Big Weekend Ahead!

Lots of good stuff going on this weekend! First, Saturday 4/26 will feature the virtual launch info session for Autism Empowerment's Neurodivergent Creators Collective (AE-NCC), which I wrote about in last week's blog post. It'll start at 2pm Pacific Time, and you can join via this Zoom link.

Then, on the morning of Sunday 4/27, we have the:

I will be there along with a few other representatives of Autism Empowerment from 8am-12pm, talking about all the cool stuff our organization is doing, like the aforementioned AE-NCC, Spectrum Life Magazine, Hold My Beer, and more. It will be at Oaks Park, 7805 SE Oaks Park Way, Portland OR 97202. Parking is $4, but entry to the park itself is free.

Then, after a nap, we will be holding a Supporter's Night fundraiser for Autism Empowerment at Lone Wolf Watering Hole in downtown Portland from 5pm-7pm! The event, which is co-sponsored by Takara Sushi (see this previous blog post) will feature music by DJ Jordan Nguyen as well as a showing of Hold My Beer (complete with a short speech and Q&A session by yours truly).

Admission is free and open to all (minors are not allowed inside the premises while alcoholic beverages are being consumed, but they can sit in an outside area next to the waterfront). Craft beer, cider, wine, and, of course, sushi will be available for sale. Lone Wolf Watering Hole is located at 3870 S River Pkwy, Portland OR 97239.

Hope to see you at one or all of these great events!

Calling All Neurodivergent Creators!

If you're a neurodivergent creator, I have great news! Autism Empowerment is rolling out a new program called the Neurodivergent Creators Collective (aka the "AE-NCC," because we love a good acronym), which will aim to provide workshops, mentorships, and opportunities for aspiring adults and older teens who are interested in creative and artistic fields like acting, screenwriting, filmmaking, podcasting, music, video game development, and more.

Sessions will be both in-person and online, so anyone can attend whether you're in the Vancouver, WA area or somewhere else around the world. Plus, you have the opportunity to help shape the future of the program by telling us what you're interested in learning more about! For more details and to fill out an interest survey, check out the program's official webpage here. And mark your calendars for our virtual launch information session on Saturday, April 26, at 2pm Pacific Time (the Zoom link is on the webpage).

Hope to see you there!

Anime Roundup

Well, hey, look, it's time for another Anime Roundup! And it's only been eight weeks since the last one!

(Warning: may contain spoilers)

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End

I love this show. I love the premise, which is basically: after the Demon King is defeated and the day is saved, now what?* Especially if you're an overpowered elven mage with a lifespan that can last thousands of years. And so, the story follows Frieren, the aforementioned elven mage, as she navigates what is essentially post-retirement for adventurers: searching for novelty spells, doing cleanup and maintenance work on statues and leftover monsters, taking on an apprentice, traveling to a resting place for souls to pay respects to her former party member who passed away, and eventually undergoing an exam for first-class-mage certification (which she only needs as a formality, as she's already way more powerful than any other mage in the entire world, with one exception).

There are occasional moments of suspense and conflict, but all of them (except for one big-boss-battle near the end) are swiftly resolved by Frieren's overwhelming magical abilities, and the majority of the show consists of her reminiscing about the past and doing everyday things with her apprentice Fern and eventually a warrior named Stark. And I love it. It shouldn't work, but it does. I also love that Frieren presents as autistic (there is some debate about this on the internet, but I totally think she does), and I love how, despite her immense power, she still gets stuck in mimics (in D&D terms, these are monsters that look like treasure chests). During the second mage exam, I think - spoiler alert - they should have tried defeating her replica by simply bringing one of the mimics they found earlier into the final chamber.

I also love how the show says that magic is a function of imagination and visualization. Did I mention that I love this show? The first 28-episode season ended perfectly, but - spoiler alert - an end card said that the journey will continue, and sure enough, I've heard there will be a new season coming in January 2026. Yatta (yay!)

* This is similar to I'm Quitting Heroing, but the execution is much different.

Sakamoto Days

The greatest hit man on the planet retires from the underworld to spend time with his family and run a mom-and-pop store (while gaining weight from eating too much instant ramen), but is still able to bust out his old skills when his past tries to catch up with him. What a fun premise! Just like with Frieren, I enjoy seeing these overpowered characters at the pinnacle of their professions totally dismantle their opponents without breaking a sweat, or batting an eye, or whatever cliche you want to use there. Do I really have to wait until July for the next season, Netflix? (Netflix: yes, Brian. Yes, you do.)

Mashle: Magic and Muscles

In a world (yes, you have to say it in that voice) where mostly everyone has some level of magical power, a boy with no magic whatsoever has to enroll in a magic school and become a top student in order to maintain his peaceful life with his adoptive father. It's a good thing, thanks to a life of intensive training and workouts, that he has enough physical strength to essentially mimic magical abilities (e.g., he flies a broom by paddling his legs really hard). It's kind of like Black Clover-meets-One Punch Man-meets Harry Potter, the latter of which this show is either really influenced by, or trying to parody, or both (probably both).

Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc.

In a world (yes, you have to say it in that voice) where "magical girl" is a real and respected profession and magical girl companies abound, a recent college grad goes job hunting and has no luck until she's hired by a magical girl startup firm. It's a fun and lighthearted take on the magical girl subgenre that subverts it in a 180-degree-different way than Madoka Magica, which I talked about in this prior Anime Roundup post (and continues to traumatize me to this very day). Looking forward to Season 2!

Look Back

Speaking of trauma...oof. This is a one-hour film (not a series) that follows the lives of two artists who meet as elementary school students and go on to become best friends and mangaka (manga creators). It's a beautiful, bittersweet story with a slight sci-fi element and a (mild spoiler alert) gut punch twist that will leave you scarred. Drop everything you're doing and watch this amazing film right now. I'll be here.

Did you watch it? Good. You're welcome.

Until next time!

Takara Sushi Fundraiser

If you're a sushi lover (like yours truly), I have great news! This month, the awesome and generous folks at Takara Sushi in Portland are donating 20% of their sales every Wednesday to Autism Empowerment!

I've had their sushi, and trust me, it's terrific. Also, the restaurant itself is a beautiful space right on the bank of the Willamette River. It's perfect for group outings, family dinners, date nights, or even solo dining! 

The first Wednesday of April has already come and gone, but you still have four more chances (the 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th) to experience a delicious lunch or dinner while supporting a great cause during Autism Acceptance Month. Takara Sushi is located at 1264 NW Naito Pkwy, Portland, OR, 97209.

Hope to see you there!

Mmm, sushi...