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By: Kristina Lanuza
Now, the game is climbing up to its official release both online and in stores, and to say that people are excited for this revolutionary pokemon game would definitely be accurate. So, from all that we’ve gotten so far, exactly what is this game going to look like, and how different will it be from previous pokemon generations? New Land, New Gameplay!Pokemon Legends introduces us to the Hisui Region; a historical land filled with wild, untouched pokemon and breathtaking vast landscapes. With this land still being relatively unexplored, this gives us many opportunities to roam around and explore a region that we’re both familiar and unfamiliar with.
In comparison to previous pokemon games, however, Pokemon Legends also introduces mechanics that are brand new to the franchise, pulling things like item crafting, sneaking, and dodging right out of the action RPG genre. It’s a refreshing change from the previous pokemon formula, giving the game a breath of fresh air. Pokemon of the Past?As it usually goes with these games, a new region to explore means brand new pokemon to catch and train! Old pokemon such as Stantler and Basculin are receiving new evolutions - Wyrdeer and Basculegion respectively. Alongside them, there are also pokemon such as Growlithe and Braviary that are getting new Hisuian forms! These pokemon have taken on special forms in order to brave the environment of the Hisui region and have likely evolved as time passed to become the pokemon that we know now, with the Hisuian evolutions growing extinct. All of the pokemon that you'll encounter on your journey will have different personalities, with some being skittish and others being downright aggressive. Catching them will require different strategies for different pokemon, making pokemon catching more interesting than before - you can sneak up to starly in tall grass, or avoid the sight of an aggressive shinx. On top of those pokemon, there are also pokemon that are much more aggressive and feral than usual, those being called ‘Alpha Pokemon’ due to their sheer presence on the field. As seen in multiple memes about the game, Alpha Pokemon and other aggressive pokemon directly attack the player, putting those new dodge mechanics to great use. These pokemon are much stronger than other pokemon and require much more care when catching them, often ending up in a pokemon battle. A Revamped Battle System
This time around, pokemon are given the ability to move multiple times in succession, with their attack sequence being affected which style you choose for them to attack in: either in a normal style, agile style, or strong style. While attacking regularly won’t affect your move too much, attacking in an agile style will make it so your pokemon moves more, but attacks with less power. Vice versa, with a strong style move, your pokemon can attack more powerfully but less times in a row. Having this improved battle system makes pokemon battles more thrilling, allowing for more move combinations than before - and hopefully, this will be a system that the developers decide to improve on in future pokemon games. A New Generation of Pokemon!Pokemon Legends: Arceus strays away from traditional pokemon gameplay, but it keeps the heart and soul of Pokemon within its story and its world. There are so many things to be excited about in this upcoming game, from a vamped-up battle system to a wide open world, and many other smaller features such as character customization and filling up a complete pokedex! From a long-thought-of idea to the screen of a Nintendo switch, Pokemon Legends: Arceus isn’t a game to miss out on. It’s a game that many longtime pokemon veterans and new pokemon trainers are sure to love, and it’s one that I’m definitely going to be completing this time around.
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 By Heather Park
If we heard the name Wang Yibo we would think of the successful singer and actor. Yet do we really know everything this young singer and actor has gone through? Wang Yibo (pronounced like Wong Yibo) is a Chinese-Korean (former) singer and actor. He first debuted in a K-Pop group named Unique in 2014. At that time he would have been 17, a huge feat for someone so young. He gained immense popularity with his handsome looks and amazing rapping, and dancing skills. After a while, Unique decided to go separate ways (note: doesn’t mean they disbanded!) and pursued individual careers. Since Wang Yibo’s nationality is originally Chinese, he decided to continue his singing career in China. Some of his famous album songs are ‘My Rules’ and ‘Nian (twenty)’ which were released in 2019 and 2021 respectively. Wang Yibo also likes riding motorcycles which is why he often competes in competitions during his spare time. Fans all come to support their favourite singer and actor wherever he goes. His handsome looks and good voice have landed him many acting roles in dramas and movies that have captivated both national and international fans worldwide. One of his famous dramas was named ‘The Untamed’ which aired in 2019. It still remains the most popular drama around the world even today. With his co-star Xiao Zhan, he soon rose to even more popularity and Wang Yibo received first place in the Best Chinese Actor of 2021. The most amazing thing about this is that Lan Wangji is only 25. It is an immeasurable feat for someone so young. Yet even though he has many great accomplishments, Wang Yibo also faces hardships. Hardships none of us could fathom. With his immense popularity, many fans take it too far and as a result hurt the singer and actor far more than we realize. Many non-fans (netizens) are also criticized for many little things the singer goes through. A recent event is when Wang Yibo performed his new song ‘Nian’ on New Year, many fans called him ‘fat’ for his looks on that day. Although we cannot really blame him for working hard all night in order to release a song we could enjoy. For fans who criticized him and unfollowed him should never be called true fans. We must love him from a distance and never cause any harm or hardship to the singer himself. He is human just like all of us which is why no matter how much you wish to approach and get close to him we must respect his wishes and follow his rules. So, love Wang Yibo to the fullest but only from a distance. He will respect all his fans as long as you don’t do anything he disapproves of. By: Priya MigneaultIn Joseph Boyden’s insightful and heart wrenching novel called ‘Wenjack’ we follow Chanie Wenjack, a 12-year-old Ojibwe boy, who runs away in the dead of winter from his residential school in Northern Ontario, not realizing he is hundreds of kilometers away from his home. Throughout his long and trying journey home he is watched, taunted, and comforted by the woodland spirits. The boy's determination and drive to return to where he was taken away from offers the readers a brief insight into the struggles that Indigenous people in Canada have faced since colonization started.  Family Photo of Chanie Wenjack ‘Wenjack’ is based on the true story of Chanie Wenjack, who attended a residential school in Ontario in the 1960’s. However, he captures the reader's imagination by narrating the novel through the eyes of a variety of Canadian species who follow the boy throughout his journey adding a layer of traditional indigenous storytelling. Author Joseph Boyden published the short novel in 2016 in collaboration with Cree artist Kent Monkman to raise awareness about Canada’s past misjustices. The book is 112 pages long, and makes for a great weekend read. It maintains suspense and piques the readers curiosity , while providing insight into a true historical event.  The Novel 'Wenjack' The main themes behind this novel, such as reconciliation, residential schools, and Indigenous rights, have been at the forefront of the media in our country over the past year due to the discovery of mass unmarked Indigenous children's graves. ‘Wenjack’ is an absolute must read and is a great jumping off point into Indigenous Canadian history. It pulls on people's heart-strings and compassion connecting them to this important moment in our nation’s past that is still dictating our future. You can purchase Boyden’s novel on Amazon, at Chapters, The Next Page, and Pages on Kensington.  'Wenjack' receives a rating of 5 out of 5 stars  “When a dark power enshrouds the Earth after a total solar eclipse the shattered Sailor Guardians must reunite to bring light back into the world.”- Sailor Moon Eternal By Heather Park
Sailor Moon is one of the most iconic shows most people grew up with. It dives into romance, fantasy, and of course magical powers. Usagi, one of our main characters, is slowly learning how to control her powers and defeat the evil that shrouds Earth once again. The movie is split into two parts, the first part comprises the basis and it is the first time we are introduced to the newest character Helios. Helios is the priest of Elysion (a dream land owned and protected by Mamoru in the past life) and he begs Chibiusa and Usagi to help him save Earth from danger. As the first portion progresses we see many details in the first part alone, and true enough Sailor Moon does not fail to meet our expectations. The first part alone pulls you into a world filled with evil and heros to save the day once again and gives you a good solid base to the plot in the second part of the movie. Although many people would comment that Sailor Moon is one of the cliche hero stories I can truly say that isn’t true. Sailor Moon is by far the best show to watch if you prefer a show or a movie with strong female leads. Now we are at the second part of the movie that delves deeper into the plot as we finally meet the main villain Nehelenia and see why she’s been causing all this mishap in the first place. The plots are full of detail and make sure the audience is kept on its toes. Waiting with anticipation for what is going to come next. I would definitely recommend watching this in order to feel what it is to be enthralled and admire the strong-willed and kind Usagi Tsukino in a world filled with magic. This show will not disappoint and will help you get into the series like never before. By: Priya Migneault An enchanted river runs through the land of Terramara and with the help of magical marhilias is able to provide water and vegetation to the area. When the river’s powers begin to fade, along with the marhilias magic, the humans of Terramara rally around Mara, a powerful marhilia, and work to save their home from environmental destruction. Mara has an important fate that when fulfilled could save her home and if not, leave Terramara bare and dry. Kris Fuller’s first ever fantasy novel delves into real world issues in a mystifying and intriguing way. It discusses themes of love, friendship, hope, community, and individuality; as Mara jumps headfirst into the unknown and discovers what it means to be a leader. Terramara: Mara’s Transformation expresses the importance and challenge of finding your own voice and being able to convey ideas to others. Throughout the book the scenes are vividly described and allow the reader to imagine Terramara in great detail. The plot of the novel is not a key player in the writing until several chapters in, as the first few set the scene and allow for character introductions. Each chapter is about two to five pages, and allows young readers to take breaks in between scenes. There are a few words that may be difficult for younger readers, however the concept and main idea can be easily understood. The end of the novel is well written and leaves the reader content and hopeful. Mara has large character development throughout the book and is well expressed, however she seems to not fully process some of the later events in the book. Terramara: Mara’s Transformation is a young adult fantasy (12+), that is just over a hundred pages long. However, it could be easily managed by strong readers and is a great story to read to younger children. I would recommend the book to preteens and younger teens, as the themes are appropriate and the language might be a bit rich for younger readers. Overall, I did enjoy reading the book, and found many of the concepts and themes interesting and thought provoking.   You can purchase Terramara: Mara’s Transformation on Amazon or Waldorf Publishing’s website. Feel free to check out Kris Fuller’s website here for more information about her work. Want to read more? Check out our other articles and reviews below:
'Things That Make White People Uncomfortable' Book Review Stonehouse Publishing's 2020 Virtual Book Launch Author Robin van Eck on her first published novel 'Rough' Author Sabrina Uswak on her first published novel 'All the Night Gone' Author Danika Stone on her third addition to the Waterton Series, 'Fall of Night' Author Anna Marie on her most recent book 'Humane' By: Priya MigneaultThis past Saturday, on November 7th, Stonehouse Publishing held their first ever virtual book launch. They released five new novels; All the Night Gone by Sabrina Uswak, Censorettes by EB Frank, Fall of Night by Danika Stone, Rough by Robin van Eck, and Humane by Anna Marie Sewell. The launch was a huge success, with over 180+ participants attending from all around the world. It kicked off at 5:30 pm MST with a short video montage of the authors and their novels. The scenes used were shots of the writer's hometowns, which featured Waterton, Calgary, Edmonton, and New York City. After the video the audience got introduced to the taste testers of the event, Jason and Matthew from Glass Bookshop in Edmonton. They walked the audience through all of the dishes the authors said would pair nicely with their novels, while adding in quite a bit of humor. Each author read a small section of their novel as the night went on and talked a little about the stories that unfold within the book. After they read, a song uniquely fitting their novel was played to set the atmosphere of the book. Although the audience wasn’t allowed to engage face to face with the authors there was a lot of encouragement in the comment section of the Zoom call while they were reading and during the music videos. The books featured in the launch were;  All the Night Gone by Sabrina Uswak “A tragic accident, and two brothers are left to cope. Ben reads, obsesses. Charlie struggles between silence and anger. Unable to talk about what happened, a tension begins to build, pushing them apart. Then Dill arrives. Carrying only a baseball bat and small duffel bag with a broken zipper, she glides into their lives imperceptibly, raising more questions than answers. They start to become a kind of family. Almost. When she suddenly disappears, what else can Ben and Charlie do but get into their dusty truck and go search for her?” All the Night Gone pairs well with salted peanuts and a Pilsner.  Censorettes by EB Frank “For a young woman of exceptional intelligence and courage, being sequestered from the dangers of WW2 on the idyllic island of Bermuda is maddening. She is determined to get into the fight—then the fight is brought to her. Lucy Barrett is a Censorette, part of a branch of British Intelligence stationed on the island to inspect mail between North America and European nations at war. Determined to contribute in a more substantial way, Lucy uses her Cambridge education and love of Shakespeare to detect a Nazi spy ring operating out of Brooklyn. Just as she is promoted to a dangerous job overseas, her good friend is murdered. Should she embrace her new assignment, or seek justice for her friend?” Censorettes pairs well with fish and chips, clam chowder, and a dark and stormy.  Fall of Night by Danika Stone “Rich Evans is desperate to say goodbye to his past in New York and embrace a future in Waterton with fiancée Louise Newman, a small-town mechanic with an uncanny gift of foresight. But even Lou's warnings are not enough to avoid the new troubles threatening the isolated border town. Rich returns to Waterton to discover the body of his estranged ex-girlfriend has been found in a remote mountain lake. Constable Sadie Black Plume uncovers grisly details linking Gabrielle's murder to a web of organized crime with connections to all layers of Waterton's close-knit community. With Rich as the main suspect, Rich and Lou are forced to prove his innocence in a small town where the term 'outsider' can be applied to anyone who wasn't born there.” Fall of Night pairs well with a seasonal salad and a huckleberry mocktail.  Rough by Robin van Eck “It is 2013 and Calgary’s Bow river is beginning to rise. Two homeless men stand by the bank and contemplate the death of another friend–an accident? Taking cover downtown that night, Shermeto intervenes in the attack on a bar patron, and finds himself laid up in the hospital. Outside, as the city reels from an unthinkable disaster, Shermeto finds himself away from the swelling river and face-to-face with a part of the past he is trying to hide from: his daughter Kendra.” Rough pairs well with mac’n’cheese and a glass of pinot noir.  Humane by Anna Marie Sewell “Who steals a dog from a shelter after receiving a dream message from their grandmother? Hazel Lesage never expected it to be her. Then again, she didn’t plan on becoming an unlicensed PI, helping the 'throwaway people.' However much has changed in Amiskwaciy, the problem of poor Indigenous women and girls being expendable hasn't. Nobody else is going to help the Augusts find out who killed their daughter Nell; so Hazel takes the case. And then she takes the dog. What follows will force Hazel and her family to confront the question of what it means to be Human, and what it matters to be Humane.” Humane pairs well with maple popcorn and Italian espresso. If you want to watch the recorded version of the launch you can find it here or if you’d like to purchase any of the books featured above checkout Stonehouse’s website.
Keep your eyes peeled in the coming weeks for Robin van Eck’s interview about the launch and her novel, Rough. By Heather Park Hey guys! Today I’m going to give you a list of the top five K-pop groups you should listen to. 1. Twice by Wikimedia Commons Twice consists of 9 female members, they consist of three Japanese members and one Tawainese member. The main leader is Jihyo, the lead vocals are Jeongyeon and Nayeon, the main dancer is Momo, the lead rappers are Chaeyoung and Dahyun, the visual is Tzuyu, she is also the maknae, AKA the youngest member. They are one of the trendiest girl groups so far and often made the top 10 charts. Some songs: Likey, Ooh Aah, Heart Shaker, More and More, Fancy, Feel Special. They are having a comeback named, I Can’t Stop Me. 2. Bts (Bangtan Boys) by Wikipedia Commons Bts consists of 7 boy members. There are no foreign members. The leader is RM and he also takes the position of sub rapper, the main rapper is Suga, the visual is Jin and V, the main dancer is J-hope and Jimin, the maknae is Jungkook (he also takes the other parts as well: mostly center) Some Songs: Dynamite, Fake Love, and Idol. 3. Blackpink by Wikipedia Commons Blackpink consists of 4 girl members. They have one member from Thailand. They are no leaders in Blackpink. The main vocal is Rose, the main dancer and maknae is Lisa, the main rapper is Jennie, the visual is Jisoo. Some Songs: Ice Cream, Pretty Savage, Lovesick Girls, Forever Young, As if it’s your last. 4. Exo by Wikipedia Commons Exo consists of 9 members. The leader is Suho, the main rapper is Chanyeol, the sub rapper is Xiumin, the main dancer is Lay, the main vocalist is Baekhyun and Chen, the visual is Sehun and Suho. Some songs: Mama, Love Shot, Eve. 5. Red Velvet by Wikipedia Commons Red Velvet consists of 5 girl members. The leader is Irene, the main dancer is Seulgi, the main vocalist is Wendy, the main rapper, visual, and center is all Irene, the lead rapper is Joy, the maknae is Yeri.
Some songs: Red Flavor, Psycho, Rookie, Bad Dracula, Power Up. By: Priya Migneault
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 Photo from vizmedia.com | This fall, a brand new anime is set to release in a lineup of other iconic anime; the story of Sherlock Holmes, but told with a twist — it’s told from the perspective of Holmes’ nemesis, Moriarty. Set in late 1800s England in the world of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s creation, the story follows the “Crime Consultant” William James Moriarty and his brothers, Louis and Albert James Moriarty as they work together to remove the evil Nobility and Class System and bring justice to the lesser fortunate that are affected by the evil deeds of the higher-ups. |
With the manga currently running and the anime set to release on October 11th this year on the Funimation streaming service, this fall seasonal anime is currently under the radars of many, with its presence being overshadowed by other fall releases such as Haikyuu: To The Top, Black Clover and Attack on Titan. Though it’s name is relatively unknown, it already has two stageplays (running in Japan between 2019 and 2020) and a small fan base surrounding the story of its characters.
Same Story, Different Views
| Moriarty The Patriot doesn’t just take the original story and retell it in another perspective — it takes the story and remolds it into its own story from a different set of eyes, still playing with the perspectives of Holmes and Watson while keeping us in the mindset of Moriarty himself. If you’re familiar with the first few stories of Sherlock Holmes, then you’ll be able to get the first bit of the story and understand the neat references to the original works (which I highly appreciate- I find it fun to be able to point something out and smile about it) but from there, the story shifts to its own tale. |  One of Moriarty the Patriot's promotional covers |
It takes you, shakes your shoulders and tells you “this isn’t about Sherlock Holmes, this is about William James Moriarty” and honestly, it does it amazingly. Moriarty is a very well written character and acts as an effective anti-hero protagonist, a ‘shadow’ to Holmes’ ‘light’ as Moriarty himself likes to put it. His intelligence is presented in a way that doesn’t seem overly superhuman and allows us to follow along with his plans and deductions, understanding his way of thinking.
Of course, it isn’t all about solving the crime but rather finding a way to commit the perfect crime and get away with all of it. The premise of the story is “to get rid of the corrupt nobility” and they go on with accomplishing that with perfectly plotted and planted crimes, London being the stage for it all to happen. That’s what makes the story so different and interesting, paired along with the idea of strings being pulled in the shadows by the aristocrats themselves.
Of course, it isn’t all about solving the crime but rather finding a way to commit the perfect crime and get away with all of it. The premise of the story is “to get rid of the corrupt nobility” and they go on with accomplishing that with perfectly plotted and planted crimes, London being the stage for it all to happen. That’s what makes the story so different and interesting, paired along with the idea of strings being pulled in the shadows by the aristocrats themselves.
Overall, Moriarty the Patriot is a story with an amazing cast of characters and a phenomenal plot that leaves you guessing at what’s going to happen each page turn. With its anime adaptation coming out on the 11th, this seasonal show is going to be worth placing on your watchlist and definitely something that I am looking forward to watching. Just remember… keep an eye out for the Lord of Crimes, for you never know which perfect string of crimes he will commit next.
By: Kristina Lanuza
Courtesy of netflix.com
"The day you stop speaking your ideals is the day you become nothing but a slave." | Set in the future on a colonized Mars, Carole and Tuesday is the story of two girls from different walks of life who, connected together by the threads of music, come together and start to create music together, finding their missing puzzle pieces in each other. On their journey to create music, they cross paths with many other musicians and form unbreakable bonds with them. |
Released in 2019, this Netflix original animated series directed by Shinichiro Watanabe and animated by the prestigious animation studio Studio Bones introduced the anime world to a new hybrid of musical anime, taking a detour from the usual idol-style anime and instead focusing on brand-new musicians building up their career from nothing.
I hadn’t really planned on watching Carole and Tuesday when I first saw it, if I were being honest. I thought that it was just another anime that had nothing special to it, so I passed it by. It wasn’t really until I heard one of Carole and Tuesday’s songs that I decided it was worth getting into — and I’ve had no regrets since then.
It isn’t just your typical musical anime, it touches on plenty more than just music. Every character has significance and has a story to tell, and Carole and Tuesday does a wonderful job of portraying that in their diverse cast, from the main characters to the minor side characters; they all play a role in the story, whether it be big or small. For example we see the pop-singer Flora and her ascent to fame, from singing in small live-shacks to events as big as the Superbowl. Her character arc reflects that of real-life artists, the entire journey from start to finish — including the struggles with handling fame and the manipulation that comes with it.
I hadn’t really planned on watching Carole and Tuesday when I first saw it, if I were being honest. I thought that it was just another anime that had nothing special to it, so I passed it by. It wasn’t really until I heard one of Carole and Tuesday’s songs that I decided it was worth getting into — and I’ve had no regrets since then.
It isn’t just your typical musical anime, it touches on plenty more than just music. Every character has significance and has a story to tell, and Carole and Tuesday does a wonderful job of portraying that in their diverse cast, from the main characters to the minor side characters; they all play a role in the story, whether it be big or small. For example we see the pop-singer Flora and her ascent to fame, from singing in small live-shacks to events as big as the Superbowl. Her character arc reflects that of real-life artists, the entire journey from start to finish — including the struggles with handling fame and the manipulation that comes with it.
The Future of Mars and Earth
The cast of characters present in the show is also very diverse, as mentioned before. I was honestly surprised by how well they reflect our society today and how mixed it is, from age to race. Through including many characters from different paths and walks of life, it represents the way that our views on what “society” is have changed and created a believable world set in the future.
| In creating that realistic world, they also cover cultural and societal issues that can be seen in the present-day. A great example of this from the anime is Presidential Candidate Valerie and her campaign addressing illegal immigration from Earth to Mars, which draws similarities to the issues faced by immigrant countries such as America. |  Candidate Valerie's proposal on Earth to Mars immigration, courtesy of myanimelist.com |
It also covers issues that exist on a more personal scale — this can be seen within Angela’s personal journey and her struggles with drug abuse and self-worth later on in the story. It’s something that people now deal with, it’s a common issue that is present in our modern-day society.
A Feeling that Transcends Barriers
 Carole and Tuesday, Vocal Collections 1 and 2 | Above all else, this anime is a music-oriented show with many of its plot points surrounding the musical industry — and it most definitely doesn’t slack on the quality of its songs. The show covers many different styles of music, from country and acoustic to modern pop with many of its episode titles being taken from popular and iconic real-world songs by famous artists (such as True Colours by Cindi Lauper). All of Carole and Tuesday’s songs (as well as all of the artists featured in the anime) can be found on Spotify, making for a total of 36 songs with two full vocal collections (not including the openings and endings). |
The thing that’s unique about their songs is that they aren’t in Japanese, but are instead mostly in english with a small fraction being in French. It’s rare for an anime to have their soundtrack be fully in a foreign language, but that doesn’t take away from the magic of the music whatsoever.
The music and their performers, regardless of language, uses expression to move the viewer and does a great job of portraying the emotions found in each song. Loneliest Girl from the first episode, even without lyrics, was emotional and moving, speaking to the soul without having to utter a single word. That is the beauty of music, and Carole and Tuesday takes that beauty and showcases it in a way that’s unique amongst all other anime. It’s definitely a worthwhile watch and will be guaranteed to leave an impact on you, whether it be big or small.
The music and their performers, regardless of language, uses expression to move the viewer and does a great job of portraying the emotions found in each song. Loneliest Girl from the first episode, even without lyrics, was emotional and moving, speaking to the soul without having to utter a single word. That is the beauty of music, and Carole and Tuesday takes that beauty and showcases it in a way that’s unique amongst all other anime. It’s definitely a worthwhile watch and will be guaranteed to leave an impact on you, whether it be big or small.
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