Kipper the dog is a popular children's book character created by author Mick Inkpen. In one of the stories, titled "Kipper the Dog: The Magic Act," Kipper and his friends decide to put on a magic show. The story begins with Kipper and his friends Tiger, Pig, and Arnold gathering in Kipper's backyard. They are looking for something fun to do and decide that putting on a magic show would be the perfect activity. Kipper, being the creative and imaginative dog that he is, quickly comes up with an idea for their magic act. He suggests that each of them can perform a different magic trick and that they can take turns being the magician.
It's not often that you stare into the deep well of video games and find your own reflection staring back at you, but the first time I played Night in the Woods, I saw myself in Mae Borowski's nightmare eyes. From her snarky cynicism to her steadfast rejection of the world, I saw flaws in Mae that mirrored my own, but on a much larger scale, mirrored the overall sense of nihilism and defeat that characterises the millennial worldview. Mae, to me, became a representation of a generation of silenced voices, and of uncertain futures.
Mae describes how in the days leading up to the incident, she had immersed herself completely in a video game about dating ghosts as a form of intensive escapism. Near the beginning of the game, Bea resents Mae, due to Mae wasting her opportunity to go college by dropping out, while Bea was unable to even go to college, due to family circumstances.
He suggests that each of them can perform a different magic trick and that they can take turns being the magician. Tiger volunteers to go first and he begins by pulling a rabbit out of his hat. The rabbit, which is actually Kipper's stuffed toy rabbit, surprises everyone and delights the audience.
Depressive States: Dealing with Mental Health in Night in the Woods
In many games, mental disorders are very much defined as auxiliary to the characters within the game. They are used to derive a sort of mechanic and are ignored narratively as they relate to character development and seriously dealing with these topics. Games like Amnesia, Don’t Starve, and The Evil Within all come to mind where an array of disorders are constructed in a way to garner j ump scares, as sanity meters, or as an explanation for certain “set dressings”, villains, and villainous motifs. Night in the Woods, a game developed by Infinite Fall, does something different. While I have yet to finish the game, the way in which mental disorders are depicted in the narrative and characterized throughout the game has left a lasting impression.
The game follows Mae Borowski, a sophomore college dropout. She returns to her home town of Possum Springs where she tries to reconnect with the community and her friends. After being away for a few years Mae quickly discovers that, while much is the same on the surface, the town has been hit hard by an economic recession and many of the inhabitants, including her high school friends and parents, are struggling to get by. As Mae continues through her daily life she learns more about herself and the developing struggles of those around her. Through conversations and mini games the player is given small glimpses into the lives surrounding Mae and also alludes to Mae’s own backstory – Why did she drop out of college? Why won’t she discuss ‘what happened’ at college?
Mae’s friend Gregg suffers from bipolar disorder. After spending an afternoon with him Mae learns of his internal fears. He is afraid of losing his boyfriend, Angus, and that he often has a very bad image of himself. He states that has very “up up days and very down down days”. Furthermore, this does not end with this single conversation. The player sees this throughout the game – some days Gregg is very excitable and energetic where other days he barely talks to you and it is clear he is struggling.
Players are also given subtle hints to the troubles Angus and Gregg face on a daily basis. Near the beginning of the game Gregg says that he cannot hangout because he has to go get dinner with the family. When Mae questions him on whether this is a good or bad dinner he pauses and then replies that it’s a “friendly” dinner. Later Angus disappears as he explains he too needs to take care of “family matters”. As the player talks to them more it becomes clear that some of the issues they are dealing with internally and with their relationship stem from homophobic relatives.
Both Mae and her old friend, Bae, suffer from depression. Bae lost her mom a few years back and had been struggling with an over burdening job and supporting her father, giving up her dreams in the process. She often talks to Mae about how tired she always is and that she has lost an interest in many of their old habits and hobbies. At first Bae is extremely hostile towards Mae and is resentful for her company and presence. She reacts angrily or with sarcastic impatience to anything with an amount frivolity.
As Mae continues to talk to her and tries to hang out with her Mae, and the player, understand Bae’s disposition with a bit more clarity. Furthermore, there is a contrast to Mae’s and Bae’s depression. Mae has had outbursts of severe anger and repressed feelings. This is worsened by her anxiety, which is also something she has to deal with through the game. She is snarky, has described herself as a jerk, and sometimes illustrates discontent with her body type. Though she is not overtly feminized, she still deals with sexist attitudes in her family. For example, her grandfather excluded her from certain activities because they were “men’s” activities. In an interview back in 2013, one of the developers, Scott Benson, explains “that she isn’t traditionally feminized does come into her character a bit. It’s not a main story line focus; it’s just who she is”. Mae is very content with destruction and finds happiness in breaking objects. All of this shows that depression does not have singular characteristics. People with depression do not have all the same symptoms and how people react and deal with this disorder can greatly vary. The game tries to address the stigma that depression is one thing.
Though depression is symbolized throughout the game and is paralleled by the economic hardship seen within the town, the development and characterization of these struggles is still very much a part of the characters. The developers address these issues but with a subtle finesse. Much like real life, they do not explicitly tell you – this character has depression. You must see that for yourself by really listening to these characters stories. It is something that they deal with every day and is very much a part of who they are and while they are struggling to discover who they want to be.
Here anoth er point of interest is illustrated throughout the game – the idea of “access”. By this I mean the methods in which these characters have the ability to get help with their struggles. Many cannot afford to go to the doctor. Being a part of a poor and small town there are not many options for them. Those that can afford to go are frustrated as they are all lumped into the same category. Therefore, the characters in this game must heavily rely on one another – to talk to, to hang out with, and to notice and listen.
Despite the 2D graphics and the animal characters, the narrative feels incredibly real. Part of this realism stems from the developers personal experiences. Scott Benson has bipolar disorder while Alec Holowka has been very clear on his struggles with mental disorders while hosting the podcast “Everybody’s Fucked Up”. While I cannot relate to the games small hometown, “rust belt” setting, there is much I can still relate to – and I feel others will as well. The pressures and feelings associated with struggling to define yourself (especially in your 20’s and in college) are ever present. How the game addresses and renders mental disorders is also very important. While I enjoy scary games and games that force me to prioritize my time and tasks, it is nice to see a game that is willing to illustrate these topics in a way that does not deal with horror or trivialize them to mechanics.
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Pig goes next and he amazes everyone by making a deck of cards disappear and then reappear in his pocket. Arnold, who is a little bit shy, is hesitant to perform a magic trick, but with encouragement from his friends, he takes the stage. Arnold surprises everyone by levitating a small ball in the air, much to the amazement of the audience. Finally, it's Kipper's turn to perform a magic trick. He decides to make himself disappear, much to the skepticism of his friends. However, to their surprise, Kipper successfully disappears and reappears in a different location, leaving everyone in awe. The magic show turns out to be a great success, with everyone applauding and cheering for Kipper and his friends. They all feel proud of their magical abilities and decide to do more magic shows in the future. The story of "Kipper the Dog: The Magic Act" teaches children the importance of teamwork, creativity, and believing in themselves. It shows that with a little bit of imagination and support from friends, anything is possible. Overall, "Kipper the Dog: The Magic Act" is a delightful story that combines the magic of friendship with the excitement of a magic show, making it a favorite among young readers..
Reviews for "Step Right Up! The Spectacular Majic Act of Kipper the Dog"
1. Sarah - 1 star
I found "Kipper the dog the magic act" to be extremely boring and uninteresting. The storyline lacked any excitement or originality, and the magic tricks performed by Kipper fell flat. The animation was also lacking, and the characters seemed dull and lifeless. Overall, I was disappointed with this episode of Kipper the Dog and would not recommend it to others.
2. Michael - 2 stars
I have always been a fan of Kipper the Dog, but "The Magic Act" left me unimpressed. The plot was predictable, and the jokes were not funny at all. The animation quality seemed lower than usual, and the characters lacked depth. In addition, I found the pacing to be slow, making the episode drag on. Overall, this was a lackluster episode that did not meet my expectations for Kipper the Dog.
3. Emily - 1 star
"Kipper the Dog the Magic Act" was a major disappointment for me. The storyline was disjointed and did not hold my attention. It felt like a random collection of scenes rather than a coherent episode. The magic tricks were unimpressive and seemed more like cheap tricks you could find in a beginner's magic kit. Overall, I was bored throughout the entire episode and would not recommend it to anyone.