Posted 28 January 2019

Gravity Falls / Disney Channel, Disney XD / 2012-2016 (added 9-12-19)

From November 5th to November 30th, 2018, I watched the entire “Gravity Falls” series including the behind-the-scenes special “Between the Pines.” I first started watching a few episodes between 2014-2015 on the Disney XD website. Years later, after finding all the episodes on Hulu, I thought why not this one? This show is soooo weird…I like it!

What’s It About?

This show follows the Pines twins, Dipper and Mabel, who visit their Grunkle (Great + Uncle = “Grunkle.” Clever!) Stan for the summer at his Mystery Shack, a tourist trap. Taking place in the fictional town of Gravity Falls, Oregon, the small town is occupied by many mysteries and weird on-goings that the twins encounter during their stay.

Changing Tones

Despite the dynamic changes in tones between the two seasons, this show is definitely a must to watch in its entirety. Season one had its share of peppiness and self-episodic stories which eventually transitioned into season two’s darker and progressive story arc. Despite this change, the show maintains its quality.

“Dreamscaperers” (the second-to-last episode of season 1) is an ep I enjoyed as it had much going on. It is a preparation for the feel of the then-upcoming season two. This episode began the end of the colorful, goofy storytelling that was possessed by the preceding episodes. More eventful and shadowy events were on the horizon in season two.

The episode “A Tale of Two Stans” (S2, Ep 12) was the season two ep that stood out to me. The episode tells of the early relationship between Grunkle Stan and his twin brother Stanford. Revelations of secrets and what made them drift apart are a major feature in this episode. I’d say the Stan twins had quite a history that was interesting to hear and see. I like the name of their boat, “Stan o’ War.”

Scattered Mysteries

One of the dominant elements of this show are the clues and puzzles that the creator scattered throughout the series about the show’s meaning. I didn’t catch all of them the first time around but the types of clues that even my untrained senses can sense are the cryptograms at the end of the ending credits and the backwards voice at the end of the opening theme song. Watching “Between the Pines” special pointed out what I missed after my first full go-around. It gives me things to look for whenever I watch the entire series again.

Yes, A Popular Show I Actually Like!

This show can be very, very interesting if you follow the hidden clues and solve the cryptograms. Even if you missed most of them (like I did), this show will still have a unique feel over the animations Disney offered at that time. On top of it all, this show had a decent ending! What other shows have that?  I give this show 4.5 stars. This show had complex themes that were difficult for me to write about without performing extensive research but it definitely makes this show worth watching again someday. If you haven’t seen this show yet, do me a favor and please watch it. It could change the way you think of things.

Posted 23 December 2018

I decided to take a break from formulating my next posts and write a review about a Christmas special I’ve never seen before. Also before I write reviews about the anime I’ve been watching, I’ll take this opportunity to say the animation company who animated this special was a Japanese company called Top Craft. They animated other Rankin/Bass specials (yes, this is a Rankin/Bass special). This Christmas special is called “The Stingiest Man in Town” (1978).

On Thursday night I watched Rankin/Bass’ “The Stingiest Man in Town” for the first time. It was a remake of the 1956 live-action version aired on NBC during The Alcoa Hour anthology series. When I first read the title, I thought it said, “The Most Singingest Man in Town,” assuming there would be a man going around town and singing to everyone. Not exactly but there was lots and lots of singing in it possibly in an attempt to keep the original songs from the original movie. This movie is another adaptation and retelling of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. This special stars Walter Matthau as Ebenezer Scrooge and was directed by Arthur Rankin, Jr and Jules Bass.

The Jolly Good

One thing I liked about this special was the fact that the voice of B. A. H. Humbug, Esq. was provided by Tom Bosley (well known as Howard Cunningham in “Happy Days” (ABC, 1974-1984)). Another voice Mr. Bosley has done that makes his work special to me was the kindness and warmness he put in the voice of David, the title character in “The World of David the Gnome” (originally from Spain, Nickelodeon US, 1987-1996(?)). “David the Gnome” was an animation I never really appreciated until later in life. Another point about this special that captures my attention is the fact is it a Rankin/Bass Production. Whenever I hear the name “Rankin/Bass” I automatically think of the stop-motion Christmas classics of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town.” I have forgotten that the iconic company has also released hand-drawn products as well and this is one of them. The fact it’s a Rankin/Bass production (especially a Christmas one) makes me want to watch it more because the two previously mentioned special are the models of how Christmas specials should be made.

The “Bah humbug!”

There were also some drawbacks to this special. These include the amount of songs squeezed into this one 50 minute movie. I couldn’t breathe another breath between the time one song ended and another one began. Was this some kind of opera in English? Did the original 1956 movie have that many songs? Another downside to this special was the fact it was another retelling of the classic Christmas story about compassion that is A Christmas Carol. I’ve seen many other Christmas specials in my lifetime that goes by the same blueprint:

1. Some selfish grouch dreads Christmas.
2. He then gets visited by three ghost that show him the error of his ways.
3. That same grouch learns his lesson then starts showing love to everyone to show how he’s changed.

There was even a “Simpsons” episode that mentions that fact (‘Tis the Fifteenth Season; season 15, episode 7).

A Christmas Standard?

The Stingiest Man in Town is a classic Christmas animation that can be a tradition for families to view together during the holidays. Would I watch this many times during a Christmas season? It would be something nice to add to your rotation of Christmas specials to watch at least every other year. This special gets 3 stars. Everything good about this feature makes it an absolute classic while everything not so good can drag it down quite a bit.

May you and your family have a safe, happy, and festive Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate)!

Posted 16 December 2018

As stated in a previous post, I had low hopes for liking Avatar: The Last Airbender (Nickelodeon, 2005-2008) before actually watching it back in early 2005. Back then, I started watching the series but I started getting behind on the episodes due to inconsistent time slots and a rapid progression in the storyline I could not take at that time. Fast forward to 13 years later, the opportunity arrived to start the series over and watch from start to finish (watched from September 3 to October 11, 2018).

Why I chose

I had such a great time watching Samurai Jack that I wanted to continue on the theme of Asianic-themed cartoons but I wasn’t quite ready for a full Japanese anime yet. After some searching, Avatar was suggested. While being pleased with what I watched years ago and many internet reviews backing the excellence, I became interested in continuing what I started. This was also to gain a deeper understanding of the show’s elements such as the characters and storyline. I remember the feel of the show was quite pleasant. I wanted to relive those memories and make new ones as well.

My Thoughts

The show starts with three main characters and we get to know the basics about them. As the show progresses, they meet various characters and more depth is added to the show as more ideas are introduced. In addition to Aang’s airbending skills, he eventually learns to bend the other four elements; water, earth, and fire.

When this show was still in production and still airing, as the story progressed and more ideas were introduced, being younger than I am now, I couldn’t take all the changes. It was all going too fast for me. Now ten years after the last episodes aired, I found every episode again, watched all of them, and found much more interest and appreciation in each episode (especially the filler episodes. They serve a purpose as well). I understand the ideas a little better now yet I still have much to learn and clarify. The show started in a basic way, three characters on a journey. As the show progressed, the show got even better and more interesting when we are introduced to new characters and we learn more about the four elements and tribes. I feel this show ended properly and ended beautifully.

There’s a Match Game joke in Sokka’s Master (season 3 episode 4) for those interested.

Toph: “Plus, it’s so hot today.”

Aang: “How hot is it?

Toph: “I don’t know. Real hot?”

Katara: “It’s so hot…It’s so hot…Momo is shedding like Appa”

The Bottom Line

I’m glad I took a chance on this show. If you take a chance on this show, you will see how much this show is quite an adventure. It will take you to places you’ll never visit in your life (such as Ba Sing Se (“the impenetrable city”) and Wan Shi Tong’s Spirit Library) and help you see things you will never see in real life (flying bison, bending).

I definitely give this show 5 stars. A definite must for those who enjoy an adventure with some peril and self-realization in the mix.

I’ve been watching some great shows lately that are all worthy of 5 stars. In a review, if I don’t give a show a rating but a recommendation (To whom would I recommend this?), it is implied this show has the fabulous 5 stars. Anything less than that will have a rating and probably a recommendation. I will do this practice unless specified otherwise.

Posted 30 September 2018

Finally, after 5 years of attempting to watch this entire series, on the week of August 27th and August 31st, I finished watching all three seasons of Sanjay and Craig (Nickelodeon, 2013-2016). There have been factors that have been causing the delay of the completion of this series through the years such as episode availability. I overcame those obstacles and finished what I started back in August 2013. I don’t know why I wanted to finish watching this entire show, it was just something I wanted to do. There might be some solid reasoning in this review.

Nickelodeon’s Sanjay and Craig was just one of those mindless shows I needed in my life. The show follows the life of a 12-year-old Sanjay Patel and his pet snake, Craig. They go on adventures, use their imaginations, and eat wings and play video games at the Frycade.

The 5 best things about Sanjay and Craig

Here are 5 factors that make this show stand out from the other Nick shows from the same era:

1. Art style is similar to Bob’s Burgers

This was one of the main reason I became interested in this show as I was a Bob’s Burgers (FOX, 2011-present) watcher at the time (I still want to be. Haven’t watched in a long time and REALLY need to catch up on the episodes). The characteristics of this art style include elongated heads and stick-shaped noses. Lo and behold, I come to find out that the character designer on Bob’s Burgers is one of the co-creators of this show, Jay Howell.

2. Homages to old game shows

I liked how there were two separate episodes where the show pays homage to two of Nickelodeon’s classic games show, Double Dare (Nickelodeon, 1986-1993, 2000, 2018) and Guts (Nickelodeon, 1992-1996). To make these episodes even more special, they actually got the original hosts to voice themselves. I used to watch those shows when I was younger and I find it really cool how they acknowledged Nick’s past by making these episodes. These episodes gave me part of my childhood back.

3. Demonstrates good kid fun

Many people say kids these days are on their techno-devices too much. Despite the characters occasionally having their phones on them to check out popular apps or taking selfies, the majority of this series depicts the kid characters going outside, causing mischief, and most of all, just having fun. They’re even good buds with their favorite movie star who lives in a trailer park nearby, Remington Tufflips. What kid wouldn’t want to hang out with their favorite movie star?

And for this, I feel vibes of the old Nickelodeon show The Adventures of Pete and Pete (Nickelodeon, 1993-1996) when I watch this. That’s all because Pete and Pete’s co-creators Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi are the executive producers and writers on this show. They took the authentic depiction of childhood simplicity and wonder from Pete and Pete and brought it to Sanjay and Craig. I also noticed a cameo or two of Mr. Tastee (but with a different name) on Sanjay and Craig as well, a man with a swirly ice cream head selling ice cream.

4. Kunal Nayyar is on this show

When the show was new, I was also a Big Bang Theory (CBS, 2007-present) watcher. I thought it was interesting to picture Raj Koothrappali do the voice of Sanjay’s dad, Vijay. The Raj character was pretty funny in those days much like Vijay, who is also a funny character. Kunal Nayyar is a pretty good actor and voice actor.

5. Sanjay is bi-racial

Nothing wrong with that! In fact, this is a subject that needs to be positively portrayed more often in today’s media, especially in childrens’ cartoons. In fact, someone I know really well is bi-racial and she’s really cool (part Hispanic/part white).

What’s not as good

Since this show is a modern Nick show, there are a few things that could have potentially driven me away from finishing this series. While watching this show through the 5 years, I overlooked these shortcomings and only focused on the 5 good points listed above. For one thing, we have the unnecessary fart jokes. I guess some kids think these jokes are funny. I felt it’s not exactly a good thing to poke fun at a normal bodily function.  Another thing that didn’t bother me as much but I didn’t particularly care for was the random loudness. Even though it uplifted me at times, if they overdid it in one 22-minute (or so, without commercials) block, it could get to be too excessive.

The Verdict

For a Nick-toon* that came out in this decade, it was typical but it stood out from the other hyperactive, non-relatable shows that Nick had at the time. The episodes were often mindless and mind-numbing but sometimes you need a show like that to break through a barrier of your realities in life and just have fun.

I will rate this show 3 stars. The childish elements cost this show two of the stars. The depiction of the kids enjoying their childhoods outside really add to the value. Makes me remember my carefree childhood and how great it was.

* ”Nick-toon” is spelled like that because it came out after 2007. After that year the quality of Nick animated shows started to decrease in my opinion. Had the show came out between 1991 and 2007, I would call it a “Nicktoon.” Are Nick cartoons still called “Nicktoons” or has that phase passed?