#and i think that is a fun but subtle choice for the marketing team to have made for the character | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

lesbiancarat · 3 years ago

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Haha its fine! Im book anon for a reason so take all the time you need! Before I start, I wanna apologize for the possible asks you got about the merch and hybe in general. I didn't intend to cause stress and need to be careful bdjahdsj so slap me with a fish!

Onto the ask! But agreed, I mean before the big kpop boom we saw, this was very common. Build a decent fanbase and then move to Japan or China. (Of course sometimes you see INSTANT movement in other countries but that depends on the company and such but you know what I mean) but since we do have the more global kpop era, we may see more companies do America which isn't a bad thing. It makes sense buisness wise so they will jump on it after debut or something. Thus I don't see it a bad thing for kpop groups to promote in America because hey, if in Korea they do sell western artist music who also tour there, kpop groups can also do the same ya know?

Now onto the hybe comment, I will try not to speak too much on it so I will try to summarize. I think my theory is due with merch from their main artist, they think maybe it could work with svt which maybe could but svt has a different fanbase so throwing on random merch won't make fans really want to buy (not saying some won't which kudos to you! As a fan you are allowed to consume what you please except not be a bad apple about it) so thus like the infamous water bottles which was done for bts, they thought why not do it for svt because bts fans sold it out apparently for a 2nd wave of it being sold again. (Which to this day idk why someone in the hybe team thought this was smart. Like...this is just in bad taste imo) I do wanna agree that it appears that hybe doesn't seem to have a proper art team for svt because while sometimes wild, I do know for their main artist they do have thoughtful merch based around say an album concept I recall. Kf course they will make mistakes i.e. the water bottles. I do wish it can improve because even though it is capitalism, I think fans do want decent merch. We have seen interesting ideas like svt making their own magazine and selling it lol. Of course it is hard to please because some fans want subtle merch ideas while others don't mind the vibrant pastel colors we got or some want wild ideas like svt figurines or something. Overall I hope I didn't drag this too much as I just wanted to respond back to you, I agree with many points you said so yeah cx I say let's also wait as this is barely what, a year or even less of svt being under hybe properly. Especially when hybe had its rebranding and expanding so things are being changed, I know fans are worried about this which is valid but let's not panic just yet. Let's come back in a year to this and see what has improved and what hasn't. (OK but peldis sold the boys rings!? :o since when!? I haven't heard of this actually, when did this happen if I may ask?)

Oof yeah sadly with streaming, many view "oh you don't stream it means you aren't a fan" when isn't the case (which is why I personally don't like when certain companies also do "listening parties" which seems a bit ???) I do remember this popped up big in 2017 but many fans called it out so it quiet down a bit. Like we didn't see it so often where fans were causing problems over it so idk why this returned nor what the cause of it was.

But thank you!! It really was a nice closing chapter, I think when I have personal stuff settled I will try maybe get a new bunny? And oohh congrats on the album! (Note to hybe or pledis. Please make the us store a more common thing, it makes things so much easier! Am happy it was at your place quick so kudos to the us store. Oohh wonderful choices! I think for many fans anyone or heaven's cloud seems to be the popular picks? For me, I may have to say game boi or heaven's cloud as well! Those songs make me just so happy? Like game boy is just so creative with the way it was made. As a video game nerd, it is perfection. I could make an essay about this song lol and heaven's cloud is just...wow. I feel so at ease with the song, comfortable and soothed. Like you are on a cloud lol. Also that is totally fine! Rtl was a grower for me (I blame the mv, it didn't do the song jusitice) but it is a bop and can't stop humming the chorus at random moments. Overall a great summer album. Just imagine any of these songs performed live ndjansns

lol don't feel too bad about it! honestly they weren't that bad + i can always delete asks if i really don't want to answer them, i just always get a bit paranoid that things will get out of hand so i may end up getting more serious in those situations OTL

and yeah i agree! i don't think it's a bad thing for groups to promote in the US, as you said, it's similar to groups expanding their fanbase by promoting in china or Japan or other asian counties, it makes sense from a business standpoint and there's nothing wrong with promoting in different countries. i just wish that some kpop stans understood that western and/or global popularity is a bonus and not a requirement for success. while they do have a global appeal, at the end of the day kpop's main audience is korea, and groups that achieve popularity in Korea have already achieved what they set out to do. but there's unfortunately a decent chunk of international fans that prioritize western popularity over anything and can't fathom that a group can be successful without being popular in the US. or they just talk as if their groups western achievements are more valuable than their Korean ones and to me that starts to look like xenophobia... (sorry if I'm repeating anything i said before in regards to this, i feel like i am but I'm too lazy to go back and check OTL)

since you sent this ask hybe released the caratland merch which was actually really nice, and today they also announced that there will be birthday merch for cheol (and presumably all members from here on out). we don't know what the bday merch is yet but some carats are already a bit miffed that hybe is even thinking to capitalize off the boys' birthdays... i bring both of these up bc i feel like the caratland merch proves your point that hybe is capable of designing good and thoughtful merch, and honestly this does reassure me a bit. but on the other hand them trying to capitalize off the boys' birthdays also proves that they still don't fully understand carats wants and priorities as a fanbase. which, if the future of seventeens merch is gonna be quality merch with some shitty cash grabs in between, i can live with that. I'm not gonna like the shitty cash grabs and i think it would be in our best interest as a fandom to not go crazy buying those shitty cash grabs, because if we don't then hybe will hopefully stop wasting their time and put more effort into /quality/. but if we get quality merch for important events like concerts and fanmeetings, i can live with it. as you said too, it can take time for these things to change, and we should all recognize that. but at the same time merch specifically is market driven, so i don't think it's a bad thing if people like @ hybe on twt about any bad merch that comes out in order to drive that change dhfkfj

but also on a maybe more fun note in regards to the merch... with some carats being upset about the bday merch i was thinking about what hybe could do for merch instead that would fill the niche of being at intervals throughout the year that could still be limited time drops but that carats wouldn't be mad at them capitalizing on and then i was like duh! they could literally just make merch off of going seventeen! honestly I'm surprised they haven't yet. maybe not merch for every episode, but they could have a line of permanent gose merch w a basic logo or something and then release limited time merch themed around some of the more popular episodes at various points during the year. I'm actually kind of obsessed with this idea now and for once I'm like hybe/pledis please capitalize off of this!! dhfkgjg

they never actually sold them, but for seventeens 3rd anniversary, pledis planned to sell replicas of seventeens rings. after it was announced carats were understandably upset since the boys worked so hard for those. luckily pledis heard carats concerns and put out an apology and didn't manufacture them in the end. I'm glad that at least they listened to carats even though it would have been better if they had never considered the idea in the first place :(

oh yeah listening parties are definitely just another marketing technique to boost streams. i think like with a lot of marketing techniques, it just depends on the execution. imo if they're done well it can be a good way for fans to connect while listening to an artists music, which is mutually beneficial for the company, but i can totally see a situation where companies get greedy and push it too hard. i don't know anything about what happened with them back in the day, but if you're curious why SVT had listening parties leading up to your choice, they were set up by UMG, the American distributor that SVT worked with for this cb. in this case the listening parties weren't just for boosting streams, but also likely for UMG to gauge interest. SVT isn't officially signed to a US label yet, but UMG's data from the listening parties could be used to show US labels whether or not there's enough interest for them to be signed. which if that happens we'd almost definitely see a more permanent US shop!

ahh yes, once you're ready I'm sure it would be great to have another bunny companion 🥺

yes! heavens cloud and gam3 bo1 are both such feel good songs! my sister actually added heavens cloud to their Spotify after i made them listen to the album in the car dhfkf it's now one of 6 kpop songs they have saved (4 of which are SVT... my influence 💅 DHFJFH) I'm certain we'll see some of the songs from your choice at caratland this year, hopefully it's all of them but I'd especially like to see heavens cloud and wave 👀 I'm also still crossing my fingers for an i wish live performance bc i can't believe my favorite SVT b-side is one of the TWO tracks they haven't performed live not including the new album (the other one being network love, which i would also like to see live!)

#melia.ask #📖 anon #long post #it always takes me so long to answer these bc i am incapable of shutting up OTL

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astro-break · 4 years ago

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Quick first thoughts on the first ep of the Hypmic Anime. Spoilers beware (and im writing this as I watch so :p)

Otome’s speech is.... questionable from a persuasive point of view. Manga did a great job of introducing her (which you can read here) but they really cut out the more terrifying parts of her speech and how she uses force to show people that she's not to be messed with

Its cool seeing everyone in their respective environments though. thats cool. Though they could have added Sasara and Kuuko (shhh i know why they didn’t let me dream)

I love how poppy the typography is. Its amazing how the visuals just leap out at you. The OP does a great job of this. The first few seconds before the title really gives me Persona 4 OG OP vibes with the influx of information given. The rest is a clear concise and streamlined way that still gives character. Animation is sparse but still carries across a general idea of each character and shows off each character object. Rendering is really nice and pays a bit of homage to the posing artwork thats done for the MVs. They also do their division hand signals and thats cute

Love how the OP has blatant HifuDoppo and DRB matchup foreshadowing

so far I really like what theyre going for. BB is about brotherly familial bonds and they show the goods and the bads. Jiro and Saburo bickering right out the gate really cements the fact that they get along like cats and dogs but you can still see that they love each other, working together when the situation calls for it

Now the 3d models. Theyre... not great but usable if you don’t look too hard. They serve their purpose and don’t actively detract from the viewing experience.

Visual typography in the rap itself are fun and poppy but they dont.... speak to me? like theyre there yes and I appreciate them but the only ones that got me excited were from Ichiro’s rap

I take my words back the group portion was kickass and I apologize

I love how they interpret the Hypnosis Speakers though. Esp. Saburo’s organs. That was super creative and I love it! If there was one thing that I felt was missing from the franchise was a deeper exploration of the speakers but the anime puts a new and fresh spin on it! Love it, especially with their attack patterns!

If the production team ever feels inclined to, Id love to see those info sheets on Otome’s desk released. There seems to be very interesting info and stats written out about each member (like capabilities, personal status etc.) They all seem unique too so I really really really hope they release images of those sheets

OOOOOOOOKAY MTC. I have such a big biased for them so Im very torn to see what unfolds

Rio striking out on his own is interesting. Out of everyone in MTC hes the biggest team player yet here he trusts his teammates to go ahead. This either displays Rio’s willingness to trust his teammates or it becomes very OOC if the anime wants to set him up as a lone wolf like character

I love how they specify its a drug deal. It means that Jyuto surely will show up and it also shows that Samatoki knows Jyuto’s motives and willingly gives black market info that he knows aligns with Jyuto’s goal. Thats A+ detail writing there and a great establishing characteristic for both of them

OOohhhhhhhhhhhhh man Asunama-san’s voice acting is god tier his work as Samatoki is phenomenal. He pulls of Samatoki’s threatening voice so well with those almost calm words before his voice becomes loud and confrontational. Those rolling syllables in contrast to Komada-san’s almost lyrical and airy speech and Kamio-san’s strict and enunciated words is such a delight to hear. It just speaks to how amazing and great these Seiyuu’s are in order to pull of such amazing work

Im so biased but MTC has such a better rap than BB im so sorry. Just by watching Samatoki’s part, the imagery is amazing. Even the arrival of his Hypnosis Speaker was awesome and sent a shiver down my spine. using the lyrics to form blades and blood was such a great thing to do. Theres so much more variety that just him standing there and shots of his hypnosis speaker. The old fashioned vignette shots, the four panel spread, the nods to old Kurosawa era films are great and I love these small details. Even the typography looks better.

Again, the interpretations with the speakers is fresh and new. Its great and I love the different imagery and attack patterns. Each one is so unique but carries across each different style of rap.

The 3d modles aren’t any better tho lol

(Hi this is Astro who is reading over their assessment again and making a note. Yeah I’m a bit harsh on BB’s rap. I’m not going to change it since I still stand by it and this post is supposed to be a documentation of my first impressions. I think one of the reasons why I’m so harsh on BB is because of their dynamic as a trio of brothers. They Have to have a more uniform approach than the other divisions. Which in of itself isn’t a terrible thing, it just doesn’t catch my eye as much as MTC did. Thats all! I definitely don’t hate BB, they’re maybe my 3rd favorite division out of the current lineup [not including TDD era teams like Kujaku Posse, MCD, and Naughty Busters] its just that their rap was pretty meh)

Samatoki crouching like a real gangstar and the cigarette kiss killed me

sadjkhfjkasdghsadjkcsdjhsdfsjhf im dying i love these trio of dumbasses so uch oh y fod someone save me aaaaaaaa (Astro note here! yeah i died when the jyuto and samatoki’s stomach growled im weak please. Samatoki’s face is just so precious and funny I might set it as a profile pic somewhere)

But also my initial assessment of Rio possibly being characterized as a lone wolf is very much jossed and im very thankful for that. It seems that Rio was simply trusting his teammates to carry out their part of the plan while he carried out his own. I like that, it really shows how much of a team these three are and that they genuinely trust each other. He’s also comfortable enough around them to invite them to dinners after work casually and not just for special occasions.

I really love MTC guys

Oooh! we get Ramuda on his design process which is really cute. the inside of his studio is super cute and retro and i love it. the poppy old music you would hear in a cafe or 90′s resturaunt is also really cute (astro note: yeah i know that in ARB you see the interior of Ramuda’s office but its kinda different seeing it animated)

the translation i have has gentaro speaking in early modern english (Shakespearian english for those who aren’t english nerds like me) but from what I can hear, he doesn’t speak in a particularly old fashioned way? Its more formal than old? and hes speaking without any of his character persona lying thing that he likes to do (as he refers to himself as “Shousei” throughout the segment where hes in Ramuda’s office which is kind of his default pronoun of choice). so its kinda odd for the translation to go in that direction but im not complaining

Gendice banter is gold but it feels... flat? a little? it doesn’t have the same impact as in the drama cds or in the manga? i feel? Also Ramuda using gratuitous english is??? idk how to feel about that

kjshf thats against the rules Ramuda omgggg,,,,,,,, (astro note again: while watching i was under the assumption that using your hypmic for monetary gain such a as buskering [which is what FP is doing] is against the rules. May not be the case but whatever)

FP’s rap might be my favorite in terms of tune and lyrics though. It’s a nice laid back bop and really gives of chill vibes. the integration of 3d and 2d is really nice and i love how they play off each other in the rap. The wordplay is so fun with little nods here and there and the beat is poppy too so it really energizes me.

Ramuda’s rap concerns me slightly since he makes very subtle and small nods towards his past (being created in a laboratory, warfare, and his overall very unpleasant life experiences) but spins it into something cutesy. It could be a coping mechanism, it could be me overthinking it. But it does make me worry a bit. Gentaro and Dice’s rap really play off each other with Gentaro sticking to stories and Dice taking up the baton by carrying on that same imagery but putting his own spin on it.

the self awareness of how scattered they are as a team is interesting though. It doesn’t seem like something you’d speak about in a rap? but i guess since its not really a do or die situation they can afford to be looser on things like this.

Right off the bat, i don’t like how they handled Hifumi and Doppo in relation to Hifumi’s fear of women. Slug made a post once talking about this and I echo many of his sentiments. Hypmic has never been very tactful about tackling this particular issue and while I didn’t have high hopes that the anime would be any better it hurts to see Doppo take away the one thing that allows Hifumi to function within society.

Doppo’s breakdown mirrors a lot of my own mental state when I spiral though its shown a lot quicker than what happens to me oof. that hits close to home. though Jakurai’s advice is. Questionable. Its not the best advice to give to someone but we have no idea what kind of doctor Jakurai is so ill let it slide

Jakurai’s pose looks like hes going to do a mahou shoujou transformation lmao

I don’t have many thoughts about the rap though again. How they visualize the rap is interesting. the different imagery is quite interesting for each of them and the typography is nice a distinct but im still on the fence about the visuals here

The sound is in the same boat. The sound effects either drown out the rap or are too quet but some parts are nice at least. When they talk about Tokyo’s beating heart, the heartbeat sound is a but distracting especially since its only played once. But the imagery is at least nice

I wonder if for the eds they’re going to take a similar approach to what Enstars did and have a four different endings, one for each division. I love the blend of styles here and it really accentuates that although they’re different they mesh well together.

Ramuda’s silhouette though is hilarious. Love it.

:p and thats it. Uh not bad for a first episode. Established all 12 characters really nicely and their dynamics. I had some problems with it but then again nothing is perfect. I look forward to what they show us next week

#hypnosis mic #hypmic #hypnosis mic rhyme anima #hypnosis mic rythme anima spoilers #hypmic spoilers #my post

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triptychexe · 4 years ago

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TITLE: The Replacement SUMMARY: S.O.T meets TROIS for the first time. Nia has mixed feelings about Jin. PAIRING: Mentioned Nia x Johnny GENRE: Uhhhh not sure? Like... Maybe mild drama? WORD COUNT: 1.7k WARNINGS: Swearing A/N: hehe trying a different font for post banners. lemme know if it actually works or if it’s ugly. i can’t really tell.

Yerin smoothed her hair down one more time, trying to settle the jolts of anxiety that rattled her chest. What was she so nervous about? On paper, there was nothing for her to be anxious over.

Except if you squint and read between the lines, there absolutely was something to worry about. Yerin took the time to read up on her newest members before meeting them backstage at Music Bank after their debut showcase. All three girls seemed to be promising enough, but there was one member that the leader couldn’t stop thinking about.

Min Soojin was not only the leader of the subunit, but she was the main vocalist and center. All positions that Nia held when she debuted. She was designated to the color red, just like Nia. She had short black hair and bangs, not unlike Yerin’s own signature debut look. Even Soojin’s vocal tone sounded similar to Nia’s. As far as Yerin was aware, this Min Soojin was not just a new member. She was Yerin’s replacement.

Maybe the word ‘replacement’ was a little dramatic. But the uncanny parallels were enough to make Nia raise her eyebrow in skepticism. Plus the way HBH was marketing Soojin left Yerin no choice but to come to the conclusion that Jin was, without a doubt, meant to be the next ‘Nia’. And that was a hard pill for the leader to swallow.

Sitting with Micha and Eunha on a backstage sofa, she bounced her leg absentmindedly as she surveyed the live footage of the performance on the television in front of her. Her eyes were particularly fixated on Jin. Her vocals were strong, but her dancing was clearly not as strong as the other two. A wave of relief passed over Nia when she noticed the flaw in the new girl, followed abruptly by a pang of guilt. Jin wasn’t meant to be competition, she was her team mate. Yerin had to snap out of it.

“They’re good, huh?” Zim bopped her head along to the music, enjoying the performance. “Hyo has a nice flow and Ame’s stage presence is really charming.”

“Yeah, Ame’s gonna be popular, I can tell.” Yen smiled proudly, as if she had a hand in the other girl’s performance. “Jin’s even better live than on recording. I heard she was offered a solo contract.”

“No way,” Zim raised her eyebrows. “I wonder if that’s true.” Nia huffed. “There’s no way. HBH didn’t have any solo debuts planned. I was there for the scheduling meeting.”

Eunha and Micha noticed the icy tone in their leader’s voice. “It was just a rumor.” Yen muttered under her breath. “Rumors in a small company like ours never end well.” Nia responded a little sharper than she intended.

Yen rolled her eyes before focusing back on the screen, clapping along with the audience as the song ended. The lights on stage went dark, signaling the end of their debut showcase.

In a few minutes, the three sweaty and flushed members of Trois entered the dressing room. Hyo’s eyes widened when she noticed S.O.T sitting down and bowed hastily. Ame and Jin did the same, rushing out greetings to their senior members. An awkward air settled over the six girls, realizing that they have never been in a room together before today.

Nia figured it was time for her leadership skills to shine. She gestured to the couches.

“You should sit down.” Nia suggested. The three girls instantly sat themselves, not hesitating in the slightest. Yerin couldn’t tell if they were just very obedient or very comfortable.

“Here, we’ll go get you guys some food and some water,” Yen offered. “Oh, you don’t have to-” Jin started. Eunha raised a hand to stop her new teammate.

“Let us do this, we didn’t have any seniors to pamper us during our debut. Let us give you what we wish we had.” Eunha grinned before walking off with Yen in her wake towards the buffet table.

Nia cleared her throat, uneasy about being alone with the newbies. What should she say to them?

“Do you feel accomplished?” Nia asked the first thing that came to her head. She only realized how passive-aggressive the comment sounded after it left her lips. The smiles on the girls faces melted into nervous grimaces.

“Well, we practiced a lot,” Jin looked between her two members. “And we’ve been preparing for this for a long time. We haven’t looked at the footage from the stage yet, but I’m confident that we did a good job.”

Nia nodded. “You guys were good. I was impressed.”

The three girls looked between each other with excited glances. “Thank you, Nia.” Jin smiled brightly. “You actually were the one we wanted to get the approval of the most.” “We were afraid you’d hate it and then kick us to the curb.” Hyo spoke up with a smirk on her lips. Jin shushed her friend through laughs, nudging Hyo with her elbows playfully. Hyo fought back, pushing her shoulder into Jin with a giggle. Nia’s eyebrows raised ever so slightly. She’s never had her members play around with her like that. It made her wonder what type of leader-member dynamic Jin had set up with her group mates.

“We didn’t think that seriously, of course-” Ame tried to save her friends.

“Uh, I did.” Hyo arched her eyebrows. She gave Nia a sympathetic look. “No offense, but you can be really intimidating.”

Nia chuckled, shaking her head. “Don’t worry, I promise I’m not as bad as I may seem.”

“That’s a lie.” Yen appeared behind them, carrying plates of food. “She’s horrible the week before a comeback.”

“Oh my god, before Pose dropped, Yerin was like a dictator.” Eunha shared, handing out drinks to everyone. This launched a retelling of all Nia’s strictest and meanest moments, which evoked a mixture of laughs and mortified chuckles from the three new members. The six girls ate their lunch together, swapping debut day stories, predebut memories and advice.

“Oh my god, wait till you guys go to ISAC.” Micha shook her head, pointing her chopsticks in Ame’s direction. “You are going to get so many male idols coming up to you and giving you their numbers, I just know it.”

“Oh,” Ame couldn’t say much more, her cheeks flushed bright red. Jin chuckled, giving Ame a nudge of encouragement.

“ISAC is fun, just don’t get lost.” Eunha shot a mischievous glance over at Nia, who tilted her head back to the ceiling and groaned. One of Nia’s worst memories was getting lost at their first ISAC event, which led to her walking around the gymnasium and avoiding bumping into other idols. There were videos of her awkwardly wandering all over the internet for weeks.

Jin covered her mouth as she chuckled, nodding her head. “Oh my god, Johnny told me about that! I felt so bad, that sounds so scary!”

Nia slowed her chewing down.

“You know Johnny?” She asked, her blood running cold.

Jin nodded, patting the corners of her mouth with a napkin. “Yeah, we met at this club a couple years ago. He’s one of my closest friends. He talks about you kind of a lot.”

“Oh.” Yerin blinked. “He’s never mentioned you.”

“That doesn’t surprise me. He probably didn’t want you getting the wrong idea.” Jin nodded in understanding. “Don’t tell him I said anything, but he seems to like you a lot.” Jin winked. Yerin fought off the urge to respond with ‘yeah, no shit’. Johnny has been her almost-boyfriend for nearly two months now. She wasn’t oblivious to his feelings towards her.

Instead she gave a small smile. The tension was tight for a moment until Hyo let out a loud cuss word, causing all the attention to shift to herself.

“Ah damn!” Hyo whined, pushing her chair back. She had spilled her banana milk all over the front of her stage outfit.

Staff members ran over quickly, handing Hyo a new shirt to change into so they could use stain remover on the blouse before it was too late. In the change of atmosphere, S.O.T’s manager, Hyunjung, rose from her spot at the manager’s table.

“Actually, we should get going,” Hyunjung straightened out her dress pants. “We still have some business to do back at the company.”

“It was nice meeting you!” Ame gushed as the six girls disposed of their food together.

“Next time I won’t spill milk all over myself.” Hyo winked. The S.O.T girls chuckled, said their goodbyes, and followed Hyunjung out of the dressing room.

As soon as they turned the corner, Hyunjung addressed Yerin.

“You could have been a little more subtle.” Hyunjung said severely.

Nia played dumb. “What do you mean?”

“I mean staring daggers at Soojin while you’re having a conversation doesn’t do you any favors.” Hyunjung criticized. “What are you gonna do when you have to start promoting with her? People are going to notice the stiffness between you two. I’d say sort it out, but it’s clearly a one-sided issue.”

Nia’s mouth was agape as she tried to formulate a response that made sense.

“She knows Johnny though. He’s never mentioned her to me. You can’t expect me to not be suspicious after knowing something like that?” Nia said defensively.

“I mean, I know Johnny too.” Yen shrugged. “I’ve hung out with him before when I went to Yuta’s that time.”

“Yeah but that’s different.” Nia insisted, rolling her eyes as the group stepped into the parking lot, heading towards their car. “You’re clearly just his friend and I know you. I don’t know Jin.”

“Just because someone knows your boyfriend doesn’t mean they’re romantically involved with him.” Hyunjung reminded Nia as they buckled their seat belts.

“Johnny’s not my boyfriend,” Yerin said firmly. “Well, at least not yet.”

Hyunjung glanced at Yerin through the rearview mirror.

“Then there's really nothing to be upset over, is there?” Hyunjung asked, a single eyebrow arched.

Yerin didn’t respond, knowing that the conversation was over. Eunha reached her hand across the space between their seats and laced fingers with Yerin comfortingly.

“Hey, you’re still my favorite leader.” Eunha smiled. “And nothing is going to change that.”

Yen leaned forward from her seat in the back. “You’re my favorite leader on the days we have off.” Yen smiled brightly. “And if I was Johnny I’d rather fuck you than Jin.”

“Thanks, guys.” Yerin huffed in amusement as their car pulled out of the parking lot and onto the freeway.

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williamjwatson · 5 years ago

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Production Bias and OWL 2020

There’s… admittedly… a lot the Overwatch League has to iron out and polish in how they run, produce, and broadcast the league if they want the league to live up to the vision that they believe is possible in the long term.

I could be here forever if I wanted to go into all of it, but I want to focus on an insidious problem that I don’t think the broadcast/production staff realize is hampering the full potential enjoyment a lot of fans could have watching the games. (As the majority of league viewers are based in North America, I will be focusing on the American, or the “main” broadcast stream and social media channels. I can’t comment on the other broadcast streams in other languages because none of them are in languages i am fluent in, so I won’t.)

That problem is Bias.

Bias emerges in many ways in OWL production.

There are overt examples:

Montecristo’s relentless dunking on the Houston Outlaws and insisting the team, its players, and its fans are trash during official broadcast and even as he is commentating Outlaws matches in a role he should be neutral in. The unified desk beating the “NYXL choking in all playoffs meme” to death while conveniently forgetting NYXL are the only two time back to back stage champions in league history, and even when the term “choking” technically isn’t relevant because they are simply being outclassed by a team that has consistently shown they can handily beat NYXL meanwhile few other teams get negative treatment as enduring Bren’s fervent backing of the Shanghai dragons, reason be damned Soe’s blatant favouritism of the Atlanta Reign in all situations because she simply loves that team more than any other.

Some of these examples can be entertaining as hell.

Others are annoying to have to be subjected to, especially if your team is the target.

There’s also much more subtle examples of bias, and these emerge more in the choice to include or omit things in production, the manner teams are discussed in desk segments, and with a whole season of footage and posts, clear patterns emerge:

The desk discussion about san francisco shock being notably more hype than discussion about vancouver titans despite both teams having the same trajectory and success over the season as a variation of above: framing every titans match as “who can defeat the titans???” meanwhile every san francisco match is “can the shock continue their streak of dominance?” as if one team inherently is a villain who must be beaten down and the other is a protagonist whose dominance is expected and accepted as the new normal as a caveat under this: being very respectful of super’s tears after stage 1 finals, and mocking bumper’s tears after stage 2 finals the desk’s respect and levity given to taimou’s mental struggles being a bench player in a meta that doesn’t cater to his skills and celebrating his return, while his teammate, EFFECT was not afforded the same respect when he had to go home for his mental health in season 1, and his return to season 2 was very much lukewarm in comparison trend towards mixed teams being lauded for performing well in a majority of their games, meanwhile full korean speaking teams get lukewarm responses even when they’re doing well, and downright mean responses when they don’t do well (there are exceptions because sometimes the records speak for themselves, ie: justice and mayhem) notable difference in how successes and failures are presented when discussing non-korean players and korean players the fact Montecristo keeps being scheduled to cast Houston Outlaws games despite his obvious and very vocal disdain for the team (this could be scheduling chance rather than choice, but even so, it makes it much harder than it needs to be for outlaws fans to enjoy watching their team play the game and the fact this isn’t seen as a problem is an unconscious issue) comparatively little or no footage of teams who don’t do comms in English being featured on the incredibly popular comms check videos, thereby hampering fan engagement and ability to relate to at least 1/3 the teams in the league (how hard is it to hire a translator to sift through footage and add subtitles?? the dragons and spark seem to do this with ease? and official broadcast shouldn’t be lacking in such resource??)

Generally, having bias isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Bren’s fervent belief in the dragons, even carried over as a meme from stage 1, is incredibly entertaining with the props and the ribbing, and in a way, Bren has his own redemption arc when the dragons really broke through that wall this season and won their first game, then kept winning until they won stage 3 entirely with stellar hardcore play.

The pre-show picks for the day are an entertaining segment, and gives the desk and analysts a chance to justify to the viewers and each other why their pick to win is the correct choice. Sometimes it gives fans insight into what past performance, play style, and analysis should be accounted for. Sometimes it’s just a blatant show of bias, and you know what, that’s fine. Sometimes it’s even entertaining as hell.

But sometimes Bias isn’t fun, and when the running joke about your team, or your favourite player keeps being featured even when the context is no longer there, or the talent who clearly doesn’t think much of your team keeps getting airtime to dunk on your team because some portion of viewers or production thinks it’s funny, the show stops being fun to watch.

The problem is amplified when it becomes apparent that you can’t avoid this bias if you intend to continue watching the league. As there is only one single official English stream, featuring the same rotation of commentators and analysts and desk talent, fans have no choice but to listen and go along with the flow that the main production has set up for them, or avoid tuning into pre-and post game coverage and discussion, and watch on mute, missing out on content and strategic analysis that allows them to engage with other fans, or better understand the game at an esport level and why results turned out the way they did. (Or watch Avast’s stream instead, which doesn’t show league footage and isn’t beholden to professional standards like official broadcast and also it’s not the OWL official broadcast which means fan disengagement.)

As an extension of that, with what the league chooses to post and broadcast, there’s also no way to access additional content the league chooses to omit to post unless your team takes the initiative to make that content themselves (Hangzhou Spark and Shanghai Dragons open mic are both treasures and official comms check is missing out by not including their footage, among other teams: where is mayhem? dynasty? NYXL?)

So why am I discussing this? OWL is doing okay, and you can’t please everyone, right? I obviously have my opinions, but otherwise it’s fine??

Well the thing is, OWL still very much has aspirations to grow.

I haven’t forgotten that 20 million dollar buy in.

Neither have the investors, I don’t think.

With the shift to a travelling rotating homestead schedule in four divisions next year to directly hit hometown markets and grow local communities, OWL clearly means to grow and get bigger, and that means attracting more fans and viewers and consumers, and keeping the existing fans they have.

Next year, leaving the Blizzard arena, bias no longer becomes an asset, it becomes an active, growing problem.

A significant portion of fans already find it very hard to watch and engage with pre-and post game coverage. Fans that no longer engage with desk talent centric content, and maybe even watch games on mute are very much on their way to disengagement from the league entirely.

Furthermore, it will be significantly harder to recruit fans to support teams if the official league broadcast makes a point to tell them, before they are even engaged, that their home city team is trash and they should feel bad for thinking of supporting them for x, y, and z reasons.

Additionally, with the shift next year to local market games, the attention on the league will be amplified, and with it will come an expectation of professionalism. There’s a clear lack of polish in this area, notably. What happens when the Outlaws Homestead happens and Monte is not only scheduled to cast, but spends the entire time dunking on the Outlaws? How does that look to local stakeholders? How are Outlaws fans gonna have a good time at their own homestead while the official broadcast does them dirty? How welcome does the broadcast feel to fans who don’t have means to attend their team’s homestands, and must engage via the official broadcast stream?

Given the single official broadcast in this language, and no announcement yet to expand the casting and desk talent cast, production needs to iron out their problems with bias, and that starts with stepping back and realizing they have a very obvious bias problem in the way they present narratives, decide what content is shown and promoted, and how often the talent team overtly supports certain teams while on air in an official capacity. Professionalism also needs to level up, because a recent debacle on air already received negative response in the twittersphere directly from team organization stakeholders.

If the overwatch league wants to reach out to more fans, and continue growing while retaining the fanbase they already have, broadcast needs to become far more neutral in how they present the esport with this singular official broadcast, or create local based versions of official broadcast. Unfortunately, option two is unfeasible because there is a lack of such experienced casters in the sport at this time to have the equally biased 20 local commentator broadcasts going at once.

With the singular official broadcast, this means neutral commentating without snide comments about teams casters obviously dislike. This means desk consciously making the effort to present equal narratives to teams with similar trajectory, or equally flipping back and forth over time so a “villain” narrative isn’t constantly only dumped on one team all season. This means hiring Korean and Chinese speaking editor or translator to help get equal team representation in fun quirky “get to know the team” segments like comms check in an official capacity instead of making the non-English speaking teams do extra work within their organization to pump their own versions of official content themselves. (Hangzhou and Shanghai may do their own open mics, but the point is they shouldn’t HAVE TO to get the same quirky fun coverage out that English speaking teams get to take for granted)

They’ve done a lot this year, expanding Danny and Emily’s roles beyond that of simply translator to give that extra interviewing representation to players who don’t feel confident speaking English, and giving them airtime to connect with their fans. This is already mitigating the interviewing bias of last year, and giving more screen time to players who don’t speak English primarily (the Diem Carpe segment comes to mind).

I think they can do more, and I believe they have to if they want the League to live up to what they want it to be, so every fan of every team can enjoy watching as much as they can.

Source: Production Bias and OWL 2020

#esports

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imagitory · 6 years ago

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D-Views: Aladdin (with guest input!)

Hi, everyone! Welcome to another installment of D-Views, my on-going written review series where I take a look at Disney-produced and/or owned properties, as well as occasionally non-Disney films that were influenced by Disney’s success! For more of these reviews, you may consult my “Disney reviews” tag, where I’ve discussed such films as Treasure Planet, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, and Dreamworks’ The Prince of Egypt!

Today I’ll be doing something a little different. In lieu of the live-action Aladdin remake premiering in less than two weeks, I decided it’d be best to re-watch the original 1992 classic, and I invited two of my good friends, Christina and Jen, to help me analyze it. I will note any of their input when it arises, and hopefully you’ll enjoy hearing three voices for the price of one!

Aladdin was released in the midst of the Disney Renaissance in the 1990′s, sandwiched between the landmark hits Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King. Out of Disney’s biggest blockbusters, Aladdin is easily the most “of its time” -- it relies on pop culture references for its humor and uses era-specific slang (i.e. ”NOT!” and “Made you look!”) more than most Disney films do and features a celebrity voice in a prominent role, which was quite uncommon, compared to previous Disney projects. (The best examples I can think of prior to this was having John Hurt, Peter Ustinov, and Vincent Price play villains in The Black Cauldron, Robin Hood, and The Great Mouse Detective, but...yeah, as amazing and well-renown as those men are, they weren’t insanely popular media stars of the time the way that Robin Williams was.) One could attribute this “hipper” aspect at least in part to Jeffrey Katzenberg, who was head of Disney’s animation department at the time, and Disney CEO Michael Eisner, both of whom put a lot of focus in following what was popular and marketable. (Katzenberg later put all of his attention and focus on molding Pocahontas into a historical-fiction retelling of Romeo and Juliet as he assumed a forbidden love story would be a hit, while Eisner kicked The Rescuers Down Under to the curb a year before Beauty and the Beast came out all because it didn’t break the box office opening weekend.) Fortunately the approach paid off and Aladdin was a big success, fueling two direct-to-video sequels, a spin-off TV series, and a show at Disney’s California Adventure that transformed into a full Broadway musical. Even now it’s still very well-loved by Disney fans, many of whom are now looking forward to the live-action remake coming out this month. As my followers might know, I’m still very on-the-fence about the remake myself, as I haven’t reacted very warmly to Disney’s other recent live-action remakes, but my two cohorts Jen and Christina are much less cynical about the prospect, so hopefully any commentary we might make about what we’ve learned about the remake compared to the original will be minimal. Now that our context is framed, let’s board this magic carpet of a movie and see where it takes us!

To start with, Arabian Nights is just such a fantastic musical introduction to this story! Aladdin was the last project that lyricist Howard Ashman worked on before his premature death in 1992, and like in the rest of his work, the word play in the songs he wrote for this movie (Arabian Nights, Friend Like Me and Prince Ali) is just masterful. Arabian Nights in particular just emanates “adventure” -- it was later used as the opening theme for the Aladdin TV series, and it got me so pumped up whenever I watched it, just as much as it probably excited those who first saw the movie in theaters. Fun fact: while listening to the intro, one might notice the names Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio credited as two of the film’s screenwriters, alongside directors John Musker and Ron Clements -- down the road, Elliot and Rossio would also write the screenplay for The Road to El Dorado, join the writing team for Shrek, and be the main writing force behind the Pirates of the Caribbean films.

As much as I rarely go for films that market themselves as comedies, I feel like Aladdin handles its comedy really well. From the beginning, we see the comedic, spontaneous tone in the peddler’s narration scene, and that tone is taken on by Gilbert Gottfried as Iago until Robin Williams reappears as the Genie later. It makes it so that, unlike Mulan where the comedy kind of starts and ends with Mushu, the comedy is a constant fixture in the story, never distracting from the plot and never feeling out of place.

One niche interest of mine that I rarely get to delve into is color psychology, and oh BOY, does this film give me a lot to talk about there! Aladdin’s production designer, Richard Wende, used a very simple, yet striking color palette for the film that favors blues, reds, and golds. The effect is a beautifully lush setting while maintaining a “desert” feel: any greens that appear really stick out, like when Aladdin and Genie arrive in an oasis after escaping the Cave of Wonders. It also makes it so that when the background is mostly red or gold, any blue shades draw focus, or when the scene takes place at night and is mostly shades of blue, anything red or gold likewise draws focus. This post goes into the color symbolism more deeply, but generally blue is representative of good characters, while red represents evil, with gold being a sort of middle ground. Primary colors often are used in properties marketed toward children (ex. Team Valor/Instinct/Mystic in Pokemon Go, Snow White having all three colors on her dress), so it’s understandable that so many kids from the 90′s gravitated toward this movie, but the palette never feels restricted or simple. The deep, saturated fusion of reds and blues and reds and yellows creates a lot of texture despite the limited color range, and it beautifully communicates the heat of the locations and creates a unique visual style for the film. I’ve noticed that in the trailers for the remake, this color symbolism was discarded in favor of a more “Bollywood” look, not unlike how the Beauty and the Beast remake likewise ignored the color symbolism of Belle being the only villager to wear blue (which accents how much she stands apart from the crowd) and decided to dress a lot of people in blue during the opening number Belle. I can only hope the decision means the film is just choosing to make Agrabah more like India than Arabia, rather than this just being a stylistic choice with no substance, but I think the subtle color psychology in the original film is very clever short-hand for the audience, even if they’ll likely not be able to consciously express how the color palette affected their viewing experience.

As Jafar and his stooge Gazeem come across the Cave of Wonders, I’m reminded of how awesome the Cave’s design is. It was made primarily with CG animation, yet the CGI is never distracting: on the contrary, it fuses together beautifully with the rest of the hand-drawn background. Even the sandy texture on the Cave is very well rendered. Christina also noted a neat detail I hadn’t picked up on before: the tiger head has an earring in one ear, just like the Genie whose lamp lives inside the Cave!

After the Cave of Wonders devours Gazeem, declaring that it will only allow the “diamond in the rough” inside, we meet our title character and resident “diamond,” Aladdin. Voicing Aladdin is Scott Weinger, or Steve of Full House fame, who brings such charm, energy, and personality to the role. I honestly think it’d be hard for anyone else to match the sheer likability rippling out of Scott’s voice. Accompanying Weinger and Robin Williams in this stellar cast are Broadway actor Jonathan Freeman as Jafar (who has since gone on to play the character in everything from TV shows to the Broadway musical), raucous comic Gilbert Gottfried as Iago, and three voice-acting legends -- Frank Welker (who voices Shaggy and Scooby Doo) as Abu and Rajah; Jim Cummings (the current voices of Winnie the Pooh and Tigger) as Razoul; and Corey Burton (who is best known for playing Ansem the Wise in Kingdom Hearts) as Prince Tiger-Fucker Achmed. Even Jasmine, who was voiced by the at-the-time-fresh-faced actress Linda Larkin, had her singing voice done by Broadway legend Lea Salonga, fresh off her success premiering the title role in Miss Saigon. Even though many of these names aren’t celebrities like Robin Williams, and so I would hesitate to call this an “all-star cast” exactly, it doesn’t change how much talent was accrued by Disney’s casting agents!

Unlike most main characters in a Disney musical, Aladdin doesn’t get a full solo number to call his own. Originally Howard Ashman wrote a song for Aladdin called Proud of Your Boy, where Aladdin sings to his mother (who played a large role in early drafts of the story) about how he’ll make good for her. Unfortunately the story’s focus on Aladdin and his mother’s relationship ended up taking focus away from Aladdin and Jasmine’s romance and Aladdin’s character arc to accept himself, so the screenwriters ultimately had to cut the mother character from the story, at which point the song no longer fit. The decision was very difficult for the filmmakers at the time, given that it was one of the last things Ashman wrote and it’s such a beautiful, raw song, but I ultimately think it was the right decision. Putting Aladdin on his own with no one but Abu for company and giving Jasmine no emotional support outside of her naïve, misguided father and her pet and only friend Rajah I think goes a long way to explain why they’re such kindred spirits. Aladdin and Jasmine each become the friend and support that the other needed. (This is also why Christina and I are concerned about the inclusion of a servant/friend for Jasmine, as the choice would likely weaken any rationale Jasmine could have for leaving the palace and for connecting so instantly with Aladdin.) Plus I think Aladdin’s reprise of One Jump Ahead is just as beautifully raw as Proud of Your Boy, just with a slightly different message and less words. I really feel Aladdin’s frustration and yearning for something better, and Aladdin’s singing voice Brad Kane is able to stuff so much pathos into such a short tune that a longer song isn’t even necessary. And fortunately Proud of Your Boy was later utilized in the Broadway musical version of Aladdin, so it got its dues eventually.

At the palace, we meet our heroine, Jasmine, who was Christina’s favorite Disney character as a kid and who I personally think is the prettiest of the Disney princesses. Jasmine was designed by supervising animator Mark Henn, who modeled her after a picture of his little sister, which honestly is so sweet that I can’t stand it. What I really like about Jasmine in comparison to other Disney princesses is that she is fiery, but clever: determined, but calculating: proud, yet compassionate. It’s this balance that makes her interesting: in my mind, Jasmine is the ultimate Slytherin Disney princess (with just as Slytherin of a prince!), because unlike Ariel, she isn’t reckless in her rebellion. What’s also very cool about Jasmine is that her circumstances are a perfect contrast to Aladdin, placing them in a more romantic Prince and the Pauper set-up where they envy each other, and yet they want the same thing: freedom. In fact, all of our protagonists do -- namely, Aladdin, Jasmine, and Genie. Aladdin wants freedom from his poverty. Jasmine wants freedom from her privilege. Genie wants freedom from his purpose. They all have different cages, but they all want to be free to live their own lives, and it’s through Aladdin learning to empathize with Jasmine and Genie and see their respective prisons as clearly as his own that he grows as a character. (For a video that delves into this thought process further, please consult this piece by ScreenPrism -- it’s just beautifully done!)

Throughout the film, three animals emerge over and over -- the cobra, the elephant, and the tiger. Tigers -- which we see not only in obvious examples like Rajah and the Cave of Wonders, but also as a carving in the back of the Sultan’s throne -- are generally associated with courage and heraldry, not unlike their feline cousins, lions. The heraldry aspect I think is most relevant here -- only one who is deemed worthy, namely Aladdin, may enter the Cave of Wonders and access the wealth of kings, and when Jasmine runs away from home, she leaves Rajah, a symbol of her noble heritage, behind. Elephants in comparison are associated with wisdom and more notably royal power. In the film, Abu is transformed into an elephant steed for Aladdin when he becomes Prince Ali, and even the Sultan sits in a throne decorated with a statue of an elephant. As for the cobra, it’s entirely connected to Jafar, first as his magic scepter and then as a form Jafar takes on himself. Snakes overall are associated with many things like healing, rebirth, eternity, and the dichotomy of good and evil, but cobras specifically are the most poisonous snakes on earth. Legends even claim that Cleopatra, the last Pharaoh of Egypt, committed suicide by cobra bite. I reckon that meaning is more than enough reason for it to represent Jafar.

Through the use of a bizarre storm-making machine powered by Iago running on a treadmill-like wheel that Christina, Jen, and I thoroughly don’t understand and kind of find hilariously ridiculous, Jafar is able to discover the identity of the elusive “diamond in the rough.” He then sends the guards out to arrest Aladdin so as to coerce him into aiding him in his goal to enter the Cave, but in the process gets caught by Jasmine as he’s exiting one of the secret passages. Jen brought up the lovely point that Jafar seems to be the only person who knows about these passages in the palace, even though the Sultan presumably was raised in the palace just like Jasmine was -- this isn’t necessarily a problem, but it does make both her and me want to know the story behind this! Was Jafar basically raised in the palace too? Did Jafar partially create those passages? Were they forgotten after years of non-use and Jafar came across them by chance? It seems like there could be some fun explanation here, if someone wanted to write a fic or fan theory about it.

Okay, I really don’t want to express my concerns about the remake yet again, but I just have to say this flat-out -- there is no way that Abu in the remake could be as funny as he is in the animated film. Let’s be honest, CG characters in live-action films are almost never very charming if they’re more on the cartoony side compared to the so-called “realistic” world they’re supposed to inhabit. You can have very likable, well-developed CG characters -- just look at Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia -- but he wasn’t solely comic relief the way Abu is, and Abu’s comedy in particular relies on a lot of cartoon-like squash and stretch that would be difficult to recreate in CG for a live-action movie. Best case scenario, you’d have something like Pip in Enchanted, which is only irritating and visually out-of-place sometimes, but alternatively, you might get something like Alvin and the Chipmunks (where the humor falls flat), Dobby in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (where it’s clear he was never actually there the whole time), and/or the enchanted objects in the live-action Beauty and the Beast (where the characters end up looking creepy, like something out of the Uncanny Valley). Basically if they want Abu to work in the live-action setting, it’s likely they’d have to make him more like an actual animal, which as I said would make it so he is a lot less funny.

Anyway, not long after Abu unlocks Aladdin’s shackles, Jafar arrives to bust him out, disguised as an old man. Just as Jafar’s storm-making machine makes no sense, the three of us all concluded that his disguise makes no sense. Not only does Jafar suddenly look a good foot and a half shorter, which even with him crouching shouldn’t be possible, but he’s changed his teeth with no visible dentures (which would’ve slurred his speech anyway) and he can get rid of all of the white hair and beard he put on just by ripping off the beard in a single gesture. As Jen brought up, even the Evil Queen used a potion to turn into the Hag: if Jafar had used magic, these sort of physical changes would make sense, but he didn’t.

Back to the Cave of Wonders again, and now I get to talk about one of the most revolutionary aspects of Aladdin: the Magic Carpet. Our sweet little Carpet is a perfect fusion of CG and hand-drawn animation -- supervising animator Randy Cartwright drew the outline and tassels of Carpet with so much personality and silent comedy, and rather than have to animate Carpet’s detailed pattern in every single frame as the fabric folded and contorted, the pencil tests were handed to the CG artists, who melded the pattern perfectly to the line work, making it one perfectly cohesive character. Carpet’s pattern also has allusions to different parts of the film, including the Cave of Wonders, the magic lamp, and the flames that appear when Abu touches the red gem. Even if the technology of CG animation is much more advanced now than it was in 90s, it doesn’t change how seamless the finished result is.

As mentioned, the Cave doesn’t remain safe for our hero very long. When Abu snatches up a gem after being warned not to touch anything, the whole place starts to fall apart, raging with lava and fire. Christina brought up the question of why the Cave would allow Abu inside, since he wasn’t the diamond in the rough (yes, Abu was hidden in Aladdin’s vest, but the Cave was magical, did it really not know he was there?), but I almost wonder if it was an issue of Aladdin having trusted Abu when he shouldn’t have, which would end up being the true mistake in this scenario. Regardless, the CGI in this particular escape sequence is some of the more outdated material of the film. The flight on Carpet is still kind of fun, as it probably would make for a very exciting thrill ride, but it still looks incredibly fake, especially in comparison to other CG elements used in other scenes. Honestly, I’d say this Cave chase and the tower used in the “ends of the earth” sequence later are the worst instances of outdated CGI in this movie.

And finally, at long last, we get to the big, blue guy himself, the Genie. As much as I wouldn’t say Genie steals the show, as Aladdin has such a likable hero and heroine and an excellent villain, Jen, Christina, and I will say categorically that Aladdin would not be as good of a movie as it is without Genie and without Robin Williams. The directors Ron Clements and John Musker wrote the character with Robin in mind, but thought there’d be no way they’d ever get him -- fortunately Eric Goldberg, the supervising animator for Genie, got the idea to make an animation of Genie speaking a piece of one of Robin’s comedy routines, and the animation amazingly won Robin over and got him on board. And really, it is that flawless combination of Robin’s acting and Goldberg’s animation that really makes Genie as likable as he is. Even Robin’s humor, which still is very funny, is not what makes Genie as great of a character as he is, in my opinion -- if anything, I’d say it’s how much sincerity Robin gives the role. Genie is never a sidekick in this movie, as he has his own distinct motivations and feelings separate to the main character and their goals, and Robin just makes you feel so much for Genie and his own desire for freedom. One quote of Genie’s that has stuck with me since I was a kid thanks to Robin’s beautiful delivery is “To be my own master -- such a thing would be greater than all the magic and all the treasures in all the world.” It makes it so his humor is a sign of how resilient Genie is, despite how unhappy his circumstances are, which is something I understand very well as someone who has suffered from depression and I’m quite sure Robin himself understood very well too. I think it’s why so many people found Robin so likable and felt so much for the characters he portrayed over the years.

Speaking on Friend Like Me specifically, I’m afraid I’ll have to go off on a bit of a tangent and share a story with all of you. The day that Robin Williams passed away, I was working at the World of Color show at Disney’s Calfornia Adventure. When the Friend Like Me segment came on, I danced along to the music while in the walkway outside the show, trying to keep the grief off of my face and just make others happy, the way Robin used to. As the segment ended, everyone applauded like crazy. Then, all of a sudden, we Cast Members became aware of a strange, sputtering, almost sobbing sound. One of the show fountains in the water had gotten out of alignment and it sputtered softly in the background as the next segment (Touch the Sky) began, before after a minute slowly quieting and coming to a stop. It was as if the show was crying for Robin, this person who had given so much joy to so many people. And this, among other reasons, is why I feel so very sorry for poor Will Smith, who somehow has to try to fill the shoes that Robin wore. Jen, Christina, and I aren’t very optimistic about his prospects (I still personally might have offered the role to Wayne Brady instead, given that he can sing, he has done comedy, and he worked with Robin in the past), as even Dan Castellanetta, who voiced Genie in the Aladdin TV series, was never able to match Robin no matter how hard he tried.

On the note of Genie’s motivation, as well, we hear about it in a scene accompanied by the beautiful instrumental “To Be Free.” It’s one of my favorite pieces of instrumental music from the film, which became one of Christina’s favorite songs from the Aladdin musical, To Be Free, which is a solo sung by Jasmine. As very pretty and appropriate the song is from Jasmine, I do also really appreciate the number accompanying Genie’s monologue. The instrumental comes across as more spontaneous and thoughtful, like it’s making itself up as it goes along, until it gets to the sincere, meaningful line about freedom, at which point the melody that inspired the song To Be Free's chorus starts.

Another neat touch with Genie is his use of Yiddisms, such as “punim,” meaning face. Of course, Genie’s animator Eric Goldberg is Jewish, and the idea of Genie being Jewish as well I just find so unbelievably charming, particularly when you place him in an Arabian-like setting full of (presumably) Muslim characters, given that the Sultan at one point references Allah. Therefore Genie and Aladdin’s (adorable) friendship could be thought of as a friendship between a Jewish person and a Muslim! I think that’s really cool!

We return to the palace, where the Sultan scolds Jafar for Aladdin’s supposed execution, only for Aladdin to burst onto the scene, dressed as the dashing Prince Ali. During this scene, Christina noted the fun juxtaposition of Jafar’s fashion choices compared to the Sultan, Genie as a human, and Aladdin as Ali. All of them wear very similar robes and turbans, but the Sultan, Genie, and Aladdin wear turbans with more rounded, floppy feathers, which Jafar’s feather is sharp and straight. Aladdin’s and the Sultan’s feather even flop into their faces sometimes, whereas Jafar’s is rigid as a board. As Jen likewise pointed out, Jafar’s design gives him this pointed, slender look not unlike Dr. Facilier in future Disney project The Princess and the Frog. The shoulder pads on his shoulders also serve to give him this sort of sharp “T” shape, contrasted to the more rounded and well-proportioned characters. Couple that with a black/red color scheme that contrasts the more saintly tannish-white of the other three, and it really does communicate the “black cloud” nature that Jafar’s supervising animator Andreas Deja wanted to give the character, to compliment the “Severus Snape” level of dry sardonicism Jonathan Freeman gave the character.

Even though the Sultan is very impressed by “Prince Ali,” Jasmine most certainly is not. Genie counsels Aladdin (with a few outdated pop culture references) that he should tell her the truth -- the nice thing about the pop culture references is that, really, even if you don’t get the jokes, you can still understand them, and the jokes still drive dialogue and plot forward enough that those lines don’t feel like a waste of time. I mean, I didn’t get most of the jokes as a kid, and it didn’t hurt anything for me -- I still thought the Genie was funny because of his comedic timing and odd voices. (Oh yes, and since Jen brought this up while we were watching this -- Aladdin does not say “take off your clothes” while up on Jasmine’s balcony: the line that Weigner improvised for when Aladdin is trying to shoo Rajah away is “take off and go.” Get your brains out of the gutter.)

Fortunately Aladdin is able to soften Jasmine enough that she gives him a chance, and the two go on a magic carpet ride (a.k.a. the fastest world tour ever, as Christina described it! LOL). Accompanying this scene is, in my opinion, the single most romantic song in the Disney canon. A Whole New World was the very first song Alan Menken and Tim Rice wrote together. After the loss of his good friend and most constant collaborator, Howard Ashman, Menken was very nervous about working with someone else. Fortunately, as soon as he and Tim Rice met, they came together pretty quickly while working on the aforementioned love song, which ended up taking some inspiration from their circumstances as new collaborators in its melody and lyrics. So yes, one could listen to this song and some of its lines -- a new, fantastic point of view -- but when I’m way up here, it’s crystal clear that now I’m in a whole new world with you -- unbelievable sights, indescribable feelings -- with new horizons to pursue -- every moment, red letter -- let me share this whole new world with you -- as being not just about these two characters falling in love, but also about a brand new, exciting friendship.

Aladdin and Jasmine connect, Jafar is banished from the palace, and the Sultan blesses Jasmine’s decision to court “Prince Ali” -- but yeah, just as everything looks like everything’s coming up roses, things start to fall apart when Aladdin breaks his promise to set Genie free. (Another fun story: when I first saw this scene in the Aladdin Musical Spectacular at Disney California Adventure way back in the day, I couldn’t stop myself from yelling ��BOO!” from the audience. The people around me giggled. Then the actor playing Genie, without looking away from the actor playing Aladdin, raised a hand and pointed out at the audience. “You hear that?” he said. “That’s my THOUGHTS.” I died laughing.) But yes, thanks to Aladdin’s mistake, Jafar is able to take advantage of the situation and snatch Genie for himself, singing his own quasi-solo, Prince Ali (reprise). Like Aladdin, Jafar doesn’t get a full number to call his own, but fortunately he doesn’t end up needing one: Prince Ali (reprise) is more than powerful enough on its own, and it concludes with the most amazing, deranged laugh in Disney history. Really, as good as some other Disney villain laughs are, I would say that Jafar’s is easily the best.

Jafar becomes the Sultan of Agrabah, imprisoning both Jasmine and the Sultan and banishing Aladdin to the ends of the earth. Even if Jasmine’s a prisoner, though, she is no damsel: in Christina’s words, she’s the Princess Leia to Jafar’s Jabba the Hutt, clever and proud as ever and ready to do whatever is necessary to break free...even if it means kissing our villain in order to distract him long enough for Aladdin to try to snatch back the lamp. (Insert a cringe from all three of us here.) Alas, the ruse fails, and Jafar discovers that Aladdin has returned alive and well. The “Battle” track used for this climax is just epic accompaniment, easily being up there among some of the best “final confrontation” instrumental tracks in Disney history like Sleeping Beauty’s “Battle With the Forces of Evil” and The Great Mouse Detective’s “Big Ben Chase.” The visuals as well are also thrilling -- speaking as someone with acute ophidiophobia, Jafar turning into a giant cobra is pretty terrifying.

Despite all of the odds being against him, our diamond in the rough street rat nonetheless is able to outsmart Jafar, and Jafar, tricked into the form of a Genie, is imprisoned in his own pitch black lamp, possessing all of the power he longed for but ignorantly sacrificing the power of autonomy he had already. (As Jen said, and I quote, “Karma, bitch!”) I just adore how Aladdin outwitted Jafar too: not only does it really suit his Slytherin personality to win through craftiness rather than just brute force, but it also perfectly showcases the difference between Aladdin and Jafar: namely, that Aladdin knows empathy, and Jafar does not. Jafar only sees what Genie has that he doesn’t have, supreme magical power, and longs to possess it -- Aladdin sees Genie’s circumstances fully and knows that he is both amazingly powerful in a magical sense and utterly powerless when it comes to making his own choices.

Accompanying the film’s resolution is the beautiful instrumental “Happy End in Agrabah,” which dips into lighthearted whimsy, resignation, bittersweet joy and exhilaration, alongside echoes of both “To Be Free“ and A Whole New World. Aladdin gives Genie his greatest desire -- his freedom -- and in the process makes, in Jen’s words, the most selfless wish you could make...for only a diamond in the rough would make a wish for someone else, not for himself. And as Jen also pointed out, the Sultan follows Aladdin’s lead, giving Jasmine her freedom just as Aladdin gave Genie his. Our story ends with all of our protagonists earning the freedom that they’ve so longed for -- the freedom to achieve their own happiness -- through their love of each other.

Aladdin may be very “of its era” from a humor point of view, but it’s a movie that truly becomes more resonant with age. When Jen, Christina, and I were kids, we all enjoyed this movie’s flights of fantasy, humor, characters, and songs, but as adults, we can feel for these characters and their desire for freedom more than ever. We can understand how similar these individual characters are, and how even though they’re all in different prisons with different advantages and disadvantages, they all need the same key to unlock their cages -- love and empathy. However much the new Aladdin film diverges from the animated version, I only hope that they remember that core of the movie and how it is integrated into the entire story, from how much Aladdin wishes people would “look closer” when looking at him to Genie’s last words to Aladdin being that “no matter what anybody says, [Aladdin will] always be a prince to [Genie.]” And if it doesn’t, well, we still have the 1992 original...

...and Christina, Jen, and I give that movie three thumbs up!

#d-views #disney reviews #disney #aladdin #reviews #tory jen and christina watch together!!#opinion #analysis #oh boy here i go #aladdin (2019)

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sibillascribbles08 · 6 years ago

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Tick Tock

A Steampunk drabble commission for @echojulien, another one on the way soonish.

This one takes place in my Time Echo AU, you can check the tag on my blog for some context.

If you’re interested in a fic commission please DM me what you’re looking for, as it’s difficult for me to write for something I’m not personally interested in.

It was quiet.

An unusual state of affairs in his parents junkyard, but to be fair his parents weren’t around right now. Ed and Edna had gone to the city for the big farmer’s market. They invited Jay to go along but he turned it down.

He was too worried about Echo.

It’d been three weeks since the defeat of the time twins, since Wu vanished into the time stream, along with Echo’s source of power.

It took a week for Jay to be able to build a new one with Borg’s help, but it wasn’t ever going to be a proper replacement. They couldn’t get Echo’s time powers back. He’d lost his ability to travel back to the future, the time he wanted to be in.

Jay apologized, a lot, over and over again. He wound up sobbing when Echo first came to, despite the fact that he wanted to be happy his friend was even functioning. They couldn’t get his power back. Jay promised he would and he failed.

At the time, and the times after it, Echo was always calm. His touch was gentle as he told Jay it was alright. That he had nothing to apologize for. Echo kept acting like it was fine.

But it wasn’t fine. Jay wasn’t oblivious to his shift in behavior. The nindroid kept his distance, often wandering around the land, finding places to sit and stare at the horizon. Jay tried to give him some space, but didn’t want to leave.

It was quiet.

Jay tried to keep his mind off things by tinkering but it didn’t last. After only twenty minutes he found himself wandering around, looking for Echo. He found the nindroid outside the junkyard, sitting on the top of one of the nearby stone pillars. It took a bit of effort for Jay to climb up, and sadly he couldn’t be as subtle as he’d like.

“Yes Jay?” Echo said, not looking back at him.

“Uh, sorry.” Jay mumbled, still only halfway up with his leg in the air. He finished pulling himself on top of the pillar. “Didn’t mean to bother you.”

“You don’t bother me, Jay.” The nindroid finally looked back, a smile on his face. “But if you needed me I could have come down.”

“Hah, what? I need the exercise.” He joked as he straightened up. “No need to be getting lazy while the team figures out our next move.”

Echo hummed, his smile fading slightly as he looked back at the sky.

Jay fidgeted for a moment. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong.”

“Don’t lie to me.” He frowned. “You keep sitting out in the middle of nowhere staring at nothing. I get that you’re upset about losing your powers. You don’t need to pretend you’re not.”

“Jay.”

“And I’m sorry I couldn’t get them back. But maybe we could still find them? Along with Master Wu. Maybe then you can go back to the future and–”

“Jay.” Echo raised his voice as he stood up. “My powers being lost wasn’t your fault. You can’t keep blaming yourself.”

“Well what am I supposed to do?” His shoulders dropped when he sighed. “I can tell you’re upset and I can’t do anything about that either.”

“It’s something I have to accept.” Echo stepped over, not even hesitating to reach out and touch Jay’s face. “Losing my powers, staying here in the present, it will take some getting used to on my part.”

“I’m still sorry.” Jay mumbled. “You hadn’t even fully decided if you wanted to stay here or go back to the future but then that choice was made for you.”

Echo seemed to pause for a moment, studying him. “Didn’t you once ask me to stay here anyway?”

Heat rushed to his cheeks. “I mean, yeah, but I wouldn’t have made you. I wouldn’t have been happy with you getting trapped here. I’m still not.”

Another pause. “Did I ever tell you why I came back again?”

Jay blinked. “Huh? Well no I don’t think so. You mentioned wanting to spend time without the stress of evil sky pirates hanging around.”

Echo chuckled. “You asked me to, again.”

“I did?”

“Your future self wanted me to return to my own time. He said I should try taking control of my own future, instead of just existing in an ever changing one.”

Jay frowned. “Honestly? That sounds like something I would say.”

“He said he…” Echo trailed off for a moment, his hand moving up to Jay’s hair, twirling the strands in his fingers. “He said it was a bit selfish. He didn’t want to wait ten years to see me again.”

His face got even warmer. His voice stuttered for a moment. “Yeah that uh, also sounds like… something I’d say.”

“If I had gotten my powers back, would you have still asked me to stay?” Echo’s gaze fixed on him.

Jay’s heart started racing. The answer was screaming in his head but he couldn’t seem to manage to say it. “I mean it–it’s fun having you around and stuff. I like hanging out with you. Would uh, would suck if you were gone that long.”

Ugh, what was he doing? He should talk about this properly, right? It was a good opportunity. Echo was here. Jay was glad he was here. For a while he’d though he’d never see the nindroid again until he grew up. For a while he couldn’t map out the empty feeling in his chest.

“Um, the future self who asked you to come here.” Jay said. “Did he um… were you and him uh, dating?”

Echo blinked, studying him. “What do you think?”

“Well–”

“Based on how you feel now, what do you think your future self felt?”

“Think he…” Jay paused, swallowing to try and control his nerves. “Think he asked you to come back here because… waiting that long to confess a crush must suck.”

Echo leaned closer, a slight smile on his face. “Do you have a crush on me, Jay?”

He sputtered. “Wh– I mean, yeah, I do!” He shouted, taking a step back. “Don’t act all surprised, or whatever. You probably knew.” He pointed at him.

Echo straightened up as he chuckled, then laughed. The sound travelled down into the empty wasteland. Everything about him seemed to light up.

Echo stepped over and pulled Jay into a hug. He didn’t protest it, in fact even hugged Echo back, despite the embarrassment still rushing through his system.

Echo hugged him even tighter. “I love you so much.”

Jay knew he should properly respond but all he could manage was a mumble as he hide his face, begging for the burning in his cheeks to stop.

“Not being shy, are we?”

He mumbled again. Echo was clearly just teasing him now.

The nindroid laughed again as his hand ran through Jay’s hair. “You’re unbelievably adorable.”

This time he made his mumbling sound as angry as possible, but it didn’t phase Echo in the slightest. He just laughed again.

When everything quieted down, including Jay’s heart, he lifted his head up a bit, but didn’t let go.

“I know losing your power sucks.” Jay said. “But I’m glad you’re here.”

“Honestly? So am I.” Echo’s hands moved to his face, pushing him back ever so slightly. “I think I can handle no longer having my powers if you stay by my side.”

“You’re too poetic.” Jay pouted. “How am I supposed to top that?”

Echo just laughed again before kissing Jay’s forehead and letting go. “Come on, we should get back down. It’s close to lunch time and your parents will be getting home soon.”

Something about Jay wanted to protest, wanted to stay up here longer, maybe give Echo a proper kiss.

But for now he ignored it. Not like they wouldn’t have the time to do that later.

Even without Echo’s powers they still had all the time in the world.

#scribbly fics #ninjago #Time Echo AU

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thinkingaboutyoungroyals · 6 years ago

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Never Try To Steal TJ’s Muffin

A/N: Another request! Sadly, I don’t remember who requested it so if it’s yours, I hope this is okay! Not my best work but I tried!

Request: T.J. might be dating Cyrus, but some other guy is interested in Cyrus and asks for help. What would he do?

...................

“Hey, Kippen, can I talk to you?”

TJ turned briefly to the newest member of their team with a nod before turning back to Derek, the point guard he was talking to.

“We’ll talk more, later, man,” he told him and the other boy nodded before heading off to practice with the rest.

TJ turned to Ryan, their newest Center. He was an exchange student from Canada and was apparently a beast on the court at his home team. So, Coach had added him in, immediately.

The thing was, though, Ryan was kind of obnoxious. He was obviously the star back in Canada and his ego remained inflated. He acted like he was team captain and bossed the other players around. He tended to look down on Buffy, too, but he was subtle about it. As someone who had been intimidated by the female shooting guard in the past, TJ could tell that Ryan didn’t like her.

Nonetheless, since TJ was trying really hard to be a better Captain and get along with his teammates, he did his best to welcome him. And so far, his progress had been getting better. Their coach was so impressed that he now trusted TJ to lead practices while he was out doing who knows what (probably thinking up of more torture for the Gym classes the next day). That day was one of those days.

“What’s up?” TJ asked. “Are you having trouble with anything?”

The exchange student sheepishly scratched the back of his head. “It’s kind of an off-court kind of thing.”

TJ raised an eyebrow. His team usually didn’t come to him for off-court advice but he supposed there was a first time for everything so he could give it a shot. He wasn’t that good at it, though.

He nodded, prompting Ryan to grin.

“So, it’s about that guy who comes by here sometimes. The one who brings snacks.”

There was only one guy who comes by to bring the team snacks and that was Cyrus, shooting-guard Buffy’s best friend and TJ’s boyfriend.

He nodded, his brow furrowing. “What about him?”

“Do you know if he’s… seeing anyone? Girlfriend or… boyfriend? I mean, not that it would matter, but I just wanna know if I’m up against anyone, ya know?”

Almost immediately, TJ felt his mood darken and his protective instincts flared.

“Why?” he seethed.

Ryan, though, seemed oblivious to the dark aura surrounding the basketball team captain as he kept talking.

“He’s cute, definitely my type. I was thinking about asking him out later.”

“You’re gay?” was all TJ managed to say.

“Is that a problem?” Ryan asked, eyebrow raised.

TJ wanted to laugh at the irony but he was too busy holding himself back from throwing a punch.

“No,” he said, coldly. “Not at all.” Then, he smirked and pointed at Buffy who was in the middle of doing cardio. “That’s his best friend, right there. You should go ask her.”

Ryan’s nose wrinkled in disgust. He obviously didn’t want to. But, it wasn’t like he had a choice in the matter. If TJ had to suffer Buffy’s interrogation when he wanted to date Cyrus, it was only right that Ryan did too.

“Oh, okay, then. Thanks, mate.”

TJ felt bad but not really. Sure, he could have been straightforward and just told the guy that Cyrus was unavailable but where was the fun in that?

It didn’t take more than 10 seconds for Buffy’s, “YOU WHAT?!” to echo in the gym. Everyone, including TJ, all turned their attention to them.

Buffy didn’t seem to mind the eyes on her as she glared at the new player, who didn’t seem phased at all. TJ knew he had another thing coming at him.

“Come on, sweetheart-.”

“Don’t call me ‘sweetheart’! And even if Cyrus was available, what makes you think I’d let him date you?! The current one is already a thorn on my side!”

TJ raised an eyebrow at the jibe while the rest of the team glanced at him, a few fighting laughter. He was so going to make them pay with drills later.

Ryan, that egotistical jerk (even more than TJ ever was), just pursed his lips to the side, unaffected.

“So, he is with someone?” He chuckled. “Bet I can take them on.”

A few of the other players gasped out loud. Some took peeks at TJ, who was really doing everything he could to not move towards that jerk lest he ruined his current nice streak.

Buffy looked like she, herself, was going to throw some punches but was being held back by another player, Simon.

Just then, the gym doors opened and a, “Hello, best basketball team in all of Shadyside! I brought snacks!”

Cyrus appeared with his smile and basket of goodies – a literal woven basket he found at a flea market while he out with TJ, Andi, and Buffy. It was filled to the brim with packets of chocolate-covered pretzels, cheese crackers, and chips. Clutched in his other hand was a plastic bag of bottled flavored water. He set all the stuff down on the bleachers.

From the corner of his eye, TJ spied Ryan about to move but unlucky for him, TJ was closer.

With a smug smile, TJ quickly walked over to Cyrus, who beamed at him.

Without even a word of “hi”, TJ grabbed Cyrus around the waist, dipped him a little, and planted a deep kiss on his lips. His boyfriend let out a squeak of surprise.

He could understand why. TJ usually avoided blatant displays of affection around the team. But, for that day, he would make an exception.

When he pulled away, Cyrus was red from his ears to the tip of his nose as he stared at TJ, confused but dreamy.

“Thanks, muffin,” he said, loudly and using the rare nickname he tended to use only in private. “Give us 10 minutes, they have some drills to do.”

“O-Okay,” Cyrus replied, still embarrassed.

Turning around, TJ caught Buffy’s eye, who raised an eyebrow at him, amused. Meanwhile, Ryan stood here, mouth slightly open in disbelief.

TJ smirked at him before addressing the rest of the team.

“Okay! We’re doing dribbles! Forward dribbles across the court then back! Five minutes! After that, backward dribbles across and back for another five minutes! Move it!”

The team groaned but nonetheless got into their positions.

As TJ watched them carefully, he was aware of Cyrus’ constant hoots and words of encouragement to the team.

And because of that, TJ just couldn’t stop himself from smiling.

Anyone who tries to steal his muffin won’t get away with it.

#tyrus #tyrusdrabble

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canvaswolfdoll · 5 years ago

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CanvasWatches: Detective Pikachu

Well, I really want to play Pokemon now.

Not so much the actual Detective Pikachu game, because it’s burdened with a boring tutorial, and it’s just not engaging… but, like, maybe I’ll pick up the Blue or Gold versions I have on my 3DS. Poke away at my leisurely quest to finally catch them all by going through the entries.[1]

Anyways, my brother and I went to see Detective Pikachu. I left satisfied, and suspicious that any sequel will have to be a shameless cash-grab production, so let’s not hope for that.

Didn’t sit through the credits. Foxface was impatient, and I left Emi home alone with the lights out.[3] There was probably an after credits scene. Probably dancing Pikachu, from the fake leak.

Summary conclusion before the spoilery rambles: it’s fine. If you love the franchise, you’ll probably enjoy it. If you’re not a big Pokemon fan, you can skip it or see it with a fan. It’s competently adequate.

So, let’s review this thing. With spoilers! (Probably including the games. Don’t know, I write these things stream of thought style.)

The experience started when I bought the movie ticket, and was handed a promotional pack of pokemon cards along with it. I was surprised for half a second, before I thought back to receiving the Ancient Mew card when I saw Pokemon 2000 in theaters. Of course they’d give me cards to go with the movie. That’s how Pokemon movies work.

I got the Detective Pikachu card presumably everyone gets, and Jigglypuff.

Kind of disappointed to get Jigglypuff.[4]

I’ve always felt a strange relationship with Pokemon. I like the games, and do enjoy the trivia and random lore, but I’ve never absolutely loved it.[5] I’ve always felt like the franchise has a lot of potential, but never really commits. Plots could be a little meatier, the world a little more explored. A sense of wanderlust and nostalgia for a world distinct from our own that’s never really delivered.

Fanworks carry a lot of that weight, but I don’t like putting in effort for IPs that aren’t mine.

Anyways, similar deal with Detective Pikachu. Plot could use more meat,[6] world feels underexplored.

It’s based in Rhyme City, a film original locale. This provides a good excuse not to have Pokemon stored away in Pokeballs so they can mingle about the scenery, which is a good narrative handwave. However, it means we don’t get to see the locations of the games realized, the mechanics explored, and a kind of odd ‘One Pokemon per Trainer’ situation.[7] Especially since Pokemon battles are illegal in Rhyme City, making them more… well… dog-fighty.

Slash underground Fight Club-y.

Okay, to be fair, they do a good job of portraying the one on-screen combat involving Pokemon that are both willing and enjoying.

But we also miss the chance to see what an officially sanctioned Pokemon Battle looks like.[9]

Also, at no point does anyone ride a bike. One out of ten, literally unwatchable.

One thing that stuck out to me was how anime it felt. Japanese business signs filled the backgrounds, the vehicles were right-hand drive, and other subtle details really left an atmosphere of “I’m watching a live action anime!” beyond even the typical Japanifornia set media like Big Hero 6 or Legend of Korra used. Which, I suppose, helps sell the efforts to sell this as the live action Pokemon film.

Honestly, if Hollywood wants to adapt more anime, they should study this film. It understands how to portray Japan taking over the world without feeling like Blade Runner.

The movie also is very good at taking pokemon from all generations, my eye catching the fifth gen roster most often, but Aipoms, Torterras, Totodiles[10] and more are accounted for. I was worried that it’d be a genwunner pander-fest after watching the first trailer. There seemed to be a lack of Alola Pokemon, though, or at least I didn’t notice any, and they didn’t take the opportunity to reveal any Sword & Shield Pokemon.

I guess, given the choice, I’d prefer they not turn it into a Sword & Shield marketing push, but I also feel like the movie could’ve done it tastefully.

The movie is just filled with good will for the franchise, beginning with showing two friends (coded in red and blue clothes) going just outside of town to capture a pokemon (It was a Cubone! I love Cubone!) all the way to having credits showing the cast in the art style of the games, with particular nods to the lovely sprite work I miss.

As for the actual story… it’s fine. They didn’t really go out of the kids film mold, to the detriment of doing an actual Pokemon plot. There’s no bad guy team, and besides naming the rage-inducing chemical “R”,[11] not even a nod to Team Rocket. Which I think could’ve been done very easily. Just introduce Team Rocket funding somewhere, maybe having the all-consuming corporation running the city secretly funding their activities?

Is this film lighter, softer cyberpunk? Detective Pikachu might be child-grade cyberpunk. That’s cool.

There wasn’t any sock blasting twists. The red herring villain was a red herring villain; the nice seeming CEO guy was behind it all; the Dad was the Pikachu all along. It was what it was looked to be.

I will concede I didn’t see the Ditto twist coming, but mostly because I forgot about Ditto.

And, as Suede pointed out in his Pokemon anime reviews, it’s odd that what was meant to be a one-off quirk for a one-off Ditto has become a racial trait. It lends itself to pretty decent effects, but I can’t put the thought out of my mind now that it’s been pointed out.

The actual Pokemon were a nice, even mix of Uncanny Valley to just the Pokemon. Mr. Mime wasn’t notably as creepy as he was when shown in the trailer, and in fact was the center of one of the best scenes. Pikachu is adorable when his brow isn’t pulling overtime, and the Audino that pops up here and there looks like a mascot suit. It’s a good mixture.

I must suggest that, after watching the movie, go look at the merch online. Not necessarily to buy it like crazy, but just for the fun little details that can be gleaned.[12]

I hope this opens the door to more live-action Pokemon films, especially ones that will explore the world and develop the plot out more. Maybe do a PG-13 one for the older kids. Detective Pikachu was fine, but there’s a lot more that could be done.

Thanks for reading my review. To support this and my other works, consider either Patreon for early access and regular support, or Ko-fi for a one time tip. There’s much more I’d love to do, and every dollar allows me the opportunity to do more.

Now… guess I should go plod through Kanto as I deliberate on Sword versus Shield.

Kataal kataal.

[1] Well, I’m switching Ruby/Sapphire out with AlphaSapphire, because I don’t actually feel like going super intense with the ‘hit every generation’ thing.[2] [2] Am going to also do HeartGold, though. Because I have it, and love Johto. [3] She’s fine! And adorable as always. Just… didn’t think ahead. [4] Foxface got Lickitung. Wish I got Lickitung. [5] Maybe because I still have scars from siding with Digimon during the wars. Maybe because you don’t have to love or hate every IP. [6] Yes, it’s a kid’s film, but kids can parse a little more depth than they’re often given credit for. [7] Because, since generation six, Pokemon has been struggling to be Digimon.[8] [8] Even call them “Partner Pokemon”. Come on! [9] Maybe the sequel can be about reintroducing Pokemon Battles to Rhyme city, with Team Plasma either cameoing or as the antagonistic force. [10] Literally all my preferred starter lines of the first six generations are accounted for somewhere. Which makes me feel good. [11] Which is a stretch. [12] The neighborhood watch sign has a Patrat!

#CanvasWatches #detective pikachu #pokemon #CanvasReviews

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lia-nikiforov · 7 years ago

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Winter 2018 Anime Final Review

Why yes, pretty much all the Spring premieres are done (don’t even remind me haha I’m so far behind) and this is horribly late, I had a busy couple of weeks ;---; and am still struggling to catch up, but here’s my final rundown of this long slow winter! Worst to best, as always.

Dropped

Basilisk Ouka Ninpou Chou: Although I’d said I’d keep watching for the Nobunaga twist, given the onslaught of new stuff for Spring, it’s unsustainable to keep watching something so mediocre I don’t even find anything to say about it. Also Nobunaga hasn’t been mentioned in three episodes.

DUMPSTER FIRE

Darling in the Franxx: So we’re halfway through the show and still feels nothing of importance has happened, except we learned “lesbians are not viable, what a relief” and also KOKORO REALLY WANTS TO MAKE BABIES. The whole Kokoro business is very unsavory because on the one hand the writing is a dick to Walking Fat Joke Futoshi, but on the other hand Futoshi is an entitled Nice Guy who acts like Kokoro has some obligation to return his feelings, so basically everyone sucks lmao. Btw, does anyone know what happened with episode 13? I went to watch it but what I got instead was a Deadman Wonderland episode, complete with the story of Palurdo meeting Lab Experiment-turned-Beast Waifu as children and making a promise that would subsequently be forgotten until they meet again in their teenage years. Jesus, does Womenz are Beastz: The Anime have a single original idea?

How am I supposed to measure my own disinterest and contempt

This basically means I didn’t care for these shows. I don’t hate them but I was aggressively unengaged in them and I can’t really rank them from worst to best because that would imply me having any measurable emotional reaction to them

Violet Evergarden: I don’t think I have much to add about this one that I haven’t said before. Tryhard Sad Anime Girl stories rehashing old clichés with little novelty to them, with a bonus of a super poorly explained and thought out child super soldier tragic backstory that still has me ?????? The final episode has the addendum of trying to redeem That One Asshole in a “he treats her bad because he’s sad about his brother dying sob sob sob he’s totally not a jerk” and i was very annoyed by that.

Koi wa Ameagari no You ni: It’s complicated to talk about this show. I really liked the first episode, hated the 4-6, then was mostly bored by the rest of it. The whole romance angle was completely dropped in the latter half, but I’m not even sure if that’s a good thing given how tastelessly it was being handled in some moments, or a bad one given how bland everything else was. It felt like Akira’s crush on Kondo turned out to be insignificant in the grand scheme of things. It also felt like Akira was profoundly underdeveloped, and it bothered me because Kondo was developed properly. His character felt more fully realized than hers. Like idk, I just cared so little for the last few episodes and it didn’t feel like Akira’s emotional progression was very connected with the first half of the show.

Fate/Extra Last Encore: I don’t even have a screenshot. Apparently the reason the show started so late into the season is that it took a long time to produce, and apparently there are two more episodes that will be released at some point in July. But really, what matters is that I have no idea of what this show was trying to accomplish. The characters were a bunch of pieces of cardboard spouting pseudo nihilistic philosophical nonsense and I don’t even know how to describe the plot. It was generic in its Boss of the Week approach but the execution was often very flat. Definitely none of the fun from Apocrypha’s cool characters was to be had in this iteration of the franchise.

Too much iyashikei

This season we had too much iyashikei and I’m burned out. Here are the ones I didn’t hate but also wasn’t super in love with.

Miira no Kaikata: I think this show would’ve worked better as 3-minute vignettes. 20 minutes of it was a bit too much and I struggled to pay attention. I also felt the dragon and MukuMuku had very tangential roles. I don’t have a whole lot to say. It’s cute, if cute is your jam this show is for you. Connie is best smol monster.

Hakumei to Mikochi: Another cute show that gains extra points for its somewhat unique setting, beautiful color palette and picture book aesthetic and because the two main girls are great characters. I particularly liked the first and last episodes. It’s a relaxing, fun little show

Sanrio Danshi: The harbinger of feminism made into a toy commercial, while not quite iyashikei, is still a slice of life that just occassionally indulged in too much melodrama. It was nonetheless a fun little thing that managed to turn cynical consumerism into a positive message for boys: it’s okay to like non-traditionally-masculine things. One of the details I liked most was that none of the boys had to give up on their previous groups of friends even after “coming out”, Kouta’s friends and Shuu’s team were supportive of them and even participated in their dumbass musical play. Some may even read this show as a not-so-subtle allegory on homosexuality and while I don’t think this was Sanrio’s intent (their intent is to broaden their market, plain and simple) the fact that it works so well with that reading is honestly great. I had very minimal expectations for this show and I’m happy it turned out better than those.

Classicaloid 2: Classicaloid isn’t quite iyashikei either but it fits in the “didn’t love it, didn’t hate it” category. I’m a huge fan of season one, but unfortunately a big part of S2 failed to capture the magic. I think most of it was restored in the second cour, specially with brilliant episodes such as the one where Dovo-chan becomes a super-realistic painting of himself, and the last three episodes really captured what made Classicaloid great. I’ve really come to love this cast, so I wouldn’t complain if we got more seasons (please do Vivaldi!!!)

Shonen is a Good Genre, Actually

Shonen as a genre/demographic is much reviled for its repetitive clichés and childish stories, but I think we live at a time in which we can have well-executed shonen anime that, although falling for the same old clichés, have enough heart and sincerity that makes them enjoyable. This part also isn’t necessarily ranked, since my favorite one will change depending on which day you ask me

Nanatsu no Taizai: Imashime no Fukkatsu: As I have mentioned before, this second season seems to be the polar opposite of the first one’s rapid pace. It’s been a while since I read the manga, but I feel like it took a lot less to get to the mid-season cutoff point there than this anime would lead you to believe, especially the training part felt excruciatingly long. NanaTai has other various flaws including its 1000% not funny harrassment jokes and the dumb introduction of quantified “power levels” (why Suzuki), but characters like Diane, King and Ban give the show a unique flavor. And I’m not even gonna pretend to be unbiased, I just love everything involving Ban, even the weird and questionable choice of bringing Elaine back. I’m excited that we’re finally approaching Escanor’s arrival.

Yowapeda Glory Road: I also forgot to grab a screenshot lmao. Yowapeda is a very particular beast, and with its episode count already in the hundreds, it’s not something I’d reccommend unless you’re super into dragged out ridiculous sports anime. This second season of Onoda’s second year has not been without its flaws either, starting with the, imho absurd persistence in making Sohoku look like underdogs even though they’re reigning champions. It’s made a lot of the first two days of the Interhigh feel a lot grimmer than this cheerful show ought to. Kaburagi is still an insufferable character, and the fact that he drags the team down doesn’t help him either, and I just wish the writers would let Best Boy Teshima win anything. I hope the second day ends on a lighter note, because the gloom and doom is making this a less enjoyable watch than it should be

Mahoutsukai no Yome: I feel a little better about this one knowing the final was anime-original, but at the same time I’m beyond livid with how it was wrapped up. I loved the second half of the series because of how well-written and emotional Chise’s growth was, and everything up to her embracing of Cartaphilus’s curse was a beautiful display of her strength and will to live. What I’m not here for is that asspull wedding whatever that makes no sense in the context of the previous events, especially because after the fact, Elias’s attempt to kill Stella is swept under the rug. This could’ve been my favorite show of the season without that bullshit ending and while I don’t regret watching it, it leaves me with a sad feeling of what could have been

Best of the season

Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens: It had a slow start, but with its endearing cast and well-developed character relationships, HTR won me over, especially the last quarter. The animation was veeery barebones, but Lin and Bamba’s charisma and their organically developed relationship carried the show to be one of the most enjoyable of the season. I also really appreciate the fact that the series includes a gay couple with an adopted daughter and that Lin’s crossdressing is never used as a joke or treated as a character flaw or a “phase”. I love stories about found families and I’d love to see more of this gang fighting crime and doing shady business in their city of assassins.

Garo: Vanishing Line: This iteration of Garo had a somewhat slow start, but boy did it pick up steam in the second half. The action was great -the final fight against King had some incredible stylistic choices, the characters’ journeys felt complete and very human and the story was interesting and different enough from other Garo to not feel repetitive, yet with enough Garoisms that made it feel connected to everything else. Like I said, I love stories about found families, so the way Sophie found a home with Gina, Luke and Sword by the end was very touching. Watching Sophie’s journey has been a treat, and I’m immensely happy that this wasn’t a Guren no Tsuki disaster, but was more in line with the excellence of Honoo no Kokuin.

Gakuen Babysitters: This was the huge surprise of the season for me, I almost expected it to be pretty dull. Instead it turned out to be super cute and extremely heartwarming. It had a couple of duds here and there, mostly the not-actually-a-pedophile joke character and the early love triangle skits, but the former disappeared and the latter was vastly improved in the second half of the show. I wish Ryuichi’s grief had been dealt with a bit more, but I think what they did show was very well executed and empathetic. And the portrayal of the kids felt very realistic, including both children’s most adorable and most obnoxious behaviors. KIRIN IS BEST GIRL

Card Captor Sakura Clear Card arc: I have expressed some complaints and dissatisfactions with this sequel all through the season. Mostly in regards to the new cards and how the old ones seem to have been forgotten (also the lazy designs of the new cards). In spite of that, Sakura hasn’t lost any of its heart in these 20 years, the characters are still the kids we grew up with. It is an overwhelmingly cheerful and positive show, from Sakura and Syaoran’s shyly developing relationship, to the hopefulness of Sakura’s magic and just the simple day to day life of Sakura and her friends. In spite of all its flaws, Sakura is still my favorite show of the season and I’m happy we get to spend one more season with these characters. Just please give me more Yue???

Ooooof, finally I’m done with this! PLEASE LET’S NOT TALK ABOUT THE 20+ SHOWS I’M SAMPLING FOR SPRING AHAHAHAHA. There’s too much anime. Anime must be stopped, immediately. Don’t hesitate to send me your thoughts about the winter season, even if it seems I’m losing my mind a little Dx TOO MUCH ANIME

#winter anime #anime final impressions #darling in the franxx #violet evergarden #card captor sakura #gakuen babysitters #koi wa ameagari no you ni #fate extra last encore #garo vanishing line #hakata tonkotsu ramens #ancient magus bride #yowapeda glory line #nanatsu no taizai #classicaloid #sanrio danshi #hakumei to mikochi #miira no kaikata #100

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amandajoyce118 · 6 years ago

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Ant-Man and the Wasp Easter Eggs and References

I never posted this. Whoops. Since I’ve been lacking on the six-sentence Sundays, have this instead.

Obviously, there are going to be spoilers for the movie. Since it’s been out for a while now, I probably don’t have to warn people about that, but… just in case, you’ve been warned.

(Also, I’m going to be honest, while typing this up, I realized it’s been so long since I made my notes, that I couldn’t even read some of them, so there’s probably a reference or two missing.)

The Original Wasp

The original costume that we see for the Wasp is muuuuuccch closer to the comic book costume than the one Hope wears. Funnily enough, her clothing in the Quantum Realm is also what she wears when stuck in the Microverse after being shrunk down because she was turned into a living bomb. Good times. Fun fact: Janet actually designed all of the Avengers’ costumes in the comics. She was a fashion designer in addition to being a scientist and a hero.

The Red Queen

On the wall of Hope’s childhood bedroom is a print of what looks like the Red Queen from Alice Through the Looking Glass. In the comics, the Red Queen is Hope’s supervillain name. Yes, she’s a supervillain in another universe.

Cassie

Cassie’s really good at the game to steal a priceless artifact for a little kid, isn’t she? In the comics, she becomes a superhero in her own right, and this whole sequence just made me think she’d be pretty good at it.

The Accords

For the reason Scott is on house arrest see Captain America: Civil War. Is this really an Easter egg at this point? I don’t know. But it was in my notes anyway.

X-Con Security Consultants

It’s not a subtle pun, but I love it all the same. It’s also a nod to the fact that when Scott gets out of prison in the comics, he also started his own security company.

“Snap your fingers.”

While Scott is learning about magic, he watches a video that features this line when discussing how to effectively use misdirection. Was this whole movie a big chunk of misdirection so that we didn’t think about the finger snap? Maybe. Was the finger snap itself some giant misdirection? Maybe. Who knows? I just like that it got a nod here too.

Agent Jimmy Woo

The FBI agent is a character from the comics. He worked for Agents of Atlas at one time, and later became the head of a school for gifted kids in Mumbai. (BTW, he’s also listed as a contact in May’s phone on Agents of SHIELD.)

Animal House

When Scott is being “kidnapped,” he was busy watching Animal House. Specifically, he’s watching a scene that involves Donald Sutherland theorizing about how small the universe really is.

Hank’s Cars

Much like his keychain of a tank he carried around in the first movie, Hank carries around a whole set of cars in this movie. He also carries around his shrunken lab. In the comics, he also carried a pouch full of things he shrunk down, just in case he needed them.

Sonny Burch

The guy dealing in black market goods exists in the comics. He was the chairman of Cross Technologies. We met Cross in the first movie. Funnily enough, the company used to be under Obadiah Stane. You might remember him from the Iron Man movies. (Geoffrey Ballard, the guy Sonny calls to give a tip about Scott and Hope to, is also a comic book character. He became the villain Centurion.)

Hydra Doesn’t Exist

According to the folks in this movie, anyway. Anyone who keeps an eye on the TV side of the MCU knows that Hydra is still kicking at this point in the timeline in the form of Ruby, her mom, and their soldiers on Agents of SHIELD. (No, those timelines might not exactly line up, but that’s probably pretty close to where we are.)

Baba Yaga

Baba Yaga is actually a mythical being, but it’s funny that this story is used in reference to Ghost. Why? Because there is a Marvel character named Baba Yaga. She was the Russian goddess of witchcraft and misfortune… and she also ran a branch of the mafia and set up base in Brooklyn because… why not? Ghost, of course, was also a character in the comics, but the story for the character has been completely reworked for the movie.

Elihas Starr

Father to ghost here, he’s also a comic book character. He was an atomic scientist who became a villain known as Egghead. He was once hired to kidnap the Wasp, amongst other things.

Bill Foster, Former SHIELD Agent

Bill was Hank’s lab assistant for a while in the comics. You know what else he was though? Husband to Claire Temple for a while. He also worked for Tony Stark. And he became a hero in his own right - Goliath. (BTW, Laurence Fishburne's son plays the younger version of the character in flashbacks.)

Team Caps

I’m sorry, but did anyone else find it funny that Hope and Scott decided baseball caps were how they would walk around without being noticed? It’s the same way Captain America and company try to stay under the radar. I guess it’s good Scott ended up on Team Cap.

The Chalkboard

I’m sure there are some Easter eggy things on the board that me, a non science nerd, wouldn’t catch. More eagle eyed fans will.

Project Goliath

Like I said, Bill was once a hero named Goliath. That’s also a code name used by Hank Pym when he was “Giant Man.” It’s also been used by other characters when they were supersized. It was also a project already mentioned by Tony Stark in one of the Iron Man movies when he was looking into old SHIELD projects.

“Janet was the one to endure…”

Bill says this about Janet’s working relationship with Hank. I found the wording purposeful. In the comics, Hank’s mental health disorders and experimentation with his abilities end up combining to create multiple personalities. One of them is Yellowjacket, who was abusive. His temperment in the MCU doesn’t seem to be all that different according to those who worked with him before.

“It��s them!”

Bill Foster says this when he sees a bunch of ants. Why is this a reference? Because it’s a shout out to the movie THEM! from the 50s. It featured giant ants. Hope, Scott, and Cassie, also watch it on a rooftop later.

Ava’s Place

There’s a nod to another Disney franchise in her home/lab. I spotted a Darth Vader helmet on one of her shelves.

Argentina

This is an interesting choice for Ava’s backstory. For one thing, we haven’t seen much of it in the MCU before. For another, the country is most often associated with Black Tarantula in the comics. Magneto has also gone after Nazi war criminals there, Maya Hansen (you remember her from Iron Man) has been kidnapped there, and portals to other realities have opened there. It’s a happening place on the page, so maybe we’ll start to see more of it on screen.

Truth Serum

The whole back and forth about whether or not truth serum worked reminded me of Skye being threatened with it on Agents of SHIELD in the pilot, only for it to be used on Grant Ward to gain her trust instead. It was made very clear that there was no such thing as a truth serum after the fact, but maybe there is.

Stan Lee

The 60s were fun, he says in his cameo. And he wasn’t kidding. It featured Jack Kirby’s psychedelic style, for sure. It was also definitely a good decade for Marvel. The Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk, The Avengers, The Amazing Spider-Man, and Daredevil all got their first solo titles that decade. (It was a good year for DC too. Poison Ivy and Batgirl both made their comic book debut during the decade.)

Tim Heidecker

You’ll recognize him as the boat captain from the big confrontation scene. He’s actually the co-host of a podcast. His co-host Gregg Turkington appeared in the first movie in a cameo as well.

The Infinity War Tie-In

Ant-Man ends up stuck in the Quantum Realm while everyone waiting for him outside dissolves into ash. This gives us an explanation for just what Scott was up to during the events of Avengers: Infinity War as the end of that movie is where we see all of that dissolving into ash. This movie apparently takes place over roughly the same time period, just like the last few episodes of Agents of SHIELD likely do as well, making this a very packed time period on Earth.

#ant-man and the wasp #MCU #marvel comics #marvel easter eggs #easter eggs

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ufasevenmrqr026-blog · 4 years ago

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amillionsmiles · 7 years ago

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your hair was long when we first met (Pidge/Lance)

Summary: Pidge’s hair grows with the seasons. So do Lance’s feelings. A/N: here have a little bit of fwoof Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4

[Read and review over on Ao3] or continue under the cut.

WINTER

“Is it Sara?”

“No.”

“Eric?”

“No.”

“Amara?”

“No.”

“Are you even going to tell me if I get it right?”

“No.”

“Ugh!” Jeremy throws up his hands. “You’re really cramping my style, here.”

Lance shoots him a flat look. “Half of the fun of Secret Santa is the, you know, secret part.”

Jeremy grins, waving a finger. “You have me, don’t you.”

“No.”

It’s one of their rare moments of rest in the office. Jeremy has a spreadsheet pulled up on his computer, tabulating his guesses on who has whom for the end-of-year gift exchange. More than once, he’s tried to bribe Lance with the information—and while Lance would be lying if he said he wasn’t tempted, part of him still believes in the beauty of surprises.

“Can you just tell me if it’s someone in sales? Or is it someone in marketing?”

“Jeremy, there’s only one person in marketing.”

“So, no, then. Tech team?”

It’s like fending off one of his older sisters when she’s digging for gossip. Lance puts his fingers to his temple, massaging.

“How much do I have to pay you to quit asking?”

“My month’s rent?” Jeremy quips, teeth flashing. At Lance’s expression, he laughs. “Okay, fine, I’ll stop pestering.”

“Thank you,” exhales Lance. Before he can enjoy his release, though, another distraction comes calling, this time in the form of a text.

Pidge: Are you free this afternoon

Lance frowns.

Lance: ya what’s up ??

Pidge: Need your help

Lance: like hiding a dead body kind of help or …

Pidge: No!

I’ll explain after work

“Who’s the lucky gal?” interjects Jeremy, craning his neck.

“One, who says it’s a girl, and two, none of your business.”

“Nobody tells me anything,” Jeremy pouts.

After his shift, Lance takes the elevator down to the lobby. She meets him fifteen minutes later, scurrying toward where he sits in one of the cushy leather chairs.

“Sorry,” says Pidge. “Had to do some desk cleaning.”

“No problem.” Lance stands up, tucking his hands in his pockets. “What’s the sitch?”

“I hate that I get that reference,” Pidge says, then surprises him by asking: “Have you gotten a gift for your Secret Santa yet?”

“No.”

Pidge releases a breath. “Oh, good. That actually makes me feel better.”

“Is that what you need my help with?”

“Yeah,” Pidge says, her bottom lip pushing out into a frown. “I have Amara, and I’ve got no idea what to get her.”

Lance preens a little, straightening his shoulders and puffing out his chest. “Well, you definitely came to the right guy. How big is your budget?”

“Nothing too extravagant. I was just going to go to the outdoor mall and see if I could find anything there.”

Lance looks outside, to where a fleet of passerby stroll past the windows with their heads down, hunched against a gust of wind. Snow piles in drifts on the sidewalks and against the base of the lamppost just outside their office building’s doors. Doubtfully, he eyes Pidge, who is busy zipping up her jacket and winding a scarf around her neck, covering the bottom half of her face.

“You, Katie Perpetually-Cold Holt, are going to brave the outdoor mall in this weather? Just for the sake of Secret Santa?”

Pidge shoots him one of those do you even know me? looks. “I don’t half-ass things,” she says primly, words muffled through the woolen layer wrapped around her mouth. “Now are you coming or not?”

For a Wednesday afternoon, it’s a busy crowd. Paper bags bump against hips and a group of little girls blow past them, chasing each other in puffy parkas. Pidge’s hands stay in her coat pockets and Lance’s stay in his, but the narrow walkways keep them close. At the corner, someone has set up a table just outside the tea shop, offering samples. Lance nudges Pidge with his elbow, nodding toward the display.

“I’m pretty sure I’ve heard Amara mention a teapot collection once. Maybe you could get her one and some tea mix?”

Pidge stops short in the middle of the street. “That’s actually a good idea.”

Lance raises an eyebrow. “You sound surprised.”

“I just meant… I didn’t think it would be so easy.”

“You say that now,” Lance warns, pulling open the shop door, the bell tinkling brightly overhead, “but you underestimate how hard it is to pick the perfect blend of tea.”

Half an hour later, after Pidge makes him rate ten different blends based on smell and coloring to help her whittle down her choices, they leave with Amara’s gift nestled safely in a bag. Lance is trying to figure out the best way to say goodbye, now that they’ve finished the errand Pidge recruited him for, but instead she tilts her face up to him, expectant.

“Okay, now it’s your turn.”

“What?”

“You said you hadn’t bought anything yet for your Secret Santa, either. We’re still here; might as well maximize our time and take care of your gift, too.”

Lance snorts, reaching over to ruffle Pidge’s hair. “‘Maximize our time,’” he quotes. “Nerd.”

“It’s not nerdy, it’s common sense,” grumbles Pidge, fixing her bangs as she scurries to catch up with him. “So who are we shopping for?”

“Secret.”

Pidge narrows her eyes. “Since when have you been good at keeping secrets?”

“Since it was called Secret Santa,” counters Lance, before his eyes light up at the shop approaching on their right. “Hey, look.”

A miniature Rube Goldberg machine occupies the window. Model airplanes hang from the ceiling on varying lengths of wire, which gleam silver like tinsel. A single shared glance between them is all it takes to agree on the detour. Lance is the one who pointed out the store, but Pidge is the one who runs with it, full speed ahead, thrusting Amara’s gift bag into his arms so that she can barrel through the door, the shop bell chiming loudly overhead.

Right before Lance follows Pidge into the buttery light of the toy store, he pauses.

When they were younger, Mariel, his oldest sister, had brought home a stray cat and managed to convince their parents to let them keep it. Rosa had been a solitary creature, for the most part, crawling into their laps at the most inconvenient times and then refusing to come near when they actually made attempts to coax her. She’d always sprung for Tommy’s laser pointer, though, would pounce after the red dot for hours.

Going after Pidge is a little like that. More instinct than thought, a light chased after, and for a moment he wonders about the alternate paths they could have taken. If he hadn’t followed her up to the roof of the Garrison that night. If he hadn’t let her drag him through the space mall, all those years ago. If he could manage to close his eyes and look away.

He takes a step forward and goes in.

Pidge crouches beside the tiny track laid around the perimeter of the shop, watching as the model train emerges from the tunnel by her shoes. The next minute finds her on her tiptoes, nose pressed against glass as she peers at the inner workings of a red and white grandfather clock. From a corner, a collection of music boxes chimes, fifteen different melodies somehow meshing together.

Lance turns to the shelf nearest him, setting the shopping bag down by his feet. An unattended remote control rests above a card labeled “See attendant.”

A woman with mousy brown hair approaches him, clad in a green vest. “Anything I can do to help you?”

Lance points at the control. “What does this go with?”

“That one over there.” The woman indicates a double-winged plane, its body painted blue, its propeller and wings orange. “You can try it, if you want.”

Lance doesn’t need to be told twice. They’d owned a sleek black quadcopter drone when he was little; he’d spent countless summers running barefoot along the beach while his dad or one of his older sisters piloted it, making it swerve and dip just out of reach in a high-tech game of catch. But there’s something charming about playing with this vintage model instead, its garish candy colors especially bright as he steers it to hover annoyingly close to Pidge’s head.

“Lance,” she huffs from deeper in the store, swatting it away. The plane dips away from her reach, skimming dangerously close to the jewel-toned music boxes on display.

“Hey, careful with the merchandise! You break it, you buy it!” Lance warns, to the chagrin of the shop attendant standing beside him. Pidge just rolls her eyes and sticks her tongue out at him, but sure enough she wants to have a try later. Lance spends a good five minutes holding the control out of her reach before the shopkeeper intervenes, terrified that they’ll knock over the carefully arranged dollhouse in the corner.

It’s worth it, for the smug look Pidge sends him when she finally gets her way. Lance pretends to be more offended then he really is, bites the inside of his cheek to hide his smile at the concentration that washes over Pidge’s face as she fiddles with the controls.

He knows how to keep a secret.

The unveiling comes on a Friday, Altech’s third floor space commandeered by a group of excited adults. Lance gets new cologne and a gift card to some fancy dinner place courtesy of Jeremy, a not-so-subtle dig. (“Well-played,” he tells his friend, afterwards.) Amara is absolutely smitten by her new teapot, even going so far as to hug Pidge, who shoots Lance a startled look through the embrace.

Lance winks.

Soon it’s Pidge’s turn to unwrap her mystery present. She tears into it with gusto, undoing the cardboard tabs of the box beneath the silver and gold wrapping paper. A star-shaped projector emerges from the packaging, about as big as her face.

“Turn the lights off,” someone says, and the room plunges into relative darkness, everyone watching as Pidge powers up her gift. A whir, like the sound of curtain rolling up, and a beam of light paints stars on the ceiling, swirling points in blue and green. They coalesce in a slow, mesmerizing kaleidoscope effect.

Realistically, Lance knows it’s just a projection, but a part of him longs to reach upward all the same, imagines coming away with their colors on his fingertips.

“Who’s it from?” Eric calls.

Pidge is already ahead of him. She reads the name on the card to herself, then does a double-take.

“Lance?”

“Thank you,” Pidge says, for the fifth time that day.

Ever since the fall mixer, they’ve taken to walking to the rail station together after work. It’s a good way to transition from the headspace of the office into the rest of his evening; talking to Pidge always helps him unwind. She makes a comical figure today, forced to wrap both arms around her unwieldy Secret Santa box in order to carry it effectively. A forest green and white knit cap sits over her hair; Lance reaches over to flick the pompom adorning it.

“Like I’ve already said, you’re welcome.”

“I just can’t believe you managed to find something like this so last minute. It’s so…perfect.”

Lance shrugs, raising his arms above his head to stretch. “What can I say? I’m a pretty pro gift-giver.”

Pidge hugs the box closer to her chest, smiling down at it. “Yeah, I guess.”

I just want us to be friends.

Friends can stay out a little longer on a Friday evening. They’ll approach the rail station soon enough on their left, but Lance nudges Pidge slightly toward the right, turning her attention up the street. In the distance, the park’s outdoor rink gleams bright white against the dark stone bridges and bare-boned trees. “We should go ice-skating.”

“What am I going to do with this, though?” Pidge holds up her present.

“It’ll fit in the locker, trust me,” says Lance. “Now hurry up, it looks like they’re bringing out the zamboni and I want to be the first one on that ice.”

They make it to the rink with relatively little mishap, though Lance almost slips on a patch of ice on the sidewalk and Pidge comes close to bowling over some kid in a puffy purple parka. It’s worth it, though, for the satisfaction of the first smooth glide of his skates. Pidge is slower about stepping out onto the rink, and Lance takes advantage, throwing a clump of ice at her back and skating away before she can retaliate. He has to maneuver carefully with all the other people milling about, but he’s still completed a full lap in the time it takes Pidge to relinquish her grip on the wall. And, of course, she only does this in order to lunge at him instead. Lance skids from the added momentum, managing to regain his balance just enough to turn them around so that he bears most of the impact when they collide with the barrier.

“Oof!”

“Sorry,” says Pidge, drawing back. Her cheeks are ruddy from the cold. When she blinks up at him, Lance notices a fleck of moisture caught on her eyelashes. Unwittingly, his focus narrows to that single point: the kiss of tiny hairs against the curve of her cheek, their slow approach. She’s got a hand on his coat, he realizes distantly—holding him in place. And she’s rising on her toes, her other hand sneaking up to hover somewhere near his neck, too much and not enough, all at once—

“Not,” says Pidge, and dumps a clump of ice down his back.

At the dining table, Lance stopped short.

“You cut your hair.”

He didn’t mean for it to come out sounding so betrayed. Pidge looked up, fiddling with the newly shortened ends behind her ear.

“Yeah.” A shoulder lifted higher than the other; her eyes slid away. “It was getting hard to manage.”

“Who did it for you?”

“Keith.”

It was a clean cut. Practical, precise. He wanted to say something about that—offer a compliment, an “It looks good,” because that’s what he would have said anyways, before whatever had happened between them in the training room—

Instead, he hesitated. “Listen, Pidge—”

“It’s fine.” She brushed him off. “It’s just the way it was before.”

Lance had made his choice. This was Pidge’s.

It was the least he could do.

"Like nothing's changed," he agreed, and pretended that they were only talking about her hair.

#voltron #pidge #lance #plance #pidgance #my writing #fanfiction #otp: teenage dream meme team #ff: voltron

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vicostoness · 5 years ago

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The Quartz Countertop Marble Pitfall

The Chronicles of Quartz Countertop Marble

You will have the ability to find quartz which features elegant veining or quartz that's solid in color. Therefore, quartz isn't suited to outdoor kitchens. Since it is a none-porous material, it does not need to be sealed. Like black quartz countertops, it's a color which is also convenient to wash and maintain. Learn which concrete quartz countertop is best for you at CaesarstoneUS.com. All quartz countertops should be safeguarded from UV radiation. Sometimes known as Halcyon White, this specific style of quartz is a lovely alternative for kitchens. It is not naturally stain-resistant.

Ok, I Think I Understand Quartz Countertop Marble, Now Tell Me About Quartz Countertop Marble!

Some installers can do the job independently, others are going to request that you receive an accredited plumber for the job. Not positive if they just deal with actual construction contractors or they simply have sufficient organization. You should only think about installing your own countertop when you have experience and the necessary skills.

New Ideas Into Quartz Countertop Marble Never Before Revealed

The cool and lightly patterned quartz inside this example increases the room's old world charm and permits the oak's history to truly shine. When you've set the tone for the undertaking, you will also wish to pay close attention to the individual qualities of your oak cabinets. The huge choice of countertop materials can make it challenging to decide on the best one for the way you live and space. Corian is also stain-resistant, easy to fix and offered in a vast array of designs and colours. Chrome and glass-finished pendant and track lights illuminate the conventional style kitchen together with the double hung window during its center end. Quartz countertops are offered in a broad range of color alternatives, from neutral to bright blues. It is a rather hard metamorphic rock and is non-foliated which makes it far more valuable. The main point in appearance is that in the event that you want natural stone, quartzite is your pick. Strong white can get the job done beautifully in the proper modern kitchen design, but if your design style isn't modern, solid white might not be the best option. All solid surfaces make a great resale choice for your dwelling. If you wish to attain this aesthetic, keep away from dark oaks. All manufacturers are going to have some variation from 1 slab lot to the next, and there's an excellent likelihood that there is going to be a subtle difference between the sample you selected your countertop from, and the slabs utilised in your kitchen in spite of the maximum high quality quartz countertops on the marketplace. While taking a look at cabinets, it is worth it to keep tabs on the subsequent telltale indications of quality (or lack thereof). Lowe's carries this item line. It is manufactured by Consentino.

Hearsay, Lies and Quartz Countertop Marble

Without a suitable seal, stains can penetrate in the stone. If you reside these on the face of the countertops for too long, there's a danger of slight discoloration. Concrete is another material that's currently in vogue. Oak is among the most well-known choices in cabinetry and quartz can increase the richness of those cabinets if you select the appropriate color. When it has to do with marble, all kinds aren't created equal. Actually, you wouldn't be taking a look at slab granite otherwise. Granite is entirely natural and can be quite porous, meaning that in the event you don't seal it correctly and regularly you could observe stains develop from even smaller spills. Thickness can fluctuate upon the expanse of the slab. Tile countertops are very versatile. Granite is a wildly common countertop material, especially in high-end homes. It typically will need a sealer. It is not a natural stone that has been linked to radon emissions. In reality, you are likely doing exactly the opposite thing at the moment. Not everybody is searching for that great white marble. It is possible to test the appearance and feel before committing for decades. Obviously, most folks won't go through the trouble of replacing the whole countertop simply because of one damaged location. As a result of our high number of returning and referral customers and thoroughly motivated team at Arch City, we're on the appropriate track to get to the coveted position. All white, all of the moment, enough said! In reality, if you're a DIY enthusiast, modular granite is just about the greatest mid-range granite option that can be found on the market these days. This largely cuts back on countertop repair expenses. Another advantage of quartz is customization. The more options that you have, the more difficult it's to decide. Many of their options are intended to have the appearance of marble. Because there are many choices to pick from, you may have a difficult time figuring out which you enjoy.

Get the Scoop on Quartz Countertop Marble Before You're Too Late

Some homeowners prefer Corian to granite due to the uniform appearance and the simplicity of maintenance. Ever since your kitchen cabinets act as the support, they will be set up first, and will influence important regions of the installation process like the size of your materials and wherever your kitchen sink will go. New countertops can transform the expression of your whole kitchen, even when you're not doing a whole remodel. If you're searching for a sustainable countertop option, reclaimed wood is a good add-on to the kitchen. At the time that your counters are squared away, the true fun starts. Another color that assists you to accomplish a marble-like style for your kitchen countertop is Helix. Read the full article

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alphaprintcdwl394-blog · 5 years ago

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11 "Faux Pas" That Are Actually Okay to Make With Your business card printing dublin

Just how to Generate a Feeling of Deluxe along with Business Cards

When you have a high-end brand, deluxe should be connected throughout every factor of your marketing. The consumers will experience it from the second they hold your calling cards in their palm, right through to the instant they experience your item. Discover how to create a luxury pity your business cards within this overview and also you'll be actually one step better to drawing in the consumers you actually wish ...

Defining

At AlphaPrint, we provide traditional rectangular business cards together with mini and squared cards. The form you choose are going to largely depend on the type of business you run and also your personal taste. Mini business cards are actually half the elevation of a basic card, whereas square business cards are actually 55 x 55mm. Deciding on an alternate condition for your calling card might be an understated means to aid you stand out from the crowd.

Colour

Colour may connect a massive volume regarding a company without the visitor also realizing it. When our experts are actually confronted with a certain shade scheme, we make immediate decisions regarding what remains in face people. Daring, dynamic colours are frequently made use of for strong, lively companies. Consequently, a spectacular brand name ought to use colors that carry luxurious to mind.

When marketing a high-end company, it is smart to use color thoroughly and check here select even more refined and neutral moods. Make a decision how you prefer your consumers to really feel when they think about your brand name, as well as select a scheme that accommodates with that said state of mind. To find out more concerning exactly how to make use of colour successfully in advertising, you can read more in our Psychological science of Colour post.

Typography

In our blog post The Psychology of Typography, our company discuss the way the font you make use of can have an effect on the technique a client will certainly observe your brand name. When deciding on a typeface to utilize for your calling cards, bear in mind your brand name's personality and also the legibility of the text message. It would be actually pointless to possess a gorgeous calling card if no-one may read your get in touch with details!

Lavish brands often tend to choose subtle and exquisite typefaces. The design of the text advises the sense of the item-- for instance, a brand that values custom might choose a script design font style. Whereas a much more modern-day company is going to choose simpler sans-serif text such as Helvetica.

Paper

There are actually many different newspaper options around, however when designing luxury business cards for an exceptional company it is consistently better to pick a luxurious newspaper. Opt for a paper that goes to minimum 350gsm (our criterion is actually 450gsm) and your card are going to experience glamorous in the client's palm. The kind of newspaper you opt for are going to additionally have an effect on the technique your concept appears when it is actually printed-- various papers possess numerous levels of absorption so colours might appear lighter on a matt paper and darker on a buff.

The newspaper you choose can likewise have a various form of coating. at AlphaPrint we offer three various appearances-- matt, glaze, and velour. Matt appearance is smooth and satiny to the flair and produces an advanced feeling, whereas Gloss is a high-shine appearance which boosts the colour. Plush appearance is actually an exceptional choice for luxury brands as it offers an unequaled soft-touch as well as deluxe premium. Once more, birth your perfect consumer in thoughts when picking a finish as well as consider exactly how the appearance of the paper will certainly impact the feel and look of your layout.

Decoration

A refined embellishment may go a very long way to connecting the personality of your label. Experiment with embossing, foiling and also location UV to offer your calling card some added deepness and also appearance. Numerous brand names select to make use of embossing for their logo or even feature specific parts with a contact of a metallic foil. Place UV provides a selected segment of your concept a high-gloss luster, making it catch the lighting. Every one of these decorations are actually excellent methods to create your card a little bit distinct without being actually also raffish!

The look and feel of your business card are going to speak quantities concerning your brand name, so consider the above groups meticulously when making. If suspicious, contact among our team or even decide on among our pre-designed layouts.

Perform you possess an example of spectacular marketing performed right? Share with our company on Twitter or Facebook!

8 Corporate Calling Card Instances with an Advantage

The whole idea responsible for a calling cards concept is that 1) it needs to produce you stick out, and 2) it has to create an excellent adequate influence that the connect with you have actually simply produced calls you back. When you think about well-known calling card instances, one of the 1st of these ahead to thoughts is actually Facebook Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg's infamous 'I am actually CEO, B--' card that was created widely known in the movie The Social media network. This card displayed just exactly how arrogant and also assertive the then-22-year-old Zuckerberg concerned business that corrected on the peak of taking the world through hurricane.

These well known business cards were actually eventually taken and also changed, with the professional of claimed business cards, Brian Veloso, proposing that they "were actually a great representation of the firm society at the time ... Their substitute reflected the improvements a young Facebook needed to go through to become where it is today." Andrew Bosworth, Facebook Exec, likewise believed that business cards were actually "intended as a joke for his good friends." Although these business cards helped make a fantastic effect, they were not really aimed to become used in a specialist, corporate atmosphere.

Taking creativity from Zuckerberg's surprisingly tailored business card example, our company'll present you how you can easily make a layout that definitely flaunts your personality without jeopardizing your professionalism and reliability.

Opt For an Unusual Forming

Along with modern digital publishing, it's never been actually simpler to flaunt your innovative panache. You can easily go completely out there along with a business card molded like something you offer or use, like a comb for a hairdresser or cupcake for a pastry shop. Or even if you would certainly like something much more refined, rounded edges and also straight business cards are actually a fantastic technique of distinguishing your own self from your rivals.

We really love business owners as well as UX Developer Anusha Iyer's mini business cards-- the bright different colors are excellent for this year's appealing layout trends and their unique form means a prospective customer could simply find all of them once again in their wallet.

Have fun with Texture and Colour

Yet another extensive perk in contemporary technology is actually that full-color professional calling card publishing doesn't have to set you back the planet-- actually, a lot of on-line printers will not demand any kind of added expense for this. It additionally means that there's a substantial selection of appearances you can play around with for your design, featuring Area UV (additionally called polish laminate). This is where you add a glossy covering to certain locations of your calling cards to either create them stand out or to produce a pattern. Exactly how something thinks in your customers' palms is therefore important for bring in a long lasting opinion, therefore why not make the most of our free of cost Spot UV templates?

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