i love anime, but the series i choose to go skinny-dipping in usually aren't hugely popular. there are a couple of strange exceptions: pokemon and naruto.

i have never seen pokemon subbed and don't really care to. the dub was torture enough, like an immensely annoying song to which i know the lyrics all too well. but the monsters were sooooooo delectably cuuuuute...i fell in lust with pikachu in particular the moment my eyes fell on him and instantly started to collect piles of pikachu schwag. keychains. plushes. pillows. you name it, i either have it or wish i did.

at least naruto is halfway decent. i don't exactly envision myself buying the series when volumes of it finally come out on dvd in the states (and it will. there are far too many narutards for that not to transpire -- there'd be rioting in the streets. or something). i'm not a huge fan.

but i'm quite fond of sabaku no gaara. i'm already starting to build another collection of stuff.

he appeals to that side of me that dreamed up creative ways to kill people in high school, that practically squealed with glee over a display of medieval torture instruments at the local natural history museum, that still finds johnny the homicidal maniac wickedly amusing after all these years. even after he stabilizes later in the manga, he still tickles the misanthrope within me.

to a small extent, i empathize with him. i wasn't quite that unloved, but i understand his pain (and probably also share a bit of his pronounced self-centeredness. this is not necessarily a good thing). and i love his character design. i've always had a yen for quiet, skinny, androgynous guys...in eyeliner, no less...*gasp* the blood-red hair and pale green eyes certainly don't hurt.

i've even surprised myself by deciding to cosplay as gaara next year. i'd sworn i'd never do anything of the sort, if only because i don't understand the appeal of halloween. 'but this is how i am all the time. i don't need an excuse.' when i do...there will be pictures here.

*pores over fabric samples for a replica of gaara's kazekage outfit*
mmm, heavy black linen...
god, i need sleep.