Latest news with #steampunk
The Guardian
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Washington Black review – the romantic bits could have been stolen from a bad pop song
Esi Edugyan's 2018 novel Washington Black is an unorthodox, steampunk-infused account of the era when transatlantic slavery cast a dark shadow over much of the world. Its hero is George Washington Black – or Wash for short – a Black boy of 11, growing up on a Barbados plantation. He becomes the protege of a well-meaning white scientist, Titch (who happens to be the brother of Wash's merciless master, Erasmus). Together they work on crafting the 'Cloud Cutter', an experimental airship that offers them an escape from the plantation when Wash is accused of murder – but which crashes over the Atlantic during a storm. Spoiler alert: the pair make it out of that episode alive, with Wash fleeing to Virginia, and later Canada. A Guardian review described scenes from the novel as '[unfolding] with a Tarantino-esque savagery', and the book doesn't shy away from graphic depictions of violence and suicide, nor frequent use of the N-word. It is also described as having a 'fairytale atmosphere' – something the Disney-owned Hulu homed in on above all else. As a TV series, Washington Black feels less like a grownup drama and more like the sort of quasi-historical show that teachers play to their pupils as an end-of-term treat. Let's start with the positives, though. The stunning scenery of Nova Scotia (which also doubles as Virginia) is a constant – a rugged, romantic backdrop to the action. Everyone looks the part, too: Sterling K Brown (also an executive producer) is rarely out of regal purple corduroy as Halifax town leader Medwin Harris, while the English contingent – among them Tom Ellis's Titch and Rupert Graves's Mr Goff – are Regencyfied to the max. (If you are a fan of towering 19th-century headgear, this is definitely the show for you.) The cast are excellent, including but not limited to Brown – who can convey so much emotion with the mere quiver of an eyebrow – and Eddie Karanja and Ernest Kingsley Jr, who do just the right amount of emoting as the young and slightly-less-young Wash. It is very easy to watch, and the four episodes delivered to press (there are eight in total) slip down easily and endearingly. But, really, that lack of friction is a problem. From the mawkish string soundtrack to some of the most heavy-handed dialogue ever committed to screen and the most cliched of death scenes (one character dies while stuttering out their final words and clutching at a stab wound), Washington Black lacks bite. To be clear, I don't believe that all productions about slavery have to be laced with unending trauma and pain, and the emphasis on science is a nice departure from the harsh realities of the era. But in sanding down the corners of its source material, it ends up with an almost uncanny feel. It's not Ellis's fault, but the idea that anybody – never mind the most enlightened abolitionists of the age – would have answered the question 'Is this boy your slave?' with 'He's my friend!' is risible. In fact, watching Ellis as an antebellum-era answer to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang's Caractacus Potts is a jarring experience. Julian Rhind-Tutt is perfectly terrifying as Erasmus, but – with the book's darker moments removed – he is a sociopath without a cause. One character simply describes themself as 'an unhinged disgrace', as shorthand for the audience learning why they are unhinged or disgraceful. It didn't have to be 'Tarantino-esque' – but did it have to be quite so PG? Washington Black is also something of a romance, another area where it wobbles along. Kingsley Jr and Iola Evans – who plays a mixed-race, white-passing noblewoman named Tanna – give it their best shot. But lines such as 'We'll create a world of our own' and 'She breathes life into me' feel as if they have been lifted from a bad pop song. By the time we get to 'My everything is better with you', I have begun to feel queasy. Tanna is distraught that her white father has never allowed her to explore the other side of herself, and her maternal connection to Solomon Islands. Unfortunately, we must learn all this through trite dialogue that sounds less like the stuff of a Disney+ drama, and more like the things that Disney princesses – locked in their gilded cages – sing about in their films. Washington Black comes with plenty of potential and, as an exercise in world-building, it is rich and appealing. But, unlike the Cloud Cutter, this is a creation that never takes flight. The hats really are lovely, but they are just not enough. Washington Black is on Disney+ now.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Man's tropical steampunk shed up for national award
A man who built his own "steampunk shed" is hoping his labour of love will win him a national award. Ash Robertson from Ipswich was in need of somewhere to work from home when he and his wife welcomed their second child. He decided to build his own shed, made of almost entirely of second hand items from Facebook Marketplace. His cabin meets tiki beach bar with steampunk vibe, blending Victorian and modern elments - has been nominated as a finalist in the Shed of the Year awards. Inspiration for the shed's exterior came when Mr Robertson found a wooden window for sale on social media. This dictated the rest of the build and Mr Robertson made use of cheap cuts of logs from a sawmill. The shed's wooden door originally had a square top, but when Mr Robertson opened the door it would hit the ceiling because he had not accounted for the thickness of the plasterboard. He explained: "I thought what am I going to do? "I went inside... [and thought] let's have a beer and watch some tele and The Hobbit was on. "I thought that's it, I'll cut the top into a curved shape like a hobbit house, so that just happened as a result of watching the film." Inside Mr Robertson has tiki elements including multi-coloured lamps, fish nets across the roof and more, mixed with Victorian styles of furniture and items. He said he was most proud of the immersive interior which he described as "tropical steampunk". "People can walk through the threshold and I say, first of all do you still feel like you're in Ipswich? "Do you feel like it's 2025? No I feel like it's 1880, something like that. Where in the world do you think you are? What's happening? Who are you? "It triggers this creative part of the mind that we all have... that perhaps some of us, certainly adults, as we get older you don't write stories like you do when you were a kid. It's such a shame." The shed has been named Redondo Trading, inspired by Redondo Beach in California in the United States where Mr Robertson and his wife went on their honeymoon and where the tiki style bar originated from. The shed is a finalist in the cabin/summerhouse category of the Shed of the Year awards and people can vote online for their favourite. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Junk addict wins Shed of the Year with scrap design South East sheds vie to become UK Shed of the Year Shed of the Year was 'brought back from the dead' Redondo Trading Shed of the Year
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Ipswich man's tropical steampunk cabin up for Shed of the Year
A man who built his own "steampunk shed" is hoping his labour of love will win him a national Robertson from Ipswich was in need of somewhere to work from home when he and his wife welcomed their second decided to build his own shed, made of almost entirely of second hand items from Facebook Marketplace. His cabin meets tiki beach bar with steampunk vibe, blending Victorian and modern elments - has been nominated as a finalist in the Shed of the Year awards. Inspiration for the shed's exterior came when Mr Robertson found a wooden window for sale on social dictated the rest of the build and Mr Robertson made use of cheap cuts of logs from a shed's wooden door originally had a square top, but when Mr Robertson opened the door it would hit the ceiling because he had not accounted for the thickness of the plasterboard. He explained: "I thought what am I going to do?"I went inside... [and thought] let's have a beer and watch some tele and The Hobbit was on."I thought that's it, I'll cut the top into a curved shape like a hobbit house, so that just happened as a result of watching the film." 'Who are you?' Inside Mr Robertson has tiki elements including multi-coloured lamps, fish nets across the roof and more, mixed with Victorian styles of furniture and items. He said he was most proud of the immersive interior which he described as "tropical steampunk"."People can walk through the threshold and I say, first of all do you still feel like you're in Ipswich?"Do you feel like it's 2025? No I feel like it's 1880, something like that. Where in the world do you think you are? What's happening? Who are you?"It triggers this creative part of the mind that we all have... that perhaps some of us, certainly adults, as we get older you don't write stories like you do when you were a kid. It's such a shame." The shed has been named Redondo Trading, inspired by Redondo Beach in California in the United States where Mr Robertson and his wife went on their honeymoon and where the tiki style bar originated shed is a finalist in the cabin/summerhouse category of the Shed of the Year awards and people can vote online for their favourite. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Review Geek
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Has Leviathan been renewed for Season 2? Here's what we know:
Renewed or Cancelled? Leviathan is the latest anime on Netflix, sporting thrills, drama and adventure across its 10 episodes. Having watched the first season in its entirety, you may be wondering if this one has been renewed or cancelled. Well, wonder no more! What is Leviathan about? Based on the novels by Scott Westerfeld, Leviathan is a steampunk anime set in an alternate 1914 at the onset of World War I, where the world is split between two technological superpowers. The Clankers (including Germany and Austria-Hungary) are pit against the Darwinists (like Britain) who engineer living creatures as weapons, including massive flying whales and airships made of bio-engineered beasts. At the heart of the story is Prince Aleksandar 'Alek', the orphaned heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, now on the run after his parents' assassination. Meanwhile, Deryn Sharp, a brave Scottish girl, disguises herself as a boy to serve in the British Air Service aboard the living whale-ship Leviathan. Fate throws these two teenagers from opposite sides of the conflict together aboard the Leviathan, where they look set to change history… Has Leviathan been renewed for Season 2? At the time of writing, Leviathan has not been renewed for season 2. Generally Netflix would gauge numerous metrics before renewing a show, including how many people initially watch it and then looking at the drop-off rate. With some shows, cancellations or renewals happen quickly. Other times, it can take months before a decision over a show's future is made. So far, Leviathan has had a pretty mixed reaction online from audiences and critics alike. Given the way this show is set up, and the ending we receive, we're predicting that this will be renewed for a second season. We may be going out on a limb here, but given the recent news about Netflix's impressive anime stats, plus the fact there are two other novels to adapt, this one seems tailor-made for a multi-season arc. Completion rate is also an important point to note here too, and we do know that Netflix examine this closely with any show. It can sometimes take a while for the numbers to be collated though. However, we could be proven wrong here and there may be a massive audience for this one. For now, we'll have to wait and see what happens! What we know about season 2 so far: Barely anything is known about Leviathan season 2 at this point given Netflix haven't officially renewed or cancelled this one. Given the first season's conclusion, it does seem like it could be brought back for more drama and pick up where it left off. If Leviathan does return, expect another 10 episode season and the same style of grandiose adventure and drama from before. Until Netflix makes an official announcement, we'll keep this article updated with any new information. Would you like to see Leviathan return for a second season? What's been your favourite part of the show? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Gizmodo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
How Netflix's ‘Leviathan' United Japanese Animation and Western Imagination
Leviathan, the latest collaboration between Beastars' Studio Orange and Star Wars: Visions producer Qubic Pictures, marks Netflix's entry—alongside Crunchyroll—into the realm of Western novel-to-anime adaptations, echoing a path carved by the Answer Studio's Anne Shirley. Based on Scott Westerfeld and Keith Thompson's 2009 steampunk alternate history of World War I (featuring mechs and living animal airships), the anime aims to go beyond a copy-paste replication of its source material. With the original creators actively involved in its production, Qubic and Orange endeavored to create an adaptation that evolves into a culturally rich, visually stunning reimagining for both old and new audiences of its fantastical story. io9 spoke with Yoshihiro Watanabe, the producer from Studio Orange, along with Justin Leach and Kat Minett from Qubic Pictures about how their collaboration to adapt Westerfeld's novel into an anime came about, the technical and artistic breakthroughs and challenges they faced in bringing the 3DCG anime to life, and whether there are plans for further projects in the world of Leviathan. Isaiah Colbert, io9: What drew Qubic Pictures and Studio Orange to adapt Leviathan's Western steampunk work into Japanese animation? Justin Leach: We were captivated by Scott Westerfeld's vivid world-building and Keith Thompson's intricate visual storytelling. Leviathan uniquely blends steampunk machinery with organic biotechnology, resonating deeply with anime's affinity for imaginative, detailed universes. The narrative's exploration of cultural exchange and identity perfectly aligns with Qubic Pictures' commitment to bridging Japanese and Western storytelling. For Studio Orange, known for pioneering cutting-edge 3D animation, Leviathan offered an exciting opportunity to showcase their distinctive visual style through the dynamic interplay of mechanical and organic aesthetics. Yoshihiro Watanabe: We were looking for the next project after Trigun Stampede at the time we were just releasing the first season of Beastars. Leviathan had wonderful and strong attractive characters that works best and also challenge new things with our storytelling and animation principles. io9: Last time Qubic spoke with io9, CEO Justin Leach mentioned that the teams collaborated with Scott Westerfeld and Keith Thompson on the show. What kind of input and suggestions did they bring into the anime's production to reimagine their world into the anime medium? Leach: Scott and Keith were deeply involved from the outset, offering invaluable insights into maintaining the novel's essence while adapting it into an anime format. Scott provided guidance on character depictions, narrative pacing, and character arcs to ensure emotional resonance within our adaptation. Keith's detailed visual references, encyclopedic knowledge, and original designs helped Studio Orange faithfully translate the Clanker and Darwinist aesthetics into animation, providing a strong foundation from which the studio could expand creatively while remaining true to the source material. Minett: We talked a lot with Scott and Keith in the early stages of production. They gave us a lot of advice regarding their initial inspirations and the research they did to make the books and illustrations. Scott gave us a lot of advice about the characterization and we talked a lot with Keith about the mecha and creature designs, such as what real-world elements he incorporated into designs like the Loris and the Huxley. Watanabe: From the studio side, how Scott and Keith worked with us was very encouraging as a creative ensemble. They have much respect to other creatives, bringing the best things they can to the table at the same time, very observant and precise in conducting what defines the world and characters of Leviathan. io9: Studio Orange is renowned for being one of, if not the best, animation production studios in terms of 3D animation. Leviathan features a mix of mechanical war machines and genetically engineered airships, giving the show a unique visual style compared to Orange's previous works. How did Orange approach balancing organic and industrial aesthetics in the animation design? Leach: Studio Orange aimed to create a sharp visual contrast between the Clanker and Darwinist worlds to highlight the distinct backgrounds of Alek and Sharp. For the Clankers' mechanical contraptions, Orange employed advanced 3D modeling and rigging techniques, collaborating closely with a dedicated mecha designer to meticulously integrate detailed mechanical complexity that emphasized their rigid, industrial precision. The team also worked alongside a military historian, ensuring intricate details—from buttons to military uniforms—were accurately depicted. Conversely, the Darwinist airships featured fluid, organic designs to underscore their biological and lifelike warmth. This deliberate juxtaposition between mechanical rigidity and organic fluidity not only heightened visual depth but also reinforced the narrative impact by vividly illustrating the contrasting worlds from which the characters originate. io9: What were the most significant technical or artistic challenges the team faced in bringing any of the novel's Darwinist vs. Clanker grandeur—be it the HMS Leviathan and its metal automatons or the expressive character actions of its cast—to life? Leach: A significant challenge was capturing the immense scale and intricate detailing of the HMS Leviathan in relation to the characters onboard and the various enemies Leviathan confronts throughout the series. Studio Orange developed new animation workflows to seamlessly blend dynamic interactions with subtle and nuanced emotional performances. They created an innovative system allowing animators to rotate the camera around their characters, with faces automatically adjusting to maintain a visually correct 2D anime style appearance. Artistically, portraying the grandeur of Leviathan's battles alongside intimate character-driven moments required balancing epic scale with personal narratives—an intricate yet deeply rewarding creative process. io9: Can you discuss how the team secured the collaboration with Joe Hisaishi for the original songs for Leviathan? Did his role play a pivotal role in sonically shaping the tone of the series? Leach: Collaborating with Joe Hisaishi was a dream scenario. Our team reached out early in the development process, drawn to his iconic compositions that blend emotional depth with grand thematic scales—perfect for Leviathan's rich narrative tapestry. We wanted to create a timeless, classic, and epic adventure and felt his music could serve as a vital element of the story. Joe enthusiastically embraced the vision, crafting original music that significantly shaped the series' emotional identity. His involvement was transformative, adding layers of emotional resonance that elevated pivotal scenes and the overall storytelling experience. Additionally, our composers, Nobuko Toda and Kazuma Jinnouchi, created their own unique, powerful, and cinematic orchestral score for the show, paying tribute to and incorporating themes created by Joe Hisaishi. Minett: The songs from Joe Hisaishi were made quite early on as they are performed by the characters within the show, so we needed to make the animation around them. From the start, the director wanted music to be a key part of the show, and the songs were windows into the characters' emotions. The music Hisaishi made fulfilled this purpose and more—setting the tone for the series. One thing in particular we wanted to achieve was to have the songs sound like they had existed for a long time as folksongs from their various cultures. We made sure period instruments and motifs were used in the creation of the songs to further enhance this point. Watanabe: Qubic brought the opportunity to work with the master, Joe Hisaishi. The music played a core element of the show's concept. In the first discussion of the music, I brought the idea of music that connects us, the one music that becomes our common language, that no matter where or who we are, it resonates with us. There is that one song, that is so influential, it makes way into every culture it crosses paths with. At times its tone and tune may change a bit so that we may not realize at first, but it connects us all. I believe that anime, animation, and music can become our common language for that moment that can connect all of us. io9: Were there any scenes or character moments that proved rewarding to adapt from the novels? Leach: Adapting the evolving relationship between protagonists Sharp and Alek proved especially rewarding. Their journey—from cautious strangers from conflicting nations to allies discovering shared humanity—captured the emotional heart of Leviathan. Visually depicting key moments, such as their initial encounters aboard the airship and pivotal battles, allowed us to fully explore their growing camaraderie and individual growth, making those adaptations deeply satisfying for both Qubic Pictures and Studio Orange. Minett: We wanted to keep the relationship between Alek and Sharp at the centre of the story, so their first meeting was an especially rewarding scene to work on. I also personally love all of the scenes with the Loris! Watanabe: There are many moments from Alek and Sharp that I cherish, especially how they realize their differences, admit one another as is, and choose the paths they continue to walk forward. When the two first meet at the cold glaciers, how their emotion and movements represents each side of warm beating Clankers and cold hard steel Darwinists, as they interact, each begin to influence the best of the elements to the other, eventually adopting those as their own Tesla's character came as a bit surprise since in the novels I did not imagine him to be as lively and fun a character as we had animated to. Hiroki Tochi, the VA of Tesla, added a much vibrant character, and hearing this, our animators had fun animating such energy that we wanted to see and hear from Tesla. io9: Should Leviathan resonate with viewers on Netflix, are there plans to adapt the rest of the trilogy into an anime series? Leach: Our series actually covers all three books; however, the richness of the Leviathan universe and depth of the trilogy's narrative are ripe for continued exploration. Should audiences respond positively—and early reactions have been encouraging—and we receive blessings from Netflix and Scott, we would be very open to creating further adventures in this fascinating world and deepening the character narratives introduced this season. Minett: When we started working on this project, it was decided that we needed to adapt all of the trilogy in one series, so we approached the project with that in mind. However, if the reception is positive and our partners are willing, we would love to see how Sharp and Alek's journey continues after the show ends— with more travel, more beasties and more mecha! Watanabe: [I] would love to hear what the viewers say after they are done with the show. io9: What do you hope audiences take away from Leviathan's story, especially with its elements touching on global conflicts within nations and young people's desire to be change makers? Leach: At its core, Leviathan explores empathy, identity, and cross-cultural understanding. We hope audiences resonate with the journey of young characters learning to see beyond national identities, discovering shared values and common humanity amidst conflict. By highlighting youthful courage and the transformative potential of mutual understanding, we aim to inspire viewers to believe in their ability to influence positive change in a divided world. Minett: Even the smallest actions can create waves of change. Leviathan is streaming on Netflix. Want more io9 news? 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