Chihayafuru

I haven't mentioned this before, because I am aware that I already seem like such a dork that I probably shouldn't push the envelope, but I like anime. Granted, I'm no diehard fan, but my freshman year of college was spent watching quite a number of anime. Ouran High School Host Club, Fruits Basket, Itazura na Kiss, Junjou Romantica, Inuyasha, Kimi ni Todoke, Zero no Tsukaima, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Loveless, Shugo Chara, Gakuen Alice, Card Captor Sakura, Skip Beat, Clannad, Vampire Knight, La Corda D'oro, Kaichou Wa Maid Sama, Full Moon wo Sagashite, and Full Metal Panic. That's a lot of anime to watch in a year at college.

In case you couldn't tell by that list, I'm kind of into the girly animes. I know they have a technical name (shoujou, maybe?) but I just call them girly. Even Inuyasha was too battle-y for me and I ended up fast-forwarding through the fighting parts and mainly just watching anything with Kouga in it. I would classify Chihayafuru as a girly anime, so if that's not your thing then steer clear.

Without giving away any spoilers, Chiahayafuru is the story of three childhood friends who grew up and grew apart, and are now trying to find their way. What brought them together was a card game called karuta, and that is what will hopefully reunite them. The protagonist and character who is mainly pushing for the reunion is Chiahaya, whose love for karuta has remained even while her friends have moved on to other hobbies.

NOW There Are Spoilers

Okay, there are several things I really liked about Chihayafuru. First of all, I never imagined that watching a show about a card game could be so intense! The creators do a really good job of making sure you understand how the game is played so you can follow along in suspense rather than be confused about the rules. They really got me invested in who was going to win and what mistakes Chihaya was making and how she could improve and omygodpleaseletherwin

The players' movement is a big part of what makes the show so suspenseful. The objective of karuta is to listen to the first part of a poem being read, and to touch the second part on the board in front of you before your opponent does. That is obviously a very simplified version, but you get the gist. The players move with sharp, sweeping motions that utilize their whole bodies, which helps to make karuta much more interesting than if they were playing, say, rummy, which would get old around episode 2.

The show made me want to learn how to play karuta, which is saying something. Of course, I won't. I have no time to play, no money to buy cards, and no friends to play with. That is discounting the biggest obstacle: I wouldn't understand the japanese poems.

Another aspect of Chihayafuru that I really enjoyed was the art. I am unable to watch an anime, no matter how good the plot may be, if I don't like it visually. It just doesn't work for me. Chiahayfuru was beautiful. The characters were very detailed--I especially noticed that Chihaya is drawn with lips. Isn't that kind of unusual for an anime? Maybe not but it felt unusual. Or maybe unique would be a better word. Taichi was my favorite character visually because, well...you know. I got the inappropriate feelings towards an animated character. Just look at him!

Who wouldn't get squiggles in their stomach after looking at that?

The characters were another thing I really enjoyed about the plot. They were all likable, but had flaws that were realistic and are each dealing with their own personal struggles within the major karuta-reauniting conflict. Chihaya is too oblivious to anything other than karuta (including Taichi's feelings, damn her) and has to deal with the unfair amount of attention which is placed on her sister. Taichi is pressured by his family to be perfect, a little spoiled and used to getting things his own way, and has to deal with his feelings for Arata both as a rival for Chihaya's love and as a friend. Arata's grandfather tragically passed away while Arata was playing a karuta tournament, plunging him into depression and guilt. And that's only the main characters! All in all, I would say that they are very well-developed.

My only real complaint would be that there is a lot of recap in the show before you move on to the new plot devices. Which is fine, you can always use a refresher on how the characters are doing in their matches, but it does get a little annoying sometimes. Just sayin'.

But what I like most about Chihayafuru is that there is going to be a season two! 

Hey, that just rhymed! 

Don't judge me.

Link Recs and LoK

I thought today I'd just share a few funny/enjoyable things I've found on the internet that you might like too. Spread the love.

1) How Not To Clean A Window. This is basically a bunch of pictures showing people defying death in order to get their windows cleaned. It's hilarious and a little scary, which is the best kind of hilarity. The sad part is that I looked at some of the photos and thought, "Hey, that's not so bad! I would do that!" I tell ya, I'm a Darwin Award waiting to happen.

2) I believe John Green from the Vlogbrothers on Youtube mentioned this in a video of his, but I think it's worth sharing that there is an island called Luzon which is an island, in a lake, on an island, in a lake, on an island. This is where I'm escaping to in the event of the zombie apocalypse if you want to join me. Space is limited.

3) Do you like famous paintings? Do you like cats? Then you'll love Famous Paintings Improved By Cats! Seriously, go check this out. Now. I probably shouldn't have laughed as hard as I did at it, but I can't regret it. It was the best 5 hours of my life.

4) This is a youtube video that I find lovely. It's kind of a fan-made music video to the song Little Lion Man by Mumford and Sons with Ron Weasley. It is really well done and I feel like the song fits Ron very well. If you're at all a fan of Harry Potter or Youtube, it's worth a look.

5) One of the places to visit on my bucket list is the Gum Wall in Seattle, WA. Follow the link to the Wikipedia page about it and be amazed. The wall fascinates me in a way that partly makes me want to vomit but mostly makes my insides go mushy at the creativity of our species. As well as the sense of community it takes for everybody to band together in sticking their gum on a random wall and for nobody to come out and scrape it off.

6) Babies Tasting Lemons For The First Time. Am I a bad person for laughing at this? Then you're probably a bad person too. Go check it out.

7) OH MY GOD this just about made my life when I saw it. Disney Face Swap. Basically, some genius Disney fan swapped the characters faces. Hilarity ensued. Another thing that probably shouldn't' have entertained me as much as it did.

8) Youtubers Lucke Conrad, Alex Goot (Goot, really?), and Tiffany Alvord did a cover to Chris Brown's song Next To You. I'll admit to never having heard the original (I'm a fan of Chris Brown's face, not his music) but the cover is amazing. I bought it on itunes and it's a member of my Writing Papers playlist, which basically consists of about 10 songs that I listen to on repeat while I write papers. If you didn't get that from the title.

9) Here are some beautiful Disney wallpapers by alicexz that take my breath away. The one of Rapunzel with the gold and the purple is the background on my computer. It used to be a picture of my friends and I, but they got booted out for Da-Punzz.

10) Last but not least, 50 Unexplainable Black And White Photos. It's what it sounds like, but trust me, it's good.

In unrelated but very exciting news, an article came out announcing that Legend of Korra has been picked up for more episodes! YES!!!!!! From what I understand, Season 1 will be book one (which we just saw) and book two (which will come out in 2013). That is all they were originally planning for. Now they have added a Season 2 which will contain books three and four for an extra 26 episodes!

I'm really excited to see what the creators do with all this extra time. I've heard around that they pretty much already have book two finalized as far as plot and everything goes, which disappoints me a little because I enjoyed Avatar so much more because it was more spread out and...thorough, I guess. I wish they had known about the extra season earlier so that they could have incorporated that extra time into their plot lines.

But hey, I'm talking like this and the freaking thing isn't even close to being out yet. For all I know, they guessed that Nickelodeon would pick it up for another season and planned ahead. Who knows.

I'm just really curious to see what happens next. Korra's got her bending back, including air, Republic City is saved, she can give other people's bending back, she and Mako are in love, the baby is all right...what's next?!?!

I'm not so good at the patience.

Top 10 Disney Heroines

I've been promising this for a while now, but here it is the Top Ten Disney Heroines List! Just as a warning, I mentioned earlier that I recently watched Brave, which has a new heroine (Merida). After giving it a lot of thought, I decided not to include Merida in my list because she is a Disney/PIXAR character instead of strictly Disney. But if you were curious, she probably would have come in at number 5. I've done two top 10 lists before, so feel free to check those out. But for now, I present to you, my biased list of the Top 10 Disney Heroines!


10) Cinderella

"So this is love."

Movie: Cinderella
Age: 17
Challenges: Cinderella's challenge is mostly her step-mother, who is cruel to her and tries to prevent her from finding true love. Cinderella doesn't let that stop her though!
Personality: What really stands out about Cinderella is how patient and kind she is. Other than that her personality kind of falls to the wayside.
Beauty: Cinderella is classically beautiful with sweet, roman features. She's got the blonde hair and the blue eyes, nothing too exciting.
Role Model: Cinderella is a role model in that she is optimistic and believes in her dreams--even if her dreams are superficial. She has the patience of a saint with her step-family and is kind to everyone she meets. She even forgives her step-family! So I would say that Cinderella is a fine role model, even if she does want to marry the guy who can't remember what her face looks like so he is going to marry whatever girl can fit her foot into a glass slipper.
Superlatives: Most Classically Beautiful, Kindest


9) Ariel

"Flounder, don't be such a guppy"

Movie: The Little Mermaid
Age: 16
Challenges: Ariel's challenges are a bit silly compared to other heroines. She is in love with a human, but can't be with him because she is a mermaid and her father doesn't approve. After she fixes that problem by running away, her new problem is that she has to make Eric fall in love with her--without her voice! She's not exactly curing cancer in this movie.
Personality: Ariel is stubborn and rebellious, disobeying her father and running away from home. She doesn't take well to authority. She is also curious and adventurous, always up to explore.
Beauty: Most of my male friends tell me that Ariel is the hottest Disney Heroine. I can see why--she's practically naked for a majority of the movie and she's got all that perfect hair going on. Ariel is beautiful, there's no denying it, although I wish she would cover up a bit more. The immodesty!
Role Model: NO! I hate to say it, but Ariel is not a good role model. Sure she pursues her dreams, but her dream is a completely selfish one that takes her away from her friends and family and makes them worry. Does she care? Nope. Ariel's entire being is focused on getting her man. Is that a healthy message to send? Nope. She literally gives up her voice so that she can be with a guy. Am I the only one that seems significant to? On top of all that, Ariel is saved--she does no saving. Prince Eric rescues her at the end of the movie and it is her dad who finally lets her become a real human. There's no female empowerment in Ariel.
Superlatives: Best Singing Voice

8) Jasmine

"Then maybe I don't want to be a princess anymore!"

Movie: Aladdin

Age: 15

Challenges: Jasmine's challenges are that she is never allowed to leave the palace and desperately wants to explore the world, and that she is being forced to marry a man she doesn't love. Oh--and she gets trapped in an hourglass. I would say that's a challenge too.

Personality: She is headstrong and willful with a fierce independent streak. When she isn't happy with what her future holds, Jasmine takes her fate into her own hands and escapes the palace. But she is also self-sacrificing, as she gives up her new freedom to save Aladdin from the guards. 

Beauty: Jasmine is very beautiful, her most notable feature being that teeny-tiny waistline!

Role Model: When Rapunzel runs away from home, she does so with every intention of returning and has a specific goal in mind--to see the lights. Jasmine, however, plans to run away forever after having a big fight with her father. This doesn't make her the best Disney Heroine Role Model, but even the worst Disney Role Model is better than a Kardashian any day!

Superlatives: Better Role Model Than A Kardashian

7) Jane

"I was saved! I was saved by a flying wild man in a loincloth."

Movie: Tarzan

Age: 21-24 ish

Challenges: The main challenge Jane faces throughout the film is whether or not she can give up her life back in England to stay in the jungle with Tarzan. A classic example of your head battling your heart. In the end her heart wins out, which isn't exactly practical, but she looks happy.

Personality: Jane is an academic. She comes to the jungle to learn about the gorillas living there with her scientist father. But she is also sensitive and artistic, as can be seen by her sketch book. She's got a strong desire to learn and to help others, especially Tarzan in this case.

Beauty: There is nothing wrong with Jane's looks, but she isn't as stunning (or is it striking?) as some of the other Disney heroines. This is mainly due to the fact that she spends the movie in that god-awful yellow dress. Seriously, I know it's probably historically accurate and stuff, but that thing is hideous. There's a reason you don't see any Jane's on halloween.

Role Model: Jane is a role model because she is an intelligent young woman who chooses love over a life of comfort.

Superlatives: Most Intelligent

6) Pocahontas

"Clouds...Strange Clouds."

Movie: Pocahontas
Age: 20ish
Challenges: Pocahontas probably faces the most intense challenges of all the Disney Heroines. She not only has to face the well-known un-wanted marriage plot device, as well as the dead mother, and the strong desire to be free, but she has to battle racism as well. In the end, she has to go against her own father and tribe to do what is right--and she doesn't get the guy! Talk about challenges.
Personality: Pocahontas is strong, but not serious. In fact, she doesn't want to marry Kocoum because he is too serious. She is playful and adventurous, but noble and brave as well. She is a little too free-spirited though, sometimes ignoring her friends and family's feelings to pursue her own agenda without talking with them first.
Beauty: Pocahontas is smokin'. She wears a very scandalous dress and has all that long, flowing black hair that gets tangled up in her face all the time. Damn uncomfortable if you ask me. Personally, I prefer more girly heroines, but there is no denying that she is pretty in an earthy sort of way.
Role Model: Pocahontas is an excellent role model because she stands up for what is right at the risk of her own life. AND she doesn't rely on her man, actually ending the movie without a husband. Girl be flyin' solo.
Superlatives: Overcomes Great Challenges

5) Esmeralda

"Justice!"

Movie: The Hunchback of Notre Dawn

Age: 22ish

Challenges: Esmeralda's challenges involve the discrimination against her people, similar to Pocahontas I suppose but less intense. 

Personality: Esmeralda is fiery and independent. She's a girl who can take care of herself (girl can hold her own against Phoebus) and knows it. She's also very aware of her...sexuality, which is unusual for a Disney heroine who are mostly seen as innocent. But I get the feeling that Esmeralda's been around the block a few times, if you know what I mean. She is strong-willed and unafraid to stand up for what she believes in and to help Quasimodo when he is being ridiculed.

Beauty: Bitch be sexy and she knows it.

Role Model: To be honest, I never paid much attention to Esmeralda. It always kind of irked me, even as a child, that she ended up with the handsome blonde instead of giving Quasimodo his happy ending. But as I was making this list I started to think more and more about her and found out that she's actually pretty awesome. She's independent and strong, she can fight, she knows magic allusions and shit, she stands up for what she believes in, and she doesn't judge Quasimodo based on his looks. She is, however, one step up from a stripper in the beginning, so that's points off the role model score.

Superlatives: Most Under-appreciated, Craftiest

4) Tiana

"There is no way I am kissing a frog and 

eating a bug in the same day."

Movie: The Princess and the Frog
Age: 19
Challenges: Tiana absolutely faces challenges! She is looked down upon for wanting to open a restaurant as a woman, and then is turned into a frog. However, Tiana doesn't let the discrimination or what the townspeople have to say discourage her, instead working even harder to achieve her goals. She has two jobs for pete's sake!
Personality: Tiana is hard working and determined with the perfect amount of sass. However, she also is distant from others, making it hard for her to connect with people emotionally, and can be seen as a bit callous. But she learns by the end of the movie that friends and fun are just as important as hard work.
Beauty: Tiana is very beautiful. She has the disadvantage of spending the majority of the movie as a frog and having only a few precious seconds in her beautiful dresses, but even as a frog her eyes sparkle!
Role Model: I would say that Tiana is an excellent role model. She teaches girls all about hard work--but also that it's okay to have fun.
Superlatives: Most Hard-Working


3) Rapunzel

"Have some humanity! Haven't you ever had a dream?"

Movie: Tangled
Age: 18
Challenges: Rapunzel's challenge is similar to Jasmine's in that that she has never been allowed to leave her tower. Her story is about growing up and breaking free, about discovering who you are.
Personality: Rapunzel is a bit naive, but it works for her. She's a happy-go-lucky young woman who's not afraid to follow her dreams. Rapunzel is very talented. She cooks, sews, plays chess, makes candles, dances, paints, loves to read and exercise, plays guitar, and swings around on her hair like an acrobat. Rapunzel is open, honest, a bit too trusting, and hilarious. If I had to be a princess, I'd pick her.
Beauty: Rapunzel is beautiful, in a I've-Still-Got-A-Little-Of-My-Baby-Fat kind of way. Her dramatic haircut at the end matches her personality very well, I think, and is still beautiful if not traditionally beautiful.
Role Model: I would say that Rapunzel is a decent role model, although I'm sure girls around the world are now considering running away from home because they're convinced they've been kidnapped from their royal parents. Rapunzel is the opposite of lazy, and the way she goes after her dreams is a good message.
Superlatives: Most Talented, Best Hair


2) Belle

"Gaston, you are positively primeval."

Movie: Beauty and the Beast
Age: 17
Challenges: Belle faces several challenges, such as the way the town thinks she strange and odd because she loves to read and doesn't swoon over Gaston. She also has to live with a "monstrous beast"which is...challenging. These may not seem like the most exciting challenges a Disney heroine can face, but I think that is mostly because of how well Belle handles them. She doesn't let the town's gossip get her down, holds her own against Gaston, and gets to know and love the Beast.
Personality: Belle is intelligent and kind. She doesn't focus on outward appearances, instead caring more about--get this--inner beauty. She is brave and has a good sense of what is the right thing to do, as can be seen in the wolf-fight scene where, instead of escaping after Beast rescues her, Belle helps him back to the castle and tends to his injuries. Her bravery and love can also be seen when she stays in the Beast's castle in her father's place.
Beauty: Belle means beauty--and she lives up to her name. Belle is a beautiful young lady. Her brown hair and brown eyes may not be as unusually beautiful as Rapunzel's golden locks or Ariel's wild red hair, but nobody could call her ugly.
Role Model: I would say that Belle is an excellent role model! She doesn't judge based on appearances, and she likes to read!
Superlatives: Best Role Model


1) Mulan

"Just because I look like a man doesn't mean

I have to smell like one."

Movie: Mulan
Challenges: Mulan definitely faces adversity--and overcomes it! She is a woman in a time and country where women are under-valued. She has to train for war, facing physical adversity. And she's got the huns riding her ass! But Mulan manages to face her challenges with bravery and heart, earning her #1 spot.
Age: 16
Personality: IMO, Mulan is one of the most under-appreciated Disney heroines. She kicks ass, and hardly gets any recognition for it. Mulan's heart courage motivate her to risk her life in order to protect her father by going to war in his place. Going to war shows courage in and of itself, but Mulan is also brave on the battlefield. Instead of shying away from hard work and staying in the background, Mulan rushes to the front of the fight. Mulan also displays quick thinking in the avalanche scene in which she is able to knock out the entire hun army with one rocket. She isn't without flaws, however. For instance, Mulan's rebellion, while showing advanced thought for her time period, is also foolhardy. She is lazy at the beginning of the film, not taking the time to do her chores properly or to study for the matchmaking. She even cheats! But I think her hard work in training more than makes up for her initial laziness.
Beauty: While Mulan doesn't have the advantage of wearing a beautiful dress or having long, flowing hair throughout the film like some heroines do, her beauty still shines through--both with and without her make-up!
Role Model: Mulan shows brilliant strength of character. While she loves Shang, she doesn't rely on him utterly--she is her own person. In fact, she saves him. Imagine that!
Superlatives: Most Kick-Ass, Most Changed at the End of the Film, Most Independent


Well, there you have it! I hope you enjoyed my list and please tell me what you're top ten Disney Heroines are! Here's some Disney-Princess related goodness to leave you with:

• An artist named Amy Mebberson has some adorable artwork called the Pocket Princesses. 
• And here is a song by the lovely youtuber Carrie from itswaypastmybedtime titled Why Can't I Be A Disney Princess? It speaks to my heart in a way that a song about Disney princesses probably shouldn't.

Brave

I'm so happy that I got to see Brave this weekend! I usually am nannying and babysitting so I get to have an excuse to see all the new Disney movies (the four-year-old was so confused about why I was balling in Toy Story 3) but since I'm in Virginia with grown ups for the summer I was worried I would have no one to go with. Fortunately, I went to visit a friend of mine who goes to the Naval Academy this weekend and roped him into seeing it with me. He was a pretty good sport about it.

Be Warned, there are SPOILERS!!

Brave tells the story of Merida, a Scottish princess who isn't ready for the marriage and strict rules that being a princess entails. She would rather roam free on adventures and settle down when she finds true love. This creates a rift between Merida and her mother, the queen. Fueled by anger, Merida searches for a way to change her mother (interestingly she doesn't even consider changing herself) so that she can live the life she wants. Merida follows the Will-O'-the-Wisps (blue floating light fairy things) to an old witch who gives her a cake that will change Merida's mother and thus her fate. Merida gives her mother the cake only to find that rather than making her change her mind about marriage, it turns the queen into a bear! Merida and her mother have two days to reverse the spell by "mending the bond" before the queen will be a bear forever!

First of all, let me just say that I didn't get any of that from the trailer. From the trailers I thought Merida was going to have to fight off a huge bear to prove her bravery or something. There wasn't even a hint of the whole mom-turns-into-an-animal plot. That isn't to say I didn't like it, but it did take me by surprise.

What I enjoyed most about Brave is how different it is from what Disney and Pixar normally do. There is no romance to speak of. Merida has no prince or true love's kiss. While the idea of a princess wanting to break free isn't new *cough*Jasmine*cough* the fact that there is no marriage or kiss or hero to speak of is definitely unique. The part of me that loves Happily-Ever-Afters was sad that Merida didn't get her prince, but having a heroine who is strong and brave enough not to need a prince is a happily ever after in its own way. 

Another difference was the distinct lack of animal-sidekick in Brave. Sure, the horse (Angus--brilliant name) was present, but he wasn't nearly as influential a character as, say, Maximus in Tangled. Brave is also Pixar's first female protagonist and their first fairy-tale, which I thought was interesting.

This movie was HILARIOUS! I cracked up throughout the whole thing, but especially right when the queen is turned into a bear. Normally human-in-animal-body comedy doesn't work for me, but for some reason watching the bear mime these prissy, feminine actions really tickled my funny bone. The triplets were also great--three little red-headed devils who can get away with anything.

As for the music, the only thing I can really say is that I don't remember it. True to a Pixar film, this isn't a musical-style movie, so all the music just kind of stayed in the background for me. My friend who saw it with me assured me the music was kick-ass though. I'll have to pay better attention next time I see it--and yes, there will be a next time.

The animation was, of course, lovely. Pixar and Disney are like a Super Team--they make magic. Incredible magic. I fell in love with Merida's hair. I watched the Tangled commentary on the DVD (because, you know, I'm a dork who has no life) where they mentioned that hair was one of the hardest things to animate. You can see why this would be a challenge for Tangled. I feel like in Brave Disney and Pixar were taking everything they'd learned about hair and showing it off--in a good way. Merida's hair was lifelike and vibrant as hell and simply beautiful.

Overall, if you haven't seen Brave yet, go kidnap a four-year-old and watch it RIGHT NOW!