I Dont Know If Anyone Will Read This But I Really Need To Get It Off My Chest Because Arcane Has Been

I don’t know if anyone will read this but I really need to get it off my chest because arcane has been making me really emotional for about the past week and a half, especially with Vi’s story and arc. I feel more seen by an animated character than I have by another person in my life (this seems to be a recurring theme with me). I’ve been trying to work through a lot of my past this last year and this show hit on a lot of it and made me emotional in a cathartic way. I’ve been Vi. I’ve made mistakes and in trying to fix them and help my younger siblings I’ve sometimes made it worse. Vi tries to reach out to Powder in episode nine and accidentally triggers her. I’ve done that. I’ve hurt my sister more when trying to help. When Jinx says that Silco didn’t make Jinx but that it was Vi I understood that because I’d been told something to that extent by my younger sister. I’ve heard the words “You try so hard to fix things but all you do sometimes is make them worse” and those words have hurt me for a long time and I’ve never seen an older sister go through a struggle so eerily similar as Vi does with Jinx. I had to watch my sister spiral while I tried my best to reach out and I failed because I didn’t fully understand that the way I was trying to reach out wasn’t what was best for her and what she needed. I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that while I tried my hardest to protect my youngest sibling I wasn’t able to succeed on many occasions. I have had my emotions in the spur of the moment of pain and loss cause me to lash out at my younger siblings and come to regret it immediately. I’ve been the older sibling that is responsible for their younger siblings in the absence of a parental figure that does what they are supposed to do (my parents weren’t dead but there was a point where they just stopped being parents). I’ve had the thoughts of being there for my siblings be the thing that kept me moving forward some days when things got really hard. 

Being the oldest sibling is a hard thing to be. I know I felt responsible for them and wanted to protect them at every turn. I wanted to make things better for them in any way I could. The sad reality is that you can’t always succeed but I always tried to get back up and keep going. And seeing that exact same thing from Vi and those exact same feelings portrayed so accurately brought a catharsis. I always felt isolated in a way because of these struggles and tried to make sure no one could see that these struggles were effecting me. And seeing those struggles onscreen made me realize I wasn’t so alone in it and that my feelings of hurt were okay. Seeing Vi continually get back up after everything made me emotional because I knew how hard that was. It can feel impossible sometimes. Vi’s ability to get back up and keep trying for a better life for those around her just made me so emotional and made me hopeful too. I wasn’t expecting to be hit so hard by the writing for Vi’s character but it’s effected me for long after I finished the show. 

One day I want to be able to be a part of making stories that can help make other people feel seen and less alone in their struggles like animation so often does for me. 

The monster you created is the perfect title for the finale. The whole episode and series is about how the world creates it’s own demons. Ignoring the problems can create monsters (Silco and his hold on Zaun) just like how violence and anger can create monsters (Powder’s descent into Jinx). And how all of it is interconnected. The violence in Zaun wouldn’t run as rampant if the topsiders would offer any sort of actual help. And there wouldn’t be so many people like Silco who want revolution and change through violence if the topsiders had treated the Zaunites well and not like ants to be trampled over and ignored. But Silco also hurts his own people to maintain his power just like many others from Zaun. And so on and so forth. It’s all layered and absolutely brilliant.

She-ra Season 1 Re-watch Thoughts

Going back and watching season 1 after watching season 5 is actually really strange. The show has changed so much. Not just the themes and the stakes, but even the animation. Watching it all at once makes it very clear the jump in animation quality season to season. That’s not to say season 1 had bad animation, far from it, but the use of color, lighting, and framing is much better utilized in later seasons and the action scenes get better as time moves forward. I will say I was always a fan of the art style. I never really understood why shows get attacked for their art style before the show even airs. I think every art style can bring something new to the table and how they use that art style to their advantage is what matters and I think she-ra capitalizes on it.

The character designs are my favorite. You can tell a lot about each character by their design alone which is an impressive feat to pull off. Like for Catra she has heterochromia which is used to outwardly display her dual nature and warring inner conflict between her love and hatred of Adora and in the 5th season it’s used to portray her struggle between self betterment and sliding into old habits and self destruction. The blue eye is the one covered by the corruption in season 3 symbolizing Catra’s decision to open the portal making Adora realize that she can’t save her anymore and so on.

The use of music gets much better within the season around episode 11. This is where the most emotional scores come into play that become recurring leitmotifs for the characters and relationships. The most notable being the one that plays in “Promise” when Catra is cutting the webbing and leaves Adora to fall. This score becomes the leitmotif for their relationship and continuously pops up when they are having a breakthrough or major shift in their relationship like in the aforementioned scene, when Catra tells Adora she would rather see the whole world destroyed than let Adora win, during Catra’s apology in Corridors, during the confession in the finale, and many more. The music is breathtaking. I really hope they release the full score at some point.

I also just realized that, other than the 5th season finale, this season has easily the happiest finale. All the other ones get increasingly dark. The second season ends with Shadow weaver standing over Adora’s bed and Catra getting caught in a lie and choked by hordak, the third ends with the portal being closed but Angella sacrificing herself and Adora having given up trying to save Catra, and the fourth season ends with Glimmer and Catra captured, She-ra seemingly destroyed, and imminent invasion by Horde Prime’s overwhelming forces. While I enjoy the finale of this season I think it’s weaker than the episodes leading up to it. Princess Prom, Promise, No Princess Left Behind, and In the shadows of mystacor are stronger episodes as a whole in my opinion.  

I'm split on the finale of this season on the one hand I did really like the whole “the night is darkest just before the dawn '' feel the finale had to it but on the other I think it was wrapped up a bit quickly. To go off the first point the reason I liked it has more to do with how it works within the context of the whole story. The rebellion has lost almost all of its members, the world is a mess, and the horde is marching on a mostly defenseless Brightmoon. Catra has clawed her way to the top, torn down shadow weaver, and managed to be a driving force in the princess alliance falling apart. The villains are for the first time a very believable threat to the rebellion. The battle seemed hopeless and the fight between Catra and Adora that brought them face to face for the first time since promise was everything I could have asked for. So I was a little put off by the sudden reversal of situations. I still find it to be jarring but I also like how the reversal makes it so that when seasons 3, 4, and 5 come around and we see the actual lowest points of these characters and their situations it feels like a natural progression, that the characters were lucky this time.

The finale also emphasizes the idea that there is strength in bonds which I think is a big part of the end message of the show. The series finale isn’t a big battle, at least not on Adora’s front, but Catra cradling Adora in her arms asking her to stay which gives Adora the strength to pull through. If the rebellion hadn’t won this battle I don’t think the coming struggles and hardships would have hit as hard as they did. I actually think the finale did a good job with what it was trying to do and set up. It gives off the “A New Hope” vibe so that when season 4 rolls around and hits us with a “The Empire Strikes Back” it hits really hard. (I still think the tonal shift is jarring and the themes explored in this episode are done much better in Remember and the portal though)

This season suffers from what a lot of shows first seasons do. It was a solid season with some great episodes, but I don’t think it’s the best example of what the show will become outside of 3 or 4 of the episodes which are all in the latter half of the season. Promise is probably the best example of what the show will become inside of the first season. The show tackles themes of abuse in such depth that the string of 4 episodes after the premiere are very misleading in how lighthearted they are. And even the season finale episode doesn’t do the best job at conveying what the show will become with later seasons because of how neatly the conflict is resolved. It seems like a much simpler tale than the serialized story about the struggles to overcome trauma and programming that it is. I will say that it does strongly establish that the relationship between Catra and Adora is the heart and driving force of the series. This is the strongest point of the season and where it most clearly shows what the series is about.

Top 5 Animated Shows of 2021

Okay so ground rules first: The show must have started airing for the first time in 2021. I don’t want people being confused as to why amphibia or owl house or any other amazing show that aired episodes this year isn’t on the list. That’s a different ranking for a different time. Also this is my list. If you have a different opinion then that’s great. Everyone having their own views and experiences is part of what’s great about media. Everyone connects to different media and different characters and that’s what I love about it :)

I’m gonna start with my favorites and work my way down because the top 2 shouldn’t surprise anyone who kept up with animation this year. The order may shock some people though. I know it shocked me because I thought my #2 had #1 in the bag until this show premiered.

Number 1: Arcane

This show came out of nowhere for me. I really regret not taking it seriously after it was announced because I connected so much with this show and its characters that I get emotional thinking about it. I really thought Invincible had the number 1 spot for this year until this show came out. Both shows are phenomenal but the things that pushed this show over (other than the fact that I relate way too much to Vi) is the fact that Invincible’s weakest episode (episode 6) was weaker than Arcane’s weakest episode (which I don’t even know if I can name which episode is even the weakest of arcane because they are all really airtight) and the fact that I’ve rewatched the entire season of arcane many times while I mostly only rewatch 3 episodes of invincible, not the whole season. I also don’t know if another piece of media has hit me this hard in years. Seeing struggles that I have had to face portrayed so raw and honest has given me a connection that I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to shake to this show. This is why I love animation and storytelling. It has always made me feel seen and less alone and Arcane was the piece of media that did that for me during a huge transition in my life. For me everything about this show is a masterpiece. The animation, the writing, the characters, the voice acting, the relationships, the tragedy of it all. Everything was perfect. 

I’ve posted quite a lot of long meta about arcane so this may not surprise anyone. Arcane legitimately blew me out of the water and it is far and away my most rewatched series of this year. I’m torn between wanting season 2 immediately and being grateful that the studio is taking its time to make sure the next season is just as polished as this first one was. This made me fall even more in love with the animation medium. (for my more complete thoughts on the series use this link)

The animation in this show is absolutely gorgeous. It looks like a painting come to life and I couldn’t look away. The textures, the lighting, the effects they used to emphasize impacts during fights be it their flashes of white blinding effects or dust being misplaced or the spit and blood that would leave the characters mouth all made each fight scene better and more mesmerizing. The animation alone makes this show worth watching from start to finish. I can’t believe how far so many studios that I never would have expected have pushed animation in the past 5 years alone. They really push what 3D animation can do. It’s astounding and proves what a groundbreaking series this is.

Episode 3 alone is one of the best episodes of television I’ve watched ever. Arcane is a masterclass in writing in general but it especially knows how to build the ending into the beginning. Everything in episode 3 comes around and sets up the finale of episode 9. Silco’s fate, Jinx’s final decision, Vi’s helplessness while watching the loss of her loved one(s), the hopefulness in piltover juxtaposed with the hopelessness in Zaun, etc are all set up and/or in a way mirrored in the finale. It’s incredible and reminds me why I love animation and storytelling. If you haven’t watched this already, what are you waiting for? Start right now! I guarantee you won’t regret it.

Number 2: Invincible

I know I already gave away that this was number two but like I said the top two shouldn’t surprise anyone. Invincible was my most anticipated animated show of 2021. I had already read all the comics and was a massive fan and I was so excited for other people to be introduced to this incredible series by Robert Kirkman. And this adaptation does not disappoint. It even managed to improve on the father and son fight from the comics significantly. I wasn’t a fan of the Amber and Mark romance though. I kinda wish they had skipped the Amber romance and gone straight for the Mark and Eve romance with how they played it out. (I think they were both wrong in certain ways. And I just wasn’t a fan of their scenes together. I don’t hate Amber like a lot of people do. I just don’t think she had as much chemistry with Mark as the writers intended and they made their relationship dysfunctional to a ridiculous degree to where I think they were both better off staying broken up.) Everything about the family struggles of Mark’s family was amazing though. Every interaction between the members of Mark’s family was amazing no matter who was paired with who. The family drama was the highlight of the series. 

Invincible also does an excellent job of subverting classic hero tropes just like the original comic. As a comic fan knowing what is to come for this series I’ll just say it gets even better from here and I can’t wait for the 2nd and 3rd seasons. I’m so happy that so many people got to be introduced to the series and enjoy it just like I did even if it is in a different medium.

I think my criticisms may give people the idea that the show is worse than it is, which isn’t my intention. This show is amazing and I absolutely love it. I was just wanting to explain why arcane beat it out for the top spot for me. This was a really close call and I think it could be argued that Invincible’s best episode is better than Arcane’s best which should tell you the quality of the show. When this show wants to give you an emotional gut punch it doesn’t hold back and goes for the KO. It’s also an adult animated show that goes all out with the gore but never feels gratuitous. Too often I think adult animation takes its rating as the go ahead to put cursing, sex, and gore everywhere just because it can but arcane and invincible know how to use these adult aspects and themes correctly. The train scene, which had everyone gasping and going crazy on social media, was gory and extreme but it served an important purpose in the episode. You take it out and I think the episode loses something. For another example episode one doesn’t really have any gore at all until the mid credits scene. This decision was perfect to shock viewers with the reality of who Omni-man is and the seriousness that the show will embrace which directly juxtaposes what people usually think of a superhero origin story. Honestly I’d say that adult animation should take notes from these two about when and where the mature rating should be used to enhance the experience. 

2021 was amazing for adult animation and I think did a lot for changing the perception of what an adult animated show could be. Invincible and Arcane were both integral to this shift and I am very grateful for it and I love them both.

Number 3: Maya and the Three

I was a little late to the party for this show but I’m glad I got around to it. I had a complete blast. Jorge Gutierrez is a creator I have nothing but respect for and I really like his other works so I was looking forward to watching this show. He brings his unique storytelling style, art direction, and heart which is all I can ever ask for from a creator. You can feel his passion and love for the story and characters and it gives me an even greater appreciation for this show.

It’s another show that’s “for kids” (aka has a TV-Y7 rating) that deals with heavy subject matter such as infidelity, racism ellegories, death, mourning, etc and I feel like it handles a lot of it with the tact necessary for its target audience. I especially liked how it handled Maya’s non-biological mother and how they assert that she is her real mother and, while Maya was a product of infidelity, she couldn’t hold it against the baby that she saw and came to raise. It’s not how it always plays out in real life but it was touching how it was explained and handled. It does an excellent job of tackling grief and all the different ways in which it can manifest. The characters and their individual journeys were all great.

The top two entries are in a league of their own if I’m being honest but that doesn’t detract from this entry or the next two. This is a very good series that I think would be great for the whole family to watch together. It may hit you emotionally in the way Arcane and Invincible did for me. All the characters are strong and could easily carry their own show and I think that’s the most you can wish for from an ensemble cast. I respect the ambition and care that went into this show and hope that it reaches an even wider audience than it already has.

Number 4: Centaurworld

I already wrote about my overarching thoughts on Centaurworld here if you want to read it. This has got to be one of the most unique shows I’ve seen in years. This is a show I think shouldn’t work as well as it does. From the wildly clashing tones to the unique and over the top characters to the surprisingly dark, twisted, and yet sympathetic villain. This is a show that if given the broad strokes sounds like it shouldn’t work but somehow it all comes together to create an unforgettable and wholly enjoyable experience.

Centaurworld wasn’t a show I was expecting. I had seen the trailers but didn’t know what to think of it. It wasn’t until I saw Sarcastic Chorus’ review that I decided to give it a shot. And I wasn’t disappointed. It managed to cover unexpectedly heavy themes about depression, suicide, grief, and loss. It was a bit of a shock to the system because of the bright, colorful, toony, place that most of these themes were explored in. Wammawink and Horse are some of the most fun and complex characters I’ve seen in a while that aren’t angst fests (don’t get me wrong I love an angst fest. I just haven’t seen a character I loved that wasn’t an angst fest this year until them). The music is all good but I agree with sarcastic chorus. It's “all bops but no bangers”.

This show is very much an acquired taste. It’s so subjective on whether or not you’ll like it that it’s hard to know who to recommend it to but I’ll just say I think you should give it a shot if you’re reading this for some reason and haven’t seen it.

Number 5: Inside Job

This is another show this year that I think helped change the perception of adult animation. Inside Job is really fun and I wasn’t expecting to have such a blast with this show. It’s animation isn’t as inventive as Arcane’s or Maya and the Three’s but that doesn’t mean it’s anything to scoff at. It’s nice and fluid and the simplistic designs work well for the overly expressive faces and body language of the characters. In a weird way its animation reminds me of star trek lower decks and it’s also similar to lower decks in its ability to play with established tropes for its genre to create a unique, fairly episodic experience.

This show was my relaxation show for this year. I’d turn it on and turn my brain off and just let myself just have fun. Considering everything that happened for me this year I needed this but that’s not to say that it’s a dumb show. That is far from the case and it actually had me invested in the ideas and characters in a way I wasn’t expecting. I really want season 2 especially after that cliffhanger. I think this was the show I had the most pure fun with out of all the shows on this list and in a year like 2021 that is a complete win.

does anyone else just keep rewatching Arcane? like, I am actually obsessed. It is a legit masterpiece. the animation. the cinematography. the soundtrack. the characters. It's amazing

“Powder’s gone, Vi. All that’s left is Jinx.”