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Tag: essay

Movies

An Ode to ‘Up’ a Decade After It Broke Our Hearts

May 28, 2019December 30, 2019 Isabel GalweyComments Off on An Ode to ‘Up’ a Decade After It Broke Our Hearts

A personal reflection on Pixar’s most poignant tearjerker, 10 years after it came out.

fullmetal alchemist brotherhood
TV

The Only Way Out Is (Not) Through (Alchemy)

April 8, 2019December 29, 2019 John MaherComments Off on The Only Way Out Is (Not) Through (Alchemy)

All traumatized children would bring their parents back to life if they could. The Elrics show us why the past should stay dead.

madoka magica
TV

Inside the Godhood in ‘Madoka Magica’

September 28, 2018May 6, 2019 Fiona DayComments Off on Inside the Godhood in ‘Madoka Magica’

Let’s unpack why Madoka was a holdout among her friends.

powerpuff girls
TV

Why So Many Early ’00s Cartoons Couldn’t Escape the Male Gaze

June 15, 2018May 9, 2019 Shelby PeakeComments Off on Why So Many Early ’00s Cartoons Couldn’t Escape the Male Gaze

Animation has long been a boys’ club—and the 21st Century has mostly been no exception. Until now.

morty sanchez
TV

Morty Is Mixed, Just Like Me. And That’s Complicated.

June 7, 2018May 9, 2019 Izzy KingsComments Off on Morty Is Mixed, Just Like Me. And That’s Complicated.

The soul of ‘Rick and Morty’ is a mixed-race boy who goes on inter-dimensional adventures. What do we expect of him?

TV

‘Trigun’ Celebrated Its 20th Anniversary Last Month. I’ll Never Forget Its Story.

May 30, 2018April 25, 2020 Wyatt ErchakComments Off on ‘Trigun’ Celebrated Its 20th Anniversary Last Month. I’ll Never Forget Its Story.

A look back at Vash, Meryl, and one of the most powerful anime series ever.

julia real folk blues cowboy bebop
TV

How the Invisible Hand of Julia Drove the Plot of ‘Cowboy Bebop’

April 27, 2018May 9, 2019 Victoria FreyreComments Off on How the Invisible Hand of Julia Drove the Plot of ‘Cowboy Bebop’

It’s impossible to get her out of your head.

my funny valentine faye cowboy bebop
TV

To Faye, From Faye: Be Your Own Goddamn Valentine

April 20, 2018May 9, 2019 Maya GittelmanComments Off on To Faye, From Faye: Be Your Own Goddamn Valentine

A poetic love letter, from one kickass survivor to another.

jupiter jazz cowboy bebop
TV

The Hidden Parallels in ‘Cowboy Bebop’—and Its Links to Cormac McCarthy

April 18, 2018April 18, 2020 John MaherComments Off on The Hidden Parallels in ‘Cowboy Bebop’—and Its Links to Cormac McCarthy

Spike is Gren? Spike is Vicious? Spike is Odin, the wanderer god whose ravens represent thought and memory? Spike is Cormac McCarthy’s nameless Kid from ‘Blood Meridian’? Good questions.

ballad of fallen angels cowboy bebop
TV

I Watched “Ballad of Fallen Angels” and Have So Many Questions

April 6, 2018September 7, 2022 Bruce BohriComments Off on I Watched “Ballad of Fallen Angels” and Have So Many Questions

The fifth episode of ‘Bebop’ is one of its best, but I never watched the rest of the show. Here are all the things I still wonder about.

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EDITORS PICKS

‘A Country Doctor’ Is an Anime Handshake Between Franz Kafka and Kobo Abe

By John Maher

Even Kafka can always get weirder.

Adam West Was So Cool, He Even Made ‘Family Guy’ Cool

By Eric Vilas-Boas

Rest in peace, Batman.

ink

Communist China’s Animators Made Traditional Ink Painting Into Cartoons

By Isabel Galwey

Even in communist China, traditional arts informed budding ones—and ink painting informed some of the greatest Chinese animations of all time.

‘Persepolis’ Creator Marjane Satrapi Has Plenty of Kick

By Bruce Bohri

The comics creator and director, whose new Marie Curie biopic, 'Radioactive,' debuted this year, discusses her history with animation.

‘F/sn:UBW’ FTW

By John Maher

Wtf? Wym, wtf? 'F/sn:UBW' ftw! Smdh.

tales from earthsea

What Studio Ghibli’s ‘Tales From Earthsea’ Gets Right

By Elly Belle

The late Ursula K. Le Guin didn’t love Goro Miyazaki’s take on her classic saga, but the film still understood its heart.

frederator nickelodeon

Exclusive Interview: Fred Seibert on How Creativity Flourished at Nickelodeon

By John Maher

Talking Nickelodeon with Fred Seibert, the backstage architect of your childhood.

adventure time islands

A Close Reading of the Art of “Adventure Time: Islands”

By Evan Fleischer

Now that ‘Adventure Time’ has ended, let’s look back on one of its best collections of episodes.

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GREATEST HITS

‘A Country Doctor’ Is an Anime Handshake Between Franz Kafka and Kobo Abe

By John Maher

Even Kafka can always get weirder.

The Creators of ‘The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales’ Talk Craft and Cuteness

By Sam Reynolds

French animators Benjamin Renner and Patrick Imbert on the fairytale feel to their all ages feature film.

2017 editorial | Editorial by MysteryThemes.