June Song(s) of The Week 4

Really this should be a June six songs of the week, mixed with a Beginner's Guide to Anime post.  This video is a short twelve minute long musical... performed completely by software and animation.  In Japanese pop culture, works like these are often collaborations of animators, composers, arrangers, and so forth.  First, let me explain the voices in this musical (I'll probably make a standalone post on it later):

Vocaloid: Software that emulates singing.  Practically a voice synthesizer.  There are many different models of Vocaloid; English, Japanese, and their own models within those languages.  The most famous of them is the Vocaloid 2 model Hatsune Miku (Alice in the video below).  Other Vocaloid models included in the musical are (in order of appearance): Kagamine Len, Kaito, Kagamine Rin, Megurine Luka, and Meiko.  

And without further ado, I present "Alice in Musicland"!  Enjoy!

The Relatable Musician 5

I recently bought a new 6 string bass (love the extra C string for chords) and today I bought a used Fender rumble 25 bass amp.  At first, it just started with a Squire P-strat with no amp,
but at this rate, I'm going to have to get two bedrooms... one for music and one for sleeping.  Or I'll just install a hammock and sleep above all the instruments :D

The Beginner's Guide to Anime: The Attracting Factors in Characters

Okay, this topic I don't have a tonne of knowledge in, and I don't have any good research to go off of.  Sorry if this is not accurate to the veteran's standards.

As promised in the previous Guide to Anime post, I'm (going to attempt) explaining what a loli is. The explanation is, of course, below.  But before you read there, I should explain this topic a little more.  A loli is one of the many stereotypes put in characters as an attractive factor.  Most anime have a character that has an appealing factor to them, even though a lot of people don't notice that they are stereotypes.  Some of them are agreeable factors, where others take some time to understand.
I should add that there are a lot of them... So this list isn't complete.  Maybe if I feel oddly motivated I'll continue it.  Of course, if I miss any, just tell me in the comment section.

The Childhood Friend: As the title suggests, the main character has a childhood friend and they fall in love later (usually high school).  These are either promises made to each other from a young age, unrequited love that eventually gets recognition, or a relationship that neither character sees coming.  Usually found in the romance genre.
Examples: I actually can't remember any anime I've watched with a big emphasis on this.  I vaguely remember Asura Cryin' having this element, but don't quote me on that.  I haven't watched Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood or Steins;Gate but I heard they stress this element a bit.

Senpai/Kouhai Relationships: A senpai (sometimes spelt sempai) is a senior in position relative to someone else in the same field/discipline.  The most popular use in anime is at school, however, it can be used in dojos, workplaces, etc.  Basically whoever is slightly senior in rank, you call senpai.  And kouhai is the opposite: a senpai would call their underclassmen kouhai.  Senpai is not to be confused with sensei; an authority figure. Senpai is usually reserved for a mentor-type role.
In context, a 2nd year high school student would call the 3rd years senpai, and 1st years kouhai.
And also, as the mentioned above in the title, relationships between the senpai and kouhai may happen. If you don't know already, this element is where the meme "I hope senpai will notice me" comes from.  In some anime, the kouhai might have feelings for the senpai, but not have the ability to say it.
Examples: Strike the Blood,  Ouran Host Club, Dusk Maiden of Amnesia (sorta)

The Sibling Complex:  Closeness with a sibling to the point that it either annoys the charactercoughvictimcough, or makes other people wonder if incest is going to take place.  Usually the character with the complex teases their sibling a little much, and can be jealous people.  If the target character has a girlfriend/boyfriend, it's possible that the complex sibling would try sabotaging the relationship.  In other cases, the complex sibling declares their love (usually in a comedic manner) and tries to keep any other potential competition away.  In general, a sibling complex in a character includes thinking that if they weren't related by blood, they would have a relationship with their sibling.
(Side note: I think I might do a post just about complexes sometime.)
Examples: The Irregular at Magic High School, Oreimo, No Game No Life

Lolicon: "Loli" being the shortened form.  Blatantly put, a lolicon is a pedophile.  But in anime, it's a term used for a type of character.  Lolis are girls that are under the age of consent, the appeal being childish features and innocence.  I say this in the least possible creepy way: lolis are adorable.  They are like the cute internet puppies of anime.  But they can talk, dress adorably, cock their head slightly and say "senpai", and eat food in the cutest possible manner (yeah, I definitely have a weakness).
Now that you know about the sibling complex and lolis, I can share this photo I found a little while back... If you've watched a bit of all three of these series, it is a lot funnier.

Oh, you should also know that "imouto" is a younger sister.  It goes under the "sister complex" category.
Anime used from top to bottom: Black Bullet, The Irregular at Magic High School, No Game No Life

Maid: This one I never really got either.  There's this thing out there for maids, or girls in maid outfits.  I don't see the big attraction, but hey, whatever floats your boat.
Apparently characters in anime are aware maid outfits really exist as fanservice, and realize that having to wear one is potentially very embarrassing.  If you're watching an anime and the character has a maid outfit forced upon them, you now know why their face turns bright red.
The male counterpart of this stereotype is of course, the butler (shitsuji).  Using the most famous anime butler, Sebastian, as an example, the butler always looks good, acts gentlemanly, and does anything in their power for their master.  Not nearly as much as a fanservice as maid outfits, but still a huge attractive factor for girls.
Examples: Black Butler, Nanana's Buried Treasure, Kaichou wa Maid-sama!


Bishoujo/Bishonen: Respectively, these characters are the girls that are considered a beauty by everyone, and the boys that are so pretty that they can pass for girls.

Fan art of Zaizen Hikaru

The bishoujo have slimmer yet appealing figure, long flowing hair, big sparkling eyes, and an innocent face.  And bishonens... Just see for yourself.  These are all the hot guys in anime.  For anyone not familiar with anime, bishonens are often mistaken for girls.
Examples: Black Butler, Nisekoi, Inu x Boku SS, Special A

After spending probably too much time on this post, I have determined that this topic is going to take a lot longer than I thought.  It's late. I'm starting to spend more time editing than researching.  I'm starting to have terrible remembers.  #inexperiencedwriterexcuses
So, I'm splitting this post up.  Look for part two in the coming week!

June Song of the Week 3

Found this little gem three weeks back on Youtube, and wanted to post it.  After putting it off for other stuff, I'm finally getting it done. Yay for procrastinating...

It's a good break from Pharrell Williams XD
Incidentally, the following day I found a video of a couple dancing to this song.  Just watch it, they're really good...

The Prince and His Unwanted World

Yet another rant.

Don't get confused, it's not that the prince's world is unwanted by others.  It's that he doesn't want to be the prince.

I'm the son of an influential person of the medical world.  It's not so high of status that my father can change the country's healthcare system like a politician, but it is high enough for a lot of people to view me as the spoiled child of the boss.  My father has quite a few employees, more than just a normal sized clinic.  And being the boss' kid, it's easy to get benefits... a good childhood pastime was stealing goodies from the staff room, usually cookies or donuts.  And there was raiding the fridge for the stash of soda that anyone was welcome to take... if they worked there.  But when you're the boss' kid, who's going to stop you?

Such benefits continue into teenage years, with more added... one being the job benefit.  For example, this summer I'm not in town for the month of August; my family is going on a three week long trip.  And for the last week, I'm going to an all day camp (an intensive music camp).  Who is going to hire a fresh-out-of-highschool student for only a month?  Why waste your time on a kid that will only work for half the time and 1.4x the price compared to the eager teenagers starting to explore the workforce?

These questions can be ignored when you are the boss' kid.  It's uncommon for someone to challenge it. 

But being on top of the the small world in front of me is not something I enjoy.  With it comes everyone's judgement.  No one learns who you are as a stranger... you are already seen as a royalty that needs to be protected and attended to.  And should you somehow wrong them, you will get a good talking to, or even lose your job.  Your junior co-worker has more benefits than you, could potentially get paid more, and has flexible hours than you do.  It makes sense that they would judge me off the bat. 

It is very agreeable by everyone who meets him: the manager is naturally abrasive.  Very naturally abrasive.  He is good at what he does because of his personality, but a lot of people don't like dealing with him.  One time, my father couldn't take me to school after work, and asked the manager to do it as a favor.  Then for every person that asked him of his next whereabouts, he told them that he was leaving briefly to chauffeur the little prince.  

...That's uncalled for.  And not what I want to be remembered as.

 If you are the son or daughter of an employer, or of an influential person of society, you might know what I experience.  Whether you be a son of a doctor, a daughter of a high school principal, or the president's kid, you know that you have potential power.  It can be abused very easily.  And many people under you fear it.

But as for me and many others, we do not want this power.  We don't want to be feared as kids that could potentially make someone lose their job or get them in trouble.  We don't want jealous sighs of senior employees heard behind our backs.  We just want to be recognized as ourselves, just like anyone else.  

June Song of the Week 2

On the complete different note than the last song of the week (Yes, laugh at my terrible puns), I decided to post this.  It's one of those that look just like any other a capella video... but at around 1 minute, elements get pretty interesting.  And the ending... oh the ending... just so powerful...

A great arrangement that should definitely be watched.

What to do with my free time?

When I ask that question, the default answer is "watch anime".  But as crazy as it sounds, it is possible for me to get bored of it.  Too much anime is actually something that can happen to me.  When the social networks are boring, I don't feel like starting new a new anime, and my work is done, my IP address usually wanders it's way to this site.  I stare at the "new post" button, thinking what I should do.  What should I write?  Research more on anime?  Find something for The Relatable Musician?  Write something completely random?  I have to take a while to decide what I'm writing before I write.  And lately, since I'm quite busy with a giant piano exam, it's gotten harder to decide what to do.

So, I'm leaving it to you guys!  If you follow this blog and know I've written so far, tell me what you would like to see me write next!  There is a poll on the top right of the home page, next to this post if you read it before I post anything else.  If I get good response I'll keep it up for next month.  

You have until the end of the month to vote!