#as a Movie as Animation as a Musical as a Story as an Exploration / Commentary Re: Parent / Child Relationships. & more!

[clarinartiste]

Let’s talk about “A Guy Like You”

This might be an unpopular opinion(??) but I genuinely think that “A Guy like You” is a really sweet song, but it was put in the worst possible place that it could have been. I also want to say, I believe that part of appreciating a piece of media is also exploring criticism of it, and I love this movie a lot. I say this with all the love in my heart.

Thoughts and suggestions below!!

I feel like it has merit as an encouraging song for Quasimodo and his self-esteem. I think it’s well written, well composed, and the voices sound great. It definitely has good intentions for Quasi. But it’s in the wrong place at the wrong time, and like I’ve said before, it absolutely kills the momentum of “Hellfire” and the burning of Paris.

“Heaven’s Light” leading into “Hellfire” is SO masterfully done, I absolutely love how it contrasts Quasimodo and Frollo, and the music and animation is phenomenal. And keeping up the frightening visuals and motives expressed in “Hellfire,” Frollo and his obsessive hunt for Esmeralda is also amazingly executed, with the Latin background singing and the fiery imagery really adding to the terror of the scenes.

This is the pivoting point in the film where Stuff Gets Extra Serious, and if we went directly from the hunt through Paris to the part where Esmeralda brings an injured Phoebus to Quasimodo, it would have kept up that tension so well. Combine that with the brilliantly done—and very tense—scene with Frollo visiting Quasimodo with grapes, the urgency to warn Esmeralda in the Court of Miracles, the Court of Miracles scene, and the stellar climax of the film, and you get a second half of the movie that feels faster and even more dramatically intense than the first half, a natural movement of the story pushing forward.

I feel like it would make more sense if it was placed before “Heaven’s Light” and “Hellfire,” after Quasimodo helps Esmeralda escape. Like, after Quasimodo makes Phoebus leave, the gargoyles congratulate him, “Way to go, lover boy!” Quasimodo bashfully protests, “Lover boy? Oh, no, no. Look, I appreciate what you’re all trying to do, but let’s not fool ourselves. Ugliest face in all of Paris, remember? I don’t think I’m her type.” To which the gargoyles respond by trying to raise his hopes up, encouraging him by singing “A Guy Like You” (of course, adjusting the lyrics with Paris being on fire, which are not fitting for the plot right now)

Have “A Guy Like You” as this fun, bombastic song hyping up Quasimodo. Then, in a quiet aside, Quasimodo inwardly continues to express some doubts about his chances of being with Esmeralda, while still holding on to his wistful and innocent hope. He sings about his romantic desires in a more soft and gentle way with “Heaven’s Light.” And cut out the gargoyle parts during “Heaven’s Light” so we can have a greater emphasis on Quasimodo singing, focusing on his affection and appreciation for Esmeralda. Which then, in turn, is sharply contrasted with “Hellfire” and Frollo’s emotional torment and obsessive lust.

I watched the Director’s Commentary and I definitely get where they were coming from—setting up this song for Quasimodo right before he sees Esmeralda and Phoebus kissing, and gets his heart broken—and making that whiplash all the more stinging. But I still feel like that set up for the fall could have been accomplished without a tone-breaking song. Maybe instead of the gargoyles singing a cheery, upbeat song in this very dark and heavy moment, we have Quasimodo look out worriedly at the city on fire, talking to the gargoyles about how concerned he is about Esmeralda, explaining just how much he cares about her and loves her.

Continue the film as normal with Esmeralda coming to the bell tower and asking Quasimodo to help hide Phoebus, then Esmeralda and Phoebus kiss and the reprise of “Heaven’s Light” plays over the sight of a heartbroken Quasimodo so we still get the emotions of the scene, his hopes dashed.

At the end of the film, Quasimodo finds acceptance, kindness, and companionship. And this concludes this plot thread of the movie :)

What do you think? Do any of you have different opinions? (I’d love to hear your thoughts!)

[siflshonen]

Do you have any romance recommendations? (Books, manga, games, anything.) I'm a crotchety romance snob as well and haven't explored the genre.

My well is pretty empty for this, I must admit. But I guess... hey, you like immersive fandoms, camp, parody, and tongue-in-cheek, I hope?

While the book may be a little too dated for most widespread consumption, I will recommend almost any well-done derivative of Pride and Prejudice or Austen works in general, or even anything that involves it. Enter these with the attitude that everyone is a disaster and the work wants you to hoot and holler at it and treat it like a groundling at a Shakespeare play (that is, like a degenerate.)

Some examples include:

Pride and Prejudice 1995 adaptation - One of the main metrics I use when judging a Pride and Prejudice adaptation is the level of batshit histrionic (complimentary) Elizabeth Bennet's mother acts, and this one is a gold standard (compliments to the actress. I hated her and this is unironically the highest praise I can give in this context).

Pride and Prejudice 2005 (the one with Keira Knightley) - When I first saw this movie, I fucking hated it. My friends took it all too seriously. Then, everything changed when, on the third watch-through, I pointed at Darcy's too-tight (leather?!) pants in the final scene and ripped that poor character a new asshole for being a pathetic, wet man in stupid pants. The next watch-through, I treated each scene's verbal lashings like a WWE wrestling match complete with commentary, and suddenly the entire thing became the best movie in the fucking world. My friends will never watch it with me again, but more fool they because now that I am older I realize that, by doing so, I was the only one engaging with the work in the appropriate spirit even if I lacked the Regency-era class. Austen wrote these to be funny, witty, backhanded, and insightful. When Darcy says, "She isn't handsome enough to tempt ME!", try pointing at him and screaming, "BIIIIITCH!" at the top of your lungs and then see how you feel.

Austenland (view this once you have comfortable familiarity with at least one Austen story. It gets more ridiculous as it goes along, and is all the better for it. Admittedly, I also don't care much for the actual endgame romance in this one either, but the movie is fun even when it's cringe like with... well, you'll see.)

Side note: While I generally look favorably upon Pride and Prejudice adaptations, I do NOT recommend I Love You Because.

Mamma Mia - Do I actually care about any of these couples getting together? Do I ship a damn thing in this show? No, I don't. Their love stories exist only to forward the antics and camp they get into, but it IS a romance. Everything, including the casting choices, is a gag. For example, if you watch the 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice listed below, you will understand why it is funny that Colin Firth is in this movie doing exactly what he does. It opens with all the girlies being like "ohhh wow what a great idea you had to invite these THREE DUDES YOUR MOM HAD A ONE-NIGHT STAND WITH TO YOUR WEDDING" and singing a happy and supportive song about it like a classic optimistic musical, and then all the girlies immediately afterwards being like, "JUST KIDDING you are SO fucking stupid" but still going with it.

Hadestown - For all I bitch about romance............... this is my favorite musical. Before you ask, NO! I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE LOVE STORY OF ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE! I CARE ABOUT THE OTHER ONE!!!! And even then, it's not something I dwell upon as a love story. Admittedly, I have a strong preference for the Live Original Cast Recording rather than the Broadway version (I strongly dislike the changed lyrics for the Epics. However, I am a big fan of Orpheus' added parts in Doubt Comes In), but if you like one, you'll like the other. If you don't like either, well, whatever.

Um, what else... uh, classic anime fandom favorites like Ouran High School Host Club are also fun, but I can also admit to you that I care not for 80% of the romance aspect of it.

Um, d-does Devilman: Crybaby count????

[a-slut-for-smut]

*years later* thanks so much for the tag @lovelybeautifulpretty!! cant recall if i warned u before but i tend to go buckwild with these, sorry and your welcome :D

Here are top 10 fav films and surprise surprise, im just a hot mess of eclectic tastes 🤷‍♀️ in no particular order:

Robocop

This 80s masterpiece is a smart political satire/social commentary disguised as a comic book/action revenge movie that interweaves hilarious dark humor, ultraviolence and science fiction in a simple yet seamless plot. It will honestly SHOCK you just how much it has to say on American evolutions in capitalism, media influence, desensitization to violence, gentrification, and our perception of heroes, each in service of a greater conversation about identity and culture.

Atonement

I consider this film the pinnacle of an angsty/doomed romance executed perfectly on-screen: the performances, the cinematography, the music, EVERYTHING!! Funny story, me & the girlfriends went to see this in theaters expecting a typical period romance; left completely snot-dripping, bawling our eyes out. I shit you not, i felt the utter devastation from this film for WEEKS

Amelie

If there was a film to define the term "whimsy" then this is it!! Its so creatively rich, with such a fun and sweet art style in the characters, the way its filmed, the music, the romance- it'll make your heart ache for days.

Inglorious Basterds

I'm a big whore for Tarantino ever since Reservoir Dogs, but I consider film his ABSOLUTE masterpiece. The comedically distinct characters, the sharpness of dialogue, how he builds up the tension of scenes to the point of explosion with just a simple conversation- *CHEFS KISS*

Children of Men

This dystopian sci fi drama was made in 2005 but with all the social commentary woven into the background of the story, it is eerily topical in today's tumultuous political & social climate (which is very telling about us as a society I suppose). The director Alfonso Cuaron is a master at "show don't tell" filmmaking and it SHOWS. Also the tracking long shots in this film are something to witnessed, beheld even. Masterpiece.

Bridget Jones' Diary

My absolute FAV romantic comedy, i totally relate to this bumbling, epic disaster of a woman, even more so now that i'm 30+ like her. Fun fact, the plot is heavily inspired by Pride & Prejudice which is probably why i love it so much. Also Colin Firth 🥵 (which leads me to another fun fact- he was cast as Mark Darcy mainly due to the author's crush on him from his portrayal of Mr. Darcy in the 1996 BBC miniseries which put him on the map, and rightly so. I know the film adaption is super popular, but any P&P fan NEEDS to watch this version, so so good)

Chicago

This musical ruined all theater musicals for me forever- the film adaptation is THAT good!!! The spectacle, the numbers, the PERFORMANCES- Catherine Zeta Jones slayed as Velma Kelly (also my ovaries), i love it so much that i watched it 3 times back to back on a flight i honestly couldnt get enough lol

Kung Fu Hustle

This film is Stephen Chow's magnum opus- an action comedy that blends kung-fu and all sorts of historical chinese references and homages of the directors favorite films, you can tell the passion and the fun that went into making this film and it really REALLY shows. I consider this a perfect execution of what a live-action anime could be, this film is an absolute blast and classic

Annihilation

I've got a bit of a cosmic/existential horror kink (where a form of media makes you question the world/life as we know it or triggers an existential crisis) and this film gets it RIGHT. It's a philosophical sci-fi thriller but is so much more with its themes of pain and identity, exploration of humanity's disposition for self destruction but also its unsettling visuals and soundtrack. Funny story, the sound design is so alien/unsettling that it spooked my cat from her nap and got her staring at the screen with wide eyes and an arched back trying to figure out what the eff was going on (me as well).

Also love how its an all female cast but its never mentioned in-film; just a bunch of capable women going to take care of business (i didnt even notice until my 2nd watch)- im a fan of this approach as it in effect "normalizes" this scenario whereas calling it out as if its special just highlights how it's an exception...anyway, its a horrifically beautiful film.

Sicario

Denis Villeneuve can do no wrong in my eyes (nor cinematographer Roger Deakins), a beautifully shot thriller that serves as a social commentary on how laws are meant to be broken, lines are drawn and then erased when convenient, as long as it serves a so-called greater purpose, that keeping a moral code is a futile effort. Brilliant performed and written, nuanced characters, glorious cinematography and a killer soundtrack (RIP Johan Johansson), A+++++

alright sorry for the long rambling post, cant help myself! Tagging a bunch a folks that seem alive per my notifs, no pressure of course!!!

@writebecauseyoucannotbreathe @nuri148 @your-lavender-dreams @warbarbie @levi4mikasa @onigiri-dorkk @helena-thessaloniki @misplacedgamer @lovely-apparitions @ally147writes @stalactice @vero-icon @mylienated @hellhorsedotjpg @magicalanchordestiny

[idkjustletmescroll]

I hate modern media.

Like don't get me wrong, there's plenty of good stuff out there, but for the most part it feels like so little heart goes into most books/movies/shows?

Like--the PJO show, don't get me wrong, it was good...but it was, at least to me, just kind of...fine? Nostalgia can only go so far.

Casting-wise, it was perfect, and it does seem like it was made by people who genuinely love and care about the source material, but who had to rush their story because they just didn't have the time. They had 8 episodes. Each of those episodes was like 35-45 minutes long, but not only is that pretty long for a single episode, if each of those episodes pretty much just covers one part of the story...that's still not a lot??

House of the Dragon? 10 episodes. No matter how long those 10 episodes are, they're trying to show us how a whole ass war got started in 10 FREAKING EPISODES. How Alicent and Rhaenyra's friendship broke down. Both of their relationships with their spouses and children. They still didn't fully explore Rhaenyra and Harwin's relationship. Does Rhaenyra have any more complicated feelings about her father for his role in the deterioration of her friendship with Alicent? Plus all the time skips...we don't have time to sit with these characters and their relationships and get to know them. Not like we did in GOT (at least the first like 4 seasons).

Not to mention waiting like 2 years between each season. Like, one of my favourite shows ever is Arcane because I like to suffer, and between season 1 and 2 there are 3 years (season 2 comes out November of this year). Watchers may not be happy to wait that long, but we expect good quality for that wait because Arcane is insanely good in all aspects--animation, character arcs, world building, nuance, commentary, music, action, etc., etc., etc. A lot of other shows, not just the two I've mentioned above, just don't feel as worth the wait. I still think they're enjoyable, and I think the writers do want to make good work, but that's hard to do with 8-10 episodes. And Arcane has only 9 episodes, and all of them are long, sure, but I feel like since there are so many moving parts and characters and subplots to the subplots, it can a) keep viewers engaged that long, and b) can easily fill up that much time well with clear priorities and a tightly woven story.

Avatar: The Last Airbender, a masterpiece show in my (and many other people's) opinion, had 20 episode seasons, each episode around 20-25 minutes. That's a reasonable amount of time to focus on one adventure or aspect of the adventure. Prioritize what to focus on, and it slays. But you can't keep giving writers 8 episodes, a shit ton of material, and then expect 100% quality every time.

[lairn]

New Movies I saw in 2023

Return to Seoul: 7/10. Actually came out in 2022 but played locally in 2023. A depressing, fairly well constructed film. It was a little flat, but I feel like the protagonist’s pain makes her experience life in a flattened way.

Renfield: 7/10. It’s more of a 6 but fun enough and personally appealing enough that I forgive its many flaws. Nicolas Cage puts his whole pussy into it as usual. I rewatched it on a plane and still enjoyed it.

Beau Is Afraid: 8.5/10. Really, really good for 3 quarters of the film but fumbles the bag towards the end. I still sat through the credits because it was riding on a lot of well-earned grace. Uncomfortable and funny.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse: 8/10. Animation looks even better than the first one. I didn’t know it was part 1 of 2 and was frequently distracted by the pacing, wondering how they were going to tell a whole story. Will pass full judgement when part 2 comes out.

Barbie: 7/10. Amusing and I liked the set design a lot. If I hadn’t been with friends who were trying to make it fun it would have been more of a 6.5.

Oppenheimer: 7/10. Tough to rate this one. I thought it was more of an 8 at first, but on a second viewing (where I wasn’t distracted by a terrible need to pee) the pacing problems were more glaring. Had some really powerful scenes and a good soundtrack. The sound design was not well balanced.

Killers of the Flower Moon: 7.5/10. Well made and a fantastic final scene. However it suffered a lot from taking the perspective of the killers. An Osage pov could have made it a lot better.

Saltburn: 7/10. I like this one a lot because it appeals to my personal tastes but there were a few small weak things and one major narrative flaw towards the end. Great costume design and soundtrack. Enjoyed the performance of the main actor.

Maestro: 5.5/10. Tried for too big a scope and the threads got lost. This is petty, but it particularly bothered me that it saved the title card for the end of the film and put it over Felicia’s face. Maybe it was trying to say Bernstein’s title as maestro overshadowed his wife’s life but that’s not what the rest of the movie said.

The Holdovers: 9/10. I really enjoyed this one. You can sense the direction the story is going but it doesn’t detract from the execution. Witty dialogue, but in a way that seems grounded for the characters and fits their environment. Made me laugh several times. Cried a bit too, but I’m soft.

Poor Things: 8/10. Lush and weird world with opulent set and costume design. Explores themes around personhood and being a woman in interesting ways. Feels slow - it’s 2.5 hours and you can tell. Sat through the credits which is always a good sign to me.

Godzilla Minus One: 8/10. I like the way it built on the original movie and wasn’t a shot-for-shot remake. At times I felt less invested but there were some very good scenes. I especially liked when they tried to fight Godzilla at sea the first time. More on the nose in its commentary about war than the original, which felt appropriate. Great timing on using the traditional theme music.

[tawneybel]

2022 Movie Ranking

Note: 2021 Movie Ranking. As usual, this list is HIGHLY SUBJECTIVE. Still want to catch Skinamarink, Barbarian, Wakanda Forever, The House, and Pinocchio.

Nope: Like Get Out and Us, this was incredibly disturbing but so good. Not sure if I ever want to watch Nope again because characters being eaten alive—eaten alive whole—terrifies me. Anyway, Peele's phenomenal at social commentary. Here, animal exploitation.

Wendell & Wild: So many elements I love! Settings are a funfair-themed afterlife and boarding school. Faustian deals! Diverse character designs. Anti-prison privatization, pro-rehabilation. So the edgy-on-purpose Kat is actually punk. Henry Selick and Jordan Peele plus Key are the dream team!

Turning Red: I am so, so thankful for Shi and co. It's a cute movie all around, but normalizing periods made me adore it. My family was and is always honest about puberty, but many others' aren't. (And no one told me about PCOS.) TR is groundbreaking.

Scream: "No one has made a great Stab movie since the first one." My fave self-aware slasher franchise. And this one tackles one of my biggest pet peeves: fandom entitlement. Also, Kyle Gallner playing a sleazebag for once. 💚

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Men: Verdant folk horror about various flavors of misogyny. If I was still in school, I'd write a paper on it.

The Batman: THIS is how you do dark Batman. My favorite version of the Riddler since Batman Forever. (Sorry, Cory Michael Smith.) Riddler acts like he's helping the downtrodden, but the mentally ill are a marginalized group, too. Arthur Fleck knows that. I like how Joker and this are morally complex and the villains have in-film fanbases. Also, Edward ironically crushing on Batman, while despising Bruce. Aw.

The Munsters: The best Rob Zombie flick. I used to say he should stick to music. Now I think he should stick to music and PG-rated romanctic comedy. It's clear Zombie is an aficionado of Universal and other monster movies. It basically is exactly what it set out to be.

Halloween Ends: Anyone who says this "ruined" the franchise hasn't watched all the movies. Giving Michael a fanboy/protégée was a cool idea to explore. And interesting use of irony with the whole falling and dropping.

Smile: If you're into the predetermined death-curse genre, give it a watch.

Everything Everywhere All at Once

Bodies/Bodies/Bodies: Movie that makes fun of classist vapidity... Gen Z style. The characters are petty and self-absorbed. Their allyship is performative and it will give viewers secondhand embarrassment. On purpose.

Death on the Nile: An adaptation of the secondest Christie book I read. (First being The Pale Horse.) While it wasn't really my thing, I totally thought Misses Van Schuyler and Bowers were sapphic in the novel, so it was nice to see that confirmed here.

Weird: The Al Yankovic Story: Nothing against Weird Al. Just not my type of humor.

[aquaticlime]

PIVOTAL ROLES

Projects I take part in that are important in my career!

‘𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔’

❝ [A brief summary]

"Embark on a journey of teenage chaos and mayhem in the musical adaptation of the classic comedy film, it’s a thrilling and engaging theatrical experience that successfully captures the dark and twisted humor of the original. The songs themselves are catchy and memorable, effortlessly drawing audiences into the world of high school drama and teenage angst."

❝ [Added commentary]

I play Heathers McNamara (the yellow one) which was my second ever role. I was cast before my first movie even debut because there was so much buzz surrounding my name. It also warms my theater kid heart to be apart of this production, however I was chosen for this role specifically because my schedule was pretty full just before and after march for ‘The Queen of Hearts’ press stuff.

‘𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝑴𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒅’

❝ [A brief summary]

"Join Ariel as she embarks on a perilous journey to experience the world beyond her undersea kingdom, and discovers the power of true love against all odds. The Little Mermaid is a stunning cinematic experience that is both a faithful adaption of the beloved Disney classic and an intriguing new take on the familiar story. With breathtaking visuals, an unforgettable and stirring score, and a moving and heartbreaking tale of true love and sacrifice, this film is surely to wow audiences of all ages and leave them feeling as though they have truly been transported into the magical tale. The performances of the cast are fantastic and the direction is superb, creating an impactful and emotional film that leaves an indelible impact."

❝ [Added commentary]

Disney heard about my casting in the Heathers movie musical and asked me to come audition for this project, and of course I got the job. Another movie I was cast in even before any project I’d worked on was released. Even in my OR I wanted to play Ariel if I ever had the chance, so of course I made it happen. Ariel is my favorite, and Aaron Johnson was cast as Prince Eric, what a cute story for our future kids!

‘𝑨𝒕𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒔: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝑬𝒎𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒆’

❝ [A brief summary]

“A naive-but-determined museum cartographer Milo Thatch, dreams of completing the quest begun by his late grandfather, a famous explorer. When a journal surfaces, an eccentric billionaire funds an expedition and the action shifts to high gear.”

❝ [Added commentary]

Another live action remake of an animated film I like. In this one I’ll play Helga because she’s hot and so am I she’s kind of a villain and I feel like that would be a fun character to play.

‘𝑺𝒊𝒏𝒃𝒂𝒅: 𝑳𝒆𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝑺𝒆𝒂𝒔’

❝ [A brief summary]

“The brave mariner Sinbad battles raging elements, mutinous dogs and fearsome monsters to retrieve the Book of Peace after being framed by the treacherous Goddess of Chaos. A live action remake of a DreamWorks animation.”

❝ [Added commentary]

I loved this movie when I was younger and always liked the character Eris, so of course I’ll play her in the live action adaptation. Seriously she is one of the most iconic characters how could I not.

'𝑴𝒓. 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑴𝒓𝒔. 𝑺𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒉'

❝ [A brief summary]

“John and Jane Smith a couple in a stagnating marriage, live a deceptively mundane existence. However, each has been hiding a secret from the other: they are assassins working for adversarial agencies. When they are both assigned to kill the same target, Benjamin Danz, the truth comes to the surface. Finally free from their cover stories, they discover that they have been assigned to kill each other, sparking a series of explosive attacks.”

❝ [Added commentary]

Since Aaron and I are the Hollywood couple we were an obvious choice for this remake. I thought it would be fun since Brand and Angelina were also in the same position.

‘𝑱𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝑩𝒐𝒏𝒅’

❝ [A brief summary]

“James Bond, the skilled secret agent, is tasked with finding and stopping a dangerous terrorist group that is intent on destroying the world. He must navigate the complex web of secrets and intrigue as he attempts to thwart the evil plan and save the world."

❝ [Added commentary]

In this movie I play a Bond girl, I haven’t, nor will I, scripted anything about this movie. Aaron Johnson will play James Bond just like in this reality, so I thought it would be a fun excuse to be in another movie with him. Since we’re the Hollywood IT couple I’m sure studios would love to capitalize off it.

˗ˏˋReturn to masterlist ✦ main masterlist´ˎ˗

[dan6085]

Creating a list of the 20 best and most popular cartoon movies of all time is challenging due to the vast number of incredible films out there, each with its own merits. However, certain films stand out due to their impact on cinema, storytelling prowess, animation innovation, and cultural significance. Here’s a list that, while subjective, represents a broad spectrum of what many consider the pinnacle of animated filmmaking:

1. The Lion King (1994) - A monumental achievement in storytelling and animation, its themes of responsibility and redemption, unforgettable characters, and groundbreaking visuals have made it a timeless classic.

2. Spirited Away (2001) - Hayao Miyazaki’s masterpiece is celebrated for its rich storytelling, beautiful animation, and deep exploration of themes like greed and innocence, making it a landmark in anime.

3. Toy Story (1995) - As the first fully computer-animated feature film, it marked a technological breakthrough for animation and told a heartwarming story of friendship and loyalty.

4. Finding Nemo (2003) - With its stunning underwater visuals, memorable characters, and touching story about a father’s love, this film set new standards for animated storytelling.

5. Beauty and the Beast (1991) - This film’s enchanting story, memorable music, and status as the first animated film to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar ensure its place in history.

6. Up (2009) - Known for its emotional depth, especially the poignant opening sequence, and its adventurous spirit, “Up” explores themes of loss, love, and friendship.

7. Wall-E (2008) - With minimal dialogue, this film delivers a powerful commentary on environmentalism and love through stunning visuals and compelling storytelling.

8. Shrek (2001) - A game-changer for its irreverent humor, subversion of fairy tale tropes, and appeal to both kids and adults, “Shrek” also boasted innovative animation.

9. Frozen (2013) - A cultural phenomenon, “Frozen” was lauded for its catchy songs, strong female protagonists, and themes of sisterhood and self-acceptance.

10. Coco (2017) - Celebrated for its vibrant portrayal of Mexican culture, exploration of family and memory, and stunning visuals, “Coco” touched hearts worldwide.

11. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) - As the first full-length animated feature, it’s a landmark in film history, enchanting generations with its story and characters.

12. The Incredibles (2004) - This film combines superhero action, family dynamics, and humor in a way that appeals to audiences of all ages, with animation that pushes boundaries.

13. Fantasia (1940) - An innovative blend of classical music and animated imagery, “Fantasia” was ahead of its time, showcasing the artistic possibilities of animation.

14. Aladdin (1992) - With its unforgettable songs, humor, and the iconic performance of Robin Williams as Genie, “Aladdin” remains a jewel in animation.

15. My Neighbor Totoro (1988) - A heartwarming tale of childhood wonder and nature’s magic, this film is a testament to Miyazaki’s storytelling genius.

16. The Little Mermaid (1989) - Credited with revitalizing Disney’s animated feature division, its memorable music and charming story have made it a beloved classic.

17. Ratatouille (2007) - A celebration of creativity and passion, “Ratatouille” is a delightful tale that appeals to foodies and dreamers alike.

18. Zootopia (2016) - Praised for its witty take on diversity, prejudice, and inclusion, wrapped in a fun, detective-story package.

19. Monsters, Inc. (2001) - With its unique premise, lovable characters, and heartwarming story, it stands out as a creative exploration of childhood fears and friendships.

20. The Iron Giant (1999) - A touching story of friendship with themes of acceptance and the fear of the unknown, it has grown in stature over the years as a cult classic.

Each of these films has contributed significantly to the art of animation, pushing boundaries in technology, storytelling, and character development, resonating with audiences worldwide and leaving a lasting impact on the genre.

[prateekshawebdesign]

21 Different types of Websites

Creating a website is like constructing a virtual space that reflects a specific purpose, audience, and set of functionalities. From personal blogs to complex e-commerce platforms, the digital landscape is diverse. In this blog, we'll explore the various types of websites, each serving its unique role in the digital ecosystem.

1. Personal Websites

Personal websites are often used by individuals to share their life stories, experiences, or portfolios. These websites serve as a digital CV or a platform for self-expression, where content can range from blog posts and photo galleries to professional achievements and resumes.

2. Blogs

Blogs started as online journals but have evolved into platforms for sharing detailed articles, guides, and thought leadership in various niches. They can be standalone sites or part of a larger website, focusing on content that engages, informs, or entertains readers.

3. E-commerce Websites

E-commerce websites are online storefronts where users can buy products or services directly. These platforms require robust functionality, including product listings, a shopping cart, and a secure payment system. Examples include giants like Amazon and smaller, niche-focused online stores.

4. Educational Websites

These websites are dedicated to providing educational content and resources. They range from online courses and tutorials (like Coursera or Khan Academy) to resources provided by educational institutions for their students.

5. Portfolio Websites

Portfolio websites are essential for creatives, freelancers, and professionals looking to showcase their work. These sites are visually driven, highlighting projects, designs, photographs, or any other work that demonstrates skills and experiences.

6. Corporate Websites

Corporate websites serve as the digital front for businesses, offering an overview of the company's values, services, and news. These sites are essential for establishing credibility and engaging with both existing and potential customers.

7. News and Magazine Websites

These platforms are the digital counterparts to traditional print media, offering articles, news, and commentary on various topics. They are updated regularly and require a content management system to handle the volume of content.

8. Social Media Platforms

Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are types of websites that facilitate community building and personal interaction. They allow users to share content, communicate, and connect with others.

9. Forums and Community Boards

Forums and community boards are online platforms where people with shared interests can converse, ask questions, and offer support. Examples include Reddit and Quora, which host a wide range of topics and discussions.

10. Government and Non-profit Websites

These websites are aimed at providing information about governmental and non-profit organizations' services, initiatives, and policies. They are crucial for transparency, public service announcements, and community engagement.

11. Entertainment Websites

Websites focused on entertainment might feature online games, movies, music, and other forms of digital amusement. They're designed to engage users and often include multimedia content like videos, animations, and interactive graphics.

12. Web Portals

Web portals are specialized websites that offer users a broad array of information and services from various sources in a unified way. These portals often serve as a starting point for internet users, offering a gateway to a wide range of resources and services. Here's a list of different types of web portals, each designed to cater to specific needs and interests:

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[halogenwarrior]

Thinking about different forms of media and adaptation, and how when I was a kid if there was a book I like I would be like "MOVIE NOW and let it be accurate", but now I really feel that an adaptation is only good if you believe the adaptation will have some advantage over the original, be able to tell the story better (or at least in some ways better, even if it's worse in other ways). So I tried to make an inventory of the advantages and disadvantages of different media.

Book: Allows you to explore the interiority of characters in a way that no other media does with unique narrative voices, and gives you the option to do this with all/most characters or tell the story completely through the lens of a single one. Also allows for the option of an omniscient narrator with "personality", which can create the comforting, involving experience of a story being told to you or allow for depths of satirical/comic commentary that other media wouldn't allow - but in terms of comedy coming from the actual events of the story, dialogue, etc., it's harder to get a laugh when you don't have things said out loud with good timing. Aesthetically, good writing can invoke an atmosphere and even be "philosophical" in a unique way other media cannot, and can increase the involvement and emotional impact. The flip side of this is that bad prose can make the experience WORSE than if it was a non-prose related media altogether, and even with good description there is less of a sense of what things look like than in visual media.

Movie/live-action TV:

The existence of real people on screen can make this media feel more viscerally real and more relatable to some people, making it good for stories where you want to underscore how "raw" it feels - like a story of war showing its horrors, where just having it written or done in stylized animation can lack that impact (and this goes double if it's on the big screen in the theatre, hearing the loud noises etc.). It's also great for comedy due to being a visual medium with the potential for timing. However interiority is hard to do, resulting in characters potentially losing some of the complexity and interestingness they could have if you saw inside their heads, and even making some characters' actions make no sense when you want them to make sense, without an ability to see what they are thinking. This could be a positive, though, if you want your protagonist to be someone whose motives remain mysterious and wish for more subtle storytelling, with the shots and their acting cues, than just saying their thoughts outright, and subtlety can sometimes make things more powerful. A book can imitate this, but it would require doing something like making the POV character not the protagonist, which could lead to a boring character no one wants to follow around as the POV if done wrong. Also, the episodic nature of a TV show that doesn't have to be binged, unlike a book which has chapters shortly following one another, can allow for the option of episodic storytelling which only slowly if at all gets to the main plot while being able to "stealth in" character development, which might come across as more meaningful when we get to know these characters in varying situations and across their daily lives rather than being pressured to deal with a plot. Another disadvantage is that, due to the limitations of CGI and the contrast with real people, fantastic/sci-fi elements and action scenes can come off as silly and undercutting suspension of disbelief, and in general anything less realistic and more stylized can be jarring. Also, a live-action show or movie can be dull or boring aesthetically - the best it can do is visually show a location, which lacks all the other senses that makes it feel like you are actually there, and while there is music it is usually not used too heavily the way it is in a video game; the immersion and "character" to the world seen with books, animated shows, and video games is less there, making it have to rely more on the strength of character interactions.

Animated series (cartoon/anime/animated movie etc.):

Some of the advantages and disadvantages of live-action TV still remain here (episodic storytelling, comedy potential, lack of explicit interiority), but it trades off the inherent visceral realism that can make things more impactful in favor of a stronger control of aesthetic. This also allows for peculiarities of character design, which combined with the exaggerations of expression can make characters have more "character" than in live action or a book - a character can be more endearing and pleasant to watch when their particular mannerisms are highlighted, and the design allows you to hint at characterization and intrigue the audience before they even know the character well. There's a reason animated characters are often the ones people obsess over. However, this at its worst can be oversimplifying the world and applying harmful tropes that hinder its applicability to the real world - i.e "ugly = evil", people looking a certain way always being a certain way, or just generally the exaggerated expressions making the story more simplistic and lack interesting subtlety. Animated media are also good for action, allowing stylized fights and displays of abilities that are awesome to watch without breaking suspension of disbelief, in contrast to the awkwardness of keeping track of a fight scene in a book and the silliness and lack of beauty that might occur in live action.

Video game:

Has an advantage in emotional involvement and attachment to characters, as the player having control creates a feeling of personal camaraderie with the characters, allowing for fantasized friendship and romance, and the perils characters face feeling more real. The ability to use background music to a stronger extent than a movie or a TV series heightens emotional appeal even more, and aesthetically a video game can really immerse you in a world. Like animated series (if not to the same extent) it can do action well, but like TV and movies, it can suffer or occasionally benefit from a lack of internal monologue. The interactive nature of the media also allows for player choice, which other media would have difficulty with; this can allow a video game to better explore philosophical themes and moral dilemmas that actually allow the player to act on their contemplations rather than being fed an answer or only forced to watch others choose. It also allows for the option of environmental storytelling. However, the requirement of a gameplay portion can make an otherwise strong story be awkward and, if done badly, seem like it's a story with forced breaks to do a chore. It also it usually restricted to telling simpler stories than other media due to the gameplay cutting the storytelling time. The method of gameplay can also sometimes clash with the themes of the story; infamously, it can be hard to intelligently explore themes of violence when the gameplay requires violence to be done often, casually, and with no reflection, and even seeing how a world functions with so much violence can break one's suspension of disbelief (though not all games have to involve fighting).

Play/Musical/Opera:

The price and lack of people who would see serialized plays forces these into relatively simple stories (which can especially be a problem if you are adapting real history, where you would lose a lot from sanding over the complexity), and the relative bareness of the stage forces them into character focus rather than complex worlds and aesthetics. However, the very bareness of the stage allows for a more abstract, thematic story than the awkward focus on realism of a live screen, being ideal for "brain in a jar" type character interaction drama. Like live action TV/movies, the use of real people can work well with more subtle storytelling, though unlike those media it can more easily shift to the same internal monologues that books contain if it needs to, allowing it to have the best of both worlds. Musicals and opera trade even more of the already limited potential for length and complexity of the story (due to singing taking longer than talking) for the extremely heightened emotional impact that comes with music, creating what can be a grand spectacle as if from another world and going well with tragic stories, and the details of the music/music theory allows for another dimension of storytelling and characterization. Like animated series, this can come at the cost of seeming silly and hard to take seriously to some people.

There are also comics/manga and podcasts, but I'm not sure I know enough about them to go over their advantages and disadvantages (comics just seem to me like "animated series but worse", except for maybe some potential for internal monologue, but I'm not an expert on them at all).

[toptenthing]

Top Ten Animated Movies That Delight All Ages 2023

Animated movies have an extraordinary knack for capturing the hearts of people from every generation. From the classic stories that have stood the test of time to the contemporary gems that redefine animation, these films possess a magical quality that transcends age barriers. In this exploration, we embark on a journey through the realm of animated cinema to uncover the top ten films that have earned the affection of audiences spanning all ages. 1. "The Lion King": A Tale of Majesty and Courage  

Top Ten Highest-Grossing Films in History The Lion King "The Lion King" stands tall as a timeless classic that resonates with both the young and the young at heart. The story of Simba's courageous journey to reclaim his rightful place as king is enriched with unforgettable characters like Mufasa, Timon, and Pumbaa. This heartwarming epic blends humor, music, and life lessons in a way that leaves an indelible mark on every generation.   2. "Toy Story": A Technological Triumph of Friendship  

Top Ten Animated Movies That Delight All Ages Toy Story "Toy Story" redefined the animation landscape by introducing the concept of toys having their own lives. With each installment, the franchise grew alongside its audience, weaving themes of friendship, loyalty, and the nostalgia of childhood memories. Through its groundbreaking animation techniques, "Toy Story" has successfully engaged audiences young and old.   3. "Spirited Away": Miyazaki's Enchanting Odyssey  

Top Ten Animated Movies That Delight All Ages Spirited Away Hayao Miyazaki's "Spirited Away" transports us into a mesmerizing world where young Chihiro navigates a realm of spirits and enchantment. The film's depth, creativity, and themes of growth and self-discovery captivate not only children but also adults who find themselves entranced by its magical storytelling.   4. "Finding Nemo": A Journey of Oceanic Discovery  

Top Ten Animated Movies That Delight All Ages Finding Nemo "Finding Nemo" invites us to dive into the wonders of the ocean alongside Marlin and Dory in their quest to find Marlin's lost son, Nemo. This heartening tale of parental love, resilience, and unlikely friendships is brought to life through vibrant animation, making it a beloved choice for families to enjoy together.   5. "Up": A Balloon-Powered Adventure of Emotions  

Top Ten Animated Movies That Delight All Ages Up "Up" tugs at our heartstrings with its poignant storytelling and unique concept. The film takes us on an emotional journey with Carl Fredricksen, an elderly man who embarks on a grand adventure in his flying house. Amidst humor and heartache, "Up" captures the essence of human emotions, captivating audiences of all ages.   6. "Inside Out": Navigating Emotions with Pixar Magic  

Top Ten Animated Movies That Delight All Ages Inside Out "Inside Out" provides a glimpse into the inner workings of our emotions, as personified characters guide us through the complexities of the human mind. This imaginative film appeals to both children and adults by offering insights into the human experience, sparking conversations on feelings and memories.   7. "Zootopia": Breaking Stereotypes in an Animal Metropolis  

Top Ten Animated Movies That Delight All Ages Zootopia "Zootopia" tackles important themes like prejudice and diversity within a city inhabited by anthropomorphic animals. The film's engaging storyline, relatable characters, and social commentary resonate with audiences across generations, making it a thought-provoking choice for family viewing.   8. "Shrek": An Irreverent Fairytale for All Ages  

Top Ten Animated Movies That Delight All Ages Shrek "Shrek" playfully subverts fairy tale conventions while celebrating individuality and embracing imperfections. This clever blend of humor and heart speaks to both children and adults, as it underscores the importance of self-acceptance and challenges traditional notions of happily ever after.   9. "How to Train Your Dragon": A Tale of Friendship and Discovery  

Top Ten Animated Movies That Delight All Ages How to Train Your Dragon "How to Train Your Dragon" takes flight with a heartwarming story of a young Viking named Hiccup and his bond with a dragon named Toothless. Through their adventures, the film explores themes of friendship, understanding, and embracing differences, captivating audiences with its imaginative world-building.   10. "Moana": Empowerment and Exploration of Identity  

Top Ten Animated Movies That Delight All Ages Moana "Moana" embarks on a journey of cultural discovery and self-empowerment as the titular character sets sail to save her island. The film's vibrant animation, catchy music, and strong heroine resonate with viewers of all ages, offering a captivating narrative of courage and determination.  

Top Ten Animated Movies That Delight All Ages 2023

film recommendations, timeless classics, storytelling, cinematic magic In conclusion, these top ten animated movies stand as testaments to the enduring magic of storytelling through animation. Across generations, they've managed to weave narratives that inspire, entertain, and touch the hearts of both young and old. As we revel in their enchantment, we're reminded of the unique ability of animated films to bridge age gaps and leave an indelible mark on our collective cinematic experiences. Read the full article

[ogradyfilm]

Recently Viewed: Short Cuts Program 1 (Japan Cuts 2023)

After taking last year off due to COVID-related concerns, Japan Cuts has finally returned to NYC! Since I’m feeling a bit out of practice, I decided to ease myself back into the festival experience by starting with a screening of short films:

“Flashback Before Death”

From the moment this eerie tone poem begins, director Hiroyuki Onogawa’s background as a composer is immediately evident. The sound design is meticulously crafted—and I’m not just talking about the music: the audio is as integral to the narrative as the visuals. Such ambient noises as the gentle splash of an oar dipping beneath the surface of a river, the mournful howl of wind above the treetops, the dry crunch of gravel underfoot, the faint clatter of glass shattering across cobblestones, and the moist smack of ravenous mastication coalesce into a rich, symphonic sensory experience, immersing the viewer in the protagonist’s perspective.

As for the plot… well, it exists, but it’s almost incidental. Describing the film in such concrete, literalist terms as “ghost story” is, in my opinion, egregiously reductive. Onogawa is not interested in superficial tropes and genre conventions; he instead emphasizes surreal imagery: broken mirrors, bodies of water, toxic shellfish, unnervingly anthropomorphized dolls. These cryptic symbols suggest some decidedly Lynchian themes: mortality, guilt, memory, nostalgia, repressed trauma, multiple identities, the conflict between fantasy and reality, et cetera.

Dense, introspective, ambiguous, and hypnotically beautiful, “Flashback Before Death” is the quintessential festival short. Do not allow concrete interpretation to diminish its emotional resonance; its true “meaning” lies in the feelings that it evokes.

“Silent Movie”

A collaborative effort produced by current and former Tokyo University of the Arts students, this compilation of silent shorts is nothing less than a celebration of cinematic history. The first vignette, for example, purports to be a remake of a lost jidaigeki helmed by Sadao Yamanaka—and although the resemblance isn’t quite flawless, the framing, lighting, editing, costuming, and performances nevertheless come impressively close to replicating the auteur’s trademark style. Other contributions feature: rotoscope animation, rubber monsters rampaging through cardboard cities, slapstick comedy reminiscent of the Keystone Kops series, satirical meditations on the nature of romantic relationships in the age of social media, and nightmarish physical transformations via forbidden shinobi magic (achieved entirely through primitive in-camera effects—Georges Méliès would be proud).

The common thread uniting these tonally and thematically disparate works into a cohesive whole is Ichiro Kataoka, who provides voiceover narration that clarifies and contextualizes the onscreen action. This sort of commentary would have been expected by Japanese audiences back in the ‘20s and ‘30s; indeed, many benshi were celebrities in their own right—a subject explored in Masayuki Suo’s Talking the Pictures. Experiencing such a beloved theatrical tradition (albeit only in pre-recorded form; I would savor the opportunity to enjoy a live rendition) was a genuine treat.

While not every film in the collection is an essential masterpiece, “Silent Movie” remains a delightfully fun throwback—the perfect light snack to cleanse the palette following “Flashback Before Death’s” daunting three-course meal.

[number926]

By Way of Introductions

Hello there, and welcome. My name is Number926. I’ve been writing for years, primarily as a ghostwriter and writer’s assistant but occasionally as a copywriter and marketing professional. Of late, I’ve taken to writing short pieces ranging from essays and commentary to short stories and conceptual works. I needed a place to share these things, so I created a blog at the urging of some friends. I’ll be mirroring it on tumblr as well.

A little more about me:

My Mastodon profile describes me as “A NY-born caffeine-driven supermonkey who believes the human animal needs to create, connect, explore, evolve, and play to fulfill its destiny. Interests include science fiction, psychedelics, music, movies, and creative mayhem. Unabashed liberal gay man.”

That’s a good synopsis, but I can’t say it covers all of me. If you keep reading my blog, you’ll get to know more. We’ll also explore ideas around technology and its impact on society — particularly art and writing. My photography and other art will sneak in as well.

Thank you so much for joining me and checking out this site. I look forward to a future where we can create and explore ideas together, evolve through art and play, and look at the world with fresh eyes.

[longdeco]

Photostory easy

PHOTOSTORY EASY MOVIE

PHOTOSTORY EASY ARCHIVE

PHOTOSTORY EASY FULL

We recommend using Picasa to prepare all the pictures you want to use and export them into one folder so they are easy to find. When you first open Photo Story 3, you are prompted to begin a new project and import pictures. With Photo Story 3 she could simply use the dozens of photos she’d already taken, add motion, narration, and music. We just taught the seminar last week at the FMCA convention and we thought it would be the last time we taught it, but it was so well received! One person told us afterward that it solved a dilemma for her in that she had been asked to provide videos of her Church project and she just didn’t know what to do since she had no experience with video. We try to keep up with the times, so have been looking for a replacement for Photo Story.

PHOTOSTORY EASY MOVIE

People who consider themselves computer illiterate leave our class and go straight to their computer to make a professional looking movie with their pictures, music, and narration. We love teaching Photo Story 3 – it is the easiest topic we cover. The only quirk we’ve noticed is that, when you download it, it’s important to use Microsoft’s Internet Explorer to do the job rather than Chrome or Firefox. We use it on Windows 7 and it works fine. In fact, the download page still says that it is only for Windows XP, and newer versions of Windows are not supported. It is a free program from Microsoft that was developed for Windows XP. Make your own slideshows with MAGIX Photostory easy in just 3 steps: Style templates for various themes easily turn your photos and video clips into real picture stories with text, music and spectacular effects.īring your memories back to life! A clear, easy-to-use user interface combined with unique wizards for automatic optimization, effect design and dubbing makes creating slideshows easier than ever.We’ve been teaching Photo Story 3 for several years now. TRANSFORM PRECIOUS MEMORIES INTO UNFORGETTABLE SLIDESHOWS. Graphics card: Onboard graphics card with a screen resolution of at least 1024 x 768ĭrive space: 1 GB free disk space for program installation Learn more about the Photostory Easy 2 - Download Model Brand Upload your most beautiful, most spectacular, or funniest photos to popular video hosting sites such as YouTube or social networks like Facebook and Flickr and share them with the whole world. Impress others with photos and graphics and present your most beautiful moments and creations to the world with your very own album website.

PHOTOSTORY EASY FULL

Thanks to German servers and data encryption, you have full control over who is allowed to view your photos and videos. Share your Photostories with family and friends with showfy. With the included MAGIX Xtreme Print Studio you can create amazing CD/DVD covers & and labels for your slideshow discs.

PHOTOSTORY EASY ARCHIVE

This practical feature shows you the most important export and archive functions at a glance.Īdd the finishing touch to your slideshows with animated disc menus just like the ones on professional store-bought DVDs and Blu-rays. Photostory easy now automatically adjusts the volume of your background music so you don't have to waste time doing it manually. The integrated MAGIX Slideshow Maker automatically creates the ideal musical accompaniment for your slideshow as well as transitions and tracking shots.ĭirectly record spoken commentary, optimize sound, and even remove annoying, unwanted noise.

[unproduciblesmackdown]

a goofy movie (1995)

[cjloogy]

Spirited Away – 千と千尋の神隠し

I think it’s easy to consider this thing a work of art. The animation is beautiful, the art direction is stunning, all of the character designs are incredibly inspired and imaginative, the music is wonderful, and the voice acting sells everything that’s happening on screen. When it comes to productions that work well to introduce people to the medium of anime, I think this is a solid option despite its extremely fantastical setting and premise. Everything here just works, and there’s really not much to criticize for what it sets out to achieve in my eyes. I think just about anyone could enjoy this film if they’re a bit more open minded to exploring different mediums and stories.

As for what’s going on in this film, there’s a lot. But I can still boil it down to a few sets of themes that stand out to me at least. An obvious one is supernaturalism, this tale is inspired by Japanese Shinto-Buddhist folklore, as showcased by the wide variety of spirits that Chihiro encounters, plenty of which I can pick out individually. The setting of the bathhouse is a pretty literal interpretation of solstice rituals, in which villagers would call forth various spirits and kami and invite them to their baths. Chihiro’s place in all of it is that of a child going through their rite of passage into adulthood. She’s somewhere between child and adult in this rather upsetting point in her life, and in this world of spirits she also stands outside of societal boundaries. The literal translation of the title reinforces this idea further, 千と千尋の神隠し (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi) or “Sen and Chihiro’s Spiriting Away” where 神隠し (kamikakushi) can also be read as hidden (kakushi) by gods (kami). In this way, I can see Chihiro passing through this world of spirits while moving on from her status as a child in her old home, to a more grown individual who’s embraced her past and accepted moving to a new home.

Other themes I can notice more now are ones that seem to be more critical of modern aspects of society, such as consumerism and environmentalism. Greed is a major motivation and pitfall for many characters in this movie, with varying obsessions over gold and food. I feel like this greed is mostly rooted in westernism, with Yubaba having a distinctly western-inspired dress and having much of her furnishings in her room look very European compared to the much more traditional Japanese styled architecture and furnishings of her workers. I think this ties into the influence the west had over Japan during the Meiji restoration, where in the process of modernization and “catching up” with the rest of the world, much of the traditional Japanese culture at the time may have been overwritten. Yubaba’s act of literally taking Chihiro’s name from her and turning it into Sen (which is the Japanese character for one thousand) can also be looked at as a commentary on employers’ fixation on sheer value even when it comes to living beings. Chihiro’s parents also turn into literal consumerist pigs, which is incredibly subtle and took me many viewings to understand this incredibly nuanced metaphor. Haku himself also gets his name stolen from him, albeit in a somewhat different manner from Chihiro. He exists as a manifestation of what was once a river in the human world, but the river was destroyed and had apartments built over its place, causing him to lose his home and his sense of self and identity. A pretty blunt commentary on both consumerism and the destruction of nature through urban expansion, which continues to be a concern for many in Japan to this day.

As far as Japanese cinema goes, I feel that animation should probably viewed from a separate perspective when comparing it to other films. The production is intense in its own ways, dealing with an almost entirely different set of hurdles under a pretty distinct medium, so comparing Spirited Away with other works that we’ve watched should be an interesting experience. While other Miyazaki films still win out for me, this viewing reminded me of how absolutely solid this movie is. A strong story with a lot of good commentary and a superb audiovisual experience makes it clear why this is considered by many to be the best animated film of all time.

Can’t beat Howl though, love that guy.