Books & Film
Distinctive Identity of Anime: Breaking Free from Cartoon Stereotypes
I have had this conversation with most people and frankly, I am disappointed. Anime is not cartoons.
Anime focuses primarily on life issues; things tied closer to human emotion and has diverse themes. Cartoons are generally made to make people laugh and so are more comical. Remember this next time we speak …. enough of the rant, here are some unique and easy Anime to start out with.
Samurai X (Rurouni Kenshin)
Old is gold…. so is Samurai X. The story revolves around Kenshin Himura, a former ruthless assassin who now seeks redemption by peaceful wandering, vowing never to kill again. During his journey, he encounters various individuals and forms new connections, including Kaoru Kamiya – a kindhearted dojo owner, and Yahiko Myojin – a young student seeking guidance.
However, Kenshin’s violent past catches up with him as formidable enemies from his past emerge, forcing him to confront his demons while protecting those he cares about. The series skillfully combines action, historical elements, and profound character development. This makes it a timeless tale of honor, redemption, and the enduring power of humanity. The anime started in 1996 and takes place in the 1860s during the Bakumatsu Revolution when Japan was torn asunder as revolutionaries tried to overthrow the Tokugawa Shogunate, which had ruled for 300 years, and restore the Emperor to power.
Another
Anime horror slaps differently, if you don’t believe me try this one. In class 3-3 of Yomiyama North Junior High, transfer student Kouichi Sakakibara makes his return after taking sick leave for the first month of school. Among his new classmates, he is inexplicably drawn toward Mei Misaki—a reserved girl with an eyepatch whom he met in the hospital during his absence. But none of his classmates acknowledge her existence; they warn him not to acquaint himself with things that do not exist. Against their words of caution, Kouichi befriends Mei—soon learning of the sinister truth behind his friends’ apprehension.
The ominous rumors revolve around a former student of the class 3-3. However, no one will share the full details of the grim event with Kouichi. Engrossed in the curse that plagues his class, Kouichi sets out to discover its connection to his new friend. As a series of tragedies arise around them, it is now up to Kouichi, Mei, and their classmates to unravel the eerie mystery—but doing so will come at a hefty price. I rate this a 9 – it’s a great one-season show.
Honorable mentions
Yakusokuno Neverland (The Promised Neverland), Demon Slayer, Bleach, Jujitsu Kaisen, and Atack on Titan.
*Anime has English versions, you do not have to strain to use subtitles. Just watch dubbed episodes.
Have a lovely watch.
Books & Film
MOVIES TO LOOK OUT FOR IN CINEMAS THIS NOVEMBER!!!!!
November is closing spooky season and beginning Christmas early with holiday movies and more. Do not miss out on this exciting adventure. Get yourself some popcorns and let’s dive in to what the cinemas have to offer this month:
1. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Will Be Released On November 8, 2024
Six juvenile delinquent siblings who inadvertently find themselves participating in the local church pageant during the holidays unleash chaos but they might just teach a shocked community the true meaning of Christmas.
2.Heretic
Will Be Released On November 8, 2024
Heretic is a horror thriller of two young missionaries who try to convert Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant). However, the mission takes a sinister turn as Mr. Reed is actually far more dangerous than they could have anticipated. Will their faith help them make it out alive?
3.Small Things Like These
Will Be Released On November 8, 2024
Cillian Murphy is back after his previous movie Oppenheimer which hit the cinemas last year! Let’s take a look at what he has to offer this year.
Bill Furlong (Cillian Murphy), a coal merchant living next to a convent. Furlong ends up discovering the dark secrets and disturbing things that happen inside the convent, leading him to confront the secrets of the Irish town of New Ross.
4.Red One
Will Be Released On November 10, 2024
Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans star in this christmas comedy film where Dwayne Johnson head of security of the North Pole, and Chris Evans the infamous hacker and bounty hunter team up to save Santa Claus who has been kidnapped. Will they save him on time to save Christmas altogether?
5.Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point
Will Be Released On November 15, 2024
A family gathers on Christmas Eve for what could be the last holiday in their ancestral home. As the night wears on and tensions arise, one of the teenagers sneaks out with her friends to claim the wintry suburb for her own.
6.Gladiator II
Will Be Released On November 22, 2024
With rage in Lucius’ heart and the future of the empire at stake, he looks to the past to find the strength and honor needed to return the glory of Rome to its people. Will he succeed? Let’s find out.
7.Wicked
Will Be Released On November 22, 2024
Wicked tells the story of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), who has been misunderstood due to her green skin her whole life, but she forms a profound friendship with Glinda (Ariana Grande), who longs for popularity. Their relationship soon reaches a crossroad as their lives begin to take very different paths.
8.Moana 2
Will Be Released On November 27, 2024
Moana (voiced by Auli’i Cravalho) reunites with the demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson), and along with her crew, they go into the far seas of Oceania to break the curse of the god Nalo on the hidden island of Motufetu.
9.Maria
Will Be Released On November 27, 2024
Maria tells the story of real-life opera singer Maria Callas (played by Angelina Jolie), following the final years of her life.
Books & Film
A Journey of Self-Discovery: Book Review of Educated by Tara Westover
In Tara Westover’s Educated she unlocks her memories and takes you on a roller coaster of her early life growing up in the Mormon culture.
Tara is the youngest of seven children born to Gene and LaRee Westover. .
At Buck Peak’s somewhere in Idaho, she looks over the princess, a mountain. She wonders what lies ahead past that. The only world she’s ever known off is that built by her family. Where seeking an education would lead them to be infiltrated by societies such as the Illuminati and forget the norms of Mormonism and dress as a tiny harlot while at that.
Funny thing is that Tara was allowed to drive and work at a certain grocery shop. It’s not until her elder brother Tyler, took an interest in wanting to seek an education outside from the little homeschooling that they had been taught by their mother, is when Tara also gained interest.
She recalls of how she would lie at the feet of Tyler in his room, listening to some of his music while he studied. The only texts that Tara had ever read was the Holy Bible and those of John Smith and other Mormon leaders.
Tyler passed his General Education Development (GED) test and went ahead to study at Brighton Young University (BYU) where Tara would equally follow suite years later.
Tara’s mother was the type who always stood by their husband. She was a midwife and also a herbalist. The family alongside with other Mormons did not believe in hospitals or modern medicine. The unveiling of several accidents including two road accidents, which left her mother recovering at the basement for months, Luke’s leg getting burnt and her father being blasted and most of his skin scarred, all these cases were treated at home.
A rift with Tara and her father began when one day her brother Shawn got an accident and instead of bringing him home to mother for treatment, she called an ambulance instead to the hospital.
However, Tara excels in her university education earning her Masters and PhD from Cambridge University.
Finally, she manages to break from the shell of her family. This was after exposing, the physical and emotional abuse that Shawn had subjected her too. Nobody believed aside from her brothers Richard, Tony and Tyler. Everyone else completely cut her off.
It is a story of strength and liberation. Seeking her own self, world, identity outside of the norms of Mormonism. Also a story of loss and grief as she struggled to accept that her own family chose to disown her instead of believe her. But most importantly it is a story of great courage and seeking better for oneself, an education.
A cacophony of transformation, metamorphosis, falsity and betrayal.
Books & Film
Packed Fall 2024 Anime Lineup: What to Expect This Season
This October is packed with a stellar(you’ll only get it if you’ve seen SpyxFamily) lineup of anime releases. Several highly anticipated series and returning favourites are coming back, making the fall season a major event for anime enthusiasts. Here’s what you should be most excited for
1. Re: Zero Season 3
OCTOBER 2
The third season of Re: Zero returns after a long wait, continuing Subaru’s intense journey through alternate realities filled with dangers and hard-won triumphs. The gripping storyline and beloved characters will certainly keep fans hooked.
2. Dragon Ball Daima
OCTOBER 11
The Dragon Ball franchise introduces a new spin with Dragon Ball Daima. While keeping the franchise’s core characters like Goku, Vegeta, and Bulma, the plot focuses on a fresh storyline that involves Goku’s “grand adventure,” filled with new enemies like Gomah and the Masked Majin. With Toriyama heavily involved, this is expected to be a high-energy addition to the Dragon Ball legacy.
3. Blue Lock Season 2
OCTOBER 5
Following its massively successful first season, Blue Lock Season 2 kicks off with more intense soccer action. As Yoichi Isagi and the team face tougher challenges from international players, the stakes are higher than ever. This series is perfect for sports anime lovers, especially those drawn to fierce competition and emotional growth. I hope the trailers are not a foreshadowing.
4. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3
OCTOBER 5
The war continues in Bleach, where Ichigo Kurosaki and his allies are thrust deeper into the battle with the Wandenreich. This part of the series, highly anticipated by fans, promises even more action-packed scenes and dramatic plot twists. Let the conflict begin.
5. Tower of God Season 2, Cour 2
OCTOBER 6
Following the success of its first part, Tower of God resumes with its intricate plotlines, testing the limits of Bam and his companions as they continue their climb in the mysterious tower.
6. Danmachi Season 5
OCTOBER 4
The adventures in Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? return, bringing viewers back to the labyrinthine world of Orario. Season 5 promises more adventures, romance, and challenges for Bell and his companions.
7. Uzumaki
SEPTEMBER 28
For fans of horror, Uzumaki, based on Junji Ito’s spine-chilling manga, is finally arriving this fall. Its visually disturbing art and haunting storyline will likely make it one of the top horror anime of the season.
Fall 2024 anime release dates
- Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II (October 4, 2024)
- Look Back (October 4, 2024) [MOVIE]
- Ranma 1/2 (October 5, 2024)
- Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft (October 10, 2024)
- Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance (October 11, 2024)
- My Hero Academia: You’re Next (October 11, 2024) [MOVIE]
- Attack on Titan The Movie: The Last Attack (November 8, 2024 in Japan) [MOVIE]
- Arcane season 2 (Beginning November 9, 2024)
- Fate/strange Fake (November 2024)
- Beastars season 3 (December 2024)
This season’s lineup offers a broad spectrum of genres, from sports (Blue Lock), action (Dragon Ball Daima), and fantasy (Danmachi), to horror (Uzumaki), showcasing just how packed and exciting October will be for anime fans.
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