Overrated Movies

Disney's Most Overrated Animated Movies

Popularity is a fickle creature, and as such, two movies that are often considered to be equally good will often range widely in how well known they are. Some great movies will fade out of the spotlight whereas others will hoard it for a while.

The Lion King

Image found on:
http://www.lionking.org/imgarchive/Miscellaneous_Images/LionKingCast.jpg

When it was released, The Lion King enjoyed a considerable amount of fame and fortune. While it was an excellent movie, it might have been over popularized just a little, and it still is today. This movie was made into a Broadway show, and it received two sequels. If one were to look at much of Disney's merchandise, they would find it to be mostly based on this movie. The reason why The Lion King did as well as it did is, in my opinion, due to its grand feeling, characters, and soundtrack. While there is no denying its critical acclaims, The Lion King has been, and will most likely continue to be, a centerpiece of Disney.

Frozen

Frozen merchandise
Image found on:
http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/949whom.com/files/2014/09/Frozen1.jpg

The Lion King might have been popular, but nothing will compare in terms of popularity to Frozen. This movie exploded in society and has become the highest-grossing animated film in history. Frozen is so popular that the line to meet Anna and Elsa at Disneyworld is two hours long and over 3 million Frozen dresses have been sold. Its soundtrack catapulted to the top of the most popular playlist, even beating out Beyoncé and merchandising on Frozen has taken over Disney's stores. It even snagged a couple Oscars. How is Frozen so popular? It seems that everyone loves this movie and can't get enough of it, but for what reasons? There are a couple plausible reasons for why this movie has made such an impact on society. Firstly, it has not one, but two silly sidekicks, Sven and Olaf, both of whom are lovable and adorable. It also boasts two princesses, Anna and Elsa (who is technically a queen), that are strong female characters that young girls can relate to. Frozen also has a good soundtrack and decent animation. But, in my opinion, the real reason why so many people love Frozen is because it is reminiscent of classic Disney. It is a princess story adapted from a fairytale, as many are, in this case, “The Snow Queen", and has all of the elements of the classics; and these elements are magnified in Frozen. Above all else, Frozen has the heart and the spirit of those classic Disney films, and due to these qualities, Frozen will be an endearing part of Disney, albeit overrated.

The Story with Sequels

Sequels Can Be Good Too 

Although there is a common belief sequels are terrible or not as good as their predecessors, that is not always the case. In fact, more often than not, animated movies have superior sequels or at the very least, decent sequels. Now while there are the bad sequels, there are far more good sequels.

The Best of the Best

By far the best sequels have been How to Train Your Dragon 2, Kung Fu Panda 2, and Toy Story 2. What makes these films so much better? It is perhaps the fact that each one of these movies, instead of just rehashing the original, they attempt to tell their own stories or continue the story from the previous film. 

How to Train Your Dragon was a cinematic masterpiece that won many awards and was well-received by both critics and audiences. If you don't know the story, click here for information on it. One might think that topping this movie would be hard, but Dreamworks proved otherwise. They produced How to Train Your Dragon 2, which won over audiences and critics alike. The reason why the sequel is better is that How to Train Your Dragon 2 was more action-packed and fast-paced. It brought back all we loved from the first movie, and improved upon it. We received more flight scenes, emotional core, and action. The visuals were improved upon and the stakes were higher, and we got many new and interesting dragons, as well as a hotter, more mature Hiccup, with Toothless remaining as adorable as ever. And due to these improvements, the sequel surpassed the original.

 The trailer for How to Train Your Dragon 2

 video used: https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=1&v=Z9a4PvzlqoQ

Po, kung fu masters, and the Furious Five
Picture found on: http://images.static-bluray.com/reviews/5261_1.jpg

Kung Fu Panda 2 is another sequel that is better than the original. The original gave us an unique situation with memorable characters, and the sequel brings the action, drama, plot, and emotional core to go with it. The sequel also does something the original fails to do; it manages to excite the audience at the end with a cliffhanger for the third movie. This sequel is better than the original due to its more dramatic storytelling and especially because it hypes the audience up for another movie. It also boasts an unforgettable villain who poses a true threat to China, and a believable reason to back it up. The characters are also developed, especially Tigress and Po, and through this development we are able to connect more on a personal level with the story and relate to the movie, and said development is the main reason this sequel is so good.

The Toy Story cast
image found on http://earnthis.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Toy-Story-2-Disney-Wallpaper-Picture.jpg

Finally, Toy Story 2 was an amazing sequel; in fact, the entire Toy Story trilogy has been an amazing group of movies that embody the nostalgia and simpler times of childhood. There are many reasons that Toy Story 2 is the better movie, but the main reason lies with the introduction of new characters. The new characters of Stinky Pete, Bullseye, and especially Jessie become important, essential characters that are beloved by moviegoers. Toy Story 2 also displays its superiority in the improved animation and the decision that Woody is forced to make, with either choice having consequences. Ultimately Woody's decision reiterates his loyalty to Andy and secures this movie in the hearts of the young and the young at heart.

Gravity Falls Season 2 Predictions

Gravity Falls Episode 17 Predictions

There will be spoilers ahead for Gravity Falls, so read on at your own risk.

Journal number 3

Gravity Falls is an animated T.V show about twins Dipper and Mabel Pines, age 12, who are sent to spend the summer with their Grunkle (great uncle) Stan in Gravity Falls, Oregon. While in Gravity Falls, they help Stan run his tourist trap known as The Mystery Shack. Dipper, while hanging up signs for the Mystery Shack in the surrounding woods, finds a secret contraption, revealing an old journal with the number 3 inside a 6-fingered hand on the cover. This journal will be known as Journal [number] 3. Inside the journal are drawings that contain sketches of and information about paranormal creatures, alchemical symbols, cryptograms, and transmutation circles, resembling a conglomeration of Lovecraftian lore and ancient alchemy. As it turns out, said paranormal creatures actually exist, like zombies, unicorns, ghosts and mermaids, and the show revolves around the Pines Twins’ encounters with the various creatures.  

Bill Cipher

A page from the journal depicting Bill Cipher

Throughout its run, Gravity Falls has generated avid followers thanks to its critical reception, cryptograms, characters, darker tone, and mature themes, and because of these cryptograms and the nature of the show, there are a plethora of theories regarding the show. Easily the character that has been the most speculated upon has been Bill Cipher, an omnipotent dream demon. His master plan to unleash monsters from the nightmare realm into the current dimension was finally revealed in "The Last Mabelcorn". My guess is that we are due to see this occur in episode 17, and given that Bill can no longer possess anyone inside the shack, he will trick a different, outside town citizen and use them to carry out his plan.

Blendin Blandin and the Time Paradox Avoidance Enforcement Squadron

Speaking of episode 17, there has been a lot of foreshadowing and speculation about how the show will end, or rather, how the episode will play out. Episode 17 will be called "Dipper and Mabel vs. the Future" and will premiere on October 12th. What I think will happen is that Blendin Blandin will return again and that Bill will unleash his plan. Blendin Blandin was a time traveler who sought revenge on Dipper and Mabel, but the conflict with him was ultimately resolved. Still, due to the episode's title and the fact that the two episodes that involve time travel include Blendin, I believe that he will return, only perhaps as an ally against Bill Cipher due to Bill's ability to affect time and change history, as well as predict the future. He could pose as a dangerous threat to Blendin Blandin and the squadron if he is not stopped, and he would be the common enemy between the time travelers and the Pines twins, giving them a reason to team up. 

Wendy

Alex Hirsch, the creator of Gravity Falls, has stated two things for season 2 on his Twitter: that at least one character will not survive the season and episode 17 promises 'to be epic'. We have yet to witness a character die, and since we haven't seen that, the next episode will be epic, and something dangerous is going to happen in the next episode, I believe that character will die in "Dipper and Mabel vs. the Future". Who will die? The answer isn't clear, but I do believe that there is a strong possibility that if the character is a hero, that it will be Wendy. Wendy has almost died once in the series, in the episode "Into the Bunker", and she isn't a main character, so her death wouldn't be the end of the series. She is also a beloved and long-lasting character whose death would affect everybody on the show but will not bring the show to an end. 

To conclude, I believe that "Dipper and Mabel vs. the Future" will see the death of Wendy, the activation of Bill's master plan, and the return of Blendin Blandin. 

Pictures found on:
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http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/gravityfalls/images/2/2d/Gravity_Falls_Season_2_Blendin_Blandin.png/revision/latest?cb=20140729223457
http://orig10.deviantart.net/95b8/f/2012/323/3/4/wendy_corduroy_by_noe_yyy-d5lhlnr.jpg

Man's Best Friend: Dogs in Animation

Dogs are some of the most endearing characters in all popular culture, especially within the realm of animation. There are certain, special dogs that stand out above the rest. Some of them are old, others new, but either way the following dogs are among the most cherished characters of our childhood.

  Lady and the Tramp

The two titular characters from Disney's animated classic Lady and the Tramp, Lady and Tramp, are easily some of the most recognized canines in all of Disney. Why is that so? Lady and the Tramp was released in 1955, right when Disney was gaining speed with the newly released Mickey Mouse Club and recent hits like Peter Pan. As such, the studio was in the limelight, and every release was going to be publicized, whether the studio wanted it to be or not. Lady and the Tramp, as a result, became a commercial success, and while it was initially negatively received by critics, it eventually became one of the most iconic stories, with two of the most iconic dogs, in all of animation. It also has one of media's most iconic scenes, the "Bella Notte" spaghetti scene, and it has been alluded to many times, further catapulting the film into its celebrated status. 

Video used: https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=6&v=fbzEOQLOAWw

Snoopy 

Peanuts is one of the most famous and successful newspaper comic strips ever published. Penned by Charles M. Schulz, Peanuts tells the story of a group of kids growing up, and due to its success, was adapted for the small screen, where it enjoyed even more success. One of the most famous characters in the franchise is Snoopy, the protagonist Charlie Brown's pet beagle, and is often considered to be more recognizable than Charlie himself. But perhaps the real reason why everyone loves Snoopy is because he is a lovable character. He is imaginative, energetic, free-spirted, eccentric, and creative, all of which are qualities that are desirable and combine to make Snoopy popular culture's most beloved beagle.

Video used: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUQX2B67KL4

Scooby-Doo

As the star of the renowned franchise Scooby-Doo, Scooby assists the Mystery Gang, which is composed of Fred, Velma, Daphne, and Shaggy, his owner, in solving mysteries. Scooby-Doo has received multiple TV shows and both animated and live-action movies and has a massive fan base. The main reason why Scooby is so popular is because of his enduring legacy and influence on popular culture. There have been many crossovers and allusions to Scooby-Doo, and he is the center of a flourishing line of merchandise. The cowardly Great Dane is a treasured part of many adults’ childhood and will most likely continue to be in the foreseeable future.    

Video used: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_C2HJvtRDY

Death Note: Good or Evil?

Just a warning, this post will contain spoilers for all of Death Note, so if you haven't watched it or finished it (which I highly recommend), don't read it.

Is Light Yagami, the central character of Death Note, a hero or a villain? For those of you that don't know what Death Note is, it is an anime about a high school student named Light Yagami who obtains the power of a god when he acquires a Death Note. A Death Note is a notebook where whoever's name is written in it will die when that person's face is pictured, and they are used by the Shinigami, who are Japanese gods of death.

Light as Kira
image found on http://stuffpoint.com/death-note/image/53529-death-note-kira.jp

When Light first acquires the notebook, he believes it to be a hoax, as such, his first victim was a trial, to see if the notebook actually works. When the desired person drops dead of a heart attack, and after he tries killing a couple others successfully, Light is convinced that it is real. After, he makes it his mission to rid the world of sinners and evildoers by slaughtering all of the world's criminals. He adopts the Internet-given code name, Kira, and while he starts by purely killing criminals, he eventually progresses as the show goes on to killing anyone that gets in his way, good or evil, morphing into a cold-blooded murderer by the end of the show. Without a doubt, Light is evil at the end of the show. In the final episode, he openly admits he is Kira and that he knows what he was doing was wrong, yet he did it anyway. The part that truly shows he is a villain is when he reveals to Matsuda that he doesn't feel remorse for his father's death, and when he calls him a fool for dying. It could be even earlier on, when he states he might kill his sister. The mark of a truly wicked individual is when they kill their family or witness their family dying and don't feel any remorse. The extremely wicked are those individuals that are grateful that their family died or think that they got what they deserve. At the end of Death Note Light embodies all of these qualities, labeling him as a wicked person.

Light's Shinigami, Ryuk
Image found on
 http://cdn.smosh.com/sites/default/files/bloguploads/ryuk-cosplay-ryuk.jpg

But where is that tipping point? When exactly does Light become bad, and by what means? The answers differ depending on the person, but I think that after Light kills a certain person, or rather, group of people, he loses it and capitulates to the power of the Death Note. That point happens in episodes 4 and 5, in which Light learns someone is following him, a member of the FBI, and manipulates him so he can learn his name and the names of the rest of his squad, all of whom he later slays using the Death Note. The killing of the FBI agents is when Light crosses the line. They were just doing their jobs. They were good, innocent people that were trying to help out mankind. To just purely kill people like that is a very heinous crime and marks the beginning of Light's domination and transformation to Kira, which continues to the end of the show.

Music and Animation

One of the most important aspects of a movie that is commonly overlooked is the soundtrack, or background music, of the movie. Animation is no exception. In fact, animation movies usually have the most unique soundtracks of any movie, and in some cases, the music actually affects the animation. Perhaps the best example is in Disney's Fantasia and its sequel Fantasia: 2000, which partner classical music (with the exception of "Rhapsody in Blue") and lively animation into short segments that are then released together.

Without a doubt the most famous of these segments is "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" (pictured to the right)*. This segment, as most of you probably know, features Mickey Mouse under the apprenticeship of a sorcerer named Yen Sid (bonus fact, Yen Sid is Disney backwards). Yen Sid is practicing spells and orders Mickey to fill a cauldron with water. Mickey, instead of doing it himself, swipes Yen's magic hat and brings a broom to life to do the work for him. Unfortunately, he can't lift the spell and the broom overfills the cauldron, so Mickey chops it up into fragments, but it is to no avail, for each individual fragment blossoms into a new broom, like a hydra. Eventually the army of brooms floods the room and Yen Sid returns just in time to save a near-drowning Mickey, who is then appropriately punished.
*Image found on www.hollywoodreporter.com 

 

*video used: https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=2&v=cAhyt2D9B3A 

 This segment is a fantasy nostalgia that has distinct elements of peril and magic. The music fits this very well, starting very simple and eerie, with traces of the melody in the clarinets that will be expanded upon later. It is in a time with an 8 in the denominator (the beats are counted by eighth notes), which gives it an urgency, and when coupled with the minor key, it produces a very perilous sound. At 2:34, the main melody is finally introduced by the bassoon, and it is a very magical and charging motif with almost a whimsical touch, fitting the segment perfectly.


If one were to compare "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" to another one of the Fantasia segments, for example, "Rhapsody in Blue", which is the quintessential Gershwin piece, they would find the animation styles and storytelling are quite different, thanks to the difference in music. 'Rhapsody' uses the jazzy feel to describe life for 4 separate individuals living in Depression-Era New York City, each of who is not satisfied with his or her life, whether it be a construction worker aspiring to become a jazz drummer, a little girl that wants to be with her parents and not with the housewife, a middle-aged man that wants to be set free from his overbearing wife, or simply an unemployed man just looking for a job. The alternating piano solos, laid-back melodies, and big-band riffs provide the perfect backdrop for the pandemonium of New York City, and the animation style is likewise altered to be very similar to Al Hirschfeld's, who was a well-known caricaturist, drawings. The movements are very cartoon-like and spastic, and the coloration is monochromatic, which is very atypical to most animation, yet, thanks to the style, fits like a key.

*video used: https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=47&v=qWJ-kGuOA_Q