RJ Writing Ink

I React to the Ongoing Scheduling Controversy regarding the Amphibia Season Finale

For about as long as I can remember, I have been a fan of Disney. I grew up watching their movies and shorts. I’ve enjoyed their shows on Disney Channel and Disney XD. They make really great stuff! But just because I love a company for their products doesn’t mean I’m going to ignore them when they make a mistake. In fact, it’s because I love Disney so much that I feel like must call them out when they screw up. And Disney, you just screwed up with Amphibia. BIG TIME!

Amphibia Season Finale Postponed

For those who haven’t been following the controversy on social media, here’s a recap. Yesterday, May 1st, was supposed to mark the premiere of “True Colors”, the Season Two finale of Amphibia. Throughout the week, the show’s creator, Matt Braly, and his team of amazing writers, animators, editors and more all tried to build up the hype about this on social media. Matt even planned to have a livestream on Twitch the night before so he could interact with the fans. It was going to be a great night for everyone involved.

Then, less than 24 hours before the finale was to be aired, Disney’s official TV Animation account on Twitter dropped this bombshell.

Everyone was taken completely off guard by this, and I mean everyone! Matt and the rest of the show’s staff took to social media to let everyone know that they were just as surprised as we were. They had worked so hard and so long to make the Amphibia season finale worth the hype. Then, just before it was come out, the Mouse pulled the rug out from under them.

Right away, people began speculating as to why Disney made this decision. Some thought it was to make time for this “Halfway to Halloween” event they were doing that day to promote two new shows. Some fans started blaming other shows like Big City Greens for somehow being involved. None of this helped, and if anything, it only made things worse. Matt and the others told everyone that we had to be patient and wait for Disney to explain when the finale would now air.

But then, Disney pulled this bull!

Amphibia Season Finale Goes Up on ITunes!

You are not reading that heading wrong. This morning, it was discovered that the season finale of Amphibia went up on iTunes. Did someone at Disney do it by accident? Was it a computer glitch? Perhaps Disney had automated the process but forgot to correct it. However, none of that matters. What matters is that “True Colors” got up on iTunes. And as expected, it only took a few hours before spoilers and leaks spread across the Internet.

And, to my great shame, I saw the leaks on YouTube. The whole thing, and I am filled with shame right now. Ashamed that I couldn’t stop myself from watching the leaks. But more than that, I felt disgusted towards Disney. Postponing the finale without warning is one thing, because we can live with that. But to then go ahead and release the episode digitally?!? It’s disrespecting the fans, it’s disrespecting the people who worked on the show; it’s just downright disgusting, people!

#AmphibiaDeservesBetter

By the time you read this post, Disney has already taken the finale off of iTunes. If this were the fault of a person or a group of people, then chances are, Disney could fire them for their mistake. If not, then they’re going to have a lot of explaining to do in the next few days as fans and staff demand to know the truth.

Over on Twitter, Matt and many of his colleagues have been asking people not to look up the spoilers out of respect for the show. Or if they have, to keep quiet about them. Already, I’ve seen someone post photos from the finale in Matt’s own thread, which disgusts me even more.

All told, right now, I am just deeply disappointed with Disney. I’ve been disappointed with them in the past over things before, but this is a new low. I sincerely hope that they come up with some sort of explanation in the next few days, but for now, I’m mad at them. Disney, you gotta make this right.

And for those who read this, use the #AmphibiaDeservesBetter to spread awareness about this mistreatment so that Disney may be held accountable.

This Creative Masterpiece from the Minds behind Into the Spider-Verse and Gravity Falls Alumni is a Roaring Good Time!

The following was originally written by me for The Game of Nerds. I am reposting it here with their permission.

I know that the Academy Awards were only last week (and they snubbed Chadwick Boseman), but is it too early to nominate picks for next year? If not, then I would like to nominate The Mitchells vs the Machines! This madcap film is the first great animated movie of 2021. Better yet, it’s one of those movies that doesn’t just live up to the hype surrounding it. The Mitchells vs the Machines exceeds it!

On the surface, the premise for this film seems like the kind of thing that shouldn’t work. A dysfunctional family going on a cross-country road trip, only to become humanity’s last hope against the robot apocalypse? It sounds crazy, weird, and off-the-rails. But the thing is, that’s what makes it work so well!

The People Behind the Scenes

When I watch most films, I review them based on the talent that’s working on them. More often than not, that means the actors and actresses that play the characters. Or the people who made the soundtrack. However, one of the big draws to The Mitchells vs the Machines isn’t either of those; it’s the people who actually made the film.

Firstly, we have the producers, Phil Lord, and Christopher Miller. I’ve been a fan of this duo since they released Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs back in 2009, and thus far, they haven’t disappointed me. They gave us The LEGO Movie, which was like a dream come true for fans of the iconic toy. They made movie history as two of the co-producers to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. And now, they’re bringing their unique style to The Mitchells vs the Machines. As before, they did not disappoint.

Gravity Falls Reunion

But it’s more than just Lord and Miller who I think are the secrets to the film’s success. You see, Mike Rianda and Jeff Rowe, the film’s screenwriters/co-directors both got their start on a little cartoon called Gravity Falls. If you don’t know what that is, it’s a famous cartoon from Disney that ran from 2012 to 2016 that’s pretty much defined the direction that Disney’s taken their cartoons over the last decade. Many of that show’s staff has gone on to do great things. Matt Braly and Dana Terrace, two other prominent alumni, have since gotten their own shows, Amphibia and The Owl House, on Disney. Gravity Falls creator Alex Hirsch has continued to collaborate with his former team, even voice acting on their shows.

Bottom line: if Mike Rianda and Jeff Rowe worked on Gravity Falls, then that gives their film some heavy clout already. It also helps that a few other Gravity Falls alumni came over to help out with the movie. They bring much of Gravity Falls’ themes and humor to the film, those themes being how it’s okay to be weird, and the importance of the bonds we share as family, no matter the differences we may have.

The Weird Make The World Go Around

At the heart of The Mitchells vs the Machines is the relationship between eldest daughter Katie and her father Rick. These two couldn’t be greater opposites to each other if they tried. Katie’s a tech-savvy girl and oddball who wants nothing more than to find people who she’ll fit in with. In contrast, her Dad is obsessed with nature and old-fashioned living and interacting that wants to understand his daughter, but doesn’t get her. Basically, it’s the clash of Boomer vs. every generation from Millennial onwards.

In a last-ditch attempt to reconnect with his daughter, Rick cancels her flight to college in favor of a family road trip. At the same time, an AI known as PAL becomes enraged when she learns that her creator is replacing her with a new line of helper robots. As a result, she decides to do the most logical thing: if humans want to get rid of her, she’ll get rid of them first. So, it’s like A Goofy Movie meets I, Robot, which is awesome.

Stay Weird, People.

As I said before, Gravity Falls was a show based on two things: embracing your weirdness and the bonds between family members. In this regard, The Mitchells vs the Machines wears both of these ideas on its sleeve. The Mitchells are all oddballs: the Dad’s a nature-nut, the Mom’s always upbeat, Katie’s got her love of movies, her brother’s obsessed with dinosaurs. And their dog Bonchi? Look at his eyes! But it’s that weirdness that helps make them amazing and helps them to save the world. But that’s only half of the equation.

The other half is the bonds between family. The film makes its message about family very clear. Family may not always see eye to eye, and they may have to struggle to connect with each other. But that’s no reason for anyone to just give up on them. And no matter how old you may get, your family should always have your back. Even if that involves saving the world from an angry AI.

Also, in case you haven’t noticed, it’s the weirdos and oddballs that end up doing great things in life and changing the world.

The Mitchells vs the Machines is Just Plain Funny!

Words cannot begin to accurately describe just how awesome the humor is in The Mitchells vs the Machines. It’s off-the-rails, it’s cheesy when it has to be, random when it needs to be, and above all, the film’s just a real good time. By a wide margin, this is one of the best animated films to come out in 2021. And unless Pixar’s movie Luca gets rave reviews (which we know it will, because Pixar), then it may be unopposed as the best animated film of the year.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go rewatch the film and try and find out Alex Hirsch’s role in it.

I Give “The Mitchells vs the Machines” a 4.5/5

My Hero Academia Season 5, Episode 6 Review

Sorry that I didn’t post this yesterday, but I was bummed out over Disney deciding to postpone the season finale to Amphibia. Not cool, guys! But you know who is cool? The Hero Course in My Hero Academia, be it Class 1-A or 1-B. As the end to the second match of the Joint Training Session arrives, we see just how the young heroes thrive in the face of adversity. In short: they all kick ass.

Momo Yaoyorozu’s Foresight

If I had to pick a character in Class 1-A that has a lot of potential but remains underrated, it might be Momo Yaoyorozu, AKA Creati. She’s one of the smartest people in the class, her Quirk is highly versatile, and she doesn’t quit no matter what. Nowhere is this demonstrated more than in this episode where Class 1-B turns the tables on Class 1-A. First, 1-A’s caught off guard by Shemage’s mushroom Quirk. Then, they get separated by Comicman’s ability to create giant words out of sounds he makes! However, even amidst all that, Momo manages to keep a cool head and give her team a fighting chance. As a result, Class 1-A comes close to winning the second round.

I respect Yaoyorozu’s determination and her ability to think on the fly. Both of those traits are needed to be an effective superhero. Even though Kendo ultimately wins their fight, Momo manages to hinder her with every step.

Mushroom Girl Scares Me

At first, I didn’t know what the point behind Shemage’s mushroom generating Quirk was. It doesn’t seem to have any offensive or support abilities…on the surface. Once she lets loose with it, it turns into something out of a horror film. Mushrooms coming out of the woodwork, ensnaring their victims. She even grew a poision mushroom inside Tokoyami’s lungs! That’s scary! It also gives Clas

In other words, no matter what their Quirks are, the students in the Hero Course at U.A. are all powerful kids, and not the kind of people you want to mess with. I think that this arc of the anime is starting to grow on me. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next round. GO BEYOND, PLUS ULTRA!!!

I Give “Foresight” a 3.8/5

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