The Gist:

• Anime director Hayao Miyazaki is rumored to have been banned from Studio Ghibli.
• Details of his status have been greatly exaggerated.
• His latest film, The Boy and the Heron, was released during the summer of 2023.

When anime fans think of acclaimed directors in the industry, most of them think of Hayao Miyazaki. Having gotten his start in the world of Japanese animation back in 1963, he has since become a prolific and celebrated creator known for his many classic films. Some of his earliest works include episodes of Lupin III and Sherlock Hound, just to name a few.

Since then, Miyazaki has directed dozens of anime films, many of which would become award-winning classics. As of this writing, his well-remembered 2002 film Spirited Away remains the only hand-drawn animated film to have won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature.

His legacy is strong and ongoing, but rumors of his getting banned from Studio Ghibli, the production company that he founded, have been circulating. Here’s what you should know.

Having founded Studio Ghibli alongside other anime creators back in 1985, Miyazaki has had his name practically become synonymous with that of the self-made studio. Not every Ghibli film is made by Miyazaki, but nearly all of Miyazaki’s films were made through Studio Ghibli. He’s so closely associated with the studio that it’s hard for anyone to imagine what it would be like without him.

That said, word seemed to spread suggesting that shortly after the 2023 release of his film The Boy and the Heron, Miyazaki was subsequently banned from his flagship studio. The news certainly raised eyebrows among fans, who were all too quick to worry whether or not Miyazaki truly had been axed from his own studio.

Luckily, that isn’t the case.

There are no official reports on Miyazaki having been banned from Studio Ghibli for any reason. In fact, it’s likely that the rumors were inadvertently sparked by an article written for Hard Drive, a well-known satire news site that primarily focuses on gaming and pop culture. On Sept. 10, 2023, the site posted an article stating that Miyazaki had been banned from the studio after his multiple retirements from the industry, but none of this is actually true.

That said, the acclaimed anime director is indeed infamous for consistently making retirement announcements only to come out of retirement some years later to work on a new film. It would appear as if he likes to keep busy working on animation rather than relax in his retirement.

But whether or not he is retired, it is unlikely that he’ll ever be barred from his own studio given the legacy he was able to establish with Studio Ghibli over the course of several decades.

The Gist:

• There will be a nationwide test of the emergency alert system on October 4.
• The alert will be broadcast to all TVs, radios, and cell phones across the country, and will be accompanied by a message alerting users that this is just a test.
• The test is designed to ensure that a real alert can be sent in the event of a national emergency.

Anyone who is connected to the world and has a TV or phone is likely aware of the emergency broadcasting system. The system is designed to warn you about regional or national emergencies that could range from a major storm to some other dangerous situation. The system is supposed to make sure that people can get to safety, but in order to ensure the system works, sometimes, a test is required.

People online are nervous following rumors that a test will take place on October 4, which has led many to wonder what exactly that day will bring, and whether they’ll be ready for it.

On October 4, there will be a massive, coordinated test of the emergency alert system across TVs, radios, and cell phones. The test is set to occur at 2:20 pm ET, and should be accompanied by a somewhat jarring, electronic noise that is designed to bring you to alert.

The noise will be accompanied by a message that should be familiar to anyone who has heard or read these types of alerts before.

“This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 14:20 to 14:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public,” the message will say.

This test is happening to ensure that the system is ready in the event of a real widespread national emergency or attack.

These kinds of tests are particularly important in the aftermath of events like the wildfires in Maui, when it was determined that the emergency sirens did not sound properly, causing more destruction and devastation than the fires might have led to otherwise.

The exact wording of the test has not been released yet, but on cell phones, it will come as a text message badge that reads: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”

The message will also be delivered in Spanish to phones where the main menu is also in Spanish.

“ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción,” will be the message in Spanish.

The test is only set to last for a single minute, and there aren’t supposed to be any repeats of the warning after that first alarm sounds.

The test will mean that there will be a temporary blackout of all devices in the US, and while that news is alarming to some because it will be an interruption, it’s easy to see why the system needs to be tested regularly to ensure that we’re ready for a serious emergency.

The Gist:

• Body shaming has wreaked havoc on folks of all shapes, sizes, and ethnicities over the years.
• The body positivity movement has tended to focus on people of larger sizes and many voices aren’t heard.
• The movement should be inclusive and support people of all sizes and ethnicities.

It’s no secret that the emergence of social media has played a role in how detrimental body shaming can be. In the early 2000s, sites like Facebook and Twitter — birthed in 2004 and 2006, respectively — showed how easy it is for folks to create anonymous identities and wreak havoc on folks of all shapes, sizes, and ethnicities. While we all know that no one is safe from being body shamed, there has always been a focus on how fat people are affected.

Truth be told, if we look at most of the leaders and voices in the body positivity movement, many of these people are of larger sizes. While it’s great to see these people speak up for themselves and individuals who look like them, it has caused the body positivity movement to feel like a skinny, white woman’s mission, as opposed to an inclusive one. It’s time to wake up and smell the coffee.

If you take a scroll through social media — from Instagram to TikTok — body positivity content typically has a white face. Although there are plenty of Black women who champion the movement, their voices are often unheard.

Of course, there are some women, from the likes of Lizzo to influencer Simone Mariposa, who use their platforms to make their voices heard. However, I’d be remiss not to address that Black women of smaller sizes tend to be MIA as far as the topic is concerned.

By description, body positivity is understood to be a social movement that champions the respect of all bodies — skinny to fat — being deemed acceptable despite societal standards that say otherwise. With that in mind, there is no reason why smaller-sized Black women are not part of the conversation on a larger scale.

So many women who fit this demographic have often been open about their struggles with body image over the years, including rapper Coi Leray. Ever since the femcee stepped on the scene, she has had to deal with harsh criticisms about her small frame.

“I’ve dealt with the body shaming situation, honestly, my whole career,” Coi says to Eddie Francis for Apple Music 1’s The Plug Radio. Shout out to all the slim women out there. I feel like I actually paved the way in the music industry for a slim woman to just finally be accepted, honestly, after a very long time.”

Truth be told, Coi’s plight with body shaming is known due to her celebrity status, but there are everyday women like Coi who deal with the same struggle that’s overlooked regarding the promotion of the body positivity movement.

Truth be told, only time will tell. However, it’s important to reiterate that bodies come in various shapes and sizes. And while folks who consider themselves full-figured often deal with discrimination and harsh criticism, it’s a similar experience for folks on the other side and in between.

Social media has shined a light on the fact that a woman can have what many consider to be a desirable body and still be ridiculed. For example, Megan Thee Stallion often receives hate for being a tall woman with small hips, Lizzo is consistently dragged for being fat, Coi is criticized for not opting for a BBL or breast implants, and Nicki Minaj is body-shamed for gaining a few pounds. The list goes on.

With that in mind, it’s time for folks in the body positivity space to come together to praise all bodies. As the saying goes, I am my sister’s keeper. It’s time to uplift and celebrate each other for our differences and the beauty in it.