Ghibli in the Cinemas: Totoro Premiere & The Story of the Hoarder

I’m actually not sure how I should tell this story for you. Is this just a collection of conventional thoughts on films, or am I supposed to frame this more as another one of my Tale Time entries? (Haven’t done one those in a while huh…)

Going to the cinema and watching a film works in conjunction when it comes to me recalling experiences for a blog post. Experiences never exist in voids, they meld and influence each other. Perhaps this is why I find it so difficult to write straight up film or TV series reviews, whether I watched it alone at home, or with a group of people. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that half the fun of watching a Summer blockbuster copy-and-paste explosion fest is the environment of a filled-out cinema, with some 400 people reacting to the same things you are.

agraph (Kensuke Ushio) Interview | ‘the shader’ & Electronic Melancholy

Kensuke Ushio is on the verge of becoming a household name in the western anime fandom, thanks to his exhilarating and sensitive contributions to numerous modern anime classics’ original soundtracks, namely Space Dandy (as part of LAMA), Ping Pong, A Silent Voice and the recently released Devilman: Crybaby.

However, Ushio already had a decade-old alter ego of sorts in his stage name agraph, which he adorns when producing and releasing his own solo albums, exploring the pure, unadulterated creative impulse within him. ‘the shader‘ is his third solo electronica album release.

The following is a translation of the interview conducted with the artist by Natalie Music.

Princess Principal Composers Interview | Ryo Takahashi (Void_Chords), Yuki Kajiura

Princess Principal was an action-adventure highlight of Summer 2017, and a big part of this resonance with the fandom was undoubtedly the high-octane musical identities afforded to the production by its arranger/composer duo of rising star Ryo Takahashi (ACCA: 13-ku Kansatsu-ka, Classroom of the Elite), and prolific veteran Yuki Kajiura (Kara no Kyoukai, Fate/Zero, Sword Art Online, ERASED).

The following is a translation of the interview conducted with the two composers by Natalie Music.

Made in Abyss | Accentuating and Maintaining Atmospheric Expanse & Dread

Ambient storytelling is brought up constantly when one talks about the affect of mythos and world-building in fiction. For a narrative to be immersive, the storied vision requires layering and textured detailing of the seemingly irrelevant, so the illusion of malleable reality can be made more effective.

Funomenal First Impressions: Anime Season Summer 2017

After taking a year off this format while I readjusted to the fandom and determined how I should follow seasonal shows, the seasonal first impressions is back, and it is now a much more casual setting: no more ratings, staff/genre run downs and a shorter length.

Interviews With Monster Girls Episodes 1 – 2: First Impressions | Acceptance, Acknowledgement & The Embracing of Differences

I will quickly brush over the sheer genre-centric unexpectedness that Demi-chan has for its runtime thus far, and move on to reject this relationship that the audience supposedly has with the show as its main pull. Because it’s not what’s unexpected of the ecchi/monster girl ‘genre’ or their ‘typical production aesthetics’ that brings forth the metaphorical goodwill that Demi-chan exemplifies. Rather, the inorganic realism that the show flaunts almost ironically in regards to ‘cross-species’ human and societal relationships, is the main ingredient that elevates the experience to a higher plane of optimistic warmth.

A Reflection: End of 2016 | Crescendoing on a High

In my first EVER paycheck this month, I earned more than Mum if we both worked the same number of hours that week. Most people would leave this milestone behind as something to be proud of: after all, Mum now has another source of pride for her son.

However, in an eventual spiral of emotions ranging from pride, eagerness to spend everything I just earned, and bittersweetness; since this milestone means another step towards total independence…I eventually arrived at that familiar door of guilt again. Remember my stories from last month?

One Year Anniversary | Versatile Blogger Award Nominations

As common courtesy, I shall extend my praising hand towards a few bloggers who have intrigued (and shamed) me with their writings. I suppose I left it boiling there long enough, so I could use this opportunity to write a few notes about this blog’s 1st birthday as well.

Nomination details

As the nominees, you will:

• Display Award
• Acknowledge the person who nominated you (and include a link to her/his/their blog)
• Share 7 things about yourself
• Nominate 5 bloggers (I searched around the web, the number here usually switch between 5, 7 or 10, so take your pick of your lucky number.)

For the Love of Art: Storytelling in Advertising | ‘Empower’ And the Implications of One Word

As the central branding message surrounding the entire company, Microsoft’s 2014 (and still ongoing) multimedia campaign and its tonal stage-setting relies on the narrative implications of a single word: ‘Empower’. Thus, the campaign can be perceived as a hybrid brand establishment attempt by Microsoft, in solidifying its name and association within a worldwide humanitarian, innovative enterprising and creative paradigm. As one of the most recognisable brands in the world, Microsoft’s popular public image is a global but impersonal one.

For the Love of Art: Desire Production | Examining External Influences and Artistic Contemporaries

Desire is an individualistic emotional construct that can almost ironically be considered the direct sibling of society-binding cultural norms, that indoctrinates individuals into adopting a collective mindset that does not stray far from the ‘normal’. What society deems desirable; however logical, the individual must desire as well. Individuals are constantly affected by the sometimes silent, but always prevalent pressures to buy, reshape and realign themselves back into the collective, popular narrative.

ATMA & Funomena Temporarily Closed for Maintenance | Unime Indoctrination

Hey, people. Bright here.

So it has been a blast, coming to grips with this whole blogging thing, it is perhaps the most fun I’ve had when I shut myself in my own room for hours on end (second only to- never mind. Read on). I’ve enjoyed the analytical and creative freedom, as I poured all my technical jargons and self-indulgent observational skills into series thesis and sarcasm-filled impressions.

Tale Time: Re-Awakening the Force Within Me

The thing about choosing home cities and time zones: The mere fact that you live 12 hours in the future of most U.S. release dates (which for some reason, are all the important ones for Pop culture), means that sometimes, you get to be part of a worldwide Funomenon (shameless plug haw haw haw): being among the first in the world to watch the newest Star Wars film. Interestingly enough, the most bizarre thing about this entire adventure saga for me personally, actually came from the ticket booking incidents. Sure, I will talk about my thoughts on the movie (FYI it was good, so no worries!), but being the ranter that I am, I need to start from the beginning: how a Star Wars casual scum suddenly decided to supposedly fight teeth and bones to watch the film on the 17th of December, a day ahead the rest of the world?

Tale Time: Makoto Shinkai’s New Film And My Tastes in Art

News Re-gag: August Premiere For New Shinkai Film

Guess scenery porn and additions to wallpaper collections are a given.

The renowned director’s newest film, Kimi no Na wa | Your Name, will be debuting August 2016, featuring staff including Movie Director Shunji Iwai (Hana to Alice: Satsujin Jiken) and main casts, Ryuunosuke Kamiki and Moka Kamishiraishi.

Tagline of the key visual: I am searching for you, whom I have never met yet.