First Impressions: Lego Elves: Secrets of Elvendale

So I'm organized and decided to just do something similar to reviews. Now Reviews, Mini and Final, are basically that but while the Mini reviews are basically Final Reviews, only shorter. Final Reviews go into depth. Progress Reviews are essentially a point when the story reached a level of development basically or no development so far.

They are all read in my review tag.

First Impressions are based entirely on the first episode/season/whatever released. Typically, I would do an entire season if the plot is story-driven. Despite it saying first impressions, it can mean up to three episodes or more if I need to get a feeling. Depending on how much I need to see the feel of things. Pilots could mean either mean setting status quo or have yet to get a feeling for it. Either the show pre-planned or not; for example, ATLA and GF are pre-planned. I totally understand early installment weirdness like Glee which didn't have much planning involved...like ideas thrown about.

Now, this show is something I don't think Dreamworks has as part of their deal with Studio Mir. Lego was part of another studio altogether. Lego Elves may have aired on Disney Channel, basically telling you right there that it's a different competitor from Dreamworks-Netflix deal.

It just happened to be animated by the same guys who animated one Dreamworks show currently. We still don't know what kind of shows that Dreamworks is considering to make a 2D animated show. Other than Dawn of the Croods, Puss in Boots, and Dragons, those styles are not Mir's. I meanwhile they have less money than an expensive CGI movie, at least the CGI looks decent and doesn't look decrepit like in saying Norm of the North. VLD is Mir's artwork.

Let's start with the positives.

At the heart, it's a simple and pleasant story. Little cliched in character and plot, hell it started off with cliches. At this rate, there will be a Sokka for every series; if Lance is Space Sokka, then Farran is Elf Sokka.

The characters are silly and simple. Farran is basically Elf Sokka.

And Cronan is Goblin DOTU Lotor. Seriously, Lotor is a walking meme, a fucking loser in every way possible. He outright drinks a mean potion and no, I am not making that up though I swear I thought I have. He is trying to be the Lotor of 2017 (ace pilot, manipulative, mysterious) but he's actually the Lotor of old.

If I have to say my favorites so far, the goblins are the answer. Think of them as the snarky chew toy scared servants who had the displeasure to serve under a loser.

The voice acting is good. I doubt Andrea Romano was the voice director here. She is the Queen when it comes to her talent scouting, either of DC or animation in general. If any actor gets her vote, they would get a badge of honor and many are grateful for that from Mark Hamil to Wil Wheaton. Jensen Ackles of Supernatural fame has always been an incredible actor in comparison to his fellow cast members. I am not putting them down by any means because they are capable and talented in their own right. It's just he has been given notice by someone else but unfortunately, he is still on a show that is a zombie at this rate. There is a reason why Tyler Hoechlin and Dylan O'Brien had been scouted by Andrea Romano and Kevin Smith respectively and made a successful career for themselves with Colton Haynes. Mr. Hoechlin was Romano's offer for Batman just like Affleck.

If there is one thing I can consistently praise, the amazing animation from Studio Mir is something I will always appreciate. It's so fluid and their beauty is to die for.

But like Korra, the animation and voice acting jobs does not mean that the plot is left out of the open. I mean while Korra didn't start off with a good start although it did establish some stuff, it's just mediocre overall. This show overall is pretty much average.

I wouldn't write home about it.

I just feel there are passion and love in this than I do the Magic School Bus reboot.

Now the negatives.

It became quite clear that it had plot holes and come off more than a bit cliched. Certain characters might not connect as well as one might hope. Character development or depth isn't exactly deep per say. There is certainly characterization...which can lead to potential or outright stupid decisions. Looking at you, Naida.

Seriously, I can name the plotholes right here. For example, somehow these elves have creation powers for something, then why don't they create them to make their travel faster. If Ira or Iris makes an invention which I say is right there to make them travel faster than just running. Heck, they even made a freaking hot air balloon at one point. Yet they still travel on foot. Their method of travel seemed to depend entirely on the plot. Naida got there no problem, no evil Venus Flytraps or Shadowy creatures desiring the end of the world. However, Rosalyn previously mentioned that the Forest is entrenched with dangers that that Goblin King and his minions imposed upon. How about the goblins themselves? Cronan only has four main ones while his army, either having been forcefully brainwashed or just underlings like someone to serve the prisoner.

It's clearly aimed at a younger audience. I am not saying that is a bad thing when some great cartoons had came like Gravity Falls and My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic are acclaimed despite the stigma that followed the latter.

As of now, I can't say if there is a story planned. We can infer there is a plan judging by the prologue and the first episode set up, but as of now, it's dubious. We do know there had been pre-planning in GF, VLD and ATLA, judging by the creator's word.

The ending just seemed odd. It's like the end of the first arc/adventure. I know Netflix has the habit of granting at least one more season unless there is a deal.

While the overall story is simple, I don't know what do they plan. Unlike how I know that Dreamworks struck a deal with Studio Mir to animate 4 75 episode/6 seasons, if split, then 8? run, this show is where I have no idea.

If anyone curious about any ships I might like, I have a liking for Cronan/Farran, Cronan/Naida, and Cronan/Rosalyn. I actively don't ship as much anymore but I still don't consider myself a non-shipper because I still ship depending on character interaction/potential/etc. I don't watch things for the ship and besides, ships are a free advertisement.

I don't have a problem overall with this show. Yes, there are plotholes and stupid decisions but it's beautifully animated and it's pleasant.

Just look at this mess. It looked like an app game.

It doesn't look like effort was made. I remember watching Magic School Bus when I was a child and this reboot is not doing any favors for any old-school fans.

Regardless of its edutainment value, the animation looks like utter complete shit.

Animation has grown so much and yet still underappreciated as a storytelling medium. I'm talking American here, folks because this stigma is stupid beyond belief. Like how I would fight an anti-Stratfordian on the side of the street, I will fight against anyone who dared to tarnish animation as a medium. Despite the efforts, Disney/Pixar/Dreamworks/Laika/Blue Sky/Illumination and so much more, the animation is regarded 'just for kids'. What irony when we got adult animation like Bojack Horseman, South Park, and Family Guy to consider. And that's not starting to get into Cartoon Network/Nick/and so many more studios from Korea, Japan, and good ole America.

Yet, the animation is still dismissed. Not just because Japanese anime have different values from America or that France has some beautiful movies, it's because it's animation. "It's for kids" is the common response and seriously, that is utterly disingenuous to the hard work producers, writers, and animators who pour their hours, spending years on this. It's disingenuous to the themes and emotions cartoons can push to the limit just as much as movies can.

When we already destroyed the idea that it's for kids the moment we created adult animation or give critical acclaim to certain movies, some less deservingly so. Seriously, Family Guy, American Dad, and South Park are animated and adults didn't raise much of an issue about that.

Yes, it's still an issue that animation is viewed just for kids when the animation is simply a medium that can tell a great story as epic as Exodus to sitcom like Bojack Horseman to stories like ATLA and Samurai Jack to breaking new grounds like Laika.

An animation is worth the effort, passion, and love that creators, artists, and animators threw into.

This show did not show the effort, passion, and love.

Lego Elves showed those qualities, even without the Studio Mir's artwork because seriously, if it was 3D like Trollhunters or Dragons, at least the qualities would show through.

Now, I kinda grew up on Liberty's Kids. Since my family don't have Disney Channel or Jetix (I usually watched those at my grandma's), we settled for PBS.

I remembered watching Liberty's Kids and loving it. You could even say it sparked my interest in history. Sure there are stuff they got wrong (I wouldn't consider Hamilton an abolition nor would I consider him the best of the founders. I mean he's a human being...with a lot of bad records under his belt. And Washington himself was famously neutral on abolition) but I would still consider it one of the best cartoons I seen on PBS specifically.

On Hamilton, I consider the story to be okay (because I know that they ultimately made an AU with little to no mention of other accomplishments of person of interests like Burr since most of the time, it's like a wiki page with a flourish of artistic license. And the characters they're focusing on is well...according to history aren't perfect. The history's inaccurate despite the accuracy. It's American history in broad strokes here). I prefer to listen the soundtrack. Hilariously, Liberty's Kids opening song have a rap verse that is funny now with Hamilton here.

Honestly, I prefer Hamilton in terms of music. In terms of honesty, Liberty's Kids.

That's just my honest opinion. And I'm not a huge history geek. I love and study history despite knowing things have been edited out or left out because of unsavoriness. Seriously, I didn't even know Hamilton has the first sex scandal of US history.

Miraculous Ladybug Speculations

Let's talk about Zagtoon first.

First and foremost, we are getting far more spoilers than teasers. Trailers and teasers are meant to give a sneak peek and/or give something without context to make it great, sometimes interjected with, of course, pre-reviews that rival companies take because of rivalry.

Why the Disney fanbase can't seem to take it when a Dreamworks movie had been compared? When the Disney does it themselves?

Anyway, I'm getting off-topic.

Just Zagtoon, what the fuck are you doing?

Spoilering the shit out of this will ruin the creator's vision as well as the fans' enjoyment. For all I hate about fandom in general, fandoms are excited by tidbits despite knowing that the teasers/trailers/hints they got from creators are ambiguous and without context. Just look at the Pokeani episodes where Brock and Misty returned. Hell, even now that the VLD S4/S3b now released, fans are trying to determine the context and know they might get it wrong. Hell, Pokeshippers got wrong that the hearts around Misty was from Ash's point of view; well, they did point out that Ash did not disagree alongside Lana. They, however, weren't expecting the Pokeshipping in the next episode though. I was in awe at those little moments and the implications that even with Serena's crush on Ash thing, Pokeshipping is still huge and prevalent.

But this. Giving out spoilers like they were candy is not fun pre-release. The creators won't be able to tell the story and the fans' theories will dim. It will be less enthusiastic.

Look at VLD pre-S4 release.

• Creators and VAs hint at what might be happening. In a recent interview, Kimberly Brooks, VA of Allura, said that a lot will be happening in S4. People don't know what but it's making the fans worry who think Keith would detach from the team he meant to lead or whatever theory they cook up. 
• No, I will not say a word about Jeremy Shada. 
• No, I will not be talking about anything about race, sex, gender, and LGBTQIA+ anything at all. I will comment that we cannot put a media piece like VLD on a pedestal and expect it to give us the wonders of progressiveness we need in the world. We will take whatever progress we made for race, sex, gender, and LGBT to get the respect they sorely deserve and treat it as a step in the right direction. But we cannot put VLD or YOI on a pedestal just because they emphasize something the world needed to hear. They are media pieces that we can like and respect and also dislike and hate. We cannot hate needlessly something like who are there for entertainment as well as perhaps a telling piece about our society. You can enjoy problematic media just as long as you admit to them. I mean I love the Persona series and it is stepping in the right direction for a progressive Japan, but there are still flaws. Hating on something needlessly would not do any good at all. Seriously what is with the hatedom that sprouts out when something ends? I'm not talking about the sane fans who hate it because it disappointed them or have real constructive criticism because again they are sane. And I'm not talking about the antis either although that community can be aggressive (well certain members who picked fights and made discourse just to want to be proven right rather than you know let their post say themselves...as civilly and respectful as you always need to be). I'm talking about the vocal minority that has the power to potentially make a fandom toxic just from their aggression of their harassment and believing they are right in their opinion. What is with the negativity? Constructive criticism is alright but only in the right context like Japanese feminism for Japanese media. 
• The Paladin Vlogs. People, at this point, are thinking of a pattern and think that the vlogs might say something about S4, particularly Klangst. 
• The teasers and trailers we got. They are out of context and the fans certainly know that. They still trying to guess what is happening as far they can understand. This and also the fact that S4 is actually the second half of S3, a result of splitting up seasons to get more viewership. 
• So far, we only got the confirmation of Matt's appearance alongside rebels. Personally, I can't wait to see the rebels and Romelle. 
• No, I will not talk about the leaks which I heard Keith wearing Lance's jacket. Since I don't see them anywhere except Matt and Shiro on Kimiko Glenn's Twitter (Ezor's VA), I'm guessing Dreamworks and Mir worked it out. Even Tumblr, one of the many hellsites on the Internet, has little to none of the artwork that the one person unwittingly send online. 

See, it's small and tentative. Fans are guessing and excited until the date arrives. And Godoka who knows, how long the fandom has to wait until the first half of the actual S4 is released.

There is a difference for a spoiler that has little impact on the story (for example, in VLD, Pidge is finally reuniting with her brother in S3b/S4 and I think it is allowed because I don't see it get taken down. Even a VA has on her twitter and it wasn't taken down. I think Matt will play an important role) and something that has devastating impact that would be lessened if given pre-release (just look at yourself, Zag).

Give the creators time for treatment because this is their work. You guys are in charge of PR just like Nick, Cartoon Network, and others are doing. Even when some of their shows got fucked over by these networks, at least these shows give the creators the job to troll just as much as you are able to create a trailer that does not show what the actual show does. Look at Teen Wolf, canon versus fanon/PR which feeds into fanon. Teen Wolf is essentially Twin Peaks. It's a serialized building tension a la an anime; think more Psycho-Pass or Ghost in the Shell. It's not a Buffy 2.0 or a Monster of the Week thing. Despite Davis' best efforts, he could tell as much as he could in his finale and his Sterek was still allowed.

Do you want your audience to get the best experience they have, watching the show you gotten revenue from? You will alienate the people you expect the most revenue from.

Just give Thomas Astruc the respect he deserves from you that he did from his fans. He is creating your story that is gaining you more money than you ever thought it would.

Do you want quality that the creators have the time to work out? Or would you want a movie right now? Regardless of quality? Your ML Holiday Special is horribly paced and just average. While the show itself is flawed, it wasn't this flawed.

So yeah, I knew that Alya and Chloe will get Miraculous of their own. Given how prominent they are, especially from the potential character development is quite evident. I already called it as far as I learned there were more Miraculous in the world, perhaps how Chloe and Alya's roles are. I also expect Nino to either get the Turtle or the Peacock one.

Because I know they'll be getting some kind of character development out of receiving Miraculouses (just look at our duo!), I expect some goodness, be it fast growth or just anything. Just to show that they are growing.

Now that Gabriel Agreste is not Hawkmoth (for the love of Astruc, look what you done, Zag, look what you have done!!!!), I expect great changes.

I see the great change in the story. The story dynamic and status quo will be challenged.

That is something I want. Challenge the status quo in your story and show that nothing is the same anymore. Character development galore here as well as unpredictability while making sense would be awesome. There is a reason why I love VLD S3 so much.

Who knows what will happen?

Will Marinette and Adrien have to reveal to each other? Will the new Miraculous users find each other? What will Hawkmoth do now that there are more?

Will Gabe do his best to support his son in his endeavors? What is his backstory with Mama Agreste? Could he possibly be a former Miraculous user himself? His wife has gotta be one too!

Ooo, what about Mama Agreste? I actually have a fondness for the abusive mother Mama Agreste headcanon but who knows why she left them?

It's not as concrete as I have with my previous Speculations post. Yet even the Persona series got enough. I mean I can have a Speculation post about that because Atlus doesn't advertise it to spoiler. Seriously, they made a point for those who already got their games to not spoil. They give out bits and pieces alongside with basic premise to a certain extent like the Phantom Thieves aspect. People theorized that he'll an anti-hero but in actuality, if you know Japanese portrayal of phantom thieves, they are not anti-heroes a la Punisher. Do you remember Kaitou Kid? That is how Japanese see phantom thieves.

I seriously wouldn't have a problem before Zag spoiled loads of it to the point I don't even feel the glee to speculate as much as I did in the VLD and Persona posts. Just what the fuck, Zag?

Because while there were spoilers and plot important spoilers at that, I really don't want to say anymore.

We got a least three potentially plot important elements spoiled... The rant is up there if you want to read it again. While I do expect things to not be the same anymore, I just didn't expect straight-up spoilers.

I want this season to have the quality and reach the potential it has. I know that Astruc wants to do that and I trust him to give the best story he could ever tell.

I just...don't like how Zag is promoting ML to the point of milking the franchise. Now, Disney milked their successful movies (seriously, I don't recall many Treasure Planet at Disneyland last time I went there and I love that film, not one of my top but love it enough to watch it multiple times) to the point of milking it dry. Disney had seriously let Frozen's milk run far too dry to the point people just want to move on and the stores that were stuffed full of Frozen merch did not have the merch that people want. Seriously, where are the Hans toys? You would think a villain would get his treatment like how Pete or Scar or Ursula got them. People love villains so why not give to them? Sure they might interpret differently but still let them have their merch. Dreamworks was in financial disarray so they couldn't promote Captain Underpants as much as they wanted; seriously, don't forget they bounced from distributor to distributor until NBC finally saved them from filing bankruptcy.

Just Zag, don't give out your information like Halloween candy. Learn the difference between teaser and spoiler.

Edit: ML is not perfect. The writing is hit-and-miss. The strongest point is the characters, no doubt. They are human, flawed and can learn from their mistakes. Now the show does have feminist and diversity and certainly good intentions. I never read the comics but I heard one comic is horribly racist and while Astruc was well-intentioned, the action itself in the book was not good. He didn't notice it himself and again, do I have to say this, he is still unfortunately still have society that shaped him. Do you think Rebecca Sugar and Lauren Montgomery and Joaquim dos Santos have perfect records too? The Origins booklet and VLD S304 have been criticized for its racist implications. And yeah, I am not touching that. Not the episodes and merch mind you or the justified criticism. I am not putting anything bad that said aside. Just pointing about something about purity culture.

I just want to comment there is a difference between constructive criticism - subpar writing, writing that has unfortunate implications for example - and purity culture. There is not such thing as a perfect work. I love FMA, both manga and 2003 anime, and I know there are problems. Perhaps this is a Tumblr self-righteous no-boundaries bubble spreading to the point that fandom is being confused. Canon is not fanon. Fanon and Canon get along like oil and water. Purity culture - the expectation that things must be untainted and perfect although such thing is impossible and futile - is toxic. Saying things must be perfect meant that creators have to be perfect themselves...unless the fandom they're in was so tainted that purity culture is outnumbered. Seriously for all the SPN fandom is known for, antis and purity culture barely exist there. I never been so grateful to see a fandom continuing to be fandom space in one of the worst fandoms I seen. You know what, fandoms go be depraved and explore possiblities that these people, well-intentioned, was stupid to force on fandom space. They are not fighting the real fight when they should be protesting on the streets or do anything that is beneficial to the actual movement. Representation is necessary but not for the sake of purity.

Good intentions does not translate to good actions.

There is not such thing as a flawless work. Criticism is a healthy way for both creator and consumer.

Do not confuse human actions and flaws as something needed for purity.

Purity culture is toxic and should never exist. We're living in neo-Victorian era in Tumblr right now with worthless crusades against fandom-based. There is a difference between thinking that fetishing same-sex couples are a thing among queers too and not taking consideration of all ends of the argument.

Someone, please make videos of VLD with PR themes, specifically PRIS. I have seen videos with trying with MMPR and PRLR but none with PRIS. Come on, In Space fits perfectly. Use MMPR or SPD for the Paladins of old. If the rebels appear, use hmmm.... Lost Galaxy.