[Mage: the Awakening] Preptime: Inspire Me

Like Batman, Preptime is the GM’s best friend and most potent tool.  Today I’m working on getting back into the groove of running nMage, which is due to start in 2 weeks or so.  As with all creative work, I find it a lot easier to generate ideas, get into a given mood, or work with a theme when I’m inspired.  And so I’m compiling my own recommended media list for the nMage campaign:

Manga:

• xxxHolic – The early part of this manga series is a fantastic example of what a high Gnosis Acanthus might be in the form of the Space-Time Witch Yuuko, who grants wishes… for a price.
• Mushishi – Ginko, the one eyed, nigh-unflappable Mushishi, is a great example of a Thyrsus Mage of high Wisdom.
• Ga-Rei – Ga-Rei is a high-octane action series with some great examples of just how fucked up the Spirit World can be, and how powerful Spirits can change people’s lives forever.

Anime:

• Kara no Kyoukai – the Garden of Sinners – This series starts slowly, but unravels fantastically at the 5th movie.  Look out for Toko Aozaki as she would make for a great example of a mage.
• Witch Hunter Robin – Crazed Witches in this series could easily be Mad Willworkers of an Awakening Campaign
• The Girl Who Leapt Through Time – A sweet, humorous, and also heartbreaking movie that deals with the consequences of time travel.  A must see movie if you’re of the opinion that time travel would solve all your problems.
• Millennium Actress – This movie is one of my favorites because it tells you two different narratives, as told through snippets of a number of different movies starring the same actress.  It’s everything, and anything all in a single film.  If I could fit this much symbolism in one campaign, I could retire from GMing a fulfilled and happy man… for about a week or so before I try doing it again.
• Paprika – Dreamscapes are creepy, creepy places, and Paprika’s stunning visuals and dream-diving and reality twisting from Satoshi Kon (also of Millennium Actress,) will leave you lost in the experience.
• Perfect Blue – Satoshi Kon again, responsible for anime’s finest experiences of driving you slowly mad.  By the time the movie hits it’s climax, you’ll be doubting your own sanity.
• Paranoia Agent – One last Satoshi Kon, this time, a series.  Focuses on the wonders of modern day stress and pressure and what happens when surreal elements start creeping in from the skeletons we have in our closet.  Great fodder for Mages and how magic feeds off our own fears and inhibitions.
• Ghost in the Shell – The Puppet Master makes for an excellent faceless villain, and the movie itself brings to light some fantastic questions on the nature of humanity and what defines a being’s right to exist.
• Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence – Another excellent movie deals with rights of an artificial being, great inspiration for dealing with homonculi and summoned / crafted beings.
• Full Metal Alchemist – Hubris.  Few series of western or eastern TV has hit the nail on the head so squarely when dealing with the issue of Hubris as Full Metal Alchemist.  Atrocity after atrocity all in the name of fame, money, love or the art is piled on one another, leading to a dizzying tale of human depravity and atonement.

Music:

• Hurt by Nine Inch Nails
• Viva la Vida by Coldplay
• Nativity in Black, the Black Sabbath Tribute Album

Comic Books:

• Lucifer – An excellent tale with a protagonist that would make any Mastigos green with envy.  Lucifer has a lot of tricks that don’t even need magic, just a simple understanding of human nature.
• Hellblazer – John Constantine is a perfect example of the everyman mage.  A slave to his vices, and chained by his pride, Constantine is the imperfect paragon, and the ultimate trickster.  A must-read.
• The Books of Magic – While serving as a Field Guide to the DC comics magical universe, Books of Magic explores the various realities that Mages live and breathe in.  Whether it’s the occult underground, to the realms of spirit, Mages are no longer locked in this world.

Novels:

• Dresden Files – A combination of the supernatural with detective noir with a good dose of humor and a very well researched supernatural setting, the Dresden Files is a fun read and has more than a few ideas on how Mages fit with the rest of the World of Darkness.
• Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell – Magic isn’t cheap, and the rivalry between these two magicians is an all too real reflection of how Mages in the World of Darkness are possessive of their own magical knowledge while coveting those of the other.

Movies and TV:

• Supernatural – While admittedly closer to Hunter than Mage, Supernatural still gives some good plot hooks that can be used in a Mage chronicle
• Ring – The original Japanese release of this film defines creepy.  Ghosts don’t sound like much in Mage mechanically, but when played right, a vengeful ghost like Sadako will keep even the most courageous Mage up at night.
• Fringe – “Where’s your imagination, boy?” J.J. Abrams makes cryptozoology and fringe science sexy again with this obsession-spawning series.  Walter Bishop is an excellent example of a half-crazed Free Council mage, if I ever saw one.

As probably obvious already for those who’ve been following my blog, I like media that makes you think.  Each of the entries here always deal with hubris and consequence in one form or another.    Majority also work as cautionary tales, little object lessons in underestimating the extent at which magic can change people’s lives and their reality.  The last third of these focus on responsibility, many of the protagonists in this list are bound by fate, duty, or some past folly to fixing their mistake, and so they atone by taking down supernatural dangers.

It’s a long list admittedly, and while I’ve gone through these before, I’m still open to suggestions.  Anyone got more stuff I should be watching / reading / listening to?