A little while ago, I bought a new pen holder and nibs from the "Manga" section of a Japanese bookstore, mostly out of curiosity. And, they're Made in Japan. Clearly, they're far superior than the Made in USA ones. I mean, come on, Japan completely knows how to make their manga-makin' swag. All kidding aside, they are actually rather lovely, and currently my favorite babies for art-ing, or, I guess lately more for fanart-ing
Obsession 1: Haruno Sumire and Takarazuka
Takarazuka is an all-female musical theater troupe in Japan that has been around for almost a century. There are 5 main troupes in Takarazuka: Flower, Snow, Star, Moon, and Cosmos. The Takarazuka actresses are generally split into otokoyaku (actresses who play men) or musumeyaku (actresses who play women). I can go on and on, but essentially these actresses are triple threats: they sing, dance and convincingly act their assigned gender.
Takarazuka holds a special place in my heart because I discovered them the summer I was going to transfer from a community college to a big university. That summer I was scared shitless. There were days I felt really hopeless, and I just wanted to roll up in a corner to forget the world exists. Then one day when I was looking for the clips on Youtube for the Viennese musical, Elisabeth, I came across clips of Takarazuka's Elisabeth. And, I fell in love.
Yes, that is the story of my life.
A few weeks ago, I went on a Takarazuka fan art spree. So, Voila.
Haruno Sumire, a former Flower troupe otokoyaku top star (2002-2008), is my favorite Takarazuka actress. I mean, look at her (she's Death, or Tod, the Emperor of the Death -- The one with the white wig and military-like uniform). She is so lovely and graceful. Like, her voice and smile are hugging you.
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| I don't know, my Made in USA nibs didn't want to behave and kept on dripping on Haruno Sumire. It was a bit frustrating, why USA? WHY? |
Otozuki Kei, Former Snow troupe otokoyaku top star (2010~2012), is bunches of cute. She's interesting because she looks like a short little girl, but since she is an otokoyaku she is a little taller than the average Japanese woman and once she starts acting, she BOOM turns into cute little boy. She did a cover of K-pop boy band's song Doushite Kimi wo Suki Natte Shimattandarou and I was confused because I couldn't figure out if she was playing a woman or a man. Based on the lyrics and the original K-pop version, I'm going to take an educated guess and say she's playing a man. I might be biased, but I thought Otozuki Kei's version was much more heart wrenching and better story-telling, and, well, better everything.
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| There's a move that she does in the music video that I really love....Little did I know how difficult drawing dance moves is. *insert nervous laugh* |
I actually have original Takarazuka actress characters who are best friends. The otokoyaku (left) was actually a pop idol before she joined Takarazuka and her musumeyaku partner(right) is her bff who marries the otokoyaku's twin brother after her retirement. This explanation would probably less confusing if I actually assigned names to these characters, but I seem to be never be able to make up my mind. I'm Japanese, I'm indecisive.
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| My OCs are probably awkwardly sitting in back of my brain wondering why they even exist or if they should even bother having their existence known...since their creator is too lazy to even properly tell their story or acknowledge their existence. |
Also, I created a secret love child of the otokoyaku character, and called her Ryu but she isn't aware of her parentage. Ryu has a bit of darkish and muddy past. She was kidnapped as an infant and raised to be a child assassin by a secret organization. However, when she was 10, she was rescued by a woman and she is the only adult Ryu trusts.
Yes, I realize it's a very manga-like plot.
I lived and breathed manga during my developmental period. It's soaked into my brain.
Yes, I realize it's a very manga-like plot.
I lived and breathed manga during my developmental period. It's soaked into my brain.
Also, I'm Japanese. It's in my blood.
There simply is no escape for me.
I'm not sure why I'm having a child have such a life. I'm a horrible, horrible adult.
I'm not sure why I'm having a child have such a life. I'm a horrible, horrible adult.
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| Ryu (right) originally had a different character design for a really long time,but I really like Otozuki Kei's appearance, so I changed her design to resemble Otozuki Kei. |
Obsession 2: Attack on Titan/Shingeki no Kyojin
Shingeki no Kyojin is a great manga.
It is.
Shhhhhh, don't question it. Just accept it.
I really like the character Petra. I like her because she is femininely cute, sweet, and kind, yet she is a soldier who has mad survivor skills and has respect from her superior. She is also one of the few characters who still treated Eren with humanly kindness even after he was discovered to be a titan.
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| There is irony in this fan art. Just a tad bit. I'd like to think that she was happy on a tree once. I think she deserved at least that. |
I drew most of these with FW ink.
I was a little horrified when I scanned these drawing because I found out that everyone's heads were too big for their heads to be supported by their bodies. So I had to search for my long lost photoshop skills and fix their heads to look less terrifying. It was a pathetically long task because my skills were like covered 2-inches of amnesiac rust.
Until next time, amazing people who kindly read this through the whole thing. I tip my imaginary Daiso Fedora to you.
I was a little horrified when I scanned these drawing because I found out that everyone's heads were too big for their heads to be supported by their bodies. So I had to search for my long lost photoshop skills and fix their heads to look less terrifying. It was a pathetically long task because my skills were like covered 2-inches of amnesiac rust.
Until next time, amazing people who kindly read this through the whole thing. I tip my imaginary Daiso Fedora to you.
