Media Blog
Picture by hbieser
The 7 Shapes — Reflected in the Stories We Love
Not only in the magical world of Esperia, but right here on our beautiful planet Earth, we can also find echoes of the 7 Shapes—hidden in plain sight.
While we may not possess the magical powers of the Espers, we carry within us a human equivalent of their StarDust:
our incredible brain.
What if we looked at the world around us with greater awareness?
What if the stories we read, the movies we watch, the anime, manga, and books we cherish…
were more than just entertainment?
Each post below explores the presence of wisdom, balance, willpower, empathy, and more—through the lens of popular culture.
Let’s rediscover what inspires us, one tale at a time.
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Birth of Kitarō: The Mystery of GeGeGe – Exploring Themes of Society and Awareness
Read more: Birth of Kitarō: The Mystery of GeGeGe – Exploring Themes of Society and AwarenessWe watched Birth of Kitarō: The Mystery of GeGeGe with my wife. Though I had heard of GeGeGe no Kitarō, the famous manga by Shigeru Mizuki, I had never read it. I knew the central theme revolved around yōkai, a fascinating class of Japanese folklore creatures—spirit-monsters with deep cultural roots. The movie serves as a…
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Hotel California by The Eagles: A Masterpiece with Timeless Reflections
Read more: Hotel California by The Eagles: A Masterpiece with Timeless ReflectionsReleased in 1977, the song “Hotel California” by the Eagles remains one of the most famous and enigmatic songs ever written. It is a musical masterpiece, concluding with an iconic 2-minute-and-12-second electric guitar solo performed by Felder and Joe Walsh. The two guitarists take turns playing the lead before harmonizing in a series of arpeggios,…
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Once Upon a Time… Life: A Lesson in Education and Responsibility
Read more: Once Upon a Time… Life: A Lesson in Education and ResponsibilityOnce Upon a Time… Life was a French educational animated television series that captivated the minds of children and adults alike. Among similar series that explored topics like history or space, this particular show stood out for its focus on the human body. It was my personal favorite. Despite its simplified explanations tailored for children,…
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Audition: Exploring Feminism, Misogyny, and Society’s Flaws
Read more: Audition: Exploring Feminism, Misogyny, and Society’s FlawsAudition is a Japanese horror movie directed by Takashi Miike, released in 1999. I first watched it while living in France on the television channel Arte. Miike, known for his unsettling films, adapts Ryū Murakami’s novel in this masterpiece. The story revolves around a middle-aged widower who orchestrates a fake audition with the help of…
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Chrono Trigger: A Timeless Masterpiece and a Lesson for Humanity
Read more: Chrono Trigger: A Timeless Masterpiece and a Lesson for HumanityReleased in 1995 for the Super Nintendo platform by Square (now Square Enix), Chrono Trigger was the first JRPG I ever played. Borrowing my brother’s Super Nintendo, I immersed myself in the game on Saturday afternoons when I could enjoy playing alone, using the family TV in the living room. My brother had bought the…
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The Lion King: A Story of Growth, Responsibility, and Emotional Healing
Read more: The Lion King: A Story of Growth, Responsibility, and Emotional HealingReleased in 1994 by Disney, The Lion King is certainly one of the most famous animated movies ever created. As I write these very lines, the sequel to the live-action version of the movie, Mufasa: The Lion King, is being released in theaters. With plans to see it, it seemed like the perfect occasion to…
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Spirited Away: A Timeless Reflection on Consumerism, Environmental Impact, and Japanese Culture
Read more: Spirited Away: A Timeless Reflection on Consumerism, Environmental Impact, and Japanese CultureI’m anticipating a short trip with my wife, where we will stay at a traditional Japanese hostel in a hot springs region of Japan. This inspired me to write about Spirited Away, directed by Hayao Miyazaki and released by Studio Ghibli in 2001, as the main story takes place in a bathhouse. The Dōgo Onsen…