Music Be the Food of Geeks

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Anime music is by far one of the most influential genres of our time. For some, it could be motivating, others it could be inspiring, and maybe for others it could be seen as soothing.

As for me, it’s a combination of those three. However, there are some anime soundtracks that I always find myself returning to for nostalgia, good music, and overall, a fantastic anime. Here’s my top three anime soundtracks.

3. “Howl’s Moving Castle”

Hayao Miyazaki is possibly one of the most influential persons ever to exist. His ideas are wonderful, his art style is whimsical, and even the music for his pieces is amazing. I solely chose “Howl’s Moving Castle” because it’s the first musical score I recall when I hear ‘Hayao Miyazaki’.

“Howl’s Moving Castle” follows Sophie on a journey of magic and her fateful meeting with Howl, the owner of a moving, enchanted castle. This movie has gone on to be considered as a Miyazaki classic next to “Spirited Away” and “My Neighbor Totoro”. The iconic art style creates a beautiful tapestry while melding wonderfully with music crafted by Joe Hisashi. It’s a soundtrack that makes you feel like you’re floating. It’s an overall upbeat soundtrack with some mellow tones which exposes the mood of the movie.

Favorite song: Sky Stroll  - this song just oozes with whimsy that is spread throughout “Howl’s Moving Castle” and features some beautiful violins. It’s an uplifting piece that starts off slow and builds up to something truly upbeat and lovely.

2. “.hack//SIGN”

“.hack//SIGN” was an anime from my teen years, when Toonami was fresh. “.hack//SIGN” took place in an MMORPG called The World and focused on Tsukasa, a boy who can’t log out.  The music in this series is classical and pop themed which fits perfectly, given the location of the anime. The tunes surface old memories of late nights watching this series, relating to the characters who were finding themselves, and trying to understand life through my adolescent eyes.

Favorite song: Fake Wings – ah, the song of my teen years. I would play this nonstop until my speakers were worn out. It has a great harmony accompanied with a beautiful piano and tugs at the heartstrings.

1.”Revolutionary Girl Utena”

Where do I even begin with this soundtrack? With this show? The series revolves around Utena Tenjou, a tomboy at Ohtori Academy who finds herself through endless duels while winning the hand of the Rose Bride, Anthy Himemiya. The anime itself is a brilliant showcase of growing up, philosophy, life lessons, and comedy. The music is no exception.

Crafted by the Be-Papas, the music covers a ton of genres. It has a little something for everyone and it does not disappoint. Even the lyrics are strange, but enticing, riddled with deep layers that tie into the scene that they’re played during. The lyrics give way to hours of translating what it all means while jamming out to some amazing tunes.

Favorite song: Watashi Banbatsu Hyaku Fushigi – this song is raw. This song is every heartbreak you’ve ever endured, every harsh realization about yourself, every struggle you have with yourself, and every single roughness that you have ever encountered in your life. It’s powerful and mind numbingly emotional.

Overall, these soundtracks have shaped my musical tastes and inspired me to write or draw. I hope they give you some inspiration as well and open your minds.

Thank you for reading tonight’s entry. If you liked it, feel free to share, subscribe, comment, and critique.

So tell me, what’s your favorite song from an anime?

SDCC 2015: Dawn of the First Day

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Today is the beginning of the most wonderful time of the year. No, no, not Christmas, not Halloween, not even Thanksgiving. Instead, it’s the San Diego Comic Con held in southern California. The San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) is the mecca of all things geeky, nerdy, and pop culture. It’s a melting pot, culminating with many fandoms, cosplays, and enough merchandise to make Santa cringe.

Here’s why everyone wants to be at this sacramental event of all things geeky.

1.The Celebrities

Benedict Cumberbatch, Elijah Wood, Markiplier, Bill Murray, and so many other wonderful performers will be at this year’s SDCC. They will be there for panels, Q&A sessions, autograph and photograph opportunities, and to promote future, wondrous content.

2.The Sneak Peeks

Speaking of which, we have received a new “Doctor Who” trailer in which the Doctor rocks out on a fender guitar, Missy and Clara return, there are new locations underwater and in some strange world, the Zygrons and Daleks are back, and there’s a young woman who asks the Doctor (or ‘old man’ as she calls him) what took him so long; could this possibly be the Doctor’s daughter? She looks much different, but she does have the time lord gene. Regardless, this only just a snippet of what SDCC will show us.

So far we’ve only seen a picture of the upcoming “Sherlock” special, but there will be panels regarding other shows such as “Supergirl”, ”Orphan Black”, “Ash vs Evil Dead”, and so many others.   

3. The Vendors

The Oatmeal, Karen Hallion, recognize these names? These are some iconic Internet artists who have spoken the truth to us through fanart and original work. They will be at SDCC in their respective booths alongside Thinkgeek, Cyanide & Happiness, and other wonderful exhibitors. The only downside to this is making sure you don’t drain your bank account and your wallet.


4. The Cosplays

Cosplaying is an art form that anyone can participate in. There have been tons of outfits that have inspired fans, motivated people to enter the world of cosplay, and artistic versions of beloved characters. In the past, we have seen beautiful almost immaculate cosplays. Here’s hoping we see many more for this year’s SDCC.



5. Exclusive Merchandise

Every year, SDCC unleashes unique merchandise that can only be found at the con or online at a higher price (depending where you go).  So far there’s the limited edition Snoopy flying ace figure, World of Warcraft plushies and figures, Saturday Night Live’s Tina Fey and Amy Poehler as action figures, and much more.

Thanks for reading tonight’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to share, comment, critique, and subscribe.

So tell me, what would you do at San Diego Comic Con?