Showing posts with label Jaime Heller. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jaime Heller. Show all posts

Friday, December 1, 2017

How to Throw a 'Star Wars' Christmas Party

It's finally December, which means the Christmas season is in full swing. In addition, we only have a matter of days until Star Wars: The Last Jedi releases in theaters. So in the spirit of fandom, why not combine the two celebrations and host a Star Wars Christmas party? Here are a few galactic ideas to get you started.

Decorations

No party is complete with decorations. Since you'll be combining forces here, you want to mix it up a bit. A little bit of Star Wars, a little bit of Christmas. For starters, you can cut out some awesome paper snowflakes with these unique Star Wars patterns. You could also create a starry backdrop with black paper and cut out stars or even glow-in-the-dark stars to hang up with your snowflakes. (Something like this.) Maybe even add blinking Christmas lights and a few starships to mimic the Battle of Yavin 4, complete with a giant Death Star cut-out. (Or you can decorate your Christmas lights to look like lightsabers.)


Of course, the real decoration would be a full-blown Star Wars Christmas tree, complete with one of the various helmets as the tree topper. If that's too ambitious, you could settle with a Star Wars wreath to decorate your front door. For more ideas, you can create a Yoda countdown chain (either for Christmas or The Last Jedi release) or make a few Star Wars ornaments to set around the food table.

Speaking of...

Food

One of the most important parts of a party is the food. Providing enough food or snacks for your guests will assure you have the most successful party in the galaxy! For a winter holiday atmosphere, you can make gingerbread cookies in the shape of Star Wars characters or these cute stormtrooper sugar cookies. Everybody likes chocolate covered pretzels, right? Add a little food coloring to the white chocolate and make them look like lightsabers instead. These would even double as a nice party favor.


Munchies like Star Wars themed popcorn or BB-8 Muddy Buddies will definitely satisfy anybody looking for something to snack on. You can use graham crackers and peanut butter (or Nutella) to create TIE-fighter s'mores, and this Bantha hot cocoa recipe is sure to warm up your guests.

If you need other Star Wars themed foods, check out the Star Wars Cook Book, and you can even make Wookiee cookies for Wookiee Life Day!

Though, your Wookiee cookies will never be this cute. (source)

Games/Activities

Another part of a party includes activities to keep your guests entertained. There are probably countless Star Wars related games designed for 12 year-old birthday parties, but why not make things interesting by playing pin the Santa hat on... well, any character from Star Wars. Darth Vader, Jabba the Hutt, Yoda, even Boba Fett--the possibilities are endless.


If you're in a crafty party mood, you can make light-up cards using a similar pattern to these May the Fourth Be With You cards, only give it a Christmas twist. You can also host an ugly sweater contest, since there are a plethora of Star Wars ugly sweaters to buy (or even to make).

When in doubt, you can always search the Outer Rim to find a copy of the Star Wars Holiday Special and enjoy ninety minutes of Wookiee and other bizarre things. Or... create a bingo card to go along with the viewing to make the night truly memorable.

Just in case this isn't memorable enough... (source)

Overall, make the party fun and your guests will do the rest. Decorate to your heart's desire, blending Christmas decorations with Star Wars themes and vice versa. Fill your table with yummy food and your house with good cheer, and your party guests will go home full and happy. Also, don't forget the music.

Friday, November 3, 2017

How to Survive NaNoWriMo: The Fandom Edition


It's that time of the year again when insane writers attempt to write 50,000 words in 30 days. It's National Novel Writing Month time. This may seem like an insurmountable task, and as the month passes by, participants may start to feel overwhelmed. But have no fear! The best and brightest minds from the world's most famous fandoms are here to give you advice on how to survive NaNoWriMo. So whether you're a participant or you know someone who is attempting this grand feat, here's a little advice, fandom style.

When you sit down to write, prepare yourself by saying:


Remember to wield your pen like Wonder Woman wields a sword, and you'll be sure to slay that word count goal.


If you're a write-with-music kind of person, you have to make sure you find the right jams. Nothing makes monster hunting writing hard when the music is distracting; just ask Dean Winchester.


If there are too many people distracting you, take a little advice from Sherlock and say...


Or if you need a little help, call on your friends, Avengers style.


When things get tough, take a break for...


Or share a pint with friends.


If you get stuck, make sure you have a back up plan, like Merlin.

(source)

Or take a page out of Rick Grimes' book and write about stuff and thangs.


If you make a mistake, do as Picard would and then move on.


When in doubt, go to the library...

Or add DRAGONS!


But overall, as you write, don't forget...


And may the odds be ever in your favor.


Good luck, NaNoWriMoers!

The thumbnail was used using an overlay from nanowrimo.org

Friday, October 13, 2017

Something Truly Special: Our Reaction to 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' Trailer

Earlier this week, the trailer for Star Wars: The Last Jedi premiered. After we recovered from the initial shock of the trailer, a few of us came together to share our reaction and our thoughts for the upcoming film in the Star Wars saga.

Izzy Stevenson

  • “When I found you, I saw raw, untamed power. And beyond that, something truly special.” Although the trailer tries to make us think he’s addressing Kylo, Snoke is obviously talking to Rey here. Since Rey is the character on the “good side” being tempted by the darkness, it makes more sense that Snoke is motivating her to give in to that temptation. “When I found you” is further proof. According to the canon novels, Snoke has been manipulating Kylo since he was in the womb, whereas he found* Rey after she was born. 
  • It kind of looks like Luke, afraid of her powers, is going to push Rey away rather quickly. I hope they don’t have his personality stray too far away from the Luke we got to know in the original trilogy since that Luke wasn’t the kind of guy who would just give up on people like that.
  • “Let the past die. Kill it if you have to. That’s the only way to become what you were meant to be.” The trailer wants us to think Kylo is talking to himself here, but again, I think he’s talking to Rey. Probably after they team up. 
  • The scene where Kylo hovers his finger over the trigger to kill his mother (who he still loves) and Leia is watching and wondering if she’s about to die by the hand of the son she still loves = chills. These kinds of scenes are made for people like me. I’m also fairly confident he’s not going to go through with it, despite the fact that this is Carrie Fisher’s last film. 
  • That shot of Captain Phasma standing in front of an explosion is even more epic than Tony Stark’s famous shot. What good deed did we do to deserve it?
  • “This is not going to go the way you think.” I keep telling people. ;)
  • Is it just me or does it genuinely sound like Snoke is saying “Fore-fill your destiny” rather than "fulfill"?
  • We see a shot of Rey being tortured by Snoke. Probably from the same scene Snoke gives her the “when I found you” speech. This whole sequence will most likely be a callback to the Palpatine/Luke scene in Episode VI. Kylo will bring Rey to Snoke, thinking he’ll convert her to their side. Snoke will try to turn her dark, but it won’t work and will lead to her torture instead. Seeing Rey being tortured will probably make Kylo snap, just as Vader did, and the film will end with him betraying Snoke and leaving with Rey. Then the homage to the original trilogy will be complete, and Episode IX can take us in a brand new direction. 
  • “I need someone to show me my place in all this.” *shows Kylo holding out his hand* Now, as much as my little shipper heart loves this, I think these are actually two different scenes. Rey is wearing the outfit she has on at the beginning of the film, not the one she puts on later. Which means she’s probably talking to Luke. The shot of Kylo is probably from the end of the film. It is still a very telling shot, though, as the most likely people to whom he would be holding out his hand would be either Rey or Leia. It’s probably a post-redemption shot. (I used to believe Kylo’s redemption arc would extend over all three films, but now I think his redemption will take place in this one and he'll be Ben Solo during Episode IX.) The goal of putting these two shots together is to make us think Rey is going full-on dark side. But, as cool as that would be to explore, I don’t think it’s going to happen. It’s pretty obvious she and Kylo will team up eventually. But with her tempted by the dark and him tempted by the light, I’m confident they’re both going to forge their own path together to become Grey Jedi and bring balance to the force, rather than one of them defecting to the other side. And I can’t wait. 
  •  That ice fox is the most beautiful creature I've seen in a Star Wars film.

Sky Destrian

It's hard to really formulate any coherent thoughts about this trailer that don't contain screaming or keysmashes. But I'll do my best.
  • This movie... I'm not prepared. 
  • What happened to Kylo Ren's face? It looks robotic, but then it doesn't, and I have questions.
  • Where are my boys? (Poe and Finn.) I need more of my boys.
  • I feel very upset that they faked us out by implying Leia might die. It just feels cheap, especially considering how upset some of us were when Carrie Fisher died. (Just to clarify, I'm really referring to myself here.)
  • Okay, so, we didn't get much Poe and Finn, but I guess what we did get was pretty dang epic? Poe's words, "We are the spark that will light the flame..." That's a mantra for the ages. And Finn with a lightsaber? I'm so here for it. 
  • (But I still need more of my boys.)
  • However, let's talk about the real stars of this trailer: Luke and Rey. 
  • Luke is so done with everything, and honestly? I relate. In all seriousness, though, I'm so glad we get to see more of him in this movie, and it certainly appears he has more lines. However, I just hope they keep his character true to the original Luke we all love. Judging from the trailer (which may or may not reflect the actual film), I have some concerns about where they're taking his character.
  • And Rey? She's incredible in every sense of the word. I'm so glad we get to have her at the helm of the Star Wars films. I love her, I would give everything for her. 10/10.
  • Despite my irritation with the will-Leia-die-or-won't-she aspect, seeing Carrie Fisher was a breath of fresh air. I honestly can't wait to see her, even if it will break my heart.
  • I'm super intrigued to find out who Luke is talking about with the "raw power" line. He's likely talking about Kylo Ren, but what if he surprises us all and he really means himself or his father or someone completely unexpected?
  • Chewie's new buddy is adorable. That is all.
Conclusion? I'm not ready for this movie. Truly, are any of us? I guess we'll find out, and may the force be with us.

Jaime Heller

My initial reaction: *high-pitched Pterodactyl screech*

There is so much packed into this trailer. But first, we need to remember something: trailers tell you nothing and everything at the same time. The people who make the trailer can take any scene and splice it together. They can make it look however they want, how they want you to think. They can place voice-overs with scenes that don’t match, with characters that don’t match. They can make it look like two characters are speaking to one another when it’s actually different scenes. 

So...

Initial questions/observations:
  • Look! Kylo Ren is brooding again and throwing temper tantrums. My favorite.
  • Rey with a lightsaber. Rey with a lightsaber. Rey with a lightsaber.
  • Is Luke going to… abandon Rey?
  • Is Kylo Ren going to kill his mom? (Say it isn’t so!)
  • (This movie is going to be rough to watch. Carrie Fisher, you are gorgeous.)
  • What is Chewbacca’s new friend? (Also, why? Is he Han's replacement because... what?)
  • Is Poe Dameron going to single-handedly take down the First Order? Because I am ready.
  • FINN VS PHASMA. FINN VS PHASMA. FINN VS PHASMA. (Say that 5 times fast, I dare you.)
  • I would like the ice fox thing please. Whatever it is. I want one.
  • Luke is just not happy. Nope. What happened to our ray of sunshine child?
  • Why is Finn wearing a First Order uniform?
  • Why is Snoke force torturing (???) Rey?
  • (Also why does he look like the Ancient One from Doctor Strange?)
  • is rEY GOING TO ASK KYLO REN TO TRAIN HER???? FREAKING MOOF-MILKING NERF HERDER! WHAT THE JAKKU IS HAPPENING?!
So after the initial fangirl freak out, I had to watch the trailer a few more times. (By a few, I mean I lost count. Who is actually surrpised?)

Upon further viewing and discussion with fellow Star Wars nerd herders who have nothing better to do than analyze the trailer, here’s what I’ve come up with. 

My favorite thing was the music. I’m so ready for another amazing soundtrack by John Williams. Of course, the trailer makers perfectly timed that music to give you all the feels, mainly because it begins with the same chords as every other teaser/trailer for The Last Jedi and The Force Awakens. I have chills already. But when the music starts going as Rey speaks, wowza… I just got hyped for this movie!


We have Luke and Snoke both saying similar things about raw power. We’ve got Rey training and Luke being afraid. Very afraid. Luke is probably going to abandon Rey, which might propel her straight into Kylo Ren’s arms presence OR maybe even… toward Snoke? (*gasp*)

Of course, that could be two different scenes spliced together. It’s possible Kylo Ren’s hand (if it’s his hand and not someone else’s) is from a different part of the film. (Maybe a flashback that’s connected to the fire?). The lighting doesn’t quite match, so Rey could be talking to Luke at the beginning of the film or maybe to someone else. (Again, could be Snoke…) And Kylo Ren's scar looks different at the end of the trailer than when we see him flying his ship... 

We’ve got Finn running around in a First Order uniform, but why? Did he rejoin? Is he brainwashed? Is he undercover? We do know that Phasma is definitely coming after him, probably for revenge, so that’s going to be a fun subplot. I can’t wait to see how that fight scene goes!


Poe is still fighting against the First Order, and he doesn’t look happy. So watch out! (I will be overjoyed if Poe basically takes down the First Order on his own. Not enough people are talking about Poe in the trailer. I'm ready for him to do something fantastic.) Chewbacca has a new friend, called Porg. No ideas there, except I really hope it's like the reincarnation of Han Solo. (I'm kidding, of course.)

It looks like Kylo Ren is targeting Leia’s ship, but after discussing that with a friend, I can’t imagine they’d have him kill both of his parents. I think the ship he’s targeting is something else. (Again, different scenes spliced together with voice-overs mean nothing.) Kylo Ren is definitely talking to someone in his voice-over, but who? Maybe it’s Luke or Rey. I have a feeling Kylo Ren is aiming to cut ties with everybody, including Snoke. Maybe he and Rey will team up against Snoke by the end of the movie. 

Also, I heard a while ago that they didn’t change the script of Episode VIII due to Carrie Fisher’s death. They said they weren’t just going to “kill her off” in the film. Of course, they could be lying. Because this whole trailer is probably a lie. I think they might just have something happen “in between” Episode VIII and IX to explain her absence. (Either way, this movie is going to be rough.) I’ve actually heard more people speculate that Luke will be the one to die, not Leia. I don't like it. It was hard enough to watch Han Solo die in Episode VII. I can't lose anybody else from the Original Trilogy.


Overall, this trailer didn’t give us any answers. It only raised more questions and left us to pick up scattered pieces and speculate about what is happening. Maybe some theories out there will come true, but honestly, I don’t think we’ll know the whole story until we watch this film in December and Episode IX in two years. The point of trailers is to get people excited for a film, and I think they did their job well. They got everybody buzzing about it. Whether people are just glad to see Rey holding a lightsaber, to hear Luke talk, or to see the confirmation that Kylo Ren is a main character of this trilogy, the trailer received a reaction from the fans. Which is the whole point.

What did you think of the trailer? React with us in the comments!

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Why I Have a Love/Hate Relationship with 'Kingdom Hearts'

Confession: I am terrible at playing video games. There are only a handful of games I’ve actually completed, and most of them are from the Lego franchise. I get frustrated when games are complicated or the boss levels are almost impossible to beat. I’ll be the first to admit I like easy games--games like Animal Crossing where I can’t lose or Roller Coaster Tycoon where I can just have fun. (Though, I still stress myself playing Roller Coaster Tycoon because I’m worried I won’t reach the objective by the end of the time limit due to tiny, whiny avatars that complain about everything.)

But that doesn’t mean I won’t try to play harder games. I do, and I usually end up screaming and hitting random buttons. Take for instance, the Attack on Titan game. I cannot for the life of me play that game without screaming because I'm afraid a Titan will grab me and eat me. Or Sly Cooper. Those games have some of the worst mini-game type levels, and I have yet to complete one of the games because I cannot survive. (And plenty of frustrated groaning follows.)

Then there’s Kingdom Hearts.


I first played Kingdom Hearts about ten years ago when I received a used copy of the first game for Christmas. I fell in love immediately. I mean, it was a game all about Disney worlds where you team up with Disney characters. How could I not love it? Plus, the story lines and the new characters are all amazing too. Then I received Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, played it for a short time, and gave up because I didn’t understand how the game worked. I borrowed Kingdom Hearts 2 and Birth by Sleep from a friend and mostly beat those.

Recently, I’ve been playing Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, which consists mainly of Dream Drop Distance. It’s been so fun. I’ve loved the worlds and the story line. I like the Dream Eater buddies and that I can play as Sora and Riku. But I still find issues with the game, as I do with every Kingdom Hearts game thus far.

First, Dream Drop Distance functions with two storylines that crisscross throughout each level. You start as Sora and you have a “drop gauge” that is basically a timer. So for a certain amount of time you go through the levels as Sora until the meter runs out. Then it “drops” you, and you switch to Riku, play through the levels until that meter runs out, and switch. On and on. Which is cool because, as I said before, I can play as both. But it’s also irritating because just when I get going in the level, get used to the commands on Sora’s list and the Dream Eaters I’ve paired with Sora, I drop and have to rethink my entire fighting style. In addition, without fail, I always drop while I’m in the middle of a battle, which means when I drop the next time and pick back up I’m immediately thrown into a frenzy. It’s been stressful. (I also hate that if you leave a “room” or location in a world, usually by accident, and return all the bad guys return and you have to fight them three, four, ten times as you try to figure out where you’re going and/or collect all those dumb treasure chests!)


In addition, some of the controls of Dream Drop Distance annoy me as well. While the reality shifts are cool, they are hard for me to do because no matter how I hit the circle and triangle button, it always does a command instead of reality shift at least twice before I can hit them correctly. I don’t know if it’s my fingers, the controller, or how the game works, but I get easily frustrated trying to do that function. Also, I always forget I can link-up with my Dream Eaters, so I never use those power-ups, which is a shame because they’re really cool. #wastedpotential (I also like to not pay attention when I’m learning a new skill, so I’m poking around the level going “What do I do!??!” for way too long. That one, however, is on me.)

But the aspect of every Kingdom Hearts game that annoys me the most are the boss levels. Normally the boss levels in the earlier worlds aren’t so bad. As long as my skill level is higher than the level, which it usually is because I like to waste time finding collectibles instead of following the main story line, I’m good. But when I get to the final level with the big boss (usually Xenahort or Ansem or whoever), I get mad. Mainly because I can’t win easily. I have to actually think about the buttons I’m pressing and pay attention to the pattern of the boss’ fighting style. I hate when I get hit a single time and my health drops significantly or when I hit the command for “cure” and Sora or Riku just stand there like an idiot and do nothing (or get hit again by the boss and I die).

Then, after I finally beat the boss after several attempts (and I’ve probably thought about chucking the controller across the room or I’ve laid on the floor and muttered angry curses at the TV), guess what happens next? You have to fight another boss, or the same boss again only this time he’s stronger. And that’s when I get enraged. You’re telling me I just defeated this dude with several health gauges and gave my all and I have to do it again for a bigger boss? Nah, man. Nah. I don’t want that. I want to defeat a boss and move on.


This has been the case for every Kingdom Hearts game I’ve played so far. While I haven’t played them all, I can’t imagine this pattern would change too much. This is the main reason I never finished Birth By Sleep. I finished the story line for Ventus, but I got to the final boss with Terra and Aqua and could not for the life of me defeat the bad guy. (And since I was borrowing the PSP and game from someone, I had to give it back at some point.)

In addition, after I finished the baddies of Dream Drop Distance, becoming so angry that I was pumping with an adrenaline rush, the game didn’t end. It didn’t end. I still had to play more. And I wanted to scream. Because I already spent way too long wandering the final world with Sora trying to figure out where to go when I just had to jump off the other side of a building rooftop to continue and then fight an annoying bad guy. And then I had to continue?! Nah, man. Nah.

So while I love Kingdom Hearts with my whole heart because the worlds are fantastic and the interactions with Disney characters are exciting, I do get frustrated with the games. Does that mean I’ll stop playing them? Does that mean I’ll give up and never finish? No. I will play. I will finish. I’ll just get super mad about it and scream while I smack the bad guy in the face with my Keyblade.


What video games frustrate you? 

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

11 YA Books to Add to Your Fall Reading List

Break out your flannel and pumpkin spice because fall is here! Even if autumn doesn't officially start until September 21, it's never too early to start making a list of books to read this season. And with so many wonderful titles being released over the next few months, I've narrowed it down to a new releases you won't want to miss. Here are eleven upcoming YA books to add to your fall reading list.


Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust
Release date: September 5, 2017

Girls Made of Snow and Glass is a feminist retelling of the Snow White fairytale. There shouldn't need to be any more reason to read than that. I need it now.

The Thing With Feathers by McCall Hoyle
Release date: September 5, 2017

This book is about a girl with epilepsy as she navigates her first time in public school. It sounds adorable and heart-warming, especially since she has a seizure dog. I'm excited to give this book a chance!

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
Release date: September 5, 2017

This book just came out, and I've heard a lot of good things about it. Two strangers learn they're both going to die so they meet up for one last adventure. Sounds sweet and sad. I'm already crying.

Warcross by Marie Lu
Release date: September 12, 2017

Video games plus kick-butt hackers and a terrorist plot? I'm game. Plus, part of this book takes place in Tokyo!

You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins
Release date: September 12, 2017

This books focuses on family and the immigrant experience as it follows an Indian-American sisters as they come of age. It looks absolutely adorable and hilarious, and I'm excited to learn more about a diverse culture.

Jane, Unlimited by Kristin Cashore
Release date: September 19, 2017

I don't know a whole lot about this book (and the Goodreads synopsis didn't help me understand the main plot), but it sounds interesting. I've been a fan of Kristin Cashore since I read Graceling, so I have faith she won't disappoint!

Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore
Release date: October 3, 2017

This book involves magic and lush gardens and forbidden love. Plus, that cover is absolutely gorgeous. I'll definitely be reading this.

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
Release date: October 10, 2017

It's been five years since John Green published a book, so this one is going to get a lot of attention and hype. While I still don't know how I feel about that cover (I expected turtles?), if you like John Green or contemporary YA, you should probably read it.

All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater
Release date: October 10, 2017

According to the author, this book includes owls and rock n' roll along with diverse characters and magic. How can that not be flipping amazing?!?


Renegades by Marissa Meyer
Release date: November 7, 2017

I've basically vowed that if Marissa Meyer writes a book, I'll read it. But she didn't even have to convince me of this one; it's about superheroes. I mean, a book about superheroes by Marissa Meyer? Where can I get one?!

Bonus:
The Ship of the Dead by Rick Riordan
Release date: October 3, 2017

This is the third and final book in the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series. If you're a fan of Rick Riordan and you haven't read Magnus Chase, you should. If you've come this far already, this is one book you won't want to miss!

What books are you adding to your TBR pile this fall?

Thursday, August 31, 2017

5 Reasons to Watch 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars'

After The Force Awakens released almost two years ago (two years?!), I went on a Star Wars spree. I wanted to read all the books and watch all the shows. So I started watching Star Wars: The Clone Wars (not to be confused with the show Star Wars: Clone Wars, which came out first). A month or so later I had stopped watching it as other shows caught my attention and the thrill of Star Wars waned. (I also stopped reading the Star Wars books because some of them were atrocious and I couldn't get over zombies being in a Star Wars book. Maybe the only good thing to come out of de-canonizing the books.) But it wasn't because Star Wars: The Clone Wars was a bad show. It's actually a decent animated film, and much better than a lot of other shows (including Star Wars: Rebels). Recently, I started watching it again and I'm glad I did. I was reminded of why I enjoy the show and why it's worth watching.


1. All the Sass
One of my favorite aspects of the show is the sass. Between Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, and R2-D2, this show is chock full of sassy one-liners, excessive flirting (looking at you, Kenobi), and hilarious comebacks. It's actually quite clever, and the dialogue between characters is one of the most charming parts of Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Darth Maul: Anything more to say?
Obi-Wan Kenobi: I like your new legs. They make you look taller.

2. Expanding the Universe
Star Wars: The Clone Wars does a good job expanding the Star Wars Universe. The characters travel to so many different planets and systems, they encounter different alien races and cultures (including creepy zombie Geonosians! Whyyy???), and they interact with a lot of new ideas and concepts. Despite Disney de-canonizing about 95% of the Star Wars Expanded Universe, Star Wars: The Clone Wars manages to hold on to parts of that universe and give us a wider story than the one on the silver screen.

3. Clone Trooper Representation
Another aspect I like most about the show, other than the sass, is that it focuses heavily on the Clone Troopers. A lot of the troopers are complex, well-rounded characters. There are episodes solely about Clone Trooper training and missions, emphasizing that despite having the same DNA and upbringing they are all unique and interesting people. Yeah, a lot of them die, but a lot receive representation that is otherwise ignored in the main saga. After all, Clone Troopers are people too, you know.


4. Excellent Voice Acting
Star Wars: The Clone Wars is remarkable because of it's excellent voice-acting cast. At first, I honestly thought that Ewan McGregor or Natalie Portman or even Frank Oz recorded for the show, but I learned instead that no one from the movies did the voice-acting for the show. Instead, it's simply amazing voice actors taking on the roles and making it fit seamlessly with the films. It's impressive.

5. Anakin's Angry Face

Okay, so the animation style makes Anakin look like he is always angry or he smelled something really bad. (And I don't think it was Stinky.) While it makes me laugh and point at his face like I'm a five-year-old, I do appreciate the animation style. It's not the typical 2D a lot of animated shows are; it's 3D CGI animation, which gives it a unique style. I wish more shows were like this because I think it makes the Star Wars world come to life in a new way. Plus, it makes Anakin's face look angry. I like.

Bonus: Boba Fett's angry face. (source)

Why do you love Star Wars: The Clone Wars?