Popcorn and Pixels

In Episode 13, Vanessa and Emily dive into two pieces of media that center around stories of immigration and resilience: Venba and Minari.How do these two stories tackle different perspectives of immigration and the first-generation experience? Is this the BEST P&P pairing so far? And, of course, which piece of media made Vanessa and Emily cry more? Venba is available across all major consoles and PCs; Minari is available on Amazon Prime, FuboTV, and Apple TV. 

In Episode 12, Vanessa and Emily explore two pieces of media that have a hidden heart beneath their rugged surface: Dinner in America and Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus.What connects these two different stories? How does Wolfenstein II hold up in today's world? And WHAT were Vanessa and Emily like in high school? (I'm sure you can already guess.)Dinner in America is available on Hulu; you can find Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus on the PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

In Episode 11, Vanessa and Emily dive into two pieces of media that center around actresses and how their art impacts them across a non-linear narrative: Immortality and Millennium Actress.Who are The One and The Other? Which Satoshi Kon movie is the BEST? And how do these two stories explore the relationship between art and artist?  Immortality is currently available for Android, iOS, PC, Mac, and Xbox Series X. Millennium Actress is available on Crunchyroll, Pluto TV, and more

It's the big 1-0! In Episode 10, Vanessa and Emily explore two narratives centered around female characters and the horrifying cat-and-mouse games they find themselves in: Ready or Not and Night Trap!How is this the first time Vanessa has ever played or heard of Night Trap? Is Grace Le Domas one of the 21st century's defining Scream Queens? And is Night Trap THAT good of a game (spoilers, it's not)? Ready or Not is available on Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV; you can find Night Trap - 25th Anniversary Edition on the PC, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch.

In Episode 9, Vanessa and Emily delve into two stories that center around man hunts and the endless cycle of violence: The Last of Us Part 2 and No Country for Old Men. Is The Last of Us Part 2 still the source of heated debates? Does No Country for Old Men paint an accurate depiction of Texas? And have the Coen Brothers played The Last of Us? We think they should. The Last of Us Part 2 is currently available for the PS4 and PS5. No Country for Old Men is available on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV. 

In Episode 8, Vanessa and Emily explore two narratives that center around relationships in harsh environments, specifically, a curmudgeonly loner of a man and his young capable female ward: True Grit (2010) and The Last of Us. Are Westerns and Post-Apocalyptic media more similar than we realize? Why is True Grit (2010) one of Vanessa's favorite films? And how come Emily didn't pick a ding-dong Western game? True Grit (2010) is available on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and MGM+; you can find The Last of Us on PS4, PS5, and PC. 

In Episode 7, Vanessa and Emily dive into the depths of two stories that feature unreliable narrators AND tattoos: Bioshock and Memento. Now, Would You Kindly listen to this episode?    Bioshock is currently available across PC and Consoles; Memento is available on HBO Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and for rent on Youtube. 

In Episode 6, Vanessa and Emily delve into two wild and wacky narratives about love and life: The Night is Short Walk on Girl and PaRappa the Rapper. How do these two pieces of creative media connect? Why aren't there more Rom Com video games? What is the hardest level in PaRappa the Rapper? And take a shot everytime Pharuhad (Vanessa's cat) chimes in during the podcast. The Night is Short Walk on Girl is available on Amazon Prime Video and Youtube for rental; you can find PaRappa the Rapper remastered on the PS4 & PS5 digital store.

It's the end of the world as we know it! In Episode 5, Vanessa and Emily explore two stories that question what it means to be human at the end of it all: Season: A Letter to the Future & Seeking a Friend at the End of the World. How do these two stories balance levity within their weighty topics? Why do we forget to go outside and touch grass? And is this Popcorn & Pixels' MOST emotional episode yet?Season: A Letter to the Future is available on Steam, PS4, and PS5; you can find Seeking a Friend at the End of the World for rent on Apple TV, Prime Video, and YouTube. 

In Episode 4, Vanessa and Emily delve into two haunting narratives that, on the surface, are not what they appear: We're All Going to the World's Fair and Inscryption. What similarities do Indie Horror Films and Indie Horror Games share? What do these artistic experiences reveal about ourselves? And is there a super special BONUS MINI PP Pairing at the end for Skinamarink? You'll have to listen to find out! We're All Going to the World's Fair is available on HBO Max, Amazon Prime, and Apple TV rental; you can find Inscryption on the PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, and PS5.

It's time to Wake Up, Get Up, Get Out There! In Episode 3, Vanessa and Emily explore two stories centered around disenfranchised teens who are let down by the world and adults around them: Persona 5R and Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. How else do these two pieces of media connect? Is Nightmare on Elm Street 3 the greatest in the franchise? And who is the best romance option in Persona 5R? Persona 5R is available for the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and PC, and A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors is available to rent on Youtube, Amazon Prime, and Apple TV.

In Episode 2, Vanessa and Emily delve into two artistic narratives centered around an endless cycle of control, Phantom Thread & Deathloop. How do these two pieces of media connect? What constitutes a "good" or "bad" ending? And does Daniel Day-Lewis play video games? We have no idea but if you do, let us know! Deathloop is available via the Playstation Store, Xbox Game Pass, and Steam, and Phantom Thread is streaming on Netflix and for rent on Amazon Prime.

Did you know that Films and Video Games can pair like Fava Beans and a nice Chianti? Every other week, Hosts Vanessa Guerrero and Emily Rose Jacobson explore the artistic and narrative similarities between Films and Video Games by challenging each other to pair the perfect Popcorn and Pixelated Combo! For their first episode, Vanessa and Emily explore two war stories that take markedly non-jingoistic takes on their respective tales, Valiant Hearts: The Great War & Jojo Rabbit. What do they have in common? How many side tangents do they naturally wander down? Why did they pick two stories that made them both cry at the end for their introductory episode? Valiant Hearts: The Great War is available on all gaming platforms and Jojo Rabbit is streaming for rental on Amazon Prime.