issue 30// vol 46 Beauty and — wonder await you >» Studio Ghibli films are now available on Netflix Canada Sonam Kaloti Arts Editor et ready for Netflix mayhem, Canadians! Studio Ghibli and Netflix have partnered up to bring 21 Ghibli films to Netflix Canada (finally)! Netflix Canada tweeted, “We're proud to bring beloved, influential stories like Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro to first-time viewers and high-flying fans alike.” The Other Press spoke with two Douglas College Music Technology program students Ashlee Oen and Jenny Lim about their thoughts on the recent news. Lim has watched almost all of the Ghibli films while Oen has not watched any yet but has watched some trailers and is “looking forward to binging them all!” Studio Ghibli films bring great joy to those who watch them, however, besides some showings at Cineplex theatres during the 2019 Studio Ghibli festival, they’ve all been disappointingly inaccessible. “Although I am able to find these films somewhere on the internet, the quality of the video is usually disappointing,” said Lim. “Tt’s important for these movies to reach a greater audience so that people can have a better knowledge of the Japanese culture the films are based upon,” said Oen. On the topic of why the films are so popular, she states: “I think the unique characters and stories featured in the films are what gives Studio Ghibli such a great rep in the animated film industry.’ In discussing the film’s success, Lim adds this: “I believe it’s because of Ghibli’s certain ingenuity and magic that modern animations fail to surpass them. This brings interest to many people around the Season two premiere of ‘NOS4A2’ world, despite the films being Japanese films.” Lim’s favourite movie is Howl's Moving Castle; “The colour scheme is so beautiful in this movie just like any other Studio Ghibli film, and the soundtracks make me tear up.” “Growing up watching Studio Ghibli movies has taught me many things. My Neighbour Totoro taught me about family and friendships, Spirited Away taught me how to accept reality, and my favourite film Howl's Moving Castle portrays human emotions and explores the theme of war.’ The films portray a gorgeous romanization of the little things in life, whether it may be cleaning, studying, cooking, or simply gazing out of a window, Ghibli movies remind the viewer to take some time to appreciate the charm of the world. Hayao Miyazaki—co- founder of Studio Ghibli—is regarded by fans to have done this on purpose as a subtle means of promoting mental wellbeing. “Life is suffering. It is hard. The world is cursed. But still, you find reasons to keep living” is a quote from the film Princess Mononoke. C Studio Ghibli films have been available for streaming on Netflix as on June 25. The Wind Rises will be available August 1. arts // no. 9 My Neighbour Totoro taught me about family and friendships and Spirited Away taught me how to accept reality. Illustration by Athena Little isa haunting story about family and the past » This horror series continues with a strong lead performance and compelling themes Jonathan Pabico Contributor kek KK oe Hill’s novel NOS4A2 was wondrously adapted into one of the most refreshing and original vampire tales to debut on a TV screen. The premiere of this show’s second season has an impressive lead backed by significant social motifs. The story takes place eight years after season one’s harrowing conflict between punk artist Vic McQueen (Ashleigh Cummings) and nefarious vampire Charlie Manx (Zachary Quinto). McQueen has since settled down with a family of her own and remains vigilant for the return of her immortal foe. The premiere humanizes McQueen incredibly by exploring the depths of her pain and trauma from season one. Through McQueen's struggles to be open about her suffering with boyfriend Lou (Jonathan Langdon), Cummings unravels how such damaging experiences can easily affect someone’s life. She perfectly reprises this troubled youth as a complicated person trying to let go of personal hurt. Cummings also beautifully portrays her role as a mother who feels uncertain about the world. This approach relays the fears that shape the bond between parents and children. Her performance further instills McQueen as someone with great compassion. This creates an emotional texture to foreground, showing how pivotal it is to trust and stay connected with your loved ones. An important theme in this episode is how difficult it is to confront the past. Idle close-ups edited with obstructed camera angles of Cummings’ lingering facial expressions convey how trapped and tortured McQueen is by her painful memories. The dreadful colour palette in each scene is blended with a disquieting soundtrack. The watcher can understand McQueen’s inner turmoil with moving forward in her life. The sets and lighting are layered with smooth editing between scenes to achieve an ominous aesthetic. They gradually build suspense to foreshadow the dangers that McQueen will soon encounter in the show’s overarching narrative. The premiere’s most disappointing aspect is that Manx plays a small role so far in the story. He is mostly discussed during dialogue scenes since the script is focused more on setting up his arrival for future episodes. Secondary characters are treated as brief subplots to just provide viewers with something new to watch until the plot returns to McQueen. They develop creepy tension, but these roles could have had more scenes in obtaining better character dynamics—or they should have instead been introduced in later episodes. Overall, the season two premiere of NOS4Az elevates the eerie atmosphere of its predecessor. It is surprising that Charlie Manx has little presence, given that he is the show’s main villain. Still, the plot compensates for this shortcoming with resonating themes from Ashleigh Cummings’ lead performance as Vic McQueen. The story boldly prepares you for what will most likely be another series of supernatural horrors and riveting characters.