Animation is a form of filmmaking
that is often related to second-tier
status, something just for kids. This is by both the organisations giving out
the awards and also by the very guilds
that are meant to be promoting their member’s work. However, they are not second-tier films, and in many ways, it is the animated films that are pushing
the frontiers of filmmaking and what is possible, and they should be championed
for the work that they do.
Animated films can be hand drawn, stop/clay motion, computer generated, it does
not matter, but all of them show amazing techniques of hundreds of artists that
bring the work to life.
So without further ado, these are the animated films that showed us the glory
of animation in 2018. Be warned that there may be some slight spoilers ahead
for the films in question.
There are many techniques you can use to help build
your world, or ground your setting, or give dimensions to your characters. You
can use music, you can create elaborate sets, but one of the best ways is the costumes
you create.
People make instant judgments about a character within moments on the screen
and the outfits are a really important part of that first impression. More than
this, you can also use costumes as a way for storytelling, what do they say
about this world, what do they say about how a character is progressing.
Costumes can build worlds, tell us details we can only see, but also they can
just make us say ‘hot damn’ look at that beading on that dress, that must have
taken hours to do. So without further ado, these are the costumes
that made us say ‘hot damn’ in 2018. Be warned that there may be some slight
spoilers ahead for the films in question.
One factor that I will always look out for with a film and that is the musical score. I can get caught in the world of the music, as it sits in my head in the days, weeks and months that come. There is immense artistry in weaving emotions from music, having us slip into the world that is created, fear the oncoming dread even if we do know why, or rejoice in the triumph of that final victory.
Music charts the cinematic world, it guides us, it can lift us up, and it can crush our souls, this is its power.
Before we start, an honourable mention has to go to Deadpool 2 for having the gumption to get Céline Dion to sing a completely straight rendition of the title theme, over some of the most ridiculous film titles. So without further ado, these are the musical score that moved us in 2018. Be warned that there may be some slight spoilers ahead for the films in question.
A good Action sequence is something that is truly amazing
to watch, as it can be as expansive as explosions crashing across the screen,
or more intimate, like a duel between two people. This gives the best action
scenes such a range and in 2018 we were given some truly amazing spectacles.
For me the best action scenes are those that excel in every element, whether
that be live actions, special effects, digital effects, or animation and bring
every facet to shine. It is also the category that looks at some of the department’s people don’t often fully
understand like stunt coordination or the 2nd unit.
So without further ado, these are the moments of action that awed us in 2018.
Be warned that there may be some slight spoilers ahead for the films in
question.
Tension is one of the most difficult
facets of filmmaking to pull off because
it requires the script, direction, acting, and editing to all work in tandem to
evoke the perfect pace. If just one part of that group misses then the most
important part of the film falls apart.
In 2018 we continued to see some excellent use of tension used to build mystery, or to be the harbinger of the coming
dread, or even the ticking clock of inevitability.
So without further ado, these are the moments of tension that kept us on the
edge of our seats in 2018. Be warned that there may be some slight spoilers
ahead for the films in question.
Cinematography is an art form that
can be as bold as a gong crashing after a moment of silence, or as subtle as
the tide coming in. It is something that elevates
a film to the heights of accolade or turns a film into a frustrating mess when it misfires.
While at the heart of cinematography is the Director of Photography or
Cinematographer, to get something from the script to the final shot takes a
whole team of professionals, and it is their talent that we champion today.
So without further ado, these are the moments of cinematography that took our
breaths away in 2018. Be warned that there may be some slight spoilers ahead for the films in question.
Pachacuti of the Inca in Civilization 6 Gathering Storm. Image Credit: Firaxis Games
Inca Bonuses
Civilization Leader: Pachacuti Leader Agenda: Civilization Capital: Qusqu Civilization Bonus: Mit’a – Citizens can work Mountain Tiles (Production, Also Food if next to a Terrace Farm) Leader Bonus: Qhapaq Ñan – Domestic Trade Routes get bonus food for Mountain Tiles in Starting city, Can Build the Qhapaq Ñan an early Tunnel. Unique Unit:Warak’aq – Reconnaissance Unit, can attack twice if it still has movement points Unique Tile Improvement: Terrace Farm – Can only be built on Hills, + Food, + Housing, gets bonus food for adjacent Mountains, + production for adjacent Aqueducts, + production for Fresh Water Adjacency Rivers: Ucayali River
Inca Analysis
Goodness,
there have been production and food civs in the game so far, but nothing quite
pans out as much as the Inca do in Gathering Storm.
The first big change is unlike every other civilization in the game, The Inca
can work mountain tiles, which means that since you want to be near them for
your Terrace Farms, they are no longer dead weight. This will also boost your
Science and Faith Districts that like Mountain adjacency.
Indeed, it is these Terrace Farms that provide such a strong bonus working
great adjacency weather they are near mountains, or rivers, or both. Yes, they are tempered by the fact that you
need hills, and if you are unlucky with that you could be a bit stuffed.
However, I always get at least some hills in a start before. I mean these might
knock Australia’s Outback Station off the best tile improvement spot.
The other bonuses are all nice, but really it is the food/Production nexus that
really makes the Inca stand out, and this means that they will be a very flexible
civilization, giving you the ability to switch up which victory you go for.
Inca First Look
You can check out all the Features in Civilization VI: Gathering Storm HERE and join in the discussions at the Civfanatics Forums
By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Twitter Here, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.
What Civs would you like to see in Civ 6 Gathering Storm?, let us know what you thought in the comments below, feel free to share this review on any of the social medias and you can follow us Here. Check out all our past reviews and articles Here, and have a happy day.
Civilization Leader: Wilfrid Laurier Civilization Agenda: Civilization Capital: Ottawa Civilization Bonus: Four Faces of Peace – Cannot declare Surprise Wars or be the Target of one, + extra Diplomatic Favour for completing Emergencies (bonus extra based on Tourism) Leader Bonus: The Last Best West – Can build Farms on Tundra, and then latter Tundra Hills, Cost of purchasing Tundra & Snow tiles is reduced, Double extraction of Strategic Resources on Snow & Tundra tiles Unique Unit: Mountie – Light Calvary Unit , Can Create a National Park, Get Combat Bonus being near National Parks Unique Tile Improvement: Icy Hockey Ring – Only can be built on Tundra & Snow, Only one per City, + Appeal & Amenities, + Culture based on adjacent Snow & Tundra tiles (bonus if next to a Stadium), +Tourism, Production & Food from Tech Tree Mountain Ranges:Mackenzie Mountains,
Civilization Leader: Kupe Civilization Capital: Te Hokianga-nui-a-kupe Civilization Bonus: Mana – Begin the game with Sailing and Shipbuilding unlocked, +Stregth & Movement to Embarked Units, Bonus production to unimproved Woods and Rainforest. Fishing Boats provide +food and culture bomb adjacent tiles, but can not build Great Writers. Leader Bonus: Kupe’s Voyage – Begin the game on an Ocean Tile, first city gets a free builder + 1 population, Palace gets bonus Housing and Amenity, Science and Culture production starts before you settle your first city. Unique Unit: Toa – Enemy units adjacent get – Combat Strength. Can build the Pā – Built on Hills, + Defence Bonus and Healing for units that end their turn on it. Unique Building: Marae – +Culture and Faith to a city tiles with a passable feature. +Tourism after Flight. No Great Art Slots Mountain Ranges: Tiritiri-o-te-moana,
Māori Analysis
Today the Maori join Civilization 6 in the Gathering Storm expansion.
The Maori have appeared before in Civilization 5 as part of the Polynesian Civ, with both Maori Warriors as their unique unit and several locations appeared on the Polynesian City List. However, this is the first time they have been the focus of a civilization in the Civilization series.
Their big bonus is that you can get some time to float around the ocean and pick your best first city site without being penalised, this gives the Māori an incredible flexibility.
Māori First Look
You can check out all the Features in Civilization VI: Gathering Storm HERE and join in the discussions at the Civfanatics Forums
By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Twitter Here, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.
What Civs would you like to see in Civ 6 Gathering Storm?, let us know what you thought in the comments below, feel free to share this review on any of the social medias and you can follow us Here. Check out all our past reviews and articles Here, and have a happy day.
TL;DR– When everything is even what system you use to tabulate the votes will have a marked change on the outcome.
Article –
Throughout the year in my other job I have been teaching classes on Political Science, specifically Australian Political Institutions. On the week where we discussed voting systems one of the things that we mention is that how you chose to formulate your electoral systems can have dramatic impacts on the outcome of elections i.e. who gets what seats in parliament. However, while this was clear I didn’t have a good example to show. Well, I had some free time at the end of the year and this question had been bugging me so I decided to work through the data myself to see if there was such a big difference and it does, boy does it ever. Now, for those who are not familiar with Australian Politics, we have presented a little primer next, as well as a general overview of the project, but if you are familiar you can skip down to the data below.
