MILKCANANIME

Browsing "Older Posts"

My Top 5 Bias Boy Love Couple

Wednesday, February 28, 2018 / 1 Comment

Everyday, Japan distributes to limitless divulgence for fujoshi/fudanshi - a title for female and male respectively who are amorous fans of the genre: yaoi or shounen ai. We stay connected to available sources that dish out inside story for sequels or fresh releases. Today is the day, I am indulging on my favourite gay pairings, yet, it is too ridiculous to quote in title "Top 5" due to our long list of "cannon ships". After one's own sweet time of brainstorming, I gather up names scrawled childishly on a notebook. Invisible tears track down my cheeks, from cancelling several names; a crime violated by me, for not yielding to congest the page with every available names tattooed in my cobweb brain. Ensue a heartfelt plea to couples not mentioned in the list and we came to better understanding.

We are a weird group of fandom, but wonderful nonetheless and I'm very proud to be in one. As for myself, a good plot deserves my respect to the creators as well as characters seen in both manga and anime. I'm a versatile reader; my books can range from sweet high school boy x boy romance to dark mature contents.

Society has set up a harsh stigma upon same sex pairings, therefore the budding romance between the characters makes it even more taboo and heart-pounding. We coo over each couples significant moments or use our hands as a stand in for a fan; countenance in beet red as "hot" scenes unfold between pages. Also, we come across certain pairs that create an everlasting impressions in our basic life. Thus, our rooms or office desk are neatly decorated with our bias couples figurines or posters. We use the term OTP (One True Pairing).

1) Couple: Yuri Katsuri x Viktor Nikiforov

Anime: Yuri On Ice

I want to give the directors and creators a standing ovation for bestowing us, Yuri On Ice, a sports anime intertwined with discernible pairings for each roles. The social media became frenzy with constant postings about Yuri x Viktor; the main cast of the famous anime. Their arts so well drawn and very, very appreciative during up-close and personal moments amongst the characters. I am also, a huge fan of "Vikturi" (combination of their names) even my ringtone is set to belt out "History Maker" the opening theme. What I truly cherish being part of Yuri On Ice fandom, we would literally sing verses from the lyrics and soon, many of us blend in the fun to complete one another. The wholesome duo effortlessly changes the rhythm of my heartbeat and allow tears to accumulate before rolling down my puffy cheeks. The noticeable glances adorable Viktor bestow on Yuri is swoon-worthy, as they openly declare their love for one another. There are speculations for Yuri On Ice the movie as well as a season 2, which I am hyped and prepared to look forward to. Because we are born to ship Vikturi. Too cheesy?

2) Couple: Aoba Seragaki x Noiz

Anime: Dramatical Murder

Dramatical Murder is based off from a BL (Boy Love) visual novel game under Nitro+chiral, a science fiction interlinked with romance; there are multiple partners for our blue headed protagonist to choose from as the story progresses that might lead to either a good or bad ending. As for the anime, a group of handsome men are shown who are Aoba's suitor exceptional of devious kinkiness transpiring in between the players. But let us zoom in on the chaste kiss that got me into the shipping bandwagon of Aoba and Noiz. The two of them are the most compatible in my point of view, as much as I adore Clear and Koujaku yet, Noiz takes the rein being the best suitor for him. Shamelessly, I flaunt my devotion for the couple. Tucked into my wardrobe, my Noiz snow cap with it's smiley badge that represents his gang sign. The fandoms especially, talented indie artists use their God given skills to publish crack humour for each pairings and one of my past-time; cackle whilst staring into my screen.

3) Couple: Rihito Sajou x Hikaru Kusakabe

Movie: Doukyuusei

Both the manga and movie gave me a series of skin erection (a byplay of the word goose flesh) alongside never-ending gasp from my slacked mouth in so resembling a troll's expression. The author had done a fabulous work as a first time BL writer, the pace was slow and laidback just as a perfect fit with the unique quality in art. Hikaru and Rihito as a couple makes me insane to a point that I'm low-key obsessed.

Make sure to read Sotsugyousei, the storyline extends from Doukyuusei, the optimism in me to encounter cute badges, stickers or posters of the couple, maybe a doujin book published from talented writers. A supposition months ago, for Doukyuusei new series "Blanc" that of which was set to release on 28th February 2018 *glances at my clock gingerly* well, I for one do not appreciate disappointment in my bleak existence and earnestly sent a prayer for it to be actual fact.

4) Couple: Masamune Takano x Onodera Ritsu

Anime: Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi

I'm completely sold out after the first episode, both Takano and Ritsu equate to fire and ice from their personalities. The two of them had memoirs of hidden history since high school days, fast forward the duo as workaholic adults under the same publishing company they are thrust (pun intended) together. A good dose of jealousy for someone me, who have a weird likeness for dramatic outbursts; a little spiciness won't hurt anyone and it makes the plot even better. There several stories from other characters too, which are toe-curling in a good way. Their personalities are match made in BL heaven.

5) Couple: Shima x Isaki

Movie: This Boy Who Caught A Merman

The art drawn beautifully and aesthetically, the characters are truly loveable; I'm so happy to be able to watch Shima and Isaki bond together. Their budding relationship tugged at my heart-strings even to a point of weeping in the darkness due to the strange outcome as to how a mermaid and a human could possibly live a life as a couple yet, the ending gave me a reason to smile. If only the movie was turned into several episodes only because, I need a hearty fill of this pairing. My childhood fantasies of a mermaid thanks to certain red headed princess - it was once again revived. Puzzlement caught onto me, I haven't noted much about it so I safely assumed it's underrated. You have to put This Boy Who Caught A Merman in your bucket list of must watch. I guarantee you won't be dissatisfied.

Now that I have shared my mutual love for the couples above, who are your favourite BL pairings?

Written by, Rugi chan

A Letter To The Mamizuka Twins...Kazuma in particular

Tuesday, February 27, 2018 / No Comments

Dear Kazuma,

I am surprised that you don't collapse of dehydration from so much crying every single day. Then again, your famous father probably has no problem with that as well, because you do take on his traits! Even when you are genuinely happy, tears will still roll in your eyes. Seriously, it is just about anything. I am surprised, really surprised. Don't worry, you can cry all you want. It would be difficult to tell you apart from Takuma if there isn't anything distinct.

Ta-da! Now, something like this just makes life (?) so much easier! Takuma and Kazuma! Kazuma and Takuma! Wait, this is rather tongue-twisting...Kazu...Taku...never mind, I shall try to remember who is what! I wonder if you had popped out from your mother's womb the way you are now. No, that should be perfectly normal. I mean, if a baby doesn't cry from being born, something is terribly wrong! Just don't mind me!

Wait, is there something that you need? Where is your brother anyway? Can you talk? Hey, don't just roll your tears like that! Did you hurt yourself or something? Your cheeks are so red! Shall I go get your mother for you? Where is your brother? Can you stay here by yourself while I go find somebody to pacify you? No no no, don't roll your tears even faster! I can't deal with this! Help???

Maybe I should take back what I have said earlier. You probably shouldn't cry so much, because it just drains too much energy. Not necessarily your energy, my dear Kazuma. Anyway, don't tire yourself. You are still a toddler, and a toddler's world shouldn't be that complicated! Your brother is managing fine, isn't he? Just focus on getting better, and in no time you will be back with him and the rest of the gang in the daycare room! Everything will be just fine! :)

Eccentrically Yours.

Written by J.Fluffysheep ♪

Figure Unboxing and Review: Ononoki Yotsugi (Good Smile Company)

Saturday, February 24, 2018 / No Comments

Another figure from Monogatari Series makes it to the production phase and it's Ononoki Yotsugi. And although I do like Yotsugi and the whole Monogatari Series, I think this might be the last figure I get from the series, save for Hanekawa, Senjougahara and Tsukihi... because I can't keep up with all the Shinobu they are releasing out of nowhere!

But that is a story for another time, for now, let's start on the review for Yotsugi!

Packaging

The colours on Yotsugi's box is very vibrant and brings out the style of colouring in the series. In addition, different views of Yotsugi is on both the front and back of the box. This figure is that of her on the blu-ray disc jacket, where she is in a crane game machine.

This is Yotsugi in the blister. She doesn't come with much except herself, her hat, her base+throne, and a red pillow.

Do note that she comes with an instruction sheet in both Japanese and English if you require help in assembling her!

Base

Just like in crane games, we have a whole array of stuffed toys to be won, and we even see the chute (which the snake is resting on).

There are different elements that symbolizes different characters, such as the crab for Hitagi and the bee for Karen. This is overall, a very good touch, in my opinion!

There are also dips in the ring of stuffed toys were Yotsugi's feet are supposed to rest on, but there are absolutely no pegs to hold her in place. The 4 pegs you see are solely for sliding the throne into place.

Do note however that the bottom of the base is just a simple white circle and if you really do dislike that plainness, putting her on a high shelf would not be ideal.

Throne
The second and other important part to this would be the throne itself which Yotsugi sits on. There is a slight gap behind her, which you can slide the pillow into, but she can stay in position even without it. However, she doesn't have any pegs connecting her to any part of the base so be sure to exercise caution when moving her about.

The front of the throne shows this motif of moon and stars, perhaps linking to Yotsugi's "dark" nature as a familiar. There is also a slight gradient of yellow near the moon, to the red of the throne.

The sides and top of the throne also feature some sort of "crumbling" of the stone. This crumbling effect is done very artistically and actually rather accurate. Some darker grey have also been added to create the dirty unused look as well as tfor shading.

And similar to the base, the back of the throne is simply a rather smooth white/grey slab, which you'll probably never want to display it facing you.

The Figure
Do note that this Yotsugi is the deluxe version and if you got the standard version, it comes without the stuffed toys and the base would be this blue dome instead. All in all, I do feel that the she looks a little weird in the standard version and if you'll like to get this figure of her, this deluxe version is a much better choice.

Let's take all the points I've mentioned before into account and do a 360 of her.

Now let's look at Yotsugi in greater detail.

Her frilly outfit is on point with its poofy sleeves and creases, and you see the vibrant colours on her three-layer dress and it even ends off with a dip of the fabric between her legs so you get zero lewdness from this figure.

There's little shading on the reds and oranges of her outfit but a whole lot on the white ruffles on her chest, which makes it stand out a lot. Personally, I felt that this could have been more well-balanced.

Her stockings are also accurate but they appear to just be painted onto her legs. A little more effort could have went into making it look like a layer on her legs instead.

On the other hand, her rain boots are really well done. They are adequately creased and shaded and there's a shine to them as well.

Yotsugi's hat is magnetic and it stays right on her head. The strange "eyes" on them is exactly the same as depicted in the anime and as this is one of her trademark features, it's definitely a plus for me.

In addition, she is holding an origami crane which is folded (sculpted) to perfection! All the edges are crisp and it is completely white, which adds a contrast to the excessive red tones in the figure.

Behind Yotsugi you will also see a pillow. This pillow should be directly behind her, but as I mentioned before, she holds her pose even without the pillow and I am someone who likes to display as much of a figure as I can so I've taken the liberty to display the pillow beside her instead.

Another minor point is that her dress has been completely flat under her so she can be kept in place. There are some creases sculpted as well, to give the impression that she is actually really sitting on her dress. Considering the state of the bottom of the base and back of her chair I was actually pleasantly surprised they took the effort to do this!

Enjoyment 7/10

~ Reina-rin

The Simple Guide to Informative Youtube Channels

/ No Comments

There you are, fidgeting anxiously and tick off the dates to make a journey in a country that of which has your passion for their rich historical culture and subculture; Japan. Delicious varieties of food serving in little bars tucked into corners or fancy restaurants, colourful parade of kimono and modern outerwear, memorable festivals if you are lucky enough to be part of. Yet, you are dubious about your decorum in a foreign land, in favour so as not to insult the locals due to any etiquette misconstruction. At the same time, you inwardly revere to make an impression on that person traversing along. With that plant in your mind, you dawdle off to the local bookstores and collect travelling guide paperbacks, to which is a good idea, yet, within the print pages there isn't any instructions about social graces. Put your misery aside, because Youtube is another great site for garnering knowledge aside from wikipedia; it is a source of unlimited access to assorted channels teeming in the engine.

1) The Japanese Man Name Yuta has more than 500k subscribers and the number rises everyday, by the positive reviews we can deem it a safe channel for guidance; Yuta scouts the streets to interview unsuspecting folks. He is one amongst many youtubers to dole out his advocacy on the infamous case about Logan Paul's crazy antics during his visit to Japan. The host gets down to brass tack when dishing out explanations about the normalcy and politics in which expands your observation, so people like us who are earnest for wisdom as well as, any latest trending happening in Japan. You not only get in touch with the topics surrounding the country but Yuta, also give lessons on their mother tongue to anyone who is willing to grasp on the subject. The down to earth youtuber can be found in several social platforms that are linked in his Youtube channel.

2) Ask Japanese is a amusing channel interlinked with Kawaii Pateen! Let's Play Japan, DokiDoki Drawing, Only In Japan. Ask Japanese has approximate of 100k subscribers. The demographic aiming at every age and anyone who admire Japan's fashion subcultures, topics that of which include anime/manga, foreigners residing in Japan, a guide to tourism and cultures. Cathy Cat is the pretty reporter famous for her princess style cute outfits display in her Instagram and you are able to pinpoint her account under the link below each videos, she speaks fluently in their native language. You see her amidst the bustling streets questioning foreigners about their experiences in Japan and as well as local residents. It may sound similar to The Japanese Man Yuta but overall this channel spotlights on entertainment and be sure to check out the rest of the channels from Ask Japanese

3) Last but not the least, we have Find Your Love In Japan; I am sure just by the channel's name entices your inner curiosity. Most of us create a wreath of nonsensical wistful fantasies in search of a partner in the hearts of Japan. Once again, Nobita join forces to set Logan Paul's disruptive character and is vocal on the context in the broadcast videos that he uploads. He reports from busy streets and queries on topics that of which includes the input of the local residents. Relatively a "new" channel basing off from it's date of debut, three-years-old yet, push around 100k subscribers in a short list. Nobi Lesson is another channel for fledging learners. The site home in on sensitive issues as cultural appropriation; it is educational due to it's deeper subjects and gain credit from their perspectives. You can find him various social platforms seen on his Youtube channel.

When it comes to Youtube or any other social media, we have our personal opinions due to the exposure receive from the legions of veterans and upcoming fresh faces. Contents that are either appropriate or inappropriate since we have the younger audiences who easily have access to the cyber world. But I do hope that this aids your cause; if you are already a subscriber in either channels just like myself, even better! do you know more of similar contents? or have any preferable ones, don't be shy to type in the comment section below. We learn something everyday and that is one of the best experiences anyone could achieve.

Written by, Rugi chan

Figure Unboxing and Review: Edward Elric Exclusive version (Kotobukiya)

Friday, February 23, 2018 / No Comments

Most of us would be very happy with the influx of figures from old classics, in this case, Edward Elric from Fullmetal Alchemist. While Good Smile Company has delivered Nendoroids of the Elric brothers, Roy Mustang and soon, Riza Hawkeye; Kotobukiya started the ball rolling with this scale figure of Edward Elric!

This figure comes in two different versions: a standard version and an exclusive version, where the standard version can be pre-ordered from most distributors, the exclusive version can be bought from Kotobukiya online shop only. This means that a proxy would have been required for overseas buyers.

In retrospect, the standard version comes without any interchangeable parts and the base is a slab of concrete (the top part) while the exclusive comes with Alphonse and the shadows Pride controls. If you are a fan of the series, it's mostly a given that you'll grab the exclusive version instead.

Fresh out of the box is our favourite blond shorty, Edward Elric! I'll have to say that most of the little details on this figure is memento of the show, especially the base, and the bright red cloak. However, before we go deeper into these details, let's look at a 360 of this figure first!

The way this is sculpted really adds a different dimension to the figure as it creates a stark contrast of light and shadows depending on where your light source is and how you wish to display your figure.

Likewise, we can see how delicately sculpted Edward's hair is, which really shoes how each strand of his bangs are positioned and how each tuft of hair goes to make up his braid. The other part which adds a sense of movement to the figure must be the cloak, which is billowing out behind him with the adequate amount of shading as well.

Alphonse is sculpted mostly accurately, with the painting showing how damaged he is. The cracks around his shoulders are evidence of how hard he fought.

One gripe I have is how low the blood mark in his armour is. It really should be much higher but I do understand that if it were any higher we might not be able to see it as clearly.

From the back, we can see the movement even more clearly as both the cloak and Edward's jacket are billowing out in the wind. The singed ends of the cloak also have a darker, murkier red.

Shading on Edward's boots are done really well and the chunkiness of it in canon is translated rather well into 3D. I love how Pride's shadows turn translucent the higher it goes which the "fingers" are really sharp to bring out that vicious side of his personality.

The transmutation circle behind is rather reminiscent of Hawkeye's father's research but sadly, I am not a hundred percent sure if it's the same one, or is it the one in Xerxes.

The faces on the cement... could this be a link to Envy?

But that's not all! The exclusive version of this figure comes with two interchangeable parts: the faceplate and the upper body, so let's have some fun now!

First, the faceplate!

The faceplate comes attached the the front hair part so pull the whole part out as such and slip the additional faceplate into the two peg holes and you'll see grumpy Edward turn into one with a confident grin!

I love this confident side of Edward and I like how he always manages to turn any situation better!

Now, let's change his upper torso to one that will showcase his automail!

To do that, you'll have to remove the end of his silver pocketwatch chain that goes into his pants pocket and after that, you'll be able to pull his upper and lower body apart. After which, you can just push the other upper body part into the peg and voila!

And here's a reminder to put the silver chain back into the peg on his pants!

The automail comes with a paintjob that really brings out the metallic feel of the material. Likewise, the many layers successfully conveys the weight of it as well. I love how all the screw holes and screws are sculpted, and we can even get a glance into the inside of the automail with all the red and blue wires. To me, this is well-worth the exclusive price!