It’s been a while since I posted something like this. I haven’t been doing my photography for my otaku goodies in nearly 3 months. So, I decided to brush up my photo shot skills again. I have got to admit, I have been become a bit sloppy, and I have to get back to practicing improving my photo skills for the next upcoming goodies in the future. Hopefully soon, I can get a better camera and take photos that are out of this world. For now, for using something that’s of low quality, I’d say it’s not all bad.
Anyway, in this topic, here I have, my favorite anime figure of my collection, and that’s none other than Konomi Yuzuhara from To Heart 2. As of 2024 since starting with my anime figure collection, this one from Kotobukiya released in 2005 is my current number 1 favorite, but why you ask?
While her texture, design, and material is basically outdated compared to my other figures, seeing as this figure of mines is the oldest of my collection, that’s one of the reasons why it’s my top favorite (for now). This figure is from the mid 2000s (2005), and as you know, I love my 2000s anime since it is my favorite decade of anime. So I will admit that nostalgia factor does play a little role. Her prepainted color is a pleasure to look at as anime figures during that time were just progressing with minor detail, and for her time, mostly, she looked better than other anime figures during that time. I’d say that she still looks relevant and amazing for today’s modern standards. I also enjoy the face, clothing, detail of the figure, and the pose she’s in. One more reason is because Konomi Yuzuhara is a favorite of mines from both the visual novel, and the anime.
I sincerely hope to make a Konomi Yuzuhara figure collection very soon, and talk more about this series when I have time. I hope you enjoy my photoshoot of her!
As you all know, famous Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump manga artist and creator Akira Toriyama passed away recently on March 1, 2024. His death was then announced on March 7, 2024, by the official Dragon Ball website and its Twitter account. There is worldwide mourning across the spectrum, and many manga artists, game developers, celebrities, athletes, and even political leaders, have expressed their sadness over Toriyama’s death.
The most notable ones, One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda, and Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto, have released a long statement in regard to Toriyama’s passing, and the amount of emotion expressed by the two legends. Their statements were released via official Weekly Shonen Jump.
Eiichiro Oda’s statement.
It is too early.
The hole is too big. Sadness washes over me when I think that I will never see him again.
I have admired him so much since I was a child, so I remember the day he called me by name for the first time. On the way home from the day you used the word “friend” for me and Kishimoto, I remember being overjoyed with Kishimoto. I also remember the last conversation we had.
I was one of those who took the baton from the days when reading manga made you a fool, and he also created an era when both adults and children could enjoy reading manga. He showed us the dream that manga can go worldwide. It was like watching a hero going forward.
For not only mangakas but also creators in various industries, the excitement and emotion of the time of Dragon Ball serialization must have taken root in their childhood.His existence is like a big tree.
For the manga artists of our generation who stood on the same stage, Toriyama’s works became more and more important to me as I got closer to the same stage. I even felt being scary. But I am just happy to see the aloof man himself again. Because we love him on a blood level.
With respect and gratitude for the creative world he has left behind. I pray for his soulful rest in peace.
May heaven be the joyous world he envisioned.
Masashi Kishimoto’s statement.
“I honestly don’t know what to write about this sudden event. But for now, I would like to share my thoughts and feelings that I had hoped for one day Mr. Toriyama would ask me about it. I grew up with his manga, Dr. Slump in the lower grades of elementary school and Dragon Ball in the upper grades, and it was natural for me to have his manga as a part of my life. Even when I was having a bad day, the weekly Dragon Ball made me forget about it. As a country boy with nothing, that was a relief to me. I really enjoyed Dragon Ball too much! I was a college student. Suddenly, Dragon Ball, which had been a part of my life for so many years, came to an end. I felt a tremendous sense of loss and didn’t know what to look forward to.”
“But at the same time, it was an opportunity for me to truly understand the greatness of the master who created Dragon Ball. I wanted to create a work like his! I wanted to be just like him! And as I followed in his footsteps to become a manga artist, I began to feel less and less lost. It was because I enjoyed making manga. By following him, I was able to find new enjoyment. Sensei was always my guide. He was my admirer. I may be annoying to him, but I am grateful to him. For me, he was truly the God of salvation and the God of manga.”
Kishimoto then took the opportunity to talk about his first meeting with Toriyama, “When I first met him, I was too nervous to say a single word. But after meeting him many times at the Tezuka Award judging, I became able to talk. I will never forget the slightly embarrassed smile on his face when he and Mr. Oda talked excitedly about how Dragon Ball was fun, as if they were children again and were engaged in a competition.”
“I just received the news of Sensei’s passing. I feel a tremendous sense of loss, more than when Dragon Ball ended… I still don’t know how to deal with this hole in my heart. I can’t even read Dragon Ball, which I love. I don’t even feel like I can write this message to Sensei properly. Everyone in the world was still looking forward to your work. If I could really have one Dragon Ball wish come true…I’m sorry… That may be selfish of me, but I am sad, Sensei. Akira Toriyama-sensei, thank you for 45 years of enjoyable works. And thank you for your hard work. I am sure that his family members are still deeply saddened by this loss. Please take care of yourselves. I pray that Akira Toriyama-sensei may rest in peace.”
Akira Toriyama was a manga artist and famously known for creating Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump. He was one of the most successful manga artists of all time, and played a pivotal role in revolutionizing Shonen manga and manga and anime as a whole. He was known for his iconic art style that remains unique to this day, and has even illustrated other projects such as Dragon Quest and Chrono Trigger. His Dragon Ball manga sold a total of 260 million copies, making it the fourth best-selling manga of all time. His characters, such as Goku and Vegeta, became iconic sensations not only in manga and anime, but in pop culture as a whole. Becoming a worldwide phenomenon, and was instantly recognized by many people in other nations and spawned a passionate fandom that still persists to this day. Notably, his success with Dragon Ball contributed to the manga industry’s peak circulation that lasted from the mid 1980s towards the mid 1990s. Finally, his Dragon Ball franchise was ultimately responsible for contributing to the popularity of anime and manga internationally, thanks to the Dragon Ball Z anime adaptation, which received an acclaimed reception worldwide. He won the Shogagaku Manga Award in 1981 with his Dr. Slump manga, and in 2019, he was decorated the Chevailer of the French Orden Des Arts et des Letteres for his contribution to arts. Akira Toriyama will forever be remembered for his contribution to the manga industry.
Ladies and gentlemen… The most depressing manga news is about to unfold for many manga readers… Today, the manga industry mourns for the passing of Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump mangaka creator Akira Toriyama. Toriyama’s reputation isn’t just big, but arguably, one of the most well known mangakas ever in history. Toriyama was the mastermind responsible for not only creating a revolutionary manga series that became the most famous and well known manga worldwide that created a generation. He also revolutionized a serialization company, a genre, an industry, and a concept that many mangaka follow to this day.
The official Dragon Ball Twitter account released a statement regarding the death of Akira Toriyama.
— DRAGON BALL OFFICIAL (@DB_official_en) March 8, 2024
Information ; Dear Friends and Partners
As of right now, according to reports, Akira Toriyama passed away on March 1, 2024. His cause of death was acute subdural hematoma. To make the matters even sadder, he had several works that remained unfinished. His funeral services were held with his family and relatives. According to their statements, funeral gifts, visits, and interviews will not be accepted or permitted.
Further announcements of Toriyama’s commemorate is not decided. Eventual conformation will soon proceed.
Akira Toriyama was one of the most successful and well known manga artists in the world. In fact, he’s probably the most successful, and influential in manga history since Osamu Tezuka. His Dragon Ball franchise set the stage for the future of Shounen manga. Many manga since then, such as Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece and Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto, are prime examples of a success story through the use of Dragon Ball’s influence. Many other Shounen manga continue the legacy of Dragon Ball’s groundbreaking and influential themes into modern Shounen manga. Not only that, but he became the iconic face of Shounen Jump, and basically gave Jump an identity. He made Goku become an unofficial mascot of Weekly Shounen Jump. Toriyama will be deeply missed by many, including myself, for he revolutionized manga, and if it wasn’t for him, then manga would not be where it is today. Generations of fans, and even those who aren’t, who be in great mourning for the passing of this manga legend. Who will be forever remembered for not only making Dragon Ball, but leaving behind an amazing arty style that still stands out and remains iconic to this day. Everyone knows Goku. He is basically the Super Mario or Superman of manga and anime. He is so popular that even those who aren’t into manga, anime or Dragon Ball, know who he is. Dragon Ball, alongside Gundam, was a pioneer of revolutionizing the otaku culture in the 1980s and 1990s, hence why Dragon Ball is constantly mentioned in the otaku culture. Dragon Ball began an otaku theme that still lives on to this day.
To make the matters even sadder, he passes away on the 40th anniversary of Dragon Ball… Farewell Akira Toriyama… You will be missed forever greatly, by fans, and all of us otaku… (1955-2024)
Ladies and gentlemen, today is an important day for Animangemu. Because exactly on this day, two years ago, and a year ago, something happened that was significant for Animangemu, and those two anniversaries, are pretty much what helped Animangemu being kicked into full gear. The second anniversary was when I launched Animangemu as a website, and believe me, how it looked two years ago looks nothing like the Animangemu that you see today. In fact, when I launched Animangemu in 2022, its logo looked completely different, and this is how it looked.
I have come a long way since reinventing Animangemu’s logo, and at the time when I launched my website, I solely focused on anime, manga, and video games. That’s why if you see a lot of leftovers AMG letters, that’s because I was intending on making Animangemu solely focusing on those three. Of course, as time goes on, I became more educated, more knowledgeable, and developed new passions that were a part of the hemisphere, such as Tokusatsu, electronics, and airsoft. Eventually, other mediums from toys & games, live action, and books that involved the otaku culture, became a part of Animangemu. Finally, the otaku culture, the biggest definer of my brand, was added as a lot of interests of the otaku culture reside in this hemisphere. Looking back, It feels nice to see how much things have changed, and it will only get better.
This you see right here was my first article published on Animangemu, (excluding the previous articles before 2023). If you click on the picture, it will direct you to my first article. Looking back, Animangemu’s early goal was to be the best news source and provider for all things otaku, but, eventually, one of the plans was to expand my brand, and become holder of all narrative of everything otaku. News feeds still exist, but now only as an opinion source rather than a general article, and I did that experiment with the controversial Assassination Classroom ban by a Florida and Wisconsin school, and it was a HUGE success. Everyone became interested in it, and my view count just spiked like crazy. Eventually, I can’t wait to make my own self-published opinion articles on many topics that revolve around the otaku hemisphere. Looking back at this, I can feel like I have come a long way since I first started, and I feel pretty emotional knowing that this was a work of mine that is still running after a year and more. I thank God for this beautiful blessing, and I can’t wait to start more in the future. Don’t worry my fellow otakus, more greatness awaits soon God Willing.
Thank you for reading this article, and going down the memory lane with me. Stay tuned for more!
Ladies and gentlemen, may I present you the largest collection that I own from my otaku hemisphere, and possibly, the largest collection of passion that I have ever owned in my life. The amount of manga + all other book forms that revolve around my passion, has been in a collection constant since 2016. It’s hard to believe that it has been eight years since when I first started collecting manga. Time has gone on, and a lot has changed for me and the industry itself. The sensation and feeling of excitement and happiness, was something that I haven’t felt in ages when I started collecting my first bunch. Who would have ever thought on that day, a simple purchase as a gift from my family two manga books given to me, officially started an empire of reading, collecting, and getting the best out of Japanese comics. As time went on, my section of manga began to evolve. More collecting of specific manga series, box sets, one-shots, light novels and novels entering, reading manhwa and manhua, and establishing another section of entertainment, which are books based on my passions. For me, every time I see my manga collection, I can’t help but smile, knowing that I have come such a LONG way over the past eight years. Of course, I still want to be collecting more and more, and reading all of them. Soon, I will make reviews on manga books, and all sorts of other books. Which ones are my favorite.
Animangemu 