Report itikitty's Profile

I've become more cynical or skeptical about 'love' as I've gotten older - and it's now fair to say that I'm about middle-aged. I don't know if you remember seeing or reading a Violet Evergarden reference on my MAL profile before, but it gives you a pretty good idea of how I have a pessimistic or more scientifically based outlook on such a vague and intangible a word or concept as 'love', or a phrase like 'I love you'. Before I get to the (spoiler tag) quote and Violet Evergarden reference, I would like to say that I think 'love' is basically/fundamentally an illusion or trick of the mind (on the part of the beholder), and one can choose to take a rose-tinted, subjectively biased, sentimentally favorable, or wildly optimistic view of another person, and attach particular meanings, feelings/sentiments, beauty/attractiveness, graces, virtues, or importance to them, if they wish. And one can choose to do this with other things - like with objects, or memories, or abstract things/concepts like tastes, smells, or sounds. It goes to show that ones idea/vision or conception and 'experience' of the universe, and everything in it, is all in ones own mind, and lies within the receptivity/sensitivity, perception, and experience of their own individual senses, individual physiology, nervous system, and neural responses. You can say you love your romantic or sexual partner (married or not married), just the same as you can say you love your sister, brother, mother, father, grandparent, child, or pet. You can say you love pizza or french fries, or oranges or bananas, or tea or coffee, or cookies or cake, or football or golf, or cycling or swimming, or the color pink or purple. Or, a particular singer or musician, or director or actor/actress, or anime, or movie, or book or novel, or fictional character, or item of clothing, or fashion label/brand, or takeaway/restaurant, or perfume or scent. Or, planes or trains, cars or motorcycles, laptops or home computers, smartphones, headphones, any gadgets/electronics, or money itself. Or, natural things, like the sun, the moon, the stars, the breeze, the seaside, the forest, the trees, the river, the lake, the mountains, or even just being alive - but peoples feelings regarding all these aforementioned things can change, or change value (up or down), or be discarded, or substituted, or forgotten. And it can be hard to express or convey these abstract or constantly shifting feelings clearly or accurately to another person - and the problem with words (in any language) is that they mean different things to different people. I know some people IRL who were tormented by their cohabiting 'romantic' partners or marriage partners (or continue to be tormented by them in various ways or to different degrees) - and often it's psychological or emotional torment I'm talking about, and some others have separated or gotten divorced. Some stay together indefinitely or forever (for social, or cultural, or accommodation, or financial reasons) - but either one of them, or both of them, are unhappy or discontented (in at least one way, or some ways, or big ways, or overall). There are some neighbors in my street who live opposite me, who seem happy and all smiles - on the surface, at least. So maybe, there is a chance of finding happiness and love in marriage (or long-term adult commitment), but how ever hard you 'will' or wish things to be just right, or happy, or loving, or honest, or respectful, or faithful/monogamous - it all depends on the other person. You can't do it all by yourself. You need someone else to meet you halfway. Anyway, that spoiler tag of mine was:



Even after all that, I feel I've only begun to scratch the surface, of the topic of love. I'll leave it there for now though. I don't want to ramble on too much (and make you stop loving me - as your MAL friend). I've said before that we're MAL BFF's, and I wouldn't be going too far to say, 'I love you' as a MAL friend. Hopefully, we'll be able to continue as friends for a decent amount of time, and I'll try to keep going as long as I humanly can. So far things have been good between us (unless it's just my rose-tinted view of things) ;)

Fate/Kaleid Prisma Illya is a step-down from the peak Fate's (like Zero and UBW), and the action scenes are where it's at its weakest (it doesn't suit a serious tone after some of the ecchi comedy skits), but there are some funny/amusing/comical scenes or sketches. I like Miyu (from Finland). It can be a bit ecchi/borderline pervy, but it's just within the bounds of acceptability for me. And you get to see more Rin Tohsaka, which is nice.

Ah, it just goes to show that my anime/weeb knowledge isn't up to your level (please, don't throw me down the weeb well), because I'm not familiar with a lot of the animal/mascots you mention, except for Kuruma and Bond. I think I would struggle to do a top 5, even. Maybe, Chikowa (Yuru Camp) would be a contender because I liked the playacting scene in one of the recent Yuru Camp episodes. And, I don't know if you've seen this series yet, but the rabbits in Shangri-La Frontier are funny/witty (even though they're virtual rabbit NPCs/AIs within a VR game).



I'm surprised to see you mention Fate/Extra: Last Encore. That one gets a lot of flak from the MAL community, but I thought it was quite good - especially Saber Nero, who I've had in my top 10 before. I think Shaft did a great job with the artwork/visuals and there were a couple of episodes that were Magica Madoka-esque in their style and fairy tale theme. Maybe we can rewatch it together in the future. You mentioned Hakumei and Mikochi (and again in your most recent message), and yes, I would be happy to do a rewatch with you. The first time I watched it I scored it 8/10, and then bumped that up to 9/10 after a rewatch last year. It was very relaxing, and heartwarming, and took me to a happy place. It was tasteful and mature as well, and I can understand why it's tagged as a seinen. We'll make Hakumei and Mikochi our next rewatch and we can have a light discussion after each episode, and that way, I'll be able to break down the specific reasons why I hold it in such high regard/esteem. Maybe, it's best (or more appropriate) if we talk about each individual episode (after watching it) through private message - like we did with Sleepy Princess.

Yeah, I'm wary of watching live action or even animated horror, myself. I will try my best to steer clear of those kinds of things - like things that are very scary, horrifying, or excessively disturbing. So no, I don't have any regrets of that nature anime-wise. My only regrets are of watching regular anime that turned out to be disappointing experiences overall - like Darling in the Franxx, Solo Leveling, Metallic Rouge, or Shield Hero.

I didn't think WataMote was that bad. I got some laughs or amusement out of it - but that was like, 5 - 6 years ago now. I think it was refreshing seeing a female character in that type of anti-social/socially awkward, outcast/misfit role, because it's something that's usually associated with guys.

Yeah, I can well imagine people repeatedly asking you about your thoughts/reactions to the latest episode of Frieren. It was the talk of the town/talk of the weebs, wasn't it. What are your thoughts/feelings about it (even if you haven't seen much of it, or any of it)? I'll tell you my thoughts about it, next time.

About 'marathoning' anime - sometimes it is nice to get into the flow or mood of the series with 2, 3, or 4 episodes a night (5 might be the maximum of any one series for me), and sometimes you really do lose the thread of the story, or your connection with the characters, with only 20 minutes of content once a week. Some of the recent things I've done my mini-marathons on would be Yuru Camp, Violet Evergarden, Toradora, and Buddy Daddies - and in all those instances, that approach worked out favorably, and I ended up getting a positive experience out of them.

I am quite isolated from current and popular trends myself, and likewise with anime - like, I've only ever had one semi-serious, semi-lengthy real-life conversation about anime, and that was several years ago. So, in a way this is why I was drawn to MAL in the first place, and then became so regular with my communications - because I enjoyed talking about the anime series and characters I liked, loved, or respected, as well as soundtracks and songs and artwork. I held those feelings in my heart and head for many years (in isolation, without expressing them externally), and then it felt good/satisfying and a release, to share that with others. And I enjoyed being able to talk to people who felt similarly, or getting some friendly feedback on what I was saying, or even listening to other opinions and points of view. And sometimes I would learn something I didn't know before.

I've seen a couple of the new Spice and Wolf episodes, and they've improved the artwork and OST (Kevin Penkin, the Made in Abyss composer, is on board), and the the story seems more refined and focused. I think (so far) it's a couple of steps above the original. As for KonoSuba, I'll probably wait until more episodes are out before embarking, but if I'm not enjoying it that much, then I'll try it in American English dub, to give it a second chance - before giving up on it. I quite enjoyed the style of humor and dynamic of the main group/party/guild (of four), and their interactions together - living and adventuring in an isekai sword and sorcery fantasy setting, when I first saw it 6 years ago. So, we'll see if I'm able to get into the spirit of it again, and pick up where I left off. I'm not going to give it an automatic pass though, it will have to make me smile/laugh or seem pleasing/entertaining through the merits or cleverness/wit of the writing, jokes, or dialogue. Let me know what you think of these remakes I've been talking about/you were asking about ;)

As for Bleach, well, that's one rather lengthy topic (with there being so much in the original series), and seeing as I've already been speaking about it to some other MAL friends, I'll requote myself with most of it, rather than type it all out fresh.

I'd say Bleach is the best that battle shounen/action anime has to offer right now. It seems a step above everything else in regards to visuals (indisputably top-tier HD with sharp and stylish eye-catching designs), OST (some of it is exceedingly epic and grandiose), and action (Kenpachi, Rukia, and Mayuri's battles being the most interesting, immersive, and entertaining to watch). The last two episodes (of Part 2) were awesome and spectacular action spectacles (and I'm sometimes skeptical of big set pieces like this), and I don't think we've seen anything quite like that, or on that scale of magnitude in Bleach before. The action is more imaginative, creative, and outside the regular shounen box, than something like Demon Slayer or Hero Academia - and it's a fair shade darker and grittier, as well.

And I get impression this new Bleach arc is a particularly tragic one, where the Soul Society gets shaken to its very foundations, and in contrast to the first series, where literally no-one dies - some big names are falling by the wayside, as well as lots of rank and file. The unrelenting gloom kinda reminds me of Claymore, which is itself a gloomy/sombre, grim and gritty, sword-wielding, dark fantasy series. I think this new Bleach has a similar dark fantasy vibe to it, mixed with a little bit of the good old, fun-time shounen elements we saw in the first Bleach series - like they could resist having some Kon (cute, silly, teddy-bear mascot) moments, at the very end of Season 2.

I'm not 100% sure what you're referring to when you say, V-Tuber. Like non-music, person talking YouTube videos? I occasionally/infrequently watch YouTube videos about anime, but I'm not a dedicated or even semi-regular follower of any one creator/personality in particularly. There are a few decent ones, and perhaps there's some things you can learn from some of them, but some of their voices or 'personalities' come across as arrogant, obnoxious, or pretentious - or there's something else that's annoying or off-putting about them. I remember this guy called DigiBro (from years back) doing a really detailed and analytical, positive review of Log Horizon, which I rather enjoyed. He seemed like quite an intelligent guy - and you've got to be, to get the most out of the Log Horizon experience ;)

Thanks for the music. It was very beautiful and relaxing, and helped inspire my writing in the 2nd part of this message (I've had it on repeat a few times). I must have forgot you saying you didn't like rock or metal, guitar based music. Sometimes, I take it for granted that everyone will like what I like, or the genres/styles I like - but of course, this isn't always the case. I think I'm getting a better idea of your music tastes now.

Of the 3 anime you mentioned (which make you feel completely absorbed in them), I wasn't too keen on Zombieland Saga while it was first airing (dropped it after 3 or 4 episodes), but I might give it a second chance to redeem itself. Shadows House though, I did rather enjoy - and especially the first season, with Edward to the fore, as the primary antagonist. I've only seen Seasons 1 and 2 once though, so it might be a good one to rewatch. Perhaps, we can do a rewatch together? I'll leave you with some music to fire your enthusiasm.

Ah, your top-secret Spy x Family-type mission is already finished. And now you've turned into Chocho to compensate for the past month of snack deprivation. No need to feel guilty, you've earned those potato chips ;)

It probably was good idea to conserve energy during that time - because lengthy replies to me can consume a lot of calories. And sometimes an imposing wall of text like that can be intimidating enough to make people go MIA - so it's good to hear back from you, and have an assurance that you're still with us!

Apothecary Diaries wasn't a clever as it could have been, and I would have liked more complex mystery solving and deductions, but there was something charming and lovable about the female lead Maomao (strong-willed and independent, sharp-witted, with self-deprecating humor and jokes), and there was a nice sparkle and glossiness to the visuals, and something elegant and lavish with the courtly/inner palace setting. The first OP song and sequence was really nice, and sort of encapsulated the vibe of the series for me - and how it was focused on Maomao, and her blossoming into a more confident, sassy, and womanly personality.

It's been a few years since I last saw Korra, but I think it has The Last Airbender beat in some aspects - like with some of the writing and humor, and with the visuals and animation. Honestly, I think Soqqa has more cheesy/corny or immature jokes, or jokes that sometimes fall flat, or wear out quickly, than Bolin/Nucktuck. And Varrick adds a zany, eccentric, madcap, and preposterous humor to the scenes he's in. I think Iroh's wise/philosophical musings, sometimes poignant sounding (emotionally affecting) voice, and tea themed humor (I love tea, myself), add a special element to Airbender though, and Katara has such a sweet, kind, thoughtful, caring, and lovely personality/disposition and voice. I think I'd put her in my MAL top 10, if I could.

Emiya-san? I take it you're referring to the cooking spin-off? It was amusing to see Shirou cooking up different dishes in every episodes - with his female entourage fawning over his ever slice, dice, simmer, and stir-fry. What is it about Shirou that makes him so attractive to so many females, do you think? You don't happen to like him yourself, do you? Lol. Maybe if you were a character in a visual novel. I remembering doing a bit of a similar salmon recipe to something he does in one of the episodes. And it was an interesting change of pace to see Lancer haggling for bargains at the fishmongers, instead of unleashing his noble phantasm :)

Do you (yourself) play Othello/reversi with other people - friends or family? Do you ever play/have you ever played online? I was doing a bit of reading about it - like on the Wikipedia page. It sort of gives the impression that it's something incredibly easy to pick up, with basic/straightforward rules (and that you can start playing straight away), but I sense there are increasing levels of tactics/strategy and complexity to the game - like at the level of the professionals or world champions. It seems more intriguing because of that dichotomy.

Kenshin? Well, it was more historical than most shounen. Almost like a softer, less complex, less gritty version of Golden Kamuy (I think it's set a little before the Golden Kamuy era). I was watching the remake/reboot of Kenshin - I'm not sure if you noticed that. So, the visuals were pretty slick and I liked the designs and the backgrounds. It kinda transported me back to that historical 19th Century Japanese era - with the architecture of the towns/streets/homes/dojos and gardens/horticulture, as well. I don't think it was quite at the HxH or Naruto level (of writing, characters/personalities, or enjoyment) but it was better than some mediocre uninspired/formulaic shounen. I gave it a 7 in the end. What did you think of Kenshin? I'm guessing you only have knowledge/experience of the original. Speaking of battle shounen type things - which are your faves at this point in time? I've not seem some of them for many years - so based solely on previous experience, memory, and past feelings or nostalgia, I'd say, HxH (2011), Naruto/Shippuden, Bleach (1st series and TYBW), and FMAB were my faves/the best ones for me/my personality. Do you have any experience of Boruto? What do you think of it? I can't remember if we've spoken about it before. Maybe we concluded that Boruto just eats burgers all the time and Chocho always her hand in the bag of potato chips.

Heike Monogatari? I saw it a few years ago. It was really beautiful and a little bit unusual in its art and aesthetics, and there was an intriguing mystery and supernatural element with the girl (Biwa) who can see glimpses of the future. Also, the OST was pretty good (I think the Biwa instrument was used a lot) and was evocative of the historical setting and era. It's definitely one of those underappreciated/underrated or overlooked series. You mentioned reading mainstream anime news on a daily basis. Are there any specific sites or sources you look to, or use for that? I think this is quite a decent site for all things anime/manga related: https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/

I had someone else recommend Kingdom to me only recently (because we were speaking about The Apothecary Diaries), and they said the artwork makes a great improvement after Season 1, but I struggled with the first few episodes and haven't been able to progress any further. The ugly artwork is a barrier for me, but the main characters didn't draw me in either, and some of the situations and dialogues seemed a little cliche or run-of-the-mill. Also, I'm the kind of person who like likes nice looking/charming personality female characters, and there didn't seem to be any of those around. I get the impression that it's more a story of war and battles, and conflicts and plotting and intrigue - focused on a core bunch of guys, and females are relegated to the sidelines/the background. I might be wrong about that, but that's the impression I get - and tbh, I think I'm more in the mood for something like Yuru Camp right now. Or something like the new series, Jellyfish Can't Swim in the Night - which has just started airing. I feel like taking a break from men/masculinity, fighting, and war. Although, I understand the attraction of opposites thing - where sometimes, females are more interested in/orientated towards watching strong men and macho/masculine settings/situations and themes.

Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory? It almost sounds like a term out of SAO Alicization (which I've just finished rewatching). Like it's got something to do with fluctlights/human consciousness or artificial intelligence. So, with HSAM, what are you referring to exactly? Is it something you have yourself?

I like a lot of different tastes and flavors, and I do like savory/salty and sour things myself. I like oranges and eat them regularly - the very finest ones (like the best organic Valencia variety) which are a combo of sweet and sour and citrus, and aren't too pithy, are a real treat. Also, red/pink grapefruit are nice, and fun fact - I used to enjoy sucking the juice out of lemons when I was a kid. As for salty/savory snacks, I don't go in so much for potato chips these days, but in the past, the finest quality kettle chips are nice with some dip (like hummus, or sour cream and chive) and my fave flavors are chili/sweet chill, sea salt and black pepper, and sea salt and vinegar. What are your fave flavors? Also, thick and crinkly chips (crisps, as they call them here) are good for dipping. For snacks, I've been getting into salted peanuts recently - which might or might not be an unconscious/subconscious influence from Anya (Spy x Family). Lol.

I think ultimately, ATLA and Korra were just Nickelodeon cartoons (with better than cartoon level animation) that were meant to be entertaining for, and orientated towards, younger people. So maybe they shouldn't be over-examined in microscopic detail, or over-analysed like they're Nobel-prize winning literature. If you relax the critical/cynical 'adult' part of your mind, and give them the benefit of the doubt, they can be as good as some of the best Japanese anime, and they might well be worthy of your time and attention if you're predisposed to the animated medium or are a regular anime viewer. If you aren't, then it's probably best to steer clear of them both, and I wouldn't ever recommend ATLA or Korra to any adults who aren't already (at least to some degree) into anime. It's so hard to find something that's perfect in every way (like it was something pure and organic - like a diamond or a tree) if it's created by human hands and minds, and it's all to easy to find faults and flaws with things. And then there's the question of tastes, predispositions, and bias, and things like different senses of humor or beauty/attractiveness. People will always have their own feelings/opinions and personal reactions regarding particular 'personalities' and what or who they sympathize with, relate to, are forgiving or lenient towards, or find charming or lovable or amusing. People will always like or prefer different sights/sounds/voices/faces/personalities. That's the human condition and what being an individual is all about.

Hello there.

Right, here it is, at last. Like that nearly forever delayed final AOT episode. Also, a wait can seem longer when you are really looking forward to something (like I was with the AOT ending). I hope the wait wasn't too much for you, and that you don't feel despondent/let down, or get disheartening in any way, when there's a longer delay than usual. I want you to know that I still care, and hold you as one of my closest MAL friends, and I would still call you my MAL BFF. I don't want to put too much pressure or expectation on either of us though. Maybe we can just keep moving forward at a slow and steady pace, and see where we end up. Dave dhb has turned up again, and I think there's a chance he'll be ready for that Shirobako simul-watch before too long. I'm not sure if you've seen this or not, but I recently said to him (Dave):

I've been growing closer to itikiity the last 6 months (we both say we're each others MAL BFF's) and they've kind of taken over from you as the main person I talk to on MAL. Even though you had been MIA for some time now, I still would consider you to be my 2nd closest MAL friend after ity (a bond forged over music adds an additional level to the anime friendship), so if you do make a full return, it would be nice if the 3 of us could finally do that Shirobako simul-watch. I've been saving it especially for that purpose! To have a 3-way regular friendship going would be interesting and kinda like exploring an amusing or fun new dynamic - almost like one of those 3 person teams from battle shounens like Naruto, or even the 3 Eizouken girls.

It is an interesting theory that you have that the human brain will change according to age. I think I really have noticed something similar happening to myself, and I would say that I have changed significantly as a personality during the past 10 years, and the past 20 years. I'm even quite different from how I was when I first starting using MAL. I used to analyse anime a lot less while I was watching, and used to get caught up in it more/lose myself more (and let my emotions cloud my judgement), and react and respond instinctively or unconsciously (with love or revulsion, tension or mirth, admiration or disdain) to the story and drama. It was a more direct, unthinking/unquestioning, and emotional process. Nowadays, I'm a lot more self-aware and I know (and keep in mind) what I'm viewing and listening to is a contrivance or an artificial concoction (not a true life story or real people), and has been manufactured and put together in pieces and by stages - but I can still get fulfilling (mental or emotional) stimulation or satisfaction, sensory exaltation, or some type of meaning or happiness from the voice acting performances, the artwork/drawing, the way certain scenes (like action scenes) are animated, the colors (the palate, the vibrancy, the richness, the shade, the textures), the ebb and flow (of the tones and melodies) of the OST music (and the emotions they evoke), and the story premise/revelations/developments/resolutions. That's kind of what I'm doing with this current SAO Alicization rewatch of mine. Lol.

It's interesting you should see anime in that way - almost like a friend/companion to accompany you while doing chores or other activities. My mum is kinda like that as she always has the TV on in the background (whenever she's at home/in the house), but I prefer to not do things that way. I would prefer to only tune into specific things at a specific time, or for a specific reason, or when I'm in a specific mood or mindset. And then turn it off straight after. I am similar to you in that I watch anime for mental health and relaxation (and perhaps this is my key reason), more than because I have a burning or intense passion or enthusiasm for it. It's almost like a form of self-medication in that it helps me relax at night, and will help send me off to sleep with a smile on my face. Sometimes it will provide an enjoyable/happy escape, or a release from pressures, anxieties, existential angst, overthinking/over-analyzing, or too much pensive rumination. Sometimes, it's a form of bliss when you're able to totally forget yourself, and become completely absorbed in something other than yourself.

OK. That's it for the serious talk/somber tone. For an example of the sort of place I was coming from when trying to convey the aforementioned, I was listening to a Mono (instrumental rock) album, and this track in particular caught my ear/attention as being a good example (and musical embodiment) of the process and attempt of trying to transcend the limitations of everyday consciousness and escape ones own ego into an exalted state of bliss through beautiful or affecting art/colors/music/emotions/memories/stories/dialogues/characters.


Regarding the simul-watch of that movie we talked about - well, I'm maybe 8 or 9 hours behind you, so it would making watching it at exactly the same time difficult for me, because I like to watch after dark or later in the night. Perhaps if we both watch it at the weekend (or on a Sunday specifically), and then talk about if afterwards or on the next day. I'll try to watch it in two weeks time from now (on a Sunday night), because I think that will coincide with when you'll be free (from the obligations you mentioned in the private message), and I will try to imagine you sitting beside me, and that we're watching it together ;)

OK. Take care, ity! I still have one more message to deliver, which I will hopefully get done within the next week - as long as I don't get too drowsy in front of the TV after eating the pies, again!

Hello there itikitty, it has been a while. My apologies for the late response as I was very busy dealing with life lately. The past 7 months has been brutal for me physically and mentally but bit by bit I'm trying to stand up again. I haven't watched a lot of anime in the past months either and I'm just waiting for a good anime to air to make me watch anime again daily.

How have you been doing in the past months?

I really like your poem by the way, do you have more poems to share?

I hope you've been doing well lately, have a nice day to you

Anime musim semi 2024 mana yang ingin kamu tonton?

Maybe I gave you the wrong idea about the severity or nature of my existential angst. It's not too serious, and I'm sure lots of people have it far worse than me. Perhaps part of it is because I'm getting older, and have started thinking about mortality more often - like it's slowly but surely creeping up on me. So much has changed in the last 10 years, and I'm not as young as I once was. Maybe I have become more pessimistic about everything, and things in general. I don't want give too much personal info away, but let's just say I'm around 15 years older than you are now. Maybe I'm having a midlife reevaluation of everything and the meaning of life. And maybe Gaara and his sayings are not enough to motivate me these days. Naruto (the series and character) gave me a motivation and morale lift 10 years ago, but anime doesn't really have that affect on me these days. It's more like anime has become a source of solace or comfort, or a form of distraction and escapism. And because I've become more of a mature and wise/experienced and learned person (croak!), there's very few anime that are intellectually satisfying for someone like me. Pluto hit some of the right buttons with the maturity of the writing and the technological themes, and Gankatsuou is an older one who's core themes (of love and loss and betrayal) resonated with me, and as I said before, Kamuy and Vinland are two of my fave action anime. Something like Yuru Camp or Sangatsu, I look to for compassion, gentleness, and tenderness, because of a lack of those types of things in my everyday life. I recently rewatched My Dress-Up Darling and I enjoyed that, almost as a remembrance of things past - like how my teenage romance experiences were, and how there was a happy and carefree (and almost blissful) naivete to those times. And I recently enjoyed Buddy Daddies because it was silly and lighthearted (for the most part), and made me smile or laugh. It was a nice way to escape the sometimes depressing confines of reality for 23 mins or 46 mins (2 episodes back-to-back). How has your taste in anime and novels/literature changed or evolved as you've gotten older? Have you noticed any progression or shifts?

Tbh I'm scared to use my bank/debit card details online. I'm using a neighbors wifi and I get the feeling they can see what I'm watching and listening to, so I wouldn't want to take a risk with online purchases. With stuff like shoes/trainers and clothes, I'd rather try them on in the store to see if they fit right and look OK. An option for someone who's careful/cautious like me would be to get one of those top-up debit cards you can put money on, and then only top-up a smallish amount to use online for specific things.

Gold Kingdom and Water Kingdom - would you like to watch it together with me? I don't know too many josei but I'd like to get to know more, and it looks like a nice fantasy romance story - and like you said, it looks like it has some Middle East inspiration in the setting. Shall we arrange a day/night for us to watch it? We can try to synchronize our times the best (as close) as we can.

Any anime-related wish I want to fulfill before I die? Firstly, let me give you a hug for getting upset or emotional talking about that type of thing, and remembering some of the difficulties you've been going through. Maybe my (mortality) worries aren't as close to home as yours are yet, but because I'm getting older, it is increasingly looming in the back of my mind. I think it's 50/50 if I make it another 20 years, and my anime goal in that time is just to rewatch all my favorites one more time (not just those that are currently in my top 10), and to keep up to date with the new and latest things - like watching the best or highest rated anime each season and each year. What are your anime wishes you want to fulfill before the end, other than seeing the end of Detective Conan? Are you interested in One Piece at all? When do you think Conan will finish? Is the ending expected or likely any time soon, or does anyone have any info regarding how long it will go on for?

Yeah, likewise, some of the best or most amazing (REM) dream experiences for me have been where I've been able to fly, and in a way it was reminiscent of a virtual reality experience, like being able to fly like Kirito and Suguha in Alfheim Online (the 2nd half of SAO Season 1). I had an interesting dream last night where I was cycling really fast in picturesque looking countryside, and flying really high coming off the tops of the hills (on the bike), and I was far enough off the ground to get a clear view of the fields and trees all around a quiet narrow country road. And it was a sunny, beautiful, happy, summer holiday-esq day - not a care in the world. And I was with my two best friends from school.

A love/hate anime character? Maybe Sasuke from Naruto. He would often irritate me with his petulance/sulkiness and arrogance - but in some ways he reminds me of how I can be myself sometimes, or how others might perceive me. And of course there are reasons in my backstory (just like his) to why I turned out like that. Maybe I will tell you more about my tragic backstory as we get to know each other better. Maybe I will have to send it through private message, because it will be for your eyes only. We'll see how things go from here!

Hey, how are you?
It's been a while :D

Yeah, I've been doing a slow rewatch of Sangatsu. Whenever I'm in the mood for some compassion and tenderness, I'll stick it on for a couple of episodes. I have to say, the artwork in places is just beautiful beyond words - and more beautiful than anything you'd see in real life. Like something out of a blissfully happy and truly magical (REM) dream experience. I was just reading up about Othello (also known as Reversi). How are you getting on with it?

It's interesting that you should name-check Kamuy and Vinland because those are two of my favorite and most respected gloomy/grim action series. The writing is more mature than shounen (they're both categorized as seinen), the drama is more emotionally affecting and involving, and there's a gritty realism and historical context to them both, that I like. And Kamuy is sprinkled with a generous dose of random or outrageous humor, to distract us from the grimness.

Solo Leveling started well, and there was this scene with creepy giant moving statues, which coupled together with a dramatic and intense Sawano OST, gave me AOT vibes (probably my fave shounen action anime) - but then it seemed to go downhill after that. Like it lost a lot of its menace and tension because some of the adversaries the main guy is fighting against have become very predictable and run-of-the-mill - like very uninspired looking wolves and goblins. I've see that kind of setup, and the way he dispatches the adversaries, in Grimgar, SAO, Log Horizon, Overlord, and Reincarnated as a Slime - and tbh Grimgar and Overlord do goblins better, and Slime and Overlord do wolves better. Better, meaning better art/designs and more dynamic or exciting action sequences - or something more interesting or unique in the way those creatures are utilized or individualized.

OMIA - otaku missing in action. I've had a few dozen of those on my books collecting dust, until I recently had a clear out of anyone who's been missing/inactive for more than two years. I gave special dispensation to a few cases. Like to users I've had lots of conversations with or remember fondly.

Ah, it is nice that you consider me your MAL BFF. It's almost like the wholesome and heartwarming 'feels' of Sangatsu. Like we're grown-up versions of Rei and Hinata. From the repeat viewing, I noticed Akari and Hinata love treating themselves to sweets/deserts and often go overboard and overindulge. Are you much of a sweet-tooth/sweet-craving person, and what are your favorites (if you have any)?

It would be fair to say that Naruto and ATLA are two of the things that connect us most, and with Naruto and Shippuden combined being so long, there's a vast amount of characters, references, backstory, and lore that we both have knowledge of - and insights and opinions about. Talking of ATLA, have you seen any of the new live-action adaptation? Also, I can't remember if we've talked about your views/opinions regarding the sequel, Legend of Korra. For me, Korra is almost equal to ATLA writing-wise - there's just fundamental stylistic differences because it's set in a different culture and epoch - like a more modern steampunk era. The Korra visuals are better, but ATLA has a better cast of memorable and endearing characters. Overall, I'd say Korra continues the Avatar legacy rather nicely and with a unique twist, and I look forward to the forthcoming animated sequel - and the next animated incarnation/reincarnation of the 'Avatar'.

Yeah, the main characters in March Comes in Like a Lion (which I just so happen to be rewatching) are lovable and memorable - Rei, Akari, Momo, and Hinata. I've only seen 4 episodes of JJK season 1, but I wasn't overly impressed. I did sort of seem like the battle shounen version of painting by numbers, or drawing by joining the dots. And like it was created with the primary aim of being commercially successful, and taking the place of Bleach, Naruto, and My Hero Academia - or like a revamped/restyled/re-imagined, and darker, edgier, gorier version of the previous 3 aforementioned series. I mean, the silver/grey haired dude as the mentor of a 3 person team (including 2 guys and a girl) clearly reminds me of Naruto Team 7, with Kakashi as their mentor. And another MAL friend told me they do their own (JJK) version of the chunin exams later on in the series. I don't want to be overly cynical, but I just don't think it has the right vibe for me - too grim/gloomy and gory. I will try to give most new popular anime a fair try though - like I'm doing with Solo Leveling.

3/4 hours to finish reading all our conversations? Wowza. Me and Dave wrote a lot to each other, but I think with Dave being preoccupied, and with the way we've been going, and with how things seem likely to go between us (we both have the desire to continue talking, as you alluded to), I think you could become the person I've written the most to - if you aren't already. So we're like the MAL version of BFF's ;)

I had no idea that we talked about xxxHOLiC at the start of February last year. I can't imagine that my subconscious had recorded that topic somehow, and chose to bring it up again, exactly one year later. It seems more like a pure coincidence, but a slightly mysterious one. It's almost like the type of meaningful synchronicity that Yuuko talks about right at the start of the series. Like there's more to it than just random coincidence. Like there was a magical thread or chain of events that lead me to you (it was because you put me right about the Zuko imitating Iroh quote), and that we were fated to meet!

A 6 score from you (for HOLiC) is not so bad, because I get the impression (from our previous conversations) that you're generally harsher with your scoring than I am, and I see you have a 5.51 mean score - compared to my 7.33. I think Yuuko is perhaps more iconic and renowned/esteemed than the xxxHOLiC series, and I'll probably have a look at Tsubasa Chronicle myself.

It's still nice that you remembered to greet me and I can imagine you getting completely absorbed in your own world, and perhaps more so than the average person or MAL user. Sometimes this happens to me as well, and I can lose track of things like MAL replies. Which reminds me, that I still owe you a reply. I'll try to get it done within the next week. I can't really use lazy Santa excuses anymore, and it's still too early to blame the Easter Bunny :)

I've noticed our mutual friend Dave (dhb) has been absent from MAL for successive long spells. He says he's had some things going on IRL so I told him to let me know whenever he feels ready for the 3-way Shirobako simul-watch, we talked about before.

I see you gave the latest JJK a 6 in the end. Did it not live up to the hype/current high rating for you?

Woah, glad to meet a fellow comrade that appreciates c-drama here! Another matter that really made me smile was that you happened to like historical ones too. Since most people I know just happen to prefer the modern settings. Anyways, I really liked watching Love Like the Galaxy too. However, I haven’t watched either of the anime you mentioned yet. Although, I have watched the Drama adaptation of Liang Bu Yi. Not Fox spirit matchmaker though. The last C-drama I watched was Nirvana In Fire. Currently, on a break from c-drama since I'm watching a K-drama. But definitely will return to it since I find them as a means of healing and de-stressing. Or, I'm addicted in other words haha.