Uncategorized

https://nerdist.com/article/disney-lorcana-ursulas-return-everything-we-know/

Disney Lorcana is a game that cannot, will not slow down. We’ve known about Ravensburger’s plan for quarterly releases since the trading card game debuted, but we’ve never been prepared for how quickly time flies. It feels like only yesterday we were learning about how to best incorporate Into the Inklands cards into our decks. But now, it’s time to look ahead to Lorcana‘s fourth set. Here’s everything we know about Disney Lorcana: Ursula’s Return.

Title

The fourth Disney Lorcana set is called Ursula’s Return.

Disney Lorcana: Ursula’s Return Story and Mechanics

Disney Lorcana‘s next release will continue the story told in the first three sets. This time Ursula is at the center. The Rise of the Floodborn release saw Ursula freed from the Illuminary. And now, in Ursula’s Return, the sea witch is “ready to put her plans into motion and take over Lorcana with only the players and their trusted glimmers standing in her way.”

We’re sure it will all work out just fine.

Ravensburger states gameplay will evolve with this set, but we don’t have any specifics on new mechanics yet.

Disney Lorcana: Ursula’s Return Characters

Disney Lorcana releases come with over 200 cards (at least they have historically), so we don’t know every character that will be in the fourth set. However, we do know Ursula’s Return will include Bruno and the rest of the Madrigal family from Encanto. That means Felix, Julieta, Mirabel, Bruno, Dolores, and Luisa. We’ll also see Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey and Yen Sid from Fantasia. A sneak peek included glimpses at Floodborn Ariel and Floodborn Mulan, too.

What Disney Lorcana: Ursuala’s Return Will Include

The Ursula’s Return release will include the following:

• Starter Deck – $16.99, Amethyst & Amber
• Starter Deck – $16.99, Sapphire & Steel
• Booster Packs – $5.99
• Illumineer’s Trove – $49.99
• Card Sleeves – $9.99
• Deck Boxes – $5.99
• Playmats (featuring Rapunzel and Tinker Bell) – $19.99

Disney Lorcana: Ursula’s Return Release Date

Ursula’s Return will release at local game stores, Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Disneyland Paris, and select Disney Store retail locations on May 17, 2024. It will then be available from mass market retailers on May 31, 2024.

A Disney Lorcana Cooperative Game

This release will also launch with the first Disney Lorcana TCG cooperative game, Illumineer’s Quest “Deep Trouble.” The game has four difficulty levels and sees Illumineers fight Ursula. Ravensburger says, “The game includes a guided gameplay area for Ursula, two preconstructed Disney Lorcana TCG player decks (featuring Disney’s Mulan and Yen Sid and built with cards from the first four Disney Lorcana TCG sets) and a fierce Ursula deck. This sea witch plays by her own rules.”

Originally published on March 20, 2024.

.youtube-embed{padding-bottom:56.25%!important;position:relative;overflow:hidden}.youtube-embed a,.youtube-embed iframe{display:block;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute}.youtube-embed iframe{border:0}.youtube-embed img.youtube-cover{-o-object-fit:cover;object-fit:cover;height:100%;width:100%;cursor:pointer}.youtube-embed img.play-button{width:66px;position:absolute;left:46%;top:0;bottom:0;margin:auto;cursor:pointer}@media only screen and (max-width:499px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:45%;width:60px}}@media only screen and (max-width:425px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:44%;width:60px}}@media only screen and (max-width:375px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:43%;width:56px}}@media only screen and (max-width:345px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:42%;width:50px}}.youtube-embed .progressive-img{-webkit-filter:blur(10px);filter:blur(10px)}.youtube-embed .progressive-img.loaded{-webkit-filter:none;filter:none;-webkit-transition:-webkit-filter 1s ease-out;transition:-webkit-filter 1s ease-out;-o-transition:filter 1s ease-out;-moz-transition:filter 1s ease-out;transition:filter 1s ease-out;transition:filter 1s ease-out,-webkit-filter 1s ease-out}.youtube-embed .kskdDiv{display:none!important}

The post Everything We Know About DISNEY LORCANA’s Next Set, URSULA’S RETURN appeared first on Nerdist.

https://blacknerdproblems.com/hidive-launches-new-website-in-2024/

HIDIVE, the anime streaming service that I once called “the new kid on the block with LOTS of potential” has launched a brand-new website and app with updated features and a fresh, sleek look for a better experience watching anime. According to a statement on their website, they are “an independent anime streaming company based out of Houston, Texas that just came into being in 2017. In this short amount of time, we’ve acquired the rights to over 500 series, movies, and OVAs, and gives you a price that won’t make your wallet cry.” If you’re already a subscriber (or if the app hasn’t been dropped in your country or territory) be sure to update your app to enjoy all the new features*.

---

Here’s What Fans Can Expect:

Offline Viewing

HIDIVE will now offer offline viewing so you can catch up on your favorite shows when you don’t have access to Wi-Fi or mobile data. Use the new app to download content to your devices and take your favorite shows on the road. This is a similar feature to other streaming apps and would most definitely be useful for your daily commute or when you need some entertainment for a quick flight away.

Customized Watch-lists

Customize and curate your watch-lists however you want, whenever you want. Create a watch-list dedicated to isekai, mecha anime, or romance anime that makes your heart flutter. Could be super useful for categorizing all your faves and your must watch series and titles. I’d take advantage of this feature to make a list for friends who are newer to anime and maybe even one for the films on the site/app.

Watch History Update

Looking to re-watch that one anime you streamed back in Summer 2023, but can’t remember the title? No worries, your new watch history will keep a log of which titles you watched and when. This feature would be great for anyone wanting some added convenience in their life. Ready to rewatch your favorite episodes of Oshi no Ko? Want to see which episodes of The Dangers in My Heart produced the confession you were waiting on? Or just want to see Helck in your watch history, just because?

---

HIDIVE’s press release mentions that they are rolling out additional improvements over the next few weeks, so look forward to even more features like enhanced search function, revamped subtitle preferences, customized profiles & avatars — plus, over the next few months we’ll be expanding compatibility with additional TV platforms! As of today, the rollout includes both website and device apps for Apple TV 4K, iPhone, Android Mobile, Android TV, Roku, and Fire TV.

* Please be advised that some apps may not be immediately accessible on all app stores.

HIDIVE is available on both a monthly and annual paid subscription basis. See more on the website now: https://www.hidive.com/home See more information about the new update, gift subscriptions and more here!

Love anime? So do we! See what else we have to offer on the site via anime here!

Want to get Black Nerd Problems updates sent directly to you? Sign up here! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram!

The post Anime Streaming Service HIDIVE Launches New Website in 2024 appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.

https://nerdist.com/article/x-men-marvel-comics-history-of-rogue-and-magnetos-romance-explained/

Aside from Cyclops and Jean Grey, the X-Men’s premier “power couple” is Rogue and Gambit. In fact, it’s hard to imagine the sassy southern mutants with anyone else. But as X-Men ’97 hinted at in episode two, “Mutant Liberation Begins,” Rogue also once had a relationship with their enemy and occasional ally Magneto of all people. This star-crossed romance began in the main 616 universe, but other versions of it flourished even more in other alternate realities.

Rogue and Magneto’s Savage Land Flirtation

The first hints of a romance between Rogue and Magneto began in the early ‘90s X-Men comics by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee. Specifically, in 1991’s Uncanny X-Men #274. After a period of time where the Master of Magnetism tried his best to be a good guy, he retreated to the prehistoric Savage Land. There, he met up with Rogue, during a very strange period in her life. As most X-Men fans know, Rogue’s mutant powers are energy and life force absorption. When she touches a mutant with her bare skin, she can absorb their powers too. When she was young, she touched the hero Carol Danvers for too long, landing her in a coma. But Rogue permanently absorbed Carol’s super strength and flight powers, along with her memories.

When Rogue went through the mystical portal called the Siege Perilous, it split her in two. The Carol aspect of her personality gained its own body. But as long as Rogue was alive, it could not sustain itself, so it tried to kill her. This version of Carol followed Rogue to the Savage Land, the hidden primordial world. There, Magneto killed her, saving Rogue’s life, and the two mutants reconnected. During their time in the Savage Land, Magneto and Rogue grew close. They found out that Rogue could actually touch him, because her powers were on the fritz. But when Magneto kills his enemy Zaladane in cold blood, Rogue is horrified at his turn back to the dark side. She leaves Magneto before a real relationship can begin.

In the Age of Apocalypse Reality, Rogue and Magneto Are Married with a Kid

In one alternate reality, Rogue and Magneto’s romance actually flourishes. This alternate reality, called the Age of Apocalypse, happened when a young Charles Xavier died, leaving Magneto to form the X-Men himself. Magneto’s X-Men led a charge against that world’s mutant despot, Apocalypse. This world’s version of Rogue was one of Magneto’s top X-Men, but she was in a relationship with the Cajun mutant Gambit. When Wolverine, who in this reality was their enemy, attacked the three of them, Rogue could only save one teammate. She chose Magneto, making her feelings clear.

A heartbroken Gambit leaves the X-Men, and Magneto and Rogue officially become an item. In this reality, Rogue permanently absorbed magnetic powers from Polaris. Since Rogue’s powers always contain a form of magnetism now, the two magnets cancel each other out. This allows Rogue and Magneto to touch. They soon marry, having a son named Charles, who has psychic abilities. However, the Age of Apocalypse timeline is eventually wiped out of existence, restoring the X-Men reality everyone was familiar with. Thus, consigning the romance of this reality’s Magneto and Rogue as something that never really happened.

The Doomed Romance of Rogue and Joseph, Magneto’s Younger Clone

Back in the main 616 timeline, the X-Men encounter a young mutant named Joseph, a clone of Magneto. Rogue feels a strong connection to Joseph, and since he does not have any of his genetic template’s darker tendencies or tragic past, the two strike up a relationship. This was during a time Rogue and Gambit were on the outs. Like her teammate Scott Summers, it seems Rogue could not resist a clone copy of a past love. It’s safe to say that Joseph dating Rogue didn’t endear Gambit to him much. Eventually, Joseph died and the real Magneto returned. Later, for a brief time, so too did the Magneto/Rogue romance.

Magneto Proposes Marriage to Rogue

After the events of Avengers vs. X-Men, Rogue and Magneto grow close again. Possibly because both have dark pasts as villains, they are trying to atone for as X-Men. In X-Men: Legacy #249, the two finally consummate the relationship in the main 616 timeline. Magneto falls hard for Rogue, and in X-Men: Legacy #274, he actually proposes marriage to her. Shocked, Rogue turns him down. Ultimately, Rogue returns to Gambit, and the two get married, and become “Mr. and Mrs. X.” Rogue and Magneto are simply not designed to be an “endgame” couple, and there’s always an obstacle in the way of any potential romance.

Rogue and Magneto in X-Men ’97

In episode two of X-Men ’97, Rogue and Magneto share a private moment in Xavier’s old office. The two come close to touching, and they make it clear that at some point in the past, the two shared a romantic relationship. Rogue reminds Magneto this is something she’d like to continue to keep secret. There are no hints of a Magneto/Rogue pairing in the original animated show, so whatever happened between them, it will certainly be a shock to everyone when they learn the truth. Especially poor Gambit. We’ll see if the Magneto/Rogue romance has a better chance of survival in the animated universe than it did in the comics.

The post The X-MEN Comics History of Rogue and Magneto’s Romance, Explained appeared first on Nerdist.

https://blackgirlnerds.com/the-5-black-women-directors-reshaping-cinema/

The movie industry has always had a knack for stifling creatives of color, particularly Black women. Now, newly in powerful positions, Black women directors have been presenting fresh narratives and taking their rightful place in the industry. Their work deserves to be seen and supported, as it reshapes what Blackness and Black womanhood means within mainstream culture.

The following is a list of five Black women movie directors who are changing the landscape of cinema and how we see ourselves on screen.

Raine Allen-Miller

Allen-Miller’s directorial debut romantic-comedy, Rye Lane, is hilarious with masterful charm. The film received its world premiere at Sundance in 2023. She’s always had a passion for filmmaking from her time at the BRIT School studying art and design. It not only allowed her to connect with other like-minded people but also to discover her interest in directing. However, as many Black women can relate to, Allen-Miller allowed imposter syndrome to deviate her away from directing and study illustration instead. Thankfully, an early career in advertising gave her the opportunity to collaborate on high-profile filmed campaigns and renewed her passion for directing.

Allen-Miller left advertising to build up her own directorial portfolio with music promos and commercial work, before making her first short, Jerk (2018). This premiered at the BFI London Film Festival which ultimately brought Rye Lane her way through BBC Film. With the freedom to make the script her own, she was able to add her visual genius and humor.

D Smith

D Smith is a Grammy-nominated producer but was shunned by the music business at the height of her success, after coming out as transgender. After a stint on reality television, she reinvented herself as a filmmaker. The film, Kokomo City, stands out in a line of documentaries about the LGBTQ+ community. Rather than following the usual technique of shooting sound and pictures together, Smith taped actual interviews with four Black transgender sex workers in Atlanta and New York — as well as a handful of trans-attracted men. What most stood out to me about this film is that she is able to bring insight, humor, and most of all humanity.

The self-taught filmmaker noted in her Sundance Institute video that she decided to direct Kokomo City after several directors said no to taking on the movie. The film had its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the grand jury’s Next Innovator Award and the Audience Award in the Next category for emerging filmmakers.

Adamma Ebo

If you have spent any amount of time in the Black church, the film Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul will resonate, as it gives a razor-sharp depiction of Black church culture. Adamma, along with her identical twin sister, producer Adanne, released this feature film in 2022. It is based on their experiences growing up in Southern Baptist megachurches in Atlanta. It is a true testament of what it looks like to turn memories of moments into a story that would become a short film, a master’s thesis, and eventually a feature film.

The sisters’ television writing credits include the Amazon series Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Batman: Caped Crusader. Adamma has directed an episode of FX’s Atlanta and three episodes of Amazon and Donald Glover’s Swarm, which had us all in a chokehold. Adamma is a Spelman College graduate, as well as a UCLA Film School graduate.

As many creators are struggling to stay inspired in producing their content, Adamma provides the practical yet effective advice of making sure to go outside to take in the world. It can be as simple as sitting in the park to people watch, or eavesdropping to spark inspiration.

A.V. Rockwell

A native of New York City, Rockwell studied filmmaking at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She also received fellowships from the Sundance Institute, Tribeca Film Institute, and the John S. Guggenheim Foundation. Searchlight Pictures acquired her short film Feathers before the film’s world premiere at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival.

Rockwell made her feature-film debut as a writer and director with A Thousand and One, with Lena Waithe as one of the producers. It won the 2023 Sundance Film Festival’s grand jury prize for U.S. Dramatic. Set in New York City from 1993 to 2005, it tells the story of Inez de la Paz (Teyana Taylor), who changes the identity of her son because she doesn’t want him to go back into the foster care system.

I love what Rockwell notes about A Thousand and One: “I appreciate the opportunity I had to address how marginalized communities were treated during this era. I’m grateful for this chance I had to honor the heroic nature of the Black women who, like Inez, were able to raise us and persevere despite how much they are overlooked.”

Ellie Foumbi

Foumbi has a background as an actor in independent films such as 2020’s American Thief and 2022’s Paris Is in Harlem. A filmmaker alum of Berlinale Talents and New York Film Festival’s Artist Academy, Foumbi makes her feature-film debut as a writer, director, and producer with Our Father, the Devil.

The film is about an African immigrant named Marie Cissé (Babetida Sadjo), who is working as the head chef at a retirement home in France. A priest named Father Patrick (Souléymane Sy Savané), from her African homeland, arrives in France, and he brings with him disturbing memories for Marie.

Our Father, the Devil won the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival’s Audience Award for Narrative Feature Films. Other film festival prizes for the movie include the 2022 American Black Film Festival’s Best Narrative Feature Film and the John Singleton Award for First Feature. Our Father, the Devil was nominated for Best Feature at the 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards.