Fantasy Archives | Otaku No Culture

Reading Between the Lines in How Netflix’s Ragnarok May End

Technically, the Jutals simply want to destroy humanity by allowing one of their operations to pollute the local water reservoir. Since they’re long lived anyway, the wait may well be a blip in their lifetime.

Spoiler Alert

Just how many seasons of Netflix Ragnarok can run for will be tricky to determine. Binge watchers who finished viewing season two will no doubt want the next set to broadcast sooner than later. The end times will come, and the question I have concerning this rebirth of the old gods is how often does this apocalypse happen? This series may have been influenced by the writings of Matthias Gardell’s book, Gods of the Blood: The Pagan Revival and White Separatism (Amazon USA link).

My guess is that whenever Loki’s spirit is truly locked up for good and he cannot be reborn. Laurits embodies this trickster god and Jonas Strand Gravli is simply amazing in giving this modern reinterpretation a lot of soul. He’s struggling with identity (“Brothers in Arms”) and becomes a goth mid-season. Much like Marvel Entertainment’s version played by Tom Hiddleston, his agenda is multifold. He wants to be loved by his blood parents, but they use him (Vidar seemingly comes around in “Power to the People”). His loyalty to his half-brother is half-hearted despite Magne (the reincarnation of Thor) always coming to his aid.

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Fantasia’s 25th Anniversary Goes Virtual!

In what’s known is how important Japan’s culture has played across Fantasia’s history. There’ll be an enhanced focus, and this enthusiast can’t wait to see what’s coming! I hope they can secure the rights to show the full run of Evangelion films in its entirety!

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

For the latest updates, please visit the official website.

Montreal’s Fantasia International Film Festival is going half and half, with a mix of physical events and digital for the genre enthusiast. The 25th Anniversary can’t be just one without the other because of the current global medical crisis, and the organizers can’t say for certain if the pandemic can be contained by the time summer rolls around. This event will include scheduled screenings and premieres, panels, and workshops, with films once again hosted on the leading-edge platform created by Festival Scope and Shift72. The number of physical events will be based on what the province’s health authority says, and this news don’t drop until closer to the event.

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Saving the Child in Nie Jun’s Seekers of the Aweto

Jun’s skillful technique with the pen, brush and watercolours makes the pages leap out like a DreamWorks film.

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Lerner Books
Available to Purchase on Amazon USA

“The Hunt is On” for Nie Jun’s Seekers of the Aweto. This herb heals any ailment a human has. Rumours say it also grants immortality, but only one out of many has that celestial ability. This plant grows on the heads of a chadolo, multi-coloured earth elementals and to remove it can incurs the wrath of Buddha. Locals believe they contain the soul of the soil that makes up the land, and they will do everything they can to save them.

Xinyue is a seeker of this plant since it’s his family’s business, but he’s something of a bard. He can play the drums and insects will swarm to him to do his bidding. They help him find an Aweto, but when he sees its alive and as cute as The Child in The Mandalorian, he can’t kill it, and nor can he see it get harmed. The adventure he has with it is as wild as the said Star Wars television show and the Asian flavour lays in how exotic this locale is.

When considering this young lad makes a promise to protect it, to dishonour this land deity can mean bad things for his afterlife. His elder brother Qiliu doesn’t care; The family trade is to locate and sell it to the highest bidder. Volume one sets up the conflict still to come–it’s him and the plant, or him and his brother. The matriarch believes he’ll do what’s right, and it’s no surprise she passes on in this tale. Nobody can dictate what he can do.

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Finding The Legend of Hei is Like Coaxing a Cat out of Hiding.

The Legend of Hei was released in China during the Summer of 2019 and made limited circuits at film festivals the following year before a pandemic halted those plans. This prequel to the lesser known web series is at least more accessible and my hope is for Shout Factory to get the rights to the web series so both are globally available.

Shout Factory
Available to order at Amazon USA

No feline can be contained in the release of The Legend of Hei (罗小黑战记). Those adorable big eyes of the woodland sprite will win over many cat lover’s heart. Also, this movie about Luo Xiaohei (an elfin) has a unique charm to it which makes me wonder if there’s any merchandise to buy. There’s plenty to choose from on eBay, and the licensing potential is huge. When he’s competing against Kuroneko Sama (from Trigun), the challenge will be in brand recognition in North American markets.

This movie was released in China during the Summer of 2019 and made limited circuits at film festivals the following year before a pandemic halted those plans. This prequel to the lesser known web series is at least more accessible and my hope is for Shout Factory to get the rights to the web series so both are globally available. This title quickly sold out at the shops I checked out today, and even Amazon had trouble keeping up. There’s a book which covers the online tale. When this cat is proving hard to contain, I’m hoping Hei has that forever home in place. (Thankfully I was able to view this title digitally)

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Walking on Air with Tasomachi: Behind the Twilight

Yukumo’s tasks are to find enough ‘Sources of Earth’ to repair her airship, and to restore the sacred trees that protect the local towns. It also keeps the fog at bay.

TASOMACHI: Behind the Twilight launches this spring, limited-time demo now available - Gematsu

By Shawn Trommeshauser

Disclaimer: Review copy was supplied
Played for over 8 hours
Located 201/244 sources of Earth

Developer: Playism
Available on Steam for the PC.

Tasomachi: Behind the Twilight is a fairly simple platforming game which is visually gorgeous. You play as Yukumo, a young adventurer who journeys around the world in her airship. Unfortunately it takes some damage and crashes in a region covered in an oppressive fog. She soon meets a Nezu, a little fox-like being (named Kogara) who tells her that all the people have fled. He becomes Yukumo’s guide for the journey ahead, giving the exposition she needs to find her next challenge.

Yukumo’s tasks are to find enough ‘Sources of Earth’ to repair her airship, and to restore the sacred trees that protect the local towns. It also keeps the fog at bay.

There are three types of gameplay: Exploring, airship flight, and restoring the Tree Sanctuaries.

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Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans Teaser Trailer & Thoughts

One expectation is certain: someone has to claim the sword Excalibur. None of the current heroes can pull it from the ground.

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans will release July 21, 2021, and the three series which make up the Tales of Arcadia will truly come together. Princess Aja and Prince Krel Tarron barely had a presence in the third arc, Wizards. I hope they are more involved in the film. The teaser trailer which dropped this week suggests big things.

The title brings to mind the Greek giants of yore. Executive producer Guillmero del Toro loves playing with mythology, and we may see all twelve “titans” and the mother of them all–Gaea (Earth)–as this series antagonists. She represents more than just creation. Some see her moods shifting with the seasons, and I feel the life, death and rebirth cycle also factors in. One of the monsters they face looks like a giant-sized cross between a Heatran and Gigalith from Pokemon GO, and I doubt the combined team want to catch this mad beast.

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