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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 Spoiler-Free Review of ‘Philbert’ Season 1

By John Maher

Even the ‘Horsin’ Around’ star’s commendable performance can’t save Flip McVicker’s new prestige detective drama from itself.

Ask Scratchy: JHM + EVB

By Dr. Scratchansniff

The founders of the Dot and Line, John Maher and Eric Vilas-Boas, need some advice as their beloved project comes to an end, and our house head shrinker, Dr. Scratchansniff, is here to help.

35 Haiku Written for the Cartoon Heroines of Our Time

By The Dot and Line

We asked a group of creative friends to send us haiku in honor of their favorite leading ladies in cartoons.

Sanctuary Lost, Sanctuary Rebuilt

By John Maher

In ‘The Hunchback of Notre-Dame,’ the physical beauty of the cathedral is dwarfed only by the warmth of its living stone.

tuca and bertie

Here’s Your Chance to Talk With the ‘Tuca & Bertie’ Team About Mental Health

By Sammy Nickalls

The delightful, surreal, quirky animated show is hosting a Twitter chat with one of The Dot and Line’s own.

‘BoJack Horseman’ Makes Sense If You Know About Intergenerational Trauma

By Amelia Kidd

You can lead a horse to self-awareness, but you can’t re-write the traumas of his family history. Or something.

“Game Start” May Be a Teaser Disguised as an Episode, But It Brings the Fun

By Sarra Sedghi

It’s summer and our babies are about to go fight in the woods! Look how cute everyone is at the pool!

wide whale venture bros

Hal Lublin Breaks Down ‘Venture Bros.’ and Playing Up His Asthma: Exclusive

By John Maher

We chatted with the comedian and voice actor on his craft, his health, playing to rooms filled with judgment, and how he came to voice Wide Wale — the soggiest archvillain of 2016.

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GREATEST HITS

It’s a Trump Presidency, Huey Freeman

By John Maher

The words I return to today in a world in which hate is winning.

My Hero Academia Gets Into a New Arc in “Create Those Ultimate Moves!”

By Sarra Sedghi

Maybe Deku should use his legs?

2017 editorial | Editorial by MysteryThemes.