Join authors JD Glass, Mala Kumar and myself at The Ripped Bodice, in Brooklyn, NY on Dec. 10 for a talk about “The Gift of Love” and queer joy! Registration does come with a fee, but you get the money back as a coupon towards books at the store. JD, Mala and I will be […]
Nov 24, 2024 • Subscribe
More like this
given – Grief, Moving On, and Queer Love
This October it will be three years since my Dad suddenly passed away during my junior year of college. When he died, all of my memories of him…
The gift of BL on #Blush801
Today would have been the Blush Convention. For years, as organisers, we’ve sought to find ways to hold the con as close to 801 yet schedules fail…
The Best and Worst of Fall 2021, Dec 10-16
It's a close race between Platinum End and Fruit of Evolution. Find out what else is moving in the rankings this close to season end!
A Billion Nights on Earth at the Brooklyn Academy of Music
Last night I was given the opportunity to head over to the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) and take in the family show, A Billion Nights on Earth,…
Mashle and the Gift of Circumstance
If you’re like a number of our staffers, you were absolutely entranced by Mashle, a series that alternately would have you on the floor rolling in laughter or…
Queer Transfigurations: Boys Love Media in Asia
I treated myself to a copy of Queer Transfigurations: Boys Love Media in Asia, edited by James Welker recently and I honestly found it to be really inspiring. …
Yuri!!! On ICE and the revolutionary portrayal of queer slavic representation
Of all the amazing things about the show, one of the most striking to me was the revolutionary way it portrayed the intersection of queer and Slavic identity.
Alderamin on the Sky – Joy, Life, War and Horror
‘Alderamin on the Sky’ is a series that has two drastic tones that meld together very well to support its narrative. One is the banter of the characters,…
In Transition - K-ON! & The Euphoric Joy of Moeblobs (& Other Cute Things)
If you were around online or watching Anime in general in the late 2000's you've probably heard the term "moeblob" thrown around a lot with a negative connotation.…
One Piece: The outrageous Joy of Joy Boy
Luffy and Kiado battle for the third time in One Piece Chapter 1045. With his newly awakened power, Luffy confuses the Yonko.
An Essay On Anime, Fandom, and Metaphorical Comets of Joy
Recently I've been thinking on those times when life is hard and then some piece of media comes blazing through your life like a comet, brin...
Transmasculinity and queer sexuality in the works of Ikeda Riyoko
Unlike many other gender-bending stories of the time, which often fall back on a “born in the wrong body” story, or a Mulan-style passing narrative, Ikeda acknowledges a…
The Joy of Painting – The Influence of Bob Ross on Me
I watched the first episode of a new Bob Ross inspired painting show called “Keeping the Bob Ross Dream Alive.” I grew up watching Bob Ross. The bushy-haired,…
Good Tidings of Anime and Joy
It's the holiday season, and what better time to celebrate the spirit the season of giving? Here's some places to donate your anime and manga.
The intersection of queer and Deaf identity in I Hear the Sunspot
Content Warning: Discussion of ableism. As a long-time reader of manga, I always found the medium to be a means of escape to fantastical worlds. Yet, there remained…
Adachi & Shimamura – 04 – The Joy of Being Patted on the Head
Shimamura calls Adachi to ask if she can do a sit-up. It’s a weird and random conversation, but who cares? They’re enjoying talking on the phone together; the…
Upcoming Yuri and Queer ( and Queer-Adjacent) Events
We have a couple of upcoming Yuri or queer events of interest and I want you all to have time to register and join me virtually. ^_^ I’ll…
Finding Joy in Responsibility
Life is full of things that we have to do, mundane chores eating up our time. But could these things actually be some of the most valuable moments……
Slut-Shaming and the Fetishization of Queer Childhood: A love letter to Alois Trancy
Since his introduction, despite the fact that he's a character quite hated by the audience, I've loved the Earl Alois Trancy as a multi-layered character that carries many…
The Art of Gift Giving in Sakamichi no Apollon
Gift giving is surprisingly complex and interesting part of human interaction. This very act helps in defining relationships whether it’s meant romantically or not. As poignantly featured in…
10 Things That Bring Me Joy
Inspired by this post by Rose and this post by Crimson.
Joy and Blue Box
This episode, we’re talking about Etsuko’s Joy published by Kodansha and Koji Miura’s Blue Box published by...
Queer Subtext and Representation in Kamen Rider
Much of the franchise's homoeroticism is a result of the franchise’s severe gender disparity, which it has only recently taken steps to address; the series took 31 years…
Beautiful, Broken, and Queer: The complicated interplay of sexuality and trauma in Banana Fish
Ash is a problematic depiction of a queer assault survivor, but also one that claws open some of my most private, difficult wounds. The post Beautiful, Broken, and Queer:…
Chaotically Queer Podcast Ep. 10 - "A Very Chrismaotically Queer Podcast"
(Originally Recorded 10/12/23) On this edition of the Podcast, Chloe is recovering from spicy flu (yay!), the SAG Strike is over and the cast talk about stuff they couldn't…
The Universal Joy of Akira Toriyama
Remembering the late Akira Toriyama, and how his work ties us together all around the world.
The Joy of Hobbies As Hobbies
I finished reading a book called “Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals” by Oliver Burkeman recently and it made me think about why I write. The book is basically…
The Best and Worst of Fall 2021, Dec 17-23
While we wait for the final episodes and votes to trickle in, this penultimate week has plenty of movement in the cumulative. Come and see how the season…
Your Anime Rankings - Best of Fall 2022, Dec 10-16
Do It Yourself inches its way up the cumulative thanks to some masterfully crafted episodes. Discover which other series stand out in our weekly user rankings!
Whirlpool of Joy (1992)
It's not often that I sub random episodes from TV shows (actually, I think this is the first instance of me doing so...?) but I had to make…
Akiba Maid War and the Rare Representation of Disabled Joy
No amount of blood splattering across the screen or sudden, emotional character deaths hit me quite as hard as the post-credits scene of the finale. It took just…
Goodbye, Shika: The Gift of Mourning
A few hours ago, as I write this, my cat Shikamaru died. He had developed FIPV, or Feline Infectious Peritonitis, an incurable and fatal viral infection. Shika was…
12 Days of Anime #1: Joy in ERASED
While the nail-biting cliffhangers and Satoru’s mounting desperation to avert the tragedy he has lived through kept me on the edge of my seat every week, the emotional payoff…
Queer time and the quarter-life crisis in contemporary yuri
Series that focus on queer adult characters open the door to a storytelling niche that’s still relatively underrepresented despite the rich narrative potential it offers: the post-adolescence queer…
Sakuga Week in Review #8: Dec. 02, 2019 – Dec. 08, 2019
Some fancy footwork in SAO:A, the short but sweet return of franchise ace Hiroyuki Yamashita on Boruto, and a guest appearance in Psycho Pass from a bonafide legend…
Summer Time Render #10 — Checking Out the Gift Shop
Is there any security at this evil shrine at all? Impressions: A very dull and uneventful episode, which feels like a strange thing to say about Team Scooby…
The Power of God and Anime, Episode 20: Ishida Uryū and the Gift of Salvation
Hello, friends! On today’s episode, Mike takes on a more modern anime in my recommendation, talks about his Anime North plans, and looks to a classic shounen anime…
The Best and Worst of Fall 2021, Nov 26-Dec 2
The last two episodes allow My Senpai Is Annoying to jostle its position up in the middle of the pack. Find out where your favorites rank this week!
In Transition - Steven Universe & The Everlasting Impact of Queer Creators
In the last decade we've seen a rise of queer creators being able to create their own stories with representation at the forefront alongside being able to tell…
[Review] Lycoris Recoil is the Joy that Keeps on Giving (and never changing)
As busy as the summer anime season was this year, there was a whole lot of mediocrity on that list. Only a handful of shows rose above the…
That Which is Lost: The Joy of Watching Anime in Theaters
The disappearance of movie theaters has also meant snipping the bud of a very special time.
The Importance of Love in Attack on Titan (in-depth thematic analysis)
#attackontitan #shingekinokyojin #grishayeager #erwinsmith #erenyeager #zekeyeager #arminarlert #hangezoe #mikasaackerman #ymir #anime #manga #love #animanga #hajimeisayama #mappa #witstudio Thumbnail Art by: https://twitter.com/AoT_Theories This video is an in-depth study of…
Queer media, escapism and self-discovery in Sasaki and Miyano
While the series itself is a sweet, wholesome story about self-discovery, it also offers an incredibly potent metatextual analysis of how queer media can help LGBTQ+ teens come…
Mother’s Day in Tokyo: Special Experience and Gift Ideas
Go the extra mile for that special woman in your life. Here are the best specials and ideas for Mother’s Day in Tokyo 2024.
Father’s Day in Japan: Special Experience and Gift Ideas
Whether your dad loves food and drink or has a competitive edge, these gifts and experiences will make this Father’s Day in Japan memorable.
VG Pulse 341: The Gift That Keeps On Giving
This week on VG Pulse, Aki finally found her way into the 21st century! We start off with side notes of new phones, before we dive into the…
Rainbows and Rollerblades: The queer evolution of the Scott Pilgrim series
This series has always been queer, it’s just been handled in different ways, with earnest character writing that nonetheless reflected the stereotypes and assumptions of the early 2000s,…
SCIENCE SARU: THE JOY OF ARTISTIC VISION, AND WHAT COMES NEXT
Science Saru's new Ghost in the Shell and Jadugaar: A Witch in Mongolia, both launching this summer, showcase what makes the studio exceptional. Now they're owned by TOHO,…
The Unique Joy of the LBGTQ+ Anime Fandom
Online fandoms have come a long way since the halcyon days of the internet, when the only way to find people with similar interests was to load up…
Queer Subtext & Symbolism in Sk8 the Infinity
Can I do an ollie? No. But can I overanalyze the gnarly *gay undertones* from a skateboarding anime that came out 3 years ago? Heck yeah, dude. Sources…
Perfect Blue, Fullmetal Alchemist, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood