All the art I enjoyed in November 2025
November came and went, and I found myself gravitating towards movies and games again. No books were finished as I would’ve hoped unfortunately. However, all the media I have to share were quit lovely, so I can’t really complain!
Movies
Caramelo
A movie with a dog protagonist was all I needed to know before watching Caramelo. But, to my delight, it was also much more than that!
The movie follows a young man who adopts a stray dog (Caramelo), while at the same time struggling with his health and career. Caramelo becomes his best friend and helps him through his struggles, even saves his life.
I enjoyed how raising a stray dog was portrayed, without being sugar-coated, as very demanding but also very rewarding. It was beautiful to see how having a pet can help you connect with other animal-lovers and build community. The innocence and kindness of animals is able to bring out the best in people.
Tick, tick…BOOM!
This is based on the real story of Jonathan Larson, writer of the musical Rent. There’s a lot of conversation about art in this movie, the meaning of it, the process of creating and the sacrifices involved.
Our protagonist is very anxious about reaching the end of his twenties without having left a mark in the world, always feeling like he’s running out of time . This is juxtaposed by his friends dying very young around him, due to AIDS, and also in retrospect his own sudden early death. We also see him obsessing over his art, trying to create something meaningful, but meanwhile neglecting his personal relationships. The movie makes you wonder if it was all worth it or necessary, but at the end leaves it up to the viewer to decide. I enjoyed the nuance with which these sensitive topics were presented.
Robin Robin
This was adorable! I have watched it twice and suggested it to at least three people.
This is a short hand-crafted animation movie. The characters are needlefelt puppets captured in stop motion with minimal CGI. It inspired me to want to create my own stop motion!
We follow a little robin being adopted by a family of mice. She tries to fit in with her siblings, but struggles. Eventually she realizes that her strength lies in her uniqueness.
It is a musical and the songs are very fun and catchy! Very nice voice-acting as well.
Shows
Jentry Chau VS The Underworld
A new favorite animated series for me! It felt like a modern version of the kinds of cartoons I watched as kid. Nostalgic but fresh at the same time.
We follow Jentry, a teenage girl with supernatural powers mysteriously given to her when she was young. She struggles to control them and tries to have a normal adolescence, while she fights monsters and uncovers secrets about her family history. The supernatural elements of the show are inspired by chinese mythology, which gives the story depth and interest. The mysteries surrounding Jentry’s family are slowly unfolded through each episode, and present the intricacies of growing up and accepting your parents as flawed human beings.
Video Games
ILA: A Frosty Glide
The perfect winter game! You are a little witch in a mysterious snowy land looking for your lost kitty.
This game is a voxel art winter wonderland. The art style and colors are beautiful and paired with the relaxing soundtrack it makes for a very heartwarming experience. The mechanics of flying are super fun and unique, as you ride your broom like a skateboard! The small open world has lots to explore and collect. It is a 3D platformer, and as someone who is bad at platformers, I found it very easy and smooth to play.
Olli Olli World
A skateboarding game in an adventure-time inspired art style! Perfect for anyone like me, who admires skate tricks but wouldn’t dare try them in real life.
I love the character customization in this game. Every time you beat a level you get new swag for your player and skateboard. The world is colorful and exciting, making it feel very alive! The characters you meet along the way are also idiosyncratic and fun.
These were all my favorite media in November. I am excited to see what I end up enjoying in December, especially during the holidays! ❄️☕