Minority Mindset

It’s fortunate that Sheila isn’t inclined to engage with him. Over the phone, Sheila and Alex express their concerns about George’s obvious unsuitability. Despite Valerie revealing that George could be a victim of an illegal neurological weapon based on Geneva Convention violations, Sheila remains firm in her belief that he should face consequences for his actions. If George is mentally unfit, she believes he should step down; if he’s sane, she thinks he should resign due to his adoption and escalation of fascistic methods. Given the complexity of this situation, it would be wise to place Sheila in a leadership role. However, all they manage to persuade George to do is agree to some psychological assessments, which find no significant issues with him.

As the break of day approaches on the day of Sheila’s hearing before the House Oversight Committee, George gently stirs his wife from sleep to reminisce about a past moment. They recalled their son performing skateboard stunts outside George’s office window in Albany. When their son successfully executed the trick, George intended to praise him for his persistence – but his responsibilities intervened, and he missed the opportunity. This unfulfilled moment of pride served as one of the more poignant instances of sorrow shared between George and Sheila; he urged her not to hesitate during the hearing. Indeed, she didn’t need his encouragement. Sheila effortlessly dispelled Richard Dreyer’s arrogance, dismissing it as if swatting away an annoying fly. Her masterful move, beyond flawlessly answering all of Richard’s questions without a hint of nervousness, was to highlight that every member of the House, who were in front of her, had previously voted in favor of the commission’s increased powers. Although Sheila is George’s wife, they are equally his partners in the political upheaval of the nation. She unmasked their hypocrisy – they aim to oust George so they can take his place – with a clarity that suggested an unblemished conscience.

As a supporter, I find it reassuring that Jesteadt no longer feels isolated in the indie animation distribution game, given GKIDS’ long-standing reputation as a prestigious cartoon distributor since its co-founding by Eric Beckman and himself in 2008. Over the years, GKIDS has established a formidable theatrical and licensing empire, competing with industry giants such as DreamWorks and Disney. They’ve been instrumental in bringing masterpieces from various countries like Japan, France, Belgium, Ireland, and Spain to American audiences, earning critical acclaim for films such as “My Life As a Zucchini,” “Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles,” “Wolfwalkers,” and many more.

In October 2024, Jesteadt and Beckman announced their decision to sell GKIDS to the Japanese entertainment titan, Toho (best known for Godzilla). This move signifies a new chapter in GKIDS’ dominance and has animation enthusiasts concerned that the company’s international focus might lean too heavily towards Japanese animation. However, I remain optimistic about this change, eagerly awaiting what the future holds for GKIDS and its continued contribution to the world of indie animation distribution.