Haruka Pt. 2 (with Asher Sofman)
Covers volumes 10–17 of Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time by Tohko Mizuno.
We’re back to discuss the second half of Haruka, a manga series based on one of the earliest otome game franchises. Suddenly, the story remembers it’s a romance, and all eight of the guardians realize they're vying for the priestess Akane’s heart. And she starts to see all of them as the sexy menfolk they are. (Except Yasuaki, who is still the best. But he's a golem (or is he a homunculus?), so we get it.) Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her boytoy Asher discuss Yorihisa and Akane’s relationship and the representation of the Demon Clan and gush about their favorite characters. Thanks to the two people who listen to this episode! You know who you are.
REFERENCES
- The Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time manga is out of print (published in English by Viz Media's Shojo Beat line), and the games were never brought over for English audiences. You can watch the anime legally on Tubi, though. (Watch at least the opening theme song! It's really dope.)
- Haruka is essentially an inferior Fushigi Yugi
- Haruka is mainly an otome game franchise. Read Anime Feminist's article that's a beginner's guide to otome games.
- Ashley watched the Haruka anime back in the day because Tenma and Yorihisa shared voice actors with Van and Allen from The Vision of Escaflowne
- Sometimes you get the animation quality of Fruits Basket remake, but most of the time in shojo anime, you.... just don't...
- For some reason Yu-Gi-Oh! came up a lot
- Oni v Yokai v shikigami
- Yorihisa's brother looks like Dark from DNAngel
- Homunculus v golem
- Read The Golem and the Jinni
- Asher will not be the guest for the eventual Takane & Hana episodes
- Outro song: "The Streatham Hill Gods" by Danosongs
CONTACT US
- Asher on Archive of Our Own: dashery
- Shojo & Tell on Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram
- Ashley on Twitter: @AshMcD00
The next episode will be about Paradise Kiss by Ai Yazawa.