Itadakimasu - a Beautiful Japanese Short Film

In Japan, you will hear Itadakimasu (いただきます) a lot.  Connecting to Buddhist ideas of gratitude and life, the phrase is spoken before eating a meal. It’s meaning translated into English is approximate – you could say it roughly means “I humbly receive (this food)”.  The verb itadaku (いただく) means “to humbly receive” and the “masu” part of the phrase is a polite ending which is added to verbs. Yet, like many Japanese phrases, it has a much deeper meaning, one which speaks volumes about the nature of Japanese culture.  The key is probably in the word “receive” which is used rather than “eat”.  It says a lot.

The phrase is central to this charming short film, which pivots around food but is essentially about the love between a mother and her son.  Itadakimasu tells the story of Ryota (Ren Okada), who has left his countryside home to live and work in the big city.   

Although not exactly estranged from his mother (Mika Murakami), his attitude to her has become distant and somewhat terse, especially since the premature death of his father.  Ryota is struggling at work and his inability to emotionally communicate with his mother means that when she pays him a surprise visit, the reception she gets is cold and Ryota quickly makes his excuses to leave for the day.

How is this resolved? Well, I urge you to watch this precious short film for yourself – but reconciliation is on the cards (I want you to know that this does not have a sad ending, even though it isn't sugary sweet). The film’s characters are drawn by a series of subtle flashbacks to scenes from their lives – we see little Ryota grow as the film develops.  One pivotal scene gives those of us who do not come from Japan more insight into the emotional resonance of the phrase Itadakimasu.  It is so much more than just a few words of thanks – it gives gratitude and respect for nature, the animals and the plants whose lives became the food as well as the farmers and workers who produced the ingredients.  Last but certainly not least, it expresses thanks to the person who prepared the food – and in this case it is almost always mum.  Whether it is hot from the stove or cold in the fridge while she works in a factory to make ends meet, food always makes its way from mum’s hands to Ryota’s stomach.

Even when he is being a sulky teenager and resorts to Pot Noodle in his bedroom, we see Ryota put his hands together, bow his head a little and utter Itadakimasu before he begins to eat.  It’s a phrase you will hear all over Japan – at home, school, restaurants (or like me on TV shows and anime).  It’s a cultural connector and the big question this film painstakingly asks (my only criticism is perhaps a few minutes could have been shaved off its running time) is whether shared and collective memory, bound by words and food, can help to restore a relationship.

The film is elegantly written, and poignantly directed, shot and edited by Fumiya Nakagawa.  Much of his work focuses on his home region of Kumamoto, using film to promote local culture and communities - and Itadakimasu shows Kumamoto off really beautifully.  This short film was produced by Yamachiku Co Ltd with music by Yukiko Kamata.  The producer is – well I  never – an intergenerational chopstick manufacturer well known in Japan.  I have only realised this when writing this short review – it must be about the most subtle product placement I have ever come across!  Yet far more subtle are the performances by Ren Okada (best known as a style influencer) and Mika Murakami, especially the latter whose adoring looks at her truculent son are simply heartbreaking.

I think one of the commenters on YouTube sums the film up perfectly: “Had me in tears at the end. Sometimes children lose sight of how much love and support their parents have given them over the years, and they need some type of experience to make them see how fortunate they are. This short film expressed this theme so well. The music was perfect also.”  Indeed.  This film is really something very special.

Watch the full film below.  

As a footnote, once a meal is finished, Japanese people usually say “gochisōsama deshita” (ごちそうさまでした), which means something like “thank you for the meal”.  So we have a few more Japanese phrases to add to our collection.  Also, a big thank you to Fumiya Nakagawa and team for this particular, very satisfying meal.

If you are interested in more Japanese phrases, you might be interested in our short articles about:

Taidama

Koi No Yokan

Hadoken 

All Fall Down – The Vampire Lestat (Official Video)

It only happens once in a lifetime – a new artist arrives on the scene and suddenly, music is never the same again.  All Fall Down – the debut single by The Vampire Lestat is such a perfect piece of rock, that it seems written by a singer songwriter with many, many years of musical experience behind him.  Instead this new artist – real name unknown – arrives with a great alter-ego (reminiscent in some ways of the way Bowie would take on different personas throughout his career) in vampiric form.  The song itself is hypnotic, mesmerizing – almost as if it is calling out to something.  It’s enough to wake up the souls of the dear-departed rock and roll greats, who would no doubt welcome a new member of their pantheon.

We will just have to live in anticipation of what the Vampire Lestat’s live shows will be like, the first of which is planned later on in the year on June 7. Until then, we must make do with this taster of things to come.  I am sure seeing him live will bring together so many fans of great music, all of whom have heard this message and will travel for many, many miles to hear his voice.

Thunderbirds Vintage Adverts are FAB (but some might make you cringe)

If, like me, you spent your childhood coveting a Thunderbirds Tracy Island playset, then you are probably aware that the minds behind the globally adored TV show for kids (and discerning adults) were not averse to turning the popularity of the characters and settings intro products. The main idea was to drive kids like me into a consumer frenzy (especially around Christmas) and it worked.

What I had forgotten, though, until I watched the video below, is that Thunderbirds were also used to advertise things which weren’t wholly connected to the show.  So, here from the Gerry Anderson channel is a selection of the adverts that you might remember from your childhood.  Although most are aimed at kids – like the Tracy Island playset or the iced lollies, some take full of the intergenerational appeal of the show. So, with tongue firmly in cheek, there are car insurance adverts, not to mention Exchange & Mart if you happened to be looking for a new, used car. Thyere are also riffs on familiar advertising tropes, such as the one for a popular chocolate biscuit brand.

What hits home more than anything is the pretty rampant sexism going on in the ads. Girls are targeted with the first ice lolly made specially for girls (named FAB) because who knew their taste buds were different.  Then there is Lady Penelope taking her pink Rolls Royce out for a spin on Parker’s day off – and needing a little rescue from her insurance company at the end of the day. It’s unlikely these particular adverts (and some of the products) would be made these days unless intended to provoke some kind of furore, but they do shine a certain spotlight onto how things have changed over the years.

Brains doing a breakdance to flog mineral water is now seared onto my brain. 

Amped - Award-Winning 2D Animated Short

You know that time at work on a Friday, just a few minutes before it hits five?  Oh, the anticipation of the weekend, together – of course – with a little downtime in the office.  It’s that magic time when you can relax and take in a few minutes of that ten hour goats screaming like humans video that you have been meaning to watch all week.  Such is the case with the two office workers featured in Amped, which was written and directed by Vincent Salvano.

What sometimes happens on a Friday at close to five is that a load of new work seems to miraculously make it to your desk.  And so our two workers must stay behind and work into the night – except that proves difficult.  However, they both discover a mysterious drink – one which will not only give them the power to stay awake but to enable them to work at speeds they could previously only imagine. If you think that is a cue for things to go wrong, you’re right.

Amped was produced with the support of Pixar Animation Studios Co-op Film Program, and brought to life by a small independent team of artist, including Head of Story Matthias De Clercq, Editor Alia Rezk, Director of Photography Andrew Jimenez and music by - Aaron Daniel Jacob.  Produced by Logan Hester, Amped is a fantastic animated short, reminiscent in some ways of the old Tom and Jerry style, with outrageous actions and reactions in abundance.  Also, don't you think there is something a little Flintstoney about the characters? I can't quite put my finger on what!  It also has something very special – it has great character development and story momentum, quite something to pull of in such a short piece of work.

Oh and watch the end credits - another story in itself!

Saint Michel d'Aiguilhe – the Chapel Built atop a Volcanic Plug

Back in the year 951, a French bishop was celebrating his return from a major pilgrimage. It had taken Bishop Godescalc many weeks to go from his home of Le Puy-en-Velay in France to Santiago de Compostela, almost 500 miles away in Spain and on his return he decided to celebrate. On the route his pilgrimage took, he had visited many shrines and chapels and so he decided to build one himself so that future pilgrims could use it as their own starting point.  As Le Puy had a remarkable geological feature – a volcanic plug 279 feet (85 metres) high, that must have seemed like a very good place indeed to build a chapel. Image Credit

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In fact, Godescalc wasn’t quite the first person to come up with that idea.  The Dean of the local cathedral, Truannas, had previously requested that a chapel be built atop the volcanic plug.  Local chronicles show that at this time the town was being ravaged by plague, and the dean had vowed to Saint Michael the Archangel that he would build a chapel there if the plague ceased.  It did and so, the vow was fulfilled.  Whether Bishop Godescalc’s pilgrimage was also an attempt to alleviate the plague through prayer and penance on his journey has been lost to history, but it is these two men who we must thank for the chapel’s existence.

The Human Waterfall of 1933

People often say they don’t make them like that anymore when it comes to movies – and here is a great example of that.  Go back 93 years (we might as well call it a century) and Footlight Parade was released.  Although the plot isn’t anything to write home about (struggling producer played by James Cagney at odds with the world) it featured a pretty amazing Busby Berkely synchronized swimming dance sequence.

Take a host of swimmer-dancers, throw them into the water and tell them to create a human waterfall. Well, hardly that simple.  Looking at this footage, it must have taken weeks if not months of preparation just to get three minutes on film.  This was made just before the Motion Picture Production Code came into force in 1934 (in a time generally known as “pre-code”).  Although the code had been written in 1930 it was largely ignored for a few years until the point at which films could not be released before they had been given a certificate showing they had met the code’s standards.

As such, the very scantily clad young ladies that you can see here, as well as the camera angles at which they are sometimes filmed, could still be seen today as slightly risqué.   It is scarcely believable that this is almost a hundred years old – as it is almost technically perfect. Plus it is overflowing with a joie de vivre that we simply don’t see much in the moving image these days – and certainly not for minutes at a time.  It may well have fallen foul of the code had it been released a year later, but I think that even though it is a little naughty, it has an innocence to it that is quite charming. Although stunning on the small screen, just imagine how this must have looked in a theater – it must have blown people completely away.  On a slight downside, I wonder how many of these girls had their dreams squashed by Hollywood.  I am sure that many of them must have thought that this was their big break.  Whatever, their fates, I am sure they were pleased with the end product, although I suspect the creation of this amazing number must have meant a lot of hanging around in heavy, wet costumes.

If you would like to learn more about how everyday folks lived in these times, take a look at our People of 1925 feature article.

Extracted

If there are times in our lives that we remember (or think we do) from when we are very young, I expect a visit to the dentist is towards the top of the list for most of us.  This charming film does just that – but through the eyes of a puppy.  Created by VeryTrue Story, this is a charming animated short (and it is short!). 

Extracted is a visually striking short film written and directed by Adam Glickfield, who also serves as executive producer alongside Kristin Almy. The film’s distinctive visual style is shaped by illustrator Renaud Lavency, with animation by Latham Arnott, Arley Cornell, Alex Deaton, Josh Parker, Grant Perdew, Paul Slemmer and Dennis Wardzala. Completing the immersive experience, Jeff Moberg provides the music score, sound design and final mix, bringing depth and atmosphere to this inventive production.

Free GCSE English Posters - Typical Features of Narrative and Creative Writing

Here is a set of 3 A3 posters that you can download for free. They are designed to inform students about typical features of creative (or narrative) writing, specifically for GCSE English.  Having said that, they can be used for any exam board, or even if you are not teaching GCSE English.  I hope that they brighten up your classroom and your students enjoy them.

The posters reflect new information that the AQA exam board will be putting in the mark scheme for Paper 1 Question 5, starting with the June 2026 exam series.  Although these are typical features, they shouldn’t be used as a checklist (although that’s not a particularly bad idea!).  Rather they are intended to visually guide your students towards improving their creative writing by giving them some instructions which are easy to take in and remember.

Above is an example of one of the posters.  Please don’t use this, though – follow thislink and you will be able to download the original PowerPoint slides – the software I used to create the posters.  The posters include tips about twelve typical features of creative writing – perspective, characters, vocabulary, setting, ideas, sequence, shifts, structure, pace, mood, style and sentences. Phew! 

Whatever Happened to Suzi Quatro? Nothing – She is Still Rocking!

It’s so great to share the new song by Suzi Quatro with you.  Yes, you read that correctly. She may have been “off scene” for a while, but the video for here new track, Freedom, shows that she still has rock and roll in her blood.  It’s seared so deeply into her DNA that as the song lyrics at one point suggest – the girl can’t help it.

Suzi Q has been defying stereotypes since the 1970s when she burst onto the music scene as a striking presence - a rare combination of superb beats, great vocals and a fantastic stage act.  So, it is also great to see a nod to her past in the video, with the help of a little artificial intelligence (and this isn’t AI slop when its used to such nostalgic effect).  The song itself is in the vein of her best tunes – lyrically straightforward, non-stop energetic and bursting with  uncompromising joie de vivre.  This is a singer-songwriter who is sublimely comfortable in her own skin and knows exactly what she wants to do and exactly how to do it.  Her performance here seems effortless; it’s simply Suzi Q being Suzi Q for three and a half fabulous minutes.

Released to help build anticipation for her 2026 gigs (she will  be starting off in Scotland in April, making her way through the UK and then over to Germany where the tour will conclude in Wetzlar on 31 October), Freedom feels very much like a celebration of both past and present.  As one of comments on YouTube says: “After all these decades Suzie Quatro still totally rocks and she's 100% unstoppable.”

Watch Suzi Quatro perform Freedom below.

Buddha’s Hand – The Fruit that Prays

Image Credit Wikimedia

The Buddha’s Hand fruit looks, to all intents and purposes, as if it could have been grown in a certain town called Springfield.  As well as a three eyed fish, it would come as no surprise to see the Simpson siblings discover this peculiar fruit, grown as a result of contamination from Mr Burns’ nuclear power plant.  However, this fruit is for real.

Image Credit Flickr User Amyspher

Unsurprisingly, Westerners often react to the plant by pointing out it looks like the hand of Freddy Krueger, not knowing that it was named after a hand millennia before.  This weird citron grows on small shrubs and trees and has a thick peel.  There is hardly any flesh within the fruit – sometimes none at all.  Furthermore it has no juice and often has no seeds either.  So what on earth is the use of this fruit? 

Gorillaz Climb Higher: The Mountain, The Moon Cave and The Sad God

Eight minutes. That’s all it takes for Gorillaz to remind the world why they remain one of the most inventive acts of the 21st century. The Mountain, The Moon Cave and The Sad God is not just a music video - it’s a miniature animated epic that feels like a long-lost feature film distilled into a single, breathless sitting.  

You only need to read the comments below the video on YouTube. So many people had the same reaction: how did eight minutes pass so quickly?  I am pretty sure that many people will watch this three-pronged tail more than just once.

If “On Melancholy Hill” once captured a certain wistful magic, this feels like its older, wiser sibling. Fans have joked that we’ve graduated from a melancholy hill to a melancholy mountain – and that description is pretty accurate.  The scale is grander, the tone more reflective, The emotional stakes higher (oh boy, are they higher). Plus Murdoc gets to have an off-screen love affair - you can't really beat that kiss goodbye, can you?

The story unfolds with deceptive simplicity. The band members live separate lives before converging at the mountain. From there, they journey back towards the lake. Some fans interpret the structure as cyclical - a reincarnation loop where endings are beginnings and loss is folded into renewal. Whether intentional or not, the symbolism feels deliberate. Water, mountains, caves - these are ancient metaphors, and Gorillaz wield them with quiet confidence.

One moment, in particular, left me (and audiences) reeling. For most of the short, not a word is spoken. Then Noodle mouths three simple words: I love you. No sound. No fanfare. Just a fleeting movement of lips before she jumps.

Stylistically, the short is a triumph. The hand-drawn 2D animation has been widely praised as a love letter to traditional craft. In an era of hyper-polished digital gloss, there’s something refreshing perhaps even rebellious about visible linework and painterly texture.  A huge thank you to all involved in the creation of this superlative piece of art.

A mountain, a lake, three unspoken words, and suddenly eight minutes feels like magic.

A Friend of Dorothy – Oscar Nominated Short Film Starring Miriam Margolyes

It’s strange the directions in which life can unexpectedly take you.  This charming short film, starring Miriam Margolyes, Stephen Fry and relative newcomer Alistair Nwachukwu (who looks like his star will shine brightly in the future) is about just that.  Teenager JJ kicks his football into Dorothy’s garden, and knocks on her door to retrieve it.  That’s a lucky break for Dorothy because she has found it impossible to open her daily tin of prunes – and a strong young man is just what she needs to help out.  Maybe she has found the friend she needs...

An almost immediate spark of mutual trust and friendship is ignited – two comparatively lost souls find company in their unexpected shared interest.  To say anything else might mean spoiling the film – it is, after all, very short.  But it is beautiful – and the performance from the two leads are just, well, the only word for it is lovely.  Of course there is the very capable support from Stephen Fry, being very Stephen Fryish and also Oscar Lloyd as Dorothy’s priggish grandson.

The film has quite rightly been nominated for an Oscar (Best Live Action Short Film) which leaves me in something of a dilemma.  Jane Austen’s Period Drama has also been nominated this year and I really don’t know which one should win, both being outstanding.  I'm torn. Can an acdemy award be shared? Please let it be so...

A Friend of Dorothy was written, directed and executive produced by Lee Knight and produced by James Dean, Scottie Fotré, and Max Marlow.  A big thank you to them all for giving us this very precious twenty minutes.

Here is another short video - an interview with the writer and director, Lee Knight and Miriam Margolyes on BBC Breakfast which gives a little more insight into the production of the film and how Lee worked with Miriam.  Best of luck at the Oscars to both of you!

 

Shanghai: the last new aerial footage of the city you will ever see

Authorities in Shanghai have introduced a 120m height restriction for drones.  That means that no one will ever again be able to film the city from that height or above.  Why? It is considered controlled airspace by the authorities – the new restriction is to stop any possible interference with any other aircraft such as helicopters but also because it is close to commercial flight paths and they simply don’t want to take that risk.   Although this is understandable, it’s something of a shame (and apparently the police have been cracking down on it massively).  If Shanghai looks spectacular (any time of day, but especially at night) then it looks like something out of a science fiction movie once the sun has set. 

In something of a homage, lalin photography (a cooperative of five photographers) shot this remarkable footage recently.  Apart from a few frames which explain the current situation, this is a flight without words through the city in the nighttime.  The work is stitched together from drone footage from the last few years which has never been released before. As such, this is probably the last new aerial footage of Shanghai you will ever see.  So, sit back and take in the sites – Nanpu Bridge, The Bund, Huangpu river skyline, Pu Xi, Shiliupu Pier and a host of other places in the city.  This is wonderful work.

The Kowloons - Roll Up - A Proper Slice of Britpop Pie

The Kowloons. I hadn’t heard of them till yesterday but they have been around a few years – and this is their new single, Roll Up.  Maybe it should have been called Roll Back, because this is very, very Britpop (and that’s not a criticism as far as I am concerned).  As far as boxes go, there are a few ticks.  They are from Merseyside, which is always a good sign for a poptastic four piece.  Tick.

Then, half of the band is made up of a set of twins, Stephen Ng (vocals) and Anthony Ng (drums) – I mean, that has to be another tick, right?  Then there is a certain mystery without a tour - I have no idea, for example, whether the band name (from the area in Hong Kong) and the last name of the twins (a common name in China) is anything more than coincidence! Yeah, tick. Completing the lineup are Mason Jones (guitar) and Bobby Griffiths (bass). And two Welsh surnames had to be yet another tick…

You probably know already that I like the song, because why else would I be reviewing it? It’s lyrically spare, but the essentials come across really well. In a nutshell, the song seems to be about going through emotional turmoil or intense feelings, but trying to cope and escape through the night, whether that’s partying, staying up, or just “rolling with it” until things feel okay again.  In other words, have some fun and you’ll be OK.  This is a proper slice of Britpop pie.  I will definitely discover some more of their songs before the sun comes out again.

Watch the video below.

The 88 Butterfly – Nature’s Living Number

If you asked me what I associate with the number 88, my first response would be “wasn’t the Crazy 88 the name of a Japanese gang in Kill Bill Volume Whatever?”.  If I was musical, I could have added that the standard piano has 88 keys.  If I was more aware of other cultures, I could have concluded that in Mandarin, the number 8 (八, bā) sounds similar to 发 (fā), meaning prosper or wealth.  What I would not have said is that it’s a butterfly, found in Middle and South America. But it is.  There is a picture right above this gabbling.  As my grandmother might have said - well, knock me down with a feather. Our sibling site, the Ark In Space, has an article on this most remarkable of butterflies, with a great gallery of pictures to accompany it. 

Image Credit

Armenian Martial Dance – Embodying Unity, Strength and Collective Defence

…And now for something completely different.  As you may know, here at Kuriositas we love a good dance but the videos we showcase tend to be contemporary, in terms of both music and movement. However, sometimes it’s good to sit back and take in the past. This little gem from the Berd Dance Ensemble of Armenia showcases their national dance beautifully, set in the mountains of the country and beautifully shot.  The dance is very masculine, but it should be noted that “Berd” does mean fortress, and is also the name of the dance where the men create towers out of themselves (sadly not in this video).

Armenian martial dance emphasises brotherhood, physical strength, unity and resilience – and you can see from this performance how it was designed to be more than just recreation.  This is cultural team-building and bonding.  The particular dance shown here is traditional from the westen highlands of the country and it is believed that it evolved as warrior initiation dances as well as for agricultural and seasonal ceremonies.  The roots of these dances go back at least 2,000 years.

The costumes, too, are worth noting.  The white caps with red wrapping or scarves are the traditional regional headgear from Western Armenia. The red fabric tied around the cap adds colour contrast and helps visually unify the group on stage. Red is a traditional Armenian colour symbolising strength and vitality and you can also see it in their embroidered waistcoats.  The whole ensemble is topped by the grey, shaggy vests which suggest mountain or shepherd origins. Armenian armies often drew on rural levies, so aspects of everyday village dress influenced the appearance of light infantry.  Oh and let’s not forget the waistband and trousers? Superb!

Twenty One Pilots - Drag Path

Drag Path started as an exclusive bonus track on the Twenty One Pilots 2025 album Breach (Digital Remains edition) and that meant that only the fans who bought the special edition could hear it – at least at first.  However, the song went viral on TikTok and so now, in a slightly edited form, the band responded to fan demand and released it as their new single.  This is only right – the song has become a cultural moment, grabbing hold of the zeitgeist with both hands and giving it a good shake.

The song is about the emotional traces that we leave in life, whether they be memories, scars or reminders of people or events that shape us – as well as connection and being found in hard times. The video to accompany the song is something special, and reflects the lyrics in certain ways. It tells the story of a young rabbit, who joins his elders at dinner where they share their memories of their past lives (and some of the pictures they share foreshadow what comes later).  Unfortunately, they are not alone – a mysterious and frightening beast approaches their idyllic moment with evil intent…

I'm not going to include any spoilers - watch it yourself and see how it ends. Made in detailed stop‑motion with a beautifully circular structure, the visuals feel hand‑crafted and expressive, matching the song’s emotional depth.  The end is something of a deus ex machina, but one which cannot fail to satisfy the legions of fans who have campaigned for this song to be released as a single for quite some time now. Written and directed by Tobias Gundorff Boesen and made at The Animation Workshop, this video is really something quite special.

I am scratching my head a little as to how this came to be a Twenty One Pilots video, as it originally accompanied Slow Show by The National (we covered it back in 2012). I guess the answer is who cares?  It's great to see the animatrion (filmed in the forests surrounding Viborg in Denmark) have a renaissance and it fits the song perfectly. 

The Chinese Sky Road Built on a Precarious Mountain Ridge

If you don’t like heights, don’t press play.  Yet do. This sky road in China not only gives visitors the opportunity to take in some breath-taking nature, but the aerial footage here allows us to experience it from even higher up than it is already.  The forested mountains which Daobeiliang Highway in Shizhu County, Chongqing crosses are staggeringly beautiful and the presence of wind turbines among the clouds is something of a surprise (but the winds must pick up quite a speed up there, so it does make sense).  Often called a “Heaven Road” by the locals, you will soon see why!

The engineering is a marvel, the Qiyao mountain landscape breath-taking.  Those cliffs look huge, and I find it difficult to imagine how the road was built  - I certainly don’t think I would have liked to be one of the construction workers (although for those who love heights, this would have been the job of a lifetime). So take a trip along this sky road.  You will either want to be there or be happy that you’re not.  I don’t think there is an inbetween, to be honest!

Inner

A battle rages on a distant planet, yet it is not at all like our own.  It is an organic world where white blood cells and viruses have evolved into humanoids and as they have evolved, so too have their methods of warfare.  Amidst the carnage, a white blood cell soldier takes his viral enemy captive.  Yet the prisoner of war and his captor develop a bond, one which could mean the end of conflict.

I won’t pretend to understand the real biology behind this very entertaining animated short, made by ESMA students in France.  It works for me, though!  Directing credits go to Jonah Montier, Simon Brejoux, Gibril Siline, Carla Kaddam, Tess Benedetti, Justin Phillipps, Nolwenn Queval, Claire Alberny and Lucie Gonzalez with music provided by Adèle Chavy.  Sound is by Tristan Le Bozec, Sébastien Fournier, and José Vicente, with voices by Nesrine Tkitek and Jonah Montier.  As usual, the visual feast that is an ESMA production far surpasses my expectations – it is, after all, a student film.  Yet this can stand up and be counted among professional productions, such is its production quality and visual storytelling.

Martial Arts Robots! China's Spring Festival Gala delivers Jaw-Dropping Performance

Talk about Kaylon’s Got Talent… This is dazzling stuff - a host of humanoid robots performing martial arts with youthful human partners.  Yet these performers are not from Isaac’s homeworld: this is China.  When people remark that this is going to be the “Chinese Century”, it’s difficult to disbelieve them when you watch a show like this.  This year’s Spring Festival Gala from Beijing (broadcast by the China Global Television Network) saw humanoid robots join forces with Young Fu artists to deliver a jaw-dropping martial arts performance (see below).  It has, naturally, very quickly gone viral since the gala aired on 16 February.

These robots, child-size and so perfectly matched against their pre-teen opponents, moved in perfect synchronisation with the performers (with only the occasional slight wobble). They executed precise martial arts routines that blended centuries-old traditions with cutting-edge robotics.  Plus, the kids seem to be having a lot of fun, too (and no Kaylon-style revolution either, although that might have been interesting to watch).  

Yes, this might count as a form of soft propaganda, but flipping heck, I love it.  The robots were developed by Unitree Robotics, based in Hangzhou in eastern China’s Zhejiang province (and not owned by the Chinese government, as it happens). As technology becomes embedded into national celebrations like these, I wonder what we in the West can come up with to compete with this (or perhaps we don't have to?).   Answers on a postcard, please...

Now you have seen the illusion, as it were, take a look at the bigger picture.  The video belows goes into the details behind the Unitree Robotics spectcacular performance.  I have to admit to a nagging worry about these robots being weaponized, but perhaps I have been watching The Orville (and other movies and shows) too much.  Yet my blood did run ever so slightly cold when the taller robot came out towards the end of the performance, jian sword in hand. Time will tell, but I am quite happy that my last name isn't Connor right now. Sorry for mixing my sci-fi metaphors.

The Incredible Elephant Stables of Hampi

You have quite likely never heard of Hampi. Yet in the year 1500, it was the second-largest city in the world, surpassed only by Beijing. Situated in the Vijayanagara district of the Indian state of Karnataka, Hampi was the epicentre of the medieval Karnata Kingdom, part of the Vijayanagara Empire. Founded in the 1330s, this Hindu empire ruled over most of South India. A symbol of royal power and military might, its rulers maintained vast numbers of war elephants, both as a display of authority and to use to stunning and brutal effect in military campaigns. They were, quite literally, the tanks of their day.

Image Credit

We do not know precisely which ruler ordered the construction of the magnificent stables to house his most valuable elephants, but it was most likely Krishna Deva Raya, who ruled from 1509 to 1529 at the height of the empire’s power. The elephant stables remain the world’s only surviving example of this type of architecture. It stands as a rare reminder of how architecture, power, and animals were once bound together in the making of empire. Above you can see part of the interior; the mahout entrance has been mysteriously bricked up, probably to discourage after-hours visitors.

Jane Austen's Period Drama (2026 Oscar Nominated)

This short film is bloody wonderful.  Erm. I suppose I could have described it a little less appropriately – let’s just say that it brought out my inner Ron Weasley for a second.  As far as Jane Austen adaptations go, this may not be quite what you were expecting – but it does at least have all the right ingredients.  In fact, the Jane Austen references are everywhere.  And so they should be.

To begin with, there are three sisters, much along the lines of Sense and Sensibility.  They are around the same age as Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret Dashwood but here instead we have Miss Estrogenia “Essy” Talbot (Julia Aks), Miss Labinia Talbot (Samantha Smart) and Miss Vagianna Talbot (Nicole Alyse Nelson).  And yes, if you hadn’t guessed this is a comedy, then you just have. I hope.  You have also probably guessed what constitutes the period drama too. Let other keyboards dwell on guilt and misery, though; this is just for fun.

The Janeite world-building is thorough, although it might make a few uber-purists run for the smelling salts (or dash to the gin cabinet). We have the father who retreats to his study whenever things get a little uncomfortable (shades of Mr Bennett in Pride and Prejudice), and the even more uncomfortable fact that all his daughters are as yet unmarried. Of course, in those days it was a truth universally acknowledged, that a single woman in possession of no great fortune, must be in want of a husband.  And it looks like Essy is about to be the first of the Talbot girls to get hitched.  She has managed to attract the attention of the handsome, brooding, slighly dim Mr James Dickley, played by Ta’imua (great chemistry between the two leads, by the way).  However, the drama of the title comes into play very quickly. Could this be the end of the Talbot-Dickley union, before it has even fully started?

You can watch and find out, the film is below. What involvement Emma Thompson had in the project I cannot tell you, but she is listed as Executive Menstrual Advisor.  Shame there was no Thompson style weeping in the film… but it is a comedy after all. What I can tell you, though, is that it was written by Julia Acks (Essy in the film) and Steve Pinder. The talented duo also directed the film.  What I enjoyed about it most of all is the script, which is very sharp, knowing, contemporary and extremely funny – a gift to any actor who can keep a straight face long enough.  I imagine there were one or few bloopers made while filming.

Not only is it all of the above, it is stylistically so in keeping with the way period dramas are made in terms of the way the whole thing looks – perfect, really.  Plus the casting of the sisters is spot on – you can create an Austenesque backstory for each of them the moment they utter their first words.  Having watched this, I was hardly surprised to see that this has been Oscar nominated for Best Live Action Short Film.  Fingers crossed that this beats the opposition into bloody (ah, did it again) submission and comes out on top.

Fungtopus? The Incredible Fungus that Looks Like an Octopus

This is Clathrus archeri.  Looking every inch the result of a GM experiment gone wrong, it resembles a strange cross between a toadstool and an octopus.

Yet this is not the result of some subterranean gene-splicing enterprise to bring the world a spore-bearing cellaphod (for whatever reason that might be).  This is exactly how nature intended the Octopus Stinkhorn.  The shape and form you see here is an integral but short-lived part of its life-cycle.

Image Credit Flickr User Jose Delgar

That’s AI (Artificial Intelligence)

Everyone seems to have an opinion on AI, don’t they? Even my octogenarian mother referred to it recently as “slop” – and I have no clue where she got that term from because she doesn’t exactly doomscroll, but she still managed to catch the zeitgeist with the word of the day. In fact she doesn’t exactly go on the internet; she’s quite proud of that fact, in fact. I imagine she picked up the term from one of her more tech savvy friends – they regularly meet for horrific amounts of caffeine and to put the world to rights (I refer to them collectively as The Coven – and that’s a term of endearment).  In this short comedy video, their US male counterparts are, I imagine, doing a similar sort of thing.

A couple of old fellahs are chewing the cud and taking in the world when they spot an athletic young man doing gymnastic flips in the park.  Very impressive flips.  Too impressive flips. One of them immediately declares “That’s AI” as he has seen things like that on his Instagram (and here they are really beginning to sound like the aforementioned coven).  Before long they are surrounded by a large group of people, all of whom have their own herd opinion about whether or not that’s AI in front of them.

This funny comedy short was written and directed by Sebastian Lopez. It stars James Stallworth as Zee and Claudius Pratt as John. The flipper is Mads Egerlund and let’s not forget Trumpet Guy who is played by Karim Theilgaard. A short note here – go and try and find anything about Mads Egerlund (who plays the flipper).  Apart from references to this short, you won’t.  And that can only mean…

Cruz Beckham (and don’t forget The Breakers!) – For Your Love

Spare a thought for The Breakers.  I don’t know if they are just Cruz Beckham’s band (in a Cliff Richard and The Shadows kind of way) or just hired musicians who have come in for this single. Yet they don’t even get a name check until part way through the video and even then, they don’t get one on the YouTube title for this video.  Regardless, I’m happy to remain blissfully unaware of their true connections with the third child of David and Victoria Beckham (who I think made their money selling used cars, or on Love Island or, well, something like that).

I wasn’t even going to press play, but I did, and was pleasantly surprised – so much in fact that I thought I would let you make your own minds up too.  I think if Blur and Oasis had a secret love child with Kula Shaker and Deep Purple, then the child might grow (metaphorically) to be something like Cruz Beckham (and The Breakers, don’t forget The Breakers).  This is Cruz’ third single (apparently) after Optics and the very unappealingly titled Lick the Toad (I am not curious).  It does rock in a gentle kind of rocky manner and Mr Beckham has a pretty good voice.  That sounds like I'm damning with faint praise but I genuinely did enjoy this.  But, am I the only one to think Cruz is vaguely reminiscent (looks-wise) of a youngish David Bowie?  Not sure about the moustache, though. Really not sure about the moustache.

Anyway, the video has a cute little intro and outro, which adds well to the overall effect.  But best of all is that this is a good tune, a bit of a toe tapper, a three minute poptastic popgasm. So, yes, we like it. Watch For Your Love below.

The Big Push – Personal Jesus: Probably the Best Buskers in the World

The Big Push are a UK band who first became known for their powerful street performances in Bristol and Brighton, blending rock, reggae, hip-hop, soul, and folk into something completely their own. They’re known for raw musicianship, fearless reworking of well-known songs, and performances that feel immediate, energetic, and alive.  If that sounds like something that might appeal to you, hang around.  You’re about to watch a bravura performance of a Depeche Mode classic. Or a Johnny Cash classic. Or a Marilyn Manson classic.  It has been covered by many artists and The Big Push have now joined that particular pantheon.

This is their take on “Personal Jesus”, stripped back, intense, and full of attitude, showing exactly why their live videos have captured such a huge audience.  It was shot last summer on Ship Street in Brighton.  The locals seem to love it to!  Watch the video below and see if you agree with me - that The Big Push are probably the best  buskers in the world.

The Duke of Wentworth - Starring Timothy West

Family outings can go awry, especially when they are intergenerational.  In The Duke of Wentworth we have doddery old grandad (played wonderfully by the late, great Timothy West), his daughter and her hubby, plus the most recent addition to the family – a little baby girl.  Things don’t quite go to plan when baby needs changing, leaving grandad to his own devices for a while amidst the splendour of the stately home.  Then – of course – a group of American tourists mistake him for their tour guide…

You may remember Timothy West in major British dramas that reached global audiences, such as his portrayal of Winston Churchill in The Gathering Storm, the acclaimed BBC/HBO production, or as Sir Leicester Dedlock in Bleak House, broadcast on PBS’s Masterpiece Theatre. More recently, he appeared as Jeremy Lister in Gentleman Jack, a BBC–HBO series that gained a strong following in the United States, reinforcing his reputation as a commanding presence in historical and literary drama.

This short film was created to showcase Wentworth Woodhouse Country House in the English county of Yorkshire - and it looks resplendent. Yet West is the true star - absolutely in his element as he proceeds to lead the (highly gullible) American visitors around the house, confidently feeding them increasingly absurd nonsense about its history.  Watch it and have ten minutes of fun below.

10 Spectacular Radio Telescopes around the World

Take a whistle stop tour of some of the most spectacular radio telescopes in the world and find out about what actually goes on there. On almost all of the continents these giants command the landscape as they survey the skies.

Image Credit Flickr User CHUCKage

Radio telescopes can be found the world over. They are used in radio astronomy, the science of studying, at radio frequencies, celestial objects such as galaxies and stars as well as more difficult to understand phenomena such as Masers and Pulsars. They also collect and track data from space probes and satellites that we have shot up in to the atmosphere and space. Here are some of the more significant and – in terms of design – beautiful radio telescopes in the world.