#Monthly Current Affairs Capsule

[muffystudies]

January 2023 Reads

I got this idea from @apricitystudies, since her monthly reading lists encouraged me to read further outside of my comfort zone, I thought I'd try the same sort of thing here

I'm dividing these lists into 3 categories:

News and Current affairs

Medical/Psychology/Public Health(I'm an undergrad psych student looking to go into public health and it's like my only personality trait at this point /s)

General Interest

Personal favourites will be bolded, with podcast links Italicised.

Without further ado, let's get into it!

News and current affairs:

Probably my favourite news story this month has been about this radioactive capsule that's missing somewhere between Perth and Newman in Western Australia (a distance of around 1200kms and a lot of it is fairly isolated). It's about the size of a 10c piece and fell off the back of a truck, I'm not even joking but if you want to read about it for yourself:

What is the radioactive capsule missing in WA used for and how dangerous is it?

Also, if you're gonna look this up anywhere else and people are joking about it (not from wa specifically but if we don't laugh we'll cry imo) you're gonna need some context:

Emu War

Clarke and Dawe - The Front Fell Off

Medical/Psychology/Public Health

Epilepsy: Lessons for clinicians from popular memes on social media

Object personification in Autism: This paper will be very sad if you don't read it

The Year I Lost Myself to Concussion

General interest:

The College Essay Is Dead

A Love Letter to Australia's Old School Chinese Restaurants

Taylor Swift is on the cusp of becoming a billionaire. Fans are debating if that's a good thing

[nithiyanantha]

Best Mobile Apps for IAS Preparation

Preparing for the Indian Administrative Service examination is no small feat. First of all, one needs a wellstructured plan of preparation coupled with consistent efforts and the right resources. In a digital era like this, a mobile application plays a very important role in helping aspirants. With such applications, studying material, current affairs, and other stuff like mock tests within easy reach.

These mobile apps are supplements to classroom learning for students preparing at distinguished coaching centers like PM IAS Academy, Coimbatore, and provide them with that extra mile in preparation. Let's know more about the best IAS mobile applications in helping your study plan in the blog below.

Why Mobile Apps Are Essential for IAS Preparation With the fast information and technology world, mobile applications make learning easier. Here are a few reasons why these mobile applications are required for IAS aspirants:

Access is not necessary to be at one place to access study materials, news, or lectures. You could do it anywhere and at any time, thus optimizing your study time even during short breaks.

One can opt for customized study plans and track progress in some mobile applications. Thus, a student will focus on his areas of weakness and improve accordingly.

Diverse Content: These have every possible study material, right from current affairs to mock tests, video lectures, and so on, which helps aspirants cover the entire IAS syllabus.

It is cost-effective. Although the courses for IAS preparation are costly, the mobile apps are relatively free and cost-friendly, ensuring that everyone gets to access the best education. Let's dig deeper into the best mobile apps available for IAS aspirants, especially from PM IAS Academy in Coimbatore, to enhance their preparation.

Top Mobile Apps for IAS Preparation

Comprehensive Current Affairs App Keeping oneself updated with current affairs is an essential part of IAS preparation. Apps related to current affairs provide news at the national and international levels, policies by governments, and the condition of society. These apps provide the following:

News summary on a daily basis. Editorials from leading newspapers. Monthly current affairs capsules. Quizzes and practice tests based on current events. For aspirants at PM IAS Academy in Coimbatore, these apps can work as supplements to your learning in the classrooms by providing current news update and analysis important both for Prelims and Mains.

Mock Test and Practice App Mocking tests and practice exams are the best ways to know where you stand and which part of the exam pattern is to be understood. These apps provide:

Timed Prelims and Mains Mock Tests. Detailed Performance Analysis. Sectional Tests General Studies, CSAT and Optional subjects. Practice through Mock Test Apps. So you may catch where you are going wrong, and you may concentrate on areas of improvement. The students of PM IAS Academy in Coimbatore find these apps to be very handy for simulating the actual exam atmosphere.

Interactive Learning and Video Lecture App For the student who is a visual learner, interactive video lecture apps would come as a gift. These include:

Video lectures by experts on multiple topics within the syllabus of the IAS. Interactive quizzes and discussions. Topic-wise segregation. The ease of accessing video lectures at any time makes it simpler for the aspirants in revisiting a topic or clearing doubts. Video lectures supplemented with learning in classes at PM IAS Academy here in Coimbatore cover all complexities in topics.

Previous Year Papers and Question Bank App Understanding the kind of question paper used in previous years' examinations would help crack IAS. A multitude of question papers from previous years and huge question banks are available on these apps that offer access to: Question papers of Preliminary and Mains for the last 10+ years. Questions available topic-wise and subject-wise for practice. Answer explanation and analysis for enhanced understanding. These apps can be used in conjunction with classroom coaching to ensure that the students are well exposed to question patterns and adequately rehearsed.

NCERT and Standard Books App NCERT books form the backbone of IAS preparation. Having easy access to NCERT books and other standard reference material on your mobile is very invaluable. Apps give the user: Free access to all NCERT books from Class 6 to 12. Summary of main points from standard reference books. The ability to highlight and bookmark sections which may need to be revisited again. To the PM IAS Academy aspirant at Coimbatore, these apps have turned out to be an excellent quick reference tool, carrying their textbooks wherever they want.

Note Taking and Revision App The art of note-taking is always good and with these apps, you can coordinate your revision process with: Tools that enable you to create and organize your notes. Ability to share notes with classmates or gurus. Accessing notes on any device. Capture of lecture notes and highlights taken at PM IAS Academy, Coimbatore and it will always be ready for revision on the go.

Time Management and Planner App Time management forms one of the biggest challenges an IAS aspirant faces. In addition to planner and time management apps, you can:

Schedule study time and reminders for your timetable. Divide the IAS syllabus into smaller sections. Marking daily, weekly, and monthly progress. You can thus monitor your study materials with proper time management apps along with these scheduled pre-planned study times given for CSAT preparation by PM IAS Academy in Coimbatore. CSAT is a part of IAS Prelims and there are specific apps that help aspirants prepare for the CSAT paper. They offer:

Logical reasoning and comprehension exercises Quantitative aptitude practice tests Detailed explanations and performance tracking For PM IAS Academy students in Coimbatore, these apps come as a supplement to help them feel better prepared for the CSAT paper, which usually acts as a decider for clearing Prelims.

How to Leverage these Applications while Preparing IAS It is nice to use these mobile applications, but it needs strategic use in order to get the maximum benefits from them. Here are a few tips on how one should integrate these apps into one's IAS study plan:

That can be used as complements of and not to replace the classroom learnings under PM IAS Academy in Coimbatore: Also, these apps should be used as a supplement to those guidances and resources received from the academy. Classroom training has the backdrop of an institution, while mobile applications provide flexibility and resource supplemented as well.

Maintain a Balanced Study Plan: Do not spend all your time on any app or subject. Use apps for current affairs in the morning, mock test in the day, and revision in the evening such that you are studying everything.

Fix Time Limitations: Mobile applications tend to be addictive. See that you don't spend too much time on them. Ensure you have fixed time limits for each app so that you balance your study routine.

Regularly assess your progress: Utilize the performance analytics provided by mock test applications to monitor your progress and then modify your plan of study. Share the results with the mentors at PM IAS Academy, Coimbatore, and get tailored feedback based on it.

Conclusion The mobile apps for IAS preparation are excellent tools to help you enhance your learning experience. Above all, such applications are easily availed, which further enhances your overall performance. It may clear up emergency current affairs, practice mock tests, or revise vital topics while focusing on a specific area of improvement.

However, these apps can be used only in combination with structured coaching from experts. For students at PM IAS Academy in Coimbatore, mobile apps thus provide greater access to more resources and more flexibility to meet their dreams of becoming an IAS officer.

By integrating mobile apps in your strategy of preparation, you get a step ahead in the competition, keep things organized, and move fearlessly closer to becoming an IAS officer.

IASPreparation #UPSCJourney #MobileAppsForIAS #BestIASCoaching

[avisionins]

My Advanced SBI Journey with Avision Institute Banking Coaching

Preparing for the State Bank of India (SBI) exams can be a challenging yet rewarding journey. With the right guidance and resources, success is within reach. My experience with the best SBI PO coaching in Kolkata, Avision Institute Banking Coaching played a crucial role in shaping my preparation and helping me achieve my goals. Here's how I built my strategy and advanced through the SBI exam process.

Introduction

The SBI exams are highly competitive, requiring a well-structured and disciplined approach to preparation. Enrolling in Avision Institute Banking Coaching was a game-changer for me. Their expert guidance, comprehensive study materials, and effective teaching methods provided the perfect environment for my preparation.

Build Subject-wise Preparation

One of the key strategies I learned at Avision Institute was the importance of subject-wise preparation. Breaking down the syllabus into manageable sections allowed me to focus on each subject individually. Here's how I did it:

Quantitative Aptitude: I dedicated specific days to mastering quantitative aptitude, focusing on understanding basic concepts and practicing a variety of problems. The institute's study materials were incredibly helpful in providing a wide range of practice questions.

Reasoning Ability: For reasoning, I followed a structured approach, starting with simple puzzles and gradually moving to complex ones. Regular practice helped me improve my logical thinking and problem-solving skills.

English Language: Enhancing my vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension skills was essential. Avision Institute provided excellent resources and mock tests that helped me improve my accuracy and speed in the English section.

General Awareness: Staying updated with current affairs and banking knowledge was crucial. I made it a habit to read newspapers and use the institute's monthly GK capsules to stay informed.

Increase Practice

Practice makes perfect, and this couldn't be truer for SBI exam preparation. Avision Institute is the top coaching for SBI PO that emphasizes the importance of regular practice through mock tests and practice papers. These practice sessions helped me:

Identify Weak Areas: Regular tests helped me pinpoint my weak areas, allowing me to focus on improving them.

Improve Speed and Accuracy: Timed practice sessions improved my speed and accuracy, crucial for the actual exam.

Build Confidence: Frequent practice boosted my confidence, reducing exam-day anxiety.

Learn Shortcuts

Learning shortcuts and tricks was another significant aspect of my preparation at Avision Institute. The experienced faculty taught us various techniques to solve problems quickly and accurately. These shortcuts were especially useful for:

Quantitative Aptitude: Simplifying complex calculations and saving valuable time during the exam.

Reasoning Ability: Quickly solving puzzles and logical questions using strategic approaches.

Revise with Short Tutorials

Revision is an essential part of exam preparation. Avision Institute provided short tutorials and revision notes that made it easier to quickly review important topics. These tutorials were helpful in:

Reinforcing Concepts: Revisiting key concepts and formulas to ensure they were fresh in my mind.

Quick Review: Efficiently reviewing large amounts of information in a short time.

Avoid Guess Work

One crucial tip I learned at Avision Institute was to avoid guesswork. Negative marking in the SBI exams can significantly impact your score. To minimize guesswork, I focused on:

Understanding Questions: Carefully reading and understanding each question before attempting to answer.

Skipping Uncertain Questions: If I was unsure about a question, I chose to skip it rather than risk a wrong answer.

Conclusion

My journey with Avision Institute which is the best SBI PO coaching in Kolkata that helping me prepare for the SBI exams. Their structured approach, expert guidance, and comprehensive resources enabled me to build a strong foundation, practice effectively, learn useful shortcuts, revise efficiently, and avoid guesswork. With their support, I was able to navigate the challenging path to success in the SBI exams. If you're aspiring to crack the SBI exams, I highly recommend Avision Institute for a guided and effective preparation journey.

[jyotijudiciary]

Best Online Courses for Law School Entrance: Start Your Legal Journey

Embarking on a legal career is a formidable yet rewarding journey. Becoming a lawyer begins with a crucial step: taking the law school entrance exams. In this digital era, where convenience and quality education are paramount, online courses have emerged as beacons of hope for aspiring law students. Among the myriad options available, Jyoti Judiciary CLAT online courses offer a comprehensive and tailored approach to cracking these competitive exams. This article delves into the best online courses for law school entrance, guiding you through your initial steps toward a successful legal career. If you want to learn more about CLAT exam coaching then visit this page.

Understanding the Law School Entrance Exams

Before diving into online courses, one must grasp the nature of law school entrance exams. These tests, such as the CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) in India, assess a candidate's aptitude for legal studies through sections on logical reasoning, legal aptitude, mathematics, general knowledge, and English language skills. Excelling in these exams opens the door to prestigious law schools and sets the foundation for a successful legal career.

The Role of Online Courses in Law Entrance Preparation

Online courses have revolutionized how candidates prepare in the quest for law school admission. These platforms offer a unique advantage with flexibility, personalized learning, and access to extensive resources. They cater to the diverse needs of students, from beginners to those needing a quick refresher or advanced practice.

Why Choose Jyoti Judiciary CLAT Online Courses?

Jyoti Judiciary CLAT online courses embody the perfect blend of quality, convenience, and effectiveness. Designed by experts in legal education, these courses offer a structured curriculum, interactive sessions, and a plethora of practice materials tailored to the CLAT and other law entrance exams. Their comprehensive approach ensures that every aspect of the exam is covered, making it a top choice for law aspirants.

Top Online Courses for Law School Entrance

Comprehensive CLAT Preparation Course

This course offers an all-encompassing preparation strategy for the CLAT exam. It includes detailed video lectures, mock tests, and quizzes designed to cover each exam section comprehensively. Students can benefit from personalized feedback and strategies to enhance their test-taking skills.

Legal Reasoning Masterclass

Understanding and interpreting legal scenarios and principles is crucial for law entrance exams. This masterclass focuses on developing strong legal reasoning skills, with an in-depth analysis of past-year questions and critical legal concepts.

Logical Reasoning and Analytical Abilities Course

Logical reasoning is a significant part of law entrance exams. This course offers targeted practice and techniques for solving puzzles, syllogisms, and logical deductions, crucial for scoring high in this section.

General Knowledge and Current Affairs Bootcamp

Stay updated with this dynamic course covering static general knowledge and current affairs relevant to law entrance exams. It includes weekly current affairs capsules, monthly magazines, and quizzes to test your knowledge.

English Language and Comprehension Skills Course

This course enhances your English language skills, focusing on grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and critical reasoning. It's designed to improve your accuracy and speed in the English section of the exam.

Mathematics for Legal Aptitude

Although mathematics is a smaller section, its importance cannot be understated. This course covers the fundamentals and shortcuts for quick and accurate problem-solving.

Benefits of Online Learning for Law Entrance Exams

Flexibility: Study at your own pace and schedule, accommodating other commitments.

Accessibility: Access materials and lectures from anywhere, removing geographical constraints.

Personalized Learning: Tailor your study plan and focus on areas that need improvement.

Resource-rich Environment: Leverage extensive study materials, mock tests, and interactive sessions.

Jyoti Judiciary CLAT online courses have a track record of success, with numerous students achieving top ranks in CLAT and other law entrance exams. Alums often credit their success to the structured approach and comprehensive material these courses provide.

Getting Started: Enrollment and Access

Enrolling in Jyoti Judiciary CLAT online courses is straightforward. Visit their official website, choose your course, and complete the registration process. Once enrolled, you gain immediate access to all course materials and a schedule of live sessions.

Making the Most of Your Online Course

To truly benefit from an online course, it's essential to be disciplined, actively participate in live sessions, complete all assignments, and regularly take mock tests to assess your progress.

Conclusion

Starting your legal journey with the proper preparation is crucial. Online courses, especially those offered by Jyoti Judiciary CLAT, provide a comprehensive and flexible approach to mastering law school entrance exams. Choosing the right course, staying committed to your study plan, and utilizing the resources available can significantly enhance your chances of success. Embrace this opportunity to lay.

[anthemnz]

Anthem’s summer reading list – everything you need to know about the latest magazines on the block

Image source: The Spinoff

This year saw drastic shifts in New Zealand’s ever-changing media landscape. As we endured lockdowns, we also faced months of uncertainty about the future of our most loved magazines, many of which have entertained and educated us for decades. With previously owned Bauer Media titles back on the shelves, as well as brand new titles, we can breathe a sigh of relief this crucial touchpoint of our culture and identity has new life.

To keep up to date with who’s who and what’s changed in the media landscape at the end of this tumultuous year, we’ve put together our summer reading list with our top reading recommendations for the festive season.

VIVA

VIVA magazine celebrates New Zealand’s ‘good things in life’, from fashion and beauty to food, design and travel. There was something special about leafing through Issue 01 shortly after the magazine took a leap from a weekly New Zealand Herald supplement to a full-glossy quarterly magazine in its own right. The first quarterly instalment, explains editor Amanda Linnell, is about Celebrating Aotearoa Now by reflecting on how 2020 has been a year that has “pushed us all to explore where we’ve come from, and discuss where we want to go”. As such, the content and characters that feature give the magazine a fiercely inclusive feel, with many wahine toa gracing the pages with their individual stories of creativity, ancestry and identity. A must read is Emma Espiner’s feature, an essay titled ‘Looking backwards to the future’, in which she reflects on how her Radio New Zealand journalist husband Guyon Espier was an unlikely modern champion bringing the te reo language to mainstream airwaves, despite initial reluctance from old fashioned or change-fearing listeners. VIVA is the perfect magazine for life-style enthusiasts, foodies and fashion lovers with a big skew towards women through the content’s deliberate inclusivity drive. The publication offers a voice for those who are champions for diversity and inclusion with reputable leaders who have compelling stories to tell - including food, beverage, fashion and FMCG clients.

Ensemble

Ensemble is an online magazine providing fashion and lifestyle news with a strong insider’s perspective. This insight comes directly from its industry heavyweights’ founders, former FQ Editor Zoe Walker Ahwa and industry face, Rebecca Wadey (ex-Kate Sylvester, Jo Malone London and MAC). Their byline is ‘for both intelligence and whimsy’ – a perfect escape in a Covid-landscape. Ensemble’s four content pillars are culture, fashion, beauty and people – writing content for a high-socioeconomic audience who are concerned with conscious consumption, the business of fashion, style trends and industry related issues. The magazine’s investigative journalism is Melanie Reid-esque in terms of quality and often provided anonymously from scrupulous sources. It balances the content nicely with light reads and trend reports.  

Woman

Woman is an online and print magazine targeted at women 30 plus with articles on the latest in celebrity news, entertainment, local events and Kiwi women who stand out in their field of expertise. Published by Sido Kitchin’s School Road publishing, the magazine has a little bit of everything - from fashion, gardening, cooking, market appeal, beauty, art, home, wellbeing and book reviews. The features highlight inspiring stories of women who have achieved big things, including political editors Jessica Mutch McKay, Jane Patterson and Tova O’Brien who dive into their experience on the campaign trail during this year’s election.

Haven

Haven is New Zealand’s newest home and living magazine aimed at owners and renovating enthusiasts. The monthly magazine provides design advice, decorating inspiration and gardening tips, as well as showcasing local home, homemakers, food ideas and homeware trends. Haven’s content pillars are:

-          Edit – homeware trends and style influencers

-          Live – Kiwi homes that cross styles, locations and living situations

-          Transform – style ideas and advice for room makeovers

-          Grow – green spaces

-          Eat – recipes from Nici Wickes

The magazine targets everyday New Zealanders, rather than only featuring high end, lifestyle properties. It also profiles the interesting Kiwis who occupy the homes too, rather than just being homes focused.

SCOUT

Scout is a monthly, glossy magazine that pays homage to Aotearoa, New Zealand and the beauty we have on offer for Kiwis and, when our borders open, international visitors. We enjoyed learning about places through the eyes of a range of contributing writers, from Stan Walker on his home city  Tauranga, and Peta Mathias on Tairua. We also enjoyed reading about places we have been meaning to visit but never have, such as Tiritiri Matangi in Hauraki Gulf. The images are beautiful, and very authentic and true to life, rather than a polished tourism façade. The target market would be the domestic tourist or Kiwis wishing to explore their backyard. It appears to be a magazine for a wide demographic, that is not too high brow or elite, and accessible and relevant for many.

Thrive

Thrive, another magazine brought-to-market by School Road Publishing, is focused on all things health and wellbeing. Editor Wendyl Nissen has 20 years’ experience writing about wellness and vouched in the first edition that all content included in this magazine is “authentic and science based.” Each issue includes 3-4 long-form articles, ranging from day-in-the-life pieces that profile well-known Kiwis, to how to maintain DIY health and wellbeing practices from home. It’s relevant to anyone wanting to pay more attention to mindful living and comes full of tangible suggestions you can implement in your day-to-day life.

North & South

This long form current affairs magazine is back. The monthly is targeted at informed Kiwis aged 35–64 who are “endlessly curious about the country they call home.” Using a blend of investigative journalism, essays, profiles and reviews, the magazine explores everything that is complex and fascinating about New Zealand. The first issue since the magazine came back into publication under its new independent ownership asks, “are we better off on our own” in this ambiguous Covid era? A must-read is Damian Cristie’s feature “Closed” that explores everything that is at stake as we considering when, and how, we can re-open our borders. Donna Chisholm also writes a fascinating piece about how scientists at the Centre for Brain Research are studying tiny pieces of brain tissue to find treatments for Alzheimer’s, autism, epilepsy and other neurological conditions.

Metro

Metro has relaunched under new independent local ownership. The revamp sees it become a quarterly (formerly bi-monthly) magazine, with bigger issues featuring the best of New Zealand. Online, Metro plans to develop several digital platforms to give Aucklanders insider knowledge of their city. It’s great to see proper long form features back. The features were all well written and highly relevant to the narrative of the last few months and beautifully designed. It’s still the best food section in any New Zealand publication. We also love that Alex Casey is a columnist, it’s a perfect fit for Metro. There is so much content in here, it’s the type of magazine that will live well on your coffee table to keep coming back to.

Fashion Quarterly

FQ sees a welcome return for New Zealand’s style conscious. The magazine is aimed at women aged between 20-49 with content including shopping guides, new trends and style inspiration. The features dive into local breakthrough designers, sustainable fashion, conscious consumption, at-home skincare and self-improvement. The December issue arrives months after its publication came to an abrupt halt in March, with a clear re-focus on inclusivity and commenting on social and environmental issues readers care most about. Jacinta Fitzgerald’s essay “Where to from here?” is an interesting exploration of fashion’s most unforeseeable year and the future for sustainability in an industry that has an unsustainable track record.  

Capsule

They say times of adversity provide opportunity, and Capsule is a prime example of this in action. Following the closure of Bauer Media NZ in April, Kelly Bertrand, former Deputy Editor of New Zealand Woman's Weekly, joined forces with a group of other former magazine editors to launch Capsule, an online curated collection of smart stories and relatable rants. Capsule is aimed at savvy, strong, intelligent and stylish Kiwi women who want to know what’s happening, what’s trending, what’s new, and what’s worth talking about. Capsule aims to deliver clever content that resonates and connects deeply with Kiwi women and helps them feel successful, informed and entertained. The range and volume of content that Capsule covers means there’s something for everyone and every mood – you could be reading a Samsung vacuum cleaner review one moment, then learning about creating workplace opportunities for young Kiwis living with disabilities the next. Having just signed on a content partnership with Stuff, we can expect to see a lot more of Capsule in the near future – and we can’t wait.

Woman’s Day NZ and The New Zealand Woman’s Weekly

After a hiatus following Bauer Media’s collapse, Woman’s Day and NZ Woman’s Weekly are back in full force to serve celebrity gossip and royal family scandal. The weekly print publications are primarily aimed at women aged 35 to 60 and in addition to reporting on the latest Hollywood red carpet faux pas, they deliver gripping real-life reads, affordable fashion, easy nutritious meals, quick beauty tips, entertaining puzzles and more. Overall, these publications provide entertainment and escapism – perfect beach reading material. 

[zerochanges]

50 Years of Dororo - Mushi Pro’s Dororo 1969 vs Studio Mappa’s Dororo 2019

2019 marks the 50th anniversary of Mushi Pro’s Dororo anime adaptation, the last anime to be made solely in black and white. The 1969 original Dororo anime is a cult classic, with high accolades from the diehard community and still holds up incredibly well to this day. Yet that didn't stop Studio Mappa from creating their own adaptation of the manga, which has finally released just this week. So the real question is, how do the two of them compare--well let’s get into it.

But first, a little background. The original Dororo manga, created by prolific manga creator Osamu Tezuka, ran in Weekly Shonen Sunday for about one year, from August 1967 to July 1968, where it then entered a hiatus for a brief period, before finally shifting to the Monthly Adventure King magazine in 1969 where it was serialized for about 6 months (May to October ‘69) and finally “concluded”. I say concluded but the manga mostly just abruptly stops before the characters accomplish any of their own goals, and things are more or less just left open in case Tezuka ever wanted to come back to the series (he didn't). Despite this Dororo has remained to be an incredibly beloved property by Tezuka and seen its fair share of retellings and adaptations from video games to live action films, and of course to anime.

So now let’s talk anime. The original 1969 adaptation of Dororo was created by Mushi Pro, Tezuka’s own animation studio that he started half a decade back in 1963, and as said above was the last anime to be created solely in black and white. By this point in time color TVs were finally becoming widespread in Japan, and most anime have already started to be created in color. This was not an easy process, and was more time consuming for the production, which is why the decision was made by Mushi Pro to stick to the work pipeline they had and produce Dororo in black and white, a decision that really went on to define the entire series. Mushi Pro's Dororo has a very crisp look, with some great animation for its era, but beyond that also manages some incredibly terrifying and equally breathtaking moments because of its beautiful artwork mixed with the black and white aesthetic. There’s just something about black and white, the atmosphere it creates is otherworldly, ask any movie buff and they’ll tell you the effects it has on the horror genre is undeniable. I think these late black and white 1960 era anime hold up so incredibly well, and may in fact be even creepier nowadays (the 1968 GeGeGe no Kitaro comes to mind). 

Dororo (1969) episode 4: The Scroll of Bandai Part 2

Time marches on however, and after 50 years it’s time for another studio to take a swing at Dororo. Mappa is a small animation studio established in 2011, founded by Masao Maruyama, producer and co-founder of Madhouse, who left Madhouse to pursue his own passions and took some staff with him. Maruyama would later leave Mappa in 2016 unfortunately, but the studio to this day has still been producing hits since. The staff behind their current Dororo adaptation is helmed by Kazuhiro Furuhashi as director, Satoshi Iwataki as character designer, Yasuko Kobayashi in charge of scripts, and Yoshihiro Ike composing the music. Background animation is handled by Studio Pablo. Dororo is produced by Twin Engine, a production company with its main focus being the creators of the medium. Founded by Kouji Yamamoto, Twin Engine wishes to let young artist focus on creating anime, ignoring popular trends instead pursuing only the art of the medium; often commissioning work from studios to keep them financially afloat. Dororo, like a large majority of Twin Engine produced series, streams worldwide on Amazon Prime.

My final aside before diving into some thoughts on how both adaptations compare is that when it comes to adapting Tezuka’s iconic designs to the form of animation there are often changes made. The more Disney-esque look of his drawings can be hard to pull off for action animation, and well, giant noses, and bushy mustaches are well and good, but when you’re trying to sell hideous monsters chomping people into bits, maybe they are not that fitting for this story. That’s why both the 1969 Mushi Pro and 2019 Mappa series have their own takes on the design of the characters. Mushi Pro sorta goes for making protagonist Hyakkimaru more buff, and adult looking, whereas Mappa makes their Hyakkimaru slim and more ikemen. I think both approaches work fine for the story at hand, and are interesting time capsules of themselves for their own eras.

So let’s compare the first episode of both series!

Both episodes start in a similar fashion, with Feudal Lord Daigo Kagemitsu making a deal to 48 Demons and sacrificing his then unborn son in the process. However even this early on we can see differences between the two adaptations. 

In the 1969 Mushi Pro version Daigo willingly offers up his own son to the demons, and does so for power, asking them to grant him all of Japan under his rule, whereas in the 2019 Mappa version Daigo only offers the demons anything they want in return, never directly giving them his own son, and asks for the demons to give him the power and prestige he will need to rule over Japan. 

At first I felt that Mappa may have made Daigo a bit more sympathetic, him seemingly asking for his own province to be granted protection from disease, famine, and war is certainly something we haven’t seen out of the character, but were perks he does enjoy later in the story regardless. As I ruminated on it however, I realized it’s more of an attempt to round out his character and add some extra depth to him. Sure those may have been great things for a Feudal Lord to ask for, but Daigo really only cares about one thing, and that’s ruling Japan; this has yet to change. Daigo still has no qualms about his own son Hyakkimaru being born a hideous freak and still throws away the newborn baby to die in some river while yelling at his wife to make another one to replace it.

One Buddhist monk starves to death while bemoaning the state of Japan while another is slain and bemoans the current state of affairs in Japan

Then there’s Daigo killing a Buddhist monk. This scene does not exist in the 1969 Mushi Pro version (but Daigo does murder the monk albeit under different circumstances in the manga) and I have quite a bit to say about that. Daigo’s conversation with this monk, again, shows him off to be a bit more well rounded. He’s still selling his soul to the devil, but we can see his own level of commitment to his ambition when talking to the monk. The monk also plays another role that mirrors Mushi Pro’s first episode. In Mushi Pro’s debut episode Dororo comes across a starving Buddhist monk that can do nothing but beg for food and pray, and eventually succumbs to his starvation and dies. Both monks remark about the horrors of the current sengoku era being like Hell on Earth, and are meant to communicate to the audience that this particular time in Japanese history is perhaps one of the cruelest. 

1969 or 2019, Daigo is still a dirt-bag and makes his wife suffer.

Let’s talk about Hyakkimaru’s birth as I think it’s a pretty interesting contrast between these two adaptations. In the 1969 Mushi Pro version Daigo already knows his son should be born a monster so upon seeing the hideous freak that is his baby boy, he proudly declares “My end of the bargain is fulfilled!” The demons have accepted Daigo’s offer and he can’t be happier. In the 2019 Mappa version Daigo is not aware of what the demons will take until a bolt of lighting strikes the room his wife is giving birth in. Upon seeing the baby up close (something not seen in the 1969 version until the second episode) Daigo realizes what has happened and orders the baby killed. We then get a conversation about a Buddhist statue that happened to break in the same room. The wet nurse believes it sacrificed itself in order to save the baby, giving a sorta strange implication that perhaps the deal wasn't to take 48 body parts from Hyakkimaru but to take everything from him, including his life. In fact we never really even establish if there are 48 demons, or 48 body parts missing, so the number may vary, and the kind of curse could be different. If that is true, it is certainly a unique approach to the series.

The image of baby Hyakkimaru from Mushi Pro's 1969 Dororo adaptation is taken from the second episode as it was not shown in the first episode.

Hyakkimaru’s birth between the two versions shows how both mirror each other--we have less subtle writing but more subtle animation in the 1969 Mushi Pro adaptation, and more subtle writing but super over-the-top animation in the 2019 Mappa adaptation. I find this maybe the best way to compare these two anime entirely so far. There is no huge lightning bolt smiting the room Daigo’s wife is giving birth in with the Mushi Pro version, instead you hear the mother scream in terror upon Hyakkimaru's birth as she breaks down and cries. Daigo and his wife's expressions of horror at the baby is the only clear indication of Hyakkimaru's hideousness instead of just showing the baby like Mappa did. But the Mappa version is trying to give some more depth to its characters, and maybe even to its own world with added bits such as the Buddhist statue maybe protecting Hyakkimaru. Both adaptations seems to have reverse on what they want to be subtle about and what they want to be over-the-top about.

In the 1969 Mushi Pro version Daigo and his wife send Hyakkimaru down the river in a basket themselves, where as in the 2019 Mappa version Daigo orders the wet nurse to drown Hyakkimaru in the river, but she pities the baby and places him in an abandoned boat then pushes it down the stream. And then a demon shows up and murders her out of nowhere and is slain by the blind monk Zato (a character that didn't appear until Hyakkimaru narrates his past to Dororo a little later in the story). Yeah, that was a really weird addition to the story Mappa made. It’s certainly more over-the-top and gets a bit more action into an episode that amounts to basically all set-up, so there is that, I guess. Still really weird to see Zato show up like this.

Both Zato and Jukai don't make their introduction until Hyakkimaru explains his past to Dororo in the second episode of the 1969 Mushi Pro Dororo.

Speaking of adding in characters earlier than before, Mappa included scenes that would interrupt the episode every now and again that focus on a doctor who gives prosthetics to dead maimed warriors so they can rest in peace. These scenes did not exist in the 1969 Mushi Pro version, which didn't show Jukai until episode 2 where it tells the story of how he saved a baby in the river he found, Hyakkimaru, and gave it prosthetics.

The introduction to Dororo is pretty similar in both versions, but more drawn out in the 1969 Mushi Pro adaptation. As discussed above with Daigo and the Buddhist monk, there was a scene where a starving monk begs Dororo for food before succumbing to his own starvation and dying, this was not present in the 2019 Mappa adaptation. Dororo gets more time to just do some general hijinks and mess around in town in Mushi Pro's version as well, before finally stealing food from some lowlifes and getting the crap kicked out of him by the riverbank.

In the Mappa version instead of stealing food from lowlifes Dororo steals their cargo and tries to pawn it but is caught then beaten at the riverbank. I imagine Mappa was just trying to streamline Dororo's introduction here for time constraints so they did their best to get across that he’s a thief while also making sure he ends up at the riverbank right away. Either way both adaptations lead to this slime looking monster appearing out of a pile of garbage in the river and eating the lowlife. Mappa’s more over the top animation has the monster swinging around its arms wildly until eventually grabbing said lowlife and making a snack out of him, where Mushi Pro has it slowly slither on top of the lowlife and then melts him. Ouch, that’s kinda way more messed up.

The lowlife gets melted by the monster in the manga too.

From this point on both adaptations are pretty much entirely the same, with just differences in animation quality being really all there is to comment on. The fight scene between Hyakkimaru and the slime in Mappa’s version is fantastic, with Hyakkimaru performing incredible acrobatics, jumping all around the bridge and slicing the whole thing up until it collapses on top of the slime killing it, where Mushi Pro … well they did their best, okay.

The real big difference is that Dororo seems a lot more intelligent when approaching Hyakkimaru in the 2019 Mappa version. Dororo was very quick to notice that Hyakkimaru is blind, and that his body is made up of mostly prosthetics. The 1969 Mushi Pro Dororo ends up getting terrified in the very next episode upon the realization that Hyakkimaru’s eyes are fake (he admittedly popped his glass eyes out of his head though to scare Dororo away).

The 2019 Mappa version has it that the riverbank monster was apparently one of the 48 demons Hyakkimaru needed to slay in order to regain his body parts, this one giving him back his skin. Hyakkimaru was actually born with his skin in the 1969 Mushi Pro version (as well as in the manga), and the monster was not the first demon he needed to kill but just a run-of-the-mil yokai that awarded him no regenerated body parts. Hyakkimaru actually worded it as "the dead", which have no true shape of their own and just latch onto anything, in this case the garbage in the river--thus making the slime monster we saw. Again I think Mappa was trying to kill two birds with one stone and get the audience acquainted with the series quicker since the general plot is essentially Hyakkimaru slays monster, Hyakkimaru grows back lost body part. This was a good way to streamline things, and it was with a body part that he wasn't missing before so it takes away nothing from later parts of the story.

And this is the biggest difference right here at the end of the episode, Hyakkimaru has yet to talk. He may not be able to speak at all until he’s slain enough demons to get this ability back. The Mappa version has so far seemed to point to Hyakkimaru being mute, deaf and blind, and completely cut off from the world. The Mushi Pro version had Hyakkimaru lack his eyeballs, his mouth, and his ears, but he could still speak and hear (just like in the manga). I always assumed it was just his outer ear missing but he still had all his inner ear like his eardrums, and well, you can talk without lips, so there was that too. The Mappa version seems to fully commit to Hyakkimaru being born without all his senses, and if it’s true it will be a super interesting take on the character to be sure. It will also be hard to pull off considering how much he speaks in the original story; he's a very vocal character, so if it is true, until he regains his ability to speak Dororo has to be the one to carry the duo in conversations entirely now which will lead to major shake-ups in the plot.

What do you think of the newest anime adaptation of Dororo. Are you excited to see the classic come back for modern times? Do you wish it was more like the manga or are you enjoying all these attempts to create something more modern with the source material? Do you think Hyakkimaru will speak in the next episode or do you think he's actually going to start the show as a mute? Are you looking forward to keeping up with this new adaptation of Dororo?

PS - Shout out to Mappa for putting a dog into their first episode that resembles Nota, the mascot character invented for the 1969 Mushi Pro series in a vain attempt to prevent the children that were watching it from being emotionally scarred (it probably didn't). 

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