G is for Grandmother Willow!

So today is the letter G, so I decided to pick a character from a (surprisingly) not so popular movie. And the character herself is also overlooked in many ways, so I thought I'd honor her here.

Grandmother Willow, Pocahontas 

Grandmother Willow makers her first appearance in the 1995 film, Pocahontas. She is a wise old willow tree serving as a guide to Pocahontas, counseling her on the strange dreams she's been having. She encourages Pocahontas to listen to the spirits of the earth and helps her figure out a way to be with John Smith and stop the fighting between their people. 

Why I like her: 

Grandmother Willow is wise, funny, and very caring. She does all in her power to help Pocahontas. Plus,she's a talking willow tree, how cool is that? She even does her share of butt kicking in the movie to scare off two english settlers. Add her funny lines and thought provoking words, and you got a fun and yet deep character. 

Fun Fact: In the very first draft of the script the character of "Grandmother Willow" was written as a male character who was the spirit of the river, the character was named "Old Man River". The song "Just Around the Riverbend" was written for this character to be sung. 

And now, I leave you with a quote: 

"Don't be frightened, young man. My bark is worse than my bite."

F is for Fox and the Hound!

So Today is the letter F and while there are plenty of F lettered characters, I decided to go with a movie instead. And what better movie then the classic Fox and the Hound?

Fox and the Hound

Fox and the Hound was released in 1981, loosely based off of the 1967 novel The Fox and the Hound by Daniel P. Mannix. The story is about an orphaned fox (Tod) baby raised by a kind old woman befriending a hunting dog (Copper). Though the two try to be friends, they find themselves forced to be enemies. 

Why I like it:

This is beautiful tale about friendship really makes me smile and cry. The two want to be friends, but find that fate has made it unrealistic. Still, the animation along with the story is adorable. Add in the life or death struggles and tear jerking life changing moments, and you have a sad movie. The message I think is up for anyone's interpretation. 

Fun Fact: The Bear's snarl is the same snarl as Shere Khan the tiger from The Jungle Book and Brutus and Nero the crocodiles from The Rescuers. 

 

 

And now, I leave you with a quote: 

 

 

"Tod: Copper, you're my best friend. 

Copper: And you're mine too, Tod.
  Tod: And we'll always be friends forever. Won't we? 

Copper: Yeah, forever."

E is for Eeyore!

Today, I will be talking about my favorite donkey. Eeyore! What can I say about Eeyore? He's Emo and a donkey. And yet I just can't help but love this little donkey!

Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh

Eeyore first appeared in the in the Winnie the Pooh books by A. A. Milne, published in 1926. Eeyore is a pessimistic donkey, gloomy, depressed, grey plush donkey who is a friend of Pooh. Some of the Winnie the Pooh stories revolve around Eeyore, such as: finding his lost tail, throwing him a birthday party, and discpvering how he ended up floating down the river. 

Why I like Eeyore: 

Though he is indeed a very pessimistic and depressed character, Eeyore seems the most real out of all the characters.  Plus, even though he looks so sad all the time, I find something very cute about him! He's not overly cute and annoying like the rest of the cast, and I find it hard to hate him. 

Fun Fact: Eeyore's name is an onomatopoeic representation of the braying sound made by a normal donkey, usually represented as "hee haw". 

And now I leave you with a quote: 

 

"Thanks for noticin' me."

D is for Dumbo!

Today I've picked that cute little, 8th Wonder of the World, Dumbo! What with his big ears, bright blue eyes, and clumsy but disposition, how could I NOT pick him?

Dumbo

Dumbo came onto the scene in 1941. Its the story of a little elephant with very big ears and his struggle to survive in the life of the circus. Constantly ridiculed by his fellow elephants and human patrons, Dumbo must overcome what makes him different and discover that what makes him different makes him special. 

Why I like Dumbo: 

Dumbo is such a cute little movie about an equally cute elephant. It has a good message for kids, and its just so ADORABLE! I mean, how can you NOT like the movie? Granted, Dumbo doesn't talk, but what he lacks in communication skills, he makes up with a golden heart and an adorable face. 

Fun Fact:  When the drunken Timothy is sliding down the staircase-shaped bubble Dumbo has blown, his laugh is actually that of Mickey Mouse. Also, when Timothy coughs on Jim Crow's cigar smoke, that cough is also that of Mickey (it was specifically heard in both Giantland and Two-Gun Mickey). 

And now, I leave you with a quote:

"Dumbo! The ninth wonder of the univoise! The woild's only flyin' elephant!"

C is for Clopin!

Today is C so I've picked my favorite gypsy king, Clopin! (There was no way I was gonna do Cinderella, in case you all were wondering.)

Clopin is from The Hunchback of Notre Dame, based on the book bu Victor Hugo. The film was released in 1996. In the Disney version, Clopin is the narrator of the story, telling how Quasimodo came to be the bell ringer of Notre Dame. He is also the leader or Gypsy King' and does all in his power to protect his people. 

Why I like  him: 

Clopin is just a fun character! He's colorful, crazy, and hilarious to watch! He is best known for his ridiculous purple and gold outfit that he wore at the Topsy Turvy Day (or Feast of Fools) parade. His songs are fun, his personality is eccentric, to say the least, and above all else, he cares for his people. 

Fun Fact: When Quasimodo is singing 'Out There', the scene cuts to a busy street. Belle (from Beauty and the Beast) is walking towards the lower right corner of the screen with her nose stuck in a book.

So now, I leave you with a quote: 

"Topsy Turvy! Everything is upsy daisy! Topsy Turvy! Everybody's acting crazy! Dross is gold and weeds are a bouquet! That's the way on Topsy Turvy Day!"

B is for Belle

So for B I've decided to do my all time favorite Disney character from my all time favorite movie: Belle from Beauty and the Beast!

Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast was made in 1991 in what is known as the Disney Renaissance period. It was the first animated film to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar nomination and was the only one until 2010. The song 'Beauty and the Beast' won for Best Original Song and Best Original Score.

The story itself is about a Frnch girl named Belle (french word for beauty) and how she sacrifices her freedom to save her father from a Beast. She learns to love the Beast and breaks the spell cast upon him, returning him to his Princely form. 

Why I Like it:

This story has a beautiful moral: Beauty is only skin deep. Belle looks passed the Beast's ugly exterior and finds the kind and gentle soul of a man, and falls in love. The characters are colorful as are the beautiful animations and backgrounds. The songs are really beautiful and the cast was amazing. 

Fun Fact: The song 'Something There' took the place of another song called 'Human Again', but in the 20 year DVD anniversary edition, the song is completed and placed in the film as originally intended.

So now, I leave with a quote: 

"The rose she had offered was truly an enchanted rose, which would bloom until his 21st year. If he could learn to love another, and earn her love in return by the time the last petal fell, then the spell would be broken."

A to Z Challenge!

 
So the A to Z challenge has started up! This is my first time doing anything like this, so I'll admit I'm a little nervous! If any of you are interested, you can still sign up before Monday night HERE

So for the very first day, the letter A and I've decided to stick with A Disney theme for the month! Whether its movies, characters, quotes or fun fact that you didn't know, that's what I'll be sticking to this month! So here's the Disney salute to the letter A!

Alice in Wonderland

 

Alice in Wonderland was made in 1951 based on the children's books Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass, both by Lewis Carrol. As the title states, the movie is about a young girl Named Alice who was curious as to where a white rabbit in a red coat carrying a watch was headed. She followed him down the rabbit hole and entered the eccentric world of Wonderland. There, she meets the strange inhabitants of the land such as: The Mad Hatter, March Hare, Door Mouse, Tweetle Dee & Dumb, and The Queen of Hearts. 

 

Reasons Why I Like It:

Its got catchy songs, amazing animation, and an incredible cast! I mean, Kathryn Beaumont had the perfect innocent voice for the character! The comedy always brought a smile, if not a laugh, to everyone's faces. It was one of Disney's finer movies that not only taught good morals, but it kept kids entertained throughout the whole thing! 

Fun Fact: The Cheshire Cat was supposed to have a song called "I'm Odd" but it was eventually cut. Instead, it was replaced by the Cheshire Cat singing lines from the Lewis Carrol poem The Jabberwocky.

So with that, I leave you all with a quote by my favorite smiling cat: 

 'Twas brilig, and the slithy toves / Did gyre and gimble in the wabe: / All mimsy were the borogroves, / And the mome raths outgrabe'