#sofia mermaid tail

[noahfan95]

That's from Return to Merroway Cove Episode

[makingqueerhistory]

Queer Books Challenged in Florida Schools and Libraries

There are some affiliate links below in case you want to support MQH.

Gender Queer: A Memoir, Maia Kobabe: Now, Gender Queer is here. Maia's intensely cathartic autobiography charts eir journey of self-identity, which includes the mortification and confusion of adolescent crushes, grappling with how to come out to family and society, bonding with friends over erotic gay fanfiction, and facing the trauma and fundamental violation of pap smears.

The Color Purple, Alice Walker: Separated as girls, sisters Celie and Nettie sustain their loyalty to and hope in each other across time, distance and silence. Through a series of letters spanning nearly thirty years, first from Celie to God, then the sisters to each other despite the unknown, the novel draws readers into its rich and memorable portrayals of Celie, Nettie, Shug Avery and Sofia and their experience. The Color Purple broke the silence around domestic and sexual abuse, narrating the lives of women through their pain and struggle, companionship and growth, resilience and bravery.

Julián Is a Mermaid, Jessica Love: While riding the subway home from the pool with his abuela one day, Julián notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train car. When Julián gets home, daydreaming of the magic he's seen, all he can think about is dressing up just like the ladies in his own fabulous mermaid costume: a butter-yellow curtain for his tail, the fronds of a potted fern for his headdress. But what will Abuela think about the mess he makes -- and even more importantly, what will she think about how Julián sees himself? Mesmerizing and full of heart, Jessica Love's author-illustrator debut is a jubilant picture of self-love and a radiant celebration of individuality.

Drama: A Graphic Novel, Raina Telgemeier: Callie loves theater. And while she would totally try out for her middle school's production of Moon over Mississippi, she can't really sing. Instead she's the set designer for the drama department's stage crew, and this year she's determined to create a set worthy of Broadway on a middle-school budget. But how can she, when she doesn't know much about carpentry, ticket sales are down, and the crew members are having trouble working together? Not to mention the onstage AND offstage drama that occurs once the actors are chosen. And when two cute brothers enter the picture, things get even crazier!

Cemetery Boys, Aiden Thomas: Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can't get rid of him. When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his true gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free. However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school's resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He's determined to find out what happened and tie off some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave.

I Am Billie Jean King, Brad Meltzer: This friendly, fun biography series focuses on the traits that made our heroes great--the traits that kids can aspire to in order to live heroically themselves. Each book tells the story of one of America's icons in a lively, conversational way that works well for the youngest nonfiction readers and that always includes the hero's childhood influences. At the back are an excellent timeline and photos. This volume features Billie Jean King, the world champion tennis player who fought successfully for women's rights. From a young age, Billie Jean King loved sports--especially tennis! But as she got older, she realized that plenty of people, even respected male athletes, didn't take women athletes seriously. She set to prove them wrong and show girls everywhere that sports are for everyone, regardless of gender.

This One Summer, Mariko Tamaki: Every summer, Rose goes with her mom and dad to a lake house in Awago Beach. It's their getaway, their refuge. Rosie's friend Windy is always there, too, like the little sister she never had. But this summer is different. Rose's mom and dad won't stop fighting, and when Rose and Windy seek a distraction from the drama, they find themselves with a whole new set of problems. One of the local teens - just a couple of years older than Rose and Windy - is caught up in something bad... Something life threatening. It's a summer of secrets, and sorrow, and growing up, and it's a good thing Rose and Windy have each other.

Marriage of a Thousand Lies, Sj Sindu: Lucky and her husband, Krishna, are gay. They present an illusion of marital bliss to their conservative Sri Lankan-American families, while each dates on the side. It's not ideal, but for Lucky, it seems to be working. She goes out dancing, she drinks a bit, she makes ends meet by doing digital art on commission. But when Lucky's grandmother has a nasty fall, Lucky returns to her childhood home and unexpectedly reconnects with her former best friend and first lover, Nisha, who is preparing for her own arranged wedding with a man she's never met.

And Tango Makes Three, Peter Parnell: At the penguin house at the Central Park Zoo, two penguins named Roy and Silo were a little bit different from the others. But their desire for a family was the same. And with the help of a kindly zookeeper, Roy and Silo got the chance to welcome a baby penguin of their very own.

More Happy Than Not, Adam Silvera: In the months following his father's suicide, sixteen-year-old Aaron Soto can't seem to find happiness again, despite the support of his girlfriend, Genevieve, and his overworked mom. Grief and the smile-shaped scar on his wrist won't let him forget the pain. But when Aaron meets Thomas, a new kid in the neighborhood, something starts to shift inside him. Aaron can't deny his unexpected feelings for Thomas despite the tensions their friendship has created with Genevieve and his tight-knit crew. Since Aaron can't stay away from Thomas or turn off his newfound happiness, he considers taking drastic actions. The Leteo Institute's revolutionary memory-altering procedure will straighten him out, even if it means forgetting who he truly is.

Melissa, Alex Gino: When people look at Melissa, they think they see a boy named George. But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl.

Melissa thinks she'll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte's Web. Melissa really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can't even try out for the part... because she's a boy.

With the help of her best friend, Kelly, Melissa comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte -- but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.

A Quick & Easy Guide to Queer & Trans Identities, Mady G, Jules Zuckerberg: In this quick and easy guide to queer and trans identities, cartoonists Mady G and Jules Zuckerberg guide you through the basics of the LGBT+ world! Covering essential topics like sexuality, gender identity, coming out, and navigating relationships, this guide explains the spectrum of human experience through informative comics, interviews, worksheets, and imaginative examples. A great starting point for anyone curious about queer and trans life, and helpful for those already on their own journeys!

This Book Is Gay, Juno Dawson: This candid, funny, and uncensored exploration of sexuality and what it's like to grow up LGBTQ also includes real stories from people across the gender and sexual spectrums, not to mention hilarious illustrations.

Little & Lion, Brandy Colbert: When Suzette comes home to Los Angeles from her boarding school in New England, she's isn't sure if she'll ever want to go back. L.A. is where her friends and family are (as well as her crush, Emil). And her stepbrother, Lionel, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, needs her emotional support. But as she settles into her old life, Suzette finds herself falling for someone new...the same girl her brother is in love with. When Lionel's disorder spirals out of control, Suzette is forced to confront her past mistakes and find a way to help her brother before he hurts himself--or worse.

King and the Dragonflies, Kacen Callender: Twelve-year-old Kingston James is sure his brother Khalid has turned into a dragonfly. When Khalid unexpectedly passed away, he shed what was his first skin for another to live down by the bayou in their small Louisiana town. Khalid still visits in dreams, and King must keep these secrets to himself as he watches grief transform his family.

It would be easier if King could talk with his best friend, Sandy Sanders. But just days before he died, Khalid told King to end their friendship, after overhearing a secret about Sandy-that he thinks he might be gay. "You don't want anyone to think you're gay too, do you?"

Sorted: Growing Up, Coming Out, and Finding My Place: A Transgender Memoir, Jackson Bird: An unflinching and endearing memoir from LGBTQ+ advocate Jackson Bird about how he finally sorted things out and came out as a transgender man.When Jackson Bird was twenty-five, he came out as transgender to his friends, family, and anyone in the world with an internet connection. Assigned female at birth and raised as a girl, he often wondered if he should have been born a boy. Jackson didn't share this thought with anyone because he didn't think he could share it with anyone.

The Black Flamingo, Dean Atta: Michael is a mixed-race gay teen growing up in London. All his life, he's navigated what it means to be Greek-Cypriot and Jamaican--but never quite feeling Greek or Black enough.

As he gets older, Michael's coming out is only the start of learning who he is and where he fits in. When he discovers the Drag Society, he finally finds where he belongs--and the Black Flamingo is born

Explore the full list here.

[princess-polls]

A

Anya/Anastasia - Yellow (Anastasia) VS Donkeyskin - The Sun Dress (Donkey Skin)

Stella - Orange (Winx Club) VS Belle - Yellow (Beauty and the Beast)

Morgana Pendragon - Purple (BBC Merlin) VS Rapunzel - Purple (Barbie as Rapunzel)

Rapunzel - Purple (Tangled) VS Elyon Escanor - Purple (W.I.T.C.H.)

Snow White/Mary Margaret Blanchard - Purple (Once Upon a Time) VS Jasmine - Purple (Aladdin)

Kaguya Houraisan - Pink + Red (Touhou Project) VS Lymsleia Falenas - Green + Yellow (Suikoden V)

Tiana - White (The Princess and the Frog) VS Neo Queen Serenity - White (Sailor Moon)

Cinderella - Blue (Cinderella 2015) VS Rosella - Blue (Barbie as the Island Princess)

B

Ariel - Blue (The Little Mermaid) VS Star Butterfly - Blue (Star vs the Forces of Evil)

Zelda - Blue (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild) VS Korra - Blue (The Legend of Korra)

Aurora - Beige (Sleeping Beauty) VS Gwendolyn - Blue (Odin Sphere)

Iris - Pink + White (Lolirock) VS Xena - Black (Xena: Warrior Princess)

Elsa - Dark Blue (Olaf’s Frozen Adventure) VS Anya/Anastasia - Dark Blue (Anastasia)

Scorpia - Black (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power) VS Ororo Munroe/Storm - Beige (X-Men)

Snow White - Blue + Yellow (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs) VS Melia - Pink + Blue (Xenoblade Chronicles)

Cinderella - Silver (Cinderella) VS Sofia - Purple (Sofia the First)

C

Athanasia de Alger Obelia - Pink (Who Made Me a Princess) VS Ahiru/Princess Tutu - White (Princess Tutu)

Apple White - Thronecoming (Ever After High) VS Estellise Sidos Heurassein - Pink + White (Tales of Vesperia)

Cinderella - Pink (Cinderella) VS Princess Peach - Pink (Super Smash Bros)

Anneliese - Pink (Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper) VS Lachesis - Ballroom Bloom (Fire Emblem)

Belle - Pink (Beauty and the Beast) VS Guinevere - Red (BBC Merlin)

Elena Castillo Flores - Red (Elena of Avalor) VS Princess Cookie - Red Rose Gown (Cookie Run)

Mia Thermopolis - Pink (The Princess Diaries 2) VS Princess Una - Blue (Stardust)

Princess White Rose - Blue (SaGa Frontier) VS Beatrice - Blue + White (Rune Factory 5)

D

Fiona - Green (Shrek) VS Eowyn - Green (Lord of the Rings)

Hisui Fiore - Green (Fairy Tail) VS Riesz - Green (Trials of Mana)

Tiana - Green (The Princess and the Frog) VS Odette - Pink + Blue (Barbie of Swan Lake)

Anna - Green (Frozen) VS Céline - Green + White (Fire Emblem)

Princess Nautilus - Blue (Cucumber Quest) VS Princess Iron Fan - Red + White (Lego Monkie Kid)

Rayfa Padma Khura’in - Pink (Ace Attorney) VS Snow White - Red + White (Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs)

Odette - Blue + White (The Swan Princess) VS Belle French - Blue (Once Upon a Time)

Leia Organa - White (Star Wars) VS Nefertari Vivi - White (One Piece)

[sofiaanddisney]

The Floating Palace.... I really loved this episode. But there are some things I really don't like.

What I like...

ARIEL IS IN IT!!! As my favorite Disney Princess, and my favorite Disney character overall, it was thrilling to see her.

MERMAIDS! I love mermaids, so that's a plus. And Sofia turning into one was totally awesome.

I like that it was the family's first vacation. (Summer between Halloween and Wassailia? Okay then...)

The thing with Clover and the sea gull was hilarious! Especially when they got tied up. LOL! Gotta love those two.

Cedric's line, "I need a vacation." It's his own fault he ruined the vacation he was on. LOL! And he missed the tail. I wish we could have seen when he noticed that. LOL!

Roland finding Queen Emmaline attractive was amusing.

What I don't like...

Cedric. Yes, this is probably the only episode where I don't like him much. For starters, his sea monster from is just ugly. It's not even scary. Honestly! He already has a figuratively big head. Then there's the fact that he let his dark side overtake him. It's one thing to try to steal Sofia's amulet, and it's a whole other thing to purposely aim to make her disappear. That spell must have messed up his humanity, because I don't think Cedric would purposely hurt Sofia. Luckily, the blast from Cora knocked the evil from his system. Thank goodness it was the only time he was that wicked.

The caption of the ship was a jerk

Plank was a stick in the mud.

It's a wonderful episode.

[xoteajays]

ohh, what’s pearls and sea glass? lovely title!

pearls and sea glass is a very very very self indulgent original story (and also a mental break from beautiful night which is a lil more high action and complicated).

it follows a mermaid who washed ashore and is found by a pair of brothers; there’s three main romances. it’s very slice-of-life and casual.

lyla and sam (jessie mei li and danny ramirez) are the overall main ship. lyla is the mermaid; sam is the younger of the two brothers who loves all things ocean, especially mermaids since he insists he saw one when he was younger but nobody - coughcoughhisbrothercough - believes him until lyla shows up on the shore by the brothers’ house. lyla loves the sea, but she’s stuck on land for now while she’s healing an injury to her tail. she claims to know a lot about humans and their world, but she really only knows what she’s seen on the very shores of land and from sunken ships.

david and elise (gabriel luna and sofia boutella) are old lovers and were engaged. david often mistakenly calls her his ‘ex-wife’ but they weren’t ever actually married. he broke off the engagement after he was attacked by a shark and had a lot of issues (mental and physical) while healing. they still clearly love each other but david is too stubborn and down on himself to rekindle anything. lyla and david have a complicated relationship because of david’s mermaid scepticism, his mild thalassophobia, and the fact that there’s a mermaid in the only bathroom in their house.

alda and caelia (madison bailey and kristine froseth) are both mermaids and dating. alda is one of lyla’s younger sisters, along with adva (helena howard). alda, caelia, and adva were the reason lyla ended up injured and on-land in the first place. they’ve been trying to find her but are weary about actually going on-shore.

edit: oh! forgot to mention! the ‘queen’ of the mermaids in lyla’s area is a Very Large whale-maid. think the sea mother in ponyo.

[sirensofiaarchive]

⌝. "Corey!" Sofia announced gleefully as she moved from one side of the cheap above ground pool to the other, blue plastic swaying as she did but remaining held up by white piping. Her long tail on display within the water, made up of orange and purple mostly, complimented by white and navy, all flowing and floating. While Sofia would have never put being a siren onto anyone else she did like her tail, was rather proud of how beautiful it was, how it complimented her.

⌝ "You can to see the mermaid exhibit," she played as her hands grabbed the edge of the pool, pushing her up and revealing she was wearing a bikini, despite normally just allowing the scales on her chest and the gills at her ribcage to speak for themselves. Sofia didn't want Nova bringing Lucas by and accidentally catching his step mum topless so she was being safe.

⌝ "Usually I'd charge you but friends and family discount I'll let you observe me for free," the woman continued to joke. Perhaps a coping mechanism she was using all too much as of late, with how upset everyone else was.

@magicvet

[azurefaire]

Okay this is so interesting stuff we also got into with Ariel's world.

Basically with these characters there was almost a Disney Mermaids spinoff, but the direction they went with was with Tinker Bell which I feel was for the best but I love that the direction they went with was the same dedication that they had for fairies. Unique tail designs, beautiful face designs. Some look a bit older than Ariel's age though. How much does it resemble some stuff out of Little Mermaid, not much but that's why I love it. It seems to have the same energy as the Little Mermaid 2023, the guidebook had a design of Oola used as well.

I feel like this concept were put into the Disney Fairies with the Never Mermaids, I'm so glad the Disney Fairies included them and added the Mermaid world under the lagoon. I also think the detailed designs works well with the Neverland setting more, and I love it.

I've also watched all of the Little Mermaid TV show, bc of that one post on the latina Deaf mermaid Gabriella that went around and I do kinda feel that it is a missed opprotunity that they didn't have something slightly similar. Especially with diversity within the show, actually and giving Ariel a friend group. And some designs had some extra detail going for them which is nice. i also found out that the character designer of Gabriella, carole holiday- storyboarded for Tinker Bell. Also designed the cute Sofia the First characters.

In the TV show there is also seahorse riding too.

In love with these 100%, I feel like some designs were simplified and added to Disney Fairies

via Whitney Pollet on ig

[sofiamarthamaria]

I am my mother’s daughter

I am my mother’s daughter, I learned to breath underwater at a very young age. Whenever I feel penetrated by the world and its horrible creatures in it, I tend to plunge into my ocean. My ocean, filled with darkness, vibrant fish, mermaid tails and shipwrecks filled with thousand year old folktales. Sirens roaming around singing songs about The Odyssey and Medusa and The Titans and Persephone and Hades. Here, in the depths of my ocean and the heights of my Olympus I drench myself in nectar until I’m ready to get back to the surface.

It’s funny how the qualities that scarred me as a child, now, sometimes, save me as an adult. 

Sofia M.M.

[crowdvscritic]

round up // MARCH + APRIL 21

March and April were a whirlwind of vaccines and awards shows! A full year after we starting staying at home, the end of this weird chapter in recent history seems like it might finally be coming to a close, and this pop culture awards season—typically a time full of fun and glamour—captured our moment weirdly well. (Emphasis on the weird.) This month’s recommendations is filled with more Critic Picks than usual, so without further delay, let’s dive right in...

March + April Crowd-Pleasers

Double Feature — 2018 Action Thrillers: Bad Times at the El Royale + Den of Thieves

In Bad Times at the El Royale (Crowd: 9/10, // Critic: 8/10), Jeff Bridges, Cynthia Erivo, Jon Hamm, Chris Hemsworth, and Dakota Johnson are staying at a motel on the California-Nevada state line full of money, murder, and mystery. In Den of Thieves (Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 6.5/10), Gerard Butler takes on some of the best bank robbers in the world. Whether you like your action with a dose of mystery or the thrills of plot twists, these will fit the bill.

Double Feature — ‘80s Comedies: Caddyshack (1980) + Splash (1984)

In the mood for pure silliness? Take your pick between a mermaid and a gopher! Five years before The Little Mermaid, Tom Hanks fell for Daryl Hannah’s blonde hair and scaly tail, and John Candy was his goofy brother in Splash (Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 7/10). And four years before Ghostbusters, Bill Murray was the goof on a golf course full of funny people like Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, and Ted Knight in Caddyshack (Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 6.5/10).

Double Feature — 1980s Coming-of-Age Films Starring Corey Feldman, Kiefer Sutherland, and Challenging Brother Relationships That Influenced Stranger Things: Stand by Me (1986) + The Lost Boys (1987)

Believe it or not, I had no idea these two ‘80s classics had so much in common when I chose to watch them back-to-back. In Rob Reiner’s adaptation of Stephen King’s Stand by Me (Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 9/10), four kids (Feldman, Jerry O’Connell, River Phoenix, and Wil Wheaton) are following train tracks to find a missing body. In The Lost Boys (Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 7/10), Corey Haim and Jason Patric move to a small California town and discover it’s full of ‘80s movie star cameos and…vampires? One is a thoughtful coming-of-age story and one is just bonkers, but both are a great time.

Spaceman by Nick Jonas (2021)

My love for the Jonas Brothers is well-documented, so instead of going down the rabbit hole I started digging at 15, I’ll talk about how Nick Jonas’s latest solo album will likely appeal to a wider audience than just the fans of the brothers’ bombastic pop records. It’s full of catchy tunes you’ll play on repeat and an R&B-influenced album experience about the loneliness we’ve experienced in the last year and how we try to make long-term relationships work.

Ted Lasso (2020- )

I love stories about nice people crushing cruelty and cynicism with relentless kindness, and Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) is the warmest, most dedicated leader this side of Leslie Knope. Be sure to catch up on these witty and sweet 10 episodes before season 2 drops later this summer.

Double Feature — Tony Scott Action Flicks: Enemy of the State (1998) + The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009)

Tony Scott’s movies have got explosions and excitement in spades. I love a good man-on-the-run movie, and in Enemy of the State (Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 8/10), Will Smith is running through the streets of D.C. after getting evidence of a politician’s (Jon Voight) part in a murder. I also love a tense story set in a confined space, which is what Denzel Washington is dealing with in The Taking of Pelham 123 (Crowd: 9.5/10 // Critic: 7/10) after a hammy John Travolta takes a New York subway train hostage.

Double Feature — Baseball Movies: The Natural (1984) + Trouble With the Curve (2012)

Sue me—I love baseball movies. Robert Redford plays a fictional all-time great in the early days of the MLB in The Natural (Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 9/10), and Clint Eastwood plays a fictional all-time great scout in his late career in Trouble With the Curve (Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 7.5/10). If you love baseball or actors like Amy Adams, Glenn Close, Robert Duvall, and Justin Timberlake, these movies are just right here waiting for you.

Nate Bargatze: The Greatest Average American (2021)

Sue me—I enjoy Netflix standup comedy specials that are safe enough to watch with your whole family. That’s exactly the crowd I laughed with over Easter weekend, and while the trailer captures Bargatze’s relaxed vibe, it doesn’t capture how funny he really is.

The Mighty Ducks (1992)

I thought somewhere in my childhood I’d seen at least one of The Mighty Ducks movies, but after watching all three, I think my memories must’ve come from previews on the VHS tapes for other Disney movies I watched over and over again. The original still holds up as an grown-ups, which is why even my parents got sucked in to this family movie while just passing through the living room. Bonus for ‘80s movies lovers: Emilio Estevez is basically continuing Andrew Clark’s story from The Breakfast Club as an adult. Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 6.5/10

Double Feature — New, Dumb Action on Streaming: Godzilla vs. Kong + Thunder Force (2021)

If you want something intelligent, go ahead and skip to the next recommendation, but if you’re looking for something stupid fun, these are ready for you on HBO Max and Netflix. Thunder Force (Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 6/10) follows Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer as they train to become superheroes who take on superhuman sociopaths wreaking havoc on Chicago, and alongside Jason Bateman, they do it with a lot of laughs. Godzilla vs. Kong (Crowd: 9.5/10 // Critic: 5/10) is, um, exactly what it sounds like, so I’ll skip a plot summary and just say it’s exactly what you want from this kind of movie. #TeamKong

3:10 to Yuma (2007)

All you need to know is Russell Crowe is an outlaw, and Christian Bale is the guy who’s got to get him on the train to prison. I also watched the 1957 version, which is also a solid watch if you love classic Westerns. Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 8/10

Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)

Marvel’s newest series isn’t nearly as inventive as WandaVision, and it may not land every beat, but it’s worth a watch for the fun new gadgets, Sebastian Stan’s dry joke delivery, and its exploration into themes of what makes a hero and what governments owe their citizens. It’s a pretty satisfying entry in the MCU canon, but I’d also recommend re-watching Captain America: Winter Soldier and Civil War—the canon is getting expansive, and it’s getting trickier every year to keep up with all the backstory.

March + April Critic Picks

Best of 2020 Picks

As per usual, the months leading up to the Oscars becomes a binge period for potential Oscar nominees. In March and April, I watched many of the films that made my Top 20 of 2020, including Boys State, The Father, Judas and the Black Messiah, Let Them All Talk, Minari, Nomadland, On the Rocks, One Night in Miami…, Promising Young Woman, Soul, and Sound of Metal. You can read how I ranked them on my list for ZekeFilm, plus reviews of The Father, Minari, Promising Young Woman, and Soul.

Bonus: If you loved On the Rocks, don’t miss this feature and beautiful photography starring Sofia Coppola, Kirsten Dunst, Elle Fanning, and Rashida Jones for W Magazine. 

Stranger Than Fiction (2006)

What would you do if you started hearing a voice who narrated your every thought and move? If you’re Will Ferrell, you’ll seek out a literary professor (Dustin Hoffman), fall in love (with Maggie Gyllenhaal), and track down the voice (Emma Thompson) who’s making ominous predictions about your future. Stranger Than Fiction is funny thought-provoking, and an unusual but welcome role for Ferrell. Crowd: 9.5/10 // Critic: 9/10

All the Royal Family News

Speaking of stranger than fiction, it’s been a busy few months for the Royal Family. We’ve celebrated 95th birthday of Queen Elizabeth, the 3rd birthday of Prince Louis, and the 10th anniversary of Will and Kate’s marriage. We also lost Prince Philip, and we watched the drama of Harry and Meaghan’s interview with Oprah. No matter what happens to their Crown, I don’t think we’ll ever get over our fascination with the Windsor family. A few pieces worth reading from the last few months:

“In Meghan and Harry’s Interview, Two TV Worlds Collided,” Vulture.com

“The Queen’s Man: Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Dies,” TIME.com

“Obituary: HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,” BBC.com

Goodfellas (1990)

One of my film opinions that makes me feel like a phony is that Martin Scorsese just isn’t my cup of tea. He’s brilliant, but his films tend to be long and dark, two qualities that are never my first choice…and somehow Goodfellas still worked for me? Maybe it was the TV edit graciously toning down the violence or maybe it was that Ray Liotta and Joe Pesci were firing on all cylinders, but for some reason this ‘90s classic didn’t suck the joy out of my evening like Scorsese often does. (Bonus: For a Martin Scorsese/Robert De Niro I don’t really recommend, head to the last section of this Round Up.)

Fearless (Taylor’s Version) (2021)

Her voice has only matured, so Taylor Swift revisiting her old albums is like upgrading a blast to the past. Plus, the six new tracks make me feel like 15 crushing on that boy in Spanish class again, and her Grammys performance (just before her third Album of the Year win) was magical and folklore-tastic.

Double Feature — ‘60s Action Classics: The Guns of Navarone (1961) + Planet of the Apes (1968)

The Guns of Navarone (Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 8.5/10) follows Gregory Peck and David Niven as they destroy Nazi weapons in the Mediterranean. Planet of the Apes (Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 8.5/10) follows Charlton Heston as he attempts to escape from, well, a planet full of apes. The pacing of ‘60s films doesn’t always hold up, but that’s not the case with this pair. Both are still full of suspense, and you can’t go wrong hanging with casts like these.

Let Him Go (2020)

Kevin Costner and Diane Lane play a farming couple who unexpectedly help raise a boy who lost his biological father—sound familiar? But instead of a superhero origin story, they’re part of a thrilling Western with performances nuanced (Costner and Lane) and showy (Lesley Manville). If I’d watched this before completing my Best of 2020 piece, it likely would’ve been on my list. Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 8.5/10

The Oscars

I’m a ride-or-die fan of the Academy Awards, but I’ll admit even I found this year’s ceremony odd. Instead of focusing on what wasn’t so hot, I’ll recommend a few moments you don’t want to miss:

Emerald Fennell giving a shout-out to Saved by the Bell

Daniel Kaluuya acknowledging his parents’ sex life during his acceptance speech (??)

Yuh-Jung Yoon flirting with Brad Pitt and acknowledging she’s just “luckier” than her fellow nominees

Glenn Close dancing to…”Da Butt”?

You can also read about the historic wins and nominations from this year’s Oscar class and why the Golden Globes were an even stranger production weeks earlier.

Trailer-palooza!

Movies are on their way back, y’all! I’m counting down the days until I can get back to a theatre, and even if some of these movies are duds, I’m planning to see all of them on a big screen if possible:

Those Who Wish Me Dead (May 14)

Cruella (May 28)

In the Heights (June 11)

Space Jam 2 (July 16)

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (September 3)

West Side Story (December 10)

Also in March + April…

To add to the Oscars love, you can listen to a conversation about what we learn about family, community, and society in some of the year’s biggest nominees on the Uncommon Voices podcast. I join regular hosts Michael and Kenneth in this episode, and I recommend all of their thoughtful discussions on their “What’s Streaming” episodes.

I’ve previously recommended the Do You Like Apples weekly newsletter, so I’m proud to share I contributed twice in March! I wrote about Love and Basketball, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, and one of my all-time favorite Julia Roberts rom-coms, Notting Hill. (I also tied to win their Oscars pool, but I suppose that’s less exciting for you than me.)

It was a busy couple of months on SO IT’S A SHOW! New logo, new email list, new Instagram, and a host of new episodes about a flop of a Madonna flick, a Swedish children’s TV show, an urban legend turned into a horror movie, one of the best films about journalism ever, and a Martin Scorsese movie about a real boxer.

Most of what I wrote for ZekeFilm in March and April was mentioned in Best of 2020 recommendations…except for The Nest, a film that couldn’t figure out what genre it wanted to be.

Photo credits: Nick Jonas, Royal Family. All others IMDb.com.

[mermaidmovieclub]

Common Mermaid Movie Tropes (With Examples)

I’ve noticed with a lot of mermaid movies that a lot of them tend to share common tropes. I mention common mermaid tropes a lot on the Mermaid Movie Club, but thought, hey, maybe I need to come up with a handy list that’s easy to follow? Hey, that’s what blogs are for. Without further ado, a list of Common Mermaid Movie Tropes, and examples for each one. Since these are going to be part of the Mermaid Movie Club going forward, I thought I'd compile them neatly into a little list. Of course, this will be updated as I go through more movies. 😉

These are not taken from TVTropes, these are just things that I have found from watching these films/TV shows, so I just kinda made stuff up. Perhaps in due time I could make a list of tropes taken from TVTropes but that’s a loooooooooot to sift through.

(Also, this is not necessarily negative. Understand a lot of these will be interpreted differently from film to film. It's all about looking at something from a different angle, which a lot of these filmmakers do in their own way.)

1. The Only Way To Get What You Want is to Become Human Yourself

Literally what it says on the tin. The mermaid has to become human to achieve some kind of goal. Usually a romantic objective.

Examples: The Little Mermaid and most adaptations of it, Splash (1989), Aquamarine (2006)

Subverted in: The Little Mermaid 2: Return to the Sea (2000), Barbie in a Mermaid Tale (2010)

2. Teenagers Scare the Living Fish Outta Me

Mermaid as a coming-of-age metaphor. For me it comes across as a kind of "fish out of water" metaphor but in the case of one film I have to rethink that.

Examples: The Thirteenth Year (1999), Scales: Mermaids are Real (2017), Blue My Mind (2017), Barbie in a Mermaid Tale (2010)

3. You Can Take Your Mermaid on Land Adventures, When She Dries Off, She Gets Legs

Again, what it says on the tin. The mermaid can achieve a human form but only when dry. When she touches water again she reverts back to her mermaid form.

Examples: Splash (1989), H2O and all of its spin-offs, Aquamarine (2006)

Splash: Obviously there’s the iconic scene with Madison unfolding her fins in the bathtub, and rushing to dry off when Allen calls for her. There’s also the scene where Walter Kornbluth sprays her down with a hose as she and Allen leave their dinner, effectively revealing her tail to the public.

H2O: This is revealed in the first episode where Cleo gets stuck in the bathtub after her tail develops, Emma transforms while swimming in the ocean, and perhaps the most telling of all is Rikki transforming after getting hit with a sprinkler. There are many more examples as the show goes on.

Aquamarine: Had an additional stipulation that she would have to be a mermaid at night, so it was almost like a werewolf-mermaid situation.

4. Born Yesterday

Mermaid is a bit naive to human things.

Seen in: The Little Mermaid (especially the Disney one), Splash (1989), Aquamarine (2006), Siren (2018-present)

5. Human Stuff

Mermaid falls in love with a human.

Examples: The Little Mermaid and all of its adaptations, Splash (1989), Aquamarine (2006), Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011), Siren (2018-present)

6. For Science

Mermaid is pursued by scientists for science.

Examples: Splash (1989), Scales: Mermaids are Real (2017), The 3 Tails Movie: A Mermaid Adventure (2015), Siren (2018-present)

7. Hush Hush

The mermaid has to keep her mermaid identity a secret, potentially as a result of For Science, as well as You Can Take Your Mermaid on Land Adventures, When She Dries Off, She Gets Legs. The mermaid might have to avoid water to avoid being exposed.

Examples: H2O and all its spin-offs, Aquamarine (2006), Splash (1989), Scales: Mermaids are Real (2017), The Thirteenth Year (1999), nearly all of them except for some older pre-Splash ones.

H2O: Just Add Water: The mermaids even have to drink water through straws to prevent the water from touching their skin.

8. The Power of Three

There's likely a trio of mermaids. Mostly common in H2O copycat shows on YouTube.

Examples: H2O and all its spin-offs, Mermaids (2003), as I said, a lot of H2O copycats on YouTube. Aquamarine includes a main cast of three, but Hailey and Claire are not mermaids.

9. Power Up

They have superpowers. That's it that's the trope

Examples: H2O and all its spin-offs, The Thirteenth Year (1999), Scales: Mermaids are Real (2017), Barbie in a Mermaid Tale (2010)

H2O: The core mermaids (Rikki, Cleo, Emma, later Bella) all have some kind of different water-based superpower.

Scales: Siren's powers in this movie are pretty similar to those in H2O, particularly, the ability to move water. At the end she kills a hunter by dehydrating him to death.

The Thirteenth Year: Cody Palpatine Griffin emits force lightning--I mean, static electricity

Barbie in a Mermaid Tale: Royals of Oceana are capable of producing Merillia, a sort of oceanic life force. 

10. I'm In the Sea, and I'm SINGING

Mermaid can sing, which checks out given the mythology honestly

Examples: The Little Mermaid and nearly all of its adaptations (especially Disney), Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011), Siren (2018-present)

11. You Should See Me In a Crown

Mermaid is part of a royal family, most likely a princess. Her father is likely Neptune or Triton or Poseidon, or some non-specific King of the Sea. (Notice that the Queen of the Sea is rarely mentioned? That's weird, right?)

Examples: The Little Mermaid and all its adaptations, Aquamarine (2006), The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2001), Barbie in a Mermaid Tale (2010), implied in Scales: Mermaids are Real (2017)

The Little Mermaid: It's kind of the basis for the story itself. In Disney's The Little Mermaid (1989), Ariel is the daughter of King Triton and has six sisters. Her mother, Queen Athena, is not revealed until 2008 in The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning, but it's revealed that she was killed when Ariel was very young, so she doesn't exist by the time the original film takes place.

Aquamarine: Aqua's father is a non-specific king

SpongeBob: Mindy's father is King Neptune

Barbie in a Mermaid Tale: Merliah’s mother is Calissa, Queen of Oceana, overthrown by her sister Eris

Scales: Siren's birth mother is referred to as "the leader of the mermaids," and it is later revealed that they are both pureblood mermaids, which implies that Siren and Emerald are some kind of royalty. The film uses the word “leader” which is fairly vague, however.

12. Kids' Show

(I read this in my mind like the Will Ferrell/Molly Shannon “Dog Show” sketch from SNL.)

A character from a kids' franchise becomes a merperson themselves, most often to help other merfolk. This might also be reflected in a corresponding toy line.

Examples: Barbie (numerous titles), Dora the Explorer, Paw Patrol, Monster High, Sofia the First, Shimmer and Shine.

Barbie: Numerous mermaid characters exist in the Barbie Cinematic Universe (if that isn’t already a thing it is now), but at least five mermaid-centric Barbie films exist: Barbie Fairytopia: Mermaidia (2006), Barbie in a Mermaid Tale (2010), Barbie in a Mermaid Tale 2 (2012), Barbie the Pearl Princess (2014), and Barbie Dolphin Magic (2017). There have also been multiple Barbie mermaid lines throughout the years, the most recent being part of the Dreamtopia line. A number of lines corresponded to the films, such as the Mermaidia and Barbie in a Mermaid Tale lines. (I’ve got one of Kayla from the first one somewhere)

Dora the Explorer: In the 2007 TV movie Dora Saves the Mermaids, Dora became a mermaid to help the crown of mermaid princess Mariana. Dora later reunited with Mariana in the Dora and Friends episode “Magical Mermaid Adventure” (1x13) in 2015. Dora once again became a mermaid in the 2012 episode “Dora’s Rescue in Mermaid Kingdom” (7x01). I remember there being dolls for Dora Saves the Mermaids but not for the other two.

Paw Patrol: The six main pups of the Paw Patrol become merpups (it’s exactly what it sounds like) in the 2016 episode “Merpups Save the Turbots” (3x21B). Initially it’s just Marshall after he is turned by a mother merpup but later all the pups have a merpup form. I don’t remember a ton of toys for this one, but I often run into the merpup bath squirters, namely Skye.

Monster High: Lagoona Blue, daughter of a sea monster, is a part of the core team of monsters, but she’s more Mermaid-Adjacent. The first true mermaid character to be introduced to the franchise was Sirena von Boo, the daughter of a mermaid and a ghost, in the 2014 Freaky Fusion movie and doll line of the same name. Later on, the 2016 Great Scarrier Reef movie coincided with a corresponding doll line of the main monsters as mermaid-like creatures, with the addition of some new aquatic characters such as Posea Reef, Kala Mer’ri, and the two-headed Peri and Pearl Serpentine. (Mattel had a similar line called Ever After High that featured Meeshell Mermaid as the daughter of the Little Mermaid, but there was never any kind of mermaid line or movie made for it, which, come on, I wanted mermaid Raven Queen.)

Sofia the First: 2013′s “The Floating Palace” was a special episode that aired toward the end of the show’s first season. In it, Sofia meets mermaid princess Oona and Queen Emmaline, and helps them stop Cedric from taking the magical Mermaid Comb of Merroway Cove. Of course, in order to do that, she has to become a mermaid herself. Along the way, her magical amulet summons Ariel because this is a Disney Princess show and her amulet just magically summons Disney Princesses when she needs a pep talk because of course it does.

Shimmer and Shine: In the 2016 episode “Mermaid Mayhem” (2x06), Leah wishes she and her genies, Shimmer and Shine, were mermaids. If only it were that easy. Yep. There were toys. Just expect it at this point.

Subverted in: Elena of Avalor: Song of the Sirenas

13. Looks Like a Seannamon Roll But Could Actually Kill You

This is really just a trope for sirens or "darker" mermaids

Examples: Siren (2018-present), She Creature (2001), Killer Mermaid/Nymph (2014), Mermaid's Song (2018), Night Tide (1961)

14. Mermaid-Adjacent

Not quite a mermaid but similar human-fish hybrid.

Examples: The Shape of Water (2017), Creature from the Black Lagoon (1953), also the Zora race from the Legend of Zelda games even though that’s not a movie, shut up it counts

15. Gadgets and Gizmos Aplenty

There is some kind of magical trinket used by the mermaids, typically a piece of jewelry with magical properties.

Examples: The Little Mermaid 2: Return to the Sea (2000), Scales: Mermaids are Real (2010), H2O: Just Add Water (2006-2010), Mako Mermaids/Mako: Island of Secrets (2013-2016), both Barbie in a Mermaid Tale movies (2010 and 2012)

TLM2: Melody's locket, a gift to her from King Triton, projected an image of Atlantica when opened, but otherwise didn't do a lot.

Mako Mermaids: The mermaids possessed blue moon rings, which store moonlight and can be used to perform different magical functions dependent on the situation.

H2O: The necklaces worn by Rikki, Cleo, and Bella in the third season serve a similar function to the Moon Rings of Mako.

Scales: Siren Phillips was given a special necklace by Crystal which seems to serve as a kind of homing device. It's not explained in depth what it does exactly, but it performs a similar function to the Wailing Stick if I remember correctly, which was a sort of mermaid distress signal.

Barbie in a Mermaid Tale: When Queen Calissa gave baby Merliah Summers to Break, she gave Merliah a magical necklace that, years later, revealed to her and Zuma that Queen Calissa was still alive after Eris overthrew her from the throne of Oceana. Merliah is later given a necklace by Calissa that allows her to alternate between human and mermaid forms at will. In Barbie in a Mermaid Tale 2, Kylie Morgan steals the necklace out of Merliah’s hoodie when Hadley is distracted and uses it to become a mermaid herself, so it’s clearly not specifically made for Merliah to use.

If it counts, Ursula’s soul-stealing necklace in The Little Mermaid (1989) is one of these as well.

16. You Want Thingamabobs? I've Got Twenty

Girl is a hoarder, or fascinated by human trinkets.

Examples: The Little Mermaid and nearly all of its adaptations (especially the Disney one)

17. The Mermaid Elder

An old woman that’s sort of a mermaid wise woman.

Examples: The Mermaid (2016), most interpretations of The Little Mermaid apart from the Disney one

18. Foreshadowing Name

Very very very obvious mermaid name.

Examples: Barbie in a Mermaid Tale/2 (2010/2012), Scales: Mermaids are Real (2017), Aquamarine (2006), Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

Barbie in a Mermaid Tale/2: You really expect me to think a girl named Merliah isn’t gonna be a mermaid? Come on.

Scales: I feel like naming your kid Siren in a town full of mermaids AND where there are known mermaid hunters is just a great example of not thinking things through.

Aquamarine: Self-explanatory.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides: Astrid Berges-Frisbey played main merm Syrena in this movie. There were other named mermaids in this, I think, but Syrena was the most prominent, obviously.

[404gendernotfound]

Mermaid Lance Part 1 (Mermaid!Lance x Reader)

Summary: One wonderful evening you meet a beautiful mermaid boy that instantly turns your world around.

Contains: fluff, some kisses

Warnings: none

Wordcount: 2,7 K

Enjoy!

________________________________________________________________

It was a beautiful evening down at the lake five minutes away from my home. I was sitting at the end of the pier with my feet dangling down into the water and watching the beautiful orange and red sunset in front of me. I was coming down to the lake nearly every day this time of year to watch the sunset or just enjoy a swim in the sunshine. Today has been a wonderful day. I came home early from school and had time to spend with my family. I was looking at the sunset as a saw a figure not far from the pier. It was watching the sunset just like I was, but it didn’t look human. It moved smooth through the water and came closer to the pier. The closer it came the more it slowed down. Just as it was about 3 meters away from me it stopped and looked out of the water. I saw a boy with beautiful blue eyes, fish-like ears in a beautiful blue colour and brown hair. He watched me from his position and as I smiled at him, he smiled back. He came closer and stopped at the pier directly next to me.

“Enjoying the sunset?”, I asked and he looked at me with a smile on his face while nodding.

“Wanna sit next to me?”, I asked and he looked around as if he was checking if there was someone else around.

He then pushed himself out of the water onto the pier and sat down next to me. I couldn’t believe my eyes. The creature next to me was no normal one. It was a mermaid, or should I say a merman. I looked at his beautiful fishtail that was coloured in different shades of blue the water on his scales still sparkling in the sunset light. He had blue markings on his arms, back and ribs which made him look really special and magical. The end of his tail was still hanging into the water and his tailfin sometimes accidently scraped my feet. We kept watching the sunset together until he looked at me.

“I’m Lance.”, he said and held a hand out for me to take.

“I’m Y/N. Nice to meet you”

I took his hand and shook it. His skin was soft and still a bit wet from being in the water earlier. I looked at his fishtail again and heard him giggle as he caught me staring.

“Surprised that I’m no human?”, he asked with a smirk on his face.

“Well. Not really. No way a human could be this beautiful”, I answered, seeing his jaw drop after I finished my sentence.

I giggled and saw him slightly blush. He scratched his neck nervously and then looked back at me.

“Are you often here at the pier?”

“Yeah. I come here when I need to clear my head or just to relax. I don’t live far from the lake so it’s very likely to find me hear nearly every evening or afternoon”

“Maybe we can see each other again”, he said and then looked back at the sun that had nearly vanished from the sky.

“Yeah. Maybe”, I said and smiled at Lance.

We continued to watch the sunset until the sky turned from a fiery orange to the beautiful night sky. I looked at my phone to see that it was time for me to go home and eat dinner with my family. Lance looked at me and sighed.

“You have to go, right?”, he stated and I nodded.

“It was nice to meet you, Lance. Maybe we’ll see each other again tomorrow.”, I said while standing up and winked at him.

He smiled at me and then let himself slide back into the water. His body glided smooth through the lake water as he followed me to the shore until the water was too shallow for him to swim any further. I smiled at him and then waved goodbye. Lance waved back and before I was out of his sight, he shouted something after me.

“I’ll be waiting for you”

On my way back to my house I couldn’t stop smiling. I just met this beautiful mermaid boy and he already made my heart beat out of my chest. I walked to the front door and unlocked it. After I stepped in my little sister Sofia came running at me.

“Y/N! I was searching for you. Mommy brought this book with her and I want you to read it to me. Pleeeeeaaaaaase Sister”, she begged pushing the book into my hands.

I looked at it and began to giggle. The title wrote “The little mermaid” and I was instantly reminded of Lance. She would freak if she would know that I met a real ‘mermaid’. I took the book and skipped through the pages.

“Hmmm. Let me see. Yeah, I’m gonna read that to you. After dinner”, I said and she started to jump around happily.

We both walked into the kitchen to see mom making sausages and mashed potatoes. My sisters absolute favourite dish after pizza and lasagne. I helped mom to set the table and we then sat down to eat.

“How was your day honey? You look like something good happened to you today. You are extra happy”, she said and suddenly my sister stared at me.

“DO YOU HAVE A BOYFRIEND?”, she asked after a long gasp.

“What? No! Where should I get a boyfriend from?”

I continued to eat so that mom and my little sister would drop the topic. They seemed to understand me and didn’t ask any further questions. After we were done, I helped mom to do the dishes and then went upstairs to read to Sofia. She already sat on her bed tucked into the blanket with the book on her feet. I smiled at her and sat next to her on the bed. I started reading the book to her. She was fascinated by the pictures of the mermaids in the book and kept looking at them amazed.

“You know what? I actually know a real mermaid.”, I said and she looked at me with widened eyes.

“No way! I thought mermaids aren’t real”, she said and climbed onto my lap.

“They are. I just met him today and he is a really nice boy”, I explained to her and she gasped loud again.

“SO YOU HAVE A BOYFRIEND! AND HE IS A MERMAID!”, she shouted and I had to cover her mouth so mom wouldn’t hear her.

“Sofia. Be quiet. No, he is not my boyfriend. And you’d call him merman because of him being a boy”

“It doesn’t matter. You know a mermaid. I wanna meet him. NOW”, she said and jumped out of bed.

I had to run after her to catch her and lift her up holding her in my arms.

“Sofia we can’t just go out now”

“Why not? I wanna see him. Pleeeeeeeaaaaaaase”, she begged and showed me her cutest dog eyes.

I couldn’t say no to that face. I put her down and sighed.

“Fine. Get dressed into something warm and I’ll take you to him. But I’m not sure if he is still there at this time of day”

“Yippie”, she jumped around and started to gather her clothes.

I’ve never seen her change this quickly. She really seemed excited to see a magical creature. As she was ready to go, she stood in the doorframe looking at me.

“What are you waiting for? Let’s go!”, she said and pulled me with her.

“Where are you girls going? It’s already late”, Mom asked as we came down the stairs.

“We’re just quickly going to the lake. They said there would be a meteor shower tonight and we wanted to know if we can see it from there”, I made up a quick excuse and hoped mom wouldn’t smell that something was fishy.

“Ok. But be back in an hour. I don’t want you two catching a cold”, she said and kissed Sofias head before she went back into the living room.

We put on our shoes and a jacket and then walked out the door towards the lake.

“I’m so excited. A real mermaid. OMG”, Sofia was really jittery and jumped around.

“Don’t be too excited. You’ll only be disappointed if he’s not at the pier”

As we reached the pier we walked to the end of it, took off out shoes and sat down on the wooden planks. It was just quiet and there was no sign of Lance being here now.

“I guess Lance isn’t here”, I said and Sofia looked at me disappointed.

“I told you he might not be here”

“Maybe you need to shout for him. That might help. Pleeeeeeaaaaaase”, she begged again and I just gave up without fighting against that little devil.

“Ok. I’ll try”

“LANCE! ARE YOU HERE SOMEWHERE?”, I shouted and Sofia joined me.

It didn’t took long until the water began to move and something began to shine in a blue light. The blue shadow was coming closer and closer until we saw Lance came to the surface. Sofias jaw dropped as she saw him. Lance looked beautiful. His scales were shining in the moonlight and his markings seemed to glow. Lance swam towards me and then pushed himself up onto the pier so that he was directly in front of me.

“You were shouting my name, princess. What can I do for you?”, he said in a flirty tone and smirked at me.

I giggled, leaned towards him and cupped his face with my hand.

“There is nothing you can do for me, but there is someone who wants to meet you”, I said and pointed at Sofia who was just standing there with widened eyes not knowing what to say.

Lance blushed slightly and moved his body a bit away from me. He then turned to her and sat down in between Sofia and I.

“And who are you my little princess?” he asked, lifted her up and sat her down on his lap.

“That’s Sofia. My little sister. And that, Sofia, is my friend Lance”, I introduced them and Sofia just looked from Lance to me and then back. “OMG!”, she screamed and then hugged Lance without a warning.

“Wow. Easy there, little girl. I’m not gonna run away.”, he said laughing at his own bad joke.

“Are you Y/Ns boyfriend?”, she asked and Lance giggled.

“Maybe I am. Maybe not. Who knows”, he joked and looked at me smirking again.

“Sofia don’t listen to him. He is just a big flirt”, I said and giggled at how Sofia still hugged Lance like he was her best friend.

“I don’t care. I like him”, she said which made Lance and I laugh.

“She is a mermaid lover.”, I told Lance and he smiled.

“I see that. Hey, little princess. How about I take you on a swim in the near future?”, he asked and I nearly saw the hearts in Sofias eyes as she looked at me.

“Can I sister? Pleeeeeeeaaaaase!”, she begged.

“Of course. But just under one condition”

“I’ll do everything”, she said.

“You have to promise me that I’ll still be your favourite person”

“But I really like Lance”, she said and then stood up from Lances lap and stood in between us.

“How about we are both her favourite person?”, Lance asked and looked at me.

“Yes please. I really wanna go on a swim with Lance”, Sofia said and looked at me with hope in her eyes.

“Fine. I can live with that”, I said and she pulled Lance and I into a hug.

“I love you both”, she said happily and smiled at us.

“We love you too”, Lance said and lifted her up onto his lap again.

“Little princess you have a very nice sister. You should be grateful to spend everyday with her”, Lance said and stroked Sofias head.

“I am. She is the best sister you could ask for”, she said happily and then climbed onto my lap.

“I love you sister”, she whispered and hugged me.

“I love you too. Even though you can be a little devil sometimes”, I said and laughed.

Lance looked at us with loving eyes. God if he would look at me like this when I’m alone with him I would definitely melt right on the spot. I hugged Sofia some more and then looked at my phone to check the time. Sofia was already getting tired from all the excitement and I noticed that my eyes felt heavy too.

“I guess we should head back before mom gets worried”, I said and looked down at Sofia who was fast asleep.

“It was nice to see you again this soon. And Sofia is a really pretty and nice little girl”, Lance said and looked at me smiling.

“It really was. I guess you’ll see us more often from here on, now that Sofia knows a real mermaid”

“I wouldn’t mind. I like your company”, he said and I could swear that there was a slight blush appearing on his face.

“I should get going now and bring this little monster to her room”, I said and was about to stand up as Lance grabbed my arm.

“Wait!”, he shouted and I sat back down.

“I wanted to say goodbye to my princesses and wanted to thank you both for this nice night”, he said and then took Sofia from my arms and softly kissed her head.

“Sleep tight little princess”, he whispered and she smiled with her sleepy eyes slightly opened.

“Good night, Lance”, she mumbled and nearly instantly fell asleep again.

“And then I wanted to say good night to you, my princess”, he said and pulled me closer to him.

“Good night, Lance”, I said getting nervous from being this close to him.

“Sleep tight and hopefully dream about something wonderful”, Lance whispered in my ear and then placed a soft kiss on my cheek.

Blood instantly shot into my cheeks and my whole face heated up. I took Sofia on my arm and began to walk towards the shore. As I turned around to see if Lance was already gone, he still sat there in the moonlight looking at us walking away. I waved at him and he waved back. He then jumped back into the water and vanished. As I reached the house my heartbeat was out of control. I would be fangirling right now if it wouldn’t wake Sofia. I carried her up the stairs into her room, helped her change into her pyjama and then took her to bed. I pulled her blanket up and leaned down to kiss her forehead.

“Good night, little devil”, I said and she quietly chuckled.

“Will we visit Lance tomorrow again?”, she asked and rubbed her eyes.

Heat rose back into my cheeks. I really wanted to see Lance again.

“Yes of course. I promised you to go swimming with him, didn’t I?”

“Yeah you did. I hope the night is over soon”, she said before closing her eyes and drifting into sleep.

“Me too. Sofia. Me too”, I whispered as I left her room.

I walked over to my room and then went into the shower. After I was done with my pre sleep ritual I laid on my bed trying to sleep. I was tired but I couldn’t stop thinking about Lance and how he kissed my cheek. It felt as if his lips where still lingering on my cheek and I really liked that feeling. I never really believed in love at first sight, but now after experiencing it myself I can totally understand what that feels like. After thinking about my feelings for some more I slowly drifted into a peaceful sleep.

Part 2

[witchyfashion]

The Mermaid Handbook: An Alluring Treasury of Literature, Lore, Art, Recipes, and Projects Answer the enchanting siren call of the mermaid with this comprehensive, lavishly illustrated and intricately designed one-of-a-kind lifestyle compendium from the editor in chief of Faerie Magazine and author of The Faerie Handbook and globally published novel Mermaid, packed with lore, legends, facts and trivia, beautiful illustrations, and numerous step-by-step projects and recipes. Beautiful, seductive, mysterious, and potentially dangerous, the mermaid is a global literary and pop culture icon whose roots date back to ancient sea goddesses and Greek mythology. From Homer’s Odyssey and Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale The Little Mermaid to T.S. Eliot’s "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" and the Disney animated film The Little Mermaid, this sea vixen has long seduced popular imagination. Cosmetic companies have drawn inspiration for their makeup lines from mermaids, as have designers throughout fashion history, from Jean Patou to Jean Paul Gaultier and Alexander McQueen. The fishtail dress is a perennial long red-carpet staple, favored by the likes of Marion Cotillard, Sofia Vergara, and Blake Lively. Divided into four sections—Fashion and Beauty; Arts and Culture; Real Mermaids and Where to Find Them; and Food, Entertaining and Stories of the Sea—The Mermaid Handbook is a unique and sumptuous compilation filled with creative ideas for decorating and living inspired by these beauties from the deep. Learn to make a sailor’s valentine; a mermaid comb and crown; and a pearl and sequin paillette necklace. There are recipes for mermaid-themed poke bowls, aquatic-themed honey gingerbread cookies, and the official cocktail of the 1960s-era mermaid attraction Aquarama. Folklore expert Carolyn Turgeon also includes profiles of true modern mermaids, tail makers, and mermaid bars; visits mermaid attractions like Weeki Wachee Springs; and provides tips on getting beachy mermaid hair and creating an alluring eye. This collector’s item also includes an inset image on the front cover; ornate metallic blue foil patterning on the front, spine, and back; blue stained edges; a satin bookmark, and quality paper. click picture for link

[princess-polls]

1C

Princess Bonnibel Bubblegum (Adventure Time) VS Star Butterfly (Star vs the Forces of Evil)

Flame Princess (Adventure Time) VS Charlie Magne Morningstar (Hazbin Hotel)

Adora/She-Ra (She-Ra: Princess of Power 1985) VS Chi-Chi (Dragon Ball)

Snow White/Mary Margaret Blanchard (Once Upon a Time) VS Morgana (Merlin)

Linh Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles) VS Ianthe Tridentarius (The Locked Tomb)

Luxa (The Underland Chronicles) VS Amethyst (DC Comics)

Sakura (Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle) VS Yuyuko Saigyouji (Touhou Project)

Fiona (Allison & Lillia) VS Gruier Serenity (Mouretsu Pirates)

2C

Lucina (Fire Emblem Awakening) VS Lunafreya Nox Fleuret (Final Fantasy XV)

Natalia Luzu Kimlasca Lanvaldear (Tales of the Abyss) VS Estellise Sidos Heurassein (Tales of Vesperia)

Yona (Yona of the Dawn) VS Moana (Moana)

Ariel (The Little Mermaid) VS Fa Mulan (Mulan)

Jade (Dragon Quest XI) VS Princess Diara (Redakai)

Raven Queen (Ever After High) VS Hisui E. Fiore (Fairy Tail)

Leia Organa (Star Wars) VS Emma Swan (Once Upon a Time)

Kiara (The Lion King II) VS Kairi (Kingdom Hearts)

1D

Zelda (The Legend of Zelda) VS Elsa (Frozen)

Azula (Avatar: The Last Airbender) VS Genevieve (Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses)

Sofia (Sofia the First) VS Midna (The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess)

Aisha/Layla (Winx Club) VS Ice Princess (Sharkboy and Lavagirl)

Princess Butter (MySims Kingdom) VS Laura (Fantasy Life)

The Princess (Slay the Princess) VS Liar Princess (Liar Princess and the Blind Prince)

Rina Touin (Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch) VS Glenda (Petite Princess Yucie)

Di Gi Charat/Dejiko (Di Gi Charat) VS Princess of Gentlehaven (Disney Princess Enchanted Journey)

2D

Briar Beauty (Ever After High) VS Harumi (Ninjago)

Rosamund du Prix (Dimension 20: Neverafter) VS Athanasia de Alger Obelia (Who Made Me a Princess)

Princess Daphne (Dragon’s Lair) VS Spinstress (Edge of Spider-Verse)

Belle (Beauty and the Beast) VS San/Princess Mononoke (Princess Mononoke)

Iris (Lolirock) VS Princess Tutu/Ahiru/Duck (Princess Tutu)

Merliah (Barbie in a Mermaid Tale) VS Jasmine (Aladdin)

Shirahoshi (One Piece) VS Princess Cookie (Cookie Run Kingdom)

Sonia Nevermind (Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair) VS Shuri (Black Panther)

[reallyliteral]

south beach 🏖 Pops of bright neon coupled with soft pastels inspired my whole color palette when packing for Miami. Baby blue mesh mermaid pants, bright white waffled bikini, bracelet handmade from vintage beads, along with the big blue ocean really pulled the look together 🌊 🍧 neta string bikini 👙 made ethically in small batches from white waffle fabric 🧇 by Rumi @areyouami in dtla, california 🍌 vintage beaded bracelet 🍋 by @jessica_redditt_designs 🧜🏻‍♀️ peacock tail pants 🦚 made sustainably in small batches 🇵🇹 by Sofia & Raquel @sizbrand in sesimbra, portugal #slowfashion #ethicalfashion #locallymade #localartist #sustainablefashion #ecofriendly #circulareconomy #sustainablebloggers #sustainableliving #slowliving #shopsmall #handmade #outfitideas #outfitinspiration #miamistyle #womensfashion #florida #areyouami #ayai #minimaliststyle #sizbrand #sophiemonet #miamifashion #miamitrends #vintagedior #southbeach #madeinportugal #miami #visitmiami (at South Beach Miami Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/CXb4v7lP5Bb/?utm_medium=tumblr

[juliecookies]

Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2021 #ReadYourWorld

Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2021 #ReadYourWorld

The lovely multicultural book we got to read for this event was . The illustrations in this book are lovely! I love how mermaid Sofia has a gorgeous red mermaid tail, top, and even fan. She has lovely flowing brown hair with a flower. While not specified, I imagine this mermaid has influence from the country of Spain. When we look at all the 5 enchanted mermaids together, we can see each mermaid…

[ninapedia]

Hi Nina! I've been wondering for a while, but you've mentioned a couple of times that there are upwards of 200 magical girl intellectual properties you've consumed and I was wondering what they were. I'm also quite curious as to what your to watch list has on it. If this is too much of a hassle, I completely understand. I mostly wanted to get a sense of where you've been in the genre and where you plan to go. Thank you for your time.

OH BOY!

Okay, full disclaimer, I do count like the series with multiple named seasons/movies as different entries (i.e. all the Precure I count as unique entries, and each season of Sailor Moon, etc. If it has a separate entry on like “myanimelist” i count it as separate). I’ve also sat down and watch RAWs/things in languages I’m not entirely fluent in cause I’m #thirsty

LIST IS UNDER THE CUT:

Unmarked is anime/cartoon, I’ll signify comics/manga

6♥Princess

Ai Tenshi Densetsu Wedding Peach

AKB0048

AKB0048: Next Stage

Akihabara Dennou-gumi

Ange Vierge

Bayonetta: Bloody Fate

Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu LOVE!

Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu LOVE! LOVE!

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon R

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon R: The Movie

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S: Kaguya Hime

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon SuperS

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon: Sailor Stars

Sailor Moon Crystal

Black Lagoon Omake (the one with Revi as a magical girl obvi)

Choujigen Game Neptune The Animation

Futari wa Pretty Cure / Pretty Cure

Futari wa Pretty Cure Max Heart

Futari wa Pretty Cure Splash Star

Yes! PreCure 5

Yes! PreCure 5 GoGo!

Fresh Pretty Cure! 

HeartCatch PreCure!

Suite PreCure 

Smile PreCure!

Glitter Force

DokiDoki! PreCure

HappinessCharge PreCure! 

Go! Princess PreCure 

Maho Girls PreCure!

Kirakira PreCure a la Mode

Hugtto Precure

Creamy Mami

Magical Emi

Corrector Yui

Fantasista Doll

Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya

Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya 2wei Herz!

Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya 2wei!

Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya 3rei!!

Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya Specials

Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya: Undoukai de Dance!

Flip Flappers

Flying Witch

Tokyo Mew Mew

Tokyo Mew Mew A La Mode (Manga)

Kiki’s Delivery Service

Day Break Illusion

Houkago no Pleiades (TV)

Houkago no Pleiades (ONA)

Jungle de Ikou!

Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne

Kill La Kill

Kyoukai no Kanata

Little Witch Academia

Little Witch Academia: Mahoujikake no Parade

Magic Knight Rayearth

Magic Knight Rayearth II

Magical☆Star Kanon 100%

Mahou no Stage Fancy Lala

Mahou Shoujo Ikusei Keikaku

Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha

Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica

Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica Movie 1: Hajimari no Monogatari

Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica Movie 2: Eien no Monogatari

Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica Movie 3: Hangyaku no Monogatari

Mahou Shoujo Nante Mou Ii Desukara

Mahou Shoujo Taisen 

Mahou Shoujo-tai Arusu

Magic User’s Club

Mai-HiME

Mai-Otome (Mai-zHiME)

Majokko Shimai no Yoyo to Nene

Mawaru Penguindrum

Adolescence of Utena

Revolutionary Girl Utena

Yuri Kuma Arashi

Princess Tutu

Cardcaptor Sakura

Nanatsu-iro Drops

Nurse Witch Komugi-chan Magikarte

Nurse Witch Komugi-chan R

Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt

Petite Princess Yucie

Ground Defense Mao-Chan

Puni Puni Poemi

Rolling Girls

Sasami: Mahou Shoujo Club

Sasami: Mahou Shoujo Club 2

Pretty Sammy

Shamanic Princess

Pretear

Show By Rock!!

Show By Rock!! # (Currently watching)

Little Witch Academia (TV Serious - Currently Watching)

Sugar Sugar Rune

Ultra Maniac

Uta Kata

VividRed Operation

Wizard Barristers: Benmashi Cecil

Zettai Bouei Leviathan

Yuki Yuna is a Hero

Demashita! Powerpuff Girls Z

Maji de Otaku na English! Ribbon-chan: Eigo de Tatakau Mahou Shoujo

Tokimeki Tonight

Saint Tail

Cutie Honey

Minky Momo

Mako-Chan

Mahou Shoujo Lalabel

Zodiac Star Force (Comic)

Mahou Shoujo of the End (Manga)

Sabrina the Teenage Witch

Herself the Elf

Rainbow Brite

She-Ra: Princess of Power

Jem and the Holograms

Jem and the Holograms (Comic)

Wildfire

Lady Lovely Locks

PJ Sparkles

Bibi Blocksberg

Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders

Tenko and the Guardians of the Magic

Sky Dancers

Sabrina: The Animated Series

Cybersix

Atomic Betty

W.I.T.C.H

Winx Club

Winx Club: The Mystery of the Abyss

Lilly the Witch

Trollz  - I go back and forth as to whether or not this one counts.

The Life and Times of Juniper Lee

Angel’s Friends

Pixel Pinkie

Tara Duncan: The Evil Empress

PopPixie

Mia and Me

She Zow

Sofia the First

RWBY

Equestria Girls (All the movies, I’m not doing separates for these)

Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld

Bee and Puppycat

Bee and Puppycat  (Comic)

Steven Universe

Steven Universe (Comic)

Sabrina: Secrets of A Teenage Witch

Rainbow Brite (2014)

Song of the Sea

LoliRock

Star Vs. The Forces of Evil

Little Charmers

Shimmer and Shine

Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir

Star Darlings

Regal Academy

Elena Princess of Avalor

Nella the Princess Knight

Girls of Olympus (Pilot Only)

Twelve Forever (Pilot Only)

Sleepless Domain (Comic)

Agents of the Realm (Comic)

How I Loathe Being a Magical Girl (Comic) 

The Hues (Comic) 

 Shattered Starlight (Comic)

Andromeda Star (Comic) 

Brujaha (Comic) 

Princess Love Pon (Comic) 

Magical Shark Girl Pre)-(y PonPon (Comic) 

Unfamiliar (Comic) 

Sylvania (Comic) 

Witchery Etc. (Comic) 

Magical Girl In Training (Comic) 

Magical Girl Neil (Comic) 

Magical Hazel (Comic) 

Apricot Cookie(s)! (Comic) 

Magic Remains (Comic)

Strawberry Seafoam (Comic)

Luminous (Comic) 

Magical How? (Comic) 

 Mahou Josei Chimaka  (Comic) 

Magical Girl Beatdown (Comic) 

 Magical Bitches (Comic)

Transmajicka (Comic)

magnifiqueNOIR  (Comic) 

Put a Spell on Me  (Comic) 

Weapon Girls: Waltz  (Comic)

Witchery Etc. (Comic)

Pripara (Watching)

Balala The Fairies

Petite Petite Muse

Z-Squad

Lady Jewelpet

Rilu Rilu Fairilu Yousei no Door

Mikagura School Suite

Negima!?

Is This a Zombie?

Ayashi no Ceres

Full Moon o Sagashite

Pastel Yumi

Ojamajo Doremi

Ojamajo Doremi # (Sharp)

Mōtto! Ojamajo Doremi

Ojamajo Doremi Dokka~n!

Nurse Angel Ririka SOS

Shugo Chara

Persia the Magic Fairy

Re: Cutie Honey

Mermaid Melody

Sally the Witch

Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card

Mysticons

I THINK that’s everything I may be missing some.

I didn’t include if I read the manga AND saw the anime- like with Sailor Moon, Sugar Sugar Rune, etc. I also didn’t include any of the Precure movies because I don’t know I feel like that’s overkill??? I also started reading the Magical Girl Raising Project Light Novels so those would be shoved in there too I guess.

A lot of these series are missing from MyAnimeList list because I intend to re-watch them and it’s a good way to keep track of things I haven’t re-watched recently. (now if only I remembered to update what episodes of things I’m currently watching lmao)

Even with all of this there are still so many series I have to see!! I can’t wait *u*

Edit: I woke up this morning realizing I missed a bunch