Some of Dragon Ball Z’s Movies Had Great Soundtracks

The English dub/Funimation that is.

Instead of using the original Japanese tunes and dialogue, a number of the Dragon Ball Z films instead included licensed songs for Goku and the Z Fighters to duke it out to when it came to the extraterrestrial enemies that threatened the earth. The Cooler’s Revenge movie has an incredible soundtrack of licensed songs from bands such as Deftones (my favourite band), Disturbed, Breaking Point, Drowning Pool and the like. If you read my exercise playlist post and have watched the DBZ movies, you’ll notice that my playlist includes most of the songs from the films and that’s no accident. While I have heard of some songs and bands already, others were unknown to me and it’s difficult to say if I would have ever discovered them if it weren’t for the movies. I’m sure that can be said for other fans as well.

To give an example of what I mean…

Drowning Pool’s “Reminded” does not appear in the original Japanese version, obviously. Released on home video in North America by Funimation in 2002, Cooler’s Revenge is the fifth Dragon Ball Z movie and is set shortly after the events of the Namek/Frieza saga. Unfortunately, Cooler is not canon (hopefully one day) even though he’s cooler than his brother. After learning his younger brother Frieza was killed by a Saiyan, Cooler tracks Goku down to earth to get his revenge. It’s a bit odd because in the movie Cooler admits that he would have eventually killed his brother if Goku hadn’t beat him to the punch. So what’s the point of getting revenge?

Anyway, being that this was 2002, rap music wasn’t the most popular genre of music yet. This movie came at a time when the bands I’ve mentioned were arguably at their peak in popularity. I don’t remember many of the previous Z movies having rock music (there’s Lord Slug) so it’s pretty impressive too that they would have twelve songs playing throughout the movie. I loved it, I felt the tracks complemented the scenes and made them more intense. If nothing else, they sure do make my work outs more enjoyable and I like playing the songs when I’m playing Smash Bros.

I don’t know whose idea was it to include licensed music, but I’m glad they did. Thanks to the success of Cooler’s Revenge, Funimation would include hard rock and metal music in future movies such as Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan. The Funimation soundtrack for that one included nineteen songs, but this time it was from obscure bands such as Gravity Pool, Haji’s Kitchen, and Slow Roosevelt.

The last Funimation DBZ movie to have licensed music was the tenth film, Broly – Second Coming, which included five songs by the band I.O.N. With most of DBZ’s audience in America being composed of teenagers and kids, and with rock and metal still commercially viable and popular forms of music at the time, it made sense in hindsight to have that kind of music playing. Like I said before, it’s probable for some fans it was their first time hearing these bands and music. If you’re like me, and you enjoy that kind of music, then you’ll want to dig deeper into their discography and learn more about them. Sometimes, you learn some sad things like the former vocalist for Gravity Pool and Haji’s Kitchen, Vincent Mullins passed away back in 2016. Thanks for the music, mayne!

You won’t hear any rock or metal music in Dragon Ball movies these days. Not only because they’re not popular any more, but perhaps because some Americans are trying hard to be more “international” by wearing shirts with Japanese text on them despite the fact they can’t speak, read or write Japanese. The Dragon Ball Super movie retained the original Japanese soundtrack for its Funimation release and I expect that to continue with its sequel next year. In some ways, I’m glad they don’t include licensed music in Dragon Ball movies any more. Can you imagine if they did these days? It would be nothing but trap music! Yuck!

With all that said, I’m still glad and grateful for the rocking tunes that were implemented as Goku and the Z fighters battled some of the more formidable and memorable foes in the franchise.

That’s all I have to say, thanks for reading!

そんじゃ　あばよ！!

Happiness Does Not Mean Delusional

Hello, everyone.

I just wanted to take some time to get something off my chest today. Maybe I’ve been spending too much time online, but whatevs! I’m just going to get right to the matter at hand. Being happy does not mean you’re delusional.

I’m a happy person.

I’m also not delusional.

I’ve noticed the people who assert the two go together like peanut butter and jelly tend to be cynical, misanthropic and the like (it’s a bit odd they never give their own viewpoints the same critical analysis they do for something they’re not a fan of, but I digress).

Here’s how I see it though. Happiness doesn’t mean ignoring all the evil in the world, any more than sadness or depression requires ignoring all the good.

When I look out at the world, I see the evil in it. I see pain and suffering. I have a friend who lost his parents, that shit hurts deeply.

I’ve had my heart broken. More times than I’d like to admit.

What I’m saying is that the world is not only evil, and the world is not only good. Those who focus on the joy to the exclusion of misery are just as deluded as those who focus on misery to the exclusion of joy.

The world just is. Like Carl Sagan eloquently put it, “Each of us is a tiny being, permitted to ride on the outermost skin of one of the smaller planets for a few dozen trips around the local star.” Indeed, we are all gifted with a few moments in the sun and then we will be recycled into the universe. The atoms that once made a Tyrannosaurus rex could be made up of you right now y’know? My favourite Nirvana song has a song I really liked, “All in all is all we are”. We are all connected and have the same meaning, and the world keeps spinning.

Anyway, you’re probably not reading this for a philosophical discussion from me. But we just live in this world, and for the brief instant we’re here, we have some measure of control over what parts we focus on. There is pain and misery. There is joy and hope. These things are real. They exist. The ones you choose to let in are, to some extent, up to you.

That’s all I have to say, thanks for reading!

そんじゃ　あばよ！!

Graduation

Is this Monday. It kind of feels surreal in a way doesn’t it? I still remember I made a blog post talking about dropping out of college and just not being satisfied where I was at least educationally wise. I’m extremely happy to have this part of my life complete. I’ve learned a lot in that time, and even though I’m not majoring in a science any more, I’m glad I acquired a good chunk of scientific knowledge. I actually have a minor in health sciences. So if you want to know how kidney stones are formed, more on reciprocal liking, or basic virology, we can have convos about that if you’re interested.

I only made one friend at my time in university. Ahhhhh, bummer. I guess student organizations aren’t really my thing at least when it comes to making friends. I’ve made more friends on this site (I hope you consider me a friend, lol)! I’m fine with this though, life is full of opportunities and there will be chances to make new friends in the future.

What do I want to do in the future anyway? I REALLY want to continue my formal education. I want to major in East Asian Studies and attend a university in an East Asian nation like Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, etc. I have searched which universities offer the major, and I have narrowed my choices to mostly Korean universities. Golly, studying for an East Asian Studies major in an East Asian country sounds so meta. I do plan on learning Korean this year so I can get a head start whenever I go on a plane to see what my school is like. I think it’d be a good idea to also vlog my experiences and day-to-day dealings while I’m there y’know? When that happens, I’ll make sure to let you know as that will be my 2nd vlog channel (and of course, I’m still working on my main vlog)!

I’ve been consuming books, literature, food and entertainment from the Sinosphere. I suppose that’s nothing new, I’ve been doing that for years. It just feels more in tune these days though since I can speak Japanese, want to learn Korean, can name historical figures from the region and fun stuff like that.

It took me eight years to get a four year degree, but you know what? I got it and on a degree it doesn’t have any dates. So if it took someone 4 and me 8, it doesn’t show up anywhere. But I’m exactly where I want to be. I just need to make sure to keep getting better so I can reach where I want to be in the future ’cause it’s coming.

That’s all I have to say, thanks for reading!

そんじゃ　あばよ！!

Hello (Another Update)!

Hello, everyone!

It’s been some time since I’ve been on here, huh? I’ll just cut to the chase, I got a new job. It’s part time and it pays pretty well. Finally, I got a source of constant income! Not that I put a lot of weight or value on money, but it’s nice to have since we all need it to do basically everything except breathe.

Other than that, this will be my last month as an undergraduate student. Yes, I will be graduating in late April! I’ll most likely have a post and pics for that special day on here.

I know I don’t visit here as often as I would like, but I’m still around. I hope you all are doing phenomenal. Not good, well, or okay, but phenomenal! This year isn’t close to over yet and good things have been coming my way. I’d like that to keep going!

That’s all I have to say, thanks for reading!

そんじゃ　あばよ！!

Being More Active on the Internet

Well this is kind of embarrassing, huh? One of my resolutions was to basically be more active on the internet. I have been more active on Discord (seriously, if you have one, you can add me y’know!), YouTube leaving comments, my school work, and Myanimelist website. I haven’t been very active on here even though this is part of the internet I’m a part of! Shame on me for not being on here more often!

Let me change that with this post! I was on a vacation a few weeks ago, and I loved it. I was at Disney World with my family. I really needed that vacation and the good news is the pass we have guarantees two more times this year. I don’t know when we’ll be doing it again, but I’ll be looking forward to it. I always loved Orlando, Florida and found it to be a nice city worth visiting and possibly living in. I want to visit with my cousin (who’s not my actual cousin, but still) one day as well.

I realized I love staying at hotels. I’m not sure exactly why either. I love the atmosphere and vibe I get from them, at least the hotel we were staying at. Staying up late and watching TV isn’t something I do often, but when I do, there’s no one better than me at it! The bath had what seemed like unlimited hot water. It reminded me of the time I was on campus at uni and the apartment back when I lived in Germany which both had the same feature. I kind of don’t like it because I can spend over an hour in the bath. But at the same time it’s like an aquatic steam-filled sanctuary! I get lost in my own thoughts and can meditate while water is pouring down my head.

I don’t know what the blog schedule on here will be since school started and that’s been taking up more of my time. But if I’m going to stick to my resolution, then I need to be more present on here too! I’m sure I’ll find a way! Even if I don’t post anything, from now on, I’ll at least make sure to check the reader every day or night. So you’ll most likely see my face and name one way or another! 🙂

 

That’s all I have to say, thanks for reading!

そんじゃ　あばよ！!

A Vacation

I definitely need one, and that’s what I’ll be on for this weekend. I just need a place to get away from it all to recharge and recuperate. This upcoming vacation reminds me of the time I was talking with my brother years ago and we were talking about the last time we went on vacation. “What even is a vacation?” he asked because it was so long since we last had one.

It was definitely a more common thing when we lived in Germany, lol. Of course I’d like to have another vacation by the end of the year so it’d be like making this vacation thingy, at least for this year, come full circle. I had one around the beginning, and I had one around the end. I feel like they’ll give me a sense of peace and warmth I’ll never get by just staying in the same place.

On another note, I have a new wallpaper for my laptop. It’s pretty bitchin’ if I do say so myself!

First Post of 2021 (My New Year’s Resolutions!)

Happy New Year!

Out with the old and in with the new! May you all be happy this year all the way through. And I hope that you all will have many blessings in the years to come. If you made it through this year in one piece, I salute you. You did well!

With all that said, the start of 2021 is a good time to go in and make some challenging, but fun changes. It’s amazing what a few fixes can do to improve your body, mind and life. Every year, every month, every day I try to be a better version of myself. Well, since it’s early in the year, now (okay, I did this already in my journal, but I’m writing it here also) is the chance to sit down and prepare a list of important lifestyle changes I want to make, and I’ve decided to give myself a bit of help by going a little more in depth about why I want or should be doing them in the first place. Here are my resolutions for 2021!

 

Earn more money

The sooner the better. I’m one of those people who doesn’t think money is evil or bad per se. I believe If you love money so much that it affects everything that you say and do, it can be bad indeed. If it is your first priority in life, it again can be bad. It’s not how much you have or don’t have, it’s what you do with it that counts. Anyway, I can definitely use an additional source of income to make life a bit more comfortable. Thankfully, I have a wonderful brother who can help me in this endeavor. 

 

Buy my niece a gift at Disney World

It’ll be her first time there, so why not?

 

Start YouTube vlog 

This year is the year to start something I’ve been putting in the backseat for some time. It’s time to add vlogger to my creative resume. It’s time to show another part of the internet *Bobby Caldwell voice* where I’ve been. I know I’ve talked about it on here so I won’t mention it any more until I’ve uploaded my first video. I actually just looked at my account, and I’ve signed up years ago on the 15th of January. Like this blog, my vlog will be another way to express myself and connect with others. I believe I have ideas worth sharing and I want that artistic fulfillment. 

I would like to end the year with 1k subscribers too, but that will obviously depend on my productivity in this department.

 

Be more kind and sociable (especially on the internet)

Not that I’m not already (hee). I’d like to meet and befriend some new people this year. I’d like to be more present and have a bigger presence. I’ve become more active on Discord, so if you want, you can send me your Discord thingy. This goes with the above resolution so they pretty much complement each other.

 

Graduate university 

‘Bout time, eh? I don’t have much to say other than it’s time to end this chapter of my life. I want to pursue formal education even further and obtain a master’s degree, but getting my bachelor’s comes first.

 

Learn Korean 

Another way to connect with others is to learn a language. This would also help in getting me to understand those K-pop lyrics.

 

Write and read more

Reading and writing are an excellent way to gain a lot of knowledge on a variety of topics, and they are also great exercises for the brain. So far I’ve been making it a habit and finding time to read 3 books and write in my journal.

 

Travel to Japan

Okay, this one is going to depend on how things turn out. I don’t see myself going any time soon, it most likely will be at the end of the year, more specifically, December. I’ll need to have my finances in order, get the right gear, and invest some time and effort before visiting the land of the rising sun. 

 

Watch at least 1 movie a week

Recently I’ve been binging Japanese horror (or J-horror) films and it’s been great! I have never been much of a movie buff so I want to change that since there are movies that have impacted pop culture and can be just as rewarding or stimulating as a book or anime. 

 

Give myself more compliments

I want to show gratitude, be humble, and love myself. That way the energy I radiate is one of warm positivity and the glow I give off can be amazing.

 

Stick to all the good, healthy habits I have

It helps with self-improvement. 

 

Get better at drawing

To the point I make an account to showcase my work. I need to learn portrait drawing this year too.

 

That’s all I have to say, thanks for reading!

そんじゃ　あばよ！!

Merry Christmas!

I don’t have much to say today, but Merry Christmas, everyone! I wish you all the best, and hope you and your families are having fun, staying healthy and safe.

That’s all I have to say, thanks for reading!

そんじゃ　あばよ！!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Hooray! Another 365! Let’s see if I can do another!~

I don’t have much to say today, but this birthday has been great so far! It’s day like this that truly remind me that I am loved. I hope you all have a wonderful day!

That’s all I have to say, thanks for reading!

そんじゃ　あばよ！!

10 Facts About Sailor Mars

Sailor Mars is the most fiery, mature and elegant of the Sailor Senshi. It’s worth nothing that out of all of them, her personality differs the most in the manga and anime. I feel like re-watching the original anime and rereading the manga in 2021 so before the new year starts I thought it’d be nice to talk about the girls who made that series so iconic starting with my favourite. Maybe you just know her as the passionate girl who got in fights with Sailor Moon and competed for Tuxedo Mask’s heart. The way she was shown in the anime, was the way I knew her for the longest time until I got around to reading the manga 10 years ago.

Below are ten facts about Rei Hino, also known as Sailor Mars!

 

10. She’s Portrayed Differently in the Manga

As mentioned before, her personality in the anime and manga are not the same whatsoever. I grew up watching the anime so I was floored when I saw her character develop and shown in the manga. I’m sure people who’ve been fans before the anime adaption had to have been thrown off when Rei appeared on their TV screens. In the manga, Sailor Mars is mature, elegant, conservative, stoic, well-disciplined, hard-working and acts like something of a big sister to Usasi (Sailor Moon). In the anime, while she’s still hard-working, she’s also hot-headed and is always getting caught up in petty fights with Sailor Moon. She even tries to usurp Usagi as leader at one point.

Another big change is her being boy crazy. Early on in the series, there’s a love triangle between her, Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask. This isn’t present in the manga and for good reason. Which brings me to my next fact…

 

9. She Has a Low Opinion of Men

“Do not depend on men!” is her motto. I’m not joking either. In the manga she dislikes men and romantic relationships, mostly because of her poor relationship with her father and past trauma. Her father is a famous politician who cares way more about his job than her (he only visits her on her birthday). She considers men emotionally weak and untrustworthy and doesn’t want to date anyone.

There was one exception though in the side story Casablanca Memory which focused on Rei, her backstory and her father. In it, she falls in love with her father’s young secretary, Kaidou. She becomes sad when she sees him with another girl (and making a face she’s never seen before) and even more so when he tells Rei about his engagement and his decision to become a politician. She asks if he wanted to marry into the profession, didn’t he choose to marry her due to her father’s political position. It’s a heartbreaking story and the only time Rei had warm feelings toward someone who wasn’t her friend.

 

8. She Attends a Catholic School

The above picture is the Sailor Senshi in their school uniforms and you tell right away that Rei’s is different. This is because she attends the Catholic institution T.A Private Girls School. It may seem a bit odd since in Japan Christianity isn’t a majority religion and Rei is a shinto priestess. A quick internet search shows that the main religions in Japan are Buddhism (69.8%) and Shinto (70.4%). Most Japanese people identify as members of both faiths. Christianity is at 1.4% when it comes to the country’s population.

With a bit more context, it does make more sense since a lot of the private schools in the Japan are religiously affiliated. Since Rei is the daughter of a famous politician, it makes sense for her to attend a more elite school.

 

7. Her Name

A lot of manga writers enjoy giving special meaning to the names of their characters and Sailor Mars is no different. Her full name is Rei Hino. In Japanese, this is written as 火野 レイ. If you’re somewhat familiar with Japanese writing, you might notice that her first name is written in Katakana. It tends to be used to write foreign words incorporated into the Japanese language. It is weird because she is clearly a Japanese native and there is no kanji representation of her name. The kanji used to spell out has the one for fire (which is also used to write out the word Mars) and the other for plain, field, lacking a political post.

So her name translates to “ray of fire” and it’s quite fitting for a character who controls fire.

 

6. Her Pet Crows

I don’t remember crows being much of a thing in the anime, but they had a bigger impact on Sailor Mars in the manga. Rei has two pet crows who are very close to her and served as her guardians. She claims they told her their names and talking animals isn’t something so extraordinary in Sailor Moon. They’re named after the planet Mars’ two moons, Phobos and Deimos. They’re pretty smart and loyal to Rei. They were given human forms and gave Sailor Mars the Mars Crystal. I really liked them because I felt they added more depth to Rei’s character.

 

5. She Wears High Heels

Not only is her school uniform different, but so is part of her uniform when she transforms! Most of the Senshi wear variations of boots. However, Sailor Mars fight evil in red high heels and with no aid of something to keep her shoes on her feet. This is due to the fact that Sailor Mars was originally designed with her own unique outfit. Her shoe design is something that carried over from her early character design. Naoko Takeuchi eventually decided to make the Sailor Senshi all wear the same uniform, except for the shoes.

At one point in the manga, Rei says to an evildoer, “With my high heels, I will punish you!”

 

4. Her Design Was Inspired By A J-Pop Idol

I can see the resemblance. A few of characters from the series are based on real people. Mars is one of those people and her appreance was inspired by by the singer, actress, and model Alisa Mizuki. Mizuki sings the ending song for Sailor Moon Stars “風も空もきっと/Kaze mo, Sora mo, Kitto” and two versions of the song were used on the show. She made her debut as a singer when she was 15 years old, and when Takeuchi was creating Sailor Moon, Mizuki was around 14-15 years old which happens to be the same age as the Sailor Mars (and the rest of the Senshi).

 

3. Hikawa Shrine is Based on a Real Shrine

The Hikawa Shrine is the shrine where Sailor Mars and her grandfather live and of course where she performs her priestess duties. The Hikawa Shrine is also a shrine in real life in Tokyo, Japan. Its full name is Akasaka Hikawa Shrine and it’s a shrine I’d like to see as a fan of Sailor Mars and Sailor Moon in general. Unfortunately, you won’t meet Sailor Mars there.

 

2. Where’s Her Mom?

With her father being absent and living with her grandfather, a question you might ask is “Where is her mom?” Good question, and unlike the anime, the manga answers this one. Her mother died when Rei was still a little girl due to some illness. Despite the tragedy, her father maintained his political career and Rei ended up living with her grandfather. Her mother is another reason Rei resents her father because he never visited her mother when she was in the hospital.

 

 

1. She Was Based on the Writer/Artist’s Experiences as a Shinto Priestess

Crazy, right? Art really does imitate life a lot in Sailor Moon. The artist was at one point a miko, or a a Shinto shrine maiden. Miko traditions date back to the Joumon period and in modern times are trained to perform sacred cleanses, the sacred Kagura dance, and help maintain the shrines by cleaning and reception work.

Rei wears red and white shrine priestess robe when she’s on duty and is an expert archer. Miko are known for archery and her training as a shrine priestess is reflected through her attack Mars Flame Sniper.

 

And that’s it! Do you know any other facts about Sailor Mars? Is she your favourite Senshi? Let me know in the comments section! Hopefull you learned something new about her reading this.

 

That’s all I have to say, thanks for reading!

そんじゃ　あばよ！!