"Definition: 'Love' is making a shot to the knees of a target 120 kilometers away using an Aratech sniper rifle with a tri-light scope."

As you might expect E3 left me with quite a few key gems to anticipate in the upcoming expedition to the mines of 2010, after I was done laughing at some of the more atrocious and absurd concepts introduced. Come now, a Wii Vitality sensor? Rubbish. However I can claim to be more enthused for this year than last.

Metroid: Other M sure raised some controversy amongst us Metroid fans. I must admit I myself have doubts considering Team Ninja's resume: will they preserve the intricate subtleties of storytelling Prime incorporated? Will they retain the uneasy isolation and stark atmosphere so notable in Metroid and Super Metroid? Most outspoken critics seem determined they will fail to adhere to such integral traits, but I am in a rare state of optimism in this regard. Nintendo has yet to let me down personally with Metroid, which is why it is easily my favorite franchise offered by the corporation. Invariably I've already been called a non-fan for even giving it a chance, which saddens me. A great deal of purists I've encountered seem willing for the series to stagnate in redundancy, which I do not agree with. I am as much a fan of the classic and 3D takes on the series, and firmly believe it will never develop and continue to grow without trying something new. I am also quite ecstatic concerning recent news of the Metroid Dread project. If it is still in development we can all welcome two new Metroid games with open arms instead of one! I suppose I can await a new Starfox installment a while longer.

Every news article and interview I've read and viewed in regards to Mass Effect 2 has left my breath only more bated. If you did not know I have become a highly vocal fan of Mass Effect, and I do so love Bioware and how it writes characters. In particular Saren, the rogue turian Spectre seemingly devoted to the pursuit of power or influence, only later unveiled by the story as pitiable and frightened. He vows to ensure the galaxy's survival, utterly unaware throughout the entire journey just how detrimental to that very goal his actions are, and just how much of himself he loses in the process. Or perhaps he really was motivated by a lust for dominance and was merely caught up in something far bigger than he could comprehend. The entirety of Mass Effect is reflective of a classic era in science fiction, in which buildings were clean and pristine, and extraterrestrials often resembled humans in general anatomic structure. I love how devoted Bioware was to the backstory and history of this realm, countless threads of data building up a fantastic but very "real" universe likely skipped over by most players. Putting aside my adoring banter pertaining to the various artistic and design choices I appreciated in the first game, Mass Effect 2 seeks to correct every major gripe I had with the first installment. This may very well be one of the small number of games I would be more than willing to pre-order.

Now I must set aside my E3 premeditation to discuss a true work of art, something I have made absolutely certain to loudly encourage anyone within earshot to spend money to bear witness to. Keep in mind I am a traditional animation fan. I draw 2D cartoons because I love 2D cartoons. 3D animation has always been overly technical for me, I like being able to sit down and scribble something during a moment of inspiration. I cannot do that with 3D Max or any other 3-dimensional animation tool. As old and obsolete as it makes me feel to say, it is simply over my head. I have been verbally against the recent trend in 3D films, mostly against the putrid trash Dreamworks insists on churning out. Pixar I have always recognized as technically exquisite, they know how to animate through and through. And they focus on making genuinely appealing stories and characters as opposed to relying on pop-culture references, fart jokes or whatnot to entertain their audience. Typically I was indifferent toward them though, it simply wasn't my cup of tea... until I saw Wall-E.

I haven't seen a piece of animation so sublime and visually-orgasmic to move me to tears since Disney classics like Lion King or Aladdin, or Akira or some of Miyazaki's work. Wall-E is so wonderfully-different in every way it can be, and it all culminates so beautifully I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Wall-E's and Eve's motivations, personalities and development are unmistakably clear, despite hardly uttering any recognizable English. The movie is visual storytelling perfected. I was in awe of the dedication to detail and design, the cinematography yanks you into that world and refuses to release you. It is a masterpiece in every sense of the word, and if you entitle yourself a fan of animation, characterization, or remote fun in general you must see it. I would toss my wallet to Andrew Stanton were I to meet him in public, though in all honesty I would more likely flee in terror, my feet propelled by a clashing and overwhelming sense of timidness and admiration.

I would love to start a blog or video log or something, allowing my ranting and musing on animation to access a wider audience, but I am far too self-conscious and self-loathing to execute it. It is one of the few topics I become excessively-talkative about, so thank you kindly to whoever actually bothers to read my insights. Perhaps if I am fortunate someone out there considers me as smart as I like to pretend I am. I am frustrated to report I am in an artistic pit, unable to draw anything my eyes can judge worthy of sparing from the nearest trash receptacle. I once again apologize for my lack of activity, my mind is currently brainstorming more ideas than generating.

Thanks for listening, children!