One last entry before I leave for the Yuri Revolution tour – something to provide you with a few hours of fun while I’m in transit. LOL

There is a Japanese-language site called Small Call, that tracks all sorts of yuri-related news and info. The site has lists of yuri-related anime, manga, game, drama CD and novel sites. They also put together a list after every Comiket of the yuri-related circles that were present.

The last Comiket, in December 2004, was “Comike 67” – here is the list of yuri circles. Not all of the circles have websites, and some of those that do don’t really have good websites (i.e., no fun pictures. lol) but many of them do – and it’s nice to be able to see some of the major players in the yuri doujinshi field. Especially as these are the folks out there doing decent original yuri.

I highly recommend visiting these sites, taking a look at the art, reading the stories and sending encouraging letters to the creators. Remember – these folks are creating yuri out of love and getting little back for their pains. Knowing that they have an international audience would probably make their day!

I’m hoping to bring back some good yuri doujinshi for the Yuricon Shop, so keep your fingers crossed. :-)

So – while I’m traveling, keep busy with the Small Call Yuri Doujinshi circle list. Enjoy and I’ll see you in a few days!

Seriously, I’m just testing out my digital camera (seems pretty straightforward…) and I thought it would be funny to show you where I do all my work. What you are looking at is the home of Yuricon, Okazu, and “Worldshaking” Fanfic.

If you’ve got good eyes, you’ll see Nami, Robin and Cornice from One Piece on my computer, Ryomou from Ikkitousen playing shy to the left, Sachiko and Yumi from Maria-sama ga Miteru next to her, Robin and Nami again, Kagura from Azumanga Daioh and Nami once again in the back, with a little bit of my talking stuffed Kero-chan from Card Captor Sakura. Sadly, you can’t see Ayaka and Yayoi from Stellvia, because the soda can hides them. You also can’t see Ari and Evil King Stan from Okage: Shadow King, because they are behind the computer.

And of course Sei from Marimite up on the computer screen, giving her thumbs up of approval on the whole affair. ;-)

See…other people *talk* about being an otaku, but I believe in living the ideal. lol

In all honesty, this is where ALC Publishing’s 100% yuri manga happens, and all of Yuriko’s fun adventures, too. And ideas like our upcoming Yuri Revolution!

All from this teeny coner of my living room. Weird, huh?

Oh, and yes…those are Marimite novels on the left of the soda can. ;-) Valentine’s Gift Parts 1 and 2.

I had *heard* of Xenosaga, and seen the above picture (and other Shion x KOS-MOS Yuri fan art) around for years. So I thought I’d give it a try.

If you haven’t guessed it already, let me make this plain – I am not a gamer. I do not enjoy games. Sorry folks, but doing something that feels very, very *good* for 80 hours doesn’t appeal, much less pushing a button for that long. ^_^ So, it was with little interest that I started to watch the new season of anime, since it’s almost all based on, or destined to become, games.

Xenosaga is only up to Episode 8 right now, but even without Yuri goggles you can see that KOS-MOS has a deep well of feeling, or something similar, for Shion…but overall the vibe has been a little disappointing.

With all those doujinshi out there I would have expected alot more Shion KOS-MOS together time. Instead, the anime has a real plot, with a fairly complex socio-political structure and warring factions that take all my time and concentration. Irritating, isn’t it? ^_^

Seriously though, for an anime based on a game, Xenosaga is quite decent. I like the overwrought opening theme, the underlying Qabalistic symbolism and the realism of the characters, even the annoying ones – and there are many of those. We don’t even really *have* bad guys yet, just sort of threatening agencies and political conspiracies and some hints of bigger baddies to come.

But back to the important bits – Shion and KOS-MOS. Someone on the Yuricon Mailing List commented that any woman who makes a robot that looks like an attractive woman, complete with sexy outfit and garters, is immediately suspect. But, from Shion’s reactions to the little-girl Realians and her relationship with KOS-MOS, I get more of a mother-daughter vibe off them. Nonetheless, when Shion meets the “real” KOS-MOS, maybe things will change.

In the meantime, turn up the Yuri goggles and enjoy uber-hunky Valyrie KOS-MOS blasting through walls to save her Shion, which goes a long way to making this anime good Yuri fun! ^_^

Shoujo Arts Society, the organization that backs Shoujocon, and Yurikon LLC, the company that brings you Yuricon and ALC Publishing, have teamed up to create a brand-new, all-in-one festival of women’s roles in animation and comics, Onna!.

Onna! is about women in all aspects of animation and comics; from behind the scenes work in producing, directing, publishing and editing to the more visible writers, artists, voice actors – and even fans! We’ll be showing anime for, by and about women and Onna! is planning storng yuri, yaoi, josei tracks, along with shoujo and shounen fare – but don’t expect Onna! to be anything like “the usual.” Even the anime you already know and love has a lot to tell us, and we’ll be exploring all the aspects of anime, manga, western animation and their fandoms that are of interest to, and about women.

We’ve got some really great guests, fun games and great anime already lined up. So, block off Columbus Day weekend, October 8-10, 2005 on your calendar, and visit the Onna! website for more information about registration to this special event. :-)