Introduction

Hey all. So I'm about to be out of college now and this gives me a chance to express some of my thoughts I've had to people and most importantly to my friends out there. I'm 23 years old and I'll be graduating with a B.F.A. in film. I thought it would only be appropriate to start this blog out with giving you a general outline of what I like on a timeline of my growth. So here it goes:
So when I was in Elementary school, I liked watching 90's Nickelodeon, Fox Kids, and Kids WB! Aside from mostly watching Nick, TVwise I also watched the original Power Rangers. In 3rd grade in about 1998, I joined the Pokemon craze. I didn't get the GameBoy game Pokemon Red until I was in 5th grade though by 1999-2000. (my all time favorite GameBoy game!)
I discovered Star Wars during these years. The Death Star toy became my prized possession lol.
I also discovered Beast Wars (which got me into the whole Transformers sagas) and began reading Animorphs, both I believe when I was in 2nd grade to 4th/5th grade. Beast Wars was awesome and Animorphs was too until it scared the shit out of me. (lol oh those days)
My first exposure to Japanese culture was quite in fact watching all the original Godzilla movies. All these movies hold a special place in my heart honestly. W/o these, I don't think I would have gotten a deeper appreciation of Japanese culture and never would have bothered with anime and RPGs. I owe it all to the godly, scaly granddaddy monster of them all, and my early childhood hero.
During the first half of Middle School, I sucked more into the Pokemon craze, playing Red and Gold versions and collecting the trading cards ( I sucked at playing them). I also happened to discover Digimon when I was in 5th grade. I honestly grew to like this series so much more than Pokemon. It showed me the values of courage, friendship, and teamwork, this series will always be one of the favorites of my childhood.
By 2000 I also joined the Harry Potter craze. After reading the first book, I immediately read the next 3 soon after and was hooked. Having completed the entire series now along with the movies, this also holds a special place in me as a piece of wonderful fantasy literature and cinema, which by the time it all ended, I felt like a part of my childhood had drawn to a close.
Also in 2000, I saw the first Matrix. It horrified me, but at the same time it pumped a sense of inspiration and hope that stirred in me like I never felt before about the world. A great eye-opening film for me and for the world at the time.
Invader Zim came on Nickelodeon when I was in 6th grade, this show was one of Nick's last of its golden age and one of its best.
I also began collecting some issues of X-Men (Ultimate mostly) and Spider-Man during these years.
While watching Cartoon Network Toonami included, during these years, I really liked Powerpuff Girls and some Dragonball Z.
Batman Beyond was epic.
During 6th grade, PlayStation was my first and cherished game console. Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, FFIX, Chrono Cross, and the original Dino Crisis gave me lots of good memories amongst other titles. FFIX (Final Fantasy 9) particularly, being my first serious RPG and Final Fantasy, and to this day my all time favorite, as one of the best games/RPGS, best FF in my book.
During 6th and 7th grades anime I watched included: Cardcaptors, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Medabots, Digimon, and Pokemon (but not for much longer)
By the time I was in 7th grade I was finally introduced to the world of Tolkien. Before knowing Tolkien, I always thought, what could legend could possibly be more thought out and have more expanded universe than Star Wars? Well on expanded universe I was probably right but certainly not with the "thought out." My English teacher at the time was a big fan of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. He made us read The Hobbit and it quickly became one of my favorite stories. Having to see the LOTR films as well added to my awe of Tolkien.
By 8th grade I got a PS2. Jak and Daxter filled in the gap of my life where Crash and Spyro had left me and FFX (Final Fantasy X), my first PS2 game, quickly became one of the games I loved the most.
By the end of 8th grade, I discovered Cowboy Bebop. The anime's intensity and graphic nature simply blew my young mind. This series definitely broke a lot of grounds and holds so much praise for its story, ideas, art, action, and philosophy. I never finished it until 11th grade (I was watching them every once in awhile on Netflix) An amazing series. I also watched the films, Akira and Ghost in the Shell during that year. Both mind-blowing anime, much different than CB in nature, but provocative all the same.
By High School I got more into PS2 gaming. Notable titles included the first God of War, the original Devil May Cry and DMC3, the original KillZone, Jak II,  SW Battlefront II, Driver 3, the King Kong movie game, and the Guitar Hero games between HS and into early college. I honestly missed out on a lot of good games during these years, regretfully so. Although I tried out Counter Strike on PC (and failed at it miserably) Both of the the original DMCs titles took up most of my time as I was crazy addicted to Dante's over-the-top cinematic like combos.
Some movies I liked during HS included: both Kill Bill films, the Spider-Man movies, V for Vendetta, the first two Underworld movies, and the Bourne movies.
TVwise I watched Smallville (my favorite thing of Superman), Monk, American Idol, and That 70's Show.
Anime wasn't so prominent still during my HS years, not until college at least, but I did begin to watch Samurai Champloo, the same makers of Cowboy Bebop during my Senior year, and it quickly became one of my favorite things involving samurai.
Also, just before college, I watched one little, incredible movie. This movie was Donnie Darko. It holds yet another special place for me as it has so many interesting ideas and philosophies, questioning our very purpose as people and showing us that life has a meaning for all of us. For me, this movie reminds me just how spellbinding life really is.
By the time I got into college, anime really blossomed much more than it ever did, especially for me. I remember during my Freshman year I watched Death Note, Samurai 7, FLCL, Appleseed, and DN Angel. I tried out Desert Punk but couldn't last.
This year was also a turning point in gaming for me. This was the year I got my Nintendo Wii during the Fall 2007 holiday season. Super Mario Galaxy along with Wii Sports and Wii Play which came with the package were my first Wii games. During my Sophomore year in college, I got Brawl. I loved the creativity and imaginative world of Mario Galaxy, each level bringing a creative and exciting challenge and the graphics were simply beautiful. I also loved the competitive and physical feature Wii Sports had, and was the perfect game to play with friends. Brawl became one of my favorite fighting games, being competitive and enjoyable at the same time. I also played Resident Evil 4 for the first time.
Movies I really liked during that year included: Cloverfield, Ironman, Kung Fu Panda, and The Dark Knight.
During my Sophomore year I watched more anime including: Neon Genesis Evangelion (now holding a special place in me and one of the greatest anime ever), Death Note, starting Higurashi, Ninja Scroll, trying out Darker than Black, Ergo Proxy, Gravitation, Gunslinger Girl, and the Devil May Cry anime, none of which lasted with me. I also read the Death Note manga as I was finishing the anime.
Movies I liked during this year included: Underworld Evolution, Coraline, Watchmen, Star Trek,  Funny People, and I actually saw Eternal Sunshine for the first time during this year even though the movie was already 5 years old. I thought it was terrific and really moving. I also watched Dr. Strangelove for the first time, and this wet my appetite for Kubrick films.
One movie I'd like to mention particularly however which really stood out for me was District 9. You've probably heard me talk about this movie if you've hung around me enough. I can't even stress enough how amazing this movie really is. It feels like a documentary and its so realistic it's disturbing. It really shows how prejudiced humans are and the cruelty we unleash on each other. This movie has a lot of heavy themes but it executes them so well, for me, this is one of the greatest films ever made.
During my Junior year anime I watched included: Genshiken, Higurashi, High School of the Dead, Black Rock Shooter, Evangelion 1.0, This Ugly Yet Beautiful World, and Vexille. I also tried Ouran High School Host Club but couldn't last. Genshiken may I mention is one of the funniest things I've ever seen and reminds me so much of MSU's own Japan Club haha.
I also began reading Gantz. It is now my favorite manga. I also started reading Evangelion: Shinji Ikari Raising Project, one of the alternate universes to the show.
Movies I liked during that year included: Ninja Assassin, Alice in Wonderland, Kick-Ass, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Inception, and Toy Story 3. I also watched 2001: A Space Odyssey, now my favorite Kubrick film, and Let the Right One In, the Swedish film.
I didn't play much even though I got a PS3 but only had Devil May Cry 4 on it and Bayonetta. I continued to play Brawl and Mario Galaxy.
In my Senior year anime I saw included: Appleseed Ex Machina, Evangelion 2.0, Summer Wars, Higurashi, Axis Powers Hetalia, Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei, Steamboy, X-Men the anime, and I tried out Black Butler and Dragonball Kai. I'm now rewatching season 1 of Digimon.
I played much more during this year including: Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Mortal Kombat vs. DC, Mortal Kombat 9, God of War III, Fatal Frame II, Twisted Metal 2, returning to Twisted Metal 4, and Marvel vs. Capcom 2, and Final Fantasy VII. Going into my Super Senior year I've also played Final Fantasy XIII and continuing Bayonetta.
Notable movies have included: Tron Legacy, Catfish, Super 8, X-Men First Class, Deathly Hallows Part 2, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Insidious and Let Me In. I've also recently watched Dogma. I'm now rewatching Lord of the Rings.
I've also had a surge of returning into comic reading- I have a ton of X-Men to catch up with. House of M was terrific and The Dark Phoenix Saga, although I haven't finished it yet, is super.
I'm now on the revolutionofevangelion.org forum
Vocaloids has brought new reason to live.
Well, that's just about it, phew, that was a bit long lol.