Last fall, I was blessed enough to have three wonderful writers accept the challenge to make this site a better blog. Months later, one of my best friends and among the most gifted people I know, R86; amazing writer and all-around encouraging and beautiful person, Goldy; and the young one, the ever-cheerful and wise Murasaki Lynna, have indeed changed the blog. It’s of higher quality and is so much more interesting than when only this old man was writing for it.
As such, I was happy to keep our writer count at four. But sometimes, a serendipitous turn of events occurs; well, in accordance to what this blog is all about, it’s more like a blessed intervention. A fellow Christian blogger who I’ve closely followed over the past year (and who guest blogged here once) has accepted an invitation to join. As I said, I didn’t intend to add another writer, but everything just felt right, and again I was blessed when Zeroe4 agreed to join Beneath the Tangles. He’ll be dabbing a bit into episodic blogging, but will mostly be doing editorials – and we also have a wonderful series of posts in the works that he’ll be authoring in the future.
Please welcome him! And get to know him as well, as I grill him below on his faith, his taste in anime, and his…bankai. 😛
Q1: How did you become a fan of anime?
Zeroe4: I was not allowed to play Pokemon or watch any anime in my house, because my mom had been in Japan before she became a Christian and viewed anime as being very bad based on what she had seen. My childhood best friend loved this stuff, so I would go next door to his house. I moved around a lot, but this same best friend came to visit me during summer in middle school. He showed me Naruto. I was kind of interested. My other friends liked Bleach, so I watched it. Then it happened. I saw a new show called Code Geass. I started on episode 2. I was instantly hooked when I saw the Lancelot knightmare frame driving every where and battling. Since that moment in episode 2, I have been hooked on anime.
Q2: What are your favorite types or genres of anime? How about favorite shows?
Zeroe4: My favorite genre is definitely mecha, however I love any anime with a good story and beautiful art work.
Q3: But hey, you’re more than just an anime blogger. What do you do in “real life”?
Zeroe4: I am currently getting ready to leave for Tokyo for a Discipleship Training School (DTS) as part of Youth With A Mission (YWAM). YWAM is an international Christian missionary training program. My final goal is to live in Japan and make anime. I just graduated high school, so I have a long way to go yet.
Q4: How about other interests?
Zeroe4: I love drawing and computer graphics (I can literally forget to sleep because I am so into my art). I love to play soccer (unfortunately, I got injured a while back and this has become quite difficult, but I still do it when I can). I also love traveling and going new places.
Q5: Do you have a blog other than Beneath the Tangles?
Zeroe4: Yes. My blog is www.zeroe4.com. I also have my art portfolio on this site.
Q6: The theme of this blog is unique since it revolves around Christian spirituality. Could you give us the short testimony about how you came to this faith?
Zeroe4: I was raised in a Christian home. However, I did not really start following God till I was in middle school. Before that I hated myself and had issues with depression. About the time I entered high school, God told me that I would make anime in Japan. I told him that if he made a way I would go. It didn’t sink in for a couple years, but I started to pursue it. Last year, God confirmed with me that I would make anime in Japan. Now, God has provided a way for me to go and so I am going. I am super excited for this.
Q7: And finally, on a less serious note, let’s end on some fill-in-the-blank!
If I were Haruhi Suzumiya, I would…stop assaulting Mikuru. I mean seriously besides being a time traveler, what did she do to deserve this?
Mecha anime are…if I had to put it in one word… The Most Amazing Anime Genre To Ever Be Created (putting it in one word is to difficult).
My life would be incomplete if I’d never seen…Code Geass, Angel Beats!, and SKET Dance.
My favorite thing/character/setting to draw is…Flying vehicles.
My soul reaper bankai would, of course, be called….Absolute Manifestation.
and its power, most naturally, would be to…The ability to convert Electromagnetic radiation into any form of blade within a 30 foot radius of myself and be able to sustain its solid form up to 3 miles from myself. Do to the blades being converted from energy, they would be able to continue traveling at speeds below light speed in their original direction until they exceed a three mile radius from myself.. (meaning I could use a sword as a airborne projectile until it passes beyond 3 miles of myself using some it’s original energy). It takes 1.5 seconds to create a full size longsword and .05 seconds to create a one inch blade. (seven seconds to create a sword the size of Ichigo’s original Zanpakutō).
Sweet bankai! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this Q&A – I know you’ll enjoy Zeroe4’s posts in the weeks and months ahead. Although again, I don’t plan to add another writer, it’s really all in God’s hands. If you feel led to apply, feel free to do so at any time.
Welcome! It’s gonna be fun having you aboard! 🙂
Thank you so much for allowing me to join. I am really looking forward to working with all of you. I am so excited to be a member of Beneath The Tangles.
Welcome Zeroe4! I look forward to blogging with you!
The five of us shall be invincible! >:D
Same here. This is going to be such a wonderful experience. I am thrilled to be blogging with you.
invinsible? Really? … (can’t think of anything witty at the moment)
Poor Zeroe4, you have a lot to live up to with all the great bloggers here :P.
(Turning on the pressure.)
Actually, my plan was to use all the pressure being placed on me to help me focus on absorbing as much awesomeness from the other bloggers as possible. Right now I seem to be void of awesomeness, but I think blogging with them will influence me. I hope it works out this way.
You’ll do just fine. 😛
Cool, Zeroe4’s joining! I look forward to seeing your posts here!
Though I have to say, it’s hard to keep up with this blog now that there are so many people posting…
Eh, don’t think about it as “keeping up.” Just come and go as you’d like.
Also, it’s good to see that you’re blogging a bit more again, recently! 🙂
I’ll continue to drop by frequently. With five bloggers now, it’s like a whole bunch of great anime blogs in one! ^_^
My blogging spirit is back… at the cost of my fiction writing. I’ve been busy, but I’m itching to write more on my blog. I appreciate the bit of encouragement! 😀
I kinda thought that might be the case…it’s hard to balance both, especially since they each take up so much time doing the same essential activity – writing.
I could tweet you whenever anyone posts something. It might be overwelming though. I will tweet when I post something, just like I have always done.
Between Twitter and Blogger, I can easily know when there are new posts – especially if I check the list on Blogger, since I use it to keep track of all the blogs I follow, including Beneath the Tangles. ^_^ It’s more a matter of having the time and energy to read things – so many great posts, so little time!
Okay. If there is anything super important, I will let you know. I am excited that this oppertunity has presented itself, and I am sure you will read my ramalings about it on twitter.
Welcome to the jungle, Zeroe4! 😀
It’s nice to see another friendly face around. I look forward too seeing your posts~
Super happy to be here. I just hope it isn’t to much of a jungle. I think working with you will be a blast.
I look forward to your posts, Zeroe4!
Thank you. I am going start off with some episodic blogging on the Broken Blade OVAs.
=D. Look forward to reading some insightful posts.
Me too. At least I hope what I write is insiteful. If it isn’t, everyone on this blog writes insitefully enough to cover for me.
I can’t wait to see what you have in store for readers, Zeroe4!
I will try my best. I really hope you like my upcoming posts.
Welcome, Zeroe4! Can’t wait to see what you will post about~
By the way, great taste in anime 🙂 if I do say so myself. I love Mashiro, too. ^^
Thank you for the warm welcome. I am quite excited to get started. I am glad you like Mashiro, he is my favorite character from anime and manga.
Daw, new additions to the family. ^ ^
Welcome, Zeroe4 – hope you have fun blogging on here!
Welcome, Zeroe4! I look forward to commenting on your posts. (evil grin…) just kidding about the grin of deviousness . 😀 I am looking forward to reading your perspective on Anime.