OtakuAThon, Round 2 Announcement + TBR

This really cute Sailor Moon background was purchased from BeatPaperDesigns, who has a lovely Etsy shop!

Kristin & I are thrilled to be hosting another round of OtakuAThon! This collaborative event came together when we both decided we wanted to deliberately carve out more time to indulge in our deep love of manga and anime, and to invite other manga and anime fans to join us. Round two is taking place from Friday, June 7 until Monday, June 10. (You can use the hashtag #OtakuAThon to chat about the event, ask questions, give recommendations or talk about other things. There's also going to be an Instagram challenge coming around the week of the event!)

We'll be using the same reading prompts we came up with for the initial round to keep things simple! You can feel free to either read manga or watch anime to complete them (and you can double up on challenges with one manga volume or anime series). This is a low-pressure event, so definitely read or watch however much you can! I'm going to mention my TBR picks for this round below to give you a couple of ideas (and you can check out my round one picks for more inspiration).

1. Most recently acquired

I'm reading I Want to Eat Your Pancreas for this round, as it was one of my acquisitions during my last visit to Kinokuniya. It's actually been turned into a film, which I would also eventually like to watch (even moreso if I enjoy the manga)! The story centers around Yamauchi Sakura who has been suffering from a pancreatic disease in secret from anyone outside of her family... until one of her high school classmates finds her diary and learns the truth.

2. Catch up on a series you're behind on

I meant to read up until the current volume of Yona of the Dawn during the last round, but I didn't end up getting to that one! I'm carrying it over here, only now it's eighteen volumes in total that I'm going to have to read... so we'll see how this goes. Basic summary of this story? A girl loses her father and her entire kingdom in one night, when he is assassinated by someone who takes over the throne and she flees with her childhood friend (who is a member of the guard) to stay alive and to hopefully find the prophesied dragons that will help her take back her kingdom.

3. Adaptation of a manga/anime you loved

Macky & I have been working through Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (we're 27 episodes away from the end!) and we've really been enjoying this story. I picked up Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 1 in the Fullmetal Edition because 1) I really want to experience this story in manga form and 2) this edition is a gorgeous hardback.

4. Revisit an old favorite

I've talked about this anime before, but I've never actually experienced the original story in manga form! I'm going to be picking up Fushigi Yûgi, Vol. 1 just to dive back into this world and be among these characters yet again (even though I know the entire series is basically an emotional roller coaster that will mess with my feelings).

5. Start a new series

I am always looking for new manga to fall in love with, and I decided to go with one that I own because Kristin told me that I should check it out. Chobits, Vol. 1 is officially my pick for this round, and it's about a student trying to get into university who one day discovers a persocom (an android in the shape of a human) abandoned in an alley. He takes the persocom home, and eventually ends up being the one who has to teach her how to do regular, everyday tasks, even as he and his friends try to figure out what her story is.

6. Recommended to you

Kristin was absolutely insistent that I pick My Love Story (the anime) for this round, so I'm going to go with that. After all, who can resist a really cute and unexpected love story? Certainly not me!

7. Read another series by an author you've read before

I'm picking a manga volume I purchased because I couldn't get the title out of my mind after I first learned about it - Kiss of the Rose Princess, Vol. 1. I read a manga by this author during the last round, and I liked it (though I'm still 50/50 on continuing it). I'm curious to see how this one actually plays out, and I did like her art style, so I'm hoping I might enjoy this one even more!

8. Genre of choice

I'm nothing if not consistent about which genre I gravitate towards when it comes to manga and anime, so I will be going with shōjo again for this round. All of the options I picked out already fall under this category, but I'm going to throw in a shoutout to an anime I started during the last round and only have 7 episodes left in - Snow White with the Red Hair (watch the sub version, please and thank you). It is an incredibly delightful show, with a wonderful, lovable cast of characters and the fluffiest romance!

For easy reference, all challenges are listed below:

1. Most recently acquired

2. Catch up on a series you're behind on

3. Adaptation of a manga/anime you loved

4. Revisit an old favorite

5. Start a new series

6. Recommended to you

7. Read another series by an author you've read before

8. Genre of choice

Hope you'll be joining us for round two of OtakuAThon, happening June 7-10, 2019!