Story x Story

This week, Nigel and Tazziii are overrun with memes as they dive deep into A Minecraft Movie (starting at 21:12), with our guest Danni Unbox, an Award-Winning Tech, Gaming & Lifestyle Creator.It's a story based on the best-selling video game of all time, but one we went in with little to no expectations... so did it deliver? We take a serious look at a decidedly non-serious story to pick apart the journey to save the creative spirit!We examine the very fast-paced plot, eclectic characters, and loose themes to see if it all works as a coherent story, debating which moments work and whether the story's themes manage to break through the chaotic energy of the plot to resonate effectively. This week's storytelling tip is about how not to do character exposition.Other stories we're enjoying include: Minecraft (Xbox), AtomFall (PC), Pirates of the Caribbean (Disney+), Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye (Cinema), The Unaware Atelier Meister (Crunchyroll), The Brilliant Healer's New Life in the Shadows (Crunchyroll), Solo Leveling (Crunchyroll), Wild Card (Netflix), Superstore (Netflix), GTA V (PlayStation/Xbox/PC), Astrobot (PlayStation), Black Mirror (Netflix).Connect with Danni Unbox online:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BigboxlittleboxunboxInstagram: http://instagram.com/bigboxlittleboxunboxTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/biglittleunboxTikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@bigboxlittleboxunbox

This week, Nigel sits down with Fahim Motahar, an Animator on the Cbeebies show Nikhil & Jay, to discuss his journey from studying journalism to finding his passion in animation - a path that led him to one of the most ground-breaking preschool shows in recent times. We hear how his early love for '90s cartoons and supportive parents, who exposed him to various creative activities across cultures, inspired him to pursue animation as a career. This experience prepared him to join a team of over 30 animators in creating the show's initial 52-episode run. This episode is great for anyone wanting to learn more about the animation process and what it's really like working on a new show for a major distributor. We also get to dive into anime influences along the way!Connect with Fahim online:- Website: https://fahimation-art.webflow.io- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fahimation_art

This week, Nigel and Tazziii sit down with C.B. and Tom, the husband and wife team also known as à la mode games, to discuss their journey from part-time to full-time indie game development! In a bumper interview, we delve deep into both the technical and human side of bringing a video game to market with a team doing it for the very first time. We get to hear insights into how their technical and creative backgrounds prepared them to bring their debut game "Sorry We're Closed" to life, including the challenges and lessons learned along the way to developing and marketing a game for real. This is a must-listen if you're planning to make your first game, or interested in the behind-the-scenes of working on a creative project with a close friend or significant other.Connect with à la mode games online:- Website: https://alamode.games- Twitter: https://x.com/alamodegames- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alamodegames- Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/alamodegames.bsky.social

This week, Nigel and Tazziii are going alone as we fly south for the winter with our deep dive into DreamWorks' emotional ride, The Wild Robot (starting at 20:44).It's a new spin on the fish out of water story and one that tugs hard on the heartstrings and makes us question whether kindness can be a survival skill. But does its somewhat predictable plot impact the emotion of its journey?We examine how a narrative that revolves around robots and animals manages to tell such a human story about adapting to harsh environments, parenthood, friendship and growing beyond your programming. This week's storytelling tip is about designing a Fool Triumphant narrative journey.Other stories we're enjoying include: Slime ISEKAI Memories, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Four Seasons, Resident Alien, Gangs of London, Sakamoto Days, Thunderbolts*

In this Rewind episode, we're bringing you the audio from our monthly Studio77 Report with Nigel and Tazziii discussing their reactions to the hotly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 console!Join us as we break down the recent Nintendo Directs and views on the console itself, from newly revealed specs, including surprise inclusion of 4K gaming… to the surprise increase in pricing. We'll share our reactions to the hardware features, launch titles from Mario Kart World to third party, and what this means for Nintendo's next generation of gaming.You can catch the Studio77 Report live on Twitch and YouTube each month: https://www.twitch.tv/mayamada and https://youtube.com/mayamadatv

This week, Nigel and Tazziii upgrade their operating systems to metaphysical levels for a dive deep into Spike Jonze's scarily accurate Her (starting at 26:52), with Comic Creator Nathan Hawthorne and Community & Member Engagement Lead Sara Veal as guests.Even over a decade old, we discuss how relevant this story is to today's world post mass ChatGPT adoption. Even in its pastel tones, it manages to capture our growing dependence on AI companions from a professional and relational level...but does it work as a narrative beyond its foreshadowing?We examine its surprisingly human themes of moving past the pain of breakups, loneliness in a technologically connected world, and what our relationship with AI means for our relationships with the flesh-and-blood people around us, debating which themes about what makes love special for humans resonate effectively. This week's storytelling tip is about creating a meaningful job role for your protagonist.Other stories we're enjoying include: Wild Card: Let the Tarot Tell Your Story (Book), You (Netflix), It Takes Two (Xbox), Dr Stone (Crunchyroll), Beastars: Final Season Part 1 (Netflix), Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (Crunchyroll), Campfire Cooking in Another World (Crunchyroll), The Witch Hat Atelier (Manga), The Apothecary Diaries (Manga & Crunchyroll), Vinland Saga (Netflix), Daredevil: Born Again (Disney+), South of Midnight (Xbox), Sinners (Cinema).Connect with Nathan online:Website: https://www.hawthornearts.comTwitter: https://x.com/hawthorneartsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hawthorneartsConnect with Sara online:Twitter: https://twitter.com/digitalbruhahaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalbruhaha and https://www.instagram.com/sirena.curiosa

This week, Nigel and Tazziii sit down with Roshelle Patterson, a UX Researcher and Writer, to discuss her journey from serving in the U.S. Air Force to working in the video games industry across both AAA and indie titles, including Blizzard's World of Warcraft: The War Within and the climate-focused indie project Waves of Jeju. We hear how she navigated her path with intention and a desire to positively impact others. Join the conversation and discover how taking stock of what motivates you can lead to opportunities that are the perfect fit for you. This is a must listen for anyone worried about missing the “conventional” path to games...there is none!Connect with Roshelle online:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roshelleantoinetteEmail: roshelleantoinette@gmail.com

This week, Nigel and Tazziii explore what it means to be an introvert, extrovert and everything in between in the creative industries with Bridget Banton, television executive and founder of Dear Creative Gurl.In this candid conversation, we delve into what makes different personality types tick and how they manifest in professional settings. From navigating networking events to managing energy levels during meetings, we share invaluable insights from our years of experience across mayamada, television, consultancy, and lessons learned along the way.We also look at practical strategies for being your best self whilst pursuing creative entrepreneurship so that you can stay true to what energises you, discussing everything from sustainable work routines to authentic relationship-building. This week's episode is essential listening for anyone looking to better understand and leverage their personality type in the creative industries.Guest LinksConnect with Bridget online: - Website: https://www.dearcreativegurl.com - LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/bridgetbanton - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearcreativegurl - Substack: https://dearcreativegurl.substack.com/p/a-seat-at-the-table

In this Rewind episode, we're bringing you the audio from our recent Casual Conversations With Comic Creators livestream where Nigel talked with watercolourist and comic artist Tony Moy.The international artist gave us some great insight into his creative journey, from teaching and working in the tech industry to working with Marvel Snap, travelling for some of the biggest conventions in the US and his passion project The 442nd — a watercolour comic about the Japanese American 442nd Battalion.Originally streamed on Twitch, this conversation delves into Tony's unique artistic style, his experience teaching at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago, and what he's learnt about taking the leap to go for his dreams. Tune in for insights into the craft of making comics and bringing historical stories to life through art.You can catch Casual Conversations With Comic Creators live on Twitch each month: https://www.twitch.tv/mayamada

This week, Nigel and Tazziii enlist into the most secretive British spy agency with this deep dive into Kingsman: The Secret Service (starting at 24:36), with Aisha Ahmed, Freelance Community Manager & Journalist.We reminisce on this decade-old story and see if the comic book-inspired narrative still holds up or whether its portrayal of the London Roadman lifestyle is outdated in 2025. With a protagonist that displays a strong moral core beneath a rough exterior, it's a film that shares beats with another troubled youth who is enlisted into a super-secret agency to learn the tricks of the trade in order to take down a malevolent threat.We examine the depiction of social mobility in a Bond-like setting, debating whether the tonal balance between refined gentleman and ultra-violence works for this adventure and how the story's themes resonate with our panel. This week's storytelling tip is about implementing a "Save the Cat" moment in your story.Other stories we're enjoying include: Adolescence (Netflix), Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (Crunchyroll), The Apothecary Diaries (Crunchyroll), I May Be a Guild Receptionist, but I'll Solo Any Boss to Clock Out on Time (Crunchyroll), Medaka Kuroiwa is Impervious to My Charms (Crunchyroll), Sakamoto Days (Netflix), Dr Stone (Crunchyroll), Vinland Saga (Netflix), Daredevil: Born Again (Disney+)Guest LinksConnect with Aisha online: - Twitter: https://twitter.com/Hades_kitty - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Aisha_kicks_ass - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@Aisha_anime - YouTube: https://youtube.com/@AishaAhmedAnime

This week, we're bringing you a special Rewind episode featuring the “My Creative Journey” roundtable discussion from our Origins: Against All Odds manga launch event during Women's History Month 2025, hosted by Japanese Gallery Kensington. Moderator (and manga muse) Tazziii was joined by panellists Miyuki Panda, Janelle McCurdy, and Shazleen Khan for an open and honest conversation about their careers, discovering their voices, making it through the hard times...and licking cars?!Check out the episode and don't forget to grab your copy of "Origins: Against All Odds" on our website at mayamada.com

This week, Nigel and Tazziii sit down with Simone Giampaolo, Director of Animated Films, to discuss his journey from the south of Switzerland to studying animation in the UK. His path led him to work with some of the biggest names in animation, including major studios like Netflix, Disney, and Aardman, while still finding time to direct independent teams to award-winning work. We delve into Simone's process to understand why he makes stories, what creativity means to him, and what makes animation such a unique medium for empathetic storytelling and conveying important messages—plus we discover how cute (and also what is) a Quokka is live on the podcast!GUEST LINKSWebsite: https://simonegiampaolo.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simone-giampaoloInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/giampaolo.simone

This week, Nigel and Tazziii don their capes, cowls, and hit the bricks for a deep dive into The LEGO Batman Movie (starting at 27:17), with Content Creator Chochy.We tackle this high-octane, laugh-a-minute exploration of the Batman mythos told through the LEGO IP, as we question whether this animated view of Batman's trauma and his relationship with The Joker has given us the best story about the Dark Knight to date. It's a fun ride, but does it succeed as a narrative that can entertain audiences on multiple levels?We examine its themes of family, trust, and vulnerability, debating which moments work and whether the redemption arc ends on a satisfying note. This week's storytelling tip is about creating meaningful setbacks on the path to redemption for your protagonist.Other stories we're enjoying include: Mickey 17 (Cinema), Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (Disney+), Superman & Lois (The CW), School Spirits (Paramount+), Supacell (Netflix), Superstore (Netflix), Sakamoto Days (Netflix), My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom (Crunchyroll), Captain America: Brave New World (Cinema), Gangs of London (Netflix), Klara and the Sun (Book), Daredevil: Born Again (Disney+)Guest LinksFind Chochy online:Website: https://linktr.ee/chochyplaysBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chochy.co.ukTwitter: https://twitter.com/chochyplays Instagram: https://instagram.com/chochy1000TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@chochy1000Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chochyplays

This week, Nigel and Tazziii sit down with comic creator and Broken Frontier's "One to Watch," Shane Melisse, to discuss his journey from product design to forging his own path in the world of comics. Shane has been on a real journey of learning since taking his first creative steps and shares with us the power of getting good advice and the benefit of being in a collective when starting out. Listen in as we delve into how his style and background led him to create Road Knight, a story that has attracted audiences and Netflix's attention! We gain insight into creative ownership and understand the importance of trusting your own talent and stories while developing your craft.Guest Links- Website: https://www.shanefaced.com- Twitter: https://twitter.com/shanefaced- BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/shanefaced.bsky.social

This week, Nigel and Tazziii sadly put an end to the pursuit of perfection with a Retrospective deep dive into the second and final season of the hit animation series Arcane: League of Legends (starting at 28:52). Joining them are artist and digital content creator Liza N. Cooper and Wesley Louis from The Line Animation Studio.After considering the first season a masterpiece, we explore whether the second season maintains the high standard set by the narrative and technical achievements of its predecessor.We examine how the series has been able to adapt its lore to resonate so strongly with both fans and newcomers alike, debating its most impactful moments and whether the themes of redemption, grief, and the pursuit of perfection bring a satisfying conclusion to this 9-episode thrill ride!Other stories we're enjoying include: Peppa Pig (BBC), Severance (Apple TV+), Jack Reacher (Prime Video), Dragon Ball DAIMA (Netflix), Scissor Seven (Netflix), Invincible (Prime Video), The Penguin (HBO Max), Umbrella Academy Season 4 (Netflix), A Man on the Inside (BBC iPlayer), Kiss Him Not Me! (Crunchyroll), The Apothecary Diaries (Manga), Blue Lock (Crunchyroll), I'm Still Here (Cinema), Blue Eyed Samurai (Netflix).Guest CreditsLiza N. Cooper (Siberian Lizard)Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTokWesley Louis - The Line AnimationWebsiteTazziiiTwitter | Instagram | TikTok | BlueskymayamadaInstagram | TikTok | Bluesky | Twitter | YouTube

In this fourth and final segment of our 2024 "Do I Look Like A Gamer?" International Future Summit livestream Rewind, Tazziii and Nigel are joined by Trevor Graham, Gaming Ambassador for Virgin Media O2, and Marta Camilo, Gaming Community Manager for Lego, to explore the future of community building and events in games. It's been a challenging year with the closure of major in-person events in the UK, mirroring a global shift toward more controlled online experiences from large games companies. Will this trend continue, or do players still crave those special moments that come from sharing physical space?Check out the podcast feed for parts 1-3, and stay tuned for the launch of the 2025 "Do I Look Like A Gamer?" campaign this spring!

This week, Nigel and Tazziii host our first video game roundtable of the year and are joined by Content Creator TJBASC, Content Creator Fleur Nelle, and Presenter & Host Nimmz, who are on hand to share their thoughts on the games industry and make sense of it all through helpful situational family analogies! In the first half, we dive into the games we've been playing before launching into the games industry news that has caught our collective attention (from 26.47). The recently revealed Nintendo Switch 2 is top of mind, as well as contrasting strategies from Microsoft and Sony. Can all three platform holders win the generation?Video games we're playing: Stardew Valley (PC/Switch), Just Dance 2025 (Switch), Uncharted 3 (PS5), Fortnite (PC), Warframe (PC), Mario Party Jamboree (Switch), Granblue Fantasy: Relink (PS5), Loco Motive (PC), Titanfall 2 (Xbox), Echoes of Wisdom (Switch), Infinity Niki (PC), Little Nightmares 2 (Switch), Astrobot (PS5), Sifu (PC), Marvel Rivals (PC)

This week, Nigel and Tazziii sit down with Alexis Trust, Marketing & Publishing Product Lead at Chucklefish, to discuss their journey from AAA games to the world of indie game publishing.We delve into their early days of sharing second hand game consoles with siblings led them to the army which prepared them to build communities for some of the biggest brands in games. Alexis later took that experience to support smaller teams in releasing games to the public, even trying their hand at making their own title.Check out the conversation and discover how your unique path and experiences can be the reason you thrive in the video games industry!

We're back for a brand new season of the Story x Story podcast! This week, Nigel and Tazziii are making magic solo as we dive into the enchanting melodic adventures of Encanto (starting at 29:52). We break down this musical narrative rooted in Colombian culture as it explores the challenges of stewarding gifts given to an individual and how to approach life when you believe you didn't receive something special. It's an emotionally colourful tale that manages to trigger some introspective moments with our hosts. We examine themes of family, generational trauma and comparison with those around you. We also debate the narrative usefulness of one of Disney's most popular recent songs (and memes) as we finally get to talk about Bruno! This week's storytelling tip is about maintaining narrative momentum through music. Other stories we're enjoying include: Gamers! (Crunchyroll), Mob Psycho (Crunchyroll), Sex in the City (Sky), Sugar Apple Fairy Tale (Crunchyroll), One Piece (Crunchyroll), Blue Lock (Crunchyroll), Tokyo Revengers (Crunchyroll, Disney+), Gangs of London (Netflix), A Real Pain (Cinema), Little Nightmares 2 (Nintendo Switch).

We're on a recording break in January before returning with Season 7 of the Story x Story podcast next month. During this time, we're giving our voices a rest (sort of) while treating you to some great Rewind episodes featuring conversations from our "Do I Look Like A Gamer?" campaign launch livestream in December. In this third segment, Tazziii and Nigel explore the evolving ways we play video games and discuss whether the industry has found the right balance between single-player, co-op, and live service games. Jay also shares insights on educating future gaming talent, what she enjoys about her role and potential impact on the industry that young people can have. We'll return in February with Season 7 of Story x Story, packed with exciting discussions—from deep dives to roundtable conversations and interviews with creative industry professionals. Until then, enjoy this month's line up of episodes!

We're on a recording break over January and will be back with Season 7 of the Story x Story podcast. In the meantime, over January, we give our voices a rest (sort of) and give you a bunch of great Rewind episodes to enjoy as we revisit the amazing conversations we had from our "Do I Look Like A Gamer?" campaign launch livestream in December. This second segment sees Tazziii and Nigel recap the highs and lows of gaming in 2024 with Dames4Games' own Destinee Cleveland alongside Content Creator Chochy. We get into what continued to be a rocky year for the video games industry across the world, with the loss of favourite games events and the ongoing redundancies and studio closures. But it's not all bad as we're able to highlight personal positives from the year and look forward to (hopefully) a brighter 2025 for ourselves, the industry and wider culture! We'll be back recording new episodes for Season 7 of Story x Story, and we've got a lot of great discussions in store—from deep dives to round table discussions and interviews with creative industry professionals. So enjoy this month's episode lineup and we'll see you again for Season 7 in February.

We're on a recording break over January and will be back with Season 7 of the Story x Story podcast. In the meantime, over January, we give our voices a rest (sort of) and give you a bunch of great Rewind episodes to enjoy as we revisit the amazing conversations we had from our "Do I Look Like A Gamer?" campaign launch livestream in December. This first segment is a play-along with Mel Taylor, the Creative Director of MELLOW Games, a games studio working on a really intriguing narrative game called Blueberry. It's about a woman's life, memory processing, and trauma. Nigel spoke with Mel while Tazziii played her game live on stream, and you can hear that discussion in this week's Rewind episode. We'll be back recording new episodes for Season 7 of Story x Story, and we've got a lot of great discussions in store—from deep dives to round table discussions and interviews with creative industry professionals. So enjoy this month's episode lineup and we'll see you again for Season 7 in February.

It's the final episode of 2024!! For our Season 6 Wrapped episode, Nigel and Tazziii have put together their personal top five favourite stories of the year. There's also room for honourable mentions, stories that surprised, and disappointed us as well as our favourite ongoing or unfinished stories. So join us as we recap our favourite comic, anime, TV, film and video game stories that made us stop and take notice over the past 12 months. We're going on a recording break over January, but will be back in February with Season 7 of Story x Story. In the meantime, you'll be able to enjoy some great bonus Rewind episodes until we start recording again in 2025 - Happy New Year!

Another year comes to a close, which means it is time to look back at the past 12 months of incredible story discussions! This special episode brings you the best highlights, pre and post-show chats, and (many, many) bloopers from Season 6 of the podcast, featuring Nigel, Tazziii, a line-up of amazing guests—and a now fully reformed Craig! We've packed our favourite moments into this episode, showcasing a year of deep dives into stories from Gran Turismo to Scott Pilgrim and Deadpool, along with insightful and entertaining conversations with new and returning guests across comics, manga, TV, and video games. Season 6 marks an extra special milestone as we celebrated our 200th episode

This week, Nigel and Tazziii celebrate reaching 200 episodes of the podcast as they dive deep into the anime feature film Blue Giant (starting at 36:23). Joining them is special guest Lao K—not only the other mayamada co-founder but the person responsible for the podcast starting in the first place! As we enter the double centurion club, we explore the creative journey of the film's three protagonists and how their perspectives on artistic talent weave into a tightly built wound narrative. The story gives us deeper insights about pursuing your dreams in the face of heavy resistance and some self-doubt. Its optimistic approach to creative obsession gives us a chance to debate views on success and storytelling in Eastern versus Western media. There are themes aplenty to examine, and we get quite philosophical doing just that! This week's storytelling tip explores using underdog narrative beats in stories beyond sports dramas. This episode was made possible thanks to All the Anime, who provided review copies of Blue Giant. Other stories we're enjoying include: Dragon Ball Super (Crunchyroll), One Piece (BBC iPlayer), Monster Hunter: World (PC/Console), Foundation (Apple TV+), Holiday in Handcuffs (Disney+), Nutcracker (Disney+), So I'm a Spider, So What? (Crunchyroll), Gosick (Crunchyroll), In Another World with My Smartphone (Crunchyroll), Parallel World Pharmacy (Crunchyroll), Drug Store in Another World (Crunchyroll), If It's for My Daughter, I'd Even Defeat a Demon Lord (Crunchyroll), Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits (Crunchyroll), The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (Nintendo Switch), Joker: Folie à Deux (Cinema), Arcane Season 1 & 2 (Netflix), Gladiator 2 (Cinema), The Wild Robot (Cinema)

This week, Nigel and Tazziii sit down with Lucia La Rezza, aka The Nerd Violinist. The musician, composer, and arranger joins us to talk about her journey from multiple Italian locations to the UK and her discovery of music and games. We relive recent performances at FORMAT and the Golden Joystick Awards, while also learning how Lucia found the stability needed to balance a full-time job with musical adventures that have taken her to major events in the UK and mainland Europe. Lucia also shares her experiences managing physical and mental health and the personal evolution that allows her to make the best of each opportunity. This episode offers valuable insights into the musical side of games and how to move forward in life without letting others' opinions slow you down. In this episode, we explore: The journey from classical violin to video game music composing and arrangement Balancing creative work with business management and marketing Performing at major gaming events across Europe and the UK

This week, we're revisiting a recent episode of our Studio77 show, Casual Conversations With Comic Creators, the show where Nigel chats with another creator about their work and the craft of making comics! It's about showcasing the human being behind the art as we discover each person's story. In this segment, Nigel is in conversation with Dutch Illustrator and Comic Artist Renee Rienties, whose work crosses comics to animation, directing and even event management! Renee is another returning guest coming for her second sit-down on the show, and we take the opportunity to recap our time at the Malta Comic Con as well as look forward to other international events like The Big Draw and Angoulême Comic Art Festival. We also learn more about the projects Renee is working on as we discuss her evolution as an artist from her first efforts and the journey of becoming a full-time creative — with all the bumps and lessons that come with it! Catch more shows live on the mayamada Twitch each month with Nigel, Tazziii and the mayamada community: Studio77 Report, Casual Conversations With Comic Creators and Games Night.

This week, Nigel and Tazziii sit down with Sophie Knowles, Lead Artist at Sad Owl Studios and 2024 BAFTA Breakthrough Cohort member. She joins us to talk about her journey to the UK and discovering a passion for the craft of art. We get to hear how a passion for anime and manga led her to discovering 2D art before making the switch to 3D and becoming a self-described generalist. Sophie also shares her experiences working on the BAFTA award-winning game Viewfinder, and what the award meant to her personally. This episode offers valuable insights into video game art and what it takes to bring ideas to life visually whether you are the person coming up with the original ideas or supporting the development of great ideas in a team! In this episode, we explore: The distinction between being a generalist and specialist in game art Collaborating effectively with both artists and non-artists The personal impact of receiving prestigious industry recognition

This week, Nigel and Tazziii say goodbye to a master of storytelling with Hayao Miyazaki's last film…maybe? Either way, we get autobiographical with a deep dive into The Boy and the Heron (starting at 19:36), with manga artists Inko and Chie. It's a story that combines all that makes Miyazaki stories great, but with a message that can be a challenge to decipher for those not already familiar. We examine the narrative and pull apart why this left us feeling positive and hopeful by the end. It's a story that relies on the emotional journey of its main characters (from the cute to the absurd) over a logical plot. But it absolutely has something special to say in its themes about dealing with grief and accepting suffering as a part of life. This week's storytelling tip is about implementing a non sequitur narrative in your story. Other stories we're enjoying include: Fairy Tale (Book), How High We Go in the Dark (Book), Kaos (Netflix), What We Do in the Shadows (Hulu/Disney+), Black Clover (Crunchyroll), Bob's Burgers (Disney+), The Way of Kings (Book), Agatha All Along (Disney+), Tokyo Revengers (Crunchyroll)

This week, Nigel and Tazziii sit down with Elizabeth Cox, the founder of Should We Studio, an independent production company dedicated to raising awareness of the most important issues shaping the future. She joins us to talk about her journey from the world of science to the animation industry and what her experience means for the stories she creates. Elizabeth shares her experiences working on the studio's upcoming animated series Ada, a five-episode series exploring the ethical and social implications of new technologies. This episode is a great insight into the animation process and what it takes to produce new stories giving voice to underrepresented perspectives across history. Tune in to discover: How education prepared Elizabeth for the work she does today The challenges in transitioning from a science background to a creative role Insights into the animation industry

This week, Nigel and Tazziii venture out into the nuclear wasteland with a retrospective look at the Fallout video game adaptation (starting at 26:54), with a full house of guests: Content Creator Jack Mullen, Host and Presenter Aisha Ahmed, along with Cosplayer and Content Creator kayPOWXD. We take a look at another video game adaptation that manages to sidestep a long line of below-par adaptations and deliver a narrative that faithfully brings the world of Fallout to new audiences while satisfying fans familiar with the games. It's all about the journey, and along the way are believable characters that bring emotional arcs and lore to its audience in a way that avoids endless exposition. It's a valuable lesson for future adaptations and a great listen for fans of the franchise! Other stories we're enjoying include: Final Fantasy X (PlayStation), Final Fantasy XIII (PlayStation), Astro Bot (PlayStation), Little Goody Two Shoes (PC/Switch), Dandadan (Netflix), The Legend of Vox Machina (Amazon Prime), The Elder Scrolls Online (PC/Console), Life with an Ordinary Guy who Reincarnated into a Total Fantasy Knockout (Crunchyroll), Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle (Netflix), Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (Xbox), Agatha All Along (Disney+), Bob's Burgers (Hulu/Disney+), Black Clover (Crunchyroll).

This week, we're revisiting a recent episode of our Studio77 show, Casual Conversations With Comic Creators, the show where Nigel chats with another creator about their work and the craft of making comics! It's about showcasing the human being behind the art as we discover each person's story. In this segment, Nigel is in conversation with Fantasy Artist & Colourist Eren Angiolini, whose titles include: Critical Role - The Mighty Nein Origins, Justice League, DC Pride, The Domain and Doctor Who. Eren is returning for their second sit-down on the show, and we get to hear about the work they are currently making progress on, which includes a recent epic Kickstarter campaign! Eren also details their love for Tabletop Role-Playing Games (TTRPGs) and the manifesting journey that landed them the Critical Role comic gig, plus we get to know how they see their career as a massive plot twist! Catch more shows live on the mayamada Twitch each month with Nigel, Tazziii and the mayamada community: Studio77 Report, Casual Conversations With Comic Creators and Games Night.

This week, Nigel and Tazziii sit down with an amazing duo of creatives! Producer and founder of Singer Studios, Eloise Singer, and Dr. Dave Ranyard, founder and CEO of Dream Reality Interactive and Executive Producer of Pirate Queen. They join us to talk about their journey from paths outside of the games industry to eventually meeting and deciding to work on the now Emmy-nominated VR experience. This is a must-listen for anyone looking for inspiration on breaking into video games when you're coming from different industries. We delve into how their experiences in film, TV, and music prepared them to bring the story of the legendary pirate Cheng Shih to life! Join the conversation to appreciate the challenges and lessons that stuck with them, and gain insight into what really goes on at a fancy Hollywood party!

This week, we have a great Rewind episode for you with the audio from our autumn video game roundtable livestream! Nigel and Tazziii go live to recap the video games we've been playing before setting the stage for an exciting discussion on some of the biggest news stories that have captured our attention over the year so far. As always, we're joined by an eclectic mix of video game professionals and have a bumper line up of guests: Host & Voice Over Artist Miabyte, Game Composer Chase Bethea, Twitch Streamer and Lego Gaming Community Manager Marta, and Cosplayer & Narrative Designer at Square Enix, Rhianne Murphy. We cover news from the big three in gaming as well as other players in the industry and wider culture. So listen in as we give our thoughts on the latest failure in live service games, Xbox's Game Pass price hike, the price of the PS5 Pro and Nintendo's new cons—alarm clock?? Plus, we invite our cat to share their thoughts on the state of games today. Make sure you catch the debate and head over to the mayamada Twitch channel for our other Studio77 schedule of shows. Video games we've been playing: Astro Bot, Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Magic: The Gathering, Chessmaster: The Art of Learning, Yakuza Kiwami, Fields of Mistria, Dragon Age books, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, The Gunk, Mario Wonder, TMNT: Shredder's Revenge - Dimension Shellshock DLC, Pico Park.

This week, Nigel and Tazziii go back to where it all started for a deep dive into Hayao Miyazaki's pre-Studio Ghibli masterpiece (starting at 28:55), with guest Laura Watton, a comic creator known as Pink Apple Jam. We revisit this title 40 years on from its release and discuss how relevant its environmental themes still are, as well as compare the changes in the acceptance of lengthy animated stories with strong female characters. At the time, a reluctance led to the disastrous Western adaptation, but what is it that made producers nervous? We examine the brilliant worldbuilding that can be learned from and discuss the perception of gender roles in media. This week's storytelling tip is about utilizing exposition in your story's dialogue. Other stories we're enjoying include: Ranma ½ remake (Netflix), Bob's Burgers (Disney+), The Kid Who Would Be King (Disney+), WandaVision — "Agatha All Along" (Disney+), Black-ish (Disney+), Restaurant to Another World 2 (Crunchyroll), The Café Terrace and Its Goddesses (Crunchyroll), Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead (Crunchyroll), Solar Opposites (Disney+), Terminator Zero (Netflix).

This week, Nigel and Tazziii sit down with Moo Yu, Creative Director at Team Artichoke and a founding team member of POC in Play. He discusses his journey over 20 years in video games working on titles like Knights & Bikes, LittleBigPlanet, and Ratchet & Clank. He is now making a new game with his own team and allows us to delve into the transition from Gameplay Programmer to managing a team. We get to hear how his work across AAA has prepared him to create an inclusive environment for others to thrive while making his new game Myth Match. Join the conversation to appreciate the rewards and challenges of indie game development.

This week, Nigel and Tazziii conduct what can only be described as a narrative autopsy as we dive deep into the shallow waters of the Borderlands film (starting at 22:55), with our guest and Content Creator Mark Ōu Chéng. We do our best to pick out the storytelling lessons from a story with a barely serviceable plot, characters that lack motivation, and worldbuilding that all seems to do its best to move away from the source material of the video game series… but it's not all bad, as we at least enjoyed the conversation! This is certainly a cautionary tale for storytellers, and we examine the key elements that bring this story down and debate which moments could have worked if given more (or any) attention and care to the video game material. This week's storytelling tip is about how failing to use foreshadowing and misdirection effectively leaves an audience emotionally disengaged. Other stories we're enjoying include: The Dispossessed, The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trash, A Journey Through Another World: Raising Kids While Adventuring, Quality Assurance in Another World, The Way of Kings, and Shōgun.

We have a great Rewind episode for you with the audio from our latest Studio77 Report recording on Twitch. Each month, Nigel and Tazziii dive into our top video game stories of the month, which include the next evolution of The Sims franchise with Project Rene and the unexpected shutdown of PlayStation's new game 'Concord' just two weeks after launch. We'll also share some valuable industry advice that reminds us of the importance of focusing on personal happiness and motivation. Finally, we reveal the new topic as we discuss the price of the PS5 Pro. Join the discussion and cast your vote! Enjoy the audio, and if you'd like to watch us record it live, you can follow mayamada over on Twitch for this and other shows as part of our Studio77 platform: https://www.twitch.tv/mayamada

This week, Nigel flies solo as he chats with Myleah, the Founder of Lumikha Cosplay Resale, who works across multiple creative industries, including as a community manager in the video game industry. She reminisces over the family ties that brought her into the world of video games at an early age. Myleah is currently working on the first annual FRAY World Game Jam, an immersive 48-hour game jam experience, alongside our own events team at mayamada. Listen to the discussion to hear how discovering anime and manga led her to becoming a cosplayer and a to a business journey that has taken her through a variety of life shaping experiences with communities around the world. You can join the FRAY World Game Jam at https://frayworld.com/jam And follow Myleah too! Twitter: https://twitter.com/METTALEAH Instagram: https://instagram.com/flyhinata https://LumikhaCosplay.com

This week, Nigel and Tazziii engage in some fourth-wall-breaking corporate synergy as we do a deep dive on Deadpool & Wolverine (starting at 28:31), with Mega City Comics' Vik Deluca. Deadpool's first foray into the MCU has led it to become the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, but does it function well enough as a narrative without the mix of humor and nostalgia? We examine the buddy cop dynamic as we follow this combustible (and indestructible) pair through the void, debating which moments work and whether the story's themes shine through well enough to matter. This week's storytelling tip is about implementing dual protagonists in your story. Other stories we're enjoying include: Black Myth: Wukong, Igazuri, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, Futurama, Core Keeper, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Fallout, Zom 100 and The Boys.

This week, Nigel and Tazziii sit down with Mike Armstrong, a designer and cartoonist who is one of the co-organisers of WIP Comics, a global community of comic creators. He talks to us about his artistic upbringing and transition from working in advertising to the world of comics, highlighting the unique experiences that made him the artist he is today. Mike is currently working on the 2024 WIP Comics anthology, "Tall Tales and Short Stories," which is the group's latest successful Kickstarter campaign due for release later in the year. Mike shares his journey to becoming part of the community and what goes into organising over 70 artists to produce their best work on time—or close enough to it!

This week, Nigel and Tazziii head to the Land of the Dead for a deep dive into Pixar's Coco (starting at 23:21), with Content Creator Coco! We take a look back at this narrative deeply rooted in Mexican culture and discuss how it was handled and the considerations around creating stories informed by different experiences. In back-to-back Pixar deep dives, we also get to revisit the ongoing topic of the "Pixar Slump". Then we look at the Hero's Journey and explore Miguel's wholly relatable quest to pursue a creative dream when all others around him say "no". It's an emotional journey and one that is sure to result in a tear or two by the end. This week's storytelling tip is about using foreshadowing and misdirection to lead your audience to a plot twist. Other stories we're enjoying include: Naruto, A Court of Thorns and Roses, Futurama, Fairy Tail, Blue Lock, Andor, Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead.

This week, Nigel and Tazziii dive into the complex, wide-ranging topic of video game preservation and ownership with indie developer and founder of Asobi.tech, Quang Nguyen. The subject of how we preserve the games we love playing and what it means to own a title in the modern age comes with many difficult considerations, and we're here for them all! We take a look at the evolution of game ownership over the years, before examining what it means to preserve generations of culture and the barriers to ensuring the history of the medium is still accessible to future generations in years to come. We then look at present-day efforts in preservation, including remakes and remasters that bring a modern-day refresh to classics, before considering how game subscription services have impacted the way we view game ownership and what it means going forward.

We're back from our recording break with new episodes for the second half of Season 6! This week, Nigel and Tazziii delve headfirst into our subconscious for a deep dive into Inside Out 2 (starting at 26:46), with our very own Illustrator Pinali. It's been a while since we talked about new stories, so we have a bumper “Stories We're Enjoying” segment, before we get into the discussion of this Pixar favourite sequel and now the biggest animated film of all time! We talk about whether the story represents an end to the “Pixar Slump” or just another in a long line of successes for the Disney-owned studio. Then we get existential as we analyse the new more complex emotions and how they resonate with us as adults today as well as young people navigating an ever more complex world around them. We're talking narrative too, including a debate on whether this sequel stays too close to safety when it comes to worldbuilding and character development. This week's storytelling tip is about having fun with analogy in your narrative to bring complex ideas to a broad audience. Other stories we're enjoying include: Sweet Tooth, The Dragon Prince: Mystery of Aaravos, My Hero Academia (manga), Grown-ish, The Imaginary, Jobless Reincarnation, Zombie 100, Spice and Wolf, Valorant, Call of Duty, Peaky Blinders, Bad Boys: Ride or Die, Rick and Morty, Fallout, One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen, Blue Lock, Your Lie In April (Theatre).

We're on a recording break over July and will be back with new episodes in early August. Until then, join us for sun, sand (or pebbles), and stories in this special live recording of the Story x Story podcast! Nigel & Tazziii are discussing the video games industry, as we recap the Develop:Brighton experience with a series of guests who attended the conference. We invited attendees to share their stories, as well as best practices and initiatives for fostering a more inclusive gaming community. Over this recording, you'll hear from Content Creator Jack Mullen, Bonsai Collective Community Manager Shawny Alison, and aspiring video game professional Sheena Malam as they share their experiences of Develop, what they are currently playing, and favorite games to relax on a beach with…the answers may surprise you! Enjoy our final Rewind episode of the summer. We'll be back recording for Season 6 in August next week.

We're on a recording break over July and will be back with new episodes in August. In the meantime, we're revisiting some of the amazing conversations we've had over the past year and have a Rewind of Casual Conversations With Comic Creators, the show where we speak with fellow creators about their work and the craft of making comics! It's about showcasing the human being behind the art as we discover each person's story. In this segment, Nigel is in conversation with writer Christian Carnouche. We hear about Christian's travels, how networking led to his break into making comics, and his new graphic novel “TUNIS TO SYDNEY” coming out at the end of July 2024, published by Fairsquare Comics. Stay tuned for more Rewind episodes, and we'll be back recording for Season 6 in August!

We're on a recording break over July and will be back with new episodes in August. In the meantime, we're revisiting some of the amazing conversations we've had over the past year and have the third and final part from our "Do I Look Like A Gamer?" campaign launch livestream. In this segment, Nigel and Tazziii met with Content Creator Michael Akpowowo and indie developer Leon Ivey. We get to learn the origin story for each guest, plus discover more about the secret to effective networking…including some of our embarrassing networking moments! Stay tuned for more Rewind episodes, and we'll be back recording for Season 6 in August.

We're on a recording break over July and will be back with new episodes in August. In the meantime, we're revisiting some of the amazing conversations we've had over the past year and have the second of three parts from our "Do I Look Like A Gamer?" campaign launch livestream. In this segment, Nigel and Tazziii met with C Bedford, Founder of à la mode games, and Troy Aidoo, Content Creator at Stream Cast. We get to explore the ins and outs of both making and commentating on games as we discover what diversity means to each of our guests. Stay tuned to hear part three, and we'll be back recording for Season 6 in August!

We're on a recording break over July and will be back with new episodes in August. In the meantime, we're revisiting some of the amazing conversations we've had over the past year, starting with the first of three parts from our "Do I Look Like A Gamer?" campaign launch livestream. In this segment, Nigel and Tazziii talked with indie developer Sarah Harrison and Hivefolio founder Declan Talbert about careers in the video game industry. Whether you're aspiring to break into the industry or just curious about what it takes to build a career in gaming, this conversation is full of insights. Stay tuned to hear parts two and three, and we'll be back recording for Season 6 in August!

This week, Nigel is hosting solo as he welcomes two of our "Do I Look Like A Gamer?" Campaign 40 members to the podcast for the first time to talk about the games we've been playing and the summer of video games, along with the deluge of showcases that come with it (starting at 22:29). Marketing Manager & Chair of DEI, Jerreau Henry, alongside Content Creator and Gaming Ambassador, Trevor Graham, bring their thoughts to the games news...which there is plenty of! We discuss the Summer Game Fest showcase, the games on display, and its place in the video game announcement landscape following the confirmed demise of E3. We also get to talk about the rumors around new consoles and whether we need an upgrade to the PS5 this year, plus the backlash to diversity in video game narratives. Video games we're playing: Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Hollow Knight, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, eFootball, Fortnite, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.

This week, Nigel and Tazziii delve into the war between humans and simians for a deep dive into Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (starting at 26:46), with The Popcorn Podcast Host Dylan. We discuss the legacy of this franchise and the value of another instalment after a strong initial reboot trilogy. With some impressive motion capture and CGI showcasing this thoughtful narrative, we examine the franchise's new protagonist who is leading the way. We get into a serious debate about the meaning of Noa's revenge mission and what we learned by its end. This week's storytelling tip is about truly revealing character through the difficult decisions they must make over the story. Other stories we're enjoying include: The Fall Guy, Love Lies Bleeding, Mad Max & Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, The Boys, The Bear, House of the Dragon Season 2, One Piece, The Kingdom, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Invincible, Jujutsu Kaisen, One Piece, The Mitchells vs. the Machines.