When you are no longer the best

In episode six of Run with the Wind I really am enjoying the inner conflict with Kakeru. He and Haiji are the only two serious/previous runners from before this team was formed.

In an earlier episode it seemed that Kakeru was starting to accept his rag tag teammates but this episode shows their first actual track meet.

Kakeru mostly has a stoic face and you could see is frustartion at the start of the meet when his teammate were taking photos and Prince was reading a manga.

In the past episode he stood up for his team but now in front of other and more professional teams he seemed a bit embarrassed.

Snort… I’m two okay…

Kakeru is used to being on his own. He laps and outranked his past teammates from high school. I liked the moment when he realized that he himself still has a lot to overcome and he is no longer the fastest runner.

He loses to two of the more famous runners and they outstripped him by quite a bit. At this point he starts to take his frustrations out on his team. For the first time he isn’t a winner and it really affects him.

In the end the leader of the other track team tells Kakeru to help Haiji lead the team. To work with him and help the others. For Kakeru who runs alone this is something that builds up conflict inside of him. He did stand up for his teammates in the past but I don’t think he respects them.

He needs to be able to work with others and start to recognize that his teammates are trying the best they can.

Even if the mountain may be out of reach there is no shame in reaching for it.

This was a great episode and this show continues to impress me.

Now your weekly moments with Prince…

We are proud of you Prince! Even though they told him to drop out he still kept running!

Happy Watching!

The book world is a happy place to be

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When you need something more

My weekly insight on Run With the Wind is late this week. I’m sorry about that but honestly it gave me a bit of time to think about what I wanted to say.

This episode six focused on King and I think this episode really could speak to a lot of those who are in their college or after college life.

We are often told that we can do or be whatever we want. Honestly I fall a bit into the dreamer side of the world. I also have a mean realistic streak. King is trying is hardest to interview and find a job after his time in the university. He wants to make money and he doesn’t seem to care what job he gets as long as he gets one.

This is honestly a fact of life. We want to have that security of a job.

I have pushed aside my dreams for most of my life. Make money writing and selling books? Nah. I needed to find a job to support my “hobby” and that led to me not writing. I like to do things always on the extreme side. All or nothing baby!

Now that I’m at the point where I can find a happy medium between writing and teaching. I’ve noticed that my depression has faded. There are some days where writing still gets cut out but I’m working to make it a priority. Writing isn’t easy and it is funny that I can find happiness in something that can be so frustrating.

Because seeing the reason that King decided to run really ran a bit true. He needed something else in his life. Running will help him handle the stress of the job and the job hunt. It is something to do that brings joy and a release of stress.

Now, I can argue the fact that running wasn’t really his own choice. However, it is a nice statement that we really need to have something in our lives that gives us happiness.

We can get wrapped up in our jobs and day to day stresses. Those thing never really go away. If you are in a job that is your dream hold onto that sucker until the day you die. I can hope that one day my my books will support me enough but until then I can enjoy the moments where I can set aside time to write. It is a frustrating wonderful thing, writing, but it really is fulfilling.

Now for your weekly prince update….

Hang in there Prince!

Happy Watching!

Running Together

We are back again to see the weekly tribulations of Prince.

At least he had a cute dog as a running partner now. He still runs like I would run, but as of last week he can now pass a butterfly. Progress.

To be fair dogs really are understanding.

Most of the forced teammates are now on board. The lawyer is still holding out and mostly just complaining but he is still running. King is the one who we got to see a bit more development from this week. I can understand the pressure he is under in trying to find a job after the university.

We can see the tension from him as it looks like he is going to job fairs and getting rejections from jobs. I have a idea that the next episode will focus on his explosion that happened towards the end of the episode.

After all he is right. He can’t just shift everything around for running. King has his own future goals for a career and I don’t think he should have to give that up to run.

So I’m happy to see that we are getting to know more about the other characters and it is done in really small moments that can connect well to an audience. All the while they are trying to get better at running.

Good Luck Prince!

Happy Watching!

The sound of the bow

Sometimes you look forward to something so much that you are disappointed when you finally see it.

Well in my mind Tsurune delivered on my expectations.

First off I know this may seem a bit silly but I’m writing a ya fantasy right now and the main weapon is a long bow like the one they use in Tsurune. So now I can double my research for my blog and my book. WIN!

Second I’ve become a full blow sports anime fan and when I see interesting characters and a sport that I don’t know much about I really now am interested.

I want to learn about sports.

Whoa…

Who am I?

Sports anime really has a way to make even the smallest rule exciting. I guess they need to make and anime about going to the dentist or something.

What really made me excited is the start of a conflict from the very beginning between Minato and Takehaya. You get the impression that they were friends at one point. Minato isn’t openly hostile but you can tell that he really doesn’t want to talk to his old friend.

They meet on the opening day of their new high school and right away they are recruiting to revive the school archery club. This premise really isn’t new in sports anime but honestly it is the characters that really always sell it to me.

They are all different and from the start their personalities really shine.

You know and can relate to what Minato is going through. I think when you have suffered trauma it is always the things we love that struggle. Through this we want to see him be successful with something he loves and I’m looking forward to watching him grow and hopefully overcome his pain.

My favorite character so far is the guy with the sour face Kaito.

I really relate to him on a personal level.

And I really never say this in any of my blogs because it sometimes just adds to the emotion and I never think of it but the music… It was stunning. The simple notes played out while Minato when home and was alone. While he road his bike… I can’t really do it justice but I really am a fan of the score so far.

And…

Look what I found…

Mhmm Beautiful draw there…

The owl is judging me.

In the end I’m really excited about this show and I hope it continues with making the characters and their personal conflicts engaging. This has topped my list so far with new anime this fall and I hope you give it a chance!

Happy Watching!

Run like the butterfly

We all know it is bad to manipulate someone into doing something they don’t want to do. Well at least we should know. What you do in your personal time is up to you…

I feel a bit bad that I’m finding these poor characters pain a bit funny?

I mean I really relate to them on a personal level since I myself have been trying to be healthy and I did a heated Pilates challenge this summer. I myself was passed out on the floor more times that I can mention. I can feel their pain but I was the one who put myself through it. These guys got stuck or bribed into physical activity.

I mean at this point I don’t feel as sorry for them, but I relate on a personal level with book guy/prince.

Watching him run as a butterfly out paces him really cracked me up. I’m sorry prince, you need to find a new home for all your books since I’m starting to worry that you might die…

I mean we’ve all been there right? Face challenges that were put in front of us that we had no control over. I get that what Haiji is doing is pretty sh**** but as the prince is forced out of his comfort zone he is doing his best and not giving up.

We don’t know why this poor boy was added to the team. He is in the worse shape and there is no way that he will help his team win in any way. Although Haiji seems strangely confident in the prince. I want to see what is hidden inside and see the prince grow past this challenge.

As long as he is still alive in the end.

Like I said I can really relate to his struggle. Maybe I’m taking this sports anime too personal but I want prince to succeed with running. I want him to accomplish something that he never thought was possible. I mean isn’t that what life is? Meeting the challenge and coming out on top?

You got this Prince! I will be right behind you!

Happy watching!

Obsession

It is always good to have healthy obsessions. Right?

Wait why does this gif keep popping up in my blogs?

😀

In the second episode of Run With the Wind we are really getting a dose of Haiji’s obsession with making the team commit so they can run.

I think in  episode two you can laugh it off as humorous. Honestly the way he goes about getting these nine guys to commit to running can be funny. Then there is the part of me that does think that his obsession is really going to the extreme… I mean we are also talking about running, like physical movement…

Wait how cheap is the rent?

I would not feel great if someone would make me run. I’m joining the prince in his pile of books and hiding out.

Part of me is starting to wonder. Is there more to this obsession and selection of guys? Is he just doing it for himself or is he trying to help them too?

My hope is still that he is trying to help the other characters in some way other than giving them great food and physical activity.

He knows more than he is saying

Just what is his goal? What does he get from all of this? Why are these certain guys needed?

This anime still has me wondering and asking questions. The right kind of questions where I’m getting more invested.

I want to see these characters come together in a way that gives them a supportive community. I want to see that they are chosen not just because they were athletic in someway (except you literature guy sorry man, good luck).

If this show gives me these things this could really be a great payoff.

Also speaking of obsession… I’m working on my birthday post for tomorrow. Stay tuned for some of my healthy *cough* obsessions 😉

Happy Watching!

 

You Like Running?

There is that moment in story or anime. It is those few seconds and that is all they have to hook you. To give you the overall tone of the anime. It is a promise that this anime will match the opening.

When I started watching Run With the Wind the few seconds of the darkness of the street. The steady breath of the runner. The blinking of the street lights. The quiets shouts of “Stop thief!” That is all it took me to buy into this sports anime.

Like all first episode the potential is there for another inspirational sports anime.

There is an interesting cast of characters.

You get a brief introduction to them and I think the Literature major is my new soul mate. His book collection at least is… Also I think all of you shippers out there will enjoy the endless combinations of college men… Just saying…

Also this may be the English Teacher in me but I really love the title. I like the inclusion of the word “With”. You usually hear it as the simile “run like the wind,” but I like how the Wind becomes a character that is running along side these characters. I’m really hoping from some awesome imagery with the wind in the anime.

So for me this anime had a strong start. The quietness of the opening you could really see the passion for running. The solitary of the sport and the freedom that comes from speed.

Now will the rest of the anime hold up?

Well, I really hope so!

Happy Watching!