Archive for the Top Yuri Lists Category


Top Ten Yuri Anime of 2013

December 28th, 2013

Taking a break from news this week, to start on my year-end lists. 2013 was not a strong Yuri anime season, and is basically a “oh look it’s out in English” year from last year. So, you could just go and read the 2012 version of this list over again. ^_^ But that’s not fair, I owe you a list and by gum, I’m going to find stuff to say, darn it!  It’s imperative you have the chance to be angry at me at this time of year for not noticing something you liked.  Go ahead and hit me with your Top Ten in the comments. For me, this year “Top” means, “I can squeeze it on this list, phew”. ^_^

Tied for 10  – Arpeggio of Blue Steel,  My Little Pony and Fate/Zero,  Kill la Kill, Attack on Titan, Freezing Vibration, Vividred Operation  and any other “Snatches of Yuri” we have missed here on Okazu.

A college professor of mine, in regards to the refinements made by classical Greek sculptors and architects, once remarked “If you know it’s there, you can say you see it.” In regards to Yuri in anime, I say to you, “If you see it…it’s there.”

Vividred and Fate/Zero especially, were selling the Yuri heavily through goods when I was in Japan.

6 – Bodacious Space Pirates (Part 1 and Part 2)

This was excellent and I’ve talked it to death, but if you are new to Okazu, let me reassure you that, as space opera goes, this series was everything we could have wanted it to be. This year it became available on DVD, Blu-Ray and is still available to watch legally, for free (with regional restrictions) on Crunchyroll. This series was so good that, not only am I looking forward to the movie, I’m toying with the idea of flying to Japan to see it when it comes out. It is *that* good. ^_^

5 – Serial Experiments Lain

This series was more interesting now that it’s old and out of date than when it was when it was new and talking about a yet-unknown future. I’m still on the fence about Alice and Lain, but I could see potential, given time and opportunity. Having a chance to rewatch this series really got me thinking about our  requirements for a Yuri couple these days. If there’s anything that has radically altered in the last decade, it is this – we expect our couples to be a couple, not a hint of a couple. That’s a pretty huge sea change, if you think about it.

4 – Psycho-Pass

Technically, this series is a “Snatches of Yuri” series, since the Yuri relationship was not much more than an aside. But in the middle of intense psychological drama, horror and violence – the lesbian couple live happily ever after. That counts for a lot in my book. The series is coming out on DVD and Blu-ray in English next year, and is still available to watch free, legally (with regional restrictions) on Funimation.

And now we roll up our sleeves….and talk about amazing, fabulous series that we can’t stop talking about.

swb3 – Aoi Hana

Aoi Hana/Sweet Blue Flowers was the epitome of the shoujo Yuri story. It starts off as a tale of an “S” relationship, but quickly segues into an honest – and therefore, sometimes painful – tale of growing up, falling in love and growing up some more.

In Fumi, we finally found the role model we’d always wanted when we were young and in Aoi Hana we, at last, have the perfect example of a genre romance Yuri anime, sans parody elements.  Aoi Hana is the Yuri anime we were all waiting for…so we could move past it to something even more amazing.

In 2013 everything old was new again, as RightStuf, Viki and AnimeSols all scrambled to bring us some of the finest classic shoujo anime that has ever been created.

2 – Rose of Versailles

Along with Princess Knight, Rose of Versailles is revered among Yuri fans, not for the small snigglings of Yuri within the story, but for the archetype of the Girl Prince, whom we have adored, desired and desired to be since she arrived.

We fully understand the adoration laid at Oscar’s feet by the ladies of the French court, although we ourselves are more like Rosalie, unable to express our interest. And who among us has not thought how different the ending of the series might have been if Oscar and Marie Antoinette had been lovers? ^_^

It’s still one of the very hardest things for me to watch, but compelling drama and a dashing Girl Prince make Rose of Versailles my #2 for the year.

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Probably not for the first time, we honor Riyoko Ikeda with a 1-2 combination this year. Okazu’s #1 Yuri Anime of 2013 is:

dbthumbDear Brother, by Riyoko Ikeda. (Set 1 and Set 2)

This year Anime Sols not only gave us the chance to watch this cracktastic shoujo drama  for free, legally (with region restrictions), but they gave us a chance to get it out on DVD…and more than 200 of us heeded the call, so that Sets 1 and 2 will be available  – for ourselves…and to those people who want it later. Set 2 was especially amazing as, in conjunction with Anime Sols double-up weekend, it was fully funded in less than 72 hours.  As a sign that the western anime audience is ready, willing and able to support decent anime with Yuri themes, I name Dear Brother this year’s top Yuri anime. (Japanese anime industry, we are *so* ready for you to swing back away from moe. Really ready. Any day now.)

2014 is already primed with Sailor Moon and Sakura Trick coming in this winter. Here’s hoping for a great 2014 for Yuri!





Top Ten Yuri of 2012

December 31st, 2012

My annual disclaimer for this list – it is a random concatenation of things. I notice that this year it is almost completely made up of people with a few companies thrown in for good measure. There’s no deep meaning about this, except that this list is meant to highlight accomplishments in the Yuri genre, as opposed to just neat stuff to watch and read. This year we had so much to choose from it took a lot of effort whittling the list down (and some of my usual fudging) to make a list of ten. ^_^

10) Okazu Readers – Every year, I make a point of including you, my dear readers. My reasons for this are manyfold; You are the Yuri Network writing in with great ideas, news and heads-up for me to share with other readers. You write Guest Posts that make me smile. You support Yuri by purchasing anime and manga and by making sure your voice is heard and valued by the companies that produce Yuri. You are amazing commenters, providing me with unique and valuable perspective that is not my own. You correct me when I’m wrong – I can never thank you enough for that. You answer questions I cannot, you take up issues I know nothing about, you add infinite value to Okazu. I don’t hesitate to say this – You make Okazu what it is and for that, I am always, inexpressibly thankful. Once again you make my Top Ten list without reservation.

9) Comic Yuri Hime/Hirari/Tsubomi – Comic Yuri Hime this year shifted to a new format, and entered the English-language market in partnership with JManga. Tsubomi is making chapters available online, and offering print versions of collected volumes. Hirari continues on as before and hopefully, we’ll see some of their manga on JManga at some point. The publishing landscape is changing in Japan and Yuri magazines are right there trying out new ways to reach their audience. We continue to wish them all the very best and look forward to new innovations!

8) Rica Takashima – For 20 years, Rica has been creating manga that accurately reflects the life and loves of young women who love other women and she’s been doing it with humor and kindness (and a little bit of snark for spice.) Tokyo Love ~ Rica ‘tte Kanji!? is the terminal of that journey, and you can read it online, for free. I thank Rica for all her patience and perseverance with this project. I’m really proud of this effort and hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

7) Riyoko Ikeda – The way you know something is “classic” is that no matter how old it is, it remains relevant, powerful and compelling. No matter how many times I watch or read something by Ikeda-sensei, I’m reminded that she is Tezuka’s closest counterpart. Rose of Versailles and Dear Brother back in one fell swoop, wow. It’s time to rediscover Riyoko Ikeda’s genius. Go, watch, learn, enjoy.

6) Seven Seas and Morinaga Milk – I gotta give Seven Seas points for perseverance, too.  ^_^ After launching their Strawberry imprint they ran into a number of issues outside their control. Hayate x Blade jumped publishers, Ichijinsha chose lukewarm titles to start with (my #1 complaint with Japanese publishers). But Seven Seas hasn’t given up on Yuri, for which they absolutely deserve credit. This year they’ve connected with Futabasha (who seems generally much more flexible than other publishers) and Morinaga Milk-sensei, giving us Girl Friends this year and Kisses, Sighs, and Cherry Blossom Pink next year. It’s a good fit and I’m very glad for all of us! ^_^

5) RightStuf – Not only has RightStuf persevered with Yuri, they’ve had their ears and eyes firmly fixed on us as a market. (THIS is why I’m always on about buying what we want, rather than downloading. Money talks, and a Yuri audience that spends money on things is a market worth courting.) They’ve asked us what we wanted to see and by god they’ve rolled up their sleeves and gotten us a lot of it! Rose of Versailles on DVD will take up much less space on my shelves than those old VHS tapes. Sweet Blue Flowers on DVD will fit neatly next to that, squee! They know what we want and are doing what they can to get it. It’s good to have them on our side. ^_^

4) JManga – Along with Seven Seas and RightStuf, JManga has made a commitment to the Yuri audience precisely because we’ve been a good market for them. We’re up to 12 series on their Yuri page, many of them multi-volume. They support Yuri as a separate genre, something I feel is much needed. They work with multiple publishers, so you get a nice variety of Yuri (and Ichijinsha has learned their lesson from the past – and is bringing out some strong titles.) JManga listened to you when you asked for international access, they listen to you as they continually evolve their site and apps. I’m thrilled to be able to partner ALC with them to bring you more and more Yuri manga in English!

I also want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Erin, Elina, Simona, Bill and Mari, the amazing translators who worked invisibly so that you could enjoy Yuri on JManga. They do a *lot* of work to make the manga you read enjoyable and comprehensible. If you’ve never noticed that you are reading a translation, you have them to thank!

Okay, we’ve made it to my top three Yuri anythings for the year and, like previous years, it always comes down to one thing for me. ^_^

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3) Morishima Akiko – Morishima-sensei’s most recent work, Renai Joshi File, may be her best work to date, but it’s the surprisingly excellent Hanjuku Joshi that we’re just now seeing in English.

Consistently, since her doujinshi circle days, Morishima-sensei has been in the education business. With her circle Girlish, she educated young lesbians about love and sex, with her professionally published manga, she educates non-LGBTQ readers about what LGBTQ love, life, sex –  and slang – are all about. You know me, I’m a sucker for Yuri manga that includes Japanese lesbian words.

If ever a person deserved to be on this list for her tireless, realistic, adorably cute and frequently sexy lessons about lesbian life, it’s Morishima-sensei.


2) Shimura Takako – Sweet Blue Flowers and The Devil is So Cute in English on JManga, Wandering Son anime on Crunchyroll, in print from Fantagraphics.

This is a quiet revolution, but if there’s a creator out there who can carry it off, It’s Shimura-sensei. Her work is simple, accessible and sublime, with edges so finely honed, you don’t notice the cuts until they start to sting, if they sting at all.

Hers is the voice of sexual and gender minorities in manga in English right now and because that voice is so sweet and gently persuasive, Shimura-sensei is my number 2 pick for the year. ^_^

 

 

1) Nishi UKO’s Collectors – Can you tell what the “one thing” it comes down to is yet? I’ll give you a hint: realism.

In reality, lesbians do not die after high school. In reality, lesbian relationships do not end with holding hands, or a kiss.

In reality, lesbian relationships can be long-term, totally functional (and ordinarily dysfunctional) and full of good and bad and a lot of in between.

I told you last year that this would top my list, so you can’t be all that surprised, really. ^_^ Collectors is about as real a couple as you’re going to see in manga. I adore Nishi UKO-sensei’s art; the characters are all adults, there are moments of elegance and awkwardness. But what it comes down to for me is Shinobu recognizing Takako from a distance, even with a completely different hair color, when no one else in the group did. Because that is what a relationship actually looks like.

My number on Top Yuri pick for 2012 is Collectors. Just like I told you it would be. ^_^

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WAAAAH! In response to being named #1 for the year, Nishi UKO-sensei has sent over a glorious picture of Shinobu and Takako. She says she’s okay if I share it with you, so here it is!

I hope we can *really* blow her away by making Collectors a best-seller. ^_^





Top Ten Yuri Manga of 2012

December 28th, 2012

In addition to my normal disclaimers, I want to make the point that I do not consider digital to be a separate thing. From this day forward, digital will be part of this list. It’s just another means of distribution. However you buy it – local comic store, online shopping, book store, digital – it’s all manga.

And with that, away we go!

10) Tokyo Love  – Rica ‘tte Kanji!? – Modesty prevents me from putting this higher, but this year ALC released a 20-year retrospective edition of Rica Takashima’s Yuri Manga and we put it online for free. As I worked on the book, I was reminded of why I liked it in the first place. Rica and Miho feel “real” in a way that so few manga characters do. It’s funny and charming and snarky. It’s still online for free – so give a gay kid a smile for the holidays and share it around. ^_^

9) Poor Poor Lips – whether you’re reading it in Japanese or on JManga in English, you have the chance to read a rare item – a comedy that tells a serious story in a way that has some meaning. Poor Poor Lips is not a masterwork, but it transcended its 4-panel comic strip format and its Yuri genre to become an object lesson in a changing world. Quite probably, the story will be meaningless and obsolete in a few years, I certainly hope so at any rate!  ^_^ I’m glad it had the ending it did. I’m glad JManga has made it available to you. It deserves a place on this list.

8) Candy/Prism – These two series were, again, surprisingly realistic explorations of first love. In a sense they are groundbreaking, simply for getting the story and the emotions right. It’s been a long time that we’ve been reading stories that don’t really resonate with reality, it’s so refreshing that Tsubomi has published these.

7) Sailor Moon – Do I even have to tell you why this is on this list? As the series approaches a 20 year anniversary, can we just say it’s timeless and call it quits? ^_^ Haruka and Michiru will forever be the Queens of Yuri in my mind, and here they are…helicopters and all!

6) Girl Friends – Speaking of “reality,” this extended look at the evolution of a relationship is notable for itself and even more so for making it to English this year. Digitally on JManga or in print from Seven Seas (Volume 1 | Volume 2), it’s a sweet, cute look at what happens when an introvert and an extrovert fall in love. ^_^

5) Renai Joshi File – I said that this was Morishima-sensei’s best work to date and I stand by that. Another few moments of realism injected into the world of Yuri manga, not only about falling in love, but this time, about falling out of it, as well, and a nice dose of a couple who has been together for a long time, sets this book apart. Call me crazy, but I think we need more of this.

4) Sasamekikoto – This story floored me. It began as something silly and ended as something remarkable and memorable, The ending was nowhere near what I expected, but it was so far beyond expectations I almost have no words to express my feelings. Relief? Well, yes, but no. Celebration? That’s it! So here I am celebrating the way this series ended by putting it on my Top Ten List. ^_^

I sat here looking at this list for a long time and there is just no way I can decide between the next two, so I’m calling it a tie for 2nd Place this year between two of the differentest series I’ve ever read:

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2) GUNJO and Sweet Blue Flowers – GUNJO ended in a way that I had hoped, but also feared. Sweet Blue Flowers continues in a way that also leads to hope and fear. Both stories are, in their own way, sublime. These two series practically define the continuum of “best of Yuri” for me. Sweet Blue Flowers is currently available on JManga in English.

The most amazing things about both these series for me, are the way that the writers delve into the psychological lives of the characters. Neither narrative feels forced, awkward or full of that exhausting exposition so often seen in manga, in which characters “explain” what is happening through tortured dialogue. (This is seen most painfully in shounen action series, where attack combinations are explored in mind-numbing detail while the characters simply stand there, listening patiently to their enemy.) In both these series, the characters act and speak consistently with their age and life experience.

Fumi, for all that she’s a very mature teen, with a calm temperament, will have outbursts and rants (mostly internal, as befits a “good girl.”) Akira speaks without thinking (or perhaps, thinks out loud).

The brunette in GUNJO is broken before we ever meet her, pounded into bitter resignation by a life that didn’t have to be as hard as it was. The blonde’s idealism is shattered, rebuilt, re-shattered, rebuilt, until she finds an inner strength she had no idea she would ever need. Each of these characters is unique, three-dimensional and real in a way that I long for, but never really expected to see in manga.

And, as I have been saying repeatedly for months, so it really shouldn’t come as any surprise, my number one pick Yuri Manga for this year is…

1) Collectors – I’ve said this before and I hope to say it more often in coming days – THIS is the book I’ve been waiting for.

It’s got all the qualities I have been hoping for in Yuri Manga:

It’s about two adult women who are in love with one another and have been together for a long time.

It’s about the after happily-ever-after that is actually happily.

It’s about the moments of domestic bliss, the bullshitting, the teasing, the small conflicts and romantic moments of a relationship that has matured, but is not in danger of failing.

And it has art by one of the best artists in manga today. Not moe in the least, Nishi Uko’s art is adult and beautiful, just like her story.

I’m so very pleased to be able to say that Collectors is my number one Yuri manga of 2012.

Here’s to many more years of fantastic Yuri Manga!





Top Ten Yuri Anime of 2012

December 26th, 2012

Before we get started, I remind you that this is my opinion and no more authoritative than anyone else’s. It’s also my interpretation of the words “Top” “Yuri” “Anime” and “2012”. ^_^ As always, you are most welcome to disagree with me in the comments. I also invite you to share *your* top Yuri Anime for the year in the comments.  Okay then, let’s go!

10) Magic Knight Rayearth, Second Season – Damn, it was good to see this newly reissued by Media Blasters. Yuri is minimal, but Nova’s interest in Hikaru is just obsessive and persistent enough to make this list. There are some great moments in this series and until someone re-issues Card Captor Sakura, it’s nice to have a DVD release of an early CLAMP series.

9) Koihime Musou Otome Tairan – This sucked, but compared to the other two seasons, it was a work of art. Sonsaku and Koukin are a couple, so there’s actual Yuri.

8) Hidamari Sketch x Honeycomb – While they are still in no way – other than in fans’ minds – a couple, the creators of Hidamari Sketch Honeycomb have at least realized that we like to imagine them that way and have added more Hiro x Sae service to the series. It even looks like they’ve got Hiro cluing in to her (oh-so-obvious-to-us) feelings, leaving only Sae as utterly unaware of how together they are.

7) Yuru Yuri – Not as record-shattering here as it is in Japan, this slice-of-no-life series is popular enough to have the second season streaming on Crunchyroll. Kyouko likes Chinatsu, Chinatsu like Yui, Ayano likes Kyouko and Chitose likes to fantasize about all of them.

6) Jormungand  – Yes, it’s about people who sell arms and kill people. It’s violent and nasty. But it’s also not at all coy about Valmet’s feelings for Koko and for that, it bumps up even further in my estimation. Plus its loads of fun. Streaming on Funimation.

5) Rose of Versailles – Currently streaming on Viki, you really should be watching this. Ground-breaking, award-winning, historical drama (something that rarely gets made into anime) this series set a lot of bars very high for…well, everything. Oscar cross-dresses beautifully and the girls go wild for her. There’s even a real bit of Yuri in there, small though it is. Honestly, go watch it.

4) Revolutionary Girl Utena – Rewatching the Apocalypse arc was, for me, a climactic moment. I still can’t believe we got the anniversary set. And the ring. Amazing series, amazing artboxes, amazing everything. Simply amazing. Once again, it says something that this is *not* my number one pick this year.

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3) Dear Brother – It was a  “holy crap!” moment for me was when Viki announced streaming this series. Dear Brother was a linchpin moment in my anime-watching life, a moment when everything else peeled away and I couldn’t catch my breath as Saint-Juste threw knives at the clocktower wall. I am beside myself with glee that you can all watch this series. Even if you don’t like it, if you care “about” Yuri, not just like Yuri pairings, you really need to watch this series. Like, Rose of Versailles, without this series there would have been no Utena.

 

2) Puella Magi Madoka Magica – I don’t have anything left to say about this series, except it is absolutely, positively worth watching.

In speaking to Bruce about it, I commented that the sign of a good series is that it holds up under repeated scrutiny. I have scrutinized the heck out of this series which streams on Crunchyroll (and still have a rewatch of the anime DVD release ahead of me) and the series holds up very well indeed. Above all, the thing that Madoka has that so few anime do, is that it tells a story from beginning to end. No unresolved issues, no threads left hanging. It ends and it ends well. In any other year it might be my number one pick, but not this year. ^_^

No, this year one series stood out for me above all others. It got me on one of my oldest hooks, and one of my newest, and a whole bunch in between. My number one top Yuri Anime of 2012 is…

 

1) Bodacious Space Pirates – Fun Space Opera – check. Great characters – check. Pirates in space – check.  Fabulous female characters. – check. Low fanservice – check. Great sweeping epic stories – check. Yuri – check!

Captain Marika and her crew are characters I loved spending time with and will be delighted to spend more time with. I can’t wait for the DVD/Blu-Ray release of this series. An amazing dark horse series all around. Jenny and Lyn for the win.

My number one anime of 2012 is Bodacious Space Pirates, available on Crunchyroll and in 2013 on DVD and Blu-Ray from Section 23.

For the first time ever in the history of this list, every single one of the entries is available in English. ^_^ Now that’s a good year for Yuri!





Top Ten Yuri List of 2011

December 31st, 2011

As always, this list is a conglomeration of people, things, companies and random items of note. This list is not subject to sense or sensibility, it’s just whatever pops into my head as being notable.

Honorable Mention) Princess Knight – This story isn’t Yuri, but it created the enduring and popular Girl Princess trope, and for that, we really need to thank Vertical for publishing it in English. Without Sapphire’s two hearts, we would not have had Haruka, or Utena, or Oscar or Erminia. Thanks Vertical for giving us a chance to read this manga classic!

10) MangaTime Kirara/Comic High/IKKI – Not Yuri magazines, but more and more supportive of Yuri (or Yuri-ish) narratives and sometimes, even a lesbian or two. To some extent, the popularity of Yuri is driven as much by these series, as by anything in one of the all-Yuri manga magazines, because these magazines may well reach a wider audience. In any case, without these, we would not have Poor Poor Lips, GIRL FRIENDS, Sasamekikoto and a host of other Yuri-friendly series.

9) Tsubomi/Pure Visual Anthology Hirari/Comic Yuri Hime While I do not love every story in every issue of these magazines, it’s hard to be grumpy about the fact there there are three Yuri-focused magazines out there that are financially successful enough to stay afloat for some years running. The size of the Yuri market is still small, but with more good titles and a few blockbuster titles, like Yuru Yuri, we’re sure to see it’s gradual growth – thanks to these magazines.

8) Rakuen Le Paradis – This magazine does not get enough love. It should get a LOT of love, for being the vehicle for Nishi UKO’s “Collector”s Series, Takemiya Jin’s “Omoi no Kakera” and not least, Hayashiya Shizuru’s re-etry into Yuri. It’s josei in the way that Comic Beam is seinen, which is to say, sort of, but really for anyone. It’s a great read and whatever the orientation of the story, it’s a great read.

7) Okazu Readers – Always, you make this list. Every time. Because every year, it’s you that makes writing this blog worthwhile. Your comments, your challenges, your support and your enthusiasm for Yuri is what keeps me going. And you are the market for all this new Yuri. Okazu readers buy what we want to read or watch and thus support the industry we love. Once more, I am honored and pleased to be able to thank you and let you all know that you are the greatest readers, Guest reviewers and Heros!

6) Nozomi/RightStuf – I think it’s important to take a moment and really, seriously thank Nozomi/RightStuf for once again investing money in Yuri fandom, when that’s still a leap of faith. A shout out here to Seven Seas and JManga for their investments as well. Hopefully we can make those investments worth it and support these companies that bring us books we want to read and anime we want to watch!

5) Minamoto Hisanori/Fujieda Miyabi – These two gentlemen write sweet, soft Yuri, with women who love each other and want to be together forever. They create atmospheres we want to be a part of and people we want to know. How many of us have thought how cool it would be to have a real Amber Teahouse? I know I have. For the many hours pleasantly passed with their characters, these men make number 5 on the list.

4) Hayashiya Shizuru – This is a woman who has been “in Yuri” for a very long time. She started in doujinshi, with the same brand of physical comedy and goofy romance that we’ve come to love in Hayate x Blade. I’m not entirely sure she could write a non-silly story. For all her efforts over the years and for her absolutely likable characters, Hayashiya-sensei and her work makes my Top Ten once again. May she never stop drawing.

3) Morishima Akiko/Nishi UKO/Morinaga Milk – Like Hayashiya-sensei, these three women have been “in Yuri” for many years and for all of those years, in three completely unique ways, they all have continually pushed the boundaries of what Yuri is. Yuru Yuri is popular now, but is the opposite of timeless, draped in current tropes as it is; what these women have wrought will be around for years.

2) Takemiya Jin – For bringing discussion of LGBT lives firmly into Yuri in a way that we have never before seen, and for creating young, openly out and confident characters, my second position of the year goes to *another* doujinshi artist turned pro.

If that doesn’t prove to you how important it is to just get out there and start creating, then nothing ever can. Seriously – the lesson here is – get your stories out there! Don’t wait for anyone to “discover you.” The Internet makes it easier than ever before, so what are you waiting for? Draw, write, something. Just do it already!

Which brings me to my Number 1 Yuri anything for 2011…

1) Nakamura Ching’s GUNJO


Here is the moral of the story, in a simple, easily digestible sentence – do it, and do it your way. Don’t worry that it’s not what’s popular, but just tell your story, tell it your way and don’t worry what the world thinks.

GUNJO is the most unique, most extraordinary manga I’ve ever read. It fits no categories, and will never be an anime (god, what a thought…).  And the reason I consider it number 1, again, for 2011 is exactly that – it’s unique and extraordinary.

Looking at this list, it’s easy to see that what moves me most is people with a vision of their own, who work hard to make those visions real. What I want to see now is more American Yuri artists bringing their own visions to life. What will push Yuri to the next level is not if more companies bring stories over, where they are read by a passive audience, but when that audience rolls up their sleeves and starts creating for themselves.

Here’s looking to an extraordinary 2012 for all of us in Yuri! Happy New Year!