Update Blog - 6/17/23 (Patreon)

It's back to prepping up some smaller projects for me this week. The good news is that I ended up finishing Animation Lookback: The Muppets Part 6 sooner than I expected, and it's going to be a good one! So, with that completion and another new movie for me to go and review, I decided to put my energy on videos that are easier to make to have them ready when the time comes, along with planning a bit ahead for in case of whatever situation may come to me. With that said, let's go and check what I was up to.

- Released my review of Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness: This was an intriguing movie that I was requested to look at. On one hand, I can see the great potential this movie has. The concept is able to grab my attention, it has great world-building, the action can be engaging, and the animation is shockingly amazing. It's just that the writing treats it like a bland kids' flick that it results in all those promises and all that talent put into it go to waste. There are things that I do admire from it and make watching this movie kind of worth it like the pig tribe scene, but I can't help but feel a bit disappointed that it didn't take the chance to be more bold and try something new instead of mimicking the same tropes that people are tired of seeing. It's ironic too, considering that its message is about being yourself instead of being like everyone else, yet the movie rather wanted to blend in with the animation crowd. Not the worst I've seen, but I can't help but feel like it could've been so much more. However, the next will be one that I will dread, since I will return to The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue. Yes, I've done an AniMat Watches of this years ago, but now it's time to fully inspect where this sequel went completely wrong.

- Worked on an Art Commission: This month, I only had one request to work on, but this turned out to be a fun one, where I was asked to draw The Enchanted Tiki Room: Under New Management with Iago and Zazu, and add Potty from SpongeBob SquarePants as an enjoyable bonus. The biggest challenge with this one was drawing the perches that the birds sit on. Obviously, I did a more simple version than what they actually were, but I did try with the clip and pictures I could find to recreate them as best as I can. However, I will say that this turned out to be much better than I expected, and I'm even proud of getting the looks of the birds pretty well. Safe to say that I've been getting better at drawing lately, especially when going fully digital.

- Created a New Tier List Video: I am aware that, in the next few weeks, I'll be facing a complicated situation where I will have 2 animated features released at the same time with Nimona and Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken. I've even been asked what's my plan with my reviews and how will I be releasing them? Well, my initial answer was that I'd try to see if I could get an early screening to one of them. That way, I'll put out the review of one on the day of their release, and the other the week after. However, let's say that mission failed and I did not get a screening for either, then what? Earlier in the week, I've developed a plan in case of that worst case scenario. Those reviews will have to come out in July one week after another. However, to compensate for that, on the 30th, I've created a new Tier List video, one that will be a little more traditional than before with the usual S-F rankings. This was an idea that I had in the back of my mind that I wanted to try out, and after the positive reception that I've received from the first one I did, I feel like that would be a great change to finally try that idea out. So, depending if I do get an early screening for one, it's either the Tier List video will come out at the end of this month or some time in July. Either way, I'm now ready for whatever situation comes at me this summer.

- Working on the next Series Review: In the midst of all this, I also decided to go and start working on the next Series Review that was requested for me. Honestly, out of all the shows that I've been asked to look at, this one is probably the shortest, as the total running time of it is about the same as your average Hollywood movie. And, funny enough, this is one that I'm actually familiar with and have even seen a few times myself before. However, this viewing will be a bit more different because now I'll have to look at it with a more critical eye and develop more of my thoughts on what I think of it. As you're reading this, I'm not done with the review, of course, but I did watch it all already and have recorded myself expressing my thoughts. Now all that's left is to put it all together, which will be after the one I'm working on right now. But I am sure this will be a fun talk about something I'm sure we're all familiar with.

- Currently working on my review of Elemental: I'll be very honest here. As much as I try to be hype up for the next original Pixar movie, I never really had great enthusiasm over this one. This is not to say that I think this would suck or be bad, I always had confidence that this would turn out to be good, but I never found myself to feel as excited for this as much as I was for either The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, or even Disney's upcoming Wish. This could most likely turn out to be fine, but I never felt the sense that this could be among the best fo the year, especially now seeing the reviews are mostly decent. Again, this is not hating on this movie right now and I'm working on it right now to see if Pixar can prove me wrong as this great surprise, but we'll see if I'll find this to be worth fondly remembering in the long run.

- REMINDER FOR PATRONS $50+/MONTH: This month's Discord Chat will be happening on Thursday the 22th at 8pm EST. Let me know if you're not available for either so I'll organize a quick chat at a different time.

So that's been my week of drawing and vlogging. I'm expecting to have a more busy time next week and I'll soon find out what my schedule will look like at the end of June / start of July. Either way, I'm ready for whatever comes, and I'll be ready to bring out some awesome videos for you all. So, until next time...

See ya later, dudes!