RJ Writing Ink

Jay’s Month of Screams, Day 14- Ed Edd n’ Eddy

From the mind of Danny Antonucci comes a Halloween special of Ed-normous proportions! I have made my love of the Cartoon Network classic Ed Edd n’ Eddy plain for all, but now I want to discuss their Halloween special. Pack your trick or treat bags and be ready for a trip in Ed Edd n’ Eddy’s Boo Haw Haw.

Too Many Horror Movies

It’s Halloween night, and Ed celebrates it in the worst way possible: binging an entire collection of B-Horror films. The resulting marathon fry’s what little is left of Ed’s brain and puts him in a movie equivalent to a drug trip.

While Double Dee realizes Ed’s psychological state is worse than normal, Eddy doesn’t care. He got a map from his brother to Spook-E-Ville, a place where grownups give candy out by the bucket. Unfortunately, in his movie-induced state, Ed’s convinced that a trio of witches have jinxed him and his friends. In other words, Ed goes the entire night beating up the other kids thinking they’re monsters.

A Standard Ed Plot

First, this special has all the hallmarks of a typical Ed Edd n’ Eddy plot. One or more of the Eds wants something, but they’re unable to obtain it due to outside forces or their own ineptitude. The end result is that the Eds end up back at square one, or in a much worse state. In this case, Ed’s state of mind makes extremely violent to anyone he comes across. He even attacked poor Jimmy and took his candy! That comes back to bite his friends when the kids gang up on them in a justifiable rage.

It’s not very original as far as Ed Edd n’ Eddy goes, but that formula always worked for the show. The jokes are on point and the slapstick is as hilarious as ever, especially considering half the special is shown through Ed’s crazed eyes. Therefore, if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.

Ed’s Boo Haw Haw

Since this was a Halloween special, Danny Antonucci and his staff took this standard Ed-plot and cranked it up to 11 with some horror and gore. The opening credits are filled with gore and red body fluid and filmed in a B-Movie horror style. It’s goofy-gory fun that almost rivals Treehouse of Horror.

Personally, my favorite part was the way Boo Ha Haw switches between what’s really happening, and what Ed sees. This let the animators go to town making scary monsters out of the kids. The results are genuinely creepy to look at, and seeing Ed “fight” them is hilarious.

In other words, I loved this Halloween special. Ed Edd n’ Eddy’s Boo Haw Haw is a homage to several sub-genres of the horror genre in the slapstick we all know and love. Too bad Double Dee and Eddy get pounded for Ed’s actions, whole Ed looks on, hallucinating again. Well, more so for Double Dee since he didn’t do anything, while Eddy thought the whole thing was hilarious. In addition, they never found Spook-E-Ville. Happy Halloween!

Click here to see the FANDOM Article I did for Halloween last year.

Click here to see my other animation stuff. Or here to see all holiday related posts.

Top Ten Animated Characters You’d Want As a Best Friend

Before we begin, I would like to give a shoutout to Karandi from 100 Word Anime for giving me the inspiration to write this.

Admit it, at some point in your life you saw a character in a cartoon and you thought “Wow. I wish they were real so they could be my best friend.” Having spent much of my life watching good cartoons, I’ve seen tons of characters that make for awesome friends. They can be the characters who make you laugh from their antics, or put stars in your eyes from being so cool. I’m Roderick Jay Fritz, and these are my picks for the ten animated character’s you’d want as your best friend.

For this list, I will be including characters from animations regardless of who made them. That means that anyone from western animation and anime is open for this. No CGI characters, though.

Ed, Ed Edd n’ Eddy

He’s big, he’s yellow, and he’s the glue that holds his friends together; his name is Ed. As part of the titular trio, Ed’s a good-natured guy who will do anything for his friends. Too bad he’s not very smart, though; whenever his friends come up with a plan, they pick him to do the heavy-lifting. Ed never seems to mind though, and considering he’s strong enough to lift a house, it’s not much of a problem.

When I saw Ed on tv as a kid, I thought that he was the funniest person I had ever seen. I even considered him my spirit animal for a while, until my parents tried to make me stop watching the show. Constantly spouting out non-sequitours and obscure sci-fi references, Ed’s the goofball that you can’t help but love. While his hygiene’s non-existent and his stupidity may get on people’s nerves at times, I can’t help but love the big guy. Plus, since we both love comics and sci-fi stories, I could spend hours enjoying the subjects with him!

Genie, Aladdin Franchise

How many people do you know that have a song about how awesome a friend they’d be? One of the main characters from Disney’s Aladdin franchise, Genie’s one of Aladdin’s closest friends and the source of much of the humor in the film and its tv follow-up. While his cosmic powers are amazing to behold, what makes him so endearing is his compassion and willingness to help others out.

Having a friend who can do the things Genie can is awesome, but that’s not why I want him as a best friend. It’s because much of his personality stems from the man who first portrayed him, the late Robin Williams. Williams brought Genie to life with manic improv and impressions, but kept audiences glued with his sincerity and kindness. Others have played Genie since Robin, but his personality remains the same: a big-hearted goofball who can be anyone’s friend. It’s just like the song say: we ain’t never had like him.

Monkey D. Luffy, One Piece

The hero of the hit One Piece franchise, Monkey D. Luffy’s one of the most fearless people a person could ever meet. With a body that stretches like rubber and a boundless thirst for adventure, Luffy’s goal in life is to become King of the Pirates. As Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, he’s well on his way, too. His true power, though, is his infectious charisma and childlike charm, winning him friends almost everywhere he goes; even in the marines that are hunting him.

Another idol from my childhood, I loved watching Luffy’s adventures on TV; to my shame, it was the 4Kids dub of One Piece. While his fearlessness and sense of adventure are both great qualities, the reason that I’d want him as a best friend is for his loyalty. Once he calls you a friend, no matter how long he’s known you, then you’ret his friend. Time and again, Luffy’s been willing to go through hell to help the people he cares about. He’s even gone so far as declare war on the World Government to get a friend back. No matter who stands in his way, Luffy will fight past it to protect those he loves, and he almost always manages to win.

Mordecai and Rigby, Regular Show

I know this is cheating, but you can’t have one of these two without the other. An anthropomorphic blue jay and racoon, Mordecai and Rigby are the embodiments of “brother from another mother”. Lifelong best friends, these cool dudes live and work at a park; that’s what they’re supposed to do, at least. In reality, they spend most of their time slacking off, coming up with sweet songs, or getting caught in surreal misadventures.

As a 20 something young man who loves sitting around and playing video games, I can relate a lot to Mordecai and Rigby. We’re all at that age where we want to enjoy our lives to the fullest, and Mordecai and Rigby do so every day. Even if they didn’t get into all sorts of crazy adventures, they’re still two of the coolest guys I’ve seen on TV, and I’d hang with them in a heartbeat. Plus, I’m a huge fan of their crazy songs.

Rainbow Dash, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

It was a tough choice between her and Pinkie Pie, but I had to go with Rainbow Dash. Ponyville’s resident athlete and daredevil, Rainbow lives for adventure and thrills. She’s the fastest in the world, able to reach speeds that exceed the sound barrier, and a member of the prestigious acrobatics team the Wonderbolts. Don’t let her competitive and brash demeanor fool you, though. She represents the element of loyalty, and won’t hesitate to help her friends when they need it.

I never thought much of My Little Pony until the current iteration. Then I saw Rainbow Dash beat the snot out of Starscream on the web show Death Battle, and I realized they’re awesome, especially Rainbow Dash. She’s the kind of friend that would feel at home joking around or on some high-flying adventure. She may get brash and cocky at times, but her loyalty to her friends means she learns her lesson in the end. If I had to pick anyone in the group to be my best friend, I’d go with Rainbow Dash.

Star Butterfly, Star vs. The Forces of Evil

Mix Mabel from Gravity Falls with Usagi Tsukino from Sailor Moon, add a dash of Buffy from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and you get Star Butterfly. In her own words, she’s a “magical princess from another dimension!” Sent to Earth to learn how to use her family’s magic wand, Star’s like a living sugar rush, always looking to have fun. Since she can travel the multiverse and fights the forces of evil on a daily basis, she has a lot of fun!

Star Butterfly’s the living personification of fun, able to make people smile just by showing up. Even without magic, she’s the super awesome girl that everyone wants to be friends with. As we see with her close friends, she manages to bring out the best in them and help them grow as people (i.e. Marco). While she starts out as hyperactive and reckless, by the end of the show, Star’s pretty much an example of what it means to be responsible while still knowing how to have fun. While it may seem a little extreme to do so, the fact that she willingly destroyed the source of all magic, something she loved using, so people wouldn’t abuse it anymore, shows how far she’s come. While we may have to wait until a potential sequel to see the official, canon consequences of this, fans can be happy knowing that she can spend the rest of her life going on adventures with her best friend/boyfriend, Marco.

Spongebob Squarepants, Spongebob Squarepants

Absorbent, yellow, and porous is he, and we all love him for it. Spongebob Squarepants stands among cartoon icons like Mickey Mouse, Popeye, and Bugs Bunny. Making generations of kids laugh, this happy-go-lucky sponge spends his time flipping Krabby Patties at his job, hanging out with his friends, or just being a virtual embodiment of optimism. With his infectious laughter and smile, it’s no wonder kids have loved him for twenty years and going.

As a kid growing up, Spongebob was one of my childhood heroes. I admired the way that he always saw the good in the world over the bad, and gets the most out of life as a result. I admit, sometimes his naivete and obliviousness to how annoying he can get makes me wanna throttle him. Most of the time, though, I spent my childhood wishing he was real so he could be my best friend. Looking back, I still want him as a best friend.

Team Four Star Nappa, Dragon Ball Z Abridged

Team Four Star took a one-dimensional brute like Nappa and turned him into the breakout character of Dragon Ball Z Abridged. Their version of Nappa’s essentially an idiotic man-child with the ability to blow up the planet, yet is more interested in playing pattycake and Pokemon. The character proved so funny that TFS chose to ignore his canon death. After spending time as a ghost haunting Vegeta, Nappa came back for real, moved to Hollywood, and became a major film producer. He continues to make cameos in various Team Four Star media to this day.

My reasoning behind wanting the Abridged Nappa as a best friend can be summed up with this quote:

I am hilarious and you will quote everything I say.

I can’t remember the last time that I laughed as hard as I did when I first saw Abridged Nappa. From treating his fight with Goku’s friends like a game of tag to driving Vegeta insane with his antics, this guy’s a barrel of laughs. I’d love to hang out with him an play video games any time, if he wasn’t so busy doing it with Vegeta.

Wander, Wander Over Yonder

An orange, furry creature of undetermined origins, Wander is friendliness personified. Optimistic and lovable, Wander’s only goal in life is to help anyone who needs it. With his best friend Sylvia, he travels across the galaxy to see new worlds, make new friends, and spread joy to all. Much to the annoyance of Lord Hater, who can’t stand his upbeat attitude.

I admit, Wander’s insistence on trying to befriend everyone, no matter how bad they are, can be annoying at times. That said, it attests to the fact that Wander wants to help everyone he meets be happy, even if it means putting himself in danger. If we had more people in this world as kind and selfless as Wander, then it would be a much better place. Plus, with Wander as a best friend, I could travel the galaxy and see all sorts of amazing things.

Thanks again, Karandi. I also just realized that I forgot to include Hestia. My bad.

*The following was originally published on FANDOM. Due to the FANDOM Contributor Program being shut down, it has been copied and moved to my blog. Thank you!

Not every video game based on a cartoon is going to be good. In fact, one of the most reviled games in history is based on a superhero cartoon! It’s actually better that video games based on cartoons don’t try and appeal to critics. It’s more important that these games stay true to their cartoons, as fans are the ones most likely to want to play the game.

Gameplay and critical reception aside, what the players and fans of the shows think about a game can be of bigger importance. In that regard, these five games live up to the fans’ love for their respective shows.

RUGRATS: THE SEARCH FOR REPTAR

Nickelodeon’s Rugrats was one of its first shows, and one of its most successful. This success led to several movies, spin-offs, and even video games such as Rugrats: The Search For Reptar. The game focuses on the efforts of Tommy Pickles and his friends to find his missing Reptar puzzle. This means going through more than a dozen levels, most of them based off episodes from the show itself.

Now, the graphics for this platformer have not aged well over the years, but that doesn’t stop it from being a fun game. For any kid who watched Rugrats on TV, being able to play through different episodes would have been a dream. This game ended up a huge hit with kids on the PlayStation, enough to be re-released under Sony’s “Greatest Hits” brand. Plus, how awesome was it to rampage through a city as the big dinosaur himself, Reptar?

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS: THE BATTLE FOR BIKINI BOTTOM

In his latest scheme to steal the Krabby Patty Formula, Plankton builds a massive army of robots in Spongebob Squarepants: The Battle For Bikini Bottom. It backfires, though, when the robots throw him out of the Chum Bucket. They proceed to run amok in Bikini Bottom, leaving it up to Spongebob, Patrick, and Sandy to clean up the mess — which includes giant robot versions of themselves.

This action-adventure game is so enjoyable because it stays true to the show by being as silly as possible. Even the character’s moves are ridiculous — Spongebob’s moves revolve around bubble-blowing! This game has gotten a cult following over the years and will likely be one of Spongebob’s best games. Also, if you 100% the entire game, you will get a special reward …

ED EDD N’ EDDY — THE MIS-EDVENTURES

Cartoon Network’s trio of idiots may have had a hit TV show, but their short track record with games made us want refunds. The exception to this was their console release, Ed Edd N’ Eddy — The Mis-Edventures. Ed-fans get to control their favorite trio as they run through the Cul-De-Sac and annoy the other kids. That, or earn money for Jawbreakers — if you saw the jawbreakers, you’d understand.

This 3D platformer is short at six hours, and there is no overarching plot at work. This can hinder the game’s creative potential as a whole, but at the same time, each level feels episodic. Combine that with the game retaining the art style and humor of the show, and it’s clear why fans of the show like it. This makes for a short, but fun, romp through one of Cartoon Network’s most successful shows.

THE ADVENTURES OF JIMMY NEUTRON BOY GENIUS: ATTACK OF THE TWONKIES

Players control Jimmy as he saves Retroville from the menace of the Twonkies in this game based on the Jimmy Neutron special. Yeah, they may look cute at first, but when they hear music, they go full Gremlin and wreak havoc. So, it’s up to us to use terrible singing and a Ghostbusters-esque vacuum to round them up and ship them off to space.

The most impressive thing about this game is that it takes a single TV special and expands it into a full video game. Not something a lot of video games have done that or have done so in as entertaining a fashion. By the end of the game, players will have traveled all over Retroville and visited places found in the show. This action-adventure is a must-have for fans of this 2000’s Nicktoon, and it’s a fun parody of the Gremlin movies, to boot.

SOUTH PARK: THE STICK OF TRUTH

If the other games were like episodes of a cartoon, then this was an entire flipping season! Since no one else could do it right, the creators of South Park decided to make their own game for their hit show. The end result is South Park: The Stick of Truth.

You play the game as a new kid who has recently moved to South Park and go outside to make friends. Before you know it, you’re caught in this giant fantasy game played out by the town’s kids. That’s only how it starts, though: there are Nazi Zombies, Aliens, and Al Gore dressed as ManBearPig. It’s something you have to play to believe.

Since the game’s made by the show’s writers and actors, it resembles the show on every level. Not only is the art style the same as the show, but the show’s love of ripping on everything carries over, as the game pokes fun at RPG tropes every chance it gets. Even the in-game items contain callbacks and references to the show’s history. Bottom line, if you’re a South Park fan, you have to play this game.

*The following was originally published on FANDOM. Due to the FANDOM Contributor Program being shut down, it has been copied and moved to my blog. Thank you!

No matter how good a show is, it needs to come to an end, lest it ends up like The Simpsons. When that end finally arrives, it’s essential that the finale gives viewers a sense of closure. With that in mind, here are five cartoons that perfectly illustrate how to wrap up a show. The writers of The Sopranos and Lost should take notes!

PHINEAS AND FERB

The writers of the hit Disney show Phineas and Ferb end summer with a bang in the series finale, “The Last Day of Summer.” On the final day of summer vacation, Candacefails to bust her brothers for the final time. When she activates Doofenshmirtz‘s Do-Over-Inator, though, it causes the day to repeat itself. The resulting time loops erase things from existence, so the gang works to fix time before it’s too late.

The plot is reminiscent of Groundhog Day, with a twist. It also serves as a reminder that, as fun as some points in our life can be, we need to move on from them. Still, it can make for good memories, as in the final moments of the show, the cast sings a final song recapping the show. Seeing the cast sing about their adventures with clips of old episodes was the best “thank you” the show could give its fans.

ED, EDD N EDDY

Cartoon Network’s longest-running show, Ed, Edd n Eddy, got its send-off in the film, “Ed, Edd n Eddy’s Big Picture Show.” When the Eds‘ biggest scam ever goes wrong, the trio flees for their lives. The entire cast then goes on a road trip in pursuit of the Eds, while the Eds look for Eddy’s brother to ask for safety.

Two things make “Big Picture Show” the perfect send-off for the show: staying true to the series and character growth. Even though the film takes the Eds beyond the Cul-De-Sac, it remains true to the slapstick comedy that defined Ed, Edd n Eddy. It also shows the Eds actually developing as people and moving past their faults. By the end of the film, the trio’s bond has grown, and, in a happy ending, they win what they’ve always wanted — the friendship of the other kids.

REGULAR SHOW

How does a show that deals with crazy and surreal adventures end its run? By having the cast take part in an epic fight to save the universe. In Regular Show‘s series finale, Mordecai, Rigby, Pops, and all the park regulars battle Pops’ evil twin, Anti-Pops. The fight is filled with plenty of callbacks to the show’s run and leaves viewers guessing to the very end.

While we missed out on seeing Titan Pops fuse with the Hyperduck Mecha, the finale’s climax makes up for it. Its final minutes return to the first episode as reality falls apart. The icing on the cake, though, is the montage we get of the cast moving on with their lives set to David Bowie’s “Heroes.” Good show, Regular Show. Jolly good show.

GRAVITY FALLS

Dipper, Mabel, and the residents of Gravity Falls face Bill Cipher in Gravity Falls‘ finale. While “Weirdmageddon 3: Take Back the Falls” does stumble for a moment by wasting the potential of the zodiac, the rest of the episode makes up for it. From the Shacktronfight to Stan sacrificing his mind to destroy Bill, there’s plenty of action for all.

Like most great finales, Gravity Falls ties up most loose ends. Unlike most finales, though, the end credits reveal one final surprise for fans in the form of a scavenger hunt. Fans took to the road and social media to find clues leading to the location of a real-life statue of Bill Cipher. Way to throw the fans a bone, Alex Hirsch!

AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER

For three years, Avatar: The Last Airbender built up to this moment. With the arrival of Sozin’s Comet, Aang would finally face Fire Lord Ozai and end his war of conquest. No one knew what to expect from the finale. How would the final battle play out? Would Aang have to kill the Fire Lord? The answers exceeded everyone’s expectations in the four-part finale, “Sozin’s Comet.”

Almost everything about the finale was in perfect harmony. Every major character got a moment in the spotlight, the humor mixed well with serious moments, and the fights were amazing. While some called the way Aang defeated Ozai a cop-out, it was the only method that didn’t involve killing, and it was true to Aang’s character.

“Sozin’s Comet” may not have been perfect, but it is as close to an ideal finale as a show can get. Critics and fans heaped praise on it, with one review saying it deserves an Academy Award. Even the questions that it didn’t have time to resolve get dealt with in the graphic novel sequels. “Sozin’s Comet” is an example of how to do a series finale the right way, and shows should use it as an example of such. Plus, Aang and Katara finally become a couple — #KataangForLife.

Ed Edd n Eddy’s Hanky Panky Hullabaloo

Ahh, Valentine’s Day. The day of love and romance, of Cupid and Eros and candied hearts and couples! As a kid growing up, though, I was never really that into Valentine’s Day.

Perhaps it’s because for the longest time, longer than most boys, I held on to the notion that girls were “bleah”. Maybe it’s because I never had the time to form a meaningful, romantic relationship with someone. It could be a lot of reasons, but I’m still not that into it. Once I find that special someone, though, that might change.

Until then, though, I can always cheer myself up by watching some Valentine’s Day Specials. And next to the Spongebob Squarepants Valentine’s Day Special, the one I remember the most is (drumroll)… Ed Edd n Eddy’s Hanky Panky Hullabaloo!

If you saw my post on it, then you know that Ed Edd n Eddy was one of my favorite shows as a kid; and that my folks banned me from watching it. But when I saw that they were doing a Valentine’s Day Special, I decided to watch it anyway. I still got in trouble, but I’m not sorry and I don’t regret it.

Basic Plot

It’s Valentine’s Day at the Ed’s school, and they’re celebrating it in their own ways. Eddy tries to use the holiday to get attention from girls; Double Dee’s handing out science-themed Valentine’s Day Cards to his classmates. As for Ed, he’s doing his best to avoid “yucky, squishy, mushy girls”. Which is bad for him, since May Kanker asks him to be her Valentine. Here is Ed’s response:

Normally, I wouldn’t blame Ed for running away from a Kanker Sister, but I can’t help but feel bad for May this time. You can tell that she was making a heartfelt effort to reach out to Ed, and he trampled over her. Both metaphorically and very literally.

Feeling sorry for her despite the trouble the Kankers give them, Double Dee gives May one of his Valentine’s Day Cards, leaving her confused. Then, things get weird.

Unknown to most of the cast, these two little cupids that resemble Jimmy and Sarah are flying around to spread love for Valentine’s Day. They hit May with an arrow, and bam! She’s in love with Double Dee. Soon after, Double Dee gets hit, too, causing him to fall for May. Hilarity ensues as the unlikely couple enjoys the holiday while the remaining Eds and Kankers almost go to war over what’s happening!

Review

Two things made this special so memorable to me: the comedy and the way it portrays Valentine’s Day.

As a kid, I loved the comedy in Ed Edd n’ Eddy. The over-the-top slapstick that can range from faces burning up from hot sauce to Ed dropping a house on Eddy, it always made me laugh. This special is no exception. Aside from Ed trampling May, another great slapstick moment is the confrontation between the Eds and Kankers. I’ve rarely seen food fights that epic.

The other half of the comedy comes from the characters dealing with Valentine’s Day. Rather, it comes from two character’s refusal to have anything to do with Valentine’s Day: Ed and Rolf.

Ed pulls out all the stops to keep girls away from him: Eating raw onions, bags on his head, spiders, the works. He wants nothing to with the holiday, and he avoids it in a manner that a kid would, with comedic results. He represents the people in life who will avoid this day like the plague, with humorous results.

While Ed’s reactions to Valentine’s Day are hilarious, Rolf just looks at the holiday with disgust. He can’t stand how overly mushy and affectionate everyone gets on February 14th and it grosses him out to no end. Sad to say it, but at times, I am in Rolf’s boat. I appreciate the value of love, both to friends and family and to a romantic partner, but there’s a limit to how much I can take. Especially when it’s coming from a couple that, by all accounts, shouldn’t even be possible!

Just looking at how lovey-dovey they makes me wanna puke.

Which brings me to the other thing I liked about this special. Rather, what I liked to hate: the cupids, or as I call them, the Stupid Cupids.

As a kid, I hated these two because they represented romance. I still hate them, but for entirely different reasons. Despite my disdain for them, I think that they were a really great touch. Having two supernatural creatures to explain how Double Dee and May suddenly fall for each other is a creative way of getting the plot to make sense. It’s made even funnier, though, when you think of how they used Sarah and Jimmy to play the Cupids. Jimmy is sweet enough, but Sarah? Ed’s rude, obnoxious, spoiled little sister?!? The irony is hilarious.

As for why I hate them now, though, it’s simple: they are the worst cupids I have ever seen! They choose to pair up Double Dee and May in the hopes of spreading love, but it brings about chaos!

Their solution is even worse, though. They decide to simply hit everyone with love arrows, resulting in everyone pairing up in couples straight out of fanfiction. I just looked it up on TV Tropes, and they call it a “crack pairing”-

Shipping beyond all bounds of sanity. There are official couples, there are couples drawn from more-or-less subjective subtext, and there are clearly non-canon pairings that still kind of make sense… and then there are pairings that make you go “What?”

Crack pairings range from the making-you-scratch-your-head-in-puzzlement weird, to the gouging-your-own-eyes-out-with-a-fork weird. But they always leave you asking “WHY WOULD ANYBODY THINK THESE TWO BELONGED TOGETHER?!”

Thankfully, the day is saved thanks to the efforts of one brave boy, the savior of Peach Creek Jr. High, the one guy who was smart enough to stand up and say enough is enough: Rolf. I’m not going to even write anything. I’m just gonna play the clip and show his heroism in action:

And thus, the stupid cupids were defeated and sanity was restored. That was one of my favorite moments from the show, hands down.

In the end, the spell is broken thanks to Rolf, and life returns to normal, but with a few happy memories for Double Dee. As the Eds deal with the aftermath while cleaning the hallway, Ed manages to make a surprisingly insightful comment about love. Well, I thought it was insightful:

Love is like an onion, Double D. The more you peel away its layers, the more it stinks.

Yeah, love does stink at times, there’s no denying that. It may not always last, or even lead to any positive outcomes in the end. But if you keep trying, then maybe someday you’ll find that person you care about the most. I know I am: there’s a girl out there that loves anime and pop culture as much as I do! Even if you don’t have a lover to share the holiday with, though, you can always share it with family. I liked this special and I think it’s worth re-watching! Now then, let’s close this out with a message from Ed himself:

Click here to see my other animation stuff. Or here to see all holiday related posts!

Looking back on my childhood, there were two channels that I watched more than anything else: Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network. Despite its importance to me, I didn’t find Cartoon Network until the latter half of my childhood, but I got hooked right away. There were so many amazing shows on back then: the original Powerpuff Girls, Codename: Kids Next Door, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, to name a few. There was one cartoon that I loved more than all of them combined, though… Ed Edd n Eddy

God, I loved this show!! As one YouTuber who’s name I cannot remember put it, this show captures the fun of summertime and spending your childhood getting into trouble with your friends with slapstick overtones.

Ed, Edd n Eddy revolves a trio of boys known as the Eds, three best friends who spend their days coming up with ways to become popular with the neighborhood while tricking them out of their money. They then wish to use said money to buy the BIGGEST JAWBREAKERS I HAVE EVER SEEN. Look at them!

Ed Edd n Eddy are the Three Stooges

Unfortunately, the universe hates the Eds, as most of the kids do, and their plans almost always backfire on them. That YouTuber I mentioned also compared the Eds to The Three Stooges, Moe, Larry, and Curly, and I have to agree.

Ed

There’s Ed, the big yellow one with a uni-brow and no chin. Ed is the heart and soul of the three, as well as their muscle. He is crazy strong, even for a cartoon character, able to effortlessly pick up trees and even houses. Fortunately, he is a gentle giant who only ever wants to protects his best friends. His past-times are watching sci-fi monster movies, eating Chunky Puffs cereal, gravy, and pudding skin, and gushing over chickens.

Ed is also a gigantic idiot and the source of much of the show’s humor. He is almost always spouting non sequitur or thinking of some crazy thing. He’s basically living in his own world.

Ed was my spirit animal as a kid. I just loved him, and everything he did made my sides burst with laughter. At one point, I even started imitating his mannerisms. Big mistake, because that led my parents to ban me from watching the show so that I wouldn’t act up. True story. It’s one of two cartoons that I was ever banned from watching for a time (the other was Spongebob). That just made me love it more, though, and now I watch it whenever I want.

Edd, AKA Double Dee

Next, we have Edd, or Double Dee, as everyone calls him. He’s the genius of the group. A super-genius, actually, who can create complex inventions out of common household materials. He’s usually stuck with creating the machines for the scams.

Double Dee serves as the voice of reason amongst his friends, and often ends up getting exasperated at their antics and how they lead to their plans failures.

He’s not without his own faults, though. Double Dee has a compulsive need to clean and organize anything he sees as dirty or unsanitary and will freak out when he can’t. To this day, we do not know what is underneath that hat of his, but whatever it is, it cannot be pretty to look at.

Eddy

Last, we have Eddy, the self-proclaimed leader of the group. Eddy is, above all, greedy, self-centered, immature, and a loud-mouth. He’s the one who usually comes up with the scams that drive the plot of each episode, only to have them blow up in his face and leave him back where he started.

Despite being the least likable of the Eds, though, much of what we see of Eddy is a facade. In the series finale movie, it’s revealed that most of his negative traits stem from a misguided attempt to emulate his popular older brother. Coupled with the fact that said older brother turns out to be a bully who physically abuses Eddy, it’s easy to understand his behavior. All he really wants is to have friends.

It’s been ten years now since the show came to an end, and with it, an era of shows on Cartoon Network. It was the last of the 90s cartoons to leave the channel, and after that, I almost stopped watching it. But you know how that song and dance goes if you read my stuff on Adventure Time and Regular Show. Still, I loved this show as a kid, and I still consider it one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. I’m also happy that it has remained part of pop culture in the form of things like memes and gifs. So on that note, happy birthday, Ed, Edd n Eddy!

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