#lunarmis

[cinycesum-fan]

The Attack on Titan anime did better job than the manga:

As a devoted fan of Attack on Titan, both the series and its manga, I must emphatically assert that the anime transcended the source material in certain key aspects. It's not about drastic alterations, but rather the subtle nuances that granted the anime a heightened level of clarity.

In the manga, there were lines that managed to infuriate the readers. Take, for instance, that moment when Armin expressed gratitude to Eren "for being a mass murderer for our sakes." It was a glaring misfit with Armin's genuine sentiments about the Rumbling. However, the anime rectified this by replacing it with the poignant dialogue about their reunion in the afterlife. Notably, the manga seemed less explicit about the fact that Eren "had no choice," leaving room for substantial criticism regarding his actions, his tears for Mikasa, the tragic demise of his mother, and the grim reality of only eliminating 80% of humanity. The anime, on the other hand, masterfully conveyed the inescapable nature of Eren's path, illuminating that no matter how hard he struggled, the outcome remained unchanged. Those like me who harbored disdain for the manga's conclusion primarily had their qualms rooted in the dialogue of that pivotal chapter. It's baffling that the "10 years at least" line persisted, but I digress, for the anime handled this with remarkable finesse.

I won't claim to adore the ending, but neither do I hate it. The anime, through its presentation, managed to mitigate some of the cringe factor, and the music, as always, elevated the emotional depth. It faithfully adhered to the source material, whether we found solace in its culmination or not. It's a testament to the anime's prowess that it took the source material and, for better or worse, enriched the experience.

[cinycesum-fan]

Analyzing Kim Gimyung/Jake Kim

introduction

I’m just trying to share my perspective on my favorite character in Lookism, Kim Gimyung/ Jake Kim. Also posted on Reddit.

────────────────────────────────────────

i. first impression

When I was first introduced to Gimyung in the gambling arc, I thought he was going to be one of those stereotypical villains who constantly tries to rise to the top but falls short. That is why I didn’t really pay any attention to his character. But as the plot progresses, we learn more about his character and learn that he wasn't always the bad guy and is a good guy. In his backstory (Jake Kim arc), we were able to understand how he became who he is.

I think PTJ wasn’t sure about Gimyung’s backstory and future roles at that time. Or maybe we were reading from a different perspective (Jace’s), which blinded us from understanding the true goals and motivations of Gimyung. In a later chapter, we got a bigger overview of the fight between Gimyung and Vasco, where Gimyung said something like “I have much more weight on my shoulders than you” (rescuing Sinu and protecting Big Deal).

ii. countenance

His face has displayed various ranges of expressions, but his eyebrows are almost always raised and have a composed expression. I'm not sure why I'm bringing this up specifically, but I believe it distinguishes him from other characters. I really wanted to write how it makes him special, but for some reason I'm having a hard time articulating my thoughts in this regard. For some reason, his right eye is depicted glowing magenta when he’s deeply motivated.

iii. fighting prowess

Gimyung’s fighting style is based off mixed martial arts (MMA) and Gapryong Kim’s street fighting style. His level of MMA is to the point that he can overwhelm Xiaolong at his best regardless of when he used his weapon or best martial art.

He defeated Xiaolong, whose fighting prowess was on par with Gun's.

Every time Xiaolong swung his Guandao during their battle, Gimyung got better at anticipating attacks. (Chapter 419)

He blocked invisible kick from Sinu Han. (Chapter 388)

He took hits from Ultra Instinct (UI) Hyungseok.

During his time in prison, he followed Gun’s fighting routine and was successfully able to master it. He could fight hundreds of prisoners at once (like Gun).

He was able surmount Brekdak’s forbidden techniques. (Chapter 351)

Gun took out almost all his teeth

He is one of the only people in the series to be able to overcome invisible attacks. He’s so skilled that it was said that he could surpass Gun [5]. He is able to defeat opponents by abruptly changing his combat effectiveness [1 and 3]. He also has high attack potency [1, 3 and 6] and he’s also fast [2 and 3]. He has immense stamina and endurance [5 and 7]. Gimyung has a method to defend against attacks that take advantage of blindspots at a very efficient level. He is also able to see visions of attacks before they land on him, though it's only used against Xiaolung.

iv. intelligence and tactics

He's gifted. He was able to:

run an entire gang and managed to find methods to earn money continuously despite the odds being against him.

easily deduce why Vasco was attacking the Workers Third Affiliate and prevented Yohan from continuing to fight when it wasn't needed.

find a way to prevent Yohan and Seongeun from fighting them and aid Hostel.

convince Choi Dongsoo to aid him and cooperate with Seongeun in backstabbing the Yoojin.

He avoids using weapons and simple fights. He frequently attempts to break his opponent's arms or legs. He is practical enough to employ subpar methods, such as pursuing his target while Xiaolong is left vulnerable to an assault. Gimyung will treat his adversary like Gun Park if he ever feels overpowered, making him even more dangerous.

He is incredibly perceptive to the outside world because he saw Jiho's influence on Jason when Jason made a peculiar face. By concentrating on the crack in the wall, Gimyung could determine the spinning mechanism during the club arc. He observes and notes how things function as he calmly takes in the details and information of his surroundings. He frequently attends to what needs to be done, discreetly and modestly addressing the immediate needs of the circumstance.

v. charisma and determination

He uses his communication skills, persuasiveness and charms to influence others. That is why he’s able to connect with people and manipulate (sometimes in good way, sometimes in bad) them on a deep level. He uses this skill in many ways that can affect a fight indirectly (his fight with Xiaolong in Hunt for Big Deal), including buying time, obtaining information that could be important, or manipulating how a person might approach a situation.

Gimyung had a strong determination. His goal was to save Sinu and to keep Big Deal safe. And to do that, he could even choose the path of unfairness. In middle school, he saved Brad and Jason from getting ganged up on, because he couldn’t tolerate injustice (just like his father). But he was so devoted to his goal that he went against his own principles.

──────────────────────────────────────── break starts

It’s an universal fact that our bae is painfully funny and charming and handsome. Fun fact: Gimyung loves red velvet cake.

so caring

──────────────────────────────────────── break ends

iv. leadership and big deal

To his allies, he is a caring leader. They are one of the most devoted crews because he fought valiantly to keep Big Deal independent and because they deeply care about him. He appreciates those who are truthful and just, and dislikes those who engage in unsavory behavior. Lineman, one of the newbies, bragged to others about how close he was to Gimyung, even though he felt inferior because he wasn’t acknowledged by others in Big Deal. He said he was brother to Gimyung, when Gimyung appeared and said Lineman was like a family. This was surprising because Gimyung knew him when other members didn’t.

After serving time in a juvenile facility, Gimyung's personality started to alter. He lost interest in fairness and is now only concerned with getting revenge. He made a promise to do away with Gun. He had a significant impact on Jiho and advised him to fight to the death if he wanted to defeat opponents who were stronger than he was. He later admitted that he was giving himself advice rather than Jiho because he thought that fighting Gun to the death was the only way he could defeat him.

Being such a devoted leader, he would allow himself to be humiliated, but he would do whatever it took to keep Big Deal alive. He licked wine on the floor, which prompted the gambler to take him into gambling business. Prior to being sent to prison, he only ate instant noodles to save money. But he never made the other members of his crew eat less.

As the series progressed, he began to sound like Sinu Han, who showed Gimyung the value of "romance" and “passion”, and ideals which he followed.

vii. thinking and intuition

Gimyung frequently prefers consistency of logic to morality. Despite his mom's problems, he flees because he hates his father for being unfair to her while being just the opposite to the rest of the world. He makes numerous attempts to leave Big Deal because of this as well. He also emphasizes the inside a lot when making decisions. He turns inward to develop his own ideas, viewpoints, and answers for the outside world.

In short, he has morals, but he also has a personal agenda. He is prepared to put his agenda ahead of his morals if doing so will help him accomplish his objectives. This establishes his compelling internal and external conflicts with other characters.

He was prepared to leave Big Deal and the girls because he thought Sinu had renounced his principles. But his viewpoint quickly changed once he realized that Sinu was behaving in a very consistent manner. Gimyung is unquestionably a good example of an anti-hero. He has fairly consistent morals but is aware of the immorality of what he is doing.

Gimyung viewed prison as a place where he could try out different methods for getting stronger. There's no way a group of inmates would suddenly attack Gimyung because he had a lot of influence over the guards and inmates through bribery and pure loyalty. Majority of Jake's fights in jail are well-controlled. Jiho might have also crossed Gimyung’s mind as a potential experiment subject. His opinion that fighting fairly is stupid was only reinforced by seeing Jiho get stronger.

vii. jitae and sinu

Gimyung is very considerate of Jitae/Jerry and frequently involved in his education. He pushed Jitae to be a modest student and get along well with his classmates. In order to avoid reprimands from his teachers and to practice the Jeongseon Arirang, he bought Jitae a bamboo flute. Jitae is without a doubt Gimyung's most devoted team member; he refuses to address anyone else as "Sir," and he always obediently complies with his orders. He was regarded as Gimyung's "sword," and after Gimyung was defeated by Gun, he vowed to get stronger in order to defend Gimyung.

When Gimyung first encountered Sinu, he was aloof and rejected Sinu’s invitation to join Big Deal. However, after learning about Sinu’s backstory and Big Deal’s purpose, he began to grow respect for the latter and even took his words about “romance and passion” into consideration. When Sinu pretended to have sold Big Deal, Gimyung had a hard time believing it and he even fought Sinu to “correct him”. After he came to know that Sinu sold himself, all his motivations and goals revolved around retrieving Sinu back. His admiration for Sinu was to such a great length that he claimed that Sinu is “his everything”.

ix. the flaws

All the characters have flaws and here I’m going to point out some inadequacies in his character.

He didn't really have a seamless transition from villain to hero archetype. It is clear from earlier chapters that PTJ did not write out his intentions clearly. It seemed as though his priorities and driving forces were money and power. In the gambling arc, he had a very different personality and physical description, which led to some uneven character development.

His logical thinking borders on insensitivity, which is why he’s often unaware of the impact their words or actions have on others’ feelings. He’s only concerned about the people he loves, so he’s not mindful of other people’s lives. But, it seems that he’s overcoming this. As in chapter 431, we saw that he motivated Xiaolong to go to Vivi and love her unconditionally.

────────────────────────────────────────

I promise you that I’m going to update this analysis when the series ends, with much more evidence provided for my claims. 

[cinycesum-fan]

Gimyung Kim and Gapryong Kim

it's amazing how Gimyung doesn't want to be like his father Gapryong but still resembles him in so many ways. Their leadership, manners, tactics, charisma and fighting stances are so much similar. The only thing Gimyung hasn't got from his father is cheating on women. But if you notice carefully, Gimyung is kinda unfair to his mother, because he ran away from home and doesn't visit his mother frequently.

[cinycesum-fan]

How Levi utilizes his intellect in fighting and decision making and his leadership in final battle

snk animanga spoiler

Levi's extraordinary achievements in the face of insurmountable challenges cannot be accomplished through mere brute force and speed. Strength alone is futile if not complemented by keen perception and strategic acumen. One cannot bear the weight of leadership and its countless responsibilities solely on the shoulders of physical prowess. It takes more than sheer might to lead; it takes intellect, adaptability, and a strategic mind.

Levi's intellectual prowess frequently takes a back seat to his physical strength, yet it serves as a potent weapon in his combat and decision-making arsenal. Guided by intuition, sharpened perception, and an abundance of experience, he wields his intellect like a masterful sword, carving his path through the complexities of battle and strategic choices with unparalleled finesse.

While the overarching strategic vision is typically the domain of Commanders and leaders of the delegation, Levi holds the distinguished position of being the solitary captain, or heishichou the "leader of the soldiers," for a profound reason. He consistently assumes the mantle of leadership in the heat of battle, guiding and commanding his comrades on the front lines.

Erwin's decision to bestow the serum upon Levi hinges upon the latter's exceptional "ability to make on the ground decisions". It is Levi's unparalleled skill in rendering ground-level judgments that compels this weighty responsibility to rest in his hands. In the crucible of dire circumstances, where lives hang in the balance, Levi's ability to make swift, resolute choices emerges as an indispensable asset, earning him Erwin's trust.

Levi possesses an astute ability to gauge the depths of people's character. He often finds himself serving as the voice of various individuals, both long-standing acquaintances and those he's encountered more recently. From the likes of Erwin, Zeke, Hange, Eren, Mikasa, Armin, to even individuals like Dimo Reeves, he becomes the conduit for their narratives.

In the case of Eren, Levi's perception goes beyond labeling him a "monster," a judgment he passes as early as the Female Titan. Levi discerns a more complex truth, recognizing Eren's susceptibility to self-doubt, moments when he stands frozen, and the powerful inner force that spurs him back into action, a revelation that illuminates the intricate facets of Eren's character.

Levi's perceptiveness and intuition manifest in remarkable ways, allowing him to weave intricate connections from seemingly insignificant details. Whether it's deducing Nick's resignation from the Survey Corps by counting the fingernails missing due to his torment, unraveling Kenny's intricate schemes, or uncovering the concealed compartment within the basement drawer, his ability to extract profound insights from seemingly minor data points sets him apart as a master of deduction and reveals the depth of his analytical prowess.

This steadfast quality becomes vividly apparent during the climactic final battle, where Levi not only deduces and formulates a course of action but also issues orders with greater frequency and authority than even Armin, who had ascended to the role of commander. In the crucible of conflict, Levi's leadership shines as a beacon of unwavering determination and tactical acumen.

(sry for bad screenshots)

Levi's fighting strategies are nothing short of brilliance. An in-depth analysis of his combat engagements reveals a profound level of strategic thinking at play:

In the heat of battle, he showcases remarkable ingenuity by adapting his surroundings into improvised weapons. From utilizing tree branches to obscure Zeke's line of fire in the War for Paradis, to wielding his cape, a bottle, a chair, and his ODM gear as instruments of defiance when cornered by Kenny's squad, Levi's approach to combat goes beyond the conventional.

He refrains from seeking a swift and straightforward kill, instead focusing on a methodical disassembly of his adversaries. This is evident in his calculated actions, such as the methodical dismemberment of Annie in the Female Titan encounter and his gradual neutralization of Zeke's combat capabilities, piece by piece, during the Return to Shiganshina battle. Levi's approach catches his opponents off guard, as they tend to underestimate his tactics by fixating on their own vulnerabilities.

Moreover, when the tide of battle doesn't sway in his favor, Levi doesn't fall into the trap of overestimating his abilities. He tactically acknowledges his disadvantages and devises inventive solutions to address them. One such instance is when he intentionally lures Kenny to a bar during the ambush by Kenny's squad, seizing the opportunity to acquire a shotgun and pivot the odds in his favor. Levi's combat strategy stands as a testament to his resourcefulness and unwavering commitment to achieving victory.