Just Realized That The Reason I Tend To Accept Random Shit Happening In Anime Is Because I Was Initially

Just realized that the reason I tend to accept random shit happening in anime is because I was initially exposed to Tokyo Mew Mew and Shugo Chara, where you basically just have to accept weirdness and run with it

In an ideal world, everyone has read Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, and I’m just preaching to the choir.

But if by any chance this post reaches anyone who hasn’t read this marvelous, delightful book, let me tell you what you’re sleeping on:

A perfect example of how to write the most oblivious protagonist while still making things clear to the reader what’s going on

A competent protagonist who still has relatable self-esteem issues

Oblivious p I n I n g she wants Howl so bad and is in SUCH jealous denial

Misunderstandings related to that obliviousness

The most ridiculous Drama King to ever slime his own house

But who also is head over heels for that adorably oblivious protagonist

Like he dotes on her and she just thinks the whole time he doesn’t like her

Okay it’s not exactly enemies to lovers, but like, Sophie has such an impression of Howl’s reputation due to his own efforts to blacken his own name that Howl has a lot of work to do to correct her impression of him

and besides which, he really is a slitherer-outer so you can hardly blame Sophie’s frustration with him

and besides which Sophie does meddle an awful lot so you can hardly blame his own frustrations with her

I mean she basically just barges into his home and insists on staying an indeterminate time, like just tonight or you know, forever?

On that note, it’s not fake dating but these two are essentially living in a domestic relationship before they even kiss

File under: how to write a romance without needing the protagonists to kiss!

When Sophie insists on cleaning all the time Howl is just like “??? why??? do you want to clean when you are so awesome and powerful and could do so much better??? i keep telling you there’s a spell for that and you do not have to clean???? but if it’s what you want to do I guess?????”

like for real he’s just disappointed that she seems to only think she’s good for serving and doing chores and wants her to want more for herself

you can reread the book and try to pinpoint when Howl starts loving Sophie but then you cannot and for sure it just must be a case of ‘he was already in the middle before he knew he begun’

like he cures her aches and pains and he buys her nice clothes clearly trying to cater to her taste and

when he has to redo his whole HOME he asks her what kind of shop she wants to run and he buys her old home like as if they’re already married and they’re building a new home together

and Howl tries multiple times to break her curse, but in the end only SHE can really break it bc like I said this story is brilliant

and the WHOLE TIME, the whole time ALL OF THIS doting and pining is going on, Sophie looks like a 90-year-old woman and Howl is just head over heels for her 

I mean with tropes like these???? what are you waiting for?

PS WAIT TRAVESTY I FORGOT – awesome sisters caring for each other!!

I also like the theory that Chu-Chu is a representation of Anthy’s feelings. He shows the dislike and hesitation Anthy has towards certain people and is also more outwardly emotive in general. Utena is the only one who treats Chu-Chu well, thus being the only person to consider Anthy’s feelings.

Something I realized today, if Chu-Chu is Ikuhara's self-insert:

- that one dance scene where Chu-Chu is the one playing the music

- the fact that Chu-Chu is what brought Utena and Anthy together

If it really is his self-insert, it really was just a way to tell us he ships them.

And when they get home, Calcifer tries to get Sophie to explain it to him, which leads to a scandalized and sputtering Sophie and a Howl would slithers out of that conversation quite joyful while his wife screams at him to get back there and take responsibility.

Howl loves the Rocky Horror Picture Show with a passion Howl saw Rocky Horror Picture Show at its premiere in London in 1975 and fell in love instantly Howl went as Frank N. Furter for Halloween one time and Megan absolutely refused to be seen with him Howl occasionally sings Time Warp in the shower Howl occasionally DOES the Time Warp in the shower Howl has slipped and fallen while doing the Time Warp in the shower

I know barely anything about Rocky Horror Picture Show but that sounds accurate tbh

Sometimes not being out feels like choking

My words are locked in my throat. They twist and writhe, but they are never released. I want to scream them out but keep them sealed within. I can’t say how many times I’ve wanted to get it out, but there’s so much anxiety and wondering if this is the right moment. Because one day it feels like it, but within the next moment someone will say something that drives me right back into the closet.

I just want to know when it’s safe. When it’s alright. When no one will be shocked or treat me differently.

Just one moment of courage. Please.

I’m so used to Utena’s mind-fucking that sometimes I forget how strange it is. I tried explaining it to a friend the other day, and I was struck by how insane it really sounds. 

Sapphic girls with swords destroying the prince role? Contemplation about eternity and reality? Dismantling the patriarchy? Everyone sleeps with everyone (including incest)? Those fucking crazy Nanami episodes (like her turning into a cow) with their absurd humour? Then the next episode veers off on the angst train again?

So strange but still so good!