My Hero Academia sketches. This week’s episode was amazing.
うしろむきな冬
the shiganshina trio. Walking to highschool in an alternate AU.
とおりすぎるいろ
velocity of colour
Welcome back , young soldiers .
me: i love this character i hope nothing bad happens to them
creator: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
I just realized people might be interested in a translation of this, because it’s very relevant.
This is Isayama’s blog post for August 9. Meaning he posted it on the same day as the Japanese release of ch 84 and the ANSWERS guidebook.
Translation:
“Shingeki no Kyojin ANSWERS has been released.
There are bonus pages inside that I drew, and I want to talk about how fun that was. It is a fantasy of ‘What if the SnK world was an American high school?” It was a lot of fun to think about.
Why an American high school? There are two things that influenced me.
The adventure game, ‘Life is Strange’. It was so good! A masterpiece! It’s a well-made video game as well as a film And above all, it is one-of-a-kind Yuri!
[TN: Yup, yuri as in girlxgirl, as in ymir/historia, that kind of yuri]
The setting is an American school in the coutryside The student’s outfits are wonderful. I used them as reference in my own illustrations.
To begin with, the whole ‘school caste’ prejudice. Categorizing people and forcing them to fit in. It’s not a nice way of thinking. Not at all.
But it’s entertaining.
A phenomenon where without consent, people are classified into groups depending on how you look; your attributes, your clothes and your body.
Of course, if you get to know the person, you would know that they are one of a kind. But there are an unlimited number of people in this world that you would never get to know on that deep level.
And during the time you don’t know them, you can’t help but categorize them. And tend to hold on to prejudices more or less.
In this game, the main character transfers to a new school, and without becoming very familiar with others, she tends to have prejudices against the people around her. But as the story continues, she grows and learns that people aren’t that simple.
In the process of understanding people on a deeper level, to a certain degree, prejudice is needed. Taking that stance, I drew the bonus pages while forcibly affirming the school caste system.
In ‘Life is Strange’, the main character finds out that every time she rewinds time, her every choice affects her life in a butterfly effect.
The unbearable losses and partings in our lives. The story is about whether or not we can accept them. Frankly, this month’s chapter is greatly influenced by it.
And more than anything, it’s Yuri! Yuri is the best! Life Is Yuri!
The other influence is ‘21 Jump Street’.
This one involves the ‘school caste’ theme as well, but it’s not the typical school caste system. This one has a high level of awarenesss, a bit like ‘glee’… that’s the kind of film it is.
If the previous one was Yuri, then this one is a chrysanthemum.
[TN: chrysanthemum basically means BL. Yaois. Gays.]
Namely, a bromance!
Channing Tatum is jealous of Jonah Hill’s girlfriend!
[TN: wtf Isayama you fucking fujoshi]
The sequel ‘22 Jump Street’ has an even richer bromance… So rich that it is heavy on the stomach. It’s insanely funny! I wasn’t particularly influenced by it.
But I wonder how long the series will continue…”
—-end—
To summarize, on the same day as the release of ch84 and ANSWERS, Isayama decided to rant about Yuri and BL on his personal blog.
What a fucking twat (I love him)
Old drawing 6 Lily
Here’s the first and second page, thank you to @b00kcake for the easy-to-read scans! More coming soon.
—In the Uprising Arc, we start to see some subtle changes in Erwin and Levi’s relationship, don’t we?
Isayama: In the Amecomi Hero edition [TN: Attack on Avengers], it writes about conflicts in relation to the phrase, ‘With great power comes great responsibility’. In Levi’s case, if he didn’t have any power, he would just be a normal person without any responsibilities. But because he has power, he has become a person who is burdened with too much responsibility.
Levi himself realized this when Kenny said, “Everyone is a slave to something,” and asked him, “What about you?”. He is a slave to his own power. He felt a sense of duty: “I have to become a a hero,”
…This can be said about Mikasa as well… The Ackermans serve their liege, so there are many of them who are able to exert their power to the utmost maximum.
—Huh?? (surprise) That’s information that hasn’t even been revealed in the story! It’s true that for Mikasa there is Eren, and for Kenny there was Uri. They both have a ‘liege-like’ presence in their lives…
Isayama: For Levi, that person is Erwin. He has acknowledged Erwin as an existence who he looks up to. It’s part of the Ackerman bloodline, or an instinctive part of them, you could say.
—I-I see… (surprise). Levi maintaining his surroundings and distance, and the way he avoids facing those who wander in, it’s all because of the huge power he possesses?
Isayama: He may have been scared of building deep relationships. Since he is living in a world where he doesn’t know when he’ll be eaten by a titan, he avoided having people he considered his family.
—Being the only one left as everyone dies around him… the pain he would feel. But even this Levi was able to build a parent-like, close relationship with his new squad.
Isayama: There are a few causes for this change in Levi, and one of them was when he realized Erwin’s intentions. In vol 13, when it was revealed that Ragako Village’s inhabitants had been turned into titans, Erwin smiled. Erwin smiled because he was thinking, “I was right all along”. But to Levi, Erwin is the person who once said to him, “let’s save humanity together”. So in that moment, Levi thought, “Isn’t that different to what he said before?” LOL.
[TN: that’s not me laughing, that’s actually Isayama laughing at confused Levi, what a dork]
—It was a great surprise to him (lol). So I wonder if Levi can accept Erwin’s intentions, then.
Isayama: Around the time of vol 13, Levi wanted to say to Erwin something like, “You’ve been hiding this from me, haven’t you.” But he just gradually stopped… He wasn’t doubting Erwin. It was more like, he felt Erwin was mysterious. This person who he considers to be an existence that is above himself, that there is still so much that he doesn’t know about him. And he realized that same person has been acting all this time with a motive that is childlike. He was interested and reacted with, “Well, it can’t be helped, I’ll help you with it then.”
[TN: fuck fuck fuck I didn’t even know that, how can people fucking deny that they’re equals?! Levi thought of Erwin as someone higher than him and yet he realized in that moment that no, Erwin is actually a child at heart with childlike dreams. And Levi didn’t doubt him, instead he wanted to go along with him. Fuck fuck fuck]
Then in vol 18, when Levi tried to take over command of the mission and Erwin wouldn’t listen, Levi was a bit angry at Erwin’s behavior. Levi’s line, “I trust your judgement,” had a bit of an angry, “If something happens, this is your responsibility,” mixed with it. And right after, when he broke up Eren and Jean’s fight by using more violence than was necessary, it was actually Levi taking out that anger on them (lol).
Erwin & Levi in ‘Answers’ Guidebook
[translation: @yusenki | editing: twitter@braunsofsteel ]
Erwin lost his father when he was a kid. After that, even until now, the dream that is hidden in his heart… is “to confirm with his own eyes the truth about the world”.
Since he joined the SC, Erwin kept averting his gaze from the truth until he confirmed it again during discussion with Supreme Commander Zackley. He aimed for the basement because of his own dream. (Volume 15, Chapter 62.)
Erwin’s Dearest Wish that He Can’t Abandon.
Even for Erwin, the commander of the SC, the decisive battle at Shiganshina district will be a huge turning point. His dearest wish, hidden deep within his heart,“to watch the truth of this world” can only be achieved at the basement, and he’s getting closer to it.
In order to fulfill his own dream, after re-confirming his strong motive that he made when he joined the SC along with his strong will, Erwin advanced with the soldiers. In order to change the world, he is the guy who abandoned his human nature and stood on the lives of his comrades. He can’t throw away his dream. For the future of humanity, lifting up the moral, it can be said that Erwin started to work because of his own ego.
When he arrived at the Shiganshina district, Erwin must have had strong awareness toward the basement, and then in the face of the Beast titan, who was getting in the way, there was definitely more sacrifices to be made. Is the foundation of Erwin’s decision making moral or ego? In the decisive battle at Shiganshina district, Erwin’s real value is questioned. It seems like it became a battle where human’s true nature is tested.
The Deep Trust Relationship Between Levi and Erwin is…
After knowing that Erwin is moving for his own dream, Levi’s trust toward Erwin started to change bit by bit. The decision made by Erwin as the commander—is it for the future of humanity or for the fulfillment of his own dream? In Levi’s mind now, that question must always be lingering.
Despite that, Levi told Erwin his frank opinion, but he never argued with Erwin’s decision. However, in the midst of the battle when the extreme decision is enforced, if it is not for the sake of humanity…
Levi found out about Erwin’s real intention.
- When he saw Erwin’s strange smiling face, Levi started to realize Erwin’s real intention. This is the time where the up until now trust relationship started to change. (Volume 13, Chapter 51)
Entrusted with the serum, and then toward Erwin, who smashed his way through his dream…?
- Erwin entrusted Levi with taking care of the serum and its usage decision. Erwin said that he is a wounded soldier. What kind of decision will Levi make? (Volume 17, Chapter 70)
Close Up to the Story Essence
Erwin is an extraordinary swindler?! The characters’ dual nature.
Journalist (J): From Isayama-sensei’s point of view, who is the character who grew the most after overthrowing the monarchy?
Isayama (I): I think Historia is the one who grew up the most. I used to dislike her doll-like behavior that didn’t have her own self. I was quite anxious when she started to turn into a symbolic character. However, after thinking back that in the beginning she was a character that I wanted to hold an important position, I drew her by slowly erasing my concern.
J: When did you started to think that Historia is a good character?
I: It was when I started to draw her selfish inner side. From the outside, she looks like a selfless philanthropist, but in reality…that’s about it. When she started to show the two sides of human nature, as expected, it became easier to draw her.
J: Erwin looks like he’s fighting for humanity—actually he’s chasing his own dream. You have drawn those two sides of him.
I: If Erwin’s perspective of the world or the era is different, I think he is a con man who will instigate people for his own aim, be it good or bad. Only this kind of person can do something great. It is said that in the story where the government rules forever, capable villains and incompetent good people, whichever one of them is needed, work for the government. But that might be similar. He is a character that made me think that way.
J: Levi who followed Erwin…His past is revealed…
I: I drew Levi’s childhood and family relationship because I wanted the character to have his own depth. In the SNK story, it’s a sudden change from childhood to an old man, but I think there is a story in between that. In the next development, I am thinking that it will be good if I can consistently write “why this character made this decision", like a human’s experience.
J: Speaking of which, when I attended the SNK the Real event at USJ on February 28th, 2016, you talked about Levi’s up until now unknown age.
I: Actually I misunderstood at that time, but I amended it on my blog. I drew Levi with the aim that he is in first half of his 30s.
when people talk shit about armin
Holy shit I found it, it wasn’t just a rumour. Armin and Eren will end up in opposition, and Mikasa too
“In the upcoming developments, the three of them and their way of thinking will go in different directions. As a result, they will end up in opposition.”
He says really clearly that he’s already got it planned. He’s revealing the plot in a fucking interview, what
He’s even implying that it’s happening pretty soon. He’s seriously going to have Armin inherit Bertholdt’s memories, isn’t he
今さら進撃の巨人にハマりました。
アルミン、いい子!