Friendship is Magic – a series for everyone

I know it’s only been a month since my last post. But this couldn’t wait. There’s something I have to talk about and give recognition to. Because, honestly, it’s had a major influence on my life. About three weeks ago (October 12th, 2019), something truly eventful happened. One of the finest television shows of the modern-day came to an end after nearly ten years on the air: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Let me explain.

We’re all familiar with the famous toy-line, merchandise and other forms of pony-media over the decades. But never has there been a TV series based on My Little Pony that became a global phenomenon like Friendship is Magic did. I know it’s hard to believe, but this was a seriously great show. There were ideas and concepts explored in the episodes that other series would never dare to.

For example, there’s a character in the show called Scootaloo, a pegasus pony, who’s one of the three young fillies we follow. Now, despite this, many fans noticed she was never seen flying in the series. Well, it turns out, she can’t fly; she has a disability that prevents her from doing so. And some episodes do focus on her dealing with the grief that she never will. In another story, the six main characters – Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack and Fluttershy – all visit a village on the edge of their world. It seems to be a place where ponies live equally. But there’s something off about their wide grins and matching body marks. That’s because the village is a cult! And their leader actually captures the “mane six“, extracts part of their souls and tries conditioning them into forgetting their individuality. It is so dark and foreboding. Not something you’d expect to see in a show for little girls. But then, that’s the whole idea.

When Lauren Faust created this series, she didn’t want it to be another generic girls’ show. Instead, she aimed to make this the best TV series, period. Something the whole family could relate to and learn from. Hence why she placed heavy emphasis on world-building and character development. And you know what? It really paid off. The stories centre around real-world issues and morals; the characters all have fleshed-out personalities and life goals; the lessons are for adults as much as they are for kids. And, in my opinion, it has some of the greatest songs ever written, by the one man who could perfectly compose them. Seriously, if I were asked to hire someone to write songs for TV, this is who I would want: Daniel Ingrim. This guy is a creative genius. Not only has he penned more than 80 songs for My Little Pony, but they have the power to make you feel things you never thought possible. For example, Seasons 1-5 had an earth pony named Diamond Tiara; she was the typical bully character who nobody liked, and that’s all there was to her for a while. But then it’s revealed what her home life is like, and why she’s feels pressured into acting the way she does. And when we hear her sing Pony I Want To Be, we don’t just feel sorry for her, we feel ashamed for ever hating her because we didn’t know the full story.

But that’s one of this series’ strongest points; it’s never afraid to challenge its audience. True, it talks about basic things like kindness, honesty, generosity and loyalty. But it also teaches complex and mature subjects, too. These include racism, depression, civil war, stress, anxiety, disabilities, death, even gay relationships. That’s right; the last episode implies two sets of female ponies get married to each other. And nowhere does the series shine greater than its lessons about friendship.

We tend to forget just how important friends are to us. Sometimes we take them for granted because it seems easy or pointless making them. But this show reminds us how essential they are. Pretty much, if you had nothing else; no money, no home, no family; friendship could mean the difference between life and death. Plus, there are many different layers to it. Sure, you can make friends. But how exactly do you do that? And, are you making the right friends? Do you treat them all fairly? Can you respect their differences and communicate? What do you do if something in your life changes things? The lessons and benefits are endless, and this show never gets repetitive with how it teaches them. When it says “Friendship is Magic“, it’s not just a tagline; it’s a lesson in life everyone needs to know.

With so much going for it, it’s little wonder why the series gained universal appeal. Not just from little girls, but older girls, boys, teenagers, their parents. Even grown men and celebrities are obsessed with this show. Some of which provided their voice talents to it. These include Sia, Weird Al Yankovic, Lena Hall (who actually referenced the show during the 2014 Tony Awards), Emily Blunt, William Shatner. And their most-recurring guest star, John De Lancie as Discord. Yes, the man who played Q in the original Star Trek, also voices the Lord of Chaos, in My Little Pony.

However, what I love most about this series is that it listens to its fandom. Even before Season 1 ended, it was clear they were influencing the show’s writing and animation. Whether that was giving them stories they wanted or making pop-culture references. And they could get very diverse with these. How many little girls would know when a pony is referencing The Shining, or Metal Gear Solid or Game of Thrones?

But most touchingly of all, this show encourages viewers to create their own fan-content. And have that represented in the series. The prime example of this is Derpy Hooves. Originally a random background pony, people noticed she had cross-eyes during one frame of the first episode. This was an animation error. But people thought it was a lovely way to represent diversity. They then took this pony and made her the official mascot of their fandom. Hasbro soon took notice; and they started featuring Derpy more prominently in the show, along with a new design to include her cross-eyes. Even when they removed her from the series, due to controversy, fans campaigned so passionately (#SaveDerpy) that they brought her back. This then culminated in the show’s 100th episode, where she and other fandom ponies were the stars of a story – described as a “love letter” to them.

Putting it simply; its because of their fanbase that Friendship is Magic has lasted so long. It ended after its ninth season. But it’s legacy lives on through Equestria Girls, the upcoming “fifth generation” and the numerous fan-content creators it inspired. Criminally, though, there are still people who refuse to give this series a chance because it’s called My Little Pony. They’re so focused on what it used to be that they can’t accept this new show being different. Except it is. My Little Pony today isn’t the same My Little Pony made in the 80s or 90s.

If you’re still not convinced, take a look at me.

When I first heard boys and grown men were obsessed with Friendship is Magic, I couldn’t believe it. I’d seen how sissy My Little Pony used to be, and its writing was atrocious. These guys must’ve been crazy. But then I happened across the episode Lesson Zero. More specifically, Twilight Sparkle. Even if she wasn’t autistic, I noticed her traits and behaviours were similar to mine. In fact, all the characters had distinct personalities. Surely the show wasn’t this detailed? Plus, its quality was unlike anything I’d seen before – right down to the Flash-style animation. So one day, I decided to watch the first season out of curiosity. And I’ve never looked back since.

Truth be told; I was going through some hard times during my last year of college. Seeing what these ponies had to offer really helped me stay above high water. Plus, I can honestly say I’m a better person, thanks to this show. Whenever I see someone acting generous, I always think of Rarity. Whenever I’m tempted to lie, I remember Applejack’s honesty. And every time I’m stressed or trying too hard; I think I’m behaving like Twilight. But more importantly, I’ve realised how essential making friends is. And I’ve since made better efforts to communicate with people and form lasting relationships. I want everyone reading this to have that same opportunity. If you ever get the chance to watch Friendship is Magic, or just a few episodes, definitely watch as many as you can. Lauren Faust wanted to make this the best all-inclusive show of the modern-day, and that’s exactly what she did.

I hope you’ve all enjoyed this article. I know I talk about this series a lot, but it’s honestly that good. And I had to do something to commemorate the end of its final season. If you have any questions, please leave me a comment – I’ll be more than happy to answer them. And, until next time, stay tuned.

My Little Pony: Rock Solid Autism (Part 2)

(Continued from Part 1: https://georgeharvey2015.wordpress.com/2019/02/01/my-little-pony-rock-solid-autism-part-1/)

Spying on Maud and Starlight’s kite-flying, Pinkie worries the two of them aren’t bonding quickly enough. And that Maud could still choose to live in Ghastly Gorge rather than Ponyville. She decides to intervene. Under the pretence of delivering a pizza, she asks them how things are going and suggests now might be a good time to start talking about each other’s feelings. This makes Maud and Starlight rather uncomfortable, as Maud isn’t good with feelings and Starlight worries it could bring up her evil past again.

Being Aspergic myself, I’ve often dealt with this scenario. People ask me how I’m feeling in everyday situations, like just after work or meeting with friends. Sometimes I don’t really know how I feel. I’m just the same relaxed way I always am, with little to no change. Even when my mood is different, there has to be something significant to it. Or I feel it’s not worth mentioning. For example, maybe my day was eventful because I discovered a fake £20 note. Or a new colleague started at work that afternoon. If it were just a regular day, I’d describe it as one. Even so, people still expect me to give long, detailed answers every time. Which is why I often say things like “I’m good” or “fine” to end the conversation. It might seem rude or unengaging, but it’s because I genuinely have nothing more to say on the subject – and I don’t want to be pushed into giving details that aren’t there. In this case, Pinkie is pressuring Maud and Starlight to become closer friends when they’re only just starting to know each other.

In a cunning move, Maud finds a way to ditch her sister so she and Starlight can spend more time alone together. She then takes Starlight to the Ponyville gem cave, where she explains why she finds rocks so fascinating. Each one has its own unique story to tell if you look closely enough. For instance, the line-markings on her pet rock, Boulder, tells Maud he’s over 2000-years-old. Another reason she likes rocks is “they don’t exclude you if you’re…different, from other ponies.”

Exclusion is a serious matter for people with Autism. It can affect their self-esteem and how they choose to interact with others. It can also harm their self-confidence. As I mentioned before (Part 1), Maud is one of the few ponies the Mane 6 couldn’t make friends with initially. They didn’t exclude her from their activities, but they also couldn’t work around her limited interests. Her obsession with rocks just wasn’t something they were used to dealing with. Other ponies have likely felt the same way, but worse; not wanting to get involved with Maud because they can’t grasp her unusual personality. It’s a setback she’s probably faced for years.

However, it’s not always other people’s fault. I’ll admit, when I was younger, I may have put up social barriers myself. When I first learned I had Autism, I started feeling a lot more self-conscious – like there was something about me that alienated me from other people. I would often sit by myself, watching others socialise and think about joining in with them. However, I never did so in the end. Because I was worried they wouldn’t be interested in what I had to say. Fear of rejection might be why Maud has never tried making friends before now.

Fortunately, Starlight isn’t the sort of pony to turn a blind-eye so quickly. After hearing what Maud has to say about rocks, she sees they’re “beautiful and strong, but they don’t judge you or make you feel less than in any way.” Rocks are a nice hobby to have if you don’t want anyone dwelling on your past. It’s at this point she says, “I think I’m starting to like rocks, too.” And then something incredible happens: Maud smiles!

Now, I’m not saying Autistic people never smile – that would be unfair. And this isn’t even the first time Maud has smiled onscreen. However, you need to understand how significant something like this is for her. Keep in mind, Maud rarely shows any emotion. Even when talking about her interests, she maintains a neutral expression and talks as if they’re no big deal. For her to show happiness so openly, it almost feels out of character for her. So whenever she does smile, you know you’ve done something special. And this is a special moment. Not only has she found somepony to share her love of rocks with (outside her family), but she also likes Starlight’s kite-flying hobby, and Starlight likes her for not judging who she used to be. For the first time since Pinkie suggested it, Maud believes a friendship with this pony could actually work out.

As they continue exploring the cave, Starlight finds a wall made of hallow granite. Breaking through it, they make an impressive discovery: a vast underground cavern, full of crystals, with a large waterfall and stream running through it. Maud admits she’s never seen anything like it – which is “highly unusual, for [her].” It’s definitely a sight to behold. But then Pinkie shows up. She satirises the moment by taking a picture and saying how she can’t wait for the two of them to be “old, and eating pistachios together, and telling their grand-foals about this.”

Again, Pinkie is overstepping her boundaries here. She doesn’t realise Maud and Starlight are bonding organically, and they don’t need her trying to speed up the process. In fact; Pinkie is so desperate that she sets off an explosion in the cave, trapping them all inside. She hopes it will give them time to bond. But Maud uses Boulder to break through the sandstone ceiling. Starlight is so impressed that she even compliments Boulder on his actions as though he’s alive – showing how much she understands Maud’s mindset towards him.

Free from the cave, Pinkie tries to keep an eye on Maud and Starlight again. But Starlight finds another way to ditch her, which makes Maud smile – thus making her the first pony to achieve this feat twice in one episode.

Later on, as Maud and Pinkie are going to bed, Pinkie says she’ll be there every step of the way to help make Starlight Maud’s new best friend. She’s even made plans for the next 17 days! However, it’s clear that Maud is becoming frustrated with Pinkie’s actions. She can’t bond with Starlight properly because her sister keeps interfering. And it’s starting to feel like she’s doing this because she has to, not because she wants to. Unfortunately, Maud struggles to tell her sister this because she’s not good with words. And with Pinkie too overexcited to listen anyway, she eventually just gives up.

This is another familiar scenario for me. Sometimes I do want to make conversation with people. But getting my words out can be a challenge. Everybody is so focused on talking to each other that they don’t always notice when I’m trying to speak. And chances to make myself heard (e.g. pauses in speech) are few and far between. I suppose it often comes down to people’s expectations of me. Since they know I don’t talk much anyway, they just assume I won’t have anything to say throughout. But that’s not necessarily true. I might want to comment on something, but it’s tricky getting my words in edgewise. As Maud does with Pinkie.

Maud’s other problem is finding the right way to express herself. She wants to tell Pinkie she needs to stop helping so much, but she’s isn’t much of a talker. As such, she can’t find the words or tone of voice to make her understand. In recent years, I’ve noticed something similar with my own speech. Whenever I try explaining things without thinking, my thoughts often get jumbled up in my head. I start tripping over my words, repeating myself or even stopping and starting over again – which is really embarrassing. The same can be said for my writing skills. For years, I just wanted to get things done as quickly as possible. But because I never structured my paragraphs, ideas would continuously change, and I’d spend more time editing my pieces than actually finishing them. Consequently, they’d take me forever to complete and they rarely turned out how I wanted.

For Autistic people, getting their points across can sometimes take planning and pre-thought. Which is why they often prefer writing down their feelings as opposed to speaking them. So that’s what Maud does. The next morning she leaves Pinkie a goodbye note, thanking her for her efforts. Not wanting to hurt her feelings, though, she doesn’t mention the trouble her sister caused. Instead, she claims her decision needs to be rock-based, and that she probably won’t have time for friends. Which is crushing to hear, as we know how much she really wants to be friends with Starlight. With her note delivered, Maud departs for Ghastly Gorge.

Distraught over her sister leaving, Pinkie goes to Starlight to tell her what’s happened. Interestingly, she takes the news better than her – almost as if she were expecting Maud to make this decision based on what would be most comfortable for her. Pinkie then asks why the two of them couldn’t just be friends, causing Starlight to realise how ignorant she is. She tells Pinkie she does like Maud. “She’s weird [but] in a good way. She sees the world in a totally different way than any pony [she’s] ever met. She accepts her for who [she is], she taught [her] that a rock is never just a rock, and she can make anything funny.” They never had to say it, but they “got” each other. Pinkie was just getting in the way too much.

Everything Starlight says here is right on the money. Particularly the part about Maud seeing the world differently. What many people mistake for strangeness in Autistic people is actually their habit of noticing what others tend not to. It might seem trivial to focus on things like the markings on a rock. Yet it’s this attention to detail that makes Autistic people such experts in unique fields. Without Satoshi Tariji’s love of bug-collecting as a boy, Pokemon would never have existed. If Einstien hadn’t been obsessed with numbers, he wouldn’t have become a famous scientist. And if Maud weren’t so fascinated by rocks and their properties, she wouldn’t have become a professor. Just because something seems irrelevant, doesn’t mean expertise on it won’t be considered valuable one day.

Realising her mistakes, Pinkie goes to Ghastly Gorge to find her sister. She arrives just in time to save Maud from being eaten by a Giant Mountain Eel – yes, this world has those. A fact Maud is almost oblivious to, as she’s autistically distracted by an emerald jasper.

As they escape, Maud claims Pinkie “didn’t need to come. [She’s] having a great time on her own [and] even made a new friend.” This, however, is a flat-out lie. Before Pinkie showed up, Maud was miserably gathering rock samples with only Boulder around for company. Although she was doing what she loved, the isolation was clearly getting to her and making her depressed. It just goes to show no matter what you strive for in life, it’s important to have somebody to share it with. Otherwise, it can all feel meaningless.

Maud continues by saying she “[doesn’t] belong in Ponyville. It only proves [she’s] better off all by herself, like she always has been.” But Pinkie tells her not to think like that. Everything was her fault. She forced Maud into making friends her way, but her way isn’t Maud’s way. She didn’t even realise what her sister was going through.

This might be the most important lesson to take from this episode. I said before (in Part 1) that Pinkie wanted Maud to live near her so they could spend more time together. But also so she could look after her. Pinkie cares very deeply for Maud and understands her condition better than any pony. However, she thought her Autism would prevent her from making friends on her own or living independently. Hence why she tried taking charge of the process and putting extra work into it. However, this only succeeded in stressing Maud out. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to help somebody. As long as you support them in a way that’s comfortable for them.

I know just how Maud feels. Back when I was looking for a new job, I would be asked on a daily basis what positions I’d applied for. Or what I’d done to improve my CV. It got to the point where I felt like I was being pressured to devote all my spare time to this task, which made me hate it even more. I actually started hating the people who were asking me, too. They didn’t understand I needed to go at my own pace. That way, I could feel I was doing this for my own sake – not their’s.

Pinkie shamefully admits she underestimated Maud and didn’t take her feelings into account. Maud understands she did it out of love. And after reconciling, she agrees to give Ponyville another chance. With Pinkie promising to give her some space.

Back in Ponyville, Maud is seen flying a homemade kite alongside Starlight – the latter’s hobby having rubbed off on her. They’ve officially decided to become friends, but agree they don’t have to talk about feelings if they don’t want to. Maud then shows Starlight her new home: the carven they discovered, with added furnishing. Pinkie appears one more time to say how happy she is that Maud has moved to Ponyville. But then she swiftly exits, remembering her promise.

*

And that was Rock Solid Friendship. Quite possibly one of the best-written stories Hasbro has produced. There was just so much this episode got right about Autism; Maud’s unusual interests, her difficulty speaking, her struggles with independence, her insensitivity, her literal way of thinking, her imagination, her desire to make friends, feeling pressured, wanting to be understood, getting distracted, and so much more. Add in the relatable situations, and Pinkie less-than-helpful actions, and it paints a clear picture of what life with Autism can feel like.

The best part is, Maud’s journey didn’t end with this episode. Towards the conclusion of Season 7 (Uncommon Bond), we were given an update on her relationship with Starlight. Although they still don’t talk about anything personal, they’re happy being in each other’s company. And Maud is well-acquainted with Starlight’s other friends, Sunburst and Trixie. So, all in all, their friendship has remained healthy. Also, Maud continues moving forward in life. In Season 8 (Maud Couple), it’s revealed she actually has a boyfriend: Mud Briar. He’s just as Autistic as she is and they share much in common. He’s a very literal pony, has specific interests, rarely shows any emotion, and even has a pet stick (Twiggy) – just as Maud has Boulder. His personality can be a bit annoying at times, especially when he’s always saying “technically” and correcting others. But it’s clear he and Maud are perfect for each other. Plus, he makes her smile more than any other pony in the series.

In conclusion, Rock Solid Friendship is another example of why this series is so beloved. My Little Pony still has a stigma against it, given how girly it used to be. But if people took the time to watch Friendship is Magic, they’d realise how far the brand has evolved and why its fanbase extends across all ages and genders. If you’re looking for a piece of media that perfectly represents Autism and the people involved with it, then this is definitely for you. Rock Solid Friendship will inspire those who have the condition and enlighten those who wish to learn from it.

And that’s all I have to say for this review. I’m glad I posted it when I did. Because in less than a week, the final season of Friendship is Magic will begin (April 6th, 2019). It’s sad to see the show end. But its legacy will live on through the lessons it’s taught and the people who’ve been inspired by them.

If you have any questions, then please leave me a comment – I’ll be more than happy to answer them. And if you enjoyed this review, please check out the episode itself, and join me for the end of an era this year. Until next time, stay tuned.

(Image courtesy of: http://www.mylittlepony.it/2017/05/05/rock-solid-friendship-commenti-dal-blog/)

My Little Pony: Rock Solid Autism (Part 1)

Hello everybody, this is George Harvey (aka The Autistic Blogger). And today, I have another review for you discussing Autism in the media. For this one, I decided to go back and write something of a follow-up to a piece I made quite some time ago – one I’m sure many of you are familiar with.

Back in October 2016, I wrote a piece on the My Little Pony episode Lesson Zero (2011). In that review, I discussed how the main character, Twilight Sparkle, seemed to exhibit Autistic behaviour throughout the story. Her organisation skills, perfectionist mindset, and attention to detail were all common traits of Autism. Plus, the way she got stressed over a deadline was very similar to how I felt during my last year of University. Out of all the Mane 6 characters (Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity and Fluttershy), she’s the one I relate to the most. For the record, I didn’t think Twilight really was Autistic. She did have obsessions and social problems in the beginning, but they gradually faded as the series progressed. What was clear to me, however, was the episode’s writer did have experience with Autism and wanted to exemplify that in her script. And it paid off, too. Not only was this the first episode of Friendship is Magic I ever saw, but it was a testament to how the show could appeal to all audiences – not just young girls – and teach them about disabilities, relationships and other mature themes.

Since the review was posted, the reaction to it has been overwhelmingly positive. Both parts have been viewed almost 500 times combined, making it my most successful piece to date. Even my Lily Alone review has been surpassed – which I consider to be my magnum opus. Given these statistics and the fact that Friendship is Magic will be ending soon, I decided it was the perfect time to talk about another of its defining episodes. This one is called Rock Solid Friendship (Season 7 episode 4).

Before I begin, it’s worth giving you some background on the character of focus: Maudelina Daisy Pie. Or Maud, for short. Introduced in Season 4, Maud is the older sister of Pinkie Pie; the overzealous party pony, who’s constantly defying the laws of physics. Despite this, however, Maud is the opposite of her sibling in every way possible. Pinkie is lively, eccentric and bursting with colour. Whereas Maud is slow, plain and mostly grey. Pinkie has many interests and hobbies. But Maud only has one passion in life: rocks. She was born on a rock farm, she studies rocks and their properties, she eats rocks, writes poetry about rocks, and even has a pet rock named Boulder. Basically; if it’s not rocks, she’s not interested.

On top of that, Pinkie expresses herself in the most exuberant ways. While Maud rarely shows any emotion. She always wears a neutral expression and speaks in such a monotoned voice that it’s impossible to tell whether she’s happy or bored – even when talking about her interests.

Now, on paper, Maud may sound like an incredibly dull character. Especially compared to some of the more diverse ponies in the series. But strangely enough, it’s her dry personality that makes her so popular. Even if she wasn’t the most relatable pony, we still wanted to know more about her. Why was she so fascinated by rocks? What gave her such a unique outlook on life? What did Pinkie see in her that made her so lovable? These were all answers we wanted to know. And Hasbro delivered.

Since her debut, Maud has appeared in every season of the show thereafter. Evolving from a one-off character to a mainstay of the series. Her popularity has grown thanks to her simple demeanour, considerate nature, and surprising ability to make us laugh. She’s no stand-up comedian, but the way she delivers some absurd lines with little to no emotion – e.g. “I didn’t get a Rocktorate because I can shred on guitar like nopony else” – is so outlandish, that it sounds funny without her even trying. Not bad for a pony who never laughs herself.

So Maud has earned quite the lovable reputation. In fact, she’s often viewed in the same light as other fandom-grown ponies, like Trixie, DJ Pon-3 and Muffins (aka Derpy Hooves). But why am I so fixated with her and not one of those characters? Well, it’s all to do with her presentation. You see, the more she’s appeared, the more I’ve noticed something familiar about her behaviours, i.e. the way she reacts in social situations. Unlike with Twilight, though, these have remained consistent with her character and gradually developed over time. It seemed as though everything was pointing in one direction. And after watching Rock Solid Friendship, there was no longer any doubt in my mind. Maud was Autistic! She’s one of the first animated characters to be portrayed with Aspergers Syndrome. How do I know? Well, although it’s never been officially confirmed by Hasbro, many would agree it’s the best explanation for her personality. And nowhere is this more evident than in Rock Solid Friendship. So today, I’m going to break down the episode and show you exactly how well My Little Pony represents a character on the spectrum.

***

The episode begins with a graduation ceremony. Maud is receiving a Rocktorate, which makes her an official professor in the study of rocks. What’s interesting to note is that she’s the only pony receiving this degree, which shows just how isolating her passion for rocks really is. Believe me, I know.

Some of my Autistic interests include wrestling, anime, games, trading cards, Pokémon, Doctor Who, and a TV series about magical talking ponies. These are all things I really enjoy, but I’m also aware of how obscure they are. Compared to people who like things such as football, cars and celebrity gossip, there are very few who share my level of passion for the things I do. Because of this, it’s often difficult for me to socialise. If people can’t get into my interests, then I can’t get into theirs’ and then we have very little to talk about. The same can be said for Maud. She’s an expert on rocks but has no pony to share it with.

Another thing worth mentioning is Maud’s incredibly short acceptance speech: “I’m Maud. Hi. Thank you.” This could be a reference to how Autistic people sometimes find it difficult speaking in public. I’ve personally never had a problem with it, but finding the right words to express yourself can be challenging if you have multiple ways of doing it. So Maud keeps everything simple and to the point.

Following the opening credits, we find out Maud could be moving to Ponyville since she has nothing left to study back on the rock farm. Pinkie is overjoyed her sister might live in her hometown. But Maud says she’s also considering Ghastly Gorge, as it has many exotic rocks for her to study. With this in mind; Pinkie decides to show her around town, hoping to convince her that Ponyville is the better option.

Now, there are two ways of looking at Pinkie here. On the one hand, she is acting a bit selfishly. All she’s thinking of Maud is living near her, despite the fact it could prevent her from using her Rocktorate. But at the same time, it’s understandable why she’d want this so much. In previous episodes, it’s been shown that Pinkie left home long before her sister did. And Maud wasn’t always there when she visited, because she was off earning her dissertation. Being separated for so long, it’s only natural she wants to make up for lost time.

Additionally, it could be Pinkie wants to look after Maud. We’ve seen before she’s the only pony who understands her Autism. And she knows moving out could be an overwhelming experience. So she wants to support her sister through it. More on this later (Part 2).

Pinkie’s efforts to convince Maud don’t go so well at first. To begin with, she shows her the Ponyville gem cave – hoping to amaze her with some rare stones. Unfortunately, Maud points out all the gems are actually quite common – not something worth getting fussed over. Pinkie then shows her Twilight’s castle, which is made entirely out of crystal. But Maud still isn’t impressed. Lots of structures are made from rocks and they “literally just saw hundreds of them in the gem cave.” Then Pinkie gets really desperate by pretending some sting bush seed pods, a tortoise named Tank, and a pony named Lyra, are all rocks she’s never seen before. Maud doesn’t even bother playing along. And why would she?

That’s another thing about Maud; she takes everything she hears very literally. It’s not that she doesn’t have any imagination – Boulder is proof of that – but whenever someone uses a figure of speech or says something slightly incorrect, she can’t help but correct them, or reply as if they’ve said something serious. For example, when she first met Rarity, the latter asked her, “What is the delightful frock you’re wearing now, saying?” To which Maud replied, “It doesn’t talk, it’s a dress.” On that note, Maud can also be a little insensitive sometimes. She doesn’t consider how her words might affect those listening. For instance, when she said the gems in the cave were actually common, she did so in front Rarity, who often uses them in her dress designs. Hearing this reduces her to tears, and Maud even doesn’t notice. It’s the same with me. Sometimes people say it’s quarter-to-two (1:45) when it’s actually 1:47. I’m tempted to say it’s thirteen-to, but I know pointing out this small technicality would seem rude. So I resist the urge.

Anyway, back onto the story.

Pinkie begins to lose hope of convincing Maud to live in Ponyville. But then her sister reveals it’s not just rocks that are influencing her decision. She admits that while she is passionate about exotics rocks, it bothers her she’s always had to study them alone. She could handle some less interesting ones if it means she had somepony to talk to besides Boulder. In other words, she really wants a friend. Hearing this, Pinkie is keen to help her find somepony. But there’s a catch: Maud’s problem isn’t finding somepony she likes, but somepony who “gets” her. Pinkie doesn’t count because she’s already used to her personality.

This was the scene that convinced me Maud was Autistic. As I’ve said before, Autism and isolation often go hand in hand – through no fault of the person affected. The trouble is people having the wrong impressions sometimes. A common misconception is that we don’t like talking to people and we’re perfectly happy being in our own company. This isn’t true. While I do enjoy moments of solitude to focus on my writing, nobody wants to be lonely all the time. Autistic people want the same as everyone else does; a life we can be proud of and friends we can rely on. The issue is working through some additional social barriers, like the clash of interests mentioned above. We’ve actually seen Maud go through this personally.

In her very first episode, Maud was introduced to the Mane 6 by Pinkie. She spent some time with each of them, doing activities they each enjoyed; designing with Rarity, nature-walking with Fluttershy, reading with Twilight, making cider with Applejack and competing against Rainbow Dash. Unfortunately, none were Maud’s cup of tea. And because they couldn’t grasp her unusual personality, she was one of the few ponies they couldn’t form a bond with. Even by the end of the story, when they were much better aquatinted, you couldn’t really say they’d become friends.

In spite of Maud’s social problems, Pinkie tells her not to worry. Because there’s nothing wrong with who she is. Also, when it comes to making friends, you never know who you might run into. Enter Starlight Glimmer…

Oh yeah, Starlight. I should probably tell you about this character, too. Originally introduced as a villain in Season 5, Starlight was an evil dictator, who ran a cult-like village, where ponies had to give up their special talents and conform to equality. She even tried forcefully conditioning the Mane 6, as well. After being thwarted twice, however, she saw the error of her ways and became Twilight’s personal friendship student. Since then, she’s played a very prominent role in the series – often to the point where fans consider her the 7th “Mane” pony of the show. She’s even had her fair share of saving Equestria from time to time. What made Starlight so different was her unique background as a former villain. At this point, she was troubled by her past and keen to move on from it. But it kept getting brought up, making her uneasy. Even so, it was essential in building her character. With her past experiences, she was able to relate to others in ways the Mane 6 never could; understanding their corrupted mindsets and giving them a chance to learn what she did. This made the most empathetic pony in the whole series, and even lead to her becoming a guidance counsellor in Season 8.

Anyway…

After bumping into Maud, Starlight seems to recognise her. It turns out, they actually met each other once before. While travelling Equestria for her Rocktorate, Maud encountered Starlight when the latter was a villain. She then directed her to a magical stone, which ultimately allowed her to enslave her village. Freaked out by this revelation, Pinkie demands that Maud “tell no pony.” But Maud nonchalantly replies “it’s not like she’s enslaved anypony lately.“

Realising there’s a small connection between Starlight and her sister; Pinkie encourages them to spend time together, hoping something will blossom from it. Again, she is genuinely trying to help her sister here. But it’s obvious Pinkie is doing this more so Maud will choose Ponyville.

While running errands together, Maud and Starlight discuss some of their interests. Aside from rocks, Maud also likes minerals, plate tectonics, and stand-up comedy. It’s here that Starlight reveals she has her own unusual hobby: she likes kites. Upon hearing this, Maud simply looks at her in silence for a few seconds, before saying, “kites are cool.“

This might be the best-executed moment in the whole episode for me. It’s very brief, but it’s the perfect response from somebody with Autism. You can tell Maud doesn’t really mean it when she says “kites are cool” – there’s no passion in her voice. And that’s understandable. Kites aren’t something she’s particularly interested in. Nor is it something she knows much about. She’s not sure how to react to Starlight’s love for them. She spends a moment trying to think of a good follow-up sentence, but can’t quite manage it. So she just says the simplest, most polite thing she can think of.

Now, usually, this sort of response would end a conversation. It’s happened where I’ve said something this bluntly, and people have changed the subject because they knew I wasn’t getting into it. Fortunately for Maud, Starlight actually takes her response as an opportunity.

Sometime later, we see Starlight flying a homemade kite next to Maud. She then explains how to craft a perfect SLK (single-line-kite), clearly enthusiastic to be sharing her knowledge. Maud seems intrigued by how much goes into something as simple as a kite. Just like how much goes into something a simple as a rock. She admits “they’re starting to grow on [her],” thus making this her first new interest in years.

How will things play out in the rest of the story? You’ll have to wait and see.

(Continued in Part 2: https://georgeharvey2015.wordpress.com/2019/04/01/my-little-pony-rock-solid-autism-part-2/)

 

If you have any questions, please leave me a comment – I’ll be more than happy to answer them. And, until next time, stay tuned.

(Image courtesy of: http://www.unleashthefanboy.com/news/little-pony-friendship-magic-maud-pie-review/93307)

Into My Autistic Mind: Before I was Autistic

Hello everybody, this is George Harvey (aka the Autistic Blogger). I haven’t been able to start any big projects lately, given my work schedule and other commitments. But today I have another edition of Into my Autistic Mind for you. Now, before I begin, there is something I’d like to address about this series. There have been people who’ve come up to me and asked what the point of it all is; they’ve read the texts, seen them as nonsensical jargon and said they just “don’t get it.” I have explained what their purpose is before, but I feel it bears repeating for any new readers to this blog. You see, Into my Autistic Mind isn’t so much about telling a story or making a point, it’s about giving readers an insight into my Autistic thoughts. It doesn’t happen all the time, but occasionally when my mind is relaxed, different thoughts and memories will occupy my head. Thoughts which I personally find memorable and exciting. There isn’t any structure to what I think of, or when, they just happen when I allow them to – hence why I don’t structure these texts into paragraphs or edit them too heavily. By writing down my unfiltered thoughts, I aim to show why Autistic people sometimes have difficulty concentrating and what can be done about it. To put it simply, it’s okay if you don’t ‘get’ the Into my Autistic Mind series – because it’s not meant to be ‘got’.

Anyway, to show how these thoughts influence me while I’m writing, this edition will involve me reliving some of my earliest childhood memories, whilst not ignoring any non-related thoughts that may enter my head. Enjoy:

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I wasn’t always Autistic you know. There was a time when I wasn’t. Autism is something that develops overtime. I was officially … hang on, I’m remembering the opening to The Emperor’s New Groove, Beauty and the Beast and a Harry Potter PlayStation game. Anyway, I was officially diagnosed when I was 3- or 4-years-old. I can still remember what happened before then. I’m just thinking of the books I used to read when I was in primary school: the Magic Key books – which later became a TV show. Anyway, I CAN … sorry. Sorry again, I had the caps lock on. As I was saying, I can’t remember when I was born – I don’t think anybody’s brain is developed enough to remember that. I remember a Fairly Odd Parents episode that addressed it. But I do remember where I used to live. I just corrected the typing ‘fairly’ there. I used to live in Belvedere. I can’t remember the name of the road, but I know it was on a hill. Interestingly enough, Belvedere is where my aunt’s husband Tom works now. It’s also where I went for interviews when I was applying for jobs with both ASDA and Lidl – they have a headquarters not far from there. But anyway, ignoring my memories of an old Chip ‘N’ Dale episode (Three Men and a Booby), I remember the layout of – sorry, I corrected something else there – I remember the layout of our house. As you went in the front door there were stairs to the left. Down the hallway it lead into the kitchen, which was connected to the dining room which was also connected to the living room. I’m just remembering the end of Roald Dahl’s Matilda – he never did like any film adaptions of his books except the BFG. You could get into the living room by turning right as you first entered the house. At the top of the staircase was the bathroom, and to the right were two or three other rooms. I can’t remember exactly what the third was used for, but one of the rooms belonged to me and my sister and me, of course. And the other belonged to our parents, of course. I’ve put my washing machine on so I’m wearing sound-cancelling headphones to write this. The dining room lead out into the garden. For our birthday one year – it might’ve been our third – we had a yellow bouncy castle with teddy bears on it. Now, whenever I think of that garden I always think of that bouncy castle and that birthday. My sister used to watch home-videos of that old house. There was one where we first woke up on our birthday – I had slept in very late as I was so tired – and our mum and dad kept trying to encourage us say how old we were. There was another where we were on the bouncy castle and I kept play-fighting with a boy called Harry. We weren’t really trying to hurt each other, but my day kept saying “no fighting.” I always remember whenever people sang happy birthday to my sister and me, my sister’s name would always be said first. So my granddad would always say the line again with my name first as a joke. I loved it so much that I started doing too, as a way to remember him. Not far from our house there was a playground. Our dad would always take us there to play football. Sorry, I don’t know why I’m remembering this, but I think one time I found a board game with a scary man’s face on the cover. I’d flip it over and it was there again, but on a television screen. I’m not even sure if this is a real memory or if I dreamed it at one point. Sometimes dreams can feel so real you’re sure they’re happening, even though you know you’re asleep. Sorry, back on track. I used to love that playground. I also used to love Swanley Park and Danson Park. How they used to be, anyway. I’ve been back to them all a few times since and they’re nothing like how they used to be. Swanley has mostly become a water park, rather than sand and water – probably because kids kept putting water in the sand and vice versa. Danson has gotten rid of all its classic apparatus (including giant wooden animals) and is now a field, while a new park has replaced it. And the old park near my first house, has completely changed its apparatus as well. I remember one of my favourites was a giant tower with interwoven ropes, which you could climb. I always loved seeing how high I could go before I got scared. I once saw a boy climb to the very top and sit on the black ball at its peek. I wanted to do it too, but knew I’d never be brave enough. I’m just thinking of the movie 127 Hours now because of a song they used in one of the montages. Aron Ralston is played very well by James Franco – who also played Harry Osborn in Spider-Man. Apparently, my sister and I used to have an imaginary friend called Kiki. Somebody who only we could see. If she was sitting in the car or on the sofa we would tell our mum to be careful not to squash her. Apparently, there was also a time when we thought we saw a scary lady with long fingers hiding in the corner of our room, but when mum can in she vanished. Sounds like something out of a horror movie doesn’t it? In my later early years I would always have fears like that. I’m remembering the episode Night Terrors from Doctor Who now. It’s starting again soon with a female Doctor and Bradley Walsh as one of the companions. The premier is this Sunday. Not far from the park near my first house, there was also a water park. But as far as I can remember it was only ever open once or twice. All other times it looked like it was completely abandoned and served no purpose. I just made two corrections there. Now I’m thinking of Hercules, my mum’s favourite Disney movie. There are other memories I have from before I moved house for the first time, but I couldn’t possibly list them all. I do remember the time we went to Legoland and we were told to pretend were younger so we could get cheaper tickets. I didn’t understand though and I kept saying my real age. Speaking of Legoland, I do remember some of the great TV adverts they made for it over the years. Like some with a Mexican band or the “Heroes Wanted” ones. I think this is a good place to stop. So there you have it. I have very clear memories of the time before I was Autistic. It was only after we moved house, and before I started school, that I started to develop it. Maybe in future I’ll tell you about my early years with the condition. But for now, stay tuned.

Are You Autistic? Review (3rd Anniversary Special)

Hello everybody, this is George Harvey (aka the Autistic Blogger), and today is the 3-Year Anniversary of my blog. I never imagined I’d still be doing this after all that time. So before I begin, I’d just like to say a massive thank you to everyone who continues reading my posts. Currently, my site has been viewed over 4000 times by people in more than 70 different countries. If you’re a regularly reader, or just happen across my pieces by chance, then I still appreciate every single one of you. You’re the reason I keep pushing myself to create meaningful content.
Anyway, for this anniversary, I decided to focus on something a little bit different. It’s not something long or well-known, like my Life, Animated review. It’s actually something most of you won’t have heard about. It’s a documentary which aired in the UK just over two months ago, called Are You Autistic? Why this my may ask. Well, it’s for two reasons. First of all, it contains a very powerful message about diagnosis, which I think it’s a shame most people will never get to experience personally. And second, I had a small hand in this programme’s creation. Let me explain.
For those of you who don’t know, I used to be a Youth Patron for Ambitious about Autism. During my time there, I was fortunate enough to take part in many of their life-changing projects. These included the Employ Autism campaign, where I gave presentations to local MPs, and Know Your Normal where I took part in panel discussions. I also had the opportunity to contribute my writing skills, and attend several meetings that would ultimately shape the UK into a more Autism-friendly community. During one such meeting, we met with the commissioning editor of Channel 4. At the time, she was planning a documentary called How Autistic are You?, which would’ve gathered information on Autistic traits, and expressed how many people are being left undiagnosed. However, Ambitious was concerned with some of her creative decisions. Not only did the title wrongly suggest that every person had some form of Autism, but we felt the surveys would’ve produced insufficient results had they used their intended questions. For the good of those on the spectrum, we agreed that certain changes needed to be made. Changes which Channel 4 graciously accepted. I, unfortunately, wasn’t able to contribute much beyond this meeting, but with the passion and hard work of my fellow Youth Patrons they turned the documentary into what I’m about to review. Is it something worth remembering? Let’s find out.

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As a whole, Are you Autistic? has two primary goals: to explain the effects of Autism to those unfamiliar with it; and to follow the journey of two grown adults, who believe they have the condition, but were never diagnosed. It starts off by giving us some general information about Autism itself, i.e. how it’s one of the world’s least understood conditions and that “cases are at an all-time high in the UK.” It also presents a brief history of its representation. For example, the (1988) film Rain Man was the first to feature an Autistic character. Back then, the condition was thought to be rare, but now an estimated 700,000 people are said to have it in the UK alone. Plus, we now know it’s a mixture of different traits, not just one specifically. Straight away we can tell this documentary isn’t beating around the bush. It lets us know just what the subject is and how it’s going to be examined. Not to mention why our knowledge of it is paramount. I also give it praise for referencing such modern Autistic characters as Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory), so even the most casual of viewers will be drawn in by its content. In fact, they could’ve gone one better by mentioning further examples; Jason Haynes from BBC’s Holby City, Maud Pie from the My Little Pony franchise, and Billy Cranston – the first Autistic superhero – from Power Rangers (2017).
Of course, information is worth nothing without the right hosts. And Channel 4 made some brilliant choices here. Taking centre stage are Georgia Harper and Sam Ahern – two Patrons I’ve had the greatest pleasure working with in the past. Being openly Autistic themselves, they assure viewers that they’re experts on the condition and display great confidence in their delivery. Even when things get technical, they incorporate visual diagrams and comments from other Patrons to help keep everything clear. A big hats-off to Jack Whitfield, Jack Welch, Sadie Jaffey, Ollie Marchant and Georgia Ellin for their contributions.
However, the documentary knows it’s also important to have somebody general audiences can relate to, which is why there’s a third host: “the lovely, but non-Autistic” Anna Richardson. Her role is to ask the questions that most people want the answers to, so they can fully grasp what it means to be Autistic. Through experts like Professor Liz Pellicano (UCL) and Francesca Happe (King’s College), she learns some truly enlightening points. Autism is “not an illness.” Autism is a “neurological condition” made up of various traits since birth. It doesn’t mean the person is “faulty, or damaged or broken in any way”, it just means their brain is “wired differently.” For anyone new to Autism this would be reassuring information. It clarifies how people on the spectrum are not so different from those who aren’t. You merely have to understand their mindsets, like the different parts of a machine. Sometimes it’s the simplest metaphors that are most effective.
Then we come to the heart of this programme: the lost generation. As our knowledge of Autism grows, so too does the way we define it. As a result, more and more people are found to have the condition – with a large percentage of them being adults. Worse still, there could be thousands left unidentified, given the major diagnosis crisis we have in the UK. You see, getting a diagnosis isn’t as simple as getting a check-up. Collecting the relevant data can be a long and arduous process. Realistically, it shouldn’t take more than three months. But recent studies have shown the actual waiting time can be as long as two years. Consequently, these people are not receiving the support they need quickly enough. Fortunately, significant changes are being made to speed up the process.
Between segments on social masking, early learning and women with Autism – which are highlights all their own – Anna joins 38-year-old musician, JP, and mother of three, Jo, who both think they’re part of the lost generation. Rather than spend two years on a waiting list, however, they’ve agreed to take part in a brand new in-depth study. Headed by leading scientists, they’re both put through a series of tests which focus on three main areas: social interaction, senses and organisation. As expressed by Sam and Georgia; “you can’t be a little bit Autistic.” You need to show symptoms in all three areas to be considered for diagnosis.
First, there’s social interaction. People on the spectrum tend to avoid conversations because specific topics don’t interest them or they feel awkward pretending to – Jo has experienced this numerous times in the company of friends. Also, their minds prefer sorting things into black and white areas, so anything like sarcasm, white lies or irony can be difficult to process. For the test, JP and Jo watch two actors performing scenes with mixed emotions. Then they’re asked why those actors said certain things, and what they’d do next in their situation. These are called Strange Story tests. Having taken them myself, they’re a surefire way of telling if someone can pick up on others’ feelings. For JP and Jo, their answers are straight-forward, un-sugar-coated, and show little reading into the actors’ minds.
The next area is senses. People with Autism are said to have heightened senses – which means they take in more than the average person. Everyday things like bright lights, loud noises and strong smells can be so overwhelming that it causes them stress, anxiety or even physical pain (sensory overload). To put it simply, it’s like “being tuned into 40 different TV channels all at once.” JP and Jo have experienced these symptoms too. JP has strengthened hearing, which allows him to hear buzzing electricity. And Jo has trouble with bright lights. However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Doctor Anna Remington (UCL) explains that heightened senses can offer people an advantage if they focus them on a single task, e.g. picking out specific sounds from a range of similar ones. All brains are made to process information. But Autistic ones have a much larger capacity.
Then there’s the final area, organisation. 90% of all British people follow the same routine every day. As such, they have very strict timetables and don’t appreciate having to make unexpected changes to them. For their last test, JP and Jo are asked to prepare lunch for five different customers in ten minutes. However, one order gets changed part-way through, and they have to amend it. The results are the same both times: JP and Jo are thrown off by the sudden changes and barely complete the task – JP actually fails altogether. This outcome is common for people with Autism. Once their minds are set on a job, it can be difficult for them to stop and start again on something new. Their initial momentum is gone, and they almost never get back into the right frame of mind. Preparation, multi-tasking and flexibility are all challenges for them.
With the tests now complete, it’s clear both JP and Jo have Autistic traits. But this doesn’t confirm whether they’re on the spectrum. Many people can have these traits without being Autistic, while others misinterpret the signs. A common mistake is confusing Autism for shyness. Francesca Happe explains the difference to Anna Richardson. Shyness is worrying about how others perceive you (social anxiety); Autism is not regarding what others think or feel in general. People with Autism do want to talk and have friends, but figuring out how can be difficult.
The only way for JP and Jo to get an official answer is to get a diagnosis. Fortunately, they don’t have to wait very long. Soon after the tests, they’re both invited to Cambridge University to meet Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, a leading world expert in Autism. While there, they speak to him about other experiences they’ve had so he can officially diagnose them. It’s interesting to hear what they have to say. Jo left college early because she felt intimidated by how big and unstructured it was. Also, she prefers being by herself since she doesn’t have to play roles in front of other people. JP has had social problems, too. In secondary school, he wanted to interact with the other students. But the more he tried, the more he came off as desperate. Plus, rejections took so long to recover from that he eventually decided it wasn’t worth the effort. By this point, I was thoroughly convinced that both JP and Jo were on the spectrum. I’ve personally been through all these experiences myself, and I think most of the Patrons at Ambitious have as well – the only difference is none of us dropped out of college due to stress. This documentary has done a brilliant job of building character. And the payoff is just as grand. By the end of the meeting, it’s officially confirmed that both JP and Jo are, indeed, Autistic.
However, the documentary itself doesn’t end there. Sam and Georgia sit down with the NAS’s Tim Nickels – the man behind the report on slow diagnosis. He explains how not getting support early can lead to strains within families and cause many younger children to wait longer for a diagnosis. On top of that, Autism is one of the most costly conditions in the UK; at around £32 Billion, the government spends more on it than heart disease, high blood pressure or even cancer. If changes were made to the diagnosis procedures, it would save more people and money.
Fortunately, bigger steps are being taken than ever before. In addition to diagnosing JP and Jo, Professor Baron-Cohen started the largest online study for Autism in 2018. By completing four short questionnaires, 750,000 people helped capture the way Autistic traits are spread across the UK. Of those who weren’t diagnosed, 87,000 of them scored above the cut off – meaning they were more than likely Autistic – with 47,000 of them being women. Professor Baron-Cohen hopes that by taking these surveys more undiagnosed people will find the answers they’ve been seeking and live happier, stronger lives.
With the future looking bright, Sam and Georgia finish the programme with some meaningful words. “Autistic people aren’t broken or weird or anything to be scared of; we’re just ordinary people, but our brains are wired very differently, that’s all.” Autistic people can be any age, sex or colour. And you could be one of them. It’s not too late to find out. And even if you are, it’s not the end of the world. Join the club.
In conclusion, Are You Autistic? perfectly encompasses Channel 4’s “changing perspectives” tagline. Not only does it explain every aspect of Autism, but it does so in a way that’s appealing to all audiences. With mainstream references and hosts of different ages and experience, there’s something relatable for everyone. Additionally, knowing how much influence Ambitious had on the final product makes me wish I’d contributed more to it than I did. That being said, no programme is flawless. For instance, although Autism is a worldwide issue, the documentary only focuses on the statistics relevant to Great Britain. Also, the condition’s effects aren’t shown to us as much as they’re talked about. However, I might’ve had something to do with that. You see, during our meeting with the editor, I expressed how programmes needed to be careful when presenting people on the spectrum. There was a scene in Channel 4’s The Undateables that did it poorly once, and it felt like a stab to the chest. It could be they decided to avoid anything sensitive and focus more on providing helpful information. Either way, I’m proud of how this documentary turned out, and it makes me glad I was a part of Ambitious. If anything, it gives me hope for the future of those yet to be diagnosed.

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And that’s all I’ve got to say for this review. Once again, I’d like to thank everyone who continues reading my posts and I hope to bring you even more great content in the future. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to leave me a comment – I’ll be happy to answer them. And, as always, stay tuned. Happy Anniversary!

 

(Image courtesy of: https://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/understanding-autism/ambitious-about-autism-s-youth-council-speak-out-for-young-people-with-autism)

Life, Animated Review (2nd Anniversary Special – Part 4)

(Continued from Part 3: https://georgeharvey2015.wordpress.com/2017/11/01/life-animated-2nd-anniversary-special-part-3/)

As Owen prepares for his graduation, he has The Little Mermaid (1989) playing in the background. Specifically, the ending where Sebastian says: “children got to be free to lead their own lives.” Once again, a Disney film parallels Owen’s life. Like Ariel stepping out of the sea, he’s leaving school to become independent. It’s a proud day for Cornelia, too, seeing her son on stage. It’s incredible to think how far he’s come from being the quiet little boy she thought would never talk again. Let alone graduate.

Following the ceremony, Owen and his family begin the process of moving him to his new apartment. Before they do, however, Owen insists on watching a few scenes of Dumbo (1941) to celebrate. This notion seems to imply that he understands his condition in this situation. He needs to watch those scenes to be in the right frame of mind, or it could impact him both mentally and emotionally. In fact, we get to witness this Autistic stress first-hand.

Just as the family is about to leave, Owen suddenly realises he’s lost the charm on the necklace Emily gave him. He gets very upset about it and starts behaving erratically (i.e. trying to ‘sniff it out‘ and moaning like a child). His dad suggests they can simply buy another one, but Owen won’t hear of it. Although he knows Emily didn’t make the charm herself, she did buy it for him out of love. So it’s special in a way his dad can’t understand.

To be honest, I do get how Owen feels. I’m something of a hoarder myself. I know it makes sense to get rid of old things and make room for the new. But doing so never feels right to me. It doesn’t matter if its school work, holiday souvenirs or a scarf my Nan gave me before she died; they all have unique memories attached to them. Throwing them away would feel like throwing away part of myself. Perhaps that’s why Owen holds so tightly to his Disney films.

Eventually, Cornelia finds the missing charm, and everyone makes their way to Owen’s new place. His apartment is in an assisted living community, around 75 miles from his parents’ house. Owen is excited to be moving in at first and eagerly helps to unpack. However, once Ron and Cornelia leave, the reality of the situation slowly starts to sink in: he really is all by himself. His feelings are expressed through yet another Disney film. This time it’s Bambi (1942). The first scene shows Bambi’s mother warning him about the dangers of the meadow; it’s wide and open, and they’re unprotected on it. Then, following the infamous shooting scene, the fawn is shown calling out for his mother – which is just before his father shows up, telling him she can’t be with him anymore. In a way, Owen is going through Bambi’s predicament right now. The world can be a dangerous place sometimes, and now he has to face it without the usual protection of his parents.

As time goes by, Owen gradually adjusts to his new life. He struggles with some basic things, like opening the right mailbox. But as it’s an assisted living community, there are always people around to help him. They show him how to cook, how to pay bills and when to take his medication. They also assist him in looking for a job, and we actually get to see him going for an interview at his local cinema. It’s interesting to note the type of role he’s going for too since it involves interacting with many unfamiliar people. And as all we know, this sort of thing tends to make him nervous. It’s good to see him fighting his own insecurities.

Around this time, we also delve more into Owen’s relationship with Emily. And some of its issues. You see, although they do enjoy each other’s company, there appears to be very little chemistry between them. One night when she comes over, they just spend the evening watching Disney’s Aladdin (1992). And other than some light conversation over food, there’s nothing but awkward silence throughout. Reality-wise it’s not the healthiest relationship. Other people notice as well.

While playing miniature golf together, Walter speaks to Owen about possibly moving forward with his relationship. Owen, however, doesn’t seem to grasp what the next stage is. For example, when asked what people use other than their mouths when they kiss, he replies “feelings.” But of course, the real answer is tongues. The problem is, Owen only knows about romance from what he’s seen in Disney films; through couples like Eric and Ariel, Hercules and Meg, Belle and the Beast, etc. It’s challenging for Walter to work around that since Disney films don’t usually explore relationships beyond the Happily Ever After kiss. He even jokingly says the only way he might get his brother into sex is by showing him Disney p###. Sadly, it never comes to that. Because not long after this, something goes horribly, horribly wrong.

At his home in Washington DC, Walter gets a phone call from the assisted living community. After looking distraught for a moment, he tells us the sad news. Emily has broken up with Owen. Apparently, there was a meeting with caseworkers where she expressed concerns about him getting “too close” and that she needed personal space. Owen takes the news very badly. Keep in mind, breakups are practically unheard of in Disney films; the fact that he’s lost his Happily Ever After isn’t something his mind can fully comprehend. It’s the first time he’s ever experienced such as a hard dose of reality. Trying to make sense of it all, he calls his mom and asks her why life is “so full of unfair pain and tragedy?” She replies it’s just the way life is sometimes. There are joyous and relaxing times, but also sad and painful ones. What’s important is to accept they’ve happened, move on and trust things will get better in the end. Unfortunately, Owen can’t seem to do that. Not only does he still wear Emily’s necklace, but he has a picture of her next to his bed. Plus, he’s seen watching a sad clip from The Little Mermaid where Ariel is crying over Eric getting married to the Sea Witch. Eventually, a councillor has to step in to try and explain the situation. But Owen won’t listen to reason. He’s too emotionally unstable and even starts shouting in frustration.

It is painful to watch. But once again, I think it’s an essential scene. It shows how sensitive Autistic people can be under challenging circumstances. I should know, I’ve been there myself. During my last year of University, I was succeeding well in terms of grades. But I was also under a lot of stress. The sheer volume of work and tight deadlines were so intimidating to me that I never wanted to stop working. If I did, I feared my condition would slow me down and then I’d never finish on time. As a result, I devoted practically every second I had to my assignments. Which gravely affected my health and mentality. It got to the point where I was literally crying myself to sleep and waking up in the morning vomiting with anxiety. It didn’t matter what other people said to me; they weren’t the ones with Autism. They couldn’t understand what battling through my learning/focus difficulties was like. So whenever they said I was stressing over nothing, or they’d been through worse, it didn’t reassure me. It just made me resent them.

Anyway, back onto Owen; he tries to cope by channelling his emotions into his creative work again. For instance, he creates the villain Fuzzbutch for his Land of the Lost Sidekicks story. A creature that blows fog inside people’s heads and makes the world look like a sad, scary place. Clearly, it’s how he sees it right now. But that’s not all.

Soon after, his mom calls with some exciting news. He’s been invited to an Autism conference at the Rennes University in France. They want him to give a speech about Autistic people, and how they use their passions to make sense of the world – as Owen does with Disney. Owen agrees to go, but he struggles with a lot leading up to it. He finds it challenging to write his speech, he doesn’t know how to do up a tie (despite being 23-years-old), and when he’s on stage it looks like he won’t talk at all – he’s never spoken to such a large audience of strangers before. Eventually, though, he does find his voice.

He starts off talking about the very specific interests he and some of his Autistic friends have; animated films, superheroes, and the history of all actors and comedians who are Jewish. He then addresses the false notion that Autistic people don’t want to be around other people. The truth is, they want what everyone else wants. But sometimes they’re misguided and don’t know how to connect with others. He, himself, used to be afraid of growing up and watched the world go by like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. He explains that Quasimodo didn’t get the girl in the end, but was happily welcomed into society after a long and hard journey of being an outcast.

I hung on every word of the speech because it’s 100% true, especially the parts comparing Owen to The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Here’s the interesting thing about that movie – and by the way, I am quoting a review by Animat here. Not only is the tone more adult for a Disney film, but it touches on many dark and realistic themes that most animated features wouldn’t dare to. These include religion; the mistreatment of gipsies (which can be seen as a social commentary on immigration); lust; and most importantly, dealing with a heartbreak. The reason the latter stands out is that it’s a moment in life everyone goes through. Sure, eventually, you will settle down and find true love. But along the way, you will end up loving the wrong person – someone who doesn’t love you back. And you will learn this the hard way. It’s definitely sad when Quasimodo sees Esmeralda kissing Phoebus. But it’s essential to the plot because it reminds him of his true goal. Which isn’t to fall in love, but to be socially accepted. And when it comes down to it, that’s the primary goal for any Autistic person.

Following the conference, Owen finally comes to terms his break up. He takes off Emily’s necklace and shows Walter a message he sent her over the weekend. It says he’s now accepted their relationship is over, but he hopes they can still be friends – they know each other too well not to. It seems to have worked; Owen and Emily do cross paths at one point, and they appear to be on good speaking terms.

As the documentary comes to an end, we see Owen at his new job in the movie theatre. He tells us once more how worried he was about losing his Disney films when he grew up. But he never did. Although his childhood is over, he’s glad to be moving forward, while still cherishing what he holds most dear.

And I think that’s an important message. It’s good to want to change yourself. But it’s also essential to keep a part of your old self too. If you change just for other’s benefit, then you’ll lose sight of who you really are, and maybe even hate yourself for it. Nothing is more important in development than happiness.

The final scene shows Owen sitting in a dark movie theatre, mumbling his usual Disney dialogue, while a montage of Disney clips plays – the last one being Simba’s roar atop Pride Rock.

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And that’s Life, Animated. Simply put, it’s one of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen. Not only does it perfectly represent Autism in such an open and honest way, but it shows exactly how the condition affects everyone, not just the person who’s diagnosed. On top of that, the comparisons made between Owen’s life and Disney mean it’s both relatable and inspiring to anyone who watches it.

As for me, I felt a genuine connection to the story. In many ways, Owen and I are the same; we both have trouble socialising, we both like being creative and we both mumble things that stick in our heads. At the same time though, we’re also very different. I got my first job when I was only 18-years-old. And while Owen has already experienced moving out and having a girlfriend, I’ve yet to accomplish either. It just goes to show how diverse the condition is for each individual person.

I cannot stress this enough. If you have Autism, or you know somebody who does, then this is an absolute must-watch documentary. Nowhere will you find a more perfect guide to the condition, and what you can do to assist it. If you see it for sale, just buy it yourself and be inspired by a masterpiece.

And with that, my 2nd Anniversary Special is done. I never imagined it would take me a year and four parts to finish. But now I can start debating on what to release for the 3rd Anniversary. If you have any questions, please leave me a comment – I’ll be happy to answer them. And until next time, stay tuned.

(Image courtesy of http://www.tulsakids.com/Web-2016/Life-Animated-at-Circle-Cinema/)

Life, Animated (2nd Anniversary Special – Part 3)

(Continued from Part 2: https://georgeharvey2015.wordpress.com/2017/08/01/life-animated-review-part-2/)

Throughout the documentary, we see numerous people trying to help Owen prepare for life on his own. They all teach him essential skills like communication and self-awareness. However, they also express concerns about his well-being. These include him walking with his chin down, his limited knowledge of road safety, and whether or not he can cope without hands-on support. Owen does want to be independent. But he knows his condition will make things challenging. Especially when it comes to perceiving reality.

As mentioned before, Owen struggles to understand people and situations, unless they relate to a Disney film. Anything new or unfamiliar makes him feel anxious. This is a constant problem for him because the world is always changing. If he’s not mentally prepared to adapt, then his adulthood will only intimidate him.

I, myself, find change extremely difficult sometimes. I try to stay organised by writing myself timetables. But once I’m used to a routine, something new comes along and throws a spanner in the works. Maybe my hours at work will change. Maybe there’s a meeting I have to attend. Or perhaps a deadline will come up, and doing it means I’ll have less time to finish other tasks. Staying on top of things can be stressful when you’re not anticipating them.

Owen’s mother says it best: the reason her son loves Disney films so much is they’re the one thing in his life that never change. The characters don’t age. The stories don’t take drastic turns. It’s just the same scripted events, followed by the same characters, who learn the same moral lessons that Owen can understand.

The trouble is, real-life isn’t a Disney script.

Going back to Owen’s childhood, his Autism continued to be a hindrance for him. Although he was able to communicate better thanks to his parents speaking in Disney dialogue, they knew this couldn’t be a permanent solution. Eventually, they’d have to teach him to interpret reality without Disney’s help. Otherwise, his development would be slow. This was made evident during his school years.

Initially, Owen was enrolled in a specialist school for learning disabled children. It worked well for a time. But after a year or two, it became apparent he wasn’t making enough progress. His limited speech and social skills meant he couldn’t keep up with the other students – despite them also having conditions like dyslexia and ADHD. Soon after, the school decided there was nothing more they could do, and Owen was excluded.

This actually brings to mind a pressing matter in today’s society. There have been numerous cases where a child has been unjustly excluded from school – or refused entry entirely – because of circumstances relating to their disability. It is essential for teachers and parents to remember that every child is entitled to a proper education, regardless of their physical or mental impairments. Denying them that right is an unacceptable course of action.

Being taken out of school was hard on Owen. He described it as a “glop” year, where everything went downhill, and he felt his best days were behind him. He even lost his passion for animated movies. Following an extensive period of home-schooling, his parents got him enrolled in a new school for special needs children. Unfortunately, this did little to improve his emotional state. Then the bullying started.

At some point in our lives, we’ve all experienced bullying and the harsh impact it can have on our psyches. For those with Autism, though, it can be a lot more harrowing. This is because we have two symptoms that bullies like to exploit. The first is our sensitivity. Because we struggle to control our emotions, bullies know they can get a reaction from us with little provocation. The second is our literal way of thinking. Given how our minds work, we tend to sort everything into black and white areas. If anything falls into the grey (e.g. sarcasm or rhetorical questions), it can be difficult to process what’s true and what isn’t. As such, we instinctively believe what we’re told most of the time. This assures bullies that their threats will be taken seriously – even if they’re false.

In Owen’s case, the boys at his school tormented him by saying they’d burn his house down. This terrified him because he genuinely believed his family was going to be killed. The documentary illustrates this fear by showing us some frightening clips from Disney; Bambi escaping a forest fire, the wolves from ‘Beauty and the Beast’, Chernabog from ‘Night on Bald Mountain’, Jafar laughing, Simba watching his father die. There’s even one part where Owen watches ‘The Hunchback of Notre-Dame’; specifically, the scene where Quasimodo is tortured and ridiculed by the townsfolk. It’s very symbolic.

There’s no doubt high school was a dark time for Owen. But there was a light on the horizon.

Sometime after the bullying, Ron noticed his son was spending a lot of time in the basement. So one day he went down and saw Owen had been drawing Disney characters in a scrapbook. The one significance, however, was that every one of them was a sidekick – there were no heroes. Owen explains he never felt like a hero at the time. He always felt more like a sidekick. “Sidekicks”, he says, “are fun-loving, comical, wacky, playful, friendly and delightful. And they help the hero fulfil their destiny.” On the last two pages, he wrote, “I am the Protector of the Sidekicks. No Sidekick gets left behind.” What that meant was, although he doubted he would ever be a leader among regular people, he could be one to those just like him. This is likely what inspired him to start his Disney club. And what got him into writing.

‘The Land of the Lost Sidekicks’ is one of the best highlights of the DVD for me – perhaps more so than the diagnosis section. It’s the tale of a young boy, who’s awoken in the night by a storm made of garbled voices. He escapes into the forest where he meets the Disney sidekicks. They’re lost because they no longer have a hero to follow – having fulfilled their purpose in their movies. The boy is named Protector of the Sidekicks and helps them defeat the storm – which is really a demon. While they, in turn, show him the path to his destiny.

Not only is the animation here beautiful – with its pencil-esque style and brilliant use of watercolours – but the story is a creative retelling of Owen’s life. The boy is the same age he was when he was diagnosed. The demon is the stressful voices he couldn’t understand as a child. The sidekicks are the friends he always longed to have, who also give his life purpose. It’s inspiring to see how Owen took both the good and bad parts of his life and turned them into something meaningful.

This is what I want to do someday: write stories from personal experience that will help me make a difference in other’s lives.

Back in the present day, Owen’s family celebrate Walter’s 26th Birthday. After a scene where Owen struggles with his speech, we take a moment to focus on his brother. Walter admits he cares deeply for Owen and would do anything to make sure he’s okay. However, it does overwhelm him knowing he may one day have to take care of him and their parents. Every passing year brings him closer to that fate. As a result, his birthday depresses him as much as it did when he was nine.

This part opened my eyes to something. For those of you who don’t know, I have a twin sister. Unlike me, she’s not Autistic, has many friends and spends most of her time out of the house. After watching this, it really dawned on me that I’ve never asked her how she feels about my condition or its effects. I know she loves me regardless. But I have to wonder if she’s ever had the same concerns as Walter. Perhaps we should talk about it one day.

Once again, I have to give ‘Life, Animated’ credit for being so sincere about how Autism affects everyone in the family – not just the child and parents.

After spending some time with Walter, Owen’s graduation day finally arrives. The most pivotal chapter of his life is about to begin.

Continued in Part 4: https://georgeharvey2015.wordpress.com/2018/04/02/life-animated-review-2nd-anniversary-special-part-4/

(Image courtesy of: http://www.tulsakids.com/Web-2016/Life-Animated-at-Circle-Cinema/)

Into My Autistic Mind 8

As previously announced (in a deleted update), the third part of my Life, Animated Review is taking a little bit longer to complete than normal. In the meantime, here’s another addition of Into My Autistic Mind. Enjoy:

I kept misspelling Autistic just now. A motorbike just passed me. I’m sitting in my car waiting to pick my dog Bertie up from his haircut appointment in Gravesend. I’m hearing a lot of vehicles pass by on the road ahead and someone just walked by on the pavement. My blue bag is to the left and I.p (gir) ccc – please ignore those three typos. As I was saying … What was I saying? My bag is to the left and I’m thinking of Life, Animated. It’s abrilliant – a brilliant – documentary about… Sorry, I’m thinking of Shark Tale now. That old Dreamworks film staring Will Smith as a fish. Another van just passed me. Anyway Life, Animated is a brilliant documentary about Autism and Disney. I just know when I’m finished reviewing it, it’s going to be one of the best things on this blog. I’m thinking of something My Little Pony-related now. I can’t believe they’re going to be releasing a new series on YouTube with human versions of the characters. I really need to get a new bag. I’ve not had the old one – well it’s not old so to say – but I’ve not had it very long. It’s just torn up on the inside and out. Now I’m thinking of Star Vs the Forces of Evil and a book I bought at Bluewater and an old kids’ program. Two avtually (actually). I hope the typos aren’t too much trouble. I’m thinking of that MLP thing again. I was planning on driving home and then picking Bertie up agents (why did it auto-correct agents?) – and I DIDNT WANT to press the emoji button or the caps-lock button, thank you. Excuse me. I was going to pick Bertie up after I went home for half an hour. But then I didn’t see the point. So I’m just sitting in my car waiting for the hour to be up. Now I’m thinking of an old TV advert of a guy calling out to a large group of people telling him his company’s deals are for everyone – not just new customers. I remeber a – remember a – similar advertisement on the radio where an man pretended to be a woman called Mrs Pie so he could get a deal, despite not being a new customer. Ahead of me is a Land Rover and a vehicle repair shop called Mr Clutch Auto Centres. You wouldn’t believe how many typing corrections I’ve just had to make in the last couple of minutes. I even had to copy and paste the word vehicle from earlier because I couldn’t remember the spelling right. No one’s spelling is perfect I guess. Now I’m thinking of Cartoon Network’s old What A Cartoon show. Animat recently started a lookback on the channel. Is lookback two words? The sun just got really hot for some reason. My headphones and Sat-Nav are also to my left. I’m wearing grey tracksuits and a dark grey, long-sleeved t-shirt. Saying t-shirt reminds me of an extra feature on the DVD of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, where a shrunken head is asking a man called Jonny, who’s interviewing various members of the cast, if he’ll ask Michael Gambon and Robbie Coltrane what it’s like to wear a t-shirt. Then he changes it to suit and Jonny agrees it’s not a bad question to ask – for some reason. I can’t believe Azkaban is a real word according to Pages. Although it doesn’t seem to have a definition. I’ve just checked how many words I’ve written. I can keep going I think. Now I’m thing ing – ‘thinking’ – of Alladin (I spelt that wrong). Aladdin? There we go that’s the right spelling. Just had to stop and think for a second there. The scene I’m remembering is – wait, now I’m remembering Muppets Treasure Island. A girl and her mother just passed me on the pavement. Another Harry Potter film is going through my mind now. I’ve just taken the time to look at the sky and a sign that says AHAMAY. Things are going to change soon. I’ve got a new job in Eltham and will be leaving ASDA. I hope it’s the right choice. Change has always been a challenge for me – as I’ll explain in the next part of Life, Animated. I’m still thinking of Aladdin. Perhaps I should stop now. I’ve got 25mins before I have to pick up Boo – that’s my family’s pet name for Bertie. Now it’s 24mins. This feels like a good place to stop before I tell you about various Disney cartoons that are jumping in and out of my mind. I hope you enjoy the next part of Life, Animated.

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If you have any questions, please leave me a comment – I’ll be happy to answer them. And, until next time, stay tuned.

Life, Animated Review (2nd Anniversary Special – Part 2)

(Continued from Part 1: https://georgeharvey2015.wordpress.com/2017/06/01/life-animated-review-2nd-anniversary-special-part-1/)

After briefly cutting back to Owen’s adult life, we learn how his parents made their first major breakthrough with his Autism.

It was a year after the diagnosis. And in that time, Owen rarely spoke or interacted with anyone. Even when he did, he’d always spurt random gibberish like “juice of us.” The only thing that kept him calm anymore was watching the Disney movies with his family. Then one day, they were watching The Little Mermaid (1989), and something unusual happened. Owen kept rewinding and replaying the part where Ursula the Sea Witch sings “just your voice” in Poor Unfortunate Soul. Each time he’d say “juice of us.” It was then his mother, Cornelia, realised the truth. Owen wasn’t speaking random gibberish. He was quoting the movie. “Juice of us” meant “just your voice.” His father then said the line and Owen quoted it back. It was the first time their son had looked at either of them in over a year.

I find two things fascinating about this section. The first is Owen’s habit of rewinding and replaying specific scenes. I literally do this all the time whenever I watch DVDs. If I see or hear something I really enjoy, I can’t help experiencing it multiple times. That way, I’m able to store it in my memory and relive it whenever I choose. The other amazing thing is the line itself. How ironic is it that, for the better part of a year, Owen had lost his voice – like Ariel in the movie – and the words that helped him speak again were “just your voice“? It’s another major parallel he has with Disney.

By this point, Owen’s parents thought they had Autism figured out. They understood their son’s gibberish and now, seemingly, had a way of communicating with him. However, a specialist pointed out that many Autistic children just repeat what they hear. Which is true. Sometimes I say things back to myself, not because I’m trying to make conversation, but because I’m trying to register certain information. Owen does the same throughout Life, Animated; he repeats what people say to him to ensure it sticks in his mind.

Four years later, however, Owen’s parents would make their biggest breakthrough.

It’s worth mentioning here that Owen has an older brother. Whose name – ironically enough – is Walter (or ‘Walt’ for short). During Walt’s 9th birthday, Owen noticed that his sibling wasn’t feeling too happy. In fact, he looked downright depressed at something. Owen then went to his parents and said, “Walter doesn’t want to grow up, like Mowgli or Peter Pan.” This was astonishing for Ron and Cornelia. For years, they’d assumed their son couldn’t process the world around him. Yet he’d just spoken to them about a real-world issue. It wasn’t something he heard or repeated either; he’d observed a complex emotion, processed a complex thought and expressed it using a complex sentence. He’d used Peter Pan (1953) and The Jungle Book (1967) to work out a situation even his parents weren’t aware of.

But things didn’t stop there.

Soon afterwards, Ron wanted to try speaking to Owen. But he knew his son wouldn’t likely talk back. That’s when he noticed something nearby: a hand-puppet of Iago the Parrot (Aladdin; 1992). Putting it on and mimicking the bird’s voice, Ron asked Owen how he was feeling. Owen admitted he was sad because he didn’t have friends. Just managing to stay in character, Ron then questioned how he (Iago) and Owen became such good friends. Owen replied, “when I watched Aladdin you made me laugh.” This was the first proper conversation the two had ever had. But Ron discovered something else. Whenever he said something Iago did in the movie, Owen would reply with the next line (e.g. “I love the way your foul little mind works,“). Suddenly, it all made sense. It wasn’t just scenes and dialogue Owen remembered. He’d memorised the whole of Aladdin! And all the other Disney movies, too! As long as you said something like one of the characters, Owen would listen and make conversation. This was the answer Ron had been searching for; the secret that would allow him and his wife to help their son. From then on, the whole family spoke in Disney dialogue.

You might think that choosing to live a Disney movie is going a bit extreme. But when it comes to Autism, nothing is too drastic. Sometimes the only way to get through to a person is to appeal to their interests. You can then use those interests to help them engage with reality, and eventually teach them life skills. For Ron and Cornelia, Disney was their best hope of assisting Owen’s development in the long-run.

And it worked.

As time went by, Owen’s silence gradually began to fade. He still mumbled to himself, but he was finally able to speak and express his emotions – albeit slightly exaggerated. Plus, his obsession with Disney continued to do wonders for him. He’d memorise all the film credits, and it taught him to read. If he felt a certain way, he’d use scenes or characters to express himself; like Hercules for not giving up, Mowgli for wanting friends or Pinocchio for wanting to feel like a ‘real boy’. Later in life, it would even help him to become a mentor of sorts.

Remember what I said about Autistic people using their unique talents to make a positive difference in the world? Well, that’s what Owen did. As a young man, he started his own Disney club – a special one for disadvantaged people. In addition to watching the movies, he would encourage his friends to think about what they were teaching them in life. For instance, The Lion King (1994) is primarily about Simba learning the responsibility of being a king and how to live on after his father’s death. It shows how much Owen understands independence and wants to pass on that knowledge to others.

Thanks to his club, Owen was able to bring people together and form connections. He even got to meet his idols Gilbert Gottfried and Johnathan Freeman, the voices of Iago and Jafar (respectively), when they came to perform Aladdin scenes with everyone. Best of all though, the club is where Owen met his girlfriend, Emily.

Seeing them together, it’s clear Emily is just as Autistic as Owen. Her speech is slow, her facial expressions are often glassy, and she comes off as being child-like. In one scene, Owen gives her some flowers, while she gives him a necklace with a Mickey Mouse charm on it. She also gives him a hand-made card with coloured writing and a drawing of them both holding hands – seeing it reminds me of the cards I used to make when I was a child. Owen says he loves Emily because she’s “wonderful[,] cute[,] adorable and speaks soft and gentle.” Plus, she’ll be moving into the apartment just above his when he graduates. So then they’ll be “neighbours in love.”

This section is another highlight of the documentary for me. With everything Owen has been through, it’s lovely seeing him live as normal a life as possible. Some people with Autism can go years without finding love, or even friends who share their interests. Owen was able to find both in Emily. Thanks to his parents freeing him from isolation, he was given the opportunity to socialise with others. It’s moments like this that give people like me – and their parents – hope and inspiration for the future.

However, we all know life is full of high and low points. And as Life, Animated continues, Owen learns he still has many difficult challenges ahead.

Continued in Part 3: https://georgeharvey2015.wordpress.com/2017/11/01/life-animated-2nd-anniversary-special-part-3/

(Image courtesy of: http://www.tulsakids.com/Web-2016/Life-Animated-at-Circle-Cinema/)

Life, Animated Review (2nd Anniversary Special – Part 1)

Hello everybody, this is George Harvey (aka the Autistic Blogger). And today, I have a very special post for you to commemorate the 2-Year Anniversary of this blog. Since June 2015, my site has been viewed over 2500 times, by people in 60 different countries. So before I begin, I just want to say a big thank you to everybody who’s supported me, and I hope to bring you even more great content in the future. It’s been hard work keeping up with my writing. But seeing how popular it is makes it all worth it in the end. With that said, let’s talk about Life, Animated.

Some of you may remember back in 2016 I wrote a piece on BBC Two’s new drama series, The ‘A’ Word. Beforehand, I gave my thoughts on Autism and how it’s represented in the media. Some depictions are praiseworthy, like The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, while others have been downright insulting (e.g. Channel 4’s The Undateables). Then one day, I was watching a video by one of my favourite YouTubers (Animat), when I stumbled across this gem of a documentary.

Life, Animated follows Owen Suskind, a 23-year-old man with Autism. What I found most intriguing about it was the story and it’s unique presentation. You see, Owen is a big fan of Disney films. So much so, they were all he could think about growing up. This made life challenging for him as he couldn’t connect well with reality. Even his family had trouble understanding his behaviour. However, Owen’s obsession provided a unique insight into his condition (e.g. the way it affects his speech, body language and thought-process). Furthermore, it exposed some of the lesser-known benefits of having Autism. Through pencil animations, interviews and other content, the documentary explores how Owen has made the most of his condition and used Disney films to make sense of the world around him.

This premise alone blew me away. Many Autistic people do struggle with direct communication. So they find other, more creative ways to express themselves. Some do it through music or drawing pictures, others – like me – write down what they feel. And others use their hobbies or interests as metaphors. In the case of Life, Animated, I don’t think it could’ve worked any better than with Owen and his Disney films. It takes a complex subject like Autism and pairs it with something the whole world can recognise. Not only does this make the documentary a perfect guide to Autistic behaviour, but it shows how influential Disney really is.

When I saw Life, Animated for the first time, I knew it was one of the best portrayals of Autism I’d ever seen. A simple summary wouldn’t do it justice. So for this anniversary, I decided to breakdown the movie and explain, in my own words, just how masterful it is. Please enjoy:

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The movie begins with some home video footage of a young Owen Suskind. We see him as a regular little boy growing up with his family, and watching Disney’s Fantasia (1940). There’s nothing too out of the ordinary. We then cut to years later with Owen as a young man. It’s clear from his body language, glassy eyes and occasional mumbling to himself that he’s severely Autistic.

Straight away, I can relate to Owen’s behaviour. When I was younger, I would often wonder about, remembering my favourite TV shows, movies or video games. They were so exciting that I’d forget where I was and start reciting their dialogue. Owen does a similar thing here. Throughout the movie, he quotes lines from famous Disney films.

After attending a special class on social skills, Owen heads home and introduces himself. He explains he will be graduating in a month’s time and moving into his own apartment. Something he’s both nervous and excited about.

These scenes introduce the movie’s overall theme of independence. Anyone will tell you that living alone is a big challenge, even for the best of people. But when you have Autism, it feels like a near-impossible goal. The main concern is how the condition affects our ability to perform simple tasks. It’s not that we aren’t capable of doing them. But sometimes our minds struggle to focus on them properly. We’re so used to the things we love and understand (TV shows, movies, video games, etc.) that anything unfamiliar can feel incredibly nerve-wracking. Because of this, our brains instinctively try to reject new information, even when we want to learn it. This is why most people with Autism have learning difficulties. It’s easy to get distracted from life when you have such immense passion for what you love.

Back onto the movie, Owen’s love of Disney is established. In his room, we see numerous Disney posters and memorabilia. They range from classics like The Lion King (1994) to modern films like The Princess and the Frog (2009). We then get our first glimpse of the parallels between Owen’s life and Disney.

Owen plays a VHS of Peter Pan (1953) – immediately becoming entranced by it. He fast-forwards to the part where Wendy explains she has to grow up and possibly give up her stories. This mirrors Owen’s own concerns about his the future, i.e. leaving behind his childhood, and possibly his Disney movies. He then fast-forwards to the climactic swordfight between Peter and Captain Hook. He copies everything the characters say and do, clearly knowing the movie off by heart.

I can relate to this as well. When I was younger, I didn’t just recite specific dialogue. I would act scenes that were playing inside my head. This goes back to what I said about having immense passion. If you watch, read or listen to something enough times it becomes embedded in your mind. You can then replay it, from beginning to end, with almost pinpoint accuracy – Autism gives you that kind of photographic memory. True, it can distract you and cause learning difficulties. But there are benefits to it as well. Having such an extensive memory makes you an expert on the subject. You can then use that knowledge to make a real difference in the world. We see how Owen does later in the documentary.

But I digress. Following the bedroom scene, things delve into more personal territory.

We’re shown some more home video footage of Owen and his dad, Ron, sword-fighting as Peter Pan and Captain Hook (1993). According to his parents, this was the last time Owen was recorded before he “vanish[ed]” (i.e. began developing Autism). The changes, they say, came very quickly; his lack of sleep, deteriorating motor skills and his language breaking were the early signs. Concerned, they took him to a special facility, where he was officially diagnosed with Autism.

This section is one of the highlights of the documentary, for me. I remember being Owen’s age (3 to 4-years-old) when I was taken for my diagnosis. I wasn’t aware of it at the time, of course. I thought I was just spending 30 minutes in a play room, with a friendly lady. We spoke together, arranged toys in a line and even made up a story about Thomas the Tank Engine visiting Sesame Street. I had no idea my behaviour was being monitored or that my parents were watching from behind a false mirror. But now it all makes sense. That was the day my parents found out I was different. The day they discovered I might never attend public school or even talk properly. Seeing how devastating the news was for Owen’s parents, I can’t image how mine must’ve felt. It really does feel like the child you’ve raised and loved has gone. And, no matter how much you want them to, they never go back to the way they used to be. I respect the movie for being so sincere about the impact Autism can have on the parents as well as the child.

I should say at this point, everything I’ve mentioned so far takes place in the first 15 minutes of the film! Life, Animated still has plenty more inspiring scenes to come.

Continued in Part 2: https://georgeharvey2015.wordpress.com/2017/08/01/life-animated-review-part-2/

(Image courtesy of: http://www.tulsakids.com/Web-2016/Life-Animated-at-Circle-Cinema/)