Latest news with #BluePeriod
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Drawing the mind: How Anime explores depression, identity, and neurodivergence
Credits: Ranker Anime fans know the medium can be more than action and fantasy – it often grapples with real emotions. In recent series, sensitive stories of depression, anxiety and identity find a voice through animated characters. For example, Mob Psycho 100 follows Shigeo 'Mob' Kageyama, a quiet teenager with huge psychic powers, who is not obsessed with strength but with staying 'normal' and understanding himself. The Times of India notes that Mob Psycho 100 'does not glorify strength' but highlights Mob's 'inner struggles, not to lose himself to his power, anger, or pride'. In this anime, Mob measures his feelings with an on-screen '100%' meter – whenever it fills, his emotions explode outwards. Each psychic battle becomes an emotional breakthrough: when Mob finally hits 100%, it's always after being pushed to his limits, not to prove power but because his feelings can no longer be contained. Mob Psycho 100: Embracing feelings Credits: Crunchyroll Mob's journey resonates with viewers who struggle with social anxiety or autism-like traits. He is calm on the surface, but has difficulty reading others' expressions and often feels out of sync. This has led many to see him as 'neurodivergent,' though the show never labels his condition. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Still, Mob's kindness and loyalty shine through as he tries to understand himself. Rather than fighting enemies, Mob fights to accept his emotions and connect with friends – even joining a body-improvement club or learning empathy – to grow as a person. Viewers have called Mob's tale inspiring: one fan pointed out that Mob Psycho shows 'a boy who has incredible powers' and yet is more focused on personal growth and letting himself feel, a theme that 'dives deep into what it means to be human'. Blue Period : Finding purpose through art Credits: Crunchyroll Another Netflix anime hitting home themes of depression and identity is Blue Period . Its hero Yatora Yaguchi is a high-school overachiever who suddenly feels empty despite good grades. Discovering art reignites his spark. As one reviewer explains, Blue Period becomes deeply relatable: it raises issues like impostor syndrome, 'gifted kid syndrome (which leads to loneliness and depression), and identity crises,' all handled with care so the characters feel fully human. Yatora's passion for painting grows out of a need to express emotions he couldn't otherwise name. Fans have noted that watching Yatora struggle and improve at art 'made me fall in love with art again... and myself,' as one online viewer wrote after relating to the protagonist's feelings of hopelessness. The show even sensitively portrays other youth issues – for example, a close friend's gender identity journey – without sensationalism. Overall, Blue Period shows a teen moving 'from a life built to please others to something that means something to him', echoing many real-life young people searching for meaning. Beyond shōnen: NHK, A Silent Voice and more Mob and Blue Period are not alone in anime's deep dives into the mind. The mid-2000s anime Welcome to the NHK follows a reclusive young man coping with paranoia, loneliness and conspiracy theories as he battles depression. It is often cited for its frank look at 'hikikomori' isolation. The movie A Silent Voice tackles bullying and guilt: it shows both a deaf student who was tormented and her former bully who later spirals into self-hatred. As the Times of India describes, A Silent Voice offers 'a poignant perspective on bullying' and explores 'redemption, empathy, and the lasting impact of bullying on both sides' t . Western animation also features this trend: shows like BoJack Horseman (on Netflix) confront adult depression and identity crises unflinchingly. Fans and mental health voices Credits: Forbes These stories clearly strike a chord. Internationally, fans frequently share that such anime helped them feel understood or less alone. In online forums young viewers describe relating to Mob's silence or Yatora's loneliness, and say the shows gave them hope to express their own feelings. Critics and writers have pointed out that when anime treats serious topics with nuance, it can be therapeutic or enlightening. For instance, Crunchyroll (a leading anime streaming platform) notes that dubbing and subtitling in local languages helps 'facilitate an emotional connection to anime,' underscoring that personal identification with characters matters. Psychologists observe that media which 'validates' youth struggles can encourage them to talk about anxiety or depression. In short, by showing characters working through pain, these series open a conversation that many find comforting. Anime reaching India through streaming Anime's appeal is also growing rapidly in India. Once confined to late-night TV blocks or fansubs, shows like Mob Psycho and Blue Period are now on Netflix, Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime and even dedicated streaming hubs. Crunchyroll India, for example, offers roughly 800 anime titles – far more than Netflix or Prime – and has dubbed over 80 series into Hindi, Tamil or Telugu. Those dubbed versions count for over 65% of Crunchyroll's Indian viewership. Homegrown platforms are jumping in too: the telecom Airtel launched a Hindi anime channel, and JioCinema recently added an 'Anime Hub' with dozens of popular series. This means Indian youth can more easily watch shows like Mob Psycho and Blue Period and hear these moving stories in their own language. In a culture where mental health is still often taboo, anime is quietly changing the conversation. By weaving compassion and struggle into action and artistry, shows like Mob Psycho 100 , Blue Period and their peers prove that animated stories can have real heart. As one fan wrote about Blue Period , these shows 'hit so close to home' and even helped her accept herself. In the end, anime is giving many young viewers permission to understand themselves – and that is perhaps its most powerful achievement. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
The Star
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Bob Dylan to showcase 'emotional' paintings in London
Dylan's 'Point Blank' exhibition series started as a book of 'quick studies' that also includes accompanying prose. Photo: AFP Bob Dylan will showcase paintings that were created with "emotional resonance" in London. The Nobel Prize for Literature winner, 83, will bring 97 original works featuring characters, objects and scenarios to the Halcyon Gallery. His solo show Point Blank, which captures people playing instruments, couples, sportsmen and women, along with rooms and places, is based on original sketches created between 2021 and 2022. These drawings were then painted over with colours, to create "living, breathing entities that have emotional resonance, colours used as weapons and mood setters, a means of storytelling," Dylan says. "The idea was not only to observe the human condition, but to throw myself into it with great urgency," he said. The drawing studies show a mirror which displays a set of lips, a saxophonist looking introspectively at his instrument and a cowboy whose pistol hangs on his belt in front of a rising sun. Some of the drawings have been reworked as blue, red and neutral monochromatic studies, which may hark back to Pablo Picasso's early Blue Period. The Point Blank series started as a book of "quick studies" that also includes accompanying prose. Kate Brown, creative director at Halcyon, said: "These works on paper feel like memories, intangible windows into the life and imagination of one of the greatest storytellers who ever lived. "People who attend the exhibition will discover that they provoke stories from our imagination. We consider the circumstances of the protagonists and ponder our movement through the spaces that the artist depicts." Dylan previously had an exhibition at a Halcyon Gallery for his Drawn Blank Series, featuring graphite drawings he made while he was travelling between Europe and the Americas from 1989 to 1992 and later reworked with paint. He has said his works are a way to "relax and refocus a restless mind" amid busy touring schedules. Paul Green, president and founder of Halcyon, said: "It is nearly 18 years since Halcyon first started working with Bob Dylan and it has been an extraordinary experience to watch this cultural icon develop into such a critically revered and important visual artist so closely. "This latest body of paintings feels like a more intimate connection to the artist than in any of his previous work and it is a great privilege to share them with the public for the first time." Dylan, who has won 10 Grammys and been nominated 38 times, is one of the most acclaimed songwriters, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. His songs have been recorded more than 6,000 times, with artists as varied as The Byrds, Jimi Hendrix and Adele finding both commercial and critical success with covers. Dylan began his career in 1962 with the single Mixed-Up Confusion, which failed to chart in Britain or the US - before hitting stardom with a string of singles in 1965, including The Times They Are A-Changin', Subterranean Homesick Blues and Like A Rolling Stone. This period of his newfound fame was recently covered in 2024 biopic A Complete Unknown starring Timothee Chalamet as the influential folk singer. It follows Dylan's early days in the 1960s, culminating in his controversial performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, after he had gone electric, and was nominated for eight Oscars and six Baftas. The free exhibition Bob Dylan: Point Blank will open at 148 New Bond Street on May 9. - dpa
Observer
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Observer
Bob Dylan to showcase 'emotional' paintings in London
Bob Dylan will showcase paintings that were created with "emotional resonance" in London. The Nobel Prize for Literature winner, 83, will bring 97 original works featuring characters, objects and scenarios to the Halcyon Gallery. His solo show "Point Blank," which captures people playing instruments, couples, sportsmen and women, along with rooms and places, is based on original sketches created between 2021 and 2022. These drawings were then painted over with colours, to create "living, breathing entities that have emotional resonance, colours used as weapons and mood setters, a means of storytelling," Dylan says. "The idea was not only to observe the human condition, but to throw myself into it with great urgency," he said. The drawing studies show a mirror which displays a set of lips, a saxophonist looking introspectively at his instrument, and a cowboy whose pistol hangs on his belt in front of a rising sun. Some of the drawings have been reworked as blue, red, and neutral monochromatic studies, which may hark back to Pablo Picasso's early Blue Period. The "Point Blank" series started as a book of "quick studies" that also includes accompanying prose. Kate Brown, creative director at Halcyon, said: "These works on paper feel like memories, intangible windows into the life and imagination of one of the greatest storytellers who ever lived. "People who attend the exhibition will discover that they provoke stories from our imagination. We consider the circumstances of the protagonists and ponder our movement through the spaces that the artist depicts." Dylan previously had an exhibition at a Halcyon Gallery for his "Drawn Blank Series," featuring graphite drawings he made while travelling between Europe and the Americas from 1989 to 1992 and later reworked with paint. He has said his works are a way to "relax and refocus a restless mind" amid busy touring schedules. Paul Green, president and founder of Halcyon, said: "It is nearly 18 years since Halcyon first started working with Bob Dylan and it has been an extraordinary experience to watch this cultural icon develop into such a critically revered and important visual artist so closely. "This latest body of paintings feels like a more intimate connection to the artist than in any of his previous work, and it is a great privilege to share them with the public for the first time." Dylan, who has won 10 Grammys and been nominated 38 times, is one of the most acclaimed songwriters and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. His songs have been recorded more than 6,000 times, with artists as varied as The Byrds, Jimi Hendrix and Adele finding both commercial and critical success with covers. Dylan began his career in 1962 with the single "Mixed-Up Confusion," which failed to chart in the UK or the US—before hitting stardom with a string of singles in 1965, including "The Times They Are A-Changin'," "Subterranean Homesick Blues," and "Like A Rolling Stone." This period of his newfound fame was recently covered in the 2024 biopic "A Complete Unknown," starring Timothée Chalamet as the influential folk singer. It follows Dylan's early days in the 1960s, culminating in his controversial performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, after he had gone electric, and was nominated for eight Oscars and six BAFTAs. The free exhibition "Bob Dylan: Point Blank" will open at 148 New Bond Street on 9 May. —PA Media/dpa
Daily Mail
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Bob Dylan, 83, turns his hand back to art as he is set to showcase 97 'emotional' paintings at new exhibition
Bob Dylan is turning his hand from music to painting once again as he is set to showcase an impressive 97 pieces of art at an upcoming exhibition. The Nobel Prize for Literature winner, 83, will bring his original works - featuring many interesting characters, objects and scenarios - to the Halcyon Gallery at 148 New Bond Street. His solo show Point Blank - which captures couples, sportsmen, and people playing instruments among other creations - is based on original sketches created between 2021 and 2022. The drawings were then painted over with colours to create 'living, breathing entities that have emotional resonance, colours used as weapons and mood setters, a means of storytelling', according to Dylan. 'The idea was not only to observe the human condition, but to throw myself into it with great urgency,' he said. The drawings show a mirror which displays a set of lips, a saxophonist looking introspectively at his instrument and a cowboy whose pistol hangs on his belt in front of a rising sun. Point Blank will feature 97 new and unseen original paintings by global sensation Dylan (Halcyon/PA) Some of the drawings have been reworked as blue, red and neutral monochromatic studies, which may hark back to Pablo Picasso's early Blue Period. The Point Blank series started as a book of 'quick studies' that also includes accompanying prose. Kate Brown, creative director at Halcyon, said: 'These works on paper feel like memories, intangible windows into the life and imagination of one of the greatest storytellers who ever lived. 'People who attend the exhibition will discover that they provoke stories from our imagination. We consider the circumstances of the protagonists and ponder our movement through the spaces that the artist depicts.' Dylan previously had an exhibition at a Halcyon Gallery for his Drawn Blank Series, featuring graphite drawings he made while he was travelling between Europe and the Americas from 1989 to 1992 and later reworked with paint. He has said his works are a way to 'relax and refocus a restless mind' amid busy touring schedules. Paul Green, president and founder of Halcyon, said: 'It is nearly 18 years since Halcyon first started working with Bob Dylan and it has been an extraordinary experience to watch this cultural icon develop into such a critically revered and important visual artist so closely. 'This latest body of paintings feels like a more intimate connection to the artist than in any of his previous work and it is a great privilege to share them with the public for the first time.' Last year, a rare painting by the folk music legend went up for auction after he created the piece during his Woodstock years, around 1968, according to RR Auction. Another painting from the era by Dylan, 82, recently sold for $100,000 at auction after he gifted it to his late manager Albert Grossman. Dylan, who has won 10 Grammys and been nominated 38 times, is one of the most acclaimed songwriters, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. His songs have been recorded more than 6,000 times, with artists as varied as The Byrds, Jimi Hendrix and Adele finding both commercial and critical success with covers. Dylan began his career in 1962 with the single Mixed-Up Confusion, which failed to chart in the UK or the US – before hitting stardom with a string of singles in 1965, including The Times They Are A-Changin', Subterranean Homesick Blues and Like A Rolling Stone. This period of his newfound fame was recently covered in 2024 biopic A Complete Unknown starring Timothee Chalamet as the influential folk singer. It follows Dylan's early days in the 1960s, culminating in his controversial performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, after he had gone electric, and was nominated for eight Oscars and six Baftas. The free exhibition Bob Dylan: Point Blank will open at 148 New Bond Street on May 9. Timothée Chalamet embodied Dylan as he took on the leading role of the esteemed musician in the biopic A Complete Unknown. Based on Elijah Wald's 2015 book Dylan Goes Electric!, the movie follows Dylan as a 19-year-old arriving in 1961 New York City. Shedding light on his relationship with his hero Woody Guthrie (Scoot McNairy) and other folk music legends, A Complete Unknown charts his rise to fame and the controversy around his musical shift. The film also stars Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo, Edward Norton as Pete Seeger and Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash. Timothée was cast as Dylan back in 2020, when it was announced that James Mangold would direct Jay Cocks' script, which he re-wrote.
The Independent
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Bob Dylan to showcase 'emotional' paintings in London
Bob Dylan will showcase paintings that were created with 'emotional resonance' in London. The Nobel Prize for Literature winner, 83, will bring 97 original works featuring characters, objects and scenarios to the Halcyon Gallery at 148 New Bond Street. His solo show Point Blank, which captures people playing instruments, couples, sportsmen and women, along with rooms and places, is based on original sketches created between 2021 and 2022. These drawings were then painted over with colours, to create 'living, breathing entities that have emotional resonance, colours used as weapons and mood setters, a means of storytelling', Dylan says. 'The idea was not only to observe the human condition, but to throw myself into it with great urgency,' he said. The drawing studies show a mirror which displays a set of lips, a saxophonist looking introspectively at his instrument and a cowboy whose pistol hangs on his belt in front of a rising sun. Some of the drawings have been reworked as blue, red and neutral monochromatic studies, which may hark back to Pablo Picasso's early Blue Period. The Point Blank series started as a book of 'quick studies' that also includes accompanying prose. Kate Brown, creative director at Halcyon, said: 'These works on paper feel like memories, intangible windows into the life and imagination of one of the greatest storytellers who ever lived. ' People who attend the exhibition will discover that they provoke stories from our imagination. We consider the circumstances of the protagonists and ponder our movement through the spaces that the artist depicts.' Dylan previously had an exhibition at a Halcyon Gallery for his Drawn Blank Series, featuring graphite drawings he made while he was travelling between Europe and the Americas from 1989 to 1992 and later reworked with paint. He has said his works are a way to 'relax and refocus a restless mind' amid busy touring schedules. Paul Green, president and founder of Halcyon, said: 'It is nearly 18 years since Halcyon first started working with Bob Dylan and it has been an extraordinary experience to watch this cultural icon develop into such a critically revered and important visual artist so closely. 'This latest body of paintings feels like a more intimate connection to the artist than in any of his previous work and it is a great privilege to share them with the public for the first time.' Dylan, who has won 10 Grammys and been nominated 38 times, is one of the most acclaimed songwriters, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. His songs have been recorded more than 6,000 times, with artists as varied as The Byrds, Jimi Hendrix and Adele finding both commercial and critical success with covers. Dylan began his career in 1962 with the single Mixed-Up Confusion, which failed to chart in the UK or the US – before hitting stardom with a string of singles in 1965, including The Times They Are A-Changin', Subterranean Homesick Blues and Like A Rolling Stone. This period of his newfound fame was recently covered in 2024 biopic A Complete Unknown starring Timothee Chalamet as the influential folk singer. It follows Dylan's early days in the 1960s, culminating in his controversial performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, after he had gone electric, and was nominated for eight Oscars and six Baftas. The free exhibition Bob Dylan: Point Blank will open at 148 New Bond Street on May 9.
