Final Fantasy Tactics Liveblog Part 1
Apr. 18th, 2026 09:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
althea_valaraSo in the recent post by wavesagainstrocks on how you do fandom, I said the following:
WELL FOLKS! I am away from home watching my sister's dog. My PS5 is back home, so no FFXIV - neither potato computer or mom's laptop can handle it. I could play FFXI on potato computer, but I left its gaming pad at home. Which means either fumbling with keyboard controls (and I am NOT good at them) or seeing if my Switch Pro controller would work.
But that, for once, sounds like too much effort.
So what to do? Well, I brought my Switch along! Now, I could replay FFXII. I was supposed to be doing a random job challenge of it recently, but only played an hour. As much as I like FFXII, I think... I think I don't want to replay a game right now.
Which means I am going to start FINAL FANTASY TACTICS today!
Okay, okay, it's another FF game. But I've never played it. And I have long felt that lack of experience in it as a hole in my gaming knowledge. There's a REASON it's way up there with the Zelda series as a "most wanted to play" game.
I know surprisingly a lot about the game, for not having played it. First, I have an idea of what the gameplay is like, because I've played the shit out of FFT: Advance. Seriously! My game file had like 180 hours put in it.
Second, I know many of the characters already, from them having shown up in first FFBE/WOTV and then when I did the Ivalice raids in FFXIV. This also means I know many of the bigger enemies, too.
I also helped R51 at Caves of Narshe update his FFT section for its recent re-release. This means I know EVERY SINGLE item, weapon, and armor in the game, because I proofread those pages. I know where stuff drops from, or is poached from. I know all the locations, because I checked their map pages for correct links.
My posts will be FULL OF SPOILERS but I ask that you PLEASE not spoil me for anything I haven't talked about yet. Thanks in advance!
( here spoilers start )
wavesagainstrocks on how you do fandom, I said the following:
I do sometimes feel I am too narrow-minded in my fandoms, because except for yarncrafts and Final Fantasy, I don't really venture out of those areas? I keep saying I'm going to play more single-player games on my own, but it's so EASY to default to FFXI or FFXIV or replay a comforting game. Earlier this year I was playing Epistory (Typing adventures!) which I was enjoying, and I don't think I have much more left so I should probably finish that. I also played about two hours of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and immediately was interested... but the activation energy to do something new to me is hard to find. So easy to just... not do it.
WELL FOLKS! I am away from home watching my sister's dog. My PS5 is back home, so no FFXIV - neither potato computer or mom's laptop can handle it. I could play FFXI on potato computer, but I left its gaming pad at home. Which means either fumbling with keyboard controls (and I am NOT good at them) or seeing if my Switch Pro controller would work.
But that, for once, sounds like too much effort.
So what to do? Well, I brought my Switch along! Now, I could replay FFXII. I was supposed to be doing a random job challenge of it recently, but only played an hour. As much as I like FFXII, I think... I think I don't want to replay a game right now.
Which means I am going to start FINAL FANTASY TACTICS today!
Okay, okay, it's another FF game. But I've never played it. And I have long felt that lack of experience in it as a hole in my gaming knowledge. There's a REASON it's way up there with the Zelda series as a "most wanted to play" game.
I know surprisingly a lot about the game, for not having played it. First, I have an idea of what the gameplay is like, because I've played the shit out of FFT: Advance. Seriously! My game file had like 180 hours put in it.
Second, I know many of the characters already, from them having shown up in first FFBE/WOTV and then when I did the Ivalice raids in FFXIV. This also means I know many of the bigger enemies, too.
I also helped R51 at Caves of Narshe update his FFT section for its recent re-release. This means I know EVERY SINGLE item, weapon, and armor in the game, because I proofread those pages. I know where stuff drops from, or is poached from. I know all the locations, because I checked their map pages for correct links.
My posts will be FULL OF SPOILERS but I ask that you PLEASE not spoil me for anything I haven't talked about yet. Thanks in advance!
( here spoilers start )
Humble Bundle: Kana Manga Mini-Bundle
Apr. 18th, 2026 08:23 pmsoc_puppet posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
anime_mangaKana Manga is here this time, bringing a manga mini collection!
This bundle includes:
Eden of Witches, volumes 1 thru 6
Leviathan, volumes 1 thru 3
Manhole, volumes 1 thru 3
You can get the entire bundle of manga in PDF form for only $18 USD. Unlike most other Humble Manga Bundles, this one is only available as the full set, so you cannot, for example, buy the first volume of each series for $1 USD.
This bundle supports Book Industry Charitable Foundation, which has helped bookstore and comic book store employees and owners who encounter unexpected financial crises. The Binc Foundation works to keep book people in their homes, in their jobs, and with their families – stabilizing the brick and mortar bookstore community. With some bundles, you can pick which charity you want your donation to go to, but that doesn't seem to be the case with this one. If you scroll down on the right hand side of the Humble Bundle page, you can also find an area where you can adjust how much of your purchase goes to which organization (the charity, the publisher, and Humble Bundle, respectively), with a minimum mandatory amount to Humble Bundle as the host.
This bundle is available for the next 16 days.
This bundle includes:
You can get the entire bundle of manga in PDF form for only $18 USD. Unlike most other Humble Manga Bundles, this one is only available as the full set, so you cannot, for example, buy the first volume of each series for $1 USD.
This bundle supports Book Industry Charitable Foundation, which has helped bookstore and comic book store employees and owners who encounter unexpected financial crises. The Binc Foundation works to keep book people in their homes, in their jobs, and with their families – stabilizing the brick and mortar bookstore community. With some bundles, you can pick which charity you want your donation to go to, but that doesn't seem to be the case with this one. If you scroll down on the right hand side of the Humble Bundle page, you can also find an area where you can adjust how much of your purchase goes to which organization (the charity, the publisher, and Humble Bundle, respectively), with a minimum mandatory amount to Humble Bundle as the host.
This bundle is available for the next 16 days.
Just Create - Beard Edition
Apr. 18th, 2026 05:49 pmsilvercat17 posting in justcreate What are you working on? What have you finished? What do you need encouragement on?
Are there any cool events or challenges happening that you want to hype?
What do you just want to talk about?
What have you been watching or reading?
Chores and other not-fun things count!
Remember to encourage other commenters and we have a discord where we can do work-alongs and chat, linked in the sticky.
Happy Birthday, Ruggie Bucchi!! 🍩🧡
Apr. 18th, 2026 05:24 pmhaunted_cherriesToday is my top favorite character's birthday (Ruggie Bucchi from Twisted Wonderland if that wasn't already obvious xD) and I recently realized that he's my first experience with having a "comfort character" of sorts?
"Comfort character" in the sense that I feel like this is the top character I relate to, share some backstory with, and see a lot of myself in. The person that Ruggie is currently and the person he's had to be to survive a really harsh and unforgiving upbringing ain't all that different, but he's a little dude making the best of the hand he's been dealt (and being a hilarious smartass in the midst of it xD), and I've always appreciated that.
Happy Birthday, Ruggie, and here's to many more. Thanks (to you, Leona, and Jack) for always being there. ; u; 🍩🧡
"Comfort character" in the sense that I feel like this is the top character I relate to, share some backstory with, and see a lot of myself in. The person that Ruggie is currently and the person he's had to be to survive a really harsh and unforgiving upbringing ain't all that different, but he's a little dude making the best of the hand he's been dealt (and being a hilarious smartass in the midst of it xD), and I've always appreciated that.
Happy Birthday, Ruggie, and here's to many more. Thanks (to you, Leona, and Jack) for always being there. ; u; 🍩🧡
LuluttoLilly ambush
Apr. 18th, 2026 01:49 pmstepnix posting in anime_mangaI'd heard that Studio Pierrot was doing a new magical idol anime for the first time in almost twenty years, and then forgot to follow up on it, and then saw that it's on youtube in English now. get hype. It's making some very clear callbacks to Creamy Mami, but the music design honestly reminds me of more modern American cartoons. bee and puppycat. idk. Real interested to see where this goes.
Reading Tarot for Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs
Apr. 19th, 2026 12:06 ammesonaI have been stressed and ailing for the past week or so, so I'm looking forward to the playoffs starting in a few hours. The Play-In tournament was interesting but ended anti-climatically, so not much to say on that. Probably doesn't help that I have a bone to pick with like 6 of the 8 teams and bland neutrality to the rest. It is pretty funny that after the Hornets were looking to be a playoffs dark horse they got swept miserably by the much-maligned Magic.
With the playoffs teams in place, I took out my Oriens Animal tarot deck and got to work determing the outcome of the first round of the NBA playoffs. While consulting the mini guidebook I opened the last page and saw that the artist is actually Malaysian like me, something which has seemingly escaped my notice until now. A pleasant surprise.
Without further ado, I present my findings.
Methodology
I will draw 8 cards for the 8 teams in a conference in order of seeding, placing them side to side in their respective matchups. The Eastern and Western conferences shouldn't share the same card pool, so I will first read for the West before reshuffling and reading for the East.
Results
The Western Conference
| Card | Win | In | Lose | Card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 of Swords | OKC | 5 | Suns | 2 of Pentacles |
| King of Wands | Spurs | 4 | Blazers | 8 of Cups |
| 9 of Wands | Nuggets | 5? | Wolves | 8 of Pentacles |
| Knight of Swords | Rockets | 4 | Lakers | Judgement |
( Full breakdown )
With all the results in a table, it is quite interesting that the losing side have Pentacles/Cups and even numbers, while the winning side has Swords/Wands and odd numbers. We'll see if this trend stays.
The Eastern Conference
| Card | Win | In | Lose | Card | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheel of Fortune | Pistons | 5 | Magic | Ace of Wands | |
| 9 of Swords | Celtics | 6 | 76ers | 2 of Swords | |
| 3 of Cups | Knicks | 6 | Hawks | 3 of Pentacles | |
| High Priestess | Raptors | 7 | Cavs | 10 of Swords |
( Full breakdown )
Unlike the western conference, there are no obvious patterns here. The presence of 2 major arcana may hint to some major developments, I suppose.
I will wake up in some 4 hours for Game 1 of Nuggets-Timberwolves. Good night!
EDIT: AND THE NUGGETS TAKE GAME 1. Scary first quarter but we won by 11. Suck it timberpups!! (Rudy Gobert is a terrorist)
Creative Jam
Apr. 18th, 2026 01:01 amysabetwordsmith posting in crowdfundingWelcome to the 153rd Crowdfunding Creative Jam! This session will run Saturday, April 18-Sunday, April 19. The theme is "Progress."
Crowdfunding Creative Jam
Everyone is eligible to post prompts, which may be words or phrases, titles, images, etc. Prompters may request a specific creator, but everyone else may still use that prompt if they wish. Prompts may specify a particular character/world/etc. but creators may use the prompt for something else anyway and post the results. Prompters are still encouraged to post mostly prompts that anyone could use anywhere, as this maximizes the chance of having creators make something based on your prompt. Please title your comment "Prompt" or "Prompts" when providing inspiration so these are easy to find.
Prompt responses may also be treated as prompts and used for further inspiration. For example, a prompt may lead to a sketch which leads to a story, and so on. This kind of cascading inspiration is one of the most fun things about a collective jam session.
Everyone is eligible to use prompts, and everyone who wants to use a given prompt may do so, for maximum flexibility of creator choice in inspiration. You do not have to post a "Claim" reply when you decide to use a prompt, but this does help indicate what is going on so that other prompters can spread out their choice of prompts if they wish.
Creators are encouraged, but not required, to post at least one item free. Likewise, sharing a private copy of material with the prompter is encouraged but not required. Creative material resulting from prompts should be indicated in a reply to the prompt, with a link to the full content elsewhere on the creator's site (if desired); a brief excerpt and/or description of the material may be included in the reply (if desired). It helps to title your comment "Prompt Filled" or something like that so these are easy to identify. There is no time limit on responding to prompts. However, creators are encouraged to post replies sooner rather than later, as the attention of prompters will be highest during and shortly after the session.
Some items created from prompts may become available for sponsorship. Some creators may offer perks for donations, linkbacks, or other activity relating to this project. Check creator comments and links for their respective offerings.
Prompters, creators, and bystanders are expected to behave in a responsible and civil manner. If the moderators have to drag someone out of the sandbox for improper behavior, we will not be amused. Please respect other people's territory and intellectual property rights, and only play with someone else's characters/setting/etc. if you have permission. (Fanfic/fanart freebies are okay.) If you want to invite folks to play with something of yours, title the comment something like "Open Playground" so it's easy to spot. This can be a good way to attract new people to a shared world or open-source project, or just have some good non-canon fun.
Boost the signal! The more people who participate, the more fun this will be. Hopefully we'll see activity from a lot of folks who regularly mention their projects in this community, but new people are always welcome. You can link to this session post or to individual items created from prompts, whatever you think is awesome enough to recommend to your friends.
Crowdfunding Creative Jam
Everyone is eligible to post prompts, which may be words or phrases, titles, images, etc. Prompters may request a specific creator, but everyone else may still use that prompt if they wish. Prompts may specify a particular character/world/etc. but creators may use the prompt for something else anyway and post the results. Prompters are still encouraged to post mostly prompts that anyone could use anywhere, as this maximizes the chance of having creators make something based on your prompt. Please title your comment "Prompt" or "Prompts" when providing inspiration so these are easy to find.
Prompt responses may also be treated as prompts and used for further inspiration. For example, a prompt may lead to a sketch which leads to a story, and so on. This kind of cascading inspiration is one of the most fun things about a collective jam session.
Everyone is eligible to use prompts, and everyone who wants to use a given prompt may do so, for maximum flexibility of creator choice in inspiration. You do not have to post a "Claim" reply when you decide to use a prompt, but this does help indicate what is going on so that other prompters can spread out their choice of prompts if they wish.
Creators are encouraged, but not required, to post at least one item free. Likewise, sharing a private copy of material with the prompter is encouraged but not required. Creative material resulting from prompts should be indicated in a reply to the prompt, with a link to the full content elsewhere on the creator's site (if desired); a brief excerpt and/or description of the material may be included in the reply (if desired). It helps to title your comment "Prompt Filled" or something like that so these are easy to identify. There is no time limit on responding to prompts. However, creators are encouraged to post replies sooner rather than later, as the attention of prompters will be highest during and shortly after the session.
Some items created from prompts may become available for sponsorship. Some creators may offer perks for donations, linkbacks, or other activity relating to this project. Check creator comments and links for their respective offerings.
Prompters, creators, and bystanders are expected to behave in a responsible and civil manner. If the moderators have to drag someone out of the sandbox for improper behavior, we will not be amused. Please respect other people's territory and intellectual property rights, and only play with someone else's characters/setting/etc. if you have permission. (Fanfic/fanart freebies are okay.) If you want to invite folks to play with something of yours, title the comment something like "Open Playground" so it's easy to spot. This can be a good way to attract new people to a shared world or open-source project, or just have some good non-canon fun.
Boost the signal! The more people who participate, the more fun this will be. Hopefully we'll see activity from a lot of folks who regularly mention their projects in this community, but new people are always welcome. You can link to this session post or to individual items created from prompts, whatever you think is awesome enough to recommend to your friends.
You can watch Akane-banashi on YouTube*
Apr. 17th, 2026 10:12 pmalchemicink posting in anime_manga*if you live in certain countries.
I just wanted to spread the word! (Because I don't know anyone else watching the series) It's currently available to watch in North and Latin America, and I recently saw that it's now available in Australia and New Zealand too.
I think it's also available on Netflix worldwide without the region-locking, but since I don't have Netflix, I appreciate this free alternative to watch.
The official YouTube channel is here. There are different playlists for different language subtitles.
I really enjoyed the first two episodes! I knew nothing about the series beforehand other than it's about rakugo (a kind of comedic storytelling). But I think Akane is a delightful character, the voice acting is top notch, and the animation is lovely so far. (I have a review for the first episode on my journal in this post)
Has anyone here read the manga? Did you enjoy it?
I'll wrap up by linking this ANN article from back in February that mentions the YouTube streaming and includes a trailer for the show.
I just wanted to spread the word! (Because I don't know anyone else watching the series) It's currently available to watch in North and Latin America, and I recently saw that it's now available in Australia and New Zealand too.
I think it's also available on Netflix worldwide without the region-locking, but since I don't have Netflix, I appreciate this free alternative to watch.
The official YouTube channel is here. There are different playlists for different language subtitles.
I really enjoyed the first two episodes! I knew nothing about the series beforehand other than it's about rakugo (a kind of comedic storytelling). But I think Akane is a delightful character, the voice acting is top notch, and the animation is lovely so far. (I have a review for the first episode on my journal in this post)
Has anyone here read the manga? Did you enjoy it?
I'll wrap up by linking this ANN article from back in February that mentions the YouTube streaming and includes a trailer for the show.
I have been on here for over a year, so time to add more friends!
Apr. 17th, 2026 06:03 pmglowingfish posting in addmeI made a post in this community at the beginning of 2025, and now, we are getting close to the middle of 2026, so maybe I should post again.
I don't see a specific reason to use the template, as this will be quick...
46, Male, United States, I post once or twice a week on average. I don't have any contentious beliefs or opinions, and my journal is mostly personal notes, with a few thoughts maybe about the world and culture. I am not heavily into any of the "fandoms", but might make a comment or two on related things.
I don't really have any specific "types" I am looking to follow on here, although journals that are too contentious and difficult might not be what I am looking for. Adult content is okay, as long as it is not totally pornographic, and also behind a cut. I am looking to build up a community in general.
New Fictional Idol Community!
Apr. 18th, 2026 09:47 amincomplete_rulerWhippee I didn't expect to make this post so soon, but I just wanted to say my fictional idol/music fandom comm fictionalidols is finally public! I tried to make a dw comm for a specific small fandom before which was...an experience, so I thought I'd make something a bit more general this time. I'm gonna be busy today so I probably won't get around to promoting it until later, but I definitely needed to post about it here at least. I'm also gonna have a whole week off before I do any events or other admin stuff (unless it's important) just to prepare myself.
So yeah, go my children and play in the idolpen!
fictionalidols is finally public! I tried to make a dw comm for a specific small fandom before which was...an experience, so I thought I'd make something a bit more general this time. I'm gonna be busy today so I probably won't get around to promoting it until later, but I definitely needed to post about it here at least. I'm also gonna have a whole week off before I do any events or other admin stuff (unless it's important) just to prepare myself.So yeah, go my children and play in the idolpen!
Spring premiere thoughts
Apr. 16th, 2026 01:26 pmpetrea_mitchell posting in anime_manga(crossposted from my journal)
I want to get back into posting about the anime I'm watching, especially since I wanted to check out a bunch of things this season.
Snowball Earth looks likely to become the show I keep desperately recommending to my fellow Worldcon members until Hugo nominations close next spring. Episode 1 speedruns an entire mecha show about a teenager with a special gift and his special robot fighting off an alien invasion, until things go disastrously wrong and the protagonist finds himself back on Earth after a very sudden climate change. Worse, he was planning to make up for his social isolation and awkwardness by making a bunch of friends after the final battle, and the population of Earth seems to have dropped precipitously.
It's about 75% comedy, 20% earnest mecha action, 5% horror, and all good so far. It's also like someone saw Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet and set out to prove that the premise had a much better show hiding in it.
Rooster Fighter has a pretty thin premise (tough-guy fighter except he's an actual chicken) and yet it's so well executed that I keep deciding to watch one more episode. At some point I think I'll hit a wall and suddenly not care anymore, but today is not that day.
Daemons of the Shadow Realm has managed to conceal a very important piece of its information about its setting from its trailers, which makes for a pretty big shock in the first episode. Congrats to the marketing department, except had I known that piece of information from the beginning, I would have been more interested. Anyway, the last Arakawa Hiromu adaptation I saw felt meh (Arslan) but this is going very well so far.
Mao is the other big adaptation of a manga by a famous long-running author, and um... if you like Takahashi Rumiko's work, this is definitely another Takahashi Rumiko work. I was not gripped.
Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun! season 4 inspired me to finally finish season 3, where I'd gotten bogged down in the Harvest Festival arc. Hoping the Music Festival goes better. So far, so good.
Kujima: Why Sing When You Can Warble? is about a boy who meets a migratory anthropomorphic bird-thing and invites it home to live with him. Mildly heartwarming things ensue. This was billed as a "horror comedy", and I feel like the premiere could have used more of both. OTOH, there is some delightfully demented voice acting. I'm going to give this one one more episode.
Killed Again, Mr. Detective? had an interesting-sounding premise, but it's very, very much a light novel adaptation full of light novel tropes that I'm sick of.
Witch Hat Atelier had an excellent first episode featuring the rare anime fantasy world where it all fits together, unlike the usual visual mishmash. Then episode 2 introduced a few characters I feel like I've seen in a million other school and school-like shows, and I was a lot less excited. I'll see how the rest of the season goes.
I want to get back into posting about the anime I'm watching, especially since I wanted to check out a bunch of things this season.
Snowball Earth looks likely to become the show I keep desperately recommending to my fellow Worldcon members until Hugo nominations close next spring. Episode 1 speedruns an entire mecha show about a teenager with a special gift and his special robot fighting off an alien invasion, until things go disastrously wrong and the protagonist finds himself back on Earth after a very sudden climate change. Worse, he was planning to make up for his social isolation and awkwardness by making a bunch of friends after the final battle, and the population of Earth seems to have dropped precipitously.
It's about 75% comedy, 20% earnest mecha action, 5% horror, and all good so far. It's also like someone saw Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet and set out to prove that the premise had a much better show hiding in it.
Rooster Fighter has a pretty thin premise (tough-guy fighter except he's an actual chicken) and yet it's so well executed that I keep deciding to watch one more episode. At some point I think I'll hit a wall and suddenly not care anymore, but today is not that day.
Daemons of the Shadow Realm has managed to conceal a very important piece of its information about its setting from its trailers, which makes for a pretty big shock in the first episode. Congrats to the marketing department, except had I known that piece of information from the beginning, I would have been more interested. Anyway, the last Arakawa Hiromu adaptation I saw felt meh (Arslan) but this is going very well so far.
Mao is the other big adaptation of a manga by a famous long-running author, and um... if you like Takahashi Rumiko's work, this is definitely another Takahashi Rumiko work. I was not gripped.
Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun! season 4 inspired me to finally finish season 3, where I'd gotten bogged down in the Harvest Festival arc. Hoping the Music Festival goes better. So far, so good.
Kujima: Why Sing When You Can Warble? is about a boy who meets a migratory anthropomorphic bird-thing and invites it home to live with him. Mildly heartwarming things ensue. This was billed as a "horror comedy", and I feel like the premiere could have used more of both. OTOH, there is some delightfully demented voice acting. I'm going to give this one one more episode.
Killed Again, Mr. Detective? had an interesting-sounding premise, but it's very, very much a light novel adaptation full of light novel tropes that I'm sick of.
Witch Hat Atelier had an excellent first episode featuring the rare anime fantasy world where it all fits together, unlike the usual visual mishmash. Then episode 2 introduced a few characters I feel like I've seen in a million other school and school-like shows, and I was a lot less excited. I'll see how the rest of the season goes.
MORE PRETTIES!!
Apr. 16th, 2026 03:00 pmalthea_valaraStitch Club was today, and there was MORE destashing happening, so I have a new round of pretties!
( click for pics and descriptions! )
I have really lucked out lately.
( click for pics and descriptions! )
I have really lucked out lately.
Shounen can be good! Who woulda thunk
Apr. 15th, 2026 04:53 pmfitia
I don't have the brain for long, effortposting at the moment, but I've just caught up with the manga Akane-banashi, which I've been enjoying so much that it deserves a recommendation! The story follows an impulsive, headstrong, single-minded young woman named Akane and her journey into becoming a fully fledged rakugoka (practitioner of rakugo, Japanese oral storytelling). She gained the love of the art from her father, who was unfortunately expelled from the school he practiced under, and her goal is to confront the head of that school in order to understand what led to that expulsion.
The series has a very colourful and endearing ensemble cast, but the standout is definitely its protagonist, Akane, who is basically all anyone would want if they're being frequently let-down by most women written in manga featured in the Weekly Shounen Jump magazine. Her growth throughout the series has been incredible so far, and she's such a sweetheart! But most importantly, she's taken as seriously as she deserves. Which is bare minimum, but if you're into the shounen recipe and like women, then I really suggest you meet her.
As for the story, it's a very fun immersion into the world of rakugo, which I was entirely unfamiliar with before I started it. The story is supervised by rakugoka, and at the end of each volume they offer trivia as insight into how the art functions. There are a lot of compelling threads in the story, about how to build yourself as an artist, how to build an audience, how to keep a more traditional art alive in the modern day, the shackles that tradition necessarily imply, etc etc. All within a beautifully drawn and immersive artstyle, that has all the expressiveness and humour I love in manga.
I do have a lot more thoughts on this story, on where it's at, what I feel it's missing and what I hope to see next, but my brain isn't cooperating with me at the moment so I mostly want more people reading it!! It has an anime coming out right now, too, if that's more your thing. Give it a chance. Do it for Akane. There's yuri potential in there too if it sweetens the deal.
