RJ Writing Ink

Even though I have spoken enthusiastically about Star vs. The Forces of Evil in the past, I think we can all agree that it could have done some things better. However, if there’s one thing that I think was a missed opportunity, it was the Blood Moon Ball. Some Starco shippers saw it as the moment that decided that the two were meant for each other. Then Season Four’s “Curse of the Blood Moon” seemed to kill it for good. Only, not only did they end up together anyway, but the Blood Moon had nothing to do with it.

While I personally didn’t want Starco to happen because of some soul-binding, I see why some fans would be upset. The show doesn’t even explain how it’s a “curse” that well, making it even more of a letdown. However, a fan going by Blackwolfwrites decided to explore the potential of the blood moon in his own writing. The result is a trio of compelling stories that explore what could have been. This is what I like to call The Blood Moon Trilogy.

Minor Spoiler Warning, though

Sign of the Moon

Author: Blackwolfwrites

Type of Fanfic: AU/Shipping/Drama

First Published: Dec. 31, 2017

Status: Complete (Redux in progress)

Synopsis

Following the events of the first half of Season Three, Star Butterfly’s life is a mess. Her attempts to bring Mewman-Monster equality have stalled, her relationship with Tom is becoming strained, and she just found out that one of her worst enemies may be related to her! Through all these trials, though, she’s had her loyal best friend, Marco, by her side. Their bond, forged through countless adventures, has always been strong, in spite of feelings left unrequited and issues left unsolved.

Then, one fateful mission brings them back to the site of the Blood Moon Ball, and what they experience affirms what they already knew from the start: they’re meant for each other. Finally acknowledging their feelings for each other, the two best friends vow to be together, no matter what Mewni may think of them. They’ve overcome monsters, the Neverzone, St. Olga’s, Toffee, and more; what are some scheming nobles compared to that?

Little do the two realize, there’s a dark conspiracy in play that could decide to the future of Mewni itself…

Hey there, everyone, J here with the first in what will hopefully be a series of posts I’m calling “Fanfic Author Spotlight.” It’s where I give a shoutout to some of the fanfic author’s that I’ve gotten to know fairly well. That can mean both through their writings or through conversations I’ve had over the Internet with them. First up, we have a good friend of mine, someone’s whose talent as a writer’s only matched by her skill as an artist, KPRS4Ever!

A Little Bit About Her

I first met Sarah, AKA KPRS4ever, on Twitter not long after Star vs. The Forces of Evil ended. We both loved the show and were sad to see it end, and after chatting a lot on Twitter, we got along great. So now, I guess you could say that we’re friends or Internet buddies.

From what she’s told us, KP’s a New Jersey native who’s currently attending college and pursuing her major. She’s worked as an intern at Disney World, and said its one of the best experiences of her life. So much so that once she graduates, she plans on moving to Florida and getting a job working with Disney. And if Disney doesn’t hire her, then the mouse fails to see a talented writer and artist.

Brilliant Writer and Artist

KP may be one of the biggest fans of Star vs. The Forces of Evil that I’ve ever met, and she channels that passion into her fanworks. Having already written some fan works for Miraculous Ladybug and Kim Possible, she turned her focus to Star after the show ended. Her story, When Two Worlds Collide, picks up where the show left off as the cast deals with their new world. While I think the story starts out a little slow for my tastes, once it gets going, its as good as the show. Plenty of others seem to think so, too, as her story’s one of the most popular for the show on Wattpad:

In addition, KPRS4ever’s talents extend to fan art. She’s a passionate fan artist who’s made plenty of drawings for shows like Kim Possible and Star vs.. You wouldn’t be alone if you mistook one of her drawings as an image from the actual show:

As a matter of fact, KP’s so good that she’s even gotten recognition from the cast of the show. In October, Adam McArthur, the voice actor for Marco Diaz, hosted his first ever Boba Meetup at New York Comic Con. Not only did KP help organize and attend the event, but she made a special print to be signed by Adam himself for the occassion. Adam even went so far as to give her a shoutout on social media for it. Now that’s recognition!

KPRS4ever Needs Help

Between her writing and her artwork, all signs seem to point to a good future for KPRS4ever. However, not all is well for her. A few months back, she told us on Twitter that, due to some dumb technicalties, she was unable to get the final 0.5 credit she need to graduate college. As a result, she’d have to pay for an entire semester for a single class, or something. I don’t remember, I was too busy ranting about how unfair it was.

I believe she was able to work something out in the end. However, she still needs to take a final semester of college in order to graduate. The problem is that it’s going to cost her an extra $2,000. So instead of taking out more loans, she’s going the entrepreneurial route. That’s where you come in.

Right now, she’s got a Gofundme campaign running in order to make the money she needs for her last semester. In addition, she’s begun selling merchandise featuring her artwork over on Redbubble. All you need to do is to go to either of those places and give her the money she needs. That way, she can graduate when she wants, fulfill her dreams, and potentially make the next big cartoon at Disney in 8-10 years. It’s like a long-term investment!

So, what are you waiting for? Go over to these sites and check her out. You can also find her on Tumblr, Instagram, and Wattpad. Know that you’re helping to support a talented artist and writer by doing so!

KPRS4ever’s Gofundme page

Here’s her Redbubble page! I just bought myself a phonecase from her with the wand on it!

Click here if you want to read her fanfic.

Click here to see my review of When Two Worlds Collide

And if you still need convincing, here’s some of her artwork. All rights go to KPRS4Ever, Daron Nefcy, and Disney.

Remember that week of Star vs fan fiction I did a few months ago? There was actually another pick I had that I ultimately chose not to include. However, I’ve decided that this story’s just too good to not talk about. It captures the spirit of the show in writing style and in artwork. Not to mention I’ve become good friends with the author on Twitter. So, time to get a little weird and a little wild when two worlds collide!

When Two Worlds Collide

Author: KPRS4ever

Type of Fan Work: Fanmade Sequel

First Published: May 23, 2019

Status: ongoing

Synopsis

In just the blink of an eye, Earth and Mewni were fused into one, creating Earthni. Equal parts wondrous and terrifying, this new world’s going to require some adjustments for everyone. Despite all the chaos, though, Star Butterfly and Marco Diaz couldn’t care less! They’re able to spend the rest of their lives together going on adventures. No royal responsibilities, no Magic High Commission, no magic to ruin everything! Were it only so simple.

As with many things in their lives, Star and Marco’s solving of one problem gives rise to a new one. While keeping peace between the people of both worlds is hard enough, they soon discover that magic may not be gone for good. Worse still, it looks like some figures from Mewni’s past have come back to haunt them. With their friends by their side and their unbreakable bond, Star and Marco set off on new adventures when two worlds collide!

Review

If you want to hear me praise KPRS4ever, then I’d recommend you read my shout-out to her that accompanies this review. All you need to know here is that she manages to continue the story of the show as though it never ended. When Two Worlds Collide takes full advantage of the new world of Earthni and the best elements of Star vs. The Forces of Evil to create a story that fans of the show will enjoy. And yes, there’s plenty of romantic moments between Star and Marco, along with a few other ships.

What I like most about When Two Worlds Collide, aside from the amazing artwork, is how KP goes beyond the show’s material to write her story. A large part of the plot comes from info found in the real life “Book of Spells.” As a result, it creates a unique story that keeps the spirit of the show intact while telling something new. If you’ve read the Book of Spells, or just read the chapters on the show’s wiki, then you’ll find some hints as to how the plot’s going to unfold.

Now, this next thing may just be because I was so distracted reading a bunch of other fan fics after the show ended, so I’m sorry, KP. When Two Worlds Collide can be a slow burn at first, taking a few chapters to help us start to piece together the plot. Once it gets going, though, it starts to get wild, especially once magic returns.

I know that’s a spoiler, but it had to be done. As it turns out, the Law of Conservation of Mass applies to magic, as well. While I’ll leave the rest for you to read, I’ll add two things. Firstly, only Star can use magic, and this happens:

Go Read This Story

I’m not sure if I say this a lot, but KPRS4ever’s got some serious talent. Years from now, when and if she’s working on some big cartoon, we’ll be able to look back and say this story is where she got her start. When Two Worlds collide is a worthy successor to Star vs. The Forces of Evil, and if Disney+ decides to give the show a fifth season, I’d want it to be this. That, or I want to see Starco wedding!

Click here to read my shoutout to KPRS4ever

Things that came to an end in 2019

In my look ahead at 2019 that I did at the end of last year, then you’ll recall what I dubbed 2019. I called it “the Year of Endings.” The name came from the fact that several great stories in the form of movies, shows, and games would be ending this year. It felt appropriate.

With the year now largely wrapped up, I decided to take a look back on everything that came to an end. In addition, I wanted to share my thoughts about the way these things ended. Too often have I seen a good story ruined by a bad ending.

Infinity Saga

When Iron Man came out in 2008, I don’t anyone knew what it was starting. As a result of that film, a cinematic universe the likes of which had never been done was born. Now fast forward to 2019, and supeheroes dominate our culture, with Marvel capping off one of the most ambitious stories in history: the Infinity Saga.

I’ve been a fan of Marvel since I was a kid. So when I saw Thanos appear in that mid-credits scene in Avengers, I knew what Marvel was building to. However, never in my wildest dreams did I expect the Infinity Saga to end like it did. The franchise had plenty of high moments, a few low points, but through it all, it remained an incredible ride. The final clash between the Avengers and Thanos was one of the greatest moments in cinematic history. As a result of the MCU, I don’t think our culture will ever be the same again, and I’m happy about that.

Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones was, without a doubt, the definitive show of the decade. Based on George R.R. Martin’s books and inspired by Shakespeare’s plays, this show gave us a modern spin on a medieval world. The sheer amount of success it’s had is mind-boggling. From giving dozens of actors their big break, to all the memes and references in pop culture, Game of Thrones was a show that only came around once a generation. Then, we got the finale.

If you’ve read my reviews for the final season, then you know how I thought it was a let-down. Yeah, all the characters I hated died, but the way they did made it feel like a hollow victory. While I don’t agree with how the show ended, I’ve since come to a conclusion. While I think the final season could have been done better, I don’t think it changes the fact that Game of Thrones is one of the best shows ever made. The ride alone made the whole thing worth it in the end. Also, I could at least celebrate Littlefinger’s death.

Kingdom Hearts: The Xehanort Saga

Fourteen years. That’s how long fans had been waiting for Kingdom Hearts 3 to come out. In that time, we had to go through several mid-quels, prequels, and remasterings. However, in January 2019, Square Enix finally gave us the final chapter in the Xehanort Saga for their crossover RPG, Kingdom Hearts.

Personally, I enjoyed Kingdom Hearts III. I loved the updated graphics, the new game play mechanics, and the new worlds based on Disney properties that we could explore. However, my enthusiasm for it was marred by my belief that Square Enix delayed it longer than necessary. Then when I got to the end and saw what happened, I felt more frustrated than sad with how it turned out. Despite this, I still think Kingdom Hearts is one of my all-time favorite series.

Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

After forty-two years, eleven movies, and hours worth of content, it seems that Star Wars is dropping the curtain on the Skywalkers. After Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012, they announced their intent to create a Sequel Trilogy, culminating in the release of The Rise of Skywalker earlier this month. The film’s supposed to put an end to the story of Skywalker family. However, I don’t buy it for a second.

Ever since The Rise of Skywalker was announced, people talk like its the end of the franchise. In reality, that couldn’t be further from the truth! Star Wars proved a long time ago that it can tell great stories without involving the Skywalker family. In fact, some of the best content didn’t involve the Skywalkers or their friends at all! In other words, I see The Rise of Skywalker as the first chapter in a new era for a franchise that can go on for decades.

Star vs the Forces of Evil

This year saw one of the best cartoons put out in years come to an end. At one point, Star vs. the Forces of Evil was almost as popular as Steven Universe and Gravity Falls. However, that didn’t stop Disney from rushing bringing the show to a somewhat quiet end in May of this year. The question, though, is why I keep bringing this show up.

I think my obssession with Star vs. can be explained with three different reasons. Firstly, I think after being so thoroughly disappointed by it, I subconsciously transferred my love of Game of Thrones to Star vs as a means of coping. Secondly, I felt like Disney rushed to get the show’s final season out, throwing in multiple episodes in the span of a few weeks. As a result, it ended before we could get ready for it. Finally, I think that they could have told more stories in the show. Daron Nefcy has openly said she’d come back to do more with Star vs if Disney asked. Thus, I don’t think the story of Star Butterfly’s done just yet.

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

I used to think that My Little Pony was a toy line meant for little girls. Then I saw Rainbow Dash beat the snot out of Starscream on an episode of Death Battle. That made me realize that these ponies could actually be cool. After that, I got into the show, and ended up becoming a brony.

In October of this year, Discovery Family and Hasbro brought My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic to an end. However, unlike Game of Thrones or Star vs., this show came to an end on a very satisfying note. Discovery Family went out of its way to promote it by re-running every episode ever, and the finale managed to tie up any remaining plot threads. In other words, it had a good ending. Best of all, IDW Comics will be continuing the story in comic book form starting next year, so this won’t be the last time we see these characters. I thought it was great seeing one of the decade’s best cartoons go out on a high note, and I only wish other shows could do the same thing.

Happy New Year

Do you agree with my picks? What other great things came to an end in 2019 that I missed? Let me know in the comments below, and happy New Year.

Click here to see more stuff recapping past years.

My Picks for the Top Ten Animated Shows of the 2010s

By the time 2010 rolled around, almost all the cartoons I loved watching had ended their runs. As a result, I thought I grew out of them and started getting into documentary channels. Thankfully, the 2010s saw an animation renaissance that dragged me back into cartoons. I have no regrets whatsoever.

As we close out the 2010s, I thought it would be appropriate to look back on the decade’s animation renaissance. Thus, I’m giving you my picks for my top ten favorite cartoons of the 2010s. But first, some ground rules:

1. The shows have to have started after January 1st, 2010. Shows that started before then don’t count.
2. Each of these picks are shows that I watched. I know this means I’ll miss great shows like Bojack Horseman, but that’s how it is. Sorry in advance
3. I’m not counting anime. A show can be anime-esque or based on it, but anime itself is off the table.

With that out of the way, let’s get started!

Adventure Time (2010-2018)

What time is it? ADVENTURE TIME! In 2010, this gem created by Pendleton Ward premiered on Cartoon Network. Telling the story of Jake the shapeshifting dog and Finn the human boy, Adventure Time follows their adventures in the magical, post-apocalyptic land of Ooo. However, as time passed, the show began to build itself into something more than a cartoon.

Thanks to a combination of a strong supporting cast, deep mythology, overarching stories and willingness to tackle mature themes, Adventure Time became a massive hit for Cartoon Network. In fact, I largely credit it for kickstarting this animation renaissance, with Cartoon Network benefiting the most. In addition, many of the show’s staff went on to create equally popular shows like Steven Universe, O.K. K.O.! Let’s be Heroes, Over the Garden Wall, and more. This show was amazing, and it’s legacy will no doubt be felt for decades to come.

Avatar: The Legend of Korra (2012-2014)

I consider Avatar: The Last Airbender to be one of the greatest cartoons of all time. Thus, imagine my joy when I learned Nickelodeon was making a sequel called The Legend of Korra? Taking place 70 years after the end of A:TLA, Legend of Korra, the show follows the titular character as she fulfills her role as the new Avatar. However, Korra has to face enemies that make her question if the Avatar has a place in the world anymore.

Aside from continuing the story of my favorite cartoon, I loved Korra for multiple reasons. Firstly, it knows that the returning fan base were now teens and young adults. As such, it wasn’t afraid to touch on darker issues that reflect real world history like inequality, oppressive governments, and fanaticism. Secondly, it expanded upon the already rich world of its predecessor, adding more backstory. It even goes so far as to show us the Avatar’s origins, which is really cool. Thirdly, there’s plenty of callbacks to the original show.

Sadly, the show suffered from a scheduling problem during its run. By Season Three, they started dropping the episodes in huge chunks; then midway through it, they move it exclusively to streaming. As a result, the show ended sooner than necessary. It’s still a good show, but this move by Nick makes it less impactful in the end.

DuckTales! (2017- Present)

Of all the reboots I’ve seen to classic shows, the 2017 reboot of DuckTales! may be one of the best. This reboot reimagines the cast and premise of the classic 80s cartoon for a new generation of fans. The end result is a cartoon that captures the spirit of its predecessor while being able to stand as its own thing.

I’ve made my love of DuckTales! known in the past, so I’m going to bullet point what I like most about it.

• The callbacks and references to the original show and the Disney Afternoon cartoons of the 80s and 90s
• The art style’s reminiscent of 1950s comics
• The voice cast is incredible. They gave the Triplets different voice actors and personalities
• Della Duck becomes a prominent character
• That theme song!

Bottom line, this show’s worth watching.

Gravity Falls (2012-2016)

Disney’s first, and likely biggest, success from this decade’s animation renaissance, Gravity Falls is to the Mouse what Adventure Time is to Cartoon Network. The show follows the twins Dipper and Mabel Pines as they spend their summer vacation in the titular Oregon Town. However, they soon find out that the place is a magnet for weirdness and supernatural phenomena. With their new friends and con-artist Grunkle Stan, the two (mostly Dipper) work to uncover the mysteries behind the town and the danger threatening it.

Speaking of which, Gravity Falls revolves around mysteries. Creator Alex Hirsch loved throwing in mysteries and clues for fans to solve, from ciphers in every episode to a real-life scavenger hunt following the series finale. As a result, Gravity Falls attracted a large adult fan base that still supports the show years after it ended. In addition, like Adventure Time, several people who worked on Gravity Falls have gone on to create their own successful shows. Given the influence it’s had on Disney, it’s safe to say that Gravity Falls remains one of the most important cartoons of the 2010s.

Regular Show (2010-2017)

Don’t let the title fool you; it’s anything but. Regular Show follows the lives of Mordecai and Rigby, two slacker best friends working together in a second-rate Park. At least, they’re supposed to; in reality, they try to find ways to get out of work. This usually leads them to get into surreal misadventures that they have to get out of.

As a millennial and a young adult, J.G. Quintel’s creation really spoke to me. On the surface level, Regular Show was laden with pop culture references that many millennials would understand. However, underneath the surreal nature and references, it was a show about two guys going through the trials of young adulthood. It was goofy, heartfelt, and exciting, and an all-around good time. Heck, they even made going into space for the final season entertaining. Most shows would have jumped the shark by doing that!

Rick and Morty (2015- Present)

Few shows have ever been as amazing as Rick and Morty. Then again, I don’t think we’ve ever had a show like Rick and Morty. Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon’s sci-fi comedy follows the adventures of the titular duo. Rick’s the cynical genius who does whatever he wants because he knows nothing matters, and Morty’s his well-meaning but naive grandson. Now name a sci-fi story or scenario, add them in, and you’ve got Rick and Morty.

As I’ve made clear in the past, I’m a huge fan of Rick and Morty. It’s the show that’s not afraid to ask deep, philosophical questions while doing the absolute dumbest things. It’s funny and low-brow, yet also intelligent and philosophical. Also, it’s the show that single-handedly forces McDonald’s to bring back their Szechuan dipping sauce. I can’t think of another show that can do that! Rick and Morty is awesome!

RWBY (2013- Present)

The only web-based show on this list, Roosterteeth’s mega-hit RWBY has been called the first Western anime. In a world filled with dark creatures called Grimm, people called huntsman and huntresses battle to protect the people. The series itself follows the members of the titular team RWBY, Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang, as they become huntresses and protect the world from evil.

Created by the now deceased Monty Oum, RWBY’s become one of the most popular anime in the world. I can’t even count how many people I see cosplaying the characters at conventions. I think part of the appeal comes from how it crosses various genres of anime. It’s got all the action and epic music of Shonen, the premise’s reminiscent of the magical girl genre, and the first three seasons are like a high-school/slice of life.

My favorite thing about RWBY, though, is how its existence shows how prevalent the influence of anime has become. Instead of merely importing it from Japan, now we’re exporting it to Japan! If you haven’t seen RWBY yet, I recommend you watch it. It’s a great gem of the ongoing animation renaissance.

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (2010-2019)

Who knew that a show about traditionally girl toys would turn into a cultural phenomenon? My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic was created by Lauren Faust and served as the fourth iteration of the My Little Pony line. It follows the adventures of six friends as they learn about the importance of friendship and being nice to each other. That may sound lame on paper, but in reality, it’s really good.

Despite being aimed at kids and being about a toy line meant for girls, MLP: FIM broke the mold. The show was filled with a lot of action, the characters had three-dimensional depth to them, and was genuinely fun to watch. It made it cool for boys and adults to like things traditionally meant for girls. That alone makes it good enough to put on this list. In addition, it had some all-star talent working on it, like Tara Strong as the lead role.

Steven Universe (2013-Present)

Whereas shows like Legend of Korra and MLP opened the door on gender norms, Steven Universe knocked down the door, and the wall for good measure. The show follows the titular character, a half-human, half-alien boy, as he grows up and learns about himself and his place in the world.

It would be an insult to say that Steven Universe is nothing short of revolutionary. It goes out of its way to deal with topics few cartoons dared to tackle. From the aforementioned challenging of gender roles to encouraging the acceptance of the LGBT community, Steven Universe has helped change our culture for the better. I’m willing to bet that this show will go down as one of the most important cartoons in history. It’s a shining example of the best this animation renaissance has to offer people.

Star vs the Forces of Evil (2015-2019)

Considering how much it’s been brought up on this blog, it should be no surprise that this wound up being here. Instead of explaining it again, here’s a video that does the job for me:

I’m well aware that the fourth and final season wasn’t as great as it could have been. Furthermore, as much as I love how the finale lets Star and Marco remain together, I know some fans didn’t like it. That said, let’s not forget that at its peak, Disney was pushing Star vs as it’s flagship cartoon on Disney XD. When the 2-hour TV movie “The Battle for Mewni” premiered, it was trending on Twitter. In short, yes the show could have stuck the landing better. However, I don’t think it detracts from the fact that it was a good show. The fact that so many people want more of Star vs serves as a testament to how good it can be. If Disney does more with it, I’ll be thrilled. Until then, I still think it’s one of the best cartoons of the decade.

Also, there’s some really good fan fiction of it out there.

The 2010s Animation Renaissance

So, do you agree with my picks? For that matter, do you agree that this decade saw an animation renaissance take place? If I didn’t mention a cartoon you like, then leave a comment telling me about it down below. I know I missed a lot! Happy New Year!

Click here to see more stuff recapping past years.

Click here to see my other animation stuff.

Star vs. The Forces of Evil Holiday Special Review- Stump Day

I know I said I wasn’t going to be doing this 25 days of Christmas thing this year. However, Star vs the Forces of Evil came out on Disney+, and its the first day of December. In other words, I couldn’t resist. So, here’s my review of the first half of the Star vs. Christmas Special, “Stump Day.”

All Hail Stump Day

It’s the most wonderful time of the year in Mewni, Stump Day. When the first Mewmans found their way to Mewni, they were struck by a terrible winter storm. In order to survive they had to huddle behind a giant tree stump and forge bonds of friendship. ThentheylearnedmagicandusedittobeatuptheMonsters, the end!

To honor that memory, every year the Mewmans honor the Stump, or else. However, Stump Day’s not just Star’s favorite holiday, it also happens to be her birthday!

It may just be me, but the fact that Star’s birthday falls on Stump Day seems like a continuity wrinkle. Wouldn’t that mean the Wand Ceremony in the first episode should have had snow and holiday decorations or what not? Or did they move it to a different day to honor the Stump?

Unwelcome Birthday Party

Not realizing how important Stump Day is, and wanting to surprise his best friend, Marco throws a surprise party for Star that very night. This causes Star to freak out and try to destroy her own party. She never celebrates her birthday on her actual birthday out of respect/fear of the Stump.

Everything goes downhill from there. Marco and Tom start fighting when Marco calls him a bad boyfriend, then everyone’s yelling at each other and Janna throws the Stump in the fireplace. As a result of everyone’s actions, they anger the real Stump, and it tries to kill everyone present.

Personally, I found it a little ironic that no one believed the Stump was real aside from Star. Everyone present comes from other dimensions and sees magic on a regular basis. Given everything they’ve seen, is a giant, ax-crazy Mewman version of Santa hard to believe? In the end, it doesn’t matter, though: Stump Day comes to an end before the Stump can kill them all, and everyone comes together to celebrate Star’s birthday. The end.

Don’t Trust the Stump

I’ve seen several fanfictions re-use the concept of Stump Day since this episode, and a lot of them don’t paint the Stump in a good light. My personal favorite, though, is MoringMark’s story involving the Stump in his webcomic Echo Creek. Long story short, Mariposa and Meteora fight the Stump, and it reveals that it caused the storm that led to it being worshipped. It was revenge for them cutting down its tree.

Basically, I see the Stump as an axe-crazy hunk of wood that’s not to be trusted. However, it’s also the same kind of crazy you’d expect from a show like Star vs. The Forces of Evil. I know the chances of the story being continued anytime soon are low, but at least we get some great fanworks out of it.

This should be the part where I insert some cheesy Aesop about the importance of coming together for the holidays and/or possible death, but I got nothing. All I can say is that that rotting piece of bark is not to be trusted! Happy holidays, everyone!

Click here to see my other animation stuff.

Monster Love Character Analysis, Part 3- Everyone Else

I’ve made my love for Daron Nefcy’s show, Star vs The Forces of Evil, very obvious on this blog. However, as much as I love the show, it bums me out how some of the supporting cast eventually fell by the wayside. Which is why I’m a fan of The Wandering Hippie’s fan fiction series, Monster Love. He not only manages to keep several secondary characters involved, but even has time to throw in his own creations. Not to mention that his series is filled with references and cameos from pop culture.

In order to wrap up my character analysis of the Monster Love series, this post will take a look at Hippie’s versions of the supporting cast and his original characters. I’ll try and cover most of them, but some will get more focus than others due to the changes to characters.

Supporting Cast

Alfonso and Fergurson

Daron Nefcy may not have found a good way to use Marco’s two guy friends, but I think Hippie was able to. Firstly, he gave Alfonso and Fergurson actual personalities. In Monster Love, Fergurson’s close friends with Janna, due to them sharing an interest in magic and a penchant for mischief. Alfonso’s shown himself to be tech-savvy and capable, something that’s come in handy every now and then. In addition, Hippie made it so the two aren’t dead weight for Star and Marco. As a result, the two participate more in some of Star’s adventures without getting too much in the way.

Eclipsa

While she has yet to make any impact on the story in the present day, Eclipsa has a big impact on the story as a whole. Without spoiling too much, let’s just say that here, her monster love was a jerk. Like in the show, she’s trapped in crystal by Rhombulus, only this time its due to the manipulation of the Shadow Clause. Thankfully, the MHC doesn’t persecute her once she’s eventually freed, realizing they were all played by the Shadow Clause. Instead, they put her on probation. Other than that, Eclipsa’s perfect the way she is.

Higgs

Despite only making two appearances in the show, this girl keeps appearing in fan fiction for some reason. Thankfully, Hippie takes her obnoxious personality and gives it an upgrade. While she still doesn’t get along with Marco at first, in Monster Love she soon warms up to him and even befriends Star. I’d go so far to say that Higgs’ become a part of Star’s circle of friends and a valuable ally. Considering everything that Hippie has in the pipeline, this is probably a good thing, too.

Janna

Still the bane of authority figures everywhere, Hippie only had to make some subtle changes to Janna’s character. Already an established friend of Marco, she doesn’t tease him nearly as much as she does in the show. Despite maintaining her love of causing trouble, Janna proves to be one of Star and Marco’s most loyal friends, and is quick to help either of them out. Considering how she’s learning how to use actual magic, something tells me that she’ll remain a powerful ally to Star as the story progresses.

Also, she has the ability to break the fourth wall and talk to the author, to his annoyance.

Jackie Lynn Thomas

Still the cool skater girl of Echo Creek Academy and the object of Marco’s affections, Hippie went out of his way to include Jackie more in the story. To help with this, he made a few changes to Jackie. Firstly, not only is she aware of Marco’s crush on her, but she’s the one who approaches him about it. However, Jackie later admits that she made that leap because she saw how close Star was with Marco. She thought that if she didn’t make her move when she did, she’d lose her chance altogether.

One of the hangups I have about the show is how it never addressed how Jackie reacted to Star’s crush on Marco. That would have made for a great character arc, and the show just wasted it. Hippie, on the other hand, dives right into this. I even give him extra points for having her handle this while staying in line with her character. Furthermore, Jackie continues to be a part of the story.

Magical High Commission

Of all the characters in the show, the MHC are the ones who needed an overhaul the most. First and foremost, Hippie rewrites them so that they’re no longer as opposed to monsters as they were in the show. On a more subtler note, Hippie changes their personalities so that they acknowledge that they’re not perfect and can screw up. Case in point, they’re as surprised about the existence of the Shadow Clause as Moon. As a result, they all agree to back Moon in Moon and Monsters.

Hekapoo befriends Moon when she’s still a teenager, and even sneaks out with her to party with monsters. Even more incredible, she actually starts dating a monster girl! It’s a far cry from her stance in the show, but not an unwelcome change.

Omnitraxus more or less remains the same as he was in the show. However, for some reason he has the power to see past the fourth wall and hang out with the author.

Lekmet also remains the same as in the show, only he never actively fights in the rebellion.

Rhombulus actually gets the biggest change in personality. He’s nowhere near as vocal about hating monsters or Eclipsa. In fact, when it’s revealed that the Shadow Clause was behind her imprisonment, he seems to feel remorse for it, and actively tries to make up for it.

Oskar Greason

In the show, Oskar was a one dimensional character created to serve as Star’s initial love interest. Hippie went to town and gave him an actual personality; and a brain. Serving as the laid-back member of Marco’s circle of friends, he’s quick to accept Star into their group. He’s essentially the friend that people can talk to when they have problems, and can even provide some insightful remarks at times.

In addition, Oskar also comes into ownership of Floyd, a giant bird of paradise accidentally created by Star’s magic. The group uses Floyd as a mode of transportation and ally in combat. Which I personally think is awesome.

Tom Lucitor

In the Monster Love timeline, Tom’s one of Star’s oldest friends and cares deeply about her safety. In fact, his main reason for dating her was to protect her from bullies. However, this led to him become very controlling of her. While I won’t say why exactly they broke up, I will say that the fallout left scars on both of them.

I feel like Hippie was trying to bring attention to the fact that some fans can’t forgive Tom for his early actions in the show. That said, he ends up rewriting Tom’s character so that he acknowledges his mistakes sooner than he did in the show. Thanks to the aid of Marco and Jackie, Tom slowly learns to control his anger and make amends with Star. While Star’s initially weary of him, the two do eventually start to mend their friendship. Say what you will, but I don’t hold a grudge against him, either in the show or in Monster Love.

Original Characters

Mavis

First introduced as a minor character in Moon and Monsters, Mavis is Moon’s snobbish cousin who thinks she’s better suited to be Queen. After Moon’s rebellion succeeds, she chooses to go into hiding and wage a decades long guerrilla war against Moon’s new regime. By the start of Monster Princess, she leads a small band of rebels to Earth in order to seize the Butterfly Wand. Her ultimate goal is to overthrow Moon and return Mewni to it’s monster-hating ways.

Mavis’ essentially the Monster Love version of Ludo, albeit one that’s much more dangerous. Unlike Ludo, Mavis is a skilled combatant who can go toe to toe with Star and Marco. More importantly, she’s a much more capable leader who genuinely cares for the well-being of her followers. This makes her all the more dangerous in the long run, especially once Monster Princess reaches its equivalent of Season Two. Now she has her own wand, and in a page from the book of Daenaerys Targaryen, she has a dragon. I am not joking, she has an actual dragon! While she and Star have yet to meet again, it’s clear she’s going to be a huge threat.

Dumronix

One of Mavis’ two lieutenants, Dumronix is a tough old soldier and a veteran of Mewni’s Civil War. Like many of his comrades, he chose to wage guerrilla war against Moon’s rule, helping Mavis lead the insurgency. With his massive size and decades of experience, Dumronix is one of the few in Mavis’ group that can not only go toe to toe with Star and Marco, but even overpower them.

Despite being comparable to The Mountain, Dumronix is not a simple brute. He’s a capable leader in his own right, and shows genuine care for his comrades. In addition, he also develops a begrudging respect for Marco as a warrior. As a whole, I think he’s a good person; he just ended up on the wrong side of a war that, for him, never stopped.

Helsinki Greyjoy

One of my favorite original character’s, Helsinki Greyjoy is Moon’s tomboyish cousin/soul sister. A mechanical genius and inventor, Helsinki was one of the first people to join Moon in her rebellion, putting her skills to work helping the rebellion win the war. By the time of Monster Princess, Helsinki’s Mewni’s chief engineer, helping to pioneer all sorts of new inventions.

I like Helsinki so much because she reminds me a lot of Bulma from the Dragon Ball franchise. Both are feisty women with tomboy tendencies and geniuses. I go so far as to imagine Helsinki voiced by Monica Rial.

Selene Dragon

The second of Mavis’ two lieutenants, Selene’s described as looking like a prepubescent version of Higgs; despite the fact that she’s actually 22. Born the daughter of a Noble family, Mewni’s Civil War saw most of her family wiped out by a band of rogue monsters. As a result, Selene’s Mom left her at an orphanage in the hopes of giving her a better life.

The first chance Selene got, she left the orphanage and sought out Mavis, who took her and trained/raised her. Armed with her twin trench knives and lightning speed, Selene’s a deadly assassin able to keep up with Star and Marco. The latter of the two she holds a grudge against for beating her several times.

Despite how vicious she may act, I can tell that Selene’s not a bad person; she just wants to find her mom. If Mavis were to get the Butterfly Wand, she could use the All-Seeing Eye spell to find her mother. However, when Monster Princess’ version of Season One ends with Mavis’ hideout destroyed, Selene runs off on her own. No one knows where she is, but I have a feeling we haven’t seen the last of her.

The Shadow Clause

The main antagonists of A Tale of Moon and Monsters, this shadowy group’s existed since Mewni’s founding. I believe they were founded with the purpose of protecting Mewni from the shadows. As time passed, though, they became corrupt and power-hungry, and sought to control Mewni at the expense of its people, Mewmans and Monsters alike. Ultimately, though, they meet their match in the form of Moon and Toffee, who proceed to free Mewni from their tyranny. However, their dark legacy lives on in those who oppose Moon’s rule.

Most of the Shadow Clause members seen are the typical villains you’d find in a secret organization. I can’t even remember most of their names. The only ones that need to be remembered are Etheria and Mildrew. Etheria is Moon’s Aunt and has been consistently portrayed in fanfics as a very unpleasant Mewman, so she’s the leader of the Shadow Clause. Mildrew’s that prettyboy that tried courting Moon in the show, but lost to River. Here he’s a ruthless warrior who commits several atrocities to defeat Moon. Like I said, typical “evil organization” villains, not that that’s a bad thing.

The Wandering Hippie

If Daron Nefcy can take part in her own creation as Starfan13, then so can the Wandering Hippie. Starting from Star the Monster Princess, Hippie alternates between being the storyteller and being an actual character in his story. In the story itself, Hippie takes the place of Brian as Tom’s anger management counselor. That doesn’t seem to last long, though, as Tom starts working out his anger issues.

Most of the time, Hippie can be found in the Author’s Comments and notes at the beginning of each chapter where he talks about the story. Oftentimes, he’s assisted in doing this by Omnitraxus, Janna, and for some reason, the French Narrator from Spongebob. It’s part of what makes the story so fun, though.

This Concludes the Monster Love Posts

Well, that’s every that I could possibly want to say about Hippie’s Monster Love stories. I know I missed a lot of characters, both canon and original, but I don’t want to take up anymore of your time. If you’re still reading this, then I have a little surprise for you. I found this great artist on Instagram called Andychipss who does fan-art comissions for shows like Star. Click here to see her work, and message her if you want something done. She made this great piece from my favorite Star fan fic, Light of the Sun and Stars:

And click here to go to Hippie’s Page on Fanfiction.net. From there, you can find all his stories in the Monster Love series.

Click here to see my other animation stuff.

Monster Love Character Analysis Part 2- Star the Monster Princess

Welcome to part two of my character analysis The Wandering Hippie’s Monster Love fan fiction. Based on the show Star vs. the Forces of Evil, Hippie has some of the best fan writing that I’ve seen. I wanted to take a look at how he portrays the characters, but my initial post was too long. So I chose to split it into smaller posts about the main characters from each story and the supporting. In this portion, I analyze the heroes of his sequel, Star the Monster Princess.

Whereas his previous story was more or less his own creation, here Hippie follows the show as much as possible. At least, he does at first. As time passes, he plans on diverging from the show and make his own story.

Star Butterfly

The one and only heroine of Star vs. The Forces of Evil, Princess Star Butterfly. Born the daughter of Moon and Toffee six years after the defeat of the Shadow Clause, she got her name from her parents hopes that she would become the star of hope for Mewni. However, the road to becoming that shining star hasn’t been easy. Star’s had to face great hardship due to being half-monster, and that’s deeply impacted her personality. So when her wand inheritance ceremony goes awry, she takes it poorly. As a result, her parents send her to Earth where she can make friends and master the wand away from Mewni’s prying eyes. Thus begins her adventures with Marco and her friends as she works to master the Wand and become the Princess that Mewni needs.

Unique Mix of Characters

From the outset, I was impressed at how Hippie strove to make his version of Star so unique. On the surface, Star retains many of the positive and endearing traits she has in the show. While not as hyper, Star retains her friendly attitude and tries making friends with everyone she meets. Steadfast and loyal, Star already has plenty of friends even before she came to Earth and won’t hesitate to help them. Even if her attempts sometimes backfire.

Ironically, though, Hippie’s version of Star can be less a social butterfly and more a wallflower at times. To put it bluntly, she’s got a lot in common with Fluttershy from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Star can be incredibly shy and socially awkward at times, and she even has anxiety issues that she deals with. However, this isn’t an inherent personality trait. Rather, it’s the product of a lifetime of stigma for being a Mewman-Monster hybrid.

A Lifetime of Stigma

To say Star got bullied a lot growing up is an understatement. She’s been the subject of everything from cruel pranks by other kids, been called an abomination, to even multiple attempts on her life. It also doesn’t help that most boys who try to court her do so only for the throne. In other words, Star’s been put through hell because of what she was born as.

All these horrible events took a toll on Star’s personality. As a result, she can suffer from low self-esteem and anxiety attacks, and is very insecure about her appearance. This is in spite of the fact that nearly everyone on Earth considers her to be very pretty and charming.

I can tell that Hippie put a lot of thought into Star’s personality, and that he didn’t pull his punches regarding her past trauma. He even admits in the author’s notes that he cried while writing some of the things about Star’s past. I almost cried when I read them. If Hippie’s reading this, then he should know that he deserves the highest praise for what he did with Star.

Marco Diaz

Still the resident safe kid of Echo Creek, Marco gets tapped to be Star’s guide to Earth. It goes as well as it did in the show, but once they get past the rough start, they develop the strong friendship that fans know and love. In this story, though, Marco’s role as Star’s best friend becomes magnified. Having learned of her past trauma early on, Marco takes it upon himself to help Star heal. As a result, he becomes the emotional rock that Star never knew she needed in her life, moreso than in the show.

A More Confident Marco

Early in the story, it became apparent that Marco already had some of the self-confidence he would display as the show progressed. According to Marco himself, about a year before meeting Star, he was assigned to look after Janna and Oskar. As a result of interacting with them, Marco became more willing to stand up for himself and try new experiences. Case in point, when Ponyhead tries to intimidate him during their first meeting, he doesn’t take it lying down. Instead, he pushes back.

From a reader’s perspective, it felt like Hippie took some of Star’s confidence from the show and injected it into Marco. Besides being pleasantly surprised, I thought that this was a smart move. It helps to offset how shy and insecure Star can be in this story, so their dynamic remains balanced as a whole.

The downside to this newfound confidence, though, is that this can lead to Marco being somewhat reckless. Firstly, in Monster Princess, it’s Marco who proposes that they break Ponyhead out of St. Olga’s rather than Star. Moreover, this can even lead to him inadvertently hurting Star. Fortunately, his concern for Star’s well being, plus some criticism from Toffee, helps him to grow out of this.

Star’s Protector

While Marco more or less took his role as Star’s guide and friend in the show seriously, it gets magnified in Monster Princess due to her past. While most of her friends from Earth know she’s been through awful experiences, Marco’s the only one who knows the full extent of what she’s gone through. As a result, Marco becomes fiercely protective of the princess, vowing to never let anyone else hurt her again. His concern’s so great, that when that brat Jeremy called Star “a lizard freak”, he went berserk with rage. In other words, don’t mess with Star around him.

Star & Marco’s Relationship

Whether you’re a fan of the ship or not, there’s no denying that Star and Marco’s relationship is an integral part of the show. As it just so happens, Hippie’s a big Starco shipper, and makes no attempts to try to hide it. In fact, around the time he gets to “Brittney’s Party”, he flat out admits he has plans for Starco. Why did I spoil it for you? Because Hippie does so in the author’s notes. His exact words were:

Well I’M AT MY WITS END WITH THE WAY THE SHOW IS DANCING AROUND STARCO LIKE THIS AND YOU DESERVE SOME STRAIGHT ANSWERS FOR ONCE! *pants for a few seconds to compose myself*

Brittney’s Party, part 1, Star the Monster Princess

Hippie’s very passionate about his work, and I respect him for that.

Angry fan rants aside, Hippie does his best to develop Starco without compromising what makes it one of the best couples I’ve ever seen in fiction. I honestly think that he succeeds in doing so, and in less time than the show takes. Props to you, Hippie!

Like in the show, in Monster Princess, Star and Marco’s relationship is incredibly strong. The two become the most important people in each other’s lives, and try to support each other as best as possible. As I said before, Marco becomes the emotional support Star needed; meanwhile, Star becomes Marco’s motivation to improve himself. The two are so close that almost everyone realizes they’ve fallen for each other before they do.

Laying the Foundations

In the story, Hippie drops hints early on that Star’s fallen for Marco earlier than in the show. The biggest hint has to be during the whole “Mewberty” thing. The last thing she thinks of before sucumbing to her Mewberty form was the thought of a shirtless, toned Marco offering to protect her. Also, she eventually goes after Marco and him alone, something she doesn’t do in the show. Star does eventually realize that she’s fallen for Marco, which worries her even more than it does in the show.

Like in the show, Star tries to keep her crush a secret at first. However, it’s not just because Marco likes Jackie, but something more troubling. The combination of a lack of confidence in her appearance, cruel rejection by past crushes, and the few relationships she has had ending poorly, took their toll on Star. Simply put, she doesn’t see herself as someone people would find attractive. Again, this is despite most guys her age on Earth considering her pretty cute.

Star and Marco’s relationship is as complicated in Monster Princess as it was for them in the show. However, I think that helps makes the hurdles they face even sweeter to look at in the end. While I won’t say how Hippie resolves this, I will say that the payoff is more than worth it, and as sweet as it is in the show. Also, he does resolve it sooner than the show did, so I have to give Hippie points for that.

That’s All for Now

I think I’ve bent people’s ears enough, already. Next up I will looking at all the secondary characters in the Monster Love series, both from the show and original characters.

And click here to go to Hippie’s Page on Fanfiction.net. From there, you can find all his stories in the Monster Love series.

Click here to see my other animation stuff.

Monster Love Character Analysis, Part 1- A Tale of Moon and Monsters

Hey folks, Jay here with a very special post. Remember a few months back when I did that week about Star vs. fanfiction? I ended up doing another post for another writing, TheWanderingHippie, and his Monster Love series. At the time, I thought I did a good job. However, in hindsight, I don’t feel as satisfied with what I wrote. Hippie’s stories are simply too good to not talk about, like A Tale of Moon and Monsters.

Hippie’s Monster Love series is very well written, and I can tell how much he likes the show by his dedication to it. He goes all-our with his writing, from world-building to defining the characters. I’ve been rereading his stories a lot, and I’ve made a habit of analyzing how he portrays some key characters. I find it fun comparing and contrasting how he writes characters compared to their canon counterparts. As a result, I decided to share my thoughts on his take on the show’s cast.

After I started writing this, however, I realized that it’s too big for a single post. So, I’m splitting it up into separate posts for readability. In this first post, I talk about the two main characters from Hippie’s first story, A Tale of Moon and Monsters.

Main Characters

Moon Butterfly

Future Queen of Mewni and Star’s mother, Hippie introduces us to Moon when she’s at Star’s age. However, apart from the flashback episode and the few books on the series, we know little about what Moon’s like at her daughter’s age. As a result, Hippie builds her personality from the ground up, and it, ironically, has a lot in common with Star.

Like Star in the canon, Hippie’s version of Moon’s compassionate, quick to make friends, and has a very strong moral compass. Additionally, she can sometimes be as reckless as Star, but this gets downplayed thanks to her sense of responsiblity.

The main difference is that, unlike in the show, this Moon never develops her hatred of Monsters; she actually befriends not only them, but many of her countries races. It’s these friendships that lead her to recognize how wrong things are with Mewni. In turn, this leads her to rebel against the dark group that controls her country.

Rebel Leader

When Moon finally flees the Shadow Clause’s influence, she doesn’t do it just so she can be with Toffee. She understands that she has to help all of her people because no one else will. Hippie makes it clear that this isn’t naive idealism, though. Moon fully understands that she must be willing to fight and kill to change Mewni for the better. Her resolve’s strong enough to help her accept that she may have to fight and kill her own mother.

Moon ultimately embraces her role as a literal rebel princess, and becomes the leader that Mewni truly needs. The resulting civil war claims the lives of many of her friends and family, but she refuses to let loss darken her ideals. In other words, she lives up to her epithet of “Moon the Undaunted”.

Queen, Wife, and Mother

As an adult, Moon’s basically the same as Hippie wrote her as a teenager, only more mature. She’s proven to be a very capable ruler, introducing many reforms to help her people and the rights of Monsters. The big difference is that she’s nowhere near as uptight as she is in the show, and this makes her way more likable in my opinion. She keeps her free-spirited nature, and when she’s not ruling, she’s either cooking, hanging with friends, or having romantic time with Toffee. I like her better this way.

As a result, her relationship with her daughter is a lot closer than it can be in the show. Moon’s more than willing to be openly affectionate with Star, and does everything she can to keep her happy and safe. In fact, the whole reason she sends Star to Earth in this version is so she can train without fearing for the anti-Monster prejudice still found in Mewni. In other words, she’s a way better mother than in the show.

As a bonus, she also ships Star and Marco early on, as she sees how happy hanging out with Marco makes her.

Toffee of Septarsis

This is the character that I had the hardest coming to terms with being a good guy. Yet Hippie somehow manages to take the best villain on the show and make him into a likable guy for his Monster Love series. At the same time, he keeps what makes him Toffee visible and active.

It doesn’t start out that way, though. Having made a good impression on Moon’s father, Toffee gets himself assigned as her tutor with less than ideal intentions. In other words, he’s trying to use his position to make her pro-Monster for his own survival. We’re well aware that’s an underhanded move. He even openly admits later in life that what he did made him “a douche.”

Fortunately, he grows to genuinely care for Moon and becomes her friend. Her influence leads him to open up to others, and he slowly grows to embrace the new emotions that he’s feeling. Without meaning to, he falls in love with Moon and ends up confessing to her. This fateful decision leads to a war that changes Mewni forever.

Rebel Leader

Knowing that he’ll be killed for falling in love with the Princess, Toffee flees into exile. He never expected Moon to follow him, much less return his feelings, but he’s happy nonetheless. When Moon begins her rebellion, Toffee throws his full support behind his new girlfriend, fighting so for a Mewni where everyone can live in peace.

Once the civil war begins, we see Toffee as we know him from the show: as a skilled strategist and tactician who’s able to help the rebellion fight against overwhelming odds. Thankfully, he’s doing it less for himself, and more to protect Moon and his new friends. By the end of Moon and Monsters, he’s essentially the logic and brains behind Moon’s heart, helping them to win the war.

Husband and Father

By the time of Star the Monster Princess, Toffee’s ruling Mewni alongside Moon as her husband, king, and equal. While he can still seem cold at times, Hippie makes it clear he’s merely being stern rather than cold-blooded. He’s learned to fully embrace the emotions his friends and family make him feel, and enjoys spending time with them.

As her father, Toffee thinks the world of Star, and their relationship is extremely close. He makes it clear that if anyone tries to hurt his little “MonStar”, he’ll kill them. At the same time, he knows he won’t always be there to protect her, and that she needs to make her own life choices. So, he averts the “overprotective dad” trope.

In addition, Toffee develops a unique relationship with Marco. Early on, he makes it clear that he’s putting a lot of faith in Marco’s ability to be Star’s friend, and can be very harsh on Marco when he messes up. However, Toffee only does it because he’s aware of how important Marco is to Star, and that he wants him to be the kind of person who can help her when she needs it. It’s clear they both have a mutual respect for each other, and the two have a mentor-student relationship going.

End of Part 1

With Moon and Monsters done, next we head on to the ongoing sequel, Star the Monster Princess. If you haven’t gotten the chance to do, I recommend you read Hippie’s stories. They’re really good, and he’s got some great taste in music.

And click here to go to Hippie’s Page on Fanfiction.net. From there, you can find all his stories in the Monster Love series.

Click here to see my other animation stuff.

My Plans for December 2019

Thanksgiving Day’s behind us and we survived Black Friday; and I hope the Force was with you if you went shopping. Now the holiday season’s here, and if you’ve followed RJ-Writing Ink since last year, you’ll remember what I did. I watched a holiday special a day, then reviewed it here. Now I’m here to say that I won’t be doing that again this year.

There are multiple reasons behind this. Firstly, trying to write a special a day got hectic for me. I still had to do my other posts, and it got a little difficult. Secondly, there are a few things that I want to focus on for this December. Thus, here are my plans for December 2019. I think you’ll find them taking you to a galaxy far, far away.

Star Wars Hype Build-Up

I don’t get as much of a chance to write about it here, but I’m a huge fan of Star Wars. I enjoy everything from the movies to the books, games, and lore. Despite my love of the franchise, I’ve been a skeptic about the sequel films since they started. However, I refuse to let my optimism be diminished. As such, I aim to make sure the Force is with me for December.

All throughout December, I’m going to be writing about all things Star Wars. There’s no set theme for this, as it can be about anything from the franchise. Some ideas I do have, though, include:

• Favorite Moments in Star Wars
• A look at the philosophies of the Jedi and Sith (and their flaws)
• Characters in Star Wars I’m a fan of
• Good things about the Star Wars prequels
• My biggest problems with the Star Wars sequels

All of this will lead up to my review of Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. May the Force be with us this December.

A Look Back on 2019

If you’ll recall, I wrote a post at the end of last year calling 2019 “The Year of Endings.” The rationale being that this year saw the end of a lot things in pop culture. With the year coming to a close, I want to look on some of the things that came to an end this year. I’m not sure if this will be one post or a series of posts, but I can tell you that I plan to have it up between Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

To clarify, most of what I’ll be writing about will be things I’ve already written on RJ-Writing Ink.

A Look Back on the 2010s

For better or for worse, the 2010s were an eventful decade for humanity. From world-changing historic events to the rise of cultural icons, the 2010s were big. Thus, with the decade coming to a close, I felt it’s appropriate to look back on the big highlights.

Expanding on my look back on 2019, I’ll be writing on a number of topics. I already have some ideas in place:

• Biggest Global Events of the 2010s
• Best Movies of the 2010s
• Biggest moments for pop culture in the 2010s
• Best TV shows
• Best animated TV shows

There’s no set timetable for this, though. All I know is that I’ll be posting it throughout December.

Some Holiday Specials

Alright, I know I said that I wouldn’t be focusing on holiday specials this year. However, if I see a special or movie that I like, then I want to write about it. Don’t expect it to take up much of my blog, though.

May the Force Be With Us

Well, that’s everything that I wanted to say. In between all this, I’ll be doing posts on my regularly scheduled topics. May the Force be with you!

Click here for some of my Star Wars stuff.

Come here to see some of my Animanga stuff.

Click here to see my other animation stuff.