deerstalker
*SPOILERS AHEAD!* My earliest memories of my elementary and middle school Scholastic Book Fairs saw massive collections of R. L. Stine’s Goosebumps, loads of nonsensical ’90s tech, and the burgeoning mystery genre before it really took off in young adult literature. Super hero graphic novels were almost nonexistent for kids and teenagers in school spaces […]
Disability is a part of everyday life for millions of people in the US and billions around the world. So, too, is mental illness. As time goes on, we are more visible than ever. However, even in visibility, there is invisibility.
Like all things, at least in this country, there is an increased element of danger that comes with being disabled or mentally ill while Black. You need only flip through the news or social media and you can find it.
When I set out to write this, I was going to write a simple review of an anime that became an instant classic, A Silent Voice. And I will talk about it, sure, but this is more than that.
May is Mental Health Awareness month. This added a new layer to my viewing of this film, as its focus on mental health became just as salient and necessary a point as its focus (or lack thereof, which I’ll get to momentarily) on disability. I can’t think of a better anime to talk about both of those things, and I’m thankful I got the chance to check it out and write this review.
(Content warning: suicide)
A Silent Voice is the story of Shoya and Shoko, two high school students whose circumstances bring them together throughout of the course of their lives, from elementary school onwards. As children, Shoko is transferred into Shoya’s school, and it is revealed she is deaf. Shoya decides to bully Shoko and this decision, more than any other in the film, informs the shape of the story’s voice. A Silent Voice sings redemption, love, and forgiveness, and does so with an atmosphere and gentle but poignant reality that makes the story beautifully relatable.
When I was 4, I contracted scarlet fever. A complication left me with progressive hearing loss in my left ear. I cannot process the sounds at all, and input into the ear causes great pain. This has been the case my whole life, but fully since I was 14. I hid all of this from my family for my entire life. The only person who knew was my older sister, and she kept the secret while also accommodating me in the best ways she could.
I expected I would not get this treatment in the rest of the world, which is why I hid. I wasn’t sure what happened to the Black children in my school who needed accommodations, but I knew my family’s experiences. They were at best ignored and at worst antagonized. So I hid, and I looked for myself in the media I consumed. I dealt with bullying (mostly for my weight but also for not being able to hear things properly); I dealt and deal with depression, and both of these are large themes of this film.
A Silent Voice tackles sensitive topics with deftness and grace
As a warning, the film opens on Shoya on the verge of committing suicide. The rest of the film then plays out as a retrospective leading up to that point. Visually, this hits like American History X meets Degrassi, but with stronger acting than either of those and stunning visuals to match.
The Questions We Ask Inside
Without getting into the grim nit and grit, the movie takes us on a journey to answer the questions we all have after that opening scene. Why is this happening? How did we get here?
I asked myself the same questions when I was that age. Many of us did, and very few of us talk about it. My students certainly did, which is why the first recommendation that I watch this movie came from a class of eighth graders. The existential turns to the dangerous when one has compromised mental health. And it can be hard to find compelling answers to those questions. I think the first step is being unafraid to ask them. One of the first words I think of when I think of A Silent Voice is ‘fearless’. It looks suicide, mental health, disability, and bullying square in the eye, and it does not back down.
Someone watching it will need this fearlessness to face their own demons, and this is a remarkably good place to find it.
I can’t talk about A Silent Voice without talking about Shoko, one of its lead characters. This character is hearing impaired, and in the beginning of the film is bullied as a result. Ultimately, she gets older and finds a path of peace and forgiveness despite her trauma. Seeing her story intersect with Shoya’s over and over again is beautiful, but also gets into one of my least favorite tropes.
Communication within A Silent Voice and our society
There are times when Shoya and Shoko try to communicate and cannot understand each other due to the language barrier. While this is a thing that happens (a lot), it next to never has the dramatic impact that the misunderstanding has in this film. The trope is that missing something at a crucial moment creates a great conflict for our cast to overcome. This usually ends with these characters understanding one another better and a happier happily ever after.
Swerve
What I appreciate about A Silent Voice is that it shies away from the trope in that the characters’ understanding of one another isn’t necessarily informed by this interaction as much as it is by the interactions they have with their mental health. Throughout the movie, Shoya only sees big “X” marks over people’s heads. The ultimate sign of his redemption would allow him to actually be able to ‘face’ people again, seeing their real faces and eyes. Shoko carries her own kind of guilt and trauma, and the understanding and letting go of both is what brings these characters together rather than a bond over the disabled girl being included finally.
I never talked about my mental health growing up. When I did, everyone from friends to my own family balked. I wanted nothing more than to be heard, to be included, to be normal. The reality is though, that never happened for me. It doesn’t happen for many others either, especially children of color. In this way, I am thankful for the avoidance of such a platitude. Even as an anime, it keeps this groundedness that is necessary to tell its story effectively.
My family takes mental health much more seriously now, but my initial viewing of this movie made me ache for my younger self and for all the kids I knew who grew up in families that simply “didn’t believe” in mental illness.
A Silent Voice, like I said, is gorgeous to look at. It also has a phenomenal score, great acting, and pacing. Like the manga on which it is based, it tells a complete and satisfying story in a surprising and efficient way.
As I reflect on Mental Health Awareness Month, and as I reflect on my own disability, I have to be thankful for this film. As I was writing this article, I lost a dear friend to suicide. I lost a dear, Black friend to suicide. In a way it was like losing myself. It broke me. The death completely derailed me, but also inspired me to change direction. This film couldn’t have been more timely – having to watch and re-watch it to contemplate its themes and motifs helped me find peace in the realization that so many of us are in this. We are not alone. And no matter what, no one is beyond redemption.
I give A Silent Voice 9.3 out of 10.
Truly, go out of your way to watch this one if you want solid storytelling and a tasteful approach to mental health and disability in media.
That being said…
If you are struggling, there is help for you. Mental illness is real. Struggle is real. And intergenrationally, personally, and in the scope of current events, we are more vulnerable to it than ever.
Please consider the following resources and use them as you need:
National Suicide Prevention Hotline
Be well. Be safe. Thank you for reading.
Want to get Black Nerd Problems updates sent directly to you? Sign up here.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
The post Classic Anime Review #4: A Silent Voice Roars With Quality and Importance appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Below you’ll find the best superhero(board & video) games for kids by age that you’ll be able to enjoy as a family.
Love may be the bond that holds families together, but games are a close second. Check out our list of favorite fantasy board games for families. Whether it be a simple round of card game classics like Old Maid and War, complex modern board games like The Settlers of Catan and Carcassone, or good old video games like Wii Sports and Jackbox Party Pack, games pull the family together.
In fact, the only thing that threatens to unseat game time as the ultimate family experience is sharing nerdy media, particularly superhero movies and shows. In the same way that parents and kids gather around the table for a rousing game of Sorry!, others plop on the couch, fire up Disney+ to laugh and thrill at The Avengers and WandaVision.
While some families certainly prefer games and others prefer movies, there’s really no reason to choose. Nerdy families who want to combine their love of superheroes with a passion for gaming will have plenty of options.
Superhero games offer the best of all possible worlds. Inserting superheroes into proven titles like Candy Land and Street Fighter gives a new and exciting twist to old favorites that everyone already knows. These games also give players a chance to indulge their nerdy side. They not only let players take on the roles of famous characters like Batman and Captain Marvel, but many refer to lesser-known characters such as Guy Gardner and Kate Bishop. And, of course, they let parents and children complete and collaborate with one another, growing closer as they get nerdier.
In fact, there are so many options that they can get a little overwhelming. But have no fear, nerdy parent! We’re here to help you narrow down the list and point you toward the best superhero-themed games. Make sure before you leave you check out our favorite superhero toys by age as well to truly spoil those little ones.
Ages 2-5
Marvel Spider-Man Web Warriors Chutes & Ladders
Chutes & Ladders (or Snakes & Ladders, if you’re in the UK) is a mainstay of family game time, dating back to the ancient Indian game Moksha Potam. Its simple structure, in which players roll the dice to land on game spaces that either move them far forward or sets them all the way back, is practically board game perfection. But do you know what would make it better? Spider-Man.
A spin-off of the animated series Marvel Super Hero Adventures, Spider-Man Web Warriors Chutes & Ladders fills the classic game with not only Spider-Man but also cool new characters from the show, such as White Tiger and Power Man. More than a simple reskinning of a well-known game, this take on Chutes & Ladders introduces a narrative component, letting kids pretend that they are heroes taking down the evil Electro as they rise and fall across the board.
Marvel I Can Do That! Game
For younger children, there’s not much separation between gameplay and pretend time. In fact, it can be hard to get kids to stop dashing through the house shouting “I’m the Flash!” long enough to take their turn in a game. The I Can Do That! solves the problem by integrating a child’s wild imagination into the actual gameplay.
Designed around 15-minute rounds, perfectly suited to a child’s short attention span, I Can Do That! gives each player a superhero-themed challenge. Can your kid throw a hammer-like Thor? Can they shoot webs with the accuracy of Spider-Man? Can they race through an obstacle course with the speed of Captain Marvel? After playing this game, your kid will answer, “I can do that!”
Ages 6-10
Apples to Apples: Marvel Edition
Apples to Apples is one of the most popular recent family games, and with good reason. A card-based game in which players make comparisons between two different things or concepts, Apples to Apples lets kids explore their creative and critical thinking sides.
The Marvel Edition of Apples to Apples keeps the basic structure of the original game, but it adds characters like Captain America and Thor. Players still make comparisons between their favorite heroes and villains, but the Marvel Edition brings in new dynamics, such as the deck-clearing “Thanos Snap” trap. With vibrant images from some of the best modern comic book artists, Apples to Apples: Marvel Edition lets kids be creative and nerdy!
Lego Disney Pixar’s The Incredibles Video Game
All younger kids want to play video games, but not many this age have the hand-eye coordination to enjoy the same titles played by their older friends and siblings. Fortunately, there are the Lego video games, with bringing to gaming consoles the same accessible approach as the toy bricks for which the company is known.
The Incredibles video game follows the basic plot of the 2004 Pixar classic, with a family of superheroes battling against the evil Syndrome. But it also uses the great Lego video game format. Although these games do have the same life bars and mission objectives that you would find in most platformers, they are decidedly low stakes. These games have no “Game Over” state, they have almost no violence (characters who lose explode into Lego bricks), and they reward exploration and creativity. Throw in some fun cartoon cut scenes and advanced multiplayer modes, and Lego The Incredibles is the perfect choice for relaxing family video game time.
Ages 11-14
Funkoverse: DC Comics Board Game
If you’ve been in any toy aisle lately, you’ve certainly seen boxes and boxes of Funko Pops! Little figurines with giant heads and cute button eyes, Funko Pops! have made their name by appealing to both children and collectors, drawing from everything from extremely popular franchises such as Disney Princesses to the not-so-kid-friendly cult series Twin Peaks.
The Funkoverse game comes with two mini-Pop figures in the shape of Wonder Woman and her arch-nemesis Cheetah and works them into a simple strategy game. With card sets that present different scenarios and buffs, along with a game board that encourages dynamic play, the Funkoverse DC Comics game has all of the fan service and nerd fun that you want in a superhero-themed item, along with a strategy structure that appeals to players who want more difficult games.
Ravensburger Marvel Villainous: Infinite Power
Once the domain of analytical thinkers squirreled away in their basements, strategy games have been enjoying a wave of unprecedented popularity. Thanks to surprisingly accessible games such as Ticket to Ride and The Settlers of Catan, even casual players can sink their teeth into games far more complex than good ol’ Monopoly and Clue. In 2018, the venerable German puzzle maker Ravensburger brought Disney into the strategy game world with Villainous, in which players take the role of classic movie baddies such as Maleficent and Jafar.
Marvel Villainous: Infinite Power swaps out those cartoon antagonists for supervillains Loki, Ultron, and Thanos. Acting as one of these evildoers, each player sets out to achieve a goal such as collecting the Infinity Stones, with the help of cards that introduce buffs and gameplay alterations. With a variable structure that allows players to change the difficulty and impressively designed player figures, Marvel Villainous is the perfect game for everyone from dedicated strategy game nerds and casual fans.
Ages 15+
DC Deck-Building Game Multiverse Box
Ever since Pokémon exploded onto American scores in the mid-90s, deck-building games have been popular among cards. Deckbuilding games combine the strategy and action of classic card games with the trading and collectible fun of sports card collecting. Unsurprisingly, superheroes have invaded the genre, spreading their full host of characters and scenarios onto the collectible cards.
Like most deck-building games, this DC version includes character cards, event cards, and various types of buffs and game-changers. Subjects of the cards go very deep into DC Comics, featuring lesser-known characters such as Red Son Superman (a version of Superman who was raised in the Soviet Union) and the villainous Parallax, as well as deep-cut comic stories, including Infinite Crisis.
Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite (PS4,Xbox One)
Although most of the titles in the genre are rated T or M, fighting games have a wider appeal than nearly any other type. They feature bright, over-the-top characters with simple objectives (beat the person in front of you), and they can be played by simply mashing buttons. No fighting game defined the genre like Capcom’s Street Fighter II, which established not only the mechanics but the goofy characters. The Marvel vs. Capcom series brings Marvel Comics characters into fighting games for a perfect fit. Even those who don’t recognize Mega Man or Resident Evil’s Chris Redfield will still get a kick out of playing as Spider-Man and Iron Man.
The most recent entry in the Marvel vs. Capcom series, Infinite has an odd story that involves the two fictional universes combining. The plot might throw some kids, especially those who didn’t grow up playing Street Fighter or Mega Man. But at the end of the day, the game has all of the over-the-top action that you want, made all the more fun when heroes use the Infinity Stones to improve Captain America and Black Panther. No one cares about the story when you can simply mash on the buttons to stage massive battles between Marvel’s greatest heroes.
The post Best Superhero Games for Kids By Age appeared first on Nerdy With Children.