Series Review: Voltron

Here we go–you knew this one was coming sooner or later.

For better or worse, Voltron was a pop culture sensation. It was massively popular, but also gave rise to in-fighting among fans with some of them even threatening and blackmailing the creators.

I was, to say the least, reluctant to watch Voltron. It seemed interesting from the previews and as much as I love sports anime (looking at you Haikyuu!!, Free!, and Tsurune), I have always had a soft spot for sci fi, fantasy, and anything with a grand adventure.

I saw a lot of fights and angry rants even before I watched Voltron, which gave me pause. It was everywhere. All over social media–most of my friends and mountains of strangers screamed into the abyss of the internet.

It took a good friend recommending it and asking if we could watch it together for me to officially watch Voltron.

Discourse aside, I really loved Voltron. Voltron is about five people from Earth–Hunk, Lance, Keith, Pidge, and Shiro–who stumble across a power that has been hidden away from the universe: the Lions. These sentient machines assemble to form a power so incredible (Voltron) that they have been scattered to the corners of the universe in an attempt to keep this power from falling into the wrong hands.

Because of their discovery, though, the ruthless Galra Empire has set eyes on Earth in their path to conquest. The rag-tag crew band together to find the rest of the Lions–their only hope for protecting Earth–and are joined by princess Allura and Coran, some of the only Alteans who survived the Galra Empire.

Voltron isn’t without it’s flaws. I spent probably half the time yelling at the screen because Lance kept doing stupid, life-endangering things (but it is endearing in its own way). Physics are conveniently forgotten in certain places, and small plot holes and discrepancies pop up. I was unimpressed by Acxa altogether. She had a great first introduction but afterward felt flat and her interactions felt forced. Zarkon made a lot of reckless mistakes for someone who has conquered so much of the universe with an iron fist, and I felt like he could have been a much, much more effective villain.

But. There was a lot to love. Although a couple characters fell flat (Acxa and Zarkon included), most of the characters were beautifully well-rounded with insecurities, hopes and dreams and fears, habits, hobbies, and routines. All of the main characters had well-though-out backstories that continued to influence their identity all the way through the end of the series.

I loved the adventure, too. There were small adventures and big ones. There were curious quests and grand battles. Within the main story, smaller ones were woven in as well. Some characters weren’t what they appeared. Others hid secrets the size of planets. And, one of the things I loved most about Voltron–it touched on some very serious themes. It confronted and challenged racism in the guise of the Galra by sharing a race with a rich culture, divided and oppressed by a power-hungry leader.

Voltron deals heavily with themes of grief, culture shock and homesickness, disabilities, and self-doubt. Although the desperate quest to protect Earth and liberate conquered planets is an incredible tale unto itself, the characters are forced to face their greatest fears and insecurities, make peace with what they’ve lost, and learn to connect and trust one another. The character interactions, in general, are beautiful and feel very authentic.

Despite these heavy themes and the daunting stakes that the Voltron team faces, this series isn’t afraid to add a dash of comedy.

Taking the good, the bad, and the ugly–I really enjoyed watching Voltron and I would watch it again in a heartbeat. I highly recommend it!

And, if you watched the series and didn’t like something or would have done something differently, that’s exactly what fanfiction and fan art are for.

Have you guys watched Voltron yet? If so, what did you think?

First Impressions: My Hero Academia

It’s been a hectic week, but with Sakura-con fast approaching it’s about time I caught up with My Hero Academia (Boku no Hero Academia). I loved what I saw and heard about Todoroki so much that I agreed to cosplay him after only having seen three episodes. A few friends were also cosplaying from BNHA and Todoroki was, miraculously, not spoken for, at least for this convention, so I was quick to volunteer.

With April (and Sakura-con) fast-approaching though it’s about time for me to catch up with the series. I started watching more this week and I’m half-way through the second season and eager for more.

My Hero Academia (Boku no Hero Academia), or BNHA for short, is an anime that takes place in a world where amazing powers (called Quirks) have become a regular phenomenon for the general population. This gives rise to a society of heroes and villains, and even everyday workers with super abilities.

Despite how common people with superhuman abilities are in the BNHA universe, there are a few people who do not have any special abilities (Quirkless). The story begins with Midoriya, AKA Deku, a boy who dreamed of becoming a hero but discovered at a young age that he was Quirkless. He never gave up his dream despite bullying and insurmountable odds. When he throws himself into a fight with a villain in a desperate and foolhardy attempt to save his friend, he catches the eye of All Might and is offered a rare way to obtain a powerful Quirk.

Deku barely makes it through the entrance exam to a prestigious hero academy, UA, and struggles to learn to control a Quirk so powerful that it destroys his body every time he uses it. Meanwhile, villains aren’t sitting still–they are preparing to make a big move that throws all the student’s lives in danger.

Since I’m only halfway through the second season I can’t speak for the whole series, but so far I am really enjoying watching BNHA. I love the variety of Quirks, personalities, and character designs–there is a ton of creativity poured into this series. It may be early but I already adore Todoroki who is, so far, everything I expected. Deku is a likable, earnest character who is a ball of nerves and smiles except when things really, truly get serious. I’m not a big fan of Bakugou so far–but I’ve heard he gets some good character development later so I will reserve judgment until I watch a bit more. I will say that I love how well-rounded and unique the side-characters are as well! I feel like they are very involved in the storyline and there is something to love about each and every one of them.

The worldbuilding in BNHA is incredible, too. The presence of Quirks has visibly changed how society runs and has even affected the culture, marriages, and jobs. Chaos from the battles between heroes and villains affect day-to-day life for regular people, and powerful hero agencies have become corporate powerhouses. A sense of pseudo-royalty hangs around families with powerful Quirks including All Might–but also including Endeavor and Todoroki, and Iida and the brother he looks up to so much. This powerful family line provides them with a sure path to heroism (or villainy) but isolate them socially.

I won’t complain too much because at the end of the day I’m excited to watch more BNHA and I am really enjoying it–but there are a few small things that bug me. Bakugou is one of them–but that may change as I watch more. What I can say is that, through the middle of the second season, his character is a bit one-dimensional and the way he treats others can be pretty… extreme. Just thinking about him and Deku as kids is a bit uncomfortable… it seems like it was one-sided abuse all day long for Deku, and yet Deku thinks of him as a friend. I am still hopeful that Bakugou will get some character development (and maybe some respect for his comrades), though.

The other main things that bothered me were hard for me to put into words for a long time. It manifested as just a weird feeling about the main character, Deku. Don’t get me wrong! I like him a lot! He’s very sweet and I love how determined and caring he is. I really loved the way he reached out to Todoroki and tries to help all his fellow students–even if it causes trouble for him. But, I felt like he backpedaled a lot with using his Quirk. In the beginning, it destroyed his body every time he used it. It put his place at AU at risk, his dreams of being a hero at risk, and of course, it put his health in immediate danger. And yet… in the middle of season two, some of the other characters applaud Deku for every tiny moment of slight control he has (doing some damage to himself but not as much), but it feels like his mentality has not changed. He willingly destroys his body even after he starts to learn some control just for the sake of tapping into that power, leaving part (or all) of himself out of commission each time.

This mindless self-destructive tendency makes sense in the beginning, but Deku is incredibly clever. I’d argue that the way he studies his opponents, uses his environment, and analyzes them for weaknesses is one of his most powerful tools. It’s what makes him different. So this habit of continuously destroying his body and taking himself out of commission seems very… brash, and lacks his usual careful strategy. This is just a minor complaint though, and I’m sure he’ll (hopefully) gain more and more control.

Deku after breaking four fingers and his arm with his Quirk, ready for more.

The big complaint that I had was that, even though I love Deku and always feel like I’m rooting for him, he feels worryingly close to a Mary Sue. He was Quirkless and was magically handed the most powerful Quirk (possibly) ever so that he could achieve his dream, and everyone is amazed and adores him (except Bakugou who, arguably, plays the part of arch-nemesis for the first part of the series).

I wasn’t sure why it bugged me so much until I spoke with someone who put how I was feeling into words. “I think it would have been a better story if Deku remained Quirkless and became a hero despite that,” Nova told me over the phone last night. And there it was. All of my weird, unnamed frustration put into words.

It wasn’t Deku being Mary Sue-ish that gave me that weird off feeling. It was the fact that, by magically giving him a Quirk, the series is re-affirming all of his fears in the beginning: that the Quirkless cannot become heroes. They lost the opportunity for a story about someone making it against all odds and turned it into a story about someone making it against most of the odds.

The fight scenes that I like the most with Deku are the ones where he uses his quick-thinking, environment, and analytical skills to beat someone else’s Quirk without using his own. I would have loved to have watched a series all about someone like that–someone brilliant but Quirkless–rising to the top through hard work and incredible cleverness as they outdo other heroes and bring down villains.

But that’s not what we got.

Small rant aside, I do love BNHA so far and I am excited to watch more tonight. So–don’t get the wrong idea. Flawed or not, I love the story and I adore the characters (especially Todoroki, but that’s another rant for another day). And with villains plotting in the background… I’m curious to see how everything turns out.

When I finish catching up with BNHA I will post here with my final thoughts, as well! And in the meantime, besides watching at the edge of my seat, I’ve been secretly working on cooking up (literally) my own makeup for Todoroki’s scar…. Wish me luck, makeup is tricky territory with my allergies. Nonetheless, I hope I can do him justice when I cosplay him!

Anime Review: Tsurune

Last week I had just started watching Tsurune, the archery anime by the production team that brought us Free! I just finished the last episode yesterday and honestly… I loved it.

Tsurune was not exactly what I expected. I’ll start with that. I expected a feel-good anime about team bonding and friendship and working together to overcome seemingly impossible odds. And, Tsurune has all of that. But it has more going on in the background as well.

Tsurune dips into some very serious territory. It dives deep into the emotional struggles and doubt that haunt each character, and what holds each of them back from being the best person and best archer they can be. It’s less about hard practice and technique and more about facing personal demons and regaining confidence and love that has long been lost.

Minato, the main character, is the epitome of this. Haunted by his mother’s death and robbed of his love of archery by target panic, he struggles to relearn confidence and let go of past trauma while rediscovering why he fell in love with the sport in the first place. As I watched the rest of Tsurune, though, it became apparent that Minato was not the only one with a past. Their coach, Masa, seems cool and collected but beneath the surface, he struggles to make peace with his own target panic and a grandfather that he never felt accepted by. Seiya struggles to feel like he belongs in a sport where everyone except him is driven by passion, dogged by feelings of being an outsider.

Kaito and Nanao seem stable by comparison, but they have to face their own truths, too. Kaito must learn to accept that Nanao’s laid-back attitude doesn’t undermine his love for the sport. Kaito’s passion and perfectionism pull him toward a dark path of self-sabotage and obsession, with truly opening up to his team the only salvation from a target-panic-destined state.

And, right toward the end, when I thought that the finals were all I had to worry about for the young archers… tragedy outside the sport struck and threatened to undo the group before they had a chance to raise their bows at all.

There is no true enemy in Tsurune, which I really loved. Yes, there is the elite school of Kirisaki high school that stands threateningly before them in finals. And among them is Shu, an incredibly talented archer and the closest thing to a life-long rival that Minato has. Despite the rivalry between teams, the finals feel more like a trial between the archers and their personal demons than anything else. There is so much more to the story than an underdog team battling a powerhouse.

The ending felt so fulfilling and satisfying, and after finishing Tsurune I was left in awe that such a short anime had packed in so many emotions and so much meaning. It carried a beautiful realness. Every character was wonderfully flawed, with dreams and fears and demons of their own.

I would definitely recommend Tsurune, especially if you have a soft spot for shows that are heavier on emotion and drama and lighter on the sports side. There is a lot to love about it, and I adored the full cast of characters (including a few on the rival team).

Have you guys seen Tsurune yet? If so, what did you think?

First Impressions: Tsurune

As a big fan of Haikyuu!! and Free! it only seemed natural to watch Tsurune sooner or later. I’ve only watched four or five episodes so far, but so far Tsurune has left me intrigued and excited to watch more.

Tsurune follows the story of Minato, an archer who was brilliant in the past but fell victim to target panic. Crushed by the pressure of facing down the target during a tournament, familiar panic wells up inside of him every time he aims for that bullseye ever since. His hands shake, his form crumbles, and his arrows hit anything except the target.

The once-promising archer sets his bow down with every intention to quit the sport for good. Friends and a mysterious young man who has conquered his own target panic push Minato to come back to the sport he loves, though, and face the target panic he’s run from for so long.

Made by the same studio that gave us Free!, Tsurune has a lot of the same characteristics that I fell in love with when I was first introduced to Free!. The animation is absolutely beautiful, and a joy to watch. The style the characters are drawn in is very nice, and extra care was clearly put into backgrounds, animals, and poetic movements.

Like Free!, Tsurune hints at deep past drama that threatens to rear its head in the coming episodes. Side characters are pretty well-rounded and have intricate stories of their own, lending a realness to the feel and interactions between the archers.

Even early on, it is easy to tell that Tsurune focuses heavily on the personal and emotional ripples that each archer feels, rather than focusing on the victory or defeat of the team.

Although they are only side characters at this point, I’ve really enjoyed seeing Nanao and Kaito’s, too. The two are almost always together despite being polar opposites in terms of personality, and Nanao is wonderfully immune to Kaito’s tsundere attitude (he even calls him out for it).

Even though Kaito is grumpy, when and how he lashes out doesn’t feel meaningless or intentionally cruel. (Unintentionally is another story). He is genuinely excited and in love with archery which shows through, and that same passion for the sport he loves drives his grumpy attitude toward any archer who (in Kaito’s eyes) doesn’t care.

Kaito also reminds me of another passionate athlete with poor social skills and tsundere tendencies… and it feels perfectly fitting for him to be voiced by the same actor who voiced Kageyama from Haikyuu!!.

I’m excited to watch more Tsurune soon and will let you know what I think of it when I finish!

What have you guys been watching?

Anime Review: Magi & Adventure of Sinbad

It’s hard to talk about Aventure of Sinbad without talking about Magi. They both tell part of the same story of the same world and the same big picture, so for me, it only makes sense to share them with you as a package deal.

With clear Arabian Nights influences, Adventure of Sinbad and Magi introduce us to an incredibly vast world full of a wide cast of characters from a variety of nations and backgrounds. This series has some of the most in-depth worldbuilding I’ve seen in an anime (or manga), and I was delighted to find that even with such a huge cast of characters, time was spent with each one to develop them. They are each unique, each has a different personality, different past, different dreams and fears. Only a couple of the characters felt “flat”, and even those characters were still more rounded than some I’ve seen in other series.

Magi and Adventure of Sinbad take place in a world where all life comes from and returns to the rukh. A handful of special people known as magi walk the earth, are protected and loved by the rukh, and use their power and wisdom to guide natural leaders into positions of power for the sake of peace and progress. They give these natural leaders, or “king candidates” (don’t be fooled, they can be women, too), power by creating dungeons as tests to ferry out the best of the best and award them the power of a djinn.

Magi starts out with Alibaba, a runaway prince trying to make amends with his past, and Aladdin, a magi who has yet to learn what he is. They journey through dungeons, lead a rebellion to take back Alibaba’s fallen kingdom, and face first-hand what happens when hope is lost. They face war, poverty, and corruption. They fight against slavery and befriend an incredible girl named Morgiana, who was once in chains. They travel the world and see it in all its beauty and darkness, find out that utopias sometimes hold terrible secrets, and stumble across puppet-masters who wish to see the world fall into chaos.

In their travels, they also meet Sinbad, the legendary conqueror of seven dungeons, master of seven djinn, and king of Sindria. He helps them to learn and grow but carries dark secrets of his own.

Sinbad is also the main character in Adventure of Sinbad, back during his younger days. Although more lighthearted than Magi, I loved seeing Sinbad’s backstory and the beginnings of the kingdom of Sindria in that series, plus it was a real treat to see Ja’far’s background as an assassin sent to kill Sinbad.

In their travels, Aladdin, Alibaba, and Morgiana meet many others, including magicians, other magi both good and bad, and a troubled prince with an appetite for revenge–against the vicious Kou empire that he calls home, and that wronged him so terribly.

The line between good and bad is foggy in Magi and Aventure of Sinbad, which I especially love. Good and bad are a complex subject. Exploring the gray area and hard decisions makes for an emotional ride. Alibaba and Aladdin both struggle to do what is right, and both falter from time to time as they are mired in dark pasts, fallen friends, and despair.

A lot of people like the manga for Magi, though I will say I found it to be a bit long-winded and drawn-out. The anime is wonderful, though, and doesn’t linger too long on exposition. It’s emotional, full of action, and the plot progresses naturally. There are so many incredible characters in the series to fall in love with, too.

Have you guys seen Magi? What did you think?

Anime Review: Cute High Earth Defense Club

If you’re looking for a laugh and some lighthearted anime, Cute High Earth Defense Club (Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu) is the way to go. It has two main seasons (LOVE! and LOVE! LOVE!), an OVA (LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!), and a sequel series (Happy Kiss!) and is a great parody anime that pokes fun at Sailor Moon in all the best ways. Rather than a cast of determined magical girls, Cute High features reluctant magical boys caught up in a battle for good and evil, extraterrestrial animal companions, and villains that are a loveable mess more than anything.

Cute High doesn’t take itself too seriously. In fact, the fourth wall is broken down a few times, and the characters call out obvious tropes for what they are. The reactions are often realistic, too. Rather than being inspired to fight evil, En would rather take a nap, and Atsushi wants answers.

Only Yumoto, the air-headed blond and apparent leader of the ragtag Battle Lovers, seems inspired by their new status of heroes.

Season one sees battle between the unorganized, unenthused Battle Lovers and the Student Council, fueled by an old feud over curry and a broken promise. Season two (LOVE! LOVE!) is my absolute favorite. It introduces us to a pair of mysterious, troublesome twins–the Beppu brothers–who hold a grudge against Yumoto.

The main conflict of the show in both seasons is mostly driven by misunderstandings, attention-seeking villains, and the desperation to be loved.

Although I love Cute High Earth Defense Club, and it always makes me laugh, I wasn’t as big on the spin-off series Happy Kiss! It felt more forced and awkward than the two seasons before it. The first two seasons were definitely comedy-driven, but plot lurked beneath the surface, and there were more to the characters than met the eye. Atsushi and Kinshiro shared history that fueled Kinshiro to become a villain. En and Atsushi had a close bond, as did Io and Ryuu. The twins from the second season, Akihiko Beppu and Haruhiko Beppu, kept viewers in the dark as to where they’d come from and who they really were before revealing their ties with Yumoto and his older brother. And although both villains were driven by somewhat petty reasons… they felt real enough to matter.

Although Happy Kiss! felt slightly like mindless entertainment with no real story, LOVE! and LOVE! LOVE! offered real laughs and made me really root for the characters. So, although the spin-off series didn’t impress me quite as much as the first two seasons, I definitely recommend Cute High Earth Defense Club as a fun, lighthearted anime that will keep you smiling.

Have you seen Cute High Earth Defense Club? If so, what season did you like the most?

Anime Review: Devils and Realist

Another flashback to a great anime from a few years ago–if you missed it, Devils and Realist is definitely worth a watch. It is short and sweet at only twelve episodes long and doesn’t take itself too seriously. Despite the serious plot and emotional twists hidden beneath the surface, the series is also filled with laugh-out-loud moments and demonic shenanigans. If you are a fan of Pandora Hearts or Black Butler and have a sense of humor, chances are you’ll like Devils and Realist, too.

Based very loosely off of real mythology, Devils and Realist follows a brilliant young student named William Twining who goes to a prestigious school and is used to the high society life… until his uncle gambles the family fortune away and runs off, leaving William alone, broke, and with no way to pay his tuition.

While searching his empty house for anything of value that might have been missed, William shoves into a secret room with a mysterious seal–which is activated by a splash of blood from the forced entry. Dantalion, Grand Duke of Hell, makes his appearance and asks what William wants. William has no idea what is going on, and as an atheist, he doesn’t even believe in demons. He mentions that all he wants is his tuition paid before he runs off to call the police, sure that Dantalion is a deranged intruder (rather than a bonafide demon).

In an ironic twist, despite William’s extreme denial that any of the magical happenings around him are real, he is the descendant of Solomon and is destined to choose the next ruler of Hell. Demons vie for his attention and try to sway him through threats and bribery. Angels quarrel over him as well. Some want him dead. Others try their best to protect him from his fate and from the demons that surround him.

Although this series is full of laughs, there is some solid plot hidden underneath and some emotional turmoil. For all his bravado, the death of his parents hangs heavy over William’s heart. Sytry deals with internal demons and an abusive uncle, and Dantalion mourns the loss of William’s (Solomon’s) memories as he tries to reclaim a shred of the close bond they once shared.

Have you seen Devils and Realist? If so, what did you think?

Anime Review: Pandora Hearts

Pandora Hearts is one of my favorite series of all time. Although Haikyuu!! is near and dear to my heart, Pandora Hearts is a series that I come back to again and again, and it never gets old.

Pandora Hearts is rife with plot twists, and the story runs deep. It’s hard to even touch on the story without giving some of the secrets away. It is clearly inspired by Alice in Wonderland, though this series comes with a darker twist. Pandora Hearts introduces us to the Abyss, where warped, toy-like demons reside. The Abyss is the stuff of children’s horror stories and urban legend until Oz, future duke and emotionally troubled youth, is thrown in by force during his coming-of-age ceremony.

Oz manages to claw his way out of the Abyss with help from a mysterious girl with no memories, but he finds himself mired deep in conspiracies, secret societies, and in search for the truth behind a tragedy that leveled an entire city one hundred years ago.

Oz isn’t your typical hero. He struggles with a lot of darkness and doubt, and he is forced into hard decisions, which makes Pandora Hearts feel real and un-sugarcoated. His companions, Alice and Gil, wrestle with their own demons as they journey with him and find that the three of them are more connected by the ancient tragedy than any of them could have ever realized.

Pandora Hearts is not shy about touching on darker subjects. Oz struggles with passive suicidal tendencies and his history carries hints of abuse and neglect from his father. Gilbert’s amnesia and his emotionally charged reactions to his brother and the truth strike me as PTSD, and Alice’s lost memories may be ones better left forgotten. Despite what they face, and despite what they learn, the three stick close together as their search for the truth takes them down the rabbithole.

I will say that, although I do like the anime, I prefer the manga for Pandora Hearts. This is a beautifully complex and emotionally compelling story with deep characters, and the anime leaves a lot out of the story. Though the rest of the anime is quite good, the ending is clearly tacked on and doesn’t make much sense without the context of the manga. It’s likely to leave you with more questions than answers. Don’t be shy about picking up the manga if that’s the case for you–it’s well worth the read and has one of the most beautiful, heart-breaking, bitter-sweet endings I’ve read in any storytelling format.

Whether you read the manga, watch the anime, or both, I highly recommend this series. It is a story that will stay with you for a long time.

2019 Cosplay Plans

Looking back through all the cosplays I did last year makes me think… I really need to clean out my cosplay closet–because I already have more planned for 2019.

Granted, I will have my hands full with a lot this year since I’ve been busy building violins and might be moving this summer, but here are the cosplays I have planned so far:

Conventions

This is always up in the air. Traveling is expensive and depends a lot on other people as well. It’s a lot cheaper to travel in a group, after all. Luckily we do have a couple local conventions, Lilac City Comicon and Kuronekocon, plus I’m also hoping to make it back to Seattle for Sakura-con this year. It’s always really nice to visit Seattle since I have friends and family in the area.

In addition… and this one is still up in the air, but I might also be going to Nan Desu Kan in Denver this summer. We’ll see.

Cosplay Plans

Would you believe I’ve already started on some new cosplays? Well, it’s true. Here’s what I have on the books for new cosplays so far! Take them with a grain of salt, though. Plans change on a whim and a lot of these depend on battles with the sewing machine and frantic prayers to the crafting gods.

Zuko (Avatar the Last Air Bender)

I have been wanting to cosplay Zuko for years, I kid you not. So when I heard that a few of my good friends were putting together an Avatar the Last Airbender cosplay group… you better believe that I almost fell over in my excitement to offer to cosplay Zuko.

Baldr (Kamigami no Asobi)

This is another cosplay that I’ve been wanting to do for a long time! I’d love to cosplay Apollon, too, and hope to in the future since the only real difference is a wig and a small accessory (the divine shackle). I’m going to focus on Baldr for this year, though, which is really exciting since I’ll have a small Kamigami no Asobi cosplay group to look forward to!

Todoroki (My Hero Academia / Boku no Hero Academia)

Okay, bear with me. I still need to watch more of My Hero Academia, but from the few episodes I’ve seen I can tell that it is up my alley. I can also tell right away that I’m going to like Todoroki, so I’m really looking forward to finding out more about him and cosplaying him this year.

Keith Kogane (Voltron)

Yes, yes. I know. Everyone and their dog is cosplaying from Voltron, and everyone is especially cosplaying Keith. But, I have to admit, I do really like him as a character, and with a good friend cosplaying Lance… I simply can’t resist the opportunity.

And since Kageyama is one of my absolute favorite cosplays (and one of my favorite characters)… and Esselle is one of my absolute favorite writers, I’ve also been working on a couple AU cosplays for Kageyama based on fanfics that she writes:

Kageyama (Haikyuu!!–Somewhere to Belong AU by Esselle)

First of all, Somewhere to Belong is an absolutely amazing fanfic. It’s one of my all-time favorites, though I guess I probably feel that way about most of Esselle’s fics. It’s a Haikyuu AU fic where Hinata is a Sun God who walks among his people during the Summer Solstice.

Once a year, all the villages that follow the way of the sun offer up one of their own to be taken to the sun god’s divine temple. Kageyama Tobio, an orphan and loner, never wanted to be chosen—and until the sun god appeared, no one ever wanted to choose him, either. All Tobio wants is to find a place he fits in. What he actually gets is another story entirely.

This was a tricky one to try to cosplay because I am fairly certain that Kageyama is not wearing a shirt for most of the story, but I tried my best to draw a design inspired by it (including Hinata’s golden collar-style necklace that he lends Kageyama), and I will do my best to create it. Wish me luck!

Kageyama (Haikyuu!!–Heaven Sent AU by Esselle and Really Corking)

This is another incredible Haikyuu AU fanfic, by Esselle and Really Corking that takes place in the old Roman Empire.

When lowly acolyte Hinata is tasked with bringing his temple’s monthly tax payment to the Centurion’s Villa, he hardly expects to have an encounter with Kageyama, the lavishly wealthy landowner and decorated army general himself. But Kageyama turns out to be far more interested in Hinata than the money, believing him to be a gift sent from the gods themselves. Before Hinata realizes what’s happening, he finds himself agreeing to stay at the villa, where Kageyama can spoil him to his heart’s content.

To Hinata’s surprise, he soon finds himself growing attached to the brutally blunt yet strangely sweet Kageyama; but he is worried he won’t be able to hold the attention of a man who has everything, even as Kageyama starts to become everything to him.

This one was also tricky. Kageyama has a few notable outfits in it, but his more lavish togas are pretty sparse on top, and even though I do have skin-colored binders, I’d prefer something that covers a bit more on top. I ended up picking one of his simpler togas, instead:

Heaven Sent AU, Kageyama and Hinata–art by kkumri.

And so far that’s it! Which is to say… I think I’ll have my hands pretty full. What about you guys? Do you have any fun cosplay plans for 2019?

(Cosplay) Year in Review: 2018

Whew! 2018 was a crazy year. I felt like I was playing catch-up for half of it, and had more projects than I knew what to do with. I did get the chance to try out some new cosplays and attend a couple of conventions, and enjoyed spending time with friends, though!

Sakura-Con 2018

Sakura-Con was the first convention of 2018 for me! It’s in Seattle, Washington, not too far from home, and it’s always an exciting chance to visit my good friends on the western side of the state and my sister who lives near Seattle as well!

While I was at the convention, I cosplayed Kageyama from Haikyuu!! (a cosplay that is near and dear to my heart) as well as Shirabu from Haikyuu!!, Nagisa from Free!, and a Pirate AU version of Nagisa from Free! The Pirate AU Nagisa cosplay was built pretty much entirely from scratch (including the bird, which was once a sock) and it was a lot of work but so rewarding! I felt like a learned a ton while working on it.

Kageyama Tobio cosplay (Haikyuu!!) at Sakura-con 2018.

Nagisa cosplay (Free!) and Shirabu cosplay (Haikyuu!!) from Sakura-con 2018.

Pirate Nagisa cosplay (Free!) at Sakura-con 2018.

Magi Photoshoot in the Park

I broke out my Alibaba (Magi) cosplay for the first time in a while last spring, too. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed cosplaying him! I worked so hard on his sword, which is carved out of wood and has real red tiger’s eye stones set in it, so I always have a lot of fun swinging that around.

Alibaba cosplay (Magi) at a local park.

I was able to get a few pictures of my Kageyama cosplay outside of cons as well during a fun photoshoot at a local park.

Kageyama Tobio cosplay (Haikyuu!!), photo by Jordan Nutter.Kageyama Tobio cosplay (Haikyuu!!), photo by Jordan Nutter.

Lilac City Comicon

When Lilac City Comicon rolled around, I was pretty overloaded, so I decided to just stick with a simple cosplay that I love, which is Kageyama from Haikyuu!!. I went as casual Kageyama one day and went in uniform for the other.

Casual Kageyama Tobio cosplay (Haikyuu!!) at Lilac City Comicon 2018.
Kageyama Tobio cosplay (Haikyuu!!) at Lilac City Comicon 2018.

Remaking Kageyama’s Crown

My homemade Kageyama crown started wearing out pretty bad by summer. It was flimsy and battered and I was sure after all I’d learned that I could remake it better than ever–so I did. The new crown is still a bit fragile, but it is more flexible, easier to repair, and I’m a lot happier with how it looks. Just like the old one, it is mostly made out of paper, paint, and a tiny bit of fabric.

Old Kageyama crown (left) versus new Kageyama crown (right).

Kuronekocon 2018

Kuronekocon was a lot of work with two new cosplays (Adrien from Miraculous Ladybug and Panini from Chowder), but it was a lot of fun and it’s always nice to meet new friends and catch up with old ones. I also cosplayed Kageyama from Haikyuu!! and did a quick evening Nagisa cosplay (from Free!) on the last evening of the convention.

Panini cosplay (Chowder) at Kuronekocon 2018.

Kageyama Tobio cosplay (Haikyuu!!) at Kuronekocon 2018, photo by Jordan Nutter.

Kageyama Tobio cosplay (Haikyuu!!) at Kuronekocon 2018, photo by Jordan Nutter.

Kageyama cosplay (Haikyuu!!) and quick Nagisa cosplay (Free!) at Kuronekocon 2018.

Adrien cosplay (Miraculous Ladybug) at Kuronekocon 2018.

Pandora Hearts Photoshoot

I had the chance to get a few pictures of my Oz cosplay (Pandora Hearts) during a photoshoot which was exciting, too! I haven’t cosplayed Oz much, but he is a character that is near and dear to my heart and I would love to cosplay him more often.

Oz cosplay (from Pandora Hearts), photo by Jordan Nutter.
Oz cosplay (from Pandora Hearts), photo by Jordan Nutter.

Cosplay Halloween Party (Rowan Witch Kageyama)

For Halloween I went to a get-together with a few friends to celebrate, and threw together a very, very quick and informal Rowan Witch Kageyama cosplay based on a Haikyuu!! AU fanfic that I’ve been writing. It was a lot of fun! And, although this cosplay was thrown together in just a couple days, I would love to cosplay it again with a little more preparation someday.

Rowan Witch Kageyama cosplay (Haikyuu!! AU).

Stardew Valley Holiday Party

Winter is a reclusive time of the year for me, but it was a wonderful treat to catch up and cosplay with good friends for a holiday party at the end of the year. It was also my first time cosplaying Elliott from Stardew Valley! We had a whole Stardew Valley group!

Elliott cosplay (Stardew Valley) at the holiday party.

It’s pretty shocking to look back and see just how many cosplays I’ve worked on last year! If you want to know what I have planned for this year stay tuned–I’ll have a post up soon with some of the exciting new cosplays I have planned, from some of my favorite AUs, beloved classics, and a popular hero anime.

What was your favorite cosplay of the year? 🙂