#PCM Materials

[tan90thermal]

Peak Shifting: A Smart Way to Save Energy in Cold Storage, HVAC, and Data Centers

Introduction Energy costs are a big concern for industries like cold storage, HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning), and data centers, which require a continuous supply of power to function effectively. These sectors often face high electricity bills, especially during peak hours, when energy demand is at its highest. To combat these rising costs and improve energy efficiency, many companies are turning to a concept called peak shifting. One technology that makes peak shifting possible is Phase Change Materials (PCMs), which are revolutionizing the way energy is stored and used.

In this blog, we’ll explore what peak shifting is, how it can benefit cold storage, HVAC systems, and data centers, and how Tan90’s PCMs—specifically designed to operate at 0°C and -24°C—play a critical role in this energy-saving strategy.

What is Peak Shifting?

Peak shifting is an energy management strategy that involves shifting electricity usage from periods of high demand (known as peak hours) to times when the demand is lower (off-peak hours). Peak hours typically occur during the day, when businesses and households are using the most power. Because energy is more expensive during these times, shifting the demand to off-peak hours can lead to significant cost savings.

For example, instead of running energy-intensive cooling systems during peak hours, businesses can store the cooling energy during off-peak times and use that stored energy during peak hours. This helps balance electricity usage and avoid higher rates charged during peak periods.

Why Peak Shifting is Important for Cold Storage, HVAC, and Data Centers

Industries like cold storage, HVAC, and data centers require round-the-clock cooling, making them large consumers of electricity. Let’s take a closer look at how each of these industries can benefit from peak shifting:

Cold Storage: Cold storage facilities must maintain consistent, low temperatures to prevent spoilage of food, pharmaceuticals, and other perishable goods. Operating refrigeration systems during peak hours is costly. Peak shifting allows cold storage facilities to use PCMs to freeze cooling energy during off-peak hours and release that energy to maintain low temperatures during peak hours, reducing energy costs without compromising product safety.

HVAC Systems: In commercial and residential buildings, HVAC systems regulate temperature, air quality, and humidity. These systems consume a lot of energy, particularly during peak demand times when cooling needs are highest. Peak shifting allows HVAC systems to cool PCMs during off-peak times and use that stored energy during peak hours. This reduces electricity consumption during the day while keeping the indoor environment comfortable.

Data Centers: Data centers are critical to the operation of businesses worldwide, as they store vast amounts of data and require significant cooling to prevent overheating. Running cooling systems continuously can result in high electricity bills, especially during peak hours. By utilizing peak shifting with PCMs, data centers can store cooling energy during off-peak periods and release it during peak hours, keeping server rooms cool without excessive energy use.

The Role of PCMs in Peak Shifting

Phase Change Materials (PCMs) are substances that absorb and release large amounts of heat as they change from one phase to another (for example, from solid to liquid). This ability to store and release thermal energy makes them perfect for peak shifting. PCMs can freeze or melt at specific temperatures, making them ideal for energy storage in cold storage, HVAC systems, and data centers.

Here’s how they work:

During Off-Peak Hours: The PCM is cooled or frozen using the lower-cost electricity available during off-peak times. This stores energy in the form of latent heat.

During Peak Hours: As the temperature rises, the PCM slowly melts, releasing the stored energy and providing the necessary cooling without drawing power from the grid.

This process helps industries maintain stable temperatures and cooling capacity during high-demand periods, significantly reducing energy costs.

Tan90’s PCM Solutions for Peak Shifting

Tan90 offers specialized PCMs designed for peak shifting in various industries. Two of the key products are PCMs that operate at 0°C and -24°C.

0°C PCM

This PCM is ideal for industries that need to maintain temperatures around the freezing point, such as cold storage for food products, medical supplies, and other perishables. During off-peak hours, the PCM freezes, storing energy. During peak hours, it melts, releasing the stored energy to maintain the required low temperatures. This significantly reduces the need for active cooling systems to run during high-cost times.

For example, in a cold storage facility that houses fruits and vegetables, which need to be kept just above freezing, Tan90’s 0°C PCM can store the cooling energy during the night (off-peak) and release it throughout the day (peak hours), ensuring a stable environment for the produce without relying heavily on electricity during peak hours.

-24°C PCM

This PCM is used in deeper freezing applications, such as frozen food storage or pharmaceutical cold chains. At -24°C, this PCM is ideal for products that need to be kept at sub-zero temperatures. It can freeze during off-peak times, storing energy, and then melt during peak hours, providing consistent cooling. This allows for significant energy savings in industries where maintaining freezing temperatures is critical.

In pharmaceutical cold chains, for example, vaccines or biologics need to be kept at extremely low temperatures. Tan90’s -24°C PCM can store cooling energy during the night and release it during the day, reducing the need for constant refrigeration and saving on energy costs.

Advantages of Using PCMs for Peak Shifting

Cost Savings: One of the biggest advantages of peak shifting with PCMs is the reduction in electricity costs. By storing cooling energy during off-peak hours when rates are lower, businesses can avoid using expensive peak-hour electricity.

Energy Efficiency: PCMs improve the overall energy efficiency of cooling systems. By utilizing stored energy, less electricity is required during peak hours, which reduces the load on the grid and lowers overall energy consumption.

Sustainability: Reducing peak-hour energy consumption is not only cost-effective but also environmentally friendly. By using energy more efficiently and reducing reliance on electricity during peak times, businesses can lower their carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Temperature Stability: PCMs help maintain consistent temperatures, which is critical for industries like cold storage and data centers. This ensures that products like food and pharmaceuticals remain safe, and data centers avoid costly downtime due to overheating.

Tan90’s PCM in Shipping: A Real-World Application

PCMs are not just useful for stationary systems like cold storage, HVAC, and data centers; they are also vital in the logistics and shipping industries. During the transportation of temperature-sensitive goods, such as vaccines, Tan90’s PCMs are used in insulated shipping containers to maintain stable temperatures throughout the journey.

The PCM freezes before shipment and then melts during transit, providing consistent cooling without the need for active refrigeration. This method is not only cost-effective but also ensures the safe delivery of products that require strict temperature control.

[Insert Image: PCM used in shipping applications]

Conclusion

Peak shifting, supported by Phase Change Materials, is a powerful strategy for managing energy consumption in cold storage, HVAC systems, and data centers. With Tan90’s innovative PCM solutions, industries can achieve significant cost savings, enhance energy efficiency, and contribute to a more sustainable future.

As energy demands and environmental concerns grow, PCMs offer a practical approach to balancing cost and sustainability. Stay tuned for our next blog post, where we’ll explore more applications of PCMs and their impact on various sectors.

Lear more

[whats-in-a-sentence]

The RMIT team, led by Professor David Mainwaring, and including Professor Robert Shanks, developed a jacket that is filled with solid phase change material (PCM, figure 7.23).

"Chemistry" 2e - Blackman, A., Bottle, S., Schmid, S., Mocerino, M., Wille, U.

[tenth-sentence]

At temperatures below about 18 °C, the PCM exists as a waxy semi-solid in which the chains of the alkane molecules are aligned.

"Chemistry" 2e - Blackman, A., Bottle, S., Schmid, S., Mocerino, M., Wille, U.

[chemicalsmaterialsnews]

Transforming Industries: Phase Change Materials Market Insights

As stated by P&S Intelligence, the total revenue generated by the phase change materials market was USD 1,775.5 million in 2021, which will power at a rate of 16.8% by the end of this decade, to reach USD 7,206.2 million by 2030.

This has a lot to do with the increasing growth in the construction and packaging sectors and increasing importance on green buildings.

Cold chain and packaging category will grow at the highest rate, of above 17%, in the years to come. This can be mostly because of the surge in PCM requirement to sustain precise temperatures through the supply chain while lowering the emissions of carbon dioxide. Using ACs and electric fans to stay cool contributes to approximately 20% of the total electricity employed in buildings globally. The increasing requirement for space cooling is straining quite a few countries' power infrastructure, along with bringing about increased emissions.

With the enormous increase in the requirement for energy-efficient ACs, the requirement for PCMs will soar, as the electrical consumption of modified ACs with PCMs could be brought down by 3.09 kWh every day.

Europe dominated the industry with a share, of about 40%, in the recent past. The predisposition toward the acceptance of eco-friendly materials will power the PCM industry in the region. European regulatory associations, such as the SCANVAC, took more than a few initiatives for developing and promoting and effective building mechanical solutions and increase awareness pertaining to PCM applications.

The convenience of paraffin at a wide range of temperatures is a major reason for its appropriateness as an energy storage medium. Likewise, paraffin-based PCM is called a waxy solid paraffin, safe, dependable, noncorrosive, and economical material.

HVAC systems had the second-largest share, of about 30%, in phase change materials market in the recent past. This has a lot to do with the fact that PCM installation decreases fluctuations of temperature. HVAC with PCM supports in maintaining a steadier temperature and eliminating thermal uneasiness caused by alterations in temperature. It is because of the emphasis on green buildings, the demand for phase change materials will continue to rise considerably in the years to come.

[foldingfittedsheets]

Oh wise bed guru, any advice for a couple that has different temperature needs when sleeping? I'm as hot as a blast furnace and my husband dumps heat like he's part lizard. It's gotten way worse since I got CPAP machine and I need to find a way to stay cool without turning him into a popsicle. I'm thinking about getting a 2 zone heated mattress pad and a wool duvet, but do you have any advice or specific brand recommendations?

There’s a thing in some beds now called Phase Change Material or PCM. Basically it’s added to foam and it stores your excess heat and releases it when your temperature goes down. Theres a science explanation but that involves solid and liquid states but it’s basically just magic.

Our current bed has it. It will be chilly for ten minutes then just keep temperature regulated after that. Could be a good solution, but bedding focused on meeting both your different needs can work too.

[jasper-pagan-witch]

hi! sorry to bother you, but i would like to get into pop culture paganism and am intimidated by all the.. everything people are talking about that i dont understand. do you have the most basic, "explain it like im four" crash course for learning PCP? [i feel the need to specify, i dont think im interested in being a witch at this time, i just have a pop culture deity id like to venerate] [i think thats the right word? worship? work with? idk]

thank you very much!

I'll happily help, anon.

WARNING! This post is a very, very basic introduction to Pop Culture Paganism, and I'm writing from my own perspective. There's no way I can cover everything. Please let me rest.

Let's start with some abbreviations:

PCM = Pop Culture Magic, the usage of elements of pop culture in one's magical or spiritual practice

PCP = Pop Culture Paganism, the usage of elements of pop culture (including but not limited to pop culture deities or characters-as-deities) in or as one's religious practice

PCD = Pop Culture Deity, an entity who is worshiped as or is a deity in their source material

PCE = Pop Culture Entity, any entity from a pop culture source (any PCD is a PCE, but not all PCEs are PCDs)

And some of my own definitions (yours may not be the same!):

Veneration/worship = including a figure in your religious practice

Work = creating an agreement with a figure in a magical or spiritual practice, which may or may not be religious in nature

Devotion = worshiping one deity above all others, that deity becoming your patron

All of these have been greatly simplified for ease of use in this guide.

PCP can be done in addition to or in place of other religions. Due to the nature of the phrase "paganism", a polytheist approach is implied but ultimately isn't necessary - there are plenty of pop culture pagans who only worship one PCD/PCE. I practice both PCP and """mainstream""" polytheism.

PCP can be done in addition to PCM, but the two can also be mutually exclusive. I, personally, practice both PCP and PCM.

The primary appeal of PCP is that it is deeply personal. Many people who engage in PCP find that starting their religious practice from the ground up, or in using familiar religious practices from their culture that they're used to, is a lot of fun. Others love the source material(s) that they're drawing from so much that practicing PCP is just a natural way to continue expressing their love for it. There are a thousand reasons to practice PCP.

Some of the """mainstream""" polytheism issues appear in PCP, too. Gatekeeping, cliques, the insistence that deities have to "choose" you...a lot of toxic ideas tend to show up, just because of how online spaces work nowadays.

"That's great, Jasper, but how do we actually do this?" I'm getting there, dear readers, I promise.

Decide your approach. What pop culture source are you drawing from? A video game? Music? A book series, or even a standalone book?

Outreach. Do you build an altar or shrine? Make an offering? Write a poem or invitation? Pray? Wait for the PCD/PCE to reach out first? Do you create them yourself?

Set expectations. What are you going to do? What do you expect? Do you want to communicate back and forth, or just pray and not expect a direct answer? Figure out what you want.

Continue developing. Your PCP practice will likely not remain the same as time goes on. Let it grow, and let yourself grow with it.

Hopefully this is a very beginner-friendly 101 style post! For further resources, please check out my Pop Culture Magic/Paganism Resources Masterpost.

~Jasper

[brokehorrorfan]

4K Ultra HD Review: Basket Case

Unlike most "prestigious" organizations dedicated to the arts (I'm looking at you, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences), the Museum of Modern Art doesn't ignore the existence of genre fare. Nevertheless, there's something surreal about seeing "This film is from the collections of The Museum of Modern Art" at the start of Basket Case, a sleazy exploitation picture shot on 16mm over the course of a year for under $35,000.

The 1982 film follows Duane Bradley (Kevin VanHentenryck), who carries around his formerly-conjoined twin brother, a deformed, fleshy menace named Belial, in a wicker basket. While Duane intends to get revenge on the medical professionals who performed their unwanted separation surgery, Belial indiscriminately kills anyone who opens the basket like a malevolent jack in the box.

It's clear from the start that some sort of creature is contained within the basket, but writer-director Frank Henenlotter (Frankenhooker, Brain Damage) smartly allows the tension to build before revealing Belial in all his glory at the end of the first act. There's no mistaking it for anything but inanimate rubber (save for a primitive stop-motion sequence), but its blood-curdling screams give it life. Special effects artists Kevin Haney and John Caglione Jr. both won Oscars for Best Makeup — for Driving Miss Daisy and Dick Tracy, respectively — less than a decade removed from Basket Case.

MoMA's 4K restoration of Basket Case's original 16mm AB negative reels arrives on 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) and original uncompressed PCM mono audio via Arrow Video. Importantly, the restoration presents the film in newfound clarity while preserving the '80s NYC grime inherent to the film. The limited edition set comes with reversible artwork, a double-sided fold-out poster, and a booklet with writing on the film by horror historian Michael Gingold and a Basket Case comic strip by Martin Trafford, all housed in a slipcase featuring artwork by Sara Deck.

While no new special features were produced for the 4K, the plethora of existing materials including cover every conceivable aspect of the film. Henenlotter and VanHentenryck's breathless commentary from Arrow's 2017 Blu-ray doubles as a low-budget film school, from reusing sets to dumpster diving for decor. An archival track from Something Weird's 2001 DVD with Henenlotter, producer Edgar Ievins, actress Beverly Bonner, and Basket Case 2 production assistant Scooter McRae repeats most of the insight, but it's fun to hear their rapport.

Interviews are ported over with VanHentenryck, who discusses his cerebral approach to playing the character; Bonner, who wrote and starred in a play examining where her character might be 30 years after Basket Case; Florence and Maryellen Schultz, Henenlotter's identical twin cousins who play nurses in the film and share his unique sense of humor; and legendary film critic and The Last Drive-In host Joe Bob Briggs, whose campaign to host the film's drive-in premiere saved it from being cut by its distributor.

A joke interview with Henenlotter features the filmmaker portrayed by Albert Cadabra, a sideshow performer who edited Henenlotter's Bad Biology, in the nude. The Latvian Connection explores four crucial members of the Basket Case team of Latvian descent: Ievins, associate producer/effects artist Ugis Nigals, casting director/actress Ilze Balodis, and Belial performer Kika Nigals. What’s in the Basket? is a 78-minute documentary produced by Severin Films in 2012 covering the Basket Case franchise with cast and crew.

Three short films are featured: Basket Case 3½, an 8-minute mockumentary from 2017 in which Henenlotter interviews "Duane Bradley" (VanHentenryck) about the events of Basket Case; Slash of the Knife, Henenlotter's 1976 short film that ultimately lead him to make Basket Case, with optional commentary by Henenlotter and playwright Mike Bencivenga and outtakes; and Belial’s Dream, a 2017 stop-motion animated short by Robert Morgan (who just made his feature debut with Stopmotion), accompanied by its own brief making-of featurette.

Other extras include: the MoMA's 2017 restoration premiere introduction and Q&A with Henenlotter, VanHentenryck, Bonner, the Schultz twins, and Ugis Nigals; The Frisson of Fission, a video essay by film historian Travis Crawford exploring the history of conjoined twins and "freaks" in cinema; a 2011 filming location tour with Henenlotter and rapper R.A. The Rugged Man (who co-wrote Bad Biology) explore the filming locations; outtakes; five image galleries (promotional stills, behind the scenes, ephemera, advertisements, home video releases); three trailers; a TV spot; and two radio spots.

Henenlotter didn't set out to make a cult film — in fact, he didn't think anyone would ever see his feature debut — but that's what he accomplished with Basket Case. Shot on location in New York City, the picture doubles as a time capsule of a seedy version of Times Square that no longer exists; one littered with drug dealers, sex workers, and porno theaters. While the sequels would lean more into the comedy, the original film balanced its camp with well-placed shocks.

Basket Case will be released on 4K Ultra HD on April 30 via Arrow Video.

[solarpunkbusiness]

A group of scientists led by Kongu Engineering College in India investigated the use of waste neem oil as a cooling solution for PV modules. Neem oil is extracted from the seeds of the neem tree and is commonly used as a medicine for some skin diseases.

The researchers explained that this oil acts like phase-changing materials (PCMs), which can absorb, store, and release large amounts of latent heat over defined temperature ranges. PCMs have often been used at the research level for PV module cooling and the storage of heat.

“The neem oil has a good thermal range, is physically high in density, is chemically stable and noncorrosive, is environmentally pollution-free, reusable, and recyclable, and is economically low-cost and easy to dispose of,” they added. “Commonly, any PCM used for cooling purposes should have low thermal conductivity, stability, and cycling. The neem oil has fulfilled all the limitations.”

[myvinylplaylist]

Led Zeppelin DVD (2003)

Housed in a cardboard slipcase and contains a foldout digipak with 2 DVD transparent trays, 16 page booklet and a 2 page promotional material from other Led Zeppelin releases.

Some copies included a small double-sided printed insert

Comes with detailed notes about each performance

Occasional bootleg visuals are interspersed with official recordings.

In addition to the listed tracks, there are various clips and audio excerpts (in some cases complete) appearing on the interactive menus including 'Moby Dick', 'Heartbreaker', 'Thank You', 'Stairway To Heaven', 'Dazed And Confused', 'Since I've Been Loving You', 'That's The Way', 'The Song Remains The Same' as well as backstage shots.

Region: 1

Picture Format: 4 x 3

Sound: L-PCM Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, DTS 5.1Surround Sound (Main Feature); Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo (Extras).

Colour & Monochrome.

Running Time: 5 hours 20 minutes

Atlantic Records

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Aerogel-based phase change materials improve thermal management, reduce microwave emissions in electronic devices

Electronic devices are getting more and more complex as they are built to carry out an ever-increasing number of functions. This can be seen in the increased functionality in our personal devices such as our phones, tablets and watches, let alone in industrial devices. However, their growing complexity can lead to performance and safety issues. These issues include device overheating or emitting microwaves that can result in health issues and that can reduce a device's performance and interfere with other devices. Chinese scientists from Beijing Normal University have been working on building shielding for electronic devices using multifunctional composite phase change materials (PCMs) to address these performance issues. PCMs are man-made materials built by combining different types of elements, allowing the creation of a new material with very specific purpose driven characteristics. In this case, the researchers are looking to improve thermal management, solar-thermal conversion and microwave absorption in the electronic devices.

Read more.

[tan90thermal]

Understanding Phase Change Materials (PCM): Why Tan90’s PCM Stands Out

Introduction

The ice cream industry faces unique challenges when it comes to temperature control, both in retail settings and during the delivery process. From maintaining the perfect cold temperature in freezers to ensuring the product stays frozen during transportation, there is constant pressure to minimize operational costs while maintaining product quality. Tan90’s innovative Phase Change Material (PCM) solutions offer a smart way to reduce energy consumption, optimize storage, and streamline delivery systems, making them an invaluable asset for the ice cream industry.

Optimizing Ice Cream Freezers with PCM Panels

One of the most significant challenges for retailers in the ice cream business is keeping freezers at the right temperature. Ice cream freezers are energy-intensive, requiring constant cooling to maintain low temperatures. However, maintaining these temperatures 24/7 can lead to high operational costs.

Tan90’s PCM technology provides an effective solution. PCM panels can be strategically placed along the walls of ice cream freezers to enhance temperature regulation. These panels absorb excess heat during the warmer parts of the day and release it when the temperature drops, stabilizing the internal temperature of the freezer. This helps the freezer maintain the optimal temperature for ice cream storage, without needing to constantly run the cooling system at full capacity.

By using PCM panels, businesses can significantly reduce their energy consumption and cooling costs. The panels act as an energy buffer, providing passive cooling that reduces the load on the refrigeration unit. This means less energy is required for cooling, translating into lower electricity bills and a more sustainable operation.

PCM Packs for Efficient Ice Cream Movement and Storage

The movement of ice cream, especially in bulk, poses another challenge for maintaining product integrity. Whether it’s transferring ice cream from the production facility to retail freezers or between distribution centers, it’s essential to keep the product frozen during transportation. PCM technology can play a crucial role here as well.

Tan90’s PCM packs are designed to move with the ice cream and maintain the required low temperatures during transit. These packs work alongside the cooling panels to ensure that the ice cream stays frozen, even during long transportation periods. The packs absorb heat from the surrounding environment, preventing the ice cream from thawing and ensuring that it arrives at its destination in perfect condition.

These PCM packs can be strategically placed within the ice cream boxes or alongside the product in storage containers. As the ice cream moves through the supply chain, the PCM packs will continue to provide passive cooling, minimizing the need for additional refrigeration and reducing the overall energy footprint of the transportation process.

Efficient Last-Mile and Mid-Mile Delivery of Ice Cream

The final stretch of delivery—known as last-mile and mid-mile delivery—poses the greatest challenge for ice cream distributors. The primary concern here is maintaining the product’s frozen state until it reaches the customer or retail store. PCM technology can be a game changer in this part of the supply chain.

For last-mile delivery, Tan90’s PCM solutions can be integrated into the delivery vehicles, reducing the reliance on costly refrigeration units. By incorporating PCM panels and packs within the delivery boxes or vehicles, the ice cream remains frozen for longer periods, ensuring that it reaches the customer in the best possible condition.

Similarly, during mid-mile delivery, where ice cream is transferred between distribution hubs or warehouses, PCM can be used to reduce the cooling burden on refrigeration units. With the passive cooling support from PCM, refrigeration units can be used less frequently, which not only cuts down on energy usage but also increases operational efficiency.

In both cases, PCM technology reduces the need for constant, high-energy cooling, enabling ice cream businesses to lower their operational costs while maintaining product quality.

Benefits of PCM in the Ice Cream Industry

Cost Savings: By reducing the need for constant refrigeration, PCM technology helps businesses lower their energy consumption and operational costs. The passive cooling provided by PCM panels and packs ensures that refrigeration units work more efficiently, leading to significant savings on energy bills.

Improved Product Quality: PCM technology helps maintain the ideal storage temperature for ice cream, preventing thawing or melting during storage and transportation. This results in higher-quality products reaching customers and retailers.

Sustainability: By reducing the need for energy-intensive refrigeration and using PCM as a passive cooling solution, ice cream businesses can operate more sustainably. PCM is an environmentally friendly technology that minimizes energy use and reduces carbon emissions.

Operational Efficiency: PCM helps optimize the entire supply chain, from storage in freezers to transportation, reducing the strain on refrigeration systems and streamlining operations. Businesses can scale their operations efficiently and meet the demands of the market without worrying about cooling-related challenges.

Conclusion

Tan90’s PCM technology offers a groundbreaking solution for ice cream retailers, distributors, and manufacturers. Whether it’s optimizing energy use in ice cream freezers, maintaining perfect temperatures during transport, or ensuring efficient last-mile and mid-mile delivery, PCM offers a flexible and sustainable approach to temperature management. By integrating PCM into the storage and transportation of ice cream, businesses can reduce energy costs, improve product quality, and create a more efficient, environmentally friendly operation.

In the competitive world of ice cream production and delivery, Tan90’s PCM technology provides businesses with the edge they need to stay cool—while also saving money and reducing their environmental impact.

[jeaninelatragedia]

the instinct to finally look up mastodon instances and find a good one that won't ban me for being a marxist leninist is kind of the same in my head as the one for using my bluesky to talk to my tumblr mutuals and the one for getting a twitter to have easy access to the stuff the pcm posts about. which is to say: objectively solid and materially beneficial but also somewhat self destructive.

[autogyne-redacted]

Ok PCM's (phase change materials) as a way to buffer heat is soooooo wild. I may end up with a ridiculous 200lb salt heat sink before long

[historyhermann]

Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure Spoiler-Filled Review

Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure is an original magical girl series directed by Koji Ogawa. It is produced by Toei Animation (which uses the "Izumi Todo" pen name for studio's producers as series creator), a studio founded in January 1948. It's known for over 240 anime, including Cutie Honey, Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, Smile PreCure!, and Sailor Moon Crystal. Ryunosuke Kingetsu is the show's head writer. As a warning, this review will discuss murder, death, trauma, attempted murder, psychological manipulation, and other mature themes.

Reprinted from Pop Culture Maniacs and Wayback Machine. This was the sixty-eighth article I wrote for Pop Culture Maniacs. This post was originally published on March 3, 2024. On PCM it says this was posted on Mar. 4.

This series has an intriguing story. A girl named Sora Harewataru (voiced by Arkia Sekine) travels to Skyland's main city to watch the birthday of Ellee, the Kingdom's only princess. In an effort to escape her captors from the Underg Empire, she and Ellee (voiced by Aoi Koga) end up in Sorashido City, within Japan. While there, she comes across Mashiro Nijigaoka (voiced by Ai Kakuma). Later on, she meets Mashiro's grandmother, Yoyo (voiced by Tomoko Shiota), a non-human animal named Tsubasa Yuunagi (voiced by Ayumu Murase) which can transform into a Puni bird, and a young adult woman named Ageha Hijiri (voiced by Ayaka Nanase). All of them work together to stop the Underg Empire's evil deeds, and planned kidnapping of Ellee, even if it puts their lives into jeopardy.

Originally, I hadn't planned to review this series. The series isn't as environmentally focused as Tokyo Mew Mew New, nor a dark fantasy like Puella Magi Madoka Magica, a comedy such as Tweeny Witches, or a magical fantasy like Little Witch Academia. I changed my mind after reading an Anime News Network chat-log stating that the series "breaks the mold" by introducing the first boy in the Pretty Cure franchise, and an Anime Feminist article by Cy Catwell, which described the series as enjoyable, upbeat, feminine-targeted, and "incredibly empowering."

Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure is more than a magical girl series where Sora transforms into Cure Sky, Mashiro into Cure Prism, and Tsubasa into Cure Wing. Sora has some of the strongest character development of any character in the entire series. She goes from someone who claims she is a hero to the reality, with many bumps around the way. She is only rivaled by what Tsubasa goes through, who is a species of bird, and can't fly, causing his fellow bird peers to make fun of him.

Like other magical girl series, there is yuri subtext, specifically between Sora and Mashiro. In fact, both of them have a combo attack against any Ranborgs summoned by Kabaton (voiced by Yasuhro Mamiya), a general of the Underg Empire. As the series goes forward, their connection with one another gets stronger. It interlinks with camaraderie between the PreCures. For instance, Sora and Mashiro reassure Tsubase, increasing his self-confidence, helping him face his fears and insecurities.

One of the more interesting twists is the reveal that the grandmother of Mashiro, Yoyo, is from Skyland. She helps out the protagonists by connecting a magic mirror back to Skyland, and later, an inter-dimensional tunnel, with the right materials. She is a wise, guiding force, for the characters, and is often aware of more than what she reveals.

While Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure has characteristics typical in the magical girl genre, including transformations, friendship, heroic elements, youth, and femininity, this series is more than that. There are no heterosexual relationships. Rather, there's the aforementioned yuri subtext and a focus on friendship, with the creation of a found/chosen family among the protagonists. Unlike Sailor Moon, two characters buck the idea of the PreCures as princesses: Sora and Tsubasa. Both appear to be more down-and-out fighters, not royalty. Mashiro is the closest to being a princess-like apart from Ellee (an actual Princess).

Uniquely, Sora sees one of the key generals in Skyland, Captain Shalala (voiced by Saiga Mitsuki), as her rolemodel-of-sorts, rather than a king or prince. Just as significant is the fact  Tsubasa is a part of the team, showing that the magic-based and gentle power of magical girls isn't just for girls. Instead it makes clear that men can fight without punching or having lots of physical training. In fact, the latter is done by Sora but not anyone else.

There's some parallels between Tsubasa and Steven Universe, in that both do things seen as "girly" and "feminine." However, the latter develops it more than the former. Steven uses his mother's shield (with a rose in the center), his power for self-defense, rather than offense, and often cries, to name a few elements. Despite these differences, Tsubasa is a relatively well-developed character, as much as any other protagonist in this series.

Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure is more than a series focused on heroism, which uses sky as a main motif and features characters with their own signature power moves. For one, it is novel that Sora spares Kabaton life after he fails his Earth mission for the Underg Empire. As a result, he lives a new non-evil life in Sorashido City.

Sora is just as compelling. She makes up with a fellow guard that she trains alongside in Skyland, showing she has become more of a hero. She wants to fight evil and cares about those around her. Of course, this is not unique to Sora. Other protagonists act similarly, including those in other magical girl series. For instance, the Sailor Scouts in Sailor Moon often go out of their way to protect others, especially if those people are near and dear to them.

Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure shares the message that any obstacle can be overcome, even if it seems insurmountable. Something similar is communicated in Ippon Again!, except the latter series primarily states that hard work can lead to good results. The former is different, as it is more about the value of teamwork and friendship. Of course, this is present in Ippon Again!, but fights are more one-on-one, while those in Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure often feature multiple heroes fighting at once.

The Skyland arc is one of the more gripping plotlines. Sora becomes a member of the Azure Guards and fights against the villainous Battamonda (voiced by KENN / Ken'ichirō Ōhashi), along with other defenders of the city. This arc indicates that near-impossible challenges can be met. Mashiro and Sora use all of their magical girl energy to stop a bomb from destroying the capital of Skyland. This two-episode arc is short-lived. It ends in the fifteenth episode, setting the stage for a return to Sorashido City. The King and Queen are incapacitated by a curse-of-sorts. Captain Shala presumably sacrifices herself to save the city.

In the next two episodes are some of the series' strongest. This arc features protagonists returning to Japan and the grandmother, Yoyo, finding a way to heal the King and Queen. They work together to cheer up Elle and Battamonda follows them, declaring he will stop them no matter what. As was the case in episodes before this, there are huge battles, but everything is always rebuilt afterward. There is also a nice bonding scene, in another episode, between Sora and Mashiro during a relay race, bringing them closer together.

There was some controversy about the sixteenth episode of Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure. Some claimed that one of the banners used had a Japanese imperialist origin. Whether that is the case or not, it pales in comparison to what happened with Oshi No Ko (which is returning with a second season this year). There were even complaints about a subset of that series fandom harassing the mother of professional wrestler Hana Kimura. She previously said that she doesn't want to blame anyone and praised the series for raising "important issues" but wondered if anyone gave it "the proper consideration before releasing it out into the world."

Apart from that, the camaraderie between the characters, the aforementioned yuri subtext between Sora and Mashiro, and the value of self-love are important series themes. When the heroes are pinned down, they use all the strength they can to beat the villains, even if they are facing stronger monsters. This is the case in the eighteenth and nineteenth episodes. In those episodes, Ageha Hijiri goes from being an 18-year-old woman who teaches at a nursery school to a magical girl named Cure Butterfly. She becomes an integral part of the PreCure team. The new opening in the nineteenth episode features her in a much more prominent place.

One of the best parts of the eighteenth and nineteenth episodes of Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure is the fact that Ageha is not some refugee from a magical land (as is the case for Sora and Tsubasa). She's an ordinary person in more ways than one. Having a character who is passionate about primary school education is great. Many magical girls are teenagers, so they aren't necessarily thinking of their future careers. That sets Ageha apart.

Surely, Mashiro is also an "ordinary person," but Ageha is different. She cares about the students of her nursery class. She defends them, and the school, after she transforms into Cure Butterfly. By the nineteenth episode, she has settled in with everyone. She even works with Tsubasa, who's worried about her, to develop a joint attack named "PreCure! Titanic Rainbow." This magic spell involves one person using a paintbrush, turning a being into rainbow, and then using it against an enemy, if I understand it correctly. Basically, it is "death by bird butt," to put it simply. It's even more powerful than Mashiro and Sora's joint spell, named "Updraft Shining."

Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure harps on a theme expressed in episodes of Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Cleopatra in Space, and in I've Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level. Viewers are told that overwork is bad and that breaks are good. This series goes even further: it makes clear that no one should take on everything by themselves, but should share the burden with others. By the end of the nineteenth episode, Tsubasa, Mashiro, Sora, and Ageha all divide up the house duties, embodying elements of a cooperative housing situation.

Ageha's overwork and over-dedication are the result of her determination to give back to everyone. The series depicts the former as something people shouldn't not strive for. Fitting with the anti-overwork message, collaboration is emphasized. This is not unique to this series. It is present in many magical girl and superhero series, especially when characters in those series are part of a team. Coming back to Ageha, I am reminded of the twenty-eighth episode. In that episode, it's revealed that Ageha knows a well-known model (Maria Saotome), and a well-known model and designer (Kaguya Saotome). Both are her sisters. A divorce separated them and they took different paths. The episode ends with each sister agreeing to do their best and bring a smile to faces of other people, whether in the fashion world or within the classroom.

Ageha isn't the only one who struggles in Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure. Throughout the series, Mashiro often works on picture book illustration and writing. In the twentieth episode, she has writer's bloc and is unable to come up with a "good" original story. She believes she is borrowing from too many other stories. A mother reading to their daughter inspires her. Although there is an obligatory fight scene in this episode, with a monster summoned by an annoyed Battamonda, she still submits her drawing in time for the town's picture book contest. Even though she doesn't win, she dedicates herself to drawing again, which comes up later in the series.

Otherwise, some characters use their knowledge to assist their fellow team members. In the twenty-first episode, Tsubasa defeats Battamonda's summoned monster because he knows that clouds are made of "tiny bits of water and ice." He is helped by the other PreCures, who use their magical attacks, including a joint attack with Ageha. At the episode's end, Yoyo gives him a book and Mirror Pad to help him learn more. In a later episode, Tsubasa connects with Shoko Amauno who knows about airplanes and flying. He uses it to help defeat the summoned monster. The former episode made me think back to a middle school science class I look which included a lesson about different cloud types. I probably still have the handouts from that class!

One of the most heartbreaking Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure episodes follows. Battamonda tricks Sora. He claims that she planted the dark hatred in his heart. Captain Shalala is inside the monster he summoned. He manipulates the monster to attack her. Other PreCures save her, but don't purify the monster after he claims that Undergu energy is keeping her alive. The monster-of-sorts, and Battamonda, disappear. He declares he will continue to play with them until their hearts are "in pieces." The latter happens with Sora. After she says she "doesn't want to fight anymore," her mirage pen disappears, so she can't transform! In this way, Battamonda is one of the worst villains in the entire series. He engaged in psychological warfare against Sora because he tried to make her feel afraid / hopeless / less confident without physically hurting her.

The twenty-third episode brings this full circle. Sora returns to Skyland, believing she has lost everything, since she can't access her powers. While her parents respect her decision, her brother does not. Her friends are worried about her. Yoyo says that she doesn't know how people move forward when their dreams are shattered. Her friends Ageha and Tsubasa are unable to get her out of her funk. Instead, she thinks about the good times she had with Mashiro and that running away isn't what a hero does. While reading Mashiro's letter, and blushing, a new mirage pen appears (a product of her feelings for Mashiro?). Her father tells her that a dream isn't a one-time thing, but can come back repeatedly. Almost like Superman descending from the sky, she comes back with force, and does an amazing Sky Punch.

Unsurprisingly, Battamonda is annoyed. The Mirror Pad collects the right amount of energy before their purification. After Sora does her combo attack with Mashiro, known as PreCure! Updraft Shining, the Captain is released from the monster-of-sorts. She is weak and recovers. The yuri subtext here is strong. Sora and Mashiro hug one another, with Mashiro calling Sora a "hero girl." Mashiro gives Sora back her hero journal. Sora says she will get stronger so that Battamonda, who's on the run, won't hurt her anymore. After this high-stakes action, it is no surprise that they somewhat relax in the next episode after healing the King and Queen with the potion they have collected, and become famous in Skyland.

Ellee is ominously described as a "child of destiny." She appeared out of nowhere, then the King and Queen adopted her. Ageha predicts, in the twenty-fifth episode of Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure, that Ellee will get her own magical powers. They first manifest themselves in her being able to talk to animals. These powers come in handy when fighting a monster summoned by Minoton, another villain of the week, as you could call them. This comes up again in the twenty-ninth episode. Ellee bonds with a stuffed animal, in contrast to Sora, who's terrified out of her mind (she dislikes the animal as it is kowai rather than kawaii), until she learns the animal can talk because it is magic.

This mixes with episodes which have comedic moments or lessons. At the end of the twenty-sixth episode, Mashiro's parents arrive and spend time at the cooperative house-of-sorts she is living in. They have "I Love Mashiro" shirts with them. This embarrasses her, but they only stay a short time before flying back overseas. In another episode, all the PreCures are pulled inside the mirror pad. After Ellee accidentally activates "hidden wild lessons" mode, they go through lessons of sorts. Somehow, they get back just in time for the fireworks. The "obligatory" beach episode, episode thirty, is a bit laid-back. Even so, it includes scary parts: Sora almost drowns while fighting Minoton's summoned monster. In the end, they all have fun time and eat a meal at a beach restaurant.

This series never criticizes the beauty myth or beauty industry. On the other hand, Ageha could have been a model like her sisters, but chooses to be a nursery school teacher. As such, this series bucks the usual storyline, where she would become a model. It echoes how Fuuka Miyazawa, protagonist of the The Aquatope on the White Sand, chooses to leave her idol life behind and work at an aquarium in Okinawa. At the same time, Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure is less girly than Tropical-Rouge! Pretty Cure, which is much more centered on makeup. The focus on makeup being part of magical transformation is not new, but its central to this franchise.

The thirty-ninth episode is a turning point. It marks the introduction of Skearhead (voiced by Mitsuru Miyamoto). He claims to be ruler of the Undergu Empire, working on behalf of Empress Underg (voiced by Takako Honda). He kidnaps Ellee, to the shock of her friends, but, somehow, she escapes and new PreCure emerges: Cure Majesty. She saves her friends. He withdraws, saying he will remember the name "Cure Majesty." They all are glad that Ellee is ok. In the end, Sora resolves they need to get stronger to defend Ellee from new enemies. This mixes with superb animation throughout, which is often rad and tip-top.

In the next few Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure episodes, Ellee comes into her own. The fact she is Cure Majesty becomes apparent, even though she can't transform at will at first. Skearhead tries to eliminate her, with Minoton reborn with Undergu energy. He wants all the PreCures to disappear. Whether she gives off vibes from the beginning of Steven Universe or not, her friends are more than happy to help her, as the first toddler PreCure in the franchise. Aoi Koga does a great job voicing all her iterations! Coming back to the character, she leads the way to an ancient ruins where they come across the Majestic Chroniclon, giving them all a super saiyan power boost, and they beat back the dark energy.

Mashiro attempts again to become a picture book author in the thirty-fourth episode. Battamonda, living in the human world as "Monda," in a terrible apartment, next door to Kabaton, tries to "discourage" Mashiro. He claims he is an art student and tries to gain her confidence. However, this does the exact opposite. Mashiro felt down after reading her story at the local library and some kids called it "boring." Later, she thanks him for his words and which surprised him. This was the first time someone cheered him on. At the same time, Skearhead makes more appearances, even as the heroes beat him back with the Majestic Chroniclon's powers.

Episode thirty-five is one better Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure episodes. It centers around Tamaki Shinomiya, a student who also attends Sorashida Academy. She requests Sora be their special coach. Tamaki is injured and can't throw before the next tournament. This puts the team in jeopardy because she's their ace. This episode isn't notable because Skearhead appears, Tamaki learning that Sora is a PreCure, Sora carrying Tamaki in a bridal carry, nor a baseball pitch defeating a conjured monster. Rather, Sora finds a friend who connects with her, even though she isn't a hero with magical powers. Secondly, the episode realistically shows the time of Tamaki's recovery. As a side note, the baseball club loves Sora. The yuri subtext is as strong as when people cheered for Marika Kato when she entered the academy in an episode of Bodacious Space Pirates.

Skearhead gets more dangerous, threatening kids in a nursery school in the thirty-sixth episode. He arrogantly declares, in the episode afterward, that only he needs to know why he is targeting the PreCures. In the process, Tsubasa and Ageha fight alongside one another. Ageha cheers up a sad kid (Takeru) who wants to stay at nursery school. She meets the nursery school teacher who gave her confidence all those years ago. That teacher happens to be Takeru's mother! Ageha and Mashiro also reflect on when their friendship began. They learn that their favorite tree was chopped down and made into a swing that everyone can use. In the second of these two episodes, the monster fight seems unnecessary and obligatory. This is an issue with some, but not all, episodes in this series.

The PreCures continue to take risks. They meet a "flightless" dragon tribe with Tsubasa's help, while Skearhead harasses them, even turning a bell into a monster. In the latter case, Ellee watches a television special about weddings with Aegeha, Sora, and Mashiro. Afterward, she's determined to marry Tsubasa. While he agrees to "play wedding" with her, Ellee is serious about it, and Tsubasa has a nightmare about the marriage. She even holds his book hostage in response and declares she hates him. The episode ends positively. Tsubasa vows to be Ellee's knight and protect her forever. She sees the other PreCures as her friends forever. She doesn't think she is married to anyone. This makes clear that the "marriage" was only a method to ensure she would be friends with Tsubasa forever. On some level, this episode shows the problems with child marriages.

Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure's forty-first episode shakes everything apart. It begins with Mashiro struggling to come up with a theme for a writing contest. Monda acts nice, claiming that power is only for the ones who succeed. She tries to cheer him up and says she likes fallen leaves. Later, Skearhead calls Monda worthless, saying he doesn't deserve to exist, and she defends him. But she is not the one shaken: rather it is Sora. She confronts Skearhead who says the "one they love" wants them to attack the PreCures. She isn't sure what he means. While Monda's words about fallen leaves echo in his mind while the words of Skearhead echo in hers.

This leads to the next episode. Tsubasa researches how to generate a specific type of energy, specifically having in mind a protective shield around Skyland (this foreshadows what happens in a later episode). Sora begins to have feelings of self-doubt. She puts on a strong front to the Captain, but wants to figure out these feelings by herself. Her friends say they will be there for her, supporting her where necessary. It's revealed that Skearhead knows about Tsubasa's research, implying there is a mole providing information to him. Sora continues to hesitate to fight. This clears up when she talks to Skearhead, explaining why she stopped fighting, saying that PreCures are fighting on behalf of the "one they love."

Skearhead retreats but is unfazed. Typically, he declares that "thinking and worrying creates self-doubt in battle" and threatens to destroy the city. In response, she asks if he ever hesitates or worries when he is fighting for someone. She demands an answer from him as to why he is hurting others and making everyone suffer. He says she doesn't need to know why. Instead, in his mind, she needs to "disappear." He calls her naive, saying her beliefs will result in the city's destruction. Sora doesn't give up. She doesn't care if she is naive. She uses her Sky Punch to purify the energy he's gathered. Before he can talk, he's shaken by her power and cowardly flees. Sora later tells her friends what he told her. She remains committed to learning why he is hurting people.

These serious Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure episodes are mixed with fun ones, like the Halloween-themed thirty-ninth episode. Battamonda dresses up as "Cure Pumpkin" and claims he is a PreCure. He wants to make the PreCures look bad, but his plan is an utter failure. He runs away, ashamed and apologized, while all the PreCures get candy. In some ways, the episode sets the stage for the forty-third one. In that episode, Monda agrees with Mashiro, who tells him that she decides her own worth. He attacks Skearhead, who believes that those without power are "worthless."

In addition, he gives Mashiro back her transformer-pen. She is able to, with help of her fellow PreCures, fight back against Monda. He was turned into a monster-of-sorts by Skearhead. Although they almost lose, Mashiro uses one of her spells to make Monda's heart "shine." A combo attack by the PreCures allows them to purify him. He is forgiven by Sora. He apologizes to Mashiro for ripping her notebook. It almost seems he is on the road to becoming a better person/being.

In the series final arc, more about the "far past" comes to the forefront. Empress Underg tells the PreCures, in the forty-fourth episode, that the Skyland castle was built on "tears of sadness." She wants revenge for what happened in the past. In an almost Steven Universe-esque manner, Sora proposes they talk with her, but she challenges them instead. Their massive attack fails. Their strength is no match for her, and they fall down, transforming back into their usual selves. The Empress blames everything on Ellee, who is shocked to hear this slander. In response, she freezes time thanks to the Majestic Chroniclon.

Ellee, Sora, and Mashiro travel back three hundred years into the past. They meet Princess Elleelain of Skyland. Sora and Mashiro are unable to transform. They do what they can to fight the Ramborgs. Sora remembers the classic stories. As the Empress declares, fighting only brings tears. This episode of Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure makes one thing clear: Ellee is the reincarnation of Cure Noble. This is continued in the forty-fifth episode. Cheer Noble is cheered on, condemning the Emperor of the Underg Empire for attacking against defenseless Puni birds. The Empress, a being born from the sea of Undergu energy, says that strength isn't "everything," standing against Skearhead's conceptions.

What I found fascinating is that the male characters are the ones who promote the idea that strength is "everything." This is one of the feminist messages of this series. Even the Empress tries to stop the fighting, but her father won't listen. Her effort is successful and supported by Cure Noble (who says that fighting brings only tears), and the present-day PreCures (Sora, Mashiro, and Ellee). This is scuttled by Skearhead. He uses the meeting between Cure Noble, the Empress, and Emperor of Underg Empire as a trap/distraction to attack the city. Rightly enraged, Cure Noble goes on the attack and accidentally hurts the Empress. Even so, they achieve peace, but Skearhead is unhappy.

These events have reverberations in the present: the Empress is hardened and refuses to consider peace. Instead, she plans to wipe them out. The PreCures beat her. Skearhead whisks her away before they have a chance to talk to her. This plotline is interrupted by the forty-sixthSoaring Sky! Pretty Cure episode. It centers around ways to cheer-up everyone in Skyland's main city. They have a celebration which resembles Christmas. That episode is one of the only ones without a villain battle. It includes nice Sora/Mashiro moments, with both pledging to protect the world together.

The audience learns about what really happened at the same time as the PreCures. This includes the revelation, in episode forty-seven, that Ellee is a manifestation of Morning Star, otherwise known as Princess Ellee-Lain. She tells them that she put her power in the Majestic Chroniclon. She informs them that good relations between Skyland and the Underg Empire suddenly ended, without warning. Fading away, she tells them that the world's fate is in their hands. Hilariously, while Ellee remains as a teenage girl most of the time, she goes back to becoming a little kid when she gets hungry.

Skearhead is crafty. He claims that he would lay down his life for the Empress. On the other hand, he traps two PreCures in a bubble. He intends on draining their power and attacking the city. Skearhead disappears into nothingness after Ellee (as Cure Majesty) attacks him. He claims this is his "last lesson" to the Empress. Understandably, she is horrified. Sora tells her the truth: if she had talked to them, it wouldn't have come to this. The Empress claims that Cure Noble attacked her father and ended the relations between her country in Skyland. Conveniently, Skearhead isn't there, so no one can get to the truth and question her story's validity.

The story that the Empress tells gives the audience a window into her perspective. She believes that Skearhead saved her and says she has lost everything. She claims she has nothing left due to the reported "death" of Skearhead at Ellee's hand. Echoing Cassandra's wildly-powerful moonstone powers in Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure, she calls forth all the Undergu energy, and tries to destroy the entire city. The PreCures do what they can to stop her. Some citizens are evacuated. Even former villains, like Kabaton, Minoton, and Battamonda, reappear. They are now on the side of the PreCures.

At first, it seems like the PreCures have made a breakthrough. She goes back to her normal form after they tell her that strength isn't everything. Mashiro and Sora do their PreCure Updraft Shining combo attack to purify her. Before she can say anything, Skearhead, like a unhinged groundhog, pops out of nowhere. He stabs her through the body with a spear. This action is either attempted reginicide [killing of a queen] or, more specifically, attempted tyrannicide since the Empress is effectively a tyrant.

Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure's penultimate episode raises the stakes. Like a light bulb flickering on in a dark closet, the Empress remembers something she'd forgotten: Skearhead killed her father. He replaced her actual memory with a false one. To cover his tracks, he created the memory that Cure Noble betrayed her. This ensured that her body and mind would be tied to Undergu energy. He reveals his true form to the PreCures: an incarnation of Undergu energy named Darkhead. He psychologically damages the Empress even more, declaring that he doesn't love her at all. This causes her to realize that everything she believed has been a lie. This is all part of the series' feminist themes.

This all leads to one of the best series sequences. The PreCures travel to the Underg Empire to save the Empress. Along the way, PreCures continue peeling off to fight the Ramborgs. By the end, only Sora and Mashiro are left. They confront Darkhead who only saw the Empress as an effective "vessel" believing that a "hero's light" was inside her. He sees Sora as a better vessel. He uses the sea of Undergu energy to turn her into Dark Sky! While this energy flow is poisonous to PreCures, she fights him regardless. Through her determination, she beats him, with the help of Mashiro. She is able to purge him from her body permanently.

Although Skearhead / Darkhead is gone (in a sense) and the Empress is healed, as a side effect, their battle is not over. Before they begin, they bond with the Empress. Sora defines a hero for her: a person fighting no matter what stands in their way and believing that your convictions are right. She admits that she isn't great or naive enough to call herself a hero. Her friends have always supported her. The PreCures prepare themselves to fight, and win against, an evil snake beast known as Daijurg (another form of Skearhead / Darkhead).

In the Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure series finale, the Empress rejects Daijurg/Darkhead/Skearhead. They all de-transform since they have been transformed too long. Sora raises their spirits, declaring that the ability to be a PreCure is infinite, and inside them. In effect, she says that everyone has infinite possibility. Somehow, they are able to defeat the snake monster on Earth and purify it. Everything ends happily. The Empress declares that they will have a lasting peace in Skyland. Kabaton, Minoton, and Battamonda join her.

A fissure appears: Ellee, Tsubasa and Sora prepare to go back to their world (Skyland). Mashiro stays behind on Earth. They say their goodbyes. The most emotional moment is between Mashiro and Sora. She even jokes about how many times they held hands and says she loves Mashiro's smile. In response, Mashiro calls her cool and strong. This break doesn't last long. The next morning, Ellee, Tsubasa, and Sora come back so they can eat breakfast together. The series ends with Mashiro making a picture book featuring all of them, and herself. It's akin to Rapunzel's journal in Tangled. In a post-credits scene, Cure Wonderful, from the currently airing Pretty Cure series, Wonderful PreCure!, makes her debut.

This series is better than the decent adult PreCure, entitled Power of Hope: PreCure Full Bloom, a clear nostalgia trip. Its longer than Delicious Party Pretty Cure, the previous series in the Pretty Cure / PreCure franchise. That series had forty-five episodes. After this series ended, Wonderful PreCure! replaced it in the same time slot on All-Nippon News Network. Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure could have been longer. In a weird and unfortunate coincidence, Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure had more episodes, including the film as one episode. That is despite the fact that final season had its final series order cut from thirty-six episodes down to twenty-one, resulting in a total episode count of sixty.

If the series received another ten episodes, it could have involved a corrupted Cure Sky becoming Dark Sky as a cliffhanger, possibly turning against her fellow PreCures. She could become a fallen magical girl of sorts. The latter led to fanart of Dark Sky and Cure Prism together, sometimes in very compromising positions. In the series, as it stands presently, the day is saved, arguably, by lesbian love between Sora and Mashiro. Additional episodes could have canonized this yuri subtext. To my knowledge, there aren't any canon lesbian characters in the PreCure franchise. There's only subtext which fans recognize from time to time.

Whether there is wasted potential or not, the writers clearly wanted to quickly wrap up the series. This allowed the series to set the stage for Wonderful PreCure!, the next PreCure series.Although I enjoyed the series conclusion, since it tied up loose ends, I don't understand why all the PreCures couldn't have lived together in the human world. Perhaps some fanfiction writers will imagine these possibilities, and others, adding to the over 180 fics for the series on AO3.

The show's crew and cast are talented. Series director Koji Ogawa worked on other Pretty Cure and magical girl series, along with Chaos Dragon and Dragon Ball Super. Ryunosuke Kingetsu was head writer for Ninja Nonsense and Futakoi Alternative and a writer on Märchen Mädchen. Series character designer Atsushi Saitō, worked on Clannad, Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet, Healer Girl, Is the Order a Rabbit?, K-On!, and Love Live! Superstar!!. The fact that I enjoyed watching most of these aforementioned series made me like this series more.

Voice actors for the show's four protagonists are just as experienced. Akira Sekine voiced Princess Charlotte, a protagonist of Princess Principal, along with characters in Asobi Asobase, Assault Lily Bouquet, Akebi's Sailor Uniform, and Birdie Wing. Ai Kakuma voiced Hazuki Kudo in Kubo Won't Let Me Be Invisible, Ilia Coral in The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady, and Natsu Umehara in Ippon Again!. She will voice Kaori Tachibana in Whisper Me a Love Song in April and Yuri Shibasaki in The Masterful Cat Is Depressed Again Today in July.

Ayumu Murase and Ayaka Nanase, who voice two other protagonists, are also seasoned voice actors. Murase voices Kento Yamada in Skip and Loafer and Hachi in My Roommate is a Cat. Nanase voices Mary Read in Fena: Pirate Princess and Noa Shiragiku in Tsurune. Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure voice actors Aoi Koga, Tomoko Shiota, Yasuhro Mamiya, and Saiga Mitsuki are known for their roles in Kaguya-sama: Love Is War, The Demon Girl Next Door, Asteroid in Love, Princess Principal: Crown Handler, Yurikuma Arashi, Ouran High School Host Club, Maria Watches Over Us, Spy × Family, and Stars Align.

Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure can be streamed on Crunchyroll, and, hopefully has a DVD or Blu-ray physical release in the U.S.

© 2023-2024 Burkely Hermann. All rights reserved.

[33bowls]

An open letter to Tidal Streaming

I am both an artist ( 33 Bowls ) with material on Tidal and a satisfied, so far, customer. I know what my music sounded like and sounds like, and can state unequivocally that MQA is closer to the real thing than even hi-res HD PCM; the nuances, the textures, the relaxed ease of listening, the details, the space, the timing, the soul of the music are present with MQA in ways that, as good as HD PCM can sound, are simply not quite there with HD PCM (erroneously referred to as HD FLAC, more on that later). Compared to MQA, PCM (including “HD” high bit rate PCM) also has a glare, zing, edge that on some systems can sound brighter and therefore be mis-interpreted as better --- when in fact that is an artifact of PCM sampling that MQA uniquely ameliorates. When you listen to a good MQA demo at a salon, studio or show, you will understand why major players in the music biz have enthusiastically embraced MQA, with 20 Million tracks to date mastered in MQA.

It is understandable but not commendable for Tidal’s new management to hedge their bets on MQA. However, such a backtrack away from the customer base that Tidal built their reputation upon is not necessarily the brightest business strategy. Is Tidal management counting on very short term memory of the existing customer base when backtracking away from the millions of MQA mastered and remastered tracks described by Tidal as this?

“Master. Authenticated files from mastering process. Studio quality. Unrivaled clarity and depth.”

Going after a minority of customers from a smaller competitor while alienating existing customers will “bite you in the butt” eventually. Don’t alienate your existing customer base. All it will take is one streaming competitor, larger or smaller, hosting the millions of MQA tracks that already exist. It would behoove Tidal to pay attention to actual current long term Tidal customers who are the customer base and word of mouth that Tidal has built the business upon, and ignore haters and trolls who are not actually current Tidal customers.

Adding more customer choices, in this case, formats, is usually a good thing, however, excluding an existing customers’ preference as a default option is just plain short sighted.

See, if instead of being swayed by a small but shrill group of sock puppet trolls, haters, and shills, if you actually listen to a good MQA demo at a salon, studio or show, you will understand why major players in the music biz have enthusiastically embraced MQA as evidenced by 20 Million tracks to date mastered in MQA.

Unlike the hodge poge of so called “hi-res” HD PCM and DSD formats vying for attention as incremental improvement at an exponential cost of bandwidth and file size; with no standardized conjugate reconstruction filters, that all to varying degrees have inherent audible time smear aka temporal blur from gibbs phenomena pre and post ringing on transients; while providing no authentication --- no other format or process can do what MQA does: elegantly, efficiently and accurately reproducing all of the music end to end; being backwards compatible with existing equipment and infrastructure, and being able to clean up existing digital masters.

As to the misnomer of “specialized decoder” --- not needed. As MQA is backwards compatible, MQA files can play back with improved fidelity on legacy 1fs 44.1/48 DACs and decoders with no USB driver issues. So called hi-res HD PCM “FLAC” files are not plug and play, and do actually need specialized drivers, hardware and software. For instance, Tidal Desktop with MQA software decoding, aka first unfold enabled, feeding an R2R DAC can sound quite nice. Such an option as default needs to remain in future updates of Tidal Desktop, Android and Apple apps.

It’s ludicrous that this needs to be explained again: FLAC is a container, not the contents. When streaming bit perfect PCM material, whether CD quality 44.1/16, or so called hi-res HD PCM, or authenticated MQA, bit perfect lossless bit packing that FLAC uses was invented by the same Bob Stuart who also happens to be a co-developer of MQA. So, he wrote the book on that. He knows what he is doing. More here:

https://www.tumblr.com/33bowls/714450718525947904/mqa-faq

https://www.aes.org/journal/online/JAES_V67/5/

In summary: the internet is full of obnoxious sock puppets, trolls, haters, shills. You should know better than to listen to or be swayed by them. There are good reasons why top recording engineers, producers, mastering engineers prefer MQA as closer to the source than other formats and processes. Take good care of MQA, as MQA has taken good care of you, and will continue to do so, if you are up for it.

Update: 

It appears that at least some of the tracks that Tidal is now claiming are HD PCM “Tidal max” are likely up-sampled MQA 44.1k or 48k folded tracks. One label states that their streamed tracks, directly or via aggregator, are all MQA, and that none have been resubmitted as 96k or 192k HD PCM. Unlike MQA’s inclusion of embedded proof of provenance coded and buried in the dither, to indicate that the bitstream is bit for bit perfect from the studio, the flac container has no such provision for authentication. So, HD PCM “Tidal max” files could be upsampled versions of folded MQA sources, and there is no way to prove or disprove that assertion, except to perform real time FFTs of the files. And, there is more to MQA than just sample rate: correct conjugate filtering with minimal time smear or dispersion on transients also known as de-blurring is a perceptually significant feature of MQA, which is ruined when an MQA file is up-sampled rather than unfolded. Max, as HD or high bit rate PCM delivered via FLAC container as a “preferred” default is a step backwards compared to the excellent sonics of MQA, also delivered via FLAC container.

What say, Tidal?

What are the sources of your streamed files?