We’re starting off today with some time-critical news.
A new Yuri Anthology out of Europe is down to the last few days of crowdfunding and they can really use our support – Freya Anthology is planning on being 300 pages as a physical book. I’ve already chipped in for a copy – they are shipping anywhere in the world. and they are getting very close to their goal, so if you can, this sounds like a great way to support Yuri globally!
Time is running down on registration for the upcoming Queer & Comics conference in NYC, May 7-8. I’m going to bang this drum every single chance I get for the next two weeks. If you are into LGBTQ comics and can make this ground-breaking event, do! Alison Bechdel and Howard Cruse are keynote speakers. Really…do not miss this opportunity!
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Roundup from the Field
YNN Correspondent Alex has this to say that – the creator of Kuttsukiboshi, Primastea before he worked under that name, also has made a very very short and simple animation Docchi mo Maid (どっちもメイド); “silly, stupid, with Yuri in it (a little bit, gags and fanservice).” It appears to be on YouTube at least in part.
From YNN Correspondent Day, “Triage X (トリアージX) isn’t a Yuri anime, but (and unsurprisingly), it does have some eau de Yuri in the mix. I’d describe the show as Weiss Kreuz but with medical professionals/assassins swapped for the florists/assassins of WK, and with a whole hell of a lot more boob/butt/crotches fanservice. In episode three, a rival, unassociated assassin, Chikage, is introduced, only for the lead female, Mikoto, to befriend her in school (without, of course, either cottoning on to their assassin identities). The two get a bit touchy-feely-gropey, there’s a brief fantasized shot of them embracing while naked, probably orgasming, and some blushing. Other Yuri-type content includes subtext between one of the female doctors and her assistant, as well as the same female doctor and a couple of minor character nurses. The show itself is garbage, although I’m enjoying it a horrific amount – tons of fanservice interspliced with stabbing, shooting, burning, etc. of sleazy bad guys (and its all men so far who’ve been slaughtered in various manners). I will add the caveat that there are some threats of sexual violence in it, although the would-be rapists all get the crap kicked out of them and are killed before they can follow through on those threats.”
Senior YNN Correspondent Grisznak has this exciting news to share; Polish company Kotori announced that they have the license for Iono The Fanatics. First volume will be published in August, the second in October in Polish.
YNN Correspondent Jin wanted to make sure we all knew that Hanamonogatari: Suruga, has some Yuri feelings and little to no fan-service. Jin says, “There was indeed Yuri feeling and tension, also I saw the ending credits even featured a type of classic Yuri tribute as a mini story. For some who were not aware they may find it interesting.” The series is currently available on Right Stuf as a Blu-ray set.
I want to recommend the not-Yuri, but exceedingly excellent read, The Evil Queen, by Jessi Sheron. I picked up a copy at MoCCA and found it so good, I asked my wife to read it. (You know I never do that.) She also thought it excellent. Luckily for all of us, you can read the whole thing as a webcomic on Jessi’s Tumbr.
We’ll end up with this analysis of Yuri Kuma Arashi which was an excellent read and wholly at odds with my feelings. A fantastic and very positive perspective!
Next week we’ll be back with a pile of upcoming Yuri releases, so see you then!
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Thanks to all of you – you make this a great Yuri Network!
I ordered my copy of Freya! I can’t wait to read it. It looks amazing!
Excellent, I’m sure they appreciate the support. ^_^
I have to give a heads up about Mikagura School Suite this season, if only because the heroine of the series is only interested in girls and loves yuri, and that the plot and presentation feels a *lot* like Hayate Cross Blade IMHO. That said, I’ve only watched the first two episodes so far. :)
Also series two of Kin-iro Mosaic is airing, which is pretty typical moe 4-panel type borderline akogare-yuri schoolgirl fluff but had a very endearing and well-directed first and last episode in its prior series in particular. I’m not sure I’d fully recommend either series here so much so far, but I think those two episodes in particular are fairly worth hunting down.
It seems no one has licensed Nanoha Vivid yet, but it has aired four episodes thus far.
Thanks!
I’ve read the Mikagura School Suite light novels, which are all based on a pop-rock concept album. There is a lot of Class S content between openly queer girls in the later volumes – they are shown “sleeping together”, going on dates, and their friends throw them a very thinly-veiled coming out party.
It’d be about as explicit as Yoshino & Rei if one of the girls didn’t self-identify as a lesbian.
I’ve seen about four episodes of the anime adaptation, and as far as I can tell, its central message seems to be, “dear millennials: turn off your computers, go outside, flirt with a girl, have a slumber party, run around like an idiot. Maybe you’ll learn to like yourself a little bit more.”
I was looking back at this and realized it wasn’t clear that when I said “I’m not sure I’d fully recommend either series here so much so far” I was referring to the two series of Kin-iro Mosaic, not Mikagura. :)
I have to say, after a couple of more episodes that BodaciousSpacePirate’s informed interpretation seems right on the money. Also the Hayate X Blade feeling I get from it is still coming through strongly. I’m glad to hear that the theme continues into the later books of the source material.