As a disabled person im so Happy to know that there Will be disability rep in your indie project! However this is a very complicated and sensitive topic so I hope It gets handled with respect.
I normally hate the disability rep in media because 99% of the times the disabled character has their disability magically "fixed", or they were born with super exclusive overpowered abilities to the point that their disability actually means nothing. It kinda gives the message that disabled people are only valuable if they can "compensate" for being "defective" 🤮.
For that same reason I hate the disability rep in Hazbin and Helluva. Vaggie lacks one eye yet she has absolutely not issues with coordination of depht percepction. In fact she can still fight as perfectly as when she had two eyes. And don't even get me started on her recovering her ángel wings out of nowhhere, which kinda counts as being "fixed".
The same with Lute, she only got a replacement for her missing arm and that's It. Fizzarolli got all his limbs replaced by prosthetics to which he adapted perfectly fine and which didnt suppose any limitation for him, yet Ozzie still treats like him a toddler for some reason? And talking about Ozzie his character its so lame now, his only defining trait is "oh look how much of a saint he is for taking care of poor helpless disabled baby Fizzy UwU". So disgusting.
(Mentions of Vivziepop and her horrible writing prowess as well as my thoughts)
PART 1) Its been a while since I got this back then and I didn't know how to answer this but since im sober from the edibles I wanted to mention something before I dive into Vivziepop unless you wanna skip to the viv stuff. And I hope that this first part with some of the things I'll say wont piss people off but here goes
KEMO-NO ACADÉMIA is not meant to represent, be inclusive, or have identity politics for the sake of ONLY diversity. Despite my independent stance, and the fact that I am a certain way and identify differently irl, my mission isn't to be inclusive or diverse
KEMO-NO ACADÉMIA for example as an indie adult series is for commentary, satire, and educational purposes even. Its also a series where you can find escapism, or relate to on an extreme level unlike the rest or find amazing fanservice in. It is, Especially, a politically incorrect series that takes some Inspirations from a few non Japanese shows such as King of the Hill, Early South Park, and Bluey.
When I make a character they arent meant to be just their identity or what they look like.
Theres a character for everyone in the series. There are characters that are a certain way but just because they are a certain way doesn't mean they're there for inclusivity or diversity or to represent. The few characters in the large cast of straight characters that happen to be gay, have a disability or whatnot are Not just their identity. They're more than that! They will be grounded, complex, well written to the point where you'll see them as.... a person... someone who you'd want to be around or find irl or just escape to.
I know that people who identify a cartain way dont want caricatures and stereotypes cause I know better because I do my research and see people expressing how they feel about that.
Now, I have two characters that are a specific way but no spoilers, however because of the themes I chose, they are very carefully written with care based on responses, research, etc! I will hint at things regarding them up until heavier hints show with good storytelling and its up to you to put the pieces together.
The reason is so that I dont tank this series as I want this series to be liked by both Dems and conservatives. Nobody wants specific things shoved into their faces and told outright xyz like they're idiots. The audience likes to figure out a character and what they're like.
When you make a character, the character should "Just so happen to be" xyz, not, "Omg Look that character IS xyz, I feel seen"! Because there is so much more to that character with so much more potential. Extreme Good word of mouth is what I want and what will be successful and I'll do whatever it takes to get that. I want this series and any series in development or suspended until further notice to be nothing but beloved and successful
All in all ill be flattered if you do see yourself in a character regardless of what I said above. Im not going to tell someone that actively disagrees with some things I say or do "well if you disagree with me dont watch my show" cause I wont because guess what ive seen? When people say "if you dont like my beliefs, my writing prowess, my my my my me me me me me, then dont buy my book, game, watch my show etc" you know where the audience goes? Somewhere else and your show, book, game etc tanks and it loses money! Look at Helluva? The merch sales, the views, less and less good word of mouth, even the likes and engagement tanked because Vivzie couldn't help herself. Its stolitz slop now. And S3 is around the corner and we got? Nothing. For the longest time, you get nothing but stolass, stolitz, and shorts that insult you through your screen, now with chaz back from the dead to give you another middle finger regardless if it was a joke... What, The, Hell!
PART 2) As for the second part I dont know what to tell you on the super powers aspects but every single character in the series wether main, side, background or citizen characters all have superpowers based on their Birth Element. There's 2 things ive ripped from the Chinese zodiac and its if you're born in a specific month you are either an Earth, Air, Water or Fire element with the exception that all elements can use some sort of electricity but cannot be born as such. If you go to the military like Jueneau, Fender, or Miku for example your powers are required to go through strict training to amplify your powers to its maximum limits. Unless word gets out and citizens try learning new moves from veterans. Its a show about heroism and badass action. Thats why Miku's battle arena plays a significant role in the series. Jueneau may be busted up on her left side but she ends up still a badass fighter despite having a blind side and is technically Deaf. She isn't magically fixed. Shes trained to fight and protect. She isn't a former Marine for nothing mate.
As for Vivziepops horrendous writing regarding Vagatha, we dont even get to see how the HELL she was trained. BRUH LIKE WTF VIV so she sings a song and boom she can fight?! Bro WHAT??? She has a blind spot which happens to be her same left eye as Jueneau. Vagatha can fight with her blind spot, no training, no effort, no losses to have her think of strategies to beat the bad guys and defeat them its just Vaggs can fight because...... Well "Just because"! The plot demands it because "GODDAMNIT we ran out of filler space and we need to get serious bitches" "but dont forget to make Vaggs sing again mmk?" Jueneau on the other hand ends up needing to be retrained to fight as well as she did in the military.
With Fender, she trains with him and they tease each other while rebonding. He knows shes busted up but she wants to win the arena so she can go back to being a Marine and needs to prove to the military she can fight with her disabilities that made her have to discontinue service. Several training lessons later and shes capable of not only using her blind spot and battle scars as an emergency advantage to foes who let their guard down feeling sorry for her but she also becomes successful and doesn't stop training with others besides just him. Thats a whole ass complex episode right there and thats not even the beginning.
Also Vivziepop pulled a bs twilight sparkle moment out of her ass where Vagatha gets her wings... lol?
PART 3) Lutes golden arm is also bs 😑 like I literally seen a fan made video that came out where lute gets the stupid arm and.... hey you guys didn't lie when you said that she goes off of what the Fandom tells her to do lol.
As for Jueneau's prosthetics, again shes retrained.
Lute isn't lol like we literally dont see jack diddly squat from that girl 😂 but I still love her lol
PART 4) Man... the disrespect for Fizz is actually wild. He's a grown ass man and ozzy gotta be his gay caregiver bitch now? Wtf? Is this writing? Fizz is perfectly capable of doing so much without on his own but hes infantized and im ngl I can see someone taking offense to this! Its been a hot minute since I seen that shit but looking back on it is really telling. Fizz is woobified, immasculated, and infantized, just like with stolas, just like with blitzo, and every other twink Vivzie can get her rocks off to. What's new everybody?
