The first installment in my series, looking at the Heartcatch Precure transformations.
Tsubomi is the first Cure in Heartcatch. As a 1st Cure, and a Pink one at that, you’d expect she’d be outgoing and enthusiastic- an ideal team leader. Instead she’s pathologically shy, somewhat clumsy, and fixated on flowers and the language of flowers (Hanakotoba).
See how her experiences are illustrated by the storyboarder and animator’s art:
Continue reading →The Japanese esthetic principle of Mono no Aware, the value and pathos of impermanent things viewed through the lens of a Delicious Party Precure episode.
Continue reading →(Chapter 1 is here) Chapter 08 – Sacrifices So, Mr. Fleur…” the high priestess began. AP had no idea how to fill the awkward silence, as she looked at him across the ornate desk with an expression of trepidation, with perhaps a touch of defiance. He was five hours late, but they were the ones who had given him an address eleven hundred years out of date. He accepted the … Continue reading →
(Chapter 1 is here) Chapter 07 – The Opener of the Way Abiff threw the worn bundle of reeds over the side, grabbed a fresh handful, and resumed scrubbing the deck. It kept him busy, but unfortunately left his mind free to dwell on his problems. Traveling upstream should have been a wonderful adventure. He’d never been on a boat, never even been out of the city. But his entire … Continue reading →
(Chapter 1 is here) Chapter 06 – A Message from the Gods AP wondered how Jo could enjoy sipping hot coffee in this weather. The woman appeared unconcerned by the heat, but she was probably used to it, having grown up in southern Alabama. She looked at the map she had bought from a street vendor. To AP’s amazement, she took out a red pen and began making corrections. She … Continue reading →
Rumiko Takahashi is probably one of the most successful manga creators, and perhaps the most successful female comic creator in the world. Most of her works were turned into wonderful anime series as well. One of her many strengths has been to create engaging characters with complexity and depth, without using a lot of exposition. Her first series was Urusei Yatsura – “Those Obnoxious Aliens” or “UY”. The manga series … Continue reading →
Thirty-six years ago today, the first episode of Urusei Yatsura was broadcast in Japan! One of the most influential anime series, it’s still highly entertaining today. The title roughly translates as “Those Obnoxious Aliens”. Based on Takahashi Rumiko‘s 1978 manga series, it broke the mold of the “Disney Princess” trope, introduced J-Pop music into the anime soundtrack, and ran to 195 episodes! Earth has just been invaded by aliens who resemble Japanese Oni, led … Continue reading →
(Chapter 1 is here) Chapter 05 – The House of the Fella 3700 BCE – Khonsu Shipping Office Naram risked a glance out the window of the small business office. It had been over three hours since the screaming had started outside, and things hadn’t gotten any better. The Badi invaders had broken down the door of the next building, dragging the bodies of the occupants out into the street. … Continue reading →
(Chapter 1 is here) Chapter 04 – The House of the Priestess “Good morning, Jo!” Hearing the voice of her friend, Jo looked up from her breakfast in the courtyard of the house. A servant appeared around a screen of potted fig trees, followed by a rather sleepy-looking AP. “Were you up as late as I was? Boy, your cousin Saadi can certainly play the oud.” She laughed. “I knew … Continue reading →
(Chapter 1 is here) Chapter 03 – Mr. Hammer’s Office In a better office, in a better part of the city, three men sat at a table. Pulleys creaked as a long belt turned a row of fans above their heads. Despite the slowly revolving blades, Mr. Hammer fanned himself with his derby. A servant entered bearing a teapot on a tray, steam wafting from the spout. Straightening his spectacles, … Continue reading →
