Cherry blossoms, fresh beginnings, and a brand-new anime season! Here’s my Spring Anime List, featuring fresh titles and returning favorites. Which ones are you excited for? 🌿✨

https://myska.one/2025/04/01/my-anime-spring-list/

#SpringAnime #Anime #Myska #AnimeList

I have a looot of list that I never shared so to begin my: ✨LESBIAN ANIME LIST✨ also focusing on gender queer characters...it's confusing but it makes sense to me lol

(Update: I named it queer anime list first but I realized I didn't care about shonen-ai)

💚 queer af - the main characters and the topics may be representative of the queersss

❤️ queer coded (or baiting?)

💜 has queer (side characters) representation but its not really the subject

#animelist #lesbiananime #queeranime

The last two episodes of Frieren introduce us to many, many new characters. It’s now time for the first-class mage examination. Finally, after walking for a long time, Frieren, Fern, and Stark arrives in the city of Äußerst.

Since it’s the exam arc, sadly, we’re not going to see much of Stark. However, seeing the roster of wizards in this arc is exciting enough. So far, we’ve seen Lawine and Kanne’s combo. I wonder what kind of magic the rest of the mages are bringing. And also, who are the VA behind these guys? I bet some big names will appear.

The Mages From The First Class Mage Exam

We’re entering an important turning point in this anime. The first class mage exam is necessary for Frieren, Fern and Stark. Travelling without at least one first class mage is still prohibited, due to the dangers of the northern land.

Well, for all these times, Frieren is more like a back alley doctor. Not to say she’s incompetent, she just lacks the proper certification. Same with Fern, she only has the third-class certification because it was quicker to get that one at the time. With the exam, here we have some new faces. Also, I’m surprised, but not complaining, that we encounter familiar voices from Bocchi The Rock!

Übel

Übel might be one of the most terrifying mages in the exam. Don’t get fooled by her stature, she is a cutthroat mage who will gladly kill to get to her goal. Her notoriety only solidifies when it turns out she killed the examiner in her last first-class mage certification exam.

Übel is voiced by Ikumi Hasegawa. Her most iconic roles are Vladelina Milizé from the anime 86 and Kita Ikuyo from Bocchi The Rock! I don’t know how I should feel knowing Kita and Übel have the same voice actor.

Denken

Denken is a shrewd elderly mage. He has political influence in the capital, and is aware that magic isn’t the only power in our society. An imperial mage he is. By far, he has a very interesting background and is most likely the most experienced among the human participants in the test.

Denken is voiced by Jirou Satou, most notably he voiced Theo Magath, the Marleyan commander from Attack On Titan. He also voiced Olaf and Gratianus from Vinland Saga.

Lawine

Lawine is a third class mage that Frieren has as a part of her party in the first test. She attends the first-class mage certification with Kanne. The duo has a great synergy in battles, with Lawine focusing on her ice magic.

Lawine is voiced by Sayumi Suzushiro. Her most notable role is Nijika from Bocchi The Rock! We are halfway from getting the full Kessoku band it seems. Also, she voiced Kurena Kukumila from 86, and Shirogane Kei from Kaguya-sama: Love Is War.

Kanne

Kanne is the more rowdy and rather craven one in her duo with Lawine. However, she has a great water magic. Combine that with Lawine’s ice magic, then we have an incredible dynamic duo. She sometimes gets discouraged by Lawine’s tough love and often gets into fights with her. But, Kanne loves to be around Lawine anyway.

Kanne is voiced by Azumi Waki. Previously, she voiced Maika-chan from Blend S. She is also the voice of Hinata Tachibana from Tokyo Revengers.

Laufen

Laufen is a second-class mage from the mountainous Southern lands. Her magic allows her to move lightning quick to avoid confrontations, and take her objectives as quickly as possible.

Laufen is voiced by Shizuka Ishigami. She made an appearance in Vinland Saga as the voice behind young Thorfinn. She also worked on another iconic anime franchise, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 5: Golden Wind, as Bruno Bucciarati.

Richter

Along with Laufen, Richter is in the party with Denken for this first test of the first-class mage examination. He is someone who is cold-blooded and has an overwhelming style in his earth manipulation magic.

Richter is voiced by Eiji Hanawa. He’s the voice of Kenshiro from Fist of the North Star: Raoh Side Story Junai Arc. Some of you might feel nostalgic because this is a mid-2000s anime movie.

Land

Land seems like a mysterious guy. He wears a pair of glasses and even does the correcting glasses move. We haven’t got a chance to see his full ability, though. He is in the same party as Fern and Übel in this exam.

Land is voiced by Shouhei Komatsu. He had a main voice role as August von Earlshide in a 2019 anime, Kenja no Mago. He made his official debut as a seiyuu back in 2016.

Ehre

Ehre is the mage we see battling Fern in episode 19. She says Fern’s style of fighting is so old-school, like her grandfather. Well, she’s not too far off because the one who teaches Fern magic is a grandmother, technically. It seems like Ehre is fond of manipulating earth as well, throwing them from afar like the beast titan from Attack On Titan.

Ehre is voiced by Kanae Itou. She’s a long time voice actor for some anime fans’ favorite character, Carrot, in One Piece. Other than that, she’s also the voice of Yui from Sword Art Online.

Wirbel

Wirbel and Übel’s fight is one of the highlights in episode 19. He is the captain of Northern Magic Corps. A seasoned warrior, hence he seems so casual when fighting Übel. He is in a group with Ehre and Scharf. He and his party are after the Stille Fern’s party caught.

Wirbel is voiced by Kishou Taniyama. He voiced one of my personal favorite characters. He is the voice behind Jean Kristein from Attack On Titan. Not only that, he also voiced Chuuya Nakahara from Bungou Stray Dogs.

Genau

Genau is the overseeing mage for the first test of first-class mage exam. He is able to create the barrier for the Stille hunting zone. An impenetrable magic that even dust can’t go past it. I wonder if there will be someone who break that barrier at the end of this test.

Genau is voiced by Tarusuke Shingaki. He voiced Mirio Toogata in My Hero Academia. Previously, he also voiced Cadis Etrama Di Raizel in the 2020 anime, Noblesse.

Sense

Sense is also an overseer for this year’s first-class mage exam. She is supposed to be responsible for the second test. So, in the meantime, we haven’t seen her capabilities yet.

Sense is voiced by Haruka Terui. She voiced Yuuki from Yuki Yuna Is A Hero. Also, she is the voice behind Shihoru in Grimgar: Ashes And Illusions.

https://seinenrider.com/2024/01/20/the-voice-actors-behind-the-mages-of-first-class-mage-exam-in-frieren-beyond-journeys-end/

#Anime #AnimeList #Fall2023 #Frieren #FrierenBeyondJourneySEnd #Seiyuu #SeiyuuList #Winter2024

Whenever I watch an anime, one little thing that I like to do is figuring out the person behind some characters. I’d jump out of excitement and be like that DiCaprio meme if I recognize a similar voice across different anime.

Although my interest in the voice acting in anime comes from my leisurely hobby, I kind of spiraled down the seiyuu rabbit hole. You know, reading some seiyuu’s bios and looking up the history behind the industry. A pretty standard activity to do at 1 a.m.

A Brief Summary In The History Of Seiyuu

Apparently, the history stems way back into the 1920s. In that time, the popularity of Japan’s radio drama started to hatch. Many of the radio drama voice actors began to get an unexpected boom in their popularity. The term “seiyuu” first emerged from the radio drama broadcasting in this era.

Fast-forward to the 50s, these radio dramas only got even more popular. To the point that many of them got adapted into films, series, and other stage acts. For example, Kimi No Nawa was actually a radio drama that got its first movie adaptation in this era. It later got the 2016 adaptation directed by Makoto Shinkai which everyone loves.

Voice actors or seiyuu in Japan have also been exploring their talents not only on the screen. What I love about them is they dare to jump into musical career path. In the 70s,  Akio Nojima, Kazuyuki Sogabe, Akira Kamiya, Tōru Furuya and Toshio Furukawa formed their band called Slapstick. This is the first musical group comprised of voice actors.

In this period, the introduction of idol culture into the seiyuu profession also happened. Animage‘s founding editor, Hideo Ogata, started to make editorials on seiyuu. Other magazines followed suit and made their own section of voice actors. However, Animage’s exclusive magazines on seiyuu, Voice Animage, didn’t make its first publication until the 90s.

Nowadays, the seiyuu profession is so nuanced. Seiyuu don’t come only from voice acting agencies, but it’s normal for many seiyuu to enter this profession from various sides of the entertainment industry.

For example, prolific singer, Nana Mizuki, was first trained as an Enka singer. She debuted her voice acting career not long after her first single. On that note, here is the list of the seiyuu I have keeping myself updated on their career.

Kaede Hondo

I think Kaede Hondo deserves more attention, especially after she takes on probably one of the most popular female character in 2023. She voices Hakari Hanazono in The 100 Girlfriends Who Really Really Really Really Really Love You.

Kaedo Hondo made her debut in 2015. She then joined the voice acting agency I’m Enterpriese after completing her training in Japan Narration Actor Institute. She made her anime voice acting debut playing minor roles in Aoharu × Machinegun. However, she quickly made her name known. She won as one of the Best New Actresses in the 13th Seiyuu awards.

She has a uniquely natural alluring voice as Hakari, which many fans appreciate of course. But, she also a knack for voicing bright and fun characters like Hana from Mieruko-chan and Mapple from BOFURI. Also, she will play as yet another “sunshine” character in the anime, A Sign Of Affection.

Sugita Tomokazu

“Ore na wa Jack!” That’s the first thing that comes to my mind whenever I hear his name. Sugita Tomokazu is probably most well-known for his role as Gintoki in Gintama and Joseph Joestar in Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure.

Sugita Tomokazu’s career got its popularity jumpstart when he voiced Gintoki. But, he actually had started his career much earlier. His first debut was his role as the gift announcer in Kamen Rider on SKY PerfecTV!. He got his first leading role as Hideki Motosuwa in Chobits.

However, his role that caught my eyes, or ears, was Hidenori in Daily Life Of High School Boys. Because he lives rent-free as a comedic voice in my head, I first couldn’t believe when I heard his voice in a serious character. He voices the stone hashira, Gyoumei Himejima, in Demon Slayer.

Atsumi Tanezaki

I first learned about Atsumi Tanezaki when I watched Spy X Family for the first time. I couldn’t get over Anya’s cuteness and still can’t, thanks to Atsumi Tanezaki’s voice acting. Something about her voice in Spy X Family accurately conveys the child-like wonder Anya has.

Atsumi Tanezaki is now affiliated with Tokyo Actor’s Consumer’s Cooperative Society or also known as Haikyo. Previously, she was under the management of Toritori Office. She made her first major role in My Little Monster as Asako Natsume in 2012. Other than that, she had many voice acting roles in various video games.

Anya isn’t the only character she voices in 2023, though. Atsumi Tanezaki also voices Frieren in Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Gyokuyou in The Apothecary Diaries, and Serina Yoshida in The Dangers In My Heart.

Makoto Furukawa

When One Punch Man first aired, I found his whole hero-for-hobby thing hilarious. Saitama can obliterate every enemy and monster he encounters, and he only needs one hit to do so. Makoto Furukawa‘s nonchalant and overly casual voice acting plays a big comedic effect on his character.

Voice acting isn’t his only career, though. Makoto Furukawa made his solo singer debut back in 2018, with his single Miserable Masquerade. He debuted his singer career under Lantis music recording company. What’s interesting is that he actually graduated from Fukuoka School of Music. But, he then quickly started his professional voice acting career as Satoshi Yoshino in Busou Chuugakusei.

When I first watched Kaguya-sama: Love is War, I was pleasantly surprised to hear his voice. Makoto Furukawa voiced Miyuki Shirogane, a typically serious character in this anime. But, when he caught off guard or in his own comfort, he would break his seriousness with a hilarious outburst or a flat tone.

Rie Takahashi

When I first watched Re: Zero, I thought I heard someone familiar. It’s almost like something was about to explode every time Emilia spoke. Well of course that’s the case, it’s Megumin’s voice actor I was hearing, Rie Takahashi.

She actually voiced a bunch of characters from other anime that I like, such as Hime from Kakushigoto and Tomo from Tomo-chan Is A Girl! I think Rie Takahashi has a wide voice range. I swear I thought Megumin, Hime, and Tomo were voiced by different people.

On top of voicing a literal idol character, Hoshino Ai from Oshi No Ko, Rie Takahasi actually has her own solo singer career. She debuted her singing career back in 2021 with her mini album, Toumei Na Fusen. Her songs are available to stream on various streaming services such as Spotify.

https://seinenrider.com/2023/12/11/5-seiyuu-that-i-think-you-should-know-too/

#Anime #AnimeIndustry #AnimeList #Idol #Seiyuu #VoiceActing

Sometimes, watching anime is something that we toss aside. Whether it’s for work, college, or exams, this hobby could be my usual victim when time is against me. After all the hard work is done, I often find myself scouring old anime to watch.

One genre that stands out to me is slice of life. This genre is pretty much a mush-up of episodic daily life of the characters. Slice of life anime can simply be a relaxing binge time to escape the real world. Sometimes, we just want to be entertained with light comedy and an easy plot.

However, there are plenty of anime of this genre, almost too many in fact. So, every now and then I’d miss some of them completely and discover them years after they originally aired. Here are few slice of life anime that make me say, “Where have you been all this time?”

Kakushigoto

This anime actually struck me as bittersweet rather than funny. Don’t get me wrong, there are comedic bits here and there. But, I found the father-daughter relationship sticks out so much with its adorableness.

The story is about a single father, Kakushi Gotou, who works as a mangaka. But, he mainly draws inappropriate manga. Not ecchi, not a comedy manga full of fan service, but the NSFW ones. Problem is, he has a daughter, Hime, and he’d like his line of work to stay secret from her.

Imagine the guilt and embarrassment if he gets found out. Even more so, the daughter is in fourth grade. Well, of course, he goes into full on disguise mode for his job. Gotou sometimes goes overboard with his paranoia, leading to some of the most ridiculous cover up attempts.

I watched Kakushigoto thinking I’d get to put myself into no brain mode. But, I later on found myself absorbed into Gotou’s worries. There is something about fatherly love that I think really brings up the sweetness of this anime.

Strawberry Marshmallow

Well, now we have a real no-brainer anime. Strawberry Marshmallow is a 2005 anime, so I only learned about this anime maybe like ten years after it aired. To me, 2005 was a year when I get to play with the neighbor’s kids and just making some ruckus for our parents to worry about. Hey! We were exactly like the characters in this anime!

You know that feeling when your childhood friend group had the crazy kid. Well, that’s basically Strawberry Marshmallow in a nutshell. Chika’s house is practically the home base for Miu, Matsuri, and Ana to hang out. Occasionally, Chika’s older sister, Nobue, would also join too. However, I think Miu is the real kicker in this group.

I couldn’t believe how a slice of life genre can put some of the most unhinged and out-of-pocket humor in a cute anime. But, kids will be kids, and this is Miu we’re talking about. Also, slice of life anime can get repetitive with their jokes, but I found Strawberry Marshmallow‘s to be entertaining.

I love their simple gags can suddenly turn into a full on trip to the afterlife. The sense of humor and its cutesy nature brings me back to watching this anime every once in a while.

Life Lessons with Uramichi-oniisan

Well, this anime certainly hits close to home. Uramichi-oniisan is about a kid show host who live a mundane life and forced to put a bright face for the show. It sounds depressing, but in reality it’s what everyone have gone through at least once in their life.

The story is about Uramichi. A host of the kid show “Together with Mama”. What caught me off-guard when watching this anime for the first time is how he occasionally drops realistic takes on life to the children. He is too realistic sometimes, and leaves the children mortified.

I found Uramichi-oniisan to be super relatable. Taking the first few steps in adulthood can be all gloom at times. Hobbies are no longer interesting, life in general becomes painstakingly boring. Pretty much, there is a level where people are stuck to their “I wake up to work” lifestyle.

Although the anime has a depressing undertone, it still carries itself very well as a comedy. It’s funny that I entertain myself by watching someone who is tired from working when I am tired from working. The parallel is impeccable.

Bakuon!!

When I first had the idea of blogging, I was thinking I’d make a special page for anime and bikes related posts. Partly, it’s because I found out about Bakuon!!

My first impression of this anime is that this is K-On! with horsepower instead of guitars. Hane Sakura has the same carefree and bright personality as Yui Hirasawa. And just like Yui, Hane is a natural in understanding what she does. So much so, she can actually have a conversation with her practice Honda Super Four.

I like the inside jokes of motorcycling community in this anime. Like poking fun at Ducatis and Raimu-senpai as a reference to The Stig from Top Gear. The only problem I kind of have with Bakuon!! is the fan service. While it’s a common thing for anime, I don’t really see the point of doing fan service with girls when I am already given fan service with bikes.

As someone who loves motorcycles, this anime is the perfect escape from the real world. Aside from the tomfoolery the girls frequently do, the bikes featured in this anime are diverse. I didn’t expect the anime to bring up a two-stroke bike, but I love the nostalgic touch.

Grand Blue

The last anime has to be one of the greatest slice of life comedy out there. Right from the get go, I got the impression that this anime might be the craziest one so far.

The story is about Iori who just started college and has to move to his uncle’s place. It just happens that his uncle has a scuba diving shop, which is a frequent victim of his university diving club’s shenanigans.

While reluctant at first, Iori eventually grows fond of his new friends in the club. To me, the thing that stands out in the relationship between the characters is the intense fraternity. It is somewhat relatable despite the silliness that is happening in this anime. But, I wouldn’t be surprised if there is someone out there who are exactly like Iori and his friends in college.

Grand Blue is a bit different from most slice of life anime. The focus on the much wilder college life is a breath of fresh air among high school settings. Especially, when it comes to the partying and drinking culture, this anime doesn’t hold back.

https://seinenrider.com/2023/11/28/5-slice-of-life-anime-i-wish-i-knew-sooner/

#Anime #AnimeList #Comedy #OldAnime #SliceOfLife

2024 might be the year for romance and shoujo anime fans. It was a pleasant surprise when I first discovered about A Sign Of Affection. The past five years have some of the best romance and rom-com titles, and I expect 2024 to be full of great anime too.

I mostly talk about Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, racing anime, and tropes on this blog. But, I do have a soft spot for romance anime. What a sweet feeling I felt back when I first watched Karekano and Nisekoi!

The anime will start airing in Japan on January 6th. So, in the meantime, I figured it’s worthwhile to peek into their official website, and I was welcomed with a beautiful key visual.

A New Key Visual, A Beautiful Art Style

Well, as you a can see yourself, this anime has an exquisite art style. The first time I got wind of this anime, I was immediately charmed by the character design. Honestly, I couldn’t be more excited to see how Ajia-Do studio will bring out the stunning art to life.

This anime is an adaptation of a manga with the same title. Suu Morishita does both the story and the artwork for the original manga.

I’m glad the anime production chose to get the characters as close as possible to the manga.

The manga started its serialization back in 2019. Looking at the cover alone, the manga promises a great visual throughout.

However, no wonder the art style is such a beauty. Suu Morishita is the same mangaka who made Hibi Chouchou back in 2012. The story for Hibi Chouchou got some mixed reviews, but everyone agrees that the art style is top-notch.

So, I can’t wait to see how the story for A Sign Of Affection will unfold. There is nothing but praises for Suu Morishita for the art style of this manga. But, how about the characters?

The Characters and Seiyuu

The new key visual reveals seven characters from A Sign Of Affection. The story is about Yuki Itose, a university student who has hearing impairment since birth. So, she communicates using sign language.

One day, she meets Itsuomi Nagi, a senior from her university. The thing is, he is a polyglot. He loves to go around the world, learn new languages, and discover anything that can bring new experiences. From this accidental encounter, a romance between Yuki and Itsuomi starts to develop.

Sumire Morohosi As Yuki Itose

To say this anime is pink is such an understatement. When the main character is an adorable girl like Yuki Itose, it sets the expectation for heartwarming feeling.

Yuki is born with her hearing impairment. She might come off as self-reserved at first. However, she actually has a bright and delightful personality.

The one who will fill in her role is Sumire Morohoshi. Previously, she voiced Misaki Ayuzawa in Maid Sama! and Kyouka Izumi in Bungou Stray Dogs.

Yuu Miyazaki As Itsuomi Nagi

Oh my… The first time I saw the trailer and his face pops up this close, I was stunned. Truly, Itsuomi Nagi is the word “handsome” if it were a painting.

Itsuomi’s first encounter with Yuki is the propeller for the romance in this anime. He is Yuki’s senpai in university. He is also a member of the International Club. His passion for traveling leads him to learning about various culture and languages around the world. So, no wonder when he meets Yuki, he gets curios and starts learning sign language.

The voice actor filling in for Itsuomi’s character is Yuu Miyazaki. He took a role in Haikyuu! To The Top as Sachiro Hirugami. Fun fact, he is married to Anya and Frieren’s voice actor, Atsumi Tanezaki.

Ryouta Osaka As Kyouya Nagi

Next up, apparently we have a relative of the main lead. Kyouya Nagi is the cousin of Itsuomi Nagi. Judging from his character design, he will be the calm, collected, yet still overwhelmingly friendly type.

His voice will be filled in by Ryouta Osaka. He is the voice behind Mao Sadao in The Devil Is A Part-Timer! and Gyuutarou in Demon Slayer: Entertainment District Arc. He commented about his role as Kyouya Nagi. He said that playing a romance anime character is a new thing to him.

Takeo Ootsuka As Oushi Ashioki

It’s not a romance story if you don’t have the childhood friend character, is it? Oushi Ashioki is indeed Yuki’s friend back when she was a child. However, they couldn’t get to know each other much. This is because Yuki attended school for the hearing impaired. But, they’re finally reunited in the college years.

In the anime, you’ll hear Takeo Ootsuka as Oushi’s voice. If you’re currently watching The Apothecary Diaries, his sound should be familiar because he is the voice of Jinshi. Also, he voiced Aqua in the popular summer 2023 anime, Oshi No Ko.

Kaede Hondo As Rin Fujishiro

We have more supporting characters ahead of us. You know, in so many anime, the main character usually has the one friend who always sticks around.

So does Yuki, she has Rin from the same club as Itsuomi. I think people will love this character because Rin is supposed to be the biggest shipper for the romance between Yuki and Itsuomi. However, she has her own feelings for Kyouya, which will be interesting.

The voice actor behind Rin Fujishiro will be Kaede Hondo. She is the voice for Hitomi Mishima in Hinamatsuri, Maple in BOFURI, and Hakari Hanazono in 100 Girlfriends Who Really Really Really Really Really Love You.

Nao Touyama As Emma Nakazono

It won’t be a proper romance story if the main character doesn’t have a competition.

Meet Emma Nakazono. She has known Itsuomi since high school, and she apparently has a feeling for him. However, Itsuomi doesn’t take her seriously.

The voice actor behind Emma will make you want to root for her, though. Emma will be voiced by Nao Touyama. She voiced some most well-known rom-com characters, such as Chitoge from Nisekoi and Ruka from Rent-a-Girlfriend.

Tasuku Hatanaka As Shin Iryuu

Next up, we have a friend of Itsuomi, Shin Iryuu. They met back in high school and have been good friends since. Also, he apparently has a close relationship to Emma, and often plays as her wingman.

The voice actor for Shin is Tasuku Hatanaka. He is the voice behind Reki Kyan from SK8 the Infinity and Denki Kaminari from My Hero Academia.

https://seinenrider.com/2023/11/25/new-key-visual-from-a-sign-of-affection-the-characters-and-their-seiyuu/

#ASignOfAffection #Anime #AnimeList #Romance #Seiyuu #Shoujo

I know Frieren: Beyond The Journey’s End has been airing for a while now. I also have listed some seiyuu in this anime, although it was only the voice actors behind the demons.

Well, with how Aura went down last week, I’d say it will be a while before we get to see the next demon who is unfortunate enough to face Frieren. So, I think it will only be fair if we cover the rest of casts behind the main characters, and a future character as well.

Members Of The Original Hero’s Party

Let’s first start from the hero’s party, which consists of Himmel, Eisen, Heiter, and Frieren, we will save Frieren for the last.

Himmel

The cast behind Himmel is Nobuhiko Okamoto, the same seiyuu for the super popular Haikyuu!! series as Nishinoya. Also, he is the man behind a character in the highly acclaimed Demon Slayer, as, hold on a second. Genya Shinazugawa? My, my, what a contrast to his current character!

Himmel is a human warrior, his build is very close to the typical righteous knight. Charming, good looking, confident, and a little too fond of his own looks. But, that’s Himmel for you.

Interestingly enough, Himmel is still standing on the most popular male characters charts by the time this post is written. And, he has been there for quite a while despite, well, considering the man is no more. RIP.

Eisen

Next up we have the dwarf of the party. Eisen is voiced by Youji Ueda. He is the voice behind Robert E. O. Speedwagon from Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, as well as Alexis Leskinen from Steins Gate Zero, and Erikson Leif from Vinland Saga.

No fantasy genre party is complete without a dwarf. Be it Lord Of The Rings movies, Mushoku Tensei, or even video games like Skyrim. Where fantasy genre is rolling out, dwarves will always be there, one way or another.

Eisen is Stark’s mentor in the art of fighting and slaying monsters. For his stature, Eisen is incredibly fast and strong. Maybe, all his power is stored within his glorious beard, who knows?

Heiter

The drunken priest, a man of God who constantly rejoices in his blessing. Heiter is voiced by Hiroki Touchi. He is known for his voice in Golden Kamuy as Wilk. Also, he is the voice behind Ging Freecss from Hunter X Hunter, and most memorably as Hisashi Suou in Chihayafuru, which seems to be getting a manga sequel.

Heiter is a priest who specialized in healing magic. It’s a bit different from the combat magic Frieren and Fern use. Heiter’s main role is supporting the rest and making sure they come back alive. However, after rescuing raising Fern, even the finest healer couldn’t avoid old age. He then died peacefully on his bed.

Frieren

“Aura, kill yourself. Waku Waku!” That would sound so weird, wouldn’t it? Sometimes, I am still in denial that the character Frieren The Slayer is essentially the same person as Anya Forger from Spy X Family, the most adorable kid in anime.

Atsumi Tanezaki voices the two most popular characters this season, Frieren and Anya. It’s so funny to me that she is now playing a very old character and a literal child at the same time, because in the past, she was also cast in My Dress-Up Darling as Sajuna Inui, a high-schooler who is often mistaken for an elementary student.

The Future Generation

Now let’s take a look at the young prodigies. Fern and Stark are the two new party members following Frieren. Episode 9 proves how deadly they can be when they are serious.

Fern

Okay starting from the young mage, Fern. I think she has the same cold stare like Frieren’s. However, there is something different about hers. As if there is a Shinomiya feels from Kaguya-sama: Love is War.

Well, because the voice behind Fern is Kana Ichinose, the same voice actor who is cast for Maki Shijou, Kaguya’s cousin. Honestly, when Fern handled Lugner two weeks ago, I kind of got scared, for Lugner!

But, I am also glad that she Fern’s character is way different from Kana Ichinose’s another certain role, Sayu Ogiwara from Higehiro. It wouldn’t fit her backstory, quirks, and her dynamics with Stark at all.

Stark

It’s time for the best boy of this anime, Stark. He is voiced by Chiaki Kobayashi who recently voice Mash Burnedead in Mashe: Magic and Muscle. However, Chiaki Kobayashi’s most known role might be Gabimaru from Hell’s Paradise.

Throughout this anime, we see how Stark really grows. From not being able to face a dragon, killing it, and then slaying a demon. All that takes bravery for a young lad like Stark, especially for someone who tried to run away from his master’s training.

Frieren’s Mentor, Another Elf, And Other Characters

Aside from the hero’s party and Frieren’s new younglings, it is also important to know the voice behind the Great Mage Flamme. And, there will be a new character in episode 11.

Great Mage Flamme

Great Mage Flamme is voiced by Atsuko Tanaka. She is very well known for her role in the Ghost in the Shell series and films. Her character is Motoko Kusanagi, an augmented cybernetic human who serves an anti cyber-crime law enforcement.

Frieren is actually a student of Flamme, she is the one who taught Frieren how to refine her mana control and hide her presence. This will prove effective considering what happens in the last episode. Interestingly, since Flamme lived a thousand years ago, it might be possible that the only person who knows her is Frieren.

Monk Kraft

The eleventh episode of Frieren reveals a new character. Monk Kraft is an elven monk that travels from place to place. In fact, he is only the second elf we see in the anime. In the manga, there is something mysterious about him.

It’s unclear what is his purpose roaming the world. Combined with the fact that he is an elf, he might have spent so much time doing whatever he is doing.

But, the real surprise is yet to come. At the end of Episode 10, I thought I heard something familiar. “It was me, Dio!” Yes, the seiyuu for Monk Kraft is Takehito Koyasu, who played Dio Brando.

Graf Granat

The leader of his fortress city, also the one who has been waging war against Aura the Guillotine, Graf Granat. His son was the victim of this conflict, Aura took the son’s life and made him a zombie.

Graf Granat is voiced by Shunsuke Sakuya. He is the voice behind many supporting characters in anime, such as Hisashi Saegusa in Araburu Kisetsu and Sigeru Sonoda in Jujutsu Kaisen season two.

Sein The Priest

The newest character in this anime, Sein will make his first appearance in the 13th episode of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. He is a priest who has an expertise in healing magic.

The voice actor for Sein is Yuichi Nakamura. He is very well-known for his role in the Jujutsu Kaisen series as Gojou Satoru. Also, in 2024 he will voice the Red Keeper in Sentai Daishikakku.

Lord Orden

Lord Orden is a lord from the northern lands. Because of conflicts with demons, he lost his eldest son, Wirt. To keep the morale of his people high, he has to seek a replacement son for a ball, and Stark looks just like him.

Lordern is voiced by Yuuya Uchida, he also voiced Dr. Franken Stein from Soul Eater. Although, my favorite character he had voiced is Shien Mushanokoji from Eyeshield 21. Such nostalgia.

https://seinenrider.com/2023/11/17/getting-to-know-the-casts-behind-frieren-beyond-the-journeys-end-a-seiyuu-list/

#Anime #AnimeList #Fall2023 #Frieren #FrierenBeyondJourneySEnd #Seiyuu

Well, well, well, here comes the weeb.

Your imaginary bully, hopefully only imaginary.

When it comes to growing up liking anime, probably every single one of you has met a person of this specimen, the bully. Honestly, being someone who loves anime and cast out by peers is a common combination.

But, that doesn’t justify any form of bullying to any weeb, or to whoever it is for that matter. Liking and diving deep into this form of Japanese media is a hobby for most, and a profession for some.

It is unfair to judge other people for their harmless hobbies, such as watching anime. If anything, anime is becoming more mainstream, with some unexpected series getting their own anime adaptation.

So, is being a weeb a cool thing now? Well, unfortunately, bullies will get their reasons to bully others anyway. Or, they can just make one up out of thin air.

They Think Anime Is Weird

Alright, the isekai genre might be to blame for this one. Admittedly, ever since anime is increasing in number each season, some titles will make anyone question reality. Judging by how many isekai anime are, it seems they never run out of isekai ideas.

Now that’s out of the way, there are still people who think even the most realistic anime are weird. But, anime doesn’t always take on the fantasy world. Some chooses to adopt real world context and history as their setting, like Naoki Urasawa’s Monster and Makoto Yukimura’s Vinland Saga.

There are anime that are very well suited for people who love realistic settings. But, sometimes when it comes to anime that depicts the old Japanese culture, some will still judge them blindly.

Addressing Cultural Shock

This is a case of cultural shock. When people are so used to western media and culture, such as western cartoon, tales of European knights, and western folklore, some of them might see other cultures as alien. The samurai topknot, kimono, and Japanese yokai in anime might seem so bizarre to them.

It is important to understand that a possibly odd thing here is just another common thing out there. When meeting a new culture, it is all about observing without judgment.

People Tell You To Grow Up

People who say this are the same group as those who harshly judge gamers, or any other hobbyist that seems childish to them. They see anime as a negative hobby that keeps people from growing up and becoming adults as they should be.

Being a regular anime fan has nothing to do with being an adult. Anyone out there can watch any anime that they want on their time off, and still be a functioning member of society.

Watching Anime Can Be Just A Hobby, Nothing More

Besides, people who watch anime are really diverse, from the most ladylike girls to the most textbook definition of manly man. Watching anime should be treated as what it is primarily, a hobby.

Of course everything has to be done in moderation. If a hobby is interfering with your daily life, work, or school, then it would be wise to consider toning it down. However, still, deeming someone is incapable of living a functioning life when they like anime is an argument that cannot stand.

Other Anime Fans Bully You For The Anime That You Watch

This type of reason is probably the most annoying one. The feeling when you finally find someone who has the same hobby, and then they give the look of disgust just because you pick a different option is just infuriating.

For newer fans of anime, their gateway might be only those anime that are trending. Although it is totally fine, others who have been fans of anime might give them a hard time. They may say stuff like, “if you only watch this, then you don’t really love anime.” As if these new fans need their approval to begin with.

The Problem With Gatekeeping In Anime

As in any other industry or culture, elitist behavior like this will only deter new fans to enter the community, considering anime is becoming more mainstream. It also shows how insecure these people who can’t bear the thought of other people are starting to enjoy anime.

Sadly, it is a reality that not all anime fans are good apples. Some of them are reeking with elitist vibes and often gatekeep what people should like and shouldn’t. Gatekeeping on its own stands on mere arrogance.

People Think Anime Is For Kids

This is might be the most misleading opinion so far. Saying stuff like anime is only for kids, is like saying four-wheeled drive cars are only for toddlers under the age of five. Well, yes, there are toy cars that you can give to children. But, there are also real four-wheeled drive cars that even inexperienced adults can’t handle.

Same thing with anime. If someone constantly says anime is for kids, then when you hand their kids Berserk, they had it coming. But, seriously now, not every anime is suitable for children, some of which are possibly outright trauma inducing.

Know The Age Rating

It is important for people to actually acknowledge the age rating on medias. Those ratings are not for decorations. Honestly, it applies to all kinds of media, such as games, Hollywood movies, or Asian drama.

For example, a Korean drama like Descendant of The Sun which has parents guide on it, or the anime Berserk with an 18+ rating, well act accordingly. There are differences on how these shows depict explicit content. A grown up adult who says all anime are exclusively for kids just because they are animated should know better.

They Think Anime Is the Same With Hentai

This is a topic that every anime watcher might have been asked once in their life. It is unavoidable that some people unfamiliar with anime might think the two are the same. However, they couldn’t be more wrong.

There are many types and genre of anime. While anime is the general term to describe Japanese animated shows, hentai itself is a genre where it tells erotic and highly explicit stories and content. For some instances, the sole purpose of the hentai genre is to give sexual content. It is synonymous to pornographic works in Japan, after all.

The Fan Service Problem In Anime

Now that the difference between the two is clear, it is also important to tackle the issue of fan service, especially the gravure ones. Sexualization is unfortunately a prominent aspect in the entertainment industry, not just in anime. Some tropes involving sexualization even date back to a long time ago, making it somehow can’t live without the other.

Fan service itself is a consequence of the highly competitive manga and anime industry. It is sometimes hard to digest that if a mangaka wants to stay in the game, they sometimes have to resort to this type of stuff, especially for the smaller ones.

Fan service in anime has divided fans into two opposing sides. Some prefer it stays, while some find it to be off-putting and distasteful. Fan service can actually backfire and make a potentially good anime into a less than okay one. It is critical to acknowledge when fan service is too much. Then, the industry will hopefully follow the demands for more actually great storytelling.

https://seinenrider.com/2023/11/12/five-reasons-people-bully-anime-fans-and-how-to-handle-them/

#Anime #AnimeList #Bullying #Culture #Otaku