(L) Tsukuyomi ~ Moon Phase ~

[CoolMod]

7 is up guys, sorry for the wait =)

[z-kun]

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

For moe, “cute in a childish way” sounds right to me. As far as I can read it, one major Japanese site says moe (pron. mo-ay) refers to feelings of love for an anime, manga or game character (or seiyuu or idol). The feeling is "stronger" than suki and is for girls or young women who seem cute (kawaiirashii) and sweet and innocent (ijirashii). Hazuki certainly fits, but maybe Luna doesn’t? The feeling is “primitive”, like a reflex of the nervous system. In Japanese, it appears that the word applies mainly to the feeling, and only then to the characters who inspire it.

There are several theories about where the word comes from. The main theory seems to be that it comes from the heroine of the anime Dinosaur Planet (1993), SAGISAWA Moe. Another idea is that it’s from the name of Sailor Venus (TOMOE Hotaru, 1992). Or it might be from the shojo manga Taiyo Ni Smash! (1993), which has the character TAKATSU Moe (not sure about the pronunciation of the surname).

I thought it related to girls who were just coming of age (“sprouting”), but I don’t see that mentioned. It’s more that those feelings of love “sprout” (moeru 萌える ) or “burn” (also moeru but written 燃える ). Maybe someone can say. Some people apparently think the “sprout” kanji is a typo for the “burn” one.

One thing I read even goes so far as to lay out the top ten names for girls born in Japan over the last 15 years, and points out that the kanji 萌 (“sprout”) began to appear on the list in 1993, rose to first place in 1998, and was back to 7th place in 2002. “Moe” has been nominated this year in an annual contest in Japan for word of the year.

There's more info in English at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mo%E9
The two links at the bottom of the page are interesting, including one that supposedly presents the archetypal “Moé-tan”. I got my info mainly from this Japanese page:
http://d.hatena.ne.jp/keyword/%cb%a8%a4%a8

As for which characters are moe, that’s dealt with at length in one of the English links, where the author says that Sakura of CCS, and Sailor Venus, and Kokoro from Kokoro Library are prime examples, but that somewhat older figures such as Chi from Chobits and Minawa from Mahoromatic are also moe. But none of the primary characters in Onegai Teacher or Love Hina are moe, because they’re too mature and independent. One Japanese blog I read today said with exclamation marks that Hazuki in the new OP (as of episode 9) is truly moe.

Sorry for the long post.

Interesting post, Kaoru Chujo. I have only one comment to make, Tomoe Hotaru from Sailor Moon is actually Sailor Saturn, the warrior of destruction, not Sailor Venus (who is Minako).

[Kaoru Chujo]

Originally Posted by z-kun

... Tomoe Hotaru from Sailor Moon is actually Sailor Saturn, the warrior of destruction, not Sailor Venus (who is Minako).

Thanks for the correction. My bad.

[evil-samurai]

Yea!! mahou have released ep.7, my fav part was the ending song ^^ and great subs by mahou made it even better, cant wait till next ep.

[Timeless Enigma]

Episode 7 is my favourite so far. I felt sorry for Hazuki but first and foremost I agreed with Kouhei's stance. But the ending was good and we're treated to Elfriede doing the next episode preview this time, that's a nice change.

The new ED, whether it's a one ep only or the new ED, is also available on the ED Single.

[Calca]

Originally Posted by Timeless Enigma

Episode 7 is my favourite so far. I felt sorry for Hazuki but first and foremost I agreed with Kouhei's stance. But the ending was good and we're treated to Elfriede doing the next episode preview this time, that's a nice change.

The new ED, whether it's a one ep only or the new ED, is also available on the ED Single.

Ah, I like Hazuki doing the preview better. Her "Fullu Fullu Fullu MOOOOON!" just sounds a lot cuter.

[Tsubomi Koneko]

Hmm... well just noticed the comments about the "new" opening and ending. It's great to see that the c/w songs from the singles are being used.

I think there were two other songs used in the anime so far as well, I wonder if those will be put out on a single. (I'd have to remember when in the episodes they were... it was in the first 4 episodes, that much I know. Maybe more songs now since I haven't watched since then.)

[Timeless Enigma]

Originally Posted by Tsubomi Koneko

Hmm... well just noticed the comments about the "new" opening and ending. It's great to see that the c/w songs from the singles are being used.

What exactly does c/w stand for? I've always wondered this.

[音楽は死んだ]

Just wondering, who is putting out the best version of this show? Also, is there there insentive of a less edted version on DVD, or was there simply no content to merit that?

[Chronissz]

Originally Posted by 音楽は死んだ

Just wondering, who is putting out the best version of this show? Also, is there there insentive of a less edted version on DVD, or was there simply no content to merit that?

Mahou's has a better translation, Studio ADTRW has stopped I believe, and Suger-Cube is still on 3.

[Bullsquat]

Originally Posted by 音楽は死んだ

Just wondering, who is putting out the best version of this show?

Let's not get into this debate again. It turned into a flame war the last time it was mentioned. Pretty soon this thread may get closed.

Anyway, I saw episode seven and felt like beating the crap out of Kouhei after what he did. But right at the end, I finally understood him better. Yeah, he's a good guy. Still a numbskull though.

Although...

Spoiler:

He really shouldn't hit her, scold her yes but you don't smack a kid in the face like that no matter what they do. Especially a fragile young girl like her. In real life, it's psychologically damaging. Give her a harsh reproach, whatever, but nothing physical. I would have seriously gone after him if this was real.

[Srin Tuar]

Originally Posted by Bullsquat

Spoiler:

He really shouldn't hit her, scold her yes but you don't smack a kid in the face like that no matter what they do. Especially a fragile young girl like her. In real life, it's psychologically damaging. Give her a harsh reproach, whatever, but nothing physical. I would
have seriously gone after him if this was real.

Spoiler:

She was mind controlling his co-worker. Plus shes an undead vampire, not a child.

I'd say she needed it pretty badly.

[Calca]

Kids get slapped all the time for disobediance. You have to remember in Japan the cultural values are a lot different than what you are used to

[dreamless]

I'd say that she definitely DID do a thing that's deserved to get slapped.

[Onizuka-GTO]

Originally Posted by Bullsquat

Although...

Spoiler:

He really shouldn't hit her, scold her yes but you don't smack a kid in the face like that no matter what they do. Especially a fragile young girl like her. In real life, it's psychologically damaging. Give her a harsh reproach, whatever, but nothing physical. I would have seriously gone after him if this was real.

er..if this is real?

Gomen, i feel stupid now. I still believe in the "laws of Anime" thing, (even though they are seriously outdated, only applies to pre-1996 Animes!)

Spoiler:

She's not a little kid, she's a frigging vampire with super powers, a little slap is just what she needed, she abused her powers to a friend.
kids, and espcially girls will have no problem slapping and hair pulling a fellow female friend if she abused the trust of a friend.
And if your going to bring up "oh, but they will be the same age, not an adult striking a child..."
shes a vampire! she could be centuries old!
She's is definately not fragile, if you meant fragile that she kinda gets a little sunburned (i.e. into ashes!) by sunlight, well yeah, shes a little solarphobic.
SHE FRIGGING BITES PEOPLE AND DRINK THEIR BLOOD!
If you gonna say that hitting a "child" is a "bad influence" on viewers, then i will say blood sucking, flying about, throwing Litter bins, imprisoning minors using high level Demonic Magic, and unleashing Monsters rats in a park no licenced for general large gatherings of a entertainment nature, is definately a bad influence! oh, and blagging your way onto a first class seat on a international flight (and *gasp* no SECURITY CHECKS???!!) as well.
honestly, dunno why your so aghast.
just sit back, chill and enjoy the lolikon, neko mimi-mode, anime-sensibility!
don't be so serious.
If you can't stand a little anime style discipline, go watch Ghost in the Shell series. they are fantastic serious sci-fi quasi-realistic political thrillers, where criminal get what they show get in real life! BRAINJACK!!!

[Timeless Enigma]

Well it's certainly a controversial subject in the west on how to reprimand a child. I'm not going to debate on that.

My take on Kouhei's actions are that Hazuki deserved what she got, plain and simple. Also, Kouhei had given her harsh reproaches many times before.

[evil-samurai]

About Hazuki getting slapped by Kouhei, well she did deserve it, but still poor hazuki

[kj1980]

Originally Posted by Streetor

Kids get slapped all the time for disobediance. You have to remember in Japan the cultural values are a lot different than what you are used to

Due to liberalistic ideas from the West, many are taking up issues where the line is drawn from punishing a child to child abuse. Some say this is a good thing...others have their own arguments.

Back in my parents' age, it was not uncommon for a child to be slapped on the hand with a ruler at school for severe disobedience (such as getting into a fight) nor for a parent to reprimand their children with some sort of physical pain.

You do that now, the PTA, the media, and the liberal-activists goes nuts. Unfortunately, now you have spoiled brats who think they can get away with anything because all the adults don't have the balls to do so for their own job security.

For example, a kid is found bullying another kid in the school toilet for some cash. The teacher finds the kid and reprimands him by beating him with a shinai. The kid calls his PTA mom, tells her that he was abused by the teacher for no apparent reason. Being the kid's mom, she totally disregards that "my child would never do such a thing." The school wants to maintain its image that it is respectable school. Hence, the teacher is forced to leave the school. Kid goes away scot free.

As for the Western idea of "counseling," I doubt that'll work in such a society where we are brought up to settle private matters by yourself.

Remember, this is a society many people commit suicide rather than get counseling. They are too ashamed to ask someone for help since that is being basically telling everyone that you are a failure. This is a horrible humilation not only for yourself, but for all your immediate families (if you are a failure, then so are your parents because they failed to bring you up to success). This is a society where humiliation is worse than death itself.

[dreamless]

Yup, it's not uncommon for schools here to whip disobedient students' hands as punishment. Also remember Hazuki is not a normal child, how her mind works is different from that of a normal child anyway. But then I'm no expert on vampire psyche, the D&D source book I have on hand says they all go insane over time

BTW, for moe and the stereotypical otaku image, I have found a picture

Spoiler:

[Bullsquat]

Well, I had decided to just roll with the punches but I didn't realize my opinion would cause so much response. So now I believe I have to take my stance because this is something that I feel strongly about.

First of all, I may have gone overboard because this is an anime afterall and scriptwriters would create whatever scenarios they feel will get the audiences absorbed.

Spoiler:

I actually have no problems with parents hitting their children believe it or not, if its for their own good. When I was little, my father used to beat the crap out of me on a regular basis, and I love the guy to death. Not just me, my sisters sometime gets theirs back in the days. But never, not once, has he ever laid a finger on my mother. When he gets mad at her, he waits for the right time to talk to her. Sometimes he would actually cook dinner for us and then have a private chat with her afterwards. Parents and children, I believe have a special type of bonding, different from anything else. Other than that, you have your boundaries.

I was taught all of my life to never ever hit a woman and I have preserved this attitude from the day I was born. So it's not an American thing, it's not a Western thing, it's how I am. Two things can happen when you hit a woman that callously. One, she will look away from you in fear. Two, she will look down on you as a coward. These are long term effects. The latter seems much worse but more often than not it probably reflects the man's true character.

To illustrate my first point, I'll tell you this story about a friend of mine I've known since high school. About two years ago, he got into an argument with his sister. Along the way, he lost his temper and smacked her in the face (I can picture the numbskull doing this to Hazuki again). Why? Her sister happened to have taken his car without his permission out of town for spring break. He couldn't go anywhere because he already has a job. But then again he had no means to travel now so he had to carpool for four days. Apparently he had decided to really give her a piece of his mind when she gets back. This is what he keeps telling me anyway. So she did a couple of days later. Anyway, she didn't back off and instead she told him that he could use the bus once in a while. With that response, he gave her a smack he didn't even realize he was capable of giving. She freaked out for all I know and they didn't talk to each other for weeks. When he told me this story I kind of looked down on him too but in the end I understood the situation. He felt so bad though and he did whatever he could to repair their relationship. It took a while (like half a year) but they're ok now.

Now I look at Kouhei and Hazuki. Kouhei is a young man and Hazuki is a kid. She may be a vampire or she may be centuries old but all I see is the body of a 13 year old and the actions of a 13 year old. And so Kouhei smacked Hazuki in the face and her cheek turned pale red. Who is Kouhei to Hazuki? Her dad? her granddad? He's none of that. He's this young guy who felt this kid went out of line and decided to give her a good whack. I've always been reminded constantly of how bad this action is so of course I had a totally negative reaction to it.

When everything's said, I realize that this is still anime afterall and in the end it all worked out anyway. I still can't say I agree with everybody though that she needed that slap in the face. I hope nobody else will do the same if they're faced with a similar situation.