Story Announcement #4

As a final tribute for Pokemon's 20th Anniversary, I decided to post one more Pokemon story: The Land Befoe Kanto.
Sorry. There isn't much of a story behind the story this time around. I simply made The Land before Kanto (named after the region in the very first Pokemon game) to practice my writing skills.

Anyway, for Littlefoot, the long-neck protagonist of the movie, I used Chikorita, who would later evolve into a Bayleef. I know some people would've chosen Amaura, because I feel like it doesn't grow as quickly.

For Cera, a stubborn three-horn who isn't afraid of predators, I used Aron, who would later evolve into Lairon. I know some people would've chosen Shieldon, but I used its evolved form Bastiodon as Rooter, the Scolosaurus who teaches Littlefoot about the 'Circle of Life'.

For Ducky, the adorable 'big-mouth' dinosaur, I used Axew. I am aware that it may not be able to swim, but the only other Water-Type reptiles I can think of are Squirtle, Tirtouga, and Lapras.

For Petrie, the pterosaur who wants wants to fly, I used Archen, the First Bird Pokemon.

For Spike, a spike-tail with a big appetite, I used Larvitar. However, instead of eating grass, Lars, who I will name this character, will eat rocks. I am aware that Larvitar and Axew are the exact same size, but in one chapter, I will state that he grew from two feet to five feet.

And finally, for Sharptooth, the bloodthirsty Tyrannosaurus Rex, I used Groudon, a Ground-Type Legendary. I am aware that there's already a T-Rex Pokemon, Tyrantrum, but I felt like Groudon would be more intimidating.

For all the other characters and creatures, I used Pokemon that would've existed during the Mesozoic Era, mainly insects, reptiles, and amphibians. The only Pokemon I used that probably didn't exist back then are Patrat and Avalugg. There will also be a cameo of a Pokemon from an upcoming game, Pokemon Sun and Moon.
The Land before Kanto was completed in February 2015 as a followup to Steven and Phoebe, though it wasn't as much as an experience.
I will begin posting The Land before Kanto on August 7th.

Cartoon Network vs. Nickelodeon: Breakdown Showdown

Breakdown Showdown

Well, it's finally here: The Breakdown Showdown! I'll tally up the results and determine which channel is better!

Battle 1 (The Rugrats vs. The ORIGINAL! PowerPuff Girls)- Cartoon Network

Battle 2 (Ren and Stimpy vs. Cow & Chicken)- Cartoon Network

Battle 3 (Invader ZIM vs. Billy and Mandy)- Cartoon Network

Battle 4 (Jimmy Neutron vs. Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends)- Cartoon Network

Battle 5 (Camp Lazlo vs. Harvey Beaks)- Nick

Battle 6 (Catsrcatch vs. My Gym Partner's a Monkey)- Nick

Battle 7 (SpongeBob SquarePants vs. Chowder)- Nick

Battle 8 (Hey Arnold! vs. Steven Universe)- Nick

Battle 9 (Avatar: The Last Airbender vs. Over the Garden Wall)- Nick

Battle 10 (We Bare Bears vs. The Loud House)- Nick

Bonus Round (Rocko's Modern Life vs. Dexter's Laboratory)- Nick

And the winner is... Boy, this certainly surprised me. The winner is Nickelodeon! A few years ago, many people felt like a lot of TV channels, especially Nickelodeon, lost their spark. With the surplus of live-action shows with unlikeable characters and, what the silly creatures (humans)  refer to as 'baby shows' (the Nick Jr. Block), Nick has probably turned from orange to green. However, after requiring the rights to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Nicktoons veterans Chris Savino, Craig Bartlett, CH Greenblatt, and Stephen Hillenburg returning, it seems like Nick managed to get back on their feet. Congratulations, Nickelodeon! Let's hope the long-awaited series finale for Hey Arnold, the fabled 'Jungle Movie', turns out to be a success! We'll have to wait until next year for that one.

For the Nicktoons fans at home, just try avoiding The Mighty B, Breadwinners, Pig, Goat, Banana, Cricket, and newer episodes of The Fairly OddParents.

Don't feel left out, Cartoon Network! I know you didn't win this time, but I have a score sheet containing nine shows that I left out, four of which were NOT produced by Cartoon Network Studios.

Johnny Bravo: While not as memorable as early Cartoon Network shows like Dexter's Lab or The PPGs, Johnny Bravo has its own charm. However, I do have one question that bothers me: How come Johnny Bravo, who is an adult, is living at home with his mother, but not in college or his own apartment?

Courage the Cowardly Dog: Me and my sister honestly found this show a bit scary and creepy when it was on, but I can see why people like it.

Ed, Edd n Eddy: This was the pinnacle of my childhood. Pure comedy gold.

Samurai Jack: Only seen a handful of episodes, but I thought it was awesome.

Codename Kids Next Door: The only reason this show got in here was because my friend at school would talk about it non-stop. However, I do think some of the villains are funny, especially the Toilenator.

Regular Show: I know that there's lots of people out there that love Regular Show, but I honestly don't really like it that much. The character Benson makes me want to scream like Boo from Monsters Inc.

The Amazing World of Gumball: This show is honestly hit-and-miss, and shares quite a few similarities to The Simpsons if you think about it.

Gumball Watterson- Bart Simpson

Darwin Watterson- Martin Prince (the fat kid who happens to be quite intelligent)

Anias Watterson- Lisa Simpson

Nicole Watterson- Marge Simpson (kind of)

Richard Watterson- Homer Simpson

Granny Jojo- Abraham Simpson (Homer's father)

Jaimie- Nelson Muntz (the 'Ha-ha!' bully kid)

Principal Brown- Principal Skinner

Deputy Doughnut- Chief Wiggum
Rob (the distorted CG cyclops)- Sideshow Bob
Larry- Jeremy Friedman (the squeaky-voiced teen) as well as Moe Syzslak

Uncle Grandpa: Sorry, Cartoon Network, but this show is as stupid as a clam. The plots are ridiculous, the characters are dumb and recycled (except for Mr. Gus), and the jokes are unfunny and make no sense.

Clarence: I enjoy this show because it gives me a nostalgic feel. Like I said in one of my Author's Notes for Steven and Phoebe, Clarence is best described as a cross between Ed, Edd n Eddy and Hey Arnold. Clarence, which premiered in Spring 2014, is different from previous Cartoon Network shows because it's more down-to-Earth and has more realistic situations and characters. In fact, Clarence (the character) reminds me of me. I personally wish there were more people out there that liked Clarence, because it makes me laugh like a weasel.

Well, that about ties it for my month-long event, Cartoon Network vs. Nickelodeon. However, I have a special announcement tomorrow.

Cartoon Network vs. Nickelodeon Tie Breaker Round

Cartoon Network vs. Nickelodeon Tie Breaker Round

Bonus Round: Rocko's Modern Life vs. Dexter's Laboratory

I know what some of you are thinking. 'How is a show about a super-genius boy with a top-secret lab similar to a show that featured anthropomorphic animals?' Well, I have three good reasons.

1. While only appearing appearing in a few episodes, the show within the show in Dexter/Rocko is quite funny.

 

The 'show within the show' in Dexter's Laboratory was simply called TV Puppet Pals. It featured two puppet characters that looked a lot like Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street. However, the humor is based off of Punch & Judy, a British puppet act that dates back to the 17th Century. The Puppet Pals also appeared on The PowerPuff Girls. Below is a photo of Punch and Judy.
 

The 'show within the show' in Rocko's Modern Life was called The Fatheads. It was created by Ralph Bighead, long-lost son of Ed Bighead (the Squidward of the show). Anyway, the Fatheads was about a married couple of toads who were constantly fighting. It was meant to be a parody of the characters Ed and Bev Bighead, but if you ask me, they remind me of Itchy and Scratchy from The Simpsons.

2. Both have an episode that uses almost no dialogue, and they're executed perfectly.

The Rocko episode that doesn't use any dialogue is called 'Fatal Contraption', in which Rocko buys a defective walking blender machine and then banishes it to the desert. It's safe to call this episode a predecessor to the SpongeBob episode 'Reef Blower', which had a similar sense of humor.

The Dexter's Lab episode that didn't use almost any dialogue was simply called 'DiM'. In this episode, Dexter notices a shorted-out light bulb on the ceiling of his lab, so he heads with his mom to the department store to purchase a new bulb. However, by the end of the episode, Dee-Dee tells him that they'll all eventually burn out, and the episode fades to black.

3. Both have a banned episode that may be questionable to single-digit viewers.

The banned Rocko episode was called 'Leap Frogs', in which Bev wanted to win Rocko's affection after being neglected by Ed. This episode is banned from airing on Nickelodeon for its adult content.
 

There were actually two banned episodes of Dexter's Laboratory, but one episode I find too dirty to put on this website, which was called 'Rude Removal'. The episode I am thinking of is 'Barbequor', in which Dexter's pet superhero monkey must save the planets of the Solar System from being skewered by Barbequor, a parody of Galactus. This episode was believed to be banned for having a homosexual character named the Silver Spooner, a parody of the Silver Surfer.

In reality, however, the episode was banned because people at Marvel felt like it was a misuse of the character.
Boy. Once again, I chose two tough combatants. I honestly have to choose Rocko because I find the characters Rocko, Heffer, and Filburt to be relatable and funny. However, Dexter's Laboratory is a stroke of genius, and it would be a disgrace not to include something from Genndy Tartakovsky in this countdown.
Tomorrow will finally be the day: The Breakdown Showdown!

Movie Review: The Sorcerer's Apprentance

Movie Review: The Sorcerer's Apprentice                                                                              7-26-16

Based on the beloved segment from Fantasia, The Sorcerer's Apprentice is about a sorcerer named Balthazar (Nicholas Cage), who was one of three powerful sorcerers entrusted by Merlin, king of the wizards and protector of mankind. When the evil sorceress Morgana kills Merlin and learns a dangerous magic spell, Balthazar traps Morgana in the Grimhold, which looks a bit like a Matryoshka doll. Before Merlin died, he gives Balthazar a dragon ring that would guide him to the Prime Merlinean, who is fabled to destroy Medusa. Balthazar searched for centuries, and it wasn't until the year 2010 in which he encounters a college student named David (Jay Baruchel). Now Balthazar must train Dave to become the Prime Merlinean and stop the evil wizard Horvath from getting the Grimhold.

Now what do I think of this movie? While definitely not a classic, it is one of Nicholas Cage's better films, because his character isn't as much of a jerk in this film. He reminds me a bit of Big Z from Surf's Up. Also, a lot of the special effects are breathtaking and painstaking. The fire effects, for example, were done using real flames. Also, some scenes with objects or characters floating didn't use any computers.

If I were to make some complaints, I feel like the story is a teensy bit recycled. I feel like The Sorcerer's Apprentice is already a masterpiece as a short film, and doesn't need to be made into a feature film.

However, while definitely not perfect, The Sorcerer's Apprentice is a solid diversion to lesser films released in 2010, like The Last Airbender, Furry Vengeance, and The Lightning Thief.

Rating: 2 1/2 stars out of 5.

Cartoon Network vs Nickelodeon Part 10/10

Battle 10: We Bare Bears vs. The Loud House

We Bare Bears was the first Cartoon Network show to have the TV-Y7 rating since Squirrel Boy in 2006, rather than TV-PG like recent hits, and is based on a web comic created by Daniel Chong. Before working at Cartoon Network Studios, Chong worked as a storyboard artist at Disney, Pixar, and Illumination. We Bare Bears is a show about three different species of bears: a grizzly bear named Grizz, a giant panda named Panda, and a polar bear named Ice Bear, who all go on crazy misadventures, like opening their own food truck or searching for their stolen backpack. The show is basically Ed, Edd n Eddy in the 21st century, except the bears are all brothers and none of them have negative traits. The bears are also friends with a child prodigy named Chloe, who's a bit like a cross between Connie from Steven Universe and Hiro from Disney's Big Hero 6. We Bare Bears is different from previous shows from Cartoon Network Studios because there's nothing that will scare or upset single-digit kids, and can be very heartwarming at times.

The Loud House is the newest Nicktoon to hit the airwaves, as of July 23rd, 2016, and was created by Chris Savino, who I nicknamed the 'Joe Grant* of television', because he worked on so many projects. The Loud House is about an eleven-year-old boy named Lincoln Loud, who has to survive everyday life with an ocean of sisters; Ten to be exact. Lori, Leni, Luna, Luan, Lynn, Lucy, Lola, Lana, Lisa, and Lily, each with different personalities and traits. Lori is the oldest, Leni is the typical dumb blonde, Luna has a passion for music, Luan is a comedian, Lynn has a passion for sports, Lucy is an emo poet, Lola is a brat who acts like a princess, Lana is a reptile and amphibian-loving tomboy, Lisa is a genius who has a college degree, and Lily is the baby of the family. Luckily, Lincoln has a friend named Clyde to help him out, but his sisters are always there for Lincoln when he needs them. The Loud House is different from previous Nicktoons because it has humans as major characters rather than talking animals or monsters, and the plots are more down-to-Earth compared to recent Nicktoons. Also, unlike most Nicktoons, the potty humor is kept to a minimum. If I were to make one complaint, I would say that the parents are, most of the time, either irresponsible or goofy. Like in Cow & Chicken, the faces of Mr. and Mrs. Loud are never shown. Also, Lincoln is a bit one-dimensional, nothing more than a male stereotype.
*For those who are unfamiliar, Joe Grant was Walt Disney's right-hand man during the 1930s to the late 1940s. He helped design and write Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo, and Bambi. Also, Lady in Lady and the Tramp is partially based on a dog Joe had when he was younger. Joe returned in 1989 in which he contributed to every animated Disney movie during the 90s, except for The Rescuers Down Under and Aladdin. Joe Grant passed away in 2005, at the age of 96. His last projects to be involved with were Disney•Pixar's Up and, surprisingly, Chicken Little.

So, which show is superior in this situation? Boy, this is a hard choice, since Loud House is still relatively new. Once again, you decide! Put in the comments section below on which show you think is better! On July 30th, I will determine which channel is better in the Breakdown Showdown! However, before that, I will have a tie breaker round in case the votes are even.

The Tie Breaker round will be on July 29th, and it's a bit of a surprise.

Cartoon Network vs Nickelodeon Part 9/10

Battle 9: Avatar: The Last Airbender vs. Over the Garden Wall

In case you've been living under a rock, Avatar: The Last Airbender was a Nicktoon influenced by Japanese culture that ran from 2005 to 2008, and took place in a world where there are only four elements: Water, Fire, Earth, and Air. Many years ago, the Four Nations lived in harmony, but one day, the Fire Nation started a war, and killed everyone in the Air Nation. A hundred years later, two siblings of the Water Nation, Katara and Sokka, were fishing in the ocean, but to their surprise, they found a spherical ice cube with a frozen child inside. They thawed the ice cube and figured out that the boy is actually an Air Bender named Aang, the last of his kind. Now Katara and Sokka must train Aang to learn all four elements in order to defeat Prince Zuko of the Fire Kingdom. 'Avatar' was the most popular and successful Nicktoon since Hey Arnold and earned amazing reviews, as well as a big online fan base. A sequel series, The Legend of Korra, ran from 2012 to 2014, but wasn't as popular.

Over the Garden Wall, which premiered in late 2014, was the first ever miniseries from Cartoon Network Studios, and one of their most critically acclaimed projects to date. It told the story of two brothers named Wirt and Greg who get lost in a mysterious forest. They seek help from a bluebird named Beatrice to help guide them out of the forest, while avoiding perilous dangers. If you think about it, it's kind of like Disney•Pixar's Up. There's an animal character one of the younger characters gets attached to, a talking animal character that would lead the protagonists to the villain, and an elderly character who mourns over the loss of his loved one. Like Avatar, Over the Garden Wall got great reviews, even if it only ran for 10 episodes. From November 30th to December 3rd of 2015, Cartoon Network aired another miniseries, Long Live The Royals, but was no where near as popular.
Now what show do I think is better? Well, once again, you decide! Put in the comments section below on which show you think is better, and I'll see you again on July 23rd when I compare a show about Three Bare Bears to a show about an 11-year-old boy with 5 older sisters and 5 younger sisters: We Bare Bears vs. The Loud House!

Cartoon Network vs. Nickelodeon Part 8/10

Part 8: Hey Arnold vs. Steven Universe

It's strange to compare a show about a 'football-headed' boy in a suburban city with Peanuts-inspired characters to a show about a boy who is part of a trio of powerful extra-terrestrial women powered by Gemstones. One is very unrealistic with likable characters (minus two or three) in an anime-inspired story line that can leave the viewer either sad, scared, or confused (SU), while the other one has more realistic characters and settings with some mature themes (HA). The character Helga Pataki is a good example: She has an alcoholic mother, an emotionally abusive father, and an older sister who hogs all the attention from Helga. Her parents barely notice her, not even if she's going to school on a rainy day with no bus, no umbrella, and no coat. To top it all off, Helga's family is the reason why she kept her unhealthy crush on Arnold a secret for half her childhood! Apparently, one of them told Helga go 'sweep it under the rug', meaning she should bottle her emotions and keep it an unhealthy secret. She didn't even tell her best friend Phoebe about her secret! Also, Arnold's grandmother seems to be mentally, but hilariously, confused. For example: In the Thanksgiving special, Grandma celebrates Independence Day on Thanksgiving. Also, there's an obese bully who's apparently Jewish (Harold Berman), a 38-year-old man who never works and can't read (Oscar Kokoshka), an Asian man who left his country to save himself and his daughter from war (Mr. Hyunh), and threats from Helga that are now considered bullying.

There are mature themes in Steven Universe as well. There's two female characters that are in love with one another, Steven's mom Rose 'dying' after giving birth to Steven, characters sacrificing themselves, and many more. Also, there are certain scenes that are unimaginably frightening and unsettling, like Steven's body turning into cat faces, a French fry costume coming to life and bleeding ketchup, one of the Gems almost killing Steven by launching him into outer space, and multiple terrifying mismatched Gem fusions (Alexandrite, Malachite, and just about every Cluster Gem). Because of this popularity and tones of the show, it is safe to nickname Steven Universe the Hey Arnold of this generation. I personally don't watch Steven Universe because I feel like it messes with my emotions and my mind.
So, which show is the winner? Well, once again, you decide! Put in the comments section below on which show you think is better! See you on July 19th when I compare Avatar: The Last Airbender to Over the Garden Wall!

Cartoon Network vs. Nickelodeon Part 7/10

Battle 7:SpongeBob SquarePants vs. Chowder

Since SpongeBob is so insanely popular, there's no need explaining it. I know there are lots of people that love SpongeBob, but I personally don't like it. I have 16 reasons why.

1. Sea sponges cannot move, but they can be detached like plants without getting fatally injured.
2. Fire and bodies of water (like lakes and oceans) should not exist underwater.
3. SpongeBob should be a Cubicus boxfish instead of a sea sponge, so he can be more mobile and expressive in a realistic sense.
4. Scallops do not poop.
5. There shouldn't be explicit violence/depictions of organs, because that would cause younger kids to either get scared, upset, or disgusted.
6. The fish and cephalopod characters should be able to swim and should not wear clothes.
7. The mammal characters (except for Sandy) should be bigger than the fish and invertebrate characters.
8. The characters are not good role models.
9. The Plankton plots are too predictable, cliched, repetitive, and tiresome.
10. The characters should be living in holes, under rocks, or in reefs, like their real-life counterparts.
11. Since there are over 30,000 different species of fish, the writers and creators should choose the ones that would fit the personalities and traits of a sea bear, sea rhinoceros, or sea chicken, if they ever existed.
12. Since the ocean is so big, the characters should be visiting different oceans from all over the world, each with different climates and species. It would teach children about climate change in a way they would understand.
13. SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward, and Plankton should not have skeletons.
14. The characters shouldn't eat 'fishified' human food, but eat carrion, seaweed, algae, bivalves, sea cucumbers, and their own substitute for bread made from sea sponges.
15. The gastropods (snails and slugs) should not be treated like pets.
16. The clams, oysters, and scallops should not all look the same, but they can still be treated and behave like animals.

When I was younger, I liked SpongeBob, but I simply grew out of it. Like how one would stop playing with toys at a certain age. However, there are some episodes that I do like. I can tolerate 90% of Season 1, because the animation gives me that nostalgic feel. The only Season 2/Season 3 episodes I really like are You're Shoe's Untied, Bossy Boots, Big Pink Loser, and Band Geeks.
 
'Now what Cartoon Network show would I compare to SpongeBob?' You may ask yourself. Well, I chose Chowder. Like I said in one of my author's notes for Steven and Phoebe, Chowder is best described as a cross between SpongeBob and Ratatouille with a hint of Jim Henson. Anyway, Chowder is about a cat-bear-rabbit thing named Chowder who, under the supervision of Mung Daal, cook all sorts of crazy dishes, like a Froggy Apple Crumple Thumpkin, Burple Nurples, Feetza, and Stenchilladas. I compared Chowder to SpongeBob because both take place in a restaurant, both have (in my opinion) poor role models, and both have similar senses of humor. That's because Chowder creator CH Greenblatt got his start on SpongeBob. Also, the characters Squidward and Schnitzel are almost identical.
Which show do I think is better? Even though I'm not a fan anymore, I'll have to go with SpongeBob. See you tomorrow when I compare everyone's favorite football head to the Crystal Clods: That's right! Next up is Hey Arnold vs. Steven Universe!

Cartoon Network vs. Nickelodeon Part 6/10

Battle 6: Catscratch vs. My Gym Partner's a Monkey
Sorry, it was hard to think of ten combatants for each channel. It was either these two or Uncle Grandpa vs. Breadwinners. Anyway, I chose these two because both Catscratch and 'Gym Partner' were rather short-lived cartoons, but managed to generate small fan bases. Let's start off with Catscratch.

Catscratch was a Nicktoon about three noseless cats: Gordon, Waffle, and Mr. Blik. Gordon was a Scottish Manx who acted like the voice of reason, Waffle was a goofy tortoiseshell cat with a passion for newts, and Mr. Blik was a cruel Bombay cat that elected himself as leader. The three of them live in a wealthy mansion, with a human butler named Hovis, and the show would focus on the cats' wealthy lifestyles and action-packed, sometimes paranormal, experiences. While the show did get good reviews, it only ran for a year and half, maybe because it premiered four months after the critically acclaimed Nicktoon Avatar: The Last Airbender.

My Gym Partner's A Monkey was a Cartoon Network show about a 12-year-old boy named Adam Lyon, who has to attend Charles Darwin Middle School, filled with domesticated zoo animals as students and teachers, because his last name is 'Lyon'. The only true friend he has is a spider monkey named Jake. I know there are some people that liked this show when it was on, but I personally wasn't very fond of it. I felt like the animal characters treated Adam like elephant . Is this how they treat chimpanzee students, who have the closest DNA to humans? Also, despite coming from zoos and aquariums, the animal characters act very wild, even though some of them could have been raised by humans.
Which of these do I think is superior? I honestly have to go with Catscratch because I remember enjoying it more. See you tomorrow when I compare Nickelodeon's yellow absorbent cash-cow to Cartoon Network Studios' hungry Muppet-like chef: SpongeBob SquarePants vs. Chowder!

Cartoon Network vs. Nickelodeon Part 5/10

Battle 5: Camp Lazlo vs. Harvey Beaks
I know what some of you are thinking by this point. "Why aren't you comparing Harvey Beaks to Chowder?" Well, I felt like Harvey Beaks was a successor to Chowder, and Camp Lazlo was a successor to Rocko's Modern Life. Besides, I think SpongeBob is closer to Chowder. First, let's talk about Lazlo.

Camp Lazlo was Joe Murray's successor to the Nicktoon Rocko's Modern Life, a bit of a predecessor to SpongeBob, and starred a Brazilian spider monkey named Lazlo. With his friends Raj, an Indian elephant, and Clam, an Albino Pygmy rhino, they try having the best summer at Camp Kidney, ruled by a grouchy moose named Scoutmaster Lumpus.

Camp Lazlo is different from Rocko's Modern Life because it wasn't as dirty or suggestive, maybe because Joe Murray was raising a daughter at the time. Also, some of the characters aren't as organic as in 'Rocko'. For example, Slinkman, Lumpus's assistant, is similar to Smithers, Mr. Burns' assistant in The Simpsons. And the dung beetles, Chip and Skip, are similar to Andy and Randy, Miss Piggy's dim-witted nephews on Muppets Tonight. Also, sometimes music from SpongeBob can be heard in the background.

Harvey Beaks is CH Greenblatt's second show after Chowder, and stars a young bird named Harvey, who goes on adventures with his friends Fee and Foo. Nobody knows what kind of creatures they are, but Fee and Foo look a bit like Animal from The Muppets. Harvey Beaks is different from Chowder because there are no live-action object intervals, plots viewers can identify with, nothing that will scare younger kids, and characters that serve as better role models. In fact, Harvey Beaks (the character) is probably the best Nicktoons role model since Arnold Shortman! Also, like We Bare Bears, which I'll talk about in the final round of this showdown, there are occasional heartwarming moments. If I were to make one complaint about Harvey Beaks, I would say that Harvey's parents look more like fish than birds.
 

Which show is the winner this time? I honestly have to go with Harvey Beaks, because it reminds me of the works of Jim Henson, though Camp Lazlo did have some funny moments. See you next time when I compare My Gym Partner's a Monkey to Catscratch!

Cartoon Network vs. Nickelodeon Part 4/10

Battle 4: Jimmy Neutron vs. Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends
I know what you're thinking. "Why aren't you comparing Jimmy Neutron to Dexter's Lab?" Well, I felt like that has been overdone. Also, Jimmy Neutron was the first ever CGI Nicktoon, while Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends was the first ever, and so far only, Flash-animated series from Cartoon Network Studios. However, both shows have the same clever writing you would expect from a hand-drawn cartoon at the time. Now that is out of the way, let's start the showdown!

The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius started out as a feature film, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, in 2001. It was about a super-genius boy named Jimmy Neutron who must rescue the parents of Retroville from egg-shaped aliens called the Yolkians. Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius did well at the box-office, and surprisingly, got nominated for the very first Oscar for Best Animated Feature, along with Shrek and Monsters Inc.

A Jimmy Neutron TV series followed shortly after, which ran from 2002 to 2006, continuing the further adventures of Jimmy and his friends. Right smack in the middle of the series, however, the show started to become noticeably darker. I find that really unusual because the original movie was rated G and, to be honest, had quite a silly plot. Also, one of these later episodes, The N Men, I found to be a knockoff of The Incredibles, which was Pixar's newest movie at the time. In that episode, the gang earned four of the five superpowers of the Parr family.
Cindy got super strength (Bob Parr/Mr. Incredible) as well as the ability to fly...
 
Libby got invisibility AND force field powers (Violet Parr)...

   

Sheen got super speed (Dashell 'The Dash' Robert Parr)...

And Jimmy had the ability to turn into an orange hulking monster whenever he got upset (Jack-Jack Parr, except Jack-Jack turned into a red goblin). They even copied that cat scene in The Incredibles!

'What was Carl's superpower?' You ask. Well, he had the ability to super burp. No one in The Incredibles had that ability, but there is one Pixar character I can think of that has a similar act: Mike Wazowski in Monsters Inc!

The next show, Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends, ran from 2004 to 2009, and was created by PPG (PowerPuff Girls) creator Craig McCracken. It was about an eight-year-old boy named Mac, who has an imaginary friend named Blooerguard Q Kazoo. In this world, imaginary friends become real shortly after they're thought out. When Mac's mom says that he is too old for imaginary friends, he and Bloo go to Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends, an adoption center for imaginary friends, even though there's a chance that Bloo could get adopted. After a three-part TV movie, it has been declared that Bloo can stay at Foster's as long as Mac visits at least once a day. There were also quite a few memorable characters in the show, including Mr. Harriman, a stubborn rabbit who has a habit of calling everyone either Mister, Miss, or Master, Wilt, a tall imaginary friends would always lends a hand, Eduardo, an intimidating imaginary friend who's afraid of his own shadow, and Coco, a bird-airplane-plane thing that can only say 'coco'. She also lays plastic eggs that contain all sorts of prizes.
So, which one is superior? I know some of you might disagree with me, but I would have to pick 'Foster's' because it had fluid Flash animation, an organic storyline, and likable characters. Even Bloo can be likable sometimes, despite most of the time acting like a jerk. See you tomorrow when I compare Camp Lazlo to Harvey Beaks!

Cartoon Network vs. Nickelodeon Part 3/10

Battle 3: Invader ZIM vs. The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy

The following is a request from a friend.

Invader ZIM was a short-lived Nicktoon about an alien who wants to take over the world. It was basically a cross between Pinky and the Brain and Courage the Cowardly Dog. It ran from March 2001 to September 2002, and one of the reasons why it was cancelled so quickly was because of its mature themes and scary images, and I don't blame them. One episode had two of the characters slowly turning into bologna!

The more satirical, but sometimes controversial Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy was about two kids: a huge-nosed egg-headed idiot named Billy and a pessimistic noseless brat named Mandy. When Billy's pet hamster Mr. Snuggles nearly dies on his birthday, the Grim Reaper, who apparently has a Jamaican accent, comes to take the hamster's soul. Billy and Mandy challenge the Grim Reaper to a limbo contest and win, forcing the skeleton to become their best friend. The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, or 'Billy and Mandy' for short, is basically South Park for kids. It's filled with pop-culture references and parodies, surreal and sometimes gritty plots, a character who gets either left behind or killed in each episode, and at least one racial/religious stereotype. At the end of 'Billy and Mandy Save Christmas', Billy says "And Happy Hanukkah, too! That's what we have at our house, so we get more presents!"

Which of these do I think is the better show? I know some people will hate me for this, but I'd rather choose Billy and Mandy, because it's not as inappropriate, but sometimes it can be creepy, disgusting, or disturbing. Also, I remember enjoying it more. See you tomorrow when I compare Jimmy Neutron to Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends!

Cartoon Network vs. Nickelodoen Part 2/10

Battle 2: The Ren and Stimpy Show! vs. Cow & Chicken

Ren and Stimpy, along with Doug and The Rugrats, was one of the first-ever Nicktoons to be broadcast. It ran from 1991 to 1995, and starred a psychotic chihuahua named Ren and a kind dim-witted cat named Stimpy. The show was notorious for explicit potty humor, sexual innuendo, adult jokes, and violence. It was censored for numerous reasons, such as a sequence involving a severed head, a close-up of Ren's face being grated by a man's stubble, and a segment of the United States Constitution burning to a crisp. There was even a banned episode of Ren and Stimpy called "Man's Best Friend", which featured violent imagery.

Like The PowerPuff Girls, Cow & Chicken started life as a pilot on What a Cartoon!, and eventually became its own TV show. It ran from 1997 to 1999. Cow & Chicken was a show about a cow named Cow and a chicken named Chicken, who would do all sorts of things, like going back in time and dropping a quarter in the primordial soup, discovering the fabled Grizzly Beaver, and journeying through Cow's four stomachs. Other characters included Mom and Dad, who were only shown from the waist up, Red Guy, a devious naked devil, and Flem and Earl, Chicken's best friends. It was a weird show, having a similar humor to Ren and Stimpy, though not as explicit. Charlie Adler, the voice of Buster Bunny in Tiny Toon Adventures and Ed and Bev Bighead in Rocko's Modern Life, voiced just about everyone in Cow & Chicken.

Now which one do I think is better? Well, since I've only seen like three or four episodes of Ren and Stimpy, and I heard it was disgusting, I have to go with Cow & Chicken. See you tomorrow when I compare The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy to Invader ZIM!

Movie Review: Valiant

Movie Review: Valiant                                                                                                           7-3-16
 

Valiant was the first animated feature from the short-lived animation studio Vanguard, and was about a pint-sized pigeon named Valiant (Ewan McGregor), who wants to become a homing pigeon during World War 2. With the help of a filthy pigeon named Bugsy (Ricky Gervais), Valiant gets into the Royal Homing Pigeon service, meets a ragtag group of pigeons, and sets off on a quest to deliver a message from France to London, while avoiding the evil German falcon General Von Talon (Tim Curry).

I find Valiant criminally underrated; It has only 31% on Rotten Tomatoes. I think it should be a little higher because I think Valiant has, while definitely not Pixar quality, good animation for its time, memorable music from George Fenton, and a stable story. The only characters I personally found interesting, besides the villain Von Talon, of course, were Lofty Worthington, the nerdy red pigeon, and a French mouse named Rollo, who's obsessed with swinging torches.

 

Anyway, Valiant, in my opinion, is a better diversion to Chicken Little, and I advise you to watch it during Memorial Day, since this film is about WW2 pigeons.

Rating: 3 stars out of 5.

Cartoon Network vs. Nickelodeon Part 1/10

Battle 1: The Rugrats vs. The PowerPuff Girls (THE ORIGINAL!)

Throughout July, I will determine which channel is better: Cartoon Network or Nickelodeon. I will compare and contrast 10 Nicktoons to 10 shows from Cartoon Network Studios. First, let's go back to the 90s, back when there were only 4 CGI movies (Toy Story, Antz, A Bug's Life, and Toy Story 2), countless Disney clones/knockoffs, and two groundbreaking Broadway musicals based upon animated Disney movies. Our first two combatants are The Rugrats and The PowerPuff Girls.

Muppet Babies, I mean, The Rugrats, was one of the first three Nicktoons ever created, along with Doug and Ren and Stimpy. Rugrats focused on four babies: Tommy Pickles, Chuckie Finster, and the twins Phil and Lil Daville. They would go on misadventures in various locations, from the projection room of a movie theater to a desert-sized playground. There were also older (single-digit) kids Angelica Pickles, Tommy's cousin, who would normally bully the babies, and African-American Susie Carmichael, who acts as the voice of reason. The show initially ran from 1991 to 1994, but in 1997, because of its extreme popularity, Nickelodeon decided to bring it back for seven more years, along with two successful theatrical movies: The Rugrats Movie in 1998, and Rugrats in Paris in 2000. There was also a spinoff series called All Grown Up, which featured the characters as 10-year-olds, but wasn't as popular.

The PowerPuff Girls started life as a pilot in February of 1995, part of the Cartoon Network anthology series What a Cartoon! Along with other What a Cartoon pilots, The PowerPuff Girls got made into a very popular TV series, which ran from November 1998 to March 2005. The show tells the story of three genetically modified super-powered girls: Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup, who must save the City of Townsville from villains like the diabolical chimp Mojo Jojo, the pink bug-like Fuzzy Lumpkins, the terrifying crab-like Him, and PowerPuff rejectee Princess Morbucks, who's actually a bit similar to Syndrome from The Incredibles. The Powerpuff Girls was popular enough to spawn a feature film, The Powerpuff Girls Movie, released in theaters in 2002. However, it bombed at the box office, maybe because it had to compete against Lilo & Stitch at the time. In April 2016, Cartoon Network rebooted The PowerPuff Girls with new voice actors and no involvement of original series creator Craig McCracken. This show got relatively weaker reviews, and Tara Strong, who voiced Bubbles in the original series, was disappointed that she didn't get recast as Bubbles.

Now what show do I think is better? Well, in this case, you get to decide! In the comments section below, write out your opinion on which show you think is better, and I'll see you next time on July 9th when I compare Cow & Chicken to Ren & Stimpy!

Movie Review: My Girl

Movie Review: My Girl                                                                                                         7-2-16

My Girl is about a young girl named Vada (Anna Chlumsky), who is daughter of Dr. Harry Sultenfuss (Dan Aykroyd). Vada is a tomboy who has a passion for becoming an author and believes she has cancer, but everyone thinks she's fine. The only friend she really has is a ridiculed boy named Thomas J (Macaulay Culkin). Their summer adventures, from first kiss to last farewell, introduces Vada to the world of adolescence. The film is set in the early 1970s, and popular songs from that era can be heard in certain scenes, and it sets the setting and tone of the film quite well. My Girl is an enjoyable and emotional family film that is perfect for the summer.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Movie Review: Brave

Movie Review: Brave                                                                                                              7-1-16
 

Disney•Pixar's Brave is about a Scottish princess named Merida (Kelly Macdonald), who prefers bows over boys. When she has to choose a proper groom to betroth, Merida suggests that they should do archery. During mid-game, Merida interrupts and shoots her own bow. Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson), Merida's mother, gets enraged by this, and Merida runs away into the forest crying. She meets a witch and asks her to change her fate, but instead, turns Elinor into a bear. Now she and Merida have to find a way to return Elinor back to normal before Elinor remains a bear permanently.

I am aware that this is considered Pixar's black sheep, but I have respect for Brave for three reasons.

1. The film was co-directed by Brenda Chapman. This is the lady who co-directed The Prince of Egypt, one of my favorite animated movies of all time. She was also an excellent storyboard artist for Disney movies like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, just to name a few. This explains why Brave has so many similarities to animated Disney movies like Aladdin, Mulan, and Brother Bear.

2. Merida is a character many teenagers can relate to. There have been plenty of times when a teenager had problems with their parents, and Merida's is no exception.

3. This movie was dedicated to Steve Jobs. Along with John Lasseter and Ed Catmull, he is one of the co-founders of Pixar, arguably one of the best animation studios in the world. Jobs also founded the multibillion-dollar company Apple, which many people around the world use. In fact, I type almost all my reviews and stories on my iPod Touch, including this review.

I am aware that Brave doesn't feel like a Pixar film, being sometimes predictable with more potty humor that usual, but maybe some fans were getting tired of 'the Pixar formula'. You don't have to like this movie, but just tell me with a straight face: Of the following four animated features released in 2012, would you rather watch Brave, The Lorax, Ice Age 4, or Foodfight?

Rating: 3 and a half stars out of 5.