#animemovie

Perfect Blue but it's Miku 💔

In this timeline, Hatsune Miku is done being a pop idol and wants to be actress. But her fans aren't going to let her quit so easily...

A spectacular celebration of a dark, cinematic fantasy masterpiece and peak turn-of-the-century theatrical animation:

• Escaflowne (2000)

Celebrating the theatrical summer release of Escaflowne (also known as Escaflowne: A Girl in Gaea)! Produced by Sunrise and animated by Studio Bones, this cinematic masterpiece offered a breathtaking, darker reinterpretation of the legendary 1996 TV series. Featuring Nobuteru Yūki’s striking, matured character re-designs and a sweeping, iconic orchestral score by Yoko Kanno, the film completely reinvented Hitomi’s journey into the war-torn, mystical world of Gaea. It stands as an absolute monument to the pinnacle era of hand-drawn Japanese theatrical animation.

Welcome back to Packs & Facts! As we're nearing the end of our One Piece TCG Grab Bag packs I wanted to take some time to talk about my FAVORITE One Piece movie of the bunch… Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island!

Detailed Analysis of the Gollini Family's Resources, Power, and Influence

The Gollini Family, as depicted in the provided document from My Hero Academia: You're Next, represents a fascinating case study of a once-dominant criminal organization that experienced a dramatic rise and fall under the leadership of Valdo "Dark Might" Gollini. This analysis speculates on the extent of their resources—encompassing wealth, manpower, political influence, and operational capabilities—based on their historical dominance across Europe and their subsequent decline due to Dark Might's mismanagement. The discussion will consider their peak power, the composition of their forces (including thugs, criminals, and elite members), their political and societal reach, and the impact of Dark Might's leadership on their current state.

Historical Peak: A European Crime Empire

At its zenith, the Gollini Family was described as the largest organized crime syndicate in Europe, boasting over 20,000 active members. This scale suggests a vast network of resources and influence. Financially, they likely amassed significant wealth through diverse illegal enterprises—such as extortion, smuggling, human trafficking, and money laundering—common to mafia-style organizations. The mention of a "fancy yacht with golden Tron Lines" and its later evolution into a "massive fortress" indicates access to cutting-edge technology and substantial capital investment, possibly funded by decades of profitable criminal activities. This yacht, enhanced by Kamil's Quirk to float and later transformed by Dark Might's boosted Alchemy Quirk, served as both a mobile base and a symbol of their opulence and power.

Politically, their status as an "internationally recognized organized crime syndicate" implies they maintained a web of corrupt officials, politicians, and law enforcement personnel across multiple European nations. This network would have been essential to protect their operations, launder money, and exert influence over local governments. The document's comparison to Humarise—a cult with covert members in societal positions—suggests the Gollinis may have had similar infiltrations, though their approach was more overt and mafia-like, relying on visible wealth and power rather than subterfuge.

Manpower-wise, the 20,000 members likely included a hierarchy of thugs, enforcers, and lower-tier criminals, with an elite inner circle wielding powerful Quirks. The family's Italian origins, inferred from shared surnames and Dark Might's city-based ultimate moves (e.g., Bologna, Torino), hint at a cultural stronghold in Italy, potentially extending their influence into other Mediterranean countries. This large workforce would have been organized into specialized units, capable of executing complex operations across borders, from street-level crime to high-stakes heists.

The Inner Circle: Quality Over Quantity

The document highlights a shift from quantity to quality under Dark Might's leadership, with the inner circle of eight members enhanced by Overmodification representing the family's elite. Each member maps onto one of the Seven Deadly Sins (plus archaic sins of Vanity and Despair), suggesting a deliberate selection of individuals with potent Quirks tailored to their roles:

Pride (Ugo): A telekinetic combatant, confident to the point of taunting heroes.

Lust (Deborah): Uses a desire-manipulating Quirk, indulging in bloodlust.

Sloth (Paulo): Passive but supportive with his Quirk, criticized for inactivity.

Envy (Bruno): Cripples opponents, key in recapturing Anna.

Greed (Simon): Creates a video game dungeon, obsessed with wealth display.

Wrath (Gil): A physical fighter, compensating with close combat.

Gluttony (Ginji): His "Mad Gluttony" Quirk enables kidnapping for power boosts.

Vanity (Kamil): Non-fighting, smug supporter with a floating Quirk.

Despair (Valdo/Dark Might): The leader, driven by a twisted obsession with All Might.

This small but powerful group, empowered by Anna Scervino's Overmodification Quirk, replaced the sheer numbers of the past. However, their lack of combat skills and overconfidence—described as "cartoonish freakouts" when defeated—indicates a reliance on Quirk strength rather than tactical prowess or training, contrasting with the durability of Dark Might's golem army, which ultimately outlasted them in battle.

Political and Societal Influence

At their peak, the Gollinis likely wielded significant sway over European politics and society, akin to real-world mafia families like the Cosa Nostra or 'Ndrangheta. Their wealth could have funded bribes, blackmail, and the placement of loyalists in key positions—judges, police chiefs, or even parliament members—ensuring impunity. The comparison to the Shie Hassaikai, a yakuza group operating in shadows with limited funds, underscores the Gollinis' open display of wealth and power, suggesting they controlled legitimate businesses as fronts (e.g., shipping, construction) to launder money and expand influence.

Under Dark Might, however, this network likely eroded. His obsession with Overmodification, with its "extremely low compatibility rate," reduced membership to under 20, severing ties with many former allies. His execution of subordinates (e.g., Paulo and Simon) and unhinged behavior would have alienated political backers, who would abandon a sinking ship. The fortress's attack on UA, a symbolic but reckless move, further isolated them, turning potential allies into enemies.

Decline Under Dark Might

Dark Might's leadership marked the Gollini Family's downfall. His father prioritized the organization's stability, but Valdo's focus on personal glory—becoming the new Symbol of Peace—led to a catastrophic reduction in numbers and resources. The shift from 20,000 to under 20 members, with only eight Overmodified, reflects a purge of incompatible members and a failure to recruit effectively. His use of Anna as a "living Amplifier Artifact" against her will, combined with the fortress's destruction, suggests a depletion of both human and material assets.

The family's plot to rebuild through Overmodification recruitment indicates a desperate attempt to recover, but their "oddly small organization" status limits their reach. The fortress, dragged across the country to destroy UA, likely drained remaining funds and logistical capabilities, leaving them vulnerable. The uncertain fates of most members after the explosion—except for Paulo and Simon, confirmed dead—suggest the organization may be effectively disbanded, with Dark Might's demise (or disappearance) sealing their fate.

Speculative Assessment

Wealth: At their peak, the Gollinis likely controlled hundreds of millions, if not billions, in illicit earnings, with assets in real estate, luxury goods, and offshore accounts. Post-Dark Might, this may have dwindled to a fraction—perhaps tens of millions—stored in hidden reserves or seized by authorities after their collapse.

Manpower: Historically, 20,000 included thugs, enforcers, and specialists. Now, only the eight elite and a handful of mooks remain, with recruitment efforts stalled by Overmodification's rarity.

Political Influence: Once a network of corrupt officials spanned Europe; now, it’s likely reduced to a few loyalists in Italy, if any, due to Dark Might's erratic rule.

Jobs and Industries: They may have controlled ports, casinos, or construction firms; these are likely lost or contested by rival syndicates post-collapse.

Power: Their peak power rivaled national governments; today, it’s confined to Dark Might's Quirk-enhanced inner circle, easily defeated by trained heroes.

Conclusion