Did you ever notice that things play out differently in some anime movies? They just don’t follow the familiar pattern of action that we’re used to in Western fare. For fans expecting something like a typical action movie, it’s a disappointment. The reason? It’s a different story structure than we usually see. Anime fans usually don’t talk about story structure, it’s more of a writer thing. And many writers are … Continue reading →
My last installment looking at the Heartcatch Precure transformations.
This time it’s Yuri/Cure Moonlight. She was defeated three years ago, her fairy died protecting her, and she’s been living with guilt and depression ever since. But there’s one final chance to redeem herself and help save the world.
See how her experiences are illustrated by the storyboarder and animator’s art:
Continue reading →My third installment looking at the Heartcatch Precure transformations.
Itsuke/Cure Sunshine is the 3rd Heartcatch Cure. She dresses and acts like a boy to help her family dojo, but she loves cute, girly things in secret. Gender conflicts highlight her anxiety. The storyboarder & animator bring this to the fore.
Continue reading →My second installment looking at the Heartcatch Precure transformations.
Now it’s Erika- the loud, enthusiastic blue Cure with no social skills and a passion for fashion. She can go from design to final outfit in nothing flat.
See how her personality and experiences are illustrated by the storyboarder and animator’s art:
Continue reading →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 He was five hours late, but they were the ones who had given him an address eleven hundred years out of date.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 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 →
