The weird anime women that inspired me.

Surrealist anime that inspired How to Be a Better Adult

Penguindrum is really, really weird.

It’s also one of my favorite anime of all time.

In it, a young girl is dying. Her parents are nowhere to be found. Her two brothers are heartbroken, fearing that they’ll lose their sister as well. But, in a strange turn of events, she lives. All thanks to a penguin-shaped hat that magically transforms her into the Princess of The Crystal in another realm. The Princess tells the brothers to fetch the mysterious Penguindrum if they want their sister to survive. From there, the story turns into a surrealist trip through time and fate.

Not only is the show visually stunning, but it also has an incredible soundtrack—and cute penguins!

I love how trippy it is. Watching feels like I’m dreaming, and it’s the perfect escape from the world while also covering pretty heavy topics like abandonment and trauma. The same can be said for…

Revolutionary Girl Utena is a strange ride.

In RGU, Utena is a young girl who dreams of becoming a valiant prince. Through the course of the series, she duels her classmates in order to win the hand of the Rose Bride—her purple-haired classmate Anthy.

A lot happens in this series, and I won’t lie…I was lost at points while watching, but I was never not entertained. The symbolism runs deep, and I plan to rewatch it with a more mature brain to really take in everything. Just like in Penguindrum, RGU explores heavy themes through dreamy imagery.

How I’ve been inspired

Dreamy, surreal, magical, strange, and kinda gay is the perfect way to describe How to Be a Better Adult.

In fact, here’s how one of my best friends described the book after reading an earlier draft:

Just like in Penguindrum, our main character receives a strange trinket that changes her life. And like in RGU, she meets a mysterious woman with more to her than meets the eye. There are strange, dreamy sequences that almost seem magical but are rooted in realism and easily explained in-story. It’s a weird read. But a fun one!

There’s also a playlist that correlates to each chapter and character!

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Updates!:

How to Be A Better Adult is on Goodreads; take a look and save it! You can also pre-order the Kindle version on Amazon. Signed hardcover book bundles that were ordered directly from me will be sent out as soon as they arrive [February 6th].

The paperback will be available on Amazon on February 1st! We’re almost there guys!

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Listen to my girly podcast!: The Magical Girl’s Guide to Life

Read my nerdy self-help book!: The Magical Girl’s Guide to Life

Follow me on Instagram!: @Jacqueaye