Media Recommendations

My Neighbor Totoro is among one of many Studio Ghibli works that carry what you’d expect from solarpunk media. It’s about two sisters who befriend a fluffy creature known as Totoro when they move with their father into the countryside. Very cute, cozy, and wholesome. There’s a strong appreciation of nature, a sense of community, and it reminds us of the important things in life that we take for granted.

Iron Valley is a cozy tabletop game that’s dear to my heart. You basically get to simulate an experience for yourself or a small group of players where you get to move into a new town to start a new life. It’s heavily inspired by Animal Crossing, Story of Seasons (Harvest Moon), and Stardew Valley (all of which make for excellent solarpunk picks as well). On top of farming, there’s a great sense of building a community as you generate NPCs and there’s even a favor economy in place of using in-universe currency. It’s simple and intuitive, easy and fun to get into, and it’s free on itch.io. Go get it!

Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou is a manga that takes place in the post-apocalypse south Yokohama where a robot named Alpha Hatsuseno runs a small cafe. Despite what should otherwise be considered a bleak world, the author took a different approach, where the setting is actually quite peaceful and the tone of the manga is rather laidback and introspective. While it is light on story, it has a solarpunk feel to it in the appreciation of beauty in nature, the compassion of people, and a serene hopefulness.

Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is a great casual game about a girl named Alba who visits her grandparents for the summer on a small Mediterranean island and takes pictures of and rescues wildlife there. Additionally, she and her friend are also on a mission to prevent a giant hotel from being built over the island's nature reserve. The gameplay is comfy, easygoing, involves additional eco-friendly tasks from repairing bird houses to recycling, and the story has a satisfying payoff. Likewise, the game is solarpunk in how it encourages the preservation of wildlife and ecosystems, criticizes the exploitation of land for commercial profit, and emphasizes how the efforts of the community can bring together positive change. It's worth noting that since ustwo games partnered with Ecologi, for every copy of this game that's been downloaded or sold, one tree is planted in Alba's forest, and the developers have already accomplished planting 1 million trees thanks to the success of this game and will continue to plant trees in the future.

I have a great fondness for Wolfwalkers and it’s a criminally underrated animated film here in the United States. It’s a story about a girl in Ireland who turns into a wolf at night during a time where wolves are being hunted down. There’s a strong dramatic tension with the leading girls just wanting to live freely and a major conflict with the main character – Robyn’s – situation as a human girl living in what’s essentially and historically Ireland under an authoritarian regime. The stakes are high, the themes are powerful, and the payoffs are so, so worth the viewing.

Made by the same director of Wolfwalkers yet a little more well known, Song of the Sea is a story about two siblings trying to process grief with their family through a fantastical, otherworldly folklore adventure. With the daughter being a selkie, the son must get over his initial animosity towards her and save her life before it’s too late. With a really emotional, heartwarming story, as well as impressive art direction, it’s one of the best animated non-Ghibli films that came out in the 2010s.

A classic short film from the 1970s Soviet Union by Yuri Norstein, Hedgehog in the Fog follows the journey of a curious little hedgehog who wanders into the fog after observing a mysterious white horse standing within it. It’s simple yet highly atmospheric, with memorable moments, a touch of kid-friendly horror, and showcases glimpses into the kindness of strangers. This film also inspired Hayao Miyazaki, and the hedgehog even had a statue made of them in the capital of Ukraine, which goes to show just how far its legacy has come.

Another classic short film by Yuri Norstein, and arguably considered the best animated film of all time, Tale of Tales is a heavily layered and unconventionally structured story composed of many sequences. With little to no dialogue, there’s themes of war and emphasis on the losses the Soviet Union faced on the Eastern front, themes of childhood innocence as well as its loss, its use of symbolism to convey those messages, and the emotional resonance of these themes cannot be understated as I find myself crying each time I revisit this masterpiece. Truly one of Norstein’s best.

On a much lighter note, Over the Garden Wall surprised me as a cartoon on modern day Cartoon Network with its great pacing and atmosphere that reminded me of cartoons from the early days of the channel. The story follows two half-brothers, Wirt and Greg, who get lost in the woods and try to find their way back home. While it’s a dark fantasy, it has a lighthearted charm that makes it digestible for kids whilst also keeping the comedy enjoyable for adults. Plus, there’s a twist to the miniseries that wraps everything up nicely and makes a re-watch all the more interesting. It’s the perfect miniseries to watch around autumn with kids, I’d say.

A huge success from its creator Dana Terrace and my personal favorite TV show, The Owl House follows the story of a Dominican-American girl named Luz who stumbles upon a portal to the Demon Realm, where she finds a civilization run by witches and the oppressive rule of an Emperor. There, she encounters a rebellious witch known as the Owl Lady and her adorable demon housemate King and proceeds to live with them as she learns to become a witch by carving her own path. It’s LGBTQ+ friendly (and has fantastic ships), great writing, fun comedy that reminds me of another great show called Gravity Falls, has occasionally pretty impressive animation (since the Owl House was animated by Disney), and despite its flaws (the first season may be hit or miss for some people), I consider it one of the most satisfying TV shows I’ve watched and continue to hold onto to this day. However, don't take it as a sign as I support Disney (I don't), and considering how they shrunk season 3 down to three episodes, I feel all the more respect for Dana for pushing through with getting the show finished as well as it did.

I got into The Legend of Vox Machina in part thanks to my love of tabletop gaming and Critical Role’s compelling storytelling. Be warned, this show is not for the feint of heart – there’s profanity, violence, gore, and adult comedy to it that makes it a bold choice to get into. However, the characters are all likable, the stakes and conflict are well done, and it captures the feeling of playing a fun game with your friends whilst still maintaining a serious narrative. I’m still happily anticipating season 4.

Much like The Legend of Vox Machina, but I would argue a little more tonally consistent, I’m absolutely in love with The Mighty Nein. Each member of the party is well developed and gets their time in the spotlight, the premise of how there’s a potential for war between worlds is tense and captivating, and it’s an all around well-paced show that captures what I feel a more adult-catered Legend of Korra should’ve been. I can’t wait to see how it plays out!

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, is phenomenal. It’s about a growing conflict among fantasy races over a crystal that can basically consume souls in exchange for renewing and extending life. Largely character-driven dark fantasy, full of adventure and atmosphere. What on Earth was Netflix thinking about canceling such a critically acclaimed and groundbreaking show with practical effects, an immersive world, a great story and cast, and that feeling of being the next Lord of the Rings? – I’ll tell you, it’s because producing such art is expensive. So we only got one season. Don’t let that discourage you. This story has potential to continue at some point, and through whatever media we get, I’m sure it will be great. Until then, this is still a timeless work of fantasy.

The Rescue is an enthralling documentary covering the Tham Luang flooded cave rescue of twelve boys and their coach in Thailand in 2018. Anxiety inducing, tense, yet full of moments of human ingenuity and teamwork as people come together to try to save the children and come up with solutions as how to do it as safely as possible. I won’t spoil how it plays out – let’s just say that knowing this was a real event that happened and finding out just what it took to confront the incident, it really changes the way you perceive humanity and I can’t recommend it enough.

My boyfriend got me A Short Hike years ago and I still cherish it close to my heart! Short, simple, yet loads of fun, you get to explore an island by running around, flying, swimming, and it’s so so rewarding in how much you’re able to find and see and do. I love it! It's literally the perfect game! You can even fish! And ride boats! And play what's basically beach tennis! And collect stuff! And compete in racing minigames! A must have for any cozy game enthusiast.

Have you ever wanted to go into space? What about dabble in space archaeology? But you also wanted to capture the claustrophobic nature of space, the vibes, the terror, the SCOPE? I feel that Outer Wilds is one of the best games I’ve ever played thanks to how well it captures these feelings. There’s moments in this game that are too beautiful to spoil, yet I must restrain myself, because it truly is a remarkable experience. The DLC is astounding too – somehow the developers have captured lightning in a bottle twice.

Disco Elysium is a CRPG where you play an amnesiac cop who has to solve a murder mystery whilst somehow pretending he has his act together. It sounds funny, but it can also get quite sad and intense too. Like a GM cautiously guiding the player, the game is like a one on one DnD session with personality and no combat. It’s likewise quite text-heavy and reads like a book, which might turn some people off but the intuitive design and clever wit behind the writing kept me playing til the end. There’s a sense of trying to find hope in a hopeless situation kind of storytelling, and the world building, themes, and characters help deliver and convey these elements wonderfully. Also, Disco Elysium has the best sidekick character to ever grace narrative heavy games – Kim Kitsuragi.

The amount of times I’ve cried over Spiritfarer is staggering. The game is rather casual and you expect an ordinary cozy game where you basically take care of a bunch of spirits and help them cross over into the afterlife. But you will get attached, and if not, you will at least feel SOMETHING when the time comes to let them go. It’s a game about confronting and acknowledging death and grief, despite its peaceful and serene presence, those moments pack quite a punch. If you have any doubts it could turn you into a crying wreck, I strongly encourage you to give this game a shot.

Imagine needing to combat your anxiety and depression by climbing a literal mountain, and you get Celeste. This game does not mess around when it comes to platforming. It’s difficult, yet precise. The game isn’t afraid to challenge the player, and it becomes especially difficult towards the end. But sticking with it has probably been one of my favorite experiences in gaming, having overcome those obstacles alongside the characters. Keep trying. It’s okay, you’ve got this.

I love the sea, and I admire gorgeous visuals. Abzu has both, and it’s meditative too. It’s like Journey, but underwater. You’re basically a diver swimming in the ocean. Simple premise, but compelling presentation, beautiful experience, and fantastic execution.

Much like A Short Hike, lil Gator Game is really fun and rewards exploration. It likewise captures the youthful vigor and energy of being a kid, along with the nostalgia behind it. Also has a rather wholesome plot – it’s my favorite kind of cozy game.

For fans of the Moomin series, in Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley, you play as Snufkin – a chill little adventurous guy trying to prevent the Park Ranger from usurping too much power over the natural environment. If you read Moominsummer Madness, you get the context behind most of the game. Highly laid back point and click adventure with simple puzzles and a peaceful vibe. Great for kids, fans, and people who enjoy cozy games too.

Hollow Knight got me into metroidvanias and challenged me enough to finish it. I remember watching my friends play this game and falling in love with the art direction, level design, and soundtrack. Cliche (or cringe) though it may sound, it’s like Dark Souls, but with insects. The vibes are off the charts. I’ve also started its sequel – Silksong, and it’s just as good.

The Moomins books are written by Finnish author Tove Jansson and focus upon these hippopotamus shaped creatures known as the Moomins who live in a valley and have all sorts of adventures. I was originally introduced to the series through the Russian stop motion animation retelling a rather abridged and smaller version of Comet In Moominland, which I later sought out in life to get the full story and found the whole ensemble cast of characters to be delightfully charming, and from there I kept on reading. They have a similar vibe to the Winnie The Pooh collection I read as a kid but with lessons that also appeals to adults. I’ve also sampled a few episodes from the 1990 animated adaptation and the story about the Invisible Child brought me to tears. There’s something really heartfelt about the Moomins that it is so universal and I’m grateful that the stories are so beloved. It’s a franchise absolutely worth getting into.

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien is peak fantasy fiction, though it’s initially difficult to get through due to its scope and pacing – but if you enjoy slow-burn fantasy adventure stories, it makes the experience feel all the more epic and grounded. The narrative follows the story of a small person called a hobbit named Frodo Baggins who sets off on an important quest to destroy a magic ring in a fiery volcano in order to prevent evil from overtaking the world. My experience with the books was improved due in part to already being familiar with its many adaptations growing up and reading whilst listening to the audio book at the same time. Both the films and books hold up in their own right, however each delivering themes of hope and mercy differently. One major criticism for the series is its simplistic morality, and that it’s no Game of Thrones in terms of world building. I see the concern, yet I also see the value in having a narrative where the protagonists are unapologetically good and struggle against temptation to become something they’re not. It teaches the importance of personal integrity in the face of a corrupt world where heroes are most needed, however small and ordinary. If such a story appeals to you and you enjoy soft-magic systems, this is a nice comforting collection of books to get into.

The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle captivated me with its animated film adaptation and that’s how I was personally introduced to the book, yet I find in ways the book is much better handled in execution, or at least – is best paired together with the film. The story follows a unicorn who is informed that she is the last unicorn in the world, and so she sets off on a journey to find the other unicorns. Along the way she meets a magician named Schmendrick, who was apparently so bad a magician he got cursed with immortality, and a snarky woman named Molly Grue, and a young prince named Lir. What happens is a rather unconventional fantasy story that is – in a meta-textual way, self-aware that it is a fantasy story, but not in a reconstructive way, where it explores how each character behaves knowing their roles in what’s essentially a fairy tale. It’s provocative, intriguing, and you can tell the author had a lot of fun writing the story. Be prepared for a bit of surprises that require patience too – the butterfly is an annoyance even in the book.

The Land of the Lustrous manga by Haruko Ichikawa is set in the far distant future and follows the story of one of many genderless immortal gem people named Phosphophyllite - “Phos” for short, who seeks to find belonging among their kind whilst trying to fight to defend their home from a celestial race known as the Lunarians. Beautifully illustrated and written with Buddhist undertones in mind, it’s strongest in how it explores the cultivation of identity, the impacts of trauma, and sucks you into its serene and strange world.

I fell in love with The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry a while back when I decided to understand why this was considered one of the best books ever written, and it touched my heart. The story follows a young prince who travels to other planets, including Earth, and forms a connection with the narrator who is an aircraft pilot lost in the Sahara Desert. Read like a children’s book, but for adults, there’s a lot of nuances about adulthood and has its own philosophy about approaching life and exploring human nature that gets deeply personal and creates real tearjerker moments. I have never sobbed so hard over a book in my life, and I encourage people to give it a chance.

Whisper of the Heart, directed by Yoshifumi Kondō and written by Hayao Miyazaki, is a coming-of-age story about a young girl who aspires to become a creative writer. I’ve seen many Studio Ghibli films and while it’s not as popular as other Ghibli works, I can’t help but appreciate this film more with each further revisit. There’s something special about experiencing the inspiration the protagonist goes through when she explores Tokyo, and how the little moments that wound up being important later on are paid off nicely. It’s extremely grounded, which can be misleading to some who look at the poster and expect an epic fantasy film akin to Spirited Away, but regardless, it’s the kind of movie that makes you appreciate the little things that make reality meaningful. A hidden gem.

Look Back is a movie that stuck out to me in how it portrayed two different approaches towards art. What I like most about this film is that it is quite raw with its emotional scenes. As an artist, I found it quite relatable too yet also a bit confrontational in how it asks the audience why we create art. What happens when you prioritize art over human connection? Or what happens when you stick with art simply to chase the grind and clout? There’s a certain level of pride and competitiveness to it, but there’s also the satisfaction of simply putting something into existence. Whichever perspective you resonate with most, this movie packs a heavy punch. Give it a shot.

While I was initially turned off by Mob Psycho 100’s art style, something changed about the anime the longer I committed to it. The anime follows Mob, an esper with extraordinary powers, but who is otherwise a kid who struggles in his ordinary life. What makes this premise so special is that he doesn’t prioritize becoming a stronger esper like in most shounen works. Rather, he focuses on improving himself as a person, both physically and mentally, and in turn – changes and impacts the lives of other people. It’s comedic, yet occasionally profound. Also, the later seasons get so awesome!

Revolutionary Girl Utena is not your standard run of the mill magical girl show. Granted, it starts off being rather formulaic and episodic, which requires some patience to sit through. However, it carries with it a lot of great payoffs for characters and an interesting art direction that’s both symbolic, metaphorical, surrealist, and inspired by stage plays. The anime is essentially about a girl named Utena who wears a boy’s school uniform after deciding in her childhood that she’s going to be a prince and goes out of her way to rescue another girl named Anthy from being imprisoned by the student council by participating in a sword dueling tournament. Yet it goes much, much deeper than that, deconstructing expectations, and challenging cultural norms surrounding gender, sexuality, and coming-of-age. Be prepared for some silly moments too though, particularly the early episodes. The show does get meaty going further in and requires a longer commitment than the 3-episode-rule.

Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! is one of my favorite anime of the decade thanks to its passion for 2D animation. The anime follows 3 girls who all work together in an animation club at school. The girls have each distinct appearances and personalities and correlate with a different philosophy towards anime. We have Midori Asakusa who is an inspired concept artist, Tsubame Mizusaki – who is a charismatic and determined animator, and Sayaka Kanamori – who is a driven genius who wants to make money. Their dynamic is comedic, fun, and full of energy. You can really get behind the process and it’s also refreshing to have a show that captures the love for animation and its craft while keeping things entertaining.