Month: August 2023

Love is in the Air on Mushoku Tensei

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Mushoku Tensei S2, Ep 8 Review

Rudeus’ love life has never been the most stable. His first girlfriend left to get stronger without explaining things. Then the next girl he tried to date got mad at him for something that wasn’t his fault and left. However, that hasn’t stopped him from getting involved in the love lives of his classmates, whether he wants to or not. First, he has to deal with Cliff, and then the Doldian Duo’s issues get him in trouble. 

This is fun.

Cliff is in Love With the Last Person You’d Expect

Cliff Grimoire is many things. He’s the grandson of a Pope, a gifted mage in his own right, and ever since Rudeus arrived at school, his biggest hater. The main problem is his jealousy over Rudeus being better than him and the object of Eris’ affections. However, all that changes one day when he gazes upon Elinalise.

The next thing Cliff knows, Eris is an afterthought, as he’s head over heels with Elinalise. He sees her as this beautiful, chaste goddess. Those who know her, though, know she’s anything but, thanks to her curse. That becomes an issue when Rudeus witnesses a bunch of guys beating him up after he picked a fight with them for spreading what he thought were lies. Then Cliff swallows his pride and asks Rudeus to introduce him to Elinalise.

Both Rudy and Elinalise are taken aback by this. The latter even shows she has standards by scolding Rudeus for doing this. Despite her interests, she knows how badly this could affect someone like Cliff. Rudy even had to ask “Fitz” for advice before going through with this. But Cliff insisted.

What makes this work so well, though, is that the outcome defies everyone’s expectations. Instead of being upset about the truth, Cliff doesn’t care. He even vows to find a way to lift Elinalise’s curse. The next thing Rudy knows, the two are going steady and making out in the classroom!

Good for Cliff. That man might end up being that guy, after all.

Rudy Runs From a Bunch of Eager Beastmen

Rudeus’ time dealing with his classmate’s love lives doesn’t end with Cliff, though. The Beast people’s mating season begins, and all over Ranoa, Beast People are challenging each other for the right to partner up, except for Lilna and Pursena. Since they’re both Doldian Princesses, whoever wins against them could win the right to lead the Doldia tribe. As a result, they seclude themselves in the dorms, and tell Rudeus to take care of things.

The main issue is this: since Rudeus thoroughly humiliated them and Fitz, who had previously bested them, he became the alpha of their “pack.” Since he’s their alpha, anyone who beats him would win the right to Lilna and Pursena. In other words, poor Rudeus has an army of Beast Men chasing him around campus.  

At least he did, until a four-armed Demon showed up wanting to fighting Rudeus for the sake of it. Enter Badigadi, one of the Demon Gods and fiancé to Kishirika. AKA, the woman who gave him his magic eye.

Now he wants to fight Rudeus because Kishirika says he’s got more magical potential than Laplace, the Demon God.

The Rudeus vs. Badi Fight Skipped One Important Piece of Dialogue.

From the moment Badigadi’s introduced, he’s shown to be everything Rudeus isn’t. He’s loud, boisterous, laughs a lot, and would feel right at home in a series like One Piece. In other words, he’s everything that Rudeus isn’t. Yet, like many of the people he meets at Ranoa, Badi will play a role in Rudeus’ life from this moment on. Especially after Rudeus manages to one-hit KO him in their duel.

While getting to see the full extent of Rudeus’ power was impressive, it feels undercut by the anime’s decision regarding something. For whatever reason, they chose to omit a bit of dialogue regarding Rudy’s encounter with Orsted. In the original light novels and manga adaptation, Badigadi dropped the jovial act the second he heard that Rudy fought Orsted and survived. That was meant to convey how dangerous the Dragon God is, and why Rudy’s continual existence is a miracle. 

Other than that, though, this did a good job of showing how strong Rudeus is. 

The Entire Episode Was Hilarious

I won’t lie: I found this entire episode to be hilarious. From the most unlikely of couples forming with Cliff and Elinalise to the boisterous Badigadi, there were plenty of laugh-out-loud moments found. While his love life remains pitiful, one can’t deny that Rudeus is getting the school life that he never got to enjoy in his first life. 

The best part is that Badigadi’s enrolled at Ranoa as one of Rudeus’ classmates. 

I Give “Fiance of Despair” a 4/5

Sayonara, Tokyo…and Welcome to Hell, Akira

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Zom100: Bucket List of the Dead Ep 6 Review

After another round of delays, Zom100 is back and about to be bigger than ever. With Tokyo finally losing electricity, resources running low, and more zombies showing up, Akira and Kencho have no need to stay in Tokyo. It’s time for them leave the city and find greener pastures. However, a man from Akira’s past threatens to derail Akira’s new life. A man who, in this writer’s honest opinion, belongs in one of two places: in jail, or dead in a gutter. 

I am being serious. This person is worth less than pond scum.

Sayonara, Tokyo!

With the power now out and the apartment out of water, Akira and Kencho have little to gain by staying in Tokyo. The zombie hordes are becoming too big a problem to ignore, so they decide it’s time to leave. Their next stop is the Kanto countryside and Akira’s hometown, Gunma. In addition to their decision to leave making sense from a logical stance, it also makes sense from a narrative standpoint. Having the series take place in a single location would risk losing its initial appeal. Having them leave gives more opportunities for storytelling.

That, and it leads to the duo running into Shizuka once more, to her chagrin, and Akira’s joy. 

Even though Shizuka acts like an ice queen and tries to be all business, the trio’s search at an RV show makes it clear: Akira is rubbing off on her. She ends up letting her sillier side slip, proving that she’s not as cold as she makes herself out to be. Besides giving her more character, it also endears her to the others. And when the trio’s forced to flee in an RV from zombies, the matter’s settled. She’s part of their group, whether she likes it or not. Welcome aboard, She-Spock.

Too bad things go wrong right outside the city.

Kosugi is Trash

So the trio’s driving on the highway when, all of a sudden, they run over a spike strip, leaving them stranded and Kencho injured. The culprit is a group of literal highwaymen led by none other than Akira’s worst nightmare. The man responsible for making the last three years of his life Hell, a man who is the absolute worst: his former boss, Kosugi.

If Zom100 is an argument against the exploitative nature of capitalism, then Kosugi is the worst aspects of it personified into a piece of trash. Shizuka sees right through him: he sabotages anyone leaving the city so they’ll be stranded, then forces them to work for him in exchange for his “help.” In other words, he’s running an extortion racket, and everyone knows it. So, Akira has to go back to working for him for two days while they fix his ride. At least, that’s what it’s supposed to be.

It’s here where the depths of Kosugi’s abusive nature take center-stage. Everytime he talks, he’ll either be yelling at his workers for not doing their job the way he wants. Worse, he’ll yell at them if they show any initiative, like when Akira tries to freeze some beer for everyone, and he calls it a waste of energy. Then, to add insult to injury, when everyone’s happy about it, he takes full credit for it. 

Kosugi is the worst aspects of corporate culture personified. He’s sleazy, sexist, and knows how to mix abuse with empty praise so that people like Akira will become dependent on him. No wonder why Akira’s job was absolute hell: this man doesn’t deserve to be the boss of anyone. If anything, he deserves to be in jail. 

Akira Needs to Stand Up for Himself

Sadly, the episode ends on this bleak note as Akira, despite his best efforts, is falling back into the same zombie-like mentality he possessed at the beginning. If this keeps up, then he’s going to be a wage-slave again. The saddest part about this is the fact that these sorts of things happen in the real-world only makes this harder to watch.

That said, I enjoyed the lightheartedness at the start of the episode, especially regarding Akira and Shizuka. The ice queen’s not so above it all.

Also, there were cameos from the zombie land saga in the zombies!

I Give “RV of the Dead” a 4/5

D&A Status Update with D.J. Lewis: What’s Next Going Forward!

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Alright nerds and nerdettes. I honestly didn’t know how to start this post since my last one was…two, or three months ago? (Yeesh!) So I thought it was time to give you guys a status update on what’s next for D&A Anime Blog, and D&A Studios Entertainment going forward. Now I know many of you guys are wondering “When is the ‘Big Guy’ gonna return on Youtube? We only saw him one time about a month ago, and that’s it!”. Yes, it’s true; I did return on Youtube a month ago only to let everybody know what I was up to, but I also said that I would be making appearances on Youtube, occasionally. I don’t want you guys to get the idea that I’m slowly fading to black, because that’s not what’s happening here. Over the past three years, there have been some moments that have happened in my life that really put a lot of things into perspective, and made me think about what my next moves are for D&A as a whole going forward. But before I lay it all out for you guys, I gotta confess something to you…

As much as I love this project that Aaron and I have been on for seven (going on eight) years, I don’t want it to be the only thing people know me for. D&A has done so much for me as not just an individual, but as a partnership with ‘Jr. Hef’ himself. (*chuckles*) This project has allowed me to meet my childhood heroes, collab with Nerdcore Hip-Hop artists, and most recently; create my own ‘Afterparty’ entertainment brand known as “BASSMODE: Nerdz Nite Out”!

Does this mean that with my occasional appearances on Youtube and posting on the blog, that I’m phasing myself away from this project Aaron and I created? No. It means that I’m expanding my creative abilities and attributes, and not pigeonholing myself into one place, and one place only. With only four months of 2023 remaining, its time people knew me for more than just the ‘Big Guy’ on Youtube and Nerdz of the Decade. I’ve got a lot going for me in this season, and I don’t plan on missing out on any opportunities that will enhance and expand my creativity and ideas.

So to wrap this up; I’ll be making Youtube appearances one week before and the week after a convention we’re doing press for, or booked at. With PuchiCon 2023 happening October 21-22, you’ll see me before and after those dates. As for any other dates Aaron will let you know when I’ll make another occasional Youtube appearance, at the end of one of his videos, so stay tuned for that. So to review; you’ll see me twice during a ‘convention month’, and once in a while any other month. Also we’re still looking for contributors for the blog, so if your interested let us know.

Until next time, stay nerdy!

Rudeus Goes on a Crusade for His Roxy Doll

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mushoku Tensei is a series that has courted controversy from day one, mostly due to the behavior of the main character. When Rudeus was first reborn into this new world, he wasn’t a good person. He was a lazy bum that used his young age to get away with things that would land him in jail. He’s a flawed protagonist trying to become a better person; that’s the whole point of the series. However, even though he’s come a long way since starting his second life, he still tends to do things that some call controversial. For example, when he learns that one of the figurines he created got destroyed, he goes on a crusade to avenge this slight. 

In his defense, though, if someone came and destroyed something you worked long and hard on, you’d also react with hostility.

The Accused has Trampled on the Idol of the Goddess Roxy

It’s been a month since Rudeus and Zanoba bought Julie from the slave pens (and essentially adopted her), and her lessons are going well. She’s a smart, hardworking, and already starting to get the hang of wordless magic. Life’s going well for the three (and Sylphie, whose still crushing on a clueless Rudeus.) That is, until Rudy asks Zanoba to look at his masterpiece, the figurine he made of his beloved master, Roxy and…see for yourself.

Some people would consider Rudy’s hostile response to seeing the figurine destroyed as a major overreaction. Those who know him, though, see this as in-line with his character. Remember, Roxy was the whole reason he overcame his fear of the outside world; her teachings were all that kept him going after Dead End split up. So when he learns that Lilna and Pursena smashed it after besting Zanoba…he rallies the banners (Zanoba and Julie) and declares they’re going on a crusade.

To his credit, Rudeus handles things in the most efficient matter, not letting his anger overtake him. In addition, the curb-stomping shows just how strong he really is compared to most people. Traveling back from the Demon Continent did wonders for his strength.

The Crusade Leader Shows Remarkable Restraint 

What Rudeus does to the Doldian Duo is something that, under any circumstances, cannot be condoned or justified. Holding two girls captive in your bedroom as he conducts his trial is not something that should be done. The fact that he also gropes them briefly is also not something that should be condoned. None of this should be done to another person without their consent (people do do this stuff for enjoyment; let’s not judge them.) Even Rudeus can’t justify it to himself when he realizes he could use magic to fix the Roxy doll.

While many will complain about this online and saying this makes Rudeus a scumbag, they’re forgetting a few key things. Firstly, he is a scumbag, but one that has taken great strides towards becoming a better person. Put Rudeus in this exact scenario before Eris left him, and he would’ve happily enjoyed it without a care. Instead, he shows remarkable restraint, only resorting to scaring them so bad that by the time he frees them, they’re calling him “Boss.” Given their nature as delinquents, this will save him a lot of headaches soon.

Also, before you judge him, ask yourself: if you found out that someone had taken something you poured your heart and soul into and destroyed it, how would you react? Would you not react similarly to Rudeus and want to go John Wick on the one responsible?

Sylphie is on the Top Waifu List of 2023, no Challenge

The one good thing from this whole crusading phase that Rudy went through is that he wound up growing closer to Sylphie, or, as he knows her, Fitz. The opening of the episode makes it a point to show how much Sylphie’s taken after Rudy, even having a similar exercise routine in the morning. Plus, she doodles a picture of him in class, which is adorable.

In a way, this whole episode serves as an argument as to how Sylphie is perfectly matched to Rudeus. When he tells her about what he did, she doesn’t freak out or report him, but instead listens and even offers to ensure that Lilna and Pursena learn their lesson for good. Seeing the two acting so mischevious together is heartwarming in and of itself, but when they’re both alone in his bedroom afterwards, things almost become romantic. It’s only Sylphie’s fears that keep her from revealing her identity then and there. Still, this whole experience is a good thing.

I’ll be honest: after seeing how miserable Rudeus has been for years, seeing him spend time with his first friend like this brings a smile to my face. This is probably my favorite episode of the season to date. Bonus points for seeing how adorable Julie is!

I Give “The Kidnapping and Confinement of Beast Girls” a 4.5/5

Akiraiger is Here to Save the Day!!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews , , , , , ,

When you’re a little boy, you dream about becoming the coolest thing when you grow up. Things like it being realistic, or even physically possible, aren’t that big a concern. Whether it’s being an astronaut, a Jedi, a race car driver, or a superhero, if it’s cool, most little boys are going to want to be one. And that’s what Akira now wants to do for his bucket list: he’s become the superhero Akiraiger.

This is gonna be fun!

The Superhero Akiraiger Appears

So after remembering this time from his childhood where he dressed like a superhero and beat up some bullies, Akira decides nows the perfect time to become one for real. Despite the fact that he’s got no powers, no brilliant mind, or a ton of money. Yet he wants to be one anyway, and he’s got a lead.

At the Shinagawa Aquarium, they this special suit made from titianum mesh and steel fibers built to withstand bites from crocodiles and sharks. In other words, if he wears it, Akira will be zombie bite-proof. Thus, Akiraiger and his partner, the Blonde Nudist (Kencho dyed his hair and strips to attract zombies) are born. 

Sadly, there’s a flaw with Akira’s plan: his new super suit doesn’t stop things from biting into him. Thus, he still gets bit, and it hurts. The upside, though, is that his first outing leads him to save a group of people that includes a familiar face.

Shizuka is Like an Ice Princess…at First

Shizuka, the girl that Akira ran into on his beer run, makes her return amidst a group of survivors running that he saves. And even though she’s grateful for the rescue, she remains a veritable ice princess. She starts psycho-analyzing Akira and tearing down all his rationale. For example, she pegs him as this insecure guy whose doing this to boost his self-esteem. And that he’s risking his life and Kencho’s life for something stupid! It’s brutal to watch!

This episode does a good job of highlighting the contrasts between Akira and Shizuka’s mindsets. They’re like Kirk and Spock; Akira is the one with the crazy plans and let’s his gut and emotions guide his actions, while Shizuka is the one who relies on logic and rationale. She sees no point in working with Akira because she thinks he’ll get them killed. Ironically, it’s Alria’s willingness to act on emotions that saves her life when they’re cornered by a zombie shark. 

No, I’m not joking. There’s a great white shark turned into zombie that ate divers that are also turned into zombies. And now the divers’ legs are sticking out of the shark and using it to hunt for fresh meat. It’s the kind of thing that’s both hilarious and terrifying. It works!!

Shizuka and Akiraiger Will Return

So, in the end, Akira, Kencho, and Shizuka take down the zombie shark with a plan that would make Captain Kirk proud. Akira wears her down enough to get her contact info, and they all head their separate ways. Shizuka says that she doubts that she’ll ever see them again, but she’s in the opening and credits. She’s going to come back. However, it seems that Akira and Kencho can’t do much more in Tokyo, and the plague’s getting worse. Thus, they decide to say Sayonara Tokyo and head into the country for Akira’s hometown.

Zom 100 Episode 5-Shizuka Embarrassed

This was another funny episode from one of the best anime of the year. The only problem is that it got delayed a week due to some sort of athletics competiton, which cost it some momentum. The good news, though, is that the dub is now out for all to enjoy. Given how it has Zeno Robinson voicing Akira and Xander Mobus as Kencho, I’d say its in good hands. As for Akira, he’s doing a great job of living his life to the fullest, and I salute him. Also, I ship Akira and Shizuka. The sparks are there!

I Give “Hero of the Dead” a 4.5/5

Operation: Doll Maker is a Go, Rudeus

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Mushoku Tensei S2, Ep 6 Review

It’s been a while now, and Rudeus has adjusted to life at school. Every morning he wakes up, does his exercises, spends time with Zanoba, takes classes, and then does reserach on teleportation while spending time with Sylphie in her alter ego. It’s not the most exciting life, but given what’s happened in both his lives, he’s earned it. However, there’s one problem: Zanoba won’t stop asking him how to make figurines and dolls. And when his normal methods won’t work, Rudy has to resort to means that would be frowned upon in modern life: slavery.

The Sylphie-Rudy Relationship Grows Cuter With each Moment

Last week, we saw how Rudy reunited with his childhood friend, Sylphie, but was completely oblivious over her true identity. Out of shyness, and a bit of a desire to tease him, Sylphie’s keeping him in the dark for now, but he’s slowly starting to catch on. Everytime he’s in her presence, his heart starts beating faster and he blushes a lot. Since he doesn’t know she’s a girl, though, that just leaves him confused about his preferences in romance.

Sexuality aside, seeing Rudeus and Sylphie have the chance to enjoy the school life they always wanted is genuinely endearing. After all the hell they went through, they’re able to live a semi-normal life, even if only for a short while. At this rate, Sylphie will be in the running for 2023 waifu of the year.

Zanoba Really, Really Likes Dolls

Zanoba is like the Mushoku Tensei equivalent of Pygmalion. In Greek mythology, he was a sculptor who shunned the company of women in favor of his craft, until he fell in love with his masterpiece and she was brought to life by the gods. Given how his superhuman strength prevents him from making meaningful connections with others, it’s understandable why Zanoba would be in a similar boat. 

At any rate, despite his desire to create dols and figurines, Zanoba’s strength makes it impossible for him to with his own two hands. Feeling bad for his student, and at the advice of Sylphie, they decide to go recruit some outside help to teach magic and aid Zanoba in his work. As an aside, the way Sylphie asks to come along makes the entire thing sound akin to a date, something that Rudy remains ignorant to. 

Here’s the catch: they don’t go to hire someone. They go to buy a slave.

Don’t be so Judgy

No one needs to be told in the modern day that slavery is bad; it’s a moral drummed into our heads since childhood. However, before we judge Rudeus and Zanoba for buying a slave, it’s important to remember the context:

  1. This is in a world where slavery continues to exist. Rudeus may not like it, but he knows it’s impossible for him to get rid of it, even if he had an army.
  2. Given who Rudeus and Zanoba are, whoever they get would be a slave in name only. In truth, they’d be an assistant, or partner and treated as such.
  3. Given how they’re looking for a young child to teach skills such as reading, writing, and magic, as well as providing with everything a child would need, they’d be better off with them than they would otherwise.

In the end, the trio ends up purchasing a little dwarf girl. Since she doesn’t have a name, they choose to name her Juliette, or Julie, after Zanoba’s late baby brother. However, here’s where Rudeus’ empathy comes into play again. When they first meet Julie, Rudy sees right away that she’s given up on life. That was the mindset he had in his first life, and the one he’s trying to overcome since Eris left him. So he helps her in the best way possible, by making her say she wants to live. 

This is what makes Rudeus a good protagonist. He knows what it’s like to feel like everything’s hopeless. Thus, he knows the best ways to give people the will to live again. This time, it ends up gaining him and Zanoba what amounts to a little sister. She’ll be good for Zanoba, in particular. 

Yet another good episode, even if it was a bit slow. Then again, much like in real life, it’s the slower moments people may remember the best. 

I Give “I Don’t Want to Die” a 3.5/5

The Luz Clawthorne Saga is a Masterclass in Ambition

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RJ Writing Ink Interviews JP-Ryder and BuckJohnson, Co-Author’s of The Owl House fanfic series, The Luz Clawthorne Saga.

Several months ago, The Owl House, the popular Disney show about a human girl in a demon world trying to become a witch, ended its run after three years. This is in spite of the fact that Disney had pulled the plug and shortened its third season to three specials. Yet the show continues to attract a great deal of popularity and fanworks. Case in point, we have one of the most ambitious fanfictions I’ve seen to date, the Luz Clawthorne Saga.

Co-written by JP-Ryder and BuckJohnson, this AU fanfic takes everything good about The Owl House, amps it up to eleven, removes all the restrictions of Disney, and creates a massive shared universe that rivals the MCU in its scope. Having become acquainted with both the author’s over the years, I was lucky enough to get them to sit down and do an interview with me for the D&A Anime Blog. It may not be anime, but after reading this, I hope you won’t pass up on the Luz Clawthorne Saga.

Interview

Let’s start this interview. I’m doing this on behalf of the D&A Anime Blog. They write reviews about anime, anime news, and conventions, but they also have interest in fanfictions. And you two happen to have made one of the most interesting and ambitious fanfics I’ve seen to date. Granted, I’ve only been reading them for about four years now, but I know talent when I see it.

Which brings me to my first question: JP, Buck, I got to ask, what made you guys get into fanfiction? This is a bit of a question for the readers and myself…because Buck’s profile on Fanfic doesn’t explain squat.

BuckJohnson: Well, do you mean reading fanfiction or writing fanfiction? Because I don’t think it was really just “one thing” that got me into both. I’m a writer and a reader. I have been for years. Though a few things did attract me to fanfiction.net the site. A few writers that I used to follow, but also I was really into Total Drama fanfiction back in the day. And I think that and Star Wars fanfiction was what got me into fanfiction and was what got me started thinking about writing fanfiction.

JP-Ryder: As for me, I would say around the time about my teen years, I did think of writing fanfics. It would be about like, Teen Titans and Legion of Superheroes at the time, but so on it didn’t go through. It wasn’t up until college when I decided to get into the fanfic game, writing Teen Titans fics with a previous co-author, along with some anime fics like Naruto and Bleach, and Kim Possible. But I consider them old shame, have them deleted and took a break from fanfics for a while, and just read fics from time to time. Problem was that I never get the basics of a story structure, but over the years I’ve learned how to build up an actual story. Been through a few collabs, some of the darker and edgier parts but I grew out of the early Peter Jackson/Troma phase.

Well, I’d say your experiences have paid off. The Luz Clawthorne Fanfic is amazing.

Okay, this one’s for Buck. You started out as just another reader of the Luz Clawthorne series. How did you go from that to co-author by the time of the sequel?

BuckJohnson: Well, I was the co-author during most of Book One as well. We already went into this during the Q&A. Even during the early chapters, I was a beta reader and someone JP could bounce ideas off of. I offered to edit chapter ten as a way to help with the past tense and present tense. I was always involved with the project, I just became more involved over time, especially when I suggested some of my own characters like Vanz Ator and Puck Goodfellow.

So it happened organically then?

BuckJohnson: Pretty much. We’ve been talking for years, but this is our first real collaboration.

Nice. This one’s for both of you. So, The Owl House. Great Disney series, it ended a few months ago, lots of fans still not exactly over it. JP, Buck, when did you start getting into the show? Were you one of the people watching from day one?

BuckJohnson: I was interested from its announcement.

JP-Ryder: Same for me. Watched it from the start it premiered.

Following up on that last question, guys, why The Owl House? What inspired you to write a fanfic that started out as one for The Owl House?

BuckJohnson: Well, it was JP’s idea. I give him one hundred percent of the credit there.

JP-Ryder: By the time the first season was over, I did get into reading some Owl House fics. Some even have Luz and Eda having a mother/daughter-like relationship. So I want to take in that idea as my own spin. That being if Eda adopted an orphaned Luz. I asked another friend of mine, ultimate-drax, who I’ve also talked over the years, in how would Luz be like if Eda raised her, and he suggests that Luz would be like a bad girl delinquent. And taking a page from the common rebel characters like Josuke, Hit-Girl, and Spinelli from Recess, I reshaped Luz from the sweetheart sally to the badass betty.

And you did a darn good job at it, too. I’ve also thought that Luz saw Eda as a surrogate mom. This just made it official. For that matter, why don’t you tell the readers what exactly is the Luz Clawthorne Series for those who haven’t read it?

BuckJohnson: Luz Clawthorne is an AU fic that takes The Owl House and asks the question what Luz would have been like if she had been raised by Eda in the Boiling Isles after she was orphaned by a tragic accident. Because she has lived in the Isles her whole life, Luz’s personality and relationships with other characters are very different from what we’re used to. Though along the way, LC differentiates itself from canon in many other ways.

At this point, I’d say its less an Owl House fanfic and more like a massive shared universe. You even have a spin-off.

JP-Ryder: Yeah, it’s pretty much a shared universe. Like do you know how many Guses are there in Disney?

Nope. This is a bit of a spoiler alert, but eventually, the story went from just being about The Owl House and became a massive shared universe with…okay, how many Disney animated properties have you guys included so far? No, I’m seriously asking. And that’s not counting the ones outside of Disney.

Buck Johnson: We haven’t counted. We never kept count, actually.

That’s awesome, though. You’re making Kingdom Hearts look like a chump Well, what other, non-Disney shows have you been using?

JP-Ryder:Helluva Boss may be the one that’s non-Disney. Oh, and using Sly from the Nickelodeon animated movie The Electric Piper is also used as the Pied Piper, who is also a Fae in the LC version.

BuckJohnson: And there’s Rick and Morty.

So, how did it go from just being about The Owl House to basically combining almost every Disney animated property under the sun? Did you plan it out that way, or did it just happen organically?

BuckJohnson: For the Disney shared universe thing, it started with Reunion Falls. That was my idea. The LC AU reminded me of Reunion Falls, so I suggested that both AUs could share the same timeline. And since Eda was obviously Stan’s ex-wife, a crossover was natural.

You have had cameos and appearances from pretty much all of Disney history. Except for any of Mickey Mouse’s friends (save Donald, possibly). Some of your OC’s even end up being descendants of Disney characters. If anything, it makes your story even more interesting.

BuckJohnson: Honestly, part of the reason we do it is because LC doesn’t have the same limitations as canon. So we can get away with having so many other Disney and even non-Disney characters in addition to having more swearing, more violence, more adult themes, and more queer content.

Back on topic, though. Now, this story started before Season Two aired and is still ongoing. How did events depicted in the show affect the direction your writing took? Especially regarding characters like Belos?

JP-Ryder: Well, once we learned more about the show as it lead on, we learn how to work around it. Like, think outside the canon box.

BuckJohnson: And we actually decided to intentionally show near the end of Book One that this Belos had a very different (and thematically relevant) backstory from the canon version, justifying any future changes to his character as just being the nature of the AU.

Do you guys ever get concerned that you’re making the story too big, though? You keep adding in new plot threads and people.

BuckJohnson: Honestly, not as this point. We’ve gotten so much accomplished in less than three years. This is the biggest project we’ve worked on, but we’ve also made so much progress at a good pace.

You could say its your magnum opus. Which begs the question, where do you guys go after this is over? Will you keep writing fanfics or just go out on a high note? Or better yet, maybe give being professional author’s a try?

BuckJohnson: I’ll probably move onto professional writing. That’s my goal.

JP-Ryder: I may go try on going out on a high note. Like keep focus on my artwork and study for an IT job.

Now, penultimate question: Are you guys satisfied with the way The Owl House ended?

BuckJohnson: Of course. It was a beautiful ending.

JP-Ryder: Yeah, same. It became one of my top favorite shows to watch over and over again.

Dana and her team beat the hand Disney dealt them and went out on a high note. That’s impressive!

Okay, guys. I think I’ve got enough for my interview. Thank you both for your time.

If you guys want to read their work for yourself, then go onto FanFiction.Net or Archive of Our Own and look up Luz Clawthorne. Or just click here.

Luz Clawthorne: Hexside’s Number One Delinquent Witch

Luz Clawthorne: Two Worlds, One Family

Ranoa University Welcomes You, Rudeus!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews , , , , , , , ,

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation S2 Ep 5 Review

When the new season of Mushoku Tensei started by focusing on Sylphie, I had a problem with that. I thought revealing “Fitz” was Sylphie early on would ruin the surprise for when they reunite at Ranoa University. After seeing the new episode, though, I take it back. It makes their reunion hilarious to watch. While some may complain about the idea of Rudeus attending school instead of going on a big adventure, they have to remember this isn’t your carbon-copy isekai, it takes its time to focus on the cast and lore. 

Admittedly, as someone who read the light novels, I know they do miss out on a few things. In a first for the series, though, the show now has a dedicated opening sequence rather than just the song.

Welcome to Ranoa University, Rudeus! 

After months of traveling with Elinalise (and learning to tolerate her sexual escapades), Rudeus has finally made it to Ranoa University like he always wanted. Granted, a lot has changed for him since he wanted to attend as a child, and his reasons are… embarrassing. However, dreams don’t always turn out the way people envision them when they’re young. What matters is that Rudeus made it, and on a scholarship, no less. He also ends up reuniting with his childhood friend, Slyphie, when asked to duel “Fitz.”

Some people might complain about how Rudeus doesn’t remember the first friend he ever made when he sees her. They may also complain about not recognizing the wand Fitz uses is the one he gave her. However, a few things should be kept in mind. Firstly, it’s been almost ten years since he’s seen Sylphie. Secondly, she’s deliberately disguising herself as a boy, and her hair’s changed color. As smart as Rudeus is, he’s still a teenage boy. 

As previously stated, though, the fact that Rudy doesn’t recognize his best friend makes his attempts to be respectful amusing. If only the same could be said for the introduction to his classmates in the special students class.

The Special Students Introduction falls a Little Flat

In the previous review, I mentioned how many of the people Rudy meets at Ranoa will play important roles in his life. Knowing that, one would think it would do a good job of establishing who they are and how they’re connected to him. To my dismay, they don’t do as good a job as they could; or fully include everything from the light novels.

First, we have good old Zanoba, whose just happy to see his kaster again. After the debacle with his brother, both got sent abroad, and Zanoba is now attending this school. There’s a part in the LN where Rudy hits him with a stone cannon and he just plows right through it.

Then we have the resident Beastmen, Linia and Pursena, AKA the cat and dog girl. They’re both cousins from the Doldia tribe, with Linia being the daughter of the chief, and thus, Ghislaine’s niece. However, Rudeus never mentions any of this, or how her Dad owes him for a previous misunderstanding. 

Then we finally have Cliff Grimoire. He hates Rudeus’ guts, and it has to do with a run-in he had with Eris a few years ago. There’s another article that will discuss it, but it boils down to her not shutting up about how awesome he is, and he got envious. Sadly, the anime also cuts out a part when Cliff mentions Eris calling Rudeus “small,” which he takes the wrong way. It’s not much, but it’s a funny example of how bad his self-esteem is. 

Can’t Wait to See Rudeus and “Fitz” Learning about Each Other

Minor plot points aside, the episode remains a good one for one reason and one reason alone: Rudeus and Sylphie reunite after years of being apart. Going to Ranoa University together was the whole reason Rudeus went to tutor Eris. He may not know it yet, but he’s already living out his dream. Unfortunately for him, Sylphie doesn’t plan on telling him who she is yet. It might be due to her shyness around the boy she’s liked since they were little, or maybe she wants to tease him, or both. Regardless, Sylphie isn’t talking. However, this might end up benefitting Rudeus more in the long run.

Because Rudeus has no clue that Fitz is really Sylphie, she’s got the chance to make him fall for her. She’s already working at it, too. When a misunderstanding leads to the girls dorm trying to lynch Rudeus, she’s the one who ends up saving him. She even manages to tease him a little, enough to make him blush.

Say what you want about the “childhood friend romance” trope, but there’s a reason why it’s good. The show may not be big on action for awhile, but now we get to see Rudeus have the school life he never had in his past life! Enjoy your time at Ranoa University, Rudeus!

By the way, the dub’s out for season two. Just saying.

I Give “Ranoa University of Magic” a 4/5

Why Cliff Grimoire Hates Rudeus So Much!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Uncategorized , , , , , , , ,

So, if you’ve been watching the new season of Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, you’ll know that Rudeus’ going to school. He’s got a free ride into the best magic school in the world, and he doesn’t have to attend classes if he doesn’t want to. The only mandatory course is homeroom with the other special students, and he’s either met or has indirect connections to them. One classmate, though, makes it clear from the get-go that he doesn’t like him: Cliff Grimoire. And the crazy thing is that Rudeus hasn’t done anything wrong to him; he’s never met the guy. Yet Cliff hates him anyway.

There are several reasons why Cliff’s got an axe to grind with Rudeus. However, All of them stem back to an incident several years ago that I didn’t cover in my first season recap. An incident covered in a 2022 OVA starring the resident tsundere, Eris. Since Cliff will be a VIP in Rudeus’ life from here on out, it seems fitting that I backtrack and recap this in full. Gather around, and you shall hear the tale of “Goblin Slayer Eris Greyrat or: How I Pulled Up on an Arrogant Brat and Gave Him a Reality Check.”

From the Streets Did He Emerge 

So, backstory time. Cliff was born to a loving family in Milis, only for them to get murdered by bandits. Thus, he wandered the streets of Millishon as an orphan, alone and sad. Then one day, the Pope of the Millis Church, AKA this world’s version of the Catholic Church, found and adopted him. And before you question how that can happen, there’s no rule about Catholic Priests and Nuns adopting kids. So, that’s good for him.

Now that he’s the grandson of religious royalty, Cliff gets the finest things life offers. He’s got the best clothes, food, tutors, the works. So he starts learning how to magic, and he’s good at it. Everyone’s telling him that he’s a magical genius. It has nothing to do with the fact that he’s the Pope’s grandson and a likely candidate to become Pope in the future!

So, since he’s a kid, Cliff lets this praise go to his head. This becomes a problem when he sets out to try adventuring for the first time.

You Shouldn’t Have Made Eris Mad, Cliff!

So, you might recall when Dead End made it to Millishon. While Rudeus was dealing with all that stuff with his Dad, Eris went on a solo adventure. Ever since she was little, she had this dream of hunting goblins. And now that she was older and more robust, she wanted to scratch this item off her bucket list. So she goes to the local guild and takes up the goblin-slaying quest when she notices Cliff arguing with this adventuring party. He keeps trying to get them to let him join their party, and, remember, he’s got an attitude. He thinks he’s hot stuff, and they should feel honored he’s offering to help them. That only makes them mad, and they’re about to fight when Eris steps in and talks them down.

Does Cliff thank Eris for helping him out? No, the ungrateful kid snaps at her for butting in and tells her not to stick her ugly face in stuff that doesn’t concern her. Big mistake. Eris, being Eris, responds the same way she does to anyone who makes her mad: punching their lights out! Even Rudeus, one of the people she listens to, isn’t safe from this mad dog!

Eris Tells Cliff, “You not that guy, Pal.”

So, for whatever reason, Cliff does a total 180 after getting punched by Eris and starts following her around, saying he’s sorry and how impressed he was with that punch. So he keeps trying to talk her into letting him join her on her mission and bragging about how great he is. Eris, barely pays attention to him, though, since she’s not impressed. She can tell from a glance that Rudeus is more potent than this guy. But since he keeps following her like a stray puppy, she relents.

She soon regrets this because Cliff proves he’s weaker than he thinks. He is strong; it’s just that she knows Rudeus is stronger and wiser, so she’s not impressed. And all his attempts to prove otherwise backfire. He burns the goblins, so they can’t bring back proof. He gets them lost in the woods. He’s not that guy, and Eris lets him know it. 

So, eventually, they come across this group in the woods. On one side is this knight of the Millis church and this little shrine girl she’s guarding. On the other side are these Papal assassins. Eris doesn’t know this, but there’s a power struggle in the Millis Church. The side the night and girl are on is anti-Demon and Beastmen, while the Pope’s side promotes co-existence. However, Eris doesn’t know this, so while Cliff watches, she jumps in and wastes the assassins. Who also happen to be some of Cliff’s teachers. Cliff just watched his teachers die!

Again, Cliff is not that guy!

So, after getting punched, talked down to, and watching this girl kill his teachers without realizing it, is Cliff mad? Does he swear revenge for everything that happened? No; as soon as they get back to town with that knight and girl, the first thing that Cliff says is :

“Will you please marry me?”

Yes, that’s right! Despite hitting him in the face with a hard dose of reality, Cliff doesn’t hate Eris. He’s got a crush on her! Eris’ response? “Absolutely not!” And poor Cliff can’t understand why. He doesn’t get why she’d reject a genius like him. She responds that he’s not that guy; Rudeus is that guy.

Eris then goes into this whole spiel about how amazing Rudeus is. He might be younger and smaller than her, but he’s smarter, can do magic without incantations, and is just an all-around badass and future CHAD. She probably throws in a remark saying he’s better-looking than Cliff, too, and will likely be a total chick magnet when he’s older. 

Hearing all of this, it doesn’t take too long for Cliff to realize that Eris is in love with Rudeus. And compared to someone like him, he’s got no chance in Hell. Thus, Cliff heads home to sulk and think about the heavy dose of reality he just got.

Cliff Grimoire Be Hating Rudeus

So, in a single day, Cliff realized that there was someone better at magic than him, got rejected by his crush, and had three of his teachers die. In other words, he got hit with a heavy dose of reality. But the one thing that Cliff can’t stop thinking about is Rudeus, this guy he’s never even met. He’s jealous of him, not just because of Eris, but because he’s better at magic than him. And that resentment stays with him for years.

Now, the bad news. Thanks to Eris’ meddling and saving that shrine girl, the anti-Demon faction in the Millis Church got stronger. Power struggles ensue, and since he’s the Pope’s grandson, Cliff’s a target. Thus, his grandfather sends him to Ranoa University to train and learn in peace. And that’s when Rudeus shows up in their classroom one day. 

And that’s why Cliff hates Rudeus from the get-go. However, that doesn’t mean he’s going to hate him forever. Cliff Grimoire will become one of Rudeus’ most significant allies in life. You’ll just have to wait and see what happens, though. 

Akira Needs Love, Too!!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews , , , , , , , ,

Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead Ep 4 Review

Dating in the modern day is hard; there’s no argument about that. Things like dating apps meant to help people meet and fall in love have only complicated an already complicated act even further. Throw in a zombie apocalypse, and the chances of finding love in the world seem even bleaker for people like Akira. It only gets worse in this episode as Akira gets close to finding love…only for it to be ripped out from under him.

As someone who struggles to find love today, I feel your pain, Akira. 

The Quest for the Perfect TV…and Date.

Now that he’s got Kencho living alongside him, Akira’s ready to enjoy that new life with his bro. They’ve got a rooftop camp set up, plenty of food and drinks, and Akira can play video games all day. Kencho even decides to get in on Akira’s bucket list by adding something: wine and dine with a flight attendant. This only leads Akira to remember a painful fact: he’s never had a girlfriend, while his best friend can date anyone he wants. 

This is another reason I like Akira so much as a character: I can see a bit of myself in him, especially in my social life. College was fun, but it kept me so busy I never had time for dating, something I now regret. While I’ve never worked at a place as horrible as Akira did, it can still get in the way of having a social life. In addition, there’s the subtext found in this conversation about how detrimental the kind of job Akira had is to society. The stress may keep people from going out to find love and have families. That may be why a lot of countries have declining birth rates. In other words, the show’s saying work culture is killing people’s chance to find love. Again, I relate to it. 

Source-Sportskeeda, Crunchyroll,

At any rate, Akira heads out on another scavenging mission, this time to find an even bigger TV to play video games on. It sounds, and is, stupid, but remember, the show’s advocating the importance of happiness and mental health even in dark times.

Akira Comes So Close to Scoring…Okay, He Doesn’t!

When their adventure predictably ends with them being chased by a mob of zombies (and zombie firefighters spraying actual fire), the duo takes shelter inside an underground mall. Said mall’s already occupied by a group of one man whose name we never get and three beautiful women. All of whom are flight attendants. 

The second Akira and Kencho realize this, they’re on cloud nine as the whole thing soon turns into an impromptu mixer. At least, it does for Kencho. He wins over one girl so fast that they’re already going off on their own the next thing Akira knows. 

Yes, they do sleep together. The show doesn’t dance around that.

Meanwhile, Akira tries to impress the others by drinking an entire bottle of tequila…only to end up puking into a toilet. Anyone who drinks too much alcohol at once can relate to that.

Despite that, he does end up having a sweet moment with one of the attendants, where they both talk about why they wanted to work the jobs they had. While things didn’t turn out well for Akira, the woman, Yukari, admits that despite all the bs, she still likes her job. It’s a sweet moment, even if Yukari does have a boyfriend.

Too bad the old man got infected by a zombie bite. RIP, flight attendants.

Source-But Why Tho?, Crunchyroll

Even this Can’t Get Akira Down

So, to his dismay, Akira loses his best chance yet to find love, but he and Kencho do get that giant TV they wanted, scratching two more items off their bucket list. The last conversation that Akira had with Yukari also inspires him to add something new: remember his childhood dream. 

I love Akira’s optimistic attitude more and more with every episode. Even when mankind’s facing possible extinction, he can bring out the absolute best in people through his carefree nature. By all accounts, he should be dead by now, but he isn’t. It’s part of why this anime’s so fun and inspiring. Keep living your dreams, Akira, no matter how silly or crazy they are.

One last thing: by the time you read this, the dub for Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead will be out. Whether you’re a pro-dub stan or just want to support the voice actors, you should watch it. Zeno Robinson’s voicing the main character, and he’s been killing it with his roles over the last few years. That, and when you hear him as Akira, you can imagine Hunter from The Owl House.

I Give “Flight Attendant of the Dead” a 3.5/5