The debate on what constitutes a “strong female character”, whether having “strong female leads” or “feminism” is tanking “woke” films these past few years, is ongoing. There's accusations of toxicity on both sides. Misogyny, misandry, wokeness and brokeness, all of these terms and hot takes are fired and take ...

Gender Toxicity
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Aug. 19, 2023Into and Across the Spiderverse - How to make a good comic book movie
Emma_Clare at 12:00AM, July 1, 2023
It goes without saying that the newly released movie, Across the Spiderverse, is one of the most popular superhero movies. The creators took one of the most divisive iterations of Spiderman, Miles Morales, and made him into a now beloved version of the titular character. They expand the Spider-lore through ...
Character Analysis: Levana from Vampire Girl
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, May 27, 2023
It’s been quite a bit since I last made a character deep dive, but since I got a bit more time on my hands, here we are! Today’s Character Analysis is about Levana from Vampire Girl by Marie Kerns and J_Scarbrough!
So, first things first! Vampire Girl is ...
When the World has Changed Forever
Banes at 12:00AM, May 18, 2023
We talk a lot about Franchises here because those have been the big, widely known movies/stories in the culture in recent years.
But it's not all about Franchises - one thing that a standalone story can do, and occasionally does, is have an ending that changes the world forever ...
The Slippery Slope (Or How to Make a Great Villain Origin Arc)
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, May 6, 2023
Villains are tremendously important for a story. They set the framework and standard for a lot of things in an unsaid but definite manner: how far your villain is willing to go sets up audience expectations for how big and how dire the stakes will be in the story.
If ...
The 1990's Whiny Slacker Protagonist
Banes at 12:00AM, May 4, 2023
In rewatching some 1990's movies, I saw quite a few of these Protagonists show up - they're these disaffected types, usually quite intelligent or at least verbose, who are wrapped up in their emotions and sort of spinning their wheels in life as they analyze their problems and face ...
Planning for the 2023 Drunk Duck Awards is Underway
kawaiidaigakusei at 12:00AM, April 3, 2023
Photo: “Casual Group Photo (Right Side)”. 2022 Drunk Duck Awards Community Project. (2022)
Niccea has spoken—The planning for the 2023 Drunk Duck Awards began last Friday, March 31, 2023. The two categories currently accepting volunteer sign-ups and art submissions in April 2023: Planning Committee and For Your Consideration (FYC ...
Frank Frazetta, one of the greatest artists of the 20th century
Ozoneocean at 12:00AM, March 4, 2023Tough Love vs. Abuse
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Feb. 18, 2023
Tough love is so cool, eh? It's going to magic the “whining” right out of you, won't it? You just need to stick out through the harshness, and then when you reap the benefits, you'll realize your tough loving benefactor had the right idea. You'll be ...
Toxic Positivity, Toxic Acceptance (Part 2)
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Feb. 11, 2023
So last time, in Part 1 of this discussion of …sunnier villains or antagonists, we had left off talking about how toxic positivity is all about the toxic person's comfort. And that this need to impose a certain behavior, dogma, and/or approach to reality in their environment leads ...