#but give them the diversity and depth of modern cartoons

[youareinacomawakeup]

I swear the cartoons when I was a kid were so much more. goth. Like, not all of them, obviously. We still had shit like Powerpuff Girls and Spongebob.

But like. When I really think back to my childhood, the shit I remember most, the things that color the whole vibe, are like. Aaahh Real Monsters, the Beetlejuice cartoon, the Addams Family cartoon, Invader Zim, Gargoyles, Darkwing Duck, Courage the Cowardly Dog. Even Billy and Mandy. Not dark, necessarily, but...Halloween-flavored. If King Midas had the touch of Tim Burton instead of gold.

Don't get me wrong, the pastel vibe of the 2010s was good, too. Love me some Steven Universe.

But do I start to miss the whole animated vibe from when I was a kid every time spooky season approaches?

Yes. Yes, I do.

[digicircal01]

2D 3D Animation Services: Transforming Ideas into Captivating Visuals

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. The Basics of 2D Animation

3. The World of 3D Animation

4. Benefits of 2D Animation Services

5. Advantages of 3D Animation Services

6. Choosing the Right Animation Style

7. Applications of 2D and 3D Animation

8. How to Select an Animation Service Provider

9. Factors to Consider in Animation Pricing

10. Trends in the Animation Industry

11. The Future of Animation Services

12. Conclusion                                 

13. FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Introduction

In today's digital era, animation has become integral to various industries, including entertainment, marketing, education, and more. It breathes life into static images, allowing businesses and individuals to convey complex ideas and engage their audience in a visually appealing and interactive manner. 2D and 3D animation services have revolutionized communication, opening up endless possibilities for creativity and storytelling. This article will delve into the world of 2D and 3D animation, exploring their differences, benefits, applications, and the future they hold.

The Basics of 2D Animation

2D animation refers to the process of creating movement in a two-dimensional space. It involves manipulating images or frames to give the illusion of motion. Traditional 2D animation techniques, such as hand-drawn or cel animation, have evolved to incorporate digital tools and software, making the process more efficient and accessible. 2D animation services offer various styles, from classic cartoons to modern motion graphics, enabling businesses to deliver their message with creativity and impact.

The World of 3D Animation

Unlike 2D animation, 3D animation brings objects and characters to life in a three-dimensional space. It uses complex software and techniques to create realistic visuals with depth, texture, and lighting effects. 3D animation services excel in producing lifelike characters, immersive environments, and intricate visual effects. This technology has transformed the film, gaming, and advertising industries, providing a new level of realism and interactivity that captivates audiences worldwide.

Benefits of 2D Animation Services

1.     Cost-Effectiveness: 2D animation services are generally more affordable than 3D animation, making them an excellent choice for businesses with budget constraints.

2.     Quicker Turnaround: The production process for 2D animation is usually faster than 3D animation, allowing projects to be completed within shorter timelines.

3.     Simplicity and Clarity: The simplicity of 2D animation makes it easier to convey messages and concepts clearly, especially when targeting a diverse audience.

4.     Retro Appeal: The nostalgic charm of 2D animation can evoke emotions and create a sense of familiarity, making it ideal for brands seeking a vintage or classic aesthetic.

Advantages of 3D Animation Services

1.     Realistic Visuals: 3D animation services provide unparalleled realism, enabling the creation of lifelike characters, detailed environments, and breathtaking visual effects.

2.     Enhanced Engagement: Immersive 3D animations captivate viewers, allowing them to explore virtual worlds and interact with content on a deeper level.

3.     Flexibility and Adaptability: 3D animations can be easily modified, allowing seamless updates or adjustments to meet evolving project requirements.

4.     Brand Differentiation: 3D animation can set a brand apart from competitors by showcasing innovation, cutting-edge technology, and attention to detail.

Choosing the Right Animation Style

When selecting an animation style, it is essential to consider the target audience, message, and desired impact. 2D and 3D animation offers unique advantages, and the choice ultimately depends on the specific project requirements and goals. Some factors to consider include the brand image, budget, project timeline, and the overall aesthetic appeal you want to achieve.

Applications of 2D and 3D Animation

The applications of 2D and 3D animation services are vast and diverse. Here are a few examples:

1.     Entertainment: 2D and 3D animation dominate the film, television, and gaming industries, bringing stories and characters to life visually stunningly and immersive.

2.     Advertising and Marketing: Animation helps businesses create captivating advertisements, explainer videos, and promotional content that engages viewers and enhances brand recognition.

3.     Education and E-Learning: Animation simplifies complex concepts, making learning enjoyable and interactive for students of all ages. It enables the creation of educational videos, virtual simulations, and training modules.

4.     Architecture and Real Estate: 3D animation allows architects and real estate developers to showcase their designs and properties with photorealistic visualizations, aiding in client presentations and marketing efforts.

How to Select an Animation Service Provider

Choosing the right animation service provider is crucial to ensure the success of your project. When deciding, think about the following aspects:

1.     Portfolio and Expertise: Review the provider's portfolio to gauge their style, quality, and versatility. Ensure they have experience in the specific animation style you require.

2.     Client Reviews and Testimonials: Review previous clients' testimonials and reviews to assess the provider's reliability, professionalism, and customer satisfaction.

3.     Communication and Collaboration: Effective communication and collaboration are essential throughout the project. Choose a provider who understands your vision and can work closely with you to bring it to life.

4.     Technical Capabilities: Evaluate the provider's technical skills, software proficiency, and ability to handle complex projects effectively.

5.     Cost and Pricing Structure: Request detailed pricing information and consider the value you receive from the cost. Beware of highly low-cost providers, as quality may be compromised.

Factors to Consider in Animation Pricing

Animation pricing varies based on several factors:

1.     Project Complexity: More complex animations require additional time and resources, affecting the overall cost.

2.     Animation Length: Longer animations typically involve more work, increasing the pricing accordingly.

3.     Quality and Detail: Higher-quality animations with intricate details may incur higher costs due to the additional time and effort involved.

4.     Licensing and Rights: Additional fees may apply if you require exclusive usage rights or licensing for commercial purposes.

Trends in the Animation Industry

The animation business constantly changes due to technological breakthroughs and shifting customer demands. Some current trends include:

1.     Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR): The integration of animation with AR and VR technologies opens up new possibilities for immersive experiences in gaming, marketing, and training.

2.     Motion Graphics and Infographics: Businesses increasingly use animated motion graphics and infographics to present data and information visually, engagingly, and easily digestibly.

3.     Interactive and Gamified Content: Animation creates interactive and gamified content, enhancing user engagement and making experiences more memorable.

4.     Hybrid Animation Styles: Mixing 2D and 3D animation techniques allows for unique visual styles that combine the benefits of both worlds.

The Future of Animation Services

The future of animation services looks promising, with endless opportunities for innovation and growth. As technology advances, animation will play a crucial role in various industries. Here are some essential things to watch out for:

1.     Real-Time Rendering: Real-time rendering technology will enable faster and more efficient creation of high-quality animations, reducing production time and costs.

2.     AI-Driven Animation: Artificial intelligence will revolutionize animation by automating tasks, enhancing character movements, and generating realistic environments.

3.     Immersive Experiences: Animation will play a vital role in creating immersive experiences through augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), allowing users to interact with animated worlds in real time.

4.     Mobile-Friendly Animation: With the increasing use of mobile devices, animation will be optimized for smaller screens, ensuring seamless and engaging experiences on smartphones and tablets.

5.     Cross-Media Integration: Animation will continue to integrate with other forms of media, such as live-action films, video games, and social media platforms, enhancing storytelling and audience engagement.

In conclusion, 2D and 3D animation services have transformed communication, entertainment, and education. The versatility and visual impact of animation make it a powerful tool for businesses and individuals alike. Whether you choose 2D or 3D animation, selecting the right service provider is essential, considering the specific project requirements and staying current with the latest industry trends. As technology advances, the future of animation services holds even more exciting possibilities for captivating visuals and immersive experiences with Digicircal Advertising Agency.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. How long does it take to create an animated video? The time required to create an animated video depends on various factors, such as the animation style, the complexity of the project, and the provider's workload. Simple animations may take a few days, while more complex projects can take several weeks or months.

2. Can animation be used for educational purposes? Absolutely! Energy is widely used in educational settings to make learning engaging and interactive. It simplifies complex concepts, provides visual representations, and enhances information retention for students of all ages.

3. Is 3D animation more expensive than 2D animation? Generally, 3D animation tends to be more expensive than 2D animation due to the additional resources, software, and expertise required. However, the cost ultimately depends on the specific project requirements and the service provider.

4. What software is commonly used for animation? Various animation software is available, each with its features and capabilities. Some popular ones include Autodesk Maya, Adobe After Effects, Blender, and Toon Boom Harmony.

5. Can animation be used for marketing and advertising? Absolutely! Animation is an excellent tool for marketing and advertising. It allows businesses to create captivating videos, explainer animations, and promotional content that effectively communicate their message and engage the target audience.

[ordinaryschmuck]

Top 20 BEST Animated Series of the 2010s-15th Place

The fifteenth place is a tie, primarily because both of these shows are equally good, in my opinion. Some of you might disagree with me, but to that I say-

ALL ABOARD THE HATE TRAIN!

CHOO CHOO!

#15-We Bare Bears (2015-2020)/Big City Greens (2018-)

The Plot(s): Both shows involve an unorthodox family trying to fit in with what’s considered normal. In We Bare Bears, it’s three brother bears (Grizz, Panda, and Ice Bear) trying to fit in with modern society. And in Big City Greens, it’s a family of farmers (Cricket, Tilly, Bill, and Gramma) trying to adjust to city life after the family farm got sold due to low profits. In both shows, these characters make new friends, go on wacky adventures, and learn that they’ll always be okay as long as they’re together.

Aside from that brief description, I can sum up these shows in two words: Charmingly simplistic. There’s no intense continuity, no ongoing story arcs, or even an evilly evil villain hoping to take over the world...for the most part. These are just two different shows, with two types of families trying to get by in life. And honestly, it’s those families that make these shows work.

The dynamic between the bears in We Bare Bears is what makes the show so charming to watch. These three actually act like brothers (from what I’ve been told. I, unfortunately, don’t have brothers), and seeing their brotherly bond does nothing less than putting a smile on my face. Plus, the loyalty they have for each other is downright heartwarming, especially when the series flashes back to when they were kids.

And while I can’t entirely say that the Green family has the same amount of charm to them, there is one thing that I love. And that’s the fact that (kinda spoiler warning) they are an almost complete family in a Disney cartoon, with both parents being a prominent role in the series. Yes, Bill and Nancy are divorced, but that doesn’t mean Nancy isn’t around for her kids. She shows up frequently after her introduction and even gives off an impression that she’s a semi-good mom. In fact, Bill and Nancy seem to still have a level of respect for each other despite missing their old spark. It’s almost as if the writers are trying to say that not all divorces mean the destruction of a family, which I can respect. Because it can teach kids to not be afraid of the “D” word (kinda spoilers over).

But it’s not just the main characters that shine in these shows. The members of the supporting cast in We Bare Bears have a level of likability and depth. Chloe is often outgoing and laid back when she’s with the bears, who fails to make any other connections due to being a child prodigy. Ranger Tabes is often audacious and enjoyably energetic while also taking pride in her work and feels hurt when she thinks she’s not taken seriously. Then there are Charlie and Nom Nom, who have a level of charm to them. Despite being intended to come off as annoying and unlikable. Even the background characters are impressive due to the diversity of cultures and races that a viewer can see in each episode.

As for Big City Greens, the characters do not really have any depth outside of the main cast. What you see is pretty much what you get with most of these characters, aside from maybe Gloria, but even then, it’s only on occasion. Big City Greens also dodges showing diversity by having everyone be a shade of bright pastel colors. But I give credit to the show for having the first gay couple in a Disney cartoon...even though they get dropped by season two and are never fully confirmed as gay. Which pales in comparison to Luz and Amity from The Owl House, but it was at least a start! Sometimes, you gotta take baby steps before taking leaps ahead of the game. And don’t get me wrong, while I still prefer characters who have depth, that doesn’t mean I hate the characters in Big City Greens. Everyone does their job of adding to the story and making audiences laugh. In fact, making audiences laugh is what I would say Big City Greens does better than We Bare Bears.

Now in fairness. We Bare Bears is pretty funny from time to time. However, when it comes to which series makes me laugh the most, I have to pick Big City Greens. The first few episodes alone had me laughing much more than most of We Bare Bears' first season. It also helps that the show has a very random sense of humor elevated by the show’s energy. But I'll give it to you that comedy is subjective, and there are a couple of jokes that don’t work in Big City Greens. The best example is when the show lingers too long on a joke that didn’t really work as much as the writers thought it did. But that does not change the fact that Big City Greens is still a pretty funny show.

However, while We Bare Bears lacks comedy, it more than enough makes up for it with charm. This show is downright delightful to watch in almost every episode. Rarely do I feel anger when watching this series (which I wish I could say about previous/future entrees), and it has everything to do with the cast. I wasn’t kidding when I said that even intentionally annoying characters have a level of charm and likeability to them. In fact, the only bad episodes are when they begin to act uncharacteristically cruel and selfish. Mostly because those words could not be farther from a definition of We Bare Bears.

However, if I had to pick out the major fault that We Bare Bears have, it’s the fact that the show plays things a little too safe. For instance, whenever the show tries to go dark, it is pretty tame compared to other shows. The best example is how nearly every dangerous predator in this series somehow looks adorable. Wolfs, snakes, and even cougars (the big cats, not the middle-aged women) are somehow drawn to be cute and cuddly. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t want a show to make kids think that dangerous woodland creatures like these are something you could just give a belly rub. I understand that this is a kids' show, but Big City Greens not only has the same rating, but it’s on the Disney Channel. And yet, it feels like that show has bigger cajones than the series formerly on the same network as Regular Show. That is not a good thing.

Going back to Big City Greens, I can sum up every problem I have with this show with one character: Cricket Green. Now I don’t entirely hate Cricket...but I’m willing to bet other people will. I can tell that the show is trying to make him a lovable little rascal that’s sort of a mix of Bart Simpson and Timmy Turner. But in the end, I think he causes more damage than either of those characters have in their entire lives. Cricket claims how sorry he is at the end of every episode, but I doubt he learns his lesson. We Bare Bears has a similar problem with Panda, but even when Panda is at his most selfish, he doesn’t do anything harmful to anyone but himself (except in the episode “Braces," but we don’t need to talk about that). Plus, even when he does go a tad too far, Panda’s voice actor (Bobby Moynihan) does a great job at making Panda seem sincere when he’s apologizing for his actions. Not to mention that Bobby gives a sense of realism and relatability with most of Panda’s lines. Then there is Cricket’s voice actor, Chris Houghton, an adult man trying to voice a child. I understand the logic behind using an adult over a kid (this happens more times than you think), but I feel like I would get the impression that Cricket is an innocent kid who doesn’t know better if he actually sounded like a kid.

In the end, neither of these shows are really that impressive compared to others. Thankfully with good comedy, charm, and great characters, they still manage to be really good for all ages. So while We Bare Bears and Big City Greens may not be as big as any other show in the last decade, they’re still good enough that you might just bear it!

(Two for one! I told you I would make up the embarrassment that was Dan Vs.!)

[multiverseforger]

Zodac featured in the 2002 relaunch of the Masters of the Universe franchise, it was inevitable that complexities would arise in updating him for a modern audience. Indeed, toy sculptors the Four Horsemen originally planned a radical change for the character by making him a strange alien creature rather than a human, in an apparent effort to enhance the view of him as a universal watcher. However, when Mattel demanded racial diversity in the toy line, the Four Horsemen looked to change skin colors and, after firstly considering Stratos but deciding that Stratos' overall design did not go well with the racial change, Zodac was chosen. To avoid the spelling inconsistencies that plagued the original character, Mattel settled upon "Zodak" as the official spelling for the modern franchise.

Just as in the original line, the Zodak figure appears as a brown or bronze-skinned character and slightly darker than the action figure; for the new toyline, tribal markings were added to his arms and forehead. As Ian Richter of Mattel worked on developments for the cartoon's storyline with Mike Young Productions, it was decided to link Zodak to the planned story line for season 2, dealing with the resurrection of the Snake Men. Although Zodak had no connection with the Snake Men in the old continuity, in the new series his whole role in the show revolves around them.

Zodak appears in the contemporary series as an all-powerful and immortal warrior from Ancient times, presumably the most powerful warrior on Eternia in the present time. Having aided the Elders in the defeat of the Snake Men centuries ago, Zodak is called upon in the episode "Snake Pit" to help prevent the Snake Men from being released from their ancient prison. It is revealed in this episode that Zodak harbors a centuries-old grudge against the Snake Men after King Hiss ate his brother, Zeelahr. Presumably it was his brother's killing that convinced Zodak to give up his mortality. Zodak resides in a small wooden temple in the Mystic Mountains, where he spends most of his time in deep meditation. He refuses to let his grudge against the Snake Men die and will do everything he can until King Hiss has perished. Although this inevitably involves him aiding He-Man and the Masters from time to time, he has pledged no alliance and refuses to officially side with anyone in the battle, abiding purely by his own sense of right and wrong with little consideration for others. In season 2 it is Zodak who allows the Snake Men to be freed, placing Eternia in danger, for the sake of achieving his own revenge, which leads to a conflict between him and He-Man in the "Rise of the Snake Men" 2-parter. Zodak returns in the final episode of the series, "Awaken the Serpent", in which he finally defeats King Hiss. The whole series ends with a shot of Zodak flying off into the sky in his chair, as He-Man thanks him for winning the conflict against the Snake Men.

The intriguing use of Zodak in the contemporary series has evoked a mixed reaction among fans. Some fans are enthusiastic about the depth of his character and the intriguing psychology behind his participation in the war, while others have argued that the show treats him as too much of a hero when it was he who inflicted the Snake Men on Eternia, and should have been seen as more of a villain. Particularly notable about the new show's portrayal of Zodak is that his personality is significantly more bitter and unstable than in the old continuity, in which he is a sombre and peaceful deity-like figure who would undoubtedly never have been overcome by anger or a thirst for revenge. Whichever continuity fans prefer to follow, it is undoubtable that Zodak is one of the franchise's most mysterious and inspiring characters, and after the multitude of confusion and differing portrayals of the character, the character is left open for practically limitless interpretations in any subsequent incarnations of Masters of the Universe.

Also, Zodak seems to have a certain connection with the power of Grayskull as he is able to call upon the power of the Elders to fight King Hiss. He also knows that Adam is He-Man, without being told onscreen.

[kihyunswrath]

To everyone wanting to join the kpop industry: kpop is not a genre of music

For real sometimes it feels like people have literally no idea of what kpop means or where it stems from or why it exists, so for the 100th time, here is the reminder again:

Kpop is not a genre. It’s not something you can imitate, or adopt into your own music style. It’s not something you can steal, copy or appropriate. Musically, kpop is just different genres of popular music that have been invented by different groups of people (most often black people, but not always), in different cultures, in different times. Popular music as it is today, cannot be claimed by any singular group because it has been influenced by too many communities and new songs are created literally everywhere on this planet every second of the day, but it has clear historical roots within black communities (and obviously too many entertainment industries fail to acknowledge that fact). Therefore Koreans cannot claim they own the pop part of kpop, nor have they done so. There is also no reason for any of us to claim that kpop is a style of music we can start practicing, or that we deserve to see representation within kpop as non-Koreans.

Again, kpop is not a genre, it is literally simply an industry that promotes Korean people. 

That’s about the depth of it. Kpop exists because Korean people wanted to find a tool to have influence over their region, aka they wanted to invest into their soft power. They wanted to find a voice within a global community that didn’t have anything for them in the first place. No one knew anything about Korean people, their history or their culture before the 2000′s. People were dismissive, ignorant and racist toward Koreans (and we still are). Nothing about them was cool, interesting or worth investing in, because people saw them as a third world country. Kpop became one of their tools they used to gain attention from international audiences. 

And that’s why it was critical that they used music styles created specifically in America. Not because they were thinking of appropriating black cultures, or because they were necessarily even remotely aware of those racial dynamics and a history of discrimination within America, but because for decades they were told that American audiences and cultural concepts were the only truly modernized, futuristic platforms worth imitating, following and investing in. That is common knowledge among any non-American people. Even today, people living outside of the USA all around the world are told the only way to gain true recognition in the global community is to make a breakthrough in America. People are still told America invented literally everything modern culture-related, that the world revolves around them and all the “classics” in music come from there and that the rest of us could never produce anything as cool or modern using our own cultural heritage and that the American entertainment industry is the only “real” or “relevant” entertainment industry. 

So obviously Koreans thought this is the way for them to get views, to find a platform, a voice. They created an industry that catered to Korean people and their needs, and the end goal was to be recognized worldwide by using tools that people were already familiar with. Hence, a combination of mashed music genres that were not created by Koreans but were very popular and easily relatable.

So, what does that mean? It means that without Koreans involved at every stage of the music production, it ceases being kpop. Kpop cannot be produced in any other country, among any other group of people, within any other context, within any other entertainment industry. If the producers and performers are not mostly Korean, if the production system is not mainly based in Korea and the songs they make are not mostly sung in Korean, there is no reason to call it kpop. It just becomes pop. Like I said, the only difference between kpop and pop is that kpop is representing Koreans.

Therefore it does not make sense that hundreds of thousands of non-Korean teenagers, especially non-Asians, rush to use the popularity of Korean pop to their own personal benefit and think that they can become kpop idols if they just create something that “sounds like kpop” or if they join Korean entertainment industries and become trainees. At the moment, a few of them are used as trophy members to make certain groups seem multicultural and multilingual, for those groups to gain more fans in countries those foreigners came from, but the fact of the day is that foreigners cannot claim ownership to kpop. They cannot say they want to create kpop music on their own. They cannot say they want to be the “change” in how kpop is being perceived. They cannot say they are there to shift the goals and “add more diversity” to an industry that was not created for them and is not their platform by definition. They cannot say they “belong” to the industry on the basis that someone from their own community long time ago created a certain music style Koreans are now using. They cannot say kpop represents mainstream music or western music and therefore any and every westerner should be welcomed to that industry with open arms, and that it’s inherently racist if they are not. 

Are Koreans racists? Certainly yes. Is their entertainment industry giving credit to black communities for inventing the music styles they now benefit from? Not that I’ve ever seen. Are they appropriating fashion trends from black people even as we speak? Yes. Are they ignorant, dismissive and racist toward many other groups of people, including other Asians and Arabs? Yes. 

Yet that does not remove their agency in the matter of kpop. It does not remove the fact that they built their own industry to promote themselves, when they had little to no representation in the global media. Foreigners, while they don’t have to support kpop industry or participate in it and while they have every right to criticize the industry for being racist, sexist and capitalistic shithole, still don’t get to enter the industry however and whenever they wish, thinking they can become closer to their favourite oppas, change the industry in their own terms, demand attention for themselves and think they deserve an opportunity to shine for being “that exotic refreshing foreign presence” (as if they don’t have an entire music industry catering to their own personal needs in their own home country).

If anyone gets to “diversify” the Korean entertainment industry, it’s Koreans themselves. You know, those black Koreans, Korean-Americans, Joseonjok people, Zainichi Koreans, Vietnamese Koreans, white Koreans, Korean diaspora, half-Koreans, North Koreans, disabled Koreans, fat Koreans, LGBT Koreans... you name it. We foreigners are not inherently entitled to anything in that society. 

These aforementioned people are perfectly capable of changing, developing, challenging and diversifying their own media and entertainment industry without our “help”. We can call out kpop industry for treating its idols unfairly, for discriminating against their own people, for being abusive, for gaining profit at the expense of their idols’ health and mental well-being. We can call them racist for being racist. We can have an effect on the industry by deciding NOT to support them financially, like really, that’s just literal inactivity and the easiest possible way to have a say in what’s going on there.  

But not a single one of us has an ownership to kpop, not a single one of us truly understands how Koreans live their lives or how we could “represent” them without being Koreans ourselves. We do not have a free entrance to that industry, even if we think that none of the things they produce are originated from Korea, or if we think they are “shitty racists” in this or that aspect.

People think that just because kpop is now becoming more and more mainstream and because it is targeted to all kinds of audiences that it’s somehow a free field of music anyone can enter. The music itself could be considered a free field - it is indeed just a bunch of different genres of music everyone is creating and recreating. Korean language is somewhat of a free field, too - anyone can learn to speak it. But kpop is not. Surely you can call yourself a kpop artist if you make songs in Korean or say you are a kpop idol because you used to be a trainee inside an entertainment company, but that simply does not make sense. Music sang in Korean language exists outside of kpop, so that does not make kpop kpop. Entertainment industries that train you to become a professional performer exist outside of the kpop industry, so that either does not kpop make. The only way you can be a kpop idol is if you represent Koreans (and their occasional multicultural aspects) in a Korean entertainment company and perform in Korean - and considering how the industry is insanely hard, oppressive, restrictive and limits your artistic talents in every possible way, one could fairly ask what made you want that. What inspires you to represent people of another country, other than fetishization, positive racism and you wanting to jump on the bandwagon because kpop is trendy now and you have the misinformed belief that kpop is a genre of music you could also create? Or perhaps people think they might be treated as special gems because they would then become exotic foreigners in a society that is very homogeneously Korean? 

I remember times when jpop, jrock and manga/anime were still HUGELY popular everywhere in the world (in the beginning of 2000s). Times where everyone around me was identifying with Japanese popular culture and their fashion/music/art trends because it was edgy, cool and “alternative”. I still remember those times when people told me they wanted to travel to Japan and become manga artists, and you know what? They were also saying how cartoons/pop music weren’t originally a Japanese invention, so therefore it was well within reason for them to call themselves manga artists or jpop musicians for just “imitating” those styles, or hope they would be welcomed to those industries immediately after travelling to Japan. And I’m not saying Japanese people used these industries only to promote themselves, no, quite the contrary. But I am saying that people did feel entitled to jump onto those bandwagons mostly because they wanted to be seen as “cool and popular” too, Japanese people themselves be damned. 

So yeah. Kpop is not the first, and probably not the last popular culture movement that people think they should have an access to simply because it’s fashionable now and because some of the basic elements in it are not originated from one single place. It’s probably also not the first or last industry people think they want to enter because they think that the language spoken or some of the cultural elements added to it made it into a whole “different genre” they could imitate by performing in that language or cosplaying their favourite pop culture acts. You cannot cosplay a Korean person. You cannot adopt kpop if you’re not Korean yourself and/or participating in their entertainment industry while ready to cater to their economy/society as a whole. 

Do you guys even know why kpop entertainment industry is the way it is? The reason why the industry developed that way specifically was because Korea, in order to maintain its identity, was extremely protective and nationalistic and had only a very specific platform for playing Korean-made music in 1990s: two TV channels that were owned by the government. Not even radio stations, just two tv channels. They dictated how, when and what kind of music was allowed to be published. That’s why kpop became extremely performance-oriented, because it was created for the television from the very beginning. That’s also why the industry started dictating how the idols were behaving, how they looked and what they were allowed to do/say. That meant an extensive amount of training, manufacturing and controlling and therefore created a need for trainee system. That system ultimately became the only way for Koreans to reach for fame and musical career, because learning all those skills required for acceptable performances in the tv meant you had to have extensive amounts of time and money to practice them. But most Korean teens were and are bound to sit in schools and hagwons all day around, studying immense amounts, so they literally did not have those free hours to practice singing/dancing/performing skills on their own. Joining an entertainment company was the only option they had, and the fact that that route was harsh, time-taking and unforgiving, was simply reflecting the typical mindset of Korean people who think nothing should come easy.  

So them going through those industries to become successful artists and idols is because they lack other options, not because that system is somehow superior to all other entertainment industries in the whole world. It is indeed weird, in that context, that people coming from more privileged backgrounds with more freedom and time to spend developing their musical skills should even want to enter an industry that is not built for them, does not answer to their needs and often dehumanizes them because of the kpop industry’s ideology that thinks people are products used for profit and nationalistic promotion. 

[thecartoonuniverse]

Currently Airing Cartoons to Watch: 2019 Edition Part 1

You may remember my list of upcoming cartoons to look out for last year, but this time around I would like to do something different! I am personally recommending cartoons that are currently airing (or are confirmed to get more seasons) and give my opinions on each of them. There may be other good cartoons out there, but if they are not on the list, it means I was not a huge fan of it, it’s a super popular show like Steven Universe or Star vs. the Forces of Evil, or I have yet to watch it. If you are looking for something to watch, this is the list!

Currently Airing:

The Dragon Prince

Summary: The Dragon Prince is an epic fantasy series by the head writer and director of Avatar: the Last Airbender. In the magical land of Xadia, magic comes from six primal sources. But when human mages create a seventh kind of magic, Dark Magic — they begin capturing and harvesting the unique magical creatures they need as ingredients. This sparks a catastrophic war between Xadia and the Human Kingdoms. Three kids from opposite sides of the conflict — two human princes, and the elven assassin who was sent to kill them — discover a secret that could change everything. They decide to join forces and go on an epic journey that may be their only hope of ending the war, and restoring peace to both their worlds.

Opinion: This is probably my favorite currently airing show right now, mostly since I am a huge fan of fantasy shows. Dragons, extremely hot elves, and magic- what more could you ask for? Every one of the characters is complex and likable (well most, depending on who you ask). But even the antagonists are compelling at there are always shades of gray present. Season 2 truly blew me away with how much the stakes were raised and the number of surprises that occurred. There is even going to be a AAA cross-platform video game coming soon set in the same world! The company that creates The Dragon Prince, is doing a fantastic job on their social media (it’s hilarious, trust me), and I cannot wait to see what else they create. A quick warning, the animation from season 1 will take a little while to get used to, but for the most part, it has been improved for Season 2.

Also, there a lot of memes, so get ready for that.

gen:LOCK

Summary: In gen:LOCK, Earth’s last free society is on the losing side of a global war, and recruits a diverse team of young pilots to control the next generation of mecha—giant, weaponized robot bodies. These daring recruits will find, however, that their newfound abilities come at no small cost. As Julian Chase leaves behind his life as a fighter pilot to become the first candidate for the program, he finds his endurance, as well as his very identity, will be tested beyond anything he ever imagined.

Opinion: For any current/past fans of Voltron: Legendary Defender- WATCH THIS SHOW! If you are a fan of mechas, you will surely enjoy this. But if you were more a fan of the character interactions from VLD, this show also has you covered. It has an amazingly diverse cast and even has a canon genderfluid character. It is a show made for adults, so the stakes are real and dark subjects are treated seriously. Even the romance is done very well with the characters acting like adults instead of arguing over each other like teenagers. Even from the first episode, you can tell that the show is willing to take risks and is sure to become one of the greatest shows of the decade. The animation is also beautiful, and is definitely the best looking show Rooster Teeth has created. The fan base is super small right now since the first season just aired and is RT First exclusive. But trust me, it is worth a watch.

Carmen Sandiego

Summary: Carmen is a modern day Robin Hood traveling the globe and stealing from V.I.L.E. and giving back to its victims. Carmen is publicly perceived as a criminal by most law enforcement agencies – correction, make that a master criminal due to the sheer scale and theatricality of her heists. We will follow her escapades and get to determine not only where but WHO in the world is Carmen Sandiego?  

Opinion: This show really caught me by surprise- I was fully expecting a kiddy edutainment show, but what I got was something much more complex and intriguing. Carmen this time around, as the summary suggests, is an anti-hero, and not an antagonist or villain like she was in the past. While some may not want to watch it due to this, I think this take on her is done very well, and once you get past the two-episode backstory, you will find the show is fun with a diverse cast of characters from all over the world. This GIF doesn’t quite do it justice but trust me when I say this show has some one of the best looking art styles I have ever seen. Surprisingly the weakest aspect of the show is the educational factor, which is puzzling as it was very much promoted as a show to teach children geography. In some cases, I have seen posts/tweets pointing out factual errors the show made! Normally it wouldn’t be the biggest deal, but this is a show that prides itself for its educational value. Also, some of the characters have pretty flat personalities or are just straight up incompetent, but hopefully that will change as the show progresses further. The finale was amazing, and I am patiently waiting for the next season!

Tangled: The Series/ Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure

Summary: Set between the events of the feature film and the start of the 2012 CGI short film, Tangled Ever After, the animated series unfolds as Rapunzel acquaints herself with her parents, her kingdom and the people of Corona. Her irrepressible spirit and natural curiosity about the world drives her to the realization that there is so much more she needs to learn before she can truly accept her royal destiny. She boldly puts her crown and impending marriage on hold to seek out epic adventures, much to the dismay of the King who, after missing out on Rapunzel's childhood, must accept that his daughter is now an independent young woman. Accompanying Rapunzel on her journey will be Eugene Fitzherbert; the plucky chameleon sidekick, Pascal; the no-nonsense horse, Maximus; most of The Snuggly Duckling's pub thugs; and newcomer Cassandra, a tough-as-nails handmaiden, who becomes Rapunzel's confidant.

Opinion: This series is truly a delight, and definitely exceeded my expectations for a television series based off a Disney show (I did not expect much as most of those types of shows from my childhood weren’t the best). But I was truly wowed, and this is a must see for any Disney fan.The series does not ignore anything that happened in the movie, far from it. Events that occurred in the movie still impact Rapunzel and are treated seriously. The cartoon mixes comedy, adventure, lore, and mystery quite well. It is also very beautiful, much like Carmen Sandiego (both have similar styles but I like CS’s lighting a bit more). The show can even get quite dark, as is evident with the season 1 finale. This show deserves a much biggest fanbase, so give it a watch!

Hilda

Summary: Hilda follows the journey of a fearless blue-haired girl as she travels from her home in a vast magical wilderness full of elves and giants to the bustling city of Trolberg, where she makes new friends and discovers mysterious creatures who are stranger –and sometimes more dangerous– than she ever expected. Based on graphic novels by Luke Pearson, who storyboarded for Adventure Time.

Opinion: Hilda is definitely a comfort show, and if you liked Gravity Falls there is a good chance you will also like this show! The art style is simply adorable, and Hilda is a delight to get to know. I love the way that the show not only has magical creatures, but it goes in depth into how these creatures live and survive in a modern world. Having read all the comics, I personally enjoyed the addition of Hilda getting some human friends. I know some people did not like this, but she seemed quite lonely once she moved to the city, and I liked seeing her interact with children her age. Season 2 is coming out next year, so there is plenty of time to watch the first season! If you love a feel-good show with mystery and magic, this is the show for you!

Star Wars Resistance

Summary: The series is set between the events of Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi and Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, in a time when the Resistance is still learning about the growing threat of the First Order. It centers on the character of Kazuda Xiono, a young pilot in General Leia Organa's Resistance who is tasked with spying on the growing threat of the First Order.

Opinion: This show was one I was not expecting anything from at all, but as the show has progressed throughout the first season I have begun to enjoy it more and more. This show, like many on this list, features a very diverse cast (including some aliens, of course). Probably the thing that surprised me the most was the fact that the main character, Kaz, is 20 years old! I feel like that is not something you see with action shows these days, as they usually make the protagonist 16 or 17 years old. I really like the animation style, as I always felt that without the big budget, the Clone Wars style just didn’t look that good in Rebels. Resistance is so... shiny! As for the plot itself, it is sad that most of my favorite aspects of Star Wars are missing, namely the Force, Jedi, and Light Sabers. But since it may eventually tie in more with the sequels, there is hope to see more of that eventually! It’s definitely not at Clone Wars level of good, but I am finding it more enjoyable than Rebels (excluding a few episodes and the season finales). It may never end up being as serious as Rebels, but I am sure it will get darker as time goes on and the stakes get higher.

Young Justice: Outsiders

Summary: Young Justice: Outsiders is the third season of Young Justice. The backdrop for the season is one that will touch on “all corners of the DC universe,” and this time the team is tasked with stopping a metahuman trafficking ring, as well as dealing with the “intergalactic arms race for control of these super-powered youths.” You can also count on new heroes Arrowette, Spoiler, Thirteen, Halo, and many more joining in the fight.

(^I can’t recall if this is the exact line from the show but this whole episode is the best)

Opinion: If you loved the first two seasons of Young Justice, it is easy to say that you should give this one a watch. But now that it is on DC’s streaming platform, DC Universe, IT IS DARK. Seriously, this is no longer a show for children. And that’s pretty great. I truly love that the show can now explore darker themes and have some adult jokes from time to time. However, unlike the first two seasons, I feel constantly confused about new characters or things that have happened to returning characters offscreen. Unless you are very knowledgable about DC characters, there is a good chance you will feel this way. So, it is sadly a bit more unwelcoming to those unfamiliar with the comics. I still love the show’s characters and superhero stuff, in general, is always a lot of fun. There’s also LGBT characters apparently already in the show (and some that were LGBT in the comics have appeared, but nothing in-show is confirmed), so hopefully, there is also that to look forward to in the second half of the season when it airs in June.

Big Hero 6 The Series

Summary: The series continues the adventures of 14-year-old tech genius Hiro and his robot pal Baymax. Joining the pair on their journey is control freak Wasabi, scientist Honey Lemon, fanboy Fred, and no-nonsense Go Go Tomago, whom together form the Big Hero 6 superhero team. As the new prodigy at San Fransokyo Institute of Technology, Hiro faces daunting academic challenges, not to mention the social trials of being the little man on campus. The stakes are also raised for the high-tech heroes when they must protect their city from an array of scientifically enhanced villains.

Opinion: Another very well made series based off a Disney movie. Once again, this show stays faithful to the source material. The art style is very interesting, and while not my favorite gives the show a very cool feel. Once the main villain is introduced, I was glad to report that he became a major threat very fast. And the season 1 finale was pretty great as well. My biggest issue concerning this series so far is that is still really hasn’t developed the side characters at all, despite them being in almost every episode. These are college students, so their families should still be quite important to them. But besides Fred, we have yet to really learn about them, and with that, a potentially important part of who they are as a person is missing. After a movie and a whole season, these characters should not seem as flat as they are, so I hope we learn more about them too. But we also get flashbacks of Tadashi, so for that alone the show may be worth a watch.

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Summary: Deep in the sewers of New York City, four mutant turtle brothers lurk. Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michaelangelo are in their early teen years, and the brothers go on new and exciting adventures. They tap into their mystic ninja powers to learn to work together as a cohesive unit and become a team of heroes as they navigate the modern world and other hidden realms. The brothers get a whole new look, new weapons, and new powers as they discover the hidden city beneath New York and find time for a slice of their favorite pizza.

Opinion: Okay I will admit this is one I haven’t actually seen all of yet. But the art style is just so cool I had to include it and will likely update this entry when I catch up. This show may be a worthy successor to the 2012 series, which I know a lot of people loved.

So that’s the end of my list. If I remember any other good shows airing, I may update it. But, if I got you to watch any, let me know and tell me your thoughts!

Shows to Look Foward to: Glitch Techs, Amphibia, Owl House, Twelve Forever, Hazbin Hotel, Villainous, Infinity Train, 101 Dalmatian Street

Shows Omitted due to being super popular already: Steven Universe, Star vs. the Forces of Evil, RWBY, Bojack Horseman, OK KO, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, Duck Tales

Join my Cartoon Themed Discord: https://discord.gg/cartoonuv

And give us a follow if you enjoyed the post! We talk about cartoon related stuff a lot! I will probably do a part 2 later in the year when more of the cartoons to look forward to have aired. And I might even add some shows omitted or other shows I may have forgotten!

[briangroth27]

Black Panther Review

I absolutely loved Black Panther! The film felt like it belonged in the MCU while successfully carving out its own corner of the universe, making it feel like a world unto itself. Even with its fantastical technological wonders, Wakanda felt real and the incorporation of various African cultures gave the fictional nation a history and texture that made it feel fully-formed and granted a powerful sense of depth to the proceedings. The cast was excellent across the board, supported by writing (from Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole) that gave everyone moments to shine and stellar direction from Coogler to match.  

Full Spoilers...

I didn’t know much about Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) going in, having only seen him in Civil War, Fantastic Four and Avengers cartoons, and an appearance here and there in the comics. Civil War got me interested in the character and Black Panther cemented me as a fan; he’s hands down one of the most engaging characters in the Marvel Universe! Chadwick Boseman is effortlessly cool as T’Challa, a down-to-Earth king, badass superhero, and charming romantic lead. In an unexpected and very welcome twist, none of T’Challa’s inner circle are afraid to call him out or have a bit of fun at his expense (depending on the character), which made them feel like a family and gave him a much more grounded sensibility than I was expecting. I liked seeing T’Challa as a more measured and mature man here, growing nicely from the vengeance-obsessed version we saw previously; his first steps toward ruling Wakanda and deciding what kind of king he wanted to be—and what sort of country he’d like to rule—were great to see. That T’Challa was willing to listen to wisdom from all sides—including his enemies—made him an even more compelling and unique hero. T’Challa is bar none the most likable and relatable royal the MCU has given us, with none of the pompous, somewhat bloodthirsty bravado of Thor or the labor camp-minded royal family on Inhumans. That went a long way to making me sympathize with a monarchy instead of yearning to see it overthrown; T’Challa actually does care about the people under his rule. I do wish we’d gotten to see how T’Challa interacted with and was seen by the common people of Wakanda instead of just his inner circle and the other tribal leaders, but this was a very small nitpick that can easily be remedied in the inevitable Black Panther 2 or even Infinity War.

It was awesome to see such a diverse cast in this film and I’m equally pleased we got to see so many strong women showcased here (I can’t imagine how much more important this film must be for African American and female audiences who are finally getting representation like this onscreen). Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) was awesome from the get-go as a Wakandan spy living in the outside world, working to help those in need. I loved her insistence that she couldn’t settle down as a queen knowing there were people outside Wakanda who could benefit from her skills and Wakanda’s influence. It was refreshing to see a hero’s love interest not only have an important life of her own completely separate from the lead’s arc, but to see her unwilling to sacrifice that life to please her guy. Nyong’O brought an engaging, likable, and determined energy to Nakia and I hope we get to see much more of her as the MCU evolves in a post-Infinity Wars universe. Letitia Wright’s Shuri was another standout, stealing every scene she’s in with an infectious, upbeat energy, and I loved her sister/brother relationship with T’Challa. They felt totally natural as siblings, with her needling him from time to time but still clearly sharing a relaxed, loving bond with him. Shuri is very likely the smartest person we’ve met in the MCU so far, and that’s awesome! Like others have suggested online, I cannot wait to see her become best friends with Peter Parker and outsmart Tony Stark at every turn. I loved that she loved showing off and trying out all the gadgets she made, and it was so cool that this princess got to be the Q to T’Challa’s James Bond. At first I thought it would’ve been better had Shuri remote-piloted the aircraft to shoot down Killmonger’s (Michael B. Jordan) forces instead of Ross (Martin Freeman)—she had the experience with the tech to do it, after all—but my friend pointed out that putting her on the front lines instead was a chance for her to directly stand up and fight for what she believed in instead of repeating what she’d done earlier in the movie, which gave her a bit more range. Plus, her panther blaster gauntlets were cool! I’m really interested to see how running the outreach center in Oakland with Nakia changes Shuri.

Danai Gurira gave an excellent performance as Okoye, leader of Wakanda’s elite Dora Milaje, who became torn between duty to Wakanda—and whatever king ruled it—and loyalty to T’Challa. I went in expecting a stoic warrior, but while Okoye was definitely effortlessly badass, I loved that she was able to have a sense of humor about T’Challa freezing when he saw Nakia (and able to jovially inform Shuri of this fact); it was clear they were more than just king and royal guard, they felt like old friends. Okoye and her Dora Milaje were an awesome facet of Wakandan society and I can’t wait to learn more about them in the future. I think Okoye’s relationship with W’Kabi (Daniel Kaluuya) was perhaps a little too vague—amounting to the two of them referring to each other as “my love” without an explanation of what exactly that entailed—but it didn’t hurt the movie or either character for me. Instead, it added a bit more drama to W’Kabi’s decision to follow Killmonger while Okoye ultimately sided with T’Challa. I still would’ve liked to know more about the details of that relationship, though. Also regarding her relationships, it’s a shame a scene hinting at her being attracted to women was cut, but hopefully that will be fixed in a sequel.

W’Kabi’s insistence that the Wakandans take action to capture Klaue (Andy Serkis) and forcibly help the oppressed around the world was a great contrast to both Nakia’s stealthy attempts at helping outsiders and T’Challa’s initial belief that they should keep Wakanda separate. I loved that he was able to convince T’Challa to hunt down Klaue instead of leaving him to the CIA and that he spoke for a contingent of Wakandans who wanted to take action but not go totally public (at least at first). The fact that someone had to argue for capturing a criminal who’d attacked Wakanda was a great display of how intensely isolated the nation was and W’Kabi’s opinions added to the complexity of Wakandan views on the outside world. It was brilliant (and much more realistic) of the writers not to limit Wakandans to two clearly defined viewpoints. Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) was perfect as T’Challa’s regal mother and I loved what we saw of her relationship with him and Shuri. I also liked that she was genuinely willing to make peace with M’Baku (Winston Duke) to stop Killmonger despite him having earlier challenged T’Challa for leadership of Wakanda. It would’ve been easy to make her stuck in her ways and refuse to go to someone like M’Baku, but while it was a concern that he could become a problem, I liked that she had the faith to offer him the heart-shaped herb to give him the power of the Black Panther. I’m definitely interested in how Ramonda will react to the new era T’Challa is ushering in.

M’Baku was another great character I’m excited to know more about in future sequels. Like I’ve seen pointed out elsewhere, the idea that he and the Jabari tribe could peacefully exist separately from the rest of Wakanda—despite worshipping a different god and speaking a different language—was a refreshing surprise. I was definitely fooled into thinking that M’Baku would want power if Ramonda gave him the heart-shaped herb, so giving her the injured T’Challa instead was a great twist. M’Baku screwing with Ross’ expectations of what “tribal” behaviors were was funny and I’m glad the film smartly didn’t refer to M’Baku by his comics alter-ego, “Man-Ape.” How M’Baku and King T’Challa interact going forward is absolutely something I’m eager to see. Will M’Baku’s help in taking Wakanda back from Killmonger bring them closer together or show him that even with supernatural powers, T’Challa needs help holding his country and is potentially weaker than he seems? Forrest Whitaker’s Zuri was a perfect connection to the history of Wakanda, its treasured ceremonies, and its supernatural aspects, balancing Shuri’s high-tech modernity excellently. It’s impressive how easily the film weaved together supernatural and sci-fi aspects, and the extrapolation of those things into the characters was masterful.  

N’Jobu was only in the movie briefly, but I enjoyed his reaction to the world outside Wakanda. Sterling K. Brown’s performance absolutely sold me on his passion and the impact he’d have on his son, despite his short screentime. John Kani’s T’Chaka was very welcome and it was cool that he got to converse with T’Challa in the afterlife, another supernatural flourish that served to broaden the Black Panther mythos rather than muddle them with too many different sources of weirdness. I liked that T’Chaka’s past sins not only made T’Challa realize he was not perfect, but tied into T’Challa’s decision about whether to reveal Wakanda or not and gave Killmonger another reason to hate Wakanda. I was especially surprised and pleased that this hatred complimented Killmonger’s bigger goal of helping people rise up against their oppressors: his argument with Wakanda was that it stood by while people were enslaved, not solely that T’Challa’s dad killed his. That gave him so much more dimension than just being a revenge-minded villain.

As pointed out elsewhere, the film expertly weaves the mystical, science fiction, space, and superhero aspects of the Marvel Universe together. It also includes an added layer of social relevance in Killmonger’s concern about the state of African-Americans and others whose ancestors were sold as slaves around the world and are still oppressed today. All of this is tied into the film’s MacGuffin, vibranium, but Coogler wisely doesn’t frame the plot around some cliché MCU villain like an evil businessman or government agent seeking to plunder Wakanda’s vibranium (which probably would’ve been the most obvious place to go). Instead, Erik “Killmonger” Stevens has a legitimate point and that makes him the best MCU villain yet. Enemies who are out to burn everything down for no reason can be threatening—at least in terms of power—and corrupt businessmen and governments often make for obvious real-world villain parallels, but I would definitely like the MCU to start putting more effort into giving their villains honorable impulses taken to horrible, destructive extremes. That’s far more interesting and complex: it gives the heroes something to fight beyond a set of cool powers (and gives the audience something to reckon with in the real world and within ourselves). Killmonger being suspiciously watched while viewing a display of his own stolen culture is a perfect example of the simultaneous scrutiny and dismissal of African-American youth in present-day America, instantly giving him a relatable, realistic connection to the audience. Not only does that scene touch on this problem with our society, but it also masterfully ties into the plot. That Erik was able to so thoroughly affect T’Challa, essentially pushing him toward revealing Wakanda to the world so that it could do the most good, was a great twist. While the film does play into the MCU’s formula of a hero and villain with identical powers facing off, Erik’s position as king of Wakanda (a development I didn’t see coming at all; I was sure T’Challa would beat him in the challenge and he’d start an uprising) made the “mirror image” plot point feel much more natural. Their opposing views on how to best run Wakanda also gave them a great argument to fuel their physical battle, and that’s something every superhero movie needs to aim for (I’m more than a little wary about Thanos’ goal of killing half of everything resonating with the Avengers anywhere near as closely as Killmonger and Vulture related to their heroes). Killmonger’s final lines, about wanting to die a free man instead of going back into a cage, were absolutely powerful and affecting.  

Ulysses S. Klaue was fun as an entirely different sort of villain. Serkis was clearly having a blast playing the cartoonish supervillain archetype and I loved it. I’m always up for some classic villainy and this script gave us just the right amount. I didn’t expect Klaue to die, given his status as one of Black Panther’s greatest villains, but I don’t think they were going to do much more with him than what we got. A solid chase/fight with T’Challa with an argument about the Wakandans being hypocritical, an introduction for Killmonger, and a connection to Ross were all we needed from him, and we got just that. I definitely don’t want Everett K. Ross to become the new Agent Coulson, uniting the next generation of Avengers or something; I think the heroes should unite themselves (as a king, T’Challa could certainly lead that charge if Steve Rogers is no longer around). That said, I liked what the movie gave us of Ross and he was played with just the right amount of wonder at Wakandan technology. While I’ve seen criticisms online about him playing such a big role in the climax, like a claim that they still needed a middle-aged white guy to stop the bad guy, I disagree. He had piloting skills and needed Shuri’s tech to get the job done (she even configured the holographic projection to mimic a plane he was familiar with), so it’s not like he was successful just because he was a white guy. This also isn’t a Batman Begins situation, where Batman’s actions on the train with Ras Al Ghul were irrelevant to the finale because Gordon blew up the train tracks. Had T’Challa not defeated Killmonger, Eric still could’ve rallied his supporters and Wakanda would likely be in a civil war. I think Ross helped as much as was needed to be useful, but I don’t think he overshadowed anyone.

The complexities that must arise from five tribes living in such close proximity to each other, coupled with fun aspects like war rhinos, the mystical veldt afterlife, Shuri’s technological wonders, made this a world I want to visit many, many more times! Wakandan society seems like it’s brimming with interesting social structures, so I hope the sequel really digs into how T’Challa and his people relate to one another. I doubt everyone will be happy he revealed their paradise to the world and I wonder how quickly the needs of the international community will start to weigh on the Wakandans. How they balance their own needs with those of the world will be very interesting to see. I also absolutely love that African society here is portrayed as advanced, rather than what we often see in Hollywood films, and I was impressed by how easily a place as fantastical as Wakanda was rendered as a real, breathing community. I think it’s cool how much of Africa was represented here without Wakanda feeling like a generic and homogenous “Africa” (at least to my eyes; someone with African heritage might see that aspect very differently). While pulling aspects of several different African cultures to create the fictional Wakandan culture may be problematic for some (as I’ve seen online), I think the script has enough leeway to say people from those cultures were the ones who founded Wakanda in the first place.

Bucky’s (Sebastian Stan) brief cameo was cool and I would much rather see him find peace and purpose as a figure with the Wakandan War Dogs—if the White Wolf title is a hint he’s supposed to be the MCU version of Hunter, comics’ T’Challa’s adopted brother—than see him take over the Captain America mantle. If he took over as Cap, I have a hard time seeing how he’d be different from Rogers in the role besides being less upstanding and more angsty, neither of which I want to see (if the mantle must be passed, Sam Wilson seems like a chance to explore what today’s Captain needs to be/represent and adding flight to the shield would make for entirely new fight dynamics). In Wakanda, it feels like Bucky can forge an identity for himself.

At this point, I’m far more excited for Black Panther 2 than I am for Infinity War. I want much more of this world and these characters, and I’m excited to see how they interact with the rest of the world now that Wakanda’s no longer a secret. It would be a huge misstep if Wakanda is destroyed in Infinity War, so I hope that film doesn’t go that direction, since it feels like it would derail everything that’s been set up here. Instead, I’m hoping Wakanda is at the forefront of rebuilding the world after Thanos is dealt with.

Black Panther is still in theaters, commanding the box office for an astonishing fifth weekend in a row and it certainly deserves it. If you haven’t seen it yet, what are you waiting for? A trip to Wakanda is definitely worth a trip to the theater!

Check out more of my reviews, opinions, and original short stories here!

[mathematicianadda]

Books I Loved in 2019

Before it gets too deep into 2020, and this new decade swallows me like a whale ingesting krill, I want to take a moment to tell you about books I enjoyed this past year.

All of these books are certified 100% great and you should read them so we can chat about them, like a little two-person online book club.

(Note that my attention span favors books which are (1) written with a distinctive voice, (2) intellectually dense, and (3) short. Your tastes and mileage may vary.)

  Math Books

I read a lot of books about math, for the purpose of stealing the authors’ ideas and, eventually, their identities drawing inspiration.

The Weil Conjectures, by Karen Olsson. Beautiful, subtle reflections on the elusive nature of modern mathematics. Composed from an outsider’s vantage, yet with an insider’s ear and finesse.

Humble Pi, by Matt Parker. Riveting, wide-ranging exploration of mathematical mistakes. Includes clever “mistakes” of its own – e.g., the pages are numbered in reverse.

Euler’s Gem, by David Richeson. Dave’s two books – this one on topology, and his new one on impossible problems such as squaring the circle – are superb. His selection and presentation of mathematical ideas is exquisite: an unmatched combination of accessibility and depth.

Tales of Impossibility, by David Richeson. My back-cover blurb: “The story of a mathematical treasure hunt, and a treasure chest in its own right.”

What Is the Name of This Book? by Raymond Smullyan. A classic collection of great puzzles, including those about knaves who always lie, and knights who never do. I especially loved the pages of anecdotes, jokes, and stray thoughts.

Infinite Powers, by Steven Strogatz. In contrast to my book on calculus – a silly, literary, personal affair – Strogatz’s is epic and sweeping. It weaves together historical storytelling and surprising accounts of modern applications.

Mathematics for Human Flourishing, by Francis Su. My back-cover blurb: “Francis Su believes that math can make us better humans—and he leads by example. Every page is a work of generosity and compassion. Plus, the puzzles will haunt you for weeks.”

  Sci-Fi Short Stories

My pleasure reading. A good one gives a quick, stimulating burst of “whoa.” The four authors below – some of my absolute favorite writers – deliver fireworks.

Exhalation, by Ted Chiang. The most carefully crafted and rigorously imagined sci-fi in the business. The final story, on parallel universes, is worth the price of admission.

How Long ’til Black Future Month?, by N.K. Jemisin. A collection of extraordinary diversity, from distant-planet exploration to a prose-poem meditation on NYC to a spy caper set in an alternate, high-tech 1800’s New Orleans.

Changing Planes, by Ursula Le Guin. Stimulating, funny thought experiments about imaginary civilizations. Silent people; perpetually migrating people; people with wings…

Sorry Please Thank You, by Charles Yu. Witty and wildly imaginative meditations on relationships, meaning, and capitalism.

  Gorgeous & Heartbreaking

I guess sometimes I want to be sad? I read all of these before my daughter was born. Having an infant now, I don’t lack for strong emotions in my diet.

Night, by Elie Wiesel. This Holocaust memoir was required reading for 9th graders at the first school where I taught. Ten years later, I’m finally caught up.

Alex: The Life of a Child, by Frank Deford. I love Deford’s sportswriting; this is a memoir about his daughter, who died of cystic fibrosis. Sat on my shelf for years; had to read it before my own daughter came along, lest it wreck me even more than it did.

The Best We Could Do, by Thi Bui. Graphic memoir of a family’s journey from Vietnam. Full of hurt and compassion, with colors so beautiful they register as music. One of the best books I read all year.

  Literary & Comic

Not coincidentally, those are adjectives you might use to describe my 2019 book, Change is the Only Constant.

The Lonesome Bodybuilder, by Yukiko Motoya. Short stories; a Japanese sort of magical realism. One of the strangest books I read this year.

Romeo And/Or Juliet, by Ryan North. A choose-your-own-path version of Shakespeare’s classic. North is one of my favorite humorists, and he explores every corner and permutation of his delightful premise.

Love Dishonor Marry Die Cherish Perish, by David Rakoff. A short novel written entirely in verse – and what struck me, given the sardonic edge of Rakoff’s essays, entirely in earnest.

Franny and Zooey, by J.D. Salinger. Two linked novellas. I still don’t understand why Catcher in the Rye gets all the glory; Salinger’s other stories are deeper, funnier, and more virtuosic.

Tenth of December, by George Saunders. Incisive, witty short stories, ranging from pedestrian to sci-fi fantastical. Saunders has a keen and devastating eye for the flattering lies that we tell ourselves.

To Say Nothing of the Dog, by Connie Willis. A time travel romp through Victorian England. Leisurely yet propulsive, full of fun moments. To say nothing of the dog!

  Illustrated & Ingenious

These books, for me, push the bounds on what books can be and do. All three are full of serious, interesting ideas – and all three are playful in presentation.

The Dialogues, by Clifford Johnson. The author, a physics professor, drew this series of cartoon dialogues about science himself. Clearly a multi-talented fellow.

How To, by Randall Munroe. I write in Munroe’s shadow, and it’s a big, beautiful shadow. This book shows off his chops not just as a humorist, but a researcher; he has a nose for the quirky and fascinating.

Basketball (and other things), by Shea Serrano. I wound up giving this as a gift to every basketball fan I know. A mixture of meticulous argumentation and delicious pop culture lunacy.

  Modern & Insightful

Usually I read stuff that’s years or decades old, but in 2019 I actually read some modern nonfiction about modern concerns that might be relevant to a modern person! Go me!

Because Internet, by Gretchen McCulloch. Whereas oral speech has always had formal and informal registers, writing had only the former. Until the internet. This bestseller thoughtfully unpacks how we write online.

Hacking Life, by Joseph M. Reagle, Jr. An affectionate but unflinching critique of the form of self-help known as “life hacks,” and its obsession with optimization.

How Eskimos Keep Their Babies Warm, by Mei-Ling Hopgood. Every chapter, more or less: “Here’s a question about child-rearing. Here’s a society that does it totally differently than the US. And guess what? Both have their ups and downs.” Formulaic but immensely reassuring for the new parent.

Bringing Up Bebe, by Pamela Druckerman. Polar opposite of Hopgood’s book; celebrating the Parisian style of child-rearing as lower-effort and superior. Probably right on food; maybe insightful on discipline; dubious elsewhere, but well-written.

  Literature for and About Teenage Girls

I went on a brief kick of this stuff, and it’s great! Good job, teen girls! I mean, not that you wrote these books, but you created the market demand for them, which is the highest form of virtue in a capitalist society!

The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green. Tear-jerking mega-bestseller. I borrowed it from a friend because I fell in love with Green’s podcast, The Anthropocene Reviewed, which I recommend fanatically.

Catfishing on Catnet, by Naomi Kritzer. Charming YA thriller, based on a Hugo-winning short story about an AI that gains sentience… and demands cat pictures.

Grace and the Fever, by Zan Romanoff. After years of obsessing over a boy band, what if you got to meet them? Half the joy is sheer wish fulfillment; the other half is the surprisingly delicate character study of our guarded narrator.

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PowerPoint Business presentation Assist: Do my PowerPoint Business presentation. Excellent Issues for Displays

PowerPoint Business presentation Assist: Do my PowerPoint Business presentation. Excellent Issues for Displays

Regardless of what your subject matter is, a PowerPoint discussion will assist you to talk to the audience. If you’re trying to find PowerPoint display assist and ideas we could tell you. There are several ideas on-line that may help you achieve your targets. Students can engage in the intellects we discuss on the webpage. Do you need to wow your tutor? Do you have a preference to get your visitors attention? Or maybe to deliver anything humorous for your associates and loved ones?

PowerPoint Demonstration Support: Subjects to make on

Very often individuals believe: immediately after we do my PowerPoint discussion I do not require to hassle about its topic, as the teacher will clearly like my perform. Even so a display is definitely an successful means of detailing, displaying and aiding the particular topic. Tells you, dialogues and conversations are crucial along with the electrical power level discussion need to help and support them. PowerPoint presentation subjects deviate according to the self-control, though the most considerably better versions are great artistry, historical past, sociable research projects, literature and clinical subjects. As an example, a history demonstration can be divided into times and contain exciting information and trusted details. An event could include appear to be and vision results. Naturally, you will need PowerPoint discussion assistance to create them, but you’ve have nothing to make an effort with situations are much easier than you suspect.

Literature is one of the finest possibilities, as you’ve an time to offer the existence of the popular writer or even the amount of the their books. By way of example, David Copperfield by Charles Dickens is usually a prosperous area of interest for discussion. You may also use a speech documenting of a number of elements from your text.

PowerPoint Discussion Support: Ideas to Bear in mind

It is recommended to consider: Soon after We do my PowerPoint business presentation what ought to i truly do to truly cause it to look and appear fascinating, and creative. This a part of our write-up offers you to useful tips:

Entice viewers awareness by efficient utilisation from the slide living space. Steer clear of overcrowding them and may incorporate only components, which instantly head towards the business presentation topic. Be cautious by using images they should surely satisfy the needs of developing your business presentation.

Try toremember: Right after We do my PowerPoint discussion, We have to stick to the theme surrounding the slides. This is certainly crucial.

Converse the reachable details evidently. Maintain the display glides apparent, skilled and constant.

Produce a apparent describe from the newspaper which means that your display is sensible and introduced evidently.

Know precisely what your visitors might find. Be certain your display noises and shows up good.

PowerPoint Display Assist

Aid in your PowerPoint presentation can be acquired atEssayShark.com.Isn’t it time and energy to excitement your visitors with productive and successful discussion? Then dont spend your time and energy! Just ask us atEssayShark.comwill you need to do my PowerPoint business presentation and we’ll promptly allocate someone to have it done. The details will likely be of higher normal. It’ll offer an appealing overall look and grow reputable. We guarantee it will most likely be first created all on your own for everyone.http://ift.tt/2uxSYai Our expenses are reasonably priced. Your display will be published determined by all of your technical specs and exceed your objectives.

If youve been required to set up an convention, it truly is time for you to give some thought to excellent issues for displays and select the main one which fits into the budget. A multitude of selections may well be a actual issue and youll must invest lots of time seeking the issue quite of looking after your demonstration.

Deciding on Very good Subjects for Presentations Rules

Through the use of two very simple policies, youll opt for your business presentation subject matter without hard work:

Choose the issue you are looking at. Area of interest comprehending in fact it is in depth comprehending can make the business presentation preparing course of action quick and easy , exciting.

Select a topic that’s simple to show by images they’ll certainly improve your message retention.

Choosing Good Matters for Displays Strategies

Fantastic issues for displays ought to adhere to the authors passion and exclusive interests.

Your best option should be to focus on holidays and passions. You simply will not confront any problems with images and pictures. When choosing a spare time action subject matter, make certain you tend not to use terms. Give it time to be clear for everybody. There’s you don’t require to let you know interests may be very diverse and thrilling.

The leading purpose of the presentation is usually to entice your readers focus and the ways to do that is you basically really should find your self.

Ideas of outstanding Subjects for Demonstrations

Teen cigarette smoking.

Prostitution is really a career by selection.

Out of the ordinary options.

Online as opposed to tabloids.

Social networking effects.

Need to you abolish desperate punishment?

Are vampires serious?

Does Our god actually are present?

Interesting specifics about Mars (much like a earth).

The goal of life.

In preparation the discussion youll accumulate your speaking in public knowledge and will manage stage fright. A fantastic display must energize the crowd to take into account around and examine your opinions.

Very good Matters for Demonstrations

Need to teenagers acquire hard cash for carrying out cleansing being an encouragement?

Just what exactly do you look at introducing separate classrooms for guys and ladies?

Exactly what do you really think about learners and professors befriending one another on Myspace? Do you know the possible difficulties?

Need to The usa get to be the metric program? Why or why don’t you?

Can it be much easier to shut institutions if virtually all its pupils perform improperly on standardized assessments?

Ought to lecturers placed on uniforms to university?

Could you go through an LGBTQ pleasant tale guide for your personal child?

Need to kids cartoons be analyzed and censored to get rid of the depiction of abuse?

Might be the depart every little thing and traveling mindset promoted by newspapers and weblogs bad or good for you in person?

What type of penalty is definitely the most suitable in institutions?

Must learners be brought to faith at school?

Need to an operating hubby assistance his full-time-new mother partner right after he returns home from perform?

Are you aware the most important the latest developments produced previously 5 years?

What’s the preferred estimate and why?

Should older school hockey software programs have a cheaper funds?

If your university year or so be much longer or quicker?

Recommendations on increasing the instructional system in the united states.

Strategies on enhancing the healthcare technique in the us.

Should mother and father command time that teenagers commit to the online or video games?

The result of beauty contests across the confidence and the body photo of women.

What’s the chance of Mars becoming lived on by people sooner or later?

Explore the essential confirming apply in healthcare.

Really should body organ donation after passing away be urged?

Discover more about your locations community folklore and cultures.

How do you locate the most crucial words if you wish to come to be acquainted with a words speedily?

Exactly where do superstitions originate from?

What’s dyslexia and how will you assist somebody struggling with it?

Why can feral kids hardly ever get used to right after becoming discovered by people and exposed to modern society?

Just where was the primary writing process developed and why?

How has social networks impacted your living?

Ought to cosmetic plastic surgery be restricted except if somebody has some significant bodily issues that cheaper the grade of life?

Ought to political research be incorporated in the senior high school graduation courses?

The best way ought to we be tolerant and admit variety concerning race, faith and political opinions?

Is globalization terrible or great for humankind?

Does Christianity have result on a modern-day men and women mindset and examine over the world?

Can euthanasia decrease suicide rates?

Really should mom and dad be prohibited from offering youngsters incredible companies?

Does texting become worse our vocabulary and composing proficiency?

Are GMOs harmless for the overall health? While they are blocked?

What’s the web website faith in addition to a cult? Just how do you put the secondly?

Explain quite possibly the most popular guy representing your state/area/city.

Is nuclear energy greater that solar power?

Should a 5-working day few days be improved to a few 4-morning week?

Are you aware the principal perils of building a human-like unnatural learning ability?

Need to blog writers be taken care of as newspaper writers and disciplined for offering improper facts?

Would it help in decreasing baby excess weight issues if school cafeterias function only wholesome food choices?

Gaming shouldn’t be abolished, simply because it isnt hazardous and encourages travel and leisure. Totally agree or disagree?

Must online coaching be handled as similar to the conventional sort of coaching?

Really should standard checks be taken away? If that’s the fact, exactly what are alternative methods of examining childrens comprehending?

Must car drivers be fined for polluting the climate?

Should sportsmen wages be limited?

Have you any idea the the best way to motivate apolitical visitors to political election?

Will the development of computer systems make produced textbooks fade away?

Just what are the most legendary varieties of censorship all over track record?

The outcomes notebook computer or personal computer mediated interaction for the operating and everyday everyday life.

Is daydreaming a useful or hazardous exercise for you personally?

Internet connection needs to be no cost world-wide. Totally agree or disagree?

Could it be ideal for a medical condition to finance colleges that popularize a unique faith?

The 3 most generally employed conspiracy concepts.

Just what are the benefits of video games?

Fantastic Issues for Reports: Assist

If scholastic producing is truly a have difficulties for everyone and choosing great topics for displays lets you worried, you can actually get needed help. Justorderthe business presentation onEssayShark.comand obtain a pieces of paper through the biggest top quality in the unique timeline. When choosing scholastic paperwork you need to establish all the needed demands and tips, as an example:

Document subject matter.

Deadline particular date.

Scholastic amount.

Willpower.

Volume of webpages.

Your individual requirements.

In the condition you aren’t satisfied with your paper you have an chance to ask about unlimited amendments and editions, that are totally free.

The post PowerPoint Business presentation Assist: Do my PowerPoint Business presentation. Excellent Issues for Displays appeared first on Guest Blogging Platform for Jewelry & Fashion.

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PowerPoint Business presentation Assist: Do my PowerPoint Business presentation. Excellent Issues for Displays

PowerPoint Business presentation Assist: Do my PowerPoint Business presentation. Excellent Issues for Displays

Regardless of what your subject matter is, a PowerPoint discussion will assist you to talk to the audience. If you’re trying to find PowerPoint display assist and ideas we could tell you. There are several ideas on-line that may help you achieve your targets. Students can engage in the intellects we discuss on the webpage. Do you need to wow your tutor? Do you have a preference to get your visitors attention? Or maybe to deliver anything humorous for your associates and loved ones?

PowerPoint Demonstration Support: Subjects to make on

Very often individuals believe: immediately after we do my PowerPoint discussion I do not require to hassle about its topic, as the teacher will clearly like my perform. Even so a display is definitely an successful means of detailing, displaying and aiding the particular topic. Tells you, dialogues and conversations are crucial along with the electrical power level discussion need to help and support them. PowerPoint presentation subjects deviate according to the self-control, though the most considerably better versions are great artistry, historical past, sociable research projects, literature and clinical subjects. As an example, a history demonstration can be divided into times and contain exciting information and trusted details. An event could include appear to be and vision results. Naturally, you will need PowerPoint discussion assistance to create them, but you’ve have nothing to make an effort with situations are much easier than you suspect.

Literature is one of the finest possibilities, as you’ve an time to offer the existence of the popular writer or even the amount of the their books. By way of example, David Copperfield by Charles Dickens is usually a prosperous area of interest for discussion. You may also use a speech documenting of a number of elements from your text.

PowerPoint Discussion Support: Ideas to Bear in mind

It is recommended to consider: Soon after We do my PowerPoint business presentation what ought to i truly do to truly cause it to look and appear fascinating, and creative. This a part of our write-up offers you to useful tips:

Entice viewers awareness by efficient utilisation from the slide living space. Steer clear of overcrowding them and may incorporate only components, which instantly head towards the business presentation topic. Be cautious by using images they should surely satisfy the needs of developing your business presentation.

Try toremember: Right after We do my PowerPoint discussion, We have to stick to the theme surrounding the slides. This is certainly crucial.

Converse the reachable details evidently. Maintain the display glides apparent, skilled and constant.

Produce a apparent describe from the newspaper which means that your display is sensible and introduced evidently.

Know precisely what your visitors might find. Be certain your display noises and shows up good.

PowerPoint Display Assist

Aid in your PowerPoint presentation can be acquired atEssayShark.com.Isn’t it time and energy to excitement your visitors with productive and successful discussion? Then dont spend your time and energy! Just ask us atEssayShark.comwill you need to do my PowerPoint business presentation and we’ll promptly allocate someone to have it done. The details will likely be of higher normal. It’ll offer an appealing overall look and grow reputable. We guarantee it will most likely be first created all on your own for everyone.http://ift.tt/2uxSYai Our expenses are reasonably priced. Your display will be published determined by all of your technical specs and exceed your objectives.

If youve been required to set up an convention, it truly is time for you to give some thought to excellent issues for displays and select the main one which fits into the budget. A multitude of selections may well be a actual issue and youll must invest lots of time seeking the issue quite of looking after your demonstration.

Deciding on Very good Subjects for Presentations Rules

Through the use of two very simple policies, youll opt for your business presentation subject matter without hard work:

Choose the issue you are looking at. Area of interest comprehending in fact it is in depth comprehending can make the business presentation preparing course of action quick and easy , exciting.

Select a topic that’s simple to show by images they’ll certainly improve your message retention.

Choosing Good Matters for Displays Strategies

Fantastic issues for displays ought to adhere to the authors passion and exclusive interests.

Your best option should be to focus on holidays and passions. You simply will not confront any problems with images and pictures. When choosing a spare time action subject matter, make certain you tend not to use terms. Give it time to be clear for everybody. There’s you don’t require to let you know interests may be very diverse and thrilling.

The leading purpose of the presentation is usually to entice your readers focus and the ways to do that is you basically really should find your self.

Ideas of outstanding Subjects for Demonstrations

Teen cigarette smoking.

Prostitution is really a career by selection.

Out of the ordinary options.

Online as opposed to tabloids.

Social networking effects.

Need to you abolish desperate punishment?

Are vampires serious?

Does Our god actually are present?

Interesting specifics about Mars (much like a earth).

The goal of life.

In preparation the discussion youll accumulate your speaking in public knowledge and will manage stage fright. A fantastic display must energize the crowd to take into account around and examine your opinions.

Very good Matters for Demonstrations

Need to teenagers acquire hard cash for carrying out cleansing being an encouragement?

Just what exactly do you look at introducing separate classrooms for guys and ladies?

Exactly what do you really think about learners and professors befriending one another on Myspace? Do you know the possible difficulties?

Need to The usa get to be the metric program? Why or why don’t you?

Can it be much easier to shut institutions if virtually all its pupils perform improperly on standardized assessments?

Ought to lecturers placed on uniforms to university?

Could you go through an LGBTQ pleasant tale guide for your personal child?

Need to kids cartoons be analyzed and censored to get rid of the depiction of abuse?

Might be the depart every little thing and traveling mindset promoted by newspapers and weblogs bad or good for you in person?

What type of penalty is definitely the most suitable in institutions?

Must learners be brought to faith at school?

Need to an operating hubby assistance his full-time-new mother partner right after he returns home from perform?

Are you aware the most important the latest developments produced previously 5 years?

What’s the preferred estimate and why?

Should older school hockey software programs have a cheaper funds?

If your university year or so be much longer or quicker?

Recommendations on increasing the instructional system in the united states.

Strategies on enhancing the healthcare technique in the us.

Should mother and father command time that teenagers commit to the online or video games?

The result of beauty contests across the confidence and the body photo of women.

What’s the chance of Mars becoming lived on by people sooner or later?

Explore the essential confirming apply in healthcare.

Really should body organ donation after passing away be urged?

Discover more about your locations community folklore and cultures.

How do you locate the most crucial words if you wish to come to be acquainted with a words speedily?

Exactly where do superstitions originate from?

What’s dyslexia and how will you assist somebody struggling with it?

Why can feral kids hardly ever get used to right after becoming discovered by people and exposed to modern society?

Just where was the primary writing process developed and why?

How has social networks impacted your living?

Ought to cosmetic plastic surgery be restricted except if somebody has some significant bodily issues that cheaper the grade of life?

Ought to political research be incorporated in the senior high school graduation courses?

The best way ought to we be tolerant and admit variety concerning race, faith and political opinions?

Is globalization terrible or great for humankind?

Does Christianity have result on a modern-day men and women mindset and examine over the world?

Can euthanasia decrease suicide rates?

Really should mom and dad be prohibited from offering youngsters incredible companies?

Does texting become worse our vocabulary and composing proficiency?

Are GMOs harmless for the overall health? While they are blocked?

What’s the web website faith in addition to a cult? Just how do you put the secondly?

Explain quite possibly the most popular guy representing your state/area/city.

Is nuclear energy greater that solar power?

Should a 5-working day few days be improved to a few 4-morning week?

Are you aware the principal perils of building a human-like unnatural learning ability?

Need to blog writers be taken care of as newspaper writers and disciplined for offering improper facts?

Would it help in decreasing baby excess weight issues if school cafeterias function only wholesome food choices?

Gaming shouldn’t be abolished, simply because it isnt hazardous and encourages travel and leisure. Totally agree or disagree?

Must online coaching be handled as similar to the conventional sort of coaching?

Really should standard checks be taken away? If that’s the fact, exactly what are alternative methods of examining childrens comprehending?

Must car drivers be fined for polluting the climate?

Should sportsmen wages be limited?

Have you any idea the the best way to motivate apolitical visitors to political election?

Will the development of computer systems make produced textbooks fade away?

Just what are the most legendary varieties of censorship all over track record?

The outcomes notebook computer or personal computer mediated interaction for the operating and everyday everyday life.

Is daydreaming a useful or hazardous exercise for you personally?

Internet connection needs to be no cost world-wide. Totally agree or disagree?

Could it be ideal for a medical condition to finance colleges that popularize a unique faith?

The 3 most generally employed conspiracy concepts.

Just what are the benefits of video games?

Fantastic Issues for Reports: Assist

If scholastic producing is truly a have difficulties for everyone and choosing great topics for displays lets you worried, you can actually get needed help. Justorderthe business presentation onEssayShark.comand obtain a pieces of paper through the biggest top quality in the unique timeline. When choosing scholastic paperwork you need to establish all the needed demands and tips, as an example:

Document subject matter.

Deadline particular date.

Scholastic amount.

Willpower.

Volume of webpages.

Your individual requirements.

In the condition you aren’t satisfied with your paper you have an chance to ask about unlimited amendments and editions, that are totally free.

The post PowerPoint Business presentation Assist: Do my PowerPoint Business presentation. Excellent Issues for Displays appeared first on Guest Blogging Platform for Jewelry & Fashion.

from Blog – Guest Blogging Platform for Jewelry & Fashion http://ift.tt/2toDXJk via IFTTT from Untitled http://ift.tt/2sx8q4S via IFTTT from Ladies Fashion http://ift.tt/2sNWXSM via IFTTT

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PowerPoint Business presentation Assist: Do my PowerPoint Business presentation. Excellent Issues for Displays

PowerPoint Business presentation Assist: Do my PowerPoint Business presentation. Excellent Issues for Displays

Regardless of what your subject matter is, a PowerPoint discussion will assist you to talk to the audience. If you’re trying to find PowerPoint display assist and ideas we could tell you. There are several ideas on-line that may help you achieve your targets. Students can engage in the intellects we discuss on the webpage. Do you need to wow your tutor? Do you have a preference to get your visitors attention? Or maybe to deliver anything humorous for your associates and loved ones?

PowerPoint Demonstration Support: Subjects to make on

Very often individuals believe: immediately after we do my PowerPoint discussion I do not require to hassle about its topic, as the teacher will clearly like my perform. Even so a display is definitely an successful means of detailing, displaying and aiding the particular topic. Tells you, dialogues and conversations are crucial along with the electrical power level discussion need to help and support them. PowerPoint presentation subjects deviate according to the self-control, though the most considerably better versions are great artistry, historical past, sociable research projects, literature and clinical subjects. As an example, a history demonstration can be divided into times and contain exciting information and trusted details. An event could include appear to be and vision results. Naturally, you will need PowerPoint discussion assistance to create them, but you’ve have nothing to make an effort with situations are much easier than you suspect.

Literature is one of the finest possibilities, as you’ve an time to offer the existence of the popular writer or even the amount of the their books. By way of example, David Copperfield by Charles Dickens is usually a prosperous area of interest for discussion. You may also use a speech documenting of a number of elements from your text.

PowerPoint Discussion Support: Ideas to Bear in mind

It is recommended to consider: Soon after We do my PowerPoint business presentation what ought to i truly do to truly cause it to look and appear fascinating, and creative. This a part of our write-up offers you to useful tips:

Entice viewers awareness by efficient utilisation from the slide living space. Steer clear of overcrowding them and may incorporate only components, which instantly head towards the business presentation topic. Be cautious by using images they should surely satisfy the needs of developing your business presentation.

Try toremember: Right after We do my PowerPoint discussion, We have to stick to the theme surrounding the slides. This is certainly crucial.

Converse the reachable details evidently. Maintain the display glides apparent, skilled and constant.

Produce a apparent describe from the newspaper which means that your display is sensible and introduced evidently.

Know precisely what your visitors might find. Be certain your display noises and shows up good.

PowerPoint Display Assist

Aid in your PowerPoint presentation can be acquired atEssayShark.com.Isn’t it time and energy to excitement your visitors with productive and successful discussion? Then dont spend your time and energy! Just ask us atEssayShark.comwill you need to do my PowerPoint business presentation and we’ll promptly allocate someone to have it done. The details will likely be of higher normal. It’ll offer an appealing overall look and grow reputable. We guarantee it will most likely be first created all on your own for everyone.http://ift.tt/2uxSYai Our expenses are reasonably priced. Your display will be published determined by all of your technical specs and exceed your objectives.

If youve been required to set up an convention, it truly is time for you to give some thought to excellent issues for displays and select the main one which fits into the budget. A multitude of selections may well be a actual issue and youll must invest lots of time seeking the issue quite of looking after your demonstration.

Deciding on Very good Subjects for Presentations Rules

Through the use of two very simple policies, youll opt for your business presentation subject matter without hard work:

Choose the issue you are looking at. Area of interest comprehending in fact it is in depth comprehending can make the business presentation preparing course of action quick and easy , exciting.

Select a topic that’s simple to show by images they’ll certainly improve your message retention.

Choosing Good Matters for Displays Strategies

Fantastic issues for displays ought to adhere to the authors passion and exclusive interests.

Your best option should be to focus on holidays and passions. You simply will not confront any problems with images and pictures. When choosing a spare time action subject matter, make certain you tend not to use terms. Give it time to be clear for everybody. There’s you don’t require to let you know interests may be very diverse and thrilling.

The leading purpose of the presentation is usually to entice your readers focus and the ways to do that is you basically really should find your self.

Ideas of outstanding Subjects for Demonstrations

Teen cigarette smoking.

Prostitution is really a career by selection.

Out of the ordinary options.

Online as opposed to tabloids.

Social networking effects.

Need to you abolish desperate punishment?

Are vampires serious?

Does Our god actually are present?

Interesting specifics about Mars (much like a earth).

The goal of life.

In preparation the discussion youll accumulate your speaking in public knowledge and will manage stage fright. A fantastic display must energize the crowd to take into account around and examine your opinions.

Very good Matters for Demonstrations

Need to teenagers acquire hard cash for carrying out cleansing being an encouragement?

Just what exactly do you look at introducing separate classrooms for guys and ladies?

Exactly what do you really think about learners and professors befriending one another on Myspace? Do you know the possible difficulties?

Need to The usa get to be the metric program? Why or why don’t you?

Can it be much easier to shut institutions if virtually all its pupils perform improperly on standardized assessments?

Ought to lecturers placed on uniforms to university?

Could you go through an LGBTQ pleasant tale guide for your personal child?

Need to kids cartoons be analyzed and censored to get rid of the depiction of abuse?

Might be the depart every little thing and traveling mindset promoted by newspapers and weblogs bad or good for you in person?

What type of penalty is definitely the most suitable in institutions?

Must learners be brought to faith at school?

Need to an operating hubby assistance his full-time-new mother partner right after he returns home from perform?

Are you aware the most important the latest developments produced previously 5 years?

What’s the preferred estimate and why?

Should older school hockey software programs have a cheaper funds?

If your university year or so be much longer or quicker?

Recommendations on increasing the instructional system in the united states.

Strategies on enhancing the healthcare technique in the us.

Should mother and father command time that teenagers commit to the online or video games?

The result of beauty contests across the confidence and the body photo of women.

What’s the chance of Mars becoming lived on by people sooner or later?

Explore the essential confirming apply in healthcare.

Really should body organ donation after passing away be urged?

Discover more about your locations community folklore and cultures.

How do you locate the most crucial words if you wish to come to be acquainted with a words speedily?

Exactly where do superstitions originate from?

What’s dyslexia and how will you assist somebody struggling with it?

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FEATURE: Crunchyroll Favorites 2016, Part Two: Video Games!

From returning classics to the Wii U breathing its last (well, last-ish) to a multiplayer-only shooter absolutely taking over everyone's lives, 2016 was a wild year for video games. Continuing from yesterday's feature, Part Two features CR's staff and contributing writers sharing their favorite gaming experiences of 2016--let's get started!

  NATE MING (@NateMing)

  Overwatch- Not only is Overwatch a fast, bright, and fun multiplayer shooter, but it's made people who otherwise wouldn't play shooters into fans on its style alone. Playing out like an action-packed Saturday morning cartoon, Overwatch's wonderfully diverse and larger-than-life cast has inspired people who don't even play the game, making it go beyond its already-considerable reach as "just" a game.

    Dark Souls III- For me, Dark Souls is the game series that best represents life itself: nothing is easy, everything can come crashing down with one bad decision, but every victory is absolutely worth all the pain. Dark Souls III was like coming back home, only home wants to tear you apart and leave nothing left. Every gorgeous new area, every fearsome new enemy, every horrifying discovery--Dark Souls III is a hell of a ride.

    Street Fighter V- Yeah yeah, no Arcade Mode, I get it. For the people who wanted to step into the arena and see what they were made of (I'm not made of much, by the way), Street Fighter V dialed back the execution-heavy insanity of Street Fighter IV, making the game more accessible to a new audience by making it about matchups and playing the person instead of worrying how tight your quarter-circles were. For all its missteps on the single-player front, SFV made Street Fighter honest again.

    DOOM- In the years since Modern Warfare, it felt like shooters had become too clinical--headshot jousting and drop-shotting had taken away the thing that initially drew me to first-person gameplay decades ago: their rough, literally-in-your-face nature. DOOM drops all pretense with its mandate: RIP AND TEAR. Each fight leaves you nowhere to hide and no time to catch your breath, expecting finesse, knowledge of your terrain, using the right tool for the job, and pure killing efficiency.

    Titanfall 2- Almost on the other side of the coin, Titanfall 2 demands a sense of fluidity and keeping an almost constant state of three-dimensional movement--you're never fighting on a straight line, and it's not about who makes the first move, but who survives the last. Add in the sheer fun of large-scale Titan clashes and you already have a near-perfect game--the excellent Iron Giant and Big Hero 6-like single-player campaign is just icing on the cake.

    Hitman- My favorite stealth series returns to its roots, going episodic and giving you huge playgrounds to stalk. The variety of levels leaves you with plenty of options on how to approach targets, and are already designed so well that Agent 47's base kit is all you really need to take them out. I was worried about the series after Absolution--consider Hitman's sins absolved.

    Mother Russia Bleeds- Peter and I played through this whole game on stream, and it was one of the best co-op experiences I've had in a long while. Mother Russia Bleeds is rough, difficult, and downright nasty, and it never, ever lets up on you--this is the kind of gaming experience I live for. A twisted sense of humor and a thumping soundtrack only add to one of the year's coolest, meanest games.

    Gears of War 4- I still hold to the belief that Gears of War 3 is a damn-near-perfect shooter, and while the latest game stumbles in some areas, it's still a total blast. A lighter tone, faster gunplay, and some insane setpieces make this feel more like a cover-based Contra, and I couldn't be happier. Even my favorite co-op game type--Horde Mode--gets a major overhaul that really brings teams together.

    That Dragon, Cancer- Media doesn't always have to be fun. If there are sad movies, there certainly can be sad games, and going on this interactive journey of a father's loss is one of the most difficult things I've ever had to willingly go through. Watching Joel--just a boy--steadily grow weaker, and feeling the hopelessness and despair of his parents, and finally coming to terms with it all, is a gaming experience unlike any other for me, and it was 100% worth it.

    Shantae: Half-Genie Hero- WayForward's adorable hair-whipping, transforming, belly-dancing genie came back with another fast-paced, this time much-more-risque adventure. Probably the most tastefully horny platformer I've yet played, Half-Genie Hero had plenty of laugh-out-loud moments in addition to its high-energy platforming and Metroid-like backtracking.

  JOSEPH LUSTER (@Moldilox)

Final Fantasy XV- I can't think of another recent game that had me so skeptical prior to its release, only to have it thoroughly entertain me and kill pretty much all the time I had left. FFXV isn't just a great Final Fantasy game, it's a fantastic role-playing game that really puts an emphasis on the role-playing. From the moment Noctis and his hott boiz put gas in the tank I refused to fast travel, and I couldn't be happier with the results.

    7th Dragon III Code: VFD- If you told me I'd be including THIS on my list of top games of 2016 I'd probably have to stop and ask you what the hell 7th Dragon is. The latest installment of Sega's series launched in Japan in 2015, but didn't make its way to the west until summer of 2016. While we covered it on Crunchyroll News quite a bit leading up to its release, I never thought I'd actually bother playing it. Turns out I would have missed out on one of the most low-key enjoyable dungeon-crawlers of the year. Do yourself a favor and fire this one up on your 3DS once you're done clearing that nasty backlog.

    The Last Guardian- I don't know what to tell you if you didn't expect a Fumito Ueda game to feature a hard-to-control boy and a stubborn NPC. Time will tell how The Last Guardian measures up against Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, but I was thoroughly moved throughout the 8 to 10 hours I spent with Trico. Sure, the cat-bird beast in question will occasionally have you screaming at the screen, but no one builds worlds and develops molasses-thick atmosphere quite like Ueda and co.

  BRITTANY VINCENT (@MolotovCupcake)

Final Fantasy XV- As a lifelong Final Fantasy fan I wasn’t entirely sure I would love this entry, but I came away so appreciative of the new battle system, the “road trip” narrative, and the characters themselves. I greedily lapped up the expansion media like Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV and everything that went with it because I just couldn’t get enough of this world. From Cindy to Noctis to the familiar Final Fantasy mainstays peppered throughout, I lost count of everything that made me smile throughout my journey through Eos. I can’t wait to see what the future of Final Fantasy holds.

    World of Final Fantasy- If Final Fantasy XV was all about delivering the most polished narrative it could with all the fixings, World of Final Fantasy was a massive love letter in the vein of Pokemon that combined the best of both worlds. Hardcore fans could appreciate the nuances and cameos of games prior, and newcomers were able to bask in the hilarious writing and heartfelt story. It’s a world I would happily live in, especially when you get to frolic with so many heart-rendingly-cute characters so much of the time.

    Amplitude- The fact that one of my favorite entries in the PlayStation 2’s library was given new life shook me to its core. I’m still annoyed I can’t purchase the banging’ soundtrack, but Harmonix’s updated Amplitude was rebooted with a story, ridiculously awesome new tunes, and graphics that really punched up the synaesthesia factor. It’s like I never stopped playing the original game and just saw the difficulty ramp up a little.

  PETER FOBIAN (@PeterFobian)

The Witcher III: Heart of Stone and Blood and Wine- Irrefutably the best game to come out of 2015, The Witcher III is returning to my list to also take the top spot for 2016. CD Projekt RED has released two major story expansions, Heart of Stone and Blood and Wine which over double the length of the game while providing access to huge new locations with all the narrative depth and density of Novigrad. These two expansions are everything that DLC could and should have been, actual enhancements to a game that provide content above and beyond getting what we paid for on the original pricetag.

    Uncharted 4: A Thief's End- This game felt like a movie, packed with small moments like novel mishaps and character interactions that were both humorous and organically contributed to the narrative. The action sequences were tremendous, from some immensely dynamic car chases to absolutely insane escapes from crumbling structures. The world is beautiful and composed of diverse environments possessing fine detail and impressive verticality. Then there’s Nadine fights, which felt like a battle simply to survive rather than defeat a boss.

    Hitman- Releasing Hitman as an episodic title turned out to be a perfect formula for a title that is composed of a series of sandboxes missions encouraging an individualized approach. Each new area had a strong concept and an orchestrated feeling that really communicated that Square had been able to unhurriedly direct their entire attention toward its development. For the fans this meant either buying a season pass or buying the levels piecemeal. The episodic metaplot and special events like hunting down Gary Busey or the bandits from Home Alone are just icing on the cake.

    Dark Souls III- The twisted takes on the environments from the original Dark Souls were a really satisfying return to the series origin (not counting Demon Souls and earlier titles). I don’t know if there is a way to really perfect Dark Souls gameplay, but Dark Souls 3 managed to introduce even more variety while keeping that immensely simple and streamlined feel. The NPC storylines were maybe my favorite part of the title and the best they’ve ever been, the quests with Irina of Carim and Anri of Astora will probably be how I remember the franchise for the rest of my life.

    Titanfall 2- The three-dimensional movement is so clean and intuitive it makes me feel like I was born to fly. The inclusion of titans as stand-in for killstreak rewards is one of the best ideas in modern competitive FPS, giving you a powerful tool that can still be defeated with good counterplay. It didn’t need it, but man did they create an awesome single player campaign with some epic environments and boss fights that give the setting some new dimension.

    The Last Guardian- I’m a bit torn about this one. I found the emotional narrative of The Last Guardian to be an immensely satisfying experience, elaborating upon the player's relationship with Agro in Shadow of the Colossus while raising the stakes by portraying both partners as adolescents. My only major problem is the game just didn’t feel connected to the rest of the continuity the way SotC did, even if the ending was a nice moment as a standalone. For all that, the game probably got me more involved that many other titles I’ve played this year.

    INSIDE- Perfectly walking the line between forcing you to remain intellectually engaged to figure out puzzles without ever feeling lost by their difficulty, each delivering that “aha!” moment without the accompanying frustration. It has a bunch of novel ideas and manages to find a few different ways of using each of them so the game’s mechanics never feel stale. I’m not sure if I’ve ever felt as uncomfortable playing a game as maybe the last 20 minutes of INSIDE and it was great. Still not sure what the hell is going on in that world, but it was definitely an experience.

    Mother Russia Bleeds- Using a side-scrolling Streets of Rage style in lieu of Hotline Miami’s top-down perspective, Mother Russia Bleeds has all the dark themes and brutality of its spiritual predecessor. This game is bad acid trip turned multiple homicide with an amazing soundtrack. A highly refined brawler with some boss fights that are memorable both for their difficulty and because of how absolutely gruesome they all are. Also, in keeping with with Hotline Miami traditions, the soundtrack is worthy of its own vinyl.

    Hyper Light Drifter- No game has succeeded in making me feel as profoundly alone as I did playing through Hyper Light Drifter. The haunting synth soundtrack, unspeaking protagonist, and unique visuals all work in concert to create this intensely pure emotional experience. The overall world structure and gameplay had the feel and sense of discovery as A Link to the Past, running with a lean number of highly flexible gameplay options.

    Furi- This game came out of nowhere for me and I’m happy to have happened upon it. It does what I most love about indies by taking a good component found in many AAA titles and condensing it down into its purest form. Furi is a series of intense duels against the residents of a floating prison that looks and feels like it was created by Moebius. The game taps into multiple genres to accommodate some insane forms of combat and just feels like a pure experience.

  KARA DENNISON (@RubyCosmos)

  Ace Attorney: Phoenix Wright: Spirit of Justice- I started playing the Ace Attorney series during a long hospital stay many years ago, and I was hooked immediately. I didn't think anything would wow me as much as Dual Destinies did, but Spirit of Justice is really something special, in terms of both plotting and art. The sprites are gorgeous... like sinfully so. And it's getting increasingly cinematic, with the case formats bending to the plot. Also, if you play it and want some serious nostalgia, do yourself a favor and buy the DLC case.

    Five Night's at Freddy's: Sister Location- Prior to 2016 I was terrified of anything FNaF because I am a jumpscare loser. But thanks to let's plays, brave friends, and far lower anxiety than previous years, I've been able to engage with the franchise. Considering I'm a sucker for childhood nightmare fuel, the games are already tailor made for me. And this in particular -- a new spin on the old formula -- was fascinating. The lore has my head spinning and I need to know more.

    World of Warcraft: Legion- WoW expansions are getting a bit like Star Trek movies, aren't they? Where they alternate good and bad? I was interested enough in Warlords of Draenor, but it didn't quite ping all the buttons I thought it would. Then along comes Legion, with demon hunters and artifact weapons and class halls. The storytelling is becoming progressively more cinematic, the DH's are SO fun for a tank like me, and everything is just looking cooler and cooler. I'm a loner on MMOs, and this got me caring so much about endgame that I did a dungeon with a bunch of strangers just because I was that invested in the plot.

  EVAN MINTO (@VamptVo)

  Overwatch- I tried the Overwatch demo on a whim, and fell in love pretty quickly. I’m very bad at it (as is the case for most games), but what makes it such a rewarding experience is the wealth of play styles it presents, from a twitchy traditional FPS character to a melee-centric tank to a passive healer. On top of the fun of playing these mechanics against each other in team-based match-ups, Overwatch also has a giddy, cartoonish visual style and a diverse cast of vibrant, memorable characters representing all sorts of countries, body types, and yes, sexual orientations. I’ll be playing this one for years to come, along with the rest of the world.

    1979 Revolution: Black Friday- The Iranian Revolution is a relatively recent historical event, but its implications for the Middle East and the world were massive. I’m surprised it took so long to get a video game about it! 1979 Revolution uses the mechanics and even the visual style of Telltale’s critically acclaimed adventure games to tell the story of a photojournalist caught between a brewing revolution and his own loyalist family. The game is full of documents and historical notes to read, but its elegance lies in its ability to showcase political ideologies through moments that feel like urgent personal struggles rather than distant historical details.

    Oxenfree- Ever since I first played the Telltale Walking Dead series, I’ve been on the hunt for great story-based adventure games. Oxenfree doesn’t just copy Telltale, though. Instead, it’s a side-scrolling adventure game with some platforming and puzzle elements, centered around a group of teenagers who find themselves trapped on a haunted island. The navigation and puzzle-solving is dead simple, but genuinely funny, likable characters, timed dialogue choices with real impact, and an atmospheric, occasionally psychedelic visual style more than make up for it.

    Firewatch- Probably the greatest video game about walking around in a Wyoming national park ever made, Firewatch is a fantastic example of indie games’ potential to create really unique experiences. You play as a fire lookout, communicating via radio with your boss in a far-off tower via timed dialogue choices, but Firewatch isn’t really about changing things via your choices as much as it’s about spending an extended period of time with a character and a location. And boy oh boy, is that location beautiful! The devs at Campo Santo create a world that feels alive, with dying sunlight playing across painterly mountain backdrops and trees that disappear day by day as a wildfire burns across the forest. And then there’s the story itself, which uses the lonely environment to present a sinister mystery. “Walking simulators” ain’t so bad after all.

    Fire Emblem: Fates- I absolutely loved Fire Emblem: Awakening, but I still haven’t even finished my first run through Fates (Birthright). Still, it has a lot of the elements I loved about Awakening: a cast of likable warriors, simple RTS mechanics that get more complex with time, and web of statistics and relationships to manage both on and off the battlefield. Birthright’s somewhat boring level design knocked this one a couple places down my list, so maybe one day I’ll finish and move on to Conquest!

  SAM WOLFE (@_Samtaro)

A lot of great games hit the scene in 2016. We saw the releases of long awaited games like Final Fantasy XV and The Last Guardian, as well as the release of breakout hits like Overwatch. I, however, didn’t play any of these games because Hearthstone released three expansions this year, and unfortunately for you, Nate has given me a platform to gush about them on.

    Whispers of the Old Gods (Hearthstone Expansion)- Whispers of the Old Gods was the first set released in Hearthstone’s “Year of the Kraken,” where the standard format got its foundation. As the mechanized minions of Goblins vs. Gnomes were swept into the wild, corrupted versions of our favorite minions took center stage, and with them, their ancient Old God masters. One of the best promotions for this set was that everyone who logged in received C’thun, an iconic creature from Warcraft lore, for free. This was a great move, as it gave beginners a powerful creature with a fun mechanic right from the start.

    One Night in Karazhan (Hearthstone Expansion)- Things took a turn for the funky with the release of One Night in Karazhan, the fourth Hearthstone adventure. Set in a reimagined 70’s version of the magus Medivh’s tower, the set brought balance to the game with several new cards, all served in a stylish disco package, and introduced some very creative creatures (a silverware golem? That’s hilarious!). A special shout out should go to Prince Malchezaar, a card that shuffles 5 random legendary cards into your deck, allowing new players to try out some powerful cards that they wouldn’t otherwise have access to.

  The Mean Streets of Gadgetzan (Hearthstone Expansion)- The most recent expansion, The Mean Streets of Gadgetzan, took us to the Goblin city on the coast of the same name, where three factions are fighting for control: the Grimy Goons, The Jade Lotus, and The Kabal. With each faction having a unique mechanic, as well as introducing multi-class cards, the meta was once again turned on its head, and two months out people are still waiting for the dust to settle. While every faction has something to offer, I have to put my lot in with the Kabal; Raza the Chained is one of the craziest cards I’ve seen, and he gets along great with our old friend Reno Jackson.

  NICK CREAMER (@B0bduh)

  Overwatch- This game loomed large for me this year--in fact, I’m pretty sure I played more hours of Overwatch than all my others put together. I’ve always been a fan of asymmetrical cooperative/competitive games, with Left 4 Dead standing as one of my all-time favorites, and Overwatch’s diverse gallery of heroes has made for an endlessly entertaining experience. From its attractive aesthetic to its competition-ready depth, Overwatch offers a steady curve of delights as you slowly gain familiarity with its intricate working parts. Here’s to finally hitting diamond in season three…

    DOOM- I’m honestly not that big of a shooter fan, at least relative to other genres - if I were doing this list last year, I’d be gushing about Undertale. But the shooters were good this year, and so I gotta hand it to DOOM. This year’s rebirth of the franchise embraced and elevated everything that made the originals fun, bringing back not just the monsters and weapons, but the gameplay feel of constant movement, intimate encounters, and steady mastery of each level’s winding maze. DOOM wasn’t beloved just because it got there first, and this year’s remodel demonstrated there’s still a lot to love in the game’s classic formula.

    The Witness- After a year as tumultuous as this, it was almost hard to believe that The Witness actually came out this year. But yes, The Witness finally arrived, and yes, it was wonderful. Jonathan Blow characterized his work on The Witness as attempting to capture and iterate on that elusive “a-ha” moment of personal revelation and discovery. While I wouldn’t say every segment of the game succeeded, the overall product was a consistently rewarding and just fundamentally beautiful getaway, a spiritual successor to Myst that tempered its fiendishly difficult puzzles with a consistently inviting atmosphere.

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And that's a wrap for Part Two of our three-part series! Be sure to check out Part One if you missed it, and tune in at the same time tomorrow for PART THREE: EVERYTHING ELSE, featuring movies, music, food, and more! And if you're still in the mood for past CR Favorites, check out the previous years' features here:

  Crunchyroll Favorites 2015 Part One Part Two Part Three

Crunchyroll Favorites 2014 Part One Part Two Part Three

Crunchyroll Favorites 2013 Part One Part Two Part Three

Crunchyroll Favorites 2012 Part One Part Two Part Three

Crunchyroll News' Best of 2011 Part One Part Two

  What were your favorite video games of 2016? Remember, this is a FAVORITES list, not a BEST OF list, so there's no wrong answers--sound off in the comments and share your favorites with us!

-------

Nate Ming is the Features and Reviews Editor for Crunchyroll News, creator of the long-running Fanart Friday column, and the Customer Support Lead for Crunchyroll. You can follow him on Twitter at @NateMing.

By: news+feed@crunchyroll.com