Another World

Studio Ghibli is famous for its animated films from Japan such as My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away.

Level-5 is an independent company that has franchise video games like Dark Cloud 2 and the Professor Layton series.

Now, Ghibli and Level-5 are working together on developing a new role-playing game called The Another World (Ni no Kuni). Ghibli's traditional animation style of animation and artwork is incorporated into the game.

Source of all images above from: designrelated.com/

The game's story involves a 13 year-0ld boy named Oliver who follows a spirit named Shizuku into a parallel world. Oliver's quest is to search for a way to bring his mother back to life.

The game can be played on the Nintendo DS and the PlayStation 3. It will arive in Japan this coming winter. No updates exist on when it'll come to the USA.

Here are two trailers of the game on YouTube. Click on the links bellow:

Trailer 01

Trailer 02

The Another World belongs to both Studio Ghibli and Level-5.

Ed, Marvin and Eddy?

Source of image from: alivingdog.com/

Somewhere between 2003 and 2004, I recall seeing a clever commercial on Cartoon Network. It shows Ed and Eddy from Ed, Edd n' Eddy in the cul-de-sac going through a trash can and finding a smoothie machine.

Source of image from: clipart.toonarific.com/

Before Eddy comes up with a scam, Marvin the Martian appears dressed as Edd (Double D). I love this commercial because it was a clever and a funny crossover to promote the shows.

Here is what I remember the quotes were from the commercial.

Eddy: "Hey look! A smoothie machine! We can use this to--"

Marvin: "Destroy the world!"

Eddy: "You're not Double D."

Marvin: "Double D is sick. I, Marvin the Martian, am filling in for him."

Eddy: "Oh, well anyway... we can use this earn money to buy jawbreakers!"

Marvin: "Ah, yes. Jawbreakers. To break the jaws of earth and then destroy it!"

Ed: "Yeah!"

Eddy: "No! We need earth!"

Ed: "It is fun to walk on."

Marvin: "I though it was a nice idea."

Rolf: "Hello."

Marvin: "EARTHLING!" [zaps Rolf with a raygun turning him to dust]

Ed: "When is Double D coming back?"


Ed, Edd n' Eddy and Duck Dodgers belong to Warner Bros. and Cartoon Network.

Terra, A Teen Titan, A True Friend

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Teen Titans is one of Cartoon Networks biggest hits based of DC comics. A character driven series that focuses on five young superheros named Robin, Cyborg, Starfire, Raven and Beast Boy. In the second season, a new daring and free-spirited heroin was introduced to the team. Her name.... Terra.

Source of Left Image and Right Image

In the beginning of the second season, Terra quickly befriends the Titans and develops a crush on Beast Boy. However, she lacks confidence about herself due to fact that she has little control over her powers in earth manipulation.

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Her apprehensiveness leads her to take on an offer from the manipulative villain, Slade. Terra secretly joins Slade as his apprentice in order to tame her abilities. To make things complicated, she comes back to the Titans to help Slade spy on them while at the same time still be their friends.

Source of image from: teentitanraven.glogster.com/

Once the Titans learns of Terra's betrayal, Terra comes clean to Beast Boy breaking his heart and trust. Beast Boy dismissing Terra which causes her to not hold back anymore which is exactly what Slade wants to see.

Source of image from: nailseacourt.com/

Ordered to eliminate the Titans and take control over the city, Terra willingly follows.

But when Terra fails, Slade abusively turns on her and takes over her will by controlling her with the new costume he gave her.

Source of image from: animegalleries.net/

In the end, thanks to Beast Boy, Terra finally overcomes Slade's control and turns on him. Sadly, Terra sacrifices herself to save her friends and the city from a volcanic eruption triggered during her duel with Slade. The result causes Terra to become one with her powers transforming her into stone.

Source of Image from: the-trades.com

The series' final episode, Things Change, reveals Terra mysteriously survived when Beast Boy notices a schoolgirl who looks exactly like her and discovers her stone statue is missing. The show ends on a sad note never confirming whether she really doesn't remember who she is or just doesn't want Beast Boy and the Titans involved in her lifer anymore.

Despite the unhappy ending and the wrong decisions she has made, it is hard to feel mad at Terra. She is a very tragic heroin that allows you to feel sympathy towards her and makes you wish she stayed a permanent member of the team.


Teen Titans belongs to Warner Bros./DC Comics.

A Forgotten Christmas Tale

Source of image is from: kalafudra.wordpress.com/

In 1989, Walt Disney released The Little Mermaid; the movie that reminds audiences of the true beauty of animation. Since then, people and studios have been inspired to make animated feature films for the big screen.

In 1990, Warner Bros. tried to compete with Disney by distributing an animated movie that seemed to have the same style as The Little Mermaid. On November 21, The Nutcracker Prince was released. Based on E.T.A. Hoffmann's story and play of The Nutcracker.

The film is a classic; however, a lot of elements of the film's story are a lot similar to the Disney adaption of Peter Pan. The young girl named Clara acts a lot like Wendy in the end of the film when she prefers to grow up rather than live in the land of dolls and stay with Hans (the Nutcracker). Pretty cliche to end a fairy tale, huh?

If you look closely at Clara and Hans' design's, you'll notice how they look a lot similar to Ariel and Prince Eric from The Little Mermaid but younger.

Source of image from: gdenofa.deviantart.com/

What I truly love about the movie is the villain, The Mouse King. He is the only bad guy I've seen to have a background story in an animated picture. Before he was king, he was the son of a loathsome mother, the Mouse Queen. After magically transforming Hans into a nutcracker doll, the commotion causes the fat rat's tail to get flattened and bent. His mother ends up being splatted instead. Taking his mother's crown, the Mouse King is born.

He is an interesting villain because he manages to be both comical, yet terrifying at the same time. The Mouse King: "Today king of mice, tonight king of dolls, tomorrow... KING OF EVERYTHING!"

Overall, this movie is pretty decent and fun to watch during the holiday season.


The Nutcracker Prince belongs to Warner Bros.

Oogie Boogie vs The Beldam

The Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline are two classic stop motion animated films both directed by Henry Selick. Each film has an antagonist that is both creepy and disgusting.

In The Nightmare Before Christmas, Oogie Boogie is the main villain. A large burlap sack filled with bugs who is always plotting against Jack Skellington.

In Coraline, the Beldam (also known as The Other Mother) is a spider-like witch who is the creator of the other world and its residents. She takes on the form of Coraline's mother in order to earn her love in staying with her forever!

Both villains have a few things in common:

• They both love to gamble and play games with other characters but never play fair.
• They enjoy eating bugs.
• Just as Oogie completely relies on Lock, Shock and Barrel, the Beldam is dependent on her creations to assist her.
  
• They're very abusive and forceful towards others.
• None of their henchmen are completely loyal or obedient.
  
• They act kind of creepy and in an unexpected way toward the end of each film.
  

However, there are two huge differences between them:

Oogie is extremely lazy and a total coward who depends on fear and his booby traps to achieve. The Beldam has her own strange way of showing "a mother's love" in order to get what she wants.

The Beldam is also much more cunning then Oogie who tends to be a bit dull; however Oogie has his smart moments from time to time.

These two notorious monsters may have their differences in strengths, motives and personality, but there is one huge quality they continue to share. They both end up losing to the heroes of the movies!


All rights to The Nightmare Before Christmas belongs to both Tim Burton and Disney.
All rights to Coraline belong to Neil Gaiman and Laika.

The Shape of Trios

Since the Three Stooges hit Hollywood, animators have been inspired to make their own dynamic trios. From what I have observed, many cartoon trios have characters that are designed using three basic shapes: either a circle, triangle, or a square.

• Circles are used in designing characters who are happy, carefree and silly like Curly.


• Squares are used in designing characters who are stubborn, serious and egotistical like Moe.


• Triangles are used in designing characters who are the real brains of an outfit and rarely get any credit like Larry.

Here's a list of cartoon trios that use these shapes:

1. Ed, Edd (Double D) and Eddy from Ed, Edd n' Eddy
2. Lock, Shock and Barrel form The Nightmare Before Christmas
3. Jimbo, Kearney and Dolph from The Simpsons
4. Yao, Ling and Chien Po from Mulan
5. Stretch, Fatso and Stinkie from Casper the Friendly Ghost
6. Reggie, Darnell and Two Fingers from The Princess and the Frog