books

Into the Drowning Deep

author: Mira Grant
genre: horror
year: 2017

Killer mermaids. An isolated ship above the Mariana Trench. Science. Lesbians. It's everything I could ever ask for.

It's one of the rare times that multi-pov worked for me.

An Unauthorized Fan Treatise

author: Wren James
genre: drama
year: 2019

This was so much fun. I felt like I really was spiraling down the rabbit hole of a fan conspiracy with all the toxicity and chaos we see in fandoms. AND YOU CAN READ IT ALL ONLINE!

Redwall

author: Brian Jacques
genre: fantasy
year: 1986

To be honest, I grew out of a lot of my childhood reads. The only one that stayed is the Redwall series. The formulaic rustic fantasy adventure brought me such comfort. It's what I went back to my local library for again and again, to request the next book.

Writing about food in fantasy is such a big deal to me now because of Jacques.

I wish to collect all his books again.

film/tv

Hellboy

genre: dark fantasy
year: 2004 & 2008

Guillermo del Toro's Hellboy movies was such a huge inspiration for me growing up. The art, the lore, the monsters and the action was all so captivating. I wish we had an artbook more dedicated to the hellboy movies, I'd pay big money for it.

Noroi: The Curse

genre: horror
year: 2005

One of my favourite found footage horror. The documentary-style investigation into traditional Japanese folk horror was like nothing I had ever seen in the horror landsdcape at the time. I really need to a get a physical copy of this one day...

Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

genre: fantasy
year: 2023

I went into this with negative expectations after a track record of watching big budget films/shows fail to execute various geeky media. This had no business being so fun.

Adventure Time

genre: scifi animation
year: 2010

I finally watched this way into adult era and it's so charming. I was going through an art burnout and the cute, simple artstyle is currently a big inspiration!

I'll rewatch this just for BMO.

The Great North

genre: animated sitcom
year: 2021
I'm in the middle of my third rewatch. The jokes work me and Ham Tobin is a darling.

Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities

genre: horror anthology
year: 2022

I watched a couple episodes at random and to be honest, it didn't really do anything for me... Then years later, I saw someone reference The Autopsy and I went to check it out. It was everything I ever wanted. Mystery unfolding through autopsies. Parasitic monsters. Body horror. Apparently it was adapted from a short story in Polyphemus by Michael Shea. I guess I should check it out some time.

The Autospy of Jane Doe

genre: horror
year: 2016

You know the drill. I love autopsy horror mysteries. The themes and vibe was made just for my viewing pleasure.

Teen Titans

genre: animated superhero
year: 2013

I have so many memories catching an episode on tv with my brother in our old childhood home. I could probably still sing the theme song. If only we could've had one more season...

Hot Fuzz

genre: action comedy
year: 2007

My go-to whenever I'm having a bad day. I actually know a shocking number of lines by heart. My husband is concerned.

anime/manga

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

studio: Shaft
genre: magical girl
year: 2011

This wasn't my first Gen Urobuchi work, but damn this is my favourite. I didn't fully appreciate it the first time I watched it. But the more I revisited, the more I fell in love. This is an absolutely beautiful story and has the most hype magical girl transformations.

Yuki Kajiura absolutely killed it with the music.

Kimetsu no Yaiba

artist: Koyoharu Gotouge
genre: shounen
manga year: 2016

I became rather exhausted with the shounens in young adulthood. Kimetsu seems like a return to the traditional shounen formula but with all the parts I love about it. I think the execution of the anime definitely contributed to it too.

I've rewatched and reread Kimetsu multiple times. It's animated so beautifully and the manga is drawn so clean. I think it's kind of like a comfort anime/manga? The tight plot with the climaxes and slow moments flow nicely for me.

The soundtrack also has me in an absolute chokehold. I've never paid so much attention to the themes in the music than I have in this anime.

Chainsaw Man

artist: Tatsuki Fujimoto
genre: shounen
manga year: 2018

Fujimoto is a fascinating character himself. I love how he unaplogetically writes whatever he wants. His brand of crazy girls is fantastic. No, I don't feel great about the ending. That music thooooo

Berserk

artist: Kentaro Miura
genre: epic dark fantasy
year: 1989

Probably my first grimdark fantasy? What spectacular art, creature design and characters! It's very special to me but I was way too young when I found this.

Tomie

artist: Junji Ito
genre: horror
year: 1987

Ah yes, my favourite eldritch horror that keeps finding the worst people to fuck around with.

Perfect Blue

director: Satoshi Kon
genre: psychological
year: 1997

11/10 experience. This blew me away the first time I saw this as a teen. I could make essays on the cinematography and I want the opening song on vinyl.

Bleach

artist: Tite Kubo
genre: shounen
manga year: 2001

I didn't get into Bleach until I one day stumbled upon the Alones opening. It looked like the coolest thing ever and I tore the whole anime and picked up at the Hueco Muendo arc. I was so into it I watched all the musicals.

It definitely did not have a perfect plot, but I don't mind it as much. I enjoyed the characters and action so much.

xxxHOLiC

artist: Clamp
genre: dark fantasy
manga year: 2003

A childhood friend of mine loved xxxHolic and showed me the anime in korea subtitles. My korean vocab was absolutely terrible so I only had a loose understanding of the plot. But something about the opening and the little spooks feel very nostalgic to me.

It also had a lasting impact on my art style. My first attempts to draw came from Clamp and I had a terrible habit drawing all my characters with incredibly long legs lol

Digimon Adventures

studio: Toei Animation
genre: isekai adventure
year: 1999

I think this might've been my first anime? I was always more of a digimon child than pokemon. My dad let me rent some of the episodes here and then in the korean dub. I never got to watch the whole thing properly since we didn't go by the rental shop enough but I treasure the parts I remember.

And oh my gosh the korean opening is so underrated.

Gantz:0

based on Gantz by Hiroya Oku
genre: action scifi
year: 2016

I didn't like the gantz manga too much. But this movie? Standalone and streamlined, works as a great action flick!

youtube

Dead Sound

youtuber: David James Armsby
genre: animation

I originally found David's channel through his lovecraftian short animation White Walls. Absolutely love it. It's now part of my personality. Through there, the Autodale series.

What I especially love about David's work is that he gives an in-depth behind the scenes video to each of his animations. It's such a treat being able to hear him talk about his inspirations, the things he changed and his thoughts behind the plot and characters.

Dinosaurs aren't even an interest of mine but I still watch all his dino animations too. I came to really love his Sauria series. I'm curious if he'd ever make more of those.

Vivinos

youtuber: Vivinos
genre: animation

Found them in their lesbian horror animatic days. Am happy that they found popularity with Alien Stage! Their art style is so cute!

David Romero

youtuber: David Romero
genre: animation

Such monster design!

MUSIC

Be Calm

artist: Fun
genre: indie pop
year: 2009

The lyrics are absolute gold. The energy is everything.

World's Smallest Violin

artist: AJR
genre: indie pop
year: 2021

It's so upbeat and fun!!

"Kick Back"

artist: Kenshi Yonezu
genre: rock
year: 2022

I'm cooking the most stellar animatic in my head to this.

Acid Black Cherry

artist: yasu
genre: pop rock
year: 2007

The jazzy rock feel is fanatstic.

???

Naruto

artist: Masashi Kishimoto
genre: shounen
manga year: 1999

Sakura deserved better club

D.Gray-man

artist: Katsura Hoshino
genre: shounen
manga year: 2004

My gateway manga. I still listen to Doubt & Trust, I went absolutely wild the first time I saw the opening. I'm not going to lie, I think I checked out in the Alma Karma arc. I'm very lost now

Nanatsu no Taizai

artist: Nakaba Suzuki
genre: fantasy
manga year: 2012

The Umbrella Academy

genre: superhero
year: 2019