Quantic Obsession

'SUP, NERDS?!

If ya'll couldn't figure it out... I play games for story and I'm not too picky on gameplay if it has an engaging plot. My love for branched stories stems from my childhood, reading Give Yourself Goosebumps among other choose your own adventure novels and playing my absolute favorite PC game, Titanic: Adventure Out of Time, with multiple outcomes and endings. It all started here.

One of Detroit's protagonists, Kara.

You may disagree with my gaming tastes, but I think David Cage and Quantic Dream make incredibly fun and engaging experiences. Their latest title, Detroit: Become Human, is probably their best yet, combining the best elements from all their previous games. Let's take a look what makes Quantic Dream awesome.

It all started with Fahrenheit

During my tweenage years, I was introduced to Fahrenheit (better known as Indigo Prophecy in the US) by a friend whom I often played horror, supernatural and other weird, gritty games with. My. world. was. SHOOK!

Fahrenheit is the first game that I felt my words had an extreme impact on the story. A slip of the tongue or an ill-thought choice could mean the difference of whether or not a character gains an object or information that will become useful later in the game. These choices stack and can prove to be consequential if a character continuously fails.

What still impresses me to this day how Fahrenheit incorporates the stories of 3 different characters who work against each other. Lucas, a murderer, is chased by investigators, Tyler and Carla who are riddled by their own personal problems. I played the remastered (and rightfully uncensored) edition a couple years ago and I still think Fahrenheit holds up in it's twisting narrative.

This is a good game to start with if you're new to Quantic Dream. The gameplay and action itself is simple, but you'll certainly be on the edge of your seat and scrambling as Lucas. He becomes a wanted criminal in Act 1 Scene 1, so you're constantly on the run. I can honestly picture Lucas's plot as a nightmare episode of What Would You Do?

The PS3 Era

It took me quite a few years to amass such an extensive PS3 library... but during high school when I could only afford the five games I owned, Heavy Rain was a priority. I wasn't aware of Quantic Dream as a studio and it took me a couple of years to connect the dots that they created my beloved Fahrenheit. However, I don't remember seeing Fahrenheit ever receiving the amount of flack as Heavy Rain does, even to this day.

I will engrave this on my tomb: Heavy Rain is a good game. Yeah, it is basically one huge meme to the haters, but for all of its flaws, Quantic Dream does an excellent job portraying a crime thriller with nicely-paced beats. The four characters you play all have the same goal through vastly different journeys: finding Shaun Mars & catching the Origami Killer.

People may dislike the melodrama in Heavy Rain because it may be too corny, but I think that by confronting the unique scenarios the protagonists experience, it helped me reflect upon my own character and how I react under pressure. There's some uncanny bits, but the characters become funny and endearing as you get to know them. Take for example, Nahman Jayden, being one of my best video game husbandos. His fine Boston accent gets to me...

On the other hand, Beyond: Two Souls is my least favorite of the bunch, but it's not a bad game whatsoever. I think Beyond has the most star power and impressive cast with Ellen Page and Willem DeFoe as the lead characters. I haven't had a chance to play the PS4 version yet, but my greatest gripe is how the game played out of sequence. There was less of an impact on your decisions since it would be pretty much impossible to make changes to the story by playing it so drastically out of order.

The concept of having phantom, second soul intrigues me. Jodie's trials to control Aiden through various stages of her life was executed quite well. Nonetheless, Beyond is a great drama and reminds me a little something of...


David Bowie: The Video Game

Quantic Dream's first title, Omikron: The Soul Nomad, is a blast. Although a bit frustrating by default for being an older game with sometimes confusing game play, you can see how it all started for David Cage. Omikron was originally released for Windows in 1999 and later ported to the Dreamcast. I would argue that it has the most diverse game play elements of all Quantic Dream titles.

There's plenty of exploration and puzzles to solve throughout the city of Omikron, FPS sequences, fighting sequences and the best part... watching David Bowie concerts. I'm shitting you not. There are hidden concerts in each district that you see posters hanging with all the details. Bowie is an actual character and he wrote a bunch of songs for the soundtrack.

Bowie is absolutely handsome, even as a video game character.

As the title of the game suggests (and without giving too many spoilers), you are a spiritual being that can possess the bodies of Omikron's inhabitants. You are forced to swap bodies a handful of times throughout the story, but you can otherwise possess as many or few people as you wish. The game begins with you Kay'l who is investing a series of murders. It is your job to discover who is committing such heinous crimes and uncovering secrets behind the city and government.

The narrative is definitely ahead of its time. I highly recommend trying Omikron, maybe having a game guide handy for when you are furiously stuck doing something stupid because hell, the game is dated in some respect! You may occasionally ask, "How was I supposed to know to do that?"

DETROIT *squee*

I'm going to leave ya'll on a cliffhanger. Because this blog originally started as a Detroit: Become Human review but then I got so sidetracked that it made sense to make a separate blog. I'll be soon publishing my impressions, gushings and thoughts on Detroit!

Which Quantic Dream games have you played? Did you enjoy it? Which is your favorite? Despite all of the flack, do you consider any titles a guilty pleasure? If you haven't played any of these, which is most appealing to you?

LATER, DWEEBS!

Loverly Liz

Remembering Kate Spade & Anthony Bourdain

Hello Friends,

This entry will not be silly as they usually are, but rather somber as I reflect upon designer Kate Spade and world traveler Anthony Bourdain recently passing. In their honor, I felt it was important to discuss my love for these people, their character, careers and how they have inspired me.

R.I.P. Kate Spade

I've always had a deep interest in fashion, however it hasn't been until the past year or so that I could afford to invest in nicer clothes and even consider purchasing anything designer. Whilst passing through Macy's (among other fine department stores), Kate Spade New York products have always caught my eye. It appeals to my delicate, feminine sensibilities in addition to my desire to be colorful and bold. That's what draws me into the brand.

It wasn't until the Flights of Fancy line released that I felt like I had to have a Kate Spade-something. Unfortunately, I was a broke student at that time and could never dream of purchasing fancy wallets, purses or clothing. Now that I've finished school and found a job, I regularly raid the outlet mall.

Although I don't own too many Kate Spade items, they bring me great joy. I have a couple of pieces from the Dress the Part line. The design strongly resonates with me because it gives off mad Persona 5 vibes.

Aside from the totes, I purchased my mom a large bag for her birthday this year and recently purchased a dress in Kate's honor. I've been eyeing a particular dress for over a month and felt the time was right. Not only is this dress flattering on me, the fabric itself is incredibly comfortable and reinforced with strong stitching. The quality is worth every penny.

Even though I really love the Kate Spade brand, I honestly think she's an amazing woman. She built her brand from the ground up and remained active in the company for quite some time even after selling it. It wasn't until she gave birth to her daughter that she stepped down to focus on her family, which I think says a lot about her values. In 2016, Kate launched a new brand, Frances Valentine, and spent her last couple years designing again.

R.I.P. Anthony Bourdain

I'm not a huge fan of many television stars... but I find Anthony Bourdain to be extremely charming, his influence reaching me at a young age. My family never had a cable line, so I regularly indulged myself in unique programming whenever I hung out at a friend's house. I was a young teen when a friend introduced me to him in No Reservations because there was an episode that took place in Japan. She said I had to watch it! I. Was. Instantly. Hooked.

From there, I've been a dedicated viewer, searching for episodes online if my friends failed to DVR any of his programs before the graces of Hulu and Netflix streaming. I consistently watched new episodes of The Layover and Parts Unknown as they aired and found myself hunting down and reading his books throughout college.

Since I was a child, I've always had an interest in foreign culture, especially those of Asia and the Pacific. What attracted me to Bourdain's programs and writing is that he's brutally honest. I wouldn't consider him a jerk, no matter how sharp his tongue. There's a certain kind of respect he gives to cultures and he tries to understand the unique differences by dining among commoners. The primary angle of his shows being: food unites people.

I spent much of my high school and college life studying foreign languages, cultural anthropology, television & film, history and government because Anthony Bourdain inspires me. Hell, I remember exiting high school and thinking about my college and career options saying, "I want to be the 'Next-Generation' Anthony Bourdain."

Here I am today, saving money to invest in some basic video equipment and researching places I can visit and document the next couple of years. Even as I review my options for continuing my education and possibly earning a Master's degree, the consideration to invest that money into funding a culture & travel documentary wavers inside my head.

What to Do

I truly love Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain, looking up to their work ethics and what they managed to accomplish. However, it's a sad reminder that no matter how driven and successful a person may be, they can still be silently suffering in other areas of their life.

If you ever feel helpless and alone, know that there is always someone you can reach out to. If you don't feel comfortable asking your friends or family, you can always contact the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

You are loved.

You are worth it.

Thanks for reading. See you next blog,

Loverly Liz

I told you, "I DON'T LIKE STAR WARS!"

'SUP, NERDS?!

May is Star Wars month and I conveniently finished a new cosplay in time for the 4th. But why celebrate Star Wars when I'm not a superfan? Well, I just really love Kylo Ren. I present to you: Kylo Riz.

Although my blogs are not up-to-date with my first-time Star Wars reviews, I have seen them all with the exception of Solo since it is so fresh and I work waaaaay too much to visit a theatre right now! In fact, I was inspired by taking my friend to The Last Jedi for his birthday to create a Kylo Ren cosplay. I uttered to my friend once the credits rolled, "I'm going to marry Kylo Ren." We parted that evening and I haven't seen him since. Pretty sure I scared him away.

Purchased my corset at a local
adult store one of my besties works at.

Goodbye, Spring

A week later I was browsing the mall and saw a decent cross-guard light saber in the clearance bin. I had to buy it, immediately ordered the helmet and I fell into a downward spiral sewing this cosplay. Overall Kylo Ren wears a simple outfit. I based the robe off of McCall's M7422 and winged the rest of the costume.

As usual, I have little interest in making accurate cosplay and enjoy putting my own twist on things. I decided to make a femme Ren with a little bit of sex appeal. I would love to sew my own, but I purchased a black corset to wear beneath. Then I sewed a simple skirt with a quilted-look as his clothes are in The Last Jedi. I figured I could do a Force Awakens look with the robe and be able to shed a layer and still be the character in this hot, humid place I live in called Florida.

The bolero was a pain in the ass, but definitely the most technical and rewarding piece of the cosplay. I found a couple of patterns and made altercations to get a certain look and cut. After losing a week of my life to ironing and pleating, I made multiple mock ups with scrap fabric, wincing as I cut my hard pleating work, smacking it together to make the bolero.

The wig was purchased through Epic Cosplay in hectate. This is my first ever lace front wig and it was extremely comfortable. I didn't have to worry about readjusting anything the whole evening, even in the absence of wig tape or spirit gum. After wearing the wig for some 8 hours, there were only minor tangles.

May the 4th & meeting the community

The lovely Caity Jane. She's frickin awesome.

I created this cosplay with the intentions of debuting it at ACen 2018, but due to this wonderfully unexpected burst of motivation, I finished the cosplay with plenty of time to detail it for May the 4th. So what did I do? Go out to the bars and enter costume contests!!

I'm extremely glad that I went out because I managed to meet a ton of SWFL cosplayers, a community I haven't even delved into since moving to SWFL last summer. I don't really know why I haven't sought out cosplayers prior to this event, but I think it comes down to not creating anything new (until recently of course) and working... like all the time.

I met Seraphima Cosplay who hosted a fun event at Millennial Brewing Co. Super sweet people. Seraphima and friends spent a lot of time taking photos with patrons and their children. The weekend prior they dressed as the Avengers for the latest film premier. I love how invested they are in the community and making their cosplay events family-friendly.

The first minute I walked into Millennial Brewing, Caity Jayne Cosplay ambushed me exclaiming, "PLEASE TAKE PICTURES WITH ME NOW!!!!" I was a bit overwhelmed after hauling all my gear in, but dove straight into shooting some phenomenal photos of us dueling. She makes such a good Rey. Her eagerness to get to know more about me made me feel immediately included within the group.

I like to think we represent the new wave of Star Wars hotties really well.
11/10 waifu material in my book.
Photo Credit: Seraphima Cosplay

I also got to spend some time with another local, Okami Cosplay, who dressed as RTOJ Luke Skywalker. After the event, he and Caity Jayne inducted me into their cosplay family, an honor I gladly accepted! Hopefully I'll see a lot more of them this summer at events and other conventions. Unfortunately I missed out on Megacon, which was the weekend following ACen due to work conflict and spending so much at ACen as well. I know Megacon is Florida's largest convention and pretty much everyone I met attended!

le dramu d'cosplay

I ended the evening attending another costume contest at *redacted bar that doesn't deserve any publicity*, which left a sour taste in my mouth. I'm very well aware that Halloween and general costume contests for the public are not based on the merit of artist's work-- the artist being either you or you commissioning someone to make it. However, my blood is still boiling because what was supposed to be a costume contest was soiled by an asshole wearing a t-shirt.

I found my grand-pappy... in biker gear! :>

Due to mass popularity (or just having extremely obnoxious screeching friends) a woman entered a costume contest only wearing a Star Wars graphic tee and ended up winning first place. Although this wasn't a huge contest, everyone that otherwise entered were wearing stuff they created or custom ordered. I felt incredibly disrespected because--do I even need to explain myself?? How does someone win a costume contest not wearing a costume?

I'm never upset in any way if I ever enter a contest and not win because I sew for myself, just for fun. However, someone not even in costume winning is preposterous and disrespectful to even those that put the effort and money into to even buying a costume. I do feel vindicated because a bunch of people came up to me at the end of the contest much more upset than I, calling bullshit to the judges!

Upcoming Designs

Thank you for enduring my rant, but overall May the 4th was awesome. I've never had so much fun participating in a silly little holiday until now and I met so many good people that cosplay with the best intentions, despite having an icky experience at the end of the night.

Unfortunately my goal to was to create more than one costume in time for ACen, but I will be showcasing future cosplays once I finish them this summer. I've got three separate outfits in various states of being finished but at least I was able to assemble Kylo Riz. My next major project is going to be a completely original design and persona I'm developing for an event in early July... I cannot wait to showcase it, it's gonna be epic!

LATER, DWEEBS!

Loverly Liz

"N Captain, My Captain" by Malcolm Terzich

Kevin Keene is not exactly a household name these days. Actually, it’s rather niche and obscure. If you were to go to any random gaming convention and ask your average cosplayer who Captain N is, the odds of them giving a correct answer is between slim and not at all. So how does someone end up embarrassing himself in front of a live audience after deciding to embody a character hardly anyone knows?

To start out, I should probably explain who exactly is Captain N. Back in the day there was a widely popular gaming magazine called Nintendo Power that filled buyers in on upcoming products, gave tips and tricks and even had some fun entertainment content added in there.

One of those goofy things was an attempt by Randy Studdard to give Nintendo a new fictional spokesman known as Captain Nintendo. Shortly after launched a TV series (1989) by DIC Entertainment and a comic book run (1990) by Valiant Comics called Captain N: The Game Master. The premise involved a kid, Kevin Keene, who was sucked into Videoland to team up with your favorite Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) characters and his elite gaming skills to prevent the forces of Mother Brain from seizing control.

I wouldn’t even be born until just after the show’s run was over, but I grew up on the reruns and saw Kevin in my parent’s old Nintendo Powers. Despite missing the NES era, my parents had everything from the launch of both the system and the magazine. I probably ended up playing more from that generation than the ones that actually launched during my youth. Due to this, I grew quite fond of a character that none of my contemporaries even new.

Flash forward nearly two decades and I find myself at the ScrewAttack Gaming Convention. I hadn’t done any cosplay since high school, but I’ve become a regular attendee to SGC. Up to that point, I have never cosplayed at a convention. I made some costumes for some Halloweens and other personal events. I’ve worn Link many of times when I was young due to my vibrant blonde hair and small stature. Plus, the character is just downright awesome. Still, conventions seemed to be where cosplay was encouraged the most and for some reason, I just wasn’t participating.

And then I started. I wasn’t exactly in a rush to cosplay again. I tend to be methodical about whatever I do in life. My original plan was to make a few outfits before wearing any. I have never, and still never, planned anything professional, though I’m somewhat of a perfectionist and play just as hard as I work. I wanted a different costume for each day so I could change my clothes. I was going to make a new Link outfit (A Link to the Past), Cloud Strife (Advent Children) and Captain N. Then, like pretty much any plan I ever make, things changed.

Literally weeks after I started planning out costumes again, ScrewAttack put up a video called The Best Video Game Cartoon EVER! where Stuttering Craig basically told people to cosplay as Kevin Keene. Even my brother said, “F&@# your dumb plan, you’re Captain N -this- year.” At this point, I couldn’t exactly say no.

It was a fairly easy cosplay to make, yet I won’t lie… it hurt a bit inside to strip the NES Zapper and controller down for props regardless of being inoperable. It was almost sinful, but nothing else would cut it. I wanted that authentic feel. I’m still upset that on such short notice I couldn’t get myself a real letterman to put an N patch on, though the jacket I ended up with had more of a cartoon aesthetic anyhow.

We finally roll up into SGC and… like I thought, almost no one knew who I was. There were a couple, but they were either SA staff or my friends from the community. Several people actually thought I was a Pokemon Trainer. I’d sarcastically reply, “Yeah, I’m sort of a Master.” It was pretty exciting when Andre Meadows (Black Nerd Comedy) asked me for a photo. Usually, it is the other way around with people of any notoriety.

On the last day of the convention, I eventually ran into Craig. He had promised a hug to anyone cosplaying Captain N. Somehow instead I ended up as labor. As soon as I see him, he turns and asks, “Hey, could you lend a hand for a minute?” He needed help unloading boxes and stuff from his car for the game show he was running later that day. I’m never one to turn down helping someone when I can, so I rustled up my group and we hauled it all backstage. Little did I know that this wouldn’t be the extent of my participation with the said game show.

Later, as we stood in line, Craig and Bryan come walking up to me dressed to the nines in white suites. They asked a lot of questions about where I was from and what my favorite game was. It was at this point that I put two and two together: I’m gonna be on Stuttering Craigs Game Show of Awesomeness.

The entire experience was a mess from the moment I was called up on stage. First thing first, Craig was exhausted from running around all weekend so I don’t blame him, but I had to correct him on an important matter. It went something like:

Craig: “Kevin Belmont is one of my favorite characters”

Me: “You mean Kevin Keene.”

Craig: “Are you sure that his name?”

Me: “Well, it’s been a few days since I binged the show again in preparation.”


Next came the question. You know, like how in Let’s Make a Deal there is that easy bit first before the deal comes up. I thought it was an easy question up until I heard the audience boo my answer in unison. The question: What was the first game to feature the classic Konami Code?

In retrospect, I could see the confusion. The code is often referred to as the Contra Code and Contra was one of the multiple choice answers. Well, it was a good thing I was picked instead of most of that audience. Luckily for me, I was an avid viewer of G4TV and on one of the shows, likely Icons, they revealed the history of the Konami Code. The correct answer was Gradius. Everyone instantly grew silent when I was correct; it was like they questioned everything they knew.

Remember how I said earlier that I embarrassed myself in front of a live audience? Being the arrogant man I am, I, of course, took the challenge after correctly answering my question. To go with the question itself, I had to beat the first level of Contra with only three lives. Genuinely easy for any avid gamer, but I blew it after more than one second shot. I hadn’t touched the game in almost a decade by then and I’m always used to doing stupid things like “get to the stage boss without killing any of the minions.” I completely forgot to shoot most of the time in a game when there is never a reason to not be shooting.

In the end, I dropped the ball. I got a nice consolation prize pack out of it though: A couple t-shirts (one not even available anymore at the time) and some ScrewAttack DVD collections. I’ve worn the costume a few times since, but I haven’t really updated it or done any other cosplay since. I don’t even really go to conventions like I used to. But I’m glad I decided to be Kevin Keene for that day.

---

Malcolm Terzich is a writer, researcher, and adventurer who is passionate about science, history and literature. He is also the creator of Ex Dynamis Chaos, which wraps up neatly all those interests into a world a madness and those who tame it.

You can find him on FaceBook and on Twitter @immadametal.

"Isle of Dogs" & "The Cat Returns" DOUBLE FEATURE

'SUP, NERDS?!

I would be honestly less mad if they did
a remake of Best in Show starring Arnett.
Best in Show IS A MUST WATCH!

Long time no movie blog. Recently I watched Isle of Dogs and The Cat Returns in the theatre and a thought occurred to me: Pet movies suck, but neither of these do! So today we're delving into what makes both of these films stand above other animal movies.

I love animals, but not pet movies

As a child I watched plenty of animal movies... but none of them grew up with me except for anything Disney. Maybe if we consider fine specimens like Jaws or The Birds, I don't see much of an appeal for most animal movies above the age of 10.

It hurts to see actors I love such like Will Arnett performing in the upcoming children's movie, Show Dogs. From the trailers I've seen, it doesn't look too great. It is such a shame when awesome talent isn't used to fuel entertainment that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. He is most likely stuck in some sort of dumb Hollywood contract, but I honestly don't mean to disrespect any actors since crappy movies do pay the bills.

I would consider The Secret Life of Pets a good pet movie. It really impressed me despite being a Toy Story rip-off. All the animals had such colorful personalities that went beyond emulating stereotypes and there were realistic dynamics between the characters.

I can't believe how invested I was during The Secret Life of Pets...
and admittedly Minions too, but that's a story for another day.

Relatable human drama and conflict in animal movies distinguishes the good from the abysmal. The ridiculous storylines and characters as seen in Cats & Dogs (which I consider an incredibly bad movie) are nowhere close to mirroring the real relationships between humans and animals. When a movie is made to solely be a spectacle for children because LOOK! Animals!!, all soul is lost.

Isle of Dogs

Wes Anderson's Isle of Dogs is certainly a treat. As most of you should know by now, I'm obsessed with animation and Anderson delivers a unique story told via stop-motion and scruffy pups. Isle of Dogs takes place in the not-so-distant future Japan where all dogs are sent to Trash Island due to a rise in threatening illnesses they carry.

Dogs are already precious to begin with... but the figures
in stop-motion was doggo eye candy every second of the film.

The film focuses on two major conflicts: the dogs helping Atari, a young boy who searches for his own pup, and the political tension of Megasaki City. I honestly found the politics much more interesting considering the primary antagonist, the mayor, is also Atari's uncle who sways favor into exiling the dogs rather than invest resources into curing them. There are layers of deception that later prevent a known cure to reach the public. A band of pro-dog high schoolers work to unearth the political corruption in Megasaki City, led by an American exchange student.

The Cat Returns

The Cat Returns sits in my top 5 favorite Studio Ghibli movies, so it was a thrill for me to see it on the big screen. The story revolves around a high school girl named Haru who saves a cat's life. Unbeknownst to her, the cat is actually a prince... of the Cat Kingdom!

As a thanks for saving his son, the king of the Cat Kingdom offers Prince Lune's hand to Haru and she is swept into their world with her chubby escort, Muta, followed by a living cat-statue, Baron Humbert von Gikkingen. Haru slowly transforms into a cat while she is inaugurated into this strange world. Of course she returns to the human world by the end of the film, but Haru's personal growth and the Baron's charm take center stage above all other characters and themes.

Human Appeal

Aside from connecting with the political events that take place in Megasaki City, there is human appeal in the dog world. In most animal movies, there is a strong sense of love and companionship between the pet and the owner, but it's usually forced and feels artificial for the sake of making the themes and story apparent to children. 

Isle of Dogs displays the love between man and dog in Atari's quest to find his furry companion, Spots. The gradual role reversal between Chief (a stray) and Spots is the greatest demonstration of character growth in Isle of Dogs. Chief's slow progression into liking and defending the boy melted my heart while unveiling the mystery of Spots. Spots deciding to become a stray and fend for other dogs was bittersweet. He denounces his role as a guardian to his master and hands over the title to Chief, who never anticipated being a pet. Spot's rationale and struggle to make this decision etched his personality, making this scene incredibly powerful.

In The Cat Returns, the Cat Kingdom mimics human society. However, this story could have been told a multitude of ways without the aid of cats-- but they make this new world feel foreign as the film relies on the adventure to develop Haru. I don't want to portray the film as lazy or bad for using a cat-themed template, but I think the familiarity of cats and the wonder about what our pets do while we're not around makes the movie feel magical.

Haru saving Prince Lune.

By Haru's act to save a cat at the beginning, it establishes her kindness towards animals, however she is lost as a person. She doesn't know what she wants and feels so average that she doesn't stand out in any way. The human aspect of the film delves into Haru's growing confidence with Baron pushing her to just believe in herself. I would say that The Cat Returns is more of a coming of age movie about Haru gaining a sense of self than being about animals.

CONCLUSIONARY STATEMENTS

Alright, I'm sure I skimmed over a bazillion animal and pet movies... but to reiterate my original point: they stink (at least most of them do). But the ones that stand out are unique in the fact that they can capture the hearts of adults too. Not all animal movies are meant for children nor are they all meant for adults. The ones that can meet in the middle are honestly the best.

Are there any animal or pet movies you particularly love? Would you consider them for a certain age group or do they appeal to large number of people?

LATER, DWEEBS!

Loverly Liz

An Introspective Look at "She and Her Cat"

I harbor a motherly love for my smol son...
but I sometimes wish I could totally marry my cat.
I imagine this is what he thinks of me.

'SUP, NERDS?!

Today I fell in love with She and Her Cat, a manga published by Vertical Inc. In case it wasn't clear enough as is, I am a crazy cat lady. I've always been a dog person, but I rescued the sweetest widdle kit-kat, Captain Hook, last fall. Since taking him, he revolutionized my life.

She and Her Cat

She and Her Cat is a pretty self-explanatory title in itself. Miyu takes in a cat, who she names Chobi, and the story is told from his perspective. Chobi describes the ups and downs Miyu experiences in her young adulthood. He ponders Miyu's life outside of their home based upon her moods and baggage she brings home.

Miyu takes care of and loves Chobi, who becomes her respite from the outside world. Although this story was first an animated-short by Makoto Shinkai, artist Tsubasa Yamaguchi delves further into Miyu's struggles than the short does. Miyu experiences conflict between work, her family life and friendships.

Capt. Hook, Tinkerbell and my
roomie/bestest friend await me.

How this relates

I see Miyu and Chobi as a fictional version of my life lately. I've been grasping at straws for validation and love when I have Capt. Hook already doing the job for me. Every day he greets me at the door and gives me puppy-dog kitty-cat eyes when I cave into my alarm clock and get ready for work.

Capt. Hook has been a little naughty lately, knowing that I'm frustrated with him and has been avoiding bedtime snuggles. After some recent emotional trials, he just knew what I needed and embraced me for the mess I am. He's been in-tune during a time of need.

Me and My Cat

My cat knows what's up. At least someone can understand me, in a world hazed with confusion and pressures. My cat is the only "person" I can feed every emotion and receive unconditional love, even on the bad days. Not only does he love me, but my friends and family do too--but it's difficult to share myself when humans can always talk back and criticize. Whatever. I'll do what I have to do to pave a happy and meaningful life, my cat carrying me through it all.

A particular page that struck me.

How much do you love your pets? I really hope you care for them as much as they care for you. They domesticated themselves into being your partner for a reason. Love your fur, feather and scaley babies every moment you can.

LATER, DWEEBS!

Loverly Liz

"After the Rain" gave me the feels

'SUP, NERDS?!

For the first time in forever, I watched an anime. Honestly, I would have never found After the Rain if it weren't for Vertical Inc. tweeting about acquiring the rights. The short synopsis caught my immediate interest and I sought the anime immediately and watched it within a 24 hour span.

Summary

The cover of vol.1

Our protagonist, Akira Tachibana, is a 17 year old who works at a small restaurant and falls in love with her middle-aged boss, Mr. Kondo. They like each other, but find it difficult to express their feelings in an appropriate manner. Akira crushes on Mr. Kondo but doesn't have a clue as to why she likes him so much. On the other hand, Mr. Kondo admires Akira's youth and reminisces about his high school and college years.

I Swear, It's Not Creepy

My first thoughts delving into After the Rain was either this show is going to be risque & disgusting or it's going to be super sweet--thankfully it is the latter.

Akira suffered a sports injury and was charmed by Mr. Kondo during her recovery phase. She applied to the restaurant solely because she liked him. Akira has a very stoic demeanor, often leading people to think she doesn't like them. The first time she tells Mr. Kondo she like-likes him, he takes it as a simple compliment, relieved his staff doesn't hate him.

Not. Creepy.

Akira continues to pursue Mr. Kondo, such as getting his phone number, texting him and going out on little dates. Mr. Kondo is divorced and takes care of his young son on occasion, his ex-wife having full custody. He enjoys Akira's friendship and company, but there is a lot more stirring in his mind.

It Goes Beyond Romance

My favorite aspect of After the Rain is that it ends up focusing more on the complexity of relationships and pursuing goals than the "romance" between Akira and Mr. Kondo. Most of the show is with Akira, exploring her feelings about her fall as a track star. She increasingly spends more time at the restaurant and blocks her friends from the team out of her life. Her best friend struggles to connect with Akira and wants to take their friendship beyond sports.

This never happened... but Akira wishes she can kiss Mr. Kondo.

Mr. Kondo's story line is much more interesting because there is a shroud of mystery behind him. The show slowly introduces his love of reading, but delves deeper into his passion for writing. It can be assumed that his failure as a writer broke his marriage. I really wished the show went more into his past relationship and the drama revolved around his writing, but I don't think there would have been an appropriate place to put it.

Mr. Kondo's story focuses more on his desire to publish and the dynamic between his friend and fellow writer, Chihiro Kujo. They met in college, but Kujo attained success as a best-selling author. Despite the fact he made a career of writing, Kujo envies Kondo for having the freedom to create anything he likes since Kujo is expected to continue to create mainstream pieces.

Feeling the Feels

I particularly like this anime because I was able to understand both Akira and Mr. Kondo. Her relationship with Mr. Kondo provides a fleeting distraction from the trials of her recovery, but I don't perceive any of her feelings being disingenuous. I think Akira provided Mr. Kondo some inspiration to seriously pursue his writing again, their time together proving to be healing for both parties.

There is a particular beauty and innocence to this relationship that resonates with me. Although the two are clearly not going to end up as a legitimate couple, it was exciting every step of the way through their friendship, discovering interesting bits about them. I find myself similarly now delving into the layers of another person, seeing both the good and not so good parts of them. I don't exactly know where I'm heading, but I see my excitement reflected similarly to Akira's.

Everything Else

Characters and story aside... I absolutely adore the art style. Akira appears to be a plain girl, but she is accented with so much detail. Her design reminds me of 80s anime, cute blushing and sparkles and all. Mr. Kondo is not an unattractive man, but he's also plain. However, his personality and animation make him incredibly cute.

This image just oozes with style.

From my understanding, the story doesn't take place in Tokyo... which is totally overdone in every anime/manga ever. The backgrounds and environments are unique, especially Akira's home and neighborhood.

Overall, I recommend this to fans of the romance genre. It's not entirely what I expected it to be and it ends on a high note. You can watch After the Rain in its entirety on Amazon Prime Video. I definitely will purchase the manga upon release.

LATER, DWEEBS!

Loverly Liz