#and they do not appear to do any research into the ghibli movies they watch which is rly annoying

[llycaons]

my little weekend youtube watch party is so fun. I love you accentedcinema. I love you pop culture detective. I love you super eyepatch werewolf

[queen-of-my-goofball-army]

An Ode To Miyazaki:

Hi everyone! So for my final paper for film, we had to pick our own director of our choosing and talk about them extensively between the attributes that make them special. Our course focused on the narrative and technical styles of directors. For my final project, I have chosen my biggest hero in the world of animation and somebody that drastically changed my life as a young child, Hayao Miyazaki. Learning about him for this project gave me so much insight into not just his films but who he is as a person. I hope that my paper is as interesting for you to read as it was for me to do research for!

1. Hayao Miyazaki, often referred to as the Japanese Walt Disney is the front runner of his animation studio Studio Ghibli. I picked him because I already have sufficient knowledge and love of his films. One of the first memories that my parents love to remind me of is my first time watching Totoro and laughing at the introduction characters. Miyazaki himself stands out for a number of reasons. Over the years, Miyazaki has made a humongous name out of himself, one of his most famous movies Spirited Away became the most popular film to ever be released in Japan and also won the academy award for the best-animated film that year. His most “popular” films (I say popular in air quotes because it is nearly impossible for people to agree on a favorite) remain the aforementioned Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Princess Mononoke. Beginning his career as a simple animator for Toei animation, he worked as an in-between artist. It was here that he met his future collaborator at Ghibli, Isao Takahata. His first big directorial debut in film before founding Ghibli was a team effort without Takahata was Lupin The Third, The Castle Of Cagliostro. His first successful movie was one that was based upon his own manga Nausicaa of the Valley Of The Wind. The first official Miyazaki movie that was made with Ghibli was one of my personal all-time favorites that had ever been created, Castle In The Sky. For many children, especially ones with parents who are lovers of a film like mine, Miyazaki was one of the first animators that I was introduced to. His films have become classics for every fan of animation, being referenced in culture, specifically back when Disney owned Studio in Toy Story 3, Bonnie has a Totoro.

2. So, this brings up the question, how does one recognize a film by Miyazaki? You can always expect for him to be critically acclaimed, for there to be some element of magic and whimsy in the way that he animates, for there to be something to do with flight (whether it be dealing with airplanes like in Porco Rosso, the idea of flight in Howl’s Moving Castle, or a floating castle up in the sky in Castle In The Sky.), his heroines are always strong-minded and live by their own rules never bowing down to anybody, his love stories are dynamic and fulfilled, a sweeping score by Joe Hizashi, and they have a meaning about nature somewhere, mostly about why it needs to be protected.

Let’s start by breaking him down narratively. The thing that is always in every Miyazaki film no matter which one you decide upon watching, is that his female characters are always strong-willed no matter what. In many ways, I think that he writes women better than Disney does. He has gone on record saying “Many of my movies have strong female leads—brave, self-sufficient girls that don't think twice about fighting for what they believe with all their heart. They'll need a friend, or a supporter, but never a savior. Any woman is just as capable of being a hero as any man.” Sometimes, this will cause them to come across as reckless, or stupid, but in my opinion, I have always looked up to his female characters and the way that they are portrayed. My personal favorite female character that he has ever brought to life through the screen is Sophie from Howl’s Moving Castle. She is strong-minded, not willing to put up with any of Howl’s dramatics, kind, an incredible adult figure for Markal, endlessly sympathetic to her friend’s plights (namely Howl and Calcifer), and somebody that I can always look up to. I spent most of my childhood looking up to characters like Kiki in Kiki’s Delivery Service, Chihiro in Spirited Away, or one of my personal favorite underrated girls, Fio in Porco Rosso. All of these female characters are independent and never let themselves be taken advantage of by anybody.

Another trait that can always be found narratively in his films is that Miyazaki is an airplane/ air travel fanatic. He absolutely loves airplanes, even to the point where his latest film, The Wind Rises was based upon the life of one of the first airplane manufacturers in WWII. Almost all of his films will involve something about flying in the air. Even with the ones that he didn’t direct and he just simply wrote. His obsession with flight is something that stemmed from his childhood and he never saw them as a thing to be used for war “airplanes are not tools for war. They are not for making money. Airplanes are beautiful dreams. Engineers turn dreams into reality.” My personal favorite of all of his flight animation is used in Howl’s Moving Castle when Howl and Sophie “fly” over the heads of all the people below them.

Narratively also one of the biggest things that set apart his films from any others is his focus on nature. The idea of protecting the beauty of nature is something that he has always stood by. A lot of the time, America tries to prove that it can make films about nature as well to usually varying results. I think that nobody can sell an environmental message quite like my biggest hero for Japanese animation. One of the main movies that focus on his will to protect nature above all else is Princess Mononoke. He always manages to animate nature in such a beautiful and majestic way no matter where the film is set.

I also think that a narrative trait of his that often gets overlooked is how beautiful the romance in his films can be. He never has a romance between two characters that feels stale or boring. I love the fact that you can pick any number of his films and the chance of there being a romance that you’ll get sucked into is a very large one. Everybody has their personal favorites, I love Howl and Sophie from Howl’s Moving Castle but my best friend loves Sousuke and Ponyo from Ponyo. He has on record saying that “I’ve become skeptical of the unwritten rule that just because a boy and girl appear in the same feature, a romance must ensue. Rather, I want to portray a slightly different relationship, one where the two mutually inspire each other to live - if I’m able to, then perhaps I’ll be closer to portraying a true expression of love.” Writing romance between two characters can be a very tricky thing which is why it’s always amazing when he can continually pull it off despite everything and how many films that he has made over the years. The beauty of having both a strong and independent male and the female character is that they can both lean on one another for love and support. Probably the biggest supporter of this is Whisper Of The Heart, a film that he wrote instead of directing. The romance is what makes up the entire film. It’s a beautiful love story about how two young teenagers fall in love with each other. The romance is something that continually keeps me coming back for more every time.

Technical style Miyazaki can always be assured to deliver breathtakingly stunning animation. There is a reason why so many people leave his films starving because the food that he draws always looks so good. For me though, it’s the backgrounds that stand out above all else. It’s nearly impossible to have one favorite shot in one of his films but I as a matter of fact do have one. The most breathtaking animation in any Miyazaki film is the scene where Howl takes Sophie to see his secret garden. Everything about this scene never fails to make my breath catch. It’s such a profoundly beautiful moment and how it is animated is something that I haven’t forgotten since my first initial viewing of the film when I was seven.

Another iconic technical trait is that Disney did a fantastic job dubbing the films from their original Japanese language into English. Back when Ghibli films first started to become popular, they needed a way for an American audience to see them. So Pixar’s CFO at the time, John Lassater made a deal with Ghibli that they would dub all the films from their original language for a brand new audience. Growing up, this was how I watched all of Miyazaki’s films. I fell in love with the way that they sounded in English. To this very day, I have yet to see one of his films in any other language. I don’t think that anybody could have dubbed them better. Ever since Ghibli and Disney went their separate ways and they went to GKids the dubs haven’t been the same.

Finally, the last technical trait is that a Miyazaki film will always have a score done by his longtime collaborator Joe Hizashi. The score is such a big part of what makes Miyazaki’s films his own. They are what get you sucked in through their whimsical and magical tones; they always fit the vibes that he’s going through at that moment. There is also the element of sound. Every Miyazaki film has a distinct sound effect that will set it apart from the one before it.

3. The first film that I want to look at is my personal favorite of all his films that he has made so far if you were to force me to pick just one Howl’s Moving Castle. Released in 2004, it was the 9th film that the director came out with. It has an 8.2 out of 10 on IMDB and an 87% on Rotten Tomatoes. The storyline for the movie follows a young woman named Sophie. She gets a curse set upon her by the Witch of the Waste and when she leaves home she finds the infamous Howl’s Moving Castle. This is the second Ghibli movie voiced by a Batman live action actor. Christian Bale voiced Howl Pendragon after Michael Keaton played the titular Porco Rosso.

Narratively this is definitely a Miyazaki film. From how strong of a female character Sophie is I spent most of my childhood looking up to her as a character. Strong female characters are everywhere in his films and in my opinion, Sophie is one of the strongest. Another strong factor is that flight plays a major part in this film. One of Howl’s main powers is that he has the ability to fly around. This leads to my favorite scene of flight in any Miyazaki film when Howl takes Sophie’s hand and they “fly” over the tops of the city down below them. All of his early films up until the last few were set in someplace other than Japan. This one is set in Europe, and he takes a lot of time while in the cities to show off all the different types of buildings while Sophie tours around the city.

Technically speaking this is also a Miyazaki film and holds all the titular traits of being so. The animation is utterly for lack of a better word, magical and spellbinding. It takes my breath away every time that I rewatch it. The food looks incredible, one scene that most of Miyazaki’s fans always think of when this movie is brought up is Calcifer making the food for Howl, Sophie, and Markal to eat. The dub for this film is also one of Disney’s best dubs for Miyazaki films. It even brings actors to the table that I usually would not like to see in other films like Christian Bale. I haven’t loved him in any other films than this one. Billy Crystal is a stand-out as well as my favorite fire demon Calcifer. The score is done by Joe Hizashi as well. My favorite part of the score is the main theme which has Howl and Sophie floating above the people below. The sound effect that follows throughout this film is the steady creaking of the castle itself.

Princess Mononoke was the first time that Miyazaki ever “retired”. Most of the time, whenever he tries to retire, he always comes back. A lot of his colleague's joke that it’s because he physically can’t stop working. He animated most of this movie by himself. Before Spirited Away it was Japan’s most famous film to date. The story about a young man who is just trying to erase the curse that was set upon him by an angry boar and it leads him to a place called Iron Town is something that never fails to amaze me. While in Iron Town, Ashitaka meets a young woman named San who was taken in by wolves and he finds himself caught between a war involving humans and the gods of the forest.

Narratively this is definitely a Miyazaki film. It has a strong female lead, focusing most of its screen time on how important it is to protect and preserve nature as a whole. The idea of protecting nature is such a moving part of the film, as we see what it does when man takes over the forest. We see how distraught it makes the Gods of this world and how they wish that the humans would just go away. However, you also see it from the point of view of the villain of the film Lady Eboshi, who also regularly helps lepers and people who would often never get work outside of her offering them a home and a family. I have regularly gotten into a debate with my mom over which side is “right” and which side “wrong” over the course of the last few years of me being a massive fan of this movie. She takes the side of the forest while I see Ashitaka’s side that everybody should just get along and interact in peace and harmony. Miyazaki never shoves the idea of nature down your throat. That is not what this film is. It’s instead about the beauty of what we have and learning to appreciate it.

On a technical level, this film is fantastic as well. It blows my mind that Miyazaki-san animated most of it all by himself. The backgrounds are sweeping and utterly gorgeous showing off the time period of the film. The fight sequences which make up the bulk of the film’s running time are engaging, thrilling, and fabulously animated. Mononoke’s score was done by Joe Hizashi as well. Its score is beautiful and I always find myself getting sucked into it, especially for the more dynamic scenes with Ashitaka and San. The sound effect for this film uses nature as a backdrop for brutality. Ashitaka’s arrows don’t just come out of his bow, they screech through the air.

Finally, my last film that we will be focusing on, Kiki’s Delivery Service was made in 1989 a year after his cult phenomena My Neighbor Totoro and was his fifth animated feature. Kiki is a young girl that is hoping to become a young witch in training. However, to do so she has to train a year away from home. She and her cat Jiji find a town by the sea where she learns her true strength and what she can really do to help others. Hayao Miyazaki didn't want to bore the audience during the film's end credits by using just the names. He set it up to be like a mini-sequel so that the audience would leave the theatre feeling happy.

Narratively this has all the traits that one should be familiar with and associate with a Miyazaki film. It has a strong-minded female character at the source of it that young girls can look up to and admire. As a kid, Kiki was my favorite female character of his because I loved her strength and her dedication to what she was good at. She knew that she was still young and had a lot to learn but even though she gets depressed she doesn’t let that stop her in the long run and will still save her love interest Tombo. The romance in this film is by far one of the sweetest. I love the interactions between the characters and the way that they both inspire one another to be better than they are. The idea of flight is basically the focal point of everything. Kiki finds that her best trait is that she flies incredibly well and decides to create her own flying delivery service.

Technically this also has a lot of traits that Miyazaki made a name for himself in doing. The animation is spectacular, especially for Kiki’s flying. I could watch her fly around all day and that was the idea that he was going for while making the film. The sweeping score by Joe Hizashi, especially in my favorite song A Town With An Ocean View, is something that I’ll often listen to outside of the film itself. The sound effects for the film are meant to be calming. From the first sound that you hear of the wind rolling through the reeds while Kiki lies against the grass to the waves when she finally finds a home.

4. Miyazaki as a director has inspired me since I was way too young to even remember. When I was a kid I would pretend to run around my apartment building's front yard imagining that I lived in a big house in front of a camper tree like the one in Totoro. His movies are perfect for children that “suffer” from having an overactive imagination. His movies are everything that is bright and beautiful in the world. The animation never fails to take my breath away, the characters and stories are unforgettable, the soundtracks sweep me away and tell stories themselves. His movies are something that even my parents, who are not anime fans, can watch over and over again. I think that speaks for itself. Miyazaki makes films that are art, not just animated films.

[deviant-reads-stuff]

Books I Read Throughout 2020-Part One

For many of us this year has been incredibly stressful and difficult. There were times throughout this year that my mental health had suffered, but there were also times where I couldn't have been happier. If I were to make any comparison to what the year was like, I would say that it was like the scariest and exciting roller coaster that anyone has ever been on. During the year, while the world seemed to burn around us and everything terrible happened, I managed to surpass my reading goal for the year. Something I did not expect to do, especially since I had months where it seemed that I couldn't finish anything. In times like this, I think it's important to take a step back and look to the positive things, even if they are small.

Here I am going to give a brief description of the first 10 books that I read, with a small snippet of what I thought of the books at the time.  

Book One - The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Finished Reading on January 4, 2020

"It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will be busier still.

By her brother's graveside, Liesel's life is changed when she picks up a single object, partially hidden in the snow. It is The Gravedigger's Handbook, left behind there by accident, and it is her first act of book thievery. So begins a love affair with books and words, as Liesel, with the help of her accordian-playing foster father, learns to read. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library, wherever there are books to be found.

But these are dangerous times. When Liesel's foster family hides a Jew in their basement, Liesel's world is both opened up, and closed down.

In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time."

For years I have heard good things about this book and for many, this is an all time favorite. I was excited to pick this one up, especially since I had read

I am the messenger

by this author and loved it.  While I do not view this book as an all time favorite for myself, I do think it was beautifully written. I just personally wished that it was a bit shorter at times as it seemed to drag on. Despite feeling that it was a little long, my favorite part of this book was the role in which Death plays. I won't mention anything more in case some of you are still contemplating picking this one up.

Book Two - All Systems Red (The Murderbot Diaries #1) By Martha Wells

Finished Reading on January 5, 2020

"In a corporate-dominated spacefaring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. Exploratory teams are accompanied by Company-supplied security androids, for their own safety.

But in a society where contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder, safety isn't a primary concern.

On a distant planet, a team of scientists are conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied 'droid—a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module, and refers to itself (though never out loud) as "Murderbot." Scornful of humans, all it really wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is.

But when a neighboring mission goes dark, it's up to the scientists and their Murderbot to get to the truth."

This was a novella that I greatly enjoyed, but unfortunately I have not kept up with the series. I believe my library did not have the rest of the books and at the time I didn't want to purchase them. As my library continues to get the rest of the series, I will gladly continue to read them. I thought the story was unique, and at times funny. I would highly recommend this series to anyone who wants a science fiction book that is quick and easy read.

Book Three - Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them By Newt Scamander

Finished listening to an Audiobook on January 7,2020

"An approved textbook at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry since publication, Newt Scamander's masterpiece has entertained wizarding families through the generations. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is an indispensable introduction to the magical beasts of the Wizarding World. Scamander's years of travel and research have created a tome of unparalleled importance. Some of the beasts will be familiar to readers of the Harry Potter books - the Hippogriff, the Basilisk, the Hungarian Horntail ... Others will surprise even the most ardent amateur Magizoologist. This is an essential companion to the Harry Potter stories, and includes a new foreword from J.K. Rowling (writing as Newt Scamander) and six new beasts!"

I am not one who will usually listen to audio books. I have an incredibly difficult time listening to anything that is over 3 hours because it's hard for me to really concentrate on the storyline. On occasion, though I will listen to them, depending on the length of the title and if the general consensus is that the audiobook is better. Fantastic Beast was a great audio book to listen to when I took my daily walks. I was able to delve a bit deeper into the wizarding world and learn more about the creatures briefly mentioned in Harry Potter.

Now, I do want to briefly bring into attention that I will no longer purchase anything written by JK Rowling. I have always distanced myself from creators as I use books and music to escape, but it has come to my attention that JK Rowling has repeatedly done harm to the trans community. That's not something I agree with or can support in any way shape or form. For those who do continue to purchase and read JK Rowlings work, that is your choice and I will not say anything about it (unless it is actively causing harm here). This is my own personal choice and opinions on JK Rowling.  

Book Four - The Near Witch

Finished Reading on January 9, 2020f

"The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.And there are no strangers in the town of Near.These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

But when an actual stranger-a boy who seems to fade like smoke-appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi's need to know-about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab's debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won't soon forget."

I am going to be perfectly honest. I will pick up everything that V.E Schwab writes eventually. Including this book, I have read 10 of her books and I have enjoyed every single one of them. The Near Witch is one of V.E Schwab's earlier works that had previously gone out print. Recently, the book has gone back into print and received a cover change. The story takes you to another world with superstitions, magic, and adventures. While it is apparent that this is an early work of V.E Schwab that does not mean that it's not a great book to pick up. This book brought me back to the type of books that I read when I was younger and it was an overall great experience.

Book Five - How's Moving Castle By Diana Wynne Jones

Finished Reading on January 12, 2020

"Sophie has the great misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate. But when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds herself under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl's castle.

To untangle the enchantment, Sophie must handle the heartless Howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon, and meet the Witch of the Waste head-on. Along the way, she discovers that there's far more to Howl—and herself—than first meets the eye."

Howl's Moving Castle is probably one of my favorite stories of all time. I first watched the animated film by Studio Ghibli. In all honesty, I have a hard time determining which version is my favorite. The movie and novel do have some differences, but I think both can be enjoyed. Howl's Moving Castle shows how the pressures placed upon us and how we view ourselves can have a negative impact on ourselves, but only if we let it. Sophie struggles with being eldest daughter, and struggles with seeing her worth, but as the story progresses, we see how resilient and strong she is.

Book Six - Bird Box By Josh Malerman

Finished Reading on January 21, 2020

"Something is out there, something terrifying that must not be seen. One glimpse of it, and a person is driven to deadly violence. No one knows what it is or where it came from.

Five years after it began, a handful of scattered survivors remains, including Malorie and her two young children. Living in an abandoned house near the river, she has dreamed of fleeing to a place where they might be safe. Now that the boy and girl are four, it's time to go, but the journey ahead will be terrifying: twenty miles downriver in a rowboat—blindfolded—with nothing to rely on but her wits and the children's trained ears. One wrong choice and they will die. Something is following them all the while, but is it man, animal, or monster?"

I had originally watched the Netflix movie before listening to the audio book. I was curious about the book as I noticed a lot of people was divided on whether or not the movie was better than the book. Although I thought the audio book was great, I definitely enjoyed the movie more. Normally this is never the case, but I thought the book was adapted well onto the screen. What are your thoughts on it? Was the movie better than the book?

Book Seven - Skyward By Brandon Sanderson

Finished Reading on January 25, 2020

"Defeated, crushed, and driven almost to extinction, the remnants of the human race are trapped on a planet that is constantly attacked by mysterious alien starfighters. Spensa, a teenage girl living among them, longs to be a pilot. When she discovers the wreckage of an ancient ship, she realizes this dream might be possible—assuming she can repair the ship, navigate flight school, and (perhaps most importantly) persuade the strange machine to help her. Because this ship, uniquely, appears to have a soul."

Skyward was the first Bandon Sanderson book that I've ever picked up, shocking I know. I was not disappointed at all. Skyward brought me out this world and I found myself rooting for the girl who fought for everything that she's ever had. If you haven't picked this ne up yet, what are you waiting for?

Book Eight - The Name of the Wind By Patrick Rothfuss

Finished Reading on January 30, 2020

"My name is Kvothe.I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep. You may have heard of me.

So begins a tale unequaled in fantasy literature--the story of a hero told in his own voice. It is a tale of sorrow, a tale of survival, a tale of one man's search for meaning in his universe, and how that search, and the indomitable will that drove it, gave birth to a legend."

I first read this book in 2015 and picked it up again earlier in the year. I personally feel like I enjoyed the book more the second time around. It's a lengthy and often slow story of a man telling the story of his life. I have often described this book as having a similar ambiance to The Lord of The Rings and Harry Potter. Don't get me wrong though, this is a completely different story of those two series, but I couldn't help but draw a comparison.

Book Nine - Red, White, and Blue By Casey McQuiston

 Finished Reading on February 15, 2020

"First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz is the closest thing to a prince this side of the Atlantic. With his intrepid sister and the Veep’s genius granddaughter, they’re the White House Trio, a beautiful millennial marketing strategy for his mother, President Ellen Claremont. International socialite duties do have downsides—namely, when photos of a confrontation with his longtime nemesis Prince Henry at a royal wedding leak to the tabloids and threaten American/British relations.

The plan for damage control: staging a fake friendship between the First Son and the Prince. Alex is busy enough handling his mother’s bloodthirsty opponents and his own political ambitions without an uptight royal slowing him down. But beneath Henry’s Prince Charming veneer, there’s a soft-hearted eccentric with a dry sense of humor and more than one ghost haunting him.

As President Claremont kicks off her reelection bid, Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret relationship with Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations. And Henry throws everything into question for Alex, an impulsive, charming guy who thought he knew everything: What is worth the sacrifice? How do you do all the good you can do? And, most importantly, how will history remember you?"

I needed something lighter and easy to read after The Name of the Wind. Red, White, and  Blue did not disappoint, and I was whisked into the life of Alex Claremont-Diaz and Prince Henry. This LGBTQ+ book is full of entertainment, self-discovery, drama, and love.

Book Ten - Cress (The Lunar Chronicles, #3)

Finished Reading on February 17, 2020

"In this third book in the Lunar Chronicles, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they're plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.

Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl imprisoned on a satellite since childhood who's only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she's just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a higher price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has."

The Lunar Chronicals is a guilty pleasure of mine. Each book in the series is a re-telling of famous fairy tales. Cress, the third book of the Lunar Chronicals, is a sci-fi/ fantasy re-telling of Rapunzel. While each book follows a different fairy tale, the whole series comes together and forms an epic story. As we follow a shy young girl, who spent her life locked away from everyone suddenly get swept into the resistance, we learn that hope is always possible even in hopeless situations.

[crystalnet]

Pop Music in Ghibli

If you mention Ghibli and soundtracks in the same breath to most people, the first thing they will likely think of is Joe Hisaishi-senpai’s prodigious and immaculate compositions, BUT it occurred to me recently that there’s actually a great amount of pop music showing up in a handful of some of my very favorite Ghibli films. They’re more rare compared to the instrumental tracks, sure, but in that way it might be even be more impactful-- especially for plebeians without an ear for vocal-less music-- when they do show up. Click through as I explore pop music in 5 Ghibli classics. 

#1- The Wind Rises: ‘ "Hikōki-gumo" (ひこうき雲) by Yumi Matsutoya

Okay so hearing this song on a recent viewing of this film was the whole impetus for writing this. By hugely influential and popular song-writer Yumi Matsutoya, this closing-credits track drops just in time for a full fatality against the viewers’ emotional fortitude- if it remains in tact at all by that point. Between the bittersweet lyrics-- which corresponds beautifully with a plot point from the end of the film-- a righteous hammond organ part and this heart-breaking melody, it all just becomes a bit too much, in a great way. 

Mrs. Matsutoya here is outright indecent towards our emotions here. And I love it. In addition to that, the track counts as only one of a few instances of a pop song in a Ghibli joint serving as the closing track. So uh yeah, go down a rabbit hole of Matsutoya’s music if you wanna explore the wonderful world of vintage J-pop/city pop etc., and you will not be disappoint. Also, this isn’t even the first time one of her songs was used... her debut in Ghibli occured 2 decades earlier in....

#2- Kiki’s Delivery Service: ‘I’m Gonna Fly”- Sydney Forester

Okay, so this is not another Matsutoya song. But in the original Disney release of Kiki, this song stood in for what was in the Japanese release a rather different, rockabilly-pop song from one of Matsutoya’s early albums ‘Rouge no Dengon‘, and this has since been corrected on subsequent releases. Tonally they are pretty different, but they both share a level of charm. This English replacement is way cornier though, but I imagine whichever one you grow up with will be the superior and preferable dose of nostalgia. I’m tainted by living with the original 90s English version for so long, that I get really thrown off in the first 20 minutes if, mid-maiden voyage, Kiki turns on her radio to Matsutoya instead of this funny little stand-in.

Speaking of Kiki’s radio, this is one of only TWO instances I’m aware of in which the pop song is diegetic within the film-- meaning it actually comes from a source within the actual world of the movie-- at least sort of (it’s that kinda pseudo-diegesis where the volume of the song makes it clear that it can’t actually be coming from her little radio). This song just really has a kind of saccharine horse-girl charm which I love and I feel like it matches the movie’s atmosphere pretty well despite being modern sounding, whereas Kiki’s world seems to be vaguely set in a version of the.... 50′s where dirigibles never went away? Never really thought about it actually. 

But yeah, these weird contract-based one-off recording artist concoctions are always kinda fun. They remind me of weird tracks from the Detective Conan opening themes where you just wonder about how and why they come about. Ultimately though, Disney probably made a good choice. The song occurs early enough in the film that it might do some work towards dissuading any reservations younger viewer-- or their parents-- might have after wading into such a then-exotic animated film such as this. It gently reassures one that despite appearances, this film CAN be a movie for English-speaking Americans. Plus I mean this lady’s voice actually rocks. I feel like it helped sell the movie to my older Jewel-listening sisters when we were kids and for that I’m grateful~

#3- Only Yesterday: “Omoide No Nagisa”- The Wild Ones  (and much much more)

Okay so Only Yesterday is stuffed to the brim with tons of pop music and other cultural ephemera, far too much for me to parse through now (maybe deserving of its own deep-dive post) but I’ll focus on one that shows up early in the movie.

(This isn’t full track, for some reason the only full version on youtube will not embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRlKvOiXgjo

This track plays during one of the early memoir-esque narration-heavy flashback scenes. It’s before we are fully thrust into those more washed-out, impressionistic coming-of-age sequences, and are being lead gently into that world by way of recollection from the now adult protagonist. She is remembering the craze in 1966 around “group-sounds”, a genre in Japan that was clearly partly indebted to the British Invasion happening on the other side of the world. 

I like the song a lot because I can hear the Beatles, Kinks and Monkeys etc., but it has it’s own really unique flair on top of that influence. I hear smokey curry and coffee shops. Fuzzy bunny-eared television signals. I think of young fresh-faced Japanese Boomers experiencing a newly technicolor world of pop-culture. The echo on the mic pick-ups whirs in my mind pulling me back toward a “simpler time”. 

The appearance of this song early on is a tip-off to the unfurling of a particularly globally-minded and varied soundtrack in this film which continues to surprise throughout the runtime-- it is my second favorite Ghibli soundtrack after ‘Totoro’ by far and that usually has to do with the incredible Bulgarian choir music that appears, but stuff like this Wild Ones track is just great too. Whether the male-lead/love-interest is playing that Bulgarian “peasant music” via his Toyota’s cassette player or we are getting a history lesson in early J-pop/rock, it’s all particularly tasty. There’s even a couple appearances from music from Japanese children’s television.

A lot of the referencing is nigh impossible for this westerner to parse, but all of it--save for one track-- is pretty ace. That one let-down for me is yet another pop song in the form of the ending credit-sequence track, a Japanese cover of ‘The Rose’. I think Bette Midler is just not a tasty association for an American of my ilk and so even if the rendition is tasteful, and the ending scene is beautiful, it remains the only time I’m let down sonically in the movie. 

Before I move on, it’s worth mentioning that the movie itself may be named after an American film OR a song by the Carpenters. I can’t be sure, but I kinda wish they actually used this Carpenters track to close the film instead of ‘The Rose’ but maybe it was a licensing issue. Anyhow. Perfect movie. 

#4- Whisper of the Hear: “Take Me Home, Country Roads”- John Denver/Olivia Newton John/Various

Okay so the way this song factors into the movie is way different than anything else we’ve discussed so far. I’ll embed the Olivia Newton-John rendition that the film opens with as opposed to the Japanese version that plays in the ending, because uh, as cute as it is, the vocalist (who I think is just the main-character’s voice actress?) is pitchy as hell (maybe in a twee, intentional way?) 

But so yeah, this song is a big part of an initial and reoccurring plot-point in the film which has the young protag. translating the American song into Japanese with her school friends. It’s a slightly illegible plot-point if you watch the English dub, but it basically comes across. According to Wiki, the producer of the film’s daughter actually supplied her lyrics which Mr. Hayao himself supplemented, which is just too cute. In the film, her version is called ‘Concrete Roads’ which has some nice thematic resonance with a lot of the angst that shows up in ‘Pom Poko’ regarding the suburban developments which sprawled out from Tokyo and other major Japanese cities throughout the 20th cent., encroaching on that same beautiful countryside that John Denver was initially sending up.

In a climactic scene, the protag. nervously but triumphantly sings the song along with her magic-boy boyfriend and his grampa’s grampa-friends, and uh yeah it’s cute as heck. 

The film is based on a manga, and though I’m too lazy to research this much, I assume the manga was the first to introduce the concept of centering so much of the story around a relatively benign country-pop tune such as this. But I mean, the choral arrangement in the intro of Newton-John’s is kinda emotional as hell. Mountain-momma indeed. 

#5- My Neighbor Totoro: Ending Theme- I don’t know...

Alright we’ll end with a sampling from the best of the best. I’m not gonna force too much “research” for this ‘cause like, I don’t know man, I just don’t wanna do anything that would remotely threaten to extinguish the magic. And I refuse to ever listen to the abomination that is the Disney re-dub. But I understand they re-recorded these tracks for that. Which, like, why? I’m also assuming the songs were pretty faithful translations of original Japanese tracks, because they’re just too good to have just been created for the western release. Like Hisaishi has to be behind those kalimbas and synth-lines. The lady’s voice basically sounds like my mom to me(?) and the dusty patina on her vocal-track alone kinda makes me wanna weep. 

And I kinda hate when people just joylessly parrot internet meme terms, but this song is what I would be unable to not describe as a “bop”. I mean the drums alone rip. 

This song has a sister-track in the form of an introductory credit-sequence song which accompanies a ridiculously cute visualizer, and they’re both just perfect matches for the joyful, innocent and exuberant nature of the film itself. Elsewhere on the OST, this is basically the last time that I’m aware of Hisaishi using synthesizers and it’s just glorious. Get this man on drum-machines and synths again! So uh yeah, I mean it’s all just great. What else could I say? Best soundtrack of all time period. Full stop. The end. 

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

Ok that’s that. Keep in mind, there’s like a small hanful of Ghibli I still haven’t seen so there could be some major instance I’m missing but uh, maybe I’ll update if one day I find out there’s a straight up Utada Hikaru song in ‘Princess Kaguya’. Oh and uh yeah there’s this one in ‘When Marnie Was There’ by one Priscilla Ahn . It’s like a b-side of the Kiki song but not as good as that makes it sound like it’d be. But it’s horse-girl-core as hell. So uh yeah.

see ya space cowboy~

[writingonesdreams]

11 questions tag game

I was tagged by @ren-c-leyn, thank you! This was probably a classic 11/11/11 tag game but since I have done the format already and I really like these questions, I'm tagging you for the same ones!

What’s your favourite genre to write in and why?

Character-driven fantasy or magic realism. Just to have magic part of the daily life of the characters - I love all the possibilities and I think a fanatsy plot is the most exciting, but also has my characters facing their inner struggles. 

Plus for some reason I have been really drawn to post-apocalyptic setting and survival plots lately. 

Do you think you have a style/voice that you use more often in your writing? When did you develop that style?

I like to write in first person with my constructions or expressions being a bit unusual at times - side effect of having English as my third language - but when it's not grammatically incorrect I think it's making my voice more distinguished and unique.

Do you play video games? What’s your favourite?

Nope I don't play any.

If you were going to do a WIP crossover, which OCs would be most interesting together? (If you’ve only got one WIP crossover with something else)

I imagine it would be a lot of fun for my OCs to crossover with anime like One Piece or Nana. How they would react to the canon characters and influence their stories.., 

Do you prefer to plan WIPs in a document or through handwritten notes?

Mosly in my Evernote notes on my phone. I later organise them in a word document and sometimes I brainstorm on paper. Phone is great for recording every random thought I have about the wip and then also having access to it both on my laptop and phone - a big advantage. 

Do you multiple languages exist in your WIP? If so how do you address that in the story?

There are multiple languages in my wip and I have thought about ways how to adress them. There would probably be a language common for mages that is widespread in worlds where there is a high concentration of magic and the mages of the dimension travelling kind, but otherwise the languages are actually similar since those are parallel worlds...I’m not sure how big of a role that will play however. Either it will be mentioned in passing or it will shape the MC’s frustrations. 

What’s your favourite animated film that’s not Disney or Pixar?

Howl's moving castle. Most Ghibli movies actually.

Do your real-life surroundings influence your WIP’s settings?

The place in my wip change a lot since there are many dimensions the characters visit, but a big part takes place in the city I go to university to. So I guess I use the surroundings that I’m comfortable with or that fascinate me in some way since a big part will also take place in a ruined world...

Which OCs would be most likely to break the fourth wall?

Anise tends to think too much, she would love to adress the audience with her inner monologues about other characters and the story's direction.

How do you work out your OCs’ personalities?

I daydream different scenarios and problems and see their reactions to them. Then I try to desribe and set the personality and tendencies more generally, make personality tests for my characters, write it down to see if it fits, then daydream some more...

Do you prefer worldbuilding or character building?

Character building. I love developing my characters and figuring out who they are and why.

What genre do you write?

Fantasy, romance, drama, coming of age, angst, hurt/comfort

Are you a planner, pantser, or planster?

I'm a planner all the way.

What is your approach to research?

I make a list of topics and elements that will influence my wip in a major way and then research them. I mostly read several articles, tropes about that theme, try to find or read a book or watch a movie from that enviroment to get a better picture. Often I come across new information that sparks some new inspiration and gets added to the outline or makes for a new sub-plot, when I like it enough. 

What POV is your novel? Why are you writing it this way?

I write in first person. I always loved books in first person the most and I feel more connected to my MC this way. There is a lot of thinking and realizing going on that wouldn't be possible in such depth in third person.

Do you know how your story ends before you start writing?

I try not to. When I know the ending the story becomes boring quickly. I like to make outlines and plans for the chapters but I also like to get surprised as the story changes as I write. I know the general direction of the ending though.

When creating characters, what comes first: appearance, backstory, motivation, personality, something else?

Personality in how they act and talk and what they like to do. Then come motivations and interactions between each other showing how they are with people and what they hide from each other. Then comes the polishing of appearance. I have a general image of them when I start, but things like eye colour and hair styles tend to change a bit. I make up the backstory based on everything else I know about them, trying to find explanations and shaping memories that made them who they are.

What trope do you actually like?

The Evil teammate. This character that just seems too cruel and chaotic to be an ally but is actually incredibly skilled or genial in some way and in the end comes through for the others and cares about them in their own way. 

How did you come up with your title?

When the worlds cross: It’s about mages travelling to different worlds. Plus it also hints at the meeting of different views and attitudes of the characters. 

If your WIP had a theme song, what would it be?

Broken by Lovelytheband.

How has your MC developed, not within the plot, but since you first created them?

They don’t change all that much honestly. I love the change and internal arcs they will go through because of the plot, so changing that would make the story a lot different. 

Your MC faces certain death.  What are their last words?

Anise: “Death can’t be harder then life.” 

Rhys: "Well, at least we had fun."

Cole: "I'm sure there are worse ways to die."

Oliver: "Just get it over with. I don't regret anything."  

Tagging: @piratequeenofpixies @gottaenjoythelittlethingzz @madammuffins  @shadowschild64  @imaghostwriter @visionofwriters   @metaphors-and-melodrama @amaranthine-inscriptions @tenacious-scripturient   @purpleshadows1989 @bookenders @pied-piper-of-hamlet @fourohfourlifenotfound @agentorange-writes @impossiblesnowflakes @starlitesymphony

[metronomeihear]

Rules:

1. Post the rules 2. Answer the questions given to you by the tagger 3. Write 11 questions of your own 4. And tag 11 people

I was tagged by @onceabluemoonwrites

1. What is your second favourite fandom?

Umm.... I’m not certain? I don’t really rank the fandoms I’m in, so I don’t have a “second favorite”. I have several favorites, each of which hold a special place in my heart, but I wouldn’t be able to rank them.

2. Any lesser known shows/manga/anime/books everybody needs to know about?

GHOST HUNT AND NURARIHYON NO MAGO.

Ghost Hunt has to be my favorite supernatural horror anime ever, bar maybe Tokyo Ghoul. It follows the story of Taniyama Mai as she becomes the assistant to Shibuya “Naru the Narcissist” Kazuya, young psychic researcher and professional Ghost Hunter. They, along with a wacky cast consisting of a medium, a pritest, a preistess, a monk, and an omnyouji, solve a variety of different cases of the supernatural. It’s an awesome show, and the amount of research the author of the novels put into everything is crazy. Most of the show is accurate to real life psychic research, which is something that really impresses me. It’s not afraid to touch on issues that other shows wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole, either. All in all, I highly recommend it, and send you off to watch (or read!) it, with a warning to stay away from the dub. Mai’s voice in the dub is really annoying.

Nurarihyon no Mago is another really awesome one that I really wish people would watch. It follows the story of Nura Rikuo, the mostly human grandson of the yokai Nurarihyon, and heir to Nurarihyon’s clan, the largest yokai yakuza in all of Japan. The issue? Rikuo wants nothing to do with his yokai blood, preferring to stick to the human side of things. Through a series of events, Rikuo learns to accept who and what he is. It’s an awesome series with lots of references to japanese folklore and traditions, and I wholeheartedly recommend that you read it as soon as you can.

3. Ghibli or Disney?

Ghibli all the way.

4. Why Ghibli/Disney?

I’ve always loved the way that Ghibli animates things. Their movies are always so beautiful to see, it’s like watching a work of art in motion. But more than that, the type of story they animate appeals to me more than Disney. I would much rather watch a movie about a young hat maker cursed into being an old woman fall in love with a wizard than watch a movie about a princess. Disney movies are great, I’m not going to deny that, but they’ve always been aimed more at a younger audience, which makes them awkward to watch now that I’m older. Ghibli movies have never had that stigma for me, and since their stories are the ones I tend to like more... Well. There’s not much more to say, is there?

5. Favorite flower?

I don’t have one? I don’t really have favorites with that sort of thing, but if I really had to pick, the I���d say chrysanthemum.

6. What makes you ship something?

Ohhh that’s a difficult question to answer. I ship different things for different reasons, usually becuase someone made me see that their dynamic works in a relationship. I don’t ship that many things, actually, and there are only two ships I can think off of the top of my head that I ever had a moment where I went “Wow. Those two. I ship them.” Those ships were 1827 and TodoDeku. 

I had a moment, when reading the manga for KHR, where I was reading that scene in the Shimon arc where Hibari was fighting Adel. Tsuna was asking Hibari why he was fighting so hard, for Tsuna, and Hibari’s response is what made me ship them. “It is because there is a sky that the clouds can float freely. And someday, I will bite even the sky itself.” It just... hit me. Tsuna gives Hibari a home. He gives Hibari a place to come back to and rest whenever Hibari gets tired or bored of wandering around. Tsuna doesn’t try to constrain HIbari, or try to tell him what to do. He respects Hibari and his boundaries, and that line-- I’m not sure how to explain it. It just clicked, and I’ve shipped them ever since.

TodoDeku was the second ship where I had a moment like that. Before the sports festival arc, I never really noticed Todoroki. He was just one of the background characters, and I wasn’t even able to remember his name half the time. I was too focused on other things to pay attention to him. Then the sports festival arc started, and he came to the forefront of things, and I learned more about his past, and that’s when I started liking him. I didn’t ship him with anyone, but I liked him. But then-- “It’s your power, isn’t it?” That line. That scene. With the flashbacks and the fire appearing and Endeavor in the background and Izuku’s expression and Todoroki’s reaction--All of it. It was glorious. And that is what made me ship TodoDeku. Even more so with the interactions they had after that--with Stain’s fight and everything else, I just--adkfgfksyfef.

I have other things I ship, too. I ship HashiMada because that’s the way they’re written, really. It’s an epic bromance that borders on romance, and it’s not hard to believe they could have been lovers. I ship KaneHide because they support each other and help each other and mean so much to each other. I doubt there are very many things they wouldn’t do for one another. I ship Rikuo and Kana. I ship Meliodas and Elizabeth. I ship Madoka and Homura. I ship Kaito and Shinichi The main theme in all this? I ship healthy ships. Ships where they build each other up and support one another and help each other overcome their fears. That doesn't mean I don’t have unhealthy ships too. I’ve shipped things for no other reason than the dynamic is fucked up, because those ships are real too, and sometimes I like indulging that dark part of me. But for the most part, the reason why I ship something is because it’s healthy.

7. Or WHO makes you ship things?

@blackkatmagic has made me ship things. They introduced me to the ship that is MadaTobi and I haven't been able to drag myself away from. @onceabluemoonwrites made me ship DinoXanxus. The author of “Stranger with a Gun” (I can’t for the life of me remember who that is) made me ship 8018. 

8. Favorite book?

Difficult to say! I love the Harry Potter series, because that was pretty much my childhood. The Hobbit holds a special place in my heart because my dad used to read parts of it to me before I went to bed. I love the Dresden Files for it’s weird sense of humor. I love House of Many Ways, and the Anita Blake series has some really good books in it, too! I’m not sure which one I would call my favorite.

9. Most Annoying Sibling Award?

I have two siblings, a younger brother and a younger sister, and out of the both of them, I’d have to say my sister is the more annoying of the two. I get along fairly well with both of them, but my sister is the more outgoing of the two of them, and thus the more likely one to come annoy me. I still love them both, though.

10. Wooden floors vs. linoleum.

Wooden. More because it’s familiar than any other reason.

11. Who are you in the Cinnamon roll meme?

I’d be stuck somewhere between looks like a cinnamon roll but could actually kill you and looks like a cinnamon roll and is actually a cinnamon roll. I’m general a nice person but if you go after anyone I care about then no one will find the body.

I never know who to tag for these sorts of things.... Lets just say I tag anyone and everyone who sees this post. If you feel like doing it, just say I tagged you!

My questions:

1. Dogs, Cats, both, or neither? 

2. What’s your favorite Pokemon?

3. You have two weeks until the end of the world. What do you do?

4. Who was the worst teacher you’ve ever had?

5. What was the most frustrating thing you’ve ever had to do?

6. If you had one wish, what would that wish be?

7. What’s your favorite movie?

8. What’s your least favorite game?

9. Flying or super strength?

10. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

11. What’s your plan for the Zombie Apocalypse?

[hetmusic]

Q&A with BATTS | HumanHuman

BATTS (aka Tanya Batt) is one of those slow-burning discoveries that we’ve had on the HumanHuman radar for the past three years; from the moment Blubb Blubb (fka The Indie Curator) added BATTS prior to the release of her official debut “Morals” to her transition from electronic towards an indie-folk sound.

Photo by Michelle Grace Hunder

One of the first to write about this Melbourne talent from the HumanHuman set was Hillydilly, who noted “Tanya's truly captivating vocals,” that “appear in spellbinding fashion” through a production from Ficci, the artist’s long-term collaborator. The agrees continued to pour in with each astronomical creation, such as “Kiki” and “Lie To Me”, until the Australian musician was finally labelled as a Promising Discovery eleven months ago. Since then, BATTS’ sonic horizons have begun to expand, as heard with ambient single “For Now” and singer-songwriter style track “Little White Lies”. With the conscious decision to take a break from working with UK producer Ficci, Tanya Batt is on a journey to find a sound that is completely herself. With an EP on the brink of release, it’s time to rediscover BATTS.

Let’s jump straight in and start by talking about your newest single “Little White Lies”. It’s noticeably folkier than your earlier material, what’s sparked this sonic change?

I think it was only a matter of time before this happened. I actually started out with more folk indie stuff when I first started making music under a different name. The main reason for the change was that I was really unhappy and wanted to quit music. I love the stuff I made with Ficci and he is one of my favourite producers and collaborating with him was the best, but I listen to folk singer-songwriter stuff every single day and that’s the music I’ve always been inspired and influenced by. I wrote so much at home on my guitar and wasn’t doing anything with it, and I just wanted to start making stuff that was 100% me and what’s inside my mind. Electronic is really cool but it’s not really who I am. I’m really happy and inspired at the moment within music and it’s a great feeling.

It’s quite a forlorn song, considering topics of deception, death and disappointment. What does this song mean to you?

“Little White Lies” is a strange one, I was listening to a lot of Andy Shauf at the time I wrote this and it kind of just all came out at once then I listened back to the lyrics and was like, oh ok. To me, I think little white lies are as common to humans as breathing these days and the song is about wanting that deeper conversation and to confide in others etc. The line in the second verse, “I stopped breathing as a child, found blue within my cot, when my mother found me her heart must have stopped” is actually me sharing a secret with all my listeners, I guess.

As with your other recent track “For Now”, you’ve moved on from working with long-time collaborator Ficci. Was this in pursuit of a new sound, or because you’d felt your co-creation had a reached a natural end or another reason entirely?

It’s a bit of both of those, I guess. It’s really hard making music across the oceans with time differences and we move at very different paces. I was playing it live and just really hated having a laptop on stage with myself and my band. That was a huge thing for me, it felt like this lifeless thing on stage taking away from our live element and I really wanted it gone. I think that’s when I really started realising as much as I love creating with Ficci and I hope will continue to have the opportunity to sing on his songs in the future, electronic music as a package isn’t what I wanted to be creating under BATTS. I wanted to be more honest and have more trust in what I was just writing at home by myself.

While working with the British producer, you had to communicate across time zones and the Internet, so I’m guessing that the online music world is important to the way you make music?

It definitely was! The online music world was a huge platform for Alisdair (Ficci) and I, it’s pretty incredible how many platforms electronic music has compared to say folk music. All the YouTube platforms are huge too! I think it can be pretty easy to break into the online electronic world quite fast; however, there is a lot of content constantly coming out, so maybe it’s harder to stay relevant? I’m not sure, I definitely wasn’t in it long enough, it’s just not really where my heart lies. I love the whole singer-songwriter world. Now, my favourite thing is that I get to disconnect from the online world a lot more and just sit with an instrument and write and then take it to my band and all bring it to life together. No better feeling than that.

What’s your favourite song that you and Ficci recorded together? And why?

This is a hard one, I’d say “Morals” because it was the first and there is something really special about it and I remember writing it whilst living in North Melbourne in a share house of seven people. I had this window sill that overlooked the city and I remember when he sent me the first mix and I sat and looked out over Melbourne and felt so happy with what we had created together.

Of course, you also happen to live in Melbourne with it’s vibrant music scene. What’s the last gig you went to in your hometown?

It definitely has one of the best music scenes ever. Well, I haven’t been to a gig I haven’t played in a while, but I’ve kind of been touring every weekend since March. I did however play a gig a few weeks ago with a guy called Didirri who is this young incredible songwriter, definitely recommend looking him up.

Hayden Calnin, Braille Face, Matthew Kenneally, Robert Muinos, Christopher Coleman Collective, Canary, Oh Pep!, Al Parkinson, Ainslie Wills, The Teskey Brothers, nyck, Didirri and Magnets. Seriously I could go on forever, the talent in Melbourne is ridiculous.

In an interview with Smoothie Tunes, I read that you often take inspiration from novels, finding it easy to place yourself in another’s perspective. It reminded me of Iris Lune’s “Sewing Skylines to Shores”, where they imagines the emotions surrounding Sylvia Plath’s suicide. Is there a particular writer or character that you would love to write a song about?

Great question, thanks also for doing so much research, it’s really refreshing answering well thought questions. I’m currently reading The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, so funny you should mention Plath. My favourite book is a book called Stoner by John Williams, and the main character William is someone who has stayed with me since I first read it. It is quite a sad book, but I have such a love for him that I re-read it all the time just because when I do, I feel maybe he isn’t as alone and plus I genuinely miss him if I haven’t read it in a while. I know I’ll probably write a song about him one day.

Possibly, this perspective transferring ability came from a childhood as an actor, so why did you switch to music?

It just got to a point where it was one or the other, they both take everything you have and I really wanted to progress within my knowledge and ability with music and writing etc and I wanted to dedicate all the time I had to that. So, I made a choice and I have not regretted a single second of it.

Would you ever be drawn back into the world of acting?

Oh definitely, one day.

Aside from novels, which other materials do you draw creative influence from?

Space is a big one - the beauty, destruction, uncertainty and unknowing of what happens out there and what is out there fascinates me. It’s all very magical and the visuals of it really inspire me plus just the stuff I watch and read about it. Obviously, other artists influence me a lot too and Ghibli movies tend to inspire me a lot.

I’m aware that you’re particularly fascinated by the natural music made by stars and planets, do any of these recordings feature in your music?

Let’s just say my EP will be out later this year.

As previously mentioned, your debut single as BATTS, “Morals”, was released two years ago now. What have been the most significant changes in your life since then? Do you think your music has evolved as a result?

An insane amount has happened in this time, my life has changed a lot, within music and just life in general. I’ve learnt a lot about myself and the music I want to create in that time. I feel like I’m really comfortable within where I am now and confident within knowing what I want to create. It’s a nice feeling. I’ve been doing music for a really long time and it can take a long time to work out what kind of music you really want to create and I finally feel like I’m there. I have a few of my closest friends to thank for helping me get to this point.

“I’ve been doing music for a really long time and it can take a long time to work out what kind of music you really want to create and I finally feel like I’m there.”

Okay, time for the big question - where do you see yourself in the next two years?

Still wishing for a holiday. I mean within two years I should have finished and released my debut album and have played shows overseas, I 100% plan to head back to the UK and play some shows there next year. I’m from England originally, so would be real nice to play some shows in my other home. That’s definitely the goal.

Looking a little less far into the future, what do you have planned for the rest of the year? More live shows? Perhaps some new music?

It’s funny with this career, because you put these odd timelines together that span over like a whole year or more, and of course, some things change, but yeah for the rest of this year my debut EP will come out and I’ll tour that. Then I’ll be going away with the band to start working on the album, but in the immediate future I just can’t wait to share the EP with everyone.

https://humanhuman.com/articles/interview-with-batts

[darielquinta]

Hello my cookies, welcome back to a new video from yours truly, where we have news, reviews, and other gaming jewels. I hope that you are having a great day today. In today’s video, I want to let you all know of yet another game that you should keep on your radar this year. I’ll be talking a little bit about the story, when its coming out, if it’s worth your bells or not, and I’ll be showing you some gameplay. I am not sponsored by anyone behind this game, so my thoughts are not in any way fabricated and are purely my own. I also have not played the game at all, but I have looked at gameplay and have also done a bit of research and ultimately have come to a conclusion. With that out of the way, let's jump into it.

The game we’ll be discussing today is Summer in Mara, which is a do what you want type of game. You are in the shoes (or feet) of Koa, an adventurer, in the planet Qu. You live with your grandma and you take care of an island called Home Island. You can craft, farm, fish, and complete 150 quests. In addition to this, you can use your boat to sail to other islands, where you can trade, buy/sell, or talk to the islanders. You can improve your boat to make it much faster and bigger. Swimming and diving are other features in this game, which I assume are to collect items (fish, coral, etc). There are a handful of islands that you can venture to (your island, City Island, and Desert Island are the known islands), each with different species and stories behind them. City Island is a bustling city with many buildings, while Desert Island is what looks to be an empty island, but appears to be more than what meets the eye. There are also smaller islands, where you can find treasures, new items, and mythical creatures. 

While most of the people that you meet will be friendly, there are some exceptions. There are two evil groups in this game; the Pirates aren’t trustworthy, have their own island, and get their outfits from looting. The Elit are an evil corporation from another planet that steal other planet’s resources and ultimately destroy what's left. The Elit came to their planet because they were attracted by a strange energy from the sea. Their goal is to take the energy and whatever else they deem valuable. Now let’s get into the nitty gritty. The game is inspired by many games/movies. The exploration in Wind Waker, the farming in Stardew Valley, and visual aspects in Studio Ghibli movies. Looking at the gameplay and images, this game really seems to reference those games/movies’ mechanics well and appears to be a perfect blend of them. The visuals in this game are in fact very nice and they do a good job at recreating the Studio Ghibli look that they are going for.

Summer in Mara will be released on PS4, Nintendo Switch, Steam, and Xbox One, so you can play it on any console. As for the release date, the game was originally slated for September 2019, but has recently been delayed to February 2020. They have stated that they have a lot on their hands like porting to other consoles, localization, and actual development. In my opinion the company behind this game should take all of the time that they need to polish this game up and make it the best game that it can be. It’s also important to note that this is not their first game, and that’s something that puts me more at ease. Deiland is an rpg sandbox game that was funded on Kickstarter and looks somewhat similar to Summer in Mara. It has been confirmed that the game takes place in the same universe, so they interestingly share the same visuals. If you want to be a part of their project, you can support them on their Indiegogo, which can get you rewards, like the digital game. Links to their campaign can be found down in the description.

Indie companies have been on a roll these past couple of years. Cuphead, Stardew Valley, Dead Cells, and Undertale were absolute hits and were even ported to the Nintendo Switch. There doesn’t seem to be an end in sight for the Indie Golden Age. The team behind this game consists of around 8 people, so for them to create an incredible game like this is astounding. Don’t just take my word for it though. The game raised around $262,726 on Kickstarter and $311,997 on Indiegogo, with a combined 20,000 backers. This crushes it’s $40,000 in total goal. And with that I would like to thank everyone who watched this video all the way to the end! All links regarding the game as well as the Indiegogo  are in the description, so please check it out. If you enjoyed, please subscribe and help me grow this channel. I’d love to improve so leave some feedback down below. Check out my other videos like the ones on screen right now. Thanks for watching, I hope you enjoyed this cookie, and I’ll see you all next video!

[geekysweetie]

The Red Turtle Anime Review

I just purchased and watched “The Red Turtle” last night. The silent animated feature length film was done, in part, by Studio Ghibli, famous animators of feature length family favorite anime films such as My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Howl’s Moving Castle, Spirited Away, Ponyo, and The Cat’s Return, just to name a few.

I have to admit, I didn’t really do my research on this title (and didn’t realize it was a silent film until I began watching it), but every time I saw a preview, I just wanted to see it oh so badly. When I realized I could buy it for only $10 more than the “rental” price ($15 vs $5) I immediately purchased it.

For about the first 20 – 40 minutes of the film, I felt disappointed and disinterested; that quickly changed as the plot began to advance, and by the end I was so emotionally invested that I was crying.

Read on for the full review below.

Title: The Red Turtle

Studio: Studio Ghibli

Release Date (theatrical limited release) : January 20, 2017 (dvd / bluray) : May 2nd, 2017

Length: 1 hour and 20 minutes

Geeky: 3/5 – The beautiful artwork has a story book like quality while the musical score helps covey the feelings of the wordless cast of characters.

Sweetie: 5/5 – Without any voice, this movie still manages to tell an uplifting, wholesome, sad, touching, and romantic tale. This film reminded me of the Song of the Sea (which I also HIGHLY recommend and will eventually get around to reviewing). It also reminded me of a silent “Little Mermaid”. Or a little of the Tom Hanks “Castaway” film or Swiss Family Robinson.

Overall:  42/50 84% B “Very Good Anime For Girls”

Story: 8/10 If you’ve watched any of those films, you can guess some of the themes present in the Red Turtle, a story about a man shipwrecked on an island trying first to leave the island, then coming to accept his new life and live off the land.

There’s really several stories within the story here if you’re paying attention. At first, it is just the man and the sea and land and creatures there of. But a miracle occurs one day, turning a lonely devastated man, into a protector, caregiver, lover, and eventually father.

It’s a very circle of life tale. You watch all of the characters as they age, grow up, grow old, while witnessing their triumphs and struggles as they evolve and grow.

Although there are no words, and it takes some getting used to (at least for me; the only other silent film I’ve ever liked is Wall-e.), if you keep watching, you will eventually fall in love with the characters, and by the end it will leave you in tears, as it did for me.

It does start slow. I think the first 30ish minutes of the man being alone on the island could have been cut down to about 10-15 minutes and still conveyed the same point, that he is unable to leave the island, that he is angry, cold, bitter, and vengeful, etc. — Still after the appearance of other humans, we witness how their love for him changes the man into a much different and better person.

Characters: 8/10 : The characters have no names, and no real back stories. It’s never explained exactly how or why things happened the way they did; whether that was intentional to allow you to insert yourself into their shoes, or just the nature of the silent story telling format, it doesn’t matter because the characters are still incredibly real, raw, and full of emotion and personality even without back stories and without voices. I felt an immediate connection to the characters and felt myself emotionally invested and caring about what fates and circumstances fell upon them.

Animation: 8/10 – Although it’s not done in any kind of “traditional” anime style (big eyes, fantasy hair colors, etc), it still has charm. The sea, the starlit sky, the forests, the land, and even the characters. This film had to rely 50 / 50 on music as well as animation to tell the story. The characters’ movements had to convey their emotion. This is no easy task, yet it is one that this film excels at. Whether it’s capturing the curiosity of a small child, the desperation and isolation of a lonely man, the love and tenderness of a woman, or the animals who share the island with the small family, there is no shortage to emotion and charm in the animation.

Music: 10/10 – Think of this as basically Fantasia meets the Little Mermaid. The music score, when music is present, is vital in telling the story. Many times throughout the film there will be little to no music and only ambient noises and sound effects. This makes the power of the instrumental musical pieces even more powerful when it is used to convey the emotions of the cast or even the power of nature itself.

Overall:  42/50 84% B “Very Good Anime For Girls”

The Red Turtle Anime Review was originally published on GeekySweetie.com - Geeky & Kawaii Anime, Tech, Toys, & Game Reviews & News