#THANK YOU ZACH

[magefelixir]

nothing has ever spoken to me more than the “no thank you, the ocean” presentation as someone who is very afraid of the ocean

[three-headed-monster]

back to camp!

[cryptidstealingyourcreditcard]

why was snotlout so funny in shell shocked part 2

[littlecrittereli]

Hi, I’ve read your Reprogrammed AU story a few months ago, and it was such an AMAZING read. I’m very excited to see how it continues in Decoded 😁

Though I had to ask, if it’s ok with you, on what inspired you to make this?

Aw thank you so much!

The main inspiration for Reprogrammed was actually an episode of Wild Kratts! Specifically S2 E3: Creature Power Challenge.

It's the episode where Zach hacks into the creature power suits in order to force them to change into whatever animal he wants.

The episode is still silly goofy as always, but it really stood out to me in terms of plot potential! They resolve the issue pretty quickly and without consequences, but it just seemed like one of those situations that could have quickly spiraled into something deeper.

Obviously it's a kids show and they cant really explore those scenarios, but that's why fanfiction exists.

It was just interesting to see hints of angst and drama you would find within a more mature series

[creativegenius22]

Happy 10th Anniversary Back In Creature Time!

Thank you to both @kaythefloppa and @jokerislandgirl32 for bringing to my attention that the pivotal Wild Kratts episode Back In Creature Time is 10 years old today!

I remember watching this special with my brother for the first time like it was yesterday! The fact that they had made a two part episode and added the time travel element to the show blew our minds back then! I remember every feeling I had when I first watched this episode, from the awe of the reveal of Aviva’s time trampoline and Zach’s invisibility cloak to the absolute chills I felt when that Zachbot almost incinerated the return pad. And the Kratt brothers were really able to get their message about animal extinction across in a deep and powerful way that has stuck with me since.

I could fan girl so much more about how much I love this episode, but I think I’ll leave it off here! Thank you to the amazing episode Back In Creature Time for giving us such a fun adventure and adding so much more to the plot for us to geek about! Both me and my brother eagerly await the return of the time trampoline in all its glory in a future episode! I for one would love to see them travel back in time once more in another Back In Creature Time!

[merry-kuroo]

No thoughts just Zach Mendez saying Mi Amor and imagining Lucanis saying it to meeeeee AHHHHH

ok I am having lots of thoughts lol

[vexillologyisenjoyable]

I’m normal I’m normal I’m normal

[alyona11]

Ok time for my big Hadestown hot take and that’s that West End Hadestown doesn’t give you a 100% Hadestown experience. It’s still ridiculously good and 100% worth seeing, don’t get me wrong (I used my opportunity and saw it twice and will likely see it again if I’m in London), but it kinda made me realise a couple of things about OBC production that will always be my Roman Empire and make me deeply upset Broadway is too greedy to give us an OBC proshot.

So, here are some of my thoughts and reflections based on seeing Hadestown live on West End + seeing different versions (including London National theatre proshot) in boots. I think you can pretty solidly say that in Hadestown there are 2 main stories: Orpheus/Eurydice and Hades/Persephone. And even though arguably Orphedice is the main most important story, it my opinion it also wins from Hadesphone story being strong. Which works perfectly in OBC due to Amber Gray and Patrick Page delivering a very deep nuanced performances as their characters.

I think part of the success of Hadestown when it works on its fullest is how it creates a very deep emotional journey. And I feel that regardless which pair of Orpheus and Eurydice you have (if we take Broadway/tour/West End take on the characters) it’ll still work! Like you need to try really hard to mess up orphedice the way people wouldn’t root for Orpheus or wouldn’t empathise with Eurydice because they are so relatable and cute. You instantly love them, they are so so lovable. So orphedice part is one thing in Hadestown that imo works if not always then in 99% of the cases.

Hades and Persephone’s part of the story in the contrary is VERY hard to nail on 100%, in my opinion, and this is literally driving me crazy. Maybe seeing Amber Gray and Patrick page in professional recording awoken some feelings in me, I don’t know. I will state straight away that I also do enjoy other actors’ takes on characters and I do see some very interesting character moments there and there. However, I keep returning to the thought that Amber/Patrick’s characterisation works SO WELL for the main narrative. I’ll try to explain why I think so. Consider it my love letter to the OBC.

First and foremost, I feel like Hadesphone story has a very fine dynamic that the actors have to nail, so you would feel that: 1) these two still love each other; 2) these two are buried under their problems and see no way out, only a miracle (aka Orpheus and his song) can save their marriage.

And if the first one usually works at least due to Epic 3, the second one, imo, often (at least partially) falls victim to acting/directing choices which can cause troubles with point 1 as well. I think one big thing I’ve noticed is that often Persephone’s alcoholism gets forgotten in the acting performance. Like yeah sure her choreography includes drinking from a flask but in comparison to Amber you never get a feeling that she is absolutely wasted. Which, is in my opinion something that you should feel when you’re watching the show and something I was constantly forgetting about when I was watching the show on West End. I feel in Amber’s performance you can constantly see that her Persephone’s feel good attitude is a façade of a broken person who knows that her marriage is going to hell in front of her eyes yet she is too passive and hopeless to try to make an active change (well, she does try in Chant and nothing happens), so her only way is to chase the sense of normality that the “medicine” gives her. But when she is alone, if you get to catch a moment when people are not looking at her, you can see a deep sadness under her positive front and her memory of the old days when everything was more simple. Nevertheless, the main point that the lyrics literally say is that Persephone is blinded by the river of wine. And this is crucial to her character and her relationship with Hades because the story states that even though Hades is a problem and he is an active actor in creating more problems, he is not the only failure in this relationship. Persephone needs to be woken up from her apathy almost as much as Hades does and this is something that we see during If It’s True.

From Hades’ side I feel like it’s not a good decision to make him a total villain because when he is irredeemable you don’t feel like the whole “song that will fix the world” has any chance of working long term. I think Patrick nailed a deep antagonist very well. His Hades is weird and lowkey creepy and alien. He does objectively bad things but when you look at him you can’t stop thinking that he doesn’t operate in regular human logic or morality. When I look at him in Chant, it feels to me that his words about building stuff to impress Persephone are absolutely sincere, and I can absolutely see that his Hades doesn’t understand why she is so upset about it when his intentions are so so clear. Maybe it’s my vision but even before Epic 3 when he is so far gone and buried in his projects and messed up ideas I don’t have a single doubt that Persephone is a single motivator and goal of Patrick Hades’ life and that he literally doesn’t need any other being to care about. And tragically this fixation is what makes him blind to all other things he does even if those things ruin Persephone’s life (and other people’s but tbh I don’t think he cares).

I feel like by removing Persephone’s Chant 2 verse Hadestown created more problems for Hades and Persephone part of the story making it a much harder job for the actors to prove to the audience that Hades and Persephone have a chance to make their relationship work. Like I get that maybe it was a necessary things to do (even though I think the show is much better with it) but it made it so much harder to empathise with this particular part of the story unless the actors use the choices that work in the narrative. Because for example when I was watching the show on West End part of me was wondering “what is Persephone’s deal in all of that, what does she win by staying with Hades?” With the verse, and with Broadway Previews or London 2018 in particular this part was clear: Persephone still loves Hades and believes that he has the opportunity to change and become a better man he used to be. Without the verse, however, the actors should give you the same idea during the show which is a hard task considering Hades and Persephone have only 2 big conversations together (Chant and How Long). So apart from those songs there are only subtle mostly silent moments they get together through which the actors have to convey the same thought which is hella difficult and probably hardly will be appreciated by anyone apart from the people who sit closely.

So, maybe because in the actor combo I saw (Zachary and Lauren), I got a feeling that even though they were great separately, I didn’t feel much chemistry between them as a pair. I think, Persephone seemed pissed and tired of Hades all the time until How Long and I didn’t feel that she still believes in his willingness to change. And Zach Hades despite being entertaining, kinda gives the impression of Hades who has other options, he is not into Persephone enough. The only sparkle appears between the two in Epic III which is still cute but I’m not sure if it works just as well if that’s the first time you see the show? Also considering Zach Hades gives more malicious intent in His Kiss, The Riot it seems that he is not even slightly interested in Orpheus having any opportunity to succeed with his quest. Which is not bad, don’t get me wrong! But in comparison to Patrick who is deeply self projecting into Orpheus to the point where you could see that even though he doesn’t want to let him go, part of him does because it would prove he too could succeed in his challenge of waiting for Persephone, this take seems a bit lacking. And overall because of His Kiss, their promise in Wait For Me doesn’t seem as giving much hope that the story won’t repeat itself next Sunday. Which in its turn makes Orpheus’ sacrifice feel a bit… worthless. If on Broadway, when Orpheus turns, but spring comes again you feel like it is the start of something new: hopefully a kinder and softer time. On West End the show also wants you to feel it but when you think about Hades and Persephone you feel…less certainty that this sacrifice will have a long term effect?

I guess the creators wanted to concentrate on Orpheus and Eurydice more and forget about Hades and Persephone by making them more secondary story or maybe there was a lack of director’s involvement to give the cast some hints on how to make this particular part of the story work better, but it feels to me that in its current state the show works in its 85% power which is still great but once you know there is something missing you can’t stop thinking about it and wishing the show would give you those 15% you crave.

[jokerislandgirl32]

you don’t have to post these, i just didn’t want to spam dms

but i went on ziolet picrew spree

i can send you the links later if you’d like :)

Oh my goodness!!!! You totally could have DMed this to me (I am fine with spam 😊), but these are such a welcome surprise in my inbox! You don’t know how much I love these Eli! Thank you so much dude! These were just what I needed during a few very hard days. I kept looking at them and they just helped to keep me smiling! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Picrews are one of my favorite things, and you have found some amazing ones here, and did them for Ziolet 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹???? I’m so touched by this! Each one is amazing!!!! Please send me the links if you do not mind, I’d love to try these for some of my other selfships too! These are some fantastic Picrews!

[onionninjasstuff]

(yadda yadda insert something poetic about not needing ur attention just enjoying ur company)

sounds like u have a lot on your plate right now. please, take this to add in your quest!

[received item: Scrugly Muppet Companion. looks like a child's first sewing project that got left in rain. has no stat buffs or effects, but its thoughtless eyes rattle around amusingly when shaken. in battle, it flings itself at enemies for -0 damage, with a 2% chance of Confusion.]

kick ass out there archie!!! 💛

oh nuh uh uh you cant be cat-coded on ur own. lets be eepy and cat-coded together 💛

[hadeljoshi]

i feel like a victorian man seeing an ankle for the first time

[kentjohnson91]

I made the florida man memes again

(if you’re confused scroll back on my account a few posts and you’ll find it)

This was mostly for my favorite mutual 🤭: @contestingpoise

[robynator]

the fish get unfathomably fucked

[cryptidstealingyourcreditcard]

i’ve gotten into the habit of thanking zach pearlman for every little thing that goes right (getting a green light while driving, drawing something good first try, etc.) so sometimes i’ll just randomly look up at the sky and whisper “thank you zach pearlman” and i think that’s beautiful

[fountainpenguin]

hello! I've been reading your fop fanfics for around a week now, and I wanna say that your worldbuilding has some of the most impressive ones I've ever seen for a preexisting IP. you made excel sheets, charts, indepth character bios including species and timelines and etc etc ITS SO GOOD Ive been going crazy over them. also as someone who's been enjoying the pixies recently and planning stuff with them with my own oc story, your worldbuilding with them is so awesome. so good. I really really like it MOSTLY BECAUSE IM PIXIE-HEADED RIGHT NOW BUT YOUR FICS OF THEM AND EXPLANATIONS AND SPECIES BIO KEEPS ROTATING IN MY MIND I LOVE IT. I LOVE THE PIXIES!!!!! I LOVE THOSE SILLY BLOCK CREATURES to the point I've been rereading your class overview of them three times. I love you pixies. also I may have taken inspirations from your species bio or have it in my mind subconsciously while writing my own pixie oc (and more yet to come) like their defining character traits, how they do relationships, etc etc. nothing too big ofc but it's really great that it imprinted on my brain

I'm still a newcomer here and yet to know more in-depth about your universe, but with the amount of posts you have made, I believe I'll be sticking around for more :) thank you!

Thank you!!! I'm glad you like my 'fics and posts. Many, many, many hours of work have gone into my worldbuilding over the last 9 years and I appreciate your appreciation!

I'm glad the Pixies are getting more acknowledgement these days! They're my favorites... I'm happy to see them get a boost in love even though they didn't make it into New Wish Season 1 <3

Here's a Sigfried for you- I like his tie clip :)

I like his fancy crown hat too.

Thanks again for your kind words!

Links for anyone interested in checking out my FOP work & trying to find their preferred way to explore:

#FAIRIES! - My blog tag for FOP content

📕 Easy AO3 Series Navigation - Customize your reading by subscribing to the arcs / characters you like

✨ Worldbuilding Sideblog Masterpost - Lore galore!

🟪 Class Overview: Pixies - Mentioned in this ask

☁️ Cloudlands AU Guide

🌃 City Lights AU Guide

🗄️ Reedfilter Rules AU Guide

🌈 'Fic summaries page

🚂 130 Reasons Why I'm Fairy Trash summaries page

[creativegenius22]

Family portrait commission for @jokerislandgirl32 of Violet, Zach, and their lovely children!

This piece was definitely a challenge because I’ve never drawn Wild Kratts kids before! I hope I did your little ones justice! The Violet Varm family is so sweet and gorgeous! I had a blast bringing them to life! I hope you love the piece as much as I loved making it for you!