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Artist Alley #2 with eastdongstar

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I got an interview with the talented anime artist @eastdongstar on Twitter! I asked eastar a few questions about her art, inspirations, and some of her most challenging works. What are some of your inspirations? I don’t draw a lot of fan art because I think once I got to a certain age, I just don’t connect with stories that well anymore. I probably will simp for a character for maybe 2 weeks, and then I just move back to simping my ocs.  Most of my content is inspired by stories I want to present (and most of those stories usually involve some degree of social stratification, racism and injustice in the criminal justice system, like you know, real world stuff) Those stories sort of just pop into existence. Like, I will read an essay on climate change and I will think to myself “ah what if we live in a near-future dystopian world where technology is regressing because of a mass flood that destroyed countless of lives and property?” What is the most challenging piece you’ve ha
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HunterxHunter 2011 vs. The Manga: A Series With Many Personalities

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Introduction When most people talk about the HunterxHunter series and its strengths, they are often referencing the 2011 anime. I believe, as the majority does, that the 2011 anime adaptation enhances the source material. This is due to its faithfulness to the original plot, amazing animation, and the overall quality improvement from the manga. In this analysis, however, I wanted to make a case for how Togashi’s usage of negative space, its juxtaposition to stunning backgrounds and character expressions, and thorough character exploration in the manga makes for an entirely different, if not equally enjoyable HxH experience. I also explain how Togashi’s lengthy exposition is crucial to the 2011 anime’s critical acclaim. I picked up the manga volumes 32-36 after the anime ended. I enjoyed them as I did 2011, but in a much different way. The series portrays the world of HxH with an overtly upbeat nature, which gradually metamorphosizes into a mature, multilayered society much like
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Artist Alley #1 with Uealnr

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I invited a fellow artist to talk about her art page, @uealnr on Instagram , and her inspirations. Her art is super clean, go check it out! What is your favorite piece right now? I think my favorite piece right now would either be my second shirt design or the modeus print I made. Modeus by @uealnr T-shirt design by @uealnr What are some of your inspirations? My inspiration comes from the manga I read and amazing instagram artists like @kimjunggius , @kellzallday , @hitsuji.02 , etc. Additionally, I think I am also inspired by the people in my life from those who try to motivate me or give me more confidence through comments/dms, to my family who surprisingly supports me financially. What is the most challenging piece you’ve had to draw? Why? My most challenging piece would be the RWBY+JNPR girls because not only did I have to think of different poses for the girls but I had to draw a background which was something I was not really familiar with at the time.
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Ghost in the Shell's Paralysis of Choice, and Why It Matters to You

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In this post I’ll be discussing the relationship between individuality and freedom in the anime Ghost in the Shell , and why the imbalance conveyed through its characters is so relevant today. Numerous articles discuss the philosophical implications of a breach in self in this series, so I’ll be focusing on choice instead. The work I’m specifically referring to in this analysis is the 1995 film directed by Mamoru Oshii. What is the core of Ghost in the Shell ? Masamune Shirow’s Ghost in the Shell is an intricate study of one losing their sense of self in a world optimized for the convenience of instant communication and inquiry, to a much higher degree than our own. For example, humans with cybernetic augmentation can connect directly into any interface. This ranges from the visual stream of Kusanagi’s sight to the sharing of information between cyberbrains. Ultimately, Ghost in the Shell depicts a futuristic world where the line between the self and others is blurred by an
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Environmental Storytelling in Blame!, and Why You Should Care

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I’m a huge fan of Tsutomu Nihei’s work, mainly because of his ability to pull you into an established world of mystery. The lack of prior knowledge going into one of his manga is key to enjoying his signature technique, environmental storytelling. So what does this mean? Nihei is able to construct worlds that dwarf their characters in a maze of sci-fi structures. Huge landscapes draw the reader out along winding paths, scraggly electronic pires, or even the dark stretches of deep space. In this post I want to discuss how Nihei does this in Blame!, a work that explores a procedurally generated superstructure of scrap metal and fine steel. Blame! is mostly void of verbal interaction and narration, leaving the surroundings up to the task of worldbuilding and plot direction. I’m going to explain the nuance without spoiling too much, if you are planning to check this out afterward. Let’s take a look. Cred. Barnes & Noble and Tustomu Nihei        This panel depicts Killy and
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