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Talking animals, beautiful princesses, and magical spells… What more could a child wish for? Disney cartoons and animated movies are so popular because they’re family-friendly fare, even if they have their bleak sides—like evil stepmothers, pirates, and curses. But that’s all, right? Well, not quite. If you dig a little deeper behind most Disney classics, you’ll be surprised to find that many Disney tales actually have sinister origins. Whether they came from the Brothers Grimm or Charles Perrault, many innocent Disney stories were far darker before Disney got their hands on them....

Way back in 1989, a series of cartoon shorts from The Tracy Ullman Show were turned into a prime-time TV series. That series debuted as The Simpsons and changed the world. The Simpsons connected with audiences in a way that few shows had ever done before, and certainly no animated show had collected as large of an adult following since The Looney Tunes , which had graced TV screens over 40 years prior....

I’ve been a die-hard coffee drinker for most of my life—it flows through my veins!—but only last year did I have my first proper espresso drink. I was graciously gifted a Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine , and this thing has really lifted my appreciation for coffee and coffee-based drinks. But coffee is a complex beverage, and it’s impossible to say for certain that “espresso is the pinnacle of coffee” because there’s so much depth and variety to explore....

There are two Snowpiercer titles on Netflix: Snowpiercer the movie, and Snowpiercer the series. Confused yet? Bong Joon-Ho, the same director of the critically-acclaimed film, Parasite , took charge of the 2013 graphic novel-based movie, Snowpiercer . The latest adaption of Snowpiercer is a 2020 series from TNT, and it doesn’t share many similarities with its predecessor. The TV show and film are each set aboard a massive train that traverses any icy, post-apocalyptic globe....

Online music streaming services have been around for quite some time, with old-school platforms like Rhapsody and Pandora first launching in 2001 and 2005, respectively. And yet, it still feels as if paid music streaming is the least acceptable kind of paid streaming amongst consumers. Whereas streamed movies and TV shows make a lot of sense because there are only so many major companies who hold most of the rights—making it far less complex than music rights—paid music streaming has always struggled to establish itself....

In most media, ghosts are there to scare, frighten, and terrify. Whether it’s a vengeful spirit out for blood or a haunted house that drives a family to madness, ghosts play on our fears of the unknown. But not every ghost is scary, especially in anime. There are plenty of friendly spirits who have helped guide young heroes on their journeys. The main character themself may even be a ghost sometimes....

There’s a reason why so many people consider Avatar: The Last Airbender to be not only one of the best animated TV series of all time, but one of the best TV series ever made, period. The three seasons of Avatar: The Last Airbender are filled with amazing episodes. And even the “low points” of the series aren’t bad—it’s hard to find even a single episode that’s not amazing. Yeah, it’s an animated TV series, but that doesn’t mean it’s a children’s show....

From philosophy to aesthetics, from history to technology, from anime to game shows, almost every aspect of Japan and Japanese culture has fascinated people all across the globe. Japan was long reclusive and self-reliant for centuries before the country opened its doors to the world. And we’re grateful! Because Japan’s wonders, myths, attitudes, and aesthetics are unlike anything we have in the Western world. Here are my favorite books about Japan and Japanese culture for discovering what makes Japan such a unique country....

Super Mario is more than just a gaming series; it’s a genuine global phenomenon with millions of fans across the world, making it one of the most recognizable franchises in pop culture history. With countless video games, TV shows, and movies—both live-action and animated—to his name, it might seem like there’s nothing the world’s most famous plumber can’t do. But he didn’t get here alone. The Super Mario franchise is special for many reasons, but part of its success comes down to its vast array of lovable characters....

Coined in 1992 by Carol J. Clover in her book Men, Women, and Chainsaws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film , the final girl refers to a female character who manages to survive in a horror movie, particularly in the slasher subgenre. The character of the final girl is usually a virtuous, clever, and intelligent woman who’s able to survive the slaughter and defeat the villain at the end using her wits....

“Disconnect to reconnect” is a phrase we hear all the time, but what does it really entail? It’s easier said than done, that’s for sure. The irony of “social” media isn’t lost on most of us—we just choose to ignore it. Scrolling through TikTok and posting on Instagram is just too addictive, familiar, and easy. Related: The Best Movies About Social Media (And Its Dangers), Ranked And cinema has explored this in many different ways, with more and more movies showing us what lies beyond our digital screens and quick-fix attitudes: the beauty of the great outdoors....

Not many people can claim the top spot of anything in the world, but Jack the Ripper can—as the most renowned serial killer in history. And he was only active for four months! Plus, never caught. Indeed, the identity of Jack the Ripper was never discovered. The mystery of his name, motive, and subsequent whereabouts have fascinated the public ever since his last (known) murder in 1888, capping off his spree of mutilating prostitutes in the East End of London....

Scientifically speaking, people with high IQ and/or creative abilities are more likely to develop certain mental illnesses . Furthermore, writers are statistically more prone to self-harm—in fact, writers are twice more likely to commit suicide than others —as we’ve tragically seen in the world’s greatest authors and poets. Here are some of the greatest genius writers who were known to suffer with mental illness (and, as a byproduct, substance abuse), whose lives deserve to be remembered and celebrated....

At the turn of the century, literature saw a decrease in corsets and Gothic romance in favor of modernism and civil rights. Between poets, essayists, journalists, authors, and biographers, women began wielding the pen—or, by this time, typewriters—and exhibiting all kinds of new power as they wrote about daring new subjects. Here are the most influential female writers from the 1900s, who infused literature with new dimensions as they rediscovered the female voice and advocated for equality between races and sexes....

Not many females come to mind when thinking about the detective genre in cinema. There’s The Maltese Falcon , Zodiac , The Killer , Se7en , Memento , Memories of Murder … but are there any women? They may be few and far between, but they do exist! Here are the best movies with female detectives, which explore themes ranging from motherhood to beauty standards to gender politics in addition to the usual themes of grief, regret, corruption, and more....

A family that plays together stays together—and who has more fun than an animated TV sitcom family with the world at their fingertips? The families of animated TV sitcoms have dominated our TV screens for so long that they’ve become some of the most recognizable families of all time. We love tuning in and watching what sorts of hilarious hijinks they might be up to this time. And the best thing is that every animated TV sitcom family is uniquely their own, with their own characteristics that make them lovable....

Anime characters with glasses tend to fall to three categories: they can be smart, they can be nerdy, or they can be stylishly cool. Not all of them are conventional geeks or geniuses! Like hair and attire, glasses are often an extension of a character’s personality. Glasses can portray innocence, shyness, arrogance, or even malice (especially when they reflect light glares). Some characters are even more beautiful with glasses on....

Dragons are, by far, one of the world’s favorite mythological creatures. Dragons appear in tales from cultures around the world, and each culture imbues them with their own unique meanings. Dragons are often related to wealth and luck, but also danger and deceit. More than that, they’re just really cool! No one can deny the awesomeness factor of seeing a fire-breathing dragon unleash waves of flames, or when a winged serpent takes to the skies and bellows to the world....

Ryan Gosling has been turning heads ever since he whisked us away in the 2004 romance classic The Notebook . Sure, he started making waves as a teen actor in the 90s ( Young Hercules , Breaker High ), but it wasn’t until the early 2000s that Gosling became a real known entity. At first, it seemed as if the Canadian actor could wind up as another typecast pretty boy who has more style than substance—even if he was ironically cast in The Notebook for not being “handsome,” according to director Nick Cassavetes....

Science fiction manga series are hidden treasures. While many people turn to movies and books to satisfy their sci-fi cravings, they completely ignore the amazing content in the manga world. Sci-fi manga bridges the gap between stunning visuals, fascinating dialogue, and creative concepts. Ready to dive into futuristic universes and imaginative landscapes? Here are our picks for the best sci-fi manga series of all time that’ll blow you away with their stories and characters!...