Latest news with #Lovecraftian
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Demon Slayer's most tragic villain didn't choose to be evil
Demon Slayer's most tragic villain didn't choose to be evil Credit-Fandom If you've only just joined the world of Demon Slayer , you may assume that the demons in this series are simply emotionless killing machines. The truth is, many of them have surprisingly tragic backstories—including one of the very first villains, the Hand Demon . As frightful as he was to behold, his background narrates a sad story of bereavement, treachery and metamorphosis. This initial arc in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba makes it clear that even the most terrifying antagonists weren't always so malicious—they used to be humans filled with emotions, families, and aspirations. Operation Sindoor After Pak dials India, both sides agree to stop firing; top military officials to talk on May 12 'Armed forces remain operationally ready': India after ceasefire announcement 'Any future act of terror will ...': India's big stand against Pak Who was the hand demon in Demon Slayer During his last examination to become a fully-fledged demon slayer, Tanjiro Kamado , the hero of the first season of Demon Slayer, fights the Hand Demon. It was unique among the show's various demons—not just for his Lovecraftian appearance, but for his icy hatred and especially for his heartbreaking origin story. The Hand Demon's body was hideously misshapen, with dozens of extra arms, giving him the ability to move and attack unnaturally viciously. Underneath that horror was a crushed soul. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Want Lower Bills Without Changing a Thing? elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo Innocent child to wild beast When the Hand Demon was just an ordinary boy, he fell in love with his older brother, whom he served as a maid. As a kid, he was very anxious, and would keep asking his older brother to hold his hand whenever he was scared. Everything changed when the Demon King Muzan Kibutsuji forced him to become a demon during the Edo period. Like all highborn demons in the series, he was now required to consume humans to stay alive. His very first victim? His very own brother. In those years, the humanity of that boy was erased. His desire to consume human flesh increased and his physical form then transformed into a horrifying state. The recently transformed demon earned a reputation as perhaps the deadliest fiend on the slopes of Mount Fujikasane, the traditional stomping ground for young demon slayer trainees taking their last rite of passage. Toxic legacy trapped and forgotten for decades The first of these, the Hand Demon, was defeated by Sakonji Urokodaki, the last Water Hashira (one of the elite-ranked demon slayers). Rather than kill him, Sakonji imprisoned him atop the mountain surrounded by wisteria flowers—which demons cannot cross. The plan was to use him as a litmus test for potential demon slayer recruits, but that went horribly awry. Held captive for 47 years, the Hand Demon fostered a seething, escalating rage toward Sakonji. He eventually started hunting down and assassinating everyone he had trained—particularly those under Sakonji's tutelage who donned Sakonji's trademark fox masks. Before long, the demon had killed 13 of Sakonji's pupils, most notably the talented warrior Sabito, who attempted to save Tanjiro in spirit before his own death. A house of despair mortality A heartbreaking conclusion the final battle against Tanjiro When Tanjiro finally defeats the Hand Demon, it's one of the more nuanced, sympathetic demises in shonen history, as viewers learn just how broken and bitter the demon has become. He lashes out in anger, not only to stay alive but to destroy. Tanjiro, unlike most of his demon slaying contemporaries, can't fight with hatred. He cannot bear to look away when he sees the sadness in the demon's eyes. After a brutal struggle, Tanjiro is able to decapitate the Hand Demon. Rather than celebrating, he tenderly takes the demon's hand in his own as he dies—just like the charming brother he once loved. Now in her final moments, the Hand Demon recalls what life was like before, when her name was Kuniko. He remembers his brother's hand in the warmth of his palm, and the tears puddle as he turns to dust. Tanjiro prays for him, wishing that if he does get reincarnated then maybe he can be reincarnated as a kind human, instead of being burdened by the hell-ish fate of being a demon. Why this story resonates so deeply Demon Slayer is primarily about action and sword fighting, stories like the Hand Demon's help us remember that even villains have an emotional core and pain. Instead of portraying demons as uniformly evil creatures, the show dedicates time to how many were just victims themselves. When the Hand Demon's story plays out, it's a vivid reminder that even during the most horrific times, empathy and kindness still shine through, and that's what makes all of Demon Slayer so incredible. Where to watch Demon Slayer You can now stream Demon Slayer. Demon Slayer on Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Hulu (check local listings). The Hand Demon is featured early in Season 1 as part of Tanjiro's final selection arc. It is a must-watch episode filled with as much emotion as it is with action. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . And don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
GTA 6's preposterously gorgeous second trailer has me thinking 'no-one does it like Rockstar' isn't just a compliment, but an omen
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. As you might've noticed by the titanic, earthquake-causing footsteps of an industry giant rolling over in its year-long delay slumber, Grand Theft Auto 6 has dropped a new trailer. And while my rational mind wants to put 'it's a doozy', here, I feel like that's a colossal understatement. Far from just likely melting your computer, GTA 6 looks gorgeous in a way that defies the series' open world scale. The wrinkles on Jason's shirt, the hyper-realism of the evening light playing off the bars on a state prison, the little cracks and imperfections of a 'keep clear' sign that's been artificially made to endure the wear and tear of the dysfunctional society the game's parodying. Even the beer bottles are a new tier of impressive, because why not. I get the same feeling watching this trailer that an Arctic researcher might watching a Lovecraftian horror breach the briny waves. I'm a sailor torn out of the golden age of piracy, staring at a picture of a cruise liner and wondering how it floats. I'm an ant being introduced to the concept of a lawnmower. If I sound like I'm being up this game's fundament, I sort of am—but when some of my colleagues say "no-one does it like Rockstar", I can't help but think of that phrase as an omen of some kind, said in the way you might say: "In his house at R'lyeh dead Cthulhu waits dreaming". This 13-years-in-development creature just isn't something that exists in the normal constraints of the gaming industry. I mean—despite my uneasy feelings and paranoia, borne out of a job that has me able to recite a dozen crushing layoffs from memory, it's clear that big-budget games aren't dead just yet. Assassin's Creed Shadows did quite well for itself, and the big-names in Japan are doing alright. Well, they would be, if tariffs weren't happening. There are also plenty of heavyweight studios with irons in the fire—the next Witcher from CD Projekt Red'll likely shake the firmament, and Death Stranding 2 is looking similarly gorgeous and mystifying. But we're also in the twilight years of several industry giants. While Ubisoft clings on after an extended slump, Rocksteady wobbles after Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Bioware is unrecognisable, and probably won't be making a Dragon Age game again with how much institutional knowledge EA just shed. Bethesda kinda doesn't know how to make a Bethesda game anymore. Every mainline Final Fantasy title Square Enix makes is utterly gorgeous, and unfailingly behaving below expectations anyway. I don't think doom is coming for Rockstar, not in the slightest—it might not even be coming for big-budget games from traditional publishers. But still, there's something in the air. As far as Take-Two is concerned, GTA Online has a thick enough bankroll for the company to take its sweet time. Similarly, when GTA 6 does hit in 2026 (probably), it'll likely be one of the most successful videogames ever made. There's a reason anyone else making games is scrambling to get out from under its shadow. There's also the darker side of the Rockstar pedigree that allows it to do, well, this—Red Dead Redemption 2 had a similar level of proportionately boggling scope, and that game was built off the back of "death march" crunch. Rockstar's promised to be better, and it very well may have done so. Still, even if things've changed, the path Take-Two took to get here isn't a pleasant one. But I think we can agree it's a unique beast, right? Who else gets to comfortably sit on a pile of money while taking 13 entire years to make their next instalment? And who, gosh darnit, is doing it like Rockstar? I can name some studios that're getting close, but if this trailer's any indication, they'll be left two steps behind once more. We'll just have to see. I'm not entirely convinced that blockbusters are on their way out, but if GTA 6 delivers on even two-thirds of the sheer detail and scope it's promising in these trailers, it'll be an architectural marvel, non-Euclidian and impossible to craft for anyone but the big R. And if trends continue, it might be another 14 years before we get anything like it—and who knows where we'll be in 2040. GTA 6: Everything we knowGTA 5 mods: Revved upGTA 5 cheats: Phone it inGTA 6 cars: The lineupSan Andreas cheats: All the codes
Buzz Feed
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
16 Photos That SEEM Scary At First, But Don't Worry — It's A Trick
1. This murder scene is actually the aftermath of some strawberry smoothies spilling into the restaurant walk-in. 2. And don't worry — this cat isn't actually missing a leg. 3. This is not a scene out of The Shining — it's a computer server that someone (poorly) chose to wire with all red cables. 4. This is actually not some kind of Lovecraftian horror hiding in the bathtub. 5. And this bed is not a crime scene — the sheets just have a rose print on them. 6. TEETH — no, peppers. 7. This poor beheaded dog! 8. Oh no, the giant insects are attacking! 9. Breaking News: Local Couple Finds Mummified Hand In Garden (jk, it's a sweet potato). 10. Oh no, the Grim Reaper is on my lawn! Wait, no, that's a plant. 11. What is this alien creature lying in wait on the bed?! Ah. Never mind. 12. My god, they've stolen mummified remains! Oops, nvm. 13. Uhhh, this person should really get their infected heel checked out. Never mind. Delicious! 14. Imagine seeing a gorilla on your living room camera... ...and then finding this. 15. This person thought a man was waiting to jump them on the construction site... ...But nope. u/Low_Letter1739 / Via 16. And finally, this one-eyed alien sphere... u/Rorschach1944 / Via Is actually a lil' puppy! u/Rorschach1944 / Via
Japan Times
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Japan's second city is hosting a $66 billion coming-out party
Osaka's World Expo opens to the public on Sunday, following years of negative headlines — from budget overruns and calls for its cancellation, to methane explosions and concerns over its bizarre, many-eyed Lovecraftian mascot. First held in London in 1851, world expos have been promoted as venues to bring nations together and foster global coordination. But for Japan's second city, this is a coming-out party, a $66 billion gamble showcasing its transformation into a region that's becoming a magnet for Asia's cash. It would be charitable to say even that it divides public opinion, though. A relentless drip of doom-mongering, from countries dropping out to towns boycotting it over safety fears, has soured public opinion. In surveys, some 70% say they're not interested, and even in Osaka, where locals love to one-up Tokyo, most were little fussed. Yet the gloomy predictions that have dogged the exhibition since it was awarded in 2018 haven't come to pass. After delays, the construction work has been largely completed and the narrative moved on to ticket sales. Organizers aim to attract about 28 million guests, but advance demand has been lackluster. But that skepticism will pass once the expo gets under way, as it always does. It can show that there's still a place for such grand affairs in 2025 — and that it can leave a legacy for a frequently overlooked region. I've experienced this hand-wringing before, when the 2005 Expo was held in Aichi. The last such event Japan hosted, there were similar concerns before it began, but it attracted more visitors than expected and even returned a modest profit. But go further back and even the 1970 Expo — also held in Osaka and now universally regarded fondly as a symbol of the postwar boom times — faced opposition. That included one protester who staged an eight-day hunger strike on the Tower of the Sun, artist Taro Okamoto's iconic symbol. The typically talkative Osaka taxi driver who ferried me to the 2025 venue on the man-made island of Yumeshima told me his family was swimming in tickets for this year's expo, with sponsors giving them away to employees to drum up support. Nonetheless, he expected public opinion would come around just as it had in 1970. As an elementary schooler at the time, his fondest memory was his first Kentucky Fried Chicken, which debuted in Japan at the extravaganza. There will be no KFC this time, though: We live in a different world, a smaller one where once-exotic foods are commonplace, international travel is widely available and you don't need to attend an expo to experience life in "faraway countries' like Czechia or Saudi Arabia, two of the nations with lavish pavilions. Indeed, some exhibits seemed rather lame for 2025: The static robots of the android-based Future of Life exhibition are no match for today's kung-fu kicking, machine-learning automatons, while Japan Airlines' flying car experience disappointingly featured no actual flying cars. But there is plenty to impress, especially the venue's centerpiece Grand Ring, the 2-kilometer roof and skywalk that's the largest wooden structure in the world. Indeed, the development of the area will be its legacy. Yumeshima began life as a project, commissioned with typical 1980's hubris, aiming to build a new city center in Osaka Bay on three artificial islands, a construction that was fueled by Osaka's claustrophobia. It was the smallest prefecture in the country until another man-made island, housing Kansai Airport, was completed in 1994. Yumeshima was intended to be home to 60,000 people. Instead, after the collapse of Japan's economic bubble, the islands ended up practically disused, dubbed a "bitter legacy' of the city's development, little more than a half-completed container terminal. Now, like the redevelopment of the city center, it can be a symbol of recovery. Lacking Tokyo's companies and tax revenue, Osaka has had to seek ways to differentiate itself, leaning into the weird and unconventional. The expo mascot Myaku-Myaku personifies this. Like many, I found the character and logo bizarre at first, but its unconventionality has grown on me. Osaka's risk-taking will be put to the test in Yumeshima's next project — Japan's first casino, the $8.7 billion resort by MGM Resorts International and Orix. After Japan sought to legalize casinos in the 2010s, Osaka went all-in to host one. While support in other regions has dried up due to public concern over gambling addiction, its resort is set to open in 2030. Much of the infrastructure developed for the expo will end up being used for foreign casino visitors. It's ironic that for all the talk of the future, expo sites are largely temporary: The city has yet to decide what will become of the venue, with proposals including building a stadium, a racing circuit or even housing. For an event that has the slogan of "designing future society,' it lacks long-term planning. And like the expo, expect the casino to generate negativity as its opening approaches. But I suspect those voices will fade. Foreign money is flowing in and as a historic center of merchants, Osaka seems better able to handle the headaches of tourism, so long as money is changing hands. Formerly vacant parts of the city are flourishing and white-elephant projects that once lay dormant, like Yumeshima, are being given new leases of life. The expo might indeed be an artifact of a different age and I expect this will be the last Japan will see of it for a while. But it gives a reason to look to the future. And perhaps that's what we need right now. Gearoid Reidy is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Japan and the Koreas.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fisherman horrified after catching baffling ‘alien' animal from the ocean depths
The sea is dark and full of terrors. There may or may not be water on Mars, but there are apparently Martians in the water. A fisherman is making waves after sharing footage of a bizarre, mystery sea creature that viewers have compared to an 'alien.' The clip was uploaded by Roman Fedortsov, a Russian trawlerman who photographs the sea monsters he's accidentally snagged while trolling in the deep, Jam Press reported. This bizarre bycatch, which the angler regularly posts for his over 600,000 Instagram followers, has included a toothsome wolffish, a critter with a Kardashian-evoking pout, and other animals whose existence suggests that our oceans might be as mysterious as deep space. His latest monster clip included footage of a gray, bulbous-looking animal sitting on the railing of his ship. Fedortsov identified the blob as a smooth lumpsucker, a species of marine ray-finned fish that grows to over a foot long and resides in the depths. The Lovecraftian critter caused quite a stir among Instagram users, who claimed it was evidence of extra-terrestrial existence. 'That is 100% an alien,' declared one viewer, while another wrote, 'That's the pet of aliens living underwater.' 'Kill it and burn it and don't ever catch one of those again!' advised a third. 'Fished in Chernobyl?' quipped one wit, while another wrote, 'Alien or predator?' Others compared the fish to various cranially-endowed characters from popular media, including 'Megamind,' the aliens from 'Mars Attacks' and brainiac baddie Krang from the 'Ninja Turtles' series. However, the fish's bloated body was likely not caused by a preternaturally-large cerebellum, but was rather a result of rapid pressurization changes during its journey to the surface. This isn't the first deep-sea denizen to make a splash of late. Earlier this month, Gen Z TikTok users were moved to tears over the saga of a small anglerfish that perished shortly after swimming to the surface.
