Asides

D&A Friday’s: A Night Filled With Superheroes and Cat Demons!

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So it’s Friday night yet again, and here we are doing what we do best as D&A Anime Blog! After the crazy weekend we had last week it does our hearts proud to get back into the swing of things. Tonight we’ve got the usual serving of great anime titles and awesome manga, so without further ado, let us begin!

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Tonight we’ve got a fan favorite among anime and superhero fans known as My Hero Academia! The story deals with Izuku Midoriya who is a middle school student who wants to be a hero among a society where everyone has superpowers known as “Quirks”. Due to the fact that he doesn’t have a quirk he becomes a target of bullying by the others until he one day saved his childhood bully from a villain. After performing that heroic deed Izuku was recognized by the world’s greatest Hero, All Might as he bestowed his quirk upon him. Now with his newfound superpowers Izuku enrolls into the academy for superheroes in training, to continue following his dream of becoming a great hero. The first and second seasons of this anime series are now on FUNimation and Crunchyroll, so be sure to head there and stream them if you haven’t gotten that chance to see this title yet! ๐Ÿ™‚

Our Manga of the Week known as Cat Paradise follows Yumi and her pet cat, Kansuke as the two enroll into Matabi Academy, a place where cats are allowed to live in the dorms with their masters. Not long afterwards they soon get dragged into an age-old battle against Kaen, a demon feline who wants nothing more than to destroy the world. He was once sealed by Princess Kiri and her cat, Shirayuki a long time ago, but has been fully sealed inside the academy itself; threatening to return to finish what he started 100 years ago. Yumi and Kansuke have been chosen as one of the student-cat pairs to help stop the threat of the ancient cat demon and his minions, but do they and the rest of the student council have what it takes to win? You’ll have to read the manga and find out!

If you’ve been on our Twitter page recently, then you might have seen the #SoDangerous hashtag with a picture of the Ultimate Despair, Junko Enoshima. That my anime friends, is going to be an original song title for our first ever Danganronpa AMV which will be produced by Groundzkontrol (Yours Truly, D.J. Lewis). We don’t have any future dates posted as to when that AMV will drop, but we’ll keep you in the loop for updates later on this year and possibly next.

Until then, stay gold! ๐Ÿ™‚

Throwback Thursday: Slices of Life in the 70’s!

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After working a long, hard, and hectic week, it’s nice to sit back and chill every once in awhile while watching/streaming some great anime titles on your PC or laptop. As for us at D&A Anime Blog, we’re glad to be back in some kind of order after the crazy work-related weekend we’ve had. Tonight we head back in time to the decade of the 70’s on this cloudy and dreary Thursday night, as we bring to you classic anime titles the way only we can! So pop open a bottle of Ramune and crack open that box of Pocky, as we take you back in time to the anime decade of the 1970’s…

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If you’re looking for a classic slice-of-life anime title filled with drama and adventure, then Anne of Green Gables will be the title for you! The plot deals with a young and talkative orphan girl named Anne Shirley who is accidentally sent to Mr. and Miss Cuthbert. Although shocked at the fact that they originally wanted an orphan boy, Anne’s adopted parents took her in and gradually became a full-fledged member of the family after hearing her sad backstory. The series follows the adventures of Anne and her newfound family as she discovers what its like to have one. You can watch/stream this title on Youtube, FUNimation, Crunchyroll, or any place that has legal permission to stream this classic title.

We have some exciting upcoming news regarding our two fanfiction titles! The first two chapters of the fanfic “Danganronpa Roulette” will be posted on August 21, 2017. From there we will post a brand new chapter every Monday and Thursday night after that date. The first two chapters of our other fanfic “Junko: The Ultimate Mastermind” will be posted December 10, 2017. New chapters will be posted every Friday night each week afterwards. There are only two more stops remaining on our 2017 D&A Anime Tour, so be sure to check out the events block of our Facebook page to see which cons we’ll be heading to.

That’ll do for now. Tomorrow is Friday which brings us the return of D&A Friday’s after somewhat of a short hiatus. Slash Saturday may not bring any samurai anime titles to the forefront for awhile, but that doesn’t mean our samurai warriors won’t get inducted into the Samurai Hall of Fame! All this and Ani-Sunday too next time on D&A Anime Blog! It’s a part of you! ๐Ÿ˜‰

Looking for some Anime Cons in July? We Got You Covered!

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The fireworks may have ended on the Fourth of July, but the fireworks going on in the anime convention world have just begun! As we do every month we comb the web for some awesome anime conventions for you guys to check out based on their location and region. The locations/regions we’ve got for you are Northwest, Southwest, and Westbound.

If you want to know more about these awesome conventions, then click on the links provided on the sub-pages under Cons Near U. We shall return later on tonight with our Throwback Thursday night segment on D&A Anime Blog! It’s a part of you! ๐Ÿ™‚

Filler Post: The Pros and Cons of Anime Fandoms!

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Before we start off we just wanna say that the past 72 hours have been a bit hectic for us as far as posting/answering questions from you guys is concerned. Now that things have finally started to calm down around here, lets talk about the one thing that makes the anime community awesome to be a part of; its Fandoms. As anime fans many of us have various anime titles that we ‘squeee!’ and swoon over all the time. Once a title reaches a certain power level (which will probably be over 9,000! *laughs*), it gains a big group or cluster of fans of said series thus creating its fandom.

There are hundreds of fandoms out there both big and small, that are super passionate about the very titles that they come to know and love. Anime fandoms are great because if you like anime in general or specific titles that catch your eye, its a great way to meet others who share the same love and passion for it as much as you do. However there are some fandoms that can get a bit too political to the point where it can start arguments or even cause hatred towards the fans of the overall fandom. (Even down to the point of cosplaying at conventions while representing said fandom.) So to help you understand what to look out for when it comes to anime fandoms, we’re gonna break down the pros and cons of what many people like about them, and what they don’t like about them.

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PRO: You Get To Make New Friends!

Let’s be honest, it’s hard to find friends who get excited over how cute Happy looks on Fairy Tail, or how awesome Gohan was at fighting against Cell during the Cell Games in Dragon Ball Z. Anime fandoms are a great way to meet other fans who fall head-over-heels about anime overall, plus you might even get the chance to head to some anime conventions with them. If you love a certain title or the whole dang package, then find the nearest con or meetup group in your area, and socialize your booty off! ๐Ÿ˜‰

CON: Embedded Hate Groups!

We’ve already shared this with you on one of our past filler posts, but there are some corners of the anime fandom world that have embedded hate groups that rip into not only the fans that love the series, but the overall creation of the series itself. The part that sucks is the fact that while every anime title may receive constructive criticism to help make it better, these hate groups will grill into the very fabric of the series itself; down to its writers, producers, voice actors (dubbed and subbed), and animators. This can be a real turn-off for newfound anime fans who are just getting started, but not to worry, because we’ve got a guild of anime fans who are fighting against the forces of evil!

PRO: Fandom Activity!

From fanart to fanfiction, there’s always something going on if you happen to be a member of your favorite title or just a fan overall. If you fanboy or fangirl over a certain character from a show, then you’re gonna find people who love them just as much as you do! Don’t be surprised if you happen to find a girlfriend or boyfriend within your anime fandom, cuz’ it just might happen…

CON: When It Begins To Take Priority Over Your Life!

Anime Fandoms are awesome, but if you’re not careful they can really take over the very fabric of your life. We know reality can be dull and boring sometimes, and that making your way into the anime (fandom) world is one of the ways that a fan can relieve stress from a hard day or work/studies. When it starts to control your life is when anime fandoms get a little dangerous, so try to discipline yourself and make sure you take care of all your ‘real world’ responsibilities first.

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PRO: Fans Stick Together!

You’ll never feel left out or isolated from a conversation when it comes to the fans of an anime fandom. They’ll always want to include you in their discussions about certain episodes, characters and plot lines. Plus whenever certain individuals start to harass you about your fandom as well as your passion and love for it, the others will step in and defend you on your behalf.

CON: Not Everybody In Your Fandom is your Friend!

This can be said for any fandom, and not just anime. Just because you like/love the same show, character(s) or plot lines that another fan loves, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they share the same views that you do. If that’s the case then surround yourself with another group of fandom friends who enjoy one of your favorite series and fellowship with them.

When it comes to fandoms there are always going to be things about them you like, and things that you may not. At the end of the day however, it’s all about the overall enjoyment of being in the fandom. There are new anime fans that are looking for a fandom to join each and everyday, and it’s up to us to make them feel welcome and a part of our anime fandom family. Sure, some fandoms may be a bit crazy and dramatic than others, but we’re hoping that these pros and cons that we got here for you might have helped in some way. (There’s actually more pros and cons out there, but these were the specific ones that we had to point out.)

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D&A’s Tips On Cosplay Dating!

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Hey guys and girls, have you ever been to an anime convention and saw a lot of cosplaying couples around? Have you ever wanted to ask that one guy or girl out with whom you share a common interest with, but were too timid or afraid to approach him or her due to the fear of embarrassment? Do you want to get ‘Senpai’ to notice you without having to go through extreme lengths to do so? Then look no further cosplay and anime fans, cuz’ D&A’s gonna turn you into the cosplaying, anime-watching, manga-reading mac-daddy (or lady) that you were born to be! (Through our words of self-confidence and guidance of course!)

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Cosplay Dating Tip #1: NO “Pick-Up” Lines!

If you have a sticky note or index card full of pick-up lines that you plan to use, throw it away immediately! We know that some anime characters (mostly guys) use crazy pick-up lines in order to score chicks, but unless you want a hand print on both sides of your face get rid of them ASAP!

Cosplay Dating Tip #2: Investigate!

Find out what kind of anime she (or he) likes and try to list as many titles as you know. Don’t be surprised if you happen to shout out the one title that you both fall head-over-heels for. Beware though; if he (or she) likes an anime title or fandom that you (and possibly a good percentage of others) don’t necessarily like for your own personal reason(s), then it’s probably in your best interest to abort the mission. Otherwise keep an open mind about what the other person likes and make his (or her) fandom interest, your fandom interest.

Cosplay Dating Tip #3: Pick Up Some Mad Sewing Skills (Or Just Buy Some Cosplay Outfits Online)!

If you happen to find a title or fandom that you both like, then show him (or her) how much you care about said anime title or fandom. (FYI, we’re not just talking anime, but manga, video games, superheroes, etc.) Nothing will make your potential date happier than seeing you wearing cosplay or apparel that represents his (or her) favorite fandom. If you get compliments on your fandom apparel or cosplay, then you’re one step closer to scoring a date! ๐Ÿ˜‰

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Cosplay Dating Tip #4: Go To The Con That He (Or She) Is Attending!

All of this would’ve been for naught if you don’t actually go to the anime convention that your potential date might be at. Do whatever you can to stand out from the crowd (if your wallet will let you, but we’re pretty sure it will cuz’ he or she’s worth it), and you’ll be noticed in a flash! Compliment their cosplay and tell them how nice it looks on them, because they’ve put in the same amount of energy and sweat that you did.

Cosplay Dating Tip #5: Buy Your Date A Trinket From His or Her Favorite Fandom!

So the two of you have been exchanging Facebook messages as well as DM each other on Twitter, but now that you’ve got your date interested in you, it’s time to bring out the gifts! (Well, more like a trinket or a small token from their favorite fandom.) This will show your date how much you appreciate their favorite fandom; whether its anime, manga, video games, or Marvel superheroes.

Cosplay Dating Tip #6: Explore His or Her Secret Identity!

Get to know who your date is aside from cosplaying at anime and superhero conventions. Find out what their favorite movie is, what kind of dessert they like, what their favorite place to eat, things like that. This will give you a chance to discover who your cosplay date is on a much deeper level, so be polite and courteous and treat your date the same way that you would like to be treated.

Cosplay Dating Tip #7: Be Yourself!

Don’t fake the funk and pretend to like an anime title or fandom just because it makes your date ‘squeee!’ whenever you mention it. If you pull a move like that then be prepared to live a long and lonely otaku life. Love the fandom because you yourself love it as much as your date does. It will tell them that you truly care about all aspects of their lives no matter how quirky, meaningless, and stupid they may seem to others. Being yourself is the number one surefire way to score a potential date with a cosplayer! Remember that and you’ll be golden! ๐Ÿ™‚

That will do it for our Cosplay Dating Tips for now. Hopefully these tips have helped you in the ways of the cosplay dating seen in anime (and various other geeky pop culture) conventions. Stay true, and stay gold! ๐Ÿ˜‰

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Monday Night’s Are Full of Friends! (A Book of Friends, that is!)

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We have now arrived at the last Monday in June for the 2017 year, and with only six more months to go before New Year’s Eve, we’re so happy that we’ve come this far in such a short time! Much of our success with this anime blog/website hybrid, is really thanks to the many awesome anime fans we’ve met through our travels during anime conventions. We’ve still got more tricks up our sleeves so don’t leave us hangin’ just yet!

As for tonight on this low-humidity Monday night, we’ve got some lesser-known anime titles to share with you! We might’ve cut back on the snacks this post this time around, but next week we’re sure to have your sweet tooth doin’ the ‘Cha-Cha Slide’ in no time!

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Tonight we’ve got a supernatural comedy title known as Natsume’s Book of Friends. The series deals with the main character (Takashi Natsume) and his ability to see spirits that was passed down from his grandmother. The day of her death she gave Natsume her ‘Book of Friends’ which is a special book containing spirits that she had bullied into servitude. The book itself however is a highly valuable prize that every spirit – good and bad – wants a piece of. (Some of the evil spirits would go so far as to kill Natsume just so they could have the book for their own desires.)

During all of this commotion Natsume gains a spirit bodyguard who comes in the form of a cat named Madara (not Uchiha). Because of his ability to see ghosts Natsume has now become a target for both yokai and exorcists alike – except the latter want to use his skills in order to fight off ghosts. If this is the type of anime you’re looking for, then you can stream it on Crunchyroll or look for it on Youtube.

If you haven’t heard the news already, we’ve taken the liberty of posting links to many of our Filler Posts so that fans will be able to read them over, and over again! We’ll be getting ready to post our July anime conventions before next week, so stay tuned for more action and more fun from D&A Anime Blog! Make us a part of you, and we’ll make you a part of us! ๐Ÿ™‚

 

Update Announcement: The Best of D&A’s Filler Posts! (And Ani-Sunday Too!)

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June has been pretty hot and pretty busy for us, but as always we’re working hard to make D&A Anime Blog one of the best blog/website hybrids out there in the world today. None of this would even be remotely possible had it not been for the love and support of our fans, so we thank you guys and girls from the bottom of our hearts!

Right now we’ve got an awesome update for you regarding our filler posts. We’ll be posting links to some of our best filler posts and will break them up into categories to help fans find them easily. Those categories include Convention Tips, Top 5, Top 10, and Miscellaneous. Newer filler posts will be added to these categories within the coming weeks after they’ve been posted on our blog. Don’t forget to check out our Ani-Sunday lineup featuring our Anime Couple of the Week, and Anime Episode of the Week.

As always to our loving fans who have continued to support us; continue to make D&A a part of you, and we will continue to make you a part of us! ๐Ÿ™‚

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Filler Post: How to Run A (Successful) Fan Panel At an Anime Convention!

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We’re hoping that this filler post will help you guys out when planning to do a fan panel at a con. As exciting as anime conventions are; both in theory and reality, engineering/doing a fan panel can be both fun and just a tad bit exhausting depending on the subject matter. There’s a lot of planing that goes into making a great panel for fans to enjoy, however if you’re not careful then it can turn into hour-long college lecture without having to take notes. The best fan panels that we’ve had the chance to go to are the Q&A and interactive ones, as those seem like the most popular ones that fans attend. We’re not suggesting that you follow some crazy ‘by-the-book’ formula in order to have a successful panel, but hopefully these tips will make your fan panel a bit more exciting!

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Tip #1 – Brainstorm! Figure out what topic of interest are you and your associates (if you plan on having more than one person on your panel) going to talk about. You also have to figure out the type of panel you’ll need in order to accommodate your topic. Is it a Q&A panel? A demonstration panel? These are questions that need to be answered during the brainstorming process before you’re able to move on.

Tip #2 – Research! Find out everything you need to know about your topic; such as ‘What year was the Gothic Lolita trend established?’ And so on and so forth. The last thing you wanna do is host your fan panel but have no idea what the heck you’re talking about! >.<

Tip #3 – Take the Stage! Depending on the type of panel that you’re doing, sometimes it might make the crowd more enthusiastic if you’re enthusiastic as well! When doing a Q&A fan panel or a demonstration workshop, it helps to be engaging with the audience because it will boost the overall morale of the panel itself. Don’t be afraid to have fun with the audience cuz’ you never know, they might even ask you to come back! ๐Ÿ™‚

Tip #4 – If you’re doing a Game Show panel, offer prizes! Every game show has prizes for the winner(s) so if you plan on hosting one, be sure to offer them some prizes; such as an anime DVD box set, a free 12-month subscription to Crunchyroll (if you got those kind of connections), or something that’ll be worth while. You don’t have to blow through the rest of your wall scroll budget to get some prizes for your fellow otaku, just keep the winning prize price range between $40-$60 and you should be fine. ๐Ÿ˜‰

Tip #5 – Bring Your Laptop! Depending on the type of panel that you do, nine times outta ten it’ll require a laptop. Panel types like demonstrations and some Q&A’s might require the use of a USB projector, so make sure you ask the staff on what you’ll need before you submit your paperwork for your panel.

Tip #6 – JUST. HAVE. FUN!! Panels are what make anime conventions fun and exciting! So why not have some fun at your own fan panel, right? If the audience sees that you’re having fun at your own panel, then they’re gonna have fun as well.

That will about wrap up this filler post we’ve got here. Fan panels are awesome and they make the con that much more of an enjoyable experience to beginners and veterans alike. If you follow these tips before you plan your next anime con, you’ll be two steps ahead of the game and won’t have anything to worry about!

Stay true, and stay gold! ๐Ÿ™‚

D&A Friday’s Are Filled With Youthful Anime, and Artsy Manga!

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Art is a powerful thing. It has shaped the colorful world that we live in today; from black-and-white television to 4K sharp color flat screens that can fit into a wall, art has changed and redefined the face of a nation! The same can be said for anime and manga; with its vivid colors and various distinctive art styles its no wonder many of us are drawn to its beauty. Tonight we’ve got some beautiful anime and manga titles for you to check out if you’re looking for a title about youth, or you may wanna read something funny about art. Either way, we’ve got you covered! ๐Ÿ˜‰

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If you’re looking for an anime title about recapturing your youth then ReLIFE is going to be your answer! The series is about a 27-year-old man who quit his job due to the fact that he feels the job is not helping him fulfill his full potential. He then comes across a mysterious man who can give him a wonderful job opportunity, but first he needs to become a tester for the ReLIFE. The special experiment is supposed to rejuvenate the tester by 10 years and send him back to high school as a student, although with every experiment there’s bound to be side effects that could be benign, or have deadly consequences. You can stream this series on Crunchyroll or look for it on Youtube.

If you’re looking for a manga title about art then you’re answer is going to be GA Geijutsuka Art Design Class. This slice-of-life comedy follows the artistic adventures of the GA-1 art class, as they strive to become one of the best art classes in their school despite the mishaps and shenanigans that happen. A great manga read if you’re looking for something funny and artsy to enjoy.

Well that’s all for now. Next week we’re going to be making links to some of the blog’s filler posts so that fans can read and enjoy them over, and over again! Remember, make D&A a part of you, and we’ll make you a part of us! ๐Ÿ™‚

Filler Post: D&A’s Top 5 Gothic Lolitas in Anime!

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What is it about these anime characters that attracts us them? Could it be that they carry themselves in a way that the allure of their royal individuality reels us in like a freshly caught trout? Maybe some of us like the ‘dark and mysterious’ types, and maybe you yourself might have gone through the Lolita phase some time in your high school years. Not all of them are the same however; some of them (like a certain Lolita angel) are pretty fun to talk to and party with, while others tend to carry themselves in more of a leadership position. The five that we’ve got here for you tonight come from all walks of life, and somehow ended up down the same path to the world of Gothic Lolitas.

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Number 5: Celestia Ludenburg (Dangaronpa: The Animation)

She’s known in Hope’s Peak Academy as the Ultimate Gambler (aka The Queen of Lies). She has a habit of ranking people based on their personalities, her tolerance of them, and how useful they are in society. The lowest ranking is “F”; which means that person doesn’t even deserve to breathe the same air as her, however if Celes gives a person a rank higher than a “D”, she might actually find that person’s time more worth while.

Her ultimate goal is to own her own European castle and dress up all of her servants as vampires that cater to her every whim. However that dream was cut short during her class trial, causing her to be executed in a ‘Salem-Witch-Trials-kinda-way’ by Monokuma for the murders of Ishimaru and Yamada.

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Number 4: Sakuya Tsukumo (Absolute Duo)

Also known as ‘Blaze Diabolical’, Sakuya is the chairman of Kouyou Academy who is also the school’s Genetic engineer that takes part in the school research. In the series she carries an ominous aura that makes her come off as a villain, but in fact is actually both sadistic and heartless while calm at the same time. (Something that she and Celestia might have in common perhaps.)

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Number 3: Ruri Gokou (Oreimo / My Little Sister Can’t Be This Cute)

There are some Lolitas that are smarter than the average person, and there are some that happen to be ‘Closet Otaku’ who don’t want the people of the “Real World” to know about their obsession. Our number three Gothic Lolita is a prime example of both of these characteristics – except for the fact that she’s an actual otaku who has a hatred for the mortal world. Ruri loves to wear Gothic Lolita clothing (even during hot days) and favors fantasy anime over cute anime that her friend Kirino likes, thus causing clashes between them due to the fact that they like different genres of anime.

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Number 2: Stocking Anarchy (Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt)

Now who could forget this lovely sort-of-angelic Lolita? As the youngest and cutest of the Anarchy Sisters, Stocking is more level headed than her sister and somewhat tolerant of Garterbelt. (Although we’re only assuming this to be the case.) She a little more skilled in her weaponry than Panty is, and can do some high ranked tricks with her swords; such as turning them into a helicopter. Nearly all of her attire is Gothic Lolita inspired, and has an obsession for sweets that will make any bakery tremble in fear.

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And finally Number 1: Evangeline A.K. McDowell (Negima!)

The Dark Evangel herself! Not only is she a Gothic Lolita, but she’s also an evil mage in her own right as well as a true-blooded vampire. She was forced to stay within school grounds thanks to Negi’s father’s ‘School Curse’ spell, and the only way to break it was to drain enough blood from Negi himself to gain enough power to break the spell on her own. In spite of the fact that she lost during their ‘final battle’, Eva proves her might as a powerful sorceress through her and Chachamaru’s battle with the ancient demon Lord Sakuna during the Kyoto trip. She is also the founder of a group of immortals known as UQ Holder – the follow up to the Mahoru Sensei Negima! Manga.

There you have it anime fans! We’re pretty sure that there’s more Gothic Lolitas out there in the anime world, but one thing’s for sure, their allure will always be mysterious in various ways.