YGKO ZERO: DIVINE FEMININE

H A PPY PRIDE MON T H

(it’s really all year out here)

Gekkou Founder and President @quandrries (they/he) as

pictured:

Junpei Tenmyouji with Akane Kurashiki, Zero Escape. Photographed by Christopher Magana @ FanimeCon, May 2022.

YGKO SEASON ZERO chapter two ‘divine feminine’

a celebration and discussion of female, feminine, and femme in the realm of anime, manga, and video games. contributions from creators of varying backgrounds and identities.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

covers | cyberpsiko as sukuna, jujutsu kaisen photographed by christopher magana, edited with prequel

1 | sailor mars, sailor moon - andro_arts

2 | faye valentine, cowboy bebop - baguettegoing

3 | yukako yamagishi, jojo’s bizarre adventure - toxicmelon

4 | marcille donato, delicious in dungeon - voidgearz

5 | q&a with cloudysugarlips, guest feature

7 | junko enoshima, danganronpa - mousec1ub

8 | maki zen’in, jujutsu kaisen - lov_lyse

9 | opinion: the need for better female representation, kayley chun 12 | narrative and visual arrangement: rukia kuchiki, bleach - naisu ami

M A R C I L L E M A R C I L L E

Q+A: CLOUDYSUGARLIPS

how did you go about starting your own business?

what role did anime play in your personal life prior to the launch of cloudysugarlips?

“Starting my business was probably the easiest part. I researched what I wanted to do and gathered all the ingredients for it. Then I went and opened up all my social medias. Some of my hopes were to one day open up a shop of my own, [but] some doubts I had were about not getting enough orders or no one liking my business. When I first started, I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do. I just had the idea in my head. It wasn't until about a year later that I decided that I wanted my brand [to] be inspired by anime. Some advice I have is to push through, even if it seems hard. Keep going because the results will pay off in the end!”

“Since I was a child, anime has been an important part of my life. When I first launched my company, I set out to inspire and encourage others in the same ways that it had done for me.”

what is your core message or goal?

‘I've always been a fan of anime and business since I was a kid. I was always hesitant to discuss my interests because they were often derided at the time. I was afraid to talk about myself because of my nervousness. When I rst established my company, I wanted to make a di erence. For anime to be depicted in a favorable light without fear of being mocked, so that others may connect with our shared love. it's okay to be yourself!”

How do you come up with a concept for a product, and how do you create something tangible from that idea?

“I actually come up with products in a very random way lol! Most of it happens at night when I'm about to go to sleep and an idea for a product pops into my head. The next day, I go about researching everything from nding high quality vendors to artists who can bring my vision to life! A few weeks later is when

you nally get to see the product.”

CloudySugarLips is a small anime-themed cosmetics business founded and owned by Emma (she/her).

Support her endeavors and browse a broad assortment of uniquely packaged makeup products for artists of all levels here: @cloudysugarlips cloudysugarlips.com

“we were the ultimate despair, ya know?” -junko enoshima

the need for better female representation

Although I’ve watched anime my entire life, something that has always irritated me was its approach to female representation. There are certain stereotypes that existed prior to implementation in manga and anime, but I would also say that the mediums themselves have created new fetishes regarding women as well, which has been disheartening to see growing up.

Dead people receive more flowers than living ones because regret is stronger than gratitude.

-Violet

Specifically, there is a common issue with making female characters helpless, over-sexualized, shallow, and overall, just poorly written. One of the most popular anime, Naruto, is a prime example of some of these traits. Although I understand that the main focus is on Naruto and Sasuke, their teammate, Sakura, has accompanied them almost throughout the entire series. I’m not asking for a whole arc on her, but her character development is not as significant as I think it should be. While Sakura seems to grow physically stronger, her personality and outlook fail to reflect this–but I don’t quite believe this flaw makes her entirely worthy of the overwhelming amount of hate she receives either. Although slightly annoying due to her repetitive nature, she ultimately cares for her friends and has a sense of justice, yet there are just so many things she does that misrepresent how women actually act in reality.

I love myself when I’m pretty and all dressed up! And I love myself when I’m being strong!

-Nobara

It’s unfortunate that female characters don’t get as much character development as their male counterparts, but something more concerning to me is the oversexualization of females in anime, especially through “fanservice”. Fairy Tail, Kill La Kill, Fire Force, My Dress Up Darling, and so many more overtly sexualize their female protagonists,

and while this may not seem like a major issue at surface-level viewership, society constantly promoting the objectification of women, especially girls and younger women, is a huge and ongoing issue that can prove deeply off-putting to female viewers, who undeniably increase day by day. Projecting that idea and stereotype into anime, something to be consumed for enjoyment and comfort, is something I find unnecessary at best. Adding uncomfortable amounts of “fanservice” simply does nothing to enhance the plot, instead contributing to the normalization of dangerous practices altogether. For instance, My Dress Up Darling is a wonderful anime, but I could not understand why they felt the need to add sexualizing aspects. The characters and plot are amazing as it is, but certain elements of the depiction of Marin Kitagawa definitely took away from my personal enjoyment.

Needless to say, female representation can be subpar, but thankfully that is not the case all the time. One of my favorite anime is Violet Evergarden. Its main focus is on Violet Evergarden, a young woman whose journey is beautifully developed throughout the entire series. She is relatable because there is so much we learn about her and with her, and even if she’s not perfect, this alone helps her stand out among her fellow female counterparts. Jujutsu Kaisen follows the same vein. None of the women are exactly the main focus, but Gege Akutami has made it so they are still well woven in the plot. Each female character, such as Nobara, Maki, and Mai, has her own personality, own story, own goals, and own purpose in the series.

Anime and manga are heavily influenced by Japanese culture and stereotypes, and a lot of the controversial issues women find themselves surrounded in are projected in anime and manga at their expense. It’s important to be able to step away from that and start developing female characters that accurately represent women, and that they, in turn, are proud to embrace. There are some anime and manga (from all types of genres) that already pay attention to their female audience and characters, so I encourage people to seek those out in particular and support them!

A seasonal anime, art, and lifestyle publication for Gekkou: The Queer and/or Women’s Anime Association at UC Berkeley.

The title, pronounced yūgekkou, is a portmanteau of the club name and the Japanese aesthetic concept of yūgen, whose meaning varies depending on context. We have chosen to pursue the idea of embracing beauty in what is seen but also, more importantly, in what is unseen, as both ultimately occupy the same plane and should be celebrated as such.

We aim to inspire creators to craft a unique blend of their personal stories and the content they both produce and partake in. With an emphasis on elevating female and/or queer voices in the community, but open to all who come with an open mind, we invite a myriad of artists, from writers, illustrators, musicians, cosplayers and fashion enthusiasts, and more to visualize the authentic impact that this medium has had on their lives.

What has this community inspired you to do?

What are the possibilities you’ve discovered within anime and adjacent subcultures?

How do you live within and outside of whatever it is that you choose to create?