Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre- Series Review

Junji Ito's Maniac: Japanese Tales of Macabre has an intriguing premise: an anthology series of some of his short stories. Rather than jump scares, Ito always goes for the unworldly and creeping dread, the horror of what is unknowable. It sounds like a solid premise for a series, but is it? I've created a synopsis and short review of each episode below.

The Strange Hikizuri Siblings
When a photographer and spiritualist meet a strange family they encounter possession and power plays.
This is a quirky story about an Addams Family/ Munsters style family. The siblings are all quite unique and they interact in socially awkward ways. It's not really scary but quite gross with the vomiting ectoplasm.

The Story of the Mysterious Tunnel
When a woman mysteriously vanishes in a train tunnel, years later her young son revisits it and finds that it seems to be drawing his family in.
This is a genuinely creepy story as it makes you question yourself about life after death and the spirit realm. It's a short 15 minute film but is effective.

Ice Cream Bus
When a father and son move into an appartment complex, they see the families send their children off with the ice cream man who appears each Saturday. When his kid starts to act weird the dad wants to find out why.
This is a weird episode. It clocks in at just under 10 mins but is a slight episode about obsession.

Hanging Balloon
When her idol singer friend is found hanged, her friends and family find it hard to deal with the fallout. However, when there is group hysteria stating that her floating face haunts the wooded area, people start to go crazy.
Once the phenomenon becomes a pandemic, the whole of society crumbles but there is one holdout.
This is an excellent episode as it looks at Japan's obsession with idols and the strange cults that can develop around them. It also looks at group hysteria and how it can take over a population as well as mass suicide. This is a very dark episode.

4 x 4 Walls
When a diligent student constantly keeps getting distracted by his younger brother a Home Alone style chase ensues across a quadruple protected room. However, the troublemaker does get his comeuppance.
It's a weird one this one and quite slight. Soichi, the troublemaker, comes across like a Loki type chaos character and it's easy to take a dislike to him.

The Sandman's Lair
When a fantasy writer, Yuji, asks his girlfriend to keep him awake to prevent his dream version from coming into the real world she doesn't believe him. What occurs is like a Nightmare on Elm Street.
This is a 10 minute animation and is so strange that it's hard to parse except maybe it's the literal form of 'follow your dreams'.

Intruder
When 4 mystery truth seekers hear about a creepy house nearby from a quiet fellow student they make a starling discovery there. Is their new friend a serial killer?
This tale of colleagiate pals, brought together in a Scooby Doo style mystery is funny but unsettling too.

Long Hair in the Attic
When a woman is unceremoniously dumped by her boyfriend after several years, she decides to cut her hair- new year, new me, right? Her hair has other ideas however.
This is a solid short film with a simple premise and vivid imagery. The visual of the head in the attic is something to behold and when it moves, crawling along the ground it'll make you... Well... hair stand on end.

Mold
When a successful student has to go overseas, he rents out his apartment to his former teacher. Upon his return he finds the teacher and his family gone and his home covered in mold.
This is a good overall premise as the mold grows and spreads, infecting the whole building and the grey scale of the art creates a discontenting feeling.

Library Vision
A young man has an extensive private library collection but when a few books seem to go missing he obsesses over them.
In contrast to its companion piece Mold, this is a vibrantly coloured episode and looks at what happens when obsession takes hold. The background and scenery animation is gorgeous and the story simple but effective enough.

Tomb Town
When a new driver goes on a road trip with his sister to visit her friend, they accidently hit and kills someone. They try to hide the body but encounter a strange town with tombstones scattered around. Can they get away with manslaughter?
This is one of the best episodes of the series as it builds up tension as the siblings try to hide their crime. The denouement is proper downbeat though.

Layers of Terror
When an archaeologist finds a strange skull little does he realise that it will have a curse that has repercussions for his family when they have a car accident 20 years later.
This is a pretty gross body horror short film as the petty sibling jealousies are at the centre of this sad tale.

The Thing That Drifted Ashore
A monstrous fish washes ashore and, whilst examining it, scientists see people living inside it.
This is a tale about the resilience and adaptability of the human body and spirit but Ito style so it's gross and scary.

Tomie-Photo
When a photography club member is reprimanded by the new transfer student for selling photos of popular boys, it becomes a fight for survival as things escalate.
This is a classic Ito tale and is one of his most well known works. It's condensed quite a bit but is still very effective.

Unendurable Labyrinth
A couple of students go for a mountain hike and end up getting lost. They come across an esoteric Buddhist sect and meditate for a few days but hear tell of a ritual.
This is a well told short tale with an intriguing central conceit. The ending is startling and jarring. Solid Ito work here.

The Bully
A girl befriends a younger boy but starts to bully him. Years later, they meet again, fall in love and have a child but has the bully really mended her ways.
This is a disconcerting episode as it shows how abuse can affect someone and have lasting effects. It ends of quite a chilling tone too.

Alley
A new lodger moves into an old house with an elderly lady and her daughter. When he hears strange noises coming from an alleyway he investigates and hears tell of ghosts.
This is a solid short with an intriguing premise which carries through to its startling conclusion.

Headless Statue
An art teacher prepares for an exhibition where his headless statues are to take centre stage. However, when he is murdered and his head is missing a student looks for the truth.
This is a fun spooky episode as there's always something disconcerting about mannequins, statues etc.

Whispering Woman
A young girl with hysteria is attended to by a quiet and calm woman. It is a successful relationship and the girl becomes more independent and happy. However, after the woman is killed the girl becomes restless.
This is a chilling episode about domestic abuse and ends in quite a gory way. It's an effective story well done.

Soichi's Beloved Pet
Soichi's family adopt a stray cat but the curse starts to turn him feral. What evil thing will it do next?
This is a funny episode and it leans a lot into the absurdity of it all.

Overall, I enjoyed the series just fine but with the exception of Hanging Balloons, Tomie, Unendurable Labyrinth and Headless Statues, quite forgettable. It's not that the stories are poor per se but the power of Ito's black and white images sears itself into your mind but when they are animated in colour and the pace moves at such a click it feels rushed with no sense of pacing. In this way, the payoff is poor and not worth the investment as you walk away shrugging your shoulder rather than shuddering in fear. Unlike a lot of his graphic novel work, nothing really from this animation series imprints itself.
Ito is a master storyteller and artist and this series is a primer of some of his works but his graphic novel work is where he shines. This is a disappointment and, even though I was mildly entertained, I was underwhelmed.

Hilda- Season 3 Review

Hilda is an amazing 6 part graphic novel series and Netflix animated show which has run for 2 seasons and a feature length movie.

The first season, a 13 part animated series, adapted the multi-award-winning and highly acclaimed graphic novel series by Luke Pearson about a young, blue-haired girl who goes on many adventures. Hilda lived with her mother in a cabin near the woods and mountains, away from people. It is in this landscape that Hilda went on her first few adventures filled with magical creatures and magical worlds that co-exist alongside hers/ours.

When their home is destroyed Hilda and her mother left their cabin and moved to the city of Trolberg. Here, Hilda adapted to life in an urban setting, meeting new people and the complexities that brought. She began to understand the beauty that can exist in the city and developed friendships through the Sparrow Scouts group she joined. It was here that the main thrust of the series pushed forward with each episode being an amazing and whimsical adventure. There were elves, stone giants, a Thunderbird and even a nightmare inducing teen thrown into the mix and it all ended up making sense as the world with a tapestry of story and character with its world-building logic.

I loved the original series and felt that the weirdness and slight tinge of unease was reminiscent of Over The Garden Wall, Gravity Falls and Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated.

With season 2, Netflix kicked things up a gear as we had lots of new stories which diverged from the comic series as most of this had been covered in the previous season. However, these original tales were excellent and continued the good work done in the previous season. It deepened the relationships between Hilda and the citizens of her world as they tried to navigate the threat posed by Ahlberg, a narcissistic figure who seeks to destroy the trolls and ascend to some form of power. He proved to be a great foil for our heroine over the course of the show and the season 2 cliffhanger finale, The Stone Circle. It was the final and longest episode of the series and featured the story arc of the final graphic novel which was released at the tail-end of 2020.

I reviewed the graphic novel but this episode was a little different as Hilda and her mum were thrown out by an accident occurring in the Nisse Nowhere Space. They ended up inside a mountain inhabited by trolls and had to make their way out back to Trolberg. In another plot, The Trolberg Safety Patrol end up stranded outside the walls with David and Frida and must survive the night. Both plots complemented each other as they are about surviving against the odds in perilous circumstances. There were some pretty close calls and squeaky bum moments but it all ended up pretty well, until the final moments which set up the feature long movie where Hilda and the changling swap places with the changling now in Trolberg and Hilda stuck with the trolls in the mountains.

With Mountain King, released a year and a half after that season 2 cliffhanger, we finally got closure and a satisfying conclusion. In a very humanist piece, we understood how and why trolls lived and gathered around Trolberg. We gained empathy and understanding to these much maligned creatures and through troll Hilda, who goes native, we understand the cruelty of the bells being placed on their noses and the impositions placed on them by the humans. We also see that individuals can have collective power. The protests, supported by the teacher, makes me think of the current real world situation where the youth movements across the world are leading to change and holding those in power to account. Inversely, we also see how charismatic individuals can lie and manipulate the situation to get people to do what they want. The film ended on a note of hope and there wasn't a deus-ex machina to make everything okay, and I liked that. Life is messy and things don't always reach a neat conclusion and the graphic novel series, animated series and movie showed that.

With series 3, I didn't know what to expect as they had kept their cards close to their chest. The uneasy status at the end of the movie left it open to explore the 'what happens next?' This final series only has 8 episodes but the final one is a feature length one at over an hour and 15 minutes. I'll break down each episode as a synopsis and give my opinions after:

The Train to Tofoten- When Hilda receives an invite from eccentric Great Aunt Astrid, she and the gang go pay her a visit. When she is tasked to return a woff egg, they journey across the woods to find the woff mountain where they nest.
I enjoyed this story as it gave Johanna a chance to shine and offered us a chance to learn a little about her past. Also, it gave us an insight into the woffs and their environment. The flight scene with the gang riding the woffs is a fist-pump-in-the-air highlight.

The Fairy Mound- When Hilda starts to read a book about the Histories of the Fairies of Tofoten she tries to uncover the mystery about their origins. She goes on a quest to find them and finds a fairy mound deep in the woods but gets lost with Frida and David.
This is an exciting story that develops the lore of Tofoten further. We also gain a deeper understanding of Johanna's childhood and what motivated her move to Trolberg. The creepy fairy mound setting is suitably spooky and creepy and leads to an exciting but dramatic change in the family dynamic.

The Giantslayer- With the family returned to Trolberg, Hilda keeps in contact with her Great Aunt. When her charm is broken, Hilda travels deep into the forest to source the wood. She meets the Woodsman and accidentally travels back in time to the age of the giants. The people of the village hate the giants and slay them but Hilda tries to help the communities find peace with each other.
The stories are prescient and looks at how even the smallest individual can change the world. There are some people who always look towards violence but whilst Hilda seems overcome with insurmountable odds, she never gives up and tries to make the world a more equitable and kinder place. This is a message I can definitely get behind: 'Change takes times and we're not always around to see the outcomes of our good deeds'.

The Laughing Merman- Whilst trying to earn their Fish Finding badge for the Sea Scouts, Hilda, David and Frida join up with a new girl and find themselves lost in a river. They meet a chatty merman who is trying to escape from a sea serpent but find themselves going on various adventures along the river.
I love that this episode looks at how the gang always seem to find themselves in ridiculous situations yet want to appear normal. Also, the introduction of a new friend to make the gang the Freaky Four is cute.

The Job- We get introduced to Anders, Hilda's father. He seems to be a bit of a free-spirit and seems to struggle to be a father. When he takes up a job to explore the castle ruins on the outskirts of town, he starts to bond with Hilda whilst on this exciting adventure involving theft from a troll's horde.
I was quite pleased that Hilda's dad was just some random lightly balding bloke rather than the bell keeper or anything lore worthy, it added an element of surprise that he was just an immature deadbeat dad. His efforts to bond with Hilda go well but he does not know how to be a father and ends up putting her in danger through his irresponsible behaviour.

The Forgotten Lake- Hilda is still upset that her father left without saying goodbye so Joanna takes Hilda to the wilderness develop her bonding time. However, a spider/frog-like creature kidnaps her and is on the hunt for Johanna.
This is an exciting and tense cat and mouse-type episode and is exciting to the very end. As a standalone episode it really is excellent and it's brilliant to see Johanna go badass Ripley style!

Strange Sequences- When Hilda hears some weird static sounds on the radio, she goes all Rear Window-y and slightly obsessive. As she deciphers it and goes around canvassing a picture of her dad, she helps Frida and David organise a meeting when the Nisse go on a stealing/ 'borrowing' spree.
This is a cute episode where the idea of sharing rather than stealing comes into play for the Nisse. More importantly, Hilda, David and Frida find out where Hilda's dad is decide to mount a rescue operation.

The Fairy Isle- This is the final episode and a feature length one clocking in at 77 minutes. The longer runtime in necessary to let the story breathe and to let the magical world of the fairies breathe. When Hilda goes back to Tofoten, she enters the fairy mound to rescue her dad. She succeeds but re-enters to find her mum who has gone in to rescue Hilda. She befriends another girl but struggles to find her mother. When she does, she realises that they cannot leave without a price being paid.
The final episode is magical and puts a nice bow on things. Hilda has lots of adventures and realises the truth about her mother and the relationship between this world and the fairy. The relationship between Phinium and Lidia is beautifully represented and the guardianship of Astrid and Johanna is emotional. When the series is all said and done, the triumphalism of the final few minutes is palpable as callbacks and cameos abound. The majestic music carried the whole thing on a swell of positivity and hope.

Hilda is aimed at slightly older kids, it is a PG after all, but it is excellent for older people too as the central story about facing the challenges the world throws at us and being kind and understanding in the face of it all is a universal value worth reiterating. The focus on Johanna, where we learn about the difficulties of growing up and of being a mother, really developed her character and increased our understanding of her away from being a mere scold or nag.

It’s has been a great few years for animation but Hilda is on a whole different level for me as it has more heart and earnestness that many of its contemporaries. It is a masterpiece of world-building, storytelling, music and animation. The Hilda-verse is so very special and magical and I will miss it.

LINK- Hilda Season 1 Review

LINK- Hilda Season 2 Review

LINK- Hilda and the Mountain King- TV Movie Review

LINK- Hilda Comic Series Review 

LINK- Gravity Falls Complete Series Review

LINK- Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated Complete Series 1 Review

LINK- Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated Series 2 Review

LINK- Ms Marvel Can Change the World

Cabinet of Curiosities- Complete Cult Series Review

I do love a good anthology series. The idea of many little stories, based on an overarching theme, always appealed to me as if you didn't really like a story another one would soon be up and it might be more your cup of tea. I've watched many Outer Limits, The Twilight Zone, Goosebumps, Are You Afraid of the Dark? as well as the BBC series such as Ghost Stories for Christmas amongst many other 70s horror anthologies and I can never get enough.

When I first heard of Cabinet of Curiosities I was excited, but when I heard it would be produced by Guillermo Del Toro, one of the best writers and directors of our time and a huge cult horror nerd I was ecstatic. Over the course of a couple of weeks, I watched the entire run of 8 episodes. Here's my breakdown of each episode and my opinions.

Lot 36
When an auction lands a desperate man a storage room, he finds that it's mostly junk. However, there are a few books and accoutrements linked to the dark arts and a collector seems interested in these. To pay off his debts how far will he be willing to go?
This was an amazing episode as the main protagonist comes across as a rude and bigoted man, so when he gets his comeuppance it seems well deserved. The directing is solid and the special effects are excellent with the 'big bad' reveal.

Graveyard Rats
A gravedigger and robber eyes the riches of a deceased man but the rats in the graveyard pose a threat. With debts to pay, will he be able to secure the goods, pay off the debtors and enrich himself? As he searches in the tunnels under the graveyard he finds the black church and creatures from nightmares.
This is a tight episode clocking in at under 40 minutes but it is filled with tension. The moments when the man is crawling through the tunnels are terrifyingly claustrophobic and the creatures are horrendous. A favourite of mine.

The Autopsy
When a mining disaster devastates a community the sheriff calls upon an old pathologist pal to investigate. What they find is unexpected and possibly extra terrestrial so the pathologist starts to carry out an autopsy.
The cinematography in this film is impressive and recalls Friedkin's The Exorcist. The noirish lighting, hues of black and amber gold, lend it an intimate yet unnerving feel. The story is very creative and, even though it is an alien parasite story, the denouement has a big payoff and that is mostly due to the masterful acting of F. Murray Abraham.

The Outside
A bank clerk struggles with her self-esteem and is sold on a beauty product which is apparent transformative. Will it provide the results she wants without any monkey’s paw ending?
This is a curiously quirky episode as it reminds me of the pushy neighbour scene in Edward Scissorhands, where everything is retro stylised up to 11. The story is quite interesting and goes some places but it wasn't one of my favourites as it was look quirky.

Pickman's Model
When an artist encounters a new, more mature college colleague they bond over an appreciation of art. However, when Pickman, the older artist shares paintings of cosmic horrors it haunts the man and his family.
This is a true homage to H. P. Lovecraft with the unnameable cosmic horrors that exist outside the realms of our imagination entering the real world through Pickman's art . This is a dark gothic piece and ratchets up the tension throughout. At points, it reminded me of the classic Nintendo Gamecube game Eternal Darkness. If you get that reference then you'll know that's high praise indeed.

The Murmuring
An enthusiastic ornithological couple go on a work trip to an island to research the murmuration of the local dunlin population. Whilst there, they stay at an old coastal mansion where spooky goings on occur. It brings to the fore the underlying grief felt by the couple at the loss of their child.
This is a moody episode, much in the style of an M. R. James story in that outsiders visit a new place and encounter ghostly goings on featuring an angry mother and a dripping wet child. The sound effects are suitably spooky and the tone is set for a solid haunted house mystery about the circumstances of the previous owners' demise.

The Viewing
Four strangers are requested to meet at a successful but reclusive eccentric businessman's house. They don't know why they are called but they go nonetheless. The astrophysicist, musical prodigy, bestselling author and alternative therapy guru are regaled with their success and are pushed to be even better by their amiable host before being introduced to a mysteriously acquired item. What is it and where did it come from?
This starts off as a typical haunted house mystery in which you think the guests will have to work together to get to the bottom of the mystery and find how they are all connected, like the Saw franchise. But this is different. Peter Weller gives a suitably creepy performance as the drug addled owner of The Sandpiper House who is a wordsmith who craves power and knowledge, but it is the creature that emerges that is pure brilliance. The set design is amazing and the cinematography phenomenal in presenting a late 70s opulence style via 2001: A Space Odyssey. The red light diffusion adds the film an eerie tinge whilst the conclusion is startling and gory as the best body horror is.

Dreams in the Witch House
An adaptation of a Lovecraft short story where a brother tries to reach the other side after his sister's spirit is taken by a ghost when she was young. Growing up, he seeks a way across the bridge between this material world and the spirit Plain to bring her back but it carries a lot of risks.

The story is a bit of a trippy classic and pretty unfilmable in its original form but this version makes it more linear and accessible. Rupert Grint does a great job as the down on his luck brother doing all he can to rescue his sibling. The ending is bittersweet but end with a joie de vivre ditty.

I thoroughly loved Cabinet of Curiosities as, through his short introductions, Del Toro adds a dash of ringmaster to these takes and recalls Rod Serling. Also like Serling, Del Toro is able to disguise his social and political commentary through these short parables. By setting the stories in the past or the future, with sci-fi and fantasy settings, Serling could present his social criticisms without attracting any ire from the viewers or television sponsors and advitisers. Seemingly, the fantastical elements made the content more palatable. In this case, Del Toro doesn't care about any criticism, he is just heading a smorgasbord of horror talent, many of which carry a social commentary. But then, most horror is successful as it amplifies societies fears and often personifies them in a terrifying monster.

Nimona- Film Review

I'm a bit of a ND Stevenson fan, having become aware of his work through the magnificent Lumberjanes graphic novel series. I purchased the hardback Nimona graphic novel way back in 2015 and loved the premise of a shape-shifting teen and her friendship with a vengeful knight. I loved the quirky characters and how Nimona was goofy yet incredibly forthright and aggressive when she needed to be. When I heard that the movie was being made I was ecstatic as Stevenson's work on She-Ra was exceptional and his characters felt well realised and, well, human with all the flaws and foibles that entailed. Over the course of 5 seasons, she showed character growth of She-Ra, the Princesses of Power as well as Catra… that was on top of writing some pretty epic storylines about multi-verses and such. It was a heady brew and Nimona seemed promising as this was a graphic novel which had heart and growth at its core.

When Blue Sky animation, who had been working on the animation for a couple of years, was shuttered by new owners Disney I was gutted as Nimona had apparently been nearly completed. However, praise be our Netflix overlords who stepped in and saved the film from being scrapped. So, was it worth the salvage?

The story is a familiar one, an outsider, (a Knight named Ballister Boldheart voiced by Riz Ahmed) achieves success through his hard work and merit but is deemed unworthy by many to become a knight of the realm due to his lineage as a commoner. He is framed for a crime he didn't commit and has to clear his name whilst hiding from the authorities. He bonds with another outcast, Nimona (voiced by Chloe Grace Moretz in an excellently nuanced performance) who has been hunted by all for her difference; she is a shapeshifter.
The two develop a friendship as she becomes his squire as they strive to clear his name.

The film is like one of those odd pair buddy movie where the characters are seemingly very different but through their adventures they realise that, actually, they are quite alike. The relationship between Ballister and Nimona is beautifully told, as he tries to understand his squire’s shape-shifting tendencies. After asking some small-minded questions. Nimona's reply of, "Honestly I feel worse when I don't do it (shape shift)... I shape shift and I'm free… if I didn't shape shift I just sure wouldn't be living," really resonated.

It's these interactions that make this a great character study as these two very different people, in the LGBTQ+ community, bond over being ostracised and different.

The whole film is stunningly animated, from the retro futuristic world, combining gleaming high-rises with turreted tops and giants screens, to the stylistically and expressive characters. Cosplay season is going to be busy with this show, I can tell ya, as the details on the clothes and accoutrements are a fans dream. I can’t wait to go to the next expo and see people dressed in this getup.

I loved the film and the message of being your authentic self, even when it is a challenge to be so. It also asks people to not listen to the prejudices of the older generation but actually think about the lived experiences you have had with people from the community or to use empathy to understand their struggles. The film builds on the graphic novel series and is a rallying cry for acceptance and tolerance of the LGBTQ+ community and I, for one, am here for it!

The Kirlian Frequency- Cult TV Review

As the cold winter nights set in and the rainy weather makes outdoor exploration uninviting, I've been on the lookout for some strange and quirky shows. During one of these explorations I happened across The Kirlian Frequency. I decided to give it a go and wasn't disappointed as it reminded me of another show I like, the podcast Welcome to Nightvale. Similar to that podcast, the central protagonist is a radio host who talks about the strange goings on in the local town, in this case Kirlian, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Kirlian pre-dates Nightvale according to some sources so it really does seem to be a case of simultaneous invention.

Over the course of five episodes, of about 10 minutes in length, we encounter the weird and wonderful inhabitants of this land.

The animation is very Flash and reminds me of another show Broken Saints, which featured gorgeous art. This shows art is rough and ready but is effective in setting the mood, having the prerequisite level of spookiness and janky charm. At under an hour, it's a short series and well worth your time and it is a curio from web-series times past. The show is available here on YouTube on the official channel or on Netflix.

Hilda and the Mountain King- TV Movie Review

Hilda is an amazing 6 part graphic novel series and Netflix animated show which has run for 2 seasons and now a feature length movie.

The first season, a 13 part animated series, adapted the multi-award-winning and highly acclaimed graphic novel series by Luke Pearson about a young, blue-haired girl who goes on many adventures. Hilda lived with her mother in a cabin near the woods and mountains, away from people. It is in this landscape that Hilda went on her first few adventures filled with magical creatures and magical worlds that co-exist alongside hers/ours.

When their home is destroyed Hilda and her mother left their cabin and moved to the city of Trolberg. Here, Hilda adapted to life in an urban setting, meeting new people and the complexities that brought. She began to understand the beauty that can exist in the city and developed friendships through the Sparrow Scouts group she joined. It was here that the main thrust of the series pushed forward with each episode being an amazing and whimsical adventure. There were elves, stone giants, a Thunderbird and even a nightmare inducing teen thrown into the mix and it all ended up making sense as the world with a tapestry of story and character with its world-building logic.

I loved the original series and felt that the weirdness and slight tinge of unease was reminiscent of Over The Garden Wall, Gravity Falls and Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated.

With season 2, Netflix kicked things up a gear as we had lots of new stories which diverged from the comic series as most of this had been covered in the previous season. However, these original tales were excellent and continued the good work done in the previous season. It deepened the relationships between Hilda and the citizens of her world as they tried to navigate the threat posed by Ahlberg, a narcissistic figure who seeks to destroy the trolls and ascend to some form of power. He proved to be a great foil for our heroine over the course of the show and the season 2 cliffhanger finale, The Stone Circle. It was the final and longest episode of the series and featured the story arc of the final graphic novel which was released at the tail-end of 2020.

I reviewed the graphic novel but this episode was a little different as Hilda and her mum get thrown out by an accident occurring in the Nissa No-where Space. They end up inside a mountain inhabited by trolls and must make their way out back to Trolberg. In another plot, The Trolberg Safety Patrol end up stranded outside the walls with David and Frida and must survive the night. Both plots complemented each other as they are about surviving against the odds in perilous circumstances. There are some pretty close calls and squeaky bum moments but it all ends up pretty well, until the final moments which set up the feature long movie where Hilda and the changling swap places with the changling now in Trollberg and Hilda stuck with the trolls in the mountains.

With Mountain King, released a year and a half after that season 2 cliffhanger, we finally get closure and the hopes of a satisfying conclusion. So how does it fare? Firstly, the hour and a half movie shows an uptick in production values and intensity with a Saul Bass style Hitchcock-ian opening credits. The animation has always been beautiful and the production value really high on the series but, for this feature-length movie, you can see they have paid extra attention to the fluidity and scope of the animation.

The story picks up with with Hilda stuck in the mountains. Her mum and friends go looking for her but the Trolberg Safety Patrol put the town into lockdown and go on the media charm offensive, even going so far as to go to schools and showing one of those cheesy infotainment films that were prevalent in the 70s and 80s. Frida and David don't put up with the propaganda that casts the trolls as blood-thirsty monsters and lead a children's rebellion. They lead a protest with classic chanting zingers including 'Ahlberg smells. Silence the bells' and 'We are on the side of peace and communication. The enemies of misinformation and fear'.

Meanwhile, the Trolberg Safety Patrol up the ante with a mobile bell ringing van and a sonic gun turns trolls into petrified stone. When the Mountain King is freed after Hilda fulfills a few errands for him in exchange for her humanity, Hilda and friends must work together with the other trolls to rectify the situation before an all-out war destroys both sides.

When Trolberg is attacked by the Mountain King and his acolytes, the town's people gather together to fight back. Will it be war?

I won't spoil it as the movie is a beautiful and meditative work. It is a very humanist piece as we understand how the trolls live and why they have gathered around Trolberg. We gain empathy and understanding to these much maligned creatures and through troll Hilda, who goes native, we understand the cruelty of the bells being placed on their noses and the impositions placed on them by the humans.
We also see that individuals can have collective power. The protests, supported by the teacher, makes me think of the current real world situation where the youth movements across the world are leading to change and holding those in power to account. Inversely, we also see how charismatic individuals can lie and manipulate the situation to get people to do what they want.

The film ends on a note of hope and there isn't a deus-ex machina to make everything okay, and I like that. Life is messy and things don't always reach a neat conclusion and the graphic novel series, animated series and movie shows that and respects its audience to understand that too. The final 8 minutes in particular are gorgeously emotive and the music heightens the mood, almost bringing a tear to my eye.

Hilda is aimed at slightly older kids, it is a PG after all, but it is excellent for older people too as the central story about facing the challenges the world throws at us and being kind and understanding in the face of it all is universal.

It’s a great time for animation at the moment but Hilda is on a whole different level for me, surpassing much higher profile animations such as Disenchantment, having more heart and earnestness that many of its contemporaries.

Hilda is a masterpiece of storytelling and animation and the movie encapsulates all that makes the Hilda-verse so special.

LINK- Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated Season 2 Review

LINK- Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated Season 1 Review

LINK- Gravity Falls Complete Series Review

LINK- Resident Evil 7 in VR is a Marvel

LINK- The Last Guardian: Video Game Review

LINK- Shadow of the Colossus- Book Review

LINK- Ms Marvel Can Change the World

LINK- The Rise of Retro Gaming During Covid

LINK- Blood, Sweat and Pixels- Book Review

LINK: Japan: My Journey to the East

Inside Job Part 1- Series Review

Inside Job is an animated series from a couple of the creatives behind Gravity Falls (Shion Takeuchi and Alex Hirsch) which looks at the working of the shadowy Deep State organisation which is responsible for many of the conspiracy theories that exist.

Over the course of the 10 episodes that make up part 1, we get to see how the organisation functions and how socially awkward genius Reagan Ridley deals with her band of misfits; a milquetoast support colleague in the shape of Brett, a man-dolphin hybrid, a sentient mushroom and sociopathic PR woman. We see Reagan grow and develops as a person as the series progresses. There is a through-line but each episode also feels self-contained as we see how Reagan's broken relationship of her family affects her daily interaction with people. Her team becomes her surrogate family and see opens up and starts to depend on them.

The show is definitely aimed at older teens and adults as it has mature content like violence, swearing and looks at toxic masculinity. It has the humour of Rick and Morty but not the nihilism that some of the more toxic fan base from that show parrot as ‘quirky’ individualism. There are pop culture references aplenty but not annoying cutaways like in Family Guy. So Inside Job is an intriguing show with cryptids, mysteries and conspiracies all swirling together to create a fun show that is quite unique but has a bit of heart at its core.

Reagan is the MPV and has some great one liners like when she talks about James Bond stand-in Rafe Masters with “The only people that think you are cool are dads or people that didn’t have dads”. And when a flat Earther believes that "When You go over the edge it wraps around like in Pacman" it's true *French kiss*

The show is not ground-breaking but it is well worth your time and I can't wait to see where it goes next. It is very 'of the moment' and makes fun of the various conspiracies as well as the followers behind them by throwing in pop culture references that will age it but it is fun while it lasts.

The Golden Age of Media

We live in the Golden Age of media and one of the biggest perks of these modern times is the ability to revisiting old films, TV shows, albums and video games or to fill in the gaps from our formative years. The advances in media distribution technology, digital TV technology (be it through online video-sharing platforms, streaming, video-on-demand, and web TV) has made accessibility easier and somewhat more equitable.

Sharing the Nintendo love!

The ease of access to media past and the sheer simplicity with which we can revisit old favourites or check older things out for the first time, has been a boon for sure, especially during Covid when many of us found ourselves with more time on our hands. However, as the saying goes "You can't go back again" and so it sometimes seems.

Over the past and a half, I've bathed in waves of nostalgia and whilst much of the media I consumed has stood the test of time (Mysterious Cities of Gold, Dogtanian, Ulysses 31, Streets of Rage 2, Sonic 2, A Chinese Ghost Story etc) many have not. This is all subjective obviously but have you tried to watch old Care Bears or He-Man episodes, played some old games like Balloon Fight or watched some of the 'classic' movies from the 80s that have casual racism, sexism and homophobia thrown in? Ooof!

It's also been a bit of a mixed bag when experiencing things for the first time I'd heard of but had never got to, whether due to finances, time constraints or simply availability. I've discovered great shows through streaming (The Storyteller: Greek Myths) but also some great old games through the Nintendo e-shop (too many to name to be honest). However, I've also revisited some old games on the older systems, either through the re-release on digital storefronts, Mini Classic Systems or through emulation and boy, some old games were really rough. I love the NES as it was a huge part of my childhood but a lot of the games on the NES mini have not stood the test of time well, nor on the SNES or Megadrive mini but especially on the Playstation Classic where many games look positively ugly now.

The danger is revisiting old games is in discovering that the games are rather bad but, due to a kind of Stockholm Syndrome brought about by only being able to buy games every couple of months, you got used to it and convinced yourself you loved it. I've recently played the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles NES game again for the first time in about 30 years and the poor level layout, unfair enemy placement, slow gameplay and lack of save points really grated on me. I'm sure we've all got stories of revisiting something and finding it not like we remember.

The sheer convenience of having most things available at the touch of a button without the old tribal gatekeeping has been amazing. However, with the multiple streaming platforms and walled garden ecosystems that have emerged recently, I'm worried that we are going to have the old fiefdoms emerge like back in the late 80s and 90s when cable, satellite etc each provided specific channels.

I like Ted Lasso and enjoyed watching all of season 1 and part of season 2 whilst housesitting but I want to watch the rest of the season. However, I don't want to subscribe to Apple TV for those 6 episodes, preferring to either buy the individual episodes or preferably the boxset.

I wonder if we are going to go back to the Wild West days of Limewire, Bearshare etc as inconvenience makes pirating an easier option. I hope not as generally people will pay of its convenient but we'll see how it all shakes out. At the moment though, I'm loving the convenience and the fact that there isn't a monoculture but rather a huge miscellaneous mix where people can find the avenue that interests them.

Viva la media revolution!

LINK- The Last Guardian- Video Games As Art

LINK- The Stone Tapes (BBC)- Cult TV Review

LINK- The Secret Garden (BBC 1975 Review)

LINK- Children of the Stones Review

LINK- Dead of Night: Cult TV Review

LINK- The Stone Tapes: Cult TV Review

LINK- Tom’s Midnight Garden: Cult TV Review

LINK- Children of the Dogstar: Cult TV Series Review

LINK- The Rise of Retro Gaming During Covid

LINK- Blood, Sweat and Pixels- Book Review

LINK: Japan: My Journey to the East

LINK- An English Geek in Saudi

LINK- ‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’

LINK- On And On And Colston ( Or, How We Kinda Sort of Learned to Talk About the Legacy of Colonialism and the British Empire)

LINK: Let’s All Create a ‘New Normal’.

Creeped Out- Complete Season 2 Review

It's that time of year again as the dark nights move in and the Halloween season gets into full swing. It's been a weird year, full of highs and lows, and so I didn't fancy watching anything too scary or contemplate existentialist thoughts such as Ernest Becker's duality of the human condition; the idea that there is the external version of ourselves that we share, either by the way we speak, dress, show our affiliations, and the internal version of ourselves, which is more difficult to describe but includes our thoughts, fears, hopes and dreams. However, ultimately we all have the core anxiety which is the fear concerning our mortality and that our life is fleeting. Instead of contemplating this, I decided to watch all of Creeped Out season 2 instead.

The first series was a 13 episode series of standalone spooky tales but the second series has a shorter 10 episode run. The stories are created for an all ages bracket, so think more 'Goosebumps' or 'Are You Afraid Of The Dark' rather than 'It' or 'Saw'. The tales all start in the same way, a preamble about The Curious, a slight teen figure in a creepy mask who likes to collect tales of dread whilst whistling an unsettling melody. There are a mixture of American and British stories and as such, the cast is quite diverse and the level of acting is pretty standard, so don't go expecting any Oscars or BAFTAs grade performances. However the stories themselves are quite intriguing and do enough to keep the interest up.

The episodes are a plethora of horror tropes including creepy newborn baby, the AI taking over and magic evil maguffin and the episodes recall classic films like 'The Breakfast Club', '2001: A Space Odyssey' and 'Aliens'.

The stories all have a monkeys paw ending of 'be careful what you wish for' but one of most interesting thing to note is that no matter the episode the power of the storytelling and kitchen sink creepy atmosphere made them all worthwhile watching, which is particularly impressive when you consider each episode had a tiny budget of like a fiver.

The episodes include :

The Unfortunate Five- When a group of students has a Saturday detention they are introduced to a mindfulness coach who wants them to share their feelings. The problem is that she's an emotional succubus and gets joy from their misery... So how to deal with this?

Only Child- When a family gets a new baby the older sibling seems jealous but the new baby is not what it seems.

The Takedown- When a female wrestler gets a chain message to get what she wants she requests strength... but at what cost?

Help- When the voice controlled home assistant gains sentience and takes over the house the 2 spoiled kids learn a lesson.

One More Minute- When a young gamer meets an online friend who convinces him to continue playing the game, at the cost of other commitments, the ultimate costs becomes too much to bear. Tempus Fugit indeed.

Splinta Claws- When a boy loses a precious present in a department store he waits until closing time to retrieve it. The problem is an animatronic Santa is after him as he's on the naughty list.

Itchy- When there's a head lice outbreak it seems all pretty low-key. However, these are mutant love and they won't go quietly.

No Filter- After downloading a free filter, a young and vain girl realises that her prized feature is stolen to be sold to the highest bidder.

Tilly bone- A vloggers birthday party gets out of hand as a Tilly Bone (think nightmare creator) is gifted to her.

The Many Places- A group of children get lost in an alternate reality when one of them presses all the buttons in a lift.

The episodes are all pretty solid but for me the standouts are Splinta Claws and The Many Places as they are nerve-wracking, in a kid-friendly way, whilst having an intriguing story.

Creeped Out is a great series that leaves a lot up to the imagination. It's all quite lightweight but covers heavy stuff like parallel worlds, data theft, the rise of AI and errm, evil babies. It's all uniformly solid and worth a watch for tweens looking to be spooked out.

LINK- The 13 Best ‘Are You Afraid of the Dark’ Episodes

LINK- The Secret Garden (BBC 1975 Review)

LINK- Children of the Stones Review

LINK- Dead of Night: Cult TV Review

LINK- The Stone Tapes: Cult TV Review

LINK- Tom’s Midnight Garden: Cult TV Review

LINK- Children of the Dogstar: Cult TV Series Review

Myth and Mogul: John DeLorean- Series Review

Ah, the DeLorean- a car forever immortalised with the Back to the Future film series. However, the story of the creation of this most singular of cars is equally as interesting with ambition, greed and hubris all mixed together within the fascinating tale.

I didn't know much about the car's creator John DeLorean but had heard that it was a tragic tale, so when a new 3-part Netflix series popped up in my feed I thought I'd dive right in and fill in this knowledge gap.

The documentary is told in a fascinating way as it moves through time, showing DeLorean at different times of his life. We see him at his General Motors peak, creating plain looking cars with powerful engines to appeal to the youth. Then we see him ascending the Detroit car industry ranks, making a big name for himself and earning $600,000 a year (that's 70s wages!)

However, during a period of huge social and economic upheaval in the late 70s, DeLorean decided to go it alone with his own car company... and that's when it started to go wrong. When he couldn't secure funding, DeLorean took advantage of the British government's desperate need to help ease the Troubles in Ireland by creating jobs by securing a total of £200 million pounds. Skimming 10% for himself, DeLorean is presented as a complex character, no doubt a great engineer but also incredibly vain, narcissistic and an egotistical grifter who had a history of not following through with his grand visions.

The documentarians, Chris Hegedus and her late partner, DA Pennebaker, share behind the scenes and candid footage from the 70s and 80s when they were filming DeLorean for a documentary. It's particularly interesting to hear Hegedus talk retrospectively about her front row access into DeLorean's life and marry this up with what was learned from his childhood and college. The look into his tough upbringing shows that he grew in extreme poverty but his abilities led him to go to further education, however his propensity to grift almost landed him in jail if not for the intervention of his college teachers.

The documentary is fascinating and the fact that DeLorean's son and ex-wife talk about the man lends the whole series some respectability and authenticity. The mixture of corporate videos, 70s and 80s documentary footage, grainy FBI footage and current talking head segments all blends well to tell an intriguing story about a deeply flawed man of undeniable ability brought down by his own hubris.

Myth and Mogul: John DeLorean a great story well told. At about 2 1/2 hours the limited series is definitely worth your time.

The Cuphead Show Trailer

Cuphead was a beautiful, but tough as nails, run and gun game with a 1920/30s cartoon aesthetic. I’d heard that the show had been in development for a while so when the trailer dropped I was suitably excited. From the looks of it the charm and ‘rubberhose’ style of animation (where the characters look like they are dancing even though they are standing still) remains.

Screen Shot 2021-06-12 at 8.47.54 PM.png

Over the past few years, we have had excellent reboots and revivals on Netflix, includingShe-Ra and Carmen Sandiego so I’m excited to see what is achieved with this new-old inspired property.

Carmen Sandiego- Complete Season 4 Review

After 4 amazing seasons, the rebooted animated adventures of Carmen Sandiego has come to an end.

I've loved this series as it has always been great to see the creative and zany heists as well as the various new VILE operatives. The show has always been a heartening tale of empowerment and fighting the corrupt forces that work in the shadows... So far so QAnon, but this show has always been fun and cartoony, and doesn't take it too seriously, unlike QAnon.

The show retains its beautifully animated artistic vision with a stylish noir art look, all angles and interesting colour palette, reminiscent of Batman: The Animated Series or Samurai Jack. However, the bigger draw this season is Carmen's search for her mother and the stress her fight with VILE brings upon her surrogate family's and her own life. With ACME circling closer and VILE upping its aggression, hurting Shadow-san in the process, it's a real cracking final series where anything goes. When the chase is on to get to the biggest horde of ancient stolen artifacts, acquired by the original VILE 5 in medieval times, the show really comes into its own as the whole cast has its moment to shine.

The series starts with a couple of heist episodes, however, from episode 3, The Robo Caper, things start to accelerate and divert from the usual story beats and structure. There is a caper but the stolen crown is not the central conceit. Rather, this is a story driven episode as Shadow-san is attacked by a VILE robot as he recuperates whilst Carmen battles the Cleaners as she rushes to find Grey/ Crackle, the brain wiped former VILE operative. He is in the thick of things as the agency try to use him to hone in on Carmen but end up accidentally awakening his memories and his fighting skills. Meanwhile, Agent Devineaux starts to doubt the criminality of la femme rough and alongside Agent Argent, realises that she actually might be a force for good- mea culpa at last.

Episode 4, The Himalayan Rescue Caper, has Carmen and Crackle meet and his decision on whether to leave or remain with VILE has big implications for the endgame. Carmen and Player meet and she confesses that she needed to meet her other oldest friend.

However, from episode 5, The VILE History Caper, we get an insight into the origins of the organisation and a great chase is on to discover the last 2 of 3 remaining locations which will reveal an ancient treasure horde of stolen artifacts. This is a very exciting way to build up the finale of the series, not with a whimper but with a show stopping bang. Once Carmen stops VILE in their tracks they get revenge and take her hostage, leading to her being reprogrammed into a VILE puppet. When they task her with taking out her surrogate family the stakes are raised as a Carmen without restraint and humanity is a dangerous thing indeed.

What transpires is a heartening tale of camaraderie and connection as Team Carmen go toe to toe against VILE and all that it represents. ACME enters the fray and doesn't know which side to be on as it knows VILE is bad but is Carmen?

I'm gutted that the show ended but boy what a ride it's been. We've seen our Red grow from a simple criminal protégé to a master at organising heists. We also get a time jump 2 years in the future and see the old gang in their new lives. I won't spoil if Carmen find the truth about her mother but it is handled well.

The fact that its lead is a strong Latino woman is a big boost for representation but more than that, it's just a great story well told! I highly recommend the show.

Hilda- Season 2 Review

Hilda is an amazing Netflix animated show. The first season, a 13 part animated series, was adapted from the multi-award-winning and highly acclaimed graphic novel series by Luke Pearson about a young, blue-haired girl who goes on many adventures.

I love the graphic novel series. You can see how Luke Pearson’s art changes and evolves.

I love the graphic novel series. You can see how Luke Pearson’s art changes and evolves.

In season 1, protagonist Hilda lived with her mother in a cabin near the woods and mountains, away from people. It is in this landscape that Hilda went on her first few adventures filled with magical creatures and magical worlds that co-exist alongside hers/ours.

When their home is destroyed Hilda and her mother left their cabin and moved to the city of Trolberg. Here, Hilda adapted to life in an urban setting, meeting new people and the complexities that brought. She began to understand the beauty that can exist in the city and developed friendships through the Sparrow Scouts group she joined. It was here that the main thrust of the series pushed forward with each episode being an amazing and whimsical adventure. There were elves, stone giants, a Thunderbird and even a nightmare inducing teen thrown into the mix and it all ended up making sense as the world with a tapestry of story and character with its world-building logic.

I loved the original series and felt that the weirdness and slight tinge of unease was reminiscent of Over The Garden Wall, Gravity Falls and Scrooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated.

With season 2, Netflix have kicked things up a gear as we have lots of new stories which diverge from the comic series as most of this had been covered in the previous season. Fear not however as these original tales are excellent and continue the good work done in the previous season. It deepens the relationships between Hilda and the citizens of her world as they try to navigate the threat posed by Ahlberg, a narcissistic figure who seeks to destroy the trolls and ascend to some form of power. He is a great foil for our heroine over the course of the show, which has this through-line.

The individual episodes and my thoughts are below, but be aware, there be mild spoilers:

In Episode 1, The Stone Circle, we are introduced to Erik Ahlberg who is the self-appointed Trolberg Safety Patrol Inspector and is a vain glorious man, seeking fame and fortune at any cost, even if it means ruling up the trolls who are wandering closer to the city walls. This is a great start as it sets up an antagonist for the duration of the show.

In episode 2, The Draugen, Hilda goes through different adventures to ascertain who Ahlberg is and what his endgame is. This includes meeting pirate ghosts (the Draugen) and making a deal with the Rat King, but to no avail... yet. This is quite scary as you see the ghosts of dead sailors seeking to wreak havoc but the ending is quite sweet and emotional.

The third episode, The Witch, sees Hilda and best friend Frida help the librarian retrieve an overdue library book from a scarily private and accomplished witch. It's fun and full of awesome moments, and features trials much like the ones The Goonies faced but more kid friendly and with less problematic slurs. There are sweet moments like when a pupil meets her teacher and realises that she didn't disappoint her but achieved her best.

Episode 4, The Eternal Warriors, has Hilda, Frida and David explore the wilderness with the Sparrow Scouts but when David is scared of ghost stories he meets Warriors who can grant him immunity from fear. This is quite a gruesome episode as heads and limbs are lopped off, but it's all quite comedic as David learns the value of accepting who he is.

The Windmill, which is episode 5, sees the return of meteorologist Victoria Van Gale. When the team meet her -living off grid in windmill surrounded by woodland creatures- they are suspicious of her but soon she wins then over. However, is she hiding a deep secret? This is an emotive episode that looks at how we can do bad things, even when our intentions are good; it's the whole 'hubris of man' thing.

In episode 6, The Old Bells of Trolberg, when an automated systems which rings the bell on the hour every hour is installed by the Safety Patrol it wreaks havoc on the lives of everyone in and surrounding Trolberg. Hilda et al. plan and carry out a heist to take the system out before it is rolled out. This is a great episode as we see different groups working together to keep Trolberg noise free from the bells.

The seventh episode, The Beast of Cauldron Island, finds the Lindworm accused of destroying boats in the harbour. When Ahlberg assembles a motley crew to take the creature down, Hilda and crew try to ensure its safety but find another, more true, threat. This is an exciting show as the lore of mythical creatures is extended and we are introduced to a true legend. We also see the dynamic between Hilda and her mum as concerns about her safety come to the fore.

The Fifty Year Night, episode 8, sees Hilda grounded after lying to her mum in the last episode. When she sees her neighbour acting suspiciously Hilda opens one of his historical magazines only to be transported 50 years into the past. She discovers a tale about one magical night at a dance hall and a lifetime of regret and seeks to change that. But, messing with the past had repercussions and echoes. This is a really emotional episode and very heartfelt as Hilda learns about regret and consequences. I won't spoil it but there is an emotional scene with soft piano music playing where an acceptance of a decision that has consequences nearly had me bawling my eyes out.

Episode 9, The Deerfox, sees Twig leave Trolberg and going back into the wilderness. He seeks refuge in the destroyed remains of the house he once lived in and loved in the wilds but also feels a greater pull calling to him. Hilda is bereft to realise that Twig is gone and goes out to find him. What follows is a flashback of how Hilda and Twig first met. This is a beautiful story as we see Hilda realise that she might have taken Twig for granted. Also, we see Twig's origins of sorts and it is one of the most gorgeously animated sequences in the series.

In episode 10, The Yule Lads, Hilda accidentally gets her mum kidnapped by some elves who seek out naughty children and adults. This is a fun Christmassy story about not judging others and making things right. It's a slight but sweet episode.

When the Tide Mice cause magical troubles at the local snack company in episode 11, The Jorts Incident, it is up to Hilda and crew to track them down. This is a really fun episode with elements of The Real Ghostbusters as the team go the Jorts Head Office to track down all the Tide Mice and retrieve the soul of their latest victim. You also get a nice character development with Kaisa (the Librarian witch) and David, who pair up to round up the pesky rodents.

In episode 12, The Replacement, Alfur is relieved from his duties after the council refuses to believe his extraordinary reports about his various escapades with Hilda. When they come to take him away they become embroiled in an adventure too. This is a fun, fast paced story with Alfur's friendship with Hilda coming to the fore. It shows how much Alfur has grown as a character and how he is much more integral to the adventures with Hilda than may have been thought of before.

The series ends with The Stone Circle, the final and longest episode of the series. It builds on the television series but also the story arc of the final graphic novel which was released at the tail-end of last year. I reviewed the graphic novel but this episode is a little different as Hilda and her mum get thrown out by an accident occurring in the Nissa No-where Space. They end up inside a mountain inhabited by trolls and must make their way out back to Trolberg. In another plot, The Trolberg Safety Patrol end up stranded outside the walls with David and Frida and must survive the night. Both plots complement each other as they are about surviving against the odds in perilous circumstances. There are some pretty close calls and squeaky bum moments but it all ends up pretty well, until the final moments which set up the feature long movie due later in the year.

Overall, I loved this series and felt it kept the great momentum from the first season going. However, once again it's the smaller, more contained episodes with heartfelt moments that made the show something special that hits hard. We see the various creatures and Hilda's crew band together to protect one another in grand battles but it's the wrinkled hands held, the tears of a frustrated mother, the nuzzle of a parent to their young that truly make this one of the greatest animated shows I have ever seen, and I've seen A LOT.

Whilst Hilda is aimed at slightly older kids, it is a PG after all, it is excellent for older people too as the central story about facing the challenges the world throws at us and being kind and understanding in the face of it all is universal. It’s a great time for animation at the moment, what with Carmen Sandiego, Disenchantment and The Hollow out there but you REALLY NEED to watch Hilda!

LINK- Hilda Comic Series Review 

LINK- Disenchantment- Complete Series 1 Review

LINK- Gravity Falls Complete Series Review

LINK- Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated Complete Series 1 Review

LINK- Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated Series 2 Review

LINK- Ms Marvel Can Change the World

Hilda Season 2 Coming Soon

Hilda is a graphic comic series and Netflix animated show about a young adventure loving girl. The original 13 part animated series was adapted from the multi award winning and highly acclaimed graphic novel series by Luke Pearson in 2018 and I loved it.

Hilda-+Graphic+Novel+Series+Review.png

Now season 2 is about to drop on 14th December and I am so here for it! I loved the original season and have read all the graphic novels. Check out the trailer below and whilst you are at it, check out my complete season 1 review as well as my graphic novel series review.

Creeped Out- Complete Season 1 Review

As the darkness settled in, I wanted to get into the Halloween spirit and watch some spoopy stuff. Now, it's been a pretty bleak year all round so I didn't fancy watching anything too scary or anything to contemplate the feeling of ennui- the fact that Lovecraft's cosmicism states that man is insignificance in a vast endless and uncaring expanse with forces beyond our understanding wishing to do us ill- so I decided to watch all of ‘Creeped Out’ instead.

It's a 13 part series of spooky takes created for an all ages bracket, so think more 'Goosebumps' or 'Are You Afraid Of The Dark' rather than 'It' or 'Saw'. The tales all start in the same way, a preamble about The Curious, a slight teen figure in a creepy mask who likes to collect tales of dread whilst whistling an unsettling melody. There are a mixture of American and British stories and as such, the cast is quite diverse.

The episodes are a veritable smorgasbord of horror tropes including classics like weird fun fair attraction, dodgy creepy neighbours etc but are identifiable with themes from classic cinema like 'Rear Window' and ‘Big' and more recent pretty decent fare like 'It Follows'.
The stories all have a monkeys paw ending of 'be careful what you wish for' but one of most interesting thing to note is that no matter the episode the power of the storytelling and kitchen sink creepy atmosphere made them all worthwhile watching, which is particularly impressive when you consider each episode had a tiny budget of like a fiver.

The episodes include :

Slapstick
After a puppet grants a young girl the power to control her embarrassing parents, the girl realises the true value of family. It features a creepy puppet so you know it's a bit scary.

Cat Food
When a young boy fakes being ill to stay home from school he gets more than he bargained for from his unusual cat-lady neighbour.

Trolled
When a cocky troll belittles and ridicules his private school mates online, there is a price to pay when he brings forth an ancient curse.

Marti
An unpopular girl gets a new smart phone and its AI goes crazy as it starts to take over her life.

A Boy Called Red
A boy visits his father's childhood home where a well leads to a different dimension.

The Call
An adopted teen who was found on a beach finds out that she isn't who she thinks she is and there is more to her heritage than meets her eye.

Bravery Badge
A reluctant girl scout has an interesting time away as a zombie infection turns her friends into creepy humming zombies... Why do they always hum lullabies in creepy voices and super slow?

Spaceman
When a kid leaves the city for the sticks he's worried it'll be too quiet and boring. Then he discovers an alien spacecraft and an alien creature and all bets are off.

Kindlesticks
A terrible baby sitter who scares the kids in her care to bed with terrible tales suffers a fate of her own making.

Shed No Fear
A couple of high school friends tackle a mysterious creature that lives in a shed. The creature fears light so they go about thinking about a way to jerry-rig a system to tackle it.

The Traveller
When two troublesome teens, who don't respond well to authority, are given powers to freeze time and use the power for ill there is a heavy price to pay.

Side Show Part 1 and 2
The two-parter ends the series with the story of an orphan, who is part of circus, who is looking for his real family. The 1950s Americana setting is well done and the mystery is very intriguing. The season ends on a high with this one.

Overall, tales are not scary with no real jump scares or violence but they are simply told tales told pretty well nonetheless. The stories are a little heavy handed though and lack nuance, the acting is a little hammy on occasion and the morals are obvious but it's a show for a younger audience so there you go. The strict age rating means that there is an economy of design with the creatures and powers are rarely seen. There's very little subtlety on show as the themes are covered in broad strokes but this is a beginners guide to the horror genre and is very much baby's first horror show.

My favourite 3 episodes from this series were Slapstick, Trolled and Side Show and if you've got a spare hour or so I'd definitely check these ones out. Go in knowing it's for tweens and you'll be fine, it ain't gonna win any Oscars but it's harmless slightly spooky fun.

LINK- The 13 Best ‘Are You Afraid of the Dark’ Episodes

LINK- The Secret Garden (BBC 1975 Review)

LINK- Children of the Stones Review

LINK- Dead of Night: Cult TV Review

LINK- The Stone Tapes: Cult TV Review

LINK- Tom’s Midnight Garden: Cult TV Review

LINK- Children of the Dogstar: Cult TV Series Review

The Hollow- Complete Season 2 Review

Season 1 of ‘The Hollow’ was a pleasantly surprising animated series which kept me hooked for the entire 10 episode run. When the series concluded, I was intrigued to see how they would continue the show as it ended it a very interesting way which mixed media.

In season 2, Adam, Mira and Kai find themselves in ‘The Hollow’ again but this time the rules seem to be different. There seems to have been a glitch in which our leads beat the game but didn't end up going home, they go 'home' but it is a glitched out approximation of home, with digital parents and NPC who are walking into lampposts etc. So over the course of 10 episodes our trio face the dangers of other teams who are playing the game to win but our three just want to go back to their real home. It's an interesting premise; what happens if you win a game but it glitches and traps you inside?

Season 2 of ‘The Hollow’ builds on the excellent first season but raises the stakes and places more focus on the interplay and relationship dynamics between the characters. They argue, fight, make up and act irrationally, all very human traits in a crazy digital online world as well as the real one. We get to understand the complex dynamic between Adam and Reeve, Kai and Vanessa, Skeet and Mira and understand why their game glitched.

The message is very clear, beware mega corporations who harvest your Big Data; giving away your information comes at a price, nothing is for free so read the terms and conditions. Post Cambridge Analytica, the world has seen that data is power which leads to influence and this show deals with that in its own clever way. The show is also a meditation on what it means to be alive and Artificial Intelligence, it reminded me of the premise of the video game 'Thomas Was Alone'.

The show moves at a cracking pace but highlights includes Wierdy's upbeat version of ‘Creep’ by ‘Radiohead’ and seeing Kai grow into his relationships with his peers. I won't spoil it but the final boss battle is pretty epic too.

The animation style is the same as the first, which is fine but to think with the ending that they did it would have been bold to go with a new art style and keep the show original and unique. However, Flash style animation it is but again this is not the selling point of the series, the story is top notch and the characterisation is very good.

With the ending of this series there is a possibility of season 3. Overall, this series is an under-appreciated gem and is well worth a watch. Look past the divisive art style and you will find a deep series with much to appreciate and admire.

LINK- The Hollow- Complete Season 1 Review

LINK- Disenchantment- Complete Series 1 Review

LINK- Gravity Falls Complete Series Review

LINK- Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated Complete Series 1 Review

LINK- Manga Exhibition at the British Museum

LINK: Japan: My Journey to the East

LINK- The Moomins 80's Soundtrack Vinyl Review

LINK- The Mysterious Cities of Gold Retro Soundtrack Review

She-Ra Season 5 Trailer Drops

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power on Netflix is a modern reimagining of the classic ’80s Filmation series. She-Ra is a part of the He-Man universe and so holds a place in many fans’ hearts, and as expected this led to many debates about whether the new take on the character was any good.

After 4 stunning seasons and a cliffhanger ending where the varying story threads all weaved together to build to a final battle between Etheria and the Horde Prime Empire, the answer is most definitely yes!

The fifth and final season will air on 15th May and I for one can’t wait! It’s been a heck of a journey but it seems like a good a place as any to end on a high. So, check out the new trailer and wait with bated breath for a tub thumping finale!

Hilda- Complete Graphic Novels Series Review

The Hilda graphic novel books by Luke Pearson are stories about a young blue-haired girl named Hilda. She lives in the mountains, surrounded by fantastical mythical creatures, with her mother and Twigg, her pet deerfox. Hilda is an adventurer and explorer who wants to understand her world and, over the course of the complete 6 book run, has lots of fun and exciting adventures. With each event Hilda learns something, often something profound for someone so small like what it is to be lonely, how easy it is to be unkind to animals, why rituals are important to many and how we can make the world a better place by working together.

The Hilda books are wonderful and show Pearson’s evolution as an artist and a writer.

The Hilda books are wonderful and show Pearson’s evolution as an artist and a writer.

In the first book, Hilda and the Troll, we find out about Hilda's world. Her passion for exploring, understanding the world and art lead to a grand adventure in which she realises that her prejudices led her to treat a creature in an unethical way. She learns from her mistake and grows as a person and that is what these stories are about... having flaws, learning from mistakes and growing to be a better person.  

In Hilda and the Midnight Giant, the second book, Hilda helps a lost mountain giant find his friend after many millenia alone. Hilda meets the hidden smallfolk on her way and discovers that the invisible hidden folk have been disturbed by the presence of her and her mother in the mountains. The ending for this book is particularly profound and beautiful and is all about the effect we have on the world without even realising. Heady stuff indeed for a 'kids' comic. The weirdness and slight tinge of unease reminds me of Over The Garden Wall or even Frankenweenie. 

After the events of book 2, Hilda and her mother leave their cabin and move to the city of Trollberg. Hilda then adapts to life in an urban setting, meeting new people and the complexities that brings. She begins to understand the beauty that can exist in the city and develops friendships through the Sparrow Scouts group she joins and it is here that the main thrust of the graphic novels is pushed forward with each novel being an amazing and whimsical adventure. There are elves, stone giants, a Thunderbird and even a hell hound thrown in the mix... it all ends up making sense as the world is a tapestry of stories and characters, all building towards a cohesive whole. 

The fifth book released in mid 2018, Hilda and the Stone Forest, ended on a real cliffhanger as Hilda was turned into a troll. Fans of the series had been waiting excitedly for the conclusion and with Hilda and the Mountain King, which was released only a few weeks ago, they finally got it. We finally understand how the trolls live and why they have gathered around Trollberg. The series ends on a note of hope and there isn't a deus ex machina to make everything okay, and I like that, life is messy and things don't always reach a neat conclusion and this graphic novel series shows that and respects it's audience to understand that too. 

Overall, the 6 books are amazing and show Pearson’s evolution over the 5 years since the creation of the character. The first 3 books have wonderful if stylishly sketchy art but from book 4 onwards it is more cartoon like and akin to the wonderful Netflix show. The colour palette is beautiful at conveying the mood and the panel organisation more fluent as the book series progresses. 

I have been waiting a while for the conclusion to the series and it has been worth the wait.

Special mention must be made of how inclusive the series is, with a multicultural cast represented throughout. The fact that Hilda herself is a girl is also a plus as it is rare for many comics to have positive young female role models. My 4 year old daughter looks up to Hilda but she is represented well and isn't perfect, being cheeky and selfish as kids (and adults) are wont to be. 

Hilda is a brilliant series and should be treasured by fans of the comic medium. With just 6 graphic novels, it doesn't overstay its welcome yet has some profound truths contained within. 

LINK- Hilda- Complete Series 1 Netflix Review

LINK- Comics in the Classroom

LINK- What Comics Have Taught Me

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Season 4- Complete Series Review

Fans of this blog will know that I have a deep affection for She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. What many thought would be a bright and breezy reboot of the classic 80s Filmation series quickly established itself as a complex character-driven animation with an over-arching storyline that added much more nuance and lore than the original series ever had.

Season 3 of She-Ra changed the status quo of the entire series as it got all 'parallel universes and 'inter-dimensional portals' on us. So how does season 4 carry on the momentum established in the excellent previous seasons?

Catra finds herself even more isolated as the series continues.

Catra finds herself even more isolated as the series continues.

Well, at the finale of the last season we found out that Hordak's plan was to open a portal to bring Horde Prime and the intergalactic Horde army to Etheria. Adora finally gained some insight as to who she really was and where she came from, and Catra went full heel and sustained some cool but temporary evil looking scars to show how bad ass she really had become. It all reached a dizzying crescendo that culminated in the ultimate sacrifice from a figure that would change the structure of the Princesses Alliance forever and have grave implications for the Best Friends Squad moving forward.

The new series kicks off as Glimmer has her coronation as Queen of Bright Moon. As she ascends the throne and has to deal with diplomatic concerns, Bow and Adora take the lead on missions. The excursions meet with initial success until a shape shifter, Double Trouble, enters the fold and adds some espionage into the unfolding drama. They tap into the growing hostility between Glimmer and Adora and light the fuse to the powder keg, and we see the group splinter in spectacular fashion.

Meanwhile, Catra bonds with Double Trouble, falls out with Scorpia and realises that victory is not all its cracked up to be as she and Hordak take over most of Etheria.

What this season does is look at the military industrial complex in more detail, specifically the many levels of bureaucracy that underpin it- heady stuff for a 'tween cartoon'. Glimmer struggles with the duties required from being a Queen, co-ordinating the campaign whilst sending her friends and colleagues out into the thick of battle whilst struggling with the guilt that mounting casualties unsuccessful campaigns rack up. Catra struggles with gaining resources to take the Horde war machine forward whilst Hordak struggles to move forward with creating the ultimate weapon without his colleague and potential love interest, Entrapta.

The series has a few standout episodes, including number 7, where Hermista (one of my fave characters) gets her moment to shine as she leads the bottle episode where they try to figure out who the mole in the Alliance is, it's very stirring stuff with just the right amount of humour thrown in to add levity to proceedings. In another episode Light Hope glitches and whilst she is rebooting does some strange stuff, much to Adora's annoyance and our mirth. In another standout episode, the relationship between inept Horde soldier Kyle and his comrades is examined as the concept of family is looked at, they come across as sympathetic minions in a greater geo-political situation rather than faceless goons.

What I really enjoy about She-Ra is that the storyline is intriguing but the strong characterisation and the journey that each character goes through endears them to you, you become invested, be they hero or villain. There are definite shades of grey; Hordak seeks acceptance from his superior, Catra has attachment issues, Entrapta finds it hard to make friends, Scorpia is in a toxic relationship with Catra and Kyle wants to be lived and respected

The varying story threads all weave together wonderfully reaching an exciting and intergalactic climax as a deus ex machina is pulled and the status quo is shifted yet again. All in all, it all adds up to another great season that is building to a final battle between Etheria and the Horde Prime Empire.

LINK- She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Complete Season 1 Review

LINK- She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Complete Season 2 Review

LINK- She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Complete Season 3 Review

LINK- Disenchantment- Complete Series 1 Review

LINK- Gravity Falls Complete Series Review

LINK- Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated Complete Series 1 Review

LINK- Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated Series 2 Review

LINK- Ms Marvel Can Change the World

Carmen Sandiego- Complete Season 2 Review

I've been eagerly awaiting season 2 of Carmen Sandiego as I stated that the first season was an excellent series with a compelling story arc. It seems that the old beards at the Emmy's agreed as it is now an award winning show, garnering an Outstanding Achievement in Individual Animation nod.

Carmen Sandiego Season 2 is a stunning series.

So how is the second season? Does it build on an excellent first season? Yes, yes it does! The story continues from the major plot twist at the end of season 1 and Team Carmen now have Shadow San in their ranks. He assists with taking out VILE in the formats 'caper of the week'. However, it's not all standalone episodes with a 'bad guy of the week' as this season we are treated to get the back stories of how Zack and Ivy met Carmen and about Shadow San's ascent to VILE faculty member.

Finding out they have been betrayed by a member from their faculty, VILE spend a lot of the episodes searching for a new member to join their nefarious ranks. Along the journey we find out more about Carmen's family and she builds a base of operations with her surrogate family, Shadow San, Zak and Ivy after she nearly dies. It's all very heartfelt character building stuff and with this show it feels earned, not cheaply melodramatic.

The standout episodes for me are when the creepy Paper Star returns and Carmen squares off against her in Tokyo, whilst Shadow San shows just how bad ass he is, defeating goons with the use of chopsticks... trés John Wick. Also, the caper in New Zealand set to Swan Lake is very creatively and artistically beautiful as the choreography is wonderful.

The season is a delight and the finale ends on a cliffhanger as we get some insight into Carmen's real family and the true story about how Shadow San found her. This sets up the next season as Carmen knows who she is looking for now…

So, overall the stylish animation by Chromosphere is still as beautiful as ever and the voice acting by Gina Rodriguez is a lot more natural sounding as she seems to have found her groove. The voices of Zak and Ivy have grown on me too and I have become used to their broad Baaaahstaaan accents. Season 2 of Carmen Sandiego is still a beautifully animated edutainment *shudder* show that revels is dropping knowledge bombs whilst delivering a fun and at times gripping storyline. Alongside She-Ra, Netflix is really the home of quality retro animation revivals, that honours what went before but does its own more modern thing. Check this show out folks!

LINK- Disenchantment- Complete Series 1 Review

LINK- Carmen Sandiego- Complete Series 1 Review

LINK- Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated Season 1 Review

LINK- Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated Season 2 Review

LINK- Gravity Falls Complete Series Review

LINK- She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Season 1 Review

LINK- She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Season 2 Review