hontou ni sou omou?

Three layers to this post. First, some Bakuretsu Tenshi (Burst Angel) screencaps and a plug for a yuri AMV site. Second, a call for Rei clone candidates and definitional questions. Third, an assertion that more yuri can save many a lousy anime series.

First, mad thanks for Bakablonde for making and maintaining the wonderful AMV which I got the screenies from. I haven’t actually seen Bakuten since Stripey advised against it. And this is coming from someone who felt Kannazuki had a crap story but was still salvaged by the intensity of the Chikane-Himeko yuri at the end. Likewise, Okazu (in her reviews of Vol.1, 2 and 3 of the manga) has also complained about how the lack of yuri in the anime compares most unfavourably with the yuri in the manga. Jo and Meg are so awww-such-a-lovely-couple that stripping out the yuri element of their relationship really nerfed the series.

Second, I’ve been meaning to write something about the proliferation of Rei clones in anime since Evangelion but have yet to properly define a line of enquiry from which to approach the subject, maybe on the Rei-xploitation angle. Well, first thing’s first - collect data. If readers have any candidates that they would like to declare as Rei clones (subject to the definitions), please leave a comment for my edification. Definition of a Rei clone includes: (1) Light blue-grey hair; (2) red eyes; (3) pale complexion; (4) introverted/quiet character or initial impression of such; (5) appears after Evangelion (if not, will be a Rei predecessor). Stripey has argued that making both (1) and (2) necessary conditions may unduely restrict the sample size and a possible compromise is allow nomination based on fulfilling either (1) or (2) and then dropping them if we get a sufficient N size.

Initial candidates include:

• Jo of Bakuten
• Akira Koizumi of Iketeru Futari
• Shimei Ryomou of Ikkitousen (wrong eye colour)
• Ruri Hoshino of Martian Successor Nadesico (wrong eye colour, aired sorta concurrently with Eva - thanks, Jason!)
• Primula of SHUFFLE! (wrong eye colour - more properly a separate class for Ruri clones?)

Third, how more yuri can save the day if a series is seriously crap. Again, Kannazuki comes to mind though the element of sexual violence within that aspect kicked it down a big notch for me. Yuri is probably Ikkitousen’s only saving grace as well. The counter-factual example of extending the Natsuki-Shizuru (Mai HiME) dynamic to Lacus-Meer (GSD) suggested by Jason. Though the caveat would be only if the context of the series (or its manga/novel sources) can support a reciprocal pairing - if it’s forced and gratituous, then it’ll probably suck too.