For me, the answer to this question will always be One Piece, which I have referred to as "manga and anime's Lord of the Rings." I once wrote of it:
*Oda has a talent for weaving disparate details together, collected from
every cultural and historical source he can absorb, to create something new and exciting. This skill is most apparent in the colorful designs of his characters and the settings in which they are introduced. The One Piece world is populated by a veritable cast of snowflakes: hundreds of characters with unique visual designs, personalities, and origins, working as pirates, marines, government officials, privateers, revolutionaries, and more. In one part of the story, the Straw Hats fight to save a kingdom reminiscent of ancient Egypt from a sinister secret society. In another, they race enemies based on angels, native Americans, and the rapper Eminem (yes, really) to a legendary lost city of gold hidden on an island inspired by Jack and the Beanstalk.*
I've found the main character's defiant optimism in the face of overwhelming circumstances to be encouraging and relatable during bad times and that's why I've always loved and connected to it so much.
On Tue, Oct 1, 2019 at 2:59 PM Matt bupkes@tilde.club wrote:
So so good
September 29, 2019 4:58 PM, "Phil Gyford" <fabius@tilde.club <fabius@tilde.club?to=%22Phil%20Gyford%22%20%3Cfabius@tilde.club%3E>> wrote:
I’m a bit sad that the second season of *Stath Lets Flats* finished this week, because that was good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTq0zQlNNNU
On 26 Sep 2019, at 09:20, Jon Bell jb@lot23.com wrote: Ira Glass once said “Life is short, and anything that gives pleasure is good.”
What’s some media you’ve been enjoying lately? Don’t worry if it’s mainstream or lowbrow or a guilty pleasure. Anything’s fine. What are you enjoying?
— Phil Gyford Tilde: https://tilde.club/~fabius Also: https://www.gyford.com