Marcana Tarot Project
Posted by Aorii in Anime, Art, Project, tags: Banner of the Stars, Cardcaptor Sakura, Cards, Chobits, Fate/stay night, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, Kannagi, Macross Frontier, Maria-sama ga Miteru, Shakugan no Shana, Tarot, To Aru Kagaku no Railgun, Welcome to NHKOver the past two weeks my life’s free time had been almost entirely consumed by photoshop, as the Tarot Project is finally coming together. I only have three things to say on the matter — I’ve never taken photoshop to be such serious business before; I can finally say I’m more than just a noob to photoshop thanks to the picto-editing skills I’ve acquired; and I haven’t felt so proud of my goods for a long time.
Progress:
[Deck] Character Selection: Finished
[Deck] Card Stock: Finished
[Deck] Art Selection: Finished
[Deck] Card Assembly: 95%
[Blog] Background Assembly: 0%
[Blog] Banner Creation: 0%
Before anyone asks “why all girls?”, it’s to cut down on the competition between character and more consistency in art style. Not to mention — the deck is cuter this way.
I might think about making a bishie/GAR deck later, maybe, if I feel like throwing away another week+ of free time.
Deck would be finished last weekend if I didn’t keep changing my mind about the characters, or two days ago if Company of Heroes: TOV didn’t arrive and cause me to start wasting tons of time on it (epic game which requires a post later). But until then, take eleven…
Keywords: Zero, Blank
My Choice: Chii [Chobits]
Honorable Mentions: Sakura [Tsubasa Chronicles][Everything CLAMP]
Contrary to first impressions that the title gives off, the fool implies ignorance rather than foolishness. It best applies to a character with a mostly blank slate who is ‘being released into the world’. I don’t think anyone can even compare to Chii from Chobits on this, whom started literally blank with no memory and a childish personality filled with curiosity and a few prime directives. She had to be taught on everything, starting from the language, and her perspectives developed entirely from there.
Keywords: Energy, Creativity, Conviction, Initiative, Objectivity
My Choice: Misaka Mikoto [To Aru Majutsu no Index][To Aru Kagaku no Railgun]
I Call This Card: The Doer
With a goal to accomplish, the initiative to get started, and the strength and resolve to carry it through, the Magician is amongst the top pickings for ideal main character or primary support character personality in a plot-driven story. In Index, Mikoto may have been caught between a rock and a hard place and laid undecided until the last moment. But in railgun (I expect the anime to follow the manga), she takes the reins of the main character and all the privileges that comes with it, solving the case solo with an ingenious all-out use of her resources despite the fact she’s with neither law-enforcement groups, just an overpowered civilian bystander.

Keywords: Knowingness, Intuition, Serenity, Introspection, Relationship
My Choice: Kinomoto Sakura [Cardcaptor Sakura]
I Call This Card: The Shoujo Lead
Many of the best shoujo manga main characters have emerged out of this mold. A serene naivety and a girl’s intuition sets the foundation, and through the course of the story they develop an understanding of themselves and the world around them, as well as settling into that obligatory heartwarming relationship. Sakura, the quintessential mahou shoujo, is certainly amongst the pioneers of this role.
By the way, Moonknives’ drawings are soooooooooo pretty~!

Keywords: Maternal, Comfort, Fertility, Desire, Satisfaction
My Choice: Nagi [Kannagi]
I Call This Card: The Mother
Honorable Mentions: Minase Akiko [Kanon]
Kannagi gives us plenty of imagery on Nagi the spoiled freeloader, but only tidbits on her other, true self — Nagi, caretaker of the land. Shinto Goddess Nagi is one whom fosters and comforts the critters and souls of her domain, filled with maternal benevolence and compassion. Meanwhile, Nagi’s more physical and less spiritual self positively lives off desire and satisfaction, showing that other side of herself as a possible inner persona of the goddess.

Keywords: Stability, Authority, Discipline, Tradition, Structure
My Choice: Saber [Fate/stay night]
There was no contender to this card from the start as the Emperor marks the very essence of Saber, both figuratively and literally. A disciplined individual who structured her entire being around her ideals, Saber became a shining beacon of authority in one of the darkest hours of history. Even more grounded than her ideal of the King is her perspective as a Knight, carrying on the tradition of Chivalry (at least the honor part, not quite the courtship). The only thing she lacked slightly was stability, as she doubted herself and her pillar of personal ideals had been shaken far more than once, especially by Rider (Iskandr) of Fate/Zero. But thanks to Shirou in Fate route, Saber was finally able to lay the past to rest and move on to her eternal dream in Avalon.
Saber Lily is totally still the same character. Also, my figure arrived last weekend — pics soon.

Keywords: Knowledge, Conservatism, Formality, Maturity, Tradition
My Choice: Ogasawara Sachiko [Maria-sama ga Miteru]
I Call This Card: The Mentor
The hierophant is the pinnacle of a stern and conservative educator of wisdom, be it a parent, an older sibling, or a mentor. While I’m not exactly huge into Marimite, Honya’s suggestion of her fits the image perfectly, with exception to the yuri and disdain of men of course. But the series’ genre aside, Sachiko’s teachings on being the proper and elegant lady certainly comes to mind, painting a striking and vivid picture of traditional education.

Keywords: Passion, Affinity, Relationship, Doubt, Temptation
My Choice: Sheryl Nome & Ranka Lee [Macross Frontier]
I Call This Card: The Love Polygon
Honorable Mentions: Hayase Mitsuki & Suzumiya Haruka [Kimi ga Nozomu Eien]
The Lovers arcana is the definition of romance love-polygon drama, where chemistry and passion exists side-by-side to fuel doubt and insecurity and drive the story through character relationships. The most notable of these series as of late is Macross Frontier, where Sheryl and Ranka battle for second place in Alto-hime’s heart with their songs (first place will always be the open skies). Although, Sheryl fits this position far more than Ranka, who seems to be more of an imouto archetype with a teenage crush on their person of inspiration. However, amidst the doubts the two were able to capitalize on their affinity to overcome their jealousy, bringing an equilibrium to the triangle by the end. That’s certainly something Kiminozo fans (whom are still warring) can’t say.

Keywords: Honor, Conviction, Assertion, Impulsiveness, Inflexibility
My Choice: Shana [Shakugan no Shana]
I Call This Card: The Tsundere
Honorable Mentions: Louise Françoise de la Vallière [Zero no Tsukaima], Aisaka Taiga [Toradora]
Resolved and active, yet prideful and inflexible, the Chariot marks all the traits of a trademark straightforward tsundere in one convenient package. Shana is a prime example of this, a crusader of worldly balance whom cuts the middle ground between mild and extreme tsun-tsun (especially Louise whose in the domain of being positively sadistic) with a healthy dose of dere~dere, all the while displaying absolute conviction for her occupation as a Flame Haze.
It should be noted that tsunderes with more adaptability (e.g. Tohsaka Rin, Misaka Mikoto) have a tends to fit the Magician arcana more, leaving the Chariot for those with less intelligence creativity and flexibility.

Keywords: Impartiality, Objectivity, Analysis, Rationality, Decision
My Choice: Lafiel [Crest of the Stars][Banner of the Stars]
I Call This Card: Lone-Wolf/Warrior
Honorable Mentions: Tabitha Orleans [Zero no Tsukaima], Tear Grants [Tales of the Abyss]
The combination of being impersonal and objective marks this arcana as the mold in describing those cold, mission-driven types, especially the ones with robotic rationality and bluntness. In modern fiction writing, these characters always develop bonds of camaraderie as the story progresses. But even with the onset of emotional interaction, they are still the ones whose logic remain firmly in control when the story hits its climax. An Abu by nature whose race is best known for their detached and calculating demeanor, Lafiel exemplifies this even more as her Ruler-to-be forces upon her absolute objectivity in all decision making. She may be closely attached to Jinto, but she certainly won’t hesitate to leave the planet he’s dying on when logic and necessity calls upon it — even if she must shed tears (a sin for Abu royalty) in fear for his life when she returns.
I really wish I could find a good, clear shot picture of an Empire of Abh navy vessel for this card, be it the Basroil Assault Frigate or Admiral Spoor’s Red Patrol Cruiser.

Keywords: Solitude, Reflection, Philosophical, Understanding, Guidance
My Choice: Nakahara Misaki [Welcome to N.H.K]
Honorable Mentions: C.C. [Code Geass]
I would call this the ‘Wise Old Man’, but characters of this archetype today are not necessarily old, and often contains a gaping hole between all that wisdom. They’ll still serve as a guide for the leading characters, but the influence no longer flows one-sidedly. Misaki gets the spotlight from me not because she fits the card any better than C.C, but because she leaves a far more impressionable image. At the start we find her a compassionate guidance counselor — still an amateur, but with a deep drive for philosophical and psychological understanding. It’s not until later does the truth surface: that she’s every bit as messed up, if not even more, than Satou (her patient) is and requires just as much Hermit-help as she offers.

Keywords: Opportunity, Destiny, Cycle, Development, Surprise
My Choice: Furude Rika & Hanyuu [Higurashi no Naku Koro ni]
Honorable Mentions: Suzumiya Haruhi [The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya]
As much as Haruhi may attempt to match it, with Haruhi-tards arguing so, Higurashi definitely exemplifies the ultimate use of Fate, Destiny, and the Fortune card itself. Here our hero and heroines are trapped in an endlessly repeating cycle of horrific deaths, in which only the two lolis (nippa~!) comprehend the situation and must strive hopelessly to defeat the antagonists’ schemes. It wasn’t until the umpteenth cycle did they finally seize the day through the power of hope and teamwork and manage consecutive successful sneak attacks upon the final boss. Well played Seventh Expansion! Bravo!!!
I know, this is only half. You’ll get the other half later…







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