#if you think cartoons are immature and so are the people who like them? just... express that opinion and be willing to own up to it

[area51-escapee]

I feel like people particularly in fandom have this idea that once a person reaches like over 25 they’re supposed to lose all their interests and only have the set pre approved Adult Interests™️ like paying taxes and having kids and drinking wine and the only reason an adult would like anything is to find some kind of sexual gratification in it because all adults are sex crazed perverts so even the most innocent fanart or fanfic is deemed sus and inappropriate and idk that sounds like a terrible way to think of getting older

[badass-queer-couples-battle]

Gay wrongs tournament, finals of the minor bracket

Propaganda:

For Root and Shaw:

Canon queers. They start out as enemies (Root even threatens Shaw with a hot iron during their meet cute), they even both kidnap each other at some points, but they end up ready to sacrifice everything for the other. Shaw is a self diagnosed sociopath, who is only on the side of ""good"" because she's bored and they've got a cute dog. She has no qualms about killing or even torturing people. Root is kind of unhinged, torturing and killing people in order to find and then protect a Machine that she thinks is a god. Eventually the Machine teaches her the value of friendship and life (kinda), but she's still a psycho at heart. They work so well together, even if they're like a four alarm fire.

For Lord Hater and Commander Peepers :

Lord Hater is the self-proclaimed "universe's awesomest evil-doer", an immature, attention-seeking manchild with electric powers and a short temper. He rules the Hater Empire with Commander Peepers as his second-in-command (technically third, after his beloved pet spider-xenomorph, but who's counting), however it soon becomes *very* clear that the cunning, remorseless, hardworking Peepers is the *real* brains behind the empire. Peepers might be frustrated at Hater's incompetence at times and isn't above manipulating him to reach an end goal, but he'd never dream of usurping him because, well, he's really gay and in love with him (as much as he can be in an early-10s Disney cartoon, anyways). Hater might take Peepers for granted a lot of times, but as his oldest friend and closest confidante he's the one who Hater is closest to. Whether it's invading other planets or kicking puppies for fun, these two are *delightfully* terrible jerks and the epitome of gay wrongs. 

Commander Peepers is both Lord Hater's right hand man in villainy AND his jilted stay-at-home-wife-guy (Also in villainy. Hater is really good at getting distracted from productive and efficient villaining.) Lord Hater was the greatest villain in the galaxy thanks to how well he and Commander Peepers worked as an evil team to run the Hater Empire!

Lord Hater conquers planets and is such an edgy bastard. Peepers is the actual brains behind the operation. Peepers is often pushed aside by Hater, they are besties and yet Peepers is always pining for this guy who will never notice. Peepers is so horribly gay for him if you watch the show he wants his stupid boss so bad. Peepers is so scared of him season 1 but then starts yelling BACK in season 2 and has to deal with him like a babysitter or something and yet STILL idolizes him and that’s just such a fun dynamic. His password is H8RNP33PRS43VR (Hater and Peepers forever). They are so evil and everyone fears them and they are villains and they are gay and the side of the fandom that draws them as a married couple that needs counseling is absolutely correct. The fanart of Hater openly liking him back is wonderful but I swear you don’t even need that. They are so gay and villain you have to love them they are

Villains that conquer planets and do evil stuff, my favourite characters, not really canon but they are the best :)

[zvtara-was-never-canon]

What do you think about this take? If you ask me, it’s a huge reach, they’re seriously coping. https://www.tumblr.com/linnoya-writes/708121534055759872/kataang-but-its-only-a-2-year-age-difference?source=share

"They always say Katara was a mother to everyone" No, she was the mom FRIEND. That's very different. Everyone calls her MOTHERLY and say she SOMETIMES acts like a mom, Sokka was the only one who said "When I think of mom, I can only think of Katara", and even then they still have an older-brother, younger-sister dynamic.

"Aang got to have a normal childhood" At first? Yes. Then he was being treated so differently just being the Avatar that he felt he had to run away. Then he also had to experience the trauma of waking up to discover basically everyone he loved is dead and that the world he knew no longer existed, and that he is the person everyone expects to magically solve everything.

He is a traumatized child-soldier just like Katara. Get over yourself.

"Katara is 14, going on 25" Katara is 14 latching onto Aang because he allows her to act like a kid again. Katara is 14 making a mean comment on Toph being blind because she's a temperamental kid who is annoyed at her frind. Katara is 14 snapping her annoying sibling. Karata is 14 immediately trusting Jet because she's a kid first discovering what hormones crushes are. Katara is 14 crying because her dad left, even if she can understand why he did it.

She FORCES herself to act like an adult, but she's still a child. Biologically, mentally, spiritually.

"Katara comfortably dresses up as Aang's mom" and as her brother's heavily pregnant wife - does that mean she not only thinks of Sokka as husband material, but also wants to sleep with him and have his babies to repopulate their home?

And she thinks she looks convincing, and that a couple from the COLONIES, aka not originally from the Fire Nation, would have FIRE as their last name. She calls herself "Sapphire Fire" with a straight face. She also felt comfortable pretending to be Aang's grand-daughter.

It's a cartoon aimed at children, with these KIDS saving the day through CHILDISH shenanigans.

"Aang was goofball and that wants to play games and have fun, so he was 12, going on 8" My guy, we're all mostly adults watching a show aimed at 7-year-olds, that doesn't mean we're mentally stuck on that age or regressing. Having fun is not a sign of immaturity.

And in case you forgot, Katara liked Aang because she WANTS to do the same stuff he does. By that logic, isn't she ALSO an 8-year-old?

"I don't even know if Aang knew what a vagina was, and neither did you, potential kataang fan" Zutarians LOVE projecting, don't they? (And americans love pretending people only find out about sex when they turn 18)

Aang is a 12-year-old boy with hormones coming out of his ears and he got visibly shy and THRISTY when Katara was helping him with his waterbending stance in her undergarnments. He knows. And it's weird that you pretend he doesn't just because you don't think he's as hot as Zuko.

You not finding someone hot doesn't make them a sexless angel.

[evander2511]

Dude, thank you so much for these reblogs and hearts; I did not expected to have such a nice surprise. If I can ask- what is bothering you the most in Helluva/Hazbin (f. ex. writting, worldbuilding, characters) and what do you actually like about it (if there is anything)?

You're welcome

What's bother me about helluva boss?

Bothering me about the show

1. The main thing that bothering me about helluva boss is the portrayal of abuser that's obviously stella and i really appreciated you make that post regarding stella as an abuser. Some abuser like paimon and stella are really feel like villain cartoon instead of actual abuser you know i found ironic the fandom actually can give much more accurate depiction stella and paimon. When that job supposed to be on the writer not the fandom. I'm gonna said this disney character who's abuser like judge frollo, mother gothel, lady tremaine, odalia blight even though disney is famous for their villain who's over the top their villain who's abuser come far more accurate than stella. Crimson he's actually quite accurate but he lack the motivation, the screentime showing us how before he become abusive, less making him the reason he's abuse moxxie just because he hated him(i remember reading one of the post with the tag helluva boss critical vivziepop portrayal of abuser is just black and white if i remember correctly).

2. The other thing that bother me is inconsistent from world building, character, story, lore.

3. The character who are supposed to be horrible person are not being acknowledge as horrible person, to simplify it blitzo and stolas are gary sue both are never being punished including loona she's also a mary sue well more precisely jerk sue.

4. Some heavy topic or social commentary in this show are being handle poorly

5. The character design are just terrible

6. Helluva boss is pro rich show

7. Portrayal of demon just not that great like they can make the demon more neutral or something like ok we have evil demon then we have another demon who's more neutral

8. The normalizing of SA, fatphobia, rape, toxic and parasocial relationship, abusive relationship, infedility

9. Infact this show demonize people who have valid anger like octavia and stella toward stolas, barbie wire and verosika toward blitzo

10. The lack of development and depth on female character

11. The creator immaturity

12. Too much villain but don't even bother to developing the villain and making them interesting. Striker he's threatening but then become a joke

13. Colorism the character with darker skintone often potrayed in a very bad light. Verosika crew who's incubus most of them are brown and darker skintone as prosmicuous and abuser. Barbie wire human disguises who's darker skintone is a groomer

14. Ableism the r word and moxxie character that is shown to have autistic trait but of course stolas gonna be mention first instead of moxxie since their favorite uwu sad boi come first. Moxxie actually did show sign of autistic behavior but i only see a few people mention it. Blitzo ableist behavior is not being hold accountable

15. Antisemitism the greedy jewish people in the first episode of helluva boss

The thing i liked on this show

1. The voice acting

2. The animation

3. The fighting scene is great

4. Angst teen trope being done right

That's all i can think about what i liked on helluva boss

[frozenwolftemplar]

'Tis the season for *fun* conversations

Fandom: Carmen Sandiego (2019)

Rating: G

Word Count: ~1,152

Just a little Christmas fun, inspired by my thinking about the societal constructs Carmen wouldn't have encountered growing up sequestered on VILE Island.

Apologies if this isn't very good, I've been trying to get out of a writer's block rut and this is the end result :/

+++

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

As one, Zach and Ivy turned from the television set to stare puzzled at Carmen, feet curled under her as she reclined on the hotel suite's armchair, then each other, exchanging baffled looks. The boss didn’t usually watch TV with them, spending post-caper evenings chatting with Player or people watching from hotel balconies or lobbies or nearby concourses; questions were to be expected on the odd occasions she did join them. But for this show?

“What’s what supposed to mean?” Ivy asked, setting down her can of Coke precariously on the arm of the couch.

Carmen gestured at the screen, indicating the kiddie Christmas cartoon that was the night’s main event. Really, she couldn’t see what made it, per Zach and Ivy’s insistence, "a classic" that “they had to watch:” most of the characters were on the mean side, especially the season’s ubiquitous Santa Claus (guy was a jerk to rival Shadowsan; what about him was worth celebrating for a solid month?), the music was tinny and off-key more than it was on, and the story about a deer who couldn’t catch a break was more aggravating than amusing (another seasonal mystery: what was festive about watching someone get bullied?).

But cartoons had been nonexistent on the Island, and watching the little stuffed animals seemingly, on their own accord, move was a diverting novelty. So while it was snowing too hard to avail themselves of what Chicago had to offer and she was gaining firsthand experience of what it was to be ‘snowed in,’ (something Player had found wildly amusing: “You said you wanted to know what living in Canada was like.” “I take it back.” “Too late!”) she’d accepted the siblings’ offer to pass the night with what was apparently an essential component of American Christmas, letting herself be mildly entertained by the childhood magic she’d missed out on in the form of an admittedly cute deer prancing across the screen, singing songs with an aspiring dentist (American Christmas did not make much sense).

Being mildly entertained did not preclude having questions, though.

“Man’s work,” She clarified, repeating Donner’s justification for excluding his nameless wife from searching for their runaway son. “What even is that?”

Neither sibling reached for the remote as the cartoon cut to a commercial break and ads began to blare, the television forgotten as they stared at Carmen like she’d just sprouted antlers to match the puppets on screen. “…Seriously?” Ivy asked, the word tight with disbelief. “You’ve never heard anyone say somethin’ like that? No one, like, ever said you couldn’t do something ‘cause you were a girl?”

“Um…” Carmen furrowed her brows, thinking back over her previous life on the Island. There were plenty of times she was told she couldn’t do something: play with Dr. Bellum's inventions, hike into the jungle by herself, poke around Countess Cleo’s wine cellar, rifle through Countess Cleo’s closet (the countess had been one of the main issuers of ‘don't-do-that’s, right after guess-who (again, jerk)), enroll in the Academy, sit in on Graduation (something she never did see but that still turned her stomach), leave. But the reasons had always boiled down to her being too young, too immature, too unruly; being a girl never had any bearing on the 'why's behind the 'no's.

“Ever?” Incredulous italics slanted through Ivy’s voice as Carmen slowly shook her head. “Wow.” She sat back on the sofa with a huff and crossed her arms over her chest, the Colgate spokesman’s smile taking on a suddenly nervous air at the venom in Ivy's glare. Grabbing her soda, she slammed back the rest of the can, then crushed it with a hand that had the innocent polar bears giving a growling crunch in alarm. “Guess VILE had something going for them after all.”

Confusion deepening (because how could VILE have anything going for them?), Carmen turned to Zach, the bowl of popcorn speckled with M&Ms and marshmallows sitting uncharacteristically forgotten in his lap. “Did I miss something?”

Zach blinked. “Apparently, sexism.”

“Sexism?" Carmen repeated slowly, the word an unfamiliar texture on her tongue. She flicked her gaze down at Ivy’s venomous snort, then bounced back to Zach. "What’s sexism?”

Zach's ears suddenly flamed to match his hair. "Uh..." He turned his attention to the all-consuming task of rummaging through the popcorn bowl for any bits marshmallows that’d survived Carmen’s turn with the bowl (a futile endeavor; she’d been commendably thorough). “You wanna take this one, Ives?”

“No.” Zach yelped as Ivy, face black, snatched her own handful of candy-dotted popcorn and champed it viciously, letting the unfortunate kernels pay for the insults of those idiots back at the track.

“But you have experience!”

“Experience?” (you could have experience at sexism? What, was it some sort of sport?)

“Which I’m *not* interested in rehashing!”

“Hey guys.” The brewing argument was doused by the sudden appearance of Player on the laptop monitor as it flickered to life on the coffee table. A bright lilt of laughing voices filtered through the door of the unfamiliar room he’d set up in, combining with the Santa hat sitting askew atop his head and array of snowmen, smiling elves, and red and green garnitures scattered about the space to give the (mostly) familiar tableau an unusually festive air. “Managed to snag a break from the family get-together festivities, so I thought I’d check in on how the snow day- well, night’s going.“

“Carm has a question for you!”

If Player was taken aback at Zach’s just-this-side-of-desperate interruption, he didn’t show it beyond a brow jumping into the faux-fur brim of the hat, merely turning to Carmen with a willing smile. “Sure thing. Fire away Red.”

“What’s sexism?”

The grin dropped, replaced with an expression that was dead-ringer for the ones Zach and Ivy had worn minutes before (was this a part of sexism?). “Sexism? For real?”

“Yes.”

Silence filtered through as realized that yes, his speakers were functioning properly, meaning that no, he hadn’t heard wrong. “Uh-huh…what are you guys watching again?”

“’Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.’”

Ah (well, now he had something else to add to the list of why he didn't like that cartoon).

“Ooooohhh boy.” Blowing out his cheeks, Player pulled off the hat and ran a hand through his hair, tipping the chair onto its back legs. He didn’t mind explaining things to Carmen, and really enjoyed being her guide to the world beyond VILE (truly; he wouldn’t have it any other way), but some things…well, some things are never fun to explain.

But she’d asked, so he’d do his best to answer. This should be interesting. “Well, you see Red…”

Ten eye-opening minutes later, Carmen was seething hotter than Ivy and on her way to blow off steam in the hotel’s complimentary gym, the cartoon having lost all magic.

Because while the truth of sexism was upsetting in and of itself, the realization that VILE, of all places, was free of the sin, and the mess of raveled feelings that burst from it, was a thousand times worse.

+++

Because at VILE, they believe in equal-opportunity evil, and they have a zero-tolerance policy for sexist comments. 🙃

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone! 💙

[buckybarnesss]

("of course he was hesitant to break up with her again because the last time he saw her before she got amnesia she stormed into his work place, kicked his desk into a wall, yelled that he betrayed her not allowing him to explain and they had fought multiple times before that. the relationship was toxic and he was very clearly scared of her reaction and that she would lash out at him")

good to know that you think that korra is an abuser who has power over mako in the relationship and mako is the victim who is afraid of her.

ah. i knew i was going to get an anon like this when i made that post. this fandom is so fucking predicable.

i never called korra an abuser in did i? no. you came into my inbox accusing me of using words i didn't say but since you wanna get into this discussion.

season 2 korra is the worst version of her. she is down right insufferable at times. she's hot headed, impatient and tempestuous with seemingly little emotional regulation. her behavior towards nearly everyone is immature.

this is a direct result of korra's insular upbringing which is she is not at fault for and is part of the reason she's so incredibly angry in season 2. she is totally justified in her anger over it, actually. it left her not just ignorant of the world to a large degree but underprepared for the more social aspects of being the avatar. truly the white lotus fucked up.

while korra's anger and frustrations are understandable and even relatable it does not make it okay for her to take them out on mako.

it's so odd because people will hate korra for these very things but offer her grace in how she treats mako. yet mako is rarely afforded any grace at all by the same people. in fandom i often see all the blame placed entirely on mako's shoulders. either you think korra is an equal partner in the relationship or you don't.

they're both maladjusted teenagers and it's their first real serious romantic relationship. they're both stubborn and their tempers flare. korra repeatedly seeks advice from mako and dismisses whatever he says. he tries to be protective when that's definitely a misstep as it comes across as paternalistic to korra when for mako it's a way he shows his care and love for someone.

that said, understanding why korra behaves the way she does it still doesn't make it okay how she treats her boyfriend.

it is unacceptable that she stormed into his place of work, yelled at him in front of his coworkers and kicks his desk into a wall. she is in the wrong for this.

i promise it's okay to call korra out on her bad behavior.

does it make her abusive? in the moment? yes.

look, this is a cartoon. a more mature one for sure and still imparts valuable lessons but like i don't think korra has a pattern of long term abusive behavior and she does learn and grow from this. both her and mako move beyond this, forgive each other for their bullshit and become good friends. it's fandom that continues to hold a grudge against mako.

korra's mistreatment of mako is also side by side in this particular season with the blatantly abusive relationship bolin is trapped in with eska and the comment lin made that implies she fucked up air temple island after she and tenzin broke up.

the eska/bolin relationship and lin's comment are played for laughs and mako in later seasons is made fun of for his ineptitude in his relationships with asami and korra.

all of these decisions were made by the writers and they are fucked for that in my opinion.

the incident at the police station makes mako uncomfortable in their next encounter when he discovers she doesn't even remember they broke up. mind you when he does meet korra again there's a very deliberate moment of her firebending at a dummy whose straw head lands at his feet.

mako's reaction is understandable. he doesn't want to embarrass korra in front of everyone and he's concerned about her reaction to the news they broke up considering her behavior towards him previously. he is somewhat scared of korra here. i think we can acknowledge that.

he knew he fucked up though and he does apologize for it.

now to address the other thing.

korra has more social power than mako. she is the avatar and the daughter of a southern water tribe chieftain. she has all the advantage and privilege over him.

in fact, the entirety of season 2 is mako essentially having less social capital and privilege than those around him and it lands his ass in jail after being framed for the cultural center bombing because he stepped on the wrong toes

make no mistake korra, varrick, asami and lin have more social capital and power over mako than he does over them.

i guess we're not supposed to acknowledge that though.

[maxwell-grant]

SF6 Comic Thoughts:

(Spoilers) For those wondering at home why the dude became homeless in SF6, Ken Masters got suckered into a crypto scheme and is tanking his company and a developing country’s budget and his relationship with his son at the same time, and he almost gets politically assassinated by the end of this.

This rules.

Yeah this was great. Completely forgot this was even an Udon thing until I started writing this because this had like, a story, and dramatic tension, a major character facing consequences and minor characters getting attention, things happening besides boring basic pretext for fanservice and special moves which has basically never happened in an Udon Street Fighter comic. I like a lot that this is keeping things in limited scope so far.

Even Bengus’ art is pretty good here. I’m really not a fan of how Bengus’s art style looks nowadays, but the black-and-white heavy shadow palette really works here (seen some scans in color and, yeah just doesn’t hit as nicely), the stylization and paneling’s pretty great, idk man, it’s Bengus with a marginal budget and time to work on his art and having interesting material to work with. This has gotta be a breath of fresh air for the dude after years spent in the SFV mines.

Oh thank heavens the character in the poster isn’t Laura, sweet lord mercy I never want to see Laura again I know she’s coming back at some point but we’re good for now thanks

I’m really liking Mel as the other protagonist here. They’ve been sitting on Mel havin an expanded role since SF3 and here he’s given quite a lot more personality than I expected, lonely and frustrated by a sheltered upbringing and biting back against his father’s indecisiveness and immaturity, a pretty great foil for idiot manchild Luke to bounce off.

Mel Masters as he’s presented here is a frankly pretty terrific idea for a Street Fighter protagonist outside the games: someone who couldn’t be less impressed by street fighting but is bound by blood and circumstance to be a part of this, the anti-Sakura. An introspective kid who really just wants to go hang out with friends his age and play Pokemon, but who’s getting dragged through wolf-filled mountains and putting up with hyperactive fireball-tossing buff dudes because his dad is one of the greatest among them.

I like Luke quite a bit here. Not gonna touch the private military contractor thing here though, I feel like that’s a can of worms to unpack later, but if nothing else, Luke gets a lot more tolerable and even enjoyable when he has someone to bounce off even just visually, whether it’s Ryu or Jaime or the player character or Mel here. I think SF6 in game and here has settled Luke into maybe the best niche they could slot him in, described as “someone who likes to fight  but with no intention of getting stronger”. As in, the New Generation but not necessarily the protagonist, but rather the coach who’s showing the ropes for the protagonist, getting you used to the controls or pumping you up or teaching Mel how to improve his camping skills and etc (and in that context him being visually and personality-wise reminiscent of videogame streamers and E-sports celebrities is, a more logical and less grating decision, if nothing else, since those are the guys people go to nowadays in order to learn and improve at competitive videogames).

Curious as to what is Kalima’s deal given she’s making her debut here and what is her dynamic with JP, because I don’t think they’re quite retreading Kolin and it’s unclear as of yet how much is JP masterminding everything.

Zero clue as to who decided to have JP talk like a German cartoon here when he’s Russian and otherwise has little accent in-game. Would love it if they just revealed this was part of the ruse he was pulling on Ken and would even be in-character, since JP’s so far been defined as a duplicitous gamemaster, a brutal crimelord masquerading as a benevolent oligarch and someone who quite literally hides his winning hand the whole time he’s fighting you. I could buy that guy putting on a fake accent to trick a foolhardy American into underestimating him just enough to sweeten the pot.

In what is already a multi-layered scheme to ruin this guy and involves weaponizing the public spectacle of Street Fighter tournaments to leverage viral fame and, having a tragic child king beg Ken to fight in the tournament right in the middle of the guy having the worst time trying to manage his relationship with his son. JP is ice cold, I’m loving it. I’m loving this role he’s having as Ken’s biggest personalized enemy.

I’m loving having a Street Fighter villain who actually does have to take the slower route of planning and masterminding and backstabbing his murderous fighting tournament plots instead of just brute-forcing calling the fighters to take shots at him. JP seems significantly underpowered by fighting game villain standards, and this might make him dramatically more interesting as a villain proper.

I’m really liking the lengths that this is taking to ground Street Fighter in the here and now. IV and V took the Alpha route and moved the series onto a sort of comic book fantasyland where they’d never have to grapple with dates and timelines and so they could slide things into prequel territory, where as this seems closer to SF3 in that it wants to place Street Fighter firmly in the Now, with modern concerns and styles and changes to the world shaping the whole thing.

Almost didn’t think Street Fighter would ever bother telling a story with Ken that was actually about Ken and not just his relationship with Ryu. I’ve gone to bat for the guy before but this is easily the most interesting he’s ever been fucking ever, just this massive reversal of fortune grounded entirely in him finally not getting to have it both ways. His lore said he was facing “accusations of orchestrating a criminal plot” but little did we suspect he really DID assist in a huge criminal plot by sheer negligence. Bison would have pulled some ridiculous super brainwashing plot, but all JP had to do was just get Ken into crypto and hook him into a Nigerian Prince scam.

Ken wants a lot of things, he HAS a lot of things to deal with, and he can’t commit to any of them. He wants to be there for his son, but he can’t be there for what his son actually wants to do in life, so he drags his son into an anciliary role in his life instead. He wants to do right by the family name and company, so he blindly follows lifestyle mottos his dad used and tanks a billion dollars into a humanitarian project while constantly rejecting everyone who asks him to slow down or reconsider what exactly he’s sinking that money into.

He wants to use his privileged position to help those in need, so he funds a project intended to help a developing nation by, what else, a fighting tournament, and funds a nation into speedrunning through technological revolutions. He very clearly desperately wants to be a fighter in his prime again and do more than just fight “with paperwork”, and in the whole comic he only really comes alive when he gets to spin kick a drone, and he has this brief little moment when he has to will himself back into Business Mode to complete a deal with the least trustworthy man of all time, and the whole time he’s patently unsure about what he’s doing and the comic calls him out on it.

It calls him out on just how selfless this idea is and how much is it really about him wanting to help Nayshall’s uncertain future, and how much is it him desperately just trying to achieve something, or even deep down how much does he just want to fight again and feel good about something the way he does when he’s fighting, and the comic makes it clear it isn’t just one or the other. Ken has always been the guy who had everything, who had everything Ryu didn’t. In at least two games his plotline is “things are going great for Ken in his home life and company as usual, but he heard Ryu is showing up at the tournament so he’s dropping literally everything to go fight the one guy who makes fighting worthwhile for him”.

This is what happens when Ken’s character catches up to reality, of what it’s like for Ken Masters, immature carefree good-hearted fighting hothead, to try and manage being himself against being a global titan of philantropy and industry (and having had this entire thing thrust onto him from birth) and being a wholly attentive family man all at the same time. Something’s just gotta give. You can’t be as wealthy and connected as Ken and be irresponsive and impulsive and immature, no matter how well-intentioned or good you are. I’m frankly shocked that this went there at all after the trailers mostly implied Ken was just framed injustly.

Street Fighter has never ever even so much as gestured into the idea of Ken’s position and money as anything other than a point of contrast between him and Ryu, so to go from that to this where the whole thing’s predicated on the idea that Ken, while every bit as well-intentioned as ever and certainly a lot more mature than he’s ever been before, fucked up badly and is doing some real damage to people he cares for? That he tried to have everything and now stands on the precipice of having nothing? That’s good shit my dudes.

He hears “You said you were doing this for all the people in this country. So...haven’t you already decided?” and solidifies his decision, while the panel focuses very clearly on him clutching the red headband, the object that’s always been strongly associated with both his and Ryu’s trajectories, the thing that he gave Ryu all the way back in the Alpha series as a reminder to stay focused and not give in to the Satsui no Hadou, the monstrous thing that was tearing Ryu apart and costing him every ounce of concentration to stave off, a thing that’s come to represent their friendship as well as Ryu personally. The thing that he now clutches to stay focused in his decision, before everything goes wrong and he pays the price for it no matter what his intentions were.

This is some primo shit and easily the most I’ve ever been ecstatic about a Street Fighter plotline in a very long time. Seems like they set out hardcore to undo Ken’s long-standing role as a secondary character to Ryu and not rely on their traditionally hackier stuff with superpowered dark sides or Shadaloo plots. Thoroughly impressed and I can’t wait to see more.

[cupcraft]

I don't think people really understand why a culture of I hate and trash on everyone and everything all the time is not only just bad for the people who enjoy/do/exist in the things you shit on but why its bad for you too. Like when you live a life hating and hating and hating on everything and surround yourself with people that do the same as a consequence you eventually get to a point in life where you just have made it so you can't enjoy anything. You've disallowed yourself from enjoying things, harmless things. You've surrounded yourself in judgement at the sake of judging others. Your toxicity has bred so much toxicity that that's all you can do. It's miserable, and it makes you miserable. Like of course it hurts other people, but it also hurts you too. It's one thing to shit on a shared experience, or something awful that's happened to you, or to be a little hater for fun among mutuals/friends for a laugh. But it's another to never allow anyone to exist or enjoy anything (with nuance mind you) and thus shove yourself into a corner of the internet where you're also not allowed to do that.

Like, as i've posted about before i see this a lot with adults on this app who shit on other adults/teens/anyone who watches god forbid "kids cartoons". Like it starts with unnecessary criticism on a harmless show, to shitting on the people that enjoy it, to rhetoric about how Real Adults Must Act And Must be a Cog in the Capitalism Machine and Get Real Job and Watch Real Shows, to abelism and harmful rhetoric about The Adults Who Watch This Must have SOMETHING WRONG With Them, to the point you've surrounded yourself in toxicity to the pt where you've convinced yourself and are insecure about any enjoyment that makes you seem Immature and not a Real Adult and you're miserable and you continue lashing out because of it and create this horrible cycle for yourself.

So yeah.

[ducktracy]

anyone on twitter who labels themselves "cartoonist" is a red flag. nothing wrong with liking old cartoons. i love old cartoons. but every person who draws their art like them has aligned themselves with right wing views or associates with right wing people these past four years and excuses it with "they make valid points" or "they draw good" and im sick of it. do better.

this is such an egregiously ballsy attempt at bait that it isn’t even funny.. BUT IT IN FACT IS! because it’s the only reason i’m bothering to respond to this.

i’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt because i do think there are some good intentions somewhere. it’s certainly good to be aware of those spreading harmful ideas and thoughts, and that does need to be shut down. i appreciate you being cautious, and i get what you mean in that there is sometimes an overlap with how someone draws and what they associate with. it doesn’t sound like you’re very familiar with me or what i do and say. so, if i’m a complete stranger to you, then i can see where there would be wariness.

at the same time, there is this wonderful little idea in life about correlation not being causation. i would really appreciate it if you didn’t make incredibly baseless and harmful assumptions about me based on… how i draw and what i’m passionate about? there’s some awful strong verbiage in here. “every person” who is this every person? how does the label “cartoonist” exclusively tie to old cartoons? can you point in the direction where you find me liking, endorsing, or spreading right wing ideology? i get that i’m not exactly known for my role as a political blog, but i have to say that i don’t exactly appreciate the comparison to the same people who’ve called me a dyke all my life.

i am very passionate about the label of a “cartoonist”, which is why i’m choosing to take the bait and respond. i am a cartoonist. call me whatever you want. an artist. an illustrator. painter? animator? storyboard revisionist? a drawer, even! whatever. but i resonate especially with the connotations of a cartoonist—ones not created out of baseless accusations in an attempt to get attention.

there are people who try to steer others away from using the label cartoonist—this is the first argument for… this… that i’ve heard against it, but there’s a feeling that it’s “unprofessional” or “immature”. but that’s what i am! i love cartoons! i study cartoons! i draw cartoons! i make cartoons! cartoon is such a fun word. it’s innocent, it’s mischievous, it’s earnest. the push not to call oneself a cartoonist because it’s immature or unprofessional makes me all the more attached to it. because it’s what i do. it’s what i AM. cartoons dominate most aspects of my life, to an extent that most people would be like “…that doesn’t seem healthy.” and i do have enough support and other opportunities to keep me busy that keep me in the range of grass touching, thankfully! but cartoons have a deeply profound impact on my life and have since i was a young child. i embrace it especially now seeing as i am living a dream i never thought possible: working on one of the most beloved cartoons and pop culture iconoclasts period and hoping to inspire the kids watching today the same way i was inspired watching it years and years ago as an impressionable little child.

anyhoo. if you are actually sending this out of genuine intent and not just to stir the pot, then i’m at least hoping you’re just young and misinformed or your intentions are just misplaced. i don’t disagree that there are shitty people out there who probably do call themselves cartoonists, but a cartoonist is someone who draws cartoons. it’s not some sort of elusive dog whistle—not that i’m aware of, anyway. if you are indeed sending this in earnest, i appreciate you trying to be wary, but this is a very, very shallow mindset and baseless assumptions like these do more harm than good. i promise i’m more on your side than you think.

if you have a genuine issue with me or anything i say/do, then please send me a DM or ask off anon, because i’m always looking for ways to improve and reflect and be more aware as a person. i’m certainly not immune from criticism, and am always open for discussion. sending such a baseless ask on anon says to me that this isn’t necessarily the case here.

i hate getting sanctimonious and too serious, so i’ll end on a lighthearted note. this is the kind of stuff i draw. i’ve been listening obsessively to Mel Blanc as Porky Pig sing a song called “Giddyap Lazy Willie” for two days straight now. i promise i am not the threat that you think i am. look at how silly this is. it’s gonna be okay.

[takearisk-xo]

What are your thoughts on Zutara, atla? I’ve watched the show years ago and I honestly never shipped Katara with Aang because it really felt like brother and sister.

Plus, the kiss in front of everyone felt like it lacked the emotion/passion, yes I know it’s a cartoon but the spark wasn’t there when I watched it the first time.

Also, how do you feel about Sokka? I feel, nope I know he’s the most underrated character in the show and it’s quite sad because people still believe him as immature/annoying. Like, do people not realize that he’s a teenager and teens literally make so many mistakes, heck there’s adults who make them and yet there’s always an excuse for them.

i’m a shameless zutara shipper. i get why kataang was endgame. but zutara is just THAT ship you know? opposite elements? opposite sides of a war? the entire crystal caves scene?? the fight with azula????? i’m obsessed.

i love sokka. i think his growth from over protective big brother to all inclusive brother to everyone he meets is so endearing.

i haven’t finished the new netflix show yet, but so far sokka is by far my fav. thanks for the ask! i love chatting atla!

[pray4byron]

haii!! im really interested in matchups and im currently sorta fixated on hazbin hotel so i was just wondering who i would get sorted with!! (could be platonic or romantic idm)

i'm a bisexual girl but unsure of what my pref is... hhh go wild

abt me!!

personality wise; i can be distant often, not the one who starts convos or tries too hard to keep them going, often clinging to people im already familiar with and not engaging myself with those im not, im better assigned with people that can speak for me and can do well in public <33

around people im more comfortable around and feel like i can be myself i just say whatever atp

im either too loud or too quiet no inbetween ??

"very eccentric (in a good way)" when i asked my fg to describe me

i can be extremely passionate and ramble and talk ab my insane lil theories on and on thats about stuff i actually enjoy and i feel like i'd need someone that could withstand that and endure my entire essays of whatever i'm interested in at the moment!!

extremely sarcastic and doesnt take most stuff seriously

im often immature and can be viewed as not the smartest at times, my humor is also questionable, someone who could joke with me or just laugh with me overall

style & appearance

i dont think i have a specific style, big baggy clothing/pants, sweaters, streetwear inspo, i have a lot of jewelry stashed up too ^_^

i'm 5’2.., middle eastern and for a short description have short dark brown hair and brown eyes

love languages

im not sure what my love language is?? maybe words of affirmation or quality time i love receiving those two too

the rest that idk what to name !!

i like to draw from time to time, play video games, make up theories about pieces of media i like, most types of competition, cooking/baking often

i like

dark chocolate, warm colors, oversized stuff, taking photos, instruments, fighting games (even though they bring the worst out of me and i constantly rage), lava lamps or anything else thats incredibly cool to look at, cartoons, anything chocolate (cake, ice cream, donuts, etc)

i dislike

tomatoes, warm fruit/vegetables, over complicated stuff, hot weather, bugs, sudden loud noises, academics

yayay thats all tyy!!

okay i’mma be real here, i couldn’t think of a romantic matchup for you, but i decided on a platonic one!! and that is…

Angel !! (Platonic)

No matter what social event you may be at, Angel is one of the best people to cling to imo, he’s chill - but also not boring - he has enough energy to keep shit moving, he’ll push you to go out of your comfort zone socially but he won’t force you to.

Angel’s humor is very…questionable at times as well, so honestly, he gets you. And he probably thinks your hilarious, let’s be real. I can see your humor meshing very well with his, especially if you’re also considered immature haha

Despite Angel passing away in the late 1940’s, he has grown quite accustomed to modern technology in Hell, so he’ll happily play fighting games with you, and he’ll not so happily rage when he dies… :’)

[honest-moth-of-silver-grove]

Can I request a match up for Baldur's Gate 3 & Castlevania (Netflix) please?

My personality : I'm shy, timid, quiet & polite to strangers. With people I'm comfortable with, I'm loud, outgoing, playful, mature, responsible, motherly(to naughty friends), childlike(to mature friends/family) and sarcastic (unintentionally).

I'm kinda tomboyish as I wear over-sized t-shirts, baggy pants, sneakers but don't play sports or video games. I'm a slow learner, not smart, not strong, and not talented.

I'm pretty dense, straightforward, oblivious, and naive too.I get confused or misunderstand what people meant easily so it's best if you tell me straight to my face so I can't be mistaken. I'm also touch starved as I love giving & receiving affection but I only can hug one person and even then, I do my best to not overdo it.

I'm a hopeless romantic, sensitive, forgetful, & overthink often. I work as hard as I can & try my best & be careful as I can to everything I do, as I'm pretty clumsy & makes mistakes more often than most people. I try to help my family and friends as they've helped me & cared for me dearly.

I try to communicate properly & ask for their consent first before doing anything because I misunderstood that I had their permission before. I do my best to give people the benefit of doubt but I do have my limits. I don't really get angry often that even my family & friends are surprised when it happens once in a blue moon.

I don't believe in compliments I get occasionally or why my family & friends care for me because I don't see good things in myself only bad things.

I'm kinda perverted which contrasts my innocent & baby face. I keep it to myself though. I always need to let the cinema employees check my identity card to verify my age whenever I watch a R-rated movie.

Although a kind stranger realises I'm older than I looked when we talked about how I didn't lashed out in anger at someone who didn't do anything wrong to me because I know how it felt to be in that position.

Best attributes : None

Worst attributes : unintentionally sarcastic, not smart, not strong, dense, oblivious, naive, sensitive, overthinks a lot, clumsy, misunderstand easily, get confused easily, forgetful,unreliable. That's more but that's all I could think of.

Hobbies : drawing, reading manga, listening to music, fanfics especially reader inserts, and watching anime, movies, & cartoons. My favourite genre is romance but I love comedy, mystery, action, sci-fi, fantasy, and historical too! My favourite music genre is pop, but I also love ballads, & alternative rock!

Likes : music, fanfiction, manga, anime, cartoons, books (If I find it interesting), family, friends, potato chips, chocolate, cakes, bread, anyone who is kind, patient, supportive, helpful, tries at least, trustworthy, responsible, fair in general, respectful, flexible, honest, open-minded, humble, sincere, accepting, thoughtful, encouraging, forgiving, careful, understanding, wise, mature, cooperative, caring, etc. That's more but that's all I could think of.

Dislikes : anyone who's rude, disrespectful, doesn't listen to others, refuse to admit mistakes, blames others for their mistakes, ignores people yet demands attention from them, demanding, won't acknowledge what you said, hypocritical, biased, irresponsible, careless, disloyal, inconsiderate, insensitive, inflexible, petty, hostile, untrustworthy, immature, uncooperative, unforgiving, judgemental, narrow-minded, self-centred, unethical, self-righteous, etc. That's more but that's all I could think of.

MBTI : INFP-T

Preferred gender result : Male except Raphael, Emperor, Cazador, Thorm, and the Withers!

I'm open whether it's a poly or a monogomous answer.

Please & thank you!

A/N: Okay, first let me just say, HOLY SHIT, this is such a detailed ask! Thank you for being so specific as it really helps the matchup process! Secondly, I would like to say, OF COURSE YOU HAVE BEST ATTRIBUTES! You say so yourself, silly! You’re caring and considerate (always looking for consent, and giving people the benefit of the doubt), you’re hard-working (you try your best even though you’re clumsy and make mistakes often), and you’re extremely considerate, responsible, and self-aware (having this sense of duty to care for your family as they’ve cared for you in the past). 

I know it can be challenging to believe in yourself, god knows I don’t all of the time. But I just wanted to tell you that just by reading this I can tell you you’re an INCREDIBLE person worthy of all such love, friendship, respect, and happiness. And I wish for all of that for you. People give you compliments because they love you, and they want you to love yourself. I know we’re still technically strangers, but from this, I can tell you’re a brilliant, responsible, and empathetic young lady; I would feel proud to call you a friend. Feel free to message me if you ever need to talk, okay?

Okay… Sorry. Mushy rant over. On to the matchups!

For you my Unconvinced Anon, I think your best matches are Halsin (BG3) and Hector (Castlevania)!

Your BG3 Matchup: 

Halsin would be a great match for you! He’s kind and wise, and very soft-spoken. You’re extremely compatible as Halsin is fairly intuitive when it comes to feelings and relationships, so even if you are forgetful or misunderstood, it’s no matter. 

Halsin is also very forward and direct in telling people how he feels and what he wants. Some people (and some game players) can find this to be offensive. But Halsin does not intend to offend or overstep. And should you tell him to please reel it in, he will gladly do so. You too mention how you are often unintentionally sarcastic and straightforward. Halsin is someone who greatly appreciates this level of honesty in a partner. He finds it preferable to those who would play games or beat around the bush with their feelings. 

Halsin also likes your style. Druids tend to appreciate function over form in most that they do, and clothing is no exception. So long as you are comfortable, and covered enough to not break any public indecency laws, Halsin doesn’t care that you aren’t wearing flower skirts or embroidered coats. What works for you, works for him. Although yes, he still doesn’t see a big deal with people walking around naked. He’d fit right in at a nudist colony that’s for sure lol. But he understands not everyone is as comfortable with nudeness as he is, so he promises to remain clothed unless you would ask otherwise of him ;) 

Halsin appreciates your more mature, motherly nature. Especially since he can use all of the help he can get teaching and sort of parenting all of the orphans he’s taken into his new settlement, outside of the city. He admires how you inspire the children to be honest and kind in their actions, even when it may get them into trouble. You lead by example, and to Halsin, there simply is no better way to lead. 

He also rather enjoys your naughtier side. Gods know he certainly has one. And it’s always a comfort to find someone with an open mind surrounding such adult or perverse subjects as opposed to someone who would be judgemental and stick up their nose. 

Halsin is also very understanding when it comes to physical boundaries. Yes, he would love to be intimate with you, as well as hold you or cuddle during the long cold nights. But he also understands that not everyone is as friendly to touch as he is, so he will always ask for permission before touching you or hugging or kissing you. And who knows? Maybe in time the two of you can work through baby steps to a level where you feel comfortable with him touching you. Don’t worry, however, Halsin will still make a point to check in with you first. And if you don’t ever feel overly touchy, that’s fine too. Halsin enjoys your company just as much. 

However, Halsin does take a small issue with you not believing you have ‘best qualities’, as you said. He thinks you’re full of great qualities! He loves how excited you get when you talk about the latest historical romance novel you’ve read. He loves how considerate you are, especially when it comes to speaking to the children or irritated people, and how you don’t immediately assume the worst of them. He thinks it admirable. 

Halsin is an ENFJ (at least in my opinion), so when you are introverted, he’s extroverted. If you’re around unfamiliar people and feeling shy, he’ll do the talking for you, no problem. Halsin’s extroversion is also great for you because it can push you out of your comfort zone, and into trying new things and meeting new people. He’s always bragging about you, how incredible he thinks you are. And he proudly shows off the drawings you allow him to share. He just can’t help but beam when it comes to you. 

On the other hand, you’re both NFs (Intuitive Feelers), so you end up creating a very soft, and understanding harmonious relationship. You’re both highly empathetic and compassionate, so once you’re in a relationship together, you can stay in it for the long haul. You believe in working things out via communication and love. ENFJs are also driven by a need to be better, whereas you as an INFP, are driven by a sense of responsibility to do something important. The two of you understand that life is about those around you, not just about yourself. Your combined selflessness makes you the perfect couple!

And don’t tell him I said this, but get a few drinks in him and Halsin will reveal that he actually has a decent singing voice. Let him serenade you with old druidic ballads about the land and love and nature’s greatest creations. Just try not to blush too hard when he stops the song to inform you that in his eyes, YOU are nature’s greatest creation. 

Your Castlevania Matchup: 

Hector would be another wonderful match for you! He’s more on the quiet side, but once he develops a relationship with someone, he does open up and show off a more witty sort of dark-humored funny side. 

In the early seasons, Hector is also rather naive, almost childlike in his understanding of the world and the figures around them. He takes everyone at face value, not bothering to wonder if there’s something unsaid lying just beneath a conversation or agreement’s surface. Of course, once he is tricked by Carmilla into betraying Dracula, much of that changes. Sure, the childlike wonder and innocence Hector has for all of his undead animal creations is still there, but he’s matured. He’s learned. 

Hector would be a good match for you because he understands what it means to go through life not quite understanding what people are saying, and what’s more, being an outcast because of it. He will do his best to be direct/straightforward when talking to you because he knows you need it, and because he’s learned that when it comes to the people you love, honestly, however painful it may be in the short run, is the best policy in the long run. A temporary bruised pride or ego is nothing compared to the scar left by a former relationship that was ultimately built on lies. 

Hector also has a very distinct fashion sense. I mean, have you seen his hair? He’s gorgeous with that hair and skin and he doesn’t mind that others know it. He likes your more relaxed style. In Dracula’s court, he and Issac were always under such pressure to look clean-cut and important. It’s nice to be able to relax and not worry about his manner of dress when you’re around. 

And if anyone is touch starved, oh my god, it’s this man. Sure he had some experiences in the past, and then he spent a short while with Lenore, but it wasn’t the same. It didn’t mean what he wanted it to. It was all an illusion and a fleeting one at that. Hector doesn’t know what it means to feel a lover’s touch. He’s completely inexperienced in that department. He’s no stranger to sex, but what of softness and tenderness beyond that? Has he ever had one of those incredibly comforting bear hugs, the ones where both people wish they could stay there, holding onto one another for eternity? Has he ever sat next to his lover on the couch, their thighs just barely brushing up against one another, and felt safe, felt at home? Hector doesn’t know whether or not he’s touch-averse because touch is foreign to him. The two of you would get to learn together where each of your boundaries are, and how each of you would need to be touched to feel loved. The great bit is you’d be discovering all of that together. 

I would also argue that early seasons Hector, and even later Hector is a hopeless romantic. Not necessarily in the lovey-dovey sort of way, but in the looking to the future with rose-colored-glasses sort of way. His vision for Dracula’s future was certainly much more lush than what Dracula suggested. And his view of summoning souls into corpses in his forge-mastery is also clouded by this sort of soft, glamourized view. 

The other thing you have in common with Hector seems to be this recurring theme that you need to be or should be better for the people you love. Hector has a fair amount of guilt for doing what he did, with choosing to believe Carmilla over Dracula, with not understanding the true scope of either of the vampire’s plans. He feels like he let Dracula, Issac, vampire society, and humanity down. I can sort of hear a similar thing in your writing. Now, I don’t know the reason for you feeling this way, so I can’t relate it to Hector’s internal justification, but I can confidently say this: he understands, probably more than anyone, why you feel this way. He sees the way you shrug off his compliments, how you don’t seem to believe him when he says he’s proud of you and so happy he gets to share his second shot at life with you. He knows it will take time, but he won’t stop reminding you that, to him, you are beyond incredible. And he’s so unbelievably fortunate to have met you. 

In the past humans have treated him horribly. They’ve been all the things you dislike: closed-minded, judgemental, hypocritical, superiorly indignant… They cast him out. But you, you’re so kind, and considerate, empathetic, and humble. You are living proof that humans can be more than cruel and closed off- you’re the best humanity has to offer. Hector can’t believe he almost condemned someone like you, and the other side of humanity that you represent, to death. Knowing you, he swears he will never make a mistake like that again: no ignorant group judgments from here on out. 

Plus Hector is (in my opinion), an INTP. With you being an INFP, you’re both introverts who enjoy the quiet. The big difference is that you are an Intuitive Feeler, he’s an Intuitive Thinker, so he tends to be driven more by logic and facts rather than emotions. In some cases, this may result in Hector not quite understanding why you react to something because he’s looking at it from a distanced, scientific view. He may come off as critical at times because of this, but I believe his more recent experiences have taught him the importance of communication. As long as the two of you are willing, you should be able to talk these disagreements or misunderstandings out. It’s also great for him because you keep teaching him that some choices cannot be logically quantified, there’s no clear-cut rationale behind them. In a lot of instances, choosing to be kind doesn’t make sense: it doesn’t follow any specific rules or purpose, but it’s the right thing to do. Your unique approach to thinking about life and people and problem-solving pushes Hector to become more aware and compassionate when it comes to his fellow man. 

Plus, with his plans to write a book, and your love for interesting reading, Hector would love nothing more than for you to enjoy his writing, and offer any feedback you’d have. He values your opinion, your company, your… Well, everything. You mean the world to him. 

The two of you get to live a kind, peaceful life, with your friends, family, and of course, your own little army of undead pets to keep you company.  

A/N: Holy fricken shit this answer is 2,000 words long! Whoops. My apologies. It kind of got away from me a little bit lol. I just want to reiterate for other readers, this isn’t my norm. These matchups are intended to be shorter. But this Anon here sounded like they could use some cheering up, so my creative juices jumped into hyperdrive. 

If you enjoyed, don’t forget to like and REBLOG! Likes are nice, but reblogs are extra nice! 

As always, please consider tipping me via Kofi! 

[y2kbugs-moved]

Clone High is an adult cartoon whose creators (and likely writers) are in their late 40s-early 50s, and it is full of sexual humor and scenarios, these are things that are both true.

Teenagers also like the cartoon. It's easy to see why; the setting is familiar, the characters are relatable and the humor is edgy.

But if a teenager is going to watch the cartoon, they are going to have to understand they will be seeing a lot of sexual humor written by adults over thrice their age.

The argument that no NSFW content should be allowed would have some credibility if this was a cartoon aimed at children, such as, say, The Owl House. But when this cartoon frequently depicts teenagers in sexual contexts and often uses sex jokes, not to mention created and written by people in their 50s, there is no room to rally against this sort of content if it's already present in the cartoon itself.

Either you did not watch the cartoon, or if you did, you somehow blacked out at the many, many, many sex jokes it makes.

You don't have to be comfortable with this jokes. You don't have to like them at all, but when you know the show makes this content and you think posting NSFW content of this show is some moral affront to God, you are being hypocritical, mostly to yourself.

Ask yourself why you are okay with watching the cartoon and understanding that 50 year olds wrote the sexual parts of the show, but not okay when fans (usually teenagers, think about that) create content that is well within the show's rating.

There is also a massive difference between sexual content between two teenagers, and sexual content of a teenager and an adult. Obviously the latter is illegal and the show was callous enough to make it a whole joke, but the former is just how things are.

I do not even interact with or create NSFW content for the cartoon, I personally dislike doing this and abstain from making anything more than pg-13 jokes. I ignore people who create explicit content and move on with my day like any sane human being.

Unfortunately, as I have mentioned before, fans are using the opportunity to direct their entirely misblamed anger at NSFW content by suicide-baiting, which is simply the most immature, uncivilized, and ignorant thing you could possibly do. This is not the type of comment that would be allowed in a casual real life setting, but the internet's relative anonymity makes it easy to say these things. But just because it is easy does not mean it is okay.

See how well it goes for you if you decide to direct all your "KYS" at Lord-Miller. You know, industry professionals with a lot of money.

What is your justification for this? Is writing or drawing NSFW content of fictional teenagers somehow worse than telling people to kill themselves? What is your logic? What are you aiming to accomplish?

"But the sexualization is okay if it's parody". This is a double standard, where there is a justification for one case, but any other cases are of course, the work of the Devil.

The fandom could do better to not act like Salem, Massachussets during 1692-1693.

Feel free to discuss this with me like a rational adult. Name calling, memes and anything of the sort will be swiftly ignored, because it means you know you lost the argument and have nothing else to say, so therefore you retaliate with childplay.

[spookyc]

So I was watching season 2 clips of dead end as you do and I was watching the one where Badyah has her totally normal and straight imagining of Norma and Zagan being a thing. You know the whole twilight parody scene. And along with commentors having no sense of humor, of course they have to spin it towards the ship being problematic.

And I will say, as someone who was kinda sorta spoiled on this, I had my worries too, but if you're looking at the actual context of the show, there's nothing to get upset over. Yes, Zagan is 1600, but that's because she was turned when she was 16, so physically, she is still in the body of a 16-year-old. But before you bring up mental age, it's also very clear that she still thinks like a 16-year-old. You don't even have to look at season 2 for this, it's apparent from her first appearance that she's childish and immature.

Like how she talks about how it's "so unfair" that her brother gets to rule over planes when she doesn't. Or later in the finale, when she loses to Temeluchus and is threatening to tell their mom about it. So she's very clearly still a teenager.

And Norma is 17, so what, one year age gap, technically. Is this really what we're getting upset over? Because it's not an issue when a vampire is thousands of years old and looks like an adult and gets with a fellow adult but when a 16 year old gets turned and is 16 for a thousand years and there is the hint of a possible relationship with a 17-year-old, suddenly it's problematic.

This is not the same as the "1,000-year-old loli" that anime likes to use as a cover up. You wanna know why? Because those characters have the appearance of children but supposedly "have the minds of adults" and it's just a twisted way of getting away with having an adult be with what is clearly a child. The same case is true of dragon maid, where the dragons are said to be hundreds of years old but Kana clearly looks like a child and even goes to fucking kindergarten and is still sexualized.

The problem is that there is a clear disconnect between the physical and mental age of the character, but that isn't the case in dead end. Zagan's physical and mental age match up, and her and Norma aren't even sexualized, they literally just kiss in Badyah's imagination which was a twilight parody, it was supposed to be comedic.

And yet I've even see people try to say that "Well Norma doesn't even look her age" which like, excuse my language, but kindly fuck off. I, like Norma, am a very short individual, 5'2 in fact and I can remember a clear and recent example where I was called 16 instead of 18. So you're literally playing into the stereotype that short adults don't exist and that if you're short then you must be younger. But I'm sorry, some people just do not look their age, I often compare myself to that of a 12-year-old boy (which hey, still a boy) but that doesn't make me 12.

Norma isn't portrayed to be any younger than the other characters, she's just at a lesser height compared to them. But that doesn't make her automatically younger than them. And also, I'd like to say, that DE:PP is a CARTOON so of course things are going to be exaggerated, it kinda comes with the medium.

And one final thing, I've also seen people bring up the point of "but what about when Norma gets older" and it's like. Come on, guys. No one actually thinks this ship is going to be endgame. It's simply just not happening and I would be willing to bet my entire bank account on that. Not that I and many others don't enjoy it, but let's be honest with ourselves. Hell, if we're taking Norma's word for it, she literally says Zagan isn't her type. And even if they go back on that now that Norma is training under Zagan, at most, they'll be a fling. But they certainly won't last long enough to be an established couple or anything like. And even in a universe where they were endgame, all that would have to happen is for Zagan to make Norma a vampire with her. And then BOOM problem solved.

Anyway, just wanted to get that off my chest before twitter inevitably makes a callout post about it, that is, if it doesn't implode within the next few weeks.

[writinglittlemagics]

Forgive my poor citations for this one :[ I’m currently sitting in the nicest amphitheater I've ever been in getting ready to sing a holiday concert! Feeling a little nervous, a little silly, here’s some Freudian Analysis:

Freudian Defenses in The Main Character

“The Main Character” by Will Wood is a satirical song from the perspective of a modern self-obsessed, trope-defined egomaniac. This character is meant to embody someone who speaks without the use of their Freudian superego (see: “Look in the sky, it’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s superego!” as the character watches their superego leave them behind). This speaker utilizes several of the Freudian defense mechanisms to justify their egoic actions and attitudes towards other people. One such example is the speaker’s use of regression. When speaking about being disliked, the narrator becomes incredibly uncomfortable, saying, “Don’t come at me; I’m the main character, and you have to like me.” After this, the narrator regresses into childish villain personas to hide from their actions. One such example is Snidely Whiplash, the villain from the cartoon Rocky and Bulwinkle. This villain is a caricature of evil and is known for tying people to train tracks and twirling his mustache. The speaker is hiding behind this immature cardboard character to hide from the more severe accusations they are being confronted by. Some other such villains are Boris Badenov and “Daleks in high collars,” more foolish villain types.

Another favorite defense mechanism of our narrator is rationalization. The chorus repeats the lines, “So God forbid I’m seen just as an average human being… Don’t come at me; I’m the main character, and you have to like me.” The word “like” here can refer to both “likes” on social media and liking someone as a genuine person. Our narrator easily conflates the two. The phrase “main character energy” is famous on a lot of social media platforms as a way to announce one’s self-importance in one’s life. You are living your life; ergo, you are the main character in your own story. The narrator in this song does not have the superego to recognize that they are not the main character in everyone else’s life, and so lives deluded into thinking that they are. This is exemplified in verse two, stating, “I loot plot armor from NPC’s; Well, they are to me. Trite tropes, traits, traumas, trinkets, and treats; it’s all XP.” To translate some of the slang here, the speaker is calling other people’ Non-Playable Characters’ and deeming them worthless to his endeavors. Plot armor is a film device that describes protagonists who have to stay alive, even in dangerous situations, for the sake of the story. Stripping someone of their plot armor means that they would be expendable to the narrator if they need to gain the ‘XP’ or experience. Because the narrator believes themselves to be the main character of this larger story, mistreating other people is acceptable for the sake of “the plot.”

The final commonly used defense mechanism is denial. The narrator can comfortably live this lifestyle as long as they don’t wake up to the reality that other people are more relevant than themself. The post bridge says, “The court fool got the guillotine, the witches the stake, you the dopamine. And Siemens made the Zyklon B, but we all still get the flu.” These lines all refer to some kind of scapegoat, different groups of people who were blamed for the sake of denying more significant issues. The court fool is executed as an example, witches are burned to defend the church and deny other ideas, and a person takes dopamine to deny their depression. This narrator is a self-aggrandizing, deluded narcissist and can only continue to be this way with the use of defense mechanisms.

(Word Count: 590)

“Will Wood – the Main Character.” Genius, 29 July 2022, genius.com/Will-wood-the-main-character-lyrics.

[beevean]

I think people usually confuse delving into darker subjects in writing as the same thing as making a story more mature, when there's actually a difference between the two. You can introduce darker elements into a story, or have it shift to a darker tone. But it's not going to be effective if you don't have enough of an understanding of what makes what you're trying to tackle is so fucked up in the first place, or why the introduction of it is significant and carries so much weight. Without tackling it with finesse, it will come off as immature if anything, like a kid who just discovered curse words.

Every time IDW tries to do this it feels more like it's more for shock value. Another thing it seems to be falling into that over half of the pre-reboot run of the Archie comics did. But at least with Archie there was the spectacle of it having some of the most certifiably insane shit happen.

Friendly reminder that when Flynn got sick of the criticism against the way he wrote the moral dilemma in #50, he justified himself with "it's a children's fantasy, if you adult want something deeper go read something else".

Which says a lot about how much he cares about the stuff he wrote.

My man. No one forced you to write everyone getting pissed at Sonic for not killing Mr. Tinker and whether or not it would be justified to murder a man who doesn't remember his own war crimes. No one forced you to write gruesome scenes such as Vector trapping an infected woman TWD-style, or everything happening to Cream. No one forced you to come up with Surge and Kit and their horrifying nature of being brainwashed into being caricatures, with Surge being forced to feel homicidial hatred for someone he doesn't know and Kit being forced to be an extension of Surge herself. No one forced you to "explore" Sonic's supposed "principle" of giving everyone freedom. You want a dark story? Commit. Children cartoons have done it. Just to make one famous example, AtLA's whole backdrop revolves around exploring the consequences of war and imperialism.

Hell what about Sonic himself? The Storybook games? One with an abusive relationship, and the other brushing over the fear of death? They might not go very deep into these topics, but it doesn't come off as haphazard either!

The MV arc simply didn't matter in the long run! The only consequence of it is that Starline decided to show Eggman who's the better evil scientist by creating Surge and Kit, but there was zero need for all that drawn out angst. Cream herself is completely fine and happy after watching her mother die! Surge and Kit will come back in a few months so we'll see what happens with them, but the story barely explored their fucked up nature, and it only highlighted what a piece of shit IDW Sonic is by being so callous towards both of them. And by giving random angst to Surge via Starline hallucinations that, once again, did not matter at all - Stanley simply really wanted to draw Surge scared and crying.

It's amateurish. I have no other word for it.