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thebrokengate · 6 months ago

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The Record of Stan Frederick: A Study of Amendments

This is an analysis that is long overdue. If there’s anyone in the world that could tell you how much I love The Record of Stan Frederick, it’s my best friend whose ear I’ve talked off endlessly about it, and they would probably tell you that Amendments is not only my favorite episode of the series, but also that it’s my favorite Slenderverse video of all time. If anyone who hasn’t experienced the Slenderverse asked me to show them one video from it that would paint them a picture of what the spirit of this universe is all about, this is the one I would point them to, because its characters, story, and editing encapsulate everything that I’ve loved about the Slenderverse for years all in one episode. I believe that Amendments is not only just a brilliantly made episode among many others in The Record of Stan Frederick, but it is also crucial to our understanding of the narrative, of what both separates and brings together our primary protagonist and antagonist, how the events of each character’s lives and how they felt about them affected their choices, and how the overall story of this series promotes the cautionary tale of not letting yourself fall into perpetuating the cycle of violence.

This is a case study of Amendments.

In the context of The Record of Stan Frederick, the dictionary meaning of the episode’s title would be defined as “a change made by correction, addition, or deletion” as our protagonist Stan Frederick’s goal in this particular video is to correct his error of putting off stopping his ex-partner in crime, Connor Dwight, from hurting the people around Stan when he had known how to stop Connor for at least a year. Stan put everyone else’s monsters ahead of his own, which only led to further destruction that could have been avoided—yet another huge mistake that cost him greatly. With his metaphorical will to live gone when he lost Willow, a child Stan was trying to help who was being hunted by the monsters known as Seedeaters, who manipulated her sister Dana to give her over to them—an event that Connor had a hand in tricking Stan over after being given Willow’s death prophecy by another monster known as the Rake, in which Connor proceeded to give Stan a warning ahead of time that other characters they knew could be the next to die, but never gave Willow’s name as an option—Stan finally worked up the nerve to take care of him once and for all.

Stan returns to his childhood home years after the loss of his little brother Erik and his parents, the place still as empty as it was then, save for the monster who took them all, standing at the top of the stairs waiting for him like it had never left. The Slenderman, as we know him, a monster who Stan used to fear so much and once gave into survival to appease it, and now Stan needs its help. It’s such a cruel twist of fate when he had taken everything from Stan in the past, and he has to question it: Can the monster feel emotions like pain or fear, and do the things that it does mean anything in relation to what it is? The reality of this question is to wonder if this faceless being who never speaks its mind has any level of consciousness humans can understand. Is it just a monster meant to prey on people like an animal for its own survival? Is it meant to play games with the mind until its victims are broken and nothing more? Is it something so far removed from us? Or is it like us at all, able to understand the horrors it puts humanity through, but does it anyway? Could it ever have felt the pain that Stan felt every time it took someone from him, and could it have ever understood him? But they’re questions that never come with an answer. It does what it does and that’s all we know.

But there is one other thing that Stan knows: how to please it. He makes a deal with Slenderman, not a far cry from making a deal with the Devil, that if he would make Connor human again so that he can be killed, Stan would let Slenderman take him in return. Turning the corner up the stairs, Stan finds that Slenderman has disappeared at the request, and at first believes that this was a denial of the offer on the monster’s part, only to look back down the stairs and see him now at the bottom instead. The deal Stan made effectively reversed their roles where Slenderman went from being both literally and metaphorically above him to being below him, showing that Stan now is the one who has control over the monster, it doing his bidding instead of the other way around—a relatively uncommon thing for a protagonist of the Slenderverse to make happen. This is one of the many things that makes The Record of Stan Frederick unique in general, because the story is told from the perspective of someone who has already been through this and knows the monster’s behavioral patterns instead of someone who has never had these experiences before.

With his deal accepted by the monster, Stan enters his old bedroom with only his camera that he sets up on the windowsill, and Connor’s gun. For a moment as he loads the gun, he thinks back on the last conversation he had with his brother Erik the day Slenderman took him, a memory that we as the audience also hear, before putting the gun to his head which lures Connor out. The trigger is pulled and despite the gun being loaded, no bullet comes out, because Stan isn’t allowed to die. The Rake still owes him for having given Connor to him years ago, and Connor can’t kill him because he’s under the Rake’s protection. Similarly, Connor can’t be killed in his current form as what’s known as a corruptelam—an echo of a person much like that of a ghost that can be left behind when a monster consumes a human. So with the two of them now standing face to face, both unable to be killed by the other, they’re finally at a stalemate. This is also reflected in the framing of the scene in which neither character stands above or below the other, showing that they are currently equals, unlike before for example in the episode People where Connor stands over Stan and Serena after fighting them off.

This is when Stan tries to appeal to Connor’s emotions, asking him if he remembers when they first met and saying that he knows Connor forgot a lot of things. It’s unspecified just how much Connor did forget as the type of corruptelams Stan had described the Rake leaving behind being echoes of the body rather than the mind, the type which Connor is, but we do know that day was one of the things he seems to have forgotten. Stan reminds him that they were once just kids in the foster system, both afraid of the same monster and the only ones who seemed to have been followed by it, which is when they clicked. And interestingly enough, for a second, Connor almost seems… sad. He bows his head and stares at the floor, and Stan mirrors the same position. Mirroring someone’s behavior in psychology is often a sign of empathy, giving the other person a non-verbal sign of connection and understanding, and it’s often something subconsciously done in our every day social environments. It shows that both of them are in sync, engaged in the same discussion and nostalgia of the past they endured together.

Stan didn’t know anything about Connor back then, certainly not what he was capable of becoming, but he knew even less about what he himself would become and what they would become together. Fear drove them both to survival, as equally guilty in what they did as they are in their equal inability to die. It’s what they both wanted at one point, to be able to live without that fear. To want to survive is human; when we’re faced with death, most of us will do anything to stop it, just as they did. But sometimes we go about it in a way that brings harm to others. Sometimes we become selfish creatures and throw others to the weeds if it means we’ll get a good night’s sleep. The truth is, the only thing that makes Stan better than Connor here is the fact that he woke up one day and realized he didn’t want to live that way anymore, to hurt others to keep himself safe. They’ve both been victims and they’ve both been perpetrators, but only Stan broke that cycle.

Stan then lifts the gun and points it at Connor, who reminds him that Stan can’t kill him. Stan replies that he knows because Connor is a corruptelam, the phenomena which he had named himself, to which Connor points out that he finds this whole situation embarrassing. This moment and the moment before are so surprisingly human, taking a step back and looking at the portrayal of Connor’s character up until this point as an otherwise threatening and intimidating figure. But, being completely unphased by the gun, Stan wonders if Connor had forgotten that, too—how to be scared, knowing now that he can’t be killed as a corruptelam and feeling that nothing bad would ever happen to him again because he’s something stronger than a human now. This conversation perfectly mirrors Stan’s earlier questions to Slenderman of if he can feel emotions and if the awful things he does have any purpose relative to his being, because Connor has truly become their own monster: perpetuating the cycle of violence, taking what he can from Stan to hurt him, and now unable to die. He’s forgotten the times that he used to lie awake in bed every night, terrified that their monster would come back again and harm him, and that’s something he outright tells Stan. “You move on. You make it better for yourself. You forget!” he argues. “No, you don’t! You don’t forget that,” Stan responds. “I certainly don’t. I forgot a lot… But I would never fucking forget that.”

To remember our fears, in Stan’s eyes, is what keeps us human. It’s what reminds us that other people in our own personal situations have the same feelings as us, and makes us ask what right we have to make them suffer while we find peace. What makes us our monsters is not the hardships we face, but the hell we choose to make others go through to feel better about ourselves, and we have to be careful not to cross that line. We are all as capable of continuing the cycles of torment we experience as we are capable of breaking them, and Connor unfortunately never did.

It’s at this point that Stan allows Slenderman to complete his request, to turn back the clock and make Connor human again. Connor falls to his knees before his monster and screams as Slenderman does this, remaining on his knees even when it’s over and Stan points his gun at the back of Connor’s head. This scene shows that their stalemate has finally been broken with Stan now being above Connor rather than on equal ground with him. Connor begins to make one final plea for his life, but Stan cuts him off by shooting him, ending his life for real this time. Blood covers the screen, hiding Stan’s face from view as he too falls to his knees, now becoming his monster himself. We can no longer see his expressions beyond the blood, we don’t know his exact thoughts, if he feels better for taking Connor out of the world so he can’t hurt anyone else, or if he feels more grief for having to take his life with his own hands this time around—having also been stated in one of the book excerpts to have hated himself for giving Connor over to the Rake originally—or if he’s feeling some strange mixture of both. We don’t know what his emotions are toward that action in that moment, just as we don’t know what Slenderman’s emotions may be when he hurts people, if he even has any at all. There’s only emptiness left in the silent room that we as the audience feel, until Stan leaves Connor’s body behind for the Rake to find and goes back downstairs to accept his fate in giving himself over to Slenderman, completing their arranged deal.

Except he doesn’t.

As Slenderman tries to take him, Stan talks back, explaining how Slenderman used to be so huge and terrifying to him as a kid, and how he took everything from him. He asks the monster then if he really thought that Stan was going to let him take him too before using the same gun he had just killed Connor with to shoot himself, finally able to die as he was no longer in the Rake’s good graces. A body for a body. And not to get all David Kushner’s Daylight here, but that gun, too, is a metaphor for how Stan and Connor drinking poison from the same vine of survival led them both to their deaths. It was Connor who owned the gun first, the person who also initially suggested the idea of sacrificing other kids to their monster in return for their own peace, which Stan agreed to. The blood from the same deal they made was always on both of their hands, but Connor choosing to share that poison with Stan made Stan his own undoing from the beginning as he would always be the one to stop Connor. The awful truth is, if not for Stan, Connor’s way of surviving may have been proven to always work. It’s a horrible way to go, but no one else ever brought him down. If Connor truly wanted to survive in that way, picking Stan as his survival partner was the wrong move, unbeknownst to him at the start. The gun is a symbolic reflection in this scenario of Stan’s original plans when he had initially accepted Connor’s proposal of harvesting—that he was going to poison his and Connor’s cups of coffee which would kill them both, stopping Connor from going through with perpetuating the cycle of violence and ending his own life because he never stopped feeling guilt and grief from losing his brother to Slenderman.

The narrative actively punishes Stan whenever he chooses to live, and fate seems to scream that he has always been meant to die that day with Connor before they could ever do any of the horrible things they did together. Whether that be the time he handed Connor off to the Rake and got to live again only to be stuck trying to make up for their mistakes, or this time in Amendments when Stan returns as a corruptelam for one last try at making something of his life and he loses the last of the people that he loved, it’s always a punishment that he doesn’t die. He committed unforgivable sins that he could find no redemption for unless it was to choose death, and there was never another option to redeem him. The tragedy of The Record of Stan Frederick is like something out of a Shakespearian play, that there is no atonement and no end to Stan’s suffering unless he dies when all he wanted to do before was get out alive—just as his favorite song said. Amendments perfectly conveys the message of this story like no other, that becoming your own monster can only lead you down two paths: one of a never-ending cycle of hurting others to feel better about yourself, or one of never-ending regret. There’s no hope in that cycle. But there is hope in reaching out to others for help when you need it, and that is part of the message, too. After all, it’s Stan who tells his support group in the episode titled Support Group that they have each other and tells them how important that connection is. The support of those going through the same troubles as us is meant to lift us up, to help us survive together in a positive way, not to abuse and exploit it as Stan and Connor once did. It’s up to all of us to decide which path we’ll choose, and it’s up to us alone to accept the responsibility of those actions—just as Stan finally did.

#Stan Frederick #The Record of Stan Frederick #Slenderverse #I've been working on this all afternoon and now I can't see because I've been staring at my screen too long #worth it #I feel like I should have a tag for my analyses and essays at this point but I don't #and here I thought I'd never be writing essays again after high school but apparently I'm neurodivergent about fiction so here we are

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rojaceartandgaming · 9 months ago

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Hello IEYTD fandom, I know I'm not much of someone who... participates much. I lurk, I drop in to throw an ieytd fic at y'all and put Jackson through more hell, but... I have a legitimate question. Please don't be mad if I am out of line, but I'm genuinely confused as someone who is a storyteller himself and is learning game design in college. This leads me into another point here-

This will go into game and story analysis!

I'll admit most of my questions are rhetorical, so as rude as I may accidentally sound... I want to have a genuine discussion about this fandom, and I am coming in as a third party who doesn't partake in anything here really other then loving people's fanfiction and art. I watch, I listen, and yet... I am utterly exhausted and kind of frustrated with the state of this fandom as a mostly outside observer.

So, I'm legitimately just putting these questions out there to get them off my mind, and I really don't have the energy to partake in any arguments. I am not looking for any arguments like "well I don't think so" or "I don't see that." I have been here silently watching and yet what I shall bring up has stood out to me near-constantly.

Why is there just... such blatant mischaracterization in this fandom? And why, furthermore, are people so... shocked that people enjoy villainous characters? And even furthermore.... why are people constantly dumbing down antagonists? As a writer myself, I often constantly find myself mentally praising Schell on this amazing trilogy of games. Especially because 99.9 percent of the characters are villains. A hero is only as good as their villain - that is a crucial part of video game development. Of storytelling as a whole.

I am studying game design. Actively going to college for this.

I have been reading and consuming and analyzing fiction since I was a kid.

I've been working on an RPG for the past three years, my passion project.

No matter if you're reading a story, watching a movie, or in this case playing a video game, this is a fundamental concept. A hero is only as good as their villain. That is what makes us root for a hero. A villain has to be menacing, a threat to the main hero, needs to be compelling, and furthermore most of the time needs to be understandable. A villain that you can see exactly how they got to that point and can kind of empathize with that is a well written villain.

Being able to see or analyze how a villain got to that point is not excusing their bad actions or ignoring that a character is a bad guy.

That is someone critically analyzing a character and enjoying their arc. And furthermore, that is a testament to good writing.

Being able to understand exactly how a villain got to the point they're at makes them more terrifying.

Characters like Sephiroth (honestly most Final Fantasy antagonists, really), the Dead Three's Chosen from Baldur's Gate, basically every villain from Splatoon, Count Bleck from Super Paper Mario and so much more are not beloved characters just because they're just like, considered hot (idk fandoms be wild) or blorboified (is that even a term?).

They're loved because they are genuine threats who have such depth to their character and are interesting because they are villains. And furthermore, vanquishing or going against these villains feels important because they have depth. Because they can be analyzed.

That's what I love about IEYTD as both a gamer, and a storyteller myself. The Phoenix is a complete blank slate. The Phoenix is a player insert. That is not a personal stance. That is an intentional game mechanic. That is not a consequence of IEYTD being a VR game - many VR games have a proper named main character, even if they are a silent protagonist. The Phoenix is once again a blank slate for the player to project onto, and that is an intentional decision by Schell. This is how they wanted to tell their story. I love an oc-ified Phoenix as much as the the next person - I mean, look at Jackson - but the Phoenix is a literal blank slate. You cannot ignore that.

So how do you make a silent character with no appearance or voice interesting? How do you make the player care? Furthermore, how do you make the game feel rewarding?

You fill the game with a plethora of characters - primarily villains - that have enough character and drive that make the player feel good about overcoming the challenges and trials that come. That is just good game design.

Every single villain - from someone who barely gets any mention like Daniel Sans, to major, major villains like Solaris, Juniper, and Prism, to even a villain who we don't know shit about like Zor - is a menacing force. Overcoming the obstacles that are sent your way leads to a rewarding game play loop where you, the player, actually give a shit about the story, the world, the villains, and the player insert of the Phoenix themselves.

There is so much to every single villain that one can pick apart, that it becomes insulting to the characters and honestly to Schell's writers when you reduce their characters to just "a girlboss who kills people" (Fabricator) or "a whiny bitch of a privileged asshole" (Juniper) or "just a silly guy who likes bees" (Hivemind) or "she didn't do anything wrong, she was just manipulated" (Prism).

Even the most minor of a villain in this game has so, so many layers you could pick apart and analyze and... so many people in this fandom all but Flanderize them. It almost feels like people in this fandom cannot grasp the concept of characters being multifaceted.

And even more, that they cannot imagine liking a villain even though they are a villain.

This is a trend that I've seen a lot within fandom recently and... it's something I don't get. Writing a character who is a terrible person (and liking said character) does not make someone a terrible person. That is something that people do not seem to get nowadays thanks to likely lack of media literacy and... it kind of kills me a little bit as someone who analyzes so many types of media and is working on a story driven RPG, and once again is going to college for game design.

A character who is flawed is believable. No realistic character is infallible.

John Juniper is prone to anger, he is a man who is egotistical, arrogant, and a bit of a prick. However, these bad traits of his were likely preyed upon by Zoraxis and he became worse because of that. I am not saying he did no wrong, I am saying that you have to acknowledge that he is multifaceted.

The Fabricator has a fair bit of flair too, but to reduce her to just a quote-en-quote girlboss ignores her work. She makes Saw-esque death traps and delights in the pain and ultimately death her traps make.

Hivemind delights in killing people with literal bee stings. Think about that, think of how brutal of a death that would be. The average adult can withstand over one-thousand bee stings, or approximately ten stings per pound. And he laughs about it.

Prism knew what she was getting into, and hearing people say she did nothing wrong is... confusing. She worked for the EOD. She knew who Zor was. She knew what they would do. It is no secret that they regularly backstab their own employees. Zoraxis elite have a target on their back from their own employer. Prism likely knew that, and yet worked for them anyways. Yes, she helps the Phoenix in the end. But that is the culmination of her arc. You have to acknowledge that.

These are but a few examples - I am not going into full rants about every single character. I have an essay due on Sunday, I need some of my sanity left. But I feel like this had to be said.

To reduce these characters to Flanderized versions of themselves is to almost insult the writing in these games. To insult the very complexity and depth and thought that was put into these characters. And as a lover of story driven media who often analyzes - occasionally over-analyzing - these sorts of games for fun, and is aspiring to complete a story driven RPG with hopefully in-depth villains.... it is simply saddening to witness.

I felt this had to be said, thank you for your time if you read this. I now hopefully should have some peace of mind for the time being.

#ieytd #i expect you to die

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serendertothesquad · 3 months ago

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Seren's Studies: The Second (And Final) Odd Squad UK Trailer

Cute that FRP suddenly cares about Odd Squad when they haven't even so much as peeped about it for...what, over a year now? Two years, maybe?

Yeah. Anyway, it seems that PBS had to step up on their alt -- the franchise's social medias, you see -- and grab it from them, because it's clear they weren't gonna do it. Especially not during Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month when Alma's Way is the top dog. (You know how Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood is PBS Kids's golden kid? Alma's Way is FRP's. It's like the Spongebob of the prodco, really.)

But enough stick-up-the-anus cynicism. I did one Seren's Study on the gadget competition results video, and now I'm moving on to the one for the second trailer for Odd Squad UK. Some of it repeats bits from the first trailer, but it's otherwise completely new.

Let's dive below the break!

If you look closely, the badge number says 86.

Which would be fine, if I hadn't run numbers only to realize that neither Orli nor Ozzie have a badge number of 86.

So either someone's trippin' balls or I'm the one trippin' balls and can't math correctly.

What sleep deprivation does to a motherfucker: I saw this and immediately thought of "Two Agents and a Baby" because of the equipment Ozzie was holding. So I thought, "Okay, so they're babysitting?"

It's actually from "Planes, Trains and Oddmobiles". And as I've said before, I can predict, with stunning accuracy, what shots and what scenes line up with which episode. If you've seen the synopsis for "Planes, Trains and Oddmobiles", this brief snippet speaks for itself.

(Makes me wonder...anyone wanna set up a PonyGuessr game, but for Odd Squad screencaps? Would be fun to test your knowledge! I know I'd love one.)

*in about the best Bill Nye voice I can do*

Please...consider the following.

Dino Dex crossover.

(Hey, it's not impossible. If you've been watching this franchise, you know it's not impossible.)

They didn't even try with the house thing.

Is that not the same row of houses from "Training Day"? Am I delulu? Am I tripping? Or is that the same row of houses? Different color, maybe?

...I CHECKED. IT IS THE SAME FUCKING ROW OF HOUSES. BY G O D I'M ON FIRE!!!

Ah, I see we've also got some not-so-subliminal advertising for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 in here.

(See, it's funny because, IIRC, they made a jab at the UK in the trailer. So in a way, you could say they've come full circle!)

Funny how we go from the appropriate reaction one should have to having lightning shoot out of your head to "this is going to fuck up my entire life because I can't wear hats now" in...oh, I don't know...a scene or two, maybe? Five at best.

Ah, and we have our first look at Dottie Doubloon from "A Dicey Situation"! I will say, she does kind of look like a pirate attire-wise, which is what I was hoping for. Maybe she'll talk like a pirate too aaaaaaaand I just figured out the connection between her and Captain O and I need to go absorb my fat lil' body into the grass outside now thank you.

new villains

shows the Icy Mousey about to do a Hadouken

I don't think I need to explain what the direct distinction between creatures and villains are. It's like looking at a dog that bites your hand and equating him to a guy who killed his son. They both did bad things, but only one is an antagonistic animal in the more instinctual sense while the other one is a straight-up villain.

At least they show The Trifler right after...but still. It's all about sentience. Do I need to make a whole-ass sentience chart and tell- just keep rolling with it?

*sighs* Okay, fine...if I must.

I'm sorry...I honestly didn't believe this trailer would make me laugh, but then this guy comes in with a "Gadzooks!" while holding something gross and I lost it.

Behold: genderbent adult-aged Willow from The Owl House has made his way into Odd Squad UK. He's even got the hat on and everything!

new gadgets

shows the tubes

I'm just...I'm fuckin' tired, man. Is this some kind of joke? Is this a game? Because I want a Perplexus ball and not this shit, thank you.

It's like blinking Oprah...Oprah...she do the blink...in "Dance Like Nobody's Watching"...but...but 's Captain O...with a squinty squint...

Alternatively: I lol'd, until I serious'd.

I see Orwell Kubrick has some charm beneath all that "scare the kids but not too much". Good for him.

*with the tightest fucking smile any doctor has ever seen on a person*

"Is that his house? I- Is that Onom's fucking house? Take me to my best friend's house, I loved you then like I love you now? T- The iPod touch circa 2011?!"

I will say, I appreciate the analytics behind each pose here. Lots to dissect, if the Discord server is any indication.

Those five words might've just put a dent in my "ah, they'll drop 'em all on the 1st and forget about it" theory.

It could still happen -- PBS still hates the show, mind you. Netflix, Hulu, and most other streaming services do the same thing. There's a chance. You watch. You watch and see.

--------------------------------------------

Overall, a nice solid trailer. Doesn't exactly stoke any hype in me, but it did stoke my curiosity in finding out what happens. Funny enough, unlike the Season 3 trailer, there's no mention of the big bad or anything. At least there, The Shadow got a couple seconds of screentime. For the Terrible Three, though, there's nothing. Which...concerns me on a number of levels in terms of how well they're going to handle the story arc.

But either way, we've got a week to go until launch date, so I'm not expecting too much else news-wise. Still waiting for BBC to drop those teaser images, and for PBS Kids's main Twitter account to recognize the show and rep it with not-so-subtle lil' hints using past seasons. (Only one of those sounds more plausible. I don't think I need to say which one.)

Like I've said before, my first Seren's Study regarding the new series/season, when it drops, will be an episode followup on "Odd Ones In". And before you ask me if I'm going to be reuploading episodes onto my YouTube channel: clearly you haven't been there for all the times I bitched and moaned on Twitter about PBS, their distribution branch, or their security partner taking down my videos that contained snippets of episodes. It's not happenin'. Given how the series/season getting another season/more episodes is dependent on legal viewership, promoting illegal means of watching it feels wrong. If Odd Squad UK gets a continuation of some sort, maybe they can take steps towards improvement. That's what I'm hoping for, personally.

Seren out!

So, with all that being said, I will see you all sometime in early October for that first followup. Keep your eyes peeled for more news in the meantime, because we could either get a trickle or a flood.

Oh yeah, and if you wanna watch the trailer, view it below!

(Editor's note: Managed to kick open the floodgates last night before I even published this. Teaser images are already up, news articles are sharing bits of info...don't ask me how, just accept it.)

youtube

#seren's studies #odd squad #odd squad pbs kids #odd squad uk #Youtube

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1-siracha · 1 year ago

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obey me characters as the asian extended family stereotypes!! older brother edition

younger brothers / dateables / undateables

massive disclaimer: i am chinese-malaysian, and this is created solely off my own personal experiences and videos on the internet i have seen regarding this topic. these experiences and memories may not apply to you. this is also a joke, these are stereotypes and do not apply to all asian families or all ethnic families. also may be a little ooc since i havent played om! yet

☆

lucifer: the exemplary cousin

when i think of this guy, all i see is my younger cousin

absolute genius, gets high grades, focuses on school, DOES VIOLIN AND PIANO, wears the most concealing clothing, very mature

be prepared because your parents are about to relentlessly compare you to him

"aiyoh mc, why are you not like lucifer yet?! when he was your age, he was raising all his brothers on the streets after he fell from heaven, and what are you doing loh? smoking weed? doing cigarette? studying to be artist?"

during family gatherings, he is absolutely smothered in attention by all the aunties and uncles. most of the time sits with the parents instead of the kids and talks about whatever the fuck they talk about at the parents table

every other kid there gives him the death glare because these mfs KNOW he is loving the attention and the massive ego boost it gives him.

mammon: the disgrace

ok my southeast asian homies (and maybe south as well) we all know this mf

the main antagonist of the auntie gossip

often comes in the form of a sketchy uncle

has at LEAST two tattoos and one of them is probably a dragon (i am projecting my own disgrace uncle on to him so hard)

got in a lot of trouble for either scamming another relative out of money or gambling away their families money

smokes on the balcony during gatherings (if he's even allowed to go)

actually pretty nice and funny but nobody wants to be around him because hes a lowkey faliure. most of the older kids like hanging around him, but often dont stay around him too long as their parents are worried of his influence.

also he probably took up modeling which made the aunties hate him even more

eyes flick to mammon as he seats himself at the dining table, and he responds to them with a nervous smile. "mammon," one of the adults starts lowly, in a belittling tone that made him sick to his stomach. "didn't bring anything to the gathering, not even 古老肉..." they look at him before adding another taunt. "oh.. that's right.. you never learned mandarin, did you? nothing to contribute lah. always take, take, take with you. just LIKE WHAT YOU DID TO MY HUSBAND'S MONEY!!"

ruckus erupts as everyone on the adults table simultaneously starts yelling, as though the family tension built up over the past year head finally snapped.

shit.

Leviathan: the teenager

congratulations dude, you just got the most underrated type of asian at a family gathering.

doesn't get as much attention as lucifer due to being relatively mediocre and not as talented as him, but will occasionally his parents will flex his coding skills or an award he got at school.

doesnt really talk due to not much people at the family gathering being his age group, so he mostly sits in a very solitary corner of the kids table on an uncomfortably small plastic chair and plays games to pass the time.

SPEAKING OF GAMES

the moment the asian parents kick the kids off to the nintendo switch or wii u so they can freely argue about politics or whatever (im not sure im still stuck at the kids table 😭), this man completely shifts.

beats everyone MULTIPLE TIMES. makes them fucking bawl. oh my gosh its actually so funny.

the little kids hate him because he beats them so often in mario kart.

#obey me #obey me fanfic #obey me writing #obey me crack #obey me lucifer #om! lucifer #obey me leviathan #om! leviathan #obey me mammon #om! mammon #obey me headcannons

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twistedtummies2 · 1 year ago

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Top 15 Skeleton Characters

Happy Dia de los Muertos, everybody! Anybody who knows about the Day of the Dead knows it is really a celebration of life…and they also know that a major part of this holiday’s iconography is the imagery of skeletons and skulls. The human skeleton, in fact, is quite the ubiquitous visual: skeletons unsettle many people, on a fundamental level. Everybody has one, but if you’re actually SEEING one, that’s not a good sign: bones are the last vestiges of something long dead, and so there is always this automatic gut reaction of perturbation that comes with them. Of course, there’s also a recognition that life was present, which can, in its own odd way, be heartwarming. Skeleton characters - or even characters who are simply skulls or have skull faces - are thus a major part of many fictional worlds. They can be used to mock death, or celebrate life, or they can be used to represent fear and destruction. Regardless, they are always interesting to see, as commonplace as some may claim them to be. So, I decided, if today is a day about celebrating life through the imagery of death, it was only fitting to do something to celebrate the many characters who, effectively, do the same thing, one way or another. Now, I’m only going to be counting ACTUAL skeletal characters here, so to speak; characters like the Phantom of the Opera, Red Skull from Marvel, or Skull Face from “Metal Gear Solid V,” will not count. They evoke the imagery of a skull, but they’re really just deformed human beings, not actual collections of living bones. Also, I won’t be counting gatherings of skeletons (with one exception), such as the various skeleton-themed enemies you’ll find in video games, or the famous Harryhausen skeletons from “Jason and the Argonauts.” They aren’t really “characters” so much as “creatures,” so I don’t think they fit the bill. With that said, let’s waste no more time! Here are my Top 15 Skeleton Characters!

15. Skelly, from I Spy: Spooky Mansion.

Here’s a more obscure option to start things off. How many of you had I Spy books or played the I Spy PC games when you were younger? I know I did. This picture-puzzle series could be surprisingly challenging, and I was always fascinated by the way they organized the photos in the books, not to mention the animation in the PC titles. “Spooky Mansion” was always my favorite game and book, mostly because…well…I like Spooky Mansions! (Even did a list about them, go and take a look at that, tis the season.) Skelly was essentially our Tour Guide for the game: a mischievous but not malicious skeleton who loved to play games with people and spook them silly. She traps us inside her haunted house and challenges us to find various pieces of a puzzle in order to escape; none of this is done with evil intent, she simply wants to play! I always found Skelly a wonderful mix of creepy and sweet, almost like an Addams Family character; that’s always a great blend.

14. Skeleton King, from Super Robot Monkey Team Hyper Force GO!

Imagine Skeletor on a REALLY bad day. That would basically be this monstrosity in a nutshell. The main antagonist of this (incredibly weirdly named) superhero series, the Skeleton King was once a good-hearted scientist, who wished to help the world; it was he who created the titular Monkey Team. However, things changed when the man began to study the dark forces of the Netherworld; assured in his safety from them, he later paid the price of his hubris, as the dark spirits were released, and ending up possessing and corrupting the scientist, body and soul. He thus became the Skeleton King: a cyborganic ghoul who plots to destroy the entire universe. The King was a deliciously creepy villain, and much of his menace can be owed to his voice actor: none other than the Joker himself, Mark Hamill. Honestly, if that name alone doesn’t interest you in this character right away from the start, there’s not much more I can say that will convince you to give him a look.

13. Sir Daniel Fortesque, from MediEvil.

Sir Daniel is a tragically comic case: for ages after his death, this knight was hailed as a hero, believed to have been a mythical and powerful figure who died nobly for a righteous cause. In truth, he was a bungling coward who was killed in the very first seconds of battle, and never really did anything grand at all; somewhere along the line, the facts of his life got all twisted up. When the evil he once fought (or, at least, wanted to fight) rears its ugly head again many years later, Sir Daniel Fortesque is brought back from the grave to do battle once more...but, of course, not being a hero at all, he now has to prove himself. “MediEvil” becomes a typical quest of an unlikely hero; someone trying to live up to the reputation he garnered over time, trying to earn respect from those who know the truth. It’s a classic kind of setup, only enhanced by the unique, Tim-Burton-esque visual styling of the game…not to mention Sir Daniel’s absolutely hilarious running cycle. I guess he went to the Ministry of Silly Walks before his demise.

12. Bob, from The Dresden Files.

So far, I’ve only finished the first six books of “The Dresden Files,” but it’s already a favorite series of mine. (Also, if you’re only familiar with the TV series…that doesn’t count here, since their version of Bob is rather different.) The series details the many adventures of “consulting wizard,” Harry Dresden, and blends elements of noir-style detective mystery storytelling with doses of dark fantasy and Gothic horror. One of my favorite characters is undeniably Bob: an eccentric ghost who inhabits a skull in Harry’s home. Bob is intended to be a sort of living encyclopedia for Harry to consult when on a case; he has been around for centuries, and helped many wizards in his time, making him an extremely valuable source of information. However, Bob is also…well…freaking hilarious. He’s always got his mind in the gutter, and he’s always filled with snark and a ready-to-whip-out insult or quip, leading to some pretty funny dialogue any time he’s featured. Generally, whenever Harry consults Bob, that’s when things are about to get truly serious…but it’s hard to remember that past all the pure, glorious silliness he provides. The only reason Bob doesn’t rank higher is that he is literally JUST a skull, and on top of that, the skull probably isn’t even his own: it’s just his way of communicating with Dresden in the world of the living, sort of like a crystal ball or other conduit of knowledge. Still, I feel he counts enough.

11. Captain Bones, from Crashbox.

Made for HBO, this series was one of my favorite shows EVER when I was a kid. “Crashbox” was a show that really went outside the box with how an educational program could also be entertaining! It used various styles of animation in numerous scenarios and skits to showcase all kinds of different skills. Basic stuff like math, history, sciences, social studies, and so on were featured, but you’d also have things that challenged your critical thinking or problem solving skills, with puzzles and riddles that weren’t necessarily things you’d be taught at school, but were still important things to learn. It was all done with this irreverent tone; the series was utterly bonkers, so it was always a joy to watch even as it taught you all the skills it tried to push. Captain Bones was one of the most frequent skits in the series, and also one of my favorites. “The Incredibly Dead Captain Bones” was a skeletal ghost pirate cursed to Sail the Seven Seas for an eternity. “And I’ll tell ya,” the Captain would sigh, “I’m a Bored Stiff.” (Har Har.) To keep himself from dying of boredom (…presumably a second time…), the old pirate would use his own bones to create math and picture puzzles, which the viewer would be challenged to try and figure out before he showed them the answer. What made Captain Bones hilarious…were his insults. This guy was the KING of Insult Comedy, able to come up with all kinds of incredible, colorful phrases without ever getting dirty or lewd, given the fact this WAS made for kids. If you don’t agree…“THEN YER NOT FIT TO WALK THE DECK OF ME GHOST SHIP, ye crustacean-sucking, knock-kneed, squid-faced, plank-walking sack of soiled, sea-salted, unwashed fish buckets of barnacles for brains!”

10. Lord Ainz, from Overlord.

I haven’t seen a whole lot of “Overlord” yet, which is the primary reason Ainz only BARELY crosses the threshold into the Top 10. Trust me, if I’d seen more, he’d probably be WAY higher. “Overlord” is a classic Isekai anime series: the plot focus on a young man who ends up zapped into a video game world, which he had once been a player of. He finds that he has been transformed into the character he created: a hyper-powerful dark skeleton warlord, known as Ainz Ooal Gown (or “Lord Ainz” for short). The interesting thing about this isekai is the way Ainz is played, and how he evolves over the course of the series; as time goes on, he loses more and more of his humanity, as his personality, morality, and ethical viewpoints start to merge and become less like his own back on Earth, and more like those of the character he created. This leads to a lot of gray area in the morality of Ainz, as he seeks to conquer the world - the typical goal of many a great dark lord - but has surprisingly understandable motivations for doing so. From what I’ve seen so far, the series is quite interesting, and Ainz is an equally interesting character…but I’ve only scratched the surface of this show, so I don’t think it’s fair to give him TOO high a rank JUST yet. But still, Top 10 ain't bad, right?

9. Bonejangles, from Corpse Bride.

There’s really not a whole lot to say about this guy, I just really love him. Though a fairly small part on the whole, Bonejangles is arguably one of the most recognizable characters in the Tim Burton animated picture “Corpse Bride.” A hollow skeleton with a single eyeball, which he rolls back and forth between his sockets, this limber, jazzy fellow appears to be pretty close to the titular character, Emily - the ghost of a bride-to-be who died mysteriously. It is he who tells the story of the Corpse Bride to our protagonist, Victor Van Dort, via the song “Remains of the Day,” easily the best song in the film’s soundtrack. While his time onscreen is small, he makes an immediate impression, and Danny Elfman’s gravelly, raspy vocals only add to the clattering, rambunctious skeleton’s fun personality. In short, Bonejangles is proof that big characters can come in small packages.

8. The Horned King, from The Black Cauldron.

This movie was HATED when it came out - notoriously, “The Black Cauldron” lost to the CARE BEARS when it premiered. (I wish I was joking about that.) However, over time, the movie has garnered something of a cult following, mostly for its dark and often rather brutal atmosphere (which is still rather pale compared to the Lloyd Alexander novels the film is loosely based upon). One thing almost everybody loves about the film is the villain: the lich-like Horned King, voiced impeccably by John Hurt. A cross between the character of the same name from the first book, “The Book of Three,” and the evil Lord Arawn, the main antagonist of the series, Disney’s incarnation of the character is easily one of the most mysterious and frightening of their animated baddies. Essentially a living corpse (who has horns growing out of his head, for some reason), the Horned King is a powerful sorcerer who wishes to destroy all of mankind. (Why? Probably because he’s tired of everyone around him having noses.) To this end, he and his goblin-like assistant, Creeper, seek out Hen-Wen, a pig who somehow has gained oracular abilities, allowing her to find the hiding place of the titular Black Cauldron. The Cauldron is an ancient piece of crockery possessed by the spirit of a long-dead king, which can create an army of living dead brutes, “The Cauldron Born.” In the end, the King is thwarted by Taran, a young farm boy who has been thrust into a quest to stop him, and is sucked into the Cauldron itself. In arguably the goriest death scene in a Disney movie, the King is stripped of his soul, and his FLESH (what little he has), as his life force is sucked into the Cauldron’s hellish depths, before EXPLODING in a flash of light and dust. A fittingly gruesome end for this bony fiend.

7. Arc, from Skeleton Knight in Another World.

Much like Overlord, this is another fantasy isekai anime series, in which the main character is transformed into a character they played in a video game. And, just like then, said main character is an extremely powerful skelly-dude. HOWEVER, that’s about where the similarities between this show and “Overlord” stop. In “Skeleton Knight in Another World,” Arc is not a villain who plays the hero of his own story…but instead just a hero, period. In fact, a big part of the series is that he worries about people seeing his true bone face, as he knows the sight of a giant living skeleton will probably be seen as a bad sign by many. Arc is a wonderfully fun protagonist: like many characters in this sort of scenario, he is equal parts bold and admirably strong…and sort of a total dork. The human life he left behind clashes constantly with the uber-heroic facade he tries to put on (complete with a bold and daring laugh, which is absolutely glorious), leading to a great deal of humor. While Ainz is probably the more popular character between these two, I’ve actually finished all of “Skeleton Knight” (at least with what’s available thus far), and I generally prefer Arc a little bit more, based on what I’ve seen. Therefore, he gets higher marks on the list. Also, on a side note…the theme song to this show is absolutely freaking GLORIOUS, seriously, go take a listen to it.

6. Basically the Entire Cast of “Coco.”

This is the exception to the "no groups of characters" rule I made. I know it’s cheating to include a whole bunch of skeletons, instead of just one, but I felt that, in this case, it was warranted. It’s fitting I’m posting this on the Day of the Dead, because that’s what this film is actually inspired by and based around. This Pixar movie tells the story of a young boy named Miguel, who loves music. However, due to personal tragedy, his family has banned any member from being a musician. Believing his great-grandfather to be a legendary musician, Miguel goes on a quest to rekindle the love of music in his family…and, in the process, ends up in the Land of the Dead, which is populated by a whole world of Dia de los Muertos-inspired skeletons. Ranging from friendly sorts, like the eccentric Hector, and multiple late members of Miguel’s family, to the more villainous Ernesto de la Cruz, choosing just one character to represent an entire film of colorful, whimsical bunches of bones seemed next to impossible. So, yeah, I’m just counting the entire movie here. My list, my choice. So sue me. :P

5. Ghost Rider, from Marvel.

A prominent anti-hero of the Marvel universe, the Ghost Rider has gone through many incarnations. One early interpretation, later re-named the Phantom Rider (big difference, I know), isn’t a skeleton at all, nor a supernatural entity of any kind. Instead, the first Ghost Rider was a Wild Western hero and horseman, who used his ghostly costume and magic tricks to frighten his enemies - think of a cross between the Lone Ranger and Batman. Later interpretations, however, took a different path. The most famous Ghost Rider is Johnny Blaze: a stunt daredevil who was tutored largely by his adoptive father, Crash Simpson. (Good lord, these names sound like video game characters from Nintendo…) When Crash developed an inoperable cancer, a grief-stricken Johnny made a deal with the Devil himself to try and save him. Needless to say, it didn’t go so well. Now, Blaze - and others who would share his curse - must roam the land hunting down evildoers, fighting both mortal and supernatural villainy in an endless quest to avenge the innocent. The Ghost Riders all share common visual elements: fiery skeletal bodies, leather clothes, chain-based weapons, and of course, AWESOME motorcycles to ride upon. Their power over the fires of Hell itself are their primary weapons, however, with a variety of different attacks and powers available to Blaze and his later compatriots in the war to seek out the evil and punish them for their sins...hopefully while avoiding ending up in terrible Nicolas Cage outings. No promises on that one.

4. Sans & Papyrus, from Undertale.

Oh, God, I LOVE Undertale. And more than that, perhaps, I LOOOOVE Sans and Papyrus! The Skeleton Brothers are easily my favorite characters in the game, and the most identifiable for me, in many ways. Sans is, in some ways, Undertale’s equivalent to the Doctor from “Doctor Who”: he is a comedic, laid-back, somewhat eccentric character who uses his unassuming appearance and “dopey” personality as a facade. As many a player quickly learns, Sans is far more powerful, far more DANGEROUS than he looks or seems, able to go from cracking a terrible pun to threatening you with painful death in a split second. If you get on his bad side, “you’re gonna have a bad time.” His brother, Papyrus, on the other hand, is sort of the reverse: at first glance, Papyrus seems like your typical “over-the-top villain.” His signature laugh, twisted design, and sense of self-importance all make him about as fiendish as can be...all he’s missing is a top hat or a moustache to twirl! But it quickly becomes clear that Papyrus is neither as evil, nor as clever, as he likes to seem: in reality, he’s really a rather harmless sort of bony fellow, and would much rather befriend you than murder you with his incredibly elaborate, Wile-E.-Coyote-esque death traps. (Much like with Wile E., the traps never work the way they should.) Dealing with these brothers is a BIG part of figuring out the events of Undertale, and the path your adventure will take in the game. Whether you love them as much as I do or not, I advise you to decide wisely.

3. Skeletor, from He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.

There have been several different takes on Eternia’s greatest villain over the years (my favorite will always be the original, but I do like many, if not all, of the other interpretations out there). No matter which one you look at, Skeletor is a very fun villain, and is easily one of the most iconic skull-faced scoundrels out there. A dark wizard who longs to take over Castle Grayskull, and learn all its secrets for his own evil ends, Skeletor’s evil ranges from cartoonish to truly cruel, depending on which version you look at, but there’s always a wonderful blend of both creepiness and genuine menace that accompanies him. It’s hard to not make references to this guy when looking at other bony characters, and he’s given rise to more memes than you can shake a sorcerer’s scepter at. Really, what more can I say? It’s Skeletor: by virtue of his recognition alone, he’s more than earned a spot in the Top Three.

2. The Grim Reaper.

Arguably the single most iconic skeletal figure in history, the Grim Reaper - the embodiment of death itself - could really take up an entire list of his own. (And he probably will, one day.) There are so many versions of the Reaper out there, it’s kind of amazing: when people imagine what death’s avatar looks like, it’s likely that the typical imagery of a skeletal figure, garbed in a dark cloak and carrying a scythe, is the first thing they will imagine. Sometimes the Reaper is depicted as a humorous and comical figure, such as the version found in “The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy.” On many occasions he is depicted as an evil monster, such as the version of Death found in the “Castlevania” franchise. Other times, he is something of a neutral force, as death is neither truly good nor evil when you think about it; probably my favorite example of this is the one found in Terry Pratchett’s “Discworld” universe. Bottom line, I think the fact that skeletons so often represent death, to the point where the very embodiment of the Angel of Death is depicted AS a skeleton, speaks for itself as to why this ranks so highly. Honestly, I was tempted to make this choice number one, but I decided against it for several reasons. Still, iconic as the concept of the Grim Reaper is, the character - in pretty much all his forms - has more than earned high praise here.

1. Jack Skellington, from The Nightmare Before Christmas.

“Nightmare” is one of my favorite films of all time, if not my absolute favorite. It’s not a complex movie, really, but its simplicity is part of what makes it so wonderful! Jack is, by extension, one of my favorite characters of all time: hailed as “The Pumpkin King With the Skeleton Grin,” this dapper, noble, gentlemanly bonehead is the ruler of Halloween Town, a world of ghosts, goblins, and ghouls (oh, my!) whose only job is to make Halloween as frightening as possible. But, despite his undead state, and wicked sense of humor, there is no malice in Jack’s mischief; he just sees it as a job. A job he’s apparently very, VERY good at, from the few examples the film and other spin-offs give us. Jack’s really a very good sort; charming and debonair, but also rather naive. A cockeyed optimist in his own way, and a bit of a prima donna, Jack’s over-the-top antics and spirit of adventure are what often get him into trouble; he has a problem with thinking things through. However, when things go wrong, Jack is ready for action, and quick to take responsibility, take charge, and take chances. His heart is in the right place at all times, even if his brain doesn’t always get there right away. Mixing intelligence and charisma with a childlike simplicty - much like the movie he hails from, in fact - Jack Skellington is an endearing and interesting character who deserves every bit of love he gets from myself and the world over. He’s just as iconic as the Grim Reaper, Skeletor, and others on this list, if not more so! And for all these reasons and more, I happily (albeit pointlessly) name Jack Skellington my Favorite Skeletal Character!

HONORABLE MENTIONS INCLUDE…

Captain Barbossa, from Pirates of the Caribbean. (He really only counts for the first film, which is why I didn’t include him on the main list.)

The Speaking Skull, from The Last Unicorn.

Manolo Sanchez, from The Book of Life.

Spinal, from Killer Instinct.

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tklpilled · 8 months ago

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media you should get into (bc i need more tk content)

the case study of vanitas: anime/manga about a vampire named noè who befriends (and falls in love with) a human named vanitas. very entertaining, a great balance of humour and angst, wonderful storyline and characters, and beautiful art style

heaven official's blessing: novel about a fallen god and his one and only worshipper, a ghost king, who has been devoted to him for centuries. very cute and will also rip your heart out. wonderful characters including side characters, incredible storytelling, and some of the most beautiful writing you'll ever see. it has an unfinished animated adaptation, but the novel is complete.

hunter x hunter: anime about a boy named gon who decides he wants to follow the most dangerous profession in the world, and his best friend who ran away from his abusive family. has some of the most heart-wrenching scenes ever, amazing writing for all characters including the antagonists, and very deep themes.

attack on titan: anime about a boy named eren who trains to be a soldier so he can live in a free world. genuinely the best storytelling you'll ever see, absolutely incredible characters and plot and will definitely make you cry your eyes out.

trigun: anime about a wanted criminal named vash, who is trying to blindly save humanity. got a reboot in 2023, both are very good. very funny but also has a sad overarching story. will definitely hit you right in the heart.

dead plate: video game about a man named rody, who works at a restaurant to try and win his girlfriend back. very fun game but features many dark themes, has an interesting storyline and beautiful art.

chainsaw man: anime/manga about a boy named denji, who makes a contract with his pet devil in order to live, and ends up being used for his powers. super well-written and features lots of themes of non-sexual intimacy and platonic love, as well as grief.

the raven cycle: book series about a friend group who are trying to find an ancient corpse. features characters who are all a little in love with each other and is beautifully written.

fruits basket: anime about a girl named tohru who moves in with the popular boy at school and helps to break his clan's curse. romance on the surface but actually about overcoming your traumas and learning how to grow as a person. very cute character designs too.

#none of these are exactly Unpopular #but i havent seen very much tk content for them so #kaz speaks

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louceph · 1 year ago

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Video game recommendation if you want it:

Kitty Horrorshow's Anatomy if you haven't played it yet. It's on her itch and I think you would really dig the vibes of her work in general.

I played through it a few times a few weeks ago as research for a project I've been doing! I loved it as a study of environment as an antagonist, I think its a really fun take on a ghost story. I think other folks should check it out if they get the chance!

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themosleyreview · 3 days ago

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The Mosley Review: Sonic the Hedgehog 3

There seems to be an almost impossible formula to making a great film based off a beloved video game franchise. So many have attempted to adapt the fun aspect and quality storytelling of the games to the big screen in a way that respects the lore and its fans. We all know the horror stories of past video game adaptations like Double Dragon, the recent versions of Resident Evil, Mortal Kombat (2021), and Max Payne. But we all adore the good ones like the first Resident Evil film in 2002, last years' The Super Mario Brothers and the greatest of them all, Mortal Kombat (1995). The formula that made the latter film so fun and memorable was studied and rewritten by the makers of the Sonic the Hedgehog films and my goodness they have consistently blew me away with each film. The first film captured that since of heart and comedic timing that was perfectly tongue and cheek. The sequel built on that with even better action and fan service. This newest entry, while not as laser focused I might say, still manages to capture the consistent since of fun, wackiness and heart this trilogy started so strongly with. This entry borders on the almost too absurd and zany to be taken seriously with all the antics of past characters returning with double the caffeine induced mania. The cast of characters you loved all return and still manage bring it home to a fun conclusion.

Ben Schwartz continues to be the loveable and impetuous titular hero, Sonic the Hedgehog. He never stopped being so much fun to watch and his comedic timing with the quips and topical one liners were even sharper this time around. I loved that his bond with his family has gotten even stronger and they actually felt like a team. Colleen O'Shaughnessey continues to be the ever present positive energy and tech savvy companion, Miles "Tails" Prower. He was truly the brains of the many operations in this film and I loved that he wasn't cut short for screen time in an already crowded film. Idris Elba continues to dazzle as the steadfast, hilariously serious warrior spirit of the group, Knuckles. He gets to have a great deal of depth in this film and you see his loyalty truly be tested in a very tense scene. James Marsden and Tika Sumpter return as the loveable couple Tom and Maddie Wachowski. Their chemistry with each and the hedgehogs continues to be the highlight of the franchise. I love that they get an equal amount of the action and their own adventure as a couple was funnier and fun weird at a moment. Krysten Ritter was commanding and cool as Director Rockwell. She joins the hunt for the antagonists of the film in a very Mission: Impossible inspired sequence.

Jim Carrey returns and this time he's doing double the work as both the brilliant mad scientists Dr. Ivo Robotnik and his grandfather, Professor Gerald Robotnik. The both of them have their differences in levels of evil, but they’re equally fun to watch together. There is a dance sequence between them that was unexpected and best described as a psychedelic moment of comedy. Lee Majdoub returns as Ivo's trusted assistant, Agent Stone and he was a true standout in the film. He got to stand on his own two feet for a change and truly became a man of his own. Keanu Reeves steals the film as the main antagonist / fan favorite anti-hero Shadow the Hedgehog. Keanu was beyond perfect and Shadows' intensity and brutality was amazing. I loved that he got to have a well fleshed out backstory that was both tragic and informative of his mindset and morality scale. Gerald's granddaughter Maria Robotnik, played wonderfully by Alyla Browne, was the spark that kept Shadow motivated and brought out the heart of the character.

Composer Tom Holkenborg returns once again and he delivers the intensity and pulse pounding dramatic score throughout the film. His score matches the action and momentum of the story so immaculately. It really sores the during the epic final 30 minutes of the film as everything started to get darker and inventive as the plot thickens. Like I said before, this new entry continues that same fun tone, but it lacked a bit of focus throughout. It went for the zany nature with Robotnik and it kind of took away from the more serious nature of Shadow. With that being sad, somehow it balances out in the finale with a shocking amount of heart. Director Jeff Fowler has figured out how to deliver a truly fun and heartfelt third film while honoring the video game lore, characters and the many Easter eggs for the true fans. I believe we're looking at the best trilogy of video game adaptations. Do stick around for the wonderful two end credits. Let me know what you thought of the film or my review in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

#sonic the hedgehog 3 #ben schwartz #idris elba #colleen o'shaughnessey #jim carrey #james marsden #tika sumpter #lee majdoub #keanu reeves #sega

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adversitybloomed · 1 year ago

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A VERY DESCRIPTIVE PROFILE OF YOUR MUSE. Repost with the information of your muse, including headcanons, etc. if you fail to achieve some of the facts, add some other of your own!

NAME: Hua Mulan | 花木蘭

NICKNAME: hua jun ( male disguise ) | Feng Lian( feng means ‘maple, phoenix’ & Lian means, lotus, female disguise ). La-Chan (@ka-go-me ), Mumu ( @heartsacrosstime ), Little Lotus ( @battleguqin )

TITLE(S): General Hua | Heroine Hua | Heroine Hua Mulan

AGE: 18+

SPECIES: Human | Phoenix

SEX: cis female

NATIONALITY: Chinese

INTERESTS: Horseback riding, drawing, practicing various styles & techniques of martial arts, playing video games, baking, being out in nature, singing, dancing, playing the flute & guzheng. Trying different foods, spending time with her friends.

PROFESSION: former farm girl, solider of the imperial army. Now she is a cultivator who services as a General & agent to the Emperor to better protect her people. in more modern times, she is a student studying computer science.

BODY TYPE: she is petite and while she is slim in nature, she has muscles due to her countless hours of martial training.

EYES: Dark Brown

HAIR: she has long black hair that goes past her butt. she often keeps it down, though has part of it up using head jewelry or ribbons. in modern verse, she keeps her hair long but mostly down unless she is eating.

SKIN: fair and smooth as she spends time taking care of it with lotus or yinghua lotions.

FACE: Zhao Lusi

POSTURE: she only slouches when she is sitting in a none serious and almost playful manner. otherwise, she keeps herself as poised as possible for she knows she has eyes constantly on her.

HEIGHT: 5'1" ( 154.94cm ).

VOICE: speaking: x + x + x | singing: x + x + x

SIGNATURE OUTFIT: Mulan wears a lot of hanfu's. she prefers to have softer pastel colorings, though she does go for the occasional pop of red. most of the time though, it is a pastel blue or pink hanfu.

SIGNIFICANT OTHER: @battleguqin's Lan Sizhui & @caracarnn's Rand al'Thor are the two main / default ships for my mulan & this blog.

COMPANIONS: This is the only time i really lean into anything disney related, as I adore Yao, Ling, and Chien Po. These three I keep with me in my threads as companions. but mostly her friends which can be fond on my bonds page. however its important to note I refrence @sparesovereign's Anna, @lcvelj's Lara Jean & @ka-go-me' Higurashi Kagome a huge chunk of the time.

ANTAGONISTS: I write her on my other blog, but Hua Daiyu is a huge one she is my OC and Mulan's elder sister. but also I keep with her main villians from the disney movies so Shan Yu, Xianniang ( though shes torn on this one ) & Bori Khan.

STRENGTHS: Kind Hearted, loyal, brave, willing to help others. Trusting. Ability to fight for what she believes in. Willing to do what is right.

WEAKNESSES: Loyal. Naïve. Trusting. Unwillingness to lose someone she loves. Takes too much of the burdens on herself. Is willing to put herself into harms way for others.

FRUITS: Strawberries, Dragonfruit, Bayberry, Rambutans.

DRINKS: Jasmine tea, Strawberry or Milk boba tea

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: she doesnt drink and if she does, she has no idea what she would like.

SMOKES: she doesnt smoke.

DRUGS: she doesn't take drugs.

DRIVER'S LICENSE: verse dependent, she prefers to be driven or public transportation.

tagged by: @caracarnn ( TY ! ) tagging: @battleguqin + @ka-go-me + @sparesovereign + @lcvelj + @penddraig + @peculiarbeauty + @lianhuaes ( your choice ) + @luckhissoul + @swordswept + @heartsacrosstime

#🌸 𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍 𝐀𝐃𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐘 ✧ headcanon #🌸 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐘 𝐓𝐎 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘 𝐀 ✧ dash game

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sources-and-significance · 7 days ago

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Blog Post- 06

Exploring Vladimir Propp’s Narrative Functions and Character Types in Modern Media

Introduction-

Vladimir Propp, a Russian folklorist and scholar, identified a set of 31 narrative functions and 8 character types that appear in traditional folk tales. This transformed the way we understand narrative structure. In his book, Morphology of the Folktale (1928), he mentioned a pattern is shared between the folktales despite their cultural and regional diversity. Propp argued these patterns are not only essential for the development of the story but also to understand the role that character plays in moving the narrative forward.

While Propp's theories were initially applied to Russian folktales, his study has since become a powerful tool for analyzing stories across different mediums, from literature and films to video games. In this post, I will explore how Propp's study can be applied to contemporary narratives.

Propp's 31 Narrative Functions-

Propp's 31 narrative functions are described by a sequence of events that occur in the development of a folktale. These functions are often aligned with traditional storytelling and becoming the main element in the narrative. Some of the key functions include:

Initial Situation: The introduction of the hero and the setting.

Interdiction: The hero is warned against a particular action.

Violation of Interdiction: The hero disobeys the warning.

Donation: The hero receives a magical object or aid.

Combat: The hero faces the villain or antagonist.

Victory: The hero defeats the villain.

Return: The hero returns home, often bringing a reward or resolution.

These functions mostly follow a linear pattern, giving a support to many stories. They show how a narrative takes place from the initial situation to the hero's return, with specific functions making important turning points in the plot.

Propp's 8 Character Types-

Propp also identified 8 character types that appear in a story. Each one plays a specific role in the development of the narrative.

The Hero: The central figure of the narrative, typically tasked with overcoming a challenge.

The Villain: The antagonist, whose actions disrupt the normal order and create obstacles for the hero.

The Donor: A character who provides the hero with magical aid or advice.

The Helper: A character who assists the hero in their quest, often providing guidance or support.

The Princess: The object of the hero’s quest, often in need of rescue.

The Father: A character who may reward the hero for their success.

The Dispatcher: A figure who sends the hero on their quest, often by providing information or a task.

The False Hero: A character who initially appears to be a hero but ultimately fails or betrays the hero.

Applying Porpp's Framework in The Lion King (1994)-

In Disney's The Lion King (1994), Propp's functions can be clearly observed. The story follows the hero, Simba, who faces different challenges:

Departure: Simba is forced to leave his home after the death of his father, Mufasa.

Donor: Rafiki, the wise baboon, helps Simba discover his true destiny as king.

Combat: Simba confronts Scar, his uncle, who has taken over the Pride Lands.

Victory: Simba defeats Scar and takes his place as king.

Return: Simba returns to Pride Rock to restore balance to the kingdom.

Key characters from Propp's character types are also present:

The Hero: Simba, who must overcome personal and external challenges to fulfill his destiny.

The Villain: Scar, the antagonist who seeks power by murdering Mufasa.

The Donor: Rafiki, who helps Simba realize his potential.

The Princess: Nala, who supports Simba and serves as his love interest.

The False Hero: Scar, pretends to be the rightful ruler but is ultimately exposed.

Propp’s Framework in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)-

Another example is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001), where Propp’s functions and character types can be applied to Harry’s journey:

Departure: Harry leaves his aunt and uncle’s home and starts on his journey to Hogwarts.

Donor: Hagrid serves as the donor, introducing Harry to the magical world and providing him with the necessary tools (such as his wand).

Combat: Harry faces the dark wizard Voldemort, who seeks to return to power.

Victory: Harry defeats Voldemort, preventing him from getting the Sorcerer's Stone.

Return: Harry returns to the safety of Hogwarts, having saved the day.

The character types are evident as well:

The Hero: Harry Potter, the orphaned boy destined to confront evil.

The Villain: Voldemort, the dark wizard who seeks immortality.

The Donor: Hagrid, who provides guidance and magical tools.

The Helper: Ron and Hermione, who assist Harry throughout his journey.

The Princess: In a broader sense, Hogwarts itself could be seen as the "princess," a symbol of a safe, magical world Harry must protect.

Wrap up-

Vladimir Propp's framework offers a powerful way to explore storytelling in different forms of media. The 31 narrative functions and 8 character types identified in his study of folk tales are helpful in modern films and stories, such as The Lion King and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. While contemporary stories grow and play with these elements, Propp's theory remains an important tool for understanding various structures of narratives.

Reference List-

Triano, R. (2021). Morphology of the Folktale by Vladimir Propp. [online] Pinterest. Available at: https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/412431278385690185/ [Accessed 19 Dec. 2024].

‌changingminds.org. (n.d.). Propp’s Morphology of the Folk Tale. [online] Available at: https://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/plots/propp/propp.htm.

‌IMDb. (n.d.). The Lion King (1994). [online] Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110357/mediaviewer/rm3272938240/?ref_=tt_ov_i.

‌IMDb. (n.d.). Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001). [online] Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0241527/mediaviewer/rm2105413120/?ref_=tt_ov_i.‌

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thescrapbookingscientist · 1 month ago

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Bimonthly Media Roundup

- Scavengers Reign (TV) - This show is the equivalent of your friend coming up to you and asking 'Do you want to see something fucked up?' then showing you a video of deep sea animal you would never imagine actually existing eating a different unimaginable deep sea animal from the inside out. At least 3 times an episode your thought process will be 'What the fuck is that. What is it doing. Oh huh, fascinating. And deeply Disturbing. Why though?'. It was great. As a speculative biology/creature lover I'm pleased to say this is a really interesting world with countless strange alien creatures that get shown to us in an almost Discovery Channel documentary style in between the human stories happening, and they are all unique and fascinating and interact with each other in truly interesting ways. The world looks great too with the unique, vibrant, alien nature extending to the fauna and overall landscape, the art direction is really stunning. A lot of the narrative really is just about exploring and encountering this strange world, and whenever that's the focus it really shines. The Human characters and plot-lines are unfortunately a bit weaker, with a 4.5 hour run time being split between a cast of 5 + side characters and devoting a lot of that time to the creature/world building stuff as described earlier, none of the human characters get a particularly engaging arc or focus, mostly just serving as vessels to interact with the world. I don't dislike them or anything, in particular I think Azi and her relationship to her robot companion as it assimilates into the world is neat enough, but none of them are making it to blorbo status if that makes sense. I watched the short film that this was adapted from and I do think the longer run time allowed them to implement some neat ideas, but they either needed longer episodes or less characters if they wanted to make their stories resonate as much as the alien environments did. Overall I'd definitely recommend it to people looking for a well done and truly alien feeling piece of art/ creature study (so long as you can handle some gore and viscera because it does get into that) but wouldn't really recommend it to anyone looking for a gripping story/mystery/ action type show. It's very vibes heavy.

- The Hunter Wants to Live Quietly (Webcomics) - More self-indulgent K-webcomic Dungeon time travel trash. This one has a lot of good (though basic) building blocks I like, a modern fantasy setting, a slightly older protagonist who has done his duty and now does not want to be involved in the plot, a suspicious pointy toothed younger love interest with a neat power, a mystery element, a time travel element, and some solid full colored art, though the character designs could stand to be a bit more distinct. While it hasn't been confirmed I'm getting distinct "the loved interest was unhealthy obsessed with the protagonist's masked superhero persona" vibes, which makes their current relationship as vaguely antagonistic secret coworkers kinda fun, with the question of how long its gonna take the love interest to find out the truth hanging over. I also like that the love interests poison abilities are a double edged sword in making the inside of his mouth poison, thus preventing him from eating at restaurants/being intimate normally, that's kind of interesting. That being said there's nothing too notable happening yet, none of the side characters have anything cool going on so far and as said the plot and character designs are a little basic. It's fun for someone obssesed with the genre like me, but otherwise not notable.

- Mouthwashing (Video Game) - Yup.

- The Case Study of Vanitas (Anime) - An anime we started mostly because the character designs were very pretty, which they are. The setting is fun enough though it's unclear exactly how vampires work in this time line as they are unaffected by the sun and can eat normal food just fine. Are they immortal? Unclear. Anyway the beginning was a little rough, a little basic, but the more it goes on the better it gets, and 10 ish episodes in I'm pretty interested now. The mystery elements are picking up, I'm liking the characters more now that they have a more settled in dynamic, it's getting gayer, and the leads both get sad backstories to bring in that good angst hurt/comfort fanfic tag flavor. Might have to pick up the manga depending on how much this adapts.

- Pathologic (Video Game) - This is only here because my friend got into it lately and inspired me to rewatch some youtube videos about it so woo. Plus Patho 3 soon I'm so excited for my beautiful rat bastard son to have a horrible time in HD.

- Riverdale (TV) - My sister and I are watching this because we heard it's bad and very very entertaining. So far it is both but only mildly, nothing super crazy is happening and some of the characters are grounded enough to be likable but it is written in such a corny and awkward way that the entertainment factor is there. Why is Jughead Like That? It is pretty funny. I like Veronica so far and also Cheryl for being hilarious.

- Dandadan (Anime) - Still pretty solid, the leads are both well designed and have genuine chemistry which is nice.

- The Witch From Mercury (Anime) - Still confused about the plot but those lesbians sure are good. I especially love Sulettas giant eyebrows and fluffy design.

- Genshin Impact (Video Game) - Yes.

Listening To: The Well and Metaphor by The Crane Wives, Cupid by Fifty Fifty, Cure, Ruler of My Heart, Blink Gone, All-In, and Sweet Dreams from Alien Stage, Too Sweet and Stick Season by Reinaeiry, Harpy Hare by Yaelokre, My Kink is Karma, HOT TO GO, and Red Wine Supernova by Chappell Roan, Why Am I Anxious by Tom Cardy, The Main Character by Will Wood, Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter.

#weekly roundup #my post

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