Olaf Presents Mulan

Olaf: Presenting Mulan. (gong rings while the Snowgies push the title card away)

Mulan! Olaf: I'm going to see the matchmaker and make my family proud!

(Cut to Matchmaker! Olaf with a teapot)

Matchmaker! Olaf: Now, pour the tea.

(Cut to Mulan! Olaf pouring the tea, only for Bruni, playing Cri-Kee, to pop out)

Matchmaker! Olaf: Aah! A bug! (Bruni sets Olaf on fire) Now I'm on fire! (Kristoff from offscreen throws a bucket of water at Matchmaker! Olaf) Thanks, Kristoff. You will never bring your family honor!

(Cut to Mulan! Olaf near walls of ice, where he sees his reflection)

Mulan! Olaf: Who is that girl I see, staring straight back at me?

(Cut to Shi-Fu! Olaf on top of Sven)

Shi-Fu! Olaf: The Huns have invaded China! One man from each family will serve in the army.

(Cut to Mulan! Olaf tugging on Sven's right hind leg)

Mulan! Olaf: No! You shouldn't have to go. I'm gonna take your place in the army so you won't get killed! (Runs offscreen)

(Cut to Grandma Fa! Olaf waking up)

Grandma Fa! Olaf: Mulan is gone! Ancestors, hear our prayers.

(Cut to Mushu! Olaf waking up)

Mushu! Olaf: I LIVE!!! Tell me who needs our help, Head Ancestor!

Marshmallow (playing the Head Ancestor): Awaken the Great Stone Dragon!

Mushu! Olaf: But I'm a dragon!

Marshmallow: No, you're not! Awaken the real dragon!

(Cuts to Mushu! Olaf near a giant dragon ice sculpture)

Mushu! Olaf: Hello? Hello?! (chips off the dragon's ear, and it shatters) That's just great, now what?

Bruni: Squeak!

Mushu! Olaf: That's it! I'll make Mulan into a war hero, and they'll be begging me to get back to work!

(Cut to Mulan! Olaf outside a sign that says 'camp ahead')

Mulan! Olaf: It's gonna take a miracle to get me into the army.

(Cut to Mushu! Olaf casting a shadow)

Mushu! Olaf: Did I hear someone ask for a miracle? Let me hear you say "Aaah!"

(Cut to Mulan! Olaf screaming, and then back to Mushu! Olaf)

Mushu! Olaf: That's close enough!

(Cut to Mulan! Olaf)

Mulan! Olaf: My ancestors sent me a lizard?

(Cut to Mushu! Olaf)

Mushu! Olaf: Dragon, no lizard. I don't do the tongue thing. (flicks tongue)

(Cut to Shang! Olaf with a bow and arrow)

Shang! Olaf (fires the arrow at a tall mound of snow): Whoever shall retrieve the arrow will be an official soldier.

(Cut to Mulan! Olaf holding a poll, knocking over Snowgies, playing soldiers, and then cut back to Shang! Olaf)

Shang! Olaf: You're all pathetic! How can I make a man out of you?

(Cut to Mulan! Olaf climbing the mound and retrieving the arrow)

Mulan! Olaf: I got the arrow! Does that mean I can fight the Huns?

(Cut to Shi-Fu! Olaf)

Shi-Fu! Olaf: Absolutely not! Once the Emperor sees my report, your troops will never see battle! (turns around to see Sven, and he screams like a girl) A panda! That's a bad omen!

(Cut to Mulan! Olaf and the Snowgies singing)

Mulan! Olaf: What do we want? A girl worth fighting for! Look, some soldiers.

(Cut to Olaf solemnly with his back turned)

Olaf: The soldiers they find are all dead.

(Cut to Sven, playing Shan Yu, charging towards Mulan! Olaf)

Mulan! Olaf (holding a snowball): Eat snow, Shan Yu! (throws the ball at Sven, but nothing happens) Effects please, Elsa! (Elsa offscreen summons snow that engulfs Sven and Mulan! Olaf)

(Cut to Shi-Fu! Olaf holding a Snowgie)

Shi-Fu! Olaf: I knew there's something wrong with this soldier! A woman. Shang, kill her.

Shang! Olaf (drops an ice sword): A life for a life. My debt is repaid.

Mulan! Olaf: I'm all alone in the snow. At least Shan Yu is dead. (Sven arises from the snow and screams) Gotta warn Shang!

(Cut to Mulan! Olaf on a rocking horse)

Mulan! Olaf: Shang! The Huns have survived the avalanche!

(Cut to Shang! Olaf with Sven right behind him)

Shang! Olaf: Like I believe a girl. (Sven appears and kicks Olaf)

(Cut to Sven confronting Mulan! Olaf)

Olaf: (moving Sven's lips like a puppet) Looks like you're out of ideas.

(Cut to Mulan! Olaf holding a sword)

Mulan! Olaf: Not quite! Are you ready, Mushu?

(Cut to Mushu! Olaf with bat wings)

Mushu! Olaf: I am ready, baby! Okay, Bruni. (throws a wooden reindeer into the air) Now!

(Bruni spits fire on the toy, and it bursts into flames)

Olaf: Shan Yu dies! For real, this time!

(Cut to Emperor! Olaf)

Emperor! Olaf: Mulan. You destroyed my palace, but it was awesome. You have saved us all.

(Cut to Mulan! Olaf holding the ice sword)

Mulan! Olaf: I'm a war hero, and I gave my family honor!

Mushu! Olaf: And I'm a Guardian again! (howls with delight)

THE END

Once again, here's concept art courtesy of Emmy Pflugh.

Emmy really nailed Mushu! Olaf's design.

Woodchips for a moustache was a nice touch.

I didn't expect Marshmallow to hold a six-foot-tall ice staff, but if Elsa can create an entire palace out of ice, why not a few props?

I told Emmy on purpose to design the Great Stone Dragon after Susu from Raya and the Last Dragon. I made this decision because I wanted to make fun of how viewers thought that Sisu looked like an 'Elsa fursona'.

Stay tuned for next week when Olaf retells the tale as old as time that would be the first animated movie to get the Oscar nomination for Best Picture: Beauty and the Beast!

Once again, here's a link to Emmy's website.

The Autistic Animator's Desk – Emmy Pflugh (wordpress.com)

Olaf Presents Snow White

Hi, everybody! For the next five weeks or so, I'll do something different. Do any of you know the hilarious Disney+ series Olaf Presents?

Well, in this show, Olaf of Frozen fame reenacts five different Disney movies: The Little Mermaid, Moana, The Lion King, Tangled, and Aladdin. It only takes about 10 minutes to watch every episode, and I highly recommend it.

Anyway, each week starting today, I will post a script for a proposed episode. This week, I'll share how I think Olaf would reinterpret Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Emmy Pflugh, who did the illustrations for Finding Bailey, has generously volunteered to do illustrations for my scripts. Without further ado, here's Olaf Presents Snow White!

Olaf: Presenting Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Grimhilde! Olaf: Magic mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?

Marshmallow (popping out of the snow): Snow White is!

(Cut to Snow White! Olaf near a hole in the ice)

Snow White! Olaf: I'm wishing by the wishing well!

(Cut back to Grimhilde! Olaf)

Grimhilde! Olaf: Huntsman! (gives Sven a pointy rock) Kill Snow White and rip out her heart!

(Cut to Snow White! Olaf near a pile of leaves)

Snow White! Olaf: La la la la la. (Sven appears) Oh no! (Sven looks at Snow White! Olaf, and he can't bare to kill her) What's that? Run away and never return? Why does that sound familiar?

(Cut to Snow White! Olaf behind a bunch of branches)

Snow White! Olaf (now in the forest with Bruni, playing a baby bird): With a smile and a song!

Bruni: Squeak, squeak!

Snow White! Olaf: What's that? There's a house that belongs to strangers, but it's empty right now?

(Cut to Snow White! Olaf and Sven cleaning up the Dwarf's cottage)

Snow White! Olaf: Whistle while you work! Deedle-ee Dee dee dee dee. Even though you're vermin that carry diseases!

(Cut to the Snowgies, playing the Dwarfs, working in the mine)

Olaf (offscreen): We dig all day in our mine and unearth precious jewels, but we don't spend a shilling!

(Cut to the Snowgies sneaking upon Snow White! Olaf sleeping)

Snow White! Olaf: Hi, little men! Can I stay with you until my evil stepmom is done looking for me? (Snowgie squeaks in agreement) Thank you so much!

(Cut to Grimhilde! Olaf in the castle)

Grimhilde! Olaf: WHAT?! A pig's heart?! Guess I'll have to kill Snow White myself, (picking up an apple) with this poison apple!

(Cut to Snow White! Olaf dancing with Snowgies stacked on each other)

Snow White! Olaf: Yodel a-hee-hee Yodel a-hee-hee!

(Cut to Snow White! Olaf on a stool)

Snow White! Olaf: Some day my prince will come...

(Cut to Grimhilde! Olaf attempting to give Snow White the apple)

Grimhilde! Olaf: One bite from this apple, and all your dreams will come true!

Snow White! Olaf: I judge your good intentions. (takes a bite out of the apple) Oh no! I feel weak!

(Cut to Olaf solemnly with his back turned)

Olaf: Snow White is dead.

(Cuts to Grimhilde! Olaf with a stick on the ground)

Grimhilde! Olaf: Now I'm the fairest in the land! (Snowgie charge towards Grimhilde! Olaf) What? Are you here to avenge Snow White's death?

(Cuts to Grimhilde! Olaf trying to push a rock onto the Snowgies)

Grimhilde! Olaf: I'll crush you all! (Gale blows Grimhilde! Olaf away, making him scream)

Florian! Olaf: Oh, look! (looks at Sven playing dead) A girl lying dead in a coffin. I wonder if she's under a spell. (kisses Sven, and he spits in disgust)

(Cuts to Snow White! Olaf with Sven by his side)

Snow White! Olaf: I'm alive! Now I can inherit my dead mom's throne, become queen, and marry a prince I just met!

THE END

As promised, here's concept art from Emmy Pflugh.

These look like something straight out of an 'Art of' book!

I love how Emmy gave the Snowgies distinct personalities, despite the fact that they all look the same with no clothes on.

Please check her out on Instagram, Facebook, and her website below!

The Autistic Animator's Desk – Emmy Pflugh (wordpress.com)

Tune in next week when I'll share a script for Olaf's version of the movie that gave the rise to the likes to Rapunzel, Moana, and even though she's not as loved, Raya: Mulan!

Movie Review: Lightyear

Movie Review: Lightyear                                                                                                     6-17-22

Lightyear tells the story of an astronaut named Buzz Lightyear. One day, Buzz and his friend Alisha Hawthorne explore the planet Tikata Prime, only for it to be infested with giant bugs and man-strangling vines, but Star Command decides to set up a camp there anyway. One day, while testing a space shuttle around Tikata Prime with the robot cat Sox, Buzz has been gone for four years, and Alisha is already engaged. Regardless, Buzz continues to test the planet’s crystallic fuel for a few more decades, and Buzz hasn’t aged a bit. When Buzz arrives back, Tikata Prime has been invaded by an army of robots lead by Emperor Zurg. Now, to save the planet, Buzz and Sox have to team up with a rag-tag trio of space cadets, including Alisha’s granddaughter Izzy Hawthorne, and infiltrate Zurg’s ship.

While the story may not be up to par with other Pixar films, Lightyear is another top-notch movie with animation that has gone a long way since Toy Stories 1 and 2, likable new characters, top-notch voice acting, and a good score from veteran Pixar composer Michael Giaccino.

Buzz and Sox are ready for takeoff.

As well as paying homage to the previous Toy Story movies, Lightyear also takes inspiration from other well-known sci-fi movies, such as Planet of the Apes, 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Matrix, and of course, Star Wars.

Buzz and Sox traveling at the speed of light in the same fashion as 2001: A Space Odyssey.

If I were to complain about one thing, I felt that some story elements were a smidge confusing, which is often the case with science fiction movies. I also feel bad that they didn’t include Buzz’s karate chop action that was established as early as Toy Story 1.

In conclusion, Lightyear stands out as perhaps the best animated spinoff movie since The LEGO Batman Movie that I strongly recommend seeing in theaters. I just don’t want the movie to be a box-office flop, as Pixar’s last theatrical movie, Onward, was a box-office disaster, and their next three films would be streaming-exclusives. When DreamWorks had four box-office failures almost in a row during the early 2010s, they had to shut down PDI, lay off hundreds of employees, and cancel several projects that had promising potential, such as BOO, Me and My Shadow, and Mumbai Musical.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5.

Movie Review: Stuart Little 2

Movie Review: Stuart Little 2                                                                                                       5-15-22

In the sequel to the 1999 surprise hit Stuart Little, our favorite non-cartoon mouse is now happily settled into the Little family, and there’s a new member in the family in the form of a baby girl named Martha. George also has a new friend named Will, which can make Stuart a little lonely. On day, Stuart finds a stranded canary named Margalo (voice of Melanie Griffith) crash into his car. The Littles immediately befriend Margalo, but little do they know that their new feathered friend is actually a pickpocket who’s the underling of a falcon who wants to eat everyone smaller than him.

Stuart Little 2 is a rare sequel that lives up to its predecessor with a bigger scope, bigger stakes, better visual effects from Sony Pictures Imageworks, and a story with a good message about friendship and not giving up.

Stuart stuck in a soccer net after a big game.

James Woods also does a good job voicing Falcon, the movie’s avian villain. Even the cats are afraid of him!

While the movie got good reviews from critics, Stuart Little 2 was unfortunately a financial failure, as it had to compete against Lilo & Stitch and Men in Black 2 at the box-office.

In conclusion, Stuart Little 2 is another great family film, even if it is a little short.

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5.

Once again, I'm so sorry that my review is shorter than usual. I'm 75% sure that my review of Lightyear will be longer than my review of Stuart Little 2!

Finding Bailey Sketches

I've had the privilege to ask the super-talented Ohio-based artist Emmy Pflugh to do some concept sketches for Finding Bailey, and even though she never drew Bailey the beluga before, her art looks like something that came off the same desk as Ralph Eggleston, Steve Pilcher, and Don Shank!

As you can see, these are sketches of Bailey and Dory in Chapter 1, with our beluga friend under the weather, since he's in the wrong habitat.

You can find more of Emmy's amazing work on her website, The Autistic Animator's Desk. Much like me, she loves Disney and Pixar. She's also a Harry Potter fan, so expect some fan art of the Wizarding World.

The Autistic Animator's Desk – Emmy Pflugh (wordpress.com)

This page will be edited as time goes on, so stay tuned!

As for what I have next on my blog, I will review Stuart Little 2 in May (as I promised in my review of Stuart Little 1), Lightyear in June (unless it gets either pushed to a later date or becomes a Disney+ exclusive), Megamind and The Sea Beast (an upcoming Netflix-exclusive CGI film directed by Disney veteran Chris Williams) in July, and DC League of Super-Pets in August. I might even post a remake of one of my older stories, but we'll just have to wait.

UPDATE! 5-7-22: Here's a sketch Emmy did of Dory, Hank, and Bailey encountering Fluke and Rudder outside the Marine Life Institute. As you can see, Bailey is upset because the staff might still be looking for him.

UPDATE! 5-10-22: Here's a drawing of Destiny along with Bruce's gang, including the new character Murray. I personal feel that Emmy made him look like Flotsam and Jetsam from Th Little Mermaid, but nobody's perfect.

UPDATE! 5-19-22: Here's a drawing for Chapter 5 of Gerald scooping up the Tank Gang (minus Gurgle and Peach) with his pail, since his previous 'treasures' were taken by MLI conservationists.

UPDATE! 5-26-22: Here's an illustration for Chapter 4 of Hank saving Dory and a school of tuna from a fisherman's net. I told Emmy that I wanted the fishermen to be caricatured after John Ratzenburger and Peter Sohn, who I imagine would voice the fishermen.

UPDATE! 6-1-22: Here's an illustration of Bailey and Hank watching Dory speak whale. I felt that the orca looked like a blue whale, but Emmy told me it was a silhouette as a parallel to a similar scene in Finding Nemo.

UPDATE! 6-9-22: Here's Bailey arrived at Glacial Bay National Park with Hank and Dory in his flippers. I am happy with how Kanaaq the fox and Qimmiq the seal looked.

UPDATE! 6-14-22: This final picture has Nuka the falcon flying towards California with a bucket containing Dory and Hank.

Once again, sketches belong to Emmy Pflugh. Used with permission.

Movie Review: The Bad Guys

Movie Review: The Bad Guys                                                                                                       4-23-22

In a world where anthropomorphic animals live alongside human beings, there are five of the most skilled and notorious criminals in Los Angelas: Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos), and Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina). One day, however, they got caught trying to steal the coveted Dolphin Award. Once they’re arrested, Mr. Wolf suggests to his fellow bad guys that if they pretend to be good guys, they could steal the Award for real. With the help of Guinea pig scientist Dr. Rupert Marmalade (Richard Ayoade), the Bad Guys try to be good, but Mr. Wolf soon realizes the difference between being good and acting out a rouse.

The Bad Guys poses a challenge for DreamWorks: Can they make a good movie without Jeffrey Katzenburg that isn’t a sequel? Turns out that they can! The Bad Guys is another jewel in DreamWorks’s crown with a unique animation style that challenges the medium, a story that both makes fun of and pays homage to heist films (similar to how Shrek made fun of fairytales and how Megamind made fun of superheroes), and engaging characters that rest on the same shelf as Shrek, Moses, Po, Hiccup, and George Beard and Harold Hutchins.

Mr. Shark stealing the Mona Lisa disguised as the Mona Lisa.

Another thing I appreciate is how colorful the film is, despite the fact that the books that it’s based upon are black-and-white. I also like how they changed Mr. Tarantula into a girl, who was originally a boy in the books.

Mr. Tarantula as he appears in the books.

In conclusion, The Bad Guys is the best film DreamWorks has put out since Captain Underpants, which was also adapted from a series of children’s books. I even think it’s better than Turning Red, though it’s just my opinion.

If any of you kids at home want to read the books that inspired the movie, go ahead! However, the books have a gritty art style reminiscent of Rick & Morty and a sense of humor and writing style similar to Dav Pilkey. Also, in the same fashion as Kung Fu Panda and Zootopia, animals take the place of humans in the books.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Finding Bailey Chapter 8

Not too soon later, Hank and Dory followed Kannaq to the beach, where a mighty falcon was waiting.

“So this is what Nebraska feels like.” Said Dory.

“You mean Alaska.” Said Kannaq. “Your beluga told us about you two, and how you traveled all the way from Australia to return him to Alaska. That was very brave of you, but also very dangerous. My friend Qimmiq the seal told Nuka the falcon about you while you were sleeping, and he will carry you as far as California, and you’ll have to travel the rest yourself. Is that okay?”

“Oh, sure!” Said Hank. “But does this bird eat fish and octopi?”

“Not really.” Answered Kannaq. “He usually eats mice and smaller birds.” Soon enough, the trio saw Bailey, Qimmiq, and Nuka at the beach.

“Bye, Barely. I mean, Bailey.” Said Dory. “I’ll never forget you!”

“And in case you do,” Bailey joked. “Hank can help you remember!”

“Okay!” Said Dory. “Where’s Luca? I’m ready to go home!”

“It’s Nuka.” Said the falcon. “And I prefer to be called Nukilik. It means strong in Inuit. Get in the bucket, octopus.”

“Alright.” Said Hank, placing himself in the bucket. “But I’ve never flown before.” Nukilik carried the bucket with Dory and Hank inside and flew off to Alaska.

-------------------------------------------------------

Three days have passed, and while the Tank gang, who have finally returned to the wild, were having a blast in the reef, Marlin was starting to get worried.

“It’s been nearly a week!” He said. “What could’ve happened to Dory? What if she ended up at a restaurant?!”

“Dad, calm down.” Said Nemo. “This is Dory we’re talking about. From what I heard, she’s capable of doing anything. Outwitting sharks, battling jellyfish, speaking to whales, and even driving a truck, whatever that is.”

“I know that.” Said Marlin. “But losing Dory would be like….losing your mother.” Nemo just floated there silently and looked at the Tank Gang interacting with other fish. Tad, Sheldon, and Pearl were playing volleyball with Bloat, much to his dismay, Bubbles was amazed at bubbles coming out of a sponge, Jaques was cleaning the teeth of a potato cod, Gil was talking to Destiny, who finally stopped eating other fish, and Deb was trying to find Flo.

“She’ll come back, Marlin.” Charlie assured Marlin. As if on cue, Dory and Hank arrived from the dropoff.

“Did anyone miss us?” Hank asked.

“DORY!” Everyone shouted, and they all crowded the regal tang.

“So, you’re the friend of Shark-Bait.” Said Gil.

“Shark-Bait?” Dory asked.

“Oh, that was my nickname from when I was in Sydney.” Explained Nemo.

“I’m so happy that everyone is safe and sound.” Said Marlin. “Please don’t leave the reef ever again.”

“I won’t.” Said Dory. “Because if there’s one thing that I will always remember, it’s my friends and family. You, Harpo, my parents, Frank, Density, and Mr. Ray.” She then pointed at Mr. Ray’s students. Not to mention you, you, you, you, and you.”

“Don’t forget Flo!” Said Deb. As if on cue, a mirror sank to the bottom of the ocean. “Oh, there you are, Flo!” Everyone laughed as Deb reunited with ‘Flo’.

THE END

Author’s Notes: The ending of this story with a falcon carrying Dory and Hank back to Australia in a bucket is inspired by the children’s book ‘Little Polar Bear’ by Hans de Beer. In this story, a polar bear cub named Lars washes up on a tropical island and meets a hippo named Henry. At first, Lars is amazed at his new surroundings, but soon misses his home in the North Pole. The next day, Henry tells his friend Marcus the eagle about Lars, and Marcus arranges a trip back home for Lars on the back of an orca named Samson. Samson brings Lars home back to his loving father, but Lars will never forget his adventure in the jungle.

Before I finish the story, I'd like to show a picture of a potato cod.