#imai venus

[tmntkiseki]

2003!Venus doodles

[priscirat]

undefined

yukilisa week day 7 : distance

you're as beautiful as endless

you're the universe i'm helpless in

[floralbeautysweet]

تحدي عجلة الألوان Color Wheel Challenge

قررت أن أرسم شخصيات بكل لون من تحدي عجلة الألوان خلال أيام الزلزال الأربعة التي ضربت المغرب، وكانت قوتها 6.8 درجة وضربت على عمق 18.5 كيلومترًا.

وهنا الشخصيات:

أحمر:

أرييل - الحورية البحر (1989)

آبل - آبل وأونيون

مونكي دي لوفي - ون بيس

البرتقالي:

فيلما دينكلي - سكوبي دو

سايلور فيناس - سايلور مون

لينكولن لاود - منزل لاود

جي بي ميرسر - كريغ من الجدول

أصفر:

سبونج بوب سكوير بانتس

فيسبيريا - ميراكولوس

جيك - وقت المغامرة

أخضر:

كيروبي - سانريو

كلارنس ويندل - كلارنس

بيمو - وقت المغامرة

تينكر بيل - بطلات ديزني

سماوي/أزرق مخضر:

فين ميرتنز - وقت المغامرة

هاتسوني ميكو - فوكالويد

سينامورول - سانريو

أزرق:

مردكاي - العرض العادي

كوتوكو إيماي - ميوكلدريمي

ميجا مان

أرجواني:

أميرة الفضاء الوعر - وقت المغامرة

كيوكا جيرو - بوكو نو هيرو أكاديميا

إيما - أصدقاء ليغو: فتيات في مهمة

الزهري:

أنيا فورجر - جاسوس × العائلة

جامتين - سكراتشين ميلودي

أيريس - لوليروك

I decided to draw characters in each color from the Color Wheel Challenge during the 4 Days of Morocco’s Earthquake it’s a powerful of magnitude of 6.8 struck at 18.5 km depth.

Here’s characters:

Red:

Ariel - The Little Mermaid (1989)

Apple - Apple and Onion

Monkey D.Luffy - One Piece

Orange:

Velma Dinkley - Scooby-Doo

Sailor Venus - Sailor Moon

Lincoln Loud - The Loud House

J.P. Mercer - Craig of the Creek

Yellow:

Spongebob SquarePants

Vesperia - Miraculous Ladybug

Jake - Adventure Time

Green:

Keroppi - Sanrio

Clarence Wendle - Clarence

Beemo - Adventure Time

Tinker Bell - Disney Heroines

Cyan/Teal:

Finn Mertens - Adventure Time

Hatsune Miku - Vocaloid

Cinnamoroll - Sanrio

Blue:

Mordecai - Regular Show

Kotoko Imai - Mewkledreamy

Mega Man

Purple:

Lumpy Space Princess - Adventure Time

Kyoka Jiro - Boku No Hero Academia

Emma - LEGO Friends: Girls on a mission

Pink:

Anya Forger - Spy x Family

Jamtine - Scratchin’ Melodii

Iris - Lolirock

[yougetsu]

There are some things I'm kind of "overthinking". I'm fully aware that travelling in December is chaotic due to the holidays (crowded places, which is an important consideration), also the plane tickets usually increase twice the price.

And yes I want to experience a DIQ so bad, but I don't know if I should wait for other shows next year (hopefully thinking about a potential new release Imai mentioned) to apply for smaller venues.

It's exasperating to live at the opposite side of the freakin world, far from everything.

[buck-tick-stash]

The Izora Concert Experience

Better than (Tour) The Best.

With COVID restrictions finally lifting to a proper degree in Japan, the Izora tour saw the audience come alive in a way that had not been possible in three years.

The band itself was also more energetic on stage. As we know from the band's pre-tour interviews posted to their YouTube channel, Tour The Best 35th Anniv. overlapped studio recordings of the following year's Izora album, competing for their energy and creative focus.

By contrast, the members seemed much more lively for Izora. Toll walked cheerfully and waved where before he had shuffled. Imai's cane was nowhere to be seen, and in addition to his usual kicks and dances, he playfully hop-scotched across the stage during Hizumi. Yuta was mugging at the crowd with extra enthusiasm, and there were moments of Sakurai and Hide twirling in sync.

And, while I'm 99.8% certain I did not imagine it, I know how hard this will be to believe: Imai cracked a smile.

In addition to playing the entire album, the smattering of old songs included Jonathan Jet-Coaster, with the chant of "I wanna be your fuckin' baby, fuckin' baby" getting quite the response from the audience, and Igniter, which absolutely thrilled my hard-rock heart, not to mention the sheer pleasure of hearing Imai at the mic again.

Having gone to a show on this tour has more than convinced me to get a copy any Izora-related tour Blu-rays in the future for two points (above and beyond simply being a Buck-Tick simp):

1) The visuals fit the songs beautifully and cohesively. I'm dying to see them again without the fear of missing some action from the members.

2) Imai's theremin solo. No joke, the man has seriously leveled up his skill. While Imai has always used the theremin as he has most synth sounds, as a way to enhance the existing melodies and add his particular brand of flair, his solo in Izora was masterful, as the theremin sang with more tonal fidelity and coloratura than most of the solos the band puts out.

My one and only criticism falls on Noraneko Burū ("Alley Cat Blue"), whose bridge features a solo on an off-tune tinny upright piano. On the album, this works. The run-down jazzy sound suits the lazy lounge-esque beat of the song. However, this bit of piano keeps its coveted spot in the song as a backing track on stage. I wasn't sure which musician to focus on, as none were actively creating the solo, and as it was a straight copy of what was on the album, felt flat when played next to live instruments. In previous tours, Rondo's violin suffers similarly, but the looser scat of a piano definitely stood out more to me.

Much that I have to say about the venue, goods, and the before and after are the same as my previous post. I did learn that getting the first copy of an autobiography does not guarantee you'll be rewarded with a signed copy. (Yuta, why no love??!! (｡•́︿•̀｡) )

One unfortunate thing I discovered this time was how certain members of the audience behaved after the show was complete. This time, I had hung around and had a better view of the audience after the show, seeing several of them scour between seats for the chance at missed picks, diving viciously for them and nearly getting into scuffles. (I'm not terribly surprised. I've seen the obaachans during Parinirvana Day; the U.S. has no monopoly on "Black Friday" behavior. I'm still disappointed to see it again, though.)

Don't let my ability to expand on complaints fool you. Izora was an absolute blast. I wish I had the funds and the free days to follow Buck-Tick all over the country. Gods willing, they will make more albums and do more tours, and I hope to save up enough to attend several in the same tour next time 'round.

[liquidstar]

OC TOURNAMENT

FINAL: IMAI VS VENUS

Imai Power: Retribution. An ability which allows her to link the causality of two separate things- Whatever happens to thing A will also happen to thing B. Ex.: If she links an apple and orange and cuts only the apple in half, the orange will also be sliced in half. Weakness: Both things need to be in her line of sight when she links them. Weapon: Twin katanas

Venus Power: Voiding. Renders the abilities of everyone within ear-shot null and void, activated when she clicks her weapon. Weakness: Only lasts for about a minute. Weapon: Monk’s spade.

Notes: Winner gets the guild

[ogradyfilm]

Recently Viewed: Dreaming of the Meridian Arc and She is me, I am her

Today, following an interminably long absence (thanks in large part to the cancellation of this year’s Japan Cuts, which absolutely devastated me), I finally returned to Japan Society—my favorite venue in New York City—for a double feature:

Dreaming of the Meridian Arc

To be perfectly honest, I went into this expecting a middling jidaigeki at best—generic, formulaic, and unimaginative. I was therefore delighted to discover that it was more subversive and postmodern than the standard fare, akin to Kazuo Mori’s Vendetta of a Samurai (albeit to a lesser degree).

Like that Kurosawa-penned hidden gem, this film features a modern-day framing device, in which a group of mild-mannered city officials struggle to produce a historical epic about local folk hero Tadataka Ino—the cartographer that, in 1821, created the first accurate map of Japan. When their hired writer discovers that their subject actually died three years prior to the officially recorded completion of his life’s work, however, our protagonists must untangle fact from fiction in order to find the human “truth” behind the legend.

The result, for better or worse, is a tearjerker as precisely calculated as a trigonometry equation. While the visual style practically screams “made-for-TV movie” (whenever something suitably melodramatic occurs, for example, every character gets a dedicated reaction shot), the cast certainly delivers where it counts; the actors obviously had a blast playing their dual roles (a gimmick that owes a greater debt to The Wizard of Oz than it does to Tadashi Imai’s Bushido: The Cruel Code of the Samurai, I think).

Ultimately, despite its slight themes and modest ambitions (its intention to promote tourism couldn't be more transparent), Dreaming of the Meridian Arc is a charming, funny, and effortlessly entertaining diversion.

She is me, I am her

This COVID-themed anthology film is a master class in minimalism. The introductory vignette alone is worth the price of admission. Its story—which revolves around a trio college friends reconnecting over FaceTime after twenty years of radio silence—unfolds almost entirely in tight closeups, elegantly conveying the claustrophobia of quarantine-era existence. As the protagonists acknowledge, confront, and resolve the underlying tensions and unspoken resentments that shattered their relationship in the first place, however, the frame gradually widens out, revealing the empty space surrounding them—thus emphasizing their loneliness and isolation.

The remaining three shorts are equally compelling, tackling such poignant and relevant topics as unemployment, homelessness, prostitution, broken dreams, and the unanticipated disruption of everyday routines that people take for granted. Writer/director Mayu Nakamura personifies the indie spirit, accomplishing more than the average Hollywood blockbuster with significantly fewer resources. After all, producing a work of transcendent beauty doesn’t require a huge budget; you just need a simple premise, a small cast of relatable characters, a handful of real locations—and a clear enough creative vision to weave all of those disparate elements together.

[beneaththetangles]

First Impression: Phantom of the Idol

As one-half of the idol group ZINGS, Niyodo must put in the practice, effort, and love that will please the duo’s fans and lead them to popularity. Unfortunately, he refuses to do any of it. After all, Niyodo only became an idol because he thought it would be easy money; he doesn’t care to put in any work to become better, nor does he have any thoughts to spare for his fans. Unfortunately for him, that means he’s going to be fired. What Niyodo needs is a helper, someone who has all the motivation and energy he doesn’t. What Niyodo really needs is…the ghost of a former idol superstar? Well, that’s one way to do it! Can Niyodo, the “dirtbag” idol who stoops so low as to get the audience to sing his parts when he forgets them, and Asahi, the energetic and kind phantom of a girl who now drifts from venue to venue clinging to her beloved status as an idol, find common ground and perhaps a partnership that will help both? Also, can this series—which adapts a manga I’ll be reviewing in next week’s Readers’ Corner and which (spoiler alert) I loved—live up to the original?

The charm of episode one is how entertaining the main characters are, both as individuals and as a duo. Asahi, who loves everything about being an idol (especially pleasing her fans), is peppy and optimistic without approaching the level of annoyance. Her sweetness and altruism are already heartwarming, even this early in the series. Meanwhile, Niyodo is droll and hilarious as an idol who is so lazy that he’d rather be fired than put any work into his craft. Fumiya Imai, who is a relative newcomer as a seiyuu, channels Niyodo’s lack of energy so incredibly well, not only in his frequent exasperated asides but also in breathy, wordless complaints. His Niyodo is a perfect foil for Asahi, played by one of my favorite voice actresses, Nao Touyama (Yui Yuigama, Oregairu), whose busy summer season also includes roles in The Devil is a Part-Timer 2 (Chiho), Classroom of the Elite (Ichinose), and Rent-a-Girlfriend 2 (Ruka).

But the elephant in the room for episode one, something that I noted originally when watching the trailer but told myself, “Certainly this won’t actually make it to air,” is the horrid CGI that the series slips into when ZINGS performs a song. The animation is already less than stellar to begin with but feels incredibly awkward during the concert, which looks like an early episode of RWBY or maybe a VOCALOID performance. It’s a shame too, because the song itself is appropriately poppy and cute for an idol group, and deserving of a better-animated sequence. There are other places in the first episode, including in the OP and ED, where it likewise feels like animation shortcuts are being made. Disappointing choices—but I’m still bullish on the show, with this first episode making me laugh frequently while also giving me the warm fuzzies, and with the knowledge that this will continue for at least the next few episodes that cover the volume I read. So despite the poor animation, I’m all in—even if Niyodo isn’t.

=====

Phantom of the Idol is streaming on HiDIVE.

[rz-jocelyn]

[NEWS] Sato Ryuji will be Participating in the Musical "JAMIE"

CAST

Morisaki Win / Takahashi Fuu (WATWING) as Jamie New (W-cast)

Aran Kei as Margaret New

Tamura Meimi / Yamaguchi Nonoka as Pritti Pasha (W-cast)

Sato Ryuji / Yabe Masaki (DISH//) as Dean Paxton (W-cast)

Ito Kanoko as Fatimah

Ota Masaki as Mickey

Kawahara Kazuma as Sayid

Konishi Eito as Cy

Suzuki Emiko as Bex

Tano Yuuka as Vicki

Frank Rina as Becca

MAOTO as Levi

Higuchi Asami / Misaki Rion as Miss Hedge (W-cast)

Nagano Akihito as Tray Sophisticay, Laika Virgin

Keigo Yoshino as Tray Sophisticay, Hugo Battersby / Loco Chanelle

Izumi Yohei as Laika Virgin

Hosaka Chizu as Ray

Ishikawa Zen as Hugo Battersby / Loco Chanelle

Imai Kiyotaka as Jamie's Dad, Sandra Bollock

STORY DESCRIPTION

The Japanese version of the West End production "Everybody's Talking About Jamie", the Musical "JAMIE" follows the story of Jamie New, a 16-year-old teenager who fights against prejudice and bullying to become a drag queen.

SATO RYUJI'S CHARACTER DESCRIPTION

Sato Ryuji will be playing Dean Paxton, the school bully who bullies Jamie for being gay and wanting to be a drag queen.

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

Date: August 2021

Venues: Tokyo, Osaka, Aichi

Official Twitter Account: HERE

Official Website: HERE

Source(s): ( x , x , x )

[tmntkiseki]

Tosses this doodle of Leo and Venus at all of you

[natsthinkitythinkthinkthonk]

Some Tweets Remember Keiji Fujiwara

Keiji Fujiwara died of cancer at the age of 55. The news was devastating for the seiyuu community. Many seiyuu are remembering and looking back on their times with Fujiwara and the impact he made on them. A lot of anime I’ve watched wouldn’t have been the same without Fujiwara. From Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood to Dr. Stone, he shaped a lot of characters that I look back and smile thinking about. 

The following were all translated by @granblue_en on Twitter.

Takuya Eguchi

[original tweet | translation source]

Kaori Nazuka

[original tweet | translation source]

Tetsuya Fukuhara (creative director, Granblue Fantasy)

[original tweet | translation source]

Emiri Katou

[original tweet | translation source]

Yuuki Ono

[original tweet | translation source]

Madoka Yonezawa

[original tweet | translation source]

Tomoyo Kurosawa

[original tweet | translation source]

Koichi Haruta (former producer)

[original tweet | translation source]

Minoru Shiraishi

[original tweet | translation source]

Yuuichi Nakamura

[original tweet | translation source]

The following were translated by lig0schndr on Reddit

Ayana Taketatsu

Tomokazu Seki

Megumi Ogata

Mariya Ise

Nobunaga Shimazaki

Showtaro Morikubo

Marina Inoue

Romi Park

Natsuki Hanae

Toshiyuki Toyonaga

Kazuhiko Inoue

Yuki Kaji

Hiroki Yasumoto

Jouji Nakata

Katsuyuki Konishi

Shouta Aoi

Kensho Ono

Noriko Hidaka

Rie Tanaka

Kikuko Inoue

Ami Koshimizu

Megumi Han

Arisa Komiya

Ryotaro Okiayu

Kenjiro Tsuda

Nozomi Yamamoto

Kanako Kondo

Haruka Kudo

Hitomi Harada

Miyu Tomita

Wataru Hatano

Atsushi Abe

Suzuko Mimori

Atsuko Tanaka

Aya Suzaki

Sayaka Ohara

Asami Imai

Daisuke Hirakawa

Hikaru Akao

Yui Ishikawa

Toa Yukinari*

Kotono Mitsuishi*

Nobuhiko Okamoto (blog)

Nana Mizuki (blog)

Toshiyuki Morikawa (blog)

Satoshi Hino (blog)

Tatsuhisa Suzuki (blog)

Chie Nakamura (blog)*

* not translated

Taketatsu Ayana (Taketatsu and Fujiwara both voiced characters in Dagashi Kashi and co hosted a series of bonus videos released with the Blu-rays of the series)

Fujiwara Keiji-san.

When we had a photograph session together for a TV show, even though you said, "I'm shy, so I can't really talk much," after the session started and I was nervous you kindly threw me a lifeline and chatted with me a lot, and even at live events and such you've saved me so much.

I wanted to spend more time with you.

I wanted to thank you directly.

_______

Seki Tomokazu (Seki and Fujiwara both voiced characters for the same series several times including PSYCHO-PASS, Sengoku BASARA, and Hajime no Ippo)

The way you looked when you came to the studio with your script sticking out of your back pocket was so cool, and I often copied you. When we went to karaoke together, I would put on a song that had a video of your acting as a prank and put you in a bind so many times. I wanted to play around with you again. This feels too soon... Fujiwara-san. Truly, thank you for everything.

_______

Ogata Megumi

I've had the honor of working with you on various, many sets but... my strongest impression, is actually not from an anime, but from the drama CD "Radical Hospital".

Dr. Sakaki... Please say it's a joke like you always do...?

Fujiwara Keiji-san. Truly, thank you for everything. Please rest peacefully.

_______

Ise Mariya (Ise and Fujiwara both voiced main characters in HUNTER X HUNTER, and Ise references Fujiwara's role as Leorio in this tweet)

What I remember is His white shirt and the sunglasses he wore His gallant figure standing before the microphone His bashful smile when having friendly conversations His stylish behavior when everyone goes drinking Both his voice and his acting were so cool Everything about him was wonderful

Keiji-san really felt like Leorio to me I have so many pleasant and fun memories Thank you so much

_______

Shimazaki Nobunaga

Fujiwara Keiji-san, I pray from my heart that you rest in peace.

_______

Morikubo Showtaro

The tears won't stop.

_______

Inoue Marina

His voice, his acting, his smile, I loved them all.

_______

Park Romi (Park and Fujiwara both voiced important characters in Fullmetal Alchemist)

He just recovered...

Be it with Hagane, or Muji, or FA he was everyone's older brother...

He truly was Lieutenant Colonel Hughes.

Early Far too early...

Kei-chan You fought hard against what ailed you... Please rest well...

Your casual comments Even now I treasure.

Tonight I honor you...

I pray you rest in peace...

Notes: I'm not positive, but I believe in regards to the second line

"Hagane" likely refers to the first airing of Fullmetal Alchemist in 2003 that used the title 「鋼の錬金術師」 (Hagane no Renkinjutsushi).

"Muji" seems like it refers to Zoids, the first Zoids anime series that is often referred to colloquially as "Muji Zoids", "No Label Zoids", to differentiate it from other Zoid series. In this series, Fujiwara voiced Irvine, a main supporting character and older brother figure to the main characters.

"FA" likely refers to the second airing of Fullmetal Alchemist in 2009 that used the titled 「鋼の錬金術師 FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST」 and thus is sometimes referred to as "FA".

_______

Hanae Natsuki

This is too sad...

_______

Toshiyuki Toyonaga

My heart aches... The words won't come out...

_______

Inoue Kazuhiko

Eh, Fujiwara Keiji... No way. It's too early. I remembered well the times we worked together in the studio. It's too early. I'm so saddened.

_______

Kaji Yuuki (Kaji and Fujiwara both voiced characters for the same series several times including Magi and Shingeki no Kyojin)

Keiji-san. I wanted to talk with you more. Wouldn't it be wonderful if I had a father like you, if I could become a man like you, that kind of stuff, always, I thought to myself... I should have told you so. I wanted to talk with you more. I'm full of regret. I want to see you.

_______

Yasumoto Hiroki

Words don't suffice. He was cool. Truly. We had talked about him visiting my place and drinking some unopened wine.

_______

Nakata Jouji First tweet, and reply

He was shy and gave off the impression that he didn't like superficial relationships, but when I tried talking to him he replied with a bashful smile, that's what I recall. When I heard he returned to work and was doing independent work, I thought on my own that he was doing well, but... You must have had it hard, huh. However, you weren't the kind of person to say that out loud... You stayed true to yourself until the very end. I pray for you.

I wanted to meet with you and talk with you again.

_______

Konishi Katsuyuki

No way. When I was a fledgling, because his place was in the neighborhood he invited me for a meal, and I was really happy about that. I wanted to meet with you again.

_______

Shouta Aoi

I can no longer meet you again. By all means, I wanted to meet you again.

Just how much encouragement I received from the acting of that wonderful voice I grew accustomed to hearing from a young age.

From now on and always that wonderful voice of yours will remain in our hearts and ears.

Thank you for all the wonderful times you gave us.

_______

Ono Kensho

Fujiwara Keiji-san. He really is cool, and he is someone I look up to. We have the same birthday, and on my own I felt like we had an affinity... I pray from my heart that you rest in peace.

_______

Hidaka Noriko

Fujiwara-san...

I thought I could meet you again someday at the studio, truly unfortunate.

Thank you for everything. Please rest in peace...

_______

Tanaka Rie

Fujiwara Keiji-san...

The last time we met was during the recording for the Granblue Fantasy game...

I pray from my heart that you rest in peace.

_______

Inoue Kikuko

Kei-chan, I'm so sad.

You fought against illness for a long time... You truly gave it your all. Please rest well in heaven.

I won't forget your shy, bashful, and kind smile.

_______

Koshimizu Ami (Koshimizu and Fujiwara both voiced important characters in Eureka 7, and Koshimizu references her role as Anemone and Fujiwara's role as Holland in this tweet, as well as Tsujitani Kouji who voiced Dewey Novak in Eureka 7 and passed away in 2018)

Dewey and Holland, please stay a little longer.

I want you to stay. I wanted you to stay.

If you're not there, we can't fly freely...

Because you were there, we were able to live freely.

Thank you but I still don't want to say goodbye.

Sorry that Anemone is like this. If I could say one selfish thing please come back...

_______

Han Megumi (Han and Fujiwara both voiced main characters in HUNTER X HUNTER, and Han references Fujiwara's role as Leorio in this tweet)

Just last night, during HUNTER's rebroadcast, we just saw off Leorio as he departed for his trip, Fujiwara-san.

Family and comrade, always thinking of his friends and a warm man, a perfect fit, my beloved senpai.

Always with the message title "Miss lovely forehead"

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_CUIyQAKMX/?igshid=14scn4kzgey86

Forever, and ever...

_______

Arisa Komiya

Fujiwara Keiji-san. I had the honor of working with you for 1 year on Go-Busters, you were always so cool on set, it was my first dubbing experience and I learned so much from you. I wanted to work with you again. I pray from my heart that you rest in peace.

_______

Ryotaro Okiayu

I participated in "Hoshi Koe" at the Saitama venue last year, and you attended, Fujiwara-san.

I read your letters.

The last time I met you was back stage there.

It had been several years before then.

That's how it goes.

Thanks so much for everything.

Note: Hoshi Koe is the name of a series of events held in Japan by AIR AGENCY, a talent management and production company founded by Fujiwara Keiji in 2006.

_______

Kenjiro Tsuda

His white shirt His light colored sunglasses His cynical smile His casual way of walking into the studio His unshaven face His still shadow at Planetarium His husky voice His retreating figure as he left His appearance in a coat when he slowly spoke in his last moments

was cool

Thank you so much

Note: Planetarium is likely also referencing Hoshi Koe, which was held at planetariums in various cities in Japan.

_______

Yamamoto Nozomi

We acted together for the first time in UN-GO, and a while later when I greeted you at another set, you remembered me, saying, "I've met you before, right?" After that, when on the set for Utawarerumono you noticed my Ironman iPhone case and chatted with me, I was truly happy about each and every thing. I pray that you rest in peace.

_______

Kondo Kanako

I can't believe it. I really liked your cool roughness. Fujiwara-san. I pray that you rest in peace.

_______

Kudou Haruka

Is it because of the air pressure that my head hurts, or because I cried too much that my head hurts, I can't sort out my feelings. However, more than these sad feelings, I want to say so many times, "thank you."

Fujiwara-san.

We were together for my seiyuu debut work "Honey and Clover", and from there with "Noein" and "DEATH NOTE", our work together continued. I didn't know my right hand from my left, and you gave me so much advice.

On set you always spoiled me, listening to my trivial chatter with a smile.

I entered college, and even when I cut off all ties to the industry up to that point and distanced myself from work, every half a year you would send me a message asking "Are you doing all right?"

I entered my fourth year of college, and when I said to you, "I want to return to work!" you got a little angry, but you earnestly heard me out. Even though I caused trouble to a lot of people, you saying "Welcome Back!" with a smile has always supported me.

4 years after returning to work, when I was worried that I wasn't doing as well as I had hoped, you said "It'll be all right!" and gave me a push on the back, and I was able to move forward.

I really have been spoiled by you for so so long.

You taught me so many things, I couldn't hope to write them all out. About acting, about movies, about novels, about life.

Even now I still have the novel I received from you right on my bookshelf. From now on, every time I watch a Kubrick or Victor Erice movie, I feel I will remember you.

The fact that there will no longer be replies to my messages, and the fact that I can no longer see you, really really make me sad, but you will always be in my heart. It's all right. I'm an adult now, too. I want to become an adult like you, someone who is loved by many, and someone who can guide others.

Thank you so much.

_______

Harada Hitomi (Harada and Fujiwara both voiced characters for Senran Kagura, and Harada references Fujiwara's role as Kiriya in this tweet)

Keiji-san. Kiriya-sensei.

I've been helped, so much by you. Thank you so much.

_______

Tomita Miyu

Fujiwara Keiji-san, I had the honor of acting together with you for the first time in Kotobuki Hikoutai. Warm, and yet mischievous, I truly loved acting with that voice of yours.

I pray from my heart that you rest in peace.

_______

Hatano Wataru

Fujiwara Keiji-san. Across various works, I've been in your debt. When you called me for "Hoshi Koe", I was really happy. The warm advice from a senpai I look up to, and the smile after a recording session. I couldn't possibly forget. I pray that you rest in peace.

_______

Abe Atsushi

I've been in your debt since when I debuted. I see... We can't act together anymore...

_______

Mimori Suzuko

I'm thankful that I had the honor of working on the same set as you. Thank you so much.

_______

Tanaka Atsuko

It's a sad sunset...

_______

Suzaki Aya

I'm truly saddened.

_______

Ohara Sayaka

It's a lie

_______

Imai Asami

............

_______

Hirakawa Daisuke

Keiji-san... Keiji-san... I'm so sad... I want to see you... Keiji-san...

Hirakawa Daisuke

_______

Akao Hikaru (Akao and Fujiwara both voiced characters for Back Street Girls, and Akao references this in this tweet)

I'm still in disbelief even after a new day has dawned and I can't quite get the right words. I feel like a hole opened up in my heart. Since I was young through anime you showed me this fun world and as a member of Gokudols, I looked forward to the day I could meet you again.

I pray that you rest well.

_______

Ishikawa Yui (Ishikawa and Fujiwara both voiced characters for Shingeki no Kyojin, and Ishikawa references Fujiwara's role as Hannes in this tweet)

[Yui] That voice that I heard so many times when I was a child. Shingeki's Hannes-san was also, rough, cool, and warm... I loved him. Fujiwara Keiji-san, I pray that you rest in peace.

_______

Yukana

I wanted to act together with you more.

Thank you so much...

I pray that you rest in peace.

_______

Okamoto Nobuhiko

Title: I'm sorry

I was planning to talk about trust and play today, but I hope you'll allow me to do that tomorrow.

I had the honor of doing my first radio show with him. When I was unable to speak well, he laughed at me. When we were recording for the Ao no Exorcist movie and from the start all I was capable of was shouting, he laughed at me. When I kept wearing the same clothes on the set of To Aru, he laughed at me. When I look back on things, it might have been sarcastic laughing, but I only remember the figure of him laughing. And, I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble.

His appearance as an actor, the way he thought about and interpreted the script, what he brought forth, I received so much encouragement and experience from him.

Keiji-san, Truly, truly, thank you so much. I really I love you.

Thank you for everything.

I pray from my heart that you rest in peace.

Notes:

The radio show Okamoto references I believe is "Sorairo Radio", a radio show promoting the anime "Sola" that aired from 2007/3/30 to 2007/7/27 for 19 episodes. During the month of July Okamoto and Fujiwara co-hosted the show.

Okamoto and Fujimura voiced Okamura Rin, the protagonist, and Fujimoto Shiro, Rin's adoptive father, respectively in Ao no Exorcist.

Okamoto and Fujimura voiced Accelerator, a main supporting character, and Kihara Amata, something of a mentor figure to Accelerator, respectively in To Aru Majutsu no Index.

_______

Mizuki Nana

Title: The carnation that arrived at my house 2 weeks ago ☆

At my last place, even plants said to be robust I ended up letting die (>_<) However, ever since I started living at my new place my plants have been really lively! My care for flowers especially has gotten better! Proper ventilation and sunlight really are important after all (laugh)

https://www.mizukinana.jp/blog/photos/2020/blog/nana_phot_20200416.jpg

I found out about Fujiwara Keiji passing away. I had the honor of working together with him for various works, during my first public performance at Tokyo Dome he provided wonderful narration, and at the planetarium in my home prefecture I had the honor of performing together with him... Truly I was blessed with so many irreplaceable experiences. I pray from my heart that you rest in peace.

Notes:

The performance at Tokyo Dome is referencing NANA MIZUKI LIVE CASTLE 2011, a series of live concerts performed at Tokyo Dome by Mizuki Nana on 2011/12/3 and 2011/12/4. Fujiwara provided narration for a short film called PLANETARIUM "Princess Nana of the Heavens" (PLANETARIUM「天界の奈々姫」) which was shown during the concert on both days.

The performance at the planetarium is referencing when Fujiwara and Mizuki co-starred in a Hoshi Koe performance held on 2016/4/24 at the Matsuyama City General Community Center Cosmo Theater. Matsuyama is the capital of the Ehime Prefecture, and Mizuki Nana was born in Niihama, Ehime. Mizuki had also made two blog posts about enjoying rehearsing for the event with Fujiwara and celebrating the successful completion of the event.

_______

Morikawa Toshiyuki

Title: Fujiwara Keiji-san...

Fujiwara Keiji-san... I pray you rest in peace.

It's too sudden. My mind is a mess. Even though I'm someone who works at my own pace... ... Right now, I'm overcome with feelings of loss.

From the time when I was a newcomer, we've been walking together through the ages for over 30 years. As an actor, and as a president, you were truly a friend... Since you were young you were shy and cool, overflowing with chivalry, an existence that even men were charmed by that is "Fujiwara Keiji"

..., It's so painful... the words won't come out. I'm sorry.

I feel that you really must have had it tough fighting against your illness. Now, please rest well.

And, the letters you sent me I will always cherish.

Morikawa Toshiyuki

_______

Hino Satoshi

Title: Keiji-san...

Keiji-san... It's a lie, right...? It's a joke, right...?

This... is too sad...

Keiji-san as a person, as a man, as an actor, you were someone who I respected from the bottom of my heart.

Everything about you was cool, you were someone I admired.

I wanted to learn more and more about various things from you.

Even now I clearly remember the time when on the set of the anime "Shakugan no Shana," as the role of the father, Kantarou, you kindly covered up for and accepted my terrible acting.

Keiji-san, "Dad, thank you so much for everything up to now"

While reflecting on each and every thing I learned from you, I will devote myself towards the sake of the future of the seiyuu industry.

I pray you rest in peace.

Note: Hino and Fujimura voiced Sakai Yuuji, the protagonist, and Sakai Kantarou, Yuuji's father, respectively in Shakugan no Shana.

_______

Suzuki Tatsuhisa

Title: Letter

I hate the idea of something getting overshadowed without anyone knowing about it, so I will write about it here.

Since we first met when I was 19, I've been in your debt for a long time. Since before we started having work together, you'd hear out my concerns and give me advice, and go along with my selfish requests to take me along for drinks. Even though you'd always say, "Waddaya want now, Tattsun," you'd always keep your promises. Whenever we met at the studio you'd always be giving off a pleasant, lazy mood. When you were the sound director you'd say things like "Tattsun, you're the only person I can ask for this," things that I couldn't tell if you were being serious or not. It's only now that I can say this, but I took you seriously every time, and every time I was seriously happy you asked me. The fact that you said those things to me.

Sometimes I'd tell you about how people say that our voices or our acting are similar, and even though you'd reply by saying stuff like, "What? That's gross," behind your sunglasses I could see that the look in your eyes always softened happily. I like chatting in the smoking area, so anytime I'd spot you I'd head straight there. When you'd say, "Yo!" to me, it was a little embarrassing, but I was always happy you did.

I won't talk about acting. That's something I'll keep locked away in my heart.

I know you had it tough. However, I stopped talking about it. Since you hate that.

All I can remember, is you always saying, "Yo! Tattsun," every time you saw me. Gimme a break, let me remember something else, too.

Thank you for always listening to my selfish requests. Thank you for always listening to both my trivial ramblings and my serious talks.

I always thought you were an annoyingly cool old man. You were always the best. You were always the strongest.

Everything about you is cool. So I envy you.

When I go over there, I'm gonna have a ton of stories for you. Before I do, please make sure to find some good sake and tobacco over there. It might take a while, but I'm definitely going to have, a ton I want to talk to you about.

It's about time I wrapped things up. This is a letter that will never be read by its recipient, after all, so there's no point in going on for too long.

Let's meet again with a smile. Anytime, anywhere.

With love.

[theheartsofheroes]

[ @shoutaimu and I finally finished watching all of the Bandai Sera Myus. And since I don’t feel like sharing the document, here are our rankings for the Senshi actresses (plus Kakyuu) as well as ranking the roles of several recurring cast members. For double castings of Chibi Moon we put them in the same slot. I might come back and make another post with our explanations for the rankings but for now. Just have this list]

Senshi

Usagi Tsukino/Sailor Moon

Anza Ooyama

Marina Kuroki

Miyuki Kanbe

Fumina Hara

Mizuno Ami/Sailor Mercury

Ayako Morino

Chieko Kawabe

Minami Wakayama

Hisano Akamine

Yuikiko Miyagawa

Mariya Izawa

Rei Hino/Sailor Mars

Misako Kotani

Eri Kanda

Megumi Yoshida

Risa Honma

Aiko Kawasaki

Asuka Umemiya

Horoko Nakayama

Hiromi Sakai

Makoto Kino/Sailor Jupiter

Emi Kuriyama

Kanoko

Yuriko Hayashi

Akari Tonegawa

Emika Satou

Mai Watanabe

Ayano Sugimoto

Chiho Ooyama

Kaori Sakata

Takako Inayoshi

Marie Sada

Karina Okada

Minako Aino/Sailor Venus

Ayumi Murata

Nao Inada

Mizuki Watanabe

Nana Suzuki

Erica

Akiko Miyazawa

Momoko Shibuya

Kanatsu Nakaya

Yuki Nakamura

Miyu Otani

Chizuru Soya

Sakae Tamashita

Haruka Tenoh/Sailor Uranus

Nao Takagi

Sanae Kimura

Akiko Nakayama

Asako Uchida

Michiru Kaioh/Sailor Neptune

Yuuka Asami

Hiroko Tahara

Tomoko Inami

Sara Shimada

Takayo Ooyama

Miyuki Fuji

Kahoru Sakamoto

Chikage Tomita

Setsuna Meioh/Sailor Pluto

Rei Saito

Yuuko Hosaka

Seiko Nakazawa

Yukiko Nakae

Miho Yokoi

Teruyo Watanabe

Yuki Kamiya

Miwa Hosoki

Hotaru Tomoe/Sailor Saturn

Ruria Nakamura

Keiko Takeda

Ayami Kakiuchi

Mao Mita

Chihiro Imai

Mario Tomioka

Eriko Funakoshi

Yui Iizuka

Asami Sanpei

Chibiusa Tsukino/Sailor Chibi Moon

Ayano Gunji

Tamaki Dai Shirai/Natsumi Takenaka

Mao Kawasaki/Ai Miyakawa

Noel Miyazaki

Kasumi Takabatake

Nanami Ohta

Moe Oosaki

Mao Ohno/Mina Horita

Arisu Izawa

Aisha Yamamoto

Mamoru Chiba/Tuxedo Kamen

Yuuta Mochizuki

Hironari Amano

Hidemasa Edo

Kenji Urai

Yuu Shirota

Yuuta Enomoto

Gyo Miyamoto

Mizuki Sano

Seiya Kou/Sailor Star Fighter

Sayuri Katayama

Chinatsu Akiyama

Taiki Kou/Sailor Star Maker

Hikari Ono

Akiko Nakayama

Yaten Kou/Sailor Star Healer

Momoko Okuyama

Mikako Tabe

Sailor Galaxia

Tamami Matsumoto

Yumie Sakaguchi

Saori Sara

Takemi

Princess Kakyuu

Sakoto Yoshioka

Ai Toyama

Recurring Cast Members

Ryuuji Kasahara

Tiger's Eye

Gilles de Rai

Kyaos/Chaos

MC Fly

Death Ra

Dark Nibiru

Prof. Tomoe/Undead Berserk

Kunzite [only at the bottom because we didn’t get to see this performance]

Ado Endou

Centi/Hanako Hoshino

Selkie

Sailor Lead Crow/Manila Karasu

Calaveras

Dark Menorah

Demon Lillith

Roi Malkuth

White Crow Ado/Dark Maya

Ensemble Roles ~ Death Nightmare ~ Lemures ~ Shadow Bug ~ Sailor Theta ~ Dark Moon

Miki Kawasaki

Esmeraude

Kaolinite

Kunzite

Le Fay/Olam Tiphareth

Dark Mirror

Zilpah Sapphire

Dark Sumer

(Death) Nightmare

Yoshiya Yukimura

Damask/Shintarou Hoshino

Mandrake

Kern

Hemachirou Taitou/Hematite

Death Pe

Nobitarou Oki (Crooked Ref)

Akiko Miyazawa

Elizabeth Bathory

Queen Beryl

Bilhah Emerald

Minako Aino/Sailor Venus

Hikari Ono

Taiki Kou/Sailor Star Fighter

(Prince) Demande

Bloody Dracul Vampir

Roof Merrow

Hawk's Eye

[buck-tick-stash]

My Thoughts on Buck-Tick Concerts (from 2022 experience)

tickets, seats

If you just want to say you went to one, get your ticket for one of the massive Tokyo or Osaka venues.

For a decent crowd-energy and some great stage theatrics and sound, join Fish Tank* and reserve your ticket for one of the big cities.

For a close up look at the band members and a chance at interaction, join Fish Tank x LMP* and plan to go to one of the smaller venues.

* Fish Tank is the official fan club with a yearly membership. They have an English side for international fans and Japanese for domestic fans. (I went through the Japanese side.) LMP, short for Love & Media Portable, is a monthly subscription that gets you into the "upper tier" of the fan club, granting access to additional information, media (including digital images and a physical magazine), and the earliest window for ticket purchases.

Frankly, I think the extra 50 USD/yr + a month or two (or more) of LMP (5 USD/mo) is worth the better seat. You also get access to informative emails and Yuta's blog. Both are in Japanese but can be run through automatic translators for an adequate understanding, and both will give you extra information on how the concerts will go, in advance.

swag

There is no cheap swag. If you plan to buy something, be in line before 11:00 a.m. in the big cities, 12:00 p.m. in smaller places, and bring a thick wallet.

B-T post their goods just before the tour starts, so check there and plan in advance what you want to buy. Measure yourself for any clothes. While they do keep some on racks on display, you may not have time to check them, depending on the venue and how strict the lines are.

For randomized items (keychains, trading cards, and other collectables; and for this tour, signed copies of Hide's autobiography; etc.), you are given the item selected by the staff. You will have no hand in choosing which you get.

the event

The air was misty upon entering. Combined with the pre-show music, a mix of classical and electronic instruments, there was a sense of entering another world.

Anyone with photosensitivities should be aware: there are flashing and strobing lights as a regular part of these shows. I don't typically suffer, but this was one of the few times I struggled with them.

Hide's eyes never stopped moving. I met them for a second, and then he had moved on, and on, and on. I had the distinct impression that he was methodically passing over every row, looking every single audience member in the eyes.

Yuta is Yuta. Ever the ball of sunshine, he seemed to carry the same level of energy throughout the show. He did take on a new pose, throwing his hands to stage right and head down and stage left as if to shield himself from Sakurai's sheer power. I squeed.

Toll, as usual, rarely looked up from his kit. Because of this, more than for any other member, I was frustrated by the current policy of no singing/screaming/cheering. (Completely understandable, given Japan's continued caution and the tour cancellations of last August, but still frustrating.) His work on ドレス was particularly intense. I wish I could have called his name out during the applause.

Imai hobbled on stage with his cane, and, though it pained me at first, I wonder how much of it is theatrics by now, as he never picked it up during a song and showed no slowing down for his distinctive dances and kicks, including a few directed at the audience.

I wish I could tell you how lovely Sakurai's voice is live, but my seat put me close to a speaker with some distortion. Much of his attention was directed out toward the bulk of the audience, but during Romance, he teased the front row with melting candle wax, and during the finale, very briefly touched a few hands from the audience at stage front center.

The entire show was just over two hours and left me with the feeling of cotton in my ears.

afterthoughts

For my seat, the extra fee to go through the fan club was absolutely worth it.

I had also booked a room at a lesser known guest house close by rather than one of the better known chain hotels nearer the station. It made preparing for the concert and resting afterward much easier.

Despite my earlier complains, 10/10, would absolutely go again.

[liquidstar]

can i get some ocs funfacts in this trying times?

I’D BE HAPPY TO SHARE <3

I’ll just throw out a couple random ones, but I’ll limit it to the main guild, unless you want specific ones :p

Polaris’s birthday is December 5th, but she fucked it up in the paperwork when joining the guild so everyone is under the impression that her birthday is May 12th. When they throw her a little party for her first birthday at the guild she doesn’t have the heart to tell them it was actually 6 months ago, so I guess that’s just her birthday now.

According to Saiph the top 3 social rules of the guild are: 1. Don’t hog bathrooms unless you’re practically dying. 2. Have enough trust in everyone to let them make fun of you. And 3. If Nix gives you any candy, don't eat it. (Polaris forgets the 3rd one)

As the guild’s barmaid, Felis has to deal with all sorts of people through the day- not just the regulars in the guild but people from around town who just stop by for drinks. This means she always has her fingers on the pulse of whatever the latest gossip in town is. Ask her for secret missions not on the board, that she heard about from a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy’s cousin.

Okay I’ve said it before but Venus used to be absolutely wild back in the day. Now she’s just “granny” to most people, but when she was actually active in her youth she had the alter-ego of Morning Star (Guess what weapons she used lol). Derived from the Latin name for the planet Venus; Lucifer. Her M.O. was sex and violence, with an arrogant and manic attitude that preceded her reputation. But she settled down once she was given actual responsibility and people to look after.

Ran is the only character I drew without her weapon (Excluding Ursa who doesn’t have a weapon) because she was actually a one-off drawing way before the concept of this OCverse was a thing. I simply brought her back for fun later.

Since all the characters are named after celestial objects, like stars, planets, moons, etc. it’s pretty natural to assume Juno’s namesake is 3 Juno- the asteroid. But it’s actually the space probe, Juno. He’s the only character named after a non-natural object.

Bella owns more stuffed animals than anyone in the guild, but they’re all in a box. Unlike Mira, whose count rivals Bella’s, and who has them all over her room.

A while back I ran an OC poll tournament for fun (Asking ppl to vote for who’d win in a fight) Imai won, which I agree with. I think she could take them all on at once if she really needed to.

[naruseii]

Myu review 7: 1997 Eien Densetsu

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Before continuing further, I’d just like to mention this. This review is purely based off of my personal opinion. I personally am not that fond of SenShi and since this Myu contains that ship, my comments/views differ from the majority, which is okay! Whether we agree or disagree, let’s keep the discussion civil and let’s also respect each other! Thank you and enjoy this (long) review!

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First impression: I was actually pretty excited for this Myu!! With Stars K being so amazing and this being the second to the last Myu of the First Stage, I really expected a lot!

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Impressions: Actors/Actresses

Anza Ooyama (Usagi Tsukino/Sailor Moon)- OH YES QUEEN ANZA!! She was so good in this, it’s like she saved the Myu. I really liked how she portrayed Usagi in this Myu. Sad/Mature Usagi is so essential to the Stars arc and I think Anza pulled it off pretty well especially during I Miss You and her talk with Setsuna about Mamoru. She had her fun, silly Usagi moments but I think her more sad/mature/serious moments were the highlights of her character. Her Super Sailor Moon was pretty okay!! She had the mix of funny and serious Moon which created a good balance. Her Eternal Sailor Moon is obviously my favorite. I have to say I wasn’t as impacted as I was in Stars/Stars K but her Eternal Moon was still pretty good!! She makes her so strong/powerful and also really mature and lady-like which is why I love her as that version of Moon so much. Of course, she did well in all aspects and I just really really enjoy Anza-Moon a lot!! 💕

Ayako Morino (Ami Mizuno/Sailor Mercury)- Ah s***, here we go again. I really can’t stress enough how much I don’t like boy crazy Ami. I’m not a fan of the SenShi pairings so automatically I didn’t enjoy the ZoiAmi bits. This is not Ayako’s fault of course (it’s First Stage/general Myu writing) but seeing her act it out really didn’t settle with me. Ayako’s pre-Zoisite Ami wasn’t too bad?? She kinda overdid the “innocent Ami” but that’s nothing new. I quite enjoyed her Mercury though, because she really did break out of her “innocent Ami” character and showed her true strength as Mercury. Normally with these reviews I always prefer her Mercury over Ami and it’s the same with this one. She’s either lacking or too much, really.

Misako Kotani (Rei Hino/Sailor Mars)- MISAKO WAS SO GOOD IN THIS MYU!! I love her strong and sassy Rei and all her Rei scenes were so fun and interesting to watch! I really like how her relationship with the cast is shown through certain scenes (like the teacher-director switch scene) because it really added to her charm. Just like Ayako, she was given many scenes to showcase her character/character development and I think she gave off an amazing Rei and Mars. I love her voice and her acting so much here!! I’m sad Eien K is her last Myu because I’m really starting to like her a lot :^( .

Akari Tonegawa (Makoto Kino/Sailor Jupiter)- Akari wasn’t too bad of a Makoto/Jupiter! I really love her little movements and her facial expressions because they add more to her character. Her Makoto was more on the masculine side although she had moments which showed her girly side. Her Jupiter was lacking but, it’s more on the writing than her acting. I can’t really judge her voice on the singing aspect since she didn’t have a solo but, I do have to say her voice is quite powerful. Her dancing was okay and overall, I think she did pretty well despite not having much to do!

Akiko Miyazawa (Minako Aino/Sailor Venus)- Akiko was sooo cute!! I super love her Minako!! She portrayed the perfect fangirly Stars Minako and you can definitely tell from her gestures and how her voice becomes higher than usual (which was a nice touch)! Just like Akari, her senshi counterpart was lacking due to the writing. I think she had the potential to show a really great leader Venus! As mentioned before, her Minako was amazing and I think she touched on every aspect of the character pretty well!! I’m really excited for her next performance (and future ones)!!

Yuuta Mochizuki (Tuxedo Mask/Prince Endymion/King Endymion)- Just like in the previous Stars musicals, Tuxedo Mask/Endymion was hardly present. And when he was, he was typically walking around, getting attacked, kneeling and having few lines of dialogue. Even though he didn’t do much, I still think he did well in what he was able to do!! I hope they give him much more to do in Eien K since it’ll be his last Myu as Tux!!

Sanae Kimura (Haruka Tenoh/Sailor Uranus)- Oh yes!! Sanae was pretty good in this Myu!! She’s had really good scenes especially with Hiroko because their dynamic is just that great. Her Haruka really got to shine when she was with Hiroko. Their scene in Kick Out A Bloody Mystery and Orurean no Sei Senshi really showed off Haruka’s humorous and serious/dedicated side well. Her Uranus is still pretty strong. Her scenes with Moon, the Starlights and Galaxia really highlights her strength as Uranus (especially during the betrayal). Although Uranus (and Neptune) weren’t too memorable in this Myu, I think Sanae did a pretty good job in all aspects and got to portray her character pretty decently!!

Hiroko Tahara (Michiru Kaioh/Sailor Neptune)- Hiroko is just so so good. She makes me enjoy Michiru/Neptune so much!! I really do love her dynamic with Sanae because she actually gets to shine more/take the lead at times and she isn’t just Haruka’s femme gf on the side. As mentioned before, the mystery scene and Orurean no Sei Senshi were probably her best scenes as Michiru. As for her Neptune, she had much more of an impact that before. Especially during the betrayal scene where she said she’d follow Haruka anywhere she goes (she’s basically just re-enacting the scene from Act 1), it really felt genuine and I felt like she encapsulated Neptune and her emotions very well. She’s pretty great in all aspects and again, Uranus and Neptune weren’t too memorable in the Myu but she got to pull of her character pretty well!!

Rei Saitou (Setsuna Meioh/Sailor Pluto)- Oh my gosh I love Rei!! I really loved her scenes where she talked about spending her entire life alone yet still believing in love (or something like that). She really encapsulated Pluto’s loneliness and strength as a person and a soldier. She’s also had her funny moments which gave her a good balance of being humorous and serious. Her voice is amazing and she still dances pretty well!! Overall she did really great!! I super duper love her Pluto!

Chihiro Imai (Hotaru Tomoe/Sailor Saturn)- I think Chihiro did okay for her first and last role!! But I do think she could’ve done better. She captures child Hotaru a bit better than Keiko since she’s younger although, her delivery wasn’t too good at times. There were some points where she would sound emotionless and her movements were also kinda stiff. She has a good voice (especially for her character) but the way she says “Saturn” in To A Brand New World bothered me just a tiny bit. But otherwise, I think she was pretty okay!!

Mao Kawasaki (Chibi Chibi/Sailor Chibi Chibi)- I’m so glad Mao returned for this Myu although, her role as Chibi Chibi was very minor. Since Mao had exposure playing a child role in the past (Chibiusa), I think she was able to keep her acting pretty child-like. She didn’t have as much freedom as she did as Chibiusa but her monologue as Sailor Chibi Chibi and her song “Mou ii no” really amazed me!! She was really good!!

Sayuri Katayama (Seiya Kou/Sailor Star Fighter)- Oh my gosh can I just yell about how charming Sayuri’s Seiya is?? She got a good balance of leader Seiya/Fighter and soft/caring and charming Seiya/Fighter. I think her best moments were with Usagi (I Miss You) the other Starlights (Kick Out A Bloody Mystery) and Kakyuu (Kakyuu Ouhi to Three Lights). I think she captured more of the manga Seiya while having some bits of anime Seiya as well. To be honest, her strongest character is Seiya. Her Fighter had the leadership and care/concern but honestly, it doesn’t strike as much presence as her Seiya does. She has such an amazing singing voice and she dances pretty well so yeah!! I loved Sayuri!!

Hikari Ono (Taiki Kou/Sailor Star Maker)- Um...😔👉👈...I REALLY LOVE MY GIRL A LOT. She was so good okay. Honestly, she makes me less annoyed at Taiki altogether. She’s had her moments as the know-it-all (a.k.a ((sorry, language)) smartass) Taiki but she also had her funny/laid back moments too. I loved her scenes with Momoko or the Kinmoku gang because we really get to see the true character of Taiki/Maker which Hikari portrayed very well. I was surprised she had such a strong Maker because she didn’t really do much as her for the past 2 Myus!! She has the dedication (to mostly) Kakyuu and a strong will. Her singing is great and so was her dancing!! So yes 8/8 my girl did great!!

Momoko Okuyama (Yaten Kou/Sailor Star Healer)- Momoko is the CUTEST Yaten and you can’t convince me otherwise. I was watching the Stars anime when I watched this Myu and her Yaten was a breath of fresh air from her anime counterpart. She’s had her sassy moments but she was such a goof ball in almost all her scenes!! From solving mysteries to deciding on who the next leader of the Three Lights is, she was just so fun to watch! Her Star Healer was very strong and caring! I think she did pretty well in all aspects and I just love her!!

Sakoto Yoshioka (Princess Kakyuu)- YES FINALLY A KAKYUU!! I loved Sakoto!! She has such an amazing voice and I’m so glad they gave her more than one song to sing in this Myu! She really has the “other worldly” presence that Kakyuu has when she makes her first appearance. She was also very kind and motherly but in a different kind of way than Setsuna. She portrays Kakyuu’s emotions so well and she moves so gracefully which really made her capture Kakyuu’s character!! I’m looking forward to seeing her again in Eien K!

Tamami Matsumoto (Sailor Galaxia)- She's definitely different from Saori!! She has a lot more power and a lot more stage presence. She shows off Galaxia's dominant and villainous side really well. Although, I think she’s too mature for Galaxia. I see Galaxia as an intelligent kid but with lack of experience. Tamami’s Galaxia seemed like a queen figure (like Beryl or Nehelenia) who’s seeking revenge when she’s really just someone new to the scene. Nonetheless, I think she portrayed Galaxia well especially with her movement and her voice! And her reformed Galaxia was just as great!

Shadow Galatica (as a whole)- I’m surprised they didn’t include Iron Mouse in this one but even Aluminum Siren and Lead Crow considering that the Stars anime already ended by then and people should know Shadow Galactica but oh well I guess. They removed Pewter Fox as well for some reason but they made up for these losses with Tin Nyanko and Mitis (formerly known as Titanium) Keroko! Both Toni and Megumi did such amazing jobs portraying their characters in all aspects. Sailor Chi, Phi and Theta were amazing dancers and complimented scenes really well. I enjoyed them a lot!

Ryuji Kasahara (Kyaos/Chaos)- Don’t get me wrong, I love Ryuji as an actor and I did enjoy him in this role! But I really didn’t like the build/the writing for Chaos. In the manga he’s just like any other final boss at the end of each arc and since Chaos is the very last villain, he should be portrayed as the most evil creature to exist. Ryuji usually plays playful villains which is probably why they had to rewrite Chaos’ character. The teacher/director Kyaos was really fun to watch and he really played the two really well!! I just wish we could’ve gotten more of a serious/powerful Chaos from him.

Yuri Nishina (Queen Beryl)- So glad they brought her back from Gaiden! She makes an excellent Beryl!! Her voice is really suited for her character and she really shows the evilness of Beryl so well. She doesn’t do much dancing so her only movements are just swaying her arms when she attacks. That aspect kind of bothers me a bit in some scenes because it looks so lazily done even if her lines/scenes hold so much emotion. Regardless, I enjoyed her evil Queen Beryl as much as her reformed Beryl! She did well in both!!

Hidetaka Asano (Kunzite) & Akira Tomemori (Zoisite)- OH YES MY SHITENNOU BOYS!! I mean this time we only have half of them, but it kinda works! Zoisite had more of a role than Kunzite since he somewhat pursued a relationship with Ami. Due to that, Zoisite showed more of his masculine side than feminine side which really changed the atmosphere around his character. Kunzite on the other hand, was less of a leader and more of a casual person. Despite these, I think both Akira and Hidetaka were able to carry on their characters very well! They delivered their lines confidently and they have good singing and movement! I really enjoyed their performance!!

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The story: I’m gonna change this part up! Normally I’d tell the story while inserting my opinions in at certain points but since Eien is longer than previous Myus (I think this one’s 2 hours?), I’ll just give my opinions on the story instead.

It was SO MESSY. This is like the first Stars Myu but even messier. The best way I can describe this story is that they fused both interpretations (anime and manga) of the Dark Kingdom and Stars Arc but also kinda tried to revise Stars K? There was just so much going on in general. Some parts can be understood if you’ve seen the anime or read the manga (or both) but if you’re a Myu-only person then maybe those things may seem unclear/unnoticeable.

[ACT 1]

I’m assuming this is because of the 2 hour time mark but Act 1 was super long. It kinda felt dragging at times. They also inserted a scene that wasn’t really necessary which was the “Little Match Girl” scene with (who I’m assuming is) Chihiro. It was just her talking to this entity (I think it’s Beryl?) while lighting her last match. The entity was talking about how darkness is gonna swallow up the world and how that last match won’t help her (which it didn’t) and through that, Queen Beryl got resurrected. Do you get what I mean??

But aside from that, the rest of Act 1 was just okay. It was a super long act and since there was so much in it, I didn’t find the transitions from scene to scene to be well executed. I think each Senshi/character got a fair amount of screen time although some didn’t really do much. All the musical numbers and scenes were great!! It’s just that there’s too much, really.

[ACT 2]

Act 2 was way shorter. By this point you should be getting the story but I still didn’t understand what I was watching. There was definitely a shift in atmosphere between the acts as Act 1 was more lively and fun (although it had a few serious moments) while Act 2 was more heavy and probably tried to focus on the story more. Most characters were well developed by then until we discover that some of them get redeemed or some of them are actually evil (or maybe they were pretending to be evil but were just good all along). I’d have to say that I preferred this section of the story more than the first. It just seems more well put together although it still hardly makes any sense. The unexpected shift of stance from the villains (evil to good or “good” to (very) evil) was a nice touch on their part. All in all, I think Act 2 or just the ending of the Myu really wrapped up everything pretty well. Despite all the many ups and downs, the ending was actually quite decent.

If you want to know about the story, I suggest you read the ‘97 Eien page on the SM Wiki: https://sailormoon.fandom.com/wiki/Pretty_Soldier_Sailor_Moon_%7E_Eternal_Legend

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Overall opinion: As much as I really wanted to like this Myu, I can't. I had a hard time understanding what was going on & I had to watch this a second time just to make this review. The actors and actresses weren't bad, they all did such an amazing job; the story is just terrible. The concept they went for is good, it's just that the execution wasn't. I'm really hoping for the best for Eien K especially since it's the last Myu of the First Stage.

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FINALLY!! GOSH THIS TOOK A WHILE. I actually watched this Myu with @missemperor back in May and we DID NOT enjoy it. I had to watch it again because the story never stuck to me and I forgot what everyone did in the Myu. To be honest, there were moments that are likable but the problem really is just the story. I’m really crossing my fingers for Eien K!! How about you? Did you like ’97 Eien? Did we agree on things? Feel free to leave your thoughts!!

((Character profiles are from @myu-resource , CD cover is from @galaxycosmos​))

[tournevole]

Nous sommes venus a bout d’une petite souris  ce week end qui a ravagé mes placards de cuisine, une vraie speedy gonzalez.

Elle repose dans la grosse poubelle dehors.

Alleluyah

 artist Ayano Imai