#anime #animeopenings #japaneseanimation #top5 #countdown #amm2media
Sometimes it can be an anime's opening theme that makes or breaks a show, and in this video I'm going to be sharing my Top 5 from the Japanese versions! What is your favorite anime opening? Are you dub or sub? Would you like to see a dub opening counterpart of this video?
All clips and music are owned by their respective creators!
Follow us on Social Media:
Twitter: @austinmmyers19
Instagram: @austinmmyers19
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amm2media/
Blogger: www.amm2media.com
Please be sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more updates!
Showing posts with label Top 5/Top 10. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Top 5/Top 10. Show all posts
Saturday, June 13, 2020
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Favorite Antagonists (MIld Spoilers)
In most (if not all) stories, the protagonist must be faced with a challenge in order to develop and grow as a character; most often, said challenge will come in the form of an antagonist blocking their path. The antagonist serves as a foil to the main character, and prevent them from achieving their intended goal. Some villains in fiction can be as bland and one-dimensional as a piece of paper, and some are about as compelling as the hero. The five listed below (in my opinion), are prime examples of compelling villains in fiction, and serve as five of my favorite antagonists of all time.
#5, Cell (Dragon Ball):
While many fans of this franchise consider Majin Buu as the Z-Warriors' ultimate enemy in the franchise, I actually find that distinction better suited for his predecessor, Cell. This foe served as a match for Goku, Gohan, and their friends on not only a physical level, but intellectually as well. This antagonist is an intelligent, strategic being (more than likely because he contains the DNA of Gohan and Frieza), with his ability to plan his movements accordingly and create a strategy that keeps the protagonists on their toes. He was also one of the few that managed to strike an absolute blow to the prideful Vegeta, which furthered the aforementioned's development from the coldhearted, selfish prince to the loving father/hero viewers see later on. Cell also managed to do the unthinkable on two occasions; defeating Goku and managing to push Gohan beyond his limits, with the latter unfortunately becoming his undoing. As I have stated in two previous posts, Cell being a match for the Z-Warriors should have made him the final enemy of the story. His defeat completed both the development of Goku and his son, and it was a perfect "passing the torch" moment between the two; with Goku's sacrifice, Gohan would have been entrusted with the title of Earth's hero.
#4, Inspector Javert and Dom Claude Frollo (Les Miserables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame/Notre Dame de Paris):
Since these two characters embody the concept of "obsession driving a person mad", it would be best to give both of these two characters the number four spot. The two characters are so driven by their goals, that it eventually becomes their downfall. Javert's obsession to capture ex-convict (and protagonist) Jean Valjean causes his judgment to become clouded, seeing his enemy as nothing more than a menace to society that needs to be re-incarcerated. Once he sees that Valjean is not a criminal but a good man, it absolutely shatters him on a mental level. Upon seeing the error of his ways, not only does he pardon the former convict, but commits suicide by jumping into the River Seine. Similarly, Dom Claude Frollo's obsessive lust for La Esmeralda drives him down a similar path. At the beginning of the novel, the reader sees Frollo as a pious, caring man; he adopts the abandoned Quasimodo and cares for him as if the latter were his own son. However, as he slowly begins to lust for the gypsy La Esmeralda, his morality and mental state begin to drastically shift, to the point of stalking the lovesick gypsy, using his ward as a scapegoat in a failed kidnapping attempt, framing Esmeralda for Phoebus' attempted murder, and when she refuses Frollo's advances, he personally oversees her attempted executions. His ward, Quasimodo, serves as a foil to Frollo, since the former is also in love with Esmeralda; however, Quasimodo naively wishes to protect her. Matter of fact, the misshapen Hunchback is the main cause of Frollo's demise when Esmeralda is ultimately executed. The corrupt priest believed if he could not have the gypsy, nobody could. However, karma bites him hard, being thrown off the cathedral as he starts laughing maniacally.
The reason these two are such compelling antagonists is that they are not inherently evil, they are simply two men corrupted by an obsessive desire to achieve their goals. Javert is simply a police inspector trying to do his job, and Frollo is a priest torn between his moral compass and his human desire. They also teach the reader a simple lesson, while it is okay to pursue a goal, do not cause the obsession of doing so to drive you mad; it could lead to a tragic downfall.
#3, Scar (The Lion King):
Scar, like Frollo and Javert (moreso the former of the aforementioned two), is obsessively driven toward his goals. However, while he carefully calculates each move in his plan, he does not shy away from tactics such as manipulation and first-degree murder. His desire to become king of the Pridelands drives him to manipulating the lions' mortal enemies (the hyenas) into working with him, and throwing his own brother off a cliff into a herd of stampeding wildebeests. He is one of the few Disney villains that is actually successful in his goals... until he is usurped by his nephew, Simba (whom he also attempted to murder in the same stampede). Scar is an absolute sociopath, caring only for his own desires and achieving them by any means possible, which ultimately becomes his downfall. In order to save himself, he sells out his co-conspirators, which causes them to turn against him in the final battle. Scar is a bit of an outlier on the list, but his descent into madness is handled nicely and he sings one of the best villain songs in a Disney film (Be Prepared). In the 2019 remake, his character is further fleshed out, adding a lust for Mufasa's mate, Sarabi as part of his character motivation (which is a reference to his lust for Nala in earlier drafts of the film and the stage musical).
#2, Jafar (Aladdin):
Similar to Scar, Jafar simply wishes to be the ruler of his own little part of the world. However, instead of wishing to reclaim a birthright, he wishes to be out of the sultan's shadow and be "second no more". As his character descends further into madness, and he achieves his goals of becoming sultan of Agrabah, he begins to desire more in an attempt to being the best overall. First, he desires to become the world's greatest sorcerer, and then "the most powerful being in the universe", which soon causes his downfall. He perfectly represents a quote from Genie in the 2019 Aladdin remake, "the more you have, the more you want", a theme which is emphasized in that version in regard to both Jafar and Aladdin. Matter of fact, Jafar serves as a foil to Aladdin, showing the viewer what could happen if the genie's power managed to corrupt Al (which it almost does). This relationship between the two is further emphasized (once again) in the 2019 version, as Jafar's backstory is expanded to show he was once a street thief like Aladdin, but slowly rose to power. Any villain that can serve to show what the hero could have been is definitely a compelling antagonist.
Honorable Mentions, Ursula (The Little Mermaid), Biff Tannen (Back to the Future), Lord Voldemort (Harry Potter):
These three villains were close to making this list, but did not primarily for one reason; they are one-dimensional with little to no character development. They are evil simply for the sake of being evil, because the hero needs some sort of obstacle to overcome. While Voldemort does have a compelling backstory, he is simply a one-dimensional sociopath bent on the ever-cliched goal of world domination. However, if I had to pick a villain from Harry Potter for this list, I would have gone with either Draco Malfoy or Delores Umbridge; at least those two had more development than Voldemort. (I would like to apologize to two friends of mine for that statement, but I wholeheartedly stand by it). Ursula I kept off the list for the same reason, her main goal is simply domination with little explanation as to why she desires to do so. It is never explained why she wants to usurp King Triton, and why Ariel needs to be involved in her plan. Hopefully the remake fixes this issue, as this is a character that desperately needs to be expanded upon (along with Ariel being so selfish and naive).
Biff... he's simply the stereotypical "bully" character found in every other high school story, and was easily my least favorite part of Back to the Future. He has literally zero development throughout the entirety of the trilogy, which makes him even less of a compelling villain. Simply put, he is a jerk for the sake of being a jerk, and who wants to see a villain like that? The most we learn about him is his family heritage in the past and future, and (surprise surprise), they are all one-dimensional idiots like him.
#1, The Joker (Batman):
Joker serves as not only the ultimate foil to Gotham City's caped crusader, but also serves as a reminder of his biggest mistake (bigger than the death of Jason Todd/Robin/Red Hood). He also serves to show what could happen after one has an "extremely bad day", how one bad moment could change a person's life forever and lead them down a dark path. That aspect of the character allows the reader to somewhat sympathize with him, and prevent themselves from going down a similar path (a living cautionary tale, if you will). The clown serves as the polar opposite to Batman; while the latter wishes to keep the world safe and prevent others from suffering the same fate his parents did, Joker desires to see the world go up in flames. Batman refuses to take another life, while Joker is more than eager to do so, and so on. Additionally, Joker exists because of Batman (depending on which version you are looking at) and vice-versa in some continuities.
Who is your favorite fictional antagonist? Feel free to discuss in the comments below, and also be sure to like and follow for future Reviews and Retrospectives updates.
#5, Cell (Dragon Ball):
While many fans of this franchise consider Majin Buu as the Z-Warriors' ultimate enemy in the franchise, I actually find that distinction better suited for his predecessor, Cell. This foe served as a match for Goku, Gohan, and their friends on not only a physical level, but intellectually as well. This antagonist is an intelligent, strategic being (more than likely because he contains the DNA of Gohan and Frieza), with his ability to plan his movements accordingly and create a strategy that keeps the protagonists on their toes. He was also one of the few that managed to strike an absolute blow to the prideful Vegeta, which furthered the aforementioned's development from the coldhearted, selfish prince to the loving father/hero viewers see later on. Cell also managed to do the unthinkable on two occasions; defeating Goku and managing to push Gohan beyond his limits, with the latter unfortunately becoming his undoing. As I have stated in two previous posts, Cell being a match for the Z-Warriors should have made him the final enemy of the story. His defeat completed both the development of Goku and his son, and it was a perfect "passing the torch" moment between the two; with Goku's sacrifice, Gohan would have been entrusted with the title of Earth's hero.
#4, Inspector Javert and Dom Claude Frollo (Les Miserables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame/Notre Dame de Paris):
Since these two characters embody the concept of "obsession driving a person mad", it would be best to give both of these two characters the number four spot. The two characters are so driven by their goals, that it eventually becomes their downfall. Javert's obsession to capture ex-convict (and protagonist) Jean Valjean causes his judgment to become clouded, seeing his enemy as nothing more than a menace to society that needs to be re-incarcerated. Once he sees that Valjean is not a criminal but a good man, it absolutely shatters him on a mental level. Upon seeing the error of his ways, not only does he pardon the former convict, but commits suicide by jumping into the River Seine. Similarly, Dom Claude Frollo's obsessive lust for La Esmeralda drives him down a similar path. At the beginning of the novel, the reader sees Frollo as a pious, caring man; he adopts the abandoned Quasimodo and cares for him as if the latter were his own son. However, as he slowly begins to lust for the gypsy La Esmeralda, his morality and mental state begin to drastically shift, to the point of stalking the lovesick gypsy, using his ward as a scapegoat in a failed kidnapping attempt, framing Esmeralda for Phoebus' attempted murder, and when she refuses Frollo's advances, he personally oversees her attempted executions. His ward, Quasimodo, serves as a foil to Frollo, since the former is also in love with Esmeralda; however, Quasimodo naively wishes to protect her. Matter of fact, the misshapen Hunchback is the main cause of Frollo's demise when Esmeralda is ultimately executed. The corrupt priest believed if he could not have the gypsy, nobody could. However, karma bites him hard, being thrown off the cathedral as he starts laughing maniacally.
The reason these two are such compelling antagonists is that they are not inherently evil, they are simply two men corrupted by an obsessive desire to achieve their goals. Javert is simply a police inspector trying to do his job, and Frollo is a priest torn between his moral compass and his human desire. They also teach the reader a simple lesson, while it is okay to pursue a goal, do not cause the obsession of doing so to drive you mad; it could lead to a tragic downfall.
#3, Scar (The Lion King):
Scar, like Frollo and Javert (moreso the former of the aforementioned two), is obsessively driven toward his goals. However, while he carefully calculates each move in his plan, he does not shy away from tactics such as manipulation and first-degree murder. His desire to become king of the Pridelands drives him to manipulating the lions' mortal enemies (the hyenas) into working with him, and throwing his own brother off a cliff into a herd of stampeding wildebeests. He is one of the few Disney villains that is actually successful in his goals... until he is usurped by his nephew, Simba (whom he also attempted to murder in the same stampede). Scar is an absolute sociopath, caring only for his own desires and achieving them by any means possible, which ultimately becomes his downfall. In order to save himself, he sells out his co-conspirators, which causes them to turn against him in the final battle. Scar is a bit of an outlier on the list, but his descent into madness is handled nicely and he sings one of the best villain songs in a Disney film (Be Prepared). In the 2019 remake, his character is further fleshed out, adding a lust for Mufasa's mate, Sarabi as part of his character motivation (which is a reference to his lust for Nala in earlier drafts of the film and the stage musical).
#2, Jafar (Aladdin):
Similar to Scar, Jafar simply wishes to be the ruler of his own little part of the world. However, instead of wishing to reclaim a birthright, he wishes to be out of the sultan's shadow and be "second no more". As his character descends further into madness, and he achieves his goals of becoming sultan of Agrabah, he begins to desire more in an attempt to being the best overall. First, he desires to become the world's greatest sorcerer, and then "the most powerful being in the universe", which soon causes his downfall. He perfectly represents a quote from Genie in the 2019 Aladdin remake, "the more you have, the more you want", a theme which is emphasized in that version in regard to both Jafar and Aladdin. Matter of fact, Jafar serves as a foil to Aladdin, showing the viewer what could happen if the genie's power managed to corrupt Al (which it almost does). This relationship between the two is further emphasized (once again) in the 2019 version, as Jafar's backstory is expanded to show he was once a street thief like Aladdin, but slowly rose to power. Any villain that can serve to show what the hero could have been is definitely a compelling antagonist.
Honorable Mentions, Ursula (The Little Mermaid), Biff Tannen (Back to the Future), Lord Voldemort (Harry Potter):
These three villains were close to making this list, but did not primarily for one reason; they are one-dimensional with little to no character development. They are evil simply for the sake of being evil, because the hero needs some sort of obstacle to overcome. While Voldemort does have a compelling backstory, he is simply a one-dimensional sociopath bent on the ever-cliched goal of world domination. However, if I had to pick a villain from Harry Potter for this list, I would have gone with either Draco Malfoy or Delores Umbridge; at least those two had more development than Voldemort. (I would like to apologize to two friends of mine for that statement, but I wholeheartedly stand by it). Ursula I kept off the list for the same reason, her main goal is simply domination with little explanation as to why she desires to do so. It is never explained why she wants to usurp King Triton, and why Ariel needs to be involved in her plan. Hopefully the remake fixes this issue, as this is a character that desperately needs to be expanded upon (along with Ariel being so selfish and naive).
Biff... he's simply the stereotypical "bully" character found in every other high school story, and was easily my least favorite part of Back to the Future. He has literally zero development throughout the entirety of the trilogy, which makes him even less of a compelling villain. Simply put, he is a jerk for the sake of being a jerk, and who wants to see a villain like that? The most we learn about him is his family heritage in the past and future, and (surprise surprise), they are all one-dimensional idiots like him.
#1, The Joker (Batman):
Joker serves as not only the ultimate foil to Gotham City's caped crusader, but also serves as a reminder of his biggest mistake (bigger than the death of Jason Todd/Robin/Red Hood). He also serves to show what could happen after one has an "extremely bad day", how one bad moment could change a person's life forever and lead them down a dark path. That aspect of the character allows the reader to somewhat sympathize with him, and prevent themselves from going down a similar path (a living cautionary tale, if you will). The clown serves as the polar opposite to Batman; while the latter wishes to keep the world safe and prevent others from suffering the same fate his parents did, Joker desires to see the world go up in flames. Batman refuses to take another life, while Joker is more than eager to do so, and so on. Additionally, Joker exists because of Batman (depending on which version you are looking at) and vice-versa in some continuities.
Who is your favorite fictional antagonist? Feel free to discuss in the comments below, and also be sure to like and follow for future Reviews and Retrospectives updates.
Sunday, July 14, 2019
Top 5 Disney Songs from the Stage Musicals
For a bit of context, whenever Disney makes a stage musical based on one of their films, they will usually include all or at least two of the following:
#5: I Need to Know, Tarzan
Plotwise, this song takes place during the scene where the young Tarzan is trying to determine who (or what) he is, after a fallout with the gorilla tribe's leader, Kerchak. This song could serve as the customary "I want" number in a musical, something the original 1999 film lacked. Tarzan is trying to determine where he belongs and his place in the world, unaware of his humanity at this point in the story. He is later comforted by his adoptive gorilla mother, Kala, whom essentially informs him that even though they look different, they are indeed one in the same. I like how this song is used to develop Tarzan as a character, and sets up his development for the rest of the production (considering it directly precedes the iconic Son of Man from the original movie).
#4: Esmeralda, The Hunchback of Notre Dame
#3: He Lives in You, The Lion King
After reuniting with Nala and being persuaded to return to the Pride Lands to reclaim his throne, Simba is left confused on what he should do. He still believes he is the one who killed Mufasa, which makes him reluctant to return home. Essentially, this song takes place during the scene where Simba sees his father's ghost (one of my favorite Disney moments), and gives a powerful message; even though some are gone physically, they still live on in all of us. The message and Swahili vocals alone make this song one of my favorites, in addition to it taking place during my favorite part of The Lion King. Matter of fact, this song is so good, it serves as the opening for The Lion King II as an analogue to Circle of Life. It is one that reinvigorates and is a powerful showstopper before the final confrontation with Scar.
#2: A Million Miles Away, Aladdin
After Aladdin and Jasmine meet, the audience learns of their desire to escape their current situations; Al wants to break away from being a street rat, and Jasmine does not want to be in an arranged marriage she has no consent to. They both decide to run away from Agrabah and start life anew, having only each other's company. A Million Miles Away discusses their plan and what they hope to expect from it, while also being a beautiful romantic ballad for the two. Matter of fact, this song also sets up their later meeting and A Whole New World, as hinted by Aladdin's short reprise at the beginning of the aforementioned song. I wish this song (or some equivalent to it) was used in the 2019 remake of Aladdin, as it would have further built their relationship. I love the song because it furthers the characters' development, it has a beautiful melody, and it hints at their relationship later in the show. Not having a duet like this in the remake was definitely a missed opportunity for the production staff.
#1: If I Can't Love Her, Beauty and the Beast
- All or most of the songs from the source material
- Songs written for the original film but cut (such as Human Again in Beauty and the Beast, and Proud of Your Boy in Aladdin)
- Songs written exclusively for the stage production
I have covered the first two in previous reviews, so it is fitting that I should cover some of the songs written exclusively for the stage versions. I will be discussing when this song takes place in the show (so there will definitely be spoilers), the impact it has on the overall story, and my overall thoughts on the number. As was the case with the previous two reviews of this nature, I will only be doing one song per production, so each show gets their chance in the spotlight (pun intended). I will also be including links to the songs for you to listen to, so you can develop your opinions on which ones you like as well.
#5: I Need to Know, Tarzan
(Source: TLMBroadway193)
Plotwise, this song takes place during the scene where the young Tarzan is trying to determine who (or what) he is, after a fallout with the gorilla tribe's leader, Kerchak. This song could serve as the customary "I want" number in a musical, something the original 1999 film lacked. Tarzan is trying to determine where he belongs and his place in the world, unaware of his humanity at this point in the story. He is later comforted by his adoptive gorilla mother, Kala, whom essentially informs him that even though they look different, they are indeed one in the same. I like how this song is used to develop Tarzan as a character, and sets up his development for the rest of the production (considering it directly precedes the iconic Son of Man from the original movie).
#4: Esmeralda, The Hunchback of Notre Dame
(Source: Adam Ostrowski)
At this point in the production, we have learned of the desires of both Quasimodo and his adoptive father, Archdeacon Frollo. Essentially, they have the same desire, "the gypsy known as Esmeralda". Matter of fact, Frollo's desire for Esmeralda is so insane, he decides to burn down a majority of Paris simply to locate her; it essentially sounds like a stalker horror gone completely wrong. It serves as a turning point for the majority of the main characters; Phoebus turns on Frollo, Esmeralda decides to stand up for herself and the gypsies, we begin to see Quasimodo rebelling against his master, and Frollo (of course) goes insane. The song serves as a powerful finale for the show's first act, leaving the production on a powerful (and somewhat bleak) cliffhanger. Like the song preceding it (Hellfire) and The Lion King's Be Prepared (coincidentally, Frollo's actor played Scar in The Lion King), this is definitely one song that will send massive chills down your spine.
#3: He Lives in You, The Lion King
(Source: TheSonicMaster123)
After reuniting with Nala and being persuaded to return to the Pride Lands to reclaim his throne, Simba is left confused on what he should do. He still believes he is the one who killed Mufasa, which makes him reluctant to return home. Essentially, this song takes place during the scene where Simba sees his father's ghost (one of my favorite Disney moments), and gives a powerful message; even though some are gone physically, they still live on in all of us. The message and Swahili vocals alone make this song one of my favorites, in addition to it taking place during my favorite part of The Lion King. Matter of fact, this song is so good, it serves as the opening for The Lion King II as an analogue to Circle of Life. It is one that reinvigorates and is a powerful showstopper before the final confrontation with Scar.
#2: A Million Miles Away, Aladdin
(Source: DisneyMusicVEVO)
After Aladdin and Jasmine meet, the audience learns of their desire to escape their current situations; Al wants to break away from being a street rat, and Jasmine does not want to be in an arranged marriage she has no consent to. They both decide to run away from Agrabah and start life anew, having only each other's company. A Million Miles Away discusses their plan and what they hope to expect from it, while also being a beautiful romantic ballad for the two. Matter of fact, this song also sets up their later meeting and A Whole New World, as hinted by Aladdin's short reprise at the beginning of the aforementioned song. I wish this song (or some equivalent to it) was used in the 2019 remake of Aladdin, as it would have further built their relationship. I love the song because it furthers the characters' development, it has a beautiful melody, and it hints at their relationship later in the show. Not having a duet like this in the remake was definitely a missed opportunity for the production staff.
#1: If I Can't Love Her, Beauty and the Beast
(Source: disneysoundtrack89)
Of course, my number one pick on this list is from my favorite stage musical, Beauty and the Beast; specifically, the finale of the show's first act. Taking place after Beast scares Belle out of the castle, the former begins to lament on possibly losing his only chance to break his curse. If he does not change his ways soon, "he would be doomed to remain a beast for all time". The song serves as the beginning of Beast's character development, along with being somewhat of an apology to those he's affected. It makes you want to cheer for the success of this character, and see him through his wish to regain his lost humanity. Like A Million Miles Away in Aladdin, If I Can't Love Her should have also been in its respective live action remake. Having this song and Evermore would have made perfect bookends to Beast's character development. (On a side note, I am glad that production I saw at Shawnee Mission Theater in the Park thought similarly. Instead of performing If I Can't Love Her's reprise like usual, they performed Evermore instead. While I understand they were paying tribute to the recently released remake by doing so, it was definitely a smart move and gave Beast another well-deserved ballad.)
What are some of your favorite songs from Disney's stage musicals? What are some of your favorite musical numbers in general? Feel free to leave a comment below and discuss! Additionally, feel free to give me a follow for future updates on the blog.
Monday, January 9, 2017
Top Five Disney Villain Songs
As mentioned previously, I do not care for the showstopper, "Broadway-style" musical numbers of Disney films (aside from Aladdin's Prince Ali and Hercules' Zero to Hero). However, I do enjoy the songs sung by the villains of these films. I enjoy seeing how these songs can reveal a villain's plan, motivations behind the plan, and the backstory behind the motivation. Some songs are a culmination of a villain's character arc. It is for these specific reasons that I plan to reveal my top five favorite Disney Villain songs. (Embedded videos of the songs will also be in the post if you wish to listen to them) As a challenge to myself, I will only be looking at the songs that were actually in the film. As a result, any villain songs cut from the film during it's production or from stage adaptations are disqualified from the list.
#5- Friends on the Other Side, The Princess and the Frog
This number is one of those songs that can send a chill down one's spine. The imagery is shocking and somewhat scary. However, it will not upset younger viewers. The song details the meeting between male protagonist Prince Naveen and antagonist Doctor Facilier. However, Facilier had an ulterior motive for meeting with the young prince. Unfortunately, neither obtained what they desired as Naveen was transformed into a frog, and Facilier was unable to rule New Orleans. I found this song to be creepy through its use of "voodoo" imagery, such as the floating heads and the visualization of Facilier's magic. However despite the creepy imagery, I enjoyed the song and prefer it over songs with a similar premise such as Poor Unfortunate Souls. The song is later reprised when Facilier is ironically defeated by his own magic.
#5- Friends on the Other Side, The Princess and the Frog
This number is one of those songs that can send a chill down one's spine. The imagery is shocking and somewhat scary. However, it will not upset younger viewers. The song details the meeting between male protagonist Prince Naveen and antagonist Doctor Facilier. However, Facilier had an ulterior motive for meeting with the young prince. Unfortunately, neither obtained what they desired as Naveen was transformed into a frog, and Facilier was unable to rule New Orleans. I found this song to be creepy through its use of "voodoo" imagery, such as the floating heads and the visualization of Facilier's magic. However despite the creepy imagery, I enjoyed the song and prefer it over songs with a similar premise such as Poor Unfortunate Souls. The song is later reprised when Facilier is ironically defeated by his own magic.
#4- Mother Knows Best, Tangled
Usually, the computer-animated Disney films do not catch my attention as much as those that are traditionally-animated. However, a notable exception to this rule was the 2010 film, Tangled. Despite being a computer-animated film, it is animated and styled similarly to something animated traditionally. It is for this reason, (as well as for the villain Mother Gothel) that Tangled is my favorite in Disney's new wave of animated films. Mother Gothel feels like a female version of one of my favorite villains, Claude Frollo from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. As a result, her song Mother Knows Best feels like a modified version of Frollo's section of Out There. Mother Gothel attempts to manipulate Rapunzel into staying in the tower, similar to how Frollo attempted to prevent Quasimodo from leaving Notre Dame. However, Gothel wants to keep Rapunzel in the tower for the purpose of remaining eternally young by using the latter's hair. Like the previous entry in this list, it is reprised when the villain meets her demise, once again through irony.
#3- The Mob Song, Beauty and the Beast
I understand that some readers may question this choice, as it is not the official villain song of the film. This song was chosen over Gaston for three reasons. The first reason was explained earlier, I am not a fan of the large showstopper numbers. The second reason is because The Mob Song advanced the plot of the movie more than Gaston did. The final reason is because this song is a culmination of Gaston's descent into madness that has been growing since the film started. Gaston's continued rejection of Belle slowly causes him to lose his sanity, and the sight of her associating with another suitor causes him to snap like a twig. The purpose of his angry mob was not to kill a beast that could terrorize the village, but to eliminate the competitor for Belle's affections. Gaston's loss of sanity and logic causes him to enact his endgame upon Beast so he could finally be with Belle. This is one song I cannot wait to see recreated in live action, as while it is dark, it is a song filled of energy and passion.
#2- Be Prepared, The Lion King
Along with Jafar and Frollo, Scar has always been a contender for my favorite Disney Villain. Scar is one of the darker antagonists in Disney history, mainly because of his success in usurping the throne. Scar is one of the few villains to achieve his goal, another being the aforementioned Jafar. The song, Be Prepared, advances the plot and reveals Scar's plan of usurping the throne from Mufasa. To gain the trust of the hyenas, he would promise them power and food in exchange for their assistance. In earlier drafts of the film, the song was later reprised when Nala was banished from the Pridelands. Another fact is Jeremy Irons sings half of the song, and a voice double was hired for after the lyric "You won't get a sniff without me'. Jeremy Irons lost his voice during recording, so Jim Cummings was brought in to finish in his place. Overall, this song is another that can shock younger viewers, but will not give them nightmares after viewing.
#1- Hellfire, The Hunchback of Notre Dame
This is a song that I would not recommend if you are immensely religious, faint of heart, or a younger viewer/reader. This song is significantly darker than other entries on this list, and discusses strong topics such as faith and lust. One may wonder what place it has in a children's film. The purpose of the song is to provide character development for the film's antagonist, Claude Frollo. Another effect of the song is viewers seeing a side of Frollo that is closer to the source material, as the song is one of the few based on an event in the book. However, the sequence is not a dream like it was in the source material. This song is significantly more intense than Be Prepared and Friends on the Other Side, and is even more so in the stage adaptations. Whenever I listen to this song, massive chills are sent down my spine and I am always blown away by the lyrics and orchestration. This is not only my favorite villain song in a Disney film, but it is my favorite song from The Hunchback of Notre Dame as well.
Do you have a favorite villain song? Why is it your favorite? Post your opinions in the comments below, and in the next Disney-related post, we are heading to the theater!
(Blogger's Note: I do not own the videos embedded in this list. If you are the original owner of the video and you want me to remove the video, then message me.)
Monday, June 6, 2016
Top 5 Deleted Disney Songs
As many here know, as an animator and graphic designer one of my biggest inspirations is the films from the Walt Disney Company. However, it is interesting to know that five of my favorite songs and scenes from Disney were actually cut before the film was released and brought back for remastered editions or their stage adaptations. These songs were cut for various reasons, ranging from the director simply not liking it to more extreme reasons such as story changes or the song dragging down the film's pacing. Today in this review/editorial, I am going to be listing my top five Disney songs and scenes that were left on the cutting room floor as well as giving the reason why I enjoy it and why the song itself was cut during production.
5. Brothers All:
The Jungle Book
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjKZuOOfl6k
Originally, this song was to serve as the opening number back when Bill Peet was still in charge of crafting The Jungle Book's story, which was supposed to have a darker tone more akin to the original Rudyard Kipling Novel. The song was unfortunately cut when Bill Peet was fired due to creative differences between himself and Walt Disney, the latter of which wanting a more lighthearted story. I enjoy this particular version of the opening because it sets the scene much better and sets up the story to come. I was actually surprised when it was not included in the 2016 remake (Spoiler Alert) because the film itself was a merge of the original animated film and Bill Peet's original script which was closer to the book. Matter of fact, this is one of two of the deleted songs on this list not to reappear in any other adaptation of the Disney film, whether it was as part of the stage adaptation or a remake of the film.
4. Snuff Out the Light:
The Emperor's New Groove/Kingdom of The Sun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1pYGvplG5Q
It is interesting how during a production of a film, whether it may be animated or live action, how much a character evolves and develops in complexity as production progresses. Yzma, however, was the opposite. Her character was actually simplified as production progressed to the final film. Yzma was originally a dynamic villain who wished to block out the sun to regain her power and her youth along with overthrowing Kuzco (who was originally named Manco during production). Along with many layers of complexity, a song written for her was also left on the cutting room floor known as "Snuff out the Light". The song provided a backstory for the character as well as giving her a better defined motivation as opposed to "taking over the empire because reasons", the purpose of the song alone being the reason I enjoy it. I would have loved to see this darker and complex version of Yzma as opposed to the one in the final film. (I am not bashing the film that was released, I actually enjoy tENG) Maybe someday they will either remake the film or release a stage adaptation closer to the original, intended concept.
3. Human Again:
Beauty and the Beast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFkksxIDUKE
This song is a bit of a tricky one, as it was later included in both the stage adaptation as well as the remastered version of the film released on DVD, along with being confirmed to be included in the 2017 remake of the film, so it can be considered both an included and deleted song. The reason this song was removed at first was simply due to the fact that it shows a passage of time, as originally time was going to have more emphasis in earlier drafts of the film. However when later drafts showed that time would be somewhat of an unseen enemy in a metaphorical sense (I am guessing the enchantress's rose was something added in later drafts of the script, just as the three wishes in Aladdin were something of post-Ashman drafts and not included in many of the drafts written when he was alive). Once again, the reason I enjoy this song is because it is a song that is used for character development, as it expresses the desires of the characters turned into (or in the case of the stage adaptation, slowly turning into) household objects once they are granted their human forms.
2. Someday:
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiwgDZ1ld-0
Originally, when the directors of HoND wanted to create a song for Esmeralda entering the cathedral for the first time after the events of Topsy-Turvy, they (of course) asked Menken to write a song for that scene. Strangely enough, his first song that he wrote was not "Someday", but the song that is heard in the final film, "God Help the Outcasts". However, the directors wanted a song that was more intimate and heartfelt, which lead to Menken creating "Someday". The song was later re-purposed for the German stage adaptation and later the American version of the stage production, both times serving as a duet between an imprisoned Esmeralda and Phoebus, on the night before Esmeralda's execution in the finale. I enjoy this song not just for the small bit of character development, but it is one that tugs at one's heartstrings and evokes feelings of sympathy for the characters, such as feeling sympathetic towards Esmeralda's desires for a better life in the original version, to feeling emotional as Esmeralda and Phoebus spend one last night together before she is sent off to the pyre to be burned at the stake, as well as being the perfect lead in to the finale (German stage) or Quasimodo's "Made of Stone" (American stage). (I should have put a spoiler alert on this post, shouldn't I? Oh well, a lot of these films are more than a decade old, anyway.)
1. Proud of Your Boy:
Aladdin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV3D1ASN7Xc
This song is actually one I WISHED was put back in the film when it was re-released on DVD and later Blu-Ray, and I was glad when it was added to the 2011 stage adaptation and kept even in the current Broadway draft. This song gives a such better motivation to why Aladdin desires a better life, to make his mother proud and to redeem himself from his life of theft and swindling to survive, as opposed to having a better life for the sake of having a better life. I can understand the latter motivation, as don't we all wish for a better life sometimes? When you are down on your luck, or feeling down in general, you wish things were better. This song adds a layer of complexity and depth to the character and gives him a better reason for his actions not only during the beginning of the film before rubbing the lamp and maybe acquiring the ring which housed the other genie, (in earlier drafts of the film, there were two genies as opposed to one, a concept later referenced in another cut song known as "High Adventure") but later on in the film when he masquerades as a prince to woo the early version of Princess Jasmine, who was vain and spoiled as opposed to the benevolent princess seen in the final film. (Disney, if you are reading this, two things, one, make me a member of your animation staff as I have always dreamed of working for you, and two, if you ever decide to remake this film or rework the original animated film, put back in Proud of Your Boy in some capacity, whether it may be the reason for the song, the melody of the song in the background, or my ideal wish, the song itself sung by Aladdin) This is one song that I would highly recommend to not only Aladdin fans, but Disney fans as well, as it is truly "a diamond in the rough" in the long pile of Disney songs.
What are some cut Disney songs you enjoy? Do you agree with this list? Is there a song I missed?
5. Brothers All:
The Jungle Book
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjKZuOOfl6k
Originally, this song was to serve as the opening number back when Bill Peet was still in charge of crafting The Jungle Book's story, which was supposed to have a darker tone more akin to the original Rudyard Kipling Novel. The song was unfortunately cut when Bill Peet was fired due to creative differences between himself and Walt Disney, the latter of which wanting a more lighthearted story. I enjoy this particular version of the opening because it sets the scene much better and sets up the story to come. I was actually surprised when it was not included in the 2016 remake (Spoiler Alert) because the film itself was a merge of the original animated film and Bill Peet's original script which was closer to the book. Matter of fact, this is one of two of the deleted songs on this list not to reappear in any other adaptation of the Disney film, whether it was as part of the stage adaptation or a remake of the film.
4. Snuff Out the Light:
The Emperor's New Groove/Kingdom of The Sun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1pYGvplG5Q
It is interesting how during a production of a film, whether it may be animated or live action, how much a character evolves and develops in complexity as production progresses. Yzma, however, was the opposite. Her character was actually simplified as production progressed to the final film. Yzma was originally a dynamic villain who wished to block out the sun to regain her power and her youth along with overthrowing Kuzco (who was originally named Manco during production). Along with many layers of complexity, a song written for her was also left on the cutting room floor known as "Snuff out the Light". The song provided a backstory for the character as well as giving her a better defined motivation as opposed to "taking over the empire because reasons", the purpose of the song alone being the reason I enjoy it. I would have loved to see this darker and complex version of Yzma as opposed to the one in the final film. (I am not bashing the film that was released, I actually enjoy tENG) Maybe someday they will either remake the film or release a stage adaptation closer to the original, intended concept.
3. Human Again:
Beauty and the Beast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFkksxIDUKE
This song is a bit of a tricky one, as it was later included in both the stage adaptation as well as the remastered version of the film released on DVD, along with being confirmed to be included in the 2017 remake of the film, so it can be considered both an included and deleted song. The reason this song was removed at first was simply due to the fact that it shows a passage of time, as originally time was going to have more emphasis in earlier drafts of the film. However when later drafts showed that time would be somewhat of an unseen enemy in a metaphorical sense (I am guessing the enchantress's rose was something added in later drafts of the script, just as the three wishes in Aladdin were something of post-Ashman drafts and not included in many of the drafts written when he was alive). Once again, the reason I enjoy this song is because it is a song that is used for character development, as it expresses the desires of the characters turned into (or in the case of the stage adaptation, slowly turning into) household objects once they are granted their human forms.
2. Someday:
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiwgDZ1ld-0
Originally, when the directors of HoND wanted to create a song for Esmeralda entering the cathedral for the first time after the events of Topsy-Turvy, they (of course) asked Menken to write a song for that scene. Strangely enough, his first song that he wrote was not "Someday", but the song that is heard in the final film, "God Help the Outcasts". However, the directors wanted a song that was more intimate and heartfelt, which lead to Menken creating "Someday". The song was later re-purposed for the German stage adaptation and later the American version of the stage production, both times serving as a duet between an imprisoned Esmeralda and Phoebus, on the night before Esmeralda's execution in the finale. I enjoy this song not just for the small bit of character development, but it is one that tugs at one's heartstrings and evokes feelings of sympathy for the characters, such as feeling sympathetic towards Esmeralda's desires for a better life in the original version, to feeling emotional as Esmeralda and Phoebus spend one last night together before she is sent off to the pyre to be burned at the stake, as well as being the perfect lead in to the finale (German stage) or Quasimodo's "Made of Stone" (American stage). (I should have put a spoiler alert on this post, shouldn't I? Oh well, a lot of these films are more than a decade old, anyway.)
1. Proud of Your Boy:
Aladdin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV3D1ASN7Xc
This song is actually one I WISHED was put back in the film when it was re-released on DVD and later Blu-Ray, and I was glad when it was added to the 2011 stage adaptation and kept even in the current Broadway draft. This song gives a such better motivation to why Aladdin desires a better life, to make his mother proud and to redeem himself from his life of theft and swindling to survive, as opposed to having a better life for the sake of having a better life. I can understand the latter motivation, as don't we all wish for a better life sometimes? When you are down on your luck, or feeling down in general, you wish things were better. This song adds a layer of complexity and depth to the character and gives him a better reason for his actions not only during the beginning of the film before rubbing the lamp and maybe acquiring the ring which housed the other genie, (in earlier drafts of the film, there were two genies as opposed to one, a concept later referenced in another cut song known as "High Adventure") but later on in the film when he masquerades as a prince to woo the early version of Princess Jasmine, who was vain and spoiled as opposed to the benevolent princess seen in the final film. (Disney, if you are reading this, two things, one, make me a member of your animation staff as I have always dreamed of working for you, and two, if you ever decide to remake this film or rework the original animated film, put back in Proud of Your Boy in some capacity, whether it may be the reason for the song, the melody of the song in the background, or my ideal wish, the song itself sung by Aladdin) This is one song that I would highly recommend to not only Aladdin fans, but Disney fans as well, as it is truly "a diamond in the rough" in the long pile of Disney songs.
What are some cut Disney songs you enjoy? Do you agree with this list? Is there a song I missed?
Monday, April 6, 2015
Top Five Favorite Novels
1. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
2. The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
3. ROOTS by Alex Haley
4. Fresh off the Boat by Eddie Huang
5. Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs
2. The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
3. ROOTS by Alex Haley
4. Fresh off the Boat by Eddie Huang
5. Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)