The Site, the Fandom, and Pikachu-Shaped Pancakes

Hey all, Jay here. I know it's been a couple weeks since you've heard from me, and even longer since you've heard my amazingly sexy voice on the podcast, but I assure you all that I'm still around, and still working on new content for all to enjoy. HOWEVER, I'm here today for a different reason.

Today marks 1 year of It's Super Effective's place on the podcast map. One year ago today, Steve started something that could have lasted or could have flopped. Luckily for all of us, it lasted, and here we are today. 

Everyone here loves Pokemon, and we all knoiw it. This site has become a way to bond over that love. I wrote the Concept Corner series out of love for the series, and a desire to share that love with my fellow fans. I think I can safely say that Wil, Travis, and everyone else who writes for the site do for for the same reason. We all do what we do as rabid fans, because all rabid fans like to nerd out with each other.

Fandoms are kind of amazing in the ways they express themselves. People become inspired by the things that they love, which can lead to inspire fanart and fanfiction. Clubs are built around shows, comics, whatever people enjoy. Finding your own way to express your love for a series is its own practice, its own art, and it is that art which we celebrate here. And when I say we, I mean all of us, writer and reader alike.

One day, back when I was just a small junior trainer, I asked my mother to make pancakes for breakfast. When I sat down to eat, I discovered that she had shaped them to look like Pikachu heads. I can't remember wether I asked her to do it or she did it of her own idea, but I was delighted. Creativity and devotion go hand-in hand.

I don't really know what the point to this article is, and I don't plan on rambling on much longer. All I have left to say is this: If you have an idea, a spark of creativity, that is based on something that already exists, don't think that it shouldn't be acted on. Use your inspiration, take that which already exists and add something to it that makes it your own. Do what you want with your own ideas, and you will see them come to fruition.

To finish up, I want to thank Steve for giving me the opprotunity to learn this for myself, and I want to thank everyone who has enjoyed the site and everything we work hard to provide. I know and trust that we can continue to create our own ideas from that which lays before us. I hope you enjoy everyone else's contributions to the anniversary, as well as teh podcast. May many more lie in the future.