Curve
Written and Illustrated by Noriko Tsubota
Trans. by Allen Laney, and The Knights of the Eastern Calculus
Publisher: DMG
Rating: T
The art is nice.
I have no idea why Curve is the title...
it has absolutely nothing to do with the manga.
I feel bad about submitting this as a So-So Sunday post, but Curve really is just so-so. The artwork is beautiful, the translator seems to have done a great job (well-written), but...it's almost like the story isn't all there.
Tatsu works at at detective agency during the day and an art gallery at night, but he gets thrown for a loop when his two jobs collide and he ends up working for a sculptor. This manga has a lot of stuff: angry dads, jilted women, mistaken identity, cons, rich people, espionage...Hooray!
There's also a Ghost-esque clay throwing fantasy (which I highly disapprove of).
You'd become a jug, or a vase, or a bowl, most likely.
Oh, and neither one knows they are in lurve.
I tease, but in a lot of ways this story, despite the ridiculous mistaken identity trope, is pretty simple, and doesn't have a single scene that feels squee-worthy. It isn't the art or the translation that makes this so-so...it's the story itself. The plot is weird. There are some early hints about the main character's dark past that never resurface at all. There seems to be little motivation for some reactions, like the main character running away to America. All in all...I'm left wondering why characters are behaving the way they're behaving, and not in an interesting way.
Okay, first, don't click play on the video below at work, in front of grandma, or...well, don't click it until after you read the review. If you do, please be informed, Dear Reader, that I warned you. I did! It's right here, in writing...DON'T CLICK THAT PLAY BUTTON!
If you did click the play button, Dear Reader, I would like to apologize. It was gross, right? I know. And those are just the opening credits. Do you feel scandalized? I do.
Today's So-Bad Sunday offering is the ongoing anime series (what channel would air this?) called Kiss X Sis. And I'd like to begin my discussion of this series with a question posed in the first episode by the main character, Keita, who asks--"In what sort of world do people enjoy looking at their sister's panties?" Good question, Keita, you pervert!
The basic plot of this series is that graduating middle school student Keita is being wooed rather aggressively by his older twin step-sisters. They have lived together since he was three, and are as close as natural siblings, but the girls, Ako and Riko, have both (hurk) fallen in love with Keita and now want to do "stuff" with him.
I watched the first episode. In my defense, the summary of the series did not imply the absolute, pervy/grossness it should have. There was no warning that this series would have full-frontal gropage and a lot of up-skirt panty shots. Allow me to remedy the omissions from that misleading summary in my review by offering the following information: GROSS!
I nearly barfed at one point. No really, I gagged and did that little head-shaking barf face to keep it down. Yeah, they aren't related by blood, but COME ON! They ARE siblings in a contemporary setting. That's pretty frowned upon.
At this point of my anti-incest/"this anime is gross" rant Ms. Shakespeare is no doubt laughing uproariously at the hypocrisy of my railing against it. Why? Because maybe, just maybe, I have a sick fascination with the Winchester boys. To that I say...DOESN'T COUNT! And that's an argument for later! And I don't have to justify myself to you (except I probably should at some point because I just outed myself as one of those crazy wincest readers)! And lastly, James (who may be posting here if we can talk him into it), made me read it, so it isn't technically my fault! Oh, man! Seriously! It's not the same thing...I have so much shame. So much shame!
Personal Supernatural-related shame aside, this anime bothers me, and not just because it's got a weird, underage, incestuous, love-triangle plot (that should be enough, though). It bothers me because everyone (EVERYONE!) in this anime, including the parents, seems to be not only entirely (ENTIRELY!) okay with the weird, underage, incestuous, love-triangle plot, but actively encouraging it. The entire neighborhood (they all need more hobbies) is taking bets on which of the twins, Ako or Riko, will ultimately seduce poor confused Keita. The parents are all, "Oh, you girls, don't be too rough on Keita!" Blargh! Gross! Gross! Gross!
This is actually a popular anime...why? People actually LOVE this anime...why? So much of it is so wrong that I almost don't know where to start or finish. So, let me end this review as I began with poor confused Keita. At the end of the first episode (which is about as far as I was willing to watch), poor Kei-chan is confronted with dual love confessions in his middle-school classroom. He becomes angry. Okay. I get it. But, the reason he becomes angry is confusing to me. He believes that his lovely, older twin sisters are just messing with him, and that their intentions are not genuine. Oh, Keita, if that's really the thing you're concerned about, then...wow. You see, I thought the problem would be something different; something more akin to "gross, my sisters keep flashing me their panties and trying to rub on my junk. I could use some serious counseling and an intervention from a trusted adult!" Oh, Dear Readers, WTF? It's not cute. It's not "romantic." It's not arousing...I hope. It is simply uncomfortable and off-putting, and painfully, unavoidably, gross.
Now, Dear Readers, click play if you must, but be ready for nudity and disturbing incestous images. Remember, I warned you.
Titles: You Will Fall in Love, You Will Drown in Love (1, 2, 3)
Author/Artist: Hinako Takanaga
You will Fall in Love is a one-shot (single issue) manga, that has morphed into the first in a spin-off series of yaoi (gay romance manga) centering around (can you guess?) love triangles!
Hooray!
I suppose since I am discussing yaoi (yah-o-ee/yah-oi) I should explain a bit what it means. I know Ms. Shakespeare has a full academic explanation on her docket for the coming weeks, so I don't want to step on her toes, but I do want to provide some background for readers (all two of you) who might be unfamiliar with the term.
Yaoi is a genre of literature (both manga and novels) or anime (I have never seen it used in relation to live-action film, but I suppose it could be applied there as well) that centers on male-male relationships. What is surprising about the genre is that it is written primarily by women and absolutely FOR women. Ms. Shakespeare and I have had some fantastic discussions about the appeal of yaoi, so I will leave the heavier work to her, but boiled down here's why it "works:" most romances (yes, these are romances) have set gender roles, and require female readers to identify with the female protagonist of the story in order to connect with characters and the book/whatever itself. Now, I run into some problems with this. I actually hate romance novels, romantic comedies and, well, romance in general. I have a few gender issues (well, the world does, I'm fine) and haven't been able to identify with a female lead in like...well...have I ever? Holy, whatzit, I may have never identified with a female lead! No wonder I hate romance novels, huh? In yaoi, I don't have to identify with one gender over another, I just have to identify. And I do, with whomever I like most. So, in yaoi I am not expected to identify with the female in the story (there is a suspicious and significant lack of female characters in yaoi in general); I get to identify with whomever I wish. Hooray! Another appeal may have to do with the resistance of traditional Japanese culture to such relationships...it's all very Romeo and Tybalt (which would be kind of appealing, IMHO). A truly compelling love story requires resistance. All of my favorite romances (there are some) center on an ill-advised or taboo relationship which is met with resistance/disdain from either society or, at least, the characters surrounding them. This is something Ms. Meyer seems to have forgotten in Twilight, especially when comparing the vanilla pudding of the central relationship between Sparklesuck and Snore-ella to the torturous and forbidden relationship of Heathcliff and Catherine of Wuthering Heights...ARGH! That's another story though, back to falling and drowning in love, right?
We need a chart!
Yeah, don't say I never did anything useful...because that there is some proof positive.
Triangles everywhere! So many triangles (depicted as circles...I blew your mind)! Tied up in the triangleness of these love stories are some other factors that threaten the relationships. For one, there are a lot of power dichotomies here that are tested by the dynamics of power within the relationships themselves. There's a student teacher relationship (which always feels icky to me since I am a teacher with some rationality...ewh! Skeeve!), subverted by the fact that the student is the aggressor. And there are a few power plays that center on the corporate hierarchy of kimono shops (which are apparently more cuthroat than I ever expected). There's also the fact that Reiichiro and Tsukasa are wealthy, privileged and gay (both of them? Yes, I know. Unlikely!) and have high familial, career and social expectations incongruous with their sexuality in a male-dominated and androcentric cross section of modern Japan that is concerned more with propriety and outward signifiers of success and stoicism than emotional connection. Wow, that sounded smart, I better reign it in a little, huh? No worries, in the next paragraph I squee my brains out.
It is totally cute. SQUEE! Tsukasa is totally sexy. Haru is sweet and shy. Reiichiro is a pretty idiot (I am unsure why everyone seems to fall instantly in love with him). And Jinnai is a dick, which I kinda love (I identify with him). And the author/illustrator Hinako Takanaga does beautiful work. She started as an illustrator for novels and other manga authors, but has branched out into her own writing. To date she has written and illustrated some of my favorite works. Although my favorite of her collections is a short series called Little Butterfly (That series freaking kills me every time! EVERY TIME!) the "You will ____ in Love" series is strong, and it does use older characters (something I love, remember).
I've posted the links to the series below for interested readers, and am anxiously awaiting the release of You Will Drown in Love 3, which releases in early August. I'm hoping that the love triangles will be resolved in pleasing (and angsty) ways.
The twincest thing is all a game...they're so rotten and mean. They stage fake fights, they torment poor Tamaki, and they're just generally mischievous. Hooray!
Incidentally, they were in the running for "Anime Character you Feel Most Like" as a duo, of course.
"Best" is a relative term. One can discuss one's "best" tooth extraction, but it is still a tooth extraction. One could find an example of anything and call it the "best" version of that thing. I don't like Yandere characters.
Yandere characters in anime and manga are annoying. The word itself is used for psychotically obsessed (usually female...like 99% female) characters who seem normal (well...maybe overly devotional and self-sacrificing, but that side can be a little sweet at times--one characteristic of a yandere is that they have very distinct sides of their personality, the term actually suggests "sweet outside-crazy inside"), until they are in the vicinity of the one they love. These characters would literally do ANYTHING for love. Axe-murdering? Sure. Dramatic suicide attempts? Absolutely. General loony toons? To the extreme.
A yandere character woud conceivably even kill the object of their affection in a classic "If I can't have you no one can" sort of Mark Wahlberg in Fear dealie. It's all very Glenn Close, all very "I boiled your bunny," but a yandere character might even take it a step further. "I boiled your bunny, but I am also dressed as one, please pet and love me?" They're really screwed up, and they tend to switch so quickly from cute-cute to ultra-violent that they seem hyperactive and ridiculous.
So, the "best" yandere character? That's a pretty lame topic. I pick Kagura Sohma from Fruits Basket .
Poor Kyo. It isn't easy being the object of a yandere's obsession, especially if that yandere is the zodiac incarnation of a boar. She might be little, but she is powerful!
Can something be both underrated and overrated? I mean, Inuyasha is pretty universally loved, but it gets a lot of flack from "real" anime fans who see us Inuyasha lovers as some sort of less-than fan just because we happen to think it's cool. (Incidentally I have also gotten flack for just liking the English Dubs...apparenty I am "missing out" on the original which is "so much better." Bleh.)
I have heard the following phrases, or some variations of them, several times in my anime-lovin life (a few times from Ms. Shakespeare perhaps...ahem, ahem..?):
"Yeah, but it's so mainstream."
So? It's mainstream because it's good. I get a little defensive of Inuyasha at times. Just because something is popular doesn't automatically make it bad. This feels like the whole "sell-out" theory of rock. BTW world, if Someone you like gets famous and other people like them now, they do not automatically become sell-outs. You should be happy that someone you like finally hit the big time, instead of throwing out scornful and nostalgic crap about how they were "so much better" before everyone started watching/listening to them.
"It's all very monster of the week."
So? There are a LOT of monsters in the feudal era (this is non-fiction, right? I mean Feudal Japan was like crawling with oni? Inuyasha is practicaly a documentary, right?). There is still an overarching plot (or five) that ties all the pieces together.
"It's for kids."
No. It is not for kids.
Inuyasha has been around for a long time, sure. And it's really popular, sure. It's also weirdly underrated as an interesting, complex and well-written (most of the time) show. Plus, they'll keep you going for a while with 167 episodes and 4 feature films. Ah, I can remember waiting for the new seasons on [AS].
I do hate the way it ended though...boooooo! BOOOO!
The manga spans 56 volumes. 56!!! I don't have the time or energy to read all of that, although I hear it is a little more violent and risque than the anime series. Plus I think it has an ending.
So, Inuyasha haters of the world. Quit underrating and under-appreciating one of my favorite series of all times.
I'm going to go with Spirited Away not only because it is an impossibly beautiful coming of age story that is rooted in Japanese culture, but ends up drawing attention to the universiality of human experience (that is a mouthful), but because it has always seemed to me like a gateway drug into the world of anime.
Even my friends who insist they hate anime, or as my sister calls them "sweaty cartoons," enjoy this film. The characters are complex and loveable; there is drama, pagentry and fantastic storytelling; the artwork is phenomenal. This film does have the ability to change some viewers' preconcieved notions about the purpose, scope and audience of anime.
This film has won 35 awards, including an Oscar for Best Animated Feature in 2002 against 4 American films Ice Age, Lilo & Stitch, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimmaron, and Treasure Planet.
I think the animes/mangas with Mechas/Robots/Gunmen are called Mechs in English and Mechas in Japanese because they need an extra letter.
They are not this:
Oh, creepy robot mouth, you scare the bejeezus out of me. Please do not sing me to sleep. At least with anime viewers don't face an uncanny valley sort of robot issue. Most mechs in anime are pretty cartooney, and most are pretty meh...I think Voltron is pretty cool, I watched it when I was little too. And I really love the farcical Titan Maximum on adult swim. But most, nearly all, mechs bore the poo out of me. It's all fight, fight, fight. Look at me sweating in my robot suit. Look at me yelling stuff.
There is one exception though, and it isn't Gundam. I love Gurren Lagann. In fact, I love it so much that I am constantly surprised by my love for it. I have talked about it plenty before, and already picked the finale of the series as "Most Epic Scene." So, I'll keep it brief and just say, SEE IT! (Also, Ms. Shakespeare if you are going to see one mech, see this one, please? That way we can talk about how awesome it is.)
Here's the trailer:
JUST WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK I AM?!!! I love Gurren Lagann! But I'm not alone.
This review by Anime News Network rated Gurren Lagann as an A rated series that shows "the manly side of mushiness, the kind of content which speaks about people who truly throw everything they have – all of their passion, their hopes, their determination, and even their souls and very lives – into the crucible to challenge the heavens, to force a path to their own destinies and those that they hold dear. "
This is some band of brothers stuff, very St. Crispin's Day speech! I cannot help but be swept up in the struggle.
So I'll leave you with some Shakespeare, which is an odd thing to be reminded of when one is discussing giant robot gunmen, but it seems entirely appropriate.
Since I mentioned it here is the St. Crispian's Day speech from Henry V:
This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.
Or, as Simone the digger would say:
"Aniki is dead. He's not here anymore! But on my back, and in my heart, he lives on in me! My drill is the one that pierces the heavens! Even if that hole becomes my grave, as long as I break through, I shall be victorious! Who the hell do you think I am?! I'm Simone! I'm not my brother Kamina! I am myself! Simone the digger!"
I'm all amped up now! YEAH! "This is my soul, and I'll make you regret this!" SQUEEEE! So much asskickery!
I can't tell you how excited and nervous the official trailer for Supernatural: The Anime makes me. I love Supernatural...I am an addict. So, when I heard that they would be reimagining the series as an anime, I was stoked. The latest news is that the US Release is scheduled for July 26. I will be saving my meagre dollars. Supernatural is a series that could lend itself well to anime...long story arc, monsters, complex characterization.
The only things that concern me are:
1) The animation of older brother, Dean Winchester, is not exactly what I would have envisioned (then again, I am a fan of Dean Winchester) and younger brother, Sam, seems to be getting the brunt of attention...he might be the lead, which is offputting to me. They are a duo, plus I just don't think Sam is as interesting (or complex) as Dean is.
2) Someone covered "Carry on My Wayward Son" as the themesong. It plays a prominent role in the live-action series, and is a good classic rock song...I happen to like Kansas (it is one of my favorite state-named bands). So, the cover seems weak.
3)Jared Padelecki (Sam) voiced the US episodes, but Jensen Ackles (Dean) only did a select few...who is doing them? Does anyone but Ackles sound like Ackles? I don't think so. I like his voice. He was awesome as Red Hood in Batman: Under the Red Hood, so he CAN do voice work. (Plus his dad is a voice-over legend). The choice is odd.
4) It may be drawing too much from the storyline in the live-action series. What I see from the preview is most of an episode called "Roadkill" from season two. (Yes, I am that much of a geek.) I hope that there are new plotlines, otherwise I'm not sure what the point of redoing the series in animated form might be.
Concerns aside, I am (pun intended) geeked! I look forward to viewing and then reviewing the series here on Squeefinity...it will give me something to do during the summer hiatus of the live action show. And new ways to oogle Dean.
“Once upon a time, in a land far away lived a nameless monster. He was dying for a name.”
Monster is a long running anime based on the graphic novels of Naoiki Urusawa. This extremely elaborate drama/thriller is set in Germany and the former republic of Czecheslovakia. It’s part fairy-tale (ala Grimm Brothers rather than Disney) and part gritty crime story. The story follows Dr. Tenma, a brilliant neural surgeon mistakenly framed for multiple murders after saving the life of a young boy, Johan Liebert. Johan, and his twin sister Anna, are the only survivors of the violent murder of their adopted parents. From the first episode viewers realize that there is something inhuman about the young boy, despite his charisma. Tenma, falsely accused and on the run from several groups of people interested in catching him, takes to the road to both clear his name, and discover the truth. (Image by Angel Zakuro.)
What follows is a complex, multi-character story which spans decades. A large part of the series deals with the internal battles each character faces regarding regret, responsibility and redemption. Later discussions of belief and faith in oneself are complex and interesting. Identity is a central issue as well. Johan, with his incredible ability to influence others, is a compelling villain with charm and beauty. He becomes symbolic of the darkness possible in each person, and is molded by the Eastern Bloc Government from youth to be a perfect leader and brilliant strategist. His sister Anna and Dr. Tenma, are his counter, and embody love and forgiveness.
It really is a fantastically complex (albeit sometimes slow-moving) anime. But, I’m still wondering WHY this is animated. The animation is beautiful, and the architecture and scenery is amazingly rendered, but there isn’t any apparent reason why this story needs to take anime form, or graphic novel form. There are no special effects, transformations or dream sequences…nothing that couldn’t be done live-action at all. Despite the strange decision to animate at all, this is a really complex and intelligent series. I am awaiting the next season and the conclusion to this epic.
Ouran High School Host Club is not only adorable, more complicated than one might expect (it hits on some very profound psychological and emotional issues in very subtle ways), and worthy of watching/reading, it's also very dear to my heart in a very specific way. Ms. Shakespeare and I bonded over the anime of Ouran High School Host Club; as soon as the fanslation of Ouran hit Youtube one of us would call...our voices full of squee! It was usually a Thursday afternoon, when the dedicated fansubbers of the world appeased our growing desire for the SNAFUs of Ouran High School's wealthy harem of charming young men (and one girl in disguise). I have never seen such dedication and speed in translation; Ouran ran very late on Tuesday nights in Japan, and by Thursday (with some exceptions) we would usually have a fresh episode to watch...just a few days after our squee-filled Japanese peers. When Ouran went live we ran home after school/work met at Ms. Shakespeare's house and huddled around the small, laptop monitor...nearly bouncing out of our chairs at the kitchen table. We chain smoked (something we have both ceased to do), drank diet sodas, and paused often to comment on what was happening on the screen, as the sun went down over our oddly eclectic Michigan neighborhood. When Ouran ended, we cried (we cry a lot), and squeed (we squee a lot) and praised Bisco Hatori for her utter cuteness while lamenting that this was the end of our love affair with the characters who populated the 3rd Music room of Ouran High School.
Ouran was our obession for twenty-six episodes. When the series ended, I started in on the manga, ongoing in Japan and in it's 11th issue in the U.S. I'm a big fan of both versions of the story (and they are very different), but I'm focused more on the manga version right now, because it allows me a little more time and depth with the characters I love. Ms. Shakespeare is a big fan of the anime version, because it has a very tight and effective story arc and seems very self-contained.
I propose a debate...Ouran v. Ouran, Anime v. Manga! But first, an overview:
The series (summary from For Richer or Poorer (FROP)," an Ouran Fanclub Website, courtesy of VIS): In this screwball romantic comedy, a poor girl at a rich kids' school ends up working for the school's swankiest club—and gets mistaken for a boy! One day, Haruhi, a scholarship student at exclusive Ouran High School, breaks an $80,000 vase that belongs to the "Host Club," a mysterious campus group consisting of six super-rich (and gorgeous) guys. To pay back the damages, she is forced to work for the club, and it's there that she discovers just how wealthy the boys are and how different they are from everybody else.
Essentially, the series is a gender bender/male harem situation...the main characters each represent some anime/manga-typical "type" of swoonworthy fella.
Main Characters: Tamaki Suoh--The "king" of the host club, an over-the-top, half-French, prince character with a fragile heart of gold, who despite his intelligence and grace is actually much more of a goofball and klutz than he is debonaire. Kyoya Ootori--The "shadow king" (or "mother") of the host club, a caluclating, determined high school student from a very wealthy and powerful family. Despite his forbidding air, he has a tender side. Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin--Twin trouble makers who use their bond with one another to their advantage in order to keep their distance from other people. They see other people as "toys" and certainly tease, taunt and create mayhem, but secretly they harbor deep feelings for their friends and not just each other. Mitsukuni Haninozuka, "Hunni"--a high-school senior whose outward cuteness ("a loli-shota") hides brains, martial arts skills, and the fact that he's actually the oldest of all of the host club members. He shares a bond with his cousin, and best friend, Takashi Morinozuka. Takashi Morinozuka, "Mori"--the strong, silent type. He is quick to defend his friends, is very thoughtful and very emotional despite his tough outward appearance and constant silence. Haruhi Fujioka--The bluntly honest hero/heroine of the group. She attends Ouran on scholarship, is the top of her freshman class, and is brutally oblivious to things a "normal" girl might desire or notice. She is stubborn, androgynous, practical and independant...and she's hiding the fact that she's a girl.
So, what makes this story different or interesting, it's the characters, nothing more. There are no evil aliens to defeat, there are no psychic powers, no real love story to speak of (until perhaps the later chapters of the manga)...it's a story about teenagers with obstacles, despite the opportunities their wealth, intelligence and familial power affords them. For some of these characters the obstacles are emotional; for others they are circumstantial, based on family, status, goals, and/or desires. Oddly, although this manga/anime is about a group of friends, what it discusses the most is an idea of family. Other big themes in the series center around individuality, loss, and success. The themes themselves are addressed honestly, and realistically, despite the fantasy world of wealth and priveledge in both verisons of the story.
There are some differences though between the two mediums of Ouran...and if I can get Ms. Shakespeare to agree to a debate, I'd be most pleased.
