#i like this almost anime-esque style they have going here

[rockingthegraveyard]

Saw a panel from this the other day but couldn’t find the source so I thought it was a fan comic from somewhere. Pleasantly surprised it comes from an issue that came out yesterday. Batman: The Brave and the Bold #1 (apparently there is a new one now). And it’s giving me what I need.

TINY JASON AND DICK BEING BROTHERS. Look how Dick is bodily protecting Jason. Both Dick and Jason wanting to help despite being tiny! Even tinier Tim out there somewhere, also their brother.  

The bold emphasis on Brother when Dick introduces Jason really has me on the floor wailing. 

Also where are these kids living? Are they homeless? In a shelter, foster care, or boys home? I need all the answers on these boys that we probably won’t get about everything.

[thehazelmist]

So, I just had a dream about Mr. Puzzles (SMG4). It's very weird, so brace yourself. - Mr. Puzzles/Reader Fanfiction I guess??? created by: HazelMist's Unconscious

Um, so…I just had a strange dream with Mr. Puzzles. Specifically, a dream where he announced the new PuzzleVision merch. It was a 1960s style commercial…kind of, I guess. I have barely watched any 1960s commercials, so I'll just say It was black and white, except for Mr. Puzzles smile. and the commercial was animated.

So In the start of the dream, I wake up. and see In my notifications, that SMG4 uploaded a video. titled "NEW PUZZLEVISION MERCH!" I was extremely excited and hoped they had made a plushie of Mr. Puzzles. so I clicked on it, and uh...this Is how the commercial was.

So, he Is first walking down a lonely street, and see's someone leaning on a pole. uh, that person was Y/N... And they were wearing a plain T shirt, with oversized baggy pants. Not very fitting for the 1960s, but 🤷‍♀️. Mr. Puzzles noticed them, and walk right up to them and said

"Well, hello there my dear~! I'm your friend Mr. Puzzles, and- Oh god, what the hell are you wearing. Your outfit Is so boring, It makes an Average Joe look special."

Uh…Couldn't tell If my unconscious was insulting me or not, because I enjoy wearing plain T shirts and baggy pants. Then Y/N looked down in embarrassment. Then Mr. Puzzles grabbed their hand, and kept walking. but Mr. Puzzles was so tall, that Y/N was almost tripping. but then he stopped, and looked right at Y/N, and suggested

"Hey, I've got the solution to your problem! Why don't you buy some of the latest PuzzleVision merchandise? Your fashion sense would be amazingly blinding! Why not try on our Mario's Mysteries T shirt? Blue's clues and Mario fans would be confused by your stunning (not bootleg…) shirt, and you would attract many PuzzleVision fans!"

The shirt was basically the Mario's Mysteries thumbnail, Then he handed Y/N the shirt, and they responded "W-Wha..? but I don't even watch-" Then Mr. Puzzles cut them off

"Oh, and If you didn't like Mario's Mysteries, we have T shirts of our other episodes too! It would normally be 300.000.00$, but since you are special to me~ I'll make a discount! It's now only 30.00$!"

The shirts were also the thumbnail of the episodes. Then he threw them In a dressing room, and Y/N came out with the Once upon an SMG4 T shirt on. Mr Puzzles clapped his hands excitedly and said "Oh my dear! You look absolutely gorgeous! And If you get cold with only a T shirt, Buy our Mr. Puzzles Hoodie! It's 50.00$!"

The hoodie was a picture of Mr. Puzzles sitting in a chair, with his legs crossed. with a smug face. then afterwards, he said to them

"And I will be going soon, but If you want to keep me with you forever, then you should get…"

Then he pulled out a Mr Puzzles plushie, except It looked kinda weird. He didn't have his bowler hat, and he didn't have his color bar smile, It was just a straight line for a mouth. Anyways, he continued

"This adorable version of me, In plush form! Take It with you everywhere you go! Or If you don't want to get it dirty, just keep It on your shelf! But If you aren't the plushie collector type, Here Is an awesome figurine!"

It was a figurine of Mr. Puzzles doing a JoJo's Bizarre Adventure esque pose, with his maniacal face. and then he showed another figurine.

"Oh, and here Is another action figure of….that one inkling guy!"

The figurine barely looked like Oneshot wren though, and It wasn't even an Inkling. It looked like someone tried to recreate Wren In Plotagon. and didn't Western Spaghetti already have It's own merch? I kind of forgot what else Mr. Puzzles said, but he showed some Mr Puzzles Pins and Keychains that were both In chibi style. they were really cute! not like that Oneshot Wren figure…And after showing all the merch, He said

"Now, Let's skip time to a few weeks, and see how much these items have affected you!"

And then there was the Spongebob time card that said "2000 years later" and we are back with Mr Puzzles and Y/N, Except he is holding a microphone now, and asks them

"So, how much have my great merch helped you In life?" and then Y/N says something like "Nothing much has changed-"

and then the commercial rewinds, and goes back to when Mr. Puzzles asked that question. and then Y/N says "Oh, I feel much more happier now! with my amazing T shirts, I have so many more friends, and everyone wants to hang out with me! and I am enjoying your company, In plush form! Thank you, Mr. Puzzles!"

Then Mr. Puzzles responded "You're welcome! Have a great day, my darling!

Then, the commercial cuts to a blank screen, showcasing all the merch. and some strange announcer voice, that was definitely not Mr. Puzzles, their voice was very deep. says something like… "Go buy the new PuzzleVision Merch In smg4.store today!"

And then the video finished, and I was very confused of what I just saw. but then I might have waken up.

and uhhh…I think thats all I remember. If you made It this far, thanks for reading me ramble about some nonsensical dream I had last night. I probably dreamt It because I am TERRIBLY DESPERATE to have a Mr. Puzzles plushie. If I feel like It, I might try to make an animatic based on this dream. I might post It on Youtube. But I dunno, would you actually want to see that?

[sytokun]

A lengthy thought wall about the recent RT shutdown and DillonGoo Studios' interest in acquiring RWBY - I speculate and entertain some hopium about the pros that could come with it and why all in all, impossible it may be, it's probably the best shot we have for RWBY.

Some rwde cause it mentions Shane's letter and nobody likes that.

I've been reading a lot, a lot of the various discussions around RWBY's fate and Dillon Goo Studio's (henceforth shortened to DGS) interest in acquiring it. Here's my overall evaluation everything so far:

This goes without saying but this is obviously an optimistic take on the matter, I wanna talk moreso about the pros rather than the logistics of whether DGS can afford it, whether you think it's just clout-chasing, etc.

Dillon's a former RWBY animator and a fan of Monty's work. No matter what you think of Monty's style of action, in the greater public sphere, RWBY is known and liked precisely for that and largely that alone, period. Only RWBY fans who are already invested in the show will mention story or characters - for the majority of people, i.e. future RWBY fans, the action is the main selling point, and DGS clearly can deliver on this.

Dillon himself is at least amicable with most of CRWBY and likely open to negotiate with them given prior work history. For any other media corporation, consulting the old IP holders of a defunct company is a minor formality at best or even a laughable waste of time. And if you want to bring up a certain almost 10-year-old letter and the person working with Dillon who wrote it, there are plenty in the comments section who would agree with me that it's not as big a dealbreaker as one might think, given the company the letter largely condemned is well dead and buried. I won't go further into that matter.

DGS is very community-oriented - they're very intimately familiar with 3D animation and produces creator-friendly content like the Goo Engine which helps future animators inspired by RWBY to make similar anime-style 3D content. Every single RWBY fan animator whose work we enjoyed benefits from this acquisition - all of whom can grow into future animators for the series, intimately familiar with its trademark action style.

DGS is probably the only genuine fan of RWBY that has a remote chance of acquiring the IP with the express motivation of using the IP creatively. This can be clearly seen in the steady improvement of their animation content over the years and desire to push the medium. All other candidates are corporations whose motivations with RWBY are, more likely than not, going to be entirely financial (not necessarily a bad or unhealthy thing, but it's a factor).

If RWBY stays under WB or given off to Crunchyroll? They have no stake in RWBY beyond pure business. They have no interest in what's best for RWBY or its growth, only how it will be most profitable or recoup the losses from RT. The only companies I can see being more creatively invested in RWBY are ArcSystem Works who implemented RWBY in Blazblue Cross Tag Battle, or Shaft that animated Ice Queendom, but those are both Japanese companies unlikely to go all-in on a foreign IP - especially given that these studios usually adapt other IPs, not buy them outright.

DGS is invested in RWBY. Their entire studio's style is built on RWBY-esque action animation. Acquiring RWBY more or less guarantees it'll become their main flagship series and their main investment, whereas with WB, Crunchyroll or other big platform, RWBY is nowhere near prolific enough to be much more than another shelf-filler in their library. At worst, Warner archives RWBY for eternity and at best, they only bring RWBY out for tie-ins and crossovers to prop up their larger DC properties. Why give RWBY the spotlight when they own the likes of Justice League and Looney Tunes?

DGS may not be the most plausible choice, but it's clear that unless some big company like ArcSystem Works or something throws their hat in the RWBY ring, DGS is far and away the people's favourite, even gaining approval from JJ Grelle (Tyrian's VA), who quite notably refused to reprise their role for Rooster Teeth.

DGS is still very much an indie studio which IMO RWBY has flourished the most under, the time period where it retained a certain unpolished energy that made you invested in watching it improve and grow. I don't want to watch a RWBY that uses its precious time under a new studio to just go by the numbers and coast by on its existing fanbase. I want to watch a RWBY that grows, innovates and takes risks, that impresses and draws new and old fans in the way it does for every single person that has watched the Red Trailer for the first time.

I think a lot of folks have a preconceived notion that RWBY has to continue on the exact same production value as V9 left off, but that never had to be the case. I think a return to a much more subdued production with smaller teams focusing on strong individual episodes over large overarching narratives will be healthy for RWBY and more easily invite new fans, which it sorely needs if it wants to stay afloat this time around.

Whether this means a continuation to V10 or a reboot I don't know, but I know I'd rather take a RWBY that a new studio respects and will produce in a way that fits their strengths and limits, over trying and overreaching themselves to make something work that even Rooster Teeth failed to, or over no RWBY at all.

That's the crux of it: the worse alternative is no RWBY at all. CRWBY and especially us as a fandom are in no position to be picky when that's the alternative. There's no such thing as a perfect deal, but this is about as sweet as they come. If the only hurdle is WB's refusal to sell, then that's on Warner. If the only hurdle is affording the IP, I, many others and no doubt other associates Dillon Goo Studios knows are likely to help them meet that price.

I do wanna stress, despite my optimism, I'm not asking to stake all our hopes on DGS as the saviour of RWBY, god no - the last thing I want is a weirdo Monty 2.0 cult and I doubt Dillon would want that either. I'm not saying the RWBY they'd make will be perfect or be equitable for everyone either - some compromises must be made and professionally speaking, whoever owns RWBY next has no legal obligation to make V10 or bring back anyone from CRWBY. Any such action is solely on the graces of the new IP holder and at the end of the day, I think whatever creates a healthier, longer-lasting future for RWBY should take priority over our sentiment or attachment.

But as things stand right now, if DGS isn't just farming Twitter likes and is honest-to-god serious about acquiring RWBY, and no better candidate presents themselves, this is about the best option we have right now, and I myself will be ready to help and contribute in whatever little way I can. Because I know the very real alternative is either a complete gamble on yet another faceless media subsidiary, or watching RWBY rot behind a vault for the next decade or more.

[youremyheaven]

Art & Vedic Astrology

i thought ill make a post about the recurring motifs, patterns, techniques that different nakshatra natives seem to resort to in their art work!! so here it goes<3

Punarvasu

Punarvasu natives often use matrixes, mazes, repetition, interloping patterns, and tessellation in their work.

Pedro Friedeberg

He has Punarvasu rising and he is known for surreal, abstract and whimsical style

he repeatedly used the same patterns over and over again in his work

Claire Nakti's new YT short did mention that these natives were very prominent in the Surrealist art movement and I often see how they have this surreal, whimsical element in their artwork. Often using bright colours and repeating the same pattern/motif over and over again.

the Punarvasu aesthetic is veered towards maximalism. however these natives do not like clutter or maximalism that is random? if you look at any of these artworks, you can see how the same pattern is repeated many many times (a common theme in the work of these natives) its not 8 different patterns or motifs, so there is a sense of minimalism or balance within their otherwise eclectic seeming art creations.

MC Escher

If I use the term "tessellation", the artist that would come to mind for most people is MC Escher (Ketu in Punarvasu). he had a thing for repetitive imagery and using the same pattern over and over again.

he made the technique of tessellation as well known as it is now. in fact it was Escher's signature style

alt-j has a song called "tesselate" and its written by joe newman (the lead vocal) who also has ketu in punarvasu!!

Harmony Korine

He has Ketu in Punarvasu and you can see how he uses endless circles in his work, going back to Punarvasu's association with the endless nature of the universe

he returns to the same motif again and again

or draws the same pattern repeatedly

Paul Klee

he has ketu in punarvasu and his venus & rising in swati, another nak associated with infinite space and abundance

there is a tendency to use the same pattern repeatedly

once again the punarvasu urge to use bright colors and repeat the patterns, themes, motifs

and there's a lot of interlooping

here's a cat (punarvasu's yoni animal)

Sol Lewitt

He is Punarvasu moon

There is tessellation and use of bright colors

repeatedly using the same shapes, patterns and the work being maximalist outwardly but minimal in essence

lots of interloping because punarvasu is the endless infinity of the cosmos!!

Ashlesha

slightly similar to Punarvasu natives, these natives also seem to love repetition and pattern making

Yayoi Kusama

Yayoi Kusama is Ashlesha moon and this art installation definitely seems to invoke serpentine vibes but sticks to the whimsical, colorful, exuberant nature that is Kusama's trademark

her birth time is unknown but I strongly believe that she has Punarvasu rising tbh

i mean??? her work is very punarvasu coded imo but here's more of her ashlesha esque work

not to promote stereotypes but these be looking like snakes to me 🤪

Princess Fahrelnissa Zeid

She is Ashlesha moon

Ashlesha natives love color and using bold patterns and designs in their work but their work is maximalist through and through

with Punarvasu, their artworks were almost minimalist compared to the hypermaximalist works that Ashlesha natives seem to create

do you see how crowded and busy these works are?

Keith Haring

He is Ashlesha rising and we can see how he consistently used similar motifs throughout his work but his work is very loud and very maximalist

like this

his work is very eclectic and very busy

Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol is Ashlesha sun & rising and his most famous artwork is one that uses repetitive imagery and features Marilyn Monroe (Ashlesha rising)

(yes this is a painting) Ashlesha natives love to use the same pattern to crowd an entire painting

Willem de Kooning

He is an Ashlesha moon and his works also have the same eclectic, colorful and "loud" aesthetic that we saw in the works of other Ashlesha natives

do you see how there is a similar running motif in all his works but compared to the works of a Punarvasu native, an Ashlesha native work seems far more frenetic and fast(?) there is a different degree of intensity

[clevercorvidae]

Hazbin Hotel 1st Season Review

Ok so I've been sitting on this ask I got back when the series started airing for some time now.

And I was struggling with how to answer it because as much as I personally love the show and had a lot of fun with it I understand that it isn't really for everyone.

But now that the series' first season has concluded I feel like it'd just be easier to give a review of all the negatives and positives that I saw in the series for anyone who is wondering if its worth getting into. I'd like to give a fair and honest overview of all the show's quirks as there is a lot of misinformation, bad faith criticism, and blind praise of this show going around. It can be overwhelming with so many strong opinions and I'd like to give people a more balanced and down to earth look at the show for what it is.

I'll start with spoiler free stuff and put all spoilery stuff below a cut in a reblog. Be warned, this is still gonna be very much based on my own opinions and very long, I just hope its less...intense than most reviews.

Overview

For anyone who doesn't know, Hazbin Hotel is a new animated series on Amazon Prime Video created by Vivienne Medrano and A24 Studios. It's basic premise is that every year, sinners in Hell are killed by angels from Heaven in order to keep the population low. This devastates our main character, Charlie Morningstar, the daughter of Lilith and Lucifer and Princess of Hell.

So she decides to start a rehabilitation center called the Hazbin Hotel in hopes to allow sinners to redeem themselves, keeping the population in Hell low whilst allowing people to continue existing, and hopefully putting an end to the exterminations for good and saving her people. She does this with the help of her girlfriend Vaggie, a famous pornstar named Angel Dust who agrees to be her first guest, a very shady demon named Alastor, and more.

The show's pilot episode was first released on youtube in 2019 and has a sister-show called Helluva Boss that takes place in the same universe and began airing episodes on youtube while Hazbin was being shopped around to be picked up by a bigger studio.

I personally do not recommend this show at all to anyone under 18 due to its subject matter and depictions. However, the show is listed as 16+ for all but one episode which is 18+. Make of this what you will.

Now, onto the discussion.

Positive 1: Design

So a lot of people look at this show and are put off by its character designs and general look. But frankly I think it's very well designed and cohesive for what it is. Its designs are complex and gaudy but they're earnest in their presentation. It very much draws from Vivziepop's roots as a youtube animator who got big in the 2010's

All the designs are very out there and edgy and almost sparkle-dog-esque. And I think it's commitment to that style in favor of something that would draw in wider appeal makes the series feel more artistically genuine. Just look at Angel Dust and Alastor's designs for example. They ooze 2010's deviantart and I find it very charming.

I also enjoy the balance and uniqueness of many of the designs, they're so fun to look at. And their level of detail makes them super fun to pick apart. The range of body types could definitely be improved (an unfortunate remnant of that 2010s style I was just praising) but there is still plenty of diversity in silhouette to differentiate the characters at a distance.

I also often see the criticism that there is far too much red used in the designs and frankly this criticism is so unfair. Within the context of the show its pretty obvious that red is just part of the design motif of hell.

I can see the issue ringing true in the pilot that the characters bleed into the backgrounds often because of this design choice but in the official show the background style is a lot more distinct from the characters and they don't really have this issue at all.

Here's a screengrab from the pilot that I find to be a particularly bad offender vs a screengrab from the official show including acvery red character on a very red background that I think highlights the difference a bit.

There's nothing wrong with a show having a very cohesive visual motif to tie all of its characters to one location. The heavenly characters in the show have their own color motif of bright pastels for instance. I think the designs are a highlight of this show and people should stop being so harsh and unfair in their assessment of them. They're so fun! Enjoy them!

Negative 1: Pacing

You've probably heard people mentioning this one and unfortunately I 100% agree with this criticism. The show is INCREDIBLY fast paced and it seriously impacts character development.

Now, I don't think the way people criticize this aspect of the show is very fair. Most people push the blame for it onto the creators and writers when in all actuality they're just doing the best they can with what they were given. 8 episodes is a very short runtime for a show of a this scale.

A story with this much worldbuilding, this many plot threads, and this number of important characters could NEVER be told properly in this amount of time. Even if they'd properly paced it it would've ended up awkwardly truncated with an unsatisfying finale. Frankly I think the writers did a very good job stretching what they had, but unfortunately the issues are still very present and impact the viewing experience.

This show desperately needed filler. They NEEDED low stakes plots and episodes. As is the story is very complete and I'm glad the short runtime didn't create any agregious plot holes but its still...lacking. The first season is meant to take place over six months of time and it really doesn't feel like it.

The lack of episodes means we don't get to see the natural progression of these characters and their relationships. Many characters have seemingly out of nowhere changes of heart. Even the best done plot lines still feel pretty cramped and rushed.

It's very sad and unfortunately is becoming increasingly commonplace for shows to have such short runtimes that they feel like extra long movies rather than feeling like a tv show. Hazbin Hotel feels like a very long musical pace-wise. And if you decide to watch it that way I think you might have a better time honestly. But its still sad to think of what could've been.

Positive 2: Music

Oh my fucking god the songs are so good. None of them are bad in my opinion. I have my favorites and least favorites of course but none of them sound bad or annoying which I can't say for 90% of musicals especially cartoon musicals.

Almost every song feels like its 100% necessary to express what the characters are thinking and feeling. Every single VA has a fantastic singing voice. Apparently one of the main writers of these songs is half of The Living Tombstone which is pretty apparent from the style of the songs. If you like their music you'll be in for such a treat here.

There are 2 songs per episode and I think its safe to say you'll enjoy the crap out of at least one of them. They make up for a lot of the short runtime with them too, being able to fit a whole lot of character growth and interaction into a shorter period. This show is definitely carried by its stellar soundtrack. I think it's its best trait for sure.

If you like musicals, you have something to gain from watching this show, I can guarantee that.

In the spoiler section I'm gonna rank all 16 songs and explain my reasons btw so look forward to that.

Negative 2: Editing

The editing of this show can be...questionable at times. Sometimes there will be very harsh unnecessary cuts and sometimes the camera moves all over the place when it really doesn't need to. It really feels like the editors got the raw animation files and were trying to clock in overtime by making unnecessary and bizarre editing choices all over the place.

It wasn't very jarring to me personally and I feel like most people will get used to it within a single episode but if you're unsure of how to feel about it I'd go watch the song Happy Day in Hell on youtube because it's probably the worst offender in the show and about as bad as the editing will get.

Positive 3: Characters

As sad as I am that the show has so little time to explore the characters they are VERY well established regardless. These characters have a lot of charisma and almost all of them have a completed arc within this season.

I've heard a lot of people claim that Charlie, the main character, doesn't get enough screentime or doesn't feel like a protagonist and I'm sorry but I can't see this as anything but bad faith criticism. Hazbin Hotel is an ensemble show with a very limited episode count, not every episode can have Charlie at the center. But she IS the center of the main plot and she is a very active protagonist with strong relationships to the other members of the ensemble. Her goals are tightly wound in with the central plot and themes and she makes the decisions that drive the story.

She very much fills her protagonist role well and I think this attempt at criticism is just a biproduct of the several years of development where occasionally we'd get bonus content for other characters and Charlie didn't get much. But it's pretty clear that that was cause her character IS the plot and Vivziepop didn't want to spoil the entire show before it even aired.

Beyond that I've seen people claim that all the queer characters are over-sexualized. Which is hilarious because as far as I can find there is only one canon straight character in the main cast and the rest are all queer. There is only one character that has an storyline focused around sex and that's Angel Dust...because he is a sex worker. The other characters occasionally make sex jokes but no other queer characters have sex as a focal point.

Overall, the characters definitely balance each other out in this story and they're a big draw for me. Even minor characters that only appear prominently in one episode are super charismatic and interesting. Hell, my favorite character in this show is one of these minor characters.

One thing I very much enjoy is how none of the characters ever seem to be dumbed down for the sake of the plot. The stakes remain high because all of these problems genuinely feel like there is no easy solution that the characters are just conveniently ignoring. All of the characters' choices feel like theyre in-character which is very impressive given the episode count.

Neutral 1: Dialogue/Jokes

So this is a topic I've seen a lot of people discuss specifically here on tumblr. The characters are very sweary and many of the jokes are very crass and explicit.

Personally I had no issue with this at all the jokes were fine to me and the swearing just felt like Hell's natural dialect to be honest. Plus I swear like a sailor irl so it was barely different to my normal. Very much a non-issue for me.

I could see how it could be off-putting to others though if it's something you're not used to. And I do find it to be a bit much in the sister-show Helluva Boss because it feels a lot less natural. (side-note, if y'all want me to make one of these for Helluva Boss let me know cause I have a LOT to say about that show). So honestly I think this is a matter of personal taste and I'd encourage people to still give the show a whirl if this is your main issue with it as its pretty minor.

Positive 4: World-building

I really enjoy the complex world in this show. A lot of its takes on the lore it's drawing from are actually pretty unique and nuanced, it's obvious the creator did a lot of research. Any lore that is changed was clearly done with the knowledge of its true origins. It really feels like Viv knew the rules well before she broke them with this.

This is one of those worlds where you can't help but imagine yourself in it, especially with it being the afterlife. It's no wonder the fandom is so dense with oc content, its very fun to imagine creative character designs when there's so few limits to what a character can look like.

And the world-building seriously elevates the story so well. This is one of the few times the short episode count actually helps the story I think, because there's still so much to explore and discover here. I like the delayed gratification of getting all the info about how hell and heaven function its nice to chew on theorize about. It's just a very appealing and interesting setting what can I say.

Neutral 2: Handling of Subject Matter

This has got to be one of the most divisive things about this show and I think this is the thing that most comes down to personal opinion.

There are a lot of criticisms against how this show handles incredibly serious subject matter. And frankly, as much as I don't have any issue with its portrayal of these things personally, its incredibly understandable why others take issue with it. I encourage everyone to give the show a fair shot and judge it in its entirety as a lot of these things really need context to be criticized fairly.

However I understand that, even if you agree with the way Hazbin hotel handles these subjects, you may still be incredibly uncomfortable or even triggered by the graphic depictions. So I'm going to take some time and list out every possible trigger that you will encounter in each episode to the best of my ability based on my recollection. Because even though Amazon does give warnings they are too vague for my tastes and I wanna make sure anyone who watches this show on my recommendation is going to be safe (Let me know if I missed anything and I will edit this to include it):

Episode 1: 16+

Blood

Knives

Religious Trauma

Graphic Violence

Mild Gore

Eye Stabbing

Genocide as a topic

Sexual harassment

Drug Use/Alcohol

Beheading

Guns

Christian Imagery

Death

Episode 2: 16+

Mild Body Horror

Drug Use/Alcohol

Guns

Christian Imagery

Episode 3: 16+

Beheading

Blood

Cannibalism

Graphic Violence

Sexual Harassment

Guns

BDSM

Episode 4: 18+

Graphic Depictions of Sexual Assault

Rape

Sexual Harassment

Graphic Depictions of Physical Abuse

Graphic Depictions of Routine Sexual Abuse

Alcoholism/Drug Addiction

BDSM

Roofies

Nudity

Graphic Violence

Guns

Emotional Abuse

Exploitatin of Sex Workers as a topic

Building on Fire

Gambling Addiction

Episode 5: 16+

Alcohol/Drug Use

Non-sexual exploitation

Graphic Violence

Guns

Blood

Religious Trauma

Absentee Parent

Christian Imagery

Episode 6: 16+

Religious Trauma

Christian Imagery

Amputation

Eye stabbing

Graphic Violence

Blood

Guns

Knives

Alcoholism/Drug Addiction (+enabling)

Physical Abuse

Exploitation of Sex Workers as a topic

Sexual Harassment

Genocide as a topic

Episode 7: 16+

Guns

Knives

Blood

Cannibalism

Episode 8: 16+

Guns

Blood

Graphic Violence

Genocide

Gore

Death

Animal Death

Christian Imagery

Religious Trauma

Amputation

Knives

Building Collapse

Stabbing

I believe that should be everything.

I highly encourage you to be cautious if you have PTSD or C-PTSD regarding sexual or physical abuse in particular for episode 4. The episode is quite graphic and realistic in its depiction. As someone who hasn't been through sexual abuse I cannot speak to the accuracy of its portrayal apart from the fact that it is very clearly not created to be tantalizing or glorifying.

I've been told many different opinions on how this episode portrays sexual abuse and whether it is accurate or respectful and it seems like the answer varies greatly person to person from being extremely comforting and relatable to being offensive and feeling gratuitous. In my opinion I think this means the show did a decent job and had good intentions, but it also means that this show and this episode in particular just aren't for everyone. Make of this what you will and stay safe.

Positive 5: Themes

The themes in this show are baked into its core. It manages to get its message across without feeling too clunky and the focus of the story never strays from that purpose.

Redemption is often a mixed bag in shows especially in cartoons. But I think Vivziepop and the rest of her crew do a good job showing the effort it takes to change and grow as a person in the short time they have.

I think the dedication to themes is a huge part of how genuine the story feels. It's earnest in its message and that gives the plot a soul.

If you want to watch a story about broken people lifting each other up this is the one.

Neutral 3: Vivziepop

So a lot of you have perhaps heard some not-so-great stuff about this show's creator.

From what I've gathered in my research almost all of the serious claims made about her are either proven to be false or big ol nothing-burgers. However, there might be legitimacy to some of her employees and coworkers' complaints about her company, Spindlehorse, which aren't great. And I personally dislike how she conducts herself on social media as the spokesperson for her creation.

In short, she doesn't seem to have much tact.

I think its a little ridiculous and overdramatic to avoid the show over it personally but if this just strikes a particular nerve with you there is always the option to pirate ig. It's fully up to you. Just make sure you do your research and don't go around shaming fans of the show or spreading misinformation about a very real person.

Conclusion

I'd personally give the show an 8/10. Its a fun time and clearly made with a lot of passion. I'd recommend it to everyone who's interested. Now I'lll start working on the spoiler bit of the review.

Let me know what y'all think! If anyone reading this has questions I'm happy to answer as well.

[bearmemesreviews]

FotW: SDMI - In Fear of the Phantom

Welcome back to Scooby-Doo Mystery Incorporated, and now we're getting into a problem many reboots and adaptions face - what happens when you try something different. Today's episode isn't really that special, serving as a bridging point between the next stint of episodes focused on the gang's love lives.

Except for featuring the Hex Girls of course.

Not to overshadow the main villain, which would be extra funny considering their backstory, but come on that's what y'all are here for.

Yeah, they got a bit of a redesign since their last few appearances in the two billion direct to DVD films. Fans DID NOT like this, and in a later episode they had to actually address the backlash while also scrapping these outfits for the original ones. They also steal Luna and Dusk's hair dye and gave Thorn's highlights a diminished role.

My personal opinion? Eh, I would've preferred a middle ground between the two, but for reboots I encourage designers to go all out since it's their own thing. So for Mystery Incorporated I would've either kept the redesigns or gave them completely brand new looks a second time. The OGs have a more cohesive aesthetic, but I like how MI experiments by giving each girl their own Alt style. It's probably Dusk who could probably use a new outfit though, since her Tank Girl getup doesn't mesh as well as Thorn's "Pagan School Girl" and Luna's "Lesbian Thespian" outfits do. Actually, maybe one of those Scene Kid reconstructions of School Uniforms would've worked better?

Oh yeah, this nerd.

Backstory: Like most lesbians Velma is a massive fan of The Hex Girls, snagging front row tickets for the Scooby Gang just in time for them to witness a "Phantom" try to murder Thorn on stage. As with every mystery the gang decide to take it upon themselves to do the cop's job to keep the concert going while protecting the band.

This leads to an exploration of the show's two main ships, Fredphe and Shoob - again, yes really.

This show is really good trust me on this.

Scooby outright calls Shaggy a cheater for going to prom with Velma instead of hanging out with him like they always do, and replaces Mathew Lillard with a wooden dummy much to Shaggy's chagrin.

Fred meanwhile comes out as nonbinary a teenage boy with emotions as he finally grasps Daphne's romantic interest in him. All thanks to an entire song written by Daphne where she uses Fred's special interest to get through to him.

Behold, one of the best songs made for a television show in history.

Before this spectacular moment of audio interposed with occasional Zelda CDI-level animation (to be fair are you even looking at the animation in the first place) we got some Phantom shenanigans. Mostly him responding to Scoob and Shag's ability to warp time and space by just setting them on fire, probably the most effective thing one these guys have attempted so far.

Design: Obviously a homage to The Phantom of the Opera, and as we go through the series, you'll start to notice a lot more homages that Wikipedia will kindly point out for you. Though you can also see a bit of Comic Supervillain in his design, so much so that he doesn't seem to fit with the show's own aesthetic. He wears a black full body suit with a gigantic, taller than his own head, Dracula collar and grim reaper-esque hood. He has a fabricated piece of his outfit that goes over his shoulders like Football Pads, but with a sleeker design as it attaches his cape to the main costume. His cape is black but its interior is lined with a sparkling holographic material.

His mask, belt, boots, and glovers are all made of golden mechanical pieces, as they actually allow him to charge up bolts of electricity to fire at the teens in our show. This tech is never explained, and he really only uses it a few times before forgetting he has these weapons at his disposal.

His mask is the best part of the outfit, legitimately cool while evoking a gas mask. It's almost like it was made out of several pieces asymmetrically stuck to each other with large bolts, like if C3PO was mangled in an accident and put back together with recolored bits of R2-D2. There are several short, cylindrical ports on his gauntlets, boots, belt, and mask that occasionally glow green.

Reveal: Shaggy, with an extensive knowledge of obscure musical groups as we'll be shown time and time again, recognized the shiny material of The Phantom's cape as belonging to a One-Hit Wonder named Fantzee Pantz. And once that's discovered it's pretty obvious that the other suspect, The Hex Girl's manager, is not the culprit as he was just as responsible for Fantzee's obscurity as THG.

No, the true culprit is the girl's songwriter, who first attempted to sabotage them through badly written songs but was thwarted by the girl's talent and popularity - So he then turned to just trying to kill them, and Daphne. He ends up taking Scoob's dummy to jail with him, but the original duo patch things up by then - letting us look back at Velma who got sidelined so badly this episode.

2/5 Goofy as hell design for a goofy character, probably the most "Villain of The Week" we've encountered so far. In fact, he'd probably fit in better in Miraculous Ladybug than this show. Not that bad otherwise, just not as impressive.

[canmom]

post-animation night 177 comments

brief thoughts on kizazi moto (more substantial tomorrow perhaps): visually that was so lush. we're really full post-Arcane/Spiderverse nonphotorealistic stylings here, with a powerful dash of Trigger/Flying Bark-esque Neo Kanada School as well. this was like a cross-section of the current big styles in animation and it kicked ass for that. I'm not entirely sure what the production pipeline looked like - the Irish film board was apparently involved somehow! and maybe some Irish studios so it wasn't a purely African production - but it was an extremely impressive showing all round.

narratively, putting it right beside Fatenah kinda highlighted the places it wasn't willing to go. though I had heard the directors had a lot of freedom, there were some very consistent themes running throughout the anthology - nearly every film involved parent-child relationships, many of them revolving around a kid hoping to prove themselves in the eyes of their society/ancestors. the uglier side of history is touched on lightly: one film shows us a flashy cyberpunk city from an alternate timeline where 'Great Zimbabwe was never colonised', complete with 'the most advanced justice system in the multiverse' (a giant robot bird that chases our protagonists), but doesn't expand on that as more than a colourful backdrop. the last film gets closest, presenting a mother-child pair of two gods who are wounded by extractivism and retreat from the world - I appreciated the understated bleak implication of its ending.

I think while the creators were probably not given too much overt creative restriction, they were surely aware this was to be broadcast in English on Disney's streaming service, and tailored their stories accordingly. so you'd probably avoid "Disney is the face of American imperialism: the movie". Disney money is a bit of a double-edged sword that way.

besides parent/child reconciliation, we had a lot of ancestors and more than a few gods. a few stories centred on coming of age rituals; other had a more or less central focus on social media fame and its corrupting effect. at times it verges into the preachy - characters who stand between two families, or between humans and aliens, and resolve to honour both sets of ancestors - but the presentation is more than engaging enough to make it a compelling watch, regardless.

there's a lot of wonderful lighting, set design and architecture throughout. Mọrémì had a very cool desaturated style with toyetic, colourful 'soul-stealing giants' that put me a little in mind of Absolver.

Stardust had a bit of a Star Wars feel, almost feeling like an extra Visions short, but the injection of Islamic architecture was very effective.

a certain Arcane/Riot influence is very overt in many of the films - not just in the widespread use of paint textures in the CG environments and the approach to light and colour, but also with plot elements like the neon-drenched surfer gang in Surf Sangoma (episode 4) - which was definitely a fantastic-looking episode with the wonderfully out-there premise of a world where you have a squid suck on your face to gain surf skills. (just say no to squids, kids! you don't need 'em! rely on your magic ghost mum instead.) but I think this is something that's true in the animation industry more generally of late - the last few years have really kicked the door open to 2D stylings in 3D (paint textures, reduced framerates etc.). no doubt having a Spiderverse director as exec producer played a role in that too!

all in all I really enjoyed this anthology, and I'm super excited to see what comes next from the studios involved.

Fatenah meanwhile was fantastic, and an absolute gut punch. the fact that the hospital seen in the film has been in the news for being emptied out at gunpoint in the last week gave it a special level of 'oof'. its style may seem disarmingly simple, but the puppet-like styling ends up bestowing a huge degree of weight to the characters. the scenes of the border checkpoint, the monotony of cages and guards, and the concrete environment resembling a Half Life 2 map, were very impactful. highly recommend taking 20 minutes to watch this film.

[hopeymchope]

Danganlike, Ahoy: Process of Elimination

As we wait for the team behind the Danganronpa series to finally release the game they've been working on for almost five years now next month, why not fill the time with another recent release that's inspired by their work?

I've just started playing it myself.

Process of Elimination just came out in April, and the team behind it has been open about the fact that Danganronpa was one of their primary inspirations. As such, we once again we have a situation where a group of eccentric anime-style people are trapped in an isolated location where murders ensue! (At least this time, the cast isn't being forced/encouraged to all murder one another. ... Well, not YET.)

And the player character? We play as a detective-in-training with extremely low self-esteem who wears an all-black uniform and sports an ahoge sprouting from the black hair atop his head.

In other words: Shuichi.

We play as dollar-store Shuichi Saihara.

"We have Shuichi at home."

In all seriousness, his name is actually "Wato Hojo." But far as I'm concerned? This motherfucker is Discount Shuichi until he earns his own name. But make no mistake — I'm legitimately hoping our protagonist will manage to come into his own. I wish you the best of luck, D.S.!

Before we get any further, know this: There's a free demo available for this game! You can try out the early parts for free on your Switch, PS4, or PC! So there's very little reason NOT to do so if you're at all interested in a new Danganlike mystery Visual Novel-esque game with puzzles to unravel!

With that out of the way... if you're still here, I'll happily give you more info on the basic setup/backstory of the prologue and how the gameplay generally works.

Unfortunately for Discount Shuichi, he's far from the only detective on the premises when deaths start occurring. In fact, he's but one of MANY. But to explain why that's the case, we need to dig into the setup/backstory of this thing.

Here's the setup/backstory of our adventure: A serial killer who goes by "The Quartering Duke" appeared roughly a year ago. Since that time, he's committed more than 50 double murders, racking up an heretofore-unprecedented 100+ kills. To make matters worse: The fact that he's been on such a successful spree without generating any clear leads has led to multiple copycats springing up in his wake.

The citizens are living in fear, requests for bodyguard and private detective services are at a historic high, and the government has resorted to leaning on the Detective Alliance (or "DA") for assistance with the crime wave.

"Who dat," you ask? The DA is sort of like a detective union: A loose alliance of 100 private detectives who are given a numeric rank based on their skills and experience. So kind of like the Detective Library made famous to DR hardcores by Danganronpa Kirigiri, albeit with fewer members.

They're officially free agents, but they're largely contracted by the government as of late. Also: The members of the DA can't reveal their real names/identities. Instead, they only go by an adjective that describes them and the word "Detective."

A group of quirky detectives that each have a noteworthy trait? Is this taking inspiration from Rain Code BEFORE Rain Code is out?!

For example:

Gourmet Detective is an excellent chef in addition to her detective bonafides.

Rowdy Detective is typically aggressive and ready to throw down.

Techie Detective prefers to rely on technological tools for his work.

Posh Detective is... posh.

And as you no doubt see in the above image, our own character is dubbed the "Incompetent Detective." I wish I could say that was undeserved, but... nah. It check out.

When we first meet Discount Shuichi, he's botching a job he was assigned as an assistant at a smaller detective firm. He's brought into the Detective Alliance at the lowest rank of 100 JUST in time for he and another 13 sleuths to wind up isolated at DA's island headquarters with their communications out. And he quickly proves that he's not very swift on the uptake when it comes to the clues around him. I actually joked to my S.O. that maybe they'd dub him the "Inept Detective"... and two minutes later, he got the "Incompetent" label. And I laughed. It's harsh, but for now? It's fair.

Oh, and he even gets knocked out and wakes up inside a locker that is within his new murder-prison. +1 Shuichi Point!

Anyway, back to the story: To the surprise of everyone who isn't the player, a quartered dead body is soon discovered. It appears entirely likely that the Quartering Duke has made his way to Detective Alliance Island and is now trapped among them! Pretty soon, we're collaborating with other detectives to examine the crime scene and determine what went down.

I just started playing last night, so I don't have a lot more to report than that. I've only completed the first chapter/mystery so far. At the moment, it looks like we might only have ONE culprit throughout this game who commits all the murders... but given that we're already set up that there's a ton of copycats during the prologue/backstory, I wouldn't be too shocked if we encounter one or two others as the game goes on.

The bulk of the game is a visual novel experience with occasional binary choices that can lead to (minor/short) branches in events and/or impact your end-of-chapter score/grade. The balance is similar to a Danganronpa so far: You're mostly reading, but there's still one important segment where gameplay takes center stage and gets much more involved than merely reading the text. That core "gameplay" comes in the investigation sequences.

Isometric Investigative Action!

This is when we use our "dPad" (an iPad parody, not a directional pad) to direct all the titular detectives around the building. I'm not going to get into the story reason for why Discount Shuichi has this authority, so let's just talk about what he can do with it.

See, there will be "Mystery Points" that require a certain level of "Intellect" to unlock, and you can assign detectives with various numeric Intellect rankings to investigate them. If you put another detective beside such an investigating detective and assign them to "Assist," you get a significant boost in their Intellect skill that will help you break down the Mystery Point faster, revealing the clue underneath. Most Mystery Points will only take a single "hour" or "turn" to identify what the relevant evidence is, but some take multiple turns. Furthermore, once you identify a piece of evidence at such a point, you'll find that some of them require closer analysis to reveal all of their secrets. And each of our detectives ALSO has a numeric "Analyze" ranking. If they meet or exceed the rank needed to analyze the evidence, they can do so in a single hour/turn, revealing whatever additional info it holds.

Detective stats include a numeric Move rating, too! it controls how far they can move during a single turn. Usually, each turn lets you move a character and then assign them an action — but you can also choose to give a character full access to traveling the ENTIRE map if you need them to get very far very fast. Doing this means that moving will be ALL they can do for that particular turn, though.

Starting get the picture? The game is one of time and resource management. You have a limited number of hours/turns before you must complete an investigation, and each detective on hand has set numeric ratings that limit how much they can move and what they can successfully complete within a single turn. Your mission is to complete the analysis of the crime scene and all its evidence before your time is up, leveraging your team's unique stats to carve the most efficient path.

The first investigation is 50% tutorial, so it's pretty easy to complete it within the allotted hours/turns. For that reason, I don't yet know what happens if you take too long to find everything in an investigation. The game only threatened that doing so would cause "ANNIHILATION." ... Which sounds bad.

I think that's enough of an introduction to Process of Elimination. I'll just close by noting that it only contains Japanese voiceovers (no dub) and, although I found some elements of its story to already be super-obvious, they've been reasonably quick to reveal the most obvious elements during the first chapter rather than lingering on the mistaken assumption that we hadn't already figured their crap out. So I'm optimistic that they won't make this narrative TOO obvious or simple in the long run.

Looking forward to uncovering more!

[animehouse-moe]

Helck Episode 1: Helck The Hero

I'll admit it, I had my concerns with Satelight being behind the adaptation of Helck. They're not exactly a stellar studio by any means, and Helck does have very specific needs and requirements to succeed. Through this first episode though, Satelight proves that while it's not the perfect adaptation, it's one that grasps Heclk's strongest points as a story and delivers that experience to viewers, and I'd love to take the time to explain how (and how well) it does that.

To my incredible surprise, Helck starts by teasing a great deal of the future during an innocuous sequence. And I don't just mean the next episode or two, but rather countless episodes into the future, and years upon years into the Hero Helck's past. It's really incredible what they sneak in, and is the very first indication to viewers that this is not just a parody series. Incredibly bold decision, but one that I think works incredibly well to set up the one-two punch of this story for first time viewers. Also, really good action? Has me very excited for what we'll see in the coming episodes.

Anyways, we visit Vermillio and Hon shortly after to introduce Helck to them as a human who's partaking in the Demon Lord tournament before we cut to our opening. And I think this is a very strong litmus test for viewers. Do you like the vibe of the opening? If yes, this show is definitely for you. If you don't, odds are you won't be in love with it. Helck is a "classic" styled series, if that makes sense. It doesn't take itself too seriously, but it has an incredibly unique story and approach to its world. And I think that this opening captures a lot of that vibe with what is more "average" opening visuals. It also really likes to spoil stuff (alongside the ending), so there's lots for anime onlies to look into and theorize off of.

Back to the episode itself though. They waste very little time in making sure viewers understand that this show is meant to be funny. Okay, maybe they waste a little, but it's not a waste because it sets the backdrop for a pressured and weakened Demon Realm being battered by humanity. Regardless, it moves briskly into very comical banter between Hon and Vermillio, and quickly establishes running jokes between the duo overseeing the Demon Lord Tournament. Of course, it's hard to show when so much of it is dialogue and delivery based, so take these very fun and expressive shots of characters instead.

Do you know what is funny though? Helck creating a card tower at the speed of sound. Yeah, that does indeed happen.

Helck also completely routs a Shogun-esque demon in a game of Demon Chess.

He also wears a super tiny apron and makes a perfect parfait, and Vermillio plays dress up so she can crush his dreams by giving him a bad score, only for her to rate it perfectly.

I think you get the point, Helck is the comedy. He's not the sole source of humor, nor even the sole focus of the story. But this character provides the series with its core, the thing from which everything else revolves around, the aspect that everything remains tied to. It's a really smart way to build a story out, and works almost frustratingly well as the story is just as adaptable as this human hero aiming for the title of Demon Lord.

Alright, rewind time! Helck is inherently funny, yes. You might even argue that it's the primary objective of the series. But that doesn't mean it's without story or purpose. Just that those pieces are very well hidden and integrated, especially in the anime.

So, from the top once more. Demon Lord tournament, Helck the human, yada yada. Let's go visit the Demon Realm spy Asta as he scouts out the Human Realm.

Firstly, this image. I can't say anything, but I think viewers will understand the implication given the contents of the episode, the opening and ending, and the fact that the village Asta is visiting is empty.

There's a few details here and there with Asta, but I think they'll be more important in the following episode, so I'll leave them until there. For now, let me shine a light on Vermillio. Is she hot headed? Absolutely. Does that mean she falls into the typical demon tropes? Not in the slightest. Even if it was delicious, Vermillio could have poorly scored Helck's parfait, but instead she's honest about it. Bit of an odd trait for a demon, no?

Then there's this scene, of Vermillio ripping down a poster in a fit of rage over Helck. It quickly reappears on the wall though after a moment of contemplation from Vermillio. The manga spells it out for readers, but the anime doesn't so I'll provide some context for this moment. Vermillio cares deeply about both her position, and the people that she rules over. Defacing a poster that depicts some of her realm's finest isn't befitting of someone in her position, so she quickly moves to rectify her mistake, and in her own way apologize for her rashness. For reference, here's the manga page that depicts the same scene.

Okay, quick detour because of anime stuff. Hyura The Immortal. She was definitely a looker in the manga, but there was never anything this detailed or striking for her character there. I'll be the first to say, the character designs from the anime bear little resemblance to the sharp, rugged, and aggressive style of the manga. But for what they lack in accuracy, they make up for in expressiveness, moxie, and overall appeal. They aren't "generic" designs by any stretch of the imagination, but they really do nail the expressions of the characters when compared to the manga. But anyways, Hyura's hot.

Alright, back on track we go for the last bit. From communication via Asta, Ista (her sister) presents Vermillio with further information on Helck. Namely, how he killed his own brother, Cless, who was the real hero who defeated the Demon Lord. From there, an intense (and really well directed) moment begins as Vermillio comes to understand the danger that lurks within the Human Realm. It's a really incredible and faithful adaptation of the same sequence in the manga, where Vermillio struggles with the violence and rage of Humanity which is superimposed on the interactions of Kenros and Helck to speak to the aggression and terrible acts Humanity has committed against the Demon Realm. Really great way to end the episode, and create a big cliffhanger full of tension.

There's a world of stuff to talk about in this scene, but I also think a lot of it is explicit, particularly in how Vermillio talks about her fellow demons and their efforts. It paints the picture of Humanity as being evil and depraved, and allows the demons to take the role of the oppressed. Expertly crafted, and a scene that will only continue to grow in importance as this series goes on.

I really did have high hopes for this show despite it being from Satelight, and even though they were offset greatly by concern, the studio has delivered an episode just a bit more than what I was hoping for. It hits all the right notes and teases viewers even more with what's to come. Seriously, you could probably watch this episode 3 or even more times and not quite capture all of what this story hints at already.

So, to summarize. It's funny, it's enjoyable, it's got great characters, and if the manga is anything to go off of, it's got a hell of a story on the backburner ready to shock and leave viewers in awe. I'm incredibly excited to see how this series does an anime.

[suffcring]

A QUICK PRIMER/ TL;DR ON RABBIT

this is pretty much standard across her history, and minus a few changes for her Ghsot AU, is across the board useful

It is important you understand Rabbit was an OC I made when I was 18 on a forum for the webcomic Order of the Stick, and is therefore semi tied into DnD ish concepts, but largely has moved on from that to be a completely original character

I cannot TL;DR her religion, sorry. You can read it here I made it up myself. There will be some summarizing of the details included.

The leader of the cult was Rabbit's father, Jackal. Her mother (Cat) was the sister of Jackal's wife (Akita), and therefore Rabbit is a bastard which does not help with her ostracization from the clan. Jackal had a brother, Raven, who might have actually been Rabbit's dad. There's really no way of knowing, since, like, Rabbit killed him after she saw him kill Akita (who had poisoned Cat and had been intent on killing Rabbit, too). Rabbit has a half sister who leads the clan now, Dove. Dove has some fondness still for Rabbit, but Rabbit is incredibly bitter and angry

Rabbit was ostracized due to being unable to shapeshift and being a necromancer. As a child. Completely cut off from any warmth.

Rabbit ran off with a boyfriend (Amour, my friend Bryn's old OC) and then ran away from him, too-- cause trauma (there's more to it, but again this is a more digest friendly explanation of Rabbit). He's a musician, with some ancestral connection to the sirens of greek myth, and he's recently been on the radio quite a bit. Think Hozier/George Ezra -esque sound.

her main goal in any universe except Ghost is to absolutely destroy the compound her family lives on. Just. Destroy all of them. Wipe it from the planet. She's convinced she will not be at peace until they've suffered

Rabbit's family mostly lives on a compound, though most of them attend the local public schools, go off to college, and plenty of them live off compound as adults when they get married or find a life of their own

most of the family on compound partake in the family industry -- think Academi (formerly Blackwater). Body guarding, military security, that sort of thing.

because of this, Rabbit is buff. Not hugely so, but she's strong and knows how to physically take a person down. She knows sixteen ways to kill you with her thumb.

Rabbit is asexual and heteroromantic. My only hetero character ever. Still, she prefers the friendship of women to that of men.

Due to Trauma TW, Rabbit often cannot enjoy sexual encounters without an element of pain. She is masochistic. That said, she has and will engage in vanilla sexual encounters with people she loves (though this is rare)

How does Rabbit animate corpses? I'm so glad you asked, she kisses them. Sleeping Beauty style. If you have an undead character and they allow her to kiss them, they're under her control. Sorry.

Rabbit does her own acrylics -- and the benefit of this is that her nails have an enchantment on them so she can touch ghosts and poltergeists :)

in NON GHOST universes, Rabbit is on her way to becoming a lich. I am bending the rules, I do not care. She has a phylactery, but only certain people know what it is, even ooc.

almost always in skirts and dresses, they look very cute on her five foot nothing frame. Tiny buff goth woman.

dyes her hair every few years. She's been rocking the silver balyage for a few years. I'll change it again eventually. Her natural hair is brown, she'll tell you it's auburn.

in her "end game" universe, she found her goddess Moon's bones, lost an eye to bring her back, and was given a boon. Her family lost their shape-shifting ability, and Rabbit herself is returned to a fully human state

I think those are all the important details that are needed for like a "starter" dump on Rabbit?

[saaraofthesand]

My Thoughts on The Sun and The Star.

I’ve organized my thoughts into some lists. Enjoy.

I polled my followers and they said they wanted this so you can’t get mad at me.

I must first emphasize that at 20 years old, I’m hardly this book’s target audience. I am fully aware of that.

Second, this book is fine. It’s not bad, it’s not insulting to queer people, but it’s also not the most interesting work of fiction I’ve ever read.

Third, I never finished the Trials of Apollo. I don’t think it hugely affected my reading experience with this one as I’d read all 10 of the other books and could use context clues for anything I didn’t know about. But I thought I should mention it.

Fourth, a lot of my problems with this book have also been present in all of Rick Riordan’s books post-pjo. So, these aren’t new.

Fifth, I went into this book with basically zero expectations. I’m not active in the pjo fandom (this is an anime blog), so I wasn’t seeing the book hyped up or anything. Before this, I’d basically only talked about it with my family and friends. I also don’t really read pjo fanfics. I have because I’ve gotten curious before, but I haven’t read enough to know about general fanon interpretations of characters.

Okay,

Nico has been my favorite PJO character since I was a kid (yes I grew up gay with abandonment issues shut up), so I was excited for this book.

The queerness is well done. There isn’t any “othering” of Nico, Will, or their relationship due to their queerness.

We got Italian! Nico moments, which I’ve been wanting more of since forever, so I’m happy about that. They did an okay job rounding out Will’s character. And Nico and Will’s relationship got a lot of good exposition (even if I felt that they were unrealistically mature about it). Nico’s experiences with homophobia felt very real.

Okay, now on to my critics:

Without a doubt my biggest criticism of this book is that it is very clearly fanservice. It doesn’t exist because it has a story to tell. It exists because fans wanted more Nico and Will content.

I didn’t like that the book was written from third person. I had this same critic of the Heroes of Olympus books. Rick Riordan’s strength has always been first person POVs, starting with the original PJO series. I feel like the funny chapter names, the breaking of the fourth wall, the sidebars, etc. are the reason that Rick’s prose stands out. A first person perspective is the reason the books are as funny as they are. And this book lacked that spark.

The choice to write from third person is part of what contributes to the fanfiction-esque writing style of this book. As someone who both reads and writes fanfiction, I can tell you that almost all fanfics are written from third person. This is because, for the most part, the characters you’re writing are not your own. First person is way too intimate a POV for that type of writing, and it’s why most fanfic authors don’t use it. That’s what I feel like is happening here. Oshiro is writing characters that aren’t theirs, and that means they can’t bring the intimacy of a first person POV or even a more intimate third person POV.

The book is also very on the nose with its themes and ideas. Generally, this is fine in this type of literature. This is a piece of middle-grade fiction. The target audience is middle schoolers. But also, middle schoolers can pick up on subtext. They’re young, not illiterate. There was far too much telling when they were already showing.

A good example is the title of the book. It’s very clear that “The Sun” is Will and “The Star” is Nico. I assumed that before I even opened the book. That imagery is incredibly obvious, so the authors don’t need to state it in the text. But… they do. Bob refers to Will and Nico as “My sun and star.” It was one of the moments in the book that really made me cringe.

The book has major pacing issues and is too long. I felt like it was going on forever. There were full scenes and segments that I think could’ve been cut without affecting the plot.

This book really put on display that even though Will and Nico work as boyfriends, they don’t work as partners. This contrasts Percy and Annabeth, who do work really well together since they were partners first. But Nico and Will are so bad at working together that their quest dynamic isn’t fun.

Generally, I don’t love the characterization in this book.

Nico and Will are supposed to be on this dark, dangerous quest. One so horrible no one would ever want to undertake it. It’s the House of Hades (Nyx’s Version). Except it really isn’t. It felt like they wanted to make it more psychological than the previous books, but they also weren’t totally willing to commit to everything that would entail.

Despite all the fluff in the book, it takes itself just a little too seriously. Nico and Will are 15-16. I feel like they could have had more fun with it while still tackling darker themes. Again, I know Riordan is capable of this because *gestures at the original PJO books*

Nico and Will have this weirdly mature outlook on their relationship that doesn’t fit their ages.

We don’t get PJO-esque jokes until 80% of the way through the book (yes, I kept track). There’s the “Travel Brochure” joke and the “Saturday Sundae” joke during the Nyx confrontation. Both of which invoked the feeling of reading the original Percy Jackson books. I got really excited.

Immediately after those jokes this became one of the cringiest books I’ve ever read. And I do not care to elaborate on that because I’m just happy that the book is over at this point.

Lastly, I wasn’t sure where to put this, but I read it, so now, you have to too. “‘Will, he said it has to be both of us,’ said Nico. Will hesitated at first, but an epiphany dawned in him, and his eyes went wide. ‘Together,’ he said.” After reading this, I immediately recoiled in disgust and went “UGH!” And there are multiple lines like this in the book. Absolutely horrible -7563/10. Rick, never allow another sentence like that into one of your books again. This isn’t YA. You can’t be throwing lines like that at me out of nowhere.

In conclusion:

I’ve seen people saying the criticisms of this book are the result of homophobia and… y’all no they aren’t. Most of the people I’ve seen criticizing the book are queer, including me! I’m tired of this idea that queer people just have to appreciate whatever representation they’re given without having any criticisms about it because at least it’s something. No! If Nico and Will were a straight couple, I’d still have the exact same critics of this book. I’m gay and it’s my godgiven right to dislike books that focus on gay people if the stories aren’t good.

Something that I do think is sad here is that Oshiro’s name is now on this substandard book forever. They’re a new author, and they don’t deserve that. Rick Riordan will be fine if this book isn’t received well, but Oshiro is less likely to be. That upsets me deeply as a queer writer myself. That sucks. I hate that. Go check out their books instead of this one tbh.

[2bloved]

Me about to also be silly about the mod.

I love the way they portrayed Steven in this. From the blood red rage and anger his song conveyed. To the foreboding regret that simmers in the background (the “I’m sorry” that briefly flashes in the song)

Not to mention, I have a feeling that Steven attempted to/maybe used strangle on bf. In the YouTube video, a word pops up for a split second “strangle(d)” and that would explain why Miki appeared! Because she had the move strangle in the original.

I also like how BF, Steven, and Miki are the only “colorful ones” reminiscent of gameboy graphics but, also because they are the only ones that matter now. The town has gone silent and it’s only them.

Me having so many thoughts about strangled red

I AGREE SO HARD!!!!!!!!!!!

i have many feelings and thoughts about perdition steven specifically like hes SO FUCKING cool

i also really like just how feral and deranged they portrayed him as while keeping the aspect of the fact steven was just grieving (in a violent way) over his deceased beloved pokemon like.. AND THE IM SORRY THING TOO i also enjoy the literal simmering the background (maybe simmering isnt the right word to use but the ummm the actual gameboy AND gameboy advance soundfonts because i can hear a bit of frlg instruments in it too) AND THEN MIKI ACTUALLY FUCKING SHOWING UP ??!?!?!

i think one of the coolest little details about the empty (presumed) pallet town is the slight blood puddle that ripples beside steven it reminds me of umm the pond water light rippling animation in rse this is hyper specific yes but idk dawg it just do

i might be a little biased but i also think its really cool when pixel art esque styles are used in fnf mods and especially here since not only is it a pokemon mod but it feels faithful to like. the original the muted red and vibrant blood red alongside the black go SO well together

THE STRANGLE THING YEAH i agree i think my eyes almost popped out of my head (exaggeration:i was just very excited) when there was a laughing animation AND a brief implied strangling animation (if u lose) that went hard as FUCK

i ALSO have many thoughts about mr steven "strangled" red .. head full no coherent thoughts i havent drawn perdition steven yet but i def will when i get the chance and motivation....

(i also think its pretty funny if you think about steven calling/beckoning glitched 'miki' at will like a dog because homie could really just take one look at you, smile, and just go "...miki, kill." and then out of no where you see a huge desaturated decomposed(?) charizard in the distance flying at you at mach 11)

[greed-the-dorkalicious]

I want to take a minute to address the “VTuber design style” thing, since it seems to have become a hot topic in light of the new Fire Emblem stuff, but I’ve noticed there’s a lot of misconceptions going around. I’m a VTuber myself and I can say from experience that there’s a ton more variety in the VTubing community than people seem to think there is, so I’d like to explain why people think VTubers look a certain way, as well as give some examples of other looks.

When you think of VTubers, you probably think of something like this, right?

Now, there’s nothing inherently wrong with these designs, but you may notice a sort of uniformity to them. They all seem to feature fairly detailed designs in a contemporary anime style, almost a sort of gacha character-esque feeling. Why is this?

All of the VTubers shown above are members of Hololive Production, a talent agency owned by Cover Corporation, a Japanese tech entertainment company. What does this mean for these designs? Well, it means two things: 1. As part of the same corporation, they’re aiming for a uniform, highly marketable look, and 2. again, as part of a big budget corporation, these VTubers have the backing to afford extremely expensive models. 

In addition to Hololive, the other main VTuber talent agency is Nijisanji, known for having more male talents and also for their extremely shiny look. Again, they’re a corporation and they are aiming for a certain look.

In addition, there are many non-corporate VTubers who try to emulate the look and production quality of groups like Hololive and Nijisanji. This sometimes works out, and sometimes doesn’t. I’ve seen a lot of indie vtubers sink hundreds if not thousands of dollars into their models and graphics, only to decide a few months later that VTubing isn’t for them, or that they don’t like their character, and disappear into nothingness. So if you’re thinking of becoming a VTuber, PLEASE start with a cheap model, or even try streaming without a model just to be sure it’s something you enjoy doing.)

Why do these models cost so much? Well, most of them are made using a program called Live2D. This is the same technology used in games like Project Sekai, for example. But while those sprites are fairly simple, VTuber models require many, many points of articulation. The art must be drawn in a certain way, often split up into hundreds of layers, and then rigged in Live2D, either by the artist or a dedicated rigger. In many cases this can get so detailed as to rig individual strands of hair, fingers, different parts of the inside of the mouth, the highlights in the eyes, etc. 

Ok, so we’ve established the reason why corporate VTubers and copycats look like that: They’re aiming for a recognizable and uniform style, and they have the money to afford incredibly complex rigs. But what do non-corporate VTubers look like?

While many of them do look similar to Hololive and Nijisanji, in general indie and small agency VTubers tend to have more variety in design, as they’re not restricted by corporate direction and can focus more on what they personally like. Many make their own models. Also, in addition to Live2D, some VTubers use 3D models, either made using a program called VRoid Studio or more traditional 3D model software. Here’s a fun example: My pal Auntie Katie (@old_lady_katie on Twitter), who recently revealed her new model which she made in Blender! Along with her dear pet Catburger.

Here’s Crow (@crow_creates), who worked hard to make a plus size model in VRoid, and did an absolutely gorgeous job:

On the 2D side, we’ve got Monacht (@MonachtVT), a trans fighting game legend:

Kaijuu-san (@monster0721), a Godzilla enthusiast- Yes, his model really moves!

I’d be remiss not to mention Auntie Calc (@HotCalc), who uses VRoid to change her outfits on a regular basis:

And of course, for the curious, here’s me (@AkumajoAurora)! I made this model myself in VRoid, and she was largely designed to look like a fantasy version of my IRL appearance. Her design takes some inspiration from late 90s and early 2000s fashion in addition to other elements.

I hope this post helps clarify why corporate VTubers look the way they do, as well as open some eyes to the wide variety of amazing VTubers in our community. And keep in mind that these are just some of my personal favorite VTubers- There’s a lot more out there as well! Take a look around, you might find someone you really vibe with! Thank you for reading <3

[footballffbarbiex]

For Now.

player: nicolo zaniolo  words: 693 request: nicolo zaniolo  |  you/your  |  600+  | you just started dating a month ago and this was the first time he had a few days off so you rented a cabin a few hours from town to just get a way for a couple of days. while there you noticed that the cabin almost had no heat, so you spent the days cuddling, drinking hot chocolate and watching movies.

-

Nicolo hadn’t wanted to stay in Rome with the temperature dropping unusually low for September. But going away meant leaving you and that was one thing he didn’t want. And with the added disadvantage of not having the luxury of going anywhere long distance for such a short trip that wouldn’t be eaten up by travelling, Nicolo didn’t have a whole lot of choice.

“I know it’s still early days, and I completely understand if you think it’s too soon but I’m going to ask anyway.” Nervous had gotten the better of him and he found himself rambling into the question “would you like to come away with me?”

He’d said it wouldn’t be anywhere fancy or with much to do, but you didn’t care too much about the where, more about the “who with”. What you hadn’t anticipated was a cabin style getaway. In an area of several km, woodland was used to create rustic cabins and a mix of traditional camping areas and glamping pods. The pathways were lined with solar powered lights both along the roadsides and through the trees, creating a fairytale-esque look.

The cabin Nicolo had booked was rustic but with a modern twist. The kitchen area was perfectly cottage-like with hidden modern appliances like a dishwasher and an American fridge freezer, and the large classic style clawfoot tub had a beautiful view from the upper windows.

Heating was in the property, but it was basic and sadly for the two of you, you realised that with the hotter months not requiring the heating system being used meant that it now wasn’t working as it should be. There was enough life in the boiler to generate hot water, but not enough power in it to heat up the cabin without it turning off.

Nicolo had retrieved as many of the blankets from the cabin storage, as well as the ones brought in anticipation of a cooler evening. The late afternoon was spent sitting on the porch, watching the sunset through the trees and the animals which scurried along the forest floor. When the temperature dropped low enough to drive the two of you inside, the couch was a welcoming place to retreat to. Big enough for the two of you to sit comfortably, the blankets managed to trap as much of the heat around you and hot drinks added additional warmth within you.

-

“Why shiver at home with working heating when we can shiver out here in a forest with no heating?” he chuckles as he approaches with a new mug of drink. You happily accept it and give your thanks before placing it on the blanket covering your lap and tuck your hands into the sleeves of one of the hoodies that Nicolo had generously offered, ensuring that your hands don’t get too hot while you hold it.

“I’m still happy to be here with you though.”

“You don’t regret it, even though your teeth were chattering earlier?” He grins at you as he tries to make light of the situation.

“Even if I’ll go home with a cold and silently curse you. I’ve enjoyed spending this time with you.”

“It’s better than a couple of hours here and there back at home.” He nods in agreement before blowing over the surface of his coffee and takes a sip.

“Would you still have come out here if I said no?”

“I might have gone away for the weekend but not somewhere like this. I wanted to be alone with you, where we couldn’t just be pulled back and distracted.”

“I do like having you to myself. I could get used to this.”

“I’ve not put you off yet?” he asks and you shake your head as you make a disagreeing nu-uh sound. “Not even when I take up most of the bed?”

“That’s frustrating, I admit. And your duvet stealing.” you quickly add and he laughs. “But I’m willing to look past those flaws. For now.”

“I’ll take that “for now” and remind you of your doubts when it’s our anniversary.”

“You’re thinking of our first year already?”

“Wedding,” he corrects, “but it’s a start. For now.”

If you’d like to be added/removed/update your URL, then please let me know here. Crossed out means that tumblr cannot find your blog at this time.

  Forevers: @pom277​  |   @emilielfc​  |  @odegaardsblues​​   | @archxron​  |  @lawsandother​  |  @meteora-fc​  |  @smileytaa​  |  @holdmybvbeer​  |  @football-and-fanfics​  |  @ofxinnocence​  |  @footballerimaginess​  |  @imaweirdobutyoulikeit​  |  @kxndrixx​  |  @chokinghazrdd  |  @marcdurm​  |  @pingyu-in-wonderland​  |   @dreamyfootball  | @declansmount​  |  @penguintransporter​  |  @degea-drama-llama​ |  @callyhandra​  |  @gatekeptlee  |  @elliestonesx  |   @peterparkerbae​  |  @untitled92260​  |  @heli991113​  | @mrsmctominay​ |   @football-rambles​  |  @britishmoonchild​  | @ninuffi​  |  @thiagoalcantaras​  |  @0wlm0nkeygh0st  |  @mxsonxmountx​  |   @adorestonsey  | @nyctophilic0vitnir​  |  @keepitprivatehun  |

forever non smut:  @Yagetintoit  |  

[lesser-mook]

TEEN TITANS 2003

This and Justice League Unlimited were my break during my My Hero Academia binge:

When the fanservice got too pedo

when the writing got too contrived

 when the characters’ development got hijacked by the plot 

the female characters aren’t relevant until the plot says so or when it was time to pander to some boners- 

THIS is the show about Teen Heroes actually getting shit done without the buck-ass naked kids in a spa bath:

TEEN TITANS 2003

Nails both: 

Episodic (stand alone storytelling) 

and Long term (linear storytelling)

Handles dark themes, and lighthearted ones. Funny as shit sometimes, and gets downright psychological & philosophical in a sense.

The show surprises you with the messages in the writing, often.

ONLY 5 central characters, not 20+ characters in one crammed setting fighting for screen time, defined by their 1 out of 1 stereotypical personality traits.

And because it’s only 5 characters, we get plenty of time to see them actually developed & fleshed out, so we see different sides to them without intervention or some random shit happening. 

We seem them at their best, vulnerable and their worst. 

Likable, grounded characters.

65 Episodes, 5 Seasons; Teen Titans is (Quality)-

not excess Quantity

The Character arcs are simple, and are handled competently.

The action ain’t no Studio Bones tier sakuga but for a honorary Anime style, it’s nice to look at. And really holds up for a show that’s almost 20 years old, on god.

The guys are funny, compelling in their serious arcs and cool. 

And the ladies, one being the strongest member & the other being the most powerful on the team, period. That alone speaks for itself.

Despite being the high-end members they’re not being used as mouthpieces for any contrived empowerment narrative, they’re strong as shit, we know that, they carry their weight on the team, more than keep up with the boys, 

and that’s enough to speak for itself.

Without literally being dressing them up in Cheerleader outfits for gags or to unironically/unintentionally speak as to how irrelevant they are in the plot..

These girls actually matter to what’s going on here, they have a purpose beyond being a waifu Dossier Gallery. They’re characters with a stake in the situation.

IE. Everyone has something to do, and a role to play on the team, legitimately.

One of MY personal praises that some people mention is not the anime vibe for me, but the Gorillaz-esque character designs and artstyle specifically.

I like the aesthetic, outside of the anime quirks

The music is basically alt-rock with a little metal, some ambient tunes, it’s underrated.

Villains are also decent

21-23 min an episode, the pacing of this show wastes zero time, it hops right into meat of the matter right out of the gate of Season 1

Talented voice acting 

TEEN TITANS 2003 Highly recommended. 

[desafinado]

Hello, and congratulations on a new milestone! I haven't been following for all that long, but I'm excited to see where you go from here <3

(also good luck with college I just started a new semester myself haha)

I was hoping to enter the genshin matchup event, and get some headcanons as well. I'd prefer a male, but otherwise it's all good! I don't have that much I really want from a partner, but I would like to be able to have both fun and silly times, and times where we can simply exist quietly in each other's presence. I like to sing, but I can't dance so maybe that would be fun to do with them. I do like physical touch (to a reasonable amount), so I'd prefer my partner to as well. Other than that, I really just want to be loving, comfortable and honest - the kind of relationship where you can be open and still be loved, and you both can grow together.

I'm about 5'2, and have wavy blonde hair that is almost always tied back in a ponytail. I wear glasses, and have a very dark/light academia-esque style. I'm quiet, but not shy - I just dislike being overly social, but I do have a few extremely close friends. People trust me very quickly, and I take on the role of the therapist friend - but otherwise I'm fairly chill, which the occasional exception of getting energetic and 'full of beans' as my family says. I am also the kind of person that's almost constantly sleepy and could always take a nap.

I love to make little stuffed animals for my friends and family, and I've been making little dioramas as gifts as well. The only TV I can watch are horror movies, and I almost constantly have music playing - I'm one of those people who listen to everything, but I actually mean it (I have 380 liked songs on Spotify). I'm majoring in philosophy, so I am very good at thinking about too many things too often lol.

Thank you for making it through all that, and I hope you have a delightful day! Drink enough liquids and eat your favorite snack, and get some good rest tonight <3

diluc ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎ ﾟ ♡ ﾟ｡

you both enjoyed one another’s presence, whether a word was said or not, there was just always an air of comfortability between the both of you.

horror movie nights where he holds you just a bit too tight, will initially deny that he was scared, but will eventually give in and bury his face into your shoulder.

in return, you often find yourself falling asleep on his lap as he’s doing work; he always smiles fondly at you and gives you a kiss on the forehead.

you introducing him to making dioramas, he actually found it quite soothing and a nice break from his otherwise fast paced life.

gifting him a little stuffed eagle and him just being in awe, mostly because you made such a thing for him it just his heart.

“really, for me?” “yes! unless, you think he deserves another home…” “n-no! i was just… i love you.”

lazy days where you just stay in, being almost sickeningly clingy towards each other (/pos) and just spending the whole day being absolutely lovesick towards one another. 

softly complimenting each other’s small facial features, mindlessly playing with each other’s hair, bubble baths.

he can always count on you to share his feelings, woes, and whatever else. he appreciates your insights very much, and takes any advice you give very seriously. 

he absolutely trusts you with his life, and is willing to drop everything just to spend his days with you, living away from all the chaos of the world.

50 followers celebration rules here !!

note: thanks for stopping by, i hope you do stick around ^^ also wahh philosophy sounds fun, im writing this in between my first day classes actly lol but yes, hope you enjoy!!