Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Kestral

@magikestral.bsky.social

Was a little slow going through media in November as I was working through other longer shows like Mazinger Z and Ultraman Taro, but in December I'll be watching a few shorter shows to cool down

Turns out watching a bunch of anime and other TV really rapidly kinda burns you out, who knew

A fanbook cover for Godzilla Singular Point. Two of the main characters are at the front, a tiny yellow cat is jumping up to their left, and at the far left is Jet Jaguar. Behind them is Godzilla raking up the majority of the image

A poster for SSSS.Gridman. a bunch of the main characters are at the bottom looking out from some broken pavement, while the titular robot is standing triumphantly in the background point it's fist up into the sky.

A poster for Masked Rider Amazon. The titular Rider is jumping like an animal towards the screen. To the bottom left is Amazon riding a bike, and to the right is a weird birdman

December 1, 2025 at 2:51 AM

Kestral

@magikestral.bsky.social

Xabungle

Somehow the show that followed Ideon is extremely silly, and I'm glad for it. Frequent fourth wall breaks and low stakes may deter some, but definitely not me

There are enough interesting ideas sprinkled in and emotional beats for me to reccomend, though definitely not my fave Tomino work

A poster for Xabungle. The titular mech is standing and posing with a fist towards the camera, as the protagonist Jiron stands posing in the center. Surrounding him are other main characters Dike, Rag, Elchi, Chil, and Blume.

December 1, 2025 at 2:46 AM

Kestral

@magikestral.bsky.social

Devilman

It is wild how many things are doing a Devilman

Berserk is a Devilman. Jojo Part 1 is a Devilman. Nomura was told to make Kingdom Hearts 1 more complex and turned it into a Devilman

Gets real dark at a certain point but definitely worth the read for the foundational knowledge alone

The cover of a Devilman manga. The face of the protagonist, Akira Fudo, takes up the majority of the image, as the titular Devilman appears to be fading out of the boy's head.

December 1, 2025 at 2:41 AM

Kestral

@magikestral.bsky.social

Kamen Rider 555 / Faiz

Usually when I finish a KR, I feel like the show could have ended halfway. 555 has so many plot points that some of the main characters don't show up for multiple episodes, and I wish they got fleshed out more

If you like melodrama and miscommunication, this one is for you

A poster for Kamen Rider 555/Faiz. The titular character is on a bike that has one of its handles pulled off to reveal a long sword. Behind him is the suit again as well as the bike transformed into Person Mode, which does so depending on the budget of the episode.

December 1, 2025 at 2:33 AM

Kestral

@magikestral.bsky.social

I put together the Rick Dias MG late last year, it's of an age where the manual has in-universe diagrams

It's hands can't hold anything, but other than that I had a good time with the kit

A picture of the Rick Dias MG manual. There is a lot of Japanese text on the left side and diagrams of the head and arms of the robot. A tiny Quattro stands next to the head and it's red round cockpit

The Rick Dias MG. It is a red robot with a large green mono eye, with grey feet. It is gripping a bazooka under its right arm and a tiny Quattro Bajeena in its left hand.

November 30, 2025 at 9:53 PM

Kestral

@magikestral.bsky.social

This is the second time a Go Nagai media that had a character, depicted as "being both male and female", who is in love with a man

There's a joke here about misunderstanding bisexuality, I just know it

A screenshot from Mazinger Z. Baron Ashura is kneeling and kissing the hand of Dr. Hell, the camera focusing on one side of them (the female side) either to show the love here as being romantic or to not pay one of the voice actors of the literal two sided character. Probably both

November 29, 2025 at 4:00 AM

Kestral

@magikestral.bsky.social

On tonight's episode of Mazinger Z: the animators decided to flex to show off the new villain Count Brocken

A screenshot from Mazinger Z: it is a focus on a pair of boots walking up stairs. The whole environment is closed in shadow, and the boots are drawn with smudges to represent reflecting shadows

The owner of the boots, Count Brocken, walking down a hallway lined with soldiers very much resembling Nazi uniforms. He has no head visible on his shoulders, as he is holding it under his arm. The image is of the top of the room, and the whole scene went from going up close to drawing out to the top, all while watching Brocken walk down the hallway. It is visually impressive with pencils and paper animation

The Flying Fortress Ghoul, a plane with a monster head at the front, flying through the sky as billowing smoke flows out behind it.

A depiction of a potential event, where Mechanical Beast Grader F3 is blowing up Mazinger Z with a rocket. The head of Mazinger Z is flying off as the rocket was aimed for that section of the body. The text at the bottom reads "And that's when we send Grader F3 to destroy Mazinger Z!"

November 29, 2025 at 3:52 AM

Kestral

@magikestral.bsky.social

I have the perfect candidate

A screenshot from Kingdom Hearts 3D: Mickey, Goofy, and Donald are all dressed as the Three Musketeers, and Sora is also there. All four are putting their weapons together in the air. The caption at the bottom says "All for one, and one for all!"

November 26, 2025 at 7:45 PM

Kestral

@magikestral.bsky.social

Thinking about Kingdom Hearts thanks to Chip & Ironicus' Chain of Memories let's play, and hey is Riku a Ryo Asuka

Dragged his best friend (who he's secretly in love with) into the upcoming threat, acquires the evil side's power and has to fight said best friend

I'm just saying there's parallels

November 23, 2025 at 4:10 PM

Kestral

@magikestral.bsky.social

I've been watching Kamen Rider 555 / Faiz this month, and I was charmed by this missile launching motorcycle mech (that has not shown up often, likely due to budget)

It's pilot is also a weird freak who loves to backstab his allies, and everyone loves that about a pilot

A screenshot from Kamen Rider Faiz, in which Masato Kusaka, who transforms into Kamen Rider Kaixa, threatens the protagonist Takumi Inui. The caption says "You're just an obstacle."

A closeup on Masato Kusaka in the rain, looking upset and desperate. The caption reads "The only woman who could ever be like a mother to me." He is of course talking about his childhood best friend

Kaixa riding the Basshar, launching dozens of missiles at Kamen Rider Faiz. How is Takumi gonna get out of this one?

November 22, 2025 at 4:50 PM

Kestral

@magikestral.bsky.social

I need everyone to see this section of a fight from Ultraman Taro

November 20, 2025 at 5:04 AM

Kestral

@magikestral.bsky.social

As I watch Ultraman Taro, I feel like the artistry is being built back up after it's loss from the early 70s Ultraman shows

Just some really well directed camera shots go a long way

A screenshot from Ultraman Taro. The back of a man is seen in the foreground while at the very far back of the room is his wife. A woman and a man are sitting in the middle of the room looking concerned for the woman in the back. The caption says "C'mon, Osugi."

The same woman from before, sitting in a dark room with a spotlight over her, holding folding paper. The room is filled with what looks to be dozens of paper cranes strewn across the floor.

The protagonist of the show, Kotaro Higashi, is standing with some children in the center of an apartment complex: the camera is far enough away to see both the apartments and the large white bridge that connects from it to another apartment behind the camera. The caption says "Then that won't be insect-collecting!"

A distorted image of a TV screen. The text on the tv, which is being taken offscreen, says "Food has to be made tasty and easily digestible, and this is the main reason why rice is polished before cooking."

November 19, 2025 at 2:51 PM

Kestral

@magikestral.bsky.social

Still messes me up that there's a parallel to be made here

A screenshot of the Survey Program that proceeded Deltarune Chapter 1's first release. The agreement states "YOU ACCEPT EVERYTHING THAT WILL HAPPEN FROM NOW ON". The last three words being the name of the song from the original post's YT link

November 17, 2025 at 11:38 PM

Kestral

@magikestral.bsky.social

How I'm going to look when you dislike my posts

A very intense drawing of Koji Kabuto from Mazinger Z

November 15, 2025 at 4:08 PM

Kestral

@magikestral.bsky.social

Oh wow, looks like I got in right under the wire

Good luck to everyone else

Another screenshot from the ff14 website that says "All FINAL FANTASY XIV Fan Festival 2026 in Anaheim tickets are currently in carts."

November 14, 2025 at 7:18 PM

Kestral

@magikestral.bsky.social

I'm excited to go to Anaheim with @infindox.bsky.social and not only go to FF14 Fanfest, but also visit the company that made all my favorite mobile suits

Wait what do you mean that isn't real

a screenshot from the ff14 fanfest ticket purchasing website. The text says "your reservation was successful!"

November 14, 2025 at 7:14 PM

Kestral

@magikestral.bsky.social

Hell yeah

I saw Big O for the first time at the start of the year and somehow it's still one of my big favorites

(But also shout-out to Gunhed)

November 14, 2025 at 6:07 AM

Kestral

@magikestral.bsky.social

You're missing a few games from the list

The cover of The World Ends With You for the DS

Mario Hoops 3 on 3: the left side has a bunch of final fantasy characters

November 14, 2025 at 12:12 AM

Kestral

@magikestral.bsky.social

"In this world, is the destiny of oomfkind controlled by some transcendental mutual or law...? Is it like the hand of Friendship, hovering above?"

"At least it is true that mankind have no control, even over their own oomfies."