Author Archive


Yuri Network News – February 23 – 2013

February 23rd, 2013

I cannot tell you HOW MUCH I was not writing a YNN report this week, but then stuff, so here we are.

Yuri Anime

There is no GIRL FRIENDS anime on the radar. A Spanish blog announced this in 2009. They later said the rumor was false.  I just know breathlessly excited people asked me to comment before I’d had my coffee this morning. You should all know better than that. Have I taught you nothing?

When you read a rumor:

1) Question the premise: Is it *likely*? Is it sensible? Is it probable? Is it plausible?

If the answer to all 4 of these questions is ‘Yes’ then:

2) Look for a source. 

Sources are how you track the veracity of a news item.

ANN always lists its sources. So does Crunchyroll News. I’m iffier about it that I should be, because I’m lazy. I’ll be better at it from now on, since I hate being a hypocrite. ^_^ I just spent some time looking through Japanese Yuri blogs and news sources and found nothing. Nothing anywhere. The only thing I found was that Spanish blog from 5 years ago.

Next time you come across a Yuri-related rumor, instead of asking me if I’ve heard it, if you do the footwork and track down who said what, where, and report it to me (at anilesbocon01 at hotmail dot com,) then a YNN correspondent is you! You’ll get a fetching badge, and everything. ^_^

In this case, the post in question was made in 2009 and was immediately retracted. It appears to have been based on Morinaga-sensei commenting on her blog that it would be nice “if.”

That having been said, it’s is not implausible that a GF anime might be made, although I consider it unlikely to be a series. Maybe a short packaged with a deluxe 5-manga set or something. That’s what I’d do, ‘if.’ ^_^

In other news, Director Kunihiko Ikuhara has announced that he will be showing a new anime project teaser video at a Revolutionary Girl Utena discussion event being held March 23rd in Tokyo. (According the the event site, Utena manga artist Saitou Chiho-sensei will be there as well.)

New Video Group has stated that the Digimon Tamers DVDs will be dub only. The dub was actually very good, but I admit to hoping it would be the subbed version. ^_^; Oh well, there’s still Hulu.

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Yuri Shousetsu

In addition to the reissue of Suzumoto Beni’s PUPPY LOVE, illustrated by Hibiki Reine, there’s a sequel, Bebe Requin: PUPPY LOVE 2

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Other News

The Organization of Anti-Social Geniuses put together a  list of How You Can Watch Anime Legally in 2013. It’s worth taking a look at and bookmarking for future reference.

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That’s a wrap for this week!

Become a Yuri Network Correspondent by sending me any Yuri-related news you find. Emails go to anilesbocon01 at hotmail dot com. Not to the comments here, please, or they might be forgotten or missed. There’s a reason for this madness. This way I know you are a real human, not Anonymous (which I do not encourage – stand by your words with your name!) and I can send you a YNN correspondent’s badge.

Thanks to all of you – you make this a great Yuri Network!





Light Novel: Miniskirt Space Pirates, Volume 2 Ougon no Yureisen (ミニスカ宇宙海賊 2 黄金の幽霊船)

February 21st, 2013

Miniskirt Space Pirates, Volume 2  Ougon no Yureisen (ミニスカ宇宙海賊 2 黄金の幽霊船) opens with a stowaway on the Bentenmaru and ends with two transfer students into Hakuoh Academy’s Yacht Club. In between is a centuries-old mystery, a gene bank in the form of a golden spaceship, and several space battles, all of which make for a rollicking tale of intrigue and space piracy.

If you are watching the Bodacious Space Pirates anime, this novel is the arc on Disk 2 of Volume 1. Seventh Princess of the Serenity Royal Family, Gruier Serenity, (with an uncanny resemblance to another princess named Serenity,) hides away on the Bentenmaru, in hopes of hiring the pirate ship to assist her in finding the Legendary Gold Spaceship.

Marika befriends the Princess and accepts the commission because who wouldn’t? ^_^

We get to experience Marika’s newfound confidence as Captain of the Bentenmaru and watch her crew rally around her with complete support of her decisions.

Nothing in the novel is significantly different from the anime, right down to the secret underground restaurant at the space relay station where Ririka works. (Or, I should say, if there were differences my Japanese wasn’t up to noticing them.)

The key point of the arc is that Marika has stepped into her father’s shoes and found that they fit rather well. And now we have a Princess or two on our side. ^_^

Ratings:

Overall – 8

Interestingly, this book series is getting links for Kindle versions which don’t yet exist on Amazon JP. I’d love it if they put this series on Kindle, I’d like to see if I could buy the next book that way. I bet there’s region restrictions, though. Oh well, on to Volume 3, however I can get it. ^_^





Sailor Moon Manga, Volume 9 (English)

February 20th, 2013

In Volume 9 of Sailor Moon, the Dead Moon Circus is starting to have a terrible effect on the city and the Inner Senshi can’t transform! Well, until they can. And the reason they can now transform is that advice and guidance they received from the formidable Outer Senshi helps them get in touch with their inner strengths. Phew!

But…what about the Outer Senshi? After the defeat of Pharoah 90 and the Witches 5, they retired from the public eye and lost touch with the Inners. Unbeknownst to the younger Guardians, Haruka, Michiru and Setsuna have moved in together in a large suburban house to raise the baby Hotaru. And, unbeknownst to the younger women, the older also cannot transform. As the power of the Dead Moon threat is growing, the Outers are powerless.

But what is important to us is the quiet repose with which the former Outer Senshi have created a family life together. Haruka and Michiru, still together, watch over Hotaru  Hotaru, who is rapidly aging, appears quoting Yeats’ The Second Coming, which I think is well worth reproducing in whole here – imagine it spoken by a child of about 5 years:

Turning and turning in the widening gyre
 The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
 Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
 Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
 The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
 The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
 The best lack all conviction, while the worst 
 Are full of passionate intensity.

 Surely some revelation is at hand;
 Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
 The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
 When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
 Troubles my sight: a waste of desert sand;
 A shape with lion body and the head of a man, 
 A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun, 
 Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it 
 Wind shadows of the indignant desert birds. 

 The darkness drops again but now I know 
 That twenty centuries of stony sleep 
 Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle, 
 And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, 
 Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born? 

This is the poem Hotaru quotes. Probably few of the children readers of Nakayoshi magazine understood the words they were reading, but the power in these words would resonate with the knowledge that that child speaking them is, in truth, the Senshi of Death.

I want give to the translation an “attaboy” on this volume, Transitions are always hard and the move from one translator to a new one was, IMHO, seamless here. It wasn’t an easy volume, with intense poetry, herbal and stone lore (and some good cautionary science in the notes!) Nice job, Mari. ^_^

But most importantly, we see that Haruka and Michiru make as dashing a married couple as they did a bon vivant pair of young celebrities. And when they, and the Inners, get to transform again, it feels kinda good. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 7
Characters – 9
Yuri – 6
Service – 2

Overall – 8





"Yuri Needs" List for 2013 / 2013の 「百合が必要」のリスト

February 18th, 2013

日本語で

Since I started this blog in 2002, we’ve come pretty far in Yuri.  There was a time when we had to be content with a tertiary character in a series with a probably tragic backstory, or a predatory lesbian implied with vague hints and innuendo.

Now, we’ve got 2 steady print Yuri anthologies, another in webcomic form, and various on-again, off-again anthology collections. Some of our best and most popular Yuri runs in mixed-gender “5th column” magazines, and as I look at my shelves, I’m very impressed at the quantity AND quality of Yuri manga these days.

Originally, I had added a fifth request to this list: “A Long-running Series.” And then my eye lit upon Aoi Hana, the 8th volume of which should be out soon. 8 volumes. So check off that one. We have a long-running Yuri series (with a lot of real-life lesbian issues in it.)

After some thought, here are the 4 things I’d like to see in Yuri in the near future. Yuri Needs:

4) Yuri Needs a Good Middle-aged/Senior Yuri Story: There are a few doujinshi stories with older or elderly characters and Fujieda-sensei included an older couple in Ameiro Kouchakan Kandan, but both readers and creators are going to hit a moment when we’d like to see someone like ourselves in the pages of Comic Yuri Hime. This year will be my 30th high school graduation. I’d like to see someone older than 16 now, thanks. ^_^

3) Yuri Needs a Non-ero, Non-childish Sci-fi/Fantasy Series: We’ve had sci-fi Yuri, of course, and fantasy Yuri, but remarkably none about not-children who do not have big breasts and/or have sex a lot. In early western lesbian fiction, sci-fi was a popular genre, but we just haven’t seen much in Yuri without tentacles or something else. Mouretsu Space Pirates was a good start. Now some of that with grown ups would be terrific, thanks.

2) Yuri Needs Decent Yuri Novels: This makes me weep with frustration. There are many good authors in the world. Where are you dragging these indifferent, mediocre-at-best novelists up from Ichijinsha and Tiara Bunko? A Yuri novel ought, at minimum, to be a novel, not a series of short stories, with two females who are in love with one another. I’m even okay if one is an alien or android or other non-human. Two women who share the pages of a book with not a single moment of attraction or affection does not a Yuri novel make.

1) Yuri Needs a Sports Yuri Series!!!

This is our number one need right now. Sports is the perfect hothouse for an intense love-rivalry and a genre in which there is very, very little Yuri. My suggestions for suitable sports: Gymnastics, swimming, tennis and my #1 suggestion – motocross/BMX.  Table tennis has been done, Volleyball or soccer would be acceptable as nods to early shoujo sport manga. But really, in honor of Haruka, Yuri Needs a Motocross or BMX series.

Dear Yuri creators, if you give me a Yuri sports manga this year, I’ll be your best friend forever. Thanks.

Sincerely,

Erica

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わたしがこのブログを始めたのは2002年のことになるんですが、それから百合というジャンルも 発展を遂げてきたと思います。作品の中で脇役に過ぎなかったり、大抵は悲劇的な背景を 背負っているか、曖昧なヒントや皮肉でほのめかされる好色なレズビアン、といったキャラクターで 我慢しなくてはならない時代もありました。

それが今では、定期的に刊行されている百合アンソロジー誌は2種類存在していますし、 ウェブコミックの形で続いているものもひとつあります。さらに、現れては消え、また復活するようなアンソロジーも色々ありますよね。私達にとって最高の内容で、最も人気のあるような百合作品がいくつか、ジャンルを特定せず、読者層のジェンダーも混在しているような雑誌に掲載されていたりもします。あらためて本棚を見渡してみると、近年の百合漫画の量だけでなくその質にも、とても感動してしまいます。

当初は、以下のリストに5番目のリクエストとして、「長期連載されている作品」という項目を 加えていたんですけれど、第8巻がそろそろ刊行される筈の「青い花」に目が留まりました。 「8巻」ですよ。なので、既に長期連載されている百合作品がありますから(レズビアンにとっての現実生活における問題も、たくさん描かれていますし)、そのリクエストは外しておきました。

というわけで、これがちょっと考えてみた、これからの百合というジャンルで、わたしが見てみたいと思うもの4つのリストです。百合が必要とすべきなのは…。

4.「百合には中年や、年長者についての優れた作品が必要」
同人誌では、年長者あるいは高齢者を扱った作品がいくつかありますし、藤枝雅先生は 「飴色紅茶館歓談」に年齢の高いカップルを登場させていますよね。けれど読者も作り手もいずれ、「コミック百合姫」の誌上で、自分達自身と同じようなキャラクターに触れてみたいと思う時に、行き当たることになるでしょう。今年でわたしは高校を卒業してから20周年になるんですけど、今は16歳以上のキャラクターのお話を読んでみたいんですね (^_^)

3.「百合にはエッチ系ではなく、幼稚でもないSF/ファンタジー作品が必要」
もちろん百合を扱ったSF/ファンタジー作品というものは存在していますが、注目すべきなのは、 巨乳や性的要素を備えていない大人の女性を描いた作品は全くないということです。 欧米における初期のレズビアン・フィクションでは、SFはとても人気のあるジャンルでしたけれど、 現在の百合では、触手やそういったものが登場しない作品はあまりないですよね。「モーレツ宇宙海賊」はよいきっかけになったと思っていますし、今後は大人の女性を描いてくれるSF/ファンタジー百合作品が増えればいいと願っています。

2.「百合には良質の小説が必要」
この件については、欲求不満で泣きそうにもなります。世界にはたくさんの優れた作家がいますよね。でも、どうして一迅社やティアラ文庫では、平凡で、せいぜいが平均的レベルでしかない小説家達に百合小説を書かせているんでしょうか？　百合小説というものは最低でも、お互いに恋に落ちる二人の女性を描いた、短編集ではなく、ひとつの長い物語であるべきです。この際、片方が異星人やアンドロイド、あるいは他の非人間的な存在であっても、わたしは構いません。作品のページの中に登場する2人の女性が、魅力や愛情を感じ合う場面が全く描かれないようであれば、それは百合小説になり得ません。

1.「百合にはスポーツ百合作品が必要」!!
これがわたし達にとって、現在最も必要なものですね。スポーツは、激しい愛憎感情を描くためには完璧な舞台ですが、ほとんど百合が描かれたことのないジャンルでもあります。 百合を描くのにふさわしい種目には、体操、水泳、テニスなどがあると思いますけれど、わたしの一番のお薦めはモトクロス・BMXです。卓球は既に題材にされたことがありますし、バレーボールやサッカーも、初期のスポーツ少女漫画で描かれたように、使えるかもしれません。でも本当に、「美少女戦士セーラームーン」の天王はるかに敬意を表して、百合にはモトクロスかBMXを描いた作品が必要だと思います。<

敬愛する百合作家のみなさん、もし今年、百合スポーツ漫画を描いてくれたなら、 わたしはあなたの永遠の親友になりますよ。(*_*)

よろしくお願いします。

エリカより

(小松さんによる翻訳 Many thanks to Komatsu-san for translating my whimsical idea!)





Bodacious Space Pirates, Anime, Disk 2 (English)

February 17th, 2013

Following on the tail of Disk 1, we reach Disk 2 of Bodacious Space Pirates, on which Marika sets out on her first piracy commission as captain of the Bentenmaru.

The commission starts off lightly, with a request from a Princess of the Serenity household, Gruier, asking the Bentenmaru to track a golden ghost ship, but as the plot progresses, and they confront Serenity battleships, Marika has to face real battles with real consequences for herself and the crew.

The deeper meaning of the Golden Space Ship and the part it plays in Serenity history is presented almost as an afterthought, because this is a space opera and we, like Bentenmaru’s San-Daime, want to see Marika be a cool captain. ^_^

The disk ends on a quiet note, but not really a filler episode, as we’re shown transition in Hakuoh’s Yacht Club and in Ririka’s life, as well as a welcome return to day-to-day life for Marika.

This disk pretty much has it all, adventure, friendship, leadership and other qualities I look for in a story about a “strong female” character.  Bodacious Space Pirates passes what I call the The Friedman Addendum to the Bechdel Test:

Does female character have agency?
Does she have society?
Does she have personality?
Is she merely a female-shaped male hero doing male hero things while being female?

Bodacious Space Pirates passes with flying colors. Marika has agency – she is capable of and given the opportunity to make decisions for herself and others. She has society, the members of the yacht club, and especially her non-space-faring friend, Mami, who wants and needs nothing from her, and who is a very excellent friend.

Marika definitely has personality. We’re shown that and we’re told it. She is quick-witted, hard working, fair, decent, and just evil enough to make a fantastic pirate captain. ^_^

No she does not wear a bodysuit, but the miniskirt would realllllly toe that line except that the anime uses a fair amount of restraint in clothing design and perspective. It’s not that there is no service – the space suits don’t have to be formfitting, for instance, but compared to oh so many other series, the level of service is low.

Available on DVD, Blu-Ray or legal online stream for free (region-blocking may apply), Bodacious Space Pirates passes the Bechdel Test, the Friedman Addendum and is a rollicking good yarn. I’m looking forward to the next disks with relish, since I know that, for once, the added “romance” subplot won’t merely be the usual obligatory stuff. ^_^
Ratings:
Art – 7
Character – 9
Story – 9
Yuri – 1…for now
Service – 5Overall – 9

My hypothetical girl child, along with Legend of Korra and kung-fu lessons, gets this series as a present. ^_^