Another year, another year-end list…

I admit I didn’t look too far beyond my comfort zone this year, hence why these entries are mostly cartoons. As always, the main difference between the list proper and the honorable mentions is just how much I have to say about them. I’ve been contemplating shutting the site down after the Wrinkle in Time series is done, but I decided I had one more series I wanted to do first (coming in January). Also, I’m still working on a Harry Potter vs The Owl House thing, so look forward to that in the next week or so!

Adventure Time (the Marceline episodes) (cartoon): I tried getting into this show a couple times, including just watching the Rebecca Sugar episodes, but my fundamental issue with it is just that I don’t care about Finn and Jake and whatever wacky adventures they get up to. But I eventually discovered that I DID care about Marceline and her relationships (mainly with Simon and Bubblegum, but her parents are fairly interesting, too). So I looked up what all episodes she was in and mostly just watched those (occasionally sprinkling in the main story for context). And that made for a pretty chill watch! I’ll never do a series on this, but I can at least appreciate why it’s so beloved.

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (animated film): I was considering putting Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron on the list, but that movie turned out to be extremely unoriginal (if gorgeously animated as always). Del Toro’s Pinocchio, on the other hand, managed to switch things up in a way that made for a completely different story from the Disney film, and I actually sympathized with Pinocchio for the first time (even if he’s still annoying at times). Giving Ewan Macgregor a chance to sing sure doesn’t hurt, either!

The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady (anime): I mean, with a title like that, how could it NOT be anime? But seriously, this stands out mainly because it feels more like a well-developed fantasy than isekai; it just so happens to star a princess whose last life was spent on earth, where she was exposed to magical girl stories, hence the plot (we never even find out what country she was from). And that past life almost takes a backseat to her brazen antics, and the fact that she’s plainly queer. I love me a good magical revolution!

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (cartoon): Honestly, this was my favorite Marvel series since 2020. It has a unique aesthetic, and while there are occasional references/cameos from the wider MCU, Lunella mostly just does her own thing – making her own messes as a tween girl and cleaning them up herself. What makes it special is the sense of specificity – it’s not just any story set in NYC, but dealing with the struggling-yet-vibrant neighborhood of the Lower East Side. I’m a bit concerned about the direction the plot turns in the season finale, as it seems to be steering her towards an introduction into the wider MCU, and while it might be a plus for the MCU, I prefer this show when it sticks to her personal struggles rather than larger plots.

Nimona (animated film): Based on a story by ND Stevenson (of She-ra fame), this was yet another victim of Disney’s culling of any stories that tried to say something about the world. Fortunately, it managed to find a home on Netflix instead. Much like The Owl House, it is very queer, and also like TOH, it has a larger message that made the Mouse uncomfortable. It’s all about the monsters that society creates in order to have something to fight, in order to distract from the inequities of the status quo.

Soaring Sky! Precure (anime): This is pretty much the perfect Pretty Cure show, a mix of the strongest recurring elements (like sympathetic villains) and a few tweaks to the formula. The most obvious changes are things like the first (official) male Precure and the first adult Precure (that is, an 18-year-old), but what really makes it shine is the gradual introduction and incorporation of the various team members. The first two have a great dynamic on their own, but additional members bring their own unique goals and interests without really taking away from the others (except screen time, naturally). It’s shaping up to be a great jump-on point for the franchise.

Honorable Mentions:

Across the Spiderverse (animated film): A fascinating interrogation of the Spiderman mythos, but as it’s firmly part 1 of 2, the value of this movie will be largely determined by the third film

Dead End: Paranormal Park (cartoon): A genuinely creepy kid’s show, with its greatest flaw being that it lacks a proper ending

Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 (film): An excellent conclusion to the best trilogy in the MCU

Monster Sanctuary (video game): Just a little Pokémon-esque gamethat I enjoyed playing in my spare time

Paddington 2 (film): It’s actually as great as the internet makes it out to be!

The Owl House series finale: About which I’ve already written

Shiny Happy People (docuseries): A scathing critique of the hypocrisies of Christian fundamentalism

Until next time…