#but this- the delivery of lines and the conviction of character

[furyborne]

I have finished my fourth watching of The English and I am probably gonna watch it for a fifth time tomorrow.

I can’t begin to express how much I love the characters, the story, and the beautiful costume designs.

And I need more people to watch it.

I need more people to obsess with me.

[mjbarrosart]

My Dragon Prince Boards season 6, episode 608

Hello, everyone!

Finally I have some time to write this! You can not imagine how demanding is to work making television shows, everything is for yesterday, haha!

Complains about work aside, it is time to talk about my last episode of season 6, episode 8. This one was... special.

I can say without a doubt that this was one of the most emotional episodes I have ever worked on. I cried every time I watched the animatic, and I cried again watching the final episode a few days ago.

I think is a lot of things together: a lot of important things happens, characters die, Katolis is destroyed, one of the quasars is fake! Aaravos!!! ... but also because I witnessed my team bring together their A game, telling this story in such a beautiful way.

I learned a lot from this episode, specially from my Unit Director, Mike Jones, who was in charge of boarding the "Hearts of Cinder" spell sequence; what a masterclass of emotion, storytelling and cinematography! I love Jason Simpson's performance during the show, but in particular in that sequence, and I think the boards took everything to a new level.

Now, let's go back to my sequences.

My first one was Soren going down to Viren to ask him to perform the spell. It was good to have this last interaction between both of them after all the work I did with the characters in 605.

There is a lot of subtle staging in this one. The way the light is hitting over their heads, how present in the screen the staff is; Viren's hesitance is something that I remember was important for me to portrait properly.

One of the things we talked a lot during this sequence was in how to use the light as narrative element. I was not interested in the classical reading of going into the light as "good" and shadows as "bad".

But light as hope, options, forgiveness, etc.

Viren walks away from the light when he gets offered the staff not because he is going "bad" but because he doesn't feel capable to do what he is being asked to do.

Soren is coming directly to him, removing his chains, giving him back his staff, asking him for help. But Viren hesitates.

And I think that that was a genius think for the script to call. Viren is not a man looking for the first chance to "redeem" himself. I am not even sure that he believes that he deserves that possibility.

But they are running out of time. The situation is dire, and as the light get blocked by the falling debris, the options are becoming clearer. Hope is dim, but there is something to do: Hearts of Cinder.

Viren, still full of doubts, explains to Soren why the spell is so hard to perform: the price is a human heart. A price that the Viren of the past would have pay with not second thought, but not the current one, no the one who understands the weight of dark magic.

But Soren has no doubts: "Take mine" I still have chills listening to the delivery of that line. And I think here is the moment Viren decided to sacrifice himself. While he is being consumed by doubt and fear, his son will is clear, Soren will do the right thing, even if that cost him his life.

And that is what Viren never had before. The willingness to sacrifice himself for the greater good. He looked at his reflection in Soren's golden heart and saw and answer, saw love, hope.

I just think is beautiful that Soren's conviction gave him the chance to do the right thing for once. Soren taught him the ultimate lesson.

I love this two so much.

My next sequence is a simple one, Terry and Claudia arriving to Katolis. I liked to draw Claudia's new hair. I wish I had more sequences with her in this season.

After this is Moon nexus time!

After all the drama with Viren and Soren the massage sequences felt a little silly, hahaha. but was fun to make.

I added the little detail of Rayla having issues landing, while Callum is just so good at it, haha. Fun to have their roles reversed for one, and Rayla being the clumsy one.

I like the moment when Lujanne ask them if they are a couple again and they exchange this nice look. I know that Rayllum is a huge thing in the fandom, and while they are not my type of ship (I am into the sapphics, you know) I think that they are pretty cute together, and Is always fun to make moments between them.

I just wanted to share with you this silly face, lol. Sometimes you draw things in boards that don't translate that well into the final show, but It is fun anyway, you want to inspire the animators to push the performance as much as they can.

Back to serious business. I love the shift when our heroes realized that there is only 2 quasars and 3 coins. Callums turn into Raylla knowing that this will destroy her. I really enjoy how the use of the lens to blur Lujanne in the Background creates this efect of hyperfocus on Callum and Rayla.

She is facing a terrible decision, who to save. So we move the camera to focus only on them. Is an intimate moment.

I like this framing, Rayla is in pain, crying, Callum is listening, but by the framing we can se that he is holding her. Callum is there for her, always.

And that is how I finished my last sequences of season 6, with Rayla crying.

Working on this season was one of the honors of my life. And I can wait to share with you how was making season 7, because was... A LOT, for sure! hahahaha.

Hope you like this! And feel free to ask if you have questions about the storyboard process!

And thanks for all the notes, comments and support! It is truly appreciated!

A little bonus:

Look a the cool crew jacket that Bardel gave us when we wrapped seasons 4 to 7! (Finally I can show it without making it an spoiler of the name of season 7!!)

[cursedcola]

DAV: Spoilers for Final Act! Don’t read if you haven’t finished the game!

I know it goes without saying that all companions are concerned when Rook is pulled into Solas’ prison. Some held more confidence in their escape than others (Example: Davrin’s final cutscene is very….well, 100% Davrin. He walks in as if Rook hasn’t just been missing and possibly dead. He bleeds confidence, because in his mind Rook is here. That’s what matters. It’s in his character to live in the present and now is daring for a future, the past cannot linger. They’d just discussed the chance of one of them not coming back before heading to fight. Rook gave him hope, told him to fight for what he wants most, and so he did - and it worked.)

Yet then there’s Lucanis. In the moment before fighting, he expresses such anxiety over having Rook’s life in his hands. He swears to protect them. He takes that responsibility onto himself. In the final talk before ending the plot all together - he admits to being scared to care for Rook. Worried from the earliest stages. You can hear it in his voice - how words cannot carry the depth of his emotion. Isn’t it spite who says to Rook ‘You open doors. You don’t close them’?

So imagine that period of in between while Rook is trapped. All the words that went unsaid because he was frightened. Too consumed. Behind a door that opened too late, and Rook couldn’t come to make him listen. To help. He succeeded in his contract as a crow, yet failed his promise as Lucanis.

When he walks into Rook’s chambers, his gaze is disbelieving. As if in those short steps he’s convincing himself that they are alive. When he reassures them that it isn’t the fade, he’s reassuring himself at the same time. Not just for that moment, but for all the ones that came prior. That he hadn’t made them up. That he’s no longer in the Ossuary, that everything he’s experienced up until that moment is indeed real and -

Lucanis’ romance might not be the most delved into. Other companions might have more content and interactive scenes - but out of them all, Lucanis is hands down the most impacted when Rook is sucked into Solas’ prison. Even if you do not romance him, it’s his image that Rook sees dead in place of Varric at the start of Solas’ mind game. He’s so overcome with spite and sorrow for failing to kill Ghilan’nain the first time. With their life in his hands, with his walls stopping him from baring all his heart to them before - a second failure at a price much too heavy.

He owes Rook for aiding his city, saving him from himself - he loves them so deeply that the first time we hear it is raw and the most assured line Lucanis’ has in all of his cutscenes. He kneels to them. Every line spoken from this cutscene onwards, even the small in-battle concern he says, is filled with more conviction and meaning than his delivery before. He makes sure they know his feelings because the chance almost slipped through his fingers.

If not romanced, they are still one of the closest companions he’s ever let near. Even spite went to them for aid above all the others - and their loss would be on Lucanis’ head. If Rook did not escape Solas’ prison, romanced or not, Lucanis would never walk as he did before. Thank fuck Solas didn’t end up in this man’s head instead, because the prison of regret would branch on as an endless chasm.

[themusicsweetly]

Thank you for posting videos, pictures, and the Tribeca panel commentary on twitter. It is much appreciated. 🙏🏻

[ Anonymous #2 asked ]: Sarah, would you mind writing a S701 review since you were at the premiere last night? Don't mind spoilers and you can warn others if they don't want to read. Loved it when you did it before. Thanks!

Hello Anons! Thanks so much for both your asks! I hope you don't mind me combining both your asks.

You're so welcome, Anon #1! I so glad so many people enjoyed my posts about it! I'm very grateful that I've been able to go to these events for several years now. I know that so many of you don't get that opportunity, so I try to do what I can to bring it to you all even if only virtually. Things are always so much more fun when they're shared, anyway. After all, that's what fandom should be about! 💜

For anyone who missed it, you can check out my Twitter page for my full coverage of 92Y and the Tribeca Festival. But here's some GIF spam from my favorite of the videos I was able to capture this week!

Anon #2, yes of course I'll write up a summary of my thoughts. I know you said you don't mind them, but I will try my very best to not include any spoilers in it as I know it really does ruin it for some. But just in case:

~~~POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR OUTLANDER 7x01 BELOW~~~ ~~~SERIOUSLY, DON’T @ ME THAT I DIDN��T WARN YOU~~~

Outlander 7x01, "A Life Well Lost"

As Caitriona + Sam have mentioned previously in interviews, 7x01 picks up right where 6x08 left off. No time jump or anything, which I was really glad for. The opening scene was SHOCKING and used something that I thought was really clever and really rude all at the same time lol. I can tell you that the audience gasped because of it. I feel this bit was extremely effectively done. Caitriona's micro-expressions really made it for me.

One thing that surprised me — and perhaps it shouldn't simply because Outlander has always been full of this — was that there were so many small moments of humor in this episode, despite the obvious dire situation Claire and Jamie are in (but really, when aren't they lol). There's a new small side character that both Claire and Jamie get to interact with that provides much needed comedic breaks. Even Jamie's menacing looks add to this. Claire especially, I feel, gets to use her biting wit (or just straight up cursing) to add some humor to the tenseness. There's one particularly funny scene that takes place on a boat and involves an interrupting officer that I so loved! The entire audience burst out laughing when we saw it.

While Caitriona + Sam were obviously amazing, I'll say the surprising standout actor in this episode wasn't them. I won't say who, but it's someone we're well acquainted with. There are moments straight out of the book that this actor just fully nails. We're so lucky to have such strong actors filling these side character roles and s/he is just fantastic. Their sincerity and conviction sold me completely.

As book readers can probably guess from the title and from where we are in the timeline, we know basically what will happen in this episode — and they to stick pretty well to it. Even so, it is still so satisfying to get to see it played out on screen. Claire's despair, hope, and heartbreak. Jamie's torment, anger, and determination. The relief of it all. It's all played so, so well across Caitriona + Sam's faces and in their line delivery. Sam said during the Tribeca panel that Jamie is perhaps "more frail" in this episode, and I think that can be said for both of them. Despite them being well versed in separation, I think every subsequent one after their 20 year split wears on them more and more. And they both play that so expertly, making the time that we do see them together just that much sweeter. I don't think it's too spoilery to say that yes, they do share several scenes together this episode so dinna fash!

As for Brianna and R*ger, their scenes are pretty well separate from the Jamie x Claire scenes. I don't really have much to say about them, except that they move certain other storylines that will become more important later on in the season forward. And only just so. While it was important to do so, honestly it felt a bit filler-like. That said, I am actually pretty excited for certain arcs for Brianna and Jemmy later on (while also hoping they don't include that storyline for R*ger... sorry, not sorry) and this brought them maybe half a step closer to it.

Other than the moment on the boat I had mentioned earlier, there are two scenes toward the end which I really loved. One was such a sweet moment straight out of the book with some really great book lines that I had very much wanted to hear. it is Classic™ Jamie x Claire, so you know Caitriona + Sam knocked it out of the park. The second is not a book scene (I believe?? I don't remember it anyway), but was a great one for Sam / Jamie. It's how the episode ends and I told a new friend I had met in the Tribeca line that the final moment of the episode reminded me of Batman's cape swooshing over the camera turning everything black. Lol take from that what you will!

Some other random thoughts:

Jamie x Claire are SO. SOFT. They say separation makes the heart grow fonder? Really, it makes those two grandparents softer AND I LOVE IT.

I LOVED seeing Caitriona + Sam's names appear as Executive Producers! The entire audience was singing along to The Skye Boat song and then burst out cheering when that came up.

I really hope Major MacDonald's wig gets snatched by Adso at some point because F him lol

Overall, I'd say I enjoyed the episode. Some might say it's a bit slow, which I wouldn't disagree with. But knowing that 1) they had to get this part over with the tie up the Season 6 cliffhanger; and 2) this is really going to be a jam packed season of action and emotion, I think I'm okay with that. I've heard it from more than one source that 7x02 is even better than 7x01 so I'm really excited! I'm also really excited to meet our newer cast members, as none of them featured in the premiere episode. The Hunters especially will be so much fun to watch!

Hearing Caitriona + Sam speak about not only this season, but their journey with Outlander overall makes me so grateful that the quality is still there after seven seasons. They're clearly still so passionate about these characters and are determined to do them justice in every way to the very end. And I think that most definitely shows up in their scenes. I'm super curious to see if there's anything noticeably different or better now that they've been promoted to Executive Producers. And of course, to see Caitriona's first foray into directing!! Until then, I'm looking forward to you all seeing the first episode for yourselves 💜

[mulders-too-large-shirt]

my favorite mulder moments from s4

meeting the little girl he believes to be his sister in episode 1, then falling onto his knees, grabbing her shoulders, and saying “it’s me, fox, your brother” - he proceeds to take her with them as they escape from the clone farm, even when he learns it isn’t really samantha (god. the devotion will kill me)

offering his life in exchange for his mother’s when the alien bounty hunter catches him... pain

the way he could only focus on baseball at the start of episode 2; how he was practicing his pitching stance, and he shoved the ball under scully’s nose, saying “smell that. it’s perfume. eau de ball” <- it's important to remember that he may be a haunted and tragic figure, but also he is Silly

and how he keeps whacking the TV around to try and get it to work during their stay at the motel in pennsylvania, dancing around trying to fix it, which scully watches with a smile

mulder fact checking the cult leader who was talking about jesus in episode 5 (he was talking about SMYRNA when he said that, not about some random town in TENNESSEE!)

and his nerdy witchcraft knowledge on display in episode 6 (obviously an inverted pentagram represents the goat of lust attacking heaven with its horns! /s)

in episode 9, he is literally stuck in a gulag, looking death in the face, but says “i’m not gonna die. i have to live long enough to kill that man krycek” <- LOVE a character staying alive out of spite!!

then he performs a solid “give him two punches and throw him in the truck i’m stealing” maneuver to bag up krycek and get them both tf out of there, which occurred with a fascinating swiftness and brutality

later, when he has escaped and is back home, he has this dogged insistence that aliens are real as he testifies before the special committee, asking them why they refuse to believe when there is so much evidence (<- i LOVE how he finds everyone else's lack of belief infuriating, and how he cares not about what people think of him, but only for the Truth itself)

(and the intro reading “e pur si muove”, allegedly said by galileo when he was forced to recant his claim that the earth moves around the sun, was a very nice touch)

waking up from a nightmare in episode 10, convinced the location of a crime scene was revealed to him, so he drives to the place he saw in his dream in the dead of the night- and he was right

his ancient guilt that arose throughout the whole episode, how he was convinced he could solve the case out of sheer conviction - “don’t you think the car might have been searched at least once already?” “not by me”

and we see him waking up from his nightmares shouting samantha’s name, so haunted over the idea of the victim being her or some other poor girl that he was too impatient to let forensics dig up the bodies in their professional manner, clawing at the ground with his hands instead

going to his mom’s house in the middle of the night, apologizing profusely for waking her up, and asking her how she is doing; when he asks if she recognizes the fabric from the crime scene, she says her memory hasn’t been as good since the stroke, and he smiles, hugs her, pats her back, and tells her it’s okay (he loves her so much!!!!!)

when they’re doing the ID on the body of the child they thought might have been his sister, he lets out a broken “it’s not her, is it scully?” as he recounts how samantha broke her collarbone when she was 6. scully reassures him through his tears that it’s not her, but he says “it’s somebody, though”, realizing the devastation he feels must have been felt by this girl’s family. and it isn't his pain, but it is someone's

the incredible massachusetts- sounding line delivery of “and you’re in the wrong HOUSE, you stupid son of a bitch!”

we see his incredible vulnerability in him being willing to even let out a serial killer from prison to try and get answers- it's such an awful idea, but would any of us have done the same for a chance at getting answers?

then, when he realized the extent of his mistake and another child was put in danger, he says it doesn't matter anymore even if it was samantha they were looking for, because now another child has been placed in danger; all of this showing his terrifying willingness to do anything for answers mixed with his overflowing guilt

(and then he reveals his backup gun in his sock, which was a major slay)

how carefully he tells the girl roche took hostage to close her eyes and count to twenty- not condescending to her, but trying to keep her from panicking- before shooting her captor in the head (and then the poor girl runs off screaming into scully’s arms, who holds her and says it’s okay)

mulder rushing to the hospital to meet with scully in episode 14, not knowing what is wrong, too panicked to even read the signs pointing him in the right direction

and how he tries to make her laugh with his “i, uh, stole these from some guy with a broken leg down the hall. he won’t be able to catch me”- he smiles when she does, pleased to try and diffuse the tension the way he always feels compelled to

his refusal to believe that her cancer isn’t treatable, and how his face falls when she assures him this is the case; but despite her insistence, he will not accept it

going to skinner in episode 14, asking him to set up a meeting with CSM, even though he hates the man more than can be put into words, because CSM has to know what is happening to scully and therefore how to fix it (and skinner’s utter refusal to allow him to deal with the devil- so he does it himself)

(then he goes and fetches the lone gunmen to break into a medical facility and get some answers; “well, pick out something black and sexy and prepare to do some funky poaching”, he tells them over the phone, another joke in the face of demons)

when they do break into the facility, he tasks byers with leaving IMMEDIATELY to tell scully to stop treatment RIGHT NOW, because he realizes it is actually hurting her

after questioning the horrific antisemite who proclaims that mulder might be a jew in episode 15, he leaves with a smile and gives the man a blessing

in episode 16, he notices that skinner was shot before skinner notices himself, grabbing his arm (and once again illustrating how much mulder cares for him!!!)

banger line from episode 17: “claimed steadfastly, ignorance becomes as acceptable as the truth”

(and how he waves goodbye to the airplane that scully and frish were on <3)

in episode 19, he quotes scully's thesis at length, revealing he memorized at least parts of it word for word

(he also tucks a pencil behind his ear in this episode and it was just <3)

in episode 20, he’s talking to the mother of the latest tailed baby, who tells him that “it’s just a matter of a snip”, to which he responds “that’s good to hear” with both a sense of genuine concern and the face of a man who never expected to be dealing with tailed babies during his time in the FBI

(and his incredibly pained expressions when she reveals the father of the child is luke skywalker)

when scully is sawing into the mummy and mummy dust is all through the air, he covers his coffee upon entering the room

(and the way he tries to hide that he accidentally broke off the mummy’s foot)

mulder showing up to skinner’s house uninvited at 4 am in episode 21, asking for skinner’s help, not knowing that he covered up the death he is trying to solve

(then, later in the episode, the way his face falls when he realizes it’s skinner doing the crime on the security footage, and his heartbroken accusation that skinner had been working with CSM this whole time to kill his father and take scully, pacing the room like a wild animal)

((and THEN, his face melting when he realizes skinner was the one who made the deal with the devil he warned him against, putting together how much skinner must care for them both))

in episode 22, he elaborates on this difference between ghosts, disembodied spirits, and death omens before bowling a perfect strike. and scully looked impressed

how he SPRINTS to scully when he hears the gunshots of her shooting the evil nurse, and then the way he immediately notices the cut on her hand <3

the terrible grief he feels when he’s high out of his mind in episode 23, asking his mother if she cheated on his father; “who is my father?” “what do you want, to kill him again?” - she even slaps him, and he is such a momma’s boy normally, but look what he has been driven to in his effort to find answers; here he is, hurting the people he loves the most, losing control entirely, risking everything on a mere hunch

the doctor claiming he did nothing wrong and being met with “you put a HOLE in my HEAD” (which is funny out of context, but the horrific lengths to which he is willing to go to get answers deserves to be reiterated; he literally let some guy strap him down, inject him with drugs, and put a hole in his head to try and remember anything about what happened to samantha, everything comes down to that ancient Guilt that is integral to his being)

[silbeni]

Dante Aguilar 🧬 🧠 🌀

(Namesake: Dante Alighieri)

Stand: GHOST TRAIN

Pronouns: He/xe/they

Labels: Xenogender transmasc panromantic asexual!

Uses Masculine/neutral gendered words.

Age: 24 (Stone ocean)

Height: 4'11"

Nationality: Puerto rican 🇵🇷

Notable characteristics: Glossy black eyes, spike piercings, black lipstick, sharp metal teeth, small, upturned button nose, ear gauges.

Build: Short with a twiggy frame. Xe has top surgery scars.

Pairings: Electricplankton (Dante/F.F.)

Voiceclaim: 🎙️Alcryst FE!!

PERSONALITY

Dante’s biggest flaw is their cowardice, and the most prominent aspect of their personality. Simply put, he is the wettest beast - xir confidence has the constitution of wet 1-ply toilet paper. However, they will do anything if it means helping someone they love. Xe deeply values the few connections xe's got, so he is incredibly loyal. He loves fully and attaches easily.

Besides lacking bravery, they are also sensitive. They feel emotions with the wholeness of their being. When they are happy, anyone can tell. When they are sad, everyone will hear them bawling in the next room over.

On the flipside, it wouldn't seem so, but Dante is actually very competent. When xe needs to, he can be quite formidable. He may not be strong, or brave, but he proves to be a valuable asset where intellect and strategy is involved. Xe's a clever one under all of the anxiety.

Likes: Videogames, energy drinks, manga/comics, sour candy, junk food, cryptids, internet forums.

Representative animal: White-tailed deer.

MISC

Motifs: Intersecting lines like DNA strands, metal spikes, balaclava masks, spirals (brain symbology)

Particularities: Strongly believes in superstitions of bad luck. Likes horror media despite being easily scared. He struggles with spelling.

Skills: Computer/tech skills. Black hat hacking. Puzzle solving. Incredible Tetris and Minesweeper skills. Can name the list of 151 Pokemon. An absolute fiend for cyphers.

Education: Full highschool education. A tattoo artist apprenticeship that was never followed up on.

OCCUPATION

Was previously a pizza delivery person prior to conviction. Held several low paying jobs before that.

CANON CHARACTER RELATIONSHIPS

F.F. Quick friends who then became lovers. They are so sappy and corny that they make Jolyne and Ermes gag. Truly the silliest couple ever.

Ermes/Jolyne. They couldn't tolerate him at first, but they eventually developed a strong friendship through the events of Stone Ocean.

Emporio. They have a really sweet relationship. Dante is like an older brother to him.

Weather Report. Consider each other good friends. Weather cools Dante’s anxiety with his chill disposition.

Anasui. They don't get along. He is very rude to xem and xe is too afraid to stand up for xemself.

Jotaro. They don't really know him, but they admire his strength.

ORIGINAL CHARACTER RELATIONSHIPS

(Alt!DIU) Romeh. Xe thinks he is so cool and intimidating. Romeh feels responsible for looking after xem, which is sometimes exasperating - but he does it anyway. It's pretty clear to see he cares about the little guy.

(DIU) Ryoma. Friends with sibling energy! They are very sweet together. Despite Ryoma being younger, they are like an older sibling to them.

(Jojolion) Kyouka. They exploit Dante’s gullible nature for amusement. They keep convincing him of silly things to scare him. Dante is wary of them, but he can't help but believe everything they say when they say it with such confidence.

(Battle Tendency) Nocera. She coddles him because she thinks of him as a baby. He generally doesn't mind this, but it gets a little tired sometimes.

BACKGROUND

-Brief mention of recreational drugs-

Dante’s life before moving out of their homeland was pretty uneventful. They didn't have a good relationship with their parents, their sense of self and choices were incredibly limited, but they stuck though it all until adulthood. He was sent off to the US to study dentistry, to which he attended for about a month before dropping out, unbeknownst to their parents. He began living wrecklessly. Couch surfing and chasing highs. Xe found friendship with a couple of black hat hackers, who taught xem their skills. He began breaching government databases, doing nothing with the information - he just wanted to see if he could do it. It was exhilarating, and the most fun they had ever had. They had hardships still, but this was one of the happiest times in their life.

Then, one night, they place they were staying at was seized by the cops. All their electronics were taken. As it turns out, one of their casual friends, who they trusted too much, had outed them to the police. Dante was been smart and no tangible evidence was found, but they had been sloppy otherwise. Since they were unable to be charged for cybercrimes, they were imprisoned for possession of weed with a sentence of 5 years.

Their hacker friends that were also snitched on, blamed them for everything. Especially since Dante received a much lighter sentence. They carried a lot of guilt because of that. His parents were notified of his imprisonment and he would be completely shut out of their family. The rest of their friends on the outside cut communication, either scared of being persecuted by the law, mutual friends wanting nothing to do with them, or simply not wanting to continue the friendship due to the circumstances. Xe made the news, and civilians rallied in favor of a heavier sentence for xem. Their peak was followed by what felt like an age of darkness. They were so alone.

Inside the prison, things were worse. They were routinely pushed around and taken advantage of. The absolute bottom of the food chain. They, again, were out of control of their life, powerless. That was until he acquired his stand. Ghost Train would retroactively help them navigate their day to day. Soon, a rumour would spread - that Dante was under the protection of a real life ghost, and the harassment would dwindle. The arrival of their stand would turn things around for them. Xe was still sad and lonely, but after that, xe had a much easier time behind bars. The string of fate that draws stand users together would eventually cause Dante’s and Jolyne’s paths to cross and thus their involvement with the plot begins.

[unknown68d]

Unknown68D's Defence of Gwen Stacy

Oh, what fun! My first in-depth character analysis. Let's get into it.

This is by far the best character analysis I've ever seen on a character in any piece of media ever. After reading this masterpiece of a post, I've been mesmerized by how much this parallels what I've been thinking about since watching ATSV a week ago. I could not have put it into better words myself overall!

Aside: Her frustrations with not knowing what's right & wrong are something I heavily resonated with today, even at 21! Ironically, at 16 I was much more confident in my worldview than I was now. Perceptions of right & wrong clash and it's SUPER difficult to navigate at times to the point where I'd argue that it's hard to be a good person nowadays, requiring a lot of courage & training your mind to think in a more robust, logical, educated & nuanced way.

I'd argue that this movie is equally Gwen Stacy's story as it is Miles's, though her character arc is essentially complete or at a minimum on the up-swing (Pun ABSOLUTELY intended 😎) since she's found conviction & purpose at the end of it all.

I was taken aback by how much care & concern she has for Miles throughout the entire film. The overt and subtle desire she had to spend time with him despite the dangers of doing so was accompanied by the adorable duo's swinging scenes, the concern she has for his safety, the desperation in her voice when she thought Miles had perished under the rubble & finishing off with the "you're amazing" line to drive the point home.

She's not selfish (quite the opposite), she's not a "bad person" & she's CERTAINLY not in the same UNIVERSE as irredeemable as some claim. It takes a lot for me to be convinced of the latter two for any person, fictional or IRL. I'd argue that those who are so easily convinced of that onto anyone are closer to that themselves, honestly. I don't like associating with those types of people myself.

Ultimately, I believe that Gwen Stacy is a victim of circumstance who was thrown into a web (The puns aren't stopping & I'm not sorry.) of unwinnable situations above anything else:

The threat of being locked up in her home dimension for a long time was REAL. (From my understanding, there are instances where older teens 16 & 17 can be charged as an adult for extreme crimes like this, so that's my argument there.) It was ALWAYS a haunting reality in the back of her head from the moment she left her home dimension. (Tbh I don't get how Captain Stacy said he "quit halfway through her speech" if he was ordering her to comply the entire time. If someone could fill me in on what I missed, that'd be great.)

The Spider-Society was her ONLY way to escape, but she learned (presumably quickly) that Miles was an anomaly & that his father was destined to die as a result of making that decision. If she told Miles, she'd get kicked out of the Spider Society & sent back home to face that fate. It was here where the conditioning began & it was methodical enough to convince a lot of spider people that this was the right course of action. It often happens in a slow and digestible way such that everything SOUNDS like it make sense, often to the point of ignoring small doubts because the delivery is convincing & persuasive.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe she had no chance can tell him in secret either since she was likely under surveillance the majority of the time. This post & my own conclusions after my first viewing of the film are my supporting evidence. Feel free to provide a counter-argument if you can. You act differently when you're being watched & I believe Miguel caught onto Gwen's love for Miles quite early on. The line "You didn't catch him, Gwen!" after Miles escapes Nueva York drove this point home for me as I think he wanted Gwen to catch Miles, the original anomaly, herself.

Aside 2: This may be a HUGE stretch, but I wonder if Miguel secretly wanted Gwen to use her relationship to lure Miles into his trap, which would be next-level messed up. I believe he knew more than he let on in the film as we know Miguel knew about the events of Into The Spiderverse from that movie's post-credits scene, though to what extent, we don't know. It's my theory that he knew she was a liability via the relationship they had with one another, so he knew she could be a liability to them. Counter-arguments to this may exist, so take this unsubstantiated claim with a grain of salt. It's beside the point.

From Miles' perspective, he has every right to feel hurt & betrayed as he felt like every single one of his Spider-friends abandoned him, especially Gwen, the person he felt closest with. Unfortunately, there was no way for her to let him know without dire consequences on her ability to be a free person, her one close relationship, and/or the multiverse itself.

I think Miguel is incorrect and delusional with the conclusions he draws based on what he went through combined with his mannerisms. His vendetta against Miles seems way more personal than it needs to be. Example: "YOU'RE A MISTAKE" when it wasn't his fault that he became Spider-Man and Miguel likely knows this already? At best, he's taking out his frustrations with keeping the multiverse together out on a person who doesn't deserve it. That act alone is worse to me than anything Gwen does throughout the movie. She's been conditioned to believe in things that aren't always what they seem, so saying it's "for your own good" was just as hard a pill she thought he had to swallow at the expense of her relationship with Miles for the good of the many. The OG post explains the rest best.

The last thing I want to comment on is how her whole perspective changes, as I believe everything started to click for her when Captain Stacy said he quit the police force. A "canon event" was broken and for a WHILE now, with nothing bad happening to Gwen's universe. With the burden of arrest lifted, the pressure + conditioning that the Spider society had on her gone & a CHANCE at making things right again via Hobie's watch, her resolve is now clear. The OG post, again, explains the rest beautifully here.

Remove the unwinnable circumstances and she acts immediately to make things right. First, she visits Miles' home dimension but realizes he's in the wrong universe & promises his parents she'll find him, THEN she forms her own band consisting of every single person who Miles had a significant impact on, most of whom he SAVED, too! Now, it's THEIR turn & they're not gonna waste it.

If THAT isn't the truest form of love, to heal the hurt you were conditioned to cause the moment you realize & get the chance to, I don't know what is.

That's my stance on my defense of Gwen, I think you know the rest.

Final Thoughts

As someone who wasn't a Spider-Man fan at all growing up, I can confidently say that this rendition of Gwen Stacy is one of my favourite characters ever in terms of complexity, relatability, loyalty, conviction, courage & the ability to show true, genuine love/care for the people around them.

I made a post about the my reaction to this movie from a week ago more in this post, so if you're interested, have a read! I look forward to engaging with this franchise & the Ghostflower ship a lot more! It'll likely be a mainstay on this account for a while. :)

I'd say I can't wait for Beyond The Spiderverse, but I honestly can & frankly we all should due to the horrendous treatment of the production crews. Tumblr's dedication to keeping fandoms alive will more than suffice in the meantime. Be good to each other, okay?

As a reward, for making this far, you get to enjoy this meme.

THe oNLy unfOrgiVaBLE ThiNG GwEn diD

I change my mind I take it all back crying & sobbing rn Gwen I understand everything else but this? THIS?! HoW CoUld yOu I... I just, it's over. It's aaaalllll over goodbye Gwen. 😭😭😭

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

In all seriousness, much love to all of you & I hope this franchise brings you all the happiness & comfort you deserve in these trying times! 💙

In defense of Gwen in Across the Spider-Verse

Okay. First of all: This post is gonna be super long and have tons of spoilers so if you don’t want to get spoiled for Across the Spider-Verse then don’t read this post. I have seen way too many people hate on Gwen because of her actions and her behavior towards Miles in Across the Spider-Verse. I’ll show you why that hate completely misses her arc in the movie and her true intentions/relationship with Miles. This post will also delve into Gwiles/Ghostflower since that is a big part of what shapes her intentions.  Many people say Gwen betrayed Miles and doesn’t really care about him. They say Miles shouldn’t forgive her and that she is a snake for what she did. I’ll show you why the opposite is true by going through the events of the movie in cronological order: The movie literally starts off with Gwen talking about Miles. She is drumming away, which is, mentioned by herself, a way for her to cope with her feelings. That opening from Gwen is a small glimpse into her head. We see how she feels and what she thinks. The interesting thing is that it’s basically Gwen broadly narrating the events of the entire movie. We even see glimpses of future scenes in that intro. The line of narration that is most important here is Gwen saying “I didn’t want to hurt him. But I did. And he is not the only one.” This shows us IMMEDIATELY that Gwen did not intend to hurt Miles AT ALL. Quite the contrary. It also shows that she is AWARE she hurt Miles. She knows she fucked up. That is going to be important later on when she needs to make the tough decision regarding Miles/The Spider Society. 

Keep reading

[maximuswolf]

If You Could Make A Spiritual Successor Game

If You Could Make A Spiritual Successor Game What game would you make a spiritual successor to? In the same lines that Stardew Valley was created to scratch the farming itch that Harvest Moon refused to, what’s a game or series that if you had the ability you would remake yourself? Crackdown was an Xbox 360 exclusive game that was an over-the-shoulder shooter with sandbox physics and super powers that put other other-the-shoulder shooters to shame with just how fun it was to be a roided up psycho throwing dumpsters at people. Then the sequels came and like most AAA, the quality greatly decreased. There was less emphasis on the fun controls and more on like, driving. Same thing happened to Saints Row, Grand Theft Auto, and Just Cause.I would make Cracktown USA, in which you play as a drug dealer who discovers the government is flooding your streets with super crack in attempts to villainize drug users further by creating then arresting super beings. If you’ve played Crackdown you’d know the crack is a parallel to the upgrade points you get, only they have a diegetic narrative reason for existing now. They would still affect roughly the same skills, one crack makes you strong = punch harder, lift heavier objects, jump farther. One crack affects your reflexes = increased shooting accuracy and gun handling, bullet time meter, counter attacks and dodges. One affects your intelligence = explosives hurt more, hacking ability, increased rewards. One affects your agility = better car handling, run faster on foot, longer i-frames on dodge. I loved the city of the first game. The buildings and level design were set up like the whole city was one big obstacle course. I would set the game in a town based on multiple US cities, near to the water is Miami inspiration, Detroit like slum and factories, New York style downtown, San Francisco style hillside buildings and roadways, forested area like Vermont, flat land in the middle like Colorado. I would want a running course that can take you all over the map with parkour, that would be hopefully more fun than using fast travel but faster than running there regularly. Although, to avoid controversy I could easily find Canadian inspiration and change the setting, making the game and dialogue more uniquely Canadian. Substitute Toronto for New York, BC for San Fran, Alberta Colorado, New Bruinswick for Vermont, Miami being the hardest to parallel I could just make it Newfie.I’d flood the world with quests. Racing, shooting/compound missions, parkour, brawling, physics puzzles, delivery quests.It would ideally tell an exciting story about a drug dealer who ends up dismantling the government in his city to protect the citizens from super drug users. While attempting to create a super soldier serum the US government accidentally succeeds, only the drugs are unstable and not fit for soldiers, filling the users with a rage. They start flooding the streets with the stuff and then arresting the people who take it, brainwashing and conscripting the citizens to fight wars now as super convicts. Your character has such a high tolerance to crack that the drugs negative effects don’t affect him, with (one of) the only clear head(s) and new abilities he works to uncover where the drugs are coming from and stopping them.Just a fun thought, what game would you like a spiritual successor to? Submitted July 28, 2024 at 10:24AM by Significant-Battle79 https://ift.tt/AXe2cjP via /r/gaming

[lgcrp]

◔ ┈ LOADING … TRAINEE PROFILE INITIATED !

BAE SOJIN ( READ MORE HERE )

AGE 22 ( 15 MARCH 2001 )

TRAINED FOR 9 MONTHS ( SIGNED JANUARY 2023 )

              INTRODUCTION VIDEO FOUND … PRESS PLAY ?

The well-dressed aspiring actor stood on his mark, bracing himself for what's to come, a sense of savoir-vivre. His eyes revealing calming conviction as he awaited to showcase his talents. "Hello. My name is Bae Sojin, I'm focusing on my acting portfolio and skills." Sojin invested immense amount of time and effort in committing his script from his previous role to memory. Past days filled with strange looks from others, as he recited his lines under his breath. Intense mirror monologues to himself as the shower steam rolled off. He was determined to make it appealing to a specific demographic of viewers he was intimately familiar with and understands exceptionally well. "Treat me well." A broad smile spread across his face, giving out an air of machismo and self-assurance.As the stage light flickered on, camera rolling — he took a deep breath and steadied himself. The room around him faded away and for a moment time stood still; his focus shifted to the moment at hand. With each word he recited, he felt himself seeping deeper and deeper into the character. His movement and gestures conveying the character's emotions aided him in painting a picture. Sojin's voice rose and fell with the character's passions, and every ounce of himself is lost in the performance. His delivery was passionate, measured and precise - yet filled with intensity and desire. Every nuance of the character's personality was brought to life through his skillful portrayal. As soon as he finished reading the script, he flashed his broad smile directly at the camera.

            INTERESTED ? REACH OUT TO THE TRAINEE !

[existentialmagazine]

Review: Alice Pisano’s newest catchy pop release ‘Part-Time Girlfriend’ embodies fierce vocals, addictive instrumentals and a liberating message of knowing your worth

Italian born, London based rising star Alice Pisano has been taking the London pop scene by storm since her 2018 beginnings, naturally writing releases that both entwine high-spirited releases with messages that carry an emotional value too. Following the release of Pisano’s ‘Shattered but Still Cool’ EP earlier this year, Alice is now sharing her newest single ‘Part Time Girlfriend’ that’s the perfect summer bop to be playing loud and dancing along to at every opportunity you find.

Emphatic right from its beginnings, ‘Part Time Girlfriend’ immediately from pressing play embodies all of the addictive spice you could hope for, upbeat and steaming along at full force. A storming, quick-paced beat brings the momentum instantly into the first verse, accompanied by intermittent claps, pops of synth and a vibrant electric guitar riff, a simple but catchy concoction of sounds. Singing atop it with a more downbeat, casual delivery, Alice rather charismatically tells her striking narrative front and centre of it all, capturing lines with an airy, feel-good approach easy to sing along and get in the groove of. Picking up with added bright, drawn-out beats for the pre-chorus, ‘Part Time Girlfriend’ only continues to grow and keep you completely mesmerised before the chorus finally explodes into a fiery outburst you’ll be utterly hooked on. Crashing into thundering electronic beats, synth fizzles and of course Alice’s staple vocal performance that comes completely unleashed as she cathartically soars through dominant vocal highs and a cascading range, ‘Part Time Girlfriend’ hits every single peak of an exceptionally gripping edgy pop release you could want. While clean and catchy, Alice has also nailed a slight rock-based undertone reminiscent of Avril Lavigne’s witty character and spirited sound, an all around top-notch single that leaves us wondering how long it’ll be before Alice Pisano is a name we’re hearing everywhere.

In an era of “situationships” and half-baked relationships tailed off into nothingness, Alice has penned an all-too relatable lyrical message of letting go of all those people who just aren’t ready to commit after stringing you along for as long as possible. Turning their backs on you when things got too serious, ‘Part Time Girlfriend’ is a liberating anthem for burning all those bridges and knowing your worth, all the while angstily releasing the frustrations of being led on and visualising a future together just to be continually left heartbroken time and time again. As lines like ‘I let my guard down because it felt so natural, I really thought that we were compatible’ share how Alice allowed herself to open up, there’s a definite aching buried inside of ‘Part Time Girlfriend’ that yearns for a connection without the let down, but Alice’s confidence has a natural way of burying it into high energy, sing-along lines. Detailing the way she began to allow their lives to combine, Alice sings ‘you picked me up at the airport… we talk about our families’, small and simple details that began to make their connection feel all the more real and as though it were headed into serious territory. But it’s not long before the chorus hook slams back into reality, declaring ‘Oh, what a waste of my time, I’m not gonna be a part-time girlfriend’ after yet another request to ‘keep it casual’, as Alice knows she’s worth more than just being someone’s piece on the side destined to be discarded when they’re done with her. While it’s constantly delivered with a wit and self-assured conviction, if you really listen to the narrative of ‘Part Time Girlfriend’ it truly carries a deep message of preaching self-love, not allowing anyone to hold you back and finding the love you really deserve, with a sprinkling of pain and heartbreak muddled in too.

Speaking on the track Alice says: “I wrote Part-Time Girlfriend after dating a guy who didn’t want to commit… It’s a kiss-off to someone who made you believe they wanted to be in a relationship with you, but backed out when things got too serious. It was so liberating writing it!”

Check out ‘Part Time Girlfriend’ here to enjoy Alice’s blazing sound and lyricism you’ll be screaming along with and feeling all at the same time.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Unknown

// This coverage was created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.

[redditinner]

im taking the dog dumbass | Jennifer Coolidge Legally Blonde Classic T-Shirt

In the world of pop culture, there are certain iconic lines that we can all recognize instantly. One of these is the infamous line from Jennifer Coolidge's character in Legally Blonde: "I'm taking the dog, dumbass." This line has become a classic, often quoted and referenced in popular media. Now, you can show your love for this iconic moment with the "Jennifer Coolidge Legally Blonde Classic T-Shirt."

The t-shirt features a simple design, with the famous line in bold, black lettering. The font is clean and easy to read, making the shirt a great conversation starter. Whether you're a fan of the movie or just love the line, this shirt is the perfect way to show your appreciation for one of the most memorable moments in Legally Blonde.

But why has this line become so iconic? There are a few reasons. First of all, Jennifer Coolidge's performance as Paulette Bonafonté is unforgettable. She steals every scene she's in with her wit and charm, and her delivery of this line is no exception. Coolidge has a talent for comedic timing, and the line is delivered perfectly, making it all the more memorable.

Additionally, the line speaks to a universal truth: that pets are often the most important things in our lives. Anyone who has ever loved a pet can relate to the feeling of wanting to fight for their custody in a breakup or divorce. The line is funny because it's relatable, and it's delivered with such conviction that we can't help but laugh.

Finally, the line has become iconic because of its enduring popularity. Legally Blonde was released in 2001, but the line is still referenced and quoted in popular culture today. From memes to social media posts, the line has taken on a life of its own, and the t-shirt is a perfect way to join in on the fun.

im taking the dog dumbass | Jennifer Coolidge Legally Blonde Classic T-Shirt

In conclusion, the "Jennifer Coolidge Legally Blonde Classic T-Shirt" is a must-have for fans of the movie and anyone who loves a good pop culture reference. It's simple, stylish, and a great way to show your appreciation for one of the most memorable moments in Legally Blonde history. So go ahead and take the dog, dumbass – and wear the shirt while you do it!

[dilirebas]

My Review of  长安十二时辰 / The Longest Day in Chang’an

The Longest Day in Chang’an is about a convicted murderer who is taken off death row to help a young security bureau chief prevent an attack on Chang’an, the vibrant and diverse capital of the Tang Dynasty.

I have mixed feelings about this drama. The Longest Day in Chang’an is a well-made drama, without a doubt, but it also didn’t live up to its godly reputation.

I was more in love with the style than the substance. The cinematography, costumes, sets, and overall production quality are amazing. Cao Dun is one of the most interesting directors in c-ent.

The drama gives you a shockingly realistic portrayal of the city of Chang’an. It doesn’t feel like an idol historical, nor does it feel like a serious drama. (By “serious drama”, I mean 正剧.) It has more of a film style.

Tbh it didn’t need to be 48 episodes long. The pace is slow, and that makes sense because there are a lot of overlapping storylines that come together to make one single narrative. But even though all the storylines were connected, I didn’t feel that they were all necessary.

Some of the supporting characters were two-dimensional or acted inconsistently. It often felt like characters were doing things, not because it made sense for those characters to act that way, but because those actions would contribute to the plot. Some examples include Wen Ran, Long Bo, and Xu Bin’s decision-making.

Some of the supporting characters became irritating to watch because of how incompetent or selfish they were. Sure, a lot of people in real life (and history) suck. But as a viewer, I don’t have infinite patience. I ended up accelerating through much of the drama. (This might sound insane if you’re watching the first episode and you find it confusing and complex, but once the story gets going, it’s actually really simple and easy to follow.)

Honestly...a lot of the characters just feel like plot devices.

The storylines aren’t always super continuous. A scene will often reach a climax and end without resolution. It’ll cut to some other characters doing something else, and when you return to the characters you were previously watching, they’ll have moved to a new location. Sometimes you’re shown the resolution of the previous scene in flashback format. Sometimes you’re left to assume that everything worked out.

Speaking of flashbacks...there are a lot.

I love the fact that the drama is undubbed. I loved it in Cao Dun’s Tribes and Empires and I loved it in The Longest Day in Chang’an. When you use the actors’ original voices, you get a certain rawness and sincerity that you don’t get from the more standardized work of voice actors. Of course, a prerequisite is that the actors have strong line delivery. And this was definitely the case here. Lei Jiayin’s line delivery was so good that he basically sounded dubbed.

YYQX’s line delivery was a weaker link. I don’t want to criticize his overall acting because it wasn’t bad for a newcomer. I think there’s a real difference that comes with experience (like the ability to emote naturally and subtly), but aside from that it was a solid performance. But I do wish he had been dubbed, even if it was himself doing the dubbing. There were parts where he did dub over himself (this happens in undubbed dramas when certain scenes have an audio issue), and it was really obvious because his in-studio voice sounded better than his on-site voice. In contrast, I didn’t notice where other actors dubbed over themselves because the quality of the lines was consistent.

I don’t think I was really convinced by any of the romantic storylines in this drama. Fortunately, romance doesn’t play a huge role anyway.

Overall I think the biggest problem is the script. I’m inclined to think that the pacing problems, plot holes, and characterization issues are mostly problems in the writing. On the other hand, the production quality and directing style were strong enough that I finished the drama and enjoyed it in spite of those issues.

I do think this drama is still worth checking out, even if you just watch part of it. So many ancient dramas are set in Chang’an, but this drama does the best job of showing what the city was actually like. It’s estimated that 1 million people lived within the city walls. Chang’an was massive, busy, divided, and extremely diverse.

[aniverous]

"I am a PERSON! I DESERVE a NUMBER!"

I really wanna talk about this line.

Not only being from one of my favorite scenes in my favorite season of Infinity Train, this line stuck out to me in a lot of ways, and not just because of the fantastic delivery.

First off, in pretty much every other work I know of, having a number is dehumanizing, it's something used when a character is a slave or a prisoner or a manufactured being. It creates distance between that person's identity and the person using the number to adress them. Especially in stories like Lake's, being seen as just a number should be the last thing she wants. Her whole journey is about finding her own identity, after all. You would think she would just be saying that she should be able to get off the train, not that she should be branded by it.

And yet, on the Train, it is only those with numbers that are considered people. They're the Passengers, the ones with problems worth caring about. From the very first episode of Book 2, the difference between Passengers and Denizens has been made clearer and clearer; Denizens exist to help passengers, and they are beneath them on the Train's list of priorities. And at this point, Lake has, at least on some level, acknowledged this; if she doesn't have a number, then she isn't considered a person by the Train no matter what she does or feels.

The other thing I wanted to point out was how Lake said she deserved a number. She isn't saying how having a number, which in this case serves as an 'identity' by Train standards, is something she should automatically have. Earlier, when arguing with Mace, Lake only insists that she is a person, not that she did anything that made her a person, just that she inherently was one. Passenger numbers are a permanent reminder that if the human struggles enough, they will eventually get their freedom. It judges their efforts and conviction and suffering.

Lake had been through a lot, both before the Train and on it, with things getting even worse after Jesse left. She'd fought, she'd ran, she'd defended her right to exist. But she didn't have a number, so the Train doesn't care. Once she had a number, then her efforts would actually do something towards her goal.

Really, this moment truly shows just how hopeless Lake was feeling at this point. She had spent every moment up until now fighting everything that went up against her. She never lost faith that she was a person, even when the Denizens thought she wasn't. Even when the Passengers thought she wasn't. Even if Mace was right and she was a Denizen and all those 13 years of misery as a reflection are a fabrication so she could help a random girl feel less sad. She never gave up, never stopped trying to beat the system. Getting a number was just another solution to try.

But when it fails, when the great machine keeping her prisoner won't acknowledge her existance even when she's right in front of it...she submits. She agrees with it's standards of personhood. She's willing to let it treat her as a problem to be fixed. Shes willing to go through more trials if it will say that her suffering was worth anything at all and wasn't a waste of time.

She was even willing to let the Train take her memories if it meant she would be recognized as a person.

That's how hopeless she was.

[readerinsertfanfiction]

Hello, dearest Nemo. Inspired by a matter you're probably aware of, here I come, to ask you for certain opinion, although perhaps in form of HeadCanons... Let's say we have Ghibli Movies and the Warlords. Which movie would be each warlord's favourite? What do you think?

Ooooh, lil'Lorei remembers my obsession with Studio Ghibli movies, I see. (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)(. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)(. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)

Fandom: Ikemen Sengoku 

Characters: All - Kanetsugu because idk I can’t find shit on him only that he is a tsun.

Prompt: The warlords and studio Ghibli movies. Disclaimer: I only listed the movies I have watched, which is a fair amount but by no means all. 

To sit on the couch with a Sengoku warlord felt strange. No, it was definitely weird! All the more so when you put up a Studio Ghibli movie. Just any, because you felt like it. Little did you know that the warlord would take so well to it. He had been rather apprehensive at first, after all, moving pictures and that strange sound? But after a while the movies won him over. After all, who could resist the peaceful charm of Studio Ghibli, dreaming away at the romance of everyday life set in a beautiful landscape far away from all worry and chaos?

Nobunaga Oda: Spirited away

“The soot sprites have good taste,” the Oda leader pronounced, a proud smile etched on his face as he enjoyed the movie playing. On the screen the little black balls could be seen carrying off the konpeito, dancing around the little girl that had just lost her name to Yubaba, a move that Nobunaga had heartily laughed at. “I should consider doing this myself,” he had exclaimed, eyes glistening in mischief, “but I would rename them,” and to this remark you could only feel yourself sweatdrop, recalling the animal-inspired nicknames he tended to give his vassals.

Ieyasu Tokugawa: When Marnie was there

Something about the movie triggered something within him. The themes of loneliness, and constantly being moved around, but most of all, the trope of a found family and the concept of home. They resonated with his own childhood that he had resented so much. The past in which he was treated kindly, but also at times cruelly. All of these stories consolidated into one movie and two girls. “Marnie was weak,” he would later say, “good for Anna,” was his end review, but you could see the tears in the corner of his eyes. The movie had touched him.

Hideyoshi Toyotomi: Tales from Earthsea

A story of guilt and servitude? Prince Arren and the shadow that chases him? An inner fear, but yet a strong resolve to sacrifice all to reach ones goal? Hideyoshi is sold. The promise in the end is what gives that extra edge needed as Hideyoshi is weeping at the end of it all. “I will return to you, lord Nobunaga. I will repay all of my sins!” he wails and you know that he means it. Strangely enough, you have a feeling that Nobunaga would like the concept of ‘True Name’

Masamune Date: The wind rises

The story of a young boy whose dreams are shattered because of his weaknesses and then overcoming them? That’s his boy! Masamune has been cheering Jiro on since the opening of the movie and never stopped. Not until halfway through the movie and a frown settles on his face until the man has to gulp audibly to keep himself in check. All that chasing after a dream and the sacrifices made. It definitely hits a snare with the man who is quiet after the movie. He will need a cuddle or two.

Mitsuhide Akechi: Kiki’s delivery service

“There is just something about watching a little mouse grow up, isn’t there?” Mitsuhide teases with that lilting smile of his ever-present. But between the affectionate nickname and watching the movie there is something wistful about the man who sees the peaceful coming-of-age and finding identity and inspiration for live and passion within the little girl on her broom. He doesn’t say it, but he hopes that children in the future can grow up in such peace as Kiki does, able to adventure and a home to return to.

Kyubei: Whisper of the heart

Two kids chasing after their dreams, one set and the other just learning about it and a very capable cat that guides them. Kyubei enjoys the relationship that develops and the romance that comes with it, finding the fantasy element adorable. “I have a favourite person as well,” he tells you later with a mystifying smile, referring to the poster advertising the movie. A favourite person and a dream, he realises, which he hadn’t before.

Mitsunari Ishida: The secret world of Arrietty

“How very inventive!” the man constantly exclaims as he watches the little Arrietty move around in the garden. When she is fighting off bugs her own size Mitsunari clasps his hands together, as he rattles off on the many efficiencies they can make use of the bugs and employ the garden and the doll house. In the end Mitsunari feels only a little sad about Arrietty’s departure, though he has all faith that the friends will meet again, “is there a sequel,” he asks you for that, eager and beaming.

Keiji Maeda: Howl’s moving castle

Of course Howl’s theatrical ways are what enraptured the man at first, accompanied with Sophie’s determination and go-getters attitude. “That is no dull woman!” he exclaims happily as he watches the older sister fall to the curse cast by the witch. And though it is only vaguely implied Keiji comes to understand that it was something about the heart, just as Howl transforms because of his own heart. ‘A heart is a heavy burden.’ Sophie’s line catches him and Keiji agrees that Sophie’s hair is like starlight. He turns to you, however and tells you that you’re his starlight.

Ranmaru Mori: The cat returns

The cats, Baron the gentleman cat that just looks super cook and a whole slew of shenanigans about to happen. Secretly Ranmaru sees Kennyo in Baron, dreaming away watching his master be the cool hero that he was always meant to be. A little mysterious, totally awesome and can kick ass. Yes, that’s his favourite person!

Kennyo: My neighbour Totoro

There is something homely about the strange giant figure with its creepy smile and silent gestures. In fact, the whole movie endears the man. Two girls surrounded by the beauty of nature, growing up in peace and afraid of soot, catbus riding them to their mother. Kennyo can’t help but smile at the outrageousness of it all, finding it all very endearing. Secretly he thinks himself as Totoro, hiding in the forests and watching over the innocents.

Kenshin Uesugi: Princess Mononoke

A story about rulership, about how humanity ruins life eventually, about destruction and a lot of fighting. Kenshin loves it, especially for the last part. But as a former monk himself with a good appreciation for the gods and nature Kenshin relates to lady Eboshi who is willing to fight all if it means keeping her people safe and San, who fights to protect what she holds dear. He understands that and he relates to that.

Shingen Takeda: The tale of the princess Kaguya

A classic he is familiar with turned into an animation he has never experienced! Shingen loves it. Though he has to admit that he likes the story versions better he has a good appreciation for the artistry and the interpretation of the story, along with the pain of forgetting and leaving.

Yukimura Sanada: Porco Rosso

His favourite nickname turned into a character! Yukimura was flabbergasted at first, but then he came to understand that this was a spell of sorts, just as the movie itself was a trick of magic called science. But alas, that’s not why Yukimura was so in awe with the movie, it was the cool zeal in which the main character flies for his convictions. And somewhere deep down, though he will never admit such, the main character reminds him of Shingen.

Sasuke Sarutobi: Grave of the fireflies

Ah, the classic on which a whole generation was cruelly introduced to Studio Ghibli’s magic, the movie that started it all and above all: made everyone cry. Some may find him a bit of a weirdo to choose this as his favourite movie, after all it is such a sad movie. But it is the history, the message behind it, the themes dealt with and at last the pain and love of the siblings bereft by war. Sasuke’s heart is beaming just at the thought of the entire movie as his eyes start to tear up, dryly.

Kichou: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

There is no movie that quite agrees with him that the world is set out for doom than Nausicaä. The world is destroyed by humanity in a war, humans are still at war, but not only amongst each other for their greed but also with nature. Nature is trying to kill them for the sins committed by man. It all comes together and shows how the blight of this world truly is men and how the future that you come from is just an illusionary peace.

Yoshimoto Imagawa: Ocean Waves

Modern life poured into an artistic expression of young love. There is nothing quite more artistic than that in Yoshimoto’s opinion. The art is pretty, the story is enjoyable and not too riddled with all ugly traits and reminders of chaos and war and he gets to observe the modern world and its beauty a little more. Yes, Yoshimoto is indeed trying to forget about all the ugliness back in the Sengoku.

Motonari Mouri: Castle in the sky

Sky pirates, raiding a precious city, chaos overall and a booming ending? Sign him up. Motonari doesn’t really care for the main characters, finding them too sweet and innocent, but he has noticed that this is an overall trend within Studio Ghibli movies. Do, tell him more about the sky pirates, however and he definitely needs one of those flying machines.

[the-queen-of-ships]

🏰🐑🔨?

Not me thinking we were going to a castle to kill a sheep with a hammer. Ignore my forgetful bum.

1. Fav Love Rival (Leo, Suzie, Beckett)

Well, top 1 goes to my boy Leo! For one, I was absolutely stoked to see someone who appreciates Gwen’s beauty. His interactions with Jamie are also sweet, borderline romantic to platonic, I love those! He’s such a sweetie, once it was made clear to him that he didn’t have a chance with Gwen because she was still hung up over Fred, he backed down when Fred finally made the move with some conviction kinda like a wingman; a very harsh wingman. Also gave solid advice about how “find the quote”

Suzie’s second, I like her even tho she’s kinda a ‘pick me girl’ sometimes hehe. But despite it all she cares about Lorena. I absolutely adore Lance/Lorena but Lorzanna is adorable.

Beckett is last, sure he’s cute, funny at times. He definitely knocked Maria down a peg and made Blaine think about getting to know her properly. Also despite how he didn’t imagine Maria (really Gwen) to look like that, he still stayed true to his feelings. I don’t necessarily hate him but he’s last because...

1. We don’t get much screen time or one on one with the pastel siblings or their crush. Most of his screen times are for comedic purpose only.

2. He agrees with the King Jack’s rule about the pastel princesses that they shouldn’t go outside because they’re too pure to go outside. His words not mine. It’s kinda funny knowing how much of degenerate Maria is.

3. Kind of a hypocrite tbh. Judging Blaine for being shallow when Blaine has seen Maria and has spent time with her more than Beckett ever could and he judged him based on Blaine’s appearance alone. Like Blaine stills find her attractive despite the fact she showed her fangirl side and for some reason likes the scent of bird seeds and slightly damp forest creatures. And Beckett likes Maria for her voice that’s it and that is all he knows about her. 

4. I don’t like how he responded to his long time colleague's goodbye. Like man expressed that he was his best friend and he’ll miss him after he leaves and Beckette’s response was “Is that like one of your jokes or something with?” Like what do you think!? He probs didn’t mean it since the following line but take him seriously man!

So, in short, I'd rather not Maria get with him, maybe besties but lovers? No thanks. I like character development but I like the extreme drastic!

2. Opinion on Laverne

Ah yes! Absolute Queen. That style, that confidence, she likes Whitney! Of course I love her

3. Fav Quote

Hmm, I dont have a fav but I'll rank it to how much I cry. I don't typically watch out for quotes but I have a few in mind. Prez's self love monologues are an absolute tear jerker, the one where I believe the cpc were eavesdropping and Gwen was crying. 

"What am I supposed to do then!?" - Gwen

"Gwen, all you need to do... is love yourself. Exactly the way you are." - Calpernia

Ah it was such a beautiful moment! It also helped that someone voiced act it and Prez’s delivery was so sweet, loving, gentle.

Next would in Lilyth’s Diary Part 3

"They can say I’m ugly and they can tell me I’m a hideous freak. I don’t care as long as I am with Jack. But If I brought a child into this world who would ever have those same words said to their face... I’d hate myself forever." - Leelathae

Which absolutely broke me and Aurelia.

The more recent one would be Whitney's false realization in the party, I got absolute chills during that one. But it’s more monologue than quote so I’ll leave it there.

[theweeklychronicles]

Lightyear (2022 movie review)

To infinity, and beyond! 

Or... as far as we can see from this foreign planet Buzz and co have been stuck on?

This Toy Story spin-off allows us Gen Y-ers to continue living nostalgically through the characters that we grew up with and loved, however this movie is set in the place of 1995, being the movie that inspired Andy to see Buzz as his childhood hero and favourite toy (sorry, Woody). It is supposed to be the movie that Andy grew up loving and the inspiration behind the Buzz toys being such a phenomenon for children his age, akin to a Barbie to young girls, or X-men toys for all little 90s boys.

However, the movie leaves you with more questions leaving the cinema than you had entering it. Without spoiling any major plot lines, The time-space continuum is constantly referenced as Buzz balances friendship, teamwork and pure determination to repair his ship and return to earth, versus the dual-concept of time which he battles as those around him age faster than he does the many times he is quite literally, lightyears away on mission.

Characters voiced by notable stars like Chris Evans, Taika Waititi and Keke Palmer, as well as some other actors you’ll question familiarity of, there are many easter eggs for Toy Story fans and great parallels to be drawn to the prior movies. 

Buzz’s main tagline as we know it, “To Infinity, and beyond”, is a line of strong conviction and great glitz, however the delivery they chose in this movie is too touching and whilst it’s nice the quote is continued through this prequel, I question why the chance to have the child friendly, inspirational heroic tag line delivered with stoicism and bravery, they instead chose to make it heart warming and subtle, something he shares with his co-worker.

My one gripe was the multitude of opportunities for the writers to reference the “Little Green Men” aka Aliens from the original Toy Story movies, and yet, they failed to make any appearance. I was hoping they’d at least make a minor appearance such as hanging from a rear-view mirror of a Jeep, but it was not to be. The little plot-holes aside that I had picked up on, this movie is emotive and nostalgic enough for you to thoroughly enjoy and marvel in the magnificent animation quality, and enjoying the subtle themes of friendship, love and hard work to make things right for all.