#enjoy you anastasia enjoyers

[ghostsessioned]

the priestess crushed beneath the new - laid rock.

#artfart #the locked tomb #tlt #the locked tomb trilogy #gideon the ninth #harrow the ninth #nona the ninth #alecto the ninth #anastasia the first #anastasia the ninth #htn spoilers #ntn spoilers #tentatively places her down #been working on her for a handful of days while my wife goes absolutely bonkers over her design in private #LMAO #anyway. my take on anastasia ! wanted to give her a face akin to harrow's but less scrunched #henneyways #enjoy you anastasia enjoyers #tlt anastasia

[cassmu1stul]

WILLIAM AFTON X GN READER BECAUSE MY FRIEND SAID SO

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

hii, so this was requested by a friend (yk who u are, and because yk i dont like william this isnt gonna be some romantic shit ^^)

anyway, fellow anastasia enjoyer, if youre reading this, ik what you requested and i promise its gonna be up as soon as possible

warnings: angst, mentions of a dead body, mentions of murder, toxic realtionship, abuse

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

at first he was sweet

he was so sweet and he always made you smile

you didnt think hed ever change, but you were wrong.

he told you you were the only one for him, yet he was still married to his wife.

he told you it was for the kids, but you knew better.

after his wifes death he started to change.

and after his youngest death he was unrecognisable.

and you hated them for that, for what THEY have done.

because in your mind, it was their fault he changed, not for a second thinking he was like this all along.

you urged for his approval, even in small things.

he never phisically abused you, and he never once spoke a bad word to you. (well, not directly)

he had a way of getting into your mind like nobody else and he could make you feel worthless.

one day you kissed him and it was the first time he gave you his approval, the one you have searched for all this time.

he put his hand on you shoulder and cupped you face with the palm of his other hand.

"you did good today" he told you.

then he never spoke of it again, going back to working on those cursed animatronics of his.

you didnt get why he loved those pices of shit more then you.

for gods same, YOU were the only one who could love him.

YOU were the only one who could REALLY love him.

but as you stood, gaspind for air with a knife in you back, you realised he never loved you.

the sound of music ringing thro you ears. it sounded so distant and so new, yet so old.

he was holding you in a imbrace of death, but you were happy.

he was hugging you close, looking in your eyes as the life in them would dissapear, drop by drop.

you grinned and he laughed.

thats the only moment you felt truly happy since you met him.

"did i do.... good today?" you asked, choking on your own blood halfway thro the sentence, yet you still smiled up at him.

"you did perfect" he said.

and you danced.

even tho you didnt know what music you were dancing to, goddamn it, it was your favorite.

you danced, and danced, knife still in your back, him holding it and rotating it slightly every now and then.

until every last drop of life left your eyes. thats when he dropped your lifless body onto the floor and left.

he stopped the music before he left, and god did you curse him for that.

you just wanted to hear it, one last time before all your senses left this earth.

but he didnt let you, and you despised him for that.

.

.

.

wiping the blood on his hands, he felt the smell of your perfume one last time before going to work on his animatronics.

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

hope you liked it ^^ (i know you, the friend who requested, didnt, but i sure did enjoy writing it, and its MY birthday so idc)

and i hope you got a feel of how i write.

thx sm for reading, ily, bye <3

#william afton #william afton x reader #fnaf fandom #gn reader #sensitive topics #toxic relationship #five nights at freddy's #fnaf lore

[peonyb]

Previous anon here! Sorry I took so long, I was kinda distracted. I've gone through one path out of several I want to check, but it gave me enough info to form some thoughts...

So I went w/ Welling first— they're so?? cute??? I've loved them since the first time I played and it hasn't changed at all. They have this steady feel to them that's so genuine in their desire to help MC, it must be like landing on solid ground after being up in the air not knowing what's going to happen next (poor MC by the way). I also must absolutely mention the hand-holding bits because they made me feel giddy... and how gentle and protective they are with MC in comparison to other people (sorry not sorry Anastasia!).

Other thoughts I had— I really wish Fendon would be kicked in the head by a horse, Priestess Velrose seems quite cool (if MC has Light Affinity will they be able to ask her for advice? 👀) and I'm DREADING the outcome of them going back home. Their parents were literally hoisted by their own petard for what they did, MC can't do anything to stop it and now they'll possibly be left alone if both of their parents are arrested or, if they managed to sense trouble from that family chat with MC, run away to become fugitives. Either way... Knowing the whole truth won't be that easy.

I do, however, have some theories! I will send them in another ask, to not make this one so long. In short, I loved the update and I'm looking forward to reading the next part when it's ready!

— L 💜

Welling feels a strong connection with the MC from the very beginning. The strength of it catching even them off guard. And no matter how their relationship with the MC progresses, they’ll remain genuine in their want to help and support! The hand holding was definitely a highlight for them though lol and they tried hard to temper their own giddiness.

Nooo, not kicked in the head hahaha. Fendon is pretty awful though I won’t lie.

A light Affinity MC could ask Velrose for help, but I’m afraid she’d only be able to share general knowledge (how best to focus or interpret visions). This is mostly because clergy members are lent their divine magic while light Affinities yield it. So her way of channeling divine magic would be very different than the MC’s!

The MC definitely has it tough right now, but it won’t all be bad!

I’m glad you liked the update! And I enjoyed reading your thoughts. I mostly test the game myself (and only on occasion lovingly force a friend or family member to read it lol) so it’s always good to have other thoughts and opinions to let me know what’s enjoyable, intriguing, or even confusing! Thank you for taking the time to tell me!

#TheMarked-if #welling #update

[cocogrrrl]

2b - i don't know how to ride a horse...

(part of "my princess (choose your own adventure)") no cws wc: 675

You wanted to. You really, really wanted to, but there was just one problem. “I’d love to, but I don’t know how to ride a horse…” You laughed, massaging the back of your neck to relieve some needless embarrassment.

“You ride on the back of my horse if you want. I’m sure she doesn’t mind.” Kyle suggested, giving you a smile whilst rubbing the back of your hand to ease your visible nervousness. 

“Really?” You beamed, taking his one hand with both of yours.

“Definitely.” He said, piling his free hand into your hands that already engulfed his other one. “You wanna go?”

Moments later, you found yourself behind Kyle, propped up on his black shire named Anatasia. You felt her trot beneath you two, heading off into a field that lay near the castle. Somehow, that field was completely empty. No houses, no crops, no windmills, nothing.

A cold breeze hit your skin, making you wince. Earlier, you hadn’t been dressing so modestly because of the hot rays of the sun, but now, as the sun was about to set and the moon was about to rise, it felt so cold you felt a shiver crawl up behind you. Kyle must have probably noticed it because, next thing you know, he takes off his coat and drapes it over you. 

For most of the ride so far, you two have been enjoying the quiet, only really listening to the soft winds that sway the blades of grass, Anastasia’s occasionally heavy footsteps, and the evening cicadas that come to chirp in the night. You barely shared any conversation. Maybe your mind was too exhausted to make any anyway.

“So,” Kyle spoke out of the blue. “You don’t really partake in any sports, huh?”

“Oh, no,” you laughed at the thought of you playing a sport. It’s not that you were against it. It’s just that, “If I were to play a sport, I might be socially executed right now. A princess who studies, does art, and plays sports? How scandalous!

“I do play with my brother sometimes, but I’ve never really competed.” You sighed, leaning onto his back.

“Have you ever been interested in playing any sports?” He asked, slightly turning his head to look at you.

“Not necessarily because I find enjoyment in it, more like because I want to spite others who want to hold me back from doing traditionally manly things.” You heard him laugh, feeling his back shake as he did so. “I think that’s been the sole motivator of mine all my life.”

“Be it your sole motivator or not, it’s for sure shaped you into this great person you are.” He hummed. “I adore your intellect and passion. I think I aspire to have the sheer ardor you hold.”

“Th-thank you…” You muttered, feeling your cheeks heat up. The idea of being looked up to, especially by Kyle, made you feel warm inside. How you wanted to be respected as a person, to be someone who inspires. Who knew your soon-to-be husband you met just a few hours ago would fill that want?

You wanted to switch conversations though. Eat too much cake, you might just throw up, right? “I heard you’re pretty athletic, though. What do you play?”

“Oh, well, I’ve dabbled in quite a few. Horseracing, football, chess, a little bit of cricket, a little bit of bandy.” 

“I don’t think that’s a few,” you joked. He laughed in reply. “How do you play bandy, though? Don’t you need, I don’t know, ice to do that? Larnion doesn’t really seem to have a cold climate.”

“That’s why I said just a little bit. When I was competing in chess in the north, a friend of mine showed me how to play.”

“You should teach me sometime soon. I’d love to learn how to play, well, any of those.” You said, placing your chin on his shoulder. You could’ve sworn that by the corner of your eye, you saw him blush.

“It’d be the greatest pleasure to, princess.”

#cocogrrrl's writing #my princess by cocogrrrl (all routes)

[palettepainter]

Could you give us some Gerald x Tina headcanons? I’m lowkey getting obsessed over them

So I didn’t have that many ideas for these two at first so here are some I cooked up, sorry it’s a bit short!

-Tina was the one to ask Gerald out. Gerald is a sweet guy and can is a lot more intelligent then his quite character suggests, but he was pretty oblivious to Tina’s affections 

-Gerald strikes me as the type of person to have a really good memory. Ask him to recite the Fitness Gram Pacer Test and he will word for word

-I like to think as young adults they where super lovey dovey, high school sweethearts, they where that couple that gave each other cutesy nicknames and spent golden, summer afternoons laying down in the grass having a picnic under the generous shade of a tree. Tina may present herself as one who is all about planning, organisation and profit, but her and Gerald got hitched super young one without any plan

-So this is my hc cuz of Anne and I think it’d be interesting for Tina’s character:

Gerald is the one who owns the family dental practise, and initially he didn’t want to run it because he had no one to enjoy running it with. Then Tina comes along, someone he fell hard for and suddenly running the practise became enjoyable. Tiring, but enjoyable. Anastasia is a bit of a loose cannon, in the sense she does things on a whim and - despite being loved by most in town - is an utter kook. Tina latched onto any sense of normal she could find when she began a young adult, hence why she was and becomes so passionate about the dental practise. She brings it up from the dirt to one of the most famous dental practises in New Orleans! 

-Related to the one above Tina as a teenager was a lot more laidback, I think it’d be funny if years down the line, after the events of the show and Tina and Terri have become friends Teeth finds some old pictures of his ma back in the day (frizzy hair like Anne, colourful clothing, braces, a large bright grin, that kinda image) and he is totally shocked that his Mama used to be like that 

-Tina is a driven women but sometimes she can overwork herself and needs to be reminded to take breaks. That’s Gerald’s job. He’s one of the only people who can talk her out of working to take twenty minutes to gather herself, Tina greatly appreciates this as she knows she can be stubborn at times 

-Even though Gerald’s family technically owns the practise Tina is the driving force behind its success and Gerald is fine with that, he’s perfectly happy to take a back seat and let Tina take the wheel when it comes to marketing and other business related affairs 

-Tina is a secret lover of cheesecake but being a dentist she prides on not eating too many sweet things for the betterment of her dental hygiene, so she ends up binge eating it in quick successions if she’s had a particularly rough day 

-They’re literally the “Excuse me he asked for no pickles” meme 

#Muppets #the muppets #Tina #Tina Teeth #Gerald #Gerald Teeth #Muppets Mayhem

[lunarlagomorph]

Decided to rank the fgo arcs from most to least favorite

Atlantis - pretty much every character firing on all cylinders. Charlotte and Mandricardo are some od my favorite accompanying servants, and i did really enjoy the relatjonshio between artemis and orion. Ir also just established a really interesting setting lore wise, and added a lot to type-moon lore in general with the olypmians. Also caenis and goredolfs scene was one of my favorites ever.

India - most interesting settibg imo, and i love jinako and laskhimi and the skyboulder. This would be first place but i felt kind of disappointed how they both got over being in the skyboulder within like five seconds. Also pepe is best crypter.

Shinjuku - jalter x salter. Need i say more.

Olympus - this is pretty much like atlantis except it made me want to rip my hair out. Fuck you demeter fucj you demeter fuck you demeter. The gods are great though. And mushashi and caenis gave incredible chemistry.

Salem - great story up ubtil the end. It felt like it kind of flopped on the whole reveal vut i liked how different it felt from every previous (and future) singularity.

Russia - this gets a slightly unfair bonus bcuz im including the prologue with it. Anastasia and kadoc were a great pair of villains, and even if the allied servants were only okay, patxi was one of the best non-servant npcs. Ivan was dissapointingly boring though and even though kirei was present he didnt show up too much.

Shimousa - musashiii. One of my favorite fgo characters. This obe might be higher but i had gotten burnt out on fgo in the middle of it which kind of lessened my enjoyment

SIN - qin shi huang is a very interesting villain, and we got the first true ancestor on forever. Who was inlove with an ancient robot. Other than that there wasnt much going on though.

Camelot - first actually good arc. Love the hassans and its the first time that anything actually felt threatening. I also do like the additional pwrspective it adds onto fate route, in a way.

Babylonia - this ones story was pretty boring but all the characters were top notch. It was kind of just like a fun ttrpg campaign.

Heian-kyo - just kind of a disapointing end for douman. It also felt like auch a fake out because i was ready for a cool grail war and instead it just wasnt one. Best part was the onis.

America - cu alter

Scandinavia - it was juat so boring and uninteresting. Ophelia was the only thing i cared about. And sintonai i guess but she wasnt even in it. Its still betrer than the eaely singularities though

London - better than the bad singularities worse than everything else. Mordred is there at least.

Okeanos - i like orion.

Orleans - no duh its down here. It isnt even jeanne alters best arc despite being her intro.

I didnt read agartha and rome so i didnt put them on but theyd be down here anyways from what i can tell

[cmasociety]

Surviving and Thriving: CMAS’s Top 5 Tips for the School Year

Whether you’re a first year, fourth year, someone who has lost count, or someone who still walks aimlessly around BSB looking for their classroom. The school year is always a daunting one– especially with midterm season creeping up on us. Our goal at CMAS is to be there for everyone. That’s why for our very first blog post, we have created our Top 5 Tips for the School Year so that we can all survive and thrive! 

Get to know your authors:

Anastasia Arps (Social Media & Web Copywriter)

Hey friends! I am a fourth year Honours Communication Studies student, I enjoy cycling and writing horror stories!

Jacqueline Pham (Communications Officer)

Hi everyone, so happy you are here! I am a fourth year Communication Studies student here at Mac, some of my favourite hobbies include embroidery and baking!

The Basics 

Embarking on the student journey is an exciting yet demanding phase of life. To navigate its various challenges successfully, building a solid foundation for self-care is absolutely vital. Here are the 3 non-negotiable aspects that’ll help you power through even the toughest of times:

Proper nutrition - Maintaining a healthy diet doesn't have to be an intimidating task; it can be surprisingly simple! Incorporating essential nutrients into your routine, like kick starting your day with a nutritious smoothie jam-packed with greens and goodness, is a great way to get those vitamins in. However, when time is tight, supplements can be a lifesaver, especially during those dark winter months when we need that extra boost of vitamin D. 

Regular physical activity - Staying active doesn't mean spending hours at the gym. It's all about finding enjoyable ways to keep your body moving, even in the midst of a busy academic season. Take a stroll around campus to get your steps in or opt for biking along the scenic trails in Hamilton. Studies have consistently shown that even simple activities like walking can significantly contribute to overall health and well-being. 

Engaging in feel-good personal activities - Amidst the academic hustle, don't forget to indulge in activities that bring you joy! Whether it's playing your favourite video games, a bit of retail therapy, savouring a meal at your favourite restaurant, or experimenting with cooking. Integrating hobbies and entertainment into your routine is essential for a well-rounded and fulfilling lifestyle.

2. McMaster Resources

Struggling with student life? Need support academically? Mentally? In my four years at McMaster, the one thing I wish I utilized more was the amazing resources that McMaster has to offer. I know you probably see these resources posted all the time around Mac but I highly suggest you take advantage of the resources that will best support you! Some upcoming programs include: 

ACT on Anxiety 

DBT: Interpersonal Effectiveness 

Managing Your Worry and Anxiety 

Mend Your Mood

SWC offers FREE Fruit Fridays ! A great way to sneak in those extra vitamins. 

The Student Wellness Centre also offers additional programs and advice columns relating to personal finances, relationships, and cooking. Visit the McMaster Wellness Centre website to register for these programs. 

3. Keep Organized

Assignments, tests, quizzes, essays, oh my! When midterm season rolls around, if you find that you struggle with keeping mental tabs of what and when something is due, look towards organization tools to help out. There are lots of different ways to stay on track with due dates so don’t worry, we’re here to help. Here are a few organizational suggestions to never miss a due date ever again:

Notion -  An application that allows you to create your own personal webpage where you can input anything ranging from links to course readings or calendars with assignment due dates. Check out this YouTube video that links you to aesthetic templates and how to utilize Notion!

Phone Calendar - For the minimalistic approach, simply input when a specific assignment is due and set an alert for a set amount of time. This alert will go off, reminding you that this assignment is due soon and you should start working on it!

Daily/Weekly/Monthly To Do Lists - Having one or all three will keep you on your feet and ahead of those pesky due dates. Look at stationery stores that may have specific to-do list calendars in stock or print out a free version of one you like and decorate it yourself. 

Affirmation Board - A cute board or reminder that keeps you motivated will encourage productivity and promote being nice to yourself during stressful times. 

4. Connect with your Faculty

Introducing yourself and getting to know your professors, Teaching Assistants, and fellow classmates is a great way to develop a sense of community and open new doors. While it may seem nerve-wracking, developing a professional relationship with faculty and friends in your programs will help you in the long run– or at the very least, the entirety of the course. Additionally, when you head into a new class– whether it be next semester or next school year– and you’re able to recognize someone’s friendly face, it will always ease your nerves because you have an already established relationship with that individual. 

5. Attend CMAS Events 

Come out to our CMAS events! At CMAS, we love to encourage those in Communications, Media Arts, or Humanities to come out, socialise, and create bonds with your fellow Hum students (not to mention the awesome CMAS team that will be there to support you!). This is a great opportunity to meet new people, strengthen friendships, and develop connections. Keep an eye on our Instagram (@cmasmcmaster) for upcoming events! We have an event coming up in late October and we hope that we’ll see lots of you there as a way to decompress after midterms.

A huge thank you for reading through our very first blog post! We hope you stay tuned for more exciting and insightful content! Check us out on Instagram for future events / updates and TikTok for your late night scrolls.  

Until next time, Anastasia & Jacqueline

[princesssarisa]

A Christmas Carol Holiday Season: "A Christmas Carol: The Musical" (2004 TV special)

This Carol, starring Kelsey Grammer as Scrooge surrounded by a cast of TV and musical theatre stars, is based on a stage musical performed annually at Madison Square Garden from 1994 to 2003. With music by Broadway and Disney legend Alan Menken and with book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens (Ragtime, Once on This Island, Anastasia), this show was one of New York's special holiday events. I sometimes wish the stage version had simply been filmed, because my feelings about this TV version are mixed. But there's enough to enjoy in it that I still rewatch it most Christmas seasons.

This is another Carol that takes some liberties with the source. The Ghost of Christmas Past (Jane Krakowski) is a beautiful (and slightly oversexualized) young woman, the Ghost of Christmas Present (Jesse L. Martin) is a black man, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Be (Geraldine Chaplin) is an elderly female wraith in white tatters. Meanwhile, Scrooge's childhood is entirely rewritten to resemble that of Charles Dickens. His father was sent to debtor's prison, forcing him into child labor in a boot factory. In the present, new minor characters are added too: a poor widower named Mr. Smythe, who owes Scrooge money, and his little daughter Grace, who reappears throughout Scrooge's ghostly journey to stir his conscience. And in a Wizard of Oz-like touch, Scrooge meets three strangers in the street – a lamplighter, a theatre barker, and a beggar woman – whom the three ghosts later resemble.

The biggest weakness of this production is that it seems not to know if wants to be stagy or cinematic. Despite its realistic locations (Budapest substituting for London) and CGI special effects, it still tends to be blocked and choreographed like a stage production, not like a film. The casting of TV stars is questionable too. Kelsey Grammer's sing-talking Scrooge is a cartoonish old codger, though he improves as his arc unfolds and he shows heartfelt grief, repentance, and joy. Jason Alexander's mildly comic Marley's Ghost is also an acquired taste, although Jennifer Love Hewitt fares better as Scrooge's lost love Emily (as Belle is renamed).

Yet despite all reservations this is still an enjoyable Carol. The mostly British supporting cast is excellent: standouts include Edward Gower as Bob Cratchit, Brian Bedford as Fezziwig, Steven Miller as Young Scrooge, and West End stars such as Julian Ovenden, Linzi Hateley, Claire Moore, and Ruthie Henshall. And the songs by Menken and Ahrens – "A Jolly Good Time," "Nothing to Do With Me," "You Mean More to Me," "Link By Link," "The Lights of Long Ago," "A Place Called Home," "Mr. Fezziwig's Annual Christmas Ball," "Abundance and Charity," "Christmas Together," "Dancing On Your Grave," "Yesterday, Tomorrow, and Today," and "God Bless Us, Everyone" – are of the high quality expected from two such Broadway legends.

This is far from a definitive Carol, but I recommend it all the same.

@ariel-seagull-wings, @faintingheroine, @thealmightyemprex, @reds-revenge, @thatscarletflycatcher

#a christmas carol holiday season #a christmas carol: the musical #2004 #television #live action #musical #kelsey grammer

[like-sands-of-time]

List 5 things that make you happy, then put this in the askbox for the last 10 people who reblogged something from you. learn to know your mutuals and followers.(ू•‧̫•ू⑅)♡

5 things that make me happy. This is a very good question to answer because I've been struggling since 2020 with remembering the good things, the little things, the things I did or was exposed to every day that I slowly stopped doing or caring to notice because the world just felt more and more depressing. And here I am in 2023 struggling to get out of bed sometimes, and certainly struggling to find the meaning in all we do, why exactly it's even worth it to try and make the most of myself.

When I feel like that, I can familiarize myself with any of these things and while they don't cure it, they help. ❤️

1)baking for ppl and then sharing that food with them. It never feels as enjoyable to eat a batch of muffins or cookies or cake for myself when I could split it up and gift it to family or neighbors. I enjoy the actual act of giving someone a gift that will nourish them and make them happy. It makes me feel useful and just thrilled that someone liked something I made, and therefore by extension me.

2)my cats purring, my dog standing up and wrapping her arms around me, my horses tucking their head around my shoulders when I hug them. The affection they know they can safely give because they trust me. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

3)the smell of clean laundry drying on the line, or the air after/during rain. When it's a candle or a car scent tree I love the smell of the ocean. Nothing heavily scented, things that feel fresh and open, and free.

4)music I can sing along to... Cheerful songs. love songs. Songs about life. I put a few examples here.

-Dont Worry Be Happy : Bobby McFarin

-Put Your Records On : Corrinne Bailey Rae

-Green Green Grass : George Ezra

-Morning Breeze : Juke Ross

-My Girl : The Temptations

-Smile : Nat King Cole

-You're My Best Friend : Queen

-Under the Boardwalk : The Drifters

-Im A Believer : The Monkees

-Brown Eyed Girl : Van Morrison

5)stories with happy endings. I didn't watch a ton of movies growing up but I've always always preferred movies with positive resolutions. Particularly romantic comedies as I grew up but romance in general. Adventure. People figuring themselves out and still getting to be happy in the end. Life sucks enough as it is, I don't mind stepping away from that and watching 1+ character(s) struggle and ultimately succeed.

-Anastasia

-Aladdin

-Clueless

-Ella Enchanted

-Nanny Diaries

-She's the Man

-Spirit

-The Princess Bride

-The Princess Diaries

-The Sound of Music

etc etc etc.

[dynngt]

Dyna's Private Life

I spend my time painting while working part-time. I live in an apartment in the suburbs of Tokyo by myself. Born in 2000.

I like karaoke and have been going there since I was about 16 years old.

I often listen to pop music from the 80s and 90s on YouTube. I watch old TV live videos of my favorite singers on YouTube, and CHAGE&ASKA and Toshinobu Kubota are my favorite singers. I also like the saxophone music of Takeshi Ito.

　I don't play games. I don't seem to have the personality to get addicted to them.

　I like reading rather a lot. I often reads specialized books on art and history. I sometimes goes to an used bookstore or the library of the town where I lives. I like the distinctive smell of old books that are tanned and damp. It makes me feel the age.

　I often go to Disneyland. I have been going there since I was a baby because my mother liked Disney.

I often watch Disney movies and cartoons. I am a member of Disney Plus. I like Oliver & Company the best. Lately I've been hooked on Tailspin. Don Karnage is my favorite character. I also like other American animation movies, especially Balto. The characters are attractive and the background art is beautiful. The Japanese voice acting is terrific. Anastasia, produced by Don Bluth, is another wonderful animated film. The pictures are really beautiful and captivating in every scene. The music is also good.

　There is a park and a cliff with a nice view nearby, so I take a walk around there for a change. The town where I live is blessed with nature, and there is a cherry blossom viewing spot as well.

　I like taking film pictures, and I use a Nikomat EL, which was released in 1972.

I like its simple construction and analog operation, which is different from digital cameras. I like the colors of film. The price of film is soaring and it is precious, so I get serious when I shoot.

　Let's talk about my Twitter account here.

　A friend of mine said to me, "Why don't you try posting your artworks on the Internet?" That's when I started posting on Twitter. I had never used Twitter before and had never even posted a picture online.

　At first I thought I would get bored and quit after a few weeks. But as I continued, I started getting more and more responses and it became more and more fun. When commissions started coming in, I decided to get on that.

　It was around the spring of 2020 that I bought a laptop computer and started drawing digitally.

　I started to study English because of the rapid increase in the number of overseas followers. I had studied it properly when I was a student but couldn't use it. I have always been interested in languages and used to read Chinese and Korean grammar books at random. I would like to talk with my followers in English someday.

　I'm planning to work as an amateur painter. Whether I make a living from painting or work at a regular job, I want to continue to posting my paintings.

　Actually, I had made up my mind not to talk about myself until a while ago. I thought it would be cool to be an artist whose private life is unknown. But when I tried to express myself in writing, it was surprisingly enjoyable.

　I am happy if you enjoyed reading this as a fan.

[nocturnalswarehouse]

I was tagged by both @thequeenofthewinter and @blossom-adventures. Thank you both!

Relationship Status: Single

Favourite Colour(s): Pink, but specifically a pink that's a mix between Barbie pink and dusty rose. I can't totally describe it, but I have a travel mug that's the exact colour

Favourite Food: Uhhhhhhhhhh, good question. This constantly changes, I'm a big foodie. I will say my favourite cuisine is Korean.

Song Stuck in My Head: Nothing atm, but I've been on an Anastasia (the Broadway musical, not the Disney movie) hyperfixation lately.

Last Thing You Googled: Whether or not Carly Shay and Freddie Benson are end game or not. I'm watching the iCarly reboot and just got to the episode where they faked a relationship.

Time: 7:36pm

Dream Trip: PERU PERU PERU. I've been wanting to go since grade 4 and I have not been able to shut up about it. I LOVED learning about Inca mythology and I want to go learn more about it in its birthplace.

Last Thing You Read: A reading for class. Some experimental essay thing that was interesting, but confusing to follow.

Last Book You Enjoyed Reading: It's been MONTHS since I've read for enjoyment over school. And I don't remember the last book I read, but I LOVE They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera. It's the saddest book I've ever read, and such a beautiful story.

Favourite Thing to Cook/Bake: Literally any cookie. My friends are obsessed with my matcha chocolate chip cookies, I make chai chocolate chip cookies using my family's chai spice, and since the holidays are approaching, I'm getting ready to bake eggnog cookies!

Favourite Craft to do in Your Free Time: I don't have a specific craft that I do in my free time, as in my free time I normally focus on media I need to catch up on (yes, need XD if I'm to go into the film industry I have to keep up). But when I absolutely can't focus and need to do something, I'll find a garment of mine that needs mending (currently have a pant leg I need to mend, but I can't find my thread and it's driving me nuts).

Most Niche Dislike: Okay, so I work in a kitchen and absolutely hate it; I'm hoping to switch to Front of House soon (I know I am for sure, I just don't know when). You must continue cooking one of the dishes I make until the sauce is thoroughly soaked into the noodles. Most of my coworkers, when helping me on my station (we've been getting slammed on panfry lately, to the point where I'll get 10 dishes at once, and the menu launch stresses me out), will shut off the stove and plate when there's so much sauce it almost looks like a ramen. I absolutely HATE that.

OH! Also, when someone doesn't tuck in their chair at a table. I got that from a summer camp I went to for three years where we had to tuck our chairs in or the supers (supervisors) would get mad.

Opinion of Circuses: If it's Cirque Du Soleil? I absolutely LOVE it. If you don't know, Cirque Du Soleil is a cruelty-free circus where all the performers are trained gymnasts, dancers, and musicians. I love going to the shows, and I've seen most of the travelling shows. I've seen a few that are set in specific locations (Mexico, Disneyworld). The one I want to go to the most is "One," the Michael Jackson Cirque in Las Vegas.

Do You Have Any Sense of Direction: I like to call myself a "human navigator." If I've been there enough, I know exactly where to go. In a mall back home, I'm the GPS because I know where every store is. If I've never been there, you want me to have the map because I can quickly figure out maps to real life.

#ask game #get to know me #get to know the blogger

[theromancereaderalix]

My attempt at Jamie’s End of Year Book Survey

I found this while reading though blogs so here is my attempt, I made some changes and took some things out but it's still similar to the original. I'm trying to make this more of a get to know me and reading preferences so I hope y'all enjoy.

Genre you read the most from: Romance

Number of authors you discovered: 63

1.Top Books You Read In 2023?

I am a big cheater and changed this from a single book to a more general prompt. Most of the books I loved happened to be in a series and I could not pick my favorite, so below is the list of the top series I read this year. This year was when I discovered hockey romance so that quickly took over my life, the Playing for Keeps series by Becka Mack quickly rose to the top of my list Consider Me was the first book and I think I discovered it on TikTok after attempting to find more hockey books post Icebreaker. Next, I feel in love with all of Emily Rath books, starting with the Jacksonville Rays series. This entire universe is amazing and I always jump at her new books. Both series above have steamy spice, but Emily Rath sets a new standard. Part of the universe is poly, a trope I don't normally prefer, but Rachel and her three boys have such an amazing dynamic. I also read the Fifty Shades books and those were much better than I expected. The first one was sub-par but the rest of the series was very good. The Perfectly Imperfect series by Neva Altaj is also tied for the top of my list. It is a dark, arranged marriage, mafia series that is such a fun and enjoyable read. The books provide the best morally grey men that know how to protect their women. Other than those series', all of Lucy Score's books were amazing and worth the read, I was so fortunate and was able to go to one of her book signings this year!

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

I thought that I was going to love the Beneath the Mask series by Luna Mason based off of the TikTok and instagram bait, but it did not work for me. I read the entire series but most of the tropes that were pushed have been done better in other mafia romance series.

 3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book or series you read?  

The most surprising book series I read was the Fifty Shades series. The first book was terrible and very poorly written but after pushing though, the quality of the series improved and I quickly fell in love with the characters. The series still poorly depicts a healthy BDSM relationship but I believe that was the point, the series shows development of the relationship into one that is more functional and that alone makes it very intriguing to read. I wanted to see how the characters would change and grow into the best versions of themselves and it drove me to keep reading. Anastasia had such bite to her it made her so fun to read and drove the overall likability of the book up.

 4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

I pushed the The Perfectly Imperfect series on my roommates and got them to read the first few. They liked the books and planed on finishing the series but did not end up completing it since they are not readers. I was surprised that they even read the first few but they enjoyed it. We called it the sisterhood of the traveling smut because my physical copies of the book were circulating around the house. I made the best brain map of the entire series where I mapped tropes, connection, and plot to showed everyone who would listen.

5. Favorite new author you discovered in 2023?

I am the worst at picking one so I'm going to pick my top three, the same ones that happened to be in my response for the very first question. Becka Mack, Emily Wrath, and Neva Altaj are my favorites and I will cary them with me to the grave. They are amazing and have such a variety of tropes as well as amazing spice. They also have variety in book length and plot types.

 7. Book You Read In 2023 That You Would Be MOST Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

I would be the mostly likely to read Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. I have already re read this book multiple times, and I will more than likely read it again. I read it before the movie came out, and then a few times after the movie so I could compare them accurately. The chemistry is so authentic and palpable that it draws you in from the very beginning. I have recommend this to all of my friends and am waiting for them to read it so we can rant about the book together.

8. Most memorable character of 2023?

For the romance genre, Caleb from the Jacksonville Rays by Emily Rath and for Fantasy I love Hunt from Crescent City by Sarah J Mass. I am including both since the main point of this page is to talk about romance. Caleb was such a fun character with an immense about of growth. The way he grew and changed during the books was inspiring and he became one of the more unique characters I read this year. Hunt, is one of my new top favorite fantasy guys. I love SMJ and her books so when I finally read Crescent City I fell in love with Hunt and added him to my list. I loved the way he was portrayed and he was for sure written by a women.

 9. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2023 to finally read? 

It is not Romance but I cannot believe it took me so long to read Crescent City, this series was the next step of reading my way though the SJM universe. It was such a bumpy ride and made me so emotional but it was so worth the read. I crawled into my roommates bed and cried at the end of the book because I was so emotionally wrecked in the best way possible. I am currently working on the second book in that series and Im so excited to finish it.

 10. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2023?

"You're my friend. Who watched trashy TV with me and puts up with my shit. You're the person I don't need to explain myself to - not when it matters. You see everything I am, and you don’t run away from it. " Crescent City page 556. This quote came to me exactly when I needed it and has stuck with me since.

11.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2023?

Shortest: the books from The Wolf's Mate series were by far the most short, being about 130 pages each. You would know these as being called the Bro and the Beast series as TikTok and Insta likes to call it.

Longest: Crescent City at around 816 pages

18. Best Book You Read In 2020 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure/Bookstagram, Etc.:?

Most of the smaller romance books I read this year were found from Instagram and TikTok, when I find those posts where a unique seen or trope is quoted and it is on my KU i normally add it and read it. The The Perfectly Imperfect series is an example of this as well as dozens of other books.

20. Best 2020 debut you read?

Unsteady by Peyton Corinne was a debut hockey novel that was super good. I have read better hockey romance books but this was one at the top of the list and is worth the read. I am very excited for the next book in the series to come out. The series was very well developed and planned for a debut novel with unique takes on tropes.

25. Most Unique Book You Read In 2023?

The most unique book I read in 2023 was Bunny by Mona Awad. In all fairness I hated this book but it was very unique and has the most insane premise. While I did not like it many of my book club members enjoyed it so I think It may have just gone over my head.

26. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

The book that made me the most mad was One Pucked up Pack by Sarah Blue. I HATED this book, it was a poly omega-verse that had the most unlikable characters. The main lady was so unlikable and make her men jump through hoops for her. She played favorites and was terrible to one of the guys. I normally hate poly relationships especially books that depicts a toxic relationship that does pick favorites. I can recommend much better Omega-Verse books if you are interested, but this is not one of those books.

27. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2021 (non-debut)?

I am most looking forward to the next Crescent City book and the next book in the Emily Wrath Jacksonville Ray universe. I have these plotted on my calendar and am so ready for them to come out. I am waiting to finish Crescent City two until the third comes out so I can roll right into the third!

Thank you so much for reading, let me know if you have any questions. Keep on reading!

theromancereaderalix

#2023 reading wrap up #2023 wrapped #reading wrap up #romance books #sjm #reading recommendations #reading review #book recommendations #book blog #romance novels

[acourtofladydeath]

🎵💚 Once bitten and twice shy, I keep my distance but you still catch my eye. Tell me baby, do you recognize me? ❤️🎵

I certainly hope not because I’m going out of my way to ensure that you don’t

Hi it’s me again (santa)

I hope your week is going well!! I’ve been thinking about your present and I was curious if you would prefer something canon-compliant/canon-divergent and/or pre-canon?

Also, I have plans to incorporate Nesta and I was wondering if there were any other characters or ships that would be fun for you to read if I included them? No promises to get them all, but I’ll do my best!

Final fic-related question: do you have any hard limits? Anything that you actively do not want to read or read about? I want to ensure that your present is as enjoyable as possible ❤️

Now because you seem very cool and I’d like to get to know you, I’m going to quiz you a little more 😂

What is your favorite color? (mine is either cornflower blue or mossy green)

What’s your go-to comfort film? (a few of mine are P&P (2005,) Under the Tuscan Sun, and The Holiday.)

Most Ardently Yours,

Santa

HI SANTA!! Thank you for that, by the way, I will now have that song stuck in my head through the end of the year at a minimum.

I like to stay close to canon compliant, but it could be pre, during, or post! Honestly as long as they're together and happy.

I did want to add that I will enjoy smut, but I truly want these boyos to be in L.O.V.E. = LOVE. I'm such a sucker for a good story behind any smutty bits that may be included. Smut not required, story preferred. (BUT smut not discouraged AT ALL, I just prefer it to be a part of the bigger story. Set the stage, ya know?)

So excited to hear about Nesta!!! If and only if it works with your story I'd love to see the bat boys in there for 2 reasons:

Nessian moments, my other favorite ship.

The bat boys reactions to Azris is one of my fave parts of the ship.

Also would never say no to seeing Lucien, especially for more brotherly love vibes. But I don't have super strong opinions on additional characters!

I had to think about hard limits for a while because I don't have many, if you've delved into my AO3 bookmarks at all you'll see QUITE A RANGE LEMME TELL YOU. I'm typically not a fan of anything that straight up bashes characters, I truly see them all with faults, strengths, and weaknesses. As long as things/opinions are explained within a fic, I'm good with most of it. There are no individual characters I avoid or dislike. I'm not a fan of elriel (I'm mentioning this because it's one of the only things I typically scroll past but not sure it's at all applicable here?) If you're specifically asking about kink ranges, lemme know cuz they're WIDE AND VARIED. If there's anal there must be lubrication of some kind, that's a hard line for me.

As for my favorite color, I've got a lot of teal things, but I'm starting to tend more towards deeper, darker blue-greens and lots of forest greens.

Comfort movie? Oh gods...this question...I'm not sure that I have one. I literally had to go look at my streaming services because I haven't watched many movies recently. I also tend to rewatch TV shows more than movies d/t time constraints. I'm also such a mood watcher/reader/listener that this answer literally changes hourly. I'm a huge fan of Disney's Peter Pan (see: my Azris Peter Pan AU), Beauty and the Beast (OG animation), and Hercules. I don't think I could watch The Prince of Egypt enough in one lifetime. Anastasia is another favorite. I enjoy The Proposal a lot too. White Christmas is my favorite Christmas movie. I'm a huge sucker for movies like "Rush" that are retellings of actual events (and a big F1 fan).

Pride and Prejudice and The Holiday are both great movies that I really enjoy, but haven't watched in a while!!

I'm looking forward to see what you cook up with and getting to know you more as well!!

Sincerely,

A chronic over explainer who could not come up with simple answers and I hope that's okay. Please feel free to ask for clarification on anything!

#This is entirely more information than you asked for. #And probably more than you bargained for. #But I hope it's helpful and doesn't throw too much of a wrench in your plans (if at all) #acotar gift exchange #acotar gift exchange 2023 #secret santa #acotar secret santa #can you tell i forgot what tag i used for you #secret santa 2023

[maacwanowrie]

You may be a good fit for an animation career if...

By studying design and technology at the MAAC Institute Pune, you can enhance your creativity, problem-solving, planning, and evaluative abilities. Due to the fact that many projects are completed in groups, you will also acquire communication and teamwork skills. Not to mention a fantastic product of your creativity!

 1. You have a natural curiosity

Many people struggle with boredom during the day while yet moving along with their lives' events and surroundings. But you are not that. You can find a way to be interested in practically anything when you're at your best. A spark of excitement appears in your head whenever you learn about something new. Your list of hobbies—or the list of activities you wish you had time for—is long.

2. You have an artistic eye that is focused.

You may have always been drawn to artistic pursuits and hobbies as a child or you may have drawn complex pictures and stories on the side of your arithmetic assignments. Good design grabs your attention, and an eye for what is aesthetically beautiful is very helpful in animation.

 Anastasia Vasilieva, an animator and designer for Animatron, asserts that "an animator should be an artistic person." According to Vasilieva, animators require complex design skills together with meticulous attention to detail and a passion for storytelling.

 A good-looking design brought to life with animation is excellent, but it's even better when it is done to communicate something. Storytelling ability should not be underestimated.

3. You seek out criticism

Do you think that adding someone else's perspective to your artistic endeavors can be beneficial? Are you keen to refine and enhance your creative work to the greatest extent? Successful animators aren't averse to having their work critiqued.

 Asking for input is the most crucial action Heller does. Working in a bubble won't help you much, I've learned. What will elevate you and your work to the next level is asking for and offering feedback.

4. Your analytical skills

Do you utilize logic to support your decisions when resolving issues or making decisions? Are you interested in how things operate? Though analytical thinking is frequently linked to the sciences, animation also heavily relies on it.

 "An animator should have an analytical mind," adds Vasilieva. "Software expertise is required to develop a variety of animation artwork using desktop and web technologies. To portray this knowledge in animation, it also takes curiosity and ongoing observation of the world around us.

 Technology has a significant role in the work because animation is a form of digital art. Having an understanding of the foundations of science and technology is usually useful.

Vasilieva asserts that even when animated things move exaggeratedly, they nonetheless adhere to the rules of physics.

5. Your attention is on the task at hand

You might be able to lose yourself for hours in a book or a drawing. Or perhaps you discover that you are keeping up with a fascinating subject on Twitter without missing anything. Whatever it is, you can lock in and give anything your complete attention if it captures your interest.

 This is an essential talent in animation. It takes far longer than most people can possibly imagine to create a succession of images that move smoothly. According to Gadea, animation requires the capacity for sustained concentration. This will probably be an obstacle if you have trouble maintaining your concentration even on enjoyable projects.

 The major barriers to success, according to Vasilieva, are lack of diligence and attention because animation involves a lot of work. While the thought of that much meticulous, technical effort may overwhelm you, most animators find it rewarding to watch what they spent hours sketching come to life.

6. Your sense of humor is good

Do you enjoy cracking jokes with those you care about? Do you enjoy comedy and the subtle movements and gestures that elevate jokes? If you do, carry that humor into your work in animation.

 Vasilieva claims that cartoons are frequently and explicitly linked to humor. It probably makes you think of cartoons when you think about it. "Emotional empathy with a good sense of humor would really help a person to create engaging and appealing animations," the author claims. Animators have a keen awareness of gestures, expressions, and body language, and frequently the funniest people are adept at exaggerating these nonverbal signs for more impact.

 Tigran Manukyan, chief commercial officer at RenderForest, asserts that comedy is another means of expressing creativity. Manukyan asserts that it's far simpler to work with people who have a sense of humor and some spontaneity than it is to work on the actual animation. Your sense of humor can improve the dynamics of a group when you're working with others.

 7. You enjoy creating original things

It should go without saying that animators should be familiar with the fundamental concepts of design and animation conventions, according to Pope. But the thing that really sets the best animators apart is knowing when and how to break those rules. The best animators add their unique touches to make animations feel natural and energetic, but most importantly, they think creatively to develop unusual visual metaphors.

 8. You have passion.

You couldn't stand to have your name attached a shoddy work of art or a half-hearted undertaking. You feel eager to get started and an itch in your fingers to bring a concept to life when you think of design or animation. Passion for the work is what genuinely makes or destroys an animator, regardless of any other qualities they may possess or lack.

 Passion, according to Gadea, is by far the most crucial quality. You will improve if you are fascinated with producing high-quality animation because you will keep returning to the computer, model, or piece of paper. Your persistence will be motivated by your passion. Making your work as beautiful as you can will be sustained by your passion.

 It will be difficult to gain the practice necessary to make oneself highly employable if you don't have the passion, according to Gadea. Although you might have to compete with many different animators in the beginning of your career, those who are not dedicated to the profession will probably be eliminated over time. However, there are ways to immediately stand out if you love animation.

[25yearsofstories]

25 Years of Animated Movies - 1997: Anastasia

1997 - Anastasia

IMDB page: here.

Synopsis from IMDB: The last surviving child of the Russian Royal Family joins two con men to reunite with her grandmother, the Dowager Empress, while the undead Rasputin seeks her death.

Age restriction: none.

Passes the Bechdel test? Yes.

LGBT+ characters? Nope.

Race representation other than white? Nope.

Should you watch it? Nope.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Review:

 I had this movie on VHS, and barely remembered it. I just had brief flashes of green light and a little white bat that popped up in my mind when I thought about it. Still, I was glad to see a non-Disney movie appearing so soon in my list, and thought it would be a lighthearted but enjoyable film.

I did not like this movie.

I swear I started watching with the best of intentions. But by the end I was just… disappointed.

First, the technical part.

The animation is weird. Ok, the painted backgrounds are beautiful, great representations of the opulence of Imperial Russia under czar reign, but the characters… Their facial expressions were deeply within the uncanny valley. I did some research and found out that they apparently used rotoscoping, a technique in which animators trace over live-action footage, to create a more realistic style. Well, maybe the technique was still in its early days, because the only effect that managed to be created to me was the effect of creepiness.

The interaction between 2D and 3D animation was really obvious and weird. Is not that the 3D parts weren’t well-done; they were, specially the “jewelry box”, but there was a striking contrast when both styles interacted. 

All these were minor annoyances in the beginning, but I got the impression that these problems got more and more evident the closer we got to the end, and in the latter part of the movie I was really distracted.

It also looked a lot like a Disney movie. Not just in structure (the princess, the musical, the cute animal sidekick) but in its style, too. Pooka, the dog, and the lady that manages the orphanage where Anastasia starts her journey to Paris remind me VERY much of Disney characters. Rasputin also reminices a lot of Maleficent. When he entered the party uninvited, wearing the same color scheme of dark and green… let’s say I wasn’t that surprised when he launched a curse on the royal family soon after.

The music is… forgettable. I really liked “Once Upon a December”, with its haunting and imposing melody, but the rest I just don’t remember.

But about the story. I was hoping to enjoy a simplified and disneyfied version of what happened to the Romanov. But this was a whole other thing.

Explaining the Russian Revolution, one of the most controversial happenings in recent history, which led to the deaths of thousands and to the creation of the URSS, as being caused by “magic” of an “evil wizard” is historically insensitive in ways I can’t even describe. It’s one thing to gloss over the details, as it was a bloody event that wouldn’t really suit the lighthearted “Disney-like” tone; it’s another to reduce a complex, controversial and tragic event to “hey kids, a wizard did it!”. Nope, there were no other reasons at all! If it wasn’t for that evil Rasputin, everybody could have kept living happily ever after under the reign of the czar!

And don’t get me started on the romanticization of the Romanov… Yes, the killing of the czar and his family, including poor children who had nothing to do with what was happening, was a tragic event that induces empathy in everyone who has a heart. But you know… Czar Nikolai was an absolutist monarch who lived in unimaginable wealth while his population starved. “Bloody Sunday” also ring any bells? It was hard to feel sympathy for the characters reminiscing about the “good old days”, when they had immense and luxurious parties and lived in glamorous palaces, when you have enough historical knowledge to know that many people were stuck in poverty, famine and disease to sustain this life-style.

This cognitive dissonance permeates the entire movie, and I don’t think it would have been released in more recent times. Not, at least, without heavy backlash. It is Pocahontas level of historical washing.

But let’s talk about the characters.

Anastasia starts as a quite refreshing take on a typical “Disney” princess, actually. Her initial I-was-raised-by-wolves attitude is quite entertaining and makes her likeable, with her oversized clothes and sleazy posture. Unfortunately, the plot involves disneyfying her, so these initial aspects that made her an endearing and somewhat unique princess for the time are mostly lost. Talk about a glow down. I really liked the initial exploration of her thoughts of abandonment and wanting to find a family, though. Also, you gotta respect that she was willing to throw hands with Rasputin at the end of the movie.

With Dimitri, the con man and love interest (seriously, why does every movie so far reminds me of Tangled?), they tried to go with the route of “roguish character who is a jerk with a hidden heart of gold”. But they went too heavy-handed with the “jerk” part, and Dimitri’s heart of gold only shows through when 1. he is a child and 2, Anastasia puts on a dress and he finds her beautiful and stops being a jerk to her. Those aren’t really enough to dismiss all the jerkness of the character, and I felt disappointed in his shallowness, especially when we come from “The Hunchback of Notredame”, with its amazing examples of male characters.

His relationship with Anastasia suffers from a serious case of Avril Lavigne’s logic. “He was a boy, she was a girl; can I make it any more obvious?”. Yes. Yes you can. It falls in the old logic of equating initial animosity to attraction, but it’s an especially poorly made version of it. There’s not even that energy, that tension, between Anastasia and Dimitri, actually. It’s not that they’re abiding by the playground rules of “they’re fighting because they like each other” or the “bickering old couple” trope; these characters just genuinely don’t seem to like each other. The romance as a whole, in conclusion, was poorly handled. 

One relationship, in contrast, that I thought was well constructed was the one between Anastasia and her Grandmama. There’s genuine love between the characters in the beginning and in the end of the movie. Child Anastasia’s antics with her grandmother are endearing, and the scene of their reunion is genuinely heartwarming. Grandmama as a whole was a good part of the movie; her stubborn resolution to avoid seeing Anastasia as a way to protect herself from more heartbreak is sad to watch, and also a good obstacle to be overcomed.

But I almost forgot one character. Rasputin, the villain. 

Well…

He is entertaining. His “falling apart” moments are the funniest and most creative parts of the movie. The problem is that he could have been removed without almost any alteration to the plot. During most of the film, you can barely remember he’s there, like he was added as an afterthought. The other obstacles that existed without a cursed lich involved were already enough to hold the plot, and as a result, poor Rasputin ends up being forgettable.

Apart from that, some parts of the movie are just plain weird. My head is still spinning from the French musical sequence. What was that? I get that they were supposed to represent the Roaring 20s in Paris, but all the French people acted so over-the-top and weird that it became cringe-worthy. I was cringing physically as I watched.

The only weirder thing was the villain sidekick bat randomly getting a pink bat girlfriend with no context whatsoever during the last 10 seconds of the movie. What was that?

Another random thing I noticed was that men in this movie are very grabby towards women, in a way that borders creepy. Seriously, the way Dimitri and Vlad suddenly grabbed women around them made me uncomfortable, and I wasn’t even the one being grabbed.

But, to finish this disastrous review, let’s talk about the ending. I guess it was supposed to be a good happy ending, but it broke my heart.

First, I understood that they were trying to say that Anastasia wasn’t comfortable being royal anymore, after being raised as a commoner, but the movie didn’t construct this that well. Showing the animal sidekick being sad during parties is not a way to construct the social inadequacy of your main character. It would have helped to show Anastasia herself more conflicted about this.

And… seriously, after spending her whole life longing for a family where she belonged, she really left her Grandmama? The old woman who had spent 10 years looking for the only surviving member of her family who died tragically? To get with Dimitri? Is that supposed to be the happy ending? I was just left feeling devastated by Grandmama, alone again just knowing her beloved granddaughter is alive… somewhere.

So, yeah… not a good movie. But to not end in a sour note, these are the things I liked:

The clothing is quite beautiful, and really reminds you of portraits that you see of the era. Anastasia has quite some dresses during the story, avoiding the character-with-one-set-of-clothes-during-the-entire-movie trope.

Rasputin’s death is also a good moment. The way he melts into goo and his skeleton just turns into dust is really awesome and was nice to watch.

And I guess that was it. I personally didn’t really like the movie, especially considering that the last movie showed that there was potential, even during the late 90s, to make more complex characters with well-structured plots. In the end, this gave me the distinct feeling of one of those straight-to-DVD Disney sequels, like Cinderella 3 or Mulan 2. Just a copy of a well-known formula.

Favourite character: Vlad. He’s the kindest character in the whole movie. His almost fatherly ways with Anastasia and Dimitri are endearing to watch 

Most awesome moment: The moment Anastasia gets into the palace and remembers the balls she used to attend. The animation is quite beautiful and the music, “Once Upon a December”, makes everything even more grandiose. 

Funniest moment: Rasputin falling apart gets me everytime.

Most heartwarming moment:  When Grandmama finally finds out that Anya is really the granddaughter she had been looking for for 10 years, after so much heartbreak, and they sing Anya’s childhood lullaby together.

Saddest moment: The ending. I know it’s supposed to be happy, but I got sad about Grandmama being left alone again.

And that’s it. I hope I have not upset the fans of Anastasia. You’re still allowed to enjoy it, it just wasn’t for me.

Next movie will be: 1998 - Mulan

#anastasia #animation #animated movies #1997 #analysis #25yearsofstories

[thecassadilla]

2021 Fanfic Year in Review

Thanks @loonysama for the tag!!! ❤️

Total Completed Works: 16 completed, 1 WIP that carried over from 2020 (and has now carried over into 2022...)

Word Count: 258,086

Fandoms I've Written In: Frozen

Looking back, did you write more fic than you thought you would this year, less, or about what you expected? I wrote WAY more than I expected! I know that most of what I wrote was for my WIP Change of Pace, but I was expecting that fic to tap out at about 100k words and 30ish chapters - and yet here I am, 236,475 words deep and 44 chapters in. I definitely wasn't expecting to write any one-shots either, as I have a bit of a one-track mind when it comes to posting fics (either long fics or one-shots, but never really both at the same time lol) but I ended up writing quite a few of those too! So overall, I wrote way more than I expected to!

What's Your Own Favorite Story Of the Year? I'm not the biggest fan of my own writing, but Let Me Call You Sweetheart (which, along with the show Downton Abbey, served as the initial inspiration for my new fic, Still Falling For You) definitely holds a special place in my heart. I also have a soft spot for Que Será and Ç'est La Vie as it's the first ever canon based Frozen fic I've ever written.

Fanfic goals for the new year: To actually have the time to continue writing? Does that count as an answer? XD In all seriousness, I'm always looking to improve my writing skills, so I'd say that's definitely my goal for this year. I also want to finish Change of Pace - we're so close to the ending that I can taste it, but my brain will. not. cooperate. and just let me write it. I'm optimistic that it *will* get finished, though.

Most popular story of the year: Easily Change of Pace. It really blew up in early 2021 and I was completely taken aback by the amount of feedback I received on it. It's the biggest fic I've ever written, both in terms of popularity and word count, and I'm *still* completely blown away by the amount of feedback and love I've received on it.

Story of mine most under-appreciated by the universe, IMO: Hmmm...I guess Just Hold Me Close, Don't Ever Let Me Go counts? It's a tiny piece of a larger 1970s NYC au that @tamorasky and I have been talking about writing forever. I don't know if the 1970s are a very popular fanfic universe in general (though I'm guessing not lol) hence why I think this one could potentially qualify as "under-appreciated."

Most fun story to write: Ooh! My Anastasia au, In a Crowd of Thousands, was very fun to write. It was very lighthearted, and enjoyable to write, especially considering I decided to write in on a complete whim one night. I really enjoyed being able to write it at the same time I was writing the much more serious, early chapters of Change of Pace and best of all, I got to relive the time I saw Anastasia on Broadway live, which only made it even more fun for me.

Most unintentionally telling story: As much as I hate to admit it, it has to be You Hit the Lights and I'll Lock the Doors. I'm not a stranger to arguments within relationships, and I feel like this fic really encompasses some of the things I've experienced in my own life but with a much, much better and more positive outcome/ending (because we all know that Anna and Kristoff will do whatever it takes to fix their relationship). Healthy relationships for the win!

Biggest disappointment: Hmmm....I guess my biggest disappointment is that I didn't meet my goal of finishing Change of Pace in 2021 lol. The original plan was to finish it in July/August, then I decided to add a lot more plot to the story, and my new goal for finishing it was December...which also wasn't met. Another disappointment that's more of a personal failure on my behalf is that I *still* haven't been able to get to the remaining few prompts that have been in my inbox since October/November - if you sent one in, I promise I haven't forgotten about you!!! Life has been completely crazy these past few months, and I'm definitely not intentionally ignoring them (in fact, I've had the ideas bubbling in my head since I received them....I just haven't had the ability to sit down and write them). Not being able to get those finished in a timely manner has definitely been very disappointing to me personally.

Biggest surprise: The biggest surprise by far has been how much love I've received from everyone in this fandom! I didn't start writing for Frozen with the expectation of receiving such incredible feedback on my writing - I genuinely came in with the hope that starting to write again after a long hiatus would help keep me busy while the world was in a very fragile state. But 2021 was such a big year for me in terms of the love and feedback I've received on my fics and the friendships I've forged, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what 2022 brings!

Tagging: @tamorasky and anyone else who wants to participate!

#kristanna #kristanna fanfiction #frozen fanfiction #my writing