Yuri Anime: Sailor Moon Stars Limited Edition, Part 1, Disk 1 (English)

December 24th, 2019

While at AnimeNYC, I took the opportunity to indulge myself a bit and buy myself a few presents. The Bloom Into You Premium Box Set (for which I believe one more review is due, since I watched the dub) was the first of my early holiday gifts to self and the Sailor Moon Stars Limited Edition was the second. Viz had a lovely booth set up and I was able to get the Limited Edition Blu-Ray Combo Pack for Part 1 and Part 2 and a neat little box for them, as well as the infamously misprinted booklet (I’ve already asked for my copy of the fixed version ^_^) and a pile of fetching art cards. Additionally, the set comes with a decorative box for both halves of the season and was handed over in one of Viz’s colorful Sailor Moon tote bags, this one purple with the silhouette of Eternal Sailor Moon on one side and her locket on the other. All very satisfying.

And so, for the first time in a number of years, I sat down to watch the first six episodes of Sailor Moon Stars Part 1, Disk 1, the fifth and final season, in its first-ever official western release.

As soon as the first notes of either the OP or ED start up, I get teary. In part because they are both deeply depressing songs. ^_^ Go ahead, look at the lyrics, see what I mean.

This first disk covers the best part of the Stars season, in my opinion, as Neherenia is freed from her prison and vows revenge against the White Moon Princess. This is not theg ood part…the good part is that we spend a lot of this arc with the Senshi. First we see Hotaru  growing up (at an accelerated rate) with Michiru, Haruka and Setsuna and later, Saturn gets a non-dying role protecting Chibi-Usa. I also very much enjoy the scenes where the Outers inspire the Inners to be even better at what they do. If I had been writing the series, it is quite likely I would have spent half the arc with this kind of thing.

Sailor Moon is able to save Mamoru and the other Senshi and, by extension, the Earth, once again. With two disks to go, we will finally be getting the Three Lights/Starlights and I know that most folks are poised to finally see them. I’m fairly alone in not liking them, for reasons we will discuss when we get there.

Right now, I just want to wallow a bit at how frickin’ gay Haruka and Michiru are in these six episodes. The gloves were off, clearly, as Michiru teases the heck out of her butchy partner. I rejoiced at how touchy they are, as well. Watching this disk, it boggles the mind that anyone ever insisted that they were not lovers, or if they were, Haruka had to be a man. But then, I suppose if the *.*gaters weren’t obsessed with Star Wars or whatever, we’d be having that argument all over again today. Instead, we get to smile and nod at Michiru when she tells Haruka that she could stare like this all day as she looks at her lover. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 4 In my memory, I thought this was some of the best art in the series. I was wrong.
Story – Despite being a reprise, it was not boring. Short, sharp and some of the best character writing so far
Characters – 9 I love the interaction between the Outers and Inners.
Yuri – 9
Service – 5 someone really had a thing for upskirting Jupiter

Overall – 8

My interest in this series effectively ends here, with just a few moments sprinkled through the story, but we still will have a lot to talk about including, eventually, my thoughts about the Starlights and what exists of the plot and how to rewrite it to make sense.

Posted in English Anime, Sailor Moon, Yuri Anime | No Comments »


Yuri Light Novel – Sexiled: My Sexist Party Leader Kicked Me Out, So I Teamed Up With a Mythical Sorceress! Volume 2

December 23rd, 2019

Once upon a time there were three women who were just fucking done with the everyday sexism of the sexist society in which they lived. They had all experienced any number of ways in which they, despite the fact that they worked twice as hard and were twice as good as the men around them, were never given the credit or the benefit of the doubt and that every individual man required them to prove their worthiness to him, individually, and none of those men ever bothered to share that information with other men, so the women had to prove themselves over and over and over and over again endlessly.

Oh, sorry, I was thinking about Hillary Clinton, Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris. It’s just completely coincidental that the exact same story also applies to Tanya, Nadine and Laplace, the protagonists of Sexiled: My Sexist Party Leader Kicked Me Out, So I Teamed Up With a Mythical Sorceress! Volume 2.

Tanya, Laplace and Nadine, known collectively as Lillium, are the most powerful party in all of Pajan. They are nonetheless subject to the systemic misogyny of life in Ode. Overpowered as they are, it doesn’t concern them much other than as a thorn in their shoe, endlessly pricking and wasting their time and energy.

When they are approached by the Princess, they are provided an opportunity to right an old wrong, and change things from the top down. To do that, Laplace must confront her own past and the man who raised her to be a powerful weapon – the Court Mage, Maxwell…her father.

I knew I was going to like this volume when I read this tweet, by translator Molly Lee:

And I did like it. For one thing, the main part of the plot delved into Laplace’s backstory, and it addresses the one real weakness of the first volume, Laplace’s tendency to kiss Tanya without her explicit consent. Although it does explain why, I wish it had emphasized a little more that it’s not right…even if Tanya ultimately doesn’t mind.

Maxwell turns out to be a distilled essence of all the mediocre men ever and it was deeply satisfying to see him defeated, but that was probably one of the least important things that happened in the novel. Lilium giving hope – and opportunity – to the people of Ode and greater O’toyok area are far more powerful. Two of the most important things to occur are the gelling of Tanya and Laplace’s relationship into something more mutual and permanent and the final moment when Tanya meets a young man who was motivated by Lilium to follow his dream. His sincere thanks changes Tanya’s perspective on her work and opens her eyes to the fact that they are providing an example and a way for anyone.

Ultimately, the fight scenes and even more the scenes where Laplace transforms her prison into a luxury suite, are icing on a revenge narrative cake.

The weakest bit, in my opinion, is the fact that Maxwell has specifically been manipulating the laws in Pajan in order to make women’s lives miserable because as a mediocre man, he wanted endless revenge on women. It would be nice if we could sweep away misogyny by removing one misogynist from power, but real life is not that simple.

I will part here from my respected peers Yurimother and Sean Gaffney, when it comes to the art. They both found Kazutomo Miya’s illustrations to be a weakness, while I very much liked them and significantly preferred it to the art of the first volume, which I found created a sense of severe dissonance between the characters as described and seen. The art here is less finished which never bothers me – I quite like pencil or pen sketches – but far more importantly, it reflects the actual characters as described in the text.  It drives me crazy when art and text are at odds.

In some ways this story was so on the money, especially the scene about Nadine’s glasses and the court’s insistence on heels, just as the #KuToo and no glasses for women controversies landed in real-world Japan, that it felt a little too current. As it turns out these were just coincidences of ghastly real-world misogyny. Whee.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 10
Characters – 10
Service – 7 With actual intent. On purpose.
Yuri – 8

Overall – 10

There are any number of things seeded into the text upon which a third novel could be built and I’ve already let Kaeruda-sensei know that it’s selfish of me, but I really want a Volume 3. ^_^

 

Posted in Light Novel | 1 Comment »


Yuri Light Novel: Bloom Into You Regarding Saeki Sayaka, Volume 1 (English)

December 22nd, 2019

When you watched the Bloom Into You anime, you saw it. Maybe you understood it. Probably if you were queer, you had lived it.

You saw the way Sayaka held her coffee cup, the way her fingers tightened around it before she asked what was clearly one of the most difficult questions of her entire life to date, “Are you and Hakozaki-sensei dating?” You saw it and maybe if you’re queer, you knew what it felt like on a visceral level. The first time you said the thing. You probably knew the tightness in your muscles when you first saw someone looking at you and understood that they were looking at you that same way that you were looking at them. That you had something in common. The thing.

This is why it was so important to me that Bloom Into You: Regarding Saeki Sayaka, Volume 1 captures Sayaka’s inner voice so well. Not because I identified with her (although we are all her, in some way,) but because of this.

As I read the first of what I hope will be three novels, this was the moment when I knew I why her voice was so important:

As my senses sharpened, the path ahead grew brighter and clearer. My defenseless heart was exposed to the picturesque sunlight. And as I observed my current self neutrally as if from the outside, I finally realized something.

I was angry.

Right now, I was incensed. But why? I plumbed the depths of my heart for the answer.

Sayaka has spent the first 14 years as a spectator in her own life. This is the moment when she ceases to observe and begins to participate.

In this volume, we learn about Saeki Sayaka from two key moments in her life. The first part of the novel follows 11 year old Sayaka’s encounters with a girl her own age who, we can see from our distance, is in love with – or more probably correctly, desires – her. Sayaka has a bit of a sense of it, but it’s not until she experiences desire that it make sense to her. The second half of the book follows her when she is approached by someone who claims to love her, who she comes to love and who, ultimately, hurts her. And when she begins to understand herself, finally.

Saeki Sayaka and I differ in one very concrete way. I read a lot of fiction as a child. This is not an aside, or an irrelevant comment. Sayaka guesses at and correctly identifies her emotions as she experiences them. Had she read fiction, she would not have needed to guess. ^_^ But we know, because we are told it, that she doesn’t care for fiction. It is a testament to the author’s grasp of Sayaka’s voice, that we can be inside her head as she objectively discusses the range of emotions she’s experiencing. It was so wholly consistent with what we knew of her, I had to be impressed. As I’ve said in previous reviews, I consider Iruma’s writing inconsistent and wasn’t sure that the Sayaka we knew would be reflected here. When I reviewed the Japanese edition, I was happy to note that it was.

I’m even more pleased to report that the translation, by Jan Cash and Vincent Castaneda, with adaptation by Jenny McKeon, and editing by Nibedita Sen and Jenn Grunigen, preserved that voice in the English edition. (I’m also chuffed as heck to see my friend Julie Davis as Managing Editor on this volume! For one thing that means that Seven Seas has gotten to the point of size, volume and sophistication as a publishing company to be hiring managing editors which is a very good thing.) I trust this team to do the best possible job with a character I actually want taken care of. ^_^

Their hard work means I don’t have to spend my energy making the novel work and can instead spend my energy resenting Yuzuki-sempai and enjoying Sayaka watching herself swear to never fall in love again, then almost immediately fall in love with Nanami Touko. ^_^

Which is how it should be.

Ratings (same as the Japanese volume):

Art – 10 well, since the creator of the original did the illustrations, that stands to reason
Story – 8 In and of itself, not riveting, but it nails the character’s voice.
Character – 10
Service – 3 bathing suits and changing rooms
Yuri – Well, now…this is hard. I’m calling it a 5 because it’s so complicated

Overall – 9

For the interior life of a young lesbian, told in a way that is completely consistent with the character as we know her, Bloom Into You: Regarding Saeki Sayaka, Volume 1 is a very good book.

Thanks to Seven Seas for the advanced review copy!

Posted in Bloom Into You / Yagate Kimi ni Naru, Light Novel, Nakatani Nio | No Comments »


Yuri Network News – (百合ネットワークニュース) – December 21, 2019

December 21st, 2019

Yuri Manga

A bunch of new items on the Yuricon Store, just in time for your final holiday gift lists!

February will bring us Kase-san and Yamada, the 6th volume of the Kase-san manga from Seven Seas.

Also headed our way in February is Our Wonderful Days, Volume 2!

The Rose of Versailles, Volume 1 is hitting shelves at the end of January.

If I Could Reach You, Volume 3 is headed for a mid-January release.

 

The Yuri Network News report is made possible by Okazu Patrons. Your support funds reviews, interviews, news and helps pay writers. As little as $5/month can make a huge difference!

Yuri Anime

Not sure how Yuri this might turn out to be be but ANN reports that Crunchyroll, Funimation and HIDIVE will all be streaming Magia Record: Puella Magi Magica Madoka Side Story in the new year. Check out Alex Mateo’s report for details and for the promotional videos.

It is with utmost delight that I can tell you that Go Nagai’s The Devil Lady is streaming on Amazon Prime. It’s dub only, but still so very worth watching. In fact, I’m watching it as I type this report. ^_^

 

Yuri Visual Novel

Studio Élan has announced a new Yuri Visual Novel, Lock and Key. From the website:

“What does it mean to be a magical girl?”

This is the question at the heart of Lock and Key, a magical mystery set in a world shaped by your interpretation of the magical girl genre. 

Sherri and Kealey Cohen, now a married couple in their late 20s, left the title of magical girls behind them over a decade ago. Now on the verge of losing their powers and entering a life of true normalcy, a string of unexplainable murders forces them to come out of retirement for one last adventure. Together with Nina, their old friend, and Ruby, a new protege, Sherri and Kealey will have to face a mystery connected both to their past and future. In the world of Lock and Key, the player shapes their path…and more importantly, determines where that path will end.

This sounds really fun if you like actual games in your VNs.

Yuri Light Novel

The digital release of Bloom Into You: Regarding Saeki Sayaka, Volume 1 is out. You definitely don’t want to miss this if you like Sayaka best (which you obviously should. ^_^)

Sexiled: My Sexist Party Leader Kicked Me Out, So I Teamed Up With a Mythical Sorceress! Volume 2 is out now and every bit as worth reading as Volume 1. The print version of Volume 1 is heading our way in June 2020 (which is going to be a hell of a month for Yuri fans.)

 

Other News

Rafael Antonio Pineda over at ANN has a report on the Cutie Honey Stage Play cast and visuals.

 

Become a YNN Correspondent by reporting any Yuri-related news with your name and an email I can reply to – thanks to all of you – you make this a great Yuri Network! Write me with any questions you have, and I’ll do my best to answer them on the YNN Podcast!

Posted in Yuri Network News | 1 Comment »


LGBTQ Manga: Our Dreams at Dusk Shimanami Tasogare, Volume 4 (English)

December 20th, 2019

I have been waiting for this day for more than a year and I’m so very excited that at last I will have people with whom I can discuss Our Dreams at Dusk Shimanami Tasogare, Volume 4!

Tasuku has come to some kind of understanding of himself but who or what Tsubaki is, eludes him. As the folks of Cat Clutter plan Saki and Haruko’s wedding, they all struggle with the endless variations of homophobia the encounter: from the well-meaning, to angry rejection, to the bumbling interference of people whose lives won’t be touched no matter what havoc they wreak, to anonymous vandalism, to self-imposed limits.

And despite all that, Tasuku and his friends embrace the joy of a marriage ceremony. It might not mean anything to the government, but for Saki and Haruko, it still requires the same exact effort of coming out, of being seen and recognized by their families as a partnership. So many of us did that in the years before marriage equality in our countries, so many of us are still doing that in countries without. It wasn’t a problem for my parents that I was gay, or that I was celebrating my life with my wife, but it took the same amount of effort to tell them that it might have otherwise. Maybe more, because if I knew they’d reject me I might not have bothered at all.

Saki, who has lived in fear of her father’s reaction, learns that her agency in the matter has been taken from her. Haruko steps in to help her take it back. That scene turns out maybe not how we expected it. Certainly not how Saki has painted her expectations of it. Tasuku absorbs these lessons: You can’t know what you don’t know. You have to try anyway. And he listens as Tchaiko and Someone-san tell him their stories. It gives him a little insight to them, but opens his eyes wide to who he needs to be. Armed by his new knowledge he reaches out to Misora and, eventually, Tsubaki. They also don’t know what or who they are yet, but they know he’ll be there for them if he can.

And that’s all we can do. Shimanami Tasogare tells a decidedly 21st century version of the same story we all learned in the 80s when I was coming out and again every time, as we fought for rights over the last 30 years to live openly, to adopt children, and be recognized as partnerships in marriage and now, to be protected from workplace harassment and bias: Family is who you love and who loves you.

When I read Volume 4 in Japanese, I cried for Tchaiko, whose relationship was unable to be acknowledged until his partner’s death. This time I cried for Tsubaki who, protected by Tasuku, is moved to become someone worthy of protection one day.

I turned out to be wrong that the translation would go with”Dareka-san.” That’s okay. “Someone-san” is just fine. ^_^

I’m so very glad for all of you that you’ve had a chance to share in this story. My sincerest thanks to everyone at Seven Seas for bringing it to us with such loving care. You’ve heard what I think, now it’s your turn. Let’s have all your feels in the comments!

Ratings:

Art – 9
Story – 9
Characters – 9
LGBTQ – 10
Service – 3 A Lesbian wedding serves this fan well enough, but nothing salacious

Overall – 9

Years ago I commented in a post here that manga companies had gaps in the publishing process that were part of why we never knew what we’d get in terms of quality. And even so there were many layers that most people who see only one credit, for translator, had no idea even existed. Well here we are, the best part of a decade later, and most of the manga companies explaining this to you with every volume.

So, my thanks to Jocelyne Allen for her masterful translation, to Ysabet Macfarlane, an experienced and talented adapter, to Kaitlyn Wiley for the critical job of lettering and retouch, to KC Fabellon for the  cover design that seamlessly integrates the English title. I love that Seven Seas also credits the original designer, so thanks to Hiroshi Nigami (NARTI: S). Thanks to proofreaders Kurestin Armada and Danielle King, to editor Jenn Grunigen, to Production Manager Lissa Patillo, to Editor-in-Chief Adam Arnold and Publisher Jason DeAngelis and to uncredited but beloved Public Relations Manager, Lianne Sentar for keeping us all up to date on what is coming out, when and why to be excited about it. Thanks to all of you for the review copy, as well, although I had already bought this for my collection. I knew I was going to want to keep it. ^_^

And thank you very much to Kamatani Yuhki-sensei for this beautiful story. We’ll look forward to whatever you have planned for the future.

Posted in English Manga, LGBTQ | 3 Comments »