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Sources of Inspiration: Petals on the Wind

There was nothing quite like the drift of sakura which followed Sakurazuka Seishirou around in Tokyo Babylon and X, giving him that unique ambience of beauty and menace, clinging to Sumeragi Subaru as well once he caught Seishirou’s eye. Drifting rose petals in Revolutionary Girl Utena gave Ohtori Academy, the Duelists, and the Rose Bride herself a menacing, yet seductive ambience, suggesting that the roses were not what they seemed.  Falling petals aren’t necessarily menacing. They can create a unique moment, suggesting a special memory which will stay with those caught within their drift, long after it’s gone. I catch … Read more

ANNOUNCEMENT: Colour Theory – K. Leigh

Colour Theory - K. Leigh

K. Leigh has a new queer sci-fi anime book out (bi/trans mtf): Colour Theory. Some people believe in reincarnation. Others believe humans will eventually become robots. Why not both?  That’s how Alex wakes up—aboard CONSTELIS VOSS, humanity’s very own planet-sized ship. He soon realizes that he’s a bit of an anomaly; he’s the only android who’s ever remembered a past life. Now he needs to know why he’s remembering bits and pieces of the 1990s and how he became an android in the first place. Familiar faces aboard CONSTELIS VOSS help him color in the blanks. Memories start to form patterns—patterns … Read more

Gay in Anime

gay anime

Anime fans may be delighted to know of three titles recently released in the U.S. depicting same-sex relationships: Hitorijime My Hero, Love Stage and Yagate Kimi ni Naru (Bloom Into You). For a long time, fans of anime and manga who wanted to see gay or trans characters were stuck with imperfect representations that were often overly sexualized and played for misogynist laughs. But in the new millennium, anime fans have had better representations of gay characters to enjoy, including Yuri!!! On Ice, a homoerotic sports drama about ice skaters; Gravitation, a love story between a rock star and a … Read more

FOR READERS: yakking About yaoi

yaoi - deposit photos

FOR READERS Today’s reader topic comes from QSFer K.S. Trenten: Let’s talk anime, manga, yaoi, yuri, shounen ai, and shoujo ai. What do you like? What are your favorites? Writers: This is a reader chat – you are welcome to join it, but please do not reference your own works directly. Thanks! Join the chat

Ooops… Netflix Reboot of Saunt Seiya Anime Series Changes Gender of Popular Character

Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac

In summer 2019, Netflix will release its remake of the ‘80s- and 2000s-era anime classic Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac, an animated series about five cosmic warriors defending Earth against vengeful Greek gods. The original Japanese TV program featured a gentle male character named Andromeda Shun. Shun had long green hair, wore magenta armor, was openly emotional and always tried to resolve conflicts without violence, despite being a skilled warrior. As such, some Saint Seiya fans viewed Andromeda Shun as queer or at least a groundbreaking depiction of a male warrior. However, Netflix’s remake will change Andromeda Shun’s gender to female, upsetting some … Read more

TV: Trans Man And Female Writers Make New Anime Fantasy Show

High Guardian Spice

Crunchyroll are launching their first ever original anime series and a trans man is the creative force behind it. The anime streaming service are taking inspiration from Netflix’s strategy and launching their first original series, High Guardian Spice. But that’s not all: the creator is life-long anime fan, storyboard artist, comic writer and transgender man, Raye Rodriguez. He’ll be leading an all-female writing room. The show, created by Ellation Animation, is a coming-of-age tale filled with drama and sorcery. It’s set to release in 2019. Crunchyroll released its official synopsis in a press release: ‘In High Guardian Spice, the lives … Read more

FOR READERS: Favorite Queer Spec Fic Manga/Anime

FOR READERS Today’s reader topic comes from QSFer Kari trenten: What queer or spec fic manga/anime TV or book series did you truly love? What yaoi/yuri spec fic books are your faves? Which webcomics or graphic novels get you going? This is a legacy chat. Writers: This is a reader chat – you are welcome to join it, but please do not reference your own works directly. Thanks! Join the chat

Cosplay Meets RuPaul

Anime Cosplay

RuPaul may have made her name and fortune off of dressing up in elaborate costumes to perform as an outlandish character, but these cosplayers from the Anime Expo in Los Angeles are also runway worthy. Watch these Gaymer Base group show off their crazy good costumes in a show set to Ru’s song “Category Is…” By Bil Browning – Full Story at LGBTQ Nation

FOR WRITERS: Adapting Your Work

film - pixabay

FOR WRITERS Today’s writer topic comes from QSFer Hank Cannon: Writers: Do you consider “pre-adapting” your work for eventual translation into another medium? Do you make voice and point of view choices that can make something easier to film, as opposed to requiring a lot of reworking? Is this something worthy to take into consideration, or is it just a pipe dream not to be entertained? Join the chat