The CLAMP MMF has finally come to a close! Here is the roundup of links for Day 7 of the CLAMP Manga Moveable Feast!
From your host: I spent the day yesterday wallowing in my newfound love of the shoujo-tastic artwork from CLAMP’s X, and comparing it to some other beloved series from the early-mid 1990s in The Shoujo Beauty of X. Come along and wallow with me!
X, Vol. 1 © 1992-1993 CLAMP, English edition published by VIZ Media
Also here at Manga Bookshelf, MMF guest contributor Brett Stockmeier offers up an essay defending Chobits, Chobits: Deconstructing the Love Story.
“I have reservations about declaring CLAMP set out with Chobits to debunk these visual novel universes and their tropes. From what I have glimpsed of the group and their unique way of creating, it’s impossible to say what their goal was in its creation. It may be that their intent was more innocent: to bring a touch of shoujo to the seinen market. Chobits just may have been the unique product spawned by this fusion. On the other hand, if they might possibly have had no involvement with the visual novel and the changes to the anime (as has been suggested to me), it could be that I have glimpsed a small part of their intentions in creating Chobits. I understand why the story might put off their traditionally female dominated audience, but I do believe plot itself (and not just the philosophical questions it brings up) has serious merit to it, and I hope that my ideas may help to redeem the series in the eyes of others.”
And on the lighter side, Brett makes his case for The Greatest Conversation CLAMP has ever written. Join him in comments to share your own favorites!
In her tumblr Tatakae Otaqueen!, Kathryn Cwynar discusses her different experiences with xxxHolic and Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle and declares, But from now on, I’m hedging my bets!
At Soliloquy in Blue, Michelle Smith and guest Karen Peck do a little Chatting About CLAMP, specifically Legal Drug and Suki.
Mia Lewis shares some thoughts on Looking back at the self: Exploring the comic medium from within at her blog, Painting Worlds With Words, and also provides a link to her CLAMP-focused thesis paper (download an updated version here) and another related paper, Shojo and Shonen: Recent Trends in the Visual Codes of Manga Genres.
At The Beautiful World, Ayame discusses CLAMP’s X along with two other series in Grief and Loss in Anime: a case examination of Puella Madoka Magica Magi, Mawaru Penguindrum and X.
Jason Yadao shares some history on CLAMP’s Gate 7 at the Honolulu Star Advertiser, along with his impressions of the series so far in CLAMP’s “Gate 7”: The grand experiment that wasn’t.
In the tumblr blog Xia’s Shiny Page, Christina shares her love of Tsubasa‘s Kurogane (I’m with you all the way, Christina!), in Kurogane: A Remarkable Character.
At The Manga Report, Anna takes a look at two CLAMP series, Cardcaptor Sakura Omnibus Vol. 1 and all four volumes of Wish. Be sure to check out her Wish giveaway at that second link as well!
And finally, at Manga Xanadu, Lori Henderson reviews volumes 1-10 of RG Veda.
This has been your final roundup of links for the CLAMP MMF! Many, many thanks to everyone who participated. Late entries may be submitted by email to melinda@mangabookshelf.com or via Twitter to @mbeasi for inclusion in the archive.
For August’s installment of the Manga Moveable Feast, head over to the Eeepers Choice Podcast where Phillip will be hosting discussion on Eiji Ōtsuka and Housui Yamazaki’s The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service!