I’m not afraid of anybody! If the city needs me then I’ll join Tarrlok’s task force and help fight Amon.
Character Spotlight: Izumi Maki
About Izumi Maki)
Izumi Maki is a character from an older anime named Martian Successor Nadesico. She’s one of the three female aces who protect the starship Nadesico. She, like her teammates, pilot an Aestivalis, the airborne mecha of the series.
Izumi has been engaged twice, but unfortunately, both her fiancés passed away. As of the series’ start, she is eighteen years old.
Personality breakdown)
Izumi Maki is an incurable punster. Nearly all of her dialogue is her shooting a pun, elaborate or not. No one seems to find them particularly funny other than Izumi herself who splits her sides after hearing her own punch line. Izumi joins her friend Hikaru in teasing their teammate Ryoko regarding her crush on the protagonist.
In contrast to her humorous side, Izumi is typically quiet and reserved. She seldom speaks and often has a melancholic look on her face. We learn that she has been greatly affected by the death of her two boyfriends. It is believed that her pun making is Izumi trying to wash out her sorrows. She may also have repressed any romantic urges of hers as well as an episode involving her past resurfacing has her spontaneously hitting on Akito and Akatsuki.
Personal Thoughts)
Ruri Hoshino might be the fan favorite, but Izumi was always the scene stealer for me. I just hadn’t seen many characters with her specialty of tongue in cheek lines and contrast of a heart wrenching past. She had me laughing immediately and even though many puns were Japanese, I still loved hearing them. Izumi didn’t receive much screen time and while this is a shame, it made every appearance by her a treat.
The episode where she confronts her past was shocking. Dead fiancés aside, I didn’t expect her to beg their ghosts to take her with them. Even more, the line of her stating she has nothing was surprising. She has two best friends who care about her and a crew full of kind people. Did she simply forget about them at that moment or was she truly miserable all this time?
Martian Successor features a pretty varied looking cast. Izumi though has one of the more unique appearances with her slim jaw, melancholic eyes, long midnight black bangs, and statuesque figure being 5’10. Why isn’t there more artwork of this girl?
Alas, this scene involving her and Akito never happened in the series or film. I’m assuming it was in the videogame tie in.
Reblogging?
Anyone who has read my blog knows I tend to write long posts and rarely ever reblog photos or posts. I occasionally upload or link to photos for memes or holidays, but only a handful a year. The other day I saw some material that I couldn’t help but want to see on Euphoric Skies and to share from there. So I think I’ll be reblogging a bit more.
Let me explain that just because I am, doesn’t mean I’m stopping my usual topic pieces. I assure you I already have several more on the way and will continue with this style in the future.
Well, that’s all for now. Please look forward to what I blog next on Euphoric Skies!
Character Spotlight: Kakashi Hatake
Well, I’ve returned after almost a month absence. I apologize. I had serious writer’s block. Not because I didn’t have any material. On the contrary, I had several things planned. What I shamefully lacked was any inspiration or desire to update until now. The reason I’m writing now is because I’ve passed that. I thank all my followers who have kept on with me.
These character spotlights are where I talk about a certain anime character. I describe them, I analyze their personality, possibly goals, and I give my thoughts on the character. It isn’t a review or a wiki article though. Just a tribute. Please enjoy!
About Kakashi Hatake)
Kakashi is a ninja from the series Naruto. As a child, he was considered a prodigy for his early achieved set of skills. In the Third Shinobi World War, he was given the Sharingan eye by his comrade Obitio in the boy’s dying moments. Kakashi is now a Jounin renowned as the Copy Ninja for the thousands of techniques his Sharingan has mimicked. He is squad leader of Team Kakashi and teacher of Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke.
Personality breakdown)
Kakashi has a hard to pin down personality. The easiest description would be “typically mellow.” Kakashi has a cool and aloof vibe about him, though he is lazy, occasionally the butt of jokes, and has a love of trashy novels. When he or his students are in danger, he becomes far more serious. His naturally calm persona allows him to come up with advanced strategies even while under pressure. Something that greatly angers him is the dead being defiled and disturbed.
His personality now is a far cry from when he was younger. Back then, do to his father’s shame, he considered any ninja compromising their mission for their teammate’s sake to be trash. After Obito opens his eyes to it all, Kakashi becomes far more heroic and closer to the man we know today.
Personal Thoughts)
Kakashi is probably my favorite Naruto character. He’s probably the one character who can do no wrong in my eyes. No matter what, he comes off as extremely cool, though never feeling overpowered. Interestingly enough, Kakashi is often the underdog in his battles with absolutely no guarantee of victory. He either wins with a brilliant strategy or is stopped seconds before the deathblow by interference from another foe. I’m not kidding here. Here is the list victories he’s had interfered with: Haku taking a blow for Zabuza (twice), Guren being protected, Asura Path for Deva Path, and a supposedly dead Kakuzu for Hidan.
Kakashi also becomes even more interesting when you witness his backstory in Kakashi Gaiden. You really appreciate how far he’s come from the judgmental cold youth to the aloof but loving teacher he is now.
He also, arguably, has one of the best looks in Naruto. He’s one of the characters that truly looks like a ninja. Kakashi is iconic with his spiky white hair, masked facial features, and dead gaze. I think he looked especially fantastic as an ANBU.
Preserved in its original form. I just couldn’t get myself to crop a picture like this.
Valentine’s Celebration: Favorite Anime Villain Couples
I wanted to do something special for Valentine’s Day and as you know I love using holidays as the theme for my anime topics. This year will be a bit unorthodox however. The reason I say this is because I’ll be writing about anime villain couples.
It can be baffling to see villainous characters show love and affection. Romance and love being good traits, we often place exclusively with good characters. However villains aren’t always so black and heroes so white. When those stereotypes are shattered, we are often introduced to a very memorable couple.
However, do not expect these couples to always have an innocent love. They can be mixed with lust or secret agendas. And being villains, their concept of love is often very twisted and yet strangely entertaining. Well, here goes. Warning: Spoilers ahead. I tell you this because I love you.
Makoto Shishio and Yumi Komagata of Rurouni Kenshin
Introduced for the Kyoto arc was Makoto Shishio, a manslayer betrayed, holding back insanity, and with a catastrophic plan for Japan. Accompanying our cunning villain was his companion, a scorned high class courtesan and now his lover. Our first impression of their relationship is interesting. Shishio is kind to her and willing to explain anything she or we need to know. Yumi also seems to understand just the kind of man she’s involved with. But when dealing with villains, you never know. We usually find out in the end that one of them never really cared for the other or was willing to sacrifice them if need be. Cue Shishio stabbing Yumi to kill Kenshin.
Only things were not as they appeared. Yumi, in her deathbed, thanks Shishio for finally being able to be useful to him and Shishio cradles her as he explains their deep love to Kenshin. Despite this sick maneuver, Shishio thought it best for both of them and truly loved her back. In the end, they tour hell together and aim to conquer it. How cool is that?
Leda and Dio of Casshern Sins
My first taste of Casshern Sins was Leda and Dio in their battle versus Dune. Seeing a villain like Leda show so much affection and passion for Dio was enough to make me blush. It opened the idea to me of a villain’s humanity— value and concern for another. It was truly an inspiration on how I would write future villains and villainesses.
Sadly, on watching the series I discovered Leda’s love for Dio was nowhere as true and she meant very little to him. Perhaps one of the biggest mysteries for me, regarding Casshern Sins, was whether or not Leda truly loved Dio and whether Dio loved her. It was obvious she prioritized herself over all else, but where did Dio hold up in the gist of things? She seemed to show him affection as a means of controlling him. Dio however was interested most in defeating the protagonist. So why go through so much trouble to fool him with hugs and passionate kisses? I think Leda had some level of attraction or lust for him and while she cared for Dio, she valued her own benefits over him. Dio on the other hand showed signs of caring but also was more interested in his own goals. They were the same really— both flawed and selfish but still caring about their other half.
Overtime however, their love grew. Dio began to reciprocate her affection and despite their quarrel, they finally understood what the other meant for them in the end.
Claire Stanfield (Vino) and Chane Laforet of Baccano!
It may be twisted. It may be unorthodox but this couple takes the cake. Their love was far truer and somehow, despite Claire’s insane take on love and life, more grounded than most villain/anti-villain romances.
It all started on their train-top meeting. After aiding her against Ladd Russo, Claire decided to do the unexpected. He proposed to her on the spot. The odd thing? Chane didn’t say no. Neither did it end with the series finale. We were lucky enough to see their romance blossom in the OVA. Chane was so touched that someone had an interest in her while Claire was head over heels for her. The ending was immensely sweet with Claire confessing his feelings for her and Chane realizing she felt the same way for him. Witnessing such a dynamic couple, I can’t help but wish them the best of days together.
And with that, we conclude this countdown of unholy matrimony. Thank you for reading! I wish you a lovely Valentine’s Day!
I remember the day I met you
The fair-haired woman who would change my life
We were whisked away to a world unknown to me
You promised to protect me, you the melodist I know
I was afraid but I wasn’t alone
I was with the most beautiful girl that night, the melodist I know
I thought you were troublesome,
The way you reprimanded me. As if you knew so much better
I knew you did, but I couldn’t accept it,
The soldier girl so much more mature than the young lord
We grew closer in the tide of war
My bitterness melted away in the time spent with you
I see clearly now that you were only worrying for me
You, the melodist I know
Thank you for whisking me away.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen you but when I return,
The young lord will surely tell you he’ll never leave you alone again
Wait for me Tear
I love you
I remember when I first met you
The handsome lord who changed my life
I stole you away from your kingdom, into a dangerous land
I was determined to protect you, the hero I know
I couldn’t protect you from the darkness, from the pain
You were so brave, you the hero I know
But you were such a child
You only thought about yourself. If only you’d seen that
If only I’d prevented the travesty you’d endure
Why couldn’t the soldier protect her lord?
And yet, despite all things, we grew closer together
I saw the naïve boy grow into an honorable man
I sometimes felt you were leaving me behind, but,
Now I truly know how that feels, losing the hero I know
I’m so glad I met you
I miss you more than anyone, even my brother
If I ever see you again, I’ll never let you go
And at last I can tell you Luke,
Just how much I love you
-The Unchained Melody at FanFiction.net
