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Manga

This guide highlights manga in the E. Allen Gordon Library collection.

Manga & Related Books

Dragon Drive is a shonen, sci-fi, fantasy manga written and illustrated by Ken-ichi Sakura, consisting of 14 volumes. It tells the story of Reiji Ozara, a high school student who gives up on everything he tries. However, when he is introduced to Dragon Drive, a virtual reality game where he gets his own dragon, he learns that there's more to himself and his dragon than he ever realized.

Dragon Drive is about a young man who finds new purpose through virtual reality. This installment of the Opposing Viewpoints series, edited by Susan Henneberg, explores some of the pros and cons of this technology, from concerns about the effects of simulated violence, to potential training programs for surgeons and other high risk professions.

Dragon Drive explores how virtual reality (or VR) can help kids learn valuable life skills and lessons. In this ebook, Josh Gregory describes VR in a way that even kids can understand, while touching upon some of its benefits and potential negatives. He also offers a glossary of common terms used when discussing VR.

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Anime & Related Videos

Dragon Drive's opening theme, "True", was performed by singer/songwriter Shimokawa Mikuni. Its visuals depict the various players of the titular game preparing to log in. The lyrics represent Reiji's perspective, who after years of giving up at everything, desperately wants to prove himself for the first time.

ENGLISH LYRICS PROVIDED BY ANIMESONGLYRICS.COM

I want to believe in the light I've found that day
because there is one promise that
I've exchanged with you
I want to continue walking without stopping

like how I bite into a ripened fruit
I spoiled my weak self
the blue sky that is left for us
those days that I took that for granted

if I haven't met you, I would still
be unable to break the wall

I won't forget the pain I've felt that day
I never want to return to that place
more stronger
I want to believe in the light I've found that day
it's okay even if I'm not cool and being laughed at
because I'm clumsy
I can only choose the same way of living

even if I'm holding onto my knees
morning will always come to the sky I've looked up at

there are worries and uncertainties but
you gave me the courage to accept all of that

I won't forget the smile of yours on that day
I've finally felt that "I'm not alone"
at that moment
I want to believe in the light I've found that day
I don't mind even if others consider it an illusion
and laugh at me because
it's the answer that we chose

I won't forget the pain I've felt that day
I never want to return to that place
more stronger
I want to believe in the light I've found that day
because there is one promise that
I've exchanged with you
I want to continue walking without stopping

Dragon Drive's ending theme, "Tatta, Hitosu no" (also known as "The Only One"), was performed by singer/songwriter Shimokawa Mikuni. Its visuals depict Reiji as he gazes at his dragon Chibi's card, imagining them traveling together. Its lyrics represent his growing maturity as he learns to step outside of his comfort zone.

ENGLISH LYRICS PROVIDED BY ANIMESONGLYRICS.COM

it was boring, rather awkward
hurting someone, even myself
acting tough, whining
protecting the uncontrolable feeling

meeting you after becoming an adult
the corner of my heart softened
becoming lonely, embracing each other
finally finding something to protect for sure

only one courage
only one word
take the two to an endless dream

only a small amount of kindness
only a small amount of whispers
they wrap the two calmly
until morning arrives

hurting each other, then sympatizing
exchanging countless kisses
becoming honest, then speaking up
I spoke about a small dream

standing side by side, taking a picture
large fireworks are blown into the sky
what does eternity look like
I began to think differently

only one wrong doing
only one word
leads us to an unknown darkness

with a newly bought bike
on the rode alone
I just continue to race down straight
until morning arrives

only one courage
only one word
take the two to an endless dream

only a small amount of kindness
only a small amount of whispers
they wrap the two calmly
until morning arrives

only one courage
only one word
take the two to an endless dream

only a small amount of kindness
only a small amount of whispers
they wrap the two calmly
until morning arrives
until morning arrives

la la la...

Dragon Drive is (in-universe) a VR game that's so realistic, that its players feel like they're in actually danger. While this may feel like an exaggeration, it doesn't actually take that much to convince the brain that what it's experiencing is real. In this video, the writers at Vox explain how the technology works and why our minds are so easily "fooled".

CLOSED CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY VOX

Websites & Articles

Dragon Drive's story contains a wide variety of "tropes" (or "common story elements"), from Bond Creatures to Magikarp PowerTvTropes is a wiki dedicated to cataloging these tropes, providing notable examples from all kinds of media. It allows readers to browse these tropes by franchise and even find notable subversions where appropriate.

Dragon Drive has been sinking its fangs into readers since 2001. When researching the series for the first time, Wikipedia can make for a good, quick overview, while offering links and citations to other sources. When using it for academia purposes, however, be careful to examine the sources to make sure that any information is relevant and accurate.

Dragon Drive depicts how virtual reality can, if appropriately used, make a positive impact on people's lives. In this article from JMIR Serious Games, ten contributors go over a new virtual reality system designed to help young patients with psychosis increase their self-esteem and build positive mental habits.

About ProQuestProQuest is a Traveler Database, which means that it's funded through the Arkansas State Library System. For this reason, the site will automatically check your IP Address to confirm that you're using it within Arkansas. If you aren't able to access this article because your IP Address is out of state, try using another internet connection.