Don't Be Horrid Henry!

So it has come to my attention that the animated series 'Horrid Henry', the show based on the British children's book series is getting another season.

People's reactions: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

I've never said this to anyone at all, but I have somewhat of a history with this particular cartoon. The reason why is because there was nothing about it I wanted to share, it was honestly a show I didn't want my peers to know I saw (for fear of what they'd think of me). But I had an itch that I've been meaning to scratch, so it's about time to give my thoughts on it.

I'll start this off by saying that I never read the Horrid Henry books as a child, I was aware of them as they were a hit where I'm from. But something about them didn't catch my attention. That was until the animated series came out, so I thought that it could get me into the book series. The Horrid Henry series has gained a bad reputation, (mostly among older watchers) but if I could give an unpopular opinion, I didn't really mind it that much. For what the series is; the plots stayed true to the source material, the animation had effort put into it (if wonky at times) and the characters can have their moments. Much like 'The Cramp Twins'; the show exaggerates childhood situations that centre around a young anti-hero with a brother he has nothing in common with. Each episode would have Henry; this naughty brat who is faced with a certain problem, he then retaliates using trouble-making antics to achieve his goal. But more often than not, it would end with Henry facing the consequences of his actions. When it comes to TV shows based on kid's books, I was pleasantly surprised to see the amount of mileage to come out of it. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I ever liked this series very much. The writing wasn't high calibre, there were times where the characters could go too far with their traits and that it would relay on sophomoric/gross-out humour. Needless to say, it got obnoxious at times. But I think it was trying to appeal to the adolescence, much of it comes from how it tries to embrace a child's inner rebellion. There was a certain edge to it with how far Henry's anti-social behaviour can go, that it can be seen as a cautionary tale. So the juvenile nature is warranted for a show with this character. As long as the show wasn't too shocking, and as long as young viewers didn't imitate Henry's antics, I didn't find the show offensive (for the most part). So I was very indifferent towards it, that was until the third season. 

After the 'Horrid Henry movie', something went off with the TV series. I noticed that each episode

would get increasingly worse as it went on. The writing became very lacklustre, the stories stopped being as coherent as before, they either went nowhere or fell completely flat on its face. Not that the show was any good to begin with, but by comparison, the writing in the last 2 seasons felt very lazy. Even if you didn't like the show before, or you just thought it was okay, the later episodes would make the early ones seem not so bad. The antics became watered down, the dialogue made very little sense, the situations were no longer engaging in any way, that it would even resort to anti-humour which is not the least bit funny. Everything would drag on other than focussing on anything of importance, that anyone watching would lose any investment. The show had lost any edge it might have had, you could say I was too old to watch the show at the time, but even a child would find it dull. It doesn't even feel finished like the writer just turned in the first draft and did not add any further development to it. Whereas 'The Cramp Twins' had more story potential and should have gotten closure, the HH cartoon just kept going much longer without making much of a point. Now Horrid Henry's seasonal rot is nowhere near as bad as other shows, whereas those were noteworthy in how they declined in quality, HH just left me bored and underwhelmed. Even in its worst seasons; Spongebob at the very least had interesting ideas and concepts, with HH I could barely remember a thing. 

With how much source material there was to work with, you'd think the makers would be a lot more inspired. It feels like the producer was trying to sabotage the series. Why do I think this? Well, it seems that showrunner Lucinda Whitely has been calling the shots with the writing department; almost like she's become judge, jury and executioner. It's like people are afraid to tell her what she should and shouldn't do, as the episodes she' wrote show a lack of restraint. I'm sure she did put time into these scripts, but that has become very questionable as the final project doesn't show this. I don't see why they couldn't give creative control to Francesca Simon, seeing how it's her baby. I don't even know how much involvement she has with the series, or even she's aware of what's going on. It's like nobody is even trying anymore. Again the later episodes ain't remarkably bad, but that doesn't change how boring it got. I think children and fans of Horrid Henry deserve better than this. 

With all that said, how much more can they milk from this bratty child. I thought the franchise ended

3 and a half years ago, but it occurred to me that the show goes on these long hiatuses because the episodes do take that long to animate. Not only has the book series been around as long as I have, but the TV series has been on for nearly 13 years, even 'Johnny Test' didn't go on for that long. But if there's going to be another Toy Story and Shrek film, I guess any franchise has the chance to continue for an eternity. Even though I don't want to have anything to do with this series, maybe it might redeem itself. Perhaps Lucinda Whitely has listened to the criticism and that the upcoming season might be an improvement. But if this is going to be the last season, then I think it's for the best. Hopefully, it'll end on a relatively brighter note; rather than its soiled reputation. It would be better off that way. Or maybe the show will stoop to a whole new low and be a zombie of what it used to be. I'm not going to act like I was a fan of this show, but you could tell the makers did put their all into its early seasons. Even for how juvenile it was, many HH fans would agree it got as lazy as Lazy Linda. While I personally think people should put their focus on making a Cramp Twins revival, and just stop it with Horrid Henry. No matter how Season 5 turns out, this show needs to be left in the past with whatever dignity it has left. But at the end of the day, the Horrid Henry series is not great, nor is it "horrid", it's just mediocre.

A Review of Mouk

Hello, bonjour, hola, hallo, ciao, okay let's skip the introduction and move on to the review, please. When it comes to animated tv shows for the little kids, Disney Junior seems to have a poor line up, Special Agent Oso....hate it, Jungle Junction.....despise it, and Micky Mouse's Clubhouse is a straight-up insult to the classic Micky Mouse cartoons. However there is one cartoon series that has taken me by surprise, a show that stands up among the rest and comes off as original and unique, what show is that you may ask, read the title, jackass, this is Mouk.

Now, this is the part where I speak about the show and its premise, so here we go. Mouk is an animated show based on the cult children's book by Marc Boutavant. The show it'self centres around a young bear named Mouk and his friend Chavapa and how they travel all around the world on their bikes, from America to Australia and from Greece to China both Mouk and Chavapa learn all about different cultures, environments and traditions on their travels. Each episode would keep to a simple structure, Mouk and Chavapa would be in a different country and while there Mouk would chat to his friends Mita and Popo via laptop, about their adventures (like a journal if you will) the whole show would continue from here on. 

So what do I think of this show, I have to say I actually enjoy it. I mean honestly it's just a blessing to see a children's show that has so much effort and so much charm put into it, it's been a long time since we've seen a show like this and for a show that's on Disney Junior, it's just pleasant. I'm serious, never have I been so invested in something meant for little kids, oh sweet Arthur Rackham! Thank the Holy Grapes of God!

 Now when this show came out, I didn't really care about it much because I tended to watch Adventure Time and Fish Hooks as the only recent cartoons I was into at the moment. But a year later my mother saw bits of it and asked me to watch more of it, so I did. And much to my surprise, I liked it more than I expected. What really caught my eye was the art style and how unique it was, so I glanced a hand full of episodes and it didn't bother me at all. There's no bad forth wall jokes, there's no live-action sequences, there's no annoying characters and it doesn't rely on being condescending to the audience; it just tells a straight forward story and I like that. It has that same charm that "The Busy World of Richard Scarry" has, meaning it keeps it's self true to the source material which makes people interested in what it's based on. 

The writing is well done and like I said it's nothing you would ever see in any recent kid's show; it

tells a real story that's adventurous and educational at the same time. Like I said, there's no stupid live-action sequences that interrupt the episode and shows kids how things work, it simply tells them through plot and animation. The writers have taken inspiration from all these cultures to create unique plots, for example, there was an episode where Mouk and Chavapa were in Brazil and wanted to watch the football, but when birds mess with the satellite they try to fix it by using a machine that works through kicking a ball at a target. That there is how you educate the viewers through visual storytelling, and it's INTERESTING.....I mean take some bloody notes Stupid Agent Oso! This show is more educational in one episode than you are in a whole season! but I digress. 

The way it presents these different cultures is not only INTERESTING but it's also told in a simplistic fashion so younger viewers would understand. But maybe it goes a little too simplistic, don't get me wrong, when it's good it's at it's best but when it has to keep its self as a "preschool show" it shows a moment of weakness. I don't know maybe if the writing was much more clever as well as the humour, I mean the best part of something like "The Amazing World of Gumball" is the humour and I was wondering if this show would go the same direction but still. But here it isn't really distracting because of how decent everything else is, because it doesn't treat its viewers like idiots I forgive the writers for their approach. For a show like this, the simplicity works much better than in other Disney Jr shows in my opinion, I just wanted to see more in the joke department. 

And for those who have a problem with the tone of Mouk, it's called flaming SUBTLETY!!!

What makes Mouk stand out from other "little kid's" cartoons other than the writing is the animation, where do I begin. The animation and the artwork is beyond creative and even beautiful, the attention to detail on the character design, the colours, the backgrounds and the movement is done to a "t" there's so much to look at, it's a real feast.....no wait, scratch that! it's a real banquet for the eyes. 

It really stays true to the Boutavant design, this is saying a lot for me considering I'm not a fan of Boutavant's work; but after seeing this show I immediately wanted to check out his art, heck I didn't know who this guy was until I came across this show! The animators need to give themselves a pat on the back for bringing his gorgeous illustrations to life.

Of course, you can't judge characters on their designs but on their personalities, which brings me to another point why this show works. Unlike other "Disney Jr" shows the characters don't annoy you to the point where you want to punch them, in-fact their performances are so subtle, to say the least. Mouk is one of those very laid back characters who are also adventurous, characters like Snoopy or Brother Bear from the Berenstain Bears, but he also takes things seriously which is more than I can say for other Disney Jr characters. Chavapa is just as optimistic and as adventurous as Mouk only he gets the most jokes, as well as having an appetite he often brags a little bit but he still has a big heart much like Mouk. Popo and Mita are just like the younger brother and sister/cousins you know, especially if you're British.

And the side characters Mouk and Chavapa meet across are also kind and even interesting, again they're not generic or condescending unlike the characters from a certain piece of crap I won't mention*****cough***bobinogs****cough**** Though I was kind of expecting the accents to be more diverse but like everything else in the show I don't really see that as a problem. You could tell this show has a cast of 4 voice actors and they don't do a bad job at voicing the different characters; though some people may not get into the voice acting at first they'll get used to it, hey I can tolerate the voices way more than Eliot Kid. At least it doesn't resort to using offensive stereotypes. 

Overall Mouk is an adorable animated show that I'm glad to have checked out, sure the writing may not be top-notch it makes up for it with it's gorgeous animation, lovable characters, educational value and originality. Never in a long time have I seen a Disney Jr show to have so much effort put into it, it amazes me how it doesn't act condescending towards the younger audience but instead teaches different culture in a unique and creative way which is rare to see in a kid's show. It may not be at the same level as Arthur but that's really a hard act to follow, and as far as "little kid's cartoons" go this is a step in the right direction.

I highly recommend this show not just to children but fans of illustration and Marc Boutavant as well. I'm glad my mother made me watch this show because I've never would have enjoyed such a piece, it's that type of show that gives me hope for animation as well as the entertainment industry in general which is why it gets a 4/5 from me. If it's a modern show I like, then you know it's worth checking out! so if you excuse me I have to look at my photos from Barcelona.

Hamlet: The Dream

Hello there, there's no doubt that Hamlet is one of the best plays Shakespeare ever wrote. The story of a young prince in vengeance for his dead father, so he goes into temporary madness, which results in killing off the main characters. Just another dark tale of treachery and moral corruption that has been incarnated into books, film and tv; many who has brought the prince of darkness back to life have either become well known in their time and I hope to be one of those people.

If you don't know what I mean by that last remark I'll tell you more. For years it has been my ambition to become an illustator with my first book to be Shakespeare related; so when I was younger I wanted my first book to be an illustrated version of "Hamlet". I'm not joking when I say that I have been working on this product since Year 7, which is how much this product means  to me.

The idea for this goes back to 2004, when I decided that I wanted to become an illustrator so I made this cover design (left) in MS Paint. I wanted the design to look nice so from the top of my nogon I just did the characters without drawing them on paper first and thus I created my own version of "Hamlet" as he was and how he shall always be.
I loved how it turned out as it felt like the perfect first step into this agenda.

Hamlet (First MS Paint Cover Design)-2004

A year later I went on to do more Hamlet related drawings using different materials, because I still drew in stick figure form I would practice and pratice drawing till I got better. Though I love my old drawing I didn't feel it would have worked in illustrated books, if my drawing style would stayed in that way from now on it would look cute but not that I've hoped for. Anyway I made many studies involving Hamlet whether it was at home or school and I felt each drawing would get more and more detailed as they went along.

In my book these drawings looked very clever and show how the whole design range started off. In that same year I even wrote the manual script for a year, though now it looks tamed but now I'm thinking of taking some elements from the original manual script and improving them.

Hamlet (Pastel and Drawing)-2005

                                                  Original Hamlet Pen Drawings-2005

When I got my first watercolour palette for my birthday I could finally use it to decide what style I wanted the illustrations to be. I used the water-colours in any which way till I found which style I liked.

                                                       Hamlet-Character Designs-2006
When I finally discovered my drawing style and improved on character designs I went to work on it in 2007. When I started working on the concept I took inspiration from the original pen studies I did 2 years earlier, because of school work I was off and on again while making the illustrations; also my tutors wanted to use the illustration I did so far for a school product and I didn't get them back till a year later. So like 7 illustrations were done in like 3 years. To be truthful I'm glad it took me this long to do them because my illustative style was improving and I wasn't that good at writing so if I finished it as a young child it would'nt be as good.

Nowadays I've stopped working on the illustrations just to focuss on college work; I'll start to work more on it on shorter notice. Which is why I want you guys to support this agenda of mine; I really want to get this product off the ground so please make sure Hamlet is to be, or not to be? I'll keep you updated on this product but for now I'll see you later.