Animazing: Favorite Animated Movies Part 1

(source)

There has never been a time in my life when I didn't watch animation, no matter what form it took. Whether it was hand drawn or CGI, I've always respected the skill and dedication it takes to make an animated film possible. In fact, I still wonder if I should become a librarian for Disney. I could have helped the imagineers by sifting through concept art or repairing ancient Disney films. I guess there's still time, though. 

However, there are tons of work that can be just as gorgeous and grade A as Disney. Thus, I've decided to list my favorite animated films below, starting with Disney of course.

Disney Animation My Favorite: The Lion King

(source)

When I was younger, I LOVED The Lion King (okay, I still do). I had magnetic Nala and Simba dolls that when held close to together, kissed. I also had tons of Lion King books, and I even insisted on seeing The Lion King several times in theaters.

What truly makes this movie great in my opinion is the message behind it: Remember who you are, push forward in spite of life's trials, know that you don’t need to stress about every little thing, and understand that friendship and love are monumentally important.

The Lion King also held a special kind of truth. A hard truth that touches both young and old.

(source)

Young Simba: Dad?
Mufasa: Hmm?
Young Simba: We're pals, right?
Mufasa: Right.
Young Simba: And we'll always be together, right?
Mufasa: Simba, let me tell you something my father told me. Look at the stars. The great kings of the past look down on us from those stars.
Young Simba: Really?
Mufasa: Yes. So whenever you feel alone, just remember that those kings will always be there to guide you. And so will I.

(source)

The Lion King teaches us that people aren’t going to be around forever. Sometimes, bad things happen and life goes on and you feel lost, alone, scared, unsure. But whenever that happens, look within yourself, know that the ones you’ve loved and lost are always within you. Draw strength from that. To this day, I can't help but remember what this movie has taught me.

Honorary Mention: Aladdin

(source)

I’m torn. At first, I was inclined to chose Beauty and the Beast, but ultimately, I'd have to go with Aladdin, just because I distinctly remember having and obsessing over all the Aladdin movies at a very young age. Heck, the first movie was absolute magic! The second movie... eh, not so much. The third was intriguing though! I mean, Aladdin's father? Count me in. Plus, there was an Aladdin Disney Channel show that took Agrabah to a whole new level. The characters had time to develop into something more!

Dreamworks Animation  My Favorite: Rise of the Guardians

(source)

This movie should have been a spectacular hit and should have received a sequel buuuttt, unfortunately, it’s looking like poor promotion and a terribly timed release date just couldn't make that possible. (Dreamworks...WHY!!!!)

The animation style is a lot different from the other Dreamworks movies because it pulled a lot from anime (maybe that’s part of the reason why I like this so much). The creators also put careful thought and consideration into the characters. That’s why I thought this was going to be bigger. The fight scenes, the gorgeous animation, the voice cast, the emotional roller coaster, the hinting at a much grander adventure, everything pointed to success.

(source)

Jamie Bennett: What if we stop believing in you?
Jack Frost: Hey, slow down, slow down! Are you telling me to stop believing in the moon when the sun comes up?
Jamie Bennett: No.
Jack Frost: Well, do you stop believing in the sun when the clouds block it out?
Jamie Bennett: No.
Jack Frost: We'll always be there, Jamie. And now, we'll always be here.
[points to Jamie's heart]
Jack Frost: Which kind of makes you a Guardian too.

C-can we have a Rise of the Guardians sequel rather than a 10th Minions movie or a Cars 5 (or whatever it's up to now)?

Honorary Mention: Sinbad

(source)

This is another movie that should have been better received than it was. (I almost put How to Train Your Dragon but just couldn't. I mean, come on! It's Sinbad.) Maybe we would have gotten a sequel (or prequel... I would have been satisfied with a prequel) if everything had been promoted right. 

(source)

The hand drawn animation was fluid, fun, and just freakin' pretty. It was exceptionally nice when the characters moved, and spoke, and showed emotion. Plus, Sinbad, in and of himself, was enough to make the movie. And the humor (ohhhhh the humor) was perfectly timed and lovingly executed.

Pixar Animation My favorite: The Incredibles

(source)

The Incredibles is thought-provoking, action-packed, and heartfelt. It was the superhero flick BEFORE superhero flicks became extremely popular. (Does that make it hipster?) I loved how it had  a comic book feel to it. I also couldn't get enough of all those spectacular fight scenes and (most of all) I was captivated by the theme of the movie: family is everything. 

(source)

Elastigirl: Then what? What is it?
Mr. Incredible: I'm not...
Elastigirl: Not what?
Mr. Incredible: Not... I'm not strong enough.
Elastigirl: Strong enough? And this will make you stronger?
Mr. Incredible: Yes. No!
Elastigirl: That's what this is? Some sort of work out?
Mr. Incredible: [shouts] I can't lose you again!
[calms down]
Mr. Incredible: I can't. Not again. I'm not s-strong enough.
Elastigirl: [kisses him] If we work together, you won't have to be.
Mr. Incredible: I don't know what will happen...
Elastigirl: Hey, c'mon. We're superheroes. What could happen?

I'm thrilled to say that The Incredibles 2 will be coming out soon(ish), so that's just one more thing to love about it.

Honorary Mention : Up

(source)

Who doesn't love Up? The first 10 minutes of the movie made me cry, Doug is adorable, Kevin is too, and everything on the screen is storytelling gold. Pixar really outdid themselves. Here we have a movie that's about lost dreams but also about perseverance and hope.

(source)

Animation isn't only for children. It's for the dreamers, the adventures, the artists, the lovers, the entire family (heck, anyone really). Because animation isn't just for entertainment, though it's good for that too, it's also a medium that breaths life into a story, and with that story comes lessons in understanding the human condition. It has the ability to make us feel something deep. It helps us know that not everything is as simple as it seems, that criminals aren't necessarily bad people, that life is full of death but is also full of life, and that our childhood wonder should never leave us.

What are your favorite animated movies?

Continue Reading →

Let the Shipping Begin: Our Very First OTPs

An important part in fangirl life is the relationships between characters, both platonic and romantic. Since it's Valentine's Day, we're here to focus on the romantic ones. If you support a romantic couple, it's called "shipping" (a play on the word relationship). And if you support a romantic couple a lot, then those are called your OTPs (One True Pairings). 

We at The Fangirl Initiative have at least a few. And for many of us, we've been fangirls since a very young age. The love of story starts young, and so does the love of relationships and fictional romances. So what were our very first OTPs? Let's find out!

Kelly Chaplin

Nala and Simba

The Lion King

So, I just need to put it out there. I’m a sucker for childhood friendships that blossom into full on coupledom. The initial, “No way. You have cooties. I wouldn’t touch you with a ten foot pole” to “I think I’ve loved you my entire life”. It just speaks to my deep-seated romantic side. That is why one of my first and favorite OTPs is Simba and Nala from Disney’s The Lion King.

I mean, come on. Even when they were younger, they were perfect for each other. Also, Simba’s mom called it! Their ongoing “pinned ya” contest is so freaking adorable, especially since Nala wins almost every time. (Poor Simba. Though, female lions are the hunters, so he shouldn’t feel too bad.) And when they run into trouble at the elephant graveyard, Simba tries to protect Nala from the hyenas.

Oh gosh, and isn’t it heartbreaking when Simba is run out of the Pride Lands, thinking he was the one who had killed his father and it's assumed he will never return again? Nala goes on for years thinking he’s dead. It’s a long time before they are reunited. And oh, the feels when Simba meets up with another lion, only to realize it’s Nala because she’s pined him yet again. She’s missed him. He’s missed her. They have their sweet, romantic lion moment. Heck, they’re even serenaded by Elton John! 

And yes, they have squabbles like all couples do. When Simba is hesitant about going back to the Pride Lands, Nala gets frustrated with him. But all is forgiven when he accepts his destiny and decides to end his uncle’s tyranny.

Through it all, Nala is Simba’s strength and vice versa. They balance each other out. Plus, don’t they make the cutest lion cub? I love Kiara!

Sky Destrian

Wendy and Bob

Bob the Builder

The early 2000s were a fantastic time for the world of children's television. We were gifted with shows such as Oswald, Little Bear, and Clifford, and I indulged in all of it.

That's why you may not be too surprised to hear that my first OTP was from Bob the Builder.

As you may remember, Bob had an assistant named Wendy who helped in many of the episodes. I'm sure you can see where this is going. That's right, folks. Bob and Wendy were my first OTP.

Though there was never anything to indicate that they were in a relationship or even liked each other, my young shipper's heart went crazy. I decided that they were in love, even if they were too shy to admit it. I kind of felt like Wendy had a crush on Bob while Bob was totally clueless. But I knew that would change eventually. I dreamed of the day when I'd get to see a wedding, and I imagined what their house might look like when they fixed it up themselves.

Honestly, it was slightly ridiculous and hilarious in hindsight. I had headcanons galore. And though many ships have stolen my heart, I think headcanons are an important ingredient to any OTP. Thus, that is why I'm naming Wendy and Bob my very first OTP. Congratulations, guys. Keep on fixing stuff.

Izzy Stevenson

Phineas and Isabella

Phineas and Ferb

My first ever ship was “Phinabella” or the relationship between Phineas Flynn and Isabella Garcia-Shapiro on Disney’s Phineas and Ferb. 

My love for the ship started with my love of Phineas. He was so optimistic, so creative, and able to turn the most impossible of ideas into a reality. He turned every day into an adventure. I always wished I knew someone like him because, if I did, I would go to his house every day to find out what he was doing and try to spend as much time with him as I could. And that’s exactly what Isabella does.

The best thing about Isabella is how supportive she is. A lot of times, when you have a character with all these genius creative projects, they are shown as dating/being married to a character who is very apathetic to those projects, often finding them a nuisance or just overall not being very understanding of them. I’ve always found those kind of relationships very depressing and not something I could relate to. Whereas, Isabella is genuinely as fascinated by Phineas’s projects as he is and happily gets involved in them.

In the beginning, my love of the ship was based mostly on how much I identified with Isabella in how she thought about and treated Phineas. But eventually, I also got to like Isabella in her own right as well. At first Isabella just seems like she's all cuteness and sparkles, but it doesn’t take long before she proves herself to be much more than that. She’s strong, patient, determined, resourceful, and knows how to get the job done. Any job. What’s more, she’s very grounded and brings stability and a knack for planning ahead that the spontaneous Phineas might not otherwise have.

Even though Isabella’s crush on Phineas is obvious, his feelings for her are not as clear.

Does he like her back and just doesn’t say anything because he’s not one to talk about his feelings and just assumes the nature of their relationship is obvious to both of them? Does he just like her as a friend? Is it something he’s never even thought about because his mind is too preoccupied with all his projects? Does he know how she feels about him? How would he react if she confronted him about it? These questions echo through each episode. And they aren’t answered until the end of the final season, in a special episode that is surprisingly emotional for such a light and fun show as Phineas and Ferb.

(Image Source: Jay Marie Lee on Youtube)

Anna Catherine

Lizzie and Darcy

Pride and Prejudice

I read princess books, watched princess movies, and lived and breathed Disney everything ever since I was little.

However, I never really shipped anyone until I watched Pride and Prejudice (2005) for the first time. (I was probably about 12.)

At first, I thought Darcy was a socially anxious jerk. (Which he was, to an extent...)

(poor bby)

Darcy was certainly taken aback by Lizzie's sass. (Also, Bingley giggles at Lizzie because he wants to stay on good terms with her. Beware the sassy sisters of your crush.)

However, opposites attract...

And, (after a few epically failed proposals), Lizzie realized that Darcy was the one. (It's all because Darcy was good at cute little lovey speeches. That's how you catch a lady's attention, gentlemen. That and flowers and food.)

The two balance each other out and are the cutest couple ever. *cries because that smile though*

Jaime Heller

Han and Leia

Star Wars

As a child, I was exposed to volumes of stories. Stories were, and still are, my way of life. I can't accurately pinpoint my first One True Pairing (before I even know what that or "shipping" meant). There were probably tons, millions. Every Disney movie I'd seen. Every story with romance I picked up. Was it Digory and Polly from the Chronicles of Narnia--despite the romance-less relationship explored in the pages of The Magician's Nephew? Was it Jess and Leslie in Bridge to Terabithia--which ripped my heart out? I don't know my very first, but I know one of my firsts and still favorites: Han Solo and Princess Leia. 

(source)

Star Wars has always been a part of my life. I don't recall the first time I watched the movies or heard them being discussed; they were always just there. But I dreamed of them. I'd go to sleep pretending I was one of the characters, I re-enacted the movies in the backyard, and I watched the movies endlessly. I never once questioned Han and Leia's love story. They had to be together. She was a princess, and he was the handsome guy. (Sorry, Luke, you're cute too. But you're her brother.) 

Even to this day, I adore the relationships that pair two unlikely people together. The princess and the scoundrel. The prince and the servant girl. The thief and the heir. The assassin and the innocent. It's a favorite--despite sometimes cliche--trope in fantasy. I like to think two people from two different worlds can make it work. And for me, Han and Leia always did this. 

(source, source)

They didn't like each other at first--or maybe they acted like they didn't. But by the end, they'd fallen for each other. (Another favorite relationship type is when they detest each other at the start but learn to love one another.) When I wasn't dreaming of being Darth Vader, I wanted to be Leia. I wanted to be strong, I wanted to fight, and I wanted to win over Han Solo. (Who can blame my five year-old self?) 

Today, I still love their relationship. I admire their strengths, I learn from their weaknesses. They're far from perfect, but they admit this and try to be better. I will always hold a special place in my fangirl heart for Han and Leia and any relationship like theirs. (I'm looking at you, Rapunzel and Eugene.) I know. 

(source)

Anne and Gilbert

Anne of Green Gables

One of my other firsts was Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe. Another pairing where they start off on the wrong foot. He pulls her hair and calls her "carrots"; she breaks her slate over his head and vows to hate him. It's beautiful, really. 

(source)

But the best comes later. The best comes when he rescues her from drowning, when he gives up a teaching position so she can have it, when he does everything to just be her friend instead of lover.

Despite how long it actually takes for them to get together, I always knew when I was little they were meant for each other. Anne and Gilbert. Their relationship is built on so much more than relationships we see today. They would do anything for each other. And it's beautiful. 

(source)

Anna Gensimore

Anakin and Padmé

Star Wars

I have a confession to make. I was probably around nine when Episode 2 of the Star Wars prequels came out and was quite the romantic. That's right folks, Anakin and Padmé were my first OTP (aside from Han and Leia, of course). Looking back, I am reminded of just how intense little Anna's feels were. For whatever reason, their happiness made me so happy, and I just had to hope against all hope that their story would not end in tragedy. My third grade English teacher was subject to fan comics nearly every day; she thankfully listened and read with patience and good humor. The aforementioned teacher supplied me with Star Wars reading material and encouraged me to pursue my own writing.

Almanzo and Laura

Little House on the Prairie

Outside of the Star Wars fandom, I'd have to say that my other first memorable OTP was Laura Ingalls Wilder and her husband Almanzo. Reading the Little House books was a formative part of my childhood. To me, it seemed especially cool that I already knew where her story was going. I was really excited to read Farmer Boy and see who this mysterious Almanzo guy that Laura would someday marry was and know a little more about his life. Something about the fact that I was getting to an age where I could understand a little bit more about love and romance made reading their story really special to me. As an adult, parts of their story still resonate with me. For example, Laura's engagement ring was garnet, not diamond; knowing what I do now about the diamond industry, this set a precedent in my taste in jewelry. I loved and still love that in their wedding vows Laura refused to say the word "obey" because she knew that she was Almanzo's equal. Their relationship and partnership set forth a lot of my perspective on love and relationships. They certainly struggled but did so as a team, just the way a couple should. 

Every love story is unique and special in it's own way and we love them for just as many reasons as there are stories. Happy Valentine's Day!

Who were your first OTPs?

Continue Reading →

The Circle of Life (Disney's The Lion King 1994)

A young lion Prince is cast out of his pride by his cruel uncle, who claims he killed his father. While the uncle rules with an iron fist, the prince grows up beyond the savannah, living by a philosophy: No worries for the rest of your days. But when his past comes to haunt him, the young Prince must decide his fate: will he remain an outcast, or face his demons and become what he needs to be?   ~IMDB

 Story

Really, the story wasn't that creative.   It was Shakespeare's Hamlet with lions.   However, it was a fun and entertaining take of the classic play.   The characters weren't the same as the play's, in personalities and looks (obviously).    I'm also sure that the great playwright didn't have quite as many jokes in his version.   ☺

Visuals

This film is full of really fantastic animation.   The movie was the height of the Disney Renaissance, partly for its stunning views of the African wilderness.   From sunrises to starry nights, Disney portrayed the true beauty of Africa in every frame.   Also, "I Just Can't Wait to be King" is the most underrated animated sequence ever.   Just saying.

Music

Elton John is very proud of (and obsessed with) this movie.   Every time I turn on Pandora, I get at least ten versions of him singing "Can You Feel The Love Tonight."   I'm pretty sure if he could go back, he'd insist that the film be like Tarzan in that none of the characters actually sing and it's just him singing while characters do things noiselessly.   I mean, can you blame him?   It's not every day you win an Oscar for music from an animated movie.

Final Rating

This movie is awesome.   I almost feel like saying "if you haven't seen this movie, you're not a true Disney fan."   (I won't be that mean.)   However, in the rare event that you haven't watched it, do so now, so I can't say anything to you.   Also, buy a Simba stuffed animal to watch it with.   And the soundtrack so you can sing to all the songs later.

Bonus Gif:

Continue Reading →

Ranking Musicals: 1990s

  This week I came up with exactly ten titles for my Ranking Musicals series.  I know some of these titles better than others, so that affects the order. As always, this list reflects my personal opinions. I had an incredibly hard time arranging this list because I love so many of the musicals here.

10. Phantom (1990)

 This is the less popular musical based on The Phantom of the Opera. It is also the musical that seems to have created the popularity of the name Erik for the Phantom. Where the more popular musical is a pop opera, Phantom is more classical in style. The songs remind me of an actual opera. If you really listen to it, the music is lovely. There was a mini-series that goes hand in hand with this. 

9. Footloose (1998)

 I'm not that much of a fan of this show (based on a film of the same name starring Kevin Bacon). However, I saw it live once and it was great. They took the song I Need a Hero and turned it into a superhero/villain showdown. Good times. If you like dancing, you'll probably love this musical. For the most part, that's what this show is: dance. There are some pretty fun parts too, but I don't enjoy it nearly as much as others on this list.

8. Honk! (1993)

 Honk! is a cute musical for all ages. If you are a fan of the old Ugly Duckling story, it might hit you right in the nostalgia. The songs are catchy, the story is actually quite riveting, and there are plenty of themes that can be played upon. I saw this show live and loved it. If someone near you is doing Honk, treat some kids you know and go see it. 

7. Aida (1998)

 If you watched the above clip you can probably already tell why I love this musical. It is reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet in a way. It tells the story of an Egyptian soldier and a princess from Nubia, the country Egypt is trying to conquer. Of course they fall in love, which brings consequences and all kinds of good stuff. Or bad, depending on how you're looking at it. The music is kind of rocky, so it is an acquired taste, but the story is kind of beautiful. Aida is one of my favorite musicals to use for audition pieces because of the raw power of some of songs. I'm not a huge fan of some of the plot aspects, but I encourage you to look deeper into this. It has so many lovely songs and Heather Headley (a star from another show that will be featured on this list) knocks it out of the park as the titular Aida. 

6. Jekyll and Hyde (1997)

 I'm not the most familiar with this musical, but it has some great pieces of music. My brother and I tried finding a suitable version of the song "Confrontation," but came up empty. If you're at all familiar with the classic novel, you probably already know the basic story line. This guy named Jekyll decides to make a potion for good, but instead unleashes his evil second identity. This second identity, Hyde, decides to try to take over for good, bringing mayhem in the process. I do recommend looking up "Confrontation," but try listening to the Broadway soundtrack of it once you understand just what in the world is going on in the song. The above video is a song set just before Jekyll tries his potion, when he thinks good things will come of it. Poor Jekyll. 

5. The Lion King (1997)

 Many people love the Disney film, The Lion King. It isn't my favorite, but no one can deny the unique and exciting use of puppetry put to use in the musical version. The video from above is actually an Australian version, but Heather Headley (from Aida) is Nala in the original Broadway cast. In the musical there are added songs that bring a lot to the story like Shadowlands sung by Nala and others. If you like The Lion King or want to see some breathtaking visuals, this might be the show for you. It's pretty amazing. 

4. Beauty and the Beast (1994)

 Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite Disney movies and it is my absolute favorite Disney stage musical. I love the added songs and story line. This beautiful story about inner beauty is a true classic for Disney fans and anyone. If you haven't heard them yet be sure to look up the new songs in this show, "Me," (a stupendous song Gaston sings about himself) "Home," "No Matter What," "If I Can't Love Her," "Human Again," and "A Change In Me." They are beautiful or fun or both. Fun fact: Susan Egan, the original Broadway Belle, would later play Megara in the Disney film Hercules. 

3. A Christmas Carol (1994)

 I'd had about my fill of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol when I suddenly found myself performing in this show. After that I was hooked into this beautiful musical with music by Alan Menkin. It has become my favorite show to perform in. There are just so many beautiful numbers and parts to play. I was incredibly busy during this production and had six costumes! That's quite a few. Next time you want to watch a Christmas classic, I recommend the musical version of this film. Right now, the film based off of this musical is on Youtube in full starring Kelsey Grammer. This is my favorite adaption of this story. It's powerful.

I could share so many great pictures from our production, but I'll keep it to a minimum and hope it makes you want to see this great show. The cover photo of this post is me in a really big dress with interesting headgear, and here is another great image of the show from the song featured above.

2. Ragtime (1998)

This musical is almost to epic proportions. The story is a compelling narrative on the social restrictions that bind us, keeping one class separated from the other. The story focuses on three groups of people: Upper class white Americans, the African-Americans of the Harlem Renaissance, and immigrants to America. These three groups of people are represented by Mother--a housewife, Coalhouse Walker--a musician, and Tateh--a Latvian immigrant of Jewish descent. The story shows how their paths collide and the evolution of their characters through the production. This musical deals with some pretty serious stuff. There is death, there is anger, there is murder. But there is also hope, and that is the most important discovery of this story. As it takes place in the era of ragtime music, that is the type of melody that underscores much of the show, giving it its title. Fun Fact: Audra McDonald, featured in the video above as Coalhouse Walker's love, Sarah, won a Tony for her performance.

1. The Secret Garden (1991)

There are many, many, many reasons I love this show. The music is absolutely gorgeous. It is another classic story about a little girl who comes to live with her distant uncle, Archibald Craven, after her parents die. She discovered an overgrown garden and the secrets buried there. In case you can't tell from the above video, Mandy Patinkin (famous for being Inigo Montoya in The Princess Bride) plays Archibald Craven. If you look up some of his beautiful solos (and duets) from this musical you will be amazed. This musical also features the purest soprano voice I have ever heard and so many amazing songs. This is one of my favorite things to listen to. You should look up "Lily's Eyes" right now and enjoy it. You're welcome. Also, Daisy Egan won a Tony for playing the young Mary Lennox. I have to share her acceptance speech because it is the most adorable thing ever. To avoid clouding up this post more, here is the link. Trust me on this one. This musical is worth your time. 

  And there you have it! That's my list for the 1990s. This was a strong decade for musicals. There were so many more that I haven't listed and many that I have to look at myself. This was a popular decade for remaking classics and for some really powerful musical. Next we shall see what the '80s have to offer. 

Are you familiar with any musicals from my list? What are your favorite musicals from this decade?

Continue Reading →