Cosplayer of the Week – Week 3

We’ve missed a few weeks with this segment and I’m truly sorry for that! I’m going to try and keep this as a weekly post!

Anyway, without further ado I introduce our third cosplayer of the week!

Dejavudea!

Super Sailor Moon – Sailor Moon

An obvious question but how old are you? Where are you from?
I’m 24 years old and from Pennsylvania in the USA!

Getting to the main point how long have you’ve been cosplaying?
I’ve been “cosplaying” since 2006. I didn’t really get serious about it until around 2010.

What really inspired you to get into cosplaying? Was it a specific cosplayer or maybe it just looked fun so you wanted to try it out?
When I initially started to cosplay there were really no “cosplay famous” people that I could have sought inspiration from. What inspired me the most was the feeling I got, and the experiences I had while cosplaying. It was always so much fun to bring to life a character I really enjoyed, and I always met new people who were in the same fandom as the anime/game I cosplayed from!

Takamina the 5th – AKB0048

What are some of your favorite cosplays and why?
To date I’d have to say Takamina the 5th of AKB0048 and Princess Serenity of Sailor Moon. Takamina is special because she was the cosplay I wore in our first masquerade performance, I always do Takamina in a large group with my friends, and I very much relate to and love the character. Princess Serenity was a very, very long time coming. I’ve wanted to cosplay her since I was a kid and finally being able to bring my childhood heroine to life was one of the most magical feelings.

Do you make your cosplay yourself, if so, how long does it usually take to make?
I don’t usually make my own cosplays. Some times I alter them and/or make accessories or props, but it would be hard to put a time frame on that kind of thing.

Lux – League of Legends

Since this blog is mainly about Shoujo do you have any favorite Shoujo’s you enjoy watching? Anything that you’d like to suggest to the viewers?
Well of course there is Sailor Moon Crystal, but I’m sure everyone knows that. I really enjoyed Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun this past season! It’s hilarious and reminds me a lot of Ouran High School Host Club some how. Also Wolf Girl and Black Prince was fairly good!

Aside from Shoujo, what are some of your other animes to watch?
Well, right now I’m watching Akatsuki No Yong and Your Lie In April!

How many cosplays have you done exactly?
Oh gosh, exactly? I don’t know if I could say exactly how many. It would likely be some where between 10-20.

Princess Serenity – Sailor Moon

What are some of your favorite conventions to go to? Any that you for sure have to go to every year?
Katsucon is currently my favorite convention, but my top three that I make sure to go to every year are Katsucon, Otakon, and Colossalcon!

Word of advice to our viewers who want get into cosplay?
I have a video for this! Please check out my “Cosplay: Do it Right or Not at All!” video on my YouTube channel!

Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thank you very much for the opportinuty to be interviewed! It’s an honor to be recognized by a Blog dedicated to all thing Shoujo!

Well, there you have it folks! Thank you very, very much to Dejavudea for answering our questions! It was a real honor! ❤ You can like, Dejavudea on Facebook, or follow her on Youtube and Instagram! (All images used were taken from Dejavudea’s Facebook page.)

Have a cosplayer you want featured? Do you think should be featured as our cosplayer of the week? Then send us a message at our email shoujosisters@gmail.com! Please make sure to list who you are, where you post your cosplay pictures, and please, please give us pictures of your cosplay! Until next time!

First Impression – Ghost Hunt

Ghost Hunt 

ゴーストハント

Genres: Comedy, Mystery, Horror, Supernatural

Air Dates: October 4, 2006 –March 28, 2007

Total Episodes: 25

Episodes I Watched: 3

Plot: Telling ghost stories is a favorite past time of Mai Taniyama and her friends—that is, until she meets 17-year-old Kazuya Shibuya, the man sent by Shibuya Psychic Research Center to investigate paranormal activity at a supposedly haunted school. When Mai gets caught in a dangerous situation, she is rescued by Kazuya’s assistant. Saving her lands the assistant incapacitated, and Kazuya demands that Mai become his assistant, instead… (Source: ANN)

Characters

The protagonist of Ghost Hunt is sixteen-year-old, first year, Mai Taniyama. 

The other main characters include: Kazuya Shibuya, “Naru”, a seventeen-year-old narcissist and paranormal researcher and manager of Shibuya Psychic Research Center. Lin Koujo, Naru’s assistant. Hosho Takigawa, a buddhist monk. Ayako Matsuzaki, a 23-year-old shrine maiden. John Brown, an exorcist from Australia. Masako Haru, a popular spirit medium from television.

All together they make for an interesting bunch the first three episodes when the principal of Mai’s school hires them all to exorcise the spirits from the cursed, old, school building.

Art

The art is pretty standard for 2006-07. It’s not super high quality but it looks nice. Personally I like it. The art style doesn’t distract me from the plot so I can just delve right into it.

The OP is very simplistic but I feel like it fits the show well. It’s not the best OP I’ve seen, but it definitely gets you in the mood for the show.

Conclusion

I’ll definitely continue watching this. I really love horror and the paranormal so it’s nice to see a shoujo with this darker focus to it. During the first episode I felt like it was kind of dragging a bit, but the second and third episodes really redeemed the show for me. I was super interested in how they were going to solve the case, and I was even trying to think of my own paranormal theories. I can’t wait to continue watching.

First Impression – Cute High Earth Defense Club Love!

Binan Koukou Chikyuboueibu Love! 

美男高校地球防衛部LOVE!

Genres: Comedy, Magic, Slice of Life

Animation Producer: Diomedea

Music Producer: Pony Canyon

Plot: This is the tale of five unlikely heroes who unite under the name of the “Earth Defense Club” alongside a pink wombat-like alien to defend their world and restore love to all; however, does a sinister organization lurk behind the scenes of Binan High school? (Source: MyAnimeList)

Going into this I was a bit hesitant. The premise seemed interesting, but I wasn’t sure how well it would be conveyed. Well, I’m glad I decided to watch this because I laughed so hard that I’m surprised I didn’t wake the whole house up. There’s only one episode out and I already can’t wait for the next.

First Episode Summary

“In the Name of Love”

Atsushi Kinugawa and En Yufuin are the first characters we are introduced to. They are sitting in a public bath and En is talking about chikuwabu. Suddenly a pink Wombat with a heart on its left side crashes through the ceiling asking questions. When the boys see the cute creature they struggle to get out of the bath but Wombat won’t have it. Yumoto Hakone opens the doors to the bath and once he sees the wombat he screams and tackles it, trying to cuddle. Atsushi and En take the oppurtunity to escape. Outside we are briefly shown the student council members.

At school the next day the homeroom teacher walks into class with Wombat under his arm. Later, Wombat tries to talk to Atsushi and En again but Yumoto sees and chases after Wombat again. Atsushi and En go to their club and we meet Io Naruko, a guy obsessed with money, and Ryuu Zaou, a guy obsessed with girls. Wombat comes into the club along with Yumoto. Wombat gives the five bishounens “Lovracelets” which allows them to transform into magical boys. Outside the boys see a monster chikuwabu and use their love powers to defeat it.

Art

The art was really your classic anime style, which I liked. It wasn’t too artistic or too dull, it was the perfect balance. I also appreciate the fact that there wasn’t CGI used for the transformation sequences, which personally I don’t like (for example in Sailor Moon Crystal). I really think the transformation scenes are well done in this anime.

In the first episode, they put the OP for the series at the end of the episode. It was really cute and one of my favorite things happened, which is that it’s sung by the characters! This is something I really look forward to for OPs and EDs so I’m psyched about it. Since the OP was at the end, we didn’t get to see an ED, so I’ll look forward to seeing that in the second episode.

Characters

The first episode did a great job in introducing the characters. We can already get a feel for their quirks and personalities. Of course they use a lot of tropes, like Yumoto being the typical shota-esque character, but the characters are all likable. Wombat is hilarious and the boy’s reactions to him are golden. We also get tension rising with the student council and their mysterious (not really) appearance at the end along with their green hedgehog.

Conclusion

I’ll definitely keep watching this anime, and I’d recommend it to people who want to have a good laugh. It’s almost like a boy parody of Sailor Moon, without the love interests. This is very much a comedy and it’s done in an excellent way that doesn’t seemed forced.

I can’t wait until next week!

Let’s Discuss! – Kamisama Kiss Season Two (Episode One)

(Disclaimer: there will be spoilers for season one AND season two! If you have not watched either and you’d like to you can go here! Feel free to come back when you’re prepped to discuss! 🙂 )

The long wait is over, yes folks that’s right, the beloved Kamisama Kiss is back for another season! It’s been a few years since we’ve peered into the lives of our heroine Nanami Momozono and her fox familiar Tomoe and I have to say I am very pumped to see what awaits us during this season! Well? What are we waiting for! Let’s dive right in!

First off I briefly want to discuss the opening sequence, for in fact, it has changed from season one! I wasn’t entirely sure what I felt when it started to play, because the first season’s opening was really great, like I’m not exaggerating when I say that it’s probably my favorite opening sequence! But I have to say, this one? It comes to a pretty close second! It also shows some promising new characters that are to show up in upcoming episodes which is pretty exciting! (You can listen to it here if you so please!)

I think all of us were pretty furious with how season one ended. I know for one I certainly was! I mean come on guys, Tomoe kisses Nanami and then they end it? And to leave us hanging like that for 3 years is quite rude. Though, I suppose that’s just how it goes when it comes to waiting for new seasons of your favorite anime. (I know, I know I could’ve read the manga, but I’m lazy okay?) That aside though, I personally was excited to see what Tomoe and Nanami’s relationship looks like now.

And….It appears to not have changed. Putting the first scene aside at the beginning of the episode, (I’ll discuss that in a second), Tomoe seems to be just as irritated by Nanami as he always has and our poor heroine is struggling still with her Land God responsibilities. Though, it’s not exactly the same. Tomoe in just this recent episode seems more caring towards Nanami, well at least more caring than he used to be. Now don’t get upset he’s still very much an asshole (thank god) but he seems to be very much more affectionate towards Nanami (which I love).

I personally love how Mikage is being brought back into this season, he was here and there throughout season one but something tells me he’s definitely going to be more prominent this season! With his butterfly flying all over the place, I’m sure that’s a definite sign he’s just around the corner.

Now, the start of the episode. Uh…what? Obviously, this is back into the past (hint: you can tell by the length of Tomoe’s hair). But who the hell is with him? This whole scene was great but I’m unsure of what exactly was meant, and why we’re seeing it so early on. Obviously, there’s a point and I’m very excited to see it unfold.

Let’s get back to our darling Nanami, Nanami, Nanami the strong heroine of our story. She’s still the same as always but I’m interested to see how she really develops this season. Her love for Tomoe is pretty prominent still, and I think we can all spy a hint of love in Tomoe for Nanami as well! He just doesn’t know he’s in love with her yet. (Such a silly fox.)

Anyway, in the episode Nanami is visited by Otohiko, he was briefly introduced at the end of season one and it’s really not a shock that he’s here for season two. Otohiko has come with an invitation for Nanami to go to The Divine Assembly in Izumo. Being not as well trained, Otohiko says that he must give her a test in order to see if she’s really worthy to go or not. That test being? To hatch a Shikigami – a power from the spirit world converted into a physical form, so it can act on things in this world.(Taken directly from the anime itself, but the proper definition is here.) Of course, Tomoe being Tomoe tells Nanami that she shouldn’t do it. And Nanami, being Nanami, does it anyway. The Shikigami ends up being hatched too early and what crawls out of the shell? An adorable monkey, who later Nanami names Mamoru, which translates into To Protect. Mamoru becomes somewhat of a Talisman to Nanami in the episode and I’m interested to see how else he’ll be used later on.

To not go into too much more detail, (because I’m running out of energy due to me coming down with a cold) but Nanami does end up passing the test and Otohiko says the Nanami may go to the meeting in Izumo.

I’m very excited to see where the season takes us but I’m sure it’s going to be even better than the last season! That’s all for now, until next time!

Abby’s Top Ten Favorite Shoujo Anime OP/EDs

Hi guys! Today I thought I would share with you some of my favorite shoujo anime OP/EDs! If you didn’t know, those little theme songs at the beginning of the episodes are called opening sequences (or OP for short). When the episode is over there is also another song with more credits which is called the ending sequence (ED).

Well let’s get on with it, shall we?

10. Free!: Eternal Summer ED

One word: Fanservice. From Rin dressing up as a cop and dancing, to the voice actors singing, this ED is every Free! fan’s dream.

9. Princess Tutu OP

This soft, beautiful, peaceful song, really fits this anime’s ballet theme well. It’s a great intro for the show. It gets you into the perfect mood.

8. Full Moon wo Sagashite OP

For an anime that focuses around a young girl’s dream to be a singer, the OP does a great job in getting people into an upbeat mood with its catchy tune.

7. Vampire Knight ED

The perfect ending to a good anime. This ominous composition and eerie Yuki is a great fit for the anime.

6. Kamisama Hajimemashita OP

This uplifiting theme will be stuck in your head all day.

5. NANA OP

NANA’s my favorite shoujo anime and their OP didn’t disappoint. They used a song directly from the anime and it fits perfectly.

4. Say, “I Love You” OP

This soothing melody is something you can listen to even if you’re not a fan.

3. Kimi ni Todoke OP

This super cute OP matches the cute show perfectly.

2. Natsume Yuujinchou ED

Natsume Yuujinchou’s tranquil tune is the perfect way to end the episode.

And last but not least…

1. RDG: Red Data Girl ED

I had this song on loop for weeks and never got sick of it. This is really the best shoujo ED I’ve ever heard.

First Impression – Kimi ni Todoke

“Sawako Kuronuma’s one wish in life is to make friends. That’s a difficult proposition when everyone who meets her cowers in terror, due to her resemblance to Sadako (after whom they nickname her) from the Japanese horror movie series The Ring. Shunned by her classmates, her life starts to change after she befriends her classmate, Shōta Kazehaya, a popular, easygoing and 100% refreshing guy who is nice with everyone, even with her.” (Source: ANN)

Kimi ni Todoke, ugh, what a super cute show! I went in completely blind when I started watching it. To keep the first impression of the show, I only watched the first two episodes. In the future, I’ll post a whole review of the anime when I’ve finished it.

The Art Style

I really enjoyed the art style as well, especially whenever Sawako would get embarrassed (which happened a lot). It was hilarious. In just the opening theme (which pulled me in from the moment it started by the way. A+ on a great opening), I could tell the art style would be a typical cutesy style. All colors were typical shoujo colors as well, mainly keeping to the pastel pinks and purples.

The character design was really great as well. Sawako’s art style was great because it would change depending how she was presenting herself. At one point she looks like something from a horror film. Then at another point she’s absolutely adorable and she looks more like a normal school girl.

The art style in general feels very warm and flowery. Something to expect from a shoujo anime. The animation tends to stick towards showing flowers and expressing how warm it is with using soft oranges and pinks.

The Characters

The characters are an absolute delight. In just two episodes, you truly can see them growing as characters.

Sawako, as I’ve said, is absolutely cute and innocent. Her need to make friends and actually be normal is really what drives her character. How she looks up to  Shōta Kazehaya is really great, even though I’m very sure he’s the love interest, she respects him in a ‘I just want to be like you’ way. I really enjoyed to see that, because it’s a nice change from regular romance stories in general.

Shōta Kazehaya, adds a whole new level of the boy next door category. He’s probably one of the sweetest characters I’ve experienced in a long time. He’s so obviously oblivious to how everyone adores him. It’s precious! I also loved how he isn’t easily influenced by his peers and how even though most of them are scared of Sawako, those thoughts don’t sway him on how he feels about her. The crush that he obviously has is just freaking adorable.

Overall Impression

Grab your favorite stuffed animal to hug because you’re going to be squealing over the cuteness that’s all I can say. The show is so far very light hearted and super cute. From what I can tell it’s definitely a perfect anime to watch when you’re recovering from something more intense. In short, I’m definitely going to continue watching it! If you’re interested in watching the anime, you can watch the subbed via Crunchyroll.

Intro to Otome Games

What are otome games?

Otome games are video games (mostly from Japan) that are directed towards a female audience. “Otome gemu” translates to “girl game”. Otome is pretty much the shoujo of video games.

What kind of games are usually otome?

The most popular kind of otome game genre would have to be the dating sim. The player plays as a girl and goes through the game vying for the love of her favorite guy, since there’s usually several.

The style and art are similar to shoujo manga/anime, but the plot is different. It has less substance and is more like a harem.

Throughout the game you can go through different “routes” for different characters or different story lines. There are even different endings too. You can get a “good end” or “bad end”.

Some otome games are plot based though, like visual novels. You can still take different routes on these games but they are focused on telling a story, instead of the focus being on getting the hottie patottie anime guy.

What are some popular otome games?

Some popular otome games include:

Alice in the Country of Hearts, Amnesia, Angelique, Brothers Conflict, Diabolik Lovers, Fatal Hearts, Hakuoki, Hiiro no Kakera, Kiniro no Corda, Princess Debut, Shall We Date?, Starry Sky, and Uta no Prince-sama.

Hey, I recognize some of those titles from anime/manga! What’s up with that?

Well you’re a sharp one. Yes, when otome games are popular it’s not uncommon for them to be made into manga/anime! It works vice-versa as well. When an anime/manga is popular sometimes they’ll make a game out of it.

For example, they made a video game for NANA. In the game you live next to the two Nana’s apartment. You get to meet some of the characters and date some of they guys. You can also get a job, shop, decorate, etc.

On the flip side, Amnesia, started out as a PSP game. It was popular and they came out with two games before they aired the anime in 2013.

In Amnesia, you play as a girl who has lost her memories. You go through different routes based on which character you want to end up with. The boys in this are represented by suit symbols from card decks and it’s really cool.

What platforms are otome games on?

You can pretty much get otome games on any device. The easiest ones that are most readily available though would be through PC and PlayStation products.

Cosplayer of the Week – Week 1

A new and smaller segment here on Shoujo Sisters! I decided that since cosplay is such a popular thing online having a cosplayer of the week would be a good thing to have!

So with no further ado I present to you, our first cosplayer!

Berry-Cosplay!

His real name is Ronald, and he is a German fashion designer! To him cosplaying is a hobby and I might say he’s really, really fantastic! Check him out guys, and if you have a Deviantart account you should all give him a watch! And if you have time, check out some of my favorite cosplays he’s done below! 🙂

Ciel and Sebastian – Black Butler

Sebastian – Black Butler

Edward and Giselle – Enchanted

Have a cosplayer you want featured? Do you think should be featured as our cosplayer of the week? Then send us a message at our email shoujosisters@gmail.com! Please make sure to list who you are, where you post your cosplay pictures, and please, please give us pictures of your cosplay! That’s all for now, have a wonderful day!

Abby’s Top Ten Favorite Shoujo Anime

I figured it’s time. It is time to reveal to you guys my top ten shoujo anime.

I’ve been watching anime for a long time, so some of these I have watched recently, while others I watched six or seven years ago. All of these hold a special place in my heart, for many different reasons. Most of these I have rewatched more than twice.

Well, let’s get started.

10. AnoHana: The Flower We Saw That Day

Genres: Drama, Slice of Life, Supernatural

Episodes: 11

Aired: April 15, 2011 – June 24, 2011

Plot:

A group of six childhood friends drift apart after one of them, Meiko “Menma” Honma, dies in an accident. Ten years after the incident, the leader of the group, Jinta Yadomi, has withdrawn from society and lives as a recluse. One summer day, the ghost of an older looking Menma appears before him and asks to have a wish granted, reasoning that she cannot pass on into the afterlife until it is fulfilled. At first, he only tries to help her minimally because he thinks he is hallucinating. But since Menma does not remember what her wish is, Jinta gathers his estranged friends together once again, believing that they are the key to resolving this problem. All of the group join him, though most of them do so reluctantly. However, things grow increasingly complicated when his friends accuse him of not being able to get over the death of Menma, for Jinta is the only one who can see Menma’s ghost and his friends think he is seeing things. But as matters progress, it is realized that Jinta is not the only person in the group who is having trouble letting go of the past. It is revealed that a majority of the group members blame themselves for Menma’s death and long hidden feelings are rekindled. The group struggles as they grow from trying to help Menma move on and help each other move on as well. (source: Wikipedia)

My Thoughts:

This anime’s a tear-jerker, and it’s presented in the best way possible. You really connect to all the characters, especially Menma. I’d recommend it to anyone that like’s a good quality anime that makes you cry at the end.
9. Laughing Under the Clouds (Donten ni Warau) 

Genres: Action, Historical

Episodes: Currently Airing

Aired: October 4, 2014 – ?

Plot:

When swords were outlawed in the eleventh year of the Meiji Era, the mighty samurai population began to dwindle. Those who rejected the ban on blades rebelled, causing violent unrest to erupt throughout the countryside. To combat the rise in criminal activity, an inescapable lake prison was constructed. Three young men, born of the Kumoh line, were given the duty of delivering criminals to their place of confinement—but could there be more to their mission than meets the eye? (Source: FUNimation)

My Thoughts:

Well, since it’s currently airing I don’t want to say too much, but so far I’m really impressed with this anime. This is one of the special cases in shoujo where it’s action and has a male protagonist, but is still directed towards a female audience.
8. Full Moon wo Sagashite 

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Music, Romance, Supernatural

Episodes: 52

Aired: April 6, 2002 – March 29, 2003

Plot:

Twelve-year-old Kouyama Mitsuki was devastated when she was diagnosed with a malignant tumor of the throat. She had made a promise to the boy she loves that she would one day become a singer, but her illness made singing impossible. To make matters even worse, two angels of death, Takuto and Meroko, appeared to Mitsuki and informed her that she only had one year left to live. This news provides an even greater motivation for Mitsuki to fulfill her dreams, and with a little bit of divine intervention, she begins her quest to become a professional singer so she can be reunited with Eichi before time runs out. (Source: ANN)

My Thoughts:

I watched Full Moon when I was in sixth grade and I was instantly obsessed. Being the same age as the protagonist really made her relatable, but this anime can be relatable to any age. It’s genuinely a good story, and it’s cute.
7. Kimi ni Todoke 

Genres: Romance, School

Episodes: 25

Aired: October 7, 2009 – March 31, 2010

Plot:

Sawako Kuronuma’s one wish in life is to make friends. That’s a difficult proposition when everyone who meets her cowers in terror, due to her resemblance to Sadako (after whom they nickname her) from the Japanese horror movie series The Ring. Shunned by her classmates, her life starts to change after she befriends her classmate, Shōta Kazehaya, a popular, easygoing and 100% refreshing guy who is nice with everyone, even with her. (Source: ANN)

My Thoughts:

Kimi ni Todoke was really wonderful. It is definitely a more realistic anime, about as real as you can get while still keeping a light tone. It’s great seeing Sawako’s character development throughout the show. The plot is great and I’d recommend it to most people.
6. Kaichou wa Maid-sama! 

Genres: Comedy, Romance, School

Episodes: 26

Aired: April 2, 2010 – September 24, 2010

Plot:

Misaki Ayuzawa is the first female student council president at a once all-boys school turned co-ed. She rules the school with strict discipline demeanor. But she has a secret—she works at a maid cafe due to her families circumstances. One day the popular A-student and notorious heart breaker Takumi Usui finds out her secret and makes a deal with her to keep it hush from the school in exchange for spending some time with him. (Source: ANN)

My Thoughts:

Maid-sama is really hilarious. The situations are funny, the characters are funny. It’s a great rom-com. The romance in it is really cute too.
5. Yona of the Dawn (Akatsuki no Yona) 

Genres: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Historical, Supernatural

Episodes: Currently Airing

Aired: October 7, 2014 – ?

Plot:

Upon her sixteenth birthday, the cheerful Princess Yona intended to tell her doting father of her love for Su-Won, but her life was turned upside down after witnessing the man she loves cruelly assassinating her father. Heartbroken by this painful betrayal, Princess Yona fled the palace with her loyal servant Hak. Now, she will take up the sword and the bow on a quest to gain new allies and protect her beloved people. (Source: FUNimation)

My Thoughts:

This anime is also currently airing so I won’t say much. This anime has great potential. I adore the historic feel to this, even if technically it takes place in a non-existent fantasy land. Yona really has shown great growth as a character and I’m always dying for the next episode.

4. Skip Beat! 

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Episodes: 25

Aired: October 6, 2008 – March 30, 2009

Plot:

Kyoko followed her true love and childhood friend Sho to Tokyo so she could help him reach his dream of becoming an idol. She cleans, cooks, works three jobs and does nothing for herself because she loves him so much, but gets nothing in return. Still, she remains by his side. But then one day she goes unannounced to his agency with a delivery, and overhears him talking about her; he reveals to his manager that he only took her with him as a maid, and that he doesn’t care for her at all. Upon hearing this, Kyoko doesn’t just sit around and cry. She cuts and dyes her hair, changes her clothes and attitude and thus begins her journey to join showbiz and have her revenge against Sho. (Source: ANN)

My Thoughts:

If you have any interest in the entertainment industry (acting, singing, etc.) and like anime then I’d highly recommend this. It’s really great. I’ve watched this anime three of four times. You can always come back to it for a laugh and for a cry.
3. Natsume Yuujinchou (All four seasons) 

Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Slice of Life, Supernatural

Episodes: 52 (In all four seasons)

Aired: July 7, 2008 – March 26, 2012

Plot:

For as long as he can remember, Takashi Natsume has had the ability to see spirits, inheriting the power from his grandmother Reiko. Upon her death, Reiko bequeaths to her grandson her Book of Friends, a book containing the names of spirits Reiko had bullied into servitude. The Book of Friends is a highly prized item in the spirit world, and spirits haunt Takashi constantly. Whereas Reiko formed the contracts, however, Takashi spends his time dissolving the contracts and releasing the various spirits that come to him for help. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t malicious spirits trying to kill him. Which is where Madara (called Nyanko-sensei by Natsume) comes in; Madara serves as Natsume’s bodyguard and spiritual advisor of sorts, even though he is motivated by his own desire to possess the Book of Friends. He later on begins to become more attached to Takashi. (Source: Wikipedia)

My Thoughts:

Here’s another of those cases where a male is the protagonist of a shoujo. Natsume’s  a wonderful protagonist, but if you’re looking for something relatable, this probably wouldn’t be your best bet. I love this anime for it’s supernatural aspect. It’s really well done and you get to see a lot of Japanese mythology come to life.
2. Say, “I Love You” 

Genres: Drama, Romance, School

Episodes: 13

Aired: October 7, 2012 – December 30, 2012

Plot:

Mei Tachibana is a 16-year-old girl at Toumei High. She’s gone through her entire life having no friends. She would open herself up when she was a child, but when an accident involving a classroom pet happened in her elementary years, she vowed to never let anyone in again.

Yamato Kurosawa is Mr. Hot and Popular at Toumei. He’s everyone’s dream guy. He’s nice, sweet, and has never been interested in a girl before… now.

After an interesting introduction to each other, Yamato can’t get the quiet, anti-social, Mei Tachibana out of his head. He wants to befriend her. Find out what makes her tick, What happened to make Mei this way?

This dramatic love story is a roller coaster of feels. So hold onto your seats, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

(Source: My Own Article)

My Thoughts:

Say, I Love You, is probably the most relatable anime on here for a teenage girl. It has familiar situations for high school students. Mei’s character development is wonderful and you really get to see her blossom into herself.
1. NANA 

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Music, Romance, Slice of Life

Episodes: 47

Aired: April 5, 2006 to March 28, 2007

Plot:

Nana Osaki is a guarded and ambitious young woman with a strong will and a rough past. She is the vocalist for a punk band called Black Stones and she desires fame and recognition more than anything else. Nana Komatsu is an outgoing and flighty young woman with a weak will and a stable past. Her life revolves around her desire to find love and marriage. The two meet for the first time while traveling to Tokyo – in pursuit of their respective dreams – and they later decide to be roommates. Although drastically different people, the two become very close and together they find out if their biggest dreams have room for their best friend. (Source: ANN)

My Thoughts:

NANA is definitely my favorite shoujo anime ever. This anime is very real and kind of dark. It doesn’t deal with school issues. It deals with issues that actually happen. I enjoyed every single episode of this. I laughed. I sobbed ugly tears. This anime is just so wonderful. I recommend it to everyone.

Well that’s it! Feel free to comment your favorite shoujo (or other anime)!

What to Expect at an Anime Convention 101: The Convention

You’ve done it! You’ve successfully picked and worked everything out for your first anime convention! You’re cosplay(s) is all finished and you stuck, hopefully, to your budget! Now that all your hard work is paid off you can dress up and go crazy!

But before you go, I just want to go over a few things before I set you free. So put your sword down, take off your cloak, and just sit back down. There are just a few things you need to know. You ready? Great, let’s go!

Arriving at the Convention

You may be wondering why exactly I put such a silly little section. Of course arriving at an event is pretty simple, right? Well, it is, arriving to the place isn’t really that big of deal. But I do want to tell you a few things to expect from just pulling up in the car.

There are going to be people everywhere and for some of you it’s going to be a little overwhelming. Trust me, it was overwhelming for me at my first convention too. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed in a new environment especially when there hundreds of people, and they’re all dressed up. Just remember to take a deep breath and not get too overwhelmed. This is supposed to be fun and not something that’ll give you a headache! 🙂 Keep that in mind throughout the weekend!

The Dealers’ Room

I’ve briefly mentioned the Dealers Room once before but I never truly explained it. To you guys it probably sounds like this weird place where auctions or something like that goes on. Okay, so maybe that’s what I thought it was when I first heard of it. The Dealers Room is actually the place where vendors sell anime related items. Lots of these items are imported from Japan so don’t forget to bring a large amount of money if you want to buy stuff in the Dealers Room!

Prices range dramatically and you will find that a lot of the same vendors sell the same stuff. For instance a popular item that is sold in a Dealers’ Room are the pastel colored alpacas. They’re super cute and depending on the size (they come in many sizes) the price varies. Some are $5 while others can be around $40 or $50.

The Dealers Room does have hours, I believe the times vary for each convention but on the cons website there should information on their hours. Also, prepare for them to be busy 24/7! People love to shop (me especially) at conventions, so prepare yourself for waves of people trying to see Japanese plushies and sexy anime figurines.

The Artists Alley

Ah, the Artists Alley, one of the greatest places of anime conventions. The place where you can find anime related items made by hand of other fans.

The Artists Alley is like the Dealers’ Room but it is usually smaller, some things tend to be a lot more pricey in this room due to things being made by hand (usually). While you’re in there, you may see a variety of different art types, maybe you’ll see handmade corsets that are fandom themed or possibly you’ll see a booth of just Attack on Titan prints! The possibilities of what art you’ll see is endless! I highly suggest looking around, even if you can’t afford anything.

Panels

I told you last post I’d be talking about panels. Panels are the events inside of the convention.

These panels are a variety of different topics, of course the main one being anime but it’s not just anime it can also be on Lolita, Japanese fashion, dancing, fanfiction and plenty of other things! 🙂 (Though I will warn you there quite a few panels made for people 18 and up so make sure you can go!) 

But there aren’t just subject panels, there are also panels with voice actors! At my first convention, I was able to meet and sit in a Q&A panel with Vic Mignogna! If you don’t know who that is, he’s very well known for his roles as Edward Elric from Full Metal and also, the character near and dear to my heart…Tamaki Suoh. ❤ He was absolutely lovely, and it was great to see him in person. Throughout the 2 hour panel. he answered our questions and talked like many of the characters he has portrayed in the anime world! I even got a hug from him and let me just say he gives the best hugs! What was really great though, was that at one point he turned on “Let it Go” from Frozen and sang it with the whole entire room.

But yes, panels are the best things about cons! Well, besides seeing people in other cosplays!

And thus my lovelies, this concludes the convention segment.  I tried to keep these last two short and simple and not too confusing. Since the first one was very, very long. I hope that this has been something you enjoyed and if there is anything else you’d wish for me to discuss please either comment or send me a message! I’d love to hear from you! Until next time my dears!