Are They Autistic? – Reggie Abbott (Twelve Forever) – Part 3

Continued from Parts 1 and 2.

Are They Autistic? – Reggie Abbot (Twelve Forever) – Part 1 | The Autistic Blogger (wordpress.com)

Are They Autistic? – Reggie Abbot (Twelve Forever) – Part 2 | The Autistic Blogger (wordpress.com)

When I first started writing this article, I intended to analyse Twelve Forever so I could determine whether Reggie, the main character, was Autistic or not. While doing so, however, I came to admire the series for something else: its true intention. The longer I watched the episodes, the more it became clear they were written with a preteen audience in mind. They didn’t teach lessons, exactly, but rather experiences. They were the sort of moments everyone goes through in life, and the stories were guides to handling them. I’ve already explained how Episode 1 teaches us to let go of the past while valuing our memories. But there are other examples throughout the series. Episode 3, for instance, teaches us the challenges of making and accepting new friends. 

You may’ve noticed (in the last parts) I haven’t mentioned Reggie’s other friend, Esther, all that much. That’s because they don’t officially become friends until the third episode. And the process isn’t as straightforward as you might think. 

When Esther is introduced, she’s shown to be a grade-A student. She’s passionate about many things, like reading and learning, and is determined to be the best she can be. Unfortunately, nobody at school shares her mindset. Her classmates – including Reggie and Todd – think she’s too analytical about everything, and her book reports are long and tedious. Even the teacher seems to belittle her for it. As a result, Esther always feels like she’s always messing up and that her efforts will never be appreciated.

I can personally relate to this feeling. Sometimes I spend weeks or months working on a single project because I have limited spare time outside my job. I sacrifice a lot to ensure it’s made to the best of my ability. However, that doesn’t always mean it’ll be successful. Sometimes people aren’t interested in everything I say, so my piece doesn’t get the attention or views I hoped for. It’s tough whenever you put so much effort into something only to get so little in return. It makes you wonder if the time you spent was worth it. Or if you were better off doing something else. Now imagine someone like Esther going through that daily. She’d have confidence issues for sure. That’s why it’s necessary to let off steam somewhere.

One day, Reggie and Todd skip detention to go to Endless. However, they’re shocked to find Esther is there too. As it turns out, she has a homemade flute which lets her visit the island – much like Reggie and Todd’s keys. Because she often feels pressured by her parents’ expectations, she needs a place to refresh her mentality. Todd is fascinated that other people can visit Endless. But Reggie is annoyed. She doesn’t like the idea of “book report girl” stepping in on her special place and acts very territorial. It’s another example of how much Reggie despises even the slightest change in her life. Esther insists she’s not there to cause trouble. But Reggie is determined to ditch her. Until she gets caught in quicksand, that is. Esther uses her Endless powers to save Reggie, and the latter realises she’s not as dull as she thought.

Deciding whether to be someone’s friend can feel like a challenge in and of itself. You never know how long a relationship will last, and things like having different ages, religions or personal interests could be considered obstacles. However, the only important question to ask yourself is if you want to befriend that person. Even two significantly different people can find enough common ground to form a friendship. Or at least be happy spending more time together. As demonstrated by Reggie, she doesn’t mind being called Esther’s friend.

Todd also has his series highlights. In the fourth episode, his brother, Aron, goes to college, leaving him as the oldest sibling in the house. As such, his parents rely on him more than ever to look after his younger sisters. He seems to manage just fine. But then he’s seen creating new friends on Endless from his brother’s old things. Reggie has no clue what’s going on. But Esther picks up that Todd is angry. He’s always been very close to his brother, so he feels betrayed by his leaving. Rather than talk about it, though, Todd wants to make a replacement for Aron to fill the void in his life – even though no one can ever truly replace his brother. Esther and Reggie assure Todd that even if Aron isn’t around anymore, he still has them to confide in with his problems. Plus, his family show how much they appreciate his hard work.

So the three main characters are all very relatable; their experiences are common to almost any twelve-year-old watching. However, even when the storylines aren’t familiar, they still add a sense of realism to the series. 

For example, in one episode (20), Reggie and her friends plan to spend a week on Endless for Spring Break. However, Reggie starts to feel unwell. She thinks it’s a stomach ache. But then she suddenly vomits and passes out. Why? Because it’s revealed her appendix has burst, and she needs to spend time in the hospital. It’s a scary moment that reminds us how human these characters are.

In another episode (14), Reggie finds a box of her dad’s old things. She acts like it doesn’t bother her so much. But then her inner feelings manifest as a storm monster on Endless, which forces her to open up. It leads to an emotional scene where she tearfully consults her mom and learns the harsh reality of why her dad left. 

The series can be nonsensical and funny at times with its fantasy elements. But when the episodes want to be serious, nothing gets sugarcoated. Instead, the characters speak to each other like real people going through emotional conflicts. If there’s one thing Twelve Forever excels at, it’s communicating its morals.

Another praiseworthy aspect is the series’ depiction of LGTBQ+. Several characters are shown to have affectionate feelings for those of the same gender. Episode 7, for example, centres around Mack and Beefhouse (two male wrestlers) expressing their love for being the other’s partner. Another Endless resident (Galaxander) has a house date with a male shark and admits to having an ex-boyfriend (ep13). It’s even implied that Reggie, herself, might be gay. Halfway through the series, an older girl named Conelly is introduced. She’s an aspiring filmmaker and admires Reggie for her creativity. She even invites her to hang out with her and her friends so they can work on projects together. Afterwards, Reggie gets flustered whenever she’s around Conelly – as if she’s trying to suppress feelings she doesn’t fully understand.

I love how the series approaches LGTBQ+ so causally. Too often in media, creators state how they’ve included gay, transgender or bisexual characters in their products to show they’re all-inclusive. However, drawing attention to them this way implies those sorts of people are out of the ordinary. There are films, series and documentaries where they’re meant to be the main focus. But when they’re not, it can feel like their sexuality is being exploited for marketing. I think the best way to represent LGTBQ+ characters is to present them as regular people in society. As same-gender relationships become more commonplace and widely accepted, why should they be portrayed any differently in media?

Reggie’s main appeal isn’t that she’s potentially gay. It’s that she’s a character we can all see ourselves in. She represents a phase in our lives we all inevitably go through. And we have to overcome it because it’s essential to our future.

On that note, let me tell you what this series’ fantasy setting represents. As much as Endless gets presented as this fun-filled sunny paradise where kids can escape their worries and live out their dreams, it doesn’t want to give the wrong idea that it’s a permanent solution to Reggie’s troubles. It’s not trying to say that if you don’t want to grow up, you can stay a carefree, unresponsible child forever. Instead, the island is meant to relieve kids of stress so they can work through their problems and be better prepared for the real world. Even in episodes like the one involving Reggie’s dad, it’s clarified there are some things she can’t run away from on Endless.

Another way this message is delivered is by showing the audience how dangerous the island can be. There are physical threats such as the Butt Witch, the various monsters and a genuine risk of injury. However, the most disturbing aspect is the island’s residents. Throughout the series, they occasionally mention living in the real world before coming to the island. It sounds odd at first. But then we get to episode 20. 

While Reggie recovers in the hospital, she insists that Todd and Esther should spend Spring Break on Endless – just like they planned. But they have to call her daily so she knows what’s happening. Todd and Esther agree. But they slowly begin to forget Reggie, and the real world, the longer they spend on Endless. Moreover, because the time of day never changes on the island, they lose track of how long they’ve been there, and soon five whole days have passed. By the time Reggie returns, she’s shocked to find her friends are on the verge of insanity and are morphing into disfigured creatures. The only thing that saves them is Reggie bringing them back to the real world so they can regain their senses.

Seeing what happens when you’re exposed to too much magic is disturbing. But Todd and Esther were lucky enough to escape. The series’ darkest moment comes when the three friends meet Captain Elmer (episode 23), a mysterious visitor who looks like a young boy. Initially, they’re convinced he’s a travelling collector because he owns a giant sea creature filled with treasure. However, it’s later revealed he’s a master thief, and they catch him red-handed. After apprehending him, though, they discover a photograph which tells the whole story.

Elmer was a boy from the 1950s who came to Endless wanting to escape his misery. His mother had died of illness, and he lived in an orphanage. So much had already been taken from him that he wanted to regain his happiness in any way he could. Endless allowed him to take whatever he wanted without consequences. So he vowed never to return to his dismal real-world life. However, staying on Endless all those years caused him to transform into a doll with detachable limbs. Now he’s stuck in this world forever because he’s lost his humanity.

Endless isn’t meant to be a scary or evil place. But like everything in life, too much of something can be devastating. In this case, the story emphasises why the island’s magic is only beneficial in moderation. Additionally, it shows how pain and misfortune can corrupt a young child’s mind, causing them to develop into unsavoury people. Their problems must be identified early on, so others can give them the help and support they need. Otherwise, they’ll be led down a path they’ll never return from.

Unfortunately, despite the moral of this cautionary tale being plain for everyone to see, the episode ends on a worrying note. Because although Todd, Esther and the audience realise how horrifying Elmer’s fate is, the one person who doesn’t grasp it is the person who needs to learn from it the most: Reggie. Not only does the tragedy go over her head, but she thinks Elmer staying a kid forever is cool and wants to be like him. Worse still, now that she knows Endless is broader than she imagined, it’s given her a terrible plan for the future. When she’s old enough to leave home, she’ll live on Endless permanently and spend the rest of her life exploring its other islands. We know this is an awful idea because we’ve seen the consequences. But Reggie doesn’t care. She thinks she’ll be luckier than everyone else and handle things better. Sadly, this is the biggest flaw with Reggie’s character; when she sets her mind to something, she can be extremely stubborn and selfish.

Looking at the relationship between the three friends, they generally get along very well. However, Reggie often takes the lead in saying what they’ll do and when. She hardly listens to reason and doesn’t like being told no. Also, going back to what I said about her being possessive, she seems to think all of Endless is meant to revolve around her. There’s an episode (13) where the group sees into the homes of the island’s residents, and Reggie is shocked that they have lives outside of playing with her. The point where everything hits a fever pitch, though, is when Todd starts falling in love.

It begins with the three friends attending a school dance (ep21). Todd spends some time with a girl named Gwen – who he’s been seeing outside of school lately – and even Esther finds somebody to dance with. Reggie is left all alone to observe how mature both her friends look. Conelly then arrives with her friends. But Reggie panics and wants to leave. Todd refuses to go. So Reggie forcibly drags Esther away from her partner – ruining a special moment between them. Ultimately, Esther feels heartbroken and decides to go home – leaving Reggie by herself again.

Reggie’s inability to read a situation, or consider other people’s feelings, is harmful to both her and her friends. Nowhere is this better shown than in the series’ penultimate episode (24).

For Todd’s thirteenth birthday, Reggie plans a celebration for him on Endless. He’s excited to go, but then he mentions he’s planning to bring Gwen along – who’s now officially his girlfriend. Reggie is outraged at the idea and refuses to allow it – even though she’s brought others to Endless before too. They get into a heated argument until Todd refuses to attend the party. Reggie then goes on a rampage, destroying everything she prepared out of rage. Esther tries calming her down by reminding her of when they first became friends – maybe they can warm up to Gwen too. But Reggie is having none of it. She enjoys her life with just the three of them and doesn’t want Todd to give in to real-world temptations. It’s a moment that exposes Reggie’s insecurities and how stuck she is in the present. Unfortunately, things quickly go from bad to worse.

Todd comes to Endless, intending to apologise. But he hits a breaking point when he sees what Reggie has done to the party. He’s tired of her acting so selfish and immature whenever something doesn’t go her way. Even if she set up the party for him, she still destroyed it because she didn’t want there to be an extra guest. He’s also mad at Esther for never standing up to Reggie, and Esther doesn’t appreciate him putting words in her mouth. Things get so out of hand that the friends start attacking one another until Reggie screams at them to “get off [her] island!” Todd and Esther leave in a bitter rage, and Reggie is left broken and miserable. It’s the most harrowing scene of the whole series.

Now, eventually, the friends do reconcile (ep25). And they even work together to save Endless from its deadliest threat yet. However, it’s clear Reggie still has a lot to learn. After all, we never hear her apologise to Todd or Esther; we only assume that happened off-screen. 

But although Reggie lacks the qualities of a good role model, that doesn’t mean she’s a terrible person. There are moments throughout the series where she’s been willing to try new things. She watches TV shows and plays board games for older audiences (eps16/19). She offers to babysit, despite having no experience (ep15). And she even takes responsibility for residents on Endless, like building new homes for newcomers (ep14). The opportunities for Reggie to grow as a person are there. It’s just that she needs the confidence to take those next steps. Like starting a babysitting business (as her mom suggested), becoming friends with Conelly, or taking the latter’s advice and using her creativity to become an art director. Sometimes it takes encouragement from the right people to provide that much-needed confidence. 

***

Now, at this point, I have to address the reader on something. You might’ve spent this whole time reading and had one question on your mind. Wasn’t this article supposed to be about whether Reggie was Autistic or not? Well, that is true. I have been procrastinating on the subject. However, there’s a good reason for it. I had very different intentions when I wrote Part 1 of this article. I thought it would be like the other instalments of Are They Autistic? where I would look over a piece of media, pick out specific details and use those to determine whether the character was on the spectrum. However, that’s not what I ended up doing. As I sat down to watch this series, I realised it was much more than I ever expected. There were so many enlightening moments with the stories, morals and characters that I had to give them the attention they deserved – even if that meant writing for a few more weeks and making the title slightly misleading.

With that said, though, I still need to answer the all-important question. Is Reggie Abbott, the main protagonist, Autistic? Well, you might be disappointed to hear this, but to tell the truth, I don’t know. 

As I mentioned before, in Part 1, Reggie and I have many similarities. The most significant is that she’s reluctant to change and has a creative mind. I even found other comparisons throughout the series, like her habit of collecting strange things (ep11) – which I had when I was younger – and loving anime music (ep21). However, despite these findings, they weren’t enough to convince me that no other explanation was possible. There was no defining moment where I thought, for sure, that Reggie had to be Autistic. For Haruhi Suzumiya, it was when she wore her hair a specific way each day of the week (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya). For Beth Rivers, it was eating everything on her plate in one particular order (Rose Rivers). But for Reggie Abbott, her interests and issues were common to many children with or without neurological disabilities. Plus, any supporting evidence I did find was few and far between. And they didn’t connect in the way I was hoping.

All things considered, though, I don’t want to claim that Reggie isn’t Autistic. If somebody watched Twelve Forever and told me they thought she was on the spectrum, I wouldn’t argue against it. There certainly is evidence supporting that claim. But there wasn’t enough for me to give a definite answer.

Besides, looking at the series overall, it’s clear that presenting Reggie as Autistic was never the intention. Instead, she and the other characters are meant to be as all-inclusive as possible so different audiences can connect with the series. It’s their personalities and experiences that make them so relatable.

Twelve Forever had a lot of potential going for it. More than likely, it could’ve been a long-running series with multiple seasons. Unfortunately, though, that’s now unlikely to happen. I won’t go into details here, but things were discovered about the series’ creator that would make anyone hesitant to work with her again – especially on something aimed at children. 

However, it takes more than one person to bring a project to life. And judging by how it turned out, Twelve Forever had many passionate people working on it: animators, writers, storyboarders, and even voice actors. In particular, there was Reggie’s voice actor: Kelsy Abbott. It’s no coincidence they share the same surname. If you look closely at some of the episodes’ credits, you’ll see Kelsy lent a hand in writing them. That’s right; a voice actor had the chance to write stories for her own character. It’s a rarity that you see that kind of commitment. But finding a series that far surpasses its expectations is rarer.

I would highly recommend this series to anyone in Reggie’s age group. If you’ve ever felt on edge about growing up, changing who you are or taking the next steps in life, Twelve Forever can be very informative. But even if you’re nowhere near her age, the series still offers morals and experiences that all ages can learn from. Believe me when I say I haven’t touched on half of them.

Anyway, that’s all I have to say for Twelve Forever and Reggie Abbott. If you’ve taken the time to read all three parts of this extensive review, then I want to thank you personally for your patience. If you have any questions, please comment below – I’ll happily answer them. And, until next time, stay tuned.

Image courtesy of: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8009622/?ref_=tt_mv_close

Finding Dory Review

Hello everybody, this is George Harvey (aka The Autistic Blogger). And today I’m here with another of my reviews on disabilities in the media. Now, as my Third Anniversary Special was a bit UK-centred, and something hardly anyone knew, I decided to look at something more internationally well-known. Also, I’m taking a step back from Autism and focusing on disabilities in general. I see no better movie to do that with than Finding Dory (2016).

During the late 90s and early 2000s, Pixar was establishing themselves as one of the industry leaders in animated films. With their ground-breaking computer technology and stories that were both imaginative and relatable, every feature they released was a major success. One of their biggest hits during that period was Finding Nemo (2003); a story about an overprotective father (Marlin the clownfish), whose son (Nemo) is kidnapped by divers. Now he has to fight his way through the ocean to reach Syndey, Australia and save him. It’s not the most original concept ever. In fact, you could say it’s your typical run-of-the-mill rescue mission. But what it ended up becoming was something a lot more. Through bonds of friendship, life-threatening situations, and personal growth for both the father and son, it’s a story that shows just how the power of love can overcome any obstacle and bring families closer together.

The response to this film was outstanding. Not only did it win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2003, but it was the second highest grossing film of that year and became one of the best-selling DVDs of all time – with 40 million copies sold in just three years. The American Film Institute even named it the 10th Greatest Animated Film ever made, and, it was voted one of the Greatest Motion Pictures since 2000 by international critics. After more than a decade since its release, Finding Nemo continues to inspire audiences both young and old. And so in 2013, Pixar announced they’d be releasing a sequel. But how do you continue a story that was near-perfect and arguably didn’t need a follow-up? By focusing on one of its most beloved characters. The ever-forgetful Dory.

Voiced by Ellen DeGeneres, Dory is the regal blue tang who joins Marlin on his quest to find Nemo. Although she’s incredibly good-hearted and wants to help, it doesn’t take Marlin long to realise she comes with complications. You see, Dory has a disability – specifically short-term memory loss – which causes her to forget things almost instantly. Throughout the first film, her condition is mostly played for comedy or used to delay the journey somehow. But it’s not all bad. Some of her other abilities are very useful to Marlin. For one thing, she can read. Which allows them to work out where Nemo is. She also teaches Marlin to enjoy himself every once in a while and uses her charm to get other fish to help them. Additionally, her disability has its high points too. While travelling with Marlin, she remembers their destination thanks to her strong desire to help him. Also, towards the end, when it seems he and Nemo have missed each other, Dory is able to reunite them following a sudden spark in her memory. Through it all, though, she remains her lovable and entertaining self.

In Finding Dory, she becomes the main character. And we’re given answers to questions we never realised we needed. How did Dory learn to read? Where did she come from? And, most importantly, what happened to her parents? In this role reversal of the first film, she sets out to find her family with help from Marlin and Nemo. Along the way, her condition is explored more deeply, and the film provides a social commentary on disabilities as a whole. Now, obviously, I can’t speak for anyone who has short-term memory loss, since I don’t have the condition myself. But I am diagnosed with Autism, which is also a neurological disability. And, as far as representing those go, the film does an excellent job speaking to both the people diagnosed with them and their parents. How exactly? Let’s find out.

***

The movie begins with a young Dory, learning a phrase from her parents – one that will help her if she ever gets lost. “Hi, I’m Dory, I suffer from short-term memory loss.” We then get our first glimpse of how the condition affects her. She can’t count to 10, she’s easily distracted by sand (because it’s squishy) and forgets her parents are pretending to be fish she’s never met.

Distraction is common for people with neurological disabilities. Things may look or sound more interesting than what we should be focusing on, and our brains get instinctively attracted to them. This can lead to learning difficulties, which is why those people need guidance and support in their early years.

Dory’s condition also poses risks to her wellbeing. We see she has to be careful not to swim near the undertow or its current might sweep her away. However, she forgets the danger and occasionally swims too close anyway. Her parents try teaching her a song to remember, but she gets distracted again and starts singing a different tune. It’s at this point she notices them looking worried and feels sorry.

What’s good about this scene is that Dory’s parents remain patient and reassuring. Even young children will understand they have problems and they might feel ashamed by them. It’s essential for parents to make sure their child isn’t discouraged and that they find engaging ways of teaching them – no matter how challenging it is.

We then cut to some time later, where Dory has somehow gotten lost. She remembers what her parents taught her to say, but she can’t remember how she lost them. Worse still, she keeps forgetting the fish who try to help her and wanders off again and again. She spends years wandering the ocean until she bumps into Marlin, setting off the events of the first film.

It can be a risky thing when a child gets lost. But it’s even more so when that child has a disability. In some cases, they get so invested in their own thoughts that they can’t comprehend what’s going on around them. I know this because it wasn’t long ago a child wandered off from a store where I work. They actually left the shop altogether and began walking down the high street with a busy road. Even when he was found, he didn’t respond to his mother’s calls or understand what he’d done wrong. Not all children are affected to this degree. But until they know better, it’s best never to let a child like this out of your sight. In Dory’s case, she was lucky not to have been eaten.

A year later, Dory is happily living next door to Marlin and Nemo. However, she keeps waking up too early and forgetting about their anemone’s stings. During a field trip to the stingray migration, words like “home” and “undertow” suddenly trigger suppressed memories in Dory’s mind; she remembers how she got lost and something called “the Jewel of Morro Bay, California.” In a frenzy, she swims for the edge of the reef.

Before I go on, I should say this: Dory continues having these flashbacks throughout the movie, and they gradually reveal what happened to her. Initially, they were meant to be part of the first film with Marlin – to show why he became so paranoid and overbearing. However, the idea was dropped in favour of the prologue because it would’ve diverted from the journey’s heart too much. The reason they work better here is they allow us to feel what it’s like having Dory’s condition. With each new memory, we learn crucial information which brings us closer to the story’s climax. In this sense, it’s as much our journey as it is her’s.

Dory makes it clear she doesn’t want to forget these memories. She has to find her family but knows she can’t do it alone. She needs Marlin and Nemo with her or else she’ll forget. On a side note, I really love it when disadvantaged people show this level of understanding towards their condition. It proves they can work around their own limitations and live independently.

Marlin is reluctant to leave the reef again. But seeing how much Dory misses her parents, as he did Nemo, he agrees to help her. This is a well-executed moment because it gives us some emotional, as well as nostalgic, connection to the first film. We then get another one in the next scene. We see Crush the sea turtle again! By the way, this movie does feature many returning characters (e.g. the seagulls, Mr Ray, and the Tank Gang), but they only play very minor roles, and more emphasis is given to the newer ones introduced – which I’ll get to in a minute.

Upon arriving in California, Dory has a flashback which reminds her of her parents’ names: Jenny and Charlie. Unfortunately, calling them attracts the attention of a monster squid. After nearly getting Nemo eaten, Marlin angrily tells Dory to wait somewhere and forget – since it’s what she does best. This is harsh and would definitely upset anyone with a disability. Essentially, it shows us how not to react in this situation. Marlin gets frustrated with Dory and berates her for not being able to do the simplest things. Even though it’s not always her fault. Saying something like this would just make her resent her condition and gravely affect her psyche. Compared to the earlier scene with Dory’s parents, it’s clear which way is better in handling challenging situations. Additionally, this moment begins a small development arc for Marlin. As Nemo points out, his father tends not to believe in the capabilities of disadvantaged creatures. He did so a lot with Nemo in the first film – given his son was born with a disfigured fin – and continues doing so with Dory, and later a mentally-handicapped bird named Becky. Eventually, he does realise the error of his ways and accepts these creatures have their own way of solving things.

Back onto the story, Dory is caught by marine biologists and taken into the Californian Marine Life Institute – aka “The Jewel of Morro Bay.” Inside, she comes across some colourful characters. There’s Hank the octopus, who’s a bit grouchy but has three good hearts, and two other disabled sea creatures: Destiny the whale shark, who’s near-sighted; and Bailey the beluga, who supposedly can’t use his echolocation after hitting his head. Having characters like this with physical disabilities shows the movie is appealing to all disabled audiences, not just those associated with memory loss. Additionally, they provide some alternate viewpoints on the subject. Destiny doesn’t like her disability because it makes her scared of bumping into things. Whereas Bailey could, unfortunately, represent someone trying to exploit their disability; it’s revealed later on he can use echolocation, he just let his injury prevent him from trying. Being disabled does make things challenging, there’s no doubt, but it should never be used as an excuse. I never let my Autism stop me from putting in my best writing effort.

After more flashbacks, Dory recalls it was Destiny who taught her to speak whale and her parents who made up the Just Keep Swimming song. She also remembers her dad telling her there’s always another way, which inspires her to reach the Open Ocean exhibit – where her parents are – by land. Thinking back to the beginning, when Dory was struggling to learn important lessons, these revelations prove it is possible to remember them over time – even with a neurological disability. It just takes persistence and creativity. In Dory’s case, she was able to memorise whale-speak through constant practice with Destiny, and, her parents embedded a catchy song in her head, which helped her grow up happy and determined. It’s moments like this when disabilities don’t seem all that bad. However, in contrast, the next scene presents some of the issues Dory still has with her’s.

While travelling to the Open Ocean exhibit (by stroller and sippy cup), Dory has to remember the route by following signs and giving Hank directions. She keeps repeating “follow the signs to [the] Open Ocean“, but even then she get’s distracted. Consequently, she makes Hank take a wrong turn and they end up way off track. He then exclaims her memory isn’t working and it’s probably how she lost her family in the first place. Again this is harsh, but it sets up for some essential character development.

While defending she didn’t ‘lose’ anyone, Dory and Hank end up in the touch pool. Which I will admit is made to feel very threatening from the perspective of a fish. Despite the risk of being crushed, Dory tells Hank he needs to keep on swimming, and soon he releases a cloud of ink which fends off the kids. With his life saved, Hank takes back what he said and warms up to Dory. In fact, when they eventually part ways, he says he’ll have a hard time forgetting her. Just as she says “I think I’m going to remember you” – which coming from her means a lot.

Inside the Open Ocean, Dory can’t find her parents. But she does notice some shells lying in the sand. She then remembers her parents used to leave a trail of them so she could find her way home. Following it, she comes to the place where she used to live. But her parents aren’t there either. Seeing it, however, does bring back her most significant memory. One night, a young Dory overheard her mother crying. She was worried that her daughter wouldn’t be able to live independently given the severity of her condition. Dory didn’t want to see her mother sad, so she went to get her a purple shell to cheer her up. Unfortunately, the one she chose was too close to the undertow, and the current swept her away.

How many parents have had this concern? How easy is it to think your child won’t survive in life because of their condition? What if your teaching methods are all in vain? I know my parents must’ve felt this way at some point. And so have millions of others. But the thing is, none of it’s true. History has shown that even the most severely disabled people can go on to live happy, normal lives and do incredible things. It’s not just me, famous people have overcome their limitations; Albert Einstein, Satoshi Tajiri, Steven Hawking and many more. What’s important is for parents not to give in to doubt. If they do, their child will just pick up on their concerns and lack any self-confidence. But if they stick to their teachings and remain calm and reassuring, everything will work out well in the end. If there’s one scene from Finding Dory worth watching, believe me, it’s this one.

Following her flashback, Dory learns that all the regal blue tangs have been taken into quarantine. The quickest way to get there is through the pipes, but she’s worried she’ll forget the directions she’s given – again, this is showing a clear understanding of her limitations. Unfortunately, she’s right. Within moments the directions get jumbled up in her head, she makes wrong turns and becomes hopelessly lost. Luckily another memory saves her. Using the pipes’ echo, she’s able to contact Destiny, and, with Bailey’s reawakened echolocation, the whale shark guides her to safety. But not before the latter reunites with Marlin and Nemo, who’ve been on their own misadventure to find her.

As the three travel down the pipes together, Dory wonders if her parents will really want to see her again. But Marlin tells her they’ll be overjoyed. Because parents will always love their children regardless of their disabilities. Which is an important thing to remember; no matter how challenging a child’s condition is, it’s simply a part of who they are. True parents will learn to accept this and live past it. Marlin knows Dory’s parents will also love who she is now. Because he admits that the time he’s spent with her has made him a better father. In fact, the way he and Nemo found her was by thinking: “What would Dory do?” She feels happier after hearing this, but Nemo is sad to realise they’ll have to say goodbye soon.

Arriving in quarantine, it doesn’t take the friends long to find the regal blue tangs’ tank. However, there’s shocking news: Jenny and Charlie went missing years ago. Apparently, they followed Dory down the pipes to try and find her but never came back. Believing her parents to be dead, Dory begins spacing out and loses all sense of what’s going on. It then goes from bad to worse as she’s lifted from the tank – leaving Marlin and Nemo trapped – gets dropped on the floor and then slips down a grating back into the ocean. Within seconds, she can’t remember what’s just happened and even forgets Marlin and Nemo.

This goes back to what I said about being heavily invested in your own thoughts. Dory is so distraught by her parents’ fate that she can’t register anything else. It’s another well-executed moment because everything is shown through Dory’s eyes, allowing us to feel how confused and unfocused she is.

At this point, Dory is terrified. And we’re scared for her since there’s a real chance she could end up wandering the ocean again. Fortunately, the one thing she does remember is “what would Dory do?” So, staying calm, she assesses her surroundings and makes decisions on where to go. First, she swims towards some kelp (since it’s better than open water); then some sand (because it’s squishy), then a shell, then another shell, then another. And then she realises there’s a whole trail of them. Following it, she comes to a sunken tyre with dozens of shell trails leading towards it. As she approaches, two figures emerge from the distance. It’s her parents! After a moment of stunned silence, Jenny and Charlie rush towards their daughter and embrace her lovingly. Dory is overjoyed as well. But then she starts crying. She apologises to her parents, saying she knows she’s got a problem, but can’t fix it; thoughts leave her head, ideas change, she even forgot about them, etc.

Never before have I ever seen a character so openly expressive about their condition. If the flashback with Dory’s mother was for the parents watching, this scene is definitely for the children.

Jenny and Charlie tell Dory not to be sorry. Because she found them! And they always knew she would. They escaped the institute and stayed in one place for years, collecting shells and making trails, because they always knew somehow she’d remember what they taught her. And she did. “You remembered in your own amazing Dory way,” Jenny says. This was the most powerful line in the whole movie for me. It speaks volumes about the true capabilities of disabled people and what they can achieve under the right influences.

When asked if she’s been alone all this time, Dory suddenly remembers Marlin and Nemo. She has to go back and save them or else they’ll be shipped off to Missouri with the regal blue tangs. With help from her parents and numerous other creatures – including Hank, Bailey and Destiny (who’ve all escaped the institute) – she comes up with a plan. At one point, she has to separate from her parents. But she tells them not to worry. Because even if she does forget, she knows she can find them again. After some crazy shenanigans, including hijacking a truck and crashing it into the sea, Marlin and Nemo are saved. And the other sea creatures can finally enjoy the real open ocean.

Sometime later, Dory is back on the reef with Marlin and Nemo. Her parents have moved there along with Hank, Bailey and Destiny. We see she still has problems with her memory, e.g. forgetting how to count and why she’s counting, but after thinking things through, she’s able to remember quickly. The final scene shows her enjoying the ocean view with Marlin and having one last flashback: her parents are proud she’s followed the shell trail home and say she can do anything if she puts her mind to it.

In conclusion, Finding Dory may not have been a sequel anyone asked for. But it was a surprising success nonetheless. With its unforgettable characters and highly relatable story, it’s little wonder why it became the second Pixar film to gross more than a billion dollars at the box office. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: this movie is for everyone. Even if you’re not a fan of Pixar or animation, I’d recommend it if you’re associated with disabilities in any way (parent or child).

***

And that’s all I have to say for Finding Dory. I’m sorry this review took me a little longer to finish, but I hope you’ve enjoyed it. If you have any questions, please leave me a comment – I’ll be more than happy to answer them. And, as always, stay tuned.

(Image courtesy of https://www.amazon.ca/Finding-Dory-Blu-ray-DVD-Digital/dp/B01FJ4UGF0)

My Little Pony: Lesson Zero and Autism (Part 1)

Hello, everybody, this is George Harvey (aka the Autistic Blogger). And today I’m going to be looking into something I’ve wanted to for quite some time now.

If you’ve read some of my earlier posts, you’ll know I’m a big fan of the series My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. I could write on and on about why I support the fandom, and why I think the show appeals to all audiences – not just young girls – but that’s something for another time. What I want to do, instead, is focus on one episode in particular, and discuss how I think it’s significant to people with Autism.

But before I do, allow me to give an overview of the series.

Friendship is Magic takes place in the land of Equestria, a magical world inhabited by Unicorns, Pegasi and Earth Ponies – as well as other mythical creatures such as Dragons and Alicorns (winged unicorns). In the beginning, the main character is Twilight Sparkle, a unicorn who studies magic under the tutelage of Princess Celestia, the alicorn monarch of the land. Twilight is a model pupil, and she seems content with her life. But she always spends her free time studying. As a result, she never socialises with anybody other than Spike; a young, flightless dragon, who acts as her personal assistant. This concerns Celestia.

One day, the princess sends them both to Ponyvile to help with the Summer Sun Festival. As they explore the village, Twilight encounters five other ponies. Applejack; a hard-working farm pony. Fluttershy; who loves animals and gets scared easily. Pinkie Pie; who’s full of energy and loves parties. Rarity; who dreams of opening fashion boutiques all over Equestria. And Rainbow Dash; who thinks she’s the coolest flyer around and plans on joining the Wonderbolts aerial team. At first, Twilight wants nothing to do with these ponies. Even when they join her on a quest to stop the evil alicorn, Nightmare Moon. As they journey to the villain’s lair, however, Twilight realises her companions represent the Elements of Harmony – honesty (Applejack), kindness (Fluttershy), laughter (Pinkie Pie), generosity (Rarity) and loyalty (Rainbow Dash). More importantly, though, they’re her friends! Together with Twilight’s own element of magic, they defeat Nightmare Moon and restore her to her true form; Princess Luna. After the festival, Celestia allows Twilight to stay in Ponyville so she can learn more about the magic of friendship.

Now the premise might sound cheesy, I know. But you’d be surprised how seriously Friendship is Magic takes itself. Unlike previous generations of My Little Pony, the show doesn’t appeal to audiences by being over-the-top and girly. Instead, it focuses on teaching universal morals that everyone can relate to. These morals include: being open about your problems, discovering your purpose in life, and staying true to yourself no matter what tries to sway you. Some episodes even touch on deeper subjects like depression, racism and civil war.

Additionally, the show has run for over six seasons because its characters are always developing. Fluttershy is now braver and more assertive, Rarity and Rainbow Dash have achieved their dreams in fashion and flying, and Twilight herself has become an alicorn princess with a student all her own.

But I don’t want to ramble for too long.

The episode I’m going to discuss is called Lesson Zero (S2, Ep3). Admittedly, this is one of the older stories in the series, now. But it’s significant to me for various reasons. Not only was it the first episode of ‘Friendship is Magic’ I ever saw, but after watching it again, I realised something familiar about Twilight’s behaviour. Specifically, she showcases many autistic traits throughout the story. For a brand that used to be all Happy Rainbow Butterfly Pony Flowers (Animat, 2012), I think it was admirable of the writers to take My Little Pony in this direction.

Just for the record, I don’t think Twilight is autistic – there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that she’s not. But I do see a lot of myself in her. Even her friendship experiences are similar to mine. For example, if you listen to the extended version of the Friendship is Magic theme song, Twilight sings:

“When I was young I was too busy to make any friends. Such silliness did not seem worth the effort it expends. But my little ponies, you opened up my eyes. And now the truth is crystal clear as splendid summer skies. And it’s such a wonderful surprise.”

This is my life in a nutshell.

Also, I’m not the only one to make a connection between Twilight and Autism. Many parents have watched this episode, and they agree the writer (Meghan McCarthy) must’ve had some experience with the condition. If you want to know more, I’d recommend watching Bronies: The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans of My Little Pony. For now, though, let’s take a look at Lesson Zero.

*

The episode begins with Twilight and Spike making a list of everything she needs to accomplish by the end of the day. Item 1: create said checklist.

Straight away this relates to Autism. A lot of people write lists to remind them of things. But it’s especially helpful if you have trouble processing large quantities of information. When I have multiple thoughts on my mind, it’s difficult keeping track of them all – sometimes I focus too much on certain tasks and forget about doing others. That’s why I write checklists/timetables. If I know when, and how long, to work on something I feel more in control. And it keeps me from stressing out. The only downside is I literally have to note down everything – to the smallest detail.

This is sort of what Twilight does. Her first task is to create the checklist she’s writing; mine is to wake up in the morning. Her last item is to triple-check her list to make sure she didn’t miss anything when she double-checked it; mine is to get to bed by a certain hour. Twilight is definitely a well-organised pony who enjoys doing things by the book. We even see she has a list of materials needed to make a checklist (quills, parchment, ink, etc.).

Back onto the story; Twilight gets ahead of schedule, so she and Spike go to Sugarcube Corner. There, they collect some cupcakes for an afternoon picnic with her friends. When she opens the box, however, there are thirteen cupcakes instead of twelve. The store owner, Mrs Cake, says she had one extra, so she made it a “baker’s dozen”. Twilight appreciates the thought, but she’s concerned that icing from the thirteenth cupcake is getting over the one next to it – thus making them uneven. She tries to balance things out. But ends up removing all but a drop of icing from each cupcake.

I have to say, this might be the most memorable moment of the entire series for me. Twilight is acting more Autistic/OCD here than she ever has in the show’s history (i.e. letting a small change throw her off and trying to fix something that’s not a problem).

Technically, yes, there’s nothing wrong with the cupcakes. But for Twilight, there’s a major issue. She doesn’t want her friends to think she’s valuing some ponies over others by giving them more icing. You might say this is overreacting a bit, but it’s easy to see a small problem as something bigger – especially when you’re autistic. Plus, Twilight feeling this way isn’t unreasonable. In a previous episode, she couldn’t decide which friend to take with her to a party, and it caused some friction within the group (S1, Ep3).

It’s also established that Twilight is a perfectionist and prefers doing things exactly right. However, being this way 24/7 has its drawbacks. In some cases, you end up making a problem worse rather than fixing it. Case in point: me and my writing.

If I were in Twilight’s predicament, my problem wouldn’t be with the icing, but rather the number of cupcakes. Since you can’t divide thirteen by six (evenly), I’d want to get rid of that extra cupcake. It probably wouldn’t even occur to me to just save it or give it to Spike – which I’m surprised Twilight didn’t think of.

It turns out, though, this scene only foreshadows a greater problem to come.

With the cupcakes in tow, Twilight and Spike head home. Spike has a “claw-cramp” after holding the checklist all day and says he’s glad they don’t have anything to report to the Princess this week.

Before I go on, let me explain.

At this point in the series, Twilight would write letters to Princess Celestia at the end of every episode. The letters would express the moral of the story and what lessons she learnt about friendship – you know, typical kid’s show stuff. Here’s the thing, though; Celestia never said this was a weekly assignment. You could assume she mentioned it off-screen. But it makes more sense to think that Twilight decided this deadline herself. We know she takes pride in being Celestia’s student and is determined to prove her worthiness. So it’s natural she’d want to set herself personal goals.

As we find out, though, trying to do too much too soon can have disastrous consequences.

Twilight looks over her journal and discovers it’s been almost seven days since she sent her last letter. Which means, if she doesn’t send one by sundown, she’ll be late for the assignment – something that’s never happened before. Spike tells her not to worry because he’s sure the princess will forgive her for missing one little deadline. But Twilight doesn’t want to take the risk. In fact, she’s concerned what might happen if Celestia thinks she’s slacking off.

Remember that greater problem I mentioned earlier? This is it.

(Continued in Part 2: https://georgeharvey2015.wordpress.com/2016/10/22/my-little-pony-lesson-zero-and-autism-part-2/)

(Image courtesy of http://www.brony.com/brony-facts-faq/my-little-pony-cast/)

‘The A Word’ (Autism in the Media)

Hello everybody, this is George Harvey (aka The Autistic Blogger).

The views I’m about to express are specifically my own, although they may also be yours too – depending on how much you agree with me.

On March 22nd (2016), BBC One aired its first episode of a new drama series called The A Word. The story follows a dysfunctional Lake District family and their five-year-old son (Joe) who’s Autistic. From his initial diagnosis to the parents’ reactions, the series attempts to show us the effects of Autism, common misunderstandings about it and, most importantly, how to cope.

As the drama is heavily focused around my condition, I decided this would be a perfect opportunity to talk about Autism and its portrayal in the media. Like many real-word issues, there’s no better way of raising awareness than through TV, social media and other forms of mass communication. When it comes to disabilities and conditions, however, it’s important to represent them correctly. Both the benefits and set-backs should be addressed. If one mood overshadows the other, audiences could get the wrong idea about disadvantaged people and unintentionally mistreat them.

Over the years, different mediums have attempted to communicate Autism. Some better than others.

I hate Channel 4‘s The Undateables because it feels too negative. I understand the people taking part agreed to have their lives filmed. But all we’re show are the struggles they face and how disabilities prevent them finding love. There’s nothing to suggest Autism has any good points to it. In fact, people watching the show might feel worse about themselves. I know I did when I saw two grown men with Autism playing Yu-Gi-Oh cards.

The Autistic Gardener communicates things more positively. It still talks about the difficulties people face (e.g. prioritising and social communication), but it also highlights the benefits of having the condition; a creative mind, good organisation skills and perfectionism. More importantly, it shows how they use these traits to make unique contributions to the world of work. In other words, The Autistic Gardener helps Autistic people find employment – it doesn’t ruin their chances at love because their condition supposedly classifies them as Undateable.

Books and stage plays also do their part to raise awareness. Not only are there helpful guidebooks (e.g. The Asperkids Secret Book of Social Rules), but some stories allow us to see exactly what goes on in the Autistic mind. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime is a good example of this. I’ve not read the book myself. But the stage adaption really does Autism justice. The actors and visuals show us everything we need to know – without even naming the condition once.

When creating Autistic characters, it’s important to get their portrayals right or else people will take offence. Holby City recently featured a side character with Autism. I think the actor did an amazing job, because his dialogue was well-written and everything about his performance – from the way he talks to the way he behaves – feels believable. It makes me proud when the media represents Autism so accurately.

With all that being said; what are my thoughts on The A Word?

To make sure I don’t spoil the series too much, I’m only going to talk about what happens in the first episode – and maybe a bit of the second.

The episode begins with Joe walking alone, listening and singing to music on his headphones. This immediately defines his character. Throughout the series it’s made abundantly clear that Joe is obsessed with music. He refuses to talk or co-operate with anyone, unless it’s song-related.

When you’re Autistic it’s very easy to become obsessed with the things you love. They become your source of comfort and you never want to be without them. The series shows us why this can be a problem. Because Joe is so absorbed in his music, it’s nearly impossible to get his attention. That’s why he struggles to follow simple instructions and barely takes notice of the people around him.

There’s no doubt Joe’s music is an issue. Especially as his headphones are the perfect tool for blocking out reality. But one thing I really praise the series for is showing the benefits of his obsession, too. Because he listens to music all day, he’s memorised the lyrics of every song he’s ever heard. Plus, he can tell you a song’s title, the artist, who wrote it and what year it was released. Keep in mind he’s five-years-old! (I’m almost 22; I could never have this kind of encyclopaedia-like knowledge.) Furthermore, it’s mentioned that Joe does well in school and is smarter than most kids his age. These small details are essential. They make it clear to the audience that having Autism doesn’t mean you’re stupid or inferior. It just means you’re gifted in some areas and need additional help in others. Two people who don’t seem realise this are Joe’s parents (Paul and Alison Hughes).

Going back to the episode: it’s Joe’s birthday. And mum and dad are throwing him party. They try to get him involved, but it’s clear he’d rather be listening to music. He even makes a fuss whenever the stereo is turned off.

After the party, the whole family is gathered. Among them is Nicola – the partner of Paul’s brother, Eddie. She asks the parents if they think Joe’s behaviour is because he has something. Almost immediately they lash out. Paul excuses his son’s behaviour as being normal for five-year-olds. Whilst Alison is furious Nicola would suggest such a thing.

This scene is important. It highlights the most common feelings parents have when they first consider Autism: fear and denial. Paul and Alison obviously love Joe with all their hearts and want him to have the best chance in life. Just the thought of there being something wrong with him is frightening, because they know it means he won’t grow up like normal children. Worst still, they think he won’t grow up happy at all – which of course is completely wrong.

Not wanting to face the possibility of Autism, they try to continue their lives as normal. But Joe’s symptoms soon become overwhelming. Eventually, his grandad (Maurice) can’t stand the lack of action and takes Joe for a medical assessment – without Paul or Alison’s knowledge.

By the way I have to say this quickly. I just love that Christopher Eccleston plays Maurice in the series. What can I say, I’m a sucker for any actor who used to be in Doctor Who. Anyway…

The Hughes are, understandably, upset by Maurice’s actions and tell him to stay away. However, it turns out the assessment was a good thing, because it’s confirmed that Joe does have Autism. Mum and dad are still doubtful, but they listen to the doctor’s prognosis.

This might be the highlight of the whole episode for me. Everything that’s described about Autism here is very accurate. The doctor mentions how it’s not just one condition, but a series of conditions that affect different people in different ways. She also talks about prioritising, repetitive behaviour and how it’s difficult for these people to process what they hear. I felt a genuine connection to the series after this, because it sounded like she was describing me. Many other Autistic people can also relate. (If there’s any scene worth watching in the episode it’s this one.)

Following Joe’s diagnosis, the reality is almost too much for Paul and Alison. They think there’s obviously been some mistake and want to get a second opinion. Even Maurice is sceptical.

“He talks, he laughs, he looks you in the eye, he smiles; how is he Autistic? I don’t understand.”

This sums up the main problem people have with Autism. Because everybody is effected differently, it’s near-impossible to pin-down specific behaviours. They think if someone doesn’t act a certain way it’s proof they don’t have Autism – which isn’t necessarily true.

Maurice then asks if there’s a cure. To which Alison immediately (and correctly) responds: “It’s not a disease!”

The point of Autism isn’t to cure it, but to understand its effects on someone. Once you do, you’ll be able to come up with a plan – specifically tailored to that individual – which gives them the exact help and encouragement they need.

However, there’s a right and wrong way to handle Autism. And Alison, unfortunately, chooses the latter. She’s so afraid of “labelling” Joe, she thinks the best course of action is to make sure nobody else finds out about his Autism – she doesn’t even want the word mentioned in her house.

This is the absolute worst thing she can do. When somebody is Autistic, nothing is more important than letting others know about it. Many parents don’t understand this. They think if they hide their child’s problems, their son or daughter will be able to live a normal life. Quite the opposite. They’re allowing a small issue to grow into an even bigger one.

Let’s put things into perspective.

If people don’t know a child has Autism, they’ll think he or she is acting strange on purpose and want to avoid them. Maybe even bully them. If teachers don’t know, they can’t give that child the support they need in lessons. They’ll blame bad grades on lack of effort – rather than learning difficulties – making the child feel stressed and miserable about themselves.

To put it simply, refusing to acknowledge someone’s Autism, actually prevents them from living a normal life.

On the other hand, if people are made aware of the Autism – and they’re given a proper explanation of it – it will help them to understand why the child behaves the way they do. They’ll learn to accept it and be more willing to engage with them. Plus, if the child is given support in school, they’ll learn to get better overtime and eventually not need it anymore.

Eddie tries telling Alison the first step is honesty. But she ignores him, saying he doesn’t know anything. (Newsflash mum: neither do you!)

The episode ends and the preview suggests Alison is going to handle things a lot worse; she’s thinking of home-schooling Joe and taking away his music.

So do I think The A Word is a good series? Absolutely. There are just so many things it gets right about Autism. And a lot people agree with me. The episodes have been praised numerous times on social media for their subject matter and quality acting. I don’t know if Max Vento (Joe’s actor) has Autism in real life, but his performance is right on the money.

There are many things I share in common with Joe. When he sings, he sings loudly and doesn’t consider he might be disturbing nearby people. I sort of do the same thing when I’m listening to YouTube videos. Also, Joe wanders the playground, allows the smallest things to distract him and occasionally references lines from movies like Toy Story – all things I’ve done in my life at some point.

However, there are differences between me and Joe, too. When I was younger, I never had problems making friends and I was always invited to birthday parties. I also did a lot of outrageous things, but it never got to the point where I slapped anybody or broke something in frustration. (I think Joe is portrayed as having a slightly higher form of Autism than mine.)

Another thing I love about the series is its sub-plots. We see Joe’s sister feeling like she’s invisible; Eddie and Nicola having relationship problems; Maurice getting stalked by his music instructor, etc. Each one is believable and adds something different to the drama (e.g. humour or tension). It really shows how Autism effects not only the person diagnosed, but the people around them.

In conclusion, The A Word is a beautifully crafted masterpiece and I highly recommend it to everyone. The series may not tell us everything about Autism. And Joe shouldn’t be used as a template for all Autistic children. But it’s an essential piece to watch if we aim to make this world a more inclusive place.

That’s it for this post/review. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Please remember that April is Autism Awareness Month. Do whatever you can to show your support on social media.

#EmployAutism (Ambitious about Autism)

#TheAWord (The A Word)

Be sure to check out the other material I’ve written for this blog and Autistic Blogger Reviews (https://autisticbloggerreviews.wordpress.com). If you have any questions, leave me a comment – I’ll be happy to answer them. And as always, keep an eye out for the next post. Stay tuned.

(Image courtesy of http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2015/the-a-word)

Interests, Update and Music Video

Hello Internet. This is George Harvey, aka ‘The Autistic Blooger’. It’s been a while since my last post, as I’ve been on holiday in Majorca, and had other commitments. So to make up for it, I’ve decided to upload something special.
Over the last several months, I’ve written many posts about my experiences with Autism, and why I’m so passionate about raising awareness of it. I’ve also written creative pieces and reviews that showcase my other skills as a writer. However, one thing I’ve not been able to discuss in great detail are some of the interests I have as an ‘Aspie’ (autistic person).
I’ve said in the past that Autism makes me interested in a variety of different things. And these interests sometimes distract me from important things, like finding a full-time job, talking to people or completing a writing task. This is actually why it takes me longer to do certain things than other people – it’s not just that I’m a perfectionist. I’m not ashamed to say I have these interests. In fact, I think they’re what makes me relatable to other ‘Aspies’ around the world. Depending on whether they share my interests, of course.
So what does my Autism make me interested in?
Those of you who’ve read ‘Into My Autistic Mind’ would’ve noticed that I keep mentioning the series ‘My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic’. I will admit that I’m a fan of the show, like so many other Bronies and Pegasisters. A lot of people have problems with older audiences – especially teenage boys and grown men – liking ‘My Little Pony’. But I really think those people should watch an episode themselves, before they point fingers. The reason I like the show is because, unlike previous generations – which were so sissy even the target audience (little girls) would cringe – ‘Friendship is Magic’ teaches very sincere morals, which kids and grown-ups of all ages can learn from. There’s even one episode, which I think portrays one of it’s main characters having Autism – or at least Autistic traits. So I’m actually thinking of writing a review on that episode in the future. It’s called ‘Lesson Zero’, so please check it out. Also, check out the documentary ‘Bronies: The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans of My Little Pony’ on YouTube.
Other interests I have include trading cards. I have a large collection of ‘Yu-Gi-Oh’ cards at home – including one of the Sacred Beasts and two the Egyptian Gods. Every so often, I like to take them out and build decks, so I can see how they match up against each other in duels. I’ve only ever had real opponents during my time in secondary school, when I played against my friends in the spectrum base. Since then, I’ve only played against myself. It’s rather lonely, but still enjoyable. I’d love to take on real opponents, or teach somebody how to play, if I was given the chance to.
Another of my interests is wrestling. I first discovered WWE in 2002, and four years later, I became a full-time fan; watching ‘RAW’ and ‘Smackdown’ on TV, buying merchandise, visiting WWE.com, and even going to live events when they came to London. Not to mention I own all 31 editions of ‘WrestleMania’ on DVD. I’m usually not much of a sports fan – I actually quit football, karate and gymnastics when I was younger. But what I love about wrestling isn’t just the athleticism of its superstars. It’s also the creativeness that goes into the storytelling. Everyone knows wrestling is ‘fake’. But that doesn’t matter when you get to experience a great show. Sometimes what you see is so engaging, you completely forget what you’re watching is staged. This is why WWE sometimes influences my own creative writing skills. It takes a lot of talent to suspend your audiences disbeliefs. And that’s exactly what I aim to achieve with fictional writing.
I love wrestling so much that I’ve even written for HighlightNation, a website dedicated to all things WWE. They were generous enough to post a link to my blog there, so I feel it’s only right I do the same for them. If you like WWE as much as I do then visit: http://www.highlightnation.com.
Another interest that influences my creative writing is animes. I absolutely love animes. Ever since I saw ‘Sprited Away’, I’ve been obsessed with Japanese culture and how well they do animation. The ideas that go into their movies and TV shows are so unique, and inspiring, you couldn’t imagine them being made anywhere else in the world. Not even in America. Why? Because Japan comes up with stories that other countries wouldn’t dare to try. I now own more than 50 different anime DVDs. Including almost every Studio Ghibli film, and ‘Sword Art Online’ – which in my opinion is the greatest animated series ever made, and one every anime fan should own. When I decided to become an author, I knew I wanted to create books that would be as memorable and exciting as animes.
A good writer is first and foremost a good reader. And as a writer I do love to read. Especially the Jacqueline Wilson books. Most of you will have read my review of ‘Lily Alone’, and learnt just why I love Jacqueline Wilson as an author so much – I’m thinking of reviewing another of her books, ‘Lola Rose’, soon. I’ve also read book series like the ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘The Hunger Games’. I sometimes even read series that are outside my target audience, like ‘Dork Diaries’ and ‘Magic Animal Friends’. My reasons for reading them are the same reasons I’m a Brony. Plus, it’s good research for me as a writer to learn what makes certain books best-sellers.
My final interest is one I never thought I’d have. I was never much of a music fan growing up. But I started listening to Michael Jackson songs after he died, and realised just how good they were – it was like he told a short story while singing. Soon, I was listening to his music daily; going to see ‘Thriller Live’ at the Lyric Theatre; I even created my own ‘Billie Jean’ music video as an ICT project once (see below). I’m so passionate about MJ sometimes I like to imitate him. In fact, during my holiday in Majora I saw a tribute band to him, and they invited people to dance on stage. I showed off my stuff, and they thought it was pretty good. It was the highlight of my visit.
I could go on and on about other interests I have, like Doctor Who and YouTube videos by Markiplier, Mr. Enter and AniMat, but I think you get the general idea. I want to finish off by saying that I do still have plans for this blog. As I mentioned, there are two reviews I’m thinking of writing – one will touch on Autism, the other will touch on another personal issue. I also still have plans to interview people in my life and ask them how my Autism effected them. But before all that, I want to write something I’ve been meaning to for a long time now. Months ago, I uploaded pieces that talked about my experiences in primary and secondary school. However, I’ve yet to speak about my college and university years. The next upload will likely be a piece on when I first entered North West Kent college.
I’ll now leave you now with this music video of me trying to be Michael Jackson.
If you’ve enjoyed this post about my interests, then feel free to check out the other pieces I’ve uploaded to this blog. Leave me a comment if you have any questions – I’ll be glad to answer them – and, as always, stay tuned.

I do not own the song ‘Bille Jean’ or anything else. This was simply made as an ICT project.

‘Kiki’s Delievery Service’ Review

Hello Internet, this is George Brian Harvey, otherwise know as ‘The Autistic Blogger’. Today’s post will be a review. Last time I took a look at Jacqueline Wilson’s book ‘Lily Alone’, and gave my thoughts on how well it presented issues like young carers and child neglect. This time I will be doing something similar. But instead of a book, I’ll be taking a look at a movie – more specifically an anime.
Japanese animation is one of the most creative and influential forms of media I’ve ever experienced. Ever since seeing ‘Spirited Away’ I’ve been hooked on the way they tell unique stories and express universal morals with their narratives. There’s nothing I like more than watching an English dub of a Japanese movie, or TV series, to learn valuable lessons, and get inspiration for my own writing. Here are my thoughts on one of the best movies, created by one of the best anime companies in existence. Enjoy:

Of all the Studio Ghibli films out there, this one is a personal favourite of mine. Not only is ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’ a beautiful piece of animation with a charming and heartfelt story, but it’s messages of independence, and maturity, are very influential to people both young and old. In fact, critics consider this one of Hayao Miyazaki’s greatest works. It was the highest-grossing Japanese film of 1989 and one of only three Studio Ghibli films to receive a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes (the other two being ‘Only Yesterday’ and ‘The Tale of Princess Kaguya’). So what is it about this spin on the fantasy of witches that makes it an animated classic. Let’s start with the story.
The story is about Kiki, a 13-year-old witch, who leaves home to live alone for a year as part of her training. Along with her talking black cat Jiji, she arrives in Kiriko, a city by the sea, where she decides to stay and become the local witch. After a shaky start, she befriends a friendly baker named Osono and decides to start a flying delivery service to earn a living (since flying is all she can really to do). Along the way, she makes new friends and comes to learn more about who she is as person.
As mentioned above, the story emphasises a lot on independence and maturity, and it’s what I love most about the film. From the very beginning, we’re taken on a personal journey with Kiki, which allows us to see just how she develops from a child into adulthood. The opening has her (literally and figuratively) flying the nest, and leaving the comfort of her family and friends behind. In her early days, she struggles to find her feet, since she’s inexperienced of how the world works. But with the help of some friendly people, she’s able to find accommodation and even works a job to support herself. After that Kiki takes control of her life by starting her own business and getting to know more about the people she encounters – she even comes to like people she was initially hateful or cautious towards. There are still mistakes she makes along the way, but they’re all a part of the learning-curb, which helps her to grow as a person. The best part is, she’s not alone. In moments of self-doubt she has friends to support her every step of the way – just like somebody would in real life.
Because of the overall theme of growth and independence, ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’ appeals to all audiences. Teenagers and adults can relate to Kiki’s experiences, because they’ve all gone through similar issues at some point in their own lives. And children can enjoy the film, whilst being taught the values of independence. In fact, that’s what makes ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’ so great as a children’s movie: kids everywhere can learn from Kiki’s example and see her as a role model for their own personal development. There’s even a scene in the end credits where Kiki spots a little girl walking by with her mother and she’s dressed up like Kiki – broom and all. If that’s not a sign of a true role model, I don’t know what is.
Kiki is yet another example of a strong female lead in a Studio Ghibli feature. She’s relatable by how she acts like a typical teenage girl (e.g. wishing she had prettier clothes and disliking boys), but she also has a strong desire to take command of her own life and be independent without becoming rebellious. This makes her similar to other Ghibli heroines like Chihiro, San and Nausicaa (‘Spirited Away’, ‘Princess Mononoke’ and ‘Valley of the Wind’, respectively). Plus, Jiji is a lovable side-kick, who’s always a pleasure to listen to because of how funny he is.
Speaking of Jiji, he actually represents the immature side of Kiki in the film. Think about it: he’s Kiki’s one true connection to her life back home, where things were always easy for her; he’s less enthusiastic about Kiki going on her journey and even tries to discourage her from leaving home early or staying in Kiriko. Plus, although he makes snide remarks, he’s really the one person/pet Kiki can speak to at first. It’s only later that Kiki makes new friends and so needs Jiji, and the comfort of home, less and less. In fact, this is represented perfectly through a major event in the story (spoiler alert). At one point Kiki loses her ability to speak to Jiji, so he just sounds like a regular cat. In the original (Japanese) dub this loss is permanent and Kiki never understands Jiji again. Some people might find that upsetting, but since Jiji represents the immature side of Kiki, the message by the end of the film is that Kiki has matured beyond the need to speak to her cat. The English dub did change this slightly by adding a line at the end that implies Kiki is once again able to understand Jiji – they obviously wanted to keep things happy for the kids.
Another thing worth mentioning about this film is some of the actors who took part in it. Many of them have voiced characters in other Studio Ghibli films, including Pamela Adlon, Tress MacNeille and Debi Derryberry. But the most recognisable voices, in my opinion, are Kirsten Dunst as Kiki and Phil Hartman as Jiji. Sadly, this was one of Hartman’s last voice roles before his death in 1998. Along with ‘Small Soldiers’ (another movie staring Kirsten Dunst) and 1998’s ‘Buster & Chauncey’s Silent Night’, this film was dedicated to him.
In addition to the message of independence, there are a couple of other reasons I like this film, too. In several parts of the story, Kiki encounters a young, amateur painter named Ursula, who teaches her about motivation and self-confidence. She explains how there are days when she could paint all day until she “fell asleep right at [her] easel,” but other days when she couldn’t draw anything at all. She tells Kiki that whenever days like this occur, it’s important to just take a break, enjoy yourself and not think about the problem. It’s no use trying to force yourself to do better, as that will just cause you self-doubt and make you hate the thing you once loved. It’s all about finding the right inspiration. Once you’ve taken the time to discover what your purpose for working really is, you’ll come to love it even more and be able to return to it with more energy and motivation than you ever did before. I find this so enlightening as an amateur writer that whenever I get writer’s block I watch this film – and ‘Whisper of the Heart’ (1995) – to get my confidence back.
Another good thing about the story is its unique twist on the genre. Usually stories involving witches are dark tales that either have wicked women trying to cause harm to others, or misunderstood characters who are feared and hated because of what they are. In ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’, however, it’s clear that the characters live in a world where people gladly accept the existence of witches and see them for the good people they are. This ultimately makes the story more child-friendly and keeps the focus on Kiki as a person, rather than a witch.
In conclusion, ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’ is a Studio Ghibli film I would honestly recommend to everyone. The messages behind its narrative are some of the most influential I’ve ever experienced, and they’re something anybody can understand and relate to. With everything I’ve had to say you can tell just how passionate I am about this movie. It’s truly a masterpiece of Japanese animation that’s up there with the likes of ‘Spirited Away’ (2001) and ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ (2004).

If you enjoyed this review, then please check out some of the other things I’ve written for this blog. Leave me a comment to let me know what you think, or ask any questions. And keep an eye out for the next post Plus, you can follow the link below to my Amazon page to see some of the other things I’ve reviewed over the years. I hope you enjoy them. Stay tuned.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/pdp/profile/A2AR00PMKLC1TG/ref=cm_cr_dp_pdp

(Image courtesy of: http://collider.com/shimizu-takashi-kikis-delivery-service/)