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audreycj-things · 4 years

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[𝓫𝓵𝓸𝓰 𝓽𝓱𝓻𝓮𝓮] Why League of Legends’ K/DA is Slaying the Music Scene

Have you ever stumbled across social media posts about a virtual girl group called K/DA? You know, the one with a pretty nine-tailed fox girl? Rings a bell? Well, you should have because this year, the group has been continually spoiling us with breathtaking music and visuals. K/DA regularly tests the limits of that border between virtual reality and actual reality, so it’s no surprise that they’ve gained a strong fan base beyond the gaming world in just a few months.

Before anything else, what is League of Legends?

Popularly abbreviated as LoL or League, League of Legends is a multiplayer online battle arena video game developed and published by Riot Games in 2009. It is often cited as the most popular game in the world, both competitively and casually.

The mode most people are familiar with takes place in one map called Summoner’s Rift. In this mode, a game involves two teams of five members. All players assume the role of chosen champions, which are characters with unique abilities and characteristics. The goal is to destroy the opposing team’s Nexus, a structure that lies at the heart of their base. Along the way, there are plenty of obstacles and objectives that can easily turn the game around.

For me, league is incredibly fun when I get all my friends into voice chat and play with them. It’s been a great destressor for me whenever online classes overwhelm me too much. Cheers to my friends who are always down to play with me!

Well, what is K/DA?

K/DA is a virtual girl group consisting of four themed versions of League of Legends characters, namely Ahri, Akali, Evelynn, and Kai’Sa.

Ahri (voiced by K-pop group (G)I-dle member Miyeon) is a nine-tailed foxgirl mage in League, who is one of the most popular characters in the game. In-game, her abilities revolve primarily around dashing around and a Charm ability which forces enemies to walk towards her. In K/DA, Ahri and Evelynn serve as the main vocalists.

Akali (voiced by K-pop group (G)I-dle member Soyeon) is an assassin-type character who weaves in and out of the darkness and throws kunai (a Japanese tool and weapon) at opponents. In K/DA, Akali is the rapper of the group.

Evelynn (voiced by American singer Madison Beer) is, similar to Akali, an assassin-type character, whose lore is centered around being a succubus. In K/DA, Ahri and Evelynn serve as the main vocalists.

Kai'Sa (voiced by American singer Jaira Burns) is a marksman character in the game. According to her lore, after spending most of her life trapped in The Void, a horrific alternate dimension, she returned as a killer who zooms around and shoots missiles from cannons floating above her shoulders. In K/DA, Kai'Sa is the main dancer of the group.

The group was developed by Riot Games, the company behind League of Legends. The concept around K/DA was based on Riot’s desire to create more musical content, promote the League Worlds Championship, and sell in-game K/DA skins of the characters. And the name “K/DA” is actually an in-game term that refers to a player’s kills, deaths, and assists. Talk about creativity!

Needless to say, K/DA has achieved significant popularity within and beyond the league community. Aside from flooding social media platforms with official posts and fan-made content, the group is breaking YouTube records and charting on Billboard’s world lists. It’s a perfect case of virtual reality transcending the boundaries of the 2D world.

How are they dominating the world?

Simple: by releasing banger songs paired with equally stunning visuals!

[1] POP/STARS (2018)

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POP/STARS was released as a single on November 2, 2018 as promotion for the 2018 League of Legends World Championship. It became popular with one of the fastest viewership records for its music on YouTube. Commercially, the song topped the World Digital Songs chart, making K/DA the fourth K-pop girl group to top the chart and fifth female act overall.

[2] THE BADDEST (2020)

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The Baddest was released as a single on August 27, 2020. It is also the lead single from K/DA’s extended play All Out. It is the group’s first song since POP/STARS in 2018. The song was accompanied by a lyric video which was uploaded to League’s to official YouTube channel.

[3] MORE (2020)

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More was released as a single on October 28, 2020. It is also a single from K/DA’s extended play All Out. It features Seraphine, League’s newest champion who was initially introduced as a virtual influencer on Twitter and Instagram.

[4] VILLAIN (2020)

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Villain was released as a single on November 14, 2020. It is also a single from K/DA’s extended play All Out. The song was accompanied by a concept video which was uploaded to League’s to official YouTube channel.

BONUS: SERAPHINE CONTENT

As established earlier, Seraphine started out as a virtual influencer on Twitter and Instagram. Before professionally stepping into the music industry, she began in the comfort of her home, doing songs covers and uploading them to YouTube. (She is voiced by Jasmine Clarke.)

Well, her covers are absolutely amazing. Here is my most favorite one. I hope it blesses your ears as much as it did mine!

☆ CHILDHOOD DREAMS

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#league of legends #gaming #music #k/da #blog post

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audreycj-things · 4 years

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[𝓫𝓵𝓸𝓰 𝓽𝔀𝓸] My Top Five I.T. Career Choices

Are you a current or aspiring student of the information technology department? Are you having trouble with what job to take once you’ve completed your four years of torture college? If that’s two yeses, you’re in luck because in this blog post, I’ll be sharing with you the possible careers I’m considering on taking after I graduate.

But before that, let me share with you how I became a part of the Computer Studies department in the first place!

A Back Story of My Career Dilemmas

Roughly three years ago, upon approaching my senior high school years, I was dead set on taking the path towards becoming a lawyer. Hence, I enrolled under the Humanities and Social Sciences strand. (I no longer remember why I wanted to take up law though.) A few self-evaluations later, I realized I wanted to become a medical professional, specifically a neurosurgeon. I can attribute this to familial expectations, the many Korean dramas I watched, and my desire to improve the country’s healthcare system, to help people, and to be one of the few doctors with nice handwriting. And so, I shifted to the STEM strand up until I graduated.

During my last few months in senior high, I underwent personal dilemmas on what I really wanted. Amidst my extended family’s career expectations for me, my wise mother constantly reminded me the reality of medical professionals’ work. She emphasized the importance of your college program being a product of your own choice rather than everyone else’s expectations. And so, I was no longer sure of what program to take in college. At this point, I was already panicking, especially after seeing how confident my peers were with what career they had in mind. All I knew is that I was completely clueless of what to become and that I am a fairly versatile individual who always tries her best in whatever situation and opportunity she’s thrown in. (I’m known to be a jack-of-all-trades type of person.)

Seeing my struggle, my mom recommended me to consider the I.T. field. As a college professor and her university’s official representative to local and international seminars, she has witnessed and understood the potential and significance of professions under this field. Although hesitant at first—mostly because I haven’t been too exposed to opportunities that allow me to acquire advanced computer-related skills (not including the ones I learned in my basic education’s computer classes)— I gave her suggestion some thought and decided that I shall take up the challenge.

And so, here I am, enrolled as a Computer Science student in the tech savvy Malayan Colleges Mindanao.

My Top Five I.T. Career Choices

Before anything else, allow me to explain briefly about the I.T. field that I plan to be a part of. This is for you to be able to catch up with what I’m trying to say, especially since there are going to be various technical terms from here on. And who knows? I might spark your interest in giving this career path a try!

According to Computer Science Online, the information technology industry operates across a range of industries, such as healthcare, finance, education, and entertainment. Broadly, information technology can be defined as the use of computing via various components (e.g. hardware, services, software) to develop, manage, transform, share and store information in different forms. Careers in information technology deal with the design, creation, management, and maintenance of the varied components of the system, including software, hardware, networks, systems integration, and multimedia.

[1] COMPUTER PROGRAMMER

The number one thing that I absolutely want to become is to be a computer programmer.

Following Technopedia’s definition, a computer programmer is a skilled professional who codes, tests, debugs, and maintains the comprehensive instructions known as computer programs that devices should follow to execute their functions. Computer programmers also conceptualize, design, and test logical structures to solve computer issues. Programmers make use of specific computer languages like C, C++, Java, PHP, .NET, etc. to convert the program designs developed by software developers or system architects into instructions that the computer could follow. They often refer to code libraries for simplifying their coding and might build or make use of computer-aided software tools to automate the coding.

I’ve always been awestruck of how coding works. It amazes me how a series of words and symbols arranged in a definite order will result to apps, websites, and other various software—even this word document I’m using under Microsoft Office! It’s surreal how each element of this software functions in such a smart and creative manner, especially when you know it as merely words and symbols in its raw form. I want to be able to do this by developing and learning all the knowledge and skills a good programmer should possess. Afterall, one should aim for excellence first; success will follow.

[2] SOFTWARE DEVELOPER

Another career that I would love to have is to be a software developer.

According to CollegeGrad, software developers are the creative minds behind computer programs. Some develop the applications that allow people to do specific tasks on a computer or another device. Others develop the underlying systems that run the devices or that control networks. Software developers oversee the entire development process for a software program, including testing and maintenance. They design the program and then give instructions to programmers, who write computer code and test it.

Admittedly, I prefer doing the back-end job of a programmer. I don’t really love leading a team in a somewhat creativity-based project. However, the idea of initiating and facilitating the coming-to-life process of a computer program seems incredibly fulfilling. If ever I do become a software developer, I would probably create a computer program that will be of use to hospitals and schools. In fact, my mother encourages me to consider developing an enrollment system someday. No pressure.

[3] DATABASE ADMINISTRATOR

My third option is to become a database administrator.

According to Learn How to Become and Wikipedia, database administrators are responsible for establishing databases for organizations in all sectors of the economy in accordance with their specific needs in order to ensure that data is readily accessible for efficient and effective use by anyone with permission to use it. They use specialized software to store and organize data. Their role may include capacity planning, installation, configuration, database design, migration, performance monitoring, security, troubleshooting, as well as backup and data recovery.

A database administrator’s job appeals to my perfectionism. The idea of being in-charge of keeping everything organized is a huge but ultimately fulfilling challenge.

[4] CYBER SECURITY CONSULTANT

Another career I have in mind is to be a cyber security consultant.

Top Universities emphasizes that maintaining cyber security in the modern world has become increasingly important, so a cyber security consultant’s role focuses on understanding the risks to the security of information or data. I would have to analyze where security breaches may occur or have occurred, and restore or reinforce systems against such breaches, to ensure that confidential data is protected. This role could include ‘ethical hacking’, meaning deliberately attempting to hack into my employer’s network to expose any weaknesses. Alternatively, I could work as a computer forensics analyst or investigator to combat the increasing phenomenon of cyber-crime.

I can attribute my attractions towards this career to the movies I’ve watched that portray hacking (or anything of the sort) to be cool. In several action movies, I always felt excited when seeing characters getting out of a tight, life-and-death situation with their cyber security-related skills. Although now I know that there’s more to this job than hacking—which they only do for testing reasons, otherwise it would be a crime—it still appeals to that part of my self that craves for thrill. In hindsight, the chances of coming across serious cyber security situations (like a government cyber security breach) here in the Philippines is quite low compared to other countries, so I guess my thrill-seeking self won’t be too satisfied if I work locally.

[5] GAME DEVELOPER

My last and fifth career choice is to become a game developer.

According to Top Universities, game developers produce games for personal computers, games consoles, social/online games, arcade games, tablets, mobile phones, and other handheld devices. This role splits into two main parts. First, there’s the creative side of designing a game and dealing with the art, animation, and storyboarding. Second, there’s the programming side, using programming languages such as C++.

I fit into the second part of developing game—the programming part. Although I’d rather invest on computer programs that are of use to the community, helping create a game seems like a fun way to apply coding. In hindsight, games are not just limited to the “fun” aspect because they offer more benefits than entertainment, so I guess I’m still helping the community in a way. I play games myself, especially the MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) game called League of Legends. I understand and have experienced that one can learn, acquire, and hone skills (like strategy planning, enhanced reflexes, analysis) from playing games, especially complex ones. Furthermore, one can create and maintain friendships with games, as well as improve their self-confidence.

OVERALL...

Computer programmer, software developer, database administrator, cyber security consultant, game developer… whatever my career will be, I hope I’ll love what I’ll do and contribute something to the betterment of the community.

I also hope to prove some family members wrong about IT-related jobs being insignificant, that graduates under this program just “end up in computer shops.” While managing and maintaining a computer shop is a noble job, there’s so much more to the professions under I.T. that are constantly being overlooked and taken for granted. We are literally living in the digital age, yet many people still don’t appreciate this field enough. Hopefully, I’ll be able to enlighten and inspire people to try this career path and be a part of the tech savvy community.

Wish me luck in my journey!

#career #computer science #information technology #blog post

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audreycj-things · 4 years

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[𝓫𝓵𝓸𝓰 𝓸𝓷𝓮] 12 Studio Ghibli Films to Revive the Child in You

Since the early 1980s, Studio Ghibli has produced the most visually stunning and financially successful animated feature films that walked viewers through magical worlds of playful forest spirits, walking castles, and princess goldfishes. While the animation powerhouse mostly delves into fantasy themes, it has also created notable films centered on coming-of-age stories and post-war realities that Japan faced. Studio Ghibli's influence extends far beyond its home country, greatly influencing filmmakers, animators, hopeful viewers, and the animation film industry itself.

Studio Ghibli was founded by two friends and longtime collaborators, Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. The two spearheaded many of the studio’s masterpieces in the past four decades, stubbornly ensuring that they’re centered on artistry and empathetic storytelling.

Studio Ghibli films appeal to a wide range of demographics because they treat children as actual thinking individuals, and they make adults explore their buried feelings in unexpected ways. A lot of people find comfort in these films with their masterful quality, emotion-evoking themes, and timeless feel.

As of writing, there are 22 Studio Ghibli films. Below are 12 of my most favorite ones that have greatly influenced how I see the world. (Note: these are not in any particular order because all of them are amazing!)

[1] FROM UP ON POPPY HILL (2011)

Set in 1963 in Yokohama, Japan, From Up On Poppy Hill follows Umi Matsuzaki, a high school girl living in a boarding house, and Shun Kazama, a charming member of the school’s newspaper club. Together with their fellow schoolmates, they fight to save their school’s beloved clubhouse from a demolition order by the school chairman. Meanwhile, the city is bustling after the recent World War and is preparing for the upcoming 1964 Summer Olympics in nearby Tokyo.

The film lacks the usual fantasy elements found in most of the studio’s other films, but it surely does not disappoint as a slice-of-life melodrama. There’s something about it that makes me feel nostalgic and whimsical — perhaps it’s the chivalrous Shun, the united spirit among the young students, or the concept of a young girl using the naval flag language to try to communicate with fallen sailors killed in combat.

[2] THE CAT RETURNS (2002)

The Cat Returns is a spin-off of Whisper of the Heart. This film follows Baron, the magical cat in Whisper of the Heart, in his adventure when he meets Haru, a schoolgirl who can talk to cats. After unknowingly saving the cat prince, Haru is forcibly escorted to the magical world of cats as the soon-to-be-bride of the prince. With the help of Baron, a grumpy cat, and a reliable crow, Haru tries to escape the cat world before turning into one for good.

I love the film’s wit and weirdness, especially the fun friendships among the quirky characters. I also appreciate the themes of identity interwoven in the story about embracing rather than repressing one’s gifts, strange as they may be.

[3] ONLY YESTERDAY (1991)

Only Yesterday is one of the studio's non-fantasy films. It is a contemplative, realist drama that follows Taeko, an unmarried 27-year-old woman, who travels to the countryside to get away from the city. The film regularly rotates between the present and the past as Taeko contemplates her mundane life and her unfulfilled childhood dreams.

The film made me feel nostalgic and strangely sad. It made me pause and think about my dreams when I was younger, about how I let them go due to the harsher experiences that squished my childlike wonder and innocence. Watching the film made me think about how the past can feel like it was not that long ago — like it was only yesterday. I also appreciate the integration of underlying themes that examine the role of women in Japanese society.

[4] WHISPER OF THE HEART (1995)

Whisper of the Heart is a captivating film about growing up and young romance. The film revolves around 14-year-old Shizuku, who becomes intrigued of a boy who happens to check out the same books she borrowed from the school library. The story follows the pair’s budding romance as they pursue their respective aspirations for the future. Baron from The Cat Returns first appeared here as well.

The main thing I love about this film is how empathetic and respectful it is by treating its teenager characters as actual thinking individuals with valid thoughts and feelings. It provides reassurance over us about approaching the seemingly daunting future. The special rendition of “Country Roads” is such a hit, too!

[5] THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETY (2010)

The Secret World of Arriety takes place in a world where tiny people live alongside unknowing human beings. These tiny people “borrow” essential items from human households while trying to stay undetected. The film follows Arriety, a 14-year-old “borrower” who becomes friends with a human named Shō during his summer visit at his great aunt’s home.

The most captivating element of the film is its rich, imaginative visuals. It’s like walking through a classic fairy tale. It also made me wonder about the possible secrets that the universe might be keeping — are we the only living beings out here? Could it be that there are other entities living alongside us without our knowing?

[6] PONYO (2008)

Ponyo is a film that revolves around the titular character, a goldfish who escapes from the ocean and is saved by five-year-old Sōsuke when she washes ashore. From then on, the story centers on Ponyo’s strong desire to become human, an event that would bring devastating circumstances to the world’s natural balance.

Many viewers have pointed out the film’s similarity to the classic The Little Mermaid. While they share the concept of the ocean girl wanting to become human, Ponyo is much more complex; as consistently shown, Ponyo’s desires and actions are endangering human and ocean civilizations. The film’s bright visuals and chirpy theme song suggest that it is more catered to younger audiences. Nevertheless, it still captivates viewers from different demographics with its fantasy and folklore-inspired themes.

[7] HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE (2004)

Howl’s Moving Castle is set amidst a futile war that’s powered by advanced technology and magic. The story follows Sophie, a beautiful milliner who unexpectedly meets a witch that curses her and turns her into an old woman. In her journey to the countryside in search of a cure, she meets the handsome yet troublesome wizard named Howl, who lugs around with him his humongous yet strange “moving castle.”

Hayao Miyazaki allegedly made this film as a response to the war in Iraq. Behind its highly detailed imagery, it depicts how war and violence can destroy the human soul. I also appreciate the themes of female empowerment woven into the plot.

[8] GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES (1988)

Grave of the Fireflies is another anti-war film that follows siblings Seita and Setsuko in Kobe, Japan, after the country’s surrender at the end of World War II. Since losing their mother to a bombing in their neighborhood, the two face hunger, disease, and homelessness. From then on, the story illustrates their struggles and small joys amidst the dire circumstances, up until their very last breaths.

The film is admittedly not for very young audiences due to its dark themes and visuals. After all, it is about two helpless children whose existences fall in a harsh and unforgiving time. It’s eye-opening and haunting to witness their situation and realize that thousands of other children are going through the same thing right now.

[9] SPIRITED AWAY (2001)

Spirited Away follows 10-year-old Chihiro, who passes through to another realm full of gods, spirits, monsters, and magic to save her kidnapped parents.

This film has got to be the most famous Ghibli film there is, rightfully so with its stunning visuals, breathtaking soundtrack, and enchanting story. While the story plays around the wonders of the natural world and the fantastical entities that inhabit it, it also depicts themes about courage and belonging. It’s a true classic in the animation powerhouse.

[10] KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE (1989)

Kiki’s Delivery Service follows a determined young witch named Kiki and her sarcastic cat named Jiji in their adventures while finding their way into the world.

The film is noticeably a coming-of-age story that depicts the in-between time in which a young person is establishing their identity yet reliant on adults at the same time. It is inspiring and empowering in the sense that it encourages confidence and adventure during times of confusion and growing up. Kiki truly embodies that strong, independent woman vibe!

[11] PRINCESS MONONOKE (1997)

Set in an altered version of 13th century Japan, Princess Mononoke depicts the conflicts between the animal gods who protect the forest and the humans who want to cut it down to mine iron.

In the philosophical sense, the film illustrates man’s relation to the natural world. It makes one ponder on how humankind can coexist with the world that has been here long before it. With its stunning visuals and intricate storytelling, it allows the viewers to dwell on its underlying themes about humans, human nature, technology, moral complexity, and the natural world. I also appreciate how the film takes inspiration from various Japanese folklore — it’s amazing how rich and intricate these old stories are, despite being (probably) mythical.

[12] MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO (1988)

Last but not the least is the classic and iconic My Neighbor Totoro. The film follows two young girls and their father as they move into an old countryside house, closer to the hospital where the girls’ mother is recovering. During their stay, the girls befriend the spirits of a nearby forest, including the titular character, Totoro.

In a way, My Neighbor Totoro is the face of the Studio Ghibli films. It is frequently plastered on merchandise that fans love to buy as memorabilia. Up to this day, Totoro remains to be one of the most iconic characters of modern animation. With its endearing characters and imaginative elements, the film is such a delight to watch over and over again. It is also a great film for children; the idea of befriending a fluffy rabbit-like spirit and a gigantic cat-bus would surely drive their imagination wild!

I hope you give these amazing gems a try. I promise you won’t regret it!

Sources: [1] [2] [3]

#studio ghibli #films #anime #blog post

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