Bright Future (Post 2 of 2)

“Smile; a society without cheer and humor will not have a bright future” – Sir Nighteye

***SPOILERS AHEAD***

Pro Hero, Sir Nighteye, was All Might’s sidekick for a number of years. He looked up to All Might as a mentor, but also cared for him as a friend. Sir took being a hero seriously, but also appreciated humor. He was overly cautious, likely due to his quirk Foresight. He’d send chills down people’s spines due to his stern piercing gaze. Thanks to an introduction by Mirio (that All Might helped facilitate), he took Deku for the work studies program. Sir really agreed to it because he wanted to show Deku that Mirio was the better candidate to be All Might’s successor. While on patrol with Mirio, Deku runs into Eri and Chisaki. Deku wanted to save Eri, because she’s clearly frightened and does not want to go with Chisaki (Overhaul). For wanting to save her Nighteye chided him (although later they all wondered if it would’ve been better to save her then). Sir did not think Deku was useless, but he definitely gave him a hard time.

Having been a sidekick to All Might for years, there is history between them. Sir Nighteye saw with his Foresight, that All Might would die a gruesome death at the hand of a villain, and he wanted him to find a suitable heir and retire. At that point in time, Sir’s Foresight had never been incorrect, so there wasn’t a precedent for the future being any different. They also disagreed with who should succeed him as the Symbol of Peace.

Not knowing the history behind them, Deku wanted to work with Sir Nighteye. All Might doesn’t feel comfortable introducing them, plus he was against first year students doing work studies. But he does introduce him to Mirio who is currently working with Sir. All Might reflects upon the idea, presented a while back by the UA Principal and Sir, for him to pass his quirk, One for All, to Mirio (before he ran into Deku trying to save Bakugo from Sludge).

This episode really illustrates the meaningful relationships between mentors and those they inspire. Some of the relationships that came to mind as I considered this were All Might inspiring Sir Nighteye, Deku, Bakugo, and countless others, Mirio mentoring Deku at work studies, Aizawa inspiring his students, Sir Nighteye as a mentor to Mirio, Bubble Girl, and Deku, and Nana Shimura and Gran Torino helping train Toshinori Yagi (All Might). There are countless people in the world inspired by the actions, personality, quirks, skills, traits, and outlook of others, not just in the world of My Hero Academia and anime land, but all around us. You likely inspire people by being your true, authentic self, in your daily life, even doing what you consider mundane things.

As Deku works with Sir Nighteye at his agency, alongside Mirio and Bubble Girl, we gradually feel Sir warming up towards him. He is hard on Deku, but since he doesn’t see him as useless, he must see his potential. He is appreciative that Deku showed him the future can be changed.

In the episode, Infinite 100%, we see Sir dejected. He is mortally wounded and the future he sees, shows Deku dying. He doesn’t see a point to the pro heroes and students, especially injured, risking more to fight. As the crew on the podcast Popped Off (@popped_off) pointed out this seems unusual for a hero. But given that Sir’s Foreight has never been wrong, there isn’t a precedent for him to think it can change, so his outlook is understandable. Thankfully, the future is different than he envisioned. Overhaul is defeated and Eri is saved. Sir Nighteye received his wish, through Deku, and the energy and efforts of those helping. But now, in the episode Bright Future, Sir Nighteye (not All Might), has been mortally wounded due to a villain.

***Cue my uncontrollable crying and sobbing, which only got worse as the episode progressed….*****watching on** ***Hulu if you want to cry with me…***

Bright Future (Post 1 of 2)

“Smile; a society without cheer and humor will not have a bright future” – Sir Nighteye

***SPOILERS AHEAD***

Thank goodness for Aizawa and his quirk! If it wasn’t for his subtle finger motion to Froppy (or as Amajiki cutely called her, “Miss Ribbit”), and her lifting Aizawa’s head, Eri’s quirk may’ve caused irreversible damage to Deku. During Deku’s fight with Chisaki, Eri’s quirk was the only thing allowing him to fight at 100%. But being able to control her quirk, is something Eri still needs to learn (similar to Deku’s hurdle when he first used One for All). Eri develops a fever after the fight and is later quarantined in the hospital. Since Aizawa is the only one able to stop Eri if her quirk gets out of control, keeping her quarantined will let them assess the situation, and hopefully be able to work with her as she learns to regulate her quirk safely.

Did you catch Uraraka using her skills from her internship to capture Chisaki as he was flying midair? She did a great job of staying grounded and focusing on the mission, even in the moments of chaos. Although she was premature in thinking that everything was over, as Amajiki was right to question.

The aftermath of Chisaki’s fight with Deku, and the battle with the heroes, has taken a toll. It leaves little time to celebrate since several of the heroes have been injured. And one mortally wounded.

There would’ve been more damage and injury during Deku’s battle with Chisaki, but Deku was very mindful of the environment he was battling in, so the damage was minor. This reminded me of his earlier interaction with Sir Nighteye, when he was trying to grab the stamp from his hand. Deku was unable to get the stamp, but he did impress Sir by avoiding any damage to his All Might collector items.

Meanwhile, Shigaraki and the League of Villains are causing mayhem on the highway. What an ominous scene of the three of them walking. I’ll write a proper post on one hero’s ultimate sacrifice shortly. I’m watching on Hulu. Check it out if you haven’t already!

Current Anime Viewing

One of the funniest animes I’ve ever watched is Hoozuki no Reitetsu / Hozuki’s Coolheadedness. I’m currently watching season two on VRV, but it’s another show that Sentai had on sale for $4.99 on Black Friday. It’s a workplace comedy with a jaunty opening song, but it doesn’t take place in a traditional office setting, it takes place in hell. Hozuki, the Chief of Staff that supports King Enma, is an ogre who is always calm under pressure and is an excellent manager. And all the ladies love him. I’d love to get my hands on one of his goldfish plants! And him. But I don’t want to go to hell so I guess that relationship isn’t going to work out.

I also started watching Welcome to the NHK.

While Hozuki could be described as dark humor, it is hell after all (but it’s primarily a workplace comedy), NHK is not a comedy and has a heavy feel to it. Topics like unhealthy relationships, mental health, caring for one self, responsibilities, and suicide are some of the important topics it addresses. Although I watched a few episodes this weekend, it is not a show I would binge watch. It gives the viewer a lot to think about and reflect upon. I am usually drawn to comedy, romance, and slice-of-life animes but being a psychology major there are elements of NHK I am drawn to. I’m only on episode five, but I hope if anyone feels the way the characters on the show feels, and needs help, that they will speak to a counselor or therapist. Every life has value and there are people who can help if you’re in pain or need someone to talk to. I’m leaving this very important number here, if anyone needs it:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255

People enjoy anime for a variety of reasons. My main reason is to laugh and de-stress. Even if that isn’t the main vibe of NHK, it does have some moments of levity. But if you’re looking for a good laugh, and to see how an organized hell would run, check out Hoozuki no Reitetsu!

New York in November

My friend joined me in November for my New York visit. I’m so glad she was able to join because I had a blast and enjoyed her company and conversation. We did a lot of walking and thankfully we had great weather, albeit a little chilly, it was not as cold as it could’ve been. She enjoyed the history and sights of Ellis Island and visited the Statue of Liberty while I was at Anime NYC. We had great luck on our first day of the trip because we scored discounted tickets for great seats at Wicked on Broadway! The hotel we stayed at was about a mile from Javits so it was an easy walk for me (despite my innate tendency to get lost). We enjoyed meals at The Pennsy Food Hall, Junior’s, and Friedman’s (no BNHA / My Hero Academia theme unfortunately) but the food was delicious. Below are some photos from our New York visit.

Anime NYC 2019

This is an overdue post about the time I went to Anime NYC, back in November. I had a great time and I met friendly people. Since I find crowds overwhelming, I only went on Friday.

*In case you’re wondering the lanyard is from the last con I went to, Anime* *USA*.

I was dressed as Ms. Joke from My Hero Academia (photos on Instagram). I don’t use Instagram much, but it was an easy way to keep up with new people I met, and get updates on the event itself. A UA student I ran into found Aizawa and we took a quick photo. I was glad they were both so friendly! I wore a shirt from Red Bubble by cloudcxndy.

If you get a chance to check out Anime NYC in the future, plan ahead because a lot of the hotels were already booked that were within walking distance. And if you buy your Anime NYC pass early it’ll be a better price, than waiting until the event.

The Javits Center is beautiful, it has tons of natural light, it’s very open (which helps a crowd not feel as overwhelming), and it is gigantic. There’s ample seating and good spots for photographs. If you felt overwhelmed it was easy to find a quiet corner, at least on Friday when I attended.

The Exhibit Hall and Artist Alley opened at 1pm on Friday. There was a crowd waiting and you could feel how excited they were to explore all of the anime related vendors. The line was well organized and it never felt chaotic, despite it being crowded. Having been to several conventions, this was the first one that I noticed there were a lot of attendees with varying abilities. Hopefully that means Anime NYC, and the Javits Center, were proactive in making it accessible to everyone.

Surprisingly not a lot of the vendors sold dvds, I counted three or four. Some vendors sold a few, but there was a small number of vendors that primarily sold anime dvds. But tons of vendors had figures if you collect those. (Side note, Right Stuf Anime, and Sentai had amazing Black Friday sales, like $4.99 for the entire season of Tamako Market on dvd, so I will try to hold out for those deals going forward). There were several food vendors and the Javits Center also had a Starbucks and food court area. There are also some healthier options if you’re looking for lighter fare.

There were anime fans that were younger than me but lots around my age, and older. I enjoyed seeing fans of all ages because it speaks to the diversity and reach that anime has, and the impact it has across generations. The families with their cosplays were fun to see too! It was apparent the kids (and parents) had a blast dressing up.

I wanted to see the special showing of In/Spectre , but I had to catch my ride home so unfortunately I missed it. But I look forward to watching that on VRV! I also wanted to watch Weathering with You, which had a premiere at Anime NYC, but I will watch it when it comes to theaters later this month (I already got my ticket!).

*Tomoe, from Kamisama Kiss, is one of my favorite characters!*

*Very healthy* *snack for the ride home!*

Ginko Strikes Again

I Had a Crush Like That Too

My entire family and I love the anime Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun / Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun (Holic probably being the only other anime we all agree on). Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun is funny, it’s cute, and has great characters. If you’re looking for a light-hearted, humorous anime about friendship, and a touch of romance, give this one a try.

Chiyo Sakura is absolutely in love with Umetarou Nozaki. He is oblivious. Having experienced something similar (I too, am a sucker for the tall and manly) I understand Sakura’s feelings.

The One to Travel With

If Suzu was the one to have a home with, Tanyuu was the one to travel with. Ah Ginko. But I get it ladies, I see the appeal. He’s stoic, helps others (people and mushi alike), and has a calming presence.

Like Nelly said, just kidding, unless you’re gonna do it…

“Somewhere Anteros is Seething…”* (Or Crying)

*Idea of Anteros as it relates to this episode of Mushishi was presented here https://mushi-shi.fandom.com/wiki/Suzu by an unnamed FANDOM User on 8/22/2019.

Ginko tends to attract mushi (life forms that are invisible to most people, but can affect humans, and have a supernatural quality). Ginko is a mushishi (mushi-shi), someone knowledgeable about mushi and able to see them. He travels and tries his best to help people and mushi coexist. He is patient, intelligent, and works very hard to help others. Because Ginko attracts mushi, which can cause imbalance or distress, he doesn’t stay in one area for too long. He isn’t used to having roots in one area or being too familiar with others. Ginko has a doctor friend he visits from time to time. Otherwise he wanders from town to town, meeting new people, and researching mushi.

***SPOILERS AHEAD***

Season One, Episode 15 of Mushishi (watching on Hulu), Ginko is seeking shelter from the harsh winter weather. He stumbles upon Suzu’s home, that she shares with her little brother Miharu.

Since Ginko is usually on his own traveling, it was refreshing seeing Ginko interact with Suzu and Miharu like they were family. I enjoyed seeing him as a father figure, or mentor, to the young boy who was able to see mushi.

I didn’t plan on doing so many screen grabs, but dammit if this wasn’t one of my favorite episodes so far. Every scene felt meaningful.

Look at Miharu’s face! He knows he shouldn’t have done that lol.

Ginko and Suzu even parent in a similar way!

With the type of soil near Suzu and the cold weather, Ginko was hoping he’d be alright staying in one place for a little while, but realizes the number of mushi in the area has already increased.

Suzu we know you also want Ginko to stay!

Ginko knows attracting more mushi won’t be helpful to Miharu or his sister Suzu.

You can tell Ginko doesn’t want to leave and Suzu definitely doesn’t want him to leave. Miharu enjoys Ginko’s company as well. Unfortunately things being what they are, he doesn’t have a choice. Even the mushi repellent that was in an earlier episode would be a temporary fix and not a long term solution. That house near the mountains, with Suzu and Miharu, provided warmth in more ways than one.

It’s been a year, so feeling that’s been a safe time frame, Ginko returns. You can see how happy he is to be back, especially when you compare it to his expression when he left.

Have you ever felt that you’ve been so strong for so long, and resilient, but it’s been a weight on your shoulders. You’ve become accustomed to the gradual increase in load, but it’s heavy. Suddenly you see that person. That person you feel safe with, whether it’s a parent, another family member, friend, or significant other. They give you a sense of relief. Whenever you’re with that person, whoever it is, you feel safe and you can let your guard down. And you realize how much you’ve been carrying? How much you’ve had on your shoulders? And it just releases from your body? In tears, fatigue, or an outburst? It could even be just a silent hug, that conveys more than words ever could.

That’s the feeling Suzu has upon Ginko’s return.

Her brother’s slumber lasted longer than usual and she is understandably alarmed. Caring for her little brother as the sole guardian can be stressful, especially when he is chasing after mushi, but worrying that he’ll never wake up is even more stressful.

Ginko is going out to search for clues to the cause of Miharu’s hibernation. Of course mushi are involved.

I’ll let you watch the episode to see the reason for Miharu’s deep sleep, but ultimately Suzu has to go find Ginko, and bring him all the way back to their home. Oh and now he’s afflicted with the deep sleep too. She finds a mushi in Ginko’s coat that is helpful to them. It’s rare we get to see Ginko be helped, usually he does the helping, so it was nice to see another person caring for him.

Ginko awakens and tries to figure out what’s happened. He comes to his senses quickly. Suzu is overjoyed that her brother and Ginko are awake.

Proud Dad

You know you’ll miss him too Miharu!

At first I was annoyed Ginko wouldn’t say goodbye to Suzu, she saved his life! Granted he risked his to save her brother’s. But still, he could see her to say farewell. And Ginko’s avoiding eye contact in this scene, like he did earlier when he told Suzu he was sorry that he couldn’t stay.

I think it would’ve been incredibly difficult for Ginko to say farewell to Suzu (again), knowing how hard it was the first time. Plus there’s a chance he would’ve changed his mind, and he knows that isn’t practical, or safe, for him to stay with Suzu and her brother (as much as they may want to stay together). But still, it would’ve been nice for him to give Suzu a proper farewell.

The butterflies that are involved with this episode, made me think of that saying about how one shouldn’t chase butterflies. I don’t know if the idea of chasing butterflies conveys that it’s not practical, or unrealistic. Perhaps that is a metaphor for the idea of Ginko living in a home with a family and being happy, in that sense, is impractical.

Ginko wanted to stay. He enjoyed their company. And having a home with a family.

Like that person who left the comment, on the Mushishi Wiki, I can only imagine the frustration Anteros, the Greek God of requited love, is feeling. Having experienced a degree of this myself (no mushi were involved), I know it’s frustrating to come to terms with a situation you cannot control. Some people will push the other away because it’ll help them make peace with the situation. Someone may limit or restrict contact for the same reason. Perhaps Ginko will return, but I have a feeling that would be too difficult knowing he cannot stay.

Even as a child Ginko knew staying in one place too long wasn’t a good idea. It could bring trouble to the folks kind enough to welcome him into their town, as evidenced from an earlier episode when Ginko was saved by a Good Samaritan.

To spare the Good Samaritan, and his town, Ginko left and has lived as a nomad ever since.

He might’ve been happy living in that town as a child. Like Ginko pointed out to Miharu, at least he had a place he belonged. Ginko doesn’t. Although he would’ve been happy with Miharu and his sister. But alas that was not to be. His leaving didn’t mean he loved Suzu any less, if anything he did it to keep her and Miharu safe. Whether he loved her as a friend or more, you may decide for yourself.

Dried Fish

I feel personally attacked! And like I found my anime soul sister…so…

This was one of the first animes I watched, so it’ll always have a special place in my heart (along with Maid Sama, Special A, The Disastrous Life of Saiki K, Kamisama Kiss, and Noragami). I’m watching on Hulu.

While I relate to Umaru in many ways, I’d like to think I’m not a brat.

At least I hope not.

Meanwhile her big brother is always patient, thoughtful, and kind. And he spends time with her.

He plays video games with her, they enjoy meals and conversation, and even shop for groceries together. I’m curious about the background of the Doma family and how she came to live with her older brother. But he’s definitely a hard worker and a good parent figure. He never seems bitter about taking care of her or like his quality of life is less with her around. He’d appreciate her taking better care of things and being more considerate and responsible, but he genuinely seems happy. Although they do have tiffs like all siblings do.

Umaru is top of her class, excels in piano, sports, and is doing great at school. So it’s difficult to scold her when she’s laying around at home. In her free time she’s playing video games (if not watching anime, reading manga, scrolling online, snacking, or napping). While her brother has little, to no free time, and is not great at video games.