Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Perfection

Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Perfection

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off went in a direction most people would've never expected. Instead of being a standard adaptation of the beloved comic, it instead deconstructs and remixes the source material into something amazing. I mean, the comic was already a good read, but the anime is undoubtedly Scott Pilgrim at its best.

As stated earlier, the anime isn't necessarily faithful to the source material. The first episode ends with Scott Pilgrim being killed by Matthew Pattel, causing the narrative to focus on Ramona in her quest to find out what really happened to Scott. This version of Ramona is way more engaging than the aloof jerk she was in the movie. She's forced to confront her past and the toxic influence she played in her previous relationship. It was honestly heartwarming to see Ramona reconcile with her exes instead of them being beaten by Scott. The audience gets to see Ramona grow from a Mysterious loner to a woman on the path to redemption.

The anime also does a good job of giving additional screen time to most of the characters, especially since all of the exes are alive in this version. We get a better look at their daily lives and interactions with each other. By the end of the show it's pretty clear they all would've been good friends if they hadn't let their obsession with Ramona consume them in the first place. I also like how Young Neil gets better characterization here since was a mostly quiet background character in the original. He becomes a loveable idiot wannabe writer that I can't just get enough of. Roxie was the ex I felt most sympathetic for since from her perspective, Ramona was some straight girl who used her for a sexual experiment and discarded her once she was done. Her trauma is unfortunately an experience many gay people can relate to. My favorite character overall is probably Lucas Lee for constantly being himbo beefcake fanservice.

The true highlight is without a doubt the animation. Science Saru brought out their A-game and their passion for the show is evident in every frame. Bryan Lee O'Malley's simple art style translated perfectly to the colorful and fluid animation fest Saru provides. The comic’s already over-the-top energy gets taken to the next level with almost everyone having high-octane anime battles that need to be seen to be believed. The art style is also a perfect blend of anime and western aesthetics. This results in a show that looks starkly different from the standard Western or Japanese cartoon. Fans have been hungry for a Scott Pilgrim cartoon for well over a decade now and the wait was definitely worth it.

One Piece Film Red is Cinematic Gold

The latest one piece film is a visual and musical feast for fans old and new alike. The center focus is on Uta, a childhood friend from Luffy's past who is none other than Shanks' (adoptive) daughter. She uses her talented singing skills to charm the audience and usher in a new era of peace. But at what cost will she manifest her dreams?

Uta is an exemplary example of an anti villain done right. She grew up seeing how much despair pirates cause with their mayhem so she set out to make songs to soothe the hearts of their victims. She genuinely wants what is best for the world but goes about it in the worst way possible. I loved the dynamic she had with Luffy. It started out as a cheerful reunion between two distant friends before their clashing ideals results in conflict. Luffy embodies the idea of freedom while Uta uses forceful measures so everyone follows her version of happiness. This contrast makes the drama all the better. Seeing Uta devolve from a high spirited girl to a broken martyr was so gut wrenching to sit through. I truly feel that she's one of the best female characters in the entire franchise from just one movie alone.

The animation and music were also stunning throughout the entire movie. Uta's musical numbers were vividly animated and full of detail. Character designer Masayuki Sato elevated Oda's designs to the next level and brought them to perfection. I wish he was the main character designer for the anime, but the art has improved ever since the Wano arc began so I'm content. The animation goes full throttle during the final battle against Tot Musica where all the straw hats and Shank's crew team up, albeit indirectly. One piece has never looked so eye catching before. Luffy briefly tapping into gear 5 in the final battle was icing on the cake.

Ado absolutely killed it on this soundtrack. I've been a fan of her since discovering usseewa and she doesn't disappoint at all. Each song captures how Uta feels at the current moment in the film and sheds light on her character. My favorite songs are the victorious sounding "Backlight" and the captivating haunting " Tot Musica", which is also the name of the ultimate villain in Red. Fun fact, Tot Musica was composed by legendary composer Hiroyuki Sawano, the same guy who worked on titles like Promare and blue exorcist. He's not the only high profile name on the list either. New Genesis is composed by Yasutaka Nakata, a man who played a pivotal role in the 2000s J-pop scene. I'm hoping these ambitious musical collabs become more common in one piece soon.

Overall, One piece film Red outshines all other films in the franchise with its gripping character drama and impeccable soundtrack. You can officially watch the movie on Vudu.

Rokka no Yuusha Volume 2 Review ( Spoilers)

It's no exaggeration when I say that Rokka no Yuusha Volume 2 is one of the most enjoyable novels I've ever read. It was heavily drenched with drama and suspense to the point it was almost impossible to put down. This volume boldly opens up with a scene of Mora standing over Hans' dead body while a flustered Rolonia desperately tries to heal him. It's a daring choice to have such a heavy spoiler within the first few pages, but learning what led up to it is just as interesting.

Mora is the primary focus of this volume which means readers get a deep dive into her psyche. I was initially annoyed with Mora due to how determined she was in the first volume to antagonize Adler any chance she got. It struck me as odd that the wisest of braves acted so headstrong and even used deception to further increase tensions against Adlet. We then discover the reasoning behind her madness; a fiend general infected Mora's daughter with a parasite that will kill the girl unless Mora kills one of the braves before a certain date. This internal drama puts Mora in a much more sympathetic light and makes the readers root for her even when her deceptive ways appear once again. She's definitely a morally complex character that's much more layered than I expected her to be.

Besides Mora's inner conflict, there's still the issue of the seventh brave. The group remains suspicious of each other and often keeps at an arm's distance for fear of becoming a victim. I feel that the seventh may not be a malicious person due to their lack of action. They had multiple chances to make their attack on the squad but have yet to do so. It's possible the 7th might have been forced into their position or may not even be aware they're fake. In any case, the Braves' distrust of each other is possibly as deadly as the fiends.

I have to give praise to Ishio Yamagata for his natural talent for keeping readers on their toes. The fight scenes were vividly described with rich detail and Tgurneu's witty tactics made it impossible to predict what he'd do next. It's clear that the Braves are vastly outmatched by the fiends' numbers and strength which begs the question of how they'll ever stand a chance against the Majin. It was incredibly satisfying reading Adlet deduce Tgurneu's scheme since that was the only real form of victory the group has made thus far. It's a small step in the right direction. 

Reflecting back on ATLUSxP5

How often do you listen to playlists?

Not official soundtracks but rather a selection of songs to fit a certain mood or theme. Maybe you wonder what kind of music the next game in your favorite game series will have and one day you stumble upon a playlist that answers that question.

That's the scenario many persona fans found themselves in when they discovered the persona 5 imagining project by atlusxp5. The playlist in question was made a while before Persona 5 was officially announced so some fans thought it was a genuine look into what Atlus had in store for the future.  There were even cryptic hints of a story hidden in long-since deleted videos. What atlusxp5's intentions were are ambiguous since they have never confirmed nor denied the several theories surrounding the project. Some people have said the playlist has inspired them to make a persona fangame but nothing came out of it. That's one thing that Danganronpa fans have over persona fans: when someone says they're gonna make a fan game, they typically follow through with it.

My memories of how exactly I stumbled upon the project are a bit fuzzy but I'm pretty sure it happened from listening to a jet set radio fan playlist. Yeah, that's right. I discovered a playlist by listening to a completely unrelated playlist. Playlistception! I've been a huge fan of the Jet Set radio soundtrack since 9th grade despite never playing the game so it's no surprise I'd want to listen to music similar to it. I literally typed in " music similar to jet set radio" on YouTube one day and was met with an evergrowing YouTube list of eclectic songs.

I hardly knew anything about persona at the time but that didn't matter. The mesmerizing psychedelic pop music had my ears completely captivated. It was easy to see why considering it was a fusion of all my favorite genres. It even introduced me to an obscure genre called Shibuya kei that deserves a post of its own.

Some of my favorite tracks include Rockin' My Way and Rising Core by the band COPTER4016882. The lyrics are jabberwocky nonsense just like the band's name but both songs have this upbeat electronic sound fused with high-tempo guitar work. They certainly fit the tone of persona 4 rather than p5. Another valuable mention is Freak by MEG, an energetic pop song that invokes the vibe of a girls' night out in the big city.

Talalala by dj deckstream has all the hallmarks of being a glorious final boss theme. It begins with a somber piano tune before shifting to a triumphant melody about preserving and overcoming hard times. The lyrics also do a good job of reflecting the themes of the persona franchise as a whole.

" Don't close your eyes, don't wave good-bye, just take a chance

And take a look inside your heart

Then you will find that down beneath there's a dream you've always had, so

Don't close your eyes, don't wave good-bye, just take a chance

And take a look inside your heart

See that therе is more to life than what you've been through before"

  That isn't Deckstream's only noteworthy contribution. His cover of Tom's Diner is a chill jazzy tune that invokes the vibe of exploring the city while his Whatever cover by Oasis has a calming atmosphere that's perfect for the end of a long journey.

The p5 imagining project is a prime example of how important music curation can be. Even if the songs aren't original pieces, they still do wonders to solidify the vision crafted by the project's creator. It's intriguing how a well crafted playlist can create such a vivid image of what Persona 5 theoretically could've been. I've always envisioned p5 as an experimental psychedelic acid trip type of game. Imagine an alternate universe where Studio Shaft was a videogame developer that made a JRPG with Kunihiko Ikuhara as the director and  suda51 as co-writer that combined the aesthetics of the world ends with you, the Monogatari series, punk rock dadaism, and panty and stocking. That's the kind of atmosphere atlusxp5 laid out in my mind. It's the kind of game that's sadly far too ambitious to exist in real life. Maybe. One can only dream.

For additional info, I suggest going to the Imagining Project Tumblr page and watching Youtuber Blue's video on the matter.

Links:

Tumblr

PERSONA 5: Imagining Project

Persona 5: IP Fanblog. LINKS tracklist | original songs pastebin by pantiesinabox (updates more...

Jojolands Chapter 5 Review- November Rain

This chapter continues the mystery of the elusive diamond. Even as Dragon tries multiple times to steal it, it keeps returning by Rohan's side. This is kind of similar to the Gucci oneshot where Rohan has a Gucci handbag that causes any items he puts inside it to disappear. It's safe to assume that the diamond has supernatural properties and might even be this part's equivalent of the Rocacaca fruit. Rohan secures his victory by tying up Dragona and calling the police on the gang.

This victory is short-lived since Jodio quickly traps Rohan by using his stand and then tying him up, reflecting the previous chapter's cover of Rohan in bondage. Jodio uses the lava collection to goad Rohan into calling off the police, knowing that he places great value on the rocks. I'm curious to see what the true nature of the lava rocks will end up being. I theorize that the rocks might come from a volcano with esoteric properties like the devil's palm or the wall's eyes. The chapter ends with the mysterious cat from earlier watching the gang leave and is joined by a crowd of identical cats. It'll be so awesome if it turns out that all these cats share the same stand. I wonder if they're a form of guardian spirit for Rohan's home since they only attacked Jodio's gang once they began robbing the place.

The diamond heist went off to a rocky start but the gang managed to pull through. Let's see how they'll fare against their feline pursuers.

Beauty of Spring Poem

I wonder if spring ever takes a moment

To bask in its own beauty

Does it hear the songs of the birds

As they dance among the cherry blossoms?

Does it get lost in a sea of verdant botany

And true blue skies like we do?

I don't know what Spring is thinking

But I hope it knows it is cherished.