I really enjoy these chain letter type posts, where a blogger answers a bunch of anime-related questions about themselves. A blog carnival one has been making the rounds, and I also like the survey-style one Yumeka created. But I almost never participate because I don’t feel the content fits will with this blog.
Lucky for me, Sushi GoKart tagged me in another such series that I think does fit a little better with BtT, and I’m more than happy to participate (Marina has already started). The game was created by Iso and his rules are as follows:
Introduction
- Each person is supposed to follow the rule of fives. You are allowed to ask 5 questions, after which you can tag up to 5 bloggers by hyper-linking to their blog; 5 questions because it’s not too many to flood another blogger and occupy too much of his/her time, but yet a large enough number to ask your most important questions, and 5 bloggers to avoid spamming. Hence, prioritize your questions, and who you wish to ask!
- Those tagged are obliged to answer the questions in a blog post, and after which, they are entitled to create their own 5 questions and tag 5 other bloggers, so on and so fourth. You should answer your own 5 questions as well. You are allowed to tag the person that tagged you in the first place. Also, copy and paste this section on your blog so others can understand how the game goes.
- In the case where a blogger strongly refuses to answer a question, he/she must instead post a nice anime image, wallpaper or cosplay picture, et cetera in response to that question.
- To make things interesting, a blogger can include wildcards in his/her 5 questions by placing an asterisk, (*), after which those tagged are obliged to reveal something interesting about themselves that others did not previously know. There is no limit to the number of asterisks one can place (which means there can be up to 5 wildcard questions).
- Anyone can feel free to start the game; you don’t necessarily need someone to tag you. Just create your 5 questions and tag your 5 people of choice. However, the catch is that you must answer your own 5 questions as well.
- To potentially prevent an endless game, this round of games will end on the 8th September 2012, 12pm JST (GMT +9). After which, no more bloggers can tag others to answer their questions.
My Responses
And here are my responses to the questions from Sushi GoKart:
1. What was the first anime you have ever watched? How do you think you would review it now?
This question has been on mind, actually, since I read a related post by Ace Railgun. Dismissing the shows I watched as a young child that I no longer remember well, like Voltron and Speed Racer, my “first” would be season one of Digimon. I reminisced about the series some after reading the extensive recent reviews by Cajun Samurai staff and I actually watched an episode with my toddlers a couple of weeks ago, so it’s fresh in my mind. I currently have it rated an 8 on Anime Planet, and I think that rating still holds. It’s a show whose fandom I was involved in more than any other since, and which overshadowed the actual series for me; still, the first season of Digimon was just really good.
2. Which novel or videogame would you like to see adapted into an anime?
I’m not much into video games (with the exception of Madden…Madden the Anime?!), so I’ll go with a novel. The one that immediately came to mind is one of my favorites – Dream of the Red Chamber. I think it could become a neat adaption – romantic and comedic tropes from anime, I think, would fit the series very well.
3. If you could be a Pokemon, which one would you be?
Since I haven’t watched that much Pokemon (showing my age), I had to do a little research. And my conclusion? Darkrai sounds pretty cool:
Darkrai possibly feeds off dreams…
Awesome.
4. What is the most important thing you want to communicate to your audience?
Primarily, I want to convey this: Christians can be open, caring, and loving, all while being as messed up and in need of grace as anyone else.
5. How do you feel about anime elitism? (Trying to find every fault within an anime).
I think there’s a place for most any type of writing, as long as it’s strongly supported. If you hate on an anime, present valid reasons for the hate. Also understand context – if a show is trying to be highbrow, well, it’s inviting criticism; otherwise, you may be over-analyzing. And of course, finding fault just to find fault really isn’t my style – its not the way I try to live life and that trickles down to how I view entertainment…usually.
Question Time!
And now, for my questions!
- What was the last anime that made you think…”WOW”?
- Has any anime changed the way you feel about a particular topic or issue?
- Do you consider yourself spiritual or religious? Both? Neither? And why?
- What’s been your favorite series/movie you’ve watched this year (anime or otherwise)?
- If you were given the resources to create an anime series, what kind of show would it be? What would the story be about?*
Here are my answers to these questions:
1. Sakamichi no Apollon made my jaw drop, sometimes literally, every week. Moving, involving, and purty, the series was almost a “10” in my book. I was particularly wowed by some of the music sequences, twists in plot, and character decisions. Just terrific.
2. Instead of anime, I’ll revise my own question. A visual novel changed my habits – and one that I never even played! By examining Katawa Shoujo, I’ve become more sensitive with my speech. My use of people first language has now become second nature.
3. Both. “Religion” is a term that has a lot of connotation, much of which I try to avoid. But I certainly do try to be faithful and devout. I tend to use the word “spiritual” more often, since it seems to convey a “higher” order of thought and action, emphasizing the idea of relationship.
4. I loved me some Fate/Zero 2 and the aforementioned Sakamichi no Apollon, but man, The Dark Knight Rises was fantastically awesome. The Avengers might have been even better. Tie.
5. I think the story would begin simply and typically – in a high school. A group of classmates – not necessarily friends – would somehow take a physical journey that leads to personal transformation. Romance would be involved. And swords. Lots of swords.
* I’m a hapa. Though I never had what one would call an “identity crisis,” I’ve been stuck in and between two worlds since my childhood. My perspective has afforded me some opportunity to share, including an interactive presentation I once gave to an Asian student group in UT involving the idea of “Asian American identity.”
Tag – You’re It!
And here are the bloggers I’m tagging (if I’ve picked more than five, forgive me – math was never my best subject):
- Alexander (Ashita no Anime)
- Annalyn (Annalyn’s Thoughts)
- The Cajun Samurai (The Cajun Samurai)
- Madeline Ashby (Dangerous to those who profit from the way things are)
- Sweetpea (Paper Chimes and Going in Blindly)
- Tommy (Anime Bowl)
Feel free to ignore this call – I’ve done the same many times. But if you do decide to join in, have fun with it! 🙂