#2020 animation

Thank you for the series that ended this year. For giving us so much representation, for giving us the first  gay marriage on a children’s show, for giving us fantastic songs, for making us smile and cry,

for ending with a kiss we were wanting for

for ending on a bittersweet note on an adventure we soon won’t forget

 For teaching us to move on

For us wanting to know what happens next

For giving us amazing shorts that makes us feel sadness

and make us feel good

For ending perhaps too soon

For shocking us in new ways

For giving us good things in this dark year

For making us think

For giving us new characters to love

And seeing older ones return 

And thank you 2020

and for making us excited about 

what 2021 will bring

Pretty much non-spoilery.

Continued watching Mao Mao and Amphibia. It’s been nice watching two pretty light and funny shows. My mental tolerance for dramatic, world-threatening, soul-wrenching storylines has been lowered this year. Even though Amphibia in particular is building up to bigger things ahead.

Infinity Train Book 3. Now here’s where I spent my remaining capacity for mental gut-punching. Owie. I really like how each season expands on more peripheral characters and concepts from the previous ones. So please, executive overlords, one more season. Don’t let it end like this. I need closure.

BIGTOP BURGER by Worthi. It’s absolutely amazing and bonkers what basically one person can achieve. Seeing these shorts as they came out really brightened my days. Now, the question is: Is Steve a clown man or a man clown?

Animaniacs 2020. Here’s one I sort of forgot about until the trailer came out. Like many others, I was pretty sceptical when I heard about the reboot, but pleasantly surprised. I haven’t seen all episodes yet (a bit over halfway through), but so far it’s had great writing and been well animated and funny. I think there’s a good balance between the good ol’ stuff and new approaches that makes the show work today. 

Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro. Got this one for Christmas! One of those classic anime movies that I’ve known about forever, but just haven’t gotten around to watch. I’ve never watched the Lupin III series, but people online said it could be watched on its own. I sort of knew the basics of the story and the characters before and I think it worked fine, though I probably missed some throwbacks or references. I really enjoyed the movie. It’s a perfect mix of excellent animation (and that applies to more than just the famous car chase scene!), comedy, mystery, drama and excitement.

2020 movies I’ve seen so far: