Daniel Mclaughlan

We watched The Boy and the Heron this evening and I was honestly disappointed. It is a gorgeous film and I liked the way the different creatures were animated. However, it really fell flat for me. I understand there’s symbolism for grief and moving on, but this isn’t conveyed in a coherent or meaningful way.

I think what really lets this movie down compared to Studio Ghibli’s other films is the lack of character development. There wasn’t any depth to the characters to drive the plot. The initial premise felt like an excuse to introduce an interesting otherworldly realm, but one that ultimately had no meaning.

I wouldn’t recommend this film. There are so many other Studio Ghibli films to recommend - personal favourites are Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Kiki’s Delivery Service and Howl’s Moving Castle - and I’d hate to think this might be the first Studio Ghibli film people encounter🙁

Having too much fun setting up my new Micro.blog and making some tweaks to the custom theme. I’ve created a Changelog to track my changes😄

PlayStation Access members Nathan, Dave and Rob have a new podcast called RedShirt Cinema Club. They’re watching all the Star Trek movies on a quest to make Rob a Star Trek fan.

I’m really enjoying revisiting the old movies, learning about the historical context, and getting their impressions😁

🎨 Day 1: Monster for ComicTober2024

🎨 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh

It’s been awhile.. I had a nice time in Edinburgh at the start of the month and wanted to capture this famous street in ink. Yes, it’s a magnet for tourists, but I like how many independent cute boutique shops there are.

I’m not happy with how the cobbled paving turned out - I kept changing my mind about which technique I wanted to use - but I enjoyed capturing all the different types of architecture. I’m currently sick so this was a relaxing way to spend my morning, curled up in a cosy armchair, doodlin

🎨 A peaceful stream I found in the woods yesterday.

I found it hard to decide on the light source for this one.. and I don’t know any good techniques for water yet!

🎨 A small sketch of Braemar Avenue Baptist Church, North London.

The nearby Nightingale Gardens, lovingly tended by volunteers, were a welcome sight on Sunday.

🎨 Second part of my sketch from an afternoon coffee at Loafing, East London

🎨 On Sunday I came across Loafing: a lovely little cafe in East London to hide from the rain. The vegan savoury crepe was delicious.

🎨 Dungarees