Rocket Power!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/03/Rocket_Power.jpg/300px-Rocket_Power.jpg

After Beckie mentioned the show, I first wondered, "What's Rocket Power? Have I watched it before?" One Google image, and I remembered it all.

Similar to Dextor's Lab-BORE-a-torrey (sorry, I really want to make sure you pronounce it correctly), Rocket Power provided entertainment but probably did not influence my conscience or beliefs to the degree Arthur did. That's why it is not etched in my memory - it, along with Snow White, lay deep in the back of my mind. But once triggered, the memories poured back.

I remember Otto as quite simply, a cool dude. The typical superstar who matched his athletic prowess with the lack of brains. However, my personal belief is that no "stupid' person exists. If I ever receive a poor grade, I know its due to my lack of preparation or understanding, not due to my IQ. Likewise, I believe Otto didn't really apply himself. And the consequence? He was held back in school.

My favorite character has to be Twister. Good ol' Twister. All his dangerous stunts, stupidity, and cool Latina accent. I do remember shuddering when his brother, Lars, would bully him. In fact, I can see his face right now. What a loser.

Oh yeah, and how can I forget my amazing hero? REGGIE. Yup, she was my hero back in the day. She's the only girl member in their group, and this notion puzzles me. I'm sincerely glad that an article in our next issue will delve into the rationale..but the idea itself puzzles me. Why didn't the creator choose two girls and two boys? What's the reasoning? (These questions are rhetorical by the way.) WHY?

Well, I don't know. Although I wouldn't want them to take Squid out for anything in the world. He's so nerdish and dorky and yet, the show portrays his evolution into a well-rounded personality, showing that you can accomplish anything if you simply put your mind to it. That I believe is what's at the heart of the show. And I LOVE IT! :)

"Get out of my la-BORE-a-torrey"

http://www.madman.com.au/wallpapers/dexters_laboratory_325_1680.jpg

His name: Dexter

Sibling: Dee Dee (he hates her really - probably more like foreign cousin?)

Hero: Major Glory

Description: Boy Genius

Arch Nemesis: Mandark

Dextor's Lab-BORE-a-torrey provided me with many, many, many laughs. Specifically, Dee Dee. Oh how I love her.

Partly because 1. she's freakishly disproportionate 2. she looks like Bubbles from the PowerPuff Girls 3. she's cooler than Dexter since she possesses a different kind of smartness: outwitting Dexter in a rather stupid way because Dexter is stupid in a way 4. she looks like Bubbles from the PowerPuff Girls.

Teehee Mandark has a crush on Dee Dee.

Dee Dee is 5 times taller than Dexter.

Dexter has a weird lip gloss tangerine-colored hair. (English class x] )

I remember feeling bad for Dexter. :'( He appears lonely and friendless due to his supreme intelligence. He's also super duper awkward, and his sister, who can clearly make your IQ points drop, beats him in athletics, common sense, and just life in general. Moreover, his father favors his sister, and his mother incessantly embarrasses him. And his arch nemesis attempts to take credit for all of his creations.

This guy's got it tough. Are kids supposed to feel depressed by this show?

:'(

:'(]

And yet, I STILL LAUGH. x]

I...CAN'T...BREATHE!!!

I hardly can breathe, buried under a massive avalanche of homework. Not really homework per say, but preparation for massive tests! :'( That's EVEN WORSE. Sigh. Imagine what sophomores and juniors go through. Ahhh...the pain...

Usually I overhear people proudly exclaim the time they went to bed. "2:00 A.M. Beat that!" Or how some even pulled all-nighters. Well,11:59 is bad enough for me. I honestly can't fathom sleeping "today" and going to school "today." Creepy.

Sometimes I envy animation characters. And I do sincerly apologize my current inability to provide the memories and reviews I promised. (Thus, I am speaking in a general context.) But, sometimes I wish I could be a Jimmy Neutron or even better, possess "fairly odd parents."

But those are the short-cuts in life. It's that false reality that sometimes provides me irritation when watching these shows. Life isn't always that happy, is it? And the problems they do grapple with are SURREAL and hard to relate to as a teen.

After listening to a particularly interesting physics lecture today (we didn't talk about physics; we talked about the world BEYOND: college), I really felt motivated to work harder, to be the best I can ever be.

Frankly, I never really thought about college. I mean, I have...but not to such a thought-provoking degree. And it's only 3 years away. Yikes!!!! :O The way he described the way we need to work, the way he worked, I feel motivated. He told us how he spent 7 hours solving a proof! But the beauty he mentioned is solving these problems with your friends. And together, enlightening each other.

Sayonara! I've got to study.

The Japanese and animation

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/9116/289298-44730-sailor-moon_large.jpg

"There's millions of them!"

Of course, the anonymous person did not intend the statement to appear racist. And, moreover, we all seemed amazed by the presence of the Japanese orchestra that arrived today to provide a stellar performance.

I think that people view the Japanese differently due to their unique and distinct culture and language. Even their animation, for example, has dominated the world from our beloved Pokemon to Sailor Moon!

Well, okay, Sailor Moon is just plain annoying now. Since manga (the comic books people love to read, almost like an unhealthy addiction) consists of several chapters with gradual plot-building, it's really, really hard to follow.

If I were to watch the show again I'd be more confused than ever. I don't even know how I liked that show when I was little. I mean, all I remember is that Sailor Moon had a black cat and fought evil.

Heh heh. That's a little pathetic considering my rich recounts of other shows.

HOWEVER, Sailor Moon is definately not a good example of all the anime out there. Just last year, I watched some of Vampire Night, which turned out to be AMAZING! But once again, because of the chapters, you have to start from the very beginning, and it progresses rather slowly.

I shall go to my Japanese class tomorrow with gusto. :D

"Hi ho, Hi ho, it's off to work we go"

Ah, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs! My Disney obsession had stemmed from just this one movie along with an intense adoration for Dopey (you know, the cute, clumsy one?). It also generated ideas useful to lead one's life in a better way.

I flipped to the rather innocent KQED one night to find Woody Allen saying the following:

"Even as a kid I always went for the wrong women. When we went to see Snow White, everyone fell in love with Snow White, and I immediately fell for the wicked queen."

HAHAHAHA. Well, in case you were curious, the dialogue that followed swiftly prompted me to grab the remote and change the channel. KQED's innocence could no longer be trusted.

But I appeared amazed that this movie had been hibernating in a dark abyss: the dustiest part of my brain. I nearly forgot its existence and its influence in shaping me as the person I am today.

Little children, like Woody Allen, enjoyed the romantic aspect of the movie. The shining prince, the beautiful Snow White, and the horrendous step-mother. Yup, these three elements, and love is sure to blossom.

Looking back, I think I enjoyed the dwarfs more. They came in all shapes, colors, and flavors with their individual personality shining through. Doc, Grumpy, Sneezy, Happy, Bashful, Sleepy, and DOPEY. They revealed the facets of human personality and the conflictions within each. It manifested how we need to suppress some of these rather negative qualities (like Grumpy), lead life optimistically, and see light at the end of the tunnel.

We possess all these dwarfs within us. Literally. And perhaps, with this notion we can explain the many happenings and mood swings humans experience. Maybe even better than psychology class.

P.S. Weekends = movie time! :D

"Sugar, spice, and everything nice..."

http://www.fadtoys.com/UserFiles/Image/Powerpuff_Girls.jpg

These were the ingredients to create crime-fighting kindergartners? Scary. Although Professor Utonium did accidently add a certain "Chemical X..."

Remember these girls? Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup! Ah, such cuties. Every little child wanted to save Townsville and soar through the air to attack villains, especially Mojo Jojo, the monkey with the visible brain and who in fact possessed a tender heart.

I loved (and STILL love) Bubbles (the blue one)! I loved all their cute, squeaky voices, Mojo Jojo's thick Japanese accent, and the absolutely ADORABLE mayor. And what's hilarious is that certain impediments emerged since they ARE KINDERGARTNERS such as bed-wetting and allures of "the shiny stuff," which induced a universal gleam in children's eyes.

If anyone is a fan of "Pearls Before Swine," one can observe the troubles that Rat experiences to write a "passable" children's story. I believe his struggle is reminiscent of animation producers and writers today. The crime-fighting of "The Powerpuff Girls" proves useful to unveil the stark difference between right and wrong. Moreover, the villain sometimes wears the mask of a sweet, innocent person to convey that wrong is misleading, alluring, and is within all of us. Creepy.

Animation is especially effective in this regard, right? However, the potent punching, killer kicking, and barbaric boxing that ensues can sometimes create children to in fact perform these actions to those they view as a Mojo Jojo, their arch nemesis. The same problem that poor Rat incessantly confronts.

However, animation STILL provides global appeal. Proof? My 60-year-old male English teacher from my prior school once dressed up as BLOSSOM.

YOUR thoughts?

"I'm strong to the finish when I eats me spinach"

http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00483/SNF08POP-280_483090a.jpg

Spinach and animation. Interesting combination, huh? After reading Brian's comment to my post yesterday, I felt inspired to explore the influence of what some consider the most atrocious vegetable on the face of the Earth.

D.W's garnering a hatred for spinach resonated with me, and as this episode, "D.W, The Picky Eater," progressed, I understood the same feelings she possessed. I remember during the prime of my youth that restaurant visits had become a NIGHTMARE. Due to my fuss, my parent's embarrassment ensued and the gawking from other customers.

Agreeing with the comment, I felt awed after observing D.W.'s miraculous transformation. "[She showed] the world that you will get to love food if you just try it," Brian said. The episode did urge me to give this dreaded green one last chance. Which FAILED.

I know these animated shows aim for the well-being of children. Examine Popeye's mighty statement: "I'm strong to the finish when I eats me spinach." After gulping the slimy green, he gained an excessively muscular body, which probably inspired NOT ONLY little children but also adults to eat spinach to become the handsome superheros they secretly admire and worship. According to Paul Wells, author of Understanding Animation, Popeye raised spinach consumption in the U.S. by 33% between 1931 to 1936.

Well, I'm sure I can never view spinach in the same light again. Maybe at least with a less resounding "BLEGH."

To Beckie: Rocket Powers will come up soon! :)