got the hard to interpret lyrics, that left me questioning their meaning. I picked up on a few that had romantic inclinations, but others were more abstract. That may not be something you want to go through every day, but it was an interesting experience.

And that’s how I would basically summarise VINE as a whole. While it’s not the type of music I would want to be listening to every day, it adds its own spice to my overall collection, and was a unique, enjoyable album to hear. If you’re more into this kind of music than I am, it may be something you really love, so you may have to just check it out for yourself.

RATING: 7/10 – ★★★★★★★☆☆☆

But you don’t have to take my word for it…Listen to the album for yourself, and make up your own mind. Then you can let me know what you think of Jen Gloeckner’s VINE.

So, are you a fan of Jen Gloeckner? What’s your favourite songs of hers? Have you heard VINE? What do you think? Did it live up to your expectations? Have I said anything you disagree with? Tell me & everyone else who passes through here what you think in the comment below.

To Infinity and Beyond,

Nitemice

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