Today in Nerd History | November 18

Nerd culture is a vibrant tapestry of events, releases, and milestones that have shaped the entertainment landscape. From iconic movies to groundbreaking games and significant literary contributions, this article takes a trip down memory lane to explore the notable nerd culture events that occurred on November 18th in history. Let’s celebrate these cherished moments that have left an indelible mark on the hearts of fans around the world.

Photo Credit: Cartoon Brew

STEAMBOAT WILLIE

In 1928, Steamboat Willie, the first Mickey Mouse cartoon, premiered at the Colony Theater in New York.

Nerdy Fact: Steamboat Willie is considered a landmark in animation history and a cultural icon. It was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 1998.

Photo Credit: Medium

CALVIN & HOBBES

In 1985, Calvin & Hobbes premiered in newspapers. This is a comic strip that follows the adventures of a boy and his stuffed tiger, who comes to life in his imagination. It is widely regarded as one of the best and most influential comics of all time, blending humor, philosophy, and satire.

Nerdy Fact: The main characters, Calvin and Hobbes, are named after two famous philosophers: John Calvin and Thomas Hobbes. John Calvin was a leader of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, and Thomas Hobbes was a political thinker in the 17th century. Their names reflect some of the themes and ideas that the comic strip explores, such as human nature, morality, and society.

Photo Credit: Teen Vogue

SUGAR, SPICE & CHEMICAL X

In 1998, The Powerpuff Girls premiered on Cartoon Network. This American superhero animated television series featured three kindergarten-aged girls with superpowers who fight crime and evil in the city of Townsville.

Nerdy Fact: They had different names in different countries, such as Chocolate, Bubble, and Acorn in Latin America, and Lolly, Dolly, and Molly in Italy.

Photo Credit: VG247

PENNY ARCADE

Also in 1998, Penny Arcade launched online. This webcomic features the humorous adventures of two gamers, Tycho and Gabe, as they comment on video games, pop culture, and their own lives.

Nerdy Fact: The webcomic has spawned several spin-off projects, such as the Penny Arcade Expo (PAX), a series of gaming festivals held in various locations around the world.

Photo Credit: Nintendo Life

BORN TO PLAY

In 2001, the Nintendo GameCube released. It is the first Nintendo console to use optical discs instead of cartridges, and it can even connect to the Game Boy Advance for some games.

Nerdy Fact: The GameCube is not actually a cube, but a rectangular prism. Its dimensions are 15 cm x 16 cm x 11 cm, which means it has a volume of 2640 cubic centimeters. A perfect cube with the same volume would have a side length of about 13.8 cm.

Photo Credit: GameStop

OH NOOO

Also in 2001, Luigi’s Mansion released on the GameCube. This is a game where Luigi explores a haunted mansion, captures ghosts with a vacuum cleaner, and rescues his brother Mario from the evil King Boo.

Nerdy Fact: The game was one of the first to use the GameCube’s GBA link cable, which allowed players to connect a Game Boy Advance to the console and use it as a second screen. The Game Boy Advance would display a map of the mansion and other information, such as Luigi’s health and the number of ghosts captured.

Photo Credit: Vocal Media

GOBLET OF FIRE

In 2005, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire premiered in theaters. This is a fantasy film based on the novel by J. K. Rowling, in which Harry Potter is unexpectedly chosen by the Goblet of Fire to compete in the Triwizard Tournament, a dangerous and magical competition between three wizarding schools.

Nerdy Fact: The underwater scenes were shot in a huge tank with a blue-screen background, which was one of the largest underwater sets ever constructed. Divers were on hand with air tanks to allow the actors to stay submerged for long periods of time. Daniel Radcliffe alone logged nearly 42 minutes underwater.

Photo Credit: Forbes

WII? U?

In 2012, the Nintendo Wii U released. This video game console features a touchscreen controller and supports HD graphics.

Nerdy Fact: The Wii U GamePad, the main controller of the Wii U, has a touchscreen that can be used as a second screen for some games, or as the main screen for others. This allows you to play games without using the TV, or to have different perspectives or information on each screen. The Wii U GamePad can also control your TV and other devices, such as your cable box, DVD player, or stereo. You can use it to change channels, adjust the volume, or access online services like Netflix or Hulu.