Elements

I love @bigfatbreak's Feralnette because she looks like she's getting just as little sleep as I am

Dear Cartoon Network, HBO Max, and whoever else is in charge of Infinity Train these days,

You have decided not to renew Infinity Train because the next season has no child entry point. Though this is a conclusion that makes sense, it is a decision that is largely unsupported and will lead to a great loss, both on your part and on the part of its audience.

Season five does not need a child entry point, because any children watching the show are already invested in the characters that will lead the season. They need no entry point because they have already entered. You do not need to worry about grabbing their attention, because Amelia and One-One have already grabbed it.

Yes, you could argue that since this is a new season, the show has to regain investment from the audience. And, as you believe children make up a large part of the audience, the show has to capture a child's interest. You believe children make up the majority of Infinity Train's audience because animation has always been considered a child's art form. Assuming this is true, then isn't the child entry point the very medium of the season? If the majority of the audience is children, that is because animation appeals to children. And if animation appeals to children, does that not make it a child entry point?

But the truth is, when it comes down to it, you don't need a child entry point. This is because Infinity Train appeals to adults and teenagers, not just children. This is not a weakness or a paradox; if anything, it is a strength. After all, children are not the ones who buy subscriptions—adults are. And it is guaranteed that the adults will be deeply invested in season five, child entry point or not.

You cancelled Infinity Train because the next season does not have a child entry point. But it does, in the form of familiar and beloved characters, as well as animation. And even if those don't count as entry points, the season does not need an entry point, because Infinity Train is not just a children's show, it is a people's show.

Sincerely,

a child who is already invested in season five, no entry point required

Everyone always compares Infinity Train to Adventure Time or Gravity Falls or Steven Universe, but to me, watching Infinity Train always feels more like watching a studio Ghibli movie: captivating, immersive, and surreal.

Rory!

She, she screams in silence

A sullen riot penetrating through her mind

Waiting for a sign

To smash the silence with the brick of self-control

- Green Day, "She"

I'm so bitter that we're not getting that Amelia-One season

Septimus Heap has the ultimate found family. You start with the core seven-son family, which is already guaranteed to have at least nine members. Not to mention they have a crazy aunt and at least six uncles, as well as a tree or two.

Throw in an adopted daughter, 1.5 ducks and 0.5 of a cat, the youngest son's adoptive mother/mentor/BFF and semi-adoptive father/kidnapper, the adopted daughter's biological dad, the youngest son's best friend who will someday be the adopted daughter's boyfriend, a ghost uncle, the youngest son's first best friend/adoptive brother from his childhood in the army who is probably also the second oldest son's boyfriend, the youngest son's dragon, and the oldest son's wife.

Oh, and don't forget the ghost uncle's ghost girlfriend, the mother, father, and brother of the oldest son's wife, the second youngest son's girlfriend and her transforming panther, maybe a couple witches (or maybe not), the adopted daughter's ghost mom and ghost grandmother, the oldest son's pet tennis ball, the adopted daughter's pet rock(s), and a centuries-old magical grandpa who you can only see by exiting time.

And we haven't even gotten to the sequel series yet!

yes girl. cry. let it out

I have headcanons

They truly are a lion pride!

Honestly? Agreed. I'm trying to write a recovery sequel to the fic I wrote last night where Adrien actually loses his arm, and . . . I don't know, a prosthetic just doesn't seem right. I hesitate to call it a cop-out or anything, but losing an arm is not the kind of problem a character should "solve," it's the kind of problem a character should "overcome."

Actually, I went on a rant about this to my sister one time while we were discussing character arcs, so I think I can explain why a prsothetic is a bad idea narratively. It sort of is a cop-out, in terms of story. Adrien losing his arm presents a challenge he has to overcome as a character; through overcoming it, he will grow. But if his problem is solved quickly, it's easier for him to pretend he didn't lose his arm. No, obviously it's not like all the challenges are gone—I don't know anything about prosthetics, but I doubt they're perfect replacements for original limbs yet—but the issue has in part been "solved" before he could grow. In terms of character development and story, giving Adrien a prosthetic would be a bad move.

And it's also just bad disability representation, I think? I mean, I hesitate to discuss that aspect of it because I'm not disabled and I don't know anyone who's disabled. (So if I'm misrepresenting anything, please tell me.) But I think it's similar to trying to "fix" an autistic person by making them not autistic—it's toxic, damaging, unjustified, and helps no one.

waitwaitwait i just had an idea

what if plagg can give adrien some kind of substitute for his arm?? like one of those prosthetics but magical? and so to all the civilians, chat noir never lost an arm, because it's covered by the suit.

but if adrien just suddenly lost an arm, no explanation, what would he do?? marinette and gabriel probably know his identity, but what about everyone else?? further cause for identity shenanigans?

tbh!! Despite all of the other “blonde boys that fuck up their right arms and have dead moms and are child soldiers/heroes” having magical or high-tech robotic arms, I actually prefer that Adrien never gets one! I saw someone mention that Max could theoretically build him one, and other people have mentioned miraculous wiz biz, but I think it’s still interesting to have a disabled character whose disability isn’t solved fictitiously.

As for his identity, I imagine that whatever event involving Hawkmoth removing Adrien’s arm landed Gabriel Agreste in prison or death lol. So with no more supervillain to fight, it might not be as much of a concern if people figure out his identity.