Congratulations to Alafista for winning the RIUVA Anime (de)Motivational Poster contest as well as to DarkMirage and Tsubaki for coming in second and third respectively. My vote went to mt-i’s entry. I hasten to add, before he posted his comment indicating that he had voted for my entry; simply loved the incongruity between the words and headline image.
Kudoes to tjhan for organizing this community-building event - I enjoyed so many of the other entries. In line with positive warmth, the headline image for this post is motivational rather than my usual sardonic / demotivational ones. Aside from the Belinda Carlisle reference, non-watchers of 2005’s best harem series SHUFFLE! might fairly ask what is the Shinkai? Literally the "world of gods" or less literally as "Heaven" and where a male to have more than one wife - the Shin King Eustoma himself has three. Though sometimes I wonder to myself if Kareha is just going after Rin so that she can be with Asa. :P
Click above for 800 x 600 size.
My entry for the RIUVA contest.
I’ve always been fascinated as to how the etymology of the Arabic root of “harem” has meanings of the forbidden and the sacred; in contrast, when “harem” is used in English, it often connotes sexual licentiousness and epicurean excess.
It would also be interesting to track when the word was first applied to anime series with a male lead being surrounded by girls who are all hawt for him. This genre is quite a venerable one (e.g. Ranma 1/2) but I can’t seem to recall the term being widely applied to series prior to Love Hina. The use of the term also creates its own sub-vocabulary such as “male harem lead” who is usually a loser who can’t decide on choosing one girl among the many - thus raising accusations of how harem anime series are essentially vehicles for otaku wish fulfillment.
Harem anime series certainly enjoy a certain degree of popularity because the sheer variety of heroine types will appeal to fans across a wide demographic. Besides being able to "pick your favourite", interest is maintained through rival camps forming and then slugging it out against each other in forums, blogs and other electronic community media. Such extended interaction is even more plausible when the series has an ambiguous ending where there is no clear “winner” - though why would the girl be a winner if the male harem lead is a loser? It’s like being told that you’ve just won the lottery and the prize is life imprisonment and hard labour. Besides, who’s to say that how these harems will turn out in the medium to long term?
cf. Section 376 of the Singapore Penal Code (Cap 224)
Dear Stripey,
I am writing to inform you that, after much deliberation, the Ai Ai Asa (AAA) will not be renewing your membership.
In the past, you had shown leanings towards Kaedeism, particularly with your praise of her Morning Calls and Psycho Jealousy but were admitted into the AAA on account of your expressed desire to do so.
However you have since repeatedly raised Primula above Asa in your SHUFFLE! hierarchy as evidenced by your discussions of top 10 anime imouto-sans, chosen Primula BGM as a favourite anime OST tune, demanded for a Primula OVA, raved about her in the context of your favourite genre of siscon and the last straw, your heretical speculation that Primula will triumph over Kaede and even Asa eventually. The latter point was also verbally made to Interrogator Zyl over bah chor mee at Tai Hwa. He speculates that probable causes are your disillusion with Asa’s initial refusal to use magic but, more importantly, your inability to resist the combined siren song of loli-meido-siscon.
As we believe that there shall be no compulsion in anime fandom (Al Anime, 2:256), we wish you all the best in your future endeavours outside the AAA and enclose a motivational poster for your retention.
Best regards,
AAA Membership Services
for General Committee, AAA
Me heart fluttered with excitement when I read the announcement that SHUFFLE! will returning to TV in the winter. Thought it was going to be an OVA. Apparently SHUFFLE! Memories is just a Director’s Cut (whatever that means) repeat broadcast with new OP and ED.
Read Omni’s invaluable season preview post that another Navel offering, Lovedol ~Lovely Idol!, will be coming to our screens but given that (1) the Soul Link anime didn’t win many fans and (2) asread improved on the SHUFFLE! story when producing the anime, I’m adopting a sit and wait attitude to that.
In any case, Navel seems to be powering ahead with the SHUFFLE! franchise with yet another sequel game. Whereas Tick! Tack! was Nerine-centric, Really? Really! appears to be aimed at the boxcutter-wielding, Asa-lynching hoodies of the KKK. :P
Continue reading ‘SHUFFLE! Memories & Really? Really!’
Kudoes to Kawaii Heavens (They Of Fanbook Munificience) for scanlating the SHUFFLE! manga. Although we see the occasional series where the manga is licensed but the anime is not (e.g. Keroro Gunsou), I don’t think SHUFFLE! will ever reach the English-speaking market in either medium. While I’m enjoying what I’ve seen the manga thusfar, it mainly reinforces my impression that asread has done a brilliant job of interpreting the original eroge and translating that into the anime.
Continue reading ‘SHUFFLE! Manga Vol.1 Ch 1-2′
