Playing 'Genshin Impact' Again After So Long

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A week or so ago, I got an email saying that my Genshin Impact account would be suspended if I did not input my birth month and year since apparently I was not asked to do so earlier. I went and did that at the eleventh hour then downloaded the game on my MacBook.

Released in 2020 by miHoYo, a Chinese game developer, Genshin Impact became a commercial success almost overnight, likely exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic keeping many people cooped up at home. Some have compared it to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for its open world and visuals. I don't know how popular it is now, but l am aware that it was subject to some controversy a while back due to some characters' skin tones and the English voice actors' strike. (In fact, the other day I noticed that there was a character who should have had spoken dialogue but did not, which makes me wonder if that's somehow related.) To that I say, "Screw identity politics! It's a fantasy world, and I'm here to have fun!"

It has been a long while since I played the game, the main reason being I couldn't play it on a Mac. I briefly used the family Windows desktop to run it which was slow as molasses. The RPG does not work on MacOS as of now, but it does run on iPhones and iPads. I downloaded a program called PlayCover that allows you to play iOS games on Macs. So essentially, I'm playing the iPad version on the computer.

So far, I'm enjoying it just as well as if not better than before. I never finished part one of the story, so it was satisfying to finish that arc and move on to the second region. Someday I hope to catch up, so long as my Mac's storage won't have to suffer for it!

'Shinsei Galverse' Is Brief but Has Potential

Shinsei Galverse has finally premiered, and I must say, this is a good first impression. It looks good and definitely has potential. The video is featured above.

I'm guessing this is a pilot episode since it does not have a definitive end and the runtime is like that of a TV episode. If viewership meets or exceeds expectations, hopefully more episodes will be made and we get to see more of the Galverse. Speaking of, I realize now that the name "Galverse" contains the word gyaru when pronouncing it in Japanese. Gyaru, in case you don't know, refers to a particular fashion subculture among Japanese women.

'Shinsei Galverse' Premiering Soon!

Holy crap!

I ran into this trailer while I was on YouTube a few days ago. Shinsei Galverse, a new crowdfunded independent online anime, will be premiering on June 25! It's about a group of 8,888 women, collectively known as Galverse, who are reincarnations of a being known as "Mother" who used to rule over the galaxy. When these ladies learn about their origin, they unite together to stop an evil organization known as "Space End Society." You can learn more about it on the official website.

What really sticks out to me is the art style. It is reminiscent of 1980s and 1990s anime such as Sailor Moon, so it looks and feels retro and modern simultaneously. Not only that, Kotono Mitsuishi, Japanese voice actress who played such iconic roles like Sailor Moon and Misato Katsuragi, will be voicing a character in this production (she's the blond scientist)!

I'll try this out and see for myself if this lives up to the trailer. I may post about it again after the premiere. Until then, take care!

'Steven Universe: Lars of the Stars' in Development!

Some major animation news just dropped today! A sequel/spinoff of Steven Universe entitled Lars of the Stars is in development for Prime Video. Rebecca Sugar, creator of the original series, will be executive producer as well as her husband Ian Jones-Quartey who also created OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes.

Lars of the Stars, in case you don't know, is the altar ego of Lars Barriga, a side character from Steven Universe. It's also the name of a season five episode. I could say more, but I would hate to spoil those who have not seen SU. I recommend watching it for yourself to get the full story.

Personally, I hope this series will give us more lore (Gem origins, when???) and character development on the Off Colors, since those elements were sorely lacking in Steven Universe. Whether it's a full-blown epic or a limited series like Steven Universe Future, I'm looking forward to it!

RIP Cartoon Network

A few months ago, Kneon from Clownfish TV posted this video about how the daily ratings for Cartoon Network (CN) have gone through the floor as of last year, signaling the probable end of CN as we knew it. This comes after the official website shut down last year and the studio in Burbank, CA closed its doors in 2023. Indeed, all of the major American children's networks have shown decreasing numbers for over a decade as audiences rely more heavily on on-demand content for their entertainment rather than linear television. 

Of course, people will blame streaming and the merger of Warner Bros. and Discovery for this decline, and there is some truth there, but I believe there is more going on; it's the content being produced on this network. What we are seeing today is the culmination of over a decade of churning out content that are not good quality, not kid-friendly, and/or just plain weird, beginning with the premiere of Adventure Time in 2010 which was also the first original series on the channel to be PG-rated. Since then, CN transformed from a powerhouse for children's entertainment to what can best be described as "Adult Swim Junior," cartoons marketed to kids but upon further inspection contain mature themes not appropriate for little kids (ex: homosexuality, "non-binary" gender, non-marital child-bearing), appeal to older audiences like teens and young adults, and violate parents' trust, particularly shows carrying an age rating below TV-PG. Combine that with the gosh-awful PSAs about "anti-racism" and "personal pronouns," reruns of Teen Titans GO! all day with little diversity in the schedule, and barely any merch sales, and you have a recipe for disaster. It's no wonder they went under.

On a personal level, this news makes me sorrowful as someone who grew up with the network, with shows like The PowerPuff Girls (the original, not the stupid 2016 reboot), Ed, Edd, n' Eddy, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, the 90s dub of Sailor Moon on Toonami, Chowder, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, and the classic cartoons on Boomerang giving me cherished childhood memories and solidifying my love for animation. The last CN shows from the modern era I enjoyed were Steven Universe, Over the Garden Wall, and Infinity Train. At this rate, I would not be shocked if the network morphs into Adult Swim 24/7.

Will Aslan Be Female in Netflix's Narnia Reboot?!

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Et tu, Greta?

In my last post, I talked about how Disney's Snow White was going to be a box office bomb and not show any amount of respect for the original 1937 film. The film dropped last month and...I and most people were pretty much right on the money. 

To continue this tiresome modern trend of making unfaithful reboots that barely please anyone and bomb faster than one can say "screw it," there is an adaptation of the Narnia series currently being produced at Netflix of all places with the first movie being based on The Magician's Nephew, the sixth book published but the first one chronologically. And the director? Greta Gerwig. Yes, that Greta Gerwig who directed 2023's Barbie which ended up being a radical feminist and misandrist manifesto. What could possibly go wrong?

Not much is known as of late, but apparently Aslan, the lion who rules over the land of Narnia, will be voiced by actress Meryl Streep. So will Aslan still be male but have a female voice, or will Aslan be a lioness? Only time will tell, but knowing who is heading this production, I wouldn't be at all surprised if the latter is true.

What really makes this frustrating is that the Narnia series as a whole is an overt Christian allegory. Aslan in particular is a representation of Jesus Christ. In fact, he is Jesus taking on a different form in another universe. Therefore, having him be voiced by a woman or having him be a woman downplays that fact and makes it seem like this will be a feminist subversion of a beloved Christian story. Never mind that there are plenty of strong female characters in the series already.

If I were you, I would avoid this altogether. Remember that hate-watching is still watching. For a good example of Narnia adaptations, check out the three movies produced by Disney before they sucked (The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; Prince Caspian; and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader).

Movie Trailer: 'Snow White' (2025)

 

What did we do to deserve this?

The trailer for the ill-conceived live-action dump based on the classic 1937 Disney movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarves has finally been released, and boy, is it a doozy. See for yourself at the top of this post. Then read the comments. They are more entertaining than this film.

This trailer is yet another example of everything wrong with modern Western media and reboots in general that have become cliché at this point. Here, Snow White is not only race-swapped for no good reason, making her name lose its original meaning, and played by won't-shut-her-mouth Rachel Zegler, she is also changed to be a "girlboss" who leads a revolution against the Evil Queen. Because that's what Snow White was about, right? And if I had to guess, the prince will be made into a weakling and will not kiss a presumably dead Snow White at the end, because that's sexual harassment apparently. Honestly, the only character I like in this is the Evil Queen played by Gal Gadot, and while she too is a race-swapped version of her original counterpart, she plays the role well. She and Zegler should have switched places as she appears to be a more worthy candidate for "the fairest of them all," but I digress.

Then there are the CGI dwarves. They could have been played by real people with dwarfism á la The Wizard of Oz and Time Bandits, but political correctness and Peter Dinklage got in the way and prevented a whole demographic from getting an opportunity to make it big in the film industry. Everyone thinks they're creepy, but I actually don't find them weird at all in the same way that I was not at all creeped out by the characters from The Polar Express (which is now 20 years old as of this post!). My issue with them is that they're not as unique-looking nor as memorable like the originals.

In the end, only time will tell if this movie will make it big. I personally hope it doesn't since I'm tired of unfaithful reboots and cheap cash grabs and would prefer either new and exciting stories or else adaptations that respect what came before. Maybe a movie like this failing will be a wake-up call to Disney and Hollywood to stop making these types of movies for good.

I Bought a New Printer!

I got another refund check from school, so I used it to buy a new printer, the Epson ET-2850. The old one my family had still works but has issues with printing the entire image on the page. That and we have to buy ink cartridges every few months which cost over $30. The latter point is the main reason I bought this. The new printer uses e-ink, which is ink in bottles that you fill up in the corresponding tanks. Better for the environment and it saves you money in the long run!

I Bought a New MacBook Pro!

My new laptop. Sticky notes contain school info and are thus redacted.

I finally got fed up with my old MacBook Pro from 2012 for being slow and having a crappy battery life when unplugged. I got a refund check from college, so what better way to use it than to buy a new computer with some accessories?

All in all, everything cost over $3,000. My new Mac is a 16-inch 2023 Space Black model with the M3 Max chip and one terabyte (TB) of storage, which is roughly equivalent to 1,000 gigabytes (GB). In addition, I bought an adapter that connects to my speakers, keyboard, and mouse; a carrying case; and an HDMI cord so I can connect it to the big monitor on my desk. Thank God Apple created Migration Assistant, so all my important files were intact when transferring my data. So far it has impressive speed and an even more impressive battery. Here's hoping this machine is still running smoothly for at least the next 10-20 years.

'The Amazing Digital Circus' Episode 2 Incoming!

 

Hello again! The semester's almost over, I have a new job, and I am ready for warm weather! Today, Glitch Productions, an Australian-based indie animation studio, posted this video that serves as a preview for episode two of The Amazing Digital Circus.

What is The Amazing Digital Circus, some of you may be asking? It is a new online animated series that premiered last year with the pilot episode, which you can see below:

The premise is about a woman who puts on a headset and is thrust into The Amazing Digital Circus where anything can happen (except for swearing). She in her new avatar meets other humans who have been in the circus for longer all led by a kooky ringmaster AI named Caine. She receives the name Pomni, and she and the other members go on wacky adventures.

In the last episode, Pomni is introduced to the world and tries to find an exit to no avail. In the new episode, most of the gang visit the Candy Canyon Kingdom and meet some candy people. It looks really exciting! We just have to wait two weeks before we can finally see it in all its glory.