Besides Starbound I mean, What movie, show, book, or Media had the biggest impact on your life? I remember taking a philosophy class that honestly bored me to tears, due to how un-passionate the professor was for the material. I really remember thinking that the subject would be fascinating if only the professor upped the energy a bit. I went through it and passed and on the very last day, she decided to show a movie in class, That movie was Waking life. I remember immediately that I was caught in the colors of it, and the utter strangeness of it. The philosophies not really being expounded, but more just talked over, and being put out as if you were talking to a friend you see every so often. The words from that movie have followed me to some strange places too, Talks with friends, late nights at a game store, to 2 AM drunkenly with a group of friends almost delirious from lack of sleep talking about anything. In countries far away from mine, and everything from Pillow talk to conversation with a bud over lunch.
Wow there's a lot I could mention here, a lot of things have really affected me, but I think the MOST influential media on me has been Studio Ghibli movies. I grew up watching Ghibli, my mom and dad got me started on it. Some of the scores of Ghibli movies make me sob, just because of how much of an impact they've had on me and my life. They've shown me what love is, how to appreciate nature, and how to appreciate my talents. I've watched them my entire childhood, and everytime I rewatch a movie, I feel like I learn something new about myself, and the meaning of the movie has changed with me. They move me so much, they're so beautiful, and I wish more people I talked to knew about them or had the same impact upon them from these movies. Sometimes I just feel dumb, haha. Also, these movies are so beautiful I have to share. Spoiler: movie screenies
HECC'N... Lupin the Third: Castle of Cagliostro the way it was made and how it presented its story is absolutely great, even the ending of it made my heart curl up a bit lol
The Ghibli movies are a very integral part of my childhood, they certainly taught me alot about how to wonder, and to have Imagination. Their soundtracks are something I listen to still every so often, and it feels like talking to an old friend again. So I can totally echo what you guys are saying. My family is Japanese so Totoro was a huge part of my Childhood, It's music is some of my earliest solid memories.
Alright! Let's see. In terms of movies: Studio Ghibli's movies were the most influential right alongside The Dark Crystal (1982), Wizards (1977), The Last Unicorn, Breakfast Club, Back to the Future, Akira, and Arcadia of My Youth. I can name many more but those stand out the most. From Ghibli, the ones I hold the most dear are Princess Mononoke, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Spirited Away and Laputa: Castle in the Sky. In terms of shows: Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Space Pirate Captain Harlock (1979), Captain Harlock SSX, Violet Evergarden, Avatar: The Last Airbender, to name a few. In terms of books: My father read me Asimov's Foundation series between the age of 5 and 7 or so. Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury were big in my childhood, right next to the Discworld novels by the late Sir Terry Pratchett and The Hobbit by Tolkien. As I grew up I reckon C. J. Cherryh's Alliance/Union universe novels had a minor impact, but an impact nonetheless. By the same author but far more impactful in my taste for fantasy is the Ealdwood stories as part of The Dreaming Tree omnibus. On a similar note is Douglas Niles' Darkwalker Trilogy among the most impactful, and the Dragonlance series - though to a lesser degree. There's also a little bit of the Conan novels by Robert E. Howard in there, to add flavor to my teenage years. And, if videogames count in this thread: Chrono Trigger, at my core. These are all off the top of my head.
Well watching the film version of the novel called The Giver gave me some thoughts about living and how flaws that we bear also give us humans the greatest gifts of them all. Another one that affected me personally was the OVA called Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn with its tones of Romanticism vs Enlightenment amidst exploration of its lore. In fact those two sets of show even gave me some inspiration on the Melkanians that I have been working on.
I could talk at length about the Giver, apparently there are sequels to the book, I really want to read them. I'm told the movie is quite good as well, You just reminded me I have to read it.
