A New Derangement Syndrome Has Taken Root

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Here we go again.

You've heard of "Trump Derangement Syndrome" (TDS) where some blame Donald Trump for all the problems in the world. You've heard of "Rowling Derangement Syndrome" (RDS) where some reject J. K. Rowling because she dared to state that minors should not receive cross-sex hormones and life-altering medical procedures due to fleeting gender confusion. Now it appears that a new derangement syndrome has taken hold: "Deedee Derangement Syndrome" (DDS).

This of course concerns Deedee Magno Hall, a Filipino-American actress who began her career in The Mickey Mouse Club in the 1980s then went on to be a Broadway star. What really made her famous was voicing Pearl and several other characters on Steven Universe, an animated series that is more known for its progressive themes (pseudo-homosexuality, gender non-conformity, feminism) rather than its Judeo-Christian themes, the latter of which I found more fascinating. Pearl in particular is famous among some fans for being a female-presenting genderless polymorphic sentient rock "lesbian" and being shipped with nearly every character in the show, canon or otherwise.

So what got poor Deedee in trouble with leftist SU fans? Following Charlie Kirk (may he rest in peace) and other conservative accounts on social media. Now they are assuming she's a "MAGA chud" because if it. This is similar to the Markus Persson and Scott Cawthon hooplas: famous people from popular franchises getting crap thrown at them for being openly right-wing in a society that seemingly wants them to go away or at least keep their beliefs to themselves.

I find this hoopla particularly amusing. People really think that every person who worked on Steven Universe was a raging liberal? That could not be far from the truth as there was as much diversity of thought in the staff as there was (organic!) diversity in the show itself. Also, can people really not separate actors from characters? Acting is playing as someone you're not. Thirdly, why are people now talking about this when the show has been over for years? Who knows? I guess they just want to find something to be mad at today instead of having a life. Let us all pray for such individuals.

Sony Reminds Us Why Physical Media is Important

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Sony has announced that it will be purging over 500 movies from its Playstation Store since they lost licensing with Studio Canal. Users who bought these titles will no longer have access to them or even a refund in a few months. What a bummer.

In our age of digital content, it is important that we own physical media or at minimum downloaded media not connected to the Internet. They're one-and-done purchases, and you own them forever. Also you don't have to worry about titles disappearing or censorship. (Search the chromosome episode of Bill Nye the Science Guy for an example of the latter.) I've been stocking up on DVDs, Blu-rays, and CDs myself, and I encourage you to do the same.

I Finally Graduated College!

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After years in university, I finally graduated over the weekend! I will be receiving my BSRT (Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy) by mail in the next few weeks. I am so glad to be over with school and move on to a better-paying job. And with all the extra time I'll be having, I should be able to post more on this blog. Wish me luck, dear readers!

Watch 'Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood'!

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My sister and I recently watched Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, and it was phenomenal! I cannot recommend this anime enough. I would say it is one of the greatest anime series ever produced, up there with Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball, and Neon Genesis Evangelion. Speaking of Evangelion, I noticed several references to it in this show, which makes me think the creator was inspired by it when writing this story.

What is the story? Two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric (Ed and Al for short), attempt to resurrect their dead mother but end up disfigured instead since they broke an alchemy taboo and the Law of Equivalent Exchange(TM) took effect. Ed loses his right arm and left leg, and Al loses his whole body. Ed saves Al's soul at the last minute, binding it to a suit of armor. The rest of the series is about them searching for a way to become whole again while learning about their estranged father and dealing with a mysterious evil force that lurks in the shadows.

You can stream this series on Netflix and Crunchyroll as well as buy a physical copy. I want to try to get this on Blu-ray in the future as this is media I feel is worth preserving.

Happy New Year 2026!

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Hello, dear readers! It is now 2026, and a new year has begun. I will try to post more to keep things on here fresh and interesting. Until next time!

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.