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Top 10 Weirdest Pieces of Anime Merchandise

Top 10 Weirdest Pieces of Anime Merchandise

Mary Lee Sauder
Blog Post

We anime fans love our merchandise—figures, plushies, t-shirts, key chains, and the like are all pretty par for the course at any convention booth or special interest store. But though this kind of swag is undoubtedly nerdy already, it’s nothing compared to the bizarre anime-branded products we’ve dug up for you today. Some of these are readily available on sites like Amazon or eBay, others are Japan-exclusive oddities that ran for a limited time, and a few may only exist in the ethereal realm of internet rumors. Let’s start this wild ride!

read it here Manga authors all have their own art styles, but there are few as distinctive and iconic as Hirohiko Araki 's illustrations for JoJo's Bizarre Adventure . Over the course of his nearly 40 years as a

Mary Lee Sauder
Blog Post

Manga authors all have their own art styles, but there are few as distinctive and iconic as Hirohiko Araki's illustrations for JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. Over the course of his nearly 40 years as a manga artist, Araki has created some of the most recognizable characters, poses, and scenes in the history of the medium – in fact, so many other series pay homage to him that spotting JoJo references is practically a sport at this point.

But where did Araki's wild designs come from? How did he get the idea for Jonathan's dramatic hand pose, part 5's avant-garde outfits, or all of those stylish chapter covers? ...From museums and fashion magazines, of course! Today, we're here to shed some light on how classical art and fashion illustrations inspired the unique look of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, and how JoJo's cultural impact eventually led to collaborations with the likes of Gucci and the Louvre. Strike your favorite pose and join us!

5 Saddest Deaths in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

5 Saddest Deaths in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

Mary Lee Sauder
Blog Post

In the JoJo universe, it’s not unusual for characters to die. And it’s not just limited to bit players—even the main protagonists can be wiped out by a powerful foe or get caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Today, we’re here to talk about the saddest deaths over the course of the series—beloved characters who were taken from this mortal coil too soon, whose death scenes were expertly written and directed to wring as many tears as possible out of our betrayed hearts. Grab some tissues and join us...

5 Moments from Dororo That Make It Better Than the Manga

5 Moments from Dororo That Make It Better Than the Manga

Mary Lee Sauder
Blog Post

Osamu Tezuka is one of the most influential mangaka in the history of the medium, penning juggernaut hits like Mighty Atom (Astro Boy) and essentially launching manga and anime into the mainstream. But his 1967 historical manga Dororo never caught much traction until 2019, when Tezuka Productions and MAPPA adapted it into the serious drama anime that we’ve grown to love over these past two seasons.

Your Favorite Manga Visual Gags, Explained! – Chibi Mode, Referential Art Shift, Henohenomoheji Face

Your Favorite Manga Visual Gags, Explained! – Chibi Mode, Referential Art Shift, Henohenomoheji Face

Mary Lee Sauder
Blog Post

If you’ve been reading manga and watching anime for long enough, you’ll recognize a number of strange visual gags that don’t make inherent sense to Western minds. We easily understand our own cultural symbols and jokes (like a raincloud appearing over someone’s head when they’re sad), but those that come from Japanese society and language can be confusing.

Today, we’re here to discuss three more of our favorite visual gags from manga, touching on their histories and our favorite examples from each. Let’s jump right in!

Your Favorite Manga Visual Gags, Explained! – Crow of Idiocy, Gossip Sneeze, Toast of Tardiness

Your Favorite Manga Visual Gags, Explained! – Crow of Idiocy, Gossip Sneeze, Toast of Tardiness

Mary Lee Sauder
Blog Post

We Westerners have become accustomed to manga’s unique weirdness over time, but some jokes still go over our heads. Why did a crow caw in the background when a character said something stupid? Why do people who are late to school/work run out of the door with toast in their mouths?

Today, we’re here to explore the ins and outs of these classic manga visual gags by digging into their histories and highlighting our favorite examples of each one. Let’s get started!

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