There is just _something_ about a door as a portal. It's a mundane object, bipeds step through many of them every day yet a closed door could have _anything_ behind it, good or bad, safe or dangerous. There is a temptation to open a door and step through into the forbidden place on the other side. Who knows what wonders are waiting on the other side.
I know right?? My favourite book series is the Dark Tower, and one of the books is all about those doors. There's something about it, something that makes me think any door could be magic if you just reach the right circunstances. I quite like this idea that mundane things can be inherently magical :) makes me look at the world differently
@@JoriamRamos Ah, I _love_ doors that are usually mundane but under some circumstances become portals. Ever since the wardrobe in "The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe" which was the first of this type I encountered.
I really liked this format as a way of 'reviewing' the film. There is a great deal of discussion of people advertising books solely on their tropes, and I think you took that idea and made it perfect by discussing themes alongside tropes. Great video, I will see if you have more like this.
You know what? You're absolutely right - sometimes 'talking about a book' is just listing a series of tropes, and while this is relevant info, it kinda bothers me how little I've been mentally stimulated by the end of those reviews. But alas, I also know my limitations - I don't think I'm the right person for critiques, but I might have something to add in terms of 'how you can enjoy X and Y even more' and this is what I'm trying to achieve here :) This video here was a new format, so you're gonna have to wait a little before the next 'Before you Watch' vid, but you'll see I have other videos about theming and what to look out for. Thanks for the comment! Hope to see you around :D
finally commenting after watching Suzume just an hour ago-- i'm so glad i was recommended this video essay of yours a few days ago, so that i would even know to keep an eye out for Suzume screenings this week! and these points of yours were so wonderful in guiding my experience, truly without giving too much away. the excerpt from Magic the Gathering is absolutely beautiful and i'll be tucking that in a new corner of my mind-- Suzume's magic also reminded me of the Fullmetal Alchemist (Brotherhood) final battle, with the great power needed to quell the conflict coming from honoring the memories/wills of the people who used to live in the place. oh and finally, thank you for noting that Shinkai originally intended Suzume to be a lesbian romance-- i loved watching it with a queer lens from the very start 😊
Wow, thanks for leaving this comment! This is fantastic - I'm so glad I could help in exactly the best way possible. It's rare that I get such direct feedback, details and all :)
this movie’s been popping up every on my internet feeds. FINE i’ll give it a watch.😂 i’m actually shocked i haven’t yet and also i love the idea of memory as a source of magic
Great video, really enjoyed your passion for this subject! Different to what I usually watch so hopefully that's a good sign YT is recommending your vids to a wider audience.
Hey, thanks for taking the time to write this comment :) I do hope YT shows me to more people who appreciate passionate takes, that's what this channel is all about.
I can't believe this video has less than 1 thousand views! Really well done, I'm subscribing! I saw the movie yesterday and looked for some analysis videos on TH-cam, maybe that's why your video was recommended to me. I'm so glad it was because the videos I've seen were so void of any soul, just robotic voice reading some AI generated text, I really enjoyed the energy that you gave this video! It gave me great insights too, I enjoy this movie even more now. Keep creating and good luck with your dreams!
hey, thank you for the kind words and welcome to the channel :) yes, I'm still a tiny tiny youtuber - but I'm trying to grow just praising amazing stories like Suzume, hope you stick around for other explorations :) Any other Suzume-like movies/books you enjoy?
11:22 … Ok, hear me out, as most any geek &/or gamer may of at least heard of it… Final Fantasy VII’s Lifestream. Literally everything is a memory… From magic/Materia, to the perception of time.
@@JoriamRamos 👀✨ Ok, firstly, within Final Fantasy there are currently 16 different mainline numbered titles, & a number of spin-off titles. The 1st was the then-company’s last attempt to pull themselves from out of the red/ending the company; thankfully, it was a success. Secondly, to answer your question, yes - within FF VII/7 (a game which debuted in 1997, so there’s 25+ years of potential spoilers for the OG or any of its other titles in the entire Compilation), Materia is crystallized memories from which magic is used by many in the world of Gaia. The planet’s Lifestream is the source of memories, magic, even perception of time/space. It’s very in depth & delicious lore. If you want to play the OG, & any of the rest of the Compilation titles, I’d play thru Ever Crisis (mobile game) as far as the chapters are dropped currently (if you get stuck on story, only then switch to other content grinding, & vice-versa; most content/systems are unlocked via story), & there’s always watching Advent Children(/AC) Complete along with its extras to get a better understanding of the OG, & the newer titles. The most recent titles in the Compilation are Remake (including Intergrade), being released at the end of February 2024: Rebirth, with an unnamed future title to “finish” the latest Re- trilogy. And as somewhat spoilery as it may be, { I cannot stress the emphasis on each Re- title being the intention of the antagonist Sephiroth in each said title. } Some gamers who grew up on the OG still have a hard time digesting AC even - much less the newest Re- trilogy due to clinging onto their idea of a 1:1 OG retelling with contemporary graphics. Believe me when I say the wilds of what ifs are the best place to be currently, as long as one keeps their eyes unclouded as Ashitaka in Princess Mononoke, & keeps their curiosity present. The fandom is alight, & practically an extension of the marketing team currently.😁 For the uninitiated, I found long ago that Marlene (is a young girl who survived the events in the OG, &) provides the opening monologue of the AC film, which hauntingly explains the gist of the OG, & the Lifestream all in one go: th-cam.com/video/XZDLhcls5d0/w-d-xo.htmlsi=RfB4XGUFH5sOON8U
@@JoriamRamos Lifestream does act as a source of magic for FF7, as its energy produces items (materia) which enable the use of the magic associated with the individual materia. For example, a Cure materia lets you use Cure magic. The lifestream is a naturally occurring energy found deep within the planet itself, which acts as its life and very essence. It is said to contain the emotions, memories and knowledge of everyone who has lived on the planet. The lifestream creates new life on the planet and when people die, they return to the lifestream and bring their emotions, memories and knowledge with them to start the cycle over again. While I don't really know what the "perception of time" part of OPs comment means, the fact that everything comes from the lifestream - which contains every memory of every living thing - means that everything is comprised of memories in a way. I don't think FF7 itself really leans into this idea as a central part of its narrative, but it is an interesting interpretation nonetheless. Great video by the way! 🙂
You know what? Depending on where you are, this can indeed be quite risky. I guess I was talking from the perspective of somebody who's been living in Berlin for a while and the risk is almost zero - but looking back at my Rio days, that would be something mad dangerous to do. Thanks for opening my eyes.
Spoilers below: Suzume is a great movie! Good analysis! I wonder, if the motifs of abandoned ruins and memories must always imply a catastrophy of some sort? I try to find an example of using those motifs to create some uncatastrophical theme, but... Can't think of any. So, maybe these are good only for stories about post-catastrophy trauma and similar stuff?
Not always, but if you consider a place as a home, for example, then most likely It will be a catastrophe or at least a trauma. But, if you change the meaning of "home", like nomad people, then the abandoned place does not have a trauma attached anymore.
I think this motif tends towards catastrophe for aesthetics reasons - it makes sense right? But at the same time, I imagine that if you shift perspective, the same aesthetic can suddenly change meanings as well. I know some indie games like Terra Nil and... hm I'm not remembering the name of the other one, but it was about a family of deer (?) reclaiming a previously human-occupied space. In those scenarios, the fact that it's abandoned becomes hopeful rather than gloomy, so there's storytelling potential here. Alas, I haven't yet explored this aesthetic, so I can't 100% vouch for it. Still, people like to play games about... people! Mostly. So I guess the strong association will remain intact, even if it can be flipped on its head from time to time :)
Magic is a real life concept, I think you all forget that, fantasy owes itself to it. just as sci-fi owes itself to real life scientific concepts. The difference, fantasy writers forget to pay homage.
Lesbian romance??? It was originally platonic friendship of 2 girls(student/mentor). But his group rejected it saying there NEEDS to be romance otherwise no one would watch it. Which he did end up doing, but carefully one-sided. I watched a Japanese person talk about it, he focused more of the reasoning behind making. Like how these abandoned places used to be where people lived, LOTS are real places that ppl abandoned due to natural disasters. Like the main character’s been through. Thats my favorite part about the movie. and really what the message of the movie is about.
Well, the interview I read made it very clear that it was supposed to be a romantic story between two women, not a platonic friendship. The word 'romance' was mentioned quite a few times. But what do I know? My Japanese is very basic, and I can't read the originals. I had to rely on translations. I really enjoy the abandoned places as a key exploration of the movie. As somebody who's very interested in urbex, I've felt that sensation a few times: "people used to live this, this used to be their corridor, their door, their room." It's a very niche, but much appreciated theme :)
I appreciate you appreciating my nose 😂 but currently I only own one decent mic, and it works best when I'm close to the camera. Sorry, but my overpowering nose shall continue to decimate the land of my video frames. Think of it as a temple to worldbuilding, with little nose people making blood sacrifices inside it.
calling it a Ghibli's successor is a overrated statement, the movie is boring one.. and there's a lot scenes that will make you say wtf are they doing? or are they stupid? or they should have done that at the beginning🤦♂️ srsly this is a overrated movie just because Makoto Shinkai directed it.. it doesn't mean that it will going to be good or great movie.
Of course you can disagree with me - my opinion is just that! An opinion, after all :) But I politely, yet decively disagree with you! Suzume conducted my emotions very well. I was entertained, touched and inspired by it - I guess I might have been exactly the target audience they were going for, while you were not. When I explore narratives, I'm rarely thinking about 'what makes sense' (I love the Discworld for crying out loud hehe), but instead I'm focusing on how the narrative makes me feel. I guess there's a place for that in media :)
There is just _something_ about a door as a portal. It's a mundane object, bipeds step through many of them every day yet a closed door could have _anything_ behind it, good or bad, safe or dangerous. There is a temptation to open a door and step through into the forbidden place on the other side. Who knows what wonders are waiting on the other side.
I know right??
My favourite book series is the Dark Tower, and one of the books is all about those doors. There's something about it, something that makes me think any door could be magic if you just reach the right circunstances.
I quite like this idea that mundane things can be inherently magical :) makes me look at the world differently
@@JoriamRamos Ah, I _love_ doors that are usually mundane but under some circumstances become portals. Ever since the wardrobe in "The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe" which was the first of this type I encountered.
@@ekij133 it might have been the first one ever!
And what an idea, huh? :)
I really liked this format as a way of 'reviewing' the film. There is a great deal of discussion of people advertising books solely on their tropes, and I think you took that idea and made it perfect by discussing themes alongside tropes.
Great video, I will see if you have more like this.
You know what? You're absolutely right - sometimes 'talking about a book' is just listing a series of tropes, and while this is relevant info, it kinda bothers me how little I've been mentally stimulated by the end of those reviews.
But alas, I also know my limitations - I don't think I'm the right person for critiques, but I might have something to add in terms of 'how you can enjoy X and Y even more' and this is what I'm trying to achieve here :)
This video here was a new format, so you're gonna have to wait a little before the next 'Before you Watch' vid, but you'll see I have other videos about theming and what to look out for. Thanks for the comment! Hope to see you around :D
finally commenting after watching Suzume just an hour ago-- i'm so glad i was recommended this video essay of yours a few days ago, so that i would even know to keep an eye out for Suzume screenings this week! and these points of yours were so wonderful in guiding my experience, truly without giving too much away. the excerpt from Magic the Gathering is absolutely beautiful and i'll be tucking that in a new corner of my mind-- Suzume's magic also reminded me of the Fullmetal Alchemist (Brotherhood) final battle, with the great power needed to quell the conflict coming from honoring the memories/wills of the people who used to live in the place.
oh and finally, thank you for noting that Shinkai originally intended Suzume to be a lesbian romance-- i loved watching it with a queer lens from the very start 😊
Wow, thanks for leaving this comment! This is fantastic - I'm so glad I could help in exactly the best way possible.
It's rare that I get such direct feedback, details and all :)
this movie’s been popping up every on my internet feeds. FINE i’ll give it a watch.😂 i’m actually shocked i haven’t yet and also i love the idea of memory as a source of magic
Come back here with some thoughts when you do :)
It's worth your time, I guarantee
Great video, really enjoyed your passion for this subject! Different to what I usually watch so hopefully that's a good sign YT is recommending your vids to a wider audience.
Hey, thanks for taking the time to write this comment :) I do hope YT shows me to more people who appreciate passionate takes, that's what this channel is all about.
I can't believe this video has less than 1 thousand views! Really well done, I'm subscribing!
I saw the movie yesterday and looked for some analysis videos on TH-cam, maybe that's why your video was recommended to me. I'm so glad it was because the videos I've seen were so void of any soul, just robotic voice reading some AI generated text, I really enjoyed the energy that you gave this video! It gave me great insights too, I enjoy this movie even more now. Keep creating and good luck with your dreams!
hey, thank you for the kind words and welcome to the channel :) yes, I'm still a tiny tiny youtuber - but I'm trying to grow just praising amazing stories like Suzume, hope you stick around for other explorations :)
Any other Suzume-like movies/books you enjoy?
Nice video!! I subscribed
Welcome to the channel :) hope to see you around
11:22 … Ok, hear me out, as most any geek &/or gamer may of at least heard of it…
Final Fantasy VII’s Lifestream.
Literally everything is a memory… From magic/Materia, to the perception of time.
I'm interested! What's lifestream? Is it a source of magic?
Sorry, I never explored the FF lore!
@@JoriamRamos 👀✨
Ok, firstly, within Final Fantasy there are currently 16 different mainline numbered titles, & a number of spin-off titles. The 1st was the then-company’s last attempt to pull themselves from out of the red/ending the company; thankfully, it was a success.
Secondly, to answer your question, yes - within FF VII/7 (a game which debuted in 1997, so there’s 25+ years of potential spoilers for the OG or any of its other titles in the entire Compilation), Materia is crystallized memories from which magic is used by many in the world of Gaia.
The planet’s Lifestream is the source of memories, magic, even perception of time/space. It’s very in depth & delicious lore.
If you want to play the OG, & any of the rest of the Compilation titles, I’d play thru Ever Crisis (mobile game) as far as the chapters are dropped currently (if you get stuck on story, only then switch to other content grinding, & vice-versa; most content/systems are unlocked via story), & there’s always watching Advent Children(/AC) Complete along with its extras to get a better understanding of the OG, & the newer titles.
The most recent titles in the Compilation are Remake (including Intergrade), being released at the end of February 2024: Rebirth, with an unnamed future title to “finish” the latest Re- trilogy.
And as somewhat spoilery as it may be, { I cannot stress the emphasis on each Re- title being the intention of the antagonist Sephiroth in each said title. }
Some gamers who grew up on the OG still have a hard time digesting AC even - much less the newest Re- trilogy due to clinging onto their idea of a 1:1 OG retelling with contemporary graphics. Believe me when I say the wilds of what ifs are the best place to be currently, as long as one keeps their eyes unclouded as Ashitaka in Princess Mononoke, & keeps their curiosity present. The fandom is alight, & practically an extension of the marketing team currently.😁
For the uninitiated, I found long ago that Marlene (is a young girl who survived the events in the OG, &) provides the opening monologue of the AC film, which hauntingly explains the gist of the OG, & the Lifestream all in one go:
th-cam.com/video/XZDLhcls5d0/w-d-xo.htmlsi=RfB4XGUFH5sOON8U
@@JoriamRamos Lifestream does act as a source of magic for FF7, as its energy produces items (materia) which enable the use of the magic associated with the individual materia. For example, a Cure materia lets you use Cure magic.
The lifestream is a naturally occurring energy found deep within the planet itself, which acts as its life and very essence. It is said to contain the emotions, memories and knowledge of everyone who has lived on the planet. The lifestream creates new life on the planet and when people die, they return to the lifestream and bring their emotions, memories and knowledge with them to start the cycle over again.
While I don't really know what the "perception of time" part of OPs comment means, the fact that everything comes from the lifestream - which contains every memory of every living thing - means that everything is comprised of memories in a way. I don't think FF7 itself really leans into this idea as a central part of its narrative, but it is an interesting interpretation nonetheless.
Great video by the way! 🙂
"Have you try urban exploration?" No, I'm planning on continue living, thank you.
You know what? Depending on where you are, this can indeed be quite risky. I guess I was talking from the perspective of somebody who's been living in Berlin for a while and the risk is almost zero - but looking back at my Rio days, that would be something mad dangerous to do.
Thanks for opening my eyes.
@@JoriamRamos In any case I was making a joke. Great video essay, I ended up watching the movie after I saw it, keep it up!
Loved it
thank you :) that's very sweet of you
Spoilers below:
Suzume is a great movie! Good analysis! I wonder, if the motifs of abandoned ruins and memories must always imply a catastrophy of some sort? I try to find an example of using those motifs to create some uncatastrophical theme, but... Can't think of any. So, maybe these are good only for stories about post-catastrophy trauma and similar stuff?
Not always, but if you consider a place as a home, for example, then most likely It will be a catastrophe or at least a trauma.
But, if you change the meaning of "home", like nomad people, then the abandoned place does not have a trauma attached anymore.
@@tokimotoisthank you for your answer❤
I think this motif tends towards catastrophe for aesthetics reasons - it makes sense right? But at the same time, I imagine that if you shift perspective, the same aesthetic can suddenly change meanings as well.
I know some indie games like Terra Nil and... hm I'm not remembering the name of the other one, but it was about a family of deer (?) reclaiming a previously human-occupied space. In those scenarios, the fact that it's abandoned becomes hopeful rather than gloomy, so there's storytelling potential here. Alas, I haven't yet explored this aesthetic, so I can't 100% vouch for it.
Still, people like to play games about... people! Mostly. So I guess the strong association will remain intact, even if it can be flipped on its head from time to time :)
Magic is a real life concept, I think you all forget that, fantasy owes itself to it. just as sci-fi owes itself to real life scientific concepts. The difference, fantasy writers forget to pay homage.
Lesbian romance??? It was originally platonic friendship of 2 girls(student/mentor). But his group rejected it saying there NEEDS to be romance otherwise no one would watch it. Which he did end up doing, but carefully one-sided.
I watched a Japanese person talk about it, he focused more of the reasoning behind making. Like how these abandoned places used to be where people lived, LOTS are real places that ppl abandoned due to natural disasters. Like the main character’s been through. Thats my favorite part about the movie. and really what the message of the movie is about.
Well, the interview I read made it very clear that it was supposed to be a romantic story between two women, not a platonic friendship. The word 'romance' was mentioned quite a few times.
But what do I know? My Japanese is very basic, and I can't read the originals. I had to rely on translations.
I really enjoy the abandoned places as a key exploration of the movie. As somebody who's very interested in urbex, I've felt that sensation a few times: "people used to live this, this used to be their corridor, their door, their room." It's a very niche, but much appreciated theme :)
Bro use a lens that has less curvature. I appreciate the size of your nose but you should stand a bit back from the camera!
I appreciate you appreciating my nose 😂 but currently I only own one decent mic, and it works best when I'm close to the camera. Sorry, but my overpowering nose shall continue to decimate the land of my video frames. Think of it as a temple to worldbuilding, with little nose people making blood sacrifices inside it.
@@JoriamRamos Hehe! Keep on nosing brotha! xD
Your intro is a bit too long dude, just gonna be honest
hey thanks for the feedback
calling it a Ghibli's successor is a overrated statement, the movie is boring one.. and there's a lot scenes that will make you say wtf are they doing? or are they stupid? or they should have done that at the beginning🤦♂️ srsly this is a overrated movie just because Makoto Shinkai directed it.. it doesn't mean that it will going to be good or great movie.
Of course you can disagree with me - my opinion is just that! An opinion, after all :)
But I politely, yet decively disagree with you! Suzume conducted my emotions very well. I was entertained, touched and inspired by it - I guess I might have been exactly the target audience they were going for, while you were not.
When I explore narratives, I'm rarely thinking about 'what makes sense' (I love the Discworld for crying out loud hehe), but instead I'm focusing on how the narrative makes me feel. I guess there's a place for that in media :)