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Happy Birthday, atool ~!^^

Happy Birthday 🎂 🎉 !!

Happy birthday! 🥳

I had no idea that was the controversy connected to the mangka of Kenshin, and I have to say, there is never any excuse for that type of thing, To be frank, it really disgusts me, and if I had known about this before, I wouldn't have started the anime in the first place. I'm not sure what I should do now I've started, but I have been watching it in (American) English dub - and in my opinion they're all doing a good job voicing the main characters (and making the roles their own through their acting performances), so it's like it has been transformed into something different from what the original manga was, and is an entity separate from the personality or predilections of the original writer/creator. That being said, I'm still not 100% comfortable with this situation (it completely sours what is supposed to be an entertaining experience), so I might have to drop the series. Thank you for warning me and informing me of this situation.

Regarding Girls' Last Tour, I'm certainly not a fan of cuteness for cuteness sake - or if the themes of the anime are superficial, or the content vacuous, or the presentation tacky. For me, Girls' Last Tour is all about subtly explored philosophical themes and a meditation/rumination on human conflict, the futility of war, human self-destruction, the meaning and purpose of life (of sharing, of companionship, of bonding, of friendship), and even speculations about religion and a possible or impossible afterlife. In addition, the artwork and some of the settings are very beautiful (especially the snow scenes and when they're on the abandoned airplane), and the architecture and mechanics of the different floors/levels incredibly detailed and complex. And the OST has some of the most gorgeous melodies and tender and and emotive harmonies - that combined together with the artwork/aesthetics, create such and relaxing and magical experience. And a lot of the dialogue between the two leads is comedic, or witty, or poignant - or at the very least, charming or soothing/comforting. The contrast between their two personalities is interesting (one more careless/carefree, spontaneous/impulsive, foolish/silly, and reckless - and the other careful/cautious, responsible, thoughtful/considerate, and conscientious), and they're the perfect counterbalance/compliment for each other during their endless journey. And when the meaning or purpose of their continued existence (in a desolate, uninhabited world) is unclear - at least they have each other to rely on, to talk to, to console each other, and to laugh and cry with. I'm very glad to hear that you liked it :)

I had a look at our conversation history to reacquaint myself with who you are, and I still don't remember you - but I am impressed that you still remember that I was your 4th ever friend, and even more so because I've changed usernames 3 times since then. That feat of memory has earned you the 'reward' of a reply from me ;)

I'm not aware of the 'controversy' surrounding the mangaka. What was it about if you don't mind explaining?

Well, firstly, I have to say I'm ignorant of the original manga and of the original Studio Deen 1990's adaptation of the anime. So all I know of Rurouni Kenshin is this latest 2023 adaptation. I've repeatedly bumped into the original Kenshin anime (reviews and seeing it in other users top 10's) through my 5 plus years of using MAL regularly, and it's one of those older titles (along with Inuyasha and Yu Yu Hakusho) that I've had some interest in experiencing first hand but never got around to it - and maybe part of the reason was because the artwork/visuals/production looked dated by today's standards, or at the very least, compared to artwork/visuals/production post millennium. When I saw that a new adaption/reboot of the original Kenshin had come out, I thought now's my chance to have a little taste of the characters and story without being put off by the old, 30 years ago, look. I thought I'd watch a couple of episodes to see if it was worth carrying on with, and it was, so I've been pressing on with it for the last week. What follows will be a very short mini-review of what I've seen so far.

Firstly, one of the key things to get across (re-quoting something from the MAL synopsis) is that this 2023 version is a remake of the original adaptation, utilizing new animation technology to make it appealing to both new viewers and returning audiences of the series. And supplementary modifications were also made to bring a more serious tone and depth to the story. In reference to the allusion to a more serious tone, I will say that there is a good bit of Japanese history from just before the end of the 19th Century, and maybe you will have heard some of the key terminology in other anime - like references to the Shogunate, the Restorationists, The Imperialists, Edo, and The Meiji. In fact, it's one of the most historical and authentic Samurai inspired anime I've seen - like a fair bit more than Kimetsu no Yaiba, Dororo, and Bleach. The series references Samurai culture and tradition, and different Samurai swords and swords style, and there's a fair amount of detail about all that, so it's kinda like a learning experience as well as an entertainment series. At the same time, the more serious aspects are juxtaposed with some of the typical shounen tropes and goofiness/silliness and joking around you'd expect to see in things like Naruto and first series Bleach. This is mostly done in quite a charming and playful way though, and I wouldn't say it was annoying or off-putting. The main character Kenshin has a humble charm and charisma, and a distinctive speaking style which is quite funny, and there are times when he pulls of some cool moves and sword skills. It's not Kimetsu no Yaiba levels of fight animation but it can be quite intense and exhilarating, and at least it's never overly-protracted/boring or underwhelming. I like the art style/aesthetic overall, and it is rather pleasing to the eye. The OST is pretty decent as well, and the first OP and ED songs are real bangers and get you in the mood for the series, and set the vibe/tone of what's to follow. Overall, it's a blend of Samurai sword action and terminology, goofy comedy, Japanese history, and shounen tropes, and it's all blended into a reasonably enthralling, slick and shiny package, which has a nice pace to it - not too slow or too fast. Maybe the writing falls short of HxH 2011 standards of excellence (which is maybe the best or one of the best written shounens ever) but I really do think Rurouni has better writing than the mid-level shounens out there, and has a decent cast of likable main characters (with a nice female lead/possible romantic interest, to counterpart Kenshin). If you do decide to watch it yourself, let me know what you think!

I read till the end 😂 there prob wont be anymore like that but ill see you later.