Ben 10: Some Brief Thoughts

Have Watched, Thoughts /

Posted 24 October 2019

This post is nothing too elaborate. These are just some quick thoughts about a franchise I’m experiencing for the first time. This post was written with little to no research and I may not explain everything 100%. Again, these are just some thoughts.

The Ben 10 Series / Cartoon Network /2005-Present

Ben 10 is a franchise I’d thought I’d never appreciate until quite recently. When it first debuted on Cartoon Network in late ’05, early ’06, it just seemed like another boys’ action show to me. This goes the same way thinking “Man of Action” (Ben 10’s creators – Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, Duncan Rouleau, and Steven T. Seagle) was an important male creator who was known for taking action and not a comic writing collective.

Quick Overview of Each Series

Ben 10 Classic (watched from 30 May 2019 to 5 July 2019)was an excellent series. It laid the groundwork and set the bar for the later series.

Ben 10: Alien Force and Ultimate Alien are the ones I haven’t seen in their entirety. I’ve only watched their intros and watched some clips since eps are hard to come by. They seem just OK and the intros have no lyrics. I’ve seen one ep of Ultimate Alien and that seemed up to par with what I’ve grown accustomed (“Escape from Aggregor”). Despite that, I feel I need to watch both series to fill in the gaps for what happens between the original series and Ben 10: Omniverse.

I have not yet seen any of the movies. Do I want to see them?

I have finished watching Ben 10: Omniverse (watched from 26 August 2019 to 18 October 2019). It’s as great as the classic series but it mostly focuses on Ben as a teenager and new characters are added. All changes are welcomed for a fresh feel for the series. 

What Draws Me Near?

It was one episode of the 2016 reboot that influenced my decision to pursue this franchise. I have not yet seen very many episodes of the new series but from what I’ve seen, it’s not as great as the other series. Even by that one episode alone, that’s how I realized how much potential this show can have. 

An Amazing Alien Action Show!

The show’s dark, shadowy artwork and mood music for every moment should be factors that will make Ben 10 Cartoon Network’s crown jewel of action shows. Ben can act like a blockhead at times but remember, he’s still young. From the two shows I’ve watched, I enjoyed the distribution of humor throughout the perfectly spaced doses of action. I like the different personalities and touches of humor of his many aliens. My favorite aliens are Ditto and Rath. What was marketed as a “boy show” helps this girl enjoy the feel of what she had avoided in the past.

I still need to work on a new rating system but if you like Cartoon Network action show from the mid-‘00s to the mid-‘10s, add this show to your list. For lack of a better rating system, for now, I’ll just say this show is excellent (5 stars does not describe this) (judging from watching the entire classic series, most of “Omniverse,” and one ep of “Ultimate Alien”)! This show can be used to promote alien tolerance if that’s ever needed. This is a reminder that not all aliens are those stereotypical green beings with the void, black eyes. It’s clear that the Man of Action team takes all of their past comic-making experience and gathers it together to create this fine specimen of action greatness.

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Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus – My Journey Into the Florpus Hole

Have Watched, Reboot, Review /

Posted 12 September 2019

Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus / Netflix / 2019 

I’m craaaaazy for Invader Zim so bear with me through this lengthy post.

Finally…AGAIN!

The day of August 16th, 2019 was the day of great anticipation. Many Invader Zim fans and admirers opened their Netflix accounts to find that the highly awaited movie, Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus, became available for viewing. I was among those anticipating fans who have waited for ages for its release. Let me say, this was like watching a new ep but with many improvements made in a short time since the premiere of the last official episode. Either way, with Invader Zim, you can’t go wrong.

Chicken and Rice…YUM!

The first part of this movie is based on issue 1 of the Invader Zim comic. Later on, it goes into all kinds of “Zim-sanity” that parallels greatly with the original series. I’ve never been good with summarizing “Zim” eps but I can say Zim overtakes Peace Day, the Tallest and their ship fly in a straight line, and an event happens on Moo-Ping 10, the space prison. My favorite part was the “Peace is Nice” song that GIR wrote. I also liked those brief licks about the ever-important ham that was mentioned in the movie twice. What was it used for? Watch the movie to find out!

A Welcomed Art Style Change

I enjoy the new art style of the Zim franchise. The colors are brighter than the style of the old series but still maintains its signature look with prominent greens, purples, and blacks. Though the new style looks a lot cheaper than the old animation style (which was very expensive to animate), I’ve warmed up to it a bit. I like how the actual opening credits are in the font reminiscent of Jhonen Vasquez’s’ comics. These fonts complement this new art style.

The Effort with Different Styles

To set this reboot movie apart from the other ones that stayed mostly true to their original style, this Zim movie boldly experimented with multiple different styles. One case was the pretty sweet cold intro. Dib had a dramatic monologue in the humanly realistic art style similar to the anime “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” (as people on the internet say, I just watched a few clips of the anime and somewhat agree). Toward the end of the movie, they used multiple animation styles for something happening that made me remember the Gravity Falls Weirdmageddon series.

Retained Essence and More

What’s more awesome was that the original cast returned to reprise their roles (Richard Horvitz, Rikki Simons, Andy Berman, to name a few) and they still have it! They even brought back the original series composer (Kevin Manthei) and he still has it! New music was composed for this special but when GIR told his giant pizza story, listen to the music. Was that music recycled off an older ep? Which one? Or was it just in a similar style to the familiar piece? They also brought in Justin Roiland (of Rick and Morty fame) to voice Foodio 3000. Perhaps this was to appeal to those Rick and Morty fans who are also Zim fans.

More Depth for Membranes

I also like how the Membrane family now has more depth. The older eps have them more two-dimensional and with not as much personality leading viewers to think they were a broken family. As portrayed in the movie (and starting in the comics), Prof. Membrane was actually present in person, more fatherly, and not a floating head like in the original series. Dib looks slightly different now, too. Being subject to the slight character designs of the comic, he now has a fuller head of hair, a new t-shirt, darker skin, and wears sneakers. The trench coat is what makes Dib Dib. Gaz has more personality, too, with a wardrobe change that makes her look more approachable and less anti-social. It’s good to see those pretty eyes opened more often. I’m not too fond of Clembrane but maybe as an occasional character to which I can warm up. The more I watch the movie, the more OK he becomes.

Was It Worth It?

Each reboot movie I reviewed (Arnold, Rocko, and now Zim) was great in their own special ways but this movie is in a league of its own. It went beyond its comfort zone especially to change to art style to that of the comic as well as to attempt other styles for certain parts. It’s a really happy feeling to see something Zim-related that is officially animated. Do I want a revival series? Yes, but maybe for just 6-13 episodes only. Don’t kill this masterpiece of a show. If not, the monthly comics are sufficient enough. I have been super fond of Invader Zim since shortly after its debut. For all my years of loyalty, this movie should get 10 stars. Since that’s not in my rating system (which needs to change soon), I’ll just give it 5 stars. Still the best in its own Zim way!

I have much more to say about my loyalty to the Invader Zim franchise but I might leave it for a separate post to be written soon.

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Many, Many Hoots for Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling

Have Watched, Reboot, Review /

Posted 25 August 2019

Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling / Netflix / 2019

Yes, FINALLY!

After months of waiting and waiting, on August 9, 2019, Rocko’s Modern Life fans were finally gifted with a new Netflix movie. This is the first Rocko production since its ending in the mid-’90s. With little information about the special revealed in the preview, this was worth the wait to see what this story about constant change entailed.

An Old, Unseen Episode or a Legit New Episode?

This special was like it only came out a year or two after the last ep of the original series. The art style was definitely true to the old show. The caliber is that of a season 4 episode (a good season). Heck, it’s like an old ep only if HD was standard in ‘96 or ‘97. The voice actors were absolutely on point with their character voices. This was a special that transports us back to the ‘90s with a story exceptionally adapted to the happenings of our modern society.

Those Classic Orange Tapes

Not to give out spoilers but one ‘90s Nick reference in the movie that stood out to me was an orange Fatheads VHS tape. Nickelodeon used to produce their VHS releases in the ‘90s with orange tapes. I think that’s really cool and unique that they did that. They stopped the practice with their later VHS releases. 

Looking Back…

Similar to Hey Arnold: The Jungle Movie (read review here), there were numerous call-backs to past episodes. If you’ve seen and remember these original eps, these references will make sense. It definitely helped me to watch the old Rocko eps earlier this year to catch and better understand these allusions.

Will Never Get Stale

With the theme of change being all around us, I recommend this movie for all Rocko fans (present and future (those just joining the fandom)). With the show name of “Rocko’s Modern Life,” this franchise can definitely poke fun of many cultures through time whether the “modern life” is in the ‘90s with VCRs or the ‘00s and ‘10s with YouTube and Smartphones. It all stays fresh! Because of the phenomenal effort of successfully integrating a well-loved ‘90s Nicktoon into our tech-filled decade, 5 stars go to Rocko, Heffer, and Filburt who learn change is the key to fresh ideas, innovations, and tomorrows. This special is only available on Netflix. Watch this next time you log on.

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I Took The Plunge: Planet Sheen

Have Watched, Review /

Posted: 9 August 2019

Planet Sheen / Nickelodeon / 2010-2013

Watched from: 13 May 2019 to 29 May 2019

Here it is…the long-awaited Planet Sheen review. This review’s been a thorn in my side for too long. This post is what it is.

After watching Jimmy Neutron, I decided to give its inferior spin-off a chance. I watched Planet Sheen so you don’t have to.

I watched some eps when it came out in 2010. They were meh. At times I ask myself why was this show conceived? Of all the Jimmy Neutron characters, why was it Sheen who got the spin-off? Heck, why was it Cleveland (Family Guy) who got the spin-off (I think The Cleveland Show is fine even though I haven’t seen it in years)?

A Quote from Me

After recently watching the pilot:

“OK, so Sheen’s stuck on a planet, he can’t write his grandma, so here we go…TO THE WARM PLACE!”

—Vic, 2019

The more I watch…Aw Crap!

The episodes aren’t as bad as people think. The more I watched, the more the show slightly grew on me. They probably have trouble getting past the pilot or episode 1. Sure there were some times when the writing could potentially shine but they decided to cut corners. When there was a “song,” it was always a rap. The episodes and character guides on the internet aren’t all that content-rich either. Perhaps written by people who haven’t seen the episodes in their entirety. 

Basic Thoughts (mainly the bad and ugly)

Allow these thoughts to be mostly negative in this section. As you may know, by the time “Sheen” came around, DNA Productions was bankrupt so C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures and Bardel Entertainment (both Canadian studios) performed the animation services. Comparing a still scene from Jimmy Neutron and Planet Sheen side-by-side, it seems that the animation is more sophisticated in the latter show. Jimmy Neutron is older and, of course, has older animation but is still very classic. What is inferior to Jimmy Neutron is the boring/annoying transitions (“boing-da boing-da monkey-monkey boing!” (or something like that) (What?)) and boring credit sequences (obviously no moving neutron animation and plain black background/white text credits). 

Thoughts on Characters

What makes up for all the bland stories on this show are the characters. There are some characters that I like. I like the intelligent Mr. Nesmith who wears a beanie like Monkee Mike Nesmith. There’s also Aseefa who has pretty blue hair (I like blue) and yodels (not annoying at all; inspired me to follow YouTube yodeling tutorials to learn to yodel). There’s something about the protagonist, Dorkus, that I really like. It’s probably because he can mix potions and he has a deep voice reminiscent of Johnny Bravo (because they’re both played by Jeff Bennett). Why did they have to make Doppy look like Carl Weezer from Jimmy Neutron? Folks have their theories but…it’s just what the writers decided. My least favorite characters are Princess Oom (her two faces are so annoying/disturbing to me and let’s not forget “Oh Sheeny, Sheeny-Weeny!” Seriously?) and that purple pony guy from one of the episodes (I forget his name). They make the show less watchable the more they are on it. Lastly, throughout the series, some characters were cross-dressing on certain occasions. Interestingly enough, they looked good in the opposite gender’s clothing.

What Do I Think?

This show is honestly mindless trash but still palatable. If I had to watch it again I could but probably not for long periods at a time. This show gets 2 stars. Not the best show Nickelodeon put out during an era of middling shows but this show looks phenomenal on my new HDTV. Such eye candy but not always the best content-wise.

This review was not the easiest to write. I liked the idea of the show but I’d much rather forget it exists. It was mostly empty air space to me. Time to move on…

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My Apologies

Some Stuff /

Posted 2 August 2019

OMG, VIC, WHERE THE HECK HAVE YOU BEEN?

Hey, everyone! It’s me, Vic.

OK, you may be asking why I haven’t posted anything in 2 months. Here are My excuses:

The Planet Sheen Review

I wasn’t sure what to think when I completed watching Planet Sheen back in late May. I took notes for the duration of my viewing. It was just that I felt the show was uhhh…I don’t know. It was difficult to form an opinion so I had to do some thinking. How can I write this review? In what light should I write this? I’ve started putting pencil to paper (or keystrokes to Google Docs in this case) early in June but something else came up…

The Funk

Yes, I was in quite a funk for two months. This started around the time I started the Planet Sheen review. I was always tired after work and I had no desire to write anything. All I wanted to do was watch my shows then take a nap. When I wake from the nap it would be time to go to bed. Even so, review writing would not be on the schedule. I would re-post on Twitter but it still wasn’t good enough. You want original content from me, right? I’m feeling OK now. I need to get this taken care of.

Since the last review, I have watched several other animations that will be reviewed. I am now behind on them and will need to catch up (first being the Planet Sheen review). The Planet Sheen review will be posted in a day or two.

Hopefully posting this post should motivate me to get these reviews written. I understand sometimes we need a break but I didn’t want to go this long. OK, back to writing…

Stay tuned for more!

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Jimmy Neutron’s Show: Pretty Sweet!

Have Watched, Review /

Posted: 31 May 2019

The Adventure of Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius / Nickelodeon / 2002-2006

Watched from: 26 March 2019 – 9 May 2019

Aw, Jimmy Neutron! I mentioned it previously here: http://bit.ly/2Ibp1EE. I recently had another go-around with this show. I didn’t watch it all the way through when it was first on but this time, I saw most of the episodes. Most of the later episodes were new to me so they were a real treat to see.

Early Discovery

So it was early 2001 in Nickelodeon Magazine. I see a picture of a boy small in stature with a gravity-defying hairdo. Without reading the accompanying text, I wonder who he is. A mascot for a new Nick Magazine feature? When watching Nickelodeon, shorts begin to appear featuring him and his inventions. Could this be the next “Inside-Out Boy” (YouTube it)? Nope! The boy had a head too square to be oblong and his name was Jimmy Neutron. He definitely did beam inside my small CRT television (loosely quoting pilot theme song) promoting his upcoming movie release for later that year. This review is mostly focused on the series itself, not the franchise as a whole.

Quick Thoughts about the 3 Seasons

I have warm and fond memories for season 1. On a crisp fall Friday night, I’d be ready for a new Jimmy episode as advertised in the promos. A few changes happen in season 2 (Libby’s appearance change, an overall different feel) but the eps are still good. Season 3 is much different than the previous seasons. A lot goes on in the eps. When I watched season 3 recently for the first time, it felt like 2002 never ended. Despite these changes, “The Adventure of Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius” was an amazing show from beginning to end.

Jimmy as an Influencer

I never exactly realized a personality change in Jimmy’s character through time. All I saw was a boy who invents cool things (which usually get him in trouble), more things I’ll ever invent in my lifetime. How many students have entered the STEM field because of Jimmy? This show isn’t exactly educational but it has introduced new words and concepts I’d learn more about through life (“medulla oblongata,” Leon Foucault and his pendulum, the square root of a flexnard). I understand Jimmy creates inventions with kid logic but I want to be as smart as Jimmy. I just need to apply myself.

A Brain Blast of a Show

I always loved the Jimmy Neutron franchise from the early shorts to the movie to the show. The show had its moments – good and bad. All in all, an awesome series that can pop into your mind when you think of early ‘00s CGI. Highly recommended! 5 stars (or 5 cwsonts)! To be clear, the entire show as a unit is that high. With anything Jimmy Neutron, you can’t go wrong.

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“Rocko’s Modern Life” was “a Hoot” and a Whole Lot More

Have Watched, Review /

Posted 3 May 2019

Rocko’s Modern Life/Nickelodeon/1993-1996

Watched from February 14th to March 25th, 2019

What’s funnier? Bananas or Cheese?*

If you were a Nickelodeon kid of the ‘90s, there’s no doubt “Rocko’s Modern Life” will be one of the shows you think of when it comes to Nicktoons of that era. It’s sure a fond memory for me; a show always welcomed on my TV. This Nicktoon features fun, colorful characters for the kids as well as relatable situations for the adults.

So bold, So risk-taking

Nickelodeon allowed creator Joe Murray to make “Rocko” in the way he made his independent films which were mostly for adults. I applaud the fact nothing was dumbed down for us. This was even the first Nick show to address the topic of adoption, something previously taboo to mention in a kids’ show (see episode Who’s for Dinner?). Volunteering to be the first to do such a thing took guts! “Rocko” also addressed other adult-world topics such as jobs, parking places, the healthcare system, relationships, and other real-world issues unlike other Nicktoons at the time.

The Art Style Makes Me Smile

I also enjoyed the art style. The crooked and wonky background props catch my eye. It’s what made “Rocko” “Rocko” and the style totally screams “JOE MURRAY!” The style is carried on through his other works and shows.

Ended Too Soon

As I started my most recent go-around, seasons 1 and 2 were good. When I started season 3, it’s like the quality of the episodes improved. The drawings became more consistent and the show itself seemed more family-friendly than previous seasons (though they did sneak in a few jokes). I’d say the bar was set at season 4. By then, the show had established itself and it was apparent the voice actors were having fun performing their voices. One or two additional seasons were always welcomed but then there was the 52 episode rule Nick had that the time (curse that 52 episode rule) so the show ended at season 4. After I finished the series, I was hungry for more but all was done.

Pineapples!*

“Rocko’s Modern Life” was a show made for a kids’ channel but adults made the majority of the viewership. If the kids had any questions about what they saw, I wonder how the adults addressed their questions. This is a great show that a person can start watching as a kid and continue watching through adulthood. Since I can’t give this show 10 stars, I’ll just settle giving it a perfect 5 stars instead. This show needed more seasons. So, when’s the movie “Static Cling” coming out?

*What do these phrases have to do with anything? Find out when you watch.

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Wonder Park: Not Much of a Wonder

Have Watched, Review /

Posted 13 April 2019

Shortly after this movie’s release, I went to this nifty theater and saw the Nickelodeon and Paramount Picture movie “Wonder Park.” This theater had a captivating screen with mesmerizing picture quality, a sensational sound system, and served delicious real food (I can’t say what theater this was or this would be an advertisement). If only the quality of the movie I watched impressed me that much. I could have chosen a better movie to watch at such an upscale theater for my first visit.

Here’s why…

The only reason I decided to see this movie was because of the “Nickelodeon” name. When I think of the Nickelodeon name, which may give away my age, I think about the quality products they released in the ‘90s. This movie isn’t based on anything like a tv show, video game, or app but I’ve read an animated series is in the works. Is it really necessary? Another Nickelodeon movie that took this route (movie first, then show) was “Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius” and that actually worked. The Jimmy Neutron movie paved the way for more adventures for a series. As for Wonder Park, what is there to build up? What other stories can you have for a conceptual amusement park that can carry on for, say, 3 seasons, 52 eps?

Have you seen the movie poster? Those characters looked creepy. Despite that, I don’t judge a movie by its poster.

Story Needs Polishing

It seems that this movie cut a lot of corners in terms of character development and storytelling. Why did Mom go far away to get better from her illness? Was Dad worried to see June home from camp early? June’s fantasy park was called “Wonder Land” and not “Wonder Park” as the title implied. The ending wasn’t I expected either. “Wonder Land” never became a real theme park where people could visit. Even I felt the park had so much potential to become a reality in the future when June became older.

Could Have Been Better

I wasn’t expecting too much from this movie other than the average quality of CGI movies released these days. I’d say “Wonder Park” is NOT worthy of the Nickelodeon name. Even Nick’s wares of today are at least 1 iota of higher quality than this. This movie gets 2 stars. I’m generously giving an extra star for the exceptional quality of the meal I had at the theater while watching the movie. Despite the enthralling quality of the theater’s screen, this movie was nothing more than eye candy. “Wonder Park” should fall into obscurity along with the idea of an animated series.

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A Review: Do We Really Know Carmen Sandiego?

Review, Revival /

Posted 29 March 2019

Carmen Sandiego / Netflix / 2019-??? (With this new WordPress Editor, it’s hard to figure out how to stack the lines without adding blocks that add excessive space to the lines. When I review a show, this is how the format will be for the time being.)

There were the computer games in the ‘80s, the game shows in the ‘90s, then a cartoon in the ‘90s as well. Now, in 2019, this franchise got itself a reboot. On one weekend (February 9-10, 2019), I binge-watched the latest incarnation of the Carmen Sandiego cartoon on Netflix. I’ll just say it was sure worth the weekend binging. As for everything else…keep reading.

I watched the game show “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” (PBS, 1991-1995) when I was younger. I would also watch my uncle watch the animated “Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?” (FOX, 1994-1999) in bits and pieces. If I recall correctly from my own past thoughts, it was Rockapella that made “The World” interesting to watch. For the animated series, I thought the intro sounded intense and I really digged seeing The Chief as a face on a screen. I started playing the games later in life and only found “Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego” (PBS, 1996-1997) in 2011. When I later on found “The World” and “On Earth” and watched them again, they were a lot better than I remembered. I was paying attention more so I learned more about geography/history than I did in school. When I discovered there was a new “Carmen Sandiego” show on Netflix, it would be a complete crime (Mmm-Hmm) to skip it.

So Many Changes!

There were dozens of changes to get used to in this version. For one thing, this version of Carmen looks really young, about the age of an average Netflix binger (main target audience) whereas, in the earlier versions, she seems like a fully-established adult. Also, I’m used to the Zack and Ivy of the old series. Here, they are redheaded siblings with obvious Bostonian accents. All of this while Player becomes a hacker instead of a computer gamer and pals around by device with Carman with Zack and Ivy. And what was it with Carmen becoming good? I always thought that the objective of the Carmen Sandiego game was to capture her crooks then capture Carmen herself and throw them in jail. They would rot in jail and that would be the end of it until the game restarts. But that’s probably just the game. Do I have to get used to Carmen being good? There were other abrupt changes but you’d be reading this all day.

But That’s OK

Despite the changes, there were a few things I enjoyed. Some may complain that the animation may look a bit lazy. Lazy yes, but modern and streamlined. It makes me feel good to be viewing modern shows. It won’t make me feel like my likings are stuck in the ’90s. I enjoyed finding out about Carmen’s origins in the first 2 episodes. Those explanations had a lot of depth in them. I enjoyed seeing the story about her younger years and her time at V.I.L.E. academy. The first episodes were a great idea as they set the stage for how Carmen will be in this new series and why she is now against V.I.L.E. The following episodes take you places all over the world while you watch in your comfy place. You’ll want to find out where you and the gang will go next.

Is It Worth the Binge?

Despite the complaints about the numerous changes, this show is definitely binge-worthy. It’s way different than the ‘90s cartoon in terms of character set-up and animation but I can get used to it. How can you go wrong with Carmen Sandiego? It’s the reason I keep watching. For now, until I see more episodes, I will give this show 3 stars. I greatly anticipate the arrival of season 2. Hopefully, the rating can get higher as time progresses. For now, good start to a reboot with changes that blew my mind.


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