Hello all! "Otaku Lady" has moved to a new blog. Hope to see you there! :)
http://reading-hour.blogspot.com/
Monday, February 20, 2012
Friday, June 24, 2011
Anime Expo 2011
That’s right, folks. Lady Otaku is attending her very first “con” next weekend! I’m very excited, to say the least. I’m looking forward to studying and watching the cosplayers. I’ll definitely be posting the Best and Worst, but I really admire those die-hard fans who take their love for a show and a character way beyond the norm.
I’m not confident to cosplay yet, but if I ever did I would make sure my costume was as close to the original as possible. My cosplay choices? I’ve spent many a night lounging with my fellow otaku friends discussing who and how we would cosplay.
Choice Number One: Rin from InuYasha.
She has always been one of my favorite characters and her costume is very simple. It would be easy and affordable to make a fan-tastic and close to authentic looking costume.
Choice Number Two: Akatsuki
These bad-ass, rogue ninjas from Naruto would be so fun to cosplay! Downside: spending the entire con soaked in sweat. Those cloaks look heavy!
Choice Number Three: Hetalia
I’m not sure which character/country I would cosplay as…I love Hungary’s costume, but I have a soft spot for Austria. Not only would you be by far the most cultured and best dressed, you could get away with walking around acting superior and aristocratic.
I’m not confident to cosplay yet, but if I ever did I would make sure my costume was as close to the original as possible. My cosplay choices? I’ve spent many a night lounging with my fellow otaku friends discussing who and how we would cosplay.
Choice Number One: Rin from InuYasha.
She has always been one of my favorite characters and her costume is very simple. It would be easy and affordable to make a fan-tastic and close to authentic looking costume.
Choice Number Two: AkatsukiThese bad-ass, rogue ninjas from Naruto would be so fun to cosplay! Downside: spending the entire con soaked in sweat. Those cloaks look heavy!
Choice Number Three: HetaliaI’m not sure which character/country I would cosplay as…I love Hungary’s costume, but I have a soft spot for Austria. Not only would you be by far the most cultured and best dressed, you could get away with walking around acting superior and aristocratic.
Here’s my schedule for AEX 2011:
Otaku Parliamentary Debate
Hetalia History
Inside the Voice Actors Stuido
Uncool Japan: The Trials and Tribulations of Japanese Pop Culture
Researching Anime
Vic Mignogna
Naruto Shippuden: Dreamers Fight Premiere
Konoha Corner: Live, Unedited and Uncensored
No Copyright infringement intended. All artwork featured on this blog is not mine; it is the intellectual and creative property of its author, artist, publisher and animation studio.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
It's a Small World After All~
Please, please refrain from 1). letting your inner fan scream in joy at a reference to the wildly popular Axis Powers: Hetalia or 2). chucking everything in sight at me because I'm about to dedicate an entire blog to it.
I consider myself pretty literate/knowledgeable when it comes to the world of Japanimation -- oddly enough, I had never even heard of Axis Powers: Hetalia until a friend of mine ranted about the series' obsessive fans. I figured any series that inspires rabid fans waranted a closer look.
As a daughter of a History professor and lover of ancient and international culture and history, I couldn't wait to start watching. :)
World History tends to be kind of... dry. If you don't have much imagination, it just ends up being a big mass of dates and battles. Recently I took a break from Naruto and began watching an anime that has become very popular during the last year –Axis Powers: Hetalia (APH).
This series (of which I've only seen the first season) is SO politically incorrect. It is a broad collage of stereotypes, insanity, inanity and more stereotypes (and all of this is in keeping with the point of the show), which is a humorous look at WWII. Can you laugh about that war? Perhaps the more important question is, should we? I think, as with most things, it's a question of how things are presented and how the more difficult topics are handled.
The main historical events portrayed in this work occur between World War I and World War II. The series often uses satire and comedy to address well-known historical events as well as historical and cultural trivia. Historical, political, and military interaction between countries is allegorically represented in APH as social and romantic interaction between the characters; the web-comic (original) version in particular depicts military and economic incursions using various innuendo.
In APH, countries are represented by characters, and every character is a mass of stereotypical flaws-- with Japan, primarily, and Germany, to a lesser extent, being the notable exceptions. The character of Japan is a brilliant, hard-working, very polite young man, though shy and not as well acquainted with the rest of the world as he perhaps should be. Germany is a hardcore stickler for the rules, who shows little emotion; like Japan, is smart, hard working, and prone to get results.
The other nations/characters, however, do not fare so well. Italy is a charming, rascally but inept and useless coward who surrenders at the first sign of danger; he is obsessed with pasta, and produces white flags as his contribution to the war effort. America is a bit of buffoon, who is fond of declaring that he is "the Hero", talking with his mouth full, and eating unlimited hamburgers -- while proposing absurd solutions to world problems (like, creating a super hero to defeat global warming). France is a self-important, militarily inept, excuse-making fellow with a passionate dislike of England and a history (which he pooh-pooh's) of failures and stealing other people's thunder. England, meanwhile, despises his former ward, America, as well as his rival, France; England's cooking is notoriously bad, and ridiculed throughout the show. Russia is a sadistic young man who is frequently plotting evil against his fellow nations. China is a power-hungry nation that produces great food; etc.
AXIS POWERS
I consider myself pretty literate/knowledgeable when it comes to the world of Japanimation -- oddly enough, I had never even heard of Axis Powers: Hetalia until a friend of mine ranted about the series' obsessive fans. I figured any series that inspires rabid fans waranted a closer look.
As a daughter of a History professor and lover of ancient and international culture and history, I couldn't wait to start watching. :)
World History tends to be kind of... dry. If you don't have much imagination, it just ends up being a big mass of dates and battles. Recently I took a break from Naruto and began watching an anime that has become very popular during the last year –Axis Powers: Hetalia (APH).
This series (of which I've only seen the first season) is SO politically incorrect. It is a broad collage of stereotypes, insanity, inanity and more stereotypes (and all of this is in keeping with the point of the show), which is a humorous look at WWII. Can you laugh about that war? Perhaps the more important question is, should we? I think, as with most things, it's a question of how things are presented and how the more difficult topics are handled.
The main historical events portrayed in this work occur between World War I and World War II. The series often uses satire and comedy to address well-known historical events as well as historical and cultural trivia. Historical, political, and military interaction between countries is allegorically represented in APH as social and romantic interaction between the characters; the web-comic (original) version in particular depicts military and economic incursions using various innuendo.
In APH, countries are represented by characters, and every character is a mass of stereotypical flaws-- with Japan, primarily, and Germany, to a lesser extent, being the notable exceptions. The character of Japan is a brilliant, hard-working, very polite young man, though shy and not as well acquainted with the rest of the world as he perhaps should be. Germany is a hardcore stickler for the rules, who shows little emotion; like Japan, is smart, hard working, and prone to get results.
The other nations/characters, however, do not fare so well. Italy is a charming, rascally but inept and useless coward who surrenders at the first sign of danger; he is obsessed with pasta, and produces white flags as his contribution to the war effort. America is a bit of buffoon, who is fond of declaring that he is "the Hero", talking with his mouth full, and eating unlimited hamburgers -- while proposing absurd solutions to world problems (like, creating a super hero to defeat global warming). France is a self-important, militarily inept, excuse-making fellow with a passionate dislike of England and a history (which he pooh-pooh's) of failures and stealing other people's thunder. England, meanwhile, despises his former ward, America, as well as his rival, France; England's cooking is notoriously bad, and ridiculed throughout the show. Russia is a sadistic young man who is frequently plotting evil against his fellow nations. China is a power-hungry nation that produces great food; etc.
AXIS POWERS
The Axis Powers group of characters consists primarily of Germany, Italy, and Japan, who are also the protagonists (odd choice) of the series. The representations of countries also part of the historical Axis Powers, such as Hungary, make additional appearances.(Yes, the following is taken from the Almighty Wiki. I’m lazy.)
Italy (イタリア Itaria)
Italy, the primary protagonist and the title character, is a bright, energetic and sweet young man. In the series, he is depicted at various points as the infant grandson of the Roman Empire, and is recognized as the weakest character in the series, and as a carefree and cowardly soldier who often depends on Germany to resolve issues. He has good contacts with Poland. His artistry and extreme love of pasta and pizza are references to Italian culture. He uses his adorable ways and cute face to charm any girl he meets. He is portrayed as a "lovable loser". Italy represents the northern half of the country of Italy, while his older brother represents the southern half. Hence, their full character names are Italy Veneziano and Italy Romano.
Germany (ドイツ Doitsu)
Germany is a hard-working, efficient, bureaucratic, and serious character. In the series, Germany is “primus inter pares” among the Axis Powers, and takes responsibility for the training of Italy and Japan. Another aspect of his character is his relative inexperience with relationships, leading him to be very by-the-book as a result of the belief that things will go wrong if he does not follow instructions to the letter. His extreme devotion to the military lifestyle would make him an effective leader, if not for the fact of constantly baby-sitting Italy. Despite this, as the series progresses, he forms a close relationship with Italy. He notes at one point that he has a "crazy boss", a reference to Hitler. This is the only reference to the organization and policies of Nazi Germany and the Third Reich I have encountered in the series so far.
Japan (日本 Nihon)
Japan is a shy, reclusive and hard-working character. He seems to have a problem with others being in his personal space, for he gets uncomfortable if anyone touches him or gets too close. In the series, he is shown to be inexperienced with the Western world, and prone to culture shock. A young man, his character design features dark brown eyes and black hair, common physical traits among Japanese people. He often tries to adopt the cultures of other countries he meets, like France. Generally quiet, he is often depicted with the attitude of a businesslike old man.
ALLIED FORCES
The Allied Forces group consists primarily of the characters America, Britain (also known as England), France, China and Russia. These characters are often depicted as comically failing to reach consensus in their war meetings. The representations of countries also part of the historical Allies of World War II, such as Canada, make additional appearances.America (アメリカ Amerika)
America is an energetic and headstrong character. In the series, he is raised by England and later fights for his independence. America is very similar in appearance to Canada, who is often forgotten and was seen "invisible" by other nations. The self-proclaimed leader of the Allied Forces, his catchphrase is "I'm the hero!" His ideas for solving international problems are often absurd, but he is usually oblivious to the opinions of others. America's ideas and inventions are grand, but rarely go anywhere. His crippling fear of ghosts is at odds with his friendly acquaintance with a grey alien named Tony, who lives in his house. America is frequently seen clutching a hamburger, or eating while speaking. He is often portrayed as a rude fellow and one who has disregard for whom his actions affect or just what they might be. He has a mixed colored blond and brown hair, has blue eyes, and wears glasses.
England (イギリス Igirisu)
England, also known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is depicted as an irritable young man. A former pirate, he is now a cynical and sharp-tongued gentleman. Some of his notable character traits include his terrible cooking skills, foul mouth, ability to see supernatural creatures ("imaginary friends"), and ability to perform magic curses on his enemies. Britain is most antagonistic towards France, with whom he shares a long rivalry, and America, his former charge. He's usually recognized for his large eyebrows, spiky blond hair and green eyes.
France (フランス Furansu)
France is a romantic, carefree character. In the series, he is shown to have a long-held rivalry with Britain. However, he frequently makes sexual passes at many characters, including England. France explains away his long history of military defeats by attributing them to a joke from God. He regards himself as the eldest brother among the European nations and is referred to as such by some of them, though he calls Spain his elder brother in turn. However, he gets very upset when another nation refers to him as an 'old man', as he claims he's still young. When he is happy, his laugh (“hohonhohon”) is intended to be a stereotype of him being French. He is often depicted wearing flashy blue and red clothes with a rose, holding it in his hand.
Russia (ロシア Roshia)
Russia is the tallest of all the nations, but has the innocence and cruelty of a child. He adores vodka and sunflowers. His primary target of resentment is General Winter, because despite using the cold to his advantage in war, he is also attacked by him every year. Russia has a kind face, but has mentally cracked from the strain of his bloody history. Despite his brutalities towards others, he truly means well. The other nations are terrified of him, especially the Baltic Trio (Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia), whom he loves to abuse physically and emotionally. Occasionally, he stalks China, while in a panda costume. Russia also has two sisters: his older sister, Ukraine and his younger sister, Belarus. He becomes gloomy and depressed when either of them is on his mind because Ukraine left him to try and make friends in the European Union and Belarus is obsessed with the idea of forcing him to marry her. She seems to be the only other country which Russia fears. Russia happily promises that eventually "all will become one with Russia". Another favorite phrase is "kolkolkolkol", used when he is angered. Russia is often seen carrying a water faucet pipe. For unknown reasons Poland is not afraid of him (probably because Poland is the only country that won a war with him and General Winter).
China (中国 Chūgoku)
China is one of the oldest nations, being depicted as immortal as well as being four thousand years old, and is regarded as the eldest brother among the East Asian nations. He is disturbed and distrustful of Russia, reflecting the Sino-Soviet Split that actually occurred after the war. China's favorite food is variety, and as such has certain tastes for things and gets irritated if a food has a certain pattern of tastes. He is a big fan of Hello Kitty and tends to end his sentences with the suffix “-aru,” a Japanese stereotype of how Chinese people speak. However, he replaces the customary “-aru” with the suffix “-ahen,” which means opium, when speaking to England, as a reference to the Opium Wars. After China's defeat in the Opium War, he became the cook for England and France. During the fight between the Axis and Allies, China fights Germany and Japan with a Wok (round cooking pan) and ladle, which became his weapon of choice that also serves as a stereotype that China serves good food. China's boss was introduced as a green Chinese dragon with an intimidating appearance, but in reality, he is quite relaxed and modulate as well as shown to be bullied by China in a comedic way. China is often depicted with pandas.
Is it funny? Yes, at times. In fact, at times, it is hilarious. Things like the Holocaust, war crimes, racism, etc., weren't discussed; and so, in a parody world where those things don't happen, it seems ok to laugh.
I’ve read a lot of reviews recently that point out the sympathetic view of the Axis Powers, particularly Germany and Japan, some even going so far as to argue that Germany and Japan are the only countries that are noble – all others are greedy and arrogant. I disagree with this. APH does not glorify WWII Germany or Japan; they are just as greedy and misguided (and hapless) as the rest of the world, we as the viewer just pity them because they have to tolerate Italy.
So, all in all, it is Italy that gets the short end of the stick in this manga, but the Italy stereotyped in APH is much more positive than any depiction on television today. Despite this, Italy’s just plain adorable!
And it's all in good fun -- the stuff that goes on is based on real historical events, but filtered through a satirical anime/reality-show lens. The dialogue is gut-splittingly funny, peaking with Italy's song about Germany ("Even though I'm your prisoner, you give me food/and it doesn't suck like English food!"), and there's goofy slapstick and cultural references aplenty.
But there are also some more somber moments, such as America reminiscing about the War for Independence and his painful rift with England, or China thinking of how he found and raised Japan. I also enjoyed the scenes between Lichtenstein and her “big brother,” Switzerland. And while all the characters are national stereotypes, the writers succeed in making each one endearing and likable... well, except maybe Russia. He's just creepy.
General Reception
Both volumes of the printed manga version of APH have topped The New York Times manga best seller list. Volume 1 topped the list on October 10, 2010 and Volume 2 topped the list on January 16, 2011. Volume 1 has been in the top ten for twenty-one weeks and Volume 2 for fourteen weeks.
Readers reviews of the British magazine NEO gave positive to mixed reviews for the anime version.
One reviewer, Ellis Wylam, said that: "The animation is very colourful and cheery, and makes you astonished how they managed to create something so hilarious, fun, light-hearted and enjoyable out of a World War." However, Wylam also said that: "Unfortunately, some jokes (particularly in the first episodes) didn't make me laugh hysterically 'laugh out loud', as much as was expecting when I bought the DVD. However, the humor seemed to develop in later episodes, making you give out giggles that translate as "did he actually just say that?!
The second reviewer, Lara Garnermann, said that: " APH is an extremely intelligently written anime, suited to anyone with an interest in world history or international politics, and of course anyone who wants to laugh for 26 episodes straight." However, the third reviewer, Rohan 'Amuro' Hine, was more critical saying: "It is a very funny series, but a lot of jokes will go over your head, due to Japan having different stereotypes than us. For example, while we think the French are white flag waving cowards, in this, it's Italy who is the coward, and hides behind Germany for protection. And some jokes can go over your head if you don't have a PHD in history as well."
A review for the second season of APH, also in NEO by Matt Kamen gave the DVD of the season four stars, each for the program and the DVD extras. Kamen wrote that: "Despite its risqué jokes and abundance of national stereotypes, APH thankfully manages to stay on just the right side of casual comedy racism - maybe that's why we don't feel too bad laughing uproariously at the dub, particularly Japan's heavy "Engrish" accent! It's best not to ask too many questions of this show - instead, just sit back and enjoy while APH conquers your world.”
And the ending theme is so chipper and catchy you’ll be singing it all week! You're welcome!
Translation:
Hey, Hey, Papa! Give me wine!
Hey, Hey, Mama! Hey, Hey, Mama!
That bolognese we ate so long ago...I can't forget the taste of it!
Draw a cirle; there's the Earth!
Draw a cirle; there's the Earth!
Draw a cirle; there's the Earth! I am Hetalia (Italia)!
Ah, with just a stroke of paint, a wonderfurl world can be seen.
Let's make a toast with our boots! Hetalia!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
No. I cannot believe it.
So yesterday I was happily purchasing Naruto episodes off iTunes before a terrible realization struck me -- iTunes only sells English dubs.
Ack.
I must say I intensely dislike the English dub of Naruto. I dislike it for the very same reason I despise the English dub of Ouran High School Host Club. The English actors/voices completely change the feel of the character. Must...watch something super-Japanese. NOW.
Ack.
I must say I intensely dislike the English dub of Naruto. I dislike it for the very same reason I despise the English dub of Ouran High School Host Club. The English actors/voices completely change the feel of the character. Must...watch something super-Japanese. NOW.
Oh, thank God. I feel much better now. :) Absolutely shameless advertising; it's super effective!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
By the Pricking of my Thumbs...
…something wicked this way comes!
Villains. Antagonists. Bad guys. Effective storytelling would be difficult without them. There are villains we hate and villains we love to hate. But have you ever encountered a villain you hate to love? Have you ever felt your loyalties torn when watching the climatic confrontation between the "good guy" and the "bad guy?" Have you ever mourned a villain's demise?
As a bit of a creative writer myself, I've found my conceptions about villains and their role in storytelling completely turned upside-down by watching anime. Villains are never the all-out-evil masterminds in Western fiction. They are just as multi-faceted, sympathetic and emotionally deep as their protagonist counterparts.
We're used to back stories; their primary use is to explain why said villain is such a cold, heartless bastard. Perhaps some compassion or pity is generated as a result, but the initial loathing of the villain usually trumps whatever compassionate we feel. Naruto is a series in which I feel just as strongly connected to the villains as I do the heroes. And, I find myself changing views on characters, as they change slowly as the story continues and the characters mature.
"Good guys" and "bad guys" are never clearly defined in Naruto. My estimation is that 'enemies' in Naruto are those who stand in the way of Naruto achieving his goals. That doesn't mean that 'enemy' is necessarily evil or a villain--they simply have a different goal than Naruto. Conflict arises as a result of opposing goals.
The first true villain introduced in Naruto is Orochimaru. In many ways he is the closest thing to the all-out-evil mastermind. He's creepy as hell and completely inhuman. Throughout the series we're given flashbacks of when Orochimaru was young and innocent and his gradual descent into evil. He was completely consumed and corrupted by his desire to attain immorality. Even after his death (or deaths, as it seems he keeps popping up in different manifestations), Ororchimaru remains an integral figure of the Naruto universe. He and his teammates (Jiraiya and Tsunade) are legendary ninja, having earned the title of "Sannin" -- The Three Ninja. They are also the immediate predecessors of Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura.
Naruto = Jiraiya, the legendary sage
Sasuke = Orochimaru, who mastered and created his own taboo jutsu
Sakura = Tsunade, highly skilled in medical arts
Naruto's abilities surpass Jiraiya's. Sasuke's prowess and powers grow to eclipse Orochimaru's, eventually leading to the latter's destruction by Sasuke's hands. But, I digress.
With Orochimaru out of the way, the Akatsuki entered. I love the Akatsuki. I even love saying Akatsuki. The Akatsuki are 12 rogue ninja who have defected from their ninja villages to form their own organization. They work only for themselves and the goal of the organization. Their goal remains a mystery, but it's quite obvious they have some form of world domination on their checklist. My favorite member of the Akatsuki is Deidara.
Actually, Deidara is one of my absolute favorite characters in Naruto. He first shows up in Shippuden, and at the time, his mouth-hands completely grossed me out. The chewing and spitting out his weird clay-bomb-things. Ew. But really…who came up with a character who has mouths in the palms of each hand which mold special clay into long range missiles?! I found Deidara very entertaining to watch--his battles with Gaara, Naruto and Sasuke were beautifully choreographed, inventive and filled with many "Oh, shit!" moments (my personal favorite). He always seemed to come up short though -- he lost one arm to Gaara and another to Kakashi…poor guy!
Many characters in the Naruto universe have vocal quirks. Naruto ends probably 90% of his sentences with the verb ending "dattebayo" (or "--ttebayo); it's really a nonsense ending in Japanese created in part by Kishimoto himself. Konahamaru ends many of his sentences with "-kore" (a sort of laughing signal in Japanese). Deidara frequently punctuates his sentences with a very Japanese (to my western ear) nasal grunt "un," which is equivalent to ending English sentences with a ponderous and rhetorical "hm?" or "yeah?," as in "isn't that so?" It endears you to him without you even realizing it.
He views himself as an artist; his jutsu are materpieces. His favorite line is: "Art...is an explosion!" which is usually followed by one his his 'masterpieces' exploding. He also like to exclaim "KATSU!" (lit. 'bang!') whenever said bomb is detonated. He's such an intensely likeable villain, though I'm sure Naruto would disagree with me.
Other favorite characters, you ask? (Oh, I'm rambling...) Well, my favorite character is Naruto, OF COURSE! He's the #1 best ninja of all time.
I have lots of favorites, actually. All the characters are so different and likeable. There's Naruto, Deidara...and also mysterious Sai, friendly and fear-inducing Yamato-taichou and the fearless Temari. So many great characters!
Villains. Antagonists. Bad guys. Effective storytelling would be difficult without them. There are villains we hate and villains we love to hate. But have you ever encountered a villain you hate to love? Have you ever felt your loyalties torn when watching the climatic confrontation between the "good guy" and the "bad guy?" Have you ever mourned a villain's demise?
As a bit of a creative writer myself, I've found my conceptions about villains and their role in storytelling completely turned upside-down by watching anime. Villains are never the all-out-evil masterminds in Western fiction. They are just as multi-faceted, sympathetic and emotionally deep as their protagonist counterparts.
We're used to back stories; their primary use is to explain why said villain is such a cold, heartless bastard. Perhaps some compassion or pity is generated as a result, but the initial loathing of the villain usually trumps whatever compassionate we feel. Naruto is a series in which I feel just as strongly connected to the villains as I do the heroes. And, I find myself changing views on characters, as they change slowly as the story continues and the characters mature.
"Good guys" and "bad guys" are never clearly defined in Naruto. My estimation is that 'enemies' in Naruto are those who stand in the way of Naruto achieving his goals. That doesn't mean that 'enemy' is necessarily evil or a villain--they simply have a different goal than Naruto. Conflict arises as a result of opposing goals.
The first true villain introduced in Naruto is Orochimaru. In many ways he is the closest thing to the all-out-evil mastermind. He's creepy as hell and completely inhuman. Throughout the series we're given flashbacks of when Orochimaru was young and innocent and his gradual descent into evil. He was completely consumed and corrupted by his desire to attain immorality. Even after his death (or deaths, as it seems he keeps popping up in different manifestations), Ororchimaru remains an integral figure of the Naruto universe. He and his teammates (Jiraiya and Tsunade) are legendary ninja, having earned the title of "Sannin" -- The Three Ninja. They are also the immediate predecessors of Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura.
Naruto = Jiraiya, the legendary sageSasuke = Orochimaru, who mastered and created his own taboo jutsu
Sakura = Tsunade, highly skilled in medical arts
Naruto's abilities surpass Jiraiya's. Sasuke's prowess and powers grow to eclipse Orochimaru's, eventually leading to the latter's destruction by Sasuke's hands. But, I digress.
With Orochimaru out of the way, the Akatsuki entered. I love the Akatsuki. I even love saying Akatsuki. The Akatsuki are 12 rogue ninja who have defected from their ninja villages to form their own organization. They work only for themselves and the goal of the organization. Their goal remains a mystery, but it's quite obvious they have some form of world domination on their checklist. My favorite member of the Akatsuki is Deidara.
Actually, Deidara is one of my absolute favorite characters in Naruto. He first shows up in Shippuden, and at the time, his mouth-hands completely grossed me out. The chewing and spitting out his weird clay-bomb-things. Ew. But really…who came up with a character who has mouths in the palms of each hand which mold special clay into long range missiles?! I found Deidara very entertaining to watch--his battles with Gaara, Naruto and Sasuke were beautifully choreographed, inventive and filled with many "Oh, shit!" moments (my personal favorite). He always seemed to come up short though -- he lost one arm to Gaara and another to Kakashi…poor guy!Many characters in the Naruto universe have vocal quirks. Naruto ends probably 90% of his sentences with the verb ending "dattebayo" (or "--ttebayo); it's really a nonsense ending in Japanese created in part by Kishimoto himself. Konahamaru ends many of his sentences with "-kore" (a sort of laughing signal in Japanese). Deidara frequently punctuates his sentences with a very Japanese (to my western ear) nasal grunt "un," which is equivalent to ending English sentences with a ponderous and rhetorical "hm?" or "yeah?," as in "isn't that so?" It endears you to him without you even realizing it.
He views himself as an artist; his jutsu are materpieces. His favorite line is: "Art...is an explosion!" which is usually followed by one his his 'masterpieces' exploding. He also like to exclaim "KATSU!" (lit. 'bang!') whenever said bomb is detonated. He's such an intensely likeable villain, though I'm sure Naruto would disagree with me.
Other favorite characters, you ask? (Oh, I'm rambling...) Well, my favorite character is Naruto, OF COURSE! He's the #1 best ninja of all time.
I have lots of favorites, actually. All the characters are so different and likeable. There's Naruto, Deidara...and also mysterious Sai, friendly and fear-inducing Yamato-taichou and the fearless Temari. So many great characters!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
The #1 Hyper-Active Ninja and Other Observances.
So, as you all know, I’ve been deep in the Naruto universe lately and it’s been quite awhile since I’ve updated this blog. During my hiatus I finished the original Naruto series, and also began Naruto Shippuden (lit. “Hurricane Chronicles”), the second Naruto series which picks up the story three years or so after the original concludes.
I cannot believe how much I’ve come to adore this story and its characters. Really. I entered the world of manga and “japanimation” in 2006 through a series called Fruits Basket, a very popular shojo manga series by Natsuki Takaya. Fruits Basket still remains the “center” of my fandom; all series I watch and read are compared to Fruits Basket. There isn’t even a comparison between Fruits Basket and the somber Death Note series (for example), but as the first manga I ever read and first anime I ever watched, Fruits Basket still remains my point of reference in an ever expanding universe.
Even when Fruits Basket was the only manga I’d read, I was still aware of Naruto. Naruto was immensely popular and I remember thinking (while looking at the posters at my local Barnes & Noble), “What kind of ninja wears orange?” I even remember looking at a couple of volumes, but the bright colors and what I perceived as “campy” art was too jarring compared to the soft colors and flowing lines of Fruits Basket which had become so aesthetically pleasing to me.
This was my first lesson in what I call “viewer’s eye.” Basically, I learned I couldn’t look at Naruto with the same eye as I did Fruits Basket. The creators of each series are trying to convey emotion, character and plot through separate, different styles within the same medium. Fruits Basket and Naruto are classic representations of their respective genres: shojo manga (lit. “for girls”) and shonen manga (lit. “for boys”).
I avoided Naruto for a long time for lots of reasons. It looked too juvenile. It seemed stupid. Immature. Very boyish and so on. There’s just something in my personality that immediately dislikes super popular trends. In junior high, I hated N*Sync. In high school, I hated anything the “popular” people gushed about. In college, I hated Edward Cullen. I suppose my aversion to “joining the bandwagon” (whatever that means) is because I don’t want to be labeled as a groupie. Sure, it was fine to be obsessed with Fruits Basket – it was a respectable manga that hadn’t quite caught on in America. I was a “hipster” manga fan! If I were to join an established fandom, like Naruto, I would become lumped into a larger group known collectively as “Narutards.”
I read/watched shojo manga and anime from 2006 to 2009 – titles included Fruits Basket, Fushigi Yuugi, Ouran High School Host Club and many others. At that time, I started craving a little more…adventure. I grew up reading Treasure Island and The Hardy Boys. While I loved shojo romance, I craved something a little more…action orientated. My shift from shojo to shonen exposed me to some of the most popular anime series of recent years.
In 2009, I began InuYasha at the goading of my best friend—it is her favorite series. I absolutely fell in love with it.
In late 2009 and into 2010 I began watched FullMetal Alchemist. I watched the entire thing in a week. I was blown away by the story, the moral center the world of FMA revolves around and how all the characters orbit that core and respond to it and each other. I remember trying to stay awake in bed at 3:30 in the morning because I had only...two...episodes....left…!
In 2010, I continued with InuYasha: The Final Act and FullMetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Both took the original series they sprung from and made them that much more. Fantastic.
In late 2010 I started Bleach. Again, I was blown away by the voice work, plot, and character development. Wow. I lost interest around the time the Hueco Mundo arc started, but Bleach still remains one of the most amazingly visceral and expertly choreographed animations I’ve ever seen. I also watched Death Note, which is so complex, dark and mind-blowing in its conception I will devote several entries to its awesomeness later.
2011: The Year of Naruto. What can I say? I figured, why not? FMA and Bleach are super popular and I had enjoyed them immensely. There must be a reason Naruto is, too. Currently, I’ve watched every episode of Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden (minus a few horrendous filler episodes) and just started reading the Naruto (vols. 1-27) and Naruto: Shippuden (vols. 28 – ongoing) manga concurrently.
I have a few theories as to why Naruto is so popular. These are also some of the reasons why I love this series.
The series of Naruto—the very core of its design—is cliché. It’s very much like the plot of Harry Potter. It’s the story of an orphan who, on the surface, doesn’t seem particularly unique in any way; but, that child carries hidden talents, a bloodline and a destiny greater than anyone could ever believe. We follow his journey from novice to hero of the free world. We are with him through his triumphs and defeats. We’re with him as he discovers who he is. We’re with him as he makes friends and enemies. We’re there when he develops his first crush. We’re there when he can’t stop the death of his dearest friend. By the end, we are so emotionally invested we cannot help by cry and laugh and grieve and celebrate right alongside Harry…or in this case, Naruto. We respond to characters like Naruto and Harry. We love stories of the underdog. We feel validated and empowered when the little guy digs deep and finds the strength to overcome insurmountable odds and crush evil. The story of Harry and Naruto is not new; it’s been written over and over again since the beginning of time.
What makes Naruto special is its creator, Masashi Kishimoto, takes those clichés and twists them so that they are completely believable. The characters in Naruto are not caricatures of real people. Sure, they may have supernatural ninja powers, but personality wise they are very real. Aside from the fantasy element all the characters in Naruto are human. We all know Sasuke. We all know Naruto. We all know Tsunade. Their personalities are very true to life. As individuals, we also see bits of ourselves in these characters, as well.
Naruto hosts an extremely large supporting cast – just like the Harry Potter series does. Each supporting character is his or her own character. They all struggle with different, but relatable issues. Like Naruto, I struggle to be acknowledged and liked by others. Like Kakashi I can struggle in placing trust in others. I've even found myself relating to villains.
…and then there's the character of Naruto himself. He’s impossible not to fall in love with. Seriously. I was reading through Naruto manga reviews on Amazon and came across this:
“You know, when I think about ninjas, I imagine silent, disciplined warriors that use incredible stealth; black-suited warriors that blend in with the shadows and strike without warning and then leave without a trace. When I imagine a ninja, I do NOT imagine an annoying, loud-mouthed, chatterbox brat in a neon-orange jumpsuit who yells every line he says... ESPECIALLY in battle. Naruto may be the most UN-ninja-like character in history. In fact, he is the most UN-ninja-like IDEA in history. A piano tumbling down a hill is more ninja than Naruto. Cottage cheese is more ninja than Naruto. Traffic jams are more ninja than Naruto. Death metal music is more ninja than Naruto. You name it; it’s more ninja than Naruto.”*
That’s SO true. In fact, no one in the Naruto universe wears black or behaves like a typical ninja. Even Sai, whose personality is the most in line with traditional ninja, does not look anything like a traditional ninja.
The core of Naruto is the emotional depth and relationships of the characters. You wouldn’t think Naruto himself is an emotionally deep character, but I’m surprised at how many times I’ve caught myself taken aback by his simple insight. He’s actually grown into a wise young man. His wisdom is gained through experience, not through simple knowledge. So essentially, you can’t change who you were born as, but you can continue to change who you are. Naruto does that.
I would argue further that the over-arching theme of Naruto is redemption. When Naruto’s teammate Sasuke defects to join the “bad guys” to realize his quest for power and revenge, Naruto vows to bring him home at any cost. As Sasuke’s chosen path descends deeper and deeper into darkness and evil, Naruto’s resolve to rescue him only grows stronger. In his quest to save Sasuke, Naruto redeems many other characters – Konohamaru, Gaara, Neji, Tsunade…the list goes on and on. But the nice twist is that Naruto himself is redeemed through his friendships. He feels he was redeemed and saved from loneliness by Sasuke, which makes Naruto’s drive to save his traitorous friend that much more poignant.
With the stable emotional/relational core at its center, everything else in Naruto falls into place. The battles are more intense because there is emotional stability, future happiness and friendships at risk. Political machinations are that much more diabolical. Double crosses are that much more traitorous. Naruto’s resolve to rescue Sasuke is that much more hopeless, admirable and bittersweet.
So, that’s my shameless plug for Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden. If you have not read/watched Naruto, I recommend doing so. If you gave up on Naruto, give him another chance. I’m sure he’ll manage to worm him way into your cold, callous heart! Oh dear…have I become a Narutard?
BELIEVE IT!
*quote taken from Amazon review by Fucc The Mainstream
I cannot believe how much I’ve come to adore this story and its characters. Really. I entered the world of manga and “japanimation” in 2006 through a series called Fruits Basket, a very popular shojo manga series by Natsuki Takaya. Fruits Basket still remains the “center” of my fandom; all series I watch and read are compared to Fruits Basket. There isn’t even a comparison between Fruits Basket and the somber Death Note series (for example), but as the first manga I ever read and first anime I ever watched, Fruits Basket still remains my point of reference in an ever expanding universe.
Even when Fruits Basket was the only manga I’d read, I was still aware of Naruto. Naruto was immensely popular and I remember thinking (while looking at the posters at my local Barnes & Noble), “What kind of ninja wears orange?” I even remember looking at a couple of volumes, but the bright colors and what I perceived as “campy” art was too jarring compared to the soft colors and flowing lines of Fruits Basket which had become so aesthetically pleasing to me.
This was my first lesson in what I call “viewer’s eye.” Basically, I learned I couldn’t look at Naruto with the same eye as I did Fruits Basket. The creators of each series are trying to convey emotion, character and plot through separate, different styles within the same medium. Fruits Basket and Naruto are classic representations of their respective genres: shojo manga (lit. “for girls”) and shonen manga (lit. “for boys”).
I avoided Naruto for a long time for lots of reasons. It looked too juvenile. It seemed stupid. Immature. Very boyish and so on. There’s just something in my personality that immediately dislikes super popular trends. In junior high, I hated N*Sync. In high school, I hated anything the “popular” people gushed about. In college, I hated Edward Cullen. I suppose my aversion to “joining the bandwagon” (whatever that means) is because I don’t want to be labeled as a groupie. Sure, it was fine to be obsessed with Fruits Basket – it was a respectable manga that hadn’t quite caught on in America. I was a “hipster” manga fan! If I were to join an established fandom, like Naruto, I would become lumped into a larger group known collectively as “Narutards.”
I read/watched shojo manga and anime from 2006 to 2009 – titles included Fruits Basket, Fushigi Yuugi, Ouran High School Host Club and many others. At that time, I started craving a little more…adventure. I grew up reading Treasure Island and The Hardy Boys. While I loved shojo romance, I craved something a little more…action orientated. My shift from shojo to shonen exposed me to some of the most popular anime series of recent years.
In 2009, I began InuYasha at the goading of my best friend—it is her favorite series. I absolutely fell in love with it.
In late 2009 and into 2010 I began watched FullMetal Alchemist. I watched the entire thing in a week. I was blown away by the story, the moral center the world of FMA revolves around and how all the characters orbit that core and respond to it and each other. I remember trying to stay awake in bed at 3:30 in the morning because I had only...two...episodes....left…!
In 2010, I continued with InuYasha: The Final Act and FullMetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Both took the original series they sprung from and made them that much more. Fantastic.
In late 2010 I started Bleach. Again, I was blown away by the voice work, plot, and character development. Wow. I lost interest around the time the Hueco Mundo arc started, but Bleach still remains one of the most amazingly visceral and expertly choreographed animations I’ve ever seen. I also watched Death Note, which is so complex, dark and mind-blowing in its conception I will devote several entries to its awesomeness later.
2011: The Year of Naruto. What can I say? I figured, why not? FMA and Bleach are super popular and I had enjoyed them immensely. There must be a reason Naruto is, too. Currently, I’ve watched every episode of Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden (minus a few horrendous filler episodes) and just started reading the Naruto (vols. 1-27) and Naruto: Shippuden (vols. 28 – ongoing) manga concurrently.
I have a few theories as to why Naruto is so popular. These are also some of the reasons why I love this series.
The series of Naruto—the very core of its design—is cliché. It’s very much like the plot of Harry Potter. It’s the story of an orphan who, on the surface, doesn’t seem particularly unique in any way; but, that child carries hidden talents, a bloodline and a destiny greater than anyone could ever believe. We follow his journey from novice to hero of the free world. We are with him through his triumphs and defeats. We’re with him as he discovers who he is. We’re with him as he makes friends and enemies. We’re there when he develops his first crush. We’re there when he can’t stop the death of his dearest friend. By the end, we are so emotionally invested we cannot help by cry and laugh and grieve and celebrate right alongside Harry…or in this case, Naruto. We respond to characters like Naruto and Harry. We love stories of the underdog. We feel validated and empowered when the little guy digs deep and finds the strength to overcome insurmountable odds and crush evil. The story of Harry and Naruto is not new; it’s been written over and over again since the beginning of time.
What makes Naruto special is its creator, Masashi Kishimoto, takes those clichés and twists them so that they are completely believable. The characters in Naruto are not caricatures of real people. Sure, they may have supernatural ninja powers, but personality wise they are very real. Aside from the fantasy element all the characters in Naruto are human. We all know Sasuke. We all know Naruto. We all know Tsunade. Their personalities are very true to life. As individuals, we also see bits of ourselves in these characters, as well.
Naruto hosts an extremely large supporting cast – just like the Harry Potter series does. Each supporting character is his or her own character. They all struggle with different, but relatable issues. Like Naruto, I struggle to be acknowledged and liked by others. Like Kakashi I can struggle in placing trust in others. I've even found myself relating to villains.
…and then there's the character of Naruto himself. He’s impossible not to fall in love with. Seriously. I was reading through Naruto manga reviews on Amazon and came across this:
“You know, when I think about ninjas, I imagine silent, disciplined warriors that use incredible stealth; black-suited warriors that blend in with the shadows and strike without warning and then leave without a trace. When I imagine a ninja, I do NOT imagine an annoying, loud-mouthed, chatterbox brat in a neon-orange jumpsuit who yells every line he says... ESPECIALLY in battle. Naruto may be the most UN-ninja-like character in history. In fact, he is the most UN-ninja-like IDEA in history. A piano tumbling down a hill is more ninja than Naruto. Cottage cheese is more ninja than Naruto. Traffic jams are more ninja than Naruto. Death metal music is more ninja than Naruto. You name it; it’s more ninja than Naruto.”*
That’s SO true. In fact, no one in the Naruto universe wears black or behaves like a typical ninja. Even Sai, whose personality is the most in line with traditional ninja, does not look anything like a traditional ninja.
The core of Naruto is the emotional depth and relationships of the characters. You wouldn’t think Naruto himself is an emotionally deep character, but I’m surprised at how many times I’ve caught myself taken aback by his simple insight. He’s actually grown into a wise young man. His wisdom is gained through experience, not through simple knowledge. So essentially, you can’t change who you were born as, but you can continue to change who you are. Naruto does that.
I would argue further that the over-arching theme of Naruto is redemption. When Naruto’s teammate Sasuke defects to join the “bad guys” to realize his quest for power and revenge, Naruto vows to bring him home at any cost. As Sasuke’s chosen path descends deeper and deeper into darkness and evil, Naruto’s resolve to rescue him only grows stronger. In his quest to save Sasuke, Naruto redeems many other characters – Konohamaru, Gaara, Neji, Tsunade…the list goes on and on. But the nice twist is that Naruto himself is redeemed through his friendships. He feels he was redeemed and saved from loneliness by Sasuke, which makes Naruto’s drive to save his traitorous friend that much more poignant.
With the stable emotional/relational core at its center, everything else in Naruto falls into place. The battles are more intense because there is emotional stability, future happiness and friendships at risk. Political machinations are that much more diabolical. Double crosses are that much more traitorous. Naruto’s resolve to rescue Sasuke is that much more hopeless, admirable and bittersweet.
So, that’s my shameless plug for Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden. If you have not read/watched Naruto, I recommend doing so. If you gave up on Naruto, give him another chance. I’m sure he’ll manage to worm him way into your cold, callous heart! Oh dear…have I become a Narutard?
BELIEVE IT!
*quote taken from Amazon review by Fucc The Mainstream
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