Just learned about #DecRecs! To make up for yesterday, Day 1 of Dec Recs I'll recommend this Chinese short animated series "All Saints Street" with four seasons. An angel, vampire, mummy, zombie, and werewolf live together. What could go wrong? Really enjoy it for the combination of great art, slice of life, and the supernatural. There's also a comic. It's produced similar to "Hey your cat ears are showing" but more memes and skulls than wholesome uwu. https://anilist.co/anime/114555#anime
Just saw the hashtag #FicRecFebruary and you know what, it’s only the third, I can catch up! I kind of made things too complicated for myself with #DecRecs, so I’m going to try to keep this one very simple. 😅 @Forestofglory you might also be interested in this!
i see folks are using #DecRecs to share their favorite stuff in december, so i thought i'd jump in (5 days behind) with some #cnovelrecs partially recycled from twitter! these are mostly completed/completely translated novels since i have limited attention to keep up with updates but there are a couple exceptions so i'll note those. i'll also try and note if any are password-locked
Reading thread for #EvilAsHumans, because I keep wanting to share bits of this novel as I read it. And I am also going to call this my #DecRecs for today, with the caveat that I'm not even a quarter through the book.
The premise: some sort of great eldritch horror (the translation uses the rather generic phrase "evil spirit," but given some of the descriptions of these things, "eldritch" is definitely appropriate) has been freed from his thousand-years seal. He would very much like to just blend into the human world, go unnoticed, and have a chance to relax. But instead, he gets roped into the local secret not-quite-government paranormal agency. So far he's managed to keep up the human guise...
This is categorized as horror but I would call it urban fantasy with horror elements. It has ghosts and creatures and a decent amount of gore and body horror, but not really the mood of a horror story. The first arc/case had a happy ending and there's a lot of humor throughout.
Today's #anime#DecRecs is Log Horizon, with caveats that I don't think I've watched a lot of isekai into game type stories.
Log Horizon is based off a series of novels. The story starts when a new update to a MMORPG enticed many of their players to log in, and they found that they could not log out anymore. In fact, they are now in the game.
What is unique about this series is, instead of a single player power fantasy, it's more about establishing a community with the rest of the players who are similarly stuck, and also communicating with the NPCs (they are no longer really NPCs) and finding out more about the world itself.
Also, watch it for the Nakata Jouji cat-person Swashbuckler.
For today's #DecRecs, I'm gonna do BL #manga recs based on my personal enjoyment and how much I still think about them now.
Honto Yajuu Description: Police officer x Yakuza, but more of a slice-of-life. It's cute. It's funny. They get together really quickly so there's none of that drawn out misunderstanding. Police officer is a neighborhood policeman who patrols and stuff, yakuza is a softie, cute, and forward with his emotions. This is a comfort read because nothing terrible happens and... it really is just them shoving dog food[1] at everyone. There are many volumes of dog food. Futekiya link: https://mangaplanet.com/comic/5facb14faa491
Sannin Gurashi Description: It's told from the pov of the younger brother of a couple. The brothers were from a pretty abusive family. The story is about how they found love and make a new life after leaving their abusive family. It's short, sweet, sad, hopeful, unfortunately not licensed. MangaUpdates link: https://www.mangaupdates.com/series/tdqztnv/sannin-gurashi
Time for today's #anime#DecRecs! The theme is death games (voice actor bias edition):
Death Parade
Description: After death, there is judgment, which takes place in a bar. Recently dead people arrives at this bar to play dangerous games against each other to earn a chance at reincarnation, or be doomed to damnation. Through these games, their nature is revealed and their recent past and relationship with each other unfolds. The people who "work" there are called Arbiters, and their job is to judge these games.
This has my favourite Maeno Tomoaki voice type. Deep. DEEP! It's eargasm (for me, I hope for you too) to listen to him talk. Also, the op theme is such a banger with a very fun video!
Deadman Wonderland
Description: Ganta is thrown into a for-profit prison where the prisoners are made to play extremely dangerous games to earn points to exchange for an antidote they have to take regularly to counteract the poison from a collar placed on them. Losing games also may mean losing parts of yourself (literal organs). He must somehow try to survive and at the same time, find out more about this mysterious person in red who was present during the murder of his entire class that he was framed for.
I do like death games, but to be honest, I am biased because this anime has a memorable Ono Daisuke character. So tragic, so beautiful. I love him and also his crazy obsessive stalker prison guard (Morikawa Toshiyuki).
Because of the nail polish talk I see on my TL, I wanna rec my fav nail polish brand! The Ueba Esou Gofun Nail series~
I don't like my nail polish staying forever, and this nail polish brand has one day nail polish series (you can literally tear them off after dipping your fingers into warm water). Plus, it doesn't smell at all. No stink! And all natural products (if that matters to you). They stopped shipping for a bit during the start of Covid but I think they are shipping internationally again now.
ACCA 13-Territory Inspection Department
Description: Jean Otus is an inspector of the Inspection Department, tasked with auditing all of the territories of Dowa. During his inspections, there are rumors of a coup d'état and without really wanting to be involved, Jean ends up learning details about it anyway.
This is a short series, 13 episodes only. The political conspiracy unfolds very slowly, but the more I watched the more I wanted to know. Also, there's lots and lots of bread. You will want to eat delicious bread watching this show. Also, it's pretty, and features a secret bodyguard, is a calm watch, not exactly something I'd recommend a marathon for but sometimes, a nice chill watch is a good thing.
Yakitate!! Japan
Description: There are tons of cooking anime/manga out there, and well, this one is about BAKING! BREAD!
and lots of puns. So many bread puns. In fact, the title is a pun. Pan = bread. And so, Japan. You see? Main character Azuma Kazuma is blessed with solar hands, warmer than usual hands, that makes for great baking. He goes to Tokyo to work at this bread making place (bakery?), Pantasia, meets other bakers, and have bake-offs with increasing over the top reactions from the judges, including a whole Detective Conan parody and literally dying and coming back to life.
I didn't finish because it was still ongoing when I reading the manga and I have terrible stamina for following ongoing series, but whatever I read (and watched) was loads of fun and I hope you will enjoy it too!
Today's #anime#DecRecs are pretty well-known stuff (I think), but I am just here to encourage you to watch them if you have not! I'm grouping them under "slow, calm, contemplative vibes"! The other commonality is "travelers who don't stay in one place" plus, "episodic, with the traveler being more like an observer."
Kino no Tabi/Kino's Journey
Description: Kino travels to many different places with their talking motorbike, Hermes. In their travels, they encounter different governance, customs, etc. and they play the part of observers of the occurrences in these places. They never stay longer than three days.
There's actually two adaptations out (one in 2003, another in 2017) and some movies. I am more fond of the 2003 version because I feel that the pacing and the vibe is better, but don't let that stop you from checking out the 2017 version.
Mushishi
Description: In this world (set in kinda historical Japan?), there exist supernatural creatures called the mushi. There are many different types of Mushi and sometimes, they interact (or are forced to interact through circumstances) with humans, leading to unforeseen complications. Ginko is a traveling Mushishi, someone who can help resolve these complications.
Alright, this is also a very old rec. The anime is from 2005, and the manga ended in 2008. There's a second season out in 2014. I don't think I know any other anime with the same vibe as Mushishi. Whenever I rewatch an ep, it always leaves me feeling... calm, zen, spiritual? waves hands indescribable. Highly recommended. Take this an ep at a time.
Huzza! #DecRecs has returned!! A thread of my recs starts here, follow the hashtag for more and maybe add your own. I'm focusing primarily on books but some other media might sneak in too, so Happy Holidays and Happy Reading/Listening/Whatever.
Before the day ticks over, today's #anime#DecRecs is Gankutsuou.
It's basically the Count of Monte Cristo in SPACE, told from Albert's perspective, and homoeroticism dialed up to eleven[1]. A tale of revenge, with an interesting style of animation. The opening and ending songs are great, the adaptation to the scifi space setting is seamless and interesting. If you enjoy the book, watch this. If you've never read the book, also watch this~
Time for my #anime#DecRecs and I promise today, it will be for all the wrong reasons:
Uta no Prince-sama
Description: Haruka wants to be a song writer/composer so she now attends a school for the performing arts where she meets incredibly talented future idols (read: incredibly eccentric future idols) and write songs for them.
This is based on an otome game series by the same name. If you have a bit of time and want to watch something utterly ridiculous with a friend, just so you can make comments like, "is this person a fairy? why is there a tower in the forest? why is he staring out of the window? why is there a magical prince from a different country? why is Shining Saotome, Shining Saotome? what the fuck is going on here?", this is the anime for you! It is over the top ridiculous and has some fun songs.
I had a lot of fun trash talking this anime with my friend.
(and then I tried playing the otome game and fell head over heels for Maeno Tomoaki's voice forever, so well, I got what I deserved for laughing at this anime I guess? Also, Haruka has so much more personality in the game... it's unfortunate anime Haruka is not as fun.)
Cuticle Tantei Inaba
Description: This is yet another anime I watched because it was very nonsense. The main character, Inaba, a werewolf detective, investigates things by tasting... hair???
Anyway, the point is, there's a goat mafia voiced by Ohkawa Tohru [1], there's a mafia underling with a paperbag over his head voiced by Kosugi Juurouta [2], the main character (the guy with the hair fetish) is voiced by Suwabe Junichi [3].
GOAT. MAFIA. OHKAWA TOHRU. [1]
That's the reason I watched it. Also this is a good rare Suwabe Junichi voice and character type.
[1] You might know him as Roy Mustang from the 2003 version of Full Metal Alchemist, Gundam IBO's Rustal Elion,
[2] One Piece's Arlong, Utena's Akio, Tiger & Bunny's Mr. Legend
[3] Kuroshitsuji's Undertaker, JJK's Sukuna, Jojo's Bizarre Adventures' Abbachio
I was asked by @geraineon about my fave youtube channels. and why not make it a #DecRecs list!
Nicole Rudolph, Bernadette Banner, Sewstine, SnappyDragon, Nami Sparrow: I follow a number of sewists on youtube who focus on historical fashion and these are my faves!
Simone Giertz, Xyla Foxlin: two makers I follow who make all kinds of weird fun things
Shelby Sherrit: a potter whose taste in art is fairly different from mine but is so enthusiastic about her pottery that I enjoy watching her make and talk about it anyway
Philosophy Tube: a trans actress who studied philosophy and makes committed-to-the-bit videos about philosophical ideas and how they apply to our lives
Footless Jo: below-the-knee amputee woman talking about her life with this disability
Jenny Nicholson: posts very infrequently, but when she does drop a video it's a very in-depth investigation into a fascinating topic I would never have thought to think about previously
Last day of #DecRecs is Akatsuki no Yona (or Yona of the Dawn).
Yona, the titular character, grew from a naive princess who was sheltered by her father to someone who can command respect from armies. She had to run away with her bodyguard Hak after witnessing the murder of her father at the hands of the person she loved. Along the way, she realized that she cannot rely on Hak to protect her forever, and to protect him, she decided to search for the four dragons in the legends.
If you like main female characters who grows as the series progresses, gains strength not just learning how to fight but from maturity and the strength of their heart, if you like found family feelings (so much of it!), if you like childhood friends who grow up and then due to circumstances are now in a complex relationship with each other, if you enjoy a colorful cast of characters who work great with each other, if you like dragons...
You should read Akatsuki no Yona.
It's still ongoing. The anime barely covers the manga at all (it ends when it starts getting more interesting!), but it's still a great watch, so watch the anime too! Also, I am biased but Maeno Tomoaki's Hak, is so, so good! Idk if it's region locked, but you can watch Yona in Crunchyroll if you are in the U.S.
Continuing on the academic theme for the week today's #DecRecs is The King’s Road: Diplomacy and the Remaking of the Silk Road by Xin Wen
I really loved this book about diplomats on the silk road. I really enjoy fine grained historical analysis and this a great example. It's full of details about what envoys and other diplomatic travelers ate and how they traveled, as well as the broader implications of the network of diplomatic travel. (1/2)
Today's #DecRecs is The Washi Station! They have so many cute/fun /beautiful tapes! And collections with fun themes! I also appreciate that they work to support independent marginalized artists!
Today's #anime#DecRecs is comedy! One rather old, with caveats, another more recent.
Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu
Description: This is season 2 of Full Metal Panic (or rather a side story season?). You will probably need to watch season 1 for the context. The gist of the story is, Sousuke, a soldier from a covert military operation, Mithril, is tasked to protect a school girl because of some secrets she hold (she has zero clue). So he had to enroll in her school and try to blend in as a student. A lot of the comedy is because of the cultural clash between Sousuke who has only known fighting and war, in a very normal (ish) highschool. Caveats, it is quite old by now, and it's been years since I watched it so I can't remember if there was anything explicitly problematic in terms of the humor.
I do remember laughing till I had to pause the show a few times though so on that basis, I am recommending this show. Watch s1, for s2.
Tbf, the show is pretty interesting by itself too.
Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun
Description: Through Chiyo's failed love confession to Nozaki, she found out that Nozaki is actually a popular shoujo mangaka! And then she got roped into assisting him and found out that a few other people in school are also assisting him, including the president of the drama club, the student who is Nozaki's shoujo manga heroine inspiration, etc.
If you have read some shoujo manga, you will enjoy this light hearted poking fun of tropes like, riding double on a bicycle, sharing an umbrella, etc. It also does some gender expectations subversion (shoujo manga heroine is based on a guy, the stand off-ish guy inspiration is based on a girl, etc.). The whole ensemble cast is lots of fun and lovable, and you will most definitely laugh at least a few times throughout the show (my threshold is very low, I laughed throughout the whole show).
Today's somewhat related to anime and manga recommendations (actually this is about BL) is Queer Transfigurations: Boys Love Media in Asia. I appreciate the fact that it includes the experience/perspective in SEA and South Asia as well. It's not limited to JP media, it also covers danmei and Thai BL
I am just done watching Inu Oh and I'm gonna make it my #anime#DecRecs for today!
If I have to describe it, it's like, musical Tales of Heike, deliberately mixing the modern with the traditional. The story is set during the Muramochi era, telling a tale of how a blind biwa monk[1] met with a cursed young boy from a Noh troupe, and then together, they make music, telling the stories of the ghosts of fallen soldiers only they could hear!
I went in not knowing what to expect and came out entirely entertained and also a huge hole in my heart (I did not expect heartache).
It's also incredibly queer. Very queer. Notably they also casted Avu-chan (from Queen Bee) who identifies as NB as the titular character.
Anyway, please watch it! It's fun! (also watch out for those knives at the end of the movie)
For my #DecRecs, I'll be talking about anime/manga I enjoy. No guarantees they will be award worthy, or change your life, or new to you though. Just stuff I enjoy (which may or may not be quite mainstream).
But if there is something specific you want to see in terms of mood, theme, length, voice actor etc. let me know!
It's a pretty long essay that goes through history of anime and manga, taking into account the influence of western SF, the historical/cultural backdrop and the financial/marketing pressures, and wraps up with a summary of major themes/settings in Japanese SF.
There are many classic titles mentioned in this essay, so you can take this as many recs as well.
Time for the usual daily #anime#manga#DecRecs, and today I'm gonna rec Pandora Hearts by Mochizuki Jun.
Japan loves Alice in the Wonderland, and this is another tale with a twist on it. Our main character, Oz Vesalius, was told that his entire existence was a sin during his coming of age ceremony and was banished into the Abyss where creatures called Chains exist. He meets Alice, one of the Chains in the Abyss, made a contract with her to help her regain her lost memories and then together they bust out of the Abyss into the surface/normal world and found out that ten years have passed.
It's very hard to describe the plot... But the series starts off immediately intriguing, and there are lots of mysteries to unfold. Also, there are lots of heartaches and paaain... But the ending is satisfying, imo. And the art is very pretty.
I'd recommend not watching the anime until after you read the manga because the anime is not great (please, someone, readapt it) but the music is great (well, it's Yuki Kajiura) and the cast is A+.