In sharing this story, I hope we bridge the gap we have between elder folks and the new generation because of the way we both carry pain and manifest joy.

The coming of autumn signals the passing of another year gone by. And while these days familial gatherings are often interspersed by the scrolling of smartphones and busy schedules, I hearken back to the times as kids when boredom resulted in the most absurd and entertaining activities.

Grief is a funny thing, but when we talk about memory, trying to look back on the ‘thus far’ aspect of grief, it works in the most bizarre of ways. It is both beautiful and strange.

the stories, the memories, and the traditions embedded into those hundreds of thousands of copycats, scattered across the globe

Japanese animation was able to carve a space for smaller films that beautifully explored questions that haunt tired, lost generations of youth in an increasingly overwhelming world today.

Although casting BIPOC actors is not the same as telling authentic and diverse stories, Dorren believes that the industry is moving in a good direction for everyone.