Riding Bean - Cult Manga Review

I knew of Riding Bean as I had seen it on sale at my local comic shop as well as in Forbidden Planet in London. I never had a chance to watch it at the time but knew that the 1989 OVA was the precursor to mangaka Kenichi Sonoda's Gunsmith Cats, a manga I read in Manga Mania back in the day but only watched a short while ago.

I have a big collection of Manga Mania and here is a small pile…

The film follows the amoral, high-octane wheelman Bean Bandit and his sharpshooter partner Rally Vincent as they navigate a stylish, crime-ridden Chicago after being framed for kidnapping. Bean does not like this new state of affairs and so a cat and mouse chase ensues through the city.

The OVA's enduring appeal lies in its breathtaking technical execution. Riding Bean is a stunning example of late-20th-century cel animation at its absolute peak. The animation team poured meticulous detail into the fluid motion, density of backgrounds, and the sheer visceral impact of its centerpiece - the numerous high-speed car chases. Bean Bandit’s customized car, "Buffy," is rendered with incredible precision, from its dynamic camera angles to detailed damage modeling, making the sense of speed and action palpable. For animation enthusiasts, the film remains a masterclass in kinetic energy translated onto the screen.

However, this visual brilliance is coupled with a narrative and tonal deficiency that firmly anchors it in a less mature era of filmmaking. The plot is thin, functioning primarily as a flimsy pretext for the next explosive action sequence. More critically, the film suffers from problematic sexual politics and tone that has aged poorly.

Rally Vincent, who would later become the fully developed protagonist of Gunsmith Cats, is relegated to a secondary, often sexualized and objectified role. This male gaze, the glib, jarring treatment of female violence, reflects the casual sleaze prevalent in many action OVAs (as well as most media) of that era. The entire premise, built on cynical anti-heroes driven purely by money, prioritizes shock value over thematic depth, resulting in a work that feels emotionally hollow and crudely adolescent when viewed through a modern lens.

Overall, Riding Bean is a great shirt OVA but a product of its time: there is unparalleled technical craft but this is tempered by a narrative sensibility that has significantly degraded over time. I think it's fine to watch if a bit uncomfortable in places but the later Gunsmith Cats series is a much more refined, satisfying and less skeevy work by Sonoda.

LINK- Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World- Book Review (and Personal Reflections)

LINK- The Rise of Retro Gaming During Covid

LINK- Japan: My Journey to the East

LINK- Blood, Sweat and Pixels- Book Review

LINK- Utopia for Realists- Book Review

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- ‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’ LINK: Elden Ring- Videogames As Art

Maturity and Meaning in Revisiting the Manga and Anime of Our Youth

There is a special kind of power in returning to the media of your youth and realizing that your younger self was watching an entirely different show. Over the past year, I’ve been revisiting some of the key anime and manga of my formative years—Neon Genesis Evangelion, Serial Experiments Lain, and my undisputed favorite, Haibane Renmei - and I've come to a striking realization. While Haibane Renmei (the purgatorial masterpiece) has always felt like a key text to me, I’ve also had to accept a basic truth: Evangelion and Lain are right up there with it. Now, I always loved these two but my re-evaluation hasn't come from the giant robots or the cyberpunk aesthetics but from the abstract, deeply polarizing internal monologues that bookended both these series which have finally clicked into place.

As a younger teenager, I found their navel-gazing head-trip endings confusing or even self-indulgent. However, as an adult with a life lived, I have come to realise that they are among the most honest representations of the human condition ever animated: not many shows looked at the philosophies of Kierkegaard and Schopenhauer and treated them seriously back then and the fact that these three series did that in an accessible way is pretty mind-blowing.

At the age of fourteen, the Hedgehog’s Dilemma in Evangelion was a cool philosophical trivia point - the idea that we, like hedgehogs in winter, want to huddle for warmth but inevitably prick each other with our spines. It felt poetic in an edgy, detached way. Now, after years of navigating real-world relationships, heartbreaks, and the complexities of intimacy, that dilemma feels less like poetry and more like a scar. Adulthood is a constant negotiation of those spines. We crave to be known and validated, yet we are terrified of the vulnerability that being known requires. We push people away to preserve ourselves, then find ourselves shivering in the cold.

Returning to Evangelion as an adult means recognizing that Shinji’s paralyzing fear isn't just petulent whining - it is the very real weight of realizing that to love someone is to give them the power to hurt you. We spend our lives trying to find the sweet spot on that graph: close enough to feel the warmth, yet far enough to avoid the sting.

If Evangelion is about the internal barriers we build, Serial Experiments Lain is about what happens when those barriers dissolve in the digital age. Re-watching Lain in the present feels almost prophetic. In the Wired, Lain exists in multiple versions—the shy girl, the bold digital entity, the cruel observer.

As an adult, this mirrors the exhaustion of the modern Persona. We project ourselves into different Wireds of our own lives—our LinkedIn professional self, our Instagram and Facebook curated self, our private, lonely self—seeking a connection that bypasses the physical pain of the Hedgehog’s Dilemma. But Lain warns us that when we are everywhere, we are also nowhere. It serves as a bridge: if we can be anyone to get validation, how do we ever live with who we actually are when the screens turn off?

This is where Haibane Renmei completes this triad. Where Evangelion deals with the terror of being an individual and Lain deals with the fragmentation of the self, Haibane explores the weight of being a guilty one. Its central philosophical hurdle is the Circle-of-Sin, a paradox that feels agonizingly familiar once you’ve carried the weight of your own mistakes for a few decades.

The logic of the Circle-of-Sin is a trap: To recognize one's sin is to have no sin. But then, are those who recognize their sin without sin? If you believe you have a sin, you are caught in the circle.

As an adult, this hits home because we often become our own harshest jailers. We believe that if we just feel bad enough, we can earn our way out of our guilt. But Haibane Renmei argues that you cannot find your own way out of the circle alone. You cannot self-validate your way out of shame. You have to accept the help of another; you have to allow yourself to be forgiven by the very other that Evangelion warns will prick you with their spines.

Ultimately, these three series function as a roadmap for the maturing psyche. They move from the external chaos of robots and computers to the internal silence of the soul. Through the lens of adulthood, the Human Instrumentality of Evangelion is no longer a sci-fi threat; it is the very real temptation to stop trying—to stop being an individual and sink into a sea of easy validation and collective numbness or ennui where everyone is one.

To truly wake up is to navigate the triad: you must acknowledge the fragmentation of your digital masks (Lain), break the self-perpetuating cycle of your own shame (Haibane Renmei), and finally accept the inherent pain of the Hedgehog’s Dilemma (Evangelion).

The final episodes of Eva resonate so deeply now because they represent the moment of synthesis. They tell us that the A.T. Field - the barrier of the soul - is not just a wall that keeps people out, but the very thing that gives us a shape to love. The Congratulations isn't for winning a war; it’s for the quiet, monumental decision to remain an individual in a world that makes being one incredibly difficult. I used to think these shows were about the end of the world. Now, I see they are about the courage it takes to truly inhabit it.

Returning to these stories isn't just an exercise in nostalgia for me; it's a kind of progress report on the soul. We never truly watch the same show twice because we are never the same person twice. If the anime of our youth once felt like an escape from a world we didn't understand, revisiting them as adults feels like an invitation to engage with that world more deeply. We are no longer just watching Shinji, Lain, or Rakka; we are recognizing ourselves in them. And in that recognition, there is a strange, quiet comfort: the realization that while the world may be heavy, we finally have the strength to carry our own spines.

LINK- Serial Experiment Lain - Cult Manga Review

LINK- Haibane Renmei - Cult Manga Review

LINK- The Anxious Generation: Book Review (and Some Thoughts)

LINK- Japan: My Journey to the East

LINK- Utopia for Realists- Book Review

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- ‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’ LINK: Elden Ring- Videogames As Art

LINK- Toxic: Women, Fame and the Noughties- Book Review (and Some Thoughts)

LINK- Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World- Book Review (and Personal Reflections)

Unlocked: The Real Science of Screen Time (and how to spend it better) by Pete Etchells- Book Review

For the past decade, a dominant cultural narrative has insisted that we are living through a digital "addiction" crisis. From headlines to dinner table debates, we’ve been told that smartphones and video games are the primary culprits behind a precipitous decline in mental health and the erosion of our communal bonds.

However, author Pete Etchells invites us to look closer at this panic. He points out a glaring irony: while screens were relentlessly demonized for years, they were suddenly championed as essential lifelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, as soon as the lockdowns lifted, the narrative reverted to its original, fearful status quo.

In his work, Etchells seeks to dismantle these rigid assumptions. He doesn't just offer an opinion; he provides a rigorous interrogation of the science, the history, and the ethics behind our digital lives.

In chapter 1, Of Panics and Pandemics, Etchells argues that the received wisdom regarding blue light, mental health crises, and screen addiction is built upon shaky data. While high-profile figures have relied on specific data sets, Etchells points out that other research into the same questions is far less conclusive. He warns against changing government policies based on vibes and anecdotal data rather than rigorous scientific inquiry. He also touches on the dietary detox lens through which screen use is often viewed, an area frequently governed by unscientific trends. Because screen time is rarely defined clearly, playing a cooperative game while socializing via headset is often lumped in with solo doomscrolling. This lack of rigor, combined with the fact that people are bad at self-reporting their own use, leads to deeply flawed data sets.

Chapter 2, Are Smartphones Destroying a Generation? examines the fallout of influential articles that linked poor mental health to smartphones. Etchells argues that the correlation between screen time and suicide risk factors was presented with a neatness that ignores scientific complexity. In reality, the statistical link between social media use and depression is often incredibly weak. He introduces the concept of p-hacking, where researchers manipulate large data sets until they find a significant result, and the bullshit symmetry principle, which states that refuting misinformation takes significantly more energy than creating it. He concludes that we must ask if smartphones are a genuine crisis or simply the latest in a long line of moral panics, following in the footsteps of books, comic, Elvis Presley’s hips, rock and roll, Dungeons and Dragons, videogames etc

In chapter 3, The Mirror in Your Pocket, Etchells suggests the online world doesn't necessarily cause mental health issues but rather amplifies and mirrors existing real-world problems. For example, 90% of those bullied online were already being bullied in person. He says we might need to look beyond the raw data and look at context.

Chapter 4, The Light in the Darkness, deconstructs the blue light myth. Etchells explains that while teenagers are losing sleep, it is often due to natural shifts in circadian rhythms combined with early school start times. The actual sleep loss attributed specifically to technology is roughly 3 to 8 minutes per night, hardly the apocalyptic figure reported by the media. He suggests the real source of teen anxiety may be the state of the world itself rather than the device used to read about it.

In chapter 5, Attention, he refutes the myth that humans now have a shorter attention span than a goldfish. He distinguishes between attention and focus, noting that while we are poor at multitasking, national productivity has actually increased in the digital age. 

Chapter 6, Ghouls in the Machine, looks at the ethics of algorithms. While not inherently evil, these systems are built by humans with biases. He is particularly critical of the gaming industry’s use of loot boxes and monetization, noting a clear correlation with problem gambling in an area where the industry remains lucratively self-regulated.

The most provocative stance comes in chapter 7, Digital Addiction. Etchells states that digital addiction does not exist in the way we think it does. He argues that using substance abuse questionnaires for video games is scientifically unsound because it ignores the lack of chemical ingestion. Instead, we should view these behaviors as habits or distractions. 

In the final sections, Etchells offers practical suggestions: refer to technology habits rather than addiction, identify patterns through self-reflection, delete stressful apps, model supportive behavior with children, and remain skeptical of media reports that demonize technology. Ultimately, technology is a tool that reflects the best and worst of us, offering amazing opportunities for connection and the search for truth.

Overall, I enjoyed my time with the book as it is scientifically based and also raises a lot of the same issues I raised about Haidt’s work. I wrote in the review of that book:

I do think Haidt misses it (the point) that he doesn’t look at how many young people feel disillusioned by a capitalist system that seems to prioritize profit over people and planet. They are concerned about issues like climate change, social injustice, and economic inequality, and are seeking alternatives that prioritize sustainability, fairness, and community well-being. They are suffering from Empathy Fatigue but they cannot look away as there is a constant stream of bad news so they are finding their tribes online which makes them more brittle in their opinions and less able to listen to the other side. To be honest, this is a whole world issue with the rise of populism but I do think Haidt misses out on the bigger existential social malaise affecting most of the world with the rise of social media.

Etchells discusses this and I think that is only right but I worry that governments around the world are all bought in on the Haidt Hype Train. We’ll see how things play out after the Australia Social Media ban for under-16s and then we can investigate with proper data. Until then, I’m all in with Etchells!

LINK: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt - Book Review (and Some Thoughts)

LINK: The Message by Ta-Nahisi Coates - Book Review (and Some Thoughts)

LINK: The Power of Stories and How They Are Manipulated

LINK: Utopia for Realists- Book Review

LINK: Toxic: Women, Fame and the Noughties- Book Review (and Some Thoughts)

LINK: The Rise of Retro Gaming During Covid

LINK: Blood, Sweat and Pixels- Book Review

LINK: The Offworld Collection- Book Review

LINK: Japan: My Journey to the East

La Horde Du Contrevents (The Horde of the Counterwind) - Book Review (In Progress)

I wanted to read the book that inspired my favorite game reveal of last year, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, but there was a major hurdle: it wasn't available in English. Determined to experience the source material, I bought the French edition on the Kindle store and have begun the painstaking process of translating it page-by-page using the in-app tool.

Sure, I’ll miss the nuance and linguistic gymnastics of the French language, and it would be a bit of a ball ache to highlight, translate, and digest every single page in its "Fringlish" form. However, I if it was the only way to get the gist of the core themes and understand the text that birthed the game's world, so be it. Ironically, this arduous process has made me feel like a member of the Horde itself—struggling against a linguistic gale just to gain a few inches of progress.

Alain Damasio's 2004 novel, La Horde du Contrevent (The Horde of the Counterwind), is an epic tale of perseverance and futility. It centers on a group of specialists seeking the "Extreme-Reach," the supposed source of an eternal, destructive wind. The narrative follows the 34th Horde—one of many expeditions across generations—as they journey against an all-consuming wind that shapes their world and threatens their existence. Every previous expedition has failed, yet each successive group learns from the remnants of their predecessors. They push on with the somber mantra, "For those who come after." But will any Horde actually make it? And if so, what will they find?

The novel grapples with themes of collective endeavor, the nature of progress, and the cyclical futility of human effort. It’s a story of desperate hope, where even in failure, a kind of knowledge is gained—a small step toward comprehending the incomprehensible. It is a profound meditation on humanity’s relentless pursuit of understanding in the face of insurmountable odds. In the words of the game it inspired: "We continue."

One of the many aspects I’m enjoying is the innovative narrative structure. Each character is given a unique voice, signaled by a specific typographical symbol (like Ω for the leader Golgolth or π for the scribe Pietro) rather than a name at the start of a paragraph. This isn't just a stylistic choice; it mirrors the specialized roles within the party. Much like an RPG, which features a diverse party of characters, the distinct viewpoints of wind-tappers, fighters, and scribes create a multi-layered tapestry of a world experienced from twenty-three different angles. This approach makes the characters feel genuinely distinct, immersing me in their individual triumphs and burdens.

The first chapter, Pharéole XIX, utilizes a "scattergun" approach where perspectives shift constantly. It was breathtaking and confusing, especially as I was parsing Bing-translated text on a phone screen. I realized later that this chaos is intentional; Damasio uses the prose to simulate the physical battering of the wind. With a little focus, the rhythm has become more intuitive. By the time I reached the following chapter, Chrones XVIII, the narrative settled into a more straightforward flow. Thank goodness, because a 700-page "tough hang" in the style of the opening would have been a monumental challenge.

I can now see why a full English translation is a daunting proposition. For a cult book that requires such a high level of linguistic precision, the return on investment might seem risky. However, I believe this book would excel not just within the gaming community, but in the wider literary sphere. Its premise is utterly novel and told with incredible structural ingenuity.

While a translation can never fully capture the intricate wordplay of Damasio’s French, a professional English release would finally provide readers access to this powerful narrative. Even with my janky, onerous translation method, the story's depth shines through. I intend to continue braving these linguistic winds to see if the source of the gale is worth the effort. Once I've reached the end, expect a detailed review.

There Is No Antimemetics Division - Book Review

There Is No Antimemetics Division is a masterclass in conceptual horror—a subgenre that posits the most lethal monsters aren't lurking in the shadows, but in the corners of our minds that we can no longer access.

Building upon the collaborative mythos of the SCP Foundation, author qntm’s novel shares a creative lineage with the Remedy-verse (Control, Alan Wake), the ergodic disorientation of Mark Z. Danielewski’s House of Leaves, and the fragmented storytelling of Christopher Nolan’s Memento.

The narrative follows Marion Wheeler, the director of a department that, by its very nature, cannot exist. Her team’s mandate is to contain antimemes: ideas that possess a self-censoring quality. An antimeme is a secret that actively defends itself; to perceive one is to immediately purge it from memory. To be targeted by one is to have your entire existence redacted from the consciousness of everyone you’ve ever known.

Wheeler’s world is defined by a permanent sense of intellectual vertigo. The narrative structure is brilliantly fragmented, mirroring the characters' fractured psyches as they utilize mnestic drug regimens—chemical catalysts that force the brain to retain information it is biologically wired to reject. They are fighting a war of attrition against an enemy they cannot remember. The stakes are ontological in the truest sense: if the enemy triumphs, humanity won’t just perish; it will be retroactively erased from the historical record.

Writing as qntm, Sam Hughes employs a lean, clinical style, cutting through the complex techno-babble of information theory with an administrative efficiency that makes the horror feel grounded in a chilling, bureaucratic reality.

The story is a meditation on the isolation of competence; Wheeler is a protagonist defined not by destiny, but by a dogged, sacrificial refusal to look away from the abyss, even as it erodes her sanity. As the narrative expands, we meet concert violinist Quinn, who becomes an unlikely but relatable journeyman. Alongside a general knowledge eating antimeme, Quinn tries to salvage the remnants of humanity. It is a story grand in scale and scope, yet intimate enough to make the reader feel the weight of small victories against impossible odds.

Conceptually, the story feels like a dark evolution of Steven Hall’s The Raw Shark Texts. Both novels explore a conceptual ecology where ideas are apex predators. Where Hall gives us the Ludovician—a conceptual shark that swims through the stream of human consciousness—qntm presents SCP-3125: an ideatic entity so aggressive that to even comprehend its geometry is to be consumed by it.

These U-category anomalies further echo the surreal horror of Neon Genesis Evangelion; like the Angels, they are unique, incomprehensible entities seeking to break the human AT Field and trigger a terminal singularity. qntm offers a clinical, high-stakes iteration of the linguistic predator concept, evoking a profound sense of cosmic dread.

Reading this book forces a playful, if unsettling, reframing of our own reality. It invites the reader to look at holes in our known history through a lens similar to the one used by figures like Erich von Däniken or Graham Hancock - not as an endorsement of their specific theories, but as a thought experiment in how easily a real history could be suppressed.

The idea that cyclopean, non-Euclidean structures could exist all around us, hidden for millennia by our own inability to perceive them, is a hauntingly effective narrative device. (To be clear: this is an appreciation of qntm's world-building, not an admission that I believe the Giza Pyramids were built by aliens!)

As a work of the New Weird, the novel challenges the reader to navigate recursive loops and intentional narrative gaps, delivering a conclusion that is as tragic as it is intellectually profound. It is a book that demands to be remembered in a reality that incentivizes forgetting.

Overall, There Is No Antimemetics Division is a brilliant, haunting read that will linger in your mind—assuming, of course, you’re allowed to remember it.


LINK- Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World- Book Review (and Personal Reflections)

LINK- The Rise of Retro Gaming During Covid

LINK- Japan: My Journey to the East

LINK- Blood, Sweat and Pixels- Book Review

LINK- Utopia for Realists- Book Review

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- ‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’ LINK: Elden Ring- Videogames As Art

Zeiram - Cult Film Review

Whilst YouTube surfing I came across a full copy of Zeiram. I hadn't seen the film before but recognised the name and main character from my time reading Manga Mania and Anime FX. I knew it was a live action adaptation of Iria but I hadn't seen that either so had no experience of it. However, I was intrigued and decided to give it a watch.

Having watched it now, I think Zeiram may very well be an overlooked cult classic but I can understand why. At first glance, the constraints of the modest budget are clear so it looks cheap and cheesy, yet it compensates for these limitations with an intriguing and inventive story. Directed by Keita Amemiya, the film follows Iria, a stoic and beautiful alien bounty hunter. She tracks a nearly invincible biological weapon known as Zeiram to Earth. To contain the potential carnage, Iria transports herself, the monster, and two hapless civilian electrical linemen into an isolated, artificial dimensional world called The Zone.

The brilliance of the film lies in this setup: by shifting the majority of the runtime to this parallel, deserted cityscape, the movie allows Iria to utilize futuristic gadgets and tactical planning to hunt the monster without the burden of real-world collateral damage. The civilian characters, a hilarious odd couple, serve as fish out of water, providing grounding and much-needed comedy as they desperately try to survive the hostile environment. However, what truly sells this premise is the earnest acting from the cast. Yuko Moriyama plays Iria with a deadpan seriousness that makes her competence believable, while the supporting cast of unfortunate electrical linemen reacts with genuine fear and confusion. Their commitment convinces the audience to buy into the stakes, preventing the film from collapsing under its own campiness.

Visually, Zeiram clearly suggests limited resources, and the aesthetic screams straight-to-video sci-fi. The sets are sparse, the lighting is often functional rather than stylish, and the practical effects lack the polish of a major Hollywood production. The rubbery, asymmetrical monster suit for the main villain and the reliance on visible wirework give the film a distinctly low-budget, B-movie tokusastu feel. However, this economy of design due to financial constraint actually benefit the film as it has that Evil Dead practical effects respectability. So, despite the rubbery texture of the effects work, the film wears its cinematic influences proudly. It acts as a love letter to Western sci-fi titans, featuring obvious nods to Predator in its high-tech cat-and-mouse dynamic, as well as John Carpenter’s The Thing. The latter influence is particularly evident in the creature design, as Zeiram is not just a beast, but a biological horror capable of grotesque assimilation and regeneration.

Overall, Zeiram is a rough diamond. The core narrative is a great blend of sci-fi action, horror, and humor that elevates the material far above its budgetary station. It proves that a creative concept trumps costly execution every time, making it a must-watch for fans of imaginative low-budget cinema who are willing to look past the rough edges to find the gem underneath.

The Caretaker - Hauntology and the Past That Never Was

The music of The Caretaker, the alias of British musician James Leyland Kirby, is a haunting and deeply nostalgic exploration of memory, decay, and loss. His work is primarily built upon sampling and distorting old 78 rpm ballroom records from the 1920s and 1930s where he takes snippets of forgotten melodies and elegant dances and subjects them to a process of sonic degradation—adding crackle, static, and long, looping delays which blurs the original source into something new and unsettling. I first came across his work through the BBC 6 Music Forever Dark podcast where I heard ‘All You Are Going to Want to do is Get Back There’ and it was love at first listen.

The music created a sense of 'hauntology', a longing for a future that never arrived or the ghost of a past that never truly was. Listening to some more ofThe Caretaker's music I felt that the faint echoes of waltzes and tangos created an immediate sense of familiarity, but the heavy distortion and disorienting loops prevented a clear picture from forming. It was like listening to a memory being actively forgotten and this led me into a strange state of reflection, conjuring images of a grand ballroom long since abandoned, a place that I’ve never visited but felt a profound, aching connection to. It reminded me of the Scandinavian concept of 'fernweh' which is a longing for a place you have never visited or been to.

Additonlly, the music sometimes felt spooky and reminded me of the scene in the bathroom from The Shining which features slowed down creepy waltz music.

The Caretaker’s music isn't just about the past; it's about the inescapable echoes of the past within the present which creates a powerful sense of unease and melancholic longing for a time and place that exist only in the fragmented grooves of a decaying record. Kirby has mentioned that the effects he used with the music created a feeling of memory loss and dementia and I have to say that it is really effective and does confound you, letting your mind wander and think about the fleeting moments of life we take for granted.

It's all deeply profound and I've really got into it as background music as I do my life admin work. I’m working my way through the albums but am loving the journey.

Arion - Cult Manga Review

While falling down the YouTube algorithm rabbit hole, a thumbnail for Arion popped up and instantly grabbed my attention. I knew absolutely nothing about it, but as a total sucker for those classic Swords and Sandals epics - especially the glorious Ray Harryhausen films I used to catch on the telly on rainy Sunday afternoons back in my youth—I had to check it out.

The result? A two-hour animated feature film from 1986 that throws you headfirst into a world of ancient Greek heroes, sweeping battles, and a dramatic clash between gods and mortals. The anime film is based on Yoshikazu Yasuhiko's manga and is an incredible, amalgamated retelling of Greek myths told with a vibrant '80s anime flair. So, how is it?

Well, the story kicks off with young Arion, son of Demeter, being forcibly taken to the Underworld by his uncle, Hades, against his will. Then, after a training montage of sorts, an older, now a capable young warrior, goes forth to remove the curse that has made his mother blind. What follows is a dizzying web of political intrigue and divine machinations as he seeks to destroy the Titans, Zeus and Poseidon. Along the way, Arion travels through a world filled with gods, monsters, and powerful human characters, all vying for control. It's all very heady stuff that moves at breakneck speed through various tales that are very familiar to us Europeans—where things like the Odyssey, Troy and the search for the Golden Fleece are basically core texts. Narratively, it's a complex hodgepodge narrative of epic scope and familiar tropes that blends classic Greek elements with uniquely dark undercurrents. We're talking themes like incest (the classical, implied kind, thankfully—think a slightly darker version of Luke and Leia in A New Hope—though the Olympian Gods are consistently appalling here; imagine Real Housewives of Olympus but with more lightning), deicide, patricide, and all those other heavy -cides. It's a seriously intoxicating mix and I was hooked.

The animation is amazing, and I'm not even going to use the caveat of 'for its time'; it is absolutely stunning with gorgeously detailed backgrounds, amazing fighting scenes, and fluid character movement. I'm not sure how much they spent on this, but they must have thrown a lot of money and talent at it, as it shows—it is a true visual spectacle! The music, by the legendary Joe Hisaishi, is spectacular and complement the tone of the film well.

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience with Arion. Sure, it takes some big liberties with the source material to make its own story flow, but the outcome is a brilliant, action-packed ‘greatest hits’ version of old Greek legend. What’s not to love? Just know that this ain't your Grandpa (or great, great, great Grandpa's) Greek mythos!

LINK: Japan: My Journey to the East

LINK- Battle Angel Alita: And So It Ends

LINK- The Moomins 80's Soundtrack Vinyl Review

LINK- Inspector Gadget Retro Soundtrack Review

LINK- Ulysses 31 Retro Soundtrack Review

LINK- The Mysterious Cities of Gold Retro Soundtrack Review

The Power of Non-Places and My Affection for Them

I find myself drawn to what the French anthropologist Marc Augé termed 'non-places' - the transitory spaces where we spend so much of our lives, such as motorways, hotel rooms and airports. My appreciation for these spaces stems from their lack of historical or relational significance. It is this very absence of 'Anthropological place' that I find so liberating and freeing.

In these spaces, I feel unburdened from the usual societal norms and expectations. The allure lies in the liberating anonymity they provide away from the Hestia and Hermes connection (and commitments) of the hearth, home and threshold. I can shed my everyday roles and responsibilities, if only for a short time. After all, who doesn't enjoy the experience of eating a Burger King meal at 5 a.m. at an airport or buying an oversized novelty flavoured Toblerone and snaffling it all by themselves instead of of buying a balanced meal? These actions are out of sync with my daily routine and offer a psychological departure from my known self. However, it‘s not The Purge rules where anything goes, rather it is that in that moment that I'm not a parent, an employee, or a friend; I am simply a transient figure in a transient space and I can act without the weight or judgement of expectation and can simply reinvent myself anew... at least for a while.

This sense of freedom, however, comes with its own set of rules and challenges. These non-places are defined by their functional and often impersonal design. I’m reminded of this whenever I'm faced with their automated systems.

Case in point: whilst on holiday, I recently had a truly dreadful time at a hotel breakfast buffet in France whilst trying to make eggs with spatulas that were far too small and then navigating a coffee machine that seemed to require an advanced degree. I wanted a cappuccino but ended up with a shot of espresso. I wasn't alone; I saw others struggling with the same complexities but, like me, they styled it out for the sake of embarrassment and no harm was done to the ego as our anonymity allowed us a ‘devil may care’ attitude.

My struggles continued further later that day on a ferry where I had to use a machine to fill my teapot with hot water. Since there was no way to hold the lever down for the right amount, I had to press it multiple times. This filled my teapot to the brim, and the rest poured into the drip tray below. I repeated this awkward process for the second pot of tea too, all while feeling the imagined judgment of those behind me. Yet, there was no elegant way to do it so, once again, I styled it out as there would be no judgement - I was just an anonymous chaotic shadow in a non-place where the usual rules of life did not apply.

These moments of minor, shared struggle with impersonal systems ironically underscore the collective experience of navigating a standardized, 'supermodern' world. While I may have been judged, I know others were likely experiencing their own private frustrations, but my and their anonymity allowed us all some peace.

My enjoyment of non-places, despite these awkward encounters, points to a fascinating adaptation to our current era; the value of a non-place is that it offers a unique and liberating experience for all those who pass through it. In the hyperconnected world we live in, who doesn't want that?

LINK- Twin Peaks: The Return Series Review

LINK- Secret History of Twin Peaks: Book Review

LINK- Twin Peaks: The Final Dossier Book Review

LINK- The Midnight Library and the Idea That You Can’t Go Home Again

LINK- Ulysses 31 Retro Soundtrack Review

LINK- Blood, Sweat and Pixels- Book Review

LINK- The Offworld Collection- Book Review

LINK- Shadow of the Colossus- Book Review

LINK- Japan: My Journey to the East

Before Your Eyes- Videogames As Art

“There are only 27,375 days in the average lifetime—that's just under 657,000 hours, or 40 million minutes. If we're very lucky, we might even get 2.1 billion seconds, but we don't get to keep all of them. Thanks to the limited, finite memory of our brains, we only get to keep a few choice moments to replay over and over again for the rest of our lives. These, however, are the moments that last forever.”

This is all according to Harriet Manners, Geek Girl, model and all-round philosopher extraordinaire.

As we get older, time feels increasingly erratic. Things that happened a couple of years ago can feel like a lifetime, while the Nineties—my formative years—feel just like they were last week. Getting older has a way of rearranging your mental furniture, and videogame Before Your Eyes, a beautiful, meditative game about this fleeting thing we call life, had had me reflecting on mine.

The game opens in the first person as you’re awakened by an anthropomorphic psychopomp wolf who guides you across a river of souls (Styx possibly). He offers you a chance to revisit your life and so, over the course of about two hours, you live as Benny. He’s a well-loved baby boy who shows early musical talent, lives next door to a cool girl, and has the opportunity to make the choices we often get to make, just by living.

The story is presented through a skewed, sometimes unreliable lens, mirroring the way our own memories are often imperfect and fragmented. This clever narrative design makes the experience deeply relatable, capturing the messy, beautiful, and sometimes misremembered nature of human experience.

As a parent and humanist, I found Before Your Eyes to be a deeply affecting experience. Its themes of love, loss, and the passage of time are handled with such sensitivity that it's likely to evoke a strong emotional response no-matter what your beliefs or faith. 

I highly recommend this game to anyone looking for a meaningful and artistic gaming experience, but be prepared for a truly touching, and possibly tear-jerking, journey. It's a game that stays with you, long after the credits roll.

Geis/ Curse of the Chosen - Graphic Novel Series Review

Have you ever picked up a book that immediately pulls you into a world both familiar and utterly unique? Alexis Deacon's Geis: A Matter of Life and Death, Geis: A Game Without Rules and Curse of the Chosen: The Will That Shapes the World, a three part graphic novel series (that confusedly changes its name after 2 books) is precisely that kind of experience.

The narrative is an incredibly compelling premise wrapped within a masterful blend of supernatural fantasy, action and ancient folklore; When a great chief matriarch dies without an heir, a grand contest is decreed to determine her successor. Fifty hopefuls, ranging from powerful lords to unassuming commoners, are summoned. However, what begins as a seemingly straightforward challenge quickly twists into something far more sinister in a Running Man style Battle Royale. A 'geis' for those unfamiliar with this concept (like I was) is a Gaelic curse, a taboo that, once broken, leads to dire and often fatal consequences. The competitors find themselves bound by this unbreakable curse, forced into a series of brutal trials where failure means death, and even survival comes at a steep price.

This high-stakes setup keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, as the story seamlessly shifts between intense action sequences and moments of profound suspense and the ink and brush artwork demands your attention.

Deacon brings a distinct and captivating style to this graphic novel. His painted illustrations, often featuring a soft, almost dreamlike pastel palette, imbue every panel with a unique glow. Yet, beneath this gentle aesthetic lies a meticulous ink line that grounds the fantastical elements, depicting environments and characters with both precision and fluidity. Whether it's a sweeping landscape of mountains and castles or an intimate moment conveying raw emotion, Deacon's art is consistently stunning, setting a mood that is at once mysterious, sinister, and utterly riveting. It's a visual feast that truly elevates the storytelling.

Deacon masterfully handles a large ensemble cast, ensuring that each character, even minor ones, feels distinct and contributes to the unfolding drama. While many are introduced, the focus narrows to a handful, allowing for deeper exploration of their motivations and struggles. Characters like the reluctant but clever young girl Io and conflicted Nemas, emerge as central figures, driving the narrative forward.

Beyond the thrilling plot, Geis delves into thought-provoking themes as it explores the nature of power, survival and the choices individuals make when faced with their own inescapable fate. There's a fascinating philosophical undercurrent to the 'geis' itself, a paradox that binds characters to their doom even as they are compelled to act.

Geis is far more than just a fantasy adventure; it's a deeply engrossing experience that resonates long after you've turned the final page. Its unique artistic vision, coupled with a gripping story and compelling characters, makes it a standout in the graphic novel landscape. If you're looking for a graphic novel that is both visually breathtaking and narratively rich, do yourself a favor and pick up Geis and you won't be disappointed.

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’.

LINK- Ms Marvel Can Change the World

LINK- The Rise of Retro Gaming During Covid

LINK- Blood, Sweat and Pixels- Book Review

LINK- The Offworld Collection- Book Review

LINK: Japan: My Journey to the East

The Crisis of Connectivity (Or, How Globalisation, Hyper-Events, and Misdirected Nostalgia are Ruining the Public Discourse)

We are living in the age of the hyper-event, and it has fundamentally broken our experience of reality. This isn’t just about bad things happening; it’s about the non-stop, globally streamed cascade of crises - from climate breakdown and extreme nationalism to a live-streamed genocide - that instantly dominates every news feed and social media timeline. The constant, hyperconnected transmission of these events has created a state of communal anxiety as the sheer volume of information has become an overwhelming burden on much of our collective psyche.

The Malignancy of Misinformation

In this pressurized, frantic environment, the space for a calm, nuanced response has somewhat evaporated. Misinformation, the oxygen of demagoguery, thrives here because it appeals directly to anger and raw emotion. It simplifies complex geopolitical and economic failures into easily digestible, emotionally satisfying narratives of blame or "pwning." Everything becomes a battleground, regardless of necessity. But how do we deal with this evergrowing wave? Well, we can’t just stop at surface-level fact-checking but there needs to be a fundamental overhaul of our civic literacy and critical thinking skills, demanding a thorough examination of our education systems, the structures of our media, and the very language we use to frame public issues.

True intellectual integrity - the search for truthfulness through honesty, fairness in your thinking, reasoning and expression,—requires relentless scrutiny, self-examination and empathy. This is something the BBC and other purportedly truthful news outlets should have done over the past couple of years in their coverage of certain events.

The Erasure of the Digital Village

The paradox of this hyperconnected world is that the cultural and technological globalisation that gives us instant information also acts as a powerful agent of cultural erasure. Our world has become a digital village, but this global embrace is driven by the relentless pursuit of corporate revenue - the "Moloch Trap" of modern capitalism - which often leads to the destruction of local identity by a race to the bottom where everyone loses by trying to win. This global force is frequently synonymous with Americanised cultural capitalism. As our choices trend toward ubiquitous, globalised brands - McDonald's, Starbucks, Nvidia, Amazon - we are unintentionally starving the homegrown alternatives that once defined local distinctiveness. This is a subtle yet relentless form of colonisation, where cultural borders aren't invaded by armies, but commercially and technologically hollowed out.

Hauntology and Misdirected Blame

This economic and cultural homogenisation creates a deep, unsettling social void: a sense of loss for something authentic and distinct. This feeling is hauntology: the pervasive sense of a lost future, a ghostly presence of a potential that never materialized, manifests as a profound, directionless nostalgia. The rise of extreme nationalism and associated street unrest in the UK and elsewhere is a symptom of this deep cultural wound. Here, in England, many people feel the loss of something "English" and, in their frustration, seek an identifiable culprit to blame for this lost potential.

Tragically, this anger is almost always misdirected. The target isn't the technological and cultural Americanisation that eroded local distinctiveness or the techno-feudalist fiefdoms but it’s the visible "other" - the person of colour, the immigrant - who represents change without being the structural cause of the loss. Many extremists are blaming diversity for the cultural vacuum created by global finance and unchecked consumerism. They forget that Britain was, and still is for many, (although milage may vary due to the past couple of decades of these right showers in politics) respected across the world as a beacon of opportunity, equality, and fair play, which is precisely why many from the old colonies sought to come (and were, in fact invited) to the "Motherland".

Moving Forwards

To heal this profound societal fracture, we must shift our focus from identity to introspection. We must look at ourselves as a nation—our political choices, our economic priorities, and our cultural consumption—and accept that the loss of a distinct culture is a consequence of our own uncritical embrace of global capitalism, not the fault of our neighbors. Only by demanding a renewed sense of responsibility from both our leaders and ourselves can we hope to define a twenty-first-century identity that embraces the modern world without sacrificing the joy and distinctiveness of the local.

The Power of the Written Word and Catering for the Niche

The Google SEO algorithm is being effectively gamed, and this hyper-focused race for the sacred "first page" is ultimately unsustainable. It's creating a swamp of weirdly skewed content, focused only on metrics and clicks, not meaning. As more time is invested in this pursuit, the actual value of what is written diminishes.

This is why the economy of language and the deliberate editorial choices in print media feels like a relief. While content is certainly king, these necessary and intentional selections of what not to include preclude the exhausting, algorithm-driven search for that viral unicorn.

As more sites chase this SEO bait, we lose the core human compulsion to narrate—to view the world as a collection of stories. What remains online are isolated islands of keyword-stuffed articles and clickbait designed purely to extract data and attention.

Fortunately, we are witnessing a resurgence in niche publications, specialized books, and dedicated articles—content an audience will pay for because they deeply value the substance or the authentic voice of the person writing it. I consider myself a ‘Digital Colonial’, belonging to the generation that existed before the internet became an omnipresent monolith. We had to actively seek out our interests, which fostered a strong, sometimes tribal, sense of identity linked to subcultures, be it grunge kid, manga fan, or bookworm.

For us, cultivating a niche interest is deeply comforting. It allows a sustained focus, a temporary refuge from the tidal wave of options the algorithm constantly pushes. This deliberate limitation is the antidote to the debilitating choice paralysis that occurs when there are simply too many roads to take.

For my part, I choose to write what I want to write, utterly unconcerned with SEO, traffic numbers, or transient digital metrics. I frequently decline collaborations—unless I actively use and believe in the product or service—because life is simply too short to be beholden to anyone for clout or a slight boost in views. I will continue to chug along, offering my pop culture ramblings and occasional long-form essays, until the impulse fades. Until then, I invite readers to savor the quiet comfort of the niche.

LINK: For the Niche of Videogames Magazines

LINK: Japan: My Journey to the East

LINK: Summer, Fireworks, and My Body

LINK: A Nightmare on Elm Street Boxset - Cult Movie Review

LINK: The Power of Stories and How They Are Manipulated

LINK: The Message by Ta-Nahisi Coates - Book Review (and Some Thoughts)

LINK: The Anxious Generation: Book Review (and Some Thoughts)

LINK: Utopia for Realists- Book Review

LINK: Toxic: Women, Fame and the Noughties- Book Review (and Some Thoughts)

A Chinese Ghost Story: The Animated Film - Cult Film Review

Back in the early 90s, Hong Kong cinema (as well as much of world cinema) was still quite niche, cult and difficult to find in England. You'd get the occasional Bruce Lee movie on television and that was about it. I knew Bruce Lee through Enter the Dragon but that was it, my knowledge of the wider genre was very slim. That changed as Channel 4 (and later cable channels) started to show anime, manga and Asian Cinema more frequently and when Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon became a worldwide smash the floodgates opened. I may be misremembering but I think I was introduced to this genre through Channel 4 or by a close friend who was a huge Jackie Chan fan before he became a 'name' in the West with the success of Rush Hour. However, by whatever means, A Chinese Ghost Story was one of the first HK films I saw and I fell in love with it, purchasing the Hong Kong Legends DVD for the then princely sum of £20 years later (that’s in the early 00s mind you so that’s mega expensive!)

Later I would realise that, whilst incredibly beautifully shot with sumptuous costumes and detailed sets, the film was a sum of the genre parts rather than a truly innovative picture. Another earlier Tsui Hark picture, Zu: Warriors of the Mountain (which I also purchased later, again by HKL) did a lot of what is shown Hark's oeuvre and the Wuxia genre, however, at the time I didn't mind as I didn't know any better. Even now, the tale of a lowly, down on his luck tax collector falling in love with a spirit and trying to save her cursed soul still captivates me.

Released in 1997, A Chinese Ghost Story: The Animated Film was something I sought after seeing it mentioned in Manga Mania but I never found it... until now, where it came up serendipitously in my YouTube feed.

Under the direction of Tsui Hark, who also produced the original films, this animated film ventured into new territory, aiming to translate ethereal romance and supernatural action into a fresh medium. So, did Hark succeed in this endeavour?

The narrative mirrors its live-action predecessor, following Ning, a young and somewhat naive tax collector and scholar, who is heartbroken and adrift in ancient China. However, his spirits are lifted by an encounter with Siu Lan, an ethereal beauty with whom he instantly falls in love. The significant complication, however, is that Siu Lan is a soul stealing ghost. Their blossoming romance quickly finds itself at odds with the formidable supernatural powers that govern their world. Ning's unwavering devotion forces him to confront a gauntlet of challenges, from undead beasts and mad exorcists to powerful chi blasts and even spectral trains. Despite these perilous obstacles, his determination to fight for his one last chance at happiness forms the emotional core of the film.

I really enjoyed my time with the film as it is an ambitious fusion of animation techniques. It is a testament to the artistry of fluid, hand-drawn animation. This traditional approach masterfully captures expressive character designs and creates dynamic action sequences, imbuing them with a timeless cel-animated charm. Characters move with a grace and exaggerated flair difficult to achieve in live-action, allowing for more fantastical and emotionally charged performances. Complementing this, meticulously detailed backgrounds depicting misty forests, ancient temples, and bustling marketplaces are rendered with impressive depth, often evoking the beauty of traditional Chinese painting. However, the film also serves as a fascinating snapshot of animation in the late 1990s, venturing into the then-nascent realm of GCI and live film, a real mixed media prodution of you will. The integration of CGI is arguably the most experimental aspect, and at times, the least seamless. While employed effectively to depict certain magical effects, spirits, and elaborate transformations, the early 3D animation occasionally contrasts sharply with the more organic hand-drawn elements. This visual disconnect can momentarily pull the viewer from the immersive experience, a common challenge for films of this era that pushed the boundaries of new technologies. While some CGI elements hold up better than others, they are undeniably a product of their time. However, despite these experimental quirks, the film largely succeeds in delivering a beautifully animated and engaging narrative.

The story admirably retains the melancholic romance and tragic undertones that defined the original live-action trilogy, while adapting the action for the animated medium, allowing for more exaggerated and visually creative battles against various demons and spirits. The voice acting, which I experienced as an English dub, breathes life into the characters, and the score effectively underscores the film's emotional beats and supernatural tension.

In conclusion, A Chinese Ghost Story: The Animated Film is a captivating curio in the history of animated cinema, especially for aficionados of Asian animation. Its unwavering commitment to traditional hand-drawn techniques remains its greatest strength, delivering vibrant characters and dynamic action sequences. While its pioneering use of CGI and live-action elements can at times feel dated or disruptive, they also serve as a valuable testament to the era's innovative and exploratory spirit.

So, for those keen to witness a beloved tale retold with creative ambition and a truly unique visual approach, this animated feature is well worth a watch.

Crossing the Line for Classic Gaming (My Repro Carts Confession)

For many of us who grew up with a controller in our hands, the world of retro gaming holds a special, nostalgic charm. But what happens when that charm is locked behind language barriers, unreleased titles, ridiculous scalped pricing or obsolete hardware? This is the dilemma that led me down the path of buying knockoff reproduction cartridges, a decision I'm ready to discuss, if not entirely condone.

My most recent acquisition, and perhaps the one that truly highlights my predicament, is a repro cartridge of the Game Boy game The Frog For Whom the Bell Tolls. This title has been my personal white whale for years. Despite sharing a strikingly similar style to the beloved Zelda: Link's Awakening, it was never officially released in English.

I've yearned to experience this game, patiently waiting for an official localization that never materialized. Then, a recent discussion on Retronauts reignited my desire, and I finally decided to bite the bullet and get a knockoff cart.

Now, let me be clear: I'm not advocating for the rampant production or sale of pirated goods. However, when a game has been out for over 25 years, with no official English release – physically or digitally – what's a dedicated gamer to do? The alternative is to simply never play it, and that feels like a loss for both the gamer and, in a way, the game itself.

This isn't an isolated incident either. I recently picked up repro carts of Mother 1, 2 and 3 for the Game Boy Advance. Again, my reasoning was simple: these titles are either completely unavailable in English or, where they are available digitally (like Mother on the Wii U), it was on hardware I'm unlikely to pull out of the loft anytime soon or on a digital storefront that is now closed.

As someone who has witnessed the evolution of the gaming industry firsthand, from motherboards to cartridges to cassettes to cartridges to CDs to digital downloads and streaming, the current landscape of game preservation and accessibility is a source of both wonder and frustration. We now have a multitude of means and methods to release videogames, from emulators to digital storefronts. Given these advancements, any form of gatekeeping, especially for titles that have been out of print for decades, truly grates on me; there are punters williing to pay for these items and acquire them by legal means, allow people to do that!

There's clearly a market for these classic retro games, especially if they were made readily available and, crucially, in English. Imagine the joy of legitimate, accessible digital releases for these long-lost gems. Until then, however, for those of us who simply want to experience these pieces of gaming history, the murky world of reproduction cartridges sometimes feels like the only viable option. It's a compromise, for sure, but one born out of a deep love for the games themselves.

LINK- Looking Back at the Switch

LINK- The Rise of Retro Gaming During Covid

LINK- Japan: My Journey to the East

LINK- Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World- Book Review (and Personal Reflections)

LINK- Blood, Sweat and Pixels- Book Review

LINK- Utopia for Realists- Book Review

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

LINK- Elden Ring- Videogames As Art

Shadow Star Narutaru- Cult Manga Review

I knew of Shadow Star as the series ran for a while in Manga Mania back in the late 90s. I liked it's naive, laidback art style that looked different from the other, more stereotypical stuff that we wee getting. Manga-ka Mohiro Kitoh's art and storytelling belies the dark heart of the story underneath. The story was never complete in Manga Mania and, even though I bought the 7 graphic novels, the rest of the series was never released in the UK so I never got closure. Finally, after nearly 30 years, I got access to the 13 part the anime series and had a chance to see if it was as graphic, dark and violent as I remembered.

With the cheerful opening credits I second guessed myself thinking I was misremembering the series. The jaunty theme tune, the colourful paper cut art style and cute characters made it look more like a slice of life comedy series in the vein of Hamtaro or Shin Crayon rather than what we have here.

The first episode starts of cheerful enough as Shiina, a young tween sent to holiday with her Grandparents near the coast, finds a strange star-shaped creature in the sea next to a torii gate. She bonds with it as it flies her all around the coast. She names it Hoshimaru and takes it back home with her, keeping it a secret from her father. Great, a buddy story of two new friends from different world, a modern day ET you might think... but no, by episode 2 the darkness of the series is revealed and it gets progressively beaker, violent and misanthropic. There are several of these alien beings and they all have owners who are bonded with them, the problem is that a few of the teenage keepers of the 'Children of the Dragon' ETs are maniacs who want a Khymer Rouge style Year Zero where there is a genocide of the educated elite to allow for a 'peaceful and strong society  that lives off the land'.

Shiina and her friend Akira want to fight back but there are a group of teens who are more bonded with their dragons and in their mind might is right.

Over the course of 13 episodes we have an ongoing battle between Shiina, Akira and Horoko and the Japanese Airforce against  those with evil intent. However, along the way we deal with real big issues such as self-harm, neglect, emotional abuse, mental health,.... it's all pretty heady and heavy stuff and you'd like for it to be handled well but the show is tonally everywhere. It's light and breezy one moment and in the next minute very bleak.

The art style in Shadow Star will not appeal to everyone but I quite like that it is quiet distinctive in the manga space. The characters are all gangly arms and legs but I suppose to convey tween and early teens that'd be accurate. Shiina is a bit of a tomboy so her supposed gracelessness, which her career-driven mum criticises her about in episode 3, is understood to be a trait we can get behind as she is our plucky heroine. Shiina is very endearing and a sympathetic character as she wants to help and do the right thing. The character design of the other people is pretty forgettable, including the dragon children who all look a bit uninspired.

The series asks a lot of questions and is intriguing but the motivation of the evil cabal of teens here is not clear. I get the world is not great so the whole 'let's start afresh' seems like a bold idea... until you take into account the hundreds of millions of people you would need to kill in order to possibly achieve this. These youths don't come across as sympathetic or idealistic, more psychopathic with Stalin's attitude of 'You can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs'.

It's a shame the series ends where it does as there is definitely something here. Sure, there's a dark heart here but the story of power corrupting youth and lack of impulse control is one we can all understand both in real life and through literary examples like Lord of the Flies. Sure, Shadow Star Narutaru isn't the finest work of anime or manga but I enjoyed the story that was presented. I need closure but I suppose with no chance of a second series being commissioned it'll be a case of finding English translations of graphic novels volume 8 to 12 to get that. Oh well!

Videogames as Empathy Engines: 13 Games With Something Profound to Say

Videogames are a phenomenal medium, capable of transporting us to fantastic realms and engaging our minds in ways we might not otherwise experience. Yet, some games have a unique ability to forge a profound emotional connection, leaving a lasting impact long after the screen goes dark. They don't just entertain us; they cultivate empathy and introspection, acting as a mirror to our shared humanity.

Here are thirteen games that have resonated with me deeply, showcasing the power of this medium. Each of these games, in its own unique way, acts as a sophisticated empathy engine. They use their specific mechanics—from wordless co-op to environmental storytelling—to bypass intellectual understanding and go straight to emotional resonance.

1. Flow

This elegant exploration of the evolution of life reminds us of the interconnectedness of all beings. As you navigate a primordial soup, absorbing other life forms to grow, the experience is meditative and humbling, a quiet reminder that all life is part of a grand, continuous cycle. It is accompanied by Austin Wintory's majestic score that envelopes you in a spiritual hug.

2. Gone Home

Stepping into an empty house, you feel an immediate sense of unease. This game masterfully builds a narrative through environmental storytelling, allowing you to piece together the story of a young woman's journey of self-discovery. It's a poignant exploration of identity, family and the challenges of being true to oneself, particularly within the queer experience.

3. Dear Esther

This game is less an adventure and more a piece of interactive art told through the walking simulator process. A man wanders a desolate Hebridean island, his voice narrating fragments of text that reveal a deeper story of loss and memory. Its enigmatic narrative and hauntingly beautiful landscape evoke a sense of profound melancholy and introspection. The score by Jessica Curry is beautifully stark and reaches a beautiful crescendo at the journey's end.

4. Journey

Journey is a powerful testament to the meaning of life and the connections we make along the way. Without any dialogue, you can forge a bond with a fellow traveler as you embark on a trek across a vast desert. The wordless co-op experience is deeply moving, teaching us that even brief connections can leave a lasting impression. Once again, Austin Wintory's multi-award winning score elevates the experience to a spiritual level.

5. Everyone Has Gone to the Rapture

Exploring a deserted English village, you uncover the stories of its vanished inhabitants. The game builds an eerie atmosphere as you piece together what happened, forcing you to confront the unsettling thought of what lies beyond our mortal understanding. It’s a beautiful and unnerving look at faith and the end of the world. The music by Jessica Curry is beautiful and reminds me of Vaughan Williams or Elgar.

6. Monument Valley II

This puzzle game is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant portrayal of the mother-daughter relationship. Guiding a mother and child through Escher-like architectural puzzles, the game becomes a gentle meditation on the journey of a parent letting their child go and the beauty of independence.

7. Before Your Eyes

Before Your Eyes is a touching narrative about the afterlife and the chance to confront past regrets. The game is a metaphor for reflection, suggesting that even in death, there can be an opportunity for redemption and peace by revisiting and correcting past mistakes.

8. Wandersong

In a world of heroes and epic quests, you play as a simple bard who believes in the power of song. Wandersong is a beautiful reminder that you are enough just as you are. The protagonist doesn't need to be a mighty warrior; their true power lies in their ability to connect with others and spread joy. The soundtrack is also beautifully eclectic and deeply touching in places.

9. Nier: Automata

This game is a masterclass in philosophical storytelling. Nier: Automata delves into concepts like existentialism and humanism, compelling you to question the very definition of humanity through the eyes of androids. The narrative, inspired by thinkers like Camus and Nietzsche, uses sacrifice and loss to create a profound and beautiful emotional arc, especially in its poignant final act. The soundtrack is also an all-timer!

10. Clair Obscura: Expedition 33

This is the most recent game to deeply affect me and was the main prompt for this post. Clair Obscura made me ponder the profound concept of 'those that come after.' The game raises a critical question: what do we owe future generations? It serves as a reminder that our legacy isn't just for ourselves but for the people who will inherit the world we leave behind. This also has an amazing soundtrack!

11. What Remains of Edith Finch

The curse of the Finch family isn't just a plot device; it's an inescapable sense of fate. As you step into each family member's story, you feel the weight of their lives and their tragic ends. The story of the baby, in particular, renders a simple, joyful moment of imagination so beautifully that its abrupt, tragic end hurts all the more. The game doesn't just show you grief, it helps you feel the devastating finality of it.

12. To the Moon

This pixel art game beautifully pieces together a dying man’s wish. It breaks down a life into its most fundamental components: a memory, a promise, a feeling of being unfulfilled. It’s the perfect medium for a story as fragile as a memory, making every conversation and flashback feel significant. It allows us to understand the weight of a promise, even an unspoken one, and the quiet beauty of a peaceful end.

13. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons

This game uses dual-stick controls not as a gimmick, but as the physical manifestation of a relationship. It is the bridge between two controllers and two hearts, ensuring the cooperation feels natural and the separation feels wrong. The final moments are a culmination of every shared step and challenge, delivering a gut punch of an ending that reminds us that even though we lost a character, we gained a powerful memory.

Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves- Book Review (and Some Thoughts)

As a millennial, born in 1981, I've lived a pretty interesting life so far. When I look back at the evolution of society, the rate of change is remarkable—especially regarding the dominance of the internet. We hope that, as a people, we are moving toward more enlightened times. Yet, the past few years have shown that for every step forward, we also take steps back, particularly regarding female bodily autonomy.

Sophie Gilbert's Girl on Girl proves an insightful companion to works like Sarah Ditum’s Toxic, exploring this regression through a compelling mixture of history, culture, and feminist theory. Gilbert persuasively argues that pornography has become the defining cultural product of our times, fundamentally altering how genders perceive one another. She analyzes the profound effect of the commodification of the female body on women's self-worth, offering a crucial cultural context for the rise in self-harm and depression following the ubiquity of camera-enabled smartphones.

Gilbert, being only three years my junior, shares a familiar set of cultural touchstones. She opens the book by recalling her formative years at age 16, highlighting the era’s pop-cultural fixation on women: Britney Spears on the infamous Rolling Stone cover, the exploitative fantasy in American Beauty, and the projection of Gail Porter's image onto the Houses of Parliament for FHM. These recollections offer a raw look at the pervasive, casual sexism of the 90s and 00s. For those who did not live through it, the sheer unapologetic cruelty directed at famous women by the media is difficult to fully grasp.

Recently, I watched a few films I recalled fondly from that era, and the casual misogyny was striking. It wasn't just a case of grandfathering in the accepted "norms" of the time; it was cruelty heaped upon a baseline toxic "lad culture" that pervaded the "Cool Britannia" zeitgeist. While there seemed to be tides of change in the mid-00s, with significant progress in legal and educational arenas, the bad old times seem to be back. Post-Trump, the rise of the Manosphere, the rolling back of Roe v. Wade, and the easy access to extreme adult material online suggest the misogyny of the past has returned in a new, mutated form.

Over nine chapters, Gilbert looks at this regression of women's rights. There are a few key themes that overarch her work, most notably a "culture of contempt."

Gilbert argues that the turn of the millennium saw a shift from the rebellious punk and Riot Grrrl figures of the 80s and early 90s to more girlish, vulnerable archetypes (like the Spice Girls and Britney Spears), who were easily manipulated and mocked. This culture of contempt was driven by figures like Perez Hilton, who built careers on publicly shaming women, and the celebrity press—such as Heat magazine with its infamous 'Circle of Shame'—which attacked innocent fashion 'faux pas' and the bodies of women.

A key element underlying this shift was the rise of easily accessible internet pornography. As porn became more ubiquitous and extreme, popular culture strained to catch up, conditioning a generation of women to view themselves as both commodities and subjects worthy of derision. This era saw the rise of "Porno Chic" fashion and predation, a dynamic that eventually reached a breaking point with the #MeToo movement nearly two decades later.

Compounding all of this was the ideology of post-feminism, which falsely posited that the fight for gender equality was largely over. Women were instead steered toward finding "liberation" through consumption and self-commodification. This toxic attitude permeated all corners of pop culture—from films like American Pie to reality TV—fostering a pervasive sense that women should be objects of male desire and, crucially, objects of one another's contempt (epitomized by the media-fueled Britney vs. Christina rivalry).

Gilbert's work forces readers to confront an uncomfortable truth: this sustained devaluation of women in popular culture has likely contributed to broader societal and political outcomes. Culture shapes us and our choices, for better or worse.

Overall, Girl on Girl serves as a powerful piece of cultural criticism and a call to action. It reminds us that we must demand a popular culture that does not demean women or spread casual misogyny. We are currently stuck in a specific "Reality Tunnel"—a mental model we mistake for reality itself—where the devaluation of women is normalized. To break free from this narrative, and the "Circumambient Narratives" that define our societal values, we must actively aspire for the betterment of all women and envision a world superior to the one that has dominated since the turn of the millennium.

The Xbox 360 and Me: A Console Retrospective

I have a long history with gaming, but the Xbox 360, released 20 years ago, was truly revelatory. It changed the gaming landscape forever.

I first discovered gaming when I was six years old, living opposite a video rental store in East Ham, East London. The shop hosted a few arcade machines, including a sit-down Pac-Man table and Space Invaders. I fell in love with the colours, lights, and sounds immediately. In fact, I blame that fascination for getting me run over when I was rushing across a busy street to spend my pocket money. Luckily, I escaped with only a graze on my head, living to tell the tale and play another day.

I begged my parents for a computer, but money was always tight. I contented myself with playing on my friends' machines until my best friend received a NES for his tenth birthday. Nintendo hooked me immediately. We played through Double Dragon, Super Mario Bros, Zelda, and Micro Machines, and I eventually worked hard on a car-washing round to buy my own Master System.

Through the 90s console wars, I bounced between manufacturers. I experienced the Mega Drive’s Sonic and Streets of Rage with friends, loved a beat-up second-hand Game Boy, and eventually returned to Nintendo for the N64 for Goldeneye and Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

As I grew older and started working weekend jobs at a clothing chain, I could finally buy consoles brand new. The GameCube was the first machine I bought on launch day, followed later by a PS2 specifically for Ico.

But everything changed in the mid-2000s. When the Xbox 360 released in 2005, I didn't buy it immediately; I waited until 2007. A friend of a friend had the console on release day and plugged it into his HDTV back when those televisions cost over £1,000. Seeing Gears of War on that screen blew my mind. It looked so much better than anything I had seen before—a true Mario 64-style revelation. A group of us would go around daily to work our way through the game; it was a truly communal experience.

This was my gaming setup, circa 2007 (ish) and the 360 featured quite prominently.

When I finally bought my own, it just felt different. It wasn't just the graphics, but the ecosystem, which was miles ahead of what had come before. The Xbox 360 standardized the online console experience in a way that felt revolutionary. The introduction of Xbox Live Party Chat meant the console became a virtual living room. While I’ve always been a couch co-op purist, I recognized that for many of my friends, this social layer was game-changing.

Likewise, the Achievement system gamified gaming itself, adding that addictive pop sound that made every accomplishment feel significant. While I never felt compelled to find all the feathers in Assassin's Creed 2 or platinum a game, I loved that the system tracked my gaming history. However, the feature I engaged with most was the Summer of Arcade. Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA) pioneered the indie console scene, proving that download-only titles could be just as impactful as retail releases. Everything was built-in, and the customisability of the Gamertag, Avatar, and dashboard themes made the system feel personal and edgy.

The hardware itself was a triumph of ergonomics; in my humble opinion, the 360 controller is still one of the best ever made. The asymmetrical sticks, the triggers that felt like actual triggers, and the weight of it in the hand made shooters and racing games feel intuitive in a way the DualShock simply didn't at the time.

Of course, the hardware wasn't without its faults. I was fortunate to never suffer the Red Ring of Death, though plenty of my friends did. We often tried to fix their consoles with the dubious towel trick to overheat the solder, but these were the trials and tribulations of owning such a memorable piece of hardware.

While the features were groundbreaking, I bought the 360 primarily because it looked head and shoulders above any other console. It eventually hosted all-time greats, including BioShock, The Orange Box, Red Dead Redemption, Halo 3, Dead Space, Burnout and Dishonored. It also (re)introduced the world to plastic peripherals that were essential to playing games like Rock Band, Guitar Hero and DJ Hero - plastic instruments that filled charity shops for a decade but are now becoming expensive collectors' items.

The console also introduced me to niche titles like Nier and Panzer Dragoon: Orta, as well as digital-only gems like Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, Castle Crashers, and Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved. Furthermore, it gave me the chance to play older games that were prohibitively expensive in the wild via XBLA, such as Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Radiant Silvergun.

I loved my 360 console. It is currently stored in the loft, ready to bring out once I have a man cave space sorted. I just hope my system still works; I have a large collection of original games and look forward to revisiting those classics on the original hardware soon.

LINK- Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World- Book Review (and Personal Reflections)

LINK- The Rise of Retro Gaming During Covid

LINK: Japan: My Journey to the East

LINK- Blood, Sweat and Pixels- Book Review

LINK- Utopia for Realists- Book Review

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

LINK: Elden Ring- Videogames As Art

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Videogames As Art

As we approach the end of the year, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has serious Game of the Year contender vibes for me still. The game’s beautiful Belle Époque art style and cinematic storytelling evoke classics like Final Fantasy 13 and Nier: Automata, but its unique turn-based active timed battles truly set it apart. This innovative combat system makes every encounter feel fresh and exciting, much like how MercurySteam revitalized Castlevania with Lords of Shadow.

After 30 hours of gameplay and rolling credits, I can honestly say that this is a modern masterpiece that delivers on style, substance and bold new storytelling ideas.