TWINS COLLAB DRAWING: Tsugikuni Twins (Demon Slayer) X Figarland Twins (One Piece)

This idea came up in between me and my online friend Joan's daily conversation. She excitedly told me about the new character which is her favorite character, Shanks's twin, Shamrock. Then, I suggested she draw a twin of our own. She drew Shanks and Shamrock and I drew Yoriichi and Kokushibo from Demon Slayer. The result as you can see in the picture of this post.

Actually I already had plans to draw my twin for some time and this collaboration made it come true sooner for me. Since I had uploaded the article about my twin, the focus would be about why twins are interesting. Perhaps, my friend does not know yet about her twin because she said there was not much information about them in the story, meanwhile, mine was already fixed since the story was finished a few years ago.

Twins are always a mystery. Although I'm not a twin myself, I had friends who are twins themselves in which I only befriended one of them in my junior high school years back then because we were classmates. The other one, I barely knew her because we've never talked and became classmates at that time. I got a story from my other friend who knew her better, that she often felt upset to be in the same school as her younger sister (my classmate). She said she was upset for being compared with her younger sister in everything, either looks, achievements, appearances, etc. Moreover, the unfortunate part is that her sister inherited everything better than her. She became bitter about it especially even when friends started to point it out loud. 

I had to admit that her feelings were true. Her sister was indeed better in her study and everything else mentioned above but it was not an acceptable reason for her to feel upset or bad but rather she should've tried harder to be better to prove them wrong. This is exactly what reminded me of Yoriichi and Kokushibo. When trying to compete doesn't work out, the only thing left is to find peace of our own and be grateful for what we have rather than succumb into deeper despair or envy towards our own sibling. Everyone is born with their own unique character and talent that might not be noticed or known since the beginning. This is just my two cents though since the normal sibling might experience the same thing anyway despite the age gap.   

DEMON SLAYER'S TSUGIKUNI TWIN: YORIICHI & KOKUSHIBO (MICHIKATSU) - Envy and Selfless as Life Choices & its Aftermath

Actually this was meant for collaboration fan art drawing between me and my friend in which she will draw Shanks and his twin. I came up with this idea for drawing twins and I wanted to draw the twin from Demon Slayer manga, Yoriichi and Michikatsu (later turn into Kokushibo) Tsugikuni. Perhaps, I will post it again as collaboration drawings with her later. For now, I will only explain about this twin.

As I've posted in previous article about Yoriichi and the main villain of the series, Muzan, I will discuss further about him here with his older twin brother, Michikatsu. Yoriichi was a selfless brother since his young age. Back then, having twin in the family would bring bad luck unless one of them being cast away from the family. Michikatsu was set to be the heir to their clan and was trained since their younger years of everything there was to it to set for his duty in the future including learning martial art, etc. Meanwhile, Yoriichi did not have the slightest interest but only tending her sick mother until the day she died. One fateful day suddenly came when the martial art and sword trainer found out that he was a prodigy and much more superior compare to Michikatsu and reported the truth to their dad. This reality turned Michikatsu worried for his future and felt a huge inferiority towards his younger twin brother. Yoriichi who realized this situation chose to left the house and disappear to make everything right for his older brother. 

Long story short, Michikatsu actually had a good life, a clan, a perfect family with wife and kids but due to his inferior complex problem after all these years and seeing that his twin was well-respected as demon slayer, highly skilled swordsman who dedicated his life to help other, his envy arose even more. He then follow Yoriichi to be a demon slayer and trained harder although in the end he felt like he can never achieve his brother's level unless he trained harder like hell. That's when Muzan influenced his darker side to turn himself and became a powerful demon for the sake of beating his twin's level sooner and faster. Yoriichi had a bitter faith of losing his new family while he was away, failed to kill Muzan and saw his twin turned into demon. He felt that he miserably failed in everything although it wasn't his fault from the beginning but only a cruel fate he couldn't control. MIchikatsu had ignored these facts and chose to become Kokushibo the six eyed demon and 2nd powerful demon after Muzan. He just feed his ego and inferiority all these years towards Yoriichi. Therefore when one day they met again and he still couldn't beat him in a sword fight but instead only seeing him died of old age in front of him, it didn't move him or made him realized that he had lost more than what he gained for life. He only realized everything was too later hundreds years later after seeing his own reflection in his opponent's sword of how scary, ugly, pathetic monster he had turned to be.   

I like how selfless, humble, sincere and helpful Yoriichi was as a character despite his prodigy nature in the story who can accept everything for himself although sometimes being so afraid of disappointing others. Although being a good and kind person didn't always return to you in a good way but at least his character showed an example of good impact in the society from his deed and he was remembered for his legacy. As for Kokushibo, had turned into nothing but a shell of demon filled with hatred and envy who denied the harsh truth about his life until he saw himself as monster without any notable achievement. Even until the end of his life after hundreds of years passed, he still can't beat his late twin brother but lost everything for nothing.

What we can learn from their characters is, although they shared the same blood but did not necessarily shared the same thought, compassion, vision and  choices in life. Even brothers can turned into sworn enemies despite only one of them succumbed into darkness just for feeding their selfish inferior ego. The moral value from this story  would be; don't ever stop being kind, honest and good person and don't ever feel  envy on other people's achievement or talents. Everyone has their own share of fate in life.  

  

Vampire Knight (Japanese Shojo Manga)

Vampire Knight (VK) is another Japanese shojo (teenage girl) manga written and illustrated by Matsuri Hino from 2004-2013 that I read on around 2011 out of curiosity when a fellow anime fan that I met online really love this manga and also ordered a commission for fan art. 

The story revolved around Yuki, a girl with a strange dream about a pureblood vampire, her shady past and a mysterious childhood friend. Well, when it comes to shojo manga and vampire, you can expect romance, handsome guys, high-school and love triangle because teenage girls a.k.a shojo would love this type of story. Although in this series also deepen a little bit with dark background story related to bloody vampires. I read it for some times until at one point, I dropped it because of boredom and I wasn't fond of the main characters instead I like the villain better. I read the rest of the manga once it is finished just to know how the author wrapped up the ending and yes, I already could guess how it ended since the story was quite predictable from the beginning. The illustration is great though and I draw some fan arts from it because of the villain characters that I like and some of my friends' requests. 

FUNDAMENTAL PAPER EDUCATION - What's this?

Fundamental paper education is a 2d animated Youtube web-series by Kaatie. It's about a bunch of students and teachers at school in paper forms but rather gory and weird which is not suitable for children after I tried to watch it just to know what it is. It suddenly rises to fame like crazy lately. I came to know it because my little niece asked me to draw its characters which got me worry somehow. Please watch out for your kids not to watch this kind if video because it promotes extreme punishment and violence. This is my fan art that I draw for my niece. 

 

DANDADAN (JAPANESE ANIME & MANGA): Highschool teenagers fight alien and ghost story

 

One day, a few weeks ago my little brother suggested me to try drawing Dandadan. I drew it by seeing some references in the internet and then watched the anime after that. I got hooked until I finished watching 12 episodes in a day. Aside from unusual mixed genres story from horror, comedy, romance, shonen-shojo high school, fantasy, I like some of the characters. 

 

Dandadan , is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yukinobu Tatsu. It has been serialized in Shueisha's Shōnen Jump+ app and website since April 2021, with its chapters collected in 18 tankōbon volumes as of January 2025 and its anime aired from October 2024 which the 2nd season will be aired in June this year 2025. It is about an interesting story of 2 high school teenagers, a boy who disbelief in ghost (Japanese = yokai) and a girl who disbelief in alien. They argued and in the end challenged themselves to prove each other wrong but in the end they got into some troubles after encountering both creatures and needed to fight for their lives from it. 

 

It is funny, scary, full of action, a little bit naughty (some people view this as pervert) although I don't think it is, it is just a pack of full entertainment that can be enjoyed lightly. I can't wait for the next season to come for it. This is my fan art for the male main character Okarun or Ken Takakura plus an extra drawing of granny Seiko crossover with granny Tsunade from Naruto.

DEADPOOL X WOLVERINE: a GenX Multiverse Movie

DEADPOOL X WOLVERINE: I found another you in these multiverse to save my world. This is my personal title for this movie.

 

After watching the movie of Deadpool and Wolverine, I came to a conclusion that it was more than just an ordinary Marvel's superhero or (antihero?) movie with multiverse and saving the world usual theme but more of a celebration for generation X to have some nostalgic moments in their younger days. 

 

Why? Because Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool, also one of this movie's screenwriter and producer seems to eagerly mixed the memories of early 2000s superhero movies such as Blade, Elektra, Xmen, remembering some of his parts played in the movies, having a freedom to roast the film studios while also playing some music hits from that era such as the infamous N'sync's bye bye, Avril Lavigne's I'm with you, Goo Goo Dolls, Madonna, etc. 

 

The coolest part probably seeing a lot of Deadpool versions and the trademark of his chatty opportunist undead character, although there is one of them deceased in the end. I got a bit confuse though, since I didn't watch all the movies in Marvel universe referred to in it to understand the whole plot fully but anyway it was good for rated R entertainment movie. I would give 7.5 to 8 out of 10. For the younger generation especially those who didn't watch previous movies or movie references mentioned in this movie, would be a bit tough to enjoy and comprehend better. This is my fan art drawing based on it.

13th & 16th ONLINE FRIENDSHIP ANNIVERSARY in Collab Crossover Drawings

These were my and my long time online friend's drawings to commemorate our friendship. We've been online friends since 2008 when we first met and talked in one online fan forum of a famous Manga, Naruto, called Narutofan.com.  

Started from online chatting and discussing over the series itself into talking daily, had made us went through several chatting platform ever since. Especially when the website was finally shut down, we moved to Yahoo messenger, MSN messenger, Skype, Facebook messenger and after all these years, lately we communicate on Insta DM. As years went by, although we mainly discussed about anime but we then had several different series that we follow once Naruto, Bleach, HSDK ended. 

Nonetheless, since we both like whatever related to anime, so it didn't matter if we didn't share the same liking again. The only series that last longer to discuss lately was Attack on Titan / Shingeki no Kyojin before it eventually came to end as well.

 

The collaboration drawings came to mind after one day we discuss over a list of characters that we liked from some anime series we once followed and in the 13th friendship anniversary drawing, it was mainly showed we still had a lot in common and chose some characters from the same series. However, in the 16th friendship anniversary drawings, we chose really different characters and series to show. 

Anyway, it was just for fun and hopefully this will last longer than it is now and became somewhat a tradition for us.

 

13th friendship anniversary - online shaking hands theme - featured: (Me) - L Lawliet from Death Note, Mikasa Ackerman from Attack on Titan, Akame from Akame ga Kill, Shigure from HSDK, Luffy from One Piece, Son Goku from Dragon Ball, Naruto & Sakura from Naruto, Clare from Claymore, Byakuya from Bleach. (Joan) - Ace from One Piece, Light yagami from Death Note, Ichigo & Rukia from Bleach, Itachi from Naruto, Levi Ackerman from Attack on Titan, Oga from HSDK, Vegeta from Dragon Ball, Esdeath from Akame ga Kill, Teresa from Claymore.

16th friendship anniversary - online video chatting theme - featured: (Me) - Yoriichi from Demon Slayer, Arah Yeunseul from one Korean Manhwa, Sesshomaru from Inuyasha, Itachi from Naruto, Gojo from Jujutsu Kaisen, L from Death Note, Denji from Chainsaw Man, Chikage from HSDK, Enma Ai from Hell Girl and Anya Forger from Spy X family. (Joan) - Irene from Claymore, Aizen from Bleach, Shanks from One Piece, Guts from Berserk, Hongo from HSDK, Bulma from Dragon Ball, Ace from One piece, Makie from Blade of the immortals, Levi Ackerman from Attack on Titan and Kakashi from Naruto.

Betty Boop, A Classic Cartoon Character which was Originally an Anthromorphic Poddle

   

   Have you ever came across this unique and classic cartoon character? She is Betty Boop. Betty Boop was created by the author Grim Natwick based on a request back then and at first it was created as an anthromorphic poddle dog but then later on changed into a sexy woman.

   Betty Boop is regarded as one of the first and well-known sex symbols on the animated screen as classic cartoon character. She is a symbol of the Depression era in 1930s and a reminder of the more carefree days of Jazz Age flappers for the viewers that time. Her popularity was mostly came from adult audiences, and the cartoons, while seemingly surreal, contained many sexual and psychological elements which was not suitable for younger/minor audiences. 

   

   The series was popular and once was aired on local TV when I was young but it was short-lived due to improper content for non adults. Betty Boop was way older than Barbie although and truly described her era which some may not be tolerated nowadays. That's all a little bit back to the old time classic animated character. This is my fan art drawing for her character.

ONE PIECE: A Point of View after watching Its Live Action Series on Netflix

   This was my personal point of view or opinion after watching the live action series which was adapted from this famous manga/anime. However, before going there, I'd like to explain how I felt about the manga itself. A few years ago, or exactly a decade ago, the argument about which manga is the best that time was intense between some fans. Especially Naruto and One Piece fans. I personally rooted for Naruto since I already became a big fan. Therefore, it kind of annoyed me when some people underrated the series. It happened so often that the so called OP fans bragged about OP is way better than Naruto. To try to give an objective opinion, I then tried to read the manga and watched some early episodes of OP. However, I eventually dropped it since perhaps it was not to my liking. The art is awesome and the story is not ordinary, however, I found it overwhelming and imaginary to the fullest as I saw it. My friend tried to persuade me to keep on watching or reading but as to the amount of thousands of anime episodes and hundreds of chapters to read, I just give up since it is time consuming and I'm not ready for another heartbreak after Naruto and Bleach ended in a way that made me disappointed. 

   Long story short, I've seen on social medias that Netflix will make an adaptation for OP. I became so curious about it and as to learn that live action will not be as long as the anime or manga, therefore, I will give some times to watch it. However, perhaps, again my expectation was too high on it. I don't  mind about the casting although somehow I expect more from Luffy character. I didn't feel his charisma as the main character. The costume, the set and the story were OK and true to the manga. What bothered me the most was the fighting scenes. Maybe I watched it with a lot of real Japanese live action movies in mind such as Rurouni Kenshin and else with awesome action scenes. I somehow got a bit boring and playing it faster just to know what next til the end of the last episodes of this season 1. The season 2 was already confirmed to be made, but I might just skip it unless, I have more free time for it. The picture is my fan art but the poster is the official poster which is not mine but belongs to the rightful owner.  

PEGASUS: From Mythology to Modern Anime

   Pegasus (Greek: Pégasos) is a winged stallion which said to be the son of Poseidon and Medusa in Greek mythology.  One faithful day in the story, Poseidon forcefully raped virgin Medusa in Athena's temple due to his feud with Athena but instead, Athena turned her poor loyal worshiper into a monster.  Pegasus was born when Medusa got beheaded and this character is often found in works of art in both Greece, Rome and Mesopotamia.  Pegasus is a creature whose form described a relationship between gods and demons or monsters in the ancient and classical world.

   

   Pegasus helped the hero Bellerofon in his fight against the Chimaera and the Amazons as told by Gods.  However, Bellerofon became arrogant and tried to fly the Pegasus to Olympus but the gods punished him and dropped Bellerofon to his demise from Pegasus.  Since then, Pegasus has become a thunderbolt for Zeus.  The word "pegasus" is now used to refer to all kinds of winged horses in general.

   

   Pegasus (Flying Horse) is also known as constellation in the northern hemisphere, named after its mythological story.  This constellation is one of the 88 modern constellations, and also one of the 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy back then.

   

   As quoted from Wikipedia, Pegasus Seiya (Pegasasu no Seiya), simply known as Seiya, is a fictional character and the main protagonist in the Saint Seiya manga series created by Masami Kurumada. He is the eponymous protagonist who makes his debut in the first chapter "The Saints of Athena" (Atena no Seinto), published in Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine on January 1, 1986. Seiya is one of the eighty-eight mythical warriors known as Saints who have served the Goddess Athena throughout the ages, protecting justice and peace on Earth. As a Saint, Seiya dons a powerful armor of divine origins known as a Cloth, the one which represents the constellation of Pegasus. Seiya also possesses superhuman strength and speed, two of the many extraordinary abilities the Saints draw from their guardian constellations and an inner essence called Cosmo. Critical reception to Seiya has been mixed. While many enjoy his character design and call of justice, many reviewers feels he is overshadowed by other characters and the way he handles his fights. In short, he was far less popular compared to other characters.

   I watched saint Seiya or Pegasus Seiya when I was a child and tried to draw the characters directly as I watched it on local television since the information was quite limited and not as the current time with the internet and everything. It was once my favorite anime and I noticed that this series is inspired by Pegasus as the constellation and its relation to zodiac / astrology aspect rather than the mythology itself although it is also took some Greek gods characters such as Athena herself as one of the important character in it. Why? Because as mentioned before, Pegasus was actually the unwanted son of medusa who was once the loyal worshiper of Athena before the horrible wrongdoing by Poseidon to her. I guess that's all I can share about Pegasus and its connection from myth to Anime world.