At last, after a full decade, Attack On Titan has finally come to an end — that’s nearly as long as the lifespan of someone in possession of the nine titans’ powers (FYI for those who may have forgotten, it’s 13 years). 

Across four eventful seasons, we watched the characters go through blood, sweat, tears and inevitably — death. All for the sake of saving mankind. 

One thing that impressed me was how positively women are presented on the show as a symbol of strength. Whether they are part of Levi’s Special Operations team, a Marleyan warrior or even the literal queen, these girl bosses have taught us valuable lessons that we can apply to real life. 

Warning: Attack On Titan The Final Season spoilers ahead, proceed at your own risk if you’ve yet to watch!

1. Historia Reiss: Take on new challenges with stride

Historia finally claiming her name 

As the illegitimate child of Rod Reiss and the last remaining member of the royal family who had to hide under a fake persona, Historia Reiss didn’t strike me as a character that would be memorable. After all, she entered the military service in hopes of dying in battle.

But when she finally went against her father and made the final blow to kill him, Historia gained her own agency. She managed to take on the throne — her rightful place— with stride, proudly declaring to the people: “I am Historia Reiss, the true ruler of these walls.”

Historia wasn’t just a pretty face that the military boys crushed on. Even in the years to come, she played an important role as the queen, maintaining peace on Paradis Island after the titans had been eradicated.

2. Ymir: Your birth circumstances do not define who you are

Ymir revealing that she possesses the the Jaw Titan 

NGL, Ymir had the worst birth circumstances ever — she was a beggar with no home, was forced into a cult and used as a symbol of the founder Ymir, spent 60 years as a mindless titan and accidentally inherited the jaw titan after eating Marcel. Honestly, she was always fated to die someday. 

Surprisingly, Ymir never let her birth circumstances define her. In the manga, she even declared, “I’m going to be living proof that your fate isn’t decided by birth.”

No wonder Historia was so inspired by her — Ymir taught us that we should always make the best of our situation, no matter how bleak it may be.

3. Hange Zoe: Don’t be afraid of the unknown

Hange’s last words to Levi

Hange’s death broke me in ways I didn’t know was possible — this scene had me grabbing at my laptop screen and yelling “why her, Hajime Isayama?!” 

But one major thing Hange taught us was to never be afraid of the unknown. Though she was always described as “weird” for her strange fascination with titans, it was due to this passion and curiosity that led her so far, rising to the commander of the survey corps.

Hange’s death was strikingly impactful — she sacrificed herself to the titans at the rumbling in order to buy time for her team to escape.

Even in the face of death, Hange wasn’t afraid, telling a horror-struck Levi, “my turn’s come at last” and marvelling at the swarm of titans approaching her. 

Hange truly represented the heart of the survey corps — to give their hearts — down to her very last moment.

4. Pieck Finger: “As long as I’m not dead, I can keep fighting until I win”

Pieck fighting against Eren 

At first glance, the Cart Titan seemed like the weakest link out of all nine titans. Minus the creepy long face, all it could do was carry stuff on its back. 

But Pieck trained her titan’s endurance so well that she could stay in that form for two whole months — even forgetting how to walk on two legs after transforming back to human. 

As one of Marley’s warriors, she’s a trained fighter who believes in her own actions and decisions. In the final battle, she was the only one who didn’t hesitate to go for Eren’s head — she saw the bigger picture and acted accordingly.

Brushing off Jean’s concerns, Pieck declared, “if you think that my titan is only good for odd jobs and not fighting, you’re all wrong! With the cart’s endurance, as long as I’m not dead, I can keep fighting until I win.” 

It was physically draining for Pieck to constantly transform back and forth between human and titan, but her determination to not back down no matter what gained my respect.

Also read:

UNIQLO x Attack On Titan Features Manga Panels From The Final Season To Give Your Hearts To Fashion

5. Gabi Braun:  We should always have empathy for others

Gabi confessing her wrongdoings to Kaya

When Gabi was first introduced, almost every Attack On Titan fan hated her. She did kill Sasha after all, a well-loved member of the scouts since Season 1. 

Personally, I thought Gabi’s character was written so brilliantly. She was just a child who was handed a gun and told to kill all the “devils” of her race in order to survive. That was all she knew of the world, and did it to survive.

Gabi’s character development had me emotional — being on Paradis Island opened her eyes to the two sides of war. We can’t help but feel sorry for her, seeing as she was simply fighting to be accepted in society.

Gabi eventually realised her mistakes and learned the true power of empathy — that everyone is human and has their own struggles too. 

It was through this understanding that led to her confessing to Kaya, “I’m the devil. I’ve killed a lot of people just to earn praise. That’s the devil within me. There weren’t any devils on this island, just humans. I finally understand how Reiner feels.”

6. Annie Leonhart: Live with no regrets

Annie arriving to save the Special Operations Squad

Level-headed and unbothered Annie made her an easy girl crush on the show. But I admit — I did feel majorly disappointed when Annie refused to join the final battle. An extra strength from someone who possesses the Female Titan would have benefited the team tremendously.

But Annie surprised not just me, but the entire Special Ops Squad when she appeared just in time to save the team from falling to their deaths.

Admitting, “I’m glad I came”, Annie’s last-minute decision encourages us to be brave and live with no regrets. 

7. Mikasa Ackerman: Sometimes we have to pick choices that we don’t want

Levi telling Mikasa that they are the only ones left who can kill Eren

Towards the end of the final season, one decision became clearer and clearer — Eren had to be killed in order for mankind to be saved. Apologies to our morally-ambiguous protagonist. 

At first, this tough decision seemed like something Mikasa could avoid. She tried all other options to save Eren, and even when it came down to killing him, someone else was assigned to do it instead.

Of course, things don’t always go the way we want them to. When everyone else was either preoccupied or transformed into a mindless titan, it was down to only Levi and Mikasa. And unfortunately, the squad captain was so severely injured that he could barely move. 

Mikasa kissing Eren after killing him 

Facing reality, Mikasa broke down and begged to go back to a time where it was just her and Eren in their house. But ultimately, she had to cut off Eren’s head to save humanity, even if it was the last thing she could ever bring herself to do. 

While I doubt we’ll ever face such a drastic dilemma in our lifetime, Mikasa’s strength and bravery showed us that sometimes, the hardest choices are the best ones.

8. Ymir Fritz (founder): Love isn’t always beautiful

Eren telling Armin that he understands the founder Ymir

Learning about the backstory of the original titan founder, Ymir Fritz, was absolutely horrifying. And that says a lot, considering most of these characters had led terrible lives themselves. 

Ymir was a slave to the Eldian King, King Fritz, who burned her hometown, killed her parents and even pulled out her tongue. Even after she gained the power of all nine titans, she became his concubine and served him, then bore him three children.

Ymir didn’t have a peaceful death either. The king ordered their three children to consume her body whole, guts and everything. *Deep shudders* 

From left: King Fritz with his concubines, the founder Ymir and their child

Even in death, Ymir’s soul remained obedient to the Eldian royal family for 2,000 years. 

Eren didn’t fully understand her, but he eventually realised why she still served the king: she loved him. Ymir had nothing her whole life and thought that being in love would set her free, despite how she was treated.

This sick and twisted portrayal of love isn’t something that’s romanticised in the anime. Ymir’s story showed us how love isn’t always beautiful — sometimes it’s manipulative and painful. And in Ymir’s case, it can lead to something as destructive as a long-standing war.

These Women From Attack On Titan Have Taught Us Valuable Lessons That We Can Apply To Real Life

As we watched Ymir finally get her closure after seeing how Mikasa loves Eren but still chose to kill him, we all got our closure of this amazing series too, even if it might not be the happy ending we expected.

Within these 10 years, the powerful women of Attack On Titan have also grown and taken charge of their identity, inspiring us in real-life situations. 

To the characters who have battled against the war to save humanity, died or lived to tell the tale, thank you for the great end to this series. Shinzo Sasageyo. 

All images courtesy of 4anime.

Also read:

12 Attack On Titan Life Lessons That Prove It’s Not Just Another Anime, Like The Importance Of Kindness

The post 8 Life Lessons From The Women Of Attack On Titan, Such As Having To Pick Choices We Don’t Want appeared first on ZULA.sg.

It’s time to move on from action-packed anime like killing titans in Attack On Titan and gang fights in Tokyo Revengers — Spy x Family is here to heal our hearts with its endless fluff and heartwarming scenes. 

For frequent anime-watchers, it’s impossible to not know about this adorable series. Not to mention, every time I open social media, I’m constantly flooded with spoilers about a pink-haired girl named Anya and her unique power to read minds. 

TL;DR: Spy x Family follows the story of an unlikely trio who are forced to play the role of a family while hiding their secret identities. Together with Loid, an undercover spy on a mission, Yor, an assassin, and Anya, a telepath, we can’t help but fall in love with their undeniable charm and unexpected familial bond. Let’s recap the first 12 episodes of Season 1 and uncover some lessons we can apply to real life. 

Warning: Spy x Family spoilers ahead.

1. Letting go and learning from our past trauma is important

Loid having a flashback of his childhood

Loid Forger, who also goes by his agent name Twilight, is undoubtedly the best spy in WISE Organisation. We’re talking about James Bond level here — he’s succeeded in every mission with ease, and vowed to save the world even if his deeds go unrecognised. 

His grand reputation makes it all the more surprising to see him lose his cool when Anya cries during a dangerous mission. Loid is brought back to his traumatic past, remembering how he always felt abandoned as a child.

Loid himself was surprised to suddenly recall his childhood trauma, thinking that he had “left all that baggage behind”. He soon realised that no matter how dangerous his mission was, he shouldn’t have dragged an innocent child into it. 

Loid realising all Anya wanted was a home

When Loid was ready to let Anya go back to the orphanage and find a new family on her own, he soon realised he was doing to her the exact same thing he feared as a kid — abandonment. 

As audiences, we experienced our first heartwarming scene where Anya told Loid that all she wanted was to go home with him. Seeing Loid learn from his trauma and willingly take Anya in shows us how important it is to move on from our past and be a better person.

2. Sometimes we have to lie to keep our loved ones safe

Yor explaining to Loid why she has to lie to her brother

We all know that lying is bad. Ironically, the whole concept of Spy x Family is based on keeping secrets from one another. One example is how Yor had to lie about having a boyfriend to her brother Yuri, as Yuri almost held off a job promotion because he was worried about her. 

As an assassin who lives alone, Yor felt guilty for holding him back. Her small lie to him shows us that sometimes, we can’t help but lie to keep our loved ones safe and happy.

Plus, it all worked out in the end, seeing as Loid needed to secure a wife to complete his mission. If you ask me, this unusual couple sounds like a match made in heaven.

Anya lying about punching Damian

On the contrary, we can’t say the same about Anya’s lie. When Damian bullied her, she punched him so badly that fell over. Her brilliant excuse to the headmaster was ridiculously funny — “I just reached out my hand, and somehow, he ran into it”. The blatant lie was clearly not tolerated by the school. 

While it’s okay to lie in order to protect our loved ones, Anya’s lie didn’t help anybody except getting her out of trouble. I guess she deserved her first Tonito, aka demerit point, even if Damian did bully her.

3. Appearance isn’t always everything

Loid thinking of how he can portray his family as the perfect one

Loid’s mission is of extremely high importance — Operation Strix: marry, have a child and infiltrate Eden Academy to prevent a war between two rival nations. This proved to be much harder than he thought, as his family had to pass a certain level of elegance to enter the school. 

Loid brings them to do prestigious activities like watching opera and going to museums, yet Anya becomes bored and restless. Seeing her unhappy makes him stressed, and come up with different interview responses that Anya and Yor could simply memorise instead. 

An old lady commenting on the Forger family

Yor then suggests taking a walk, where the family unexpectedly catches a robber who stole an old lady’s wallet. After saving her, she looks at them and comments, “you make a lovely family”, much to the trio’s surprise.

It goes to show that appearance isn’t always everything. While the Forger family could have memorised the perfect response for the interview, what made everything even more authentic was their shared experiences together.

4. Always be prepared for the unexpected

The Forger family after changing into their new clothes

There’s no such thing as being too prepared, and the Forger family certainly showed us why. On the day of the interview, their first test came when they had to save a kid who fell into the drain, which ruined all their fancy clothes.

The headmaster was ready to turn them down for their unsightly appearance, but the family surprised us by changing into an extra set of clothes to freshen up. 

Just as we thought it was the end of the test, as unbelievable as this sounds, the Forger family had to stop a bull rampage in the school. The chaos resulted in their clothes being ripped and ruined once again. Even so, the family hilariously had another set of clothes on hand — admittedly, not even I was prepared for this reveal. 

Their actions impressed the headmaster greatly, gaining his respect for them even before the interview. As the saying rings true, first impressions really do matter.

5. Know where to draw the line

Yor comforting Anya after Mr Swan made her cry

During the interview, the Forger family faced another hurdle — an arrogant and insensitive interviewer named Mr Swan. As the only son of the last headmaster, he could do anything he wanted without anybody stopping him. 

It broke our hearts to see Anya burst into tears after he questioned her about her real mother. Since we knew that Anya had a traumatic childhood and changed foster homes three times prior, the question was definitely out of line.

Loid putting an end to the questions by swinging at Mr Swan

Loid’s resolve soon broke when Mr Swan started insulting Yor as well. Despite the importance of his mission, he put a stop to the rude questioning by swinging at Mr Swan, giving birth to this iconic scene. 

Luckily, there was a mosquito on the table and he killed it instead, making the excuse that it was his intention all along. Not going to lie, while I heaved a sigh of relief that Loid didn’t go overboard, I also secretly hoped that he had landed that punch.

Loid drew the line by leaving the interview, declaring that, “if belittling the feelings of children is how this school does things, then I have chosen the wrong school”. A man who knows how to respectfully draw the line? We stan. 

Thankfully, because of Loid’s words, the headmaster realised that Mr Swan was disgracing the school and landed that punch on his face for us. Spoiler alert: Anya does get into the school, so it’s a win-win situation in the end.

6. Go the extra mile for your loved ones

Since Anya managed to enrol into Eden Academy, it’s only fair that she gets a reward for it. With Franky’s persuasion, she asked Loid to give her a spy-themed party based on her favourite cartoon, Spy Wars. 

Initially, Loid declined and was embarrassed to dress up as the show’s main character, Bondman. It’s a funny yet endearing scene, especially since Anya knew that Loid is actually a spy. 

In order to make her happy, he did what she asked, even calling down WISE headquarters to book a castle and use their manpower. This was one of the rare scenes where we see both Loid and Anya bond with each other as a father and daughter.

Loid passing the bill to a colleague at WISE

Of course, even if Loid is the best spy in WISE, he still got told off for the large cost of celebrating Anya’s enrollment. Like the amazing father he is, he simply told the company it was all “necessary expenses”, showing us that it’s worth it to go the extra mile for our loved ones.

Also read:

There Are Now Spy x Family Fragrances Available So You Can Smell Like Your Favourite Anime Character

7. Your best is always enough

Yor is a highly-skilled assassin but a clumsy and forgetful mother. Her absentmindedness reaches its peak when she loses sight of Anya while at the supermarket, causing her to be kidnapped.

Yor regretfully breaks down and apologises to Anya, saying that she’s “such a failure as a mother”.

However, Anya touches us all by gently patting Yor’s head and comforting her, saying that she thinks Yor is strong and cool for saving her from the kidnappers. 

When we get insecure about ourselves, take a breather. As long as we’re trying our best, it’s always enough for someone who appreciates our efforts. 

This is reiterated when Yor relays her insecurities as a mother to Loid later on. “Of course, it is wonderful to work on being the ideal figure. However, nothing will work out if you lose sight of yourself by binding yourself to these ideals. So, please, be yourself”, Loid assures.

Also read:

These Hats Inspired By Spy x Family Will Transform Your OOTD Into An Elegant Anya & Loid Style

8. Apologising for your mistake doesn’t make you the weaker person

Becky convincing Anya not to apologise to Damian

Unfortunately, constantly reading Loid’s mind has a toll on Anya too. Anya faces the pressure to become friends with Damian for world peace, as he’s the second son of Donovan Desmond, the leader of the National Unity Party. 

This means that Anya has to apologise to Damian for punching him, much to Becky’s dismay, who doesn’t think she was in the wrong. She even convinced Anya that there’s no need to apologise because it’s “stupid”.

Damian getting embarrassed after Anya’s apology

Eventually, Anya managed to find time away from Becky to apologise to Damian, even crying her eyes out when she read his nasty thoughts about her. Embarrassed and humiliated, Damian turns red and is at a loss for words, rejecting her apology.

It doesn’t matter whether he accepts it or not — Anya showed us that there’s nothing wrong with being the bigger person by apologising first. Seeing Damian become embarrassed was just another win.

9. What you want might not be what others want

Yor questioning Loid if Anya wants to become an Imperial Scholar

In order for Loid’s mission to succeed, Anya has to become an Imperial Scholar, which FYI, means she has to do well in studies. However, as playful and mischievous Anya is, she dozes off in class and refuses to study, even throwing a tantrum when Loid gets upset at her.

Yor intervened by questioning Loid if being an Imperial Scholar is just what he wants, rather than what Anya wants. After reflecting on Yor’s words, he realises that he was unfairly pushing her for the sake of his mission.

Loid overhearing Anya sleep talking

Feeling sorry, Loid enters Anya’s room with the intent to let her rest. He discovers something that made him more guilty for his harsh words — Anya was studying all by herself, even mumbling in her sleep that she wants to do her best for him.

At times, we often think that what we want is the same as what others want. News flash: it’s not always the case. It’s good practice to take a step back and look at the bigger picture to see if we’re hurting others in the process of chasing our own goals.

10. Our duties and desires are interlinked

Overworked, tired and just want to sleep? Sounds like something many of us can relate to as well. For Loid, this feeling is enhanced tenfold, since WISE is short of staff and constantly piles him with more missions alongside Operation Strix. 

Exhausted and frustrated, Loid declares that he wants to complain to the company and take a long vacation. 

Yet when he turns to look at Yor and Anya laughing together, he remembers his life goal to “maintain a world where children don’t cry and war doesn’t occur”. 

“I don’t have time to stand still”, Loid thinks to himself, realising he values his job even if it’s tiring. Being a spy means that it’s his duty to keep society safe — a duty he wants to fulfil. 

It can be hard to pick our duty over our desire to rest and give up. At the end of the day, if your duty is something that you’re passionate about, it will always be worthwhile.

11. It’s okay to be an unconventional family

Throughout the anime, we’re constantly reminded that this family isn’t a conventional family. The Forger family consists of a spy, a psychic and an assassin who do not know of each others’ identities, but have to keep up the lie so everyone can achieve their personal goals.

“Everyone has a side that they can’t show to others. We hide our real feelings behind fake smiles and false bravado. In this way, the world maintains its illusion of peace,” as told by the narrator.

Despite being fake, it’s obvious that the Forger family functions well together and share a common love and care for each other. Even though it has only been 12 episodes so far, we’re rooting for them to eventually become a real family some day.  

It’s okay to choose our own family, even if it may be unconventional. Every family is different and we don’t have to conform to what society expects as long as we’re happy.

Spy x Family Is Filled With Unexpected Family Bonds & Touching Scenes

As the first half of Season 1 comes to an end, we’re left with a delightful scene of the Forger family playing together with Anya’s new stuffed penguin. From just 12 episodes alone, many life lessons were shared from the characters that we’ve already grown so fond of. Hopefully, we’ll start seeing the trio’s bond grow, more adorable moments with Anya, and inevitably, more lies to maintain world peace. 

All images courtesy of Netflix.
This article was first published on 29 June 2022 and last updated on 21 October 2023. 

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The post 11 Spy x Family Life Lessons Including Lying To Protect Our Loved Ones & Learning From Our Past Trauma appeared first on ZULA.sg.

Anime series like Spy x Family and Tokyo Revengers are no strangers to manga fans, but long-time enthusiasts will know One Piece is one of the must-watch Japanese animations. 

Good news for One Piece fans, as they have recently teamed up with watch brand Solvil et Titus for a 6-piece watch collection inspired by the Straw Hat Crew.  

The watches

What’s so admirable about Luffy from One Piece is that he never gives up on his dream of becoming the King of Pirates. If you’re inspired by his tenacious attitude, consider the Interlude Collection “Luffy” watches made for both women and men. 

From left: Interlude Collection “Luffy” Men’s Chronograph, Interlude Collection “Luffy” Women’s Multi-function Watch

Beneath the glass surface lies a motif of Luffy’s skull icon at the 9 o’clock position, and instead of a standard marker, note how the minute hand is shaped like an anchor. 

The crown features a motif of Luffy’s X scar on his chest

Flip it around, and you’ll be greeted by Luffy’s iconic “wanted” photo engraved at the back of the case alongside his whopping 1.5 billion bounty figure. The men’s design features a black stainless steel band, whereas the one for women comes in a red and yellow leather strap with red stitching. 

The Interlude Collection “Luffy” Men’s Chronograph and Interlude Collection “Luffy” Women’s Multi-Function Watch retail at $380 each, and are limited to 1,800 and 800 pieces respectively. 

From left: Saber Collection “Gear 4 Luffy” Stainless-Steel Bracelet Watch, Saber Collection “Gear 4 Luffy” Leather Strap Watch

Inspired by Luffy’s Gear 4 Haki technique, the next design comes in black and red as seen on the character’s distinctive outfit. The watch’s dial features a black-to-red gradient surface on top of a 3D straw hat woven pattern, which brings to mind the one that Luffy always wears. 

More One Piece elements can be seen like Luffy’s iconic skull at the 6 o’clock spot and the gold anchor-shaped minute track. Both the markers and hands are also furnished with a super-luminous coating so you won’t have trouble reading time even in the dark. 

This model can be put together with a black stainless steel band or a black-and-yellow leather strap with red stitching. 

The Saber Collection “Gear 4 Luffy” Stainless-Steel Bracelet Watch and Saber Collection “Gear 4 Luffy” Leather Strap Watch retail at $620 and $540, and are limited to 1,500 and 1,000 pieces respectively. 

Ace aka Fire First is no doubt a fan-favourite as he sacrificed his life for Luffy during the legendary fight he had with Admiral Akainu. As a way to honour his death, this watch has references to Ace, like the Flame Flame Fruit motif positioned at the 9 o’clock spot. Plus, the strap also comes in orange, which takes inspiration from his fire flames. 

Unlike the previous aforementioned watches, the anchor-shaped minute hand comes in red. 

The Interlude Collection “Ace” Chronograph retails at $380 and is limited to 350 pieces. 

Being able to cook is no doubt impressive, and you have to give it to Sanji who always whips up delicious meals to his fellow Straw Hat Crew members. Inspired by one of Sanji’s many black costume variations, this watch comes decked in black with a matching blue and black leather strap. 

His identity as a chef can also be seen from the skull logo at the 9 o’clock position that features a knife and fork. 

The Interlude Collection “Sanji” Chronograph retails at $380 and is limited to 1,000 pieces. 

Zoro is probably the finest swordsman you’ll come across in One Piece, and you’ll recognise him thanks to his signature green outfit. His edition of the watch comes with a silver stainless steel case, paired with a black-to-green gradient dial and a green strap. 

The fuschia minute track reminds us of his belt that ties his three swords together, and you can even spot his skull logo at the 9 o’clock mark. 

The Interlude Collection “Zoro” Chronograph retails at $380 and is limited to 1,000 pieces. 

NGL, but Chopper is super kawaii, and the only blue-nosed reindeer that you can find in the sea. Known for his caring heart and ambition to cure every disease in the world, Chopper is distinguishable by his blue and pink hat. 

Like the other watches in the collection, you’ll also find a skull unique to Chopper at the 9 o’clock position. Below the glass surface lies a pink dial in contrast to the rose gold markers and white minute tracks, and a blue anchor shape minute track. 

The Interlude Collection “Chopper” Multi-function Watch retails at $380 and is limited to 350 pieces. 

Watch cases and tote bags

The One Piece experience doesn’t end with these limited edition watches. Each watch comes packed in an exclusive watch box so if you’re planning to give an early Christmas gift to a One Piece fan, consider making their day with one of these timepieces. 

That’s not all ‒ you also get to bring home a tote bag for every purchase. Available in four designs, the tote bags feature iconic moments of the anime, such as the back view of the Straw Hat Crew. 

These Limited One Piece Watches From Solvil Et Titus Are Unique Timepieces For Fans

Whether it is to expand your One Piece collection or put a smile on the face of a fellow One Piece fan, these limited edition watches are great collectibles to have. They are available for purchase on Solvil et Titus’ official website, at Solvil et Titus boutique store at Takashimaya, and at all City Chain outlets. 

All images courtesy of City Chain. 

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UNIQLO’s Upcoming One Piece Film Red UT Collection Is For Fans To Channel Their Inner Pirate

The post This One Piece Watch Collab Comes With Free Tote Bags So You Won’t Run Late For Your Adventures appeared first on ZULA.sg.

As the final episode of Spy x Family Season 1 aired in the last week of June, many fans all around the world are already missing Anya and her mischievous antics. To tide you over until future episodes, Japanese fashion brand CA4LA has released hats inspired by Anya and Loid’s outfits in the anime, whether it’s for an upcoming cosplay event or adding some elegance to your look.

The collection

Most of the time, we’re used to seeing Anya in her triangle hair pins that remind us of cat ears. But when Anya is decked in her Eden Academy uniform, she dons an adorable beret that’s compulsory for all female students.

The Anya beret is available for both adults and kids, featuring a gold star pin, aka a Stella, that is awarded to outstanding children in school. It’s the perfect way for you to show off that you’re just as amazing as “Starlight Anya”, even without her telepathic abilities.

Loid Forger often appears in a green suit to present an image of a perfect father. However, when it’s time for him to get down into spy business as Twilight, he dresses in his iconic brown trench coat and a matching fedora hat to hide his identity.

The Loid fedora cap is both fashionable and elegant, complete with a silver pin of the WISE Organisation logo. On the inside, the Spy x Family and CA4LA logo is stitched together with high-quality fabric to ensure your comfort. 

These Spy x Family Hats Will Add Elegance Into Your Everyday OOTD

Since the release of the UNIQLO and Spy x Family tees last month, fans have been looking forward to more merch of Anya, Loid and Yor to add to their growing collection. 

While CA4LA does not directly ship their products to Singapore, fans can make use of freight forwarding services such as Buyee to get their hands on these hats before the second half of Season 1 drops.  

All images courtesy of CA4LA.

Also read:

The Upcoming UNIQLO & Spy x Family UT Collection Features Graphic Tees Of The Forger Family In Action

The post These Hats Inspired By Spy x Family Will Transform Your OOTD Into An Elegant Anya & Loid Style appeared first on ZULA.sg.

Warning: Tokyo Revengers spoilers ahead.

Calling all fans of action anime like Attack on Titan and Jujutsu Kaisen, Tokyo Revengers is a new anime with violence and heart-tugging scenes that will hit you right in the feels. The story follows protagonist Hanagaki Takemichi, who discovers that his ex-girlfriend from middle school Hina, and her brother Naoto, died in a car crash. The siblings were caught in the middle of a fight from one of the largest gangs in Tokyo, Tokyo Manji Gang, a.k.a. Toman.

After being pushed in front of a moving train, Takemichi suddenly transports 12 years back in time. Realising that he now has the power to change the future, he saves Naoto from his death. The pair then come up with different plans to save Hina, resulting in a variety of alternate timelines. 

Not everyone can get a second shot in life to change the future, which is what makes the plot of Tokyo Revengers so thrilling. From watching Takemichi grow as an individual to simping for Toman’s leader Mikey, let’s take a look back at season 1 and discover some life lessons we can apply to real life.

1. When life gives you a second chance, don’t waste it

Takemichi standing up against Kiyomasa

When Takemichi first discovered he could travel back in time, he determinedly promised Naoto that he would change the future and save Hina. However, after getting beaten up badly by Kiyomasa, he cries and says that the mission is simply “impossible”.

Takemichi then remembers how he was living pathetically back in his life from the future. Because he spent the rest of his school days being Kiyomasa’s slave and running away from his problems, he never grew as an individual. 

This realisation was a wake-up call for him and he decided “I have to change, or nothing else will”. Thus, when his friend Takuya was about to be beaten up, Takemichi boldly stepped up to challenge Kiyomasa so that Takuya could be saved.

Through Takemichi’s self-reflection on this rare opportunity to change his life and how he was about to give up so easily, he eventually faced his bully and stopped running away. 

He showed us that in order to change the future, you have to change yourself first. Getting a second shot in life isn’t something that anybody can have, so it’s only right to not waste it.

2. Protect the ones you love no matter what

Hina slapping Mikey across his face

Hina might not be a main character, but she definitely showed us that she’s more than just Takemichi’s girlfriend. Despite knowing that Takemichi is a delinquent who gets into fights often, she promised to protect him no matter what.

When Mikey and Draken, Toman’s second-in-command, came to grab Takemichi from his class, Hina didn’t hesitate to walk up to Mikey and slap him across his face. Much to everyone’s shock and horror, Hina held Takemichi’s hand and led him away.

Hina pulling Takemichi away from Mikey

Takemichi noted that Hina was trembling despite putting up such a bold front. This small action revealed that she was actually afraid — after all, not everyone can slap a biker gang leader in the face and still survive.

Hina teaches us that even though she saw herself as “just a girl” who can’t fight like boys, she isn’t afraid to risk her life for the people she loves. 

3. Crying is a sign of strength, not weakness

Akkun’s last words to Takemichi before committing suicide 

Throughout the whole season, Takemichi cries a lot. We’re pretty sure there isn’t an episode where he doesn’t cry. He cries whenever he feels like giving up, or when he expresses fear for an undesirable future that he knows will happen. Of course, he constantly gets teased for it, but his crying also became a sign of strength instead of weakness.

In the first timeline where Akkun commits suicide, his last words to Takemichi was how he saw him as a “crybaby hero” he looked up to. When they were younger, Akkun realised that Taemichi would cry but still picked himself back up and “held his ground” — an admirable trait that earned his respect. 

4. “We’ll deal with our problems in our own world”

Draken forcing Mikey to bow down at the hospital

After Pah found out that his friend’s girlfriend was gang raped and beaten up by another gang called Moebius, Toman declared war on them. But when Mikey and Draken went to the hospital to visit her, the girl’s parents assumed that they were responsible for their daughter’s state.

Mikey angrily tried to retaliate, but Draken pushed his head down to apologise, even though it wasn’t their fault. Quietly, he tells Mikey, “you don’t have to bow your head, just have a heart that cares for others. We’ll deal with our problems in our own world”.

From this scene, Draken teaches Mikey to lower his ego and respect the girl’s parents who are grieving. Our personal problems should be resolved on our own if it can be done, rather than involving more innocent people. 

5. Friends will always have your back

Mikey supporting Pah after he was beaten up by Osanai 

Though he has a reputation for being known as the “unbeatable Mikey”, deep down the gang leader is emotional and cares for his gang members. When Moebius’ leader Osanai fought with Pah, Pah sorrowfully apologised to Mikey for losing.

Mikey didn’t hesitate to support Pah and firmly told him “you haven’t lost” because he was still there to fight on behalf of Pah. Even when Pah volunteered to turn himself in for stabbing Osanai, Mikey refused to leave Pah’s side. 

12-year-old Mikey picking a fight with a gang that had beaten up Baji

It’s clear to see that Mikey’s undeniably strong bond with the original founding members of Toman stems from their childhood. When Mikey was 12-years-old, he discovered that a gang had beaten up Baji, who was trying to protect his bike. 

To everyone’s shock, Mikey smashed his bike to pieces — an exaggerated show to let Baji know that their friendship was worth more than his bike. He then went on to defeat the gang that had beaten Baji up.

As Mikey prides himself in being a true friend who gives his all to others, the founding members of Toman protect each other too. Their precious friendship is what makes Toman feel like family, as Mikey makes sure everyone knows that there will always be a friend who has their back.

6. Our negative actions have consequences on the people around us

Takemichi scolding Mikey and Draken

After Pah’s arrest, Mikey and Draken get into a huge disagreement. Draken wanted to honour Pah’s decision of turning himself in, but Mikey believed that they could have all escaped together. Takemichi from 12 years into the future will know that this is a major event that causes the gang to split and Draken to die in the conflict.

Seeing Mikey and Draken fight in front of him, Takemichi angrily shouts at them for being selfish. The pair is Toman’s leader and second-in-command respectively, yet they don’t realise that their actions have consequences on everyone else in the gang.

Because Mikey and Draken only care about themselves, they fail to realise that the gang members in Toman are also upset and fighting amongst each other. Once again, Takemichi bursts into tears, having Mikey and Draken to come to their senses and make up for the sake of those around them.

7. Don’t compare your journey to others’ success

Takemichi crying after Kiyomasa’s gang beat him up

It’s no secret that Takemichi is physically weak, especially when compared to the rest of the gang members. More often than not, we see him in a sorry state covered in bruises, bleeding and crying. While trying to save Draken from being killed, Takemichi ends up being beaten and tied up with duct tape. 

Unable to get up, Takemichi cries and says that “this would’ve been nothing if I were like Draken or Mikey!” 

Hina comforting Takemichi

In his miserable state, Hina finds him and tries to free him. However, Takemichi rejects her help because he doesn’t want his own girlfriend to see him so pathetic.

Hina then reminded him that “you’re just you, Takemichi.” This simple comfort showed Takemichi that it’s pointless to compare his failures to others’ success, as he is able to do many other things that Mikey and Draken couldn’t. Through Hina’s words, Takemichi gained a new motivation to save Draken and change the future. 

8. We have to choose our own battles to fight

Peh-yan beating up Mikey who refuses to fight back

Unhappy with Draken’s decision to leave Pah behind, Peh-yan betrays Toman and starts a fight with Mikey. While most of us were thinking that’s it for Peh-yan, Mikey surprisingly didn’t resist or retaliate.

Instead, Mikey revealed that the decision to leave Pah behind was very painful to him too. He tells Peh-yan to “hit me until you’re satisfied” because he doesn’t want to fight with the members of Toman, his family. Upon hearing Mikey’s words, Peh-yan cries and realises that Mikey was also suffering despite his strong front. 

Mikey could have easily killed Peh-yan for betraying the gang, but he taught us that we have to choose our own battles and not barge head-on into every problem without seeing the bigger picture.

Also read:

10 Jujutsu Kaisen Life Lessons We Can Apply To Daily Life, Like Using Our Strength To Help Others

9. Even the strongest people have their moments of weakness

Mikey reassuring everyone that Draken is fine 

Despite Takemichi’s efforts to save Draken, he still ended up having a cardiac arrest and was sent to the emergency room. Toman members began to panic, especially Takemichi, who knew that Draken’s death will result in Mikey’s drastic change in the future. 

Amidst the chaos at the hospital, Mikey reassured everyone with a smile that Draken wouldn’t die so easily since “he promised that we’d rule the world together”. He calmed everyone down by reminding them that there’s no use fretting when there’s nothing anybody could do then.

Mikey crying at the back of the hospital alone after Draken’s condition stabilised 

When Draken’s condition finally stablised, the entire Toman gang gathered outside the hospital to celebrate. However, Takemichi realised that Mikey was nowhere to be found.

Searching at the back of the hospital, Takemichi finds Mikey crying in relief all by himself. While Mikey always has to stand strong and upload himself as a leader, this scene showed us that he has his weak moments too.

10. Our words have the power to inspire others

Takemichi charging towards Valhalla 

In the battle between Toman and Valhalla, Toman was losing since they only had 150 men as compared to 300 in Valhalla. Outnumbered and beaten badly, majority of Toman’s members were ready to admit defeat.

On the other hand, Takemichi, who was badly bruised, remembers that he’s currently in another big event that will change the future. Desperate to defeat Valhalla, he screams and charges towards them, yelling “I’ll crush all of you!”

From his words and actions, the Toman members began to feel ashamed for complaining. Much to Draken’s surprise, Takemichi’s sudden outburst inspires them to fight on. When times are tough and things may seem like they’re not going well, it’s our words that have the power to inspire others more than we think.

11. Forgive others even if they have hurt you

Mikey reflecting at Baji’s grave

When Kazutora was first introduced, his crazy and violent personality seemed like nothing but bad news. But after watching more and finding out his past, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

Kazutora suffers from the emotional trauma of accidentally killing Mikey’s brother in an attempt to steal a birthday present for Mikey. His innocent desire to make his friend happy as a kid had led to unfortunate circumstances.

From Takemichi’s future, a major event that changed Mikey’s life was when he killed Kazutora as revenge. However, Mikey gained no satisfaction from this murder and spiralled down to become evil. 

Draken telling Kazutora that Mikey forgives him

In order to prevent that future, Mikey had to learn to look past his hurt and forgive Kazutora. During a tough battle with Mikey that almost killed Takemichi, Takemichi managed to shed light on the truth. 

Though it was very hard for Mikey to forgive Kazutora — understandable since Kazutora did kill his brother and childhood friend after all — Mikey looked past it and even said that he would welcome Kazutora back into Toman again. Sometimes, it’s important to forgive others so that we can move on with our lives, even if they’ve hurt you.

12. Be proud of who you are

Draken talking about his family in the brothel 

Born in Shibuya’s red light district and getting a tattoo on his temple at 11-years-old, Draken definitely isn’t your ordinary school teen. During Draken’s childhood arc, we find out that he was born in a brothel by a prostitute, who then abandoned him at 2-years-old.  

Even so, Draken remains optimistic and sees everyone who works in the brothel as his family. He isn’t afraid of inviting his friends like Takemichi and Mikey over to his place, even describing his room as “cosy”. 

Draken doesn’t let his background define him and is proud of who he is. Takemichi realises that by embracing his past and getting along well with everyone, Draken seems “mature despite his age”.

13. Don’t assume the worst out of a situation

Takemichi catching Emma and Mikey hugging

While Tokyo Revengers is filled with bloody fights and brutal murders, there are comical episodes to lighten the mood as well. One such scene was when Takemichi caught Emma hugging Mikey and telling him she loves him, even though everyone knew she and Draken had a romance going on.

Horrified by this discovery, Takemichi, Hina and his group of friends led a full investigation to find out if Emma was two-timing the Toman leaders.

Draken teasing Mikey for hanging out with Emma

Coincidentally, Draken met them while the gang was following Mikey and Emma into a cafe. Takemichi breaks down and panics, declaring that this will be the end for Toman if the best friends were to fight over a girl. 

However, Draken breaks the silence by teasing Mikey and asking “you’re hanging out with your little sister on her birthday?”

Though it was a funny episode that revealed that Emma was actually Mikey’s half-sister, it also taught us not to assume the worst out of a situation without clarifying the facts first.

14. Pursue your passions with no regrets

Mitsuya in his school’s sewing club

As a strong and charismatic captain of the 2nd division, nobody would expect Mitsuya to commit to both a biker gang and his school’s sewing club at the same time. Underneath his bleached hair and piercings, Mitsuya also shows us that we shouldn’t judge people by their appearances.

Takemichi feeling respect for Mitsuya in school

Seeing how he’s living his life to the fullest as the president of his school’s sewing club and a gang leader, Mitsuya reminds us that we should pursue all our passions with no regrets.

15. Share your troubles with the people who are there for you

Takemichi and Chifuyu being held hostage by Kisaki in the future 

While friendship remains a big theme in Tokyo Revengers, some of the characters go the extra mile to protect their loved ones. This includes struggling alone and suffering in silence. 

The season finale ended with a new future where Takemichi successfully became Toman’s 3rd division captain with Chifuyu as his vice-captain. However, they were captured by Kisaki and faced a dangerous situation. Right before Kisaki shot Chifuyu in the head, Chifuyu reveals that he was trying to avenge Baji by taking down Kisaki all by himself. 

Baji’s last words to Takemichi and Chifuyu

This scene reminded us of Baji’s last words to Takemichi and Chifuyu — “I wanted to figure out something on my own”. While Baji suffered alone in an attempt to take down Kisaki, this stubbornness eventually led to his death.

The cycle eventually repeated itself in Takemichi’s new future. Baji and Chifuyu’s tragic deaths taught us that there’s no need to carry a heavy burden on your own. Share your troubles with your peers who are there for you, and hopefully a new solution can be worked out instead.

Tokyo Revengers Teaches Us The Beauty Of Friendship Amidst The Violence

As the screen blacked out and a loud gunshot declared the end of the season, we’re left with so many unanswered questions. Why did Kisaki call Takemichi “my hero” before attempting to kill him? Did Takemichi get shot? What happened to Mikey in this new future? Where are Hina and Naoto now? 

With this huge cliffhanger, Tokyo Revengers fans can’t help but wish that the next season will arrive ASAP. While it’s safe to say that we can expect more fights, violence and evil, Tokyo Revengers also showed us the beauty of strong friendships and loyalty within the Toman gang.

All images courtesy of 4anime.

Also read:

12 Attack On Titan Life Lessons That Prove It’s Not Just Another Anime, Like The Importance Of Kindness

The post 15 Tokyo Revengers Life Lessons Including Choosing Your Battles & Learning To Forgive Others appeared first on ZULA.sg.

While it’s common to receive chocolate hearts and roses on Valentine’s Day, now you can surprise manga and anime baes with something unique instead — fingers. Jujutsu Kaisen fans are in for a sweet treat, as Japanese action figure brand Premium Bandai now has chocolate moulds shaped like Ryomen Sukuna’s fingers.

The chocolate mould

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Right from the first episode of Jujutsu Kaisen, Itadori Yuji left an impactful impression on fans after he desperately swallowed Sukuna’s finger while fighting a cursed spirit.

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With the Sukuna chocolate moulds, fans can now create their own edible chocolate fingers without having to become a vessel for a powerful curse spirit. Made of silicone rubber, simply pour melted chocolate into the tray and refrigerate for at least an hour.

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While you can fill up the tray with the chocolate of your preference, opting for milk or dark chocolate will best resemble the dark colours of Sukuna’s finger.

Each tray is able to create up to 5 chocolate fingers. Repeat this step 3 more times and you’ll be able to devour all 20 fingers faster than Yuji himself.

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Premium Bandai has also recommended adding a piece of roasted almond on the tip of the chocolate mould to mimic Sukuna’s fingernail. When compared to Sukuna’s finger in the anime, the details of the mould are spot on, right down to the ridges and bumps.

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As Halloween is approaching next month, these finger moulds are great for throwing a spooky-themed party at home. Pair these treats with a Sukuna or Yuji cosplay and you’re all set for a fun costume party.

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Apart from chocolate, finger-shaped ice cubes can also be created with the same mould. Slip these into your guests’ drinks and watch them gasp in horror or amazement.

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According to Premium Bandai, the moulds will arrive in a wooden box design similar to how Sukuna’s fingers are stored in the anime. Now you can get the full experience, from uncovering this special-grade cursed object to devouring it just like Yuji had.

Also read:

10 Jujutsu Kaisen Life Lessons We Can Apply To Daily Life, Like Using Our Strength To Help Others

BIGBANG Daesung’s chocolate mould

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This mould reminds us of the time BIGBANG’s Daesung released a chocolate mould of his nose and mouth — taking Taeyang’s lyrics of “Eyes, Nose, Lips” literally. Combining Daesung’s mould with the Jujutsu Kaisen set will get you a variety of chocolate body parts to complete your Halloween party.

This Jujutsu Kaisen Chocolate Mould Is Perfect For Your Upcoming Halloween Party

The Jujutsu Kaisen chocolate mould is available for pre-order from now until 24 September 2021 on Premium Bandai’s website. Each mould retails at $49 and there is a limit of 10 pieces per order. 

Meanwhile, if you’re looking for other ways to show your love for the anime, check out the UNIQLO x Jujutsu Kaisen collection with tees inspired by cursed techniques.

Cover: Source

Also read:

UNIQLO’s 2nd Jujutsu Kaisen Collection Features Cursed Techniques Inspired By The Anime’s Style

The post This Jujutsu Kaisen Chocolate Mould Lets You Eat Sukuna’s Fingers Without Gaining Cursed Energy appeared first on ZULA.sg.

Warning: Attack On Titan season 4 spoilers ahead (for anime-watchers only, you’re good to read on).

As someone who grew up watching shoujo (romance and friendship) anime, the most I’ve ever ventured into the shounen (adventure and action) side was Haikyuu. When my friend introduced me to Attack On Titan a year ago, the first thing that came to my mind after seeing the creepy titans’ faces was hell no. However with much convincing, I finally decided to watch the series on Netflix. Before I realised, I was bingeing episodes without pausing, and it snuck its way up to be one of my favourite animes to date.

After overcoming the barrier of scary-looking titans (a race of humanoid giants that eat humans), the concepts in Attack On Titan intrigued me. The story follows a boy named Eren Jeager, who hopes for humanity within the walls of his home so as to be free of the titans that live beyond them. He joins the survey corps and vows to kill every last titan. In the quest to uncover the truth, the plot becomes more complicated, revealing a war between 2 races of humans instead. 

Despite being set in a fictional world, the characters have taught us many life lessons such as friendship, loyalty and sacrifice. As we eagerly wait for the last few episodes of the final season to air, let’s recap from season 1 and find out what we’ve learnt so far.

1. Persevere even when everyone loses hope in you

Eren being unable to balance on the omnidirectional mobility wires

During Eren’s cadet corps training, the soldiers were assigned to balance on the omnidirectional mobility wires. Head instructor Keith Shadis states that this skill is the “bare fundamentals” of being a soldier. While most people were able to succeed, Eren was the only one who couldn’t, constantly being twisted upside down and falling on his head. 

Eren was humiliated and embarrassed, being laughed at by his fellow soldiers and reprimanded by Keith. Many people mocked him and hoped that he would quit even though it was just the beginning.

Eren finally succeeding in balancing on the wires

Despite the negativity, Eren stayed back after training to continue practicing. On the day of the assessment, Eren finally succeeded in remaining upright, yet he fell down again after a few seconds. 

It was only after Keith had ordered Eren to change his equipment that they discovered Eren’s original belt had a broken clasp. After changing it, Eren managed to balance with no trouble. The other soldiers were impressed, realising that Eren could succeed even with the broken equipment. 

It’s important to learn to persevere even when nobody believes you can succeed. Motivating yourself and proving others wrong will always be rewarding. As Eren says, “I might not have raw aptitude, but no one has more guts than I do!”

2. Our enemies aren’t always clear as black and white

Eren brushing away Reiner’s confession

Eren has always grown up hating and vowing to kill all titans, certain that they were the reason humanity could not be free. However, one of the earliest plot twists of Attack On Titan was revealed: Abnormal Titans are actually humans who can transform. 

In Reiner’s desperation, he revealed to Eren that he is the Armoured Titan and Bertolt is the Colossal Titan. Unwilling to believe that his close friends were actually his enemies, Eren simply came up with an excuse by asking “you’re just tired, aren’t you?”

Eren crying when he realises he has to fight his friends

After watching Reiner and Bertolt transform into titans right in front of him, Eren is struck with the realisation that they were enemy spies the whole time. Overcome with betrayal and sadness, Eren cries right before transforming into the attack titan to fight them. 

Our enemies aren’t always who we think they are—sometimes they can be the people among us. While Eren has always believed that titans were his only enemy, the reality of who our enemies really are isn’t that simple.

3. Don’t underestimate someone else’s pain and struggles

Dieter accusing Levi of being heartless

Captain Levi Ackerman has always been known to be cold and harsh through growing up in the Underground City, a.k.a the slums. During one of the scouts’ missions outside the walls, Dieter wanted to retrieve the body of his close friend, Ivan, who had died. 

However, Levi and Erwin strongly protested as they needed to continue on with their mission. Upon hearing this, Dieter angrily accuses them of not having any human feelings. This accusation was made right after Levi had just lost his entire squad to the Female Titan.

Levi giving Dieter Ivan’s scout badge

Going against Erwin and Levi’s words, Dieter went ahead to retrieve Ivan’s body. He was then chased by titans, resulting in the death of another friend. Seeing Dieter suffering, Levi goes over to him and produces Ivan’s scout badge, saying that to him, the badge alone was proof that they once lived.

Dieter realised his mistake and burst into tears. Levi was only doing what was best for everyone while still making sure they are all accounted for. As humanity’s strongest soldier, Levi has constantly been suffering from many tragic losses which the other soldiers do not see. Even though he was also mourning the death of his special ops squad, Levi shows us the importance of moving on and fighting for what we believe in.

4. With love there will always be sacrifice

Ymir saying her last goodbye to Historia

Ymir and Historia are an interesting pair that will forever be remembered. Both of them suffer as victims of their circumstances, being forced to adopt fake personas against their will. While they forged a strong bond of friendship and love with each other, Ymir had to eventually let Historia go during one of the scout’s missions.

Understanding Reiner and Bertolt’s struggles and finding out they wanted to use Historia to gain information about the Founding Titan, Ymir sacrificed her life. In an emotional scene of her last moments with Historia, Ymir gently caressed her in her titan form and said “I’m sorry” before leaving. 

Sometimes, love and sacrifice goes hand in hand. In order to protect the ones we love, we may choose to give up the bigger things in life to make them happy.

5. Sometimes we lose ourselves in the desire to find the truth

Erwin suffering from survivor’s guilt

As a child, Erwin Smith strongly believed in his father’s theory that more humans lived beyond the walls. Unfortunately, after revealing too much, Erwin’s father was silenced and killed by the military police. 

Growing up and becoming the commander of the scouts, Erwin has lived his whole life desperately searching for proof that his father’s theory was true. He suffered tremendously from guilt, feeling that his selfish desire had resulted in the death of too many soldiers under him.

While revealing his inner turmoil to Levi, this is where Levi’s iconic line comes into play—”Erwin, give up on your dream and die”. Erwin finally decides the ultimate sacrifice for the truth: his life. He leads the whole squad to their death, distracting the Beast Titan so that Levi can take him down. 

Though it’s a shame that Erwin died when he was so close to finding the truth in Eren’s basement, his noble decision made us realise why we love his character so much. Erwin has lost too much of himself to continue on and he accepted that.

6. Trust in yourself to make the right decision

Eren fighting with Levi over the titan spinal fluid serum

Watching Levi fight Eren and Mikasa in season 3 had us all on the edge of our seats. Levi was faced with the most difficult decision of all time, with only 1 serum to spare for 2 dying comrades. While I was quite certain that Erwin was about to be saved, Levi stunned us by injecting Armin with the serum instead. 

Though Levi feels strongly for Erwin, he had to let him go and trust that his decision to save Armin instead would be the right choice. Though it’s always hard to make major decisions, you should always trust yourself to make the final call and go through with it till the end.

Also read:

10 Demon Slayer Life Lessons That Apply To Real Life Including Letting Go Of The Past To Move Forward

7. Freedom is sometimes just an illusion

Eren, Armin and Mikasa finally discovering the sea

As kids, Armin and Eren have always thought of the sea as a symbol of freedom, beyond the walls and out of their reach. However, when the scouts finally discovered the sea for the first time, Eren was faced with feelings of uncertainty. 

The scouts realised that it was never just a simple battle of humans against titans. They are Eldians, an oppressed race and seen as “island devils” who are shunned by the rest of the world. Going beyond the walls meant that they had to start war, with the burden of saving the world lying on them.

Instead of freedom, Eren becomes more trapped. The concept of freedom becomes an unattainable illusion, stealing away his childhood innocence. Sometimes in our desire to be free, we fail to see the underlying harsh reality of the circumstances.

8. Those in power will always try to control the narrative

Kenny’s grandfather telling Kenny the truth about the Founding Titan

Through Kenny’s grandfather, we discovered that King Fritz made use of the Founding Titan to erase the memory of all Eldians. The Founding Titan is then passed down from generations of the royal family to prevent humanity from learning the truth of their existence behind the walls.

Meanwhile in Marley, the remaining Eldians are oppressed and forced to live as slaves to Marleyans simply because of their race. This shows us that those in power, such as the royal family and the Marleyans, will always be able to manipulate people according to how they want. Just like in real life, there will always be people who twist and turn reality to benefit them.

9. Fights are never just a one-sided battle

Bertolt reminding Reiner they’re on a warrior mission

Nobody wants to have war even though it might seem necessary at times. Being forced to be a warrior and infiltrating Paradis Island at a young age, Reiner suffers from a split personality disorder. 

Though we felt betrayed after discovering Reiner was a spy, we couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. Reiner struggled to convince himself he could be both a soldier and friend to Eren so as to atone for his sins, but at the same time the guilt for carrying out his secret mission as a warrior made him even more conflicted.

Eren meeting Reiner in Marley 4 years later

Four years later, Eren and Reiner finally reconciled in Marley. This time round, Eren was the one who infiltrated Reiner’s home, making use of Falco to start a war. Coldly, Eren told Reiner that he now understands how Reiner felt all those years ago, saying “I’m the same as you”. 

Being brought up from 2 opposing sides, both Eren and Reiner believed they were saving the world. Their inevitable yet unwanted war shows us that fights are never just a one-sided battle —both sides will end up hurting both physically and emotionally.

10. Cherish the importance of family before it’s too late

Grisha manipulating his son, Zeke

While we’ve always seen Zeke as an unpredictable and ruthless Beast Titan, his traumatic childhood story was revealed in season 4. His father, Grisha Jeager, forced Zeke to train as a warrior so as to seek revenge onto Marley for killing his sister. Grisha and his wife Dina then set up the Eldian Restorationists, a rebellious organisation to the state.

As the descendant of the original royal family from his mother’s side, Zeke had to become a warrior and inherit a titan so that he could enhance its powers. Lost in his crazed desire for freedom, Grisha manipulated Zeke and forced the burden of the revolution on him.

Zeke turning his parents in to the authorities

Zeke wasn’t doing well during his warrior training and suffered from immense stress. He craved the attention of loving and attentive parents, yet he was merely used as a tool. Worried about being found out, Zeke was convinced by his friend, Tom Ksaver, to turn his parents in to the Marleyan authorities. 

At the age of 7, Zeke betrayed his parents, sending them to be transformed into pure titans and secured his place among the warriors as the Beast Titan. Zeke’s character has shown us the importance of familial love, as the absence of it had corrupted Zeke’s childhood while growing up.

11. Be kind to others, no matter who they are

Gabi and Falco arguing over the true nature of Eldians

Brought up as a Marleyan warrior, Gabi grows to hate the Eldian race and sees them as “island devils” despite being an Eldian herself. Her hatred led to her being ruthless, rash and cruel. When she was forced into Paradis with Falco, she felt confused as to why Eldians, such as Kaya, would be kind to her. This resulted in her questioning the possibility of a hidden motive. 

Meanwhile, Falco remains kind to everyone around him, saving Gabi’s life multiple times. For someone who had always looked down on Eldians, Gabi was faced with a rude awakening after Mikasa and Armin saved her and Falco. 

No matter who we are and what race we belong to, we should be kind to others just like Falco. A little bit of help goes a long way, even to the point of saving someone’s life.

12. Question the concept of your own free will

The peak of season 4 occurs when the original trio falls apart. After speaking to Zeke, Eren questions if everything he has done is out of his own free will, after being forced to eat his father and inherit his titan powers. He meets up with Armin and Mikasa again, but this time round he holds them as hostages. 

Seen as a betrayer who has turned against his people, Eren leads a group of “Jeargerists” to find his own way to achieve freedom.

Eren questioning Armin’s motives

The concept of free will and making independent decisions take centre stage here. Eren reveals that Armin has been visiting Annie because he’s influenced by Bertolt’s memories, while Mikasa only lives to protect Eren because of her Ackerman Clan blood. The trio end up fighting, with Eren landing heavy blows onto Armin, leaving Mikasa in tears.

This intense scene suggests that we are all victims of our own circumstances. All the main characters in Attack On Titan suffer mainly because they are born into this world. It’s ultimately up to us to break out of these chains that tie us down and find our own power from within.

Attack On Titan Exposes The Darkness Of Humanity, Yet We Can Learn From These Characters

Whether you watched Attack On Titan because you were simping for Levi Ackerman or you’ve been following the series since season 1, the anime that has taught us many valuable lessons. All the updated episodes of Attack On Titan up till season 4 are available on Netflix. Trust me when I say this—once you start watching, it’ll be impossible to stop. 

K-dramas such as Hospital Playlist and reality shows like Bling Empire are also filled with unique life lessons. Yet beyond the flashy action scenes that only animation can achieve, we can discover important concepts that live-action series may not be able to portray as poetically.

All images courtesy of 4anime.com

Also read:

13 Hospital Playlist Facts Including Celeb Cameos, IRL Squad Goals & Season 2 News

The post 12 Attack On Titan Life Lessons That Prove It’s Not Just Another Anime, Like The Importance Of Kindness appeared first on ZULA.sg.

In celebration of Sailor Moon’s 25th anniversary, Maybelline has launched a collection of Sailor Moon-themed makeup. Featuring matte lipsticks, mascara and eyeliners, transform your makeup look with the Sailor Guardians—no magic wands needed, just mascara wands will suffice.

Matte lipstick

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If you’re still searching for transfer-proof lipsticks that can last long and remain smudge-proof under your masks, the matte lipsticks in this collection are for you. The collection features 4 different shades, each representing a member of the Inner Sailor Guardians. According to Maybelline, these can last up to 16 hours even after eating and drinking.

The Mode Brown lipstick shade is inspired by Sailor Jupitor’s curly brown hair. This shade is great for strong and bold makeup looks, complementing the theme of Sailor Jupitor’s superhuman strength.

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Next, the Adult Cherry Rose shade features Sailor Mercury’s silhouette—the only Inner Sailor Guardian with short hair. As one of the most intelligent characters with a rumoured IQ of 300, Sailor Mercury is portrayed to be mature and sensible. The Adult Cherry Rose shade gives off a similar grown-up vibe, suitable for your daily office makeup look.

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The Glamourous Classical Red gives you bold red lips for a sexy and sultry look. Just like Sailor Veuns who possesses powers associated with love and beauty, put on this lippie for a hot dinner date with bae.

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The Milky Brown shade highlights Sailor Mars’ silhouette of her holding onto an Ofuda. FYI, the Ofuda is a Japanese talisman used to bear good luck. In the Sailor Moon series, Sailor Mars makes use of the Ofuda to create and control fire. Unlike her fiery personality however, this shade suggests a more neutral look for your everyday, no-makeup makeup look.

Also read:

5 Transfer-Proof Lipsticks That Won’t Come Off On Your Mask, As Tried & Tested By SG Girls

Mascara

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Finally, the main character herself, Sailor Moon, makes an appearance on the eye makeup in this collection. Available in black, this mascara is an essential tool to enhance your eye makeup with longer and thicker lashes. By giving off the appearance of bigger eyes as well, perhaps you’ll be inspired by the makeup look of our favourite soldier of love and justice.

Eyeliner

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Level up your winged liner game with the hyper sharp eyeliner in dark black. With an ultra-fine tip of 0.01mm, this easy-to-draw liquid eyeliner is perfect for beginners who are looking to explore more eye makeup products.

Sailor Moon on Netflix

Image courtesy of Netflix

On 7 May 2021, Netflix released an official trailer for Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal The Movie. It’s time for a throwback with one of the best-selling shojo manga in the world, as this Sailor Moon movie is set to be released on 3 June 2021. 

In the meantime, Sailor Moon fans can gear up with the Sailor Moon x Maybelline makeup collection while waiting for this movie to drop.

The Sailor Moon x Maybelline Collection Will Glow-up Your Makeup Look In The Name Of The Moon

The Sailor Moon x Maybelline makeup collection is only available in Japan for now, but the items can be shipped to Singapore from Amazon Japan. If you can’t get enough of these adorable Sailor Moon themed makeup, the Sailor Moon x Colourpop collection featuring eyeshadow palettes and body glitter is still available on Colourpop’s website.

Cover: Source, source

Also read:

The Sailor Moon x Colourpop Collection Is Out Of This World And Includes Holographic Body Glitter

The post This Sailor Moon x Maybelline Makeup Collection Will Transform Your Look Just Like Magic appeared first on ZULA.sg.

Colourpop just announced a new collection of makeup products in collaboration with Sailor Moon. Available on 20 February on Colourpop’s website, it comprises an eyeshadow palette, 2 tubs of body glitter, blushes and lip gloss sets. If you’re a fan of the anime series, you wouldn’t want to give this a miss!

Pretty Guardian eyeshadow palette

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Pretty Guardian is an eyeshadow palette with 12 shades of matte and shimmery finishes. 

From left: Twilight Flash, Silver Millennium, Full Moon, Justice, Miracle Romance
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Wear the matte coral shade (Twilight Flash) on its own for a casual vibe. Amp it up by adding a touch of iridescent champagne (Silver Millennium) or gold (Full Moon) to the centre of your lids for an elevated pop. If you’re going for a more eccentric look, experiment with the yellow (Justice) or fuschia (Miracle Romance) shadows. 

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As always, Colourpop never fails to disappoint in the pigmentation department. A swatch test done by 2 people with differing skin tones on the cosmetics brand’s Instagram Stories proves how bright and consistent the payoff is, making it suitable for everyone.

Glitterally Obsessed

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No Sailor Moon glam look will be complete without star and crescent moon glitter to match the anime’s over-the-top aesthetic. These holographic confetti glitter tubs come in 2 hues—violet (Moon Prism Power) or pink (Moonlight Legend)—and have a gel-like adhesive mixed in for easy and fuss-free application with a brush. 

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Layer the glitter atop highlighter on your cheeks for mad Harajuku/Coachella vibes. Alternatively, place just one crescent moon and star on the outer corner of your bottom lid to accent your look.

Pressed Powder Blush

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Of course, we could never forget Luna, the talking cat that advises Sailor Moon and the rest of the Guardian Senshi. 

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Dedicated to the feline, the Pressed Powder blush is available in two tones: Cat’s Eye for a natural rosy flush or From The Moon for an intense and dramatic neon pink look. It has a velvety consistency, which allows smooth, consistent and buildable application.

Daylight & Moonlight Lip Bundle

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Finally, we have the Daylight and Moonlight Lip Bundles, each containing 2 lip products—an Ultra Blotted Lip matte lip cream and a sparkly Ultra Glossy Lip lip gloss. 

From left: Bun Head, Usagi, Sailor Moon
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The Daylight Bundle comprises a rosy pink lip cream (Usagi) and a coral coloured gloss (Moon Tiara). The Moonlight Bundle is made up of an electric pink lip cream (Bun Head) and a peach coloured gloss (Sailor Moon). If you’re feeling adventurous, you could try doubling the lip glosses up as an eye gloss too.

Glam Up With The New Sailor Moon x Colourpop Collection

These products will be available on Colourpop’s website come 20 February at 10am PST. Stay tuned to its Instagram page for details regarding the retail prices and an upcoming giveaway.

Also read:

Upcoming Skechers x Sailor Moon Collection Lets You Relive Your Schoolgirl Days In Style 

Cover image: Source

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