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Hella escapist fantasies can be p popular. See also: Sword Art Online.
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Apr 19, 2014 23:24
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Srice posted:Hella escapist fantasies can be p popular. See also: Sword Art Online. And on the other side of the pond, Top Gun.
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Apr 19, 2014 23:26
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Srice posted:Hella escapist fantasies can be p popular. See also: Sword Art Online. That doesn't fully explain it for me. I can understand why someone would want to be like Kirito, but I don't really get why a sane person would want to be like Tatsuya.
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Apr 19, 2014 23:53
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Amazingly good at everything, has women fawning over him (including his hot sister, who to only-child Japanese nerds is like A GIRL who LIVES IN YOUR HOUSE) and yet is completely bland and personality free so you can project yourself onto him. The real answer is: sane people don't. Edit: Basically this for otaku: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4uuGvmAxTI
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Apr 19, 2014 23:59
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Sakurazuka posted:Amazingly good at everything, has women fawning over him (including his hot sister, who to only-child Japanese nerds is like A GIRL who LIVES IN YOUR HOUSE) and yet is completely bland and personality free so you can project yourself onto him. I understand it up until the blandness, because in a way, he's not bland enough. There's a difference between having no distinctive personality traits and having things like shallow affect be your primary personality traits.
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Apr 20, 2014 00:02
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I only watched the first episode so maybe I'm confusing him with every bland harem character ever.
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Apr 20, 2014 00:07
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Dammit Shaft/Jin.  The three-episode-test moment in Mekaku City Actors is now on track to be in episode 4. Marvelous.
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Apr 20, 2014 00:29
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Silver2195 posted:I understand it up until the blandness, because in a way, he's not bland enough. There's a difference between having no distinctive personality traits and having things like shallow affect be your primary personality traits. It's a power fantasy. The main character carries enough ideals and morality to be relatable but at the same time has super powers and special abilities that make him a cut above the rest. It's not so much that he has to be completely bland because if he was then the audience wouldn't care to relate to him.
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Apr 20, 2014 01:50
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There is pretty funny about how the "boring yet perfect self insertion fantasy" protagonist who is still in high school & is surrounded by high school women who fantasize over him is so ubiquitous when the audience the works target are all basically graduated nerds who, theoretically, have jobs and, again theoretically, their own personal lives. I mean, if you look at an equivalent Western male fantasy like comic super heroes, the power fantasy is presented as something that 'you can dream of becoming', as it were, whereas it's a bit stranger to fantasize being a high schooler again so that underage girls can fawned over you! The fact that manga/anime are so diverse and yet so completely obsessed with middle/high school is pretty hilariously sad to me.
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Apr 20, 2014 03:23
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Zorak posted:There is pretty funny about how the "boring yet perfect self insertion fantasy" protagonist who is still in high school & is surrounded by high school women who fantasize over him is so ubiquitous when the audience the works target are all basically graduated nerds who, theoretically, have jobs and, again theoretically, their own personal lives. That's a reeeeeal big theoretically.
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Apr 20, 2014 03:27
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Waffleman_ posted:That's a reeeeeal big theoretically. Yes, but it's also a bit overzealous I think to assume that literally no one who purchases this crap is making some kind of wage or has a personal life, if only because that's statistically improbable even in Japan's shrinking economy & population and because people are actually paying for this (which is why there's so much of it).
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Apr 20, 2014 03:39
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Having a job doesn't imply having a personal life, though.
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Apr 20, 2014 03:49
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Silver2195 posted:Having a job doesn't imply having a personal life, though. Yes, but also it is pretty improbable that literally everyone who buys this poo poo (since these things are selling millions of copies) are paupers who interact with no other human beings ever 
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Apr 20, 2014 03:51
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Zorak posted:Yes, but also it is pretty improbable that literally everyone who buys this poo poo (since these things are selling millions of copies) are paupers who interact with no other human beings ever Eh I don't disagree but most of them don't really sell millions. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-12-01/top-selling-light-novels-in-japan-by-series/2013 Although if anyone was wondering how Mahouka has an adaptation, well, there were two series in the top 22 which didn't have one prior to this season and they both do now.
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Apr 20, 2014 03:55
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Zorak posted:The fact that manga/anime are so diverse and yet so completely obsessed with middle/high school is pretty hilariously sad to me. I've had this presented to me (but at this point I couldn't tell you when/wear) that the average japanese adult wishes they could be in their school days again, as it's a common sentiment that ~Those Were The Days~ and once you graduate, everything else is terrible. Then you just actually have the demographic who are still in middle/high school. So you have 2/3rds of a readerbase who associate closely with school, and thus it ends up being the setting for everything.
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Apr 20, 2014 04:07
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Yeah, I have read many times from people with an obsession for young adult fiction from Japan telling people the Japanese are obsessed with high school.
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Apr 20, 2014 04:32
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It does makes sense. You have actual high-schoolers seeking escapism from a soul-crushing society basically telling them to put their personal life aside and study to become productive members of society. And the adults seeking escapism from the responsibility of that reality to the point in their lives where they feel they still had a choice in the matter. Western media basically does the exact same thing with college.
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Apr 20, 2014 04:39
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Emalde posted:I've had this presented to me (but at this point I couldn't tell you when/wear) that the average japanese adult wishes they could be in their school days again, as it's a common sentiment that ~Those Were The Days~ and once you graduate, everything else is terrible. Then you just actually have the demographic who are still in middle/high school. So you have 2/3rds of a readerbase who associate closely with school, and thus it ends up being the setting for everything. This isn't exactly a phenomenon exclusive to Japan. You hear a LOT of teenage/high school nostalgia amongst people around the world. Even in America, you very commonly hear perfectly normal adults say that their high school days were the best years of their life.
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Apr 20, 2014 05:15
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So Mekaku episode 2 was a thing. Specifically a SHAFT thing. There's something interesting hiding in the shadows of this series and I think the (likely) multitudinous plot threads will begin to show where and how they interconnect in the next episode. Alternatively, it could be a gigantic clusterfuck but at least I'm not wasting it on Card Games
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Apr 20, 2014 05:24
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One thing I love is that anime/manga targeted at adults totally glorifies high school, like a Kyoani show or Chihayafuru, yet when a manga is actually targeted at teenagers we get something like Assassination Classroom or Beelzebub, where school is basically hell.
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Apr 20, 2014 05:32
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Emalde posted:I've had this presented to me (but at this point I couldn't tell you when/wear) that the average japanese adult wishes they could be in their school days again, as it's a common sentiment that ~Those Were The Days~ and once you graduate, everything else is terrible. Then you just actually have the demographic who are still in middle/high school. So you have 2/3rds of a readerbase who associate closely with school, and thus it ends up being the setting for everything. There's a great post about it in the let's play Tokimeki thread vibratingsheep posted:Why are the Japanese so obsessed with high school, anyway? Anyway, are there any super-duper low budget shows out or have there been any "Our budget ran out" moments in this season yet?
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Apr 20, 2014 07:11
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Postal Parcel posted:Anyway, are there any super-duper low budget shows out or have there been any "Our budget ran out" moments in this season yet? Dai Shogun, where the "animation" is mostly using warp filters in Photoshop.
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Apr 20, 2014 07:38
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FortMax posted:Dai Shogun, where the "animation" is mostly using warp filters in Photoshop. Thanks, I'll check it out. Also, just caught I definitely see how the Madoka stuff came up. I like the music and overall tone too. Especially liking that, for now, the incest subplot is being shown as a thing to be ashamed of and not "Oh, it's totally cool you guys, even if they aren't blood related, but they are because they're twins". I also like how Yuzuki calls out Ruko on her "demure personality" based on the reaction to the earlier despair bomb. It may not be too rare nowadays, but it's nice to see characters call out the "I want everyone to be nice, happy, and not mean" stance a lot of milquetoast characters seem to have. e:Also caught Mekakucity Actors. Was this directed by the guy who did Soultaker or any of the -gatari series by chance? It's got that same feeling with all the cuts and what not. And holy hell was it weird. Also, loved the intro with the bells. Very reminiscent of Utena. McA, you seem really cool. Postal Parcel fucked around with this message at 10:04 on Apr 20, 2014 |
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Apr 20, 2014 09:33
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Postal Parcel posted:e:Also caught Mekakucity Actors. Was this directed by the guy who did Soultaker or any of the -gatari series by chance? It's got that same feeling with all the cuts and what not. Shinbo being Shinbo, yup. Also, stop making a show based on a series of Vocaloid songs sound like something I should check out, guys, you're freaking me out here. 
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Apr 20, 2014 11:30
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The Devil Tesla posted:One thing I love is that anime/manga targeted at adults totally glorifies high school, like a Kyoani show or Chihayafuru, yet when a manga is actually targeted at teenagers we get something like Assassination Classroom or Beelzebub, where school is basically hell. That's not totally true given romcoms like Nisekoi, Seo Kouji's stuff, and lots of romance shoujo manga in general exist. Manga authors in general just like to place their settings in high school presumably for the reasons stated in the Tokimeki post. Beelzebub just draws from the same well of punk stories that Kyou Kara Ore Wa and Shonan Junai Gumi does, while Assassination Classroom succeeds a lot of teacher stories like GTO and Kinpachi-sensei. I wouldn't call it hellish, just more exploring a different glorification within the mind of the author of what high school could have been like with possible twists of demons/octoteachers.
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Apr 20, 2014 12:18
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I haven't watched first episodes of some of the animes I'm planning on looking at. However: The File of Young Kindaichi Returns Watchable. A tad over dramatic, but watchable. My only beef is that, if the Japanese are going to go somewhere and solve crimes, why can't they go to the USA. I mean,the USA is the center of the world, right? They should come here to solve crimes. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Yes. If the show can't be centered around the USA, I suppose Japan is fine. Why is Holly/Seika so weak? Also, why Seika? Did I spell that correctly? What happened to Joseph's mom? Isn't she near immortal? What about Joseph himself? Shouldn't he be near immortal? What's up with the gray hair? Mushi Shi Yes. Yes. Yes. After the first episode, I had to pour myself a couple glasses of sake. Blade and Soul Not sure about this one yet. I can live with the protagonist-ess being an emotionless killing machine if there is some reason for that. We just don't know yet. I suspect something has been done to her to make her the way she is. Cover up the drat butterfly thingy! Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san Not sure. Might be an interesting way to spend 3 minutes. So far, fairly interesting. I want to know why Banana won't tell people where she buried her stuff. Plus, they really didn't develop that whole storyline very well. Some 12-17 year old went around the world finding trillions of yen worth of treasures? What? Really? Also, she's now a ghost dwelling in some living room and the landlord/her good friend when she was alive, just rents the place out to some unsuspecting doofus with no rhyme or reason? Whatever. Leave that as it may, I guess I want to see where this one goes. Is the Order a Rabbit I only watched this because I have realized that I need to give some anime a chance, even if I think I'm not going to like it. I didn't like this one. Not my cup of coffee (pun intended). Chaiki -- the Coffin Princess So far, fairly interesting. I suspect this one will be a keeper. (Please do make a thread for this one <-- the guy who said he would. Thanks) No Game, No Life Mixed on this one. Yes, there is a major creep issue with the brother-sister stuff. Plus, the protagonist is can be just plain creepy anyway. The idea is interesting, though. Also, it's fun to see someone who is overwhelmingly capable in one area yet so incapable in everything else. Black Bullet Not sure. One episode wasn't enough for me to really make a determination on this one. It has potential, yet.... Majin Bone Even though this anime has cards, I will probably watch it. The Comic Artist and His Assistants The only redeeming thing about this anime is that it might actually provide insight into the technical aspects of someone who is a manga artist. Maybe not. Hard to say. I doubt I'll watch it, though. One Week Friends I liked 50 First Dates, so I will likely watch this anime. Brynhildr in the Darkness Not sure. I don't think this is a good show. I think she's his childhood friend but something happened to the moles, too. Baby Steps Not a fan of sports anime, but I will likely watch this one. Seems very interesting. The World is Still Beautiful Not sure. How old is the protagonist girl anyway? Should she be sleeping with an 11-year old boy? The Irregular at Magic High School This is not a good anime. However, if I could be any fantasy character, I'd be The Incredible Hulk. Just saying....but the smart Hulk. Mekakucity Actors After the first episode, I thought I knew what was going on (sort of). After the second, I realized I'm going to have to keep watching if I want to figure out what's going on. Kamigami no Asobi No, no, no, no, no. Captain Earth Yes because I had a boomerang too.
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Apr 20, 2014 13:26
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My Watch List is as follows: Chaika If the whole Unicorn bisection thing in ep 1 didn't sell me on this, then the fight in the second did. Genuinely excited to see where this goes. If her flag breaks Whilst the LN Fanservice could take a hike for all I care, the humour in this is just so drat bonkers that I just can't not like it. Could go totaly sideways but I'm hopeful. No Game No Life Again, LN Fanservice is ahoy in this but with Sora pretty much going "Nah, we're not doing the whole stich with Insest" I'm pretty much good for this. Also there's some great performances being done by the VA in this between Steph's Wryyyyy and Sora basicaly being Kirito on an all coffie diet. The World is Still Beautiful It's a soap to be sure but there's something to the characters and the world building in this one that is keeping me intrested. JoJo's Bizzare Adventure: Star Crusaders Because have some taste, damnit  ViggyNash posted:Sooo... does anyone understand what's going on in Mekaku City Actors at all? I'm starting to think it's just Shinbo's playhouse. I get the distinct impression (After that whole stupid mess with Madoka: ConanThe3rd fucked around with this message at 14:45 on Apr 20, 2014 |
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Apr 20, 2014 14:33
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Autonomous Monster posted:Shinbo being Shinbo, yup. Hey, the nice thing about that sort of thing is that without a definitive source material, it gives a decent amount of freedom! Always good to let Shinbo run wild and that seems to be what he's doing here.
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Apr 20, 2014 14:38
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Yuki Yase is directing Mekaku, Shinbo's name is just attached to it like its attached to every single Shaft show. Go look up how many of their recent shows have two directors.
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Apr 20, 2014 15:04
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But it's so goddamn -gatari that I can't help but think it's Shinbo. Most likely Shinbo's working on the -gatari OVA, so it makes sense that he's not lead director on Nisekoi or Mekaku City.
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Apr 20, 2014 16:00
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Shinbo basically works for Shaft training animators when he's not directing stuff. Shinbo may have founded the whole Shaft aesthetic, but he's basically created a brand new generation of head-tilters to replace him when he's retired.
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Apr 20, 2014 16:19
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Redcrimson posted:Shinbo basically works for Shaft training animators when he's not directing stuff. Shinbo may have founded the whole Shaft aesthetic, but he's basically created a brand new generation of head-tilters to replace him when he's retired.  god bless him
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Apr 20, 2014 16:23
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Dr. Video Games 0031 posted:This isn't exactly a phenomenon exclusive to Japan. You hear a LOT of teenage/high school nostalgia amongst people around the world. Even in America, you very commonly hear perfectly normal adults say that their high school days were the best years of their life. There's a difference between saying that high school was the best years years of your life and having a high school setting dominate your media for anything that's not a game/variety show the way it does in Japan. When you have a grizzled combat veteran of a dozen wars or the hardened assassin who's killed a hundred people and they're 14, that's seriously weird. Or like Macross Frontier where everyone in school is either a famous idol or works part-time as a mercenary fighting aliens. The contortions some of these shows have to go through in order to maintain the high school setting when even college would be 100% more believable are pretty amazing. I think that's a bit beyond the occasional bout of nostalgia you get in other parts of the world.
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Apr 20, 2014 16:31
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Who would have known that an entertainment medium primarily made for kids and teens has a lot of stuff set in schools. Why can't japan make more stuff for me, the gaijin who never buys merch.
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Apr 20, 2014 16:47
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I find it kinda hard to believe that the average middle aged working man/woman in Japan is glued to the TV watching a bunch of high school shows. Stuff like that is popular I'm sure, for the same reason Harry Potter is the by far best selling book series in history.
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Apr 20, 2014 16:50
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Redcrimson posted:Shinbo basically works for Shaft training animators when he's not directing stuff. Shinbo may have founded the whole Shaft aesthetic, but he's basically created a brand new generation of head-tilters to replace him when he's retired. God bless that man. :salute: aers posted:Yuki Yase is directing Mekaku, Shinbo's name is just attached to it like its attached to every single Shaft show. Go look up how many of their recent shows have two directors. Yeah, I went to ANN to check this, specifically, and saw he was down as a plain-old "Director" rather than "Chief Director" or "Supervision" or whatever; I figured that meant he was taking a more hands-on approach this time.  whatevs~Though, on the subject of his name being everywhere- looking back, he's only listed as the presumably super-hands-off "Supervision" under his own name, and for the story boarding work he did there as "Soji Homura". Which I'm guessing he did so as not to overshadow Oonuma- but if he's got his name plastered everywhere today, regardless of what he's actually doing on a project, is that a sign that he respects Oonuma more than these new guys, or that his name carries that much more weight today than it did in 2007 or what? 
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Apr 20, 2014 16:51
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Namtab posted:Who would have known that an entertainment medium primarily made for kids and teens has a lot of stuff set in schools. look at this chump who doesn't own a single body pillow or figure
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Apr 20, 2014 16:53
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Atelier Escha & Logy is still going along fine. They're getting into original content territory but still covered the main mission. I think it's going to be interesting to see how they cram it all into 12 episodes.
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Apr 20, 2014 16:57
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Dick Spacious CPA posted:
Am I doing this right? 
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Apr 20, 2014 16:58
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Namtab posted:Who would have known that an entertainment medium primarily made for kids and teens has a lot of stuff set in schools. Except the vast majority of this crap is aimed at 20+ year olds in Japan (ie the idiots who buy "merch"), and the fact that the vast majority of stuff made in the West for teens isn't set in schools Try to keep up, yeah?
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Apr 20, 2014 17:07
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