Today is World Autism Awareness Day

I would have done something to mark the occasion but A. I've given up uploading YouTube videos and DeviantArt stuff for Lent (though, with regards to the former, I did make an exception on April Fools Day) and B. Even if I didn't give those up, I don't think my audience would care much unless it involves pretty video game characters getting possessed/mind-controlled/having their brains invaded.

Oh, and remember when I made that blog post detailing the turbulent production of TAWOTA? Another reason why my heart was no longer in it was because there was already an animated series with an autistic cast:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-36927463

It's almost tempting to give up on TAWOTA entirely but, as soon as I get some stuff sorted out, I am hoping to continue it. Season 1 was fine and all but, with benefit of hindsight, I don't think it made much use of its premise. Except for the last two episodes, it was just a bunch of wacky misadventures that are irreverent but otherwise irrelevant. Season 2, on the other hand, is where I think the show will find its feet. I don't want to spoil anything but Leon's character arc, which started in the last two episodes of season 1 BTW, will be an allegory to how most autistic people have difficulty adjusting to an ever-changing world to the point that even the people they knew seem different. You see, he is stuck in a world that is not his own and yet it looks so similar that it serves as a constant reminder of how much things have changed. In fact, as Babysitting for Auties implied, even he looks different from how he did when he was younger. So, to cope with this new world and being at the mercy of his capricious creator, he drinks his weight in booze. BTW, one thing I'd like to point out is, while Leon is based on me, we have very different reasons for consuming alcohol. I do it because it's fun while Leon does it as a form of self-medication. Anyway, when the opportunity to restore his old world pops up, he takes it without hesitation and...well...let's just say he messes up big time and learns why letting go of the past is a very good idea. Other episodes in season 2 that are unrelated to Leon's character arc (though one of them does make an excellent contrast to it) include one written by Grant focusing on Chiefy that homages Spider-Man 3 (it's better than it sounds) and another where Imaginee is stuck in this trippy pocket dimension where he is forced to look at memories of his own past but, where Leon learns to let go and mature as a person, Imaginee refuses to move on from all the bad things in his life and gets stuck in this endless loop of pain and misery. Not that Imaginee didn't deserve it.

One thing I should point out is, while season 2 will be darker than season 1, it's still a comedy at its heart. For instance, there will be a three-parter where Leon travels to Equestria with Doctor Hoo but, instead of the Equestria we know (and because I don't want a cease-and-desist from Hasbro down the line), it is a planet populated with these fat-arses:

And the episode with Imaginee has a black comedy tone to it. And speaking of black comedy, here are some memes at my expense but replace "watching Madoka Magica" with "working on TAWOTA":