Several times I've been asked about why I use the profile picture that I have and/or what my name refers to. The answer is multifaceted, and it's a bit more of an ordeal to answer than "I think x character is cool" or whatever the explanation is that most people have for their profile picture, so this is my longwinded essay about the why of it all.
The profile picture:
It's a drawing of an alien called Lam. It was drawn by the infamous occultist Aleister Crowley, and it was first published in 1919. According to Crowley, Lam is a Tibetan word for way or path, and it has connections to Buddhism. I don't care about that. Crowley, who was probably high out of his mind at the time, claimed to have seen this critter when he drew it.
What interests me about this image is how similar it looks to the stereotypical grey alien before that became a pop culture sensation. The only real difference being the much smaller and more human-like eyes, as opposed to the big black orbs. In fact, aliens were born out of the occult—notably through theosophy—before any normal person claimed to see one. Theosophists placed a special value upon various planets in the solar system, and many of them would claim to commune with aliens. Quite a number of these fake totally real encounters had the subject referring to the "alien" as an "aryan" or some other very human-like description. There were some more "exotic" alien descriptions that didn't resemble humans too much in some cases.
Anyway, the "sightings," eventually would solidify into the grey aliens we so often hear about today. If you dig into commentary from alien fanatics online, you can find speculation about other alien races, and alleged sightings do vary to some degree, though. What fascinated me about Lam is that it constitutes a kind of "missing link" between the "aryan" aliens and the grey aliens. My interest in alien/UFO history is part of why I chose to use this image.
My name:
Gsarthotegga is pronounced as sar | thought | tay | ga, I guess—whatever, who cares? The name comes from the author Clark Ashton Smith, who was part of Lovecraft's circle of friends, and while he penned many poems and also would draw and paint, he was mostly know for sci-fi, fantasy, and horror short stories that he submitted to pulp magazines. Gsarthotegga is also known as Vulthoom (please, ignore the garbage artwork on this page). The story Vulthoom can be read here. Vulthoom is presented as a deity or god, but it's also very clearly a space alien.
The name and profile picture in unison:
Okay, if you've looked at many profile pictures on here, then I don't need to tell you that most of them are of high school girls from anime. Then you have a few people who have black and white pictures of Stalin or whatever...
I have controversial views on anime (and everything else, to be honest) that often clash with other MALists, and I don't ever try to tone these opposing views down or carefully choose shows where I'll have a positive reaction. Don't care, and I gladly invite these Animefan Crybaby responses I so often receive. I've embraced that "alienation" by choosing an image and name that both correspond to fictitious aliens. I wanted a long, unwieldy, even enigmatic name. One that users might not remember or will be left to wonder about the origin of, but it stands out like a sore thumb when they see it. The picture synergizes with the name well, while also being kind of creepy and funny at the same time. It's also very memorable on a website that has a predictable pattern when it comes to profile pictures.
Perhaps it's counter-productive to choose a profile picture and name that was partially intended to mystify, but then to demystify the pair by explaining away everything, yet most people won't read this in the first place, and now I'll have something to point to when asked, instead of having to type up an answer every time.
Scores and what peons on MAL think about art doesn't matter. Like, get this, because it's pretty important: It's the art that matters. Is that revolutionary enough for you? Remember, it's not an IQ test to score your anime, retard. Before you dissect a frog, you should know what you're actually doing, and the same goes for passing judgment on my favorite anime.
Let this broken vase sink in. It's just a broken vase, you say? That light contorting and refracting has a certain awe to it that you can't experience otherwise, but you probably didn't realize that. Well, I did. Think of the symbology and how it's, like, conceptual, man. Makes me feel like Epicurus or something just thinking about it. This vase looks more beautiful than an intact one that you'd purchase at Walmart. Just like how men need to man up and learn to appreciate used-up old women, you need to accept this broken vase into your heart to understand it. I'm an aesthete, seeing beyond the surface, while you're like, "shit's broken," sweeping it into a dustpan! You might have thrown away a million dollars if the CIA could have gotten ahold of it for money laundering. You have no vision, stuffing everything into pigeonholes and whatever other holes that might strike your fancy. Who are you to baselessly dismiss this art? You got up in the vase's feng shui and tried to make it yours, insisting upon yourself because of your presuppositions, missing the point of expression altogether. Worst of all, you attempt to dismiss rather than to understand. That's right: You're a dismisser; whereas I'm an understander.
Oh, yeah, and just in case you're not enlightened enough to get it because you haven't taken as many yoga classes at the local mall as me, I also rate anime, and my ratings are explained below, so check them out.
What's that? I don't even have a ratings section on here, you say? Why should I have to prove anything to you when we live in an incredible world where Congo the Chimpanzee was making better art than you?
Wow, look at this wonderful painting! Abstract expressionism is serious business and not monkeying around at all!
In case you're too plebeian to understand the deep meaning of this painting, then remember, repeat, and all will be clear: Everything around the image is part of its meaning. Its uniqueness is part of the uniqueness of the single place where it is. Everything around it confirms and consolidates its meaning.
My man ThatAnimeSnob 2.0, also known by the totally ironic moniker rorikonfan, giving a dope-ass take on Usagi Drop, his words flowing like a cakewalk with sprinkles and sugar on a rainbow slide!:
Before I twirl into the whimsical whirlpool of thoughts, let’s sprinkle some glitter on the fact that I’m indifferent to slice of life serenades. They’re like marshmallows on a gloomy day—fluffy but not filling. Moeblobs, however, frolic miles ahead in the absurdity race. So here I am, plopping down to watch this anime because it pirouetted into the top ten on every cosmic billboard within weeks. I pondered, "How in the cotton candy clouds did this happen? It’s just another stroll through mundane-ville!"
Peeking at the plot reveals a sprinkle of nothingness. A dude unearths that his grandpa played the parent role late in the game and decides to nurture the sprout after the old sage hops off this merry-go-round. So, what’s all the chitter-chatter about? Whispers suggest it’s got a weird twist at the manga’s climax (not spilling the jelly beans—spoiler alert!), or perhaps it blooms feelings like a garden of emotions. But honestly, the storyline feels as thin as a crepe, characters are cookie-cutter cutouts, and the ending flutters away like a butterfly into the void, so my eyes aren’t glued to a masterpiece through an objective kaleidoscope.
Yet, I must admit, the presentation dances on a tightrope of finesse. It captures the essence of the ordinary with a sprinkle of magic stardust. I remember a whimsy-tastic anime from ages ago called Chocotto Sister—where ludicrousness reigned supreme! With everything from snuggly lolicons to Santa handing out nudie gift wrap to unsuspecting teens; it had a slice of life vibe but quickly tumbled into silliness, wrapped in a lame production bow that faded into forgetfulness.
Usagi Drop prances through a dreamy garden of subtly woven artsy whimsy. The visuals leap like pastel kittens, each character a dancing firefly that beckons eyes to twirl. The voice acting hums just right, never sailing over the top into the land of drama llamas. Each character behaves with a sprinkle of sense; no hopping teens with angst grenades in sight here! The hero juggles work like a circus clown, while a wistful girl seeks her treasure map to joy. This slice of life, so rare among the anime trees, sparkles like a unicorn at tea time. Most shows skedaddle past the ordinary, gift characters with sparkle coins, and toss them into school sagas that turn into accidental nudity rodeos. And remember how ‘grown-up’ parenting traipsed around in Astarotte no Omocha?
Usagi Drop sidesteps that and serves a delectable dish of realism, pouring out the bittersweet recipe of caring for a dreamy child in a world of grown-up grumbles. It reveals the sacrifices, spun with threads of sadness, and let's not kid ourselves—it can be tough for realism-dodgers, who make up around 99.98% of the whimsical media land. Heck, I juggle with realism too! Yet enchanting as it dances, this show is grounded more than any other I've snuggled with in parenthood tales. Many swear by the second season of Clannad, calling it realistic, yet its finale shouts fairy tale escape—a wishful mirage! Then there's Kurenai, where a young lad spins tales of tending to a gloomy girl, sprinkled with action sprinkles, swirling dementia, and even love’s taboo dance. Was it grander than Usagi Drop because of these? Nope, not at all!
Now hold your spaghetti horses, I’m not making a grand statue of realism here! Sure, the storytelling has its wobbly jellybeans. Like, poof! Daikichi scoops up Rin like a magician conjuring a goldfish! Home sweet home—bam! And she waltzes into kindergarten without a single treasure map or riddle in sight. The whole ‘adoption’ jazz? A cakewalk on a rainbow slide!
Nay, it’s not the tale twists or the plotty potpourri that tickle your noodle but rather the oodles of feels it flings at you! Sure, any silly fanfare/fadish/sparkly moe concoction can attempt this jig, yet none succeed by prancing in normality. Oh, they just bluster in supernova levels, splattering sex, kabooms, doom, and debauchery, then strut about claiming 'maturity' while tickling skepticism too raw! Characters? Pure vanilla, bare of quirky sprinkles, frizzy beehives, or attire obsessions. They play their roles like pros, needing no zesty garnishes! That’s my jam with this show; it dances with simplicity and realism without snoring off, even if you’re not vibing with the genre. And this comes from one who paloozed with titanic yarns like Aria, Wandering Son, and Yokohama Shopping Diary and found them snooze-fests extraordinaire!
Is it a show of whimsical wonder? Indeed, it dances in the realm of the unusual, and I sparkle with delight in saying this! In a sea of anime sameness, Usagi Drop leaps forth like a hopping unicorn, casting the glow of authentic life instead of a feeble 'adult' tale. Yet, one must twirl in doubt—would it jiggle its fame without 'that peculiar event' at the manga's finish (which the anime decided to play hide-and-seek with)?
Those lumps aren't gonna make themselves, Pudding!
Yeah, and the worst part, the resurfacing of these guys like the dead wife and aunt aren't making them question anything about the witch's cult, there's no mystery around it, and it's just there to cheapen the losses XD like tie it into some witch cult related story or smthn or the world lore. Also elsa being garfiel's trauma and following him around instead of being involved with subaru even though she was his first main nemesis XD
Yeah, considering she's pissed emilia was after her "lover" when she learned about the witch factor of petelgeuse residing in subaru XD they're just cheapening the characters at this point and for no extra gain. Like at least petelgeuse was an interesting mad villain with a long arc in S1 XD yeah, the fucking skating comedy bit XDDD and i rmember she bonked his limp peepi too before the hammer bit lol.
hi cool profile.
may i ask why wazukyan is one of your favourites? id think hes overshadowed by a lot of other mib characters but i would love to see your reasoning
I'm also here cause of the semi royalty they earned over the last 2 seasons. I'm no fan of theirs right now either with these fuckin characters lol i hope wrath isn't emilia's aunt or smthn :P cause she's giving me that feeling. Regulus has been the biggest disappointment so far, he's completely non serious and taken as a child even by subaru (LOL), you'd think he'd have a better role and such considering he was with pandora last season traumatising little elfblob XD
When you're in the jungle and a bit too pent up to handle survival :P funny it's a beastgirl too of the horse mammalian creed :P seems it's based off: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jungle_Pocket
XD ikr, gotta collect them materials, S2 is coming :P
What's disappointing is that his animation credits are nothing that special, and for being assistant on Akira and LN it would be cool to know what sequences he worked in
Ang Lee not so subtly implying Bruce Banner reached his phallus when becoming a big green monster. Oh I forgot his next movie is about two gay sheperds so it fits XD
Oh I thought you heavily disliked Key the Metal Idol. I have it on DVD but haven't watched, was surprised out of nowhere the last two episodes were like an hour long. What a way to fall, working as animator on Little Nemo and Akira and directing this to making porn XD
Yes, the producer Eunyong Choi supposedly became the CEO instead of Yuasa and that's why they are going for more commercial productions. Naoko Yamada working with Yuasa would be an interesting pair, even if her movies have some visual experimentation like him, her mellow side like in Liz and the Blue Bird would clash with the craziness of a Yuasa production, though something like a better developed Ride your Wave (probably Yuasa's less crazy movie) could be nice
Yeah, im no fan of ska in general either XD yeah the noble bitch and trixie kong fanservice dynamic just cheapens the show further considering all that they're showing this season. It's not a short SoL sequence in between the arcs or smthn.
lol im not sure maybe it has some time travel or get back on your feet tropes. I know this VN is pretty famous, but i haven't gotten around to seeing it XD
Oh that one is generic buddy battle academy thing, nothing much to see there. Guy simps to be buddy with girl only and is courted by other chicks he keeps turning down. Nothing much there lol
Thnx I'll be watching Geobreeders ova.. hopefully we'll see some cats on this one.. after all "Gunsmith Cats" was misleading wasn't it?
Acoustic Kitty wtf is this shit..
“They slit the cat open, put batteries in him, wired him up,”
“The tail was used as an antenna. They made a monstrosity.”
"making it all of 10 feet before he was unceremoniously struck by a passing taxi and killed."
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On that wiki-page.. poor dogs were scared.. well it backfired anyway lol..
"dogs often returned to the senders without entering the bunker or waiting there for supposed period of time which would have caused friendly casualties in a live fire situation. It was feared that in the actual battle, dogs would return much more often, scared by enemy fire. Attempts to continue the program in 1944 and 1945 failed"
Lol Another one? I also believe Science Saru didn't bring many great anime to the table aside from Inu oh and apparently Eizouken and Dandadan but it's so Yuasa-unhinged to open another when the other he founded is still running XD. Apparently Ame Pippin is co-owned by Comix Wave, how would a Yuasa-Shinkai collab turn out given one is ultra stylized and the other goes for the most realistic looking 2D animations that can possibly be directed like in Garden of Words?
If you thought WwY was narrow you will suffer through Suzume XD. The only thing with a Shiseiken adaptation would be that it being so old is that the only studio that would be willing to adapt it is probably Madhouse or David Productions, and the former will be giving the budget to Frieren and the later to adapting Steel Ball Run lol.
lol nah I wasnt expecting anything to get better but I was however, really burnt out.
Yea he pretty much uses brute force the first couple of times, die/reset and repeat then he miraculously convinces x person in an unconvincing way. Sometimes he does remain neutral but someone like Garfield for instance still didn't listen.
okay so I will check out UB soon, im letting the shows pile up pretty much lol.
Medalist does indeed look like that right? Like a grooming simulator but apparently it isn't lol.
I dont really like sports anime much either but I enjoyed a couple. The sports genre weakest point is the fact that they MAKE the main characters win every-time and even if they lose they wont ever lose any match that is important. I mean there were a few instances where characters do lose a game/match that is important but it rarely even matters because they always have a second chance since they always start main characters off in year 1 or year 2 or something meaning that they will always have a second chance lol
Keijo is actually entertaining but weird at the same time lol.
All Comments (5261) Comments
"pigeon-guiden missiles"... lock-on.. and then..
Yup my rinrintin is also based of real lore :P
may i ask why wazukyan is one of your favourites? id think hes overshadowed by a lot of other mib characters but i would love to see your reasoning
When you're in the jungle and a bit too pent up to handle survival :P funny it's a beastgirl too of the horse mammalian creed :P seems it's based off:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jungle_Pocket
XD ikr, gotta collect them materials, S2 is coming :P
What's disappointing is that his animation credits are nothing that special, and for being assistant on Akira and LN it would be cool to know what sequences he worked in
Ang Lee not so subtly implying Bruce Banner reached his phallus when becoming a big green monster. Oh I forgot his next movie is about two gay sheperds so it fits XD
Nah she actually used that move during a match lmaooo
Armchair sports like this?
https://myanimelist.net/anime/10800/Chihayafuru
https://myanimelist.net/anime/135/Hikaru_no_Go
Funny enough I've only seen like one racing anime which is Redline and maybe 1-2 boxing anime such as Megalo Box.
Have you see this? lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8-nU2f8KQY
lol im not sure maybe it has some time travel or get back on your feet tropes. I know this VN is pretty famous, but i haven't gotten around to seeing it XD
Oh that one is generic buddy battle academy thing, nothing much to see there. Guy simps to be buddy with girl only and is courted by other chicks he keeps turning down. Nothing much there lol
Btw i found this on frieren today lol:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DGMEyyUyv3c/?igsh=MXdjOWtlamJvMWh5MA%3D%3D
Acoustic Kitty wtf is this shit..
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On that wiki-page.. poor dogs were scared.. well it backfired anyway lol..
"dogs often returned to the senders without entering the bunker or waiting there for supposed period of time which would have caused friendly casualties in a live fire situation. It was feared that in the actual battle, dogs would return much more often, scared by enemy fire. Attempts to continue the program in 1944 and 1945 failed"
https://x.com/catsuka/status/1780506839957852413?lang=es
Did you see this?? It's going to be the spiritual sequel to Jumping XD
Yea he pretty much uses brute force the first couple of times, die/reset and repeat then he miraculously convinces x person in an unconvincing way. Sometimes he does remain neutral but someone like Garfield for instance still didn't listen.
okay so I will check out UB soon, im letting the shows pile up pretty much lol.
Medalist does indeed look like that right? Like a grooming simulator but apparently it isn't lol.
I dont really like sports anime much either but I enjoyed a couple. The sports genre weakest point is the fact that they MAKE the main characters win every-time and even if they lose they wont ever lose any match that is important. I mean there were a few instances where characters do lose a game/match that is important but it rarely even matters because they always have a second chance since they always start main characters off in year 1 or year 2 or something meaning that they will always have a second chance lol
Keijo is actually entertaining but weird at the same time lol.
There were a couple of sports anime that stood out to me
https://myanimelist.net/anime/42668/Taisou_Zamurai - this was okay
https://myanimelist.net/anime/48406/Re-Main - this was interesting but they didnt really do anything with it
https://myanimelist.net/anime/22831/Abarenbou_Rikishi_Matsutarou - this was terrible and felt like dry humor the entire time lol