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[Mara=^.^=]

Dearest readers,
the time has come.

With only two episodes left to go in the season, I can no longer afford to be a passive observer. It is time for me to experience this anime as it was meant to be experienced - it is time for me to go full-on self-insert. That's right, my friends,

I am TAKING THE LEAP


and going inside Uta no☆Prince-sama♪ Maji Love 1000%. For the next 45 minutes, I shall inhabit the mind and body of the Protagonist, basking in the warm glow of musical success and masculine adoration. It may be scary, it may be strange, but as an anthropologist I believe it is my duty to "go native" and see the world through a different set of eyes...an UtaPri fangirl's eyes.

So keep me in your thoughts, my friends, because when I return to you


I MAY NOT BE THE SAME




Liveblogging Uta no☆Prince-sama♪ Maji Love 1000%



SPECIAL EDITION: Episode #SELF-INSERT

Part 1!

0:40 - Boy I've got a great rack

1:52 - I love murmuring the names of my man-friends under my breath. It's so relaxing and reassures me that I still possess the ability to speak

2:06 - Wow I sure do fly through the sky a lot
I thought about becoming a superhero for awhile but then I was like, nah, I'd rather have 7 men trying to get into my pants

2:57 - My nightgown has rrrruffles, and rrruffles have rrrrrridges!
Quoting product slogans is how I pay my tuition

4:16 - The sound that just came out of the Headmaster's mouth...I have never heard its equal in all my years upon this Earth

4:58: - Aww Barrettes you're so kawaii when you're consumed by pint-sized rage
I want to steal your hat and play keep away until you agree to be my personal shota-slave for 24 hours

5:29 - I am getting real sick of your bullshit, Richtits. There is no, I repeat NO excuse for you having prettier hair than me.

5:53 - Senpai Guillo-bird-otine is defending me :3 My feelings toward him have been upgraded from "indifferent" to "mildly appreciative".

6:01 - Dang, Biffles, that was a decidedly romantic hug you just gave me
Are you trying to get into my pants too Cause I'm cool with that

6:36 - Hey Firecrotch, I know I'm technically not in this scene, but would you mind if I... I dunno, joined you on the bed? Nothing creepy, I just wanna perv on your body

7:00 - oooh he's having flashbacks about me, that's almost as good. I'm so glad I can peer into his mind and view his innermost thoughts
Seeing myself there is a real ego trip yo

7:20 - That's it, Barrettes, I'm staging a fashion intervention
You can't keep going on wearing these ridiculous outfits I mean you're embarrassing all of us

7:30 - The way Peyote-kun is buffing his violin bow is giving me inappropriate thoughts Help help I'm trapped in UtaPri fangirl mode someone please get me out of here before it's too late

8:27 - There goes Richtits, sunning himself like a cormorant

9:20 - Mmm what a nice sunset maybe I should talk to it

10:17 - It's dark, I'm running, and I have no idea where I'm going #yolo

11:05 - How the hell did everyone just suddenly appear out here
Am I deaf as well as asthmatic because you'd think I would've heard 6 people sneaking up on me

11:28 - I'm so glad I hired that pianist to follow us around and play dramatic music in the background

11:42 - Oh SNAP Richtits just looked me in the eye and said "Lady, kindly zip it". I'm really starting to like this guy

14:29 - "Her idea has touched me"
I can touch you with more than just my ideas if you know what I mean

15:39 - Damn overactive tear ducts I really need to see an optometrist

16:02 - OK you guys, GROUP HUG

16:41 - Haha I just told all the dudes that I love them
I'm such a pimp

17:01 - WHAT THE ACTUAL F*CK WHY ARE GIANT LASER BEAMS SHOOTING UP TOWARD THE HEAVENS

17:55 - THE HEADMASTER IS PROJECTING THE FACES OF MY MANSQUAD INTO THE SKY
IT'S LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF THE F*CKING HUNGER GAMES

18:42 - I like how we didn't even have to audition, we just got picked 'cause the Headmaster likes us best

20:34 - WhAT you asshole you can't cut me out of the deal!
I'm the composer! I wrote those songs fair and square! I don't care if some "established" industry punk wants my job, IT'S MY JOB

22:21 - CHALLENGE ACCEPTED MOTHERF*CKER I WILL BURY YOUR ASS

Frickin' asshole / BRB losers / I gotta write a killer song and win me my mansquad back

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
INTERMISSION







END INTERMISSION
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Part 2!

0:00 - Ahem. To aid in my argument as to why I should be kept on as the group's composer, I would like to invoke the words of internet-fan "Nyanko", who commented thusly upon the previous episode: "She’s the fuckin main character and she is so beautiful than some old man"
POETRY

0:30 - You hear that theme song? I wrote that, bitch

2:25 - Why are the Headmaster's sunglasses emitting sonic booms

3:01 - That bastard just described me as "non-essential"? IMMA F*CK YOUR SHIT UP YOU PANSY ASS LARDO

3:44 - Yaaaaay my man army is sticking with me I'm so popular

4:20 - Goddamn it, there I go being all nauseatingly selfless again
Gah I can't keep acting like this if I want people to take me seriously as a believable character

4:43 - Yesssss go to sleep maybe I will dream about Cat Man

4:48 - DAMMIT foiled again

6:42 - Weeeellll guess I'm giving up and going home to my Grandma's
After all, we main characters can't be bothered to participate in the whole "overcoming obstacles" thing...we just baste in our own self-pity. kcool later

7:45 - Oh dear, I can't get up the gumption to go chase my dreams. Might as well sit here on the porch and stare forlornly into the distance
Oh, I know! I'll create a Bang-ability Index for the male characters. Yes, that is a much more productive use of my time. OK, Let's see
1) Cat Man: A+ 10/10 Would Bang
OK good, next
2) Firecrotch: Hmm yes would also bang
Right
3) Barrettes: Yeah all right I could see it happening
Who's after that

8:30 - Gross, Grandma's making tomatoes again, I'm going to pretend like I don't see her standing there

10:15 - Aww what a sweet Grandma, trying to cheer me up by playing the piano
Now I feel sorry about the tomato thing earlier

12:22 - When I cry, I like to open my mouth like I'm coughing up a hairball
It's how I pay tribute to Cat Man

14:06 - yufghkjyfghiksdhfnkhb My mansquad showed up at my Grandma's farm and they are SERENADING ME OMFG AGGGHHHH I can't deal with this much adoration

14:44 - Firecrotch says he's going to put his arms around me jhgfdkhfksabfk Peyote-kun is offering me "the best bouquet in the world" ghjkskhsfdnj Richtits says "you're not alone" gaaahhhh SQUEEING IMMINENT
I mean, I know what I'm seeing is just recycled animation from a previous episode, but it's just so much more heartfelt this time

16:18 - Japan had a serious drought problem until I came along and started watering the ground with my tears
I am a national hero

17:16 - THE F*CK
THE HEADMASTER'S LAUGHTER IS RINGING OUT FROM THE HILLS

17:48 - "When it comes to song creation, I want you to be a greedy egotist"
Thank you that is the best advice anyone has given me in this series

18:06 - Wait...so this was all an elaborate test I had to pass? Well. F*ck you too, Headmaster

19:34 - Well, you know what they say. It wouldn't be a concert without the Headmaster JUMPING ONTO THE CHANDELIER

19:54 - Heh heh I'm high-fiving them all but secretly I'm imagining them naked

20:20 - CAAAAAAAAAT MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN 2 SECOND APPEARANCE TOTALLY WORTH IT

20:31 - The stage is EXPLODING and my men are glowing like radioactive waste I FEEL SO PROUD

21:25 - OMFG these dance moves
I have waited a lifetime for this

22:24 - That's it, you guys. My band, "ST☆RISH" (because I guess they're not full-blown 'Stars'...they're just Star-ish), has debuted to much fanfare and universal critical acclaim. I have experienced everything a woman is meant to experience in this life. I can die happy now. Goodbye, friends. Goodbye.





~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[RocksmySocks]

This was pretty much the best thing ever. Mara, you need to always self-insert yourself. This was amazing.

 

8:27 - There goes Richtits, sunning himself like a cormorant

 

Forever yes.

 

I don't even know what Richtits looks like, but through this liveblog, he's become the second reason I need to watch this show (the first being, of course, the Headmaster).

[Mara=^.^=]

@Katie: Here, have a reference sheet to aid in your identification.

 

The tight pants brigade, from left to right: Firecrotch, Senpai GBO, Peyote-kun, Twintard, Richtits, Barrettes, & Cat Man

 

 

 

And there will be more men introduced next season. Of course.

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[RocksmySocks]

@Katie: Here, have a reference sheet to aid in your identification.

 

The tight pants brigade, from left to right: Firecrotch, Senpai Guillo-bird-otine, Peyote-kun, Twintard, Richtits, Barrettes, & Cat Man

 

 

 

And there will be more men introduced next season. Of course.

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

 

 

Useful!

 

And...apple-filled.

 

Interesting.

 

Oh, Richtits is the one licking his apple. Yes, he shall remain one of my favorites.

[Mara=^.^=]

Richtits makes everything into an exaggerated sexual innuendo.

 

It's kind of amazing, actually.

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[RocksmySocks]

Barrettes is rocking some black nail polish. And Twintard is all rebellious, with a different colored shirt. Good to put faces with names. *nods*

[Mara=^.^=]

Barrettes is rocking some black nail polish. And Phony Twin is all rebellious, with a different colored shirt. Good to put faces with names. *nods*

Barrettes always wears black nail polish because he's an angry little punk . As for Twintard, well...I suppose he's wearing a dark shirt to match his perpetually dour mood
 
It really is a beautiful pic, though...I mean, for such an epically retarded series, UtaPri has generated some of the most jaw-droppingly gorgeous fanart and official art I've seen in ages. The sheer amount and quality of it is incredible...it's not too prevalent on English language based art sites like Deviantart, but Japanese sites like pixiv and even zerochan have it coming out the wazoo.

I must share a few examples, because it is fabulous and deserves to be appreciated (hid in spoiler tags NOT because the pics are inappropriate, but because they're rather large and take up a lot of the page):

Spoiler

 
 

 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
The official art for the series is really freaking glorious, too...I mean look at this:

 
 
I drool every time I look at that shading and not just because Cat Man is front and center

 
 
 
~*Mara*~ =^.^ =

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

Just curious...  Are those the character's REAL names, or did you make those up for them cuz of your enthusiasm for the series??

[Mara=^.^=]

Edit: Whoops, fixed the broken picture links. Also put them in spoiler tags because they were dominating the page with their hugeness.

 

Just curious... Are those the character's REAL names, or did you make those up for them cuz of your enthusiasm for the series??

OMG Em, OBVIOUSLY those aren't their real names . I just coined the nicknames to be silly, but it soon became so entertaining that I practically forgot their actual names ...well, except for Cecil (Cat Man). But I mean, what the hell kind of name is "Cecil" for a Middle Eastern prince anyway? It's a hybrid Latin/Old Welsh name for crying out loud.

#DOESNOTCOMPUTE

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[Mara=^.^=]

UtaPri + Corporate Pandering!

 

CAUTION: History Lesson Ahead

Spoiler

When I was watching the first few episodes, I couldn't help but wonder how such a ridiculous concept could spawn such high-quality (and thus high-budget) animation. Japanese studios tend to have smaller budgets than American ones (which is the reason for non-synced mouth movements and the frequent use of still frames). Despite this, UtaPri has GORGEOUS animation with shading and detail to rival something like Legend of Korra at times. I couldn't fathom how the show was being funded, so I did a little research and discovered that Uta no☆Prince-sama♪ is actually based on the popular Otome game of the same name. For those of you who've never heard of Otome games, they're a genre of Japanese video games (and visual novels) that can probably best be described as a cross between a choose-your-own-adventure story and a self-insert fanfic. They're targeted toward a female, usually teen or young adult audience - there's a gender-flipped variant targeted at males, but since UtaPri is aimed a chicks, I'm just gonna stick with explaining Otome for now.

Anyway, these games function like dating sims, where building a romantic relationship with an in-game character is one of the "goals" for completion (in addition to other objectives like skill attainment, career success, saving the world from demons, whatever). The genre has many style elements in common with shoujo manga, and plotwise they are often similar to harem manga, with a single female main character and several good-looking males of varying "types". It differs from harem manga in that you get to actually pick one of these dudes to pursue further, instead of just remaining stuck in an eternal romantic purgatory (of course, you can restart the game and play a different "route" by choosing a different guy, so it's not like you're limited to just one self-insert experience). They're generally not sexually explicit - that's a whole separate genre.

Otome games have strong ties to the celebrity community, with famous voice-actors and singers often providing voice-overs for the games. In UtaPri's case, the plotline (haha, and I use that term loosely) has to do with pop stars ("idols")...and wouldn't you know it, real-life corporate moguls milk it for all its worth. The games and the episodes contain songs by actual musicians, who for all intents and purposes "become" the characters, even releasing CDs and holding concerts in the guise of their fictional in-game personas. Apparently these CDs are pretty popular, because I've found them plastered all over the internet, from tumblr to youtube and back again. This level of celebrity roleplay is just so fascinating to me...I'm trying to think of an American equivalent, but the closest I can come up with is something like Glee, which really isn't the same thing at all. It would be like if, I dunno, John Mayer and Justin Timberlake started appearing as singing hot-guys in your favorite game or Saturday morning cartoon, and then released CDs as those characters.

The reason I say that UtaPri is "pandering" is because it's designed to both cater to and exploit the sensibilities of its audience. The mission of the game-makers (and by extension, the anime writers, since the show is based on the game) is to introduce as many dudes as possible to the player/viewer/protagonist, just to make damn sure that at least one of the guys appeals to the consumer. They've got this shit down to a science, no joke. I don't care how freaking objective you are, or how much you loathe romantic comedy...if you're actively attracted to dudes, chances are you're going to find at least one of the male characters kinda hot. The anime goes for a more ridiculous, over-the-top feel, but you can definitely still see traces of calculation under the surface.

There's a part of me that looks at something like an Otome game and goes "pppfffft, how shallow and sexist", but then there's another part of me that thinks "you know what, these are actually kinda cool". I'm making generalizations here, but American video games tend to focus more on violence and war than Japanese video games do, and the macho-dominated American internet gaming community is just so freaking TOXIC that I honestly wouldn't mind seeing more silly/harmless games like this for young adults. Plus, my mind has sort of an evil corner that sees harem type stuff and thinks, "hey, if the media is going to objectify the hell out of female characters, then I say we create some games that objectify the hell out of dudes too!" Because when you come down to it, that's really what these games/TV series are...an excuse to parade around fictional man-tastic eye-candy for the benefit of the viewing audience. It's a fantasy, and it's outlandish, but I think that's what makes it fun

If games like these ever got an English release...eh, I might play them. Then I'd go shoot some goons on Uncharted. Best of both worlds, baby!

 

 

Aaaaand question: Should I continue live-blogging season 2? I'm definitely going to keep watching, but this play-by-play exhibitionism will only continue if my audience is interested

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[RocksmySocks]

Question: Should I continue live-blogging season 2? I'm definitely going to keep watching, but this play-by-play exhibitionism will only continue if my audience is interested

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

 

 

Um. Yes. Duh. Like, the first thing I do when I wake up each morning now is to log on here and see if there's any more of this madness.

[Mara=^.^=]

Wakatta It's going to become a weekly thing, though, because only 2 eps have aired so far. I'm mega-excited because we're getting like, 5 new dudes added to the roster this season (and more Cat Man screentime. Booyah. I cannot wait to ogle his glorious mocha ass).

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =
 

[RocksmySocks]

Wakatta It's going to become a weekly thing, though, because only 2 eps have aired so far. I'm mega-excited because we're getting like, 5 new dudes added to the roster this season (and more Cat Man screentime. Booyah).

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =
 

 

 

Oh god, the suspense is going to kill me. Weekly? I don't know how I'm going to make it.

 

But FIVE MORE DUDES? YES. Bring it on! I love watching this show vicariously through you. I should watch all my anime this way.

[Mara=^.^=]

Oh god, the suspense is going to kill me. Weekly? I don't know how I'm going to make it.

 

But FIVE MORE DUDES? YES. Bring it on! I love watching this show vicariously through you. I should watch all my anime this way.

 

 

This series has basically led me to have inside jokes with myself. Like, while I was trolling through tumblr looking for pictures of Cat Man to use in my self-insert commentary, I ran into summaries/walk-throughs for the otome games (which aren't in English, but fandom knows no language barrier). Basically, all the guys have fairly "normal" romance arcs...you gain their attention, you get them to like you, you overcome some sort of conflict, you achieve your dreams as a composer, yadda yadda. Not so with Cat Man. You know what happens when you play through his story? SATAN shows up. Yes, that's right, Satan. There's no logic or build-up to it...he just appears right the f*ck out of nowhere. After that, it's up to you and Cat Man to stop ol' Lucifer before he destroys all of humanity - and do you know how you stop him? With the POWER OF YOUR LOVE. That's right. You and Cat Man defeat THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS with nothing but beautiful music and your sweet, sweet savory love.

 

If that's not the most amazing thing you've ever heard, then I don't even know what to say to you. Like, I don't even care about his freaking personality - I will forever ship me x Cat Man for that reason alone.

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[Mara=^.^=]

Look what I found on tumblr today

 

 

 

Live-blogging will commence again soon!

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[RocksmySocks]

Look what I found on tumblr today

 

 

 

Live-blogging will commence again soon!

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

 

 

Yay!!! Can't wait! Happy amusing things are good things.

[Mara=^.^=]

Well dear readers, I have good news, and I have bad news. The good news is, I'm about to watch the first episode of UtaPri season 2! The bad news is...I'M STUCK INSIDE THE SHOW. Yup, it turns out the old saying is true: once you go self-insert, you never go back. From now on, I will be inhabiting the body of the Protagonist and slowly sucking away her remaining cognitive faculties
 

 
Cheerio! Here we go!
 
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
Liveblogging Uta no☆Prince-sama♪ Maji Love 2000%

now with even more %
 

 
Episode Juan
 
 
0:57 - Cat Man's included in the new theme song!
An auspicious beginning
 
1:14 - Wow Firecrotch, nobody told me you were a member of the Flying Graysons
 
1:24 - Did Barrettes just make a grab for Cat Man's crotch?
I mean, totally understandable, but
 
1:37 - I didn't know it was possible to achieve this level of male objectification. I am on board 2000%
 
1:54 - ok I am POSITIVE that at least one member of that audience died from confetti inhalation
 
2:46 - And with that, the plot inconsistencies return, blooming in all the fullness of their splendor
 
2:55 - Soooo I guess we're not regular students anymore. We've apparently graduated to "the master course" thanks to my songwriting skills and the butt-gyrating talents of my man army. And we're staying at...a musical version of the White House? Whatever just go with it
 
3:03 - Biffles just slapped me on the ass
It was surprisingly invigorating, like a cold shower or a really strong mint
 
3:24 - Slow pan-up shot of a shirtless Cat Man lounging in a tree? Excuse me, I must retire to my quarters for a period of personal reflection
 
4:24 - See I'm pretending to be lost and afraid right now but really it's just an elaborate ruse to lure Firecrotch to my feeding grounds
 
6:11 - OoOoOo Door service courtesy of Barrettes~ And he wants me to "keep what he loves most"?  It's good to be the king
 
6:41 - I really hope that "boing!" sound wasn't Peyote-kun popping a boner
 
7:45 - So apparently the spelling of "Women's Dormitory" has been changed to "WOMAN ' S DORMITRY"
I shall inform Merriam-Webster
 
8:25 - Oh look! It's Mrs. White from Clue washing the windo- oh wait that's Senpai nevermind
 
9:03 - Wow he cleaned my entire room and tuned my Piano...I guess he knows that the fastest way to a woman's heart is through unpaid menial labor
 
9:48 - Whaaa-? Richtits filled my bedroom with roses?? ROSES AGGRAVATE MY ASTHMA YOU INCONSIDERATE PRICK
 
10:08 - From the gospel of Richtits, Chapter 10 verse 8: "It's a flower that blooms for only you and me. I want to wrap you in its sweet scent and make you feel my passionate love all night long."
 
13:06 - "Only the devoted can become actual stars shining in the night sky"
Suddenly, the series shifts focus to a lone hydrogen atom in a far-off galaxy, striving with all its outer shell and nucleus to achieve its dream of being fused into helium...
 
14:00 - 4 new men called the "Pioneering Princes" are introducing themselves through a provocative song and dance number and NOW THEY'RE TELEPORTING AROUND IN A SPRAY OF BUBBLES
OK then
 
18:04 - So I guess these "Pioneering Princes" are established idols who will be mentoring and living with my mansquad. It's nice to know that even more sausages are being added to my cookout with each passing day
 
22:11 - Cat Man kissed my hand I'm having extreme and possibly-fatal heart palpitations
 
23:34 - WTF We're all suddenly naked silhouettes in the ending theme WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON   I AM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH FLASHING MY MILK DUDS TO THE WORLD

 

 

> "Too bad! That's show biz!"

 

 

 

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[Mara=^.^=]

NOTE TO SELF: Do not watch UtaPri right before you go to sleep, or you will have strange dreams about evading baddies with Biffles and going on a date with Barrettes in New Zealand

 

> "Wait, your unconscious mind picked ME as your date? Hell to the yes!"

 

 

Shut up Barrettes

Just because you're the show's resident fandom nerd doesn't mean I identify with you or anything

 

I do, however, have the utmost respect for whoever drew your pelvis

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[underwater]

^Wait...isn't that the belly-shirt-wearing Medieval prince you mentioned?

 

Corinne

[Mara=^.^=]

@Corinne: Not exactly. Barrettes is dressed up like the Medieval prince (who is the main character of Barrette's favorite TV show, hence the "fandom nerd" status).

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =