Update 7/27/14
NOTE: Sorry this is so late, I spent last night celebrating with my best friend and I had to finish typing the blog this morning so by the time proof-reading and pictures were added it was so late at night.
Guys, today is a special day. Today is the day that I am now 22 years old! I was so excited when I found out that my birthday was on a Sunday this year because that meant that I got to do a special upload of my blog! Now some of you might find this part of my blog kind of boring, but hang in there because I have a really amazing COTW for you.
So I have actually been planning this blog update since May and I wanted to give you guys a little bit of a background on my before delving into some of my favorite things I have experienced so far in this world. I ask that you please don't judge certain aspects of myself because I wouldn't be me if I never had these aspects. Without further ado, I give you "Becoming Kat".
As I've said before Sailor Moon was my first anime ever. At the time I just thought it was a cool cartoon on Cartoon Network that I got to watch after school at Grandma's house. It wouldn't be until Middle School and High School that I fully understood what I had experienced as a kid.
Around the age of 10 and 11, I stopped thinking about Sailor Moon and started on something that would change my life: Harry Potter. I didn't start reading the series until after the first movie was released into theaters (and could you blame me? I was only 6 when the first book was released). Harry Potter captivated my world. See if you haven't guessed by now I have an addictive personality, so pretty much once I get hooked on something I can only obsess over that one thing. Middle School is where the most of my Harry Potter obsession showed. I had several friends who "read these strange backwards books" called Manga. I could never get why they liked them, they were nothing like the lengthy Harry Potter books (this was at a time when I didn't get the idea that manga series were multiple books versus one story per book). They just did not interest me.
So my best friend at the time was convinced that I just needed to love this anime and manga thing. Something you will learn about me is that I hate being told what to do. (I don't mean like a cranky teenager who doesn't want to listen to an adult, I don't like being to what to like and what is appropriate for me to do, stuff like that) Needless to say, nothing really interested me until I spent the night at our mutual friend's house and was introduced to a few things that still to this day strike a cord in my heart. Inuyasha and Miyazaki. I never saw the whole Inuyasha series but I knew I liked it. Something about the world drew me in. Now Miyazaki, if you didn't watch one of his films you were missing out. At this friend's house I was made to watch two movies: Kiki's Delivery Service (I came to realize I had seen it before somewhere else) and Spirited Away. I fell in love but not enough that I would forget where my true addiction was. Middle school came and went just like that. Next thing I knew I was a freshman in high school. By my sophomore year all seven Harry Potter book had been released but let's back up just a bit.
During my freshman year I had forgotten my Harry Potter book (to be specific it was Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire that I was reading for I don't know HOW many times) on Free Read Friday (utter tragedy) so I had to pick one of my teacher's book to read. Just so you can get a grasp on when this was it was 2006. The book I picked up was a newer romance novel about vampires (see where I'm going yet?). Yep, it was the 2005 novel Twilight (I was a 'Twihard' before 'Twihard' was a word). Mind you I know now that it was a terrible dries with spelling errors up the ass and a cheesy storyline but it was something that got me back to my roots (I loved vampire movies as a kid, Lost Boys and Interview with the Vampire were two of my favorites). Now back to the story because it is important for my transition into anime. So pretty much my entire high school career was split between Twilight and Harry Potter.
My junior year was the year that I met the best friend I have ever had. Erynn and I became fast fiends at the age of 16. We bonded quickly especially over our love of Twilight. Well one day Erynn came up to me with a manga in hand saying "You like Twilight so much, you like vampires and romance so much, try this. You'll like it even better". To say I thoroughly enjoyed what she had given me was an huge understatement. She had let me borrow the first volume of Vampire Knight. Unfortunately I was having a tough time in school my junior year (this year was the first time I had ever failed a class) and I was extremely busy with Band and being an editor on the school newspaper that I never actually got the chance to read more than that one volume.
With that my one bought of love for a manga was forever lost to the terror of Senior Year. Around Junior and Senior year (2008 -2010) I began to watch vlogs and videos on YouTube. I watched things like Smosh, The Hillywood Show, Luke Conard, Joey Graceffa, and Strawburry17 (Meghan Camerena). I think that if it wasn't for people like Meghan and Joey, I wouldn't have made it through my rough first year of college. I slowly spiraled into a depression and I wasn't holding on like I was pretending to. It hurt a lot to know I was failing at this thing called college and I had no outlet for relief. To this day I still feel guilty that I failed really bad for the first time in my life (that one class in high school was nothing compared to failing out of college). While I couldn't life my guilt, I was able to award myself a temporary relief for my depression. I watched Strawburry17 and Joey Graceffa religiously. They had experienced hardships in life and were able to pull through. So after I dropped out of the college I was going to in May 2011 before my 19th birthday, I drowned myself in writing stories, working, and watching YouTube. This went on until August of 2011 (I believe, it could have been September too) when my dad told me to look into college at a different place. He believed that I just needed to find my niche in life and discover who I was meant to be.
It was at my new school where I was first reintroduced to anime. Strawburry17 was rewatching Sailor Moon and I feeling nostalgic decided to check it out. That was what drew me into the world of anime once again. After I managed to complete all 200 episodes of the series, I wanted more. I was scrolling around one day when I noticed something. A small thumbnail that showed a picture of a vampire fangs bared (okay so not like oh I'm going to eat you bared just like oh look he has fangs). Under the thumbnail it said Vampire Knight Episode 1. That sounded very familiar so I selected it and BAM Here I had just stepped through the door. Past the point of no return. I was in the anime world....
Phew. That was a long story, huh. As you can probably guess my depression, though not 100% cured as I have really bad days, was relieved through this new welcoming world. Now look at me, I'm an anime blogger and an almost college graduate. I feel proud that I have made it this far when only four years ago I was spiraling down into a world so dark I didn't really feel hope.
Now that I have discussed my background, how about a peek into my favorite things? Note that this isn’t everything, just what was on my mind when I wrote this list.
And the list goes on and on. I could probably fill an entire book with my list of favorites. Though if anyone thought about it as much as I do on a regular basis, they probably could too.
So what has anime done for you? Also, when is your birthday? What will you be doing for it or what did you do for it?
Now speaking of favorite things. One of my favorite things to do each week is my Character of the Week. (Yes I actually remembered to do my picture hints this week!) As I stated last week I am doing a special CotW today by dissecting two characters instead of one.
My first character is…
Ichigo Kurosaki
From Bleach.
Ichigo was 15 for a majority of Bleach (the first 15 seasons and the first 48 volumes) then there is a time skip and he is 17 years old.
Now Ichigo is by far the most interesting character in the series. (No I’m not saying that just because he is the main character) He had a rough past and a rough childhood then suddenly he gains immense power and STILL has a rough time. The cool thing about Ichigo (and one reason I kind of hate the Lost Agent Arc until the end of it) is that despite losing, he never gives up. He never stops trying. He forces himself to grow stronger to overcome his obstacles. He even goes so far as to give up his own power just to save the world…well Karakura Town…
So not only does he never give up, he has some interesting powers.
Even Zangetsu has changed with him.
Ichigo is actually at a level that has far surpassed captain level (he was said to have been at captain level when he rescued Rukia prior to gaining Bankai). He is even so powerful that Captain Kyoraku has informed his friends and family that he may not be allowed back into the world of the living because of how powerful he has become.
Ichigo’s love life…well it is practically non-existent as he really doesn’t show an interest in the women who are around him (no he doesn’t show interest in men either…). He just seems more focused on making everyone else happy than making himself happy. Now I’m not saying there aren’t people who are interested, cause who wouldn’t be.
So much potential. We will see what Tite Kubo comes up with.
I’d say more but too much would spoil some newer things.
Now for my second character, I have selected:
Naruto Uzumaki
From Naruto.
Yeah this young titular hero from the series is my next choice. Did I ever explain to you all how I came to watch Naruto? Here. (you don't have to watch it all)
I actually can't wait to see how powerful his Tailed Beast form will be with his new powers. Haha, but enough about that. Let's talk about the other great thing about Naruto. They have shown only one other character from Konoha that has succeeded with this mode 100% and that is the first Hokage. Naruto is the Toad Sage and can completely fuse with the Nature energy unlike his predecessor Jiraya. He gains a stronger Sage mode later on but I won't talk about it for sake of those who haven't gotten there yet.
Well...I think that sums up Naruto in my eyes and why he is my character of the week.
So usually this is the part that I discuss the newest chapters of Naruto and Bleach but I seem to have misplaced where I actually wrote about them so I will return next week with the discussion. For now, I wish you all an amazing day and to see you next week.
Ja ne!
xx Kat
=^.^=
Guys, today is a special day. Today is the day that I am now 22 years old! I was so excited when I found out that my birthday was on a Sunday this year because that meant that I got to do a special upload of my blog! Now some of you might find this part of my blog kind of boring, but hang in there because I have a really amazing COTW for you.
So I have actually been planning this blog update since May and I wanted to give you guys a little bit of a background on my before delving into some of my favorite things I have experienced so far in this world. I ask that you please don't judge certain aspects of myself because I wouldn't be me if I never had these aspects. Without further ado, I give you "Becoming Kat".
As I've said before Sailor Moon was my first anime ever. At the time I just thought it was a cool cartoon on Cartoon Network that I got to watch after school at Grandma's house. It wouldn't be until Middle School and High School that I fully understood what I had experienced as a kid.
Around the age of 10 and 11, I stopped thinking about Sailor Moon and started on something that would change my life: Harry Potter. I didn't start reading the series until after the first movie was released into theaters (and could you blame me? I was only 6 when the first book was released). Harry Potter captivated my world. See if you haven't guessed by now I have an addictive personality, so pretty much once I get hooked on something I can only obsess over that one thing. Middle School is where the most of my Harry Potter obsession showed. I had several friends who "read these strange backwards books" called Manga. I could never get why they liked them, they were nothing like the lengthy Harry Potter books (this was at a time when I didn't get the idea that manga series were multiple books versus one story per book). They just did not interest me.
So my best friend at the time was convinced that I just needed to love this anime and manga thing. Something you will learn about me is that I hate being told what to do. (I don't mean like a cranky teenager who doesn't want to listen to an adult, I don't like being to what to like and what is appropriate for me to do, stuff like that) Needless to say, nothing really interested me until I spent the night at our mutual friend's house and was introduced to a few things that still to this day strike a cord in my heart. Inuyasha and Miyazaki. I never saw the whole Inuyasha series but I knew I liked it. Something about the world drew me in. Now Miyazaki, if you didn't watch one of his films you were missing out. At this friend's house I was made to watch two movies: Kiki's Delivery Service (I came to realize I had seen it before somewhere else) and Spirited Away. I fell in love but not enough that I would forget where my true addiction was. Middle school came and went just like that. Next thing I knew I was a freshman in high school. By my sophomore year all seven Harry Potter book had been released but let's back up just a bit.
During my freshman year I had forgotten my Harry Potter book (to be specific it was Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire that I was reading for I don't know HOW many times) on Free Read Friday (utter tragedy) so I had to pick one of my teacher's book to read. Just so you can get a grasp on when this was it was 2006. The book I picked up was a newer romance novel about vampires (see where I'm going yet?). Yep, it was the 2005 novel Twilight (I was a 'Twihard' before 'Twihard' was a word). Mind you I know now that it was a terrible dries with spelling errors up the ass and a cheesy storyline but it was something that got me back to my roots (I loved vampire movies as a kid, Lost Boys and Interview with the Vampire were two of my favorites). Now back to the story because it is important for my transition into anime. So pretty much my entire high school career was split between Twilight and Harry Potter.
My junior year was the year that I met the best friend I have ever had. Erynn and I became fast fiends at the age of 16. We bonded quickly especially over our love of Twilight. Well one day Erynn came up to me with a manga in hand saying "You like Twilight so much, you like vampires and romance so much, try this. You'll like it even better". To say I thoroughly enjoyed what she had given me was an huge understatement. She had let me borrow the first volume of Vampire Knight. Unfortunately I was having a tough time in school my junior year (this year was the first time I had ever failed a class) and I was extremely busy with Band and being an editor on the school newspaper that I never actually got the chance to read more than that one volume.
With that my one bought of love for a manga was forever lost to the terror of Senior Year. Around Junior and Senior year (2008 -2010) I began to watch vlogs and videos on YouTube. I watched things like Smosh, The Hillywood Show, Luke Conard, Joey Graceffa, and Strawburry17 (Meghan Camerena). I think that if it wasn't for people like Meghan and Joey, I wouldn't have made it through my rough first year of college. I slowly spiraled into a depression and I wasn't holding on like I was pretending to. It hurt a lot to know I was failing at this thing called college and I had no outlet for relief. To this day I still feel guilty that I failed really bad for the first time in my life (that one class in high school was nothing compared to failing out of college). While I couldn't life my guilt, I was able to award myself a temporary relief for my depression. I watched Strawburry17 and Joey Graceffa religiously. They had experienced hardships in life and were able to pull through. So after I dropped out of the college I was going to in May 2011 before my 19th birthday, I drowned myself in writing stories, working, and watching YouTube. This went on until August of 2011 (I believe, it could have been September too) when my dad told me to look into college at a different place. He believed that I just needed to find my niche in life and discover who I was meant to be.
It was at my new school where I was first reintroduced to anime. Strawburry17 was rewatching Sailor Moon and I feeling nostalgic decided to check it out. That was what drew me into the world of anime once again. After I managed to complete all 200 episodes of the series, I wanted more. I was scrolling around one day when I noticed something. A small thumbnail that showed a picture of a vampire fangs bared (okay so not like oh I'm going to eat you bared just like oh look he has fangs). Under the thumbnail it said Vampire Knight Episode 1. That sounded very familiar so I selected it and BAM Here I had just stepped through the door. Past the point of no return. I was in the anime world....
Phew. That was a long story, huh. As you can probably guess my depression, though not 100% cured as I have really bad days, was relieved through this new welcoming world. Now look at me, I'm an anime blogger and an almost college graduate. I feel proud that I have made it this far when only four years ago I was spiraling down into a world so dark I didn't really feel hope.
Now that I have discussed my background, how about a peek into my favorite things? Note that this isn’t everything, just what was on my mind when I wrote this list.
Favorite Anime:
D. Gray-Man
Sailor Moon
Vampire Knight
Fruits Basket
Naruto Shippuden
Bleach
Black Bullet
The Irregular at Magic High School
Favorite Voice Actors:
Japanese:
Masakazu Morita
Yuki Kaji
Mamoru Miyano
Junko Takeuchi
Sanae Kobayashi
English:
Terri Doty
Cherami Leigh
Colleen Clinkenbeard
Jaime Marchi
Todd Haberkorn
Johnny Yong Bosch
Bryce Papenbrook
Vic Mignogna
J. Michael Tatum
Favorite Mangaka:
Tite Kubo
Matsuri Hino
Bisco Hatori
Katsura Hoshino
Masashi Kishimoto
Favorite Review Website:
MAR: Manga Anime Reviews
Favorite Top Videos:
TAW: Top Anime Weekly
Favorite Cosplayers:
Suki Cosplay
Sasu Cosplay
Favorite Stream Sites:
Crunchyroll (free or paid)
FUNimation (free or paid)
HuluPlus (free or paid)
Netflix (paid)
Daisuki (free)
Favorite Movies:
Naruto Shippuden the Movie: The Lost Tower
Naruto the Movie: Blood Prison
Bleach the Movie: Hell Verse
Favorite Writing Music:
Fantastic Baby by BIGBANG
Shatter Me by Lindsey Stirling featuring Lzzy Hale
Lovers by 7!! Seven Oops
Cold Love by CNBLUE
Bad End Night by Hitoshizuku featuring Hatsune Miku,Kagamine Rin, Kagamine Len, Megurine Luka, KAITO, MEIKO, GUMI, and Kamui Gakupo
Crazy Night by Hitoshizuku featuring Hatsune Miku,Kagamine Rin, Kagamine Len, Megurine Luka, KAITO, MEIKO, GUMI, and Kamui Gakupo
And the list goes on and on. I could probably fill an entire book with my list of favorites. Though if anyone thought about it as much as I do on a regular basis, they probably could too.
So what has anime done for you? Also, when is your birthday? What will you be doing for it or what did you do for it?
Now speaking of favorite things. One of my favorite things to do each week is my Character of the Week. (Yes I actually remembered to do my picture hints this week!) As I stated last week I am doing a special CotW today by dissecting two characters instead of one.
My first character is…
Ichigo Kurosaki
From Bleach.
Ichigo was 15 for a majority of Bleach (the first 15 seasons and the first 48 volumes) then there is a time skip and he is 17 years old.
Now Ichigo is by far the most interesting character in the series. (No I’m not saying that just because he is the main character) He had a rough past and a rough childhood then suddenly he gains immense power and STILL has a rough time. The cool thing about Ichigo (and one reason I kind of hate the Lost Agent Arc until the end of it) is that despite losing, he never gives up. He never stops trying. He forces himself to grow stronger to overcome his obstacles. He even goes so far as to give up his own power just to save the world…well Karakura Town…
So not only does he never give up, he has some interesting powers.
- Shinigami:
Getsuga Tensho
Zangetsu
Tensa Zengetsu
Flash Step
- Hollow:
Black Getsuga Tensho
Tensa Zengetsu
Zangetsu
Hollowfication
Vasto Lorde
- Quincy:
Blue Vein
- Mugetsu:
Technically this is part of the Shinigami and Hollow but it is a strong power all of its own standard
- Fullbringer:
Combat Pass
Black Reiatsu
Clad-Type Body Suit
Even Zangetsu has changed with him.
Zangetsu (sealed)
Zangetsu (Shikai #1)
Tensa Zangetsu (Bankai #1)
Zangetsu (Shikai #2)
Tensa Zangetsu (Bankai #2)
Zangetsu (Shikai #3)
Tensa Zangetsu (Bankai #3)??
Ichigo is actually at a level that has far surpassed captain level (he was said to have been at captain level when he rescued Rukia prior to gaining Bankai). He is even so powerful that Captain Kyoraku has informed his friends and family that he may not be allowed back into the world of the living because of how powerful he has become.
Ichigo’s love life…well it is practically non-existent as he really doesn’t show an interest in the women who are around him (no he doesn’t show interest in men either…). He just seems more focused on making everyone else happy than making himself happy. Now I’m not saying there aren’t people who are interested, cause who wouldn’t be.
Orihime
Tatsuki
Rukia
Ikumi
Nel
Riruka
(note: I am only stating women in the manga not the anime or movies)
So much potential. We will see what Tite Kubo comes up with.
I’d say more but too much would spoil some newer things.
Now for my second character, I have selected:
Naruto Uzumaki
From Naruto.
Yeah this young titular hero from the series is my next choice. Did I ever explain to you all how I came to watch Naruto? Here. (you don't have to watch it all)
I fell in love. So let's talk about Naruto himself.
In the original series he was only 12 years old. Then in Shippuden when he comes back to Konoha he is 16 (I believe he is 17 already).
Naruto grew up alone after his parents died and until he was...well see the above video he didn't really know too much about his parents. When he was a baby the fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, sealed the Kyuubi within him to save the village.
Due to this Naruto was hated and shunned by pretty much everyone. The only people who really cared enough to talk to him were Shikamaru, Choji, and the Hokage. Everyone else despised him too much for being a demon and killing their Hokage.
Naruto never let it show that their words and actions got to him. He put on a facade that he was alright and just an every day trouble maker. In all honesty he just wanted to be noticed. He wanted to have someone he could come home to and be proud of him. He wanted someone to show him how to be a person.
Now Naruto because of this rough childhood has developed a never give up nature and an immense desire to become the Hokage so he can prove himself. Of course his first step in proving himself is to set a rival. He sets his sights on the other child of tragedy within his village, Sasuke Uchiha. Sasuke is his opposite. He is an elite of the village and well loved by everyone else. Sasuke shuns those who faun over him and has a very standoffish attitude.
Naruto also has a love interest. One that I think is getting to be more of a consensual love than a one-sided. He is in love with Sakura Haruno and has been since a long time. (It is even so serious that Minato asks Naruto if she is his girlfriend then notes that she reminds him of Kushina).
So enough about that stuff as you could probably just read about it somewhere else. Let's talk power. Naruto is extremely powerful (even without the power of Kurama he is strong) and knows a variety of tricks.
His signature move is the Shadow Clone Jutsu (his first jutsu) which enables him to create a large amount of physical clones to aid him in battle or missions.
Next is his Sexy Justu which is his transformation jutsu (combining this with his Shadow Clones he creates a harem jutsu) and his powerful attack against the perverts in his life.
A trick he gained from his father and godfather is Rasengan which only three other Ninja before him have mastered.
From there he learned about using his affinity and created the Rasen Shuriken.
He also has his Biju forms. So many of them too.
When he is angry, his eyes turn into red fox eyes and his whiskers become more defined. His fingers start to form claws and his teeth grow into fans.
Then you have:
One-Tail Beast Cloak
Two-Tail Beast Cloak
Three-Tail Beast Cloak
Four-Tail Beast Cloak
Six-Tail Beast Cloak
Eight-Tail Beast Cloak
Nine-Tail Beast Cloak (just kidding, but this is probably what he would look like if Minato didn't seal him again)
Tailed Beast Mode
Chakra Mode
I think I got them all...or not I don't really know. Oh don't forget the Tailed Beast Mode that they showed in the Power Arc of Shippuden. It is different than the actual one. It flickers.
So let's not forget his newest thing. The tailed beast powers of all nine beasts. He gains the power of the other Beasts after he saves them from Tobi.
This video pretty much sums up the power of Naruto.
Well...I think that sums up Naruto in my eyes and why he is my character of the week.
So usually this is the part that I discuss the newest chapters of Naruto and Bleach but I seem to have misplaced where I actually wrote about them so I will return next week with the discussion. For now, I wish you all an amazing day and to see you next week.
Ja ne!
xx Kat
=^.^=
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