Character Progression

Studio Ghibli has made some of the world's most beloved animated films.  Under the direction Hayao Miyazaki, they've gone from a studio that could be making niche anime to one that creates whimsical fantasy worlds filled with so much adventure, heroism, whimsy, and heart that Disney scooped up the distribution to deliver them to fans all across the globe.  From the emotional powerhouse that is Grave of the Fireflies, to the environmental fable of Princess Mononoke, and the worldwide phenomenon that is My Neighbor Totoro, this animation company concentrates on gorgeous environments, delicious looking food, and worlds that you can get lost in as a way to tell some of the most impactful stories in modern fiction.  In this episode of NewNerdNormal, we'll be covering their filmography from 1986's Castle in the Sky through the end of the 20th century.  Ending with a tease for next episode, where we'll be covering the 2001's Spirited Away!

In 1964, DC Comics created the Teen Titans when Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad, and Wonder Girl decided to form a team of their own.  Stepping out of the shadows of Batman, The Flash, Aquaman, and Wonder Woman, the team has remained a mainstay of the DC publishing library and has spun off into multiple televised iterations.  And while Teen Titans and Teen Titans Go concentrate on the New Teen Titans line-up, Young Justice decided to branch out by giving Aquaman a brand new sidekick.  Kaldur'ahm is brave, powerful, and self-assured.  All reasons why he was promoted to be the team's first leader.  Torn between the surface and the seas, Kaldur is the son of one of Aquaman's greatest villains, bisexual, black, and proof that representation matters!

The first time I covered Uncle Iroh from Avatar: The Last Airbender, we looked at the perspective of a kid growing up with his lessons.  Today, we see how it was to experience them when you're already an adult.  Seeing his sacrifices for the Fire Nation, his relationship with Zuko 's father, the Fire Lord, and his love of tea taught today's guest how to listening can be more important than speaking and how learning about each other with respect can make the entire world a better place to live in for us all!

Last son of Krypton, Man of Steel, mild-mannered reporter for the Daily Planet in Metropolis.  Clark Kent is known by many names, but all throughout the universe know him by one in particular...Superman.  Kal-El fights a never ending battle for truth, justice, and the American way.  Alongside allies like the Justice League, he strives to protect his adopted home world of Earth.  So that if villains like Lex Luthor or Darkseid are somehow about to defeat him, they will never defeat what he has inspired in all of humanity.  With HBO Max preparing to release the Snyder Cut, this felt like the perfect opportunity to talk about the hero who brought about the entire DC Comics universe, Superman!

One of the few things that match the only thing that matches the diverse nature of anime is how beloved & influential it is worldwide.  From old favorites like Dragon Ball Z and Cowboy Bebop to newer series like Attack on Titan, My Hero Academia, and Aggretsuko, there is a massive passion from so many people for Japanese animation.  And with shows like Naruto and Inuyasha getting sequels, One Piece nearing 1,000 episodes, and Sailor Moon continuing to captivate fans of all ages and genders, it doesn't look like that will be changing anytime soon!

Nicktoons have a long and celebrated history as some of the most influential cartoons for kids born from the 1980's through today.  From the original three of Doug, Rugrats, and Red & Stimpy.  To newer inclusions like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Winx Club.  But right in the middle of those two extremes was an era of classics!  With shows like Invader Zim, Fairly Odd Parents, and one of the most popular Nickelodeon stv shows of all time, SpongeBob SquarePants!  This Sponge took America (and the world) by storm!  With his friends like Patrick and Sandy, his foils Plankton and Squidward, his job with Mr. Krabs at the Krusty Krab, Mermaid Man, Barnacle Boy, Gary, Larry the Lobster, Karen, and a host of other beloved characters.  SpongeBob approaches every day and task with love for those around him, love for himself, and a love for life that is absolutely infectious!

They are the Crystal Gems and they always save the day.  And if you think they can't, they always find a way.  That's why viewers all over the world watch, relate to, and believe in Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl and Steven!  Cartoon Network has developed a track record of amazing animated shows that appeal to both kids and adults.  Starting with the Cartoon Cartoon days of Cow & Chicken and Courage the Cowardly Dog, through Teen Titans and Justice League Unlimited, and into modern favorites like Adventure Time and The Amazing World of Gumball.  But of the modern shows, few have garnered more laughter, cheers, and tears than Steven Universe!  Tune in to hear Vicky explain the lasting appeal, LGBT representation, and the story of what makes Steven's journey so compelling to so many people around the world.

Sci-fi has given us more strong, warrior women than almost any other genre.  Ripley from the Alien movies, She-Ra from Netflix's She-ra, and Furiosa from Mad Max: Fury Road.  But the strongest of them all is the princess of Alderaan turned general in the resistance against the first order from Disney and Lucasfilm's Star Wars, Leia Organa!  Together with Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca, C3PO, and R2D2, she lead the rebellion against the empire, Palpatine, and Darth Vader in battles against everything from star destroyers to the Death Star!  She sacrificed so much but never lost her resolve.  In fact, she gained even more determination as she lost more in the battle for freedom!

Throughout the year and a half I've been podcasting, I've come to really love the entire process of recording, editing, and publishing these episodes. There's so much freedom to put something out into the world and do it my way. And that's what I'm talking about here today. Why I love the unique opportunities that podcasts provide, both as a medium of entertainment and a creative outlet. If we all took that step towards putting our passions out into the world, I truly believe we'd all lead far more fulfilling lives.

When people discuss the greatest video games of all time, there are a few names you always hear.  The Last of Us, Super Mario World, Skyrim, Chrono Trigger, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and of course...Final Fantasy 7 (or Final Fantasy VII to our Roman numeral loving friends).  This game not only introduced RPG games to millions of new fans around the world, but it also popularized the genre to the point that it's still successful today!  Recently, Square Enix gave us a remake that has rewritten the book on what this classic Playstation game means to us all.  So strap in as we go over all that's new and awesome about the Final Fantasy 7 Remake!

They're creepy and they're kooky.  Mysterious and spooky.  They're all together ooky.  The Addams family!  Morticia, Wednesday, Pugsley, Uncle Fester, Lurch, Thing, and Cousin Itt.  Together they make up the Addams Family.  And though they all care deeply for each other, no one but their family patriarch can keep them together with the sense of love and compassion that this macabre clan deserves.  That's right.  This episode, we're talking about father, husband, and acquitted "ladykiller," Gomez Addams!

Most of the big video games that come out are made by large groups of programmers over the course of months to years for millions of dollars.  And that's all well and good.  Many of those games are hugely popular like Call of Duty, The Last of Us, and Assassin's Creed.   But there's something to be said for games made by small teams with a single vision, fueled by little more than passion for the project they're working on.  Those games may not have the visual polish of a big budget game.  But the core experience and stories often put them in the same league with players.  Those games are Super Meat Boy, Cuphead, Stardew Valley... and today's subject, Celeste!

The only thing harder than blazing your own trail is doing it in the shadow of those who came before you.  Some keep pace with the demand while others may fall behind.  But some run right by everyone's expectations until they hit a new level, all their own.  And  if any series knows what it takes to run that race, it's The Flash!  DC Comics superhero, founding member of the Justice League, and star of a hit self-titled show on CW, The Flash is the fastest man alive and has a lineage of heroes spanning millennia.  Jay Garrick may have started the line and Barry Allen may have popularized it.  But for today's guest, no Flash will ever match the speed, personality, and story of the original Kid-Flash who took up the mantle after Crisis on Infinite Earths, Wally West!

Water. Earth. Fire. Air. My grandmother used to tell me stories about the old days, a time of peace when the Avatar kept balance between the Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and Air Nomads. But that all changed when the Fire Nation attacked!  Now it's time for Steven to learn about Avatar Aang as Vicky guides him through the world of the show considered to be among the best American animated series of all time!  Premiering on Nickelodeon in 2005, the adventures of Aang, Katara, Sokka, Toph, and Zuko recently gained a new generation of fans on Netflix.  So let's make Uncle Iroh proud by remembering that "Sharing tea with a fascinating stranger is one of life's true delights."

When you think of Disney's most famous characters, who comes to mind?  Mickey Mouse?  Donald Duck?  What about Elsa from Frozen or Ariel from The Little Mermaid?  Well, for my guest today there's only one character who fills that spot.  And that's Oswald the Lucky Rabbit!  Oswald was one of Disney's earliest characters but was really the brainchild of an underappreciated animator named Ub Iworks.  Tune in to learn why Oswald matters to animation history and how he was traded for NFL sportscaster, Al Michaels.  Yes, really!

Welcome to the inaugural episode of NewNerdNormal!  The show where one friend takes the other two on a journey of their fandoms!  One of which is casually familiar with it and the other is a complete beginner.  This episode is all about Kingdom Hearts!  The crossover between Square Enix 's Final Fantasy and Disney that shouldn't have worked but somehow did and has built an entire mythos across many MANY top selling games!

In the first full episode of Pod Pilot, I talk to the founders of Sun & Moon Photography.  A collective that strives to connect businesses with photographers in different cities across America in order to create a more positive, close knit environment for everyone involved.  Both Jensen and Vinny have such a passion for their craft and I couldn't think of anyone better to start off this brand new series!

In all of us, there is one fundamental question that some people spend their whole lives trying to answer...Who am I?  And as difficult as that can be for the average person to answer, It's even harder for A, from David Levithan's Every Day.  Why?  Well, you'll just have to listen to this episode to find out.  But let's just say A has a very good reason for it to be such a difficult question to answer.  And the fact that A manages to keep their individuality in tact is a sign of just how strong they truly are!

Welcome to the introductory episode of Pod Pilot!  This is a sister Series to Character Progression and a new project for me that's all about giving each episode's guest a chance to be vocal about their passions!  Whether that's by allowing people to talk about them, coming up with creative avenues to get them out to the public, or giving people a stage to debate...this is all about you and the things you care about.  This series will release new episodes bi-weekly, during the off weeks of Character Progression so that you'll never have a week go by without some new material for you to listen to.  I hope you enjoy this episode and that you come back in two weeks for the next episode of Pod Pilot!