KONSHUU vol. 58 #6
Magic
Shu Yamino NIJISANJI EN Art By Willow Otaka
KONSHUU | Volume 58, Issue 6
MAGICAL DOREMI: FOR THE NEXT GENERATION WAI KWAN WU
Managing Editor
3rd Year, Molecular Cell Biology
These are my thoughts after watching two seasons.
SPOILERS FOR MAGICAL DOREMI! I love kids anime. In general, the bright colors and extreme energy of kids shows just happen to be way more appealing to me. However, to leave it at that would be underselling the fundamental appeals of shows made with heart and the sincere goal of teaching something valuable to the next generation. Sure, it’s easy to dismiss kids shows as merely toy commercials, but it is more often that you find kids shows are just works that anyone can see and from there, take something meaningful away. The really good kind of kids shows also happen to be the most mature of all anime. Or more specifically, mature in the sense of emotional maturity, where you see characters and their interpersonal relationships being handled with a level of care that you would be hard pressed to find elsewhere. Those shows might even involve the misadventures of a clumsy girl-turned-witchapprentice and her best friends balancing their hectic daily lives with their newfound magical powers. Why yes, I am talking about the hit mahou shoujo anime Magical Doremi. What really works about Doremi is its slow-burn approach. Which, admittedly, not many shows have the benefit of 200-orso episodes of runtime across four seasons to flesh out the story they want to tell, but Doremi does, and it works well for it. The first season spends its time with episodic stories that focus on each of Doremi and gang’s classmates, and a lot of the fun comes from spotting and recognizing the random classmates hanging out in the background. Then the second season, Doremi Sharp, comes around with slightly harder-hitting stories that focus more on emotional drama, and thanks to the buildup that was provided by the first season, the result is that it ends up being quite effective. I mentioned previously on the goal of kids shows being to teach, and that is something that is felt throughout Sharp. It is said that a fundamental part of the human condition is for adults to pass their wisdom onto the next generation, and for kids growing up, the presence of adults (or lack thereof) is very significant to their development. This is something that Sharp is acutely aware of. What Sharp gets right is its use of adults as the supporting cast for the kids, and it manages to tell something quite
meaningful about how the actions of the adults leave behind a legacy of impact for their future generations. In particular, Doremi’s mother is a great encapsulation of what Sharp is all about. She isn’t a perfect person, and there is even a scene early on in the show where she professes to having considered ending her life before she gave birth to Doremi. The thing that stands out with her portrayal in Sharp is her relationships with her two daughters, Doremi and Pop. The way she attempted to rectify her parenting in the differences between how she raised Doremi and how she raised Pop, and how they came to affect the two of them differently, is striking in how intelligently it was written, with an awareness of how generational trauma can manifest and how the cycle can be broken. Doremi herself also plays an important role here, displaying tremendous vision in understanding how she was shaped by her upbringing and how to change for her younger sister’s sake.
The secret behind the success of this plotline, and really to Doremi as a whole, is that it never assumes stupidity from its viewers. The reason its stories are able to hit so hard is because it acknowledges the intelligence of even its youngest of viewers and doesn’t back away from emotionally difficult topics because of it. Perhaps we can see this reflected in how it treats its kid characters with respect, allowing characters like Doremi to have the room to reflect and grow. Yet, at the same time, it doesn’t demonize the adults either, even in acknowledging their flaws. Some may say that media has to choose between thematic intelligence and blind entertainment. To that, Doremi asks, “Why not both?”
KONSHUU | Volume 58, Issue 6
EXPLORING DIVINITY THROUGH THE CATS OF SUZUME RAHM JETHANI
Editor-In-Chief
2nd Year, English & Japanese
TLDR: yin-yang is cool
SPOILERS FOR SUZUME NO TOJIMARI! One of Suzume no Tojimari’s strongest aspects, in my opinion, is the decision the film makes to not explain certain details. Aspects like the history of the Munakata family, Suzume’s strange affinity with closing the magical doors, and the nature of time and reality in the Ever-After are all important elements needed to make the plot work, and yet the lack of explanation works to enhance the feeling of mysticism this movie is going for. While I personally would have liked to know more about these details, there will almost certainly be no explanation for them unless a direct sequel is produced (which is something I doubt Makoto Shinkai will do). This is fine with me though, as the lack of explanation never hampered my ability to enjoy Suzume no Tojimari. But, there is one lacking element that has left me and other viewers more confused than was probably intended. As you can surmise from the title, it is in fact the cats of Suzume no Tojimari, Daijin and Sadaijin. Within the film, there is plenty of screen time focused on Daijin, and the audience gets to see its carefree and playful, yet seemingly-destructive behavior. We learn that Daijin is quite powerful (given the chair-ification of Souta), and that Daijin wants Suzume to love it as much as it loves her. As it travels across Japan, many people become magically enraptured by it, and Daijin quickly gains internet fame. It leads Suzume and Souta to follow it to different dangerous locations, leading Souta to become sealed as a keystone (and essentially dead), yet it is confused and upset when Suzume states that she hates it. Later it is revealed that Daijin was doing these actions to help Suzume and Souta seal the various magical doors left
open across Japan, but Daijin never reveals this outright to anyone. Only when Suzume directly asks Daijin if it was helping them seal the doors is when it says so, and its response was suggestive as though it thought this answer was obvious. Although we don’t get much characterization for Sadaijin, this cat seems to be the opposite of Daijin in almost every way. Whereas Daijin is a small, white cat, Sadajin is an unnaturally tall, black cat. Furthermore, it has no playfulness in its actions, and doesn’t seek the love of Suzume nor any other character. In fact, where Daijin seems to thrive off of people’s attention and love, Sadaijin’s only unique power that it showcases is the ability to amplify people’s negativity. Lastly, Daijin’s transformed state is shown as a small black cat, and Sadaijin’s transformed state is an enormous white cat. It is quite an obvious comparison to make, but Daijin and Sadaijin seem to be referencing the concepts of yin and yang.
Daijin and Sadaijin have been stated to be representative of nature itself. Not only is this choice shown through their appearance as cats (which are commonly ascribed to be beautiful yet unpredictable), but also in what affects the states they are in. After Daijin is freed from its seal, it is unhealthily thin and scrawny, but after Suzume shows it care and love by feeding it (representing the harmony between humanity and nature), Daijin immediately becomes healthy in appearance. This idea is conversely communicated when Suzume screams at Daijin that she hates it (which represents humanity harming or neglecting nature), and it reverts back to its unhealthy deprived state. There are other comparisons to draw between the cats of Suzume no Tojimari and the ideas or themes they represent, but the explanations I’ve laid out here are the ones I think give the most meaningful context to their presence. Regardless of how simple the concept of Daijin’s and Sadaijin’s opposite existences is, the execution of this idea was done in a way that gave much more depth to the film’s themes of humanity, nature, opposites, and bonds.
KONSHUU | Volume 58, Issue 6
Cure Yum-Yum
Delicious Party♡ Party♡Pretty Cure Art By Mio Kurosaka
KONSHUU | Volume 58, Issue 6
MAGIC, FANTASY, AND LIFE’S TRANSIENCE: EXPLORING "FRIEREN: BEYOND JOURNEY'S END" ANGELINA TAKADA
Writer
4th Year, Sociology
Discovering the essence of magic, immortality, and profound philosophy in the captivating anime adventure. What is “magic”? Magic is an ability that is activated by consuming magical power, and it influences events by using mysterious or supernatural forces. There are various kinds of magic, from those used in battle to those rooted in everyday life. It is said that magic is a world of imagination and that whatever cannot be imagined cannot be realized. If you are a fan of fantasy, enchanting worlds, captivating storytelling, and a touch of magic, “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End” is a must-watch anime that will take you to a realm of wonder and imagination! It is written by Kanehito Yamada and illustrated by Tsukasa Abe. Evan Call composed a soundtrack that enhances the anime’s atmosphere and emotional resonance. The drawings and music are breathtakingly beautiful. The animation and art style elevate the story’s magical elements, bringing the spellbinding landscapes and mesmerizing spell effects to life.
The story follows Frieren, an immortal elf, departing on a quest that transcends time. After her party of heroes defeated the Demon King, they restored peace to the land and returned to lives of solitude. Generations pass, and the elven mage Frieren faces humanity’s mortality. From the perspective of immortality, the series prompts contemplation on the ephemeral nature of life and the mysteries of magic. The anime beautifully explores the consequences of immortality, the fleeting nature of life, and the profound impact of magic on the characters’ destinies, as well as offering a profound and philosophical adventure that explores the intricacies of life and of magic. Frieren’s encounters with each character and their magic add depth to the narrative, and create emotional moments that resonate with us.
Delving into the price of immortality, the transience of life, and the profound impact of magic on characters' destinies, Frieren’s themes weaves a poignant tale. The stories of various characters Frieren encounters add depth to the narrative, leaving a strong impression on the audience. The vivid drawing and animation that shows the magic, landscapes, and effects cannot be understated.
Frieren’s opening theme song is「勇者」(Yusha, “Hero”) by YOASOBI. YOASOBI was formed by the composer Ayase and the vocalist ikura. Ayase writes songs based on short stories. Their debut song「夜に駆ける」(“Into the Night”/Racing into the Night) was released in 2019. In 2021, they released their first EP “THE BOOK” and the second EP “THE BOOK 2”. The music duo became a sensation. Frieren’s ending theme song is “Anytime Anywhere” by milet. She also sang the first episode’s ending theme song “bliss”. “Anytime Anywhere” by milet conveys a beautiful message that states: “I want to feel you in my heart every time, everywhere. I want to be in your heart. I always want to feel at ease without any promises. No matter how many times I am to be reborn, I want to meet you. Even if I was reborn as a flower, I want to bloom next to you. Even if I become a star in the sky, I want to be around you. I am more happy than anything to be able to think of you and sing about you now. No matter what time of day, no matter where you are, I want to stay close to you with this song”. The music pairs with the story and animation to make it even more meaningful, special, and personal. “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End” is an anime with magic as its central theme, which is the essence of compelling fantasy and action. This beautiful work admirably combines a beautifully realized fantasy world with a heart-touching story, in order to create a heart-touching journey of astonishment and emotion.
KONSHUU | Volume 58, Issue 6
PRETTY CURE ALL STARS: THE MAGICAL GIRL EVENT OF THE YEAR DEVON NGUYEN
Writer
3rd Year, Anthropology
Purple Cure Supremacy
Since 2004, Toei’s Pretty Cure franchise has inspired girls everywhere with its themes of girlhood, love, and perseverance. So much has happened within its nearly twenty years of existence, but one of many constants have been the annual crossover movies. Better known as Pretty Cure All Stars, current and previous characters team up to fight a threat that they can only defeat when they’re all together; think of All Stars as the Avengers movies of the Pretty Cure universe. They’ve come a long way from the brief five minute short that spawned over fifteen years of crossover movies, both good and bad, but at its core, All Stars is a celebration of girlhood. The original All Stars short, GoGo Dream Live, was a five year anniversary celebratory short that was shown in theaters before the movie Yes! Pretty Cure 5 GoGo! Okashi no Kuni no Happy Birthday!. It was short and sweet, just a couple minutes of excellently animated fanservice, but it laid the groundwork for what would be the early All Stars formula: all the girls gather at the same place for some event of shared interest, they discover that other Pretty Cures exist when the main antagonists make themselves known. Fighting and bonding ensues, and everything ends with one big blast of collective ultimate attacks before one big dance party breaks out in the credits. You’d think that it’d get tiring by the third movie, but no, it’s just as enjoyable as the first, only getting more insane with each new installment. Watching Cures with drastically different experiences and themes connecting with each other, and bonding over shared interests and fighting side by side never gets old. If anything,
you think of all the possible interactions that didn’t happen and cling to the ones that did. What I love about the All Stars movies is the sheer, unadulterated joy of depicting femininity and female empowerment. That’s not to say that the Pretty Cure franchise doesn’t already do that, but it takes on more of a commemoratory role in these movies. You see it in the moments where all hope seems lost. Everyone is at their lowest and the enemy seems to have the upper hand. But then out of nowhere, an army of beautiful and sparkling magical girls come to the rescue, saving everyone with a smile and a reassurance that everything would be okay. While these moments may seem like fanservice, it’s a reminder that young girls everywhere can overcome the greatest of obstacles with the help of their fellow women. There’s a unique and instant connection that’s formed between these girls upon meeting, and just like in real life, that connection can help you fight the toughest of battles. Having grown up with these movies and experiencing first hand how wonderful it is to have the support of random women around me, I can’t help but get a little emotional when I think about how much these movies speak to the female experience. As I get older, I embrace these movies more and more. I may not be the target audience anymore but I still enjoy them with the same enthusiasm that I did years ago. I love seeing my favorite Cures interacting with each other and each and every dance finale never fails to bring a smile to my face. There’s no definitive end to the Pretty Cure franchise of the All Stars movies, but one thing remains the same: the spirit of girlhood will never relent.
KONSHUU | Volume 58, Issue 6
Cure Sword
Doki Doki! Pretty Cure Art By Mio Kurosaka
VOLUME 58, ISSUE 6 DECEMBER 10, 2023
facebook.com/calanimagealpha instagram.com/calanimagealpha cal.moe/discord cal.moe/youtube
CLUB EVENTS
Follow us on social media or visit cal.moe for updates!
Weekly Showings: Tuesdays 8-9pm
Weekly Socials: Thursday 8-9pm
Wheeler 202 Dwinelle 182
STAFF Rahm Jethani
Heaven Jones
Wai Kwan Wu
Mio Kurosaka
Catherine Chen
Skylar Li
Miranda Zhang
Willow Otaka
Sophia Xue
Angelina Takada
Cas Geiger
Devon Nguyen
Catherine Rha
Max Rothman
Ellya Kim
Tony T.
Editor-in-Chief
Managing Editor
Artist/Graphic Designer Artist/Graphic Designer Artist/Graphic Designer Artist Artist Artist
Artist Artist Artist
Artist
Writer Writer Writer Writer
Konshuu accepts guest submissions from club members! If you’d like to have content featured, please visit:
tinyurl.com/konsub
Lyney and Lynette
Genshin Impact Art By Miranda Zhang
