Hey there. I have perhaps the least controversial statement ever to make.
'Show Yourself', NOT 'Into the Unknown', is the true spiritual successor to 'Let It Go'.
I think this is well established by just about everyone at this point, except the Disney merchandising department.
Why am I analyzing a film released more than a year ago? Because - that's why.
I will explore themes, lyrics, imagery, and impact of all three songs to support my thesis.
Welcome to my TEDtalk.
In the beginning
Imagine it is early 2013, you're watching TV or some new DVD when an ad for an upcoming film plays:
Perhaps you think you are looking at an ad for a romantic comedy, maybe you think you're seeing a wacky road trip movie - I - I don't know this trailer is just so unbelievably off. I tried analyzing multiple Disney trailers to see where we went wrong (the early 2000s were a weird time). As I watched trailer after trailer it struck me that the heart-warming was being played down and the comedy was being played up. I realized what these trailers were reminding me of...
I've discovered an entirely different rabbit hole to climb down... if I want to finish this we're gonna have to move on.
There are two things you cannot tell from the trailer: first - that Elsa is a secondary protagonist and not an antagonist, and second - that this is going to be a musical, specifically a Broadway style musical with characters singing to move the plot forward. This means that advertising was oddly devoid of three little words that would instantly trigger bouts of song across the globe:
Let It Go.
The impact of this song could only be described by the word phenomenal. Love it or hate it - you know at least part of it and for the 2013 holidays (and most of 2014) you heard it ev-er-y-where.
The Singers
It's funny how some distance makes everything seem small it apparent that the best part of Frozen was the music. But with a playlist of bops, how did one song rise so definitively to the top? I think the answer lies in many elements, but the one that undeniably rocketed it from great musical number in a kids' film to absolute show stopping earworm can be traced to this lady right here:
Insert mispronunciation of 'Idena Menzel' joke here.
I don't think it is any coincidence that the most popular three songs from the two soundtracks are the Idena Menzel numbers. She is an amazing singer with a strong set of pipes. She has a belting style that just begs to be sung along to - fellas, I don't know if this is true for you - but when I'm with ladies the numbers we sing along with are invariably the numbers we can really let 'er rip on.
In fact, I know that the belting is part of the appeal because, although Demi Lovato's pop version is decent in it's own right and has a fair number of sales - it just isn't the version that people are out there singing along with, is it?
The official cover for Frozen II is 'Into the Unknown' by Panic! At The Disco. This cover seems to be more popular than the Lovato cover in the previous film (all I can find are the little popularity bars on iTunes, no numbers). It also is similar in popularity to the second Elsa solo in the film, 'Show Yourself', a song which has no official cover on the soundtrack. I think part of the reason for the popularity is that Brendon Urie has an amazing range, four octaves, compared to Menzel's two (or two and a half) octaves. Meaning he can throw out those high notes with a force that I would call belting though there is some debate as to whether men can actually belt.
Each of these stanza's illustrates Elsa's place in the world. Each is at the beginning of the song which is important for development sake. In 'Let It Go' she feels alone, not just alone - but separated. There is an entire kingdom that is only her and she is not hoping to find anyone. By the end of the song she exclaims that she will remain isolated, it gives her freedom she had been craving. In 'Show Yourself', she wonders who this presence is that makes her feel safe. She has grown and now seeks out a place to be happy - not simply free.
"It's funny how some distance makes everything seem small
And the fears that once controlled me can't get to me at all
It's time to see what I can do
To test the limits and break through
No right, no wrong, no rules for me
I'm free"
-Let It Go
"I've never felt so certain
All my life, I've been torn
But I'm here for a reason
Could it be the reason I was born?
I have always been so different
Normal rules did not apply
Is this the day?
Are you the way
I finally find out why?"
-Show Yourself
Completely ignoring the fact that these are sung in a very similar tone. I can't help but draw so many parallels in this verse. She acknowledges forces in her life "fears that once controlled me"/"all my life, I've been torn". She accepts that these forces have been holding her back "it's time to see what I can do"/ " I'm here for a reason". Then she places her powers within the framework of society "no rules for me"/"normal rules did not apply". She shows growth - these lyrics go from a very self-centered viewpoint, to viewpoint that evaluates herself based on her impacts on others.
Visuals
Enjoy some screen caps. Some of these moments are much better in movement, if you have the inclination to watch the songs back to back!
Note that the Frozen II image is out of sync with the rest of it's captures - but it is so similar I thought it'd better be here!
This is 100% not coincidental. In the making-of documentary for Frozen II, the artists even discuss the imagery style as being 'ice palace'. They made the decision to use similar shots and framing for this song. Can we also take a moment to be astonished that what seemed like the pinnacle of ice animation in 'Let It Go' was, in fact, bested by the effects team for "Show Yourself'? The particle effects in all of Frozen II have me going like...
What can I say? I'm a sucker for particle effects.
Titles
Even the titles show us how similar Let It Go and Show Yourself are.
Into the Unknown is not a complete sentence, it is a prepositional phrase - a modifier if you will. This song is the catalyst, it modifies Elsa's standpoint of life in Arendelle. It causes her to ask questions and seek the answers.
Let It Go and Show Yourself are technically complete sentences, specifically they are imperative sentences. This means they are commands. "But who is she commanding?" I hear you ask. In a classic musical the characters aren't typically aware they are singing, the song represents extreme emotion. Then we can assume the songs represent Elsa's inner thoughts. 'Let It Go' and 'Show Yourself' are both commands to herself (though she doesn't realize it until the climax of the latter).
Themes
The themes and lessons from both songs seem similar on a surface level. However, we once again see a story of growth. And while the argument could easily be made that Anna is the main character in the Frozen franchise, in my opinion the best character arc certainly belongs to Elsa.
'Let It Go' is a power anthem wherein Elsa finds herself freed from the constraints placed upon her throughout her childhood. She is able to let it go herself use her powers for the first time since she was a very young child. As the song progresses she builds a palace around herself, a full display of her power. Recall however that this song is steeped in isolation, the palace is for no one but herself. She has not given herself a single moment of joy in many years - now the first thing she consciously does with her powers is gift herself a home where she can do whatever she wants. She discusses the outside world but only in that she is separating herself from it, "no rules for me, I'm free" and 'let the storm rage on" are both examples. However, it is the iconic dress change and power walk that perfectly embody the theme of the song. "Here I stand, in the light of day." She is prepared to let herself be herself - she is accepting herself.
Just in case you don't know what I'm referring to when I say the power walk.
It is easy to think that is the perfect end for Elsa's arc. But Frozen II managed to go one step beyond. The theming in this one is, I believe, more subtle. Right from the beginning of the song you can sense Elsa's relief, and the fact that she is not isolated, "I can sense you there, like a friend I've always known". She is tearing down the walls of isolation erected during 'Let It Go' when she told herself to "turn away and slam the door"; now however she advises herself, "you don't have to hide, show yourself".
It is of course the climax of the song where Elsa realizes the mysterious voice was her mother - but the one she was looking for was herself. Iduna says, "Come, my darling, homeward bound" to which Elsa replies not that she has found her mother, or the voice, but rather "I am found" as scenes of her mother and father show around her. Her mother then tells her, "you are the one you've been waiting for" and Elsa agrees, "all of my life". This is, of course, accompanied by other dress change (change being emblematic of growth and becoming a new person). But my favorite touch? Remember in 'Let It Go' when she declared, "you'll never see me cry"? Well, check out her expression at the end of 'Show Yourself':
Perfection.
Elsa has ceased hiding herself away. She has gone from accepting who she is, but keeping that person distant from the world to embracing herself. She knows herself, she understands she is different, and she desires to be a force for good.
Impact
Well, to everyone that had (and still has) 'Let It Go' stuck in their head, it is clear that there is still residual impact from that ballad. Part of the reason this song strikes people so hard is that it came out of no where (remember that original trailer?). Even if you knew this was a musical did you really expect and big Disney power ballad from the minds behind Avenue Q and Winnie the Pooh (2011)? Maybe someone did - but part of me wonders if Disney even did because of that original marketing. I'm also well aware, that it could have been their little secret...
When it came to Frozen II there wasn't really any point in concealing the actual tone of the film. If anything they way undersold the comedy (anyone else wish Olaf had a touch less speaking time?) but still let the movie speak for itself without resorting to a big voice in the sky.
Two phrases that came up a lot in marketing were 'Answer the Call' and you guessed it 'Into the Unknown'. Why? Why wouldn't they put forward the song even they believed to be the crux of the film? Well...
"That's the big showstopping number. And it still isn't quite there yet, still needs the extra work." - Peter Del Vecho (Producer)
"We are about 22% animated. But this is the most precarious place to me, because a lot of songs have come in since December, which is incredible, but we're still struggling with "Show Yourself." - Jennifer Lee (Director)
"So "Show Yourself" is in flux. We've spent the last 24 hours trying to the get the front right by bringing it to a softer place." - Kristen Anderson-Lopez (Songwriter)
“Show Yourself" feels like the patient is on the operating table but we’ve got one last shot at bringing it back.” - Marc Smith (Director of Story)
Yikes. These comments were all made with less than a year until release date! Disney marketing couldn't trust the marketing campaign to a song that was still under threat of being cut eight months before the film was set to release. So the obvious choice for marketing and creating an award campaign around fell to Elsa's other big song. 'Into the Unknown' is bombastic, occurs in a similar place in the film as 'Let It Go', and is musically similar enough (with Idena bringing her belting abilities and the same high note finish) that they were confident enough to bring in P!atD for the cover, and present it for the Oscar. Simply put, part of the reason 'Show Yourself' was never afforded the true recognition it deserved came down to it getting stuck in development - interestingly a problem that also plagued 'Let It Go' and forced a retooling of the original film.
Concluding Thoughts
Elsa's arc is one that we need more of, 'Let It Go' was fine for the time, an insanely catchy tune, but, without it's quieter, sweeter conclusion, the story is only half-told, the message only half-baked. We should absolutely accept ourselves, but not at the cost of isolation. When we truly embrace ourselves and give ourselves back to the world, that's the goal of our story. Therefore 'Show Yourself' is the real second verse to 'Let It Go'. 'Into the Unknown' is great - but it is a catalyst of growth - not a measure of it.
Down the Rabbit Hole...
I went down so many rabbit holes while writing this. I thought I'd share my favorites!
This article highlights the Particle Effects in the film Frozen II.
I watched this entire making of series on Disney+.
I discovered a Chilean singer that sued Disney over supposed similarities.
In honor of Doctor Who's 57th anniversary yesterday I'm dedicating a Top 10 post to my favorite moments from the show. This are the scenes that are just so good I pretty much have them memorized! I couldn't really rank them (save my number one pick) because they range in tone and emotion so these are in no particular order. All of my moments are from NewWho (2005-Present) and, though I still like the show, I haven't enjoyed the writing as much during Capaldi and Whittaker's time as the Doctor - I'm warming up to the writing more with Whittaker but have only seen most of her episodes once.
If you are super afraid of ruining even one single plot point turn away! Otherwise entries where the clip gives too much of the ending away are marked as spoilers.
Allon-sy!
10. Hello, I'm the Doctor
If there is one thing Matt Smith excels at it is oration. I'm glad his ability was expanded upon as the show went on - giving him some truly excellent monologues. His first episode had a speech that wasn't quite a monologue, but certainly convinced a host of people that, yes, Matt Smith could be the Doctor. Couple that with one of my favorite pieces of orchestration from the entire show, and... yeah - this gets me pumped every time.
9. Dalek
This episode is your reward for making it through the first 8 episodes. The weak have been weeded out and remaining viewers are ready to understand why this show is a cultural phenomenon. Even as a newcomer I immediately new that the Dalek was bad news - I can only imagine how old fans watching the new series felt when that voice in the dark croaks, "Doctooor?"
8. Everybody Lives (Series 1 - The Doctor Dances)
The ending of a great two parter and our first time going to the past. The gas mask people were the first genuinely scary thing I had seen on the show. (Daleks are scary IN-universe, but they don't scare me.) With a literal ticking bomb adding to the intensity of the episode the finale where the Doctor realizes how things can be fixed. Little did we know that the triumphant line, "Just this once, everybody lives!" was more a promise than an exclamation.
7. Amy and Rory's Wedding (Series 5 - The Big Bang)
After the Doctor erases himself from time to close the rift, we see the preparations for Amy's wedding. We all knew what was coming - you don't write the Doctor off of Doctor Who - the only question was how! And no better way than for Amy to recite the famous wedding poem, by the time she reaches 'something blue' you are bouncing in your seat!
6. Neil Armstrong's Boot (Series 6 - Day of the Moon)
The way the Doctor defeats the Silence is just so outlandishly clever that it really should be seen in the context of its episode! This is one of my favorite uses of historical framing on the show - taking an event we are familiar with (Apollo 11 moon landing) and building a great scenario around it.
5. It's Not a Painting
The 50th Anniversary Special is so good! I think we are safe here on the spoiler side if you skip to 1:45, as this scene was shown in the trailers and is absolutely amazing! The 'I Am the Doctor' orchestration returns to perfectly augment the scene! I can't believe the meat of the scene only lasts one minute! (Honestly the entire special is like that - it always feels feature length but is far from it.)
4. River Song (Series 4 - Forest of the Dead)
This one hits you harder on the rewatch. First time view the episode it's sad - but the second time after finishing the series? Absolutely devastating. Also from what is the scariest story arc in the entire series as far as this bibliophile is concerned.
3. Breaking the Wall (Series 9 - Heaven Sent)
It took me until this scene to really get Capaldi. I found his episodes merely 'meh' but after this point I was able to go back and enjoy them much more!
2. The 10th Doctor Meets Sarah Jane Smith
This scene just makes me happy - Tennent's giddiness absolutely leaps off the screen as he is introduced to one of the legends of classic Doctor Who.
1. Vincent Van Gogh
My favorite episode contains my favorite moment in all of Doctor Who! Happy, sad, confusing, inspiring... this scene is all of them and more. It is such an out of place scene in the series - completely unlike any other in the new run. But that is part of why it works - if every historic episode ended this way it would be trite, if this episode was like the others it would feel somehow incomplete. I love it and never fail to tear up watching it.
You asked for it and here it is! The top ten things you (if you are Jill) need to know about Moana, Disney's newest feature in the animated canon. I'm super excited for this movie and think you should be as well - here's why:
10. Polynesian culture
The second film in the canon to explore Polynesian culture (the first being Lilo and Stitch) this film promises to actually introduce viewers like me to something new. From what I can tell this will take place somewhere in the Polynesian Triangle but on a fictional level - combining aspects from several Polynesian subcultures such as Samoan, Hawaiian, Maori, and more!
9. Directors
Oh, I'm totally doing this now! But in chronological order!
This is the seventh film from Disney pedigreed director team Ron Clements and John Musker. Their previous outings gave us films that changed everything. Okay maybe not everything but still, noticeable trending changes. The Great Mouse Detective - which proved that Disney animation was still viable after the abysmal showing from The Black Cauldron. The Little Mermaid - Why, hello beginning of the Disney Renaissance and launch of the 'Disney Musical' format that dominated my childhood. Aladdin, Hercules, Treasure Planet, and, of course, The Princess and the Frog, which launched the current revival! I think we can expect great things from Moana.
8. CGI
This will be a CGI film (a first for the directors though they've dabbled). It was decided to go with CGI because they thought the ocean looked better that way. Personally I'm fine either way - though I would love to see a traditionally animated film come out of Disney occasionally - it has been seven years. I do think that the characters hair looks amazing though! Ariel's wet hair never looked this good.
7. The Rock
It's got The Rock guy in it. Since Jill likes him that's important. I'm indifferent. Dwayne Johnson plays Maui, a demigod that is apparently important in all the Polynesian subcultures. The movie pages all note him as being inspired by Maori legend though, so take from that what you will.
6. Controversy
Yes, the movie hasn't even come out and already there is controversy. Most of the flack seems to center around Maui. The two big one being character design and a costume. Let's address the costume first. I can see how people might be upset at making the costume basically Polynesian skin, but I can also guess that the person in charge of making it probably didn't have any ill intentions - I've seen worse. Still it was pulled so that one is over and done with.
However, upon seeing the character design for Maui the reactions seem to either be, "Heck YES!" or "Excuse me?" I've seen complaints that Maui is perpetuating a stereotype that Polynesian men are obese. Personally I don't think that counts unless most of the men are presented as obese. (I'm aware that that's probably politically incorrect but this is my blog so I get to state my opinion.) I've also read a great piece on character design showing how you can't help but look at this character and see 'strength'. here Also he resembles other recent animated guys meant to be strong.
5. New Voice
The voice for Moana will be provided by Auli'i Cravalho a 15 year old high school student! Actually her 16 birthday is the day before the movie is released - which is a pity, cause one day from either direction would make for the bombingnest Sweet Sixteen Party evah! Let's all go to a movie - specifically the one where I'm the newest Disney princess.
4. Last Audition - Last Day
But it almost didn't happen. Auli'i wasn't even going to audition until an agent urged her to. She went on the last day of open auditions and was the last person to be seen. After a few callbacks she was chosen for the role!
3. Heihei the Rooster and Pua the Pig
Because Disney has a long-standing tradition of animal sidekicks Moana, of course, gets hers. Heihei (which I'm pronouncing HeyHeeeey until told differently) is a rooster that might be the dumbest Disney character ever - according to Ron Clements. Pua the Pig is the other sidekick who... has apparently been scaled back a lot since the original marketing. But he's adorable!
2. Music
This is a musical! YAAAAAY!!!! And what a stellar musical pedigree this movie has. Check out this lineage:
Lin-Manuel Miranda - wrote the current Broadway musical taking the internet by storm Hamilton!
Mark Mancina - Disney vet the arranged songs for The Lion King, Tarzan, and Brother Bear - This is important folks because Lion King is my favorite movie of all time, Tarzan's Strangers Like Me' is the song of my life, and Brother Bear... well I really like it too!
Opetaia Foai - winner of several awards for world music and part of Te Vaka an oceanic music group
I actually was unaware this was a musical until about a month and a half ago. The official trailer doesn't really make it seem like a musical - yet the soundtrack has seven songs on it compared to Frozen's eight (nine if you split Vuelie and Frozen Heart) soooooo....
Of course here's Frozen's official trailer too.
That is maybe the most misleading thing of all time in retrospect...
I might have seen it one or two times before the movie. But I got the soundtrack a month before seeing the movie and had watched In Summer and Let It Go numerous times on youtube. I guess my reaction is different since I wasn't sure what was happening with Frozen but I fully expected Moana to not be a musical. 1. Release Date
The only thing left is to go and see it! It hits theaters November 23, 2016!
Alright, so rather than a countdown this week I'm going to use a chronological format - but still with ten entries! Over the summer I spent an amazing seven weeks in Europe traveling from Portugal to Poland primarily by myself. As is normal I had music playing in my head throughout the entire experience and have distilled the playlist for you all.
Frozen Medley
No real reason behind this song making the list aside from the fact that it was the only song I was able to use as an alarm on my iPad so I heard it every day - sometimes multiple times a day to alert me to trains, buses, shows, dinner, and other important times.
I Can Go the Distance
This was the song I sang in my head to bolster my confidence, especially at the beginning of my trip. I must have repeated the refrain in my head a million times by the time I landed in Lisbon. I continued with the song anytime I covered a large portion of land, such as going from Rome to Vienna.
I'll Make a Man Out of You
I sing this one all the time anyway so it's only natural that it followed me. I have some social anxiety and would use this as my motivator to get out and explore each day. I find it to be a fairly inspiring song - if Mulan can reach that arrow, I can leave my room and see the Colosseum.
Strangers Like Me
The more I explore this beautiful world the more I'm affirmed that we are mostly the same. Every stranger I've ever met is, in fact, like me. Often times I never find out much about them - this summer I shared so many moments with people I'll likely never see again - from the joyous to the sorrowful, the exciting to the monotonous. I believe that people are mostly good, and people just keep confirming it. I only had trouble a couple times in my trip - and even those memories stick out vividly, they are mere drops in the ocean compared to the many, many kind, helpful people I met.
Be Our Guest
Yeah, basically every time I sat down to eat in France (and to some extent Italy) I was singing this song to myself. Sad news - the flatware was never entertaining.
This Is What Dreams Are Made Of
I could not for the life of me get this song out of my head during my week in Rome. It was all I could do not to belt it out while walking around the ruins. I even had it rolling through my head while I toured the Vatican Museums. I was glad mind reading is not a thing because it may have been slightly quite embarrassing.
Down in the Underground
Speaking of embarrassing... I found myself often in subways or transferring between trains via underground tunnels. And this song... well, once I was in a glorious tunnel in Austria at about midnight and this song needed to be sung. Because amazing acoustics ya'know? Well, as I was singing (in a tunnel, at the top of my lungs) a man came down another staircase and gave me the oddest look. I'm sure I was as red as my bag until the next morning.
Do-Re-Mi
Salzburg was AMAZING! It was just a real nice place to chill. Plus I love The Sound of Music so the city was like skipping through one of my favorite movies. (Bonus points for happening to be there during a folk music festival.) The absolute best part of Salzburg? No one even seems to notice you singing because so many other people are too.
Put One Foot In Foot In Front of the Other
I know it was most definitely not Christmas (truly I don't care though). But whenever I go on moderately long walks or walk while carrying things or walk while I'm tired I break out this song. So the on my second to last day in Europe, while I was still only kind of over a cold, carrying a pack, and we walked roughly 15 miles.... I was thinking this song over and over and over and over.... and over.
Nothing in the World
By the fourth and fifth week I was still enjoying Europe, but I really wanted someone to talk to at the end of the day. Someone to turn to and say, "Did you see that?" Someone, to watch my stuff while I went to the bathroom. Someone to help decipher train schedules... You get the idea. I was so glad in Poland to finally have people coming that I basically had this song on loop in my brain! And that loop only ramped up when I flew back home.
What do nerds love about series? Guessing the ending!!!
So now that we have more Star Wars those of us who were too young to guess the original trilogy's ending can have a go at it (because really what fun was there in guessing how the prequels would end?). So here, in no particular order are my ten crazy Star Wars theories, running the gambit from 'Kindergarten knock-knock joke crazy' to 'completely insane'. Also, I submit several theories for the same thing, so I'm obviously not too attached to anything. Of course spoilers may do follow... and evidence that I don't know an incredible amount about Star Wars...
10. Poe Dameron is Wedge Antilles Son
Why? No particular reason other than I like things to tie together. I know that galaxies are huge and all, but legacy stories are just so much fun. I feel like it has already been established in-universe that being a good pilot is totally an inherited trait, so that fits. Why doesn't he have the same last name? I dunno, even on Earth not every culture has children getting their parents' last name, so why mightn't it be the same in a galaxy far, far away?
9. Snoke is Space Voldemort
So, I'm pretty sure that somewhere in the old books there was a plot line with the Emperor splitting his soul into pieces to be used in the eventual event of his death. I submit that Snoke is simply Emperor part 2.
At the very least they've got to be cousins or something.
8. Snoke is Space Oz
Okay, there is no way Snoke is actually 30 feet tall. That would be ridiculous. If his image is an illusion, I submit that it is a perfect disguise changing even his voice. Who is Snoke? None other than...
Dun. Dun. Duuuunnnnnnn!
Oh yes. I would like nothing more than for this dude to have been dark all along. It would make him tolerable because you know that good will eventually win. Here is a tin-foil theory to back me up.
From here on out all theories relate to WHO ARE REY'S PARENTS??? The thing I like about all of my theories is the Luke, Han, and Leia are not awful parents in any of them.
You are such an enigma.
7. The Professor and Mary Ann
I don't really believe the characters from Gilligan's Island had a child (even though they did go to space and may have ended up in the correct galaxy). What I'm illustrating here is that possibly we simply have never seen nor heard of Rey's parents. This is unlikely given that Star Wars has a history of tying things things together. But this theory is my nod to, "And the rest."
Shame on you for thinking I made that up.
6. Granddaughter to Obi-Wan
On a long spindly twig I predict that maybe Obi-Wan was not entirely unattached. This theory submits that he and Padme had a tryst. While I'm not too sure about that, I do think they could plausibly say that he was with Padme's bodyguard.
5. She is Wedge Antilles Daughter
But not Poe's sister. I can only take one or the other as Wedge's kid. This is my pet theory as I always had a soft spot for Captain Antilles... mostly because of his name. He is the background character who weirdly refuses to remain in the background. In the very begining of A New Hope C3PO names Captain Antilles as his and R2D2's current owner. Then he and Luke are the only surviving members from their squadron that attack the Death Star. He pops up for the Battle of Hoth and fires one of the shots that take down Death Star 2. He is a top-notch pilot and we've already established that that is apparently genetic.
Plus she has his chin.
4. She Is Cindel Towani's Daughter
Darn it. I really thought of all my crazy theories THIS would surely be the unique one. But, lo and behold, someone beat me to it. Really I have no basis for this one besides the fact that I was hoping to be original.
I admit, it's unlikely.
3. She Is Beru's Grand Niece
Did Aunt Beru have any siblings with children? Am I really grasping at straws with this one? What if all the intense staring at the end of the movie was Luke thinking, "I've seen you before.... Dang! You look just like cousin Tika." If I was a gambling person this is where my money would go. (Also it is my unique theory, I believe.)
2. Rey Is the Droid You're Looking For...
If we are nicely paralleling the original series there ought to be two droids wandering the desert to open our film. Perhaps she was an experiment gone horribly right to create convincing AI? So convincing that the Force was like, "Dude. Props." and made this droid into a real girl a la Pinocchio? Thereby explaining her knowledge of piloting even though she arrived on planet age 5 and has been a scavenger ever since - piloting is in her program.
1. The Doctor's Daughter
If you happen to be a fan of Doctor Who you probably remember the episode where, using some of the Doctor's DNA, a machine was able to configure a genetic offspring. In the Doctor's case all that was needed was a few blood cells (not generally the cells used in reproduction). What if Rey was the result of a similar process? Specifically, under this theory she could be Luke's daughter but without him knowing about it. I have a specific idea as to where the DNA came from as well...
After all, if someone retrieved that lightsaber it isn't outside the realm of possibility that Luke's hand is sitting in a beaker in some Empire laboratory. Where a scientist, under instructions from the High Command, was told to create a weapon capable of using the force. Then, after growing attached to the little girl they'd brought about, hid her in the middle of nowhere. In my mind this is the crowdpleaser. It means that Rey is technically Luke's daughter and, simultaneously, Luke isn't an awful dad for either a.) letting his daughter be abandoned in a horrible situation or b.) not looking for her after someone else abandoned her in an awful situation.
We find ourselves at the last of the animation (for now) Top Ten Tuesdays! This list was a special request and I'm almost certain I'm going to get a talking to about my choices. Every film worth it's salt has a good protagonist but many films, and animated films in particular, also take care to give us sidekicks to relate to, to learn from, and to laugh at. Animated films seem to enjoy giving the protagonist animal sidekicks. I'm sure this is due to the fact that it brings in the kiddies but often adults find them just as enjoyable. The parameter given to me was that these be animated animal sidekicks, I further added the parameter that they had to be a sidekick to a human character, in movies that are mostly or all animals they are really just a sidekick. That took out a whole swath of some of my favorites-
If you can name all four - you are awesome.
10. Pegasus from Hercules
I'm not sure there are many things in the mythological realm that are an understated cool quite like a pterropus (you're gonna learn today). Dragons, gryphons, cyclops, and the like are way out there, cool but in a 'how-ridiculous-is-that' sort of fashion. Pterropi are just horses with wings on them - sure it may break physics but first it will blow your mind. Pegasus is a fine comic example of a sidekick (plus he doubles as transport). He accompanies Hercules on his heroes journey with all the devotion of a childhood pet, even getting jealous when someone new threatens his relationship.
9. Archimedes from The Sword in the Stone
I love owls and was having a hard time not sneaking more onto this list. But rules are rules and I always follow them. Archimedes is indeed a wise owl, having spent a lot of time with Merlin, but he also possesses the street smarts and common sense it takes to help Arthur train to fulfill his destiny. Plus he was the only witness to the original pulling of the sword from the stone. AND this scene just always makes me laugh...
8. Altivo from The Road to El Dorado
Well, this is the highest up on the list a horse is going to get, so enjoy it. I'm not a big fan of horses acting like... not horses, but whatever. Altivo acts primary like a horse but always displays some extreme emotion to comedic effect, plus he gets some of the best expressions in the film.
7. Featherstone the Flamingo from Gnomeo and Juliet
Alright, this one is not technically an animal. But he is plastic molded into the shape of an animal, so I'm only bending the rules slightly. Featherstone is actually a lot more tragic than most sidekicks. But this is what makes him work so well, his happy-go-lucky attitude is made more potent when you know he is heartsick for the love he lost through no fault of his own.
6. Magic Carpet from Aladdin
Alright, the rules have been shattered this time but I just don't care. I mean, Carpet's not really an animal - but he definitely isn't human. I love the fact that this character who doesn't speak and doesn't even have a face can be so expressive. Can you imagine the director saying, "And then the Carpet looks sorry." I mean how can a floor covering show that?!?!
Like this, that's how.
5. Sebastian from The Little Mermaid
I always had a favorite character on The Little Mermaid, and it was never the mermaid. Sebastian gets the best lines and the best song. His laid back tone contrasting with his stuffy, uptight personality. He also seems to be more of a royal advisor that writes music on the side instead of his supposed job of being the court composer. Even in the TV show Sebastian was the best. Always ready with some advice that sounds like he is trying to honestly express his feelings instead of simply saying what you want to hear.
4. Iago from Aladdin The TV Series, The Return of Jafar, Aladdin and the King of Thieves
Iago actually started out as the villain's sidekick. That is kind of a twist, seeing a villain's don't usually work with animals or children (feel free to comment all the exceptions I know are out there). He is always with Jafar ready to offer snide comments aplenty. Actually - it's been pointed out that the real villainous scheme in Aladdin was dreamed up by Iago, so bonus points I guess. When he really comes into his own as a character is after his heel-face turn. He is not a good good guy, he's selfish, greedy, egotistical, conniving, and a coward, but he must be loyal otherwise why does he keep hanging around despite professing his displeasure at constantly being put in peril. He's a complex character with an intriguing story arc that happens to be one of my favorites in the Disney canon.
3. Mushu from Mulan
Mushu is hilarious, there's no way around that fact. Plus this sidekick gets a sidekick of his own. Like Iago his initial intentions weren't very heroic at first, and his advice was probably better left unheeded. By the end of the film he'd had a change of heart and was in it for Mulan not himself (maybe a little for himself).
2. Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon
He's adorable. Like a giant cuddly kitty - that flies and breathes fire. I'm pretty sure that that can only be considered an improvement. Except with Sonic, no fire-breath for Sonic please! Toothless is much more like a pet than anyone on this list outside of Pegasus (I must really dig pets that can fly you around). A mix between a noble steed, a playful kitten, and a war-machine Toothless is pretty hard to top. Except by...
1. Bagheera from The Jungle Book
I love Bagheera. Every single incarnation and it all goes back to the proto-Bagheera in Disney's The Jungle Book. I know that technically Kipling's version came first, but not in my heart. I love, love, love this movie even though it is a loose adaptation Walt Disney literally told them to not read the book. And somehow Bagheera still came out loving, wise, fearsome, and strong. So awesome is Bagheera that the longer I contemplate it the less sidekickish he seems, but you know he supports the protagonist perfectly so I'm sticking with it.
So there they are! My top ten favorite animated animal sidekicks! What do you think? Are you pleased I didn't include that obnoxious donkey from Shrek? Or outraged that I ignored the horse from Tangled? Let me know in the comments below!
Jill
For arguments sake if I had to choose a favorite Disney horse it would be Khan from Mulan.
