The Sunshine Blogger Award

The Sunshine Blogger Award is given to those who are inspiring and bring sunshine into the lives of their readers and fellow bloggers. You’ll have to ask the people who nominated me as to what makes them think I bring sunshine into anyone’s life, but I’m more than glad to bring them even a little happiness all the same and thank them heartily for the nomination!

I’m getting to this rather late and have had several people consider me for this award. To avoid repetition I will be doing a combined post to acknowledge all of you Plus it’s not a proper Weekend Otaku post unless it nears 4000 words (I’m sorry!). A big Thank You to everyone who nominated me. I hope my blog continues to entertain you!

To skip to your nomination questions, scroll down until you see your blog’s banner. The order is chronological. There were some repeat questions though, so you may have to read the others if you want the answers. If I have left anyone out, please let me know so I can add your entry.

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[Rules]:

Thank the person who nominated you in a blog post and link back to their blog.
Answer the 11 questions sent by the person who nominated you.
Nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award and write then 11 new questions.
List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post and/or on your blog.

 

This nomination comes from D at D Talks Anime, who has had that blog for about as long as I’ve had mine but has put out a lot of great content in that time. D does series reviews and a few character appreciation posts that take a closer look at the characters of some well known shows. Clicking the “follow” button will guarantee that you have a great companion to talk about anime with.

D’s Questions

1. Your opinion on the manga vs anime discussion?
In my youth I was an avid comic book fan so I definitely appreciate a good manga. That said, I don’t read them as much as I would like to. Anime provides a more encompassing presentation which make it a more enjoyable medium for me. Stories are often better told in manga, but I always enjoy the opportunity to watch them unfold as anime as well.

2. What’s the worst injury you’ve had?
I’ve hardly had any injuries, which is surprising considering how reckless I was in my youth. I’m going to consider the worst being the one I’ve suffered the longest – a muscle strain that causes pain in my knees which happened while playing volleyball. It’s plagued me for 3 years now with occasional relief from a chiropractor.

3. Your favourite band/singer?
These are the hardest kinds of questions for me to answer. My musical tastes haven’t changed since my young adulthood though, when I started listening to Utada Hikaru. I suppose she’s still my favorite now.

4. Least favourite genre (anime/tv series/books/anything)?
Lease favorite anything? Reality TV. The real world’s forced drama bores me to death.

5. A fictional character you wouldn’t mind marrying (or living with platonically if marriage and all that stuff ain’t your thing)?
This answer is strictly platonic for many reasons, but I wouldn’t mind Umaru Doma living in my house – if only so my otaku-ness won’t look bad by comparison. She would be fun to have around until she starts to bug us for steak every night.

6. A story/song that always makes you cry?
Secret Base, the ED from Anohana. Normally the song itself gets me misty, but coupled with the series’ visuals it breaks me.

7. Favorite YouTube channel?
I don’t peruse YouTube a lot, but if I had to pick a favorite channel I think it would be Epic Rap Battles of History. I’m always super excited whenever a new video comes out. Not far behind are Theishter and Animenz Piano. They both do some really amazing work.

8. What’s your opinion on puns?
I can talk about opinions or a more rational topic like onions. Your pick.

9. The last complete anime you watched/manga you read?
Yuri!!! on Ice.

10. What’s your dream job?
This answer has changed a few times over the years but, at this point in my life, if I could somehow get paid to watch and review anime that would be the perfect job for me  😀

11. The anime character you hate most?
Nui Harime from Kill la Kill. Go die already.

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The next nomination came from Lethargic Ramblings. His blog has been around since October of last year, and despite claiming to be as listless as Tanaka-kun, he’s already amassed quite a reputation as an insightful blogger with some awesome posts like his Lethargic Rambles and Listless Lists. He’s a welcoming and friendly person to talk to, with a unique way of looking at things. Go see what I’m talking about for yourself on his blog!

Lethargic Rambling’s Questions:

1. What made you decide to start blogging and how long have you been doing it for?
Short answer: I started in June 2016 out of a desire to improve my writing and connect with other anime fans. I’m bad at doing both, and I thought a blog would be a good way to reach out.

2. What’s your all time favourite Anime series and why?
I’ve been back and forth on this a while. It’s actually pretty hard for me to pick a favorite anything, but let’s go ahead and commit. It’s Your lie in April. It’s a simple yet beautiful story that captured my senses like no other anime has. Sorry, Evangelion.

3. What’s your favourite Anime genre and why?
Despite what I just said about my favorite anime, I think my favorite genre is Psychological. I find them rather rewarding to watch and enjoy thinking about the various themes long after the show’s over.

4. What’s your main reason for watching Anime?
For me it’s a simple matter of enjoyment. I’ve always liked animated shows, but I find that I enjoy anime more than any other kind of televised entertainment.

5. What’s the most important aspect of an Anime series for you? (Eg – Setting, script, themes etc).
It sounds like a cop-out answer, but I think all of it is important. That said, I can’t watch anime with a boring story. There has to be something that sets it apart or I lose interest. Bad animation also really turns me off. Ugh, what kind of answer is that?

6. What genre of music do you listen to the most?
If you would have asked me a year ago, J-Rock. Now that I’ve gotten back into anime full-swing, I end up listening to J-Pop the most.

7.Who is your all-time favourite character and why?
It’s probably Spike Spiegel from Cowboy Bebop. I always admired his personality and calm approach to most things not named Vicious.

8. What’s your favourite thing to do outside of Anime and Blogging?
I enjoy model building and painting, or at least I used to before I let anime take over my free time. I did WWII kits mostly, but most recently I did this guy:

You know, that guy?

9. What’s your favourite word or phrase?
“It’s all up to you (no one lives forever)”

10. If you had the choice of eating only one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Thai beef fried rice. I can seriously never get enough of it.

11. What’s your biggest fear/phobia?
Heights. Or rather, falling. I was absolutely fearless as a child, then one day looking over a high ledge filled me with a sense of anxiety. Maybe because I got taller?

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My next nomination comes from Raistlin0903. If you’re interested in more than just anime, he has you covered with his numerous board game, book, movie, and different kinds of TV series reviews. On top of that he is the one of the friendliest people you will meet and is never shy to leave a kind word when he comments on your page. If you’re not following him already you’re seriously missing out.

Raistlin’s Questions:

1. How long have you been blogging, and what made you get started in the first place?
See Lethargic’s questions above.

2. Say that you could interview someone on your blog, who would it be, and why him/her?
You, because you’re awesome! In all seriousness, when people say “have a question ready to ask <insert important person>, I blank out. I’m not sure what sort of famous person I would want to interview. I would be happy just talking to some of my readers.

3. What is your favorite Anime/Movie/Tv show of alltime?
See Lethargic’s question.

4. Do you own any merchandise? If so, what is the thing that you like the most in your collection?
Hmm, what counts here? My favorite pieces are my Your lie in April blu-rays (I certainly paid enough for them). I don’t have a lot of stuff otherwise, but I like this guy:

Gatotsu!

5. Is there anything you would like to do someday, but just have not yet been able to accomplish ?
Because I’ve always thought it to be a joy to listen to, I always wanted to be able to play piano. My success toward learning has been just abysmal though, and all I have going for me is knowing how to read music.

6. What is the post you are most proud of, and why is that?
I think I am most proud of my “2016 Challenge Complete” post. Not because it was an amazing post or anything, but because for a while I didn’t know if I would be able to do it. I was thinking I would need to make a “Welp, I tried” post instead. I guess it’s just a small sense of pride in myself for being able to write it rather than pride in the post itself.

7. Has there ever been a post on your blog that you have regretted writing? If so, why is that?
I don’t think so. Most of my posts have just been reviews and none of those really rub people the wrong way. The closest I came to regret is asking a bunch of SAO fans to come read my review. They didn’t take kindly to me criticizing their favorite show.

8. Why did you get interested in Movies/Anime?
I think most everyone enjoys a good story. Anime tells stories while being incredibly entertaining in many other ways. I realized that from the very first time I watched Ranma 1/2 when I was a kid.

9. Do you have any goals that you would like to ultimately achieve with your blog?
“To have more followers than any-” Just kidding. I never had anything huge in mind when I started this, as my goal was pretty simple. I don’t have many people around me that I can share this hobby with, so all I really want is to make some friends here that I can chat with about anime.

10. What if you could star in your own Anime/Movie? What kind of Anime/Movie would it be, and who would you play?
Hmm.. How about a mecha series? I’m the lead shounen with parental angst 😛

11. What was the worst Anime/Movie that you have ever seen?
Does it count if I couldn’t watch the whole thing? I watched 5 minutes of Catwoman and thought I was coming down with vertigo.

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Another nomination came from Alane at Bobble Anime. She has had her blog for a short time, but has some well written episodic reviews and what I like to call “observation” posts about things she saw in popular shows like Yuri!!! on Ice. She also has a fun hobby she should really post more about and is active on Twitter if you want to connect. Head over to her blog and check it out!

Do you like to collect anything (coins, stamps, etc.)?
Yes! Well not really stamps anymore because I don’t think I understand how to do it, but I am a sucker for coins. The more unique the coin or remote the country, the better. American currency has all kinds of gimmicks for coin collectors though, so it gets tiring.

Favorite dessert?
I am quiet partial to strawberry cheesecake, though I most commonly go for a simple cup of milk with cookies.

If you could make any book series into an anime that hasn’t already, what would it be?
Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series. It was a really fun and creative fantasy story., with some great character work that I think would translate well in anime.

Tell me you wouldn’t watch this.

Green tea or black tea?
Black. Tetley, preferably.

If you’re running late for work/school and you grab one thing for breakfast, what would it be?
A yogurt cup. It’s quick and you can eat it whenever you get a moment to sit down.

Ironed clothes or no?
Always. I believe in looking professional no matter what I’m doing, but only if someone has already pressed my clothes. I’m not so committed as to put in the effort to do it.

What’s it like outside right now?
Cold. Wet. Snow covered. Thanks, Winter  -_-

If you could make a music box version of any song, which song would it be and why?
I think every song in the world has a music box version now. That said, if I could have an actual music box, I would want Cruel Angel’s Thesis. It’s a charming melody in ballad/music box format and I would use it to put myself to bed.

What catchphrase would you use to describe your life?
“Mada mada dane” (you still have a long way to go) – Ryoma Echizen

Do you have any writing advice for budding bloggers?
Try to have an idea of what you want your blog to be. Focusing in on a niche will really help you stand out and give your blog some character.

If you could make a knitted version of any character, who would that character be and why? 
Knitted characters are for cuddling. With that in mind I have to be boring and say Totoro. No other character seems better suited for the task.

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Another nomination came from Karandi at 100 Word Anime. Karandi is one of the most active bloggers I’ve seen, posting on a wide variety of content. She has episodic reviews, full series reviews, recurring weekly features, and more that makes everyone look bad by comparison. If that weren’t enough, she’s engaging with other bloggers and takes time to support them. If you’re new or somehow still not heard of her blog, I can tell you from personal experience she’s a great person to connect to.

1. What made you decide to start blogging and how long have you been doing it for?
A popular question! See Lethargic’s questions.

2. What is your favourite anime series?
Ditto.

3. If you could change one thing about your favourite anime series what would it be?
I think the only thing that was missing was more development for Kaori earlier on. It would have sold viewers on her actions a little better. Then again, doing it all in the letter was kind of the point. Argh, I don’t know.

4. Least favourite genre (anime/tv series/books/anything)?
See D’s questions

5. Fictional character you might have a crush on?
I’m going to take the word a little differently than what you might have expected. I’ve never felt romantically inclined toward a character, but I feel like a crush can mean something else. It’s a feeling toward someone you can’t help but want to see more of, that disproportionately affects your mood.

“What do you call this feeling again?”

6. Favourite opening theme for an anime?
Oh don’t make me choose..!

I suppose it’s Cruel Angel’s Thesis even after all this time.  Hikaru Nara , Q&A Recital!, Abnormalize, and Red Fraction are all up there too .

7. Favourite source of anime news?
100 Word Anime 🙂

Hehe, actually I get it from ANN most often, but I don’t check it very frequently. My approach with anime news is pretty much the same as other news. If it’s important, someone is going to tell me about it.

8. An anime cliché you wish you never had to see again?
Ecchi physics. It’s pointless and distracting, and I’ve always said that things like that keep non-anime watchers from taking it seriously.

9. Most interesting premise for an anime (whether or not the anime was any good)?
I may sound dull here, but I thought Death Note was an amazing idea. I don’t see many stories that follow the villain so closely.

10. Main reason you would stop watching an anime?
If I get bored. That’s why I never finished those long running shounen-jump shows, though I finished one show for my challenge that I couldn’t seem to care about.

11. Do you collect any anime related merchandise and if yes, what?
This usually tends to be more expensive than other collectibles, I guess because most of it is imported. That said, I have a good many T-shirts if that counts.

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The next nomination comes from Cauthan at Cauthan Reviews. He has a ton of experience with anime and a wealth of content on his blog as well. His spoiler free reviews are very informative nonetheless, and he provides a lot of other guides for anime fans with recommendations, retrospectives, and analysis posts. He does a lot of really great work, so be sure to check his blog out!

1. What show or movie are you most looking forward to next seeing?
I have been watching Beyond the Boundary and I’m interested to see where that goes. Also I bought Colorful and have yet to see it, so I’m looking forward to that.

2. Has there ever been a show that you initially disliked upon seeing it the first time however ended up enjoying it the second time around? Y̶e̶a̶h̶,̶ ̶m̶e̶ ̶n̶e̶i̶t̶h̶e̶r̶
Actually, Ghost in the Shell: Standalone Complex. I think I wasn’t paying enough attention the first time and I didn’t find it interesting. Needless to say it was fascinating when I actually watched it. What were you saying about creating a space?

3. What’s your favorite underrated anime? What show deserves far more recognition than it currently has?
This is pretty hard for me to answer, as most everything I watch is among the more popular titles. I think the one that most people haven’t seen (from my experience here) that I highly recommend is Seirei no Moribito.

4. Do you have a favorite actor, voice actor, or seiyuu? If so, who?
I really like Benedict Cumberbatch as an actor, and Natsuki Hanae as a seiyuu

5. You’re dreadfully thirsty – what’s your perfect thirst quencher?
Water. Sorry, I’m boring.

6. What’s your favorite Opening (OP) or Ending (ED) sequence in anime?
See Karandi’s question. For ED it’s probably Daisy from Beyond the Boundary 

7. Who or what is your favorite antagonist?
As a self styled villain myself, I have a few here. Notable ones are Vicious in Cowboy Bebop, Satsuki from Kill la Kill, and L from Death Note (He was technically the antagonist!).

8. What’s a key feature of a show that you look for to determine whether you like it or not?
I look for something engaging about the story, or something to make me care about what happens. I’m pretty tolerant of most shows, which is why I hardly ever drop (but I select much more deliberately than most)

9. What is one thing you wish you could change about your favorite show or movie?
See Karandi’s question.

10. What was your favorite anime that aired this year (2016)?
It would probably be Yuri!!! on Ice, with Erased in second place. The ending of the latter kept it from being my favorite.

11. What are you looking forward to in 2017?
Watching some good anime and sharing my experiences with all of you.

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Last but not least was a nomination from Acacia Aurora at MANGA TORITSUKARERU KOTO. She is a very entertaining blogger who loves manga but will post plenty about anime as well. She also draws and writes poetry, and shows some amazing talent. She’s very friendly and respectful as well, and interacts with other bloggers all the time. Go check out her blog if you haven’t already!

Blog names are always different. Why did you choose yours and would you want to change it?
Sort of explained in my first post. I’m a casual anime fan that lets loose when I have time for it, so “weekend” otaku. I suppose I could change it, but the cards are already printed.

If you get to choose between living in a hard life with anime or easy life without anime, what would you choose?:)
An easy life makes people lazy, but a hard life is made better with anime!

Current favourite gif?
I never get tired of Honey throwing that bear.

Do you like romantic stories when they are tragic or when they have a happy ending?
My favorite ‘romance’ is tragic, so I think that’s my preference.

Burning building! Your two favourite anime characters/ book characters are right here! ( Insert two names~ Be Honest!) Who do you choose?
Are they supposed to help me or burn up with me? For help, I’ll choose two characters I like very much. Spike Spiegel can probably save himself. Balsa can just tuck me under her arm and get us both out.

Let’s say you get to have a character come to life for you. Would you like that or would you want to live in that world?
Err.. tough question. I think as fantastic as anime worlds are, I would choose to stay here in mine. It’s safer that way. I don’t know if I can settle on a character to bring to life though. Any of my favorites would be good, but they might get bored here.

Which skill would you prefer- super memory or very keen observation skills?
Hmm, another tough one. I think super memory would be more useful in the long run. Keen observation might help me avoid some mistakes, but memory would ensure that I learn from them.

The best thing you like about blogging is?
Being able to discuss and enjoy things that interest me with others.

The worst thing about it is?
Worrying about whether or not what I write is interesting.

If there was one thing you could say to someone and not be yelled for it, what would it be? ( No need to mention the person)

“You know what you’re doing is wrong and you’re being horrible people”

Bye then! Did you feel the questions were lame? If you could change one question, give the new one here and answer it!
Your questions were just fine. This has been a long post, so I’m more than okay to be done with questions now 🙂

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Nominations

I tried to pick nominations for people who haven’t done the award. I didn’t see it on your site at least. If you’ve already done one or don’t want to to do it for any reason, there’s no pressure at all.

Aria Cross at Fujinsei

Cain S. Latrani

Crystal at The Blind Nerd

Demigod365 at Demigod

Neetaku at Just… My Two Cents

KimmieKawaii at Inner Thoughts of an Extrovert

Kindle at Nichi Nichi-Chan

PalpableEmoji at Palpable Emotion

Row at Rrowbyte

Schizoidmouse at Schizoidmouse Squeaks

The Otaku Judge

 

My Questions

1. What is your preferred hobby outside of anime/manga/tv and blogging?
2. Are there any blogging lessons you wish you knew before you started?
3. What got you into anime/manga in the first place?
4. Is there any anime you feel you got into too late? Or that you wish you had seen at a younger age?
5. Name the anime/manga character you are most attached to
6. You can stop the evil plot of one anime/manga villain. Who would you stop?
7. Flip the scenario: You get to be the sidekick to one anime hero. Who do you help?
8. Do you have many friends where you live who love anime?
9. What is the first anime you would introduce to a child?
10. Do you have any pets? If so, tell us about them.
11. What do you want to improve most about yourself?