Of Takumi and Crispin

[fireflys_locket]

For a much shorter version of this post see here. 

So I've had a thing for Crispin Freeman's voice for awhile. (Oh my goodness... I already feel embarassed!) I'm not sure why exactly, but I think it all goes back to the first anime I heard him in, Witch Hunter Robin. And I was just totally smitten with Amon. See, I guess I have a thing for... anti-heroes, you could say. The dark ones who are... well, dark, but not evil. Draco Malfoy is a good example. Or Fanon Draco, really. But I'm getting way off topic. Anyways, it seems like ever since then, I've noticed his voice everywhere in English dubbed anime and games. And because I'm super sentimental, I relate his voice back to Amon. Though really, most of the characters he plays are those dark, broken, lovely characters. *Sighs*

And here, I must tell a funny story. Or at least, it's funny to me. A couple years ago already, I started my recommendations post. Someone recommended Blood+ to me. After I started watching it, I though, "Wow, Adult Swim should pick this up. It's really their style of anime to show." Then, not too long after I found out Blood+ was being dubbed and brought to Adult Swim. YaY! Then, I thought, "Well, goodness... if Blood+ is being dubbed, Crispin MUST be cast as Haji." And when I watched the first dubbed episode, I went squeeing out to the living room to tell my Mom they had done just that. ~ Fin. ^_^

Ah, anyways... the past few days I've been enjoying my own private mini NANA marathon, and I thought about Crispin as Takumi. I really think it's a fair fit. And to me, it would be all the more helpful in coming to accept Takumi. Although, I've done pretty well now. I've come pretty far from the "Oh my God, I haaaate you, Takumi!!!1!" that I was in the beginning. *Nods* ...but I still want Hachi with Nobu!

(^o^)/

Comments

[yuliee.livejournal.com]

Urgh, I used to hate Takumi, actually. Was one of the rabid Hachi/Nobu fans.. But, upon further thinking, I'm sure their relationship wouldn't have been all peaches and cream either. Most of it was built on idealism, among other things -- I don't like Hachi with Takumi, but neither case is without it's flaws.

I'd love to see Hachi and Nobu end up together, though. I think them taking different paths really opened them up to the reality of it all.

(As for Takumi himself, now he's, like.. one of my favorite characters. >_> I think his Story chapter is what sealed the deal for me.)

[fireflys-locket.livejournal.com]

I'm exactly the same! I hated Takumi so much at the beginning because I relate so very much with Hachi, and I wanted her to be with someone who really valued her. Someone who was loving and caring. And more like her. Because that's what I want for myself too.

However, I was in love with a "Takumi" at one time, though there was never any romantic relationship between us. I think it was when I started relating Takumi back to this person that I really began to understand and value his character more. In terms of where I was in the series... I think it was... Well, it started when he gave her the ring. I really liked that scene. And I think it really happened when they were talking about Shin and Reira (I think) and he said he loved her. I think... even despite everything I couldn't hate him anymore after that part.

BUT I still want Hachi with Nobu. From what I've read so far (I'm in the middle of volume 16) they seem to still really care about each other. (Both in the current and future bits.) And I do think that going different ways for awhile was good for them. And as you said, really did open them up to the reality of everything.

Oh, God, I love NANA. Haha. ^_^ I never get to talk about it either. This makes me so happy.

[yuliee.livejournal.com]

Volume 16... What chapter? I don't want to spoil anything for you, as I've been going by scanlations rather than volume.. I'm just impatient that way.. XD;

I enjoy talking about the series a lot, too. I just fear my friends list gets tired of the fangirling I go through periodically. =_=;;

I don't exactly approve of Takumi/Hachi, but there are elements in their relationship I enjoy and respect. (And, erm, well, there are a ton of reasons why I'd rather they don't stick together, but that's why I asked what chapter you were on..)

[fireflys-locket.livejournal.com]

I've read... up through chapter 60. I know I'm behind, but I have such an emotional reaction to reading NANA that I have to take little breaks from reading it sometimes. ~_~;

I know what you mean. (Erm, I won't get tired of it. Want to be friends? ^_^) I'm a very obsessive person so... yeah, I've only just started to post more, but I'd expect that in a few months I'll have a ton more NANA posts. At least if I keep with this posting more thing.

Yeah, I agree completely. I really don't want them to stay together already, but I've been pushing myself to be more accepting of it so that I won't be completely devastated should it turn end up that way. (As I said... my emotional reaction to NANA is really, really strong.)

[yuliee.livejournal.com]

n_n; I know what you mean. Too much of it in one sitting could cause one a lot of stress. XD; I've since tried detaching myself from the story, though. I make icons for it all the time, so I've had to peer back into it more than a usual fan would. This ends up with me knowing either.. too much about the series or looking totally obsessed. >_> (And I'll go ahead and add you.)

BUT I CAN'T HELP IT. This series is so easy to icon. ♥

Well, have you read any of the Story chapters? I know depending on the scan host they're easy to miss. Most everybody has read Naoki's and even Nobu's, but somehow Takumi's is the hardest to find. On the chance you haven't gotten around to his, I was finally bothered enough to just host it up on Photobucket. XD; It doesn't have major spoilers, it describing events from the past, but it really helps one understand his character more.

[fireflys-locket.livejournal.com]

Yeah, exactly. And with my relating so much to Hachi (both from the beginning as someone who falls in love too much... ~_~; and in my connection to my best friend... who's very, very much like Nana, for better and worse), and already being a very emotional person. Well, sometimes I just fall apart for awhile after reading.

I did after reading Hachi's birthday chapter most recently. Because well, my birthdays have never been the best and Nobu was playing the song for her, but I did manage to read the next chapter too before getting into my little break. Actually this break is mostly because I HAVE NO ROOM ON MY HARD DRIVE!!! *Cough* So I've been doing lots of watching things that have built up over the past year (or three ~_~; ) instead.

Yes, it really is! I do it a lot too. (I friended you and your icon community! ^_^ Mine's here (http://community.livejournal.com/muse_murmers/), but there's also some writing there. As a side note, the way Ai Yazawa weaves characters together has really had a huge impact on my writing. Ah, I really admire her!)

You know... I think I've only read Naoki's so far. If it doesn't really have major spoilers I would like to read it soon! ^_^

[yuliee.livejournal.com]

Nobu's story just contains his past and why he falls for girls like Hachi, as well as some little scenes with him and Asami/Yuri. It's also a lovely sidestory -- can be found here (http://www.onemanga.com/Nana/61/) after the regular chapter. (Really made me admire the relationship he's got with Nana O.. .. Under the right circumstances those two could've been good for each other. :/ )

I guess Takumi's Story has spoilers of a sort, but it doesn't reveal anything in the present storyline, just relates to his (and Reira's) past. I've really got to host it on a site somewhere, at some point, but this (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v714/xxyunikonxx/Takumi%20Story/?action=view&current=nana_vol18_takumi_01b.png) will have to do.

A side note: Photobucket wasn't cooperating with me and decided only to host the pages backwards, so you actually have to press the site 'back' button to get to each part. A small downside, I suppose, but you get used to it easily. Zoom in to improve the quality, etc. -- that's really the only technical issue here. XD;

I apologize for not being able to relate to the story as much, though! This makes me feel so superficial.. ._.;

[fireflys-locket.livejournal.com]

So I went ahead and read chapter 61 while I was at it. And now I'm reading Nobu's story and squeeing. Haha. (Is it just me, or does his mother look a bit like Asami? And his first real girlfriend reminds me of Miu.) I like how he says "be careful" to the caterpiller, because I totally do that myself. o.O; I won't kill any creatures. (And I find the strangest things interesting, huh?) And how he said that Nana's grandmother came to find him. *gets teary*

As for the Takumi story.... I think I'm in love with Takumi/Reira now. That was really beautiful. *teary a lot* I never would have thought... I mean, I really do see Takumi in a different light now.

Ah, as for relating to the story. Well, everyone relates to different characters, different stories, you know? Doesn't mean you can't love it. (There are even characters that I write that I can't really relate to, but I still love them.) And it doesn't make you superficial in the least. <3

[yuliee.livejournal.com]

Heh, yeah, his first girlfriend looks a bit like Miu. I was thinking that might be why he gravitated toward her at first when moving into the Gaia dorms and not Asami. (How would they have been, had their relationship taken such a direction?) The caterpillar thing was sweet, too.

I knoow! ;-; I fell for that ship right after that chapter. Haven't been the same since. (Unfortunately, Takumi still manages to come off as a hardass in recent chapters -- in the present tense, anyway. At least we know the background and maybe why he's like that.)

I love NANA, but I've never really cried over it like most. I think I'm just incapable of it with drawn works. It's happened with some anime, but never manga.. And I've cried at movies, too, but this series just doesn't touch me that way. It's a shame, really. Doesn't mean I don't enjoy it immensely.. But thanks for understanding. ♥

[fireflys-locket.livejournal.com]

I actually really liked the idea of Nobu/Miu for a short time. And it seems to me like Miu really does care about Nobu on some level. I found it sort of poetic that Miu's watching Hachi and Nobu at Shin/Reira's birthday party, though I'm not sure why.

Ooh, is that where you started liking them too? I've really liked Shin/Reira, but after that... wow. I don't know. I'm kind of in love with Takumi/Reira. ♥ Seriously, wow.

Well, I'm not a good example because everything makes me cry. I'm way too emotional. Although... I can't think of another manga that's made me cry. But anyways. ♥