Yuri Network News – (百合ネットワークニュース) – July 22, 2023

July 22nd, 2023

In black block letters, YNN Yuri Network News. On the left, in black silhouette, a woman with a broad brim hat and dress stands, a woman in a tight outfit sits against the Y.Yuri Manga
 
Watashi no Oshi ha Akyaku Reijou. Maid Kitchen（私の推しは悪役令嬢。メイドキッチン), the food-centric spin-off of the Watashi no Oshi ha Akyaku Reijou. first chapter is up on Ichijin Plus in Japanese for free for you to check out. Tsuke is doing the art for this light-hearted tale of Rei and Lene catering to Claire’s bore tastebuds.

Via Yuri Navi, the manga version of Twister Cyclone Runway first chapter is online at Comic Bushi Web. My distress at the costume design was accompanied by many expletives. I hope the rest of the “comicalization” of the story is better.

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Via Yuri Daily, the Polish Yuri news source on Facebook, Comic Bushi Web’ Latte Comics also has a new Yuri anthology,  Joshikou no Ouji-ama ha Watashi ka Ganchuu ni Nairashii   Yuri Anthology Comic (女子校の王子様は私しか眼中にないらしい 百合アンソロジーコミック) Check out a sample chapter in Japanese online. This and their other Yuri Anthology can be purchased digitally through CMOA.

Ichijinsha is releasing a new comic anthology, Tonari no Seki ga Sukina Hito Datta  Gakusei Yuri Anthology (隣の席が好きな人だった　学生百合アンソロジー) at the end of this month. This of you who liked Goodbye My Rose Garden, will be pleased to know that Dr Pepperco is among the contributors.

The Toyama Ema Yuri Collection  Sensei to Jikan  (センセイとの時間。) will appeal to people who like student/teacher stories.

 

 

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Other News

Vi Sr. YNN Correspondent Sean G. Anime Feminist has weighed in with their 2023 Spring Anime Recommendations. Both Birdie Wing and Mobile Suit Gundam – The Witch From Mercury topping the list.

Webcomic Mage & Demon Queen is back for a season 4! So get over there and start catching up. ^_^

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Mayu, Matou, Volume 6 ( 繭、纏う)

July 21st, 2023

The cover is a spoiler, there’s just no way to avoid the obvious, so let’s address that right away.

We last left Hana, reaching into blackness, looking desperate.  Now we see on the cover of Mayu, Matou, Volume 6 ( 繭、纏う) that she is reaching towards Youko. Then we see that the covers of Volume 5 and Volume 6 are a diptych which beautifully represent the transition from one to the other.

Kujou has taken her place at the head of the students and she delivers a cool, passionless speech about nothing ever changing at the school. That, as the students before them wore these uniforms so will the students after them, in a unbroken line without change.

Youko stands up in the middle of this to protest that she will change and runs off to find Hana. Predictably, Hana has weighed herself down with self-doubt. Youko finds her and reaches out to her and they find themselves alone, dancing in an empty room.

One of the students is found burning a uniform, which set the school all at odds, as hair is notoriously foul when burned.. Two of the teachers discuss that, just maybe, they have held on to that tradition too long, maybe it is time for change.

Graduation happens, of course. It will always happen. Youko leaves, but she does look back at the gates behind her before walking away.

The final chapter shows us Youko, her hair still shorn short, being met by Hana, also with short hair. Youko offers Hana some of Hoshimiya’s hair, but ultimately, they let it go into the wind, then head out on a date together.

When we open the cover of Volume 5, we see the true ending. Hana, no longer looking desperate, being pulled along by Youko, who is always moving forward. Released, at last from the cocoon that entwined them.

I found this series fascinating, occasionally creepy, always fraught…but this was exactly the right ending. And beautifully drawn as the whole series has been.

Ratings:

Art – 9
Characters – 8, Youko – 9 from beginning to end
Story – 9
Service – 4 The dance scene was evocative
Yuri – 8

Overall – 9

As a final punctuation on the tropes of private girls’ school Yuri from a century ago, this series was a perfect farewell. We await the final two volumes from Yen Press.

Posted in Yuri Manga | 4 Comments »


Volicia of Pluto, (忘星のヴァリシア) Guest Review by Cryssoberyl

July 19th, 2023

Two girls reach for one another’s hands across a void, in front of a giant robot.

Yuri and mecha have a long history together. The recent Gundam: Witch From Mercury will no doubt be top-of-mind for many people when I say that, but there are many other examples; prominent among them was Kannazuki no Miko, from 2004, which mixed a centrally-focused yuri romance with mecha action and a heavy flavoring of shintoism and classical Japanese iconography. Despite its flaws, that show was considered a watershed moment in yuri anime history for we who were there at the time. Now, in 2023, from the independent writer/animator AsH comes a work that in many ways could be called a spiritual successor to that formula, and one that isn’t shy about letting you know it.

Premiering on Youtube, Volicia of Pluto , Episode 1 (忘星のヴァリシア) is 35 minutes of yuri/mecha rollercoaster. What begins as a focus on the relationship of two former track runners, Akio and Ayano, quickly expands into a battle over the apparent fate of the source of all life – conducted through the medium of giant robots, naturally – and the sacrifices the chosen couple must make to see it through. A great deal happens in a short time, a great deal is left as yet unexplained. The true nature of the conflict, the relationships of the characters, the many puzzling moments are all yet but seeds. This is, it must be strongly pointed out, only the beginning of the story AsH is clearly hoping to tell.

Always keeping that limitation in mind, I must say I enjoyed this thoroughly. The pacing might seem breakneck to modern viewers, but it reminds me with pleasant nostalgia of the classic OVA format of the 80s and 90s: a fast-paced, attention-grabbing, interest-piquing showpiece. It’s right that it should feel like that, as this is essentially the same strategy. Put something out there to grab people’s interest, and hope that they will invest in it well enough to continue and finish what was begun. Many such gambits never paid off; anime history is littered with unfinished OVAs that never got more than an episode or two. That’s why I’m pleased to report that on Japanese crowdfunding website Campfire, the second episode is fully funded as of date of publication. It seems likely more of this intriguing work will be releasing at some point in the future.

Ratings:

Art – 7/10, rough until you remind yourself that one person made this.

Story – 8/10, a lot of interesting things happening, basically none of it explained yet.

Characters – 8/10, standard types but the MC’s coolness and resolve carries the piece.

Service – 3/10, there are a few sensual moments but they are tastefully depicted.

Yuri – 8/10, undeniable although there’s a lot else going on.

Overall – 8/10, a cool and interesting foundation laid for what may follow.

Volicia of Pluto is freely available to watch on Youtube, until August 31st, English subtitles included. If you have even the slightest interest, there is zero reason not to check out it.

Posted in English Anime, Yuri Anime | 1 Comment »


Otherside Picnic Manga, Volume 5

July 18th, 2023

A woman with long blond hair and a baseball cap stands, holding a rifle, her gloved left hand on the shoulder of a woman with medium-length brown hair, one blue eye, one brown eye, who is holding a semi-automatic weapon. They are posed in front of an oversized military vehicle. Otherside Picnic, Volume 5 is significant turning point in the narrative. It is in this volume (equivalent to the beginning of Volume 2 of the Light Novel series), in which Sorawo and Toriko begin to take control of their experiences in the Otherside.

This is even more significant for Sorawo. When we first encounter her, she is passive, almost unable to act without Toriko for a little while. Now she and Toriko are acting as a partnership. They are learning how, well, how it seems that the Otherside works, even if the underlying logic isn’t understandable. In this volume they resolve to return to Kisaragi Station and save the American Marines…and then they do that.

For Sorawo, who has been an anthropological observer of her own life up until now, recognizing that she  has the knowledge to act, and  granting herself the ability to act will change her life significantly. And walking next to Toriko, as opposed to following her, will begin to change their relationship as well.

I enjoy the novels for this series, but for once, I really think I have to award the best media to this manga. Eita Mizuno’s art is outstanding. It’s understandable enough to be uncomfortable and inexplicable enough to give the frisson of  horror that Toriko and Sorawo are dealing with. Taylor Engle capture everyone’s voice perfectly in the translation, Nicole Roderick’s lettering is clean and readable. Great work by the Square Enix team, and honestly, if you’re looking for Yuri that’s not schoolgirl stuff and can stand a few chills down your spine, I really do recommend this manga.

Ratings:

Story: 9
Character: 9
Service:0
Yuri: 1

Overall: 8

As the beginning of the next phase of this series, this is an incredibly strong volume.

Posted in English Manga, Yuri Manga | 4 Comments »


Yuri Network News – (百合ネットワークニュース) – July 15, 2023

July 15th, 2023

A blue silhouette of a girl with a white flower in her hair, embracing the earth. Blue block letters read YNN Yuri Network News. Art by Lissa P. For Okazu.

Yuri Anime

Don’t miss Volicia of Pluto, streaming now on Youtube with English subtitles.  Crystalyn Hogkins has the details over at ANN.

 

Yuri Manga

New on the Yuricon Store, from Yen Press, we’re getting another collection by Mikanuji, this one a bit more adult than previous ones. I Don’t Need a Happy Ending: A collection of short stories” is a tantalizing mix of seet and spicy” according to the publisher.

Seven Seas has licensed Keyang’s Kimi to Shiranai Natsu ni Naru, a story I have very high hopes for. It had a strong beginning, but is flaging a little here in the middle. I really hope it sticks the ending. I have reviewed Volume 1 here on Okazu. Rafael Antonio Pineda has details on ANN.

Twin Star Cyclone Runaway by Ogawa Issui (based on a short story of the same name that ran in Yuri short story collection, Asterism ni Hanataba o Yuri SF Anthology (アステリズムに花束を 百合 SFアンソロジー), is getting a manga. Joanna Cayanan and Rafael Antonio Pineda have the story on ANN.I am concerned about the key image, as the costuming designs seem bizarre for the content of the story, but maids, whatever, I really don’t get the obsession. The story was pretty good, though and I’m very interested to see this comicalization!

Sasayakuyou no Koi wo Utau,Volume 8 (ささやくように恋を唄う) is hitting Japanese bookshelves this week. It’s everything I hoped for from this series. I wish this volume was going to be animated. In English Whisper Me A Love Song, Volume 6 is available and we’re looking forward to Volume 7 when it hits in December from Kodansha!

Via Comic Natalie,  OL VTuber to Oshi JKchan (OL Vtuberと推しJKちゃん) Volume 1 is now available. It is, as the title implies about an office worker and a high schooler who both are Vtubers.

Via Yuri Navi, Tomoru Me Ni Nagareru (灯る目に流れる) is a short Yuri story about two people who fall in love by staring at one another, available on Shounen Jump+.

 

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Yuri Light Novel

Yuri Tama: From Third Wheel to Trifecta The Third is out and it’s even softened up Sean Gaffney who says of it, “When Yotsuba turns off her self-doubt and constant second guessing brain and just goes with the flow, she manages to be a fantastic romantic partner.”

 

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Yuri VN

Via Yuri Navi, the trailer for the upcoming Yuri Visual Novel Uso Kara Hajmaru no Natsu (嘘から始まる恋の夏) can be seen on Youtube.

 

Other News

YNN Correspondent Patricia B suggests some summer reading with Firebird, by Sunmi, from Harper Collins, “following the lives of Caroline and Kim, two queer, Asian American teenagers growing up in the suburbs of the San Francisco Bay Area, as they forge an unexpected connection.”

 

If you’d like to support Yuri journalism and research, Patreon and Ko-Fi are where we currently accept subscriptions and tips. Your support goes straight to paying for Guest Reviews, folks helping with videos, site maintenance, managing the Yuricon Store and directly supporting other Yuri creators. Just $5/month makes a huge impact! Become part of the Okazu family!

Become a part of the Yuri Network, by being a YNN Correspondent: Contact Us with any Yuri-related news you want to share with

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