Cartoon Sunday: Shiki

How's it going my gumdrops? I am cringing at the thought of this, right now.

After reading that Adult Swim is giving Dragon Ball Kai its OWN hour on Saturday nights, I am somewhat annoyed. I believe Jason DeMarco spends too much time pandering to certain fans.

The Dragon Ball franchise had its time more than 1-2 decades ago. Its fans can also be the most obnoxious. It is to the extent that certain DBZ fans are ashamed to admit, that they ARE fans.

The Adult Swim Team needs to think outside the box and STOP playing things safe. 

If you are a true Anime fan, then you already know there is more to Anime than Shonen Jump Action Anime like Dragon Ball.

Then again, Adult Swim made their disdain for Anime fans in general crystal clear by mocking fans (mostly Anime Otakus and Weeaboos). 

If the network seriously wants its viewers to watch more, the people in charge will air more animaton, that's worth watching. Most people I know became more interested in Adult Swim BECAUSE of the Anime.

Now, hardly anyone watches the network, UNLESS it is on the weekends. Late Saturday nights and early Sunday mornings are the only times more viewers watch Adult Swim. I'm currently watching the network for Naruto Shippuden and the American cartoon, Sit Down, Shut Up. Otherwise, I don't watch the network anymore.

Meanwhile, I have another Horror Anime for today's Cartoon Sunday. Last March, I published a Horror Anime Review, which featured Shiki. 

In case you forgot or never had the chance to read it, I will give you a summary recap.

Shiki is a Shonen Supernatural/Horror Mystery Anime. The series is set during the summer of the 1990's, in Sotobamura, Japan.

Shiki is literally translated in English as "corpse demon" or "death spirit."

Sotobamura is an isolated Japanese village with old customs such as the burial of the dead, for example.

Suddenly, 3 corpses are mysteriously found. Throughout the summer, villagers start dropping like flies. Dr. Ozaki Toshio and everybody else assume that Sotobamura is suffering from a growing epidemic. 

All the while, The Kirishikis conveniently move into the long abandoned Kanemasa Mansion on the outskirts.

As more villagers die throughout the summer, Dr. Toshio begins his investigation. The doctor eventually discovers the supernatural presence of vampires. The vampires are referred to as "shiki" and they return from the dead, infecting the entire town. 

Need I say more? Anyway, here is Shiki for today's Cartoon Sunday.

Shiki "The Shed Blood/First Blood" [English Subtitles] (2010)

Wow! What A Hateful Online Community!

How's it going my gumdrops? OMG! 2 weeks ago, I joined Adult Swim's forum. 

By no means am I stranger to belonging to a forum. Not that I was expecting a welcoming committee, but the posters on that forum are fucking ridiculous. 

Posters of that ilk validate my reasons for NOT  uploading a forum (by using an app) to It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns. Adult Swim's posters are just as rude and obnoxious as rude YouTube posters. 

The posters nitpick the shit out of the most trivial bullshit, are EXTREMELY hateful, and judgmental of people they just meet.

Some Adult Swim posters have been civil and welcoming. The rest are rude, antagonistic, accusatory (some accused me of being a troll), pompous ass posters. There is 1 poster in particular, who is a complete know-it-all. I was informed that he was banned numerous times for his douchebaggery. 

He has the tendency to be condescending and act like he is putting posters in their places YET  he does NOT  know the difference between "then" and "than" in a sentence.

It's "rather THAN." NOT  "rather then."

While that same poster is so busy trying to "challenge" other posters, he should challenge himself by studying Basic English. Here is where it gets better: He automatically assumed, that...

1) I had nothing else better to do or watch than Adult Swim.

2) I was "throwing tantrums" and happen to be "more sexist" than I claim both Cartoon Network and Adult Swim to be with my opposing views.

3) He went as far as to drag Barbie into an argument out of thin air.

Wow! Seriously? Talk about a major joke. It is a good thing I was unallowed to use Cristina Scabbia's (from Lacuna Coil) doll as my avatar. 

I always love whenever people declare a war on Barbie. Being female and liking anything with feminine qualities is blasphemous! 

The female gender is forbidden from having beauty, brains, goals, accomplishments, a career, etc. 

Considering that I am "sexist" and all, why is that same dipshit posting in my thread?

Obviously, he is someone without a life of his own, if all he can do is instigate with everyone. That trollish poster is like a terrible rash, that won't leave.

Last night, there was another instigator in my Adult Swim thread. She psychoanalyzed and nitpicked my username. What a bitch.

My username served no relevance to the discussion I was trying to have with other posters.

This included her assumptions, that I didn't think the female audience should watch Shonen and Seinen Action Anime. 

I had already addressed this issue in a previous thread, but some continue to misunderstand.

I NEVER said I had anything against the female audience watching Shonen and Seinen Action Anime. I have watched my fair share as a woman. 

However, watching Anime specifically meant for the female audience would be a nice break from always watching male-centric Anime.

Shonen and Seinen Action Anime are specifically for the male audience. I feel some Shojo and Josei Anime titles should be added to Adult Swim. 

In addition to the last topic, I mentioned that having the "Toonami" branding on Adult Swim, limits the Anime genre to only Action Animation.

Anime in Japan is NOT  limited to Shonen and Seinen Action yet in America, this is the only gender demographic Anime companies want to market, which is specifically meant for the male audience.

Basically, companies marketing Anime in America is a Boys Only Club and purposely want to pander to Incels.

Shojo and Josei Anime supposedly do poorly in American sales. I believe this is because the female audience is barely acknowledged. Also, some male Anime viewers REGARDLESS of their sexual orientation DO watch Shojo and Josei Anime.

American companies and the media with their political propaganda brainwashed American Anime fans into believing, that everything is "gender neutral." In reality, everything is NOT "gender neutral."

We are watching Japanese Entertainment, which belongs to Japan and is a part of Japan's culture.

They are labeled Shonen, Seinen, Shojo, and Josei for specific reasons. 

Shonen and Seinen Anime are specifically meant for the male audience. 

Shojo and Josei Anime are specifically meant for the female audience.

Although, it's not like heterosexual males and females as well as the GLBT community don't watch each others Anime besides Shonen and Seinen Action.

Speaking of Seinen Action Anime, 2 weeks ago, 1 male poster complained about Black Lagoon. The series is specifically meant for men, but it mostly has women as leading characters in a male Action Anime. 

I love watching Black Lagoon regardless of the characters' genders and regardless of its gender demographic.

After the Hellsing Ultimate OVA's premiere next month on Swimnami, he will most likely complain about Sir Integra and Seras Victoria. Those are 2 female characters with leading roles in Hellsing.

Hellsing Ultimate OVA Trailer (2014)

Hellsing Ultimate happens to be another Seinen Action Anime, which is Black Lagoon's replacement. The Hellsing franchise is Seinen Horror Action.

Overall, my main point is that Shonen and Seinen Action fans are not the only Anime demographics in existence.

There are Comedy, Romance, Mystery, Supernatural, Horror, etc. Anime for both genders. People with little knowledge about Anime only know what the networks expose them to on TV. They are mostly exposed to Shonen Action.

I understand why Adult Swim's forum has such a high turnover with posters in general. 

The slightest topic about anything gets derailed into an argument and veteran posters are notorious for running away new posters.

Who wants to deal with that unnecessary division and dysfunction? 

I have too many things to do in very little time. I thought it would be fun to join another entertainment forum again, but apparently I was wrong.

WHAT? Gurren Lagann Of ALL Mecha Anime As A Swimnami Replacement Series?

How's it going lurkers? While watching Bleach, Blue Exorcist, and Black Lagoon on Adult Swim last weekend, I realized all 3 shows are almost over!

Some of us are worried about their replacements. Some of us also like to call Adult Swim's revisionist version of Cartoon Network's Toonami block "Swimnami."

Last night as we watched the block, it was announced that Gurren Lagann will premiere next month.

Gurren Lagann Trailer (2013)

Gurren Lagann already aired SEVERAL times on Syfy (a.k.a. The Syfylis Channel) within the last SEVERAL years.

Of ALL the Mecha Anime franchises from Japan, WHY Gurren Lagann? 

It was entertaining until some of the MAIN characters were killed, THROUGHOUT  THE SERIES.  

If minor characters were killed, it wouldn't have been much of a problem. However, Gurren Lagann was a depressing Mecha Anime. 

The body count of main characters being killed in a Mecha Anime like Gurren Lagann somewhat rivaled those killed in a Slasher Horror film. 

This recycled Mecha Anime did have less of a body count than Slashers but it doesn't change the fact that several main characters were always killed in it for unnecessary reasons.

Speaking of Black Lagoon, what will be Black Lagoon's replacement after it ends? 

Chances are great I won't be watching Swimnami for much longer. Compared to 30 minutes, I have surprisingly been watching at least 90 minutes of the block lately. 

Compared to Bleach, Blue Exorcist, and Black Lagoon, will future franchises be just as good or completely insufferable to watch?  

Since Bleach is ending in the fall and Dragon Ball Kai is premiering near the same time, I predict that Dragon Ball Kai will be Bleach's replacement. 

Some of us cringe at the thought of this happening. Don't get me wrong, Bleach has been run its course. At the same time, we don't want to look at a shitty acquisition as Bleach's replacement. 

Besides, Adult Swim needs more space for shorter franchises rather than constantly airing perennial Shonen Jump Action Anime for teenagers and highly impressionable adults with Peter Pan Syndrome.

Countless times I have said there should be more Seinen, Josei, and Shojo Anime on Adult Swim. 

I can't help emphasizing that Adult Swim as a whole should have more variety, especially on Saturday nights for MATURE adults rather than ALWAYS pandering to an Incel only demographic.

If Jason DeMarco buys another short Seinen Anime, I pray to God that it's BETTER than Deadman Wonderland. 

Deadman Wonderland In A Nutshell By Terribad Anime Review (2012):

Okay, is it just me or does Terribad sound like Klaus from American Dad? I'm just saying.

I couldn't sit through the first 5 minutes of watching Deadman Wonderland without LEAVING my bedroom to come back online. 

The network should try acquiring the rights to Another. Another is a Seinen Horror Murder Mystery Anime based on the novel of the same name. 

Unlike Deadman Wonderland, Another is NOT  centered around a crybaby protagonist with mindless violence.

Because Jason DeMarco and his Toonami  Team on Adult Swim are so determined to air ONLY Action Anime, I would personally love to see more Horror Action, Supernatural, and Martial Arts Anime meant for the ADULT  demographic and NOT  teenagers. 

Even though Beelzebub IS another Shonen Jump Action Anime, it's not the stereotypical Shonen Jump theme and lasts for only 1 year. Regardless, it's still an Anime worth Adult Swim buying and could challenge Toonami viewers.

Beelzebub definitely needs an English Dub. It's a Supernatural Shonen Jump Action Anime, with Martial Arts, Romance, and more risqué Comedy. 

The protagonist Tatsumi Oga is considered to be "the strongest juvenile deliquent," during his high school freshman year at Ishiyama High School. 

Ishiyama is a high school specifically for juvenile delinquents. 

The series begins with Tatsumi explaining to his friend, Takayuki Furuichi about him (Tatsumi) sleeping by a river, while seeing a man float down it. 

Tatsumi pulls the man to shore but the man splits open. The man's open body reveals Beelzebub. 

Beelzebub- the Demon Lord's baby boy. Beelzebub was sent to Earth to find a human to raise him, while destroying humanity. 

Hilda- Beelzebub's maid, who informs Tatsumi Oga that he chose Tatsumi as his father, while living on Earth. 

Beelzebub electrocutes Tatsumi as he cries, whenever Tatsumi moves so many feet away from him. His crying is so dangerous that Tatsumi is forced to carry him everywhere. 

Tatsumi even fights other juvenile delinquents with Beelzebub clinging to his body!

If you enjoy watching Shonen Martial Arts Comedy Anime and don't care if it's in Japanese with English subtitles, I recommend watching this series.

Beelzebub Japanese Trailer/Preview (2012):

Say What? Shonen Jump Block Monopolizes Saturday Midnights On Adult Swim

This blog was originally published on Xanga May 21, 2013.

 

Hey Xangan friends, readers, and subscribers! A few days ago, I published another blog about Cartoon Network and Adult Swim. Without any complaints, that same blog continues to get readers. 

After publishing the blog and replying to others on my page, I researched to see what other viewers' thoughts were about Cartoon Network and Adult Swim. This included reading Adult Swim's forum.

As I read their comments, 1 Adult Swim poster mentioned, that Adult Swim's so-called "Toonami" block recently became a Shonen Jump Block. After thinking about what the poster said, I realized that he/she was onto something. 

By Adult Swim currently showing Bleach, Naruto, One Piece (a.k.a. the so-called "Big 3"), and Soul Eater, the Saturday midnight viewers have OFFICIALLY been alienated more than ever within these last few years. 

I am not saying this to completely insult every Shonen Anime, that is currently airing. I am a Bleach and Naruto fan, but I have never been a One Piece or Soul Eater fan.

Aside from my personal bias, these Shonen Jump Anime are perennials much like American soap operas. Cartoon Network/Adult Swim's main purpose behind airing Anime is to expose their viewers to shows, that lack having exposure. Most casual Anime fans already know about Bleach, Naruto, and One Piece. 

It is not terrible for those Shonen to be mainstream. However, if the networks' goals are to expose viewers to Anime in general, chances are great, that he/she might not watch any or all those shows. "The Big 3" mostly have filler arcs.  

Bleach, Naruto, and One Piece's arcs have tendencies to go on really long tangents with irrelevant characters to their main plots. Adult Swim should've ONLY aired 1 perennial Anime at a time as opposed to simultaneously airing 3. 

Even though I hated Deadman Wonderland last year, at least Adult Swim was somewhat moving in the right direction in regards to airing more adult content. 

By NO means am I a prude, but Deadman Wonderland had GRATUITOUS violence, unrealistic writing, and a crybaby for a protagonist. At the same time, Deadman Wonderland wasn't a perennial with mostly filler arcs for teenage boys. 

Sometimes I get the impression that Adult Swim revels in alienating their current and potential viewers. Some of us viewers of both genders say the network should diversify its Anime genres and sub-genres instead of ALWAYS playing things safe with 1 group of fans. 

Other viewers have told me in the past, that Cartoon Network and Adult Swim are not Anime networks. They are completely justified in that argument. At the same time, Anime helped keep their ratings high whether the anti-Anime fans and the networks want to accept it or not. 

Mind you, this was before, during, and especially after Adult Swim acquired the rights to air canceled WB cartoons, Family Guy, and other Fox cartoons. 

Don't get me wrong. I love watching Family Guy, American Dad, The Boondocks, Robot Chicken, and Metalocalypse, whenever they have new seasons. 

Like I already said, Anime helped boost Cartoon Network and Adult Swim's ratings. Some give Anime fans grief because some are bratty fans with mental/behavioral problems and identity crises. Those few Anime fans ruin it for us sane people, who love watching Anime, but aren't pretentious zealots and sycophants about it.

To viewers with little or no knowledge about Anime, they are Japanese cartoons meant for ALL ages. Yes, I said "cartoons" because they are a Japanese form of animation, dating back to the 1920's and '30s. *Gasps* 

Anime has genres and sub-genres for children (Kodomo), girls (Shojo), women (Josei), boys (Shonen), and men (Seinen). There are also the pornographic kind (Hentai) and a few others. 

To be more specific, Kodomo, Shojo, Josei, Shonen, and Seinen are actually age and gender demographics. Those of us, who actually follow Anime OUTSIDE of Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, know that Anime is NOT always Shonen Action. 

There are Anime and Manga in Action, Comedy, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Slice of Life (which depicts everyday life in Japan much like America's Seinfeld), etc.

Cartoon Network and Adult Swim fail to realize much less care to realize, that only airing Shonen Action Anime helps generate ignorance; Some Anime "fans" only know about Shonen. 

Then again, I mostly blame our American marketers for knowing nothing about Japanese entertainment, culture, religions, and sub-cultures.

Those who really want to watch other genres and sub-genres can order certain channels, buy the DVD/Blurays, and/watch legal and illegal online streams and downloads. Although, that only helps the industry to an extent. 

I think most people have at least basic cable/satellite, as well as local channels but not every channel airs Anime. When the Industry reached its pinnacle, during the early 21st Century, Syfy, Chiller TV, Colours TV, Fuse TV, IFC, Starz, Cartoon Network, and Adult Swim all showed Anime.

Since we're no longer in the early 21st Century and more people can ILLEGALLY download and stream Anime (as I'm blogging), the Anime Industry is suffering. Cartoon Network and Adult Swim are the most convenient and consistent. Both networks can help give newer Anime and genres more exposure. As I said earlier, Bleach, Naruto, and One Piece have the most exposure and enough of it.

If these 2 networks really want to spike their viewer ratings, while begging their Anime fans to watch them, they must:

1) STOP patronizing their viewers with a CGI robot (He self-righteously lectured fans about being a "hater")

2) START diversifying their programming by airing something their viewers and potential viewers want to watch.

Adult Swim's male viewers have especially been throwing in their towels left and right, since the network mostly airs mindless garbage. Anytime most of its male audience hates watching most of the programming, that should be a red flag. 

Anyway, I'll continue to only watch Bleach on Saturday nights. Until Adult Swim's Toonami airs more shows, that we want to watch, my TV will be turned off.

Will Cartoon Network & Adult Swim Ever Get Their Anime Programming Right?

This blog was originally published on Xanga May 17, 2013.

How's it going my Xangan friends, viewers, and subscribers! I hope all is well on your end. This past week, I have been rather silent. 

I was busy celebrating Mother's Day with my grandmother, mother, and aunts, chatting with other friends, job hunting, and blocking creepers on social media. I always love those men, who get butt-hurt because I REFUSE to send them any nudie pics or have cyber sex with them. I don't understand these men. Do they really think I'm going to lay them via computer screen? Talk about thirsties. 

Maybe my next blog will be about thirsty people on social media. If you don't know what I mean by "thirsty," that's slang for "desperate."

Anyway, I have been reading and hearing about Adult Swim airing MORE snooze worthy shows to their programming. The network chose to acquire Bob's Burgers and One Piece. Oh joy, oh joy. Those are 2 more shows, that I DON'T watch. 

I don't think too many Adult Swim viewers are rejoicing over Adult Swim acquiring both shows, especially Bob's Burgers. Bob's Burgers should've been canceled. 

A while ago, I read that Fox was canceling The Cleveland Show yet Bob's Burgers was being renewed. WHY?

If you ask me, Fox should've canceled both cartoons and brought back Sit Down, Shut Up. At least that cartoon was funny.

One Piece on the other hand, I have never gotten into that Shonen Jump Action Anime. From what I have been seeing and hearing, the One Piece's English Dubs have a lot of infighting within their fandom. 

According to what I have been told, fans are divided because there are 2 different English Dubs. There is a 4Kids English Dub, which is highly censored and dumbed down and then there's the Funimation Entertainment Dub, which is for the more mature audience. 

There is also the fact, that Adult Swim is airing Funimation's English Dub of One Piece and they are premiering it at episode 207, if I'm correct. Even though I'm not a One Piece fan, I think it is idiotic on Adult Swim's part to air an Anime for their fans and potential fans midway into a series. By Adult Swim premiering a show that high in episodes, they are automatically excluding potential fans and not all of their original fans remember everything, that happened years ago. 

Cartoon Network's Toonami canceled One Piece, years ago. Some diehard fans will argue, that potential fans can stream the old episodes online or buy the DVD/Blu-rays. However, everyone does not have the time, money, and patience to marathon EVERY One Piece episode. I get the impression that Adult Swim does not want to fully invest in the One Piece viewers. Then again, what am I talking about? 

Cartoon Network and Adult Swim as a whole, don't invest too much into anything their viewers want to watch. They have already excluded the female demographic completely these last several years, and they most definitely ignore their MALE demographic, which they claim to be targeting. 

I love how so many duped Toonami sycophants have been jizzing their Spider-Man underpants over the "Toonami" block and One Piece returning EXCEPT this time on Adult Swim. 

Like I already said in my March 15th blog regarding Cartoon Network and Adult Swim being sexist, their animation fans are being so highly misrepresented. It's completely understandable, that they cannot attract every American viewer.

Although, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim put forth very little effort to satisfy most of their viewers. I miss the old days, when BOTH networks aired animation for both genders with different animated genres and sub-genres everyday and night. 

Then again, Adult Swim was always a Man-Children Only Club WITHOUT overtly saying so.

Now, every night is mostly terrible Comedies with 1/2 those shows being low IQ'ed, Live Action Comedies, and late Saturday nights are devoted to Action Anime. Both networks used to air Anime on a nightly basis. 

Now, they have condensed their Anime lineup to ONLY late Saturday nights and early Sunday mornings. 

To make matters worse, the very few Anime they air consists of a Shonen Jump Action Anime block and overly syndicated Adult Swim Anime circa 2001. 

Since Adult Swim is so determined to premiere Shonen Jump Action Anime every Saturday night, why don't they remove "Toonami" from their branding and rename it "The Shonen Jump Block" or something similar? 

After all, it's evident that Adult Swim does NOT  want to air any other Anime genre and Anime from other publications. They could BUT  they don't want to because making excuses is more suitable for them. 

Since Adult Swim claims to be so "lowly funded" *sneeze* (I'm allergic to bullshit), I would remove all those overly syndicated Frat Boy Comedies from their Saturday night programming and make it Anime Night. 

Then, all those nostalgic, Toonami crybabies can watch all their old Anime earlier in the evening. By the time of 10 pm Central, I would air:

10:00 PM Special A

10:30 PM Naruto Shippuden

11:00 PM Bleach

11:30 PM School Rumble

12:00 AM Kaicho Wa Maid-Sama

12:30 AM Vampire Knight

1:00 AM Jigoku Shojo (Hell Girl)

1:30 AM Hellsing

2:00 AM Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler)

2:30 AM Beelzebub

3:00 AM Repeat schedule from 10 pm

With the preceding schedule I created, Adult Swim COULD have a late Saturday night/early Sunday morning block; It could be an Anime Variety Block. 

For teenagers and adults of both genders, I selected Anime consisting of Comedy, Action, and Horror. Therefore, anyone from both genders could watch these shows, if they wanted. 

I created the schedule in this format because by the time of 1 AM, the shows have more violence and sexual content in them. 

Adult Swim doesn't necessarily have to air these EXACT shows. At the same time, they could at least try to follow a similar format, if they have to limit their Anime viewers to only late Saturday nights. 

Then again, the idiots in charge of Adult Swim aren't that clever. Well, at least we can dream, right?

So Anime fans, with this schedule I made, what are your thoughts?