#79 - "Go Back to the Beginning"

[hashbrown]

This metapuzzle has two answers, both of which have something in common with several entries in the grid. One is a well-known animated movie; the other is closely related to the first theme entry.

[ChrisKochmanski]

Got the animated movie.

As for the second answer: ???

[oldjudge]

Both answers confirmed— amazing puzzle by Peter!

[Meg]

What oldjudge said. Took all day!

[boharr]

Got the movie as well.

EDIT: And now the second answer too.

[LesY]

I think I have both. And am hoping I saw all the texture there was to see here. Really really good.

Edit: I had both answers correct but missed one part of the elegance in the mechanism. I’ll reiterate my take that this one is quite excellent.

[ChrisKochmanski]

Got the animated movie yesterday. And, finally, the second answer today. Another solver gently nudged me on Part Deux.

Very clever puzzle. I've never seen a mechanism quite like it. And, yes, all that texture. Wow! I'm amazed that it works as well as it does.

[TMart]

Got the movie - nice one! Now back to MMMM ???

[RPardoe]

Helpful nudges got me thinking (finally) down the proper path.
Both solutions found and submitted.

[Hector]

Tough, and very nice.

[Al Sisti]

Looks like my PGW unsolved streak is 2 in a row; that's never happened before.

[Beth Tyrpin]

I really wish PGW would implement nudge day. I hate missing out on the solve because they are usually so good. Last week I was focused on using the vowels. Totally missed the ghost connection.

[pgw]

Solution is now up at

https://pgwcc.net/2020/10/13/puzzle-79-solution/

[Al Sisti]

I didn't solve it, but man, this is *vintage* PGW!

[ChrisKochmanski]

Yes, nudge day for PGWCC would be nice. Though I got into some fun PMing with other solvers, exchanging our own nudges.

Now reading Peter G's explanation, I'm seeing how this puzzle was even MORE textured than I thought. I surmised (with the help of nudgers) the two solutions just from the letters, not from the further reversing and dropping of these letters intended.

Wow!

[Hector]

I agree, the double-answer magic and the role of the intermediate pieces like LEAVE are so cool. The idea of moving ends of entries to the beginning actually came to me in my sleep. I awoke confident that that must be it, but then the apparent themers did not cooperate. Returning to it later I just happened to notice the word+letter entries.

[TMart]

Huh - I got WALL-E, but only because I missed MANU as a themer. Oh well, half is better than none!

[pgw]

... the apparent themers did not cooperate.

What were the apparent themers?

[Hector]

I just meant the longest entries: the six 8-letter ones, or just the verticals. Nothing else themey about them ever emerged (unlike this month's Muller, where so much emerged -- for many of us -- about the long entries that distracted from the important ones).

[Laura M]

Kicking myself that I didn't get the first step, but the rest of it was a Kas 5 for me anyway. If I had gotten that first step, I probably would have submitted Wall-E without any idea of the real path!