Residual Envy Over Montreal...

While this post is one week late in reference to the event dates, the sentiment still rages on:

I AM OVERFLOWING WITH ANIME-INDUCED ENVY DIRECTED AT MONTREAL.

... And it's still running high since I first discovered what all I missed out on with Otakuthon 2010...

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Regular readers will find this frenzied, age-inappropriate expression of love for anime/manga to be no surprise at all. New readers will more than likely cancel their subscription upon reading the depths of my otaku-ness for the medium.

In either case, brace yourselves for a decent amount of fan-girling.

In December 2009, I christened the 7th-11th as the First Official Ani-Manga Extravaganza!! here at Cute, Queer, Canada. With the help of the ever-reliable Wikipedia, I outlined the history of Yuri manga (aka. a genre catering to queer women and other "girls' love" fans) and even introduced readers to popular series including the melodramatic Aoi Hana and the parodic Strawberry Panic. In the past few months, I have scoured the vastness of the Internet to find more relevant series to share with readers and I have been rewarded nicely for my efforts (more to come on that front).

Anyhow, that week for Tunes for Tuesdays, I stumbled across the magical, almost manga-scripted tale of Catherine St-Onge (aka. HIMEKA), a French-Canadian girl who won the Second Annual Animax Anison Grand Prix in 2008 and launched her career as an anime singer with Sony Music Japan. Serious, it is one impressive story and I suggest you click over to the link before continuing with this post.

*Crosses arms, leans against the wall*

....

*Checks her watch, wonders when the 'rents will return with that promised Dairy Queen*

Welcome back.

.... Now, imagine the shock I felt when I read that one of the Guests of Honour for Otakuthon 2010 was none other than our girl, HIMEKA, herself.

.... Now imagine the welling frustration I felt as I glanced at the calendar and realized, "Oh. It's August 11th. And Otakuthon starts on Aug. 13th. Well, kuso..."

I turned to YouTube and drowned the initial sorrow with a newish HIMEKA PV for the single, "Hatenaki Michi" (2009):

Oh, but the personal tragedy does not end there.

No, no.

As I explored the official Otakuthon website further, I landed upon a new section to this year's convention. It is the maiden voyage of an event dedicated to a certain sub-genre within the manga circles of the West, a singular set of titles that are often overlooked or otherwise ignored even at large-scale anime conventions across North America.

What on Earth could it be? What is it that could put Miz Moffatt's envious self over the edge?

.... 2010 is the FIRST TIME that Otakuthon has hosted an individual, stand-alone YURITHON for visitors.

YURI.

AN ENTIRE SERIES OF EVENTS FOCUSED ON YURI CONTENT.

*Choking on her own misfortune*

As far as I am aware, this is the first full-scale anime/manga convention in Canada to directly cater to Yuri fans with distinct programming separate from the massive popularity that is the Yaoi genre (aka. "boys' love," or gay boy content).

God love the French for being ahead of the times.

I have nothing against the gay boys -- in fact, I am a fan of a couple of series (including the Canadian-based, manga-styled series, Honeydew Syndrome, by autobrig, also known at Nuu and Schumie). It's here, it's queer -- I love it. But, as with anything related to queer women, there is not ever enough. At these conventions, Yuri is often paired with Yaoi, with a definite favoritism toward Yaoi in all cases (as in, there might be one airing of a Yuri anime to every ten airings of Yaoi anime). Finding vendors is even more difficult.

Ah, the plight of a nerdtastic, gay gal in the North. The things I suffer for my fandom, I tell you.

***

And now, readers are permitted to uncover their eyes and quickly click over to the next blog on their circuit. And I permit myself to start planning a trek to Montreal this time next year.

Ani-Manga Extravaganza: Strawberry Panic!

Strawberry Panic! (Girls' School in Full Bloom) -- Yes. This manga/anime/entertainment package comes with its own exclamation mark AND a subtitle. I mean, if you're going to title a work, you ought to do it right.

The original run of Strawberry Panic! first appeared in Dengeki G's Magazine in 2003 and the series took a good six months to build momentum and gather a following. Writer Sakurako Kimino and artists Chitose Maki and Namuchi Takumi focused their collections of illustrated short stories on a group of teenage girls attending three affiliated all-girl schools on Astraea Hill. Yuri content forms the basis of the storytelling throughout the entire run, often to varying degrees of explicitness. Two of the main characters, Nagisa Aoi of St Miator's Girls' Academy and Hikari Konohana of St. Spica's Girls' Institute, attract the greatest number of admirers and jealous competitors during their time on Astraea Hill (therefore, most of the plot lines revolve around them). However, some of the more minor characters are given their own story arcs and private dramas that are played out for readers as well.

I will be honest -- providing an overview of the plot line is a daunting task. There are main plots, subplots, sub-subplots, and so forth. Not to mention each school has four main girls in addition to various recurring characters, all with their own complicated histories. But try, I will.

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Strawberry Panic! revolves around the romantic infatuations and the scholastic lives of adolescents attending three interconnected all-girl schools that happen to share a campus and dormitory (Strawberry Dorms). The schools include St. Miator's Girls' Academy (the oldest school, known for upholding Japanese traditions), St. Spica's Girls' Institute (known for advancing women's independence), and St. Lulim's Girls' School (the newest school, known for its relaxed teaching styles and its general freedom with knowledge).

Nagisa Aoi

Nagisa Aoi is a new transfer student entering her fourth year at St. Miator. As she wanders the campus on her first day, she accidentally stumbles downs a hill and becomes lost and disoriented. It is at this moment she meets an older student, Shizuma Hanazono, who happens to be Astraea Hill's Etoile. The Etoile acts as a representative between the different schools and is given specific responsibilities and ceremonial powers that she must fulfill. Both girls are overwhelmed by their attraction to one another to the point where Nagisa faints after Shizuma kisses her on the forehead. Shortly afterward in the infirmary, Nagisa meets Tamao Suzumi, her future roommate and the one girl who will pine after Nagisa no matter the circumstances.

Nagisa Aoi and Shizuma Hanazono

The series charts Nagisa's path as she negotiates the internal politics of each campus and befriends various girls across Astraea Hill. Strawberry Panic! encompasses the relationships the characters build with one another, climaxing after two girls court and eventually commit to one another.

Depending on the media outlet, the depiction of the girls' relationships are laced with more or less explicit fan service -- the anime adaptation depicts more sexually-charged imagery than the manga while the light novels focus more intently on emotional connections. In addition, Strawberry Panic! has spawned numerous other entertainment media products including audio CDs, a visual novel released on PlayStation 2, and an Internet radio show. So yes, whatever your taste is when it comes to yuri content, literally every media outlet is covered.

***

It seems as though the reception of Strawberry Panic! is quite mixed. I find that I'm a bit torn about the series as well. At times, it's quite poignant with its narrative -- I can think of one instance where Shizuma and her friend/student council president, Miyuki Rokujō, discuss the issue of Shizuma's fast-approaching graduation and the pressures to "straighten out" once finished with school. It seems that the girls are aware same-sex relationships are protected within the walls of their academies, but most of the girls are locked into arranged marriages even before graduation. There's a moment where Shizuma's concerns are hinted at and there's this potential for greater discussion that never quite takes place.

As for problematic aspects, well, I would have to rank the rape attempts on Hikari high up on that list. She is attracted to Amane Ohtori, an older student in the running to become the next Etoile once Shizuma graduates. Two girls at St. Spica, Kaname Kenjō and Momomi Kiyashiki, are plotting to take the Etoile position for themselves and, so, they target Amane through Hikari. I believe Kaname's actual logic throughout the attempted rapes are: "If I rape Hikari, she will love me and Amane will be heartbroken. Therefore, Amane will be out of the running for Etoile and I will have ALL the power." Hrrm. Problematic.

Anyhow, I am babbling now, aren't I? I ought to show you the first episode so you can decide for yourself whether Strawberry Panic! is a hit or miss in your yuri library:

Watch Strawberry Panic 1 in Animation | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

It seems that the series is more of a yuri parody than a legit depiction of lesbian life. I mean, it's fun to watch the towering, surreal, almost ridiculous plot lines sometimes -- it's the ol' "shut the brain off and absorb" mentality. But hey, I'm still new to the scene and it was the second anime I ever watched that revolved around the lives of queer girls, so I've got to stay true to those roots. But definitely, I expect this series to ignite strong reactions for better or worse in its viewers, so take it as it comes, I'd advise.

Ani-Manga Extravaganza: Aoi Hana

Aoi Hana (also known as Sweet Blue Flowers) is the delicate, dream-like tale of a high school student navigating her secret crushes at an all-girls school and discovering her true identity as a lesbian woman. With the help of an estranged childhood friend, our protagonist learns to accept herself and her desire even while she finds the courage to let go of the women who have hurt her in the past.

The manga series was originally written and illustrated by Takako Shimura. It began serialization in November 2004 in Ohta's Publishing, Manga Erotics F. As of April 2009, four bound volumes of the manga have been released.

From July to September 2009, an 11-episode animated series of the yuri manga aired on Fuji TV in Japan. The light, subdued watercolours of the manga's illustrations gave way to a more realistic style under Kenichi Kasai's direction and under the directives of the J.C. Staff. However, the sweet melodrama and the epic amount of hushed blushing and shy glances survived the leap between manga to anime, making for an excellent starting point for new yuri fans.

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Akira Okudaira

At the start of Aoi Hana, Akira Okudaira is entering high school at Fujigaya Girls Academy in Kamakura. On her commute, she encounters her old childhood friend, Fumi Manjōme, whom she has not seen for ten years. Fumi is attending Matsuoka Girl's High School where she meets and subsequently falls in love with the handsome third-year heartthrob, Yasuko Sugimoto. Fumi and Yasuko strike up a short-term love affair that ignites the gossip circles of both girls' schools considering Yasuko is the star of her school's drama club and basketball team.

Meanwhile, Akira joins the drama club at her school and befriends Kyōko Ikumi, another budding queer girl who was turned down by the charismatic Yasuko. At the moment, Kyōko has been promised to Kō Sawanoi and is set to marry him once she graduates. However, both sides of the relationship understand the unspoken reality that Kyōko is a lesbian and does not want to wed.

Kyōko Ikumi

Once Fumi and Yasuko are dating, Fumi comes out to Akira who is at first unsure how to react. Akira dedicates herself to cultivating happiness in the lives of those around her and she struggles at first to ease Fumi's worries.

Yasuko Sugimoto and Fumi Manjōme

Akira's drama club organizes an adaptation of Wuthering Heights in which the dashing Yasuko dominates as Heathcliff. Following the performance, Yasuko and Fumi reach an insurmountable obstacle in their new relationship -- it is revealed that Yasuko harbours deep-seated feelings for her older sister's finace and her former teacher, Masanori Kagami. With the heartbreaking understanding that she can never be with Masanori, Yasuko decides to leave Kamakura in order to study abroad in London.

In the wake of her shattered relationship and after a great deal of soul searching, Fumi realizes her first and only love has always been Akira, despite the fact that Akira is not interested in women. At this point, the manga and anime diverge -- while the anime ends with Fumi's epiphany, the manga continues on into the girls' second year of high school where Akira and Fumi's friendship is complicated after Fumi reveals her true feelings.

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To check out the first episode of Aoi Hana, click over to AnimeWoot.com. All eleven episodes are up and running with English subtitles for all you ladies who A) Can't speak Japanese and B) Like to read your television shows. I hope you find this post when you have ample free time as I'm sure you will get sucked in to watching the entire series.

Serious, I love the shyness and the blushing that goes on in Japanese yuri manga/anime. It's like the creators sat there and watched me stumble through high school and then animated it for fans across the globe. Oh, and you're going to notice fairly fast that there is a definite trend in the anime I will be showcasing this week:

• The energetic, gorgeous, shorter, social butterflies tend to be the young objects of affection.
• The reserved, tall, awkward, intelligent girls with long, dark hair and glasses tend to be the older, closeted queers who struggle to come to terms with their budding sexual identity. Oh, and you can bet your buttons that they will pine for the unattainable girls.

I love it for its accuracy. Perhaps you, dear reader, will find some commonalities between your own high school days (or present circumstances) and the characters from Aoi Hana. Oh, the quiet drama -- how I miss thee.

ANI-MANGA EXTRAVAGANZA!!

YOSSHA!!

It is time, my lovelies -- it is time to unleash a world of anime and manga on all of you for ONE SOLID WEEK. I have been planning this series of posts for at least one month now and, at last, the ideas are being realised in print.

Nerds, please rejoice. And for all the doubtful, concerned readers out there, never fear -- take note and open those horizons to a brand new scene with a whole lot of women, all queerly-drawn.

And I do underline the QUEER aspect.

As in Western culture, there is a definite genre in Japanese literature that appeals to women of the lady-lovin' persuasion and to the gentlemen who happen to support (and drool over) them. Yuri, or literally "lily," is a catch-all term used in Japan to denote all anime, manga, or other related entertainment media that features lesbian content. Yuri can either focus on the sexual and explicit aspects or the emotional aspects of the relationship, the latter often being denoted as shojo-ai (or "Girls' Love") in the West.

Now, as I am fascinated with language and the evolution of words, I found it interesting that North American audiences once used the term "yuri" to describe the most explicit examples of the genre, more specifically the hentai (or pornographic) section. According to the information I found on Wikipedia (I know, only the most reliable sources for Miz Moffatt! *Sarcasm*), the evolution of the West/Japanese terms is thus:

"Following the pattern of shōnen-ai, a term already in use in North America to describe content involving non-sexual relationships between men, western fans coined the term shojo-ai to describe yuri without explicit sex. In Japan the term shōjo-ai (少女愛?, lit. girl love) is not used in this meaning, and instead tends to denote pedophilia (actual or perceived) , with a similar meaning to the term lolicon (Lolita complex)"

Now, prior to reading this article, I was partial to the term "yuri" to describe works pertaining to queer women. Maybe I am just lazy and prefer two-syllable words over three-syllables, I don't know. But, knowing that "shojo-air" in Japan refers to another genre that I find entirely objectionable, well -- yuri will do just fine for this blogette.

In the early twentieth-century, Japanese lesbian literature took the form of Class S stories that depicted intense, though platonic, emotional attachments between a more senior student and a junior student. However, the ultimate message of these works remains heteronormative. While the girls experience powerful attractions to one another, it is understood as a transitory period that enables girls to flourish into caring wives and mothers in their adulthood.

In the 1970s, yuri began to appear in magazines targeted toward young girls, however the outcome was still quite similar. The formulaic conventions of the genre in this era prevented the couple from remaining together -- an older, more sophisticated woman pined after a younger, more awkward admirer, but the relationship was doomed from the start. Once their relationship was made public, both families treated the news as a scandal and the tales often ended with the death of the older partner. I find it interesting that queer narratives tend to conclude with partners dying or insurmountable odds prying the lovers apart. Even now, it's amazing how that plot structure persists in our cultural collective.

But, I digress.

It's not until the 1990s that yuri fans were introduced to fulfilling, sweet, and more genuine depictions of romantic and sexual bonds between women. Tragic outcomes and stereotyped dynamics weakened and allowed for series like the ever-popular Sailor Moon to introduce a more positive portrayal of lesbian relationships. Ah, Sailor Moon -- it was the first mainstream series in Japanese print and animation to not only depict powerful, ass-kicking, magical girls, it was also the first to depict an open lesbian couple. Of course, if you were a young'un in North America when the dubbed anime was released, you would have understood this relationship within a more sterilized, confusing fashion. Even with the censorship of queer characters, I know for certain that the show still influenced my proto-lesbian self and helped shape my perspective on attractive, fierce women.

From that moment onward, lesbian characters have garnered a wider following and are featured as the cornerstones of entire series and magazine serials. On one hand, there's the masterpiece Revolutionary Girl Utena, a shoujo anime series featuring a prominent yuri relationship. On the other hand, male-targeted works such as Devilman Lady began to explore the more "mature" aspects of lesbian relationships. The first magazines targeted toward lesbians appeared around this period and featured stories ranging from high school crushes to lesbian love stories played out in real time with varying degrees of sexual content. In the present day, it seems as though yuri content is free to blend with other genres including mecha and science fiction and thus generate new, diverse stories for readers in love with yuri manga.

And, here we are now -- right on the cusp of diving into the latest yuri series and a whole new stomping ground for creative, queer girls and male fans alike. I am busting at the seams to share more with you, but I need to pace myself here. I could easily inundate you given that the genre has expanded as much as it has in recent years. But no, we shall leave that until later this week.

Here we go, girls -- let the Ani-Manga Extravaganza BEGIN!