Fun Stuff: 100th Post Extravaganza

Soooo, it's my 100th post on this blog of mine, and I wanted to celebrate in a very special way! Since 100 is the magic number, I've compiled 10 top ten lists of Asian pop culture things I love- anime, manga, music, bishounens, etc- as a way to sum up all the things I've been talking about on my blog. So, without further ado, here's your chance to learn a little about the world of Quickand2thePointless!

xxxHolic, Natsume Yuujinchou, FMA: Brotherhood, Code Geass, Hetalia, X, Tiger & Bunny, Sekaiichi Hatsukoi, Durarara!, and Nodame Cantabile.

When it comes to anime, I love supernatural/fantasy elements, male leads (not that I don't love the ladies, but Japan is a bit heavy on the fan-service, dependent types, and I like a gal who can define herself- like xxxHolic's Yuuko), and plots that lead to unique perspectives on human emotions and behavior.

Fai (Tsubasa), Yuuko (xxxHolic/Tsubasa), Subaru (Tokyo Babylon/X), Natsume (Natsume Yuujinchou), Kotetsu (Tiger & Bunny), Scar (FMA: Brotherhood), Lelouch (Code Geass), Holo (Spice & Wolf), Hakkai (Saiyuki), America (Hetalia)

The characters I love the most are strong-willed, independent, and though they are burdened by their pasts and regrets, they actively seek paths of redemption or develop to the point where they can come to terms with who they are and the world they live in.

Just a sample of what's been on my playlist lately!

With music, I tend to gravitate towards two sounds-- either the type of pop music that reminds me of my boy band obsessed childhood during the days of NSYNC and Backstreet Boys, or inspired singer-songwriter type tracks which break through the language barrier and still manage to tell a beautiful story.

Tales of Symphonia, Golden Sun, Fire Emblem, Sakura Wars, Arc Rise Fantasia, Pokemon, Dragon Age, Monkey Island, Soul Calibur, and Street Fighter

I'm a bit limited when it comes to games, since the only consoles I have access to are the Gameboy Advance, Wii (and thus GameCube), and my trusty PC. Nonetheless, I'm a huge fan of JRPGs, strategy/tactics based adventures, and anything with fantasy elements and beautiful artwork. 

Fantasy, Supernatural, Bishounen, Comedy, Shounen-ai, Shoujo-ai, Historical, Action, Music, and Samurai

Besides my obvious love for beautiful men, I also enjoy plotlines that teach me about Japanese history and folklore, as well as stories that make me laugh or tug at my heartstrings. Romances are always appreciated (hence the shounen and shoujo-ai), but shoujo didn't make the list this time since, as stated earlier, I'm not a huge fan on Japanese leading ladies (exceptions do exist, such as Toradora and Ouran High School Host Club). As a huge fan of Asian music, music themed shows are always, always on my list!

Tsubasa, Fruits Basket, Fullmetal Alchemist, xxxHolic, Rurouni Kenshin, Chobits, FAKE, Saiyuki, Tokyo Babylon, Cardcaptor Sakura

If we're being completely honest... I love CLAMP. Fruits Basket is also the first manga series I ever completed, and it immediately hooked me by pairing shoujo with the supernatural elements I love so much in the other series I read. 

Sebastian (Black Butler), Doumeki (xxxHolic), Keith (Tiger & Bunny), Greece (Hetalia), Sanzo (Saiyuki), Kyoya (Ouran High School Host Club), Kaname (Vampire Knight), Kratos (Tales of Symphonia), Lantis (Magic Knight Rayearth), Haruka (Tactics)

Looks like I'm shallow! But when it comes to personality, I like a little bit of stoicism that hides a truly sweet personality, a little bit of gruffness,  but someone who turns out being a little bit of a doof when you get to know them better.

Nico Touches the Walls, Shikao Suga, SHINee, YUI, Big Bang, Asian Kung-Fu Generation, Yuya Matsushita, Epik High, Maaya Sakamoto, Miss A.

I love all kinds of music, and these artists span all my favorite genres: alternative rock, dance pop, singer-songwriter, hip pop, throwback rap, and straight up vocal talent.

All of these have been featured as a Theme Spotlight for a reason: I love them each!

Anime themes really need to suit the atmosphere of the show, and quite a few of these were picked because of how well they achieved that purpose- I especially get into the theme if it is paired with a brilliant opening/closing video, or if the lyrics meaningfully tie back into the message of the show. I also like a bit of fun in my music, which is probably why "Kimi ni Mune Kyun" continues to be one of my favorites.

Kurogane/Fai (Tsubasa), Winry/Ed (FMA), Doumeki/Watanuki (xxxHolic), Chiaki/Nodame (Nodame Cantabile), Seishirou/Subaru (Tokyo Babylon/X), Chi/Hideki (Chobits), Kamui/Fuuma (X), Ryuuji/Taiga (Toradora), Kendappa/ Souma (RG Veda), Okabe/Kurisu (Steins;gate)

Clearly, I love how CLAMP does their slash pairings, but when it comes to het, I LOVE vitriolic couples that leave you wondering whether they'll get together in the end (although I suppose Chi and Hideki don't exactly fall into this). I love it when both the male and female characters have difficult personalities, but still find a way to make it work. As for my CLAMP... I love it when couples suffer and sacrifice for each other, always fighting for the futures that make them happy, even when it doesn't turn out the way they want it to.

Fun Stuff: Words of the Wise III

Time for part III of Words of the Wise. For part one and two, click the links!


1. "Shu suffered, and doubted, and made mistakes, and was ashamed of his heart's own ugliness. But the reason I love him is that Shu's human. He's heartbreakingly human."- Inori from Guilty Crown

Why it rules: Guilty Crown as an anime has its share of critics, and rightfully so. It borrows heavily from the similarly themed Code Geass, but fails to inspire the fascinating character study made possible with Geass's Lelouch vi Britannia in the series' comparable hero Shu. That being said, I was intrigued that many reviews cited Shu's internal weakness as the reason he was unlikable, with one reviewer going so far as to say that many people don't have that kind of weakness and doubt inside themselves, but are rather confident and self-satisfied. As a fellow human being, I would like to call into question that reviewer's assessment of the human condition. Even when we are at our happiest and most confident, rarely a moment goes by when we aren't troubled in some form or another by our natures, moments of doubt, and regrets for mistakes made in the past. These weaknesses are what makes us who we are, and though we are able to recognize them as such and value them, that doesn't mean they aren't capable of turning us dark from time to time. There's nothing wrong with being "heartbreakingly human" as such, so don't fall in to the same trap as the Guilty Crown reviewer who has chosen to ignore the complex and multi-faceted dynamics of his own human heart.

Shu may have his share of character flaws, but honestly, don't we all?

     

2. "There's nothing I can do if I just envy another person's world. I have to change my own world with my own two hands." - Shinichi Chiaki from Nodame Cantabile
Why it rules: Nodame Cantabile's Chiaki is constantly billed as arrogant at the start of the show, which is certainly true considering that his high opinion of his talents keep him from humbling himself and slaving over making it big. At one point, he even considers giving up music, first because he's assigned one of the lower quality professors at his prestigious music schools, and then because his fear of flying will keep him from traveling from Japan and pursuing a career in Europe. Working with the haphazard and secretly brilliant Nodame quickly changes his world view, as does meeting a real life musical conductor Stresemann, which at last encourages him to confront his own arrogance. Yes, he's talented, but no, he can't have what he wants if he simply eyes greedily what successful people have. To take it for himself, he's going to start at the bottom, work his way up, and change his world little by little. And that's how you become great, people. Riding someone's coattails will take you so far, but working for what you want and creating change for yourself and others is what brings results.

   

Chiaki is alluring as a character due to his ability to work through setbacks and his own temperamental personality to reach for the heart of music 

 3. "Miracles don't exist in this world. There is only inevitability, coincidence, and what you're going to do." - Yuu Himura from ef: A Tale of Melodies
The odd thing about me including this quote is that Yuu's anti-miracle stance is effectively disproved by the presence of Yuuko in his life, especially after tragedy strikes and his life is changed forever as shown in the second season of ef. I also believe in miracles, in the sense that there are things in this world that defy explanation. However, what I love about this quote from Yuu is the last item on his list: what you're going to do. So much agony in life stems from thoughts along the lines of knowing how to proceed or cope or move on after a particular event or impending change. This is often followed by the desire to make time stop, or to somehow make things stagnant so the feared moment of choice or action never comes. It's so difficult for us to admit that there is no such thing as a frozen moment, and time comes and goes regardless of our desires and fears. In life, both bad things and good things happen, and while you can't control all of it, the one thing you can control is your own course of action. Or, as Yuu puts it, what are you going to do? 

He doesn't always choose wisely or rightly, but Yuu does his best to atone for the mistakes of his past with Yuuko

  

4. "If someone tells me having hope is a mistake, I will reject that statement every time." -Madoka Kaname from Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Why it rules: Madoka Magica did anime viewers a favor by reminding them that while the magical girl genre looks moe moe moe, its original intent is rooted in giving female characters agency and power in a world where they are born into very little. The magical girls of the series are thrust into a dangerous world where their own safety and well-being are at risk, and learn at a price how to value and protect that which is most important to them, even when the odds and chances of survival are against them. Homura in particular is time and time again thrust into a seemingly hopeless situation that seems inescapable, but the words of Madoka still ring true. Having hope is never a mistake. Is the thing you want impossible? Some things in this world are, but hoping for change is not always about the results, but the journey you take inside when you desperately wish for something good in the future. As Chiaki says in quote two, if your world isn't as you want to be, it's up to you to change your world with your own two hands. And when it comes to doing that, hope is what more often than not spurs on action.

Homura's hopes for Madoka and vice versa have far reaching consequences for the world around them

 5. "Being kind to everyone simply means there's no one special." - Hitagi Senjougahara from Bakemonogatari
Why it rules: If I have any complaint about harem series or anything with harem elements, it's this. If you have a hero or heroine willing to extend his or herself equally for everyone around them, how is that supposed to make a single person feel special? In Bakemonogatari, Senjougahara is just one of the few women Araragi goes above and beyond to help, and though she's the one he's in love with, she questions his intentions in showing equal kindness to classmate Tsubasa, who harbors feelings of love which Araragi does not return. A similar sentiment is echoed in A Certain Magical Index, when several of the people around main character Touma become "just another girl he's saved," with many of the female leads including Index and Misaka never knowing where they stand with him because he's kind to every single damsel in distress that has ever existed. There's nothing wrong with being nice to people, but if you never differentiate your kindness, the people who love and care about you are going to wonder if they matter as much to you as you do to them.

Things work out for these two, but Araragi takes moments like these to show her exactly why she's special

Theme Spotlight: Allegro Cantabile

As much as I like my sweeping anime theme numbers, sometimes a chill, relaxing track works just as nicely. Music themed Nodame Cantabile was a blast to watch thanks to the amazing classical pieces played by main characters Chiaki and Nodame, but I was also a huge fan of the theme tracks, particularly season one's "Allegro Cantabile," a laid back tune that will make you go "Gyabooo!" and "Mukyaaaa!" right along with Nodame-chan! Suemitsu & the Suemith, the solo project of Suemitsu Atsushi, has a fantastic flair for piano rock, and the vocal muffling used at the beginning keeps the atmosphere light and delicate like classical music itself-- we'll leave the insane antics to Nodame for the rest of the series!

GYABOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!