Author Archives: Leia

Weapons in Bleach Anime

Weapons are a source of high power and serve the character in battle. Every character in entertainment fiction has a weapon of choice even if they do not; they are a weapon themselves or other people fighting for them. When a person is up in arms, they are more able to defend themselves and even take the offense. In Bleach, we have a diverse group of spirits and creatures represented in the anime. The main tools of a battle that Bleach uses for characters are Zanpakutō, Spirit Weapons, Dolls, and Bakkōtō.

A zanpakutō is a soul-cutter sword that shinigami use for their primary duties. When a Shinigami wields a Zanpakutō, they channel their spiritual pressure and practice Zanjutsu (swordsmanship). A shinigami’s primary antagonist are hollows, and these soul-cutter swords purify the hollows. Zanpakutōs come in many styles; however, this is only true when soul reapers train and overcome the Asauchi status of the sword. Asauchi (a nameless zanpakutō) is the most basic form of any Zanpakutō and a shinigami has to train to hear the individual name of their zanpakutō. They undergo training and eventually the name appears when they manifest the Zanpakutō spirit. Through training, the reflection of the shinigami’s spirit is copied inside the Asauchi and as a result the spirit manifests. After finding the name, they train to reach Shikai and Bankai, which each form has a different name. A Zanpakutō manifests inside a shinigami’s inner world and fights alongside their partner. Individual Zanpakutōs are entities by themselves and bear emotions similar to their owners. For example, Yumichika Ayasegawa calls his sword Fuji Kujaku while his actual name is Ruri’iro Kujaku, which has consequences for Yumichika’s fighting capabilities. According to the Zanpakutō Rebellion opening, “Once a Shinigami learns his sword’s name; they are able to communicate with one another and grow stronger together.” The stronger the bond, the more powerful a shinigami becomes and even, reaching a lieutenant or captain level. They train in fighting and the relationship between their swords.

Akin to a Zanpakutō, we have Qunicys and spirit weapons. Spirit Weapons are Reishi bound armaments for Qunicy to use. A Qunicy gathers the Reishi around them and forms a blue bow of sorts. These soul-based techniques can erase a hollow’s presence while Shinigami purify them. The limit to Quincy’s power is high spiritual pressure and stamina. The requirements for Quincy to draw out Reishi is an innate talent to their soul and a rich Reishi environment. These techniques have a long history spanning over 200 years and still traditionally represent a bow and arrow. Unlike Zanpakutōs, spirit weapons vary in shape and not always bow and arrow. The main types we see are Kojaku, Ginrei Kojaku, and Heilig Bogen (Sacred Bow). Kojaku is the basic form, and all Quincy is capable of manifesting it. Ginrei Kojaku is a Quincy Cross where Uryū Ishida recovered his power and can shoot over 1200 arrows. Heilig Bogen is a customizable bow for Quincy and varies from user to user. If the Thousand Years War Arc is any implication, there are many unnamed spirit weapons with other Quincy.

When you hear Quincy, you also hear Bounts and their Dolls. When a Bount fights, they summon dolls and use them in battle. The dolls reside in seals, and the command to release them has German origins.. Zeige Dich (which is the German phrase) means Show Yourself, and then the name is said soon after. The mechanics to summon a doll could be different from summoning on the first try to training and then calling upon the Doll’s name. Ran’Tao studied the Bounts and made an amulet used to bring forth the power of summoning. Later, Jin Kariya (who is the Bounts’ leader) and Ugaki (Bounts’ researcher of sorts) created a more accessible way in a doll ritual summoning ceremony. A doll’s relationship and Bount are like master and obedient servants. The doll must follow the master, but if the master shows weakness, then the doll could turn on them. A doll’s seal is the Bount’s connection to the World of the Living and if it breaks then Bounts turn to ash. There are many examples of dolls, but the plot-driving ones in Bleach were the Bittos. Bittos are the dolls used for more soul consumption and required a living sacrifice for them to exist. The other types of dolls are automotion, equping, and fusing with the master as well.

Similar to the Bounts, the Bakkōtō consumes power as well. Bakkōtō is a rare weapon, which means Baku (Fused Tapir sword). Baku is a supernatural being in Japanese and is said to be dream-devouring. The devouring aspect is what the Bakkōtō does best, and it consumes a wielder’s spiritual pressure. Bakkōtō is a parasite and feeds on anyone who can supply Reshi. However, the level of one’s power is their natural willpower and strength. Those who process weak spiritual pressure are more likely to get eaten alive by the single-eye parasite. The parasites are ones who feed on the users which gives them power. In Bleach, the Bakkōtō are the illegal trade-secret of the Kasumiōji Clan, and Gyōkaku Kumoi’s assassins (the evil-doers who protect the interests of the organization) use them. The creation of the Bakkōtō was to replace the Zanpakutō and be the new weapon for Soul Society.

It goes to show weapons are different, and Bleach has many depictions of weapons. Henceforth, individuality extends to the arms as well as the characters who wield them. The objects we see in battle situations are impressive, but the Fullbringers have weapons unique to them. The Fullbringers do not fit in a category for armament, but their object affinity is their weapon. Now, the objects that Fullbringers identify with something of high sentimental value to them. Furthermore, Bleach would continue to deliver on an action-packed plot, and these objects are ways to demonstrate the plot.
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Special Humans in Bleach Anime 

*Contains Major Spoilers for Bleach*

Bleach has lots of lore that is reflected in the many races. The audience is shown entire arcs, where particular races undergo quarrels, and declare war; Predominantly on Soul Society. The one race underestimated in Bleach is the Humans. Throughout Bleach, there are various cases where individual humans have high power levels. High spiritual pressures are equivalent to someone’s magic, or power, in the given series. When humans have abnormal levels of energy in their souls, they tend to attract humankind’s natural foe; The hollows. These unique humans range from high-specs humans, Substitute Soulreapers, Modified Souls, Quincies, Bounts, and Fullbringers.  

Humans that do not have a specific role, are categorized as “high-specs”. There are a few characters in Bleach who divide themselves into common and rare types of high specs. The common types express mediumship and spirit awareness. Firstly, Karin Kurosaki has mediumship for sensing capabilities, and Ichigo exposes his energy reserve to her. On the other hand, we have the least requirement for high specs; Spiritual awareness. Tatsuki or Keigo are examples of this power that can see Pluse’s spirits, Shinigami, and hollows. The rarer kinds of these unique humans, possess other special abilities. Don Kanonji is a spiritual mentalist who has different ideas on how to get rid of spirits than those of Ichigo. He possesses enough power to release a ball of varying speeds that destroys weak hollows. Also, Orihime Inoue has powers that create shields, reverses previous conditions, and attacks with a projectile beam. According to Aizen, Orihime’s power is “The Rejection of Events,” which can,“limit, reject, and negate any event directed at any target.” Most of the high specs in Karakura Town come about by Ichigo’s Substitute Shinigami status.

A Substitute Shinigami could take the mantle of a soul reaper. However, the only difference is that the soul will remain human, and requires separation of the body and the spirit. We first saw Ichigo stabbed by Rukia’s Zanpakutō and bestowed Shinigami’s powers. The case with Rukia suffered power reduction and stayed in the World of the Living for too long. This extended trip attracted the attention of the Soul Society, and made them ask questions. The Soul Society’s bylaws prohibit the grave taboo of giving a soul reapers power to a human. Now, the ordinances were mandatory, but there have been previous exceptions in the past. Furthermore, Soul Society allowed other Substitute Shinigami with a badge. The combat pass replaced Gokon Tekkō (forcibly removes one’s soul from their body) and Soul Candy (a pellet that takes in lu of the body or Gigai with an artificial soul). Soul Society made a Shinigami badge for Ichigo, which allerted the Hollows on his whereabouts. Ichigo’s reusable Soul Candy was Kon, a Modified Soul. 

Kon was the first Modified Soul to appear in Bleach, and is considered a defective product in Urahara Shop. Urahara Shop was the place for supernatural beings seeking supplies in the Human World. Kon was special because Modified Souls were beings that represent the perfect soldier, and were in an unanimated body (dead bodies or stuff animals). Soul Society declared the Mod Souls project unethical, and ordered the termination of all Mod Souls. Other Mod Souls proved useful in the Bount Arc in the anime. The others were Ririn (illusion powers), Noba (teleportation abilities), and Kurōdo (shape-shifting and power mimicry techniques), where Kitsuke Urahara designed them. These characters were Bount Sensors that helped in many ways; Such as  training for the Ichigo team. They were extraordinary humans; because, they needed actual bodies or Gigai (artificial vessels) to function correctly. Along with Mod Souls, we have Quincy type humans who differ significantly from Shinigami. 

Quincy (Monks of Destruction) are human mediums with acute detection abilities on Hollows. They have a long history with Shinigami, and, as a result, cause conflict later. Quincy destroys hollows while Shinigami purifies the hollows, and the souls return. Hollows hold the souls they have eaten, and the original human who was hollow. As the name suggests, Monks of Destruction completely erase a hollow’s existence, which interrupts the cycle of rebirth for spirits. This situation is one of the reasons why war raged against Shinigami and Quincy over 200 years ago in Bleach. Quincy also wears white clothing while it is standard for Shinigami to wear black.There is also a difference in weapons with the spirit weapon (Quincy) and a Zanpakutō (Shinigami). Their primary combat strategy is archery-based and long-distance attacks. They have other fighting capabilities like Hirenkyaku (high-speed), Blut (battle enhancement), and lots more. Reishi on the battlefield directly determines if a Qunicy can use their attacks. If there are no reishi, then the battle has little success. In the Bleach Anime, some individuals are similar to Quincy, the Bounts. 

Bounts were similar to Quincy in the ability of reishi manipulation, and course hollows seeking high spiritual pressures. The Bounts are a race of artificially created humans who came about by accident. This accident made them who they are, and was the result of a massive explosion. The project was led by Ran’Tao and her team; Who experimented on themselves for the hope of eternal life. The meltdown of the Jōkaishō (the device powering the research) entered the population for rebirth. Soon after, Bounts started to show up in the human population, and were treated as outcasts. Bounts had the powers of soul absorption, immorality, Bount Seals, and space manipulation. Soul absorption and ever-lasting life were related to Bounts eating human souls; This created the legend of vampires. Bount seals have various implications like summoning a doll for battle, rituals, and opening a portal. A significant taboo in Bount culture is to never consume a live human’s soul. Once they consume a live human soul, there is no going back. However, it leads to great power. This high power is known as empowerment and space manipulation. This guided the invasion of the Soul Society. Also, similar to Quincy, they interfered with the balance of souls and declared war to the enemies in the Bounts and Qunicy. Soul Society denied their existence, and the Bounts believed that their birthright was the Soul Society. After Bounts, we had Fullbringers; Whose powers were widespread and varied on the user.

Fullbringers are spiritually-aware humans who are born with their abilities. Fullbringers pride themselves with their given name of Fullbring to access object spirits close to them. In English, their name Fullbring meant “Full Manifestation Artist,” and that reflected the object for their power. They were Hollow Reiryoku beings, where the forces came from a hollow origin before birth. Like for example, Yasutora Sado’s (Chad) parents had a hollow incident before his birth. Chad’s abilities derived from his pride in the half-Mestizo lineage, and primarily manifested in his skin color. Chad was a Fullbringer, and the full limit for his skills was Brazo Izquierda del Diablo (Left Arm of the Devil). After he obtained Brazo Derecha de Gigante (Right Arm of the Giant), Fullbringer had to train and reach full status. Once they reach their most significant potential, they do not change anymore; However, they can keep training their bodies and strengthening to increase their endurance. There is power transference when a substitute shinigami like Ichigo and Ginjo. Ginjo steals Ichigo’s Fullbringer abilities and uses his badge as a catalyst for taking them. Other facts that concerned Fullbringers were that Hueco Mundo could speed one’s full power; They could still access Fullbringer in the afterlife and possessed different abilities (high speed and object affinity).  

Dimensions in Bleach Anime

The mystical world of Bleach entangles its viewers in a quest to find the next supernatural journey. Other dimensions divide the audience between various side quests of the unknown. As a result, many tensions are sometimes created; At the mention of the otherworldly and paranormal. Dimensions can be defined as a plane of existence different from our own. Additionally, all dimensions have various features unfamiliar to newcomers in that particular astral plane. If a show like Bleach would use this plane of life, it usually has a metaphorical meaning and plot devices for viewer entertainment. In the anime Bleach, there are eight significant dimensions. These include The Human World, Soul Society, Soul King Palace, Schatten Bereich, Hueco Mundo, Hell, Dangai, and The Valley of Screams.

Humanity has always had an Earth in its realm. In Bleach, the human world is called The World of the Living. Most humans in Bleach are average, run of the mill, characters who usually have low spiritual pressures. However, there are some exceptions to this. A great example of this is seen within Ichigo’s family, but humans are easy targets for Hollows. Hollows continuously invade the World of the Living for their usual dosage of human souls; Which are devoured for higher levels of power. The central place for this conflict is Karakura Town. Most of the time, it is the epicenter for Hollow activity. Keeping this in mind, humans are in danger at all times, and need a higher-order to protect them like the Soul Society.

The Soul Society is known for its protector role with humans and souls. They generally represent the peacekeepers of Bleach, and often administer their influence with soul reapers. Soul Reapers are the ones who uphold the laws/fundamental roles of The Soul Society. Cosmic balance is kept in order via the soul reapers, and human souls pass over to their afterlife. As a whole, Soul Society gets guidance from the Soul King; Who lives in The Palace of The Soul King. The Soul’s Palace is completely separate from the Soul Society. It resides in a different realm, which The Oken ( a key exclusively obtainable by nobles in the Soul King’s Palace) grants passage. Keep in mind that another dimension will appear in their capital, Seireitei. Said capital goes by the name Schatten Bereich; A hidden place within the Seireitei that acts as the Quincy stronghold. Next up we have Hueco Mundo, or a world where the infamous hollows reside.

Hueco Mundo translates to,”a hollow world” in Spanish, and lies between the Soul Society/Human Realm. We first see traces of Hueco Mundo in the pilot episode. Compared to other dimensions, Hueco Mundo has dark skies and white sand all around; Acting as a desert wasteland. It is so desolate that the tree-like structures are made of quartz, and reflect the underground Menos Forest. The Menos Forest consists of several low ranked hollows and even Menos Grandes; A collection of 100,000 hollows in one body which are as tall as a building and no intelligence. During the Hueco Mundo Arc, we see an area with more exploration and a more in-depth plot like Las Noches castle. If you want to enter or leave this place, then you need to open a Garganta; A black void of space that acts as a portal to pass through, and connects to other dimensions. When hollows die, they enter the cycle of rebirth in the Soul Society. However, a select few go to Hell for their sins as a human (not a Hollow).

According to Rukia, “If the spirit committed heinous crimes as a Human, they are sent through the Gates of Hell instead of Soul Society.” The first time that The Underworld is mentioned is by a hollow named Shrieker. Ichigo then slashes his hollow mask, and the Gates of Hell are opened. At this point, hell is not mentioned until Bleach: The Hell Verse movie. In Bleach: The Hell Verse, Ichigo has to go to Hell. When in Hell, Shuren kidnaps Yuzu, Ichigo’s sister. As a result, the viewers are shown the 5 various levels of Hell. The inhabitants of this realm go by the name of Togabito (this word means Sinners). Togabitos usually remain in Hell, but, at certain times, particular circumstances occur. As a result, these individuals conceal themselves to avoid the Kushanāda. Kushanāda are the guardians of Hell and maintain social order. Whether it be guilty hollows, or Togabitos escapes, Hell is unusual; For, it predates the Human World, Soul Society, and Hueco Mundo.

Furthermore, the Bleach universe has many realms which all contain unique characteristics/purpose in the story. Before I go, there are two other essential dimensions, The Dangai and Valley of Screams. These two dimensions reside in the Garganta and contain big plotlines. The Dangai acts as a corridor between the Human World and Soul Society. Later, it reveals Dangai Ichigo in extensive training for Aizen. The Valley of Screams, the major plot for Bleach: Memories of Nobody movie is, is similar to purgatory; Where lost souls reside. This world stems from the Dangai and later serves as an invasion option for the Soul King Palace.

Interspecies Reviewers
Is This Anime Actually Good?
Author: Zorez Shahzad

Interspecies Reviewers or Ishuuzoku Reviewers is an ecchi fantasy anime with a strong blend of comedy. Whilst this anime does have some pretty intense ecchi scenes, it is more geared towards making you laugh. Interspecies Reviewers also gives us a very nice cast of characters which blend in quite well with the quirky environment of the show. First of all, let us take a look at the plot of this anime.

Plot:
Being set in a fantasy world, Interspecies Reviewers is filled to the brim with different creatures. They range from small and cute fairies to disgustingly gooey slimes. With such a diverse range of species available, the question in everyone’s mind is that, “Which race is the sexiest?”.
This question has remained unanswered for a very long time, but now, thankfully, a group of brave men have risen and took it upon themselves to have a taste of every single species available. These men thoroughly assess every type of girl in their world and give them a final rating based on their sexiness. The brave souls don’t fear anything as they are willing to face any difficulty for their research. They are willing to go through the harshest of environments and even follow rumors, just to find the correct answers to their question.
The plot of this anime seems pretty original and interesting. Now, let us take a look at some other aspects of this show.

Comedy:
Just from the plot alone, we can tell that this show is going to be extremely funny. And Interspecies Reviewers does not disappoint. This show gives us humor in the most unexpected and quirky ways. The best thing about the comedic element of this anime is its over-the-top nature. Interspecies reviewers presents every scene in the most exaggerated manner possible, which just leaves all of us viewers speechless and adds to the over the top setting of the show. Another thing that I love about the comedic aspect of this show is the fact that it does not get repetitive. Every episode is a new experience, a new journey, and to add, it’s refreshing and funny. The comical aspect of the show is handled in a very beautiful manner. It improves the anime’s atmosphere and makes it even more entertaining.

Characters:
Being a show about different species, Interspecies reviewers has a very diverse cast. They have different creatures all unique with their specific traits, adding to the main premise of the show, giving the audience a real sense of its diversity. However, only the main characters are given an actual realistic personality as they are the stars of the show. The side characters are just given a single trait which defines their whole existence, which is not a bad thing as it just makes the whole anime even funnier. It is very hard to give character development and personality to a character which only appears for a single episode, so, I totally understand what the show did with all the side characters. As for the main characters, however, they seem pretty realistic, and they stick to their role. These characters go through character development as well as their experience with each girl changes them in one way or another.

Animation:
Interspecies Reviewers has decided to adopt a very goofy and colorful style of animation. And it totally suits the setting of this show! The animation style is a little more cartoonish as compared to other anime, and it really stands out. All the character designs are pretty intense as all the different species are represented in their own unique way.

Is Interspecies Reviewers Just Another Ecchi Anime? Definitely not!

Like I said at the start of this article, Interspecies Reviewers focuses less on the Ecchi and more on the comedy aspect. This show, in a way, is a parody of the whole world of hentai as it shows us a glimpse of what weirdness goes on in that world without being too blunt. It depicts the perfect setting of a fantasy world and in a way, represents our hopes and dreams.
Our two main characters are a human and an elf, who are later on followed by an angel as well. These two main characters are willing to do anything for their research. They work very hard and are experts of their art. Their rating for every creature is very informational as they don’t just throw out random numbers. They carefully analyze each creature to give out the most honest reviews.
Interspecies Reviewers might seem like just another Ecchi anime at first, but this anime is much more than that. It has all the elements of a good gag anime. And the anime’s execution of jokes makes this parody of the Ecchi genre stand out. All the facts about different creatures in this anime are actually real and well-researched. This anime does mess around within that department. And some of these aspects can even be traced back to our real life.

Final Thoughts
Being as different and quirky as it is, Interspecies Reviewers is a much-needed addition to the list of Ecchi anime. Despite being depicted as an Ecchi parody, this anime can be enjoyed by a wide range of audience. This anime is very light-hearted and has a very diverse cast. It has something for everyone. That being said, this anime is still not meant for kids. It has a lot of nudity and adult jokes which are not suitable for a young audience. Having an original and unique plot and very nice comedic elements, Interspecies Reviewers is very entertaining and a must-watch for every anime fan. As for actual numbers, I’d like to give this anime a 7 out of a 10, and considering the fact that it is an Ecchi anime, that is a pretty good rating.

On-Con 2020 Anime Convention Review 

On-Con 2020 was an online anime convention and occurred for three days. Geek Archology was graciously happy to host the anime-themed and advertised it on their website. Geek Archegoloy’s founding member, Brent P. Newhall, came up with the idea for COVID-19 and the stress from the convention community surrounding the disease. Geek culture is highly involved in the website and Brent himself, so On-Con is inevitable to happen. YouTube was the method for via live stream and the main video content for Geek Archeology. 

Though the event was three days, I was only able to attend the last day on March 29th. It was a Sunday morning, and I caught the end of the Trivia game, discussion, and giveaway #5. I might have been late to the party; however, the day turned out fruitful and yielded excitement. I asked some questions for On-Con in the discussion section and found possibly more On-Cons coming soon. Sunday had over 200 views on YouTube and a growing audience on the live chat. I stay tuned for the Panel: A Brief History of Anime and wanted to see how Brent discussed the material. 

He started the stream by mentioning that “History is a Lie” and not always accurate, depending on new evidence and historical perceptive. Then, the picture Great Wave off Kanagawa surfaced on the screen, which has great significance in Japan’s Prehistory Animation. Hokusai is a pioneer artist of his time and would paint landscapes and other Japanese life. In terms of animation, people knew him for observing Samurai and their martial arts, which he drew. These could have been early depictions of comic strips later known as manga in Japan. The manga was the prevalent source material for anime and would then influence the term anime. It is essential to understand that early animation after Hokusai’s drawings was establishing a foothold for style and other fundamental techniques. 

After the Prehistory of Anime, there was a timeline for Japanese history and key anime in the time. The first two anime listed in order was Astro Boy (1963) and Mobile Suit Gundam (1979). Between 1963 and 1979, there were student protests which questioned the older generation authority and lazy government plotlines in other anime. The next chronological event was Akira (1988) and then followed by the collapse of the Japanese economy (1990). This lead to instability in the anime industry once again, and budgets were even tighter. Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995) had a depressed protagonist who represented some Anti-Mecha anime tropes. Eventually, Japan would exercise extreme fees in American companies and cause the anime industry to cripple overseas. 2000 marked a shrink in America’s consumption and revenue of anime due to the rising costs. The last major anime in the timeline was The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (2006). Audiences alike were enjoying The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya anime because it sparked significant fan interaction. This panel was an overview of anime, and the presentation dove further with one-on-one anime discussion. 

After hearing anime’s history, the next panel was Cosplay Showcase. Kaminoko and Ladyryu displayed skills for making masks for COVID-19. The activity revealed which fabric to use and the steps to make them. First and furmost, there was the advice for 100 percent cotton only. Cotton presented safe proeedures involving the medical industry for its ability to reuse and sterilize, hypoallergenic capabilities, self-insulating, and other purposes. According to their suggestions, any color fabric was fine along as it was cotton and which filters prevented the disease from spreading. They said that certified filters were best, and the temporary situations like tissues worked best when changed. Lastly, along with the mask, they showed some cosplay projects like a dress. A trip to a thrift shop occurred, and Ladyryu bought a sheet to cut down the cost of the dress. Overall, their panel stood out and provided insightful features about cosplay.

Next, I participated in the Charity Auction for the WHO COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. Brent had some anime merchandise and sold them to benefit fundraiser for the virus. We began this section of On-Con with a preview to each item for auction. I loved the lots and how everyone was competitive with specific objects. The high rollers when it came to bidding was Johnny, Emma, and somehow myself in the process. When I looked back to which objects I bought, I spent money equivalent to a quarter of the total proceeds for the auction. The time lag of the YouTube chat caused some problems with very close bids. Somehow, I placed a request, and the time lag revealed a delay in video and the live chat. On a closer look, I was the winner, and it came to the nose with Johnny and I. I won a Porco Russo original print at a discount than other places. Yeah, this was my favorite moment of the program, plus I benefited the Who COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

 In conclusion, On-Con 2020 was fantastic and thrilling to be part of it. The people that I met were anime enthusiasts like me and reflected their passion throughout the stream. I joined the Discord, and now I am an active participant on the server. I hope people a safe time while at home and the ones affected by the virus in many ways. Also, consider giving to a cause to help this crisis and others like I did. Furthermore, everything is crazy at the moment, and everyone’s support would form a collective to combat COVID-19. 

Stay Home Comic Con 2020 Review

This past weekend was full of fun and established an online convention. Stay Home Comic-Con was a replacement for the canceled Dutch Comic-Con. There were live streams all over the place and was a success given the last minute for a virtual environment. The audience surely made an impact by representing six of seven continents, which included Antaricia but not Africa. Having such a broad international audience was impressive and caused me to look forward to the event even more than before.

I began the day by getting ready for my panel in the morning. According to the program, my presentation began at 11:30 to 12 AM CET. Central Europe Time told me that times zones mattered and resulted in converting my time zone to theirs. CET was five hours ahead, which meant staring the panel at 6:30-7:00 AM EST. I might have started earlier than expected, but I was overly excited about my activity. I titled the live stream with “MC Anime Presents: Discussing Anime Genre.” I did the presentation before, but this time felt different. It marked an experience to my first ever live stream with me as the host. The performance mentioned genres like psychological, action, historical, and others. In the end, My finishing statement was, “Be open to all types of anime and explore the abundance of options for entertainment specific to you.”

I watched other live streams and had to minus five hours from the schedule each time. I looked around and found the Kickstarter for Noobs workshop. Richard Boom discussed aspects of crowdfunding, his mummy collection, the comics, and previous titles such as Bad Press Comics. For those wondering, Kickstarter is a crowdfunding organization dedicated to creative projects and give them money to start a new venture. He was able to get off the ground, and Sisterhood Comics was born. Sisterhood Comics began from a history of mummy sketches and mainly be a story later on. He briefly explained, “Why mummies,” and exposed the truth with Justin Gray. Justin wrote the Vengeance of the Mummy, and that was Richard’s first look at mummies as his priority medium in horror. He ventured off with discussing his multiple hats like Comics for Sinners, Facebook Group Founder, and role as an artist. This panel was very informative and created an atmosphere to follow your passion even if it becomes exotic mummies.

The second panel that I attended was “Lecture – Tips for novice (fantasy) writers?.” Jesse van Willigenburg carried his energy and excitement throughout the lecture. He explained what to do and what to avoid in fantasy writing. In a story, you have many elements, and one is how to begin. Should you have an account with too much exposition or too litte? This question and others in the presentation are found in writing tips and advised strategies. A point that he stated which resonated with me significantly was “Show don’t tell.” Anyone can tell a story, but those who show it are more likely for more success than telling. Fantasy is a genre that includes multiple subgenres and results in different content. According to Jessie, “I speak English, I speak Dutch, and I am a very vivid fantasy writer.” For Jessie, fantasy is what he offers to the world and enjoys doing it. He got this passion by simply exploring video games, which showed elements to make beliefs and other features. These graphics predominately shifted him forward and began writing what he learned from gaming. Gaming might be influential in Jessie’s life, but you need to find your guiding light. If you are a writer, then never cease from writing and see where your passion takes you.

After Tips for Writers, I stumbled upon a live Studio Tour. Studio Tour was Instagram live and had Gerbart show you around his studio and home. Gerben den Heeten walked you around, and you got a close-up of his collections on the shelf. He goes off showcasing collections of figurines to Gundam kits to various books. The books on the shelf were something to see, for it allowed us to know his interests and career. He was a dedicated artist, and one book in his collection was Disney Animation: The Illusions of Life. It was clear that art was his muse, and as such, we got to observe how he operated. He expressed what inspires him the most throughout the studio was “The small and cozy feeling, and I close the curtains and be in a bubble.” The studio revealed which projects he did and what life was like in his creative crash space. There were numerous depictions of drawing guides like beauties of women to marvel characters coming alive. Gerben followed up with finishing some art commission project. For the first time, we saw him in action before the program ended.

The last notable panel for me at least was Live Glass Engraving. Vandenhoudt Stacey was the visionary behind the Miss Moose glass company. I went to her Facebook page, and my first impression was Krabby and Kingler’s glass designs. From first glance, she was an amid pokemon enthusiast and glass designer. She began the stream right away with a glass jar and a drill used for engraving. The design was a flower dragon from 4mimigeeks. She took a break and showed us a little bit around the house and other glass designs she had. All course, the brief tour revealed more Pokemon, Harry Potter, and other fandoms engraved on the glasses. She only does engraving and does not paint or features on glassware. Commissions were available, and her page always has open all hours of the night. After the flower dragon, she began a commission of the electric-type mouse trio. The design revealed itself as Pichu, Pikachu, and Raichu in chronological order by Pokemon evolution. When the model came around, I was under the impression of Russian stacking dolls. If these Pokemon were dolls, then Pichu would fit in Pikachu’s body and then Pikachu in Raichu’s body. I enjoyed the live demonstration of glass engraving and Miss Stacey at work for Miss Moose.

Furthermore, Stay Home Comic Con was a lot more than just a convention. The program had many noteworthy activities and amazing integration of many social media outlets for going live. My only problem probably was the differences in Eastern Standard Time and Central Europe Time. However, it did not take away but served as a reminder for guests far away like the Netherlands and other places. Stay Home Comic Con was four stars out of five stars and reflected the tough times we are going with right now. Be safe and be mindful of where you are and what you are doing during this pandemic.

Online Comic-Con 

Life right now in the convention community, there is a lot of confusion and cancelations. The Novel Coronavirus primarily caused these cancelations. With this mind, large events are either put on hold or not happening altogether. What if I told you if there was a virtual comic con? It is called Stay At Home Comic-Con (SATCC), and it reflects the pride of the convention community. It is a tribute to vendors earning income to fans having an escape from social distancing. Get ready and mark your calendars for March 28th-29th, 2020, for this unique comic con is coming soon. 

The organizers capitalized on the public health trend of social distancing and made an online event. Without them, it would not occur, and they are Irene Berbee, Gladys P. Nut &  Art on Xodosch. It is a collaboration among like-minded comic enthusiasts coming together and giving back to the community. The idea of Stay At Home Comic-Con might sound crazy, but with everything going on, it is a smart thing to do it online. Everyone is at home, and why not bring a chance for people online to be closer virtually via Discord and Twitch.

Discord is a community where people can chat within a group setting and are invited via a link. You might say it is another Facebook or social media, and while that is true, it is not the whole truth. Initially, the platform was for gaming and soon after exploded for many groups. On the Discord server, SAHCC divides the categories by Cosplay, Comic-Con Memories, special offers, Artists, and other specific channels. I like the names of the voice chats like Stark Tower, Batcave, Cosplay Hangout, and others. Discord is well maintained; the Twitch channel would allow free visitors to view the live-stream. On the live-stream, there are about 60 different programs scheduled according to the website. The line of panels, workshops, and selling times are all available and ready for audiences to view this weekend. 

The programming this weekend includes many activities related to comics. Some of the notable programs for me are Lecture – Tips for novice (fantasy) writers?, Making Stories, and Animation Class. “Lecture – Tips for novice (fantasy) writers?” is hosted by Jesse van Willigenburg from 12:00-12:30. Jesse is the founder of Skilltree Entertainment, a writer, and a gamer by heart. He is live streaming the panel on his Twitch channel, which is SkilltreeOnTwitch. Making Stories is proudly hosted by Willem Ritstier from 14:00 – 14:30 on Saturday. Willem is an artist from CartoonsforBreakfast, which is a magazine and one of the sponsors for SAHCC.  He is the creator of the fictional character of Mimoo for the magazine, and his panel reflects this on the CartoonsforBreakfast Facebook page. Finally, the Animation Class is a panel by     

Pan-plastique, which goes from 16:30 to 17:00. Pan-plastique is known for his roles as an animator, artist, and YouTuber. He makes original art for 3D looking stretches, stickers, and more on his marketplace on his Instagram. 

The Stay At Home Comic-Con is an activity that is like no other and free for attendance online. The guests could connect vendors, other guests, and generally watch the event from their couches. There is a giveaway if you sign up for the free ticket and register for the drawing. I like the Cosplay Contest on the website, and let’s see who would be the winner. During this time, I hope you guys are safe in your homes and try to practice good choices for anti-virus precaution. Remember, the times right now might seem eerie, but eventually, there would be a resolution.   Also, if you want to participate and see some of the programmings, then click on the programs. The program section is top of the screen and selects the activity you wish, then sees and bravo a live stream on the host’s social media.

Puppet Users in Anime

Author: Zorez Shahzad

The Japanese word for puppets is kugutsu (人形), which literally means human form. The Japanese are known to take small concepts to their extreme. Puppets are an integral part of Japanese history. They have a 500-year-old heritage with puppets being passed down from generations as a part of family heritage and being gifted to lords and kings for their distinctive design and the significance they held in the Japanese culture. They represent prosperity and are known to take bad luck away from their bearer. They consider puppets as being an actual extension to the owner and according to some folklores, are known to come to life after some time. So being able to manipulate such an artifact has been a long undying dream of the Japanese people.

Of Course, we see this culture being represented anime. The fascination does not just stop with just being able to Manipulate another body. They go further and explore this concept in many shapes or forms, adding their own twists and expectations. Rationalizing it in the form of some futuristic innovation or using plain old magic as the answer to everything. 

So, today we will take a look at some characters in anime who are able to manipulate another body as a puppet or a doll and bend them according to their will.

Without further wait, let’s get started.

Gowther:

The first one in our list passes all the characteristics of a trap. He has the feminine face and personality, but HE IS A GUY! Gowther is one of the main characters of Seven Deadly Sins. Despite being a doll himself, he can control and manipulate the memories of others. Hence, he is a doll who manipulates other humans. Isn’t this a reverse Uno situation? But despite having such a great ability, most of his power and memories are suppressed. He still is more powerful than a Holy Knight and possesses immense physical strength and magic. He can go toe to toe with some of the most powerful characters in his world and can easily go through a beating from the Giant Diane.  

Gowther is not very perceptive of other people’s emotions and tries very hard to understand them. So, he often subjects others to his experiments which can go to extremes very quickly.

Kankuro:

Kankuro is one of the most important supporting characters in the anime, Naruto and its sequel Boruto: Naruto Next Generation. The character design has been inspired by the traditional Japanese puppeteers, Bunraku, and being true to this inspiration, Konkuro has an innate desire to perfect his puppeteering techniques. He also likes to collect puppets, modify them and add different mechanisms to them. He is a very strong character, able to utilize his chakra threads to control multiple puppets at the same time and seems to be well versed in nature transformation, being able to use wind, light, earth and wind release. 

Kankuro is a true master puppeteer. He deeply cares for his comrades and has built a strong bond with his little brother Gaara. He, with his sister Temari, are the two guardians of the young Kazekaage. A duty he took and will follow to his grave.

Sugar:

Sugar is a minor antagonist from the long-running anime, One Piece. She, despite looking like a 10-year-old is 22(Anime is weird). She has the power of Hobby-Hobby-fruit that lets her turn any living being into a toy and erase their existence from the memories of others. Her character has a lot of flavors, and despite her sweet name, she is shown to be very cruel. Albeit capable of sympathy, Sugar following her terrifying little girl trope is responsible for playing a very integral role in plunging a country into turmoil. Being a part of the Donquixote family, she is very loyal to Doflamingo and uses her power to aid him in his plans. 

Although Sugar did develop a fear of long noses and long noses like things at the end of her arc, she is the perfect example of why you should never mess with a little girl. 

Charlotte Belew:

Charlotte Belew is one of the main supporting characters in the anime, Unbreakable Machine-Doll. She has a tsundere personality and cares deeply for her comrades. She possesses strong mana compatibility and can sustain mana in her body. Charlotte, as a puppeteer, controls her automation Sigmund and with her high mana compatibility, is even able to heal life-threatening wounds. She can even transform her automation into a much larger dragon by giving him a large chunk of her mana and is often left exhausted after doing so. 

Although she is feared by her classmates, Charlotte is said to be very popular with the girls and the boys also prefer her. But despite this, she is a loner. Her character is shown to possess extreme intellect, able to analyze the situation in the middle of a battle and make the right decision.

Jin Kariya:

The last person on this list is Jin Kariya. He is one of the major antagonists from Bleach. Jin is from a unique race called Bounts, who was artificially created by the Seireitei. He has a very manipulative personality as he treats his comrades like pawns and has no attachment to anything be it living or dead. Despite his shortcomings, Jin has a unique doll. His doll is called Messer and is a case for playing cards. Having a weird ability does not stop him from being cool though. His doll allows him to manipulate air, and he can use this ability without his doll being called an extension of his body. Which is a unique trait in his kind. And he can use this ability to ionize the air and produce electricity. Which somehow lets him turn his box of playing cards into a saber. He has one of the most bizarre and coolest abilities out of everyone on this list.

Williamsburg Comic and Toy Show 2020 Review 

The Williamsburg Comic and Toy Show was a relatively small one-day event. It was hosted by Retro Daddio on March 14th, 2020. According to their website Retro Daddio is,”Williamsburg’s one-stop geek shop!” The past Saturday had  significantly fewer attendees because of the threat of the COPID-19 virus. During last year’s venue, 400 guests were present. However, during this year’s venue had only 107 attendees.Whilst the number of attending pedestrians was limited, the venue still packed a plethora of vendors, networkers, and a large amount of comics/toys!

I started the day with Amtrak, and then headed to Retro Daddio. I arrived at the store around 11 PM, and proceeded to the sofas in the back. I waited until the starting time and met Mathew, a man who was selling comics at his booth. He was representing Key Issue Comics, but was called off at the last minute. Jen, the store owner, contacted them and gathered a few items to sell. Mathew specialized in selling independent comics, and his attire expressed such. He wore a MadMan T-shirt and a Wolverine hat. The lasting impression about him was his passion for Paul Pope and the THB series. 

After my conversation with Mathew, I ventured off and sat on the chairs close to the small stage in the store. I would eventually venture back to converse with Deb, another small business owner. Deb’s business was Misfit Geek, who was Perler beads with multiple characters. The fandoms displayed at her booth were Pac-Man, Super Mario, Pokemon, and Harry Potter. She was excited to discuss art, and there was a mini Van Gogh painting made out of beads. This sparked the conversation of the Vincent van Gogh pop-figure around her work. When she first received it, she took various photos in many backdrops at work. Afterwards, she paid zero attention to her judgmental coworkers. Eventually, I bought two items from her. Both of which were Pokemon characters; Gengar and Pikachu. The canvas combined Friday the 13th, and Pokemon, with a Pikachu body. Followed by a Jason hockey mask with an accompanying knife. From speaking with her, I learned that art is universal and speaks volumes to all whom are pleased with it. 

Misfit Geek was fun, but Pop iCollectibles stood out in a different capacity. Chris was the visionary for Pop iCollectibles and had items that were Pop and others. The one thing that I noticed was the Dragon Ball set by Bandai. The Dragon Balls were orange and did look like the ones in Dragon Ball, which was the original premise for the show. The legend stated if you collect all 7 Dragon Balls you shall be granted a wish. I asked Chris,”If you were to have one wish what it would be?” He had great difficulty selecting an answer, and asked me for my response. I exclaimed,” World unity and no mindless violence.” Afterwards, Chris met with the ending of poverty to finally realize that it was problematic. He stated, “The dragon curse is indecisive, Shenron has put me down a rabbit hole.” Apparently, he was referring to issues concerning poverty; Those who would determine the disparity between rich and poor. In essence, we concluded that a wish was too powerful and Goku made the right choice concerning the Dragon Balls. 

After Chris, I reconnected with the staff from MarsCon and experienced Mad Max cars. The team from MarsCon in January 2020 were making their rounds since the show. Furthermore, their conventions were both in Williamsburg. Previously, I volunteered for Mars Con, and it was refreshing to see some of the senior staff again. Earl was probably the most influential because we had a conversation about photography and Audio-Visual effects for the event. We discussed the process on which DSLR camera to buy for someone’s wedding. The wedding couple wanted an album, but they did not realize the substantial cost associated with their choice. In return, Earl took the pictures with a release for the couple to print as much they wanted. The significance of the statement meant that they did not have to go to him and get additional points. Photographers make their money by second-end sales of reprints! This is because they produce original photos, and give the copyright to those pictures. He gave me his business card. Worst case scenario, I will not be able to attend the  photography business but maybe taking photos at next year’s MarsCon alongside Earl.

Earl had me going, but so did Mad Max Props and Adventures. This group had two people represented in the parking lot with their cars. Both vehicles were fashioned with the classic rustic look, and desert feel of erosion. They were the same model of car, a GT Tornio! However, both models were produced in different years. The GT Torino 71 was painted with a rustic iron pigmentation. It was based on the new remake for the franchise, Mad Max: Fury Road. The other GT was a custom-made model in the Mad Max videogame. I loved both, for they each had their gas tanks on the back.The drivers were kind, and traveled to the Mojave Desert for Wasteland Weekend; A five-day event where Mad Max enthusiasts came out and stayed in character. I hope to see them at Tidewater Comic-Con’s next scheduled showing.

Furthermore, Williamsburg Comic and Toy Show presented new opportunities, showcased grave issues, and served as an example of general public concerns; Such as the Coronavirus. Many people were concerned with taking care of themselves, and actively practiced basic hygiene. Jen said, “What is the point of canceling the event if the store would still be open?” The show proved that having normalcy in crisis is a far better option than giving up/starting to panic. In conclusion, Williamsburg Comic and Toy Show was an 8.5 out of 10! It will continue to facilitate Virginia’s passion for comics and toy-based collectibles for many years to come. Head on over to Williamsburg, Virginia, and take a peak for yourself.