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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

maes hughes

What Would Maes Hughes Do?

By Eric Vilas-Boas

An incomplete list.

Cartoon Dads, Ranked

By The Dot and Line

With only the finest — the pères de la pères — of animation. Happy Father’s Day!

treize khushrenada

How Treize Manipulated Everyone in ‘Gundam Wing’

By Eric Vilas-Boas

Meet the Gundam franchise’s Dick Cheney. Or Lyndon B. Johnson. Or Stringer Bell. Really, take your pick.

7 Animated Spin-Offs That Should Never Have Been

By Alex Costello

There’s no shortage of cartoons based off live-action properties. But there should be.

Ask Scratchy: Why Is Juggling a Good Job and Relationships So Hard?

By Dr. Scratchansniff

Princess Carolyn of ‘BoJack Horseman’ needs some advice, and our house head shrinker, Dr. Scratchansniff, is here to help.

renee marcus loop pixar

Pixar’s First Nonverbal Autistic Protagonist Sets a New Standard in ‘Loop’

By Jessica Levine

Autism is rarely presented in the media with this kind of dignity and accuracy.

A Definitive Ranking of the Water Tribe’s Nonbenders on Avatar

By Sam Reynolds

The element of change requires ebb and flow even in its nonbenders. These folks deliver…mostly.

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

By Wyatt Erchak

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

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GREATEST HITS

Hey, All You Normies Who Hate On Jazz. Why Do You Love Cartoon Theme Songs So Much?

By John Maher

Do you know how many of the best cartoon theme songs are jazz? You cats really gotta get consistent out here.

90 Years of Silly Symphony

By John Maher

These nonagenarian cinematic shorts remain the Walt Disney Company's most cutting-edge contributions to animation.

2017 editorial | Editorial by MysteryThemes.