cartoons

(Review) The 2016 Pilot of Cartoon Network’s Upcoming Series ‘Summer Camp Island’

/ Crystal Lynn

You often find an original pilot of a series that is set to be shown on TV screens near you. I find it as a way to prepare ourselves and get a taste of what a series has to offer. Of course, series creators usually do some tweaking and changing to their program and you will most likely always see something different between the pilot and the final product.

Today, we’re looking at Summer Camp Island, which may be exactly what it sounds and much more. This cartoon was created by former animator and writer from Adventure Time, Julia Pott, and was greenlit and set to air on Cartoon Network in Summer 2018. Above anything, Julia is known for her unique animated shorts that can be found on YouTube. I must say that she has done a good job at creating her own style, so much that you can spot a series created by her from a mile away.

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So what has Pott unleashed on us with her 2016 pilot of Summer Camp Island exactly? How about a Summer camp full of bizarre and unusual situations? The camp counselors are popular girls who know magic (aka WITCHES), talking pajamas, monsters under the bed that are nosey and more oddities that you just don’t find at a normal Summer camp. Not to mention it’s all on an island. All of these strange happenings seems to overwhelm a fourteen-year-old anthropomorphic Elephant named Oscar, who misses his normal life outside of camp, so he plans a sleepover for himself and his best friend Hedgehog, who he also happens to have a crush on. Bad news for Oscar, because Hedgehog invites some others to the party including Max, an anthropomorphic badger who plays the role of the typical careless and jerk-ish teenage boy in a backwards hat and hoodie. Max is clearly the apple of Hedgehog’s eye and she gives him all of her undivided attention, which infuriates Oscar and ruins his original sleepover plans.

Just like the overall series itself, the world inside of Summer Camp Island is a roller coaster ride of strange and peculiar emotions. You can’t help but empathize with main character Oscar and feeling like a third wheel when someone you’re crushing over is all over someone THEY are crushing over. The series did a great job of totally spinning a kid’s usual experience at a Summer Camp into something out of a trippy dream. Trippy, as in almost everything was coming to life, including a pair of pajamas and a slice of pizza. Although, I do have to say that for a teenager, Oscar is a bit too child-like. So much that if his mother didn’t reveal his age in the beginning, you wouldn’t put him past ten years old. The same goes for Hedgehog, who I think shows her more mature side when Max is around. I’m not implying that they should act reckless, ride skateboards or drink coffee just because they’re teenagers, but the sleepover activities kind of screamed fifth grade.

With all of that being said, my B- rating does not change the fact that I 100% still want to see this show happen on Cartoon Network this Summer. I have to admit that the “nice guys finish last” lesson that came in plain sight at the end of the episode really surprised me. I was expecting the typical “good guys finish first” followed by a monologue from Hedgehog about how she doesn’t really like Max and that Oscar is the one she loved all along. Or Max ends up screwing things up with Hedgehog and her feeling magically bounce to Oscar. Really relieved that things weren’t so predictable with this one, but poor Oscar. The animation is something that is unique, but it’s going to take some getting used to of course. It’s definitely a different style from the series airing on Cartoon Network at the moment, so it makes me wonder whether the series will fit or not. We’ll just have to wait and see! We’ll keep you updated for an official release date for Summer Camp Island.

Fun Fact: Summer Camp Island is set to be the second series in Cartoon Network history to be solely created by a woman.

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This SpongeBob Fan Theory About Krabby Patties Just Might Be True

/ Crystal Lynn

Disclaimer: This theory is only a theory and has not been confirmed by any official source. Please continue reading at your own risk. Read my full site disclaimer here.

spongebob-krusty-krabsource: Nickelodeon

There has always been something in the pit of my stomach that tells me that there is some truth to the name “Krabby Patty”, and now this fan theory is explaining it all. What do we know about the most popular food item in Bikini Bottom? A Krabby Patty has always appeared innocent and known to be the burger that is all the rage to almost every fish in the sea. As the series went on, the Krusty Krab has always been packed and busy with hungry customers who are waiting to get a bite of the restaurant’s famous burger made by SpongeBob. A Krabby Patty is so good that it has been Plankton’s main goal to steal the secret recipe, but what is the secret recipe? What is a Krabby Patty made of exactly? Fans on Twitter have been speculating a dark theory for awhile, and it has recently resurfaced.

This theory states that Krabby Patties are actually made out of crab meat, and Mr. Krabs is behind it all. This Twitter user makes an excellent point of what I assume many of us have always wondered.

If Krabby Patties are made from beef like normal burgers, then how did the beef get to the bottom of the ocean? What human is dropping crates of beef in the ocean for a crab and his restaurant? Maybe because Krabby Patties are not made from beef. Maybe this is the exact reason why the secret formula is so protected after almost 20 years. What is Mr. Krabs hiding? This next Twitter user may just have it all figured out.

https://twitter.com/imgr3y/status/884562910332243969

Mr. Krabs has been the only crab besides his mother shown in almost every episode of SpongeBob Squarepants. So does that mean Mr. Krabs is killing every other crab in Bikini Bottom, cooking them into burgers and selling them at his restaurant? This could be debunked due to the fact that there is one episode where Krabs attends a stingy convention full of other crabs. But if this theory is true, then you may never see those other crabs again.

Don’t be so quick to throw out this theory without seeing this scene from SpongeBob Squarepants, where Mr. Krabs LITERALLY admits that a Krabby Patty is made out of himself… A CRAB.

Also, the Krusty Krab is literally shaped like a crab trap and every food item offered in the series has been named after what they are made of. Kelp fries, kelp shakes, coral bits, etc. I guess we know the secret ingredient in a Krabby Patty after all.

Did Richie Rich Die and Become Casper the Friendly Ghost?

/ Crystal Lynn

Are you ready to get spooked? You just might have to prepare yourself with this cartoon theory that has crossed many minds for years now. Before we dive into the dark theorizations, I must make an important disclaimer that this article will contain some talk about death and some stuff that may be too macabre for those sensitive to such topics. Also, keep in mind that a theory is a theory. Whether I believe it or not, I am not claiming that any of this has been confirmed by any official source. Please continue reading at you own risk and read my full site disclaimer here.

Also, I want start out by giving those of you out there who don’t know the Richie Rich or Casper the Friendly Ghost characters more information on who the heck we’re talking about here. It’s understandable if you’re younger and aren’t aware of those characters since they are from the old school cartooniverse. I’m talking way back to the 1940s & 50s. Richie Rich is a character from the Harvey Comics who made his first appearance back in 1953 in a comic book issue called Little Dot #1. He was known as “the poor little rich boy”, and became the most popular character of Harvey Comics for more than 30 years. For a kid who is worth over $24 billion in inheritance and could have anything he wanted, you would think Richie would be the most stuck-up kid alive. Well Richie is the total opposite and not turning his nose up at poor people, because while he is the richest kid in the world, he also may be the most charitable. Richie is known for not being afraid to get his hands dirty to help those in need. That is the supposed reason to why he is dubbed “the poor little rich boy”. But what if there is a darker reason among it all?

This is what leads us to Lisa Simpson’s theory. Yes, The Simpsons have been the center of a lot of conspiracies ever since it came out, but this one particular moment in the series just might make a whole lot of sense. In fact, this scene in The Simpsons is what actually started the theory that escalated into a number of other theories. In the scene, Lisa is reading a Richie Rich comic book, while Bart has a Casper the Friendly Ghost comic book. Bart states that he thinks Casper is the ghost of Richie Rich, while Lisa makes the fair point that the two characters do look alike. There is no doubt whatsoever that Richie and Casper have the same exact face.

Bart then says that he wonders how Richie Rich died, and then came the dark theory that Lisa came up with.

“Perhaps he realized how hollow the pursuit of money is, and took his own life.” – Lisa Simpson

I don’t know about you, but I just got the major chills.

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Perhaps this could’ve been the case indeed, because many people out there are in fact convinced that Casper is Richie Rich’s ghost and I know I am. At this point I am not asking whether Richie Rich died or not, I’m asking how.

Lisa Simpson’s suicide theory may be a little too macabre to think about, but there are fans out there that have came up with some other dark theories to exactly how Richie Rich died. But first let’s explore Harvey Comics’ supposed explanation to why Casper is a ghost from this archived Wikipedia article:

Given that Casper is depicted as a ghostly, portly little boy, there is a controversy among fans and critics of the series as to whether or not he is a dead child. Early Casper cartoons seemed to suggest this, as they portrayed him residing beside a gravestone. Specifically, the short “There’s Good Boos To-Night” featured Ferdie, a fox befriended by Casper, coming back from the dead as a ghost. Casper’s death (as well as the reason why he became friendly) have been disputed since that time. This somewhat macabre premise was later abandoned in favor of the idea that ghosts were merely a type of supernatural being, similar to ghouls, goblins, etc. He was thereafter portrayed with feet and shown to have ghostly parents and became slightly slimmer. In the 1960s and 1970s, the stock answer provided by Harvey Comics in response to those wondering how Casper died was that he was a ghost simply because his parents were already ghosts when they were married.

Casper even has a last name that is “McFadden” according to the 1995 film. Speaking of that film, it is revealed that Casper is the ghost of a 12-year-old boy who died of pneumonia. Harvey Comics’ less morbid answer to why Casper is a ghost was simply because his parents were ghosts just doesn’t add up. The film’s explanation and the fact that there’s a character called Ferdie the fox who rose from the dead, proves that death does happen in the Harvey Comics universe and the excuse that Casper was just born a ghost is a little off. Of course as a kid I would’ve fell for this, but in my adult form I just cannot accept the excuse that ghosts can produce children like humans can, even in a fictional universe of cartoon characters. I strongly think that Harvey Comics provided this explanation so that kids wouldn’t be creeped out, because I know if I was a kid and found out that Casper is dead, it would freak me out a bit.

This explanation, along with the fact that Richie Rich and Casper have appeared in 45 issues together in a 1974 comic book series, could easily debunk the whole theory. But that doesn’t stop some fans from dancing around the apparent truth and coming up with some theories of their own.


Richie Rich and Casper (1974 series) 12

One Reddit commenter gave their own little take on how they think Richie passed away from his curiosity of being a normal boy and became Casper.

Comment from discussion junova’s comment from discussion "Casper/Richie Rich fan theory from The Simpsons".

Then you have the most known theory that Richie Rich was murdered by his own parents for the insurance money, which is something that I just don’t consider a reliable theory. Friendly reminder that Richie is known as the richest kid in the world, so you know his parents were rolling in dough as well. Why would they murder their own child for wealth that they already had?

Out of all of the cartoon theories I’ve read, this one is both the most believed and the most believable. Richie Rich and Casper the Friendly Ghost are two characters from the same comic book universe who look strikingly similar. Casper just may be the ghost of Richie Rich, and the fact that Casper was dubbed “the Friendly Ghost” just fuels the theory even more. Like stated above, Richie Rich was known for being humble and friendly despite being super rich. I find it extremely hard to believe that anything about this theory is too far-fetched. What do you think?

The Unforgettable April Fool’s Day Episode of As Told By Ginger

/ Crystal Lynn

as told by ginger april foolssource: Nickelodeon

In the midst of the popularity of Nickelodeon’s animation lineup, Nicktoons, As Told By Ginger was a show that dominated when it came to surreal pre-teen struggles. Ginger Foutley, a slightly awkward, yet smart and responsible pre-teen took on the ultimate battle of junior high: crushes, mean girls and the constant pressure to gain popularity. By her side stood her best friends Dodie, an over dramatic girl who desperately craves popularity, and Macie, a small and nasally girl who’s obsessed with health risks. The trio of friends have had their share of situations, drama and has even had their friendship tested. But among all of that, was the ultimate and twisted mind game of a prank that was played on April Fools Day.

In season 2 episode 10, Ginger plays what was suppose to be the ultimate April Fool’s Day prank on Dodie, to get her back from the year before. I’m talking love games, and things could get pretty messy. It all started when Ginger forged a love letter that is supposed to be written by Dustin, the weirdest guy in their school, to Dodie. But when Dodie reveals that she has actually had a secret crush on him for awhile, Ginger realizes that her April Fools prank may have backfired. Even worse, Dustin ends up declaring his love for Macie in his very own letter. This causes drama between Dodie and Macie and things get crazy, all while Ginger is feeling guilt and regret because her prank caused major conflict between her best friends. Or so we thought it did, but there was a huge twist revealed that ended up being a prank on not only Ginger, but to the viewers that watch. And the mastermind behind it all was Darren.

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If you’ve watched the entire episode from beginning to end, then you remember when Ginger was telling Darren all about her prank. Which isn’t really smart on Ginger’s end, because lord knows why she would even tell Darren, who’s also a member of their friendship circle. Darren pretty expressed to Ginger about how he doesn’t think her prank is a good idea and that she’s “playing with fire”, but little did we know, he was serious. Serious enough to let Dodie, Macie and Dustin know about the whole thing beforehand and be able to plan his very own prank with the help of those three, that made Ginger’s prank look amateur. Towards the end of the episode when Darren’s prank was revealed, Ginger attempted one last try at getting her friends good by fake crying and expressing how much their prank caused her emotional turmoil and distress. Really Ging?

Darren won me over with this episode. His character is always winning me over with his words of wisdom and keeping Ginger and the girls from freaking out, but I feel like he took a stand this time. He saw something that would potentially be a dangerous game played by Ginger, and put his own little fun twist on it. Plus, it taught Ginger a lesson and pretty much saved her behind. I’m starting to wonder what if Darren didn’t play his prank back on Ginger? What if Dodie really got that letter by surprise, and really thought Dustin liked her, only to find out he doesn’t? If you’re a fan of the series like myself, then you know the over dramatic level that Dodie is on. The love games that were played could have done some real damage.

Of course, there is always that meanwhile side of an episode of As Told By Ginger. Carl and Hoodsey play their own prank on their arch nemisis Blake Gripling, which backfires on them as well. What a lousy year that was for the Foutley kids to pull April Fools pranks. Carl tells Blake that he sold is beloved tonsils, only to find out that Hoodsey’s mother Joann actually threw them away on accident. This led to Carl and Hoodsey searching the dump and getting trapped in it. There’s a lesson in this episode for those who are planning to come up with their own devious pranks: keep it to yourself or it might backfire! Don’t make the same mistake Ginger did.

The Music of Adventure Time: Interview with Composer Tim Kiefer

/ Crystal Lynn

Just as Cartoon Network’s hit series Adventure Time is on its final countdown before the epic finale, what a better way say our goodbyes than taking the time to appreciate the best aspects of the series. Adventure Time took place in the mystical land of Ooo where many fascinating oddities galore. Jake the dog and Finn the human, the inseparable duo found themselves in an endless number of adventures along with other characters such as Princess Bubblegum, Beemo, Lumpy Space Princess, Marceline the Vampire Queen, Ice King and more. Adventure Time is something that you would think came straight out of a magical, colorful, unique daydream. If you’re pleased with the visuals, then you’ve definitely heard the music behind the show.

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The story lines and adventures that came about in this series was everything, but the musical composition behind those scenes made it all tie together in a perfect knot. Think of a mystical and enchanting, followed by epic, and you’ll get the music from Adventure Time. Since the beginning, there has been some musical masterminds behind the soundtrack of this show, and I am honored to have a chance to speak with one of them. Upon the ending of Adventure Time, I am honored to have had the chance to interview composer Tim Kiefer about his favorite musical moments and best memories from working on the past 10 seasons of Adventure Time.

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Cartoon Buzz: Hi Tim! Thanks for taking the time to talk with me. So you have been working on Adventure Time as a composer for a majority of the episodes. Tell me a bit about the process it takes to compose a track for the adventurous & mystical series.

Tim Kiefer: Hey! Yeah, it’s been a long time and a lot of episodes. For the most part Pen/Adam would relay the mood and timing of what they wanted, then let me choose my own musical palette. That freedom meant I could mess around with all my favorite musical influences – Scandinavian skweee, Southside Chicago juke or footwork, 8bit nostalgia, or braindance – so long as I was expressive and earnest. I’d have as much as 2 weeks for some episodes and as little as 4 days for others, so some would be super intricate and polished while others were raw and edgy. Either way there was a beauty to how each came together.

Cartoon Buzz: So you collaborated with creator Pendleton Ward throughout the series. What are some moments that you’ll never forget while working with the man behind the show?

Tim Kiefer: Most of all, developing a sound with Casey around Pen’s “buddy music” concept, in which bros are just relaxed, comfortable and imaginative. It was at the very least grounding, if not meditative.
Cartoon Buzz: When composing music for the show, did you often envision viewers like me listening to it? How did you want us to feel or react?
Tim Kiefer: I wanted to paint vivid sound paintings that brought viewers deeeep into the Adventure Time universe as they watched. And most importantly, keep everyone happily on their toes – mashing up esoteric music movements with familiar pop sounds, finding weird ways to play normal instruments, you name it. Just constantly reinforcing how unique and magical the alternate reality of Ooo was.

Cartoon Buzz: How did you get into being a composer? Is it something that you always saw yourself doing or did you become inspired along the way?

Tim Kiefer: Well, I have this eerily accurate epitaph I made as a little kid for school or something, it reads: “Here lies Tim. He made millions of people happy with his music.” I guess it was just always the plan.
Cartoon Buzz: What was it like working on the series early on compared to working on the last episode?

Tim Kiefer: The whole Adventure Time universe was simpler back in the old days, and so was the music. The characters didn’t have much to worry about so there was a lot of chill “buddy music” or party tunes. After 8 years, the series ends on a pretty serious note and you can really feel the weight and complexity of the characters’ journey embedded in the music. I can’t help but tear up when I watch through the finale, it’s so emotionally loaded.
Cartoon Buzz: What are your favorite musical moments from the past 10 seasons?
Tim Kiefer: A few: Fionna & Prince Gumball talking about butts in “Fionna & Cake”, Bananaman’s workout music in “The New Frontier”, Oh What A Good Boy Am I montage in “Five More Short Graybles”, Megamush battle in “Mama Said”.

Cartoon Buzz: I’ll regret not asking this later if I don’t, and this may be a toughie, but who is your all time favorite character on Adventure Time?

Tim Kiefer: I’m a Tree Trunks guy!

Cartoon Buzz: If you could describe Adventure Time in FIVE words, what would they be?

Tim Kiefer: The Hero’s Journey Meets Spongebob

Cartoon Buzz: Many fans are heartbroken that Adventure Time is ending. Is there anything you would like to say to them?

Tim Kiefer: Keep it going in your own way.. it’s everyone’s story to finish.

 

And that’s the end folks! I want to thank Tim Kiefer for taking the time to chat with me!

The 10 Times ‘Braceface’ Was Too Real for a Kids Show

/ Crystal Lynn

bracefacesource: Teletoon

You might wanna buckle up for this one, because I’m about to dive into a show that got too real at numerous times. Think of an early 2000s teenage cartoon with ten times the drama, and you’ll get Braceface. Much like other tween series like As Told by Ginger, Braceface centers a awkward yet smart teenage girl who longs for popularity, with two best friends by her side. Oh and I definitely don’t want to forget crushes and mean girls. Sadly, this show came and went with only three seasons to religiously watch, but there are some major aspects of Braceface that set it aside from any other kids show.

It still surprises me that this show ever aired on Disney Channel, but it did. Sharon Spitz and her life with braces seemed quite miserable for a teenager, but despite the show being centered around her metal mouth, there are numerous topics touched in this series that was way too real. For that reason, I consider Braceface to be the realest teen series to ever air. Sure, there are shows out there covered most of the topics that would’ve never been spoken of in a kids show like 40 years ago. But they often sugar-coated it. Braceface straight up set these topics on the table and didn’t bother to tone it down much. I give the series all of the credit in the world for that, because it takes guts to feature some of these issues on kids networks like Disney Channel. Let’s dive into these said issues.

1) When the subject of divorce came up.

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The topic of divorce comes up in many shows aimed at kids and teens. It’s sometimes censored by networks in order to maintain a kid show’s innocent image, but that definitely wasn’t the case in this show. In Braceface, Sharon’s mother and father are divorced. Sharon and her brothers seem to live a nice life with their mother and you get the impression that they understand the divorce but are not too upset about it. In episode 9, titled “The Divorce Thing”, this subject is brought to the table when Sharon’s mom is dating again and her father comes to visit. She attempts bring her parents back together, but has to face the harsh reality that somethings people who once loved each other grow apart, even your parents.

2) When Sharon got her first period. DURING HER FIRST DATE.

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Menstruation in a kids show? You would have never thought you’d see that topic, but in episode 8, titled “The Worst First Date Ever. Period.”, Sharon meets her monthly friend sent by mother nature for the very first time. While on her first date with her crush Alden, Sharon starts to experience painful cramps to the point where she thought she was experiencing appendicitis. Alden calls the ambulance and Sharon is sent to the hospital, where she finds out that she has actually started her menstrual cycle. I’m a little skeptical about how the episode played out. All I can assume is that Sharon’s mother obviously never had that little talk with her before, because from what I’ve learned in my 21 years of being a female, is that I’m pretty sure menstrual cramps hurts way less than something as serious and life threatening as appendicitis.

3) Underage drinking.

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If this series hasn’t gotten real for you yet, then how about we discuss the time Sharon got drunk from rum and cokes when visiting her dad in Miami. In episode 14, titled “Miami Vices”, Sharon gets sick of her mom’s strict rules and wants to let loose by going on vacation to Miami to visit her rock star dad and indulge in his “cooler” life. Sharon learns that her dad can be just as strict as her mom despite his career choice, when he finds Sharon drunk and partying with his friends. Once again, still shocked that Disney Channel allowed this to air, but bravo for the writers and directors for creating this episode, because it shows that these things tend to happen for teenagers. On vacation in Miami, strict mom with rules isn’t around, out partying with rock star dad’s cool friends, and there’s alcohol? Like I said, it happens.

4) Sexuality and the unfortunate adversity that comes with it.

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Yes, there was an openly gay character on Braceface, and yes, he faces awful mistreatment from other students because of it. This has to be the absolute realest topic ever displayed on Braceface, due to the fact that Dion being openly gay was one of the reasons that the third season did not air in the U.S. But before he was openly gay on the show, his sexuality was wrongly called into question by other students in episode 27, titled “The Social Fabric”. Sharon was paired up with Dion as a part of the senior mentor program at their school, and she found herself in a dilemma of choosing whether to drop him as a friend to avoid harassment as well or stick by him. Homophobia and bigotry is alive and well, especially towards young people in schools that are a part of the LGBTQ+ community. I applaud Braceface for touching on this important subject for its viewers.


Braceface, Vol. 1: Brace Yourself

5) Love and relationships.

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Having a crush can be a very stressful and confusing time as a teenager. You think that the person you’re “in love” is the only person you’ll ever be smitten over. Braceface proved this to be the case when displaying the affection Sharon had toward Alden. We soon see the two dating in season 2 but Alden doesn’t find it easy being Sharon’s boyfriend. The two break up in episode 30 titled “Dear Alden” when Sharon wrote a letter of frustration about him and it accidentally ends up on the school website. Alden later starts dating a girl named Marlo, but we discover that he still has feelings for Sharon on the last episode. It was just a crazy rollercoaster with these two. Maria also began dating Alden’s best friend Brock towards the end of junior high and onward.

6) The dangers of extreme diets.

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This is one of Braceface’s more infamous episodes that was often aired on Disney Channel, and I’m glad it was. In episode 34, titled “Skin Deep”, Nina’s makes disparaging comments about Sharon’s body, which causes Sharon to go on a crash diet before participating in a fashion show. Maria and Connor take notice in the effects of Sharon’s dangerous diet and they began to worry about her. While Sharon walks the runway, she collapses from starvation. Another great episode to school the kids on how harmful body shaming can be. It’s straight up bullying and I hope other girls who experience what Sharon experienced talk to someone instead of resorting to crash diets. Speaking of bullying…

7) Bullying.

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Introducing Nina. She’s a mean girl, but not a typical one. I like to think of her as slightly less wicked than Miranda Killgallen, but still wicked nonetheless. Nina and her bullying antics have gone too far at times. She’s basically the reason that Sharon starved herself and fainted on the fashion runway. Dealing with blatant bullying and mean girls is a common theme in shows with teen characters, and it’s another topic that Braceface did well on. Something that is painfully obvious about bully characters like Nina is the insecurity that they have for themselves. Being in their own skin hurts them so bad that they unleash all of their fury on the protagonist character.


Braceface, Vol. 2: Getting Real

8) Blatant Racism.

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If there’s any subject that I’m glad Braceface touched on it’s the subject of racism and pushing offensive stereotypes. In episode 35, titled “Grey Matters”, Maria began dating an Arab boy named Cloud. Sharon can’t help but think that Cloud might be abusing Maria. On top of it all Sharon’s grandfather began making racist comments towards Cloud such as asking Maria if she’s “a part of his harem” and asking him when he’s going to “get his own camel”. To ignite an even bigger fire in his bigoted furnace, he states that he shouldn’t lend it to Maria because “Chinese are such bad drivers”. Words cannot simply describe how furious I was after watching that scene. Oh wait, they can. I wanted Cloud to bounce that basketball off of Sharon’s grandpa’s head twenty times in a row. Cloud was the coolest when handling those offensive comments by throwing jokes right back at him. But Sharon… OH SHARON. You naive little… you know what. At least she learns at the end, especially when she gets a dose of her grandfather telling her how he let her mother marry a “rockstar… and a jew no less”. Kudos to Braceface for teaching viewers the sad reality of bigots.

9) Underage smoking.

braceface-sharon-smoking

The peer pressure that many teens are faces with is unfortunate. In episode 52, titled “Up in Smoke”, Sharon moves in with her father and his girlfriend. She meets her potential step brother named Griffin, who’s a juvenile delinquent. He persuades Sharon into smoking a cigarette with him, until she finally takes a puff and finds it disgusting. The second time a use of addictive or mind-altering substance has been featured on this series.

10) Body image issues.

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Just so you know, this episode was banned in the U.S. and several other countries. In episode 58, titled “Busted”, Sharon is tired of being seen as a little girl and decides to enhance the look of her breasts with a pump bra. She soon runs into trouble when she starts attracting unwanted attention from the wrong kind of guys and when her bra ends up malfunctioning at a party. It’s understandable that this episode was banned, because there are certain lines, and I guess Disney Channel decided not to cross this one. What I don’t understand is how so many episodes got away with being aired on Disney, not that I’m complaining. This show was a fantastic addition to the lineup of my childhood, but I’ve always imagined it airing on The-N (what TeenNick used to be called). It definitely catered more to the teenage audience rather than kids, and this list proves it.


Braceface, Vol. 3: Twist of Fate

Hey Arnold, Ready Jet Go Creator Craig Bartlett to Participate in AMA on Reddit April 2

/ Crystal Lynn

craig bartlett hey arnold ready jet go ama reddit

Season 2 of the hit animated space-themed series Ready Jet Go! blasts off Monday, April 2, on PBS KIDS (check local listings) with a special week of girl-empowering episodes that will get young viewers from coast-to-coast psyched about space and science! To help ring in the new season, the creator of Ready Jet Go!, Hey Arnold, and Dinosaur Train, Craig Bartlett, will participate in a can’t-miss Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) on April 2 at 3pm ET. Fans can stop by to ask Craig about the new season, what’s coming next – and anything else Redditors might want to know about. We’d love for you to spread the word about the upcoming AMA, and we invite you to join Craig yourself to ask him anything! Just check out the Sub-reddit IAmA on April 2 and Craig will be there!

A brand-new out-of-this-world episode will launch every weekday and features the adventures of Boxwood Terrace’s very own Mindy Melendez – starting with the half-hour special, “Mindy Turns 5”. Now that Mindy’s a big girl, it’s her turn to zoom off to space with Jet and the gang for the first time, at last! And the Season 2 fun continues this summer with a space-infused new episode set to roll out each Wednesday in June and July. For even more stellar STEM-focused learning, each episode features live-action interstitials with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory astrophysicist Dr. Amy Mainzer, science consultant for the series.

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Ready Jet Go! Season 2 Premiere Week Schedule 

Monday, April 2, 2018

“Mindy Turns 5” – Half-Hour Special!

Mindy has finally turned 5 and is super excited that she is now old enough to go to space. But she’s planned a tea party in the back yard. The kids convince Mindy to move her tea party to the Moon! In her first trip to space ever, Mindy gets to board the Propulsion family saucer and experience space travel, rounding out their Moon tea party with a quick trip out to Pluto and back.

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

“Endless Summer”: Jet is amazed to find out that the entire Earth doesn’t have the same season at the same time.  So he flies with Sydney and Sean from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere to compare, and experience holidays in winter and summer… all in one day!

“Jet Shrinks the Kids”: Mindy feels bad that she’s the smallest kid in the group, so sympathetic Jet and friends use a shrink-ray and become her size. The plan goes awry, and Jet, Sean, Sydney, and Sunspot become the size of mice. Mindy has to follow intricate diagrams to reverse the shrink-ray!

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

“Mindy’s Ice Rink”: Mindy is impatient for winter because she wants to ice skate. So Jet, Sean, Sydney, and Celery fly to Saturn’s icy rings to gather ice from them, and return to build a Saturn-ringed skating rink around Jet’s house.

“Measure for Measure”: Jet, Sydney, Sean, Mindy, and Sunspot decide to make a scaled replica of the solar system using found items in their own neighborhood, and in doing so learn that an Astronomical Unit is the distance from the Earth to the Sun.

Thursday, April 5, 2018

“Mindy and Carrot Bake”: While making a cake, Carrot and Mindy find they are one are short one ingredient, so they head to the store, but Carrot accidentally pushes a wrong button on the wagon’s newly-updated control panel and they take off into outer space! Using a diagram, methodical experimentation, and record keeping, Mindy and Carrot figure out how to properly fly the saucer back home, where they finally finish the cake.

“Commander Cressida Begins”: Mindy has a problem: now that she’s been to space with the bigger kids, she realizes how much there is out there to see! How can she decide where to explore next? Sydney asks her mom, Dr. Skelley, who presents them with the very first edition of Commander Cressida comics! In reading the comic book, Mindy comes to appreciate that she, like Commander Cressida, can explore space “one adventure at a time.”

Friday, April 6, 2018

“Mindy’s Bedtime”: Mindy has to go to bed when the Sun goes down, but she’s having such a fun day with her friends, she asks Jet and the others to help her keep the Sun from going down. The older kids humor Mindy and try to help “slow down the Sun.” All their efforts make Mindy so sleepy that she decides to go home and sleep.

“Galileo, Galileo!”: Sydney and Jet are having a hard time explaining to Mindy that the Sun doesn’t move – the Earth is moving around the Sun, so the Sun just SEEMS to move. Then Sean comes over dressed as his science hero Galileo, getting ready to do a school report. Mindy asks “Galileo” to explain how come the Sun seems to move, and Sean practices for his report by explaining how the planets move, in character as Galileo!

Rick and Morty Fans Petition for the Show to Be Renewed for Season 4

/ Crystal Lynn

rick-and-morty-rixty-minutessource: Adult Swim

Things are getting pretty intense in the fandom of the epic sci-fi series Rick and Morty. Who knew the most popular cartoon around right now could have any drama that comes with it? It seems like just yesterday when there was a total freak out over McDonald’s running out of Szechuan sauce, but now there is a bigger issue. Co-creator and writer Dan Harmon revealed on Twitter that Adult Swim has not renewed the series for season 4 yet and that it’s pretty much uncertain on what the future looks like. And thus, the national panic began.

You would think that a show like Rick and Morty that has popularity that is rarely heard of nowadays, which broke Adult Swim’s viewership record, to be the apple of the network’s eye and season 4 ordered right away. In all honestly, I expected the show to be renewed right in the midst of season three’s reign. This just isn’t making sense at all and I understand the outcry and panic of fans. Of course, I don’t quite suspect that Adult Swim would do anything insane like cancel or abandon the series, so let’s not jump so far into the conclusion pot.

Luckily with a power fandom like Rick and Morty’s, fans are taking matter into their own hands. I’m not talking ordering the season and making it themselves, although can you imagine? There has been a petition made with a goal of 6,000 signatures and already over 5,500 fans have signed it. I applaud the Rick and Morty fandom for not taking this situation likely. After all, it is the show that wouldn’t have the success it does without your support (besides the epic and amazing team behind it of course). With fans and creators, teamwork makes the dream work at the end of the day. You can find the petition here: https://www.thepetitionsite.com/940/304/408/renew-rick-and-morty-for-season-4/

Adult Swim, please end this madness and announce the renewal of Rick and Morty for season 4 already. Unless, there’s a clever and creative trick up your sleeves to how exactly you’re going to announce season 4’s renewal or release date. Also, if this is another surprise season premiere then BRAVO, because you have everyone fooled right now.

SpongeBob, DuckTales, Trollhunters & More Animated Daytime Emmy Nominees

/ Crystal Lynn

daytimemmys

Disney|ABC Television received 64 nominations for the 45th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards announced today. Disney Channel received 12 nominations, while Disney Junior scored nine nominations and Disney XD claimed five nominations, including one for the “DuckTales: Woo-oo!” TV movie which launched the new animated comedy series based on the Emmy Award-winning show treasured by a generation of viewers.

Nickelodeon programs including the mega-series SpongeBob Squarepants were also included in the children’s programming categories. Performers in animated programs such as Tom Kenny (voice of SpongeBob Squarepants) and Tress MacNeille, who does the voices of  Petunia Rhubarb, Madame Blueberry, Laura Carrot, and Junior Asparagus in VeggieTales in the City were not overlooked in the Best Performer in an Animated Program category. Netflix & Amazon Video are included to have nominees in their animation section with their web series Trollhunters, Puss in Boots: Trapped in an Epic Tale, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Lost in Oz: Extended Adventure & more.

This year’s Daytime Emmys will be held Sunday, April 29, at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Southern California, and live-streamed via Facebook, Twitter and the Daytime Emmys website; the Creative Arts ceremony takes place the Friday prior. 

BEST CHILDREN’S ANIMATED PROGRAM
“Lost in Oz: Extended Adventure”
“Mr. Peabody and Sherman”
“SpongeBob SquarePants”
“Trollhunters”
“Wild Kratts”

BEST SPECIAL CLASS ANIMATED PROGRAM
“DuckTales: Woo-oo”
“All Hail King Julien: Exiled”
“Octonauts: Operation Deep Freeze”
“Puss in Boot: Trapped in an Epic Tale”
“A StoryBots Christmas”

BEST PRESCHOOL CHILDREN’S ANIMATED PROGRAM
“If You Give a Mouse a Cookie”
“Nature Cat”
“Peg+Cat”
“The Stinky & Dirty Show”
“Tumble Leaf”

BEST PERFORMER IN AN ANIMATED PROGRAM
Christopher Diamantopoulos, “Skylanders Academy”
Tom Kenny, “SpongeBob SquarePants”
Tress MacNeille, “VeggieTales in the City”
Andy Richter, “All Hail King Julien: Exiled”
John Tartaglia, “Splash and Bubbles”

OUTSTANDING CASTING FOR AN ANIMATED SERIES OR SPECIAL
“Blaze and the Monster Machines”
“Elena of Avalor”
“Puppy Dog Pals”
“Sunny Day”
“Tangles: The Series”

OUTSTANDING WRITING IN A PRESCHOOL ANIMATED PROGRAM
“Doc McStuffins”
“Octonauts”
“Peg+Cat”
“A StoryBots Christmas”
“Vampirina”

OUTSTANDING WRITING IN AN ANIMATED PROGRAM
“All Hail King Julien”
“Elena of Avalor”
“The Loud House”
“Trollhunters”
“Welcome To The Wayne”

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING IN AN ANIMATED PROGRAM
“Danger & Eggs”
“Disney Mickey Mouse”
“The Loud House”
“The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show”
“Niko and the Sword of Life”

OUTSTANDING WRITING IN A PRESCHOOL ANIMATED PROGRAM
“The Stinky & Dirty Show”
“A StoryBots Christmas”
“Through the Woods”
“Tumble Leaf”
“Vampirina”

OUTSTANDING SOUND MIXING IN A PRESCHOOL ANIMATED PROGRAM
“Beat Bugs: All Together Now”
“Dinotrux”
“If You Give A Mouse a Cookie”
“Pete the Cat A Groovy New Year”
“Rusty Rivets”

“The Stinky & Dirty Show”

OUTSTANDING SOUND EDITING IN A PRESCHOOL ANIMATED PROGRAM
“Beat Bugs: All Together Now”
“Click Clack Moo: Christmas at the Farm”
“Dinotrux”
“If You Give A Mouse a Cookie”
“Mickey and the Roadster Racers”

“A StoryBots Christmas”

“The Stinky & Dirty Show”

OUTSTANDING SOUND EDITING – ANIMATION
“The Adventures of Puss in Boots”
“All Hail King Julien”
“All Hail King Julien: Exiled”
“LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures”
“Marvel’s Spider-Man”

“Trollhunters”

OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN ANIMATION
Marie Thorhauge Torslev – Production Designer, “Through the Woods”
Steve C. Meyes – Background Layout Artist, “Puppy Dog Pals”
Tom Caulfield – Storyboard Artist, “Tangled: The Series”
Michelle Park – Color Designer, “Star vs. The Forces of Evil”
Robyn Yannoukos – Colorist, “Tumble Leaf”

 

Family Guy Is Getting Dark: “Send in Stewie, Please” Recap & Review

/ Crystal Lynn

Disclaimer: Hello, I am an article that contains spoilers. Continue to read me at your own risk.

family-guy-bring-in-stewie-please.pngsource: FOX

I don’t know what it is about this show anymore, but it looks like the usual antics of this crazy animated family is about to take a sudden twist. Or perhaps it already has. We’ve seen Family Guy get real before, but the episodes in season 16 seem like they have just had bigger breakthroughs after breakthroughs. Shocking things that you would have never thought would happen on Family Guy, pretty much happened. There seems to be this modest, low-profile pattern that keeps happening when long running cartoons reach their “teen” seasons (10 and up). South Park has went from a show about vulgar and satirical humor, to having epic story lines in their newer seasons. I mean, South Park will always be the way that it is. But the ongoing story lines that are longer than two or three episodes is something that I never thought I would see. Even people notice that a show like SpongeBob Squarepants is getting a little on the dark side. It could just be a shakeup on the writing teams of these shows, but things are getting real and I think I can add Family Guy to this list.

Like I said, Family Guy has gotten real and dark before. With the grand who-dun-it style episodes like “And Then There Were Fewer” part 1 & 2, to Brian’s shocking death in “Life of Brian”. This latest episode did involve a death but it was more on the psychological (literally) spectrum and seeing Stewie Griffin on a whole other level. It really reminded me of one of those long, unedited interviews with celebrities where we see a side of them that we have never seen before. In “Send in Stewie, Please”, it’s almost as if we are truly meeting Stewie for the first time. Stewie has been sent to his school’s child psychologist for pushing a classmate down the stairs. As the psychologist is trying to make sense of Stewie’s actions, doing what a normal psychologist does, Stewie turns it completely around and begins to attack the psychologist’s personal life based on a photo he has seen of him and his husband.

family guy stewie therapysource: FOX

When that little plan doesn’t work, Stewie breaks down and opens up, and we learn some things about Stewie that we’ve never thought of or have always wondered. First off, Stewie does not label himself as gay exactly. He states that he does believe that he could be sexually fluid, when he was telling the psychologist about how much he likes (but not like-like) the boy who he pushed down the stairs. Of course throwing in how he thinks of himself as “less gay” than he was before. Stewie went on to wholeheartedly reveal how he thinks that no one understands him and how he doesn’t fit in with the other kids. For that reason, Stewie has suppressed his true self, and even his true accent. Yes, throughout the episode the psychologist who is actually British, also tried to make sense of why Stewie, someone who’s not British, has the accent. Stewie finally confessed that his British accent is fake and revealed his real accent. At that moment, you could probably hear millions of people around America gasping, but not surprised. The psychologist was pleased to see that Stewie has accepted his true self, stating how he is now just like everyone else. That single comment didn’t sit right with Stewie, who realized at the end that he truly does not want to be like everyone else, reverting back to his faux accent. Here comes the dark part so buckle up. The psychologist soon suffers from a heart attack towards the end of the session and asks Stewie to hand him his medication. Stewie states that since he’s the only one who knows his secrets, then he must let him die. Stewie watches him die, carelessly and seemingly without remorse. The episode then cuts to Stewie’s bedroom at night, when Stewie woke up screaming from a nightmare. Brian comes in to see if he’s alright, then Stewie asks if he could sleep beside him that night. Stewie begins clearly showing guilt and remorse for letting his psychologist die.

family guy send in stewie pleasesource: FOX

For someone who used to shout about world domination and attempt to murder his own mother at numerous times, I have definitely seen a dramatic change in Stewie. This episode is definitely on my list for one of the most shocking Family Guy episodes to ever air. As a fan of the series, “Send in Stewie, Please” has helped me have a better understanding of Stewie and his personality. From his rant about Bethenney Frankel to rapping a Hamilton song, Stewie yet again wins me over with being my absolute favorite character on the show. I give this episode 5/5 stars (A+). Though long running shows often tend to make dark and shocking revelations, it’s what makes the show worth watching after so many years. The closing scene is what really won me over. The worrisome look in Stewie’s eyes prove that he did get something out of his session with the psychologist. Maybe he did change when it comes to empathizing with others. At the end of the psychologist session, Stewie made it clear that he doesn’t need to change how he’s always been, but what if he did after all?

family guy rating