Shadows House (Season 1) Review

Hello everybody, this is George Harvey (aka The Autistic Blogger). I know it’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything significant on this site. I’ve just been very, very busy. My hours at work were extended, I’ve been managing my YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@geostarentertainment90068), and I’ve been rehearsing for a show which ended up getting cancelled and then rescheduled on short notice. I have very little free time anymore. That being said, I don’t want you to think I’ve forgotten any of you. So, in the time that I’ve had, I’ve written a review on another of my favourite animes. I hope you enjoy it.

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Every once in a while, there’ll be a particular anime studio that garners my attention. You have famous ones like Studio Ghibli, Toei Animation, or even American-based companies like Crunchyroll. But the one I’ve taken a keen interest in lately has been CloverWorks. I’ve noticed, in recent years, they’ve produced several anime series that became instant hits upon their release. These include My Dress Up Darling (2022), Spy x Family (2022), and – most notably for me – The Promised Neverland (2019-2021). Admittedly, they don’t have a perfect track record with their adaptations. But when they get the formula right, they captivate audiences with stories pertaining to both fantasy and realism. This winning formula is what drew me to Shadows House.  

I discovered this anime by chance when I found a random clip of the English dub on YouTube. It was only 4 minutes long, but I was astounded by what I saw; the characters and setting showed me exactly why the series was so unique. After watching more clips, I knew I had to experience the series myself. I even read the manga before watching the second season – something I’ve never done before. But when looking at the anime’s initial debut, did CloverWorks turn it into a masterpiece of writing and animation? Or did they drop the ball with it like The Promised Neverland (Season 2)? Let’s start with the story. 

In a world where the sky is shrouded by soot, a colossal mansion stands isolated in the mountains. Within its walls are the Shadows Family, faceless black beings who conduct themselves as higher-class nobles. Attending to them are Living Dolls, human-like servants created in their masters’ image. One of these servants, a lively and optimistic doll named Emilico, is assigned to serve a young shadow named Kate. Although the two are practically opposites, she works hard to please her mistress, and they form a close friendship over time. However, as Kate’s “debut” approaches, she and her doll wonder about the house’s secrets and if life in the manor truly is as blissful as they’ve been led to believe. 

When it comes to the fantasy genre, CloverWorks has excellent success presenting darker tales like The Promised Neverland (Season 1). As the name suggests, dark fantasy enhances a story with make-believe elements so that it feels more unsettling. It’s not necessarily scary. But it does make us glad such things don’t exist in real life. For example, a story about orphaned children being adopted by wicked people is dark enough. But what if their orphanage was a human farm, and those people were flesh-eating demons (The Promised Neverland)? It adds another layer of dread that realism couldn’t achieve alone. 

Shadows House takes a similar approach with its world-building. The atmosphere is initially unsettling because we know so little about the mansion. Episode 1 begins with a montage of the house and its residents. However, the sheer vagueness of it all sends waves of questions rushing through our minds. And, like a good mystery, it doesn’t give us all the answers straight away. Instead, they’re revealed gradually through the lead characters’ perspectives. For example, in the first episode, Emilico awakens from her doll box and begins her life serving Kate. Through them, we learn the roles of a shadow and a doll and why they have to form a bond. Then, once we’re familiar with them, the story expands beyond Kate’s room to the rest of the mansion (Ep.2). Emilico meets other Living Dolls – some friendlier than others – and is exposed to many new curiosities: veiled dolls, scorches, phantoms, sealed off areas of the mansion, and (perhaps most concerning of all) the mindset of her peers.  

A common saying among the dolls is that they “[shouldn’t] fret over trivial matters“, and working hard for the Shadows Family will bring them true happiness. They even have a song, which, despite its merry tune, enforces unwavering loyalty regardless of working conditions (Eps.2/11/13). By this point, it’s evident that the dolls’ smiles are masking a harsher reality. And soon, one fact becomes undeniable. 

Compared to their masters, Living Dolls are treated horribly – almost to the point where the series is a commentary on slavery and social class. Whereas shadows have large rooms, wear fine clothes and enjoy exquisite food, dolls are given the bare minimum of everything: cramped living quarters, long working hours, insufficient food and rest, and strict orders to remain silent in public. Also, younger shadows are taught not to view their dolls as individuals but as extensions of themselves: a face to be seen and nothing more. This viewpoint causes some masters to mistreat or even abuse their dolls (Ep.5), an act made crueller when it’s revealed how Living Dolls are created and what their fates will be once their masters become adults (Eps.10-11). Some shadows reject these principles, like Kate. But the consensus seems to be that dolls are of lower class. They must obey their masters, fend for themselves, and cast aside any notions of friendship.  

However, a shadow’s life isn’t so rosy either. When the narrative focuses on Kate, we see how she leads a solemn and miserable existence. Unlike Emilico, she’s forbidden to leave her room or interact with others. Also, shadows release soot from their bodies whenever they sleep or experience negative emotions, making everything they touch filthy. Additionally, there’s immense pressure on them to pass their debuts since failure will mean being “disposed of.” However, arguably, the most tragic part of a shadow’s existence is never feeling like a complete being. Because they don’t have faces, shadows rely on their dolls to express their emotions. Emilico isn’t just Kate’s servant; she’s also meant to be her identity. That’s why they must act as one, so Kate can feel somewhat whole. Couple this with how shadows often refer to themselves in the third person, and you get the sense that they feel disconnected from who they are. Whether it’s manual labour, peer pressure, or a severe identity crisis, dolls and shadows suffer many hardships in the children’s wing.  

On that note, let’s discuss the mansion itself. As I said earlier, Episode 1 takes place in only a few rooms, so everything initially feels confined. However, once Emilico is summoned to clean outside, that’s when the enormous scale of the mansion is revealed. It’s like an entire functioning community, with hundreds of rooms, gritty ironworks and long corridors that stretch into darkness. There’s even a separate wing for the adults, with grand halls for special events and a large garden with a hedge maze. Plus, there are more rooms and gardens we don’t see. As for the overall design, while the anime isn’t set during a specific period, the clothing and furniture seem to reflect the late Victorian era. So, although it’s not a modern setting, it’s still a time most audiences will be familiar with.  

My only nitpicks with the visuals are some of the textures. In certain scenes, there are noticeable scratch marks over things like plants and wood – almost as if they were painted separately with watercolours and then added digitally. The result causes some environments to look flat while the characters stick out with their solid forms. The markings also substitute for shading and smoke effects, which often don’t look convincing. Other scenes fix this problem with better lighting and colours. 

Then there are the character designs. There’s not much to say about the Living Dolls because they resemble human beings so closely. They don’t have porcelain skin, visible joints, or distinctive doll features. Plus, they’re shown to eat, sleep, and even bleed like real people (Ep.10). We only know they’re dolls because the series says so. 

On the other hand, shadows are the ones who stand out with their designs. These are living silhouettes with entirely black bodies and no visible features. Yet they move and speak like humans. For the animators, creating a shadow is relatively simple. All they have to do is take the character model of a doll, colour it in black, and then replace the drab clothing with fancier attire. Plus, they don’t have to worry about lip-syncing most of the time – since a shadow’s mouth is only visible from the side. 

But even if they’re easier to animate, that doesn’t mean the shadows don’t come with a challenge. Technically, there’s more pressure on the voice actors to express their feelings because they can’t rely on the animators to show it for them. The only exception is when the dolls stand alongside their masters as their faces. A good example is the scene when Kate and Emilico first meet Sarah and Mia (Ep.2). The doll (Mia) shows a variety of expressions and perfectly copies the movements of her master (Sarah). Yet, despite a voice being heard, Mia never moves her mouth – except when miming laughter. We know it’s actually Sarah who’s talking, but it feels surreal because we can’t see it. 

Furthermore, the shadows’ unique designs are only achievable through 2D animation. If someone tried adapting the series into live-action, it would be almost impossible to replicate the shadows convincingly. Even if they could find a way with CGI, it would be difficult and expensive to do so on such a large and consistent scale. It’s one of the reasons why this anime limits its CGI to things like water, smoke, or giving soot creatures other-worldly appearances. Shadows House was tailor-made for animation. 

The last topic of discussion is the characters themselves – a mammoth task, considering nearly everyone has a counterpart. Beginning with the main pairing, Kate is a reserved shadow who initially struggles with even looking people in the eye. She detests her filthiness and longs to escape her isolation (Eps.1-2). Even when her doll arrives, she’s not entirely sure what to do with her. In contrast, Emilico is bursting with positivity. She’s eager to get along with everyone and will always help those in need, even if it’s seen as trivial. She does have sombre moments, like questioning her usefulness. But she often bounces back with an infectious smile – brought on by something as simple as eating bread (Ep.1). Kate grows fond of her doll’s optimism and wants Emilico to stay as she is rather than become like her. It’s why she gives her a unique name (Ep.1) instead of one similar to hers – which is usually customary. Adding to this is that Kate (Emi Lo) and Emilico (Dani Chambers) are the only duo not to share the same voice actor. 

There are also Kate’s fellow debutants: John, Louise, Patrick and Shirley, who each share a different relationship with their doll. 

John is quite an eccentric shadow who tries to be friendly with everyone. Although, he can be impulsive and overconfident at times. Much like Kate, John treats his doll, Shaun, better than most masters would. He even wears non-prescribed glasses to compensate for his doll’s poor eyesight (Ep.5). Shaun, however, is more resistant to his master’s orders if he disagrees with them. As such, he acts more like a parental figure to John’s less-than-mature personality. It extends to his work outside the rooms as well. He is conscious of obeying the house’s rules. But he will look after other dolls like a big brother. 

Louise is best described as narcissistic. She takes pride in the appearance of her doll, Lou, and loves making her pretty. However, she tends to forget there’s a body attached to the face and ends up mistreating her unintentionally. Not that Lou minds very much. She’s a naturally quiet doll and prefers being told what to do rather than making decisions herself. Although, she does later form a relationship with Ricky – Patrick’s Living Doll. 

Speaking of which, Patrick and Ricky are the most similar in terms of personality. They have an air of smug confidence to them and look down on those they see as inferior. It’s easy to view them as antagonists, not unlike Draco Malfoy (Harry Potter). However, they’re both nicer than they appear. Ricky will do anything for his master’s well-being, even if it means swallowing his pride and begging a rival for help (Ep.9). And Patrick is extremely sensitive. When a situation gets too intense for him, Emilico is the one who comes to his aid and comforts him (Ep.7). Patrick sees dolls in a different light from that day onwards.

Finally, there’s Shirley, who has no personality whatsoever. And I don’t mean that as a criticism – her whole character is that she never fully developed as a shadow. It’s the reason she can’t talk or produce any soot. Consequently, it leaves her self-named doll, Rum, in a difficult position. With no way of communicating, Rum can’t tell how Shirley feels. Nor can she perform her duty as her face. Working outside the rooms is no better either because she’s a clumsy cleaner and always being yelled at (Ep.4). Nobody seemed to care about her until Emilico arrived. But by that point, she’d already already given up on herself. It’s hard not to feel sorry for this soft-spoken girl who’s always on the verge of tears, especially when it’s revealed she has a sharp mind and photographic memory (Ep.7). Unfortunately, none of that matters if she can’t pass her debut. Of all the characters we want to succeed, Rum is arguably the highest on our list. 

As for the other child characters, they don’t feature as much. But a handful do stand out with their personalities. For example, Mia and Rosemary are the senior members of Emilico’s cleaning team; they act like big sisters and mentors to her during her early days outside the rooms (Eps.2-4). Rosemary’s shadow master, a flamboyant tomboy named Maryrose, is happy to welcome and teach the newcomers (Eps.10/13). However, Mia’s master is the complete opposite. Sarah only cares about raising her social status and expects her doll to do nothing but make her shine. Worse still, she’s ungodly cruel to Mia if she steps out of line – trashing her room and even physically beating her on occasion (Eps.2-5). It feels like a subplot is being developed with them. Unfortunately, the series never follows through on it. 

Then you have the authority figures. The first is Barbie, a Star-Bearer who maintains order among the Dolls. One look at her scowling face, mangled hair, and shark-like teeth is enough to tell you how ruthless she is. She’s constantly in a foul mood, barking out orders, spouting insults and bullying weaker dolls she sees as dimwits (Eps.3-4). Very few have the nerve to stand up to her.  

There’s also Barbie’s shadow master (Barbara) and the other Star-Bearers. However, they’re not featured nearly enough for us to appreciate their characters’ significance. The same can be said for the adults. They each have a distinguishing trait that makes them unlikable, but there’s little we know about them besides that trait. Even the Lord Grandfather, who’s supposed to be the all-mighty ruler of Shadows House, is shrouded in mystery along with his goals. 

The only adult who seems to have clear motivations is Edward, a “Special Living Doll” charged with judging Kate and the other shadows on their debut. He wants nothing more than to rise through the ranks and stand alongside Lord Grandfather. It doesn’t matter who he has to crush along the way. So long as he snuffs out the weaker shadows and dolls and entertains the higher-ups, he can be satisfied with his work. And if things don’t go his way, he’ll force them to by any means necessary. 

So, with all that said, how do I personally feel about Shadows House as an anime? It’s honestly one of the most engaging series I’ve seen in recent years. It takes the basic idea of shadows following their hosts and flips it on its head. It then expands on this new concept to such a creative degree that it builds an entire dystopian world with its own rules and lore. I love the commentary it presents on social class, especially since we relate more with the lower-class dolls because of their familiar appearances. The central characters all have memorable personalities – save one. Plus, it’s interesting to see different relationships between dolls and shadows based on their similarities or dissimilarities. It makes for a lot of heartfelt scenes in later episodes. 

However, the anime also doesn’t shy away from its darker elements. As stated before, there’s a prominent theme of slavery and mistreatment. Children experience many hardships in the manor, including physical threats from scorches and phantoms or psychological terrors brought on by authority figures. For Kate, Emilico and others, it’s about challenging the status quo and deciding what’s morally correct over what’s traditionally expected.  

I also love the music. The series mainly uses classical instruments, like violins and pianos, to fit the historical setting. They do a fine job adding eeriness to scenes with tension. The opening and end credits are particular highlights, with the former being almost purely instrumental and both accompanying some breathtaking animation. 

My favourite aspects, though, are the mysteries. Nearly every episode feels like it’s revealing more information about the manor and its residents. Each revelation is more unsettling than the last, plus the answers usually lead to more questions. Some are easier to work out than others, like those surrounding the dolls. However, some mysteries remain unsolved. Kate, for instance, knows much about the mansion for someone who’s supposedly never left her room. She’s even aware of things younger shadows shouldn’t be, like how Living Dolls are created (Ep.11). Additionally, Kate keeps mentioning there’s something she needs to do (Eps.4-5) and that she wants to tell Emilico all of her secrets (Ep.10). The manga has revealed these secrets already (Ch.106-115). But the anime has yet to reach this point after two seasons.

Speaking of which, the anime is adapted very well from the manga’s pages. Often, the scenes are literal one-to-one recreations of the illustrations. Also, besides removing one central character and a single irrelevant chapter (9), the changes made are fairly minimal – just some minor scenes being rearranged, added or removed. However, I will say that these changes do impact how certain characters are introduced; some benefit from the alterations, like Emilico, Kate and Mia (Eps.1-2), but others don’t feel as mysterious or significant. For example, the adults and Kate’s fellow debutants are introduced through brief scenes across several early episodes (3-5). In the manga, they weren’t seen until the debut arc, making each of their arrivals feel like a new mystery to solve. 

Another criticism I have is with the debut itself – it drags on far too long. I understand it’s a significant event, and we get some great character development from it. However, there are better ways of building chemistry than having your characters wander through a maze for nearly half the season (Eps.6-10). All the mysteries and world-building feel like they’re put on hold while this test plays out. On the positive side, though, the ending reveals some of the darkest and most shocking secrets the series has to offer. Plus, it leads into a thrilling season climax. 

The most significant change from the manga, by far, is the last three episodes. Without spoiling too much, they deviate from the source material and instead present an original story involving a rescue mission. Doing something like this is always risky in an anime adaptation – especially for CloverWorks after their disastrous reception with The Promised Neverland (Season 2). However, I’d argue they made the right call here. Had the series continued adapting the manga until Episode 13, the season would’ve ended partway through a major story arc – and there were no guarantees there’d be a second season. The new ending provides a satisfactory conclusion and strengthens many characters’ relationships. Fans of the manga will even notice references to events in later chapters, including a small creature wearing a bow, a locked cabinet emitting soot, and Kate disguising herself as a veiled doll (Ep.12). 

As a quick side note, if you ever want to read this anime’s manga counterpart, I’d highly recommend finding a copy that’s in colour. It makes the shadows easier to identify and allows us to fully appreciate the attention to detail on the drawings. Little things like shading and depth make all the difference.

In conclusion, Shadows House is a defining example of dark fantasy. Its make-believe elements present a creatively engaging story that’s heartfelt and intimidating. Not to mention, it looks visually stunning.  

It’s been rumoured that CloverWorks ended their production of The Promised Neverland so they could focus on this series instead. Whether that’s true or not, Shadows House does feel like a spiritual successor. It’s a story about children in a supernatural world, trying to stand up to a repressive system to achieve better lives for everyone. It’s an empowering message that even young audiences can relate to and understand. 

I recommend this anime to anyone looking for a mature spin on fantasy but not something scary or overly complicated like horror or epic fantasy. Also, if you like mysteries, this series will keep you guessing throughout. The manga is still being written, and new questions and answers are presented regularly. There are many secrets yet to be uncovered within Shadows House. 

That’s all I have to say for this anime’s first season. If Season 2 gets released on Blu-Ray, I’ll also consider reviewing that one too. But until then, stay tuned.

Image courtesy of: https://medium.com/anitay-official/veiled-in-darkness-shadows-house-is-this-seasons-hidden-gem-cd62ecdb8811

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

Continued from Parts 1 and 2.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

***

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Are They Autistic? – Reggie Abbot (Twelve Forever) – Part 2

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

Before I begin, I need to give you all some context. I started writing Part 1 of this article before watching any episodes of Twelve Forever. The rest of it was written after I’d finished the series. I did things this way because I wanted to make a point about first impressions. 

When you’re introduced to something for the first time, there’s little information to go on. All you have is what you see on the surface, like a TV trailer or someone’s appearance. It’s easy to draw conclusions from this simple information – perhaps because you’ve been taught the most likely outcomes. However, the crucial thing to remember about first impressions is they often turn out wrong. Maybe not entirely false. But there’s always more to something than what you initially perceived. It’s like judging a book by its cover. The title, blub and artwork can give you an idea of what to expect inside. But until you experience what’s written yourself, you’ll never understand what makes the book unique.

The same can be applied to people. Too often, those with Autism have their behaviours misidentified. Struggling to process information, for example, could be viewed as laziness or having hearing problems. It results in those people not getting the proper help they need. And all because the observing party didn’t understand the individual. It can work in reverse as well. Sometimes it’s easy to tell if someone is Autistic. Like when they’re obsessed with doing something a specific way, even if it appears strange to everyone else. But in most cases, it takes time and careful observation to determine whether someone is on the spectrum. That was the mindset I had going into Twelve Forever.

I wasn’t sure how long it would take me to work out if Reggie was Autistic or not. As explained in Part 1, I had many things in common with her character. But these similarities weren’t enough to be definitive proof. I needed to see something that would leave no doubt it was anything other than Autism.

So what did I learn from watching this series’ 25 episodes? Well, more than I was expecting. But also not what I expected at all. Let’s take a look.

***

Firstly, I’d like to acknowledge the series’ art direction. It uses a simplified style that appeals to both kids and young adults. When looking at the human characters, for example, some of their features do have realistic proportions. However, others use basic shapes, like circles and squares, to give them a slightly exaggerated appearance. As for the residents of Endless, their designs are certainly creative. But they’re not overly complex. You could believe they were imagined by a 12-year-old or younger (as the series implies they are). 

Furthermore, the series has two distinct colour pallets. In the real world (for whatever reason), it’s always snowy where the main characters live – even during Spring time. So there are always dull, boring colours everywhere, like whites, browns and greys. In contrast, Endless is a sunny paradise, forever bursting with warm, brighter colours. 

I think balancing these different aesthetics was essential for the series. Not only does it reflect how Reggie views both worlds, but it visually attracts the right sort of audience. Remember that the series’ primary goal is to show the characters’ growing maturity. So it makes sense to have an art style that draws in younger viewers but still emphasises the show’s coming-of-age themes. Speaking of which, let’s observe how Twelve Forever presents some of these themes through its stories. A good example is the first episode.

Episode 1 begins with Reggie celebrating her Twelfth birthday. It’s a simple party with only three guests: her mother, Judy; her brother, Dustin; and her best friend, Todd. The first time we see Reggie, she’s sitting at the table playing with an action figure. She and Todd are having a blast. But Judy and Dustin’s expressions show how they feel about this juvenile behaviour. Then Reggie gets given her birthday presents. However, aside from a music CD and a used gift card, they mostly turn out to be clothes or hygiene products. Reggie tries to act grateful. But she ultimately feels depressed at not getting anything she asked for. Her mother then reminds her they talked about her birthday being different this year; she won’t need so many toys now that she’s older. Besides, what she’s been given can be fun too. It’s just fun in a different way.

An opening scene can tell a lot about a series and its direction. In this case, it does a fine job of setting the tone and establishing the characters’ personalities. As mentioned above, the cold weather and muted colours contrast the happy celebration. Also, the party takes place in a small kitchen without decorations, and even the presents don’t have the fanciest wrapping paper. It makes our introduction to Endless feel more appealing later. 

As for the characters, the series wastes no time showcasing Reggie’s immaturity. Besides playing with toys, her first line of dialogue is, “Come on, mom, I’m not that grown-up.” So she’s instantly dismissive of her age. Plus, we see how tormented she is by her gifts. Making room in her life for these mature things doesn’t excite her one bit. And her mother’s words do nothing to change that. It seems her birthday has become less of a celebration and more of a reminder that she’s losing the best years of her life.

The scene isn’t entirely depressing, though. Todd is a welcomed presence because he provides comic relief whenever necessary. More importantly, though, he’s shown to be close friends with Reggie. He indulges in her childish ways, and she appreciates his company. However, given Todd is her only friend at the party, it’s an early indication of how few she has.

As for Dustin and Judy, they each represent what I despise and love about the sub-characters in this series respectively. 

Dustin, you see, is portrayed as a stereotypical teenager; someone who’s laidback, bitter, and puts little care or effort into anything – he’s the one who gave Reggie the used gift card. Not to mention he’s later revealed to be a conspiracy theorist and has a blog dedicated to spreading crazy stories (ep6). Unfortunately, several other human characters in the series have these generic personalities. Sometimes you get teen bands trying too hard to act cool (ep22) or teachers who’re overly timid or unprofessional (ep9). They’re just feeble attempts at comedy that weaken the series’ credibility. Fortunately, though, they aren’t featured too often. And they do nothing to harm the series’ more serious aspects. There’s even an episode where Reggie reconnects with her estranged brother over something they made when they were younger (ep6).

On the other hand, Judy is one of the series’ most down-to-earth characters; she embodies every parent who worries about their child’s natural growth. Truthfully, it shouldn’t be an issue that Reggie has particular interests. Or they’re so different from her mother’s when she was younger. But it’s sad for Judy knowing they have nothing in common – especially when she seems to relate more to other girls Reggie’s age (ep8). Also, since her daughter is reluctant to try new things, Judy worries that Reggie won’t move forward with her life and will struggle with adulthood. 

Parental figures are a delicate aspect of children’s media. If a series is more comedy-based, it’s natural to portray them as goofy or eccentric. Their roles aren’t meant to be taken seriously there. However, for a series like Twelve Forever, the writers knew it was important for Judy to be as believable as possible. Sometimes the episodes needed someone to ground them in reality to convey their messages. And it works exceedingly well here. Any time Judy is onscreen, we feel the stress she’s under to be a good mother. She has to put her foot down when Reggie acts too immaturely sometimes (ep8). But she also doesn’t want to upset or peer pressure her. Growing up is a stressful process. So whenever she has to talk to Reggie about it, she uses a soft-spoken tone and looks for ways of making the transition smoother. The first episode demonstrates this approach quite well.

While preparing for a garage sale, Judy finds a box of Reggie’s old things. Since her daughter hasn’t touched it in years, she decides to sell it. However, Reggie is adamant about the idea. The box is filled with remnants of her childhood, and she can’t bear the thought of parting with them. It’s frustrating for Judy at first. But she comes up with a compromise. She gives Reggie until the end of the day to go through her stuff and decide what she can’t live without – anything else has to go. It seems like a good plan. But Reggie is too emotionally attached and feels she can’t get rid of any of it. 

Personally speaking, I can understand Reggie’s feelings. Usually, in hoarding situations, you have to ask yourself logical questions. For example, what’s the difference in not owning something if you never use it anymore? Maybe you could argue you’ll use it eventually. But are you more likely to use something else when the time comes? Is the item as valuable to you as other things you own? Does it make any significant difference in your life? When you ask yourself these questions, the choice of whether to keep something becomes easier to decide. 

However, just because something isn’t useful doesn’t mean it has no sentimental value. For example, I own a teddy bear that I’ve had since the day I was born. I don’t sleep with it anymore, of course. But I still hold onto it because it was given to me by my late grandmother. Throwing it away would be like throwing away a part of her and the connection we had. 

Reggie feels the same about her old toys and sketches. Precious memories are attached to them, and she doesn’t want to risk forgetting. So instead of throwing them out, she decides she’ll keep them in her special place. Somewhere no adult can reach them.

Surprisingly, it’s revealed that Reggie and Todd already have the power to go to Endless. And they’ve been visiting the island for some time now. It’s not until later in the series that we learn how everything started. 

About a year ago (episode 17), Reggie didn’t fit in well at school; her fantasies made her seem weird to other kids, and even her family looked down on her. One day, during art class, she made a key out of modelling clay, telling her teacher she wanted it to take her away from her boring town forever. Following another conflict at home, Reggie wished with all her might to go someplace where she could just be herself. Her desire granted the key its magic and whisked her away to Endless. Initially, she was freaked out by what happened (episode 18); especially when meeting the strange, abstract creatures who inhabited the island. However, she soon realised Endless was everything she’d ever hoped for. The residents admire her fun-loving attitude. She can do whatever she wants without consequence. And there are so many activities to discover that the only limit is her imagination. It’s a perfect child’s paradise. 

Shortly afterwards, Reggie met Todd – the only person at school who seemed interested in her abnormalities. While spending time with him, she learned he was also stressed about getting older; he’s always having to look after his boisterous younger siblings, among other new responsibilities. Sensing Todd’s need for escapism, Reggie showed him the way to Endless. And they’ve been sharing adventures there ever since.

From a writer’s perspective, this backstory does everything it’s meant to. It establishes the main characters’ personalities and motivations. It also sets up their ordinary world before introducing the new one with its different rules. However, my only objection is that it comes too late in the series. It would’ve been better to have it as the opening episode so we could’ve followed the characters’ development from the beginning. Also, given Reggie and Todd are very familiar with Endless (in episode 1), and the audience isn’t, there’s a bit of disconnection. Sometimes they need to learn things along with the characters to form an emotional bond.

That being said, when the series does teach moral lessons, they’re some of the most personal I’ve ever experienced. They’re not simple run-of-the-mill lessons or even widely-appealing ones; they’re specifically chosen to guide viewers in Reggie and Todd’s age group. Preteen problems take centre stage in Twelve Forever.

For instance, going back to episode 1, Reggie takes the box of her old things to Endless and buries it in the sand. Surprisingly, it brings all of her toys and sketches to life. It also turns a label-maker into a monster which Reggie and Todd defeat with their superpowers. After things quiet down, though, we learn something intriguing. According to Reggie, once something is brought to Endless, it can never return to the real world. So even though she has some new friends on Endlesss, things will never be the same back home. It’s symbolic because the island represents Reggie’s childhood. By leaving her old things here, she’s essentially letting go of a piece of her past. However, that doesn’t mean she has to forget the positive memories they’ve left her. Plus, she can revisit them anytime she needs a break from her stressful life.

The series is very clever in how it teaches things metaphorically like this. In Part 3, I’ll give you some more examples. As well as answer the all-important question: is Reggie Autistic? Stay tuned.

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

Are They Autistic? – Reggie Abbot (Twelve Forever) – Part 1

Hello everybody, this is George Harvey (aka The Autistic Blogger). Welcome to another instalment of Are They Autistic?: the series where I look at characters from various forms of media and analyse whether I think they’re on the spectrum or not.

Today we’ll be looking at Regina “Reggie” Abbot, the main character of the Netflix animated series Twelve Forever. It’s a series I’ve been interested in seeing for a while now but never got around to it. Either because I couldn’t find the time to or because I didn’t have a Netflix account. However, the series has stayed on my mind because parts of the trailer intrigued me about Reggie’s character. Let me explain.

From what I could tell, Reggie is a preteen girl struggling with the reality that she’s growing up. She’s embarrassed to get a bra for her birthday, feels awkward going clothes shopping, and shows no interest in things like makeup or beauty magazines – much to her mother’s disappointment. Furthermore, Reggie seems determined to stay a child no matter what. She spends her time drawing pictures and making costumes; she paints her face black and white, claiming to be a “dead skunk bride“, and has a collection of stuffed animals and action figures. In her own words, she describes herself as “some weird loser who’s loud and awkward and still plays with toys.” 

As you can imagine, Reggie’s desire to stay young causes problems in her social life; she has few friends who share her interests, and it even puts her at odds with her family. Moreover, the situation causes her stress. She knows growing up is inevitable. But she’s worried it’ll mean giving up everything she loves and condemning herself to a life of boredom and misery. Nobody wants that. But it feels like there’s nothing she can do about it. The world is bearing down on her.

One day, Reggie gets so frustrated that she can’t bear reality anymore. She wants to go someplace where she can just be herself. “Where everyone’s cool, and no one ever tells [her] to grow up.” Amazingly, she gets her wish. Through the power of her desires – and a magical key – Reggie and her friends (Todd and Esther) can visit the world of Endless: an island full of bizarre creatures and neverending fun. They’re also granted superpowers, which come in handy when protecting the island from threats such as the Butt Witch. It’s the perfect place for Reggie to escape her worries and live out her fantasies. But it also allows her time to work through her growing pains and resolve conflicts with her friends. Maybe then she’ll learn getting older isn’t as dull and depressing as it seems.

So you might be wondering why I’ve chosen this series and character, specifically. After all, dealing with maturity is a relatable story we’ve heard many times before. Even the addition of a fantasy world easing us through the transition is nothing new – think of classic novels like Peter Pan or Alice in Wonderland. However, I couldn’t help drawing comparisons between Reggie and myself. It’s a little farfetched to say so, but I think her behaviour is similar to someone with Autism. Let me give you some examples.

Firstly, there’s Reggie’s reluctance to change. As mentioned before, getting older is never easy; it comes with many new challenges and experiences. For people with Autism, though, these changes are especially harsh. Understanding the world around us can be difficult, given how differently our minds process information. Because of that, we tend to fixate on whatever we find familiar or amusing. We take comfort in these things because they’re simple to understand, and we know the rules. However, when stepping out of these comfort zones, we know our disabilities will sometimes make new experiences longer and harder to learn. Plus, there’s no guarantee we’ll succeed in them as well as most people. Usually, that’s not the case, and we manage just fine or even better. But it doesn’t make the learning period any less stressful or scary. Consequently, we’re more hesitant to commit to it and often default to what we know.

In Reggie’s case, it’s similar. The thought of becoming a young adult is off-putting to her because it’s entirely different from the life she’s always known. I couldn’t tell from the trailer if she has trouble understanding the world. But her childish antics are more extreme for someone her age – even by some Autistic standards. I’ve already given a few examples above. However, we’re also shown a comparison with Reggie’s brother, Dustin; he’s adjusted to being a teenager much better than his sister – who he now sees as an annoying pest. With so much changing in her life, Reggie takes comfort in the remnants of her childhood. They’re reminders of times when everything was fun and familiar. Maybe she acts the way she does because she doesn’t want to grow up. Or perhaps something inside her is affecting her confidence, which makes moving on too emotionally demanding.

There’s also the fact that Reggie has specific interests. Having a different perspective of the world means Autistic people are sometimes fascinated by the most unusual things. For example, Maud Pie and Mud Briar (Friendship is Magic) are interested in rocks and sticks, respectively. Haruhi Suzumiya (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) is drawn to anything not remotely normal. I’m someone who watches a show about colourful talking ponies that’s aimed primarily at young girls. And Reggie loves toys and being creative. For an outsider looking in, these things are strange or irrelevant to obsess over. Thus it often creates distance between them and the Autistic person. We see this with Reggie’s mother trying to get her daughter interested in fashion. However, anything can be fascinating if you take the time to understand what makes them so uniquely appealing. The problem is finding people who share that passion for something so specific. Or a least know why you love it so much. Most people usually gravitate to what’s popular with everyone, and that’s that.

Out of everything I took from Twelve Forever‘s trailer, though, the most intriguing part was when Reggie’s mother explains that her daughter “locks herself in her room for hours, making up stories and living in her own little world.” Hearing these words, I couldn’t help thinking back to my preteen days. I’ve expressed it before, but when I was younger, I always thought about my favourite TV shows, games and characters. I’d relive them inside my head, even at the most inopportune times. I then started coming up with my own stories and ideas, which led me to want to pursue a career in creative writing. Could it be that Reggie is also at this stage? Could she unknowingly be setting herself up to make a living off her passions? It’s entirely possible. After all, parts of Endless are created from her imagination, drawings and toys. Not to mention “living in their own world” is a common way of describing Autistic behaviour. This similarity with me was the most convincing evidence I had thus far.

So you might think I have a solid case for proving that Reggie is Autistic. However, keep in mind everything I’ve mentioned so far comes from my impressions of the trailer – and a few short clips on YouTube. You also have to remember that Autism is several different conditions working together. And they can affect people in different ways. For example, I have a girlfriend who’s also on the spectrum. But unlike me, she doesn’t have Asperger’s Syndrome. So whereas I find it difficult to talk in most social situations, she can talk for hours about almost anything non-stop. 

Just because there are similarities between Reggie and me doesn’t mean we’re both Autistic. The only way I’d know for sure is if I watched the series for myself. Did it confirm or disprove any of my theories? Find out in Part 2 (Are They Autistic? – Reggie Abbot (Twelve Forever) – Part 2 | The Autistic Blogger (wordpress.com)).

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

May 7th (2022) Update

Hello everybody, this is George Harvey (aka The Autistic Blogger). I seem to be getting into a habit of this, aren’t I? Every once in a while, I post something like a review or an article. Then I go months without posting anything else – unless it’s an update or something even shorter. It’s not without good reason. I like to make sure the content I put out is the very best it can be. That means spending several days writing, rewriting and polishing things up. The trouble, however, is finding the right amount of time to do everything. As I’ve said before, I have a job where my work hours change week to week. Plus, I can never predict when I’ll be meeting friends or family on my days off. Or even if something more time consuming will cause a change of plans. That brings me to right now. 

These last two months have been some of the most eventful of my entire life. There have been positive moments like celebrating family members’ birthdays, taking my girlfriend for her first driving experience, and even performing on stage in All Shook Up. Unfortunately, I’ve also suffered through a lot of hardships. My girlfriend caught Covid for the second time. My old phone broke – and it was a whole week before I got a new one. I’ve struggled to save money after my rent went up. My grandad and great aunt both passed away. And the less said about certain world events stressing me out, the better – please, EVERYONE, watch the video clip I posted two months ago. As you can imagine, it’s been hard for me to get into the right state of mind and start any new projects.

That said, I haven’t just been sitting and doing nothing. To take my mind off my worries, I’ve been writing reviews for one of my favourite anime series: Sword Art Online. It started in 2014 when I watched the first series, and I’ve continued with every new season (and movie) the franchise has released. When I get the chance, I might post all of them to Autistic Blogger Creates and show you how my reviewing skills have developed over the years. As for my main blog, I doubt I’ll have anything written for the 7th anniversary. But I do have something else in mind as a backup. Let’s just say I’m trying a new approach to creating video content.

In the meantime, I want to thank everyone around the world – and I do mean EVERYONE – who continues to follow and support this blog. It’s always a pleasure for me to see how much it’s being viewed. New content will be coming soon. So until then, stay tuned.

See also: Autistic Blogger Creates (https://autisticbloggercreates.wordpress.com/)

Are They Autistic? – Renee (Pixar’s Loop)

Hello everybody, this is George Harvey (aka The Autistic Blogger). Welcome to another instalment of Are They Autistic?: the series where I look at characters from various forms of media and analyse whether I think they’re on the spectrum or not.

Today I decided to try something a little bit different. Instead of a character from a book or TV series, I’ll be analysing one from a short film. Specifically: Renee from Disney Pixar’s Loop (2020). Also, my reasons for choosing her are somewhat different too. Usually, when selecting characters for this series, I prefer those who haven’t been confirmed to be Autistic. The reason is it gives me more leeway to observe their behaviours and make assessments of my own. In Renee’s case, she is confirmed to have Autism. But it’s not the kind I usually analyse. Let me explain.

What’s important to remember about Autism is that it’s not one condition but several neurological ones acting together. Also, these combinations affect different people to varying degrees. Hence why there’s a spectrum. True, there are minor cases where a person only has repetitive behaviours or learning difficulties. Or milder cases (like mine) where it’s hard to process information and socialise. But then there are higher forms. In these cases, people struggle to develop basic motor skills where even speech is difficult. I may not have this form myself. But I have witnessed firsthand how severe it can be when visiting special needs schools. It gave me a newfound appreciation for the personal carers who’re committed to helping such people.

Going back to Renee, she’s advertised as a non-verbal Autistic character. I was keen to see how well-handled her condition would be in this short. After all, it’s one thing to claim a character is highly Autistic; it’s another to portray them as such – there have been misinterpretations before. That being said, I was confident in the studio behind this story. Why? Because it’s Pixar. Yes, the company responsible for innovating mainstream computer animation has also produced multiple short films over the years. Whether it’s their classics like Luxo Jr. (1986), award-winners like Bao (2018), or visual masterpieces like Piper (2016), they always make sure to research the subject thoroughly before putting pen to paper. With this in mind, I knew they wouldn’t take a topic like Autism lightly. So let’s take a look.

As the short begins, we’re immediately introduced to Renee. She’s sitting in a canoe at a campground, listening to a ringtone on her phone. Other kids have already gone paddling ahead, but Renee is too fixated on playing the sound over and over again.

Within the first 30 seconds, the animation establishes a common Autistic trait. When you’re on the spectrum, it’s easy to focus on just one thing rather than everything around you – it’s less stressful that way. As an audience, we can see the other kids paddling away in the distance. But when looking through Renee’s eyes, they’re almost out of focus. All that’s clear to her is the phone and the sound it makes. There are other indications of her condition, as well. She doesn’t look at people when they approach her; she retracts if they get too close and makes loud groans to show her displeasure. Even her facial expressions are realistic, with her glassy eyes and limp smile. Director Erica Milsom knew she had to get Renee’s character across to the audience quickly. And with everything that’s presented visually, it’s clear Renee is Autistic without anyone needing to say it.

However, the short isn’t really about discovering Renee’s condition. Instead, it wants to teach viewers about its effects and how best to interact with someone who has it. To do this, they pair Renee with someone who’s her opposite.

Back on the riverbank, a boy named Marcus arrives. He’s running late and eager to catch up. But the camp counsellor asks him to go with Renee today. He’s somewhat reluctant at first because of her reputation, but the counsellor assures him she likes canoeing too. He also gives Renee some reassurance before pushing them off.

Two things are highlighted in this scene for me. First off, Marcus probably doesn’t know about Renee’s Autism. The way he describes her as “that girl who doesn’t talk” is evidence of this. As such, the audience identifies with him as someone who’s learning about the condition for the first time – maybe like they are. The other point is with the camp councillor. He’s actively trying to encourage better interactions among his campers. It’s mentioned, for example, that he usually goes with Renee in the canoe – implying the other kids keep their distance. However, he knows that’s not the way forward. Although he’s aware putting her with someone else will make her uneasy – because making the slightest change to an Autistic person’s routine can do that – he wants to ease her out of her comfort zone. That way, she’ll be more willing to try new experiences. He also wants Marcus to get along with different kinds of people. It’s a learning experience for both kids.

Out on the lake, things are challenging for Marcus and Renee. At first, Marcus tries speaking to her like any other teenager. But he quickly realises that’s not going to work. She’s too focused on something ahead, keeps listening to her ringtone and doesn’t take notice of him. But it’s not because she’s ignoring him; it’s how her mind processes what’s around her.

As I alluded to before, there are times when we’re shown Renee’s point of view directly through her eyes. Whenever that happens, almost everything we see becomes light and blurry. It emphasises how Renee struggles to focus on anything that isn’t at the centre of her attention. She prefers to concentrate on things she’s familiar with and for everything else to be quiet. 

That being said, there are also moments when she’s overly sensitive to her surroundings. For example, as Marcus tries speaking again, his voice sounds like a distant echo to Renee. She’s still fixated on something else, so his words aren’t processed very well. Meanwhile, sounds such as Marcus knocking his paddle or sniffing are magnified in volume. To almost any other person, these sounds would barely register. But for Renee, they’re so sudden and unexpected that it shocks her attention to them. It’s usually louder and scarier noises that set her off.

I can think of one other time I’ve seen something that displays an Autistic person’s perspective so efficiently. Several years ago, I attended an Autism Awareness convention in London. While there, a tech company showed me a video program they’d made on a virtual reality headset. Watching the video, you’re looking through the eyes of a boy who’s at a regular shopping centre with his mum. The mother tells you to wait while she does something at a counter. There’s nothing unusual about that. But then things start to happen around you. Footsteps, ringing mobiles, people talking; all these everyday sounds are made much louder in the video, and you can even see the vibrations emanating off them. Eventually, you’re being overwhelmed by so many sounds you can’t help looking around at where they’re all coming from. By this point, the mother has returned and is trying to ask you what’s wrong. But you barely notice her because you’re still trying to locate all the sounds. Soon it becomes too much to bear, and the footage blacks out. For anyone who’s not highly Autistic, this video shows exactly what kind of stress those people experience almost every day.

Now, to be clear, although Renee finds it hard to process what people say, that doesn’t mean she can’t understand them at all. She does, for example, register when Marcus asks her what she wants to do. It seems she wants to tell him something but can’t express it in words. So instead, she looks around, groaning and breathing heavily, as if trying to find some other way of letting him know.

Assuming Renee can’t think of anything, Marcus decides they’ll do a quick paddle around and then get her back to camp. She seems fine with what he says at first. But then he starts talking too fast and spinning the canoe in a circle. The movement freaks her out, and she begins physically rocking the boat from side to side – almost tipping them over. Marcus understands and stops to try and calm Renee down. He suggests taking her back to camp. But that only sets her off rocking the canoe again. It’s not what she wants. 

As the scene progresses, we can see Marcus is getting more frustrated. It’s understandable why. He has no idea how Renee will react to anything he says or does, and it might end up being dangerous. Even so, he manages to stay calm and asks her what she wants again. Once more, his voice sounds like an echo to Renee. She doesn’t even look at him when he speaks because she’s anticipating another noise to happen somewhere. She does, however, pick up on something he says: if she wants to do something specific, she’s got to help him out.

That’s when Renee gets an idea. She shows Marcus a ‘poop’ emoji on her phone. He’s confused at first, but then he notices some portable outhouses on a nearby riverbank. Renee somewhat gestures at them too, and he realises that’s where she wants to head. Smiling, he begins slowly paddling over.

I want to say, at this point, how much I admire the short for highlighting technology as a means of communication; many video programs and applications are being made nowadays to help Autistic people develop life skills. Going back to the time I visited a special needs school, there was a boy there who was just as non-verbal as Renee. To help him communicate, the care workers gave him an iPad with an application that spoke simple sentences. All he had to do was remember the right combination of buttons they’d taught him, and he could let them know how he was feeling or what he wanted at any given time. It was a simple repetitive action that helped make all the difference.

Repetitiveness is also shown in Renee. As she and Marcus approach the riverbank, they pass by some water reeds. Renee reaches out because she likes how they feel on her skin. It’s then Marcus realises she never wanted to use the restrooms at all. Renee only wanted to go through the reeds and used the emoji to clue him in on the direction. After passing through them several times, Renee starts listening to her ringtone over and over again. Seeing how much she enjoys it, Marcus has an idea. 

It’s clear by now the ringtone is a source of comfort for Renee. Unlike many other sounds, it’s one she has control over and likes hearing. It’s similar to me in a way. When working on long articles like this one, I sometimes have to stop for a few minutes and watch short videos online. It gives me a brief moment of entertainment, so I’m not overwhelmed by the workload and can reset my focus. Other people listen to music or play games for similar results. Everyone needs something they’re familiar with to guide them along.

Marcus paddles the canoe inside a large sewer pipe. The confined space echoes the sound of Renee’s ringtone, which seems to please her. Marcus admits he likes it in there, too: “[it’s] a good place to be when there’s too much other stuff happening out there.” 

So perhaps Marcus does understand Renee a little. This dialogue implies he knows what it’s like to be overwhelmed by problems in the outside world. He thinks it might be an idea if they stay there a while, so Renee doesn’t have to deal with sensory overload.

Suddenly there’s a problem. Renee hears the sound of a speedboat approaching outside. Terrified of the monstrous noise being amplified within the pipe, she frantically paddles for the exit. Marcus doesn’t seem to understand and tries fighting against it. He steers them clear of the oncoming boat, but the force of his paddling knocks them both ashore with the canoe. He demands to know why Renee did that. But Renee has gone into a complete meltdown. She cries out in fear and rage, refuses to let Marcus touch her, and even throws her phone in the water by accident. She then hides under the canoe, still crying and trying to block out everything around her.

I respect the short for not shying away from this drama; sometimes, no matter how cautious you are, an Autistic person will have emotional breakdowns. And they will be challenging to deal with because you don’t know how that person will act in their state. However, when they do occur, it’s essential to stay calm and work out the cause of stress so you can put them at ease.

Marcus immediately realises his mistake. But rather than do anything that might worsen the situation, he leaves Renee to calm down. A long time passes, and she still hasn’t come out. So he sits down to talk to her. He admits that she’s an “intense” person to deal with at times. But he “messed up” by shouting at her. He doesn’t always know what to do – not like their councillor – but he understands he needs to be patient. 

I love how Marcus is honest in this scene; of course, he wouldn’t know what to do in this situation; it’s a first-time experience for him. And someone like Renee would intimidate him at first; he isn’t familiar with how her condition makes her behave. But the experience is meant to be a realistic one for the audience. It’s something they can learn from along with Marcus. 

Eventually, Renee comes out and plays with the water reed that Marcus left her. Marcus copies the sound of her ringtone, and she repeats it back to him. It’s then that she finally looks at him and gives him a half-smile. With everything calm now, and the sun beginning to set, they both get back in the canoe and paddle towards camp. In a post-credits scene, it’s revealed they’ve stayed in contact and occasionally go canoeing together still.

And that’s Disney Pixar’s Loop. In summary, it does an excellent job of representing non-verbal Autistic people. Not to mention what first interactions with them could be like for others. The plot may not have much of a set-up, and the ending is a little ambiguous. But Renee’s condition is always at the forefront of the story. Whether it’s her facial expressions, her unique point of view or her emotional outbursts, the animators did everything they could to make sure Renee was portrayed accurately – which isn’t surprising considering they consulted the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN). Even if I went into this not knowing about Renee’s condition, it would still be clear to me that she’s on the spectrum.

So yes, it goes without saying that I believe Renee is highly Autistic. However, I also can’t stress how appealing this 8-minute short is. My descriptions don’t even begin to do it justice. So, if you have Disney+ and ever get a spare moment, definitely watch it for yourselves. You might find it teaches empathy in ways you never could’ve imagined.

That’s all I have to say. If you have any questions, please leave me a comment below. And, until next time, stay tuned.

PS. I am still recovering from having Covid 19, but I think I’m past the worst of it. Also, I’d like to give a special thank you to Wendy Jones. She commented on my last post and asked if I’d like my blog to be included on her list of resources, which she provides to parents to help share Autism with their children. I’m always happy to share my work with others.

Image courtesy of: https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/pixar-sparkshort-loop-promotes-autism-acceptance-celebrates-difference-and-helps-inspire-change/

Are They Autistic? – Haruhi (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) – Part 2

(Continued from Part 1: Are They Autistic? – Haruhi (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) – Part 1 | The Autistic Blogger (wordpress.com))

Going back to the first (chronological) episode, Haruhi is frustrated at the school not having any exciting clubs. That’s when Kyon speaks up. He tells her people who aren’t satisfied with what they have usually invented things. For example, planes, cars and trains, were created by people who wanted to fly or get to places faster. What they have today wouldn’t exist if people hadn’t used their talents or imaginations to fulfil their desires. His speech unintentionally gives Haruhi the idea to start a club herself. She’s so enthusiastic that she pulls Kyon from his desk and exclaims about it to him – not realising they’re still in the middle of class. I should mention as well this is the first time we’ve seen Haruhi smiling. Before now, she’s always had a bored, pouty expression on her face, as if frustrated at the world. Like with Maud Pie (Friendship is Magic), you know you’ve done something special if you’ve made Haruhi smile.

After class, Haruhi wants Kyon to help her make her club. She’ll find a room and members while he handles the paperwork. The problem is there are rules to starting an extracurricular group. The club must have at least five members, a supervising teacher, a name, a person in charge, and a purpose for the organisation. Haruhi doesn’t even know what her club will be yet. So Kyon can’t explain to the school board how it’ll benefit the student body. 

To tell the truth, I’ve never been thrilled about documents or paperwork either. I know filling them out is essential. But it’s a lot of information to take in. Plus, my Autism doesn’t make processing it any easier. I’d much rather have someone else handle these tedious parts, so I can focus on what comes afterwards. Maybe that’s Haruhi’s mindset as well.

Despite her lack of forethought, Haruhi does manage to find a room. It belongs to the literary club, but its senior members have all graduated. The only person left is a freshman named Yuki Nagato. And since she can’t maintain the club herself, it’ll soon be disbanded. Nonetheless, Haruhi lets Yuki stay as part of their club since she only wants a place to read. She doesn’t even mind if she will have to leave eventually.

On a side note, I have to mention Yuki’s demeanour. She’s a quiet and unemotional person. At one point, Kyon asks her about the book she’s reading. But she only shows him the front cover and doesn’t say much about whether she likes it. Actually, she barely responds to anything at all. It got me thinking that maybe she was Autistic, too. After all, her habit of quietly reading was what I did all the time in my later years at secondary school. Unfortunately, though, my assumption was false. Yuki isn’t emotionally detached because she’s on the spectrum. It’s because (unlike Haruhi) she isn’t human. She’s a robot. Specifically, an alien robot who’s been sent to observe Haruhi because a higher intergalactic entity believes she’s the key to human evolution – I told you this series gets complicated.

Another member Haruhi finds is Mikuru Asahina, a timid girl who’s dragged to the clubroom against her will. While “walk[ing] every inch of the main building“, Haruhi sometimes encounters Mikuru. She wants her to join because she’s a cutie, has big breasts and is a total moe. Supposedly, all stories with strange things going on have a moe character; “someone with glasses, or in a maid costume, or anything fetishy.” So basically, she wants Mikuru to be the club’s mascot.

Two things Haruhi said resonated with me here. The first is what she mentions doing at break times. When I was younger, I never had anyone to talk to or play with on the playground; I just preferred my own company. I’d spend my free time wandering around, letting my imagination entertain me. We know Haruhi isn’t usually one to sit and talk to people either. So it makes sense she’d do something similar. The second point is her grounds for recruiting Mikuru. It’s alluded to several times in the series, but Haruhi often views her classmates as objects rather than people. That’s why she’s so unfeeling towards them. She doesn’t care who Mikuru is or what she wants. All that matters is what she looks like and how that conforms to a role Haruhi wants fulfilling. She’s trying to make her club the most ideal it can be, based on her interests.

On another side note, Mikuru seemingly joins because she’s pressured into it. However, there’s a second reason. It’s revealed later on she’s a time-traveller who’s also observing Haruhi. And yes, in case you’re wondering, an esper turns up too; he’s a transfer student named Itsuki Koizumi – Haruhi recruits him because he’s mysterious. Ironically enough, when Haruhi reveals the purpose of her club, which she calls the SOS Brigade, one of its objectives is to find aliens, time-travellers and espers. She never works out that these people are right there in her clubroom.

I’ve now covered the entire first (chronological) episode. I could end off right here. But to fully understand Haruhi’s character, I need to discuss a few more episodes. 

First of all, remember what I said about Haruhi being viewed as a model pupil? Well, the keyword in that sentence is “viewed“. Although she’s smart, multi-talented, and does well to represent the Autistic spectrum, she, unfortunately, isn’t a good role model. Why? Because of her personality. You might’ve noticed it already, but Haruhi can be very stubborn at times. She’s the type of person who has to have everything done her way and doesn’t like being told no. If things don’t go according to her plan, something can flare inside her. For Autistic people, like me, sometimes we get overly stressed, angry or depressed. For Haruhi, she can be all of that. Plus, give up on reality and unknowingly use her powers to destroy the world while creating a new one – I’m getting side-tracked again. The point is, once she sets her mind on something, she’ll do anything and everything to make it happen. This attitude not only makes her frustrating at times, but it’s lead to some very unlawful behaviour. A good example is the second (chronological) episode.

Haruhi wants to get a computer for her clubroom, so she goes to the computer club. When the club members protest, she makes it look like their president sexually assaulted Mikuru by taking a forged photograph. She then threatens to show the school board unless they fork over their latest model. She even blackmails them into setting it up while Kyon designs the SOS Brigade’s website. If you think that’s bad, she’s even more of a bully to Mikuru. 

It should be evident that miss Asahina is extremely sensitive. She’s easily reduced to tears and can’t speak up for herself. Despite that, though, Haruhi puts her through all kinds of traumatising experiences. For example, she has her wear many embarrassing outfits; a maid costume, a cheerleading uniform, a bunny girl suit, etc. Haruhi sometimes wears these clothes herself. But she’s insistent on Mikuru dressing this way – even if it means forcibly stripping her! To make matters worse, she takes humiliating pictures of Mikuru and considers posting them online to get her website more views. Oh, and did I mention there’s also an episode where Haruhi drugs her?!

It’s times like these when the series is lucky to have Kyon around. Haruhi doesn’t always listen to him. But he’s able to talk her out of more serious situations. Itsuki believes it’s because they share a bond neither of them cares to admit. I, personally, think there’s some truth to that. Keep in mind, Kyon was the first person Haruhi felt confident speaking to at North High. She might not show it so well (given her Autism), but she does appreciate his company. It’s why she at least considers listening to his suggestions. Kyon also helps with improving her attitude. Although Haruhi never drops her bossy persona entirely, she does gradually start treating others better. One episode highlighting this takes place during the school’s cultural festival.

While handing out fliers, Haruhi notices two girls arguing with the festival operations committee. Their band can’t perform because two of their members had to pull out with tonsillitis and injury. Worse still, this was going to be their last performance together. Since Haruhi has experience being part of the school’s rock club for a while, she offers to fill in as lead singer and guitarist. Amazingly, despite having only an hour to prepare, she gives a near-perfect performance, which leaves everybody stunned – including Kyon. What I love most about this moment, though, is Haruhi isn’t her narcissistic self. She makes it clear she’s only filling in and asks the audience to buy copies of the original songs with the actual music and vocals. She wants to make sure the right people get the recognition. It’s a selfless act on her part, but the episode delves further into her character.

Later on, the band members come to thank Haruhi for saving their festival memories. However, she feels awkward talking to them. So she insists that Kyon stands with her. I like this detail because it shows she still has social problems and needs somebody she trusts to help her. Kyon also realises Haruhi isn’t used to being appreciated by others. 

Later still, it’s revealed Haruhi hated her near-perfect performance because they had to simplify the songs. If she’d had one more day of practice, she feels she could’ve nailed it. So it seems Haruhi is a perfectionist, too – something I know all too well when it comes to writing.

At this point, I’ve covered nearly everything the series has to offer about Haruhi. However, there is one more aspect that defines her having Autism. It’s not one specific episode but a whole collection of them. It’s now time I talk about this anime’s most infamous story arc: The Endless Eight.

Beginning with season two’s second episode: the SOS Brigade is shown enjoying their last two weeks of summer vacation. They go to a public swimming pool, see some fireworks, play a few sports, and do all sorts of fun things together. However, something is off in the next episode. The characters are shown doing the same things again. All that’s different are some minor dialogue changes and one additional scene. Then the next episode is the same. And then the next, and the next, and the next. It turns out this is Haruhi’s doing. She has a subconscious desire for summer never to end. As such, she’s unknowingly used her powers to create an infinite time loop. Kyon and the others can’t escape it, and everyone has their memories reset each time. Also, this problem isn’t resolved in just a few episodes. It takes place over eight of them. Do you know what that means? People had to watch practically the same episode for eight consecutive weeks! 

As you can imagine, no one was happy with this stunt. In fact, the studio had to make a public apology for it. That being said, I think the arc is a brilliant reflection of having Autism. Let me explain.

We all know changes in life can be difficult. It would be so much easier to enjoy only the finer things it offers. Inevitably, though, we have to work our way through some challenging new experiences. These experiences are especially tough on people with Autism. We’re so used to routines and doing things a certain way that it’s how we make sense of the world. If that familiarity suddenly goes away, it can be scary and distressing. Haruhi doesn’t know if she can face another school term. So she keeps willing her summer to continue. It’s moments like this when she once again needs the help of her Brigade. 

Do you know how Kyon ends the time loop? He suggests everyone does their summer homework together. I’m not kidding. He realises Haruhi has never had this experience before. She’s so intelligent she usually finishes it quickly and alone. It’s a chance for her to bond with the SOS Brigade and create a unique summer memory. Haruhi acts like she’s sour about it, but she’s secretly grateful. And after sitting in on the study group, she’s finally satisfied with her summer vacation and has the strength to move on.

So yes, The Endless Eight is a tedious arc. I, honestly, think its message could’ve been delivered in just three or four episodes. However, with everything it emphasises, I have to admire its repetitive nature. Besides, compared to how many times I read and review my writing – there’s no comparison.

With that said, I’m glad to say we’ve finished my analogy. I’m sorry this ended up being longer than expected. It’s the first time I’ve reviewed the main character of a series. In case it’s not obvious, I do believe Haruhi is Autistic. She might not have learning difficulties or frequent social anxieties, but the similarities between her and myself are uncanny. The repetitive behaviour, the eccentricity, the occasional stubbornness, it’s all here. I will admit she’s not the most likeable character ever. Especially when she’s a whiny brat, acts like a bully or does something illegal. But I can’t say she’s hateable – just misguided. As I said, I’ve made many of the same social mistakes she has. Plus, she does have redeeming qualities and tries to be a better person. Sometimes that’s all that matters.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this instalment of Are They Autistic? If you have any ideas for characters you’d like to see reviewed in this series, please let me know in the comments below. Until next time, stay tuned.

Image courtesy of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya – Anime Review | Nefarious Reviews

Are They Autistic? – Haruhi (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) – Part 1

Hello everybody, this is George Harvey (aka The Autistic Blogger). Welcome to another instalment of Are They Autistic?: the series where I look at characters from various forms of media and analyse whether I think they’re on the spectrum or not.

Today we’re going to be looking at a character from the anime series, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (Ha-roo-ey Soo-zoo-me-ya). There were several reasons why I was interested in this series. First of all, it’s referenced numerous times in another anime called Lucky Star; one of the characters sometimes cosplays as Haruhi, and they even share the same voice actress (both in the Japanese and English dub). The second reason is Melancholy has one of the most infamous arcs in all of anime – I’ll talk about that when I get to it. But third, and most importantly, what drew me in was Haruhi herself. On several reviews of the series, it’s theorised that her character may be Autistic. There was evidence supporting these claims, such as her poor social skills and repetitive behaviour. But it got me wondering. Was Haruhi Autistic? Or could her quirks be explained through other means, like with the Bookworm’s in Batman (the 60s series)? It only took me one episode to find my answer.

I should mention now this is a rather complicated series – least of all because the episodes didn’t initially air in chronological order. The first story arc begins simply enough. But then it introduces time travel, aliens and alternate dimensions. Furthermore, there’s a subplot involving Haruhi supposedly having the power to bend reality. I was worried this would make the character harder to analyse – since she might not be a regular human. But luckily, there was a saving grace. It’s made abundantly clear that Haruhi isn’t aware of her godlike powers, which means they don’t influence her mindset or personality. That being said, other aspects do have major ramifications. I don’t want to get too side-tracked by these. So, for now, I won’t talk about anything beyond the first (chronological) episode – unless I need to make a point about something. With that said, let’s indulge in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.

The first (chronological) episode begins with our main protagonist: Kyon. An average high school boy, he’s never been one to believe in the supernatural: not ghosts, monsters, evil syndicates, nothing like that. He would like to believe in them. But he knows the laws of reality pretty much make them impossible. However, he’s okay with that. He accepts the world for what it is and leads a generally satisfying life. Everything changes on his first day at North High, though. 

As everybody makes their classroom introductions, a girl behind Kyon stands up and says something strange. She tells everyone she’s “not interested in ordinary people.” But if any of them are aliens, time-travellers or espers, she wants to see them. That’s all. Everybody, of course, thinks she’s joking around. But Kyon can tell from her expression that she’s dead serious. This is Haruhi Suzumiya.

Over the next few days, Kyon learns more about his new classmate. Apparently, Haruhi was known for doing some “beyond eccentric” things in junior high; she drew mysterious symbols on the school quad, pushed all the desks out into the hallway, and plastered resurrection talismans all over campus. Furthermore, she wasn’t the least bit ashamed to admit she was responsible.

Straightaway, I could see what those online reviews were talking about; it’s not uncommon for Autistic people to act a little eccentric sometimes. I remember doing some outlandish things myself when I was Haruhi’s age. For example, when playing sports, I’d always celebrate scoring by doing a cross-chop near my groin – like I’d seen wrestlers do on TV. I’d also start freestyle rapping at anyone who tried picking on me, just to throw them off. I didn’t see anything wrong with what I was doing. But that’s because I didn’t consider what it must’ve looked like to others. If they didn’t understand my thought process, then my behaviours would’ve seemed weirdly random. Sometimes you can only judge someone by their actions and not their intentions. What I’m saying is, everybody has their reasons for doing things. It takes more than eccentricity to define someone as Autistic. 

On that note, the series does a fine job balancing out Haruhi’s character. It shows us there’s more to her than just these behaviours. For one thing, she’s extremely popular with the boys because they think she’s pretty. She has been on dates before, but her relationships never last long. Additionally, she’s skilled in almost every sport and tends to get good grades in class. Plus, it’s revealed later in the series that she’s a fast learner, plays various instruments and is a talented singer. So Haruhi isn’t ditsy, lazy or even rebellious. In some ways, you could view her as a model pupil. One of Kyon’s friends puts it best: “she’s a super weirdo, but if she’s standing there quietly, you’d never know.“

So far, I wasn’t seeing or hearing anything that confirmed Haruhi was on the spectrum. I just saw a beautiful, talented girl who had some unusual habits and interests. What did sway me, however, was when Kyon described some of her other behaviours.

The first thing he notices is Haruhi has a different hairstyle every day. On Mondays, she wears a hair accessory but doesn’t tie it up. On Tuesdays, she ties it up in one place. On Wednesdays, it’s tied in two areas; on Thursdays, it’s three, and so on. Additionally, the colour of the accessories change as well; Mondays they’re yellow, Tuesdays they’re red, Wednesdays they’re blue, etc.

This habit alone is what convinced me Haruhi was Autistic. I used to do something similar with the socks I wore. Sometimes I’d have black ones with different days of the week printed on them. So I felt obligated to wear them on those days. Even when they didn’t have the days, though, I’d wear pairs based on the colours they had. If they were red, I’d wear them on Mondays. If they had blue, I’d wear them Tuesdays. Yellow was for Wednesday, green was for Thursday, and Friday was whatever colour was leftover. I knew it didn’t matter what socks I wore. But it never felt right wearing red Monday socks on a Friday.

Another strange habit Kyon observes is Haruhi’s lack of decency. For example, when getting changed for PE class, the girls are meant to wait for the boys to leave the room so everyone can dress separately. Haruhi, however, begins stripping off regardless of who’s still in there. In other words, she doesn’t read the room or consider how her actions might make others uncomfortable. As mentioned above, I’ve been guilty of this notion myself.

Haruhi’s third unusual habit is her wavering interests. During the first term of school, she’d signed up for every sports team and extracurricular club that North High had to offer. She excels in every one of them but never remains a member for long. In fact, she changes clubs daily, based on her mood, and never signs up full-time – no matter how much the other members beg her.

I was personally never into clubs myself. But I understand Haruhi’s experience. I took part in gym, football, and karate classes but never had any real passion for them. As for wavering interests, that’s something I know all too well. When you have Autism, it’s hard staying focused on one thing – even if it’s something you enjoy. Your mind inevitably wanders to other things that might be more exciting at the time. For example, while writing this piece, I’m thinking of better ways to spend my free time. I do love writing and try to finish by set deadlines. But sometimes, my heart and mind aren’t into it. Maybe that’s what Haruhi goes through. Perhaps she changes clubs daily because she wants to get fresh excitement out of every day without being tied to one thing. Patience is a virtue, but commitment can feel daunting.

By this point, the episode hadn’t even lasted 10mins. And I was already convinced that Haruhi had Autism. Even so, the series continues solidifying the fact. Not just through Haruhi’s actions, but the main protagonist’s too.

One morning, Kyon notices Haruhi has her hair tied in two places (meaning it’s a Wednesday). When he asks if she does this to “ward off alien invaders or something“, Haruhi isn’t offended by the question. Instead, she opens up about why she changes it. She has this theory that “each day of the week has its own image with a specific colour that only goes with that day.” Hence why she wears yellow hair accessories on Monday, red ones on Tuesday, and so on. Kyon also works out that she ties her hair based on the number she thinks represents that day: Monday being 0, Tuesday being 1, etc. However, he finds it odd that she counts from 0 instead of 1.

What’s important to note is how Kyon approaches talking with Haruhi. Initially, he tried speaking to her during the first week of school. But when he asked if she was serious about aliens and such, she could tell he thought she was weird. So she rudely brushed him off. In this case, though, Kyon shows genuine interest in her mindset and wants to know why she does the things she does. Haruhi realises that, so she feels more comfortable talking to him. The reason I bring this up is it demonstrates the proper way of interacting with Autistic people.

When you have Autism, you tend to have very specific interests. So it can be challenging taking part in conversations. Especially if the subject isn’t something that you’re familiar with. People may try to include you in discussions – which they should – but sometimes that can make matters worse. You feel like you’re being put on the spot. Plus, if you don’t have a good enough response, you might look unsociable, which will make the situation more awkward.

On the other hand, it’s the same if you try starting a conversation. Of course, you can only talk passionately about the things you love. But because they’re so specific, not many people will understand them. If that’s the case, you’ll end up being a conversation of one. That’s why most Autistic people wait for others to include them in discussions. Not because they can’t speak up. But because it’s hard finding the right opening.

Kyon takes all the proper steps with Haruhi. Over several weeks, he’s carefully observed her and picked up on most of her interests. Since she’s not sure if anyone shares these interests, Kyon makes the first move: he brings up aliens in his question to show he’s approachable. It gives Haruhi a chance to express herself, knowing Kyon won’t judge her too heavily. True, her communication skills aren’t the best – she doesn’t even look at Kyon most of the time she’s talking. But it’s still a step in the right direction. If repeated regularly, this strategy can help someone like Haruhi speak with confidence to someone like Kyon. He can then gradually encourage her to talk about subjects outside of her comfort zone. It’s a slow but sure way of improving her social skills.

Kyon’s interactions seem to have immediate effects on Haruhi – if a little drastic. The day after commenting on her hair, she’s suddenly cut it shorter and doesn’t follow her styling patterns anymore. Kyon thinks it’s because she’s feeling self-conscious about him noticing. Despite that, though, she quickly begins a new “ritual“. Every day, before homeroom, she talks to him at their desks. Through these conversations, Kyon learns more about her. Haruhi admits to dumping every guy she’s ever dated because they took themselves too seriously. Plus, none of them was an alien, time-traveller or esper. It’s similar to the clubs she’s attended. There were a few she took an interest in, like those based around mysteries and the supernatural. However, they were all major letdowns. The members were just “mystery novel otakus” or “occult freaks” who were nowhere near professional level. Kyon doesn’t approve of everything Haruhi says, but he decides to agree with her. It’s best to stay in her good graces if he wants to keep her talking.

Kyon’s efforts don’t go unnoticed by his classmates. According to them, he’s the only one who can get Haruhi to talk for so long. With everyone else, she usually stays quiet and doesn’t answer questions. They’re glad he’s helping her open up a bit. Although, it’s not all smooth sailing. 

As time goes by, it becomes apparent that Haruhi only has one goal in life: to lead an interesting existence. Nothing else matters to her, as long as she can stand out from ordinary people. The fifth (chronological) episode explains why.

Haruhi recounts a day when she found out her life was insignificant. Back in the sixth grade, she went to a baseball game with her family. What astounded her was how many people were packed into the stadium: it was around 50,000. Later on, she worked out it was only a tiny fraction of the people in Japan. And an even smaller fraction of the world’s population. She was just one little person in that enormous crowd, which, itself, was nothing but a tiny spec. Following that day, Haruhi’s life became grey and depressing. She’d always believed she’d had an extraordinary life. But knowing how many people there were in the world, she realised that wasn’t true. There were billions of people who lived the same kind of life she did every day. There was nothing special about her at all. After that, everything became boring. Activities with her friends and family no longer had significance. She was just – another person. That’s why she became obsessed with living an extraordinary life. She wants to be that one person in a million who is interesting. She can’t stand and wait for change. She has to make it happen herself. It’s the only way she’ll be satisfied with her existence.

It goes without saying, but this moment was a series highlight for me. Everything Haruhi says is understandable. However, it also reveals a deeper meaning to her eccentricity; she acts this way to be fulfilled. With that in mind, it’s no surprise what she sets out to do in the series.

(Continued in Part 2: Are They Autistic? – Haruhi (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) – Part 2 | The Autistic Blogger (wordpress.com))

Image courtesy of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya – Anime Review | Nefarious Reviews

The Promised Neverland Review

Before you ask: no, this series has nothing to do with Peter Pan or anything J. M. Barrie-related. The closest comparison you can make is both stories heavily feature children, and that’s all. As for how it relates to any bible tales – I’ll talk about that when I get to it. There isn’t too much that ties in.

Every once in a while, there comes along an anime which gets everyone’s attention. Opinions may vary, but there’s no denying the incredible success it has. The manga sells like wildfire, YouTubers react to the whole series, and you even get live-action adaptions made in both Japan and other countries. There have been many mainstream animes like this in recent years: Death Note, Attack on Titan and Sword Art Online, to name a few. But then there was 2019. And everyone agreed the masterpiece of that year was The Promised Neverland. Initially released as a manga in Weekly Shounen Jump, the anime adaption became highly praised within the otaku community. It won two Crunchyroll Awards in 2020 and is widely considered one of the best animes of the 2010s. How did it earn that moniker? Let’s take a look.

Before we start, I should warn you: the first episode contains a major plot-twist. It’s one of the highlights of the series if you don’t know what’s coming. So if you’d rather not be spoiled, I’d recommend at least watching episode 1 before you continue. If you’ve already seen it – or you don’t care that much – I’ll carry on.

In the year 2045, three bright young kids: Emma, Norman and Ray, grow up in the Grace Field Orphanage – alongside 35 other siblings. For the children living there, Grace Field is a paradise. They have warm beds, delicious food, a loving caretaker who acts as their mother. And aside from the occasional schooling, they’re free to roam the big forest and fields and play to their hearts’ content. Putting it simply: their lives couldn’t be happier. However, nothing is as it seems. One night when one of the younger girls is adopted, Emma and Norman realise she left her toy bunny behind. They go to the gate to try and return it. Only to discover the horrifying truth. The outside world is full of demons! Giant, hideous, flesh-eating monsters. Worst still, their orphanage is no orphanage. It’s a farm! Kids who’re adopted get slaughtered and sold as human meat! And it’s their mother, Isabella, who’s selling them off. Desperate not to lose any more family, Emma and Norman join forces with Ray. Now they have to come up with a plan to escape with their siblings before the next shipment.

As you probably guessed, the big plot-twist is the revelation of the demons. What makes it so shocking is how utterly unexpected it is. Nothing ever hints at their existence. The opening credits don’t show them; the promotional trailers don’t reference them; not even the DVD/Blu-Ray case implies anything – unless you notice it says horror next to the rating. Another reason it works so well is how it drastically alters the episode’s tone. Beforehand, everything we see shows the kids living happy, joyous lives. It tricks us into a false sense of security, making us feel as they do. There are some hints that something more is going on – most noticeably the ID numbers on the kids’ necks. But until we see the first victim’s corpse, nothing prepares us for the horrors to come. The fact they kill off Conny – the sweetest most innocent girl – shows us they’re not messing around. The Promised Neverland is a dark fantasy.

Perhaps more impactful than the twist, though, is what it represents: a loss of innocence. These kids have spent their whole lives in a safe, warm environment where nothing can hurt them. They’re ignorant of the outside world, believing it’s a place where they can live out their hopes and dreams – a promised land if you will. However, nothing is ever so simple. As you get older, you realise how dangerously unforgiving life is if you’re not prepared for it. In the case of these children, their fantasies are slaughtered the moment they step outside. It’s even worse for Emma. After witnessing Conny’s death, her child-like spirit is broken. She tries denying what she saw; desperate to believe her siblings aren’t dead and her mom isn’t evil. But as reality sets in, she’s overwhelmed by grief – letting out a horrifying scream. From then on, she has to be the grown-up; forcing herself to smile and be brave for her siblings. Emma can never go back to those blissful days – no matter how much she wants to.

Do you know what’s impressive? Everything I’ve brought up so far only takes place in the first episode. The rest of the series is just as mindblowing. There are cliffhangers, red herrings, moments of pure joy or hopelessness, and a whole abundance of information. The more that’s revealed, the more you want to rewatch the series to pick up on everything it foreshadows. The episodes know how to keep their audience engaged. Especially with their characters.

Firstly there’s Emma, an amply optimistic girl who’s the most physically-skilled of the kids. Before discovering the truth, she was the life and soul at Grace Field; caring for the little ones and playing in a lively manner. She loves her family and can’t bear the thought of anyone dying. Additionally, she’s a fast learner and adapts quickly to situations. She even comes up with ideas to rival her friends’ intellect. What I love most about Emma, though, is her diversity. She’s mature for her age but still has vulnerable moments. She tries to stay positive but will occasionally cry. And although she gets along with most people, she can show aggression or hatred towards them. Emma is a multilayered individual – which is what I admire in a female lead.

You also have Ray, the strategist of the group who tends to think more rationally. Although he has a somewhat distant nature, it’s evident he’s been friends with Emma and Norman for years. He’s on board with helping them escape, but he tends to clash with some of their ideas. Particularly, Emma’s insistence on saving everyone. He knows the more kids who try to run, the harder it’ll be. Plus, they have to consider how they’ll all survive once they’re free. It’s not that he’s selfish. He’s just considerate of his best friends – they mean the world to him. I could elaborate more on Ray’s character, but that would be going into spoiler territory. Instead, I’ll say we never learn his full story until the very end.

Then you have Norman, who’s arguably the smartest of the three. He comes up with most of the escape plans and knows what to do if things go wrong. He even outwits Emma and Ray sometimes. Furthermore, he’s the middle ground between them. He loves his siblings as much as Emma, but he understands Ray’s point about there being too many. Regardless, he often takes Emma’s side. Partly because she’s morally correct, and partly because he has feeling for her. It’s her determination that keeps him going most of the time.

In summary, Emma, Ray and Norman are very close, very intellectual characters. You could argue they seem too smart for 11-year-olds. But it’s established early on why that is. Plus, their loyalty and friendship are what makes them so believable. Together, they’re a formidable threat to their enemy. And who is their enemy? The one they thought cared about them for years – the mother of Grace Field: Isabella.

What makes Isabella so intimidating is she appears so trustworthy. On the surface, she’s a soft-spoken, affectionate young lady, who loves all the Grace Field kids as if they were her own. But behind her warm smile lies something sinister: a cunning, manipulative woman who cares only about profit. Everything she does is to ensure her kids grow up healthy and happy, with rich and developed brains. That way they’ll be tastier for her masters. She may claim to love her children. But when it comes time for shipping, they’re nothing but products.

This kind of emotional detachment brings something to mind. Think about how we run our farms today. We do our best to make sure all animals are treated humanely; giving them free-range, plenty of food and a life without suffering. Yet we still cage and slaughter them. And all because we’re the dominant species and like the taste of their meat. Is this honestly much different from Isabella? Could there be a social commentary here about animal cruelty? I digress.

It doesn’t take Isabella long to realise somebody knows the secret. So she implants new measures to keep things under control. These include hiring an assistant (Sister Krone) and revealing to the kids (indirectly) they have trackers. Her actions cause Emma and the others to rethink their plans and ask questions. What’s the best time to escape? How do they deal with the extra security? Should they tell the other kids what’s happening? Would they believe them? What if one of them is a spy? How do they work out who it is? It becomes like a mental game of chess, with both sides vying to outwit their opponent. On top of that are some of the characters’ more drastic actions. I won’t reveal anything here, but it’s honestly shocking to see just how far they’re willing to go to succeed – even if it’s inhuman.

Now, at this point, you may be wondering about the other Grace Field kids. Unfortunately, they don’t feature very much. Not that we don’t see them all the time. It’s just they don’t have any influence on the main plot. They’re mostly just there to remind us how grand the scale of escape is. There are, however, two notable exceptions.

Partway through the series, Emma and her friends recruit Don and Gilda (two ten-year-olds) into their plans. Don is a headstrong boy, who’s somewhat impulsive. And Gilda is a sensitive girl, who helps with the little ones. What’s significant about their involvement is how it changes the others’ mentality. You see, initially, Emma, Ray and Norman don’t reveal the whole truth to them. Instead, they claim their siblings were sold through human trafficking. They know Don and Gilda have emotional weaknesses. So they stay quiet about the demons. However, the two find out they’ve been lied to – which leads to friction within the group. It’s groundbreaking because it shows how Emma and the others had little faith in their siblings. They need to start seeing them as allies rather than burdens.

Another game-changing character is Sister Krone. Before anything else, I have to address the elephant in the room. There are going to be people who find this character offensive. Why? Because of her design. She’s a dark-skinned, big-lipped woman, who’s always wearing an apron. Plus, she cares for mostly white-skinned children. Does that sound familiar? If not, I’ll tell you: she’s reminiscent of the now-racist mammy stereotype. What makes it worse is how she’s portrayed. Aside from being borderline crazy, she pulls countless disturbing faces, is shown to be monstrously violent – though never towards anyone – and occasionally invites children into her room. She is not the sort of person you’d want working in an orphanage.

Controversy aside, though, Krone brings an essential dynamic to the series: her ego. It’s quickly established she has a tense relationship with Isabella. She hates her belittling and wants to replace her as the mother of Grace Field. Krone will do anything for the position, even if it means allying herself with the kids. Emma and the others don’t trust her, of course. But they know she’s a valuable source of information. At the same time, Krone believes they could provide the evidence she needs to bring Isabella down. All three parties have powerful yet understanding motives. And it’s a testament to this series how well it manages them.

However, The Promised Neverland isn’t just written well. It’s also visually stunning. I don’t usually mention the animation in my reviews. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t give CloverWorks credit. They take every opportunity they can to showcase their abilities. Not everything comes out perfect; there are some lacklustre character designs and meme-worthy faces. However, for the most part, they know how to present things both creatively and symbolically. Let me give you some examples.

First of all, there’s the layout. Usually, everything is presented in the traditional format: 2D characters in a 2D environment. However, once in a while, the background switches to 3D, giving us more depth and scale to the scene. They’re also not afraid to experiment with the camera. Sometimes it swings back and forth, like a pendulum. Other times it rotates 360 degrees. And sometimes it gives us POV shots or follows along with the characters. Each time it’s meant to draw attention to someone’s feelings and build tension.

The camera also works in symbolic ways. Remember what I said about foreshadowing? The earliest example of this is in episode 1. The opening shot shows a young Emma looking through some bars, saying she’s “never been outside” – it’s the first indication she’s actually inside a cage. Another example is episode 6: several shots are made to look like somebody is spying on the kids – which it’s later revealed there is. It’s even debatable if the series has religious symbolism. All the kids wear pure white clothing, except for when they’re adopted – the black outfit they dawn could symbolise death. And when it comes to the actual escape plan, the parallels with the Book of Exodus are uncanny. There’s so much to take from these episodes if you know where to look.

In conclusion, The Promised Neverland is a suspenseful, well-crafted series, that keeps its audience on edge. With its three-dimensional characters, creative animation, and a plot that knows when to give or hold back information, it’s easy to see why it rose to prominence. I don’t say this a lot, but I would honestly recommend this series to anyone who’s old enough to watch it. Even if you’re not a big fan of anime, chances are you’ll be drawn in by the story and characters. How do I know? Because I did a test before writing this review. I showed the first episode to my dad and step-mom – two people who were notorious for disliking anime. And what happened? They were so captivated by what they saw, they insisted on watching the rest of the series with me. If that doesn’t prove how grand The Promised Neverland is, I don’t know what will.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this review. Be sure to check out the series for yourself. And I hope you’ll look forward to the second season. Stay tuned.

(Image courtesy of: Hello! Never met a Somali who watches anything other than mainstream anime, are any of you avid Anime fans? : XSomalian (reddit.com))

Are They Autistic? – The Bookworm (Batman)

Hello everybody, this is George Harvey (aka The Autistic Blogger). Welcome to another instalment of Are They Autistic? – the series where I look at characters from various forms of media and analyse whether I think they’re on the spectrum or not. It doesn’t matter if they’ve never been confirmed to have Autism; as long as they show similar traits, I’ll be talking about them. Please remember these are only my personal opinions. If you think somebody you know has the condition, it’s always best to consult a professional. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this piece.

***

Today we’ll be analysing a character you’ve probably never heard of before. Even if you’re a die-hard Batman fan, chances are you don’t remember this villain. He only made one notable TV appearance and a handful of cameos across other Batman media. That appearance was in the 1960s Batman series (starring Adam West), and his name was the Bookworm.

Played by Roddy McDowall, what stood out to me about Bookworm was the way his mind functioned. There have been more entertaining villains than him on the show – like my personal favourite: Frank Gorshin’s the Riddler. However, this character struck me as someone abnormally obsessed with his interests. He doesn’t just love books; they’re practically his whole life. They inspire everything he says and does. He can even quote lines from a particular piece and tell you exactly which chapter and passage they’re from – he has that strong of a memory.

In a way, it’s similar to me. When I see or hear something I enjoy, I make a mental note of it. I can then playback the memory of it with almost pinpoint accuracy. My earliest recollection of doing this was during primary school. There was a story I heard so often I could retell it, word for word, without even needing the book. I can’t do it now, but other memories have stuck with me for years – if you’ve read Into My Autistic Mind you know what I mean.

For the longest time, I assumed Bookworm’s obsessive memory was evidence that he was Autistic. However, now I’m not so sure. There are similarities between myself and Bookworm – evilness not being one of them – but does that mean he has Autism? That’s what we’re here to find out. So let’s review his two-parter: “The Bookworm Turns” / “While Gotham City Burns” (1966).

***

The story begins with the opening of a new bridge in Gotham City. Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson (Batman and Robin) are watching the event on TV, when Dick suddenly notices someone in the crowd: a man wearing large, goggle-like spectacles; a brown leather coat, and a hat with a lamp attached – the Bookworm. Soon after, the villain orders his minions to “begin Chapter One“, and Police Commissioner Gordon is seemingly shot dead off the bridge. Horrified, Bruce and Dick immediately jump into action as Batman and Robin. 

Driving to the police station, however, everyone is relieved to discover that Commissioner Gordon is alive. He wasn’t even at the ceremony. Hilariously, one of his officers had fined him for over-parking, and he was late. Or so it seemed. It turns out, not only was there a fake commissioner at the bridge, the parking officer was an imposter too. It was all so Bookworm could lure Batman to the police station and plant a bomb in the Batmobile. Additionally, the commissioner’s parking ticket reads “A.S. Scarlett, Badge #1887” – a reference to “A Study In Scarlett” (the first Sherlock Holmes novel) published in 1887.

In these first few scenes, Bookworm’s obsessions are on full display. Like most Batman villains, his crimes and antics are based around his gimmick; in this case, books. He describes part of his plan as “Plot A“, the bomb he uses is disguised as a book, and even his henchmen have literary-based names: Pressman, Printer’s Devil, Typesetter and Lydia Limpet. However, there’s more to him than his theming – as we soon learn.

Batman is alerted to the bomb in the Batmobile and ejects it before detonation. He and Robin investigate the crime scene, only finding the charred remains of the book and its title: For Whom the Bell Tolls, by Earnest Hemmingway. At this point, Batman reveals another side of their foe’s mentality. 

You see (much like the Riddler) Bookworm leaves clues for Batman and Robin, to see if they can work out his next move. While this might seem foolish, it actually ties into a philosophy several Batman villains have. It’s not enough to defeat the caped crusader. They want to out-wit him too. Batman is one of the most renowned detectives on the planet. So if they come up with a scheme not even he can deduce, it’ll prove once and for all they’re his intellectual superior. Besides that, if he does work it out, it’s still a chance to lure him into a trap. I’ll admit, sometimes I like to show off in this way too. I love giving people conundrums to see if they can work out the answers to things I’ve cleverly learned. It’s a little shameless, but I accept it.

After concluding Bookworm’s plan might be to blow up a bridge – since that’s the plot of For Whom the Bell Tolls – Batman and Robin race off to their next location. We then transition to what might be the most memorable scene of the story for me. It’s here we learn the extent of Bookworm’s knowledge and the price he has to pay for it. 

In the villain’s hideout, Bookworm marvels at his collection of books. He loves the ideas they contain, the wisdom they provide; how each one is perfectly structured to relay a mountain of knowledge from the great minds who wrote them. He’s spent a lifetime memorising their plots and using them as his greatest weapon. Unfortunately, it’s also his greatest curse. When Lydia asks Bookworm why he doesn’t write a best-seller of his own, he suddenly becomes furious. The sad truth is, he can’t come up with anything original. He’s so engrossed in the works of others that he’d just be copying their ideas. That’s why his schemes are plot-based. He couldn’t make a plan of his own if he wanted to. 

Hearing this for the first time, I couldn’t help drawing comparisons with myself. Being an inspiring writer, I know the challenge of coming up with original ideas. Inevitably, you start looking at other people’s work for inspiration. But sometimes you take so much you end up plagiarising. It happened so often when I was asked to write an original story, only to copy characters and plots from elsewhere. It certainly shakes your confidence somewhat, knowing you might only be good at retelling stories.

To quickly summarise the next several scenes. Bookworm manages to calm himself by reading an entire book (The Secret of Success: Self Control) in a matter of seconds. Batman and Robin arrive at their next location, but discover Bookworm has already “blown up” a bridge; he’s projected the enlarged image of one on the side of a building. The Dynamic Duo climb higher to get a better view of their surroundings – meeting Jerry Lewis along the way – before encountering Bookworm’s henchmen. After defeating them in a fight, they receive information from Lydia Limpet. However, Batman is curious about something. Robin is left to guard her, but she tricks him into opening a book filled with knockout gas: The History of the English Language – a book that would put anyone to sleep. Bookworm’s henchmen tie Robin to the clapper of a bell just as it’s about to strike midnight. Fortunately, Batman realises he’s been misled. Along with Police Chief O’Hara, they reach the clock tower (Big Benjamin) and use some elaborate science to save Robin. Our heroes then regroup in the Batcave.

I should point out at this stage that Batman’s original series was more family-friendly than its later interpretations. The lighthearted tone could even be described as “campy” at times. For example, Batman employs a pick-up service for the sole purpose of collecting discarded parachutes – which he uses in Bat-U-turns. When he and Robin climb the side of the building, he reminds his sidekick to keep “both hands on the bat-rope“. And, just before they fight Bookworm’s henchmen, he insists the minions remove their glasses first – he would never hit a man with glasses. 

Speaking of which, I always loved the fight scenes on this show. Not only did they capture the spirit of the comics with their onomatopoeia (words on screen), but something about them felt strangely realistic to me. You could tell they were all choreographed. However, the action felt so spontaneous it was like the actors were improvising as they went. The directors must’ve been very skilled to make everything look seamless.

Anyway, back onto Bookworm, I was surprised to find little else to analyse about him. At least, in regards to him potentially being Autistic. He didn’t have any social or communication problems, and none of his quirks seemed ritualistic, i.e. when your mind is conditioned to make you do something a certain elaborate way. The only exception I could find was in the latter half of the story. Let me explain.

First, Bookworm enters Wayne Manor pretending to be a book salesman. He uses another knockout book (The Congressional Record March 1919) on Alfred Pennyworth and Harriet Cooper – the butler and Dick’s aunt respectively – allowing him to steal a rare text from Bruce’s collection. However, that’s not enough. He then places a giant cookbook (The Delight of Cooking) in the middle of a street, luring in Batman and Robin. It’s here Batman reveals another of Bookworm’s mindsets: his over-plotting. Either the robbery or the enlarged book would’ve gotten their attention. However, Bookworm insists on creating as big a scene as possible – much like he did with the faked assassination and “blown up” bridge.

The reason I bring all this up is that, once again, I feel Bookworm’s actions relate to me in some way. When I write, I often go overboard with what I’m describing. Sometimes I mention things that perhaps don’t need mentioning or I explain them in extensive detail. It’s hard to remember that quantity doesn’t always equal quality. But I’m so used to seeing it from other people that I’m conditioned to think that it is. Bookworm is the same. He believes the stages of his plan should be big and bold because it’s how he’s seen them in his books. It doesn’t matter if there’s a better solution or if they don’t tie into his main plot.

To finish off the story: Bookworm traps Batman and Robin inside the large cookbook, where another deathtrap awaits. He also steals the Batmobile, hoping to use its gadgets for a grand heist. Fortunately, Batman and Robin escape (thanks to some more elaborate science) and apprehend Bookworm and his henchmen. Later on, Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson are in Commissioner Gordan’s office, with Bruce donating money to the prison library. Bookworm is brought in just before he’s incarcerated and quotes: “They who lose today may win tomorrow.” He believes he’s quoting a poet. However, Bruce points out it’s actually from a book. He even tells Bookworm the part and the chapter. The episode ends with Bookworm wondering if Bruce Wayne is as obnoxious as Batman.

And that’s Bookworm’s two-part story. A typical set of episodes, encompassing everything the series was known for; lighthearted action, campy moral lessons, and a guest villain putting in their best performance. Roddy McDowall did a fine job.

However, I’m sure many of you are still wondering. Do I think Bookworm is Autistic? Well, as much as I’d like to think so, the argument for it isn’t very strong. Keep in mind, these episodes were written in the 60s. It was a different time back then, and Autism was nowhere near as well-known as it is now. It’d be nice to think the writer (Rik Vollaerts) had some knowledge of the condition. However, if he did, it’s not well-presented. There’s no social awkwardness in Bookworm, no learning difficulties or specific quirks. And although there are similarities between myself and him, there could be other explanations for it. For example, Bookworm’s extensive knowledge could be because he has a photographic memory. You also don’t need Autism to be abnormally obsessed with something. I had high hopes for this character when I first saw him. However, given the lack of decisive evidence, I’ve had to conclude that Bookworm isn’t Autistic. Maybe it’s still possible he is, but I can’t say for sure.

That’s all I have for this instalment. I hope you enjoyed it and I hope to bring you more in the future. Before I finish up, though, I have a special request. I’ve been writing this blog for more than five years now, and its viewership has grown immensely throughout 2020. To show my appreciation for this, I want to try something I’ve never done before: take audience requests. At the moment, I have a couple more characters lined up for this series. However, I’d like to hear your ideas too. If there’s a particular character you’ve seen or read about, and you’d like me to review whether they’re on the spectrum or not, leave me a comment about them down below. I’ll do my research and try to bring you an instalment on them in the future. Again, I’m not looking for any characters who’s Autism has already been confirmed. But instead, those you think may have it because of certain traits. I look forward to hearing your recommendations. Until then, stay tuned.

If you like my content be sure to check out my second blog site Autistic Blogger Creates (https://autisticbloggercreates.wordpress.com/blog-2/) and it’s latest posts.

Experimenting with Scriptwriting – https://autisticbloggercreates.wordpress.com/2020/09/03/experimenting-with-scriptwriting-the-nutcracker/

The Nutcracker Panto Script Extract – https://autisticbloggercreates.wordpress.com/2020/09/03/the-nutcracker-panto-script-extract/

(Image courtesy of: https://comicvine.gamespot.com/batman-326-minerva-mayhem-and-millionaires/4070-13966/)