Saku-Rai

Amo amadamente a mi amada trifecta (KiriYoko) <3 <3 <3 <3 ..ah, en que estaba?

[mananea]

[arimiaromage]

yeah I think about this a normal amount

[sakamotofromkaientai]

(You know what they say about terrible twos, right?)

Welcome back! This is the third annual Sakamoto Tatsuma Week hosted by yours truly, sakamotofromkaientai! The purpose of this event is, during the third week of June, to have one week dedicated to our space merchant. Every year, there’s been something new, and this one is no different: Rakuyou Arc was animated!

Inspired by Gintama Week, the prompts this year will be done slightly differently. You do not have to follow the prompts, do all the prompts (there’s 21…), answer those questions specifically, or do the prompts on time. They’re guidelines if you need ideas. If another cool idea pops up and you want to do it, by all means do it! There’s also no right or wrong answer.

The prompts this year are:

Day 1 - “Tatsuma-kun”  ➩ Prompt 1: Childhood. Ah, kids. How do you picture Sakamoto growing up? ➩ Prompt 2: Family. Historically, his was huge. What kind of family (such as siblings, parents, rowdy, quiet, etc) do you think Sakamoto has? ➩ Prompt 3: Schooling. He had to start somewhere. What kind of schools (ie, temple, kendo, etc) did he go to? Day 2 - “The Dragon of Katsurahama (Then and Now)”    ➩ Prompt 1: Joui. Sakamoto with one other Joui member during a calm moment. How did they interact then and/or now? ➩ Prompt 2: War. It never changes. How did the war in general affect him then and/or now?  ➩ Prompt 3: Scar. His career-ending injury. How do you believe he handled it then and/or now? Day 3 - “Captain Sakamoto”  ➩ Prompt 1: Space. It was his dream. How do you picture his infatuation for it? ➩ Prompt 2: Kaientai. His life’s work. What’s his relationship with his vice captain and crew? ➩ Prompt 3: Granny’s cooking. He mentioned it once. What sort of food do you think he likes?  Day 4 - “Sakamoto-sensei”  ➩ Prompt 1: 3-Z. We can’t forget the canon high school AU. Which colleague would Sakamoto hang with the most? ➩ Prompt 2: Crossover. Introduce Sakamoto to one of your faves from another story. Would they get along? ➩ Prompt 3: Alternative Universe. Plop Sakamoto into another world entirely and pretend he’s spent his whole life there. What would his role be? Day 5 - “Loud Person” ➩ Prompt 1: Favorite outfit. Here’s a comprehensive yet vague list of all his outfits. Which one sings to you the most? ➩ Prompt 2: Favorite arc. Sakamoto’s appeared in 5 major arcs (Renho, Joui Reunion, Kaientai, Rakuyou, and Silver Soul). Which one appeals to you the most? ➩ Prompt 3: Favorite OP/ED. Outside those arcs, the joke is he only ever appears in the OPs/EDs. Which one pleased you the most? Day 6 - “Bakamoto” ➩ Prompt 1: Mojamoja. Here’s your chance to draw him as that puffball. You know you want to. Just do it. Probably the easiest day. ➩ Prompt 2: Headcanons. Everyone’s got them and, while you can use headcanons for any prompt, this is a day to solely focus on them. Which ones do you want to be actual canon? ➩ Prompt 3: Meta. He’s not just the comic relief character. Do you have any insights about him that you would like to share?  Day 7 -  “Sakamoto Tatsuma” ➩ Prompt 1: Admiration. Show him how much you like him. If he was real, what would you say to him? ➩ Prompt 2: Love Letter. But if you REALLY like him, it’s called love. What are your ships? ➩ Prompt 3: Free Day. For those strictly following the prompt system, this is your day to do whatever you want!   

A few rules:

➩ All forms of creative content are accepted. (Just note that headcanons and metas have their own specific day if you want to participate in that day!) ➩ You can prepare beforehand!  ➩  To repeat: You do not have to follow the prompts, do all the prompts, answer those questions specifically, or do the prompts on time. ➩ Please keep NSFW themes to a minimum. If you want to draw those, post a preview and link it to an outside source. If you write it, put it under a break and tag accordingly. ➩ On that note, ABSOLUTELY no pedophilia. ➩ Multiple submissions are accepted! Doing prompts early or late is okay, too. If you follow the prompt system, however, try to do only 1 of those prompts per day unless combining them. ➩ You don’t have to stick to canon. ➩ Make sure to tag your posts with #sakamoto week and #sakamoto tatsuma! ➩ Send an ask to me if you have any questions on what you can do, ideas, anything! ➩ Reblog to spread the word even if you aren’t participating! ➩ And have fun!

[ask-kirishimazen]

Day 1 - June 12th - Glasses/Formal 

For @trifiesta week!  ((A little late but better than never !))

[candy-crackpot]

Cross: Mana is in a better place now.

Allen, tearing up: is he dead?

Cross: No, he's in my bed.

[metiredlr]

👁👁

[shiroganeryo]

Komui's Discussion Room content (DGM 27)

Volume 27 has been released recently here in Brazil and I realized the remaining of Komui’s Discussion Room were nowhere to be found in English, but after reading all of it, I thought there are very interesting things hence why I wanted to share!

Please bear in mind this is not a direct translation, but a summary.

I have a lot of criticism when it comes to Viz Media’s release (official English), but I’m quite content with the work Panini, the distributor of D.Gray-Man in Brazil, has done so far with the official Portuguese release. If there are any mistakes, please bear in mind I translated the information directly from their version.

There are 11 questions covered in this summary. For the others, please check Jeidafei’s translations on them (totally recommend it!): Part 1 | Part 2 | Author's note & Thanks Corner | Extra

Without further ado, let’s get into it! This got very long.

≫ Kanda hasn’t reached the “critical point” in synchronization yet (+ why Allen isn’t a General)

In the question “How did Kanda hide having gone past the critical point”, Tiedoll answers that he actually has the potential it takes to do it but hasn’t done it yet. Still on the same question, they answer a related question about Allen’s critical point: “If Allen has reached the critical point, why wasn’t he appointed to become a general during the Order’s reconstruction?”

Allen replies that it was impossible at that time since Central was keeping watch over him. Tiedoll adds that he’s also too young and the only one able to operate the Ark, the latter making Central even more suspicious of him. General Cross’s reputation also seems to have played a part in this, having the higher-ups deem Allen as someone they couldn’t trust enough.

Ryo’s note: Allen thanks Tiedoll for putting his thoughts about Cross into words and Cross simply laughs it off. XD

≫ Sleeping positions

They get asked about their sleeping positions. Tiedoll describes how Kanda sleeps with detail (when younger, in fetal position; nowadays, he sleeps lying on his side, preferentially the right side).

Allen comments that Johnny sleeps sprawled on the floor or the desk and that everyone in the Science Division sleeps like this; when he first saw it, he got concerned thinking something tragic had happened. Johnny says it’s comfortable to sleep like this, but Allen isn’t so sure.

Cross comments on how Allen sleeps; he mentions he likes to sleep hugging something and when he can’t do it, he complains until falling asleep. Allen gets flustered and claims that he got used to sleeping with Tim because he used to be big, but is over it nowadays. Johnny remembers Link used to tell him not to sleep with the piggy-bank, to which Allen replies that it was “not a sleeping position, but survival instincts”.

Kanda comments on how he brought a ton of food to the infirmary one time and says it was annoying to listen to him eating nonstop. Allen replies with sarcasm (“sorry for needing to eat to recover my energies”).

Cross sleeps naked, with his arms open (according to Allen).

Tiedoll sleeps on his stomach, blanket over his face.

Ryo’s note: The time Kanda is referring to is in Chapter 135 (135th Night: Repose, Partly Cloudly).

≫ The symbol on the CROWs' foreheads

Cross replies that it’s probably the compulsory mark of the procedure that transforms regular people in CROWs. Tiedoll says that Cross knows a lot, as expected of someone who’s able to use magic –he shrugs off the compliment – and Kanda asks when and how exactly someone like him learned it. He angrily says he didn’t learn it anywhere and ends the question at Allen’s remark that he always gets angry when people ask.

Ryo’s note: This is interesting. Could imply he was the one to teach magic to Nea (and the Earl himself?), and not the other way around. But, it’s also possible he just didn’t want to answer.

≫ “What is something you find impressive on the other, but have never admitted?”

Johnny decides to start with Kanda and Allen, and the two exchange insults for several lines.

Johnny then passes the baton to the Generals, who do the exact same as their apprentices.

Johnny ends the question with a thank you and sweating nervously.

Ryo’s note: By “insults”, I mean things like Kanda calling Allen a crybaby, and Allen saying Kanda’s dumb. Tiedoll calls Cross a delinquent; Cross calls him “doting dad”. The list goes on…

≫ The time Kanda spent with General Tiedoll right after becoming his apprentice (+ Allen’s time with Cross)

They are asked what was the most outstanding episode from such a time, and Kanda absentmindedly says he forgot. Tiedoll seems disappointed, stating they had made so many marvelous memories together, to which Kanda replies “please stop talking in this weird way”.

Allen asks how the travels were, and Tiedoll says the most important at that time was to take care of mending Kanda’s heart. They spent much time talking about amenities, having contact with plants and animals and admiring beautiful landscapes. Tiedoll believes that getting in touch with beautiful things can help to connect with the world, despite carrying the burden of being a Second; he wanted Kanda to feel like regular people feel about the world.

Johnny and Allen are touched, and the latter comments how jealous he is. Cross then reminds Allen of how many bedsheets he had to wash because of him, making him flustered. He then goes on to remind how not only he did that but also had to feed him – Tiedoll comments on how it seems impossible to imagine Cross doing all that – and even help him change many times.

Allen’s embarrassment reaches the maximum and he threatens to beat Cross if he keeps talking about that.

≫ Stories of when Kanda and Lenalee were little

Kanda tries to shrug the question off, but Johnny insists they answer. Tiedoll says that the two of them were really cute, just like two lilies that bloomed inside the gray scenery of the Order; Kanda tells him to stop.

Allen is uninterested in Kanda, but wants to hear about Lenalee. Cross asks him if he likes her, and says he thought he had a girlfriend in the Asian Branch already. Allen denies it and says both LouFa and Lenalee are his friends; Cross laughs, saying he doesn’t judge, and Allen nearly snaps in irritation (again).

Johnny moves on to answer the question; Kanda is against it, but Tiedoll holds him in place. Johnny tells that Jiji told him that at first, Kanda would be asked if Lenalee could train with him, but he would shrug her off saying he didn’t want to train with a girl, which would make her cry.

Every time Kanda made Lenalee cry, she would run off to Reever. In reality, Johnny thinks she wanted to talk to Komui instead, but she thought he was busy and didn’t want to bother him, resulting in her crying at Reever’s desk. Tiedoll and Allen are weeping at it (they thought it’s cute).

While Reever comforted Lenalee, Marie would appear bringing Kanda along, who had no idea how to apologize, while Lenalee would bashfully hide inside Reever’s lab coat. This kept happening until he eventually accepted to train with her.

Johnny starts telling another story involving Kanda’s meditation and Lenalee coming back tired from a mission, but Kanda interrupts him. Allen says it’s being fun and tells him not to bother.

Kanda tells him to shut up, calling him a bedwetter. Allen snaps (again).

Ryo’s note: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

≫ “Who amongst the Noah would Allen best go along with? Hypothetically speaking.”

Allen and Kanda are worn out from fighting (see the previous question); Johnny is giving them calming tea. Tiedoll says that it seems Allen and Tyki Mikk looked friendly when talking to each other, and Allen interjects saying they’re not friends and that Tyki doesn’t respect the notion of personal space.

He then goes on to say he doesn’t imagine himself being friends with any Noah because they lack common sense. Cross mentions Road and how she’s always being flirty with him, which makes Allen tell him to stop implying things, while sounding unsure about being friends with her or not.

Johnny asks if Allen is embarrassed and reminds Road kissed him. He denies being embarrassed and says that kissing is just a form of greeting for her (he’s sweating nervously while saying so). He adds that, on top of that, he feels like Road sees someone else when she looks at him.

Cross seems amused.

Ryo’s note: This answer is very interesting. It seems to confirm the theory that Road had some kind of connection with past!Allen. We won’t know for sure until it’s revealed, but it does seem to imply such a thing.

≫ The taste of Innocence + the Crystal Type Innocence + Exorcist supplies + Cross suspiciously knowing about the Bookman clan

A reader asks how did Innocence taste like when liquefied; Kanda says it tastes like nothing, similar to water.

Johnny points out the wounds that formed after their Innocence became Crystal types and if they don’t hurt. Kanda says that at the time they don’t, but such wounds won’t heal even with his healing ability – which he concludes makes sense since it’s from where the blood comes out to form the weapons.

Johnny mentions that the Science Division (Komui, more specifically) made Lenalee pills that will prevent anemia. Still on that subject, Allen remembers people had asked what goes inside the bags the Exorcists carry on their uniforms. Johnny says they carry first-aid kits, disinfectants, anti-hemorrhagic meds, and things of the sort. Miranda and Timothy carry sweets with a high intake of calories, Krory carries Akuma blood sweets and Lavi and Bookman asked for migraine meds.

Tiedoll says they are nothing without the support of the Science Division and thanks them. Allen asks about Lavi and Bookman getting migraines. Cross mentions it’s probably from an occupational disease because storing that much information and memories can wreck your head over time.

Allen comments again that he seems to know a lot about the Bookman Clan, and that it’s very suspicious. Cross magnificently shrugs off the question.

≫ Allen’s cheating

Allen gets asked if he becomes bad at luck games (i.e gambling) in case he doesn’t cheat. He says that a bet on luck always rewards something even if gains are small, but Johnny says he’s really bad at things like rock-paper-scissors. Kanda thinks he was just in denial about admitting he’s unlucky.

When scolded by Kanda, Allen says it was a matter of survival and that he never cheated good people on; just bad people.

Johnny says living like this is dangerous and that he should stop; Allen apologizes and says he needs money, and if anything, he can use his Innocence.

Cross is amused and sounds proud. Tiedoll regrets Cross’s influence on Allen.

≫ About Link

Allen gets asked if he has ever seen Link smile, to which he responds he has tried making him laugh/smile, but never could do it. Johnny says that everyone from Central is very serious, especially Link. Tiedoll thinks that it might be forbidden to smile when their superior is Director Lvellie.

Allen goes on to ramble about how Link complained about everything: when he had food on his face after or during eating, asking him to redo reports because they were illegible despite Reever being able to read, scolding him for not drying his hair after going out of the bath because he could get a cold, and how he was a shame for not folding his uniform properly before putting it away.

Cross asks him, “what was he? Your mother?” and Allen says he didn’t get annoyed at him. He wonders if all moms are like this.

Johnny says people were worried when he was assigned to watch Allen, but in the end, Link went along well with everyone and confirms that Allen liked him as well. He also states that Allen’s reports became a lot easier to read thanks to him.

Ryo’s note: Ladies, gentlemen, and non-binary folks: it’s Link appreciation time! *tips hat* Also Allen wondering about how mothers treat their children was just precious, even if it’s a throwaway comment.

≫ The vibe at the Black Order

In the question “Who runs faster, Komui or Reever?”, Johnny says that he thinks Reever is faster; Allen adds that Komui cheats by using Komurin, though. Kanda gets annoyed and tells them they (at the Science Division) should make Komui behave accordingly to his role. Johnny sniffs and says that they try.

Tiedoll says that it’s actually good that Komui is cheerful because the Order used to be a very different place until he took over the post, and that he (Tiedoll) disliked the gloomy aura it used to have. Allen remembers Lenalee commented about it once and asks if the Order was really this different back then. Tiedoll says that even if it’s been built with a noble purpose, human beings aren’t perfect and a lot of things get distorted over a hundred years. He recommends Allen to ask For about it, as she has existed ever since the Order was founded and protects it to this day.

Allen is sad and comments he wants to visit the Asian Branch again someday. Johnny says he’ll go with Allen, but the latter says he would want to eat Jeryy’s food again before that. Cross sneers and wishes good luck.

They wrap it up at this, and both Kanda and Allen look very happy about being done with the Discussion Corner (as noted by Johnny). Tiedoll bids Cross adieu, and says “rest in peace, Marian” – to which he replies “don’t treat me like a ghost”.

Allen says he knows Cross is an illusion created by his weakness, but that he was happy to see him (in reference to the 222nd Night: Searching for A.W - Hypokrisis). Cross tells him not to exaggerate.

Johnny is content that they could finally keep it to the ideal number of pages – something the Discussion Corner is known to usually have trouble with. Tiedoll says that if they had gone overboard, the next issue’s Discussion Corner would be canceled, and wraps up thanking everyone who has cared about Yu so far and asks that people keep cheering for him.

Johnny thanks the readers for sending their questions. Allen and Kanda are relieved it’s over.

Ryo’s note: And that’s it! Man, this got LONG. Thank you very much for reading until the end. Can’t wait for the next Discussion Room, the way Tiedoll worded it makes it seem like it’ll be on the next volume, 28. I’m excited!

If you're interested in seeing more DGM content from me, feel free to check my masterlist here.

[cottoncandycorn-deactivated2023]

Me, before the appearance of Cross in the series: Cross is such an asshole, why do women even love him???? He's an absolute scumbag!!!! If I were in the places of these women, I wouldn't give a shit about this dude!! He constantly beats up Allen and leaves his arrears on him!! He annoys me so fucking much!!!!! 😫🤬

Me, after the appearance of Cross in the series:

[shydaydreamer28]

Cross Marian #5 Anime vs. Manga

This is basically a rundown of the DGM anime. I posted this years ago on DA, and it has since been updated with things from Hallow. I am going to cover how the anime villainized Cross Marian, which was one of the things that made the adaptations bad, imo. Because they didn’t stick to Hoshino’s version of the character.  

Any familiar with Trope, aka Cliche, names, Cross suffered a case of Adaptational Villainy in the anime(s). That’s where a character is made worse in adapted material than they were in the original tale. An example would be Kaa, the snake, from The Jungle Book. In the original tale, Kaa was a female, and one of Mowgli’s closest friends. That was lost in all subsequent adaptations. Kaa is a male snake, who wants nothing more than to kill Mowgli.

Anyhow, I have noticed people that only watch the anime usually hate Cross, and I can see why if one hasn’t read the manga, or any of Hoshino’s interviews about Cross. So lets begin.

We’ll start with episode 25. We have filler (crap) of Allen stating that because of Cross, he never thought a general could be a good person.

Then in more filler, we meet General Yeegar, and he also goes on to state that Cross is a bad person.

So we start here. Now lets move on to the filler episode 27, where TMS is determined to continue villainizing Cross to expand on the previously mentioned things in episode 25.

My Mentor / Master, General Cross

A filler episode that. Meaning EVERYTHING that was said or shown in this episode WAS NOT in the manga. Hoshino Katsura, the mangaka, DID NOT write it.

Lets start with the episode’s introduction. The flashbacks begin because Allen is determined to let Lenalee know what a terrible person Cross is.

So we get his words from episode 25 again. He starts off by admitting that it’s because of Cross that he never believe generals could be kind, and that they were all terrible people. 

So the episode starts off dehumanizing Cross. Hoshino never showed us this in the manga. In fact, she mentions in an interview -in the Charagray fanbook, how she sees Cross’ character. Here’s the quote from her. 

“Because Cross is the one closest to the truth, he lives hiding bitter things… He’s a person with hardships because he’s a person who deals with the secret agreement he made with the 14th in his own way. Because of this, the way Cross lets off steam is incredible (laughs). Because he unwillingly got involved with the 14th and got saddled with trouble (smiles wryly).”

This is quite different than the dehumanization this anime, and much of the Western Fandom -least on this site, want to do to Cross, where he’s painted as a heartless psychopath that can’t function or live among humans. 

Now lets move on. Covering crap that actually contradicted Hoshino’s manga, and established characterization on Cross. 

In the manga, Allen says he and Cross lived off his lovers. He also says if they really needed money, he gambled to make it.

The anime has Allen being sold into slave labor to pay off Cross’ debts.

Nowhere in the manga - by Cross’ creator Hoshino - did it say that Cross sold Allen into labor. All Allen says is gambling. So, something extra the anime added in, making Cross seem like a pimping slave owner.

The anime has Cross telling Allen to bring him a lion to see. Cross travels all over the world, even before he met Allen. I am sure he’s gotten a glimpse of a lion without Allen having to bring him one. So that made no sense.

And again, when Allen recalls trauma with Cross, debts seem to be what comes up.

He didn’t say anything about Cross torturing him with wild animals.

Also, in the episode when they’re staying in India, Cross makes Allen gamble for money.

Here, he has Allen pinned to a wall taking his money. And this scene gives off bad vibes of Cross’ acting like Allen’s abusive / threatening pimp.

Complete with Allen asking how long he’s going to be forced to do it.

And this makes no sense, because Allen says he only gambled when he and Cross really needed money.

While in India, Cross was living in a palace, with a maharajah’s widow.

So he had a willing lover, and given how they both always have wine in their hand, he gets plenty of that there too.

Also, since she and Cross are sleeping together, they also got free room and board.

So why the hell are he and Allen out in town scrapping for money? That doesn’t seem to make sense- given Cross is staying with a rich woman that most likely gives him whatever he wants.

So 

Manga Cross has his apprentice gamble for money. But he is not asking anything of Allen that he doesn’t also do. He gambles as well.

Anime Cross pimps out his apprentice -making him do slave labor for money, and bring him man-eating animals. Which is doubly cruel when you read D.Gray-Man Reverse, and see what Allen’s experience with lions is.

Into the episode, Allen mentions to Lenalee that the Maharajah’s widow was a lover of Cross, and that’s why they got to stay there. Lenalee asks if Cross really has sex with a widow. Allen then says his Master has a thing for rich women.

This is another manga contradiction. His character info in the books (done by Hoshino) state that his likes are good women, expensive wine, and visiting the red-light districts. But again, it says he likes “good” women, not “rich” women. 

So, the anime, with that line, makes it seem like he specifically seeks out a woman to take their money. We had, earlier in the episode, a man wanting to beat him up for taking his woman’s money. So those two things together don’t paint Cross in the best light. Making him look like a lowdown gold-digger. 

So

Manga Cross likes nice women. His character quote on the relationship chart mention how he feels Anita is a good women, and that he feels Klaud has always been a nice women (even though she’s cold to him)

Anime Cross is a gold-digger who only wants women for money, w/ the added bonus of sex.

Final Analysis for the episode.  It seems like this episode tried to make Cross seem as disgusting and nasty as possible so they can throw in a punchline at the end with all the women gushing over Cross, to show “women like bad boys” or like men that treat people like crap.”

Cross is not perfect, But if you read my previous manifesto entries, you could see why I didn’t care for this episode. TMS villainized Cross, rather than making him a flawed human as Hoshino did, and has stated. 

Next we have more filler in The Edo Arc. Tiedoll is shown meeting a converted Akuma, and goes on to state that Cross is a horrible person that only sees people as things he can use. 

From what I recall, this was not in the manga.  So something else TMS threw in to demonize Cross. 

Then we have scenes that TMS blatantly changed from the manga. We have episode 96. Takes place in manga chapter 137.

In the manga, Allen wants to speak with Cross, but it’s forbidden. So the guards drag him away. Cross seems surprised at how quickly they moved, but that was it.

With the anime, they have Cross smirking and waving Allen off and humming mockingly while he’s dragged away, calling for him.

Bit more of an asshole about it than Manga Cross was.

In the manga, Cross is seen travelling with a suitcase as he speaks with the food vendor.

In the anime, he is carrying no bags on his travels -which makes no sense. But then they have him snatch food right of the man’s cart and not pay for it.

Chapter 133 of the manga. In a hurry, Cross pushes Allen aside, but sees Roufa and asks in passing if she may be Allen’s women.

But that was all there was to the scene.

The anime however has Cross push Allen aside, with a lecherous grin on his face.

This contradicts the fact that he’s supposed to be in a hurry,. And, it also makes him look creepy, because it seems his sole purpose for pushing Allen aside here, was so he can check out Roufa

Then he holds on to Roufa’s head while he he violates her personal space, and stares at her as if he’s studying.

What the hell was this? Suppose to be funny I am sure. But it makes Cross come off as some kind of weird pervert.

Why is he showing so much interest in a girl whom he thinks may be dating his apprentice? Did he want a Ménage à trois with his apprentice?

We know Cross likes women, and that he’s sexually active. But that, and being a pervert, or molester, are 2 different things.

Flashback Issues

I also hated the flashback they through in with Cross x Anita in episode 60. it didn’t seem right with either character.

Anita’s mother was killed recently it seemed while Anita sadly looks at the clips. We pan over and see Cross is there-laying in the middle of the room with his back to her.

Seems like they’re ignoring each other.

Then Cross says “hm?” and looks over at her as if he forgot she was even there.

Then they have Anita acting shy around, Cross, which doesn’t seem to fit her character.

She only looks back at him we his eyes are closed, and he’s drinking.

Close up, it appears she’s blushing.

Though she just got done saying she hated him.

Cross stops drinking, then looks at her, and calls her name. In response, she turns away quickly, like she’s embarrassed, or doesn’t want him to see her looking at him.

She answers him with her voice shaking/stuttering. After which, she turns her head even further away.

We know she’s younger here, given her more round eyes, and face -in addition to the smaller nose and “lips”. A comparison

Anyhow, possibly being raised to run her mother’s brothel, and probably having been around men before, I can’t see her being so shy and nervous.

After all, she was helping her mother deliver babies when she was 7 yrs., according to Chaozii.

Anyway, maybe she has a crush on Cross already? but Cross asks her “do you hate me?” and she says yes. So, why was he asking her that?

If she really does hate him, why?

Is she trying to hide her crush for him? And again, if so, why?

Anita being raised around a brothel, by a mother who’s a brothel maiden, I don’t really see her hiding feelings of, or being embarrassed about, finding a man attractive.

The flashback just seemed random and made no sense. Anita is talking about how she’s do anything for Cross, then there’s that flashback which I don’t know what it was trying to convey?

This flashback just raised questions rather than telling us anything.

Is it showing that Anita fell in love with Cross in that one instant? And if so, why? Because he made one comment about her being a good woman?

Sorry. Given Anita’s determination toward Cross, I think her feelings run a tad deeper than him making one comment. 

So if the anime is saying she fell for Cross just because he gave her a compliment, then it makes her look like a Cross-groupie with a schoolgirl crush like all those women in episode 27.  

So if they were trying to build up Cross x Anita, they didn’t do a good job, in my opinion, and should’ve done something else.

Also, something else messed up is Cross’ appearance in said flashback.

In anime, when characters are younger, they tend to be drawn with rounder eyes, and sometimes with females, no lips. I guess it makes them look younger and more naive.

The anime threw in a flashback where Anita is clearly much younger-looks to be a teenager. However, Cross looks exactly the same as he does now.

Unless Hoshino shared a secret with the animators, that’s a bit odd. Cross’ age is weird in the manga, but he was younger at some point lol

Anita’s Departure

This isn’t so much with Cross, just an off-example to go a bit further on example about the DGM anime being poorly done.

In the manga, it'a not revealed that Anita was killed until she sees the exorcists off.

Then, there’s a close-up of her, and we discover she is now wearing her mother’s hair clip in her final moments.

We readers find that out the same time that Lenalee does. 

However, the anime has Lenalee bring Anita her clip

Anita asks Len to put it on for her.

That was a dead give away that something was wrong. because Anita says she hasn’t worn them since her mother died. Now, all of a sudden, she wants to wear it, and have Lenalee put it on for her. So very noticeable. 

In the manga, when Lenalee is brought back to the ship, she drops the clip. But that’s the last we saw of it until the close-up on Anita.

And there’s no telling when she put it on. She probably decided to wear it after changing -and deciding it her last chance. Remember, Anita was wearing a shirt, pants, and boots. When seeing the exorcists off, she’s wearing a Kimono.

Then, after the clip incident, Anita hugs Lenalee and tell her to take care of Cross.

That was another dead give away. She wanted to help the Exorcists find Cross, so surely she wanted to see him. Why would she hug Lenalee and ask her that if she was going to see Cross herself?

So, the fact that lenalee didn’t pick up on these 2 things makes her break down, and disbelief, at the send off seem stupid, because it was obvious before then that Anita had been killed. Too many clues being thrown in our faces.

In my opinion, the manga handled it better, as it was a sudden surprise and heart-breaking. Sometimes the sudden deaths are sadder. As J.K. Rowling said, not all people die slowly with loved ones around and able to give last words + requests. Thus, the open ending makes the death all the more tragic.

So in the end, I am  giving this adaptation a 2 out of 5 for what they did to Cross alone. lol I will say the art and animation was good. And some of the music was also very nice. But the liberties taken with the story, and changes made to characters + scenes I did not care for.

D.Gray-Man Hallow

Well, we finally have Hallow here. And this anime had some problems as well when it comes to Cross’ portrayal, imo. They didn’t add in scenes to make Cross worse than he was in the manga, unlike its predecessor

But they still managed to take out some of his better lines, that shows he’s heart and conflict -along with changing his expressions that lessen the feeling of the scenes from the manga. So in a way, the anime Cross in Hallow still comes off as more cold-hearted than his manga counterpart.

Lets look at their hug in the manga -chapter 167.

Cross hugs Allen, and says the 14th should have chosen a good-for-nothing as his host. Then he wonders if you always have to sacrifice something to protect something else. Finally, he realizes and admits he can’t make fun of Tiedoll anymore. These lines do a nice job of showing the depth of Cross’ conflict. And his feelings for Allen, where he sees he’s not different than Tiedoll with his pupil. The anime completely took both of these lines out.

We have Cross hug Allen, and mention how Neah should have chosen someone else for his host. Then it skips the lines about sacrifice and Tiedool, and goes straight to him dropping the bomb that Allen is going to kill someone.

That completely ruins the mood of this scene, imo. And it takes away the depth of Cross’ remorse. Then we have the changed facial expressions. When Cross sits in his room later, he has a very telling expression on his face as he thinks about Allen. He looks somewhat touched /sentimental. The anime however, he just has a typical smirk, or close to it, that appears to have no real feelings behind it. Least not the same feeling the manga gave.

I was not feeling the sentiment of this scene as I was in the manga. Same with the hug, especially after being excited about the adaptation of these chapters. 

Chapter 206: Maria’s Vision.

Next we have the adaptation of manga chapter 206 in the final episode of Hallow. A favorite of mine in the manga. The anime didn’t do any justice to it once again. 

First off, what upset me most was the artwork. The art on Cross was horrible this episode, especially compared to the manga. I will probably do a separate entry covering the bad art on Cross in Hallow.  

But moving on, we have expression changes, again that lessened emotion. In the manga, Cross looks very sad / sympathetic when sitting by Allen’s bedside. In the anime, he has a harsh expression where he looks more annoyed than anything. You can’t tell Cross feels anything for Allen with the anime’s expression.

So definitely not as touching as the manga. Which I find VERY disappointing, since that part was a favorite of mine.

And the scene where he mentions that Allen is speaking like Mana didn’t seem as expressive + shocked as the manga.

In the anime, Cross doesn’t look concerned at all. His expression is very plain. Not to mention, Cross didn’t have Dumbo’s ears in the manga. I am a huge Cross fan. And it just seems like TMS does not wanna give him the same touch that Hoshino has. From leaving out details, even if subtle, and/or adding in extra stuff that makes him look like a inhumane psychopath -like Aizen (Bleach), rather than a flawed human. In addition to changing his facial expressions so that he doesn’t show as much soft emotion.

I did a compilation on that here. It’s in my blog

I will say only ONE of Cross’ anime expressions came  close to conveying emotion the manga did. Which is here.

This is the one time the anime was more expressive and sad. But I can assure you, it’s the ONLY.

So, I am disappointed with the TMS Studio version of Cross Marian. Chapter 222 is another favorite chapter with Cross. But given the anime team’s track record with wanting Cross to be heartless, or a borderline villain, they’ll probably leave stuff out, give him constantly scowling expressions, and ruin the feelings with that  as well. 

So overall, I don’t mind the anime ending. And I think TMS should leave D.Gray-Man alone if they don’t have enough budget to animate and draw characters properly, and leave in the things that happened in the manga, the way they happened.

Final Verdict. I would have to give Hallow a 1.5 out of 5. And it’s a shame, because like any DGM fan, I was excited for the anime to return, and I defended it even after hearing it was only gonna be 13 episodes. But once it hit, I was not impressed. So I didn’t go into Hallow with bias, and expectations of hating it. However, I was disappointed after seeing episode 1, so my patience wore thin fast given how I already didn’t like the last anime. 

So I am glad no more chapters are being adapted when being stuck with this budget.  Hopefully the anime doesn’t ever get picked up again, leading more people to reading Hoshino’s version of the story instead.

[shydaydreamer28]

UPDATE

[gintamayorozuya]

[milesmoerales]

gintaka world domination

[sayaberry]

takasugi and gintoki meeting up after not seeing each other for a while

[brideoffires-deactivated2023042]

some gintaka notes

Gintaka canon soulmate references:

Chapter 520: “I’m here to protect the soul of Takasugi Shinsuke, a student of Shouka Sonjuku”. 

Chapter 703: “Utsuro, I sure as hell ain’t empty. The ones I wanted to protect are right here in my soul.” 

Chapter 703: “We might’ve just been born under that kind of star.” 

Chapter 703: “The man that stood in my way; the man that I always wanted to defeat; the man I chased for so long; that face isn’t him.” 

Chapter 703: “Go wait for me in hell, Takasugi.” 

Bonus: The final thing Takasugi sees with his left eye is the sight of Gintoki crying. The final thing Takasugi sees with his right eye, and sees in general, is Gintoki crying, but this time with a smile on his face. 

Gintaka parallels/references/call backs in 703:

246 wins-246 losses vs 246 wins-247 losses 

killing the master to protect the friends/killing the friend to protect the master

takasugi appearing behind gintoki to fight oboro/takasugi appearing behind gintoki when gintoki is fighting utsuro 

gintoki fighting takasugi to protect his soul/gintoki fighting utsuro to protect takasugi’s soul 

gintoki refusing to let anyone else hurt takasugi in shogun assassination arc/gintoki refusing to let utsuro to win for takasugi’s sake

gintoki not giving up on takasugi in the rakuyou arc/gintoki not giving up on takasugi in 703 

gintoki smiling while in tears at shouyou/gintoki smiling while in tears at takasugi 

the main difference between these two events: when gintoki had to kill shouyou, he became completely empty, and lost everything. he lost takasugi, and they hated each other for 10 yrs. now, at the very end, he’s been healing from his traumas, and he’s gained back everything he lost, which explicitly includes takasugi. in fact, gintoki wouldn’t have gained back everything he once lost if that didn’t include takasugi. just as takasugi was chasing after gintoki, so too was gintoki waiting for takasugi to come back to him. and this time, he was able to see takasugi off after they finally reconciled, with the knowledge that gintoki will not be alone or void or empty after this. 

they are in LOVE you fools!! they’re in love!!!!

[sakuraikiriyoko]

gintoki: takasugi... what the hell did they do to you???

takasugi: honestly? nothing really

gintoki: bullshit, you’re literally coughing up blood!

takasugi: oh, that? my body is just rejecting the idea of spending time with you, this is nothing new

gintoki: die

[nutton-of-tata]

what sekaiichi bois would reply if you asked for their pronouns

Takano: He/him, now get back to work

Ritsu: pronouns? i’m a man

Kisa: He/They… (are you hitting on me?!)

Yukina: He/She/They, would you like your receipt? by the way, please check out this shoujo manga i’ve been reading. if you buy 500 copies then i’ll-

Hatori: He/They/it :| 

Chiaki: He/Him, thank you for asking :)

Yokozawa: Tch, liberals and their pronounce…

Kirishima: He/She/They *proceeds to show you the many images of yokozawa he has on his phone*

Yanase: He/They because *looks at Hatori* I’ll never be him…

Mino: Mino 

[shiroyoh]

Gintama Text Post Memes 1/? feat. Takasugi

[suchine-toki]

The other day, with @sayaberry we realized Ketsuno Ana and Takasugi look a bit alike…

(Whispers: Freudian projection…)