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India Today
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
7 best anime films and shows for those who have no idea about the genre
Anime can be a tricky watch for some. Most people watch anime because they are already fans of the show's manga (Japanese comics) or because they have heard about the show. And others? They are mostly confused about what to watch because they are bombarded with so much information. Anime fans talk about it so much that you might believe it's a cult. So here's a guide on how to join the said 'cult'.advertisementHere are the seven best anime films and shows for beginners. Whether you're into heart-melting romance, thrilling mystery, or hilarious family chaos, there's something here for you.1. Your Name (Film) If you don't want to commit to the genre and just test the waters, then this fantasy film is the perfect pick for you. It is about a boy in Tokyo and a girl in a small town who start waking up in each other's bodies. It's weird, magical, and strangely you think anime is just robots and screaming, 'Your Name' will change your mind. It's beautifully animated, romantic without being cheesy, and packed with emotion. The kind that leaves you staring at the ceiling afterwards, wondering about time, fate, and if you'd recognise your soulmate in another body. It calls out the inner hopeless romantic in you. 2. Kiki's Delivery Service (Film)This is a cult classic. Kiki is a young witch who moves to a seaside town and starts a delivery service with her flying is perfect for beginners because it's gentle, charming and full of wholesome vibes. Made by Studio Ghibli (basically the Disney of Japan), it's a lovely little comfort film with stunning hand-drawn animation. There's no fighting, no shouting - just a sweet coming-of-age story that makes you feel warm inside. 3. A Whisker Away (Film)If you're looking for something cute, then 'A Whisker Away' is for you. In this film, a teenage girl turns into a cat to get closer to the boy she likes. But it gets deeper than you'd weird in the best way. It explores teen feelings, identity, and loneliness, but with magical cat masks and dreamy visuals. If you want a film that feels like a hug and makes you question your entire teenage diary, this one's it. 4. Death Note (Series)In this series, a high school student finds a mysterious notebook that lets him kill anyone just by writing their name. This is for thriller lovers. If you're into clever plot twists, cat-and-mouse mind games, and moral grey areas, this one's addictive. You'll find yourself torn between cheering for the genius protagonist and wondering if he's slowly losing the plot. Plus, it's only 37 episodes. Easy to binge. advertisement5. Naruto (Series)If you're wondering where it all started, and by it, I mean the cult, then I have only one word for you: 'Naruto'. It is a series about a boy named Naruto who is a loud, hyper ninja kid with a mysterious beast sealed inside him. He just wants people to notice him. Also, he dreams of becoming the strongest ninja in the village. This one's for anyone who loves epic underdog stories. It's packed with action, character growth, and emotional arcs that'll sneak up on you. Yes, it's long, but it's also one of the most iconic anime ever made. You'll start with the ninja fights and stay for the friendships and surprisingly deep lessons.6. Spy X Family (Series)It is a fairly recent anime where a spy, an assassin, and a telepath pretend to be a normal family. None of them know the others' secrets. Chaos obviously funny, stylish, and surprisingly heartwarming. The little girl (Anya) is a fan favourite, she reads minds and says the most hilarious things. This anime balances action with comedy and family feels, making it super easy to get into, even if you've never watched anime before. advertisement7. Jujutsu Kaisen (Series)Another cult-classic is 'Jujutsu Kaisen' where a high schooler swallows a cursed finger (don't ask) and ends up becoming the host of a terrifying demon. Now he fights curses with other sorcerers to protect one is for those who love fast-paced action and a bit of horror. The fight scenes? Gorgeous. The characters? Endearing. The humour? Sharp. Jujutsu Kaisen is a modern favourite and an exciting ride from episode one. Bonus: It's got some pretty quotable moments. Think of this list as your anime starter pack, a mix of heart, humour, action, and magic to ease you in. You don't need to know every cultural reference or understand Japanese to enjoy these stories. You just need a bit of curiosity and maybe a cosy you watch your first anime and get hooked (because you will), you'll see it's not just 'cartoons', it's storytelling at its most creative. Some of these will make you laugh out loud, others might hit a little too close to home. But that's the magic of anime: it sneaks up on you. Bonus tip: Watch with subtitles (not dub) for the best experience. Trust me.- EndsMust Watch
Business Insider
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
My daughter was struggling to read. A private tutor didn't help, but glasses did.
Our daughter had low reading marks despite having a strong work ethic. We hired a private tutor and doubled her teaching, but neither helped. We finally realized learning wasn't the issue. She couldn't physically see the words. My daughter Rylie loves to get lost in otherworlds. In print, she soars the skies with "Phoebe and Her Unicorn." On screen, she wades through the swaying hand-drawn grass of "Kiki's Delivery Service." And, together, we kick it into hyperspace to cruise the galaxy in " Star Wars." There are no limits to where she's excited to explore. It wasn't always like this, though. Rylie turned 8 this June. Just 14 months ago, she couldn't read. Plus, as we found out later, she had been missing key elements of the worlds that wowed her in books and movies. That all changed with a conversation that had my wife and me wondering how we missed the signs of her struggles for so long. Rylie's reading struggle surprised us Rylie is an intelligent child. She retains song lyrics and grasps complex game rules. She can quickly end a fight between my wife and me by replaying word-for-word the conversation we had the day before. Yet, at age 6, she could not read. Rylie's teacher raved about her work ethic and overall educational acumen. Rylie clearly had the drive and the tools, yet her reading marks were low. My wife and I could not understand why she struggled. We doubled down with more teaching and hired a private tutor for $60 an hour, once a week. Rylie's language skills improved, but she didn't make a breakthrough with her reading. That changed with one question. Rylie's issue came into focus The first "aha" moment came one spring day when my wife volunteered in Rylie's first-grade class. After school, I joined them. That's when my wife asked Rylie, "What is the word of the day written on the chalkboard?" "What do you mean, 'What word?'" my wife and I asked. "I can't see the words," Rylie said without emotion. Everything came into focus on our end. "Oh! You need glasses!" we said gleefully in unison. Rylie's eye-opening revelation We took Rylie to an optometrist who confirmed what we'd suspected: Rylie struggled to read because she struggled to see. The doctor diagnosed her with moderate myopia, aka nearsightedness. After she got glasses, Rylie's reading marks went up from below average to reading at the level of her classmates. Her math and writing marks have also gone up. I wish I'd taken a picture of Rylie putting on her glasses for the first time. She had a permagrin as the world around her shifted into focus. That weekend, we rewatched one of her favorite movies, "Star Wars: A New Hope." During the attack on the Death Star near the end, she hollered out, "Wow, there's so much going on in the background!" My wife and I locked eyes as we realized Rylie's vision kept her from seeing beyond the central characters in movies. It was another aha moment for me. I write about family films for Rotten Tomatoes, SlashFilm, and Not Another Kid Movie. While Rylie has seen many more films than the average child, she's missed a lot of the details. Because of this, we're rewatching a lot of films. Her eyes move from corner to corner in amazement. I watch her dazzled eyes with equal dazzled amazement. What parents should look for Looking back, there's one more clue I didn't notice that other parents should keep an eye out for. Rylie used to get sick on car rides. Sometimes, a mere 20 minutes would make her stomach lurch. The discomfort was caused by a sensory mismatch. Her brain sensed motion, but her eyes struggled to focus on anything outside the car. The more she looked inside than out, the dizzier she got. Now, with her glasses keeping her eyes focused and not blurry, she rarely gets sick, even on Oregon's winding coastal roads. If I could go back, I'd ask my pediatrician for more specialized testing to earn Rylie back several years missed exploring the world around her, both in reality and in her stories. She's making up for it, though. Rylie reads before and after school—graphic novels and chapter books. She asks for movies with powerful cinematography and expansive effects like twisted alien landscapes and bustling animated metropolises, details she couldn't see before. I happily oblige, sharing the fictional worlds I roamed as a kid and getting a tour of the new worlds she's discovered thanks to her new glasses.
Time Out
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
You can get free tickets to this weekend's Studio Ghibli film fest in L.A.—here's how
If the Venn diagram of your tastes has an overlap between Los Angeles, animation legend Hayao Miyazaki and UNIQLO clothes, it's your lucky week. "My Dear," the third collaboration between UNIQLO and Studio Ghibli, dropped Thursday, July 10 with 14 new designs expressing 'emblematic Ghibli works, along with works by Thai artist Kanyada Phatan and Studio Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki,' according to a press release. Hardcore L.A. fans looking to grab an item from "My Dear" and willing to make the trek to the UNIQLO store at Century City or Glendale today, July 10 or tomorrow, July 11 have an additional opportunity to enjoy Studio Ghibli films: Their purchase of two items will include an exclusive free ticket (with a plus one included!) to a Studio Ghibli movie screening at Brain Dead Studios in the Fairfax District. (Note: Customers can get up to two sets of tickets each, equaling four tickets total.) The screenings begin at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 12 with Spirited Away, followed by Kiki's Delivery Service at 3:15 p.m., and Howl's Moving Castle at 5:30 p.m. Disappointingly, no word on whether wearing your new swag will score a discount on concessions. View this post on Instagram A post shared by UNIQLO UT (@ The entire collection is now available online and in stores, featuring adults and kids T-shirts and sweatshirts with art inspired by eight Studio Ghibli films: Howl's Moving Castle, My Neighbor Tortoro, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Kiki's Delivery Service, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, The Boy and the Heron, and Pom Poko. The previous collaborations came out in 2022 and 2023, making "My Dear" the first drop since The Boy and the Heron won the Oscar for Best Animated Film at the 2024 Academy Awards. Founded in 1985 by filmmakers Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli has produced 25 animated feature films, including three of Japan's highest-grossing films of all time: Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle and Ponyo. In 2001, the studio opened the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo, designed by Hayao Miyazaki himself.
Geek Girl Authority
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: KIKI
Welcome to this week's installment of Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week, wherein we spotlight strong women and non-binary folks who inspire us. These characters are prime examples of empowerment and how crucial it is for youth to have said examples to follow. Kiki Fast Facts Kiki is the titular main character of the beloved Studio Ghibli film Kiki's Delivery Service . The 1989 animated movie follows the young witch-in-training, who leaves home after her 13th birthday to practice her craft alongside her trusty black cat (and best friend), Jiji. Though flying is the only skill she's learned, she's eager to offer her services in a new place. And she does just that. She soon arrives in the seaside town of Koriko, where the film's themes of coming of age and finding your purpose shine through. Kiki quickly learns that settling in won't be an easy task. She's turned away from a hotel, and many of the folks around town are put off by the aspiring witch, despite her good intentions. Apart from a local boy named Tombo, that is. With a passion for flying himself, he's inspired by Kiki from the moment he spots her on her broom. RELATED: The Final Battle Begins in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle Trailer Fortunately, a kind woman named Osono takes Kiki and Jiji in, offering them a place to stay in exchange for their service at the bakery. On Kiki's broom, the pair swiftly deliver baked goods and other gifts to customers all over town. They go above and beyond by lending a helping hand in other ways, too. The Real Deal Kiki is the real deal. She never turns down a job and does everything in her power to see a challenge through. When she loses a gift on a delivery, she asks Jiji to stand in as the stuffed toy until she can return the lost item. In her search, Kiki befriends the artist Ursula, who found the toy among a flock of upset crows. After waiting patiently for Ursula to stitch it up, Kiki heads back and makes the switch. She does her best to help out a customer, even when it conflicts with her invitation to join Tombo at the aviation club. She gets held up while waiting for a pie to bake and races to deliver it in the rain. Kiki arrives right on time, but the young customer isn't happy with the gift her grandmother sent along with the witch. To make matters worse, Kiki misses the club meeting and winds up with a cold. RELATED: Here Are the Films and Dates for Studio Ghibli Fest 2025 Luckily, Osono pulls some strings to arrange for Kiki to meet with Tombo again. The two bond over their mutual love for flying. But their outing is cut short when Tombo's friends arrive, and Kiki is disappointed. Soon after, she wakes up to discover that she no longer has the ability to fly or understand Jiji. Growing Pains Kiki's Delivery Service is all about growing up. Like any teenager, Kiki struggles with fitting in. We see this when she's feeling insecure about her traditional black dress and her worn shoes, and again when she hesitates to join Tombo's friends. She wants to be like other kids, but feels that she's just too different. These feelings lead Kiki to lose sight of the gifts that make her unique. She confides in Ursula, who tells the witch all about a bad case of artist's block she once had. Ursula would spend all her time painting until one day, she just couldn't. She'd try, but felt that nothing she did was any good; her paintings looked like copies of other paintings she'd seen. She tells Kiki she had to figure out what and why she wanted to paint to discover her own style. That's when Kiki comes to the realization that she needs to find her own inspiration to learn to fly again. RELATED: Anime Roundup: Everything Coming Out in June 2025 Why She Matters Why does Kiki matter? Instead of changing herself to fit in, she carves out a place in the world to be herself and take pride in her gifts. It takes resolve, newfound inspiration and accepting the things that make her different for Kiki to find her magic again, even if it means Jiji is no longer her only friend. But that's part of growing up, and Kiki's Delivery Service speaks to young audiences who've faced the same struggles. Ultimately, Kiki's determination and the lessons she learns on the job in a new place are what help her rediscover her ability to fly. In finding herself, she's also able to save Tombo when a blimp takes the young boy up in the air with no way to get down. At the last moment, Kiki swoops in on her broom and catches her new friend. RELATED: Looking for another crush? Check out our Geek Girl Authority Crushes of the Week So, be like Kiki. When a task gets tough, don't get down on yourself. Failure and moments of self-doubt are facts of life; they don't define you. Facing hardship doesn't mean you're not good enough. In looking at challenges as opportunities to get creative, find your magic and help out where you're really needed. We can always learn something new. In the end, this leads us back to ourselves and to the people who care about us. You can stream Kiki's Delivery Service , subtitled and dubbed, on Max. GGA's Favorite Fandom Cookbooks Gift Guide Olivia Rolls (she/her) is a weekly contributor at GGA, specializing in cozy games, anime and all things horror. Her byline has appeared at publications like The Mary Sue, The Escapist, GameSkinny and more. When she's not writing deep dives on her favorite games, shows, movies or characters, she's probably yapping about the latest pop culture trends or catching up on another Pokémon playthrough. E-mail professional inquiries to [email protected]. You can also find Olivia on Bluesky and LinkedIn.
The Hindu
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
40 years on: the wonderful world of Studio Ghibli
Studio Ghibli films have always had a special place in the childhoods of those who grew up watching them. Whether it was hopping on a Catbus on a rainy day (My Neighbour Totoro, 1988), soaring above the clouds on a broom to deliver freshly baked goods (Kiki's Delivery Service, 1989), or warily eyeing the pigs outside a bathhouse (Spirited Away, 2001) — these are the images that stay with you long after the screen goes dark. The animation studio, which recently turned 40, continues to be in the spotlight. Recently, Studio Ghibli's popularity has skyrocketed and, like most animated styles, it has progressed into mainstream media — with people flaunting its merchandise, available in stores and on the pavements of most Indian metros. Ghibli films are regularly screened in these cities, too. Most recently, AI can now mimic the style with unsettling accuracy. The irony — that every Studio Ghibli film takes years to bring to life, with each frame painstakingly hand-drawn, and that Hayao Miyazaki himself is famously anti-AI — seems to be lost on users as they upload their photos for a Ghibli-style render. Behind the longevity But what is it about Studio Ghibli's creations that captures public imagination? Is it the animated worlds that are simple and uncomplicated; the protagonists who are easy to empathise with; intricate depictions of sweeping mountains, mechanical castles, and lush green forests; or the unmistakable expressions of joy, sadness, anger, frustration, and disappointment etched into the expressive faces of its characters? There is no black and white in Ghibli's worlds — the villains have their reasons and are always redeemable. Maybe it's the feeling of nostalgia, the sense of familiarity, the childhood memories stored deep in the recesses of your mind, and the emotions they evoke. All of this contributes to Studio Ghibli's universal appeal. Of course, one could take a more cynical view and attribute the recent burst in popularity and interest to the aesthetic churned out by algorithms. Either way, there's something about Studio Ghibli that clings to your mind like a particularly stubborn soot sprite. Perhaps it's because beneath the deceptively simple narratives lie deeper themes that offer profound philosophical food for thought. Miyazaki and modernisation Miyazaki's disdain for technology and modernisation is evident throughout his films. He has famously stated that 'modern life is so thin and shallow and fake — I look forward to when developers go bankrupt, Japan gets poorer and wild grasses take over'. While this vision may not reflect reality, he weaves this imagery into his films, particularly in Princess Mononoke, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, and My Neighbour Totoro, where forests abound and grasslands stretch endlessly. Princess Mononoke centres on environmentalism, portraying it in a way that forces the viewer to confront the inevitability of industrialisation. As much as one may not want it to happen, it must — and finding a middle ground becomes the only viable solution. Nausicaä, meanwhile, navigates a world transformed into a toxic wasteland, as she searches for a solution. Both San (Princess Mononoke) and Nausicaä inhabit worlds scarred by war. While San, the wolf princess, fights to protect her beloved home from further deforestation and industrialisation, Nausicaä takes a more peaceful approach. In Howl's Moving Castle, themes of pacifism are more explicit, set against the constant echoes of war that linger throughout the film. Despite Howl's abhorrence of war, the wizard is forced to become a tool of destruction, even at the cost of losing his humanity. The image of Sophie, the protagonist, standing in a meadow of flowers while war rages around her highlights the stark contrast between the ugliness of war and the fragile beauty of nature. Strong, fearless women Most of Ghibli's films feature female protagonists — whether children like Satsuki and Mei (My Neighbour Totoro), Kiki (Kiki's Delivery Service), and Chihiro (Spirited Away); young women like Nausicaä and San; or even Sophie (Howl's Moving Castle), who ages and then returns to youth. Unlike Disney's princesses, they are their own knights in shining armour, facing the world head on. All of them demonstrate resilience, courage, and an unyielding hope. No matter how daunting the task or how bleak the future, they either find a silver lining or create one themselves. The younger protagonists especially show wisdom beyond their years, yet paradoxically retain their innocence and wide-eyed wonder. It is not that Ghibli lacks male protagonists, but rather that they inevitably fall short in comparison. Drawing from life Miyazaki, like many artists, often draws inspiration from real-life experiences. For instance, he travelled to Alsace, France, to study European architecture and aesthetics for Howl's Moving Castle. He also sent his animators to the vet to observe how to give medicine to a dog, which they then translated into animating a dragon in Spirited Away. There's a recurring theme of chronic illness in several of Miyazaki's films. In The Wind Rises, we meet Naoko, who suffers from tuberculosis. In My Neighbour Totoro, Satsuki and Mei's mother is hospitalised while the sisters explore Totoro's forest. This mirrors Miyazaki's own childhood experience, when his mother was hospitalised due to spinal tuberculosis. Despite theories about the underlying symbolism in his films, Miyazaki's stance is clear: 'I don't have much patience for calculating and intellectualising anymore. It has to do with the times. Nobody knows everything. Nobody knows what's going to happen. So, my conclusion is, don't try to be too smart and wise. Why does anybody feel the way they do? Why is somebody depressed? Or angry? Even if you have a therapist, you're never going to figure it out. You're not going to solve it.' Contrary to rumours of his imminent retirement after The Boy and the Heron, Miyazaki, now 84, shows no sign of slowing down. Since his films are hand-drawn, it's understandable that they take years to complete. If Clint Eastwood can continue directing films at 95, then what's stopping Miyazaki? The writer and journalist is based in Mumbai.
