Anime Length

I'm no expert on anime, but in a way, I suppose we all were at point in our lives, because as kids, we watched cartoons that were really anime.  We just didn't know at the time that they were dubbed (unless of course you were really smart).  I remember as a child thinking the U.S. was the best because they created all the shows I watched; then I realized that Japan created them.  I wasn't disappointed, just surprised that one place could create so many shows I loved like Pokémon, Digimon, Yu-Gi-Oh, etc.  My love of those shows still carries over to now, but now that I'm older, I don't watch as much anime anymore.  Now, I just watch cartoons or regular sitcoms.

That got me to a conversation I had with one of my friend's recently.  He's big into anime, but doesn't watch any series that are very long, which makes sense in theory, but if that was the case, he would miss out on classic shows like Dragonball Z, Gundam Wing, Naruto, Pokémon, etc.  I understand the rationale behind it, since people rarely have time to do things, but what do you think about that?  Do you think animes are too long, and if you had had a choice, would you have wanted a show from our childhood to be shorter?

TV Shows I Wish Were On DVD

Recently, I found out that Bill Nye the Science Guy is coming to my graduation as one of the commencement speakers.  I wasn't planning on going since technically, I'm just walking, not graduating, and I start summer classes the next day, but it's pretty cool that someone I idolized and watched is coming to my school.  With that news, I've been checking out clips of his show, and other shows from my childhood on Youtube.  And I came away with the realization that a lot of the shows I like, besides being mostly cartoons, aren't out on DVD.  I understand why that is with copyright issues, and fear of low sales, but I still wish it was out, just so I could own it.  I know with Netflix and downloading, no one wants to buy stuff anymore, but as I always say, if you love something, you're willing to use money on it, and I love films and TV shows.  So without further ado, here's an alphabetical list of shows I love that aren't out on DVD, that I wish were.

(P.S, some are out, but the collection stinks, so I'm not counting them).  Here's the short list so far...

• Arthur
• Bill Nye the Science Guy
• City Guys
• Jackie Chan Adventures
• Monster Rancher 
• Mucha Lucha
• The New Adventures of Winnie The Pooh
• Recess   
• Static Shock
• Xiaolin Showdown

I'm Livin' For The Weekend: My Top 20 Weekenders Episodes

After many months waiting, I have finally finished the list that everyone has been waiting for: My Top 20 Weekenders Episode.  This seems like an odd list that would be what everyone has been waiting for, since you think they'd want something film or sports related, but I've looked at my statistics, and they show that people like my TV show posts and The Weekenders.  Mix them both together and you got my list.

For those of you who don't know what The Weekenders was/is, it was a TV show that aired on ABC in 1999, during the One Saturday Morning block.  The plot of the show revolved around 4 kids, Tino, Lor, Carver, and Tish as they got through their everyday lives with real word issues.  But the show had a few trademarks that made it distinct, such as only having things happen during the weekend, and having everyone wear different clothes.  Along with that, they also had numerous running gags, such as the local pizza joint changing every episode, Tino's mom's cooking, and everyone misunderstanding Tish's mother.  It was a great show, and while it was on, it was one of my favorites.  That's why when I finally got the DVDs, I was so excited to re-watch it and experience the memories.  It took a long time to do it, but now that I've had the free time to watch every episode and compile it, here's my finalized list.

20. Throwing Carver: Tish takes an art class at the museum, and makes her first masterpiece, a statue of Carver.  The only problem is that it's hideous, and the guys (especially Carver) don't know how to tell her.  This episode was great because it tackled the real life issue of how to tell someone something hurtful.  Although, I wish real life was as funny as this episode.  

19. Shoes Of Destiny:  Carver gets new shoes and is accepted by "The Cool Kids".  Now that he's cool though, he can't hang with his old friends anymore and has a tough decision to make.  This episode is here because I can relate to it in so many ways with my struggle to get cool shoes growing up.  I never really did to be honest, but luckily, people in college don't care.

18. Super Kids: After a seminar by a snotty, successful kid named Trip Nickerson, the gang decides they aren't doing anything with their lives and decide to try different things.  I remember this episode solely for how annoying Trip was yelling all the time, but I felt for him too since he was lonely.  The guys way of taking him out in the end was a sweet moment in this episode.

17. To Each His Own: Everyone in the group wants to go to different events that cater to their social interests, but no one is interested in what the other wants to do.  This episode screams real life since I think people are always put in situations where they do things they don't want to do.  I don't remember much humor in this episode, but I thought it was cool we got to see every person's individual interest.

16. Dead Ringer: Everyone has to sign up for a sport, but Tino's usual choice, chess, isn't there anymore, leaving him helpless until he discovers horseshoes.  Too bad it embarrasses him though.  This is another episode I could relate to because I stunk at sports back then, and I still do now.  I don't even think I'd be good at horseshoes, but I'd love to try.

15. Home@Work: Lor fails another exam, and has to pass her next one or else her dad is sending her off to military school.  Can the guys help?  I think this episode is hilarious because of how everyone tries to help Lor.  And who can forget Tish's annoying scream, along with the fact that video games save the day yet again.

14. Pudding Ball: The guys compete in the annual Pudding Ball competition, except it's Tino and Tish vs.Carver and Lor.  Personally, the plot of this episode is one of the simplest in the series, but I just love the whole competition aspect of it, and the fact that it reminded me of laser tag as a child. 

13. Murph: After one kid doesn't like Tino, he fears other kids don't like him, but it's only this one kid Murph, which Tino can't understand.  Because of this, he tries to do anything to gain his approval, which leads to hilarious and truthful results.  This episode speaks to the real life truth that no matter what you do, even if you're not bad, someone will dislike you.  Although, painting their house would be a good way to start changing that.

12. Best: Tino doesn't win a "Best" superlative in the yearbook, including "Best Tino", so he and the guys try to find something he's the best at.  I think this episode speaks to something everyone has wanted since childhood, just to be good at something.  And when you look at it that way, this episode is sweet.  Also, how could Tino not win "Best Tino"?  He's the best!

11. The Awful Weekend: We start off with the guys messy, injured, tired, etc, yet they can't stop laughing.  Why is that the case?  And how did they get to where they are?  This episode is fantastic to me because it shows how even when life sucks, as long as you have laughter or your friends, you can get through anything. 

10. Taking Sides: Carver costs Tino and him the pool championship by showboating, leading to a fight between them, and a rift between Lor and Tish as they must decide who was right.  I think the life lesson here is obvious, DON'T SHOWBOAT!  But it's hilarious to see Tino and Carver fight, along with Lor and Tish.

9. Tickets: Tino wins tickets to Chumbucket after being the 1,000,001 customer to order from the snack shack, but he can only take one friend, leading to hilarious competition between everyone, agonizing decision making for Tino, and one of my favorite endings of the whole series.  Everything is better when you spend it with friends.  And always read the fine print!  After playing so much Yu-Gi-Oh, I think truer words were never spoken.

8. Lone Wolves Club: Tino is invited to the exclusive and highly desired Lone Wolves Club, but the only way he can be a member is to do embarrassing things and leave his friends.  He's okay with doing one of the options, but obviously not the other, leading both parties to question what's right.  This episode is really funny because of all the nonsense Tino does, but I think it's high on my list because of the deepness of it.  Tino has to decide if he should ditch his friends, and when they find out, they have to realize if it's the best thing for him to leave. 

7. Vengeance: Carver is humiliated by this girl named Christy, so for the whole episode he tries to get revenge on her, which he eventually does, but he's too nice a guy to really do anything mean.  I loved the ending of this episode since it showed how much of a better person Carver and real people can be when they walk away from a situation.  Plus, after seeing him yell "CURSE YOU", that's what I do all the time now.

6. Secret Admirer: Someone has the hots for Carver, and it's driving him crazy trying to figure out who it is, but after he realizes who it is, he's not so happy anymore.  This is a sweet episode in the series because it's about love, which I always like.  While, it of course has humor because it's an animated TV series, it's serious in handling issues such as being shallow.  I do love how in this episode though, we find out Carver's head is pineapple shaped while Tino's is pumpkin shaped.

5. Nevermore: Halloween is here, which Tino is excited for, but the rest of the guys feel too grown up for it.  Will Tino spend his holiday alone, or does he have a plan up his sleeve to show his friends the true meaning of Halloween?  Out of all the episodes of The Weekenders, this one may be the most memorable because of the setting, which was a spooky living room, and all the lines and jokes in this episode, such as "Creepington, and "I'm Living' For The Weekend".  Who could also forget Tino's threats to his friends or his passionate speech?  Watching this episode, I was reminded of my own Halloween experiences, which were disasters. This also spoke to me of "It's A Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown", which is the highest compliment I can give anything.

4. Tino's Dad: The final episode of the series, and it's a memorable one to say the least.  Tino see's his dad for the first time since the divorce, which he's worried about, but it all turns out fine.  After the initial dust has cleared though, he realizes he has no time to spend with him.  Usually last episodes are the first on my rankings, but not this time.  I enjoy the episode since it truly shows the power of a father-son relationship, as well as friendship, but there were just a few episodes I enjoyed more.

3. Real Fake: The guys are videotaped by a student who tells them to be themselves.  By real, the guys think they have to be the people from their favorite TV show Teen Canyon, leading to hilarious and questionable behavior from our protagonists.  With the whole reality world craze we're in presently in, I thought this episode was perfect with the acting from all the characters and humor.  I just wish real reality shows had heart like this episode did.

2. Makeover: After Lor receives interest from Thompson, she catches the eye of two conceited girls who want to change her to look like a supermodel and get Thompson for good.  Luckily, in the end, Lor gets Thompson's attention, and does it by being her beautiful self.  I believe this episode is ranked number 2 for me because a guy or girl can relate to it.  We all have self esteem issues, but if you're a good person, then your beauty will show.  It also shows that you should never change who you are for someone else.

1. Worst Holiday Ever: The gang spends their December holiday together with Lor's granny, only to get stuck in the RV during a snowstorm.  It ruins their weekend plans, but they keep each other company by telling their worst holiday experiences, which were all diverse and different.  This is my number 1 episode because I love the plot of the episode, the overexaggerated humor, the ending, and being stuck talking with my friends over the holidays is something I always wish could happen.

All I can say after this is "Later Days"!  I hope you all enjoyed the post.

The End Of Summer

Summer isn't officially over for another month, but it feels over to me because I start school soon.  I'm sad summer is basically over, but I'm glad things can progress with my life since being at home can be a drag sometimes (even though I enjoy it mostly).  If I had to reflect back on my summer, I think it's been pretty successful considering how I felt when school ended in May.  I felt good that I did well in all my classes, but was saddened that a good majority of my friends were leaving to begin their lives in new places.  And to make things worst, I didn't even write much.  Luckily, I was able to blog a lot, be with family, and I met someone unexpected who has impacted my life for the better; she's amazing!!!  I may not have accomplished all my goals for the summer, but overall, I did everything I wanted and felt good about myself.

To celebrate the end of the summer, I thought it fitting to post this Arthur episode where he goes crazy that he lost the list of things he wanted to do before the summer ended.  He thinks he wasted his whole summer until he realizes he didn't and appreciates the summer after all.  Hope you all enjoy!

Jackie Chan Adventures: My Top 12 Talismans

Recently, I've been getting back into the show Jackie Chan Adventures, the cartoon about a fictional Jackie Chan, who is an archaeologist that saves the world from evil villains.  Looking back, the show was pretty ridiculous with what it had Jackie do, like fight with fish, or on pyramids, but the show's concept was cool.  And all the stunts they had Jackie do were borrowed from his film career, which is something I didn't figure out till recently.  I'm only on season 2 of series, which is with the demon portals, but I did watch all of season 1, with the talismans, which are stone objects that have powers based on each Chinese Zodiac animal. They're all pretty powerful, but here's my top 12...

12. Tiger (Power Of Balance): As cool as it would be having two of myself, I'd hate my good and evil half being split up since that would weaken me, so that's a no.

11. Pig (Laser/Heat Beam-Eye Blasts): I like firepower as much as the next person, but if I want that, I can just use the Dragon Talisman.  Plus, having this talisman would mess up my glasses.

10. Sheep (Astral Projection): One of the most useless talismans in the series that it was sparingly used.  The only reason it's not last is because I'm a sheep myself, and astral projection isn't that bad.  I could float through the astral plain, and visit my friend's in their dreams.

9. Monkey (Animal Shape-shifting): I like this power, but it seems utterly useless besides for humor and enjoyment. 

8. Dragon (Power Of Combustion/Pyrokinesis): Shooting fire from my hands isn't anything special, but it's better than the Pig Talisman, and more convenient.

7. Snake (Invisibility): Being invisible would be cool, and I could get away with a lot, but eventually, I'd just want to be seen.
 
6. Rabbit (Super Speed): Speed is a bit overrated, but I still like this talisman, and the thought of being faster than anybody in the world.  Looks like instead of Superman vs. The Flash, it should be me instead.
 
5. Horse (Healing): I love the concept of the horse being the healing talisman (despite not fully understanding why it does that).  The only problem, like some talismans, is that it's only necessary in certain situations.  It is cool thinking of never being hurt though.  Wish I had that when I lost my fingertip.

4. Ox (Super Strength/Durability):  Need I say more?  Super strength would be great, and it would help me out at the gym, no problem.

3. Rat (Power Of Animation): The Rat talisman is so high because it would fulfill every childhood kid's dream of playing with their toys, and help me whenever I feel lonely.

2. Dog (Immortality): Living forever and being young at the same time definitely has it's perks (Look at Vegeta from Dragon Ball Z), but it would suck to live so long and see those I love pass before my eyes, so that's the negative of this talisman.

1. Rooster (Levitation/Telekinesis): This takes the top spot because I've always wanted to fly more than anything in the world.  Not just for the exhilarating feeling I would have, but because of how convenient it would be too.  I'd never have to do anything for myself; I could just use my mind.

Anime Dubbing

Out of all of my friends, I'm probably the only one that doesn't read manga or watch much anime.  Although, in terms of anime, I've watched my fair share from Full Metal Alchemist to Inuyasha.  Then there are the shows from my childhood, like Pokemon, Digimon, and Dragon Ball Z.  I realize now they are anime, but as a child, I thought they were cartoons made in America because I thought all cartoons were American.  Boy was I wrong.  One thing I always hear people complain about, when it comes to anime, is when they're dubbed since usually the dub is terrible, and not authentic because of editing.  And while that may be true for the most part, I'll always believe that anime dubbing isn't nearly as bad as everyone makes it out to be.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying anime dubs are better than originals because almost 100% of the time they're not.  I'm just saying, they aren't that bad.  A good recent example for me is with Dragon Ball Z.  I bought the first two seasons of it on DVD and have been watching them non-stop in English.  I know some of you are rolling your eyes at me because the dub messes up the voices, but watching anime in English is how I and so many other children growing up watched them.  Maybe it isn't authentic, but it's comfortable to me, and reminds me of my childhood, so I wish people would stop bashing it.  Yes, most anime dubs are bad, but there are good ones like Cowboy Bebop, so please just stop generalizing. 

The Weather and the Shows That Go With It

With the heat in Boston yesterday, and what what's coming up this weekend, I can honestly say I'm not looking forward to going outside (even though I know that will most likely happen).  I'll trek though that when it comes, but in the meantime, here are some episodes of shows I like that have to do with the heat.  It won't take away the heat, but it will hopefully take your mind off it.

An episode of Arthur called The Blackout!

A Recess episode called The Coolest Heatwave Ever

Dragon Ball Z

I just bought the first two seasons of Dragon Ball Z yesterday off Amazon because recently, I have been getting into the show.  Most people I know watched the show as kids, but that wasn't the case for me because my family, of course, didn't have cable.  Because that was the case, I was never able to watch Dragon Ball Z, but despite that, I knew who Goku, Gohan, Piccolo, etc were.  I always felt so out of group circle's not being able to talk about Dragon Ball Z like my friends, but that will never be the case anymore because now that I've made the purchases, I'm finally part of the group.  Yes, I'm far behind, but I can't wait to catch up!

Yu-Gi-Oh

I've been on break from blogging the past few days because of school and other engagements, but now cause it's Saturday, I'm back, and ready to talk about what I love talking about most on this day, cartoons.

The cartoon on my mind today is Yu-Gi-Oh, which I think needs no introduction to viewers of the show and to duelists.  It's on my mind today because lately, I've been getting back into the card game and re-watching the show.  It doesn't have have the same grip on me it did when I was a child, obviously, but looking back, it was great!  The bad-ass cards, the over-seriousness, the long duels, what wasn't to love?  Back then, I'd watch and record Yu-Gi-Oh on Saturdays, then go to school and talk about it with my friends.  If I was really lucky, I'd even have money from allowance or something, and buy booster packs from the local store.  Such a long time ago, but simpler times.

I'm not saying Yu-Gi-Oh was the greatest show on Saturdays, because I don't think it was (especially with others shows I love like Digimon, Recess, Weekenders), but but it was a show that had everything I was looking for at the time, which is something that isn't possible with new cartoons anymore.  Old Saturdays are gone, but we'll always have the memories and cards in this case.

Static Shock: My Top 10 Episodes

Usually when you ask someone who their favorite superhero is, they respond with Batman, Superman, Spiderman, Iron Man, Flash, etc, but when you ask me who my favorite superhero is, I say without hesitation Static from the show Static Shock.  He was great not just because he was a teenage superhero, but because children of all races/ethnicities could look up to him, and claim him as a superhero of their era.  It's rare to see a show aimed at children made with such quality and thought, but Static Shock was with it's array of issues, animation, and plot. 

Static Shock was a show that aired on WB in 2000 about a kid named Virgil, who one day, is caught in this gas explosion known as the Big Bang.  He doesn't think much of what happens, until he wakes up one morning and realizes he has static electric powers.  Using his powers for good, he teams up with his friend Richie to become superheros and save his city Dakota from Bang Babies/Meta-Humans (people exposed to the gas who want to use their powers for evil), all while trying to live life as a teenager.

Now that I've said that, my top 10 Static Shock episodes...

10. Power Play: Richie meets an old man named Ragtag, who has the ability to give people powers.  Richie receives powers from him, and becomes a new superhero named Push, but his powers are temporary.  The only way to get more: commit crimes on Ragtag's behalf.  I like this episode because it's early in the series, so we still see growth in the characters, and it's the first time Richie gets powers, which I thought was pretty cool.

9. Blast From The Past: Static teams up with an old superhero from the 60s named Soul Power to take down an old nemesis, but their age difference makes it hard for them to work together. This episode is here because of it's humor, campy style, and the fact it reminded me of the Batman series and movie from the 60s.

8. Sons Of The Fathers: Richie invites Virgil to stay at his house, but his father comes home, and turns out to be a racist bigot, causing Virgil to leave.  Richie leaves the house in anger, only to be kidnapped by Bang Babies.  I like this episode because it addresses racism, which is always a strong issue, and it shows father-son relationships, and how difficult they really are.

7. Replay: A Bang Baby named Replay appears and can duplicate himself at the snap of his fingers.  After a scuffle with Static, he makes a duplicate of him, and has the evil Static do his bidding for him, ruining the real Static's reputation.  This episode is cool because I like the good vs. evil plot angle, Virgil and Richie's dialogue, and the fact Neil Patrick Harris plays the villain.

6. Shock To The System: The first episode of the series and the one that started it all.  It's here because it give us background on Virgil/Static, and it has some memorable moments like when Richie helps Static pick out an outfit.  Hilarious!

5. Frozen Out: It's Christmas time, and a young Bang Baby named Permafrost comes to Dakota freezing things uncontrollably.  Static tries to stop her, but then learns about who she is, which causes him to offer his help.  This is a standout episode because of how touching it is with the flashback scenes, and it tackles real issues like homelessness.  It's one of the times Static is a superhero without having to use any powers.

4. Attack Of The Living Brain Puppets: Richie is running in the student election.  His opponent, a student named Madeline Spaulding, who uses her Bang Baby powers to turn everyone into zombies and have her way.  I love this episode because of the hilarity of it, and the fact it tackled zombies before they blew up everywhere.

3. Future Shock: After helping Batman and Robin with a job, Static is sent 40 years into the future, teaming up with the new Batman, Terry McGinnis.  If I have to explain why this episode is bad ass, then there's something wrong with you guys.  Static Shock meets Batman Beyond, enough said!

2. Jimmy: A teenager named Jimmy brings a gun to school to protect himself from bullies, but he shoots Richie in the leg, causing Virgil to feel guilty.  This episode is strong because of it's structure.  It tackles different issues like gun control and bullying, and shows us a side of Virgil we don't see often which is touching.

1. Flashback: It's been five years since Virgil's mother died.  He wants to see her again, but can't, until a new Bang Baby named Time Zone comes and takes him back in time.  Only problem, they have a fight with Ebon that transfers them all back in time.  I think of this as my top Static Shock episode because of the theme of love in it, plain and simple.  It's the episode where I think we see Static at his most vulnerable, and one where he has to make the toughest decision of his life.  I usually like time travel stuff in shows, so this one is definitely number 1.

My Top Magic School Bus Kids and Episodes

PBS was a big part of my childhood growing up since my family didn't, and still doesn't have cable.  Because of that, I watched PBS nonstop as a kid, watching shows like Arthur, Wishbone, Bill Nye the Science Guy, Zoom, Sesame Street, Mister Rogers, etc.  Besides Arthur, my go to show was The Magic School Bus because it was funny, and the class had a diverse cast.  I knew it was educational, but I didn't appreciate that fact back then like I do now.  Now that I do though, I realize it's one of the best educational shows of all time, and one you don't have to "force" people to watch as my friends say.

For those who don't know, The Magic School Bus series was about a group of students and their teacher who go on crazy field trips on their bus.  Each field trip had to do with a scientific topic like erosion or the solar system.

Since I've explained everything enough, it seems, it's time to delve into this list.

Top Magic School Bus Kids

8. Phoebe- Phoebe is last because all she contributed to the show was her catchphrase "At my old school...", like we care what she did at her old school.  Her routine got so tiring fast.  Plus, she was too much of a tree hugger for my taste, and never in many good episodes.

7. Keesha- Keesha is like Phoebe, except she contributed something to the show, and is a good foil for Ralphie.  She's levelheaded which I like, but she argues a lot too, which can be annoying if you're trying to have fun on a field trip.  I understand Arnold does the same thing too, but he doesn't have an attitude like Keesha does.

6. Tim- Tim is here because he's here.  He's nice, quiet, and occasionally does something relevant, but he never did enough for me to boost him up.  You can tell he's a solid character guy though, which is always a plus.

5. Wanda- Wanda is fifth because she represents two sides of a person.  One side of her is the pushy side that tells everyone to "Stop being such weasly wimps", but the other side is the caring side that helps people and wants to learn, like in the recycling episode.  Because she's so interesting, and seems to get along with everyone overall, I place her fifth.

4. Carlos- Carlos is here because of his lame puns and the fact he's just really funny.  I didn't like him much as a child, but I appreciate him now because he adds humor to the class, and is a foil to both Dorothy Ann and Keesha.

3. Arnold- This may be a surprise to some people since I know how annoying Arnold can be with his whining, but I like him since he's an honest, and even occasionally thinks of a way to get the class out of danger, like fighting the T-rex.  His cousin Janet is annoying as hell though.

2. Ralphie- Ralphie is second because of his humor, and the fact he has the wildest imagination of the bunch, like being Weatherman.  I wasn't like him in Elementary school, but I feel like if I could relive my life again, he'd be the closest one I resemble since I always have my head in the clouds.

1. Dorothy Ann- In what may be the upset of the century, Dorothy Ann is my favorite kid in Ms. Frizzle's class.  She's annoying to some because of her book smarts, but I still like her because she's passionate, plays well as a foil, and is really cute.  I had a crush on her as a child, so I guess I'm biased, but she was in some pretty great episodes.

Top 10 Magic School Bus Episodes

All of these episodes are ranked based on how interesting the topic was to me, and how enjoyable the episode was overall.

10. Plays Ball (Friction)- Ralphie wants to play baseball, but all Dorothy Ann wants to do is show everyone her new physics book.  The compromise, the class goes inside Dorothy Ann's book to see what it'd be like to play a baseball game with no friction.

9. Spins A Web (Spiders)- The class is at an old drive in movie theater watching a boring movie.  To make things more interesting, Ms. Frizzle transports them inside the movie, except when they get transported back out, they're the size of spider prey.

8. Out Of This World (Meteorites)- Dorothy Ann has a dream that Walkerville Elementary is about to be hit by a giant asteroid, so the class goes in their spaceship-bus to try and destroy it in this Star Trek themed episode.

7. Gets Ready, Set, Dough (Basic Chemistry)- It's Ms. Frizzle's birthday and the class wants to make her a cake, but they don't have one, so they go to the bakery.  Only problem is that they're shrunken down when the bus acts up, and they have to avoid the baker.

6. In The City (Urban Wildlife)- The class is on a field trip to the zoo and ponders what it would be like to be animals.  Because Ms. Frizzle loves the idea, she transforms them all into animals, but the bus becomes a grizzly bear being hunted down by the authorities, which could mean trouble for them.

5. Revving Up (Engines)- Mr. Junkit, the Vehicle Maintenance Inspector (VMI), says the bus has to go to the junkyard because it's a piece of junk, but the class vows to show him that the bus in still in working condition.

4. Makes A Stink (Smell)- The famous Flora Whiff comes to Walkerville Elementary to find the most wonderful scent.  Ms. Frizzle's class thinks they have the competition it in the bag, but Arnold's cousin Janet isn't going to let them win until she gets her time alone with their scent.

3. Cold Feet (Reptiles)- Liz is gone from school and the class traces her to a place where reptiles go.  To look for her, Ms. Frizzle has the class transformed into reptiles, but the other reptiles don't seem to enjoy the new company.

2. Makes A Rainbow (Color)- Ms. Frizzle shows the class a pinball machine she made that uses color.  She has never made a rainbow before on it, but has to do it before the school principal comes.  Otherwise, the pinball machine is his.

1. See's Star's (Star's)- It's Dorothy Ann's birthday and the class makes her a gift, but it breaks.  Plan B for them, buying a star from an infomercial on TV, but Keesha is suspicious, so the class goes into space to look at each star individually.

The awesome Magic School Bus intro sung by the great Little Richard

Question: Who are your favorite Magic School Bus kids?  What are some of your favorite episodes?

My Top Original DigiDestined

The Original Digidestined (Minus Kari).  (L-R) T.K., Matt, Joe, Tai, Sora, Izzy, and Mimi

Digimon Adventure (Season 1) is one of my favorite shows ever.  As a child, I watched and loved Pokemon more, but Digimon has so many things about it that stand out now looking back.  The show was animated beautifully for it's time.  The 8 children and Digimon each had their own personality.  And the show's whole first season was a continuous storyline with arcs in between, which made things much more interesting.

Since I love the first season of Digimon, I thought about which Digidestined were my favorite, which caused me to do this list.

8. Mimi- She's the cute and spoiled one of the group.  Never saw her importance because all she did was whine.

7. T.K.- He's the youngest of the group and the one that needs to grow up the most.  He cries a lot, which got on my nerves, but he showed many moments of maturity liked outsmarting Puppetmon on his own, which is one of my favorite Digimon episodes.

6. Sora- The most lovable one of the group.  I'm neutral on Sora since I don't dislike her for any specific reason, but I don't want to rank her any higher either.  I do like the fact that she is motherly though, and looks out for the rest of the group. 

5. Kari- The most rounded of the bunch I think. I like her because she seemed to interact with every character well, and came during the most interesting arc of Season 1, the Miyotismon arc.

4. Matt- Known as the cool kid of the group with his looks and how laid back he is.  There's nothing not to like about Matt besides his insecurity and the fact he always seems to ditch the people he's with.  Not good leadership material.

3. Izzy- The smart one, nough' said.  I love Izzy because he is independent, helpful, and seems to be one of the most realistic of the group.  Plus, I felt for him during the first season when we learn about his parents.  So sad.

2. Joe- He's the oldest of the group, and the most worrisome one.  He gets on everyone's nerves at times, but you can tell everyone respects him since they come to him when they need help.  

1. Tai- The leader of the group.  He's my favorite Digidestined because he experiences everything in the first season, and seems to grow the most in my opinion.

The theme song of Digimon Adventure, showing all of the Original Digidestined 

Question: What is your favorite season of Digimon? Who are your favorite Digidestined?

My Top 20 Recess Episodes

In honor or it being my first Saturday with this new blog, I'm posting about all cartoons today.  When I first comprehended the task of only doing cartoons, I had a hard time choosing where to start, but I eventually decided to start with Recess because it was and still is, one of my favorite shows of all time.

The premise of the show focused on the lives of six fourth graders at Third Street School.  They were comprised of...

• T.J. Deweiler: Leader of the gang and school prankster
• Ashley Spinelli: Tomboy and protector of the weak
• Vince LaSalle: Athlete and one of the most popular kids in school
• Gretchen Grundler: Genius
• Mikey Blumberg: Gentle giant and poet
• Gus Griswald: Shy and new kid

The six of these kids live their lives at Recess dealing with life's everyday problems and learning lessons along the way.  It's difficult because of the adversaries they must face and the "law of the playground", but they get by.  Now, my top 20 Recess episodes.

Honorable Mentions 

• Teacher's Lounge
• The Candidates
• Omega Kids
• Chez Vince
• Economics of Recess

20. Parent's Night- It's Parent's Night at Third Street School, and everyone's parents are going except Spinelli's.  The gang has never met them, so they wonder why that's the case.  I love this episode because it's hilarious what T.J. and the gang try to do to see Spinelli's parents, like spy outside her house at night, to trying to use her bathroom.

19. Bonky Fever- Mikey is turning the big Ten-O, but for some reason he's depressed.  Could something be on his mind?  The gang goes to great measures to figure it out.  This episode cracks the list because Bonky is a memorable image, and it's sweet at the end with Mikey and his mom.  Speaks truth about real life and moving on.

18. Weekend at Muriel's- Spinelli is spending the weekend at Miss Finster's after a run in at the supermarket.  Can she survive the weekend? I like this episode because of the gang witnessing Spinelli doing the hula at the end.  As T.J. says, "Guys, we will never speak of this".

17. The Game- A new sensation is sweeping over Third Street School.  Is it good or is it bad?  This episode is great because it parodies Pokemon hilariously and perfectly.  The game makes no sense, yet everyone can't stop playing it.

16. Big Brother Chad- The gang meets Vince's idol, his big brother Chad.  They find out he's a geek, but Vince is oblivious to this fact.  I picked this episode because I could relate having a brother of my own, and I love Vince's over-exaggerating.  NEAT-O!

15. Soccer Boy- Third Street School is having a soccer tournament, and the gang is forming a team, but they leave Mikey out, forcing him to team with Lawson.  I love this episode because it shows somebody teaming with one of the enemies for once, and it shows a lot of soccer, which Recess is really about.

14. The Ratings Game- The Ashley's hatch a new scheme of theirs by giving everyone envelopes with a number in them.  What could they mean?  I love this episode because it accurately portrays how important popularity is in school, and it makes me laugh a lot.  Can't forget the ending either, where everybody's a 10.

13. This Brain For Hire- Gretchen wants a new bike, but she can't afford one, so the gang arranges for her to tutor some kids.  The thing is, she's just doing their homework for them.  This episode stands out because of the end, where everyone learns something, and Gretchen gets her bike at the expense of Miss Grotke's car.

12. Gus's Last Stand- Gus has to face Gelman the school bully after he makes him his new target. I love this episode because of two scenes.  The first one is when it shows Gus disguised as an old man playing tether-ball, and the other reason is when Gus's father tells him about Belgium and WWI.  CLASSIC line!

11. The Rules- After discovering the rulebook of the previous king of the playground, everyone at school must follow the rules.  Only problem is they're outdated.  I like this episode because it shows everyone playing their games to hilarious results.  "Gelman, get the stump".

10. Buried Treasure- T.J. finds a book that has a map to hidden treasure.  He tells the gang, but they aren't the only ones who want a piece of it.  This episode stands out to me because of the ending, which shows the lesson that you should appreciate what you have, even if it isn't much.

9. A Great State Fair- Gus is going to his first state fair, but he misplaces his permission slip.  T.J. is devastated, but vows he'll find a way to get him there somehow.  I love this episode because of the hilarity of it, like T.J. trying to bribe Miss Grotke, T.J thinking a dove is a pigeon, and Gus doing the otter dance.  "My old man don't believe in otters".

8. Space Cadet- Gretchen gets a letter that says she's going on the next space shuttle.  Since T.J. has always dreamed of that, he and the rest of the gang help Gretchen train.  This episode is memorable because of everyone's specific training method, and the shocking revelation at the end.  Plus, can't forget Buzz Aldrin.

7. Old Folk's Home- The gang plans on going to SeniorFusionFest on a Saturday, but Mikey already scheduled to them to go to an old folk's home.  The gang isn't happy about it, but they're in for a surprise when they go.  I like this episode because of the individual time each gang member gets with someone at the home, and it's sweet.

6. The Barnaby Boys- After reading a set of detective books, T.J., Vince, and the rest of the gang become detectives, trying to figure out where a new mysterious custodian at their school came from.  This episode is memorable because I enjoyed it so much as a child.  Plus, who doesn't like a good mystery on Recess, which appears to happen quite frequently.

5. Tucked In Mikey- Mikey becomes the first poet laureate at Third Street School.  Because of that, he must organize his poem's and write a new one, but Menlo's organization appears to be too much.  I love this episode because of Mikey's terrible poem, and the brilliant one he says at the end, which shows the importance of friendship.

4. My Fair Gretchen- Gretchen passes a test that few pass, and is about to be transferred to a new gifted school, but she and the others don't want that to happen, so they try to pass her off as dumb.  I like this episode because it parodies My Fair Lady well, and I like the extent the others try to make Gretchen look dumb.

3. The Voice- Mikey is asked to sing the National Anthem for Third Street School, but has stage fright, so Principal Prickley and Miss Finster hire a music teacher for him who really turns that around.  This episode is one of my top three for Robert Goulet's appearance as the singing voice, the song at the end, and it tackles love, which I'm a sucker for.

2. The Substitute- Miss Grotke gets a routine operation and is replaced by Mr. E, a mysterious new teacher that everyone is enamored with, except for T.J.  I love this episode because I love the back and forth between T.J. and Mr. E, and the fact Mr. E is a character with so many layers.

1. Officer Mikey- Mikey's dream is to be a safety ranger, but after he makes a fool of himself, the captain says there's no way Mikey is getting in.  Mikey is down, but the gang goes at great lengths make his dream come true.  This is my favorite episode of Recess because of the humor, and we get to see other character's dream's on the show, which leads to a hilarious surprise at the end.

Question: What's your favorite episode of Recess?