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If you were ever a child (especially a girl) in the US, you likely know who Raggedy Ann and Andy are. These famous American ragdolls were created in the early 1900s and continue to florish in the world of children today (and even in some adults). And while some may be vaguely aware of a television series in the late '80s, fewer may be aware of a feature length film, released in 1977. I myself didn't even know about it until I bought my Raggedy Andy cel and did some research on Google for episode info.
First of all, I absolutely loved this movie. I regret very much that it missed me by a few years, and if I did see it as a kid, it was so infrequent, or once, that I don't even remember. But it's also almost like watching somebody's private drug trip - and maybe I was better off ;)
Raggedy Ann and Andy live in the playroom of 7-year-old Marcella, and for her birthday the little girl receives a French imported doll named Babette. Though beautiful, she's quite spoiled and bratty and doesn't want to live life in "such a horrible place." Ann, being incredibly sweet, makes an effort to be friends and introduces her to everyone.
I should mention that this movie is also a musical, the songs composed by Sesame Street great Joe Raposo. Even if they may seem randomly placed sometimes, they're incredibly catchy and difficult to dislike, particularly "Candy Hearts and Paper Flowers" (one of the most precious things I've ever heard). And you may or may not notice, but Ann's voice is provided by Didi Conn of Grease fame (aka Frenchie). A little raspy, but it's suiting. Andy's voice is my favorite - very friendly and soothing, something you could easily fall asleep listening to. Wonderful singing talent, too!
Well, anyway, Babette gets kidnapped by a perverted pirate (simply referred to as "Captain") who was trapped in a snow globe until he conned the other toys into helping him escape his glassy prison. Feeling sorry for the new doll and wanting to get Marcella's present back before she notices, Ann and Andy leave the safety of the nursery to rescue the beauty. And yes, they are indeed brother and sister, even though their behavior doesn't really spell that out (though they mention it a few times). In fact, I've come across many people who assume Andy is her boyfriend! But let's move on...
Shortly after walking through the dark woods, they run into a patched up, lumpy camel whose been alone for so long he hallucinates that he has a family of camels living up in the sky. No joke. LOOK AT HIS EYES! I think our friend here has been into Marcella's scented markers! Together, these three continue on in the mission, only to run into more oddball creatures, like a living mound of taffy, and a short king who gets bigger when making fun of people. It's incredibly bizarre, these creations, and I don't doubt you'll raise an eyebrow when they come on screen. Don't even get me started on the other playthings in Marcella's collection! You'll just have to watch and see for yourself.
But if you enjoy creative, adorable movies (for children or not) I recommend you check it out. Unfortunately, it's not available on DVD and the VHS went out of print years ago (and it's not very cheap to get if you're able to find it). Your best bet is to check it out on Youtube.
Watch it on Youtube
If you know your animation history, you know Betty Boop. The young girl with a squeaky voice in a skirt too short to be very comfortable. She appeared in animated shorts from the early to late 1930s, was loved by many, and can still be found in some places today (she has a rather large group of collectors to back up that claim). If you haven't heard of her, maybe it's time to educate yourself. I myself am not a fan, but as I am a fan of animation, I find her interesting!Official Site Online store and forum to get in touch with Betty fansBetty Boop Toons Watch "the most comprehensive collection of original Betty Boop cartoons that can be found on the internet"Wikipedia Entry
In this final volume, it's a showdown of epic proportions. On her way to give Zero back his stolen magical powers, Nina runs across the Queen portrait, who talks to her and tries to convince the confused girl to give HER the power instead. But if Queen is to be freed, so is Joker (the one responsible for destroying Queen and King's home), and this is definitely not something anyone (save for a traitor among King's clan) expected. And when Zero is mortally wounded and helpless from his lack of magical skill, things get worse. Nina certainly can't handle losing somebody she may just love above anyone!
The Shinsengumi welcomes a new member to their group - master swordsman Ito Kashitaro. Despite the fact that he is very good at bringing positive energy to the troups (via flattery!), he gives the higher-ups (including Sei) the absolute willies (in fact, every time he shows up they get goosebumps and run away). Not only is he very feminine and overly dramatic, the man also enjoys hitting on people - including Sei. This spells bad news for her secret, especially since she's been assigned to share a room with him! But at least Todo is back!Didn't really get worked up for this volume. If my Japanese history was better I'd probably be more interested, but as it is, I'm treating it as a "filler" volume (like you can really have one with this series XD).
Douglas Yancy Funnie has no incredibly special qualities. He's not half-ghost. He doesn't have a pair of wacky fairy godparents (though he does have a dog who thinks he's practically human) at his beck and call. He doesn't live under the sea. He's just a normal 12-year-old boy going through normal, REAL things and writing (or drawing) about it in his journal. From adjusting to a new environment, to getting your crush to notice you, to working through low self-esteem, this middle-schooler charmed his way through every episode dealing with these issues with silent wisdom. Doug was Nickelodeon's very first Nicktoon (and you may be interested to know that his voice is provided by Billy West of Futurama fame), so if you're only familiar with what the channel is today, perhaps you should step back in time for awhile and see what you missed. It's very cute and fun, and you can't leave feeling anything but good, no matter your mood when you started. But if you're looking for outrageous situations and computer slick animation, look elsewhere.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f313/moonswing/doug1.jpg <- Main menu http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f313/moonswing/doug2.jpg <- Episode selection http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f313/moonswing/doug3.jpg <- Video sample Many people are curious about how Nickelodeon has handled their shows via "DVD On Demand," so I'll tell you about quality. It's very good - doesn't really look at all like a "legal bootleg" (as some have called them). The casing and DVD covers are nice. Audio and video are excellent and worked fine on my DVD player and computer. I don't have a fancy stereo setup so I can't tell you about how it would work there, it's probably "mono." However, the menus are plain and to the point, with absolutely NO extras (cast interviews, TV commercials, etc.) - so don't expect them when you buy.So, despite the rather unreasonable price, it's worth the purchase if you're a fan. You're showing support and telling Nickelodeon you want them to release the last few seasons. So get to it! BUY IT HERE at Amazon
New cel added to Cels of Sugar - Raggedy Andy from the TV show The Adventures of Raggedy Ann and Andy. The episode is Pirate Adventure, cel is labled A2.
SEE IT HERE
Set to be released on November 4th, and the special's very first DVD release. Hopefully Kermit's Santa scenes will remain intact, with no edits present.
BUY IT HERE at Amazon
