Student protests are erupting globally. In India, the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR), normally a routine process, has struck off 130 million names from the draft voter list. Students are demanding better educational facilities, timely and fair examinations, and the right to vote, which the SIR process has systematically…
Category: Opinion
Opinion
We Need More Female Villains, Context: Kung Fu Panda
Villains are made, not born. The first three villains in the Kung-fu Panda series are all male. They have well-defined arcs that trace their troubled childhoods, abuse, or harm, which add to the story of how they become villains. Tai Lung was filled with pride and a sense of entitlement…
Opinion
Evolution of beauty standards in global animation and characters that don’t fit
From a very popular anime series, I remember an unpopular quote about beauty. “Maybe it has a different kind of value just because it’s pretty.” – Episode – Money Style Jutsu, Naruto. For whatever role physical beauty plays in attraction, sexuality, and society, it is interesting to note that such…
Opinion
The full spectrum of being a dad in animation films
Fathers hold an essential position in the family hierarchy and are seated at the top in a patriarchal setting. Animation movies often reflect this setup, even in anthropomorphized stories, making father figures unquestionable. Animated dads are often depicted as decision-makers not just for their own lives but also for the…
Opinion
Can Studio Ghibli Be Creepy?
Hayao Miyazaki is hailed as a feminist icon. His films are complex and center on adolescent girls living independent, joyous, responsible lives. Women relate to the dry and layered characters while soaking in the magic of a master animator. However, there are some instances in a few of his films…