Magical Mirai is an annual event for fans of Hatsune Miku, a virtual pop star and singing synthesizer software. It celebrates the creative community that has formed around her and showcases various aspects of her art, including concerts, artwork, merchandise, and more. As part of the Magical Mirai event, a series of limited edition merchandise called Nendorkids are released each year. Nendorkids are small figurines that are designed to resemble Hatsune Miku and her friends. They are highly collectible and sought after by fans of the virtual pop star. Each year, a new set of Nendorkids is released, featuring different characters and designs.
Each year, a new set of Nendorkids is released, featuring different characters and designs. These figurines are typically sold in blind boxes, meaning that the buyer does not know which character they will receive until they open the box. The Magical Mirai 2021 Nendorkids feature a variety of characters from the Hatsune Miku universe, including Hatsune Miku herself, Kagamine Rin and Len, Megurine Luka, and more.
H.P. Lovecraft’s Witch House Review
PLOT: A college student who believes geometry is the key to inter-dimensional travel starts having terrible nightmares in a house where a witch may have carried out human sacrifices.
REVIEW: First published in the pages of Weird Tales magazine in 1933, legendary horror author H.P. Lovecraft’s short story The Dreams in the Witch House has been brought to the screen twice before. Once for the 1968 film The Crimson Cult, which had an impressive cast that included Boris Karloff, Christopher Lee, Barbara Steele, and Michael Gough. That was such a loose adaptation, Lovecraft wasn’t even given credit. Decades later, Stuart Gordon gave Lovecraft credit and kept the title intact for his 2005 contribution to the Masters of Horror series. Now the story has gotten the low budget indie treatment with director Bobby Easley’s new film H.P. Lovecraft’s Witch House (watch it HERE)… and this really goes to show how much of a tough act Stuart Gordon is to follow.
Easley’s Witch House was filmed at the historic Hannah House in Indianapolis, Indiana, a place that is said to be haunted – but for the purposes of this movie, the Hannah House (as it is still referred to by the characters) is in a town named after a Lovecraft location, Miskatonic. The character we follow into this place is college student Alice Gilman (an actress credited as Michelle Morris on the film itself, but as Portia Chellelynn in the marketing), who is working on the theory that sacred geometry is the key to inter-dimensional travel. It just so happens that a previous tenant at Hannah House did crack the secrets of inter-dimensional travel and you would think that stories of this might be what inspires Alice to rent a room in the place. After all, the Gilman character in Lovecraft’s story purposely moved into the Witch House because of its history. But that’s not the case here. Alice simply moves into the Hannah House / Witch House because there’s a vacancy and her violent ex, who once beat her so badly that she miscarried their child, is on the loose. She needs a place to hide out while working on her theory, so the Hannah House it is. As soon as she enters the house, she feels like she belongs there. And the “suggested geometric shapes” in her attic room are perfect for her studies!
Alice’s housemates in this place are her landlady Etta (Shonda Laverty), Etta’s deeply religious, alcoholic brother Joe (Joe Padgett), and Etta’s niece Tommi (Julie Anne Prescott), who is around the same age as Alice. Etta and Joe are only a presence for key moments, but Alice ends up spending a good amount of time with Tommi – who helps her look into the history of the Hannah House. Which is when she finally finds out she’s living in a “Witch House”, as it used to be home to Keziah Mason (Andrea Collins), a servant girl who was accused of carrying out human sacrifices – the sacrificed being children – and was burned at the stake. Tommi also manages to seduce Alice so easily, it’s like she’s James Bond levels of irresistible, leading to a gratuitous sex scene. Paving the way for more gratuitous moments of nudity and scenes of Alice in her underwear. But given that the best Lovecraft adaptation we’ve ever seen (Stuart Gordon’s Re-Animator) features a gratuitous scene where a nude female is assaulted by a severed-but-living head, it’s tough to fault other Lovecraft-inspired filmmakers for trying to spice up their movies with bare flesh.
The story of Keziah Mason inspires Alice to work occult symbols into her studies and to look up the Necronomicon. She also starts having intense nightmares about occult practices, Keziah, and the witch’s buddy Brown Jenkin. If you’re familiar with the source material, you’ll know that Brown Jenkin was described as being a rat with a human face, something that Gordon was able to effectively bring to the screen for his adaptation. Of course, this one didn’t have the budget necessary to create Brown Jenkin, so the character is represented through shots of a regular rat and a scuzzy-looking human. While Alice is there dreaming, someone is stalking around the town of Miskatonic, abducting children. It looks like history is repeating itself. And somehow, even though Alice is an established Lovecraft fan – she’s reading Lovecraft the first time we see her – she never ponders how it could be that she’s living something similar to The Dreams in the Witch House. Maybe she’s too terrified. Maybe the adaptation is too loose. Or this oversight could be explained by the final moment of the film, which will have many viewers groaning and rolling their eyes.
Much of Witch House’s mercifully short running time is dedicated to the nightmares Alice has. Trippy sequences that are soaked in colorful lighting. Easley has said that he was drawing inspiration from Italian genre filmmakers while making Witch House, so the lighting must be his tribute to Mario Bava and Dario Argento. The nightmares are certainly the most visually interesting parts of the movie, as the low budget is very apparent in the overall look of the film. A cheap look is easily overcome when the story and/or characters are interesting enough… but the storytelling here is very messy and scattered, and the characters aren’t interesting. So Witch House very quickly becomes frustrating and difficult to sit through. My favorite thing about it was the fact that the end credits kicked in after just 75 minutes.
Witch House might find some appreciative viewers who are intrigued by the strangeness of the dream sequences, but I found the film to be poorly crafted and a bit of an endurance challenge. As far as adaptations of The Dreams in the Witch House go, I would not recommend this one… but if you do check it out, at least it won’t take up much of your time.
Witch House is now available on Digital, VOD, and DVD.
The story of Keziah Mason inspires Alice to work occult symbols into her studies and to look up the Necronomicon. She also starts having intense nightmares about occult practices, Keziah, and the witch’s buddy Brown Jenkin. If you’re familiar with the source material, you’ll know that Brown Jenkin was described as being a rat with a human face, something that Gordon was able to effectively bring to the screen for his adaptation. Of course, this one didn’t have the budget necessary to create Brown Jenkin, so the character is represented through shots of a regular rat and a scuzzy-looking human. While Alice is there dreaming, someone is stalking around the town of Miskatonic, abducting children. It looks like history is repeating itself. And somehow, even though Alice is an established Lovecraft fan – she’s reading Lovecraft the first time we see her – she never ponders how it could be that she’s living something similar to The Dreams in the Witch House. Maybe she’s too terrified. Maybe the adaptation is too loose. Or this oversight could be explained by the final moment of the film, which will have many viewers groaning and rolling their eyes.
Each figurine is meticulously designed and painted, capturing the essence of the character it represents. They are made from high-quality materials and are highly detailed, making them a must-have for any Hatsune Miku fan. In addition to the Nendorkids, Magical Mirai 2021 also features a range of other merchandise, such as t-shirts, keychains, and accessories. These items often feature the same designs as the Nendorkids, allowing fans to show their love for the virtual pop star in various ways. Magical Mirai is not only a celebration of Hatsune Miku and her music, but also a chance for fans to come together and connect with others who share their passion. It is a vibrant and exciting event that brings the virtual world of Hatsune Miku to life, and the Nendorkids are just one of the many ways fans can participate in this celebration. Whether you are a die-hard fan or just discovering the charms of Hatsune Miku, Magical Mirai is an event that shouldn't be missed..
Reviews for "The Phenomenon of Nendorkids: A Magical Mirai 2021 Perspective"
1. Jack - 2/5
I was really disappointed with the Magical Mirai 2021 Nendorkid. The performance was lackluster and didn't live up to the hype. The visuals were underwhelming and didn't enhance the experience. Overall, I felt like I wasted my money on a subpar show.
2. Emily - 1/5
I had high expectations for the Magical Mirai 2021 Nendorkid, but it was a complete letdown. The concert felt uninspired and lacked the energy that I typically associate with Hatsune Miku concerts. The setlist was also disappointing, with a lack of variety and memorable performances. Overall, it felt like a rushed and poorly executed event.
3. Sarah - 2.5/5
The Magical Mirai 2021 Nendorkid was an average experience at best. The visuals were decent, but they didn't do much to enhance the overall performance. The pacing of the concert felt off, with some songs dragging on while others felt rushed. Additionally, the atmosphere in the venue was lackluster, taking away from the overall enjoyment of the show. I expected more from an event that has built such a dedicated following.